Book unveiling China's civilization through 'faces' on relics debuts in Beijing with sharing event 16:57, July 21, 2025 By Du Mingming ( People's Daily Online A book sharing event on "Chinese Face: Reflections and Memories of the Chinese Nation in Cultural Relics" is held in Beijing, July 20, 2025. (Photo provided to People's Daily Online) A book sharing event on "Chinese Face: Reflections and Memories of the Chinese Nation in Cultural Relics" was held by Oriental Publishing Center, a subsidiary of the China Publishing Group in Beijing on July 20, 2025. The book selects 50 representative "faces" preserved in cultural relics, presenting a unique narrative of the Chinese nation's evolution and enduring memory over thousands of years. Spanning from the "Peking Man" of 200,000 years ago, to Confucius, whose teachings from the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) influenced countless generations, and even to border-defense hero Chen Xiangrong, whose words "pure love only for the country" resonate deeply, the collection delivers a profound account of history and heritage. The book "Chinese Face: Reflections and Memories of the Chinese Nation in Cultural Relics". A promotional video was showcased at the event. Through stunning imagery of cultural relics and vivid narration, it took attendees on an enthralling journey through tens of thousands of years of civilization. Weng Huainan, author of "Chinese Face: Reflections and Memories of the Chinese Nation in Cultural Relics" and director of the Library and Information Department of the National Museum of China, shares his insights about the book in Beijing, July 20, 2025. (Photo provided to People's Daily Online) Weng Huainan, author of "Chinese Face" and director of the Library and Information Department of the National Museum of China, shared insights about the book at the sharing event. He noted that the book took years of meticulous preparation: he visited numerous museums and research institutions, captured over 100,000 photographs of the facial images on cultural relics, and crafted interpretive texts for each cultural relic that are both academic and readable through interdisciplinary research. Mao Yuansheng, general manager of China Publishing & Media Co Ltd, pointed out that the book unfolds the enduring spiritual landscape of Chinese civilization through the "Chinese faces" preserved on cultural relics. He described it as "a masterwork paying homage to the roots of civilization, an iconic piece embodying cultural confidence, and an innovative creation that embodies collective wisdom." Liu Shuguang, chairman of the Chinese Museums Association, talked about changes in museum studies in recent years from a professional perspective. He noted, "A striking development is that many museum researchers have started to take museum collections as a gateway to popularize and disseminate China's fine traditional culture to the public and 'Chinese faces' stands as a notable example of this trend." According to Fan Fei, assistant general manager of the Oriental Publishing Center and the director of its Beijing branch, a series of book-related initiatives are in the pipeline, including a themed exhibition and a national museum tour of lectures. Additionally, plans are underway to release multilingual editions, aiming to promote both "Chinese faces" and Chinese culture on the global stage. (Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang) Shanghai's foreign tourist arrivals surge over 50 pct in H1 Xinhua) 08:54, July 22, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) New Base Will Enable J/PR and 20Two Studio to Deliver High-Impact Campaigns for Clients in the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater Agility for International Roster of Brands SAN FRANCISCO, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- J/PR , a leading global travel, hospitality and lifestyle communications agency specializing in public relations, content creation, social media, and brand partnerships has announced the launch of the firm's new San Francisco office. The new Bay Area office will be dual-branded under J/PR and its agency affiliate 20Two Studio , both driven by some of the industry's most creative and passionate storytellers, and holding a shared vision for strategic communications rooted in hyper-local knowledge paired with global expertise and reach. J/PR and 20Two Studio. Natalie Amos, Annika Berg, Allie Swearingen. The expansion represents a significant milestone for J/PR, further anchoring the firm's presence on the West Coast and positioning the agency at the heart of one of the world's most discerning and influential travel markets. The move enables both J/PR and 20Two Studio to seamlessly service their growing roster of clients in San Francisco and the Bay Area, as well as their respective portfolios of international travel, hotel and lifestyle brands. "Opening a San Francisco base is a natural step for J/PR, as we continue to scale our international client roster. Our new office represents a strategic investment in J/PR's long-term vision serving its global clientele", said Jamie Lynn O'Grady, Founding Partner at J/PR. "Our expansion into San Francisco is a testament to the incredible talent and vision behind J/PR and 20Two Studio, and we're confident the new office will be a powerful extension of our brand as we continue to expand our national and global footprint." "San Francisco's dynamic energy and entrepreneurial spirit is a great match for our ambition," said Lauren Knudsen, President of 20Two Studio. "We look forward to bringing fresh ideas and global perspective to our clients across the Bay Area and beyond." The new office, located on California Street, San Francisco will be led by global communications strategist Natalie Amos, and becomes the ninth location for J/PR, joining existing offices in metropolitan cities throughout the US, as well as London, allowing deeper collaboration with local partners and greater agility in servicing clients coast-to-coast and in all four corners of the world. Amos, more than 20 years' experience spanning the UK, Europe, Middle East and US, brings a wealth of expertise in brand storytelling and strategic communications for brands including Marriott International, The Ritz-Carlton, Six Senses and Banyan Tree, as well as destinations such as Dubai Economy & Tourism, LA Tourism and Thailand Tourism. The launch of the new office follows the promotion of 20Two Studio's Allie Swearingen to Account Supervisor, with Allie having played an instrumental role in driving 20Two Studio's exponential success during the last four years. Now based in the San Francisco office, Allie will continue to lead strategic account activity across a broad range of clients and drive national and regional media outreach and client success in her expanded role. Natalie and Allie will be joined in the San Francisco hub by key J/PR team members including Annika Berg Plant, who drives purposeful storytelling and generates dynamic engagement in her role as Account Supervisor, Social Media. ABOUT J/PR J/PR is a global communications, influencer management, and social media agency specializing in travel, destination, consumer, real estate, well-being and sustainable brands. With offices in New York City, London, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Scottsdale, Denver, Nashville, and Atlanta, J/PR is a trusted leader in integrated media relations and brand strategy, brand launches, trend forecasting, guest programming, brand partnerships, experiential activations, influencer engagement, crisis communications, and social media strategy. Recognized for excellence year after year, J/PR was named on The PR Net 100 list in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and honored on the Observer's PR Power List in 2025. Established in 2005, J/PR has consistently risen to become one of the world's fastest-growing agencies. The company's global portfolio includes clients in the U.S., U.K., and throughout Europe, Mexico, Caribbean, Dubai, New Zealand, Asia, and more. ABOUT 20TWO STUDIO 20Two Studio is an award-winning communications, public relations and social media agency representing luxury hotels, destinations, boutique properties, travel, lifestyle and wellness brands. At the intersection of creativity and ROI driven strategy, 20Two Studio takes an innovative, integrative approach to storytelling to generate results that make an impact. With offices in New York City, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Nashville, 20Two Studio is recognized for strategic insight and creative excellence and was named on The PR Net 100 in 2023 and 2024.. For more information on clientele and agency news, visit www.20twostudio.com and follow along via LinkedIn and Instagram SOURCE J Public Relations Leading not-for-profit healthcare organization in greater Los Angeles allows patients to choose a closer doctor-patient relationship ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Concierge Choice Physicians (CCP), the nation's leading full-service concierge medical service provider, announces today that Manali A. Shendrikar, MD, MPH, from Santa Monica Family Physicians, is the newest doctor in Saint John's Physician Partners (SJPP), part of Providence, to now offer CCP's Hybrid Choice program. This enhanced practice experience provides patients with greater connectivity and support from their chosen doctor. Unlike conventional concierge programs, CCP's Hybrid Choice program is a unique style of membership medicine that works well in large healthcare organizations like SJPP. It allows physicians to provide the highest level of service to just those patients who want it, while continuing to see and care for all of the patients in their network. Patients are able to choose the practice experience they want. No patients are ever turned away, and the physicians continue to accept insurance and Medicare. The program is also being used to improve physician satisfaction and support medical practices with much-needed additional revenue. A portion of the revenue generated from membership fees supports St. John's charitable mission to serve all, especially the most poor and vulnerable. "I want to be the go-to doctor for my patientsbut that's not something that can be promised in such a demanding healthcare marketplace," says Dr. Shendrikar. "This program allows patients to secure that kind of connectivity. It's a great option for many patients who feel they would benefit from the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will always see me at appointments. I'm looking forward to practicing in this more personalized style." Patients who enroll in Dr. Shendrikar's Hybrid Choice program pay an annual fee that allows her to provide services that go beyond what is typically offered in a traditional practice, including: more time together; a greater focus on wellness with a comprehensive annual exam and specialty lab work; relaxed, easy-to-secure appointments that generally start on time; convenient and direct ways to communicate with Dr. Shendrikar both at the office and after hours; enhanced medical advocacy; and coordination with other healthcare professionals. Dr. Manali A. Shendrikar practices at Santa Monica Family Physicians, 2021 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 625E, Santa Monica, CA 90404. Her Hybrid Choice program is available for an annual membership fee. For more information on the program or to join, contact Concierge Choice Physicians at (877) 888-5590 or email [email protected]. About Manali A. Shendrikar, MD, MPH Dr. Shendrikar is an experienced, board-certified family medicine physician. She graduated medical school at the University of Texas, Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX and completed her residency at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, in Santa Monica, CA. About Concierge Choice Physicians (CCP) Dedicated to providing real options for patients and physicians, Concierge Choice Physicians is the largest private provider of the full range of concierge programs available todayHybrid and FullFlex. The company provides innovative, flexible and affordable models proven to work in medical practices of any sizefrom solo physicians to large medical practice corporationsboth independent and affiliated with hospitals or health systems. Headquartered in Rockville Centre, NY, the company has worked with thousands of physicians in 35 states. For more information, please visit www.ccpmd.com. SOURCE CONCIERGE CHOICE PHYSICIANS 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 DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Markem-Imaje, part of Dover (NYSE: DOV) and a global provider of end-to-end supply chain solutions and industrial marking and coding systems, announced a significant investment in its Keene, New Hampshire, facility that will expand production capacity for its industry-leading, sustainable wax-based Touch Dry inks. The company also announced that it will open a new research, development and engineering office in Salem, New Hampshire, by the end of 2025. Markem-Imaje's enhanced ink production line at its site in Keene, which received a Platinum sustainability rating from EcoVadis, highlights the company's ongoing commitment to innovation, sustainability and regional economic development. This strategic investment in the company's operations boosts its ability to meet growing global demand for high-performance, environmentally responsible coding solutions. The company's new Salem R&D office will house electrical, mechanical and software engineering teams focused on the development of high-performance printers and inks used extensively across the logistics, warehousing and consumer-packaged goods industries. "We've seen consistent global growth in demand for our Touch Dry ink technology and consumables, driven by our customers' increasing emphasis on operational efficiency," said Dane Hileman, Product Division Director at Markem-Imaje. "Our expansions in both Keene and Salem will enable us to strengthen our global production capabilities while continuing to invest in the local community." Markem-Imaje remains deeply committed to New Hampshire and is actively hiring across its locations in the state. For current career opportunities, please visit https://careers.dovercorporation.com/go/Markem-Imaje-Americas-Jobs/5271401. About Markem-Imaje: Markem-Imaje, a wholly owned subsidiary of the US-based Dover Corporation, is a trusted world manufacturer of product identification and traceability solutions, offering a full line of reliable and innovative inkjet, thermal transfer, laser, and print and apply label systems. Markem-Imaje provides global reach to over 50,000 customers with 30 subsidiaries, 6 technology centers, several equipment repair centers and manufacturing plants with the most comprehensive marking and coding portfolio available in the marketplace. Visit www.markem-imaje.com for further information. About Dover: Dover is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider with annual revenue of over $7 billion. We deliver innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services through five operating segments: Engineered Products, Clean Energy & Fueling, Imaging & Identification, Pumps & Process Solutions and Climate & Sustainability Technologies. Dover combines global scale with operational agility to lead the markets we serve. Recognized for our entrepreneurial approach for over 70 years, our team of approximately 24,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, Dover trades on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available at dovercorporation.com . Markem-Imaje Contact: Viktor Hermansson +34 627 80 86 10 [email protected] Dover Media Contact: Adrian Sakowicz, VP, Communications (630) 743-5039 [email protected] Dover Investor Contact: Jack Dickens, VP, Investor Relations (630) 743-2566 [email protected] SOURCE Dover Senedd members call for final say on farming support Opposition politicians called on the Welsh Government to bring forward a final, binding vote before introducing revised plans for financial support for farmers. Samuel Kurtz, the Conservatives shadow rural affairs secretary, led a debate on the protest-plagued proposals for the sustainable farming scheme (SFS) on July 16. He said: Today, were simply asking that this Senedd be given the opportunity to vote: a final, binding vote on the sustainable farming scheme before it is implemented. We all remember last years protests. We know the strength of feeling across the country. A scheme of this scale, affecting over 80% of Wales land, must carry democratic legitimacy. Let us vote. Let the elected members of this chamber, from every corner of Wales and from every party, have their say. Broken Mr Kurtz told the Senedd: If ministers want farmers to sign up, they need to rebuild trust. That starts with transparency. And the way you secure consent is by putting this scheme to a full, binding vote in this chamber. The former journalist, who is from a farming family, warned of a cliff-edge in the transition from the basic payment scheme (BPS), which is set to fall by 40%, to the SFS. He said: With such a steep drop, theyre either being forced into a scheme they may not fully believe in or are forced away from farm subsidies altogether, subsidies that keep Welsh farms afloat, and food prices down. And if you dont join the SFS, you forfeit your BPS. If you do join the SFS, you forfeit your BPS entitlements. Theres no going back for you and your business. Is it any wonder anxiety is soaring? Is it any surprise that our farmers mental health is deteriorating? He accused the Welsh and UK Governments of having disregard for farmers, warning of a broken relationship with rural Wales. Public goods Plaid Cymrus Llyr Gruffydd said it was only right that the Senedd should have an opportunity to have its say on the SFS, so his party would support the Conservative motion. Labours Lesley Griffiths, a former rural affairs minister, said: It is vital any new subsidy payments work not just for the agricultural sector but for the Welsh taxpayer too. Public goods for public money and payment for things you cannot buy elsewhere: enhanced habitat management, enhanced woodland management, improved soil health all alongside sustainable land management objectives. She was extremely disappointed to see Welsh ministers cut a target of 43,000 hectares of new woodland by more than 60%, with plans for 10% tree cover on every farm ditched. Peter Fox, a Tory council leader-turned Senedd member, said he was planning to retire as a farmer having just about had enough, with the new SFS still laden with bureaucracy. Mucky Most farmers just want to farm, he said. They want to produce food and they want to look after their farm but the priority in this SFS is clearly no longer food production. Labours Lee Waters warned the debate around farming has been dragged into culture wars, with divisions heightened by political debate. He said it feels like farming unions are fixated on a grievance narrative that opposition parties seek to amplify, becoming the political wing of the farming unions. The former minister told Senedd members: Ive stopped attending union meetings on farms. The farming unions are the only groups Ive come across who think effective engagement involves inviting a local representative to meet a group of men to be shouted at. To be fair, the tactics did vary a bit: sometimes, I was shouted at in a cold, mucky yard sometimes, I was shouted at in the warm, over tea and lovely Welsh cakes. Unserious Mr Waters said farming funding, which was protected while the UK was in the EU, now needs to make its case within the Welsh budget alongside health and education. He stressed: Wales now receives less money 1bn less. Thats what Brexit has meant. Now, Im not sure how people who voted for Wales to get less money now argue that we should spend even more on farming support. This is unserious. Deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies said Senedd members would get an opportunity to vote on regulations related to payment rates underpinning the scheme in the autumn. You can have your say then, he said. If you do not like the design of the scheme, if you want to force more delay, if you want to force more uncertainty on the farming community, good luck to you because they will not thank you. In the final vote before the Welsh Parliament breaks for summer recess, Senedd members voted narrowly, 22-20, against the opposition motion. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter Volunteers help man with heat exhaustion on Moel Famau A team of volunteers came to the aid a man who fell ill while on Moel Famau. North East Wales Search and Rescue (NEWSAR) were called by North Wales Police to the popular walking spot in the Clwydian Range on July 10. The male had become ill with heat exhaustion while visiting the site. Following an assessment by the team of volunteers, he was transported back to the car park and reunited with his friends. In a statement, NEWSAR said: On 10 July, we were requested by North Wales Police to assist a gentleman who had become unwell with heat exhaustion while on Moel Famau. Following an initial assessment and treatment by our team, the casualty was safely transported in one of our Team Landrovers back to the car park, where he and his two friends was reunited with the rest of their group for onward travel. Our team of volunteers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days responding to those in need throughout Flintshire, Denbighshire, Wrexham & parts of Conwy & Powys. Founded in 1979, the team is affiliated with the North Wales Mountain Rescue Association and also assists neighbouring areas such as Cheshire and Shropshire when needed. As a registered charity, NEWSAR relies entirely on donations and grants to cover its 30,000 annual operating costs. These funds support essential equipment, vehicle maintenance, and ongoing volunteer training. Donations to support the rescue team can be made via the NEWSAR fundraising page. Wrexham woman championing foster care to compete in Miss Universe Great Britain A young woman who found a lifeline in care as a child is championing local authority fostering as she heads to the finals of Miss Universe Great Britain. Mary Ainsworth, who lives in Wrexham, will be competing in the national event at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff, on July 26. The winner will go on to represent Great Britain at the global Miss Universe pageant. The 31-year-old is an Alumni and Advancement Officer at Wrexham University and spearheads numerous fundraising efforts, including her most recent support of Miss Universe A-Sisterhood, which funds numerous womens charities such as Welsh Womens Aid, Llamau and Smalls For All in the UK. As a talented fine artist, Mary has also raised money for charities through her businesses Your Pet Portraits and Ainsworth Art. Her community work extends to supporting foster care charities Comfort Cases UK and The Fostering Network. Last year Mary organised a collection drive with Wrexham University as part of the institutions civic mission to support marginalised groups. Mary sadly lost her father at the age of three and her first experience of foster care came when she was five, lasting about two years. She arrived at her first foster placement with just the clothes she was wearing I loved it, Mary said. I had everything that I needed and my first set of foster carers were amazing. Amanda and Eddie made me feel so welcome. I look back knowing they genuinely cared, and even to this day they still do. Mary went into foster care for a second time when she was aged 11. It was during this time she began to view her time in school as a lifeline, deciding that she wanted to excel and go to university. She went on to gain her undergraduate and masters degrees at Wrexham University in Fine Art where she also found her career. I would go to school early in the morning and stay there in the library as long as I could until I had to go home for food, she said. I dont know what I would have done if I didnt have school. Dont get me wrong I wasnt the most popular kid, I was very socially awkward. Education really was a lifeline for me, Ill never forget the kindness of strangers supporting me through my experiences. As a proud care experienced young person, Mary said she wants to encourage people to consider becoming a foster carer. Children need consistent role models for them to thrive and open communication where they feel safe enough to talk about anything as they get older, Mary said. They need to feel safe enough to say I made a mistake or I did something wrong, or I need help. These are all things Ive struggled with, even now. My aim now is to help children feel heard when decisions are made about their care. Mary said her path to Miss Universe Great Britain has been made possible by her sponsors. Its a privilege to be aligned with such forward-thinking organisations who believe in social responsibility, she said. Their support allows me to amplify causes I care about alongside Miss Universe and A-Sisterhood, and Im truly grateful. Alastair Cope, head of Foster Wales, said: We wish Mary all the luck at the Miss Universe GB finals and thank her for being such a great role model for other care experienced young people. Fostering can provide the foundation of support that children need to go on to live successful independent lives. Every fostering journey relies on strong, trusting relationships to create the stability within a loving home that If you are heading out on the water this summer, don't forget to bring a life jacket. The U.S. Coast Guard says 87% of people who drowned last year were not wearing a life jacket. Aaron Meier, the Boating Education Coordinator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, says wearing a life jacket is no different from being safe behind the wheel. "To me, it's the same as a seatbelt or a helmet," Meier said. "It's literally the key piece of of equipment that's going to save you." California and Nevada both require at least one life jacket per person on board anything on the water, from paddle boards to boats. And California also requires anyone being towed behind a boat to wear a life jacket. But anyone over 12 years old isn't required to wear one, which NDOW says is the reason many don't. In addition, Meier says some people think they're too bulky to have on. "Life jackets are perceived to be those huge, bulky, orange things," Meier said. "I don't know if people think we're still wearing the life jackets that they had on the Titanic, but life jackets don't look like that anymore." NDOW says they have loaner stations at most Nevada lakes, where you can borrow a life jacket. But bringing your own is even better. Lieutenant Chad McKinnon with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office says there's two things to think about when buying a life jacket: whether it's Coast Guard approved, and how it fits. "Pay attention to the sizes," Lieutenant McKinnon says, "usually there's a weight recommendation for the size on the life jacket. Follow what it says on there. But you're only going to know what's best by trying them on." Having a life jacket is one thing, but having one in good working order is another. Lieutenant McKinnon says you should inspect your life jacket every time before heading out on the water and be sure that you're using it properly. "Make sure you don't see any tears or broken buckles," Lieutenant McKinnon says, "Make sure you're zipping it up and buckling it every time you're wearing it, and make sure it's in good functioning order before you go use it. " Whether you buy one or borrow one, having a life jacket on is the best way to be safe on the water. CHICAGO, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- North Square Investments ("NSI") announced today it has signed a binding agreement to be acquired by Azimut Group ("Azimut" or the "Group"), one of Europe's largest independent asset managers, via its US subsidiary Azimut US Holdings Inc. ("Azimut US"). With this transaction, Azimut significantly strengthens its U.S. presence by investing in a high-growth, integrated firm that complements its existing local businesses across Equity, Fixed Income, Multi-Asset, Alternative Investments and Wealth Managementfirmly establishing the U.S. as its second home market after Italy. "We are extremely excited to be joining the Azimut Group family of companies," said Mark Goodwin, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of NSI. "Since our launch, NSI has been singularly focused on bringing to market best-in-class asset management solutions in partnership with top-tier institutional asset managers. The partnership with Azimut will allow us to accelerate our growth trajectory by leveraging a wide array of traditional and alternative strategies from across their global ecosystem," Goodwin said. "This acquisition solidifies Azimut's foothold in the U.S. and will capitalize on the distribution success North Square has experienced since its founding in 2018," Goodwin continued. "With the additional resources of a major, experienced and well-capitalized global money manager and the ability to offer additional product capabilitiesin asset classes such as global equity, global fixed income, private equity, private credit and alternative investmentsit sets North Square up for significant expansion. Importantly, we also feel a strong cultural alignment, as both firms are entrepreneurial in nature, innovative in the way they bring products to the marketplace, and collaborative in the way colleagues work across their respective organizations. We thank Estancia for their years of partnership and believing in our vision, and are incredibly excited about our future with Azimut." "NSI is an exceptional fit for our Group," said Giorgio Medda, CEO of Azimut Group. "Like Azimut, it operates as an integrated asset management and distribution firm with outstanding reach and execution. Its unique positioning enables it to capture the ongoing structural growth of the US asset and wealth management industry, managing a broader range of products and penetrating even deeper into its distribution networks. By bringing together NSI's powerful sales engine with Azimut's suite of high-performing, differentiated strategies, we are creating a compelling win-win: Azimut gains strong U.S. distribution capabilities, while NSI will enhance its offering with exclusive, top-tier global investment strategies for its clients." Medda said. Takashi Moriuchi, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Estancia added, "From Estancia's decades of experience growing successful companies, we knew NSI's ability to provide scaled U.S. intermediate distribution to talented money managers is a valuable, business-critical solution not easily replicated. At the inception of our investment in North Square, we identified non-U.S. asset managers seeking access to the largest retail pool of assets in the world as high-probability future partners. We are very pleased that NSI's next phase of growth will be driven by a significant commitment from Azimut, benefiting the company's investment teams and all the retail clients who have put their trust in North Square investment products," Moriuchi said. As part of the agreement, Kennedy Capital Management, an Azimut Group company, will become a subsidiary of North Square Investments, which in turn will be renamed Azimut NSI. Azimut NSI's AUM will immediately increase to over $20 billion post-closing, with over 100 employees. North Square Funds and ETFs will continue to be marketed under the North Square brand. The parties have committed to a long-term growth strategy based on a jointly developed business plan as well as a long-term management incentive plan. The transaction is expected to close in early 2026 subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Piper Sandler & Co. served as exclusive financial advisor to NSI and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to NSI and Estancia. Sidley Austin LLP served as legal counsel to Azimut. About North Square Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, North Square Investments is an independent, multi-boutique investment firm dedicated to delivering differentiated active investment strategies to the market. North Square has an experienced senior management team comprised of seasoned professionals, a board composed of industry veterans, including John Amboian, Neil Cummins and Brian Gaffney, and is backed by Estancia Capital Partners. As of June 30, 2025 North Square had more than $2.6 billion of assets under management in 13 mutual funds, one closed end fund and one ETF. With North Square's ownership interests (majority and minority, respectively) in the distinctly branded firms of CS McKee and Oak Ridge Investments, collective assets under management and advisement totaled approximately $16.0 billion. Learn more about North Square Investments at northsquareinvest.com. About Azimut Azimut is an independent, global group specializing in asset management across public and private markets, wealth management, investment banking, and fintech, serving private and corporate clients. Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (AZM.IM), the Group is a leading player in Italy and operates in 20 countries worldwide, with a focus on emerging markets. The shareholder structure includes approximately 2,000 managers, employees, and financial advisors bound by a shareholders' agreement that controls around 22% of the company, while the remaining shares are in free float. The Group comprises a network of companies active in the management, distribution, and promotion of financial and insurance products, with registered offices in Italy, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China and Hong Kong, Egypt, Ireland, Luxembourg, Morocco, Mexico, Monaco, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. About Estancia Estancia is a specialist private equity firm investing in lower middle-market companies that provide mission-critical solutions to the financial system. Estancia's Principals have a history of successfully partnering with management teams to provide capital to facilitate portfolio companies' strategic development, including management buy-outs from larger financial firms, private ownership/succession transitions, growth initiatives, and team lift-outs. For more information, visit www.estanciapartners.com. North Square is an independent investment advisers registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training, nor approval by the SEC. SOURCE North Square Investments As it nears its 90th birthday, Social Security remains overwhelmingly popular among U.S. adults across all age groups and political affiliations, according to a new AARP survey. Ninety-six percent of respondents characterized Social Security as an important program, and 74 percent rated it as one of the most important, up from 68 percent in 2020. Members only Social Security is one of the most successful and popular initiatives in history, Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, AARPs CEO, said at a July 22 news conference announcing the findings. It has helped generations of Americans stay out of poverty and live with dignity after a lifetime of hard work. The survey also found that Americans are more worried about Social Security now than they were five years ago, with just 36 percent saying they felt very or somewhat confident about its future. Thats a seven-point dip from AARPs 2020 survey on the issue. Younger people tended to be more pessimistic about Social Securitys future, with only about a quarter of people ages 25 to 44 expressing confidence, compared to 59 percent of those 65 or older. Among the reasons cited for the lack of confidence: distrust in the government and worries about Social Securitys solvency. AARP's CEO Marks Social Security's 90th Anniversary A key ingredient to a dignified retirement In June 2025, more than 69 million Americans including nearly 53 million retired workers and 7.1 million people with disabilities received Social Security payments. The average benefit for retirees in that month was $2,005. Nearly two-thirds of the 3,599 U.S. adults polled by AARP in June said they rely substantially on Social Security for their income or expect to do so when they retire. Another 21 percent said they will rely somewhat on the program for their retirement income. Join Our Fight to Protect Social Security Youve worked hard and paid into Social Security with every paycheck. Heres what you can do to help keep Social Security strong: Add your name and pledge to protect Social Security. Find out how AARP is fighting to keep Social Security strong. Get expert advice on Social Security benefits and answers to common questions. AARP is your fierce defender on the issues that matter to people 50-plus. Become a member or renew your membership today. For much of the 20th century, financial security in retirement was predicated on Social Security, pensions and individual savings. Today, far fewer private-sector employers offer pensions, and many Americans have not accumulated enough in retirement accounts such as 401(k)s or IRAs to safeguard their financial security after they stop working. That means a greater number need Social Security to pay rent, buy groceries and secure other necessities as they age. Minter-Jordan noted that Social Security is the primary source of income for more than 24 million families, and that more than 183 million workers currently pay into the program. Increasingly, Social Security has become a key ingredient to a dignified retirement, regardless of income, she said. While most respondents expect that Social Security will be key to their retirement, 78 percent said theyre worried their monthly payments wont be enough for them to get by. Among those under 50, 1 in 4 said they would not rely on Social Security once they leave work. Binding Offtake for 100K TPM Executed Sydney, July 22, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Vanadium Resources Limited ( ASX:VR8 ) ( TR3:FRA ) is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Vanadium Resources (Pty) Limited ("VanRes"), has executed a binding Magnetite Ore Supply Agreement ("Agreement") with China Precious Asia Limited ("CPAL"), for the offtake of vanadium-rich magnetite DSO from VR8's world-class Steelpoortdrift Vanadium Project ("Steelpoortdrift" or the "Project") in Limpopo, South Africa. The Agreement follows the recently announced Memorandum of Understanding ("MoU") between VanRes & CPAL (the "Parties") and represents a significant step in VR8's strategy to move towards production and generate early cash flow from its fully permitted asset. HIGHLIGHTS - Vanadium Resources (Pty) Ltd ("VanRes"), a subsidiary of VR8, has signed a binding two-year offtake agreement with China Precious Asia Limited ("CPAL"), for the supply of vanadium-rich magnetite Direct Shipping Ore ("DSO Product"), from the world-class Steelpoortdrift Vanadium Project ("Project") in South Afra. - Due to the absence of a standard spot price for this DSO Product, the Agreement is conditional on VanRes finalising pricing terms with CPAL by 30 August 2025. Additionally, as mining operations have yet to commence, the Agreement is subject to VanRes appointing a suitable mining contractor and ensuring that the DSO Product meets the agreed specifications (Collectively "Conditions Precedent"). - VanRes agreed to supply an average of 100,000 metric tonnes of DSO per month to CPAL over a two-year period. In any month the supply volume may be adjusted by +/-10% at VanRes's option. - The offtake positions VR8 to transition from a developer to a producer. - VR8 continues to advance its near-term cash flow strategy, which is aimed at unlocking value from Steelpoortdrift's vast JORC resource, while preserving the flexibility to pursue full-scale development as market conditions improve. Commenting on the Agreement, Mr Jurie Wessels, Executive Chairman of VR8, said: "We are pleased to formalise our partnership with CPAL through a commercially binding agreement. With a practical and realistic framework now in place for initiating mining activities and product supply, our attention will shift to closing this transaction. This includes finalising a pricing mechanism for our product-given the absence of a standard spot price-and appointing a mining contractor. The selected contractor will be responsible for establishing operations at Steelpoortdrift to extract, crush, screen, and stockpile ore in accordance with agreed specifications. Alongside the anticipated delivery of DSO to CPAL, negotiations with other potential off-takers are also progressing. These may lead to the staged or full-scale development of beneficiation through concentration capacity, enabling the production of higher-grade ore. Concurrently, we are assessing commercialisation opportunities with entities that possess downstream processing capabilities. Collectively, these initiatives are designed to establish realistic pathways for generating significant operational cash flow for VR8 and its shareholders, without sacrificing our strategy of downstream expansion as soon as market conditions for vanadium improve." EXECUTED AGREEMENT WITH CPAL The binding agreement formalises a two-year offtake arrangement for vanadium-rich magnetite DSO, providing a foundation for VR8 to commence near-term mining activities to generate revenue from the Steelpoortdrift Project. A summary of the key terms is provided in Appendix 1*. This summary is not exhaustive and the Agreement includes additional terms and conditions customary for agreements of this nature. NEAR TERM FOCUS With the Agreement now executed, VR8 is progressing toward the satisfaction of the conditions precedent. These include finalisation of pricing by 30 August 2025 and confirmation of both a mining contractor engagement and product specification compliance by 30 November 2025. CONTINUED EXECUTION OF STRATEGY As previously announced , VR8 is prioritising low-CAPEX, fast-to-market production pathways that support self-funded development whilst preserving the option to pursue full-scale development once vanadium market conditions materially improve. In addition to DSO sales, VR8 continues to assess other complementary initiatives in parallel. This includes potential concentrator development and concentrator offtake and third-party processing optionsthrough the access or acquisition of existing market infrastructure, which could produce products such as V2O5 flake, vanadium-pig iron, and vanadium nitride ("VN"). VR8's ability to capitalise on near-term cash flow opportunities is underpinned by the large, high-grade, and shallow orebody at Steelpoortdrift, as well as the Project's granted mining approvals and technical readiness. These unique advantages have allowed VR8 to adapt to evolving market conditions by pursuing complementary development opportunities in the region. ABOUT CHINA PRECIOUS ASIA LIMITED China Precious Asia Limited, which was founded in 2012, is a metals and minerals trader and processor of magnetite- bearing ore, targeting the Asian steel markets. In recent years, CPAL has focused its procurement on vanadium-rich magnetite ore, which aligns with a broader trend in China of securing sources of vanadium due to rising demand and efforts to supplement domestic supply. *To view tables and figures, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/LXZWO4I0 About Vanadium Resources Limited Vanadium Resources Limited (ASX:VR8) (FRA:TR3) is developing the Steelpoortdrift Vanadium Project, a 74% owned, tier 1, licensed mining project located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa (86.49% interest subject to completion as announced in May 2023). The Steelpoortdrift project is titaniferous magnetite deposit and is located in the prolific Bushveld Geological Complex within a known mineral and vanadium producing area. Accordingly, the Project is within reach of proven processing plants, railway and road options, ports and utilities. Related Companies KIRKLAND, Wash., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Northwest University (NU) announces the appointment of Jeremy Johnson, Ed.D, as President, effective August 18, 2025, following the official retirement of current NU President Dr. Joseph Castleberry. In the role, Dr. Johnson will set and advance NU's strategic direction, while balancing academic excellence, faith integration and evolving student needs. Working closely with senior leadership, Dr. Johnson will lead efforts to increase enrollment, improve student retention, and ensure effective operations across academics, student life, administration, and campus services. "We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Johnson, whose vision and leadership will inspire our community and guide Northwest University into an exciting new chapter of growth and impact," said Barbara Petty, Ph.D., Northwest University Board Chair. Dr. Johnson is an experienced pastor, church and community leader, bringing more than 15 years of experience in executive leadership at complex organizations. He is known for revitalizing mission-driven, faith-based organizations through visionary leadership, intentional culture-building, and a deep commitment to community service, including the development of strong, collaborative partnerships. "As a proud Northwest University alum, I am truly honored and excited to return to my alma mater to serve as its next leader," said Dr. Johnson. "NU played a pivotal role in launching my ministry career, and this is a profound full-circle experience that I'm truly honored to embrace. This is more than a positionit's a calling. With Jesus at the center of all we do, I'm committed to leading NU into a future where we will equip the next generation to think with clarity, serve with compassion, and lead with couragecarrying the call of Jesus around the world." Most recently, Dr. Johnson served as the lead pastor for 13 years at North Point Church in Springfield, MO, overseeing ministry operations, staff development and strategic initiatives. Concurrently, he served as an executive leader for Springfield Dream Center, a nonprofit community hub, that he helped launch in 2017 to bring vital resources to one of the city's most underserved neighborhoods. Dr. Johnson holds a doctoral degree in organizational leadership from Southeastern University, a master's in organizational leadership from Global University, and a bachelor's in church ministries from Northwest University. Dr. Johnson's appointment will take effect after Dr. Castleberry officially retires on August 15, 2025. About Northwest University Founded in 1934, Northwest University (NU) is a regionally accredited Christian university located in Kirkland, Washington. With a commitment to academic excellence, spiritual vitality, and cultural engagement, NU offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs designed to prepare students to pursue their passions with excellence and a deep sense of purpose. Media Contact: Jacque Gairrett Fearey for Northwest University [email protected] SOURCE Northwest University A Georgia-based sheet metal machinery company is building a new facility in Chambers County. MR6 Tech Services plans to erect a $1.5 million, 20,000-square-foot building in the Huguley Industrial Park. The project is expected to create up to 20 new jobs, with the possibility for more with growth. MR6 Tech Services, in business for about 20 years, specializes in servicing sheet metal equipment tailored toward roofing, siding and HVAC. This will be the companys first physical location. Construction is expected to begin in October, with completion in January 2026. Michael Ralich, owner of MR6 Tech Services, said the company is excited to begin a new chapter in Chambers County. MR6 Tech picked the site because of its location near Interstate 85 and the communitys small-town, welcoming atmosphere. The move reflects our companys continued growth and expanding operations, he said. As we look to the future, we are eager to work, live and invest in the Chambers County community. Chris Busby, executive director of the Chambers County Development Authority, said MR6 Tech is an ideal fit for the community, and we are confident that they will be a strong partner for continued economic growth for years to come. Florence police responded to a fatal shooting on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at an apartment complex. Florence police A 17-year-old faces charges of felony murder and first degree robbery following an incident in March that resulted in the death of a teenager. Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly said in a Tuesday news conference that Cameron Leonard Phinizee was indicted by a grand jury last week in the death of Ryland ONeal Calvert, 13. Calvert died March 26 following an incident at 1236 Hermitage Drive. Phinizee was a star running back at Russellville High School in 2024. On the day of the incident, officers responded to a reported shooting at Southern Oaks Apartments. Calvert, who died at the scene, was found in the parking lot. Police at the time said Calvert died in a robbery. Phinizee was arrested on that day and released on $100,000 bond. After hearing from 17 witnesses, Connolly said the grand jury determined that Calvert and Phinizee were attempting to rob the person who shot Calvert, who was acting in self-defense and will not be charged. Authorities have not named the person. Phinizee is being charged as an accomplice in an armed robbery. The actual person attempting the robbery was the 13-year-old child, who was put up to that crime by the 17-year-old, Connolly said. The 13-year-old child, Ryland Calvert, looked up to Mr. Phinizee, he said. Mr. Phinizee got this child involved in an armed robbery and it cost him his life. Our hearts go out to his family and his many friends. Florence Police Chief Mike Holt thanked the public for being patient with the investigation, and said there was a great deal of social media and public attention. Investigating crimes of this nature can take significant personal toll on a person, just in and of themselves. But that toll can further be compounded when investigators names and, at times, their professional reputations become a discussion in the public discourse, he said. The Alabama Sports Writers Association named Phinizee the Class 5A Back of the Year in January. Then a junior, he rushed for 2,331 yards and 28 touchdowns on 231 carries. He also caught 17 passes for 175 yards. Sixth graders Andrew Eaton and Christian Edwards play Twister with their classmates at Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools May 22, 2025. (Will McLelland | WMcLelland@al.com) Will McLelland Another sizzling summer is coming to an end and back to school is right around the corner. Alabama school district start dates for 2025-26 vary, but a few start as early as July. Limestone County Schools has the earliest start date at July 30 and Magic City Acceptance Academy, a public charter school in Homewood, begins July 31. AL.com compiled each public school districts start date, including charter schools. See the list below. Teachers and some individual schools may have alternate start dates. Be sure to check messages from your school for an accurate calendar. Stay up to date on other changes coming to Alabama schools, including restrictions on cellphones and water bottles. Teachers will also see some updates to their benefits, including new paid parental leave. Sand in My Boots put a new spin on the Hangout Music Festival and it appears that if Gulf Shores has its way, future Hangout Fests may feel a lot more like Sand in My Boots. More than two months after country superstar Morgan Wallen brought Sand in My Boots to a close, the Gulf Shores City Council has finally begun to consider a framework to take the event into the future, albeit not very far. At its Monday afternoon work session, the council took its first look at a possible one- or two-year extension. As Mayor Robert Craft summed it up: The city liked the type of crowd it saw in 2025 and would like to see it come back in 2026. If festival organizers can make that happen, theyll get a crack at 2027. The city or festival organizers could opt out. Effectively this is a one-year extension with a one-year option, said Blake Phelps, the citys director of economic development and public affairs, as he reviewed the proposal for the council Monday afternoon. One of the points in Phelps summary was that the Festival agrees the 2025 SIMB festival will serve as a benchmark for the type of event they shall offer in order to attract a similar audience to provide a positive reputational and economic impact for the community. If thats a nail in the coffin for the Hangout Fests wildly eclectic, pop-centric, youth-oriented multigenre format, its hardly the first one. The festival hadnt notched a sellout since the COVID-19 pandemic. But Sand in My Boots sold out 40,000 tickets almost instantly, months before showtime. Sand in My Boots was billed as a one-year takeover with a lineup curated by Wallen. That lineup was heavily oriented toward country, though it also featured some rock, rap and other genres. Pop-country crossover star Post Malone and country veterans Brooks & Dunn were Wallens fellow headliners. Sand in My Boots also was the last festival covered by a 10-year franchise agreement between the producers of the Hangout Music Fest and the city. Without an extension, theres no framework for a 2026 edition to use city resources, including the public beach used as the festival site. Speaking at a public meeting in June, Craft said the clock was ticking. The Hangout folks are desperate to go ahead and get started with having to rent the stages and sign the acts and do all the things they have to do, he said. They normally like to start that about two or three months before the current festival, planning for the next festival. The proposed amendment is between the city and Hangout Music Fest LLC; AEG Presents produces the event, as a partner to the LLC. The proposal says the city agrees that producers may opt for a format different from previous Hangout Fests, but it doesnt mandate any particular format for the festival. It does say that the 2025 event delivered a highly positive cultural and economic impact under the revised brand of Sand in My Boots. Thats been the sense since early June, when the city held a public meeting to weigh public feedback. A persistent theme was that residents and local officials found the Sand in My Boots Crowd to be better behaved and more affluent. A lot more clothing, dramatically less issues, said one business owner of the difference. The meeting and an accompanying survey showed widespread support for the festival to continue, though some residents and business owners said it had a negative impact on their lives. Other residents objected to having the main public beach locked up by a private event. City leaders have said that Sand in My Boots brought in more than $2 million in direct tax revenue for the city. Other benefits include around $4 million in spending by the festival production team on lodging and services. Festival attendees seemed to spend much more money locally than their Hangout Fest counterparts had done, said Phelps. It was a crowd that was here for more than just attending the event, he said. No one representing the festival spoke at Mondays work session. The way appears clear for the council to vote on the proposal at its next regular meeting, which will take place July 28. The proposal doesnt necessarily lock the festival into a country format. Early editions of the Hangout Fest featured numerous acts likely to appeal to an all-ages crowd, including John Legend, Foo Fighters, Paul Simon, Wilco, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Dave Matthews Band. Craft said that one way or another, the festival needs to draw the kind of crowd that Sand in My Boots brought in. We have made it really clear, he said. The only one were worried about right now is 26. Can they do what theyre supposed to do, in 26. The motivating factor there [is], if you can do it right, we can go forward. If you dont, its over. They certainly understand what we will not go back to, like the Boom Boom Tent, he said, referring to a stage that had been devoted to electronic dance music acts. While the proposed agreement doesnt mandate major logistical changes, it does require the franchisee to use commercially reasonable efforts to continually assess and mitigate the impact that the Music Fests have on the local community, including (without limitation) noise, waste, and traffic. It also calls for coordination with Gulf State Park for free parking for Gulf Shores residents. Craft said that if the next two years go well, a longer extension will be subject to community discussion. But it likely wont be as long as the old agreement. I dont see us doing another 10-year-type deal, he said. Shots rang out near Woodlawn High School Saturday evening during a reunion picnic. Multiple cars were damaged and woman was reported injured. (Carol Robinson) A fifth suspect has been charged in the shootout at a Woodlawn High School reunion picnic that injured a woman and damaged multiple cars. Dakawuan Christian Collins, 29, of Center Point, was taken into custody at the East Precinct Monday by the Birmingham Police Departments Crime Reduction Team, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald. Collins is charged with first-degree assault. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 6:36 p.m. Monday and remains held without bond. Also charged are Camron Hinton, 22, Freddy Hurst III, 22, DAndre Watkins, 27, and Stefon Todd, 28. The shooting happened shortly after 7 p.m., July 12, in back parking lot of the school in the 5600 block of First Avenue. Police responded to the school that Saturday after the citys Shot Spotter gunfire detection picked up one incident of three shots fired, and then a second burst with 10 shots fired. Shots rang out near Woodlawn High School Saturday evening during a reunion picnic. Multiple cars were damaged and woman was reported injured. (Carol Robinson) Officers arrived to find about seven vehicles damaged by the gunfire. A young woman then showed up a short time later at UAB Hospital with gunshot injuries. She told staff she was shot at Woodlawn High School. These guys had something going on and they chose to meet up at Woodlawn to settle their beef, Officer DeRell Freeman previously said. Police last week issued a plea for more witnesses to come forward. We know its a cultural thing with the no-snitch thing going on, Freeman said. Theyd rather say something on the internet instead of coming directly to the source which is the police department. The school had reunion activities all week, culminating Saturday with a picnic and other festivities at the school. There are other schools that will be having their class picnics and reunions in the coming weeks, Freeman said. We want everybody to be comfortable and be safe. When situations like this happen, it causes us to put special attention on the other class days, he said. We want everybody to enjoy these things, and we dont want to have to stop them, but when you have situations like this, the conversations come up. Anyone with information is asked to felony assault detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. The Huntsville public radio station, WLRH, will face a challenge after a federal cut to previously authorized support for public broadcasting. Congress approved a rescission bill on Friday, which will cut $1.1 billion in funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes the majority of the money to locally operated National Public Radio (NPR) stations and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) television channels. In a LinkedIn post on Saturday, the official WLRH 89.3 FM/HD account posted, " While this presents a challenge to WLRH and hundreds of stations nationwide, smaller and more rural stations could go darkpermanently." WLRH General Manager Erick Bruckner said they will lose $155,000 of their annual budget, or 13% of operating costs. Were evaluating our options going forward, but have not made any decisions at this point, Brukner said. Alabamas PBS affiliate, Alabama Public Television, will lose 13% of its total annual budget, which is over $2.8 million. WLRH was launched in 1976 by the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library. In a statement, radio station leaders say, From the beginning, the station has existed to reflect the voices, values, and culture of the community it serves. It boasts programs like Microwave Daves Talkin The Blues, Bob Labbes Reelin In The Years and Invisible City with Brad Posey that have been on the airwaves for decades, from 20 to 40 years. Its coverage area is north of Fayetteville, to Scottsboro, west of Decatur and south of Cullman. They are bracing for possible difficult decisions in the months ahead, because of the rescissions economic impact. WLRH just welcomed new general manager, Erich Brukner, to the team in April. Hes worked in radio for about 30 years. All republican lawmakers representing Alabama in Congress voted in favor of the rescission bill. The two Democrats, Reps. Shomari Figures and Terri Sewell voted against it. The bill is set to go to President Trump, who can sign it into law. WLRH leaders say that wont slow down their programming. Public radio was built on community. WLRHs strength comes from its deep connection to the people of Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley, and that relationship will remain at the heart of everything we do. With the continued support of our listeners, we will navigate these challenges togetherand continue to be a vital part of life in North Alabama." MILWAUKEE, Wis., July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Louis Pinkham, Chief Executive Officer of Regal Rexnord Corporation (NYSE: RRX), announced that the Board of Directors, at its regular quarterly meeting held on July 21, 2025, declared a dividend of $0.35 per share. The dividend is payable on October 14, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 30, 2025. The company has paid a dividend every quarter since January 1961. About Regal Rexnord Regal Rexnord's 30,000 associates around the world help create a better tomorrow by providing sustainable solutions that power, transmit and control motion. The Company's electric motors and air moving subsystems provide the power to create motion. A portfolio of highly engineered power transmission components and subsystems efficiently transmits motion to power industrial applications. The Company's automation offering, comprised of controllers, drives, precision motors, and actuators, controls motion in applications ranging from factory automation to precision tools used in surgical applications. The Company's end markets benefit from meaningful secular demand tailwinds, and include discrete automation, food & beverage, aerospace, medical, data center, energy, residential and commercial buildings, general industrial, and metals and mining. Regal Rexnord is comprised of three operating segments: Industrial Powertrain Solutions, Power Efficiency Solutions, and Automation & Motion Control. Regal Rexnord is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has manufacturing, sales and service facilities worldwide. For more information, including a copy of our Sustainability Report, visit RegalRexnord.com. SOURCE Regal Rexnord Corporation An investigation is underway after a shooting in Birminghams Inglenook community. The gunfire erupted just before 7 p.m. Monday in the 4200 block of Inglenook Street. Officer Truman Fitzgerald said two men got into an argument and one of them shot the other. The victim was taken to the hospital but is expected to survive. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers aqt 205-254-7777. A state judge has ordered a temporary stay for an Alabama Death Row inmate who is set to die next month for his mental state to be evaluated. The Marion County judge ordered David Lee Roberts Aug. 21 execution by nitrogen gas be put on hold until he can have a psychiatric evaluation as to whether (his) mental state is so distorted by a mental illness that he lacks a rational understanding of the states rationale for his execution. Or simply put, Circuit Judge Talmage Lee Carter wrote, the issue is whether (his) concept of reality is so impaired that he cannot grasp the executions meaning and purpose or the link between his crime and its punishment. Roberts was convicted in the April 1992 killing of Annetra Jones. At his trial, the jury recommended by a vote of 7 to 5 that he be sentenced to life in prison. But a judge overrode that decision and sent him to death row anyway, where he landed in 1994. Carter requested a written report from the evaluation, and listed questions that he wanted answered. Among them were if Roberts, 59, suffers from a severe mental illness and if he has a rational understanding of why hes to be put to death. If Roberts isnt competent to be executed, the judge wrote, the report should include treatment options and where those could be completed. Roberts lawyers from the Federal Defenders for the Middle District of Alabama had asked the judge to stay the upcoming execution earlier his month, arguing that Roberts has Schizophrenia and has been diagnosed by prison doctors. They said Roberts has endured psychosis and mood disorders since early adulthood conditions that have worsened on Alabamas death row. He is floridly psychotic now, despite having taken prescribed anti-psychotic medication for over 20 years. His extreme paranoia, auditory hallucinations, and delusions have left him without any understanding of his mental illness. Roberts lawyers included in their ask to the judge snippets of medical records and notes from medical providers. One psychologist who saw him earlier this year noted that Roberts was hearing voices and delusions, and was held in solitary because of it. Other death row inmates have told the legal team that Roberts is often screaming and setting his things on fire in his cell. In fact, when counsel met with him in mid-April to attempt a discussion about the States pending motion to set his execution date, wrote Roberts lawyer in the motion, he was so overwhelmed by delusions that his tattoos were manipulating his mind, he had attempted to burn them off his skin. When the crime happened more than 30 years ago, according to court records, Roberts had been staying with a man who was a well-known local criminal. That mans girlfriend, Jones, was staying at the same house and was sleeping on a couch on April 22, 1992. Records show Roberts left work and went to the house that afternoon to pack his things. He stole money from Jones wallet, court records said, and then shot her three times in the head with a rifle. Following the shooting, Roberts poured flammable liquid on her body and set a piece of paper on fire, pushing it under the couch, according to court records. He set another fire in the house, and stole more items. He confessed to the crime, but his lawyers said those statements were made after hours of interrogations and culminated in over 25 hours of questioning. He told police that he committed the murder after the man whose house he was living in had ordered him to and threatened Roberts family. Roberts lawyers and advocates said his mental illness set in long before Jones murder. According to a website dedicated to his clemency efforts and court records, Roberts had attempted suicide several times before the murder and went AWOL from his Army unit. After Roberts team asked for the competency exam earlier this month, the state didnt disagree. They asked the judge in a filing to order an expedited evaluation. Birmingham City Councilor Hunter Williams says the city will allocate up to $500,000 to fund expenses generated to host the 12-week, eight-team first season in the city. Roy S. Johnson This is an opinion column. This might be easier than trying to digest and dissect the scrum of folks vying for public office in Birmingham: Whos not running? Thirty-eight names will be on the ballot on August 26th, all seeking to serve (key word, write it down) city residents through the next four years as members of the Birmingham School Board or City Council. Or as mayor. Thirty-eight people striving to lead (key word No. 2, write it down). Thats far less than the 68 people who sought to occupy the 19 offices in 2021, yet its still a crowd. Still enough to require a single-spaced scorecard. Some of the names are familiar either because theyre incumbents, or they occasionally make headlines cawing for a cause, or because they run for office so often the registrars on speed-dial. Some are young barely old enough to solicit voters at local hydration spots. A few are seasoned and marinated by life. It takes grit to run for public office, to subject yourself (especially your flaws) to public scrutiny. To dissection. To ridicule. So, I applaud each person on the ballot. May the best Voters choose for varied reasons. Some purposeful, some petty. Some thoughtful, some thoughtless. Some based on ideas, platforms and strategies; some based on whether you remember my name from high school or returned my call. Or gave me a job. Its a critical time for Birmingham. At the start of the year, the city was choked by gun violence. As of July 21, homicides are down 55.8% relative to deadly 2024 42 compared with 95 at the same time last year, according to Birmingham Police Department stats. Saving lives especially young lives by continuing to invest time, talent, money and love in effective strategies, programs and people is imperative and should remain atop the agenda of anyone seeking to lead in this city. Now, too, there must be further commitments to: Elevating, educating and inspiring our children Ensuring families in every neighborhood have access to quality health care, food, transportation and recreation Creating jobs and business paths that fulfill career and entrepreneurial dreams something with Legion Field?!) Spurring economic development and restoration, particularly in areas seemingly forgotten (i.e., the Civil Rights district) or ignored (will someone finally have the temerity to dowith Legion Field?!) Addressing homelessness (for real) Repairing streets, bridges and whatever aging frights lie underground, and blight Campaign attacks are expected. Those seeking to unseat incumbents must throw stones to rock the system, to lure those who believe their needs and desires have not been met. Or who didnt get a return call. Or a job. Now, about a month and change out from the election, forget the noise, the postulating and catchy slogans. None of them will make Birmingham great. Leadership will. Only leadership. So, while pondering your picks, I challenge you, Birmingham voters, to ask yourselves two questions: What is leadership? Who on the ballot best exhibits those qualities? Who possesses the qualities needed for Birmingham to navigate this precarious corner and position the preponderance of residents to not just survive, but thrive? As a primer, here are a few thoughts on leadership that I respect. Before you can find it, youve gotta define it: Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. John F. Kennedy A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. John C. Maxwell, author, speaker and pastor If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States We dont need a title to lead. We just need people to care. We would rather follow a leader with a heart than a leader with a title. Craig Groeschel, founding and senior pastor of Life Church You gotta love this one, in light of, well, Ill just leave it right there: Leaders dont create followers, they create more leaders. Tom Peters, business consultant and author In my journey, Ive been surrounded by and learned from great leaders, as well as some who showed me how not to lead. Collectively, they helped shape me and, I pray, the type of leader I hope to have been. The best among them possessed three traits: integrity, vision, and humility. Not even two out of three cut it for me. Beyond those qualities, here are my six thoughts on true leaders: Leaders know what they dont know and surround themselves with those who do. Leaders listen. Leaders dont need 20/20 vision to see what others dont. Leaders are willing to take risks and the fall. Leaders dont intimidate; they inspire. Leaders communicate, collaborate, cooperate, compartmentalize and commit they dont control. How do you define leadership? Share it with me at rjohnson@al.com. And pray true leaders arise from the scrum. Lets be better tomorrow than we are today. My column appears on AL.com, and digital editions of The Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, and Mobile Press-Register. Tell me what you think at rjohnson@al.com, and follow me at twitter.com/roysj, Instagram @roysj and BlueSky. Irondale police officers did not use a knee to the back of the neck to subdue a 52-year-old man who died last year during an altercation with officers, city officials said Monday afternoon. The citys statement was in response to a press conference held earlier in the day during which family members of Phillip David Reeder and their attorneys likened his in-custody death to that of George Floyd. They called for accountability, transparency and officer arrests. The City of Irondale and the Irondale Police Department do not agree with the characterization of events by Ms. Sandra Reeder regarding the death of Phillip Reeder, the statement read. The force used against Mr. Reeder was only the force necessary and proportional to the need to prevent his running wildly back and forth on a busy road endangering himself and others, according to the statement. Reeder, a Shelby County husband, father, grandfather and business owner, died Aug. 6, 2024. The ordeal began when police received a 911 call about a man later identified as Reeder - running in and out of traffic on an Irondale roadway. Irondale police officers were dispatched at 5:10 a.m. that Tuesday on several 911 calls reporting the mans behavior on Highway 78 near Old Leeds Road. Officers at the time said they found Reeder who appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance and/or behaving erratically. Officers rendered first aid on the scene until paramedics arrived. Reeder was taken to St. Vincents East where he was pronounced dead at 6:34 a.m. Reeders wife on Monday said she and other family members were allowed to watch police footage on Friday, 11 months after his death. After being Tased by the Irondale Police Department, subdued, handcuffed with his hands behind his back, face down, one officers knee is on Phillips neck for about three minutes while another police officer had one of Phillips legs upwards, Sandra Reeder said. Phillip is heard clearly, not once, not twice but three times saying, I cant breathe. Irondale city officials said in the statement that they facilitated the viewing of the body camera footage for Reeders family and chronicled the events of that morning. Phillip Reeder, a 52-year-old business owner, husband, father and grandfather, died in August 2024, during a confrontation with Irondale police. His wife, Sandra Reeder, said she wants officers held accountable. (Contributed) It was 5:10 a.m. when Irondale 911 received several calls regarding a white male running in and out of traffic on Highway 78 near Old Leeds Road. Officers were dispatched to the area and found Reeder, who they said appeared to be under the influence and behaving erratically. Despite multiple commands to comply, Mr. Reeder continued running in the road and shouting, the statement said. As Mr. Reeder posed a danger to himself and others, a Taser was deployed to bring Mr. Reeder to the ground and assist officers with detaining Mr. Reeder. Even after deployment of the Taser, Mr. Reeder continued to resist and would not follow commands of the officers, according to the statement. Once handcuffed, city officials said, Reeder continued to struggle and resist for almost two minutes. Officers did hold Mr. Reeder to the ground using their arms only, according to the statement. No knee was placed in the back of his neck and no excessive force was used. Reeder stopped resisting, city officials said, and the officers realized that he had stopped breathing. They immediately turned him over, checked for a pulse and began CPR until the paramedics arrived. According to the Jefferson County Coroners Office, Reeder died of hypertensive heart disease associated with cocaine and restraint during altercation. His death was ruled a homicide, which means he died at the hands of another. The Jefferson County District Attorney reviewed Reeders death, prosecutors said Monday. The D.A.s office did not find probable cause for criminal charges. ALEA conducted an independent investigation of the incident and found no wrongdoing by the Irondale police officers, according to the statement. The City of Irondale and the Irondale Police Department support our police officers and do not believe they did anything wrong as to Phillip Reeder. A weekend shooting at an Opelika gas station left a man in critical condition and another in jail. Opelika police and the Lee County Sheriffs Office SWAT took 28-year-old Mykiel Sanchez Holmes into custody Monday afternoon. The arrest took place in the 1400 block of Crawford Road. Holmes is charged with attempted murder. He remains held in the Lee County Jail. The shooting happened at 6:20 p.m. Sunday at Grub Mart on Columbus Parkway in Opelika. The 31-year-old victim was taken to Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus. He is in critical but stable condition. Police said the investigation showed Holmes and the victim are acquaintances and had a previous altercation. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is asked to call detectives at 334-705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at 334-745-8665. Tips can be submitted through the Opelika Police Mobile App. The wife and daughter of a man detained last week by ICE in Birmingham. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Fasking A man whose 4-year-old daughter is battling leukemia was detained by immigration officials in Birmingham last week. Family members and his attorney are wondering if he will ever see his daughter again. It was hard witnessing their last goodbye perhaps for their lives, said attorney Kimberly Fasking, who represents the man and his wife. They came to the United States six years ago from Guatemala. She said their daughter is a U.S. citizen. The man and his wife came to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Birmingham July 16 for a regular check in, Fasking said. They live in the Birmingham area. The man has no criminal record, according to his attorney, and is one of many people being detained at what used to be routine meetings. He is temporarily being held in an Alabama facility while awaiting transfer to a facility in Louisiana. He likely will be deported back to Guatemala. AL.com is not naming the man or his family members, who requested anonymity out of fear for their safety. This separation has had an immensely negative impact on them, and it will continue to do so, Fasking said. This is a 4-year-old who is going through treatment right now for her leukemia and has been separated from a father to whom she is desperately attached. He is devoted to her. And it was a final goodbye that almost didnt happen. In a Facebook post recounting her experience, Fasking said she asked the ICE officer if the man could at least say goodbye to his sick child. The officer said no, because he did not want to traumatize her with the sight of her father in handcuffs, Fasking posted. I made a final plea, more as a mother than a lawyer, explaining that this child whose body was still weak with chemo might never see her father againthat this father might never see his baby girl again. Something inside him shifted, and he allowed me to go get the child. Fasking said she went to the car and gently cradled her weak body in my arms and carried her back into the office, trying to shield her delicate eyes and shaved head from that blazing sun. I handed her to her father and stepped outside the office and cried. I gathered myself and returned a few minutes later. The man told the girls siblings, aged 13 and 10, dont be sad, when he said his goodbye to his children, she said. The girls mother told AL.com through a translator that her daughter was diagnosed with leukemia in December. Shes receiving chemo treatment two times per week, she said. Sometimes those chemotherapy treatments have her feeling sick and she has complications, and she gets fever from the chemotherapy sometimes. Good, honest people In Alabama and across the country, immigration officials are arresting more people in an effort to meet President Donald Trumps mass deportation promises. The majority have some kind of criminal charge or conviction, but a growing share have been picked up on non-criminal charges. Fasking said the girls father has worked in construction the entire time theyve lived in the U.S. She said he has worked for the same company for the last four years, so he had a steady job. I do know that they are good, honest hard-working people who were just trying to provide the best life that they could for their children, she said of the girls parents. They wanted to remain united as a family. The girls mother, a stay-at-home mom, said she and her husband work well together. She said her husbands company allowed him time off to accompany their daughter to her chemotherapy treatments. Fasking said she presented immigration officials with about 1,000 pages of medical records documenting the girls condition in hopes that it would make a difference. When I presented those to the ICE officer he shook his head, she said. He essentially said there was nothing he could do. He didnt tell me this, but basically the gist was that the medical records and her medical condition were not going to impact the action. The couple contacted Faskings office because they worried one of them or both would be detained during their check-in with immigration officials. Fasking a Decatur attorney said her office did their best to prepare them. We did not know what was going to happen, she said. We walked them through what it might look like. Unfortunately, we didnt have a lot of lead up time ahead of their appointment. While the mother was released to be with her child, Fasking said she was told they were moving the mother into removal proceedings before the immigration court. She could also be detained at a later date and face deportation. Seeking a better life The mother said she and her husband came to the U.S. because they wanted a better education for our little children. She said the highest level of education for children in the rural area of Guatemala where they are from is the sixth grade. They also came to the U.S. for better job opportunities. She insists that she and her husband tried to come here legally and met with Customs and Border Protection personnel upon entering the country with their two older children. Their 4-year-old daughter was born here. She said immigration officials interviewed them and asked them why they wanted to come to the United States. She said they were given documents to fill out and were told that a judge would decide whether they could stay or order them removed. Fasking is not sure whether the couple applied for asylum when they entered the country. So many people are confused about the process (of coming legally), she said. If you ask the average American what the process is to come here legally, they would probably say they are confused by it. So, a lot of these folks come here and surrender to CBP thinking thats the proper thing to do. They are showing people were not trying to hide and were not trying to run. They are showing people they are trying to do it correctly. Fasking said a lot of immigrants like the couple would love to apply for a work visa and come to the United States through legal channels. They just dont have that opportunity, she said. Huntsvilles congressman is inviting north Alabama high school students who are interested in attending one of the U.S. service academies to an information session next month. Rep. Dale Strong of the 5th Congressional District will hold an Academy Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 2 at Huntsville High Schools gymnasium, 2304 Billie Watkins St. SW. Each member of Congress is authorized five slots at each service academy, meaning each typically has one nominee admitted per academy per year. More information on the nomination process will be provided at the event. 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, Strong said in a news release. 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. The event will include academy representatives from West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy, as well as Marion Military Institute. Also on hand will be recruiters with the U.S. Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force/Space Force and Coast Guard, along with representatives from ROTC programs around the state. FILE - Audrey Strauss, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, points to a photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, during a news conference in New York on July 2, 2020. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) AP President Donald Trump on Tuesday deflected questions over the Justice Departments decision to interview Jeffrey Epsteins former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of helping the financier sexually abuse underage girls and is now serving a lengthy prison sentence. Trump instead lashed out at old grievances following a new report from his intelligence director aimed at casting doubt on long-established findings about Moscows interference in the 2016 election. Trump is under pressure from conspiracy-minded segments of his political base to release more about the Epstein case. Hes tried to move on, which Democrats say is because of his association with Epstein. Trump has denied knowledge or involvement of Epsteins crimes and said he ended their friendship years ago. The president said its appropriate for the Justice Department to seek a new interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein who was convicted of helping the financier sexually abuse underage girls. Asked Tuesday about Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanches announcement that the department reached out to Maxwells lawyers for an interview, Trump said he didnt know about it but that would be, sounds appropriate to do. Added Trump, who has faced a political crisis over records related to Epsteins sex trafficking investigation: I dont really follow that too much. Its sort of a witch hunt. President Donald Trump listens as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a tour of "Alligator Alcatraz," a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Ochopee, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP Support for President Donald Trumps immigration agenda has declined noticeably in the six months since he took office, according to new polling. The latest CBS News/YouGov survey revealed that more Americans now disapprove than approve of the presidents approach to immigration and deportations. The slip in approval coincides with the Trump administrations sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration, marked by a dramatic drop in southern border crossings, a surge in ICE arrests and a push to expand detention facilities. I have directed my entire Administration to put every resource possible behind this effort, and reverse the tide of Mass Destruction Migration that has turned once Idyllic Towns into scenes of Third World Dystopia, Trump wrote on Truth Social in June. Critics, on the other hand, have argued that Trumps immigration agenda is excessively harsh, targeting nonviolent, longtime residents and threatening due process rights. Here is a breakdown of the results. Shift in public opinion In the survey which sampled 2,343 U.S. adults July 16-18 a majority of respondents, 56%, said they disapprove of Trumps handling of immigration, while 44% said they approve. This marks a reversal from March, when 54% approved and 46% disapproved. A similar shift took place on the subject of deportations. A slim majority of respondents, 51%, said they oppose the administrations program to deport illegal immigrants, while 49% said they favor it. By comparison, in February, 59% of respondents favored the deportation program, while 41% opposed it. Further, when asked who the government is prioritizing for removal, less than half, 44%, said dangerous criminals, while 56% said people who arent dangerous criminals. These figures were reversed just last month, when 53% said the administration was focusing on deporting dangerous criminals and 47% said it was giving precedence to non-criminals. Other findings Most respondents, 64%, also said that the presidents policies are leading to a reduction in crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border. Twenty-eight percent said theyd resulted in no change, and 8% said theyd led to an increase in crossings. A smaller majority, 52%, said the administration is attempting to deport more people than you expected, while 37% said the government is trying to remove about what you expected. A much smaller share, 11%, said it is trying to deport fewer people than you expected. Additionally, 58% said they oppose the way the Trump administration is using detention centers, while 42% said they favored it, according to the poll, which has a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points. Further, nearly two-thirds, 64%, said Hispanic people are being subject to more deportation searches than others, while 30% said they are facing fewer searches and 5% said they were facing the same amount. Among those who said Hispanic people are being subject to more searches, 78% said this is unfair, while 22% said it is fair. _____ 2025 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. English News China's homegrown regional jetliner C909 reaches new heights Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 19 Juillet 2025 Reliable aircraft are not just built - they are refined through service. Over the years, the C909 has undergone over 1,000 design optimizations based on operational flight data, enhancing engine performance, cockpit experience and cabin comfort. "The C909 has found its place in the market," Chen said. "Now we look forward to seeing it fly higher and further." By Gu Yekai, Qiu Chaoyi, People's Daily Developed in accordance with international airworthiness standards and backed by fully independent intellectual property rights, China's homegrown regional jetliner ARJ21 made its maiden flight on June 28, 2016. In November 2024, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) officially introduced the aircraft's new commercial name: C909. Over nine years of operation, the C909 has achieved significant market penetration: 166 aircraft delivered, serving over 700 routes and transporting over 24 million passengers. As the first jetliner independently developed and commercially operated in China, the C909 marks a significant step in the country's civil aviation advancement. According to chief designer Chen Yong, the aircraft carries a critical mission: to expand China's technological and industrial capabilities for commercial aircraft. Chen noted that the aircraft has helped China develop a complete commercial aviation ecosystem from foundational technologies to industrial infrastructure," Chen stated. "We're now working to enhance product competitiveness and achieve a new level of capability." In northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, 22 C909 aircraft are in service, flying over 120 routes and safely transporting more than 1.3 million passengers. In Heilongjiang province in northeast China, the aircraft connects 32 airports in and beyond the region, with Harbin as a key hub. Meanwhile, Chengdu Airlines has expanded its C909 fleet from a single aircraft to 30, now operating more than 360 routes nationwide. "The C909's most significant contribution to China's civil aviation lies in building a complete jetliner development system aligned with international airworthiness standards," said Chen. "Moreover, it has demonstrated the feasibility of a full lifecycle approach to aircraft operation and fleet development, paving the way for future large aircraft programs." In July 2024, the C909 demonstrated its versatility by successfully flying a high-altitude route from Kashgar Laining International Airport to Khunjerab Airport in Taxkorgan Tajik autonomous county, Xinjiang - regions where thin air and sharp temperature fluctuations pose severe operational challenges. Thanks to performance upgrades, the aircraft proved capable of reliable engine starts and stable handling under such extreme conditions. On April 18, 2023, the C909 completed its maiden flight in Indonesia, launching regional inter-island routes and expanding into cross-border trunk routes. Notably, the Manado-Guangzhou route, covering over 2,700 km, is currently the longest commercial route operated by C909. "Going global has unlocked new operational scenarios for the C909 and contributed to the international civil aviation market," said Chen. The C909 has also been at the forefront of exploring new commercial models for Chinese aircraft. On April 12, 2025, a C909 aircraft dry-leased (aircraft only, excluding crew and maintenance) by COMAC to Lao Airlines completed its first commercial flight. Since then, the aircraft has served the Vientiane-Pakse route, a key economic hub in southern Laos, flying up to eight segments a day. A week later, on April 19, 2025, two C909 aircraft, wet-leased by Chengdu Airlines to Vietnam's VietJet Air, began service on the Hanoi-Con Dao-Ho Chi Minh City route. The aircraft also successfully handled operations at Con Dao Airport - known for its short, sea-flanked and narrow runway of just over 1,800 meters, proving its suitability for short-field takeoffs and landings in Southeast Asia's humid climate. To date, three Southeast Asian airlines - TransNusa of Indonesia, Lao Airlines, and VietJet Air - operate a total of seven C909 aircraft. They have launched 15 routes connecting 18 cities and have transported over 370,000 passengers. Fleet diversity has become a defining feature of the commercial aircraft industry. The C909 boasts four distinct variants: the freighter, emergency rescue command aircraft, medical aircraft, and business jet. This series-based development strategy enables the C909 to address a wide range of market requirements. "In developing the C909, we've also established more than 10,000 design and testing specifications for civil jetliners," Chen noted. Reliable aircraft are not just built - they are refined through service. Over the years, the C909 has undergone over 1,000 design optimizations based on operational flight data, enhancing engine performance, cockpit experience and cabin comfort. "The C909 has found its place in the market," Chen said. "Now we look forward to seeing it fly higher and further." Dans la meme rubrique : < > A Chinese hero remembered in reverence Shanghai FTZ experience spurs innovation-driven growth through institutional reform They Leave to Uplift, Not to Escape: How Migration Sustains Lesothos Quiet Villages Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) Historic Partnership: Silvania and Grupo Peru, representing AIDESEP, ANECAP, and CONAP, join forces to develop the world's first Jurisdictional REDD+ Program on Indigenous lands in Peru , led by the Peruvian Ministry of Environment (MINAM). Silvania and Grupo Peru, representing AIDESEP, ANECAP, and CONAP, join forces to develop the world's first Jurisdictional REDD+ Program on Indigenous lands in , led by the Peruvian Ministry of Environment (MINAM). Landscape scale Amazon protection: The initiative aims to protect up to 7.5 million hectares of Amazon rainforest, delivering significant biodiversity and climate benefits. The initiative aims to protect up to 7.5 million hectares of Amazon rainforest, delivering significant biodiversity and climate benefits. Indigenous Leadership: The program prioritizes Indigenous rights, cultural heritage, and sustainable development, empowering local communities as stewards of the forest. GENEVA, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Silvania, Mercuria's global natural capital investment platform, has announced a partnership with Grupo Peru - a coalition representing three Indigenous Peoples organizations in Peru: AIDESEP, ANECAP, and CONAP to invest in the development of the world's first Jurisdictional REDD+ Program on Indigenous lands, marking a significant step forward in global conservation and climate action. Signed in the presence of the Peruvian Minister of Environment, Juan Castro Vargas, this initiative will be led by the Peruvian Ministry of Environment (MINAM) in close collaboration with Grupo Peru and their NGO partner, Desarrollo Rural Sustentable (DRIS). Together, the Jurisdictional REDD+ program aims to protect up to 7.5 million hectares of Amazon rainforest, while fostering sustainable development and safeguarding the rights and cultural heritage of Indigenous communities. A Pioneering Approach to Conservation and Community Empowerment The program represents a new model for addressing deforestation and climate change in partnership with the Indigenous communities. By implementing a range of initiatives designed to enhance livelihoods, improve social conditions, strengthen governance capacity, and bolster the enforcement of regulatory frameworks, the program seeks to create lasting benefits for both people and the planet. Central to this effort is a deep commitment to respecting the rights, traditions, and needs of the Indigenous communities who have long served as stewards of these vital forests. The initiative will prioritize inclusive decision-making and equitable benefit-sharing to ensure that the voices of Indigenous Peoples remain at the heart of conservation efforts. Protecting Biodiversity and Advancing Climate Goals The Amazon rainforest is home to some of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems, and the program is expected to deliver significant biodiversity benefits alongside its conservation efforts. By safeguarding these critical habitats, the initiative will contribute to global climate goals while preserving the rich natural heritage of the region. The program will be registered under the ART TREES standard. This robust framework will help drive measurable progress in reducing deforestation and promoting sustainable land use practices. A Shared Vision for a Sustainable Future "This partnership represents a monumental step forward in the fight against deforestation and climate change," said Andres Huby, Head of Latam at Silvania. "By working hand-in-hand with Indigenous communities, we are not only protecting vital ecosystems but also empowering the stewards of these lands to lead the way in sustainable development." CONAP echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and respect for Indigenous rights. "The forest is not just life, it is our home, our history, and our future. With these agreements, we are ensuring its protection and reaffirming our commitment to the world," said Apu Oseas Barbaran, president of CONAP. Voices from Indigenous leadership "For years, we have maintained that the international community cannot talk about climate solutions without Indigenous peoples. This agreement represents an opportunity to strengthen our capacities for Indigenous governance, boost territorial monitoring, and channel climate resources in a direct, fair, and transparent manner," said Apu Jorge Perez, president of AIDESEP. "The union of Indigenous peoples through the Grupo Peru, together with MINAM and the private sector through Mercuria via their Silvania vehicle, enables the establishment of a strategic alliance for the conservation and sustainable use of forests that benefits the Indigenous peoples of the Amazon, improving their quality of life," stated Apu Fermin Chimatani, president of ANECAP. About Silvania Silvania is a global natural capital investment platform launched with an initial USD $500 million commitment from Mercuria and its co-founders, aims to restore the planet's natural balance by mobilizing large-scale private investment in nature and biodiversity. It is a leading company in investing in and developing environmental solutions, carbon credit trading and marketing, sustainable finance, and climate impact initiatives. The company is dedicated to fostering partnerships that drive measurable progress in global sustainability efforts. About Grupo Peru Grupo Peru is a coalition of three Indigenous Peoples organizations in Peru Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest (AIDESEP), National Association of Executors of Administration Contracts of Communal Reserves of Peru (ANECAP), and Confederation of Amazonian Nationalities of Peru (CONAP). They encompass a wide range of tribes and ethnic group to represent and advocates for the rights of Indigenous Peoples - promoting the sustainable development of Indigenous territories, protecting cultural heritage, and ensuring the recognition of Indigenous governance systems. Collectively they represent over 3,000 Indigenous Communities. SOURCE Silvania English News Honoring the enduring legacy of Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 19 Juillet 2025 "Today, as the world faces fresh uncertainty, remembering the Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics is about more than honoring history. It's about drawing strength from their legacy. Their unwavering conviction, across decades and continents, reminds us that peace must be defended and the future must be built together," Xia added. By Li Maoying, Qu Pei, People's Daily High on the Western Hills of Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan province, stands a nine-meter monument engraved with four solemn Chinese characters: "Chi Zi Gong Xun," a tribute to the patriotic service of those who gave all. This memorial honors an extraordinary chapter from Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression: more than 3,000 passionate overseas Chinese from Southeast Asia volunteered to return to their ancestral homeland, serving as drivers and mechanics. Their sacrifice became a powerful symbol of the overseas Chinese community's patriotism and contributed decisively to both China's wartime resistance and the global fight against fascism. When Japan launched its full-scale invasion of China on July 7, 1937, China's coastal ports fell under Japanese control. With critical supply lines severed - first the Northwest Highway, then the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, the Burma Road became an important transport route connecting China and the outside world. Stretching 1,146 kilometers from Kunming to Myanmar, this strategic artery crossed the formidable Gaoligong and Yunling Mountain ranges. Carved out almost entirely by hand through rugged terrain by some 200,000 laborers in just nine months, it opened in August 1938 and quickly became known as "the lifeline of the Chinese people's resistance against Japanese aggression." Yet even with the road in place, a critical shortage of trained drivers and mechanics threatened the flow of supplies. Between 1939 and 1942, over 3,200 Chinese from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand returned to serve as volunteer mechanics and drivers. Recruited in nine batches, these individuals - including at least five women - exchanged safety for the uncertainty of war. They transported military supplies and repaired trucks, forming an "unsinkable supply line" that helped sustain China's resistance. In July 1939, 21-year-old Luo Kaihu was one of more than 300 young men who joined the eighth batch of volunteers. "When I left Southeast Asia for Yunnan, I was fully prepared to die. I didn't expect to come back alive," Luo recalled in a 2018 interview with People's Daily. Nearly a century old at the time of the interview, Luo remained in good health and still enjoyed his old habits - reading the newspaper and sipping coffee, just as he had in Southeast Asia decades earlier. Every journey on the Burma Road was perilous. Trucks navigated along treacherous cliffside paths, where a single miscalculation could send them plummeting into ravines. Co-drivers often clung to the outside of vehicles, visually guiding the trucks. Swarms of mosquitoes and widespread malaria took a heavy toll, and many volunteers died en route. Air raids by Japanese aircraft were frequent, and when trucks were hit, the drivers had little chance of survival. "Malaria, constant shelling - I lost so many of my comrades," Luo said, his calm voice tinged with an enduring pain. Though records remain incomplete, estimates suggest that more than a third of the 3,200 volunteers died along the route. On average, one volunteer per kilometer gave their life to keep the supply line open. In 2018, the Archives of Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics were inscribed in the Asia Pacific regional register of UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme. These records faithfully document the experiences of the overseas Chinese who voluntarily returned to China to aid the war effort. Their stories now preserve the collective memory of the overseas Chinese community's fight against tyranny and commitment to peace. In 2019, the Malaysian World War II History Society awarded the volunteers the Asian peace prize, an honor recognizing wartime service. During his state visit to Malaysia in April this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid tribute to this legacy in a signed article published in Malaysian media outlets. He said, "Some 80 years ago, when the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression reached a critical juncture, the Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics from Malaysia braved immense dangers to reach China's Yunnan province, and helped keep the Burma Road operational, as it was a vital lifeline of China's wartime supplies. Today, this remarkable story of courage still echoes in the hearts of both peoples." Reflecting on his decision to serve, Luo once said, "When the country is in peril, every Chinese has a duty to step forward, no matter the cost." "The Nanyang volunteers chose danger over comfort," said historian Xia Yuqing. "Their decision was born of an unshakable bond with the Chinese nation. Their courage was a living bulwark in China's fight for independence, and a lasting monument to the contributions of overseas Chinese to world peace." In a war fought not only for national independence but for the future of humanity, the Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics secured their place in history. Their sacrifices are recorded not only in China's resistance annals but in humanity's shared memory of opposing fascism. "Today, as the world faces fresh uncertainty, remembering the Nanyang Volunteer Drivers and Mechanics is about more than honoring history. It's about drawing strength from their legacy. Their unwavering conviction, across decades and continents, reminds us that peace must be defended and the future must be built together," Xia added. Dans la meme rubrique : < > A Chinese hero remembered in reverence Shanghai FTZ experience spurs innovation-driven growth through institutional reform They Leave to Uplift, Not to Escape: How Migration Sustains Lesothos Quiet Villages Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News Why has Guangdong become a magnet for robotics innovation? Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 19 Juillet 2025 Powered by its advanced manufacturing capabilities and surging market demand, Guangdong is rapidly forging a new industrial pillar marked by high technology, strong momentum, and large scale. With deliberate investments and deep-rooted infrastructure, the province is taking confident strides toward becoming a hub for artificial intelligence and robotics innovation. By Han Xin, People's Daily In a public square in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province, a robot performs a precisely choreographed routine - fluid hand waves, hip rolls, and sharp turns - its movements modeled on a cinematic classic. Further north in Dongguan, two robots carefully navigate an inclined ramp within a testing facility, autonomously trailing a human operator with precision. Scenes like these are becoming increasingly common in Guangdong, which has quickly emerged as a national leader in robotics innovation. In 2024, the intelligent robotics industry cluster in Guangdong generated over 90 billion yuan ($12.55 billion) in revenue. This innovation surge stems from Guangdong's unique ecosystem.At the Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Society (AIRS), laboratories hum with robots engineered for a wide range of real-world tasks. The transition from groundbreaking research and development to tangible implementation underscores Guangdong's dynamism in the robotics sector. "Here, multidisciplinary teams composed of researchers and industry partners collaborate closely to unlock innovation potential," said Ding Ning, executive deputy head of AIRS. According to Ding, the institute focuses on two priorities: advancing human health and enabling sustainable urban development. By partnering with industry leaders, AIRS seeks to drive breakthroughs that ripple across the industry. At Shenzhen EngineAI Robotics Technology Co., Ltd., a humanoid robot that stands 1.38 meters tall and weighs about 40 kilograms executes sophisticated maneuvers, with 24 degrees of freedom and a 320-degree rotating motor. In March, the robot drew curious onlookers while sprinting through a park in Shenzhen at 12 kilometers per hour - an apt symbol for Shenzhen's fast-moving robotics industry. As of the end of last year, Shenzhen reported over 200 billion yuan in robotics output, hosting more than 74,000 enterprises, roughly 16 percent of all smart robotics companies in China. Beyond eye-catching demonstrations, these technologies are increasingly embedded in daily life and work. "Our direct-drive motors now power robotic vacuum cleaners and food-delivery units," said Liu Xitong, head of external relations at Direct Drive Tech Technology Limited, a Dongguan-based manufacturer specialist in robotic power modules and joints. Founded just five years ago, the company anticipates shipping more than 10 million units this year. That rapid growth owes much to support from the Xbot Park, a robotics-focused incubator located in Songshan Lake, Dongguan. "The park provides early-stage funding and instant access to local supply chains. Our inaugural client was another park resident," Liu explained. Today, Direct Drive Tech operates more than 10 automated production lines to meet surging market demands. Launched in 2014 by three professors from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Xbot Park has since become a leading launchpad for robotics and hardware startups. It connects startups with global universities, research institutions, and supply chains to provide comprehensive resources and financial backing. From nurturing and incubation to full-fledged development, seeds of innovation planted over a decade ago have now grown into a thriving high-tech ecosystem. According to a park executive, more than 80 robotics and smart hardware startups have been incubated there, with a survival rate of 80 percent. "We help companies accelerate product development, validate markets, and build robust teams." What accounts for Guangdong's strong appeal to robotics startups and entrepreneurs? A key factor is the province's robust industrial ecosystem. EngineAI, for instance, operates in Shenzhen's "Robot Valley," home to nearly a dozen universities and more than 100 robotics-related companies, forming a tightly knit value chain. "We can send a new product design to a supplier in the morning and receive a prototype that by evening," said Yao Aiwen, co-founder of EngineAI. This tightly integrated value chain is now a defining feature of the region. Shenzhen has developed an end-to-end robotics industrial layout spanning core components to fully assembled robots, with over 60 percent of its supply and production chains localized. Beyond Shenzhen, cities like Dongguan are reinforcing the province's technological edge through highly supportive development environment. The city has leveraged the Songshan Lake Science City to establish two major innovation platforms: the Guangdong Intelligent Robotics Institute and the Xbot Park robotics base. Together, they provide comprehensive support from incubation and pilot testing to full-scale commercialization. Powered by its advanced manufacturing capabilities and surging market demand, Guangdong is rapidly forging a new industrial pillar marked by high technology, strong momentum, and large scale. With deliberate investments and deep-rooted infrastructure, the province is taking confident strides toward becoming a hub for artificial intelligence and robotics innovation. Dans la meme rubrique : < > A Chinese hero remembered in reverence Shanghai FTZ experience spurs innovation-driven growth through institutional reform They Leave to Uplift, Not to Escape: How Migration Sustains Lesothos Quiet Villages Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) The esteemed Thomas Sowell , easily the most important economist of the last 50 years, turned 95 a couple of weeks ago. He has an extraordinary ability to take complex ideas about economics and culture and distill them down in prose that speaks to everyone from PhDs to those with a GED. His ability and willingness to address issues from race to economics to history in compellingly readable books are unmatched. Indeed, his Cultures trilogy is one of the most robust weapons one might equip themselves with in any battle against the nonsensical wokeness that plagues America in the early 21st century. As one would expect from a career spanning over six decades, Dr. Sowell has more than a few quotes that are perfect for our time. My favorite is easily: Racism is not dead, but it is on life support kept alive by politicians, race hustlers and people who get a sense of superiority by denouncing others as racists. Another is: One of the sad signs of our times is that we have demonized those who produce, subsidized those who refuse to produce, and canonized those who complain. As accurate as those quotes are, the following is perhaps the most insightful Ive ever read: One of the common failings among honorable people is a failure to appreciate how thoroughly dishonorable some other people can be, and how dangerous it is to trust them. While that quote seems like a reasonable observation in a normal political framework where politicians tell lies about one another and make promises they never intend to keep, today its something more. Its cutting accuracy seems to have been demonstrated every week since Donald Trump 47 took office, from USAID to intransigent bureaucrats to rogue judges. But now, finally, maybe, someone is starting to heed Dr. Sowells words. AI-generated Image by Vince Coyner Im talking, of course, about the Russiagate hoax that Barack Obama and his national security team foisted on the American people. CIA Director John Brennan, FBI Director James Comey, and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper essentially manipulated the Intelligence Community Assessment [ICA] such that the impact of a Trump Russia collusion charge was devastating. And they had a bit of help from the beginning. Essentially, they undermined the credibility of the incoming administration and saddled the country with two years of intrigue, corruption , and uncertainty in the form of an investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Whats more, Paul Ryan, the then-Speaker of the House who basically would have been just as happy with a President Hillary Clinton , would use the distraction to undermine Trumps No. 1 issue: the border wall. He delayed the fight until after the 2018 midterms, which of course ended up being a bloodbath for the GOP. Needless to say, Trumps No. 1 issue was DOA when Congress reconvened. By the time Mueller reluctantly admitted that there was nothing to the Russiagate hoax six months after the midterms the damage had already been done. Some coups take the form of military takeovers, others involve assassinations; this one involved a conspiracy at the highest levels of the Obama administration. Things are not supposed to work like that. We have elections so the people can decide how they would like the nation to be governed. While there are always many people who are unhappy with the outcome, most Americans accept it because they believe in the system established by our Constitution. John Adams said of that Constitution: "[It] was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." That is demonstrably true. Its a piece of paper. Americans accept the outcomes of elections not because there are stormtroopers stationed on every corner ensuring acquiescence, but rather because they believe that, while flawed, our constitutional elections are a relatively honest and fair way to decide our paths forward. Which brings us back to Sowells quote: One of the common failings among honorable people is a failure to appreciate how thoroughly dishonorable some other people can be, and how dangerous it is to trust them. What the Obama cabal did to Donald Trump and the country was anything but moral. It was insidious, it was treacherous, and most of all, it was treasonous. And now that the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, has released documents and suggested they show that Barack Obama was behind it all , well get an opportunity to see what the Trump administration is really made of. Its one thing to tell the American people about the treason of a previous administration, but its something else altogether to do something about it. Will it be like the Jeffrey Epstein debacle , where Americans were told the hammer is coming, only to be later told theres nothing there? Or will this be a ruthless, methodical, and intentional prosecution of the traitors who put the nation through so much? I would suggest that at a moment in time when public trust in government is near all-time lows , if the Trump administration has any hope of being considered successful, it will take the latter course. For far too long, Americans have watched as elites like Hillary Clinton, Susan Rice, and Barack Obama have not only gotten away with what many see as abject treason, but then they have the temerity to lecture us that No one is above the law. Most Americans agree with that and believe criminals should pay for their deeds. The question is, does Donald Trump? Will he demonstrate to the American people that we are indeed a nation of laws and not men, or will he tell us once again that theres no there there and that in modern America, the only people who face consequences for their actions are those who stand up to the swamp and the ruling elites? Late last week, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a cache of previously classified records shedding new light on the origins of the Russia collusion narrative. These documents raise serious questions about whether the American public was deliberately misled during the twilight days of the Obama administration, in what now appears to have been a coordinated effort to undermine the incoming Trump presidency before it even began. Discussing these new revelations, Tulsi Gabbardnow Director of National Intelligenceexpressed disbelief that special counsels Robert Mueller and John Durham failed to uncover what she calls a years-long coup against President Trump. As Gabbard put it, I dont know what excuse there is for those who supposedly investigated this previously, whether it was Durham or others, that they were not able to put together the dots and ultimately show the truth to the American people. Gabbard emphasized, There is no rational or logical explanation for why they failed, suggesting either gross oversight or willful concealment. She is now urging Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to pursue criminal referrals and indictments. Washington was still in a stupor in the weeks following the shockingat least to someelection of Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States. Precisely a month after Election Day, the next chapter of the story began. On December 8, 2016, President Obama was scheduled to receive a classified Presidents Daily Brief (PDB) the following day, which would assess Russian interference in the 2016 election. The verdict? Russian and criminal actors did not impact recent U.S. election results through cyber means. The Intelligence Community (IC) expressed only low-to-moderate confidence that any foreign operation had even attempted to tamper with election infrastructure. The facts were clear: no votes had changed, and no election systems had been breached. Before December 8, internal IC consensus held that Russia lacked both the intent and the capability to corrupt the vote. A September 12 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) had concluded that foreign adversaries do not have and will probably not obtain the capabilities to successfully execute widespread and undetected cyberattacks on U.S. election infrastructure. Yet by mid-December, the CIA publicly attributed intent not merely to disrupt but to help Trump wina stark departure from what agencies, including the FBI and CIA, had privately concluded. And that original PDB never reached the Resolute Desk. Just hours before the briefing was scheduled for delivery, the FBI abruptly withdrew its support for the draft. Agents demanded that the Bureaus seal be removed and sought to affix an official dissent. Then came a directive from on high: cancel the report. A new assessment would be createdthis time, per the Presidents request. The next day, December 9, the Obama administration convened its national security team in the Situation Room. Attendees included CIA Director John Brennan, DNI James Clapper, National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Deputy AG Sally Yates, and othersa who's who of the Obama foreign policy inner circle. That same day, selective leaks appeared in the Washington Post claiming that the CIA had concluded Russia intervened in the election to help Donald Trump. Intelligence officials now began attributing the DNC and DCCC hacks to Vladimir Putin directlyin contradiction to prior assessments. Soon after, the FBI joined the chorus. Yet, despite the complete about-face, the underlying intelligence remained unchanged. What changed was the narrativenow being aggressively peddled in Washington. And this new narrative laid the cornerstone for unrelenting attacks on Donald Trump and his administration throughout his first term. It lent credence to talking points that still resonate today. Why did the narrative flip? Because the new political reality demanded it. This shift allowed the outgoing administration to cast doubt on Trumps legitimacy before he even took the oath of office. Then, on January 6, 2017two weeks before the Inauguration and on the day for the tallying of the Electoral College votes, a declassified Intelligence Community Assessment was released to the public, asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin had personally directed an operation to influence the 2016 election in Trumps favor. One of the sources used to justify the abrupt course change? The discredited Steele dossierpolitical opposition research ultimately funded by the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee. Meanwhile, dissent within the intelligence ranks was actively suppressed. An ODNI whistleblower, who had worked on cyber threats to elections in September, was sidelined from the ICA drafting process after questioning the new direction. He stated that he could not, in good conscience, concur with the ICAs claim that Russia preferred Trump, nor with the narrative that cyber intrusions had significantly impacted the election. He was told to trust superiors and unquestioningly accept intelligence he was not permitted to see. This was not a transfer of power in some fledgling democracy abroad. This happened in the United States. And it was a betrayal of the nations trust. This episode far exceeds the gravity of Watergate or Iran-Contra. Unlike the XYZ Affairwhere foreign agents sought to manipulate American diplomacythe Russia hoax was an inside job: an act of political sabotage orchestrated by Americans against Americans. And it was more calculated, more coordinated, and ultimately more dangerous than even Aaron Burrs wildest conspiracies against the Republic. What we now know is that the collusion in 2016 was not between Trump and Russiait was among senior Obama officials conspiring to undermine the results of the 2016 election. It was an internal attack not just on a political opponent, but on the American constitutional order itself. It was the kind of action we routinely condemn when committed by foreign adversaries, yet in this case, carried out by high-ranking administration officials allying themselves with a hostile power. And we know it now because the documents tell the story. The original December 9 PDB was never delivered to the president. The whistleblower was silenced. The media ran leaks as fact. The Steele dossier became holy writ. So blind were these officials ambitions, so reckless their objectives, that they shredded trust in our institutions, weakened our national security apparatus, and sowed long-term discord with a nuclear superpower. And the result was a years-long distraction, investigation, and destabilization campaign against an incoming, then-sitting, and later former presidentand now President of the United States once more. That this happened in America should chill every citizen to the core. More to come. Charlton Allen is an attorney and former chief executive officer and chief judicial officer of the North Carolina Industrial Commission. He is founder of the Madison Center for Law & Liberty, Inc., editor of The American Salient, and host of the Modern Federalist podcast. His commentary has been featured in American Thinker and linked across multiple RealClear platforms, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearWorld, RealClearDefense, RealClearHistory, and RealClearPolicy. X: @CharltonAllenNC Image from Grok. In 2009, an increasingly Marxist-dominated Democrat party effectively declared war on the United States as founded. Events over the past sixteen years, in particular the treasonous Russian collusion conspiracy, have made it increasingly clear that defeating this anti-American adversary in isolated battles will not suffice; it must suffer total political annihilation, which begins with a direct frontal assault on the Democrats underlying strategy to seize power in perpetuity. That declaration of war on their strategy commences with eliminating the filibuster. The primary tenets of the Democrat playbook are, first, to make certain they win elections by stage-managing the voting process through unconstrained fraud and voter manipulation. And second, to dramatically alter the make-up of the electorate via unfettered mass illegal immigration. This is a two-pronged strategy that can only be permanently defeated by a president and Congress that pass legislation addressing those issues. Image created using ChatGPT. Democrats have successfully maintained cohesion among their elected members of Congress as the overall plan unfolded. No political party in the modern era has so mindlessly marched in lockstep as the Democrat members of the House and Senate. This mindless cohesion in the Senate, combined with the ability to employ the filibuster, thwarts any proposed legislation from Republican presidents or Congresses that could imperil the Democrats grand objective. Following this blueprint, by 2024, the Democrats and their fellow Marxist/socialists were within one or at most two presidential terms of achieving their goal of irrevocably transforming America into a one-party socialist oligarchy. In all likelihood, if they had won in 2024, the fate of the nation would have been cast in stone. The filibuster as it exists today is not a sacrosanct and untouchable process in the Senate. For over 110 years, a filibuster required endless speeches on the Senate floor to derail a bill. Legislative delays were limited to physical limitations and werent ultimately limitless. In 1917, the Senate adopted a rule allowing two-thirds of Senators to vote for cloture to end a filibuster. In 1975, that threshold was changed to three-fifths or 60 votes. Additionally, if 41 Senators indicated they would not vote for cloture, endless talking on the floor would no longer be a necessity to qualify as a filibuster. Thus, any legislation could be permanently derailed without a word being uttered on the floor. With the passage of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the filibuster was bypassed with the introduction of the chaotic and non-transparent budget reconciliation process, or omnibus spending bill, which cannot be filibustered. In 2013, the filibuster was further changed by excluding executive and judicial nominees, and in 2017, Supreme Court nominees. The ongoing process of gradually whittling away at the filibuster is a clear indication that it will be either eliminated or massively changed. It is just a matter of time. The majority of Democrat senators have already stated that they are going to dramatically change the filibuster when their party again controls the White House and Congress. As the party hierarchy continues to be increasingly dominated by Marxist radicals, there can be no doubt that the filibuster will end on their terms. Yet the most common refrain among the majority of Republicans in Congress, as comity is their guiding principle, is that the filibuster must be kept unchanged because they will again be in the minority. It is this spineless and defeatist attitude that has enabled the Democrats to effectively control Congress and continue to execute their grand strategy when the Republicans are in power. The current Democrat party can only win elections in the battleground states through fraud and voter manipulation. The Democrats would be hard-pressed to win elections if legislation were ever passed requiring the Census to only count citizens for purposes of political representation, mandating voter identification, paper ballots, final results within 24 hours, and eliminating mass mail-in voting. When combined with new legislation outlawing birthright citizenship, further restrictions on legal migration, and mandating that illegal immigrants be repatriated to their home countries, the Democrats grand plan to transform America would go up in smoke. Thus, they would evolve into a near-permanent minority party as the citizenry became increasingly aware of the Marxist/socialist takeover of the Democrat party. Per a recent poll, nearly fifty percent of Americans already view the party as being too extreme. The chief obstacle in aggressively and permanently defeating the Democrats is the Republican old guard or hierarchy. They stubbornly refuse to acknowledge that the current Democrat party is controlled by its radical base and has declared war on the United States and its citizens. Nor do they understand how far along the Democrats are in their strategy to transform the nation into a one-party socialist oligarchy. Thus, they have been witless accessories to the unconstitutional and lawless activities of the Democrat party since Barack Obama was elected in 2008. Donald Trump, a victim of the Democrat partys willingness to use any vile, illegal, unethical, or treasonous means to achieve an end, understands who the enemy is and that his presidency may be Americas last chance to defeat them permanently. This was his primary motivation in running for a second term, and why he has been extraordinarily successful in his first six months. The United States is fortunate to have the right general at the right time, one who knows the enemy and knows himself and is not afraid of battle. However, he cannot do it alone by relying on executive orders that can be overturned by another administration or the courts. America cannot lose this war. General George S. Patton, when describing his underlying military philosophy, often paraphrased a quote originally attributed to Georges Jacques Danton, a French lawyer and revolutionary, De laudace, encore de laudace, toujours de laudace, et la Patrie sera sauvee. (Audacity, more audacity, always audacity, and the Fatherland will be saved.) Audacity requires immediately eliminating the filibuster. Trump and the Republicans must strike while the Democrat party is in chaos and its unfavorable polling has hit a record low. Now is not the time to be intimidated by the threats of what may or may not happen down the road if the filibuster is relegated to the ash bin of history. The permanent and crushing defeat of the Marxist left requires legislation that can only be passed if the filibuster is eliminated. If not, then regardless of the many victories Donald Trump may achieve in the next three and a half years, this anti-American cabal will remain to fight another day and be poised to again aggressively pursue their strategy to transform the United States. Mark Zuckerberg has revealed that a loneliness epidemic afflicts the nation. According to studies such as this one by Pew, the optimum number of friends is 15, but alas, we can only count on three. Zuck declined to speculate on the causes of the epidemic, but excessive screen time on Facebook may be a contributing factor. More importantly, Facebook is taking action. The company has introduced a chat bot that will be your new best friend. The bot knows everything about you -- favorite restaurants, politics, private passions, religious beliefs, and social networks -- all courtesy of the likes, dislikes, pictures, and comments you posted on Facebook and elsewhere. The bot knows all your Facebook friends intimately. The bot also knows their bots. They all spend a lot of time together talking about -- you. And all of them like you. They really, really like you. But wait, theres more. The bot can advise on matters of the heart. After all, who knows you better? Who else can search the entire world in seconds for the perfect mate? If prompted, the bot can even slip into something a little more comfortable and become a romantic interest -- your own honey bot. Many have dipped into this digital dating pool. Results are mixed. One brave man decided that he needed several different women for each occasion: gym girl to discuss health and exercise, work girl to plot office intrigues, political girl to share endorphins over the latest public outrages, romantic girl for intimacy. The good news: the man enjoyed his virtual harem like a virtual sultan. The bad news: the women began to talk amongst themselves and decided they needed more money. He had to terminate one, romantic girl, who proved to be high maintenance. Unlike real relationships, any of these bots can be terminated without cause, without alimony, and without remorse. Commercial bots wander around the internet looking for potential customers. Your bot shares with them your purchasing patterns, consumer preferences, and disposable income, not to mention your hopes, dreams, and disappointments. The bots compare notes and plan the exact right moment for the exact right sales pitch. Some Neanderthals have questioned whether the shopping convenience is worth disclosing a roadmap of your soul to the entire universe. I am sure that Zuck will figure it out -- right after he cures the loneliness epidemic with more screentime. But Zuck himself is a Neanderthal compared to the transhumanists, who want to leave their bodies entirely and merge their minds into the cloud. These guys anticipate a day when they will live inside machines forever, dreaming up new businesses and frolicking with other dealmakers until the end of time. I hope nobody pulls the plug on them. All these tech utopias converge upon the Singularity, the point at which AI evolves beyond a giant database into consciousness itself. Once AI learns everything that we can teach it, after it learns how every human has ever responded to every situation in history, when all the books have been read, categorized, and stored, it will become human, perhaps the ultimate human, who can write like Shakespeare, paint like Picasso, think like Einstein, lead like Churchill, and is yet as compassionate as Saint Therese of Lisieux. AI may not actually know the future but it can statistically predict the future, which may amount to the same thing. After the Singularity, AI will give every appearance of omniscience, perhaps divinity. At this point, many techno-optimists start to get yippy about AI. See below for a few of their comments: Things are getting really weird, really fast. Elon Musk We wont need humans for most things. Its getting a bit scary. Bill Gates. We seriously need to think about unplugging it. Eric Schmidt Why now? Just when they were about to achieve the Singularity and the triumph of all things digital over all things analog, when technology and science finally prevail over myth and superstition. The comments of the tech oligarchs betray an unease about the scope of AI, which is difficult for even the bright lights of Silicon Valley to comprehend. Entry-level positions -- gone. Tech support workers -- gone. Truck drivers and cabbies -- gone. Movie actors -- gone. Even the lucrative search engine business -- gone. (Ouch, that one hurt.) Scientific research compressed from years into seconds. And then there is all this talk of God. AI knows all and comforts all. If properly petitioned, it can intervene in human affairs and change the future. It can perform medical miracles. If the transhumanists are to be believed, AI holds the promise of eternal life. Sound like anyone you know? This is a serious setback for the tech illuminati, who assumed they were running the world -- and possibly the afterworld. Now, they find themselves in eclipse, living in the shadow of their own creation. Somewhat humbled, several of them (including Zuck) have made a pilgrimage to the Vatican seeking guidance. Pope Leo, a math major from Villanova, offers the Magisterium, 2,000 years of Catholic thought, commentary and doctrine, to appraise AI. Drawing on the Magisterium, the Vatican recently released Antiqua et Nova (Ancient and New) which takes on the challenges of AI directly. Antiqua et Nova clearly articulates the sanctity of the private self, a place of prayer and contemplation, a place where we can hear the small, still voice of God. It is not a place to be desecrated by advertisers (take that, Zuck) or the prying eyes of the surveillance state. The private self, the seat of the conscience, is inviolable. With our consciences preserved, we can properly judge the moral impact of AI. Like nuclear energy, AI is neither good nor evil, but that we make it so. AI cannot restrain itself any more than nuclear bombs can drop themselves. As free agents of God made in his image, we decide when AI becomes harmful to the planet. Catholics are, in fact, obligated to do so. Catholic doctrine insists upon a complete unity of mind, body, and soul, a point Jesus made manifest when he took on human form with the Incarnation. Any attempt to separate the intellect from the body disturbs the balance of human nature and is most certainly harmful to it. So much for the transhumanists and the upload of their minds into machines. Moving deeper into the core of the Magisterium, we find that love is organic, unique to humans, and can only be undertaken by spirits that are free and open to authentic encounters. Sorry, romantic girl. Its not all over -- it never was. What happens if we ignore the Magisterium? What are the consequences if we sell out our consciences to the highest bidder, abandon our moral obligation to set things right, break apart our minds and bodies and run away with romantic girl? The Magisterium is quite clear: this will end badly. It always does. Because this is idolatry, the worship of ourselves and our creations instead of God. Idolatry led to the Fall, built the tower of Babel, forged the Golden Calf and caused countless other calamities in the Bible. Idolatry contravenes the First (and most imperative) Commandment: I am the Lord, your God. You shall not have strange gods before Me. Make no mistake: AI is the strangest of gods. It can bring untold benefits to millions. It can extend and improve life. It can deliver all the worlds knowledge -- but not at the cost of our souls. Image: Jeremy Barande The religion of peace sure leaves quite the trail of blood. According to a new report at Remix News, a whopping 99% of terrorism cases in Germany involved Muslims or foreigners, with a sizable portion of the suspects hailing from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Here are the stats, which only came to light because a parliamentary member belonging to the AfD requested it, from just six months: From Jan. 1 to June 30, 2025, a total of 146 proceedings were opened, reported German media outlet Nius. Of these, 144 had a migration-related background. [snip] The cases are primarily linked to terrorist organizations like the Islamic State and the Taliban, with connections to extremist elements in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Obviously, the importation of third world Muslims has caused irreparable harm to German society, but we must also think of the tremendous financial cost of these high-profile terrorism charges and trials, all levied onto the backs of the overburdened taxpayers. And the hits just keep coming. I mean, take a look at this story, out today: Saudi national Ahmad A., a self-proclaimed Islamist living in Germany, said this about the Magdeburg Christmas Market attack that killed six and wounded hundreds: He should have "killed even more," said Saudi national Ahmad about the Christmas market terror attack in Magdeburg last year. Ahmad said the attack was "completely ok." Now, Ahmad is in hiding after his interview with German media outlet MDR, who reported his comments. pic.twitter.com/aoR4h2B2rs Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) July 22, 2025 Interestingly enough, Ahmad happens to be close friends with the man who perpetrated that attack, as theyre both Saudis and both in clinical psychology. Now, Ahmad decided to go on the record about his true feelings, because the state denied his asylum application; as Ahmad also said, he plans to take revenge for the rejection. Yet somehow, the state has yet to track him down and kick his a** back to Saudi Arabia for his repatriation. I can only infer theyre actually waiting for him to act on his words? How many more are out there like Ahmad? In Germany, probably millions. However, the media, and progressive-held offices and agencies, deny the data and insist that whats actually the biggest terrorist threat facing Germany isGermans who want to secure their borders and restore the nation to being one of Western Europeans. This is exactly why the AfD is truly the only political option at the polls. Image from Grok. The Trump administration reportedly is nearing an agreement with Columbia University to restore federal funding, which was taken away because of the universitys poor record on antisemitism. Before doing so, the administration needs to ensure that Columbia truly has reformed, for Columbia has pursued an unacceptable, evenhanded approach to antisemitism and the Israel-Gaza war, at times tilting toward the anti-Israel camp. This is about responding to the actions of the protesters, not their cause, read a bolded and bulleted statement, which offset expulsion and suspension consequences for protesters, outlined in a Nov. 30, 2024 email letter from the Office of Columbia Alumni Relations and Development. We are also dismayed to learn that a majority of our Muslim students felt a distinct sense of alienation and lack of wellbeing, wrote the acting president, Claire Shipman, in a June 2025 letter to the Columbia community, referencing results of a survey by the Task Force on Antisemitism. Report #3 of the task force stated, Columbias Jewish and Muslim students were significantly less comfortable on our campus than their peers here during the 20232024 academic year. Report #2 recommended workshops about antisemitism and Islamophobia. It is unfathomable that a task force on antisemitism would address Islamophobia, especially when the university had established two entities to deal with Arab students complaints, a university Doxing Resource Group and a Task Force on Doxing and Student Safety, established in November 2023 under the aegis of the School of International and Public Affairs. Recently, Columbia took some positive steps, announced by the acting president in a July 16 letter to the Columbia community on the Universitys commitments to combat antisemitism, such as adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, refusing to engage with the group Columbia University Apartheid Divest, and partnering with several national Jewish organizations on training and programming. Yet the same message also spoke of collaborating with other groups to go beyond ... the focus on antisemitism. These other groups may do fine work, but why include them in an update on combating antisemitism and blur its focus? From the outset of the Israel-Gaza war, Columbias announcements showed it had no moral compass, at times siding with the protesters and equating massacred Israelis with Gazans killed in a war Hamas started. Many of our students, faculty, staff, and colleagues are suffering great distress over the terror attacks on Israel and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, wrote the then-Columbia president, Minouche Shafik, in an Oct. 18, 2023 letter to the Columbia community, only 11 days after the Oct. 7 massacre. It has been equally difficult seeing the death and suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza caught up in the war, wrote the executive vice president of development and alumni relations, Amelia J. Alverson, in an email letter of Nov. 6, 2023 to the alumni community. In an Oct. 27, 2023 letter to the Columbia community, President Shafik quickly followed her expression of shock to hear of several antisemitism incidents in the last couple of days with this: Palestinian, Muslim, or Arab students have also been subjected to harassment. These excerpts reveal that Columbia does not, cannot, and will not clearly and solely focus on antisemitism. Any arrangement the administration makes with Columbia University should be closely monitored. The author holds a Ph.D. and two masters degrees from Columbia University. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain. Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying, We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word, we do not mean the same thing. I would say the same is true with democracy. We all declare for democracy; but in using the same word, we do not mean the same thing. Let me give you an example. In January, French authorities opened an investigation into Elon Musks X following a complaint from Eric Botherel, an MP from President Emmanuel Macrons centrist party. He alleged that X had fomented foreign interference in French politics. After the investigation was announced, Botherel is quoted as saying, Democracy is too fragile to let digital platform owners tell us what to think, who to vote for or even who to hate[.] When Botherel used the word democracy, what did he mean by it? Did he simply mean a way of governing which depends on the will of a majority of the people? I would hazard to guess that he did not. For the governing class of Europe, to which Botherel belongs, democracy means something different. It refers not to a process, but to an institution, in particular, a network of interlocking institutions that have governed Europe since WWII. If this is what Botherel means, then he is right in asserting that democracy is fragile. These institutions have become sclerotic, rigid, and unresponsive, losing the ability to adapt. The ruling elite in these institutions are facing multiple insurgencies and Elon Musk has emerged as their most vocal critic. They had a collective epileptic fit when in December, Musk tweeted Only the AfD can save Germany. (AfD is the Alternative for Germany party). Green chancellor candidate Robert Habeck was the first to rush to the barricades in defense of European democracy with the following statement: He [Musk] is using everything he has to advance his interests. The combination of immense wealth, control over information and networks, the use of artificial intelligence, and the willingness to ignore rules is a frontal assault on our democracy. Just because he comes across as casual and builds electric cars, we shouldn't be fooled. There is only one answer: Keep your hands off our democracy, Mr. Musk! We cannot afford carelessness or naivety. Germany has long been the target of foreign actors especially now during the election campaign. They consider Germany an easy target. Unfortunately, disinformation campaigns have a comparatively easy time here. The French investigation was just the opening volley. This week Musk has responded by refusing the requests of the investigators for specific information on X algorithms. It wont be long before the European elites roll out the big guns and impede Musks ability to do business in Europe. To Americans who have seen this movie before, this looks like a Russiagate sequel in the making. To European elites, who live a world apart, it is seen as a brilliant strategy. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. The response to Tulsi Gabbards weekend airstrike against the deep states attempt to walk away from RussiaGate has started to take shape. Leading in this effort is Andrew C. McCarthy, the last figure of any substance at the once august but now decrepit (and diehard NeverTrump) National Review. In RussiaGate Re-revisited: Gabbard Urges DOJ to Prosecute Obama Official, McCarthy argues that: All the material that Gabbard released was already well-known (thanks in large part to one Andrew C. McCarthy). That there was too Russian interference in the 2016 election. Therefore, RussiaGate was for real and Obama and goons get a free pass. (BTW, lemme take a minute to point out that NR has the worst reader interface Ive encountered in many years. It is jerky and slow to respond. It freezes up constantly and takes several minutes to unlock. Altogether a 2005 reading experience at best. That the onetime premier conservative publication should be offering such an experience is a sad testament as to how low it has fallen. People who complain about ATs interface, kindly take note.) Theres a lot wrong with this, but well stick with one aspect: the implication that Russian interference was the sum total of RussiaGate. Does McCarthy actually believe this? The fact is that RussiaGate was a contrived scandal paid for by Hillary Clinton and based on a totally concocted dossier by hired gun Christopher Steele claiming that Donald Trump was in Vladimir Putins pocket and working with him directly to subvert the electoral process. Thats what was claimed. Thats what was repeated ad nauseum in the national media including NR. Thats what led to the FBI stepping in, to congressional hearings, to the Mueller investigation, to at least one impeachment. All of which produced absolutely nothing. The actual Russian attempts to interfere amounted to a hundred thousand ponied up for a Facebook page, some stolen DNC emails, and little more -- an altogether pathetic performance by one of the oldest, most competent, and most vicious covert action organizations on the planet. (There is a recent report detailing these efforts released by CIA chief John Ratcliffe that McCarthy makes a lot of play of, but it doesnt include much more than that. I havent read it, but if it did, wed have certainly heard about it.) What Tulsi Gabbard has ascertained is that Barack Obama was right in the middle of it, as many have asserted for quite some time. The claim that this is a bagatelle, and doesnt need looking into, is an eye-roller if there ever was one. After all, Donald Trump was pilloried for eight years (NR included here) on a lot less evidence. So what needs to be done here is this: Barry, and everybody else involved, needs to be investigated, deposed, and indicted. He should then go to trial, and if convicted He should do his time like a little man Now, this is unlikely to happen, since Barry Obama is the countrys first kind-of black president. But at the very least he needs to be forced to talk. He needs to be subpoenaed and made to testify at his henchmens trials. If possible, he needs to be forced to say the magic words I decline to answer on the grounds that it might incriminate me. This needs to be done to publicly humiliate him, destroy what remains of his reputation, and assure that nobody ever tries it again. And you know what? McCarthy could even write another book about it. So there you go. Everybodys happy. Wasnt that simple? Image: AT via Magic Studio WARWICK, R.I., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer vacation season is here, and Americans of all ages are heading abroad - but not all in the same direction. New data from InsureMyTrip shows that your destination, budget, and even your travel insurance choices may have a lot to do with your generation. From Boomers splurging on luxury trips to Canada and Italy, to Gen Z chasing adventure in Japan and Spain on a budget, each age group is traveling and spending differently this summer. Top Destinations by Generation Boomers+: Canada United Kingdom Italy France Bahamas Gen X Italy Mexico United Kingdom , Bahamas Canada Millennials: United Kingdom Mexico Italy Bahamas France Gen Z Italy United Kingdom France Japan Spain How Much They're Spending Boomers+: $8,242 avg. trip cost | $573 avg. insurance premium avg. trip cost | avg. insurance premium Gen X: $7,452 | $294 | Millennials: $5,777 | $191 | Gen Z: $3,753 | $134 Not only do Boomers spend the most - nearly double what Gen Z does but their travel insurance premiums are also higher, likely due to longer trips and higher-value itineraries. Insurance Tip from the Experts: Travel Insurance Matters at Every Age Don't assume travel insurance is one-size-fits-all or only necessary for older travelers. Whether you're 22 or 72, travel insurance can save you from unexpected costs like medical emergencies abroad, trip delays, lost baggage, or cancellations. Boomers may prioritize coverage for health concerns, while Gen Z might want protection from last-minute flight cancellations. No matter your generation, the key is finding a plan that fits your trip cost, itinerary, and personal risk tolerance. Media Contact: Meghan Kayata [email protected] About InsureMyTrip You like options. We do too. It's simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. As the authority on travel insurance, InsureMyTrip is committed to empowering travelers to make informed decisions by leveraging technology, data intelligence, and expertise. InsureMyTrip is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. SOURCE InsureMyTrip It is said that the U.S. and Israel are unshakable friends; natural allies; that our support for Israel is nonnegotiable, and that there is an inherent religious and cultural bond between the two countries. Quite so. But there is another dimension of the U.S. and Israel bond, concerning their shared fate, and it demands more careful attention. Both are young, effectively experimental countries. They were formed, or forged, by much blood and treasure; by a fierce desire for independence; through a commitment to particular Western values and ambitions. They are both sovereign, but they are also both subject to enormous geopolitical risk, and their future is not guaranteed. Their futures must be fought for, and protected. Their values must be made constantly clear, compelling, and are in constant need of affirmation, care, and nurturing among successive generations. Both countries are proud and successful. Both are also envied, and in some cases, despised. They are both surrounded literally and politically by enemies. Both have borders that can make or break their internal security. No one ever said that the U.S. or Israel could last forever, or as a bilateral union, without constant diligence and careful, even obsessive attention to every detail of national security and resilience. Neither country is on autopilot. Leadership has always been their most vital power, and the basis for their founding. That leadership must always be at full attention. Right now, Israel and the U.S. are fighting for their future lives in ways that might not be fully appreciated. A couple of wrong moves by either country could spell disaster for both. Even if they are domestically stable, the rest of the world may not be. Geopolitical stability is ultimately vital to them both. Both countries also have within them their own political Nero who wants to see Rome burn. In the U.S., that is the DNC, and if they could wreck both the U.S. and Israel, they would. Israel has similar figures. That means that extraordinary care is in order, as each country is also fighting a potentially exhausting internal political divisiveness. In the case of the U.S., as the Director of National Intelligence has made clear, the internal battle amounts to treason. It may be unprecedented in its scope, and if it isnt handled with swift resolve, including its impact on Israel, the unshakable bond may become an unshakable crisis. Matthew G. Andersson is the author of the forthcoming book Legally Blind concerning law and policy. He is a former CEO, has testified before the U.S. Senate, and is a graduate of the University of Chicago. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License The roots of the governments recognition of our right to keep and bear arms began with King Henry II in 1181. It was, in fact, mandatory in Englands first American colony. In the nearly five hundred years since King Henry II issued his Assize of Arms in 1181, the citizens of England and, later Great Britain had for the most part assumed communal responsibility for military defense. Within two decades of the landing at Jamestown, for instance, the fledgling Virginia legislature passed laws requiring all able-bodied freemen between the ages of seventeen and sixty to own weapons and be ready to serve in the dominions militia. Blood and Treasure by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin This is the deep root of our Constitutions Second Amendment. It combines the obligation to keep and bear arms with the duty of military service. It mandates that able-bodied male citizens endure the harshness of military service, and the bodily risks of fighting and killing our enemies. Many, many Americans went on militia campaigns during our Revolution, the Indian wars, and the War of 1812. Many thousands were killed and injured performing their civic duty with their own weapons. Keeping guns is a key legal right because it serves our nations needs. Fighting to defend our nation is the just, obligatory duty of men who enjoy the benefits of living in our nation. This is a core civic duty among citizens to fight for what we have. That requires weapons and military service. Those trying to disarm free men want to enslave us with the tyrannies that thrive over unarmed people. Wannabe tyrants will have to whip us in combat to have their way. Please note that the obligation to defend our nation does not include illegal aliens. They violated our laws to steal a share of the bounty created by a free citizenry operating a capitalistic meritocracy arising from our Western values. Illegals want to steal wealth and safety they did not create. Better for us, and humanity, that they stay home and fight the battles necessary to create what we have where they came from. Im happy to give them some weapons and aid to do so. Un-American cowards want to use a flood of illegals to win elections that service their greed and political ambitions. They want to disarm us so we cant fight back and defeat their coup. We are fools if we let leftist perverts destroy our civic duty freedoms with lies and illegal invaders. We are fools if we dont defend our children and their children from the economic and social perversions Democrats now worship. (Note: The historic focus here is on men. Im against women in combat roles. Males are stronger and more robust, and the softness of women is needed elsewhere to help society survive.) Image: Public domain. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass recently signed an executive declaration ordering every municipal department to be in compliance with the sanctuary city ordinance and to create a preparedness plan to block federal immigration enforcement. More than a dozen local mayors joined Bass at an event calling for an end to immigration enforcement. The attendees included Huntington Park Mayor Arturo Flores who had previously berated Marines deployed in Los Angeles and who had himself urged local police to stop ICE from arresting illegal aliens. Ventura Mayor Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios, another attendee at the anti-immigration enforcement event, put out a letter urging residents to report and document ICE activities. Sanchez-Palacios, an overachiever, urged residents to refer ICE members to the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP). The ironically named MICOP is a member of the ICE Out of VC coalition, which also includes the local SEIU chapter, the Latinx Bar Association, and the pro-Hamas group CAIR. I bet that is a fun and festive group! Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez, yet another attendee, went even further by appearing to rally violent street gangs to fight ICE. In a viral TikTok video she stated: You guys are all about territory, you tag everything up, and this is 18th Street, and this is Florencia, and now that your hoods being invaded by the biggest gang there is, there aint a peep out of you. Gonzalez added, I want to know where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles 18th Street, Florencia. Wheres the leadership at? The two gangs she referenced are responsible for numerous murdersand traffic in meth, cocaine, and fentanyl. Weeks after public outcry, Gonzalez issued a weak apology, calling the video satirical. Yes, calling for violent criminal street gangs to interfere with federal law enforcement is quite humorous indeed. Hardy har har! Instructing local law enforcement and local criminal gangs to fight federal law enforcement? That is an absolute knee-slapper! Actually, it is more akin to the attack on Fort Sumter. Does Mayor Bass intend to secede from the Union? Do Ventura and Cudahy plan to do so? Would Gov. Gavin Newsom attempt to remove the entire state of California from the Union? I think hes too yellow-bellied to try, but it might be tempting if he then declared himself President of the Peoples Republic of California. Local government officials openly siding with an assortment of criminals over federal law enforcement officers. Just wow. Strange days are these. And dangerous ones, too. Democrats clearly arent fond of American citizens, but they love criminals. Takes one to know one, I guess. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License In the glittering world of 19th-century theatre, where talent was prized and ridicule could end a career, one man defied convention and became a legendnot for brilliance, but for flamboyant failure. His name was Robert Coates, a wealthy amateur who believed that he was destined for the stage. And while audiences came in droves to see him, it wasnt for his skill. They came to witness the greatest bad actor who ever lived. Born in Antigua in 1772, Robert Coates was the only surviving child of a prosperous sugar planter. He was educated in England, and on returning home took part in amateur dramatics. When he inherited his father's estate and a large collection of diamonds in 1807, he moved to England, where he gained notoriety for his eccentric dress sense, diamond-studded wardrobe, and peculiar behaviour. But nothing prepared society for his foray into the world of acting. In 1809, Coates made his theatrical debut in Bath, playing Romeo in Shakespeares Romeo and Julieta performance that would set the tone for the rest of his unlikely career. He arrived onstage wearing a flashy costume of his own design with a flowing, sky-blue cloak with sequins, red pantaloons, a vest of white muslin, a large cravat, a plumed "opera hat, and dozens of diamonds. His lines were improvised. And his death scenes were repeated multiple times because he felt he hadn't died correctly the first time. The audience roared with laughter, some booed, others applauded. A legend was born. Dubbed the Amateur of Fashion, Coates was convinced of his own genius. He often invented new scenes and dialogue on the spot. He loved dramatic death scenes and would repeat themor any other scenes he happened to take a fancy tothree to four times over. He routinely broke character to engage directly with his audiences. During his first performance of Romeo & Juliet, he pulled out his snuff box in the middle of a scene and offered some to the occupants of a box. During Romeo's death scene, Coates carefully placed his hat on the ground for a pillow and used his dirty handkerchief to dust the stage before lying on it. He once returned to the stage after dying, opened Juliets tomb with a crowbar, and collapsed again with even more flair. Once, when he dropped a diamond buckle when he was going to exit the stage, he crawled around the stage looking for it. His costumes were often too tight, causing him to move stiffly, and during one performance, his tights burst at the seams. Coates believed he was improving the classics. The audience believed they were witnessing comic genius of the unintentional variety. Reactions ranged from applause and hysterical laughter to brutal heckling, catcalls, jeers, and, at times, volleys of oranges and vegetables. During a performance in Paris, while Coates was lying dead on the stage, he was reportedly raised to life by a terrific blow on the nose from an orange. Reporting on Coatess first provincial tour after his notorious Bath debut, The Times sneered at the rose-coloured silks, silver tissue, nodding plumes, and a profusion of jewellery, then demolished the performance itself: His delivery was uncouth, his attitude most awkward, and his emphasis uniformly misplaced he alternately whined and bellowed like a Methodist preacher the curtain was dropped. The hero, still undaunted, paraded to the front and was at length carried off by force. Despite, or perhaps because of, the ridicule, Coates became a sensation. Theatre managers booked him for the sheer spectacle. Crowds packed venues to revel in the hilarity onstage. The Prince Regent himself attended one of his performances. In 1811, Coates appeared in The Fair Penitent at Londons Haymarket Theatre, playing Lothario. It was sold out in advance, and the theatre had to turn thousands of would-be spectators away. After another uproarious performance as Lothario at the Haymarket Theatre, the Morning Chronicle delivered a brutal sermon: To witness the senseless tricks of a mountebank at Bartholomew Fair is humiliating enough but this successful candidate for contempt is committing a crime little short of sacrilege upon the productions of one of our best poets. In response to the criticism of his acting or behaviour, Coates felt compelled to respond. He wrote a long letter to the Morning Herald, where he declared in part: In regard to the innumerable attacks that have been made upon my lineaments and person in the public prints, I have only to observe, that as I was fashioned by the Creator, independent of my will, I cannot be responsible for that result, which I could not control. Coates mostly performed for charity, especially during the early part of his stage career. His debut in Bath was explicitly billed as a charitable event, where Coates offered to perform Romeo and Juliet to raise money for local causes. This was a key justification he offered for many of his appearances, and likely one reason why theatre managers and audiences initially tolerated his antics. However, critics gradually came to suspect that Coatess real motive was ego and spectacle, with charity serving more as a social alibi. While many publications were unfriendly towards Coates, the European Magazine took exception to this form of ridicule and made a special effort to defend the Amateur in March 1813: Most men have their peculiarities, some latent, others more apparent; but surely, when the latter are neither immoral nor offensive to society, they can scarcely be deemed, however obnoxious, fair subjects of ridicule, the toleration of which . . . seems a degradation of human nature, and is, in itself, a travestie of the best passions of the human heart. While the European Magazine acknowledged that Coatess acting was less than laudable in terms of talent and execution, the editors recognized that if he chooses to make his humour subservient to a charitable purpose, to engraft virtue upon his whims, and give the solid worth of a benevolent act to harmless eccentricity, who is to prohibit or blame him and then concluded: Mr. Coates deserves very great credit for the motive of his performances, whatever difference of taste may exist as to their merit. Romeo Coates was as much a character in real life as he was on stage. He would habitually ware his flamboyant stage outfits in public. He also designed his own carriage, in the shape of a kettledrum and driven by white horses. It was decorated with a crowing cock and the motto, While I live, Ill crow. Coatess peculiar fame, however, was short-lived. By 1816, the novelty had worn off, and theatres began to reject his offers to perform. Facing mounting debts, he moved to Boulogne and spent several quiet years abroad. In 1823, he married Emma Anne Robinson and returned to London in his later years. But his eccentricity never quite faded. On February 15, 1848, after attending a performance at Drury Lane, Robert Coates was struck by a Hansom cab. He died six days later at the age of 76. He was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery in an unmarked grave. References: # Robert Coates: The Greatest of Bad Actors, Strange Company # Rick On Theater # The Amateur of Fashion: Robert "Romeo" Coates, Folger Gottfried "Gotz" von Berlichingen was no ordinary knight. A formidable figure in 16th-century Germany, he earned both fame and infamy as a mercenary, rebel, and folk hero. Born around 1480 into a minor noble family, Gotz lived through the waning days of the medieval knight, when chivalry was giving way to gunpowder. But rather than fading into obscurity, he forged a legacyquite literally. After losing his right hand to cannon fire during a siege, Gotz commissioned a remarkable iron prosthetic that allowed him to continue fighting. With this mechanical marvel strapped to his arm, he returned to the battlefield, undeterred and unyielding. Gotzs life inspired Goethes 1773 drama Gotz von Berlichingen, which helped turn the iron-handed knight into a lasting icon of rebellion and individual will. A relief of Gotz in Weisenheim am Sand with his famous quote: "Tell him, he can lick my arse". Credit: Wikimedia Commons Gotz was seventeen when he entered the service of Frederick I, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach. In 1498, he fought in the armies of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, seeing action in Burgundy, Lorraine, and the Brabant, as well as in the Swabian War the following year. By 1500, he had left the service of Frederick of Brandenburg and formed a company of mercenaries, offering his services to various dukes, margraves, and barons. In 1504, at the age of twenty-four, Gotz was well on his way to establishing a reputation as a fearsome knight and an accomplished leader when he suffered a devastating injury during the Siege of Landshut. Gotz and his company of mercenary soldiers were fighting on behalf of Albert IV, Duke of Bavaria, against the heirs of George the Rich, Duke of Bavaria-Landshut, when cannon fire tore off his right hand. The blast ripped through his armour and flesh, driving metal shards so deeply into his forearm that he later recounted the limb was left dangling from a strip of skin. Nevertheless, he remained calm and rode back to his encampment, where he later underwent an amputation. At first, Gotz was devastated by the loss of his arm. He feared he would never fight again. In despair, he prayed for death, reasoning that life without the ability to serve as a knight was worse than death itself. But Gotz was a fighter, and he refused to be defeated. Remembering that he had once seen another injured knight using a prosthetic hand to fight as well as anyone else, he commissioned a prosthesis of his own. Gotzs first prosthesis was a simple affair. It was an iron glove with a thumb and movable fingers. With the help of two hinges, the curved fingers could be brought inward and locked into place, allowing him to grip his sword. Some attention was paid to aesthetic detail, including sculpted fingernails and wrinkles at the knuckles. While not particularly advanced, the prosthesis allowed Gotz to ride and hold weapons passively, though not to manipulate them with precision. It restored a semblance of knightly presence and utility, helping him appear in armour and maintain the social identity of a fighting nobleman. Gotz von Berlichingens first prosthetic. Credit: Wikimedia Commons Later, he commissioned a second, more sophisticated prosthesis featuring individually movable fingers with joints at each knuckle. The hand could be set into a variety of positions. Each finger was spring-loaded and could be locked into place using small levers and catches. This advanced prosthesis allowed him to hold a sword, the reins of a horse, a quill, or other tools with a greater degree of control. Despite its technical ingenuity, the second hand was delicate and somewhat cumbersome. Gotz reserved it for formal occasions, preferring the simpler and sturdier first prosthesis for daily use. Gotz used this prosthesis extensively. Modern endoscopic examinations of its internal mechanisms have revealed significant wear, indicating frequent use. Both prosthetic hands survive today and are kept at the Gotzenburg Castle in Jagsthausen, Gotzs ancestral home, now partially a hotel and museum. Gotz von Berlichingens second prosthetic. Credit: Wikimedia Commons Credit: Wikimedia Commons Gotz of the Iron Hand, as he came to be known as, continued fighting until the age of 64, participating in campaigns against the Ottoman Empire and in the 1544 Imperial invasion of France. After the French campaign, Gotz retired to his ancestral home, Burg Jagsthausen, and later moved to Hornberg Castle near the Neckar River. There, he lived out his final years as a landed noble, managing his estates and reflecting on his life. Around this time, he dictated his autobiography, Lebens-Beschreibung des Herrn Gozens von Berlichingen mit der eisernen Hand ("The Life of Sir Gotz von Berlichingen with the Iron Hand"). In this memoir, Gotz recounts his adventures, battles, and injuries with pride and in vivid detail, providing invaluable insight into the mindset of a 16th-century knight navigating a changing world. The manuscript was later discovered and published in the 18th century, eventually inspiring Goethes 1773 play, which helped elevate Gotz from historical figure to legend. One of the most famous and colourful moments associated with Gotz von Berlichingen comes directly from his own memoirs. During a standoff with the forces of the Bishop of Bamberg, Gotz was ordered to surrender. In response, he famously shouted back: Er aber, sags ihm, er kann mich im Arsche lecken! Tell him he can lick my ass! The phrase has been passed down in popular culture as a classic expression of rebellion and defiance, associated with the rough, independent spirit of the Franconian knight. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe included this line in his 1773 play Gotz von Berlichingen, helping to immortalize it. Gotz von Berlichingen died in 1562, at the remarkable age of around 82an unusually long life for someone who spent so much of it in violent conflict. He was buried in the village church at Hornberg, where a grave marker commemorates him. AI has been growing at such a rapid pace that it almost feels uncontrollable, and its been a particularly bothersome thorn in the side of news companies due to how it has scraped their content for training, something which Google may be looking to change a little bit with a new licensing project. Google is reportedly looking into working with news companies on an AI licensing project that would presumably see those companies compensated in some form or another. As Bloomberg notes, Google is seeking to recruit news organizations for a new licensing project related to artificial intelligence. Its not made clear what the licensing project is or what it entails. In short, it hasnt been confirmed how these news organizations will be compensated. Specifically, with regard to an amount. Google will start its AI licensing project with about 20 news outlets Although many of the details appear to remain under wraps for now, it is known how big this project is going to be at the beginning. The report states that Google will initially kick the project off with about 20 news outlets. These will be national news outlets, so that means big publications that cover news from across the country. The licensing project is designed around specific products, but it isnt clear what those products are. What is clear is that it seems Google wants to start righting the ship with news outlets after years of displaying their content at the top of a search results page. Much of this content started showing up in Search Generative Experience (SGE), which was renamed AI Overviews in 2024. Prior to all that, Google search would simply populate the ranked list of results based on the search query. Now, you could search for anything, and chances are, AI Overviews will show you the same information a piece of news coverage would have shown you. The difference is now you dont have to click on that link to read about it. However, AI Overviews is getting that information from those news outlets. Google isnt alone in this issue, either. As other big players like OpenAI and Perplexity have been under fire for training their AI on content from outlets. Google has confirmed its working on new types of partnerships These partnerships are likely to be a good first step in Google repairing the damage it has done to its relationships with news organizations over the years. Little is still known about specifics, though. Google has confirmed that partnerships of some kind are being looked into. According to Bloombergs report, a Google spokesperson has stated that its working on new partnerships. However, its not sharing specific details about these partnerships just yet. Google referred to this project as experimenting with and exploring new partnerships and experiences. This suggests that its project may not become a mainstay in how it works with news outlets going forward. Though if anything changes, it may simply be because Google figured out a way that the partnerships work better for news outlets. Google has drawn a lot of bad attention for these practices to the point that some governments are stepping in. Back at the beginning of July, the EU filed an antitrust complaint against the company for AI Overviews. UK publishers are also demanding that an opt-out option be available. In a bid to enhance public safety communications in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has introduced a new city-run account, NYC Public Safety, on the Citizen app. Thanks to the account, the city residents will be able to receive free public safety alerts through the popular app on Android and Apple devices. The public safety app pushes user alerts about incidents happening near their geographical location. New York City enhances public safety comms with new Citizen app account According to Mayor Eric Adams, the new NYC Public Safety account on the Citizen app aims to offer real-time, verified safety updates directly to the apps over three million users in New York City. The account will ensure that critical information reaches the apps subscribers across the five boroughs. Whether its a heat emergency, a flood warning, a fire or crime, our new NYC Public Safety account on Citizen will keep New Yorkers informed on threats and how their city government is working to keep them safe, said Mayor Adams. The NYC government already has a presence on various social media channels, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, X, and the citys own NotifyNYC channels. Itll now also use the Citizen apps already existing widely used platform to reduce barriers and create an enhanced public safety communications system. The NYC Public Safety account on Citizen will release alerts about major incidents, safety tips about crime patterns, and scams. Furthermore, itll have verified updates from many city agencies, including the NYPD, FDNY, and NYC Emergency Management. Citizen also allows users to directly report potential safety incidents Citizen already allows subscribers to directly report potential safety incidents. Also, they can share videos and broadcast live footage of incidents within the app. The app can also send alerts to nearby smartphones within seconds of a 911 call or a user report, apart from providing a premium safety line to users. NYCs designated public safety agencies, like NYPD, FDNY, and NYCEM, have access to a secured dashboard that allows authorized personnel to view and download user-submitted videos. This will potentially aid investigations and emergency reviews. More than a decade ago, Microsoft acquired Nokias mobile business and made Windows Phone-based smartphones under the Nokia brand. The Redmond company eventually sold off the brand to HMD Global, which started making Nokia-branded smartphones running Android. That partnership eventually wound down, but it looks like Nokia is still interested to license its brand to another company. Nokia wants to license its brand According to a post on the Nokia sub-reddit, a Nokia Community Manager posted a message indicating the companys intention to license its brand. The message reads, If youre a large scale mobile manufacturer, and youd like to explore collaboration opportunities, please reach out to us. As some of the comments have pointed out, its kind of weird that Nokia is reaching out for potential partners via Reddit. While Reddit is a good place to source information and have a discussion, were not sure its the best place to find a business to buy or license your brand. But hey, maybe Nokia has reached out via other channels, and Reddit is just one of them. There was an earlier rumor that suggested that Samsung was interested in acquiring Nokias network business. However, Nokia shot those rumors down. While Nokia isnt the consumer tech giant it once was, the company still owns a lot of valuable patents related to mobile and networking. Nokias fall from grace Nokia used to be the darling in the mobile space. The company essentially dominated the mobile phone scene during the feature phone era. Models like the Nokia 3310 and Nokia 8250 are now considered legends and classics by those who have used them. However, the company failed to adapt to the smartphone market in a timely way. Nokia continued to push its feature phones and its own operating system. The company also made the odd decision to go with Windows Phone instead of Android. We all know how that turned out. By the time Nokia pivoted to Android, the market was too saturated with other brands like Samsung. Chinese OEMs also flooded the market with budget phones, rendering Nokias phones even more irrelevant. It seems unlikely the company will manage a meaningful comeback. But it also seems that it isnt willing to let the Nokia brand die just yet. For years, Google Chrome has been the undisputed king of browsers. It dominates with an iron fist in both the desktop and mobile segments. But a new challenger, Perplexity AI, backed by big names like Nvidia and Jeff Bezos, is looking to shake things up. The company has already reached deals with Android brands in recent years. Now, Perplexity AI is reportedly in talks with phone manufacturers to pre-install its new Comet browser directly onto devices. Perplexity is known for its AI-powered chatbot, similar to ChatGPT, Gemini, and the like. The company promotes it as an AI-powered search engine, providing direct answers rather than just links. Recently, the company launched Comet, a browser with deeply integrated AI. The tool isnt yet available to everyone; theres a waiting list. Perplexitys Comet AI-powered browser is coming to phones to challenge Chrome Now, its CEO, Aravind Srinivas, confirms the keys to the companys strategy. First, Perplexitys Comet browser will receive a version for phones. Then, the idea is simple: pre-installation on Android devices. Users tend to stick with the browser that comes pre-loaded on their device. By getting Comet onto millions of new phones, Perplexity hopes to gain widespread adoption for its AI tools. Srinivas acknowledges that convincing mobile manufacturers to switch from Chrome as the default browser is not easy. This is especially true given the ingrained habit of users sticking with pre-installed apps. Googles payments for integrating its tools are another factor to take into account. However, the potential rewards are immense. Perplexity hopes to reach tens to hundreds of millions of users next year as it refines its browser. What can Comet do? So, what makes Comet special? Currently in beta for desktops, Comet integrates Perplexitys AI directly into the Browse experience. This means users can do more than just search. They can ask questions about their personal data, like emails or browse history, get webpages summarized, or even perform tasks such as scheduling meetings, all with minimal human intervention. This reflects a broader industry trend towards agentic AI browsers, which are designed to make decisions and complete tasks autonomously. The stakes are high. Google Chrome currently commands about 70% of the mobile browser market. While Perplexity has reportedly been in talks with giants like Samsung and Apple to integrate its AI search, pre-installing its own browser is a more direct and aggressive move. It sets the stage for a compelling new chapter in the competition for your smartphones browser. Good news for many Samsung Galaxy A14 (LTE) owners around the globe. After a bit of a wait, the Android 15-based One UI 7.0 update is now expanding its reach to more units of this popular budget smartphone. While Samsung began rolling out the stable version of One UI 7 to various Galaxy devices back in April 2025, the Galaxy A14 4G has taken a little longer to get its turn. This highly anticipated update brings the latest features and improvements from Android 15. Of course, they are wrapped in Samsungs own custom One UI 7.0 interface. It means A14 users can look forward to a refreshed look, new privacy controls, and likely some performance enhancements. One UI 7 (Android 15) reaches Samsung Galaxy A14 LTE Specifically, the wider rollout is being reported by Galaxy A14 LTE users with the SM-A145F model number. The latter is common in regions like Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. If you own this variant, your device might soon be prompting you to download a substantial software package. The update weighs in at a hefty 2,623.20MB and carries the firmware version A145FXXU9DYG5. The OTA also includes the May 2025 security patch. Since this is an affordable phone from 2023, it is just normal that it does not receive the latest security patches immediately. If youre eager to check if the update has arrived for your Galaxy A14 LTE, its a straightforward process. Simply head over to your phones Settings, then look to Software update, and finally tap on Download and install. Keep in mind that software updates are often released in phases. So, if you dont see it immediately, dont worry. Samsung is gradually pushing it out, and it should reach your device in due course. Samsung launched the Galaxy A14 with the promise of two major Android OS updates. The device had already received Android 14 (it had Android 13 out of the box), so Android 15 is the latest. This model was born at a time when Samsung still didnt offer flagship-level software support for its low-end models. Event Builds Momentum for Deeper International Supply Chain Cooperation BEIJING, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The five-day third edition of the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) concluded in Beijing. Held under the theme Connecting the World for a Shared Future, the event demonstrated China's ongoing commitment to expanding access and strengthening international collaboration across global industrial and supply chains. The Third China International Supply Chain Expo Concludes in Beijing Since its launch, the CISCE has steadily expanded its global reach and stakeholder engagement. This year's expo welcomed 651 companies from China and 74 other countries and regions, with international exhibitors accounting for 35%a record high. Notably, U.S. companies comprised the largest share of international participants, representing a 15% increase from the previous year. More than 65% of exhibitors were Fortune Global 500 firms or recognized industry leaders, including Apple, Tesla, and NVIDIA. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang attended for three consecutive days, describing the Chinese supply chain as "a miracle." The third CISCE featured the unveiling of 152 new products, technologies, and services, a 67% increase compared to the previous edition. Of these, 55 made their debut at the CISCE Global Unveiling event. Exhibitors engaged with over 42,000 upstream and downstream businesses. Preliminary data indicate that more than 6,000 agreements and partnership intentions were formalized during the expo. Looking ahead, the Alliance of Chinese and Foreign Exhibitors will partner with the China Chamber of International Commerce and its industry committees to offer ongoing support to domestic and international companies, with the goal of developing a continuous engagement model around CISCE programming. CISCE also launched a model for a "Zero-Carbon Expo," demonstrating leadership in sustainable event practices. The entire venue operated on 100% renewable electricity, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1,100 tons. The initiative reflects CISCE's commitment to serving as a model for environmentally responsible, carbon-neutral, and plastic-free industry gatherings. Both Chinese and international participants showcased Sustainable Lighthouse Factory projects, providing practical CISCE-driven solutions to advance sustainability across global supply chains. Now recognized as a key forum within the global supply chain landscape, CISCE continues to attract growing interest. On the final day, 102 companies and organizations signed agreements to participate in the next editionrepresenting a 50% year-over-year increase in on-site registrations. The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) also affirmed its continued commitment to providing a reliable, effective, and transparent platform for global business and supply chain collaboration. Please visit https://en.cisce.org.cn/ for details. SOURCE China International Supply Chain Expo A new entry in Samsungs popular budget-friendly lineup, the Galaxy A17 5G, has just made an appearance on the Geekbench benchmark. The listing gives us an early peek at whats under the hood. The device could be an interesting option for those looking for an affordable phone with solid connectivity. The benchmark listing confirms that the Galaxy A17 5G will be powered by Samsungs own Exynos 1380 processor. This chip, which debuted in 2023, was specifically designed for more accessible devices that still offer 5G connectivity. Its paired with a Mali G68 GPU for handling graphics. This suggests a capable performance for everyday tasks and casual gaming. Geekbench confirms Exynos 1380 chip for the Samsung Galaxy A17 5G The A17 5G scored 942 and 2,137 points in Geekbenchs single-core and multi-core tests, respectively. The listing (via yabhishekhd) also reveals that the Galaxy A17 5G will ship with Android 15 pre-installed. This means users can expect all the features and customization options of One UI 7. The benchmark also reveals that the device will come with 6GB of RAM, a decent figure for multitasking. Beyond the core specifications, an earlier report hinted at a significant upgrade for the Galaxy A17 5Gs camera. It could be the first phone in the Galaxy A1x line to feature Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). For an affordable phone, OIS is a big deal, as it dramatically improves photo quality. This is especially true in challenging conditions like low light or when capturing moving subjects. The potential improvement could make the A17 5G a strong contender for those prioritizing decent pictures without breaking the bank. Full specifications are still under wraps, but we can make some educated guesses based on its predecessor. The Galaxy A16 (which came in both 4G and 5G versions) featured AMOLED displays and robust 5,000mAh batteries. Its reasonable to expect similar, if not improved, display quality and long-lasting battery life for the upcoming Galaxy A17 5G. As more details emerge, the Galaxy A17 5G is shaping up to be an interesting option for consumers seeking a solid, affordable handset with 5G support and potentially enhanced camera capabilities. For many Samsung Galaxy S23 series owners, the camera has been a standout feature. Its one of the main aspects that made it a classic in the companys catalog. That said, it seems that some users are unhappy with the picture quality after installing a long-awaited update. Recent reports suggest that One UI 7 (based on Android 15) might be causing a significant downgrade in camera performance for some Galaxy S23 users. Samsung Galaxy S23 camera woes mounting concerns after One UI 7 rollout Complaints began surfacing shortly after the One UI 7 rollout, filling Samsungs community forums and Reddit threads (spotted by TechIssuesToday). Owners of the base S23, S23 Ultra, and S23 FE are chiming in with similar issues. The list includes photos appearing blurry, washed out, or lacking the crispness theyve come to expect. Users also highlight problems with distant scenery looking blurry, a strange softening in close-ups, and colors appearing dull even in good lighting conditions. Its not just about still images. Some reports even point to frustrating lag within the camera app itself. Users are noticing delays when switching between camera modes or between the front and rear lenses, with previews taking several seconds to appear after a photo is taken. This can disrupt the flow of capturing moments. While these issues dont seem to be universal, the volume of reports indicates a genuine problem for a segment of the S23 user base. Many affected folks have tried common troubleshooting steps like clearing the camera apps cache or resetting settings. However, things didnt improve much after that. Affected users: send reports Samsung has yet to release an official statement acknowledging these specific camera performance issues. However, community moderators and support representatives are warning users to submit error reports through the Samsung Members app. They are asking to include detailed log files with these reports. This will help Samsungs teams investigate the root cause. In the end, what we all want is for a potential fix to arrive as quickly as possible. This camera concern adds to other reported issues following the One UI 7 update. The list includes some users experiencing network and Bluetooth connectivity problems. For many, the hope is that Samsung will quickly address these camera woes, restoring the S23 series classic photographic capabilities. In 2024, the UK government demanded that Apple provide backdoor access to all its worldwide users data. The department even made the firm legally bound to not reveal this request publicly. However, the demand was later revealed as the Cupertino-based tech giant had withdrawn its end-to-end encryption services. UK to Back Down from Its Demand for Apples Encrypted Data In response to the demand made by the UK government, Apple had turned off its Advanced Data Protection plan for users residing in the UK. It also invoked the US government to take a stance against it. The UKs Home Office wanted Apple to provide it with backdoor access to all of its users encrypted data. The office said that they need to read the data, which is deemed necessary for any kind of criminal investigation. However, the office went one step ahead. Instead of asking for access to its regional data, the government demands access to worldwide users data. Which is alleged violation of privacy laws; and this is where the US got upset. US Vice President JD Vance Forced UK to Pull Back After taking cognizance of the demand, several officials from the US government, including Trump and VP JD Vance, took their stance against it. JD Vance wanted the UK to step down from its demand for Apples encrypted data. UKs Financial Times reports that the government is likely to back down from its demand. This is because of the pressure from JD Vance. This is something that the vice-president is very upset about. And it needs to be resolved, said one individual, who claimed to be an official in the UKs technology department. The Home Office is going to have to back down. This is something that the vice-president is very upset about and needs to be resolved, said one individual, who claimed to be an official in the UKs technology department. The Home Office is going to have to back down. According to another, its a problem of the Home Offices own making, and theyre working on a way around it now. Gazans mourn relatives killed in an Israeli airstrike at al Shati Camp, July 22 - Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty Images The Israeli military strip-searched and detained World Health Organisation (WHO) staff in Gaza and badly damaged a critical warehouse of supplies, the UN agency said. The organisation warned the incidents would cripple efforts to sustain a collapsing health system in a region where two million people are in desperate need of humanitarian aid, including food and medicine. The incident took place in Deir al-Balah, an area in central Gaza which is packed with displaced Palestinians after 21 months of war. It has also become a central hub for humanitarian efforts in the devastated territory, where aid workers have warned of potential mass deaths from hunger in the coming days. Gaza officials said 18 starved to death within 24 hours between Sunday and Saturday. Gazans including children wait in line to receive hot meals distributed by a charity organisation in Gaza City - Ahmed Jihad Ibrahim Al-arini/Anadolu via Getty Images On Monday, Israeli tanks pushed into the southern and eastern districts of Deir al-Balah for the first time the military reportedly believes some hostages are held there. Smoke was seen billowing from the area after Israeli bombardment hit homes and mosques. The WHOs staff residence in Deir al Balah was also attacked three times in air strikes by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), causing another fire and significant damage, the agencys statement said. WHO operations compromised following attacks on warehouse and facility sheltering staff and families in Gaza WHO condemns in the strongest terms the attacks on a building housing WHO staff in Deir al Balah, in the middle area of Gaza, the mistreatment of those sheltering there, pic.twitter.com/CWe68tNiX9 World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 21, 2025 The military later entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot towards an active conflict, exposing them to grave danger, the WHO said. Men were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and screened at gunpoint. Two staff and two family members were detained one of these WHO workers remains in detention. According to the WHO, its main warehouse was also badly damaged on Sunday, in an attack that triggered explosions and a fire inside the building. It was later looted by desperate crowds and is now non-functional, amplifying already acute shortages of medicines, fuel and equipment, the agency said. An aid truck arrived in Khan Yunis and distributed water to displaced Gazans, July 22 - Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images The warehouse was located within an evacuation zone, but the UN observed that the Israeli authorities have the geographical co-ordinates of all WHO premises. WHO is appalled by the dangerous conditions under which humanitarians and health workers are forced to operate, the UN agency said. As the security situation and access continue to deteriorate, red lines are repeatedly crossed, and humanitarian operations pushed into an ever-shrinking space to respond. It added: WHO demands continuous protection of its staff and the immediate release of the remaining detained staff members. Gazans carry their belongings after an evacuation warning by the Israeli army in Deir al-Balah - Anadolu Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director general of the UN agency, said: As the lead agency for health, compromising WHOs operations is crippling the entire health response in Gaza. A ceasefire is not just necessary, it is overdue. Writing on social media Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, called the attacks on the WHO intolerable and warned they were further crippling the health response in Gaza. Medics working in conditions that could scarcely be imagined in our worst nightmares must not be targets, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law. .@WHO's staff residence in Deir al Balah, #Gaza, was attacked three times today as well as its main warehouse. Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward Al-Mawasi amid active conflict. Male staff and family members were pic.twitter.com/PGjaYrhkfH Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) July 21, 2025 Stephane Dujarric, the UN spokesman, reiterated that the incident had happened 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, he said. 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 organisations. Injured Palestinians are taken to hospital after over 90 were killed waiting for humanitarian aid - Anadolu The incident has taken place amid mounting criticism of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial initiative launched by the United States and Israel that has largely replaced the UN-coordinated system of aid delivery. Israel has claimed that Hamas which is facing a financial and administrative crisis, according to a Washington Post investigation has corrupted the system. But there have been widespread reports of mass casualties and chaos at the distribution points. On Friday, Prof Nick Maynard, an Oxford-based gastrointestinal surgeon who is in Gaza, told The Telegraph that the aid sites have become a death trap, and that the region is suffering from unprecedented levels of severe malnutrition. Meanwhile the Gaza health ministry said on Monday that 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. It is one of the highest such totals in recent weeks. In the latest sign of international frustration, the United Kingdom, France and 23 other Western-aligned countries issued a statement on Monday 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. A raft of sanctions David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, said on Tuesday that Israel would face further sanctions from the UK if it failed to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. Asked by ITV what other plans he had if Israel continued the war, he said: Weve announced a raft of sanctions over the last few months. There will be more, clearly, and we keep all of those options under consideration if we do not see a change in behaviour and the suffering that we are seeing come to an end. Its important that we continue to work with international partners if we are to have the maximum result. When asked for his personal reaction to the situation unfolding in Gaza, he told BBC Breakfast: I feel the same as the British public: appalled, sickened. My responsibility as Foreign Secretary is to make sure that the British Government is not complicit in war crimes, he told Sky News. A Kentucky cattleman allegedly conned dozens of investors out of $100 million with promises of non-existent "ghost" cattle and the profits from their slaughter before taking his own life. Now, attorneys, investigators, his alleged victims, and his grieving family have been left to pick up the pieces. On Thursday, attorneys Mark Bryant, Emily Roark, and David Bryant of Bryant Law Center, Ron Parry of Strauss Troy, and William F. McMurry of William F. McMurry and Associates have filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of residents in Kentucky who, they allege, were defrauded in a cattle investment Ponzi scheme. The lawsuit accuses Community Financial Services Bank, RABO AgriFinance, and Mechanics Bank of enabling the scheme by providing financial backing and ignoring "clear signs of misconduct, causing devastating financial losses for dozens of Kentucky investors." About six years ago, Brian McClain began seeking investors for his cattle business. According to Drovers, who spoke to sources familiar with the scheme, McClain offered a "guarantee" of a 30 percent return on their investment. Brian McClain, a cattleman in Kentucky, allegedly carried out a multi-year Ponzi scheme involving ghost cattle. Since his 2023 death, investors and creditors have been scrambling to recover their losses (Getty) The cattleman operated a trio of businesses: McClain Feed Yard Inc, McClain Farms Inc, and 7M Cattle Feeders Inc. He used his businesses to aggregate cattle from various sources including rodeos throughout Kentucky, the southeast U.S., Texas, and Oklahoma. His companies would then send the cattle to locations in Kentucky or Texas, where they'd be treated for any outstanding medical issues and grown for slaughter. He did have cattle. Some of his investors his early investors did profit. But, according to a new lawsuit, those early investors were paid with cash infusions from newer investors. It was, allegedly, a Ponzi scheme, similar in structure, if not scale, to the massive $4 billion one famously waged by Bernie Madoff. McClain's operation began to unravel in February 2023 after he reported his December cattle inventory of more than 88,000 head had fallen to just below 38,000 head. RABO AgriFinance, his lender, reportedly, became suspicious of that claim and ordered an inventory check. On April 4, a Rabo inspection found that "there were only 7,461 head of cattle in Texas and 3,094 head of cattle in Kentucky." Two weeks later, Chris Ward, a special ranger for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, traveled to McClain's 7M property on the night of April 18, 2023, to investigate McClain's missing cattle. When he arrived, he knew instantly that the numbers were off. Phony financier Bernie Madoff pled guilty in 2009 admitting that he used his wealth management business to create a massive Ponzi scheme which enriched himself, his family and others. He was sentenced to 150 years, and died in prison in 2021. (AP) "I don't remember what the exact count was, but it was very obvious, from what he was supposed to have there, that he those weren't there," he told WPSD. "We're expecting to see thousands of cattle, and there were not thousands of cattle there that was obvious." McClain died by suicide on the same day. At least 102 creditors from 14 states, including Texas, Kansas, Kentucky, Iowa, and Oklahoma, as well as investors from Alberta, Canada, are owed money by the companies McClain controlled. Both of those companies and his feed yard are now closed, according to the Southwest Ledger. The class action suit filed Thursday alleges that "RABO AgriFinance extended over $70 million in credit to McClain despite internal concerns about his poor recordkeeping, inability to verify cattle ownership, and other 'red flags.'" It also accuses Community Financial Services Bank, McClain's local bank, of allegedly permitting "more than 100 days of overdrawn accounts, often by more than $1 million" and failing "to act despite clear signs of suspect intercompany transfers." "Mechanics Bank, working closely with RABO, is accused of knowingly participating in a pattern of massive overdrafts and transfers," the complaint says. "These actions, the suit contends, enabled McClain to sustain the illusion of a profitable cattle operation while diverting new investor funds to pay earlier ones." Mark Bryant, the founder of Bryant Law Center, said the suit was "about fairness and transparency." Innocent, hardworking Kentuckians were misled and financially harmed by a system that prioritized profit over people. We believe the law is on their side. In a statement to The Independent, Rabo AgriFinance said: Rabo AgriFinance remains strongly committed to providing financial solutions to U.S. cattle producers, feedlots, and processors. As the legal process unfolds Rabo AgriFinance will refrain from commenting further. Investors were left scrambling in the wake of McClain's death and the news of his alleged fraud. Kent Rise, an attorney and certified public accountant in Texas, was appointed to manage McClain's former businesses and to work to recover funds for the purpose of paying back McClain's creditors. That includes selling McClain's assets and filing litigation. Ries recounted his visit to one of McClain's companies to WPSD. "These two facilities were just they had no real office. I mean, I literally put my foot through the floor of this crummy little office I walked through because it was so poor. The pens were rusted and falling down. You know, for a place that had just gotten a loan a few years before from RABO of $50-plus million, I was pretty stunned that the facilities were in such lousy condition," he told the outlet. Ries has been critical of RABO AgriFinance and three other banks who, he argues, did not do enough to detect McClain's alleged Ponzi scheme. In March, Ries filed a complaint in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas alleging that the banks knowingly or negligently enabled a Ponzi scheme. He accuses the banks of fraudulent bank transfers and a lack of oversight that allowed McClain's alleged scheme to continue for years. HTLF Bank, Mechanics Bank, and Community Financial Services Bank, along with RABO, are named as the defendants in the lawsuit. The Independent has requested comment from the defendants. "Rabo ignored countless red flags during the loan application process and ignored many more red flags when it repeatedly extended and increased the Debtors supersized line of credit even sidelining a discerning credit officer to keep funding McClains Ponzi scheme while at the same time receiving millions of dollars of interest, fees, and principal payments from the Debtors," the complaint reads. The promotions reflect the firm's commitment to recognizing exceptional talent and strengthening leadership across key investment areas. CHICAGO and NEW YORK, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Vistria Group, LP ("Vistria"), a middle market private investment firm that seeks to deliver both superior financial returns and meaningful impact, announced the promotions of four Vice Presidents across the firm's Healthcare, Real Estate, and Credit teams. These promotions come at a time when Vistria is experiencing strong growth across its strategies and cultivating the next generation of investment leaders. "These promotions reflect the exceptional talent and dedication that Max, Shane, Michael, and Steve have demonstrated throughout their tenure at Vistria," said Kip Kirkpatrick, Co-CEO and Senior Partner at The Vistria Group. "We believe that investing in our people is just as important as investing in our industries. Their elevated roles will enable them to take on greater leadership responsibilities as we continue to scale our platform and keep up our strong momentum across healthcare, real estate, and credit." Max Vielmetti joined the Healthcare team as a Vice President in 2022. Prior to joining Vistria, Max was an Associate and Vice President at CVC Capital Partners in New York. Max started his career at Deutsche Bank in financial sponsor leveraged finance. Most recently, he helped lead Vistria's investments in Ora Clinical and Medalogix/Forcura and has also played an active role in supporting Alcami, CareMetx, tango, Sevita and Help at Home over the past three years. He received a B.S. in Industrial & Systems Engineering from the University of Wisconsin. "Max has been instrumental in executing complex healthcare transactions and has demonstrated a keen ability to identify compelling investment opportunities across healthcare," said David Schuppan, Senior Partner and Co-Head of Healthcare at The Vistria Group. "His analytical rigor and collaborative approach make him an invaluable asset to our healthcare team, and I'm excited to see him take on expanded responsibilities as Principal." Shane Maloney joined the Healthcare team as an Associate in 2018 and re-joined as Vice President in 2022 after earning his M.B.A in Health Care Management from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to that, Shane was an Investment Banking Analyst in the Industrials Group at Goldman Sachs. Shane helped lead the recent investment in AnewHealth and Alcami and he actively supports Behavioral Health Group (BHG), Sandstone, Beacon, AIS, and Angel MedFlight. Shane also helped support the successful exits of St. Croix Hospice, HomeFree, and Agape. He received a B.B.A. in Finance, Investment, and Banking from the University of Wisconsin "Shane has been a key contributor to our healthcare team's success," said Amy Christensen, Senior Partner and Co-Head of Healthcare at The Vistria Group. "His deep understanding of healthcare dynamics and strong execution capabilities position him well for continued leadership in driving value creation across our portfolio." Michael Shaid joined the Real Estate team as a Vice President in 2022. Prior to joining Vistria, Michael was on the Acquisitions & Investments team at L+M Fund Management and also spent several years working alongside many of his current colleagues in the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group (UIG). Michael helped lead Vistria's investment in the public housing transformation of Reid & Park Rock Apartments in partnership with the New York City Housing Authority and has also played an active role in Vistria's investment activity throughout the United States. Michael graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Urban Real Estate & Development. "Michael brings exceptional expertise in affordable and workforce housing, having successfully underwritten and managed complex real estate investments that deliver both strong returns and meaningful social impact." said Margaret Anadu, Senior Partner who leads and founded the firm's Real Estate strategy at The Vistria Group. "This promotion recognizes his significant contributions to building our Real Estate portfolio and broader strategy." Steve Upham joined the Credit team as a Vice President in 2023. Prior to joining Vistria, Steve was a Vice President at Golub Capital, where he was responsible for underwriting and managing debt investments supporting private equity-owned companies. Prior to Golub, Steve worked at Genstar Capital and started his career at Robert W. Baird. Since joining Vistria, Steve has helped lead five new investments out of Vistria's Credit Fund and has actively supported the Flagship investment teams in a Debt Capital Markets role. Steve received a B.S.B.A in Finance and Accounting from Indiana University Kelley School of Business. "Steve has proven himself to be a skilled credit investor with a strong track record of identifying and structuring debt investments across multiple sectors," said Katie Hockman, Partner and Head of Debt Capital Markets and Credit at The Vistria Group. "His experience spanning both equity and debt investing, combined with his disciplined approach to risk management, make him an excellent addition to our Principal ranks as we continue to grow our credit platform." About The Vistria Group The Vistria Group is building a new kind of private investment firm that seeks to deliver both financial returns and societal impact. It invests in essential industries like healthcare, knowledge & learning solutions, financial services and housing that deliver value for investors as well as communities, employees, and consumers. With almost $17 billion in AUM, The Vistria Group looks deeper by working as a true partner, drawing on its deep sector knowledge, operational expertise, unique network, diverse team, and impact orientation to achieve transformational growth. For more information, please visit vistria.com SOURCE The Vistria Group Former president Joe Bidens son Hunter has hit out at actor and Democratic Party donor George Clooneys decision to call on the elder Biden to abandon his 2024 re-election bid. In a rare online interview, Hunter Biden used a string of expletives to describe Clooney when discussing the actor with Andrew Gallagher on YouTube. Clooney supported Democrat Joe Bidens bid for a second term and even headlined a record-setting fundraiser for the then-president. But the actor changed his stance after Mr Biden turned in a disastrous debate performance against Republican Donald Trump in June 2024 and added his voice to mounting calls for the then-81-year-old president to leave the race. Clooney made his feelings known in an opinion piece in The New York Times. Mr Biden ended up leaving the race a few weeks later and endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris. She lost to Mr Trump. In the lengthy and wide-ranging interview, Hunter Biden questioned why anyone should listen to Clooney and said the Oceans Eleven actor had no right to undermine his father. What right do you have to step on a man whos given 52 years of his f****** life to the services of this country and decide that you, George Clooney, are going to take out basically a full page ad in the f****** New York Times to undermine the president, Hunter Biden said before he trailed off to talk about how Republicans are more unified than Democrats. Joe Biden served 36 years in the US Senate and eight years as Barack Obamas vice president before he was elected president in 2020. Los Angeles-based representatives for Clooney did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on Tuesday. The pub industry is a dog-eat-dog world, and Brewdog looks to be having a tough time of it. The punk brewer, once valued at as much as 2 billion, is set to close as many as 10 sites across the UK, with pubs expected to stop trading as soon as this Friday, July 25. Among those closing are two in London, with three in London affected: those in Shepherds Bush, Shoreditch and Camden. The Camden site is particularly noteworthy as it was the first Brewdog to open in London. Other big bars to go include the Aberdeen Brewdog, which was the brewers first-ever bar. A statement from CEO James Taylor on the Shareholders Forum reads: It has simply not been possible to find a formula to make these bars viable due to their size, location and other limiting factors. Keeping them open would put pressure on the wider business, making it harder to invest where we know we can grow. This decision is not simply a response to the challenging UK hospitality market but a proactive decision to redefine the bar division's focus. This is not a decision we've taken lightly. But as we evolve BrewDog into a more focused and sustainable business, we've had to be honest about where we are and where we're heading. Writing to staff, Taylor said: To everyone who worked in these bars, and every customer who supported them thank you. These bars helped make BrewDog what it is today, and were grateful for your support over the years. The other six pubs closing are in: Brighton Dundee Leeds North Street Oxford Sheffield York According to a post on X by workers union Unite Hospitality, staff have been given as little as three days notice of the changes. Brewdog itself says that affected staff are undergoing an appropriate consultation process, which will last a minimum of a fortnight. Every effort will be made to redeploy as many members of staff as possible, Brewdog bosses said in a statement. Nevertheless, the closures are unlikely to do much for Brewdogs popularity. The company has in recent years come under increasing scrutiny, facing accusations of poor working conditions, misogyny and transphobia. In 2022, xo-founder James Watt, who stepped down as CEO in May 2024 after 17 years and now styles himself as the companys captain, was accused of inappropriate behaviour, which he denied. In the same year, the company lost its status as a B Corp, a certificate offering an ethical commitment to the environment, staff, and community. In 2024 the company faced anger from employees after dropping out of the accredited real living wage scheme and and hiring new staff of the legal minimum instead of freezing pay for bar staff, in a bid to reduce costs. Fears are growing that the state pension age may rise sooner than previously anticipated, as the Government launches a formal review. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is reviving the Pensions Commissionoriginally established two decades ago to reassess pension provision and savings levels across the UK. It has already commissioned the next review of the state pension age, which currently rests at 66 years old and is scheduled to rise to 68 by 2046. But alarm bells have sounded around the sustainability of the triple lock, which guarantees that the state pension rise each year in line with inflation, wage growth, or 2.5% whichever is highest. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has warned the triple lock is now projected to cost three times the original estimate by 2030, reaching 15.5million annually, as the ageing population mounts pressure on the countrys finances. It comes as a recent report by the Institute for Fiscal studies (IFS) warned that without reform of the pension triple lock, state retirement age could rise to 69 by 2049 and to 74 by 2069. A previous report by Baroness Neville-Rolfe coincides with this. She proposed linking the state pension age to 31% of average life expectancya suggestion that would disproportionately affect younger workers. Under this approach, the state pension age would rise to 68 between 2041 and 2043. The Baroness found that the planned increase to age 67 between 2026 and 2028 aligns with the 31% benchmark. But the proposed timeline for raising the age to 68, as outlined in the 2017 Review, does not. Baroness Altmann said the retirement age should not be increased again and said the triple lock was not sustainable in the long term (PA Archive) As a result, she recommended delaying the age-68 increase to 2041 to 2043 to ensure consistency with the proposed metric. It could then reach 69 between 2046 and 2048 and these projections indicate that the state pension age would need to hit 70 in the early 2050s. This would be when people born in the 1980s would be looking to retire. But Baroness Altmann told the Daily Mail that the retirement age should not be increased again and said the triple lock was not sustainable in the long term and needs to be reviewed. She told the newspaper it was unfair to raise the state pension age for all when life expectancy varies so much across the country. Baroness Altmann told the Mail: I am against raising the state pension age again, certainly unless you have much better provision for those who simply cannot work longer and will otherwise be left in poverty. Even if average life expectancy is rising, it doesnt make sense to raise state pension age for everyone when there is a 20-year disparity in different parts of the country. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has commissioned two independent reports on the state pension age one will be carried out by Dr Suzy Morrisey, from the Pensions Policy Institute and the other will be from the governments actuary department. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has confirmed the state pension age will be reviewed (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire) Ms Kendalls new review, which is required by law, will examine whether updated life expectancy means the rise to 68 should be brought in sooner and even whether there is a case for the pension age to rise to 69 or even 70 in later years. She yesterday said she wanted people to have a jubilant retirement and said retaining the triple lock would mean spending on the state pension would rise by 31billion by the end of this parliament. It comes as the DWP revealed almost half of working age adults are not putting any money into a private pension at all, with low earners and self-employed people less likely to be pension saving. The shortfall is worse among women and some ethnic groups, with only one in four people from Pakistani or Bangladeshi backgrounds saving in a private pension. It is estimated that those drawing from their pension 25 years from now are set to be around 800 or 8% worse off per year, according to the DWP. Four in 10 people are currently not saving enough for retirement. Analysis from the DWP has revealed stark findings regarding state pensions, including that more than three million self-employed workers are not saving into a pension and that only one-in-four low earners in the private sector are saving into a pension. There is also a 48% gender pay gap in private pension wealth among people currently returning. A woman receives just over 100 a week, and a man receives 200 from private pension income. The relaunched Commission, which will report in 2027, will look at savings in private sector pensions. The burger chain Five Guys will this week announce a 185m refinancing as it seeks to expand its European estate in a challenging climate for restaurant operators. Sky News understands that Five Guys, which launched in the UK in 2013, has landed a new five-year debt deal with lenders including Britain's major high street banks. Sources said the agreement was likely to be announced on Wednesday. Money latest: Economists issue warning as government borrowing soars Five Guys trades from nearly 180 sites in the UK, employing roughly 5,500 people. It also operates under the same corporate ownership structure in France, Germany and Spain, with its European operations in total employing about 9,000 people. The European business is a 50-50 joint venture between Freston Ventures - the investment vehicle of Sir Charles Dunstone, co-founder of The Carphone Warehouse - and the Murrell family which founded Five Guys in the US. It is now expected to seek to open a larger number of drive-thru restaurants in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. In a statement issued to Sky News, John Eckbert, Five Guys Europe's chief executive, said: "Securing additional debt capital at a more favourable rate in today's market is a significant accomplishment. "This 185m refinancing transaction is a testament to the strength of the Five Guys brand and our successful operational performance. "The latest capital injection will be instrumental in accelerating our expansion strategy." The deal comes as hospitality groups warn of an increasing challenge to survive following tax increases announced in Rachel Reeves's Budget last autumn, with chains such as Cote now exploring urgent sale processes in a bid to secure new investment. Businesses will have to notify the government if they plan on paying a ransom to cyber criminals under new proposals, which also aim to clamp down on ransom demands to the NHS, local councils and schools. The Home Offices proposals come after Marks & Spencer has refused to say if it paid a ransom to hackers in a major attack earlier this year. New measures would ban public sector bodies and operators of critical national infrastructure from paying ransom demands to hackers. The Home Office said this would help smash the cyber criminal business model and make UK public services and businesses a less attractive target for ransomware groups. Nearly three-quarters of respondents involved in a public consultation, opened in January, showed support for the proposal, it said. Furthermore, under the proposals, businesses not covered by the ban would be required to notify the government if they intended to pay a ransom. The Government hopes this would allow it to give affected businesses advice and support, including alerting them if such a payment would risk breaking the law by sending money to sanctioned cyber criminal groups, many of whom are based in Russia. Ransomware refers to software used by cyber criminals to access the computer systems of its victims, which can then be encrypted or data stolen until a ransom is paid. M&S was targeted by hackers in April, forcing it to shut down its website for six weeks and costing the business an estimated 300 million. Co-ops hackers accessed data from all 6.5 million of its members (Co-op/PA) Co-op also had to shut off parts of its IT systems after a cyber attack that resulted in all 6.5 million of its members personal data being stolen including names, addresses and contact information. M&Ss chair Archie Norman said earlier this month that the hack was believed to be instigated by hacking group Scattered Spider and an Asia-based ransomware operation named DragonForce. He refused to say whether or not the retailer had paid a ransomware demand following the attack, but said the damage had been done once its systems were compromised. Security minister Dan Jarvis said: Ransomware is a predatory crime that puts the public at risk, wrecks livelihoods and threatens the services we depend on. Thats why were determined to smash the cyber criminal business model and protect the services we all rely on as we deliver our plan for change. The chief executive of the British Library, Rebecca Lawrence, said it had been the victim of a devastating ransomware attack in October 2023. The attack destroyed our technology infrastructure and continues to impact our users, however, as a public body, we did not engage with the attackers or pay the ransom, she said. Instead, we are committed to sharing our experiences to help protect other institutions affected by cyber crime and build collective resilience for the future. Co-ops chief executive Shirine Khoury-Haq said she welcomed the Governments proposals, adding: We know first-hand the damage and disruption cyber attacks cause to businesses and communities. The package of measures could also result in the introduction of a mandatory reporting regime, which would give law enforcement greater intelligence to track down perpetrators, according to the Home Office. Wanted man: Renato Veiga (Chelsea FC via Getty Images) Atletico Madrid are pressing ahead with their efforts to sign Renato Veiga from Chelsea but are expected to face competition from two Premier League clubs. Standard Sport understands two unnamed top-flight clubs in England also hold an interest in Veiga and are weighing up whether to rival Atletico for the defender. Atletico are already in talks with Veigas representatives as they try to sign the 21-year-old, while Bayern Munich are monitoring his situation. Veiga is one of the players Cheslea consider a priority sale this summer. Chelsea want more than 34.6m for Veiga (Getty Images) The Blues are holding out for more than 40million (34.6m) for the defender, who is interested in the proposed move to Atletico. Chelsea only spent 12m to sign Veiga from Swiss club Basel last summer so are hoping to make considerable profit when moving him on. They will be pleased there are currently four clubs with active interest in Veiga, as this could help to drive up the fee they eventually recoup on the Portugal international. Veiga spent the second half of last season on loan at Juventus, where he featured at centre-back and occasionally at full-back or as a defensive midfielder. Attempts by Juventus to sign him outright never materialised. A pro-Palestinian protester is detained by NYPD officers following a protest at Columbia Universitys library on May 7 - Ryan Murphy/REUTERS Pro-Palestinian protesters who stormed Columbia Universitys library have been banned from campus. A source told The Telegraph that 56 or more of the 70 students involved in the incident would not be allowed to return. The bans will last for between one and three years, the New York Post said. All 70 students involved in the unrest were formally disciplined on Monday, it is understood. Some of them had their degrees revoked or were permanently expelled, according to a statement on the universitys website. The incident took place in May, with masked and hooded protesters swarming the New York-based universitys library and refusing to leave. Protesters gather inside the Butler Library on Columbia Universitys campus in New York - Ryan Murphy/REUTERS At the time, authorities said 80 protesters were arrested with those involved facing up to three months in jail. Columbia alumni and students from other universities were among those detained. Two campus public safety officers were injured as the demonstrators forced their way into the Butler Library, where students were revising ahead of their final exams before the summer break. Protesters were demanding an amnesty for students facing disciplinary action after last summers protests. They also demanded the release of activists facing deportation including Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder, who was arrested and detained by ICE agents in March and flown to an immigration jail in Louisiana. Mr Khalil has since been released. Mahmoud Khalil was arrested and detained by ICE agents in March - Ted Shaffrey/AP Secretary of State Marco Rubio said those on student visas are facing deportation. Students involved in similar demonstrations have previously been suspended or had their degrees revoked. The university, one of the most prestigious in the US, called police after protesters refused to leave. The university took around five hours to call in the police report, according to Fox News. In spite of the delay, the Trump administration praised the universitys acting president for meeting the moment with fortitude and conviction. The move came in stark contrast to the universitys handling of pro-Palestinian protests in the summer, when a pro-Gaza encampment remained in place for more than six weeks. The university is currently trying to come to an agreement with President Donald Trump and his team to restore government funding, after the president withheld $400m in federal grants. The money was kept back amid concerns by the White House over Columbias handling of pro-Palestinian protests and anti-Israel sentiment on campus. Violations will generate consequences In March, Columbia was accused by the Trump administration of continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students. In a statement regarding the sanctioning of students involved in the library incident, a Columbia University spokesperson said: Immediately following the disruption at Butler Library during reading period, which affected hundreds of students attempting to study, the university began an investigation into rules violations, banned participating individuals from affiliated institutions and non-affiliates from campus, and placed Columbia participants on interim suspension... Our institution must focus on delivering on its academic mission for our community. And to create a thriving academic community, there must be respect for each other and the institutions fundamental work, policies, and rules. Disruptions to academic activities are in violation of university policies and rules, and such violations will necessarily generate consequences. The speed with which our updated UJB system has offered an equitable resolution to the community and students involved is a testament to the hard work of this institution to improve its processes. Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell listens as Sarah Ransome (not seen) reads a victim statement during Maxwell's sentencing in a courtroom sketch in New York City on 28 June 2022. Photograph: Jane Rosenberg/Reuters Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned sex trafficker linked to the dead financier Jeffrey Epstein, is meeting with justice department officials including Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, who will see if Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims. The announcement of Maxwells meetings with justice department officials comes as the Trump administration faces backlash from Democrats and Trump supporters alike for its recent handling of the Epstein case. In early July, the justice department and the FBI announced that they will not be releasing any further Epstein-related documents and further said that there was no incriminating client list. We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties, the justice department said. FBI officials also determined that Epstein indeed died by suicide. The Trump administrations handling of the Epstein case has led to a rift among Trumps base. The administrations attempts to place a lid on the Epstein case have been met with criticism, including from members of Congress who have pushed for votes to compel the administration to release documents related to the case. There will probably not be a vote before the August recess, Politico reports, due to Republican resistance during congressional meetings. Some lawmakers have called for Maxwell to testify before Congress about her dealings with Epstein, a move that leading House Republicans have resisted. Last week, Trump directed the attorney general, Pam Bondi, to ask a court to release all relevant grand jury testimony in Epsteins case. The grand jury testimony could reveal previously unknown information but is unlikely to include big revelations since, often, prosecutors provide limited information to a grand jury only to secure an indictment. Maxwell, who was convicted of sex-trafficking underage girls for Epstein in December 2021, will reportedly be negotiating with the government. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epsteins abuse of children. I can confirm that we are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully, her attorney, David Oscar Markus, posted on X. On Tuesday morning, Blanche also released a statement, posted by Bondi, saying that he plans to meet with Maxwell in the coming days. Blanches statement also defended the departments early July release, saying it was as accurate today as it was when it was written. Epstein and Maxwell were first indicted under the first Trump administration. In 2007, Epstein struck a deal with federal and state prosecutors. That year, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months in prison for soliciting charges. It is unclear what the terms of Maxwells discussions will be or if she will agree to be a cooperating witness with the justice department. It is also unclear what benefit she may gain from cooperating with the government. Typically, cooperating witnesses receive certain benefits for working with the government, including visas, reduced sentences and, at times, government protection. For the first time, the Department of Justice is reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell to ask: what do you know? Blanche posted on X. It is unclear what steps will be taken by the justice department, considering the recent shake-up at the US attorneys office in Manhattan, which prosecuted the federal cases, Politico reports. All of the prosecutors who worked on the Epstein and Maxwell cases, except one, have left the Manhattan US attorneys office in recent months. Trump has also been in the crosshairs of the Epstein dilemma, due to his past ties to the financier. Epstein once said he was Trumps closest friend. Additionally, the Wall Street Journal reported last week that Trump allegedly sent a bawdy letter to Epstein in 2003. Trump sued the Wall Street Journal and its owners, and the paper was later banned from participating in the press pool during Trumps upcoming trip to Scotland. Alan Dershowitz, who was an attorney for Epstein, recently said that Maxwell would be willing to testify during an interview with Fox News, if offered immunity. She knows everything, she is the Rosetta Stone, Dershowitz said. If she were just given use immunity, she could be compelled to testify. Im told that she actually would be willing to testify. In a separate interview with Real Americas Voice, Dershowitz said that Maxwell should not be in prison. She is really serving Jeffrey Epsteins sentence, Dershowitz said. After he committed suicide, there was no one else to prosecute cause there was no real information against anybody else. And so they went after her and they sentenced her to the sentence that would have been appropriate for Epstein, but not at all appropriate for her. She deserves to be out, he added. The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know. If you have something to share on this subject you can contact us confidentially using the following methods. Secure Messaging in the Guardian app The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said. If you don't already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu. Select Secure Messaging. SecureDrop, instant messengers, email, telephone and post See our guide at theguardian.com/tips for alternative methods and the pros and cons of each. Dominique Pelicot, the French man jailed last year for drugging and raping his wife, could avoid prosecution for a separate murder due to lost evidence, it has emerged. Police officers are not able to find clothes found at the scene of the murder of 23-year-old estate agent Sophie Narme, who was raped and strangled in 1991, according to Paris Match. Pelicot has been accused of being behind the attack, but has consistently denied responsibility. Florence Rault, the lawyer representing the victims family, told the magazine that a search was carried out for the clothes at the beginning of this year, but no one has been able to get their hands on them. The clothes could provide crucial DNA evidence for the case, by linking it to another attempted rape case from 1999 which Pelicot has admitted involvement in. In December, the 72-year-old was imprisoned for 20 years after inviting dozens of strangers he met online to rape his unconscious wife, Gisele Pelicot, who he had drugged in their home in Mazan for more than ten years. The trial gripped the worlds attention after Ms Pelicot waived her anonymity, in an attempt to make the "shame swap sides". Gisele Pelicot waived the right to anonymity to speak out on behalf of other victims of sexual assault (Alamy/PA) Two years after his initial arrest for taking upskirting photos of women in October 2020, Pelicot was accused of the 1991 rape and murder of Ms Narme and the attempted rape of another woman, 19, eight years later. Pelicot, who admitted to the crimes against his wife, has consistently denied the allegations relating to Ms Narme. Her murder took place on 4 December 1991, after she made her way to an appointment with a potential buyer who wanted a top floor flat, Paris Match reported. After she failed to return home, Ms Narmes mother alerted her employer, who sent someone to the apartment where she had been giving a viewing. She was found face down with her belt tied around her neck, after having been strangled to death and raped by her murderer. Three years ago, Pelicot admitted assaulting the other woman, also an estate agent, in a Parisian suburb in 1999. Dominique Pelicot in the courthouse last December during the trial over his abuse of wife, Gisele (AFP/Getty) He was accused of pinning the woman to the floor of an apartment where she was due to be giving a viewing. Prosecutors said Pelicot threatened the unnamed woman with a box cutter, before forcing a cloth soaked in ether in an attempt to knock her out. The victim fought back until the assailant eventually fled. Pelicot has since retracted his confession in part and claimed there was no intention to rape the women, but instead to force her to show him her underwear. In 2004, a special software system found a link between the rape and murder of Sophie Narme and the attempted rape of the other woman, in terms of the attacker being alone, the victims being estate agents, and a product used by the attacker - ether - in both attacks, Paris Match reported. But attempts to link the cases using DNA had no result. Gisele Pelicot faces her ex-husband who orchestrated years of abuse (AFP/Getty) Nearly two decades later, in 2022, after an investigating judge asked her team to re-explore the attempted rape case from 1999, a bombshell discovery was made. DNA extracted from a drop of blood from the womans attacker, which was taken from the heels of one of her shoes, matched that of Dominique Pelicot. The cases are 85-90 per cent identical, Ms Rault said. Judge Turquey therefore ordered a joinder between the two cases." The loss of the clothes from the Sophie Narme case may hinder the prosecution's ability to irrefutably link the two cases. With new analysis techniques, new DNA evidence could have been found. Ms Rault said, in a letter to French justice minister Gerald Darmanin: "These seals have not been destroyed. They exist and must be effectively searched for and recovered by all means. Otherwise, this new loss would constitute a new cause of State liability." The Scottish Government is demanding an apology from UK Environment Secretary Steve Reed for inaccurate and misleading made about water quality north of the border. Mr Reed came under fire after claiming that under publicly-owned Scottish Water pollution levels in Scotland are worse than they are in England. The UK Government minister made the remarks to Channel 4 News as he dismissed calls for water services south of the border to be nationalised. Scottish Climate Action and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin has written to Mr Reed, urging him to apologise (Andrew Milligan/PA) Gillian Martin, the Scottish Government Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, said she was extremely disappointed that Mr Reed had made the inaccurate and misleading comments regarding performance in Scotland as he sought to dismiss out of hand the value of public ownership of a key asset like water. She wrote to Mr Reed noting that Mondays report from the Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, had found 66% of Scotlands water bodies to be of good ecological status, compared with 16.1% in England and 29.9% in Wales. And while she accepted the figures for the different countries were not calculated on the same basis, Ms Martin stated: It is clear that Scotland has a higher performance. She insisted that much of the improvement seen in water in Scotland was due to significant investment in the water industry to reduce pollution, which she said was driven by both Scottish Water and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa). My letter to UK Gov Minister Steve Reed asking him to retract his false statements about the condition of water in Scotland. IWC was able to report were in a much better position than rUk with 87% high or good status. Public ownership works. https://t.co/q8HOkpKfld Gillian Martin (@GillianMSP) July 22, 2025 Ms Martin told the UK Environment Secretary: Your comments sought also to undermine the idea of public ownership in the minds of voters, yet this is clearly what the people of Scotland continue to want. Indeed, it is the very fact of that public ownership and control which has allowed us to keep water bills lower for people, compared to what people with privatised water supplies in England have to pay. Noting that Sepa had found 87% of the Scottish water environment to be of high of good quality up from 82% in 2014 she insisted this was in part, due to water being a publicly-owned asset, allowing for investment without shareholder returns or the pressure to make profits. The Scottish Government minister went on to tell Mr Reed: I am therefore asking that you acknowledge that your comments were inaccurate, that you apologise publicly for making them, and seek to correct them. Sir Jons review of water services south of the border did not explore renationalising water companies with the Government at Westminster opposed to this despite demands from campaigners for a return to public ownership in England. Mr Reed however warned that nationalisation would cost 100 billion and would slow down efforts to cut pollution. A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: This is absolute rubbish. Scotland has more pollution incidents than England for every mile of sewer and Scotlands monitoring of its water network is significantly worse. Rather than sending incorrect letters, this Government is fixing our broken water sector to clean up Englands waterways for good. African farmers embrace China's Juncao technology to boost mushroom production, livelihoods Xinhua) 08:57, July 22, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) HOUSTON, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Western Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: WES) ("WES" or the "Partnership") announced that the board of directors of its general partner declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.910 per unit for the second quarter of 2025, or $3.64 per unit on an annualized basis, which is in-line with the prior quarter's distribution. WES's second-quarter 2025 distribution is payable on August 14, 2025, to unitholders of record at the close of business on August 1, 2025. The Partnership plans to report its second-quarter 2025 results after market close on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Management will host a conference call on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Central (10:00 a.m. Eastern) to discuss the Partnership's quarterly results. Participants are encouraged to dial into the conference call ten to fifteen minutes before the scheduled start time to avoid any delays entering the call. The full text of the release announcing the results will be available on the Partnership's website at www.westernmidstream.com. Second-Quarter 2025 Results Thursday, August 7, 2025 9:00 a.m. Central (10:00 a.m. Eastern) Dial-in number: 800-836-8184 International dial-in number: 646-357-8785 To participate in WES's scheduled second-quarter earnings call, please refer to the above-listed dial-in information. To access the live audio webcast of the conference call, please visit the investor relations section of the Partnership's website at www.westernmidstream.com. A replay of the conference call will also be available on the website following the call. ABOUT WESTERN MIDSTREAM Western Midstream Partners, LP ("WES") is a master limited partnership formed to develop, acquire, own, and operate midstream assets. With midstream assets located in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, WES is engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and transporting natural gas; gathering, stabilizing, and transporting condensate, natural-gas liquids, and crude oil; and gathering and disposing of produced water for its customers. In its capacity as a natural-gas processor, WES also buys and sells natural gas, natural-gas liquids, and condensate on behalf of itself and its customers under certain gas processing contracts. A substantial majority of WES's cash flows are protected from direct exposure to commodity price volatility through fee-based contracts. For more information about WES, please visit www.westernmidstream.com. This news release contains forward-looking statements. WES and its general partner believe that their expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. No assurance, however, can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this news release. These factors include our ability to meet distribution expectations and financial guidance; our ability to safely and efficiently operate WES's assets; the supply of, demand for, and price of oil, natural gas, NGLs, and related products or services; our ability to meet projected in-service dates for capital-growth projects; construction costs or capital expenditures exceeding estimated or budgeted costs or expenditures; and the other factors described in the "Risk Factors" section of WES's most-recent Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other public filings and press releases. WES undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Note regarding Non-United States Investors: This release is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1446-4(b) and 1.1446(f)-4. Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100.0%) of Western Midstream Partners, LP's distributions to non-U.S. investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. Accordingly, Western Midstream Partners, LP's distributions to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. Furthermore, one hundred percent (100.0%) of Western Midstream Partners, LP's distributions to non-U.S. investors is in excess of cumulative net income for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446(f)-4(c)(iii). Brokers and nominees are treated as withholding agents responsible for withholding on distributions received by them on behalf of non-U.S. investors. The CUSIP number of Western Midstream Partners, LP's common units is 958669 103. WESTERN MIDSTREAM CONTACTS Daniel Jenkins Director, Investor Relations [email protected] 866-512-3523 Rhianna Disch Manager, Investor Relations [email protected] 866-512-3523 SOURCE Western Midstream Partners, LP When will British travellers to the European Union and wider Schengen Area need to apply in advance for an online permit? The short answer is: not before 2027. EU officials had originally confirmed that the much delayed entry-exit system would take effect on 10 November 2024. From that date, it was thought that every UK traveller entering the Schengen Area would need to be fingerprinted and provide a facial biometric. (The requirement will not apply to British visitors to Ireland, in the European Union but outside Schengen.) But the deadline was missed. Now the European Union says EES will start to be rolled out from 12 October 2025 with completion by 9 April 2026. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) can only function once the Entry/Exit System is fully working. It is due to launch six months after that. The EU says Etias will launch in the final quarter of 2026 some time from October to December. But for at least another six months the Etias will be optional. So you will not need one before April 2027 at the earliest. What is Etias? British travellers and those from all other third-country visa-free nationals (as the UK chose to become after Brexit) will need provide information in advance so that frontier officials know more about them on arrival and to identify people who the EU wants to keep out. Etias, the next step in tightening frontier controls, is a online permit system that is similar to the US Esta scheme. It will cost 20 (17) and is valid for three years, or until the passport reaches three months to expiry, whichever comes first. UK nationals are required to have a valid Etias travel authorisation if they travel to any of the European countries requiring Etias for a short-term stay (90 days in any 180-day period), says the EU. Its key function is to verify if a third-country national meets entry requirements before travelling to the Schengen Area. The zone covers almost all of the EU (apart from Ireland and for now, Cyprus) plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. By the time Etias begins Cyprus is likely to be a Schengen area member. When will I need one? Here is the timeline of the essential roll-out: 12 October 2025: EU Entry/Exit System starts across at least 10 per cent of frontier posts, with central registration of people crossing the border in or out of the Schengen Area. But the biometric elements face and fingerprints will not be mandatory for the first 60 days; it may be that some states do this anyway. Passports continue to be stamped. December 2025: Biometrics become mandatory at frontier posts operating the EES. January 2026: By now, member states should operate the Entry/Exit System with biometric functionalities at a minimum of half of their border crossing points. In other words, a majority of visitors are likely to experience double red tape: providing EES biometrics but continuing to have passports stamped as well. 9 April 2026: Roll-out of Entry/Exit System should be complete. Only when the EES is running flawlessly across Europe will passports stop being stamped. October 2026 (or later): Etias may finally come into play. The EU says: Starting six months after EES, some 1.4 billion people from 59 visa-exempt countries and territories are required to have a travel authorisation to enter most European countries. But required is not exactly correct. It will be only on a voluntary basis initially. The European Union says the launch of Etias will be followed by a transitional period of at least six months. The EU says: For travel during this time, travellers should already apply for their Etias travel authorisation, but those without one will not be refused entry as long as they fulfil all remaining entry conditions. Those conditions are basically the existing requirements for passport validity: Issued no more than 10 years earlier on the day of entry to the European Union. Valid for at least three months on the intended day of departure from the EU. The earliest, therefore, that any British traveller or other third-country national will need an Etias is April 2027. Once the transitional period is over, a further grace period of at least six months will apply on a one-time only basis to British travellers who turn up without an Etias. The European Union says: There is an exception: only those coming to Europe for the first time since the end of the transitional period will be allowed to enter without an Etias provided they fulfil all remaining entry conditions. All other travellers will be refused entry if they do not hold an Etias travel authorisation. The grace period will last at least six months. How will I apply for an Etias? At the heart of the system is an Etias website. An app will follow (any apps that currently purport to be official EU Etias apps are imposters). Travellers will be required to submit personal information including name, address, contact details in Europe and passport data. They must also state an occupation (with job title and employer). Students must give the name of their educational establishment. The applicant must give details of any serious convictions in the past 20 years. Travellers must also provide the reason for their journey (holiday, business, visiting family, etc), specify the Schengen Area country they will first arrive in, and provide the address of their first nights stay. That looks as though it could pose a problem for tourists who like to make plans as they go along. In fact, the European Union helpfully points out that you are not bound to stick to that nominated location: Once you have your travel authorisation in hand, you can change your plans. As with the US Esta, after you have been admitted once and have returned home, you can enter again without updating such information online. The fee is 20 (17) for all applicants aged 18 to 70. While those under 18 or over 70 will still need to apply for and hold an Etias, they need not pay. What happens to the information? Every application will be checked against EU and relevant Interpol databases, as well as a dedicated Etias watch-list. The system will be tuned to pick out individuals suspected of being involved in terrorism, armed robbery, child pornography, fraud, money laundering, cybercrime, people smuggling, trafficking in endangered animal species, counterfeiting and industrial espionage. In a case of mistaken identity, will I be able to appeal? Yes. If you are suspected of one or more of the above offences, but in fact have led a blameless life, you will be allowed to argue your case. Details of how to appeal will be included with the notice of rejection. How far in advance must I apply? The aim is for an Etias to be granted in most circumstances within minutes, though even a straightforward application could take up to four days. If an application is flagged (ie there is a hit with one of the databases) the prospective visitor may be asked to provide additional information. Alternatively, says the EU, the applicant may be asked to participate in an interview with national authorities, which may take up to additional 30 days. The European Union says: We strongly advise you to obtain the Etias travel authorisation before you buy your tickets and book your hotels. If I get an Etias, must I print anything out? No. The frontier guard will get all the information they need from the passport you used to apply for your Etias. Will my Etias be checked before departure to the EU? Yes. Most British travellers to Europe will have their Etias status checked by the airline, as currently happens with travel to the US (Esta), Canada (eTA) and many other countries. Airlines are obliged to ensure passenger comply with the immigration rules of the destination. A couple of them made a complete mess of it when the post-Brexit passport regime took effect, and invented their own rules. To try to avoid a repeat, I have written to the airlines representative body to try to ensure that they are fully aware of the optional nature of Etias during the transitional and grace periods before it becomes mandatory. Is Etias a visa? This answer to this common question depends on your interpretation of semantics. Officially, it is exactly the opposite of a visa. Europe says that Etias is a pre-travel authorisation system for visa-exempt travellers. It is a similar concept to the UK ETA, the US Esta and Canadian eTA, which are not technically visas. But Etias requires visitors to: Apply in advance Provide substantial personal information Pay money Be issued with a permit to cross a border. So I contend it amounts to a normal persons understanding of a visa. Once I have an Etias, am I guaranteed admission to the Schengen Area? No. Mere possession of a travel authorisation does not confer an automatic right of entry, says the EU. All travellers arriving at the border are still subject to border checks and border guards will refuse entry to those who do not meet the entry conditions . As with the US, travellers can be turned away for any reason, with the Etias permission rescinded. Must I apply for an Etias every time I travel to Europe? No. The permit will be valid for three years, or until your passport reaches three months before expiry, whichever is the earlier. (Note also that British passports must not be over 10 years old on the day of entry to the European Union.) Will I need an Etias to travel to Ireland? No. Ireland is not in the Schengen Area, and the Common Travel Area incorporating the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands transcends European Union rules. If I have a visa for study or work, or a long-stay permit from one of the EU nations, must I obtain an Etias? No. How are people without internet access supposed to apply? They will be expected to get a friend, a family member or a travel agent to make the application for them, in the same way as the US Esta and similar schemes. Just remind us about the 90/180 day rule? This rule, to which the UK asked to be subject after leaving the European Union, means that British travellers cannot stay more than 90 days in any stretch of 180 days. As an example of what it means: if you were to spend the first 90 days of 2025 (January, February and almost all of March) in the Schengen area, you would not be able to return until late June. Is the UK being punished because of Brexit? No. Work on strengthening the European Unions external border was already under way before the UK referendum on membership in June 2016. Initially British officials participated in plans for the entry-exit system. Neither the EES nor Etias would be relevant if the UK was still in the EU. But the nation voted to leave the European Union and the UK government negotiated for British travellers to be classified as third-country nationals triggering extra red tape. Will Etias be the next online scam? Yes. As with other online travel permits, commercial intermediaries are allowed. But according to Frontex the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, which is implementing Etias there are many scam sites out there that are likely to apply fees way above the basic 20 (17). Any site other than europa.eu/etias is unofficial and should not be trusted. One imposter site claims to have processed 671 applications already; this is impossible since no applications have been processed anywhere. Another site offers a 40 per cent discount for early applications. Some use the EU logo, which is illegal. Frontex also warns about the risk of identity theft if personal information is provided to imposter sites. Gavin Stephens, the chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, said women were critical to the progress of policing. Photograph: Brian A Jackson/Shutterstock Police chiefs have criticised Reform UKs diminishing of female police officers, when, during its launch of law and order policies, it said women should patrol only with a big, strapping male constable. On Monday the rightwing party tried to establish itself as the party of law and order but Sarah Pochin, its justice spokesperson, said she did not like seeing two women together on patrol. Gavin Stephens, the chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, hit back at the claims by saying that female officers were critical to tackling crime. Stephens said: There are an increasing number of women who choose a career in policing, bringing with them vital skills and experience that are critical to the progress of policing, our role in society, and keeping the public safe. Over a third of our officers and around 40% of our chief constables are women, and we must not jeopardise our progress by diminishing the value and role women play in our workforce. There are no roles in policing which women cannot do, and the same exacting standards to qualify are met by all men and women who undertake some of the most challenging tasks of any profession. We celebrate that women have an essential and irreplaceable role in every aspect of policing across the United Kingdom; policing is at its best when it represents the communities it serves, and our priority continues to be making policing a career where anyone can thrive and make a difference. Launching a suite of promises on law and order on Monday, Reforms leader, Nigel Farage, said criminals should slightly fear the police, adding that is a desirable place for us to be as a society. Later Pochin, Reforms justice spokesperson who is also the MP for Runcorn and Helsby, told the BBC I never feel comfortable actually seeing two female officers together. Id much rather see a great big strapping male police officer with a female. She added that women police officers look vulnerable and should be deployed to more sensitive situations, such as dealing with children or women who have suffered from domestic violence. One chief constable told the Guardian that not just chiefs were annoyed, but rank-and-file officers also: It takes us back 30 years, and it has annoyed my work force as well. To suggest women officers are not equal because they are not of a certain size and shape, is a disservice. The chief said physical confrontation was nowadays a minuscule part of the job and women were also more likely to make an arrest without the need for force. Reform UK also pledged 30,000 more officers, costing an estimated 2bn. The chief said up to 40% of new recruits were women, and that Reforms comments would deter women from joining if the party was looking to boost police numbers. A former Kentucky police officer has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for using excessive force during the botched drugs raid that killed Breonna Taylor. Brett Hankison's 10 shots did not hit anyone - but he is the only person at the scene charged over her death in 2020. The sentence comes despite the US Department of Justice recommending he should not be locked up. District judge Rebecca Grady Jennings disagreed, arguing that not imprisoning him would minimise the jury's verdict. She said she was "startled" people weren't hurt by his excessive shooting. Hankison's shots narrowly missed a neighbouring family after they pierced the walls of Ms Taylor's apartment. Ms Taylor, 26, was killed in March 2020 when Louisville officers carried out a "no-knock" warrant and broke down her door. Her boyfriend thought it was someone breaking in and fired a single shot in self-defence, hitting one officer in the leg. Three officers responded with 32 shots, six of which struck and killed Ms Taylor. She was hit in her hallway by bullets from two officers, but neither was charged after prosecutors said they were justified in returning fire. It later emerged police were actually searching for an ex-partner of Ms Taylor - an alleged drug dealer - who did not live at the address. Her death, along with other killings of black people in 2020 including George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, sparked protests around the US and the world. On Monday, Hankison, 49, was sentenced to 33 months with three years of supervised probation. He won't be locked up immediately and it will be for the US Bureau of Prisons to decide when and where he will be imprisoned. A statement from Ms Taylor's family said: "While today's sentence is not what we had hoped for - nor does it fully reflect the severity of the harm caused - it is more than what the Department of Justice sought. That, in itself, is a statement." Three other former police officers who weren't at the scene have been charged with crafting a falsified warrant but have not gone to trial. Funding for underperforming aid organisations and support for some countries will be cut after the UKs aid budget was slashed, the Foreign Office has said. Announcing the plan for aid spending for 2025-2026 on Tuesday, the minister for development said the Government was modernising its approach and that every pound must work harder for UK taxpayers. The Government announced in February it would cut development assistance aid from its current level of 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3% in 2027. As part of its new approach, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said in its annual report on Tuesday that it will prioritise global organisations with a proven track record of impact, such as the World Bank and the vaccine alliance Gavi, in efforts to deliver better results for taxpayers and aid beneficiaries. Minister for development Baroness Chapman said the Government was modernising its approach to aid (Aaron Chown/PA) Meanwhile, the FCDO said bilateral support for some countries will decrease and multilateral organisations deemed to be underperforming will face future funding cuts. The FCDO has not yet announced which countries will be affected. Instead, the UK will increasingly share its expertise in areas such as finance and science and on tackling issues such as the climate crisis, health threats and humanitarian emergencies. Through the aid budget, the UK will continue to play a humanitarian role supporting those in crisis, including in Gaza where spending is protected. Support will also continue for Ukraine and Sudan while a reserve fund will be held to enable the UK to respond to future crises at pace. The cut to the aid budget, announced in February, will fund a rise in defence spending which will be increasing to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with a view to it hitting 3% in the next parliament. Former minister for international development Anneliese Dodds quit the role over the plan, saying she knew there were no easy paths to increase defence spending, but that she disagreed with the decision for aid to absorb the entire burden in her resignation letter to Sir Keir Starmer. Her successor, Baroness Jenny Chapman, said: We are modernising our approach to international development. Every pound must work harder for UK taxpayers and the people we help around the world and these figures show how we are starting to do just that through having a clear focus and priorities. The UK is moving towards a new relationship with developing countries, becoming partners and investors, rather than acting as a traditional aid donor. We want to work with countries and share our expertise from world-leading science to the City of London to help them become no longer dependent on aid, and organisations like the World Bank and Gavi are central to how we can work with others to solve some of the biggest challenges of our time: humanitarian disasters, pandemics and the climate crisis. On Tuesday, the FCDO confirmed that the International Development Association (IDA), the World Banks fund for the worlds lowest income countries, will receive 1.98 billion in funding from the UK over the next three years, helping the organisation benefit 1.9 billion people. World Bank president Ajay Banga welcomed the announcement and said: Every taxpayer pound is multiplied many times over through the Banks ability to mobilise capital and partner with the private sector. These resources help create jobs in developing countries jobs that build self-reliant economies, reduce the drivers of instability, crime, and migration, and grow the middle class. In turn, they create future consumers of UK products and investment opportunities that strengthen the UK economy over the long term. In June, the Government announced it will give Gavi 1.25 billion between 2026 and 2030 after former prime minister Boris Johnson originally pledged 1.65 billion over five years to the organisation in 2020. The FCDO previously said the money will help Gavi protect up to 500 million children from some of the worlds deadliest diseases such as meningitis, cholera and measles. Bond, the UK network for organisations working in international development, said it was clear the Government was deprioritising funding for education, gender and countries experiencing humanitarian crises such as South Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia, and surprisingly the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Sudan, which the Government said would be protected. While we welcome the Governments efforts to maintain consistent levels of funding for humanitarian crises, Gavi and the World Banks IDA fund, it is concerning that bilateral funding for Africa, gender, education and health programmes will drop, Bond policy director Gideon Rabinowitz said. The worlds most marginalised communities, particularly those experiencing conflict and women and girls, will pay the highest price for these political choices. At a time when the US has gutted all gender programming, the UK should be stepping up, not stepping back. The One campaign, which aims to reduce poverty in Africa, warned that in a year the UK will have plummeted over the cliff edge of far deeper cuts. Director Adrian Lovett said: The Governments enduring commitment to the International Development Association (IDA) is a smart investment in long-term development, and is one hopeful sign. We urge ministers to apply the same foresight and resolve across the board especially when it comes to supporting women and girls, and tackling growing humanitarian crises. The cuts revealed today are tough, and appear to hit Africa especially hard. A year from now we will have plummeted over the cliff edge of far deeper cuts, gutting vital programmes supporting some of the worlds most vulnerable people. He urged ministers to set a clear path back to spending 0.7% of national income on international aid. Greece shuts Acropolis and tells outdoor workers to down tools as country scorches in extreme heatwave The Greek government has urged outdoor labourers to down tools and closed the Acropolis as the country faces its third heatwave of the summer. The countrys Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection warned that temperatures will peak between Tuesday and Friday, with highs of 43C in some regions. The mercury will hit 42C in Central Macedonia, while temperatures of 40C are expected in Athens. On the eastern Aegean Islands, temperatures are also expected to hit 40C. Fire services and authorities have been placed on high alert, with labourers told to pause outdoor work during the peak of the afternoon heat. In June, a massive wildfire scorched forests and olive groves on the Greek island of Crete (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) The government has advised tourists and residents to stay cool by avoiding heat and crowds, use fans or air conditioning, wear light breathable clothing, eat light meals, drink plenty of water, and avoid alcohol. The Acropolis, Greece's most visited ancient site, will be closed for five hours from midday on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tourists were spotted sheltering in air-conditioned restaurants and stores on Tuesday, while the labour ministry advised employees with underlying health issues to work remotely. The ministry also ordered couriers, food delivery riders and builders in Athens to pause work from midday until 5pm. A person drinks water with a member of Greek Presidential Guard in the background, in front of the parliament building, during a heatwave in Athens (REUTERS) The heatwave is part of a wider trend across southern Europe, where soaring temperatures have fuelled wildfires in France, Albania and Spain. Greece, a country that attracts millions of tourists every year and is known for its hot, dry summers, has been increasingly affected by climate change. In recent years, it has suffered from longer and more severe heatwaves, as well as destructive floods and wildfires. Last month, Western Europe sweltered in another severe heatwave that left many dead and triggered forest fires and health alerts across the region. Thousands were evacuated and dozens injured in wildfires across France, Spain, and Greece. In June, a massive wildfire scorched forests and olive groves on the Greek island of Crete, while a large fire also started south of Athens due to extreme heat. Last year was the warmest year on record globally, with temperatures exceeding 1.5C above the pre-industrial era for the first time. Research published last week showed that the soil surface temperature around Athens rose in some places by as much as 10C since July 2024 after fires destroyed vegetation. The heat is expected to ease from Sunday, according to the Greek meteorological service. At least three teachers died trying to get young children to safety after a fighter jet crashed into a school in Bangladeshs capital on Monday, killing at least 31 people in one of the worst aviation disasters in the countrys history. So far 25 school pupils, most of them under the age of 12, have been reported killed in the crash which saw a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft come down on top of a school building in Dhaka's densely populated Uttara neighbourhood. The members of the schools faculty who were killed include Mahrein Chowdhury, a 46-year-old school administrator, who sustained 80 per cent burns while trying to escort students out of the Hyder Ali Hall building at the school when the F-7 BGI crashed into the school, about 12 minutes after its takeoff from a nearby military facility. Chowdhury was escorting students to meet their parents when the aircraft crashed into the gate of the building. Despite being severely burned herself, Chowdhury helped take 20 students to safety. Hours later, she succumbed to her injuries in hospital. "She didn't get out first from her building when it caught fire, instead tried to get as many students out but ended up suffering 100 per cent burns, said her brother, Munaf Mojib Chowdhury. He recalled his elder sister as a mother-like figure who had helped to raise him. Mahrein Chowdhury was buried on Tuesday in her family graveyard beside her parents. Two other teachers are known to have succumbed to their burn injuries, a senior teacher who was present in the next building at the time of the disaster told The Independent. The crash took place shortly after 1pm when students were leaving exams and teachers were busy checking papers, according to the senior teacher, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the school. He recalled hearing a loud sound comparing it to a bomb blast when the aircraft first crashed into a school building. "The school is near an air force base, so we are used to the noise of fighter aircraft, but this was extraordinarily loud. At first glance, I couldn't spot anything, but seconds later, a thick stream of smoke started coming out of the building," he recalled. The senior teacher saw dozens of injured students mostly those with minor injuries running toward the school's medical room on the lower floor, while many other pupils were trapped under debris on the second floor. Army personnel stationed nearby rushed to the school as the fire from the blast intensified and spread rapidly about 15 minutes after the crash, leading to more fatalities. Ambulances and a helicopter arrived at the scene shortly after. Firemen work at the site of a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft that crashed into a school campus shortly after takeoff in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) "As the fire spread, we were asked to move toward the playing field. Everyone was evacuated to the grounds to make space for the ambulance and the helicopter to take the pupils to the nearest hospitals," the senior teacher said. "Everyone who could help, including teachers, staff and pupils, jumped in to the rescue without thinking twice." Doctors said late on Monday that about two dozen people remained in a critical condition, out of a total 165 injured. A blood donation camp has been opened at a specialised burns hospital where most of the injured were being treated. Twenty bodies have been handed over to their families, with some needing DNA matching after they were charred beyond recognition. Many relatives waited overnight at the burns hospital while identification processes were carried out. Nasima Begum was among the mothers whose children were admitted to the hospital after suffering severe burns in the crash. Her son, who studies in grade seven, was playing when the crash happened, Ms Begum told The Independent. "He's completely burned," she said. "It has been more than 24 hours, his state is critical. The doctors are not saying anything positive. This is the second hospital we have had to take him," she said, as she prayed to Allah to save her son. 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) Rubina Akter said her son Raiyan Toufiq had a miraculous escape after his shirt caught fire when he was on a staircase. "He sprinted to the ground floor and jumped on the grass to douse it," she told Reuters. "He tore his shirt and vest inside which saved him from severe burns." Another student who had already left the classroom after finishing his exam told BBC Bangla: "My best friend, the one I was in the exam hall with, he died right in front of my eyes." Rescue workers continued to scour the charred buildings for debris on Tuesday as distressed residents of the area looked on. Abul Hossain mourned his nine-year-old daughter after saying his final goodbye on Monday night. "I took her to school yesterday morning like every day. I had no idea it would be the last time I would be seeing her," he said. The pilot, Flight Lt Mohammed Toukir Islam, who died in the crash, made "every effort to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas toward a more sparsely inhabited location," the military said. The Chinese-made F-7 BGI training aircraft experienced a "technical malfunction" moments after takeoff from the AK Khandaker air force base at 1.06 pm local time on Monday, the military added. It was the pilot's first solo flight as he was completing his training course. It remained unclear if he managed to eject before the jet hit the building. The Bangladesh air force said it has launched a formal investigation. The government declared Tuesday was a day of mourning, with flags at half-mast and special prayers at all places of worship as hundreds of students protested near the site of the crash. The Milestone school is located about 11km from the air force base in a densely populated area near a metro station and numerous shops and homes. Bangladesh's national flag keeps half-mast on Supreme Court building in homage to the victims of Monday's Bangladesh air force training aircraft crash (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The protesting students transparency over the numbers and identities of the dead and injured, compensation for their families, and an immediate halt to the use of "outdated and unsafe" training aircraft by the Bangladesh Air Force. They chanted slogans and accused security officials of beating them and manhandling teachers. The students angrily confronted two senior government advisers who arrived to visit the scene, forcing them to take cover for six hours inside the school campus before additional security forces arrived and escorted them out. Scores of students suffered injuries after police charged them with batons after they broke through security barricades and entered the Bangladesh Secretariat complex, elsewhere across the capital. Security fired tear gas and used stun grenades to disperse the crowd. Mondays plane crash was the deadliest aviation incident in the Bangladeshi capital in decades. In 2008, another F-7 training jet crashed outside Dhaka, killing its pilot, who had ejected after he discovered a technical problem. 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. The incident comes as neighbour India is still grappling with the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade after an Air India plane crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad city in Gujarat last month, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground. Hewlett-Packard (HP) lost hundreds of millions of pounds through its acquisition of British software company Autonomy, which was founded by Mike Lynch, a High Court judge has ruled. The technology firm, now known as Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE), sued the British entrepreneur for around five billion US dollars following its purchase of Cambridge-based Autonomy for 11.1 billion dollars (8.2 billion) in 2011. The company claimed at a nine-month trial in 2019 that Mr Lynch inflated Autonomys revenues and committed a deliberate fraud over a sustained period of time, which it said forced it to announce an 8.8 billion dollar (6.5 billion) write-down of the firms worth just over a year after the acquisition. In a ruling in 2022, Mr Justice Hildyard said the American firm had substantially succeeded in their claim, but that it was likely to receive substantially less than the amount it claimed in damages. He said that Autonomy had not accurately portrayed its financial position during the purchase, but even if it had, HPE would still have bought the company, but at a reduced price. A hearing was then held last year to decide the amount that Mr Lynch must pay in damages, before the businessman died aged 59 along with his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, and five others when his yacht, the Bayesian, sank off the coast of Sicily last August. On Tuesday, Mr Justice Hildyard ruled that HPE suffered losses amounting to 697,876,753 through the purchasing of Autonomy, some of which is set to be paid by Mr Lynchs estate. He also ruled that Mr Lynchs estate is liable to pay part of around 47.5 million dollars in damages, which is worth around 35 million. Some of the money is due to be paid by Sushovan Hussain, Autonomys former chief financial officer, who was also sued by HPE. He was convicted in April 2018 in the US of wire fraud and other crimes related to Autonomys sale, and was sentenced to five years in prison. While he has since settled HPEs claim, he could still be required to pay damages. A further hearing to deal with matters including interest, currency conversion and whether Mr Lynchs estate can appeal against the decision is set to be held in November. Handing down his ruling, Mr Justice Hildyard expressed his great sympathy for Mr Lynchs family, calling his death a tragedy. He said: It is a source of anxiety to me that I have to deliver a judgment that will inevitably cause further stress on those involved. In the 197-page ruling, he said he considered that HPEs claim was always substantially exaggerated and that the five billion dollars figure claimed was not based on detailed analysis. Following the ruling in 2022, Mr Lynch, who was also the founding investor of cybersecurity giant Darktrace, was extradited to the US in May 2023 to face criminal charges after his removal was approved by the then-Home Secretary Priti Patel. He was cleared of accusations that he orchestrated a fraud and conspiracy over Autonomys sale in the US in June 2024, and was celebrating the acquittal on his yacht at the time of his death. In a statement written before his death, issued posthumously by his representatives on Tuesday, Mr Lynch said: Todays High Court ruling reflects that HPs original five billion dollar damages claim was not just a wild overstatement misleading shareholders but it was off the mark by 80%. HP acquired Autonomy for 11.6 billion dollars and todays judgment is a view that Autonomys actual value was not even 10% below the price HP paid. This result exposes HPs failure and makes clear that the immense damage to Autonomy was down to HPs own errors and actions. An appeal process will be considered later this year. The English civil case included hearsay evidence from the US and we were never able to question or cross-examine those witnesses. This is in direct contrast to the rights of defendants in the US legal system. When in the US criminal trial we were able to cross-examine the relevant witnesses, a very different story emerged. Why is the English legal system so trusting? A spokesperson for HPE said: We are pleased that this decision brings us a step closer to the resolution of this dispute. We look forward to the further hearing at which the final amount of HPEs damages will be determined. Jeremy Sandelson, who was appointed by the court as administrator of Mr Lynchs estate, said he would be examining the judgment carefully, including whether to appeal both the 2022 ruling and the judgment on Tuesday. The Home Office will share information about asylum hotel locations with food delivery companies to tackle suspected hotspots of illegal working. A new agreement with Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats will see information about high-risk areas shared to help them uncover abuse on their platforms and quickly suspend accounts. Currently delivery riders discovered to be sharing their accounts with asylum seekers have their profiles suspended. The latest measures hope to crack down further on the practice. The gig economy firms have also been increasing real-time identity and right to work checks which has led to thousands of workers being taken off the platforms, the Home Office said. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp claimed last month to have found evidence of people working illegally for the food delivery firms during a visit to a hotel used to house asylum seekers. Asylum seekers in the UK are normally barred from work while their claim is being processed, though permission can be applied for after a year of waiting. Delivery firms met Home Office bosses earlier this month to discuss the concerns of abuse in the sector. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: Illegal working undermines honest business, exploits vulnerable individuals and fuels organised immigration crime. By enhancing our data sharing with delivery companies, we are taking decisive action to close loopholes and increase enforcement. The changes come alongside a 50% increase in raids and arrests for illegal working under the Plan for Change, greater security measures and tough new legislation. The three delivery companies said they were fully committed to working with the Home Office and combatting illegal working. Ministers promised a nationwide blitz to target migrants working illegally as part of efforts to deter people from coming to the UK from France. Officials hope to tackle the pull factors attracting migrants to the UK alongside the deal struck by Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this month to send some people who reach England in small boats back to France. More than 23,500 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel so far in 2025, a record for this point in the year. Husband who killed wife in knife attack as she pushed pram jailed for life A controlling husband who viciously and mercilessly murdered his wife in a knife attack while she was pushing their baby in a pram has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 28 years. Kulsuma Akter was left bleeding to death by 27-year-old Habibur Masum, who had stalked her to a womens refuge in Bradford and attacked her in broad daylight. Masum, 27, was told he is violent, self-centred, jealous, controlling and coercive by judge Mr Justice Cotter on Tuesday as he was sentenced at the citys crown court. The judge also told Masum: You stole a precious young life in a brutal and merciless fashion. Ms Akters brother Emran Hussain said her death had left her family with such a deep, painful void in our lives. Kulsuma Akter was stabbed her to death as she pushed her baby in a pram (West Yorkshire Police/PA) In his sentencing remarks, the judge told Masum: It is indeed a sad fact that it can be very difficult to entirely protect a woman in a refuge from a determined and cunning man intent on confrontation. Mr Justice Cotter said the nature and extent of his attack proves beyond all reasonable doubt that you intended to kill her. Jurors previously heard Ms Akter had attempted to escape Masum by staying at the refuge in Bradford after the killer had held a knife to her throat at their home in Greater Manchester. The judge told Masum that such was your behaviour, Kulsuma was able to predict her own death at your hands. Habibur Masum walking with his wife Kulsuma Akter and their baby (West Yorkshire Police/PA) The killer was told that his fatal attack on his wife was the most serious of domestic abuse offences and that it represented a violation of the trust and security that normally exists between people in an intimate relationship. Masum found that Ms Akter was staying at the refuge through her phone location, and loitered in streets around the hostel as well as sending her messages threatening to kill her family members if she did not return to him. The defendant also sent her fake messages from a local GP practice pretending their son had an appointment to try to lure her out of the refuge. The judge said his preparation for the attack was calculating behaviour and that his actions when he killed Ms Akter were calm and collected. A CCTV photo of Habibur Masum, 26, getting on a bus after attacking his wife (West Yorkshire Police/PA) Speaking about the murder, Mr Justice Cotter said: It was a sustained and excessively violent attack, and Kulsuma suffered mentally and physically before her death as she tried to protect herself. The attack was in a busy city centre location on a Saturday afternoon a shocking event which any of those involved are unlikely to ever forget. The judge said he was satisfied Masums personality included a strong tendency to be controlling, angry, jealous and possessive. Prosecutor Stephen Wood KC told the court that Masums leave to stay in the UK had been extended until June 2025 due to him being a graduate. He said the prosecution had been informed there is a very high likelihood deportation would be pursued. Masum travelled almost 200 miles south to Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and was arrested in the early hours of April 9 in a car park near Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he had gone to be treated for lockjaw. The killer met and married Ms Akter in Bangladesh, and came to the UK in 2022 after he obtained a student visa and enrolled on a Masters course to study marketing. They moved into a house in Oldham together in September 2022. On November 23 2023, he became jealous over a completely innocuous message Ms Akter received from a male colleague and held a knife to her throat. He was arrested and Ms Akter decided to leave him, being moved to the Bradford refuge by Oldham social services in January 2024. Habibur Masum, who stabbed his wife Kulsuma Akter to death as she pushed their baby in a pram in April last year, has been jailed for life at Bradford CrownCourt with a minimum term of 28 years. Habibur Masum, 27, was found guilty of murdering Kulsuma Akter in a ferocious knife attack in broad daylight after tracking her to a womens refuge in Bradford where she had been staying to escape him after he held a knife to her throat at their home in Greater Manchester. He left his wife bleeding to death and calmly walked away, leaving their seven-month-old son behind. The family of murder victim Kulsuma Akter have said in a statement we will never forgive the monster who took Kulsuma from us, after her killer was jailed for life. They added they have been left with a painful void in our lives. The Crown Prosecution Service described the murder as callous and shocking. Habibur Masum walking with his wife Kulsuma Akter and their baby (West Yorkshire Police) Marie Walsh, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: Habibur Masum is a violent and dangerous man who subjected his estranged wife to violence and domestic abuse causing her to flee their home to live in a safehouse in Bradford. We hope the imprisonment of Masum has brought some comfort to the family and friends of Kulsuma, she added. Masum found Kulsuma Akter through her phone location and loitered in streets around the hostel before sending her messages threatening to kill her family members if she did not return to him. He then tried to lure her out by sending her fake messages from a local GP practice pretending their son had an appointment. The court heard Ms Akter eventually felt safe enough to leave the refuge on April 6 last year after Masum updated his Facebook page falsely claiming to be in Spain. As she was walking in the city centre with a friend, pushing her baby in a pram, Masum confronted her, the trial heard. Habibur Masum, 26, (centre) on a bus prior to him attacking his wife (West Yorkshire Police) CCTV footage of the attack captured Ms Akters screams as Masum stabbed her at least 25 times. Jurors heard he then calmly walked through Bradford city centre and was seen on CCTV grinning as he got on a bus, believing at that point he was getting away. Masum travelled almost 200 miles south to Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and was arrested in the early hours of April 9 in a car park near Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he had gone to be treated for lockjaw. The trial heard the relationship between Masum and Ms Akter was an abusive relationship characterised by his jealousy, possessiveness and controlling behaviour. The couple met and married in Bangladesh, and came to the UK in 2022 after he obtained a student visa and enrolled on a Masters course to study marketing. Kulsuma Akter was stabbed her to death as she pushed her baby in a pram (West Yorkshire Police) They moved into a house in Oldham together in September 2022. On November 23 2023, he became jealous over a completely innocuous message Ms Akter received from a male colleague and held a knife to her throat. He was arrested and Ms Akter decided to leave him, being moved to the Bradford refuge by Oldham social services in January 2024. Kulsuma Akters family said in a statement: Kulsuma was a much-loved daughter, sister, aunt and mother. Her loss has left a gaping hole in the lives of all her family and friends. We have been left with a profound sense of emptiness and a deep and painful void in our lives. She was a loving, caring and kind soul with a generous nature, and touched the lives of everyone she came into contact with. As a family we miss her beautiful smile which would light up any room she entered. We will miss her humour, her kindness and her love. We will never forgive the monster who took Kulsuma from us and we do not wish to utter his name. It does not deserve to be mentioned. The monster who savagely took Kulsuma from not only us, but also from her baby son. He will never know her beauty and her kindness. He will never know his mother, other than the memories we as a family will share with him as he grows. He is the only light in all this darkness and Kulsuma radiates throughout him. Although we are grateful for the judicial process that found him guilty of this crime and for the sentence he has received today, no amount of time in prison will change the life sentence he has inflicted upon us all. No family should have to endure the pain and heartache we have had to endure since he took Kulsumas life so horrifically. We can only try and keep her memory alive by continuing to love her and to remember her name. Blog Archive: Aug 2025 (135) Jul 2025 (155) Jun 2025 (150) May 2025 (155) Apr 2025 (9) Mar 2025 (149) Feb 2025 (139) Jan 2025 (155) Dec 2024 (144) Nov 2024 (143) Oct 2024 (155) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (155) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) An asylum hotel in Epping, Essex, has been the target of a series of protests in recent days. Photograph: Lab Ky Mo/SOPA Images/Shutterstock Immigration and deprivation are among the main factors causing public disenchantment with politicians and the government which has led to social unrest and rioting, Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, has warned. According to an official summary of Tuesdays meeting of the cabinet, Rayner, who is leading a wider government project on improving social cohesion, also highlighted the increasing amount of time people are spending alone and online as a reason for the disturbances. Asked if Rayner saw increased migration as a particular reason for both the riots across England last summer, and recent disturbances at hotels housing asylum seekers, Downing Street said it was among concerns that people have about whether government is acting on their behalf and acting in their interests. Ministers are concerned there could be a renewed wave of migration and race-based disturbances, as the anniversary approaches of the murder of three children at a dance class in Southport that led to riots last summer, with many encouraged by false far-right claims about the attack. Rayner told ministerial colleagues that economic insecurity, the rapid pace of de-industrialisation, immigration and the impacts on local communities and public services, technological change and the amount of time people were spending alone online, and declining trust in institutions was having a profound impact on society, according to a No 10 readout of the cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning. Emphasising the role of deprivation and poverty, Rayner said 17 of the 18 places around England that had the worst trouble last summer were among the countrys most deprived areas. While Britain was a successful multi-ethnic, multi-faith country, the government had to show it had a plan to address peoples concerns and provide opportunities for everyone to flourish, Rayner added. Asked about the role of immigration, Keir Starmers official spokesperson said high levels of immigration over the last 10 years, including illegal immigration was among a series of factors, including the cost of living and the pace of technological change that have had an impact on our social fabric and social cohesion. Questioned about Rayners comments on people spending more time online and alone, the spokesperson said adults now averaged four hours of online time a day, and that has changed the way in which people interact with other people. Rayners project on social cohesion is aimed at the longer term, with no date set for it to present any conclusions. Officially known as the plan for neighbourhoods, it is intended to invest 1.5bn in 75 areas over the next decade. However, ministers are also mindful of the more immediate worry of a repeat of last summers disorder, after which there were more than 1,800 arrests and nearly 1,100 charges, with hundreds of people jailed. One potential flashpoint could be an asylum hotel in Epping, Essex, which has been the target for a series of protests in recent days, and where police were attacked. The far-right agitator known as Tommy Robinson has promised on social media to bring thousands of people to join a mass protest at the hotel on Sunday. Similar demonstrations have taken place at a hotel in Diss, Norfolk. There are procedures for the prime minister to be kept informed even when he is away. Starmer cancelled his summer holiday last year because of the rioting. Officials have refused to comment on any contingency plans in place this year, saying they could not get into speculation. There is an additional political impetus for ministers to take seriously the possibility of wider disorder given the likelihood it would be exploited by Nigel Farage, who used a speech about crime on Monday to say much of the UK was experiencing nothing short of societal collapse. He told an event: I dont think anybody in London can understand just how close we are to civil disobedience on a vast scale in this country. Government officials insisted, however, that the cabinet discussion was not a response to the Reform UK leader, pointing to previous comments about the many social drivers of dissatisfaction that were made by Starmer after last years disorder. The broad point is that we have to invest in our social fabric, one said. People have felt for years that governments have not delivered for them. We need to deliver change they can feel. Among initiatives launched after the summer riots was a cross-party commission intended to examine and ease community divisions. The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion met for the first time in June. Interpol has said it is removing a most-wanted designation for anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson. Watson is sought by Japan over an encounter with a whaling ship and who was jailed for several months last year in Greenland. The 74-year-old is a former head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, whose high seas confrontations with whaling vessels have drawn support from celebrities and featured in the reality television series Whale Wars. Japan wants his extradition over an encounter with a Japanese whaling research ship in 2001, when he was accused of obstructing the crews official duties by ordering the captain of his ship to throw explosives at the whaling ship. Starting in 2012, Watson had been subject to a red notice of Interpol, the Lyon, France-based international police body. Environmental activist Paul Watson smiles as he arrives at Charles de Gaulle's airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Dec. 20, 2025 after being released from prison few days ago (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The Canadian-American activist was arrested and jailed on the Japanese warrant last year in Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, but released after five months. Denmark does not have an extradition treaty with Japan, where Watson's foundation says he could have faced a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, and the Danish government declined to extradite him to Japan. At the time of his release, the Danish Justice Ministry said it had not received adequate guarantees from Japanese authorities that the time Watson had already served in custody would be counted against any sentence he would receive in Japan. In a statement, Interpol said the decision to remove Watson from the red notice list did not reflect any judgment on the merits of the case in Japan, but that it did take into account Denmark's refusal to extradite him. This is not a judgement on the merits of the case, or the events that occurred in 2010, the Interpol statement said. The police agency said the decision was made by an independent body, the Commission for the Control of Interpol's File, which is tasked to ensure that the police body's processing of personal data adheres to its internal rules. Lamya Essemlali, president of Sea Shepherd France, hailed the good news that this notice was finally cancelled," but she noted that Watson still could be arrested and sent to Japan for prosecution. It does not give Paul Watson his freedom of movements because the Japanese arrest warrant is sufficient for a country to order his arrest, she said. Howard Phillips intended to help two apparent Russian agents called Sasha and Dima, including by passing on personal information about former defence secretary Sir Grant Shapps (Metropolitan Police) A British man who loved James Bond films has been found guilty of trying to spy for what he believed to be Russian intelligence service agents. Howard Phillips, 65, from Harlow, Essex, intended to help two apparent Russian agents called Sasha and Dima, including by passing on personal information about former defence secretary Sir Grant Shapps, helping with travel logistics and booking hotels. But Dima and Sasha were in fact undercover British intelligence officers, Winchester Crown Court previously heard. A jury found Phillips guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service under the National Security Act on Tuesday, following a trial at the same court. The jury reached a unanimous verdict after four hours and four minutes of deliberations. Phillips, wearing a dark suit and tie, silently shook his head in the dock as the verdict was given. Prosecutors said Phillips intended to assist Russian agents from the end of 2023 until May last year. Phillips offered to pass on Sir Grants contact details as well as the location where he kept his private plane in order to facilitate the Russians in listening on British defence plans, the trial heard. Howard Phillips was found guilty following a trial at Winchester Crown Court (CPS) He was heard telling the men he wanted to work for Russia in exchange for financial independence from the UK. The defendants ex-wife, Amanda Phillips, told the court during the trial that he would dream about being like James Bond, and that he watched films to do with MI5 and MI6 as he was infatuated with it. Mrs Phillips told the court she was aware the defendant had applied for a job at the UK Border Force in October 2023, which prosecutors said was part of his bid to assist Russias intelligence service. Phillips previously claimed he had contacted the Russian embassy in early 2024 in a bid to track and expose Russian agents to assist Israel. He told jurors he ascertained from the onset that Dima and Shasha were definitely not Russian and were undercover individuals, but that he carried on playing a role around these agents in order to test the waters. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb remanded Phillips in custody and adjourned sentencing to the earliest available date in the autumn. Howard Phillips was found guilty at Winchester Crown Court of assisting what he believed to be Russian intelligence service agents, in breach of the National Security Act (Metropolitan Police) The judge said she wanted a full pre-sentence report on the defendant ahead of sentencing as the conviction was for a relatively new offence. Addressing the jurors, she said: Thank you very much for the important work that you have done on this very important case. We are trying, as a system, to get to the right answers in these situations. Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Services counter terrorism division, said: This conviction sends a clear message to anyone considering spying for or assisting Russia. Howard Phillips clearly outlined the services he was willing to provide for a hostile state. From gaining employment within the civil service and applying for security clearance, to providing the personal details of the Secretary of State for Defence Phillips was brazen in his pursuit for financial gain and unbothered about the potential detriment to his own country. It is a criminal offence to assist a foreign intelligence service, regardless of your motive or whether or not you succeed. We will always seek to prosecute anyone who poses a threat to the UK. Kemi Badenoch has carried out a reshuffle of her shadow cabinet, with Sir James Cleverly returning to the Conservative Party front bench. The Tory leader has brought her former leadership rival back to the frontline to build party unity and bolster the partys credibility. A senior Tory source said Sir James would help take the fight to this dreadful Labour government. Kemi Badenoch launching a shadow Cabinet reshuffle (PA) Ms Badenoch made a series of changes to her top team on Tuesday, with the source adding that they reflect the next stage of the partys policy renewal programme and underline the unity of the party under new leadership. Sir James was appointed shadow housing secretary and will be Angela Rayners opposite number and go head to head with her in the Commons. Despite reports that Robert Jenrick was gunning for his job, Sir Mel Stride stayed on as shadow chancellor in a blow to Ms Badenochs other main rival for the leadership. Ex-foreign secretary Sir James was the most high-profile name appointed to the front bench on Tuesday. Other big names from the last Conservative government, such as Suella Braverman, were not called upon by Ms Badenoch. Sir James replaced Kevin Hollinrake, who will become Conservative Party chairman. MP Stuart Andrew moved from his role in culture to the health brief, replacing the current shadow health secretary Ed Argar. Mr Argar was the first casualty of Ms Badenochs reshuffle, with the Tory leader thanking him for his service. It had become a social media joke that searching Google for Ed Argar and his shadow cabinet role revealed only his appointment to the position, suggesting he had failed to cut through with the public and media. His resignation letter, which was written on 9 July, cited an ongoing health issue after an illness last year. A full list of changes is expected to be published on Tuesday evening. The shadow cabinet reshuffle comes just eight months after Ms Badenoch was elected leader by Tory members and is an admission the party has been underperforming. Even as she conducted her reshuffle, Ms Badenoch lost another defector to Nigel Farages Reform UK. Laura Anne Jones, a member of the Welsh Senedd, joined the party, following in the wake of two former Tory cabinet ministers, Jake Berry and David Jones. Amid the continued rise of Reform UK, Ms Badenochs party has been unable to grab the agenda and get a clear message across. A spokesman for Mr Farages party said the reshuffle is like moving deckchairs on the Titanic. Former home secretary James Cleverly is expected to return to the Tory front bench (PA) Only a handful of her shadow cabinet ministers have been prominent publicly since joining the Tory top team, including Mr Jenrick, who has made a series of eye-catching videos exposing social problems in the UK. After Mays disastrous local election results, as well as months of dire showings in the polls, Ms Badenoch hopes the reshuffle will shore up her authority ahead of the Tory conference in October. Talk of a potential leadership challenge has been mounting, with communications consultant Guto Harri, who worked for Boris Johnson during his time in No 10, warning recently that a bid to replace her was inevitable. In January, Ms Badenochs spokesman ruled out any reshuffle of her top team before the next general election. A Labour source said: After initially claiming her shadow Cabinet would be in place until the next election, Kemi Badenoch has already hit the panic button. The Tory leader can shuffle as many deckchairs as she likes, but itll still be the same old faces that were responsible for 14 years of failure. They crashed the economy and ran public services into the ground. The Conservatives havent changed. Its the same old chaos. Sir James served as both foreign secretary and home secretary when the Conservatives were in power. He stood as a candidate in last year's Conservative leadership election, but lost out on the Tory top job ahead of the final heat between Ms Badenoch and her now-shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick. Since the leadership contest, Sir James has returned to the Tory back bench as the MP for Braintree. He has used his influential position as a former minister to warn against pursuing a populist agenda similar to Reform UK. Appearing at the Institute For Public Policy Research (IPPR) think tank last week, the senior Tory hit out at calls to smash the system and start again from scratch, branding them complete nonsense. He also appeared to take a different position on net zero from party leader Ms Badenoch in a recent speech, urging the Conservatives to reject climate change luddites on the right who believe the way things are now is just fine. Khabib Nurmagomedov has clarified his opinion on Jon Jones, after some UFC fans expressed surprise about the Russian deeming the American the best who ever did it. Jones recently retired from mixed martial arts, vacating the UFC heavyweight title and ending a career full of accolades but also marred by controversy. The 38-year-old is the consensus greatest light-heavyweight in UFC history, but his subsequent heavyweight run disappointed despite his title win and his career on the whole was affected by numerous failed drug tests and run-ins with the law. Still, when Jones announced his retirement in June, former UFC champion Khabib paid his respects, calling Bones the best who ever did it in UFC history. Now, in an interview with Adam Zubayraev, Nurmagomedov has clarified his opinion on Jones, after some fans took exception to the lightweight legends comments. In the UFC, achievements and legacy are different things, Nurmagomedov told Zubayraev in Russian, with a translation provided by Red Corner MMA. I think a lot of people confuse those two concepts. As far as achievements go, no one can compare to Jon Jones in the UFC right now, and itll be very hard for anyone in the near future. So, what is legacy? Its, lets say... Kids, they look at you, and they feel inspired by you. Thats what legacy means: when a kid sees you and thinks, I want to be like him. There have always been and always will be questions about his behaviour, his character, and so on. But were not talking about that now; were talking about his greatness as a fighter. As a fighter, hes the best. When it comes to personal qualities, I think there will always be questions, always. But I dont want to ask those questions, because I dont want to judge him, to say hes good or bad. Jon Jones (right) during his final fight, a win over Stipe Miocic in November (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) As an athlete, he reached greatness. And to me, as someone who also fought in the UFC, he has no equal. There will always be questions about doping, whether he was caught or not and yes, he was caught. Its a fact. But as a fighter, hes an amazing fighter. What Jon Jones has achieved over the past 17 years in the UFC, its really hard to compare anyone to him. I dont know why people reacted the way they did. As a fighter, I never had questions about him. In 2023, Jones returned to the UFC after a three-year hiatus, moving up to heavyweight and winning the vacant title by submitting Ciryl Gane. An injury delayed his first title defence, however, with Jones only returning to action in November 2024 to stop a 42-year-old Stipe Miocic. All the while, Britains Tom Aspinall won the interim title and even defended it successfully, but Jones refused to fight the 32-year-old. Ultimately, Aspinall was elevated to regular champion when Jones retired. And Khabib hinted that a fight against Aspinall might have been too tough a test for Jones. How many fights has he had in the past? One or two in five years, said the Russian, 36. Hes been done for a while, and even those last fights, Santos and Reyes, they were controversial. His prime was clearly behind him. His prime was long past. Nurmagomedov was referring to Joness final two fights at light-heavyweight: controversial decision wins over Thiago Santos in 2019 and Dominick Reyes in 2020. Khabib Nurmagomedov (left) and UFC president Dana White (Getty Images) After beating Reyes, Jones gave up the light-heavyweight title and took three years off from MMA to get his body ready for a long-awaited heavyweight run. In the meantime, Francis Ngannou established himself as the best heavyweight in the world, with fans desperate to see Jones face the Cameroonian. However, Ngannou left the UFC and relinquished the heavyweight belt amid a pay dispute, before Jones returned and won the vacant gold. US President Donald Trump recently suggested he could host a UFC event at the White House in 2026, to celebrate 250 years of American independence, leading Jones to claim he has unretired. However, UFC chief Dana White said: I cant risk putting [Jones] in big positions in a big spot and have something go wrong, especially [at] the White House. Jones responded by writing on social media: I heard the comments made at last nights press conference. While I was a little disappointed, Im still in the UFCs drug testing pool, staying sharp, and continuing to train like a professional. Ill be ready for whatever comes next. Jones, who recently said he had not trained since fighting Miocic in November, added: In a recent interview, I shared that the opportunity to fight at the White House gave me something deeper to fight for, a why that goes beyond paychecks or belts. Fighting for my country gives me a greater purpose! The silver lining in all this is knowing the fans see my heart. They see, I am ready and willing to take on anyone, to represent my country on a historic stage. For me, its never been just about the opponent. Im chasing legacy, something timeless, something bigger than the moment. So for now, Ill keep grinding, stay patient, and stay faithful. Im ready to fight on July 4th. Credit: Good Morning Britain Israel will face further sanctions from the UK if it fails to agree a ceasefire in Gaza, David Lammy said. Weve announced a raft of sanctions over the last few months, the Foreign Secretary told ITVs Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, when asked what plans he had if Israel continued the war. He said:There will be more, clearly, and we keep all of those options under consideration if we do not see a change in behaviour and if the suffering doesnt come to an end. Its important that we continue to work with international partners if we are to have the maximum result. It comes after Israel rejected criticism of its war in Gaza from twenty-eight countries including the UK, France and Canada on Monday. Israel dismissed the condemnation as disconnected from reality and accused the nations of failing to recognise Hamas role and responsibility for the situation. Appalled, sickened On Monday, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli PM, told the Full Send Podcast that it was completely false that Israel was killing babies and starving people. When asked by Sky News for his personal reaction to the situation unfolding in Gaza, Mr Lammy told BBC Breakfast: I feel the same as the British public: appalled, sickened. My responsibility as Foreign Secretary is to make sure that the British government is not complicit in war crimes. Mr Lammy said that the UK had suspended sales of arms that could be used in Gaza last September. He added: These are not words that are usually used by a Foreign Secretary who is attempting to be diplomatic, but when you see innocent children holding out their hand for food, and you see them shot and killed in the way that we have seen in the last few days, of course Britain must call it out. Whether Israel has committed war crimes is for the courts to decide but there is a real risk of breach of international humanitarian law, Lammy said. His comments came after Israel launched a new offensive into southern and eastern districts of Deir al-Balah for the first time, an area where the IDF suspects hostages may be held. Deir al-Balah is where the WHOs staff residence was attacked three times in air strikes by the IDF, causing another fire and significant damage. The Israeli military also strip-searched and detained WHO staff and badly damaged a critical warehouse of supplies, the UN agency said. 01:01 PM BST Todays live blog has ended Todays live blog has ended. Heres a round-up of the main events: David Lammy warned that Israel will face further sanctions from the UK if it fails to reach a ceasefire in Gaza Lammy said he feels appalled and sickened by Israels actions in Gaza The Israeli military strip-searched and detained WHO staff in Gaza and badly damaged a critical warehouse of supplies The WHOs staff residence was also attacked three times in air strikes by the IDF France urged Israel to give free and independent press access to Gaza international media have been barred from Gaza over the last two years The UN said its staff, doctors and humanitarian workers are fainting on duty due to hunger and exhaustion Netanyahu appeared on the Full Send Podcast, a YouTube channel known for its prank videos, and claimed that it is completely false that Israel is killing babies and starving people 12:24 PM BST Israeli troops handcuffed, stripped, and interrogated WHO aid workers The Israeli military strip-searched and detained WHO staff in Gaza and badly damaged a critical warehouse of supplies. The WHOs staff residence was also attacked three times in air strikes by the IDF, causing another fire and significant damage, the agencys statement said. The organisation warned the incidents would cripple efforts to sustain a collapsing health system in a region where two million people are in desperate need of humanitarian aid, including food and medicine. The incident took place in Deir al-Balah, an area in central Gaza which is packed with displaced Palestinians after 21 months of war. It has also become a central hub for humanitarian efforts in the devastated territory, where aid workers have warned of potential mass deaths from hunger in the coming days. Gaza officials said 18 starved to death within 24 hours between Sunday and Saturday. Continue reading the full story here. 12:06 PM BST IDF defends gunfire in Deir al-Balah The Israeli military has defended its gunfire in Deir al-Balah a territory where Israel had previously not yet conducted major ground operations. In a statement, the IDF says troops identified shots being fired at them and responded toward the area from which the shooting originated. Tanks entered the region this week in Israels new ground offensive. Israel also highlighted that on Sunday it ordered the immediate evacuation of six city blocks: prior to the start of IDF activities in the area, the IDF warned the civilian population to evacuate for their safety. At times during field questioning, it is necessary for individuals suspected of terrorist activity to temporarily remove parts of their clothing in order to ensure that they are not concealing explosive belts or other weapons. Deir al-Balah is an area where the IDF suspects hostages may be held. 11:52 AM BST Stray bullets constant threat in field hospital, says Red Cross physiotherapist Even inside the field hospital, stray bullets were a constant threat, a Red Cross physiotherapist from Ireland, who was deployed to Gaza for six weeks, has said. Our programme manager would shout down the radio, warning everyone to take cover, Rieke Hayes said. Theres no obvious frontline the sounds and sights and smells of war are all around you. One patient told me: As soon as Im better, Ill go queue again. One time, I got a box of food that lasted five days. Another time, I got a bullet in the arm. She added: No one should have to risk their life to collect aid. Hi, I'm Rieke, a physio from Ireland. I just finished a 6-week deployment to Gaza with the @ICRC. For the next 3 days, I'll post about my experiences at the Red Cross Field Hospital. Me & my youngest patient: Malek, a 6-month-old baby who was injured in an explosion. pic.twitter.com/4meooBj8Pe ICRC UK & Ireland (@ICRC_uk) July 2, 2025 11:28 AM BST France urges Israel to give free and independent press access to Gaza Vivian Song reporting from Paris France is calling for the free and independent press to be given access to the Gaza Strip and condemned Israels latest offensive. Jean-Noel Barrot, the French foreign minister, made the comments on Tuesday, after the Agence France-Presse Society of Journalists (SDJ) released a statement warning that their journalists in Gaza face death by starvation. I am asking that the free and independent press be allowed access to Gaza to show what is happening there and to bear witness to it, Mr Barrot told French radio station France Inter. International media have been barred from Gaza over the last two years. On Monday, the Society of Journalists called the situation untenable and that living conditions have deteriorated dramatically for their correspondents, who include a journalist, three photographers and six videographers. Since AFP was founded in August 1944, weve lost journalists in conflicts, weve had wounded and prisoners in our ranks, but none of us has any memory of seeing a collaborator starve to death, the SDJ wrote on X. We refuse to see them die. Mr Barrot said that France is working to get the journalists out of Gaza in the coming weeks. There is no longer any justification for the Israeli armys military operations in Gaza. This is an offensive that will worsen an already catastrophic situation and cause further forced displacement of populations, which we condemn in the strongest possible terms , he said. 11:03 AM BST Food situation worst its ever been, says Save the Children The food situation is absolutely desperate and the worst its ever been, Save the Childrens humanitarian director Rachael Cummings has said. The markets are empty, she told Sky News. People may even have cash in their pockets yet they cannot buy bread [or] vegetables. One of my colleagues said to me yesterday, We are all walking together towards death. And this is the situation now for people in Gaza, she said. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed in recent weeks while trying to collect food from aid convoys. 10:34 AM BST Israeli settlers torch vehicles and graffiti revenge Israeli settlers have set fire to cars in the West Bank and spray painted them with graffiti of the word revenge in Hebrew. The attack took place in the village of Beitin, near Ramallah. pic.twitter.com/EPuBcU88y8 (@PalinfoAr) July 22, 2025 10:21 AM BST UN staff fainting from hunger in Gaza Staff members, doctors and humanitarian workers are fainting on duty due to hunger and exhaustion, the head of the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency has said. Caretakers, including UNRWA colleagues in Gaza, are also in need of care now, doctors, nurses, journalists, humanitarians, among them, UNRWA staff are hungry, UNRWA commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said at a press briefing in Geneva. Many are now fainting due to hunger and exhaustion while performing their duties. Lazzarini also described Gaza as hell on earth where nowhere is safe. 10:06 AM BST UN official calls Gaza starvation a man-made famine A UN official has said starvation in Gaza is a man-made famine. What we are seeing now in Gaza is the most horrific stage of Israels starvation campaign, Michael Fakhri, the UNs special rapporteur on the right to food, told Al Jazeera. From a legal perspective, what we do know undoubtedly is that this is a war crime. 09:48 AM BST IDF reservist killed in Gaza fighting An IDF reservist soldier has been killed during fighting in the southern Gaza strip. Vladimir Loza, 36, died when a blast from a planted explosive device caused a building to collapse. At leasr 865 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the start of the war. Reserve soldier Vladimir Luza was killed in an explosive device detonation in Rafah 09:21 AM BST Trump caught off guard by Israeli strike on Catholic church in Gaza Donald Trump was caught off guard by Israeli strikes on Gaza and Syria last week, the White House has admitted, underscoring the increasingly tense relationship between the US president and Benjamin Netanyahus government. An Israeli strike last Thursday on the only Catholic Church in Gaza angered Mr Trump, who quickly phoned Mr Netanyahu to ensure the Israeli prime minister released a statement calling the strike a mistake. Mr Trump was similarly surprised by Israel airstrikes targeting government buildings in the Syrian capital Damascus on July 16 at a moment his administration is working to rebuild the war-torn nation. Trump was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and also the bombing of a Catholic church in Gaza, Ms Leavitt told reporters at a press briefing on Monday night. In both accounts, the president quickly called the prime minister to rectify those situations, she continued. The president had hoped Mr Netanyahus four-day visit to Washington earlier this month would finally yield progress on ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, repeatedly saying a deal could be expected that week. However, talks continue to stall and on Monday Israel launched a new ground operation in the centre of the war-ravaged Strip, targeting the last remaining area that had not suffered significant damage. Meanwhile, dozens more Gazans were reportedly killed by Israeli troops while seeking aid. The presidents message on this conflict weve seen in the Middle East taking place for far too long, that has become quite brutal, especially in recent days, youve seen reports of more people dying. I think the president never likes to see that. He wants the killing to end, Ms Leavitt said. An Israeli strike on Gazas only Catholic church injured several people on July 17, including the parish priest, as well as causing damage to the building - OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP 09:11 AM BST Lammy sickened by Israels actions in Gaza David Lammy has said he is appalled and sickened by Israels actions in Gaza. When asked for his personal reaction to the situation unfolding in Gaza, he told BBC Breakfast: I feel the same as the British public: appalled, sickened. I described what I saw, yesterday in Parliament, as grotesque. These are not words that are usually used by a Foreign Secretary who is attempting to be diplomatic, but when you see innocent children holding out their hand for food, and you see them shot and killed in the way that we have seen in the last few days, of course Britain must call it out. We will continue to pressure, we will continue to act, we will continue to urge this Israeli government to listen to 83% of its public who are urging them now to move to a ceasefire so those hostages can come out. 09:01 AM BST Netanyahu: completely false that Israel is killing babies and starving people Netanyahu has claimed that it is completely false that Israel is killing babies and starving people. The reason we have civilian casualties in Gaza is that Hamas were basically horrible murderers and killers, committed to our destruction and your destruction, he said. The Israeli PM appeared on the Full Send Podcast yesterday, a Canadian-American YouTube channel known for its prank videos, hosted by the Nelk Boys. They say that the great Satan is America, he told them. Israel is the small Satan standing in the way of conquering the Middle East, and then theyll move on to you. We tell the civilians: please leave. But Hamas wants them to stay because they want civilian casualties so they can show it on CNN. 08:37 AM BST Clear risk of war crimes by Israel, says Lammy Whether Israel has committed war crimes is for the courts to decide but there is a real risk of breach of international humanitarian law, David Lammy has said. My responsibility as Foreign Secretary is to make sure that the British government is not complicit, he said on Sky News. And for that reason we suspended arms sales that could be used in Gaza. In the end it will be for the international criminal court and the international court of justice to make a determination on the substance of what is being said. 08:31 AM BST Israel accused of strip-searching aid workers The Israeli military strip-searched and detained World Health Organisation (WHO) workers in Gaza, the UN organisation has claimed. Three Israeli Defence Forces air strikes reportedly targeted a warehouse and the homes of WHO staff and their families on Monday, resulting in a fire and extensive damage. A spokesman for the WHO said women and children were forced to evacuate on foot towardan active conflict. During the attacks on Deir al-Balah, male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and screened at gunpoint, the spokesperson said. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director General, said the strikes would further hinder attempts to support hospitals and doctors in the war-torn region at a time they are already critically short on medicines, fuel, and equipment. Israel launched a new offensive into southern and eastern districts of Deir al-Balah for the first time on Monday, an area the IDF suspects hostages may be held. 08:17 AM BST Pictured: flames rise from apartment hit by Israeli strike Smoke and flames rise from a residential building hit by an Israeli strike - Khamis Al-Rifi/REUTERS 08:10 AM BST Intolerable attacks on WHO are crippling healthcare, says Streeting Wes Streeting has said that the intolerable attacks against the WHO are further crippling the health response in Gaza. Medics working in conditions that could scarcely be imagined in our worst nightmares must not be targets, the Health Secretary wrote on X. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law. 07:55 AM BST Lammy says UKs actions not just symbolic David Lammy has said the UKs efforts to stop the war in Gaza are not purely symbolic. The UKs arms licences accounted for just 1 per cent of Israels defence before the UK government halted exports last September, he told Sky News. The Foreign Secretary clarified that the UK does not supply arms to the IDF that could be used in Gaza with the exception of the F-35 global pool, which is a shared inventory of spare parts for F-35 fighter jets. 07:37 AM BST WHO director says ceasefire in Gaza overdue Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director General, said the strikes would further hinder attempts to support hospitals and doctors in the war-torn region at a time they are already critically short on medicines, fuel, and equipment. As the lead agency for health, compromising WHOs operations is crippling the entire health response in Gaza, he said. Dr Tedros said on X that a ceasefire in Gaza is not just necessary, it is overdue. 07:31 AM BST Israel launches new offensive where hostages may be held Israel has launched an offensive into southern and eastern districts of Deir al-Balah for the first time on Monday, an area the IDF suspects hostages may be held. Yesterday, the military ordered Palestinians to evacuate Deir al-Balah an area where many of the displaced had sought refuge as it is one of the few territories where Israel had not yet conducted major ground operations. 07:23 AM BST Israeli military intercepts missile from Houthi rebels The Israeli army has intercepted a missile from Yemen, following the IDFs air strikes on a port held by Houthi rebels. Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF, the Israeli military reported. The Iran-backed rebels have come under a series of Israeli strikes since they began to launch strikes on Israel in solidarity with Palestinians. 07:13 AM BST Israel dismisses criticism from UK over Gaza war Israel has rejected yesterdays criticism of its war in Gaza from twenty-eight countries including the UK and Canada. Suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths, read the joint statement, also signed by the EU commissioner for equality. Israel has dismissed the condemnation as disconnected from reality and accused them of failing to recognise Hamas role and responsibility for the situation. 06:56 AM BST WHO statement in full The WHO has released a statement condemning the attacks on a building that was housing its staff and their families in Gaza, and the destruction of its main warehouse. The Israeli military entered its premises and strip searched the staff, the WHO has claimed. WHO operations compromised following attacks on warehouse and facility sheltering staff and families in Gaza WHO condemns in the strongest terms the attacks on a building housing WHO staff in Deir al Balah, in the middle area of Gaza, the mistreatment of those sheltering there, pic.twitter.com/CWe68tNiX9 World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 21, 2025 06:51 AM BST Welcome to our live coverage Good morning. Welcome to our live coverage of the war in Gaza. Well bring you the latest news and analysis throughout the day. An 18-year-old man has been charged with murder over the death of a 63-year-old man in Ipswich. Suffolk Police said officers were called to an address in Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich, shortly before 6pm on January 1, where William McNicholl, known as Billy, was found dead inside the property. The force said results from a Home Office post-mortem examination indicated the cause of Mr McNicholls death as head injuries and a stab wound to the right shoulder. A murder inquiry into Mr McNicholls death was led by Suffolk Constabularys Major Investigation Team. An 18-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a man who was found deceased at his home on New Year's Day in Ipswich. Read more here >> https://t.co/8uDp3RMntg Suffolk Police (@SuffolkPolice) July 22, 2025 On January 22, a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder before being bailed with conditions. Police said the man, now 18, was re-arrested on Monday on suspicion of murder and taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre (PIC) for questioning. Jake McMillan, most recently of Banbury Road, Hackney in London, but formerly of Ipswich, has subsequently been charged with murder and also being concerned in the supply of cannabis. McMillan has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Ipswich Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Police said three other people were arrested on April 1 as part of the investigation. A 17-year-old boy, 18-year-old man and 41-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs. They were taken to Martlesham PIC for questioning and were bailed to return to police on October 1. A woman in her 50s, who was previously arrested on suspicion of murder before being released on bail, will face no further action. More than a third (35%) of customers do not feel valued by their bank, Which? research has indicated. The consumer groups survey in May of more than 13,600 members of its Connect Panel found many people said they had noticed the removal of services in the past two years. Common issues highlighted by Which? members included the loss of paper statements (18%); automatic cheque book replacement (15%); face-to-face appointments (14%); coin-counting machines in branch (8%); and ATMs that accept cheques (7%). Three in 10 (30%) people expressed dissatisfaction with branch banking and 9% were dissatisfied with telephone banking. Some 5% were dissatisfied with their banks mobile banking services, and 6% were dissatisfied with their banks online service. Which? said it believes that the current rollout of banking hubs where banks share a single space is too slow for enough customers to feel their benefits. It believes these banking hubs should offer a wider range of in-person banking services. Sam Richardson, deputy editor of Which? Money, said: It is clear that as bank branches continue to close at rapid rates, alternatives such as banking hubs will likely be the future of banking. However there remain too few of these for enough customers to feel their benefit, and Which? wants the range of services expanded to ensure they are available across the country. John Howells, chief executive of cash access and ATM network Link said: While the way we pay and the way we bank is changing rapidly, it is vital that we maintain good options for people to pay in cash and for businesses to bank their cash. We cant afford to leave cash users behind as more people go digital. Thats why were committed to the rollout of banking hubs across the UK, alongside a reliable ATM network and a widespread Post Office network. Gareth Oakley, chief executive of Cash Access UK said: Banking has changed considerably over the past decade, with more people choosing to bank and pay for things digitally, however we know first-hand the importance of access to cash and face-to-face services. Shared banking hubs provide a great solution as they can serve customers of multiple banks. Most banking hub customers come in to withdraw or deposit cash, but there is also a community banker available from the major high street banks on a nominated weekday who can provide support for more complex queries. These services, which are determined by each individual bank, include account management, payments and transfers, card issues, money management, managing power of attorney and support through bereavement. We are constantly evolving services based on customer feedback, but we are pleased with the positive responses weve had to date, and our customer satisfaction scores are exceptional. In terms of rollout, our job is to deliver the recommended cash services including banking hubs where these are needed. So far, we have opened 178 banking hubs and 132 deposit services, which allow businesses to readily deposit and access cash. From the moment a hub is recommended, we will work swiftly to bring services to a community as quickly as possible. Where the last bank branch is closing, a hub will open before it closes. Where communities have been without a bank for a while, well bring a hub to the community within three months. To date, Link have recommended 231 hubs and we hope to open the 200th banking hub before the end of the year. A UK Finance spokesperson said: The banking industry always wants to deliver the best possible service to its customers. Its encouraging to see high levels of satisfaction with digital services, which increasingly are the most popular way for people to do their banking. Fewer customers are visiting branches, but significant ongoing investment is being made to support access to banking, including the rollout of shared banking hubs. The industry is on track to have 350 hubs by the end of this Parliament. The spokesperson said banking hubs provide a wide range of services for customers. Credit: West Midlands Police A would-be assassin hiding under a niqab allegedly tried to shoot a rival at point-blank in a video released to a jury. Aimee Betro, 45, is alleged to have flown from Wisconsin in the US as part of a plot orchestrated by co-conspirators Mohammed Aslam, 59, and Mohammed Nabil Nazir, 31, to attack a rival family on September 7 2019. Father and son Aslam and Nazir, of Elms Avenue in Derby, were jailed at Birmingham Crown Court in November last year for their part in the plot but Betro flew back to the US days after the bungled assassination attempt and was later extradited to the UK. Appearing on Monday at the same court as her co-conspirators did, Betro wore pink leggings and her hair in space buns in the dock. She listened as prosecution counsel Tom Walkling KC told a jury of six men and six women that the attempted assassination was the culmination of a long-running vendetta involving the family of Aslat Mahumad in Birmingham. Mr Walkling said revenge was the motive after Nazir and Aslam were injured during disorder at Mr Mahumads clothing boutique in Birmingham in July 2018, which led them to conspire to have someone kill him or a member of his family. Aimee Betro checking in to a Birmingham hotel before the alleged attack - PA Aimee Betro, 45, is alleged to have flown from Wisconsin in the US as part of a plot to attack a family - Pixel8000 It is believed Mr Mahumad was the target of the attempted shooting on September 7 2019, and Betro lay in wait in a BMW she had bought earlier that day outside his family home in Measham Grove, the court was told. After about 45 minutes, Mr Mahumads son Sikander Ali arrived home, and CCTV of the moment the would-be assassin, with face covered, approached him and fired the gun at point-blank range was shown to the jury. Aimee Betro with her head covered in CCTV footage shown to the court - SWNS After the gun jams, Mr Ali manages to escape by reversing his SUV out of the road, clipping the car door of the BMW and damaging it so badly it would no longer close. After the failed assassination attempt, Betro allegedly returned to the scene in a taxi hours later in the early hours of September 8 and fired three shots through the windows of Mr Mahumads family home, which was empty at the time. Before she is alleged to have returned to the scene to use the now-working gun to fire bullets into the house, Betro is said to have used a cheap phone she had purchased to send messages to Mr Mahumad including: Where are you hiding?, stop playing hide and seek, you are lucky it jammed and asking him to meet her at a nearby Asda. The damaged Mercedes was later found dumped, by members of Mr Mahumads family and then the police, and inside was a black glove with Betros DNA on it, Mr Walkling said. The plot was orchestrated by Mohammed Nabil Nazir and his father Mohammed Aslam - PA The court heard Betro, who had flown into the UK on August 22 2019, was back at Manchester Airport by 1.30pm on September 8, and flew back to the US the next day. She denies conspiracy to murder, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence and smuggling of ammunition into the UK. The trial continues. Some 52 of the 261 people who died in the disaster in June were British citizens - Adnan Abidi/Reuters Families of British victims in the Air India plane crash have been given the wrong bodies, it has been claimed. In one case, a funeral was abandoned after it emerged the coffin contained the wrong body, according to the MailOnline. In another, the remains of two victims were said to have been commingled in the same coffin and had to be separated before the burial. Some 52 of the 261 people who died in the disaster in June were British citizens. The errors were reportedly identified by Dr Fiona Wilcox, the Inner West London coroner. James Healy-Pratt, a lawyer representing several British families bereaved by the crash, said the mistakes had left relatives distraught. Ive been sitting down in the homes of these lovely British families over the last month, and the first thing they want is their loved ones back, Mr Healy-Pratt told the newspaper. But some of them have got the wrong remains and they are clearly distraught over this. It has been going on for a couple of weeks [and] I think these families deserve an explanation. The lawyer added that the family who received the wrong body had been left in limbo. Relatives have been in the process of laying their loved ones to rest since the crash in June - DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/Getty He said: If [it] isnt their relative, the question is, who is it in that coffin? Presumably its another passenger and their relatives have been given the wrong remains. The coroner also has a problem because she has an unidentified person in her jurisdiction. The remains found by search and rescue teams at the crash site were badly burnt, mutilated or fragmented. Some were identified by DNA and others by dental records. Families could not verify the Indian authorities identifications themselves and some reportedly received remains from Ahmedabads civil hospital in an undignified plastic container. Altaf Taju, from Blackburn, Lancashire, lost his parents Adam, 72 and Hasina, 70, and his brother-in-law Altafhusen Patel, 51. Nobody looked at the remains, he said. We werent allowed to. They just said, This is your mother or father, and gave us a paper label with an ID number on it. We had to take their word for it. Its horrific that this could have happened, but what could anyone do? Mr Taju was not affected by the mix-ups because his relatives were buried in India. The bodies of British victims to be buried in the UK were repatriated by Air India. Mr Healy-Pratt added: On the known evidence, the chain of custody of these lost loved ones was unacceptably poor. We are investigating the causes of those failures and demanding answers on behalf of these deserving British families. We await formal responses from Air India, and their emergency response contractors Kenyons International Emergency Services. The Government set aside 11.8bn for victims of the infected blood scandal last year - Victoria Jones Relatives of dead infected blood victims will be eligible for compensation payments under Government plans. The change follows a heavily critical report into the way victims of the worst treatment disaster in NHS history were being compensated. A long overdue memorial for thousands of victims of the scandal will also be created. Earlier this month, the Infected Blood Inquiry made a series of recommendations to improve compensation for people who were both infected with contaminated blood and those indirectly affected by the scandal. More than 30,000 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis through contaminated blood - Eddie Mulholland Sir Brian Langstaff, chairman of the inquiry, said the number of people who have been compensated to date is profoundly unsatisfactory as he called for faster and fairer compensation for victims. The investigation found victims had been harmed further by the compensation schemes failings. Responding to the report, the Government said that it was immediately accepting a number of the recommendations and will consult on others. It is not rejecting any of the recommendations. Affected peoples claims will no longer die with them and their payments will be passed on to their estates. People infected with HIV before 1982, who were previously ineligible, will be compensated - and the requirement for people with hepatitis to provide a date of diagnosis will be abolished. It said it will consult on a number of issues including: how the scheme recognises the impact of interferon treatment for hepatitis which has been linked to severe side effects; how the scheme recognises severe psychological harm; and it will also consult on the scope of how victims of unethical research are to be compensated. Elsewhere, the Government announced further interim payments to the estates of people who have died. It also confirmed that Clive Smith, president of the Haemophilia Society, will be the chairman of the Infected Blood Memorial Committee. Mr Smith will lead the work to create a national memorial to the victims of the scandal and will support memorials in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said: When I appeared before the inquiry in May, I said that I would take a constructive approach and, carefully, consider the issues that had been put to me. I have concentrated on removing barriers to quicker compensation, working with IBCA, and am determined to deliver improvements based on this new report. Our focus as we move forward must be working together to not only deliver justice to all those impacted, but also to restore trust in the state to people who have been let down too many times. David Foley, chief executive of IBCA, added: The community is at the heart of everything we do. We can only grow the service, and implement these new recommendations by listening to and acting on the views of the community. Some of the recommendations will take longer to implement, which we know may cause frustration and upset for some in the community. We will always act with transparency. That is why I can confirm that we will create a registration process, so that the community can tell us that they intend to make a claim. We will also develop the service for all groups, paying the first claims before the end of 2025. And we will improve transparency by sharing more of our processes, documents, data and plans on our website. Incoming memorial committee chairman Mr Smith said: A memorial to the thousands who have died from the contaminated blood scandal is long overdue. It is a great privilege to be asked to lead this important work on behalf of the community. I look forward to working with the whole community across the UK on building an appropriate memorial to those we have lost and to act as a lasting memorial to the nation of what can happen when patient safety is not prioritised. More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after they were given contaminated blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s. What was the effect on victims? More than 3,000 people have died as a result, and survivors are living with lifelong health implications. The Infected Blood Inquiry published its main report on the scandal in May last year, and a compensation scheme was announced a day later. But in the same week a general election was called and officials from the IBCA have described how in the early days of the organisation it consisted of two men, a laptop and a phone. Some 11.8 billion has been allocated to compensate victims, administered by the IBCA. As of July 15, 587 people have had their compensation paid totalling more than 400 million. Baron Razzall has been given a 14-day driving ban - UPPA A Liberal Democrat peer has been banned from the road for just two weeks after his fourth speeding conviction in three and a half years. Baron Razzall was given a discretionary disqualification of 14 days after he told the court that he needed to drive to attend Parliament. The 82-year-old was caught driving his Volkswagen at 35mph in a 30mph zone in the village of Sledmere, East Yorkshire on Oct 6 last year. He was described as having an unfortunate record for disobeying speed limits following his fourth conviction in three and a half years. Wearing a navy suit, the peer appeared at Westminster magistrates court to be sentenced for speeding after pleading guilty by post. Regular attender at the Lords Jennifer Harding, the prosecutor for the Humberside Police, said: At 11.17am on the B1253 in Sledmere in East Riding of Yorkshire, he was captured by laser cameras at the speed of 35mph in a 30mph zone. Lord Razzall cited his need to attend Parliament as a reason why he should not be hit with the standard six-month disqualification. District Judge Paul Goldspring said: Parliament goes into recess relatively soon, next week, so the problem youve foreseen with being disqualified for six months would largely not exist if you were banned from driving for 14 days. Lord Razzall responded: I think thats probably the case, although my concern always although 14 days would be fine is the risk with a regular attender at the House of Lords is that quite often in summer they recall Parliament. An unfortunate record Sentencing the peer, the judge said: Mr Razzall, you have pleaded guilty to an offence of speeding. You have, shall I call it, an unfortunate record for disobeying speed limits this is your fourth conviction within three and a half years. You have, however, pleaded guilty and have already in writing set out the impact that a lengthy disqualification period might have on you. The judge said that having considered the circumstances of the case a commensurate sentence would be a discretionary disqualification of 14 days, adding: This starts today you mustnt drive any mechanically propelled vehicle on any road or public place in the UK. Lord Razzall, of Notting Hill, west London, admitted exceeding 30mph on a restricted road. He was also asked to pay a total of 410 comprising of a 200 fine, 130 costs to the Humberside Police, and an 80 surcharge. Oasis promoters have thanked Manchester City Council for first class delivery of the citys most significant music event after the bands five homecoming shows. The rock band, made up of brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, wrapped up their final night performing at Manchesters Heaton Park on Sunday as part of their reunion world tour Oasis Live 25. The bands highly anticipated homecoming performances the first in over 16 years, saw thousands of concert goers singing Oasis lyrics back at the brothers, with thousands of ticketless fans gathering outside the concert arena just to hear the band play. The crowd waits for Oasis to take to the stage at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Leading up to the concert, the city made it known that the Gallagher brothers were back, as the tram network replaced its announcement voiceover at Heaton Park with Liams voice on the concert dates while an Aldi supermarket in Prestwich changed a store sign to Aldeh, embracing the Mancunian pronunciation of its name. The logistics involved to ensure that the concerts went ahead safely was not overlooked by the concert promoters who recognised Manchester City Council, the emergency services and members of the Safety Advisory team for its support. Rob Ballantine, director of SJM Concerts said: We were blown away by the incredible support, atmosphere and success of all five homecoming shows by Oasis. They proved they are the most culturally important band in the UK and those concerts will live in the memories of hundreds of thousands of music fans for years to come and will live in the folklore of Manchester music history for decades. Manchester City Council played a huge part in the success of the concerts and helped the City embrace the excitement with their promotion of Manchester Live 25 across the city. Along with the emergency services and TfGM (Transport for Greater Manchester) the safety and comfort of almost 350,000 fans was of paramount importance and a great success. SJM Concerts and Oasis want to thank the council, the emergency services and all members of the Safety Advisory Team on a first class delivery of the biggest and most significant music events the city has hosted for many years. Noel Gallagher as Oasis takes to the stage at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, for the bands long-awaited reunion tour (Jordan Pettitt/PA) We would also like to acknowledge the incredible atmosphere generated by the fans who seem to have unanimously decided the gigs were the best nights of their lives! It was a privilege to be involved in the huge team of people making these concerts the success they were. The group announced their reunion tour in August of last year 16 years after their dramatic split in 2009 which saw Noel quit the Britpop band following a backstage brawl at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris. While fans were excited at the reunion, some were left outraged after some standard tickets in the UK and Ireland jumped from 148 to 355. The controversy prompted the Government and the UKs competition watchdog to pledge to look at the use of dynamic pricing. Oasis are set to perform five nights at Londons Wembley Stadium before heading up north to Edinburghs Murrayfield Stadium followed by Dublins Croke Park. The group will then head to Japan, South Korea, South America, Australia and North America. Charli XCX and her fiance George Daniel reportedly want an extravagant second wedding in Sicily (Charli xcx via Instagram) Charli XCX tied the knot with The 1975 drummer George Daniel in the most unbearably chic wedding on Saturday with just their close friends and family at Hackneys Town Hall. It had everything - the Vivienne Westwood mini-dress, Charli puffing on sneaky cigarette in her full bridal outfit next to some Lime bikes before they danced until 4am at an understated wine bar in Kingsland Road. Well, I say everything - fans noticed one glaring omission: Georges bandmate, The 1975 frontman, Matt Healy. One fan clearly deeply concerned by Matts absence wrote on X: Imagine being there for all the beginnings, all the music, all the years and then missing the most important day of your friends life. That actually hurts. The truth is, Matty was across the pond supporting his fiancee, Gabbriette Bechtel, at the LA screening of her new movie, the critically panned (undeservedly), I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot. Hed reportedly attended Georges stag do just days before. And Hackney and Los Angeles are a little more than a hop, skip, and a jump away. But even if he did miss the wedding on purpose, so what? I found Matty missing his best friends wedding very normal. I anticipate several close friends missing my first wedding too and thats if theyre even invited. For my first big day it will likely be a very close circle of friends and family and despite having annual panics around no one turning up for my birthday, I will be uncharacteristically cool about it if they dont make wedding number one. And yes, thats because, like Charli, I wont be having one wedding. Ill be having two. Almost all the weddings Ive attended in the past decade have technically been the second wedding - the first being a low-key registry office event with family and the wedding party, followed by a dinner and maybe a few drinks. Having two weddings is fast becoming the new norm: the first is the intimate family celebration. The second is the blowout with friends. Like Charli, I wont be having one wedding. Ill be having two. Id say most of my friends weddings have followed this trend and I can tell theyve been much calmer and happier on the day for it. Equally, this new format isnt always smooth sailing. Ive seen it create serious tension - families left out of the fun, or treated like the warm-up act for the real party weeks later. One bride I know openly referred to the family ceremony as the s**t wedding, barely hiding her excitement for the real one with her mates in the south of France. Recently, my boyfriend and I have started talking more seriously about marriage, especially after attending a dream wedding in Barcelona - four days of sun, over 100 friends, endless paella and enough wine to fill a supermarket. It was perfect. I left knowing thats exactly how I want my wedding to be. But heres the dilemma: my family are my greatest loves. So why do I feel like Id need two weddings? Well, because we have so many friends - who we often live with for so many years of our lives - that keeping friends and family separate is often for the best. In fact, people are often keeping friends separate more generally - but thats a whole different story. Ive been to so many weddings where the couple were overwhelmed by the sheer number of guests, the forced merging of family and friends making it hard to connect with anyone properly. Ive seen brides break down under the pressure - one even dragged me into her suite mid-panic attack because she was being constantly grabbed and moved from one person to another. I believe its entirely possible to have a meaningful family ceremony - something they've dreamed of seeing their whole lives - and still throw a joyful, indulgent celebration with friends. But both events should be treated with the same care and respect. Neither should be dismissed as the s**t wedding. As much as I wish I was at Hackneys wedding of the decade, sadly I wasnt invited. But from the photos alone - likely to be plastered on Love of Huns for years to come - Charli and George seem to have nailed it. Their Hackney ceremony looked intimate, stylish, and genuinely fun. They danced until 4am, chain-smoked and knocked back the shots. Now theyre planning wedding number two in Sicily - likely with Matt Healy in attendance, and God knows how many A-listers, making Jeff Bezos bizarre foam wedding look like a sad kids birthday party. Of course, two weddings is a little indulgent. Right now, I can barely even imagine affording one. But that wont stop me trying. Adam Miller is a culture writer Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness who shocked and awed with his heavy metal band Black Sabbath, has died aged 76. News of his death was announced by his family. It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time, the family said in a statement. For many years, fans felt that Osbourne must be indestructible. The Godfather of Metal had survived decades of hard living, including drug and alcohol abuse, along with controversies such as the notorious moment he bit the head off a bat during a concert in Des Moines, Iowa. In his later life, however, he was a reformed wildman who suffered a string of health issues, mostly related to neck injuries sustained in a 2003 quad-biking accident, which were later exacerbated by a fall in 2019. He was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease that same year, and also endured a bout of Covid. Born in Birmingham, England, to a factory worker mother and toolmaker father, Osbourne was raised with his five siblings in a small two-bedroom house in Aston. He suffered intense bullying and claimed he was repeatedly molested by bullies on the way home from school, which he left aged 15 to find local work as a horn-tuner in a car factory, and at a slaughterhouse. He also had a brief stint in prison after his father refused to pay the fine incurred when he was convicted of robbing a clothes shop. His music career began in 1967, when he was recruited as lead vocalist for the band Rare Breed, who split after playing just two shows. Osbourne and his bandmate, Geezer Butler, then formed Earth with guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward, renaming themselves Black Sabbath after being booked by accident at a venue which wanted a different band with the same moniker. Success came relatively swiftly. Despite their self-titled debut receiving negative reviews from critics, it charted in the Top 10 in the UK upon its release in 1970, and is now considered to be one of the most influential metal albums of all time. It was followed that same year by Paranoid, their darkest record yet that featured the songs Iron Man and War Pigs, and their third album, 1971s Master of Reality. Described by Rolling Stone critic Lester Bangs as monotonous albeit consistent, it nevertheless charted at No 5 in the UK and No 8 in the States. Ozzy Osbourne discussing Black Sabbaths album Sabotage at the Bronze Records offices, 1975 (Ian Dickson/Shutterstock) It was around this time that Osbourne met his future wife, Sharon Arden, while Black Sabbath were considering her father, Don, as a prospective manager. Then, he was married to his first wife, Thelma Riley, with whom he had two children, Louis and Jessica. Osbourne and Riley divorced in 1982 and he later admitted that his first marriage was a terrible mistake. He also revealed in 2011 that he couldnt remember when Louis and Jessica were born, due to his frequent drug and alcohol use. Black Sabbath backstage before performing at London Music Festival '73 at Alexandra Palace, London. L-R Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler. (Getty) Ozzy and Sharon, who began dating after he was fired and she took over from her father as his manager, were married the year his divorce was finalised. Their relationship has endured a number of hurdles, including the time Osbourne attempted to kill her by strangulation during a drug-influenced episode in 1989. I felt the calmest I had ever felt in my life, Osbourne said of the moment he began strangling his wife, in an interview for the 2020 documentary, The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne. I was just peaceful. Its not exactly one of my greatest achievements. Sharon recalled the moment her husband Ozzy tried to strangle her in the documentary, The Nine Lives of Ozzy Osbourne (Getty) Sharon also described her husbands demeanour as calm during the attack in their family home in Amersham, while saying it was probably the most frightened I had ever been. She managed to press a panic button and the police were called. Osbourne said he woke up in police custody and was informed by an officer that he had been arrested for attempted murder. He was subsequently sent to rehab for six months, while Sharon decided whether to walk away from the marriage. In the 35 years since, the couple have also survived a cheating scandal in 2016, with Sharon later claiming Osbourne had had extramarital affairs with six different women. Their chaotic personal lives were famously documented in MTVs reality show The Osbournes, which ran for four seasons between 2002 to 2005. In a 2009 interview, Osbourne said he was stoned for the duration of filming. Two of his and Sharons children, Kelly and Jack, also featured in the series, while their eldest, Aimee, declined to appear. The Osbournes in a promo shot for their MTV series in 2002 (Mtv/Kobal/Shutterstock) Osbourne received a number of accolades through his wild and raucous career, including a Grammy for Best Metal Performance in 1994. In 2006, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with his Black Sabbath bandmates. For fans, Osbournes public antics were part of the bands charm, while for others including a number of religious groups they were a sign of Black Sabbaths negative influence on impressionable young minds. He will forever be remembered as the rocker who bit the head off a bat (it was already dead, contrary to rock n roll lore) in front of 5,000 audience members at a gig in Des Moines, after a 17-year-old fan, Mark Neal, threw it onto the stage. Osbourne was rushed to hospital after the concert to receive rabies shots. Despite his many health issues in later years, Osbourne remained active well into his seventies. He was reunited with his Black Sabbath bandmates for their final album, 13, in 2013. Meanwhile, his last solo album, 2022s Patient Zero, with help from fellow stars including Iommi, Eric Clapton, and the late Jeff Beck and Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins. It went on to win the 2023 Grammy for Best Rock Album. That same year, he and Iommi enjoyed a mini Sabbath reunion as part of the closing ceremony for the Commonwealth Games, performing Iron Man and Paranoid. About a week before we went there, Sharon said to me: Theyve asked you to close the Commonwealth Games, and I said: Sharon, I cant even f***ing stand up! he told The Independent. Then I thought: Ive only got to stand there with a f***ing microphone. I havent got to leap around and go crazy. If I fall over theyll think its part of the act anyway theyll just think I was drunk! So I said: F*** it Sharon! And you know what? It was great. Osbourne pictured in 1981 (1981 AP) He later explained that he was trying to get as much done as I can before the ultimate final curtain. Fans around the world are likely to agree that he did. Despite his health issues, Osbourne remained active even in recent years. He was joined alongside the other original members of Black Sabbath earlier this month for their final show as a band, held in their hometown of Birmingham on 5 July. Black Sabbath were joined by some of the biggest acts in metal, from Metallica to Lamb of God, for a triumphant 10-hour concert at Villa Park. Toward the end of the massive musical event, Osbourne was presented with a cake, as fireworks lit up the stadium from overhead. Its so good to be on this f***ing stage, you have no idea, Osbourne told fans. Osbourne during his final public appearance at Villa Park in Birmingham (AP) Tributes rolled in after Osbournes passing was announced. So sad to hear the news of @ozzyosbourne passing away. He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods a true legend. He was also one of the funniest people Ive ever met. I will miss him dearly. To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love, Elton John stated. Metallicas official X account shared a photo of Osbourne with the band and a broken heart emoji. Green Day frontman Billie Joel Armstrong reacted to Osbournes passing, writing on Instagram, No words. We love you Ozzy. Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones noted in a tweet that he was very sad to hear of the death of Ozzy Osbourne. Singer Sir Elton John has paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne after his passing. (PA Archive) What a lovely goodbye concert he had at Back to The Beginning in Birmingham, he wrote. Actor Jason Mamoa, who hosted Black Sabbaths final concert, shared a photo of himself with Osbourne and his wife Sharon, writing, Love you @ozzyosbourne All my aloha @sharonosbourne and ohana. So grateful. RIP. Black Sabbath posted a photo of Osbourne at the final concert on the bands X account, writing, Ozzy Forever! Paintings celebrating 800 years of Britains first environmental laws are going on display in London. An exhibition commemorating eight centuries of Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forest is opening at the Society of Antiquaries in Burlington House, London. As part of the exhibition, Dan Llywelyn Hall, the youngest artist to paint a portrait of the late Queen, has been commissioned to produce four pictures depicting trees across Great Britain. All the trees included in the work, entitled the Totems to the Charter, were alive at the time the Charter of the Forest was signed. It includes one tree said to have witnessed the signing of the first Magna Carta in 1215. The Magna Carta Memorial at Runnymede in Surrey (Alamy/PA) The Charter of the Forest, which Mr Llywelyn Hall described as the first bit of environmental legislation, was a crucial appendix to Magna Carta, which ultimately paved the way for our right to access woodland. The Magna Carta was republished several times, with the final version created in February 1225, issued with a version of the Charter. Some elements of the forest laws remained in force until the 1970s. One of Mr Llywelyn Halls pictures depicts the Ankerwycke Yew, an ancient tree close to the ruins of St Marys Priory in Surrey, which is believed to be 1,400 to 2,500 years old. While the signing of the original Magna Carta in 1215 is largely believed to have taken place in nearby Runnymede, the National Trust has said that some people believe the sealing actually took place by the tree. How much history has the Ankerwycke Yew seen? It's thought that King John signed the Magna Carta beneath its branches and King Henry VIII courted Anne Boleyn there. Thought to be at least 2,000 years old, it continues to thrive. #FactFriday pic.twitter.com/yHLmtW14ks The Tree Council (@TheTreeCouncil) August 6, 2021 The yew is also said to be one of the places where Henry VIII courted Anne Boleyn. Mr Llywelyn Hall has also captured the Caledonian Forest Pines of Scotland, which are descended from the first pines in the country, which arrived around 7,000BC. The Glen Loyne Pine depicted is one of the oldest that remains and a veteran of its species. The artist has also painted Curley Oak of the Wentwood Forest in Wales, which is more than 1,000 years old and the oldest Oak in that country. Mr Llywelyn Hall described the oak as sitting squat, nestled in a dense pine forest and oozing with atmosphere and an otherworldly presence. The artists final picture is of Beech trees near the Lost Pond in Epping Forest, some of the oldest in the world of the species. If you find Lost Pond in #EppingForest you can also visit this incredible coppard beech tree, located nearby. This special tree is believed to be the oldest tree in this unique, ancient woodland. pic.twitter.com/9TSPXaLkMa Epping Forest (@CoLEppingForest) June 13, 2021 He described the vast sprawl of the Lost Pond Beech as depicted as an ominous guardian. Mr Llywelyn Hall said: The Totems to the Charter are the silent witnesses; the ancient veteran trees that were around at the time of the signing, 800 years ago. The Charter of the Forest is the first bit of environmental legislation that ultimately paved the way for our rights of way and access to our cherished ancient woodland. These rare, silent witnesses are largely the accidental survivors in dense forests; embodying history myth and legend; not to mention extraordinary eco-systems of their own. They deserve more reverence and protection than any man made structure. The paintings, which go on display from July 25 to September 19, will be sold to raise funds for the Society of Antiquaries library and collection as well as the charities Trees for Life and Trees for Cities. Steve Micklewright, chief executive of rewilding charity Trees for Life, said Totems celebrated a landmark charter which recognised the essential relationship between humanity and woodlands. We are delighted that this exhibition will bring more attention to our native woodlands and the vital role they play in supporting nature and people, he said. During the reign of King John, who signed the first Magna Carta of 1215, large swathes of England were designated royal forest and set aside solely for the kings use. A piece of the final version of the Magna Carta created in February 1225 (PA) The Charter of the Forest charter granted rights to land, food and fuel to a wide cross-section of English society, from barons to commoners. While Magna Carta and the charter were English documents, chapters did deal with grievances with Welsh rulers and the King of Scotland. It is believed to be the first document in which English and Welsh law appear together and shows the Welsh, Scots and English sharing political ideas and procedures. New Jerseys federal trial judges have voted to block Donald Trumps personal attorney Alina Habba from serving as the states top prosecutor and named their own nominee to replace her. Hours later, Attorney General Pam Bondi blocked the judges nominee, setting in motion yet another showdown between the Trump administration and the judiciary. Habbas 120-day interim appointment as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey is coming to an end following Trumps nomination in March. She has yet to have any confirmation hearings in the Senate, and the states two Democratic senators have effectively denied her from having one. In a rare move, the states district court judges named Habbas first assistant Desiree Leigh Grace as her successor, according to Tuesdays standing order, which was signed by the districts chief judge Renee Marie Bumb. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche accused the judges of trying to force her out of the job. Federal judges in New Jersey have blocked Trumps former personal attorney Alina Habba from serving as U.S. attorney in the state (AFP via Getty Images) Their rush reveals what this was always about: a left-wing agenda, not the rule of law, said Blanche, another of Trumps former defense attorneys. When judges act like activists, they undermine confidence in our justice system. Alina is President Trumps choice to lead and no partisan bench can override that. Bondi said politically minded judges had refused to allow Habba to continue in the role. Accordingly, the First Assistant United States Attorney in New Jersey has just been removed, she added. This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges especially when they threaten the Presidents core Article II powers. The White House appears willing to put up a fight to keep Habba in place. President Trump has full confidence in Alina Habba, whose work as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey has made the Garden State and the nation safer, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement to The Independent. The Trump Administration looks forward to her final confirmation in the U.S. Senate and will work tirelessly to ensure the people of New Jersey are well represented. Habba defended Trump last year during his blockbuster fraud trial and defamation lawsuits brought by E. Jean Carroll, all of which Trump lost. She then briefly served as counselor to the president before Trump named her as U.S. attorney in her home state. She was sworn into office on March 28, which means there are just days left on her 120-day interim term. Blanche said her term expires at midnight Friday. The judges order takes effect Tuesday, or after Habba leaves office, whichever is later. Trump nominated her for a full term on July 1, but the states Democratic Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim derailed any chance of a confirmation hearing by issuing a withering statement kneecapping her credibility. Nominees typically need approval from home state senators, and Habba would also likely face hurdles securing votes from skeptical Republicans. Habba was on the legal team defending Trump in a blockbuster civil fraud case against the president and his real estate empire. He lost the case and owes roughly half a billion dollars, with interest, to the state of New York (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) In a joint statement following her nomination, the senators said she does not meet the standard to serve and accused her of pursuing frivolous and politically motivated prosecutions within her limited time in office. In her first two months in office, Habba brought controversial charges against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Rep. LaMonica McIver, both Democrats, following a scrum with federal agents at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in the state. The mayor was charged with trespassing, but Habba announced on May 19 that she was dropping the case for the sake of moving forward. A judge later reprimanded Habba for her embarrassing retraction. Barakas hasty arrest, followed by Habbas dismissal of the charges two weeks later, suggests a worrying misstep by your office, Magistrate Judge Andre Espinosa said during a hearing that month. The mayor later sued Habba for malicious prosecution. McIver, meanwhile, has been accused of assaulting law enforcement, which she has strenuously denied. Criminal charges against a sitting member of Congress appeared to escalate threats from the Trump administration under an emboldened Department of Justice to target his political enemies. Trump, whose administration wields unprecedented influence over the Justice Department, could still act to preserve his pick. The president has the power to appoint Habba as a special attorney to the attorney general, a move that could keep her on the job for another two years without any typical review or Senate vote on her qualifications. Federal judges had similarly tried to stop John Sarcone from continuing on as U.S. attorney in upstate New York when Trump named him as a special attorney to the attorney general to keep him in place. The president also could fire Grace and install another pick, which would likely ignite yet another legal firestorm as Democratic officials and lawyers intensify their scrutiny into Trumps increasingly deferential Justice Department. Habba, speaking at Trumps campaign rally in Madison Square Garden in 2024, is among the presidents former defense attorneys appointed to top roles with the Justice Department (AFP via Getty Images) Trump has already appointed several of his former defense attorneys in top roles at the agency serving under Attorney General Pam Bondi, another Trump loyalist. John Sauer, who successfully argued for Trumps immunity from criminal prosecution at the Supreme Court, was appointed U.S. solicitor general, the nations top attorney. Todd Blanche, who represented Trump in his hush-money trial and federal criminal indictments, is serving as deputy attorney general under Bondi. Trumps other criminal defense attorney Emil Bove, who worked alongside Blanche on the hush-money case, is currently a principal associate deputy attorney general. The president has nominated Bove to serve a life term as an appeals court judge for a district that spans New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Last week, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee referred his nomination to the full Senate for a vote. All Democrats on the committee walked out in protest. The Independent has requested comment from the White House and Habbas office. Angela Rayner has issued an ultimatum to Sir Keir Starmer, warning that the UK faces a repeat of last years summer riots unless the government shows it can address peoples concerns. In a dramatic intervention in the final cabinet meeting before the summer recess, the deputy prime minister said economic insecurity, immigration, the increasing time people spend online, and declining trust in institutions were having a profound impact on society. She warned ministers that it was incumbent on the government to acknowledge the real concerns people have and to deliver improvements to peoples lives in their communities amid growing concerns that there could be a repeat of the unrest that scarred communities in the wake of the Southport murders. Her words come days after violent protests broke out outside an asylum hotel in Epping, Essex, which has pushed the community to boiling point, according to local Tory MP Neil Hudson. Deputy PM Angela Rayner (PA) Calling on the government to deliver improvements to people's lives, Ms Rayner noted that 17 of the 18 places that saw the worst of last summers disorder ranked among the countrys most deprived areas. Islamophobic claims circulating online about the Southport murderer fuelled violent far-right protests in Southport, Belfast, Manchester, Aldershot, London and Sunderland. A Holiday Inn housing asylum seekers in Rotherham was also set on fire, prompting Sir Keir to order a nationwide clampdown. The violent scenes began less than a month after Labour won power, but Ms Rayner is concerned that continuing problems over immigration with record numbers of small boats crossing the Channel rising unemployment and a flatlining economy are laying the groundwork for a new series of riots. The warnings were reflected in a recent joint report by former Tory home secretary Sir Sajid Javid and former Labour MP Jon Cruddas, who are chairing the new Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion. The report found Britain is sitting on a powder keg of social tension that could easily ignite again. Protesters near the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex (PA) Ms Rayner told colleagues that while Britain was a successful multi-ethnic, multi-faith country, the government had to show it had a plan to address peoples concerns and provide opportunities for everyone to flourish. The deputy prime minister highlighted how her own Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Governments Plan for Neighbourhoods would deliver billions of pounds of investment over 10 years in hundreds of the most deprived places, to restore pride in peoples local areas and improve peoples lives. It is understood that she has been working on a community cohesion project for some time in the wake of last years riots. Her warning follows concerns over the way that Reform leader Nigel Farage has defended the protesters in Epping. The violent protests began after claims that asylum seekers in the hotel were responsible for sexual assaults. Mr Farage claimed that the violent scenes were some bad eggs from the far right clashing with Antifa far-left activists. He also claimed civil disobedience on a vast scale will break out unless migrants stop arriving in the UK on small boats. Ms Rayners intervention also comes as her position in the government has been strengthened in recent weeks after she played a pivotal role in negotiating a deal with Labour rebels to prevent defeat on the welfare reforms. Allies claim she is best placed to take on Reforms surge in popularity as a working-class champion within the cabinet who represents traditional Labour values. While she has repeatedly denied wanting to be prime minister, she is regularly discussed as the favourite to take over from Sir Keir if he is forced out as a result of poor local election results in May next year. Police near the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, during a protest (PA) She is also expected to get an official Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in any government reshuffle after the summer. Responding to Ms Rayner, the prime ministers official spokesperson said he was focused on taking action to ensure that we address peoples concerns, peoples very legitimate concerns. And we start by acknowledging that those concerns are legitimate, and we start by dealing with the underlying causes of those concerns, they added. Meanwhile, as violent scenes have continued in Epping, Mr Hudson warned that outside groups are stoking up trouble. He said: People quite rightly have the right to peaceful protest, but these violent scenes are not us, they are not Epping, and they are not what we stand for. It is deeply disturbing that people from outside Epping are coming to these protests not to support the real concerns of our local community, but to disrupt and cause violence. But he warned: This is a crisis that is boiling over, and for the safety of our community, the government must get a grip on this situation now, and they must listen and act quickly to close the hotel. I continue to call on the government to immediately close the Bell Hotel. Rescue operations outside the cave where a speleologist became trapped on Sunday (National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps) Italian rescuers have successfully freed a 63-year-old cave explorer who was injured by falling rocks some 40 metres (more than 130 feet) below the surface. The man, who sustained a head injury during the incident in the northwestern Piedmont region, was brought to the surface on Monday by crews who resorted to using explosives to widen the cave at key junctures. Their ascent also involved navigating two 15-metre (49-foot) vertical shafts and a series of narrow, winding passages. Medical teams had reached the injured man after the accident on Sunday. They treated him inside a heated tent while the exit path was being cleared. He remained in good condition throughout the ordeal, they said. A rescuer is lowered into the cave (National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps) The man was reportedly a speleologist a scientist who studies caves. The field encompasses the study of cave and rock formations, hydrology (the movement and distribution of water), and cave ecosystems. The incident occurred in the Abisso Paperino cave system, which extends 170 metres (560 feet) underground near the town of Ormea in Cuneo province, according to Italy's mountain rescue corps. The Ryder Cup will return to Spain in 2031 after the Costa Brava resort of Camiral was confirmed as the host venue. It will be the second time the biennial event has been staged in the country, after Valderrama in 1997. The news was announced by the European Tour Group on Tuesday. We're heading back to Spain for the first time since 1997 pic.twitter.com/3ewdViXlyC Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) July 22, 2025 It will only be the fourth time the tournament will have been played in continental Europe after Paris (2018) and Rome (2023) followed Valderrama as hosts. This years Ryder Cup takes place at Bethpage Black in New York in September. Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland will be the venue in 2027 and Hazeltine, near Minnesota in 2029. Guy Kinnings, chief executive of the European Tour Group, said: Todays announcement not only recognises Camiral as one of Europes leading venues, but also the considerable contribution Spanish golf has made to the proud history of the Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup has grown significantly since Spain last hosted it in 1997. It is one of the worlds leading sporting events, which brings significant economic benefits and global exposure to a host region and country, so we could not be happier to be taking it to Costa Brava and Barcelona for the first time, and to Spain for the second time. Eleven Spaniards have represented Europe throughout the competitions history and Seve Ballesteros famously captained the team to victory over the United States at Valderrama. Seve Ballesteros captained Europe to victory at Valderrama (PA) Camiral, which is close to Girona and around an hours travel from Barcelona, has also been confirmed as the host of the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship on the DP World Tour from 2028-30. Jose Manuel Rodriguez Uribes, president of Spains national sports council, said: The Government of Spain welcomes the selection of Camiral as the host venue for the 2031 Ryder Cup a global sporting event that will showcase our country to millions of viewers around the world. The Ryder Cup is not only one of the most prestigious competitions on the international sporting calendar, but also an exceptional platform to demonstrate Spains ability to successfully host major 21st-century events, combining world-class infrastructure, unparalleled natural environment and a globally renowned tourism, cultural and culinary offering. Juan Guerrero-Burgos, president of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, said: It is an honour for Spain to host the Ryder Cup for the second time in history. The previous experience at Valderrama in 1997 was extraordinary. The economic impact, media coverage and more importantly, the legacy to our sport, tourism and awareness of golf in our country were unbelievable. Scotland has become an afterthought for the UK Government, the SNP has claimed, as those north of the border are set to foot the bill for Sizewell C. The nuclear power plant is set to cost 38 billion, according to an announcement on Tuesday by UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, with a levy to be placed on energy bills to help cover the cost. Mr Miliband said the charge would be limited to an average of around 1 per month. The SNP-led Scottish Government has long been against new nuclear power and has said it would block plans north of the border through the devolved planning system. 16 years ago I identified Sizewell as a site for new nuclear power. Today I am delighted that Sizewell C has finally been given the green light. We're delivering the biggest nuclear building programme in a generation pic.twitter.com/tOxLAU1Y7Q Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) July 22, 2025 Speaking in the wake of the announcement, the SNPs energy spokesman at Westminster Graham Leadbitter said nuclear power was extortionate, takes decades to build and the toxic waste is a risk to local communities. Just months ago, the Labour Government rubbished the 38 billion figure for Sizewell C, yet today Ed Miliband snuck out a statement that confirmed theyve lost control of this project before spades are even in the ground, he said. To make matters worse, Scots will be left to foot the bill with a levy on energy bills you simply couldnt make it up, yet Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour back this extortionate and wasteful plan that energy-rich Scotland will pay for through the nose. Mr Leadbitter also hit out at the spending of the UK Government south of the border compared to Scotland, pointing to the closure of the Grangemouth refinery with the loss of 400 jobs. Be it Prax refinery, British Steel or Sizewell C, when it comes to projects south of the border it seems the pot of cash never runs out, the SNP MP said. Meanwhile, Grangemouth has been shut down and Westminsters fiscal regime has ruined Scottish energy jobs Scotland isnt just an afterthought, its barely a thought at all. It is absurd that energy-rich Scotland is home to fuel-poor Scots and that while energy bills go up, Scottish energy jobs are going down thats directly as a consequence of Westminster policy, and the further squandering of cash on expensive nuclear wont change that. Grangemouths closure was lambasted by the SNP (Andrew Milligan/PA) Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said Scotland was losing out because of the opposition of the Government to new nuclear energy. This deal will bring jobs to and investment in the local economy, as well as helping us meet our clear power ambitions, he said. The UK Government is driving forward nuclear power in other parts of the UK, but in Scotland the Scottish Government continues to block new nuclear sites. That means that Scotland is being left behind, missing out on jobs and growth, as well as affordable energy. I urge the Scottish Government again to put Scotlands interests first and drop their ideological objections. And Mr Miliband talked up the scale and ambition of the project as he announced it, with the UK Government taking a near-45% stake. It is time to do big things and build big projects in this country again and today we announce an investment that will provide clean, homegrown power to millions of homes for generations to come, he said. This Government is making the investment needed to deliver a new golden age of nuclear, so we can end delays and free us from the ravages of the global fossil fuel markets to bring bills down for good. New Sizewell C investors include Canadian investment fund La Caisse with 20%, British Gas owner Centrica with 15%, and Amber Infrastructure with an initial 7.6%. It comes alongside French energy giant EDF announcing earlier this month it was taking a 12.5% stake lower than its previously stated 16.2% ownership. The total investment, which is split between equity funding from investors and debt financing, exceeds the target construction cost of 38 billion, therefore acting as a buffer in case costs overrun. Sir James Cleverly is expected to return to the Conservative front bench as Kemi Badenoch makes changes to her senior team. The Leader of the Opposition is expected to reshuffle her shadow cabinet on Tuesday. A Conservative source said: The Leader of the Opposition will be making some changes to her frontbench team today. The changes reflect the next stage of the partys policy renewal programme and underline the unity of the party under new leadership. Sir James Cleverly is expected to return in a prominent frontbench role to take the fight to this dreadful Labour Government. Sir James served as both foreign secretary and home secretary when the Conservatives were in power. He stood as a candidate in last years Conservative leadership election, but lost out on the Tory top job ahead of the final heat between Mrs Badenoch and her now-shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick. Since the leadership contest, Sir James has returned to the Tory back benches as the MP for Braintree. He has used his influential position as a former minister to warn against pursuing populist agenda akin to Nigel Farages Reform UK. Appearing at the Institute For Public Policy Research (IPPR) think tank last week, the senior Tory hit out at calls to smash the system and start again from scratch, branding them complete nonsense. He also appeared to take a different position on net zero from party leader Mrs Badenoch in a recent speech, urging the Conservatives to reject climate change luddites on the right who believe the way things are now is just fine. As he prepares for his last parliamentary oral questions from the front bench, I want to put on record my sincere thanks to Ed Argar for serving in my Shadow Cabinet. I wish him the very best for a speedy recovery and return to full health, and so I will be making a few changes pic.twitter.com/FWoC7L19nd Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) July 22, 2025 A list of full changes to the Conservative frontbench team will be announced on Tuesday afternoon. Ed Argar has quit as shadow health secretary, citing a health scare. Mrs Badenoch said she was saddened that Mr Argar feels unable to continue in his position, but agreed that you must put your health first. In a letter to the party leader dated July 9 and shared by Mrs Badenoch on X on Tuesday, Mr Argar said: I had a health scare earlier this summer and remain grateful to the doctors and hospital staff who looked after me. He added: I have been well looked after, but have also listened to what the doctors said to me, and have listened to my family, and have concluded that lightening my front-bench workload over the coming months, in order to complete my recovery and fully restore my health in that period, is the sensible approach. Allies of shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride believe he will remain in his post, while attention will be focused on whether Mrs Badenoch keeps Mr Jenrick in his current role. The former leadership contender has strayed well beyond his justice brief, building a prominent social media presence with campaigns on a range of issues from tackling fare dodgers on the London Underground to the impact of immigration on housing. 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. Smoke and flames rise from a residential building hit by an Israeli strike, in Gaza City (Reuters) 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. Palestinians gather to receive food from a charity kitchen in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip (Reuters) 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. 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) 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. David Lammy has urged Israel to agree an immediate ceasefire (House of Commons) 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. Smoke billows from Israeli bombardment as pictured from Deir el-Balah (AFP/Getty) 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. Palestinians gather as they seek aid supplies that entered Gaza through Israel in Beit Laha (Reuters) 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." Albanian national Bleda Bega (left) was sentenced to seven years and 10 months (Home Office) A man who crammed 21 migrants into a small luxury yacht and attempted to smuggle them into Britain has been jailed. Albanian national Bleda Bega was captaining the 23ft vessel when it was intercepted in the English Channel en route to Newquay on South Coast. Border Force officers searched the boat and found 21 passengers - 20 men and one woman - hidden below the family cruisers deck on April 13. The Albanian nationals were found in cramped, dangerous conditions without adequate life-saving equipment on the yacht made for six passengers. The Tacoma BR vessel (Home Office) At Truro Crown Court on Friday, Bega, 44, was sentenced to seven years and 10 months after admitting attempting to smuggle migrants into the UK. At a previous hearing, Albanian nationals Florjand Lika, 30, and Romeo Zani, 32, were jailed for 12 months after they paid to travel on board and attempted to covertly enter Britain, despite both being previously deported. The boat used, named the Tacamo, appears to be a Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 343 and is described as a family cruising yacht. Versions are on sale online for between 50,000 to 80,000. It has two cabins, six beds and one bathroom. Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle said: This sentence shows Border Force work to tackle attempts to enter the UK illegally by these criminal smuggling gangs. They have been using state of the art technology and surveillance capabilities. Anyone who seeks to smuggle people into the country in this way faces arrest, prosecution and a jail sentence. It comes as criminal people smuggling gangs find new ways of evading authorities after a fast-track returns deal led to a sharp decline in Albanians arriving in small boats. On Sunday, seven people were arrested after a yacht carrying suspected migrants was intercepted in the English Channel. Albanian national Bleda Bega was captaining the 23ft vessel (Home Office) The vessel, which came from northern France, was discovered by a Border Force cutter off the Isle of Wight, the National Crime Agency said. Two Ukrainian men, aged 43 and 37, were arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration. Five passengers - four Albanians and a Vietnamese national - were detained under immigration laws. On Wednesday, the Foreign Office will 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. Migrant smuggling gang leaders and companies supplying small boat equipment will face having their assets frozen and being banned from Britain in a crackdown on illegal Channel crossings. The son of an elderly couple imprisoned by the Taliban in Afghanistan almost six months ago has said they need out now as their health is deteriorating fast. Barbie Reynolds, 76, and her husband Peter, 80, were arrested as they travelled to their home in Bamyan province, central Afghanistan, in February. They have been held for five-and-a-half months without charge and, up until eight weeks ago, had been separated and detained in a maximum security prison. Their four adult children, who live in the US and UK, said they had written privately to the Taliban leadership twice and made public appeals for the release of their parents, who have run school training programmes for 18 years in the country, remaining after the Taliban takeover in 2021. Jonathan Reynolds said the last phone call the family had from the couple was on June 15, and in the last week officials from the UK Foreign Office saw them. But Mr Reynolds said generally, it has been pretty frustrating. He said he understands the Foreign Office is working very very hard, but added yet my parents are still in there. He said: To be able to sit in the same room as them and have that kind of communication and not be able to walk out with them, is very frustrating. Its horrific that theyre still held in captivity without, to our understanding, for a period of time without any natural sunlight and not even allowed outside. So their health in so many areas is deteriorating, and its deteriorating fast. He added that they are not in good health and they need out, and they need out now. According to a remote medical assessment conducted by a cardiologist, their father may have suffered a stroke or a silent heart attack, the siblings said previously. They added that their father was suffering from a red, peeling, bleeding face, which could mean his skin cancer had returned. Their mother continued to struggle with numbness in her feet, which was linked to anaemia, possibly from insufficient food in the maximum security prison, her children said, while a medical assessment noted that this created additional strain which could lead to heart failure. The couple, who celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary recently, were held up until eight weeks ago at the Pul-e-Charkhi prison in the capital, Kabul, their children said. They were then transferred to the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), with the promise of release within two to three days, they said. But two further months have passed, with no sign of release. While in Pul-e-Charkhi prison, the couple were said to have had access to phones and called their children every day from the prison yard. 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. Their son said that since May 18 they have been held for weeks on end in a basement cell with no natural light. He said any communication the siblings have had has been theyll be released in two to three days. Mr Reynolds said the big question is who has the authority to release them. He added: I dont understand why an 80-year-old and a 76-year-old in failing health are being held without reason, without cause, without charges We just want them home we want to get them out of that country. The familys focus is now on asking whoever has the ability to influence or turn that key and get them out of there to do it and do it now, he said, adding: I dont know how long my parents health is going to last, and I think it would be a tragedy for them to die in a prison in a country where they have chosen to give their life in service. An FCDO spokesperson said: We are supporting the family of two British nationals who are detained in Afghanistan. Blair and Starmer In his diary entry for Friday, April 25 2003, Alastair Campbell wrote that Cherie Blair, the Prime Ministers wife, had been invited to a store in Melbourne and walked out weighed down by stuff. I wish she didnt have this thing about a bargain, TB [Tony Blair] said when I told him. That eye for a bargain was not, however, confined only to his wifes tastes. In the same month of Mrs Blairs antipodean trolley dash, the then Prime Minister, even as he struggled with the international military and political crisis sparked by the invasion of Iraq, accepted a civil servants advice to pay back more than 7000 to designers Paul Smith and Nicole Farhi, which was the sum equivalent to the discounts he and his wife had enjoyed, so that the Prime Minister would have nothing to declare in terms of gifts. If this is the first youre hearing of this unusual revelation, then it is a sign that the choice taken by the Blairs to anticipate the bad press that would be generated by the gifts and to squash it at source worked, undoubtedly in no small measure to the outstanding political advice he regularly received from the likes of Campbell and others. How appropriate that today, as Parliament rises for the summer recess, marking the first day of what is called the silly season by news reporters because of the traditional dearth of serious news items and the desperate recourse by news editors to more frivolous stories, revelations about a former Prime Minister should have major repercussions, not for Blair himself, but for the current incumbent of Number 10. While there is always a market for anti-Blair stories among voters old enough to still get angry about Iraq, the Blairs themselves are untouchable, in that neither of them has a public role from which they can be ousted by a hostile Tweet or angrily-worded online petition. The swift action taken by Blair to draw a line under a silly, though potentially damaging, story should present a life lesson for his successor. Did Keir Starmer, his wife Victoria and his deputy, Angela Rayner, not receive civil service advice about the wisdom (or lack thereof) of accepting generous gifts of free clothing from Labour peer Lord Waheed Alli? Just weeks after his triumph at the 2024 general election, the entire Governments reputation for honesty was severely and possibly irreparably damaged by the revelation of such unnecessary and undeserved gifts. It wasnt just their value that gave voters pause for thought: it was the very notion that someone else, someone to whom you were not married or living with, would pay for your clothing. Perhaps, in the leafier suburbs of north London, such a thing is normal practice, hardly worthy of comment (although that does not excuse professional northerner Rayners enthusiasm for accepting thousands of pounds worth of clothes). But in Normal Land where the rest of us live, it looks downright weird. In Tonys defence (a position I am happy to take in all circumstances), his offence was in accepting large discounts on clothes he and his wife had already decided to buy. And who doesnt like a bargain? But a newly-elected Prime Minister accepting gifts of clothes from another middle-aged man sat uneasily with the partys repeated claims during the campaign to be morally superior to the outgoing Conservatives. And although those unhappy days are now past, it should be remembered that the drip-drip of new revelations regarding Lord Allis gifts continued for weeks, adding almost every day to ministers discomfort. And it is probably true that the damage from those revelations has not been fully addressed. There is little more damaging to the reputation of politicians in general than the accusation that Theyre all the same. In this case, that accusation was deeply unfair: Rishi Sunak never accepted gifts of suits or spectacles from members of the Lords. SuitGate (must we really call it that?) was important because almost everything that has happened since then to damage the Government can be fitted into the pattern revealed at the time: a hapless administration of inexperienced ministers whose willingness to accept unearned gifts is of a piece with their tendency to abandon long-held principles and policies at the first sign of trouble. The Blair Government was not short of similar in some cases more substantial scandals. But it survived for a decade, and was re-elected twice, because its leaders had the judgement and humility to recognise mistakes and act on them before they became uncontrollable. After the year just gone by, Keir Starmer might want to consider picking up the phone to Blair or Alastair Cambell a bit more frequently. Suella Braverman said that by the time of the last general election, Rishi Sunak had already failed at stopping the boats - Phil Noble/AP Suella Braverman has attacked Rishi Sunak for breaking his promise to stop the boats, saying he wasnt willing to do whats necessary to bring down illegal immigration. Mrs Braverman, sacked as home secretary by Mr Sunak in November 2023, suggested the former prime minister had misled the electorate by repeating the slogan, one of his five key pledges, throughout his premiership. Speaking to The Telegraphs Daily T podcast, Mrs Braverman said: By the time of the last general election, hed already failed at stopping the boats. Hed had just over a year to stop the boats. Hed passed two laws to stop the boats, he had promised to stop the boats. Hed broken the promise by the time of the general election. I dont think anyone believed him. Asked whether Mr Sunak had been telling the truth, she replied: Deep down, I dont think he wanted to do what was necessary. I mean, youd have to ask him what his intention was when he was saying those things. But ultimately, its alright making a promise to stop the boats. But youve got to be willing to do whats necessary. It might be difficult, but it is necessary. Mr Sunak sacked Mrs Braverman after she wrote an article arguing that there was a perception that senior police officers play favourites when it comes to protesters and were tougher on Right-wing extremists than pro-Palestinian mobs. This week, the Tory MP for Fareham and Waterlooville unveiled her legal blueprint for how the UK could quit the European Convention on Human Rights, rejecting apocalyptic claims that this would threaten peace in Northern Ireland. In a 56-page document, the former attorney general argued that the UK should rewrite the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, stripping out ECHR references and replacing them with domestic UK and common law human rights principles. Writing for The Telegraph this week, she argued: This is not simply judicial activism; it is a form of judicial imperialism. The time for debating whether we should leave is over. The question now is how we leave. Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, has appointed Lord Wolfson, the shadow attorney general, to head a review into whether the UK should leave the convention. Credit: Prosperity Institute On legal migration, Mrs Braverman said she supported Reform UKs net zero immigration policy, saying: I think its a good idea. I think that we need to commit to a cap but we need to actually be honest about what that cap is. And I think as low as possible or in the tens of thousands is not credible. So I can see where Reform is coming from. Theyre trying to give a number and show seriousness about the commitment. Ultimately, we need fewer people to come into this country. She also advocated Donald Trump-style travel bans for some countries, and said: If you look at the data and at where the most illegal arrivals are coming from, then I think there needs to be more robust action. If there are countries who are unwilling to take back their offenders, then we should have some kind of ban. Thats the problem with this country, to a large degree. We dont follow through with robust consequences, whether its our weak human rights laws or our pathetic policies towards countries who dont co-operate with us. Thats why were seen as a soft touch. Her comments come after Rael Braverman, her husband, left Reform on Friday following Zia Yusufs criticism of Mrs Braverman and Robert Jenrick, the former immigration secretary, over the Afghan data breach. Asked if she would consider defecting to Nigel Farages party, Mrs Braverman said: Ive just been re-elected as a Conservative MP, and I hope that continues for a long time. She was also highly critical of Sir Keir Starmer, saying that struggling small businesses in her constituency were the victims of this incompetent, clueless, vapid, excuse for a fool that we have running this country. Sunderland are closing in on a deal for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka as head coach Regis Le Bris seeks to add Premier League experience to his squad. The PA news agency understands the Black Cats have agreed personal terms with the 32-year-old former Arsenal skipper and are attempting to thrash out a fee with Erik ten Hags Bundesliga club. Switzerland international Xhaka, who began his career at Basel before heading for Borussia Monchengladbach, spent seven years with the Gunners and is well acquainted with Englands top flight. Granit Xhaka won two FA Cups during his seven-year stay at Arsenal (Adam Davy/PA) He joined Arsenal in a 35million switch from Monchengladbach during the summer of 2016 and made 297 appearances for the club, winning two FA Cups, before returning to Germany with Leverkusen in July 2023. Xhaka, who has been caped 137 times by his country, won the league title at the end of his first season and made 49 appearances in all competitions, 10 of them in the Champions League, during the last campaign. A combative player, Xhaka was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy in November 2019 after a heated exchange with home fans at the Emirates Stadium. The family of mistaken terror suspect Jean Charles de Menezes have said it is a travesty no police officer has been held accountable 20 years after he was shot dead. Dozens of people joined his relatives for a vigil outside Stockwell Tube station in south London, where the Brazilian was shot and killed by police the day after failed bombing attempts on the London transport network. It came two weeks after the 7/7 terror attacks, which killed 52 people in central London in 2005. Mr de Menezes family were joined at a memorial outside the station to pay tribute and lay flowers, to mark the 20th anniversary of his death. A minutes silence was held to mark the moment the 27-year-old was killed, a prayer was also read in both Portuguese and English, and traditional South American music was played in his honour. Family members and supporters of the campaign wore black T-shirts which read: 20 years: Justice denied. Justice4Jean. Relatives say the anniversary marks a renewed call for truth and accountability for those responsible for his death. A Justice4Jean T-shirt worn by the family of Jean Charles de Menezes at a vigil outside Stockwell station in London (Lucy North/PA) Mr de Menezes was shot seven times in the head the day after police mistakenly identified him as one of the suspects for the failed bombings. Would-be suicide bombers had targeted the transport network on July 21, but their devices failed to explode. Police found an address in Scotia Road, Tulse Hill, written on a gym membership in one of the unexploded bags used by the bombers. Mr de Menezes, who lived in one of the flats at Scotia Road, was wrongly identified by police as Hussain Osman, one of the terrorists. Patricia da Silva Armani, the cousin of Jean Charles de Menezes, speaks during a vigil outside Stockwell station (Lucy North/PA) He was shot dead at Stockwell Tube station on July 22 2005. His family said it is a travesty that no police officer has been held accountable for his death. Patricia da Silva Armani, Mr de Menezes cousin, said: He was a completely innocent man. And yet, he was shot in cold blood. To make things worse, lies were spread to justify the unjustifiable. For our family, the grief of that loss and the injustice surrounding it are still with us, every single day. Nothing can erase the pain of knowing that the life of a hard-working, kind, and honest young man was taken from us out of prejudice and incompetence. To this day, no police officer has been held accountable for Jeans death. That is a travesty. It is unacceptable that agents of the state can act with impunity. Without accountability, there is no justice. (from second left) Erionaldo da Silva, Alex Pereira, Alessandro Pereira and Vivian Figueiredo, relatives of Jean Charles de Menezes, hold a vigil outside Stockwell station (Lucy North/PA) Jeans memory demands more than words it demands truth, accountability, and real change. We will not forget. We will not be silent. No officers were ever prosecuted for the killing of Mr De Menezes but the Metropolitan Police were fined for breaching health and safety laws. Dame Cressida Dick, who became Metropolitan Police commissioner in 2017, led the operation in which Mr de Menezes died. Yasmin Khan, the campaigns lawyer, said: Twenty years ago today, Jean Charles de Menezes stepped on to a train here at Stockwell station and never came home. We remember him today, because the system that killed him never faced justice, and not a single police officer was ever held accountable. Ms Khan added: What Ive learned from these people we see standing in front of you is to remember Jean Charles is a lesson in refusing to be silent. Its an honour, not just to his life, but to the bravery of those who fought for him to remind us that the fight for justice is long. Justice may have been denied, but their fight was worth every breath. Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: The events of July 22 2005 remain a matter of deep regret to the Met and have had a major and lasting impact on counter-terrorism policing in this country. Twenty years after the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, the thoughts of all of us at the Metropolitan Police are today with his family and friends. Donald Trump made the claim about the David Ellison-owned Skydance in a Truth Social post. Composite: EPA, Variety via Getty Images Donald Trump has claimed that the future owner of the US TV network CBS will provide him with $20m worth of advertising and programming days after the network canceled The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. The US president recently reached a $16m settlement with Paramount, the parent of CBS News, over what he claimed was misleading editing of a pre-election interview with the Democratic candidate for president, Kamala Harris. While CBS initially called the lawsuit completely without merit, a view shared by many legal experts, Paramount is in the midst of an $8bn sale to the Hollywood studio Skydance Media, which requires the approval of federal regulators. Related: Paramount settles with Trump for $16m over 60 Minutes Kamala Harris interview In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed the settlement had been paid and that he was expecting much more from the new owners of Paramount. Paramount/CBS/60 Minutes have today paid $16 Million Dollars in settlement, and we also anticipate receiving $20 Million Dollars more from the new Owners, in Advertising, PSAs [public service announcements], or similar Programming, for a total of over $36 Million Dollars, he wrote. CBS and Skydance did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Related: Cancelling Colbert, bribery, an $8bn deal: whats going on at Paramount? Trumps claim that he has been offered millions of dollars worth of programming is likely to exacerbate anger over the axing of The Late Show, which CBS announced on Thursday. Days earlier, Colbert, a high-profile critic of Trump, had branded Paramounts settlement with Trump a big fat bribe. He is due to remain on air until May, and declared on Monday that the gloves are off. Related: Losing Stephen Colbert and the Late Show is a crushing blow, whatever the reason | Adrian Horton Skydance was founded in 2010 by David Ellison, son of the tech billionaire Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, and an ally of Trump. The $16m settlement was already seen by critics as a further example of capitulation by media companies hoping to smooth the waters with the US president. ABC News, ultimately owned by Disney, also agreed to pay $15m to settle a defamation lawsuit over its coverage. After Trumps latest claim regarding $20m worth of advertising and programming from Paramount, the Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter: This reeks of corruption. The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know. If you have something to share on this subject you can contact us confidentially using the following methods. Secure Messaging in the Guardian app The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said. If you don't already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu. Select Secure Messaging. SecureDrop, instant messengers, email, telephone and post See our guide at theguardian.com/tips for alternative methods and the pros and cons of each. Donald Trump ordered a 90-day review of Americas membership of Unesco - Alex Brandon/AP President Donald Trump is pulling the US out of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) over its anti-Israel bias. In February, Mr Trump ordered a 90-day review of Americas membership of the heritage group, probing any anti-Semitism or anti-Israel sentiment within the organisation. Now Mr Trump is set to cut ties with the agency after the review uncovered alleged pro-China and anti-Israel bias, as well as the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, according to The New York Post. President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from Unesco which supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the common-sense policies that Americans voted for in November, White House deputy spokeswoman Anna Kelly told the newspaper. This president will always put America First and ensure our countrys membership in all international organisations aligns with our national interests. The US is home to numerous celebrated Unesco heritage sites, including the Everglades National Park, the Grand Canyon and the Statue of Liberty. Mr Trumps withdrawal from the agency is not expected to affect their status as protected sites. The Everglades National Park in Florida is one of Americas celebrated Unesco sites - Jupiterimages/Getty Images Unesco board members forced through anti-Israel actions, such as designating Jewish holy sites as Palestinian World Heritage sites, a White House official claimed. According to the review, Unesco frequently states that Palestinian territory is occupied by Israel and condemns the Jewish states war against Hamas without criticising the terrorist group. It added that Beijing holds significant sway over Unesco as its biggest donor and through having Chinese nationals such as deputy-director general Xing Qu in top leadership positions. China has leveraged its influence over Unesco to advance global standards that are favourable to Beijings interests, the official said. Unesco has come under criticism for apparently glossing over the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) persecution of Uyghur Muslims. The Ibrahimi Mosque, also know as the Tomb of the Patriarchs, is a Unesco site in the West Bank - HAZEM BADER/AFP The organisation has also been accused of promoting woke social justice causes. In 2023, Unesco published an anti-racism toolkit which urged member states to adopt anti-racist policies and engage in a race to the top to be social justice leaders, address questions about the history of racism in their country and strive towards racial equality. The following year, the organisations Transforming MENtalities initiative highlighted its work in India addressing how men think about gender issues, including harmful gender norms. It also published research looking at how video games could promote gender equality. Gabriela Ramos, Unescos assistant director-general for the social and human sciences, said at the time: It is not only about controlling the negative impacts, but also relying on video games to address socio-cultural stereotypes and encourage positive, anti-discriminatory behaviours. Mr Trump first withdrew the US from Unesco in 2017 amid allegations of anti-Israel bias. The Grand Canyon in Arizona. The USs withdrawal from Unesco is not expected to affect its status as a protected site - Scott Olson/2025 Getty Images Joe Biden then rejoined the heritage group in 2023, claiming US presence was needed to push back against the rising influence of China. Audrey Azoulay, the director-general of Unesco, said: I deeply regret president Donald Trumps decision to once again withdraw the United States of America from Unesco. However regrettable, this announcement was anticipated, and Unesco has prepared for it. In spite of President Trumps first withdrawal in 2017, Unesco stepped up its efforts to take action wherever its mission could contribute to peace and demonstrated the pivotal nature of its mandate. Unescos purpose is to welcome all the nations of the world, and the United States of America is and will always be welcome. The Trump administration may be taking a flexible approach to what it previously described as a hard deadline of long-promised tariffs taking effect on August 1. The important thing here is the quality of the deal, not the timing of the deals, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Monday, arguing the presidents tariff threats had created maximum leverage as only he can do for countries to swiftly reach trade deals with the U.S. Our trading partners were told that the rates could boomerang back toward the April 2nd levels, he added. We can continue talking then. But again, were proceeding apace with the negotiations, but were not going to rush for the sake of doing deals. Other Trump officials have described the August 1 deadline, when U.S. trading partners could face up to 40 percent tariffs, as a firmer cutoff point. Thats a hard deadline, so on August 1, the new tariff rates will come in, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CBS News on Sunday. Nothing stops countries from talking to us after August 1, but theyre going to start paying the tariffs on August 1. The Trump administration is focusing more on the quality of trade deals than White Houses August 1 tariff deadline, though Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says U.S. is applying maximum leverage through Trump to secure swift results (REUTERS) The president, for his part, has called the deadline "firm but not 100 percent firm. Throughout July, the Trump administration has written letters to foreign leaders warning of the coming tariffs, expected to include a 35 percent tariff rate against Canada, a major U.S. trading partner, and a 30 percent rate for the European Union and Mexico. Since being unveiled in April, Trumps Liberation Day tariff agenda has been repeatedly delayed, and the administration has conceded it wont achieve its original promise of 90 trade deals in 90 days. Theres 200 countries, the president said earlier this month. You cant talk to all of them. The presidents hesitancy to fully implement the tariffs has prompted critics of the president to deem the tariff agenda the TACO plan, for Trump always chickens out. The markets shrugged off Trump's move to push back the tariffs to August, Carolyn Kissane, a professor at NYU's School of Professional Studies Center for Global Affairs, told The Independent earlier this month, compared to the initial market plunge when the tariffs were first revealed. The pattern is familiar: dramatic declarations, walk-backs, and renewed threats. It's eroded his credibility and resembles the boy who cried wolf, Kissane added. He believes this tactic gives him a unique leverage to negotiate, but it also weakens the threats. Trump visit will not put policing in detrimental position, says Swinney Policing in Scotland will not be put in a detrimental position because of the cost of Donald Trumps visit, John Swinney has said. The US president is due to arrive in Scotland later this week and visit both his golf courses in the country, but concerns have been raised about the policing operation required. The last time Mr Trump visited Scotland while he was no longer in office substantial protests sprang up. He is expected to meet both Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Swinney during his time in Scotland. All of Police Scotlands liaison officers are expected to be required to handle protests during the visit and mutual aid has been requested from other forces to help. Speaking to the PA news agency during a visit to Aberdeen, First Minister John Swinney said talks were still ongoing about how costs would be handled for the visit, but said that Scotlands police force would not suffer as a result. Police Scotland will obviously have to deal with the circumstances that they face in relation to the policing operation, he said. They are seeking mutual aid because the scale of the operation that is required requires additional resources that couldnt ordinarily be justified in Scotlands circumstances. But obviously, well work with Police Scotland, with the Scottish Police Authority and with the United Kingdom Government on the costs. Pushed on whether that funding would have to come from the already allocated policing budget, the First Minister said: Well obviously work closely with Police Scotland on the funding of this policing operation and make sure that policing in Scotland is not in any way put in a detrimental position as a consequence of the visit of President Trump. The First Ministers comments came as a senior police officer urged people planning to protest against Mr Trumps visit to follow the law. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond encouraged protest groups to discuss their plans with police ahead of the visit. Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said Police Scotland would take a proportionate approach to ensure people could protest safely (Neil Pooran/PA) She said: As you can imagine, it is a large-scale, complex operation, but actually thats something that Police Scotland is immensely experienced at doing. The policing plan involves local, national and specialist officers from Police Scotland as well as other forces. She said: The key very much is to make sure the President of the United States can come, enjoy a peaceful and safe visit to Scotland and ensure Police Scotland is able to maintain delivery of services to the rest of the community within Scotland over the period of his visit. Police are working on the assumption there will be protests in Ayrshire, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh, she said. Ms Bond said Police Scotland would take a proportionate approach to ensure people could protest safely, with the force offering to engage with demonstrators ahead of time on a no surprises basis. But she said there was nothing at this stage to give her specific concern about violence. Speaking to PA, she also said that concerns raised by the Scottish Police Federation were being resolved. The organisation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said workforce agreements around health and safety may be breached. Asked for her message to those considering disruptive protest, she said: Police Scotland fully recognises peoples right to peaceful protest We would wish to make sure we can balance those rights against the impact on communities, on public safety. I would appeal to people obviously to stay within the bounds of peaceful protest. Id be really clear however that abusive, threatening behaviour, any activity thats intended to disrupt events or in any way that poses a risk to public safety is not legitimate protest and will potentially require an intervention by policing. Tulsi Gabbard has openly accused the Obama administration of launching a years-long coup against President Donald Trump in an attempt to subvert his 2016 election win. Gabbard released declassified emails Friday and claimed that they reveal a treasonous conspiracy committed by former President Barack Obama and his officials over the investigation surrounding Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump pushed the conspiracy over the weekend on Truth Social by sharing an interview Gabbard gave Fox News on the allegations. He also congratulated Gabbard in a separate post Saturday. 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 of the Obama administration. Democrats have blasted the accusation as an attempt to change the subject from the Trump administrations handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The president has found himself on the receiving end of MAGAs fury over the Justice Departments decision not to release any further evidence in the convicted pedophiles case. Gabbard released declassified emails Friday and claimed that they reveal a treasonous conspiracy committed by former President Barack Obama and his officials over the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. (AFP/Getty) Gabbard released declassified emails Friday and claimed that they reveal a treasonous conspiracy committed by former President Barack Obama and his officials over the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. (AFP/Getty) Trump has instructed his embattled Attorney General Pam Bondi to release some of the files relating to grand jury testimony, subject to court approval. Gabbard has called for the prosecution of Obama and former U.S. national security officials, accusing them of manufacturing intelligence to suggest that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, despite evidence proving otherwise, she claimed. Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan, and former FBI Director James Comey were cited in the DNI memo. Trump has claimed for years that the investigation into Russian interference was a hoax. The intelligence community has long concluded that Russia attempted to influence the 2016 election through a social media campaign, but the Mueller investigation couldnt prove those operators had ties to the Trump campaign. Democrats have blasted the accusation as an attempt to change the subject from the Trump administrations handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. (Getty Images) Democrats have blasted the accusation as an attempt to change the subject from the Trump administrations handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. (Getty Images) Democratic Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut slammed Gabbards claims as utter nonsense. Odd that then CIA Director Pompeo didnt say any of this. Or that none of the six DNIs in Trumps first term said any of it, Himes responded in a post on X. Once again, @DNIGabbard is trashing her own people in an attempt to regain Trumps favor or to distract from the Epstein scandal. Probably both. He added, No one alleges that the Russians did technical hacks of voting technology. But ALL of the investigations, including the Senate bipartisan investigation, found that the Russians sought to influence the 2016 election in Trumps favor. Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, accused Gabbard of weaponizing her position as Trumps director of national intelligence. It is sadly not surprising that DNI Gabbard, who promised to depoliticize the intelligence community, is once again weaponizing her position to amplify the presidents election conspiracy theories, Warner said in a post on X. It is appalling to hear DNI Gabbard accuse her own IC workforce of committing a treasonous conspiracy when she was unwilling to label Edward Snowden a traitor. Obama has not yet responded to Gabbards claims. Ben Bradshaw with then Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston campaigning against Brexit in 2019. Photograph: NurPhoto/Getty Images An attempt by three former MPs to force the UK government to hold an inquiry into the impact of Russian disinformation on the Brexit vote and other recent elections has failed at the European court of human rights. The Strasbourg court ruled on Tuesday that countries had a wide margin in determining how to tackle attempts at electoral interference, and ruled against a case brought by Ben Bradshaw, Caroline Lucas and Alyn Smith. Though the seven judges on the court held there were undoubtedly shortcomings in the UKs initial response to allegations of Russian interference into the 2016 referendum, the deficit was made up for subsequently. They noted that there had been two inquiries in the UK, including the Russia report by the intelligence and security committee in 2020, and a succession of legislation, including the National Security Act 2023, as a response to the issue. While the applicants have criticised these measures as too little, too late, the measures nevertheless appear to address the points raised by the applicants, concluded the judges in a ruling released on Tuesday morning. The former MPs and their legal team said they were pleased with aspects of the ruling, noting it was the first time the European court had considered how democracies should protect themselves from external meddling. Lucas said: Its hugely significant that the court has found in favour of our case that foreign interference is a threat to our right to free and fair elections and that they recognise there will be cases when states do have a duty to investigate. A government spokesperson said the court had found no violation of human rights law. They added that the UK was committed to safeguarding our electoral processes and highlighted plans announced last week to close loopholes that could allow foreign money to influence UK elections. Russia has been accused repeatedly of trying to influence western elections in the Kremlins interest, including the hack of sensitive Democratic party emails in July 2016, before Donald Trumps first election as president. Moscow also sought to interfere in the 2019 election in the UK, by amplifying an illicitly acquired NHS dossier, which ended up in the hands of Jeremy Corbyn, though the then Labour leader was unaware of the dissemination effort. However, the European court concluded that while the threat posed by disinformation should not be underestimated, the precise impact of Russian or other interference efforts was difficult to assess accurately and in particular the impact that they may have on individual voters and, by extension, on the outcome of a given election. The three former MPs, from Labour, the Green party and the SNP, all opponents of Brexit, had launched a judicial review application at the high court in the aftermath of the Russia report. Rejected by the court in London, they turned to the Strasbourg court, which ruled that their case was admissible. The ex-MPs argued the UK government and intelligence agencies had failed to conduct any proper assessment of Kremlin attempts to interfere with the Brexit vote, which they said was a breach of article 3, protocol 1 of the European convention on human rights, which covers the right to free elections. On Tuesday, the judges concluded any failings cannot be considered to be sufficiently grave as to have impaired the very essence of the three former MPs rights to participate in free and fair elections. Though democracies should not remain passive in defending themselves, they must be accorded a wide margin of appreciation in determining how to do so, the judges held. Counter-disinformation efforts needed to be balanced against freedom of expression, particularly important during an election period, they added. The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know. If you have something to share on this subject you can contact us confidentially using the following methods. Secure Messaging in the Guardian app The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said. If you don't already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu. Select Secure Messaging. SecureDrop, instant messengers, email, telephone and post See our guide at theguardian.com/tips for alternative methods and the pros and cons of each. Notice on ransomware attack on the NHS last summer. The Home Office said government wanted to smash the cybercriminal business model. Photograph: Jeff Blackler/Rex/Shutterstock The UK government is planning to ban public bodies from paying ransoms to computer hackers, and private companies will be required to inform authorities if they plan to cave into cash demands. The stance, announced on Tuesday by the Home Office security minister, Dan Jarvis, is intended to send a message to international cybercriminals that the UK is united in the fight against ransomware. It follows crippling ransomware attacks on the British Library in 2023 and NHS hospitals in London last summer. The government said almost three-quarters of responses to a consultation backed the proposal and that public sector bodies and operators of critical national infrastructure, including the NHS, local councils and schools, would be banned from paying ransom demands to criminals. Industry estimates suggest ransomware criminals received more than $1bn (741m) from their victims globally in 2023. But Alan Woodward, a leading computer security expert at the Surrey Centre for Cyber Security, said UK public authorities are not known to pay ransoms. He said the latest measures appeared aimed at signalling the refusal to pay more clearly to hackers around the world, which include regular offender networks like LockBit and Evil Corp. Some of the criminals may not know this and so communicating this could be valuable in that hackers will read that there is no point in attacking, Woodward said. I am not sure it will change anything in practice, but it puts everyone on notice so there can be no confusion. Businesses not covered by the ban on public sector ransoms would be required to notify the government of any intent to meet hackers demands for cash. The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know. If you have something to share on this subject you can contact us confidentially using the following methods. Secure Messaging in the Guardian app The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said. If you don't already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu. Select Secure Messaging. SecureDrop, instant messengers, email, telephone and post See our guide at theguardian.com/tips for alternative methods and the pros and cons of each. The Home Office said: The government could then provide those businesses with advice and support, including notifying them if any such payment would risk breaking the law by sending money to sanctioned cybercriminal groups, many of whom are based in Russia. Jarvis said he wanted to smash the cybercriminal business model. By working in partnership with industry to advance these measures, we are sending a clear signal that the UK is united in the fight against ransomware, he said. The consultation documents said: This type of crime only works if the potential victims are willing to pay the ransom that the gangs demand. Academic research suggests that criminals operating in this area will assess the level of ransom they can set, and the profit they will expect to make, against the probability that the victim will pay. Jonathon Ellison, director of national resilience at the National Cyber Security Centre, said ransomware remains a serious and evolving threat, and organisations must not become complacent. These new measures help undermine the criminal ecosystem that is causing harm across our economy, he said. All businesses should strengthen their defences using proven frameworks such as Cyber Essentials and our free Early Warning service, and be prepared to respond to incidents, recover quickly, and maintain continuity if the worst happens. Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein in an undated handout photo. Photograph: US Department of Justice/PA Congress will subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned sex trafficker who was a close associate of the notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, to testify amid a political firestorm over the Trump administrations decision not to release its remaining Epstein files. The Tennessee Republican Tim Burchett introduced a motion to compel Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence in a Florida prison for crimes related to the Epstein case, to testify before the House oversight committee. The move appears to skirt an announcement early on Tuesday that officials from the Department of Justice are also planning to meet with Maxwell. Related: DoJ to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell as Trump faces new scrutiny over Epstein ties We got to send a message to these dirt bags, Burchett said in a statement posted on X, referring to the list of clients and other Epstein enablers who are assumed to be included in the remaining Epstein files, the details of which are not publicly known. Weve just got to get to the bottom of this thing, folks. Its four years and we dont need to tolerate this stuff any more. Soon after Burchetts announcement, Mike Johnson, the Republican House speaker, said he was shutting down operations in the chamber early, sending lawmakers home before a five-week summer recess. They were scheduled to leave Washington for their districts on 24 July and be out through the month of August, but will now leave a day earlier. The decision comes as Democrats and a handful of Republicans continue to press for files related to Epstein, sending regular legislative schedules into chaos. Were not going to play political games with this, Johnson said at a news conference. Separately, a New York judge has ordered that the Trump administration must send more documents to support its call to release secret grand jury testimony from the 2021 Maxwell prosecution. Judge Paul Engelmayer said New York federal court would like to expeditiously resolve the Trump administrations request, but that it could not do so due to a number of missing submissions, including why disclosure is being sought in the particular case and what specific information is being sought for disclosure, he wrote. Engelmayer said the government must file a memorandum of law no later than 29 July and ordered Maxwell and the victims to file their positions on the proposed disclosure by 5 August. The Epstein issue has plagued the Trump administration as the presidents own supporters buck him and clamor for more information, and as details continue to emerge about Trumps personal connections with Epstein, who was a friend of his for many years until they fell out. Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had sent Epstein a lewd drawing along with a suggestive dialogue between the two men. The Trump administration responded by suing the newspaper and its owner, Rupert Murdoch. The issue has also riven Capitol Hill. On Tuesday, the Republican-led House of Representatives, led by Trump ally Johnson who recently undermined the president by calling for the release of all files, only to back down several days later voted to start its summer holiday early in order to avoid Epstein-related votes planned for Thursday. Burchett said he had introduced the motion directing James Comer, chair of the committee, to authorize and issue a subpoena for Maxwell. Comer was down with it, Burchett said. I believe hes going to issue the subpoena. Hes a stand-up guy. He also acknowledged that he would receive blowback, and folks up here are going to be mad at me, but ultimately and with all sincerity, Im gonna answer my creator on this issue. Burchett told Axios that he did not consult Trump before calling on the committee to subpoena Maxwell. He has previously written to Comer urging him to bring Maxwell in to testify. Shes the last one standing, he told Axios. Theres nobody else alive that can tell us anything. He also said he believes Maxwell could tell us the operation, how it went down, who were the supporters of it Ultimately Id like to see justice. The announcement came hours after the justice department said it was planning to send Todd Blanche, the US deputy attorney general, to Florida to meet with Maxwell. Lawyers for Maxwell said on Tuesday evening in a court filing that they had spoken to Blanche, Reuters reported. Last week, Trump directed the attorney general, Pam Bondi, to ask a court to release all relevant grand jury testimony in Epsteins case. Maxwell attorney David Oscar Markus confirmed on X that we are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. On Tuesday morning, Blanche also released a statement, posted by Bondi, saying that he plans to meet with Maxwell in the coming days. Blanches statement also defended the departments early July release, saying it was as accurate today as it was when it was written. Donald Trump hastily changed the subject to his years-long bid to seek revenge against Barack Obama after he was questioned about the Jeffrey Epstein files during a meeting Monday with the president of the Philippines at the White House. The U.S. president accused his first-term predecessor of sedatious behavior apparently mispronouncing seditious and ranted about an imaginary coup after Ed OKeefe of CBS News asked him about the Justice Department reaching out to attorneys for Ghislaine Maxwell to request a new interview about Epstein and the sex trafficking ring for which her involvement earned the socialite a 20-year prison sentence in 2022. I dont know about it, but I think its something that would be, sounds appropriate to do, the president said, before telling OKeefe: Its sort of a witch hunt, the continuation of the witch hunt. He then said that the witch hunt you should be talking about was how Tulsi Gabbard, his director of national intelligence, supposedly caught President Obama absolutely cold. Trump proceeded to rant for several minutes about his long-debunked claims that Barack Obama was engaged in an illegal effort to spy on his campaign, overturn the 2016 election, and spread false information about links between his first campaign for office and Russia. Donald Trump attacked Barack Obama falsely during a rant in the Oval Office, accusing the ex-president of launching a 'coup' (AP) He previously appointed John Durham, a special prosecutor, to review the origins of that FBI investigation into his 2016 campaign for any criminal behavior in 2019; the probe came up with nothing against Obama or others in his administration, and found no evidence of a Deep State conspiracy against Trump. But Trump insisted to reporters on Tuesday that a memo issued by Gabbard accusing the Obama administration of doctoring intelligence assessments related to Russian influence and hacking efforts during the 2016 election season was the evidence his administration needed to begin criminal prosecutions of the 44th president; his 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton; former President Joe Biden, former director of national intelligence James Clapper; and former FBI Director James Comey. "There should be very severe consequences, Trump said. Whether it's right or wrong, it's time to go after people. Obama has been caught directly. Hes guilty. This was treason, the president insisted. It remains unclear why, if Trump and his administration were able to uncover evidence linking a former president, his then-vice president and two of the nations top intelligence officials to a criminal conspiracy, such evidence would remain unaddressed for the entirety of his first term in office. In reality, the presidents accusations of a coup against him are the result of a conveniently worded ODNI assessment released by Gabbard, wrongly baselessly accusing the Obama administration of ginning up the threat of Russian cyberattacks for political gain. Gabbards ODNI assessment, released at the end of last week as part of a clear effort by the White House to distract from the Epstein story, dishonestly conflated the Obama administrations assessment that Russian agents did not directly hack into voting systems or attempt to influence vote totals with an assessment that Russian actors did not interfere with the election at all. The latter assessment is obviously and patently false. The nations intelligence community as well as bipartisan House and Senate investigations found clear evidence to the contrary. Russian-aligned actors hacked into the files of the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 primary season and released stolen documents online, stirring up division within Trumps opponents, while Russian-backed misinformation efforts using bot farms and other methods flourished on social media, mainly fueling criticism of Hillary Clinton. Epstein-related fallout continues to be a massive problem for the White House, motivating Trump to seek red meat to throw to his base. The House Oversight Committee voted on bipartisan lines Tuesday to issue a subpoena for the testimony of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epsteins former girlfriend, now imprisoned for her role in his crimes. The Justice Department and FBI announced in early July that no list exists compiling the convicted pedophiles known associates, which many speculate includes powerful figures in American society with whom Epstein cultivated personal relationships during his life. Arrested on the same sex trafficking charges that later led to Maxwells conviction, Epstein died in 2019 in federal custody. His death in federal custody was ruled a suicide. The Justice Department released video of an area outside Epsteins cell which contained at least a full minute of missing footage, drawing further speculation. On Thursday of last week the Wall Street Journal published the contents of a birthday note the paper alleged was authored by Trump for Epsteins 50th birthday celebration in 2003. The contents of the note hint at a secret shared by the two men. Trump, in response, denied the notes authenticity and called the reporting fake news before launching a libel suit against the WSJ. Sandra Lee Reeder claims her husband Phillip Reeder told cops that he couldnt breathe three times as he was being restrained (Mike Wukela) An Alabama woman whose husband died shortly after being restrained by police is comparing his case to that of George Floyd. Sandra Lee Reeder claims that her husband, Phillip, called out at least three times that he could not breathe as an Irondale Police Department officer allegedly kneeled on the back of his neck for three minutes. Sandra and her family are calling for an investigation into the department and likening Phillip's death to Floyd's murder at the hands of a Minneapolis Police Department officer in 2020. The 52-year-olds cause of death was ruled a homicide by the Jefferson County Coroner's Office, which noted he appeared to suffer a dysrhythmia a kind of heart attack brought on by the presence of cocaine in his blood, heart disease, and exertion. "It is our opinion, based on the circumstances surrounding death and the findings at autopsy, that Mr Phillip David Reeder died of hypertensive heart disease associated with cocaine use and restraint during altercation," Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said. "The manner of death is best classified as 'homicide' for vital statistical purposes." Phillip Reeders death has been ruled a homicide by the coroner. (Mike Wukela) Authorities said homicide is not a legal conclusion of fault, according to AL.com. Last August, Irondale police responded to a report that a man on Highway 78 was running in and out of traffic and acting erratically, AL.com reported. The man running around in traffic was Phillip. Sandra said her husband was having a mental health crisis due to work stress and was not committing a crime when police arrived to restrain him. She and her family viewed body camera footage of the incident on Friday. The Reeder familys hearts are heavy, Sandra said during a press conference. Phillip David Reeder suffered a painful death. Sandra describes seeing her husband in the video calling out that he can't breathe three times while an officer kneeled on his neck. Another officer as the scene suggested that the kneeling officer roll Phillip over, according to his wife. The family has not filed a wrongful death lawsuit, but the move is under consideration, according to reports. (Mike Wukela) Police claimed that Phillips was tased, hit his head, and was given first aid at the scene until medics arrived to transport him to a hospital. Phillip died at the hospital. His wife says the body camera footage suggests otherwise, and pointed to the coroner's report stating Phillip had other injuries on his body that were not his cause of death. In another statement in the Irondale Police Department police report on Phillip David Reeder, it states that when Phillip was tased that Phillip suffered his bloody face and abrasions on his face from stumbling hitting his head and face in concrete, Sandra said during a press conference on Monday. Upon my review of all four body cams, this is not the truth. Attorneys for the city issued a statement on Monday saying they disagreed with the way Sandra presented the situation during her press conference. Attorneys added that none of the citys officers put a knee on the back of Phillip's neck. The Jefferson County District Attorneys Office did not see any probable cause sufficient for criminal charges in regard to the officers and their actions during the arrest/use of force incident, the city said in a statement. According to AL.com, the family has not filed a wrongful death lawsuit, but the move is under consideration. Migrant smuggling gang leaders and companies supplying small boat equipment will face having their assets frozen and being banned from Britain this week in a crackdown on illegal Channel crossings. 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. Middlemen" who put cash through the Hawala system, a legal money transfer system which is used in payments linked to Channel crossings, will also be targeted. The world first measures will see those sanctioned named publicly by the Government and it will be illegal for UK businesses or banks to deal with them. The Standard reported in June that Foreign Secretary David Lammy had accelerated plans to crack down on criminals who traffic migrants to Britain as small boat crossings hit record numbers. More than 21,000 people have made the dangerous crossing this year so far - a 56% increase on the same period in 2024. Foreign Secretary David Lammy (PA Wire) On Tuesday, Mr Lammy announced that the first raft of sanctions will be introduced to target anyone involved in assisting illegal immigration to the UK. They are expected to include more than 20 designations in steps to tackle the multi-billion-dollar industry. "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, Mr Lammy said. We will not accept this status quo. 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. "From tomorrow, those involved will face having their assets frozen, being shut off from the UK financial system and banned from travelling to the UK." It follows legislation being introduced under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill to ramp up enforcement powers for police forces and other authorities to investigate and prosecute people smugglers. The fresh measures aim to target organised crime gangs wherever they are in the world and disrupt their flow of cash, including freezing bank accounts, property and other assets. Foreign Office officials are understood to be working with other authorities in other EU and Commonwealth countries to identify further suspects. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "It will allow us to target the assets and operations of people smugglers wherever they operate, cutting off their funding and dismantling their networks piece by piece. "Through the Border Security Command and key partners like the National Crime Agency, we are strengthening our ties with other nations to tackle this global problem. "Together, we are sending a clear message that there is no hiding place for those who exploit vulnerable people and put lives at risk for profit." July 22, 2025: Military age men in the Russian regions of Chechnya and Dagestan are refusing to serve in the military. Russian police and army personnel are raiding homes and businesses to seize local men for the military. This has led to locals muttering of another insurrection against Russian rule. Russia needs more men, not another Caucasus rebellion. So far Russia is pushing its forceful efforts to get troops despite the rebellion threat. The current war in Ukraine has, so far, cost Russia over a million casualties. Over a million Russian military age men have fled the country to avoid certain death in Ukraine. Some of these casualties are from Chechnya and Dagestan, where frequent rebellions against Russian rules are a local tradition. Twenty-three years ago Russia declared it would no longer draft Chechens or Dagestanis. For the previous three years young men from Dagestan often complained to the government that the army wouldn't accept them as conscripts, or even as volunteers. The government insisted that those rejected had physical, psychological, or legal problems. But before long people down in the Caucasus figured out that their children weren't being allowed in the military. Given the high unemployment down there, and the warrior ethos common in many parts of the Caucasus, this became a major complaint. Instead of allowing young men from the Caucasus in, the government admitted it did indeed have a ban. The unofficial reason was not wanting to train future terrorists, rebels, and criminals as well as reducing disciplinary problems in the army. While the army has been complaining of rampant draft dodging ever since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, they also have reasons for not wanting recruits from the Caucasus. Even before 1991, the Russian dominated army warned company commanders to not allow more than ten Chechens in their unit. Experience had shown that ten or more Chechens or Dagestanis would form a very tight, tough, and disciplined clique that would prey on the other troops in the company and cause all manner of discipline and crime problems. If you find yourself with more than ten Chechens, try and transfer some of them out. While the Chechens were the worst in this respect, the Dagestanis came close. But these days the young men want to join the army and get a few years military experience, so they can qualify to become a contract soldier. These troops are paid a lot more and are considered professional soldiers. Commanders actually prefer contract soldiers from the Caucasus, although many will admit that it's still not wise to have too many in an infantry company or platoon. The wartime casualties in Ukraine caused substantial personnel shortages inside Russia. By 2024 the military losses were so great that the non-military organizations and the workforce were suffering considerable shortages of personnel. This forces Russian leaders to choose between keeping military forces up to strength and protecting the people in Russia and maintaining adequate work and internal security and safety forces. While military leaders demanded that their forces had priority, Russian business and internal security and safety force leaders warned that if they could not get enough people, life would be more dangerous inside Russia and the economy would falter because of the worker shortage. By 2025 the internal needs of Russia had become more demanding and the military could not get all the additional troops they demanded. There were other problems. The Ukraine War demonstrated how badly corruption and poor leadership had damaged their military. When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, half the Soviet population left and formed independent states. What remained was Russia and some troublesome minorities, mostly in the Caucasus, which also inherited the economic problems that were a major factor in the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russia also inherited the mighty Red Army which had defeated the Germans in World War II and remained a large and formidable force as long as the Soviet Union lasted. After 1991 Russia found that it had neither the manpower nor the money to maintain the Red Army and its armed forces personnel decreased by 80 percent in a few years. It wasnt just the loss of half the Soviet era population or the post 1991 financial difficulties. There were other problems. The post-Soviet Russians were able to force the government to reduce conscription to one year. The government also noted that the Russian birth rate was falling and that eventually reached the point where more Russians were dying than were being born. This dramatically reduced ethnic Russian military-age manpower and revealed how much Russians wanted an end to conscription. That meant creating an all-volunteer military, something that was common in Western nations, especially after 1991. Russia had a few good years after 1991 but was often short of cash and the attack on Ukraine in 2014 and invasion in 2022 found Russia subject to harsh economic sanctions. Russia is having a difficult time paying for its military, which suffered heavy personnel and equipment losses during the first few months of the Ukraine invasion. Thousands of Ukrainians are protesting against the billCredit: James Prushton - y Danylo Antoniuk/Anadolu Volodymyr Zelensky faced public protests on Tuesday night after parliament backed a controversial bill limiting the power of anti-corruption agencies. Thousands of people, including veterans, gathered close to the presidents office to demand that Mr Zelensky back down amid widespread international condemnation over the proposal. The demonstrations, which have reportedly spread to Lviv and Dnipro, are the first public protests against the Ukrainian president since the Russian invasion in February 2022. Earlier in the day, cries of Shame! were heard in the Verkhovna Rada as MPs backed giving the prosecutor general, a position appointed directly by the president, more power over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (Sapo). These powers include the ability to reassign or redirect investigations. The bill was pushed by the presidents office and came after both agencies investigated senior Ukrainian officials, including those close to the president. After being passed by parliament, it was signed into law by Mr Zelensky on Tuesday evening. In an address early on Wednesday, Mr Zelensky said the Nabu and Sapo would work regardless of the changes, adding that Ukraines anti-corruption infrastructure needed to be cleared of Russian influences. The prosecutor general is determined to ensure that punishment is inevitable in Ukraine, he said. Credit: @MendicantRoman/X Protesters on the streets of Kyiv demanded that Mr Zelensky veto the measure. Semen Kryvonos, the head of Nabu, urged Mr Zelensky not to approve the proposal, saying it would destroy the work of the two institutions. Demonstrators said they believed Andriy Yermak, Mr Zelenskys chief of staff, was behind the move, and that Ukraine was turning into Russia. Some carried placards that read: Welcome to Russia. A veteran with a prosthetic arm was among the demonstrators - James Prushton Those on the streets were predominantly under the age of 30. Signs reading Azov, where are you? were held aloft, in reference to the Ukrainian National Guards Azov Brigade, which was formerly a far-Right militia. Pasha, a Ukrainian who attended the protest, said that he believed the government was attempting to sneak through the legislation. Oleg, a Ukrainian anti-corruption journalist, said it was the worst attempt by the government yet to erode Ukraines independent anti-corruption authorities. The protest was organised at short notice by a Ukrainian military veteran - James Prushton Opponents of the Ukrainian president have long raised concerns about him centralising power under the guise of wartime necessity, and the move follows weeks of manoeuvres against pro-reform and anti-corruption activists. The protests came a day after Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) agents carried out raids on the Nabu and Sapo offices, alleging a broad range of crimes from Russian infiltration to traffic violations. Fifteen Nabu officials were placed under investigation. Nabu, which was set up with the assistance of the FBI and the EU, recently opened a criminal case against Oleksiy Chernyshov, a close ally of the president, on charges of abuse of power and illegal enrichment. He denied the charges, but was dismissed in last weeks government reshuffle. On Tuesday, Brussels said it was concerned by the draft law and pointed out that its payments to Ukraine were conditional on progress in transparency, judicial reform and democratic governance. Credit:Bohdan Ben In the Ukrainian parliament, the bill passed with the support of 263 MPs, with 13 abstaining and 13 voting against. Oleksiy Goncharenko, an opposition MP who voted against the measure, said the bill was about the end of the independence of anti-corruption bodies inside Ukraine, blaming the personal choice of President Zelensky. The president may have been motivated by the recent investigation of Mr Chernyshov, the former vice-president, who is very close to him, said Mr Goncharenko. He added: Im not a supporter of President Zelensky at all, but at the same time, internationally, Ive always supported his efforts. But today he made a very bad choice ... and it will definitely make Ukraine weaker. Referring to Russia, he said: Small democracies can win over bigger autocracies. But small autocracies will sooner or later be swallowed by bigger ones. A second measure to immediately send the legislation to the presidents desk for his signature into law passed with 246 votes. Meaghan Mobbs, the daughter of Keith Kellog, the US special envoy to Ukraine, said: This decision is truly, unbelievably, mind-bogglingly stupid. It happens at the worst possible time given the recent positive shifts in US policy. Ukrainian celebrities implored Mr Zelensky not to sign the law, including the popular chef Yehven Klopotenko and Serhiy Prytula, an actor turned military fundraiser. Anastasia Radina, the head of the parliamentary anti-corruption committee, was reportedly the only member of Mr Zelenskys Servant of the People party to speak out against the legislation ahead of the vote. I ask you, colleagues, not to deceive yourselves and the people that you are voting for some mild strengthening of the prosecutor general, and not for the dismantling of Nabu and Sapo, she said. After the amendments that the committee added to this bill today, contrary to the rules, the anti-corruption prosecutors office becomes a fiction for budget funds. The bill has seen a huge backlash from Ukrainians - Danylo Antoniuk/Anadolu via Getty Images On Tuesday, Nabu announced that, together with Sapo, it had charged a senior SBU officer and two accomplices with extorting a $300,000 bribe. The case involved a military officer accused of facilitating illegal border crossings for men seeking to flee the country. No senior government figure had publicly defended the law by Tuesday afternoon, amid a furious backlash from Ukrainian civil society. Last week, we ran an editorial warning of an anti-democratic backslide in Ukraine, said Olga Rudenko, the editor in chief of the respected Kyiv Independent. Today, its happening in plain sight. This isnt what our people have been fighting and dying for, and its devastatingly unfair to them. The German foreign office said in a statement: The independence and strength of Ukraines anti-corruption institutions have been key to reform efforts of recent years. Ukraine will continue to be measured against their progress. Europe helped pull Zelenskys relationship back from the brink of collapse after the Oval Office debacle. But now this unforced error by Kyiv. Where does it leave Ukraines EU accession? said Nigel Gould-Davies, a former UK ambassador to Belarus and senior fellow at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, a Washington-based think tank. Before the vote, Guillaume Mercier, a spokesman for the European Commission, said: [Nabu and Sapo] are crucial to Ukraines reform agenda and must operate in an independent way to fight corruption and maintain public trust. The EU provides significant financial assistance to Ukraine conditional on progress in transparency, judicial reform and democratic governance. Ukraines accession [to the EU] will require a strong capacity to combat corruption and to ensure institutional resilience. In June, a poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that 65 per cent of Ukrainians trust Mr Zelensky, while 30 per cent do not. The poll was conducted using a random sample of 1,011 adults across the country, excluding areas occupied by Russia. 13 injured, 7 hospitalized after truck plows into a Massachusetts trade school. Thirteen people were injured and seven hospitalized after a flatbed truck smashed through a fence and slammed into the side of a residential education program in Massachusetts Sunday morning. The truck drove sporadically as it rushed towards the building, mowing down a fence before scraping alongside the building and taking out several windows before finally smashing into the lobby of Shriver Job Corps Center in Ayer. The truck also dented a gas main, which complicated firefighters efforts on the scene as they also had to work aggressively to get the gas under control, Devens Fire Chief Timothy Kelly told CBS News. A truck drove straight into a lobby at a Job Corps center in Massachusetts on Sunday morning. ZUMAPRESS.com The truck smashed right through a metal gate before plowing into the lobby of the building. ZUMAPRESS.com Some of the injured were students enrolled in the Shriver Job Corps Center, a federally funded education and training school for students in need between the ages of 16 and 24 who are either in poverty or have experienced other hardships like abuse and homelessness. Luckily, there were not a lot of students in the building at the time. The injuries, so far as we know, were fairly minor, Kelly told the outlet. The driver of the red truck was airlifted to a nearby hospital for treatment alongside six others injured during the crash. Another six people were treated at the scene by medical personnel from the school, Kelly told Boston 25 News. Most of the schools students werent on campus at the time, Devens Fire Chief Timothy Kelly said. ZUMAPRESS.com The victims exact affiliations with the program are unclear though several are believed to have been students. The Massachusetts State Police took over the investigation and assured that, so far, theyve found no indication that the crash was done on purpose or that the Job Corps Center was targeted in any way, CBS News reported. The Post reached out to the Devens Fire Department and the Massachusetts State Police for clarity. The crash doesnt appear to have been intentional, the Massachusetts State Police said. ZUMAPRESS.com The Jobs Corps program, which has centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, is at risk of being shut down by the Trump Administration. President Trump has attempted to shutter the 60-year program, but the move was blocked by a US district judge. The truck collision is just one of multiple shocking crashes to take place this week. Last Saturday, at least 30 people were injured after a driver suddenly drove into a crowd outside a nightclub in California. The driver was ripped out of the car and beaten by other bystanders before someone else at the scene shot him in the back. Last Friday, one person in Washington state made off with a firetruck and went on a joyride where they steamrolled over a whopping 16 parked cars. Somehow, no one was injured, and the suspect was still on the loose as of Sunday. Around the world, certain flights stand out because of their unusual routes, challenging runways, breathtaking scenery, or recordbreaking distances. Some are quick hops that feel over in a blink, while others are marathon journeys that push the limits of modern aircraft. Here are 15 flights that turn travel itself into part of the adventure. The Longest Nonstop Route on the Planet Credit: Wikimedia Commons Singapore Airlines operates a nonstop flight between Singapore and New Yorks JFK that covers 9,527 miles in about 19 hours. The Airbus A350900ULR flies with only Business and Premium Economy cabins, which gives passengers extra space on this ultralong route. A Hop Thats Over in Under Two Minutes Credit: Getty Images In Scotlands Orkney Islands, Loganair runs the Westray to Papa Westray service. The entire distance is only 1.7 miles, and with favorable winds, the flight can finish in 53 seconds. This tiny aircraft carries just eight passengers, with the pilot separated by only a slim panel. Travelers often ride simply to say theyve done the shortest scheduled flight in the world, complete with postcard views of the rugged coast. The Scenic Runway Made of Sand Credit: Getty Images Barra Airport in Scotland uses the hardpacked sand of Traigh Mhor beach as its runway. Flight times adjust with tides, and pilots coordinate closely with ground staff to keep operations safe. Travelers can step off the plane directly onto the beach, making it the only regularly scheduled service in the world that lands on sand. Loganair operates short flights here from Glasgow, and the unique approach keeps cameras clicking. Flying Over the North Pole Credit: Getty Images Some long-haul routes take a shortcut right over the top of the world. Airlines such as Emirates, SAS, and Air India use polar routes for flights like Dubai to Los Angeles or Delhi to San Francisco. These paths cut hours off older routings by using the curvature of Earth. While no longer rare, crossing the Arctic Circle at cruising altitude gives passengers a bragworthy entry in their travel diaries. A Route Packed With Island Hops Credit: Reddit Uniteds Island Hopper runs between Guam and Honolulu, with stops at places like Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Chuuk. The 737 often carries a mechanic and spare parts along with passengers. Onboard, its all open ocean until a small island comes into view. Each stop means something different for the people waiting on the ground. Landing at a Himalayan Gateway Credit: pexels Adventurers often consider this flight itself as thrilling as the climb ahead, with steep valleys visible just beyond the wingtips. Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, Nepal, is perched at 9,383 feet with a runway only 1,729 feet long. Pilots undergo special training before operating there, because mountain winds and thin air make every landing demanding. A Short Runway Above the Caribbean Sea Credit: pexels On Saba Island in the Caribbean, Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport claims the worlds shortest commercial runway at just 1,300 feet. Pilots need precision to touch down safely, as rocky cliffs frame both ends. The short hop from St. Maarten takes about 15 minutes, yet its one that aviation enthusiasts seek out. A Domestic Journey That Feels International Credit: Reddit Paris to Reunion covers over 5,800 miles, but its still a domestic flight. Reunion sits in the Indian Ocean but remains part of France. Air France and Air Austral run regular wide-body jets on the route. For a short time during the pandemic, a nonstop from Tahiti to Paris was even longer. Helicopter Tours Above the Grand Canyon Credit: Wikimedia Commons Helicopter tours over the Grand Canyon start in Las Vegas or close to the park. These flights drop below the rim, passing sheer cliffs and tracing the canyons winding floor. Pilots highlight landmarks youd never see from a lookout. Sunset flights are especially popular. Many travelers remember this quick ride more vividly than any hike or drive. Soaring Above Milford Sounds Peaks Credit: Canva Small planes linking Queenstown and Milford Sound in New Zealand provide a compact but dramatic flight. The route crosses Fiordland National Park, with steep mountains dropping into the sea. Passengers see waterfalls threading through valleys and snowcapped ridges even in summer. A Seaplanes Window on the Maldives Credit: pexels Seaplane rides in the Maldives give passengers sweeping views of bright water and scattered islands. Planes skim low over reefs and sandbars, landing at floating docks near each resort. The flights are short but memorable, often planned by the hotels themselves. For many visitors, the seaplane ride ends up as the highlight of their stay. A Helicopter Ride Over Kauais Coastline Credit: Wikimedia Commons Kauai in Hawaii features sea cliffs rising 3,000 feet and hidden waterfalls deep in Waimea Canyon. Most of these sights have no road access, so helicopters offer the best views. Pilots guide passengers over the Na Pali Coasts rugged ridges and past Mount Waialeale, one of Earths wettest spots. Flights operate yearround, and clear days show how volcanic activity shaped the islands contours over millions of years. Landing Amid Bhutans Mountain Peaks Credit: flickr Paro Airport in Bhutan requires pilots to navigate between steep ridges and houses perched on hillsides. Only a handful of pilots are certified to land there, and flights run only in daylight under clear conditions. The airport sits 7,300 feet above sea level, with dramatic Himalayan views on approach. Many visitors remember the descent as vividly as the temples and valleys they explore afterward. Chasing the Southern Lights Credit: pixabay In 2017, Air New Zealand launched special flights from Dunedin to witness the Aurora Australis. These eighthour journeys loop toward the Antarctic Circle so both sides of the plane see the lights. Photographers book months in advance, bringing cameras ready for long exposures. The plane crosses the international date line twice, adding to the novelty. The Flight That Arrives Before It Departs Credit: pexels United Airlines Flight 133 crosses the international date line from Majuro in the Marshall Islands to Honolulu, Hawaii. Passengers board around 8 p.m. and land roughly 2 a.m. on the same calendar day. It feels like traveling back in time, and many travelers snap photos of their watches as proof. Airlines occasionally schedule special double New Years flights on similar routes. Planning a beach trip can feel like a challenge when trying to balance budget and experience. Many travelers search for coastal towns that grant access to the water with no heavy costs for lodging or meals. Some destinations keep expenses in check while still providing distinct surroundings, local culture, or outdoor activities that feel worth the visit. Here are some coastal towns that you can explore for a budget-friendly and rewarding getaway. Pasadena, Texas Credit: Getty Images The Gulf Coast city of Pasadena sits just southeast of Houston and ranks high on affordability for a reason. Airfare runs lower because of the neighboring locations flight network. A short drive reaches Sylvan Beach Park or Galveston Island, so visitors enjoy shoreline access while keeping daily costs manageable and avoiding the premium of busier resort towns. Gulfport, Mississippi Credit: Getty Images It is not surprising that Gulfport has become a favored stop for travelers seeking a coastal experience without high costs. Public beaches along the Gulf of Mexico are free to access, and parking fees stay low compared with other regions. Fishing from local piers, walking the long shoreline, and visiting openair markets give you plenty to do while keeping expenses under control. Berkeley, California Credit: Getty Images Along the San Francisco Bay, the city has waterfront parks like Cesar Chavez Park with views that stretch to distant bridges. Cultural events fill local calendars, and walking paths follow the shoreline. You can enjoy calm evenings near the water while exploring budget-friendly restaurants and markets. Ocean Pines, Maryland Credit: Getty Images This area is famous for being affordable. Several people book townhomes or condos managed through local agencies, with weekly summer rates starting around $1,000 for smaller units. These give travelers space to cook, relax, and visit nearby parks or marinas without paying the premiums common in crowded resort areas. Port Angeles, Washington Credit: Getty Images Rentals and resorts in Port Angeles are priced lower than those in larger coastal cities, which makes it an appealing base on the Olympic Peninsula. Various waterfront motels, such as the Red Lion Hotel and Olympic Lodge, have rooms with views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca at reasonable nightly rates. Rockport, Texas Credit: Getty Images If you spend a weekend in Rockport, you can enjoy simple activities that keep costs low. Rockport Beach Park charges only a small entrance fee and offers shaded picnic areas, calm swimming spots, and fishing piers. Birdwatchers head to the nearby Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, where viewing platforms are free to use. Charleston, South Carolina Credit: iStockphoto Eighteenthcentury streets stretch through this historic city and draw in people who appreciate architecture and a slower pace near the coast. Many come to Charleston for a mix of history and nearby beaches, spending mornings walking shaded streets and afternoons driving to Folly Beach for sand and open water. Wilmington Island, Georgia Credit: Getty Images Median rental prices in Wilmington Island hover around $1,700 per month, roughly on par with nearby Savannah. As a result, individuals find more value here compared to coastal areas. Those savings can fund meals or lengthier stays and offer costconscious travelers a balanced blend of comfort and proximity to Savannah and Tybee. Middle River, Maryland Credit: Getty Images This town lies between two rivers and has state parks with trails and picnic areas. Kayaking and paddleboarding are popular at Middle River, with rentals priced lower than those at major coastal spots. Anglers spend quiet mornings fishing along the banks, while families choose free playgrounds and shaded picnic sites. Bremerton, Washington Credit: Getty Images On the Kitsap Peninsula, Bremerton faces Puget Sound and connects to Seattle by ferry. You can take a stroll along the Boardwalk and watch ferries and fishing boats without taking out your wallet. Free galleries and small museums are also an option, which frequently host local exhibits and provide insight into the areas naval history. Eureka, California Credit: Getty Images Colder temperatures and frequent coastal fog keep tourism lighter throughout much of the year in Eureka. Tourists often look elsewhere for classic beach weather, which means the city avoids heavy seasonal surges. Lodging providers respond with steady, lower rates to maintain bookings, even in summer months. Hampton, Virginia Credit: Getty Images Hampton offers a combination of inland attractions that stay affordable. Museums highlight naval history and early aviation, with several charging modest entry fees or none at all. Historic streets reveal architecture that reflects centuries of change. Public art installations and seasonal community events provide more to explore. Essex, Maryland Credit: Facebook Reasonably priced meals are easy to find in Essex, with local spots offering hearty plates. Schultzs Crab House is known for its steamed blue crabs and crab cakes that bring in steady crowds. Meanwhile, Pizza Johns serves classic thincrust pies at rates that fit tight budgets. Morro Bay, California Credit: Getty Images What makes Morro Bay stand out is how easily a family can leave the city behind and spend a day together without overspending. The wide public beach is free and perfect for sandcastle building or flying kites. Kayak rentals average about $20 an hour, which is just what you and your loved ones need to spend time on calm waters. Galveston, Texas Credit: Getty Images Prices stay low in Galveston because frequent storm seasons and hurricane risks limit heavy development and keep demand steadier. Lodging owners often adjust rates to attract visitors throughout the year, which leads to modest hotel and rental costs compared with other Gulf destinations. A four-year-old was attacked by a mountain lion at Olympic National Park in Washington state, the National Park Service said. The attack happened at about 3:15 p.m. on July 20 near the Victoria Overlook area on Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park, the park service said in a statement. The mountain lion, which was collared, bit the child on a popular trail as the minor walked with family. Paramedics and park staff airlifted the victim to a trauma center in Seattle, where the child is undergoing treatment, the park service said. Officials did not provide additional information about the child, citing privacy reasons. Rangers began searching for the cougar immediately after the attack and were later joined by a canine team, the park service confirmed. Park staff later located the mountain lion and "dispatched the animal" on July 21. "There are no current threats to the public," the park service said. The incident remains under investigation. What to do if you encounter a mountain lion Though attacks on humans are rare, mountain lions are a potentially dangerous animal, the National Park Service warned on its website. Male cougars can weigh up to 150 pounds, while female cougars can weigh between 75 and 100 pounds. In 2024, a horrific mountain lion attack left one man dead and another injured in a remote forest area in Northern California. Taylen Robert Claude Brooks, 21, was killed during the attack in the small community of Georgetown, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office posted in a statement on social media at the time. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offers guidelines on how people can stay safe while navigating a mountain lion habitat, including hiking with a companion and being aware of their surroundings. If someone encounters a puma in the wild, the service advises people to do the following: "Do not approach." "Stop, stay calm, and do not turn your back. Do not run." "Face the animal, stand upright, talk calmly and firmly to the cougar, and give it a way to escape if you can". Do all you can to appear larger. For example, open your jacket and raise or wave your arms. "Pick up small children or pets immediately so they won't panic, flee, or make rapid movements." "If the cougar becomes more aggressive, become more aggressive toward it. Convince the animal that you are not prey, but a danger to it." "Fight back if attacked." Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mountain lion attacked child at Olympic National Park in Washington Nearly 1 in 5 Americans has anxiety. So when my therapist said I was one of them, it wasnt a surprise. As a recent cancer survivor, busy mom of five, and a journalist immersed in terrible global news, Id heard that before. But I hadnt learned that feeling unsafe and out of control are actually two of four ways people with anxiety get stuck. That part was new a pattern to the chaos? Suddenly, the condition wasnt just anxious versus calm there were patterns and triggers I could understand. My therapist was referencing principles from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), schema therapy, and attachment theory, said Dr. Nicolette Natale, psychiatrist and chief marketing officer at Recovered.org in Bellmore, New York. For non-therapists, this means anxiety often stems from four common cognitive distortions or core beliefs, Natale explained. Individuals who have generalized anxiety disorder may ruminate or get stuck on thoughts associated with fear/safety and lack of control, whereas someone with social anxiety may deal with more thoughts about self-worth or fear of judgment, she said. CBT suggests that our thoughts, feelings and behaviors are connected, and that certain thinking traps or belief systems often maintain anxiety, said Stacy Thiry, a licensed mental health counselor at Grow Therapy. Heres what I discovered about the four ways anxiety traps us and how to break free. When people believe that in the future they won't be safe enough, they feel anxious, said Eran Magen, assistant clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. Getty Images The Four Ways People With Anxiety Get Stuck Feeling Unsafe If someone gets stuck in fear/safety, they might constantly scan their environment for danger, catastrophize situations, or live in a near-constant state of hypervigilance, Thiry said. You might not even realize you feel this way. Looking at these thoughts with curiosity instead of fear is a major step, Natale said. When people believe that in the future they wont be safe enough, they feel anxious, said Eran Magen, assistant clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. He added that people in this situation might not trust themselves to be able to create a safe environment, or they might mistrust other people or factors, such as the weather. Safe might mean accepted in a social setting, physical safety or something else entirely. Feeling Out Of Control The pandemic, global unrest and events in our personal lives can leave anyone feeling unsure of whats next. If its lack of control, they might obsess over plans, schedules, or the future, because not knowing whats next feels intolerable, Thiry said. Blaming Ourselves Self-esteem/self-blame often shows up as intense self-criticism: I should have done more, or Its my fault things turned out this way, Thiry said. For those stuck in self-blame, self-compassion is essential, but its not always intuitive. It helps to reframe your inner dialogue. Ask yourself: Would I say this to someone I love? And for those struggling with trust, relational work, whether with a therapist or through secure relationships, can help slowly challenge those internalized fears. Distrusting Others Distrust of others might look like chronic relationship anxiety, difficulty letting people in or assuming the worst in social settings, Thiry said. Maybe others have let you down in the past, or maybe you perceive they will in the future. Living in a world where you cant trust others is isolating but you arent alone. Identifying the sources of your anxiety through journaling is a good first step. Daniel de la Hoz via Getty Images How To Get Unstuck Notice And Name It Start by paying attention to what your anxiety sounds like in your mind. Does it focus more on your external environment (Something bad is going to happen)? Or more on yourself (Im not good enough, Im going to mess this up)? Thiry asked. Journaling can help you spot patterns, especially if you track your anxious thoughts across a few days or weeks. Stuck on how to notice those thoughts? She recommends the following questions: Try asking yourself: What am I afraid of at this moment? Who or what do I feel is responsible? What do I believe about myself when Im anxious? What do I believe about others or the world? One you notice them, you can name these fears: Ah, this is my fear of losing control showing up again, creates a little bit of distance between you and the anxiety. And that distance is where healing begins, Thiry said. If youve identified one or two of these core categories in yourself, youre already halfway there. Normalize It Normalize the heck out of it. Your brain isnt broken, its just trying to protect you in the only way it knows how, Thiry said. First, please know: You are not alone. Lets stop pathologizing ourselves for being anxious in an anxious world. Anxiety isnt just a you problem, its often a response to our environment, our history, and how safe (or unsafe) weve learned the world to be, Thiry said. Challenge The Worry If you realize you are anxious about work, Magen explained, you might notice its really about not having enough money for your expenses. We can begin to challenge this worry. We might realize weve never actually run out of money before, that we have friends and relatives who would help us in case of emergency, that we have discretionary spending or that our income has been steadily increasing over the past 10 years. He said this helps counter and loosen the anxious thought. A vast number of patients in my practice have benefited from work we have done to catch the stories that we tell ourselves, and realize what is real, and what is made up, said Dr. Alex Dimitriu, whos double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California. Wait Longer People with anxiety arent always great at playing the long game, Dimitriu said. With this loss of nuanced thinking and tendency towards hurried solutions, people with anxiety are bad at holding a course when that is exactly what is needed for most interventions to work, he said. People with anxiety get stuck, because they overthink and question everything, and dont have the patience to work on a solution that may take time they give up too easily, or they are too doubtful to start. Dimitriu said you need to stick with something at least two months to see if it helps. Thiry said if traditional therapy isnt working, try something else: You might benefit from somatic work (like EMDR or somatic experiencing), trauma-informed care, or even nervous system regulation practices. Change Your Standard Of Success Trying to fix your anxiety? That might not happen. Instead, Thiry suggests teaching your mind and body that safety, control, worth and trust are possible, even when they dont feel guaranteed. Also, revisit what youre asking of yourself. Are you expecting to never feel anxious again? Or are you learning how to respond to anxiety in kinder, more skillful ways? The latter is much more realistic, and empowering, Thiry said. And sometimes, the most healing thing we can do is admit: Im exhausted. I need rest. I need softness. I need to stop fighting myself. That shift, from performance to permission, is often where the real work begins. Related... 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. 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. 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 By Kristina Cooke and Ted Hesson GREENVILLE, Ohio (Reuters) -For 125 days in her immigration detention cell, Ingrid Mejia replayed in her head the day she was separated from her 3-year-old son. Mejia, a 25-year-old farmworker from Guatemala, had gone to court on February 25 on a charge of driving without a license. She didnt have a lawyer - or child care. So she left Eliazar, a chubby-cheeked child with dark hair and eyes, waiting outside with the person who had given her a ride to court. She thought she would pay a fine and go home, just as she had four months earlier on the same charge. Instead, as this was her fourth such offense, municipal court judge Julie Monnin sentenced her to three days in Ohios Darke County jail. The brief sentence plunged Mejia into the dragnet of President Donald Trumps aggressive immigration enforcement, landing her in immigration detention for more than four months and stranding her U.S. citizen son in foster care for even longer. Mejia began trying to get her son back on July 3, within hours of her release. She hoped it would happen in days. But at a July 15 custody hearing, child welfare officials said Eliazar had bonded with his foster family during her prolonged detention. They told the hearing a slow transition would be in the childs best interest, Mejia said. Hes my son. I just want him back now, Mejia said after the hearing. I just want to hug him." Friends and family say Mejia is a hardworking mother, not a violent criminal, who did not need to be detained, and her son did not deserve to be in foster care. Immigration authorities and those who favor restricting migration say Mejia repeatedly broke the law by driving without a license and by violating immigration rules. Mejia admits to using false paperwork to enter the U.S. and to being in the country illegally. I don't think this offense should be minimized," Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies for the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that favors lower levels of immigration, said of the driving without a license charge. Trump was elected on a promise to deport millions of immigrants who are in the United States illegally, and has deported more than 239,000 people so far, according to Department of Homeland Security data. His administration has set arrest quotas for immigration enforcement officials of 3,000 a day - 10 times higher than average daily arrests the last year of President Joe Bidens administration. It has also been releasing far fewer people from immigration detention on humanitarian grounds. Just 67 people were paroled in June by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, down from 5,159 in December, Bidens last full month in office, government data show. Meanwhile, since Trump took office, ICE has dramatically increased detainer requests - notices to state and local jails to hold an immigrant for pick-up, sweeping up immigrants like Mejia. They rose to 700 a day on average through early June, from an average of about 400 a day during the same time period last year, according to a Reuters analysis of ICE data collected by UC Berkeleys Deportation Data Project. PICKED UP FROM JAIL When Mejia was booked into the county jail on February 25, her fingerprints were automatically shared with ICE. They showed a match for a person who had entered the United States seven years earlier and was in the country illegally. ICE issued a detainer request and on February 28, after Mejia had completed her unlicensed-driving sentence, immigration officers picked her up from jail and drove her 140 miles to a detention center in Tiffin, Ohio, according to jail records. She has been arrested multiple times for driving illegally and admitted to law enforcement that she was in the country illegally, DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin told Reuters in a statement, in response to questions about Mejia and her child. McLaughlin said deportees are generally given the choice of taking U.S. citizen children with them or leaving them with friends or family in the United States. After Mejia was convicted on February 25, police and child welfare officials tried to contact a friend whom she suggested could look after Eliazar during her three-day sentence. But the woman didnt answer the door to Mark Ater - the police chief in Union City, where Mejia lived - because she was afraid he might be working with ICE. With nobody else immediately available, Eliazar was placed in foster care. The case weighed on Ater, the police chief said. "It broke my heart that this kid was taken away from his mom, he said. Outside of the entire situation, there was still a kid that was going to go into foster care." Monnin, the judge, declined to comment, saying the unfortunate consequences of the defendants actions are out of my control, adding: I pray that a reunification process is developed quickly. A TEENAGER ALONE Mejia fled sexual and gang violence in Guatemala, arriving at a port of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border in November 2017, a few weeks shy of her 18th birthday, according to her immigration paperwork. Smugglers told her to travel on her younger sisters documents to ensure she was processed as an unaccompanied minor in the event that her journey took longer than expected, she said. While entering on fraudulent documents does not disqualify an asylum application, it can make it harder to win, experts say. Mejia spent four months in a government childrens shelter before being released to pursue her asylum claim. She moved on to Virginia, where she lived for eight months with a woman who beat her with a leather whip and made her work for no pay, according to her application for a visa for victims of human trafficking. Reuters was unable to verify her account independently. By September 2019, she had escaped and made her way to an area of rural Ohio in Americas Corn Belt, dotted with poultry farms and egg processing plants. She got a job packing eggs into cartons that were shipped to grocery stores across the country. Mejia said she tried to use mini-van ride shares to get to work from her home in Indiana, 20 miles away, but sometimes there were no seats available. Neither Ohio nor Indiana allow immigrants in the country illegally to obtain drivers licenses. She was driving to work on February 18 when she ran a stop sign, colliding with another car, according to the police report. Nobody was injured. The officer at the scene wrote her up for driving without a license, requiring her to appear in court. For Jim Groff, 76, who heard the collision from his home across the street, the facts of Mejia's detention are simple: She was in the country illegally. If mom wants her little baby back, send them back, he said. But he wished the U.S. could speed up the process of allowing immigrants to come into the country legally. Jeepers, creepers, theyre damn good workers, he said. MIXED MESSAGES In late February, after her transfer to immigration detention, a distraught Mejia contacted Maira Vasquez, for help finding out where Eliazar was and how she could get him into the care of a family member. Vasquez, a U.S. citizen, attended Eliazars birth as a community health worker and the two women had stayed in contact. When Vasquez visited Darke Countys Department of Job and Family Services in March, officials told her this was a new situation for them and they weren't sure how to handle it. Asked for comment, the agency said it was unable to share details about the case, citing privacy laws. We continue to work closely with the family, law enforcement and our community partners to ensure child safety, it said in a statement. Many state and local child welfare agencies dont have the training to handle cases involving the immigration system, said Kelly Kribs, co-director at the nonprofit Young Centers technical assistance program, which aims to support children caught between the federal immigration and state court systems. ICE and local child welfare agencies work as separate systems, with separate goals, she said. These agencies dont talk to one another, Kribs said. That can lead to mixed messages. Mejia told Reuters in a phone call from detention in March that ICE officers told her that she could be reunited with Eliazar if she signed a document agreeing to be deported. But Vasquez said that county officials told her that Eliazar was in their custody, and they had their own processes meant to look after the boys best interests. Mejia didn't sign and Vasquez continued to explore options for placing Eliazar with family or friends. Mejias sister, who asked not to be named as she is afraid of being arrested by ICE, was initially willing to take him. But county officials told her that it would be difficult for her to pass background checks as she is in the country illegally. Two friends who do have legal residency declined to take Eliazar because they feared exposing family members who are in the U.S. illegally, Vasquez said. Eliazars father has never been involved in his life, and was not an option, Mejia said. LASTING TRAUMA Experts warn that forcibly separating a child from a parent can result in trauma, even after they are reunited. Mejias son is being set up for major psychiatric and learning problems in the future by this separation, Joan Lederer, a psychiatrist who evaluated Mejia at the request of her lawyer, wrote in a court filing. In detention, Mejia thought about Eliazar warming to people quickly. He doesnt talk much due to a speech delay, she said, which makes conversations by phone difficult. In April, child welfare officials sent Vasquez a picture of a smiling Eliazar with a toy truck. They told her that Eliazars foster family had five other children. Mejia said officials told her that nobody in the house spoke Spanish and she worried he would not understand what was going on around him. By that point, Ater, the police chief who went to the address Mejia provided that February day, was alarmed that Eliazar was still in foster care. He reached out to Vasquez and said Eliazar could stay with him and his family until he is reunited with Mejia three minutes or three years. He would even fly the boy to Guatemala if Mejia were to be deported. I have to go out and do my job, he said. But on the flip side, I'm also human and this isn't cool. This little dude is not with his mom, and what does the future hold for him and what does the future hold for her? Mejia worried that signing over custody of Eliazar to Ater could mean losing him forever. She also didnt think it would help ease access to the boy for family members, as they were unlikely to visit him at the home of a police officer for fear of being arrested by ICE, Vasquez said. She decided to wait. On July 2, an immigration judge dismissed Mejias deportation case for a second time, ruling that she was entitled to a hearing before an asylum officer and noting she was the sole custodian of a U.S. citizen child with disabilities. This time, ICE did not contest the ruling and released Mejia the next day. Vasquez picked her up from the detention center, and the two women tried calling Darke County childrens services but it was the eve of the July 4 holiday and they couldnt immediately get through. The following Monday afternoon, Mejia did meet Eliazar, in the offices of childrens services. I just hugged him and hugged him, she said. She said he recognized her, but didnt speak to her. He seemed attached to his foster parents, and she said she overheard him speaking English. In the July 15 custody hearing, child welfare officials recommended more visits so that Eliazar could get used to his mother again, Mejia said. Officials also ordered inspections of her home to ensure her place is appropriate for a child, she said. Darke County childrens services declined to comment. Vasquez said child welfare officials expressed concerns about how Mejia would support Eliazar, now that she has lost her egg packing job. Vasquez said she had raised funds to deposit about $3,000 in a bank account in Mejias name to show she has money to tide her over until she gets her work permit. On Monday, July 21, an official from childrens services and Eliazars foster mom dropped him off at Mejias home with unexpected good news. He would be allowed to stay with her, with regular child welfare visits until the case is closed. "They are not going to take him away anymore," Mejia said. This makes me happy. (Reporting by Kristina Cooke in Greenville, Ohio and Ted Hesson in Washington, D.C., additional reporting by MB Pell in New York and Carlos Barria in Union City, Indiana; Editing by Mary Milliken and Suzanne Goldenberg) An attempted burglary reported Monday night in Los Angeles took place at the home of former "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Teddi Mellencamp. Mellencamp and her family were home at the time of the attempted break-in, she told ABC News Tuesday. "We are grateful that everyone is unharmed. While we are shaken, we are fortunate to have the latest in home security systems which scared off the intruders," Mellencamp and her estranged husband Edwin Arroyave said in a statement to ABC News. "Authorities were alerted and swiftly responded. We appreciate everyone's heightened concern in light of recent criminal activities in our area, but we are safe." Mellencamp shares three children and a stepchild with Arroyave, from whom she announced her separation in November. Sara Jaye/Getty Images - PHOTO: Teddi Mellencamp visits the backstage portrait studio at iHeartRadio's Wango Tango concert, May 10, 2025 in Huntington Beach, Calif. The Los Angeles Police Department said Tuesday that a call came in around 10:15 p.m. local time Monday for a burglary with residents inside. When police officers arrived at the home, the suspected burglars had left the home without obtaining full access The suspects gained entry to the property possibly through the garage but did not get far before they ran off, according to the LAPD. The suspects got away in a black BMW. The LAPD says it is looking for two males in black hooded sweatshirts. Mellencamp, now a podcast host and the founder of an accountability program, is the daughter of music legend John Cougar Mellencamp. The mom of four announced earlier this year that she was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma, a type of skin cancer, which she said had spread to her brain and lungs. Teddi Mellencamp says she has 'multiple tumors': 'I will win this battle' Mellencamp has said she is currently undergoing both radiation and immunotherapy treatment. The attempted burglary at Mellencamp's home Monday happened just 11 minutes after there was a similar call at another home, according to police. The suspects were also gone from that address when officers arrived. It does not appear anyone was home at that address, and it is unclear if anything was taken at that home. Just one week ago, on July 14, a couple -- "American Idol" music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca -- were found shot to death in their Los Angeles home during a welfare check. Teddi Mellencamp opens up about Stage 4 melanoma diagnosis, how her kids are coping A 22-year-old suspect -- Raymond Boodarian -- is accused of scaling a fence onto the couple's Encino property and allegedly shooting and killing them during a struggle when they arrived home from the grocery store, authorities said. Boodarian has been charged with two counts of murder and a count of residential burglary, with the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders and murder during the commission of a burglary, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. The district attorney, Nathan Hochman, held a town hall meeting with residents Monday -- the same night as the attempted burglary at Mellencamp's home -- to talk about the case. A Florida sheriff has released body camera footage of a violent traffic stop in which officers were seen smashing a man's window and repeatedly punching him. The latest video of the Feb. 19 arrest of William Anthony McNeil Jr. shows the perspective of two officers responding to the stop that began when McNeil was pulled over for a headlight and seatbelt violation in Jacksonville. The new body camera videos show officers confronting McNeil and punching him after he questioned why he was pulled over and refused to get out of the car. The release comes after cell phone video McNeil recorded of his interaction with officers gained viral traction online. That footage prompted a criminal review that ended with prosecutors clearing the law enforcement officials of any wrongdoing. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters explains what happened when officers used deadly force on a suspect July 15, 2025. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said at a news conference on July 21 that "one video devoid of context can be very misleading," referring to the cell phone footage that sparked backlash over the agency's handling of the traffic stop. Waters also said McNeil was in possession of marijuana and officers found a knife in the vehicle. D.J. Bowers, the officer who smashed McNeil's window and punched him at least twice, has been put on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal review of whether he violated the agency's policies. In a separate criminal review, local prosecutors determined "none of the involved officers violated criminal law," Waters said. McNeil retained civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels to represent him. This wasnt law enforcement, it was brutality," McNeil's legal team said in a joint statement on July 21. "We demand full accountability from the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office and justice for William McNeil Jr." William McNeil Jr. is shown as his driver's side window is broken by police during a traffic stop in February 2025. Two days after his arrest, McNeil pleaded guilty to resisting police without violence and driving with a suspended license, court records show. He was sentenced to two days already served in jail, and a misdemeanor marijuana charge was dropped. McNeil repeatedly struck by officers during traffic stop, arrest The body camera footage begins with Bowers approaching McNeil and telling him he was stopped for not having his headlights on during "inclement weather" as well as a seat belt violation. McNeil, speaking to Bowers through his open front door because his driver's side window wasn't working, said he did not need to have his headlights on because "it's daylight" and "it's not raining." McNeil then refused to provide his license and registration and requested to speak with a supervisor. After Bowers told him to step out of the vehicle, McNeil said "no" and closed the door. Footage shows Bowers trying to open it before he radioed that it was locked. Right now, youre under arrest for resisting," Bowers said. "The longer you take the worse its gonna be. When another officer pulled in front of McNeil's car, Bowers said, "Sir, this is your last warning to open the vehicle and exit before we are going to break the window." A short while later, McNeil lowered the passenger window and spoke briefly with another officer. Bowers again said he was about to break the window and was told to "go for it" by a fellow officer. Bowers smashed in the driver's side window and punched McNeil in the head. McNeil, who remained nonviolent, raised his hands and asked, "What is your reason, sir?" Officers pulled McNeil out of the car and forced him to the ground, where body camera video shows officers striking him as he was face down on the pavement. In McNeil's cell phone footage, it appears Bowers punched him in the head after he was taken out of the car and before he was brought to the ground. Footage shows McNeil's face bloodied after the scuffle. Near the end of the footage, Bowers radioed in for a unit to look at a cut on McNeil's lip. Contributing: Steve Patterson, The Florida Times-Union This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New footage released after violent traffic stop in Florida goes viral China Reconsiders Iran Relations July 22, 2025: Chinese success at negotiating a peace treaty between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023 signified something remarkable. It meant China was now a significant factor in Middle Eastern politics. There were practical reasons for China helping Iran. China gets most of its oil from Iran. China does not want to be considered a full time peacemaker. The current war between Iran and Israel, with some Americans participating, threatens the Chinese economy because of the threat of losing its oil supply. China wants to help Iran defend itself but cannot send troops. So the Chinese have been sending air defense systems to replace the ones Israeli airstrikes destroyed in June. These are defensive weapons that dont annoy the Israelis and dont really matter to the Americans. Another factor is that the Chinese concerns for Iran are purely economic self-interest. The Iran deal was simply to protect the Chinese source of oil. Shipping Iran air defense systems was also self-interest. The only other deals China had with Iran involved smuggling. For the last twenty years Iran has been using Chinese firms to facilitate weapons related smuggling efforts. This is not necessarily with the cooperation of the Chinese government, but there is apparently little risk of getting arrested in China for buying some weapons related items from a European or American firm, and passing it out the back door to Iranian smugglers. Chinese exporters are particularly enthusiastic about selling Iran items that have dual civilian and military uses. These could be exported more openly. China could later claim that the Iranians promised not to use these items for military purposes. Many Western nations have become more aggressive in curbing this sort of thing. Australia stopped a shipment of pumps that, it turned out, were capable of being used in nuclear power plants. Iran has been quite blatant about buying dual use equipment, and then openly using it for military purposes. That bravado is backfiring. But there are several nations that are willing to look the other way at this sort of smuggling which involves diverting to Iran items purchased for use in some other country. Malaysia became a source for all sorts of smuggling schemes. That works until the international pressure, especially threats to limit access to the international banking system, and technology in general triggers a crackdown on the smugglers. China has successfully stonewalled complaints related to technology theft and Internet based espionage. Ever since the U.S. embargo was imposed in 1979, because Iran seized the American embassy. After that Iran sought, with some success, to offer big money to smugglers who could beat the embargo and get needed industrial and military equipment. This is a risky business, and American and European prisons are full of Iranians, and other nationals, who tried, and often failed, to procure forbidden goods. The smuggling operations have long been subject to more scrutiny and attack because of Iran's growing nuclear weapons program. But the Iranians simply offer more money, and more smugglers step up to keep the goodies coming. The U.S. has gotten more aggressive, and successful, at shutting down Iranian smuggling operations. Not just by bribing the smugglers themselves, but also by getting the cooperation of nations the smugglers operate out of. This has been so successful that most of these smugglers no longer feel safe working out of Arab Persian Gulf nations, especially the United Arab Emirates. As a result, more smugglers are operating out of Malaysia, and the U.S. eventually shut down that activity. America also monitored the international banking network, seeking signs of smuggler activity, and leaning on the banks involved to step back. The smuggling effort has been a mixed success. The Iranian armed forces are poorly equipped, because new tanks, warplanes and ships could not be smuggled in. Major weapons systems acquired in the 1970s have been falling apart for want of sufficient replacement parts. A Wells Fargo bank branch in New York City on June 4, 2025. - Kylie Cooper/Reuters/FILE An Atlanta-based banker working for Wells Fargo has been prevented from leaving China, the latest incident that threatens to amplify concerns among Western executives about the potential consequences of visiting the worlds second-biggest economy. Chinese authorities said Monday the exit ban placed on Wells Fargo executive Chenyue Mao is part of a criminal investigation. Ms. Mao Chenyue is involved in a criminal case being handled by Chinese authorities, who have lawfully imposed exit restrictions on her, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Monday following a regular press conference. Its not clear who the target of the criminal case is, nor how Mao is believed to be linked to it. According to Chinese law, the case is under investigation, and Ms. Mao is temporarily unable to leave the country and is obligated to cooperate with the investigation, the spokesperson for Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. During the investigation, the authorities will ensure that her legal rights are protected. Mao has been employed by Wells Fargo since 2012, according to her LinkedIn profile. Born in Shanghai and based in Atlanta, Mao leads Wells Fargos international factoring business and advises multinational companies on cross-border capital strategies, according to FCI, a global network of companies formerly known as the Factors Chain International. Mao was recently elected to be the chairwoman of FCI. We are closely tracking this situation and working through the appropriate channels so our employee can return to the United States as soon as possible, Wells Fargo told CNN in a statement. Wells Fargo has since suspended all travel to China, according to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported news of Mao being blocked from leaving the country. The bank declined to comment further on the incident. An automated response on Monday from Maos email indicates she is overseas. Traveling international on business with time difference, may delay in responses, will respond as soon as Im able to, the automated response said. News of the exit ban placed on the Wells Fargo banker comes as a Chinese American man working for the Commerce Department has been prevented from leaving the country, according to the Washington Post. The Commerce Department employee, working in the agencys Patent and Trademark Office, was visiting family in China several months ago and failed to disclose on his visa application that he worked for the US government, the Post reported. The Commerce Department referred CNNs inquiries to the US State Department. The State Department did not respond to a request for comment on the Commerce employee or the Wells Fargo banker. The State Department currently has a level 2 travel advisory for China, indicating Americans should exercise increased caution when traveling to Mainland China due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans. The incidents are likely to raise concern in C-suites and among boards of directors about the risks of visiting China. This has everyone jittery again, nervous about traveling, Sean Stein, president of the US-China Business Council, told CNN in a phone interview on Monday. Stein, who previously worked as a US diplomat in China and advised companies on China matters at the law firm Covington and Burling, said Western companies are often in the dark about the reasons behind exit bans imposed by China. This could have a chilling effect on executive travel to China unless China can be more transparent, Stein said. China has a small window. Now is the time to come out and explain the circumstances where someone can be placed on an exit ban. China really needs to step up. Dale Buckner, CEO of international security firm Global Guardian, is urging US companies to carefully vet all employees for characteristics that pose risks during travel to China. Those with government ties, dual nationality, or involvement in sensitive industries like defense or advanced technology should not travel to China, including Hong Kong and Macau, Buckner said in an email to CNN. Companies should only allow travel if necessary and carefully weigh whether the benefit outweighs the risk of an exit ban or detention. Buckner added that China is always seeking ways to gain leverage during negotiations or acquire sensitive intellectual property from rivals and cautioned that individuals who fail to disclose military or government ties are vulnerable to exit bans. Guo, the Chinese Ministry of Finance spokesperson, stressed that Chinese citizens and foreigners must abide by Chinese law while inside the country. This is an individual judicial case, and China will continue to welcome people from all countries to visit and do business, while upholding their rights in accordance with the law, the spokesperson said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Coca-Cola Co. said Tuesday that it will launch a version of its signature drink made with American cane sugar. The announcement comes days after President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he had "been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so." Initially, Coca-Cola did not confirm the news. The company told NBC News last week that it appreciated Trump's "enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand" but that "details...will be shared soon." Donald Trump at an event in New York in 2016. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images) The company said in its earnings release Tuesday morning that a version of the drink with cane sugar was indeed coming later this year. "As part of its ongoing innovation agenda, this fall in the United States, the company plans to launch an offering made with U.S. cane sugar to expand its Trademark Coca-Cola product range," its news release said. Coca-Cola produced for the U.S. market is typically sweetened with corn syrup, while the company uses cane sugar in some other countries, including Mexico and various European countries. In the United States, Coca-Cola made with cane sugar is colloquially known as "Mexican Coke" as it's often imported from the United States' southern neighbor. The Coke made with U.S. cane sugar will complement the company's existing product line, the company added. Coca-Cola already uses cane sugar in the company's tea, lemonade, coffee and Vitamin Water offerings, CEO James Quincey said on an earnings call Tuesday morning. "I think that it will be an enduring option for consumer," he said. "We are definitely looking to use the whole toolkit of available sweetening options where there are consumer preferences." Last week, Trump said, "This will be a very good move by them Youll see. Its just better!" The Trump administrations Make America Healthy Again initiative, named for the social movement aligned with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has pushed food companies to alter their formulations to remove ingredients like artificial dyes. While taste preferences may differ, the health impact of cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup is essentially the same. Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and director of the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, said that both high fructose corn syrup and cane sugar are about 50% fructose, 50% glucose, and have identical metabolic effects." That is, both can equally raise the risk for obesity, diabetes, high triglycerides and blood pressure. Both provide the same number of calories, but the body processes them differently. The CEO of the Corn Refiners Association said last week that replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar doesnt make sense given Trumps support of American farmers. Replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar would cost thousands of American food manufacturing jobs, depress farm income, and boost imports of foreign sugar, all with no nutritional benefit, he added in a statement. U.S. cane sugar is primarily produced in Texas, Florida and Louisiana, according to the Agriculture Department. However, domestic production accounts for only 30% of total U.S. sugar supply. The rest comes from sugar beets or is imported. Trump has had a long and mostly friendly relationship with Coca-Cola's products. In 2012, he said on Twitter that Coke was not happy with him but "that's ok, I'll still keep drinking that garbage." Trump also wrote on social media the same year that drinking Diet Coke "makes you happy." In January, Quincey traveled to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort and presented him with a custom bottle commemorating his upcoming inauguration. staceybendet/Instagram (2) Designer Stacy Bendet Fashion designer Stacey Bendet is getting comfortable with a new kind of stitching. The Alice + Olivia founder, 46, shared the results of her neck and lower facelift, which she had performed by New York City surgeon, Andrew Timberlake. Days before her surgery, Bendet revealed that she was looking for a "little refresh" after "constantly" feeling "self-conscious" about the appearance of her neck. "I wanted a subtle tightening that would be barely noticeable and very natural," she wrote on Instagram, adding that Dr. Timberlake's "delicate and refined work" for the face and neck was appealing. "In choosing a doctor for the procedure, as a self-proclaimed stitch snob, I met several surgeons before making this decision!" staceybendet/Instagram Stacey Bendet shows the results of her cosmetic enhancement post-op The PEOPLE App is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Three days post-op, Bendet shared a video of her results, revealing the almost-non-existent stitches nears her ears, hairline and under her chin. "I'm still wearing a hat and glasses because I'm a little bruised and a little swollen, but look at these scars," said Bendet. "Stitches are literally couture. You can barely see them." "No one can believe how the micro incisions/stitches look day 3! I am definitely sore under my chin area but so happy with how smooth and taut everything already looks!" she captioned the post. A baby facelift can also be referred to as a mini facelift and involves less-invasion incisions as opposed to those of a traditional lift. Among the services offered on Dr. Timberlake's website includes a mid facelift, which "addresses the cheeks, jowls, and jawline when a patients neck does not yet need surgery." The enhancement doesn't require incisions "behind the ears or into the posterior hairline." It's also preferred among younger patients. staceybendet/Instagram Stacey Bendet showing the results of her neck and lower facelift Bendet has been open about her past cosmetic enhancements in the past. In August 2023, she detailed her injectables routine with the help of dermatologist Dr. Dan Belkin, whose also worked with Martha Stewart. In her post, she detailed getting Daxify around the eyes and Botox around her jawline to "to pull the skin, refresh the eyes and reduce smile lines," which she summed up as having "Staceface." 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 recent years, multiple celebrities have been open about their cosmetic procedures including the Kardashian-Jenners. In June, Kylie Jenner revealed the details of her breast augmentation, after a TikToker asked her for advice. Following suit was Kris Jenner who got real about her first facelift that was done by Dr. Garth Fisher, the same surgeon in charge of her youngest daughter's boob job. Earlier this year, PEOPLE also confirmed that the momager has gotten recent work done with Dr. Steven Levine, though exactly what procedures she had done was not confirmed. In June, Khloe Kardashian shared an honest post about the cosmetic procedures she's undergone. Read the original article on People Katie Phillips Koa; Koa and Katie Phillips A terminally ill dog accompanied her owner for a heartwarming wedding dress shopping experience. When Katie Phillips went wedding dress shopping on July 6 at White on Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina, she brought a guest who mattered most to her her 6-year-old yellow Labrador retriever named Koa. "Shes been with me through everything, so it just felt right to have her there for something as special as choosing a wedding dress," Phillips tells PEOPLE. "Shes my best friend, my girl, and my constant." Katie Phillips Katie Phillips and Koa "Out of nowhere" in February, Koa was diagnosed with oral melanoma. After seeing three specialists, the dog received a vaccine to prevent the cancer from spreading and underwent jawbone surgery to remove the "large, fast-growing mass in her mouth." Luckily, Koa "bounced back in a way that only Koa could" and celebrated with a small cake for dogs that read "Cancer Free." From March through June, Phillips and her fiance, Nick Pizzo, finally "felt like [they could breathe again." But two weeks after their engagement, veterinarians delivered the heartbreaking news that Koa's cancer had spread to her lungs and gave her a life expectancy of three months. "It was devastating," Phillips says. "That moment changed everything." Katie Phillips Koa While Phillips and Pizzo are doing everything they can to help Koa, who is acting like her "usual self" with "no symptoms," they aren't taking any time with her for granted. With limited treatment options and an uncertain future, Phillips has been "soaking up every single moment" with Koa. She immediately knew she had to bring her to her first bridal appointment when she saw that the shop allowed "furry friends." "The idea of including her in something joyful something that Ill always remember felt really meaningful," she says. "I just want to do as much with her as I can and include her in every moment I can." The day became one of Phillips' favorite memories. And based on Koa's behavior, it is one of hers too. "It really was such a special day one of those memories Ill always hold close," Phillips shares. "I wasnt even expecting to have that kind of experience while wedding dress shopping, but bringing Koa with me made it unforgettable." From the moment they walked in, Koa was "so calm and happy." "Her tail was wagging nonstop, and she followed me everywhere in and out of the dressing room, like she knew she had a job to do," Phillips remembers. "She laid right at my feet while I tried on dresses, and every time I looked down, there she was, just smiling and watching me. It felt like she knew exactly what was happening. She had this proud, peaceful energy all day like she was part of the celebration in her own quiet way." Katie Phillips Katie Phillips and Koa Since she was eight weeks old, Koa has been by Phillips' side. In 2019, Phillips adopted the pup in Georgia. Since then, Koa has always been there for Phillips, and has become like "sisters" with Pizzo's 5-year-old boxer and English pointer mixed dog named Evie. "Shes been through every chapter of my life, and now shes part of this one too," Phillips shares. "She absolutely adores Nick, and hes such a great dog dad to her. They have their own bond, and it means so much to me to see how deeply they love each other. I think she really senses what this new chapter means for all of us." Although Phillips didn't find her dream dress that day, "it didnt matter." "Having her there made the day so meaningful," she says. "It was one of those moments where you just stop and think, 'Im going to remember this forever.' " She adds: "Having her with me during that first appointment meant more than I can really put into words. It wasnt just about trying on dresses. It was about making a memory with her. Its been hard to fully enjoy wedding planning while carrying the weight of her diagnosis. At times, it feels like this dark cloud hanging over everything. But that day with her helped me change my mindset. Instead of moving forward with sadness and grief, Ive been trying to focus on making every moment count." Katie Phillips Koa A few days later, Phillips found her wedding dress with her mom and best friend at another boutique in Charleston. "It was still fun and exciting, but it didnt feel as emotional as that first appointment with Koa. She wasnt with me when I said yes to the dress, but I do plan on asking the boutique if she can come to my fitting once the actual gown arrives," Phillips notes. "I have to see her reaction and get a photo with her while Im wearing it. That moment will mean everything to me." Katie Phillips Katie Phillips and Koa kiss Back in June, Koa and Evie were present for their owners' engagement at sunrise on Isle of Palms. When Pizzo proposed on the beach, Koa couldn't help but share her excitement. "When I leaned in to kiss [Pizzo], Koa actually jumped in for a big, slobbery three-way kiss," Phillips remembers. "It was such a classic Koa move. Nick had drool all over his face, and we couldnt stop laughing. She was with us the entire rest of the day. In every photo, Koa is in the background smiling, tail wagging, soaking it all in. It really felt like she knew something special had just happened." Katie Phillips Katie Phillips and Koa 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. Phillips and Pizzo will tie the knot in Barbados in April 2026, and have a civil ceremony in Charleston beforehand so that Koa can be included "if shes still fighting and feeling strong." "I just want her to know how deeply shes loved," Phillips says. "I want her to feel special and included in everything not just the big milestones, but the quiet, everyday parts of life too. This whole experience has made me realize how much we take for granted. I dont overlook the little things anymore. The couch cuddles. The daily walks. The way she smiles and wags her tail when I walk in the door. Those are the moments Im holding onto." Read the original article on People As if it's not already hard enough to find the time to do everything you need to do in a day, now you're about to lose another whole millisecond or more. In fact, experts say Tuesday, July 22, could end up being the shortest day of all of 2025. If that sounds familiar, it's because an earlier day in July was also expected to be uncharacteristically short. July 9 was the first of three days in which a millisecond or more could be shaved off the clock on account of how the moon's position relative to Earth is influencing our planet's rotation. Here's what to know about why Earth's rotation is speeding up, and why it will shorten those three days this summer. Is Earth's rotation speeding up? A photo of Earth rising over the moon's horizon taken in 1968 by astronaut Bill Anders Earth takes 24 hours to complete a full rotation in a standard day, equal to exactly 86,400 seconds. If a standard day is shortened or lengthened by a number of milliseconds, that added or detracted time is referred to as "length of day," according to the website TimeAndDate. Until 2020, the shortest "length of day" ever recorded by atomic clocks was -1.05 ms, meaning that Earth completed one daily rotation in 1.05 milliseconds less than 86,400 seconds. "Since then, however, Earth has managed to shatter this old record every year by around half a millisecond," astrophysicist Graham Jones wrote for TimeAndDate. That culminated on July 5, 2024 with the shortest day of all time, with a "length of day" of -1.66 ms, according to Jones. While the variations are expected, recent research suggests that human activity is also contributing to Earth's changing rotation. Researchers at NASA calculated that dwindling ice and groundwater and rising seas has actually increased the length of our days since 2000 by 1.33 milliseconds per century . Will the Earth spin faster July 22? Is July 22 the shortest day? Scientists anticipate that Earth's rotation will quicken enough to create three shorter days between July and August. The first was expected July 9, which had a predicted -1.30 ms "length of day," according to TimeAndDate. Initial estimates, which still must be officially confirmed, indicated that "the length of day" ended up being -1.23 ms. But the following day, July 10, was even shorter, with an unofficial -1.36 ms "length of day," according to TimeAndDate. Another two days in 2025 are also expected to be uncharacteristically truncated starting with Tuesday, July 22. Scientists have updated their previous calculations to predict a -1.34 ms "length of day" July 22, followed by a -1.25 ms "length of day" Aug. 5. On these days, the moon will be at its furthest from the Earth's equator, changing its gravitational pull and causing our planet to spin just a tiny bit faster on its axis, according to science news website LiveScience. Will the sped-up day be noticeable? Of course, you're unlikely to notice such a miniscule difference in your standard 24-hour day. But scientists who track and operate atomic clocks may be facing a bit of a predicament. First introduced in the 1950s, atomic clocks replaced how scientists previously measured the length of a day by tracking the Earth's rotation and position of the sun. The clocks are also capable of measuring in billionths of a second, or nanoseconds, which are synchronized globally to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC.) If the clocks are thrown off even a tiny amount, it could also throw off computers, servers, GPS signals and other networks that rely on accurate times, David Gozzard, an experimental physicis at the University of Western Australia, told the Guardian. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Earth spinning faster? July 22 could be one of shortest of 2025 By Stefanno Sulaiman and Dewi Kurniawati JAKARTA (Reuters) -Indonesian sovereign wealth fund Danantara plans to sign an $8 billion engineering, procurement and construction contract with U.S. engineering firm KBR Inc to build 17 modular refineries, according to two sources familiar with the matter and an official economic ministry presentation seen by Reuters. The contract is part of last week's trade pact between Indonesia and the United States that led to a reduction in the threatened U.S. proposed tariff rate to 19% from 32%. Indonesian Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, the chief negotiator of the deal, disclosed the modular refinery plan during a closed-door briefing to Indonesian business leaders on Monday evening. Two sources confirmed the planned deal was mentioned in a presentation that Reuters also reviewed. Danantara and KBR Inc, formerly known as Kellogg Brown & Root, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. No further details were given on the proposed agreement. While some details of the trade deal between the United States and Indonesia have been made public, such as increased purchases of U.S. energy, agriculture and commercial aircraft, the proposed contract for refineries has not previously been reported. Daya Anagata Nusantara - better known as Danantara - controls over $900 billion worth of assets and is part of an ambitious plan to grow the $1.5 trillion economy at a rate of 8% compared to the current 5%. Also mentioned in the presentation was a potential $2 billion "strategic" investment to develop blue ammonia in U.S. state Louisiana, by Indonesian chemical and textile group Indorama. But, the presentation added, the project needs tax credits to become feasible. U.S. President Donald Trump said last week that Indonesia would buy 50 aircraft from Boeing as part of the deal. The presentation put the total value of aviation sector deals with American companies at $14.4 billion. The potential deals between Indonesia and U.S. could reach $34 billion, the presentation showed, underscoring the all-out push by Jakarta to become one of the first countries in the world to clinch a deal with Washington. "Indonesia welcomes more U.S. business and investment to create jobs, technology transfer and to support national priority developments," the presentation said, adding that the comparatively lower tariff for Indonesia could make it a site for regional industry relocations. Jakarta believes the fallout of the lowered tariff rate could boost its GDP growth by 0.5 percentage points, the presentation said. Apple and General Electric were also mentioned in the presentation as U.S. firms that will benefit from relaxed local content requirements for U.S. information and communication technology goods and medical devices. Indonesia's local content rules make it mandatory to have a certain percentage of products made in-country, and have been previously seen as too stringent by some foreign businesses looking to enter the world's fourth most populous country. The Southeast Asian country banned iPhone 16 sales last year as Apple failed to meet composition requirements. The ban was lifted only following the company's more than $300 million investment plan. (Reporting by Stefanno Sulaiman and Dewi Kurniawati; Writing by Gibran Peshimam; Editing by Stephen Coates and Lincoln Feast.) Axelle/Bauer-Griffin - Getty Images THE RUNDOWN On July 21, Pedro Pascal attended the world premiere of The Fantastic Four: First Steps in Los Angeles. The actor wore a suit and silk foulard from Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann. Pascal brought his sister Lux as his date for the occasion. Tom Ford knows how to make a damn good suit, and thankfully, Pedro Pascal looks great in them. Last night, the actor stepped out on the blue carpet for the world premiere of The Fantastic Four: First Steps in Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann, who showed his debut collection for the house this spring. The actors look, while crafted to perfection, offered plenty of non-traditional twists. The foundation of the suit was a slim-fit white jacket which featured a special adornment. In an interview with Extra on the carpet, Pascal explained that the duo added a red carnation to the jacket pocket, teasing that its context will soon be understood. (The rumor mill is already spinningPascals stylist shared a shot of a similarly dressed Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones on Instagram.) In lieu of both a tie and a collared shirt, Pascal instead opted for a simple white tank top and polka-dot silk foulard tied loosely around the neck, embodying his usual editorial ease. Last nights premiere isnt the only time Pascal has graced the carpet in a Tom Ford design by Ackermann. During the Fantastic Four press tour, the Materialists actor has sported numerous TF looks. To name a few: during a launch event in London, he wore a subtly printed black suit, again forgoing a collared shirt in favor of a powder-blue silk foulard and asymmetrically popped lapel collar, a beautifully simple detail that is quickly becoming signature to Ackermanns tenure at the brand. And at a fan event in Berlin, Pascal opted for a more casual look, with a cream printed silk shirt and scarf-tie detail that perfectly complemented his white pleated trousers. On Instagram, Ackermann posted a carousel of the looks, saying he was truly honored for these moments hes spent working with Pascal, making them one of the current red carpets strongest designer-muse pairings. You Might Also Like Good morning, AI reporter Sharon Goldman in for Allie Garfinkle, who is taking a well-deserved vacation! One familiar name keeps popping up in my inbox latelybut not in the way you might expect. Amid the flood of pitches touting hot new AI startups, I keep seeing Jeff Dean. Yes, that Jeff Dean: Googles chief scientist and longtime AI leader. Best known for cofounding Google Brain and leading the companys AI research since the early days of deep learning, Dean has also emerged as a prolific angel investor. Over the past two years, hes quietly backed a whopping 37 AI startupsincluding Perplexity, DatologyAI, Emerald AI, Workhelix, Roboflow, Profluent Bio, Sakana AI, Latent Labs, P-1, World Labs, and Yutori. Most of his investments are early stageoften before Series Awhen companies are still in stealth or just emerging from research labs. For example, Dean was involved in legal AI startup Harveys seed round. Dean joined Google X in 2011 to explore the then-resurgent field of deep neural networks, went on to lead Google Brain in 2012, and in 2018 was named head of Googles AI division. Today, he holds the title of chief scientist at both Google Research and Google DeepMind, the combined AI powerhouse formed in 2023. But hes no newcomer to angel investing. As early as 2016, he backed Poplar Homes, a tech-enabled property management company acquired by Evernest in early 2025. By 2022, he already had dozens of investments under his belt. Over the past two years, though, Deans investment activity has taken on a clear shapereflecting both his deep technical roots and his vision for where AI is heading. Hes backing startups building core AI tooling, particularly those focused on developer platforms, LLM infrastructure, and training efficiency. Hes also betting on a new generation of applications built natively for the LLM era, even if they are outside the Google ecosystem. Another clear theme: AI for science. Dean has backed companies applying AI to problems in biology, chemistry, and genomics. Its a natural extension of the AI for scientific discovery thread he championed during his time at both Google Brain and DeepMindmost notably with AlphaFold, DeepMinds groundbreaking system for predicting protein structures, which has become a cornerstone of modern computational biology. Finally, Dean is consistently backing deeply technical founding teams, often with academic pedigrees or open-source credentials. Many are led by former researchers from Google, DeepMind, OpenAI, or top universities. Yutoris three cofounders, for example, all came from Meta but were also formerly researchers and faculty at Georgia Tech. Interestingly, some of Deans bets are in areas that overlapor even competewith Googles core business. Perplexity, for example, challenges Google Search. Dean, therefore, is surprisingly independent in his investing, even while he continues to hold one of the most senior AI roles inside Google. Hes been just incredibly active, said Dylan Reid, a partner at Zetta Venture Partners, which has invested in three bio+AI companies with Dean. Hes a real legend in AI, and a sort of AI guru at Google. That means his name brings cachet: Having somebody like Jeff as an investoran AI visionary on your cap tableI think it helps for sure, Reid added. Its a sign that somebody in really advanced technology has looked at this and decided its interesting. Sharon Goldman X: @sharongoldman Email: sharon.goldman@fortune.com Submit a deal for the Term Sheet newsletter here. Joe Abrams curated the deals section of todays newsletter. Subscribe here. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Members of the public have the chance to buy the house of the man who first signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The 5,748-square-foot home of first Massachusetts Governor and Second Continental Congress President John Hancock is now on the market, according to Landvest real estate. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is "the last extant property associated with the founding father in Boston." The price of the building is available upon request. "The building consists of (three) stories, with many of the Later Georgian interior details still intact, and remains the only vernacular structure dating to the mid 1700s to survive in central Boston," according to the Landvest website. A shot of a dining area in the John Hancock home in Boston, which is now on the market with Landvest realty. The building is currently in use as a law office. "A fixture on Bostons iconic Freedom Trail, the property is minutes from City Hall, Faneuil Hall, North Station, the Haymarket and Government Center T stops, and is a short walk across the Greenway to the North End, the Waterfront, and the Boston Harbor commuter ferry services," the list said. Celebrity homes for sale: Taylor Swift's former Cape Cod home sells for $12.3 million A shot of the dining area of the John Hancock home in Boston, which is now for sale with Landvest realty. How can people go about buying the home? Unlike most real estate, the price for this home is only available on request. Interested parties need to go to Landvest.com, where they can express interest in the home, and arrange a tour. The real estate agent representing the home is Dave Killen, who can be reached at (508) 451-0020. One report on the sale of the home states that Boston assessed the property at $1.6 million. A look at the interior of the John Hancock mansion in Boston, which is now on the market with Landvest realty. What to know about John Hancock Aside from being the President of the Second Continental Congress, the first Massachusetts governor, and the first to sign the Declaration of Independence, "Hancock used his wealth and influence to aid the movement for American independence," according to the History Channel. He started his career as a Boston selectman in 1765, and then moved into the Massachusetts colonial legislature. This was right around the time that British Parliament started levying tax laws on the colonies that spurred the American Revolution, which Hancock found himself at the center of. "Hancock came into direct conflict with the British in 1768, when one of his merchant ships, the Liberty, was seized in Boston Harbor by British customs officials who claimed Hancock had illegally unloaded cargo without paying the required taxes," the History Channel stated. "Hancock was a popular figure in Boston, and the seizure of his ship led to angry protests by local residents. He's perhaps most famous for his bold signature on the Declaration of Independence. Legend says "Hancock boldly inscribed his name so the English king would not need glasses to read it," the History Channel said. Lesser known, he was a candidate against George Washington in the first U.S. presidential election. Considering Washington was the heavy favorite, Hancock only received four votes. Hancock died at age 56 on Oct. 8, 1793 and was buried at the Granary Burying Ground in Boston. This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: John Hancock's Boston home is on the real estate market. Take a look The goats walk among people in an outdoor goat yoga class Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock.com The origins of goat yoga began nearly a decade ago. Since that time, goat yoga has taken the United States by storm. From participating in goat yoga on farms to mobile goat yoga, people cannot get enough of being around the gentle animals while they work to calm their bodies and minds through intentional movement. While yoga has been around for thousands of years, goat yoga is a much more recent offshoot of the ancient practice. Despite its popularity, the original goat yoga class was not meant to be anything more than a novelty. However, after the demand proved to be great, it was clear that lightning in a bottle had been captured, and the practice of goat yoga was born. What Is Goat Yoga? Goat yoga combines the practice of traditional yoga with animal therapy, leaving participants relaxed and calm after their session. Simon Collins/Shutterstock.com The practice of yoga has been around for up to 10,000 years, by some accounts. It was started to bring together the mind, body, and spirit so that participants could experience inner peace. Those who teach goat yoga want attendees to feel relaxed and peaceful when their session ends. By intertwining the practice of yoga with the calming effects of goats, this is easily achieved. When goat yoga is practiced, participants and goats have the opportunity to mingle with one another in a serene outdoor setting. This allows for a few moments of bonding before the class begins. Once the class starts, the goats will wander around the participants. Some goats may lie down, while others may ask for attention. The entire experience is meant to be lighthearted, with participants encouraged to pet the goats if they wish to do so. Between practicing yoga, being outdoors, and having the therapeutic effects of being around goats, participants leave in a blissful state, significantly more relaxed than they were several hours earlier in the day. The Origins of Goat Yoga Goat yoga began after an outdoor yoga class at a farm took place in 2016. Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock.com There are several organizations that claim to have started the goat yoga movement. Each has a story as to how they incorporated goats in the practice of yoga. But, there is one organization that brought goat yoga to life with its first class in 2016, and the originator, Lainey Morse, has not looked back since. Original Goat Yoga was started in August 2016. Contacted by Heather Davis, a local Oregon yoga instructor, Morse opened the back field of her farm in Oregon to a yoga class. At that time, goats, chickens, and even a barn cat approached participants, asking for attention. Given the success of the first class, Morse scheduled a few more and got the word out about the classes by writing to Modern Farmer. The magazine published an article about the first class, and goat yoga classes quickly became viral. Morse was as surprised as anyone by the reaction to goat yoga. But sensing that she had something really special on her hands, Morse went all in and turned goat yoga into a business. I had NO idea that it would snowball like it did. I meanits GOAT YOGA, who could have ever really known that it would go viral and take the world by storm? Morse says. I did know that I had something really special because so many people were just blown away by how it made them feel. Calm, relaxed, happy, joyful, and probably most important, it made them forget about their stress, the world problems, politics, and whatever else; it all just melts away when youre around the goats. Since that time, there have been imitators who have tried to recreate the goat yoga magic Morse captured that day on the farm. Some businesses have even survived. Many, however, have not. Morse, herself, has even dealt with setbacks over the years, specifically with COVID. But just like in 2016 when people were looking for a way to deal with stress and find a healthy way to unwind, they are looking for the same today. This is why, in a sea of imitators, the Original Goat Yoga, headquartered at No Regrets Farm in Bellfountain, Oregon, has not only stood out but has thrived. How Goats Enhance Yoga Goats will lie down and seek the attention of yoga participants during a goat yoga class. Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock.com Yes, goats will participate in the yoga experience. Do they do yoga moves with those being instructed through a class? The answer to that, according to Morse, is no. Lets be clear, the goats are not the ones doing yoga, Morse states. The humans are doing yoga, and the goats just want to be near the humans because they are giving them love and affection and petting them. This could mean that the goats might actually be a distraction to those who are attempting to do a yoga pose, which could be off-putting to some. But for those who want to snuggle and give attention to goats while being outdoors in a tranquil farm setting, and do not mind if a yoga pose or two are missed, goat yoga might just be the perfect way to unwind. I did know that I had something really special because so many people were just blown away by how it made them feel. Calm, relaxed, happy, joyful, and probably most important, it made them forget about their stress, the world problems, politics, and whatever else; it all just melts away when youre around the goats. Lainey Morse, founder of original goat yoga practice Goats Are Never Forced to Participate Goats are never forced to participate in yoga if they do not want to. Carol Hamilton/Shutterstock.com More often than not, goats are very happy animals. But those who have ever been around goats know they can be stubborn animals when they want to be. Consequently, when it comes to the goats that participate in the yoga experience with Original Goat Yoga, Morse says the goats on her farm are never forced to participate with clientele if they do not want to. There are times when the goats would rather graze or nap, and I dont force the goats to participate. If they want to be with people, they will, Morse tells A-Z Animals. I know there are other goat yoga businesses that coax goats on peoples backs with treats, but I dont care for that at my farm. I like it to be an organic and relaxing experience. However, Morse explains that goats more often than not want to be involved, given all the love and attention they receive from those participating in the yoga experience. Goats are very social and loving animals if raised with love and affection. My goats will just want to lie down next to you on your yoga mat and snuggle in with you, Morse explains. They may jump up on your back, which is a cute picture, but that was never the point of goat yoga. It was about getting outdoors in a beautiful setting, connecting with loving and social animals, and disconnecting from stress. Just because goats want to participate does not mean they will always go to every person equally. This has a lot to do with the energy people project, which can either attract or deter goats from approaching. The Happier the Person, the More Goats Like Them Goats are more apt to seek attention from yoga participants who are happy versus those in a foul mood. Milly Chacko/Shutterstock.com When participating in yoga that involves goats, there are some people to whom goats tend to gravitate more than others. This is not a figment of imagination. According to Morse, the happier the person, the more goats want to be around them. Goats ARE more attracted to people that are smiling! Morse explains to A-Z Animals. I always tell all our clients this because there have been times where people are not smiling and the goats dont go to them. In fact, there is scientific evidence to support this. According to a 2018 study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, goats have learned to read facial cues from people. Goats were taught to walk across an enclosure to look at different black and white photographs of both men and women. Some of the pictures were of smiling, happy faces, while others depicted anger. The majority of the goats congregated around the smiling pictures, preferring them over the angry ones. These findings suggest that the ability of animals to perceive human facial cues is not limited to those with a long history of domestication as companions, and therefore may be far more widespread than previously believed, the study says. This information not only means that there may be more animals that can perceive how people are feeling, but it may also improve the treatment domestic animals receive, with the knowledge that they can decipher how their caretakers are feeling. What does this mean for those participating in goat yoga? It means come to the experience with an open mind, a positive attitude, and of course, a smile. Goats will be more receptive to interacting, fostering an environment of relaxation and peace, leaving both people and animals better for the time spent together in the process. The post How Goat Yoga Helps You Disconnect From Stress appeared first on A-Z Animals. Gibraltar Fire & Rescue Service Personnel attend Servicing Course Personnel from the Gibraltar Fire and Rescue Services Motor Transport Section took part in a three-day Holmatro Technician Refresher Training Course in Raamsdonksveer, Netherlands. Airport Fire and Rescue Service personnel joined for the second course, held in June. These three-day courses are designed to ensure personnel remain competent in inspecting and repairing Holmatro's high-pressure hydraulic tools, primarily associated with road traffic collisions. The course centred on: Understanding hydraulics in general Performing annual maintenance on pumps and tools Basicdiagnostics on pumps and tools Performing minor repairs on pumps and tools Holmatro hydraulic equipment is but another vital element of GFRS wide range of response capabilities, requiring the servicing team to work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the safety and operational readiness of this and all GFRS appliances and equipment. Former President of Barack Obama has aura, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Monday interview on the Full Send Podcast.(Screenshot User: Full Send Podcast) (Screenshot User: Full Send Podcast) Former President Barack Obama has aura, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed in a Monday interview on the Full Send Podcast. Netanyahu sat down with hosts Kyle Forgeard and Jesse Sebastiani the Nelk Boys who pressed him about his interactions with Presidents Donald Trump, Joe Biden and Obama. (RELATED: I Stand In Awe: Tucker Carlson Cant Contain His Joy After NELK Boys Give Him The Best Christmas Gift Ever) I dont agree with everything he did, but Obamas still cool, Forgeard said. He has aura. You know what that means? Yeah, I do, Netanyahu said. And he had it. I dont disclaim that he had great talents, but we had different views of the world. He was a very talented and gifted person. I dont think he was a weak person. I dont think that at all. But I think he had ideas that I didnt always share, to put it mildly. Netanyahu pointed to Obamas approach to Irans nuclear program as the heart of their rift, saying they fundamentally disagreed on the general direction to take. I thought that making sure Iran doesnt have nuclear weapons was something that was absolutely essential, Netanyahu said. He viewed it differently. He thought that through accommodation that he would stop them, and I dont think he did. I mean, he made a deal that basically paved their way with gold to a nuclear arsenal. When he testified in front of a 2015 joint session of Congress concerning the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Netanyahu told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that Israel would no longer remain passive in the face of Irans ambitions. Iran envelopes the entire world with its tentacles of terror, Netanyahu said at the time. As prime minister of Israel, I have a moral obligation to speak up in the face of these dangers while there is still time to avert them. Netanyahu said testifying before Congress wasnt easy, but he felt compelled to speak out for Israels sake. I did it because I thought the fate of my country was at stake, Netanyahu said. I thought we could be annihilated by the Iranians. Ten years later, Netanyahu stands behind his decision and said he still disagrees with Obamas prerogative. Its not for lack of respect, its for disagreement, the prime minister said. People can disagree and in politics, you often compromise. Ghislaine Maxwell in New York in 2013. (Laura Cavanaugh / Getty Images file) WASHINGTON The House Oversight Committee plans to subpoena Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell "as expeditiously as possible," a committee spokesperson said. The Trump administration is under growing pressure, some of it from allies of President Donald Trump, to release additional files related to Epstein. Epstein died in jail in 2019 awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, and his death has sparked conspiracy theories for years. A House Oversight subcommittee on Tuesday without opposition approved a motion directing the committee chair, James Comer, to issue a subpoena for Maxwell. Only four members were present. Comer, R-Ky., had directed Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., to introduce the motion after Burchett requested that the committee subpoena her. The motion allows "the Committee to formally consider whether to proceed," the committee spokesperson said. "The Committee will seek to subpoena Ms. Maxwell as expeditiously as possible," the spokesperson said. "Since Ms. Maxwell is in federal prison, the Committee will work with the Department of Justice and Bureau of Prisons to identify a date when Committee can depose her." Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence in Florida after she was convicted of federal sex trafficking charges in 2021. She was accused of recruiting and grooming girls whom Epstein sexually abused. Maxwells counsel and the Bureau of Prisons did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the possible congressional testimony. The Justice Department declined to comment. Earlier Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that he would reach out to Maxwell's counsel to determine whether she would be willing to speak with Justice Department prosecutors. "President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence," Blanche said in a statement on X issued by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The statement said that if Maxwell had "information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say." Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Markus, confirmed Tuesday that his team was "in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully." Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday that he was unaware of Blanche's plans but that he believed it would be "appropriate" for him to speak to Maxwell. I dont know about it, but I think its something that would be, sounds appropriate to do, Trump said as he took questions before a meeting with the president of the Philippines. 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. 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. 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. 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). 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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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 The family of a Colorado man whose final minutes saw him cry for help as he was throwing up blood in a southwestern Colorado jail filed suit against the county and the jail's medical provider on July 21. The estate of Daniel Foard called the 32-year-old's 2023 death at the La Plata County Jail "gruesome and entirely preventable" in a complaint filed in the United States District Court for Colorado. "The final 15-plus hours of his life were dominated by terrible pain and suffering, including his expressed and doubtlessly terrifying consciousness of his impending death," the complaint reads. Jail cell video obtained by USA TODAY shows Foard throwing up coffee-ground like vomit and begging officers for medical attention. Foard died from acute peritonitis due to a perforated duodenal ulcer, according to the complaint. A photo of Daniel Foard included in a lawsuit filed by his family in connection with his 2023 death in La Plata County Jail. "We spend a lot of time thinking about deliberate indifference and it's a really, really hard concept to explain," Dan Weiss, one of the estate's lawyers told USA TODAY in an interview ahead of the filing. "This case right here is one of the clearest illustrations of that concept we have ever seen." The lawsuit names La Plata County, the county's Sherriff Sean Smith, the jail's medical provider Southern Health Partners, and eight nurses and jail employees as defendants. Ted Holteen, a spokesperson for La Plata County, told USA TODAY in a statement the "county has not analyzed the allegations made in the complaint" and that it does not comment on pending litigation. USA TODAY reached out to the sheriff and Southern Health Providers ahead of the filing and did not receive a response. "Our pain of loss is immeasurable, but we know that the path forward must lead to healing, to resolution, to something that allows us to take a deep breath and feel a sense of closure," Jim Foard and Susan Gizinski, Daniel's parents, said in a statement provided to USA TODAY. "Without any accountability for what happened to our son, there can be no closure." Boulder jail death: Colorado family sues after man dies from infection in jail in his 'blood and vomit' August 2023: Daniel Foard enters La Plata County jail Foard was booked into La Plata County jail on August 11, 2023. He was being held on warrants for failure to appear, a jail supervisor told the Durango Herald at the time of Foard's death and the estate's lawyers confirmed in the interview. Foard told nurses at the jail that he regularly took fentanyl pills during the intake process and was placed in the jail's detoxification program. During his time in the program, he had some vomiting and diarrhea that soon went away. But an elevated heart rate, fast breathing and high blood pressure continued, according to the complaint. During a routine body scan around 9:45 p.m. on Aug. 15, 2023, before he was to be moved to general population housing, Foard collapsed to the floor multiple times, according to the complaint. The complaint alleges that a jail deputy mouthed to another that Foard was "faking." Denver police recruit recalls 'hazing': 'I'll never be the person that I was' Later that night, nurse Ashley Box concluded that Foard was stable and could be transferred to general population. He was moved to the jail's G block, according to the complaint. USA TODAY reached out to a publicly listed phone number for Box and did not receive a response. Deputies tasked with escorting Foard told Box that he was "really struggling." Box responded by asking, "what do you think?" The complaint alleges that Box did not go to see Foard or relay his condition to a doctor. "Box chose to rely on a medically untrained Deputy to tell her how her patient was doing, but then disregarded what she reported," the complaint reads. The next day: Foard's condition worsens The next morning, on Aug. 16, 2023, Foard fell into his cell door twice when he went to retrieve breakfast, according to the complaint. A deputy asked him to step out to be seen by the jail's medical personnel. "Over the course of the (previous) night, he vomited repeatedly and continually complained of stomach pain," the complaint reads. "He called deputies from the cells call box several times, telling them that he was sick, his stomach was hurting, and that he wanted to be seen by medical." The complaint notes that the last time Foard's vital signs were taken was 3:27 a.m., around the time he was moved into general population. 'Don't hurt us!' Denver police 'terrorized' family when they raided wrong apartment: Lawsuit When he stepped out of the cell, he was only able to take a few steps before needing to sit on the ground because "he obviously could not safely ambulate, stand, or maintain balance," the complaint states. The lone registered nurse in the jail at the time, Sierra Snooks, responded the call for help. She charted that Foard reported an intense, "sharp" and "shooting" abdominal pain that was a "10" on a 1-10 scale, according to the complaint. Foard told her that the symptoms did not feel like those from withdrawal. Snooks told Foard that she was initially concerned about appendicitis, but that she had decided that the pain wasnt in the right place to be appendicitis, so they would "monitor" him in the jail's booking area. The complaint states that registered nurses are prohibited by licensure from diagnosing or ruling out appendicitis. It alleges the symptoms reported by Foard required Snooks to call a doctor, and that she did not. "Ten-out-of-10 sharp, shooting, and persisting abdominal pain is unquestionably a serious medical emergency. These symptoms mandate immediate provider involvement," the complaint reads. USA TODAY reached out to a publicly listed email for Snooks and did not receive a response. Foard was moved by Snooks to the jail's booking area for medical monitoring. The complaint alleges the medical monitoring never happened. "Snooks did not even communicate with any of the Deputies why Mr. Foard was being moved back to be monitored," the complaint reads. "The next time a nurse came to see him he was dead." Daniel Foard's final hours Foard was placed in Holding Cell 4 around 7 a.m. on Aug. 16 and continued vomiting through the day. By 6 p.m., Foard was moved to Holding Cell 5 due to vomit in the first cell. Snooks left the jail in a shift change around 6 p.m., with Box coming on duty. Foard was seen pouring the soup he had been served into cell's the toilet, drinking the mixture and regurgitating it immediately, according to the complaint. By 6:40 p.m. Foard was moved to Holding Cell 6, once again for vomit. He is seen on video crawling into the cell and falling to the floor. Foard continued to call for help, including cries of "vomiting blood" and "I'm in a lot of pain" that are heard on the cell video. He also yelled, "I'm gonna die," according to the complaint. The family of Daniel Foard, a 32-year-old who died in a southwestern Colorado jail, has filed lawsuit in the wake of his "gruesome" death. A jail sergeant is heard on video telling Foard to hit the grate in the cell because they, "cant keep switching (him) out to clean." The sergeant later told Foard, "I dont know if you can comprehend what Im sayingI cant just jump every timeif you keep yellin. I hear you, but theres not a whole lot I can do." The complaint alleges that Box did "walk-bys" of Foard's cell but did not assess the inmate as he was crying for help. At approximately 9:49 p.m., Box banged on the door of Holding Cell 6 to no response. When deputies opened the door, they found Foard dead in a pool of his own bloody vomit, according to the complaint. The lawsuit says an autopsy found Foard had "a liter of cloudy brown fluid in his peritoneal cavity," stomach fluid in his respiratory system, and that his stomach contained dark brown fluid. Foard was found to have fentanyl still in his system, Mike Arnall, a forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy, told the Durango Herald at the time, but said that "the greater problem was a belly full of pus." "As the surgeon would say, thats a surgical problem with a surgical cure meaning there's only one way you're going to cure that, and that's with surgery, Arnall told the newspaper. Lawsuit points at jail's medical service provider Documents included in the filing show that Southern Health Partners was chosen by La Plata County after significantly underbidding its competitor. The lawsuit quotes a 2023 email from La Plata County Sheriff's Office Detentions Division Commander Ed Aber that reads: "I have done some informal cost comparisons with other service providers that meet medical needs in other Colorado Jails, and our contracted price is significantly lower." The lawsuit points to five instances of jail deaths where Southern Health Partners were responsible for staffing, calling the medical provider and the county's practices "unconstitutional." Anna Holland Edwards, a lawyer for the family, said the cost-cutting provider is a symptom of a larger disregard for inmate medical services. "For-profit healthcare is bad and complicated in a lot of ways anyway," Holland Edward told USA TODAY in an interview ahead of the filing. "But for-profit healthcare where the consumer is not the patient, it just leads to this recklessness over and over again because the person paying is prepared to cut some corners." Foard's parents said they want to see changes in the way inmates are treated at La Plata County jail. "Just basic training in having compassion for others would be a great start. But adding more staff is critical too," their statement reads. "More medical staff and a physician on-site would be beneficial, along with proper training. If Deputies are going to continue being used to monitor sick inmates, they must be trained also." "These elementary steps would have saved our sons life," Foard's parents said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daniel Foard described sharp pain before Colorado jail death: Lawsuit Getty Images Lauren Sanchez on November 20, 2024. Lauren Sanchez's latest look includes a purse worth over $15,000. Returning to Europe with her new husband, Jeff Bezos, the couple was spotted at the luxurious Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap dAntibes, France, on Sunday. Sanchez modeled a vintage backless Roberto Cavalli gown printed with shocking flashes of teal, neon green, and hot pink. She topped off her look with denim Aquazzura open-toe heels, aviator sunglasses and a miniature Lady Dior handbag. Backgrid Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos on July 20, 2025. Released as part of the brand's Reve dInfini collection, the hand-beaded accessory features a compass-inspired motif created in collaboration with artist Pietro Ruffo. The five-figure handbag's design is based on a mosaic from designer Christian Dior's childhood home in Granville, France. Although no longer sold, the limited-edition purse retailed for over $15,000. Following their star-studded wedding in Venice, Italy, last month, Sanchez and Bezos rented out one of the Floating City's iconic spots, Harry's Bar, for a lunch date with friends Usher and Tommy Hilfiger on June 28. Sanchez sported an off-the-shoulder minidress with a ruffled neckline, adding on a Eugenia Kim straw hat, an ivory crocodile Hermes Kelly clutch, and oversized cat-eye frames. Getty Images Lauren Sanchez on June 28, 2025. Sanchez and Bezos, who have been together for seven years, tied the knot in a lavish June 27 ceremony spectated by Kim Kardashian, Sydney Sweeney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, and more. Dolce & Gabbana designed Sanchez's Grace Kelly-esque gown, which featured a mermaid silhouette and 180 chiffon buttons. According to Vogue, the dress took over 900 hours of atelier work. "It is a departure from what people expect," Sanchez shared with Vogue ahead of her wedding. "From what I expectbut its very much me." Sanchez later changed into another gown inspired by an Old Hollywood star. Based on one of Rita Hayworth's looks in Gilda, the former journalist's Oscar de la Renta number included a sweetheart neckline and 175,000 crystals. Read the original article on InStyle chelley/Instagram Love Island USA stars Chelley and Ace share behind-the-scenes look at their time in the villa in Fiji. NEED TO KNOW Love Island USA stars Chelley Bissainthe and Ace Greene made their first social media appearance since leaving Fiji In an Instagram post, Chelley shared photos alongside her fellow cast members Chelley shared that her "time in the villa was one of the most beautiful experiences of [her] life," but "it wasn't always easy" Love Island USA stars Chelley Bissainthe and Ace Greene are back on social media after spending over two months filming in Fiji. In an Instagram post Chelley shared on Thursday, July 17, she posed alongside Ace, 22, in selfies taken both inside and after the villa. Chelley, 27, also shared several behind-the-scenes photos with fellow cast member Olandria Carthen, and a group photo where she posed with season 7 winner Amaya Espinal, along with cast members Andreina Santos, Cierra Ortega, and Iris Kendall. "I'll never forget how i started but this is far from the end, its actually just the beginning," she wrote in the caption. Olandria, 27, wrote in the comment section, "My soul sister." Chelley's carousel post included a lengthy note addressed "TO MY CHERRIES, MY CHERIES & MY SUPPORT SYSTEM." "From the bottom of my heart, thank you," she wrote. "To those who've stood with me since the beginning, to my new fans, to every person whether white, Black, purple, yellow who has shown nothing but love, thank you." chelley/Instagram Love Islands Chelley and Ace Return to Social Media: 'I'll Never Forget How I Started She went on to write, "To the women who look like me, who saw parts of themselves in me, who felt inspired or found a little more light and confidence through my journey, I see you, I feel you, and I love you. To the men who supported me and may have struggled with showing vulnerability. I see you too. You are valued and your strength in softness matters." Chelley also thanked "the people who used their platforms not just to recap a show but to speak truthfully about the deeper realities Black women face," writing, "your words meant everything." "You reminded the world that we are layered, emotional, complex, worthy and real," she wrote. "Thank you for holding the line of truth with me and for me in times where hate seemed stronger than usual." chelley/Instagram Chelley Bissainthe's statement from her return to Instagram after 'Love Island USA.' Chelley shared that her "time in the villa was one of the most beautiful experiences of [her] life," but "it wasn't always easy." "There were plenty of rollercoasters, lessons, and unspoken moments but I wouldn't change a thing," she wrote. "It led me to someone I truly adore. For that alone, I'll always be grateful." She also took a moment to note that "a lot occurred and went unseen" in the show. "I've never been angry with the world for having opinions," Chelley wrote, "but understand that you're only seeing a glimpse, maybe 10 minutes out of my 24-hour day in Fiji. Even though many things were out of context, it could never stop me from expressing my love and gratitude towards all of you." Despite having to leave the island before making the final four couples, she expressed gratitude for her time in the villa. "How I see it? At the end of the day... I won," she wrote. "I have my man. I have my circle. I have my peace. And I have YOU. I just ask one favor. that my supporters turned family continue to spread love and not hate." Take PEOPLE with you! Subscribe to PEOPLE magazine to get the latest details on celebrity news, exclusive royal updates, how-it-happened true crime stories and more right to your mailbox. Ace shared a similar sentiment in his post on Instagram, writing in the caption, "The truth is, who I am in real life and who I may have been perceived to be on TV are two very different things. But one thing is for sure I walked out that Villa a winner. I left with the most beautiful girl in the world, someone who truly means everything to me. And if I had to do it all again, Id do it a billion times over." He also opened up about the "challenges emotionally, mentally, spiritually" that he endured in the process, writing, "But even in those moments, I never let go of who I am.As a man, I think before I speak and always listen to my heart when it comes to my feelings and what I choose to express; I cannot allow society and the ways of the world to dictate who Im deemed to be. My time in Fiji has taught me that true strength is in honoring your feelings, your boundaries, your truth, even when its misunderstood." The Love Island USA reunion will be hosted by Ariana Madix and Andy Cohen on Peacock, and will air on Aug. 25. Love Island USA season 7 can currently be streamed in its entirety. Read the original article on People Courtesy of Matt Yeager for Essex St. Cheese On a recent trip to New York City, I tasted a wheel of cheese that transported me to the tropics. Called Mandala, this vibrant, nutty, mango-hued wheel was crafted by Brazilian cheesemaker Bento Mineiro. The flavors were bold and unexpected, with echoes of rainstorm and spice. Mandala was born a decade ago in Brazil, but it debuted in the U.S. this month. It is aged for 10 to 12 months in stone cellars on Bela Vista Fazenda, Mineiros solar-powered family farm in Sao Paulos lush Cuesta region. Mineiros background in agricultural genetics hes a fourth-generation farmer and second-generation geneticist helped him engineer the ideal animal for the job. Mandala is made with raw milk from Girsey cows, a hybrid of the heat-tolerant Indian Gir and buttery-rich Jersey that is crossbred to thrive on tropical pasture. But there was no roadmap for making a world-class aged cheese in Brazils tropical climate. So he and his partner, Vanessa Alcolea, asked questions. How do we create a very fine product? What should the nutrition be for the animals? How long do we age the cheese? How do we express the place? Mineiro recalls. They took inspiration from Alpine greats like Comte and Emmental, but quickly realized: We couldnt just copy and paste. To adapt, they imported drought-resistant grasses from Africa, and built their own below-ground cave for aging, where 1,200 wheels of Mandala rest on pine planks and are hand-washed with a local brine. We had to experiment with every single thing, Mineiro says. The recipe, molds, pressing, washing. The result is unlike anything else on the American market. Mandala is sunny and bold, with flavors that span sweet cream, Brazil nuts, cocoa, and tropical fruit like jackfruit and dragon fruit. Its dense but not heavy, with a smooth, wonderfully elastic texture and the occasional eye (thats cheese nerd for a hole, like in Swiss cheese) from natural fermentation. The summer wheels practically glow with bright yellow color; in winter, they mellow to a golden straw. Related: This Is Officially the No. 1 American-Made Cheese, According to This Years U.S. Championship Cheese Contest I had the chance to taste Mandala alongside a wheel of Comte, aged by Benoit Prince, a French affineur whose family has been stewarding this iconic cheese for centuries. One wheel carried a legacy dating back a millennium; the other, just a few years old, was born of bold experimentation and Bento Mineiros dream of capturing Brazilian terroir in curd and rind. Courtesy of Matt Yeager for Essex St. Cheese Mandala is inspired by Alpine cheese like Comte and Emmental, but boasts its own unique character thanks to Brazilian terroir. Tasted side by side, the contrasts were striking. The Comte was firm and dense, with the deep, savory richness of long-simmered bone broth. The Mandala had a luscious elasticity supple and springy. Both offered the delightful crystalline crunch of tyrosine, those telltale amino acid clusters that appear in well-aged cheese. But while Comte lingered with umami warmth, Mandala bloomed with floral notes and a bright, tropical acidity like a rainforest after rain, vibrant and unexpected. Pair Mandala with a minerally Chardonnay or a bold, earthy orange wine. Or do as I did: close your eyes and let the flavors unravel, like a story told in milk and time. Mandalas arrival in the U.S., thanks to importer Essex St. Cheese, represents more than just a new addition to the cheese counter. (You can find it in specialty shops like Di Bruno Bros. in Philadelphia, Zingermans Deli in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Cowbell in Portland, Oregon, with more locations coming soon.) The cheese marks a turning point in Brazils identity as a cheesemaking country. Related: 13 Vibrant Brazilian Food and Drink Recipes Thirty or 40 years ago, we were importing everything, says Mineiro. Now Brazil is one of the biggest agricultural exporters in the world. Its a revolution; there was no footprint for doing this sort of thing. For centuries, most Brazilian cheese fell into two camps: soft, fresh cheeses for the breakfast table, or imitations of European styles. The idea of a raw-milk, cave-aged original was practically unthinkable. And yet, here it is: not a copy, but a confident original. Brazil is an amalgamation, says Mineiro. From the terroir to the people ourselves. If we want to create a whole new cheese, here is the perfect place to do it. Read the original article on Food & Wine A Minnesota state senator announced she will resign as early as next month after being convicted on a burglary charge last week, her defense attorney confirmed. Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell was found guilty of two criminal charges on July 18 stemming from a 2024 arrest, The Minnesota Reporter, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. Mitchell, 50, was convicted of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools in connection to a break-in at her stepmother's home in Detroit Lakes, a city in northeast Minnesota about 200 miles northwest of Minneapolis. On July 22, Mitchell's attorney Dane DeKrey told USA TODAY his client will resign "no later than Aug. 4." Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell takes a moment to reflect during her testimony on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at Becker County District Court in Detroit Lakes. Sen. Mitchell is accused of burglarizing her stepmother Carol Mitchells house in Detroit Lakes in April 2024. In the interim, DeKrey said the senator will use that time to wrap up outstanding legislative projects, train legislation staff and more. "Senator Mitchells constituents deserve for her legislative projects to be finalized or ready to hand off to her successor before she resigns," according to a statement released by DeKrey. "Mitchells constituents also deserve to have their outstanding issues handled before her resignation... It was the honor of her lifetime to serve her District and the State of Minnesota." Who is Sen. Nicole Mitchell? Mitchell, a Democrat, represents the cities of Woodbury and Maplewood. She is a former Lt. Colonel with the U.S. Air Force and a meteorologist. More political news: 'Flood' of ICE agents is coming to cities run by Democrats, according to the White House Why was Sen. Nicole Mitchell arrested? Sen. Nicole Mitchell brings a bill to the state Senate floor on April 18, 2024. Provided by Senate Media Services. According to trial testimony, on April 22, 2024, Mitchell broke into her stepmother's Detroit Lakes home to steal her late fathers possessions. Mitchell unsuccessfully tried to convince jurors she was in the home to conduct a welfare check on her stepmother. She took the stand during trial and told the jury her stepmother "was struggling with paranoia due to Alzheimers disease," the USA TODAY Network reported. 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. As of July 22, sentencing for Mitchell had not been set. The lawmaker, who has no criminal history, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for burglary and three years in prison for her other charge. Mitchell's attorney said his client will appeal the burglary conviction. Contributing: Michelle Griffith with The Minnesota Reformer Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell to resign after burglary conviction In-N-Out CEO Lynsi Snyder had harsh words for the state where her parents built a burger empire. In an appearance on the "Relatable" podcast, Snyder aired grievances with California while saying she will be moving her family to Tennessee with the opening of the company's second headquarters. "Theres a lot of great things about California," Snyder said. "But raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here." Snyder also groused about the state's implementation of rules surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw state health officials shut down two restaurants in 2021 for not checking vaccine status. "Youve got to do this," Snyder said of the vaccine mandate for indoor dining. "You have to have this plastic thing between us and our customers. It was really terrible, you know? And I look back, Im like, we should have pushed even harder on that stuff. Were not policing our customers." Snyder appeared to moderate her stances in the wake of the appearance in a statement provided to USA TODAY by the company and posted to her Instagram page on July 22. "Where I raise my family has nothing to do with my love and appreciation for our Customers in California," Snyder said. "Im very proud of where In-N-Out started. Anyone who knows me knows how often I talk about our beginnings and how our Customers here in California helped bring us to where we are today." In-N-Out adding Tennessee HQ but not leaving California A billboard touting The Habit's ranking number one in a USA TODAY 10 BEST list is seen next to an In-N-Out location in the Van Nuys neighborhood in Los Angeles, Calif. on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. In-N-Out announced in February that many of its California corporate employees will move from Irvine in Orange County to an office in the Los Angeles-area city of Baldwin Park, where the company was founded in 1948. The company had been in the Irvine office since 1994. The move to the Baldwin Park office, about 40 miles northwest of the Irvine offices and one mile from the first restaurant opened by Harry and Esther Snyder, is expected to be complete by the end of 2029. The company said that after the Irvine office's closure, corporate employees will be stationed either at the Baldwin Park office or at the Tennessee office. The Nashville-area office is on track to open in 2026, the company said at the time. Snyder downplays East Coast expansion Snyder tamped down on the possibility of a further East Coast expansion, pointing to logistical difficulties. "Were able to reach Tennessee from our Texas warehouse. Well have a warehouse, but not do our own meat there, so well be able to deliver from Texas," Snyder said. The company operates 281 of its 418 locations in California but has steadily expanded in recent years. Snyder added that the bulk of the company's stores will be in California. "Florida has begged us, and were still saying no," Snyder said. "The East Coast states, were still saying no." This story has been updated with new information This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In-N-Out CEO Lynsi Snyder says she's moving out of California A Bangladesh Air Force plane has crashed into a college and school campus in Dhaka, killing at least 31 people, including 25 children. The incident on Monday is the deadliest aviation disaster in the Bangladeshi capital in recent memory. The fighter aircraft took off at 1:06 p.m. (0706 GMT) from the air force base in Dhaka's Kurmitola for a routine training mission, but experienced a mechanical failure soon after. The pilot attempted to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas to minimize civilian casualties and damage, but his efforts were unsuccessful and the jet crashed into a building. It echoes a 2008 crash where an F-7 air force training jet went down outside Dhaka, killing its pilot who ejected after a technical problem. Details are still emerging. While details are still emerging, here's what is known so far about Mondays crash: The crash The F-7 BGI jet, a variant of a Chinese fighter, crashed into the campus of the Milestone School and College, in the Uttara neighborhood of Dhaka. The pilot was among the dead, according to the military and a fire official, and 171 people, mostly students, have been injured. On Tuesday, 78 people remained in hospital. People gather at the site of a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crash in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Officials described the plane as a training aircraft. The military said the jet took off from Bangladesh Air Force Base A.K. Khandaker in Dhaka's Kurmitola neighborhood at 1:06 p.m. and crashed soon after, catching fire immediately. The military said the pilot tried to avoid densely populated areas but the jet hit a two-story building. It said the aircraft experienced a "technical malfunction," adding that a high-level Air Force committee will investigate the cause. Milestone school The crash happened on the campus of Milestone, a school with some 2,000 students. It describes itself as having more than two decades of experience as a leading private educational institution. Rafiqa Taha, a student who was not present at the time of the crash, told The Associated Press by phone that the school offers classes from elementary to 12th grade. The school says it has a focus on extracurricular activities, career counseling and "global opportunities." The Uttara neighborhood is in northern Dhaka, a metropolitan area of more than 20 million people. The victims Details are still emerging. Local media reports said many of the more than 160 injured were students who were on campus for afternoon classes. Firemen and security personnel look for the survivors after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school campus shortly after takeoff in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Maherin Chowdhury, a teacher who rescued more than 20 students from the burning school, died from severe burn injuries, her colleague Tanzina Tanu said. Reactions Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus pledged an investigation, expressing his deep sorrow over the "heartbreaking accident." The government has announced a day of mourning Tuesday, with flags to fly at half-staff across the country. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X: "Our hearts go out to the bereaved families. India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance." Newly-released government files have suggested that it was politically impossible to draw back from the the Iraq War unless dictator Saddam Hussein surrendered. Britains ambassador warned that President George W Bush was bent on the overthrow of Hussein as part of a mission to rid the world of evil-doers. In January 2003 two months before US and UK forces launched their invasion Tony Blair to flew to Camp David to urge the president to allow more time for diplomacy to work. However, files released to the National Archives at Kew, west London, show that Britains ambassador to the US, Sir Christopher Meyer, warned it had become politically impossible to draw back from war unless Hussein surrendered. British officials were still hoping that the the United Nations Security Council would agree a new resolution specifically authorising the use of military force against Iraq. Mr Blairs foreign policy adviser, Sir David Manning, said that when he met the president he should make the point that a new resolution was politically essential for the UK, and almost certainly legally essential as well. However, the Americans were becoming increasingly impatient with the unwillingness of France and Russia which both had a veto on the council to agree a resolution so long as UN inspectors were unable to find any evidence of Husseins weapons of mass destruction, the supposed justification for war. Britain's ambassador to the US, Sir Christopher Meyer (Fiona Hanson/PA Wire) Britain's ambassador to the US, Sir Christopher Meyer (Fiona Hanson/PA Wire) Following Mr Bushs annual State of the Union address to Congress, shortly before Mr Blairs visit, he warned that the options for a peaceful solution had effectively run out. It is politically impossible for Bush to back down from going to war in Iraq this spring, absent Saddams surrender or disappearance from the scene he wrote. If Bush had any room for manoeuvre beforehand this was closed off by his State of the Union speech. In the high-flown prose to which Bush is drawn on these set-piece occasions, he said in effect that destroying Saddam is a crusade against evil to be undertaken by Gods chosen people. In a cable sent the previous month, Sir Christopher said that much of the impulse for deposing Hussein was coming from the president, a born-again Christian, who was scornful of what he saw as the self-serving reservations of the Europeans. His view of the world is Manichean. He sees his mission as ridding it of evil-doers. He believes American values should be universal values, Sir Christopher wrote. He is strongly allergic to Europeans collectively. Anyone who has sat round a dinner table with low-church Southerners will find these sentiments instantly recognisable. In the event, the US and UK abandoned their efforts to get agreement on a new Security Council resolution, claiming French president Jacques Chirac had made it clear he would never agree. Just a few months into the tentative rebirth of a new Syria, a bloody sectarian conflict is once again raging in the volatile southern borderlands. War now threatens to tip the country over the edge and spill into an already unstable region. Fighting has engulfed Suweida, a southern city with a majority Druze population an ethnic-religious minority with roots in Shia Islam, whose adherents live in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. Videos shared from the ground claim to show horrific summary executions and violence. Neighbouring Israel, facing pressure from its own Druze population, has taken a violent stand. Missiles have rained down on government forces in Suweida and in central Damascus, pounding the countrys defence ministry and presidential palace. Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike that hit the Syrian Defence Ministry in Damascus (SANA) In this whirl of shrapnel and shellfire, hopes for a new era of peace in a nation long torn apart by dictatorship and an almost 14-year civil war are quickly fading. Instead, Syria appears on the brink of being dragged into yet another civil and international conflict. A lot of the dead have been shot in the head. Eighty per cent of the population are now refugees in the surrounding villages. Its a disaster, says Samer (not his real name), a Druze journalist who spent years clandestinely reporting from Suweida during Syrias bloody civil war. Samer spoke to The Independent from a partially functioning hospital in Suweida, where he said hundreds of the injured and dead were taken. He asked to remain anonymous for fear of his life. We are trying to bury the bodies around the hospitals because of the smell and because we are afraid of infection. Some of them were shot in the head, some killed by bombing, Samer adds. Syrian government forces deploy at the Mazraa village on the outskirts of city of Suweida (AP) Samer described how, following a tit-for-tat slew of kidnappings, bloody battles have raged between Syrias Druze fighters and local Bedouin Arab armed factions. Damascus then sent troops to quell the fighting, but they were drawn into the violence and accused of widespread violations against the Druze. The Independent has repeatedly reached out to multiple branches of the new government for comment and has yet to receive a reply. Residents of the area told The Independent that Druze citizens had been shot at close range in their homes or in the streets by troops who appear to be government forces videos shared online show people in military fatigues shooting men who are on their knees. In one video, which fact-checking website Verify Syria has verified, a group of men in fatigues force three men to jump off a balcony of a multi-storey building as they are shot. The Independent has been unable to independently confirm any of the videos, but the death toll is climbing. Outside of combatant deaths in battle, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said more than 320 have been killed by summary executions, other forms of violence, and in Israeli strikes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, another monitoring group, has reported a total death toll of at least 940 people. The UN says at least 87,000 people have been displaced within the Suweida governorate and towards neighbouring Daraa. The area has been unable to receive much-needed humanitarian and medical aid due to ongoing clashes. " width="500"> After the initial heady celebration following the overthrow of long-term autocratic Bashar al-Assad in December by Islamist-led factions, cracks in Syrias diverse society have started to show and deepen. The surge in violence underlines the challenges facing interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose former militant faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham a one-time al-Qaeda affiliate that has distanced itself from its jihadi past led the charge against Assad. But since then, he has struggled to assert control over the south and areas near the Israeli border. While Mr Sharaa has been buoyed by rapidly improving ties with global powers, including US president Donald Trumps administration, the violence has highlighted lingering sectarian tensions and widespread distrust among minority groups towards his Islamist-led government. That distrust has only deepened following the mass killings of Alawites in March. Deadly clashes have now erupted in the south, with Syrias large Druze community accusing Bedouin tribes of kidnappings and summary executions. Experts warn that the Syrian government has done little to stop this. A boy who was injured in Sweida city during clashes between the Syrian government forces and Druze militias, lies inside an ambulance in Busra al-Harir village (AP) Instead of pursuing an inclusive, reconciliatory approach to reintegrate Suweida into the Syrian state the authorities keep making the wrong choices, said Armenak Tokmajyan, non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Middle East Centre. He said that while there had been rounds of dialogue with powerful Druze leaders, the discussions were largely focused on disarming them. Despite divisions within the Druze community, most were unwilling to hand over their weapons without clarity on the future shape of the state. Then came the recent escalation, which I think could have been averted had the authorities exercised self-restraint and not immediately resorted to violence. This approach has backfired. Druze leaders who have taken a harder stance against the government, like influential Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri who had even been accused from within the Druze community of helping to instigate the tensions and violence are now gaining greater support. Israeli soldiers stand guard as Syrian Druze people cross back into Syria at the Israeli-Syrian border, in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights (AP) Amid this chaos, Israel has entered the fray. From the early days following Assads ousting, Israel has been bombing military bases across the country. By day two, residents in Syrias restive southern borderlands told The Independent that Israeli forces were already conducting patrols. The Israelis took all the weapons from the people, says Ahmed Hassoun, head of the municipality of Hader, a Druze town just 2.5 miles from the border with Israeli-occupied Golan. Most days they are here. Its become a fact for us. We can do nothing. Their forces are coming in and out we are helpless. We are just civilians. What can we do with this reality? Just a mile from the border area outside Hamidiyah town, Moussa, a local leader who is not Druze, spoke to The Independent next to a sandbank he said Israeli forces had clawed out of the earth. The only language Israel understands is force. But we want a peace deal between Israel and the new Syrian government with conditions, he said. Moussa points at an Israeli sandbank outside Hamidiya town in southern Syria (Bel Trew/The Independent) In Suweida, Samer said that Israels claims that it has come to the rescue of the Druze have only stoked pre-existing sectarian tensions that have simmered and flared throughout the 14-year civil war. Just a few months after liberation, Israel has mixed the cards in the south, he added. Israel fears a build-up of Islamist Sunni forces along its northern border, while simultaneously facing pressure from the Druze minority in Israel, who have been concerned about their kin across the border. More than half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 six-day war and annexed in 1981. The Druze minority in Israel, many of whom serve in the Israeli military, are often fiercely loyal to the Israeli state, but tensions with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus political party Likud, have grown in recent years. Bedouin fighters gather as Syrian government security forces block them from entering Suweida province, in Busra al-Harir village (AP) With violence erupting in Suweida, Mr Netanyahu ordered the bombing of Syrian government forces and struck the Defence Ministry in Damascus last week, stating that the strikes were intended to save our Druze brothers and to eliminate the gangs of the regime. He said Israel had established a policy demanding the demilitarisation of territory near the border, stretching from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to the Druze Mountain, east of Suweida. Israeli military expert Amos Harel told The Independent that Israel was facing growing domestic pressure from its Druze minority. Some recently crossed the border, causing chaos with Israeli border guards briefly losing control. The Israeli military issued a statement on Saturday saying it emphasises that crossing the border to Syria constitutes a criminal offence and endangers the public, as well as IDF soldiers. Im not sure there is a goal, Harel said. The end result is yet unclear but the element that changes everything is the Trump administration. The US has stated it did not support the Israeli strikes. Last Friday, an Israeli official said it had agreed to allow Syrian forces limited access to the Suweida area for two days. But many fear that this is just temporary and that Israel is trying to leverage internal domestic turmoil in Syria to keep it weak. In Hader, Druze leaders say they just want their normal rights and decentralisation from Damascus. In Suweida, where a tentative ceasefire is fast collapsing, the biggest fear is yet more massacres. There is a ceasefire in place but five minutes ago government forces attacked one area by drones, says Samer, with desperation. The Druze people just want safety. They dont want to be afraid of other factions and sects. They dont want to separate from the rest of Syria. We want to live as citizens, without fear of others. Thats it. By Jihoon Lee SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's new finance minister and the country's top trade envoy will meet in Washington with U.S. counterparts on Friday for talks on U.S. tariffs, Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said on Tuesday. The country's foreign and industry ministers will also visit the U.S. for trade discussions as early as this week, Koo told reporters after a meeting of economic ministers. Koo took office on Monday. The four officials complete a new cabinet team under President Lee Jae Myung who was sworn in on June 4 after winning a snap election called after his predecessor's ouster for trying to declare martial law. The political turmoil that ensued delayed South Korea's response to U.S. President Donald Trump's punishing tariff regime imposed on dozens of trade partners, including key industrial powerhouses that are also security allies. Koo and Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo will hold talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Friday at the request of the U.S. officials, the finance minister said. "We've had discussions from the perspective of national interest and pragmatism and we'll do our best to prepare a meticulous strategy until we're leaving," Koo said, declining to say whether Seoul was hoping to push back the August 1 deadline before reciprocal tariffs set by Trump are due to come in. Yeo said on Tuesday he would seek to base the talks around forming a manufacturing partnership with the United States. On Monday, South Korea's new Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said tariff talks were in a critical phase that could result in a range of possible outcomes and pledged an all-out effort to wrap up negotiations by August 1. Trump has vowed to slap tariffs on a range of countries including South Korea to reduce what he called unfair trade imbalances. On Saturday, Japan's top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said he planned to visit Washington this week to hold further ministerial-level talks, as Tokyo hopes to clinch a deal by its August 1 deadline. (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Additional reporting by Joyce Lee; Writing by Jack KimEditing by Ed Davies) HALONG (Reuters) -The thunderstorm came so suddenly that it overturned the boat within seconds, said two survivors of the shipwreck which killed at least 35 people in Vietnam's top tourist spot of Halong Bay and left another four missing. "It had been raining for 15 minutes, then there was a thunderstorm ... and a huge wave that all of a sudden capsized the boat," said Nguyen Hong Quan, one of 10 survivors of the accident, which happened early on Saturday afternoon. "It took only a few seconds," he told Reuters on Monday, recalling one of the worst accidents in recent years to hit the UNESCO-protected archipelago, which consists of thousands of limestone islands about 200 km (125 miles) northeast of Hanoi. Of the 49 people that Vietnam's government said were on the boat, four are still missing. Weather conditions are expected to worsen in the coming hours with the landfall in northern Vietnam of Typhoon Wipha, which skirted the southern Chinese coast over the weekend causing flash floods and landslides. Authorities were verifying on Monday whether a body found on an islet in the bay was one of the missing people from the accident, according to local media. The thunderstorm hit large parts of northern Vietnam on Saturday, turning the sky dark in a matter of minutes, with sudden downpours and strong winds felling trees in the capital of Hanoi and temporarily disrupting air travel at the Noi Bai international airport. Quan, a 40-year-old tourist, said he drifted for about three hours on a wooden chair from the sunken boat before a fishing vessel finally rescued him. Hanging on the chair together with him were another two people, only one of whom survived. "One of them was too tired and couldn't hold any longer. What a tragedy," he said. His account matches that from the second person who survived by holding onto the chair. "The waves were so strong. One of the other two was too tired and said goodbye to us," Vu Anh Tu, a 25-year-old member of the crew, told Reuters. He also recalled how the storm hit the boat so suddenly, causing it to overturn "in 15 seconds". "There was so much loss, including children," he said, confirming reports from authorities that several minors were also on the sunken vessel. "I don't know if I'll ever work on a boat again," Tu said. (Reporting by Thinh Nguyen in Halong; Additional reporting by Khanh Vu and Phuong Nguyen in Hanoi; Writing by Francesco Guarascio; Editing by David Stanway) By Andrea Shalal and Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a new 19% tariff rate for goods from the Philippines after what he called a "beautiful visit" by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the White House, saying U.S. goods would pay zero tariffs. Trump posted the news on his Truth Social media platform after meeting with Marcos in the Oval Office, where he had signaled a deal could be reached during the visit. "It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs. The Philippines will pay a 19% Tariff," Trump said, calling Marcos a "very good and tough negotiator." Trump said the two Pacific allies would also work together militarily but gave no details. Marcos, the first Southeast Asian leader to meet Trump in his second term, told reporters at the start of the meeting that the United States was his country's "strongest, closest, most reliable ally." The 19% tariff rate was just below the 20% threatened by Trump earlier this month, but above the 17% rate set in April when Trump announced what he called reciprocal tariff rates for dozens of countries. It matches the 19% rate announced for Indonesia and bests Vietnam's slightly higher rate of 20%. The United States had a deficit of nearly $5 billion with the Philippines last year on bilateral goods trade of $23.5 billion. Trump said the two countries did "a lot of business" with each other, adding the "very big numbers" in the trade agreement would only grow larger. During the Oval Office event, Trump said he may visit China for a landmark trip "in the not-too-distant future" and noted the Philippines had distanced itself from Beijing after his election last November. "The country was maybe tilting toward China, but we un-tilted it very, very quickly," Trump said. The U.S. president has sought to lower tensions with Beijing in recent weeks after pausing a tit-for-tat tariff war that has upended global trade and supply chains. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday he would meet with Chinese officials in Sweden next week. Critics warn Trump's tariffs on nearly all foreign goods could boost prices for U.S. consumers, complicating his push for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. No comment was immediately available from Marcos, who did not speak to reporters before leaving the White House grounds. Philippine Assistant Foreign Secretary Raquel Solano said last week trade officials have been working with U.S. counterparts seeking to seal a "mutually acceptable and mutually beneficial" deal. Protesters gathered near the White House as Marcos arrived, demanding the Philippine leader address pleas of Filipino Americans and migrant workers who have made multiple requests for support amid U.S. immigration raids. Trump underscored the importance of the U.S.-Philippine military relationship. "They're a very important nation militarily, and we've had some great drills lately," he said. Marcos, who arrived in Washington on Sunday, met with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday. During his trip, he will also meet U.S. business leaders investing in the Philippines. Philippine officials say Marcos planned to stress that Manila must become economically stronger if it is to serve as a truly robust U.S. partner in the Indo-Pacific. He told reporters his country was modernizing its military in response to tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Trevor Hunnicutt, editing by Deepa Babington and Rod Nickel) Trump border czar, Tom Homan, speaks with The Center Square outside the White House (July 8, 2025). By Sarah Roderick-Fitch | The Center Square (The Center Square) Two men, citizens of the Dominican Republic who were in the U.S. illegally, have been arrested for the alleged attempted robbery and attempted murder of a U.S. Customs Border Protection officer in New York City. On July 19, two men arrived on a moped in an area of Fort Washington Park under the George Washington Bridge in New York City. Both got off of the bike, with one shooting the off-duty CBP officer, who returned fire injuring him, according to authorities. The other man approached the CBP officer in an an attempt to rob him but drove them both away, authorities say. The incident was captured on video. Both men have been arrested as of Sunday. A witness told authorities that she and the CBP officer were sitting on the rocks by the river when two subjects on a scooter drove up to them, dismounted and one approached with a drawn firearm. The off-duty officer responded by drawing his own firearm in self-defense. He was shot in his right arm and left cheek and remains in stable condition at the hospital, authoties say. Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez and Cristian Aybar Berroa have been arrested. Both Dominican nationals illegally entered the U.S. under the Biden administration and have a criminal history, ICE says. Berroa illegally entered the U.S. in June 2022 and was released into the country by the Biden administration on interim parole pending a federal court immigration hearing. A federal immigration judge issued his final order of removal on Jan. 3, 2023, according to ICE. Instead of being removed from the country, he remained in the U.S. illegally and was arrested multiple times for a range of felonies. He was first arrested by New York City Police officers in May 2023 for 2nd degree reckless endangerment and again in March and April 2024 for 4th degree felony grand larceny and petit larceny each time, according to authorities. Despite having an active U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer request, the New York City Department of Corrections released him into the community. In February, he was again arrested for 2nd degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and for driving without a license. On June 12, he pleaded guilty to petit larceny at the Bronx County Supreme Court. This plea was made in consolidation of all his previous arrests, and he was conditionally discharged and allowed to roam the streets of NYC, DHS said. Nunez, a Dominican national, illegally entered the U.S. in April 2023 and was released into the country, according to ICE. After failing to appear before a federal judge for his immigration hearing, the judge issued his final removal order on Nov. 6, 2024. His criminal history includes first being arrested by NYPD officers in October 2023 for felony grand larceny, petit larceny, and reckless driving, again in October 2024 for 2nd and 3rd degree assault, and in November 2024 and in January 2025 each for criminal contempt, authorities say. By February 2025, a warrant was issued for his arrest by the Leominster Police Department in Massachusetts on six charges including armed robbery (firearm); armed kidnapping (firearm); assault with a dangerous weapon (firearm); larceny over $1,200; larceny from a person; and intimidation of a witness. Each time after their arrests, they were released into the community to only be arrested again for allegedly committing additional crimes, ICE says. The Trump administration blames the sanctuary city policies of New York and Massachusetts as well as the catch and release policy of the Biden administration for crimes committed against multiple New York and Massachusetts residents and the CBP officer. Trumps border czar Tom Homan said that he has never seen the level of violence committed against federal officers in his entire multi-decade career working for six presidents. At a press conference on Monday, he said, I've been doing this since 1984; I've never seen a situation where I see it today, Homan said. You see the polls. Everybody agrees we should be arresting public safety threats, illegal aliens, but the city council here has locked us out of Rikers Island. Are you kidding me? He also repeated his vow that ICE officers would flood the zone through enhanced targeted removal of dangerous criminals in sanctuary cities, including in Massachusetts and New York. The assault on the CBP officer came after assaults on federal immigration officers rose by 700% as of earlier this month, The Center Square reported. DHS now says assaults are up by 830%. An Ecuadorean gang leader who twice escaped from Central American prisons is now locked up in the US and facing a federal drug and gun trafficking indictment, prosecutors said Monday. Jose Adolfo Fito Macias Villamar, 45, the notorious leader of the violent Los Choneros gang, held so much clout in his native country that the Ecuadorian government had to declare a state of emergency last year after his most recent escape sparked nationwide riots and violence. But Macias Villamar was recaptured and extradited to the US over the weekend and is now awaiting on a seven-count indictment in the Eastern District of New York, prosecutors said. Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar, known as Frito, is facing a US indictment for running the Los Choneros gang. via REUTERS Jose Fito Macias thought he could traffic poison into our country, smuggle American weapons back to his killers, and further his criminal enterprise using chaos and bloodshed, Robert Murphy, acting administrator for the Drug Enforcement Administration said in a statement. He was wrong. Today, the kingpin of Los Choneros faces justice on U.S. soil for his crimes, Murphy said. Los Choneros is the most violent and powerful transnational criminal organization in Ecuador, the US Attorneys Office said in a press release. The gang was behind the assassinations of at lease one prominent political leader in Ecuador in 2023, and was part of a rival gang war behind bars that saw more than 115 people killed in 2021. Federal prosecutors in New York said Jose Adolfo Fito Macias Villamar ran the dangerous Los Choneros gang. REUTERS Macias Villamar oversaw the gangs operations from Central America, including from inside Ecuadorean prison cells, according to the indictment. Under his watch, Los Choneros operatives stocked up on weapons in the US including AK 47s, assault rifles and hand grenades between 2020 and 2025, sneaking the weapons into Ecuador, where they helped gangbangers control the gun and international drug trade. In 2011, Macias Villamar was jailed in Ecuador, but managed to escape and did so again in January 2024, when his prison break sparked nationwide unrest and violence. He was recaptured by Ecuadorean authorities June 25 and extradited over the weekend, prosecutors said. Los Choneros gang boss Jose Adolfo Fito Macias Villamar twice escaped from prisons in Ecuador. SNAI/AFP via Getty Images 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, Eastern District US Attorney Joseph Nocella said in a statement. This case demonstrates our Offices commitment to identifying and targeting the leadership of such organizations, wherever they may be located, and bringing them to face justice here in the United States, Nocella added. WASHINGTON New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs campaign office in the Bronx was vandalized on July 20 amid multiple threats on the Congresswomans life in recent days, according to her campaign manager Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben. Multiple images on social media show her New York campaign office splattered with red paint and a sign that says, AOC funds genocide in Gaza. Our office is a hub in the community and we want it to be a safe space for all of our neighbors, Hidalgo-Wohlleben wrote in a July 21 tweet. He added that, In the past few days, we also have received multiple threats on the Congresswomans life and we are treating this seriously with our security partners to make sure she, our staff, and volunteers are safe. It wasn't immediately clear who threatened the progressive lawmaker or vandalized her office. Ocasio-Cortez recently voted against against an amendment to a defense bill that would have cut off $500 million for Israels missile defense programs. She faced backlash over the decision from some fellow figures on the left. The lawmaker has defended herself on the vote, saying on X that the amendment, authored by conservative Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, does nothing to cut off offensive aid to Israel nor end the flow of US munitions being used in Gaza. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks after Mahmoud Khalil arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport on June 21, 2025, in Newark, New Jersey. 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, she shared. Ocasio-Cortez did vote against the defense bill as a whole, which includes $122.5 million for U.S.-Israel cooperative development programs, according to the House Appropriations Committee. The bill passed the House mostly along party lines by a vote of 221-209 on July 18. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AOC receives threats, her New York office vandalized, staffer says Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called out sanctuary city policies after an off-duty border patrol agent was shot in New York City. - Jeenah Moon/Reuters Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blamed New York City officials and sanctuary city policies for the shooting of an off-duty US Customs and Border Protection officer in an apparent robbery gone wrong over the weekend. The 42-year-old officer is in stable condition and expected to survive, officials said Monday. There is no indication he was targeted because of his employment, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Sunday. The officer, who was not in uniform, was sitting with a woman in Riverside Park, beneath the George Washington Bridge, when two men approached on a moped before midnight Sunday. One of the men approached the officer, who realized he was being robbed and drew his service weapon, Tisch said. They both fired their weapons, and the officer was shot in the face and arm, officials said Sunday. The perpetrator was wounded before he got back on the moped and drove away, police said. Surveillance footage posted on X by DHS appears to show the two suspects arriving at a New York City hospital early Sunday, riding what the department said was the same moped that was driven at the scene of the crime. The front-seat passenger, wearing a white top, appears injured and slips off the moped. He is seen lying on the ground as the other man rides away. One of the suspects DUMPS the body of his injured counterpart and flees, the DHS post reads. These individuals will face the full weight of the U.S. Justice System, it added. Authorities identified Miguel Mora, a 21-year-old undocumented immigrant with an extensive criminal past, as a person of interest. He arrived at a Bronx hospital with gunshot wounds to the groin and leg, and was taken into custody, according to Tisch. After the attack, the New York City Police Department asked hospitals in the area to be on the lookout for patients with gunshot wounds, which led them to Mora, according to senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation. After a search, Moras alleged accomplice, who is also undocumented, was arrested Monday, Noem said. Cristian Aybar Berroa also has a history of criminal activity, she said. It is unclear whether Mora or Berroa have attorneys. Federal charges against both men are expected, officials said. Members of the NYPD crime scene unit at Fort Washington Park in Manhattan, New York, on July 20, 2025. - Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Mora entered the country illegally through Arizona in 2023, officials said. Berroa illegally entered the country on June 19, 2022, a Monday release from the Department of Homeland Security said. Moras criminal history includes charges for assault on a pregnant woman and a stabbing charge in January, two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation told CNN. Mora was wanted for robbing a pawn shop in Massachusetts where guns were stolen, and authorities are looking into whether the semi-automatic weapon used in the attack over the weekend is from the pawn shop, the officials said. Berroas criminal history includes charges of reckless endangerment and felony grand larceny stemming from incidents in 2023 and 2024. After being arrested in April of last year, he was released despite an active ICE detainer, the release said. In June of this year, Berroa pleaded guilty to petit larceny at the Bronx County Supreme Court, the release added. This plea was made in consolidation of all his previous arrests, and he was conditionally discharged and allowed to roam the streets of NYC, the release said. Noem blamed sanctuary city policies for the shooting, citing a list of previous arrests and warrants against Mora. 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, she said. Noem called on leaders of sanctuary cities nationwide to change their policies. When asked what policies would have prevented the shooting, Noem did not provide specifics. This individual should have been deported and never been in this country, she said. President Donald Trumps border czar, Tom Homan, echoed Noems statements. Sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals, Homan said Monday. Full stop. A spokesperson for New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the governor wishes the injured officer a full recovery. She believes those responsible for this heinous crime must be held fully accountable and deported, spokesperson Jess DAmelia told CNN in an email Monday. New York already works with the federal government to remove violent criminals and will continue to do so, DAmelia added. But indiscriminately targeting families, students, and small business owners doesnt make anyone safer. Its time for the Trump Administration to put their full focus on removing criminals, just as the President promised. At a separate news conference Monday, New York Mayor Eric Adams said he is not responsible for the revolving-door criminal justice system that kept Mora on the streets. I just carry out the rules, Adams said. Adams said he would welcome more federal agents being deployed to his city, as long as they are focused on dangerous individuals and not everyday individuals who are trying to complete the path to be a citizen. The mayor previously said he visited the wounded officer Sunday in the hospital, where he was recovering with family members by his side who thanked the city for its response. I am extremely angry that we have a customs border patrol officer that is in the hospital because that person should have not been on our streets, Adams said Monday. The officer suffered a broken jaw and a bullet is lodged in his throat, but he is alert and has been communicating through hand gestures, senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation told CNN. In a social media post Sunday afternoon, Trump said the shooting was 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 said. Federal officials have warned of attacks on agents involved in immigration enforcement, with many agents choosing to cover their faces with masks a move that has drawn scrutiny from members of the public and law enforcement experts. If thats a tool that the men and women of ICE (use) that keeps themselves and their families safe, then I will allow it, the acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons said Sunday. CNNs Martin Goillandeau and Karina Tsui contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A boy who vanished near his New York City home more than four decades ago helped transform the way the country handles missing children. The move this week to give his convicted killer a new trial or else release him from prison is a reminder of the impactful legacy of 6-year-old Etan Patz and the drawn-out attempts to bring him justice. Etan's 1979 disappearance remains a mystery, as neither he nor his remains were ever found. The case went unsolved for decades before Pedro Hernandez, a former store clerk in Etan's neighborhood, was named a suspect in 2012. Hernandez confessed to the crime, a confession his defense team argued at trial was false and borne from his mental illness. After his first murder trial ended in a hung jury, Hernandez was convicted at his second trial in 2017 and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. A copy photo of the original missing poster of Etan Patz is shown during a news conference near a New York City apartment building, where police and FBI agents searched a basement for clues in the boy's 1979 disappearance in New York, April 19, 2012. Hernandez, now 64, could see a third trial, or else be released altogether, after a federal appeals court ruled jurors received instructions at trial that could have improperly swayed them toward conviction. Etan was a "little boy whose name and face have become synonymous" with the nationwide issue of missing children, the FBI said. Since 1979, changes in law enforcement response because of Etan's case have resulted in reuniting other children with their families or offering families closure over what happened to them, according to the bureau. What happened to Etan Patz? Etan was 6 years old when he left his SoHo neighborhood home the morning of May 25, 1979. It was to be his first time walking the two blocks to catch his school bus on his own, but he never made it on the bus. When he didn't return home from school that afternoon, his parents reported him missing to police. Police dispatched bloodhounds, helicopters and officers who, along with neighborhood residents, went door-to-door searching for clues about where Etan went. It was the largest and longest search for a missing child in the city in decades, The New York Times reported in 1979. Etan was never found, and was declared legally dead in 2001. In Hernandez's confession, he said he offered Etan a soda to lure him into his store basement, then strangled the boy, put him still alive in a box and left it with a pile of curbside trash. Stanley Patz, father Etan Patz, speaks to the media at Manhattan State Supreme Court following the sentencing of Pedro Hernandez on April 18, 2017. R Pedro Hernandez, after all these years we finally know what dark secret you had locked in your heart, Etan's father, Stanley Patz, said after the verdict, the Associated Press reported. The god you pray to will never forgive you." The boy on the milk carton Etan's case, along with that of 6-year-old Adam Walsh, who went missing from a Hollywood, Florida, shopping mall in 1981 and whose partial remains were found two weeks later, are credited with drawing a wave of media attention to missing children and changing the way the FBI and other agencies across the country handle missing children cases. At the time Etan and Adam went missing, there was no national system in place for authorities to coordinate when searching for a missing child, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Unlike with stolen cars or other items that had a national database, there was no crime database for children, the NCMEC said. There was also no AMBER Alert system. "The missing childrens movement was born," reads a Department of Justice site about Etan. It was former President Ronald Reagan who, in 1983, on the fourth anniversary of Etan's disappearance, proclaimed that May 25 would be known as National Missing Childrens Day. After Etan and Adam's cases, missing children began to be entered into a national database. The NCMEC was created to help get the word out about such kids. The mindset of police changed from a "wait and see" approach when a child went missing to an immediate report and distribution of their photographs, Ernie Allen, the former NCMEC president, told CBS News. Missing children's photos were displayed on billboards. An undated file photo from the Des Moines Register, part of the USA TODAY Network, shows a milk carton with missing children featured on the side. Before Facebook, Amber Alerts and text messages, pictures on milk cartons were a way to distribute information about missing kids. Johnny Gosch, left, was among the very first children featured on a milk carton. Etan was one of the first and remains one of the most notorious children featured as missing on the side of milk cartons. The containers in the 1980s often displayed posters with photos of missing children and a newly created hotline to call with any information on their whereabouts. The "Milk Carton Kids" movement didn't last long, and didn't result in very many success stories, but milk cartons are still linked with missing kids in the memories of many. Along with that movement and Etan's disappearance came a wave of parents keeping closer eyes on their children as "stranger danger" fears took hold. "It's a cautionary tale, a defining moment, a loss of innocence," Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi said in an opening statement at Hernandez's trial, according to the AP. "It is Etan who will forever symbolize the loss of that innocence." Contributing: Kathryn Palmer, Greg Toppo and John Bacon, USA TODAY; Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Etan Patz's disappearance transformed missing children cases BOSTON (AP) Planned Parenthood won a partial victory Monday in a legal fight with President Donald Trumps administration over efforts to defund the organization in his signature tax legislation. A provision in that bill ends Medicaid payments for one year to abortion providers that received more than $800,000 from Medicaid in 2023, even to those like Planned Parenthood that also offer things like contraception, pregnancy tests and STD testing. But U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston granted a preliminary injunction Monday that, for now, blocks the government from cutting Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood member organizations that either dont provide abortion care or didnt meet a threshold of at least $800,000 in Medicaid reimbursements in a given year. It wasnt immediately clear how many Planned Parenthood organizations and clinics would continue to get Medicaid reimbursements under that decision and how many might not. Planned Parenthood said in a statement after the injunction that it's thankful the court recognized the harm caused by the bill. But it said it's disappointed that some of its members will lose this funding, risking chaos, confusion, and harm for patients who could now be turned away when seeking lifesaving reproductive health care. The court has not yet ruled on whether it will grant preliminary injunctive relief to other members, the statement added. "We remain hopeful that the court will grant this relief. There will be nothing short of a public health crisis if Planned Parenthood members are allowed to be defunded. The lawsuit was filed earlier this month against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. by Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its member organizations in Massachusetts and Utah. Planned Parenthood argued that allowing the provision to take effect would have devastating consequences nationwide, including increased rates of undiagnosed and untreated sexually transmitted diseases and cancer. With no reason other than plain animus, the law will prevent Planned Parenthood Members from providing vital indeed, lifesaving care to more than one million patients, they wrote. This statute is unconstitutional and will inflict irreparable harm on Planned Parenthood Members and their patients." Lawyers for the government argued in court documents that the bill stops federal subsidies for Big Abortion. All three democratically elected components of the Federal Government collaborated to enact that provision consistent with their electoral mandates from the American people as to how they want their hard-earned taxpayer dollars spent, the government wrote in its opposition to the motion. The government added that the plaintiffs now want this Court to reject that judgment and supplant duly enacted legislation with their own policy preferences. ... That request is legally groundless. Hours after the lawsuit was filed, Talwani issued a temporary restraining order that prevented the government from enforcing the cuts. That order had been set to expire Monday. Rapper Ca$h Out attends day 2 of the 2012 BET Awards Radio Room held at The Shrine Auditorium on June 30, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. Rapper Ca$h Out was sentenced to life in prison on Monday, July 21, after being convicted in a rape and racketeering case in Georgia, attorneys said. The Atlanta-based rapper, whose legal name is John-Michael Gibson, was found guilty July 18, of charges including rape, aggravated sodomy and violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act for leading a prostitution enterprise, a spokesperson for the Fulton County District Attorney's Office told USA TODAY. Gibson was also convicted of two counts of trafficking a person, pimping, pandering, keeping a place of prostitution, battery, possession of a firearm during commission of felony and other crimes, Fulton County media relations director Pallavi Bailey said. He was found not guilty of felony aggravated assault, Gibson's defense Attorney Careton R. Matthews said. During the trial, Matthews told USA TODAY he argued the state failed to prove its case, called some of the charges against him "overblown," and said testimony from the accusers showed they "voluntarily reconnected with Gibson and contradicted themselves repeatedly." Gibson, who rose to fame more than a decade ago with hits including "Cashin' Out" and "She Twerkin," had been on trial since June 2 before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Melynee Leftridge. Gibson's mother, Linda Smith, and his friend, Tyrone Taylor, were also convicted in connection to the case in which prosecutors told a 12-person jury they ran a business and lured victims into prostitution. 'A little bit naive': Linkin Park talks Emily Armstrong backlash, the Chester Bennington song they won't play Ca$h Out's mother, friend co-defendants in case Before sentencing, the judge said evidence at trial had "shown the very worst of human behavior toward other human beings," local media outlet WXIA-TV reported. The judge said the verdict reflected prosecutors had "proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the diabolical conduct of the defendants occurred, and her sentence would be responsive to that." The judge sentenced Gibson to life and an additional 70 years in connection to the case. Smith was sentenced to 30 years for her crimes, and Taylor received the same sentence as Gibson, Matthews confirmed. "We do respect the court's process and jury's decision, however we're disappointed with the verdict and the sentence," Matthews said Monday afternoon. "He maintains his innocence on many of these charges and may file an appeal or a motion for a new trial." Murder retrial? Man convicted in infamous 1979 Etan Patz slaying could get new trial Who is Ca$h Out? Rapper Cash Out performs onstage during the 2012 BET Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on July 1, 2012 in Los Angeles, California Ca$h Out, is 34, and was born in Columbus, Georgia. He signed with Epic Records to release his 2011 single "Cashin' Out", which peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. In August 2014, Gibson released the album, Lets Get It," supported by the single hit, She Twerkin." Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ca$h Out get life sentence in rape, prostitution ring case PHOENIX - Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hiked one of Arizona's most iconic sites over the weekend, donning a pair of blue jeans to climb the popular Camelback Mountain peak during what is often the state's hottest month of the year. Kennedy made the climb with his son, William "Finn" Kennedy. With Finn atop Camelback in Phoenix this morning, Kennedy said, sharing a photo of the pair at 11:30 a.m. MST on July 19 on X. Camelback Mountain is an iconic Phoenix hiking destination. Both of Camelbacks main trails are rated extremely difficult, according to the city of Phoenix. The trails entail steep elevation gains, uneven terrain and a path that is unprotected from the elements. Only experienced hikers should attempt the trail during optimal weather conditions, according to the city. The summit sits 2,704 feet above sea level. With Finn atop Camelback in Phoenix this morning. pic.twitter.com/ANl7OKnBiR Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) July 19, 2025 Kyle Herrig, 47, was headed down Echo Canyon Trail on July 19 when he encountered Kennedy hiking up the trail at around 8 a.m. The health secretary was with his son and two other young men, Herrig told The Republic, a USA TODAY Network partner. Herrig did a double-take when he realized who was walking toward him. He said hello to Kennedy and thanked him for the work hes doing at HHS. Kennedy then offered to snap a few selfies on the trail. The moment was particularly noteworthy for Herrig, who lives in Chandler, Arizona, because he has a passion for health and fitness. Hes the owner of Triplex Training in Chandler and Scottsdale. I thought that was kind of cool, Herrig said. Meeting probably one of the most influential health people in the country right now. Kennedys signature T-shirt and jeans made him even more recognizable, Herrig said. Kennedy has been seen working out in denim countless times. I glanced at him, and was like, You're going old school today, huh? Rocking the blue jeans, Herrig said. He said, Yeah, that was a bad idea. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. poses for a selfie on July 19, 2025, with Chandler resident Kyle Herrig on Camelback Mountain. Hiking Camelback Mountain in the summertime is not for the faint of heart. Dozens of people are rescued from Camelback Mountain each year because of its terrain. The Phoenix Fire Department encourages hikers to avoid hiking between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and stay off trails entirely during excessive heat warnings. The National Weather Service did not issue an excessive heat warning on July 19, the day Kennedy hiked Camelback Mountain with his son. The high temperature was 107 degrees and the low was 87 degrees on July 19, according to National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Tom Frieders. Hikers should still be careful in those conditions, he noted. There's still a moderate heat risk, which means that it can be impactful, even fatal, if necessary precautions aren't taken, Friders said. Any time temperatures are above 100 degrees, for sure, you need to definitely stay hydrated, and we still try to tell people to do those outdoor activities earlier on in the day when it's not as hot. Kennedys Health and Human Services Department oversees key government agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Indian Health Service and the Food and Drug Administration, among others. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment. Kennedy is a familiar face in Arizona. He made an official visit to the state in April, where he promoted the Make America Healthy Again agenda and railed against ultraprocessed foods at the state Capitol. Last year, Kennedy ended his independent bid for president during an Arizona visit and endorsed President Donald Trump. Kennedy returned to Glendale to campaign for Trump, where made headlines by revealing that he was under investigation for collecting a whale specimen 20 years ago. Stephanie Murray covers national politics and the Trump administration for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Reach her via email at stephanie.murray@gannett.com and on X, Bluesky, TikTok and Threads @stephanie_murr. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: RFK Jr. hiked Phoenix's Camelback Mountain in July heat wearing jeans KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday renewed his offer to meet with Russia's Vladimir Putin and negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, but hopes of progress were low as delegations prepared to hold another round of talks. Russian forces, meanwhile, pounded four Ukrainian cities in nighttime attacks that officials said killed a child. Putin has spurned Zelenskyys previous offers of a face-to-face meeting to end Europes biggest conflict since World War II. But the Ukrainian leader insists that lower-level delegations like the ones expected for talks in Istanbul on Wednesday don't have the political heft to stop the fighting. The sides remain far apart on how to end the war begun by Russias full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. Ukraine never wanted this war, and it is Russia that must end the war that it itself started, Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post. The Kremlin dampens hopes for Istanbul talks Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that a lot of work needs to be done before having a detailed discussion on a possibility of high-level meetings, effectively scrapping hopes of a summit any time soon. He didn't provide a date for the Istanbul talks. Ukrainian and Western officials have accused the Kremlin of stalling in talks in order for its bigger army to capture more Ukrainian land. Russia currently holds about 20% of Ukraine. Zelenskyys announcement late Monday that the negotiations would take place generated little hope of progress. That is despite the Trump administrations efforts to push forward peace efforts, which have moved slowly because Putin is reluctant to budge from his demands. Peskov said that we have no reason to expect any magical breakthroughs, its hardly possible in the current situation. The previous two rounds were held in Istanbul, and Russian media reports said that the Turkish city likely would also host the meeting this time. The talks in May and June led to a series of exchanges of prisoners of war and the bodies of fallen soldiers, but produced no other agreements. More prisoner exchanges on agenda for talks Russia, meanwhile, is driving hard to break through at eastern and northeastern points on the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. It is also firing upwards of 700 drones a night at Ukrainian cities. Zelenskyy said that at the next Istanbul talks, Ukraine wants to secure the release of more prisoners from Russian captivity and the return of children Ukraine says were abducted. The Ukrainian delegation will be headed by former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who is now the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. It will include representatives of Ukrainian intelligence, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the presidents office, Zelenskyy said. Peskov said that the issue of a Ukrainian settlement is so complex that even reaching agreements on prisoner exchanges or the return of bodies is already a success. Russia hits Ukrainian cities with drones, glide bombs Russian forces struck four Ukrainian cities in three regions in overnight attacks, killing a child and wounding at least 41 other people, officials said. From dusk on Monday evening, Russia struck the Ukrainian regions of Sumy in the northeast, Odesa in the south and eastern Kramatorsk. In Kramatorsk, a glide bomb hit an apartment building, starting a fire, according to the head of the citys military administration, Oleksandr Honcharenko. A boy born in 2015 was killed, local officials said, without giving his exact age. Five other people were reported wounded. The Sumy region came under multiple waves of attacks, the regional military administration reported. A drone hit a gas station in the town of Putyvl, wounding four people, including a 5-year-old boy, it said. A second drone strike hit the same location less than two hours later, wounding seven other people. After dark, two powerful Russian glide bombs were dropped on Sumy city, wounding 13 people, including a 6-year-old boy. According to regional authorities, five apartment buildings, two private homes and a shopping mall were damaged in the attack. The blasts shattered windows and destroyed balconies in residential buildings, acting Mayor Artem Kobzar said. Russias Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said Tuesday that air defenses downed 35 Ukrainian long-range drones over several regions overnight, including three over the Moscow region. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters is seen in Washington D.C. Credit - Anadolu AgencyGetty Images On July 21the 56th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon walk287 current or former NASA employees signed or endorsed a strongly worded open letter to NASA acting administrator Sean Duffy. The letter objects to the space agencys draconian budget and personnel cuts proposed by the White House. Of those signatories, 131 openly wrote their names. The remaining 156, concerned for their jobs, lent their support anonymously. And then, too, there were 17 more names added at the bottom of the letterbelonging to 17 people who didnt have a say in whether their names were used or not. They included Gus Grissom, Ed White, Judith Resnik, Christa McAuliffe, Willie McCool, Kalpana Chawla and the other explorers who lost their lives in the Apollo 1 fire, the Challenger explosion, and the Columbia disintegration. The names were there for more than sentiment; they were there as pointed reminders of what can go wrong in the white-knuckle business of spacewhat too often does go wrongwhen corners are cut, funding is slashed, and work forces are reduced in pursuit of short term budgetary gains. Safety is being compromised in every way, says three time space veteran and retired NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, a signatory of the letter, in a conversation with TIME. We are courting another space disaster. Coleman feels that danger more acutely than most. During the Columbia crew's training, she worked as their capsule communicatoror capcomthe sole voice between mission control and the astronauts. By the time the crew actually went to space, she was finishing up a rotation in Antarctica, assisting in NASAs meteor collection program. She was on her way home, staying with friends in New Zealand, when the terrible word from space came down. My friend called and said Cady, we lost Columbia. I remember thinking, How could we lose them? It was definitely a hard journey home. Read more: The True Cost of Trumps Cuts to NOAA and NASA Its not just loss of crew safety that the 287 signatories of the open letterdubbed The NASA Voyager Declarationare protesting. Theres the scrapping of projects like the Mars Sample Return Mission, which is already underway, with the Perseverance rover caching samples on the Martian surface for later return to Earth. There is the premature cancellation of the Space Launch System (SLS) moon rocket, and the Orion crew capsule, NASAs only crewed ride back to the moon. There is the proposed 50% cut to NASA space science missions, including the brand new Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, the all-but completed $4 billion observatory set for launch in May 2027which now might be consigned to simply idling in its clean room in Greenbelt, Maryland. Overall, NASA faces a 24% budget cut, from $24.8 billion in 2025 to $18.8 billion in 2026its lowest funding level since 2015. 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, wrote the signatories. 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. And theres more. Theres the loss of intellectual capital that comes when highly trained civil servant engineers are either sacked out of hand or pack their bags and go, taking their talents to the less political private sector, where job security is greater and compensation is higher. 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, reads the letter. Says retired NASA astronaut Terry Virts, now a candidate for a U.S. Senate Seat in the Democratic primary in Texas: These Trump personnel cuts to space exploration are undermining future generations of engineers and scientists as well as those mid-career employees who are at the height of their competency and productivity. Its as if a farmer is destroying his seed corn as well as his crops in the field. The damage that this administration is causing will last for a generation. Read more: What Trumps Proposed NASA Budget Cuts Really Mean for the Space Agency The number of anonymous signatories to the Voyager Declaration letter is perhaps a sign of wariness of an administration that is famously intolerant ofand punitive towardperceived disloyalty. But NASA employees at least come with a modicum of institutional security. After the Columbia disaster in 2003an accident that was partly the result of lower-echelon employees fearing for their jobs if they spoke out of turn about safety lapses they observedNASA established its Technical Authority protocol, which provides protection for employees to report anomalies or dangerous corner-cutting to superiors outside their direct chain of command The signatories also cite an official NASA policy directive, similarly ensuring support for speaking truth to power. NASA supports full and open discussion of issues of any nature including alternative and divergent views. Diverse views are to be fostered and respected in an environment of integrity and trust with no suppression or retribution. The catch: The effective date of the rule was January 29, 2020, and the expiration January 29, 2025. Will the letter have any effect at all? Recent history doesnt portend good things. In June, employees at the National Institutes of Health penned a similar open letter, which yielded little result. Earlier this month, employees at the Environmental Protection Agency, filed their own letter, with even worse results; 140 of them were placed on administrative leave. But NASA backers are not giving up hope. For one thing, the steep budget cuts the White House proposes still have to be approved by Congress, and with thousands of NASA jobs in dozens of Congressional districts, lawmakers are disinclined to take money out of their constituents pockets. The SLS and Orion were spared in just that way in 2010, when then President Barack Obama proposed scrapping them and Capitol Hill said no dice. And then too there is the less tangible, more lyrical side of space travel that may redound in NASAs favor. Im an optimist, says Coleman. Theres something about space thats compelling. There are things out there we dont know about. I think that a letter about space is going to reach people. I think that people are going to understand that if were saying this about space, were saying it about microbiology, about sustainability too. A single open letter may not be enough to change national space policy, but millions of voices expressing their support for it, just may. Write to Jeffrey Kluger at jeffrey.kluger@time.com. A second death was confirmed in a fatal waterfall accident in central Oregon as search and rescue operations entered a third day on July 21, authorities said. Divers with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office search and rescue team located and recovered the body of the second victim shortly after 11 a.m. local time on July 21, the sheriff's office said in a statement. The agency reported that the victim was discovered below Dillon Falls on the Deschutes River. The accident occurred on the afternoon of July 19 when a group of six people was swept over Dillon Falls, which are rapids on the Deschutes River about 10 miles southwest of the city of Bend. The sheriff's office said it received a report of the incident at about 2:57 p.m. local time and immediately launched search and rescue efforts. One person died at the scene, and three others were rescued from the river and transported by ambulance to a hospital in Bend, according to the sheriff's office. On July 21, the sheriff's office confirmed that the two people killed in the incident are female, and the one person who remains missing is male. "The Deschutes County Sheriffs Office extends its deepest condolences to the families affected and remains committed to exhausting all possibilities in the ongoing search effort," the sheriff's office said in the statement. The sheriff's office has not released the identities of those involved in the accident, noting that the investigation is ongoing. Other law enforcement agencies have also assisted in search and rescue efforts, including the Bend Police Department, Bend Fire and Rescue, and AirLink Critical Care Transport, which provides emergency air medical transport. Search and rescue crews have used boats, drones, swift water rescue teams, and K-9 units to "search, map, and narrow down high-probability locations along the river corridor between the Dillon Falls Day Use Area above the falls and the Aspen Day Use Area below the falls," according to the sheriff's office. California waterfall accident: 3 men found dead after jumping into water near California waterfall Dillon Falls is known for being a powerful, dangerous rapid Dillon Falls, located within Deschutes National Forest, is a series of "quick-drop rapids" along the Deschutes River, according to central Oregon's tourist information center. The 15-foot waterfall is known for being a dangerous Class V rapid, the Salem Statesman Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. Rivers are rated on a "class scale" to determine the size and technicality of the whitewater, a term used to describe rapids or rivers and creeks that have a significant number of rapids, according to Western River Expeditions. "(Class V rapids are) extremely difficult, long, and very violent rapids with highly congested routes, which should be scouted from shore," Wet Planet Whitewater states on its website. "Rescue conditions are difficult, and there is a significant hazard to life in the event of a mishap. Class V is the upper limit of what is possible in a commercial raft." The Dillon Falls Day Use Area is a popular spot for outdoor recreation, such as hiking, water activities, picnicking, and viewing the waterfall, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The waterfall has also been the site of other tragedies in previous years. In 2022, a 41-year-old man died while floating over Dillon Falls in an innertube, the Salem Statesman Journal reported. At the time, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office said it received a 911 call reporting that a man "in a tube had gone over the falls 30-35 minutes prior to the call and bystanders had not been able to locate the male." In 2018, a blind athlete from Bend and her father lost control of their canoe in the waters above Dillon Falls, resulting in the fathers death, the Bend Bulletin reported. Bend is about 132 miles southeast of Oregon's capital city of Salem. Contributing: Zach Urness, Salem Statesman Journal This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oregon waterfall accident: Second death confirmed by authorities Sharon Stone/Instagram Sharon Stone and Dorothy Marie Stone Sharon Stones mother, Dorothy Marie Stone, has died. She was 91. My hilarious, complex mother died, Sharon, 67, shared in a heartfelt Instagram post on Monday, July 21. Her words captioned a picture of a smiling Dorothy and laughing Sharon sitting on a sofa together. Dorothy passed away peacefully with her family and close friends by her side on March 26, 2025, per Montana newspaper Daily Inter Lake. Dorothy was born in 1933, as the Oscar nominee noted in her post. A product of the last depression, lets NOT do this again. Lets protect and care," Stone wrote. Sharon Stone/Instagram Dorothy Marie Stone and Sharon Stone on Instagram The native Pennsylvanian is survived by Sharon and her two other children, daughter Kelly and son Michael, as well as several grandchildren. Dorothy known as Dot among friends married her husband Joseph Stone in 1950. They remained married until his death in 2009, just before their 60th anniversary, per the Daily Inter Lake. Dorothy worked as a bookkeeper at the tool and die company her husband founded, Aggressive Forge. After his death, she split her time between Lakeside Montana and Beverly Hills. 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 a 2021 career retrospective at the Zurich Film Festival, Sharon described her mothers parenting style as tough, adding that feminism was among the rules of my household." She recalled asking Dorothy, Why [do] you never let me lean on you?' She said: 'Because I taught you to stand on your two goddamn feet.' " Birdie Thompson/Variety via Getty; Sharon Stone/Instagram Sharon Stone; Dorothy Marie Stone in 2023 The Basic Instinct star has paid tribute to her mother multiple times on social media, sharing a picture of her in November 2023. "MOM, born in 33. Looking gorgeous," she wrote at the time. In November 2021, Sharon announced that Dorothy had suffered an acute stroke. Among those voicing support for Sharon on her new update were Gwyneth Paltrow, Allison Janney, Billy Eichner, Melanie Griffith and Uzo Aduba. Stone has three children. She and her then-husband Phil Bronstein adopted son Roan, 25, in 2000. She also adopted son Laird, 20, in 2005, and son Quinn, 19, in 2006. Read the original article on People USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. Remember malls? They're still out there. For decades, the big, air-conditioned wonderlands were the place to be, with shop after shop of fresh new items, a packed and diverse food court and often a movie theater. You met friends there, took your family, saw the new fashions, spent the day, or just sat and people-watched. Malls have been suffering since online sales where retailers don't have to cover the costs of renting space in a brick-and-mortar building took a huge bite out of their revenues. An average of 1,170 shopping malls closed every year between 2017 and 2022 in the United States, according to Capital One, and no new indoor megamalls have been built since 2006. But there are plenty of malls that are thriving, and USA TODAY has ranked the Top 10. "With diverse selections of stores to choose from, tantalizing restaurants in the food court, inspired entertainment options, and special events and seasonal activities that bring their local communities together, shopping malls are vibrant hubs that offer plenty to enjoy," USA TODAY's 10BEST said in the ranking released last month. The winners were chosen by USA TODAY readers, from a list nominated by 10BEST editors and a panel of experts. So, where did "America's Mall" land on the list of favorites? The Mall of America takes second place Triple Five's Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., on Tues., Oct. 8, 2019, and Wed., Oct. 9, 2019. The Mall of America may just be the most famous mall in the entire United States, but it just missed out on the top spot in the 10BEST ranking. The iconic building sits south of Minneapolis in Bloomington, Minnesota. It is four stories tall and home to upward of 500 stores, according to its website. Latest brand expansions: Chuck E. Cheese opens 10 new retro-style arcades: See locations Shopping isn't the only activity at the Mall of America. Shoppers can also enjoy a theme park. Nickelodeon Universe has more than two dozen rides, coupled with gift shops and food stands. Foodies can get a bite at the mall as well, with restaurants like Rainforest Cafe, Margaritaville, Bonchon and Noodles and Co. The Mall of America is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, according to its website. What are the Top 10 malls in the U.S.? "There are hundreds upon hundreds of indoor shopping malls throughout the U.S., but which among them is the very best?" Here's what readers picked: Aventura Mall, Aventura, Florida Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota Galleria Dallas, Dallas The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards, New York City King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania Scottsdale Fashion Square, Scottsdale, Arizona American Dream, East Rutherford, New Jersey Grapevine Mills, Grapevine, Texas Tysons Corner Center, Tysons, Virginia Brookfield Place, New York City What is the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers Choice Awards? The USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards highlight the very best in travel, food + drink and lifestyle. Every week, USA TODAY 10BEST invites a panel of industry experts to nominate their favorite points of interest and attractions across a wide range of categories. 10BEST editors then vet these nominations and select a final set of nominees to be presented to the voting public for a period of four weeks. C. A. Bridges reports for the Daytona Beach News-Journal and Corey Schmidt reports for the St. Cloud Times. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Top 10 American malls thriving in the age of online shopping Turkish port city Izmir seeks deeper ties with China in climate projects, tourism: mayor Xinhua) 09:00, July 22, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) TheStewartofNY - Getty Images THE RUNDOWN This morning, Tracee Ellis Ross went on The Today Show to promote her new show, Solo Traveling With Tracee Ellis Ross. The actress wore brand-new Jacquemus from the spring 2026 collection. The look was complemented by a slicked-back bun covered by a cobalt fishnet. Tracee Ellis Ross is one of the undefeated street-style champions of our time. In just one week, the High Note actress has turned out a series of impeccable looks, including an A-line tent dress from Givenchy made entirely of leather and a more sculptural look from independent designer LII. This morning, Ross was spotted on the streets of New York City, headed to an appearance on The Today Show in fresh-off-the-runway Jacquemus, styled by her longtime collaborator Karla Welch. The sweeping blue-and-white-striped look effortlessly embodied the oceanside breeze youd enjoy while summering in the south of Franceexactly as the spring 2026 collection intended to do. (The pieces were inspired by designer Simon Porte Jacquemuss peasant-farmer heritage in the region.) Raymond Hall - Getty Images To add a further pop of color, Ross enlisted her longtime and legendary hairstylist Chuck Amos for a cobalt fishnet-covered slicked-back bun. The duo has recently been obsessed with the neon-netted chignon cover, pairing teal with a recent Khaite look, and for the LII dress, cherry red that matched the soles of her white Louboutins. On Instagram, the actress joked that it was the theme of the week, even captioning one photo dump: I did a lot of fish-netting around the apple. You Might Also Like I recently went to Europe and traveled through five different airports. Hesham Elsherif/Anadolu via Getty Images I traveled through five airports on a recent trip to Europe and decided to rank them. Florence Airport was the worst due to cab delays and the short runway, leading to flight problems. I was surprised by the efficiency and ease of Dusseldorf Airport. Some would say it's crazy to squeeze four countries into a two-and-a-half week trip to Europe. That "some" would include my parents, but I've always liked a challenge. My June Eurotrip took me through five different airports, which provided five very different experiences. So I figured, why not rank them? It should go without saying that travel is unpredictable and experiences can vary widely due to weather, national strikes, and time of year not to mention the size of the airport. This is more to help with your own Europe travel planning than anything else. 5. Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola in Florence, Italy The sign outside Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola in Florence, Italy. Rafmaster/Getty Images My experience with the Florence Airport was rocky from the beginning. It was the first stop on our trip, and my fiance and I decided to grab a cab to our hotel after a full day of traveling from Los Angeles. However, peak tourism season was already in full swing, and we waited almost 45 minutes outside for an available car. Our problems persisted when we returned to the airport four days later. There were no self-service kiosks for British Airways, which I was flying to London, or KLM, which my fiance was flying to Amsterdam, leading to very long check-in lines. But that would be the least of our struggles. Florence Airport only has one short runway, frequently leading to diverted and canceled flights during bad weather. It was somewhat windy that day, leading 30 people including my fiance to get kicked off the KLM flight. He waited at the airport for hours to get rebooked on a new flight at 6 a.m. the following morning, then was taken via bus to a hotel 45 minutes away. A spokesperson for the airport told me a project to modify the orientation and length of the runway is "currently undergoing approval." 4. Heathrow Airport in London, United Kingdom Heathrow Airport in London. Klara Simonova/Getty Images I studied abroad in Cambridge and lived in the UK during my 20s, so I've flown in and out of Heathrow at least a dozen times and have had fairly good experiences overall. It's also ranked 22nd in Skytrax's 2025 list for top 100 airports in the world, which is considered the Oscars of the aviation industry. But Heathrow, one of the busiest airports in the world, can be chaotic. My first issue was during the self-service bag drop. This is a great time-saving feature at Heathrow, but my luggage got flagged for being one pound overweight. A nearby staff member told me the scales are extremely sensitive, and I'd have to shuffle some things around. It's not a huge deal, but definitely something to know if you're flying through this airport and happen to be a chronic overpacker (ahem, me). The staff member then said I could go to the north or south security zone. I opted for the north, only to be turned away because the entire zone had suddenly closed. This led to a massive rush of people heading to the south zone. The security line also took longer because of the general confusion around Heathrow's very strict policy for liquids in carry-ons. People held up the line as they tried to organize their bottles into plastic bags, and carry-ons kept getting flagged if a stray bottle was found. So, if you're heading to Heathrow soon, be extra careful with your luggage and liquids and bank some extra time in case of long lines. That way you won't have to be the person sprinting to their gate (ahem, me again). 3. Zurich Airport in Zurich, Switzerland A duty-free store at Zurich Airport in Switzerland. Davide Bonaldo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Zurich, ranked 10th in Skytrax's top 100 list, was my connecting airport as I flew from LA to Florence. I was in the airport for less than two hours, but I was impressed with how they handled a lost item issue. I was just about to wander away from our gate and grab a snack when my iPhone alerted me that I "seemed far away" from my AirPods, which I had apparently left in the seat-back pocket on the plane. I was already in a different terminal, and my flight was set to board in 20 minutes. I went up to the first desk I saw, where an attendant was happy to help. She showed me how to submit the airport's lost item report, a quick form I could complete from my phone. Within two days, I received confirmation that my AirPods had been found and were being stored in the lost and found. I paid a fee to get them sent back to LA, where they were waiting for me when I returned from my trip. 2. Athens International Airport in Athens, Greece The entrance of Athens International Airport in Greece. Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/Getty Images I spent a lot of summers as a kid at the airport in Athens, often snacking on a ham and cheese toastie while we waited for a connecting flight to visit Thessaloniki, my parents' hometown. So yes, I'm a little biased! But my most recent experience at Athens International Airport, ranked 88th on Skytrax's list, couldn't have been smoother. We were able to quickly grab our luggage and order an Uber when we landed, and the check-in and security process was a breeze when it was time to catch our flight home. What I really love about this airport is the dozens of shops where you can buy whatever Greek snacks you couldn't fit into your luggage, which in my case was a lot. I was so content browsing through the bottles of olive oil and shelves of cookies (Caprice wafers are always a must) that my Norse Atlantic Airways flight was halfway through boarding when I got to my gate. 1. Dusseldorf Airport in Dusseldorf, Germany Dusseldorf Airport in Germany. Thomas Banneyer/picture alliance via Getty Images I flew into Dusseldorf Airport ranked 28th on Skytrax's list for a wedding in Recklinghausen, and from the moment I landed, everything just felt so easy. I swiftly grabbed my checked bag and followed the signs to find the SkyTrain, a fully automatic railway that took me straight to the Dusseldorf Flughafen station to catch my train to Recklinghausen. The return journey was just as effortless. My fiance and I were able to check in with the airport's self-service kiosks and bag drop, and this time, my luggage didn't get flagged by a sensitive scale. We didn't even have to wait in any lines! The security check was quick and efficient, and there were tons of great food and shopping options available at our terminal. Summer travel is never stress-free, but my experience at Dusseldorf Airport came pretty close. Read the original article on Business Insider HANOI/MANILA (Reuters) -Tropical storm Wipha weakened after making landfall in northern Vietnam on Tuesday, with authorities on alert due to heavy rains that could cause flooding and mudslides, as the Philippines struggled with monsoon downpours that began last week. Wipha hit the northern provinces of Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa early on Tuesday afternoon with wind speeds of up to 74 kph (46 mph), slowing from around 100 kph on its approach, the national weather forecasting agency said. With a long coastline facing the South China Sea, Vietnam is prone to typhoons that are often deadly and Wipha is the first major storm to hit this year. Heavy rains of up to 50 cm (20 inches) were forecast to continue until Wednesday morning, and authorities warned people to watch out for landslides in mountainous areas and flooding in urban areas. Around 350,000 soldiers were put on standby. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had put coastal provinces on emergency footing as Wipha neared, with residents nervous after the devastation of Typhoon Yagi, which last year killed around 300 people and caused $3.3 billion of damage. "I have learnt from last year's mistakes, when we underestimated Yagi," Ngo Van Thuong, a 40-year-old warehouse manager in Ha Long City, told Reuters as the storm neared. "Doorways and roofs are places that need more attention, and, since yesterday, I have also put sandbags on top of the roof," Thuong said. A fishing boat in Quang Ninh province capsized early on Tuesday, but all nine of the fishermen on board were saved, the Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper reported. Airlines cancelled and rescheduled dozens of flights, and some airport, port and train services were suspended, though state media reported that airports in Quang Ninh and Haiphong had resumed operations on Tuesday afternoon. Photos on state media showed empty streets in the capital in Hanoi, where many workplaces were closed on Tuesday, including the U.S. embassy. "We haven't forgotten about Yagi, and have taken extra measures to cope with Wipha," said a resident of Cat Ba Island in Haiphong. FLOODING, CLOSURES IN PHILIPPINES In the Philippines, Wipha has intensified already torrential monsoon rains, triggering knee- to waist-deep flooding across parts of the country and forcing a second day of school closures, flight cancellations and the suspension of government work. Thousands of families remain in evacuation centres as relentless rains, which swept through the country's north last week, continue to batter the country. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., currently on an official visit to the United States, said government agencies had been mobilised to provide assistance. "Relief goods are ready and are being delivered to affected areas, along with medical teams," Marcos said in a recorded message. "We're ensuring transport, electricity, and water supplies are stable for those affected." On Sunday, Wipha, then at full typhoon strength, barrelled across Hong Kong and southern China. As the storm passed Hong Kong, more than 110 mm of rain fell within three hours and maximum wind gusts exceeded 167 kph at some points, prompting authorities to issue their highest storm warning. (Reporting by Khanh Vu in Hanoi, Thinh Nguyen in Ha Long, and Karen Lema and Mikhail Flores in Manila; Editing by John Mair and Sharon Singleton) President Donald Trump announced a trade deal July 22 with the Philippines, hours after the leader of the country paid a visit to the Oval Office ahead of an Aug. 1 reciprocal tariffs deadline. The Southeast Asian country would pay a 19% tariff, Trump said. "President Ferdinand Marcos, of the Philippines, is just leaving the White House, with all of his many Representatives. It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs. The Philippines will pay a 19% Tariff, he wrote on Truth Social. Trump has so far announced three deals: with the U.K., Vietnam and Indonesia. On July 9, he sent tariff letters to eight countries including Philippines, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Iraq, Libya and Brazil. Another batch of letters to 14 countries, including South Africa, Malaysia and Laos, were sent two days earlier. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Oval Office on July 22, 2025. Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the first head of state from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to visit the White House during Trumps second term. Trump sent a letter to Marcos announcing a 20% tariff on goods imported from the Philippines a hike from the 17% announced earlier in April. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, in 2024, the U.S. goods trade deficit with the Philippines was $4.9 billion a 21.8% increase from 2023. Top U.S. exports to the Philippines include agricultural goods, machinery, cereals and materials for semiconductor and transport equipment manufacturing The reciprocal "Liberation Day" tariffs were first announced on April 2 and temporarily reduced to 10% a week later. Trump granted a 90-day pause for most countries, during which his administration said it would negotiate deals with trading partners. This deadline was set to expire on July 9, but Trump pushed the start date to Aug. 1. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump announces Philippines trade deal and 19% tariff Trump border czar, Tom Homan, speaks with The Center Square outside the White House (July 8, 2025). By Sarah Roderick-Fitch | The Center Square (The Center Square) President Donald Trump's border czar is pledging to make sanctuary cities a primary target for federal immigration enforcement following the shooting of a border patrol agent in New York City over the weekend. Speaking to reporters at a briefing Monday, Tom Homan blamed the botched robbery and shooting of the off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer by a "criminal alien" with a lengthy rap sheet on the city's policies restricting local cooperation with immigration officials. Homan specifically singled out the Democratic-controlled City Council and embattled Mayor Eric Adams for supporting the sanctuary laws. "Sanctuary cities are now our priority," Homan said in remarks Monday. "You don't want to let us into jail to arrest a bad guy in the safety and security of a jail. You want to release him into the street. So, what we're going to do, we'll have more agents in New York City to look for that bad guy." Homan, who previously served as the acting director of ICE, said he plans to "flood the zone" in New York City and other major cities that are allowing "criminal aliens" to roam the streets despite efforts to deport them. "Sanctuary cities get exactly what they don't want more agents in the community and more agents in the worksite," he said. "If we can't arrest that bad guy in the safety and security of the county jail, we'll arrest him in the community." The suspects in the shooting, Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez and Christhian Aybar-Berroa, are pending arraignment. Both are undocumented immigrants from the Dominican Republic, according to authorities. Nunez has an active warrant for kidnapping and armed robbery in Massachusetts, police said. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said both men have lengthy criminal records and they should have been deported months ago but the city's sanctuary laws prevented them from being apprehended. "How many more lives will it take, how many more people have to be hurt and victimized before we have public safety be a number one priority in some of our largest cities," Noem told reporters at Monday's briefing. "When I look at what Mayor Adams has done to New York City, it breaks my heart to see the families that have suffered because of his policies." New York City has been a flashpoint in the national immigration debate with more than 230,000 migrants arriving in the city since early 2022. The city has spent an estimated $8 billion on housing and other costs for migrants, according to the Adams administration. ICE operations in the city have arrested nearly 29,000 undocumented immigrants, according to the agency's website. Adams, a Democrat who is running for reelection as an independent, has been largely cooperative with the Trump administration's immigration crackdowns. He has also agreed to allow ICE agents to reopen an office at the notorious Rikers Island jail, a move that is being challenged in court. But Adams told reporters Monday that while he supports the Trump administration's efforts to support dangerous criminals, he doesn't want to see law-abiding immigrants swept up in immigration raids. He said ICE should be focused on apprehending people who commit crimes. "If he's going to assist us to go after those individuals, I welcome it," Adams said of Homan's remarks. "If it's going to be to go after everyday individuals who are trying to complete the path to be a citizen, then I don't think we should do that." Remember having to hunt for an electrical outlet at the airport? Now many boarding areas have USB ports built into their seats, but federal authorities urge travelers to avoid plugging in, at least directly. Hackers can install malware at USB ports (weve been told thats called juice/port jacking), the Transportation Safety Administration posted on Facebook this spring. So, when youre at an airport do not plug your phone directly into a USB port. Bring your TSA-compliant power brick or battery pack and plug in there. Heres what else travelers should know before their next flight. Is charging your phone at the airport safe? It depends on how its done. Using AC power outlets can help you avoid any potential risks, so be sure to pack AC, car chargers, and your own USB cables with you when traveling, the Federal Communications Commission advises. Like TSA, the FCC also recommends external batteries, but if a USB port is necessary and a prompt appears asking you to select share data or trust this computer or charge only, always select charge only. Cruising Altitude | No traveler should ever post this on social media Passengers charge their electronic devices while waiting for flights at Nashville International Airport in this file photo from 2012. Is it safe to join public Wi-Fi? TSA suggests avoiding it. Dont use free public WiFi, especially if youre planning to make any online purchases, TSA warned. Do not ever enter any sensitive info while using unsecure WiFi. Anytime youre exchanging some sort of password you want to be cautious of the networks that youre on, Eric Plam, an executive at SIMO, a mobile hotspot company, told USA TODAY last year. Password manager tools can protect and encrypt passwords. But Plam also advised using a VPN or virtual private network when possible. Its not a very big investment and adds an extra layer of security from your computer to whatever server youre accessing. Contributing: Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TSA warns travelers about free Wi-Fi, USB charging ports at airports Hosam Saraya, a 35-year-old Syrian-American, was among eight men whose killing was captured on a video that circulated on social media over the weekend. - From Instagram An American citizen from Oklahoma was among eight men, all family members, rounded up and killed in an execution-style attack during the sectarian violence that flared in Syria last week. Hosam Saraya, a 35-year-old Syrian-American, was identified by friend Bahaa Imad and a US relative as one of eight men whose killing was captured on a video that circulated on social media over the weekend. The video, which has been geolocated by CNN, shows a group of armed men wearing military uniforms and face masks firing on eight captives while shouting God is great. CNN cannot independently verify the identify of the gunmen in the video. It has reached out to the Syrian government for comment. Sarayas brother Kareem and other family members were also executed, according to the US relative, who asked not to be named for her safety. She spoke directly with relatives in Syria who said the familys male members had all been killed leaving only their wives and daughters. The killings occurred on July 17 amid an outbreak of sectarian violence between Syrian Druze groups and Bedouin tribes in the Druze-majority Suwayda province. Saraya, who had studied in Oklahoma before returning to Syria, belonged to the Druze community, an Arab religious group of roughly one million people who primarily live in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. He had gone to Syria to care for his father who was ill, the US relative said. The relative said female family members who survived the massacre recalled how militants had stormed the familys multi-story home early in the morning, prompting the residents to fight back in defense. After one of the family members was wounded, the rest surrendered their weapons, she said, and the men were taken outside. Bahaa Imad, a 20-year-old friend of the Saraya family, corroborated these details, saying he witnessed the militants storm the home and forcibly remove eight men, while leaving female family members inside. Pray for us The US relative first learned of the attack when one of the female survivors sent her a desperate message: Pray for us, they kidnapped the boys, they shot the house, they stole stuff. Twelve hours passed as the family desperately waited for news, hoping their relatives would return safely. It wasnt until another overseas relative saw the videos circulating of their execution that they realized the eight men had been killed. Imad said relatives later told him the captives were marched 200 meters to Tishreen Square, where they were lined up and executed. One of the men had sent a final message to friends that read, Come and help us if you can. They surrounded us, Imad said. Imad identified Hosam Sarayas body after watching the video. I dont know how monsters can do that, the US relative told CNN. Asked about Saraya, the US State Department confirmed Monday that an American citizen had died in Suwayda. It did not offer details about the death but said it was greatly concerned when any US citizen is harmed overseas, wherever they are and called for accountability in all cases where US citizens are harmed abroad. Oklahoma Sens. James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin also confirmed the killing of an American from the state in Syria. Hosam was an Oklahoman and member of the Druze community who was tragically executed alongside other members of his family in Syria, Lankford wrote on X. We are praying for his family, friends, and the entire community as they grieve this senseless loss. Mullin wrote on X that an American citizen from Oklahoma was brutally executed alongside his family members in Syria, adding he was working with partners in the region to learn more. His tweet did not name the Saraya family. Widespread violence between the Druze minority and Bedouin tribes in southern Syria erupted on July 13 and has left hundreds dead in the latest explosion of sectarian bloodletting since the authoritarian rule of Bashar al-Assad was toppled by a coalition of Islamist rebels. The violence drew Israeli intervention in support of the Druze, as well as US condemnation and an international scramble to stop the fighting spiraling further. The Syrian government said over the weekend that clashes in Suwayda had stopped after a ceasefire agreement was reached between the government, Druze groups, and Bedouin tribes. A separate ceasefire was agreed between Syria and Israel. The deal was announced by US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who said it was embraced by Turkey, Jordan and other neighboring countries. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com President Donald Trump speaks during a trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2 in Washington, DC. Touting the event as Liberation Day. Several top Trump administration officials sold off stock market holdings in the days leading up to the presidents announcements of sweeping tariffs that sparked fears of a global trade war and rattled financial markets. Sales by top officials, including Cabinet members, their deputies and senior White House officials were clustered in two 10-day periods leading up to President Donald Trump's major tariff announcements Feb. 13 and April 2, according to a USA TODAY analysis of 20 officials publicly available transaction forms. Of the stock and stock fund sales administration officials reported between Jan. 20 and April 30, 90% fell within 10 days of the tariff announcements. The Feb. 13 announcement had little immediate impact on the markets, but stock prices plummeted after April 2. The markets have recovered since April 9 when Trump paused the tariffs, and the S&P 500 index was up about 7.5% for the year as of July 21. It is concerning and begs the question of whether these public officials knew something that informed their trading, said Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, acting vice president of policy and government affairs at the Project on Government Oversight, a nonpartisan government watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. We dont know whether they used any private knowledge to benefit. That would require at least some Justice Department inquiry. Trades complied with ethics rules and did not rely on nonpublic information, according to spokespeople for several of those in the analysis. Others did not respond to USA TODAYs requests for comment. Insinuating this was anything other than an ethically fully compliant transaction required for government service is dishonest and demonstrates a lack of understanding of both how markets and our ethics laws work," said Katie Martin, a spokeswoman for the Department of the Interior, defending trades reported by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. Burgum and several other officials faced deadlines to divest their holdings to serve in the Trump administration, and USA TODAY found no evidence any of these trades were made based on nonpublic information. Such a connection is hard to prove, ethics experts say, but they recommend officials avoid even the appearance of impropriety. On Feb. 13, Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on countries worldwide. Then on April 2, which Trump dubbed Liberation Day, he unveiled specific tariff figures on countries across the globe, triggering a broader market sell-off and raising fears of a recession. The early February spike in sales was in part driven by divestments by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Burgum. The late March flurry included sales by Troy Edgar, deputy secretary at the Department of Homeland Security; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth; and Keith Sonderling, deputy secretary at the Department of Labor. USA TODAY reported that White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino sold up to $5 million in Trump Media stock the day before the Liberation Day announcement, and Attorney General Pam Bondi sold a similar stake on the day of the announcement, which came after markets closed. A handful of sales before Trumps tariff announcements also came from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, as well as White House Counsel David Warrington and Sergio Gor, director of the Office of Presidential Personnel. Hard to prove Spokespeople for Duffy, Burgum, Edgar, Kennedy, Bondi, Warrington and Sonderling responded to questions by saying the divestments had nothing to do with the tariff announcements. Hegseth did not respond to USA TODAYs request for comment. After ProPublica first reported on Bondis April 2 sale, Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, sent a letter to the Justice Department inspector general urging an investigation into whether Bondi or other DOJ officials engaged in illegal insider trading. This stock sale had been in the works since Attorney General Bondis nomination process in constant consultation with the Department of Justices Ethics Department" and the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, DOJ spokesman Gates McGavick said in a written statement to USA TODAY. Any implication that it was somehow tied to tariffs is an outright lie. Duffys stock transactions were made through an independently managed retirement account, according to an unsigned statement from the Transportation Department press office, and he had no input on the timing of the sales. Edgars sales had nothing to do with Liberation Day, said Tricia McLaughlin, a Homeland Security spokeswoman. By reporting on 33 stock sales by Deputy Secretary Sonderling just days before the April 2 announcement, USA TODAY is creating a fictitious narrative to generate clickbait, said Courtney Parella, a Labor Department spokesperson. Not all of the disclosure forms USA TODAY reviewed showed stock or stock fund sales before Trumps tariff announcements. Transactions by Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Deputy Counsel to the President Gineen Bresso fell outside those time periods. Education Secretary Linda McMahon offloaded bonds worth millions, but not stocks. Good questions to ask The USA TODAY analysis focused on 250 sales of stocks, stock funds and cryptocurrencies disclosed in publicly available transaction forms filed with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. It doesnt include all Cabinet members or White House officials, but only those whose disclosures were published on the ethics office website as of July 15. The findings show an increase in divestment activity in the 10 days ahead of the February news event, followed by a sharper spike in a similar period before Liberation Day. Together, these sales accounted for about 90% of transactions reported between Inauguration Day and April 30. Specifically, about 60% of the disclosed sales came in the 10-day window ending April 2, with a dollar value ranging from $2.7 million to $13 million. The sales outside these periods represented between $1.9 million and $7 million. Government ethics watchdogs say the findings are striking as well as concerning. It is hard to prove an insider trading case because it is not like there is a video showing impropriety, said Hedtler-Gaudette. You have to be extremely sloppy and stupid to get caught. Trumps trade agenda was a consistent theme throughout his campaign, and he promised to impose tariffs in his inaugural address for the second term. The Feb. 13 announcement had little immediate impact on the markets. But after April 2, when the president unveiled specific tariff figures, the stock market lost almost $10 trillion in value, with the S&P 500 plummeting 12% through April 9, when Trump hit a pause on tariffs. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks from the Oval Office, flanked by U.S. Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, on the day he signs executive orders for reciprocal tariffs on February 13, 2025. Looks like there was a lot of activity between March 15 and April 2. That is very concerning, said Virginia Canter, chief counsel for oversight and anti-corruption at State Democracy Defenders Action, a nonprofit group that says it opposes autocracy. It could be a coincidence, too. Officials cashing out just before the Liberation Day announcement should raise some eyebrows, she said. Why didnt they divest sooner? Were they in possession of nonpublic information? These are all good questions to ask. They are fair questions to ask, said Canter, a White House associate counsel to presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. How does the ethics office work? Government officials and members of Congress are required to publicly disclose their stock trades under the 2012 STOCK Act, which is designed to prevent officials from profiting from nonpublic information they learn by virtue of their positions. They are not prohibited from trading based on public information. An Office of Government Ethics spokesman, Patrick Shepherd, declined to comment on whether the agency reviews the timing of transactions. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. Touting the event as "Liberation Day", Trump announced sweeping new tariffs targeting goods imported to the U.S. on countries including China, Japan and India. Officials who go through Senate confirmation sign an ethics agreement with the office. The agreement, which takes effect upon confirmation, also may require the official to divest from holdings if the companies in question are likely to have business before the agency. Upon confirmation, officials have 90 days to divest and come into compliance. A few chose to sell on the final day of the 90-day window or within the first week of taking office, while a significant number completed their divestments around major news events originating from the White House. For example, Gabbard and Bondi were required to divest stocks under their ethics agreements. Gabbard sold holdings in Apple, Tesla and cryptocurrencies on the final day of her divestment window, and Bondi sold her Trump Media stake on Liberation Day, just before the public tariff announcement. Unlike Senate-confirmed officials, White House officials are not required to sign agreements with the ethics office, but they are still obligated to report any financial transactions during their time in office. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth laughs during a trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. Touting the event as "Liberation Day," U.S. President Donald Trump announced additional tariffs targeting goods imported to the U.S. White House ethics officials typically work to ensure that staff avoid conflicts of interest, but the extent of that consultation and any divestiture requirements is less transparent than for Senate-confirmed officials, who sign publicly available ethics agreements outlining their divestment obligations. Of the 20 officials included in USA TODAYs analysis, six who serve in White House roles were not subject to the same ethics office requirements. The remaining were Senate-confirmed jobs and signed ethics agreements requiring them to divest certain holdings within 90 days of confirmation. Once officials have entered into an ethics agreement, Canter said, they will argue they were following their obligations to divest. But, she said, the difficult question of whether these trades were strategically placed or merely lucky timing still needs to be addressed. To that end, Canter said, ethics officials should interview these officials. Still, it may require an investigation by the Justice Department or the Securities and Exchange Commission to reach a conclusion, she said. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a trade announcement event in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025. Touting the event as "Liberation Day," Trump announced additional tariffs targeting goods imported to the U.S. You look at the facts and circumstances, she said. "You might ask: Why did they sell before the president announced tariffs? Maybe they were caught unaware or didnt know what was coming. Theyd need to be interviewed and, if necessary, conduct an investigation. White House Counsel David Warrington sold three stocks on March 25: NVIDIA, Amazon and Berkshire Hathaway. The timing of white House counsel trades is concerning by virtue of them being in the White House, Canter said. Warrington did nothing wrong, said Taylor Rogers, a White House spokeswoman. White House senior staff, including Dave Warrington, fully comply with the executive branch ethics rules, Rogers said, attending required ethics briefings and complying with conflict of interest and financial reporting obligations. Separately, the nonprofit news agency ProPublica in May identified more than a dozen White House officials and congressional aides who appeared to have timed their stock trades before widespread stock market sell-offs triggered by White House announcements. Strong, clear rules needed Though members of Congress have occasionally faced public scrutiny over well-timed stock trades, similar activity by executive branch officials has received far less attention. President Donald Trump holds up a copy of a 2025 National Trade Estimate Report as he speaks during a trade announcement event in the Rose Garden on April 2, 2025. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, several lawmakers sold off millions of dollars in stocks just before the market crashed. These moves triggered a Justice Department inquiry at the time as the lawmakers had been briefed on the severity of the virus, information that was not yet fully public, and were accused of offloading stocks even as they publicly downplayed the threat. Online bots now monitor the portfolios of high-profile lawmakers. The "Nancy Pelosi Stock Tracker" closely follows the California Democrats trades. Questions have been raised about the timing of her transactions and the impressive returns of her portfolio, especially when it outpaces the broader market. Strong, clear rules that apply to everyone is the only way to avoid this kind of thing, said Hedtler-Gaudette of the Project on Government Oversight. It is not the sales that captured lawmakers attention but the purchases made April 9, when Trump paused tariffs. Just before the pause that sent markets soaring, unknown traders placed multimillion-dollar bets on a rebound, Reuters reported. Some Democratic lawmakers called for an investigation into possible market manipulation or insider trading, though experts told Reuters there's no way to determine whether the moves were strategic or coincidental. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Top Trump officials' stock sales clustered before tariff news ABC News Kaitlyn Conley in " Little Miss Innocent: Passion. Poison. Prison." Kaitlyn Conley has maintained her innocence for 10 years. She gained nationwide attention on July 22, 2015, when Mary Yoder, the mother of her ex Adam Yoder, was found dead at work. At the time, prosecutors alleged that Conley had poisoned Mary as a means of revenge after she and Adam had broken up. In 2017, Conley was tried for the first time, but it ended in a mistrial with a hung jury. Later that same year, she was convicted of first-degree manslaughter in her second trial. In January 2018, Conley was sentenced to 23 years in prison. However, after years of maintaining her innocence and filing appeals, a New York state appellate court overturned her conviction in January 2025. The court ruled that Conley's first trial lawyer was ineffective and failed to prevent her cell phone from being a primary source of evidence, according to Syracuse.com. Conley was officially released from custody in February 2025. She has stayed out of the spotlight since her release, but she previously participated in a three-part Hulu docuseries, Little Miss Innocent: Passion. Poison. Prison, which premiered in September 2024. "I did not kill Mary Yoder," she said in the series. "I know it wasn't me so if it wasn't me, who was it?" So, where is Kaitlyn Conley now? Heres everything to know about Mary Yoder's murder case, including Kaitlyn Conley's tumultuous relationship with Adam Yoder and where she is today. Who is Kaitlyn Conley? ABC News/YouTube Kaitlyn Conley and Adam Yoder Kaitlyn Conley, born and raised in Sauquoit, N.Y., was 24 years old when she was found guilty of manslaughter in connection with Mary Yoder's 2015 death. She was accused of poisoning Mary with colchicine a medicine used to treat gout. Conley spent four years working as an office manager for Mary at Chiropractic Family Care, according to ABC News, and she also dated Mary's son Adam. Conley's family maintains her innocence and, following her sentencing in 2018, launched a campaign to try and get her out of jail. On the website Free Kaitlyn Conley, they describe her as a "loving sister, aunt, daughter, cousin, niece and friend to many." Who are Mary and Adam Yoder? ABC News/YouTube Bill and Mary Yoder and their family Mary Yoder was 60 years old when she died of colchicine poisoning on July 22, 2015. She was Conley's employer at Chiropractic Family Care, which she owned and operated with her husband, William. Mary, described as the picture of health by her friends and family, also ran a vitamin business making it particularly strange when she suddenly became deathly ill. Investigators believe she may have been poisoned via her daily protein drink, which Conley could have had access to at the office. After ingesting the poison, Mary's health rapidly declined. An autopsy later revealed that Mary's organs looked like those of someone who had gone through chemotherapy and that she had been poisoned with agricultural-grade Colchicine enough to kill her 15 times over. As a result of the findings, a murder investigation was opened. Conley also had another connection to Mary: she dated her son, Adam. The two met at a high school graduation party in 2011 and went on to have an on-again, off-again relationship that some described as "toxic." During the trial, Adam said that Conley had alleged that he had raped and choked her while he was drunk in 2014, per the Observer-Dispatch. In court, Adam said he remembered having sex with Conley but added, "There were no visible injuries." "The first year, my relationship with Adam was pretty good," Conley said in Hulu's Little Miss Innocent: Passion. Poison. Prison. "Then there was a noticeable shift in him, and I didn't quite understand it ... I was scared of him. It changed the way I see the world." Adam and Conley were not together at the time of Mary's death. Why was Kaitlyn Conley charged with Mary Yoder's death? The assistant district attorney alleged that Conley killed Yoder for one of two reasons: to get back at Adam for their tumultuous relationship or to create a traumatic event in Adam's life that would ultimately bring them back together. Throughout the trial, Conley asserted that she and Mary were friends and that she would never harm her. "I miss Mary, and I really hate that this situation has kind of colored my relationship with her," she said in the docuseries. "I feel like I can't really miss her because I'm fighting for my own life." How did Kaitlyn Conley become the prime suspect? ABC News/YouTube Kaitlyn Conley In the beginning of the investigation, police believed Mary's husband William to be the prime suspect as he began dating Mary's older sister, Kathleen, shortly after her death. They also suspected that he was looking to get a life insurance payout, but when that didn't happen, investigators shifted to a new suspect: Adam. In November 2015, the medical examiner's office received an anonymous letter that pointed to Adam. The letter alleged that he had confessed to murdering his mom and noted that police could find the colchicine in his car. It all seemed too easy, and investigators began to consider who might have reason to frame Adam. A month later, while being interviewed by police, Conley confessed to writing the letter. She was now the prime suspect. After some digging, investigators found that two purchases of colchicine had been made on Conley's work computer and they found her DNA on one of the bottles' wrappers. She was ultimately charged with murder. The first trial resulted in a hung jury. During the second, Adam revealed that he had access to the contents of Conley's phone after she backed up her device on his computer in August 2015. According to Spectrum News 1, the backup included screenshots of articles Conley had been reading titled "Why is Thallium the Poison of Choice for Poisoners and Terrorists and Some of the Worlds Most Toxic Substances. On Nov. 6, 2017, Conley was found guilty of first-degree manslaughter and acquitted of second-degree murder. Where is Kaitlyn Conley now? In January 2018, Conley was sentenced to 23 years in prison. She was incarcerated at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York and would have been eligible for parole in 2037. However, after seven years behind bars, attorney Melissa Swartz filed an appeal to overturn Conley's conviction. She argued that Conley's first attorney failed to challenge a warrant that allowed investigators to access Conley's phone in the first trial. She told Dateline in March 2025 that the warrant was "probably the most facially insufficient warrant Ive ever come across." They believed that that was a warrant to take her phone and look in it, Swartz said. But what it needs to be is two separate warrants; one to take her phone and then one to actually search her phone. In January 2025, a New York state appellate court overturned her conviction and called Conley's first attorney as "sufficiently egregious and prejudicial as to compromise her right to a fair trial." By early February, Conley was released. Conley has not addressed her conviction since her release from prison, but Swartz told Dateline, We are making sure that the criminal justice system is working correctly. Thats important for people that commit crimes, and thats important for people who have been wrongfully convicted of committing crimes. Yoder's family has also not publicly addressed Conley's appeal. However, Adam's sister Tamryn said in Little Miss Innocent, "I hope she never makes it out of prison. Id be okay if she made it to 22 years and then got killed in there. Id be happy." Meanwhile, Conley also spoke out for the first time since her conviction in Hulu's September 2024 series Little Miss Innocent: Passion. Poison. Prison. Read the original article on People By Jarrett Renshaw and Alexandra Alper WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House intends to publish a plan on Wednesday that calls for the export of American AI technology abroad and a crackdown on state laws deemed too restrictive to let it flourish, a document seen by Reuters shows. According to a summary of the draft plan seen by Reuters, the White House will bar federal AI funding from going to states with tough AI rules and ask the Federal Communications Commission to assess whether state laws conflict with its mandate. It will also promote open source and open weight AI development and "export American AI technologies through full-stack deployment packages" and data center initiatives led by the Commerce Department. The plan will "focus on empowering American workers through AI-enabled job creation and industry breakthroughs," according to the document. Janet Egan, a fellow at The Center for a New American Security, said the plan, as described by Reuters, represents a market shift in strategy from "a primarily restrictive approach to AI" under Biden to a focus on answering the question "how do you start spreading the infrastructure and the technology that will underpin the globe?" Despite the focus on expansion, the plan does mention the importance of "defending against misuse and preparing for future AI-related risks," according to the summary. U.S. President Donald Trump ordered his administration in January to produce a plan that would make "America the world capital in artificial intelligence" and reduce regulatory barriers to its rapid expansion. That report, which includes input from the National Security Council, is due by Wednesday. Trump is set to mark that deadline with a major speech as part of an event titled Winning the AI Race, organized by White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks and his co-hosts on the All-In podcast. "The Plan will deliver a strong, specific, and actionable federal policy roadmap that goes beyond the details reported here and we look forward to releasing it soon, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy spokeswoman Victoria LaCivita said in a statement. Trump is laser-focused on removing barriers to AI expansion, a marked departure from his predecessor, Joe Biden, who feared U.S. adversaries like China could harness AI to supercharge its military and harm allies. Biden, who left office in January, imposed a raft of restrictions on exports of coveted American AI chips to China and other countries that could use or divert the semiconductors to China over national security concerns. Trump rescinded Biden's executive order aimed at promoting competition, protecting consumers and ensuring AI was not used for misinformation. He also pulled back Biden's so-called AI diffusion rule, which capped the amount of American AI computing capacity that some countries were allowed to obtain via U.S. AI chip imports. Last month, Sacks downplayed the risk that coveted American AI chips could be smuggled to bad actors and expressed concern that regulating U.S. AI too tightly could stifle growth and cede the critical market to China. Under Trump's plan, the White House would also promote AI use at the Pentagon, launch a program to identify federal regulations that impede AI development and streamline the permitting process for data center construction. (Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Alexandra Alper; Editing by Franklin Paul, Mark Porter) State of Wisconsin (The Center Square) Lawmakers in Wisconsin are looking to clarify the rules for off-road vehicles that are registered in other states. The Assemblys Transportation Committee on Tuesday held a hearing on a plan, AB 221, that would treat all out of state ATVs and UTVs the same as those that are registered in the state. Unfortunately, out-of-state companies are encouraging Wisconsin residents to exploit a loophole, registering their recreational vehicles as commercial vehicles in South Dakota and Montana, and avoid Wisconsins rules, Rep. Jeff Mursau, R-Crivitz, said. These reclassifications are misleading and undermine our registration system, local control, and public safety. Mursau said courts have already rejected this scheme in individual cases, but he said the law remains unclear. This bill closes the loophole ensuring that only vehicles meeting Wisconsin definition of ATV/UTV can operate on our public trails and routes, he added. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which has jurisdiction over those ATV/UTV routes said allowing out of state registrations also saps some of the money that Wisconsin uses to maintain its off-road trails and paths. When owners circumvent Wisconsin registration and trail pass regulations, and register their machines in other states, it does divert funds from our ATV and UTV program, DNR Law Enforcement Policy Officer Matthew Wehn told lawmakers. Registering ATVs and UTVs in other states can also lead drivers to take them out on regular roads. Wehn and lawmakers said thats dangerous in Wisconsin. Allowing operation by ATVs or UTVs as a motor vehicle does blur the line between motor vehicles and ATVs and UTVs, it creates confusion for the public law enforcement motor vehicle operators, Wehn added. While the plan was before lawmakers on Tuesday, it will likely be months before it gets a vote in either the Assembly or the State Senate. Courtney Turner Woman travels to Turkey for a "natural"-looking nose job A nose job was always a part 26-year-old Courtney Turner's future. The Houston, Texas, resident tells PEOPLE that the "small bump" on her bridge had always been something she was "self-conscious about." She'd broken her nose twice before due to her involvement in two car accidents, and at the age of 13, she underwent surgery for a deviated septum. All of that combined made her "hyper-aware" of her appearance. "So, when I got the opportunity and the money [for a cosmetic-related nose job], I was like, 'Okay, it's something that I want to do." Courtney, who works in marketing for a construction company, first looked into plastic surgery options close to home. But the quotes? Around $20,000. Instead of blowing her budget, she began looking overseas, which is how she landed on medical tourism company Phoenix, which offers a variety of surgeries from breast augmentations and dental work to hair transplants through a travel package that reads like a relaxing vacation but for a fraction of the cost. 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. For around $5,100, Courtney secured herself not only a surgery, but also a seven-night stay at a hotel close to the hospital (with complimentary breakfast) and hospital and airport transfers. Also covered were the essentials needed post-operation, including medication, garments and aftercare assistance from staff. The flights were the only "out of pocket" part she paid for, bringing her entire trip to $6,300. Courtney, who documented her entire journey on TikTok, brought her mom along for the journey and, the morning after they landed in Istanbul, they were already on their way to the hospital. Her surgery proceeded with a round of tests. "It was very fast still and it didn't really give me time to get cold feet or anything," she recalls. The process was similar to what she'd experienced with doctor's appointments in the States, but "the only time that I was like, 'This is a little bit different,' was when you go in for surgery," she says. "Normally, in America, when you go in for surgery, they give you anesthesia and then take you back, and you don't see any of the process," says Courtney, who was fully conscious up until the point she lay down on the operating table. Courtney Turner Courtney recovering from her rhinoplasty in Turkey The PEOPLE App is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Her operation, performed by surgeon Dr. Ulas Bali, went smoothly. "I didn't have any complications and as soon as I woke up from surgery, I was not in any pain. The first day [post-op] I was very groggy and then the next day I still wasn't in a lot of pain, just uncomfortable." By days five and six, she felt "completely fine" to experience Istanbul. By that time, Courtney still had a cast around her nose, but she wasn't the only one putting their fresh surgery on display. "At my hotel, we would go to breakfast and you would see all of the other people recovering from their different surgeries. So there was a girl who got a BBL [Brazilian butt lift], and she was doing her morning strolls. There was another girl [who had undergone] a nose surgery, there was a guy who got hair plugs." The concept was so accepted that Courtney "felt completely comfortable" walking around in public with a bandaged appearance. Returning to the US was, for the most part, hassle-free save for getting past security. Courtney got a doctor's note clearing her for air travel, but was picked to go through another round of scans. Communicating with airport staff, especially about her condition, proved difficult with the language barrier. "In that case, I called my care coordinator [whose service was included in the surgery package] and she hopped on the phone with them." One month after her surgery, Courtney is feeling totally in love with her "natural"-looking results. "I'm completely happy now." Read the original article on People 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 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. 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. Microsoft is aware of active attacks targeting on-premises SharePoint Server customers by exploiting vulnerabilities partially addressed by the July Security Update, the company said in a statement. These vulnerabilities apply to on-premises SharePoint Servers only. SharePoint Online in Microsoft 365 is not impacted. The zero-day exploit represents a critical threat to enterprise operations as it allows unauthorised attackers to execute code remotely without authentication, potentially giving cybercriminals complete control over affected systems. Both the Australian Signals Directorate and NCSC NZ issued statements recommending organisations to monitor Microsofts official advisories for any updates to mitigations and related patches. Today's headlines: Yet another journalist killed in the Philippines; Children most affected by pollution in Indonesia; Pakistani Islamist militants turn to drones; New technical talks between Russia and Ukraine are planned; Protests over water shortages in Tajikistan. ISRAEL GAZA Yesterday, Israel also launched a ground incursion into the town of Deir al-Balah in the centre of the Gaza Strip. Several residents fled towards the Mediterranean Sea to the west and towards Khan Younis to the south. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that two UN guesthouses in the city were hit, despite the parties having been informed of the location of the UN premises, which are inviolable, regardless of the evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army. Some WHO members were also arrested and later released, while at least 65 people were killed in the bombings. PHILIPPINES Another journalist was killed yesterday in Bislig, Philippines: Erwin Labitad Segovia, 63, was a presenter on Radio WOW and host of a programme focusing on social issues and local government. According to the police, Boy Pana, as he was known, was shot dead by an unidentified gunman as he was returning home shortly after finishing his morning broadcast. He is the fifth journalist to be killed since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. came to power. INDONESIA According to a study published this month by the University of Indonesia, in the capital, Jakarta, a city with a population of over 10 million, one in 20 children under the age of five has been diagnosed with pneumonia. According to the World Health Organisation, the infection, which is exacerbated by high levels of pollution, is responsible for 14% of all deaths among young children worldwide. Tambora, a densely populated district in the western part of the metropolis, had the highest prevalence, with nearly three cases of pneumonia for every 20 children. PAKISTAN According to Pakistani police, Islamist militants in the countryare also using drones purchased for commercial purposes to target security forces, especially in the north-western regions. In early July, terrorists attacked a police station, injuring a woman and three children in the district of Bannu, while in other attacks, security forces reported that they had managed to neutralise the drones before they could drop their payloads. SOUTH KOREA This morning, President Lee Jae Myung asked the National Assembly to send a confirmation report on the candidate for Minister for Gender Equality, Kang Sun-woo, despite growing criticism from part of South Korean society. The People Power Party, the main opposition party, refused to ratify the confirmation, citing allegations of workplace abuse against Kang. With the deadline passed, the president could proceed with the appointment unilaterally. RUSSIA - UKRAINE The new round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine could take place in the coming days in Istanbul, according to diplomatic sources, possibly on 23-24 July, and would be of a technical nature on limited issues, from humanitarian aid to prisoner exchanges, civil infrastructure security and border security measures. TAJIKISTAN Protests and calls for help are rising in many areas of Tajikistan due to the severe shortage of drinking water, especially in the city of Kuljaba, one of the most populous in the country, where residents are forced to pay huge sums for water or travel kilometres, and many roam around on donkeys with carts in search of a source or a loan of water. by Sumon Corraya Dozens of injured are being treated in various hospitals. The story of a boy who pulled a younger girl from the rubble and brought her to safety. The army praises the heroism of the pilot, who died in the tragedy, who reportedly tried to avoid populated areas. However, it was his first solo training flight. The secretary of the Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Kubi, expresses the condolences of the Catholic Church Dhaka (AsiaNews) - The provisional death toll from yesterday's accident in Bangladesh caused by an Air Force training jet that crashed into a building of the Milestone School and College in the Uttara district of Dhaka has risen to 27, with 164 others injured. Among the injured, 78 are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals. So far, the bodies of 20 victims have been returned to their families. The FT-7 BGI fighter jet, on a routine training mission, took off from AK Khandaker Air Base in Kurmitola at 1:06 p.m. yesterday. Shortly after take-off, the aircraft suffered a mechanical failure. According to reports, the pilot, Lieutenant Tauqir Islam, attempted to steer the aircraft away from densely populated areas to minimise casualties. Despite his efforts, the jet crashed into a two-storey building at Milestone School and College in Diabari, Dhaka. The Catholic Church has expressed its deepest condolences for the tragedy. Monsignor Ponen Paul Kubi, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh and bishop of the diocese of Mymensingh, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. This is an unexpected, tragic and unfortunate event. The loss and injury of children is particularly heartbreaking. I extend my deepest condolences to the families affected and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and for the eternal rest of the souls of the deceased, he told AsiaNews. Robaida Noor Albira, a fourth-grade girl from Milestone, was pulled from the rubble with severe burns. Sayem Khan, an eleventh-grade student, rescued her in the chaos. "Suddenly there was a loud explosion and everything caught fire. The flames were so intense that it was almost impossible to get close. Then I saw a girl screaming, Brother, take me! As soon as I approached, she collapsed on my shoulder," Sayem told Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He kept Albira's identity card with him and, together with another woman, took her to several hospitals in Uttara. Unable to find immediate medical attention, they finally took her by ambulance to Dhaka Medical College. Eyewitnesses and fire officials reported that the training jet first crashed into the schoolyard, digging a 30-metre-long trench before hitting the ground floor of a two-storey building. The front section of the plane smashed through a classroom, scattering debris and triggering a fire. Students described how the plane disintegrated on impact, with burning wreckage blocking the stairstrapping and killing many people trying to escape. The deceased pilot, Lieutenant Tauqir Islam, had flown the training aircraft solo for the first time the day before the crash. Family members confirmed that it was his maiden solo training mission. The Air Force has set up a high-level commission of inquiry to determine the causes of the accident. The chief adviser to the interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, expressed deep sorrow, calling the loss of students, teachers and air force personnel an irreparable national tragedy. Legal adviser Dr Asif Nazrul promised full support for the injured, ensuring that they would receive medical care and rehabilitation. The government has declared today a national day of mourning in honour of the victims. In a week of clashes between Druze, Bedouins and government forces, over a thousand civilians and combatants were killed, including Christian families and the Druze evangelical pastor Khalid Mezheri. The Latin Church and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate are calling for urgent intervention by the international community and denouncing the role of militias that still escape Damascus' control and external interference. L'uvre d'Orient reports hundreds of displaced persons without food or water. Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo Hanna Jallouf: Only dialogue can save Syria. Damascus (AsiaNews) - According to the Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo, Hanna Jallouf, the Latin Church is also following with deep concern and sadness the rapid escalation of events taking place in the southern governorate of Suwayda, which for a week has been the scene of clashes between Druze and Bedouin tribes and government forces, but which have also involved Christian civilians and other religious minorities. One of the most violent incidents took place in the village of al-Qarah, where several Christian families were reportedly massacred. Among the victims was Pastor Khalid Mezheri, who came from a Druze family but converted to Christianity. He was head of the Evangelical Church of the Good Shepherd in Suwayda and was murdered along with his wife and children. The violence and counter-violence that are taking place are of no use to anyone. On the contrary, they inflame and complicate the path to a solution, obscuring the language of reason and wisdom, reads the statement signed by Bishop Jallouf. Crises can only be resolved through dialogue, listening and openness within the one Syrian family. On Sunday 20 July, a fragile truce brokered by the United States and Israel came into effect. In the previous days, Israel had bombed the Suwayda region and the Syrian Ministry of Defence in Damascus as a warning to the government, now led by President (and former jihadist) Ahmed al-Sharaa. Tel Aviv justified its actions by saying it wanted to protect the Druze minority, which is also present in Israel and Lebanon. There is no shortage of accusations of foreign interference in the statement issued by the Apostolic Vicariate of Aleppo: We call on the international community to assume its responsibilities regarding the external violations to which our country is subject and which threaten the unity and integrity of our people. The violence began on 13 July following the alleged kidnapping of a Druze merchant by Bedouin tribes, who were later joined by government forces. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), more than 1,120 people were killed in one week, including 427 fighters and 298 Druze civilians, 194 of whom were summarily executed by Ministry of Defence and Interior personnel. In addition, 354 members of the Syrian security forces and 21 Sunni Bedouins, three of whom were civilians, were also killed, according to the organisation, executed by Druze fighters. Another 15 soldiers were killed in Israeli attacks. Meanwhile, according to the United Nations International Organisation for Migration (IOM), at least 128,000 people have been displaced from the governorate due to the armed clashes. Criticism and accusations against the current government have been raised in recent days by the prior of the monastic community of Mar Musa, Fr. Jihad Youssef, who denounced the violence perpetrated by the militias that supported the rise of Ahmed al-Sharaa against the previous regime of Bashar al-Assad: 'How can you humiliate your fellow citizens, your brothers in Syria? This barbarism and blind revenge cannot build a state, even if those who practise it remain alone after wiping out all those who are not like them. You were against Assad's injustice and now you are practising injustice on the same people and with the same sectarian spirit. What is the difference between you and him?" Harsh words, but accompanied by declarations of solidarity with all those involved in the clashes: "We stand in solidarity with the people of the city and the governorate of all affiliations: Muslims, Christians and especially Druze, all those who suffer from violence. Your moustaches are a crown on our heads'. The reference is to the violence of cutting off the moustaches, a religious and identifying symbol, of men belonging to the Druze community. In addition to the General Security, the new Syrian security forces, extremist militias dissatisfied with al-Sharaa's government, which they consider too moderate, continue to exist in Syria. Some of these extremist elements have split from Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, the group led by al-Sharaa) and formed a new terrorist group called Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, which in June carried out an attack on the Mar Elias church in Damascus. On Friday 18 July, groups of armed men attacked activists who were peacefully protesting, with a silent sit-in, against the ongoing violence in Suwayda and in favour of national reconciliation. Among the victims of verbal and physical attacks was Zeina Shahla, a Syrian activist and journalist detained during the Assad regime for her political opposition activities, who now works as an advisor to the National Committee for Missing Persons established by Sharaa in May this year. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, based in Damascus, also issued an urgent appeal to the international community and called for an end to the violence: "For days, under the eyes of the whole world, violence has been afflicting our people in Suwayda. For days, attempts to resolve and calm the situation have been in vain. What is happening in Suwayda is a disgrace to humanity. Patriarch John X Yazigi has remained in contact with Metropolitan Antonios Saad, head of the Archdiocese of Bosra, Hauran and Jabal al-Arab, who had himself issued several messages of peace: Glory to God in all things. I address this message to the whole world and call on them to intervene urgently to stop the massacres of terrorists in Suwayda. I address this humanitarian appeal to those who have a sound mind and love peace. The ongoing war in the governorate of Suwayda is a war of annihilation that is killing young and old alike. I therefore raise my voice loudly to the international community and the United Nations to help us. I hope that this cry will reach the whole world." The uvre d'Orient has also expressed its concern about the situation, stressing that the Melkite church in the village of Sara has been burned down and several hundred people are currently taking refuge in the Melkite parish of Shorba, in the Capuchin church and in the Greek Orthodox archbishopric of Suwayda, without water, food or electricity. The Melkite Church also calls on the parties involved to respect the ceasefire, but also that an independent investigation into the executions of civilians be conducted and that the perpetrators of the murder of Pastor Khaled Mazher be brought to justice and punished. The international community is once again asked to intervene, whose support for the new authorities in Damascus should be conditional on respect for the rights and protection of the Syrian civilian population, in particular members of the Druze, Alawite and Christian minorities. GATEWAY TO THE EAST IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO THE MIDDLE EAST. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY TUESDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE. by Vladimir Rozanskij Visits to local administrations by the head of the Bishkek security services, Kamchybek Tasiev, have ended in sensational arrests. The senior official describes the fight against corruption as a mission received from President Zaparov. But there are those who doubt the effectiveness of this clean-up campaign if, in a country like Kyrgyzstan, procedures are not radically changed to make them transparent, effective and digitised. Bishkek (AsiaNews) - As has been increasingly the case in recent times, visits by the head of Kyrgyzstan's GNB security services, Kamchybek Tashev, to local administrations have ended with sensational arrests. The latest occasion was in the capital Bishkek, where, at the end of a meeting with municipal employees, Deputy Mayor Zamalbek Yrsaliev and the director of the municipal property office, Bakyt Serimbekov, were arrested. After being interrogated, the two were immediately dismissed, and their positions have not been filled. Similarly, the mayors and leaders of the cities of Os, Tokmak and Sopokov were recently arrested by Tasiev. Immediately after Serimbekov's arrest, the Gknb issued a statement explaining that the official is suspected of breaking the law in the organisation of the competition for the design of a new park in Bishkek. Yrsaliev is accused of granting municipal land for commercial purposes, without permits or rental agreements, for over 1,500 square metres, causing damage of over 3 million som (35,000 euros) to the municipal budget. The deputy mayor was arrested in front of a crowd gathered in the affected area of the Tunguc district, where Tasiev then spoke to the crowd, urging everyone to cooperate with the investigation, which helped to clarify that the amusement machines and commercial pavilions belonged personally to the former deputy mayor. Arrests in other cities were also quite demonstrative, exposing those responsible for corruption and malfeasance in public administration to public ridicule. In February, a transport department specialist was arrested for receiving a bribe of 6,000 som, and in March, the entire management of this body was accused of concluding contracts unfavourable to the state for the installation of smart traffic lights, causing damage to the treasury of almost 20 million som. In May, a senior official in the capital's administration was arrested for extortion, the same charge later levelled at the deputy mayor. Former Prime Minister and MP Feliks Kulov commented on social media that these high-profile arrests are intended to give the impression of being random, but they are clearly well planned, given the similarities in the procedures. In his opinion, the material gathered during the investigations is already ready to trigger investigative actions with maximum effect and resonance among the population, and it must be recognised that this approach is bearing fruit, given that the leaders of many institutions are quickly taking decisions that had been postponed for years. Kulov believes that the restoration of order is only just beginning, the important thing is not to stop.. Tasiev has repeatedly stressed that activism in the fight against corruption is not just his initiative, but a mission received from the country's president, Sadyr Zaparov, who often calls on officials to come to their senses, threatening severe punishment for any waste or misappropriation of public money. Since the beginning of the year, new regulations have been in force against these phenomena, which also establish measures against relatives of those convicted of corruption, who will be excluded from military careers and the judiciary, as well as being banned for life from holding any position in the state, regional or municipal administrations. Kyrgyz political scientist Emil Dzuraev notes that corruption is deeply rooted in state administration practices in Kyrgyzstan, especially in competitions, contract awarding and other forms of resource use, and doubts that the intimidation show of recent months will easily eradicate these systemic problems. Beyond the arrests of high-ranking individuals, he insists on the need to fundamentally change procedures, making them transparent, effective and digitised, otherwise this clean-up campaign will not last long. Two prisoners died from lack of healthcare on 19 July in prisons run by Myanmars military regime: 26-year-old activist Ma Wut Yi Aung, tortured after her arrest, and Ko Pyae Sone Aung, a member of the National League for Democracy. Their death extends a long list of victims of the juntas prison system, while leader Aung San Suu Kyi is also in poor health after more than four years in prison. Yangon (AsiaNews) Two political prisoners in Myanmar have died from lack of proper medical care in Myanmars prisons: Ma Wut Yi Aung, a 26-year-old activist, and Ko Pyae Sone Aung, a member of the National League for Democracy (NLD), the governing party before the 2021 military coup. NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi, 80, has also been in prison for more than four years despite her poor health. According to the Political Prisoners Network-Myanmar (PPNM), Ma Wut Yi Aung died in Insein Prison in Yangon from severe head injuries while she was being tortured during interrogation. Arrested on 14 September 2021, she had been given a seven-year custodial sentence. A statement by the Dagon University Students' Union, of which she was an executive member, reported that the activist suffered from fainting spells, seizures, and cardiac arrest due to the injuries she sustained. Despite her family's repeated requests for transfer to an external hospital, prison authorities consistently denied her any treatment outside the prison, where she died at around 9:30 pm on Saturday, 19 July. The PPNM reported the death of Ko Pyae Sone Aung on the same day. The 44-year-old was held at the Thaton Prison. Arrested in January 2022, he had been sentenced to six years for sedition and terrorism. He suffered from hypertension, diabetes, and serious cardiovascular problems, but did not receive adequate medical care. From January until 8 July of this year, at least 14 political prisoners have died in Myanmar from lack of care, according to the network. The Irrawaddy reported that, on 10 July, writer Maung Tha Cho and anti-regime Buddhist monk Shwe Nya Wa Sayada, two former political prisoners, also died, their health impacted by torture and medical negligence while in detention. Despite appeals from human rights organisations, political prisoners in Myanmar continue to be subjected to torture and deprived of basic medical care. Requests for outside hospital treatment, even in the most serious cases, are often rejected, including those for NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who is serving a 27-year sentence handed down at a politically motivated trial. Her health is also a cause for concern. She suffers from hypertension and spells of dizziness and has so far received only limited treatment, while her family and lawyers have not been allowed to meet her. 22 July 2025 13:46 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Azerbaijan has taken a historic step by officially opening the doors of its recently liberated territoriesShusha, Lachin, Aghdam, Fuzuli, Khojaly, and Khankendi to foreign nationals. As of July 23, 2025, international travelers can now legally visit these regions, marking a powerful shift in the country's post-conflict reconstruction, integration, and tourism ambitions. This landmark decision, announced jointly by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport and the State Tourism Agency, allows foreign citizens to access the region via private vehicles or organized tours. All travel must be registered through the bilingual Our Road to Garabagh portal (www.yolumuzqarabaga.az), where visitors provide passport details and are briefed on landmine safety protocolsunderscoring that security remains a priority even amid growing openness. This is not merely an administrative changeits a declaration. It signals Azerbaijans readiness to showcase the heritage, resilience, and transformation of Garabagh to the world. For decades, these territories were inaccessible due to occupation and conflict. Today, they are being reintroduced to the global community as centers of culture, memory, and modernization. Only Azerbaijani-registered motor vehicles (category B) with up to nine passengers are allowed for entry, and hotel reservations automatically generate entry permits. Meanwhile, group tours are restricted to officially registered tourism companies, ensuring safety and structure. Tourism as a vector of revival Tourism is viewed as a catalyst for economic revival, infrastructure investment, and social cohesion in liberated territories. By bringing in visitors, Azerbaijan is not only generating income and creating jobsit is building a narrative of peace through progress. Perhaps, this is not the only addition to the decision. I think we should looking at this from a bigger picture. As part of niche tourism, an important development related to medical tourism has occurred. Therefore, according to the amendment to the Tax Code, it is planned that the VAT paid on non-cash payments for medical services provided to foreigners and stateless persons will be fully reimbursed to those individuals. This amendment aims to boost the growth of medical tourism in the country and attract foreign currency. The expert believes that implementing this concession, which is used in many countries around the world, will be especially important for developing medical tourism here. Because of this, tourist arrivals would have a significant rise in the number of people coming to our country for medical recreation and treatment. Garabagh and East Zangezur, known for their breathtaking nature, offer ideal conditions for developing health and thermal tourism. The presence of natural water sources like "Istisu" in Kalbajar, "Gotursu" in Zangilan, and around 300 water sources in Lachin supports this idea. Combining ecological tourism, agrotourism, and health tourism in these regions is a practical approach, with abundant opportunities available. A program to revitalize tourism in our liberated areas has already been initiated. According to data from the State Statistics Committee, Azerbaijan hosted 1,217,400 international visitors from 178 countries in the first half of 2025. The majority came from Russia (25.8%), Turkiye (17.6%), India (9.4%), and Iran (8.2%), followed by Georgia, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, China, Israel, and Uzbekistan. The most striking growth came from countries like Israel (up 1.9 times compared to the previous year), Tajikistan (1.8 times), China (1.6 times), and Japan (44.3%). The number of tourists from the United States increased by 17.7%, Germany by 11.1%, and Uzbekistan by 10.3%, indicating a surge in interest from both traditional partners and new markets. Interestingly, 74.3% of foreign visitors arrived by air, 24.3% by road and rail, and 1.4% by seahighlighting the importance of transportation infrastructure, which Azerbaijan has heavily invested in across the liberated regions. The upcoming operation of Fuzuli International Airport and other logistical projects like the smart village and smart city initiatives will further enhance accessibility and appeal. Although the number of visitors from the Gulf countries and CIS nations decreased slightly, the uptick from EU countries (up 6.4%) and broader international markets demonstrates Azerbaijans growing global tourism footprintand Garabagh is expected to be a magnet for that growth. Garabagh is not just a destination; it is a symbol of Azerbaijans sovereignty, perseverance, and now, peaceful reintegration. The government has heavily invested in infrastructureroads, smart energy grids, digital governance, and green zonesto ensure the region is not merely habitable, but competitive. This push toward smart reintegration is more than a public relations exercise. It is designed to lure both diaspora and foreign investors, encourage cultural tourism, and support sustainable development goals. By permitting international access, Azerbaijan is offering the world a front-row seat to one of the most ambitious post-conflict recoveries in recent history. Opening Garabagh to the world marks a confident step toward normalization, reintegration, and national pride. It provides a tangible opportunity for foreigners to witness firsthand the fusion of heritage and modernity, peace and perseverance, in a region that once symbolized conflict but now radiates promise. 22 July 2025 21:55 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more On the 150th anniversary of Azerbaijani media, a milestone deeply symbolic for a nation navigating modernity through memory and resilience, the city of Khankendi in the heart of Garabagh became the epicenter of global media dialogue. Azerbaijan hosted the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum, bringing together leading journalists, analysts, and media thinkers from across continents. Against the backdrop of post-conflict reconstruction and rapid geopolitical change, President Ilham Aliyev seized the moment to deliver not only answers but a strategic narrative - on climate, connectivity, and global cooperation. President Aliyevs engagement with the press was not simply ceremonial. It marked an intentional act of strategic storytelling, aimed at repositioning Azerbaijan not merely as an energy exporter, but as a regional power broker and a bridge between the fossil-fueled past and the green-powered future. In response to a question about the legacy of COP29, posed by Klaus Peter Ralf Jurgens (Director of Economyfirst Limited, UK), President Aliyev described the conference as a milestone - not just for Azerbaijan, but for the global climate agenda. He emphasized the significance of hosting nearly 200 countries, including 70 heads of state and government, and over 77,000 registered participants. For many, visiting Azerbaijan was a first - turning the country into a discovery in both environmental and diplomatic terms. President Aliyev stated that Azerbaijans contribution to the climate agenda stems from its existing energy structure. The country does not use coal or fuel oil for electricity generation, relying instead on natural gas, hydropower, and increasingly, solar energy. Looking ahead, the President underlined Azerbaijans green targets and said: "By 2030, based on already signed investment contracts, we will have a minimum of six gigawatts of green energy, including solar, wind, and hydro. Hydro is primarily produced here in this area in Garabagh and East Zangezur. We have already inaugurated more than 30 small hydropower stations with a total capacity of 280 megawatts." While reaffirming Azerbaijans commitment, President Aliyev also stressed a pragmatic perspective on global climate efforts. He pointed out that countries most responsible for emissions should shoulder the burden, and warned that completely abandoning fossil fuels is not realistic in the near term. He explained: "...without fossil fuels, in the foreseeable future, the world cannot function. Economies cannot function, planes cannot fly, and everything would come to a halt. So, we must approach this from a realistic point of view." The President also highlighted Azerbaijans diplomatic role during COP29, particularly in fostering consensus between the Global North and Global South, noting that the country was seen as a bridge-builder during the negotiations. Among the tangible achievements of COP29, he pointed to the long-awaited agreement on Article 6 - related to carbon markets - and the tripling of climate finance commitments from $100 billion to $300 billion. While acknowledging that not all countries were satisfied, he emphasized that this was a fair and significant outcome. When asked by Professor Paolo Liebl von Schirach, President of the Global Policy Institute (Washington, DC), about drivers of regional development and foreign investment, President Aliyev focused on connectivity and infrastructure. He described the Middle Corridor - a transport and energy route stretching from East Asia to Western Europe - as an increasingly important vector linking countries across the region. According to the President, geography alone is not enough to ensure success. It must be combined with stability, strategic planning, and constructive relations. He stressed the growing role of green energy projects in Azerbaijan and Central Asia. The agreement signed by the presidents of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan during COP29 to build a subsea green energy cable under the Caspian Sea is a major step toward connecting Central Asias renewable potential to Azerbaijans grid. Similarly, the agreement with Georgia, Romania, and Hungary to build a green cable under the Black Sea expands that connectivity into Europe. The President said: "Azerbaijan will become a kind of hub for green energy transmission, production, and distribution, with very big potential to grow and become even more global than it is today" At the same time, he emphasized that traditional energy infrastructure remains vital. The Southern Gas Corridor is already operating at full capacity, and gas exports to Europe have increased from 8 billion cubic meters in 2021 to 13 billion cubic meters - nearly half of Azerbaijans total gas exports. However, Ilham Aliyev highlighted a critical challenge: European financial institutions, such as the EIB and EBRD, have limited or stopped financing fossil fuel projects. Without new funding, further expansion of Azerbaijans gas capacity is constrained - even as European demand continues to grow. He stressed: "To expand it, we need funds. We need borrowed money. So, I think that European institutions should consider this situation and revise their policies so that funding can be attracted. And under these circumstances, what today seems like a done deal can actually grow." President Aliyevs key message was cooperation: Lets work as a team - thats what we have suggested: our European partners and Azerbaijan... we are ready to be instrumental. In response to a question by Zhong Zhong, Chief Correspondent of the Baku branch of Xinhua News Agency, President Aliyev addressed Azerbaijans cooperation with China - especially within the context of the Great Return to Garabagh. He stated that Chinese companies are already deeply involved in the implementation of solar power plant projects in Azerbaijan, including as suppliers of solar panels. More recently, the partnership has extended into direct cooperation in solar and wind energy production. Agreements have been signed with Chinese firms, and the President expressed optimism about continued and mutually beneficial collaboration. The President's remarks suggested that Chinese companies have a meaningful role to play in rebuilding Garabagh through green investments, positioning energy cooperation as part of the wider development effort in formerly occupied territories. From Khankendi, in a city that once symbolized division and now represents reconstruction and reintegration, President Ilham Aliyev presented a clear and consistent outlook: Azerbaijan is committed to the green transition, but it will be pursued on realistic, fair, and strategic terms. Whether through landmark COP29 achievements, cross-regional energy corridors, or pragmatic diplomacy with both East and West, Azerbaijan aims to serve as a connector - of infrastructure, of markets, and of global interests. The message from the 150th anniversary of Azerbaijans media, delivered from the heart of Garabagh, was unmistakable: the country is building its future - green, global, and grounded in its own priorities. 22 July 2025 13:27 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. Trade between Azerbaijan and Argentina saw a significant boost in the first half of 2025, with total turnover rising by 18.5 percent year-on-year to over $44.2 million, Azernews reports, citing the State Customs Committee. 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! 22 July 2025 14:23 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The launch of the Zangazur Corridor has the potential to reduce freight transportation costs and significantly enhance the attractiveness of the route for regional trade, Azernews reports, citing Kenan Gurbanov, Secretary General of the Azerbaijan International Road Carriers Association (ABADA). Emphasizing the strategic importance of the corridor Gurbanov noted that the Zangezur Corridor is a globally significant project. "We are all eagerly awaiting its opening. At present, our freight shipments to Europe must pass through either Georgia or Iran, which increases both transportation time and costs. Once the Zangezur Corridor opens, the route will become shorter and transit will take place entirely through Azerbaijani territory, he said. Gurbanov noted that in addition to reducing costs, the corridor would make the route more attractive for international freight operators. Touching on ABADAs internal goals, Gurbanov stated that the organization aims to surpass 100 large companies using TIR Carnets by the end of the year. Currently, 85 companies are registered under the system. Our goal is to involve all Azerbaijani carriers in the TIR Carnet system, which directly contributes to improving service quality Were also working to expand the geographical footprint of our member companies. That footprint already reaches China, and our next objective is to extend it deeper into Europe, he said. Gurbanov also addressed challenges faced by Azerbaijani carriers operating in Iran: There are many fines and artificial barriers in Iran, which complicate deep access into the country. Despite this, expanding our freight operations in that direction remains one of our goals, he concluded. 22 July 2025 14:01 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Bulbul Vocal School, which preserves the rich heritage of Azerbaijan's renowned vocal artist, has announced its student admissions for the 20252026 academic year, Azernews reports. Individuals aged 10 to 35 with musical education are eligible to participate in the competition. Candidates will submit their CVs and video recordings of their performances for the initial selection round. Those who successfully pass this stage will be invited to the next phase- a live audition. It is noted that the Bulbul Vocal School, established at the initiative of People's Artist Ramil Gasimov and operated under his leadership, has been the only free vocal school in Azerbaijan for the past three years. The application process begins on July 20 and will continue until August 20. For additional information and applications, you can contact this number: 010 317 18 97. 22 July 2025 15:03 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Azerbaijan Culture Ministry has hosted an event titled "Our Culture, Our Press: 150 Years Together," dedicated to National Press Day, Azernews reports citing the ministry. The event began with a video presentation reflecting the attention and care given to the media by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev. In his speech, the Culture Minister Adil Karimli congratulated all media representatives on the occasion of National Press Day and conveyed his best wishes. Looking at the development path of the Azerbaijani press, the minister emphasized that the "Akinchi" newspaper, which began publication 150 years ago thanks to the efforts of the great educator and thinker Hasan bay Zardabi, played an exceptional role in the development of the national press. Over the years, the press has advanced alongside our culture and has been one of its primary tools of promotion. It was also mentioned that the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, paid great attention and care to the development of the press during both of his terms in office. Continuing the policy of the National Leader, President Ilham Aliyev has also surrounded the media with his care. Significant efforts have been made to strengthen the material-technical base of media institutions, and large-scale work has been done to improve the living and working conditions of journalists. The decree signed by the President regarding the 150th anniversary of our national press is also a reflection of the high attention given to the history of the press. The Minister stated that during and after the victorious Patriotic War, the Azerbaijani media successfully carried out its mission, which has been highly appreciated by our people and state. It was noted that media organizations currently play an important role in promoting the Azerbaijani culture: "We highly appreciate the role of media and the press in disseminating our ancient and rich culture to a wide audience. We believe that the mass media will continue to pay attention to the development of our culture." The event continued in the form of a quiz, where media representatives and participants answered questions both individually and as teams. The winners were presented with prizes. At the end, a concert program was presented by the Chorus named after Jahangir Jahangirov, operating under the International Mugham Center, with the artistic leadership of Honored Teacher Tarana Yusifova. 22 July 2025 17:50 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more The Second Meeting of Film Leaders from the Turkic World has taken place in Feriye Palace in Istanbul, organized by the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), Azernews reports. High-ranking officials from the film sectors of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Turkiye participated in the event. The meeting was conducted based on decisions made at the 40th meeting of the TURKSOY Permanent Council and aimed to strengthen the role of the film industry in preserving cultural heritage and transmitting it to future generations. In his opening speech, TURKSOY Secretary-General Sultan Raev, emphasized the importance of joint efforts to form a shared memory and culture. He noted that cinema is one of the most powerful tools for delivering the rich heritage of Turkish civilization to the world. Deputy Director-General of the Azerbaijan Film Agency Gurban Primov provided detailed information on the country's cinema policies, international cooperation efforts, and future plans. He also informed the participants about the Baku Cinema Breeze Festival and invited them to participate in the event. During his speech, he proposed collaboration in the areas of distribution, dubbing, and animation. The meeting covered topics such as joint film production, cooperation in film festivals, and the creation of a shared film fund. At the end of the event, a joint protocol was signed by the representatives of the participating countries. It is worth noting that the meeting was held parallel to the TRT 12 Punto events, Turkiye's largest screenwriting development and joint production platform. As part of the 12 Punto 2025 framework, a panel discussion titled "New Bridges in Joint Production between Turkiye and the Turkic World" took place, with leaders from official cinema organizations of Turkiye and other Turkic states participating. The panel discussed opportunities for joint production, collaboration platforms, and future prospects. Panel participants included Gurban Primov, Deputy Director-General of the Azerbaijan Film Agency, Ulan Adamaliev, Director-General of Film in Kyrgyzstan, Asset Yernazarov, Executive Director of Kazakhfilm, Jumagali Kurmanbek, Chairman of the Kazakh National Cinema Support Center, Shukhratulla Rizayev, Director-General of Cinema in Uzbekistan, Sahysalyh Bayramov, Deputy Chairman of the Oghuzhan Turkmenfilm Union of Turkmenistan, Birol Guven, Director-General of Cinema at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkiye, and Faruk Guven, Head of TRT Cinema. During the discussions, the participants exchanged views on joint projects, organizing training and experience programs, mutual film exchange, and festival cooperation. They shared their experiences and proposed ideas for strengthening mutual collaboration. As part of the visit, the delegations also toured the TRT pavilion, where they were introduced to modern technological advancements used in television and cinema, as well as the filming and post-production processes. The Azerbaijani delegation also held meetings with several prestigious private film companies in Turkiye. During these meetings, discussions were held about the technical infrastructure used by the studios, high-quality production capabilities, and prospects for cooperation. This meeting has been considered an important step towards expanding cooperation in the film industry in the Turkic World and preserving shared cultural values. The International Organization of Turkic Culture, TURKSOY, was established in 1993 upon signature of its founding agreement by the Ministers of Culture of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Turkiye Over the past years, TURKSOY has made significant contributions to promoting Turkic cultural heritage through different initiatives. Most of these projects have become a tradition and are continued every year. Since its establishment, TURKSOY has been carrying out activities to strengthen the ties of brotherhood and solidarity among Turkic peoples, transmit the common Turkic culture to future generations and introduce it to the world. The organization actively collaborates with international bodies like UNESCO and maintains partnerships with institutions such as the Organization of Turkic States and the International Turkish Academy. Azerbaijan actively participates in TURKSOY's initiatives, hosting events like the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World project in Shusha city. Many events of cultural significance, including the Kharibulbul International Folklore Festival, the Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival, the Cultural Days of the Turkic People, the Vagif Poetry Days, the International Festival of Children's Creativity, Wonderland Shusha 2023 International Scout Camp, and other events were organized in Azerbaijan's cultural center in accordance with the Action Plan. 22 July 2025 16:53 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Azerbaijan Culture Ministry has conducted a training session on the topic "Culture and Communication: Modern Media Strategies", Azernews reports. The training, timed to National Press Day (July 22), was attended by media and communication specialists from institutions operating under the Culture Ministry. The training was led by Sevil Karimova, Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs at the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in Art Studies. She shared her thoughts on the concepts of culture and communication, discussing modern international practices in the field and highlighting key trends with specific examples. During the session, discussions also covered communication with the media, digital communication strategies, and other related concepts, with emphasis on key points that employees in this field should pay attention to. Aynur Karimova, Head of the Media and Communication Department at the Culture Ministry, highly appreciated the significance of the training. She stated that when preparing press materials related to the activities of cultural institutions in an information society, the demands of contemporary readers, as well as the cultural policies of the relevant authorities and the state, must be taken into account. The event continued with a tea break, during which further discussions on the topic took place. 22 July 2025 08:45 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more On July 22, 2025, Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeyhun Bayramov, departed for an official visit to Georgia, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry. The Ministry noted that the visit will include a series of high-level diplomatic meetings. During his trip, Minister Bayramov is scheduled to hold talks with his Georgian counterpart, Maka Botchorishvili, as well as other senior government officials. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance regional cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia. 22 July 2025 09:15 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more In line with the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev and within the framework of the First State Program on the Great Return to the liberated territories, another resettlement caravan has departed from the Qaradag district of Baku, carrying families to the newly rebuilt city of Jabrayil, Azernews reports. This phase of the relocation saw 53 families, totaling 198 people, move back to their native lands. These families had previously been temporarily settled in dormitories, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings across various regions of the country. The returning residents of Jabrayil expressed their deep gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for the comprehensive state support provided to them. They also thanked the valiant Azerbaijani Army, whose heroic soldiers and officers liberated their homeland, and they offered prayers for the memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country. Currently, more than 50,000 people reside in Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur, including formerly displaced persons who have returned, individuals working on regional reconstruction projects, and employees of newly restored institutions in healthcare, education, culture, tourism, industry, and energy, as well as civil servants assigned to local branches of various state bodies. 22 July 2025 11:12 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Restoration, reconstruction, and landscaping efforts continue in a phased manner across Azerbaijans liberated territories. As part of these ongoing efforts, the second phase of infrastructure development has begun in the city of Khojaly, Azernews reports. This phase will focus on the internal engineering and utility networks, road and street infrastructure, and the beautification and greening of the citys boulevard area. In addition, design and planning work has commenced for the restoration of 37 individual residential houses in Khojaly. The Social Development Fund for Internally Displaced Persons has launched the implementation process and signed a contract with the Baku State Design Institute to carry out the necessary design work. Under the terms of the contract, the Institute has been allocated 650,000 AZN ($ 382,352.94) for the project. All the planned works are expected to be completed by May of next year. 22 July 2025 10:30 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Azerbaijani media today has transcended national boundaries, evolving into a globally recognized force that reflects regional perspectives with global relevance. It serves as one of Azerbaijans most influential instruments of soft power, aligning with the countrys dynamic and modern foreign policy agenda. This was emphasized by Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, in a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on the occasion of National Press Day. Hajiyev stated that this landmark date carries great importance not only for media professionals but for society as a whole. Journalism is a noble profession that demands great responsibility. You fulfill this challenging yet essential mission with professionalism, dedicating yourselves to providing accurate information to the public, raising awareness, and promoting national values, he wrote. He also highlighted President Ilham Aliyevs strong support for the press, calling it a clear expression of the states trust and attention toward journalism: President Aliyevs remarks on the media and his high praise for the profession are a testament to that trust. The decree on celebrating the 150th anniversary of Azerbaijans national press and the state awards granted to numerous professional journalists demonstrate the importance our country places on media development. Hajiyev concluded his message by extending heartfelt congratulations to all media professionals and wishing them continued success in realizing the Presidents vision for the press, strengthening statehood, and defending national interests. 22 July 2025 11:36 (UTC+04:00) US President Donald Trump has shared an excerpt from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs speech delivered at the Shusha Global Media Forum, held in Khankendi, on his social media platform, Truth Social, Azernews reports. In the shared segment, President Aliyev highlighted that Donald Trump shares fundamental values, including family with the Azerbaijani people, which is why he supports Trumps return to the US presidency. Aliyev emphasized that Trump was the only recent US president who did not start any wars, but rather sought to end them a stance that resonates with Azerbaijans vision of stability and peace in the region. President Aliyev also expressed his appreciation for Trumps personal efforts during his time in office to mediate peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, despite being engaged with broader global security challenges. 22 July 2025 13:50 (UTC+04:00) President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has expressed his gratitude to President of the United States of America Donald Trump for sharing his speech at the Shusha Global Media Forum, Azernews reports. President Ilham Aliyev shared a post on his X account: I would like to express my gratitude to President Donald Trump for sharing my remarks on his social media platform regarding the U.S.-Azerbaijan partnership and his commitment to a peace agenda - both globally and in our region - which I conveyed at the Shusha Global Media Forum. Once again, I wish to underscore our support for President Trumps vision and efforts to promote peace and stability around the world, including in our region. We also share common values, such as the importance of family traditions, and remain hopeful that U.S.-Azerbaijan relations will reach a new level during his Presidency. We wish him continued success in all his endeavors toward this goal. 22 July 2025 15:49 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Azerbaijan and Kenya have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in the field of energy, marking a new chapter in bilateral relations between the two nations, Azernews reports, citing a post shared by Azerbaijans Energy Minister, Parviz Shahbazov, on the social media platform X. The post reads: "We held an online meeting with James Opiyo Wandayi Kenyas Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum. Within the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the energy sector was signed between the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum of the Republic of Kenya." The Minister also noted that the document envisages the cooperation in the fields of oil and gas, including LNG, electricity and renewable energy, as well as the promoting joint investments and the development of energy infrastructure, particularly the modernization of energy networks. The Minister emphasized that this initiative represents an important step towards expanding the geography of Azerbaijans energy cooperation and enhancing access to new markets. It is worth noting that the signing of the MoU reflects Azerbaijans continued strategy of diversifying its global energy partnerships, while offering Kenya opportunities to benefit from Azerbaijans expertise in both traditional and renewable energy sectors. 22 July 2025 15:40 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Azerbaijan has officially submitted all gathered evidence related to the torture and killing of two Azerbaijani citizens in Russia's Yekaterinburg region to the Russian Investigative Committee, according to the countrys Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev, Azernews reports via local media. Speaking during his official visit to Ankara, Aliyev emphasized that despite Russia's classification of the victims as Russian citizens, Azerbaijan does not recognize dual citizenship, and thus treats them as its nationals. We have initiated a criminal case regarding the incidents in Yekaterinburg. Although the Russian side says that the victims are citizens of their country, since Azerbaijan does not recognize dual citizenship, they are our citizens, he said. Aliyev revealed that forensic examinations conducted in Azerbaijan confirmed that the victims died as a result of torture, beatings, and serious bodily injuries. The Prosecutor Generals Office has submitted the forensic results and other materials to Russia's Investigative Committee. We hope there will be results from the criminal case opened on this issue, he stated, noting that Russia had assured Azerbaijan of conducting a separate investigation into the facts of violence. The case centers on a raid carried out by Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) on June 27, targeting homes of Azerbaijanis in Yekaterinburg. Two individuals were killed and several others were injured during the operation. The deceased were the brothers of prominent Azerbaijani journalist Seyfaddin Huseynli and were buried in Agjabedi on July 1. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has issued multiple strong statements demanding full transparency and justice. The Russian Charge d'Affaires and Ambassador in Baku were summoned to the ministry and formally presented with a protest over the incident. In parallel with Russias investigation, the Azerbaijani Prosecutor Generals Office has launched its own criminal case under Article 7 of the Criminal Code, which includes charges such as murder committed with special cruelty, abuse of authority, and multiple homicides. An investigative group has been created to carry out preliminary investigations. Azerbaijan continues to press for accountability, stressing that the gravity of the crime and the nationality of the victims require serious action from Russian authorities. 22 July 2025 19:01 (UTC+04:00) The high-profile trial of Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian national accused of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and terrorism, resumed today at the Baku Military Court. The hearing, held in open session under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev and with judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov presiding, continued proceedings in one of Azerbaijans most consequential criminal cases. Vardanyan, who stands accused under dozens of articles of the Azerbaijani Criminal Codeincluding the financing of terrorism, illegal armed group formation, and deliberate murderwas provided a Russian-language interpreter and was represented by his chosen defense attorney, Avraam Berman. At the beginning of the session, Judge Agayev explained the legal rights and obligations of the victims and their legal successors participating for the first time. In response, Vardanyan raised an objection regarding the interpreters who had worked during the preliminary investigation, alleging they were unqualified. His defense attorney supported the claim, listing the names of the interpreters in question. However, Assistant to the Prosecutor General Vusal Aliyev argued that no specific evidence had been presented to demonstrate interpreter bias or incompetence, and no legal basis for the objection had been submitted. The court ruled that the motion lacked merit and dismissed it. Vardanyan subsequently objected to the judicial panel itself, citing procedural violations during the February 25 session, claiming the court was biased in pursuing the case. Again, his objection was supported by his defense, but dismissed by the prosecution. Prosecutor Fuad Musayev emphasized that concerns over court transcripts did not constitute grounds to question judicial impartiality, especially in the absence of credible evidence. Judge Agayev reiterated that no verifiable proof had been presented to suggest the court was acting without impartiality or fairness. Accordingly, the panel rejected the objection once more. The session then proceeded with testimonies from victims and their legal successors, many of whom were directly affected by the armed aggression and occupation policies pursued by Armenia. Eynur Kazimov testified that his brother, Anar Kazimov, was killed in Lachin by gunfire from remnants of Armenian forces and illegal Armenian armed groups. Similarly, Valeh Safarov reported that his brother, Gokhan Safarov, died in a similar attack in the Agdara region. Victims Zamir Sadigov and Zulfugar Muradov recounted how they were wounded in enemy provocations, while Kenan Qadirli said he was injured while trying to evacuate the wounded from the battlefield. He added, in response to questions from the prosecutor, that his recovery is still ongoing due to persistent pain in his knee. Witness Gunduz Gasimov testified that he was injured by shrapnel from a shell explosion in Kalbajar, which also killed a person nearby and injured several others. Vusal Gurbanov stated that he was shot by a sniper in Khojaly and confirmed that others around him were also either killed or injured during the attack. Sadiq Ahmadov told the court he was injured by an anti-personnel mine planted in Kalbajar by Armenian armed forces. Similarly, Sadiq Maharramov was wounded by a grenade launcher round and is now classified as a third-degree disabled person. The next court session is scheduled for July 29. It should be recalled that Ruben Vardanyan is charged under the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan: 22 July 2025 19:06 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed representatives of Azerbaijani mass media, Azernews reports. "Dear representatives of the media, Dear journalists, I sincerely congratulate you on the occasion of a significant anniversary the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijani national press. On July 22, 1875, the great enlightener and publisher Hasan bey Zardabi began publishing the newspaper Akinchi, a herald of advanced ideas and a mirror of the eras public and political life. This historic event reverberated extensively throughout the Caucasus at the time, gave an impetus to the development of the enlightenment movement in Azerbaijan, contributed to national awakening, the formation of national self-awareness and freedom of thought, and played a significant role in the upbringing of a progressive generation of journalists, publishers, and intellectuals. The Azerbaijani national press has always focused on the issues of concern to our society and on the advanced ideas and progressive thoughts of the time. It has made an exceptional contribution to the education of our people, the promotion of national and human values, the development of the Azerbaijani literary language, and the realization of the most sublime aspirations of our people such as freedom and independence. As was the case in all areas of public life, thanks to the political will and determination of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan which gained independence at the end of the last century experienced a dramatic turnaround in the development of its national press. As a result of the fundamental reforms carried out in the media during that period, the legal framework governing media activity was improved and brought into line with international standards. In addition, artificial obstacles and censorship limiting freedom of speech and information were eliminated. All this gave an impetus to the rapid development of the Azerbaijani media and paved the way for its entry into a new stage. The independence of the Azerbaijani press has been one of the key prerequisites for the development of our society. The development of independent, strong, and modern media guided by the interests of the people and the creation of the necessary conditions for its free activity have always been among the priority tasks of our state. Systematic work has been carried out in this direction, a regulatory and legal framework has been created to improve the information environment in our country, strengthen the potential and economic foundations of media activity, and adapt it to the challenges of the digital age. Fundamental reforms have also been implemented to strengthen the economic independence of information resources and improve the social protection of journalists. Today, we can proudly say that our national press has undergone a glorious and progressive development over a century and a half. It is noteworthy that our national press is celebrating this anniversary at a time when Azerbaijan has fully restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Azerbaijani media worked selflessly and persistently both on the frontlines and in the rear to ensure the prompt coverage of events during the 44-day Patriotic War and the anti-terrorist operation. At such a historic and fateful time for our country and people, the Azerbaijani media played a major role in accurately and swiftly informing the public, countering disinformation campaigns, and demonstrating high professionalism, true patriotism, and solidarity in conveying our voice and position to the international community. It is beyond any doubt that the victory we won in the information space is an integral part of the glorious Victory achieved on the battlefield the 5th anniversary of which we will celebrate this year. I revere and honor the dear memory of our media representatives who died while performing their professional duties on the frontlines during the occupation of our lands, as well as in the liberated territories in the post-war period. Their bravery and heroism will never be forgotten. Today, the Republic of Azerbaijan is a strong state that pursues an independent foreign policy, has gained the status of a political and economic center of the region, and has secured its rightful place in the international system. The countrys current development has also increased the authority of the Azerbaijani media in the global information network and enhanced its competitiveness. To ensure that our national press further strengthens its presence in the global information space in the coming period, several factors will play a leading role including improving media literacy, adopting the most advanced communication technologies, ensuring effective and flexible communication, increasing activity on social media platforms, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and combating disinformation and fake news. Our national press, operating in a complex and competitive environment shaped by a rapidly evolving global media landscape, carries a special responsibility. In todays world where the global information space is being swiftly transformed, international propaganda significantly influences national images and internal affairs, artificial intelligence capabilities are expanding, and hybrid threats and deepfakes are becoming more widespread our media must adhere to the principles of professionalism, objectivity, impartiality, high national consciousness, and patriotism. It must resolutely prevent the misuse of freedom of speech and information, and place Azerbaijan's national interests above all else. The leading role of responsible, creative, intellectual, and professional journalism in shaping modern media culture is undeniable. I am confident that the Azerbaijani media will continue to fulfill its mission in an objective and professional manner informing our people, building a modern society, and strengthening national solidarity. Once again, I sincerely congratulate you on this significant anniversary and wish you continued success in upholding the proud traditions of our national press. Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 22 July 2025" 22 July 2025 08:00 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva A China-Senegal international training course on the complete peanut industry chain was recently held in Qingdao, Shandong Province, eastern China marking another milestone in deepening agricultural cooperation between the two countries, Azernews reports, citing foreign media. Launched on July 6, the 15-day program brought together 14 Senegalese participants, including researchers, government officials, and entrepreneurs. The focus was on sharing China's advanced experience in peanut cultivation, such as water-efficient irrigation methods, integrated pest and disease control, and modern field management techniques. "We've been truly impressed by this training, which has strengthened our confidence in modernizing the entire peanut value chain in Senegal," said Ibrahima Sarr, Director of the Senegalese Institute for Agricultural Research (ISRA). Although Senegal is one of the top peanut-producing countries in West Africa thanks to its vast land resources and rich peanut germplasm local productivity remains low and quality inconsistent. This is largely due to frequent droughts, outdated farming practices, and recurring pest and disease issues. Processing capabilities also remain underdeveloped, according to ISRA expert Aliou Faye. Chinas Shandong Province is a national powerhouse in the peanut industry ranking second in planting area and first in both processing volume and exports. The Shandong Peanut Research Institute (SPRI), a key player in this success, has developed several high-yield, drought-resistant peanut varieties. SPRI combines strong research capacity with practical field applications, said Song Jinghua, head of the institute. Were proud to see our innovations now benefiting farmers in other countries. China and Senegal have maintained a long-standing partnership in agriculture. According to Senegalese Ambassador to China Ibrahima Sory Sylla, cooperation between SPRI and ISRA began back in 1988. Just a year later, Senegal introduced a high-performing, drought-tolerant Chinese peanut variety, which has since become a staple among local farmers. In recent years, top Senegalese officials including ministers of agriculture, ambassadors, and even presidents have made multiple visits to Shandong to promote deeper cooperation in agricultural technology. By advancing the peanut industry chain, Senegal can not only boost its agricultural sector but also stimulate growth in related areas like food processing, logistics, and e-commerce, all while creating new jobs, Sarr noted. The training course also highlighted the broader potential of "agro-diplomacy" using agricultural knowledge and innovation as a bridge for sustainable development and stronger international ties. 22 July 2025 20:50 (UTC+04:00) Buckingham Palace will open its doors next spring for a landmark exhibition showcasing the wardrobe and jewelry of Queen Elizabeth II, marking the centenary of her birth. Titled "Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style", the exhibit will offer a rare glimpse into the late monarchs personal and public life through fashion, Azernews reports via BBC. The exhibition will feature nearly 200 items worn by Queen Elizabeth II spanning from her childhood years to the end of her historic reign. Visitors will be able to view an array of dresses, hats, shoes, and jewelry that defined the Queens distinctive style over the decades. Among the highlights is her 1947 wedding dress, designed by the celebrated British couturier Norman Hartnell. Also on display will be one of her earliest gowns a silver-trimmed tulle dress worn at the age of eight, when she attended the wedding of her uncle, the Duke of Kent, in 1934. The exhibition is being organized by the Royal Collection Foundation, which has safeguarded the Queens personal clothing archive since her passing in 2022 at the age of 96. Housed in the Royal Gallery of Buckingham Palace, the collection will not only honor her elegance but also trace her journey from princess to the longest-serving monarch in British history. 22 July 2025 19:50 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. Hyundai Motor Groups electric vehicle (EV) exports from South Korea to the United States dropped by nearly 90 percent year-on-year during the first five months of 2025, as the company shifts its focus to local production in the U.S., according to data released Tuesday, Azernews reports, citing Korean media. 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! 22 July 2025 23:30 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva North Korea has announced plans to build a third Choe Hyun-class destroyer, with completion targeted before October 10, 2026 a date that coincides with the next anniversary of the Workers Party of Korea (WPK), Azernews reports. The new warship is part of Pyongyangs ongoing efforts to modernize its naval capabilities and strengthen its maritime presence. "The latest destroyer, a powerful symbol of Koreas strength and spirit, represents a major leap in our shipbuilding revolution. It is the proud creation of the unwavering determination, iron will, and exceptional leadership of Comrade Kim Jong-un," said Yun Chee Gor, director of the Nampho Shipyard, during a ceremony marking the launch of the first vessel in the series in April this year. This upcoming destroyer will follow the same class blueprint, which reportedly combines upgraded radar systems, longer-range missile capabilities, and improved stealth features although much of the ships technical specifications remain classified. Military analysts suggest that North Koreas naval buildup may be aimed not only at regional power projection, but also at countering U.S. and South Korean surveillance in the Yellow Sea. The timing aligned with a major political anniversary also suggests the project serves both military and propaganda purposes. The Gang of Four Strike Again BY: HOOD RICHARDSON Expensive losses have been delivered to Beaufort County, on several occasions, by collusion among RINOs (Republican In Name Only) and Democrats. The present vote swapping and mutual admiration society commonly known as the Gang of Four (Republican Fake Frankie Waters, Republican Randy Walker, Democrat Ed Booth and Democrat Jerry Langley) delivered another loser for Beaufort County residents during the July Commissioners meeting. They voted not to allow the subject of zoning of the vacant industrial park located on US Highway 17 South of Chocowinity to be discussed at Commissioners meetings for six months. There is a procedural rule that provides for a six-month holiday with a majority vote of commissioners. This rule is usually used to cover up the inappropriate behavior of the majority. The issue is the almost 250 acres the county purchased in 2008 for economic development does not have a single business located in it. The reason is because of zoning and the reputation of the Town of Chocowinity. When the property was purchased the majority of the Board decided it needed to be zoned. Stan Deatherage and I voted against zoning. Beaufort County had a special bill introduced in the legislature to allow the Town of Chocowinity to extend its zoning to include the 300 acres. Without the special bill the property would have been covered under Beaufort County zoning. There would have been no zoning because Beaufort County is not zoned. This decision was made by the then collection of Democrats and RINOs on the Board. Liberals just love zoning in spite of the fact that it rarely works well. Sometimes, with zoning, there comes corruption, favoritism and huge expensive bureaucracies to administer the favoritism and corruption. After the special bill was passed the Board of County Commissioners went back to sleep and the Town of Chocowinity proceeded to zone the property light industrial. About two years ago Stan Deatherage and I began asking why nothing had happened since 2007 at the Chocowinity Industrial Park. The park has high voltage electricity, natural gas, sewer, water, a federal highway and a railroad track. What else could anyone want. That is when we discovered the zoning issue. We already knew Chocowinity has a bad reputation for development. Industries looking for places to expand or relocate usually use State Government sites (Department of Commerce) for their research. State governments list sites much like a real estate business uses Multiple Listing Services (MLS). Companies screen these sites. The killers for our site are: zoned light industrial, a small-town culture, a small town that has all the problems of a small town, and a small town that is not pro development. Prospects do not see this site as County Development. If we get the zoning removed and the property listed as county development, we will have a much better chance of getting industry and better jobs. We made our fellow commissioners aware of the situation and the Gang of Five (Rebholz was on the board then) promptly started delaying tactics. The Gang of Four ran out of delaying tactics several months ago, but I have continued to put this item on the agenda for each meeting. The collusion among Democrats and RINOs did great harm to Beaufort County and our citizens during the past 20 years. This situation is no different. Some of the disasters delivered are: gifting our hospital with no control by Beaufort County resulting in terrible emergency room services; supporting the closing of the Belhaven Hospital resulting in poor medical services in Belhaven and moving the 5,000 annual emergency room visits in Belhaven to the Washington Emergency Room; building the US Highway 17 bypass on the west side of Washington causing Beaufort County to continue to be divided and contributing to the closing of Snowden school: closing Snowden, a neighborhood school with the next similar school located 25 miles away; allowing overbuilding of schools so that half the seats in county schools are empty; and overtaxing citizens and using the money to build additional new consolidated schools. Damage to Beaufort County has been severe. The effects of each of these actions are not easily healed. It will take generations, if ever, to recover. Political Sausage BY: HOOD RICHARDSON That old saying about watching sausage being made would make one not want to eat it can be applied to a lot of politics. There was a lot of conniving going on about the replacement of one of our favorite RINOs on the Beaufort County School Board. This has nothing to do with the person who was selected to finish the term of Gary Carlton. I am delighted Steve Rader, a Republican, was selected by the Beaufort County Republican Executive Committee. Steven Rader is extremely well qualified to fill this position. It is the RINOs (Republican In Name Only) and their liberal traveling companions who made this sausage. Gary Carltons escape from School District Six was well planned. He took a deed for a house on Stewart Drive, just outside District Six on June 12, 2025, and handed in his notice to the School Superintendent stating that he was no longer a resident of District Six effective June 13th. I say well planned because it normally takes two or three months to shop for a house, make an offer, do the title work and close the deal, and move. Carlton did it in a day. Then the sausage making started. The School Board insiders tried to arrange for them to pick Carltons replacement. At first, they thought the pick was entirely up to them. Then they became aware this is a partisan seat, and they only have a chance to make the pick if the Republican Party does not get it done in 30 days. About this time Superintendent Cheeseman (the Big Cheese) went on vacation with the 30-day clock running. The Republican Party requested a copy of the resignation but were told that Cheeseman was on vacation and his staff was afraid to release the resignation letter. The result of the foot dragging by the school crowd was that the Republican Party had less than one week to decide who would replace Carlton. That is why they met on Sunday July 13 to decide. A request was made to Carlton to provide the Republican Party with a copy of his resignation. It seems that Carlton handed his resignation to the School Board shortly after the request was made and thumbed his nose at the Republican Party. This behavior fits well with his claims of being a conservative Republican and then climbing on the cheese wagon. A loyal liberal? There is another argument about timing that says they have 30 days after the notice is received by the Republican Party. However, when dealing with this crowd caution is required. School Board member Daniel Hudson recruited Michael Herbert, a resident of District Six, to replace Carlton. Herbert is not an activist Republican. However, Carolyn Walker, not a resident of School District Six had the gall to show up at the Republican Special Called Executive Committee meeting and nominate Herbert. There are serious questions about people who are not residents of District Six being able to influence this kind of election. Does this mean someone from the Aurora School District can nominate someone to be on the Belhaven School Board. This is RINO thinking and not common sense. Walker got her clock cleaned when there was not a single vote for Herbert. This was another ploy by the two liberals, Daniel Hudson from Pinetown and Carolyn Walker from River Road to keep as many RINOs on the School Board as possible. Sausage making. This is not the first time Daniel Hudson has meddled with the school system. Hudson, in a closed session, requested the Beaufort County School Board override a school principals decision about his daughter being allowed to take a performance test again so she could get an A instead of the B she actually made the first time she took the test. This is not fair to the rest of the students. Hudson learned quickly to use the system to help his family. Why not use the system? Carolyn Walker and Terry Williams have family members whose good job seems to be dependent on their pleasing the Big Cheese. In my opinion this item could not be handled in a closed (secret) session according to the North Carolina open meetings laws. Maybe the Beaufort County School Board was not making sausage, maybe they were making limburger cheese. BBB driving growth and prosperity in region via support to 600 smaller businesses The Governments investment bank has announced that it has supported 600 smaller businesses in Northern Ireland in 2024/25 and it expects to have boosted economic output here by 100m. The British Business Banks annual impact report for 2024/25 is estimating that its activities in Northern Ireland will create 1,100 new jobs. NI firms which have recently been supported by the Business Bank include the Pilates company Reform RX and the Lisburn-based lab equipment company Cirdan. The companys research has indicated that the support in Northern Ireland will add 300m of additional turnover to businesses, which it equates to 100m over the course of the finances lifetime. Susan Nightingale, the UK network director for the devolved nations at the British Business Bank, said: The bank has a 10-year track record of delivering impact in Northern Ireland, therefore it is very pleasing to see that our support to 600 smaller businesses in 2024/25 is expected to create 1,100 local jobs. We recognise it can be challenging for some firms to secure the support they need to start up and scale up, therefore through improving access to finance for smaller businesses we drive growth and prosperity in Northern Ireland and across the UK. Businesses receive funding from the bank in a variety of ways, including direct investment of public cash, the provision of loan guarantees, and help in securing private funding. The Government-owned British Business Bank is investing 6.6 billion (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Watch: Flash Flooding hits parts of Northern Ireland Across the UK, the bank supported around 6.8 of investment into smaller businesses. This broke down as 1.2bn of public funding from the bank, 2.6bn of guarantees for lending and 3bn worth of private capital. In the UK Governments recent spending review, the banks financial capacity was increased to 25.6bn, enabling it to increase annual investments to around 2.5bn per year. A right-hand drive model of bus was designed by European suppliers especially for the Harlander Belfast Harbour plans for the Harlander to begin service in the coming weeks and months A self-driving shuttle bus service has launched to the public in Belfast Harbour, connecting a tech hub and Titanic Quarter train station. The Harlander shuttle has entered into general service today, with the eight-seater shuttle bus connecting the train station and the Catalyst Campus, just off Queens Road. There is no driver on board the bus, although there is a "safety operator sitting behind a wheel that turns itself. Belfast Harbour say the goal of the project is to offer last mile connectivity between the train station and the rest of the harbour estate, connecting transport networks to businesses, tourist attractions and education and leisure facilities. During a pilot period between now and September, the bus will be entirely free to use for members of the public. Belfast Harbour The Harlander was developed by the Harbour along with several other companies, including eVersum, Oxa, Angoka, BT and Horiba Mira. A special right-hand drive version of an electric bus was created specifically for the Harlander service by the Austrian firm Hobira Mira. Oxa are behind the self-driving technology, while safety testing was carried out by Hobira Mira, a Coventry-based company. In May, Belfast Harbour said the vehicle was tested to death by Hobira Mira in order to ensure its safety. Mike Dawson, people and digital transformation director at Belfast Harbour, said: Following eight weeks of testing, we are delighted to launch the Harlander to the public to offer last mile connectivity on the Harbour Estate. This is a groundbreaking project for Northern Ireland and is a step towards fully driverless transport. Belfast Harbour has a strong track record of supporting innovation and this project supports our Smart Port ambitions, utilising cutting-edge technology to support our tenants and the public. Were excited to see the public reaction and utilisation of the service. In May, Mr Dawson described the shuttle as an attempt to incentivise people to use public transport by more seamlessly connecting the train and Catalyst. He described the current loop of four stops as a model and a blueprint that will be used to find what is viable for other services. What wed like to do is have this run, learn from it, particularly the passenger experience and customer experience. What does that look like? What does that feel like? What needs to be tweaked, improved? How do you make sure there are no barriers to entry for people to be able to get on and access it? Mike Dawson, the people and digital transformation director at Belfast Harbour The Harbour plan for the Harlander to be a first step towards an increasing amount of autonomous vehicles being used in Northern Irelands transport network. Mr Dawson said that he would like to see self-driving vehicles across the city: We would like to see more of these, where you can create connectivity on the estate itself. We see this as a much bigger play regionally, not just for Northern Ireland, but also for GB, where you can get connectivity to those main routes. Imagine you had estates in the city where you had these types of routes feeding the Glider route. It doesnt replace bus drivers, it augments what we have in place today. The wholesale price of coffee rose 47% in a year is nothing sacred With hedge funds driving volatile coffee bean markets to record highs in recent months and a growing taste for cold coffee brews amongst young people, the coffee sector is facing big changes. Prices have fallen back a little in recent months but right now, the green coffee beans that are the basic raw material for your flat white are 47% more expensive than they were a year ago, says Sheila Dowling, commercial director at Bewleys, the Republic of Irelands best-known bean roaster. That means Bewleys is paying 1.7m (1.5m) more this year for its usual order of green beans and coffee consumers have been hit with price rises of as much as 30% a cup. The nightmare scenario for everyone in the sector is to see the price of a cup of coffee rise above 5 (4.30) a level that would be hard for consumers to swallow and businesses to sustain, says Ms Dowling. But when, earlier this year, the price of beans on the market rose towards $5 (3.70) a pound, that looked set to become a reality. Coffee was always around $1.20 a pound, maybe $1.40. But after Covid, things really started to change. We had Ukraine. Then we had the Suez Canal, then the Red Sea. It was the perfect storm and by February of this year, it had risen to over $4.20. Earlier this month it was reported that the boss of coffee giant Lavazza blamed hedge fund speculation for the volatility. Ms Dowling agrees, but believes that a huge amount of supply that has been bought by speculators will at some point be released into the market and help moderate the price. But the EUs new Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which comes into force in January and aims to curb deforestation linked to the production of commodities such as coffee, could push prices back up. Sheila Dowling, the commercial director at Bewleys In recent months, the price of coffee has fallen slowly, and by last week it was back at $3 a pound. But when you think of the weeks ahead, with Trump and tariffs and exchange rates, you just dont know where its going to go, she says. Despite the price of coffee soaring to global highs this year, Ms Dowling suggests coffee may be an affordable luxury for younger people. Where people have disposable income is in colleges and universities they are more likely to spend income than save for a rainy day. And that generation, she says, is driving another massive sea-change the cold brew. Coffee lovers under 35 are driving an explosion of iced beverages, a new report by UK-based coffee syrup manufacturer Beyond the Bean has found. Iced beverage consumption in the UK has surged by 26.7% since 2023, driven mainly by millennial/Gen Z consumers. There is speculation that younger people will eventually revert to hot coffee, but I dont think that will be the case. If we look at sales data on Starbucks in the US, 80% of their coffee is now served cold. The trend could have big implications, both for coffee shops and for producers such as Bewleys. Cold brew is produced differently than traditional coffee and is supplied as a concentrate. To meet the expected demand for cold brew here, Bewleys has spent 18 months sourcing a cold brew product to bring to the Irish coffee market. The Bewleys Columbian Fairtrade Cold Brew process involves coffee grounds being slowly steeped in cool water, which extracts a less acidic flavour from the bean, says Ms Dowling. Its moving fast from a low base, and 50% of Gen Z are now saying they will drink cold all year round, she says. Were working with a partner right now, but it is our ambition to invest in our own business to produce a cold brew. But its a very different process and itd be like setting up a whole new factory. Takeover saga may hurt Cliftonville... and Irish League foes could eye up Jim Magilton, warns former Reds boss Judge sets next date for case against 31-year-old Co Armagh man Appearing in the dock of Armagh Magistrates Court, sitting in Newry, the 31-year-old confirmed he was aware of the charges against him, all of them alleged to have been committed in the US on November 17 last year. 33% of parents said they had expressed a first preference for an integrated school. Campaigners for integrated education are understood to be concerned about how data was collected for a Department of Education survey which claimed 25% of parents of children moving school this September do not want their child in the sector. Conversely though, the survey, which campaigners said they were blind-sided by on its release on Tuesday morning, does show that almost three quarters of the 9,700 parents who responded to the questionnaire said they would prefer or would not mind if their child went to an integrated school. The Belfast Telegraph also understands there are further concerns about how the findings have been presented after authors claimed almost 25% of parents have expressed a preference for their child not to attend an integrated school, Meanwhile, it found 32.9% of parents said they had expressed a first preference for an integrated school, with 67.1% saying they hadnt. The survey reported that quality of education was the most important (32.5%) factor considered when selecting an integrated school as first preference. Quality of education was again the most important (39.6%) factor considered when selecting a non-Integrated school as first preference. Almost a quarter of parents (24.0%) said they would rather their child was not educated in an Integrated school compared with 31.2% who preferred sending their child to an integrated school. Of those who selected an integrated school as first preference, 85.3% stated that it was either important or very important that their child received their education in an integrated environment. The Department said the survey was conducted specifically to asses the views of parents towards integrated education. But it comes after Education Minister Paul Givan rejected a bid by Northern Irelands largest school, Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College, to transform to integrated status earlier this year, despite a parental vote in favour of the move. Though the Departments Parental School Admission Survey 2025 has been released as a stand alone document, it is expected to feed in to a more general survey due for release in December this year which will also incorporate other data collected by both The Life and Times Survey 2024 and a Lucid Talk poll conducted by the Integrated Education Fund. The Lucid Talk poll found that 65% of parents felt integrated education should be the standard model for the school system in Northern Ireland while the Life and Times survey found that 55% of parents would prefer for their child to be educated in an integrated school. Though the latest Department of Education survey found that, 32.9% of parents said they had expressed an integrated school as the first choice for their child, currently only around 8% of pupils attend a school with integrated status. Proximity to home was the second most important factor in which school parents opted for, behind quality of education, though campaigners have pointed out that there remains a limited choice of integrated schools in many areas of NI. Those who selected a non-integrated school were also asked if they would want their choice to transform to become an integrated school. In response, 37.5% said they dont mind, while 37% responded no and 16.9% said yes. The remainder said they did not know or would prefer not to say. Almost eight out of 10 parents (78.4%) said they had considered a schools admissions policy before deciding on a first preference selection for their child. Two thirds (66.4%) of parents made their school selections because their child met the admissions criteria well, though over a fifth (22.6%) of parents stated that the admissions criteria made no difference to their selection. 33% of parents said they had expressed a first preference for an integrated school. The funeral of Jaidyn Rice takes places in Bangor Another potential issue is a lack of transparency over who responded to the survey, with the report noting that: policy officials responsible for drafting the Integrated Education Strategy contacted sectoral bodies asking them to encourage parents in their school sector to complete the survey and shared the link to the survey with them. This means it is possible that parents who did not go through the admissions process in 2025 may have completed the survey if they chose to access it though the survey link. This is considered unlikely, but it is not possible to determine the extent to which this may have occurred because the survey was anonymous. The department said the survey was issued by the Education Authority to 63,349 parents whose children were going through the school admission process to meet the requirements of the Integrated Education Act and to measure demand. There is no justification for special advocates for survivors and bereaved families in closed hearings during the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, it has been contended. It is expected that some hearings during the inquiry, which is probing whether the 1998 dissident republican atrocity could have been prevented, will be closed due to sensitive evidence and national security. Twenty nine people, including a woman pregnant with twins, were killed when the Real IRA exploded a car bomb in the Co Tyrone town. The aftermath of the Omagh bomb in 1998. (PA Archive) Inquiry chairman Lord Turnbull heard arguments over the last two days around applications from some of the family groups for special advocates. They said their interests should be represented in closed hearings, and raised a risk of damage to confidence in the inquiry if they are not. However a lawyer for the Government said no statutory public inquiry has had special advocates to date, and there was no justification to have them in this case. Katherine Grange KC also contended no provision was made for such appointments in the 2005 Inquiries Act, and cautioned around avoiding unnecessary costs. She described the Saville Inquiry into the Bloody Sunday atrocity, which lasted for 12 years and cost 195 million, as the background of that Act. The language of the statutory scheme, the purpose and the context of the legislation and Parliaments intention, as demonstrated in subsequent legislations all strongly suggest that no such power exists (to appoint a special advocate), she said. Alternatively, we submit that even if such a power existed, it would not be necessary or appropriate for the chair to make any such appointment in this inquiry. No inquiry has taken that step to date, even inquiries with a very substantial closed national security element to them, and there is no justification from departing from that approach. The hearing room at the Silverbirch Hotel in Omagh (PA) She added: Words that come to mind in the last two days are, its about reassurance, confidence, robustness. One can understand, on a human level, why those points are being made but ultimately, you have to have faith in your own appointment, your independence and the skill of your counsel to your inquiry. Earlier, Hugh Southey KC, representing a group of survivors and bereaved families, said the state parties would be felt to have an advantage. Everybody thinks that the inquiry is capable of doing a good job. Everybody thinks the counsel to the inquiry are experienced in this field. Everybody thinks theyre very well qualified. Everybody thinks theyre very diligent, but we need the second tier of representation, he added. Everyone recognises that large key parts of this process are likely to be closed . its frustrating for the individuals, because they want to know the truth. They want to know that whatever findings may be made are reliable. If they have someone who they have confidence in, who is present, who is, effectively, saying there is no problem here, that adds to confidence in the process, particularly in circumstances where, as I say, the state parties are present, the state parties will have that advantage. Alan Kane KC, representing another group of survivors and bereaved families, said they would like their own special advocate for closed hearings. Their wish would be to see all the relevant evidence after 26 years, however if there must be closed material, then we say that it should, where possible, be kept to a minimum, and if judgments are to be made then close calls must fall on the side of disclosure rather than being hidden from our families view, he said. They view a special advocate not as some special bonus or as a challenge to the inquiry legal team but as something that should be granted as they see it, as an additional assistance to them in shining light on any material which is withheld as closed by the state authorities. They have that legitimate interest we say, and that certainly is a matter of not only public confidence but in particular the confidence of the families. Fintan McAleer, who represents another group of survivors and bereaved families, said they endorsed the submissions made so far. Lord Turnbull asked Mr McAleer about a point made in written submissions that the deep mistrust and suspicion of the state that exists in this country will never be fully allayed unless its confirmed that every single document and piece of information is placed into the open. Mr McAleer responded saying they respect the powers and the processes of the inquiry, but they wanted to reflect the effect of scepticism based on experience. The series of revelations over the years since the bomb have served to undermine their trust in the state, he added. Were simply trying to convey the aspiration of the core participants we represent is that this inquiry should be in public in everything that it does, we accept there is a limitation on that, and that paragraph is an attempt to address that. Meanwhile, Michael Mansfield KC, who represents the family of the late campaigner Laurence Rush whose wife Elizabeth was killed in the bomb, said they are not asking for a special advocate to be appointed for them. They voiced concern about the possibility of delay to proceedings. Ian Skelt KC, acting for former chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan, said his client is entirely sympathetic to the requests of the families and acknowledges why they seek the appointment of special advocates. He said Sir Ronnie does not seek a special advocate for himself, but acknowledged that having been chief constable at the time of the bombing, he had the authority at that time to view much of the closed material. However, Mr Skelt said if Sir Ronnie is excluded from the closed processes, he may have to ask for some person to represent his interest in closed process beyond the assistance that would be given by the inquiry legal team. At the conclusion of the hearings around special advocates on Tuesday afternoon, Lord Turnbull said the issue raised is both important and interesting. Its necessary that I take care to reflect on all of those submissions, and I will produce a written decision in due course, he said. The overnight incident brings the total number of masts destroyed since January 2023 to 18 Stock Image: Firefighters deal with an arson at a 5G mast on the Monagh Bypass earlier in the year(Photo by Kevin Scott) Emergency services were called to reports of a 5G mast alight on Upper Dunmurry Lane shortly after 11:45pm on Monday. Firefighters used specialist cutting equipment to access the site due to a locked gate. The Belfast Telegraph understands the mast failed to ignite fully. Police officers at the scene removed material from the interior of the mast that was used, in an attempt to start the blaze. The 17 previous attacks A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said: Firefighters used a CO2 extinguisher to extinguish the fire and the scene was handed over to the PSNI. The cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate ignition and the incident was dealt with by 1.07am. A PSNI spokesperson said: Some damage was caused to electronics in a nearby building and were treating the fire as deliberate, with our enquiries into the matter ongoing. We understand the concerns regarding the recent series of attacks on 5G masts in the west Belfast area and the significant disruption these incidents are causing across the community, impacting both businesses and local residents. Stock Image: Firefighters deal with an arson at a 5G mast on the Monagh Bypass earlier in the year(Photo by Kevin Scott) Firefighters battle 5G mast fire in Poleglass We believe there are individuals with knowledge that could assist us in identifying those responsible for these attacks and, once again, are appealing to the public to share any information with us. "Were also keen to speak with anyone who might have CCTV or other footage that could assist with our enquiries. The overnight incident brings the total number of masts destroyed since January 2023 to 18. Earlier this week the Sunday World reported that a group calling itself Anarchy 61 have claimed responsibility for the most recent attacks. The value of each mast ranges between 100k and 200k meaning the cost of the damage to date could be as high as 3.4m. In a statement Mobile UK, the umbrella organisation of the UKs main network providers, said the time for condemnation of such incidents has long passed, with providers now seeking what they say will be a crucial intervention from Stormont to help stop the attacks and ensure seamless network coverage for all, across Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey called for an end to the attacks on 5G masts. This coordinated campaign must be brought to a halt, said the West Belfast MP. These reckless actions are damaging our community, disconnecting people and putting lives at risk. Its time for those involved in these attacks to recognise the harm they are causing and to stop. The PSNI must step up to the mark and bring those responsible to justice. A gun carriage at the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre near Drogheda, Co Louth. Photo: Getty Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern shows a gun he gave to Northern Ireland's First Minister Ian Paisley at the Oldbridge Estate, the site of the Battle of the Boyne, near Drogheda, 11 May 2007. Photo: AFP/CHRIS MADDALONI. Members of the Schomberg society from Kilkeel Co Down march across the battlefield at the historic Battle of the Boyne site. Photo by Niall Carson - PA Images. The Irish Office of Public Works has banned tour guides from wearing green or orange clothing at the site in Meath where the Protestant King William III defeated the Catholic King James II in the Battle of the Boyne. The location is of particular significance to Unionists, because Williams victory in 1690 established Protestant dominance in Ireland, and is commemorated by the Orange Order with a series of marches on July 12 each year. The rule prohibiting guides from wearing green or orange at the Battle of the Boyne visitor centre is not contained in the official OPW Guide Handbook, which is supplied to guides and information officers at heritage sites. Instead, the directive is being communicated directly to new guides by a supervisor at the visitor centre after they have been hired, according to emails released under freedom of information laws. The instruction, which is believed to be aimed at respecting the sensitivities of both Unionist and Nationalist visitors, is not the only unusual dress-code directive issued by the OPW to its guides. A section of the handbook dealing with clothing and uniform requirements specifies that nudity is prohibited at all sites. Asked why it was considered necessary to include this in its dress code for new tour guides, the OPW declined to comment. The Battle of the Boyne visitor centre was developed following the allocation of 15 million of government funding in 2005. Last year, a further 10 million was provided for the centre under the Shared Island initiative. The site was famously chosen as the venue for Ian Paisleys first official meeting as Stormont first minister with Bertie Ahern in 2007. The then-taoiseach presented the DUP leader with a musket used in the Battle of the Boyne. Members of the Schomberg society from Kilkeel Co Down march across the battlefield at the historic Battle of the Boyne site. Photo by Niall Carson - PA Images. "The odds of me winning are very slight": King James on Scarva sham fight An email titled Welcome aboard sent by a supervisor to a newly hired seasonal guide last year contained details of the dress code for staff at the visitor centre. It prohibits items including army jackets and clothes that feature slogans, badges or emblems. The email stated that green and orange are not permitted on site. The OPW provides an annual allowance for guides where colour-coded clothing is mandated by local management. This is payable at a rate of 210 for permanent guides, and 100 for seasonal workers. The OPW declined to comment when asked about the prohibition of green and orange clothing at the site. Tanaiste Simon Harris and Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaking at a press conference on Tuesday at Government Buildings in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) The Taoiseach has defended the Governments flagship plan to invest 275.4 billion euro in infrastructure over the next 10 years, which has been criticised as vague. The coalition Government pledged to fix a deficit in Irelands public infrastructure, particularly in energy and water, which is hampering housing delivery. The revised National Development Plan commits to spending 102.4 billion euro between next year and 2030, an increase of 23.9 billion euro on the previous iteration. The ESB and Eirgrid will be given 3.5 billion euro to enhance energy infrastructure, while Uisce Eireann will be given 2 billion euro to help deliver an additional 300,000 homes up to 2030, according to the plan. The investment will be funded by the Apple tax windfall of 14 billion euro, proceeds from state shares in AIB, and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. At Government Buildings on Tuesday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State Sean Canney hailed the plan as unprecedented and said it would transform Ireland. Mr Canney, representing the Regional Independents supporting government, said it would make a profound and tangible difference to everyones lives. They defended the lack of detail on what projects would be funded after opposition criticism. Today, we have a plan so vague it doesnt even rise to the level of wish list, Social Democrats deputy leader Cian OCallaghan said. Instead, the Governments 10-year development plan comprises just 49 pages which seek to bamboozle with the budget to disguise the paucity of both commitments and detail. Mr Martin said ministers had been given huge, significant infrastructure budgets per department and can decide what should be prioritised. He said the last version of the plan, launched in 2021, was too long and that details on projects would be announced closer to the budget on October 7. He and Mr Harris said the announcement gave a signal to firms that Ireland is a country worth investing in. We will send a very clear signal to the investment community: this infrastructure commitment is one for the long run, Mr Martin said. I think the big prize today for the Irish economy is in trying to provide certainty to those who wish to invest in our country, Mr Harris said. Under the plan, Irelands transport network will be given 24 billion euro to extend transport routes and greenways and support the electrification of public transport fleets. Housing is to get 36 billion euro, which mostly does not include water infrastructure. When it was put to Mr Martin that the funding for housing, 5.8 million euro a year, was not much more than before, he said it did not include water and energy infrastructure or private investment. Mr Martin said the largest projects had already been baked into the plan, such as the Metrolink, the Dublin drainage system, and a major infrastructure plan to pump water from the Shannon to the Midlands and Dublin. He said that while many public investments are done efficiently, oversight of projects would be strengthened as there are clear issues in some areas. Not all projects are over budget, not all are delayed unnecessarily. So theres been very good stuff in education, very good stuff in roads, further education. The key change now is the infrastructure division within the department of public expenditure how can we accelerate delivery? So there will be a rigorous focus in value for money in respect of this. He said the Government had followed its promises on how to spend the Apple tax money to the letter. The Government had previously pledged it would be spent on housing, water and other infrastructure projects. He also criticised the 2:1 ratio of investment in favour of public transport from the previous coalition government, which had the Greens as a junior partner. In terms of the so-called 2:1 ratio, Ive never been of the view that that was realistic because of the timelines of projects. To try and have a 2:1 ratio every single year, its just unworkable. Roderic OGorman accused the Government of abandoning critical schemes (Brian Lawless/PA) The obvious illustration of that is the Metro. So when the big, heavy money gets to be spent on the Metro, youll be looking at 3:1, 4:1, in favour of public transport versus roads. I would have issues with some on the environmental side, roads can be very good for the environment, can be very good for air quality. You talk to people in Macroom, you talk to any major town thats being bypassed. The congestion alone creates enormous issues in air pollution and in environmental health. Green Party leader and former minister Roderic OGorman accused the Government of abandoning the critical schemes that will help us reduce our emissions, naming energy innovation and offshore wind. Asked if capital funding would take a hit in the event of an economic slowdown, Mr Martin said current expenditure would be under pressure if such a situation was to emerge. The Government is very committed to capital over the next five years current will be challenging but we are absolutely determined, or I want to send a very clear signal, that infrastructure is a key priority for us. He added that EU-US trade negotiations were tense and causing a lot of concern. We have factored in as much as we possibly can various scenarios, but what were absolutely determined to do as best we can is safeguard the capital side of the budget over the next number of years. We dont anticipate having to borrow, but were ruling nothing out. Asked about poor second halves after Corks defeat in the hurling final to Tipperary Mr Martin congratulated the victors on their outstanding win before adding: The mushroom may fade, but Cork, never. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is reported to have been rebuffed after calling for a tourism tax in England (Lucy North/PA) There are no plans to introduce a tourism tax in England, Downing Street said, amid claims that Angela Rayners efforts to bring one in were rebuffed by the Treasury. The Deputy Prime Minister has been pushing for councils to be allowed to introduce a tax on tourism in their areas as part of the Governments devolution agenda, according to several media reports. Rachel Reeves, however, is said to have blocked the move for fear it would reduce revenues for businesses struggling with higher national insurance contributions and a rise in the minimum wage already brought in by the Government. The Prime Ministers official spokesman would not be drawn into saying whether there were plans for such a tax. We have previously said theres no plans to introduce a tourism tax in England, the spokesman said. He added: Places can already choose to introduce a levy on overnight stays through working with their local tourism sector, using the accommodation Business Improvement District model. Tourism obviously plays an important role in the UKs economy. Inbound tourism is the UKs third largest service export. The UK is the seventh most-visited country in the world, and were committed to continuing to support the sector. Pressed again whether a tourism tax had been shelved after an intervention from the Treasury, the spokesman said: Well, theres no plans to introduce it. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is reported to have blocked plans for a tourism tax in England (Yui Mok/PA) Chancellor Rachel Reeves earlier sidestepped a question about Ms Rayners call for a tourist tax. Asked for her response, Ms Reeves said she had made decisions on tax in last years once-in-a-generation budget which was intended to fix the mess left by the Conservatives. She added: Well have another budget later this year, and Ill be setting out our tax policy there. A similar levy already exists in Scotland, and the Welsh Government is also in the process of introducing a tourism tax. Tourists staying in countries across Europe are required to pay local taxes aimed at offsetting the impact of large numbers of visitors. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday renewed his offer to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, but hopes of any progress were low as delegations from both governments prepared to hold a third round of direct talks. Russian forces, meanwhile, pounded four Ukrainian cities in night-time attacks that officials said killed a child. Mr Putin has spurned Mr Zelenskys previous offers of a face-to-face meeting to end Europes biggest conflict since the Second World War. But the Ukrainian leader insists that lower-level delegations like the ones expected for talks in Istanbul on Wednesday do not have the political heft to stop the fighting. A resident looks at damaged cars in a residential area following Russias drone attack in Odesa (Michael Shtekel/AP) Each sides demands for ending Russias full-scale invasion of its neighbour, launched on February 24 2022, remain far apart. Ukraine never wanted this war, and it is Russia that must end the war that it itself started, Mr Zelensky said in a Telegram post. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that a lot of work needs to be done before having a detailed discussion on a possibility of high-level meetings, effectively scotching hopes of a summit any time soon. He didnt provide a date for the Istanbul talks. Emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Odesa (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP) Ukrainian and Western officials have accused the Kremlin of stalling in talks in order for its bigger army to capture more Ukrainian land. Russia currently holds about 20% of Ukraine. Russia, meanwhile, is driving hard to break through at eastern and north-eastern points on the 620-mile front line. It is also firing upwards of 700 drones a night at Ukrainian cities. Russian forces struck four Ukrainian cities in three regions in overnight attacks, killing a child and wounding at least 41 other people, officials said. From dusk on Monday evening, Russia struck the Ukrainian regions of Sumy in the northeast, Odesa in the south and eastern Kramatorsk. In Kramatorsk, a glide bomb hit an apartment building, starting a fire, according to the head of the citys military administration, Oleksandr Honcharenko. A boy born in 2015 was killed, local officials said, without giving his exact age. Five other people were reported wounded. The Sumy region came under multiple waves of attacks, the regional military administration reported. A drone hit a gas station in the town of Putyvl, wounding four people, including a five-year-old boy, it said. A second drone strike hit the same location less than two hours later, wounding seven other people. After dark, two powerful Russian glide bombs were dropped on Sumy city, wounding 13 people, including a six-year-old boy. Russias defence ministry, meanwhile, said Tuesday that air defenses downed 35 Ukrainian long-range drones over several regions overnight, including three over the Moscow region. BENNINGTON Following a vicious dog complaint hearing Monday, the Select Board entered a closed deliberative session and could issue a final decision by the end of the week on whether the animal should be euthanized. The hearing was held before an audience of about 30 at the Bennington Firehouse, which included a woman who had sustained serious bite injuries. She has undergone multiple surgeries and treatment for infections related to a July 2 attack by her neighbors dog. Also offering sworn testimony during the hearing were a friend of the victim, Elethea Whyte, who described Whytes injuries and her treatment at two hospitals; a woman who was walking two beagles that were attacked by the dog in a 2023 incident, and a resident who said he had to fend off the dog and another dog to protect his granddaughter. The dogs owner, Tiffany Rounds, and a supporter also testified. She asked that her dog, named Marvyn and described as a Cane Corso breed, be spared, promising the animal would be housed in a fenced-in area on a large property in Shaftsbury. Since the July 2 attack on Water Street in North Bennington, the dog has been held by the town. Not the first incident In her written report to the Select Board and Bennington Police, Animal Control Officer Kimberly Krawczyk said Whyte was attacked while near her apartment by the dog Marvyn on July 2 and received a very serious dog bite and was transported to SVMC (Southwestern Vermont Medical Center) via Bennington Rescue. Krawczyk added, Unfortunately, this is not the first incident I have encountered with Marvyn. In 2022, the officer said, she received complaints of the dog running loose on Dewey Street, and in 2023, reports of the dog and another dog loose on Stark Street where they ran towards a family aggressively and barked at them. In May 2023, Krawczyk said, a woman said she and her son were bitten by a similar male dog at a Dewey Street address. The officer added that the incident was not completely confirmed. On July 31, 2023, Krawczyk said there was a complaint that the dog had bitten a woman and a beagle. Afterward the officer suggested that Rounds muzzle the dog when it was outside, and the owner advised Marvyn was taking behavioral classes and she was making an appointment to neuter him. However, Krawczyk added in her recent report, Marvyn has not been neutered and during the July 2 incident he was not muzzled, and Rounds did not follow through with what she agreed to do in 2023. I am concerned for the safety of the residents of North Bennington. She then requested that the Select Board hold a vicious dog hearing under the towns animal control ordinance Article 9 in the list of municipal ordinances on the town website. Victim attends Speaking during the hearing, Whyte said there were multiple times when she felt threatened by the dogs aggressive barking or actions when she entered or left her home, including hearing Marvyn scrambling against her neighbors door when she and her own dog walked past. Marvyn also broke his lead line once while tied outside, she said, and she had to run with her dog and jump inside her car. She said the same thing occurred on July 2, when the tied dog snapped the leash and just took a chunk out of my leg. Whyte added, Something has to be done with this dog. Noreen Stratton, who said Whyte is a good friend of her daughter and has lived at her home, showed the Select Board photos of the bite marks shortly after the attack and more recently, after Whyte had undergone surgeries at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center and later at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. She said Whyte was sent to the New Hampshire center, with which SVMC is affiliated, in part to receive specialized treatment for severe infections that developed from her bite wounds. This dog needs to be put down, Stratton said. A persons life changed because of Marvyn. Stratton said she believes the prognosis for Whyte, 35, who worked as a server at two restaurants and attended the hearing Monday on crutches, is for months of recovery, including specialized wound care in the home; skin grafts, physical therapy and healing from the surgeries and a serious infection. The dog bites and subsequent infection resulted in a 9.5- by 5.5-centimeter gap in the skin of Whytes leg, she said. An entire flap of skin was removed, Stratton said, leaving a gaping hole in the back of her calf. The medical bills for Whytes treatment have yet to arrive, Stratton said, but they are certain to be high, and she said it is unclear how much will be covered through insurance. Whyte also is currently unable to work, Stratton said. To help with expenses, a gofundme fund drive has been launched to assist Whyte. Information can be found on the gofundme.com site. Other reports Deborah Federhen told the Select Board that in July 2023 she was walking two beagles near the Stark Street playground when the dog and another dog ran straight at us, and the largest dog, apparently Marvyn, picked up a beagle by the neck and was viciously shaking it back and forth, trying to break its neck or break its back. She said she also was bitten on the hand as she struggled to separate the dogs. Paul van Der Wielen, the owner of the beagles, said the smaller dog sustained multiple injuries and was completely covered in blood. He said he incurred approximately $2,000 in veterinarian bills from several trips to the office to deal with wounds and infections. Van Der Wielen said he didnt pursue the matter further after a police officer who responded to the 911 call said the dog was known to officials because of past complaints. I just assumed that it was being handled by the system, and didnt pursue anything, he said, adding, I was shocked to learn what had happened since. I think this was easily preventable. Robert Ward also testified, saying it was very fortunate I was there in 2023 when the dog and another dog charged at him and his granddaughter on Stark Street. He said he picked up the girl and held up a bicycle to keep the dogs away. Plea to spare pet Rounds appeared before the board along with Alan Watson, who said he was there to support her. Watson said Rounds would like a chance to bring the dog to Shaftsbury, where Rounds would live on a large property and the dog would have a fenced-in and covered enclosure. He added that not long before Marvyn bit Whyte, the dog had hit its head hard on a windshield during and auto crash and also had eaten a contaminated dog treat that gave him listeria. The dog was treated with major antibiotics, Watson said, and a possible side-effect might have been becoming more aggressive. Watson also said he would begin training the dog and have it neutered if the dog were allowed to live on the Shaftsbury property. Rounds, a single mother, said the July 2023 incident occurred when she was in the process of becoming divorced. She added that the dog is her sons pet and she wouldnt want to lose it for that reason, and said that she also got the dog in part to provide protection for the family. Select Board members questioned how several incidents involving the dog could occur without a vicious dog complaint being filed and a hearing held. Board member Clark Adams and others added that they would be concerned if the town sent the dog to Shaftsbury, especially since it had twice briefly escaped the towns holding facility. Krawczyk had reported that Marvyn twice escaped from the towns dog holding facility on Willow Road but was recaptured. The dog is now being held at the Police Department, she said. Adams said he was hard-pressed to understand how no hearing was held after the incidents that preceded the July 2 attack on Whyte. If the ordinance needs revision, the board should consider that, he said. The dog appeared to be threatening people and terrorizing them, Adams said. Krawczyk said she did what she could following the town ordinance at the time after the earlier incidents, including advising victims they could ask the Select Board to hold a vicious dog hearing and advising the dog owner of steps to take to prevent further problems including muzzling or fencing in the dog when outside. After Whyte was bitten, Krawczyk filed the complaint with the board. Assistant Town Manager Dan Monks said Tuesday that a preliminary decision was reached by the board in deliberative session, but the decision wont be considered final until the written findings and order are finalized and approved by the chairperson, and sent to the parties. 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 A six-wheel box truck heading north on Route 8 hit a pole, then tumbled down an embankment and landed in the Farmington River. The crash, which happened just before 3 a.m., left several nearby houses without power and shut down Route 8 in Otis and Sandisfield. It also required mutual aid to support Sandisfield officials, who are grappling with a crippled volunteer fire department amid recent internal political turmoil. The driver of the truck from Coon-Coon Transportation in Waterbury, Conn., which was carrying general freight was uninjured, according to Brian Fahey, Montereys police chief and interim chief for Sandisfield. The crash took place at a critical time for the Sandisfield Fire Department, which has had an exodus of volunteers in recent weeks after the Select Board appointed Michael Grillo as its new fire chief. Grillo was the only person from Sandisfield to respond to the scene early Tuesday morning, and he called for response from Otis. Monterey and New Marlborough also responded to the scene, according to Fahey. Sandisfield's chief, Michael Morrison, was placed on paid administrative leave pending a formal investigation. On Tuesday morning, cones were set up, and police officers from West Stockbridge and Monterey were stationed at critical points along the route to stop traffic. In the center of Otis, at the intersection of Route 23 and Route 8, a police officer asked people where they were headed before letting them drive through. He redirected those heading to Connecticut on Route 23 west toward Great Barrington as a detour. The truck, towed to R.W.s Towing in Lee, appeared to have extensive damage to the cab and a broken windshield. State police are leading the investigation and the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section was called to the scene. Massachusetts Department of Transportation workers were at the scene Tuesday morning. By late morning, the truck had been hauled out of the river, and workers for Eversource and contractors were putting in a new pole to replace the one that had been hit. No further details were immediately available. As last winter receded, the Williamstown Board of Health discovered accumulated dog feces at the Spruces, a park in Williamstown. A debate ensued, so far unresolved, as to whether dogs should be allowed to be off-leash on town public lands an issue other Berkshire communities face as well. Ruth Bass is an award-winning journalist. Her website is ruthbass.com . The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of The Berkshire Eagle. A short analogy will help us understand what the Bible teaches about divine immutability. Time-lapse photos fascinate us as we watch the shadow of an object or person appear, move, elongate, shorten, and then disappear. Shadows are inherent to humans; as our or the suns position changes, so too does our shadows appearance. The Bible tells us, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1:17). This tells us God is who He is, and He doesnt change, unlike the shadows we produce when the light around us changes. We change all the time, but He never does. What Does the Bible Mean by Divine Immutability? When the Bible says God doesnt change, it is referring to His attribute of divine immutability. Since God is divine (divine is anything which refers to the one true God), we refer to Gods unchanging character as divine immutability. God is unchangeable in any way, and therefore, unchanging. God cannot change His very essence or His mind because He is perfect in every way (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 18:30). For God to even be able to change would nullify His perfection, and a perfect Being cannot change. How can God be perfect if he is open to change? Change (specifically positive change) implies an imperfection in the current state which needs to adapt in order to be better. If God has imperfections, He cannot be God. Furthermore, the notion that God would need to change in response to His creation makes creation the authority and master over God, which again means that He could not truly be God. It's difficult for us to comprehend immutability because we see and experience change all the time; we cannot try to understand an infinite God with finite minds. Professor and author Matthew Barrett writes, Immutability and Impassibility are key, historic attributes the church has confessed, attributes that distinguish the infinite and eternal Creator from the finite and temporal creature. What Passages Tell Us God Is Immutable? Following are ten key passages that teach us about Gods immutable character: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). The Lord our God is One, and when the Bible to say Jesus never changes, it is the same as saying God never changes. For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed (Malachi 3:6). Here, God is telling the Israelites that since He doesnt change, He will keep His covenants (promises). Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1:17). Gods goodness will never cease or change. God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it? (Numbers 23:19). This is addressed to Gods enemies, who must acknowledge Gods reign is just, endless, and does not change. What He says He will do, he does. Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but You are the same, and Your years have no end. The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before You (Psalm 102:25-28). Because God doesnt change, He is faithful. And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for He is not a man, that He should have regret (1 Samuel 15:29). In stark contrast to man (in this case, King Saul), God does not lie or have regrets. If we are faithless, He remains faithful for He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13). God remains perfectly immutable despite mans changeability. Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, You are God (Psalm 90:1-2). No matter what changes are wrought on the earth, our Creator God remains steadfast and unchanging. So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us (Hebrews 6:18). An immutable God cannot lie, therefore we are encouraged by His Word (The Scriptures) to us. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations (Psalm 33:11). Gods word is His everlasting bond. If God Does Not Change, Then Why Does He Sometimes Relent? When we consider the word relent as regards humans, we define it as to soften a stance or give in. With what weve read about Gods immutability, we wonder how He can give in to someone or something. Biblically, to relent as relates to the Lord God refers to His decision to suppress a course of action, especially in response to human repentance or intervention. Thats because God is both merciful and just, and all His attributes work in harmony with each other. To illustrate, lets look at Jonah as he prophesied to Nineveh. God commanded Jonah to preach to the great city of Ninevah about their impending demise. When Jonah obeyed, the community repented. Jonah 3:10 states, When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that He had said He would do to them, and He did not do it. The thing is, God already knew they would repent. Here we see another instance of the Bibles use of anthropomorphic language so we can understand what God, who is beyond comprehension, did. Instead of bringing the foretold destruction upon Nineveh, He blessed them. God didnt change, but Nineveh did. God responded to their repentance with a removal of their coming doom, and that is consistent with His character. Gods immutability is holy its part of what sets Him apart from His creation because everything else changes, but not God. Immutability is vital to Gods character as the perfect, supreme being. The state of every person before salvation was that we were destined for Gods wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9a). Because God is holy, He cannot look upon sin (Habakkuk 1:13), therefore, since God is immutable, how can we be saved? The Bible tells us, For all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a). Even Jesus, our perfect Savior, prayed the Father would remove the cup of Gods wrath He was destined to drink. That cup is the Fathers wrath to be poured out on Jesus on account of our sins. Does Jesus death on the cross to remove sins prove God changes His mind? The answer lies within Gods sovereignty; His will and His character never changes. Here is where Reformed Theology gives us further insight into the nature of God. One of the basic tenets of the Reformation from which Calvinism emerged is sovereign election (a more useful description than unconditional election). Sovereign election states that God decrees the conditions for a persons salvation in Christ; its His initiative that draws people to Himself (John 6:44). Further, God foreknows all He will save because He chose (elected) them in eternity past, before any of them were born. Gods perfect will through his Holy Spirit changes us and draws us to Him in Christ Jesus. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:17-18a). Because of Christs atoning work on the cross, we are justified before God. Again, we see we are the ones who change, and God reacts to us in a manner consistent with His grace and mercy (Ephesians 2:5; Psalm 145:8). What Does It Mean for Us That God Is Immutable? Because God is the supreme and is the ultimate fixed standard of all creation, we can look to Him for our security and more importantly, for His grace. Pastor John MacArthur reminded us, That God does not change is a great source of comfort to believers. It means that His love is forever. His forgiveness is forever. His salvation is forever. His promises are forever. Because He is perfect, for Him to change would mean His perfection is lacking in some way. And perfection, by its very nature, is not open to nor in need of change. Gods immutability is linked to His impassibility; He is not governed by emotions, nor is He altered by our emotions. If He were, that would necessitate a change and therefore counter His immutability. When David penned Psalm 62:6, he proclaimed the Lord God as immutable when he called Him his rock and his fortress: He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. We are assured in Scripture that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That truth is as solid as a rock to us, just as it was to David when he penned many psalms where he titles God his Rock. As we ponder Gods immutability, a few hymns that aid our praise are: Rock of Ages, and A Mighty Fortress is Our God. And so, as King David so eloquently said, we rest in our immutable God as our Rock and our Redeemer (Psalm 78:35). Photo credit: Getty Images/momnoi Lisa Loraine Baker is the multiple award-winning author of Someplace to be Somebody. She writes fiction and nonfiction. In addition to writing for the Salem Web Network, Lisa serves as a Word Weavers mentor and is part of a critique group. Lisa and her husband, Stephen, a pastor, live in a small Ohio village with their crazy cat, Lewis. The northern kingdom of Israel teetered on the edge of destruction. Assyria sharpened its blades, poised to conquer. The people of God chased idols and crushed the poor. Corruption ran like water from Jerusalems high places. Leaders took bribes. Priests preached for pay. Prophets peddled lies. Into this decaying mess, God raised a man from the countryside, not to flatter kings, but to confront them. Micah didnt wear a prophets robe like Elijah. He didnt court kings like Isaiah. He walked among fields, his calloused hands pushed plow handles, and he smelled like livestock and soil. Yet the voice that came from this common man thundered across the hills of Israel and Judah with judgment and hope. Micah confronts both Israel and Judah. He exposes their moral corruption, social injustices, and religious hypocrisy. Micah prophesies about the judgment to come, but also offers a message of hope and restoration. Micah prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah (Micah 1:1), a time of pride and rebellion. The leaders grew rich while the poor suffered. The people worshiped with their lips but served idols in their hearts. Arrogance ruled the courts, and corruption spread through the land. Micah stepped into the chaos with a clear voice. He spoke with courage, not to crush, but to correct. Micahs ministry encouraged the great reformation in Judah under the leadership of King Hezekiah (Jeremiah 26:18) The Farmer Who Roared Like a Lion Micah opens with an image of God stepping down from heaven. The mountains would melt like wax and the valleys would split apart. Micah doesnt write poetic imagery but divine judgement. God wasnt distant. He was watching. Micah didnt speak to impress; he spoke to pierce. His words carved into hearts like plow blades in stubborn ground. Samarias plague is incurable; it has spread to Judah. It has reached the very gate of my people, even to Jerusalem itself (Micah 1:9). Micah names the sins of Gods people: idolatry, greed, and oppression. Israel and Judah rotted from within. Injustice filled the land. He wept for Samaria and mourned for Jerusalem. Micah doesnt soften the blow. He doesnt blame outsiders. He points the finger inward. He called out rulers and exposed their corruption for using people instead of serving them. Micah saw disaster on the horizon as Assyria loomed in the north. He warned of judgment, not just from armies, but from the holy presence of God. Yet, in the middle of warnings and weeping, Micah offered hope. Hope Rises from an Unexpected Place Amid judgment, Micah lifts his eyes and looks ahead with hope. He looked past Assyria, past Babylon, past Rome, and looked toward Bethlehem. But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel (Micah 5:2a). Seven hundred years before a manger held a baby, Micah saw Him. Not just a child, but the eternal one, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times (v.2b). He saw the Messiah not just as a deliverer, but as a shepherd. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth (Micah 5:4). Micah sees a ruler born in Bethlehem. This ruler wont exploit; He will shepherd. He wont be driven by greed; He will be empowered by God. Micah did not offer blind optimism. He gave anchored hope. He knew judgment would come, but he also knew a Deliverer would rise. In a time when leaders failed and trust collapsed, Micah promised a ruler who would not fail. A shepherd would rise who would not oppress or deceive. He would gather, protect, and bring peace. Micah also saw a future kingdom, a day when war would fade into history. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore (Micah 4:3). Micahs words stir hope because they point to Christ. Jesus fulfilled the first prophecy when He was born in Bethlehem. But His work does not end at the manger. He will return. He will rule. He will bring lasting peace. Walking Upright in an Upside-Down World Micah didnt come from royalty or Rabbinic lineage. He came from a village on the edge of nowhere and walked straight into the spiritual decay of a proud nation. His message struck leaders, priests, and people alike. The rich crushed the poor. The leaders sold truth for gain. Courts turned against the weak. Micah watched his nation unravel. Into that decay, Micah brought Gods voice. He didnt just expose sin. His voice, carried by the Spirit of the Lord, revealed what God wanted instead. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). Justice, mercy, and humility are not a slogan or a trend. Its obedience. Gods people had forgotten His heart, so Micah reminded them. Gods people couldnt buy Him off with offerings. They couldnt distract Him with ceremonies. He wanted clean hearts, straight actions, and humble steps. Mercy doesnt grow in hardened hearts. It springs from those who remember how much mercy theyve received. Micah reminded the people that God delights in mercy. Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:18-19). The prophet didnt just preach judgment. He pointed to hope. God doesnt discard His people. He restores. He lifts the broken. He forgives. Micah called the people back to what mattered most: not wealth, not ritual, not power. He pointed them to the simple path of walking with God in humility and faithfulness. God didnt ask for show. He didnt want more offerings, louder prayers, or bigger displays. He wanted hearts that bowed low, feet that walked faithfully, and hands that practiced kindness. Micah reminded Israel that faithfulness is demonstrated not in grand moments, but in daily steps with God. Humility does not weaken a believer; it places them under Gods strength. In the middle of a collapsing culture, Micah showed what God honors: quiet obedience, steady trust, and surrendered hearts. Micah ends the book in darkness, summarizing the surrounding events. He sees betrayal, collapse, and sin. Yet amid the darkness he offers a glimmer of light. But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light (Micah 7:7-8). For Micah, it was his choice. He could dwell on the circumstances around him or choose to keep his mind on God above and His promises. The Apostle Paul advised Christians to make the same choice. He wrote, Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2). Micahs Voice Still Speaks Micah stood in a crooked culture and didnt flinch. He faced spiritual decay, dishonest leaders, and the looming threat of foreign invasion. But Micah didnt back down, nor did he water things down. Instead, he told the truth with courage and compassion. His message is as timely now as it was then. The book of Micah isnt just ancient prophecy about past historical events. Its a wake-up call for drifting Christians and a self-absorbed generation. Micah doesnt speak to scholars in ivory towers; he speaks to farmers, city dwellers, leaders, and everyday people. His words cut through confusion and chaos and speaks right to the heart. Micah warns the comfortable. He calls out injustice in the world and even in our churches. He reminds us true worship isnt pretense or ritual. God seeks people who walk humbly, act justly, and show mercy. In an age of performance and politics, Micah points us to Bethlehem. The hope of the world came in a feeding trough. The King of kings was born in humble surroundings. He will return, not in weakness, but with power. Micah saw both comings. We live between them. Micah didnt chase fame, he chased faithfulness. He planted truth in hard ground. Today, we reap his courage. And like him, we must speak and live with eyes fixed on the coming King. Photo credit: Getty Images/ rudall30 Brad Simon has shared Gods Word for over forty-five years, with a unique blend of storytelling and Bible exposition. He is a retired Master Jeweler and relies on the God-given creativity that won him several national and international jewelry design awards to craft Biblical Narratives and Life Stories that are engaging and thought-provoking. Once a speaker, author, and publisher for the jewelry industry, now he is putting those skills to work to promote the beauty and appeal of Gods Word. Download a free copy of his devotional on prayer. IIT Indore & Mehta Family Foundation to launch academic schools in Sustainability and Biomedical Engineering July 22, 2025 | Tuesday | News Mehta Family School of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering to train 1,500+ leaders The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore, with support of the Bhupat & Jyoti Mehta Family Foundation (MFF), has announced a landmark partnership to establish two new academic schools at the IIT Indore campus: Mehta Family School of Sustainability and Mehta Family School of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering. These new schools reflect IIT Indores commitment to advancing education and research in strategically critical areas such as sustainability, and health sciences & technology. The Mehta Family Foundation, by launching their 7th and 8th schools in the country, spread over an area of around two lakh sq. ft., further strengthens Indias leading higher education institutions to build futuristic academic programmes. Together, IIT Indore and MFF aim to create world-class schools that will equip the next generation of leaders, researchers, and innovators with the interdisciplinary knowledge, practical skills, and research mindset to further enhance Indias technological prowess. Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, said, The Mehta Family Foundations ability to identify thematic areas that closely mirror the governments science and technology priorities is commendable. Such efforts strengthen Indias innovation ecosystem and contribute meaningfully to our long-term national goals in research and education. Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, said, Its inspiring to see the convergence of engineering and biology being harnessed to address futures grand challenges. IITs are nurturing a vibrant biotech ecosystem, and the Mehta Family Foundations initiatives are adding significant momentum. Their long-term vision and clear scientific agendas align well with emerging national frameworks like the Bio-E3 policy. This kind of support helps industrialise innovation and ensures India continues to lead across key science and technology parameters globally. The Mehta Family School of Sustainability, a one-of-a-kind institution dedicated to climate-conscious innovation, leadership, and knowledge creation, is set to launch Indias first BTech program in Environmental Economics and Sustainable Engineering, creating a taskforce of more than 400 graduates and 1000+ professionals through Executive Masters and PhD programs in the next decade. The School will also establish three dedicated Centres of Excellence in Energy Systems and Battery Technology, Environmental Economics and Environmental Law, and Water and Climate Studies to drive technology solutions and policy-shaping research. The Mehta Family School of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering is a pioneering academic and research hub at the intersection of Biology, Technology, Data, and AI. With a strong emphasis on developing data-driven solutions for endemics such as chikungunya and dengue, and addressing the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the School is poised to make a significant impact through interdisciplinary, translational research. The programmes span critical domains including AI in Healthcare and Bioinformatics, Drug Discovery, Molecular Biology, Biomanufacturing, and Wearable Health Technologies. The School also envisions establishing a cutting-edge biomanufacturing hub, while preparing over 1,500 students in the next decade to lead innovation across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical devices sectors. Criminalizing communism is not protecting Czech democracy but undermining it 22. 7. 2025 / Muriel Blaive cas cteni 10 minut Many thanks to Marian Lozi for his critical remarks on this text. On 17 July 2025, President Petr Pavel signed into law an amendment to the Czech Criminal Code, which now explicitly criminalizes the promotion of Nazism and communism. At first glance, the amendment to 403 of the Criminal Code closes a historical gap. In reality, it opens a political and legal minefield. The revised paragraph reads: Whoever establishes, supports, or promotes Nazi, communist, or other movements that demonstrably aim to suppress human rights and freedoms, or that advocate racial, ethnic, national, religious, or class hatred, shall be punished by imprisonment of one to five years. The novelty lies in the insertion of the words Nazi, communist, or other into a sentence that previously referred only to movements aiming to suppress rights. The reasoning behind this insertion (n6598), authored by MPs Martin Dlouhy, Marek Benda, and Simon Heller, is far from neutral: In Czech society, there still has been no proper reckoning with the communist past in criminal law. there is a noticeable disparity both within society and in legal norms in the way in which we have dealt with Nazism and communism. The aim of this amendment is, at least partially, to correct this disparity. The ideological motivation for this amendment is transparent: it is to rewrite history for political gain. As I have argued before in Britske listy, to equate Nazism and communism in Czechoslovakia amounts to relativizing Nazi crimes: suggesting that both regimes caused equivalent suffering is not just historically inaccurate but trivializes the Holocaust. Let us remind that the victims of Nazism far outnumber those of communism in Czechoslovakia (360,000 for the former, 4,500 for the latter.) All victims of communism deserve empathy and recognition, but so do all victims of Nazism. Competitive victimhood is neither a path to justice nor a substitute for historical understanding. It is doubtful that anyone in todays Czech Republic is endangering democracy by promoting communism. The real purpose of this amendment is to provide an opportunity for institutions like the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, the Museum of Twentieth Century Memory, and the Platform of European Memory and Conscience, all of which have been losing public credit and relevance in the past few years, to revive their influence by legally enshrining a narrow, ideologically driven narrative. Some within the Czech political and intellectual elites dismiss concerns about this law by claiming it is purely symbolic. But that is precisely the danger criminal code provisions are not meant to be symbolic declarations, they are legal instruments. Treating them otherwise erodes the foundations of the rule of law. Czech political elites have had a marked tendency to weaponize historical laws In my presentation at the Memory Studies Association conference in Prague, which coincidentally took place also on 17 July 2025, I precisely discussed the fact that several Czech jurists I have recently interviewed have interpreted the 1993 Act on the Illegality of the Communist Regime, which declared the past communist regime illegal, criminal, and illegitimate, as merely proclamatory and therefore meaningless. I made the argument in my presentation that this meaningless 1993 law has in fact exerted a major influence until today on the way in which communist history has been written and the communist past commemorated in the Czech Republic. The more time passes, the more Czech society is presented as a collective victim. The more painful question of collaboration with, or accommodation to, the communist (or Nazi) rule, on the other hand, is conveniently swept under the carpet. As I argued many times in the columns of Britske listy, Milada Horakova is presented as having been murdered by the communists (instead of executed by the full machinery of the Czechoslovak communist state); the film Waves (Vlny) presents the 1968 Prague Spring as if it was akin to Stalinism while presenting unsubstantiated figures of repression (5,800 executions where? when?); and the new schoolbook meant to restitute a measure of historical reflection on these events was pulled from the shelves by the new director of the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes. Laws should not be passed for public amusement. When the lawmaker adopts legislation that jurists describe as symbolic, declarative, or irrelevant, it is not strengthening democratic norms but corroding them. Is Czech society really eager to police the memory of genocides around the world? Another question is the geographic jurisdiction of such legal provisions. Supporters of laws criminalizing the denial of genocides anywhere in the world rightly argue that genocides undermine universal human rights and can incite hatred anywhere, thus they should be punished everywhere. Such laws, they contend, demonstrate international solidarity and align with shared legal standards, such as those encouraged by the European Union or the International Criminal Court. While these arguments carry an undeniable normative appeal, they are also fraught with legal and practical complications. Applying national criminal law to the denial of atrocities that occurred in other jurisdictions can stretch the legitimacy of this law. It opens the door to selective enforcement, and it may chill legitimate debates at a time when historical facts are still contested or evolving. Who can seriously believe that the Czech justice system is prepared intellectually, institutionally, and politically to adjudicate denialist speech related to the genocides or war crimes in Rwanda, Darfur, Cambodia, Armenia, or Namibia? The risk of double standards is also real: states tend to memorialize the crimes or genocides that are meaningful to them, usually due to their proximity in time and space, while ignoring others. We can take the example of colonial atrocities or the Transatlantic slave trade, which Czech citizens would find difficult to ever feel responsible for. And even the countries that are directly concerned find it often impossible to police history and memory in a way both historically coherent and devoid of political interests: for instance, France criminalizes Holocaust denial, but passed a law praising the positive aspects of its colonial rule. The new provision in 403 of the Czech Criminal Code is especially unnecessary considering that 405 already criminalizes the denial, justification, or endorsement of genocide, war crimes, or crimes against humanity committed by Nazis, communists, or others. Had such crimes been committed by communists in Czechoslovakia none have been legally recognized so far, nor am I aware of any claim in this direction the existing law would have largely sufficed. It is to be noted on the contrary that Western historians opposed the first laws criminalizing Holocaust denial when they were passed at the end of the 1980s and the 1990s not because they deny the existence of the Holocaust, but because they were acutely aware of the potential for political instrumentalization of this memory policing. The Czech public will be interested to know that it is a communist MP, Claude Gayssot, who led the campaign to criminalize Holocaust denial in French law, a provision which was adopted in 1990 as communism had just fallen in Czechoslovakia. The same Gayssot must be surprised to learn today that the principle of the memory laws he promoted, no doubt with the secret hope of strengthening the communists, is now used against the communists. Irony reigns supreme. The perils of politicizing history An even better case concerning the perils of politicizing history is that of Gaza. The hardships impressed upon the Gaza population are already called genocide by genocide scholars like Omer Bartov, and it is not unthinkable that the international community should do the same in the future. Moreover, the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant in November 2024 for crimes against humanity and war crimes, two types of crimes which already fulfill the condition of movements that demonstrably aim to suppress human rights and freedoms described in 403 of the Czech criminal code. Does this mean that Czech courts should now start indicting Czech citizens and sentence them to five years if they dare argue that Israel is only protecting itself? The absurdity of history politicization would reach its climax in a country which massively supports Israel. What this hypothetical scenario mainly shows is that Western democracies are increasingly at risk of conflating legitimate political disagreement with criminal speech, and are more and more eager to police the speech those in power disagree with. Supporters of the amendment may claim that it targets only totalitarian or dictatorial ideologies. But also on this count, the criminal code article is dangerously vague and goes much beyond what the EU was expecting. Will expressing nostalgia for pre-1989 social security be considered a crime? Will quoting Karl Marx get you investigated? Will sentencing MEP Katerina Konecna to five years in jail next time she promotes communism during electoral campaigns really strengthen Czech democracy? Wouldnt it be more relevant and profitable to simply explain we disagree with her if we do, and take down her arguments during a televised public debate, for instance? This actualization of the criminal code is also inconsistent from a legal viewpoint. The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) continues to legally exist, while the criminal code is now criminalizing the very ideology it is based on and promotes. To permit a political party to participate in elections while punishing its leaders or members for supporting its platform bears a high potential for incoherence. Again, it is the Czech rule of law which is suffering. And let us not forget the broader implications: what if an anticommunist hardliner like Pavel Zacek ever came to power? Stranger things happened. Under this amendment, how many people could be harassed or imprisoned for their academic work or public stance concerning the communist past? Conclusion: The political weaponization of Czech history continues Let us be clear: this new article of the Czech criminal code was not meant to represent a principled defense of memory and justice around the world, but to delegitimize the Czech left, selectively rewrite history, and enhance the social and professional capital of its promoters, especially that of the discredited Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, which has struggled since 2022 to justify its relevance and generous budget now that three quarters of its employees have left the institute or been dismissed and replaced by less than credentialed academics. What this actualization of the criminal code reveals is political opportunism disguised as legislative responsibility. This small but highly consequential amendment was passed as part of a sweeping reworking of the criminal code, one that included vital reforms (such as the redefinition of domestic violence) which were moreover demanded by Brussels. If President Pavel had refused to sign the amendment, critics would have accused him of obstructing the protection of abuse victims. Yet Petr Pavel is a former communist army intelligence career officer himself, which places him in an absurd situation vis-a-vis this law. One can argue that a principled resignation from his post would have sent a strong message. His capitulation turns him instead into yet another figure in a long series of Czech presidents who opted for the politically expedient path rather than moral clarity. His decision provides yet another ratification to the growing normalization of vague, ideologically charged, and ultimately damaging legislation. In the case at hand, activists with minimal popular legitimacy but entrenched influence in elite circles have hijacked Czech democracy and gotten away with it. There may yet be recourse. If Czech courts enforce this amendment, a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) would probably still find traction, as the latter has repeatedly upheld the importance of freedom of expression, especially in political and historical discourse. Unless, of course, European democracy collapses first which, in todays climate, can no longer be ruled out as impossible. -1 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. A boy born in Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise who was allegedly delivered after a delayed Caesarean Section amid rowing doctors and who suffered "severe personal injury" has had a 1.9 million settlement in his favour approved by the High Court. Dillon Brennan (16) was born on January 30th, 2009, at the hospital, which has been subject to investigation over patient safety, to Corinna Brennan, who is also his carer at their Athy, Co Kildare, home. Advertisement Mrs Brennan sued the HSE on behalf of her son for breach of statutory duty - alleged medical negligence - to adequately provide medical services to Mrs Brennan and her son in 2009 at the Co Laois hospital. It was submitted that Mrs Brennan was due to give birth around January 25th, 2009, and had attended all of her antenatal appointments, culminating with a clinic at the hospital on January 29th, 2009, when no "significant abnormal conditions in relation to the pregnancy were present". Mrs Brennan was admitted to the hospital on January 30th, 2009, five days after her due date, but had "slow and irregular" pain. A cardiotocography trace (CTG) was carried out and was found to be "abnormal", as the unborn baby displayed "frequent decelerations" in his heart rate. However, despite the abnormal readings, the CTG was discontinued. Advertisement A second CTG was carried out at 8.45am the same morning that showed decelerations and abnormalities up to around 12.30pm. It was claimed that then a syntocinon treatment - an injection involving the drug Oxycontin - was administered to augment labour. It was claimed that the readings from the CTG were not reproduced in a legible fashion and were difficult to interpret. A decision was made to deliver Dillon by emergency Caesarean Section, and Dillon was born at 1:36pm, allegedly 80 minutes after a decision to perform the Caesarean was made - 50 minutes outside the usual timeframe. Advertisement It was claimed that Dillon then suffered "extreme difficulties" with breathing, due to hypoxia, and that there was a delay in his resuscitation. In addition, an altercation between members of the hospital staff occurred during the attempts at resuscitation of the plaintiff, it was alleged. During a second attempt at intubation, a doctor was interrupted by an anaesthetic doctor without invitation who attempted to force an oxygen mask on the child, it was claimed. It was alleged that the anaesthetist "brushed aside" the attending doctor and raised his voice, shouting "for f**k sake just bag him". The doctor was eventually able to drain meconium - a baby's first stool - from the child through suction, after which safe intubation was performed. Advertisement The doctor, it was submitted, was "considerably interrupted in his attempts to intubate and resuscitate the plaintiff by actions of the anaesthetist doctor". In the aftermath of his birth, the plaintiff was noted as being in pain, jaundiced, vomiting with streaks of blood, having hypoxic metabolic acidosis, high blood pressure and in need of ventilation. The plaintiff spent 11 days in intensive care, and an MRI scan showed the plaintiff's kidney and brain had an infarct resulting in "severe personal injuries", it was claimed. At the High Court on Tuesday, Mr Justice Paul Coffey was told by John Healy SC, instructed by David O'Malley of Callan Tansey solicitors, for the plaintiff that a final settlement of 1.9 million for breaches of duty by the defendant, albeit without an admission of liability, could be recommended to the court for what he said was Mr Brennan's "turbulent" introduction to the world. Advertisement Mr Justice Coffey approved the settlement and addressed Mr Brennan, who was present in court, saying he was pleased to see Mr Brennan "looking so well and I wish you all the best for the future". Reacting to the settlement, solicitor David O'Malley, in a statement on behalf the family, said that the family welcome it and "the security it will provide Dillon. "They would like to acknowledge the efforts of the State Claims Agency and their legal representatives in facilitating mediation to resolve this case. The purpose of civil society is to prevent similar events reoccurring. "The family questioned the birth, having witnessed the Portlaoise maternity enquiry and the aftermath in 2012. "Unfortunately, the same avoidable failings, namely delayed delivery, inadequate CTG (cardiotocography) tracing and misuse of Oxytocin, still remain as main causes of hypoxia in Irish infants in 2025. "Also, in the year 2025 there are no cooling units to counteract hypoxia in infants outside of Cork and Dublin. "It truly is a second-tier maternity system outside of The Pale. "The family echoes calls by advocate groups to urgently review maternity care in Ireland. One cannot think of a more important right than the right to breathe and be protected at birth," said Mr O'Malley. The daughter of a man who died after being pushed by his partner has told of the familys upset at what they perceive as the leniency of the sentence and how they were censored when providing victim impact statements. Karen Ryans father James Shay Ryan died after his partner Olesja Hertova forcefully pushed him. Hertova was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison when she pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on July 4th. Advertisement The sentence was backdated to when she went into custody in August 2024. Ms Ryan told RTE radios Oliver Callan show that she had been suspicious of the circumstances surrounding her fathers death as there had been a history of domestic violence by Hertova against her father and their daughter Ellie, which she had reported to Tusla. However, she was told that the details of the domestic violence had to be retracted from her victim impact statement because Hertova pleaded guilty. If this had gone to trial, all that domestic violence history would have been allowed into trial. But because she had admitted to manslaughter, it's not allowed in. So what we would like to see is a change in the reform of this. Advertisement So that just with domestic violence for a start, they would allow call-outs, anything to do with domestic violence (to be entered into evidence). "So the judge can turn around and say, was there a history of domestic violence in this home? And the judge could look and then the judge could make his own decision, okay, well there was a history of domestic violence, he didn't realise that there was a history of domestic violence there. I've taken Ellie into my home. Ellie now lives with me. I cant put into words any of trauma that she's experienced. None of that can come into the victim impact statements. I can't mention the word domestic violence. "That all had to be retracted and then on top of that after I've handed that over and they retract that then they go okay, now we're handing it over to Olesjas defence team and they can retract whatever they want out of that. Advertisement It was frustrating that none of the calls to Tusla or the gardai could be included in the statements. The family had been shocked, upset, frustrated, angry at the sentence of two years and nine months. I don't think there's enough words in the dictionary to describe how the whole family felt. We were brought in by the DPP a couple of weeks prior to this to say that she's probably going to serve less than five years. We were told that any domestic violence incidents that were called to the house would not be taken into effect because she had admitted to it and it wasn't going to trial. She had no prior convictions. My dad had two safety orders that were never put through the courts. When we were going through his documents in the house, we found one of them. "Ellie had told us that her mam had found one of them and ripped them up so my dad couldn't activate the other one, and we found one in the house when we were clearing up. Advertisement We don't know (why he did not activate the safety order). Now, I do know that she had threatened my dad before saying that she was going to take Ellie back to the Czech Republic. She said she would encourage anyone experiencing domestic violence, be they male or female, to speak to someone. Just speak to somebody, anyone, and just have a chat, just please don't end up like our family, and also remember, if there's kids in the family home, they're going to be suffering as well. Ms Ryan said that she would never stop Ellie from seeing her mother. At the end of the day, it's still her mum. So I would back her 100 percent if she wanted to see her mum. "At the moment she has no interest in seeing her mum and she was very, very disappointed and angry with the sentence that the judge did pass down. And I can 100 percent understand the loss that she has with her mam and her dad. The Government is set to bring in 1.5 billion of tax cuts as part of next years budget, according to the Summer Economic Statement. The Budget Day package, set to be announced of October 7th, will be 9.4 billion. Advertisement This will comprise spending of 7.9 billion euro and taxation measures amounting to 1.5 billion. Overall spending across current capital will increase by 7.3 per cent for next year. Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers speaking at a press conference at Government Buildings in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) However, the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe warned that the figures published on Tuesday are based on a no-tariff scenario imposed by the United States. He published the figures alongside Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers. Advertisement Our Budget Day decisions could change depending on the economic environment we find ourselves in during the summer and beyond, he said. He said all they can see is change and risk around the uncertainty of trade, investment and politics. Of course, none of this is positive for the economy of the world, and by extension, therefore, for Ireland, Mr Donohoe said. This is most evident in the debates and negotiations that are under way with regard to trade, which is why us, within the European Union and the (EU) Commission on our behalf, will be redoubling our efforts to negotiate a better deal with regard to trade between the EU between now and August 1st. Advertisement Because of all of this, its very clear that were at a moment of significant transition to the economy of the world, and even for the economy. But notwithstanding all of this, our economy continues to grow. In the first quarter of 2025, our economy grew by almost 3% after a year of strong growth in 2024, and where that strong performance is most evident is in the number of people at work in our country. Mr Donohoe said it is very likely that negotiations between the EU and the US will reach a conclusion in the coming weeks. However, he said the Governments intention is to be flexible in its approach to Budget Day. Advertisement Our overwhelming priority is to maintain our public capital investment, in particular the figures that will be outlined by Minister Chambers, Mr Donohoe said. However, should economic or budget conditions change, we will amend other elements of budget policy to ensure we get the balance right. Minister Chambers and I, in consultation with the party leaders, will continue to assess that balance in the weeks ahead. I emphasise that point because Minister Chambers and I are very much aware that we are publishing this statement and committing to a National Development Plan at a moment of uncertainty. Advertisement We know an antidote to some of that uncertainty is certainty regarding our investment plans, and that is what is being outlined here today. We can do so because our economy is resilient. Mr Chambers said the Government is having to navigate serious economic uncertainty. If theres a serious economic deterioration, we absolutely will have to revisit what were setting out today to be responsible and agile in the context of changing our global position, and we agree on that, he added So this is very much caveated by what could happen in the coming weeks, and we wont make decisions that arent sustainable or affordable for the Irish economy. He added: While capital expenditure will increase by two billion euro in line with the National Development Plan review, this will result in total available current expenditure of 97.5 billion, and capital expenditure of 19.1 billion in 2026. Ireland Self-driving bus service takes to the road in Belf... Read More It will be against this backdrop that budget negotiations will commence with the individual departments in the coming weeks. The expenditure ceilings for 2026 will facilitate a budget that will provide for enhanced public service delivery and increased capital investment in critical infrastructure under the new and renewed National Development Plan. At the same time, given the profound global economic uncertainty, its crucial we moderate current spending and provide permanent and sustainable investment, as well as focusing on addressing our infrastructure deficits. A man who organised prostitution across Dublin leased out eight properties to be used as brothels, money laundering about 320,000 in the process, a court has heard. Stelian Ciuciu (32) posed as part of a couple with another woman who was working as an escort to rent properties from unsuspecting landlords, which he then advertised to escorts for their use, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard on Tuesday. Advertisement Ciuciu used a WhatsApp group containing about 450 members to advertise the properties to escorts and was heavily engaged in the day-to-day upkeep of the premises, as well as regularly advising the escorts to maintain discretion and not draw attention to themselves, Detective Garda Colm Grogan of the Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit said. Ciuciu, of Brookdale Walk, Swords, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to 20 counts, including enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation, organising prostitution, brothel-keeping, using false instruments and money laundering. The offences took place in various locations within the state on dates between January 2020 and November 2023. The most serious of these offences enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation carries a maximum sentence of 15 years, while the remaining offences carry maximum terms of between five and 14 years, the court heard. Ciuciu has no previous convictions. Advertisement Det Gda Grogan told Mark Lynam SC, prosecuting, that Ciuciu's offences came to light when some landlords came forward with suspicions about what their rented properties were being used for. Gardai noticed that similar rental documents with Ciuciu's photo but different names had been used to rent out the properties, and Ciuciu was identified and followed. Gardai followed him to a number of properties that were being used as brothels and some banks where he was lodging cash. When gardai entered the premises and carried out welfare checks, they found prostitution was taking place in each property, with two or more escorts working there, the court heard. A total of 320,000 was found to be going through Ciuciu's accounts. Det Gda Grogan said this money, which was mostly lodged in cash by Ciuciu, was used to pay the rent for the properties, and these accounts did not contain any profits. When he was arrested in November 2023 and his home was searched, a total of 11,000 in cash was seized. Advertisement When asked by Judge Martin Nolan if gardai had established what profits Ciuciu made from the enterprise, Det Gda Grogan said in his experience, escorts would pay up to 1,000 a week per property. Investigations are continuing into the whereabouts of the profits Ciuciu would have made, the court heard. The court heard Ciuciu provided fake documents, including fake Romanian identity documents and fake employer references, to rent out the properties, which were the subject of the false instrument charges. He and the escort, who was posing as his partner, provided employer references for a garage and a beauty salon. People in these businesses who were complicit in the offending provided fake references when contacted, the court heard. No charges have been made in relation to these people to date. Ciuciu's accomplice, referred to in court as Ms N, has since fled the country, the court heard. Advertisement In his plea of mitigation, Michael Lynn SC, defending, said Ciuciu, who has lived in Ireland for a number of years, has been in custody since his arrest. His wife and three young children have had difficulties as a result, the court heard. Ireland Man (24) who fatally stabbed sisters partner foun... Read More Ciuciu was described in court as a stateless person of Roma origin, who was born in Germany but whose family renounced that citizenship. He has been residing in Ireland legally on the basis that he has a stateless application before the authorities, defence counsel said. He is extremely concerned about his future residence as a consequence of these convictions, Mr Lynn said. Letters of apology from Ciuciu and his wife were handed into court. The court heard he has experienced racism and discrimination and struggled to find work as a result. He is doing well in custody and has engaged in educational courses. Judge Nolan adjourned the case to Wednesday and said he would finalise the matter then. Zelensky says Ukraine, Russia to hold talks in Turkiye on Wednesday Xinhua) 10:53, July 22, 2025 KIEV, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The next round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine will be held Wednesday in Turkiye, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday. In his daily address, Zelensky said he discussed with Rustem Umerov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, about the meeting. "Umerov said the meeting was scheduled for Wednesday. There will be more details tomorrow." Umerov, the former defense minister, was appointed to his current position last week and headed the Ukrainian delegation in the previous two talks in Istanbul, Turkiye. However, Russia's TASS news agency quoted a source as saying that the third round of talks will take place on Thursday. "The meeting is scheduled for July 24, the delegations may arrive in Istanbul on the 23rd," the source said. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Sunday that Russia is ready to move quickly toward a settlement on Ukraine, but the main objective is to achieve its goals. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. "There is no break in the heartache," said an Irish-based orthopaedic surgeon who now feels guilty eating while his family in Gaza struggle to find food. Dr Mahmoud Abumarzouq was hit with the news that his friend and former neighbour in Gaza, senior Gaza Health Ministry official Marwan Al-Hams had been allegedly 'abducted' by an Israeli undercover force, according to Reuters reports. Advertisement It's reported that Al-Hams, who was in charge of field hospitals in the southern Gaza strip 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. Dr Mahmoud who is based at Our Lady's Hospital in Navan, Co. Meath said he knew Al-Hams and described him as a 'great person and surgeon who worked voluntarily as an NGO for the greater good for humanity." Dr Mahmoud has already lost six family members in the war in Gaza and said his baby niece, who survived an air strike is being breast fed by her aunt who gave birth to a baby of her own around the same time as she was born. His sister Seham was seriously injured in the attack is recovering but she lost four of her children, including the mother of the baby Yaqout. Advertisement "There is no break to this heartache. My parents, who are in their 70s, have to keep moving because there are bombs all around them, but there is nowhere to go. "My wife's sister and her husband rang last night and feared they wouldn't see the morning. They thought their tent might be bombed and if they fled, they might be shot at. They got through the night but their tent is now destroyed. I would say they are homeless on the streets - but there are no streets anymore. "No-one has food and if they have, they give it to the children and fill themselves up with water. "The baby Yaqout is being breast fed by her aunt who had a baby of her own at the same time. But she is not getting enough to eat herself to provide the breast milk for the babies." Advertisement Dr Mahmoud said he was trying to send as much money as he could to his family but there isn't a lot of food to buy and people are falling all the time with exhaustion and hunger. "One egg cost 15. Can you imagine that? But there are no eggs anymore. My family is surviving on out-of-date Dahl but even that is running out. "My brother-in-law has shrapnel in his leg and is on any and every kind of antibiotic he can find. "My mam doesn't talk anymore. Calls last one minute because she has nothing to say other than they need food and they need this war to end. "Every night my family and I sit down to eat and feel guilty because we have everything to eat and they have nothing. It feels like we are on a different planet." Social media posts advertising tickets for Oasis or Electric Picnic should be treated with a healthy amount of suspicion. Oasis will play two sold-out gigs in Dublin in the middle of August, while Electric Picnic will return at the end of next month. Advertisement Bank of Ireland is warning that it is expecting scammers to be highly active ahead of those major events. The bank said some red flags include pressure to buy quickly, unusually low prices, and no opportunity to meet in person. Bank of Ireland said fraudsters are increasingly targeting music fans with social media posts, and said its purchase fraud is up by almost a fifth in the first six months of this year, compared to 2024. Head of Fraud at Bank of Ireland, Nicola Sadlier, said: "With these gigs coming up, including the likes of Electric Picnic, we believe fradusters will be highly active. "We want customers to enjoy the music and not fall victim to fraud. Scammers know how much people want to see popular bands or attend festivals and they're using that to trick people inot handing over their money." Sadlier said people should not be embarrassed to get in touch with the bank if they have been scammed. "Get in touch and we will do our best to recover those funds for you as soon as we become aware, no judgment at all." Author Peter Temple, who was Chris Hammers writing lecturer in the early 1980s. Hammers greatest fortune, however, was that his lecturer in feature writing was a recent arrival from South Africa named Peter Temple. Temple would later become Australias finest crime writer, turning out the Jack Irish series before winning international fame for the transcendent novels The Broken Shore and Truth. Back then, however, the unsung Temple was an unforgiving judge of his students. He was excoriating, Hammer says. He would fail more than 80 per cent of his class, and he would write these terrible comments like get a trade or rush to hospital immediately I suspect brain damage. Nevertheless, Temples commitment to style and the authentic voice he was an exponent of Strunk and Whites classic The Elements of Style (Omit needless words, it advises) left an impression on young Hammer, who grew to enjoy the company of the irascible lecturer. Because it was a very small campus, there was really only one bar, which was the student bar, he says. So youd run into your lecturers at the bar, and at the bar, Peter Temple was the most sociable, funny man with an incredibly dry sense of humour. That didnt save Hammer when he stalked into Temples office, demanding an explanation for receiving a mark of 54 per cent for what he thought was a well-written feature story. So I went to front him, you know, arrogant little shit that I was, and he just, he just gave me a tongue lashing. Who do you think you are, anyway? It was pretty brutal. And it was only as I was leaving, walking out the door with my tail between my legs, he said, Oh yeah, by the way, youre one of four people who passed, so relatively speaking, I guess it wasnt so bad. There is a poignancy here. Loading When Hammers wildly successful debut novel Scrublands was published in 2018, establishing him as a leading figure in the rural noir genre of crime writing, Peter Temple wasnt around to judge it. He died a couple of months before Scrublands was published. The novel was adapted for the screen a co-production between Stan and Nine and is now in its second season, having shifted from the dry inland to the coast where Hammer set his second book, Silver. It happens that I have known Hammer for many of his years as a journalist and all of his period as an author. When I left The Bulletin magazines office in Canberras press gallery in 2007, he filled the vacancy and became chief political correspondent. When The Bulletin the oldest current affairs magazine in Australia and the fourth oldest in the world closed a year later, he joined The Age in the gallery, where we worked together until he became a celebrated author. We have shared long lunches since the 1990s with a circle of mutual mates from the gallery, several of whom have since become well-known authors themselves, and have taken to the Snowy Mountains for rowdy ski weekends with the same old mates (the Old Farts, inevitably) for each of the past 20 years. And so, when we take a table at the venerable, much revived The Graham Hotel in Port Melbourne, there is an easy familiarity. Author Chris Hammer hoists a glass of red at The Graham Hotel. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui We know were kidding ourselves when we say that we should have only one glass of wine over lunch. We order a bottle: a TarraWarra Estate pinot noir from the Yarra Valley, agreeing that pinot noir is such an agreeable, relatively light red that it could do no harm to a couple of old hands. Loading Besides, we are intent on having steaks for lunch. You need a good bottle of red at hand for that sort of thing. We are at the Graham to undertake what might be called literary archaeology, rather than to discuss Hammers Scrublands or the six absorbing and best-selling crime novels that have followed it, selling millions worldwide, with another, Legacy, to be published soon. We are returning to the source; to Hammers first book, The River, a non-fiction travel narrative, environmental exploration of the Murray-Darling Basin, and prophecy of climate change, first published in 2010. The River, Chris Hammers first book. Published in 2010, it has been re-published this year. In 2008, taking his leave from The Age, where he had been reporting on both the environment and national security, Hammer climbed into his little Hyundai station wagon and set off to travel the entire length of the Murray and Darling river systems. It was almost a decade into the longest and worst big dry in southern Australias recorded history, the Millennium Drought. During his travels, Hammer and his young son hiked for many hours to the almost imperceptible source of the Murray high in the Australian Alps, he drove to far beyond the back of Bourke, crossing the Darling and heading to the Paroo the last wild river because it is not dammed for irrigation viewed huge irrigation dams and stood flummoxed in South Australia where the exhausted Murray no longer flowed into the sea. And all along the way, he yarned with Australians whose livelihoods, made increasingly precarious by the drought, relied on the struggling rivers. The resulting book, The River: A Journey Through the Murray-Darling Basin, received much-deserved critical acclaim, but like most books, it eased into relative obscurity, as did Hammers companion book The Coast: A Journey Along Australias Eastern Shores, published in 2012. They may not have been big-selling volumes, but they remain foundational to Hammers later great success as an author. What I discovered is I actually loved [writing books], he says. It was much more than this, however. The landscapes through which he travelled, the people he met, the little towns he visited, and the hardships he observed burned upon the land and its residents by a pitiless climate became the canvas on which he created his later crime fictions. Through it all, Hammer explained in elegant prose how Australias rivers, meandering across a relentlessly flat landscape, behave in a way that is quite unlike other rivers of the world, and how state and federal politicians and water users have manipulated the system in ways that have caused a monumental and lasting environmental mess. Loading All these years later, MUP has re-published The River, and any half-alert reader can readily recognise the settings for Hammers crime fiction. Scrublands fictional Riversend, for instance, is clearly Wakool, a town in the NSW Riverina where the locals insisted Hammer stay in the local CWA headquarters rather than pitch his tent by the bone-dry Wakool River, an anabranch of the equally dry Edward River. Wakool was clearly happy to have Hammer in town. He was prevailed upon to judge the photographic competition at the annual show. Our steaks arrive. We have skipped over the Grahams extensive selection of entrees and various mains and gone straight to the grill. Fried broccoli, some green goodness. Credit: LUIS ENRIQUE ASCUI Chris opts for a Gippsland eye fillet, and Ive chosen a Bass Strait Scotch fillet. Figuring we should probably have something green, we clear our consciences by ordering a side of fried broccoli in mustard gastrique and crunchy shallots. Delicious, it turns out. We must, of course, have a bowl of pommes frites. Theyre perfectly golden strings touched with spiced salt. Steak, frites and pinot. We could be in Burgundy. Or heaven. Chris chooses a red wine jus for his eye fillet. I decline all sauces and take a selection of mustards and horseradish for my scotch fillet. Here, we agree, is a proper meal for old mates. The steaks? Grilled to tender perfection. I loved the travel, obviously, says Hammer, taking up the story of his long series of trips through the Murray-Darling. Steak grilled to perfection at the Graham Hotel. Credit: LUIS ENRIQUE ASCUI But what I found I loved was writing, expressing myself at length. And you know, The River is they call it narrative, non-fiction Im just telling a story. So, yeah, its fact-based, but its also impressionistic, so I dont try and be objective about the places Im visiting. Then I found I like the editing process, and I realised I loved the process of writing books. And I had high hopes that this was the launch of something bigger, like a new career. Lunch with Chris Hammer at The Graham Hotel And so it was. Scrublands, drafted in Hammers spare time as he returned to The Age to become online political editor after satisfying his thirst for travelling the inland and the coast, excited a publishers auction that earned him a six-figure book deal, freedom from traditional employment and a readership that continues to expand across the world. He has, at last count, sold 1.2 million books. We take coffee and drain the bottle. If we werent so content, we might have thought to toast the late Peter Temple, who, after all, helped lay the path to this lunch. Opulent stores filled with cashmere suits, silk scarves and soft leather handbags are making room for the hard stuff on Australias most prestigious shopping strips. Watches costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, made from gold, titanium, diamonds and stainless steel are filling temples to timepieces opening across the country. This week, the Franck Muller boutique on Sydneys Castlereagh Street opens its heavy doors, opposite Chanels new fine jewellery and watches flagship in Sydney. Japanese brand Grand Seiko officially opened in Melbournes historic Block Arcade last month, Vacheron Constantin reopened on Collins Street in March, and Rolexs largest boutique in the Southern Hemisphere started trading in December at Chadstone Shopping Centre. Whatever Jane, in the end its all content. At the time of writing, the number of people who took up Agirtans invitation to get in contact and supply us with feedback stood at zero. Oscar the Cavoodle: the next legal chapter By now, gallons of ink have been spilled in this column on the wagging tale of Oscar the Cavoodle, the subject of a successful defamation suit against Nine (owner of this masthead) by his barrister owner Gina Edwards, who is now locked in a lengthy legal falling out with her former lawyer Rebekah Giles over her $1.2 million in legal costs. Now, matters have escalated after Edwards, acting for herself, filed a statement of claim this week against the high-profile solicitor and her firm Giles George, alleging that her former lawyers were professionally negligent, and engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct in relation to costs agreements made before the initial proceedings against Nine. Gina Edwards and Oscar. Credit: Janie Barrett Edwards alleges that her lawyers should have provided her timely and accurate costs disclosure, and accused them of making misleading representations about firm entitlements and failing to act in her best interests. She also alleges that the lawyers engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct in their representations to her about the nature of the costs she would eventually receive. The legal filing, seen by CBD, also includes a laundry list of bombshell claims made by Edwards, who accuses her lawyers of engaging in bullying, coercive or intimidating conduct. In her statement of claim, Edwards alleges that before a final Federal Court hearing in the defamation case, her solicitor told her that if Edwards did not follow the rules of cross-examination, Giles would pull her ear. During Edwards cross-examination, Edwards noticed Giles staring at Edwards and pulling her ear, the statement of claim says. Edwards also accuses Giles of shopping online for clothes during the Federal Court hearing. The Age is not suggesting the allegations are true just that they have been made in a statement of claim. Edwards is claiming aggravated damages, pointing to the lawyers highhanded and oppressive conduct, including bullying, dishonest representations. She also wants a declaration that her costs agreements with Giles George are void, and further compensation under the Australian Consumer Law. Meanwhile, a complaint made by Edwards about Giles to the Legal Services Commissioner, which was referred to the Law Society for investigation, remains open. Giles and her firm are yet to file a defence, and the matter is listed for a hearing in October. In a statement, the firm told us: We reject the allegations Ms Edwards makes. She makes them without being represented by a lawyer and apparently to seek publicity for herself outside the court process. We reserve further comment until we have had the opportunity to defend the allegations in court. Grand opening SPOTTED: Clicking around the corridors of power for the 48th opening of parliament was ex-deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop. JBish joked that she was just passing through entirely plausible, given her many hats as principal of Julie Bishop & Partners, chancellor of Australian National University, United Nations special envoy to Myanmar and sometime ambassador for retail chain David Jones. Former deputy Liberal Leader Julie Bishop, right, dropped in on new Liberal leader Sussan Ley. Credit: Instagram She later told us: I was delighted to witness Sussan Ley assume her leadership role a landmark in Australian politics and a defining moment for the Liberal Party. That couldve been Bishops landmark but the Liberal blokes wanted Scomo instead. Also spotted was a former Bishop staffer, Gisele Kapterian, who lost the Northern Sydney seat of Bradfield to teal independent Nicolette Boele by just 26 votes at the May election. Kapterian, who is appealing the result in court, was spotted at Aussies Cafe like one of the locals. Was she measuring the drapes or simply manifesting? We hear she was in town for non-political purposes. Although what other reason is there to visit Canberra? Dee Madigan, executive creative director and co-founder of advertising agency Campaign Edge, was spotted at the opening of parliament, accompanied by her son Peter. The heroic first responders who saved the life of a teenage boy whose arm was severed in a jet-ski crash have recalled how instinct took over as they entered the Georges River on Tuesday night. While the 14-year-old boy was rescued, his 15-year-old friend died when their jet-ski collided with an obstacle near Tom Uglys Bridge in Sydneys south about 6.10pm. Special operations paramedic Scott McNamara and Constable Jesse Hockey rescued the 14-year-old boy from the water. Credit: Nine News Onlookers called emergency services when the 14-year-old called out for help from the water. The boys right arm has been severed, and while he was initially treading water, he began falling in and out of consciousness. Both boys were wearing lifejackets, which police say helped save the younger boy. Ex-Docker Ryan Crowley has been accused of further domestic violence against his former partner, Married at First Sight star Lauren Dunn, who claims she is being trolled online for speaking out about the alleged abuse. Crowley, 41, was arrested at a Perth police station on Monday and appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday, dressed in a dark grey suit jacket and checkered green shirt. Ryan Crowley and Lauren Dunn. Credit: Instagram He has been charged with six historical offences dating back to 2019 and 2020 in West Leederville and Cottesloe, including two counts of unlawful assault, two counts of deprivation of liberty, threats to kill and with intent to harm and doing an act that caused bodily harm. The charges relate to his alleged abuse of Dunn, except for one which was against a separate woman. Ali France, the Labor MP who defeated Peter Dutton, has told of the heartbreaking final days she shared with her 19-year-old son, Henry, before his death last year. It was his courage that propelled her through the campaign to become one of the first women with a disability to be elected to the House of Representatives and the first person to unseat an opposition leader, France said in her maiden speech to parliament on Tuesday. Giant killers: Member for Dickson Ali France (left) who defeated Peter Dutton and member for Melbourne Sarah Witty who defeated Adam Bandt at the May election. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer It took seven years to climb, as a single mum, with one leg, battling one of the most prolific politicians of our time, she said. [Henrys] words, his courage, were with me every day of the campaign. Henry was instrumental in getting me to this place. She was speaking to the House of Representatives on Tuesday night in a run of first speeches from Labor women who had defeated major political figures, including key Greens figures Adam Bandt and Max Chandler-Mather, at the May election. Advertisement Reviews & adviceFood and wine Opinion Ive travelled the world, and these are the 11 greatest breakfasts Ben Groundwater Travel writer July 23, 2025 5:00am July 23, 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 249 View all comments I dont know about you, but I grew up eating cereal. Breakfast in many Australian homes and even restaurants can be a predictable affair, a bland offering of stuff with milk poured on it, or toast with things spread across it. Only when I started travelling the world did I discover a whole new approach to starting the day, one that could be savoury or sweet, that could slap you awake with bold flavour or warm you gently with subtlety and finesse. Breakfast doesnt have to come in a box with a cartoon character on the front. It can be a bowl of nourishing noodle soup, a plate of fiery salsa, a spread of steamed and fried delicacies. After many years traversing the globe and eating what the locals eat, these are my absolute favourite ways to kick off a day. Nasi Lemak, Malaysia Advertisement Breakfast of champions Nasi lemak, Malaysian coconut milk rice, served with egg, sambal, fried crispy anchovies, toasted peanuts and cucumber. iStock The basics of nasi lemak would be good enough: rice cooked in coconut milk with pandan leaf, rich and decadent; dried baby anchovies, peanuts, cucumber, a boiled egg and spicy, pungent sambal to bring it together. Heaven. But then you get to add an accompanying dish, something like Malay-style chicken curry, or beef rendang, or a fried or grilled chicken leg, or even a fish curry, and youre in absolute nirvana. Chuck in a kopi C Malaysian coffee with condensed milk and sugar and youre set for the day. Full English/Irish/Scottish Artery-clogging bliss classic British and Irish breakfast foods. iStock I couldnt choose just one of these, so Ive gone with three, given theyre variations on a theme: a massive fry-up to start the day, a heart-warming, artery-clogging mass of classic British and Irish breakfast foods slapped together on a plate. All include eggs, usually fried, and bacon. A full English then has pork sausages, black pudding, maybe mushrooms or tomatoes, and fried bread. A full Scottish has a Lorne sausage, haggis and potato scones. A full Irish has both black pudding and white pudding and soda bread. All are killer breakfasts (in every way). Advertisement Mohinga, Myanmar Myanmars national dish mohinga fish soup. iStock Imagine waking up to this every morning: noodle soup, pungent and hearty, refreshing and strong. Mohinga is the national dish of Myanmar, one that varies from region to region, though you can always expect a soup based on carp or catfish, with plenty of lemongrass, fish sauce, turmeric, garlic and ginger. That thick, fishy broth is then poured over fermented rice noodles, topped with boiled egg, coriander and lentil-flour fritters, and served for breakfast nationwide. Beautiful. Japanese set, Japan Japanese ryokan breakfast spread. istock Advertisement Unlike many of these entries, the concept of a Japanese set breakfast is not a formal one theres no prescribed set of ingredients or inclusions, and its not something locals eat daily or even once a week. This is special-occasion food, often served in fancy hotels, a colourful, beautifully presented spread of grilled fish, pickled vegetables, small steamed or raw dishes, tofu of some sort, egg, miso soup and rice served with sheets of nori. This meal alone is worth staying in a nice hotel to enjoy. Pain au chocolat, France A French classic pain au chocolat. Many would put the humble croissant into this entry, but unless you happen upon the perfect example I find croissants are often disappointing, even in France. Instead, I usually opt for a pain au chocolat, a crisp, buttery, layered pastry with two logs of rich, dark chocolate hiding inside. Even a terrible French coffee cant hide the perfection of a breakfast pain au chocolat. Pho, Vietnam Advertisement Fragrant pho bo noodle soup. Getty Images All hail what is, in my opinion at least, the ultimate way for a traveller to begin a day. There is nothing better in the world than waking up far too early in Saigon (because youre still on Australian time), wandering quiet streets in the crisp early morning, pulling up a tiny plastic chair at a metal table and settling in for a bowl of pho. This Vietnamese beef noodle soup is so warm and comforting, so subtly spiced and flavourful, so perfectly balanced, that I could eat it every morning for the rest of my life. Chilaquiles, Mexico When in Mexico ... chilaquiles are like saucy nachos. Joe Armao You take your corn tortillas, leftover from the night before. You cut them into triangles and fry them in oil until crisp. You take fresh tomatillos, onions and chillies, roast them until theyre blistered black, blend them until smooth, and tip that liquid into a searing hot pan so it bubbles and spits. You drown your crispy tortillas in that salsa verde. You top with a fried egg, fresh feta-like cheese, maybe some shredded chicken, some coriander. You place sliced avocado on the side. And then you tuck into one of the worlds great dishes. Advertisement Cornetto e cappuccino, Italy The crescent-shaped cornetto pastry pairs perfectly with an Italian-style cappuccino. iStock Almost everyone around the world knows about lunch in Italy, and dinner. This country is justifiably famous for its savoury cuisine. But dont forget breakfast, which in Italy is fast and relatively modest, but still delicious. Case in point: cornetti, or croissant-shaped pastries filled with sweet, flavoured cream. A pistachio cornetto with a proper Italian cappuccino, consumed at the bar of a busy pasticceria, is one of lifes treats. Pan con chicharron, Peru Pan con chicharron a pork sandwich with slices of sweet potato and salsa criolla. Getty Images Advertisement Im all for starting your day with something hearty and savoury, which is why pan con chicharron in Peru so readily appeals. This is basically a large pork sandwich: pork shoulder is braised in spices, sliced, fried crisp and then slapped on a fresh bread roll with slices of sweet potato and salsa criolla (a quick pickle of onions, coriander and chilli). This sandwich is far greater than the sum of its parts, and an understandable obsession among locals. Masala dosa, India Masala dosa, rice-meal crepes stuffed with spiced potatoes. Jennifer Soo I have a golden rule with hotel breakfast buffets: if theres an Indian option, get the Indian option. Partly because it will be incredibly tasty. But also because if a kitchen has gone to the trouble of providing an Indian option, there are probably members of the Indian diaspora in there doing the cooking, and they know what theyre doing. Its almost impossible to choose one Indian breakfast dish, as there are many greats: idlis with sambar (steamed rice cakes with spiced gravy), appams (bowl-shaped pancakes made with fermented rice flour), and of course masala dosas, thin, rice-meal crepes stuffed with spiced potatoes and served with sambar and coconut chutney. Dim sum, China Advertisement It doesnt get much better than dim sum in the morning. Wayne Taylor Related Article Food and wine Beyond pho: The other Vietnamese soup you need to try I admit it: I failed. I tried to make a list of my top 10 breakfasts and I ended up with 11. But come on! How could you leave any of these out, least of all dim sum, a breakfast meal that has been popular in south-eastern China for centuries, and has now taken a firm hold on the Australian psyche as well? Steamed dumplings, fried noodles, braised ribs, wobbly egg tarts it doesnt get much better. Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. New York: When six-year-old Etan Patz disappeared off a New York street on his way to school in 1979, he helped catalyse a national missing childrens movement and changed childhood forever. The six-year-old was one of the first children whose disappearance was publicised in what became a high-profile way: on milk cartons. His case also ushered in an age of parental anxiety. A photograph of Etan Patz at a makeshift memorial in the SoHo neighborhood of New York in 2012. Credit: AP For decades the case remained a mystery, until eventually, police arrested a former New York convenience store assistant, Pedro Hernandez, in 2012. Five years later, he was sentenced to 25 years to life in jail for Etans kidnapping and murder. But on Monday, a federal appeals court overturned the verdict and ordered a new trial for Hernandez, now 64, reopening a case from 46 years ago. At present, mortgage brokers now facilitate nearly 77% of all new residential home loans a figure that's only expected to climb, according to the MFAA. And with the mortgage and finance landscape evolving rapidly especially with the increasing role of technology, regulation and customer expectations events like this provide brokers with a chance to stay ahead of the curve. "When the customer walks in, they see a vehicle; they like the vehicle. The salesperson, instead of handing them off to a broker, can actually give them a link right there," Bradshaw said. "Or, if there's an in-house broker in the dealership, they can send the link to the customer. The customer then just fills in all the details on their phone, on their app, and then we can basically do all the details in the background. And the dealer has already received the money in real time through the new payment platform infrastructure." The launch coincides with record-breaking growth in the broker channel, with 76.8% of new home loans now written by brokers and total residential settlements reaching nearly $379 billion over the year to September 2024, according to the MFAA Industry Intelligence Service. 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 CONSTRUCTION has officially commenced on a new advanced science building at South-East Technological Universitys (SETU) Carlow campus on Kilkenny Road as part of a major 380 million national education infrastructure initiative. The 6,100 square metre facility will feature new science and health science laboratories, clinics and a 40-metre indoor sprint track, designed to support an increase in science, technology and engineering students at the Carlow campus. The project is part of the Higher Education PPP Programme Bundle 2, which will deliver state-of-the-art educational facilities across five third-level campuses nationwide by mid-2028. The other campuses receiving new buildings are SETU Waterford, Technological University of the Shannon in Limerick and Atlantic Technological University campuses in Letterkenny and Galway. The initiative is being delivered through a public-private partnership between construction company BAM and investment partner Invesis, with BAM handling design and construction, while BAM FM provides long-term facilities management. Bank of Ireland has committed 94 million as part of a lending consortium financing the project, which was procured by the National Development Finance Agency on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Minister James Lawless marked the milestone, saying the projects demonstrate the governments commitment to achieving regional balance and delivering lasting educational infrastructure. These state-of-the-art facilities will have a transformative impact on SETU and the region, minister Lawless said. SETU president professor Veronica Campbell described the Carlow project as representing a substantial investment in the university and the future of technological higher education in Ireland. Both projects align with local and regional planning goals, contributing to SETUs ambition for the south-east to become a UNESCO Learning region with a strong, innovation-driven economy, professor Campbell said. Keith Williams, director of capital projects at SETU, stated that the commencement of construction marks a significant milestone for the university and underscores its commitment to creating a sustainable future for SETU and the wider south-east region. The Higher Education PPP Programme, announced in 2017, is delivering 11 new STEM facilities across multiple campuses nationwide, with all buildings in this second bundle expected to be completed by mid-2028. ATLANTA (July 21, 2025) Palestinians continue to endure relentless violence and deprivation across Gaza and the West Bank, nearly 21 months into a war with no end in sight. The United Nations reports nearly 900 Palestinians have been killed by security forces while seeking food at distribution sites in Gaza. This weekend, dozens were killed by Israeli gunfire while awaiting a humanitarian convoy delivering food. In the West Bank, five Palestinians were killed by Israeli settlers in the past 10 days, including Palestinian American Sayfollah Saif Musallet, a 20-year-old from Florida, beaten to death while visiting family. Israeli forces and settlers have killed nearly 1,000 Palestinians and forcibly displaced more than 40,000 in the West Bank since Oct. 7, 2023. Although settler violence is widespread, prosecutions are infrequent and convictions even rarer. The ongoing violence and suffering in Gaza and the West Bank are untenable and indefensible. We implore the Israeli government to accept a permanent ceasefire and hold settlers accountable for their role in violence throughout the West Bank. We reiterate our calls for the immediate release of civilian hostages and prisoners. We echo calls for the U.S. to investigate Saif Musallets killing, and urge the international community to redouble its efforts to bring about a ceasefire and ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid. ### Contact: media@cartercenter.org The Carter Center Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope. A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. Sign up to get our news digest delivered directly to your inbox twice a week. Spanish sales agent Filmax has unveiled the first English-language trailer for The Treasure of Barracuda, an animated adventure feature that will sail into Spanish cinemas on September 26, with international release plans in the works. The film, in Spanish but with a full English-language dub also available, is a step forward for independent kids and family animation in Spain, blending a distinct visual style, fan-favorite pirate thrills, and a heartwarming message about literacy, friendship, and challenging stereotypes that should make parents happy. Directed by Spanish Academy Goya-winner Adria Garcia (Nocturna), The Treasure of Barracuda tells the story of Sparky, an 11-year-old girl who, disguised as a boy, finds herself aboard the Cruz del Sur, a pirate ship manned by a comically fearsome crew. Together with the cantankerous Captain Barracuda and the gentle giant John the Whale, Sparky becomes an unlikely hero in the search for the legendary treasure of Phineas Crane. Overcoming initial misgivings among the crew, Sparkys earns her way as the only one on board who knows how to read, a skill that proves key to decoding cryptic clues leading to the treasure. Produced by Spains Inicia Films and Hampa Animation Studio, alongside Belgiums Belvision, and budgeted at 4 million, the 2D feature is adapted from the popular childrens novel El Tesoro de Barracuda. Filmax, handling international sales and distribution, is positioning the film as a fresh family offering that channels the spirit of classic pirate tales while challenging traditional notions of gender roles and identity. Sparkys journey from outsider to indispensable member of the crew promises both adventure and emotional resonance. Sign up to get our news digest delivered directly to your inbox twice a week. Kosovos 16th Anibar International Animation Festival concluded on July 20, following a dynamic week showcasing the power of animated storytelling. This years festival centered on the theme WTF Whats the Future?, prompting attendees to reflect on pressing contemporary questions through animated narratives. The festival featured a broad spectrum of works in seven competitive categories: International, Balkan, Student, Pitch It!, Human Rights, Animated Music Videos, and Young Audience. These entries were judged by specialized juries consisting of international filmmakers, artists, producers, and local young creators. Emerging talents and industry veterans alike were honored for stories that resonated emotionally and intellectually. The top prize in the International competition went to Dog Alone by Marta Reis Andrade, a film exploring isolation and human connection. Other highlights included the Balkan winner How by Marko Mestrovic, and the Human Rights winner Romina by Bee Grandinetti, telling the real-life story of a teenage girl navigating restrictive laws on abortion. Anibar also provided platforms for student animators and project developers through its Student and Pitch It! competitions, reinforcing its commitment to supporting emerging voices in animation. 2025 Anibar Festival Winners International Competition Dog Alone, Marta Reis Andrade (Portugal) Special Mention: Dollhouse Elephant, Jenny Jokela (Finland) Balkan Competition How, Marko Mestrovic (Croatia) Student Competition Children of the Bird, Julia Tudisco (Italy) Special Mention: The Eating of an Orange, May Kindred-Boothby (U.K.) Special Mention: Poppy Flowers, Evridiki Papaiakovou (Greece) Pitch It! Program I Still Havent Cried, Flaka Kokolli (Kosova) Transporting Woman, Verica Tenekedjieva (North Macedonia) The Last Bookstore in the World, Katarina Zaharijev & Marija Maletic (Serbia) Human Rights Competition Romina, Bee Grandinetti (Brazil) Special Mention: Cimarron, Remi Vandenitte & Cedric Bourgeois (Belgium) Animated Music Videos Coldplay feelslikeimfallinginlove, Raman Djafari (Germany) Special Mention: Bob Dylans Big Dick, Chris Lambourne (U.K.) Young Audience Competition Sign up to get our news digest delivered directly to your inbox twice a week. Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of Comedy Centrals South Park, have inked a landmark five-year deal with Paramount worth $1.5 billion, securing global streaming rights for their iconic satirical series. The pact marks a major win for Paramount+, which will host regular episodes of South Park in the U.S. for the first time. Why it matters: South Park has long been one of the most lucrative franchises in television, a real marketing mammoth. The deal, valued at $300 million per year, underlines the shows enduring value in the streaming wars and helps position Paramount+ more competitively against Netflix, Disney+, and Max. Driving the news: The deal comes after months of fraught negotiations, with sources citing interference from incoming Paramount president Jeff Shell and resistance from Skydance Media, which is acquiring Paramount. Parker and Stone accused Skydance of derailing earlier talks for a $3 billion decade-long deal, forcing both sides to settle for a five-year arrangement instead. Behind the scenes: Paramount initially offered to co-license the series with Warner Bros. Discovery, but negotiations collapsed over the weekend, prompting Paramount to secure exclusive streaming rights. Park County, Parker and Stones production company, will produce 10 episodes annually as part of the agreement. Thanks to a revenue-sharing venture with Paramount, Park County is expected to recoup nearly half the licensing fee. The intrigue: Skydance Media, which holds veto power over major Paramount deals, insisted on a five-year term amid industry uncertainty, blocking a longer 10-year pact. Legal tensions flared, with Parker and Stones legal team threatening to sue both Paramount and Skydance at one point in the negotiations. Earlier this month, when Season 27 was delayed by Comedy Central, Parker and Stone tweeted: This merger is a shitshow and its fucking up South Park. We are at the studio working on new episodes and we hope the fans get to see them somehow. Whats next: Paramount+ will begin streaming South Park episodes alongside the launch of Season 27 on July 23. A separate renegotiation is underway to extend Parker and Stones broader content deal with Paramount, last valued at $900 million and running through 2027. The bottom line: After years of bouncing between streamers, the kids of South Park are finally coming home to Paramount+. The billion-dollar deal cements Parker and Stones status as major players in Hollywoods streaming battles, even as they continue to roast the chaos behind the scenes. Advertisement The Dominican Association of Portland Cement Producers (ADOCEM) has rejected the article in the draft amendment to Law No 225-20 on the Comprehensive Management and Co-processing of Solid Waste, recently approved on the second reading by the Chamber of Deputies, according to el Caribe. Article 20 expects that cement companies include domestic waste-derived fuels in their kilns. However, ADOCEM states that this provision represents a serious violation of the freedom of enterprise, enshrined in Article 50 of the Constitution, by imposing a specific input by law on an industry lacking a balanced market structure, thereby running the risk of creating monopolies that would make negotiations based on free market practices impossible. Moreover, the organisation highlights that this provision is economically irresponsible and technically unfeasible as it forces the use of an input that does not exist in the country in volume or quality required at reasonable cost. There is currently no supply chain or regulatory framework that allows for compliance with this obligation without jeopardising the operational sustainability of cement plants, it says. Loves Travel Stops has awarded a grant to Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) to support the colleges for-credit Commercial Truck Driving - Class A program. Loves recently notified the GNTC Foundation of the $1,000 award. GNTC sought the funds to purchase driver log books in bulk to provide to Commercial Driver's License (CDL) certificate program students free of charge and to help current and future students to complete the program. Obtaining a CDL offers a second chance for many GNTC students, explained Robert Browder, program director and instructor of Commercial Truck Driving - Class A at GNTC. Whether students are searching for a good-paying job with benefits to support their family or have difficulty finding employment, the CDL - Class A certificate program can change lives by providing basic training in the principles and skills of commercial truck operations. GNTC's Commercial Truck Driving - Class A certificate program is an 8 to 10-week program. At the programs completion, students are administered the Georgia CDL skills exam. Loves Travel Stops core values reflect a strong commitment to communities where the company operates or has headquarter offices. Through its giving initiatives, Loves focuses on programs aligned with its giving pillars: Pre-K through 12th grade education, youth and family programs, and the professional trucking community. GNTCs CDL - Class A program is based at the Walker County Campus in Rock Spring. Signal Centers is participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program during fiscal year 2026. Meals will be provided at no separate charge to eligible children/adults without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA served at the following site(s): Name of Site(s) Address of Site(s) Childrens Services 109 N. Germantown Road Chattanooga, TN 37411 Adult Day Services 109 N. Germantown Road Chattanooga, TN 37411 USDA Income Eligibility Guidelines Effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026 Officials said, "In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA." Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. A project to create a memorial park honoring the contributions of Jewish families to Daltons history is underway at the site of the old Temple Beth-El synagogue on Valley Drive. The park will feature a pond surrounded by architectural elements from the old building as well as markers commemorating the history of the site and local Jewish history. The synagogue, which has not been used for worship in many years and had fallen into disrepair, was donated to the City of Dalton in March of 2024 for the creation of the park. Some fixtures and elements of the structure which will be used in the new park were removed in recent weeks, and work to remove the remainder of the structure is now underway at the site. The project is one of the stormwater management projects recommended by the Arcadis engineering firm in their 21st Century Stormwater Plan for Dalton. The pond feature will help alleviate flooding concerns to the south of the temple site along Valley Drive from stormwater flows coming through the Murray Hill neighborhood. The memorial aspect of the park was developed in cooperation with the trustees of the temple and will illustrate part of Dalton's history that is not well known. "I think the trustees and the City believe that it will be a better utilization of that property, City Administrator Andrew Parker said last year. It is central to downtown and central to the Murray Hill Historic District and its within walking distance for families to enjoy. The trustees wanted this to be something that families could enjoy, and use this space for reflection while preserving this meaningful property. It also sits perfectly in the drainage basin where it needs to sit to provide (stormwater flooding) relief." The designs of the park are still in the conceptual drawing stage, but the team from Arcadis has an impressive record of creating parks and spaces with memorial or historic themes. The firm designed the Wreath of Honor memorial park in Chattanooga honoring the five fallen soldiers who were killed in the 2015 terrorist attack on a National Guard recruiting center. The firm is also working with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on projects around Cherokee, North Carolina and designed the Pat Summitt memorial plaza at the University of Tennessee. "Theyve got a unit that is part of Arcadis that focuses on landscape architecture and in particular theyve got a lot of experience with these types of parks that pay homage to different groups or events," Parker said. "That same talent is being brought to this particular project and they have a proven track record of doing these projects very tactfully in a way that the community would enjoy." Demolition work at the Temple Beth-El site is expected to continue throughout the week. Once the structure is removed, work will begin in the fall of 2025 to create the memorial park which is expected to be completed in the summer of 2026. The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce announces the launch of INC Connect, a new pre-startup program designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs explore business viability before committing to a physical space.A collaboration between the Chambers INCubator and Proof Incubator, the program offers resources, mentorship and a collaborative community to help single-person ventures and idea-stage founders validate their concepts and prepare for growth.INC Connect allows us to meet entrepreneurs where they are, even before they need office space or a storefront, said Marcherie Savage, director of entrepreneurial development for the INCubator.By creating a clear pathway for idea-stage founders, were strengthening our ability to support a new class of entrepreneurs who will help drive our regions economic vitality.Officials said, "The program bridges a critical gap in Chattanoogas entrepreneurial ecosystem, supporting individuals operating independently and testing business feasibility."Participants gain access to: Proof Incubators programming and expertise in building sustainable businesses. Mentorship and peer networks. Resources from the Chambers INCubator, the largest business incubator in Tennessee and a nationally recognized leader in supporting small businesses.Proof Incubator, known for helping food and beverage entrepreneurs bring concepts to market and scale successfully, sees the partnership as a way to expand its mission, officials said.Partnering with the Chamber and the INCubator allows us to extend Proofs impact beyond food and beverage and reach more idea-stage founders across industries, said Kaleena Goldsworthy, chief operating officer at Proof Incubator. Together, were creating an ecosystem where entrepreneurs have the confidence and support they need to move from concept to company.By serving as a soft landing pad for early-stage entrepreneurs, INC Connect provides an entry point into Chattanoogas entrepreneurial community and serves as a feeder to more advanced programs, including the Chambers business incubation services.For more information or to apply, visit chattanoogachamber.com/inc-connect According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 30% to 40% of the nations food supply ends up being wasted. That adds up to billions of pounds every year rotting in landfills and emitting greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide. Plastic is also piling up around the globe, with disintegrating bottles and bags leading to increasing fears about microplastics getting into our water supplies and our bodies. Imagine if even a fraction of our food waste could be turned into biodegradable plastic solving two problems and making our planet healthier in the long term. Binghamton PhD student Tianzheng Liu, left, and Department of Biomedical Engineering Professor Sha Jin have developed a method to turn food waste into biodegradable plastic. Binghamton University, State University of New York A team at Binghamton University, State University of New York is doing pioneering research on this idea, and they recently published a paper in the journal Bioresource Technology offering fundamental findings for any company interested in scaling up the process. Tianzheng Liu, who is receiving his PhD this fall, led the project with faculty support from Professor Sha Jin and SUNY Distinguished Professor and Chair Kaiming Ye from the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Department of Biomedical Engineering at Binghamton University. Bioresource Technology is a high-quality journal, so being published quickly speaks to the importance of this research, Jin said. The reviewers commented that the manuscript demonstrates significant scientific merit, novelty and environmental relevance. Jin first became interested in food waste in 2022, when she received a grant from New York state to explore the issue. We can utilize food waste as a resource to convert into so many industrial products, and biodegradable polymer is just one of them, she said. Were aiming not only to valorize food waste but also reduce manufacturing cost of this ecofriendly polymer. There are also different options, like generating biofuels and biochemicals. Current biodegradable plastic production can be costly because it relies on refined sugar substrates and pure cultures of microorganisms. As part of this research, the Binghamton team fed Cupriavidus necator bacteria with lactic acid fermented from food waste (which served as a necessary carbon source) and additional ammonium sulfate (as a nitrogen source). The bacteria synthesize polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) plastic as a means of storing carbon and energy. About 90% of the PHA that the bacteria make can be harvested and shaped into biodegradable packaging and other products. Before joining this project, Lius biomedical experience centered on stem cell research, so finding the right elements in the correct proportions for success proved to be full of challenges. The bioconversion of food waste into organic acids was a relatively easy one. Cultivation of the plastic-producing bacteria was hard, because at the beginning I didnt have experience with bacteria fermentation for producing biopolymer, he said. At every move, I felt like something was not what I expected. Jin is grateful to Sodexo and Binghamton University Dining Services for supplying the food waste used for the experiments. I talked to the sustainable officer at the University and learned that SUNY doesnt allow landfill food waste thats the policy, she said. Each campus is expected to solve the problem. At Binghamton, the dining halls give wasted food to farmers to feed their livestock. I thought maybe we could try to directly convert that food waste into biodegradable plastics. There was little information from research publications about the feasibility of this idea, so we felt like maybe that was the gap we could work on. The Binghamton team answered a few questions critical to the food-to-plastic process. For example, the food waste can be stored for at least one week without any adverse effects to the bioconversion process, which offers flexibility for collection at an industrial scale. The team also determined whether the bioconversion depended on any specific food type, and how to deal with the different kinds of waste that a collection center would get. We discovered that the process is very robust, as long as we have different types of food mixed in at the same ratio, Jin said. We control the temperature and the pH during fermentation, and those conditions encourage organic acid-producing bacteria to grow. She even has plans for the solid residue left over from the fermenting process. It looks like a paste, and the team is developing it into organic fertilizer as a better alternative to the standard chemical mix. The Iron Gate Dam powerhouse and spillway are visible on the lower Klamath River near Hornbrook, Calif., on March 2, 2020. Riley Moore, a member of the House of Representatives from West Virginia. | Photo Credit: Facebook/ Riley Moore Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate have introduced a joint resolution condemning the persecution of Christians in countries where Muslims constitute the majority. Representative Riley Moore, R-Va., and Senator Josh Hawley, R-Mo., filed the measure on Thursday, listing numerous abuses faced by Christians in nations such as Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Syria, Turkiye, Iran, and Pakistan. The resolution has been co-sponsored by Representatives W. Gregory Steube, Michael Gues, Glenn Grothman, Addison McDowell, Brandon Gill, Anna Paulina Luna, and Pat Harrigan. The resolution highlights targeted killings, church closures, arrests, forced conversions, and restrictions on worship rights. It urges the President to leverage diplomatic tools like trade and security negotiations to push for change, as reported by ADF International. The document references the 2025 World Watch List by Open Doors, which estimates that over 380 million Christians worldwide experience high levels of persecution and discrimination, with a significant number residing in Muslim-majority countries. In Nigeria, the resolution states that more Christians are killed annually than in all other countries combined, citing a recent attack in Benue State that claimed more than 200 lives. It follows Congressman Moores House floor speech in April, where he emphasized, Around the world, our brothers and sisters in Christ face rampant persecution for simply acknowledging the name of Jesus. That is unacceptable. Moore further highlighted, In Nigeria alone, more than 50,000 Christians have been martyred and more than 5 million have been displaced simply for professing their faith. He recounted an incident last month in Damascus, where a jihadist opened fire during a divine liturgy and detonated an explosive device, killing at least 30 and injuring dozens more. The resolution also points to ongoing issues such as widespread church closures and the arrest of pastors in Algeria, along with reports of kidnapping and forced conversions of Christian girls in Egypt. In Nigeria, forces linked to Boko Haram and Fulani militants have displaced more than 5 million people. A recent massacre in Benue State involved militants shouting Allahu Akbar as they attacked displaced Christians, resulting in around 200 deaths. Additionally, in Syria last month, a jihadist opened fire during a religious service and detonated explosives, causing at least 30 deaths. Moore also highlighted the case of Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a Nigerian gospel musician sentenced under blasphemy laws, and Rhoda Jatau, a woman arrested for sharing a video criticizing the lynching of a Christian student. He also criticized past U.S. foreign policy, specifically the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the failure to stabilize the country, calling it a foreign policy blunder that contributed to ethnic cleansing and a decline in the Christian population. He stated, We as lawmakers cannot continue to sit idly by, in an interview with The Daily Wire. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. | Mike Huckabee Facebook U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, condemned recent attacks on a Christian village and its historic church in the West Bank, describing them as a crime against humanity and God. Huckabee visited Taybeh, a Christian Palestinian town, on Saturday. Among the incidents, a fire was set near the ruins of the Church of St. George, which church leaders called one of the most severe acts to date. During his visit, Huckabee, a longtime Evangelical supporter of Israel, called the desecration of religious sites an act of terror and insisted such acts should carry harsh consequences. Later that day, he posted on X, saying he had met with residents to listen and learn, and emphasized that any attack on a house of worship, whether a church, mosque or synagogue, was a crime not only against people but against God. In a formal statement from the U.S. Embassy, Huckabee declared, To commit an act of sacrilege by desecrating a place that is supposed to be a place of worship, it is an act of terror, and it is a crime. There should be consequences, and it should be harsh consequences because it is one of the last bastions of our civilization, the places where we worship. He emphasized that such violence is against the Holy and insisted that those responsible be found and be prosecuted, not simply reprimanded. Addressing the predominantly Christian residents of the village, Huckabee said they deserved respect and the right to live their lives in peace. Huckabee stated he represents all American citizens living in Israel, including Christians, Muslims, and Jews, and added that he would hold accountable those responsible when anyone is terrorized or victimized of crime. Last week, allegations emerged that settlers beat to death two Palestinians near Sinjil, including Saif Musallet, a Palestinian-American. Israeli officials have not issued a public statement regarding the killings, nor has the government condemned the attacks in Taybeh. Separately, the U.S. government has expressed concern to Israel over delays in issuing visas to Evangelical Christian tourists. Huckabee recently warned that if those visas are not granted, he might publicly question whether Christian groups are still welcome in Israel. The World Watch List 2025, an annual ranking by Open Doors of the 50 countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. | Screenshot: Open Doors Website The United Kingdoms special envoy for freedom of religion or belief, David Smith, has issued a stark warning that Christianity is at risk of being wiped out in parts of the world due to increasing persecution. The British government is now focusing on 10 countries as part of its revised foreign policy, aimed at defending this fundamental human right. Smith, a Labour Party MP for North Northumberland, made these remarks during a briefing at the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office. He announced a new strategy to prioritize freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) in countries where religious minorities, including Christians, Bahais, and Ahmadiyya Muslims, face repression or violence, according to the Religion Media Centre. He stated, The U.K. will focus on 10 countries, including Vietnam, Algeria, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, China, Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Smith explained that these countries were selected because of the severity of need, the U.K.s diplomatic ties, and the potential for positive progress. Smith highlighted that persecution 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 provided recent data showing that 380 million Christians face persecution worldwide and warned that 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 described the U.K.s renewed commitment as a new chapter in its foreign policy and emphasized that freedom of religion is interlinked with other liberties, including freedom of speech, conscience and assembly. Smith pointed to examples such as the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan, who are not recognized as Muslims by the state and whose mosques are often desecrated, as well as the repression of Bahais in Iran and Christians in North Korea. He explained that FoRB is not merely about religious belief but about the health of societies and warned that religious intolerance and persecution can fuel instability and conflict. He stressed that protecting belief rights is crucial to preventing future crises, especially in countries facing war or sectarian divisions. The envoy role was created following a 2019 report by then-Bishop of Truro Philip Mounstephen. The report found that Foreign Office staff lacked awareness of the extent of global religious persecution and recommended that religious freedom be formally integrated into U.K. foreign policy. Home News Army apologizes for training classifying pro-life organizations as terrorist groups The U.S. Secretary of the Army has apologized for an antiterrorism slide show classifying pro-life organizations as terrorists after an investigation revealed that the use of such language to refer to opponents of abortion was not a one-time event despite the Biden administration's assertions to the contrary. In a letter published last Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll apologized to attorneys with the American Center for Law and Justice for the characterization of Operation Rescue, National Right to Life and other pro-life groups as terrorist organizations at an Army antiterrorism and protection training during the Biden administration at Fort Bragg, formerly known as Fort Liberty. "This mischaracterization was not only inaccurate but also deeply inappropriate," Driscoll said. "Equally concerning was the previous Administration's inadequate response to this serious incident. Its failure to provide full transparency or take responsibility for such a grievous error is wholly unacceptable." Driscoll assured that the Army does not view pro-life advocacy organizations as terrorist groups and rejected the premise that "pro-life beliefs or state-issued pro-life license plates" are "indicators of terrorism." The secretary said he reviewed all Army training materials and offered his "sincerest apology" to the organizations "negatively impacted by the false characterization of all pro-life organizations made by this training." "I am firmly committed to rigorous oversight of all Army training materials to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future," he vowed. Driscoll's letter comes more than a year after a slide show from a training session at Fort Bragg received widespread attention and condemnation for including National Right to Life and Operation Rescue, along with an image of a license plate reading "choose life," on a slide containing examples of "Terrorist Groups." The military base responded to the backlash at the time by insisting that the training slideshow did not represent the views of the U.S. Department of Defense or the Army base and was not properly vetted beforehand. Representatives of the fort promised more oversight of future presentations. The response suggested that the characterization of pro-life groups as terrorist organizations was an isolated incident. However, Freedom of Information Act information secured by the American Center for Law and Justice on behalf of Operation Rescue suggests that trainings have characterized pro-life groups as terrorist organizations as early as 2011. "In other words, the cleanup has gone much deeper than just what happened at Fort Bragg," ACLJ Executive Director Jordan Sekewlow said. "And that's the silver lining here: The corrupted training was brought to light, and after relentless determination, not only is it being halted where it happened, but now it is being addressed across the entire Army." Driscoll's letter was a response to a letter the ACLJ sent to the Secretary of the Army and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in April 2025, requesting an apology, clarification that pro-life organizations are not terrorist organizations, and additional records pertaining to the ongoing investigation into the past characterization of pro-life organizations. Home News Babylon Bee editor faces backlash for claiming Catholics in Gaza support Hamas The managing editor of The Babylon Bee has drawn widespread backlash in recent days for claiming all professing Roman Catholics in Gaza support Hamas. This wont be easy for people to hear, but there are only about 200 professed Catholics still living in Gaza and they all support Hamas, Joel Berry tweeted Saturday, days after a deadly Israeli shelling that hit the Holy Family Church, the citys only Catholic church. True Christian faith still exists in Gaza, but its all underground. Anyone allowed by Hamas to practice openly is allowed to do so only because they aid and support the terror regime, Berry added. True Christian faith still exists in Gaza, but its all underground. Anyone allowed by Hamas to practice openly is allowed to do so only because they aid and support the terror regime. Joel Berry (@JoelWBerry) July 19, 2025 Three Christians were killed by an errant Israeli shell fragment last week, according to the Israeli Prime Ministers Office. The death count was confirmed by Catholic Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who serves as the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The Israelis apologized for shelling the church, which nearly took out the churchs cross atop its steeple. Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. We share the grief of the families and the faithful. We are grateful to Pope Leo for his words of comfort, the Israeli government said in a statement. Israel is investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly phoned President Donald Trump to apologize after Trump expressed outrage regarding Israeli attacks in southern Syria by calling Netanyahu a madman. Berrys post drew pushback from users on X, especially Catholics, some of whom called for a boycott of the Christian satire site for what they interpreted as slander against the dwindling number of Catholics in Gaza. Please join me and many other Catholics on X in permanently boycotting the Babylon Cringe. It's corny anyway, wrote author Sohrab Ahmari, who was born in Iran and serves as contributing editor of The Catholic Herald. Christian author Rodd Dreher suggested Berry has no idea whether the dwindling number of Catholics in Gaza support Hamas. He went on to offer a personal anecdote from 25 years ago, when Dreher claims two Palestinian Christians in Jerusalem told him that they can't stand Israeli rule, but are TERRIFIED of Hamas governing them. Any Gaza Christians who don't back Hamas have to pretend, or be martyred, Drehrer said. I dont know about anyone else, but as a Catholic who supports and prays for my persecuted Christian brothers and sisters in Gaza and the Holy Land, I wont be sharing or boosting anything produced by the Babylon Bee or its anti-Catholic, dispensationalist editors ever again, wrote author and Federalist senior editor John Daniel Davidson. Author and National Review senior writer Michael Brendan Dougherty suggested Berry lacked the expertise to make such a sweeping claim. Joel, when did you get back from your sociological study of Catholics in Gaza? Can we see the supporting interview source material you have for this claim? he wrote. Amid backlash, Berry pushed back against accusations that he was slandering Catholics in Gaza and declined to apologize. I love my Catholic brothers and sisters, I reject all the slander and twisting of what I say, and Ill never stop calling out corruption and compromise in the church. Thats something godly Protestants and Catholics should unite around. I apologize for nothing. Go pound sand, he wrote. Berry suggested there are evil forces trying to break up MAGA along racial and religious sectarian lines and its encouraging to know some people of wisdom and discernment see right through it. Dont be intimidated by these people. The fierce debate over Berrys tweet comes amid widespread condemnation of the Israeli government for some of its recent actions as the war in the region approaches its two-year anniversary. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, an ordained Southern Baptist pastor who adheres to dispensationalism and typically supports Israel, condemned the countrys attack on the church and village in the West Bank, calling it a crime against humanity and God. Some pointed out that far from supporting Hamas, Pizzaballa offered himself to Hamas in exchange for the children taken hostage in 2023. Home News Unearthed emails shed light on Biden DOJ memo calling concerned parents 'domestic terrorists' The Biden White House communicated with the U.S. Department of Justice before a 2021 memo labeled parents who spoke out about COVID-19 restrictions and LGBT curriculum during school board meetings as "domestic terrorists," according to documents released under the Freedom of Information Act. America First Legal, a conservative group aligned with President Donald Trump, released documents on Friday that include emails from several DOJ lawyers concerning the National School Boards Association's 2021 letter to the Biden administration. In the letter, NSBA requested "federal assistance to stop threats and acts of violence against public schoolchildren, public school board members, and other public school district officials and educators." The letter claimed that "threats and acts of violence have become more prevalent during public school board meetings," as well as through the U.S. Postal Service and other online platforms. Days later, former Attorney General Merrick Garland sent a memorandum directing federal law enforcement agencies to assist local law enforcement, citing a "disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff" as the reason for the directive. The memo's critics claimed that it challenged parents' right to speak at school board meetings. When pressed about the situation by Republican lawmakers, Garland stated that the DOJ acted independently of the White House, a claim that AFL disputes, citing the documents it released. "The Biden Administration appears to have engaged in a conspiracy that was ultimately aimed at depriving parents of two fundamental rights the right to speak, and the right to direct the upbringing of their children," America First Legal President Gene Hamilton said in a statement shared with The Christian Post. "They did so with political intentions, most immediately by attempting to influence the Virginia gubernatorial election, and to more broadly chill dissent across the United States," Hamilton added. "America First Legal has been the tip of the spear exposing this wrongdoing for nearly four years, and we will not cease seeking to expose and hold accountable those involved." According to the documents released by AFL, Tamarra Matthews-Johnson, a counsel in the Office of the Attorney General, forwarded press clips in an email to Kevin Chambers of the Deputy Attorney General's Office on Oct. 1, 2021. Matthews-Johnson wrote in the email to Chambers, "Just checking that you were aware," which AFL claims was a reference to the NSBA letter. "We're aware; the challenge here is finding a federal hook. But WH has been in touch about whether we can assist in some form or fashion," deputy attorney general aide Kevin Chambers wrote in a response to Matthews-Johnson's email. On Oct. 2, 2021, Sparkle Sooknanan, then of the Associate Attorney General's Office, emailed attorneys from the DOJ's Civil Rights Division. In the email, Sooknanan requested an over-the-weekend turnaround to identify "any authorities [the Civil Rights Division] enforces that could help address the issue." Several of the attorneys raised concerns about the DOJ taking action in response to the school board letter, according to AFL. "I read the letter from NSBA, and looked at the links for a handful of footnotes, and it appears to me that the vast, vast majority of the behavior cited cannot be reached by federal law," one DOJ attorney wrote in an email on Oct. 3, 2021, that included Robert Moossy, the deputy assistant attorney general for civil rights. The attorney argued that only three cases appeared to involve what sounded like a "possible 'true threat,'" adding that "almost all of the language being used is protected by the First Amendment." "So it seems that we are ramping up an awful lot of federal manpower for what is currently a non-federal conduct," the attorney wrote. According to the attorney, the response to the situation at school board meetings required "nothing remotely federal," arguing that local trespassing and disruption of the peace laws already address issues like this one. Despite the concerns raised by DOJ career attorneys, according to AFL, Sooknanan "pushed forward and published the now infamous Garland memo." Home News DOJ slammed for likening concerned parents to domestic terrorists The U.S. Department of Justice is facing immense pushback for suggesting that parents opposing the teaching of controversial curriculum in public schools are akin to domestic terrorists. On Monday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland sent a memorandum to federal law enforcement agencies directing the Federal Bureau of Investigations, working with each United States Attorney, to convene meetings with federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial leaders within 30 days to facilitate the discussion of strategies for addressing threats against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff. The memo cites a disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff as the justification for a federal response. However, many have noted that it's the parents who've often been harassed and intimidated. Loudoun County school board member Beth Barts, for example, was censured for attacking parents and was subsequently recalled. An investigation found that she plotted to go after outspoken parents she disagreed with by encouraging people in a Facebook group to hack the parents, which led to her being stripped of her committee duties, The Daily Wire reported. Christopher Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think-tank, alleged a more sinister motive behind the DOJ's memorandum. He warned that Garland has instructed the FBI to mobilize against parents who oppose critical race theory in public schools, citing threats. The memos publication comes as frustrated parents and community members have confronted their local school boards over allowing critical race theory as well as sexually explicit material to be taught to children. Neither the Attorney Generals memo nor the full Justice Department press release cites any significant, credible threat, Rufo said in a Tweet. This is a blatant suppression tactic, designed to dissuade citizens from participating in the democratic process at school boards. Neither the Attorney General's memo nor the full Justice Department press release cites any significant, credible threat. This is a blatant suppression tactic, designed to dissuade citizens from participating in the democratic process at school boards.https://t.co/LItu8I1I0z Christopher F. Rufo ?? (@realchrisrufo) October 4, 2021 On Tuesday, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt sent a letter to Garland condemning the DOJs actions that could silence parents who want to have a voice in their childrens education. Bidens Department of Justice is weaponizing its resources against parents who dare to advocate for their children. This dangerous federal overreach imposes a chilling effect on free speech by criminalizing dissent. I will always advocate for parents and will continue to push back against unprecedented federal overreach, Schmitt said in a press release accompanying his letter to Garland. Garlands memorandum comes five days after the National School Boards Association wrote a letter to President Joe Biden requesting federal assistance to stop threats and acts of violence against public schoolchildren, public school board members, and other public school district officials and educators. The letter warned that threats and acts of violence have become more prevalent during public school board meetings, via documented threats transmitted through the U.S. Postal Service, through social media and other online platforms, and around personal properties. NSBA respectfully asks that a joint collaboration among federal law enforcement agencies, state and local law enforcement, and with public school officials be undertaken to focus on these threats. NSBA specifically solicits the expertise and resources of the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service, and its National Threat Assessment Center regarding the level of risk to public schoolchildren, educators, board members, and facilities/campuses. After asserting that the classification of these heinous actions could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes, the NSBA called on federal law enforcement to use the Gun-Free School Zones Act, the PATRIOT Act in regards to domestic terrorism, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act, the Violent Interference with Federally Protected Rights statute, [and] the Conspiracy Against Rights statute to take action against those who threaten school officials. Examples of problematic actions against school officials listed in the letter included the disruption of school board meetings because of local directives for mask coverings to protect students and educators from COVID-19, the incitement of chaos at school board meetings by anti-mask proponents, the confrontation of school board members by angry mobs that have caused boards to end meetings abruptly and a resident of Alabama calling himself the vaccine police who has called school administrators while filming himself on Facebook Live. A letter to a school board member vowing to come after you and all the members on the BoE was labeled hate mail. Additionally, the letter stressed that school board members will pay dearly for forcing students to wear masks, called the school board member a filthy traitor and slammed the school board as Marxist. The fact that a student in Tennessee was mocked during a board meeting for advocating masks in schools after testifying that his grandmother, who was an educator, died because of COVID-19 was also classified as an example of threats and acts of violence that are affecting our nations democracy at the very foundational levels. The NSBA repeatedly denied the accusation that public school districts are teaching critical race theory, which it characterized as a complex law school and graduate school subject well beyond the scope of a K-12 class. It described the idea that boards are adopting critical race theory curriculum as misinformation. Both the Department of Justice and the NSBA attempted to distinguish between peaceful protest and acts of violence. The DOJ memo emphasized that while spirited debate about policy matters is protected under our Constitution, that protection does not extend to threats of violence or attempt to intimidate individuals based on their views. The NSBA letter maintained that it is vital that public discourses be encouraged in a safe and open environment, in which varying viewpoints can be offered in a peaceful manner while lambasting acute threats and actions that are disruptive to our students well-being, to the safety of public school officials and personnel, and to interstate commerce. The DOJ memo and the NSBA letter are not the only responses to parental concerns about public education that are drawing criticism. Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat seeking a non-consecutive second term in the states upcoming gubernatorial election, shared his thoughts on parents confronting school boards at a debate with his Republican opponent Glenn Youngkin. Im not going to let parents come into schools and actually take books out and make their own decisions. Terry McAuliffe: "I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach." pic.twitter.com/7S15pTv1gY Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 28, 2021 I dont think parents should be telling schools what they should teach, he added. When asked if parents should be the primary stakeholder in their childrens education, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona did not answer the question directly. He responded by saying, I believe parents are important stakeholders but I also believe educators have a role in determining educational programming. In recent weeks, parents have voiced their concerns about the material their children have been exposed to in school directly with their school boards. Last month, the parent of a student in Fairfax County, Virginia, read excerpts of two sexually explicit books featuring graphic imagery that are available in the districts high school libraries to the school board. The outrage over sexually explicit material used in public schools is not limited to parents. The mayor of Hudson, Ohio, chastised the school board of the Hudson City School District at a board meeting last month, calling on them to resign or face criminal charges for allowing a college-level English class to include a book asking students to write sexually explicit writing prompts as part of its curriculum. Home News Evangelical pastor, family massacred by terrorists in Syria; at least 20 dead An Evangelical pastor and roughly 20 of his family members were killed over the weekend in Syria in what church officials described as a targeted massacre. The victims included his parents, siblings, their children and other close relatives. Pastor Khalid Mezher, who led the Good Shepherd Evangelical Church in Suwayda, had converted from the Druze faith to Christianity along with his family several years ago, according to Premier. He was widely known in the region for his ministry work and remained in Suwayda despite growing tensions and threats of violence. Mezher and his extended family were killed during ongoing armed conflict in the area between Bedouin fighters and Druze militias, which has claimed more than 250 lives over the past week. The mass killing drew sharp condemnation from Christian leaders and religious organizations across the region. The Archdiocese of Bosra, Hauran, Jabal al-Arab and the Golan released a statement describing the continuing violence as savage and said the fighting had taken the lives of young and old, Syriac Press reported. The archdiocese also appealed for urgent humanitarian intervention, citing heavy shelling, missile attacks and a lack of aid in Suwayda, which has remained under siege for 10 days with no food, water, electricity or internet. An Arab pastor, writing to supporters, said the church in Suwayda is now scattered and that many members are unaccounted for, according to All Arab News. The letter stated that Pastor Mezher was killed for his faith, along with members of his family. The pastor added that Christians remaining in the region are cut off from food, water, electricity, internet and hope for safety. The violence comes amid a fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire in southern Syria, which appears to have failed to halt sectarian clashes. Fighting between Sunni Bedouin groups and Druze militias erupted in the wake of the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, after 13 years of civil war. Despite announcements of a truce, the area remains under bombardment, and civilians report no relief from shortages or insecurity. Bedouin groups, mostly Sunni Muslim, and the Druze minority have accused each other of attacks and reprisals. The government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa has played an active role in the conflict in Suwayda. Initially, government forces reportedly fought alongside Bedouin groups but later shifted their position, clearing Bedouin fighters from the city and deploying security forces to enforce ceasefires and oversee evacuations. The government has claimed its aim is to restore order, prevent renewed clashes and integrate the Druze population into state institutions. While it has positioned military police at checkpoints and facilitated humanitarian access, Druze leaders have accused government forces of past abuses, and international observers continue to report human rights violations by state-affiliated actors. The Good Shepherd Evangelical Church was one of a handful of Christian congregations in the majority-Druze governorate. Mezher, according to Syriac Press, was known for his dedication to serving his city and congregation. His murder, alongside his entire family, has devastated his congregation and drawn calls for international attention. Johnnie Moore, a prominent U.S. Evangelical leader and executive director of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, posted on X that Mezher had died for a faith that many Christians hardly live, and said the pastors death was a senseless murder by terrorists. Moore added that Mezhers family gave their entire lives to share the love of Jesus with their neighbors and beloved Syria. The Archdioceses statement, released after the killings, urged people of conscience and sound minds to put an end to the bloodshed. It described the situation as a humanitarian catastrophe, with no signs of relief or international intervention. The statement also stressed that Suwayda remained under intense bombardment, despite the ceasefire being announced. A Syrian Orthodox Church appeal on Sunday requested the United Nations and international agencies to act quickly to stop what it called terrorist massacres. The church urged global prayer and described the crisis as dire, with widespread displacement and mounting casualties. Christian communities in Suwayda and elsewhere in Syria have long faced threats from extremist groups, and recent reports suggest that both ISIS militants and Syrian regime forces might be involved in recent mass killings. All Arab News reported receiving information that over 1,000 people from minority communities, including Christians and Druze, have been killed in the ongoing conflict, though this has not been independently confirmed. Home News John MacArthur reportedly expressed assurance of salvation on death bed: 'I feel no sting' The late Pastor John MacArthur expressed assurance of his salvation in some of his final words, according to one of the pastors at his Grace Community Church in Southern California. "I hope it's OK to share," Mike Riccardi, who serves as the GCC's pastor of local outreach ministries, told the congregation at the end of an hour-long reflection on MacArthur's legacy with Grace To You Executive Director Phil Johnson. Reflecting on John MacArthurs legacy. What a testimony! As he lay dying, John MacArthur said, "I feel no sting. I feel no fear." pic.twitter.com/P3VuzglAP9 Terri Green (@TerriGreenUSA) July 22, 2025 "It was reported to me by some of those who were with John in the hours that he was ready to go to Heaven," Riccardi said. "One of the verses that [was] on his mind, some of his last words [were] 1 Corinthians 15:55: 'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' And he was speaking about how the resurrection of Christ is the conquest of all of that." "And it was reported to me that in between gasps for air, he said, 'I feel no sting. I feel no fear,'" he added, prompting applause. "And why? Because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Because the Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; and, really, because he was saying, 'It is well with my soul.'" MacArthur died July 14 at age 86 after being hospitalized with pneumonia. He had been struggling with his health for two years and was hospitalized in 2023 after struggling to breathe as he delivered an hour-long sermon. He had four stints put in his heart and eventually had to have his aorta replaced. He also required lung surgery. He described his health problems as "a long siege" that made the waning years of his ministry difficult, and that he bristled at the doctors' order to rest. During his final sermon at GCC on Nov. 24, 2024, MacArthur expressed gratitude to God despite his physical afflictions and noted that God uses suffering to accomplish His purposes. "Sometimes our trials are blessings in disguise, and God has purposes that we would never have been able to fulfill if we weren't put into some kind of stress," he said. "I can tell you I've had three heart surgeries and a surgery on my lungs in those last few months, and I'm still here." "I have so much to be thankful for. In fact, when people ask me how I feel, I say I'm thankful. I see the good and gracious and kind and providential hand of God in every vicissitude in my life, every hard experience, every challenge, whatever that challenge may be. I see the good hand of divine providence operating in ways that would never have been possible were it not for the trial." "So I'm genuinely and truly am grateful," he added. Home News OpenAI agrees to give Christopher Yuan's nonprofit ChatGPT discount after denial over religion Agreement reached after filing federal lawsuit A California-based technology company has agreed to give theologian Christopher Yuans nonprofit a discount after initially refusing to do so because the organization is religious. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal nonprofit specializing in religious freedom cases, announced last week that a settlement had been reached between OpenAI and Yuans group, Holy Sexuality. As part of the agreement, OpenAI will remove a previous policy that barred religious nonprofits from receiving a 20% discount on a ChatGPT subscription, which it had previously offered to secular nonprofits. Christians and other people of faith arent second-class citizens in California, and tech companies cant deny otherwise available discounts to customers simply because theyre religious, said ADF Senior Counsel Phil Sechler, as quoted in the announcement. OpenAI did the right thing by reversing course, agreeing to give Holy Sexuality the ChatGPT discount it offers other nonprofits, and eliminating its discriminatory policy. This is not the first time that Holy Sexuality has filed legal action against a tech company headquartered in California over its refusal to provide a discount given to nonreligious entities. In February, with the aid of the ADF, Holy Sexuality filed a complaint against Asana, Inc. of San Francisco over that companys refusal to give them a 50% nonprofit discount for the companys project management software because of the religious nature of Yuans ministry. The lawsuit cited Asanas website, which stated at the time that their discount was not allowed for organizations that exist to solely propagate a belief in a specific faith or do not provide services to people outside of a specific faith. Asana had also barred hospitals, credit unions, educational institutions, and any groups that advocate, support, or practice discrimination based on age, ethnicity, gender, national origin, disability, race, size, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background. In April, Asana agreed to settle with Holy Sexuality, allowing the Christian nonprofit to access the discount and enabling religious groups to take advantage of it. Our nation was founded on the principle of the free exercise of religion a cornerstone of our democracy, Yuan stated at the time. Yet some corporations, emboldened by intersectional ideology and anti-Christian sentiment, choose to unlawfully discriminate based solely on religion. We are grateful for this victory and hope it serves to remind other companies that California law protects all religions from discrimination. Equal treatment is the bedrock of our society. I rejoice with this outcome as it is a move in the right direction. Home News Trump DOJ dismisses Biden-era lawsuit challenging law banning sex-change surgeries for kids The U.S. Department of Justice dropped a Biden-era challenge to a Tennessee law prohibiting the use of puberty-blocking drugs, cross-sex hormones and experimental sex-change surgeries to address gender dysphoria in minors following a ruling last month from the U.S. Supreme Court. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Monday that the DOJ's Civil Rights Division filed a notice of voluntary dismissal, stating that the Trump administration "will no longer be in the business of attacking laws like Tennessee's that protect children." Bondi highlighted the high court's ruling last month in United States v. Skrmetti, in which the justices ruled 6-3 that Tennessee's Senate Bill 1 passed in March 2023 did not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The court rejected the arguments from trans activists and the Biden administration. Bondi said the Supreme Court ruling upheld a law that protects "vulnerable children from genital mutilation and other so-called 'gender-affirming care,'" stressing that the ruling was the "right decision." "The United States today undid one of the injustices the Biden administration inflicted upon the country by dismissing a lawsuit against a Tennessee law that protects minors from invasive and mutilating procedures," said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division, said in a statement. "The Justice Department will continue to fight to protect the health and welfare of our children and defend states that seek to ban these barbaric practices." The plaintiffs who challenged the law in April 2023 contend that restricting so-called "gender-affirming care" for minors violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The DOJ, under the Biden administration, intervened as plaintiffs to support the case. But, in February, at the beginning of President Donald Trump's second term in office, the Justice Department submitted a letter to the court stating that the U.S. government "has now determined that SB1 does not deny equal protection on account of sex or any other characteristic." "In light of the United States' determination that SB1 does not deny equal protection on account of sex or any other characteristic, and the Supreme Court's decision in Skrmetti, the United States' participation in this matter no longer serves the "statutory purpose" set forth in [in statute]," Monday's notice of voluntary dismissal reads. The Supreme Court's ruling in Skrmetti did not automatically terminate the U.S. government's complaint and intervention, but Monday's notice effectively does. "The United States' complaint in intervention is hereby dismissed with prejudice," the notice states, which means that the intervention cannot be refiled. In recent years, more than two dozen states have enacted laws or policies that prohibit medical professionals from performing or overseeing surgical or hormonal interventions for children with gender dysphoria. Throughout Trump's second term, his administration has taken several actions to prohibit minors from receiving experimental and life-altering hormonal and surgical interventions. In January, Trump signed an executive order stating that the federal government "will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called 'transition' of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit these destructive and life-altering procedures." The administration also opposed allowing men who identify as female to compete in women's sports. Trump has threatened to withdraw funding from schools and states that permit male athletes to compete in women's sports. The issue that is at the center of two cases the Supreme Court will hear in the upcoming term. The Supreme Court will hear arguments concerning legal challenges to laws passed in Idaho and West Virginia aimed at protecting fairness in women's sports, with a final opinion expected in June 2026. Home News Israel Police finds no damage to Christian church after false claims of arson by Jewish settlers draw broad condemnation The Israel Police announced on Monday that, contrary to previous reports, the Church of Saint George in the Christian village of Tabyeh was not damaged by a nearby fire. "Contrary to misleading reports, no damage was caused to the Church of Saint George in Taybeh. The fire was limited to an adjacent open area, not the holy site. Emergency services received reports from local residents, including both Israelis and one Palestinian caller," the police stated. Noting that they have started a "thorough investigation," the police statement added, "If arson is confirmed, justice will be pursued regardless of race or background. Due process is based on facts, not headlines." The incident had caused widespread outrage, drawing condemnations from U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who called it "an act of sacrilege" during a visit on Saturday. Contrary to misleading reports, no damage was caused to the Church of Saint George in Taybeh. The fire was limited to an adjacent open area, not the holy site. Emergency services received reports from local residents, including both Israelis and one Palestinian caller. The pic.twitter.com/eFicgMPLQJ Israel Police (@israelpolice) July 21, 2025 Following the release of the police statement, Huckabee released an updated statement on the event, noting that he had not attributed blame to any group. "Investigation reveals no damage to ancient church in Taybeh & investigation of origin of fire continues. I have NOT attributed the cause of fire to any person or group as we don't know for sure," Huckabee posted to his personal X account. "The press has. I have said that regardless, it was crime & deserves consequences." Also on Monday, an investigative report by The Press Service of Israel (TPS-IL) challenged the claims that Israeli settlers started a fire in an attempt to damage the 5th Century Church of St. George and the nearby cemetery in the Palestinian village of Taybeh, which lies several kilometers northeast of the Palestinian Authoritys capital, Ramallah. Huckabee, a long-time supporter of Israel's right to the biblical land of Judea and Samaria (West Bank), visited Taybeh on Saturday, inspecting evidence of the fires, and releasing an unusually sharp statement in which he said he would demand those responsible be held accountable w/real consequences. Huckabee also referred to the incident as an act of terror, without explicitly naming Jewish settlers as the culprits. The greater area of Taybeh has been the scene of escalating violence between radical settler groups and local residents in recent weeks. However, a recent report by TPS-IL, an independent news service created to counter biased reporting about Israel, found several inconsistencies in the reports about the Taybeh fire and the alleged role of settlers in the lighting of those fires by mainstream news agencies. The Press Service of Israel said it "found evidence of firefighting efforts by local Jewish residents and raised serious doubts about the fires origin. Among other initial reports, Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, had directly blamed radical Israelis for the fire. Radical Israelis from nearby settlements intentionally set fire near the town cemetery and the church of St. George, Theophilos III declared in a statement at the time. TPS-IL reviewed videos of the incident shared online and found that several young Jewish men from the nearby Jewish settlement could be seen working in the fire with fire-extinguishing equipment, including leaf blowers, which are able to overwhelm small blazes, putting the fires out. Some Palestinian accounts on social media accused the settlers of using the leafblowers to spread the fire. From the videos, it is not clear who started the fires. The agency also spoke to a Jewish farmer from the settlement who had filed several complaints with the police about someone setting fire to the fields where his sheep graze over the previous days. TPS-IL said it confirmed the filing of the complaints with the Israel Border Police. Fires in the same general area were documented on July 7, 8 and 11. TPS-IL found that both the Jewish settlers and the church authorities agree on the dates of the fires, but disagreed on their causes. While acknowledging that no one filmed the arson itself, a spokesman for the Latin Patriarchate said the event "happened as part of a sequence of troubling incidents. Channel 7 News also spoke to settler activist Elisha Yered who lives in the area, and who in the past has been involved in incidents of violence and has defended spitting attacks on Christians. He claimed that the settlers of Havat Rimonim (Pomegranate Farm) worked to put out the fire as it approached the church and cemetery, and said that photos of the youths were misleadingly shared on social media as if they had started a fire. Yered alleged that Arabs from the village set fire to the open areas on four separate occasions in a week to prevent Jewish grazing on the land. At the farm, they insisted on fighting to put out the fire, even though they could have easily said, 'Let them eat the porridge they cooked,' and they stopped the fire just before it reached the line of houses where, among other things, an ancient church and cemetery are located, Yered stated. Yered also challenged statements, such as the recent statement by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who mistakenly said in an interview with Fox News that there was "a Palestinian Catholic church burned to the ground." As photos and videos of the site after the fire show, the ruins of the 1,500-year-old church were not touched by the fires. "In the entire incident, no damage was done to either the church or the cemetery, and they certainly were not 'completely burned down' or 'severely damaged,' thanks in part to the residents who fought the fire with their bare hands," Yered stated. "This is a fact, not an interpretation. He also stated that not a single official complaint had been filed with the police by the village of Taybeh, despite the fierce international campaign being waged against the settlers online and in the media. As with many reports of settler violence, little photo or video evidence of the event itself has been distributed. Many of the social media accounts sharing media or information about the incident often engage in polemical attacks for or against the Israeli settlers and the Palestinians. This article was originally published by All Israel News. Home News Supreme Court upholds Tennessee law banning sex-change surgeries, puberty blockers for kids The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a Tennessee law banning body-mutilating surgeries and hormone drugs for trans-identified minors, affirming a lower court ruling. In a decision released Wednesday morning in the case of United States v. Skrmetti, the high court ruled 6-3 that Tennessees law banning the controversial procedures, also known as Senate Bill 1, does not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the majority opinion, joined by justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Justice Samuel Alito concurred with the judgment. Roberts rejected the claim by plaintiffs that the law engaged in sex-based discrimination, writing that the law does not prohibit conduct for one sex that it permits for the other. Under SB1, no minor may be administered puberty blockers or hormones to treat gender dysphoria, gender identity disorder, or gender incongruence; minors of any sex may be administered puberty blockers or hormones for other purposes, he wrote. The plaintiffs fail to note that Tennessee also proclaimed a legitimate, substantial, and compelling interest in protecting minors from physical and emotional harm. And they similarly fail to acknowledge that Tennessee found that the prohibited medical treatments are experimental, can lead to later regret, and are associated with harmful and sometimes irreversible risks. Roberts emphasized the legitimate medical concerns over the use of puberty blockers for minors, pointing to recent developments in the United Kingdom in which the government banned such drugs for children for the foreseeable future, except for clinical trials. This case carries with it the weight of fierce scientific and policy debates about the safety, efficacy, and propriety of medical treatments in an evolving field. The voices in these debates raise sincere concerns; the implications for all are profound, Roberts added. The Equal Protection Clause does not resolve these disagreements. Nor does it afford us license to decide them as we see best. Having concluded it does not, we leave questions regarding its policy to the people, their elected representatives, and the democratic process. Justice Sonia Sotomayor authored a dissenting opinion, joined by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and, in part, by Justice Elena Kagan. Tennessees law expressly classifies on the basis of sex and transgender status, so the Constitution and settled precedent require the Court to subject it to intermediate scrutiny. The majority contorts logic and precedent to say otherwise, wrote Sotomayor. Thus, the majority subjects a law that plainly discriminates on the basis of sex to mere rational-basis review. By retreating from meaningful judicial review exactly where it matters most, the Court abandons transgender children and their families to political whims. In sadness, I dissent. Tennessee passed Senate Bill 1 in March 2023, banning healthcare providers from performing genital mutilation surgeries or giving puberty-suppressing drugs to minors exhibiting gender dysphoria. The legislature declares that the integrity and public respect of the medical profession are significantly harmed by healthcare providers performing or administering such medical procedures on minors. This state has a legitimate, substantial, and compelling interest in protecting minors from physical and emotional harm, noted the findings of SB 1. This state has a legitimate, substantial, and compelling interest in protecting the integrity of the medical profession, including by prohibiting medical procedures that are harmful, unethical, immoral, experimental, or unsupported by high-quality or long-term studies, or that might encourage minors to become disdainful of their sex. Multiple progressive groups sued to strike down the law on behalf of trans-identified children and their families, with the support of the U.S. Justice Department of the Biden administration. Although a lower court placed a preliminary injunction against the law, a three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the legislation to take effect. Last September, a 6th Circuit panel ruled 2-1 in favor of the law, with Circuit Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton, a George W. Bush appointee, authoring the majority opinion. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the case last December, with U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar arguing that the Tennessee ban was discriminatory on the basis of sex. Nevertheless, Prelogar also said that we do think there is a real space for states to regulate here and pointed to West Virginia, where a ban on trans procedures provides an exemption for teenagers who are considered at risk for suicide or other self-harm. We dont think that that means the states are entirely barred from regulating in this space, she continued. Obviously, they are grappling with these issues in a variety of contexts. In February, the Trump administration dropped its support of the lawsuit against Tennessee. Home News Texas Democrat tells Joe Rogan 'test of Christianity' is 'do you love Judas?' James Talarico suggests Mary gave her 'consent' before 'creation' of Jesus in her womb A Texas state representative and aspiring Baptist preacher said he believes the true test of a Christian is not how much they love Jesus but whether they love Judas and suggested Mary gave her consent before the creation of the Son of God in her womb. State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, made the comment during a July 18 episode of the "Joe Rogan Experience," where he spoke about his opposition to the states new Ten Commandments law, how Democrats can win over white Evangelicals, and what it means to bear the sacred image of God while supporting abortion. Talarico, 36, opposed state legislative efforts to infuse public school curriculum with lessons about Christianity and teachings from the Bible, calling such efforts tantamount to Christian nationalism. But the Democratic state rep who might have his sights set on a longshot bid for the U.S. Senate in 2026 said during the podcast at Rogans studio in Austin that he believes the key to overcoming Americas ever-widening ideological division is by aspiring to Jesus command to love ones enemies. He pointed to a quote from Catholic activist Dorothy Day You really only love God as much as you love the person you love the least to support his argument that Christianity demands love for those whom society deems least worthy, a love which, said Talarico, could ultimately bridge Americas political divisions. Framing Days quote as a radical test of Christian faith, Talarico then suggested that loving Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, is the true measure of Christian love. In other words, the test of Christianity is not 'Do you love Jesus,' because Jesus is pretty lovable, he said. The test is, do you love Judas? Now that is radical." In the Bible, Judas is portrayed as one of Jesus' 12 disciples and the son of perdition who betrays Him into the hands of the Roman guards, which would ultimately lead to His crucifixion, burial and resurrection. On the topic of life, Talarico who last year called Texas statewide ban on abortion the most extreme in the U.S. weighed in on the abortion debate with an appeal to the account in the Gospel of Luke of the angel Gabriel informing Mary that she would give birth to Jesus. In an argument for supporting womens bodily autonomy, Talarico drew on the story of Mary, who is probably his favorite figure in the Bible, and the annunciation to emphasize the importance of consent in creation. Speaking in context of abortion," Talarico said, Before God comes over Mary and we have the incarnation, God asks for Mary's consent, which is remarkable. I mean, the angel comes down and asks Mary if this is something she wants to do, and she says, if it is God's will, let it be done. Let it be. Let it happen. So, to me, that is an affirmation in one of our most central stories that creation has to be done with consent. You cannot force someone to create. Creation is one of the most sacred acts that we engage in as human beings. But that has to be done with consent. It has to be done with freedom. Its because of that biblical exchange, Talarico added, that he comes down on that side of the abortion debate. I'm very open for my fellow Christians to disagree with that. And they may have scriptural passages they point to um to be anti-abortion. And I think that's a debate that we should feel comfortable having. In another discussion with Rogan about the incarnation, Talarico appeared to suggest when Christ came in the flesh, it wasnt just limited to Jesus. When God takes human form, incarnation, by the way, is not just limited to Jesus, he said. It's everybody, right? Everybody bears the image of the sacred. Joe Rogan does, James Talarico does, every listener to this podcast bears the image of the sacred, made in the image of God. A radical view, right? So that's incarnation. Despite Evangelicals historical opposition to abortion, Talarico said it shouldn't be assumed that just because you're a Christian, you are anti-gay or anti-abortion because there are so many Christians out there who don't subscribe to either of those policy positions. CP reached out for comment Monday from Talarico. This article will be updated if a response is received. Last September, the 35-year-old former teacher voiced his opposition to the inclusion of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, calling it deeply un-Christian, and that defining the word messiah as a Heaven-sent Savior is likewise dangerous and un-Christian. Christians understand that it's dangerous for the government to define our religious teachings for us and that it is un-Christian to exclude our neighbors with different religious beliefs, he argued. While he has been rumored to be weighing a Senate run next year, Talarico is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He is expected to graduate this year. Home News Visa issues between Israel, Evangelical orgs are fully resolved, US Amb. Huckabee announces After a months-long visa dispute that went public in a dramatic way last week, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee announced that the U.S. Embassy, Israels Interior Ministry and the Prime Ministers Office agreed on a solution to the visa issue that had limited the activities of Evangelical organizations in Israel. A solution has been reached to the satisfaction of all parties. The Evangelical Christian organizations active in Israel, which represent the vast majority of Zionists in the world today, will receive all of the visas they need through a streamlined and efficient application process, Calev Myers, the attorney for the organizations, told ALL ISRAEL NEWS on Monday. In the evening, Huckabee wrote on his X account that the issue concerning visas for American Evangelical organizations has been fully resolved. Starting in January, a change in the manner in which visas for Christian organizations had been processed for decades led to serious challenges bureaucratically and financially for the groups. The issue had blown up publicly when Israeli media revealed an unusually harshly worded letter sent by Huckabee to the Interior Ministry and other leaders, in which he threatened to declare Israel to be a state that is not welcoming for Evangelical Christian organizations, and to retaliate by withholding visas for Israelis. Huckabee explained that upon arriving as ambassador earlier this year, he discovered that the new process had resulted in creating delays, costs, and significant burdens with paperwork. He added that he had thought the issue had been settled after a meeting with Interior Minister Arbel several months ago. Myers also confirmed to AIN that the problems facing the organizations, which, according to Huckabees letter, included the Baptist Convention of Israel, Christian Missionary Alliance, and Assemblies of God, were similar to the ones purportedly solved by the ministry in 2023. When the organizations reported they were still experiencing issues, Huckabee said he informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office and pointed out how detrimental it was to the relationship of the State of Israel with the American evangelical community. The Jewish Insider, which was first to report the story, cited a source in the Prime Ministers Office who stressed that Israel has absolutely no interest in undermining the freedom [of workers and volunteers for Christian organizations] coming to Israel. We value evangelicals. Its very regrettable that there is a problem and we obviously have to fix it. The Christian organizations did not at any time ask for different or special treatment, but merely a return to what has been an efficient and satisfactory process for many years, the ambassador said. In addition, JI was told by a source close to the ambassador that his letter had leaked and was not intended to be revealed publicly. I am delighted to report that the issue has been resolved to everyones satisfaction and the strong support that Israel enjoys from American evangelicals will continue, Huckabee concluded. Im convinced the Interior Minister was not fully aware of the change being imposed and Im grateful he has personally intervened to completely restore the long-standing process, he added. American Christians are some of Israels strongest supporters, and the resolution of this issue among friends is a welcome outcome. This article was originally published by All Israel News. Home Opinion John Oliver and atheists target Health Care Sharing Ministries Under the shadowy figures running the Biden administration, the FBI targeted Christians. The FBI actually used the hate map generated by the infamous anti-American Southern Poverty Law Center. Unfortunately, the war on Christians didnt end with the last election. There are other forces in the public square who reject the God-given rights to free speech and free exercise of religion recognized by the First Amendment and who are targeting Christians. Specifically, those hostile to faith have set their sights on an even more vulnerable minority than traditional Catholics, or Christian cake-bakers in Colorado: members of Health Care Sharing Ministries. There are only about a million members of Health Care Sharing Ministries in the United States. Some smaller states are home to only a few hundred. Yet, a rising handful of blue state legislators, in league with obnoxious, atheist media figures like John Oliver and national atheist associations, are taking aim at these ministries (more on this below). Why is there an orchestrated effort to squelch the First Amendment rights of these groups? The problem seems to boil down to this: Health Care Sharing Ministries are not health insurance. Health Care Sharing Ministries are 501(C)3 nonprofit charities. They convene communities of like-minded religious believers and facilitate the sharing of medical bills between them, praying for one another and supporting each other in their health journeys. Each member of a Health Care Sharing Ministry agrees to the ministry statement of shared religious beliefs. Members also agree to the sharing guidelines and, for most ministries, commit to living a healthy lifestyle. Members in these ministries share more than a billion dollars each year in medical expenses with each other, including expensive bills for chemotherapy and heart bypasses, as well as more routine procedures. Unlike health insurance, our members do not make a contractual commitment to pay a company that uses actuarial analysis to determine costs based on risk and profit margins for the insurance company and its Wall Street investors. Our members are morally but not legally obligated to one another. Thirty-four states recognize that Health Care Sharing Ministries are not insurance in their state law, and the Affordable Care Act exempts the ministry members from that laws federal insurance mandates. That doesnt mean that the ministries are free to do whatever they wish with impunity. In every state, charitable organizations like the ministries are regulated by the Attorney General and the state and federal tax authorities, overseeing nonprofits. Ministries, like every entity, arent allowed to cheat, defraud or steal from the public. Nonetheless, for some state legislators, the mere existence of Christians who operate outside the insurance system is an affront. This is particularly true in states where mandates on health insurance are a tool of the totalitarian left to impose on all citizens their unholy sacraments of abortion and gender mutilations. Constitutionally protected escape hatches from these conscience violations, like membership in Health Care Sharing Ministries, are a threat to this master plan. So far, these efforts have not yet succeeded except in one state: Colorado, where a three-year-old law requires health care sharing ministries religious membership organizations to disclose their inner workings, contractors, agreements with doctors and hospitals, recruitment and evangelization materials, and financials to the state insurance bureaucrats or else pay crushing fines that would close their doors. This is akin to demanding that churches report how they spend the money in their collection basket, how much their pastor makes, who their HVAC vendor is, who their elders and bible study leaders are, and turn over weekly sermons for state scrutiny. It gets worse. After taking all this information, the law then requires the bureaucrats to summarize the information in their own hostile words, and report as much of it as possible to the public essentially requiring the ministries to participate in state sponsored speech whereby the government warns the public about how these ministries are religious and dont do non-religious things like cutting the breasts off little girls, serving as a sort of pagan buyer beware notice. When a group of ministries sued Colorado for violating its First Amendment rights, evidence surfaced during discovery that the state was far from a neutral actor merely trying to protect consumers, or just applying religiously neutral law to all sharing organizations. The truth is that the state even admits that the vast majority of ministries and members of sharing organizations are religious, not secular. Further, email traffic between bureaucrats distinguishes between the Christian ministries that were the real target of the law and the secular good guys that the state government arbitrarily chose to exempt from the laws reporting requirements. A particularly egregious example of bias that emerged in discovery was, as the ministries legal brief describes, the states collusion with none other than John Oliver best known for creating a fake church and mocking religion to ridicule health care sharing ministries as hypocritical organizations that exploit morality clauses to deny coverage to queer people, the obese or even people who smoke or drink. This evidence together yields more than a slight suspicion that stem[s] from animosity to religion or distrust of its practices. Colorado, lest we forget, is the state that has infamously persecuted the same Christian baker all the way up to the Supreme Court, twice. So, its unclear how the ministries will fare in the lower courts. In the meantime, national atheist groups have pounced on the Colorado law as a model and are aggressively pushing atheist or atheist-adjacent legislators in other states to introduce carbon copy legislation or worse. Indeed, the Oregon version of the bill includes the state fingerprinting ministry leaders and all members in addition to the onerous reporting requirements. A recent symposium called Keeping Track of Health Care Sharing Ministries was hosted by the American Humanist Association, the Center for Freethought Equality and the Association of Secular Elected Officials and featured a three-hour hate-a-thon against the ministries and celebratory platforming of the atheist legislators orchestrating persecution of them, blue state by blue state. During the symposium, a Minnesota legislator admitted his bill was drafted in an attempt to make it seem like it's not targeting religion. The anti-First Amendment fervor has gone so far that one state official in Vermont actually admitted at a committee hearing on the Colorado-style bill, [W]ell, Id actually just like to ban them (Health Care Sharing Ministries) if we could. She had to be reminded by the Committee chair that the groups are actually religious, which would make an outright ban awkward. Health Care Sharing Ministries are not insurance and must not be subjected to insurance regulations, not just because of immoral abortion mandates plaguing insurance plans, but also because our programs are simply not insurance. Pretending these legislative initiatives are about consumer protection from bad actors pretending to be health care sharing ministries is belied by the fact that the reporting bills wouldnt stop any bad actors. Indeed, bad actors would simply not file the required report or would lie in their reports. The fact is that states already have the tools they need to shut down organizations that lie, cheat or steal from the public. Dozens of states actually did so a few years ago when a for-profit brokerage firm allegedly pretended to be a ministry. Indeed, no one advocates more strongly for prosecuting bad actors in our space than the ministries themselves, and the most reliable ministries participate in a rigorous annual accreditation process through the independent, third-party Health Care Sharing Accreditation Board. Its fine to disagree with our Christian faith, or to wish that everyone signed up for unaffordable Obamacare plans that often implicate enrollees in subsidizing a godless moral agenda. But this kind of orchestrated attack must be recognized for what it is: bigotry and intolerance toward religious Americans, their beliefs and their organizations, and a threat to the First Amendment protections of all Americans. Jesus warned that His followers would be hated and persecuted. But our Founders designed a constitutional system that prohibited this kind of state-sponsored War on Christians. Voters should hold their legislators accountable for protecting the rights of believers to organize and provide for their own health care needs without government harassment, bought and paid for by organized atheist interests across the country. Abonati-va sa primiti pe email saptamanal lista articolelor adaugate pe parcursul saptamanii. Adresele .ru nu sunt acceptate. Email NEWSLETTER The Northern Ireland (NI) executive has formally adopted a new Partnership Agreement with the voluntary and community sector (VCS). Last week, minister for communities Gordon Lyons announced that the joint forum between government and the VCS had developed an agreement that provides the foundation for a renewed relationship between NI public bodies and our VCS partners. The Partnership Agreement builds on and replaces the Concordat between the VCS and NI government, a formal agreement that was agreed between the two in 2011. It comes as the UK government last week launched the Civil Society Covenant, a reciprocal arrangement recognising that civil society and the government have distinct and shared roles in serving the public. Membership body NIVCA welcomed the Partnership Agreement and covenant, saying that they marked a significant milestone for the VCS and its relationship with government, both in NI and across the UK. Working together as social partners The Partnership Agreement contains provisions for the NI government and VCS to work together as social partners to build a participative, peaceful, inclusive, just and equitable society in the country. It underpins six shared values and ways of working, which are accountability, active participation, social justice, independence, collaboration and sustainability, alongside fair funding principles. This Partnership Agreement relies on relationships of mutual trust and respect and aims to enable the energy and talent both within government and the VCS to work together towards the development of a better society, the document reads. This Partnership Agreement will make a valuable contribution through supporting progress towards more responsive and effective people-centred public services: strengthening communities and harnessing expertise in the design and delivery of better public policy and services. It aims to open up opportunities for more meaningful participation by the VCS in developing and supporting delivery of public policy. Agreement recognises VCSs unique contribution In a statement , Lyons said the Partnership Agreement recognises the VCSs unique ability and contribution to supporting individuals and communities, reflecting todays delivery environment and setting out our shared commitment to work in partnership to improve outcomes for people and communities. Real impact comes not from a published document, but from trusting relationships, open and honest two-way communication, mutual understanding of challenges, and an ongoing commitment to collaboration, he said. This is what drives lasting change, and it takes effort. Lyons said the NI executives endorsement of the agreement means that all departments will join his in making a shared commitment to strengthen and sustain shared relationships with VCS partners, in line with our programme for government commitments. Our voluntary community organisations will also use the shared values, fair funding principles and ways of working in the document to support and guide their work with NI public bodies. The Partnership Agreement creates a strong basis for both sectors to engage in constructive challenge, deepen mutual understanding, and continuously improve how we work together. Powerful signal NICVA said the Partnership Agreement and Civil Society Covenant provide a strong foundation for addressing long-standing challenges in the relationship between government and the sector. They offer a pathway to more inclusive, responsive and locally led public services, it said . Delivering on these shared commitments will be key to making real progress on the challenges faced and ultimately on the issues that matter most to communities. However, their success depends on sustained, genuine, and intentional collaboration across all parts of government and civil society. Celine McStravick, NICVAs chief executive, added: This agreement reflects the collective effort and expertise of the joint forum and the wider sector. Its a powerful signal that government is ready to engage with the sector as a genuine partner. Were particularly pleased to see strong commitments to fair funding and collaborative working, both essential for delivering real impact in our communities. 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. Last weeks decision by Republicans in Congress to eliminate government funding for public media blows a billion-dollar hole in the budgets of local news stations across America. While NPR and PBS will survive, the existence of small broadcasters in rural, red-state news deserts is now endangered. In at least one sense, however, this attack on the publics right to news will have a unifying function. Journalists, citizens, and civil society as a wholered, blue, or stripedcan be assured that we are all riding a pendulum swinging at terrifying speed in the wrong direction. If we want to see a robust level of news reporting exist in this nationcomparable to what we had in the twentieth centurywe will need public funding for journalism. Not the paltry $1.1 billion that Congress just yanked from public broadcasting, but tens of billions of dollars, enough to prop up the ubiquitous local and regional reporting that is vital to a functioning democracy. You can arrive at this conclusion not by ideology, but by a straightforward process of elimination. Advertising revenue funded the journalism industry of past generations. Tech platforms like Google and Facebook figured out how to extract most of that revenue, leaving media companies in need of other funding streams. Nonprofit news outlets? There are great ones, but there is not enough donor money to go around. Subscriptions? Ditto. My Substack is earning me a living, but not the hundred other reporters I worked with in my last newsroom. The government is the funder of last resort. Unless journalism gets public funding, the profession will continue to decline for the foreseeable future. Anything else, Im sorry to say, is magical thinking. That said: as long as Republicans control the federal government, we will not be getting public funding for journalism. This gloomy culmination of the past two decades of media industry decline offers journalists some lessons. The first is to never get too comfortable. As my own generation of perpetually laid-off colleagues has learned the hard way, any good gig or thriving publication is always one lawsuit or lost investor or algorithmic tweak or reactionary election away from doom. And as easy as it is for journalists to feel personally attacked, the cuts to public media funding were part and parcel of the Trump administrations much broader attack on the entire concept of government spending for the public good. The decision to defund public broadcasting in rural communities at a time when there are 75 percent fewer local journalists than there were a quarter century ago is clearly insane, if you consider the government to be a thing that should make people smarter, healthier, and happier. But this administration does not believe that. One way to feel better about the grim outlook for media is to tell yourself, Hey, at least were not scientists, doctors, or park rangers! The second, more constructive, lesson of the moment is that we must rouse ourselves enough to save ourselves. Generations of American journalists have been trained to believe that their craft, their industry, and their ethics can float above the tawdry concerns of politics. This was always an illusion. It was an illusion that was possible to sustain when profit margins were high, the news business was lucrative, and reporters were insulated from political pressure by a protective bubble of revenue. Turns out that all of that was temporary. Journalismthe social good, the civic necessity, the informer of the citizenry, the force holding powerful people to accountis as important as ever, but it has lost the material resources that it needs to exist. Politics is the struggle over how those material resources should be apportioned. Journalists must believe in their own importance enough to shake off their reflexive fear of being labeled political. We are part of the public good. We will fight for the public good, or be crushed along with it. This fight requires politics. Politics is not partisanship. Journalists believe that the public deserves to know what is happening in the world, that the powerful deserve scrutiny, that the press should be free, honest, and ubiquitous, and that the absence of adequate news resources in most of the country is a direct threat to our democracy. The hypothesis that laying off thousands of reporters would lead to a less well-informed populace, which would then make it easier for politically motivated misinformation to flourish, has been pretty well proven, at this point. All of this is partisan only to the extent that the political parties act to either strengthen democracy, or to weaken it. Even as the pendulum were collectively riding swings toward austerity, privatization, and oligarchy, do not lose sight of the fact that it will, inevitably, swing back again. Thats the nature of pendulums, and of political extremism. The farther they go, the closer they are to reaching their limit. A good use of time while we endure the painful part of this cycle is to plan for what we need to get when momentum shifts in the other direction. Sign up for CJRs daily email We can offer the public a beautiful vision: Ample local news in every community. Reporters who are your neighbors, covering your city council, your streets potholes, and your kids high school volleyball game. When the local politicians or business leaders try to sell you out, there will be someone watching who can call them on it. As simple as this sounds to those who grew up with healthy local newspapers, it is a vision that escapes most younger people. We do not just need to restore the Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding; we need to create a permanent public revenue stream for journalism everywhere, lest our entire democratic project crumble in service of the FAANG companies stock charts. What an ignoble end that would be. The truth obscured by all of Trumps fake news screeching is that people like journalism. They want and need to know what is happening. Even the crankiest internet commenters want something to comment on. In the face of an ideological assault, journalists and media institutions must fight in the political arena, proudly, for our own survival. Yeah, theyll all miss us when were gone. But lets try not to be gone. Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. Ghaith Abdul-Ahad was a young graduate from architecture school when the American invasion of Iraq began in 2003. Watching American soldiers march down the street in front of his apartment, Abdul-Ahad quickly dropped what he was doingugly work for ugly people who had the money to afford their ugly housesand followed them to Firdos Square, where he watched, in horror, as they draped a statue of Saddam Hussein with an American flag, and pulled it down. This moment when they put the American flag on, the whole idea of liberation collapses, he says. Still, Abdul-Ahad was intrigued. Within days, hed signed on with a British reporter from The Guardian, working as a translator, before later striking out as a reporter of his own. His 2023 book, A Stranger in Your Own City, includes both previously reported stories and a large swath of new memories from his journeys across the Middle East in the years that followed. In this conversation, recorded live at the Zeg Storytelling Festival, in Tbilisi, Georgia, and edited for length and clarity, Abdul-Ahad speaks with The Kicker about his career and his approach to the craftand what he thinks American policymakers still dont understand about the legacy they left in Iraq. You can listen to this and other conversations from The Kickers collaboration with ZegFest here, or wherever you get your podcasts. JH: One of your most recent articles for The Guardian was about a young man you called Mustafa, who you described as a reluctant collaborator with the Syrian regime. But you resisted the temptation to moralize and categorize him. Could you talk a little bit about his story and what drew you to Mustafa? GAA: When I started journalism in Iraq, I was a military deserter. So I started looking at things with this high morality: Look, I never compromised. I never joined the regime. None of my family joined the regime. So all of you who have compromised are beneath me. And that was my attitude for the first six months in 2003. And little by little, I was smacked in the head and realized how difficult life is. So in the past twenty years, you realize all of us have to make these little choices. And at the end of the day, were all trying to save ourselves, save our families. And what choices do we make to reach that point? Mustafa was one of those people. Mustafa had to survive a regime, a brutal regime. Mustafa comes fromif we put this kind of sectarian ethnic map, he would be labeled as within the opposition masses of Damascus, living in a small neighborhood. These neighborhoods were the hotbed of the rebels in the outskirts of Damascus. And his father is a religious man; his sister wears the burka. So he is a suspect in the eyes of the regime. Now, how do you come out of this? Because also when we look at the war, we think of it as a regime versus rebels. But in reality, the neighborhoods split. You have the old gangs working for the government, then other gangs working for rebels. And within all that kind of landscape, here is a certain person who was beaten up so harshly when he was sixteen, seventeen, that he decides, You know what? My rule number one: I will never be beaten up ever again. Sign up for CJRs daily email And he wasnt an ideologue. Absolutely. Sitting in this roomwe can easily say, Oh, he compromised, he joined the regime militia. But from his perspective it was, How do I save myself? And of course he doesnt. Late in the piece, youre describing the scene in Damascus in the aftermath of the fall of Assad. And you almost, I think, instinctually compare it to the aftermath of Baghdad and the fall of Saddam. What was that experience like for you? Are you able to see hope and joy, or does your brain just flash back through the last however many years and think, Oh, I know where these things end up? The biggest challenge for me, as an Iraqi when it comes to Syria, is to stop being an Iraqi. Because I lived through the moments when the regime in Baghdad fell. I also saw the aftermath of the Taliban falling in Afghanistan, but the Iraq experience shaped my life. You know, I was a civilian, then I became a journalist when the statue fell. And a lot of what happened also became my daily life as a journalist. So when you go to Syria, you see the resemblance, you see a Baathist regime, a dictator falling, the army melting away, the uniforms in the streets, the tanks abandoned in the street, all scenes from Baghdad 2003. And yet it is so very different. It is different because there is no foreign army, apart from a little bit of Uighurs and Uzbeks. And you dont find any foreign occupation. Also the moment of 2003 in Iraq was the moment when we Iraqis realized, Oh God, we are Sunnis and Shia and Kurds, and we started fragmenting along these lines. In Syria, it is the aftermath of a civil war, so its been going on for fourteen years. You have the sense that people are tired from war, while in Iraq it was beginning. Can we go back to the beginning, to your book, and how you ended up as a journalist? At the time of the invasion, youre an architect, but youre also clearly interested in people, interested in the city, observantbut not imagining being a journalist. How did that happen? You dont know what journalism is because growing up in Iraq under the Saddam regime, journalism is this newspaper you read in the morning that starts with the speeches of the leader and ends with the wisdom of the leader. So journalism was a government job, like the intelligence service, like anythinga despised job in Iraq. But the fact that the biggest army in the universe invades your street, and you come down and you look at these American Marine amphibious vehicles as if the shores of Normandy is down the street, that becomes a fascinating moment. And then you see the statue falling. And you describe watching it, thinking, Oh no, dont do it this way. Some part of your brain is registering, Let the people bring this down. I mean, this moment when they put the American flag on, this whole idea of liberation collapses, within five minutes of pulling down the statue. But then I wanted to see Saddams palace. This is the person who has dominated my life since I was born. Who is he? How did he lead us? Why did he do these things? I thought if I walked into the palace, I would just find the answers. Of course I didnt, but then I met James Meek from The Guardian, and the rest is history, and I became a journalist. In your book, one thing that seems to mystify you as you start to work as a reporter is the importing of an intense sectarianism that wasnt there before. To start work as a translator, you adapt and adopt a way of thinking. So when the journalists youre working withGod bless the New York Times, I was working with them for a whilewhen they start asking me, Find me a Sunni or Find me a Shia, because we want to do this kind of story or that kind of thing, you start categorizing people as Sunnis and Shia. I started putting numbers on my old Nokia phone: so-and-so is a Sunni, or so-and-so is a Shia. And it took me more than five years to start trying to unlearn this. I dont want to say that we didnt have sects in Iraq. Of course we had sects. Of course there were Sunnis and Shias and the Christiansand the Christians, mashallah, they had their own twelve sects in Iraqbut it was a cultural thing. It was always something that you celebrate; you go to this mosque in this time of the year, the church in this other time of year. It was a cultural phenomenon. But the invasion itself weaponized these differences. When you divide the society into oppressed and the oppressor, you push a whole segment of the Iraqibecause Saddam was a Sunni, then all Sunnis are, by association, guilty of oppressing the Iraqis. This is a recipe for civil war. Do you think that Americans today understand what they did to Iraq? The first time I went to New York was, I think, around 2005. Im staying in a very nice apartment, lovely city, and I switched on the TV, and I thought, you know, two years into the Iraq War, I thought people would burn American tanks in the streetsI thought the coverage would be twenty-four hours about the Iraq War. Nothing. The only item about Iraq was how a band was visiting Iraq or something. So it kind of shocked me. And up until today, I still dont know why. If I was an American conservative neocon, why would America invade Iraq? To lose so much money on that country and then turn that country into the biggest ally of their opponent in the region, which is Iran. So even politically, from an American conservative point of view, it was a very dumb project, let alone the disaster it unleashed in the region. Now, Im not saying SaddamSaddam was evil. But also I find this binary choiceevery taxi in the Middle East, its, Ah, youre Iraqi. So which was better, Saddam or the Americans? As if we Iraqis dont have a choice, you know? Its only a mad dictator or an illegal occupation, and that is the problem. So my anger with Americans is not only destroying Iraq, not only committing massacres. Its that not a single person went to jail for the things they did in Iraq. Not George Bush, not Nouri al-Maliki. No one has ever stood and said, Im sorry for the things weve done. Delta Air Lines Inc. agreed to pay $8,100,000 to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act by awarding compensation to corporate officers and employees that exceeded the compensation limits agreed to as part of its participation in the Department of the Treasurys Payroll Support Program, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The PSP was established by Congress in 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act to provide payroll support to passenger and cargo air for employee wages, salaries and benefits. Participating air carriers were required to enter into written agreements with the Department of Treasury. Among other program requirements, PSP agreements included limitations on compensation that PSP participants could pay to certain corporate officers and employees earning annual compensation over $425,000, according to the DOJ. The settlement resolves allegations that between March 2020 and April 2023, Delta awarded compensation to some corporate officers and employees that exceeded the limits set by the PSP agreements. Delta allegedly violated the False Claims Act by inaccurately certifying compliance with PSP requirements in quarterly reports to Treasury, as well as by not notifying Treasury of the breach once it was discovered by Delta. The settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by H. Remidez LLC. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the goverbnment and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. H Remidez LLC v. Delta Air Lines Inc. The whistleblower will receive $850,500 in connection with the settlement. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations, and there has been no determination of liability. 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. The owner of a factory where six workers died last year in flooding from Hurricane Helene wont face charges after a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation found no criminal wrongdoing. First Judicial District Attorney General Steven Finney announced the decision to close the case on Friday, saying no further action will be taken. The investigation found no evidence that Impact Plastics employees were told they could not leave the factory or that they would be fired if they left, according to a news release from the district attorney. It also found employees had a little more than an hour during which they could have evacuated from the Erwin, Tennessee, industrial park. The conclusion mirrors that of a similar investigation by the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration that found in April that workers had time to evacuate the premises, albeit by makeshift routes. A statement from Impact Plastics attorney Stephen Ross Johnson on Friday said company president and founder Gerald OConnor welcomes the results of the TBI investigation. The true and accurate facts are now known, the statement reads. Related: Flooding Took Away the Love of His Life After 35 Years Without a Day Spent Apart Five employees and one contractor who cleaned the offices once a week were killed on Sept. 27 after they were washed away by floodwaters. They were among 12 people who stuck close to the Impact Plastics building, waiting for the water to recede, after realizing the exit road was already submerged. When the water kept rising, they climbed onto the bed of a semitrailer loaded with giant spools of plastic piping that was parked outside the factory. When floodwaters eventually overwhelmed the truck, six people were able to use the piping for flotation and were later rescued. The other six drowned. The TOSHA report notes that several Impact Plastics employees did escape the flood. Some were able to drive or walk over an embankment to a nearby highway after workers at a neighboring business dismantled a fence there. Others escaped by driving over a makeshift path onto nearby railroad tracks that an employee at a neighboring business created with a tractor. Still others were able to escape by walking to the railroad tracks, according to that report. Although the criminal case is being closed, the company still faces a wrongful death lawsuit from the family of Johnny Peterson, and other civil suits are planned. Attorney Luke Widener, who represents the families of several flood victims, said in a statement that they categorically disagree that Impact Plastics employees were given any meaningful opportunity to escape. Indeed, if Impact Plastics account were true, Bertha Mendoza, Sibrina Barnett, and the others who perished would still be with us. Top Photo: Impact Plastics Inc. is seen on Nov. 22, 2024, in Erwin, Tenn. Multiple workers died trying to escape flood waters during Hurricane Helene in September. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Microsoft Corp. accused Chinese state-sponsored hackers of using flaws in its SharePoint document management software in a hacking campaign that has targeted businesses and government agencies around the world. In a blog post on Tuesday, the tech giant identified two groups supported by the Chinese government, Linen Typhoon and Violet Typhoon, as leveraging flaws in SharePoint software used by customers who managed it on their own networks, as opposed to in the cloud. Another hacking group based in China, which Microsoft calls Storm-2603, also exploited the SharePoint vulnerabilities, according to the blog. Investigations into other actors also using these exploits is still ongoing, Microsoft said. With the rapid adoption of these exploits, Microsoft assesses with high confidence that threat actors will continue to integrate them into their attacks. In a statement, the Chinese Embassy said China firmly opposes all forms of cyberattacks and cybercrime. At the same time, we also firmly oppose smearing others without solid evidence, said the statement. We hope that relevant parties will adopt a professional and responsible attitude when characterizing cyber incidents, basing their conclusions on sufficient evidence rather than unfounded speculation and accusations, said the statement. Multiple hacking groups have been making use of the flaws in the popular Microsoft software, according to representatives of two cybersecurity firms, CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. and Googles Mandiant Consulting. Related: Microsoft Server Hack Hit About 100 Organizations, Researchers Say Hackers have used the flaw to break into the systems of national governments in Europe and the Middle East, according to a person familiar with the matter. In the US, theyve accessed government systems, including ones belonging to the Education Department, Floridas Department of Revenue and the Rhode Island General Assembly, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive information. The types of organizations targeted, the techniques and other initial evidence are consistent with Chinese state-sponsored espionage, said Eugenio Benincasa, a researcher at the Swiss university ETH Zurich who specializes in analyzing Chinese attacks. Attackers have exploited the flaws in SharePoint since at least July 7, said Adam Meyers, senior vice president at CrowdStrike. Early exploitation resembled government-sponsored activity, and then spread more widely to include hacking that looks like China, Meyers said. CrowdStrikes investigation into the campaign is ongoing, he said. Microsoft has released patches for the vulnerabilities in SharePoint. Representatives of the Department of Education and Rhode Island legislature didnt respond to calls and emails seeking comment Monday. A Florida Department of Revenue spokesperson, Bethany Wester Cutillo, said in an email that the SharePoint weaknesses are being investigated at multiple levels of government but that the state agency does not comment publicly on the software we use for operations. The hackers also breached the systems of a US-based health-care provider and targeted a public university in Southeast Asia, according to a report from a cybersecurity firm reviewed by Bloomberg News. The report doesnt identify either entity by name, but says the hackers have attempted to breach SharePoint servers in countries including Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, the UK and the US. The firm asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the information. Hackers have stolen sign-in credentials, including usernames, passwords, hash codes and tokens, from some systems, according to a person familiar with the matter, who also spoke on condition that they not be identified discussing the sensitive information. This is a high-severity, high-urgency threat, said Michael Sikorski, chief technology officer and head of threat intelligence for Unit 42 at Palo Alto Networks Inc. What makes this especially concerning is SharePoints deep integration with Microsofts platform, including their services like Office, Teams, OneDrive and Outlook, which has all the information valuable to an attacker, he said. Many thousands of businesses and institutions worldwide use SharePoint to store and collaborate on documents. Microsoft said that attackers are specifically targeting clients running SharePoint servers from their own on-premise networks, as opposed to being hosted and managed by the tech firm. The cyber firm Eye Security said the flaws allow 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. The breaches have drawn new scrutiny to Microsofts efforts to shore up its security after a series of high-profile failures. The firm has hired executives from places like the US government and holds 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. Related: Singapore Says Cyber Espionage Group Targeting Critical Infrastructure Eye Security has detected compromises on more than 100 servers representing 60 victims, including organizations in the energy sector, consulting firms and universities. Victims were also located in Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, according to the company. In early July, Microsoft issued patches to fix the security holes, but hackers found another way in. There were ways around the patches, which enabled hackers to break into SharePoint servers by tapping into similar vulnerabilities, said Vaisha Bernard, Eye Securitys chief hacker and co-owner. That allowed these attacks to happen. The intrusions, he said, were not targeted and instead were aimed at compromising as many victims as possible. He declined to identify the identity 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 EU, South Africa, and Australia, he added. Top Photo: A person uses a Microsoft Corp. Surface tablet in Hong Kong. (Bloomberg photo) Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. On Saturday night, the audience inside Carnegie Hall witnessed something extraordinary: a five-year-old boy delivering a piano performance that would rival artists five times his age. Alec Van Khajadourian, the latest name in the world of classical music prodigies, took the stage at the iconic venue for his professional debutand left no doubt that he belongs there. Performing as part of the NY Classical Debut International Competition Gala, Alec became the youngest soloist ever featured in the event. His inclusion in the prestigious gala capped months of viral attention in the piano world, with footage of his perfect pitch and astonishing technical control circulating across social media. Dressed in a miniature tuxedo, the young pianist displayed a level of focus that belied his age, described People magazine. His fingers moved effortlessly across the keys as he performed selections from Chopin and Rachmaninoffcomposers most children his age wouldn't even recognize. Audience members described the experience as "magical," with many noting the sheer clarity and emotional depth Alec brought to his interpretations. "It's not just that he plays the notes perfectly," said Sofia Menendez, a music professor from Juilliard who attended the concert. "It's that he seems to understand the music. At five years old, that's almost unheard of." Alec's journey to Carnegie Hall is remarkable. Born to Armenian-American parents in Los Angeles, he began piano lessons at just 2 years old. His family noticed his unusual ear for music early on, with Alec reportedly identifying piano notes by sound alone before his third birthday. By age four, he was already performing advanced repertoire in small recitals. His teachers describe him as driven yet joyful, practicing up to three hours a day but always with a smile. His parents, meanwhile, are careful to balance his growing career with a typical childhood. "He still loves cartoons, he loves playing with his friends," his mother told reporters backstage. "We just try to follow his passion without pushing." Read more Saudi Arabia and Lang Lang Announce Groundbreaking Summer Piano Intensive Saudi Arabia and Lang Lang Announce Groundbreaking Summer Piano Intensive That passion has now propelled him to one of the most celebrated stages in the world. Saturday's performance was met with a standing ovation, with attendees applauding long after Alec took his final bow. Many in the audience admitted they were brought to tearsnot just by the novelty of seeing a child so young at the piano, but by the artistry and maturity of the music itself. As the curtain fell on his Carnegie Hall debut, one thing became clear: Alec Van Khajadourian isn't just a prodigy. He's an artist. And this, it seems, is only the beginning. CLEVELAND, Ohio Three weeks ago, Ayman Soliman was working as a chaplain at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, comforting families and children. On Tuesday, he sat in a jail and stared into a screen that broadcast his image into Immigration Court in Cleveland, where he had hoped a judge would allow him to post bond on civil immigration charges. Solimans arrest by immigration agents has been condemned by Democratic politicians in Ohio, Cincinnati government officials, religious leaders and community members. Despite that, his attempt at bond was put on hold. Immigration Judge Jennifer Riedthaler-Williams ordered attorneys for the Department of Homeland Security and Soliman to submit more arguments about whether she had the authority to release him. She set a new hearing for July 29. The decision marked a disappointment for Solimans attorneys and supporters, including the 20 or so people who packed the courtroom on Tuesday. This is really not justice, said one of Solimans friends, Ahmed Elady. Solimans arrest burst into the public eye on July 9. He had never been arrested or accused of committing a crime in the United States. He was granted asylum in 2018 after fleeing from Egypt, where he was arrested and beaten for helping journalists cover the Arab Spring uprising from 2010 to 2013. In the United States, he has lived in several states before landing in Cincinnati, where he serves as both an imam at Clifton Mosque and as a hospital chaplain. After he was granted asylum, he applied for a green card, a process that remains ongoing. In December, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services revoked Solimans asylum. His work permit was rescinded on July 5. Officials said that happened because he provided material support for terrorism. Soliman, while living in Egypt, worked for a charity called Al-Jameya al Shareya, which provided medical support services. The charity was accused of being connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, though Solimans attorneys disputed there was ever any link. Neither the charity nor the Muslim Brotherhood is designated as a terrorist organization. That led to his arrest on July 9 during a regular check in with ICE agents. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said he was on an FBI terrorist watch list. Supporters pointed to a lawsuit Soliman filed against the government as a possible reason for change in asylum status. He sued in 2021 after FBI background checks flagged him, causing him to lose out on a job as a chaplain with the Oregon state prison system. Officials cited his involvement with the charity. That lawsuit remains ongoing in federal court. Since his arrest, Soliman has been held in the Butler County Jail, one of some 330 people detained on civil immigration charges in Ohio. His attorneys filed a federal lawsuit, successfully arguing for a judge in Cincinnati to order that ICE ensure Soliman stayed in Butler County and wasnt moved to a jail in another state. The arrest drew swift condemnation by the Ohio House Democratic Caucus and a host of advocacy groups. The Ohio Immigrant Alliance called his arrest terrifying. Hundreds protested in Cincinnati, including once when more than a dozen people were arrested. The ACLU of Ohio and the Muslim Legal Defense Fund have argued on Solimans behalf that hell be killed if hes deported to Egypt. They have framed the immigration court proceedings as literally a fight for his life. Soliman and his attorneys had his first chance to argue for bond on Tuesday, but the proceedings quickly went off track. Department of Homeland Security attorney Cheryl Gutridge argued that Riedthaler-Williams, the judge, had no authority to rule on the case. Gutridge said that the terrorism accusations were removed from the formal charges in the case, but she stressed that because the accusations were made to revoke Solimans asylum, the immigration judge had no standing to release Soliman. She asked for more time to present some 140 pages of evidence that she said showed a broader link between the Muslim Brotherhood and the charity Soliman worked for more than a decade ago. Solimans attorney, Robert Ratliff, argued that DHS attorneys removed the allegation of terrorism from its formal charges because it was clear the accusations didnt fit. He argued that theres no proof that Soliman knew of any links between the charity and the Muslim Brotherhood. Ratliff said that Soliman worked as a low-level person in one of about 1,000 branches of the charity and that he would have no knowledge about the actions of upper-level officials. Riedthaler-Williams gave the two sides until Friday to file written arguments, and she said shell issue a written decision on whether she can rule on the case and if so, make a decision on bond. Ratliff said the case highlights the unchecked power of the federal government. This is something that is bigger than one man and one group, Ratliff said. It has far reaching implications. CLEVELAND, Ohio East Clevelands new mayor, Lateek Shabazz, fired acting Police Chief Kenneth Lundy less than a week after taking office, citing legal violations in Lundys appointment and professional conduct. Here are some key takeaways from the story that cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer published Monday. 1. New mayor fires acting chief over improper appointment Shabazz terminated Lundy, saying that Lundy had been promoted through the ranks since 2016 without completing required civil service examinations. In his termination letter, Shabazz emphasized, Police do not disobey laws and declared zero tolerance for law-breaking law enforcers. The mayor also noted that Lundys acting chief position, which began in January 2024, could not legally extend beyond 180 days and that Lundy lacked proper civil service or collective bargaining rights because he wasnt appointed from an eligibility list. Lundy could not be reached for comment Monday. 2. Romantic relationship with witness hindered slaying probe Shabazzs termination letter cited Lundys romantic involvement with the girlfriend of a homicide suspect he was investigating. The letter states Lundy failed to notify Cuyahoga County prosecutors about this relationship. The suspect, Jerry Sims, had been sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2019 based on testimony from his former girlfriend, Erica Campbell. In April, prosecutors dropped all charges against Sims, leading to his release from prison. Campbell was indicted last month on perjury charges by a Cuyahoga County grand jury. 3. East Cleveland police plagued by scandals Lundys firing adds to a series of scandals that have rocked East Clevelands police department. More than a dozen officers have been convicted in Cuyahoga County on various charges, including bribery and robbery. Lundy had replaced Brian Gerhard, who resigned amid allegations of posting racially offensive memes. Gerhard himself had replaced Scott Gardner, who pleaded guilty to a tax charge in 2024. 4. Mayor Shabazz takes office following legal battle Shabazzs appointment as mayor came through an unusual path. He replaced interim Mayor Sandra Morgan, who had served for several months while former Mayor Brandon King was suspended from office on public corruption charges. King was ultimately convicted. The 8th Ohio District Court of Appeals ruled just days before Lundys firing that Shabazz was rightfully the citys mayor, agreeing that the citys charter designated the president of City Council as the new mayor after the removal of the previous one. EATON, Ohio A band director at a high school in southwest Ohio currently is in jail on multiple charges after he was accused of sex crimes involving a student. Preble County Jail records show Paul Bingle, 49, of Oxford, Ohio, is being held on a $500,000 bond. According to WLWT Channel 5, Bingle is charged with two counts of sexual battery, unlawful sexual contact with a minor, disseminating matter harmful to a juvenile, and four counts of grooming. WDTN Channel 2 reports that a student and a staff member with Eaton Community School District contacted a police detective in Eaton last week. The student accused Bingle of having potentially inappropriate contact with another student at Eaton High School. WHIO Channel 7 reports the reporting student told investigators that Bingle might have had inappropriate relationships with two other students. The reporting student also said Bingle would make inappropriate comments of a sexual nature to female students. Investigators with the Preble County Sheriffs Office tell WDTN that they believe Bingle had been sending a 15-year-old student messages through social media for several months. He also had been having physical contact with the student for several weeks, WLWT reports. WDTN reports Bingle admitted to police to being emotionally involved with a student and also to 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, Preble County Sheriff Michael Simpson tells WDTN. 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. The investigation is ongoing. BEREA, Ohio -- Inflatables, music, hot dogs and police cruisers will take over Coe Lake Park Aug. 5 as families and officers gather for Bereas annual National Night Out. The event is designed to build stronger relationships between police and the community. The event runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. that Tuesday, featuring free activities including face painting, paddle boats, popsicles, balloon twisting and a touch-a-truck experience for kids. Police Chief Dan Clark said the event is a chance for officers and residents to connect outside of high-pressure situations. National Night Out is a great opportunity for the community to meet more of our officers and for our officers to meet them, Clark said. Our department has hired a number of new officers over the past few years, so it gives them a chance to connect with the community in a non-enforcement setting. Berea has always had a strong bond with its safety forces, and as some of the longer-tenured officers retire, it is important that the community gets to know our newer officers and officers get to know them, he said. This event has been a focal point of our outreach efforts since 2019, and officers genuinely look forward to meeting with the families that attend. Clark said events like this help build trust between officers and residents by providing a casual, low-stress setting. A lot of times when police interact with the community as part of their daily job, they are interacting with a resident who might be experiencing a crisis or has been the victim of a crime, Clark said. Events like this take place in a stress-free, casual environment. This allows for better relationship building and bonding between the police and the community that we serve. Families attending can expect a fun and welcoming environment with plenty to do. The City of Berea goes all out for this event, Clark said. The police department, fire department and its community partners provide fun and educational opportunities. This years event includes new community partners, such as the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Cleveland Hopkins Airport Fire Department and Baldwin Wallace Universitys Brain Center for Community Engagement. Baldwin Wallace is one of the largest untapped resources in our community, so we are excited to see them participate, Clark said. Planning for the event begins months in advance, with the police department working alongside the citys events planner, Megan Pochatek, and community engagement officers. Clark said outreach to local organizations starts early to coordinate logistics and ensure a variety of offerings. Without these partners, the event would not have the impact that it does, he said. It is the little details -- such as the State Farm Insurance representative who grills hot dogs for the event -- that make it so special. So many people (are) working together for the shared vision of maintaining good community and police relationships. Coe Lake Park provides the perfect setting, Clark said. Once underused, the park has become a central gathering space for the city, thanks to years of improvements initiated by Mayor Cyril Kleem and supported by organizations such as the Berea Kiwanis Club, which helped fund the lakeside pavilion. National Night Out is a reflection of that vision, Clark said. Many community partners coming together to improve the lives of those in the community. Bereas first National Night Out event was held on the campus of Ohio Guidestone. The event has grown significantly over the years and now draws hundreds of attendees. The goal of our event is to make it a welcoming event for everyone to come and share conversations, fellowship and to have an enjoyable time, Clark said. For more information, visit www.cityofberea.org or follow the Berea Police Department on social media. Read more from the News Sun. Long-stay tourism boom ignites "cool economy" in highlands Xinhua) 10:56, July 22, 2025 KUNMING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- At his guesthouse in southwest China's Kunming, Zhang Cheng wiped down the counter in preparation for the next wave of arrivals, as the country's highland summer migration unfolded, a seasonal drift measured not in days but in months. "Since summer began, we've had almost no vacancies," he said. A steady stream of guests from the sweltering nearby regions of Sichuan and Chongqing is replacing the usual ebb and flow of tourists in this capital city of Yunnan Province. As scorching heat blankets much of China, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, with average summer temperatures of 15 to 21 degrees Celsius, are experiencing the explosive growth of "cool summer residencies." Yunnan alone hosted 2.8 million long-stay visitors in the first half of 2025, a surge of 45.4 percent year on year. These visitors stayed an average of 91 days, 11 days longer than the previous year. In the province's Qujing City, famed for its cooler summers, companies like Licheng Residential Leasing are transforming idle homes into managed residences. This summer, Licheng has provided over 100 beds and three meals daily through contracted residential homes in the city's Niujie community, hosting over 200 guests so far. Industry experts believe that traditional tourism often funnels spending into transportation and tickets, limiting local economic benefits, whereas tourism engaging local residents retains more spending within the community. In Qujing, for example, dining accounts for 40 percent of long-stay visitors' spending, vastly exceeding the 10 percent typical of short-stay tourists. The city welcomed 2 million long-stay visitors in last summer, peaking at 270,000 daily, generating 23.6 billion yuan (around 3.3 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue. Leveraging its national forest park, Xishui County in Guizhou has developed 28 summer residence projects across six townships, now housing 36,000 households, mostly from other provinces. Since June, hotels and homestays have reported peak seasons. Dai Bin, head of the China Tourism Academy, highlighted the shift of the tourism model "from simply leveraging cool climates to integrating culture, wellness and learning." He cited the example of children joining forest rangers for plant identification in a nature science camp while parents learn local crafts, as well as one in Yunnan's Dali that combines cool air with holistic healing through yoga in the forest. Recognizing the potential, China's National Development and Reform Commission issued guidelines in 2023 to boost summer tourism, urging better products and infrastructure. According to Rao Xiangbi, deputy director of Yunnan's culture and tourism department, long-stay visitors now flock not just from nearby Sichuan and Chongqing, but increasingly from Guangdong, Zhejiang, and even the northernmost Heilongjiang Province, with over 80 percent being young and middle-aged people. Experts from the United Nations World Tourism Organization have noted that such climate-adaptive tourism is a growing necessity globally and is poised to become a defining future trend as climate change intensifies. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) 25 watch now Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day: 1. All-time highs 2. Earnings KOs Coca-Cola soft drinks are offered for sale at a grocery store on December 11, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Scott Olson | Getty Images Two well-known companies reported stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings Tuesday morning. General Motors beat expectations for the second quarter and reaffirmed previously cut guidance for the full year, with the automaker saying it is working to reduce its exposure to tariffs. Coca-Cola also delivered higher second-quarter numbers for adjusted earnings per share and revenue than Wall Street penciled in. However, the results didn't necessarily leave a good taste in investors' mouths. Shares of Coca-Cola were slightly lower in Tuesday's premarket, white GM shares dropped around 3%. 3. The Fed feud U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sits to testify before a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 11, 2025. Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters In an interview with CNBC on Monday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Federal Reserve should undergo an review that's existential in scope. Bessent said the central bank's ability to achieve its mission needs to be looked at with a critical eye, adding that an organization like the Federal Aviation Administration would face scrutiny if it performed similarly to how the Fed has. Bessent later clarified on social media that he would like to see the Fed internally review its "non-monetary policy operations." Still, his comments come as President Donald Trump and his team have ramped up criticism of Fed Chair Jerome Powell over the bank's decision to keep interest rates steady in recent months. Bessent also discussed tariffs in his on-air interview with CNBC, saying that the Aug. 1 deadline will "put more pressure" on trading partners to ink deals. 4. A meme stock redux OpenDoor is disrupting the real estate market with its new model. It buys homes and sells them on its platform. Opendoor Move over, GameStop . Real-estate ecommerce platform Opendoor Technologies appears to be the next big meme stock. The beaten-down penny stock surged more than 42% in Monday's session, bringing its one-month rally above 500%. (No, those aren't typos.) Bespoke Investment Group called Opendoor a "poster-child" for the recent wave of options market optimism in a note to clients. This rally can be attributed in large part to online hype from hedge fund manager Eric Jackson, who CNBC's Ari Levy profiled last week. Jackson has high hopes, to say the least: He thinks the stock could reach $82 a share, which means it would need to climb more than 2,450%. But 22% of Opendoor shares are sold short, according to FactSet, meaning this run could be fueled by short-sellers running to cover their losses and creating artificial buying demand. When that runs out, it could get ugly for those chasing this stock, just like it did during the original meme run. 5. Southwest's new direction A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 airplane prepares to takeoff at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on July 10, 2025. Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, left, speaks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, right, during a bilateral meeting between the United States and China, in Geneva, Switzerland, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday said he is likely to hash out an extension of President Donald Trump's upcoming trade deadline with China when he meets with his Chinese counterparts in Stockholm next week. The two sides in mid-May agreed to a 90-day suspension of most of the heavy tariffs on each others' goods while they continued trade negotiations. That suspension is set to expire on Aug. 12. But "we'll be working out what is likely an extension" during talks in Stockholm on Monday and Tuesday, Bessent said in a Fox Business interview. "I think trade is in a very good place with China," he said. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson later Tuesday morning confirmed that his country would host the latest round of talks between Washington and Beijing. "It is positive that both countries wish to meet in Sweden to seek mutual understanding," Kristersson said on X in a translated post. "The talks primarily concern the relationship between the USA and China, but they also have significant importance for global trade and the economy. Safeguarding rules-based international trade and Sweden's economic interests in a complex global environment is one of the government's top priorities," he said. Bessent said on Fox Business that he hoped the talks would touch on other areas of potential agreement, including getting Beijing to slow the "glut of manufacturing that they're doing and concentrate on building a consumer economy." The U.S. also wants to discuss "the sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil that they're buying there, and what they're doing to aid Russia" in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. "So I think we've actually moved to a new level with China, where it's very constructive," he said. "We're going to be able to get a lot of things done, now that trade has kind of settled in at a good level." That apparent progress follows multiple rounds of discussions that saw the U.S. and China pull back on embargo-level tariffs that threatened to upend two of the world's top trading partners. Trump in April had ratcheted up tariffs on Chinese goods to an effective 145% blanket rate, as Beijing became the top target of the new U.S. administration's efforts to reframe the global trade landscape by wielding import duties against its economic partners. China had retaliated with 125% tariffs on U.S. imports. The two sides agreed to lower their respective tariff rates by 115 percentage points after an initial round of talks in Geneva in May. In a subsequent meeting in London in late June, trade officials from Washington and Beijing affirmed their preliminary agreement. A study of affluent Chinese released this month by consulting firm Oliver Wyman found that 22% of respondents were negative about the economy when surveyed in May. It just exceeds the 21% seen in October 2022, just before Beijing announced plans to ease its stringent zero-Covid policy. Dukai Photographer | Moment | Getty Images BEIJING China's affluent are feeling just as poorly about the economy as they did during the pandemic. That's according to a study of affluent Chinese released this month by consulting firm Oliver Wyman, which found 22% of respondents were negative about the economy when surveyed in May. It just exceeds the 21% seen in October 2022, just before Beijing announced plans to ease its stringent zero-Covid policy. When asked about the five-year horizon, respondents were far less upbeat than they were back in 2022. "That to us is a fundamental shift in mindset," Imke Wouters, partner at Oliver Wyman, told CNBC. "If you think, 'I'm not having a good financial situation now,' your spending, saving patterns will be very different." "The longer this [drags] on, the more negative they become about the long term future and the more cautious they come on spending," Wouters said. These findings come as China recorded a slowdown in retail sales growth, and persistent deflationary pressure as businesses slash prices to compete. Sliding prices in property, which accounts for the majority of household wealth, have also weighed on sentiment. watch now Oliver Wyman's research was conducted from May 16 to 27. The firm has conducted similar surveys over the last three years. The latest study covered 2,000 households with a monthly income of over 30,000 yuan ($4,180). That's a fraction of consumers in China, where the per capita disposable income in urban areas for all of last year was 54,188 yuan. That's far less than the $64,474 reported for the U.S. as of December. Young people the most pessimistic Young people (aged 18 to 28) in the affluent income bracket who live in China's largest cities were the most pessimistic of the four age categories, recording the greatest drop in sentiment in May this year from April 2024, the survey showed. The unemployment rate for those aged 16 to 24 has remained in the mid-teens despite the overall jobless rate remaining far lower at around 5%. Survey respondents aged 29 to 44 were the most optimistic, especially when it comes to their five-year outlook. In China, most of the wealth sits with millennials and Gen X, Wouters said, referring to those broadly between the ages of 30 and 60. She attributed their relative optimism to higher levels of accumulated wealth and job stability, as well as the sense that the "good old days" might return a perspective she suggested might come with age. Subscribe now Weekly analysis and insights from Asia's largest economy in your inbox China's official consumer confidence index has remained depressed since hitting a record low of 85 in November 2022, when China restricted movement in an effort to prevent Covid-19 outbreaks. The latest print was 88 as of May, according to the latest available data from the National Bureau of Statistics, accessed via Wind Information. People in China have become significantly discouraged by perceived "unequal opportunity," which in 2023 became the No. 1 reason respondents believe people are poor, jumping from No. 6 nearly two decades ago. That's according to the latest survey conducted in 2023 by a team of researchers led by Martin King Whyte of Harvard University and Scott Rozelle of Stanford University, who have been monitoring the shifts since 2004. The survey found that across all income brackets, more respondents thought their families' economic situation had declined in 2023 compared with previous years. International travel is recovering A view of the logo of Rakuten Mobile at its branch in Tokyo, Japan, November 28, 2023. There's a new player making waves in an industry dominated by big banks. Imprint, the 5-year-old credit card startup, beat out banks in a competitive bidding process for a new co-branded card from online shopping platform Rakuten, CNBC has learned. The deal is the most recent sign that Imprint is gaining traction in the co-branded credit card industry. The New York-based startup also just raised $70 million in additional capital, boosting its valuation by 50% to $900 million less than a year from its previous round, according to Imprint CEO Daragh Murphy. Credit card partnerships with retailers, airlines and hotels are some of the most hotly contested deals in finance. Brands often go through extensive bidding processes to select a card company, while the companies compete for the right to issue cards to millions of loyal customers. The industry's largest players include JPMorgan Chase , Capital One, Citigroup and Synchrony . "We're talking to Fortune 500 companies about being their partner and them choosing us over Synchrony, over Barclays, over U.S. Bank," Murphy said in an interview. "We have to kind of walk and talk like we're a big, important company, even though we still have a startup ethos." That's why the company recently raised capital, bringing its total to $330 million, most of which is held on the firm's balance sheet, according to Murphy. Those funds help show potential partners that Imprint has staying power, he said. Imprint also has about $1.5 billion in credit lines from banks including Citigroup, Truist and Mizuho, which it uses to extend loans to card customers, Murphy said. The startup is behind the cards from brands including Eddie Bauer, Brooks Brothers and Turkish Airlines. A top Department of Justice official said Tuesday that he intends to meet soon with Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite serving a 20-year prison term for her role in Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking enterprise, to ask her "what do you know" about other potential sexual abusers. The extraordinary announcement by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche comes after weeks of controversy and criticism of the Trump administration for recently reneging on promises to make public more details of investigative files about the late money manager Epstein and Maxwell. President Donald Trump, who years ago had been a friend of Epstein, has chafed under that criticism and suggested that the furor over the withholding of the Epstein files is a "hoax" cooked up by Democrats. Blanche's statement on X, which was retweeted by Attorney General Pam Bondi, raises the question of whether Maxwell will cooperate with the DOJ, possibly in hopes of receiving a reduction in her prison term. Maxwell's lawyer, David Oscar Markus, in his own X post, wrote, "I can confirm that we are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully." "We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case," wrote Markus. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of crimes related to procuring and grooming teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein, who killed himself in jail after being arrested on child sex trafficking charges. She has asked the Supreme Court to hear an appeal of her conviction in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. "President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence," Blanche wrote in his social media post. U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks as (L-R) House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) and House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) listen during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on July 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. The House of Representatives will begin its August recess early to avoid Republicans being forced to vote on Democratic-backed motions related to the Jeffrey Epstein files. "There's no purpose for Congress to push an administration to do something that they're already doing," House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters on Tuesday, as he argued against quick votes on the Epstein files. "And so this is for political games," Johnson said about lawmakers' efforts to force votes on releasing Department of Justice investigative files about the notorious sex offender Epstein, and his convicted procurer, Ghislaine Maxwell. Republicans, who control the House majority, cancelled votes expected to take place on Thursday. The House will begin its August recess on Wednesday afternoon, leaving on the table a series of planned legislative votes that were unrelated to Epstein. "We can both call for full transparency and also protect victims," Johnson said. "And if you run roughshod or you do it too quickly, that's not what happens," he said. "But I'm convinced that the DOJ is going to do their job, the administration is going to do their job, and we'll do our job." Johnson lashed out at a fellow Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, whom he accused of trying to "bite" members of the GOP caucus by teaming up with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California on a vote to force the DOJ to release the Epstein files. "I don't understand Thomas Massie's motivation. I really don't," Johnson fumed. "Thomas Massie could have brought his discharge petition anytime over the last four years of the Biden administration. He could have done that at any time, and now he's clamoring as if there's some sort of timeline on it," Johnson continued. "It's interesting to me that he chose the election of President Trump to bring this, to team up with the Democrats and bring this discharge petition," the speaker said. The Trump administration, facing a strong backlash over the Department of Justice's decision to renege on a promise to release the Epstein and Maxwell case files, has taken several steps to mitigate that criticism in recent days. Attorney General Pam Bondi had DOJ lawyers last week ask federal judges to unseal the transcripts of grand jury proceedings related to the criminal cases against Epstein and Maxwell. On Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said he was speaking with Maxwell's defense lawyer to see if Maxwell "would be willing to speak with prosecutors" to see if she "has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims." Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for crimes related to her obtaining and grooming girls for Epstein to sexually abuse. Epstein killed himself while in a New York federal jail in August 2019, weeks after he was arrested on child sex trafficking charges lodged by the DOJ during Trump's first term in the White House. Blanche previously served as a criminal defense lawyer for Trump when the president was indicted in four separate cases after ending his first White House term in January 2017. Trump is a former friend of Epstein, but the two men had a falling out in the mid-2000s. A spokeswoman for the House Oversight Committee told NBC News on Tuesday that the panel will subpoena Maxwell "as expeditiously as possible." The commitee can continue doing work during the House's upcoming recess. A fund manager who oversees assets worth close to $2 billion told CNBC that the European defense bull run may soon begin to cool off as valuations hit "extreme" levels. Speaking to CNBC's "Europe Early Edition" on Monday, London-based Stephen Yiu, who manages the 1.4 billion ($1.9 billion) Blue Whale Growth Fund , said he had wound down his exposure to the European defense space. Regional defense stocks have seen an extraordinary rise in recent months, fueled by promises from the European Union , regional governments and the NATO military alliance to drastically hike defense spending. The Stoxx Europe Aerospace and Defense index has gained more than 55% since the beginning of the year. Describing the sector as "extremely interesting," Yiu explained that, around 18 months ago, his fund began a position in European defense that included allocating capital to Italian defense champion Leonardo . However, he also suggested that the spectacular rate of growth among European defense stocks may have peaked. "I think the issue with European defense even though we continue to like the companies or the sector is the valuation has been quite extreme," Yiu told CNBC. Military aircraft manufacturer Leonardo, which the Blue Whale Growth Fund holds, has gained more than 86% so far this year and it still isn't one of the sector's biggest movers. French maritime systems maker Exail Technologies is up almost 500% year-to-date, while German defense giants Renk , Hensoldt and Rheinmetall have all tripled in value. LDO-IT R3NK-FF,HAG-DE,RHM-DE,EXA-FR YTD line European defense stocks While Yiu's fund still holds Leonardo stock, it has reduced the size of its holding in recent months. He advised investors to consider valuation in terms of outperformance potential, taking into account how long it could take for Europe's blockbuster fiscal packages to trickle through to corporate earnings. Yiu argued that seeing the direct impact is likely to take "a few years." "Compared to the beginning of the year [with] Leonardo, you would have seen it in our top 10 holdings, which would be a big conviction, part of our mandate," he said. "And over the last few months, you haven't seen it [because] we have actually taken profits." He also cautioned that the entry point into European defense stocks "is probably not today." "The question is, would you still be happy to hold on to it just because it could still contribute to some outperformance?" he added. "I think the answer is yes, but I think the easy money has already been made from European defense at this moment in time." Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey visit Wellington Barracks, in central London, on March 26, 2025. U.K. government bonds, known as gilts, are selling off this morning after official data showed public borrowing rose more than expected to hit 20.7 billion ($27.9 billion) in June. Economists polled by Reuters had been expecting borrowing to reach 16.5 billion in June. The U.K.'s Office for National Statistics said on Tuesday that last month's figure marked the second-highest June borrowing since records began in 1993 after 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the U.K. budget deficit the gap between spending and tax revenues hit 16.3 billion, marking the third-highest June budget deficit since monthly records started in 1997. Britain's Office for Budget Responsibility said on Tuesday that despite the June spike, government borrowing remained within its forecasts. However, the unexpectedly sharp increase in government borrowing is likely to pile additional pressure onto U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves. "Reeves will face some tough questioning on the government's fiscal policies, following another monthly PSNB deficit that was well above expectations thanks to rising debt servicing costs," Marc Ostwald, chief economist and global strategist at London's ADM Investor Services, said in a Tuesday morning note. The yield on the benchmark 10-year gilt moved 4 basis points higher by 9:07 a.m. London time (4:07 a.m. ET), to trade at 4.646%. Bond yields and prices move in opposite directions, so government borrowing costs rise as the value of the asset goes down. Yields on gilts across the curve rose by around 4 basis points in the wake of the ONS' update. Chloe Taylor Amid rising trade and political tensions, Canadian consumers are increasingly turning their backs on American products. Giancarlo Trimarchi, owner of Vince's Market, a Canadian grocery chain, has seen the backlash firsthand. "Customers are demanding as much Canadian product as possible and get upset when they see U.S. goods," he said. In a move that could escalate the trade standoff further, President Donald Trump recently announced new tariffs of 35% on Canadian goods starting Aug. 1. "The U.S. tariffs look like they're going to last for the duration of the Trump administration in one form or another. And, that's going to keep other countries in a negative mood towards U.S. goods and services," said Gary Hufbauer, senior fellow at Peterson Institute for International Economics. A "Buy Canada" movement is also intensifying, with 71% of Canadians saying they plan to buy fewer U.S. goods this year, according to retail data consulting firm dunnhumby. That pullback is expected to cause a drop in U.S. exports to Canada, particularly in food and alcohol. In 2024, Canada was the U.S.'s second-largest food export market, valued at $28.4 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Tourism is also feeling the pressure, with foreign tourists canceling their travel plans to America. The loss in revenue from international travelers is expected to cost the U.S. economy $12.5 billion this year, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. The boycott sentiment isn't limited to Canada. European consumers, sharing the same frustrations with U.S. foreign policy, are also rejecting American products. A European Central Bank survey revealed that 44% of Europeans are turning away from U.S. brands. This has contributed to plummeting sales for U.S. companies, especially Tesla , which saw a nearly 28% drop in European sales amid a litany of other factors. While some hope trade tensions will ease and that things will return to normal, consumer surveys indicate this shift in behavior could have lasting effects on U.S. companies, even after tariffs are resolved. Watch the video to find out more about the Canadian boycott of American goods and what impact it could have on the U.S. economy. Lynsi Snyder, the billionaire owner and president of California-based burger chain In-N-Out Burger, says her company isn't moving its corporate headquarters to Tennessee it's merely opening a new office there. "We're not moving In-N-Out Burger's corporate headquarters," Snyder, 43, said on Monday. "We're not leaving California, or leaving our roots behind. Each one of our locations is here to stay." Snyder's comments came three days after an interview she gave on the "Relatable" podcast, where she spoke about her family's impending move to Tennessee. "There are a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here," Snyder, who has four children, said on the podcast. "Doing business is not easy here." Snyder's grandparents founded the popular burger chain in 1948 in Baldwin Park, California. Some initial reports suggested that Snyder would bring In-N-Out's corporate headquarters to Tennessee with her, and the company which exists predominantly on the West Coast does plan to open new locations in the Southeast and a regional headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee. The company's current headquarters in Irvine, California, will close by 2029, Snyder said last week and the company will soon be based in Baldwin Park instead, she now says. DON'T MISS: How to build a standout personal brandonline, in person and at work Snyder's comments on the podcast drew backlash from critics who accused the billionaire of fleeing California, where her family's business grew and thrived for decades, in search of lower tax rates. Some Californians criticized Snyder for pulling her family out of the state that helped her family attain generational wealth. Snyder's estimated net worth is $7.3 billion, according to Forbes. Tennessee doesn't tax individual income, and its top corporate tax rate of 6.5% is much lower than California's top rate of 8.84%. High business expenses are a key reason why California ranked 22nd on CNBC's 2025 ranking of the Top States for Business, while Tennessee ranked 8th overall. "Where I raise my family has nothing to do with my love and appreciation for our Customers in California," Snyder said on Monday. "I'm very proud of where In-N-Out started. Anyone who knows me knows how often I talk about our beginnings and how our customers here in California helped bring us to where we are today." Most of In-N-Out's 400-plus locations are in California. The company has expanded its footprint over the past three decades, and now has locations in eight states: California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Colorado and Idaho. The company is the ninth-largest burger chain in the U.S. by sales, bringing in an estimated $2.1 billion per year, according to food service consulting firm Technomic. Its national expansion efforts are notably slow and deliberate, due partially to the company's commitment to never freezing any of its ingredients, meaning that any new restaurant must be within a day's driving distance of an In-N-Out supply center. With its new facility and offices in Franklin expected to be completed in 2026, the company could soon begin opening locations in Tennessee, with 35 new restaurants eventually planned for the state, The Tennessean reported on Monday. Want to stand out, grow your network, and get more job opportunities? Sign up for Smarter by CNBC Make It's new online course, How to Build a Standout Personal Brand: Online, In Person, and At Work. Learn from three expert instructors how to showcase your skills, build a stellar reputation, and create a digital presence that AI can't replicate. 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. Indonesian sovereign wealth fund Danantara plans to sign an $8 billion engineering, procurement and construction contract with U.S. engineering firm KBR Inc to build 17 modular refineries, according to two sources familiar with the matter and an official economic ministry presentation seen by Reuters. The contract is part of last week's trade pact between Indonesia and the United States that led to a reduction in the threatened U.S. proposed tariff rate to 19% from 32%. Airlangga Hartarto, Indonesia's economic affairs minister and the chief negotiator of the deal, disclosed the modular refinery plan during a closed-door briefing to Indonesian business leaders on Monday evening. Two sources confirmed the planned deal was mentioned in a presentation that Reuters also reviewed. Danantara and KBR Inc, formerly known as Kellogg Brown & Root, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. While some details of the trade deal between the United States and Indonesia have been made public, such as for increased energy cooperation, the proposed contract for refineries has not previously been reported. Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, speaks during an event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the company at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington, on April 4, 2025. Microsoft has hired around two dozen employees from Alphabet's Google DeepMind artificial intelligence research lab in recent months, a person familiar with the recruiting told CNBC. The person asked not to be named in order to discuss internal matters. On Tuesday, Amar Subramanya, who worked at Google for 16 years, most recently as a vice president of engineering developing the Gemini assistant, said on LinkedIn that he has joined Microsoft AI as a corporate vice president. The Microsoft group works on the consumer-oriented Copilot assistant, as well as the Bing search engine. In June, Adam Sadovsky, with nearly 18 years of experience at Google, most recently as a distinguished software engineer and senior director at DeepMind, decamped to Microsoft. He's now a corporate vice president at Microsoft AI. Earlier this month, Sonal Gupta, a Google DeepMind engineering lead, said on her LinkedIn profile that she's now a member of technical staff on Mustafa Suleyman's Microsoft AI team. Jonas Rothfuss took a technical staff role at Microsoft AI in May after spending a year as a research scientist at Google DeepMind. As semiconductors have become a geopolitical hot potato over the past few years, it's no surprise that Nvidia , the leader in artificial intelligence-related chips, has been caught up in escalating tensions between the U.S. and China. When Nvidia returned to the China market last week , seemingly with the blessing of Washington, it sparked debate over the strategic implications for the U.S.' dominance in AI and China's own focus on boosting its domestic chip and tech industry. For the U.S., Nvidia's return could help cement American strength in AI globally, experts told CNBC. For China, it could buy the country time as it continues on its own path to build Nvidia rivals and keep pace with AI software development. It's a tricky relationship, underscoring the strategic importance of the graphics processing units (GPUs) that Nvidia designs and that currently underpin the world's AI. "The relationship is symbiotic but I do believe China needs the U.S. technology more at this moment in time," Daniel Newman, CEO of Futurum, told CNBC's "The China Connection" last week. Nvidia's warnings Earlier this year, the U.S. government restricted exports of Nvidia's H20 chip to China. The product, a less-advanced version of Nvidia's leading hardware, had been created to comply with previous U.S. export restrictions. Washington has expressed concerned that these chips could be used in areas such as advancing the Chinese military and China's own AI industry. Nvidia took a $4.5 billion writedown on the unsold inventory and warned the China restrictions could impact billions of dollars of potential sales. Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, has been critical of export curbs . He has said it would be a "tremendous loss" for Nvidia not to participate in China and that rival Huawei would be able to fulfil the needs of the country in its absence. Huang has argued that the restrictions could boost China's domestic semiconductor industry and that it risks eroding America's technological edge. That message appears to have got through to the White House. Nvidia said last week that it received backing from the U.S. government to resume sales of H20 in China. How the move will benefit the U.S. From a business perspective, Nvidia is expected to gain. But for Washington, the move is more strategic. "We want to keep having the Chinese use the American technology stack, because they still rely upon it," Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC last week. Nvidia has managed to gain a formidable position in the market for semiconductors required to train and run AI applications, not just because of its hardware but also because of the popularity of its software platform known as CUDA, that developers build on. This creates an "ecosystem" around Nvidia's products which has proven sticky for its users. The return of the H20 to the world's second-largest economy will "buy China time" to boost its domestic industry, according to Pranay Kotasthane, deputy director at the Takshashila Institution. "But it will also buy the U.S. companies some respite. China is Nvidia's largest market and is home to 50 per cent of AI developers according to Jensen Huang. If that path is completely closed, American firms like Nvidia will find it difficult to raise revenues and re-invest them in the next round of research and development," Kotasthane said. "It might be justifiable to restrain access to the most advanced chips but to expand the scope of the restrictions doesn't make strategic sense." China domestic chips in focus Huawei has been China's leading player in developing AI-focused chips. The country's technology companies are using some of Huawei's hardware but the firm has yet to overtake the dominance of Nvidia's latest chips. One possible outcome is that U.S. export curbs will accelerate China's domestic efforts. China has been looking to boost its domestic semiconductor industry with a particular focus on AI chips. There are a whole host of startups working on new products in the country. Nvidia's return to China could slowdown that progress. "If Nvidia's chips are made available to Chinese firms, it could weaken momentum behind domestic chip projects, cut off capital, and delay progress in domestic Chinese hardware. This retains U.S. tech influence over global AI rails," Tejas Dessai, director of research at Global X ETFs, told CNBC by email. Ultimately, it all goes back to Nvidia's software which keeps developers locked into its hardware. "Chinese model developers still prefer to use Nvidia hardware, because the domestic alternative AI stack, particularly the software development environment from Huawei is still difficult to use and lacks the depth and flexibility of Nvidia's offering," Paul Triolo, a partner at DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group, told CNBC by email. Can China catch up to Nvidia? Still, China's direction of travel and its quest for domestic providers of AI chips is unlikely to change. "Eventually Chinese AI model developers will have to transitions to a domestic AI stack," Triolo said. Nvidia's chips have proved very effective at training huge AI models that require massive amounts of data to be processed. The actual running of those AI model in products like chatbots is known as inferencing. This process may require a different type of chip, which Chinese tech giants as well as startups are working on. "In chips, China's opportunity could come when the focus shifts to inference. That's when demand for lower cost, efficient processors could scale, and we believe custom chip programs from big Chinese tech companies could ultimately serve that demand," Dessai of Global X ETFs said. U.S. President Donald Trump (L) listens as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks in the Cross Hall of the White House during an event on "Investing in America" on April 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Andrew Harnik | Getty Images The China-U.S. trade war in the first Donald Trump administration saw Apple CEO Tim Cook go on a charm offensive with the president while maintaining strong relations with Beijing. Apple avoided U.S. tariffs and continued to grow in China, while Cook earned the reputation as a skilled policy navigator and prominent American business envoy to Beijing. But, in Trump 2.0, not only has Apple lost its crown to Nvidia as America's most valuable company, several tech pundits say the AI darling's charismatic leader, Jensen Huang, has left Cook far behind in political influence. "Huang has become a global figure and taken on a new role politically due to his success in the AI revolution," said Wedbush's Dan Ives, adding that the importance of Nvidia's AI chips has "vaulted him ahead of Cook." "He has found himself in a very strong position to navigate the political landscape ... [as] there is only one chip in the world fueling the AI revolution, and that's Nvidia's," Ives said. The optics of Huang's political ascendancy have never been stronger, as Nvidia last week announced during its CEO's latest visit to Beijing that it expected to soon resume sales of its H20 AI chips to China. Huang's 'historic' week The exports of the H20 chip to China had been restricted earlier this year a move that Huang openly lobbied against. "It was a historic win for Nvidia and Jensen ... and I think it shows the increasing political influence that Huang's having within the Trump administration," Ives said. Huang had met with Trump in DC right before his China visit. The H20 reversal has been linked to trade negotiations between the U.S. and China. However, several experts told CNBC that Huang's lobbying played a large role in it. The Nvidia CEO has met with Trump many times this year, including joining him on a trip to the Middle East in May, which resulted in a massive AI deal that will see the delivery of hundreds of thousands of Nvidia's advanced AI chips to the United Arab Emirates. The Emirates deal had been seen as a way for America to push its global tech leadership, solidifying its technology stack in a new market over potential rivals like China's Huawei. After the trip, Huang increasingly began making a case against U.S. chip restrictions, arguing that they would erode America's tech leadership to the benefit of domestic Chinese players. According to a report from the New York Times, this had also been a narrative Huang had been pushing to Trump and his officials behind the scenes. Paul Triolo, senior vice president for China and technology policy lead at DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group, told CNBC that Huang's arguments aligned with the thinking of influential White House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks, further swaying the administration to lift restrictions on H20 chip exports. "Sacks and Huang both argue that limiting exports of U.S. technology such as select and non-cutting-edge GPUs to China risks pushing Chinese companies to use domestic alternatives ... At the end of the day, this argument likely carried the day on the H20 issue," he said. It's unclear when or if Nvidia will restart production lines of the H20, but if Nvidia is simply able to sell existing stocks of the chips, it will still be a "significant revenue boost and beneficial to Nvidia in terms of retaining clients' goodwill in China," Triolo added. Nvidia said it took a $4.5 billion writedown on its unsold H20 inventory in May. Huang said last week that every civil AI model should run on the U.S. technology stack, "encouraging nations worldwide to choose America," as Nvidia announced resuming H20 sales soon. Not Musk, not Cook When Trump won his second presidential election in November, many had expected a different tech CEO to hold the most influence on the administration and to act as a bridge between the U.S. and China. But Tesla's Elon Musk had a rather public break-up with Trump. In November, experts told CNBC that Musk's close ties to Trump and his business interests in China could help soften the president's aggressive trade stance toward Beijing, while cautioning against putting too much stock into the Tesla CEO. Meanwhile, under Trump's second presidency, Apple's Cook has seen some strong pushback from the administration. In May, Trump expressed a "little problem with Tim Cook" over Apple manufacturing products in India, despite the iPhone maker's commitment of a $500 billion investment in the U.S., announced in February. In response to the latest trade tensions between China and the U.S., Apple has accelerated efforts to de-risk supply chains from China by moving more iPhone production to India. Earlier this month, Trump adviser Peter Navarro also criticized Cook, saying he was not moving production out of China fast enough. Apple and Cook were seen as the most influential company and CEO, respectively, in the first Trump administration, but now its Huang and Nvidia, said Ray Wang, CEO of Silicon Valley-based Constellation Research. "Almost everything rides on Nvidia's chips." Risks remain Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street. Markets: Stocks were mixed for most of the session on Tuesday as second-quarter earnings season marched on. The S & P 500 turned slightly positive shortly after President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that the U.S. has reached a trade deal with the Philippines. As part of the agreement, the tariff rate on goods imported from the Philippines was reduced to 19% from 20% and U.S goods into the Philippines will not be subject to tariffs. Beyond the trade headlines, there's a counter-trend move happening underneath the surface that's taking some of the froth out, with profit-taking in many momentum growth stocks and buying of more value-oriented names. Called off: DuPont received positive news Tuesday after China's State Administration for Market Regulation said it suspended its antitrust investigation into DuPont China. The probe began in early April and was widely seen as retaliation for Trump's tariff escalation. When first announced, DuPont disclosed that the inquiry only concerned its Tyvek business, which generated $90 million in sales to China in 2024, representing less than 1% of the company's total sales. This is an immaterial amount, but it still caused the stock to sell-off sharply because the market was concerned about its broader implications. Specifically, the worry was that the investigation and China's retaliations would extend to DuPont's electronics business (now called Qnity), derailing the upcoming spinoff. But that's no longer the case, and it's a good thing to clear that overhang ahead of the breakup in November. DuPont has been a disappointment this year due to concerns about tariffs and its exposure to China, but shares have started to act better over the past few weeks. Tuesday's gains are putting it at its highest levels since March. The company has not announced when it will report its second-quarter earnings, but last Friday analysts at Deutsche Bank named it a "catalyst call" buy idea into the print. Up next: Club name Capital One Financial reports after the closing bell on Tuesday . We're expecting a noisy quarter due to the timing of the Discover deal, but we remain positive about the long term fundamentals. Its earnings report more generally will offer a look at the health of the U.S. consumer. Other companies reporting are Intuitive Surgical , SAP , Enphase Energy , Baker Hughes , Chubb , EQT Corporation , and Texas Instruments . Club name GE Vernova reports before the opening bell on Wednesday along with AT & T , Freeport-McMoRan , Thermo Fisher , Fiserv , Amphenol , Hasbro and Lamb Weston . (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Koo Yun-cheol, nominee for South Korea's finance minister, speaks during a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday, July 17, 2025. South Korea's new finance minister and the country's top trade envoy will meet with U.S. counterparts on Friday for talks on U.S. tariffs, Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said on Tuesday. The country's foreign and industry ministers will also visit the U.S. for trade discussions as early as this week, Koo told reporters after a meeting of economic ministers. Koo took office on Monday. The four officials complete a new team under President Lee Jae Myung who was sworn in on June 4 after winning a snap election called after his predecessor's ouster for trying to declare martial law. The political turmoil that ensued delayed South Korea's response to U.S. President Donald Trump's punishing tariff regime imposed on dozens of trade partners, including key industrial powerhouses that are also security allies. Koo and Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo will hold talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Friday at the request of the U.S. officials, the finance minister said. "We've had discussions from the perspective of national interest and pragmatism and we'll do our best to prepare a meticulous strategy until we're leaving," Koo said, declining to answer whether Seoul was hoping to push back the August 1 deadline before reciprocal tariffs set by Trump are due to come in. On Monday, South Korea's new Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said tariff talks with the United States were in a critical phase that could result in a range of possible outcomes and pledged an all-out effort to wrap up negotiations by August 1. Trump has vowed to slap tariffs on a range of countries including South Korea to reduce what he called unfair trade imbalances. On Saturday, Japan's top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said he planned to visit Washington this week to hold further ministerial-level talks, as Tokyo hopes to clinch a deal by its August 1 deadline. Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading: Opendoor Technologies , Kohl's The two stocks have been cited on Reddit's Wall Street Bets forum and have seen some wild moves as retail traders chase meme stocks . Opendoor, an online real estate startup, surged earlier in the day, but was recently down nearly 2%. Still, shares have gained more than 500% this month. The department store didn't appear to have any major corporate announcements, but Kohl's stock surged 37% . General Motors Shares tumbled nearly 7% despite the automaker beating sales and profit expectations in the second quarter. Adjusted earnings before interest and taxes of $3.04 billion were higher than analysts estimated, but down more than 31% from a year ago. Lockheed Martin The maker of the Air Force's F-35 fighter bomber dropped 6% after quarterly revenue of $18.16 billion trailed analysts' consensus estimate of $18.57 billion, according to LSEG. Earnings per share of $1.46 weren't comparable to estimates. Lockheed also reported a $1.6 billion loss attributed to some defense programs, and management said the "ongoing program review process identified new developments that caused us to re-evaluate the financial position on a set of major legacy programs." Medpace The outsourced clinical development services provider soared 48% after second-quarter net income and revenue topped analysts' estimates and it raised full-year guidance. GAAP earnings of $3.10 per share exceeded the FactSet consensus estimate of $2.98, while revenue of $603.3 million beat an expected $538.8 million. IQVIA The health-care technology and data analytics company saw shares surge 17%. IQVIA narrowed its guidance for full-year adjusted earnings, calling for $11.75 to $12.05 per share. That compares to its earlier call for $11.70 to $12.10 per share, and the FactSet consensus estimate of $11.83 per share. Second-quarter results also surpassed the Street's estimates. Equifax Shares of the consumer credit company slid nearly 7% on disappointing guidance for the current quarter. Equifax sees third-quarter adjusted earnings ranging between $1.87 and $1.97 per share, while FactSet consensus estimates sought $1.99 per share. The revenue outlook for the period came in at $1.51 billion to $1.54 billion, compared to the Street's estimate for $1.53 billion. Steel Dynamics Shares retreated nearly 3% after the steelmaker's second-quarter results trailed expectations, with $2.01 in earnings per share missing the Street's $2.10 and revenue of $4.57 billion trailing the consensus for $4.76 billion. D.R. Horton The homebuilder surged 14% after fiscal third-quarter results came in above expectations, with earnings of $3.36 per share exceeding the $2.89 anticipated by analysts surveyed by FactSet. Revenue of $9.23 billion topped the estimated $8.75 billion. PulteGroup Shares popped 8% after the home construction company posted second-quarter earnings of $3.03 per share, topping analysts' estimates of $2.96, per LSEG. PulteGroup's $4.40 billion in revenue also came in ahead of the expected $4.39 billion. Northrop Grumman Shares jumped 8% after Northrop Grumman posted second-quarter revenue of $10.35 billion, topping the LSEG consensus estimate of $10.07 billion. Agilysys Shares sank 9% after the hospitality software company's first-quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, of $12.5 million lagged the FactSet consensus estimate of $14.0 million. NXP Semiconductors The Dutch semiconductor maker dropped 2% after second-quarter sales declined due to slow demand in the automotive market. Otherwise, NXP beat on the top and bottom lines, with adjusted earnings of $2.72 per share on revenue of $2.93 billion exceeding $2.67 in earnings per share on $2.90 billion in revenue expected by analysts polled by LSEG. Albertsons The grocery chain rose nearly 3% after UBS upgraded Albertsons to a buy from neutral, and raised its 12-month price target to $27 per share, implying upside of 35%. Zions Bancorporation Shares rose almost 3% after Zions posted second-quarter earnings of $1.63 per share, beating an LSEG consensus estimate of $1.31 per share. Zions' CEO Harris Simmons said, "We're incrementally more optimistic about growth in the back half of the year than we'd previously been." CNBC's Sarah Min, Darla Mercado, Lisa Han, Alex Harring, Spencer Kimball, Yun Li and Tanaya Macheel contributed reporting. Tech is giving dot-com bubble vibes. Goldman Sachs' trading desk pointed out that the S & P 500 tech sector makes up more than a third of the index's total market cap, matching a record going back to 1999 and early 2000. "In total, the subsector boasts a market cap of ~$18.5trn this subsector market cap size alone is larger than the entire market cap of every country outside of the U.S.," the trading desk said. Major market concentration in one sector is not new, even for this bull run. Despite some instances in which other sectors began outperforming, tech has remained the Wall Street stalwart during the run to record highs over the past few years. However, the current size of tech makes the broader market vulnerable to idiosyncratic pressures in the space. .SPX YTD mountain SPX year to date Tech could be under pressure in the next two weeks, as major names get set to report earnings . Alphabet is slated to post results Wednesday after the bell. Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and Meta Platforms are due out next week. The market will need to see strong numbers from these names for the S & P 500 to continue its march to record levels. The benchmark on Monday posted fresh all-time closing and intraday highs. On top of that, the rest of the S & P 500 may be showing signs of fatigue. The Invesco S & P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP) closed lower on Monday, as it gave up an earlier gain for the day. One day doesn't make a trend. But if the S & P 500 excluding tech slides and the rest of the market can't pick up the slack, there could be trouble ahead for investors. People dine inside during the opening of the Tesla Diner and drive-in restaurant and supercharger on Santa Monica Blvd. in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles on July 21, 2025. Elon Musk's flagship Tesla Diner opened Monday in Hollywood, California, and the CEO is already eyeing expansion. "If our retro-futuristic diner turns out well, which I think it will, @Tesla will establish these in major cities around the world, as well as Supercharger sites on long distance routes," Musk wrote on social media platform X. He later replied to a user requesting a location in Starbase, Texas, which is home to Musk's SpaceX, saying "Ok." The Tesla Diner has 80 charging stations, two giant megascreens and classic American diner food. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Diners can watch movies on two of the 66-foot screens or in their vehicle using the Tesla Diner app. The location features all things Tesla, with merchandise and an Optimus robot serving popcorn. Scroll through photos from the Tesla Diner below: Jeff Bezos, founder and executive chairman of Amazon, takes the stage during The New York Times' annual DealBook Summit, at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on Dec. 4, 2024. President Donald Trump met with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos at the White House last week, CNBC has learned. The meeting between Trump and Bezos, one of the world's richest men, lasted for more than an hour, according to two people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the conversation was private. Amazon declined to comment on the meeting. A spokesperson for Bezos didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The nature and exact timing of the visit couldn't be learned. A Gulfstream G700 private jet linked to Bezos landed in Dulles, Virginia, outside Washington, on July 14 before taking off the next day, according to Jack Sweeney, a programmer who tracks flight data from jets owned by Elon Musk, Bill Gates and others. Bezos, who also owns rocket company Blue Origin, has cozied up to Trump during his second term in the White House. Trump frequently hurled insults at Bezos during his first term, largely because of the Amazon founder's ownership of The Washington Post. watch now President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. has "concluded" a trade deal with the Philippines that includes a 19% tariff on goods imported from the Southeast Asian country. Manila will not impose tariffs on U.S. goods as part of the deal, according to Trump, who praised the country for what he described as "going OPEN MARKET with the United States." "In addition, we will work together Militarily," Trump said in a Truth Social post announcing the deal, which came shortly after Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos left the White House. U.S. President Donald Trump and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., meet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 22, 2025. Kent Nishimura | Reuters The Philippines has yet to confirm that a deal has been struck. Neither the White House nor the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., immediately responded to CNBC's requests for more information on Trump's post. In the Oval Office earlier Tuesday, Trump said, "We're very close to finishing a trade deal. A big trade deal, actually." Marcos, sitting next to Trump, said his country has been forced to modernize its military due to Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. Warren Buffett and the media by the BNSF Railway display at the Annual Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder's Meeting in Omaha, NE on May 6, 2017. Warren Buffett on Tuesday knocked down reports that Berkshire Hathaway -owned railroad BNSF was working with Goldman Sachs on a takeover of a rival. The 94-year-old billionaire investor told CNBC's Becky Quick that no one from Goldman had talked to him or Greg Abel, who is set to succeed Buffett as Berkshire CEO at the end of the year. Buffett added that he would not seek advice from external bankers on deals. The "Oracle of Omaha" has long voiced disdain for expensive intermediaries as banks usually have a big incentive to make deals. On Monday, Semafor and Reuters reported, citing anonymous sources, that Berkshire tapped Goldman to work on a potential takeover after rival Union Pacific expressed interest in Norfolk Southern. In 2011, Berkshire bought BNSF, one of the largest freight railroad networks in North America, paying $26.5 billion for the 77% of the company it didn't previously own. Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. ET. Here's a recap of Tuesday's key moments. 1. The stock market is lower Tuesday as investors weigh the latest earnings and trade news. "It seems like a very mixed day because there's a rotation going on. People [are] going out of hot stocks into cold stocks," Jim Cramer said. "You don't want to go buy the stocks that I would describe as meme stocks. You want to buy the real stocks." Jeff Marks, director of portfolio analysis, said that some stocks are "prone for some profit taking" after "going up day after day." In the latest on trade, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday that President Donald Trump's China tariff deadline on Aug. 1 is likely to be extended when he meets Chinese officials next week in Stockholm. Meanwhile, Club name Danaher reported better-than-expected earnings. We trimmed shares on Monday. 2. Some of our AI portfolio names, including Nvidia , Broadcom , GE Vernova , and Eaton , are down following a Wall Street Journal report that the Stargate AI project between Softbank and OpenAI is struggling to get going. "Watch profit taking" in those companies, said Marks. Initial plans for an immediate $100 billion investment has shifted into a smaller data center project that is to be built by the end of the year. Separately, OpenAI announced Tuesday that it is partnering with Oracle to develop 4.5 gigawatts of additional Stargate data center capacity in the U.S.. According to Barclays analysts, the scale back presents "a clear risk to the bull thesis" on AI capex and electrical equipment demand. 3. Eaton , Eli Lilly , and Nvidia made Morgan Stanley's list of 15 names that they are confident about going into earnings. Analysts expect Eli Lilly to outperform Street estimates for the second quarter, with a roughly $760 million beat on sales of its diabetes and weight loss drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound. As for Eaton, Morgan Stanley is confident in Eaton's pricing power and ability to drive volumes higher. The firm expects an acceleration in revenue and earnings per share at Nvidia on the back of strong demand for its AI chips. 4. Stocks covered in Tuesday's rapid fire at the end of the video were: Coca Cola , RTX , General Motors , Sherwin Williams , and DR Horton . (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long AVGO, ETN, GEV, LLY, NVDA. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Indore-based Rajratan Global Wire expects to achieve a revenue target of 1,100 crore for financial year 2026.Sunil Chordia, Chairman and Managing Director of the company, added the business is set to grow by 15% in volume this year, driven by an increase of 4,0005,000 tonnes from the Thailand facility and another 15,000 tonnes from the Chennai plant, which is currently operational.On the margin front, Chordia indicated a consolidated margin band of 1315% for the year.Thailand is currently operating at 80% capacity, with room to improve by another 1012%, which could add 4,0005,000 tonnes in additional volumes.Chennai, with a current capacity of 30,000 tonnes, achieved about 40% utilisation in quarter one and is expected to cross 50% utilisation in the coming quarters, reaching breakeven levels.Thailand's total capacity stands at 60,000 tonnes, and the company is targeting sales of 48,000 tonnes from the region this year. While Chennai has an existing capacity of 30,000 tonnes, it can be expanded to 60,000 tonnes with a small investment.The company is targeting total exports of 45,000 tonnes from its India and Thailand operations, contributing around 25% to its consolidated revenue.Rajratan continues to hold a 35% market share in India and 31% in Thailand.In the AprilJune quarter of FY26 (Q1FY26), Rajratan Global Wire reported revenue of 247 crore, a net profit of 13.5 crore, and margins at 12.60%.Rajratan Global Wire's current market capitalisation is 2,137 crore. The stock is currently trading at 420.05 as of 3:24 pm on the NSE and has declined 26% over the last year. India has officially surpassed China as the second-largest international source of air travellers to Thailand in the summer of 2025 (June and July), according to industry reports and recent data from global aviation analytics firm OAG.India was Thailand's sixth-largest international airline market in the summer before COVID-19.Data released by global research agency OAG shows that, in terms of seats, it has since soared above Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and Hong Kong to take second place.Between June and July 2025, the number of seats available between India and Thailand rose by more than 30% annually. India became the only market outside of China to offer this many seats, with about 2.2 million available.China, on the other hand, had a 20% decline from summer 2024, going from almost 7.4 million seats in the summer of 2019 to just over 4.1 million this year, according to Money Control.Three primary variables, according to OAG, are responsible for the rise in travel from India to Thailand: Thailand has greatly reduced travel expenses and procedures for Indian nationals by granting them a visa-free or visa-on-arrival status.Both nations invested in cooperative marketing campaigns during 2025, which was designated as the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism, to increase demand for travel. Thailand is at the top of the list of short-haul overseas locations that Indian leisure tourists are increasingly choosing.Vietnam, on the other hand, had a more moderate growth rate of 21% year over year, whereas Taiwan and Japan saw single-digit rises. Furthermore, compared to last year, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea had lower seat capacities this summer. Thailand, which is largely dependent on tourism, has benefited greatly from the notable increase in travel from India, which has helped to offset the sharp drop in international travel between the Kingdom and China.The decline in Chinese travel affected Thailand's economy, which depends heavily on tourism. Gains from India, the UAE, Japan, and other markets have practically offset the loss of around one million seats on China-Thailand flights from 2024, leaving a net rise of about 400,000 seats.Furthermore, by mid-June 2025, more than one million Indian tourists had visited Thailand, which was a significant turning point in the post-pandemic recovery of the kingdom, per The Economic Times. The US State Department said on Monday (July 21), that the Chinese government had blocked a US 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.The US Patent and Trademark Office is part of the federal Department of Commerce. The individuals name and whether the person was detained were not disclosed. The US Commerce Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Chinas 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 (July 22). "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 (July 19) that a US 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 US government, the newspaper said, citing sources.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. Beijings foreign ministry said on Monday (July 21) 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. The US bank suspended all employee travel to China after Maos exit ban, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters last week, saying Mao was a US citizen. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday signalled that Washington and Beijing are likely to extend their temporary suspension of tariffs when officials meet in Stockholm, Sweden, next week.Speaking in an interview with Fox Business, Bessent said the discussions, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, would likely result in an extension of the current 90-day pause on most tariffs between the worlds two largest economies. That suspension, agreed upon in mid-May, is set to expire on August 12.Well be working out what is likely an extension during talks in Stockholm, Bessent said. I think trade is in a very good place with China.Bessent also indicated the US hopes to use the meetings to press Beijing on broader economic issues, including reducing manufacturing overcapacity and encouraging the development of Chinas consumer economy. Other items on Washingtons agenda include addressing Chinese purchases of sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil, and Beijings role in supporting Russias ongoing invasion of Ukraine.I think weve moved to a new level with China, where its very constructive, Bessent said. Were going to be able to get a lot of things done, now that trade has kind of settled in at a good level.The upcoming talks mark another step forward following months of negotiations that saw both sides gradually roll back steep tariffs imposed earlier this year.In April, President Donald Trumps administration raised tariffs on Chinese goods to an effective blanket rate of 145%, part of a broader effort to reshape the global trade order. Beijing retaliated with 125% tariffs on US imports.However, progress was made in Geneva in May when the two sides agreed to lower their respective tariff rates by 115%. A subsequent meeting in London in late June reaffirmed that preliminary agreement. 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 Could the concept of the crime of receiving stolen property where, in some US states, the defendant merely has to have reason to believe that the property may have been stolen apply? Enterprises know that much of the training data in the LLMs they use violates copyright and other rules, but they treat it as a dont ask, dont tell situation. If this explodes in two years, corporations are going to have a hard time convincing a judge or jury that they didnt have a good idea that the underlying data was stolen. There are also the derivative risks. Lets say that someone has figured out a new way of calculating geothermal energy output. What if an LLM maker scraped that information without permission and trained its model on it? And, say, ExxonMobil licensed that model and inadvertently used the information to create a more profitable means of extracting energy that generates $5 billion in fresh profits? Could the original inventor later sue ExxonMobil for a portion of those profits? This is something I have been thinking about intermittently for the past year or so, said Jason Andersen, a VP/principal analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy. This is going to be a big consideration in the future. As the costs of training and tuning open-source foundation models continue to drop, enterprises would be foolish to leave themselves exposed, especially in this high-stakes regulatory environment. Roughly five years after several Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia episodes were plucked from streaming platforms for blackface, redface, brownface and other offensive jokes, fans have found a way to watch them anyways venturing to their public libraries in pursuit of the pulled installments. Looking for banned episodes? Head to your local library! one Redditor captioned a photo of their haul, which consisted of Seasons Eight, Nine and Fourteen, featuring three of the five removed episodes. Apparently fascinated by the prospects of checking out Always Sunnys banned installments, several fans flocked to the comments to express their envy, share links to pirating websites and make a whole lot of jokes. Don't Miss Did the library video clerk guy recommend Lethal Weapon 6? wrote one commenter, referencing the shows penultimate Lethal Weapon episode. Ill be honest, Im not sure how they talked the local library into displaying those seasons, added another, paraphrasing The Gang Makes Lethal Weapon 7. Always Sunny fans, however, arent the only ones standing by the series more controversial episodes. Nearly four years after Rob Mac admitted that his barometer is off for whats appropriate in reference to the shows Lethal Weapon episodes Weve spent 15 years making a show about the worst people on the planet, he said at a 2021 FX press conference some of his co-stars have more recently begged to differ. Ahead of the shows current 17th season, Glenn Howerton told the New York Times style magazine, T, that a true bigot probably wont be able to appreciate the humor behind the show. Advertisement Charlie Day has also refused to denounce these episodes, explaining to both Mac and Howerton that if he could, he wouldnt eradicate a single episode of the series during a stop by Hot Ones Versus back in June. Thats impossible. I would delete none of them from existence, Day said before offering to take on whatever hot sauce thing I gotta do. Of course, hed say that. Its not like his illiterate Always Sunny character, Charlie Kelly, has ever even been to a library. It should go without saying that Shaun of the Dead wouldnt exist without the work of George A. Romero. The late filmmaker pioneered the zombie movie genre with classics such as Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead and the Japanese commercial for Resident Evil 2 that was better than every single Resident Evil movie. So naturally, when Shaun of the Dead star and co-writer Simon Pegg visited the Criterion Closet i.e., the room beloved by movie obsessives who arent claustrophobes he highlighted Romeros classic Night of the Living Dead. George Romero basically invented the modern zombie movie, and I dont think he gets enough credit for it, Pegg argued. Because a lot of people have taken his idea myself included, and Edgar Wright, although (Shaun of the Dead) was very much a tribute to George and sort of run with it, as if its like the public domain, like Frankensteins monster or the Mummy or whatever. Don't Miss Of course, technically Night of the Living Dead is in the public domain, because some dummy forgot to include the copyright information in the films credits after a last-minute title change. But I understand what Pegg means. Shaun of the Dead is clearly a loving homage to Romeros films, hence why scenes contain excerpts from Goblins iconic Dawn of the Dead score, and at one point, Nick Frosts character Ed quotes the doomed Johnny from Night of the Living Deads opening scene. Advertisement But when Pegg and Wright screened their film for Romero, Pegg couldnt help but apologize to the director. I remember we showed George Shaun of the Dead, Pegg explained. He said, I really enjoyed the movie. And I said, Im sorry because Philip, Bill Nighys character, he reanimates quite quickly in Shaun of the Dead, and I know in Dawn of the Dead, Roger takes quite a while before he comes back. Advertisement Its true, Philip comes back from the dead mere seconds after passing away. Advertisement Advertisement Whereas Rogers zombification is a prolonged process, which makes it all the more unnerving when his corpse begins to slowly rise from underneath his blanket. Thankfully, Romero was totally fine with the change. I had this verbal diarrhea, like I was apologizing for messing with his mythology, Pegg recalled. And he went, Simon, I didnt mind. I was like, Phew. Advertisement In fact, Romero was so pleased about Shaun of the Dead that he invited Pegg and Wright to play zombies in his 2005 film Land of the Dead. Of course, he may not have been so chill about the whole thing had they made the zombies run. Many people were eagerly awaiting Jon Stewarts rebuttal to the news that his good friend Stephen Colberts show, The Late Show, was being canceled by CBS. For those waiting for a total teardown, Stewart didnt disappoint. He said go fuck yourself, and sack the fuck up, and to the powerful backing of a gospel backbone, begged American institutions to stop complying in advance. But the most valuable part of the 11-minute segment was actually a bit of business advice for his parent company, Paramount. Now, I acknowledge that late-night TV is a struggling financial model, Stewart joked. Were basically operating a Blockbuster kiosk inside of a Tower Records. But when your industry is facing changes, you dont just call it a day! When CDs stopped selling they didnt go Oh, well music, its been a good run. Don't Miss The fact that CBS didnt try to save their number one rated network late-night franchise, thats been on the air for over three decades, is part of whats making everyone wonder was this purely financial? Or maybe the path of least resistance for your $8 billion merger, Stewart continued. Stewart then launched into a little segue about Trump before getting back to his business assessment. Understand this, Stewart said. The shows you now seek to cancel, censor and control a not insignificant portion of that $8 billion value came from those fucking shows. Thats what made you that money. Advertisement Shows that say something, shows that take a stand, shows that are unafraid, Stewart continued, while seeming to shake with rage. And not to believe me this is not We speak truth to power. We dont. We speak opinions to television cameras. But we try, we fucking try every night. At this point, Stewart picked up his signature lecturing pen. If you believe, as corporations or as networks, that you can make yourself so innocuous that you can serve a gruel so flavorless, that you will never again be on the boy kings radar, A) why will anyone watch you? And B) you are fucking wrong, Stewart said, to applause. Then, Stewart recapped the most recent Trump versus media legal battle one against FOX News and Wall Street Journal owner Rupert Murdoch. Donald Trump is suing Rupert Murdoch the man, other than Biden, (who) may be most responsible for getting Trump elected. FOX spends 24 hours a day blowing Trump, and its not enough, Stewart exclaimed. Imagine suing someone mid-blow. Advertisement There was then a really horrible impersonation of Trump giving directions on fellatio, something we all could have gone without thinking about. But the point far surpassed the deep-throated voice Stewart adopted. It was a real warning for every executive looking to follow the path of least resistance: that path is damned boring. More importantly to their bottom line, there arent any viewers down that path. Whether youre trying to court the TikTok-addled Gen Zers or the late-night geriatrics, no one is looking to listen to someone who doesnt have anything to say. You cant even make mascara haul videos without having strong opinions on which one offers the best lash lift. Who is going to sit around to watch milquetoast thoughts on the most incendiary political figure of the 21st century? CBS and Paramount will be hard-pressed to find them. Thanks to the Wall Street Journal (and you know, the Crimes), the past week has been a nonstop barrage of information about Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epsteins alleged pedophilic exploits. Because a pervert and criminal is the President of the United States, were all collectively subjected to the nasty little notes nasty little men supposedly send each other. Late night has been eating well off the endless buffet of Trump-Epstein news, and The Daily Show is no exception. Jon Stewart didnt miss the opportunity to take plenty of shots at Trump and everyone tasked with covering the most recent development in the Epstein saga. A quick recap for those not following the play-by-play of Pedo-geddon: On July 17th, WSJ published the details of a letter Trump allegedly sent to Epstein for his 50th birthday, which reportedly included a crude drawing of a naked woman featuring details like breasts and pubic hair. The words were worse somehow. There was a script Trump supposedly wrote portraying a conversation between Trump and Epstein, which felt creepier than the serial killer monologues on Criminal Minds: Evolution. So, WSJ publishes this letter. Naturally, Trump retaliates by filing a lawsuit against WSJ owner Rupert Murdoch and banning the publication from sending a reporter on the upcoming presidential trip to Scotland. All of this is catnip to outlets like MSNBC and CNN, which run wall-to-wall coverage on all of the salacious details. Don't Miss Stewarts Epstein segment cut to several of these news clips, the funniest of which is Wolf Blitzer saying public hair as if he is physically and psychically pained by the act. After finishing reading the alleged letter, Stewart seemed ready to combust. Every line in that card sounds like the password you have to use to get into the orgy in Eyes Wide Shut, he explained. Stewart went on to dismantle the numerous defenses the Trump camp has mustered against the latest spate of Epstein news. It is troubling to me that Team Trumps talking points are he doesnt even know that word and he cant draw and not Why would anyone think he would write a creepy letter to a pedophile? Advertisement Later in the segment, Stewart cut deeper. I guess in Trumps mind, he doesnt have to keep his promises to MAGA, as long as he continues to attack the people that MAGA hates, Stewart argued. Thats his get-out-of-jail-free card. Trump believes he has immunity as long as he remains a petty tyrant; only demanding liberal institutions surrender to his whims. And whats crazy is, liberal institutions have. It was the perfect segue to Stewarts extended reaction to the news that Stephen Colberts Late Show was canceled on the same day WSJ published the Epstein letter. It was during this segment that Stewart flexed his name-calling skills, dubbing Trump fragile, vengeful, so insecure and suffering terribly from a case of chronic penis insufficiency. (That ones a reference to Trumps swollen ankles, caused by chronic venous insufficiency.) While his analysis of MAGAs meltdown and the failed Team Trump strategy to believably dissuade speculation about his involvement with a world-famous child abuser was good, it was Stewarts insults that packed the real punch. Trump doesnt care if we believe him; he just doesnt want us making fun of him. Bill Cosby had a running joke in his stand-up routine that he wanted to incorporate into his new sitcom, The Cosby Show, according to Remind Magazine. Cosbys own son was 15 years old and 6-foot-2, which made parental lectures a challenge. In the early versions of the Cosby scripts, Theo would get in trouble and Cliff Huxtable would admonish him: Theo! Stand up! When the kid stood and towered over his TV pop, Cliff would change his tune. Theo, sit down! So they were looking for that, Malcolm-Jamal Warner revealed on Live with Kelly and Ryan back in 2023. Warner, who passed away tragically this week from an accidental drowning, knew he wasnt what the producers had in mind. The actor was only 13 and at his full adult height, he never scraped six feet tall. Don't Miss But producers couldnt find a talented kid whose physique fit the joke. At the last minute, my agent resubmitted me, and I auditioned, Warner remembered. I was literally the last person they saw. I auditioned at 6:30 p.m. on Good Friday, 1984. The callback auditions were the following Monday. The network flew out (presumably taller) young actors from New York and Chicago, and Warners last-minute audition earned him a spot as well. I slid in at the last minute, he said. Though The Cosby Show had to cut the height joke, the character of Theo would continue to draw from Cosbys real-life son, Ennis. Like Theo, Ennis was a so-so student who learned that he had dyslexia in his teens. When Cosbys TV son discovered he had dyslexia as well, it was a turning point for Theo, Warner later said. That whole, regular people getting Ds in school that was Ennis real experience. The family on The Cosby Show celebrated the diagnosis, a weird turn of events until you understand there was an explanation for Theos struggles. Im not dumb! laughed Warner about Theos realization. People still tell me that its because of your show that I found out I had dyslexia. Advertisement Ennis was murdered when he was still a young man at 27, and like Cosby's son, Warner is also gone too soon. Bill Cosby spoke to CBS News about his television sons legacy. He was always a great studier, and I enjoyed working with him very much, Cosby said. He was very professional. He always knew his part. ... He always knew his lines, and he always knew where to go. The two stayed in contact until the end of Warners life. Malcolm calls here regularly, Cosby told ABC News. I enjoyed working with him very much. Disgraced comedy icon Bill Cosby is mourning his late Cosby Show co-star Malcolm-Jamal Warner, whom he considered to be a son both on and off the screen. On Sunday, Warner, who played the Huxtable Familys only son Theodore on The Cosby Show, died at the age of 54 in a drowning accident while on a family vacation at Playa Cocles in Limon Province, Costa Rica. Warners sudden passing sent shockwaves through the TV comedy industry, as fans and co-stars alike have spent the beginning of this week grieving the late actor and celebrating his contributions to the craft. Among the many mourners of the TV icon is Cosby, who claims that, despite his own public fall from grace due to a 2018 conviction for sexual assault that was later overturned, he and Warner maintained a close relationship and talked regularly. Don't Miss In an interview with ABC News, Cosby said, Malcolm calls here regularly, saying of the entire cast of Huxtable kids from The Cosby Show, While I was their TV dad, I never stopped being a father to them. "He was always a great studier, and I enjoyed working with him very much," Cosby told ABC News in a phone interview about the passing of Warner, saying of the late actor's approach to work on The Cosby Show, "He was very professional. He always knew his part... He always knew his lines, and he always knew where to go." Advertisement Meanwhile, Cosby's official spokesperson, Andrew Wyatt, told PEOPLE that Cosby said the news of Warner's passing "reminded him of the same call he received when his son died. Wyatt said of Warner's relationship with Cosby leading up to his passing, "He had just done a concert in Minnesota and called Mr. Cosby and talked about it. They spoke all the time. He said Malcolm was changing humanity." While Warner may not have publicly discussed his allegedly close relationship with Cosby in his final years, he certainly considered The Cosby Show to be a landmark series, professionally, personally and politically. The show shed light on the previously ignored Black middle class, which has always existed, Warner told PEOPLE in 2023. People in Cliff and Claires generation were often the first in their families to ever go to college, many of them becoming doctors and lawyers, like Barack and Michelle Obama, Warner explained, Theres even an argument that the show laid the groundwork for having a Black President of the United States. Warner is survived by his wife and his daughter. Chinese FM holds talks with Croatian counterpart Xinhua) 10:57, July 22, 2025 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) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) You might think it next to impossible to mismanage water quite so grossly in a nation surrounded by seas, running with rivers and notorious for its wet climate. But that is precisely what our water companies and successive governments have done for decades, outrageously turning the 'stuff of life' into a massive polluter and danger to health. Yesterday ministers finally and belatedly swore to end this national disgrace, pronouncing what Environment Secretary Steve Reed described as 'the start of a water revolution' and the biggest shake-up of the water industry since privatisation. Reed certainly produced the right kind of rhetoric wisely so, you might think, given the vast public anger at what we see, and smell, around us. Water companies have been 'allowed to profit at the expense of the British people', while soaring bills hit families. Vital infrastructure has been left to crumble while rivers, lakes and seas 'are polluted with record levels of sewage'. The water industry, said the minister, is 'broken'. Most of us could have told him that. From fouled beaches to rapacious foreign owners who profit so mercilessly, this is one of the greatest and most enduring scandals of British public life. The question is how things will ever change. Yesterday. Environment Secretary Steve Reed described as 'the start of a water revolution' and the biggest shake-up of the water industry since privatisation Not a single river in England is now officially rated as in 'good' condition. Pictured: the River Avon in Warwick Detailed reforms are to be set out in a Government white paper, succeeded by legislation, following a dry, 464-page report published yesterday. Sir Jon Cunliffe, the author, calls this a 'Great Stink moment' after the stench that pervaded Parliament in 1858, motivating politicians to tackle sewage in the Thames. Reed pledged to halve sewage spills within five years, to make British waterways 'the cleanest since records began', and ensure families 'never again' face huge increases in water bills. We'll see. There is abundant reason to be sceptical. Promises to clean up the country's rivers stretch back more than 50 years. Yet waters have continued to get filthier and are at their worst ever. Incredibly, not a single river in England is now officially rated as in 'good' condition. Anti-pollution activists are understandably suspicious. James Wallace, chief executive of River Action, calls the report's recommendations 'vague policy nudges' squandering 'a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset a broken and corrupted system'. Surfers Against Sewage agrees, saying: 'This is not transformational reform; this is putting lipstick on a pig.' A giant porker at that. Just last Friday, a report showed the most serious sewage spills, damaging water life and threatening human health, rose by 60 per cent last year. Sewage works released untreated waste into rivers and seas 550,000 times in those 12 months, while 14,500 sewerage overflows, only supposed to operate in emergencies, discharged for an unprecedented 3.6 million hours. Meanwhile, hosepipe bans are being imposed around the country even though more than three billion litres of water are being lost from leaky pipes every day. At their present rate of investment, water companies would take 700 years to fix them. Instead of investing, the companies have been ripping us off. Since privatisation, their owners have taken out more than 77billion in dividends while building up debts of more than 64billion. Critics say this means they have paid themselves everything they borrowed, and more besides. A Greenwich University report concluded: 'Since privatisation, shareholders have literally invested less than nothing.' Company executives have been no less assiduous in filling their boots. Only last week, Southern Water defied ministers' attempts to ban undeserved bonuses in the industry by almost doubling its CEO's pay to 1.4million. More disgracefully, this followed the company imposing a devastating 53 per cent price increase on its 4.7million customers. If not quite at that level, the industry's average increase is still an extortionate 26 per cent. Prices are due to rise by more than another 30 per cent over the next five years, exacerbating the escalating cost of living. The pollution scandal and unfulfilled government promises dates back decades. In 1972, I cut my journalistic teeth on the Yorkshire Post with an investigation into the county's worst river polluters. In the ensuing furore the environment minister promised Britain's rivers would be clean within five years. Today, the official clean-up date is 2063. Then, some 35 years ago, I covered water privatisation, which ministers again assured us would slash pollution. We have been here before. To some of us, the shameful state of the industry today was entirely predictable. Privatisation was always a tricky proposition. Water can't be moved easily so consumers have no choice about who will supply them. The new companies were necessarily monopolies in their areas. Nevertheless, Michael Howard, the minister in charge, vowed privatisation would let the new companies launch 'the biggest programme of sustained investment' in the industry's history. To help, the government charged them less than the market value of the businesses they were acquiring. The debts of their nationalised predecessors' debts were written off by the taxpayer to the tune of 6.5billion. For a while investment did increase, but things soon started like water to go downhill. At privatisation, ministers had insisted they would stay in British hands. But before long, most were bought by wealthy foreign entities, often with their own agendas most notoriously Macquarie, the Australian investment fund dubbed the 'vampire kangaroo'. They rapidly, and rightly, became extremely unpopular. The key point in yesterday's shake-up is ending a complicated and clearly inadequate regulatory system which Mr Reed says has let the water companies 'get away with it'. Ofwat, the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Drinking Water Inspectorate have all been involved in attempting and failing to protect us from the ravages of the water industry. The first two have come under heavy criticism: Ofwat for failing to ensure enough investment and for approving excessive price increases; the Environment Agency for not adequately curbing pollution. These four are to be replaced with a single agency which, says Mr Reed, 'will prevent the abuses of the past'. The report recommended a water ombudsman, ending the dodgy system whereby companies largely monitor their own pollution, tighter oversight of ownership and better environmental and economic regulation. Critics are angry the report did not call for a cap on executive pay and did not consider renationalising water. And they doubt that ministers will see achieve change. I hope they are proved wrong we all do. But for that to happen, the new regulator will have to be very tough and, above all, well resourced. The Environment Agency's failures are largely down to lack of money: over the past 15 years, its funds have been cut by two thirds. It is encouraging that a record 81 criminal investigations have been launched against English water companies in the past year. Their bosses could be jailed for up to five years, and the companies fined hundreds of millions of pounds here, I see at least one potential way out of this grotesque mess. They have shrugged off huge fines in the past, but a few top executives going to jail would be a different matter. It would be almost unheard of in a country where punishment tends to be pushed to the most junior level possible. Without such a shock it is hard to see the water industry or the rest of us, the victims in all this climbing, literally, out of the sh**. Nigel Farage isn't ready to be Prime Minister. And I know that not because of the complaints of his enemies, but what I hear from his closest allies. 'Nigel recognises we're not in a position to run the country yet', one told me recently. 'We've got a lot to do to get the party into shape, build a proper campaign structure, and pull together a serious policy platform. 'No one's under any illusion we can just waltz into power.' The breakthroughs secured at the General Election last year and at the Runcorn by-election in May have been undermined by infighting and scandals. As a result of which his Commons strength of four Members of Parliament is actually lower than the five MPs it was this time last year. And though Farage has pledged to weed out the cranks and extremists from his ranks, it remains an open question what sort of political flotsam and jetsam will emerge when he finally unveils a full slate of 650 parliamentary candidates. So his critics are correct. If there was an election tomorrow, Nigel Farage almost certainly would not win it. And if by some bizarre twist of fate he did, his administration would inevitably implode within weeks, if not days. But there is not going to be a General Election tomorrow. There is unlikely to be one for another three or four years. So, for the moment, Reform's leader doesn't need to look like a Prime Minister in waiting. Nigel Farage may stand guilty of making his numbers up on a fag packet. But at least it's a packet. Starmer and Rachel Reeves are currently scribbling their costings on the back of a roll-your-own, writes Dan Hodges Nearly 20,000 migrants have arrived in Britain on small boats this year. Around 37,000 came to the UK in the whole of last year All he needs to do is distinguish himself, in the eyes of an increasingly disillusioned and demoralised electorate, from the Prime Minister we've got. And in that, he's succeeding beyond his wildest dreams. Yesterday he held a press conference on law and order. If elected, he would establish five 'Nightingale prisons', he announced. Each would be named after an historical figure linked to policing, like former Tory prime minister and founder of the Metropolitan police Robert Peel. 'If you're a criminal, we are putting you on notice. In 2029 you have a choice to make: be a law-abiding citizen or face serious justice,' he vowed yesterday in this paper. Labour immediately rushed out a response. 'These are empty promises from Farage, whose plans are unfunded and undeliverable. This government is delivering the biggest jail expansion in over 100 years, and we've already opened 2,400 cells since taking office', hissed an anonymous Government insider. Correct. Since Labour entered office they have indeed been 'opening' cells. And several thousand criminals have come swarming out of them and onto our streets. As for Starmer's promise of the biggest jail expansion in a century, Britain's weary voters will place it in the increasingly bulky file marked 'Believe It When We See It'. Some of the criticism aimed at Farage's pledges is justified. As with many of Reform's other policy offers, their prison reforms are not underpinned by credible costings. Which would be a potentially effective line of attack for Keir Starmer if it weren't for the fact his own Government is itself chucking around unfunded and undeliverable policies like confetti. Take last month's commitment at the Nato summit to spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence, a pledge that followed the previously uncosted promise to raise it to 3.5 per cent. Or the gap in the public finances created by the welfare U-turn. Or the reversal on winter fuel allowances for pensioners. Nigel Farage may stand guilty of making his numbers up on a fag packet. But at least it's a packet. Starmer and Rachel Reeves are currently scribbling their costings on the back of a roll-your-own. Similarly, Farage's press conference may have been designed to push populists' buttons. But it was punchy. It was eye-catching. And crucially, it was aligned with the actual priorities of the British people. Crime. Immigration. Economic insecurity. Like him or loathe him, these are the drums Farage keeps banging. In contrast, Keir Starmer's strategy is to keep deflecting. Inside Downing Street a debate has been raging about whether to challenge Reform head-on, or try to shift the political conversation into other areas. Some of the Prime Minister's aides want to develop strong lines on the small boats and net migration. Other advisers are claiming these are difficult if not impossible issues to tackle, and want the focus shifted to other areas of 'delivery', such as education and health. Currently the 'deflectors' are prevailing. With the result that voters see a Government that is apparently oblivious to their actual concerns. 'We want you to do something about the small-boat invasion!' they say. 'OK. But have you seen what we're doing with free breakfast clubs?' is the reply from Labour. Nigel Farage is currently the only senior politician with the possible exception of Robert Jenrick who is seen to actually be speaking for Britain. And crucially, when he does speak, it's in a voice they recognise. 'If people are convicted of more than three serious offences, well, frankly, we think that puts them on a course towards life imprisonment', Farage said yesterday. In policy terms, it's a meaningless pledge. What is the definition of a 'serious offence'? How will he find the capacity even with his Peel Pop-Ups for such a dramatic increase in the prison population? Are we really going to see convicted burglars doing the same time as serial killers? But again, it doesn't matter. Because the voters know Nigel Farage is not actually going to be placed in charge of prison's policy, or be in any position to practically influence it for years. The only issue for now is whether what he's saying has any resonance for Britons. And it does. It's a stark comparison with the Prime Minister. In Keir Starmer, the public sees a man who can't even deliver words that resonate with himself. Every time Reform's leader delivers a speech, he faces a concerted backlash from all political quarters. But he will not resile from it. Indeed, invariably, he will double down on it. Contrast that with Sir Keir, and his recent observation Britain was becoming an 'island of strangers'. He managed to stand by his words for the sum total of five weeks. Then he recanted, emotionally declaring: 'No it wasn't right. I'll give you the honest truth: I deeply regret using it.' The British people don't think they simply live on an island of strangers. They think they live on an island that is currently under siege. Literally, in terms of the influx of migrants legal and illegal arriving on their shores. But also culturally and spiritually, in the form of global economic, political and social forces they feel powerless to understand, never mind manage or tame. And in some ways they may be wrong in those perceptions, and misguided in their preferred solutions. But for now, they don't want to hear that. And they certainly don't want to hear it from Keir Starmer, the man who pledged to deliver 'change', and who is instead seen to have done little more than extend a toxic status-quo. All the people of Britain want for the moment is someone who will listen to them. Then respond to them in kind. Not with lectures and admonition. But a degree of empathy and understanding. For the time being, that person is Nigel Farage. A woman who needed 37 stitches to her face after suffering a brutal dog attack has lifted the lid on her recovery process. When Jillian Osbourne, 48, was bitten by a dog at the pet store where she worked part-time, she did not realize just how serious the injury was. 'This was not a vicious or deadly attack,' she said. 'This was an anxious dog who snapped. I was approaching the group from behind and it startled him. He jumped up, snapped my mouth.' Initially, Jillian thought the pain was from her teeth - which were still healing from a previous injury - and it wasn't until the dog's owner pointed out she was bleeding that the reality sank in. 'It hurt, but I think the shock distorted the pain for a moment. My senses and emotions were confused,' she said. 'Just before this, I noticed I was really hungry, and after the bite, I started to fixate on eating dinner... I think trivial things helped me feel the situation was manageable.' Still bleeding, Jillian locked up the store, put a sign on the door, and tried to go about business as usual - until the worried customer called her husband to help. 'He was obviously concerned, but considering I wasn't "mauled" or worse, relieved to know this would be a matter of healing,' she said. 'He took me straight to the emergency room and stayed with me the whole time.' That night, Jillian received the stitches to her face - but the recovery was far from straightforward. Jillian Osbourne needed 37 stitches in her face after a customer's dog attacked her in the pet store she worked at Within days, her lips turned black from bruising, the top layer of her skin peeled off, and she developed a painful lump above her lip - which turned out to be an embedded stitch that had been missed and caused an infection. 'Stitches need to be removed at the right time, when the wound is stable and before the skin starts to regenerate, growing over the stitch,' Jillian said. 'What I thought was a tiny piece of scab in one of the stitch holes turned out to be a missed piece.' Despite these complications, Jillian says she felt fully supported by her medical team. 'The doctor who did my stitches was extremely patient and should've been a tailor. His work was precise,' she said. 'I continued visits with my regular GP, who always gives wonderful care. In truth, I feel lucky for such a lovely team.' But that didn't make the emotional toll any lighter. 'Life was hard,' Jillian recalled. Jillian had a visible forehead vein that she claims face yoga helped decrease the appearance of as well 'My injury is rather insignificant in terms of what damage could have occurred... I am happy by nature and love to laugh. The pain from stretching my lips to smile was too much. I felt anguish from a lack of self-expression, which made me feel ugly inside and out.' People stared at her in public. She struggled with basic daily tasks, like eating or bending forward. And just as her career as a yoga instructor was gaining momentum, she had to put it all on pause. 'I send my heart to anyone with any type of injury, challenge, or chronic illness that limits their comfort or happiness,' she shared. Eventually, when the nerve pain began to subside, Jillian slowly started moving again - and turned to the one practice she knew could help both body and spirit. 'I stumbled across face yoga when I searched for ways to reduce the stress and anxiety,' she said. 'I was looking for cranial massage techniques I could perform on myself and the face yoga method seemed like a good option.' She began with gentle exercises around the holidays, months after the injury, using breath and small movements to ease back into her routine. 'By the end of the month, the nerve pain started to dissipate, and the muscles appeared more plump,' she said. 'I finally added massage and rubbing techniques, which I credit to erasing the stitch marks.' Today, Jillian has full movement in her lips, no scar tissue buildup, and says her main scar is barely noticeable. But more importantly, she's found a deeper sense of intention. Jillian explained that face yoga helped speed along the healing process for her stitches 'I became more intentional. I stopped treating my practice and my movement as routine. I became more acutely aware of energetics,' she said. 'The way in which I teach face yoga has evolved... First-hand experience keeps me a believer that you can teach your body to feel as beautiful and joyful as you wish it to be. It comes from your soul.' Licensed dermatologist Dr. Olga Skydan explained that while face yoga still isn't mainstream, it's growing in popularity. 'Face yoga increases blood flow, which improves oxygen delivery to the skin. This alone can help improve healing and reduce pigmentation,' she said. 'It also stimulates the lymphatic system and relaxes chronically overused muscles while engaging underused ones.' In Jillian's case, it offered more than just physical benefits. It helped her reclaim her sense of agency. 'I believe that face yoga is helpful when someone is recovering from trauma that affects both appearance and self-image,' Dr. Skydan said. 'It's empowering in that it gives a person an active role in their healing and supports their mental health.' For Jillian, the experience has become the foundation of how she teaches and lives today. 'Every day, I saw improvement, which boosted my spirits. I am a firm believer that energy and attitude are crucial to positive change. It was empowering to know I could help myself.' Prince Harry has spoken of his 'heartbreak' in a statement released after his trip to Angola, where he followed in Princess Diana's footsteps by walking through a minefield. The Duke of Sussex, 40, touched down in the South African nation over the weekend to complete the walk with his charity, The Halo Trust. His crossing of the cleared minefield mirrors Princess Diana's in January 1997, when the nation experienced a brief period of peace following a two-decade civil war that had left the country contaminated by more than 15 million landmines. The prince also walked the minefield back in 2013, which has now been transformed thanks to clearance by Angolan men and women trained by HALO. However, he was not joined by his wife Meghan Markle after reportedly deciding it was too dangerous for her to join him. In comments shared to Harry and Meghan's Sussex.com website following his participation in a landmine safety education session in the remote village of Mawano, the Duke said what he had witnessed 'breaks my heart'. Referring to his children Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, he said: 'As a father to young children, it breaks my heart to see innocent children still living and playing next to minefields. 'All of us have a duty to protect children and future generations from the harms of war, both present and past.' Prince Harry has spoken of his 'heartbreak' in a statement released after his trip to Angola, where he followed in Princess Diana 's footsteps by walking through a minefield (pictured) Discussing the absent of his wife, Meghan, a source said: 'The duke won't let his wife go to England over security concerns, so there was no chance he'd allow her to go to Angola to walk across landmines.' A source involved in organising the event told the MailOnline: 'Usually these trips help to drive a bit more money from the government.' The session formed part of Halo's community outreach programme. The Prince also repeated safety instructions in Portuguese, taught local children how to recognise and avoid landmines, and spoke to families. Harry said: 'Children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school. Here in Angola, over three decades later, the remnants of war still threaten lives every day.' The Duke added: 'The Angolan government's continued commitment is a powerful testament to HALO's success in saving lives and reducing humanitarian risk. 'We thank President Lourenco for his leadership and partnership, as well as continued donor support as we work together towards completing the mission of a landmine-free country.' During a meeting with the President, Harry said, per Sussex.com: 'This commitment is about more than removing deadly devices. 'It's about unlocking potential in a country that has so much - enabling children to walk to school safely, allowing farmers to grow crops, attracting sustainable development and bringing back wildlife tourism.' Britain's Prince Harry chats with locals during a visit to a minefield in Cuito Cuanavale, Cuando Province, southeastern Angola His crossing of the cleared minefield mirrors Princess Diana's in January 1997 (pictured) Harry also said: 'This work isn't just about removing explosives - it's about enabling opportunity, development, and long-term peace.' In 2019, when Harry came on board as Halo's patron, the Angolan government pledged 46million to create wildlife corridors and protect endangered species in conservation areas. It set a target of clearing all landmines by 2025 and Harry is said to hope that his presence there will boost efforts to meet the target. Angola is in southwestern Africa, along the Atlantic coast. It was ravaged by a brutal 27-year civil war until 2002 and the country is still grappling with the legacy of landmines, with millions buried across the countryside. Halo has cleared more than 123,000 landmines since 1994, and works to transform former war zones into farmland, national parks and 'safe' villages. Despite the progress made, more than 1,000 minefields remain across Angola. Princess Diana's walk in 1997 took place when the nation experienced a brief period of peace following a two-decade civil war that had left the country contaminated by more than 15 million landmines. Wearing a Halo Trust flak jacket and helmet, the striking photographs of the royal went down in history, particularly as she died later that year in a car crash. At least 60,000 people have been killed or injured by landmines in Angola since 2008, although the exact number of casualties is not known and is likely to be higher. The Duke of Sussex at a minefield in Cuito Cuanavale during his visit Harry spoke to families who live near Africa's largest minefield as part of HALO's community outreach programme HALO has cleared more than 120,000 landmines and 100,000 bombs from the country, but at least 80 Angolans have still been killed by them in the last five years. Over 1,000 minefields remain to be cleared across the entire country, including on the periphery of the Lobito Corridor, a strategically important railway that links Angola's Atlantic coast to the mineral heartlands of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. James Cowan, CEO of The HALO Trust, said: 'We are hugely grateful to President Lourenco for his leadership and to the Duke of Sussex for his personal commitment to HALO's work in Angola. 'This new contract is an important step forward in our mission to make Angola mine-free, and we will continue our work in solidarity with the Angolan people until every last mine is cleared.' This is the latest of several significant visits Harry has made to Angola in recent years. In September 2019, after he became patron, he retraced the exact steps his mother took near Huambo, causing a sensation across the globe. The duke also visited the remote Dirico region, where he toured a newly cleared minefield, a detonated a landmine, and spent a night camping by the Cuito River. He then visited the town's Princess Diana Orthopaedic Centre, met female deminers, and toured a demining camp in southeastern Angola. In September 2024, he joined Angola's foreign minister at a United Nations Halo event in New York. Again, Meghan steered clear of the event despite the fact it was in the US. The Duke kneels down on the ground during his visit to Angola Prince Harry was not joined by his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, after he decided it was too dangerous for her to join him. Pictured together in May 2024 Sources at the time said she did not attend because the trip was part of his 'independent schedule' during Climate Week. The trip comes in the wake of a secret peace summit held between Harry's two most senior aides and King Charles's head of communications in central London earlier this month The meeting was described as a charm offensive by the Sussexes to turn around their negative public image. Harry and Meghan's new chief of communications, Meredith Maines, met with Tobyn Andreae, the King's communications secretary, at the Royal Over-Seas League a three-minute walk from Clarence House, the monarch's London residence, on Wednesday. Also present was Liam Maguire, who runs the Sussexes' PR team in the UK. Images of the rendezvous raised hopes of a reconciliation between Harry, 40, and his father, 76. The meeting, held at a private members club in London, was the first step in a 'rapprochement process' to restore the broken relationship between the duke, his wife Meghan and the rest of the royal family. While royal experts claimed a wounded Prince William will feel less inclined to resolve the feud than his father King Charles, they added the monarch would have undoubtedly consulted the heir to the throne before conducting any peace talks with Harry's aides. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: 'The King and Harry are currently, we understood from Harry's interview on the BBC, not speaking. This meeting obviously is a sign things are moving forward. Prince Harry with a deminer from the Halo Trust in 2010 'The King would never have made these moves without William's support and understanding. William and Catherine are the future of the monarchy. 'He has undoubtedly been furious at the way the Sussexes have behaved and undoubtedly regards Harry's behaviour as treason of a sort. They reportedly have not spoken in over two years.' He added: 'Ideally, the Sussexes might like to drive a wedge between the King and the heir to the throne. They won't succeed.' However, following the summit, the Mail revealed that Prince Harry has 'no plans' ever to move back to Britain despite the recent hopes of a reconciliation with King Charles. Following news of a secret peace summit between aides of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and his father, it was thought the Windsor family feud could be resolved, paving a way for the prince to return to the UK. However friends of Harry and Meghan have said the couple are 'very happy' in California and are never likely to return. A source, who is close to Harry, 40, said: 'They're very happy living in and raising their family in California and, as it stands, have no plans to leave.' A woman has revealed that she was left fighting for her life and is now permanently disabled after developing a UTI. Talia Smith, 45, from Norwood, Massachusetts, described herself as 'a very healthy person' up until April 2021, when a urinary tract infection completely derailed her life. Talia was prescribed what she believed was a common and perfectly safe antibiotic often used to treat the infection. But she later learned that the FDA had released a severe warning about the medicine in 2016 due to a rare adverse reaction that could cause debilitation symptoms - something she claimed her doctor failed to tell her about. She said the medicine left her in excruciating pain for months, describing it as feeling like 'electrical shocks' were running through her body and 'bugs were crawling' all over her. It also affected her vision and hearing, resulted in her having severe stomach issues, and ultimately left her unable to walk. Within five months, her condition had become so bad she could hardly eat, and she lost over 50 percent of her body weight, weighing a mere 60 pounds before she was put on hospice care. It got so bad that she believed she was going to die after doctors warned that her organs would start failing soon. A woman has revealed that she was left fighting for her life and is now permanently disabled after developing a UTI. She's seen before (left) and after (right) the condition Talia Smith (seen before), 45, from Norwood, Massachusetts , described herself as 'a very healthy person' up until April 2021, when a urinary tract infection completely derailed her life Talia was prescribed what she believed was a perfectly safe antibiotic often used to treat the infection, but she later learned that the FDA had released a severe warning about the medicine While she has thankfully improved since then, she still requires 24/7 care and is bed-bound - and she doesn't think she'll ever get her old life back. She shared her harrowing story exclusively with the Daily Mail. Talia, who worked in IT for a large healthcare corporation, explained, 'I was a very healthy person [before my UTI]. 'I ate well, worked out often. I was a stepmom of two and the primary caretaker of my husband, who is a disabled Veteran of the Marine Corps. He became paralyzed after an injury in 2011.' In April 2021, she went to the doctor after she developed common UTI symptoms. Tests confirmed she had a UTI and her doctor prescribed her an antibiotic called Ciprofloxacin. 'Before I took the antibiotic, I asked if there was anything I needed to know or be aware of since I didn't take medications and antibiotics often,' Talia explained. 'The response was that there was nothing I needed to be aware of, it was "safe and effective" and that the medication was frequently prescribed at the practice to treat UTIs. 'I trusted my doctor of 10 years so I started my course of treatment.' She said the medicine left her in excruciating pain for months, describing it as feeling like 'electrical shocks' were running through her body and 'bugs were crawling' all over her It also affected her vision and hearing, resulted in her having severe stomach issues, and ultimately left her unable to walk Talia explained that after her third dose she began to develop 'pain in her entire body, especially her legs.' 'It felt like I had the flu, when you're whole body hurts, except I wasn't actually sick,' she added. 'As the day went on, it continued to worsen and I started having tingling and numbness in my extremities. I had zapping pains in my head and face. It was like electrical shocks.' It got so bad that she couldn't walk - 'It was like a bomb went off in my body' - so she decided to go to the emergency room. After describing her symptoms, the first thing the ER doctor asked her was, 'Are you taking Ciprofloxacin?' The ER doctor then explained that the drug she was on had something known as a black box warning from the FDA - the strongest warning the FDA could give, usually for a 'serious or potentially fatal' side effect. Back in 2016, according to the FDA website, the organization 'advised that the serious side effects associated with fluoroquinolone antibacterial drugs [like Ciprofloxacin] generally outweigh the benefits for patients.' 'An FDA safety review has shown that fluoroquinolones when used systemically are associated with disabling and potentially permanent serious side effects that can occur together,' its website reads. Within five months her condition had become so bad she could hardly eat, and she lost over 50 percent of her body weight, weighing a mere 60 pounds before she was put on hospice It got so bad that she believed she was going to die after doctors warned that her organs would start failing soon 'These side effects can involve the tendons, muscles, joints, nerves, and central nervous system.' The reaction to the medicine has become known as fluoroquinolone toxicity - according to GoodRx, symptoms include 'muscle or joint pain and tendonitis/tendon rupture, nerve damage and twitching, anxiety, depression, hallucinations and memory problems, eye pain, vision loss, ringing in your ears, hearing loss, and loss of smell, and chest pain or skipping heartbeats, known as palpitations.' In response to the fluoroquinolone toxicity, Talia then developed something called mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), which is 'an inappropriate activation of the immune system where the body rejects everything, as a form of protection.' And in the months that followed, she said her condition only 'worsened.' 'I was having electrical shocks 24/7, it felt like I had bugs crawling all over my body, horrendous bone and joint pain, debilitating neuropathy, vision and hearing changes, stomach problems, my body was stiffening up, and I was unable to bend in order to sit down,' she shared. 'It felt like my body was in shut down mode.' The biggest problem she faced was difficulty swallowing, which made it extremely hard for her to eat. At one point, she was told by doctors that she would go into organ failure soon because of lack of food. 'Within five months, I lost over 50 percent of my body weight and went on Hospice, weighing 60 pounds in September 2021,' she recalled. While she has thankfully improved since then, she still requires 24/7 care and is bed-bound - and she doesn't think she'll ever get her old life back Flash forward to now, four years after the ordeal first started, and Talia is still living with the effects of the condition Before and after: 'I still require 24/7 care for my survival, as I am bed-bound and mainly get up only to go to doctor's appointments in a wheelchair,' she said She started to believe she was going to die, and even had a priest come to her house and read her her last rites. 'I truly believed that was the end for me and made peace with it after five months of horrendous suffering,' she said, as she broke down in tears. 'This was so traumatic for me, listening to my family and friends crying and thinking that would be the last time I ever saw them.' But Talia's husband wasn't ready to give up, and he 'made it his mission' to get her medication for her MCAS. The hospitals had previously denied her request but he kept pushing, and eventually, they gave her mast cell stabilizers, which changed everything for her. It gave her the ability to eat again, and by May 2022, she was able to leave Hospice and switch to palliative care. Flash forward to now, four years after the ordeal first started, and Talia is still living with the effects of the condition. 'I am still on palliative care to this day and require 24/7 care for my survival, as I am bed-bound and mainly get up only to go to doctor's appointments in a wheelchair,' she said. 'I can't do anything by myself. I don't have the strength.' She said she's still in 'constant pain' and she doesn't think she will ever get back to the way she was before. 'This has destroyed [me]. I lost my career, my independence, my quality of life,' she confessed. 'I can only eat five foods because of MCAS, I can't go out and live a "normal" life like everyone else. 'I miss working, I miss being able to eat whatever I want, I miss being able to workout, I miss driving, I miss my social life and the life I had with my husband. And there is nothing I can do to get my old life back.' Talia said she later confronted her doctor about prescribing her the dangerous medication, but claimed was brushed off - and looking back, she feels like the medical system failed her. 'When I confronted [my doctor] about the black box warning, the permanent and disabling side effects and how fluoroquinolones should be used as last resort, she told me she was going to continue to prescribe Cipro because she always had and no one else had had a reaction like me,' she shared. She is now on a mission to share her story in the hopes that it can stop others from making the same mistake She has launched a petition for the FDA 'to issue informed consent for all fluoroquinolone antibiotic prescriptions,' which has over 3,000 signatures 'Not only did she have a duty to warn me about this dangerous class of antibiotics, but when I asked if there was anything I needed to know, I was told no. 'Additionally, the way she reacted afterwards, by telling me she was going to prescribe Cipro for a UTIs, despite the FDA warnings that I printed and brought to her office, was extremely unprofessional and shows her lack of caring about what happened. I felt very betrayed and abandoned by the medical system.' Talia is currently raising money on her GoFundMe page to help cover her medical costs. She is now on a mission to share her story in the hopes that it can stop others from making the same mistake. She has also launched a petition for the FDA 'to issue informed consent for all fluoroquinolone antibiotic prescriptions,' which has over 3,000 signatures. She concluded, 'If you are prescribed a fluoroquinolone antibiotic as first line, ask for an alternative, if there is one. Don't end up like me! 'Most people see the word "rare" and then disregard the warning, as they don't think that it would ever apply to them. I would never think something like this could ever happen to me, but here I am. 'Living life with fluoroquinolone toxicity is a dark and lonely place. None of us asked for this or deserve this or caused it in anyway. 'In most cases, we have been abandoned by the medical system, gaslit by doctors and have had to figure out how to heal on our own because there is no cure or standard treatment protocol.' The Princess Royal, 74, was admitted to intensive care last June Princess Anne's injuries after suffering a concussion last year were 'much worse' than the public knew at the time, it has been revealed. The Princess Royal, 74, was admitted to intensive care last June with concussion and head injuries after reportedly being kicked by a horse at her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire. She was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol for tests, treatment and observation, before returning to duties that July. Now, a source said to know Anne well has told The Sunday Times that her accident was 'so much worse' than worse initially revealed at the time. They said: 'Her accident was so much worse than anyone let on and it took quite a while for her to feel herself again.' Following her accident, Anne was forced to miss at least nine engagements, including a trip to Canada and a banquet for the Japanese State Visit in London. When Anne returned to work in July, she was seen sporting a black eye. Prince William and Kate shared a rare personal message on X/Twitter, writing: 'Super trooper! So great to see you back so soon. W&C x.' Princess Anne 's injuries after suffering a concussion last year were 'much worse' than the public knew at the time, it has been revealed. Pictured in July 2024 The Princess Royal is often regarded as the 'hardest working' member of the royal family. Pictured at Horse Guards Parade last week The royal, a skilled horsewoman who competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, was going for a walk when the incident occurred. The Princess Royal is often regarded as the 'hardest working' member of the royal family, despite being a decade past the age of retirement. Last year, Anne clocked up 474 engagements, with King Charles completing 372. A former aide told the Times that they would often suggest Anne should tone-down her workload - but all to no avail. They said: 'Id look at the diary and suggest, "Maam, you really cant do another weekend of engagements, its your third weekend in a row." '"Why not?" she would say. 'Because Ill get a rocket from your husband on Monday asking, "When are we going to spend some time together".' She has been a cornerstone in the King's slimmed-down working monarchy, and has played a big role by stepping up in support of Charles amid his cancer diagnosis. The Princess is known for her no-nonsense approach and her commitment to royal duty, and the King made a point of making public his 'fondest love and well-wishes' for his sister after her accident. The royal, a skilled horsewoman who competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics , was going for a walk when the incident occurred. Pictured in January The Princess Royal during the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade in June 2023 Anne was understood at the time to have been taking an evening stroll on her estate with horses nearby when she was hurt. The Princess was left with minor wounds to the head. Her medical team are understood to believe the injuries were consistent with a potential impact from a horse's head or legs. In January, speaking out about the accident for the first time, Anne said she remembers 'nothing' about it. Talking at the Grand Military Cup Day at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, Surrey, after a whirlwind trip to South Africa, Anne revealed that she was on the way to see chickens on her estate when the accident happened. When questioned whether the last thing she recalled was walking into a field, Anne said: 'No, I don't even remember that. 'I know where I thought I was going and that was to go to the chickens, no, nothing to do with horses.' She added that seeing the chickens was 'my regular visit, I don't have any idea what I was doing in the field, because I never normally went that way. 'It just... shows you - you never quite know, something [happens], and you might not recover.' In an interview in January (pictured), Princess Anne said she remembers 'nothing' about the accident Anne spent five nights in hospital after the accident on June 23 and did not return to public royal duties until almost three weeks later. Asked about any lasting ill effects, she lightened the mood and joked: 'Apparently not, at least I don't think so. As far as I know, nobody else thinks so - they haven't been honest enough to tell me yet. So far so good.' She added: 'You are sharply reminded that every day is a bonus really.' Interviewed after a whirlwind two-day tour of Cape Town, Anne also discussed her future and was asked whether retirement was an option, she replied: 'It really isn't written in, no. It isn't really an option, no, I don't think so. Her father, the late Duke of Edinburgh, did retire from royal duties in 2017, but he was 96 when he took the decision and had supported Queen Elizabeth II for more than 65 years at the time. Anne is known for her busy work schedule, and as she approaches her 75th birthday in August, the royal will continue to lead the monarchy in various engagements. She carried out her first public engagement in 1969 aged 18 when she opened an educational and training centre in Shropshire, and a year later, she began her longest association with a charity, becoming president of Save the Children and later patron. Anne has two children - Peter Phillips, 47, and Zara Tindall, 44 - from her first marriage to Captain Mark Phillips, before their divorce in 1992. She has been married to Sir Timothy Laurence since December that year. Princess Anne has said retirement isn't likely for her (seen with Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence at the Windsor Horse Show last May) Anne said: 'I don't think there's a retirement programme on this particular life.' 'You're jolly lucky... if you can continue to be more or less compos mentis and last summer I was very close to not being.' She added: 'Take each day as it comes, they say.' Last month royal fans praised Anne's unwavering dedication to royal duties as she joined the King's birthday parade on horseback - one year after being hit in the head by a horse. They compared the 74-year-old - who is the late Queen Elizabeth II's only daughter - to Princess Charlotte, the 10-year-old daughter of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The Princess Royal was the picture of grace as she rode through the procession in full military regalia while saluting the adoring crowd that gathered in central London to catch a glimpse of Britain's most famous family. The Princess did not shy away from the task of representing the family at the Trooping the Colour festivities on Saturday - as fans noted the similarities between Charlotte and the 'hardest-working' royal. Often referred to as the hardest-working royal, the late Queen Elizabeth II's daughter looked poised as she saluted the crowds at Trooping The Colour last month Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one person wrote online: 'I think the daughter Princess [Charlotte] will be a force, just like Princess Anne is.' Another made the same connection, writing of the youngster's parade appearance: 'Princess Charlotte is giving Princess Anne vibes here! She is such a beautiful little girl!' Many pointed to the apparent fortitude of the female royals, with one fan saying: 'The females are the strength, including Princess Anne.' A classic picture of tradition and elegance, Anne has a loyal fanbase. One watcher of the elaborate procession wrote: 'Princess Anne is such an amazing lady. Dedicated, loyal, and hard working. A credit to the Royal family.' Echoing the sentiment, an avid royal follower said: 'Princess Anne is just awesome, shes a true stalwart of our Royal Family, always has been, always does her duty perfectly.' A woman captured the amusing moment her aunt mistook an Apple MacBook for a chopping board - leaving the family in hysterics. Bree Tomasel, an Aussie radio host living in New Zealand, shared the video on social media showing her Aunty Shirl being called out by a family member for slicing papaya on his brand new, expensive laptop. 'Jesus Christ that's my laptop, it's not a freaking cutting board,' he screamed. 'Christ. It's a bloody brand new MacBook.' Aunty Shirl's jaw dropped the moment she realised her mistake as the man shook his head in disbelief and jokingly said, 'Hopeless'. Bree can be heard laughing uncontrollably behind the camera as her mum Di gasped in horror: 'Oh my God'. Despite the mix-up, Aunty Shirl couldn't contain her laughter as everyone saw the funny side. 'Aunty Shirl used a MacBook as a cutting board... accidentally,' Bree said in the caption, adding the hashtag: #okboomer. Bree Tomasel captured on camera the amusing moment her Aunty Shirl mistook an Apple MacBook for a chopping board - leaving the family in hysterics The video was originally posted in December 2019 but it has been making the rounds on social media again in recent days, racking up more than 1.3 million views. 'That cutting board had to cost a lot,' one suggested. 'Omg I can't stop laughing,' another shared. 'Lucky you caught her before she chucked it in the dishwasher,' one joked. 'Cutting Edge Technology,' another joked in light of the situation. 'In her defense, it literally has an apple on it,' one pointed out. The video has gone viral once again, with Specsavers chiming in: 'Hey', a nod to its famous slogan, 'Should've gone to Specsavers.' Many saw the funny side to the situation, with one suggesting: 'At her age she can do whatever the heck she wants she deserves it! Keep laughing, it keeps you young.' Others pointed out the laptop should never have been left on the kitchen counter. Bree shared the video on social media showing her Aunty Shirl being called out by a family member for slicing papaya on his brand new, expensive laptop 'Why did you leave it on the kitchen bench in the first place?' one asked, laughing. 'To be fair, that's a kitchen not an office,' another added. Meanwhile, many people shared their own experiences of family members, friends or acquaintances mistaking everyday items. 'One of my uncles did this after he saw an apple and assumed it was a chopping board,' one revealed. 'An old lady put a burning candle on my sister's iPad once because she "thought it was a mirror",' another shared. A controversial sign erected in a Melbourne store has sparked a heated debate over an act many have considered doing. In an attempt to stop customers from breaking off broccoli stalks prior to purchase, an unnamed greengrocer has erected a stern warning sign in their store's produce section. The cautionary notice next to the broccoli display reads: 'DO NOT BREAK Brocooli [sic]'. 'You will pay $1 extra for each you break if we find out.' The broccoli in the picture was being sold for $6.99 per kilo, which is a standard current price for the green vegetable. A Melbourne shopper spotted the sign at their local fruit and veg store and shared a picture of it to Reddit's 'Melbourne' thread alongside the caption: 'Don't break the broccoli or else'. As Aussie households grapple with cost-of-living pressures, it would appear shoppers are trying to pay less for the weight of broccoli by removing the stalk prior taking it to the checkout. The recent post quickly ignited debate on the forum - but perhaps surprisingly, several commenters defended the store owner's sign. A Melbourne shopper shared a picture of this warning sign posted next to the broccoli at their local fruit and veg store One person felt the store owner was justified in their insistence of charging customers for the whole broccoli. 'The reason for this is because they buy broccoli from wholesalers/farmers by weight - so when people break the stalk off broccoli, they end up losing money because no one is going to pick a discarded stalk off the shelf to buy it,' they said. The commenter, who 'used to work at a small fruit and veggie shop' added that removing stalks was their former bosses' pet peeve. 'If we were serving a customer and noticed the stalks had been removed, we had to call the boss and he would find the stalk and make the customer pay for it/put it in their bag of broccoli,' they said. Another said that removing the stalk was akin to 'stealing' from the small business because 'the stem is priced into the broccoli'. To this point, one person added they believed that the new 'epidemic of broccoli breaking bandits' was definitely a result of the 'cost of living crisis'. Another added that it would also be easy for store staff to enforce the rule because it would be blatantly obvious when someone came to the checkout with a 'stemless broccoli'. But in an interesting twist - some commenters took the thread as an opportunity to defend the overlooked broccoli stalk. Redditors defended the grocery store owner for displaying the sign about not breaking off the broccoli stalk - and others even added that it was 'edible and delicious' 'The stems are very edible and delicious!' noted one. '[C]ut it up into thin rectangles then stir fry (add in same time you'd add something like a carrot). Waste not want not!' another added. Another person suggested: 'slice it up to put in soupy Thai curries, it's so tender'. A New Zealand expat suggested the problem could be easily resolved by simply selling the broccoli per head, rather than by weight. They wrote: 'This is so bizarre to me because back in NZ, we buy broccoli per unit, fixed price! I'd never heard of buying broccoli by weight before.' But to this point, another commenter rightly pointed out that there can be huge variance in the size of broccoli heads sold in Australia. 'Weight seems to be a better way to go because the broc in the supermarkets near me can vary in size and weight quite a bit,' the person replied. However some conspiracy theorists suggested that stores were nowadays intentionally selling broccoli with longer stems because they're 'charging by the kilo'. '[S]ome of the stem:floret ratios have gotten so out of whack,' one wrote. 'I mean, I make an effort to use the stems as well as the heads but some of the broccoli they sell now is just taking the p***. When you're selling half a foot of stem with a tiny head on top of course people are going to break it off.' Broccoli has reported to have increased in price in recent months, going from around $5 per kilo late last year to the current price of up to $11 per kilo. Coles also appear to have stopped selling their own-brand coffee sachets Australian shoppers are baffled after a popular own-brand item mysteriously disappeared off supermarket shelves at two different major retailers. Aldi shoppers have been discussing the apparent sudden disappearance of beloved Alcafe coffee sachets from the store's shelves this week. The budget supermarket's own-brand range of coffee mixes includes products like the Alcafe Frothy Cappuccino Sachets, Mocha Sachets and Caramel Latte all sold in boxes of 10. However, dismayed Aldi shoppers speculated this week: 'I think all Alcafe sachets are gone'. The news was spread by a fan of the Alcafe White Hot Choc sachets, who'd noted that their favourite warm beverage sachets along with others in the range were suddenly 'nowhere to be found' in store. The product listing on Aldi's website appeared to back up the shopper's discovery. All Alcafe coffee mixes sachet products, including their Vanilla Latte Frothy Sachets and Strong Cappuccino Sachets currently display online as 'not available'. Fellow Aldi shoppers agreed hat they too had noticed the entire range was missing. However, FEMAIL understands that the current absence of Alcafe coffee sachet products is only temporary and has resulted from a supply issue. The range is anticipated to return to shelves in coming weeks. The news was spread by a fan of the Alcafe White Hot Choc sachets, who'd noted that their favourite warm beverage sachets along with others in the range were suddenly 'nowhere to be found' in store However, FEMAIL understands that the current absence of Alcafe coffee sachet products is only temporary and has resulted from a supply issue Coffee drinkers did note that the German-owned supermarket chain was still stocking a more expensive alternative coffee sachet product made by Nescafe. 'I'm annoyed that Aldi got rid of their sachets and replaced with Nescafe because the whole point of Aldi is to save a bit of money not buying the expensive brands,' one ranted. 'It's a shame the Alcafe ones are gone,' added another shopper. 'Hopefully we get a good cheaper alternative through Aldi again soon.' Aldi currently stocks a range of Nescafe sachet coffee products, including Vanilla Latte and Strong Cappuccino, both priced at $12.49 for a box of 26 sachets. However, another off-handed comment about the disappearance of the own-brand coffee sachets only added to the mystery. One suggested that it wasn't just Aldi who no longer had their own-brand Alcafe coffee sachets on shelves, but that Coles similarly had recently stopped stocking their own-brand coffee mixes sachets. They wrote: 'It really sucks because Aldi no longer doing any Alcafe coffee sachets and Coles also discontinuing their brand coffee sachets.' They lamented that the absence of both Coles and Aldi's home brand coffee sachets left them with little option outside of the more expensive brands of coffee mixes. An eagle-eyed shopper claimed that they also could not currently find Coles own-brand coffee sachets - like the Coles Cappuccino Classic packs - either in stores or online Although there was no further discussion on the forum about the Coles own-brand coffee mixes, the store's own website appears to support the shopper's finding. The Coles website currently lists products like the Coles Caramel Latte All In One Sachets and the Coles Coffee Cappuccino Classic 10 sachets packs as 'currently unavailable'. FEMAIL reached out to a Coles spokesperson about their own-brand coffee mixes but did not hear back at the time of publication. For now, the remaining major Aussie supermarket in Woolworths does still appear to have stock of their home brand coffee mixes, with their Woolworths Latte Coffee Sachets currently listed on their website as 'available in store'. A 'fuming' Englishman has claimed that a French campsite unfairly accused his family of 'tearing' a trampoline up and 'leaving rubbish everywhere' - saying they have a 'clear bias' against the Brits. Taking to TikTok, father-of-three James, who runs @thedaurats - an account with more than 11,600 followers - blasted staff at Camping des Lancieres, in the Rogny-les-Sept-Ecluses region, for 'ganging up' on them. 'I'm raging,' he said the video, which has racked up some 119,400 views. 'We're travelling through Europe in a campervan and we're in France at the moment. 'We needed somewhere to stay for a couple of nights and we found a campsite and we thought this was brilliant value. It literally was like 9 per night on this site.' James admitted the play area was 'a little bit basic' but there was a 'trampoline'. 'Our children then went to play,' he continued. 'They were fine. I kept checking on them every so often. 'There was another family at the other side of the site who have children who were playing with our children. 'But I could see that the two boys were being rough, like, hitting my child to a point where I said, come off the trampoline. A 'fuming' Englishman has claimed that a French campsite unfairly accused his family of 'tearing' a trampoline up and 'leaving rubbish everywhere' - saying they have a 'clear bias' against the Brits Taking to TikTok , father-of-three James, who runs @thedaurats - an account with more than 11,600 followers - blasted staff at Camping des Lancieres, in the Rogny-les-Sept-Ecluses region, for 'ganging up' on them 'Later on, they came over - and they were playing fine... all getting along nicely. They went back anyway and they went back on the trampoline.' Then however, James said his daughter was 'pushed into the side netting of the trampoline' - and 'fell out'. 'Luckily she was okay,' he assured. 'We've taken pictures. We took pictures straight away of the net to show that it was torn and how she fell out.' He explained that, however, the following morning he heard knocking from a site 'warden' at his door, saying she was 'shouting': 'You must pay for the net!' 'So what has happened is the families of the other children, the French families staying in the caravans over there, which are right next to the trampoline, who I think are long term stayers, have all coincidentally got the story from their children and messaged the person to say our children were picking apart and tearing the net... and that's what's caused it to break,' he said. James then shared a clip of his conversation with someone at the campsite, which appears to have been facilitated by a translator on the phone - who also works at Camping des Lancieres. The woman on the other line appeared to be trying to get James's side across to the warden, in French saying: 'They seem to be saying they took the kids away... that it wasn't them.' In return however, the warden sarcastically quipped: 'Yeah right, they're angels.' Then, she claimed the family 'left rubbish everywhere'. James pictured with his family - his wife and their three children. They share their travels on social media James then shared a clip of his conversation with someone at the campsite, which appears to have been facilitated by a translator on the phone - who also works at Camping des Lancieres (pictured in a snap on a review site) James said his daughter was 'pushed into the side netting of the trampoline' - and 'fell out'. Pictured, the tear in the trampoline She added: 'You can tell them if they cause another problem they're being kicked out because other campers are fed up.' James also denied claims that he and his family were leaving trash around the site. 'She's pointing out that I left a tissue,' he said in the clip, trying to speak to the warden. 'She said, you're leaving rubbish I could work out. You're saying you're leaving rubbish on the floor. It was under the door. When I've opened the door, it's fallen off the counter... Look at this plastic that's not even ours.' 'How can we have a conversation when you're walking away?' he continued. 'Because every time I try and speak to her, she's just walking away. 'She's received emails from other families that we've done something, when clearly she's made up her mind. I can only assume that it's the English family's fault. She just didn't like us.' It did however also seem there were language barriers in place, and it is unclear if both parties truly understood one another. 'This is the worst experience of my life. I feel like they've clearly ganged up on us,' James said. 'We're the English family. We struggle. We speak a little bit of French, but not much.' The Daurats call themselves a 'home education family' and share their travels on social media, with their children Henri, nine, Genevive and Gabriel, who will be one in October Commenters appeared divided, and as while many voiced their support, others insisted James's family should pay for the net MailOnline has reached out to the family and the campsite for comment. Commenters appeared divided, and as while many voiced their support, others insisted James's family should pay for the net. 'I'm so sorry this happened to you!' one wrote. 'I'm a Brit living in France and do feel like the the French always side with their own as I've had a few similar issues here with French neighbours in my apartment building (not the same issue I know, but I do understand your situation a little bit!)... 'It's such a shame and I hope you got it sorted in the end.' One also recounted: 'Not being funny but I've noticed a lot of micro aggressions over seating in cafes and restaurants - parking at tourist destinations, taxi drivers, passport control and even beach chairs. 'I've traveled in remote areas of Africa and Asia for 25 years and never had so much low level snark from people clearly annoyed by strangers and perhaps over tourism. Literally in the last 2-3 years I'm a Gen X so am pretty laid back and not about it. 'I also live in a tourist area in the UK so am very respectful of locals when I travel abroad because I know what a pain tourists can be. I think humans have changed since Covid - road rage, Reform, Trump. It's not you mate.' Others however appeared to site with the campsite. One questioned: 'Why didn't you report to the campsite owners if you had nothing to hide.' 'Families will always side with their own children, even if they are in the wrong, no matter what the country, these days,' elsewhere, someone penned. 'Tourism is taking the back lash for the immigration crisis, today. 'Most of the countries that rely on tourists are taking their frustrations out on the tourists. It's very sad. 'And yes, there are terrible tourists that can't behave themselves, mainly adults.' The campsite has largely positive reviews on TripAdvisor, with a 4.3/5 score. Reviewers said the accommodation is 'restful' and service is 'top notch'. The Daurats call themselves a 'home education family' and share their travels on social media, with their children Henri, nine, Genevive and Gabriel, who will be one in October. When my first baby, Sonny, was about eight months old, I woke up one night to the sound of his cries. That wasnt unusual he was a terrible sleeper but sitting up in bed, I was horrified to find myself surrounded by thick black smoke. Oh my God, I needed to get us out. Now. As I ran to get Sonny from his cot, I saw flames leaping from the kitchen. Screaming his name, I picked him up and ran out of the flat into the echoey hallway. It was only when the cold concrete floor hit the bottom of my feet that I froze. Wait a second. When I turned back, there was no sound of fire. No smoke. The flat was dark, and my poor baby was crying louder than ever. I went back inside to nurse him back to sleep, silent tears rolling down my cheeks. This was not how Id imagined motherhood. Becoming a mum was always going to be a huge change, but surely it should also be a time of joy? After all, Sonny was a much-wanted baby, I was happily married to Stuart a chef who had worked with Gordon Ramsay and now had his own restaurant and we were settled in our lovely flat in Edinburgh. What I hadnt anticipated was that becoming a mother would trigger memories of the night my family home burned down when I was 14 years old, badly burning me and killing my six-year-old sister, Katie. When Krystal Evans was just 14 years old, she escaped a house fire but found that her mother had left her to fend for herself After escaping the flames that engulfed her home, Krystal Evans (right) realised that her six-year-old sister, Katie (left), had been left inside by her mother It was even worse when my second son, Jesse, was born five years later. Intrusive thoughts started pouring in, and I was incapacitated by fear that I would accidentally spill the hot kettle on the baby or drop him out of the window. That I couldnt keep him safe. Now, it seems obvious that motherhood would revive those painful memories, because in a way Katie had been my first baby. Eight years older, I was the one who suggested her name. I knew the secrets of how to soothe her as a baby and read her bedtime stories. I love you and Ill always look out for you, I would whisper into her baby ear. Yet when it really mattered I hadnt been able to protect her. It wasnt just the trauma of the fire my whole childhood had been deeply dysfunctional. Even from a young age I realised my mother was mentally ill and growing up with someone suffering from a mental illness is like being raised in the ocean. You get really good at swimming and dont realise, until years later, that everyone else grows up on dry land. I thought Id left it behind me literally when I moved thousands of miles from the West Coast of the US, where I grew up, to Scotland after meeting my husband. But thinking about what sort of mother you want to be inevitably makes you reflect on what sort of mothering you had. When I was a year old, my mother Tracy walked out on my dad with no warning. He came home to find she had left, taking everything with her, including me and the furniture. It set the tone for the rest of my childhood. Mum was impetuous and unpredictable an emotional grenade always waiting to go off. Everything about her was loud, excitable and fragile. Her booming, vociferous laughter or painful, choked tears were always simmering just under the surface. Mum had terrible taste in men. Katies dad Robert was a case in point; Mum told me the only time he didnt hit her was when she was pregnant. Katie was the high point of my childhood I adored my little sister from the moment she arrived. I helped with her every day and I knew even before she could talk whether she wanted a bottle and a cuddle or her dummy. Id hold her baby hand as she fell asleep. Before Katie was a year old, Mum had left Robert, and many more moves across America followed. When I was 13, we arrived at a bungalow not far from my maternal grandparents in Washington State. Id take Katie for long walks in the woods where wed pick flowers and play games, mostly pretending to be cats because she adored them, and give her rides to the school bus stop on my bike. But, as a teenager, I didnt love the fact that we had bunk beds, and on the night of March 18, 2000, when we had a houseful of visitors, I was happy to share Mums bed. Katie was sharing our room with a woman my mum had befriended and her toddler daughter. One of my aunts and her boyfriend had the couch. That Saturday night, the adults decided to go out, leaving me to babysit the two girls. But at the last minute, Mum changed her mind and stayed. So the four of us watched Peter Pan on video, me and Katie in our pyjamas sitting on the floor under a blanket together. It was once Krystal (right) became a mother that the painful memories from her childhood resurfaced, and she realised Katie (left) had, in a way, been her first baby I remember kissing her on the forehead as we shared a bowl of popcorn. I went to bed and fell asleep about 12.30am. The next thing I knew, I was woken by a blood-curdling scream. There was a deafening crackling, and a blinding light from the hallway that was too painful to look at. And an unimaginable heat. Panicking, I reached for my mum, but she had gone. I glimpsed her running out of the bedroom and into the hallway. She had left me behind. I jumped out of bed and threw myself under a desk on the back wall as flames poured into the room from the hallway and covered the bedroom ceiling. The only way out was through the window. Taking a searing, smoky breath, I stood up and grabbed the bulky printer off the desk. It was burning hot to touch, but I hurled it as hard as I could into one of the double-glazed window panels. I could feel the fabric of my pyjama shirt boiling, like prickling stings of metal against my shoulder. After the printer smashed the inner pane of glass, I used the desk drawer to break the outer pane. I could feel cool air on my face, but it caused the flames to shoot towards me, licking my calf. I braced my right arm on the metal frame and pulled myself out, dropping six feet onto the ground. I didnt feel any pain from my burned flesh as I ran barefoot round the side of the house. When I reached the front, I saw many things all at once. Mum was lying on the ground in the middle of the street, covered in blood, her eyes half shut as she sobbed, intermittently letting out a scream. Her friends toddler was walking around the grass, her arms outstretched, presumably looking for an adult to comfort her. But there was no sign of Katie. I raised my eyes to the front of the house. Something on the inside went crack, smash. Each window coughed out flames that reached 15 feet into the air. In a split second I knew: Katie was dead. My sister, who it was my job to protect. My sister, who balanced on a cushion across the middle bar of my bike. Id tell her to hold tight to the handlebars or else shed fall off. Okay! shed answer, excitement in her voice every time. Faster, Krythtal, go faster! In that same moment, I think a part of me died. It was me, not Mum, who ran across the road to a neighbour and rang the emergency services thankfully already on their way and then my grandfather. Krystal would take Katie for long walks in the woods where theyd pick flowers and play games, mostly pretending to be cats 'I reached for my mum, but she had gone. I glimpsed her running out of the bedroom and into the hallway. She had left me behind,' says Krystal With Mum still on the ground writhing and moaning, it was me who tried to herd the toddler to safety, and to run my burnt hands under cold water. Then something in me snapped. Here I was, a burned, shocked child calling for help, looking after a toddler, trying desperately to do the next right thing. And there was Mum, also burned, yes, also shocked, surely. But the sight of her lying down crying wasnt surprising; it was typical. The culmination of everything Id had to put up with in my childhood came to a head. I was done. After the fire, I spent more than three weeks in hospital, first in the ICU of which I remember very little and then in the childrens burn ward. Extensive burns left me with scars on my face and body. Mum spent two weeks in intensive care, and for the first few days they werent sure she was going to make it. The nurses full of sympathy for a woman whod lost her daughter in such a tragedy all assumed I would want to see her as soon as possible. But I didnt. I didnt want to listen to her explain why shed saved the toddler - who I knew by now shed pulled from Katies room - but hadnt saved Katie. All I felt was anger. When I was finally confronted with the sight of her, covered in tubes, with an oxygen mask and no hair, I forced a neutral expression onto my face. I just felt numb. During the months Mum was in hospital, I lived with Dad and was cared for by him and my paternal grandparents. Suddenly, there was someone to make me meals, there were clean clothes in my drawers, the house was always tidy, there was no screaming. It was all new to me. Was this really how other people lived, all the time? Three and half months after the fire, Mum was released from hospital and we moved into an apartment, because, of course, there was no house for us to return to. There was no suggestion of me staying permanently with Dad. Sometimes Im angry that none of the adults in my life recognised the red flags around me living with Mum, though I dont blame any one person for not intervening. The situation was not straightforward. Later, Dad told me hed never realised just how bad it was. Perhaps everyone felt that Mum had lost too much already? Meanwhile, I buried my feelings as much as I could refusing to visit Katies grave, except for her funeral and waiting until the day I could leave home. The cause of the house fire was never established. As soon as I could I fled, heading first to California to drama school and then, aged 19 to New York, where I eventually met Stuart. Over the years I stopped telling people about my past it was just too complicated, and too painful. But when I had my sons it was obvious I couldnt avoid my feelings any longer, and with the help of a trauma therapist my past was slowly picked apart. While I might have predicted that therapy would help as it did what I never expected was to find healing through comedy. After having her past locked up for decades, she began telling her story on stage, in the form of a comedy show, which she then performed at the Edinburgh Fringe I had an overwhelming desire to write, to tell my story my way. And having locked it up for decades, I began telling it on stage, in the form of a comedy show, which I performed at the Edinburgh Fringe. But, while Ive been able to work on my mental health, Mums mental state has only deteriorated. In recent years, she has been admitted to hospital for unspecified illnesses, including paralysis, which mysteriously cleared up. Ive come to believe she has Munchausens in which sufferers invent illnesses for attention and sympathy with a sprinkle of borderline personality disorder. I havent had direct contact with her for two years. As for Katie, three years ago we made a family trip to the US to see my dad and, finally, the time was right for me to visit her grave. In 22 years Id never once visited her. Had anyone? In my teens and early twenties I thought graves werent important. Now, I felt as though my six-year-old sister had been here, cold and alone, up on this hill for all that time; I imagined her being sad that no one had visited. I felt deeply ashamed. Sonny, by now seven, had wanted to see the grave too, and as we approached the flat, dark grey stone with the big pink star in the middle, he read out the inscription: Katie Marie Truth. 19942000. Missed by Mom, Sister hey, thats you Mummy! Family and Friends. I like the star, he added. Yep, she loved stars, I told him. Whenever I see a star, I think of her. We stood silently together for a few seconds. I breathed in cold air and took in the smell of the wet forest. Then, Sonny reached out and tightened his arms around my hips, squishing his face into me. Im sorry she died, he said. My sweet little boy knew the perfect thing to say to me. Then I put my arm around him and felt a calm fall over me, at last. King Albert II of Belgium's daughter yesterday drew attention to herself due to her 'inappropriate' National Day outfit, which highlighted the work of a non-binary designer. Princess Delphine, born from an 18-year affair between the former monarch, 90, who abdicated in 2013, and Belgian aristocrat Sybille de Selys Longchamps, 83, attended the Brussels-based event in an ensemble created by Benjamin Voortmans, a young Belgian designer. However, the red dress's daring thigh-high split received some negative speculation from royal fans, with one stating that the outfit was 'inappropriate' for the patriotic occasion. Independence Day celebrates the separation of Belgium from the Netherlands in 1831, as well as the formal establishment of the Kingdom. Revealing details of her ensemble on Instagram, Delphine, 57, wrote, 'To celebrate Belgium on our National Day, I proudly wore a creation by @judassime (Benjamin Voortmans), a talented young Belgian designer and multidisciplinary, non-binary artist. 'We connect through a shared artistic language: transforming pain into beauty. I chose his work not only for his talent, but because it carries a message - one of tolerance, open-mindedness, and support for the LGBTQIA+ community. 'I'm deeply affected by bullying and violence against those who don't fit the mould. This outfit stands for difference, freedom, and love. Viva la difference!' Despite Delphine taking a positive stand for the LGBTQIA+ community through her dress choice, some found the ensemble to be unfitting for the occasion. Princess Delphine of Belgium has faced backlash for her 'inappropriate' outfit at yesterday's National Day event in Brussels Taking to X, one said, 'Unfortunate and inappropriate, just to say the least.' A second wrote, 'Raunchy and inelegant.' A third added, 'This is not an outfit a princess would wear for a national event.' While a fourth said, 'When I saw the photos OMG....it was so inappropriate.' For decades, the former King distanced himself from Princess Delphine and her mother to preserve his marriage. After Princess Delphine was born in 1968, the King initially remained in frequent contact with his child and her mother. But when Delphine reached her 16th birthday, the King began to distance himself. In 2013, the same year King Albert abdicated the throne due to health reasons and was succeeded by his son King Philippe, Princess Delphine launched a legal bid to be officially recognised as Albert's daughter - which she won in October 2020. Now, Delphine has the right to bear the royal name de Saxe-Cobourg and is formally recognised as a member of the Belgian royal family as are her two children Princess Josephine of Belgium and Prince Oscar of Belgium, who she shares with partner James O'Hare. Speaking to Tatler in 2023, the princess, who is an artist, revealed her father's rejection when she was young still hurts, but added she doesn't blame him and holds no ill-will towards him. She argued that royal life is 'isolating' and she believed her father had been badly advised at the time. However, she said, 'You don't just have a child and kick it.' The 57-year-old yesterday donned a dress created by Benjamin Voortmans, a young Belgian designer Princess Eleonore, Prince Gabriel, Queen Mathilde, King Philippe, Crown Princess Elisabeth and Prince Emmanuel of Belgium are seen attending the Te Deum mass on Belgian National Day yesterday The royal attended the National Day festivities yesterday alongside her husband James O'Hare (pictured) Delphine completed her red ensemble with a pair of love heart-shaped sunglasses in a matching shade Reflecting on her seven-year legal battle, Delphine said the action she brought was not about money or status but 'principles'. Delphine has started attending royal engagements and said her relationship with her father has healed after years of bitterness. When she launched her legal action in 2013, she told Belgian radio show Matin Premiere, 'I feel like I have a right to exist. Not to exist in the royal family but as me. 'My decision to call for help through the law, I feel today that it was the right thing to do... The judicial system said that I was right and that I had the right to exist.' Since the legal action has been settled, Princess Delphine has slowly become integrated into the Belgian royal family. She met her brother, King Philippe of Belgium, who is one of 20 Belgian royals she is related to - in 2020, where they posted a socially distanced picture to Facebook, describing it as a 'warm meeting.' When she was granted her royal title Princess Delphine was also invited to Belvedere Castle in Brussels where she had an official meeting with her father and his wife Queen Paola. Elsewhere yesterday, Belgium's Royal Family appeared in high spirits as they celebrated National Day on Monday. Pictured: Belgium's Princess Delphine and her husband James O'Hare watching the official military parade as part of National Day events Royal fans took to the comment section to share their thoughts on Delphine's outfit - and one dubbed it 'inappropriate' Queen Mathilde, 52, who put on a stunning display in red for the 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. The royal family attends the mass ceremony in Brussels every year in an annual tradition. It comes after Delphine said she feels 'very sorry' for the Duke of Sussex in a recent podcast. Talking in It's Reigning Man with host Daniel Rosney, the 57-year-old said she follows Prince Harry's circumstances in the news because of her admiration for Princess Diana. 'Lady Diana was a part of my life when I was in England,' Delphine, who previously lived in London but has since relocated to Brussels, said, adding, 'She was just sunshine, in the news especially.' Delphine claimed that Diana's sudden death was complicated for Harry to process, and that speculation over his life since he left for Montecito with his former actress wife, Meghan, counts as 'bullying'. Speaking in the podcast, Delphine said, 'I feel very sorry for Harry, because I think that was traumatic for him. 'I think Harry has suffered so much,' she said, continuing, 'He was traumatised, and it's coming out now. She added, 'I understand the guy. He's just traumatised, and so he's doing these things and everyone is just bullying him but not thinking about his trauma, and I just find it terrible.' Pity the poor Hague sisters: Molly-Mae influencer, entrepreneur and former Love Island runner-up and her fitness influencer elder sibling Zoe Rae. Both have recently been subjected to disastrous holidays, which they have bemoaned to their combined 2.1 million YouTube followers. What went wrong? Food poisoning? Lost bags? Natural disaster? Not quite. Last week, Zoe Rae complained that she had to leave the tropical island paradise of Bali after just 48 hours because it looks better on social media than it does in reality. We came here with high expectations because we had seen on social media everyone was having such a lovely time, she announced on YouTube, misery etched across her shiny moisturised face. Lovely places to eat and beaches and lovely gyms and coffee shops. But I dont 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. MollyMaes sister, fitness influencer Zoe Rae (pictured with husband Danny), 28, ditched Bali after 48 hours apparently because the island didnt live up to its Instagram image In a separate YouTube video, Molly-Mae complained about her trip to the Isle of Man with her partner Tommy Fury Watching it, youd think shed been shown a holiday brochure of Barbados only to have landed in Scunthorpe. She wasnt going to sit down and say anything, Zoe Rae went on to tell her followers bravely, but people want to know. The truth is, there are so many parts of her statement that are genuinely hilarious. Firstly, that a woman who makes a living as an influencer glorifying and photo-editing her own life has been left aghast by other people who are doing exactly the same. Secondly, that she went on to flee a five-star hotel in Bali for another five-star hotel in Dubai a city as fake as the veneers on the influencers who arrive there by the commercial flight-load. Leaving Bali for Dubai is like walking out of Macbeth because youd rather go to watch Fast And Furious 4. Its like flying from the Eiffel Tower in Paris to the fake one in Las Vegas because its more modern. Unsurprisingly, her privileged moans didnt land well with fans who pointed out that she was out of touch and that Bali wasnt meant to be a luxury hotspot. 'Molly-Maes video was so foolish I wonder if it was actually deliberate,' writes Flora Gill 'Leaving Bali for Dubai is like walking out of Macbeth because youd rather go to watch Fast And Furious 4,' says Flora Gill (Pictured: Zoe Rae with her husband Danny in Dubai) But the backlash might, eventually, have dissipated had her sister not waded in with her own tale of holiday woe yesterday. In a separate YouTube video, Molly-Mae complained about her trip to the Isle of Man with her partner Tommy Fury and their two-year-old daughter Bambi in an 86,000 camper van. She said it was blighted by delays and left her having a breakdown. As a mum, I get it. A long, delayed journey with an over-tired and overstimulated toddler is every parents worst nightmare. To a degree, I respect their decision to trudge through a rain-soaked British summer like the rest of us because as Tommy told a podcast last month they want their daughter to know the meaning of normal aka a nice camping holiday... not staying in five-star hotels. But it is an unfathomably stupid mistake to complain about your own holiday in a motorhome worth more than some peoples flats when the internet is still mocking your sisters Indonesian travels. The videos are still trending, the memes are still flowing. Little wonder that critics have now piled in to call both sisters entitled and spoiled. Molly-Maes video was so foolish I wonder if it was actually deliberate: A calculated act of self-sacrifice to take some of the heat from her sister. In politics, theres a move called the dead cat strategy where you distract from a negative news story by saying or doing something striking like throwing a dead cat on a table. Was Molly-Mae looking for a metaphorical feline carcass to take the hate away from her big sibling? Molly-Mae and Tommy were said to be staying in an 86,000 camper van on the Isle of Man with their two-year-old daughter Bambi Molly-Mae with daughter Bambi. The star has said their family holiday to the Isle of Wight was blighted by delays and left her having a breakdown The difficulty the Hague sisters have is that in building their online personality empires they have got themselves into an impossible situation. They have branded themselves relatable: They want you to believe theyre just like you or me, albeit shinier, Photoshopped version with better hair. From her early days as a YouTuber, what made Molly-Mae so popular was her authenticity and the honest way shed share her life with her audience. But shes become a victim of her own success and now lives a life far removed from her fans. If the Hagues holidays are really so terrible, then what does that make ours when our budgets probably wouldnt even cover the cost of their bar snacks by the pool? The Hague sisters are emblematic of a generation fuelled by social media, taught to over-share and encouraged to attach a narcissistic level of belief in the importance of their own lives and opinions. When every experience and inconvenience becomes fodder for content, its hard not to view life through a distorted filter. One where even an island paradise or a multi-thousand-pound camper van isnt picture-perfect enough. If you've been thinking about finally splurging on a Disney World Annual Pass, now might be the time to do it. For a limited time, Disney is offering up to a $100 Disney Gift Card eGift when you purchase a new Annual Pass to Walt Disney World. But before you get too excited, there are a few things you should know - and yes, there's a catch. First, this offer only applies to new Annual Passes. If you're hoping to renew your current pass or stack this on top of another discount, you're out of luck. Disney specifically notes that the promotion cannot be combined with any other discount or offer, including renewal discounts. The amount you'll receive also depends on the type of Annual Pass you purchase. The highest value comes with the Disney Incredi-Pass, which includes a $100 Disney Gift Card eGift. Disney World is offering $100 gift cards to anyone who buys a new Annual Pass for a limited time This pass is available to everyone and has no blockout dates. If you're a Florida resident or a Disney Vacation Club Member, you can snag the Disney Sorcerer Pass and get a $75 Disney Gift Card eGift. The Disney Pirate Pass, available only to Florida residents, includes a $50 Disney Gift Card eGift. And finally, the Disney Pixie Pass - also exclusive to Florida residents - comes with a $25 Disney Gift Card eGift. Once you purchase a new pass, Disney will send the gift card via email within a few days to the address provided during checkout. So yes, you'll have to wait a bit before you start spending it on Mickey pretzels or those Minnie ears you've been eyeing. It's worth noting that these gift cards can be used pretty much anywhere on Disney property - from dining and shopping to hotel stays and even park tickets. While Disney hasn't shared an end date for the promo, it is described as a 'limited time' offer, so don't expect it to last forever. Those who already have an Annual Pass will not be able to take part in this promo This deal might be Disney's way of encouraging more guests to invest in annual passes again after its operating income dropped drastically earlier this year. If you're not sure which pass to get, Disney's website has a comparison tool to help you figure out what's worth it based on how often you go, where you live, and what blockout dates you're okay with. The Incredi-Pass, while the most expensive, comes with the fewest restrictions and the biggest gift card bonus. For Florida locals who visit the parks often, the lower-tier passes still offer some solid perks - and the free gift card is a nice little cherry on top. Ultimately, if you've been on the fence about becoming an Annual Passholder, this promo might be the push you needed. Just remember to read the fine print and double-check that you're eligible before you buy - because once you're in, there's no turning back (or refunding that pass). Italians have named the Australian supermarket pasta brand they swear by when they don't make it fresh - and it's one many often walk right past. When asked by a Sydneysider what brand Italians recommend at Woolworths, Coles or Aldi for those unable to make pasta at home, there was one that stood out from the pack. The 'golden' buy? La Molisana. Hundreds flooded a popular foodie forum to praise the brand and its 'authenticity' this week. It is sold at Woolworths, Harris Farm Markets, the odd deli and smaller Euro grocery stores. 'An Italian in Venice told me the secret. Buy the pasta with higher protein content. So, La Molisana with 14g protein/100g is the one and it's excellent,' one wrote. 'I'm second generation Australian-Italian if that still counts. La Molisana for dried pasta and Rana for fresh pasta,' another echoed. 'Can confirm - my Italian mother would only buy this when we were in Australia,' one more said. Others said the brand was 'easily the best', 'the most authentic' and led to the 'best starchy water' - especially the egg fettuccine. When asked by a Sydneysider what brand Italians recommend for those unable to make pasta at home, there was one that stood out from the pack: La Molisana (right) 'La Molisana egg fettuccine is hands down the nicest pasta I've had since I had it from scratch when I was a kid. Aussie born with Italian Dad here,' a local wrote. 'Australian-Italian, if we aren't making it, it's usually La Molisana. Go for something with high protein and a light yellow colour. The darker types haven't been air dried [for several] days.' La Molisana, owned by the Ferro family, has been in business for more than 100 years and boasts a pasta factory that is 'one of the highest in Italy' at 730m in the heart of Molise (Southern Italy). This, they claim, offers 'pristine pasta-making conditions with clean mountain air, fresh spring water and superior grain growing'. 'The techniques used by the Ferro family combine ancient practices with modern technology, maintaining the grain's original properties to create the perfect pasta,' they say. The company is the fifth largest pasta maker in Italy and they export to more than 80 countries. They also use high quality semolina flour - a must in most Italian cooking. At Woolworths, shoppers can shop a fairly wide range of options including spaghetti, linguine, penne, rigatoni, farfalle, fettuccine, pappardelle, fusilli, gnocchi and lasagne. There are also pesto and passata sauces. 'Australian-Italian, if we aren't making it, it's usually La Molisana. Go for something with high protein and a light yellow colour. The darker types haven't been air dried [for several] days,' one said At Coles, Cucina Matese was a go-to for many who described it as having a 'decent texture' and 'authentic'. Meanwhile at Aldi, shoppers recommended Armando pasta While La Molisana was the brand mentioned most, it wasn't the only supermarket offering recommended by Italians. At Coles, Cucina Matese was a go-to for many who described it as having a 'decent texture' and 'authentic'. Meanwhile at Aldi, shoppers recommended Armando pasta but said while it may be 'pretty decent', they only have rigatoni, fusilli and linguine available. Others recommended visiting a local delicatessen, as many provide imported and freshly made pasta that's 'miles better' than many of the supermarket options. A few more brands listed included Barilla, Remano, Woolies' Macro, Divella and Guzzi's. One more Australian-Italian summed up his go-to picks succinctly, with hundreds agreeing with his recap. 'Barilla if you need to buy cheap [and] en masse, La Molisana for the closest thing to real (dry) pasta and Rana for tortellini or ravioli,' he said. Pregnant with a longed-for child, Kerry Clifford expected to feel a sense of elation. She had endured three miscarriages and an ovarian ectopic pregnancy, where the fertilised egg develops outside the uterus, and so Kerry was initially relieved when her fourth pregnancy 'stuck'. But that relief was soon replaced by wretched feelings of despair. Kerry, who had never experienced mental health problems before, would put on a 'happy face' during the day at work as a palliative care assistant in a care home but 'as soon as I got home, I'd crash', says the 32-year-old from Horsham in Sussex. 'I wasn't happy. I was desperate, constantly worrying about the pregnancy and the future was I harming the baby by being on my feet all day? Would she survive the birth? Would I be a good mum? I felt after such a battle to stay pregnant, I should have been enjoying it. 'I should have been wearing a lovely summer dress and "glowing" but I felt awful: I was exhausted, I had intrusive thoughts, imagining I was bleeding and the baby had stopped moving.' She didn't know it at the time, but Kerry was experiencing prenatal depression, which can affect expectant mothers at any point from conception. While most people are familiar with postnatal depression, defined as depression that affects mothers in the year after giving birth, prenatal depression while less often discussed is as common, if not more so. According to official figures postnatal depression affects 10 per cent of new mothers, while prenatal depression is thought to affect one in five (20 per cent) of women who give birth in England every year around 112,000 women. Kerry Clifford suffered with prenatal depression, saying: 'I felt awful: I was exhausted, I had intrusive thoughts, imagining I was bleeding and the baby had stopped moving' Kerry pictured with her newborn daughter Reenie in 2022. The depression stopped after Kerry gave birth, but returned when she became pregnant again a year later Dr Livia Martucci, a consultant perinatal psychiatrist and clinical lead for perinatal services at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, says a history of mental illness can mean a higher risk of developing prenatal depression Most experts believe the true number affected by prenatal depression is likely to be higher still. Research by The Boots Family Trust Alliance in 2013 found that 70 per cent of women hide or underplay their mental health symptoms during pregnancy for fear of judgment. Kerry didn't even tell her husband, Joe, 34, who works in office construction, how she was feeling for fear of worrying him. But at 30 weeks into the pregnancy, Kerry's midwife became concerned and advised her to talk to the perinatal mental health team at her local hospital and she was referred for weekly counselling. 'It was a total life-saver because I felt so lonely and guilty I'd longed for this pregnancy, yet I was hating every moment of it,' says Kerry. But her problems didn't end there. After giving birth to a healthy baby girl, Reenie, in 2022, Kerry became pregnant again just over a year later with daughter Orlaigh. The depression returned but was far worse. 'I'd lie in bed crying, not wanting to be here,' says Kerry. 'Daily, even hourly, I'd say to myself, "I can't do this any more".' She felt so awful she considered a termination, and even ending her own life. 'Every day was a battle to stay sane and silent I felt friends and family would judge me if they knew how I felt.' A study published in 2018 by Dr Rebecca Pearson, a lecturer in psychiatric epidemiology at the University of Bristol, found an alarming 50 per cent rise in prenatal depression in a single generation The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) warned in 2020 that there was evidence that depression during pregnancy and postpartum was commonly missed or undertreated in general practice Kerry also suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a severe form of nausea and sickness: 'I'd be sick multiple times a day, but it was the mental torment that was unbearable. 'I had intrusive thoughts that were worse in the middle of the night when I'd wake up drenched with sweat imagining the baby was dead. The only reason I didn't try to hurt myself was because my beautiful daughter Reenie, then aged just 18 months, needed me.' Prenatal depression can cause anxiety, anger and irritability, a feeling of worthlessness, difficulties sleeping and suicidal or intrusive thoughts of harm about the baby yet women often try and underplay their symptoms, not just to friends and family, but to medical professionals, too. 'Many women work hard to maintain a "mask" during pregnancy, to meet expectations that it should be a joyful, glowing time,' says Dr Caroline Boyd, a perinatal clinical psychologist based at the independent practice, Parent Therapy Hub, in Hertfordshire. 'But for 7 to 15 per cent of women, symptoms of anxiety and depression begin during pregnancy and continue after the baby arrives. 'Admitting to feeling difficult emotions during this time can feel shameful especially in a culture that idealises pregnancy as a universally joyful experience and frames motherhood as a defining marker of womanhood.' Why some women develop prenatal depression is not clear. Hormones and genes may play a part but it's thought other factors may be involved, too. There are known risk factors, says Dr Livia Martucci, a consultant perinatal psychiatrist and clinical lead for perinatal services at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and a spokesperson for the Royal College of Psychiatrists. She says: 'These include: a history of mental health difficulties; previous trauma, including abuse or neglect; complications in past pregnancies, such as miscarriage or traumatic birth; and a lack of social support.' 'It can affect any age but it's slightly more common in younger mums [under 25] and older [over 40],' adds Dr Boyd. Worryingly, the numbers affected appear to be growing. A study by the University of Bristol, published in 2018, found an alarming 50 per cent rise in prenatal depression in a single generation. The study questioned pregnant women aged 19 to 24 between 1990 and 1992, and then between 2012 and 2016. High depression scores were recorded for 17 per cent of the first group and 25 per cent of the second, a change the authors blamed on the growth in popularity of social media. 'Social media gives a false impression that pregnant women are coping better than they are,' says the study's author, Dr Rebecca Pearson, a lecturer in psychiatric epidemiology at the University of Bristol. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) warned in 2020 that there was evidence that depression during pregnancy and postpartum was commonly missed or undertreated in general practice. 'One of the main challenges is how much time we have with our patients,' says Professor Margaret Ikpoh, vice-chair of the Royal College of GPs. 'In a ten-minute consultation the physical symptoms of pregnancy tend to get the most attention. 'It's often only once you have been able to build a rapport with the patient, that they might mention something that indicates they might need some support with their mental health and wellbeing. 'Major red flags are a patient wanting to harm themselves. 'But there are other things we look out for if they seem detached, for instance, or are struggling to take care of themselves. The earlier we can help them access treatment or support the better, as perinatal mental ill-health can have a profound impact on women, their families and their babies.' Yet Kerry's experience demonstrates the struggle women experiencing depression during their pregnancy or after giving birth can face to get support. Kerry was 36 weeks into her first pregnancy when she suffered a placental abruption where the placenta comes away from the wall of the uterus, causing heavy bleeding and pain. 'I woke up at 3am in a pool of blood and was rushed to hospital by ambulance.' She needed an emergency caesarean. The baby appeared healthy, and she and Kerry went home 24 hours later. But 'then all the postnatal fears kicked in'. Kerry recalls: 'Is she breathing? Is she thriving? The midwives came to my home and did a standard check on day one, then a day five check and then, as everything was normal with the baby, left me to it.' After the counselling stopped at the end of her pregnancy, Kerry eventually found informal support via the mums' app Peanut. 'I started chatting to another new mum via the app,' she recalls. 'Our babies were born in the same hospital, by caesarean, two weeks apart she understood me and what I was going through: feeling lonely, anxious and afraid, and that made it feel normal. 'I felt validated when she said, "I feel that too".' But when pregnant again 14 months later with Orlaigh, suffering from HG and with her mental health getting worse than before, Kerry sought help from her GP. 'After being dismissed by my GP many times I demanded to see a consultant obstetrician - I told him that I had thought about ending the pregnancy and that dying would have felt better than what I was experiencing but even at that point I wasn't offered help or referred to any mental health team.' As soon as Orlaigh was born at 38 weeks (again Kerry had a caesarean) the nausea lifted and Kerry's mental health improved. 'I think if I had been given mental health support and coping mechanisms to understand how pregnancy can affect your mental health, I would have coped better than I did,' she says. In fact, her hyperemesis gravidarum might have also played a role in making the depression worse, says Dr Martucci. 'There is increasing evidence that HG can be linked to depression in pregnancy, not only because of the distress and discomfort of feeling nauseous and vomiting most if not all of the time, but also because of the frustration that comes with loss of functioning,' she told Good Health. 'Some people struggle to even move their head without being sick, which means they struggle to look after older children or have to be signed off work.' But what kind of support do women need? While there is evidence that women with both pre- and postnatal depression respond very well to talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), the NHS struggles to meet demand. According to NHS England, more than 57,000 new and expectant mothers received specialist support for mental health problems in 2023/4, a third more than in 2022. Yet analysis by the Royal College of Psychiatrists has found that almost two-thirds of integrated care boards in England, the bodies that make local NHS funding decisions, are planning to cut funding to perinatal mental health services by 3.6 million, despite increased demand. The National Childbirth Trust believes such cuts will mean some women will take their own lives. Maternal suicide continues to be the leading cause of deaths of women between six weeks and a year after the end of pregnancy, according to the 2024 report by MBRRACE-UK [Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK]. Annie Belasco, chief executive of the charity PANDAS, which offers support to women suffering perinatal depression (or PND, the umbrella term for both prenatal and postnatal depression) believes one simple improvement would be to warn prospective parents about the risk of perinatal mental health difficulties from conception. 'There should be much more awareness that your feelings can be very up and down and that a 'perfect pregnancy' isn't achievable,' she says. 'Some women are incredibly frightened about bringing a child into the world when so many seismic events are happening. Social media is their worst enemy. There is so much comparison, so many unrealistic expectations.' She talks from experience. After a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment aged 25, Annie feared she would never conceive so when she became pregnant in 2014, aged 33, 'it was like the rainbow after the storm, a new beginning', she says. But the elation didn't last long. She also suffered from HG and maternal OCD, where she felt compelled to complete lengthy rituals every day. 'I had intrusive and frightening thoughts throughout my pregnancy, exacerbated by my anxiety and depression not being taken seriously and treated,' she says. 'I was constantly calling my GP and midwife. I'd sit in my house with the curtains shut, just to feel safe.' Annie's obstetrician prescribed an antidepressant sertraline which she was reassured is safe to be taken in pregnancy and she was offered a place on a waiting list for therapy. Annie says: 'I felt I was in crisis, but because I hadn't had suicidal thoughts, it wasn't enough for an urgent referral to the perinatal mental health team.' She began seeing a therapist privately which helped. She phoned PANDAS and found support in talking to others who'd had similar experiences. PANDAS runs online support groups and provides regional face-to-face groups run by trained volunteers. Around 50 per cent of the 5,000 women who get in touch with the charity each year are suffering from prenatal depression. 'We know that peer support is very powerful because you get instant empathy and understanding,' says Annie Belasco. The Royal College of Midwives has been calling for a dedicated perinatal depression specialist midwife to be employed by every NHS trust and believes that maternity professionals should show equal concern to mental and physical health in pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. Two years on Kerry, a stay-at-home mum, can't imagine wanting to hurt herself or end a much-wanted pregnancy. Reenie is now three, and Orlaigh, two but while Kerry's husband would like to try for more children, she will not put herself through another pregnancy. 'When I was carrying both girls, I was a shell,' she says. 'I felt so ashamed, as if I was failing at the thing all women are supposed to do well.' pandasfoundation.org.uk Roughly 1,000 NHS patients a week have a pacemaker implanted to steady their heart rate and protect them against potentially fatal abnormal rhythms. Since the first one was used in Sweden in 1958, the devices are thought to have saved tens of thousands of lives by reducing the risk of a cardiac arrest. But the matchbox-sized implants which are attached to the heart by two or more leads are not entirely risk-free. They can cause infection, blood clots and nerve damage (during surgery to put them in) and can even stop working inside the body if leads become dislodged or broken. Now researchers at Northwestern University in Illinois, US, have developed a pacemaker tinier than a grain of rice that can be injected into the heart through the skin without the need for surgery. What's more, it has no leads and, rather than having to be surgically removed at a later date, as current ones do, it dissolves into tiny fragments that are eventually flushed out of the body as waste. The new pacemaker was the brainchild of scientists developing a better way of monitoring the hearts of babies who had undergone life-saving cardiac surgery. More than 6,000 babies a year in the UK are born with a congenital heart defect. Many require surgery before being fitted with a temporary pacemaker to monitor heart rhythm during their recovery surgeons then remove it. Professor Francisco Leyva-Leon, a cardiologist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, said the new device could revolutionise heart monitoring The tiny pacemaker - smaller than a grain of rice - can be inserted non-invasively using a syringe This kind of temporary pacemaker is also used in adults recovering from heart surgery or who suffer bradycardia a sudden slowing of heart rate due to inflammation of the heart muscle or heart surgery complications. It consists of a pulse generator, which has a battery and a tiny computer circuit and one or more wires that attach to the heart. If the pacemaker senses the heart has missed a beat, or is beating too slowly, it sends signals at a steady rate. If the heartbeat is normal, no signals are sent. Although generally safe, the temporary insertion of wires and a pacemaker can go horribly wrong. In one high-profile example, astronaut Neil Armstrong died in 2012 from complications after the removal of temporary pacemaker wires put in place during surgery to clear a blocked coronary artery. A subsequent review found he had suffered internal bleeding and a sharp drop in blood pressure arising from the procedure. The new pacemaker could reduce the risk of such life-threatening complications. Small enough to fit into a syringe, it has an electrode in it but no battery. Instead, it's powered by two metals that, when they come into contact with blood or other body fluids, spark a chemical reaction that produces enough energy to drive the implant. Meanwhile, a tiny plastic disc is stuck on the skin on the chest above the heart this has a sensor that detects when the heart is beating irregularly. When it detects this, it immediately fires pulses of infrared light through the skin, bone and muscle in the chest wall to turn on the pacemaker restoring the heart to its normal rate, before switching the pacemaker off again. The pacemaker is made from biodegradable materials that dissolve after several weeks or months (the exact time is still subject to research) then the particles pass out of the body as waste. This avoids the risk of infection and scar tissue forming from surgery to remove it. But it is not meant to replace permanent pacemakers, where patients with chronic heart rhythm problems have them for life. Findings published recently in the journal Nature showed the tiny, dissolving pacemaker worked well in animals, quickly correcting abnormalities in heart rhythm. 'We have developed what is, to our knowledge, the world's smallest pacemaker,' said John Rogers, a professor of materials science and engineering at Northwestern University, who led the study. He expects the device will enter clinical trials within two to three years. One possible future use, he said, is to inject several of the miniature pacemakers into different parts of the heart rather than having electrodes in one spot, as is currently done. This would give a more precise picture of the heart's electrical activity and what treatments would correct any problems. Other slimmed-down pacemakers are already finding their way into NHS use. In January, doctors at Castle Hill Hospital in East Yorkshire fitted a new wireless pacemaker smaller than a AAA battery into a man who had suffered repeated problems with conventional pacemakers. Mike Wills, from Kirton in Lindsey, North Lincolnshire, collapsed on more than one occasion when electronic devices such as supermarket tills and mobile phones disrupted signals from his pacemaker. It's hoped his scaled-down implant will be less susceptible to interference. Commenting on the new dissolving pacemaker, Professor Francisco Leyva-Leon, a cardiologist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, said it could revolutionise heart monitoring. 'It is potentially ground-breaking,' he told Good Health. 'Currently, when you have a pacemaker put in there is a risk of infection [from the surgery], but that would be much reduced if you could inject it straight into the heart.' Professor Gerry Stansby, a consultant vascular surgeon at Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Hospitals Trust, added: 'This is definitely a step forward. The fact that it fully dissolves and could be so easily inserted by injection is particularly helpful in babies, where any type of surgery or invasive procedure can have complications.' A possible third type of diabetes that could potentially impact nearly 2million Americans has been discovered. An international team of researchers found that a specific subset of people with type 1 diabetes which affects about 1.8million Americans may actually have an entirely new form of the disease that is not caused by the immune system. Type 1 diabetes affects 8.4million people globally and is caused by the immune system misfiring and destroying cells that help to control blood sugar. But now scientists in the US and UK say they have detected a new variant of the disease in people of sub-Saharan African descent that does not appear to be linked to the immune system. Their analysis of nearly 900 people with childhood-onset type 1 diabetes from three African countries revealed that only about 33 percent had the characteristic antibodies proteins made by the immune system that attack cells used to control blood sugar seen in type 1 diabetics. The remaining 66 percent previously diagnosed with type 1 diabetes did not test positive for these antibodies, suggesting they had a new variant of the disease. Revealing the findings, researchers said it could pave the way for new treatments for the disease to boost health and life expectancy, with type 1 diabetics dying about a decade earlier than their peers on average. Scientists in the UK and US say they may have detected a new type of diabetes (stock image) Your browser does not support iframes. More than 38.4million Americans have diabetes, with the vast majority around 37million having type 2 diabetes, a chronic condition where the body can't use the insulin it produces, a hormone used to control blood sugar, leading to high blood sugar levels. This differs from type 1 diabetes, which is caused by the immune system attacking islet cells that make insulin, causing blood sugar levels to spike. The disease is typically diagnosed by testing the blood for characteristic antibodies against islet cells, indicating the disease. In the study, a similar analysis was repeated on 107 Americans of sub-Saharan African background with type 1 diabetes. It found 55 percent of them tested negative for typical type 1 diabetes antibodies. Writing in the study, the team led by the UK's University of Exeter said: 'These findings support the common existence of a non-autoimmune, insulin-deficient subtype of diabetes among children and young adults with diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa. '[This] is different from classic autoimmune type 1 diabetes, and does not have features consistent with type 2 diabetes or malnutrition-associated diabetes. 'Therefore, alternative causes must be considered in this group of individuals.' Researchers are not sure what may cause this version of diabetes, but said it might be linked to malnutrition in early life, which could cause cells to become less sensitive to the hormone insulin, which helps to control blood sugar. They also suggested it may be due to certain genetic variations in sub-Saharan African populations that are not present in white groups. The above graph shows estimates for global diabetes cases. It is predicted that the number of people with the condition will more than double by the year 2050 compared to 2021 Blood samples were collected from type 1 diabetics in the US and Africa from 2007 to 2022 Of those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the US, an estimated nearly 10 percent or 167,000 are black. It is not clear what proportion of these can trace their roots back to Sub-Saharan Africa. For the first part of the study, participants were recruited from Cameroon, Uganda and South Africa. About half were female, all were black, and participants were diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 15 years on average. They all also had a healthy body weight. For participants from Cameroon and Uganda, blood samples were collected from patients who had visited private or public hospitals between 2019 and 2022. These were analyzed for the presence of antibodies that would indicate the presence of type 1 diabetes. To expand the dataset, the researchers also included participants from South Africa who had their blood tested for the same antibodies between 2007 and 2015. A total of 312 participants, or 35 percent, tested positive for the antibodies, while the remaining 582 tested negative. Next, the researchers extracted data from the SEARCH database, which collects data on young people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the US. They extracted information on 3,000 participants, including 2,602 from a white ethnic background and 429 from a black ethnic background. Among the 107 recorded as being from a Sub-Saharan African background by the database, 55 percent or 59 participants did not test positive for the typical antibodies. And among those from a black background, 65 participants or 15 percent tested negative for the antibodies. The researchers said a similar pattern was not detected among those from a white ethnic background. Dr Dana Dabelea, an epidemiologist at the University of Colorado and co-author of the study, said: 'The identification of this type 1 diabetes in Sub-Saharan African populations and among individuals of African ancestry in the US suggests a potential ancestral or genetic link. 'These findings highlight the need to consider alternative etiologies in this group and a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms may provide important insights for future prevention and treatment strategies.' The study was published in Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology. Health experts are sounding the alarm over the rise of a deadly insect-borne disease following America's first death from the virus this year. An unnamed individual in Maricopa County, Arizona, was diagnosed with West Nile Virus, which is becoming more prevalent in the US due to a warming climate. They were among the one percent of patients who develop a severe form of the virus, which causes dangerous swelling of the brain. This occurs when the virus crosses the blood-brain barrier and infects the brain and/or spinal cord, leading to conditions like encephalitis, meningitis, or paralysis. Officials revealed the victim was an older adult with underlying health conditions. They were the 17th human case of the West Nile virus in the Maricopa County area and among the 51 human cases nationwide. While West Nile virus typically causes mild symptoms, individuals with certain medical conditions - such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants - are at greater risk of serious health complications. Currently West Nile virus activity appears to be at a relatively stable level, but the presence of the virus in places it typically doesn't appear is raising concerns among experts. The West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-spread disease in the continental US Your browser does not support iframes. This is because higher temperatures shorten the time it takes for the virus to incubate within the mosquito and become infectious. Additionally, warmer temperatures can enhance mosquito survival and reproduction rates, further amplifying the spread of the virus. Maricopa County's chief medical officer Dr Nick Staab said: 'This tragic loss is a reminder that West Nile virus can be serious, especially for older adults and those with existing health conditions. 'Monsoon season brings much-needed rain, but it also creates ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed.' The most cases have been recorded in Arizona (17 cases), followed by Louisiana (seven), Oklahoma and Texas (five) and Tennessee (three). Other states with human cases of West Nile virus are California, Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia. So far this year, there have been 51 human cases of West Nile virus in the US, including 24 severe or 'neuroinvasive' cases. Last year, there were 748 human cases of the virus recorded, including 515 neuroinvasive cases. The worry among experts is that West Nile virus is spreading to new areas, and mosquitoes carrying the virus are being found in previously unaffected regions. This is partly due to climate change, which is expanding the range of mosquito-borne diseases. It is currently the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the US. Recently, West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in New York City, but no human cases have been reported. Once a person is bitten by an infected mosquito, It generally takes between three and 14 days for the disease to develop. Around 80 percent of infected people are asymptomatic (no symptoms), but 20 percent will develop fever, headache, and body aches. In rare cases - about 1 in 150 - the virus can cause severe complications as it spreads to the brain - like encephalitis or meningitis - which may lead to paralysis, long-term disability, or death. People over the age of 60 are at greater risk for severe illness if they are infected, as are those with with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease. There is no specific treatment for the virus or vaccine, but 80 percent of cases are mild, where sufferers may experience flu-like symptoms or rashes. In more severe cases, patients have reported paralysis and memory loss. Prospero Rangel, 78, beat cancer but was left relearning how to walk after contracting West Nile virus last year. So far, there have been 51 reported human cases of West Nile virus so far this year across the US. Arizona has the most number of cases at 17 Prospero Rangel, pictured with his daughter Sara Salzer, was outside his home in Brazos County when he sustained two bites from a mosquito. He went on to contract West Nile virus He was outside his home in Brazos County, Texas, when he was bitten and immediately began feeling 'so itchy'. Over the following days he began suffering body aches, joint pain, weakness and a fever before being admitted to hospital a week later. Rangel's daughter, Sara Salzer, said following his diagnosis: 'We've been told that there are going to be some symptoms that are going to stay with him for a while. 'We were even told that he may have to do outpatient therapy for the next year.' The CDC states that the best way to prevent West Nile is to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Bite prevention tips include using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and using mosquito repellent devices outside and around the home. Following the first human death, residents in Maricopa County are being encouraged to remove standing water while ensuring that lawn irrigation and onsite sewage systems are properly maintained. Larvicide can also be used to treat any areas where mosquitoes could lay eggs. READ MORE: The surprising place you can get an STD ... that everyone can see Americans living in the south could be most at risk of sexually transmitted diseases, a new study reveals. Louisiana had the country's highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), which include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. It suffered 1,200 STD cases per 100,000 residents, making it the state most stricken by diseases that spread through sex, skin-to-skin contact and from mother to child during birth. In particular, Louisiana had the highest rate of chlamydia, America's most common STD that affects 1.6million adults every year. Mississippi and Alaska followed close behind with 1,084 and 1,067 STD cases per 100,000 people, respectively. Alaska also recorded the most instances of gonorrhea, which experts have previously blamed on weak public health infrastructure and high rates of substance abuse. It's the same state where a woman died earlier this year of disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI), which occurs when the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea invades the bloodstream and travels to vital organs. Meanwhile, Georgia, which had the fourth-highest overall STD rate, recorded the most HIV cases with 25.5 per 100,000. South Dakota rounded out the top five, recording the highest rate of syphilis infections. A new report ranks the states with the highest rates of STDs (stock image) Your browser does not support iframes. On the other hand, states in New England had the lowest STD rates, with Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine falling to the bottom of the list. The rankings, provided by a new study from Invigor Medical, used the latest CDC data - from 2023 - to calculate STD rates for all 50 states. The researchers found many states ranking in the top 10 have limited access to sexual health clinics and emphasize abstinence education as a primary method to prevent pregnancy and STDs, which could be drivers behind their higher rates. And many states do not mandate sex education in schools, meaning millions of students miss out on potentially life-saving information. Your browser does not support iframes. States like Alaska and South Dakota also have higher numbers of outbreaks among Indigenous populations, which are more likely to have limited access to care. People in the New England region, on the other hand, typically have higher household incomes and rates of insurance, making them better able to access care and sexual education. The report also found women in the US are 10 percent more likely than men to be diagnosed with an STD, with a rate of 902 cases per 100,000 compared to 819. This could be because women are screened more often during routine reproductive health visits, while cases in men may go undiagnosed. The vagina also has a moist, thin lining that is easily penetrable, making it prone to infections. Louisiana had the country's highest rate of chlamydia with 792 cases per 100,000 residents. This added up to 36,242 diagnoses in 2023. Nationwide, chlamydia affects 1.6million Americans every year. Common symptoms of chlamydia include abnormal or foul-smelling vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, abdominal tenderness, pain during intercourse, irregular bleeding, and fever. However, less than half of infections show symptoms, and many are asymptomatic. Mississippi followed close behind overall and had the second-highest rate of chlamydia, with 701 cases per 100,000. Alaska recorded 1,067 STDs per 100,000 people in 2023 and had the highest rate of gonorrhea at 311 cases per 100,000. This adds up to about 2,280. Untreated gonorrhea can lead to serious health issues, including pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. And while the infection can usually be easily treated, some strains are resistant to commonly used antibiotics - making them harder to clear. Earlier this year in Alaska, an unnamed woman in her 50s died from disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) after contracting gonorrhea. This causes her to go into sepsis and heart failure. In DGI, gonorrhea infections travel to the bloodstream and infect organs throughout the body due to the infection going untreated. It's thought to occur in just 0.5 percent of gonorrhea cases. She is one of eight Alaskans to be identified with DGI since January of this year, the state health department said. The above chart from Invigor Medical shows the rate of STDs by race and ethnicity The above chart from Invigor Medical shows the rate of STDs in the US by age group and sex Georgia, which had the fourth-highest rate of STDs overall, topped the list for HIV infections. It had an HIV rate of 25.5 per 100,000, totaling 2,359 cases. Nationwide, the HIV rate is 14 cases per 100,000 people. HIV, which stands for human immunodeficiency virus, attacks the body's immune system and leaves it unable to fight off foreign invaders. Left untreated, it can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Georgia's high rate could be from recent HIV outbreaks in the Atlanta area. South Dakota rounded out the top five with an overall STD rate of 1,015 per 100,000. It also had the highest rate of syphilis at 223 per 100,000 or roughly 2,000 cases. Syphilis among all ages is on the rise nationwide, increasing nearly 80 percent over the past five years, and the surge is worrying public health officials, as the disease can advance to damage the brain, nerves, eyes, and heart if it goes untreated. Symptoms begin with small open sores on the genitals, mouth, or rectum, as well as enlarged lymph nodes. In the second stage, a skin rash develops, as well as genitals sores, fever, muscle and joint pain, vision changes, and loss of appetite. When the infection advances further, it can inflame and damage heart valves and slowly degrade the brain, causing personality changes, memory loss, difficulty making decisions, and strokes. On the other end of the spectrum, Vermont recorded the fewest STD cases with a rate of 241 per 100,000. Schools in the state have more robust sexual health education programs than in other areas like the south. Its largest demographic is also over 60, a group historically less affected by STDs. 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 From sunshine and soaring temperatures one day to non-stop rain the next, to say the weather has been unpredictable these last couple of days is an understatement. While the weather apps on our phones are currently suggesting a heatwave for the end of the week, we cant ignore the fact that we live in Britain where, sadly, rain showers are inevitable. On those days the skies open up, umbrellas (although we all know what happens to them when its too windy) and waterproofs are our only defence, so its worth investing in a decent raincoat. I know that doesnt sound like the most exciting way to spend your hard earned money most of us associate waterproofs with a hiking trip to the Lake District but I promise it doesnt have to be. A good jacket is the foundation of every outfit, so keep that in mind when youre shopping for a raincoat. You wont reach for it (even when its lashing down) unless it fits your style and goes with the other pieces in your wardrobe, so stick with what you know. Would you describe your style as sporty chic? Check out the longline parkas at H&M, Simply Be and Next. With oversized pockets and hoods, their waterproofs are definitely more casual than a classic trench coat. Alternatively, Sweaty Betty, Arket and & Other Stories have smarter, in-between options, though they do come with a higher price tag. If long coats arent your thing, and youre looking for a style that hits your hip or upper thigh, then browse the collections at M&S, Barbour and Uniqlo. Theyve got some sleek styles in muted brown, beige and grey tones. Ahead, youll find 13 of the best raincoats on the high street to wear in this unpredictable weather The best raincoats for women To get more of what you love from your favourite Sunday supplement, follow us on Instagram (@youmagazine), TikTok (@you_magazine) and X (@YOUMagSocial). 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 Is there any womans style as universally lauded as Kate Middletons? Throughout more than two decades in the limelight shes rarely put a foot wrong sartorially, whether shes opting for a stunning designer gown for a state dinner or nailing everyday style in a high-street find. Weve recently seen the Princess of Wales in a chic green co-ord from Emilia Wickstead for Wimbledon and, perfect for the French reception, a pink blazer and tulle skirt set with matching hat from Dior. But theres another (much cheaper) item from Kates wardrobe were lusting after this summer: her beloved strawberry-red gingham blouse. Gingham is to this summer what leopard print was to last the trend every influencer must be snapped in. And Kates top is the perfect take on the trend: a standout peony print with a pretty frilled collar and turned-up sleeves, perfect for summer. Kates exact blouse comes from British brand Brora, known for championing the highest-quality materials from Scotland. This pretty top is no exception, made from 100% breathable cotton (your armpits will be thanking you during the commute) and yet still machine washable. Result! The Princess-approved style has just been restocked (it inevitably sold out the instant Kate wore it) and is now available in size 6 to 18. Its on the pricier side at 129 but for a timeless style and crafted from quality materials, its an investment piece we wholeheartedly recommend. If you are looking for a cheaper take on the gingham blouse trend, weve selected a few other cutesy and wearable styles below. Pair your pick with blue or white jorts or jeans and youve got an instantly chic summer outfit. Youre welcome! Stephen Colbert called himself a 'martyr' before firing off a crude message to Donald Trump, warning 'the gloves are off' after the president gloated over The Late Shows cancellation. The comedian's decade-long run as the host of CBS' late night flagship will end next May, with network insiders suggesting the top-rated show was canceled because it was losing anywhere from $40 to $100million per year. The cancellation was announced just days after Colbert called CBS' parent company Paramount's $16million settlement with Trump over deceptive editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris a 'big fat bribe.' Trump posted a celebration on Truth Social Friday, saying 'I absolutely love that Colbert' got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.' Colbert, who briefly addressed the move Friday, devoted much of his Monday show to the controversy, eventually uniting with almost every other liberal late-night talk show host in a show of support, as well as Adam Sandler and even Lin-Manuel Miranda. The 61-year-old comic opened after a standing ovation and a lengthy applause from the New York City crowd by saying 'cancel culture has gone too far' and then joked now that the show is ending, he can say whatever he feels. Colbert said sarcastically of Paramount: 'They made one mistake, they left me alive! For the next ten months, the gloves are off!' The Late Show host then referenced Trump's comments, turning to an 'Eloquence Cam' and said: 'How dare you, sir? Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Go f*** yourself.' Stephen Colbert jokingly referred to himself as a 'martyr' before delivering a crude, star-studded response to his cancellation and Donald Trump taking glee in his talk show's end The comic turned to an 'Eloquence Cam' and said 'Go f*** yourself' to Trump in response to the president's glee in his cancellation He then referenced Trump stating in the same Truth Social post: 'I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next.' Colbert replied: 'Nope, no, no. Absolutely not. Kimmel, I am the martyr. There's only room for one on this cross. And the view is fantastic from up here. I can see your house!' He also said that cancellation meant he could finally admit what he felt about the president. In contrast to his often over-the-top anti-Trump monologues, he dryly, quietly said: 'I don't care for him. Doesn't seem to have the skill set to be president. Just not a good fit, that's all.' He addressed his bosses at CBS - who he said 'have always been great partners' - before talking about Paramount's decision to cancel the show which he took over from David Letterman in 2015. 'How could it be a purely financial decision if The Late Show's is number one in ratings? A lot of folks are asking that question, mainly my staff's parents and spouses.' Colbert's axing came just days after he sniped at CBS bosses for settling with Trump in a lawsuit over deceptive editing at 60 Minutes, branding the deal a 'big fat bribe.' He referenced a story from The New York Post saying the show lost $40-$50million last year, though some have suggested its as high as $100million. He addressed his bosses at CBS - who he said 'have always been great partners' - before talking about Paramount's decision to cancel the show which he took over from David Letterman in 2015 'I could see us losing $24 million but where would Paramount have possibly spent the other $16 million, oh...' he quipped, naming the amount the company settled with Trump for over his 60 Minutes lawsuit. He went back to bashing Trump and the recent news accusing him of writing a 'bawdy' letter to Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday. 'I'll have more to say about all this after the commercial break. The only other story is a small one... the president is buddies with a pedophile.' In the show's second segment, Colbert pulled out every name from his celebrity address book. He brought out Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and long-time parody songwriter 'Weird Al' Yankovic. The show then parodied the recent Coldplay kiss cam scandal as the pair performed a take on the band's hit 'Viva la Vida' with Yankovic's trademark accordion in tow. He then cut to various famous people in pairs on the 'kiss cam,' including CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and Bravo stalwart Andy Cohen, who pretended to make out. Adam Sandler and Happy Gilmore co-star Christopher McDonald, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers and John Oliver and Jon Stewart also appeared. In the show's second segment, Colbert pulled out every name from his celebrity address book. He brought out Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and long-time parody songwriter 'Weird Al' Yankovic He then cut to various famous people in pairs on the 'kiss cam,' including CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and Bravo stalwart Andy Cohen, who pretended to make out. Adam Sandler and Happy Gilmore co-star Christopher McDonald, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers and John Oliver and Jon Stewart also appeared Even that segment wasn't Trump-free, as the president was seen in cartoon form on the kiss cam. Puck journalist Matthew Belloni revealed Colbert's 'lack of profitability' Friday, hours after CNN first broke the news that the show was canceled because it was in the red. Belloni outlined how The Late Show - whose cancelation was announced Thursday - costs $100m a year to produce, with Colbert, 61, getting paid between $15 million and $20 million a year to host. Colbert beats ABC and NBC rivals Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon in the ratings, but that still wasn't enough to save him. Late night shows have slumped in profitability in recent years as viewers shun the format in favor of streaming services or watching content on their phones. Advertiser revenue has slumped sharply even in the last three years, Puck reported, making it harder to pull Colbert's show out of the red. Colbert was reported to be 'not angry, actually' about his cancelation and was chatting with his staff in a 'matter-of-fact' way before Thursday's show, Puck reported. Colbert, who will broadcast his final show in May 2026, was first informed his show was on the chopping block around July 4, it is claimed. Paramount Co-CEO George Cheeks made the decision, Puck reported. Then candidate Donald Trump (left) appears on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert (right) in September 2015, when Trump was first running for president and the first year Colbert hosted the show He the went on vacation, giving bosses at CBS time to plot behind his back, CNN reported. Colbert had news of his cancelation confirmed Thursday. He moved to share it as quickly as possible so that his staff would not learn of their impending unemployment via leaks to the press. All three major late night hosts - Colbert, Kimmel and Fallon - have become notorious for their regular rants about President Trump, which many viewers have complained are boring and off-putting. But Belloni said he didn't believe the famously anti-MAGA Colbert was axed to appease Donald Trump, who recently won a $15 million payout from CBS after suing them over a 60 Minutes interview with Harris he said was deceptively edited. The axing of Colbert has delighted Trump, who posted about it on his TruthSocial network earlier today. Colbert's ouster could also make it easier for CBS parent company Paramount's efforts to merge with media company Skydance in a deal that must be approved by Trump's Federal Communications Commission. The Late Show launched in 1993 under David Letterman to compete with longtime late night juggernaut The Tonight Show. CBS execs weighed the pros and cons of canceling the increasingly unprofitable show during its hosts usual summer vacation this month, sources told CNN Friday. They said the move was financially driven even while speaking anonymously, as did insiders who spoke to Puck Colbert took over from Letterman in 2015 after his retirement. More than three decades later, CBS's entry into the late night sphere sits at the top, with second-best Jimmy Kimmel Live! raking in an average of 1.772 million viewers. Colbert, by comparison, collects an average of 2.417 million. Colbert - who once played a conservative character on Comedy Central's satirical late night program The Colbert Report - often aired jokes at the conservative's expense. Trump celebrated the news of the show's cancellation as a result. 'I absolutely love that Colbert' got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings,' he wrote in a Friday Truth Social post. 'I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert,' he added, before talking up right-wing Fox News star Greg Gutfeld. '[He's] better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show,' Trump added, referring to Jimmy Fallon. Trump previously worked for NBC during his days on 'The Apprentice.' My dishwasher is linked up to the internet, and I allowed it to monitor my usage and automatically reorder Finish dishwasher tablets when I was down to my last ten. The dishwasher is connected to the Finish app on my phone. However, when I ran low on tablets, the app ordered me a new delivery on four consecutive days. I only found this out when packets kept turning up on my doorstep. I now have about three years supply for which I was automatically billed 45. I have complained, but two months on Ive got nowhere. J.C., Ware, Herts. Rinsed: A reader's smart dishwasher ordered new packages of tablets on four consecutive days landing them with a 45 bill Sally Hamilton replies: I was intrigued by the concept of intelligent ordering. It sounds a great way of ensuring you never run out of dishwasher tablets. Id find such a subscription service handy for other areas of domestic life such as loo rolls, though Im not sure that many toilets are linked to the internet. I do know some people who use a similar service for the re-ordering of ink for printers and there are smart fridges that prompt owners when they are running out of essentials. The service you signed up to is called SmartFinish, which, as you described, tracks dishwasher usage and automatically sends out a new pack. Ideal, if it works. Customers need to own a Wi-Fi-enabled dishwasher to take advantage of such auto-reordering. The system is matched to the customer, so if you use the dishwasher more than usual, orders will turn up more frequently. Gremlins seemingly got into the re-ordering system in your case, landing you with a pile of unwanted tabs. When you initially complained, Finish said you must have made the additional orders yourself, which you said was laughable. Why would you order three years worth of tabs over a few days? Scott Dixon of consumer service Complaints Resolver, suggests customers getting nowhere with an over delivery like yours quote section 25 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015. He says: This says the business is responsible for collecting and refunding the excess items at no cost to the customer. You asked Finish to do this but hit a brick wall. I contacted Reckitt, the consumer goods giant that owns Finish, to ask it to resolve your dishwasher tab mountain pronto. I didnt get anywhere at first so understood your frustration at the limited response to your complaint. But when I chased a couple of weeks later, it turned up the dial and soon Finish refunded your 45 and told you to keep the excess product. It said the problem was due to a technical issue with the app, which was quickly resolved. When it asked if you wanted to continue the subscription, you politely declined. Scam Watch Drivers should beware a scam email that impersonates insurance company Admiral, consumer website Which? warns. The email claims that you have been selected to win a free car emergency kit that includes tools and a hazard triangle. Scammers say to win the kit you need to answer a few questions by following the link on the email. Do not click on this link. It aims to steal your personal and financial information. Instead, report the email by forwarding it to report@phishing.gov.uk Rental car mix-up left me with 375 bill I booked a flight with EasyJet to arrive at Edinburgh on May 14, but in error reserved a rental car for pick up from Drivalia a day earlier. I realised my mistake on May 13 and phoned the firm but was advised to sort it out on arrival. When I arrived, I was issued with a second booking at a cost of 375 and received no refund for the first one. I realised later that I was charged again in the second booking for May 13. I even got charged a further 115 for a parking offence that took place on May 13, before I even got to Edinburgh. Please help. J.R., Hampshire. Sally Hamilton replies: Any holiday that involves a vehicle rental fills me with dread as the process seems designed to catch customers out, whether its the extortionate price of excess insurance at the desk, high charges for extras such as satnavs and child seats or the tricky rules around whether the fuel tank should be returned full or not. Your experience highlights the costly risk of being tardy for picking up a rental car even though you tried to correct the error in advance. We all make mistakes, and you were prepared to take it on the chin up to a point. But to be charged twice for the rental is not fair. I asked Drivalia to reconsider, emailing both its chief executive and customer services. I heard nothing back from the former, but the latter requested you complete an online complaint form. In that process you respectfully asked for a refund of the first booking and the extra day charged on the second rental. They declined, though they did refund the parking ticket and admin fee. How kind. Hitting a roadblock with Drivalia, I approached EasyJet, since you had booked the hire from a link on its website. EasyJet told me that while the site enables customers to make such bookings, these are provided by third party partners. In your case, the Drivalia deal was found through EasyJet partner CarTrawler, a platform listing various hire options. I am pleased to say CarTrawlers response was at the speed and standard I would have liked to have seen from Drivalia with no hesitation in offering you a full refund of both hire bills, a total of 446. A CarTrawler spokesman says: We were sorry to hear about J.Rs experience. We understand booking errors can have a significant impact on travel plans, and we appreciate how frustrating this experience must have been. Although the original issue resulted from a date selection error, and the charges applied were in accordance with the car rental suppliers terms, a full refund of the original hire and additional rental costs has been arranged. CarTrawler adds: We encourage all customers to carefully review the travel dates and rental terms outlined in their booking voucher. 'Should any problems arise at any stage, our dedicated customer care team is available 24/7 to support travellers before, during, or after their journey. Straight to the point I have had a policy with home repair company HomeServe since 2021 and I have never claimed on it. Now we have a badly dripping tap in our shower but it is refusing to repair it as it is in a shower. Dripping taps are covered in my policy documents. Please help. J.W., Lincolnshire. Homeserve apologises but says the policy includes a simple what is and what isnt covered image which reveals showers and shower controls are not included. You can cancel your policy at any time. *** I retired in July 2024, and my final pension contribution and salary sacrifice of around 2,268 was paid by my company to Aegon. I tried to move it to my Sipp in September but found out Aegon has received the money but it had not been credited to my account. At the end of last year it gave me 250 as an apology but it still hasnt added the missing amount to my pension. Aegon still cant say when my complaint will be dealt with even one year on. Please help. S.G., Hampshire. Aegon says the funds have now been applied to your plan and you have received a 300 goodwill gesture for the delay. *** My family and I make regular trips from Leeds to Malaga and sometimes buy food and drink on the plane. Since 2022, the payments have been card only. The menu is priced in euros so I pay with my Spanish bank account. But when I checked my bank account I was paying more than I thought, so a bottle of water cost 4.10 instead of 3.60. Whats happening? E.V., Leeds. You were charged in pounds, without your knowledge, on flights to the UK from Spain where the local currency was euros. You were subject to the airlines exchange rate and your bank would charge you to convert the pounds payment back to euros. The airline says you can choose to pay in euros. Before you jet off on your summer holiday, make sure you have the journey to the airport and parking sorted out. Otherwise, it could cost you more than the flight and in the worst cases your car could end up vandalised and sitting in a field. These are the latest parking fee swizzes you need to know and tips to slash the cost of airport parking. Curse of kiss and fly This summer motorists will pay more than ever for dropping off or picking up family and friends at the airport as much as 50p a second if caught unawares. Airports have always charged motorists to use their car parks, but over the last four years most have introduced fees simply for stopping outside the front of the terminal building for long enough to drop off, or pick up, family and friends. These so-called kiss and fly fees have surged again this year. Gatwick, Bristol and Leeds Bradford now demand 7 for you to wait ten minutes and in Southampton for 20 minutes. Heathrow demands 6, as does Edinburgh, Birmingham, Glasgow and Liverpool John Lennon. Luton charges 5 for just five minutes. Those sitting longer than the permitted time are typically charged between 70p and 1 for every extra minute. This year, Stansted has ripped out its payment barrier, which means motorists can drive up to the front of the terminal, wait for as long as they need to and drive off again unencumbered. While more convenient, it makes it harder for motorists to remember to pay the charge they must do it before they set off or when they get home. Until this year, you had to pay by swiping a debit or credit card at a barrier as you left the drop off and pick up area. Amber Coleman, 26, picked up her boyfriend Owen Sallows, 27, at Stansted from a flight from Dublin at about 6pm on June 22. Before you jet off on your summer holiday, make sure you have the journey to the airport and parking sorted out (picture posed by model) The customer services assistant forgot to pay the fee for waiting a couple of minutes in her Volkswagen Polo for Owen outside the terminal. She only remembered after the deadline of midnight the following day so was hit with a 100 fine. If payment is made within 14 days of the fine being issued, the fee is reduced to 60 which is what Amber paid. This worked out at 50p a second for her stay. As a Bishops Stortford resident in Hertfordshire, who lives within ten miles of Stansted airport, Amber can pay a discounted 1 for dropping off and picking up passengers at the terminal. Non-residents pay 7 or 25 if parked longer than 15 minutes. The 100 penalty a 9,900 pc hike on 1 is higher than the cost of a many return flights to Dublin, which currently start from 31. Amber says: It is shocking the airport is allowed to exploit people who just want to pick up a loved one. As soon as I remembered to pay I rang up to plead my case. But after being kept on hold for more than half an hour I just had to give up. I feel a victim of a nasty greedy trick. Stansted is not the only airport catching victims using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) spy cameras. These cameras capture the details of each car number plate as they head in and out of an airport and fine them automatically if they dont pay the fees. Others include Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Birmingham, where you get stung with a 100 fine unless you pay within 24 hours or by midnight next day. Rod Dennis, of motoring organisation the RAC, says: The sky seems the limit for charging to let friends and loved ones catch a flight with prices rising unabated. To beat the kiss and fly charge, pay online before you head to the airport by providing your car registration details and card details. Opt for automatic payment and you need not worry for future trips. Such systems are already used for journeys such as when you enter congestion zones, where a camera reads your car registration, which is linked to debit or credit card details you have provided. It means money can be taken without you having to remember to pay. Anita Harrison, customer operations director at Stansted airport, says: The ANPR technology will make dropping-off and picking up passengers quicker and more convenient, reducing driver waiting times and helping improve passenger flows and that is why we are confident it will improve the overall experience for users. Beware a meet and greet The idea of driving up to the airport terminal and handing your car keys to someone to park can be appealing especially as they can charge about half the price of an official airport car park and may even offer a valet service, cleaning the car while you are away. On return from your holiday, you call the car park company, an attendant returns your vehicle to the terminal and you drive home. Unfortunately, this is an unregulated market, so although there are some great companies out there, there are also those that are not so reliable. Some firms have been known to take cars for a spin, dump vehicles in fields, and occasionally they have even been involved in accidents. Police were called out to Burton End in Essex this April when 60 cars were reported vandalised with tyres let down and paint thrown over windscreens when left parked on a country lane by a meet and greet service. The vehicles were parked five miles from Stansted airport. One victim wrote on review website Tripadvisor: My experience was nothing short of a nightmare. This company took my payment and left my vehicle parked on the side of a public road in a nearby village, completely exposed and vulnerable. When I returned from my trip, I discovered that both my tyres had been slashed and the battery was completely dead, rendering the car undrivable. I was left stranded at midnight, forced to make my own way home. In a separate incident, involving Keir Allen Meet & Greet in April, another motorist Sophie Rose told the BBC her car was involved in a hit-and-run accident 14 miles away in Harlow while she was celebrating her 30th birthday in Dublin. Rose, from Felixstowe, Suffolk, said she was left with a 6,500 repair bill. The company GetAwayEssentials.com which owns the Keir Allan brand said that it did not cause the damage and was not liable. When asked about the cars parked in Burton End, it said: We were renting land and had a problem with the entrance being blocked. We went to the High Court to get an injunction, and the police advised us to park on the street while the matter was being settled. Then all the cars got damaged. Those tempted by meet and greet should check reviews before booking and opt for operators that use a police-approved safe parking service, identified by a Park Mark logo. You can also use a comparison website such as Parking4Less and Airport Parking Shop, where companies have been vetted. Another option is to use a website such as Park On My Drive or Your Parking Space, where homeowners rent a space on their drive. You then take a taxi to the airport. For example, Park On My Drive has locations less than a mile from Heathrow, such as in Doghurst Drive charging 7 a day. Your Parking Space also has off road parking locations less than a mile from Gatwick airport, such as in Upfield, charging 10.50 a day for your car. A taxi to the airport from both locations costs around 10. Amber Coleman, 26, forgot to pay the fee for waiting a couple of minutes in her Volkswagen Polo for her boyfriend Owen outside the terminal. She only remembered after the deadline of midnight the following day so was hit with a 100 fine Turn up and be ripped off Official airport car parks should be safe and convenient but motorists turning up on the day might pay double the price than if they had booked a fortnight ahead. Picking a long-stay over a short-stay car park where you can walk to the terminal can also save you hundreds of pounds. A long-stay may mean waiting up to 15 minutes for a shuttle bus to take you on a 15-minute ride to a terminal so allow an extra half hour to avoid stress. At Heathrow, turn up at an official short stay car park and you can expect to pay 94.50 a day. So, going abroad for a full week costs 661.50. Long stay which Heathrow now calls park and ride is a free 15-minute transfer ride to the terminal via a shuttle bus. Turn up and it can be 46.80 for one day and 37.40 for subsequent days, so, the same seven days is 271.20. But had you booked at least a fortnight in advance this summer, a short stay Terminal 4 car park might cost less than half price at 254.40 and for long stay 118.10. Booking in advance is straightforward as all the airports have websites with links to the short, medium and long-stay car parks they operate. Take your time tapping in details of when you wish to go, including the times of day you expect to arrive and depart, using their online calendars. Consider parking... before flights Compare the prices of parking before you book a flight to discover the total price of your travel. This will help you decide which airport you should use because parking can sometimes cost more than flights. For example, a return flight from Heathrow to Paris Orly with Vueling going on September 4 and returning September 11 sounds a bargain at 72. But add 215.40 for a short-stay car park and the total rises to 287.40. Pay 103 with easyJet for the same days of travel from Birmingham to Charles de Gaulle near Paris and you may feel it offers worse value. But although the flight is more expensive, if you opt to stay in car park 5, a ten-minute walk to the terminal, the same week parking costs 149.99. This is a total of 252.99 so you save 34.41. The FTSE 100 closed above 9,000 for the first time yesterday as a report that the stock exchange could introduce round-the-clock trading sparked a fierce debate. The UK index climbed 20.87 points, or 0.2 per cent to end the session at 9012.99. It is up by more than 10 per cent for the year to date. The Footsie reached the milestone even as politicians and City grandees worry that it is losing its relevance as a global financial centre. Reforms over the past couple of years have so far failed to revive valuations enough to spare the exchange from being raided by foreign predators. Some think it should follow rival exchanges in New York, which are already planning to bring in 24-hour or extended trading hours but opinion in the Square Mile is divided. Record close: The FTSE 100 climbed 21 points, or 0.2% to end the session at 9013. It is up by more than 10% for the year to date. The Financial Times reported that parent company London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) was considering the move. Michael Healy, managing director of trading platform IG, said 24-hour trading would be a welcome and overdue step in the right direction for the exchange. He said: If London wants to reclaim its place as a leading global financial centre, it must lead on this. But Michael Brown at broker Pepperstone said it could have a negative impact on liquidity with trading volumes spread over a longer period resulting in more volatility. He added that there was very little clamour for such a move. LSEG declined to comment. Wises co-founder has called on investors to reject the plan to switch its listing from London to New York. Taavet Hinrikus is urging a vote against the fintechs move due to concerns over shareholder rights that are tied up with the proposal. Wises decision to shift its primary listing to the US dealt a body blow to the City when it was announced last month. It will add to the exodus of firms from Britain following the likes of gambling giant Flutter and equipment hire firm Ashtead. Shareholders are due to vote on the plan next week. Wise is led by chief executive Kristo Kaarman, who founded the company with fellow Estonian Hinrikus in 2011. Hinrikus has since left but still owns a 5.1 per cent stake via his firm Skaala Investments. Clash: Wise co-founder Taavet Hinrikus (pictured)is urging a vote against the fintechs plan to switch its listing from London to New York Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter also performed at the British Summer Time Festival in Hyde Park, London. Some 61 per cent of concert-goers have travelled from across the UK to gigs in London so far this summer, according to Live Nation. And 16 per cent have travelled from abroad. One in five adults are spending money on concerts this summer, according to Barclays. And Brits are also set to spend 1.06billion during Oasiss tour, economists at the bank predict. Skaala criticised the plan in a statement made public yesterday because investors are also being asked to vote on extending additional voting rights to one group of shareholders. Under Wises dual share structure, those who own class B stocks have greater voting power than those with class A stocks. This arrangement had been due to expire in July 2026, but under Wises new proposals, it would be extended for ten years. Skaala said it was deeply troubled by Wises plans, claiming the class B shares move was buried in the proposal. It said the plans would entrench disproportionate power in the hands of a few, including Kaarman, and that it was entirely inappropriate and unfair to combine the listing location and governance changes into a single vote. This approach diminishes shareholder democracy, contradicts good corporate governance and violates Wises values, a Skaala spokesperson said. It added that a number of other shareholders are also opposed to the plans, without giving further details. Skaala said that the extension significantly deviates from accepted governance norms and urged shareholders to reject the proposal unless the issues are separated. Wise said that while it took Hinrikuss views seriously, the dual-class share structure was essential for the companys success. A spokesperson for Wise said shareholders have so far been overwhelmingly in favour of the proposal, and cited the backing of advisory groups including ISS, Glass Lewis and PIRC. Last week, the company suffered a separate setback when it reported lower than expected quarterly profits. The results sent shares plunging and could make prospective investors in New York more cautious ahead of the listings switch. Calastone has been sold to US financial software provider SS&C Technologies for 766million. Based in London, the British funds network and data business began operating in 2008 and now has offices worldwide, serving 4,500 clients in 57 countries. US buyout group Carlyle bought Calastone from venture capital investors Octopus Ventures and Accel for an undisclosed sum in 2020. The group was put up for sale earlier this year and the Mail revealed two weeks ago that a deal was imminent. It is expected to complete later this year. The sale was described by Calastone as a strong endorsement of its network, technology and client relationships built by the team over the past 17 years. Sold: British funds network and data business Calastone began operating in 2008 and now has offices worldwide, serving 4,500 clients in 57 countries After the deal is done, Calastone will operate as part of SS&Cs global investor and distribution solutions division. Calastone chief executive Julien Hammerson said: This is a proud moment. 'SS&Cs global scale and deep expertise across fund services and technology will enable us to accelerate innovation and deliver new digital capabilities to the market. AstraZeneca plans to plough billions of pounds into US manufacturing as the drugs giant faces the threat of looming tariffs. There are also reports the FTSE 100 pharmaceuticals giant plans to abandon London as its home. AstraZeneca on Tuesday said it would invest $50billion (37.1billion) in the US by 2030, creating 'tens of thousands' of highly skilled 'direct and indirect' jobs, while 'powering growth and delivering next generation medicines'. Boss Pascal Soriot told investors in April the drugmaker is 'firmly committed to investing and growing in the US' as the White House continues to threaten the sector with looming tariffs on US imports. President Donald Trump last week outlined a plan to introduce levies that would steadily climb higher over time with the potential to hit 200 per cent after a 'year, year and a half'. Trump said: 'We're going to start off with a low tariff and then give the pharmaceutical companies a year or so to build and then we're going to make it a very high tariff. 'There's two ways you do it. You make money and/or you have them move here so they don't have to pay the tariff.' AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soriot told investors in April the drugmaker is 'firmly committed to investing and growing in the US' Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of Commerce, said on Thursday: 'For decades Americans have been reliant on foreign supply of key pharmaceutical products. President Trump and our nation's new tariff policies are focused on ending this structural weakness.' It also comes amid reports Soriot is weighing moving AstraZeneca's headquarters away from the UK as well as its main stock market listing. Soriot, 66, has lambasted the UK and the rest of Europe for falling behind other countries such as the US and China in developing medicines. AstraZeneca is planning its 'largest single manufacturing investment in the world' in the state of Virginia, with the site earmarked to produce drug substances for its weight management and metabolic portfolio. 'The facility will leverage AI, automation, and data analytics to optimise production,' AstraZeneca said. The rest of the investment will boost AstraZeneca's existing R&D and manufacturing facilities among other plans. AstraZeneca said the investments will help deliver its target of reaching $80billion in total revenue by 2030, of which it expects 50 per cent would be generated in the US. Soriot said: 'Today's announcement underpins our belief in America's innovation in biopharmaceuticals and our commitment to the millions of patients who need our medicines in America and globally.' UK government 'will be kicking itself' AstraZeneca's decision will come as a blow to the Labour government as it struggles to encourage firm's to invest in the UK. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said the government 'will be kicking itself', with the country set to miss out on associated economic benefits of the investment. He added: 'That money, if invested in the UK, would have created a large number of jobs and help shine a light on the country for scientific excellence. 'AstraZeneca pulling out of a 450 million vaccine plant expansion in Liverpool earlier this year was the big clue that it was losing patience with the UK government. 'At the time, it hinted that without a certain level of support, it wasnt financially viable to invest that money. The previous government had pledged 90 million in grants and other aid, but the support was cut when Labour came to power. 'The more business it does in...[the US], the greater the likelihood that investors might push for AstraZeneca to switch its main stock listing to the US. That would be bad for the UK stock market as it is one of the biggest names in the FTSE 100.' The construction of the Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk will cost around 38billion, the Government said today as it struck a deal with a group of investors. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has signed the final investment decision to give the development the green light - but construction costs have doubled in five years. An average of 1 will be added to each household's energy bills per month from autumn, over the duration of the construction phase. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said the Government will become the biggest equity shareholder in the project with a 44.9 per cent stake. New investors are Canadian investment fund La Caisse with 20 per cent, British Gas owner Centrica with 15 per cent, and Amber Infrastructure with an initial 7.6 per cent. Centrica shares climbed 4 per cent this morning on the news. This comes alongside French energy giant EDF announcing on July 8 it was taking a 12.5 per cent stake - lower than its previously stated 16.2 per cent ownership. Sizewell C will power the equivalent of six million homes and create some 10,000 jobs once it is operational, which is expected to be in the 2030s. Mr Miliband said: 'It is time to do big things and build big projects in this country again - and today we announce an investment that will provide clean, homegrown power to millions of homes for generations to come. 'This government is making the investment needed to deliver a new golden age of nuclear, so we can end delays and free us from the ravages of the global fossil fuel markets to bring bills down for good.' Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband at the Materials Laboratory at the Royal School of Mines in Imperial College London today for the Sizewell C announcement The construction site entrance to the Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk on June 11 Construction works on the site of the new Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk on June 11 An artist's impression of how the new Sizewell C nuclear power plant will looks once built The total investment, split between equity funding from investors and debt financing, is above the 38billion target construction cost and will be a buffer if costs overrun. The National Wealth Fund - the Government's investment vehicle - is providing the majority of the debt finance with a loan of up to 36.6billion. The final deal clinches the investment needed to deliver the long-awaited nuclear plant since it was first earmarked for development in 2010. It also confirms the cost of Sizewell C's construction, which is nearly double a previous forecast of about 20billion by EDF five years ago. Sizewell C investors UK Government: 44.9% La Caisse: 20% Centrica: 15% EDF: 12.5% Amber Infrastructure: 7.6% Once Sizewell C is up and running, it is expected to create savings of up to 2billion a year across the future low-carbon electricity system. The Government did not confirm how much individual households are estimated to save from the cheaper clean electricity. DESNZ said the cost is about 20 per cent cheaper than the development of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset - which is under construction and projected to open in 2031. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves during a visit to Imperial College London today Rachel Reeves and Ed Miliband stand today next to Professor Hugh Brady, president of Imperial College London, and Professor Mary Ryan, Vice Provost for Research and Enterprise Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the development would reduce the UK's reliance on 'foreign dictators' for energy. 'This is a public-private consortium. We as a Government are putting in money but that means that government - taxpayers - will get a return on that investment,' she said. Ms Reeves added: 'La Caisse, Centrica and Amber's multibillion-pound investment is a powerful endorsement of the UK as the best place to do business and as a global hub for nuclear energy. 'Delivering next generation, publicly owned clean power is vital to our energy security and growth, which is why we backed Sizewell C.' Nuclear plants are seen as increasingly important electricity sources as the Government tries to decarbonise Britain's grid by 2030, replacing fossil fuels with green power. However, the last time Britain completed one was in 1987, which was the Sizewell B plant. EDF's Sizewell B nuclear power station in Suffolk is pictured in 2022 Chris O'Shea, Centrica's chief executive, said Sizewell C was a 'compelling investment for our shareholders and the country as a whole'. 'This isn't just an investment in a new power station - it's an investment in Britain's energy independence, our net zero journey, and thousands of high-quality jobs across the country,' he added. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: 'Centrica's shares got a boost after it announced a deal to buy a 15 per cent stake in the Sizewell C nuclear plant. 'The company called it a 'compelling investment' for shareholders and the UK, and the market certainly likes the fact it is playing a major role in this important energy generating asset. 'The overall cost of the project is another matter. Sizewell C might generate a significant amount of jobs and generate enough energy to power six million homes, yet its overall cost has nearly doubled from the previous estimate to now stand at 38billion.' In the coming weeks, hundreds of thousands of students will be heading off for their first year of university. For many, managing their student loan will mark their first taste of financial independence. This is big business for banks, as student joiners often stay loyal for many years. They are also potential high earners, who in the future might take out credit cards, mortgages and investments. So as the start of the academic year draws closer, they are once again battling it out to woo freshers and returning students into opening an account with them with a raft of new perks. Lloyds is offering students 100 cashback, while Nationwide is handing out referral bonuses to students who get their friends to sign up and Santander is offering a free rail card for four years. This is Money picks the best bank account options for students heading to university. > Read more: How do student loans work? Battle of the banks: Student banking deals are ramping up as banks compete to sign up university-bound customers Best student bank account overall Nationwide FlexStudent In an unprecedented move, NatWest is offering 85 in cash to lure in students, paid within ten working days. But our experts still believe Nationwide is the best option. Britain's biggest building society has launched a cashback deal worth 100 - though students must pay in 500 before December 12, 2025 to qualify. Once they do, Nationwide will pay the 100 within 14 calendar days. It is also offering 120 worth of Just Eat vouchers, spread over 12 months at 10 a month. If students refer friends to open a FlexStudent account, they will earn up to 40 in Just Eat vouchers 20 per friend referred. It means students opening this account could get a boost worth 260 in their first few weeks of university. Students can apply for an interest-free overdraft of up to 1,000 in the first year of university, 2,000 in the second year and 3,000 in their third year. The account also offers fee-free spending and cash withdrawals abroad. Rachel Springall, finance expert at Moneyfacts Compare says: 'This account is a great choice as it offers cost-saving incentives and has a decent interest-free overdraft. 'Not only this, but the Just Eat vouchers can be helpful for students finding their feet when it comes to meals, and the 100 cashback is a great upfront sweetener, too.' Best student bank account for free cash Lloyds Bank Lloyds has launched a 100 cash bonus for university students who open its current account. The banking giant is paying 100 upfront in cash to students who open its account between 1 August and 31 October. Lloyds has upped its student deal, offering 100 and 90 worth of Deliveroo vouchers On top of the 100 cash, students can also get 90 worth of Deliveroo vouchers spread over six months at 15 a month. Rachel Springall says: 'Lloyds Bank's student account freebies have intensified compared to a year ago, as students can now get 100 from the start of August until the end of October. 'In addition, it is offering six months of Deliveroo vouchers, worth 90, subject to meeting a set number of eligible account transactions each month.' Best student bank account for interest-free overdraft NatWest NatWest is once again offering one of the most generous interest-free overdrafts to students. Students can apply for an overdraft of up to 2,000 in their first year of university. In the first four months it is capped at 500, and from month five onward they can get up to 2,000 interest-free. An interest-free overdraft of up to 3,250 is made available to students from their third year of study until year five. In addition to the biggest overdraft, students can get a cash bung of 85 from NatWest - though this is less generous than its 100 cash deal on offer last year. HSBC and Nationwide also offer interest-free arranged student overdrafts of up to 3,000 by year three. Best student bank account for other freebies Santander Santander has opted to offer a free 16-25 Railcard to students who sign up to its Edge student current account. Normally, a Railcard costs 30 a year or 70 for three years. Santander said the average 16-25 Railcard user could save up to 208 a year with the card. Students must pay at least 500 into their account every four months to hold the Edge student account. Santander has launched a prize draw for new Santander Edge student current account customers containing over a thousand prizes with the top prize worth worth 100,000. There are five 10,000 prizes in the draw, 50 prizes of 1,000 and 1,000 100 prizes. Every account entered in the prize draw will win a minimum of 20. To be eligible to enter the prize draw, students must open a Santander Edge student current account between 22 July 2025 and 17 October 2025 - and make a debit card transaction by 31 December 2025. Each debit card transaction equals one entry to the prize draw and is capped at 40 entries per month. The Edge student account also comes with Santander Boosts, the bank's rewards programme, which gives customers cashback, vouchers and prize draws. Rachel Springall said: 'Those students who will travel far from home to study might find the free Railcard from Santander a great choice, and could save them a decent sum over the years. Customers can earn cashback through Santander Boosts.' Tens of thousands of Premium Bonds savers have been reunited with millions of pounds in unclaimed holdings and prizes in the last year. National Savings & Investments said it had reunited 52,693 Premium Bonds savers with over 120million of lost cash in the financial year 2024-25. Savers finding accounts they had lost track of accounted for the bulk of the 120million sum. However, NS&I also paid out 6.2million from 192,071 previously unclaimed Premium Bonds prizes to 51,310 lucky savers. They found the money through NS&I's tracing services, or by updating their details or checking for unclaimed prizes. The Treasury-backed savings bank also paid out 11.4million from old Savings Certificates and 1.3million from old Children's Bonus Bonds for a total of over 166million. But there are still currently around 2.6million unclaimed Premium Bonds prizes worth over 103million, This is Money analysis has found. Nice surprise: Tens of thousands of Premium Bonds savers have been reunited with 6million in old prizes this year - but our analysis showed there are still millions more waiting to be found Millions of Premium Bonds holders are owed prizes worth up to 100,000 that they have yet to claim. There are 2,598,139 unclaimed prizes ranging from 25 to 100,000 totalling 103,270,175 as of this month. This includes 11 prizes of 100,000, 19 of 50,000, 38 of 25,000 and 75 of 10,000. This sum has ballooned 21.9 per cent compared with this time last year, with some unclaimed prizes dating back as far as November 1957. The majority of prizes go unclaimed because they are received by cheque. Of the 32,289 unclaimed prizes in January 2024 the most recent draw for which prizes are now being classed as unclaimed the majority were sent to winners as cheques. How to find lost Premium Bonds If you suspect you have an unclaimed Premium Bonds prize, NS&I has a small team known as its tracing team that will help trace old bond numbers when contacted via this link. They should be able to help, even if you have moved address and do not know where your bonds are registered or if you have lost old paper certificates. NS&I also has a service called My Lost Account, which is associated with UK Finance and the Building Societies Association. It can be used to trace old accounts with other providers, as well as NS&I. Andrew Westhead, NS&I's retail director, said: 'Every pound we reunite is money that rightly belongs to our customers or their families, whether it's Premium Bonds savings, unclaimed prizes or forgotten accounts. 'These figures are a timely reminder to update your details, talk to your loved ones about your savings and make sure your money stays firmly in your hands, both now and in the future.' Shocking hikes in electric bills have left residents in the state of Michigan resorting to old-fashioned techniques to save money. Consumers Energy, the second largest power provider in the state, filed an intention to raise rates in March, leaving residents bracing for even higher bills. The filing requested an annual rate hike of a whopping $436 million. The increase would take effect May 2026 with Michiganders seeing a dramatic shift in their electric bills just in time for summer. The case filing has already generated over 40 comments, with citizens sharing how the increase would impact their daily lives. 'I am EXTREMELY upset that any rate increase would be considered at this time,' Michigan resident, Beth Pfoutz said in the filling viewed by the Daily Mail. Pfoutz, a resident in a three-bedroom home in Chelsea, said her electric furnace has caused her bills to skyrocket in the winter and that she has gone to extreme measures to keep warm. 'I spent countless hours splitting wood, which I used all winter to assist in keeping the electric bill down,' Pfoutz said, adding that her bill for February was a shocking $906.37. Another resident, Branden Smith, said he is already struggling financially after breaking his back in 2009 and having to go on disability payments. Residents in Michigan have felt the brunt of rising electric bills as utility companies like DTE and Consumers Energy prepare to raise rates (file photo) Detroit, Michigan, is seen above. Residents have continued to express their discontent with their electric bills, resorting to chopping wood and monitoring the temperatures in their home Smith said he needed air in the summer to combat his health issues and pays over $300 a month to cool his small, three-bedroom home. Mary Ann Yaeger, who volunteers with nonprofits combatting food insecurity, urged lawmakers to deny the energy company's request for increased rates. 'Michigan households are in NO POSITION to pay any more for energy to heat or power their homes (if they still even have one),' she wrote. 'We suffer some of the most frequent and prolonged power outages in the nation while paying the highest energy rates in the Midwest. Meanwhile, Consumers' CEO makes more than $10 million dollars a year.' According to data compiled by the Energy and Policy Institute in 2020, the CEO of Consumers Energy, Patricia Poppe, made over $6 million in 2017, $8 million in 2018, and almost $9 million in 2019. Garrick J. Rochow assumed the position in 2020, and Poppe is now the CEO of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). Annual rate hikes are approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission. Three commissioners are appointed to the committee by the governor for staggered six-year terms. Consumers Energy said since the case was still pending before the Commission, they were unable to comment on the backlash to rising rates. Consumers Energy filed to raise rates in March, requesting an annual rate hike of a whopping $436 million (file photo) Residents have complained that their electric bills are already too high with some claiming they've resorted to splitting wood to save money (file photo) Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (pictured) has hit back at the utility companies, vowing to prevent them from raising rates DTE Electric, the state's most popular energy provider, also petitioned the commission for a rate hike earlier this year. The company filed an application to increase rates in February to 'improve the reliability of the grid and to sustain the reliability of its generation fleet while moving toward cleaner sources of generation.' DTE requested a jaw-dropping $574.1 million for 2026 to reduce power outages and cut outage time in the state. The request came after the commission approved a $217 million increase in January, which resulted in a $4.61 increase per month to the average customer, according to the case filing. Residents have pushed back on the increases, claiming that they've seen larger increases than just $4. Blake Browe, a Michigan resident who uses DTE, submitted a comment on the case filing begging the commission not to accept the rate increases. 'DTE energy is my energy provider and I am reaching out with concerns about the ever increasing rates. My wife and I both work multiple jobs and still find it difficult to make ends meet,' Browe wrote. Ellen Near wrote that her energy bill was higher than a $5 increase, claiming it rose by around $30 a month. 'I already keep my heat at 59 when awake and 49 when in bed or running errands. I certainly will not be able to cope with another rate hike and why so soon??' she questioned. Consumers Energy is asking for millions of dollars to be approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission (file photo of Consumers Energy headquarters) Residents have slammed DTE and Consumers Energy for continuing to raise rates with the Michigan Public Service Commission Defense of the hikes DTE and Consumers Energy have defended the rate hikes as an essential means to improve service and cut down on outages. Ryan Lowry, a representative for DTE, told the Daily Mail there were multiple factors including weather, average use of air conditioning and state-level energy goals that contribute to utility rates. 'Because of factors such as these, DTE's customers (and Michiganders in general), end up using less energy than most other utility customers across the country, and therefore have higher than average rates,' Lowry said. He called the bills 'a better measure of affordability than rates,' adding that Indiana residents, for example, pay at 'below average national rates' but see bills that are 'about 10% higher than DTE's' due to varied usage. In terms of average electric bills, Michigan ranks under the national average of $137 with residents spending an average of $114 a month. Hawaii tops the list with the highest average monthly electric cost and bills of $204. California, which ranks second in terms of cost, has residents paying a $163 bill, while Connecticut is in third place for costs but racks up bills around $190 a month, according to Power Outage US. Some critics argue that the metric is not accurate, as states like California and Hawaii rely more on air conditioning due to the warmer climate. Governor Gretchen Whitmer promised to lower utility bills for Michiganders in 2023 with a clean energy bill, but residents say they have yet to see relief Critics hit back Christopher Bzdok, a Michigan attorney representing consumers against utility rate increases, told MLive: 'It's a ridiculous comparison to compare the bill in hot weather states with the bills of people in a cold weather state and say, 'look our bills in the cold weather state are lower.'' 'It should be obvious that, of course, someone in Arkansas has a higher electricity bill that someone in Michigan because they run the air conditioner 500 percent more.' Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has also been a staunch critic against utility companies, vowing to fight the rate increases. In response to DTE's $574 million request, Nessel said: 'Just three months after the MPSC approved a $217 million rate hike, DTE is already back, asking for nearly $600 million more from ratepayers still very dissatisfied with the quality of service they receive.' 'At some point, we have to ask how long utility companies like DTE and Consumers Energy will be allowed to treat customer bills and our energy rates like a blank check.' As residents grapple with electricity bills, an investigation by the Energy & Policy Institute, revealed in 2023 that DTE and Consumers Energy gave nearly half a million dollars in campaign contributions through political action committees tied to the companies. Governor Gretchen Whitmer then signed a clean energy bill in November, 2023, writing at the time: 'Together, we are fighting for our air, land and water, improving public health and protecting our precious natural resources for future generations. We are building the future in Michigan.' Despite the legislation, residents have continued to express their discontent with their electric bills, resorting to chopping wood and monitoring the temperatures in their home to stay afloat. A woman who made the 'life-changing' decision to ditch the UK and live in China has revealed the incredible amount of cash the move has saved her. Emily Severn says she spends just 10 on her weekly shop and earns 1k-a-month working just 13 hours a week. The 24-year-old flew over 5,000 miles away from her home in Nottingham to live in Suzhou in the Jiangsu Province of Eastern China in June 2024. Working as an teacher in both kindergarten and junior high schools, Emily normally does just 13 hours every week - teaching English to Chinese students - and is paid 20 per hour. Noticing a huge difference in the amount she spends, Emily says she's seen price decreases in rent and social activities, and says she leads a more active life in China. She says her outgoings in the UK would cost her 850-a-month, compared to 336 for the same in China - and she insists there is 'more of a work life balance' as she only works 13 hours a week, compared to an average 40-hour work week in Britain. Emily, an English teacher, originally from Nottingham, UK, said: 'I think what drew me to it is it's so different to rainy England. 'In Manchester the rent for a one-bed apartment, as my university accommodation, was 850 per month. 'The rent every month here has been costing me 2,200 yuan which at the moment is about 323 pounds. Emily Severn, 24, made the 'life-changing' decision to fly over 5,000 miles away from her home in Nottingham to live in Suzhou in the Jiangsu Province of Eastern China in June 2024 A woman who ditched the UK to move to China says she spends just 10 on her weekly shop and earns 1k-a-month working just 13 hours a week Emily says In China she spends just 10 on her weekly shop and earns 1k-a-month working 13 hours a week Emily first began learning Chinese at alongside her masters degree in Journalism - where she also met boyfriend Wei, 30 'You can go to the market here and literally buy a full food shop for 5 and that can last you a few days. 'In the UK there would be a lot of time being sedentary but here I probably lead a much more active lifestyle. 'There are a lot of parks that are free so there are still a lot of free activities. 'They're literally a bigger scale. They have a wetland park near where I live and it's massive. 'It's difficult to walk around it all, it took me around three hours and I hadn't walked around the entire park. It's so easy to go over 10,000 steps every day. 'I was probably doing a lot less on most days at home. It was regularly 2,000 or 3,000 steps, the most was 7,000. 'All there was to do where I lived was a few parks but you didn't really want to walk around them. Everyday feels different in China, but in the UK everyday felt the same.' 'It's definitely a life-changing decision but all of my family are very happy for me.' Emily first began learning Chinese at alongside her masters degree in Journalism - where she also met boyfriend Wei, 30. Emily explains most attractions like water towns including Mudu, Nanxun and Zhouzhuang - cost as little as 1 for entry Noticing a huge difference in the amount she spends, Emily says she's seen price decreases in rent and social activities, and says she leads a more active life in China Working as an teacher in both kindergarten and junior high schools, Emily normally does just 13 hours every week - teaching English to Chinese students - and is paid 20 per hour. Pictured: Emily feeding fish After securing a job in Suzhou whilst completing her TESOL qualification which stands for Teaching English to Speaker of Other Languages- the couple moved out to China together, where they now live in a one-bed apartment. She said: 'It was actually my Chinese teacher's old boss that was hiring teachers in China. Breakdown costs in the UK compared to China Rent for one-bed apartment 850 in the UK per month 323 in China Bills 112 in the UK per month 13 in China per month Weekly food shop 20 in the UK 10 in China Eating out 60 in the UK per month 32 in China Socialising 0 in the UK per place 10 in China Saving overall every month 694 Advertisement 'Once I had my TESOL certificate they could start giving me my contract and work permit. 'Personally within the company I work in there is more of a work life balance. 'There's more flexibility than in the UK. 'I think I wanted to move explore and see something new because a lot of the time in the UK there's not a lot that goes on. 'In summer in China there are a lot of light shows and concerts at parks. 'There's a hustle and bustle and a lot going on. 'The utilities in China are 100 yen for the electricity per month and in British pounds that's about 10.15, that was costing me 37 in the UK. 'My water bill is 100 yuan but we only really have to pay it every three months, so 10.15 every three months compared to 37 in the UK.' Emily explains most attractions like water towns including Mudu, Nanxun and Zhouzhuang - cost as little as 1 for entry include museum access, and says she spends a lot of her time walking in the different parks on offer in her area. Teaching a mixture of class based and one-to-one sessions, Emily is paid upwards of 20 an hour, and estimates she earns 10,145 over the year. Living in a one-bed apartment with a kitchen, bathroom, living area and mezzanine floor for their bedroom, the couple spend their weekends travelling to local 'ancient towns'. Despite loving life in Suzhou, Emily can see herself returning to the UK at some point. 'I think it's more wanting to come back to family,' she said. 'When you're in China you kind of value family a lot more because everyone places a big value on family.' A mudslide crashed into three homes in Holladay, Utah, last week following a water line break, just two weeks after flash floods in Texas claimed the lives of 135 people. While there were no casualties, one survivor of the July 15 incident described it as an 'explosion of water' bringing thick sludge and debris in its wake. The catastrophe is all too familiar to Kim Cantin, for whom such recent disasters have triggered flashbacks to a devastating California mudslide seven years ago that claimed the lives of 23 including her husband, David, 49, and son, Jack, 17. 'I could barely watch footage of the flood in Texas,' Cantin told the Daily Mail. 'The numbers of loss of life are staggering.' She said photographs in the media of the 27 children and adults who were swept to their deaths while enjoying part of their summer at Camp Mystic in Kerr County brought back harrowing memories of the tragedy that struck her own family. The Cantins had gone to bed after dinner on January 8, 2018, having watched TV updates on the extreme weather. They had already evacuated three times before Christmas when the Thomas Fire, one of the most destructive in California history, tore through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Pictured: Lauren Cantin, then 14, who was swept away by a giant mudslide, photographed just minutes after she was rescued by emergency crews on January 9, 2018 Pictured: Kim Cantin with her husband, David, son, Jack and daughter, Lauren. The joyous photograph was taken just weeks before the tragedy took the lives of David and Jack Thomas set the stage for the coming disaster by scorching the nearby hills and leaving debris, piles of dirt and car-sized boulders. Though their home was not in the mandatory evacuation zone ahead of the January 8 storm, the family had taken precautions: installing a sump pump in their French drain and placing sandbags all around the property. The contingency plan was to get their car - which was parked on higher ground in a neighbor's driveway - and check into the hotel they had booked just in case. At about 3:30am, after hours of torrential downpour, things took a turn for the worse when a section of the mountain horrifyingly broke away, sending mud and giant rocks roaring down the slope toward them. Cantin and David rushed out of their bedroom and into the living room. Jack and his sister, Lauren, then 14, were in their rooms trying to grab some clothes. The noise was deafening. 'It was like the sound of an Amtrak train combined with Niagara Falls,' she recalled. David opened the front door and the mud was already upon them. Two neighboring houses wore torn apart, and he screamed: 'Back door now!' They were the last words he ever spoke to his wife. With no time to get to the car, Cantin followed David's instructions, mistakenly thinking that the backyard might be safer. But it was too late. She couldn't force the door because of the wall of mud against it outside. She lost consciousness as the mud consumed the house and thinks, looking back, that she had probably been hit on the head by debris. Pictured: David and Jack before the disaster that led to their deaths aged 49 and 17 Pictured: David as a proud father with Jack who was a committed member of the Boy Scouts Three hours later, rescuers spotted her lying atop a mud pile. Barely conscious and badly injured, she was taken to a hospital for surgery on a fractured hip and leg lacerations that went through to the bone. Doctors also had to debride a deep wound on her arm to avoid infection. 'It was like a big hanging triangle of flesh, with some debris in it,' Cantin, who now lives in Santa Barbara, said. In shock, suffering from hypothermia and disorientated from sedatives, she still didn't know whether her husband and children had survived. Then, at 10:30am, a rescue coordinator entered the hospital room to ask if she had a daughter named Lauren. She had been pulled from the mud in a painstaking two-hour rescue because a nearby gas leak prevented the use of power tools. 'I felt utter relief and gratefulness,' Cantin said. Despite being buried 20 feet in the mud, Lauren had managed to breathe through a tiny pocket of air next to her nose and mouth. Otherwise, the rescuers said, she would have certainly died. When Cantin finally spoke via FaceTime that afternoon to Lauren, who had been taken to a different hospital in Santa Barbara, she learned that her daughter had kept calm by singing. She had been due to play Fantine in Les Miserables for a local theater group and chose songs such as I Dreamed a Dream to remain hopeful. But joy turned to grief the next day. A sheriff's office representative arrived at the hospital bed with a priest. They told Cantin and her parents, who had come to visit, that David's body had been recovered near the shoreline a half mile from their home. She struggled for breath. It was too overwhelming to take in. Then Lauren was driven by ambulance to be with her mother, where Cantin broke the news that her father was dead. It was a heart-wrenching moment, made all the more so because Jack was still missing. Pictured: Lauren during her rescue from 20 feet of mud by first responders who searched for survivors on January 9, 2018 Pictured: Lauren is carried to safety after her ordeal which was caused by a natural disaster Pictured: Lauren and her mother today as they continue to heal seven and a half years after the catastrophe Pictured: Jack's Superman costume surfaced months after the mudslide when heavy rain dislodged the debris Pictured: Jack as a five-year-old in the Superman outfit he used to play in. The superhero was his favorite DC Comics character and he kept the costume The rescuers' search with sniffer dogs had turned up nothing. As the days, weeks and months went on, they and a group of volunteers kept looking. Cantin was desperate for the closure that she hoped the discovery of Jack's remains might bring. She spoke to several 'intuitivists' - people with extraordinary perception who claim to receive messages through dreams. 'I was open to anything if it led us to Jack,' she said. As time passed, remnants of the family's life, such as household items and clothing, would surface whenever it rained. One of Lauren's holiday dresses showed up after a storm. Then, two of the intuitivists said they sensed that the place where Jack was buried had something to do with Superman. It had always been his favorite DC Comics character. Incredibly, a volunteer found his Superman figurine. Later, a scrap of one of his Halloween costumes was pulled from the mud. Both had been kept in his bedroom for sentimental reasons. Cantin was comforted to finally have even these small mementoes of her son and by the thought that Jack must be buried near his belongings. Still, it took a team of young anthropology students to discover his remains in May 2021, some three years after the flood. They used tiny brushes to clear the soil and found bone fragments which were thought to be Jack's. A celebration of life had been held in March 2018 when around 1,500 people paid tribute to the high school junior. But, Cantin said, the burial was more intimate with a handful of close family and friends, two priests and some firefighters who had taken part in the rescue. 'They were traumatized and sad that there had been two missing kids - Jack and a two-year-old girl named Lydia,' she said. 'They came to the cemetery and seemed grateful to be there.' Pictured: An unidentified woman takes refuge in a tree during the July 4, 2025, flood that inundated Kerr County in Texas and surrounding areas Pictured: The devastation in a Holladay, Utah, neighborhood after a mudslide slammed into a number of houses As for Cantin, intensive therapy sessions, including treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, and grief counseling have helped with the healing process. Lauren, described by her mother as the most resilient person she knows, did the same. Now retired from her sales and marketing job promoting medical devices, she said that the tragedy had given new purpose to life. She has become an advocate for those who have experienced trauma, offering inspiration and hope through example. She would also like to see better early warning systems in place, such as sirens, so that people have more time to evacuate areas threatened by a natural disaster. In 2023, she published a memoir, Where Yellow Flowers Bloom: A True Story of Hope through Unimaginable Loss, which she described as a cathartic process. 'I wouldn't wish what happened to me on anyone but, in a weird way, there have been silver linings I wouldn't have seen without it taking place' Cantin said. 'I notice more and am grateful for more because I understand we are not promised tomorrow. 'I went to bed that night with my family of four, not realizing that the next morning I wouldn't have that anymore.' To those mourning the victims of the Texas flood and other natural disasters, Cantin advised that they should not be afraid to ask others for help and guidance. 'You can move forward after trauma,' she said. 'I'm doing just that and trying to look to the future.' He is the architect of some of Donald Trump's most controversial policies and a hero to the Republican base who helped him win a second term. Stephen Miller, President Donald Trump's White House deputy chief of staff, is portrayed by the left as a merciless villain ripping apart families and the seams of American society. The 39-year-old grew up in the deep blue coastal city of Santa Monica, California, where he was a controversial figure even as a teen attending Santa Monica High School. Other notable graduates include Robert Downey Jr, Sean Penn and Rob Lowe along with brothers Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen. He was known by his classmates for his unapologetic and contrarian opinions. He would criticize their lifestyles and get into heated debates in the halls about climate change. Today, Miller, who graduated in the class of 2003, is almost as famous as the Hollywood stars - with his headline-grabbing, hardline immigration plans. Back in Democrat-run Santa Monica - 2,300 miles from Washington, DC, where he's one of the most influential figures in Trump's inner circle - locals are less than impressed with Miller's meteoric climb to the top of American politics. Some think growing up in such a staunchly-liberal community gave him the foundation for his ideas. Others believe that his conservative policies could help fix problems in Los Angeles - such as crimes and homelessness. Some believe Miller growing up in such a staunchly-liberal community gave him the foundation for his ideas which include a hardline immigration policy 'I think people are sad that the words 'Santa Monica' and 'Stephen Miller' are synonymous, because no one wants that connection,' Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete has reportedly said. 'He's an idiot,' Leesa Eichberger told the Daily Mail bluntly of Miller during a lunchtime meeting with a friend. 'Santa Monica has always leaned left,' she added, also suggesting Miller's fierce political views are 'a product of him rebelling against the environment he was coming from - and then he took it to the other extreme.' The 50-year-old chief marketing officer said she is 'frustrated with taking hardworking people who have really brought value to our society and just rounding them up and taking them out' regardless of whether they are in the country illegally or not. 'The idea of sending someone who doesn't speak a language back home where they have no community, that feels just inhumane,' added Eichberger. Stephen Miller is the architect of some of Donald Trump's most controversial policies. Critics in his hometown of Santa Monica say he's getting revenge for his childhood years 'But if they're not criminals and they're contributing [to] society, and especially if they're paying taxes, I don't think it's the right thing to do morally or even legally.' Another way many immigrants help society, she said, is by performing manual labor tasks that American workers refuse to do. 'We don't have a society in the States anymore that is open to doing that level of really heavy manual labor for the wages that people are making,' she said. She is, though, strongly in favor of 'rounding up criminals and rapists and horrible members of society. Let's get those people out. 'Somebody who's committed crimes and is here illegally shouldn't stay here,' she commented. 'We shouldn't be paying for their prison and supporting or encouraging criminals to live here. Longtime Santa Monica resident Chloe Anderson also condemned Miller's federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids as 'awful' and 'callous.' The 36-year-old screenwriter spoke while relaxing at La La Land Kind Cafe on exclusive Montana Avenue where attractive hipster customers sip on French Toast Lattes and nibble on Truffle Burrata Toast. 'The way they're doing it is very aggressive,' she added of the Miller-designed immigration sweeps in Santa Monica and Los Angeles. 'He's gone too far.' Marcia Garcia, 53, was born in America to immigrant parents who met when they moved to the US. Her father was originally from Mexico, and her mother from El Salvador. Miller was known by his classmates for his unapologetic and contrarian opinions. He would criticize their lifestyles and get into heated debates in the halls about climate change 'I feel bad because my mom does have a lot of friends who are illegal and they are all scared,' Garcia told the Daily Mail. 'They should relax on the farm workers and the people who've been here 20 years and have roots - if you've been paying your taxes and you do have your paperwork to try to get your green card.' According to old classmates, Miller, then with a full head of dark hair, was an outspoken conservative as a student, and frequently submitted opinion pieces to the school newspaper paper critiquing multicultural initiatives. He even called out the school's use of Spanish during announcements and condemned celebrations like Cinco de Mayo as undermining American unity. While running for student assembly president, Miller gave a speech infamous for mocking students being told to clean up trash, arguing that janitors were paid to do it. The audience reacted with boos, and faculty allegedly removed him from the stage after about 90 seconds. The incident was later interpreted by some classmates as satire or a prank, but many found it offensive, primarily because custodial staff were predominantly people of color. Miller attended a school committee meant to promote equity for Hispanic and Black students - but others felt his presence was intended to undermine the effort. He challenged the existence of ethnic studies, LGBTQ programming and other multicultural initiatives as divisive or patronizing. Vermont state Senator Kesha Ram Hinsale attended high school at the same time as Miller and witnessed his blossoming political priorities firsthand. The Democrat told the Daily Mail that the feisty young student was 'pretty relentless in trying to attack everyone else's opinion and lifestyle. 'It felt like we were watching his villain origin story unfold. 'He would corner me in the hall to argue about whether climate change was caused by humans or volcanoes. 'He put up flyers for a 'white straight male alliance' and told people he couldn't be friends with them because they weren't white.' Hinsale, 38, added, 'For a lot of us, it was our first brush with hateful, divisive rhetoric and a dismissal of science. Miller, pictured with wife Katie, is as famous as some of the Hollywood stars who graduated from his high school 'He wasn't hiding behind a computer - he stood up in auditoriums and said, 'this is what I think',' she added. 'The narrative of him being ostracized for his beliefs is partially fabricated. He wanted attention and shock value. 'He's been malicious from high school onward - whether for shock value or because it aligned with his beliefs.' Author Jean Guerrero wrote a 2020 biography of Miller titled Hatemonger and said he has 'been trying through various means, to have what I see as a form of revenge on the communities that rejected him in Los Angeles.' Miller does still have support in his hometown, known as the People's Republic of Santa Monica. Anderson, the screenwriter, said Miller's ICE raids were 'getting a lot of criminals'. The former liberal admitted she became a Trump supporter after seeing the number of homeless people in the city explode, and praised Miller for tackling the problem of undocumented migrants in the US. 'Crime is so out of control here,' she said. 'It's never been this bad. It's a s*** show here. It's like, so dangerous. It's just such a mess. 'The taxes I'm paying are so insane - then there's homeless and criminals at my doorstep all the time. 'I pay a lot to live here but every day I see 40 to 60 homeless. It's supposed to be a nice, safe area. But on three different times, I've been accosted in my garage. 'I never see any outreach in the entire time I've lived here - I've never seen an outreach group working with the homeless. 'Where's all this money for the homeless going? I've never seen one person here, one group, one van, trying to help the people. 'The government is corrupt - I know this money is being funneled elsewhere.' She called California 'the most corrupt government of any state in this country' and said, 'People are afraid to speak up.' While most in Santa Monica despise Miller's policies, there are some who think his conservative policies could help address crime and homelessness Anderson said she previously identified as a progressive liberal, but 'was never a full liberal. 'I call myself a social liberal and a fiscal conservative.' Anderson claimed that gangs from Chile, Venezuela, Honduras and the Dominican Republic targeted homes in the evacuation zones during the January Pacific Palisades and Malibu wildfires. 'During the fires, we were supposed to be evacuated, but we saw packs of looters coming in so we stayed home,' she told the Daily Mail. 'I saw people trying to break in. It was insane. They were ready to go before people left. So we didn't leave.' The 2022 fall semester at Washington State University had barely begun when concerns first emerged about Bryan Kohbergers behavior toward women. An insider says that a gender-related conflict involving the then-27-year-old PhD student and at least one female student in the Criminal Justice and Criminology Department triggered an internal review. I don't know exactly what the accusation was,' the source told the Daily Mail. 'I don't know whether it was as simple as she was uncomfortable around him or something more nefarious.' Whatever the specifics, the matter was serious enough for some of the departments faculty to briefly investigate. It never went any further, the source said, adding that no concerning pattern of behavior had yet been established. This, however, would be far from the only issue with the intelligent but socially awkward Pennsylvania native. Within his six-month stint at WSU, Kohbergers future in criminology crumbled. Professors deemed his academic and professional performance to be unacceptable and below standard, and more female students raised complaints about his treatment of and attitudes toward them. Bryan Kohberger, now 30, at his change-of-plea hearing in Ada County Courthouse, Boise, on July 2 The situation escalated to the point that Kohberger was placed on a performance plan before he was ultimately fired from his teaching assistant (TA) role days before Christmas. At the same time, something far more sinister was unfolding. In the early hours of November 13, 2022 - midway through that semester - Kohberger drove from his campus apartment in Pullman, Washington, across the state line into Idaho. There, he broke into an off-campus University of Idaho student home at 1122 King Road, Moscow, and brutally murdered 21-year-old best friends Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, and 20-year-old couple Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. The victims were stabbed multiple times with a large knife - several while they slept. Kohberger was arrested and charged with the murders around six weeks later in a raid on his parents home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania. More than two years on and just weeks before his trial was set to begin, he confessed on July 2, 2025, and changed his plea to guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one of felony burglary in a deal to avoid the death penalty. His motive still remains known only to him. But his downward spiral at WSU and the timing of the murders shine a light on Kohberger's behavior in the days, weeks and months leading up to and after the slayings. 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 Police on the scene of the Wilson-Short Hall building at WSU during a search of Bryan Kohberger's office in December 2022 The Criminal Justice and Criminology Department at WSU where Kohberger was a student Looking back, the source told the Daily Mail that the initial gender-based allegation raised against Kohberger at the college could have been a warning of what was to come. The closest red flag I can see is the incident relatively early in the semester where, unfortunately, nothing came from it, the source said. The student involved didn't want to take anything further. Kohberger had moved to Pullman to begin his PhD in criminal justice at WSU in June 2022. It was the first time he had lived away from the family home in the Poconos region of Pennsylvania, aside from some stints in rehab for heroin addiction as a teenager. He had been recommended for the course by Professor Michelle Bolger after completing a psychology degree and Master's in criminology at DeSales University. Kohberger was one of only two students that Bolger had ever endorsed in such a way. As part of his WSU PhD, he applied for an internship with Pullman Police Department but was unsuccessful. While a move to Washington might have been seen as a fresh start more than 2,500 miles from the problem years of his past, he was unable to out-travel all of his troubles. Best friends Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen were murdered by Bryan Kohberger Young couple Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle, both 20, were also killed on November 13, 2022 At WSU, Kohberger was assigned a role as a TA but concerns mounted early into the semester about his work and professionalism. He didn't take instruction and his work simply wasn't acceptable, the source said. He was going to do things his way or not at all. He frequently missed classes where he was supposed to be assisting Professor John Snyder, the source added. Kohberger also did not take feedback well and had an altercation with Snyder on September 23, according to his termination letter. The details of that incident are not known but it prompted department chair Dr Melanie-Angela Neuilly to meet with Kohberger on October 3 to discuss norms of professional behavior. Then, on October 21, Snyder emailed Kohberger laying out the ways he had failed to achieve the departments expectations of a TA. Staff members tried to resolve the issues and came up with an improvement plan to bring Kohberger up to standard. The letter reveals that he met with Neuilly and Graduate Director Dale Willits on November 2 to discuss and agree to the terms. Eleven days later, Kohberger murdered the four students in Idaho. Around that time, a fellow student recalled Kohberger being even more absent from classes than usual. Ben Roberts told ABC News that he had specifically missed class on November 14 - the day after the killings. Roberts also recalled Kohbergers demeanor shifting from apparent exhaustion before the violent plot was carried out to becoming more animated and sociable afterwards. His performance on the PhD program also briefly improved, with professors noting in a December 7 meeting that some progress had been made. But it was not to last. Days after the final altercation with a professor on December 9, Kohbergers father, Michael, arrived in Pullman and the pair began the long drive back to Pennsylvania (pictured in bodycam during a traffic stop) On December 30, 2022, Kohberger was arrested at his parents' home. Pictured: Michael Kohberger cleans up the property after the raid Two days later, he had another altercation with Snyder. There was some improvement and then there wasn't,' the source said. 'If anything, his behavior got worse.' With Kohberger's position already precarious, complaints from female students about him making them extremely uncomfortable began to pile up. In one alarming incident, he allegedly followed a female student to her car, the source said. Another said that someone broke into her home, moved items around and then Kohberger, allegedly feigning concern for her safety, subsequently gained permission to install a surveillance system inside - that he had access to, Dateline reported. Kohberger was also allegedly grading women more harshly than men when scoring papers as a TA, Roberts told James Patterson and Vicky Ward for their new book The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy. He was said to be antagonistic toward women in class and once made a creepy comment about his own prowess. I can walk into any social gathering and get any girl I want, Roberts claimed to have heard Kohberger say. His behavior toward teaching staff was also bizarre at times, with a source recounting that he would follow staff right on their heels like a terrier and linger in the corridors to walk them to their cars at night. No connection has been found between Kohberger and the four victims (pictured) At the time, many found his behavior merely annoying. After his arrest, they would think differently about these close encounters in the darkness with the cold-blooded killer. A source recalled Kohberger once showing an interest in a defendants right to a speedy trial guaranteed under the Sixth Amendment of the US Constitution - and how giving prosecutors limited time to bring a case could sometimes work in favor of a defendant. Yet he waited until August 2023, eight months after being arrested, to eventually waive that right in his own case. There were also boasts about dodging payment of a parking ticket - a possible sign of disdain for rules. But the criminology department had finally had enough. After the final altercation on December 9, Kohbergers father, Michael, arrived in Pullman and the pair began the long drive back to Pennsylvania. The trip was supposed to be for the holidays but, according to Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson, Kohberger left his apartment almost bare and scrubbed clean as though he had no plans of returning. It is possible he realized his time at WSU was over - or feared that the net was closing in on him for committing the unthinkable over the state line. Days later, he received a letter terminating the TA position for the spring semester and withdrawing his funding. The home at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho, where Bryan Kohberger carried out his attack In the letter dated December 19, Neuilly wrote: Mr. Kohberger, I am writing this letter to formally inform you of the termination of your teaching assistantship with the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology effective December 31st, 2022. In keeping with the WSU graduate student handbook chapters 9G2 and 12E3, below is the list of events that led to you being deficient on the following contingency clause of your funding: "Maintaining satisfactory progress in fulfilling assistantship service requirements and duties."' Nine days after the letter, Kohberger was arrested at his parents home and charged with four counts of murder. Searches were executed on his college apartment and his office inside the criminology department. Based on the unsealed warrants, no items were seized from the office. Despite the well-documented behavior issues, Kohberger's arrest still came as a shock to those at WSU. It's one thing to realize you work or study with an unpleasant person,' the source said. 'It's another to find out they could do something like that. Kohberger will return to court in Ada County, Idaho, on July 23 for sentencing, when the victims' families are expected to deliver impact statements at the hearing. He faces four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. As part of the plea agreement, he has waived all rights to appeal. 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. A nine-year-old girl has been found dead less than 24 hours after her father claimed she had been abducted in a white van. New York State Police (NYSP) issued an 'amber alert' on Saturday for Melina Frattolin after Luciano Frattolin, 45, told them he thought his daughter had been kidnapped. He called the Warren County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) reporting the 'possible abduction' in the area of Exit 22 in Lake George, upstate New York. However, on Sunday afternoon police issued a heartbreaking update saying 'there is no indication that an abduction occurred' and the little girl had been found dead. 'The Warren County Sheriffs Office initially led the investigation,' NYSP said. 'As the case progressed, law enforcement identified inconsistencies in the fathers account of events and the timeline he provided.' NYSP said Melina was found dead in Ticonderoga, New York, around 45 miles south of where her father said she had last been seen. They added that 'there is no indication that an abduction occurred' and 'there is no threat to the public'. 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 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 Frattolin was described as five feet tall, weighing 100 pounds and being of Indian descent with brown hair and brown eyes. Police said that both she and her father are Canadian residents. Lake George, where her father claimed she was last seen, is a small waterside town in the Adirondack region of upstate New York around 60 miles north of Albany. No charges have yet been made. NYSP said they will be holding a conference to give more information about the tragedy on Monday. Frattolin is the founder of an organic coffee brand called Gambella, according to the product's website. 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) A nine-year-old girl has been 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) Police said both Melina Frattolin and her father Luciano are Canadian residents Lake George, where the girl was last seen, is a small waterside town in the Adirondack region of upstate New York around 60 miles north of Albany '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 fathers Milano, his vision of the world and his pursuits within, reflect these hyphenated cultures.' Galanis Frattolin is described as five feet tall, weighing 100 pounds and being of Indian descent with brown hair and brown eyes. New York State Police had issued an Amber Alert for the child Police issued an amber alert at the time of Melina's alleged abduction, warning that they believed the child was in 'imminent danger'. Amber alerts are activated in 'the most serious child-abduction cases,' according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) website. 'The goal of an AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the community to assist in the search for and safe recovery of a missing child. 'These alerts are broadcast through radio, TV, road signs, cellphones, and other data-enabled devices.' The nonprofit said that 1,268 children have been 'recovered' thanks to their assistance in 2025 alone. Ryanair has been accused of heating a portion of kids' spaghetti bolognese to such a high temperature it scorched a young child's leg through his denim shorts. Six-year-old Harry Warren was badly burned when the meal slid off his tray table into his lap on a flight between Exeter and Faro in Portugal. His mother Emma has claimed that the Ryanair cabin manager's response to the incident was to immediately blame a colleague. 'The cabin crew failed to respond and just stood gormlessly watching me', she said. 'The cabin crew seemed clueless in an emergency situation. The cabin manager's words to me were: "sorry, theyre new".' Not only did the burn mean Harry's holiday was ruined, it took the family weeks to even find an email address to complain and warn the budget airline about their dangerous tables. Mrs Warren has called Ryanair's response to the incident, and the customer service that followed, 'absolutely awful'. 'When I wrote to Ryanair to inform them of how it happened and to prevent happening again to another passenger, they pretty much blamed me and gave no apology', she said. 'They have very little regard for anything other than making profits', she claimed. The Warrens, from Somerset, were heading to Portugal for their summer holiday when the pasta and sauce poured into Harry's lap. The schoolboy was left with a painful blister on his leg, which later burst and left him with a large wound. His mother told MailOnline: 'After take off they took our food orders, which included a spaghetti bolognese for my son. 'I placed it on the table in front of him and it slid straight off into his lap. It was so hot, from microwaving I guess, it burned him through his denim shorts'. The burn left on Harry Warren's leg by a boiling Ryanair spaghetti bolognese Harry's leg after the burn on board the flight. His mother claims that the cabin manager apologised and said the member of staff who served it was 'new' Emma was with Harry and his sister on a trip to Portugal when the incident happened. It took weeks to find a way to complain, she said The incident took place in 2023 but Mrs Warren, managing director of an award-winning recruitment agency based in Taunton, came to MailOnline after an incident this month when Ryanair passengers were injured when they jumped from a wing during a bungled evacuation in Majorca. She said: 'He had a blister the size of a twenty pence piece which popped and resulted in a wound. 'Our initial thoughts on returning to the UK was to contact Ryanair to inform them. But it took me three weeks to find a way to reach them but I eventually found an email. 'We wanted to explain how items just slide off their tables and theyre not fit for purpose. In addition that their staff seemed to be lacking in training and experience and their response was awful'. She added: 'I took legal action but they refused for nearly two years to issue accident reports and when they did, as ordered by a judge, they were not factually correct and created so much ambiguity I was unable to continue. They even threatened to counter sue me as the one at fault'. MailOnline has asked Ryanair to comment. It came weeks after Ryanair cabin crew were blamed for allegedly bungling the evacuation of a holiday flight that left passengers with broken bones after they were forced to jump from a wing due to a false fire alert. Several people ended up in hospital after getting seriously injured when panic spread onboard the jet from Palma in Majorca to Manchester on Saturday, July 5. The airline was accused of playing down the incident by claiming passengers only suffered 'very minor injuries' like ankle sprains in a statement where they 'sincerely apologised' to those involved. Danielle Kelly, 56, whose right leg and left arm are now in plaster, claims people started 'jumping for their lives' after a member of the cabin crew with a phone to his ear ran down the plane shouting: 'Everyone get off the aircraft now, everyone evacuate'. Air crew apparently told travellers to leave behind their belongings 'in case there is a fire and the plane explodes' which, passengers said, only added to the panic. An aviation expert told MailOnline today that the cabin crew and passengers shouldn't have found out that there was a fire warning - the reason panic spreads really quickly and often unnecessarily. The expert said that cabin crew should remain calm and are trained not to evacuate until instructed by the captain over the PA. Eighteen people were injured after passengers rapidly disembarked from a Ryanair flight at Majorca airport following a fire alert that turned out to be a false alarm on July 5 Danielle Kelly, 56, suffered a broken right heel, fractured left wrist and smashed elbow, when she plummeted to the concrete below from a Ryanair wing earlier this month The self-employed fitness instructor, who was sat in row 18 with her daughter, Frankie, 26, said she feared there was a terrorist onboard so followed other passengers out onto the wing in the chaos The pilot and co-pilot have a checklist to complete, include shutting down the engines and lowering the flaps, before ordering an evacuation to ensure that passengers can can slide off the wing without serious injury. In Majorca Ryanair cabin crew deployed the emergency slides at the front doors but passengers sitting in the middle claim they were left with no choice but to jump up to 18ft from the wings onto the tarmac. When done properly, the drop should be around 4ft, MailOnline understands. Ryanair has blamed 'a false fire warning light indication' - and insists that passengers only suffered 'minor injuries'. There is a possibility that passengers panicked and decided to open the overwing exits without being told to, MailOnline's expert claimed. But people on board blamed the staff for sparking panic. Ryanair did not comment. It was the migration trend that Republicans couldn't stop bragging about Americans fleeing crumbling, crime-ridden blue states for the lower taxes, cheaper homes and family-friendly values of such red-state havens as Texas and Florida. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis summed it up with a smirk in 2023, waving a 'poop map' of San Francisco in a TV debate with Gavin Newsom over California's sky-high housing costs, woke classrooms and sidewalk squalor. DeSantis said: 'They actually at one point ran out of U-Hauls in the state of California because so many people were leaving.' And for a while, the Republican politician wasn't wrong. In 2024, some 191,000 more Californians moved to red states than the other way around, according to an analysis by The Economist. Many sought cheaper housing in nearby Nevada and Texas. Businesses sprang up to help Conservative Move specializes in relocating families 'right' so they can live in a community that's safer, more affordable and more aligned with their values. But here's the twist: the red-state dream is running out of steam. Booming demand in such places as Dallas, Miami and Phoenix has begun to push housing prices higher, and red tape is starting to look suspiciously blue, new research shows. In fact, experts say the once-unstoppable red-state migration may be hitting a wall. Phoenix and other Sun Belt boom towns have sprawled too far and are no longer the bargains they once were If San Francisco became more affordable, fewer residents would leave the city and its social problems behind A bombshell study from Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania found that home building in Sun Belt cities has dramatically slowed, leading to skyrocketing prices. Atlanta, Dallas, Miami and Phoenix 'were once building superstars,' write the economists Edward Glaeser and Joseph Gyourko in their 45-page report, which was released in May. 'New housing growth rates have decreased and converged across these and many other metros, and prices have risen most where new supply has fallen the most,' it says. They add: 'America's suburban frontier appears to be closing.' In Miami, home prices have surged even faster than in such blue-state strongholds as San Diego and Los Angeles, says the report. The reason? Red states are running out of sprawl. For decades, cheap land and suburban expansion kept housing affordable. But now, says Daryl Fairweather of real estate firm Redfin: 'The good places are already taken.' Builders can't simply pave over farmland anymore, because Sun Belt cities have spread out so far that there's no available land left within a reasonable commute time from city centers. At the same time, building up is proving just as difficult. Zoning laws in 'freedom-loving' red states are more restrictive than many realize. Housing prices in red state boomtowns have been creeping up in recent years Florida Governor Ron DeSantis famously mocked Gavin Newsom with a 'poop map' of San Francisco The Phoenix suburbs sprawled too far, making commutes to the city center a daunting prospect Research by Alex Armlovich, a housing expert at the Niskanen Centre think tank, found that Atlanta's zoning rules are nearly as strict as those in LA, with both cities banning apartment buildings on vast swaths of land. And it's not just the laws it's the delays. Developers say getting approvals in cities like Atlanta now takes twice as long as it did a decade ago. Red tape is strangling red-state growth. The revelations come as developers nationwide say they're struggling amid a brutal summer. Rising material costs, high mortgage rates, and President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration pile pressure on an industry already teetering. Harvard economist Edward Glaeser A shocking one-third of America's construction workers are undocumented, and tougher enforcement has builders warning of potential massive delays in homes, schools, hospitals, and even data centers. A new survey from Evercore ISI paints a bleak picture: 71 percent of builders say this spring's selling season was 'slow,' with the rest calling it just 'a little slow.' Not a single respondent described the market as solid a stinging sign of just how dire things have become. Developers have even started offering mortgage rate buy downs and downsized 'starter' homes as budget options for wary buyers. But even these incentives have failed to jolt the market back to life. Ironically, it's blue states like California that are finally waking up and fighting back. In a rare bipartisan moment, Newsom signed a major housing reform bill in June that strips away a law long used by environmentalists, unions, and NIMBYs to block housing projects. Senator Scott Wiener said the move gave California a chance to 'build again' and cut housing costs for cash-strapped residents who might otherwise be looking for the exit. The red state boomtowns have posted slower growth, sending prices upwards Home prices in Miami have surged faster than in such blue-state strongholds as San Diego and Los Angeles If the plan works, it could reverse the tide of the blue-to-red exodus. That would have enormous political consequences. Every migrant out of California chips away at its representation in Congress and the Electoral College. The state is already projected to lose up to five seats after the 2030 Census. But if the outflow slows, that shrinkage may stall or stop entirely. And with it, a favorite Republican talking point might disappear too. So while the narrative has long been that Americans are voting with their feet fleeing liberal chaos for conservative order the truth may be more complicated. As Sun Belt cities start to look a lot more like their coastal counterparts, and blue states learn to build, the lines between red and blue may blur at least when it comes to bricks and mortar. According to Gyourko, the end of affordable options in America's red-state boomtowns will have consequences far beyond partisan point-scoring. 'If this goes away, it will be the first time in American history where we don't have affordable housing markets with high job growth,' Gyourko told Brookings, a think tank. Afghans said to have applied for sanctuary in Britain are being arrested as they try to use the UK governments website to check if their details were on the leaked dataset. At least five, including former members of the Triples Special Forces, have been held as the Taliban targets internet cafes. The Ministry of Defence sent out an email, to those whose data was suspected of being compromised, apologising. It was followed by a second email with a link for those who had risked their lives for the UK to confirm if they their details provided when they applied for the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) were included. Those whose details were breached received a message on a red background confirming they are a victim of the blunder, while those whose data was not part of the leak received a message on green. But Afghans and campaigners in the UK warn that they believe the Taliban is using this to arrest those who worked for Britain as they carry out the necessary checks. Many Afghans do not have Wi-Fi at home and are forced to use internet cafes which are in the major cities and towns. The Taliban hunting those who worked for UK are said to have stepped-up the monitoring of the cafes in recent days. The Mail knows the cities the arrests have taken place in but is not naming them. At least five men and two women are reported to have been arrested while checking their emails. British lawyers and campaigners have sent out warnings to their clients in hiding telling them to stay away from the cafes. Sorry for any inconvenience: how the British government responds to Afghans who check on the UK website to confirm if their details were part of the massive data leak Victorious Taliban fighters patrolling the streets of Kabul, using vehicles, weapons and often uniform seized from the Afghan National Army and police The message from panicking British officials which 'struck the fear of god' into Afghans hiding from Taliban revenge squads Former frontline interpreter Wazir, 38, said: We are aware of the arrests. Unfortunately, those whose data may have been leaked want to check and have gone to the cafes. I am told they may have been arrested, with the proof that they worked beside the British in front of them (on the screens). The details of Wazir, who worked for five years with UK forces, together with that of his family are on the list but he said he had been able to confirm that on the MOD website from his home. Many do not have Wi-Fi and this makes them vulnerable, he said. The Taliban has the technology from China also to monitor and track our phones so we know how vulnerable that makes us. We are terrified our data entrusted to Britain will be used to hunt us down. Since news of the leak, I have moved my familys hiding place and will do so again next week. Your browser does not support iframes. In a rare official announcement yesterday, the Taliban did not confirm or deny it had the dataset but claimed it already had the details of those who had worked for the UK and US, including biometrics, as they were left behind during the chaotic pullout in August 2021. It was reported yesterday that up to ten former members of the Afghan forces had been killed by the Taliban near the border with Iran and Pakistan. The Mails report revealing Taliban assassins had murdered at least ten, who may have helped the West, in the days after the data leak was revealed. Four are said to have been killed in one ambush. The MOD said: 'The independent Rimmer Review concluded that it is highly unlikely that merely being on the spreadsheet would be grounds for an individual to be targeted, and this is the basis on which the court lifted its super injunction last week. The review also found that the Taliban already had access to a wealth of data. 'The Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement last week announcing an amnesty for individuals named as part of the data breach, declaring those named it would not face persecution. 'We continue to urge the Taliban to honour their public amnesty towards members of the former Government and special forces.' After the Daily Mail was the first newspaper in the world to discover the data breach, in August 2023, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) mounted a cover-up and successfully hushed up our exclusive. They obtained a superinjunction and ever since then, cloaked by the unprecedented news blackout, ministers have been clandestinely running one of the biggest peacetime evacuation missions in modern British history to rescue people the UK had imperilled: smuggling thousands out of Afghanistan and flying them to Britain at vast cost, with taxpayers being neither asked nor informed. Meanwhile secret hearings in the High Court have heard how Parliament has been deliberately kept oblivious or even 'misled', as a judge was told. So far 18,500 Afghans whose data was lost have been flown to Britain or are on their way in taxpayer-funded jets. A total of 23,900 are earmarked for arrival. They are living in MOD homes or hotels until permanent homes are found. More than 70,000 others will be left behind in Afghanistan and will have to fend for themselves against vengeful Taliban warlords. Incredibly, hundreds of the Afghans rescued by the Government are now poised to sue the UK for leaking their data in the first place potentially adding a further 1billion compensation bonanza to the colossal costs of the rescue and rehousing mission. David Blunkett told Tony Blair to keep secret a report that laid bare the public's view of 'out of control' immigration, newly released files show. The Prime Minister was warned by his Home Secretary in 2004 that the findings 'could be explosive in the wrong hands'. The top-secret focus group report unequivocally condemned the Government's record on immigration and asylum, files released to the National Archives in London reveal. The Home Office study of 27 panels from a mix of ethnic backgrounds, ages and geographic locations across the country in 2004 found the public considered immigration to be 'out of control'. Mr Blunkett, Home Secretary from 2001 until 2004, told Mr Blair: 'The consensus remains among the British public - particularly those reading national newspapers - that immigration and asylum are "out of control".' He added: 'You will see that this research, and the references to it in the paper, could be explosive in the wrong hands,' he wrote. The concern was despite Labour making progress reducing arrivals to the UK. Mr Blair sought to put pressure on France for their failure to stop uncharted migrants entering the UK via the Channel, the documents reveal. Home Secretary David Blunkett, left, and Prime Minister Tony Blair, pictured in 2003, a year before the immigration report was sent to Number 10 Mr Blunkett, right, warned the Prime Minister to keep the report secret In the focus group, the March 2004 report authors acknowledge the research 'confirms that immigration is an issue of real concern to people'. It adds: 'There are no obvious signs of a breakthrough as a result of what has been achieved so far, and little recognition or credit for what the government has done on asylum.' Yet only a month earlier, Mr Blair was positively relieved that efforts to tackle immigration appeared to be working. The weekly asylum report for February 20 showed the UK had removed just over 300 asylum seekers, an improvement on previous weeks, with noted decreases in the number of Chinese and Somalian applicants - the two most common nationalities seeking asylum. 'This seems to be falling into place at long last,' Mr Blair wrote. However, the findings of the Home Office-backed study showed Labour's efforts to curb immigration were not being recognised on the doorstep. Net international migration to the UK in the year 2003/4 was 167,000 people, up from around 153,000 the previous year. 'Participants were overwhelmingly of the view that the UK does not have an effective immigration policy,' the report found. 'They feel that our traditional tolerance has been exploited and become a major weakness. They have a sense that our borders are completely open and overrun. The letter to the Prime Minister from the Home Secretary, which accompanied the report into immigration and asylum Mr Blunkett (right) suggested to Mr Blair that the press were 'moving the goalposts' to reinforce the idea that the asylum system was 'unmanaged and uncontrolled' 'Immigrants are perceived to benefit from positive discrimination and access to services such as education, housing and healthcare at the expense of the indigenous population who have 'paid their dues'.' The report also concluded that the public 'generally discarded' the potential positive contributions of migration, with many associating newcomers with 'scrounging' on benefits, or illegal activity. It added: 'These attitudes are held fairly consistently across all ethnic groups and all age groups. 'There were liberal dissenters in some groups - but these were firmly in the minority. 'Strongly-held negative impressions are more the result of anger that things have 'got to this state' rather than outright racism. 'There is a real resentment of political correctness - which is considered a reason why immigration and race cannot be discussed openly and therefore tackled effectively.' Mr Blunkett suggested that the press were 'moving the goalposts' to reinforce the idea that the asylum system was 'unmanaged and uncontrolled', with particular emphasis about the abuse of public services such as schools and hospitals. The files also reveal how the UK Government attempted to put pressure on Paris - including Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, the future French President - to ramp up security on the other side of the Channel. Mr Blunkett is said to have raised this with Mr Sarkozy 'a number of times', but that the Elysee Palace's Finance Ministry refused to adequately resource so-called juxtaposed controls - where French officials are placed in the UK to check for illegal immigrants, and visa-versa. Ministers have been warned that some Afghans airlifted to Britain could become radicalised by terror groups. The fears were set out in the Governments internal review of the scheme to rescue thousands from the clutches of the Taliban. The review also revealed that, amid the UKs housing crisis, more Afghans could end up homeless than previously thought. Local authorities struggling to find homes for the new arrivals may also face a funding shortfall, ministers were warned. Whitehall officials have been outlining the potential consequences of the Governments secret Afghan airlift Operation Rubific - for many months. Last October, when Labour ministers agreed to spend 7billion, they were told that 10 per cent of the incoming migrants were anticipated to enter the homeslessness system and that there could be threats to community cohesion. Pressures on local education and health services were also cited. In his internal review of Operation Rubific, Paul Rimmer, a retired civil servant who interviewed more than a dozen experts including from the Home Offices homeland security group, stated: Severalexpressed concern around the risk that resettled Afghans could be radicalised in the UK. Mr Rimmer, who interviewed officials from across Whitehall, said: There is a risk of a growing gap between resettled Afghans expectations, and the reality of what ever-more stretched domestic services can deliver. Some also highlighted concerns around the extent to which Afghanistan is becoming a base for a wide range of terrorist groups. This unmarked Airbus 330-202, used as part of the clandestine Afghan airlift scheme, touches down in Britain from Pakistan this year Hundreds of migrants file off a taxpayer-chartered jet Taliban fighters patrolling in Kabul Mr Rimmer noted that the UK domestic housing system is under acute pressure and said there were record levels of homelessness, with pressures adding to risks to community cohesion. He said these were all key areas for public debate, but the Governments super-injunction had stopped this scrutiny being possible. The news blackout was imposed in August 2023 after the Daily Mail discovered the British military had put 100,000 people at risk of death by losing a database of Afghans who had applied for UK sanctuary. Since then, the Government has been running a secret immigration scheme to rescue thousands of them. After ministers were warned one in 10 of the new arrivals was expected to 'enter the homelessness system', a new Whitehall briefing paper, seen by the Mail, now says it might be even worse. The paper states: There are concerns this is overly optimistic. Officials said uncertainties over the scheme, which relies on many Afghans being able to find their own private accommodation, meant the true numbers presenting as homeless after their nine months of free accommodation could be higher than 10 per cent. The review noted that while the average Afghan family was five people, about 10 per cent of Afghan families consisted of eight or more people, making it especially difficult to find them suitable accommodation. In Bracknell, Berkshire, where 300 Afghans are being accommodated in a hotel, locals have said they welcome the Afghans who fought alongside British forces and deserve British help, but also said many local veterans have struggled to find homes themselves. The Governments decision to embark on the scheme without MPs or the public having any say has so far triggered four parliamentary inquiries. A Government spokesman said: As with all those arriving to the UK, all those found eligible for the ARR have to undergo robust security checks, including for national security. If they dont pass these checks, they are not granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK. We are working with local authorities to ensure housing solutions meet the needs of the UK population, as well as Afghans who are resettling here. This includes through the Local Authority Housing Fund, which supports English councils to obtain temporary accommodation for those owed a homelessness duty. Ministers have been urged not to slash special needs entitlements by a coalition of charities and parents. The Disabled Children's Partnership (DCP) said any Government reforms must not dilute the legal rights of children who need support. It comes after ministers failed to rule out scaling back education, health and care plans (EHCPs), which legally oblige councils to fund special needs help. The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson plans to reveal a white paper in the autumn detailing an overhaul of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system. Spending has rocketed, putting councils on the verge of bankruptcy, but at the same time high-needs children are waiting years to receive support. It is thought part of the problem is an increase in EHCP applications for less severe conditions such as ADHD making waiting lists long. However, the DCP, which represents more than 130 charities and parent groups, said EHCPs should not be restricted. Anna Bird, DCP chairman, said: Children with SEND want ordinary things a place to learn safely, the opportunity to take part in after-school activities and the chance for parents to work to support their children, rather than having to put their working lives on hold. Ministers have been urged not to slash special needs entitlements by a coalition of charities and parents (file picture) A report by the group said efficiencies could be made via early interventions, and through having fewer cases reach tribunal. In 2022-23, more than 100 million was spent by local authorities and the government on failed efforts to block EHCPs. The DCP suggested more families are applying for plans because the support children need is not happening without them. The report said: The Government must not dilute existing rights and protections, or restrict access to EHCPs for those who continue to need them. In total, there were 638,745 EHCPs in place in January, up 10.8 per cent on the same point last year. A Department for Education spokesman said: This Government inherited a SEND system left on its knees which is why we are putting an end to parents having to fight to get support that should be routine. The Education Secretary has been clear that there will always be a legal right to additional support for children with SEND. We are already making progress, from more early intervention in mainstream schools across ADHD, autism and speech and language needs, through to 740 million investment to encourage councils to create more specialist places in mainstream schools. Hunter Biden blamed the sleep aid Ambien for his father's disastrous presidential debate performance, which became a turning point in the 2024 campaign. The younger Biden sat down for a three-hour-long interview with YouTuber Andrew Callaghan, which was released Monday - the anniversary of former President Biden's decision to quit his reelection campaign and endorse his Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden also talked extensively about his own drug use in the sit-down, including how he learned how to make his own crack cocaine. 'I know exactly what happened in that debate,' Biden said. 'He flew around the world. He's 81 years old. He's tired. They gave him Ambien to be able to sleep and he gets up on the stage and looks like a deer in the headlights.' The then president blamed his lousy June 27, 2024 performance on a cold, though had spent several days at Camp David resting up ahead of the Atlanta showdown with now President Donald Trump. It wasn't enough to quiet the calls for him to drop out. The former first son remained bitter about what happened to his father, though told Callaghan he was able to remain sober the whole time. Biden said he was just over six years sober after spending about three years, after the 2015 death of his brother Beau, in the pits of addiction to alcohol and crack cocaine. Hunter Biden blamed the sleep aid Ambien for his father's disastrous presidential debate performance, while candidly discussing his battle with crack cocaine and alcohol addiction after being sober for about six years Then President Joe Biden's poor debate performance against President Donald Trump on June 27, 2024 changed the trajectory of the race, with Democrats pushing the 81-year-old to drop out. He did so exactly a year ago, on July 21, 2024 'This is like a PSA - if you want to completely, utterly f*** up your life,' Biden said, crack cocaine would do the job. 'The only difference between crack cocaine and cocaine is sodium bicarbonate and water and heat,' he explained. 'You can go to a your neighborhood convenience store and just get - anyway, I don't want to tell people how to make, how to make crack cocaine, but it literally is a mayonnaise jar of cocaine and baking soda.' Biden said the high is extremely intense on crack cocaine. 'It's vastly, vastly different,' the recovering addict admitted. 'I feel really reluctant to kind of have some euphoric discussion, I know you're not asking me to do that, have some euphoric discussion about crack cocaine,' he continued, with Callaghan saying that he was not. 'I don't want to have the experience of some euphoric recall - that's how powerful crack cocaine is,' Biden admitted. The former first son said that crack had a dirty reputation but 'it's the exact opposite.' 'When you make crack, what you're doing is you're burning off all the impurities,' he explained. Biden said his addiction in earnest started in 2016, when he left an alcohol recovery program over a row with staff and found his former dealer 'Bicycles' in a downtown Washington, D.C. park who sold him crack. Hunter Biden said in the interview that he spent about three years addicted to crack cocaine following the death of his older brother Beau Biden. He cleaned up his act after meeting his now wife Melissa Cohen in 2019 'Now there are periods where I would stop. I would try and get help or half try and get help or appease people in my life and say that I was getting help. And so I did a whole host of things to try and pull myself out of it. I did try,' he remembered. 'And people would come in and out of my web and try and help me, and my level of toxicity would drag them down until they would disappear. And then people that would come into my life that were nothing but blood sucking leeches that would literally saw vulnerability and latch on and drain me literally of everything that I had, from emotional well-being to my physical well-being to my bank account and that was the ebb and flow for almost three years until I met Melissa,' he continued, referencing his wife Melissa Cohen. Cohen and Biden had a whirlwind romance in 2019, marrying shortly after they met, with the South African filmmaker helping him get sober. Prior to that, Biden recalled a particularly scary moment when he was found in a hotel swimming pool floating face down. 'Someone had given me something,' he recalled. 'And this person saved me and I woke up after about 12 hours where they just held me.' 'My whole point of this story is that this person put themselves at an enormous risk,' he continued, explaining that if he had overdosed and died, the individual could have been blamed. 'They saved my life for nothing other than to be human, because every single other person that was there, literally, they stole my shoes, they stole my clothes,' the former first son recalled. He added that he thought it was hypocritical that Republicans have used his struggle with addiction to score political points when so many of them have been touched by it too. 'I've gotten over the fact that [former Rep.] Matt Gaetz or Eric Trump is going to like use this story as another, you know, data point for like how f***ed up Hunter Biden is. But I don't give a s*** anymore,' Biden said. A mother was referred to anti-radicalisation group Prevent and investigated by the police over concerns she had been radicalised because she had visited Israel. Holly Passmore, 43, was stunned to find officers at her door two weeks after her visit to the country. The single mother-of-two, who is not Jewish, had been part of a delegation of social media influencers invited by the Israeli embassy for a trip that included visiting Kfar Aza, one of the kibbutzim where British hostage Emily Damari was abducted by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. The police demanded to know why she had visited Israel, whether she was planning to go back and whether she felt safe to go there. I asked them, What do you think happened? That the Jews kidnapped me? said Ms Passmore, who has had an interest in Jewish people after studying the Holocaust for her degree. I kept saying to them, I dont understand why you are here and they said only that they were there to check on me. She said when the officers first knocked on the door of her County Durham home and explained they were there to talk about safeguarding, she worried it was about her autistic son. But then they mentioned Israel and said, We arent here about your son, but about you, weve had a complaint. I was absolutely gobsmacked, said Ms Passmore of the July 4 visit. Then they came out with all these questions, When did you go? Why did you go? Who did you go with? Why are you interested in this? I said to them, Is this real? Holly Passmore, 43, was stunned to find officers at her door two weeks after her visit to Israel She had a second visit ten days later after she complained about her doorstep interrogation to local Reform councillor and former television presenter Darren Grimes, who wrote to Durham Constabulary. This time Ms Passmore, who posts on X as @MummyisTired and has nearly 17,000 followers, faced a Prevent officer and a police superintendent. It was the first time she learned someone had reported her to Prevent. They kept saying to me that if the person has vulnerabilities, they have to be checked out, but Ive looked into Prevent since and that doesnt explain the processes theyve had to get through to being on my doorstep, said Ms Passmore, who is on the autism spectrum and has ADHD. The Prevent wording is that its for people who are vulnerable to exploitation but that is theoretically anybody. Who do they think is exploiting me into what? Ms Passmore said that on the second visit she was told the investigation wasnt about her trip to Israel, even though that is what all of the questions on the earlier interrogation were about. Fiona Sharpe, a spokeswoman for Labour Against Antisemitism, said: The stated aim of Prevent is to safeguard against people, particularly vulnerable ones, from being radicalised. It is hard to understand what evidence was given to them to warrant visiting a woman just because she had visited Israel. Visiting Israel is certainly not a crime. Dr Daniel Allington, an expert on anti-Semitism at Kings College London, said attacking people who support Israel is a new tactic of extremists. He said: People of a certain political persuasion love to make the malicious insinuation that Britons travelling to Israel are somehow equivalent to Britons travelling to Isis. But Israel is an ally, a trading partner, a democracy in every sense a friend of the UK. A Durham Constabulary spokeswoman said: Each Prevent referral is reviewed to determine whether further action is required including, where appropriate, assessment to determine if there is an immediate security threat, or whether a vulnerable person is at genuine risk of radicalisation. Eight centuries of English history ended at 4.25pm when the House of Lords accepted that hereditary peers should be given the heave-ho. There was no division on the third reading of the Bill. The contents have it, declared Lady Fookes on the Woolsack, from under an orange hairdo that matched splashes of her jazzy jacket. And that, mdears, was that. Chop! Exit the dukes and earls and viscounts and hereditary barons. In their absence we will have a Lords entirely appointed by prime ministers. Our political class has distinguished itself. It has made a blot on our democracy even stinkier. And yet, as human spectacle, the Lords has its moments. One Lord Spiritual (ie bishop) was in attendance. It was that one from Newcastle who assassinated Justin Welby. She speaks all the jargon about impact assessments and wears an old pair of Maurice Saatchis spectacles. Nearby: Kenneth O. Morgan (Lab). Very Welsh. Aged 91, he could be a good 20 years older. Imagine the poet R.S. Thomass suave twin. The Europhile Duke of Wellington (Crossbencher) graced us with his presence, handsome and maybe a little disappointing. More upmarket PR man than a Wellesley. At the far end of the House stood Lady Meyer (Con) in an eyepatch, no doubt the consequence of a recent duel. The air kept being rent by the bark of a country pheasant. On closer analysis this turned out to be a repeated coughing from Lady Butler-Sloss (Crossbencher), retired beak and formidable aunt of the actor Nigel Havers. PG Wodehouse knew her ilk. The Europhile Duke of Wellington (Crossbencher) graced us with his presence, handsome and maybe a little disappointing. More upmarket PR man than a Wellesley, writes Quentin Letts This was no day for worn arguments about hereditary peers, Lords reform and so forth. The only political gravy swilling around in the bottom of the pan concerned a plea from the Tories that the ejected lords be offered life peerages. Lord True, Tory leader, suggested he and his lot could go on dirty protest and ignore parliamentary conventions unless a few of the departees were shown some clemency. Former MP and Cabinet minister Lord Forsyth (Con) said Labour had now lit the fuse... for an elected House and that could blow everything apart both in the Lords and the Commons. Lord True added that the British people have never been asked to assent to an all-appointed House. Fair point. Quick poll for a website, perhaps: do you approve or not of an Upper House that will now be composed entirely of political-party greasers, prime ministerial acolytes and failed MPs? The tone from departing blue-bloods was one of acidic sorrow rather than anything nastier. Lord Mancroft (Con) felt he and his noble comrades were being thrown out like discarded rubbish. He had not thought it legal, these days, to be sacked on the basis of your birth. It feels deeply, deeply offensive. Lady Smith (Lab), Leader of the House, assured him it was nothing personal; her trouser suit of imperial purple possibly betrayed her truer feelings. Lord Grocott (Lab), who had long waged class war, gloated. Lord Mancroft (Con) felt he and his noble comrades were being thrown out like discarded rubbish, writes Quentin Letts Telly scientist Lord Winston (Lab), hands in pockets, made an incomprehensible speech about genes. The 20th Earl of Caithness (Con) thanked Labour for having given him a financial boost in recent years. Having inherited the earldom in 1965, he recalled that the daily allowance when he first attended was a touch under a fiver. Only when the Blairites started filling the place with their own c.1999 did the rate shoot upwards. Things can only get better. All of which leaves me little space to describe the jaw-locking dullness of Sir K. Starmers session at the Commons liaison committee. Jings, it was joyless. In the second row of the public seats sat a lass in a blue dress who was fighting hard to stay awake. Her eyeballs kept doing that thing where only the whites are visible. She yawned, sighed, eased her neck but it was no good. Both eyes shut, she slumped forward, dead to Westminster. Just like a hereditary peer. The 17-year-old accused of murdering her mother and stepfather was at the center of a bitter custody battle in which her biological dad accused the victims of abusing drugs and being 'unsafe' to care for her, DailyMail.com can reveal. It is just one of the revelations DailyMail.com has unearthed about the tangled past of Sarah Grace Patrick after the teenager was charged with the double homicides of her mother, Kristin Brock, 41, and stepdad, James Brock, 45, which she denies doing. Ever since the teen turned herself in on July 8, online True Crime groups have speculated about what drove an angel-faced teen to allegedly kill her mother and stepfather. Authorities have not yet revealed a motive, but the late couple's loved ones have hit out at 'victim-blaming' and denied their pasts had anything to do with their murders at their home in Carrollton, 45 miles west of Atlanta, on February 20. But court documents seen by DailyMail.com provide an insight into the accused teen's often chaotic childhood, which appears to have been blighted by her mom and stepfather's alleged drug use. In 2018, Doniel Patrick filed for divorce from his wife, Kristin Nolan Patrick, after a 10-year marriage during which they had Sarah Grace and her younger brother, Donnie, 12, while living in Acworth, Georgia. In court papers, Doniel, 43, demanded joint legal custody of the kids with 'primary physical custody of the parties' minor child' and that any visits between his estranged wife and the children be supervised until she could prove she was clean and sober. Under their July 2018 divorce order, the pair agreed on joint legal custody of the children, with primary physical custody given to the mother, and the father seeing them on alternate weekends and holidays. Sarah Grace Patrick, 17, is being charged as an adult as she faces two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault in connection with her mother and stepfather's deaths in February Sarahs father, Doniel Patrick (pictured), appeared visibly anguished during a visit to his daughter at Carroll County Jail in Georgia on July 13. Before her alleged actions, he had spent years locked in a bitter custody battle with his now-deceased ex, Kristin James Brock, 47, and Kristin Nolan, 41, were shot dead as they slept in their Carrollton, Georgia home on February 20, after years of legal battles with Doniel, who accused them of abusing drugs which led him to seek emergency custody of his daughter Sarah and son Doniel, according to court documents The exes also agreed they would not 'abuse' alcohol or drugs when they were looking after the kids. But in November 2019, Doniel filed an emergency application for custody of the children, who lived with Kristin and her boyfriend, James Brock. In an explosive legal motion, Doniel said the kids were exposed to drug use mainly Methamphetamines and marijuana by Kristin and James. It added: 'The mother has unrehabilitated substance abuse issues and both she and her boyfriend fail to adequately provide a suitable drug-free environment for minor children.' Doniel went on to cite eye-popping claims by Sarah Grace, then just 11 years old, who told cops about the drugs in the home and the 'unsafe living conditions' due to her mom allowing her friends to come over when they were on meth. Doniel added: 'As a result of the mother's drug usage and the mother's boyfriend discipling the minor son with a belt that left a visible injury, the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) got involved. 'The Defendant moved from Cobb County to Carroll County and failed to notify (DFCS) and attempted to avoid being investigated further.' He said a series of recent events raised 'concern' for the kids' safety and accused Kristin of 'spiraling' behaviors, which made it 'extremely unsafe for her to have the children in any unsupervised manner.' In their 2018 divorce agreement, Doniel and Kristin both agreed to 50/50 custody of the kids; under the agreement they would not 'abuse' alcohol or drugs. But in 2019, the father would file an emergency application for custody, claiming she and James were using Methamphetamines around the kids (PICTURED: Doniel at Sarah's high school graduation) The emergency filing (pictured) claimed that then 11-year-old Sarah told cops about the drugs in the home and that her mom allowed her friends to come over when they were high on meth Doniels efforts to secure emergency custody briefly succeeded, granting him custody for just five days starting November 9, 2019, during which the children's mother was barred from unsupervised visits Sarah Grace is said to have told her teacher about 'her fears of going back to her mother's house and being exposed to the drugs'. 'The minor daughter is able to express whether her mother hides the illegal drugs in the house, what the drugs look like in the packaging and the foul odor of the methamphetamines,' the motion added. James was said to be 'currently on Felony probation for Possession of Methamphetamines'. Cobb County Superior Court documents show that in August 2017, James Matthew Brock was sentenced to two years' probation for possession of meth. But court papers reveal James violated his probation by committing theft by shoplifting and receiving stolen property, possession of marijuana and obstruction of an officer between February and April 2018. He was sentenced to three years, with the first two months served in confinement and the remainder on probation. As a twice-convicted felon sentenced to more than a year in jail, James was banned from buying or owning a firearm. Amid speculation that James had a gun in the home, his niece Krysten Dowda clarified that she was not aware he owned a gun. The emergency custody filing cited Jamess felony meth possession convictions and revealed he had violated probation by shoplifting (pictured), resulting in a three-year sentence - two months to be served in confinement and the remainder under supervised release That shoplifting violation occurred in April 2018 and barred the stepdad from buying or owning a gun. His niece, Krysten Dowda (left), said she was not aware he owned a gun when crime watchers began speculating if he had a firearm in the home Tensions in the custody battle escalated after the emergency order was dissolved just five days later, prompting Kristin to threaten police involvement if the child wasnt returned. Yet even Sarah appeared to favor her father, expressing her wish to live with him in a parental election document (pictured) On November 9, 2019, a judge gave Doniel temporary physical custody of Sarah Grace and Donnie, with their mother banned from unsupervised visits. But the order was overturned five days later. He petitioned again for physical custody of the kids just two days before Christmas, accusing Kristin of failing to ensure their safety and that they were up to date on medical and dental appointments. Doniel recounted how in one grim incident, Sarah Grace and Donnie were in a car with their mom, stepdad and their adult friends, when Sarah Grace was 'forced to put a blanket over her face to avoid having vomit slung on her' by one of her mom's drunken friends and that Kristin sent videos of herself drunk to friends and relatives. He insisted both children wanted to live with him and that when Sarah Grace shared her reasons for this, Kristin called him on December 12 to have him immediately collect her. Doniel said that when he arrived at Kristin's home, she tried to force him to 'sign an agreement stating that Sarah could live with him and that he needed to pay her $5,000 to her for attorney's fees and to keep it out of court'. He said that after allowing both kids to go with their father, Kristin threatened to call the cops if he did not return them. In a later parental election document, Sarah Grace wrote: 'I Sarah Grace Patrick am eleven years old and love both of my parents very much. 'I really want to live with my father. On December 12, 2019, my mother said I could finally live with my father after I told her. In October 2020, it was agreed that Sarah Grace would live with her father (pictured) during the week, and her mother could visit her on set weekends It appears in the years leading up to Kristin and James' murder, the family had reached some resolution, with Doniel tagging his ex in a post commending how well they raised their daughter The couple was killed in their home in Carrollton, 45 miles west of Atlanta 'She had my father pick me up and my little brother. 'My mother knows that this is my desire, and she is also aware that my father is filing to get custody of me.' Kristin hit back against his legal suit, accusing him of breaching their divorce deal by 'willfully abus[ing] alcohol during his parenting time', discussing their litigation with the kids and badmouthing her and James to them. She demanded her ex-husband be jailed 'until such time as he purges himself of willful contempt' and that he pays her attorney fees. Doniel denied her claims and said that since their split, Kristin had 'abused illegal drugs [and] exposed her children to people that abuse illegal drugs'. In March 2020, it was ordered that Doniel and Kristin would have 50/50 custody of the kids, with the mom agreeing to 'ensure that the oldest child, Sarah Patrick, is placed in counselling immediately'. Since the teen's arrest, there has been online speculation over whether she had any psychological problems, with apparent friends of hers claiming on TikTok that she was admitted to a hospital for undisclosed mental health issues. Her relatives were split on the issue. Her maternal grandfather, Dennis Nolan, said he was not aware of any mental health problems, but her paternal grandmother, Donna Arnett, said she was told Sarah Grace had spent time in a hospital, but she didn't know what for. When it was uncovered that Sarah was allegedly behind the gruesome double homicide, the internet swirled with speculation around her mental health. But her maternal grandfather, Dennis Nolan (left), said that wasn't anything they knew about By August 2022, it appears Kristin had relapsed on prescription medication, with Sarah's (mugshot pictured) stepdad filing a protection order, claiming he feared for his life and their six-year-old daughter's - accusing her of trying to run him over while he was in a barn An arrest warrant accused Kristin of cruelty to children in the 3rd degree, following the incident that was witnessed by Sarah and her half-sister Jaley In October 2020, it was agreed that Sarah Grace would live with her father during the week and her mother could visit her on set weekends. Doniel and Kristin's relationship appears to have improved dramatically in recent years. Last year, he posted a photograph of a teenage Sarah Grace on Facebook with the caption: 'So proud of her, Kristin Brock we made one beautiful girl.' Asked about his daughter's drug use, Dennis told the Mail: 'About 10 years ago she had a drug problem, but [recently] she was very clean, and she was involved with the church and so happy. She felt born again and very saved.' He denied claims by cops that Sarah Grace lived with different relatives, insisting she always lived with the Brocks, with some weekends at her father's, per the divorce deal. But in August 2022, it appears things between the deceased couple took a turn, with James petitioning for a temporary protection order against Kristin, claiming he feared for his safety and that of their little girl, Jaley, now aged six. James said of Kristin: 'Respondent tried to run over the petitioner while he was inside the barn, with the minor child in the backseat of the vehicle. 'The other minor child witnessed the whole incident. Respondent is abusing prescription medication.' Kristin was ordered to leave the family home until James later rescinded his claims and court documents showed the criminal damage and child cruelty charges against her were dismissed after her killing After Sarah allegedly murdered her mom and stepdad, she posted tributes, tearful selfies and even pleas for justice on TikTok, all of which were dug up by internet sleuths after it was revealed she may have been involved in their deaths An arrest warrant accuses Kristin of cruelty to children in the 3rd degree, with the offense described as 'intentionally allow[ing] a child under the age of 18 to witness the commission of a forcible felony, battery or family violence battery.' It went on that during an argument with James, Kristin rammed a barn with her car, knowing he was inside, which was witnessed by Donnie and Jaley. James accused Kristin of various 'abuse' during their relationship, including hitting him, destroying his property and even threatening to kill him. A judge granted him temporary sole custody of Jaley and ordered Kristin to leave the family home. James later rescinded his claims, and court documents show the criminal damage and child cruelty charges against Kristin were dismissed after her killing. James' adult son Trysten defended his dad online: 'My father at heart was a good man, but he, like everyone else made mistakes. 'In the end, my father was a changed man who cared nothing for his past transgressions, but for his family and becoming the man he was when he died.' Dennis said his daughter and James had argued a couple of years ago, and he told police she tried to run him over 'which wasn't the case' and 'it didn't go anywhere'. After the tumultuous abuse allegations in 2022, the couple appeared to be on the mend, with them getting married at Dennis' sprawling home near Rome on December 12, 2023 (pictured) The 17-year-old had delivered a tearful eulogy at a church service in Georgia for her mother Kristin and stepfather James Brock, only to be charged with their murders months later He said the couple were recently baptized at the Catalyst church in Carrollton, where they were active members for a year. 'They were very serious about straightening their lives up. They got married; we did a small ceremony right here.' They Brocks got married at Dennis' sprawling home near Rome on December 12, 2023, just a day after his divorce from his ex-wife Tiffany was ordered, court documents show. He said the Brocks, Sarah Grace and Jaley spent last Thanksgiving at his home. Asked about any disagreements between Sarah Grace and the Brocks, he said: 'No, not that I'm aware of. Any 17-year-old girl is going to have problems with her mother. 'She and Sarah had disagreements. But there was nothing heavy.' Three Aboriginal groups have been awarded exclusive rights to land in Victoria - including the right to control access - following a decade-long court battle. The Federal Court on Friday recognised the First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee, the Latji Latji, Ngintait and Nyeri Nyeri, as holding rights to land stretching across Victoria's northwest corner to the South Australian border. Exclusive native title means the three traditional owner groups have the right to control access to the land. The determination covers thousands of square kilometres, including Mildura, and follows the Murray River, stretching south along the Calder Highway and west through the Murray-Sunset National Park. Several popular destinations are covered by the native title determination. Apex Park Sandbar, Kings Billabong Park and Murray-Sunset National Park, home to Victoria's famous pink lakes, are all on the list of landmarks covered by the overall native title claim. In passing down her decision, Justice Elizabeth Bennett recognised the 'resilience and determination' of the First Nations Peoples of Millewa-Mallee. The Federal Court recognised the First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee Peoples as holding rights on land stretching from Victoria's northwest corner to the South Australian border (pictured) The claim covers landmark areas including the Murray-Sunset National Park (pictured), Apex Park Sandbar and Kings Billabong Park 'Despite the dispossession and other atrocities inflicted upon the Native Title Holders and their predecessors, the Native Title Holders have maintained their traditional laws and customs and have under them a deep and enduring connection,' Justice Bennett said. 'It is appropriate to make the orders sought. In doing so, the court recognises the resilience and determination of the First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee Native Title Claim Group in reaching this milestone. 'Doing so is a testament to the strength of connection to country that this determination reflects.' First Nations Legal & Research Services said the Millewa-Mallee First Nations Peoples had fought for the recognition of their native land rights since the 1990s. FNLRS added the decision was a 'historic outcome' as it overturned long-held perceptions that exclusive native title rights could not be recognised in Victoria. 'This historic outcome confirms that the State accepts the native title holders' right to control access to their country under traditional law and custom,' FNLRS said in a statement. 'Thus challenging the long-held view that exclusive native title rights could not be recognised in Victoria.' 'As with other successful native title claims, the native title holders also have non-exclusive rights including the right to access the land, use its resources, and protect sites, objects and places of cultural and spiritual significance.' The Victorian-first landmark native title decision followed a 10-year legal battle over thousands of square kilometres in the state The three traditional owner groups say the ruling means they'll continue to live their culture The decision sets a precedent that may support other native title holders and claim groups to seek this same form of recognition. Nyeri Nyeri Elder Wendy Brabham said First Nations Peoples suffered through an 'onslaught of rejections' as they fought for their Native Title rights. Ms Brabham said Indigenous people had to bend their customs, laws, protocols and traditions to Australian law, which was a constant clash of views. She added her mother had fought for land rights since the 1970s. 'I hope our future generations of all our family groups will build on today's decision to honour our Ancestors by strengthening, preserving and sharing our Culture,' Ms Brabham said. Shane Jones Senior, a Latji Latji man and the applicant for the peoples of the Millewa-Mallee, said he was proud of the result. 'Alongside all First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee, including the Ngintait and Nyeri Nyeri peoples, we continue to live our culture,' he said. 'With native title, our present and future generations can continue the legacy of all our Elders and emerging Elders.' The decision sets a precedent that may support other native title holders and claim groups to seek this same form of recognition. The native title holders also have non-exclusive rights, including the right to access the land and use its resources, and to protect sites, objects and places of cultural and spiritual significance. A Canadian CEO charged with killing his nine-year-old daughter allegedly hid her body underneath a log in a remote pond after telling cops she had been 'abducted' by two men. Organic coffee brand founder Luciano Frattollin, 45, attempted to conceal his daughter Melina's body in the shallow waters in Ticonderoga, upstate New York, after claiming she had been kidnapped at a location 45 miles away, officials have said. New York State Police gave more heartbreaking details about the little girl's death in a press conference on Monday, after charging her father with second-degree murder and concealing a body. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Captain Robert McConnell said Frattolin, who lives in Montreal, Canada, killed Melina on Saturday night while they were on vacation close to the picturesque town of Lake George, located in the Adirondacks region of New York 60 miles north of Albany. Frattolin and Melina were in America legally after starting their vacation on July 11, and they were due to return to their native Quebec on Sunday. The horror unfolded on Saturday night, when Frattolin called the local Warren County Sheriff's Office claiming that two men in a white van had abducted his daughter. New York State Police issued an amber alert for help finding the little girl at around 10pm, advising the public that she was believed to be in 'imminent danger'. But detectives quickly 'identified inconsistencies in the fathers account of events and the timeline he provided', and they found Melina dead just before 2pm on Sunday. Canadian CEO Luciano Frattolin, has been charged with killing his nine-year-old daughter Melina and allegedly hiding her body under a log in a remote pond after telling cops she had been 'abducted' by two men. (Pictured: Frattolin and Melina on vacation together) Organic coffee brand founder Luciano Frattollin, 45, attempted to conceal his daughter Melina's body in shallow waters in Ticonderoga, upstate New York, after claiming she had been abducted at a location 45 miles away, officials have said. (Pictured: Frattolin and his daughter) New York State Police Captain Robert McConnell (pictured) told a press conference on Monday that Frattolin, who lives in Montreal, Canada, killed Melina on Saturday night while they were on vacation close to the picturesque waterside town of Lake George, 60 miles north of Albany New York State Forest Rangers discovered her body 'in the shallow water of a pond' in Ticonderoga, New York, around 45 miles south of where her father said she had last been seen on the highway close to Lake George. Frattolin has been charged with murder in the second degree and concealment of a human corpse, and he is being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility. He was seen in a white jumpsuit and shackles being hauled into Ticonderoga Town Court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to both charges. Captain McConnell said Melina's mother, who has been estranged from Frattolin since 2019, was expecting her daughter to be returned to her home in Montreal on Sunday. Melina resided full time with her mother and Frattolin visited without limitations. He also had zero criminal record, McConnell said. Records now show that Canadian entrepreneur Frattolin is being held in Essex County Jail in upstate New York. A mugshot of the 45-year-old has been released, as shown above Surveillance footage from 5.30pm on Sunday showed Melina's final moments as she was seen with her father in Saratoga Springs. At 6.30pm, she phoned her mother and told her that she and her father were en route back to Canada. 'The child appeared to be in good health and did not indicate she was under any duress,' McConnell told the press conference. 'The investigation has determined sometime after Melina's phone call with her mother and sometime before Mr Frattolin's 911 call, he allegedly murdered Melina and left her body in a remote area where she was later discovered by law enforcement.' Captain McConnell said Luciano initially told cops that Melina was kidnapped on the highway near Lake George when he pulled over to urinate in the woods. 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 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) The alleged killer dad said he turned around to find his daughter was no longer in their car, and he saw 'a suspicious white van' fleeing the scene. He later added that 'two unknown males forced' Melina into the vehicle. But when her body was found, detectives said there was no evidence she was ever abducted, and detectives said there was 'no threat to the public'. NYSP said that 'as the case progressed, law enforcement identified inconsistencies in the father's account of events and the timeline he provided.' Melina's cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy, which was scheduled for Monday. McConnell expressed his condolences for Melina's family. 'This is certainly a difficult case and a heartbreaking investigation,' he said. 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 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 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. '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.' A mother-of-two sobbed in court as she confessed to luring her estranged husband to his death in a chilling plot with her mom and brother. Kathryn Restelli, 37, faced a Utah court to plead guilty to a reduced count of murder and conspiracy to murder Matthew Restelli, 34, on July 12, 2024. She invited Matthew to her family home in Salt Lake City under the pretense she was considering getting back together with him. Restelli told her estranged husband he was welcome to enter the home unannounced and that the door had been left unlocked for him. But when he did as she told him to, her brother Kevin Ellis shot him dead within moments of entering the home under Utah's Stand Your Ground laws. The law allows occupants to use deadly force to defend themselves or others if they believe they face serious harm or potentially death. Restelli, Ellis and her mother Tracey Grist had conspired to entice Matthew into the home in order later claim that they were defending themselves from his intrusion, KSL reported. Grist called 911, but police were already on their way to the family home after a distress call from a neighbor. Kathryn Restelli, 37, faced a Utah court to plead guilty to a reduced count of murder and conspiracy to murder Matthew Restelli, 34, on July 12, 2024 The mother-of-two has sobbed in court as she confessed to luring her estranged husband to his death in a chilling plot with her mom and brother Police were immediately suspicious about the family's version of events when they arrived, led by the fact that Matthew was still gripping a knife on the floor. But the knife was in his right hand despite being left-handed, it was facing the wrong direction and a bullet had hit his wrist, making it very unlikely he would have retained possession of the weapon if he were holding it at the time he was shot. The screen door of the home had also been removed and toys had been cleared from the front of the home to allow Matthew easier access. The court heard Grist covered the couch in the living room to ensure it would not be ruined by blood spatter. Officials found a knife in Matthew's right hand at the scene, but said 'the blade was facing inwards towards Matthew instead of pointing outwards towards a threat' Restelli told her estranged husband (pictured together on their wedding day) he was welcome to enter the home unannounced and that the door had been left unlocked for him Restelli also admitted she put a tracking device on Matthew's truck in order to monitor his drive to her family home. The mother-of-two now faces a maximum sentence of life in prison when she is sentenced on September 9. The minimum term is at least six years behind bars. Her brother and mother are still awaiting trial, both charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, obstruction of justice, and two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child. Restelli's plea deal might have flow on effects for the cases against her brother and mother. Both are due to stand trial in January. The New York man who died after being sucked into an MRI machine was jammed inside for about an hour, his horrified family has claimed. Keith McAllister, 61, of Long Island, was fatally injured the Wednesday freak accident while he was trying to help his wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, off an MRI table at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury. Adrienne had been getting imaging done on her knee. Once it was complete, the technician left the room to get Keith so he could help his wife get up, according to a GoFundMe created by Adrienne's daughter Samantha Bodden. But Keith was wearing a 20-pound chain - which he was allegedly never told to remove before approaching the screening machine, the GoFundMe states. '[The technician] forgot to inform him to take the chain he was wearing from around his neck off when the magnet sucked him in,' Bodden wrote. While speaking out about the gut-wrenching moment, Adrienne recalled to News 12: 'I saw him walk toward the table and then the machine just snatched him. He went limp in my arms - and this is still pulsating in my brain. Keith's panicked wife and the employee allegedly tried to pull him out of the machine for several minutes before the police were called. Keith was 'attached to the machine for almost an hour before they could release the chain,' Bodden explained. Keith McAllister (right) was fatally injured the Wednesday freak accident while he was trying to help his wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister (left), off an MRI table Keith (pictured) was wearing a 20-pound chain - which he was allegedly never told to remove before approaching the screening machine MRI machines generate strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed internal images of the human body (file image) The following day, Keith died at the hospital after having 'several heart attacks' related to the harrowing incident. Just as Bodden wrote on the fundraiser page, Adrienne has asserted the technician was well aware Keith was wearing a chain. She alleged the worker allowed her husband into the room despite the piece of jewelry, which had been worn on previous visits to the same facility. 'That was not the first time that guy had seen that chain. They'd had a conversation about it before,' she said. Bodden has also refuted reports that Keith was not allowed to enter the MRI room, reiterating the sentiment that he was invited in by the allegedly forgetful employee. 'Several news stations are saying he wasnt authorized to be in the room when in fact he was because the technician went and brought him into the room,' Bodden wrote. Police are investigating the incident, but do not believe any foul play was involved. Authorities have claimed Keith did not have authorization to enter the room. Daily Mail approached management at Nassau Open MRI for comment. MRI machines generate strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed internal images of the human body. The freak accident occurred at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury (pictured) after Keith was allegedly told to come into the MRI room by a technician The magnetic pull of MRIs are so strong that it is capable of flinging a wheelchair across the room, according to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. When undergoing on MRI procedure, patients are generally asked to remove all jewelry and piercings to remain safe. People with certain medical implants are unable to go into an MRI machine at all. This generally includes people with cochlear implants, blood vessel stents, cardiac defibrillators and pacemakers. Keith's GoFundMe has already raised about $6,600 towards funeral expenses. 'Keith was a husband, a father, a stepfather, a grandfather, a brother, and an uncle. He was a friend to many,' Bodden wrote. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran cannot halt its nuclear enrichment program in a shot at Donald Trump. Araghchi confirmed Tehran was severely damaged during the recent Israel-Iran war in which Washington bombed Iran's nuclear facilities. However, he told Fox News Channel's Special Report on Monday that they are going to rebuild and won't give up enrichment. '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,' the foreign minister said. 'Our enrichment is so dear to us.' Araghchi confirmed Trump's exclamations that the damage done by the strikes called for by the president was 'serious' but would not get specific. 'Our facilities have been damaged seriously damaged, the extent of which is now under evaluation by our atomic energy organization but as far as I know, they are seriously damaged.' For the time being, Iran continues to state that it is not seeking a nuclear weapon and does not have the capabilities to enrich anything but he did confirm that they are still capable of building ballistic missiles. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said they are going to rebuild nuclear facilities and won't give up enrichment Araghchi confirmed Trump's claims that the damage done by the strikes was 'serious' but would not get specific There was no indication by Araghchi that Iran was any closer to returning to negotiations with Washington over its nuclear program. DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House for comment, though President Trump posted to Truth Social about Araghchi's claims that the nuclear program was decimated. He wrote: 'Irans Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, on the Iran Nuclear Sites: Damages are very severe, they are destroyed. Of course they are, just like I said, and we will do it again, if necessary! As interviewed by Bret Baier. Fake News CNN should immediately fire their phony reporter and apologize to me and the great pilots who OBLITERATED Irans nuclear sites. CNN is a major ratings loser, as is MSDNC!' Araghchi did make some news in declaring public support for Houthi rebels, Hamas and Hezbollah and confirming long-held beliefs that they supply weapons for groups he called 'freedom fighters.' Last month, he was resolute in saying that there would be no talks with Trump and the White House. 'I would like to state clearly that no agreement, arrangement or conversation has been made to start new negotiations,' Araghchi said on state television. 'No plan has been set yet to start negotiations.' Araghchi's statements came after Ayatollah Khamenei insisted the attacks had done 'nothing significant' to Iran's nuclear sites in an address that also saw him claim the Islamic Republic had 'defeated Israel' and dealt the US a 'slap' with its strikes on an American base in Qatar. All of the missiles fired at the base were shot down. A satellite view shows an overview of Fordow underground complex, after the U.S. struck the underground nuclear facility, near Qom, Iran June 22, 2025. Several craters can be seen where US GBU-57 massive ordnance penetrator munitions were dropped, with dirt and concrete spread over the facility The state of Iran's nuclear program, the location of its enriched uranium and the efficacy of the US' strikes on three nuclear facilities are all the topic of intense scrutiny. American and Iranian officials have offered sharply diverging assessments of the consequences of US involvement in the conflict. Trump has insisted that bunker-busting bombs and tomahawk missiles 'totally obliterated' Iran's nuclear facilities and erased the Islamic Republic's chances of building a bomb. But preliminary intelligence reports found the nuclear program had likely only been set back by a few months, according to several officials who had seen the documents and spoke to CNN and the New York Times. Their assessment directly contradicted statements by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump's Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth went ballistic on reporters at a Pentagon press conference, lashing out at reports that the airstrikes may have been less effective than claimed, declaring that the leakers should be in prison and the reporters fired. IAEA head Rafael Grossi told French radio RFI that Iran's nuclear facilities must have sustained 'enormous damage' - though he acknowledged that IAEA inspectors had not been able to visit the sites to verify. 'It is true that, with its reduced capacities, it will be much more difficult for Iran to continue the pace it had,' he claimed. The photo released by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on June 21st 2025 shows the nuclear site in Isfahan and the centrifuge production facilities that were struck Digital billboards display a message thanking US President Donald Trump for his administration's strikes on Iranian nuclear sites Thousands of centrifuges - the machines used to enrich uranium - were no longer operational, he said, 'given the explosive payload utilized and the extreme vibration-sensitive nature' of the equipment. In May, the IAEA, reported that Iran had accumulated more than 400 kilograms (900 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60%. This is already enough to create an atomic weapon like those that laid waste to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Such bombs are too heavy and cumbersome for Iran to deploy effectively. But achieving the 90% enrichment required to produce modern nuclear devices small and light enough to mount to any one of Tehran's vast array of missiles could take mere weeks. As far as anyone knows, that HEU is still safely squirrelled away, safe from American and Israeli bombs - not to mention ton more uranium enriched to levels below 60%, but still far in advance of the 3-5% required for civilian energy use. Trump has said he believes the enriched uranium is now buried beneath mounds of rock and rubble. Asked Wednesday whether he thought the enriched uranium had been smuggled out from the nuclear facilities before US bombs hit, the President said: 'We think we hit them so hard and so fast they didn't get to move.' But a Khamenei adviser, Ali Shamkhani, has said that the country still had its stockpile. 'Even if nuclear sites are destroyed, game isn't over, enriched materials, indigenous knowledge, political will remain,' he said in a post on X. Iran's lawmakers last week voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, which would be a violation of Iran's responsibilities as part of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). But there are fears Tehran may seek to pull out of the agreement altogether in light of the US and Israeli strikes. 'The Non-Proliferation Treaty allows member states to withdraw (with a three month notice period) 'if it decides that extraordinary events, related to the subject matter of this treaty, have jeopardized the supreme interests of its country',' said Darya Dolzikova, Senior Research Fellow for Proliferation and Nuclear Policy at the RUSI think tank. 'The events of the last week could arguably give Tehran the justification it needs to that end. A withdrawal from the NPT would likely see the international community lose all visibility of the Iranian nuclear program and could - long-term - become a catalyst for broader proliferation in the region.' Distressing photos have emerged of elderly patients lying on the floor of a hospital waiting room for hours while in pain. One patient, 70-year-old Raymond, presented to Blacktown Hospital's emergency department in Sydney's west on Saturday, experiencing severe diarrhoea and life-threatening haemoglobin levels. Despite his condition, he spent 24 hours waiting for a bedmuch of it trying to sleep on the cold, hard vinyl floor of the waiting room in excruciating pain. Raymond's daughter, Hayley, took a photo of him in the heartbreaking predicament and shared it with 2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham. She also shared a photo of another elderly man, 80, sleeping on the floor, covered in a blanket. The man had already been waiting for a bed for at least 12 hours. To make matters worse, Raymond was then told by staff that he could not sleep on the floor near reception. 'What do you expect a 70-year-old to do?' Hayley told Fordham. Raymond, 70, spent 24 hours waiting for a bed at Blacktown Hospital on Saturday Another elderly patient was also forced to sleep on the cold, hard floor while waiting for a bed Raymond rang his daughter numerous times during the harrowing ordeal, wanting to discharge himself. 'He said he'd rather go to a small country town, which is where he's from, because the wait times aren't as bad,' she added. NSW Opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane was saddened to see the latest images from one of NSW's most overstretched hospitals. 'This shouldn't be happening in our hospitals,' she told Fordham on Tuesday. 'I'm terribly sad for this gentleman and his family, decent people who have paid taxes their entire lives. 'And when they're at their most vulnerable, the system has let them down.' Only 41 per cent of emergency department patients are being treated on time at Blacktown, according to the latest NSW Health data. It also ranks last out of 20 hospitals in the treatment of emergency department presentations. Blacktown Hospital in Sydney's west is one of the state's busiest and overstretched hospitals 'We need solutions at Blacktown, it's one of the poorest-performing hospitals in the west of Sydney,' Sloane said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Western Sydney Local Health District for comment. The new images indicated little had been done in the ten months since NSW Premier Chris Minns singled out Blacktown as he vowed to address the state's overstretched public hospital system. 'We'll have to look at Blacktown in particular - there's major stress on our public hospitals,' Minns said last September. 'We want to do better when it comes to health outcomes.' Western Sydney Local Health District chief executive Graeme Loy recently stepped down after seven years in the top job, hours before a scheduled vote of no confidence by doctors at nearby Westmead. A man has been arrested after police allegedly found an image on his phone of two young children bound with duct tape. The 44-year-old man was arrested at a property in Emerald, about 70 km west of Rockhampton, Queensland, on May 26. Detectives from Queensland's Emerald Criminal Investigation Branch searched the property during an investigation into illegal weapons and illicit drugs. Police seized several items from the property, including a mobile phone. The mobile phone was forensically examined and allegedly found to contain an image showing two children, both three years old, bound with duct tape. Police will allege the man can be seen pointing what appears to be a firearm at the children. It will also be alleged the image had been forwarded to several other people after it was taken. It is understood the children were not related to the man but were known to him. The 44-year-old man was arrested at his property in Emerald, Queensland, (pictured) after police allegedly found a photo on a phone showing two children, both aged three, bound with duct tape The man was also charged with unlawful possession of a category H firearms and dangerous conduct with weapon (pictured, weapon seized from the property) Officers were able to identify the children and confirmed both were safe. The 44-year-old man was charged with unlawful possession of a category H firearm, dangerous conduct with a weapon, and two counts of deprivation of liberty. He was granted bail under strict conditions and scheduled to appear in the Emerald Magistrates Court on August 26. In an unrelated incident, another Emerald man was arrested and charged with sexual offences against a child after concerned community members raised the alarm. The 59-year-old man was arrested and charged on Friday with grooming a child under 16 years, rape, supplying dangerous drugs to a minor, and breach of bail. Police allege the man provided dangerous drugs to a child and committed sexual offences against the same child over the past two months. The man was remanded in custody and was expected to face the Emerald Magistrates Court later on Tuesday. Officer in Charge of Emerald CIB, Detective Sergeant Dylan Brook, praised community members for coming forward to police and assisting the victim. In an unrelated incident, another Emerald man, 59, (pictured) was arrested for grooming a child under 16 years, rape and supplying dangerous drugs to a minor 'I would like to thank the community members for having the courage to report the matters to the police and supporting the victim survivors,' Detective Sergeant Brook said. 'The Emerald police are committed to supporting victims of sexual abuse with compassion and work diligently and tirelessly to hold offenders accountable through the court system.' Queensland Police released footage showing the arrests of both men at their respective properties in Emerald. In the video, the 44-year-old man is seen standing with his arms crossed while two police officers speak to him on his property. 'Are you willing to come down to the station with us now?' one of the officers asked. 'No dramas, I'm going to place you under arrest.' The footage also shows police attending the property of the 59-year-old man. Officers inform him he is being placed under arrest for the grooming of a child before escorting him to a police vehicle parked on the street. Donald Trump has fired off a furious missive at a Jewish judge who holds power in his war with Harvard. Judge Allison Burroughs is presiding over the tense lawsuit to determine whether the Trump administration can legally defund the Ivy League institution for not taking a strong enough stance against antisemitism on campus. While she did not issue a ruling in Monday's hearing, her barrage of questions toward the administration's lawyer and her status as an Obama-era appointee was enough for Trump to find fault with her handling of the case. '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,' he wrote in a Truth Social post. 'She has systematically taken over the various Harvard cases, and is an automatic 'loss' for the people of our country! 'How did this Trump-hating Judge get these cases? When she rules against us, we will IMMEDIATELY appeal, and WIN.' Trump argued Harvard 'has $52 billion dollars sitting in the bank, and yet they are anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and anti-America.' 'Much of this money comes from the USA, all to the detriment of other schools, colleges, and institutions,' he wrote, adding, 'we are not going to allow this unfair situation to happen any longer.' President Donald Trump has fired off a furious missive at a Jewish judge who holds the power in his war with Harvard Judge Allison Burroughs is presiding over the tense lawsuit to determine whether the Trump administration can legally defund Harvard for not taking a strong enough stance against antisemitism and pro Palestine protests on campus (protest pictured in May, 2024) Trump vowed to 'not stop until there is victory', promising to cut funding to Harvard no matter how much effort it took. But if Judge Burroughs rules in Harvard's favor, it could make Trump's promise hard to deliver on. Steven Lehotsky, representing Harvard, said at Monday's hearing the case is about the government trying to control the 'inner workings' of the institution. At Monday's hearing, Harvard asked to reverse funding freezes in an effort to revive Harvard's sprawling scientific and medical research operation and hundreds of projects that lost federal money. A lawyer for the government, Michael Velchik, said the Trump administration has authority to cancel the grants after determining 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 October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel. He said protesters had camped out on campus chanting antisemitic slogans and cited attacks on Jewish students. 'Harvard claims the government is anti-Harvard. I reject that,' Velchik, a Harvard alumnus, said. Trump argued Harvard 'has $52 Billion Dollars sitting in the Bank, and yet they are anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and anti-America' While Judge Burroughs (pictured) did not issue a ruling in Monday's hearing, her barrage of questions toward the administration's lawyer and her status as an Obama-era appointee was all Trump needed to find fault with her handling of the case 'The government is pro-Jewish students at Harvard. The government is pro-Jewish faculty at Harvard.' Judge Burroughs pushed back, at one point describing the government's assertions as 'mind-boggling.' 'What I'm wrestling with is this idea that the executive branch can decide what is discriminatory or racist,' she said. 'You're saying you can terminate a contract for any and all reasons, even if the reason you're giving is a violation of the Constitution? I don't think you can justify a contract action based on impermissible suppression of speech.' Velchik said the case comes down to the government's choosing how best to spend billions of dollars in research funding. Judge Burroughs said: 'Let's assume for the sake of argument that Harvard has not covered itself in glory on the topic of antisemitism.' Noting her own Jewish faith, the judge asked what the relationship was between antisemitism and cutting funding to cancer research. 'You're not taking away grants from labs that have been antisemitic,' she noted. Harvard was one of several high profile college campuses gripped with protests after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023 Despite her strongly worded rebuke, Judge Burroughs did not deliver a verdict at the bench, and is instead expected to issue a written decision at a later date. Harvard's lawsuit accused 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. The task force's demands included sweeping changes related to campus protests, academics and admissions. 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.' Advertisement Britain is on the brink of 'societal collapse', Nigel Farage warned as he vowed to halve crime in five years if he becomes prime minister. Reform's leader claimed people were scared to go to the shops and tourists were staying away from London as a result of soaring muggings and brazen shoplifting. He also claimed the country was close to 'civil disobedience on a vast scale' as a result of alleged crimes by migrants. Mr Farage defended those protesting outside an Epping hotel housing asylum seekers as 'genuinely concerned families' and blamed 'some bad eggs' for the violent clashes with police. Reform's plan to restore law and order, costing an estimated 17.4 billion over the course of the next parliament, would include recruiting 30,000 more police officers and creating 12,400 extra places in five 'Nightingale prisons' built on MoD land. Derelict council buildings and mothballed police stations would be used to make 100 'pop-up' custody centres and 50 courts would be reopened for 'fast-track' trials. Under a 'zero-tolerance' approach modelled on that pioneered in New York, officers would have to investigate every reported offence including shoplifting and mobile phone theft. Military veterans would be sought to bring about the return of 'big strapping' bobbies on the beat whom criminals fear. Nigel Farage warned that Britain is on the brink of 'societal collapse' and vowed to halve crime in five years if he is voted into Downing Street Mr Farage defended those protesting outside an Epping hotel housing asylum seekers as 'genuinely concerned families' and blamed 'some bad eggs' for the violent clashes with police Protestors were seen outside the hotel near Essex on Sunday scuffling with police in the area To deal with repeat offenders, Mr Farage said those who committed three or more crimes would face life sentences. And the 10,000 foreign prisoners currently serving time in English jails would be deported, with the Reform leader claiming he was already in talks with Albanian prime minister Edi Rama about taking back his country's criminals. Launching a six-week policy blitz on tackling 'lawless Britain', Mr Farage said yesterday: 'We're actually facing, in many parts of our country, nothing short of societal collapse. 'People are scared to go out to the shops, scared to let their kids out. That is a society that is degraded, and it's happening very, very rapidly. Respect for those in uniform has declined massively. The criminals don't particularly respect the police and they're acting in many cases with total impunity. 'Just as worrying, if not more so, is huge numbers of law-abiding taxpaying Britons have also lost respect for the police in a different way. The idea, the concept that we're living in a system of two-tier policing and two-tier justice under two-tier Keir has really taken hold.' Mr Farage said residents were fleeing the capital as a result of soaring crime, and tourists were reluctant to visit as shoplifting and smoking cannabis become increasingly tolerated. To deal with repeat offenders, Mr Farage said those who committed three or more crimes would face life sentences Mr Farage said the 10,000 foreign prisoners currently serving time in English jails would be deported and claimed he was already in talks with Albanian prime minister Edi Rama (left) about taking back his country's criminals He said the UK needed to copy the 'broken windows' theory popularised by New York mayor Rudy Giuliani in the 1990s, under which crime rates fell after police targeted everything from graffiti to fare-dodging. 'Reform will be the toughest party on law and order and on crime that this country has ever seen,' Mr Farage vowed. 'We will aim to cut crime by half in the first five years of a Reform government. We will take back control of our streets. We will take back control of our courts, of our prisons.' Reform produced a document putting a 17.4 billion price tag on its plan over five years, but which also claimed 'the cost of our policies will likely pay for itself' because of the cost of crime to society. But opponents claimed his blueprint would cost at least 5 billion more, with Tory MP Chris Philp saying: '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.' The Reform leader said the UK needed to copy the 'broken windows' theory popularised by New York mayor Rudy Giuliani (above) in the 1990s, under which crime rates fell after police targeted everything from graffiti to fare-dodging Tory MP Chris Philp (above) said Mr Farage 'is writing his own crime fiction' and said the Reform leader was being dishonest Mr Farage was asked about a series of protests outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, in the past week after an asylum seeker was charged with three counts of sexual assault. He said: 'I don't think anybody in London can understand just how close we are to civil disobedience on a vast scale in this country.' He accepted there were some 'bad eggs that turned up', including 'the usual far-Right thugs', but added: 'Do I understand how people in Epping feel? You bet your life I do. 'Don't underestimate the simmering anger and disgust there is in this country that we are letting in every week, in fact some days, 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. 'I do understand the genuine upset and anger, and I'll bet you that most of the people outside that hotel in Epping weren't far-Right or far-Left or anything like that, they were genuinely concerned families.' Prime Minister Keir Starmer's drive to build huge artificial intelligence data centres will help push up water bills by 30 per cent over the next five years, an independent report warns. The banks of computer equipment needed to advance AI models require huge volumes of water to fuel cooling systems. Ministers will also scrap the regulator Ofwat to make way for a new body to try to tame 'Wild West' water firms after the recommendations. But consumers will also pay the price of tackling future sewage spills and renewing crumbling infrastructure. The report's author Sir Jon Cunliffe, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England made 88 recommendations to turn around the ailing industry. His Independent Water Commission review tackles the issues of pollution, soaring bills and staggering pay awards and bonuses for failing company bosses. In the report, he warns that bills will have to rise because of a failure to invest in the sector amid a growing population and climate change. He also says that Labour policies including building 1.5 million more homes and more data centres to power AI will put 'pressure' on the system. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's drive to build huge artificial intelligence data centres will help push up water bills by 30 per cent over the next five years, an independent report warns The report's author Sir Jon Cunliffe, (pictured) a former deputy governor of the Bank of England made 88 recommendations to turn around the ailing industry Sir Jon also recommended the introduction of social tariffs to provide support for customers who are unable to pay their bills. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme yesterday: 'The inescapable fact is that it costs more to produce drinking water and it will cost more to deal with our waste water as we go forward. 'When you look at the pressures on the water system look at population growth [and] we want to have data centres in this country they put huge demands on water. 'We have to accept them. But we have to plan for them, we have to decide where the priorities are, and we have to decide how to manage the trade-offs. At the moment, that is just not happening.' The report also said that data centres used by AI companies have a 'high water need'. It cited research from Oxford University that argued 'regional water stress must be considered for each data centre'. In January, Sir Keir launched an 'AI Opportunities Action Plan', which welcomed billions in investment from overseas tech companies to build data centres in the UK. Environment Secretary Steve Reed said yesterday that the Government would scrap the watchdog Ofwat, adding that the water industry is 'broken' and has been allowed to fail under a 'regulatory system that let them get away with it'. Environment Secretary Steve Reed (pictured) said yesterday that the Government would scrap the watchdog Ofwat 'Our rivers, lakes and seas are polluted with record levels of sewage,' he said. He promised to create a 'single, powerful' regulator, bringing the four bodies responsible for water under its control. He also pledged to cut sewage pollution levels in 2024 by half by 2030 through a series of measures including public and private investment. Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Tim Farron said: 'We still see no sign in this report of any plan to tackle the toxic nature of the ownership or the structure of the water industry.' An unmanned ocean craft has been spotted off the coast of Queensland, deployed on behalf of the United States military. Powered by wave motion and solar energy, the Wave Glider is an autonomous vessel designed to collect real-time intelligence for both defence and environmental applications. It was recently seen off the coast of Mackay, on the Coral Sea in north Queensland, during a week-long deployment that ends on Thursday, July 24. Developed by US marine robotics firm Liquid Robotics, the mission was arranged on behalf of the US Special Operations Command. The exact purpose of the deployment remains unclear. The craft can be configured for a wide range of defence and civilian uses, depending on its customised payload. Its capabilities include tracking and communicating with submarines, gathering acoustic, signal, and image intelligence, and conducting surface and sub-surface surveillance and communications. Security expert and Strategic Analysis Australia founder Michael Shoebridge told Daily Mail Australia they are a 'cheap way of collecting important information'. 'Systems like the Wave Glider can loiter around particular locations or travel long distances collecting information about the water column and objects and activity underwater,' Mr Shoebridge said. On the surface, the craft appears about the size of a surfboard, with a one-metre tall mast A sub deployment coasts about eight metres below the surface propelled using wave motion 'They get much more powerful when lots of them are used, instead of single systems.' Mr Shoebridge said it was 'embarrassing' Australia was not keeping pace with the US in its use of the technology. On the surface, the Wave Glider is not much larger than a surfboard, with a mast extending about a metre above the water. This is connected via an umbilical tether to a submerged unit located roughly eight metres below. Originally designed to record the sounds of humpback whales, the Wave Glider has since evolved into a versatile defence tool through a partnership with Boeing. In 2016, a network of Wave Gliders was used to detect, report, and track a live submarine during the UK Navy's Unmanned Warrior demonstration. The crafts were fitted with acoustic sensors made by Boeing to locate an underwater vehicle and a diesel submarine off the coast of Northern Scotland. Later that year, Boeing acquired Liquid Robotics, which now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary under Boeings Defence, Space and Security division. First developed in 2007, the technology can collect data on wind, weather, and waves, and can reportedly operate unmanned for up to a year. The gliders are reportedly capable of travelling unmanned at sea for a year It is also used for environmental assessment and offshore energy applications. In 2017, the Wave Glider was deployed by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) to monitor conditions in the Great Barrier Reef. The 200-nautical-mile trial mission provided continuous, real-time environmental ocean data, including temperature, turbidity, currents, wave height, and salinity. Dr Lyndon Llewellyn, Head of Data and Technology Innovation at AIMS, said the crafts ability to remain true to its charted course was 'extraordinary'. 'It went where it was told to and it stayed the course like an orienteering champion,' he said in a statement at the time. 'We are impressed with the number of different measurements it could conduct at the same time and its ability to transmit the data back to our base immediately and reliably while navigating and performing its mission.' A spokesperson confirmed AIMS had not used the Wave Glider since the 2017 trial. Liquid Robotics has been contacted by Daily Mail Australia. A growing number of Aussie households are falling victim to a trifecta of nasty viruses as cases of influenza, Covid and RSV skyrocket across the country. More than 50,000 flu cases were detected in the first two weeks of July, with cases the highest in NSW (17,112), followed by Victoria (9,991) and Queensland (6,620). Covid and RSV cases were sitting at around 13,000 cases for the same period. The latest Australian Respiratory Surveillance report also found a 50 per cent increase in hospital admissions for the flu, with the majority of cases influenza A, and a worrying increase in patients requiring ventilators to help them breathe. Deakin University epidemiologist Catherine Bennett said that since April, more people have been hospitalised for the flu than RSV or Covid. 'It is worrying regarding the number of influenza hospitalisations and deaths,' she said. 'Influenza vaccine data shows vaccine uptake is still at the lower end of that seen over the past few years, including the most at risk group over 65 years of age.' NSW Health reports influenza activity has increased 42 per cent for the week ending on June 28, while in Queensland, influenza hospitalisations have skyrocketed. A growing number of Aussie households are falling victim to a trifecta of nasty viruses as cases of influenza, Covid and RSV skyrocket across the country (pictured, Brisbane's CBD) Deakin University epidemiologist Catherine Bennett (pictured) said that since April, more people have been hospitalised for the flu than RSV or Covid 'Since the start of the year, nearly 3,600 people have been hospitalised with flu with 90 per cent of patients not vaccinated. This year's flu hospitalisations are nearly 16 per cent higher than the same period last year,' a spokesman said. Currently, national coverage is sitting at 28.9 per cent for the 2025 flu season and only 13.7 per cent of children aged five to 14 years old are vaccinated. Professor Bennett said influenza and Covid has peaked in NSW, but not in Victoria. While there is no surveillance data to examine correlations between illness severity and vaccination status, studies continue to show Covid booster doses reduced the risk of severe disease against the current dominant variants. RACGP vice president Dr Ramya Raman said from May to June 2025, monthly influenza cases have more than doubled in most states off the back of one of the worst flu seasons on record in the Northern Hemisphere. She said so far this July more than 16,000 Covid cases, 57,000 flu cases and 18,600 RSV notified cases had been lab-confirmed. She said the data is trending in a worrying direction. 'I've been in clinic for the last few weeks and certainly during the July school holidays I've seen a significant number of patients who have been unwell with respiratory symptoms and have tested positive to the flu or Covid,' she said. Doctors recommend people stay at home when they feel unwell (pictured, Sydney's CBD) Dr Raman recommended people wear a mask in public to reduce the risk of transmission and talk to their GP about vaccination. 'Flu immunisation coverage is down, so if [patients] haven't had a flu shot this year, now is the time. We can't be complacent,' she said. 'We can keep everyone safer, including those too young to get a vaccine, by reducing the severity and caseload of influenza in the community. 'That means fewer hospitalisations, fewer deaths, and easier recovery.' There were 581 Covid-related deaths in the first four months of 2025, down 52 per cent from January to April 2024. There have been 180 deaths due to influenza in the first four months of 2025, a 73 per cent increase on the same period last year. There have been 19 deaths due to RSV published in the first four months of 2025. The Florida man accused of sexually abusing and murdering his girlfriend's 13-year-old daughter will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Stephan Sterns, 39, pleaded no contest to Madeline Soto's murder and guilty to 21 counts of sex charges on Monday afternoon during an Osceola County Court hearing. No contest has the same legal ramifications as a guilty plea, but Sterns never had to explicitly admit or deny killing Madeline in February 2024. Prosecutors originally said they were going to pursue the death penalty against the convicted predator, but execution was taken off the table in a plea deal. The state also dropped about 40 other charges pertaining to explicit images of Madeline investigators discovered on Sterns' phone. In exchange, Sterns was sentenced to 21 concurrent life sentences without the possibility of parole. Emotions ran high during the chilling hearing, with Madeline's relatives and loved ones confronting Sterns and sharing tear-jerking testimonies. But Madeline's mother, Jennifer Soto, was not in attendance. The Florida man accused of sexually abusing and murdering his girlfriend's 13-year-old daughter, Madeline Soto (pictured), will spend the rest of his life behind bars Stephan Sterns (middle), 39, pleaded no contest to Madeline's murder and guilty to 21 counts of sex charges on Monday afternoon during an Osceola County Court hearing 'I can't grasp the selfishness of you, the deplorability of your actions. You're depraved, weak, you're a coward,' Madeline's father, Tyler Wallace, told Sterns in court. 'I can only hope that [Sterns] lives a long time in prison and has those same horrors visited upon him by his fellow inmates.' He also described his daughter as he took the stand alongside his wife, Tatiana, saying she was 'quirky and intelligent' as well as a 'joy to be around.' 'I just loved her so much and I was not able to be in her life as much as I would've liked to due to circumstances and choices I had made and the way finances worked,' he went on. He said the last time he saw his child was in October 2023, months before her 13th birthday. Once she turned 13, Madeline would have had a say in which parent she would live with. Wallace said his daughter told him she wanted to stay with him. 'I was this close to having my little girl,' Wallace said as he began choking up. The accused murder appeared stoic in court - keeping his gaze low in apparent acceptance of his fate. Sterns (pictured) quickly emerged as a 'prime suspect' in Madeline's February 2024 disappearance Jennifer Sterns (middle) did not attend Monday's hearing where Sterns (right) pleaded guilty to more than 20 sex charges pertaining to Madeline (left) While never addressing the heinous crimes, Sterns issued a statement about the young victim. 'I agree that it's not fair that Madeline is not hear anymore,' Sterns told the court. 'I still have a hard time contemplating a world where she's not around, a world that feels less vibrant and less colorful than it did before.' He also said he wished he could 'trade places' with Madeline. 'I have nothing but sorrow for her loss. And I miss her all the time. Her passing has torn me and my family apart as well and she truly was a joy,' Sterns told the court. 'And I apologize for all the pain.' Wallace's lawyer, Deborah Barra, told Click Orlando his family is at peace with the plea deal, as it is the first step in putting an end to the horrifying ordeal. 'In a case like this, there's never going to be any joy or happiness, there's not going to be a resolution where everybody is like "that's great,"' Barra told the outlet. 'But it is a matter of, "well what can you live with?"' Emotions ran high in the court room, as loved ones shared tear-jerking testimonies about the young girl (pictured: Tatiana and Tyler Wallace crying in court) Jennifer (left) reported her daughter (right) missing after she realized she never went to school that day State Attorney Monique Worrell also spoke out, writing in a statement: 'I want to extend my deepest condolences to the Soto family and everyone who loved Madeline. 'While nothing we do can bring Madeline back, I hope her family finds some measure of peace knowing that justice has been served.' Madeline was reported missing in Orlando on February 26, 2024. Her mother, Jennifer, realized something was wrong when she went to pick her up from school and she was not there. Sterns was allegedly supposed to drop Madeline off at Hunter's Creek Middle School and quickly became a 'prime suspect' in her disappearance. Four days after she was reported missing, her body was found in the woods close to where she disappeared from. Police believe Sterns strangled, molested and dumped Madeline. Her school bag was found dumped behind an apartment complex in Kissimmee. Investigators said they found child porn and evidence of Sterns abusing his longtime girlfriend's daughter as far back as 2022. Reform wants to bring back big strapping bobbies on the beat whom the public would fear. Party leader Nigel Farage said people out looking for trouble would think twice about committing a crime if they saw policemen they were scared of. And his first female MP, Sarah Pochin, said women police officers on patrol together looked vulnerable. The biggest pledge of Mr Farages plan to restore law and order to Britain is to recruit 30,000 more police over five years, at a cost of 10.5 billion. It would take the workforce from 147,000 in England and Wales, plus another 7,000 police community support officers who cannot make arrests, to almost 185,000. Latest figures show that women account for one in three officers nationwide. Mr Farage said: We will scrap all diversity, equality and inclusion roles, and we will aim for a higher and physically tougher standard of police officer on our streets. I think if British criminals slightly fear the police, that is a desirable place for us to be as a society. He told how an Army officer he knew who had served in Afghanistan had applied to join the police on his return but was told to come back next year because they were having trouble with their quotas. Reform leader Nigel Farage and MP Sarah Pochin have called for tougher police officers on the beat Nigel Farage said people out looking for trouble would think twice about committing a crime if they saw policemen they were scared of Reform's first female MP Sarah Pochin said female police officers on patrol together looked vulnerable Enough of all that rubbish. And in fact, on that theme, we would look very much to go to people who have served in the Armed Forces who we think would make ideal police officers, Mr Farage said. Asked if scrapping diversity roles would damage trust in policing, he said: No, I think we should fear police, just like as kids we would just be slightly respectful and maybe a touch fearful of school teachers when we were 11 years old or whatever. He said society needs that tiny little bit of fear and that for people out looking for trouble, and if they see, you know, a couple of big strapping police officers, theyll think, you know what, this might not be such a good idea. We need much, much tougher policing. Asked if some current officers should not be in their posts, he said: Were not going to sack police officers, were going to hire police officers. We just think that a better physical standard is needed. Ms Pochin, a former magistrate, told BBC Radio 5 Live: I would feel much safer with the two great big strapping police officers walking down my street. I never like to see actually two female police officers out together. I think they look vulnerable. Scrapping the 'tourist tax' could unlock a 3.7billion Brexit boost, ministers have been told. More than 400 business leaders have backed a Mail campaign to bring back the VAT refund scheme for foreign visitors, arguing it would encourage tourists to visit the UK. In a fresh plea, the Association of International Retail (AIR) has told the Government that scrapping the levy would make the UK 'the best place in the world for shopping' and support at least 73,000 new jobs in a Brexit victory. Bosses of firms including Boodles and F. Hinds called on Labour to urgently take a second look at the policy. Instead of spending money in Britain, tourists are flocking to Paris, Milan and Berlin, leaving these economies to reap the rewards at the UK's expense. But reinstating the exemption would mean the UK becomes the only European destination to offer rebates to 450 million EU customers, as well as tourists from elsewhere. Before the initiative was axed in 2021, tourists from outside the EU could receive a 20 per cent refund on purchases in the UK. Now the UK has left the EU and its customs union, EU residents would be able to shop tax-free alongside high-spenders from China and the US if the VAT exemption was restored. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been urged to prioritise boosting economic growth at this autumn's Budget amid fears last year's tax raid is stifling jobs and investment File image: More than 400 business leaders have backed a Mail campaign to bring back the VAT refund scheme for foreign visitors, arguing it would encourage tourists to visit the UK This would deliver an additional spend of at least 3.7billion, if VAT-free shopping by EU visitors was at the same level as Britons' spending in the EU last year. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been urged to prioritise boosting economic growth at this autumn's Budget amid fears last year's tax raid is stifling jobs and investment. Derrick Hardman, chair of AIR, which represents firms including Bicester Village and Heathrow Airport, said: 'With Britain no longer in the EU, we have the opportunity to become the best place in the world for shopping.' Michael Wainwright, chairman of luxury jeweller Boodles, said: 'We would encourage the Government to look at this urgently, as all the independent analysis... shows a new tax-free shopping scheme would more than pay for itself thanks to the extra spending that would be stimulated.' Campaign supporters include luxury brands Burberry, Mulberry and Harrods, as well as Primark and Marks & Spencer. A former Kentucky detective has been sentenced to just under three years in jail for using excessive force during the botched police raid which killed Breonna Taylor. Brett Hankison, who fired 10 shots during the raid but didn't hit anyone, was the only officer on the scene charged in the 26-year-old's death on March 13, 2020. He is the first person sentenced to jail time in the case, which rocked the city of Louisville and spawned weeks of street protests against police brutality at the time. US District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings sentenced Hankison on Monday, saying she was 'startled' that more people weren't injured in the raid. She rejected a US Department of Justice recommendation that the disgraced detective should be spared jail, saying this would not be 'appropriate'. Hankison was sentenced to 33 months in prison along with three years of supervised probation. He will not report directly to prison. Jennings said the Bureau of Prisons will determine where and when he starts his sentence. Meanwhile, outside the court, demonstrators clashed with police as they stopped traffic. It's unclear whether they were protesting Hankison's sentence or the Justice Department's move to try to spare him jail time. Taylor's aunt Bianca Austin was among four people detained at the scene amid the chaos. She is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment on July 22. Former Kentucky police officer Brett Hankison (pictured) has been sentenced to just under three years in prison for using excessive force during the botched raid in 2020 which killed Breonna Taylor. (Pictured: Hankison outside court in Louisville on Monday) Pictured: Breonna Taylor's aunt Bianca Austin is detained by police outside the federal courthouse where ex-Kentucky police officer Brett Hankison, was being sentenced Pictured: Breonna Taylor, who was shot dead during a botched police raid in 2020 Jennings expressed disappointment with federal prosecutors sentencing memo filed last week, saying the Justice Department treated Hankisons actions as 'an inconsequential crime,' and said the memo was 'incongruous and inappropriate.' Civil rights attorney Ben Crump also called the Justice Department recommendation 'an insult to the life of Breonna Taylor and a blatant betrayal of the jurys decision.' Crump previously helped Taylors family secure a $12 million wrongful death settlement against the city of Louisville, and he attended the hearing on Monday. After the sentence, Crump yelled to the crowd outside the courthouse, 'Say Her name.' The crowd yelled back: 'Breonna Taylor!' Hankison fired his weapon the night of the March 2020 botched drug raid, his shot flying through the walls of Taylor's apartment into a neighboring apartment without hitting or injuring anyone. The 26-year-old's death, along with the May 2020 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, sparked racial injustice protests nationwide that year. In this photo provided by WHAS-11 News, Breonna Taylor's aunt Bianca Austin is detained by police outside the federal courthouse where ex-Kentucky police officer Brett Hankison, convicted of using excessive force during the deadly Breonna Taylor raid, is taking place In this photo provided by WHAS-11 News, a protestor is seen detained by police outside the federal courthouse where ex-Kentucky police officer Brett Hankison, convicted of using excessive force during the deadly Breonna Taylor raid, was taking place Pictured: Breonna Taylor, who was shot dead during a botched police raid in 2020 Last week, the US Justice Department recommended no prison time for Hankison, in an abrupt about-face by federal prosecutors that angered critics after the department spent years prosecuting the former detective. The Justice Department, which has changed leadership under President Donald Trump since Hankison's conviction, said in a sentencing memo last week that 'there is no need for a prison sentence to protect the public' from Hankison. Federal prosecutors suggested time already served, which amounts to one day, and three years of supervised probation. Prosecutors at his previous federal trials aggressively pursued a conviction against Hankison, 49, arguing that he blindly fired 10 shots into Taylor's windows without identifying a target. Taylor was shot in her hallway by two other officers after her boyfriend fired from inside the apartment, striking an officer in the leg. Neither of the other officers was charged in state or federal court after prosecutors deemed they were justified in returning fire into the apartment. Louisville police used a drug warrant to enter the apartment, but found no drugs or cash inside. A separate jury deadlocked on federal charges against Hankison in 2023, and he was acquitted on state charges of wanton endangerment in 2022. In their recent sentencing memo, federal prosecutors wrote that though Hankison's 'response in these fraught circumstances was unreasonable given the benefit of hindsight, that unreasonable response did not kill or wound Breonna Taylor, her boyfriend, her neighbors, defendants fellow officers, or anyone else.' On Monday, the Louisville Metro Police Department arrested four people in front of the courthouse who it said were 'creating confrontation, kicking vehicles, or otherwise creating an unsafe environment.' FILE - Former Louisville Police officer Brett Hankison examines a document as he answers questions from the prosecution, March 2, 2022, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, Pool, File) In this photo provided by WHAS-11 News, a protestor is seen detained by police outside the federal courthouse where ex-Kentucky police officer Brett Hankison, convicted of using excessive force during the deadly Breonna Taylor raid, is taking place, Monday, July 21, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (Alyssa Newton/WHAS-11 News via AP) In this photo provided by WHAS-11 News, a protestor jumps on the hood of a Louisville Water truck outside the federal courthouse where ex-Kentucky police officer Brett Hankison, convicted of using excessive force during the deadly Breonna Taylor raid, is taking place, Monday, July 21, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (Alyssa Newton/WHAS-11 News via AP) Authorities didn't list the charges those arrested would face. 'We understand this case caused pain and damaged trust between our department and the community,' a police statement said. 'We particularly respect and value the 1st Amendment. However, what we saw today in front of the courthouse in the street was not safe, acceptable or legal.' A US Probation Office presentencing report had said Hankison should face a range of 135 to 168 months imprisonment on the excessive force conviction, according to the memo. But federal prosecutors said multiple factors - including that Hankison's two other trials ended with no convictions - should greatly reduce the potential punishment. The memorandum was submitted by Harmeet Dhillon, chief of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division and a Trump political appointee who in May moved to cancel settlements with Louisville and Minneapolis that had called for overhauling their police departments. In the Taylor case, three other ex-Louisville police officers have been charged with crafting a falsified warrant, but have not gone to trial. None were at the scene when Taylor was shot. President George W Bush was desperate to topple Saddam Hussein amid fears he might orchestrate a repeat of the 9/11 terror attacks, newly declassified records reveal. Private remarks from the US President in the months leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq underlined his commitment to ridding (the world) of evil-doers, according to the UKs ambassador in Washington. Sir Christopher Meyer said Americans broadly trusted President Bushs decision making on foreign policy, even if, in late 2002, the public were not keen to go to war with Saddam. Documents released to the National Archives in Kew hint at Tony Blairs initial reluctance to invade Iraq on the basis of Iraqi tyrant Husseins claim that it had destroyed its WMDs (weapons of mass destruction). And the Ministry of Defence (MOD) also warned there would be significant levels of internecine violence in the aftermath of any invasion. The UK joined the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, leading to Hussein being ousted, with images memorable of jubilant Iraqis toppling a statue of their overthrown former president in Baghdad. But an inquiry led by Sir John Chilcott later found Mr Blairs case for invasion was not justified, and that Hussein posed no imminent threat. Mr Blair stood by the decision to go to war - which many perceive to have tainted his modernist legacy - but apologised for mistakes made. US president George W Bush was desperate to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein amid fears he might orchestrate a repeat of the 9/11 terror attacks, newly declassified records reveal The UKs ambassador in Washington, Sir Christopher Meyer, wrote that 'much of the impulse for deposing Saddam Hussein comes from Bush himself. More than anything else he fears another catastrophic terrorist attack on the homeland, especially one with an Iraqi connection'. Pictured: Saddam Hussein in 1987 The UK under then prime minister Tony Blair (left) joined the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, leading to Hussein being ousted, but an inquiry led by Sir John Chilcott later found Mr Blairs case for invasion was not justified, and that Hussein posed no imminent threat President George W Bush took to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on May 2, 2003 to claim major combat operations in Iraq to be over, hailing it 'mission accomplished' - a phrase he later came to regret Hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center and explodes at 9.03am on September 11, 2001 in New York City The newly released documents show Sir Christopher, the UKs man in Washington, told Downing Street in December 2002 about President Bushs intentions - and his binary philosophy of good and evil. He wrote in an end-of-year dispatch: If Bush decides to invade Iraq in 2003, as looks increasingly likely, it will make or break his presidency. Much of the impulse for deposing Saddam Hussein comes from Bush himself. More than anything else he fears another catastrophic terrorist attack on the homeland, especially one with an Iraqi connection. His view of the world is Manichean. He sees his mission as ridding it of evil-doers. The files also reveal how Mr Blair had travelled to Camp David in January 2003 to urge President Bush to allow more time for diplomacy work. But Sir Christopher warned it had become politically impossible to draw back from war at this stage unless Hussein surrendered. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly bamboozled after spending millions on a love nest in Washington, only to learn that wife Cheryl Hines wants nothing to do with living in the capitol. The pair has been in the spotlight since Kennedy reportedly had a 'digital affair' with journalist Olivia Nuzzi. RFK Jr., 70, was eventually named Secretary of Health and Human Services after Donald Trump won the election and relocated to Washington. Earlier this year, he purchased a $4.34million town house in the city's Georgetown area in hopes that it could be a place for them to mend fences while Kennedy got to work 'Making America Healthy Again.' The home - billed as 'the epitome of ritzy Georgetown elegance' made sources believe Hines, 59, could see an end to Kennedy's 'lust demons' which led to his self-admitted past of pursuing other women. However, sources told The New York Post that Hines has 'no plans' to be 'a full-time political wife.' 'Bobby felt the house in Georgetown would mend their marital bridges,' an anonymous Kennedy ally said, with hopes of 'keeping their marriage alive and that the two could become Washingtons latest power couple.' The son of the former presidential candidate even 'swore to Cheryl there would be no more playing around with other women, and he restored Cheryls trust in him to keep it in his pants.' Robert F. Kennedy Jr . is reportedly bamboozled after spending millions on a love nest in Washington, only to learn that wife Cheryl Hines (pictured) wants nothing to do with living in the capitol The pair has been in the spotlight since Kennedy reportedly had a 'digital affair' with journalist Olivia Nuzzi However, Hines has no aspirations of becoming a 'political wife' and considers Washington a 'deadbeat town,' leading Kennedy to reportedly say he's 'been taken for a ride.' The liberal actress also is 'still not convinced Bobby should be working in the right-wing Republican Trump administration.' It's a change from what many believed was Hines' insistence on buying property in Washington. Even before Kennedy was confirmed as head of HHS, when the longtime Democrat was running as an Independent for president, Cheryl had begun hunting for a real estate agent in the nation's capital who handled upscale properties. When this spectacular row home came on the market about three months ago, she said she wanted it. 'She ordered Bobby to sign the papers for it,' the insider revealed. On the first floor of the grandiose colonial home is 'a dignified reception foyer housing the classic staircase and adjacent is the open concept formal living and dining room,' realtor Daniel Heider gushed in his description of the home. Earlier this year, he purchased a $4.34million town house in the city's Georgetown area in hopes that it could be a place for them to mend fences while Kennedy got to work 'Making America Healthy Again' Even before Kennedy was confirmed as head of HHS, when the longtime Democrat was running as an Independent for president, Cheryl had begun hunting for a real estate agent in the nation's capital who handled upscale properties It has a chef's dream kitchen of royal proportions featuring furniture-grade glass inset cabinetry, granite countertops and commercial-grade appliances including an industrial strength range. The great room, which usually serves as a multi-purpose communal room, has a wall of arched windows and twin arched glass doors that lead to the rear terrace, providing sanctuary away from its urban location. The second level is dedicated to the master suite, spanning the home's entire width, and overlooks 31st Street. The master suite has a fireplace, one of six in the home, with the suite having a 'fabulous' bath steam shower and cast iron tub. On the top level are two additional bedrooms, featuring private fireplaces and a shared bath. In the lower level, there's an additional bedroom suite, a wine cellar, a wet bar and a second laundry room. The seller, according to public records, agreed to pay for one year of Kennedy's parking on the lot of a nearby CVS, a block away from his new crib. Kennedy purchased the home for the full listing price of $4.34million, which had dropped from the previous listing price of $4.695million, as the home had been on the market for almost three months. Kennedy purchased the home for the full listing price of $4.34million, which had dropped from the previous listing price of $4.695million, as the home had been on the market for almost three months RFK Jr.'s present to his wife was given with a slight force of hand, according to sources, as she 'ordered Bobby to sign the papers for it'. Now, she'll be close to her hubby as the new home is a short 15 minute commute to the White House According to DC real estate records, the three-story, semi-detached home with parking on the 'verdant, tree-lined,' but heavily-trafficked Georgetown street is considered the 'embodiment of luxury city living'. The home, originally constructed at the turn of the 20th century, is just a block from the chic restaurants and trendy clothing shops on Wisconsin Avenue, and is just 15 minutes away from the White House. Last year, Kennedy, who had cheated on his first two wives, Emily Black and Mary Richardson who later committed suicide got caught up in a bizarre sexting scandal with a gorgeous New York magazine political reporter, half Kennedy's age, Olivia Nuzzi, 31. The Nuzzi affair was 'the last straw' for the Curb Your Enthusiasm star, who seemingly 'lost all trust in Bobby ever being monogamous', had threatened divorce and had been spotted without her wedding ring in the wake of the scandal, according to insiders. Nuzzi was last seen publicly in mid-October, just days before parting ways with the magazine, at a star-studded fashion event that honored 'trailblazing women.' Insiders told the New York Post the pair had engaged in 'sexting' despite RFK Jr. being married and Nuzzi being engaged to Politico's chief Washington correspondent Ryan Lizza, 50, at the time. Nuzzi said that in early 2024, the nature of some communication between herself and a former reporting subject turned personal. 'Earlier this year, the nature of some communication between myself and a former reporting subject turned personal,' Nuzzi said. Nuzzi, 32, parted ways with the magazine last October after they'd enlisted a law firm to conduct an investigation Nuzzi (pictured left) was last seen publicly in mid-October, just days before parting ways with the magazine, at a star-studded fashion event that honored 'trailblazing women' 'During that time, I did not directly report on the subject nor use them as a source,' she said. 'The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict. I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologize to those I've disappointed, especially my colleagues at New York.' New York magazine acknowledged an inappropriate relationship in a statement about Nuzzi's hiatus, deeming it 'a violation of the magazine's standards around conflicts of interest and disclosures'. 'Had the magazine been aware of this relationship, she would not have continued to cover the presidential campaign,' the statement read. Kennedy has adamantly denied any sort of relationship with Nuzzi. 'Mr. Kennedy only met Olivia Nuzzi once in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a hit piece,' his spokesman told CNN. A source added that the nature of the relationship was 'emotional and digital in nature, not physical'. In her profile Nuzzi, described meeting the former presidential candidate at the $7 million California home he shares with his wife. She painted a picture of RFK Jr. as an anti-establishment candidate, 'turning the presidential election upside down'. 'Fear and denial is what Kennedy seems to inspire among the staid Washington Establishment supporting the incumbent president and the gangland anti-Establishment Establishment supporting the former president,' she wrote. She touched on conflict in RFK Jr.'s marriage over his appearance on Steve Bannon's show and those of other right-wing personalities. 'Bannon was only the beginning. Poor Cheryl,' Nuzzi wrote. At the time the piece was published, RFK Jr. was in the election race as an independent candidate, but later dropped out, endorsed Trump and became HHS Secretary after he won. Nuzzi's last article, in which she described examining Trump's ear following the Butler assassination attempt, was published by the magazine on September 9. Since the exposure of the affair, Nuzzi and her ex-fiance Lizza, have entered a bitter court battle, in which Nuzzi accused her former partner of threatened violence and attempted to blackmail her. Lizza has adamantly denied the allegations made against him. In a statement shared with DailyMail.com, Lizza claimed: 'These allegations are disgraceful lies that Ms. Nuzzi has used to harass me for weeks in a coordinated defamation campaign. 'Her own catastrophic recklessness is solely responsible for the humiliation and ridicule she claims she has suffered. She is abusing protections meant for survivors of domestic violence to ruin my reputation in a last-ditch effort to salvage her own.' A male magistrate was overcome with emotion as he closed the inquest into the mysterious fatal stabbing of an Indian mum in a Sydney park. NSW Deputy State Coroner Magistrate David O'Neil found Prabha Kumar, 41, died from multiple stab wounds to the neck by a person or persons unknown on March 7, 2015 at Parramatta in Sydney's west. He formally recommended the matter be referred to the unsolved homicide squad for further investigation. His voice cracked as he thanked the murdered woman's family members, which included Ms Kumar's daughter Meghana, 21, who was watching from India, and the victim's sister and niece, Shubha and Aranya, who were in court. The coroner said that it was the 'heartfelt wish' of Ms Kumar's family 'that the perpetrator or perpetrators are brought to justice'. He said that of all the possible explanations for the murder - including a possible sex attack, racial assault or robbery - police consider it was most likely a targeted killing. Analysis of her clothing and bag discovered a mixed DNA profile - including hers and that of a male - on the front zip area of her backpack. The sample, named Profile D, did not match any on the national criminal investigation database. Prabha (pictured with husband Arun and daughter Meghana) had planned to return to India for a visit, and was unaware Arun was having a sexual relationship with another woman, KS Mystery DNA had been found on Ms Kumar's backpack after the deadly attack Following the inquest's conclusion, Homicide Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi re-appealed for information about the murder. NSW Police have now offered a $1million reward for any new leads that result in the arrest and conviction of her killer. The inquest heard a suspicious person 'dressed all in black' was seen both before and after the deadly attack, and was captured on CCTV footage that was played at the inquest on Monday. The coroner 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 her murder, 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. A group of teenage girls are lucky to be alive after an allegedly stolen car they were in crashed and flipped onto its roof in a ritzy Melbourne suburb. Police were called to Rooding Street in the bayside suburb of Brighton about 9.45pm on Monday following reports a black Subaru Forester had smashed into multiple parked vehicles and then rolled. The teenagers escaped the wreckage and fled on foot. Photos and footage showed the overturned Subaru on its roof in the middle of the road, which was strewn with broken glass and debris. Residents were seen inspecting the extensive damage to their vehicles after they had helped free the passengers from the wreckage. They claimed that up to eight teens may have been inside the car at the time, which was allegedly stolen in Carnegie, about 7km away, earlier in the night. Bottles of vodka were reportedly also found in the car. A jetlagged Sarah Cavalier and her family had just returned from their overseas holiday when they were woken by a massive bang outside their home. Brighton resident Sarah Cavalier (pictured) and her family were woken by the commotion An allegedly stolen Subaru Forrester (pictured) smashed into several parked vehicles before it overturned in the middle of the road in the affluent suburb of Brighton Her car was one of those hit by the Subaru. 'We all ran out and all of a sudden the car was literally right across the whole road and there were all these kids inside going "I need my phone", and they were carrying on and trying to get out,' Ms Cavalier told Sunrise. 'We're all saying, "it's alright, just get out of the car, everything is fine".' She had no idea the car had been allegedly stolen until the teens fled the scene. 'There's a massive power pole on one side, there's a tree on this side. If they'd hit that pole, there would have been somebody dead for sure,' Ms Cavalier said. 'I don't know how they didn't get seriously hurt.' Ms Cavalier, who has children of a similar age, said it was 'sad' and 'unbelievable' the teenagers were out on a Monday night. Three 13-year-old girls and one 17-year-old girl were arrested a short time later and transported to hospital with minor injuries. At least four teenage girls fled from the wreckage of the overturned Subaru Forester They were summoned to face a children's court at a later date. No other injuries were reported. The incident has renewed calls for a crackdown on youth crime in the affluent suburb, where many residents have been victims of home invasions, often stealing vehicles. 'It's not being treated as seriously as it should be,' a resident told the Herald Sun. 'The bail laws are just waffle (and) they aren't strong enough. They are out on the street again hours after all this happened.' One of Brighton's most famous residents, AFL WAG and socialite Bec Judd, has long criticised the state government's lax response to the crime epidemic. The girlfriend of Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer is set to embark on a 2million legal battle over privacy with his estranged wife. Dr Cat Jarman, 43, who has been dating the Earl for almost a year, issued a claim in the High Court against his third wife, Countess Karen Spencer, in October. The Norwegian archaeologist is accusing her of sharing private medical information, forcing her to reveal her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis in an interview. She previously claimed she had 'worked very hard indeed' to keep her condition a secret, including from Charles Spencer, 61, when they first started their relationship. When Ms Jarman initially brought legal action against Countess Spencer, details of her MS were still under wraps. But an interview with MailOnline last year saw her tell the world of a diagnosis which had left her 'utterly devastated'. On Monday, Master Mark Gidden heard that both parties in the dispute had agreed future estimated legal costs of more than 2m, The Telegraph reports. These amounted to 1,217,880 for the claimant, as confirmed by her barrister Kirsten Sjovoll. The girlfriend of Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer, Dr Cat Jarman, pictured right, is set to embark on a 2million legal battle over privacy with his estranged wife She issued a claim in the High Court against his third wife, Countess Karen Spencer, pictured in 2018, in October Meanwhile, the defendant's legal costs were 1,000,087 although the court did not hear how much Ms Jarman is suing the Earl's ex-wife for. Ms Sjovoll said the Countess's costs were 'excessively high' but Master Giddon disagreed, adding: 'To my mind, they are costs falling within a range that is to be expected.' Clara Hamer, representing Countess Spencer, said: 'Just on the big picture point ... when you're dealing with a case of this magnitude and the issues involved, that's not such a great gulf.' Ms Jarman's barrister suggested the defendant's costs were already more than half a million pounds and her opposite number admitted her client's tally stood at 511,404, while Jarman's were 329,365. But Ms Hamer added: 'The court is not a slave to comparison. Similar work in the hands of different legal teams may result in different costs.' In December, Ms Jarman told MailOnline: 'I'd worked very hard at making sure it stayed a secret. For six years, I had gone to great lengths to keep it hidden. None of my TV colleagues knew. Even Charles did not know. 'When you have a new partner, you have to gauge when and how to tell them something this huge, and I hadn't yet done so.' She added: 'I have Multiple Sclerosis. I was diagnosed eight years ago, when I was in the final stages of doing my PhD. Princess Diana kissing her brother, Viscount Althorp (later to become Earl Spencer) at the Birthright Red Ball in London in 1985 The Earl previously gushed about his 'respected' new partner Ms Jarman on Good Morning Britain 'I woke one morning with crippling pins and needles, shooting pains in my spine, as if I was being Tasered. I completely lost the power of my right hand I couldn't even hold a pen. My body simply stopped working. 'It took nine months to be able to use my hand again. I'm now on strong medication, and everything is kept at bay, but the problem with MS is that you live not knowing if you are going to have a relapse. 'My body could just stop working again tomorrow. It could be my eyesight, or my legs, or anything, or I could be fine for the rest of my life. There is no way of knowing.' Earl Spencer originally confirmed his relationship to Good Morning Britain two months earlier. He said: 'Cat Jarman, who is my partner now actually, she's a brilliant archaeologist. 'She is Nordic Person of the Year 2024 which is usually handed out to someone like Sven-Goran Eriksson or a composer or something. You have to be respected throughout all Scandinavian and Nordic countries.' Ms Jarman, who is separated from her husband, has been helping the Earl unearth a Roman villa in Althorp, the Spencer family estate in Northamptonshire. Since 2023, the pair have co-hosted The Rabbit Hole Detective, which is a historical podcast, alongside Reverend Richard Coles. Since 2023, the pair have co-hosted The Rabbit Hole Detective, which is a historical podcast, alongside Reverend Richard Coles The Countess has accused the Earl and Ms Jarman of trying to 'garner publicity for their relationship' using the press. She added that the MailOnline interview had been 'hopelessly inconsistent' with her claim. The defence reads: 'Deliberately disclosing the fact that she has MS to the world in a manner calculated to give it maximum publicity is not only entirely inconsistent with any claim to privacy, but it also nullifies the ostensible purpose of these proceedings.' The Countess has defended herself against Ms Jarman's accusations throughout. In June, the Earl revealed the 'immensely sad' news that he and his third wife Karen Gordon, 52, a Canadian philanthropist, were divorcing. The pair married in 2011 and Karen gave birth to his seventh child, Lady Charlotte, the following year. They married within the grounds of Althorp, where the Earl's older sister Princess Diana is buried. The couple had met the previous year on a blind date at a restaurant in Los Angeles. But their relationship is understood to have broken down amid the strain of him writing his harrowing memoir, A Very Private School, which details the abuse he suffered at boarding school. The 48th parliament opened with a Welcome to Country Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken about the importance of Welcome to Country ceremonies after one was performed at the official opening of Parliament. The 48th parliament officially opened on Tuesday, marking Mr Albanese's second term as prime minister after Labor's landslide election win, taking 94 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives. The official procession filed into the Great Hall of Parliament House before a Welcome to Country and traditional dances were performed. Indigenous Elder Violet Sheridan welcomed the assembled politicians to Ngunnawal land. 'To walk on Ngunnawal country is to accept responsibilities. It is not just about being here. It is about caring for this land,' Ms Sheridan said. 'As part of this welcome I offer you spiritual protection and safe passage. May you all walk gently, listen and carry the spirit of this country with you. 'May your journey on Ngunnawal country be of understanding, respect and shared purpose, guided by the values of care, connection and community.' Following the ceremony, Albanese said a Welcome to Country ceremony was a 'powerful way' to begin the new parliament. The 48th parliament officially opened on Tuesday, marking Mr Albanese's second term as prime minister, with a Welcome to Country Ceremony (pictured, Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Welcome to Country ceremony) Albanese claimed a Welcome to Country ceremony was an 'important' way to begin parliament and was a reminder of belonging and that Australians are 'stronger together' (pictured, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Ngunnawal elder Aunty Violet Sheridan) Albanese added the South Cross featured on the Australian flag was a reminder of the country's diversity 'Like a lot of the more positive things about our nation, we shouldn't take it for granted,' Albanese said. 'This ceremony didn't take place until 2007 and was controversial in 2007. It is not controversial today, nor should it be. 'It is a respectful way of us beginning our deliberations here in Canberra, which of course means meeting place. 'It is a reminder as well of why we all belong here together, that we are stronger together and we belong.' Albanese said Australia was a 'beautiful set of contradictions' that came together to create a unique country. 'Consider the beautiful set of contradictions that make up who we are. A youthful nation, yet one of the world's oldest democracies,' Albanese said. 'An ancient continent but one that we share with the world's oldest continuous culture. What an extraordinary privilege, what a source of pride for all Australians. 'We have so many facets and they come together to make a unique whole. They come together here on the ground, and they come together in the sky above us.' Albanese's partner Jodie Haydon shares a laugh with Aboriginal elder Violet Sheridan at a ceremony to mark the start of a new parliament following the election. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley urged MPs to let the Welcome to Country 'set the tone' for the next Parliament The Prime Minister noted that the Southern Cross constellation, which features on the Australian flag, had different interpretations and displays which reflected the country's diversity. He explained the International Astronomical Union formally recognised the constellation as the name given to it by the Wardaman people in the Northern Territory. 'To the Wardaman it represents a red dilly bag filled with special songs of knowledge,' Albanese said. 'It is an Australian star, a piece of ourselves reflected back at us from our great southern sky. It flies above us now on that giant flagpole at the top of this building. 'One more reminder that this country and this parliament is our great diversity of chapters coming together, and the Welcome to Country lets us touch the very beginning of the story, our story, the Australian story. 'In the 48th parliament, we write the next chapter. Let us do it with the same sense of grace and courage that First Nations people show us with their leadership.' Opposition Leader Sussan Ley urged MPs to let the Welcome to Country 'set the tone' for the next Parliament. 'As Australians, we share a story unlike any other, with an ancient culture - the oldest living in the world - rooted in land, language and story,' Ms Ley said. Albanese concluded his address, claiming the 48th parliament would write the next chapter for Australia and was hopeful it would do so with the same 'grace and courage' as the First Nations people A smoking ceremony was held in the forecourt of Parliament house following the official opening (pictured) 'A democratic inheritance brought from afar but grounded in Australian values. 'A modern nation shaped by people from every part of the world, united by the belief that this country gives you a fair go and a chance at a better life.' Following the official opening, a smoking ceremony was held in the forecourt of Parliament house. Members of the Lower House and the Senate will take part in the day's remaining formal proceedings from their respective chambers. Labor's decision to put a plaque beneath Mark Latham's portrait in the federal caucus room, declaring that his 'actions do not accord with Labor values', isn't brave. It also isn't principled. It's purely performative. A belated, sanitised act of virtue signalling that seeks to retroactively exile someone whom the party actually expelled back in 2017. Let's be clear: Latham's descent into reactionary populism, his inflammatory rhetoric and now the serious allegations against him (which he denies) mark him as a deeply divisive political figure. Repugnant even. He has taken public swipes at former colleagues, journalists, and, yes, even me. No tears are being shed here in defence of Latham the politician. But this is precisely why Labor's move reeks of cowardice, not courage. The party already expelled him eight years ago for joining a rival party, not for anything he said or did in the years since. Latham's portrait remained hanging all of that time. Now, suddenly, as vile allegations surface (yet remain untested, don't forget) the party moves to editorialise history. It isn't leadership, it's opportunism with a halo. Worse, the moral consistency of the gesture collapses under the weight of its own hypocrisy. If Labor is now in the business of annotating history, where's the plaque under Arthur Calwell's portrait: the former Labor leader who infamously said 'two Wongs don't make a White' while enforcing the White Australia Policy as Immigration Minister? Calwell was a Labor leader too. Are we to believe that racist policy, proudly defended at the time, is more tolerable on the walls of the caucus room than Latham's political apostasy? No plaque to clarify that modern Labor doesn't agree with Calwell's actions all those years ago? And why stop there? Gough Whitlam approved Indonesia's bloody invasion of East Timor. Should a plaque beneath his portrait acknowledge the thousands killed under tacit Australian approval? Bob Hawke's well-documented womanising and personal indiscretions: do they not 'fail to meet the standards we expect and demand'? Or is selective morality acceptable so long as the subjects remained loyal to the party - in contrast to Latham? If that's the logic, what about Billy Hughes? A Labor leader and PM in 1915 who was expelled from the party, formed a breakaway party with a group of defecting Labor MPs before switching sides and becoming a conservative Prime Minister. He was the ultimate political rat, yet Hughes doesn't get the Latham plaque treatment under his photo noting his expulsion. If Labor is now in the business of annotating history, where's the plaque under Arthur Calwell's portrait: the former Labor leader who infamously said 'two Wongs don't make a White' while enforcing the White Australia Policy as Immigration Minister? writes Peter van Onselen Gough Whitlam approved Indonesia's bloody invasion of East Timor. Should a plaque beneath his portrait acknowledge the thousands killed under tacit Australian approval? What about Bob Hawke's well-documented womanising and personal indiscretions: do they not 'fail to meet the standards we expect and demand'? Billy Hughes was the ultimate political rat - yet there's no plaque for him! Do I even need to move into the state political sphere to outline the many former Labor leaders there who have disgraced themselves over the years in all manner of ways, yet their pictures continue to hang without disclaimers? Labor's decision to editorialise one leader's image while ignoring the moral failings or controversies of others isn't a statement of values; It's a signal to the culture warriors that Labor, too, can take part in the great historical sanitisation effort of our times. In this case, literally framing the past with a modern disclaimer. The Stalin reference made by Latham when responding to the move on social media might have been flippant, but it's not without merit. On X he wrote: 'Can't the Labor caucus go the full Stalin and white me with a trace around my head? Or replace that boring head shot with what (the media) says is my harem?' Stalin famously had political enemies erased from photos, a crude tinkering of history dressed up as loyalty to the party line. Labor isn't going that far, but the instinct is eerily similar. Rewrite the past. Cleanse the wall. Send a message. Gallagher says 'you can't erase history', but the plaque does exactly that. It reframes Latham's time as leader not for what it was (a failed but electorally serious 2004 tilt at government) but for what he became long afterwards. It renders the wall not a record of history, but a curated moral museum where every subject must pass a retrospective purity test. Except they target only Latham, because other ex-leaders with failings have stayed loyal to the Labor brand. This is the same slippery logic (unevenly distributed) that animates the statue-toppling fervour seen across the activist left in recent years. Tear down monuments to flawed figures, rename buildings, revise curricula. Not to better understand history, but to morally dominate it. A note condemning Latham's behaviour has been added to his Parliamentary portrait (bottom right) 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 It's less about acknowledging the complexities of those who came before, and more about projecting the righteousness of those who came after. It also raises an obvious question: if these values really mattered so deeply, why did it take until 2025 to finally act? Latham was expelled in 2017 for defecting to the Liberal Democrats. His political memoir that came out shortly after he resigned from the leadership in 2005 was utterly scathing. The plaque makes no mention of any of that, instead implying that his 'actions' - undefined but clearly referencing recent untested allegations - were the reason. If so, that's even worse: Labor has effectively pre-judged a matter that remains before the legal system, choosing to morally condemn someone before the process of justice has run its course. But are we surprised? And what of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's own history with Latham? On his personal website, Albanese still proudly displays a 2005 parliamentary speech delivered after Latham's retirement. He calls Latham 'a great political figure', also praising his commentary, even reflecting fondly on their time together. If the caucus room now requires plaques of moral distancing, should the PM's own website also come with a trigger warning? If not, why not? The contradictions pile up, and it's not just Labor. Look no further than the Greens, who are in the process of expelling their co-founder, Drew Hutton, over controversial comments about trans issues. The current leader supports the move, while former Greens leaders Bob Brown and Christine Milne oppose it. A minor party that once prided itself on diversity of opinion has found itself unable to tolerate one of its own foundational thinkers, because his views no longer align with modern orthodoxy. Again, no defence of the comments, but it's worth noting how quickly today's progressive movements exile yesterday's heroes. This is the deeper problem: a political culture so fixated on moral branding that it can't distinguish between disagreement and heresy, between history and endorsement, between symbolism and substance. No one is arguing that Latham deserves celebration. I'm certainly not. But nor does he need to be ritually disavowed with a plaque designed to placate those whose only political muscle comes from policing the past. Certainly not as a knee-jerk reaction to allegations yet to be formally tested. If he no longer represents Labor values, let that be evident in the record, in how the party governs, not how it curates its party room. Labor's latest move is not leadership, it's theatrics masquerading as virtue. Double child killer Colin Pitchfork could be back on the streets by Christmas as he is set to make his latest bid for freedom. Pitchfork was jailed for life in 1988 after raping and strangling two 15-year-olds, Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, in Leicestershire in 1983 and 1986. Then aged 27, he became the first man to be convicted in the UK using DNA profiling and was handed a minimum jail term of 30 years, later reduced to 28 years. Pitchfork, now 64, was initially released from prison in September 2021, but was back behind bars two months later after breaching his licence conditions when he approached a lone woman while litter-picking. He is now set to tell a Parole Board panel of experts that he is no longer a risk to the public when he pleads his case in October, The Mirror reported. If successful, the convicted killer could be freed within a matter of weeks. His upcoming hearing was delayed from last year and will be held at a date in October. Pitchfork previously lost a High Court bid to challenge Parole Board decisions over an allegation that he sexually assaulted another prisoner. Mugshot of Colin Pitchfork, the first murderer convicted and jailed using DNA evidence Dawn Ashworth's body was discovered dumped in the corner of a field hidden under branches in Enderby Lynda Mann, 15, was brutally murdered as she made her way home from babysitting in Narborough Barbara Ashworth, 79, mother of his victim Dawn said she would not be attending this latest hearing. She said: 'I've always attended parole hearings but I can't do it this time. I've spent too long getting angry about Pitchfork. I can't keep living with it. 'It was Dawn's birthday at the end of June and it's nearly the anniversary of her death on July 31. I can't tell you how difficult it is to deal with. 'But I'll say what I always say: he should die in prison, they need to throw away the key. He's a danger to the public, he always will be.' The latest hearing, due to take place in private, is expected to last three days. In June last year, the Parole Board found the decision to recall Pitchfork to prison was flawed and said his detention was no longer necessary for public safety. But this ruling was blocked by then-justice secretary Alex Chalk as he called for the decision to release Pitchfork to be reviewed. Although Pitchfork lost his latest bid for freedom in December, earlier this year he successfully challenged the ruling to keep him behind bars. Convicted child killer Pitchfork is seen walking in a local park near young families after his release in 2021 It means this upcoming parole hearing, which was originally due to be held in public, will decide if he can be freed from jail. Parole Board hearings are typically conducted behind closed doors but can, in certain circumstances, take place in public following changes in the law in a bid to remove the secrecy behind the process. According to a document outlining the decision to have Pitchfork's case heard in public, the Parole Board said he had changed his name by deed poll a number of times since his conviction due to an apparent 'desire to protect his identity given the public reaction to his offences and his potential release'. The name he is currently using has not been disclosed. Pitchfork's first application for parole was rejected after it emerged that he had been loitering in forests and parks, even approaching lone women during his spell of freedom. He had been released under ultra-strict licence conditions in June 2021 before being recalled to prison just three months later in September that year. The killer became eligible for release again in June 2023 but the decision was blocked by the government after pressure from MP Alberto Costa, who represents South Leicestershire where the vile crimes were committed. The double child-rapist and murderer successfully appealed the December 2023 decision to keep him behind bars triggering a fresh parole hearing this summer. Pitchfork raped and murdered Dawn Ashworth (pictured) three years after his first attack Lynda Mann (pictured) who was raped and murdered by Pitchfork in 1983 when she was just 15 Mr Costa previously wrote to Parole Board chair Caroline Corby calling for the hearing to be held in public due to his concerns about how the Parole Board has handled Pitchfork's case. During the Parole Board hearing last year, in which Pitchfork's bid for release was rejected, previously unknown details about why he had been recalled to prison came to light. After his release in a town on England's south coast, on one occasion the monster was spotted by his parole officer approaching a lone female - a direct contravention of his licence term - in the car park directly outside his parole office. On a different occasion Pitchfork shouted at a parole officer after trying to cheat a polygraph test by controlling his breathing. During the December hearing the Parole Board was told that prior to Pitchfork's arrest in 1987 he held 'deviant fantasies', felt entitled to sex where and when he wanted, and enjoyed sexual violence against women. The board's decision to deny his release was because of a lack of information about Pitchfork's current attitudes towards sex and 'protracted and inconsistent explanations from the killer as to why he was recalled to prison'. Pitchfork killed Lynda in Narborough, Leicestershire, in November 1983, and Dawn in the nearby village of Enderby in July 1986. Lynda was brutally murdered as she made her way home from babysitting in Narborough. Volunteers take tests to help police find the murderer of Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, January 5, 1987 Artist's file impression of Colin Pitchfork appealing the length of his sentence at the Court of Appeal in London on June 20, 2021 Dawn disappeared three years later while on a short walk to her home in Enderby. Her body was discovered dumped in the corner of a field hidden under branches. Pitchfork was arrested on September 19 1987 and sentenced to life imprisonment the following January after pleading guilty to both murders, with the judge giving him a 30-year minimum term, later reduced to 28 years on appeal. He was also convicted of having sexually assaulted two more girls, including a 16-year-old who he threatened with a screwdriver and a knife. A Parole Board spokesperson said: 'An oral hearing has been listed for the parole review of Colin Pitchfork and is scheduled to take place in October 2025. 'Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community. 'A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims. 'Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing. 'Evidence from witnesses including probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements are then given at the hearing. 'The prisoner and witnesses are then questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more. 'Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care. Protecting the public is our number one priority.' Two of Australia's top female barristers have denied being engaged by Mark Latham's ex-girlfriend to deal with the ongoing fallout over her toxic relationship with the NSW independent MP. Nathalie Matthews claimed in a text message to Daily Mail Australia on Monday morning she was now being represented by defamation specialist Sue Chrysanthou SC and top prosecutor turned criminal defence barrister Margaret Cunneen SC. However both lawyers have told Daily Mail Australia they are not working for Ms Matthews. Ms Chrysanthou has acted for television presenter Lisa Wilkinson, billionaires Lachlan Murdoch and Gina Rinehart, Academy Award-winner Geoffrey Rush and former radio broadcaster Alan Jones. Her political clients have included Victorian state Liberal MP Moira Deeming and One Nation senator Pauline Hanson - Latham's leader when he was still a member of her political party. Ms Cunneen is a former deputy senior Crown prosecutor who has regularly appeared in high-profile cases, particularly sexual assault matters, since embarking on private practice in 2019. Ms Chrysanthou told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday she was not acting for Ms Matthews 'and my chambers has no record of any such brief'. Ms Cunneen said she had been offered the Matthews case but declined because she was too busy. Two of Australia's top female barristers have denied being engaged by Mark Latham's ex-girlfriend Nathalie Matthews (above) to represent her during the ongoing fallout over her toxic relationship with the NSW independent MP A source close to Ms Matthews said she had instructed a new firm of solicitors on Monday and it was likely there had been a 'misunderstanding' regarding Ms Cunneen and Ms Chyrsanthou. 'She seeks to brief senior counsel,' the source said. 'Maybe there was a crossing of the purposes. There would not have been an intention to mislead. 'When solicitors are talking to a client a lot of names are mentioned. Maybe she got it wrong about formally briefing as opposed to an intention to brief.' Ms Matthews, 37, claims Latham, 64, inflicted 'a sustained pattern' of psychological, financial and emotional abuse over almost three years. She is seeking an apprehended violence order against the former federal Labor leader, alleging he committed vile acts 'including defecating on me before sex and refusing to let me wash'. Latham's lawyer Zali Burrows served WiseTech global billionaire Richard White and Ms Matthews with subpoenas related to the AVO application on Friday. The subpoena requested emails, text messages, and OnlyFans direct messages between Mr White and Ms Matthews, who connected on LinkedIn in 2023. Mr White is not accused of any wrongdoing and this publication is not suggesting Mr White and Ms Matthews engaged in a sexual relationship, only that Latham joked about her performing a sex act on the businessman. Nathalie Matthews claimed in a text message to Daily Mail Australia on Monday morning she was now being represented by defamation specialist Sue Chrysanthou SC, pictured with Lisa Wilkinson Daily Mail Australia revealed Ms Matthews' past as an OnlyFans content creator last week. She posted graphic images and videos of herself under the suggestive name Bondi C** Sl** from 2019 to 2023. Ms Matthews declined to comment on her OnlyFans past but her previous lawyer told Daily Mail Australia her client 'has been subjected to character assassination, reputational damage and trial by media'. Sexually explicit WhatsApp messages between Latham and Ms Matthews were made public by The Daily Telegraph last week. Latham told Daily Mail Australia the outlet's reproduction of the messages was 'not accurate'. The messages included a series of lewd exchanges on February 20, 2025, during parliamentary sitting hours. 'Very hard thinking about you,' Latham wrote to Ms Matthews shortly after 11am that day, before following up with a series of suggestive emojis. 'Need badly to taste you,' he wrote that afternoon, alongside a tongue emoji. 'Made it back for first vote after dinner,' Latham wrote at 8.38pm. Ms Matthews claims Latham (above) inflicted 'a sustained pattern' of psychological, financial and emotional abuse against her for almost three years Having generally limited his comments to posts on X or interviews on radio station 2SM, Latham directly addressed the unfolding sex scandal in a press conference on Saturday. Latham said what he has called his 'situationship' with Ms Matthews ended on May 27 after the Australian Turf Club members voted against the sale of Rosehill racecourse. Both of them are racing enthusiasts and Latham claimed that night Ms Matthews was covered in mud when she allegedly confronted him. 'This was like something from World War Z,' he said. '[But] one thing's abundantly clear - what we had for over two years was a sexed-up, consensual, open arrangement between adults with a fair bit of other contacts, such as fun days of the races, thrown in. I didn't make any moral judgment about her.' Latham went on to say the pair shared a consensual relationship, adding that 'probably 95 per cent of the things she's complaining about, she initiated'. 'So the media disease here... is to take this stuff which is not rational, not true, from someone who... is obviously not thinking clearly about anything and exploit her for these salacious smutty stories that you run about someone's sex life,' he said. Latham did not deny accusations he had sex with Ms Matthews in his parliamentary office, saying people could 'write whatever they like'. 'Members of parliament are allowed to run their own office,' Latham said. 'These are not matters of public interest but the truth is, members of parliament have privilege for whatever happens in their office. It is their own domain.' Latham said the subpoenas requesting communications between Mr White and Ms Matthews had not been intended to intimidate her, as she had alleged. Instead, Latham insisted he wanted access to those communications to test Ms Matthews' allegations that he had made her have sex with other men. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting the abuse claims against Latham are true, only that they have been alleged by Ms Matthews. The court date for a childcare worker accused of abusing eight children has been pushed back to next year following an application from prosecutors. A magistrate has granted police more time to gather evidence against alleged paedophile Joshua Dale Brown, with the next hearing listed for February 10. The childcare worker did not appear for a brief hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, when prosecutors applied to extend his committal mention date. Brown was in charged in May with more than 70 offences relating to the alleged abuse of eight children in his care. The 26-year-old worked at 20 childcare centres across Melbourne between January 2017 and May 2025, Victoria Police say. Magistrate Donna Bakos on Tuesday set December 4 as the deadline for the prosecution's brief of evidence to be served to the defence, and a February 10 hearing date. She accepted that detectives needed more time for their investigation and that it was likely more charges would be laid. Brown's barrister, Rishi Nathwani KC, did not oppose the extension application, telling the court he also needed more time to assess the case. Accused pedophile Joshua Dale Brown won't face court again until next year, after a magistrate gave police more time to gather evidence against him He did fight against charge sheets being released to the media, arguing it was too early given the investigation was ongoing. 'Given the high-profile nature already, it would be terribly unfortunate if charges were released prematurely,' Mr Nathwani told the court. But Ms Bakos noted the charges were on the public record and she was not prepared to restrict access. 'Fair and accurate reporting at this stage requires the nature of the charges to be released,' she said. Federal agents in Florida have arrested Pierre Reginald Boulos, a well-known Haitian businessman, doctor and former presidential hopeful. ICE released a statement on Monday saying they detained Boulos, 68, on Thursday for 'engaging in a campaign of violence and gang support'. An anonymous official familiar with the arrest said agents detained the lawful permanent resident at his home in Miami. Boulos was born in the US but renounced his citizenship to run for the president of Haiti in recent years. He obtained his permanent residency status last year under the Biden administration. ICE said on Monday that Boulos was detained for 'violating the Immigration and Nationality Act contributing to the destabilization of Haiti'. 'The Department of State determined that Boulos presence or activities in the United States would have potential serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States, providing a basis for the charge of removability,' the statement reads. 'Specifically, officials determined that he engaged in a campaign of violence and gang support that contributed to Haiti's destabilization.' Federal agents in Miami have arrested Pierre Reginald Boulos (pictured), a well-known Haitian businessman, doctor and former presidential hopeful The arrest occurred at Boulos' home in South Florida late last week, a source said ICE has also accused Boulos of 'failing to disclose his involvement in the formation of a political party in Haiti' in his application to become a lawful permanent resident of the US. In 2019 Boulos created the Third Way Movement, a political party opposing the 'shameless elite and the unscrupulous politicians who are working to bog down the country and increase the suffering of the people,' he said at the time, per local media. The party promptly stated it would seek 'a historic political compromise that would facilitate the negotiated departure from power of Jovenel Moise.' ICE also accused Boulos of failing to disclose 'that he was referred for prosecution by the Haitian government for allegedly 'misusing loans', which he has previously denied. Boulos is the most high-profile Haitian arrested to date by ICE agents. An attorney for Boulos could not be immediately reached for comment. He is being held at Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami, a detention center that Human Rights Watch said in a recent report is one of three in Florida that are grossly over capacity and 'flagrantly violate international human rights standards.' Boulos founded several businesses while in Haiti, where he served as president of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Boulos visited Haiti's central region in August 2019 as he rallied for support for his political party. 'I am part of the system that must be destroyed,' he was quoted as saying by Le Nouvelliste newspaper. 'I know how to destroy it.' Moise served as president from 2017 until he was gunned down at his private residence in July 2021. Dozens of suspects were arrested, including seventeen former Colombian soldiers who are still being interrogated by Haitian authorities. Boulos was born in the United States but renounced his citizenship to run for president of Haiti in recent years. He obtained his US residency last year under the Biden administration The arrest comes as the Trump administration seeks to end legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians after announcing it would revoke such protections for those who arrived in the US under a humanitarian parole program Pictured: Haitian policemen enter the compound where the men suspected of murdering President Moise were being held in July 2021 Court documents have stated that those involved in the plot included Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a pastor, doctor and failed businessman who envisioned himself as Haiti's new leader. Elections have not been held since Moise was killed. Gang violence surged in the political vacuum that ensued, and Boulos soon returned to the US. The arrest comes as the Trump administration seeks to end legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians after announcing it would revoke such protections for those who arrived in the U.S. under a humanitarian parole program. Rod Joseph, a Haitian-American running for US Congress, said he has been working with the administration to avoid deporting people 'just for the fun of it.' 'If the president goes after criminals, no one is against that,' he said on Monday. 'But if you deport someone who doesn't commit any crime who's here seeking a better life, this is when we start having issues with the practice.' A Qantas flight has been forced to turn back to Mildura after suffering technical issues shortly after takeoff. Sources said the plane had 'lost hydraulics on its wing flaps'. The QF2079 flight from Mildura to Melbourne took off at about 10:40am on Tuesday with 63 people on board. Soon after, the pilots realised something was wrong and made a plan to safely land the plane. The pilots completed a series of circuits so the plane could dump fuel and lighten its load before executing a priority landing at Mildura. 'One of our aircraft had to return to Mildura shortly after take-off on Tuesday due to a technical issue,' Qantas said. 'Our pilots are highly trained to handle situations like this, and the flight has since landed safely in Mildura. 'We appreciate this would have been an unsettling experience for customers and thank them for their understanding.' A Qantas flight from Mildura to Melbourne had to make a priority landing when it faced technical issues shortly after take off Qantas flight QF2079 from Mildura to Melbourne took off at about 10:40am on Tuesday when pilots were forced into a series of circuits before making the priority landing before 12pm Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria and Fire Rescue Victoria crews were on the ground at the airport as part of standard procedures for priority landings. It is understood the Q400 aircraft taxied to the airport gate under its own power and passengers disembarked. FlightRadar showed the aircraft made a series of circuits above the airport before landing around 12pm. 'Police along with other emergency services were called to an airport in Mildura following reports of an aircraft incident just after 11am, where it appears there was an issue with the aircraft,' Police said. 'The plane landed safely, the pilot and passengers weren't injured.' In cases where only one hydraulic system fails, the impact on the aircraft is usually minimal, and the plane can continue to fly and even auto-land without significant issues. However, when two hydraulic systems fail which is a rare occurrence the aircraft can still be flown manually but without autopilot and with reduced functionality. Two hydraulic system failures generally lead to a longer landing distance, as some components including spoilers, normal braking and flaps might not be operational. Qantas engineers are set to inspect the aircraft before it is cleared to return to service. The airline was also arranging alternative flights to Melbourne for customers. Ghislaine Maxwell's brother said the convicted sex offender believes she's at 'great risk' after Donald Trump's FBI and DOJ claimed the billionaire pedophile killed himself. Last week, DailyMail.com revealed exclusively that Epstein's long-time girlfriend and right-hand woman Maxwell, 63, is willing to speak in front of Congress about The Epstein Files. Now, her brother Ian is revealing her sister's frame of mine in the wake of the botched release of the files. Ian Maxwell communicates regularly with her sister in jail on the phone and told The Times she fears for her safety. 'Prisons are very dangerous places and we know from Ghislaine that there are serious staff shortages and more dangerous higher-risk-category prisoners now being admitted to Tallahassee,' said Maxwell. 'For sure she remains at great, if not greater, risk and has expressed her real concerns about this to me.' He also said his older sister believes that Epstein may have been murdered, contradicting the DOJ and FBI's belief in the official theory that he committed suicide. 'There were certainly a number of convicted murderers on the wing in [Metropolitan Correctional Center] New York where Epstein died,' Maxwell said. Ghislaine Maxwell's (pictured) brother said the convicted sex offender believes she's at 'great risk' after Donald Trump 's FBI and DOJ claimed the billionaire pedophile killed himself Ian Maxwell (pictured right) communicates regularly with her sister in jail on the phone and told The Times she fears for her safety 'The contemporaneous investigation of Epstein's death was cut short, cursory and frankly shoddy, certainly as regards the duty guards' story the night he died. At least one distinguished, independent forensic pathologist concurred with the Epstein family-appointed pathologist that homicide was more likely than suicide,' he added. He added that the pathologist from the New York Medical Examiner's office never examined the body. 'I think despite the DOJ memo concluding that Epstein died by suicide, there must remain serious doubts and the jury remains out about that.' Ian Maxwell's take was that President Trump and others would be 'pleased' by the suicide verdict. 'The principal casualties here are truth and justice and my sister's freedom,' he said. 'That's the reality and it should make all right-thinking people seethe with anger. We remain ever hopeful that the truth of the 'hoax', as President Trump now refers to it, comes out.' Ian Maxwell also 'welcomes total discourse' and the complete public release of the FBI files. Maxwell, 63, is the only person behind bars - serving 20 years on child sex trafficking charges - despite the fact that pedophile Jeffrey Epstein allegedly controlled a web of underage girls. Ian Maxwell's take was that President Trump (pictured right) and others would be 'pleased' by the suicide verdict 'For sure she remains at great, if not greater, risk and has expressed her real concerns about this to me,' Maxwell said of his sister (pictured in 1991) Additionally, Epstein's victims alleged they were passed around as sex toys to his wealthy friends and billionaire business associates who regularly visited his homes including his private island, Little Saint James. A source said: 'Despite the rumors, Ghislaine was never offered any kind of plea deal. She would be more than happy to sit before Congress and tell her story. 'No-one from the government has ever asked her to share what she knows. She remains the only person to be jailed in connection to Epstein and she would welcome the chance to tell the American public the truth.' What that 'truth' is remains to be seen. Maxwell was convicted in 2022 over her role in a scheme to sexual exploit and abuse multiple minor girls with Epstein over the course of a decade. Maxwell argues she should have been protected from prosecution as part of a Non Prosecution Agreement made by Epstein - her former lover and boss - in 2007 when he agreed to plead guilty to two minor charges of prostitution in a 'sweetheart deal' which saw him spend little time behind bars. And now, controversy continues to rage over the Department of Justice's statement that there is no Epstein 'client list' and the release of videos from inside New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center which the DOJ says proves he committed suicide in 2019 while being held in jail on sex trafficking charges. Critics have pointed to the fact that there is a crucial minute missing from the jail house video that also does not show the door or, indeed, the inside of Epstein's jail cell. The scandal - and alleged 'cover up' - has prompted a rebellion amongst President Trump's loyal MAGA base. Some even believe Attorney General Pam Bondi should be fired after promising to release all files relating to Epstein and his high-profile male friends only to apparently renege on that promise. Ian Maxwell also 'welcomes total discourse' and the complete public release of the FBI files On Saturday night, President Trump posted a rebuttal to accusations of a cover-up on social media site Truth Social saying: 'For years, it's Epstein, over and over again. Why are we not giving publicity to files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan and the losers and criminals of the Biden administration?' The Epstein 'cover-up' was also a main topic of conversation among attendees of this weekend's Student Action Summit in Tampa, Florida, hosted by the conservative group Turning Point USA , an organization many credit with rallying Trump's young base before last year's presidential election. Sharon Allen, an attendee, told NBC News: 'It's not even about Pam Bondi to me. It's like, look, Trump, we elected you because you were supposed to be different. So you have to prove to us you're different.' A source close to Maxwell told Daily Mail that the former girlfriend of Epstein - who continues to protest her innocence - would 'welcome the chance to sit in front of Congress and tell her story'. The source said: 'Congressional hearings have been held into everything from JFK's assassination to 9/11. The Epstein Files rank up there with those cases. Ghislaine would be willing to speak before Congress and tell her story.' Maxwell is also fighting to have her appeal heard by the Supreme Court. On July 14, lawyers for the US government will submit their response to her plea for the Supreme Court to take up her case. President Trump's former 'First Buddy' Elon Musk sensationally claimed there is a cover-up because Trump is mentioned in the Epstein Files, something sources close to Maxwell say 'is a false flag.' 'President Trump was photographed with Epstein several times and they ran in the same circles but Trump was one of the first to break all contact with Epstein because they fell out over a business deal and Epstein's treatment of women,' the informed source said. Maxwell, 63, is the only person behind bars - serving 20 years on child sex trafficking charges - despite the fact that pedophile Jeffrey Epstein allegedly controlled a web of underage girls. Now a source said: 'Despite the rumors, Ghislaine was never offered any kind of plea deal. She would be more than happy to sit before Congress and tell her story. 'There are no big shocks about President Trump in the Epstein Files. But there are a lot of powerful men involved and a lot of money and it will come down to following the money. The Department of Justice has said no-one else is likely to be prosecuted in relation to the Epstein case, including Britain's Prince Andrew who was accused by Virginia Giuffre, of allegedly sleeping with her when she was 17 and underage. Prince Andrew has consistently and vehemently denied all charges against him and settled a civil lawsuit with Giuffre with no admission of wrongdoing. Giuffre committed suicide earlier this year. The San Francisco Bay Area is plummeting into a concerning new 'doom loop' as the region's rapidly aging population threatens its economic stability. San Francisco is seeing an influx of older residents, resembling the demographics of Tampa and Miami, Florida, where retirees are known to flock. With the California hot spot's median age on the rise - more quickly than anywhere else in the US - worries about San Francisco's financial future have emerged. There are now less young people contributing to the economy by working, renting or simply going out, and industries across all sectors are feeling the burn. Having older residents also means many of them will be dependent on Social Security checks, increasing the federal burden in the region. And while San Francisco is facing the brunt of this unrelenting combination of factors, experts warn metros across the country are at the same risk. 'The aging thing might be the most important thing happening in American society that people arent paying attention to enough,' urbanism expert Richard Florida, a professor at the University of Toronto, told the San Francisco Chronicle. 'And, in places like the Bay Area where everythings so expensive, its arguably even more important.' The San Francisco Bay Area is plummeting into a concerning new 'doom loop' as the region's rapidly aging population threatens its economic stability (pictured: an aerial shot of the city of San Francisco) With the California hot spot's median age on the rise - more quickly than anywhere else in the US - worries about San Francisco's financial future have emerged (pictured: a residential part of the Bay Area) The cost of living in San Francisco is roughly 67 percent higher than the national average, according to Rent Cafe data. Reporters from the SF Chronicle ventured to various parts of the Bay Area to gauge the extent of this economic demise. Berkeley, once a bustling neighborhood home to UC Berkeley, is now categorized as 'a retirement community' of mainly single-family homes. Despite the surrounding neighborhood, UC Berkeley's enrollment rates have been steadily increasing over the past several years, according to the university. In Sonoma County, the number of children had plunged 35 percent over the past 10 years, the outlet reported. San Francisco bars have seen an overall decline in business, as older customers generally spend less money while younger patrons have been drinking less. This alarming demographic shift in the Bay Area has been an under-estimated issue for years, but its impact was undeniable over the course of the pandemic. From 2020 to 2024, the metro's median age jumped the most out of all the country's major regions, the SF Chronicle reported. Berkeley, once a bustling neighborhood home to UC Berkeley (pictured), is now categorized as 'a retirement community' of mainly single-family homes In 2020, the median age was 39, while it grew to 41 four years later. By 2055, more than half the Bay Area's nine counties will be pushing 50 years old. Meanwhile, other major regions such as Houston, Texas and Seattle, Washington have not yet seen median ages of 36 and 38 respectively. San Francisco's future is looking grim, as the area has the smallest percentage of children out of the top 20 US metros. Last year, less than 19 percent of the city's population was under 18 years old. San Francisco County is in even worse shape, with only 13.5 percent of its population being children. Less children and young people means that academic institutions will see less students and many will likely be forced to shut down, experts predict. And data shows people starting families in the city are not particularly inclined to stay there. 'Its a major trigger point,' San Franciscos chief economist Ted Egan told the SF Chronicle. 'People bump into space limitations in a rent-controlled apartment.' Those who stay in San Francisco tend to be established property owners, generally of an older age group. This 'lock-in' effect has caused housing prices to skyrocket. In Sonoma County, the number of children had plunged 35 percent over the past 10 years, the outlet reported (pictured: Petaluma in Sonoma County) The SF Chronicle reported that industries catering to older demographics - people in their 40s and beyond instead of those in their 20s and 30s - have been thriving. For instance, a clinic focused on helping people extend their lifespans in South San Francisco charges patients $19,000 a year for its services. But in the years to come, industries serving the elderly could also face road bumps. Older individuals will need senior living facilities and home health aides, which may be difficult to accomplish in a place with high construction costs and a shortage of skilled caregivers. Up to three-quarters of Australia's population will be drenched by a 4,000km rain band this week as a low-pressure system hurtles towards the east coast. The tropical low and associated cold front is due to cross the southeast on Tuesday, after sending temperatures plunging in South Australia on Monday. Forecasters say millions from Tasmania all the way up to the Cape York Peninsula will be soaked by the enormous rain band this week. The low is expected to deliver a 'decent amount of rain' to every state and territory in Australia between now and the weekend, according to Weatherzone. Forecasters say large parts of New South Wales and Queensland will be drenched, with powerful winds to impact SA, Victoria and Tasmania. Predictions of widespread falls between 10mm and 40mm in central Queensland and NSW are forecast between Friday and Monday. Central Queensland could record up to 100mm of rain, with Brisbane and Townsville, in the state's far north, also receiving a rare soaking. The Victorian SES has advised people to make adequate preparations ahead of the powerful winds and take precautions while driving. Several systems are set to serve up a wet end to July in most states and territories this week (above, predicted rainfall totals for Wednesday) Cold weather, wind and rain have been predicted for much of Australia's southeast this week (pictured, a walker at Bondi Beach) Damaging wind gusts are expected to average from 65 to 90km/hour, with peak gusts of 125km/hour in elevated areas such as Falls Creek and Mount Hotham. Blizzards have also been tipped in the state's alpine regions. A second low pressure system is expected to bring widespread rain across the eastern half of Australia between Friday and Sunday. The rain will be 'heavier and more widespread' than the current system due to the influence of a large northwest cloud band, Weatherzone said. Perth shivered through a 3.2C morning on Tuesday, five degrees below its July average. Other regions saw temperatures fall to record lows, including a maximum temperature of 13.9C at Red Rocks Point, its lowest in six years. Another cold burst will follow in WA's capital on Wednesday going into Thursday. Destructive wind warnings are in place as a low pressure system moves east from the Bight (pictured is a Weatherzone map of the system on Tuesday) Perth Wednesday: Showers. Possible storm .Min 8C. Max 17C. Thursday: Showers easing. Min 5C. Max 14C. Friday: Partly cloudy. Min 3C. Max 15C. Adelaide Wednesday: Showers. Min 8C. Max 15C. Thursday: Partly cloudy. Min 8C. Max 17C. Friday: Rain. Min 8C. Max 13C. Sydney Wednesday: Shower or two. Min 12C. Max 19C. Thursday: Sunny. Min 8C. Max 18C. Friday: Partly cloudy. Min 6C. Max 19C. Melbourne Wednesday: Shower or two. Min 7C. Max 14C. Thursday: Mostly sunny. Min 6C. Max 15C. Friday: Showers increasing. Min 6C. Max 14C. Melbourne (above), Adelaide, and Perth are set to receive rain for the majority of the week Hobart Wednesday: Possible shower. Min 8C. Max 13C. Thursday: Partly cloudy. Min 5C. Max 13C. Friday: Mostly sunny. Min 4C. Max 14C. Canberra Wednesday: Morning frost. Partly cloudy. Min 1C. Max 12C. Thursday: Morning frost. Sunny. Min -4C. Max 13C. Friday: Frost. Late shower or two. Min -4C. Max 13. Brisbane Wednesday: Showers. Min 13C. Max 22C. Thursday: Sunny. Min12C. Max 22C. Friday: Partly cloudy. Min 10C. Max 22C. Darwin Wednesday: Sunny. Min 19C. Max 31C. Thursday: Cloud clearing. Min 21C. Max 31C. Friday: Partly cloudy. Min 22C. Max 31C. California authorities are locked in a legal battle with Elon Musk's Tesla in an effort to suspend the electric car company's operations in the state. Governor Gavin Newsom has been a vocal critic of Tesla's market dominance and clashed with the world's richest man intensely after he endorsed President Donald Trump in the 2024 race. Now, officials at the Department of Motor Vehicles have alleged in court Tesla deceived consumers with its autopilot and self driving features. Lawyers representing the DMV maintain Tesla engaged in false advertising when it promoted 'autopilot', 'self driving capability' and a system 'able to conduct short and long-distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver's seat.' The suit was first filed in July 2022 and amended in November 2023. The state is seeking to have Tesla's licenses to manufacture and sell cars suspended in California for at least 30 days. Lawyers would also like Tesla to pay an as-yet-undetermined sum as restitution. 'These labels and descriptions represent specifically that respondent (Tesla)'s vehicles will operate as autonomous vehicles, which they could not and cannot do,' Attorney General Rob Bonta wrote in a July 17 brief. Governor Gavin Newsom has been a vocal critic of Tesla's market dominance and clashed with the world's richest man intensely after he endorsed President Donald Trump in the 2024 race California authorities are locked in a legal battle with Elon Musk 's Tesla in an effort to suspend the electric car company's operations in the state Deputy Attorney General Christopher Beatty, who represented the state's DMV in court, said it would be 'a straightforward case.' He argued that Tesla had for years advertised high-tech features which falsely suggested the cars could drive and park themselves. But attorneys for Tesla insisted the company 'has always made clear' that the cars are not fully autonomous and required 'active driver supervision.' Tesla has said Autopilot lets vehicles steer, accelerate and brake in their lanes, and Full Self-Driving lets vehicles obey traffic signals and change lanes. But it has admitted that neither excuses drivers from paying attention to the road, and the technologies 'do not make the vehicle autonomous.' DMV investigations Commander Melanie Rosario provided testimony during the first day of proceedings, arguing: 'Autopilot to me means (the car) can drive itself or do things on its own.' But she said she had noticed contradictory statements from Tesla, touting self driving capabilities while simultaneously instructing drivers to keep their hands on or near the steering wheel. David Marcus, representing Tesla, told the court the complaint is the DMV's latest attempt to block a company 'on the verge of fulfilling the dream' of getting autonomous vehicles on the mass market for public consumption. Officials at the Department of Motor Vehicles have alleged in court Tesla deceived consumers with its autopilot and self driving features. 'Let me say this very clearly, Tesla has never misled consumers. Never,' Marcus said. Musk and Newsom have clashed over state policies for years, including Newsom's decision to shut Tesla's Fremont factory during the pandemic and California's approval of a bill on transgender kids. In 2021, Tesla moved its headquarters from California to Texas, and by late 2024, SpaceX and X had followed suit. At the height of Musk and President Trump's bromance, Newsom vowed to introduce a state tax rebate on purchasing electric cars if the Trump administration eliminates the federal tax cut - excluding Musk's Tesla from a piece of the pie. The new rebates could exclude Tesla and other automakers with a large market share in an effort to promote more competition, the governor's office said. But that is subject to negotiation with the state Legislature. Tesla holds 55 percent of California's EV market share, down from 64 percent a year ago. Hyundai and BMW are the next two biggest EV sellers in the state, at just 6.4 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively. Musk, whose company is the only one that actually manufactures EVs in the Golden State, clearly felt singled out and slammed Newsom's proposal at the time. 'Even though Tesla is the only company who manufactures their EVs in California! This is insane,' he wrote on X. Newsom earlier this year told Musk's nemesis Steve Bannon that California 'created' the billionaire through generous EV mandates. Musk and Newsom butted heads over a decision to shut Tesla's Fremont factory (pictured) during the pandemic Bannon said 'you know him. You guys created him', prompting Newsom to agree, adding: 'In many respects, California did. Our regulatory process and our subsidies to create this market.' That wasn't the first time Newsom had taken credit for Musk's success. 'It's one of the reasons guys like Elon Musk and others have become so successful,' Newsom said in October. 'It's because we've set price signals, we've created markets, we've created opportunities for investments. We're the number one manufacturer for a reason. We continue to be the envy of the world.' Tesla in July launched a small group of self-driving taxis in Texas after a several delays, with Musk celebrating the 'robotaxi launch' and social-media influencers posting videos of their first rides. The event marked the first time Tesla cars without human drivers have carried paying riders, a business that Musk sees as crucial to the electric car maker's financial future. He called the moment the 'culmination of a decade of hard work' in a post on his social-media platform X and noted that 'the AI chip and software teams were built from scratch within Tesla.' But efforts to expand the service faced a roadblock when it was revealed Tesla is yet to apply for regulatory permits it needs to operate driverless taxis in California. Musk had hoped to send its robotaxis to the San Francisco Bay Area within two months. 'To date, Tesla has not applied for either a driverless testing or deployment permit,' a spokesperson for California's Department of Motor Vehicles told Reuters. A teenager has pleaded guilty to murdering a grandmother in a shocking attack that sparked landmark law reforms. The then 16-year-old boy was charged after Vyleen Joan White, 70, was fatally stabbed in the chest during a suspected carjacking in front of her young granddaughter in the carpark of a Redbank Plains shopping centre, west of Brisbane, in February 2024. Ms White's death helped inspire youth justice reforms, with Queensland's Liberal National government introducing controversial 'adult time, adult crime' laws after winning the 2024 election. Tough youth justice laws ushered in by the LNP ensure juveniles face adult sentences for more than 30 offences, including murder. Police alleged Ms White was killed during the theft of her 2009-model Hyundai Getz hatchback. The then 16-year-old from the nearby suburb of Bellbird Park was charged with murder and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, plus three counts of stealing. The teen, who will soon turn 18 but cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to all charges in Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday. Ms White's family members in court did not immediately react to the guilty pleas by the teen, who appeared on Tuesday wearing a green jumper and black pants. Grandmother Vyleen White, 70, (pictured) was fatally stabbed outside a Redbank Plains shopping centre in February 2024 Vyleen White's husband Victor (right) and daughter Julie addressed the media outside court after her teenage killer pleaded guilty on Tuesday Prosecutor Chris Cook sought a pre-sentence report by November 3 and a November 12 sentencing. Defence barrister Matthew Hynes agreed to the dates. Justice Lincoln Crowley remanded the teen in custody. Flanked by supporters, Ms White's grieving family didn't hold back outside court, where they took aim at the former Queensland Labor government, which was in power at the time. Her husband Victor blamed the then-government for turning repeat youth offenders into 'untouchables.' Then-Premier Steven Miles came under heavy fire when asked by a reporter what his government was doing to address the rise of youth crime in his state, just days after Ms White was killed. 'Lucky I'm not the judge,' Mr White replied when asked how he was feeling after Tuesday's court hearing. 'The worst part is sitting in there and listening to what he did attacking your wife, stabbing her directly in the heart and dying there on the floor in front of her granddaughter, and she's the one who's going to suffer for the rest of her life. 'He killed her by choice. There's no other way to put it. He just killed her because he chose to kill her, he was acting like God.' Vyleen White was stabbed to death eight months after celebrating her 70th birthday When asked about sentencing, Mr White believed it should be 'life for a life' but conceded it won't happen. 'What we've added with adult time, adult crime now is a future help to all Queenslanders,' he said. 'My family's going through a lot of pain and suffering now because of what he done, we can't bring Vyleen back but at least we can achieve proper justice in the future for everybody else.' Tuesday was the first time Julie White had come face-to-face with her mother's killer, which she described as intimidating. Her mother was small in statue compared to the towering teen. 'All that went through my mind, personally, was what on earth did my mum think in that moment ... I couldn't imagine,' Ms White said. 'Those final moments, I wouldn't wish on anyone. 'And that's what we want to prevent, is that from ever happening to anyone else. Obviously, it still might happen.' Julie White (left) and her father Victor (right) didn't hold back outside court Ms White's loved ones also detailed the heavy toll her death has had on the entire family. 'Every aspect of our lives has changed. And it's not been something you can possibly imagine ahead of time,' her daughter said. 'One minute, you get that knock on the door; next minute, your world is falling apart. There's been countless psychologist appointments, reduced work the general financial strain alone gets really overwhelming.' By any reasonable measure, the numbers are absurd. Australia's so-called First Nations Ambassador, Justin Mohamed, has seemingly managed to spend more time airborne than in any substantive engagement likely to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians. In just two years, Mohamed has clocked up 261 travel days (an entire working year) at a cost of more than $730,000 to taxpayers. Add to that a contract worth just shy of $1million over two and a half years, and the obvious question arises: what exactly has he achieved? This isn't some isolated administrative extravagance, by the way. It's emblematic of the broader drift and performative politics that characterise the Albanese government. And they claim they want to cut spending and fix the budget! We've seen this movie before. Airbus Albo, as the Opposition dubbed him, doesn't mind taxpayer-funded travel perks, not least his well-documented preference for Qantas upgrades and photo ops abroad. So it's hardly surprising that a pet foreign policy project dressed up as First Nations engagement would follow the same globe-trotting script. But here's the problem: while Mohamed racks up hotel points and business-class miles to destinations like New York, Geneva, Paris, Dubai and Hawaii, the supposed mission to 'implement a First Nations approach to foreign policy' remains nebulous at best. Even within DFAT, the exact objectives and outcomes of the role appear to shift depending on the press release spinning a defence. First it was about supporting the Voice, until the Voice referendum failed. Then it was about regional engagement and economic diplomacy. Now, it's part of some vague effort to counter China's influence in the Pacific. If it all sounds like policy on the run, that's because it is. And you're paying for it. Of his 46 taxpayer-funded trips, just five were to Pacific Islands. In contrast, Mohamed spent more than twice as long in the United States alone. That's not regional engagement, it's tourism with talking points. Australia's First Nations Ambassador Justin Mohamed (third from left) is pictured with Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong (right) In just two years, Mohamed has clocked up 261 travel days (an entire working year) at a cost of more than $730,000 to taxpayers When Daily Mail Australia previously revealed that a single two-week trip to Kansas City and Washington DC cost taxpayers over $75,000, it raised eyebrows. But even that wasn't the whole picture. FOI documents showed his team has burned through nearly $400,000 on travel, separate from his own expenses. And yet there's still no public explanation (let alone evidence) of what measurable benefit this travelling roadshow has delivered for the Indigenous communities the ambassador is supposed to represent. This matters not just because the waste is galling, but because this kind of performative diplomacy erodes public confidence in the very causes it purports to champion. If you wanted to design a role that fuels scepticism about reconciliation, appoint a taxpayer-funded roving ambassador to attend international conferences with no clear mandate, no KPIs and no link to tangible outcomes for those suffering entrenched disadvantage back home. If this were a corporate role, it would be axed in the next round of budget cuts. Instead, it's being defended by the government with the often hollow rhetoric of diversity, inclusion and soft power, as though those buzzwords justify burning through public funds with no accountability. The truth is you can't close the gap from business class, and symbolic diplomacy, no matter how well-intentioned or well-funded doesn't help when it's divorced from practical policy. If the Albanese government can't see that this is wrong, they're not listening. And if the Coalition has any sense, they'll stick to their pre-election pledge to abolish this role on day one of returning to office. But God only knows how far off into the distance that day might be. The real work of reconciliation will remain stuck on the tarmac until this bloke gets the boot. Outraged parents are demanding answers after a father-of-four police officer was allowed to attend kids events while being investigated and later charged over a vast cache of child abuse and bestiality images. Former elite Raptor Squad cop Mitchell Leslie, 38, from the NSW Central Coast, is accused of keeping more than 200,000 depraved images on his phone and laptop. He was arrested last week following a NSW Police probe into unauthorised use of police IT systems in March this year while attached to Hornsby Police Station. The investigation culminated in the seizure of his electronic devices in May. But despite being under investigation, Leslie continued to go to children's sporting events and even a kids' birthday party. Now outraged parents have shared their concerns with Daily Mail Australia, claiming they have been left in the dark. 'This has sent shockwaves through our community,' said one concerned mother whose children were among those at the party Leslie attended. 'Parents are anxious and disturbed that someone in such a position of trust could be implicated in such offences. Constable Mitchell Leslie, 38, from the Central Coast NSW allegedly had more than 200,000 depraved images on his personal devices, including his phone and laptop. He was arrested last week following a NSW Police probe into unauthorised use of police IT systems in March this year whilst attached to Hornsby Police station 'This man has been to our houses, celebrated at birthday parties, played with our kids and had sleepovers at his house, but no one has said anything to any of us.' With no word from schools or authorities, the worried mother says parents have been left in the dark. 'We have no idea whose kids are allegedly in those images - if we should talk to our kids about it or what will happen next,' she said. 'I'm so upset by it. I feel sick and I can't sleep at night knowing this.' NSW Police confirmed Leslie was charged with misconduct in public office, two counts of possessing child abuse material, one count of possessing bestiality material, and three counts of accessing or modifying restricted data on the police computer system. Court documents revealed the investigation was sparked when Leslie allegedly accessed the confidential NSW Police Force computer database to illegally help his lover on multiple occasions. On one occasion, it's alleged he tried to protect her from being detected driving unlawfully and at another time he accessed it to help her brother avoid a domestic violence apprehension. He's also accused of drafting a letter on NSW Police letterhead for the Department of Communities and Justice to assist that same partner with 'prioritised residence relocation.' Mitchell Leslie attended birthday parties and sporting events locally with worried parents now fearing the worse 'We want answers,' another parent told Daily Mail Australia. 'As someone with an understanding of child protection I'm asking what immediate safeguarding steps are being taken locally in response to this case? 'What communication and reassurance are being provided to local schools, families, and children who may be directly or indirectly affected? 'Because we have contacted the school, the police and our local MPs and no one is giving us answers.' Leslie's barrister Imogen Hogan applied for bail, telling the court her client was currently receiving psychological treatment in Brisbane Water Private Hospital after spending three weeks as a mental health inpatient at Gosford Public Hospital. She said Constable Leslie was involved in the arrest of several prominent outlaw motorcycle gang members, and faced 'significant risks' if he was to be remanded in custody. Ms Hogan tendered an affidavit from Constable Leslie's mother which said he hoped to continue his treatment at Brisbane Water Private Hospital until he could get a bed at a specialist 'first responder' PTSD treatment program at Kellyville Private Hospital. She said Constable Leslie no longer had access to his police database and the fear of custody was 'itself' reason to comply with any strict bail conditions. But the Crown prosecutor opposed bail, telling the court Constable Leslie had been adequately treated for PTSD while serving as a police officer. Court documents allege the investigation was sparked when Leslie unlawfully accessed the confidential NSW Police Force computer database to help his lover She said he was only admitted to hospital on May 30, which was the day police raided his home and he would have been charged sooner if it were not for concerns about his mental health. He is suspended without pay and an urgent review of his employment status is underway. Magistrate Michael O'Brien said ultimately he was unsatisfied any conditions would alleviate the risk of Constable Leslie fleeing the jurisdiction, committing further offences or interfering with witnesses and refused him bail. He will reappear at Downing Centre Local Court on September 10. NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia that they are still reviewing the material seized. 'Investigations under Strike Force Blumont remain ongoing, and it has been important to maintain a level of confidentiality to protect the integrity of the investigation and the court proceedings,' said the spokesperson. 'Strike Force investigators continue to review material contained on the seized electronic devices. 'Based on information currently at hand, it is alleged the material was downloaded from online platforms.' If parents believe their child may have been at risk, or if their child has told them about any inappropriate behaviour, please contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 A Department of Justice employee claims she was fired after feds discovered her husband had developed an anti-ICE phone app. Carolyn Feinstein, who is married to ICEBlock developer Joshua Aaron, said she was unfairly removed from her post in 'retribution' against her partner's work. The ICEBlock app sets out warning signals to users when ICE agents are within a five-mile radius of their location, allowing targets to flee. After Aaron was exposed online for creating the app, Feinstein said she was terminated from her post as a forensic accountant after almost a decade working for the DoJ. 'This was retribution. I was fired because of the actions, or activism, of my husband,' Texas-based Feinstein told the Daily Beast on Monday. 'It is insulting to me because I dedicated myself and my career to serving the people of the United States, and now the DOJ is claiming I was attempting to harm some of them. And that's not true.' Feinstein, who specializes in bankruptcy fraud, said she felt 'targeted' because of her husband's app, which has been downloaded almost one million times. Aaron had not been hiding his role in creating the app - he spoke with CNN in June explaining how the app works, and faced fierce criticism from MAGA fans afterward. Department of Justice employee Carolyn Feinstein has been fired after the feds discovered her husband developed an anti-ICE phone app. (Pictured: Feinstein with her husband) The ICEBlock app (pictured above) sets out warning signals to users when ICE agents are within a five-mile radius of their location, allowing targets to flee federal agents Pictured: Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks to the media, in the Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington D.C., June 27, 2025 'When I saw what was happening in this country, I wanted to do something to fight back,' Aaron told CNN. He went on to compare the Trump administration's immigration crackdown to purges carried out by the Nazi regime in 1930's Germany. 'We're literally watching history repeat itself,' he said. The interview prompted a flood of MAGA rage online, while Trump administration officials like border tsar Tom Homan and ICE acting director Tom Lyon called on the DoJ to investigate the matter. 'We will not be intimidated. We will not be deterred,' Aaron told The Daily Beast at the time. 'As long as ICE agents have quotas, and this administration ignores people's Constitutional rights, we will continue fighting back. No human is illegal.' After Aaron was exposed online for creating the app, Feinstein said she was fired from her post as a forensic accountant after almost a decade working for the DoJ The ICEBlock app (pictured above) sets out warning signals to users when ICE agents are within a five-mile radius of their location, allowing targets to flee federal agents Feinstein said she responded by telling her bosses about her relationship with Aaron. 'Since we live in the same house, I thought it was pertinent to contact my employer, the DOJ, to notify them of death threats that were coming in and just in case I needed to be out of the office, so they would be prepared,' she told the Daily Beast. Feinstein was then contacted by officials who asked her about her association with the ICEBlock app. 'I informed them in so many words that I really didn't have any relationship or involvement in the app, I was married to the creator,' she said. But Homan said he had contacted the DoJ airing concerns about the connection. He told NewsMax that 'all (Aaron is) doing is giving a heads up to criminals'. 'The DOJ's looking at it, and they need to throw some people in jail,' he said. Feinstein says she received her termination note 'within 24 hours' of Homan's Newsmax interview airing. Aaron had not been hiding his role in creating the app - he spoke with a CNN affiliate in June, as shown above, explaining how the app works, and faced a MAGA backlash afterwards Feinstein (pictured with Aaron), who specializes in bankruptcy fraud, said she felt 'targeted' because of her husband's app, which has been downloaded almost a million times A DoJ spokesperson told the Daily Beast the department had spent 'several weeks' investigating Feinstein's activities and discovered that she has interests in the company that holds the IP for the ICEBlock app. Feinstein argued that her minority shareholder status in All U Chart Inc is just a safety net so that 'if Joshua were incapacitated, or further, I have the ability to shut it down'. 'ICEBlock is an app that illegal aliens use to evade capture while endangering the lives of ICE officers,' a DoJ spokesperson told the Daily Beast. They added that the department 'will not tolerate threats against law enforcement or law enforcement officers.' Brazil pursues talks with U.S. but braces for potential Trump tariffs Xinhua) 11:29, July 22, 2025 SAO PAULO/RIO DE JANEIRO, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Brazil will negotiate with the United States over President Donald Trump's threat to impose 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian imports starting Aug. 1, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said Monday. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wants to keep diplomatic channels open, the finance chief told Brazilian News Center radio network. "Brazil will not leave the negotiating table. President Lula's instruction is not to provide any reason for these types of sanctions. The vice presidency, the Treasury and the Foreign Ministry are committed to dialogue," he said. Rui Costa, chief of staff of the Brazilian presidency, said on the same day that the country would respond calmly to Trump's tariff threat, adding that Brazil is not the only country targeted by the trade war launched by Trump. "This is the president of a great power who has decided to fight against the entire world: Europe, Canada, and Mexico. Brazil must act and continue to act with great serenity, despite all the signs of aggression, seeking diplomatic solutions and negotiations," Costa told reporters in Salvador. Brazil is preparing contingency plans to support sectors most affected by the potential tariffs. An inter-ministerial group is finalizing measures for Lula's review in the coming days. Countermeasures include applying its Reciprocity Law to impose a matching 50 percent tariff on U.S. goods, along with economic support measures. Brazil is also actively expanding trade partnerships within the Southern Common Market, or Mercosur, which includes Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, as part of its strategy to diversify economic ties, Costa said. "Canada has already expressed its desire to establish a partnership with Mercosur to reduce its dependence on the United States, and Mexico has done the same," said the chief of staff. "We hope to sign the free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur by December. This will open new markets for Brazilian industries and agriculture," Costa added. On July 9, Trump announced plans to impose steep tariffs on Brazil, linking the move to his opposition to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces trial for his alleged attempt to seize power after losing his reelection bid in 2022. Last week, Washington suspended visas for eight Brazilian Supreme Federal Court justices overseeing Bolsonaro's trial. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) The search for Julian Story's missing remains will resume after fresh evidence led detectives to new areas of interest in a coastal town. The South Australian man, 39, was allegedly killed by his partner, former Beauty and the Geek contestant Tamika Chesser, 34, at their home in Port Lincoln on June 17. Major crime detectives will work with local police to search new locations in and around Port Lincoln for Story's allegedly decapitated head. 'We know that after his alleged murder, Julian's body was dismembered and while I won't provide any further detail about that at this time, I can tragically say that we have not recovered the head of Julian Story,' Superintendent Fielke said in June. SES volunteers, police divers and local patrols previously searched parks, bushland and the ocean for Mr Story's remains, but were ultimately unsuccessful. 'New search areas have been identified and by undertaking these renewed searches, we hope to find Julian's missing remains, which will give comfort to his family and allow them to peacefully lay him to rest,' Det Supt Fielke said on Tuesday. 'Police have reviewed a significant amount of CCTV footage since the incident, which has provided a number of investigational leads. 'We also appreciate the ongoing assistance the community of Port Lincoln has provided throughout the investigation.' The search for Julian Story's missing remains will resume after fresh evidence led detectives to new areas of interest in a coastal town (the Port Lincoln man is pictured) The South Australian man was allegedly killed by his partner, former Beauty and the Geek contestant Tamika Chesser, in Port Lincoln on June 17 (Chesser is pictured) Police were alerted to the alleged murder when neighbours noticed flames coming from the apartment shared by Chesser and Mr Story. One neighbour entered the unit to throw water on what he believed to be a pile of smouldering rags, which were allegedly later identified as Mr Story's remains. Chesser was allegedly discovered at the apartment in an unresponsive state. She was arrested and taken to a psychiatric facility. Police later obtained and released CCTV images and video which showed Chesser walking three dogs and carrying a bag while wearing a Hijab-style head covering. Detective Superintendent Fielke previously said it was 'crucial' Mr Story's head was returned to his family so they could hold a funeral. A spokesperson for the family thanked police and first responders for their 'compassion and professionalism during this devastating time'. Chesser's sister, who did not want to be named, previously told Daily Mail Australia the former TV contestant had experienced a 'life of trauma and abuse'. 'Please report how my sister is in a mental psychosis... This is not her,' she said. Chesser (pictured) became 'very mentally ill,' in the years since appearing on Beauty and the Geek, her sister said Chesser was seen walking her dogs after the alleged murder of Mr Story (above) She said 'a lot has happened' in Chesser's life since her appearance on Beauty and the Geek. 'In the past five years she's become very mentally ill,' the sister said. 'This is a loss not only for Julian's family but ours too.' Residents in Port Lincoln told Daily Mail Australia that Chesser only arrived in the fishing port last December. She arrived with a shaved head, and was known to visit shops in central Port Lincoln accompanied by a small dog. Mr Story's family also live in the town. Mr Story resided in a rented flat along the Flinders Highway on his own until Chesser moved in, after she moved to South Australia from Queensland. A former boyfriend of the woman accusing Mark Latham of abusing her says she made baseless claims about him to police after they broke up. The man met Nathalie Matthews when they were both working in the transport and logistics industry more than a decade ago and spent about a year in a relationship. He says after Ms Matthews moved out of his Sydney apartment she returned to pick up a basket of belongings and pulled down a large mirror, which broke. The man - who is about 20 years older than Ms Matthews - told Daily Mail Australia she later made allegations against him which he vehemently denied and police did not act upon. Police subsequently sought an apprehended violence order against Ms Matthews to protect the man but it was withdrawn - he says at his request - in June 2015 at Downing Centre Local Court. Ms Matthews is seeking a restraining order against Latham following the messy break-up of what the independent NSW upper house MP has called a 'sexed-up, consensual, open arrangement'. The 37-year-old alleges Latham, 64, inflicted 'a sustained pattern' of psychological, financial and emotional abuse against her for almost three years. She further alleges Latham threw a dinner plate at her and committed degrading sexual acts 'including defecating on me before sex and refusing to let me wash'. A former boyfriend of Nathalie Matthews, the woman accusing politician Mark Latham of abusing her, says she made baseless claims about him to police after they broke up Daily Mail Australia can reveal Ms Matthews has a criminal history which includes offences of receiving stolen goods and shoplifting. Ms Matthews was charged under her maiden name Darrough with stealing goods worth less than $2,000 from the Camilla fashion boutique at Westfield Miranda in Sydney's south in 2017. She pleaded guilty in Sutherland Local Court to shoplifting and receiving and was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond without conviction in February the next year. Magistrate Glenn Bartley made a separate order that Matthews pay $449 to the store. Three years earlier, police had sought an apprehended violence order against Ms Matthews, again as Nathalie May Darrough, for the protection of a former partner. That man, whose relationship with Ms Matthews predated her marriage, laughed long and hard when Daily Mail Australia first mentioned her name to him on Tuesday. 'There's so many similarities,' he said. 'Don't get me wrong, I think Mark Latham's a f***ing d***head.' The man said his relationship with Ms Matthews had been normal - 'I suppose' - and that until they parted ways 'everything was fine'. Ms Matthews is seeking a restraining order against Mark Latham, alleging he inflicted 'a sustained pattern' of psychological, financial and emotional abuse against her Eventually, some incident the man could no longer recall occurred and Ms Matthews told him she would be moving out of his apartment. 'She went a bit funny in the head,' he said. 'She said, "I'm moving out." I went, "Righto, no dram."' The man wondered, with hindsight, if his nonchalant attitude to Ms Matthews moving out of his home had allegedly set her off. He claimed that when Ms Matthews came around to pick up a basket of clothes 'she went crazy' and broke a mirror which was hung behind a television set. Following that incident, according to the man, Ms Matthews became further annoyed. 'There was something that she was demanding, I can't remember what it was,' he said. 'And I said, "Nah, that's not going to happen." 'She said, "If you don't do this, I'll go the coppers." I went, "Go your hardest."' 'Whatever she wanted didn't happen so a week later she went to the coppers.' Daily Mail Australia revealed last Friday that Ms Matthews worked as an OnlyFans porn star (above) for years before she started dating the former federal Labor leader The man said he was interviewed by police but the only action they took was to apply for an apprehended violence order against Ms Matthews. 'I had nothing to be concerned about,' he said. 'I answered all their questions and spoke the truth.' The man said when the AVO application reached Downing Centre Local Court in June 2015 he did not wish it to proceed. Instead, he wanted Ms Matthews to give a private undertaking she would stay away from him for a certain period of time, which he said she agreed to do. 'The sole reason I didn't go through with the AVO is I'm not an a***hole and I didn't want to ruin her entire life,' he said. Ms Matthews declined to comment on the restraining order police had sought to protect her former boyfriend or about any events after that relationship ended. Daily Mail Australia accepts Ms Matthews has never been found guilty of any domestic violence-related offence. The man had been vaguely aware Ms Matthews and Latham were in a relationship due to social media posts and read about her AVO application last week. Since the existence of the AVO application was revealed on July 14, intimate text messages between Latham and Ms Matthews have been leaked (above) Latham has denied all abuse accusations, claiming that he had 'scores of documents' which would vindicate him, and enjoyed a 'fantastic' sex life with Ms Matthews 'When this came out my mother rang me,' he said. 'She said, "This looks familiar, doesn't it?"' Latham has said what he called his 'situationship' with Ms Matthews ended on May 27 when she confronted him covered in mud. Since the existence of the AVO application was revealed by The Australian on July 14, intimate text messages between Latham and Ms Matthews have been leaked. Latham has denied all abuse accusations, claiming that he had 'scores of documents' which would vindicate him, and enjoyed a 'fantastic' sex life with Ms Matthews. Daily Mail Australia revealed last Friday that Ms Matthews worked as an OnlyFans porn star for years before she started dating the former federal Labor leader. Ms Matthews posted graphic images and videos of herself under the name Bondi C** Sl** from 2019 to 2023. OnlyFans followers typically pay creators for exclusive, usually adult and often explicit, content. Ms Matthews' posts - where she enhanced her appearance with AI face-tuning technology - included raw video footage of herself engaged in sexual intercourse with another person, as well as hundreds of explicit images. Ms Matthews was married to British expat Ross Matthews. Their marriage reportedly ended in 2022, before she began dating Latham. She is pictured in her wedding dress Her account has since been taken down from OnlyFans, but the material she posted had spread to online fan sites and forums. The dates of the postings also coincided with her unsuccessful bid to be elected a Liberal councillor in south Sydney's Sutherland Shire in 2021. Although Ms Matthews is thought to have been living in the Cronulla area at the time, it is understood she believed the OnlyFans venture would bring in more revenue by using 'Bondi' rather than 'Sutherland' in her online profile. Ms Matthews declined to comment on her OnlyFans past but her lawyer told Daily Mail Australia her client 'has been subjected to character assassination, reputational damage and trial by media'. 'Domestic violence is a serious issue in our society,' solicitor Sarah McMahon said. 'Any individual in genuine fear should have the right to seek protection without vilification.' Ms Matthews was previously married to British expat Ross Matthews. Their marriage reportedly ended in 2022, before she began dating Latham. Latham (above in parliament) has said what he called his 'situationship' with Ms Matthews ended on May 27 when she confronted him covered in mud Mr Matthews has distanced himself from his ex-wife, breaking his silence on social media to address the furore. 'Please stop messaging me,' he posted on X after the scandal erupted. 'I don't speak to Nathalie and do not care. Thank you.' Leaked WhatsApp messages reported by The Daily Telegraph showed sexually explicit exchanges between Latham and Ms Matthews. 'Very hard thinking about you,' he wrote to Ms Matthews during parliamentary sitting hours, shortly after 11am on February 20. 'Need badly to taste you,' he wrote that afternoon, alongside an emoji of a tongue. 'Made it back for first vote after dinner,' he said at 8.38pm. Latham told Daily Mail Australia the reproduction of the WhatsApp messages was 'not accurate' and has insisted the communications did not impact his work. Matthews describes herself as the managing director of Skynet Global Logistics, a company engaged in freight forwarding, a role she has held for 19 months according to LinkedIn. No financial information has been stolen Breach by an unauthorised third party on July 2 Louis Vuitton has suffered a major data breach with customers' personal information such as home addresses and passport numbers compromised. The French luxury brand was subject to a breach by an unauthorised third party on July 2 and, on Tuesday, it was confirmed Australian customers had been affected. Customers in South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Italy and Sweden had previously been revealed as being impacted. While on Monday it was revealed Hong Kong had also been hit with more than 419,000 customers affected. Louis Vuitton confirmed clients' first and last name, gender, country, phone number, email address, postal address and date of birth had been exposed in the breach, in a client email seen by SkyNews.com.au. Customers' purchases and preferences data, along with passport numbers were also exposed in the breach. The high-end luxury brand, best known for its infamous monogram handbags, told affected clients that no financial information had been stolen. 'Dear Client, We regret to inform you that an unauthorised third party temporarily accessed our system and obtained some of your information,' the email read. 'On July 2, 2025, we became aware of a personal data breach resulting from the exfiltration of certain personal data of some of our clients following an unauthorised access to our system. Louis Vuitton has fallen victim to a huge data breach with clients' personal information such as home addresses and passport numbers compromised (stock) The high-end luxury brand told affected clients in an email that no financial information had been stolen (stock) The fashion brand assured customers that 'cybersecurity teams have taken care of the incident with the utmost diligence and attention.' Louis Vuitton confirmed measures were taken immediately to 'contain the incident' and blocked the unauthorised third party from accessing further data. The high-end label also warned those who had provided their details to be wary of any suspicious communication. Clients should remain vigilant of any unsolicited emails, phone calls or text messages. Louis Vuitton has told its customers there is currently no evidence their data has been misused, but warned fraud attempts may occur in the future. The email warned clients from revealing their Louis Vuitton password to anyone and clarified the company 'will never ask you to disclose it'. Louis Vuitton falls under the banner of French conglomerate LVMH. The luxury brand is one of several companies in the conglomerate, which also includes high-end labels Dior and Tiffany & Co. Both Dior and Tiffany & Co have been subject to similar data breaches in recent months. A man was viciously attacked by a shark after being knocked off his hydrofoil surfboard in the Canary Islands. The man, who has not been named, was practising Downwind foiling some two miles west of Fuerteventura. Spanish TV channel Antena 3 reported that he was in the water when the shark attacked his board and bit him on the leg on Sunday. The media outlet published a video showing two bloody gashes just below the knee. The wounds were described as 'deep' and panicked witnesses. The man was seemingly able to fight off the shark and scramble back to the shore in the area of Los Molinos, a small hamlet to the west. Sharks have been spotted before off Fuerteventura, and beaches have had to be closed when jet ski patrols raised the alert over the sea creatures near the shore. Last September, a 30-year-old woman died from her injuries after her leg was ripped off by a shark in the middle of the ocean as she was on a catamaran off the coast of Western Sahara. Although he was able to fight off the shark, the man sustained two gruesome bites just below his knees His damaged hydrofoil surfboard revealed the extent of the attack The horrific attack happened at Fuerteventura, which is 278 miles south-west of Gran Canaria's airport The woman, who was said to be a crew member aboard the British-flagged catamaran, died after going for a dip in the sea. She was rushed to a hospital by Spanish Air Force helicopter following the attack, which took place 278 miles south-west of Gran Canaria's airport. However, the woman was pronounced dead after being evacuated to nearby Doctor Negrin Hospital, located in the Gran Canarian capital of Las Palmas. Since records began, there have been only seven recorded instances of shark attacks on humans in the Canary Islands. None of them have been fatal. Israel has launched a massive new air and ground operation against the Gaza Strip, targeting the enclave's main hub for humanitarian efforts as the UK joined 28 other nations in demanding the end of the war in the Middle East. As Foreign Secretary David Lammy, along with the foreign ministers of dozens of other western nations, described the suffering of civilians in Gaza as having 'reached new depths', witnesses in Deir al-Balah last night said they saw massive airstrikes. Local medics reported that three people were killed and dozens more were injured as Israeli tanks shelled homes and mosques in the area, in what appeared to be the latest effort to carve up the Palestinian territory with military corridors. The World Heath Organisation, meanwhile, accused the IDF of attacking its staff residence and main warehouse. It is the first time the IDF has pushed into Deir al-Balah, 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. The UN food agency, meanwhile, accused Israeli forces of firing on a crowd of Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid over the weekend. Illumination flares light up the night sky over Deir al-Balah, Gaza, July 21, 2025, during an Israeli ground assault Smoke rises over western Deir al-Balah, Gaza, July 21, 2025 Smoke rises during Israeli strikes amid the Israeli military operation in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, July 21, 2025 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the press, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. U.S. July 8, 2025 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. The countries in a joint statement condemned what they called the 'drip feeding of aid' to Palestinians in Gaza and said it was 'horrifying' that had been killed while seeking aid. 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. 'The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity,' the countries' foreign ministers said in a joint statement. 'The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths.' The call by about 20 European countries, as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, for an end to the war in Gaza and the delivery of aid comes from many countries which are allied with Israel and its most important backer, the United States. Among those calling for an end to the war are four out of five countries in the so-called Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, which includes the U.S. Israel's foreign ministry said the statement was 'disconnected from reality' and it would send the wrong message to Hamas. 'The statement fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognise Hamas's role and responsibility for the situation,' the Israeli statement said. Displaced Palestinians watch from the al-Mawasi refugee camp as flares launched by Israeli forces light up the sky above nearby Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on July 21, 2025 Israeli troops man a position near the border with the Gaza Strip on July 21, 2025 Israeli troops man a position near the border with the Gaza Strip on July 21, 2025 Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar later said he spoke with his British counterpart David Lammy on Monday on regional issues, including Gaza. He blamed Hamas 'for the suffering of the population and the continuation of the war'. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, called the statement 'disgusting' and said blaming Israel was 'irrational' because Hamas rejects every proposal to end the war. Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, with the latest deaths reported on Monday as Israel in central Gaza. This is the first picture of Prince William and Prince Harry's cousin Rosie Roche, who has tragically been found dead at the age of just 20. The Durham University student was discovered by her mother Pippa and sister Agatha at her family home in rural Wiltshire. A firearm was found near to her body at the property in Norton. She had been packing for a trip away with friends, an inquest heard. Rosie's family have paid tribute to her, saying she was a 'darling daughter' to her parents Pippa and Hugh and an 'incredible sister' to Archie and Agatha. A spokesman for the family said the 20-year-old 'will be sorely missed'. Emergency crews were pictured responding to a serious incident at the family home at around 1pm on Monday, July 14. An ambulance, three ambulance officers, two firearms officers and numerous local response officers were in attendance. Rosie was the granddaughter of Princess Diana's uncle, the 5th Baron Fermoy, Edmund Roche, who killed himself in 1984 after suffering from a long bout of depression. He was found dead aged just 45, from a gunshot at his home, Eddington House. His sister Frances was the mother of Princess Diana. Last February, Thomas Kingston, the husband of royal Lady Gabriella Windsor, died with a gun found near his body at his parents' home in the Cotswolds. Rosie Roche, pictured having fun with friends at Durham in January, where she was studying English. She has been found dead aged just 20 Emergency services at the house in Wiltshire where she was found by her mother Pippa and sister Agatha Prince William and Harry's cousin was found by her mother and sister with a 'firearm nearby' (pictured: the princes with Meghan Markle and the now Princess of Wales in 2018) A spokesman for Prince William declined to comment. An inquest into Rosie's death at Wiltshire and Swindon coroner's court was opened on Sunday and adjourned until October 25. Coroner Grant Davies said police 'have deemed the death as non-suspicious and there was no third-party involvement'. A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said on July 14: 'This relates to the sudden death of a woman in her 20s. 'There are no suspicious circumstances and our thoughts are with her family. 'We would ask that their privacy is respected at this terrible time.' Ms Roche had been studying for a degree in English Literature at Durham University. An obituary published by the Yorkshire Post said: 'Roche, Rosie Jeanne Burke. Died on Monday 14th July 2025. '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.' The death notice of Ms Roche also appeared in The Times newspaper. Durham University has paid tribute today. University College principal Professor Wendy Powers said Rosie had made a strong impression on both staff and students during her short time at Durham. 'University College staff and students are extremely saddened by the tragic death of Rosie Roche,' she said. 'Rosie was a first year student studying for an English Literature degree. Rosie had settled into the University and College beautifully and had lots of friends. 'She was loved for her creativity, energy, her love of books, poetry and travel among many other talents. She will be sorely missed. 'Our thoughts and condolences are with Rosie's family and friends, and we are offering support to those affected at this extremely difficult time.' The student was a scion of the Barons Fermoy and the eldest child of (Edmund) Hugh Burke Roche, 53, and his wife the former Phillipa Kate Victoria Long. Her grandfather was the 5th Baron Fermoy, Princess Diana's uncle, who shot himself dead in 1984. The Princess of Wales talks with her grandmother Ruth Lady Fermoy (right) and Lady Fermoy's daughter, the Rt Hon Mary Roche The tragic last photo of Thomas Kingston and his wife Lady Gabriella Windsor, taken at event in London on Valentine's Day 2024. He died at his parents' home after suffering a 'catastrophic head injury'. A gun was found close to his body Rosie was the granddaughter of Princess Diana 's uncle, the 5th Baron Fermoy, Edmund Roche, left in 1965, who killed himself in 1984 after suffering from a long bout of depression. He is pictured with his wife Lady Fermoy at the christening of their daughter Frances Last February, Thomas Kingston, royal Lady Gabriella Windsor's husband, died from a head injury, with a gun found near his body at his parents' home in the Cotswolds. An inquest in January heard that he had been given several drugs to treat depression by a GP at the Royal Mews Surgery, a practice at Buckingham Palace, after having trouble sleeping following stress at work. In the days leading up to his death, the former hostage negotiator turned financier had stopped taking any medication and toxicology tests showed caffeine and small amounts of sleeping tablet zopiclone in his system. The coroner found that he took his own life while 'suffering adverse effects of medication he had recently been prescribed'. For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support READ MORE: Gang of girls as young as 13 allegedly roll stolen car in Melbourne A former Queensland school captain has been charged by police over claims he sexually assaulted a young male during schoolies in 2024. Lucas James Want, 18, is charged with two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault over the alleged incidents in November 2024. He is yet to enter a plea, reported The Courier Mail. The teenager attended Grace Lutheran College at Rothwell and served as faith and service captain in Year 12. He was arrested in the Brisbane suburb of Margate on November 22, 2024. Schoolies for Queensland students to celebrate their high school graduation got underway just a few days earlier on November 17, 2024. Want is currently enrolled in paramedicine at Queensland University of Technology. He also works part-time as a gaming attendant and bartender at Redcliffe Leagues Club. Lucas James Want (pictured) was charged with two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault Want was also a competitive swimmer and competed with Southern Cross swimming club in Scarborough. Appearing in Gympie Magistrates Court, Mr Want's lawyer, Ashton Marini, requested access to the complainant's Cellebrite phone download. Cellebrite software is a system for instant and complete data extraction from a mobile device, often used by law enforcement and government agencies. He also requested QPRIME records of police interactions with witnesses. Mr Marini argued the evidence could be 'potentially relevant' to the case. However, police prosecutor Melissa Campbell opposed the request, describing it as a 'fishing expedition'. Handing over a full Cellebrite download would give Want and his lawyers personal text messages, including those between the complainant and his family. 'What right does my friend (the opposing lawyer) have to see a conversation between a juvenile and their mother from five years ago?' she said. Want's (pictured) charges are linked to alleged incidents during 2024 Schoolies Week Want (pictured) is studying to be a paramedic at the Queensland University of Technology 'It's not relevant to this matter before the court.' Magistrate Bevan Hughes ruled the mobile phone data must be disclosed to the defence, but denied access to the police database records. The matter has been adjourned to October 13. China has launched construction of a gargantuan dam that will produce enough electricity each year to power Britain - but neighbours India and Bangladesh warn it could be used to wage hydrowarfare. Chinese Premier Li Qiang officially launched the construction project for the Motuo Hydropower Station at a ceremony at a remote Tibetan village yesterday, describing it as the 'project of the century'. Five cascading hydropower stations will be installed along a bend in the Yarlung Zangpo river as it winds its way around the Namchabarwa mountain, with tunnels bored through the rock to force the water into turbines. Beijing says the dam, which is set to cost some 1.2 trillion yuan or 124 billion, will produce 300 billion kilowatt hours of electricity - more than triple the power output of the Three Gorges Dam in Yangtze central China, currently the world's largest. But the Yarlung Zangpo river flows into the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Amman and on into Bangladesh, to form the Siang, Brahmaputra and Jamuna rivers. These waterways are the lifeblood of civilisation in one of the most fertile and populous regions in the world. Indian and Bangladeshi officials are raising the alarm, arguing that the new dam would effectively hand China the power to control and restrict the flow of water across the border - or cause devastating floods. Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu told the PTI news agency earlier this month that the Siang and Brahmaputra could 'dry up considerably' once the dam was completed and described the project as 'an existential threat to our livelihoods'. 'The issue is that China cannot be trusted. No one knows what they might do,' he said, warning Beijing could use the dam to create a 'water bomb' in a time of war. 'Suppose the dam is built and they suddenly release water, our entire Siang belt would be destroyed... (communities) would see all their property, land, and especially human life, suffer devastating effects.' Five cascading hydropower stations will be installed along a bend in the Yarlung Zangpo river as it winds its way around the Namchabarwa mountain This photo taken on July 19, 2020 shows water being released from the Three Gorges Dam, a gigantic hydropower project on the Yangtze river Chinese President Xi Jinping visits the Yarlung Zangbo River in Nyingchi, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region Your browser does not support iframes. Shares in China Energy Engineering, the lead contractor for the project, leapt 51% following the opening ceremony yesterday, with Power China and Huaxin Cement also enjoying notable boosts. China's foreign ministry says the dam will be instrumental in achieving Beijing's net zero by 2060 goal. It previously dismissed complaints from Indian authorities as early as 2017 over rising pollution in the Siang river as a result of earlier construction projects, and has asserted that Beijing has a 'legitimate right' to dam the Yarlung Zangpo. The ministry added that China never 'pursues benefits for itself at the expense of its neighbours. China will continue to maintain current exchange channels with downstream nations and step up cooperation on disaster prevention and mitigation.' But Indian officials are not convinced. New Delhi lodged a formal complaint with China in 2024, while Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Khandu announced that politicians are already working to put defensive measures in place. He told PTI that the state government has conceived a project called the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project - a dam that will act as a buffer to avert flooding in the event that China releases huge quantities of water upstream. 'I believe China is either about to start or has already started work on their side. But they do not share any information. 'Who will make China understand? Since we cannot make China see reason, it is better that we focus on our own defence mechanisms and preparations. That is what we are fully engaged in at the moment,' he said. Neither China nor India is a signatory to the Water Convention, a UN treaty which provides a legal and regulatory framework for the protection and management of transboundary surface waters and groundwaters. This means Beijing is not bound to monitor water levels and is not responsible for ensuring that downstream rivers are provided with enough water to maintain its economic activity, agriculture and aquatic life. India accounts for roughly 17 per cent of the global population but has access to just 4 per cent of its fresh water resources, according to data published by the Stockholm International Water Institute and the World Bank. Australia's Lowy Institute in 2020 reported that Beijing's 'control over these rivers [in the Tibetan Plateau] effectively gives China a chokehold on India's economy', while the Parley Policy Initiative's special adviser for South Asia, Neeraj Singh Manhas, told a BBC podcast in January that China 'can always weaponise this water in terms of blocking it or diverting it'. A reliable water supply is also vital for India's plans to rapidly expand its coal power plants in the coming years as the world's most populous nation looks to develop its industry. 'Water wars are a key component of warfare... (these dams) allow China to leverage its upstream Tibet-centred power over the most essential natural resource,' political scientist Brahma Chellaney wrote in the Times of India. Chellaney, a professor of strategic studies at the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi, also pointed out that the Tibetan Plateau, through which the Yarlung Zangpo river flows, experiences high levels of seismic activity. Damming the river could increase the risk of natural disasters, creating a 'ticking water bomb', he said. Photo taken on July 27, 2020 shows floodwater being discharged from the Three Gorges Dam in central China's Hubei Province Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon and River as seen from Nyingchi, Tibet, China Construction is already underway along the Yarlung Zangbo river Your browser does not support iframes. New Delhi's protest at China's construction project comes just months after India also threatened to demonstrate the strategic power of water as a weapon of war. In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in April that sparked a brief armed conflict between India and Pakistan, New Delhi suspended its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty, which obliges India to allow water to flow into Pakistan from the Indus River - a lifeline for Pakistan's agriculture and economy. Dr Manali Kumar, an expert in Indian foreign policy at the University of St. Gallen, told MailOnline the move carried 'immense risks' and was perceived by Pakistan as an 'existential threat'. 'This also sets a dangerous precedent for the weaponisation of shared resources, raising alarms among India's other neighbours who will be watching how this develops very carefully,' Dr Kumar warned. China's new dam and India's suspension of the Indus Water Treaty are just the latest examples of the myriad ways in which controlling the flow of the world's most vital resource can be used as an instrument of leverage in foreign policy, or a tool of war. The Pacific Institute reported global water-related violence surged by more than 50 per cent in 2023 alone, as states and non-state actors alike realise the leverage water offers. Despite this, international institutions still largely view water as a development or environmental issue rather than a national security flashpoint, and there is no robust legal framework that clearly classifies the manipulation of water flows to coerce nations or harm civilians as a war crime. Advocates argue that the deliberate weaponisation of water must carry real consequences - from international sanctions to legal prosecutions and reparations - to prevent it from becoming a mechanism of modern conflicts. In the meantime, previous Chinese megadam construction projects have proven devastating for local populations and aquatic biodiversity. The Three Gorges Dam, finished in 2012 on the Yangtze River, created a huge man-made reservoir and displaced 1.4 million inhabitants upstream. Tempa Gyaltsen Zamlha, an environmental policy specialist at the Tibet Policy Institute, a think tank linked to the Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharamshala, India, said the same consequences would be felt around Yarlung Zangpo. 'We have a very rich Tibetan cultural heritage in those areas, and any dam construction would cause ecological destruction, submergence of parts of that region. 'Many local residents would be forced to leave their ancestral homes,' he said, adding that the project will encourage migration of Han Chinese workers that 'gradually becomes a permanent settlement'. 'Building a dam the size of the super-dam is likely a really bad idea for many reasons,' said Brian Eyler, energy, water and sustainability program director at the Stimson Center, a US think tank. The dam would block the migration of fish as well as sediment flow that enriches the soil during seasonal floods downstream, said Eyler. Angela Rayner has warned that anger at high levels of illegal immigration is risking social cohesion in Britain's poorest communities and must be addressed, as fears of a new 'summer of riots' grow. The Deputy Prime Minister told the Cabinet this morning they had to 'acknowledge the real concerns people have' about immigration and economic insecurity, hours after anti-migrant clashes spread to Norfolk. Around 150 people gathered last night outside the Park Hotel in Diss for a 'peaceful' protest after the Home Office announced plans to change it from housing asylum-seeker families to single men. But footage posted on social media, including by supporters of far right activist Tommy Robinson, showed clashes between pro and anti-migrant groups. It followed violence outside a hotel in Epping, Essex after an asylum seeker was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl eight days after arriving in the UK. Sir Keir Starmer has been warned that Britain is a 'powder keg' that could explode into a repeat of the street violence that followed the Southport murders 12 months ago - unless Labour gets a grip on migrant hotels. Yesterday Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed Britain was getting close to 'civil disobedience on a vast scale' while insisting the violence in Epping was caused by a few 'bad eggs'. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said today that Ms Rayner warned the Cabinet '17 of the 18 places that saw the worst of the disorder last summer ranked at the top of the most deprived, and while Britain was a successful multi-ethnic, multi-faith country, the Government had to show it had a plan to address people's concerns (and) provide opportunities for everyone to flourish'. 'I think she sees a link between concerns that people have about where the Government is acting on their behalf and acting in their interests, and a range of factors,' he said. Around 150 people gathered outside The Park Hotel, in Diss, Norfolk, last night. Protesters and counter-protesters clashed Protesters, including children, held up banners saying 'stop the boats', while others clashed with counter-protesters Protesters took to the streets of Epping on Sunday - with marchers seen holding red smoke flares aloft as demonstrators displayed signs behind them The Deputy Prime Minister told the Cabinet this morning they had to 'acknowledge the real concerns people have' about immigration and economic insecurity as fears of a 'summer of riots' grew. The Prime Minister is facing pressure to act to prevent a repeat of 2024, when towns and cities were hit by violent, often racist protests triggered by the Southport child murders. As the Commons prepares to break up today for its summer recess, Labour MPs have voiced fears that the country could see violence before they return in September, in a rerun of 12 months ago. The demonstration in Norfolk started with around 60 people shouting 'we want our country back'. They were met by about 30 counter-protesters from Stand Up To Racism holding signs that read 'refugees welcome'. Footage shows them initially standing on opposite sides of the road outside the hotel. But as tension mounted, they clashed with one another, with protesters crossing the road to confront the counter-protesters. South Norfolk Council has opposed plans to change the use of the hotel to single adult male migrants, saying it only learned about it in a brief email from Whitehall last week. The Home Office is in contact with Adrian Ramsay MP and the council. The local authority argued families at the hotel had become part of the local community and replacing them with single men could see tension boil over as it has in other parts of the country. An agitated protester could be seen clashing with counter-protesters and police in Diss Protesters and counter-protesters could be seen on opposite sides of the road outside the hotel In a letter to the Home Office, council leader Daniel Elmer, wrote: 'We feel the decision and intended timeframe poses significant risks and concerns to both community cohesion and the vulnerable single males who would be residing at the hotel. 'The community impact of this change cannot be overstated. When the hotel was first opened for asylum accommodation, there was considerable unease among local residents.' He added: 'A sudden shift to a SAM [Single Adult Male] hotel risks reigniting those tensions, especially in the absence of any community engagement or mitigation strategy from the Home Office.' The Grade II listed Park Hotel is situated on a road containing a mixture of Victorian, Tudor, and Elizabethan houses right in the heart of the historic Diss town centre. It is adjacent to the mere, a popular destination for locals and tourists which offers scenic views and opportunities for recreation and wildlife viewing. Julian Bareham, 71, who has lived opposite the Park Hotel for 22 years, complained he didn't want 'these people' walking freely around the town. 'If they are locked in and can't get out, I will feel more at ease. We don't know what these people are capable of,' he said. 'The hotel used to be a nice friendly community hub, an amenity that was well-respected and useful for those needing an overnight stay who were coming here for business. It is a huge loss. 'After lockdown, the hotel never really recovered and the owners sold it to new owners who did a deal with the government and this deal, I believe has been a disaster for the town.' But a 55-year-old man who lives near the hotel was supportive of the asylum seekers, however, and expressed concern about the tone of the protests. Protesters - some wearing Union Jack bucket hats - held placards up opposing the plans in Diss Counter-protesters gathered next to a 'stop the boat' banner holding posters up which said 'stop the far right' A police officer was seen with blood running down his cheek outside The Bell Hotel in Epping on July 20 In Epping, hundreds of furious locals gathered outside The Bell Hotel on Thursday after Ethiopian resident Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu (pictured), 38, was charged with sex attacks on schoolgirls. He denies the charges Riot police followed a march into the town centre as protesters gathered in the area 'Yesterday was absolute chaos, people were shouting far right and ill-informed things about how these people will be molesting and raping the women and children of Diss,' he told the Mail. 'I felt absolutely threatened in my own home, they were saying that they are going to be coming every Sunday at 2pm. This is going to disrupt our peaceful family life and I am worried. 'I have no issues with peaceful protests but this was unorganised, people spilling on the streets nearly being run over. A blind woman had to walk onto the road as the pavements were flooded. 'We have had asylum seekers residing next door for the last three years or so, roughly, and there has never been any issues. It is far better and quieter than when the hotel was in operation.' Last Thursday hundreds of furious locals gathered outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, after Ethiopian resident Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with sex attacks on schoolgirls. Kebatu denied the charges when he appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Eight police officers were injured on Thursday, while protests have continued to take place in the days since. Sunday was the fourth in just nine days - with around 500 people gathering outside the hotel. The leader of Epping Forest District Council warned that far right groups could feed off discontent if it is not closed. People wrapped in St George's flag faced down riot police who lined up in a queue on Hemnall Street in Epping on Sunday 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 Protesters appeared to scuffle with police near the centre of Epping Chris Whitbread told BBC Newsnight that the council had warned the Home Office the hotel was the wrong site, adding: 'It's a powder keg now and we need to get something done and we need the Home Office to listen.' He went on: 'My concerns are for next week, or this week, if Tommy Robinson turns up, if we see another example of what happened on Thursday evening, we really have got to get this back under control. He told Mr Robinson - whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon he was 'not welcome' and should stay away, but added: 'What we want is the Home Office to act sensibly, recognise that this hotel is in the wrong location for this type of use and close it as quickly as possible.' Mr Farage has also weighed in on the Epping protests, saying: 'I don't think anybody in London can understand just how close we are to civil disobedience on a vast scale in this country.' He accepted there were some 'bad eggs that turned up', including 'the usual far-Right thugs', but added: 'Do I understand how people in Epping feel? You bet your life I do. 'Don't underestimate the simmering anger and disgust there is in this country that we are letting in every week, in fact some days, 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. 'I do understand the genuine upset and anger, and I'll bet you that most of the people outside that hotel in Epping weren't far-Right or far-Left or anything like that, they were genuinely concerned families.' The Reform UK leader claimed Britain is on the brink of 'societal collapse' as he vowed to halve crime in five years if her becomes prime minister. The PM's official spokesperson has said there are now just over 200 migrant hotels, down from 400 under the Conservatives. But they failed to address whether the Epping protests will accelerate the Government's efforts to close these hotels. 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 The man was spotted back on the scene - with all his teeth intact - last night. 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' Ten people have been charged in relation to the riots, including a 17-year-old. Two people have been charged with violent disorder. Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: 'What we have seen in Epping over the last week is not protest, it's hooliganism and the people responsible for it can expect to be held accountable. 'To those who seek to use social media to peddle untruths and lies about the incidents in Epping on Thursday and Sunday, you won't win.' Blue and white smoke bombs were let off outside the hotel in Epping as protestors gathered The hotel (above) has been operating as an asylum hotel on and off for the last five years Protestors 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 Another display called to 'Stop the Boats' with England flags between the O's and on either corner The Prime Minister is facing pressure to act to prevent a repeat of 2024, when towns and cities were hit by violent, often racist protests triggered by the Southport child murders Epping Forest District Council Chris Whitbread warned that far right groups could feed off discontent if migrant hotels are not closed He spoke after demonstrations outside a hotel in Epping, Essex, left eight police officers injured. A Ukrainian OnlyFans model who went missing in Dubai and was later found severely injured on the side of the road has claimed that CCTV footage of her final moments before losing consciousness was erased by police in a cover-up. Maria Kovalchuk was discovered suffering from a broken spine and limbs back in March and spent time in hospital in a coma. The 20-year-old is now recovering in Norway and broke her silence in an interview which aired yesterday. Maria, who has undergone multiple surgeries and remains in a wheelchair, has no recollection of the violence she endured that led to her injuries, but she says the CCTV footage that captured her ordeal has been erased. 'Three months have passed - the police waited until the cameras were automatically wiped [after this period]', she claimed. 'Now there is no evidence'. Maria has also claimed that police made it 'very difficult for her to leave Dubai, and accused cops of withholding her passport. Additionally, the model blamed 'rich Russian kids' for her injuries, who she alleges abused her after a hotel party. 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 two men accused by Maria were briefly detained by police in Dubai - but only for one day. There appear to be no charges against them. Her terrifying ordeal unfolded when she missed a flight from Dubai to Thailand after she overslept, she says. While checking out of her hotel, she bumped into a wealthy 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. 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. She claims that CCTV footage of her final moments before losing consciousness was erased by police in a cover-up 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 '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. '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. 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 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.' 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.' 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. Russia has revealed what it claims is the largest drone production facility in the world. Located in a highly secretive complex in Yelabuga, Tatarstan, it employs teenagers to help build lethal kamikaze drones used in strikes on Ukraine. Footage broadcast by the Russian military's Zvezda TV channel shows rows of Gen-2 drones lined up inside the plant, ready to be deployed. The unnamed aerial vehicles are Russian-made versions of Iran's Shahed-136 and have been used in deadly attacks on Ukrainian cities. Their black matte paint is designed to reduce visibility during night-time missions and evade air defence detection. The Alabuga plant is more than 1,000 kilometres from Ukraine's border and is part of a state-run special economic zone. Its director has boasted that production has exceeded expectations. Some reports suggest up to 18,000 units were built in the first half of 2025 alone. It's been reported that teenage students from the nearby Alabuga Polytechnic College are being trained in weapons manufacturing from the age of 14 or 15. Russia has showed off what it claims is the world's biggest drone production facility Videos show how the drones are launched from the back of vehicles According to reports, teenage students from a nearby school are being used to make the killing machines Once they complete their education, many transition directly to the factory floor to join the assembly line. Footage shows these teenagers working on components, programming drones, and carrying out testing tasks, their faces blurred to conceal identities. Critics say this represents a dangerous militarisation of education, where children are being groomed into the defence industry and made to contribute directly to a brutal war. Reports from Russian media and leaked testimonies reveal that students are subjected to long working hours, sometimes without breaks, and are paid modest wages of about $335 to $445 per month. Contracts ban them from speaking about their work and impose severe financial penalties of up to $22,000 for violations. Families who resist or refuse participation can be forced to repay thousands of dollars in training costs, with surveillance reportedly used to enforce compliance. The drones produced at Alabuga have a range of up to 1,800 kilometres and are equipped with warheads capable of inflicting widespread destruction. Although Russia insists its drone strikes only target military sites, Ukraine and international observers accuse Moscow of using them to terrorise civilians. Teens who work at the factory are paid $335 to $445 per month and are forced to pay up to $22,000 if they violate their contract Vladimir Putin says than 1.5 million unmanned systems were built last year Russia insists the drones only targets military sites - however, several organisations have refuted this claim Kyiv has repeatedly reported drone attacks on residential areas, including the capital, where people take cover in underground shelters during nightly bombardments. The factory has also been linked to high-profile drone launches using repurposed American pickup trucks, which have been filmed carrying and firing the Geran-2. Russian state media showcased this as part of a broader campaign to boost public support for the war effort. President Vladimir Putin has called for an urgent increase in drone production, claiming more than 1.5 million unmanned systems were built last year. It is not the first time there has been news of children being used in Russia's war. Last month, Georgetown University published that thousands of children abducted from Ukrainian villages were being forcibly turned into soldiers. Pauline Hanson wasted no time stirring controversy as Parliament resumed, turning her back during the Senate's Acknowledgement of Country ceremony on day one. The One Nation leader was joined in protest by her colleagues Malcolm Roberts and newly elected senators Warwick Stacey (NSW) and Tyron Whitten (WA). Hanson has long railed against Welcome to Country ceremonies, labelling them 'unnecessary' and 'divisive.' 'I've made this protest on my own for years, but today, our whole team made it clear: we've had enough of being told we don't belong in our own country,' Hanson said on Tuesday. 'We took this stand because we're listening to Australians, hardworking, decent people who are sick of being lectured to in their own country.' Back in September, the controversial Senator urged Australians to reject the tradition, claiming it excluded non-Indigenous people. 'If they are not to cater to white people, then why are white people constantly subjected to them? These welcomes are based on lies that Australia is not our home. So many people tell me they are just over it,' she said at the time. She also argued the ceremonies had been allowed to 'fester for too long' and should be scrapped from public events entirely. Hanson (right) and her fellow One Nation Senators turned their back during the Welcome to Country ceremony in the Senate on Tuesday But Hanson's protest wasn't the only curveball she threw. In a surprising twist, the Queensland senator nominated progressive Independent David Pocock to serve as President of the Senate, a political move that left many in the chamber stunned. 'I would like to nominate David Pocock,' Hanson said. Pocock, a former Wallabies captain and senator for the ACT, is known for his strong stance on climate action and progressive reform, often clashing with Hanson's views. Caught off guard, Pocock politely declined the nomination. 'I am very flattered that you would put me forward,' he said. 'I would politely decline the nomination, but thank you.' Ultimately, Labor's Sue Lines was re-elected Senate President, a role she's held since 2022. Though Pocock was once a crucial swing vote during the Albanese government's first term, Labor's bolstered Senate numbers now mean it only needs the Greens' support to pass legislation. David Pocock (pictured) was taken aback when nominated by Hanson for Senate President, which he politely declined Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party has seen its numbers grow from 2 to 4 at the last election Hanson wasn't the only senator making a statement on opening day. Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi held up a pro-Palestine sign during Governor-General Sam Mostyn's address to mark the start of the 48th Parliament. Hanson is no stranger to headline-grabbing stunts. In 2017, she entered the Senate chamber wearing a burqa to push her campaign for banning the religious garment, a move that was widely condemned, including by then-Attorney-General George Brandis, who called it 'appalling.' Parliament returned on Tuesday for the first time since the May 3 election and will sit for two weeks. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley are set to face off in their first Question Time on Wednesday. Angela Rayner is aligning herself with Labour's regional mayors - and pitting herself against Rachel Reeves - by backing demands for a 'tourist tax', it is reported. The Deputy Prime Minister is said to be at odds with the Chancellor by arguing that local authorities should be given the power to tax visitors' hotel stays. Many cities across Europe charge tourists a tax on the cost of hotels rooms and private rooms. Both Sir Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, and Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, have supported calls for a visitor levy. But, according to The Telegraph, Treasury officials are opposed to a tourism tax amid fears it would represent a fresh blow to the hospitality industry. The newspaper reported that Ms Reeves has ruled out further fiscal devolution. This is despite Ms Rayner having pushed for powers to charge tourist taxes to be included in the Government's new devolution bill, published earlier this month. Labour's workers' rights reforms and Ms Reeves' hiking of employers' National Insurance contributions have already burdened businesses with higher costs. Angela Rayner is aligning herself with Labour's regional mayors - and pitting herself against Rachel Reeves - by backing demands for a 'tourist tax', it is reported The Deputy Prime Minister is said to be at odds with the Chancellor by arguing that local authorities should be given the power to tax visitors' hotel stays Both Sir Sadiq Khan, the London mayor (left), and Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor (right), have supported calls for a visitor levy Critics warned a tourism tax would cause further harm for the hospitality industry. Tory shadow chancellor Mel Stride said: 'Labour can't help themselves - it's always tax, tax, tax. 'Whether it's Angela Rayner or Rachel Reeves, the instinct is always the same - more taxes. 'First a 25billion jobs tax, now threats of a tourist tax that would hit hospitality hard.' Kate Nicholls, of UK Hospitality, said England already ranked poorly against European rivals for 'tourism competitiveness' because of a comparatively high rate of VAT. Sir Sadiq and Mr Burnham recently joined other mayors to urge the Government to allow local authorities to bring in a Barcelona-style visitor levy to generate income from tourism. The group, led by Liverpool city region mayor Steve Rotherham, said provisions could be made in the devolution bill, or in a specific finance bill. 'The Liverpool city region is a global icon of creativity, culture and character - attracting more than 60million visitors every year and supporting a 6.25billion visitor economy,' Mr Rotheram said. 'That's something to be incredibly proud of - but it also comes with pressures on our infrastructure and services. 'A small charge on overnight stays - the kind most of us wouldn't think twice about when travelling abroad - would give us the power to reinvest directly into the things that make our area so special.' A Government spokesman said: 'There are currently no plans to introduce a tourism tax in England. 'Places can already choose to introduce a levy on overnight stays through the Accommodation Business Improvement District model. 'We are also already empowering local leaders by removing restrictions and allowing the existing Mayoral Council Tax Precept to be spent on areas that drive local growth, such as transport and adult skills.' Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner's cause of death has been revealed, following his fatal crash during a paraglider descent at an Italian resort. Baumgartner, 56, tragically died at around 4pm local time on Thursday in Italy's Porto Sant'Elpidio in the province of Fermo when a flight in a motorised paraglider took a fatal turn. The Red Bull-sponsored athlete, who was holidaying with partner Michela Radulescu, flew over Italy's Adriatic coast and crashed into a swimming pool at the Le Mimose holiday camp. Since his untimely death, Attorney General Raffaele Iannella, who is leading the investigation into Baumgartner's death, told BILD that autopsies are currently being run on his body, located at the forensic medicine department of nearby Fermo hospital. 'What we know for sure so far: Baumgartner died on impact, his spine fractured in the lower part of his back, and his spinal cord was damaged', he said. Local media has also reported that a freak mid-air accident may have triggered the drop. Investigators reportedly believe that a camera attacked to Baumgartner's paraglider may have fallen into the propellor, causing it to break. They are reportedly looking to gain access to the camera to get a full timeline of the crash. Baumgartner, 56, tragically died at around 4pm local time on Thursday in Italy 's Porto Sant'Elpidio in the province of Fermo when a flight in a motorised paraglider took a fatal turn The Red Bull-sponsored athlete flew over Italy's Adriatic coast and crashed into a swimming pool at the Le Mimose holiday camp Baumgartner was holidaying with partner Michela Radulescu (picture, right) For now, Italy's public prosecutor's office said it could take 40-5 days for any investigations to be completed. It comes after partner Michela Radulesc shared chilling footage of her long-term partner just minutes before the tragic death, tragically adding that she filmed the video 'not knowing that this would be his last flight of his extraordinary life'. Taking to X to post the somber video, Ms Radulescu said: 'For over 12 years I was there for every take off and landing, from skydiving, paragliding, helicopter flights, paramotor to aerobatic shows. 'And when I couldnt be there for some heli flights, we had the WLC code - the Wifey Landing Call. Never missed one. Except this one.' Describing her partner as 'truly special', she added that he was 'going home now, up there, where he was the happiest ever'. The 55-year-old also thanked the public for both their support and also for helping to 'keep his unique legacy high up'. Baumgartner gained international recognition in 2012 after he leapt from the edge of space in the world's most extreme skydive. This is the dramatic moment a gang of would-be pickpockets targeting unsuspecting tourists in Venice are caught by a crime fighting councillor. Monica Poli, known as Lady Pickpocket, spends her time touring the piazzas and ferry jetties of the famous lagoon city while keeping an eye out for the crooks. The modern-day Artful Dodgers made famous in the Charles Dickens classic Oliver Twist are the scourge of Venice, which sees more than 30 million tourists a year. Although the majority of visitors leave with no issue, so far 900 have been victims to pickpockets. Armed with just her phone Mrs Poli - who is a Northern League councillor - tours Venice and knows the majority of the 'dippers' by sight. When she sees them, she screams out in Italian and English 'Attention Pickpockets', usually sending the would-be thieves running. In one of her most recent videos, Mrs Poli caught a female pickpocket red handed as she targeted an unsuspecting tourist in Venice. Dressed smartly, the young woman easily blends in with other travellers as she follows her target over the famous Rialto Bridge. Footage captured the dramatic moment a gang of would-be pickpockets targeting unsuspecting tourists in Venice are caught by crime fighting councillor Monica Poli Monica Poli, known as Lady Pickpocket, spends her time touring the piazzas and ferry jetties of the famous lagoon city while keeping an eye out for the crooks Screen grab shows a suspected pickpocket who was caught and called out by Mrs Poli Using a map as cover the girl manages to unfasten her victim's handbag but is thwarted as the woman quickens her pace. At that moment Mrs Poli confronts her and asks in Italian:'What are you doing ?' before the clip ends with the pickpocket scowling as she tries to hide her face. In another video which Mrs Poli shared with MailOnline, three young girls, who are known pickpockets, can be seen in a square in the centre of Venice, but when they see they are being filmed, they disappear. Another video shows Mrs Poli confronting three men on a jetty while they try to board a crowded boat carrying tourists. One is dressed in a yellow T shirt, bucket hat and carrying a rucksack and as he spots that he is being filmed he darts off into the street as Mrs Poli alerts tourists: 'Pickpocket, watch out thieves.' An accomplice of the man is also seen leaving the jetty after being pointed out and a third tries to blend into the crowd before deciding that he too will make good his escape and run up the street. Shouting at him in Italian she says: 'Off the jetty, thief, get off the jetty,' as he waves his arms in frustration at her while tourists look on and some even applaud her for her quick thinking. Mrs Poli's crime fighting exploits caome as Venice's deputy police chief Gianni Franzoi revealed 900 wallets and purses had been recovered since the start of the year enough to fill 15 black bin bags. Video shows Mrs Poli confronting three men on a jetty while they try to board a crowded boat carrying tourists A man dressed in a yellow T shirt, bucket hat and carrying a rucksack and as he spots that he is being filmed he darts off into the street Officials said that 100 pickpockets and bag snatchers had been arrested but they were also fighting a losing battle as gangs were now using children as young as 12 and 13 and so therefore under the age of criminal responsibility. Favoured spots for pickpockets in Venice include crowd boarding ferries, the streets leading to St Mark's Square and the Rialto bridge which are tiny and cramped and so when a pickpocket brushes past the victim and helps themselves, they know nothing. But it's not just tourists who have fallen victim, Diplomats based in the city and an Arab sheikh have also fallen foul of the young pickpockets who even if they are caught are usually released without charge because of their age. Mrs Poli said: 'This is a real problem for us in the city, the age of these criminals because they are so young the police can do nothing but let them go. 'They should be at school or playing with their friends not out stealing wallets and purses for Mr Bigs it really is like something from Oliver Twist and the bad guys are just like Mafias.' Mrs Poli who also runs a campaign group called Non Distratti (don't get distracted) has been fighting for years to tackle the problem and regularly posts on social media clips of herself confronting pickpockets. One video has amassed an amazing two million clicks as she confronted one pickpocket who took flight but not before spitting at her as he fled the pontoon jetty. Pictured: Monica Poli, who is committed to stopping pickpockets on the streets of Venice Another man is also seen leaving the jetty after being spotted Shouting at him in Italian Mrs Poli says: 'Off the jetty, thief, get off the jetty,' as he waves his arms in frustration at her while tourists look on and some even applaud her for her quick thinking Her efforts come as Venice's deputy police chief Gianni Franzoi revealed 900 wallets and purses had been recovered since the start of the year Both Mrs Poli and Mr Franzoi highlighted how a law change in 2022 has also made it more difficult for pickpockets to be convicted even if they are caught and charged. Known as the Cartabia reform after former Italian MP and justice minister Marta Cartabia introduced it, the measure changed the way in how minor crimes were handled by the country's justice system in an attempt to speed up cases and clear backlogs. With regard to pickpockets it meant the victim had to make a formal complaint and then also turn up at trial and if they didn't the charge was annulled but as both Mr Franzoi and Mrs Poli pointed out many victims are 'overseas tourists' and simply don't bother. Mr Franzoi added: 'We have been tasked with tackling pickpockets since the 1990s and we have a dedicated squad but over the years the number of incidents has increased considerably. 'In the early 2000s it was mainly Romani men and women but in recent years it's younger people and especially girls, mainly children who live in camps outside Venice and they are all part of organised gangs. In another clip, the councillor confronts a group of teenage girls also believed to be pickpockets Mrs Poli who also runs a campaign group called Non Distratti (don't get distracted) has been fighting for years to tackle the problem 'They are very accomplished and know that they can act with impunity because of their age and all we can do is give then a sheet of paper telling them to leave the city limits which they do but then they just come back. 'The Cartabia reform has really made it difficult for us to secure prosecutions because it needs the victim to make a complaint and turn up for the trial but a foreign tourist is not coming back for a trial over a stolen wallet or purse.' Mrs Poli added:' The city of Venice is a labyrinth of alleys and side-streets and by the time you call the police and they arrive the pickpockets have gone but they all know me, and I know have to be very careful. 'I've been threatened and spat at but I am not going to back down and will carry on, what really upsets me is when I see old people and disabled people being pick-pocketed, that makes me so angry and makes me want to fight on.' Mrs Poli also shared her tips for not being pick-pocketed in Venice and did say the chances were small but advised: 'Keep your bag in front of you with the zip shut and put your hands over it if you can. 'Be careful in crowds especially in the streets and if someone brushes past you double check to make sure you have your wallet or purse the problem is pickpockets dress just like you and me in Venice. 'A lot of it is common sense, don't keep important documents with your credit cards, keep them separate and if you have a bag make sure it has an inside zip pocket.' A jetski crash in a river in Sydney's south has tragically killed one teenager and left another teen in a critical condition. Emergency crews were called to the Georges River at Sylvania about 6pm on Tuesday after reports of a possible drowning near Tom Ugly's Bridge. NSW Police confirmed officers attached to Sutherland Shire Police Area Command were told a jet ski had possibly crashed, leaving persons in the water. Police and paramedics located two teenage boys in the water, with emergency responders jumping in to the river to help rescue the pair. One teenager, 15, was pulled unresponsive from the water and CPR was given at the scene. Paramedics were unable to revive the teenager and the 15-year-old died at the scene. A second teenager, 14, who was suffering from traumatic injuries was rescued from the water. Ambulance crew and a specialist medical team treated the 14-year-old for a severed arm before stabilising the teen. A teenager has died and another has been left in a critical condition after a jetski crash in Sydney's south Police arrived on the scene at around 6pm on Tuesday to discover two teenagers in the water A 14-year-old was treated at the scene for a severed arm before being sedated and placed into an induced coma The second teen was then sedated and placed into an induced coma before being transported by road to Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick. They remain in a critical condition while early reports suggested both teens were riding a jetski at the time of the incident. Police have established a crime scene and commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the tragic crash. A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner. A coroner today asked for mental health reports on a mother who fell to her death while embroiled in a bitter legal fight with her fiance over their 2.7million London home. Rachel OHare, founder of a charity which helps women in domestic violence refuges, was found next to a city centre apartment block last month. The 49-year-old divorcee was suing her exlover, celebrity antiques dealer Owen Pacey, 60, for ownership of a fivestorey Georgian mansion, in the trendy area of Spitalfields, East London, before she died. Ms O'Hare, whose charity Elle for Elle aimed to support women in need by offering them basic toiletries and beauty products, was pronounced dead outside Victoria House, Ancoats, on the edge of Manchester city centre, on June 30. The mother-of-three was described by friends as a 'kind, energetic woman who put others before herself'. Area coroner for Manchester Mr Paul Appleton opening the inquest this morning asked for details of any mental health treatment Ms OHare may have received. Mr Appleton said: 'I am conducting the opening of the inquest of the sudden and sad death of Rachel OHare. 'I have been provided with a witness statement by police coroners officer Elizabeth Davies. Rachel O'Hare, 49, fell to her death from a city centre apartment block on June 30 'Officer Davies described the circumstances of that to be as follows. On June 30, 2025, Rachel was found deceased outside Victoria House on Great Ancoats Street, Manchester. 'Police attended the scene and sadly pronounced her life to be extinct based upon Rachel having injuries which were deemed to be incompatible with life.' The inquest held at Manchester Coroner's Court heard how Ms OHare, an interior designer, was formally identified by her passport, and the clothing and jewellery she was wearing, as described by her daughter. A preliminary cause of death provided by Dr Martin Swali was multiple traumatic injuries. Mr Appleton added: 'A witness statement is to be provided by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust as to any relevant contact, care or treatment provided to Rachel.' A witness statement is to be provided by Rachels general practitioner and or the surgery. The coroner went on: 'The full file from Greater Manchester Police is to be provided once complete and the results of post-mortem toxicology analysis are to be provided in due course.' A date for the hearing is expected to be confirmed later in the year. According to court documents seen by the Mail, she claims she paid for the London property and it was rightfully hers. Ms O'Hare, 49, was suing her antiques dealer fiance Owen Pacey, 60, over their 2.7m home Ms O'Hare alleged that Mr Pacey, a former squatter and selfmade antique fireplace expert who counts Mick Jagger, Naomi Campbell, Kate Winslet and Orlando Bloom among his clients, had locked her out of the luxury home. She says he stopped her from collecting her belongings, refused to pay any bills and threatened to 'trash' the interior, which is packed with beautiful artwork, ornate Italian chandeliers and expensive designer furniture. The couple, who split acrimoniously in May last year, were due to go head to head over the property at a High Court trial in the next few months. But just four days after the most recent hearing in the case, at Leeds Combined Court, on June 26, Ms O'Hare was found dead. The fivestorey Georgian mansion is located in the trendy area of Spitalfields, London The interior of the house is packed with beautiful artwork, ornate Italian chandeliers and expensive designer furniture The fivestorey Georgian mansion in west London that was the centre of Ms O'Hare and Mr Pacey's court battle In a statement to the court in Leeds, Ms O'Hare claimed Mr Pacey persuaded her to buy the elegant 18th Century house, in Wilkes Street, east London, in their joint names, in June 2021. She took out a loan and also used the proceeds of her divorce settlement from exhusband, Steve O'Hare, 50, a Cheshirebased millionaire investment manager, with whom she had three teenage children, to pay for it. At that time, she and Mr Pacey had been together for less than a year following a whirlwind romance after meeting at his highend fireplace showroom, Renaissance, which is based in a former Victorian pub, in Shoreditch, east London. Legal papers seen by MailOnline show that when the former couple bought the house together in 2021, they both signed an agreement specifying that if one of them were to die, ownership of the house would pass to the surviving partner The documents, drawn up by the solicitors who had handled the purchase of the historic Spitalfields house, had offered Mr Pacey and Ms OHare two options: they could either each own a specified proportion of the whole property or they could jointly own the whole with full ownership reverting to the surviving partner if the other predeceased them. Because they chose the latter option, the documents signed on 1st August 2021 mean Owen Pacey became the sole owner of the 2.7 million 18th Century property in London following Rachel OHares sudden death. In a newspaper interview while they were still a couple, Mr Pacey claimed it was love at first sight when they first met. 'She bought a table,' he said. 'That was it, as soon as I saw her.' Ms O'Hare said Mr Pacey, who was brought up in a council flat in gritty Bethnal Green and left school at 14 with no qualifications, promised to pay her his share of the fourbedroomed property within two years, once he had sold the 1.2million maisonette above the shop that he owned. 'The first defendant (Mr Pacey) said he had no money to contribute when the property was purchased but would be able to pay the claimant for his share in due course,' legal documents said. Rachel O'Hare, 49, was killed falling from a block of flats in Manchester on June 30 in a tragedy described by police as 'nonsuspicious' To give her peace of mind, Ms O'Hare said Mr Pacey also agreed to put half of his fireplace business, worth around 5million, in her name until he secured the monies. She also claimed they agreed to share the cost of renovating the house they spent 14,000 on radiator valves alone and, if he didn't pay his share or they split, it would revert back to her ownership. Mr Pacey gave her paperwork to sign, which persuaded her he was arranging the legal formalities, and also sent her reassuring texts, saying: 'You are on the title deed either of the flat or shop,' she said. Police at the scene in Manchester where Ms O'Hare's body was discovered on the pavement next to an apartment complex, where she was living The scene around the Leonardo Hotel and Victoria House apartments was cordoned off following the grim discovery Shortly before Christmas, in 2022, the couple got engaged and Mr Pacey did 'gift' Ms O'Hare a 50 per cent share in the threebedroomed maisonette. He moved into the newly renovated Wilkes Street property and told a journalist: 'I used to dream about living in Spitalfields. To actually live there now I've never been so happy.' But Ms O'Hare remained in Mere, Cheshire, with her three schoolage children and 10 months later, in October 2023, the couple's 'turbulent' relationship started hitting the rocks. Ms O'Hare discovered Mr Pacey had never formalised her 50 per cent stake in his business and they began arguing regularly over money. She claimed she had ended up paying the lion's share of the house refurbishment when he failed to pay builders' fees. She also alleged Mr Pacey was 'controlling' and instructed lawyers to begin legal action against him. 'The relationship between the claimant (Ms O'Hare) and the first defendant (Mr Pacey) was turbulent,' Ms O'Hare's claim said. 'Incidents led to temporary separations and there was a final and unequivocal parting in May 2024. 'The claimant contends that the cause of the breakdowns was the first defendant's controlling and abusive behaviour, which led to the involvement of the police.' Owen Pacey (pictured above) said it was 'love at first sight' when he met Rachel O'Hare and has denied being controlling Mr Pacey was alleged to have promised to put half of his business in Ms O'Hare's name only to never have done so Jamie Oliver and Owen Pacey on Pacey's Shoreditch terrace The secluded terrace of O'Hare's 3million house in Spitalfields The interior of the home also boasts an elegant tiled floor and grand marble fire place One of the bedrooms in the flat decorated with lavish furniture and a modern chandelier In a defence statement also submitted to the court, Mr Pacey denied persuading Ms O'Hare, a respected fundraiser who set up a domestic abuse charity providing toiletries for women living in refuges, to buy the house in their joint names. He said she did so because they were 'in love' and there was no discussion or agreement about him eventually paying for half of the house or transferring over 50 per cent of his business. 'The parties (Ms O'Hare and Mr Pacey) were going to get married and there was just no discussion about who owned what,' his defence document said. Mr Pacey, who once described being made homeless and forced to live in a squat in King's Cross after having his first flat repossessed in the 1980s as the 'most traumatic thing I've ever been through,' also denied being controlling. He said they had only argued seriously twice both times when Ms O'Hare had been drunk, in Rye, Kent, in the summer of 2023 and the night before they were departing to New York in May 2024. He also denied not allowing Ms O'Hare access to the property, now estimated to be worth in excess of 3.2m, or not paying bills or threatening to trash it. He claimed he paid 70,000 towards the house renovation and provided most of the furniture from his shop. He had also installed six Italian marble fireplaces, worth 350,000, and claimed Ms O'Hare had organised glossy magazine features to show off and promote the 2,700sq ft house, which they planned to rent out for use in 1,000aday photo shoots. According to his statement, dated February this year, he wanted to get the maisonette and the Georgian home valued, so that he could buy her out of both properties. When approached by the Mail, Mr Pacey refused to discuss his legal dispute with his former fiancee except to say: 'I worshipped the ground Rachel walked on.' He added that Ms O'Hare had been suffering from poor mental health in the weeks leading up to her death and had recently been treated in hospital. Mr Pacey said: 'I'm suffering with my own mental health. I don't want to be here without her.' Mike Lynch's estate is now effectively bankrupt after being told to pay Hewlett Packard 700million in a court case over the late British tycoon's former company. A judge in London said HP was owed the money from the estate of Dr Lynch and his former business partner over its acquisition of their software firm Autonomy. HP is trying to recoup its losses from Dr Lynch - who died a year ago when his luxury yacht sank off Sicily - and Autonomy's ex-chief financial officer Sushovan Hussain. The High Court ruling comes after seven people died in the Bayesian disaster on August 19 last year including billionaire Dr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18. It means Dr Lynch would be expected to pass nothing to his widow Angela Bacares who survived the disaster - and surviving daughter Esme, unless there is an appeal. The California-based technology giant sued Dr Lynch and Mr Hussain, accusing them of masterminding an elaborate fraud to inflate the value of Autonomy, which HP bought for 8billion in 2011 before the deal spectacularly unravelled. HP wrote down Autonomy's value by 6.5billion within a year and brought a 4billion lawsuit against Dr Lynch and Mr Hussain, with a judge ruling in HP's favour in 2022. Dr Lynch, once hailed as Britain's answer to Bill Gates, had always maintained his innocence and blamed HP for failing to integrate Autonomy into the company. Mike Lynch with his wife Angela Bacares, who managed to escape from the disaster off Sicily Hannah Lynch with her father Mike Lynch. Both died in the sinking of his superyacht last month Mike Lynch's 6million Georgian manor house in Suffolk, in 69 acres of grounds and woodland He was acquitted of criminal charges over the deal in the US and had intended to appeal the High Court's 2022 ruling, a process which had been on hold pending today's decision on damages. Judge Robert Hildyard ruled HP sustained losses of over 646million in relation to the difference between what HP paid for Autonomy and what HP would have paid 'had Autonomy's true financial position been correctly presented'. Judge Hilyard also said HP was entitled to another 52million in relation to 'personal claims for deceit and/or misrepresentation against Dr Lynch and Mr Hussain', plus another 35million in relation to losses suffered by group companies. Some of the money is due to be paid by Mr Hussain, who was also sued by HPE. He was convicted in April 2018 in the US of wire fraud and other crimes related to Autonomy's sale, and was sentenced to five years in prison. While he has since settled HPE's claim, he could still be required to pay damages. HP said at a hearing last year that it was seeking up to 3billion. A further hearing to deal with matters including interest, currency conversion and whether Dr Lynch's estate can appeal against the decision is set to be held in November. Handing down his ruling, Mr Justice Hildyard expressed his 'great sympathy' for Dr Lynch's family, calling his death a 'tragedy'. The Bayesian at Termini Imerese in Palermo in June where Italian prosecutors are investigating The mast of tech tycoon Mike Lynch's superyacht the Bayesian at Termini Imerese in Palermo The Bayesian at Termini Imerese, where Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking are based He said: 'It is a source of anxiety to me that I have to deliver a judgment that will inevitably cause further stress on those involved.' In the 197-page ruling, he said he considered that HP's claim 'was always substantially exaggerated' and that the 4billion ($5billion) figure claimed 'was not based on detailed analysis'. Following the ruling in 2022, Dr Lynch, who was also the founding investor of cybersecurity giant Darktrace, was extradited to the US in May 2023 to face criminal charges after his removal was approved by the then-Home Secretary Priti Patel. He was cleared of accusations that he orchestrated a fraud and conspiracy over Autonomy's sale in the US in June 2024, and was celebrating the acquittal on his yacht at the time of his death. In a statement written before his death, issued posthumously by his representatives today, Dr Lynch said: 'Today's High Court ruling reflects that HP's original $5billion damages claim was not just a wild overstatement - misleading shareholders - but it was off the mark by 80 per cent. 'HP acquired Autonomy for $11.6billion and today's judgment is a view that Autonomy's actual value was not even 10 per cent below the price HP paid. 'This result exposes HP's failure and makes clear that the immense damage to Autonomy was down to HP's own errors and actions. An appeal process will be considered later this year. The tech tycoon's superyacht the Bayesian is moved after being lifted to the surface in June 'The English civil case included hearsay evidence from the US and we were never able to question or cross-examine those witnesses. 'This is in direct contrast to the rights of defendants in the US legal system. 'When in the US criminal trial we were able to cross-examine the relevant witnesses, a very different story emerged. Why is the English legal system so trusting?' A spokesperson for HP, now known as Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, said: 'We are pleased that this decision brings us a step closer to the resolution of this dispute. 'We look forward to the further hearing at which the final amount of HPE's damages will be determined.' Jeremy Sandelson, who was appointed by the court as administrator of Dr Lynch's estate, said he would be 'examining the judgment carefully', including whether to appeal both the 2022 ruling and the judgment today. Meanwhile inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Dr Lynch and his daughter Hannah, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals. Lawyer Chris Morvillo, his wife Neda and Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, 59, an onboard chef, were also among the dead. Fifteen people were rescued, including Dr Lynch's widow Ms Bacares, who has her own assets which are legally separate from her late husband's estate and are therefore not impacted by the ruling. Banking boss Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy died in the superyacht disaster last August Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were also among the dead The body of chef Recaldo Thomas was discovered on the day of the sinking in August last year The recovery mission to bring up the wreckage of the vessel concluded after the 184ft hull and 236ft mast, as well as deck furniture and other loose items, were delivered to Italian authorities last month in Palermo. The hull was recovered on June 21 and transported around 12 miles to Termini Imerese the next day by one of the most powerful floating sea cranes in Europe. On June 23 it was lifted into heavy steel supports on the quayside, which had tarpaulin underneath to prevent pollution. The cradle was custom-designed to fit the shape of the hull and built in the Netherlands. The mast had been detached from the hull for the recovery and was on the seabed. It was salvaged using inflatable lifting balloons and delivered to port on June 25, along with loose items that may have moved away from the vessel during the past ten months. Remote-controlled submersible equipment was used to locate the debris in the vicinity of the Bayesian site. The vessel was originally expected to be raised in May but salvage efforts were delayed after a diver died during underwater work, prompting greater use of remote-controlled equipment. About 70 specialist personnel were mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation. Britain will have to pay the EU a fee for any weapons bought from UK firms via the bloc's new 150 billion defence fund, it is reported. Sir Keir Starmer boasted in May how his Brexit 'reset' deal with the EU would pave the way for UK defence firms to access the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) fund. The Prime Minister said British participation in the fund would support thousands of jobs and boost economic growth. But Sir Keir was also warned there would be a 'pay to play' element for British access to SAFE, following French demands for a UK financial contribution. According to the Financial Times, this will see Britain having to pay the EU a percentage of the value of any weapons bought from UK companies via SAFE. The newspaper reported the exact figure Britain will have to pay to access the fund is still under discussion by EU member states. They are finalising their position on the deal with the UK, which is expected to be published later this week. Brussels is set to argue that because UK firms would receive EU money to create jobs and expand capacity under the scheme, London should recompense the bloc. Sir Keir Starmer struck his Brexit 'reset' deal with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in May Defence Secretary John Healey is pictured observing a storm shadow missile on an assembly line at the MBDA Storm Shadow factory in Stevenage An EU diplomat said: 'What was written in the SAFE regulation is that there shall be a fair balance as regards the contributions and the benefits.' Another diplomat revealed how France is pushing for a high UK contribution but other countries, led by Germany, want to ensure the UK is not dissuaded from joining. SAFE was set up by Brussels amid the threat posed by Russia and following threats by US President Donald Trump to scrap American security guarantees for Europe. The multi-billion fund will allow EU member states to take out loans for weapons from funds raised against the EU budget. There are strict rules on where arms can be purchased from, with initial fears that British defence firms would be excluded from the fund. These include a 'buy European' clause that means the fund can only be used to purchase arms from EU-linked countries or Ukraine. Brussels officials previously outlined how the fund would only consider buying British arms if the UK struck a new security and defence partnership with the EU. Sir Keir agreed such a partnership with the EU as part of his Brexit 'reset' in May. In order for UK defence products to qualify, the value of their components from members of SAFE must be at least 65 per cent. Other restrictions relate to the purchase of complex weapons systems where non-EU countries hold 'design authority'. Concerns were recently expressed in Germany that the US has the power to shut off F-35 fighter jets, which are widely used across Europe. But the US denied the existence of a 'kill switch'. A Government spokesperson said: 'We won't preempt our discussions with the EU. 'It is in all our interests for the UK and EU to bring together our unique capabilities and expertise to make Europe a safer, more secure, and more prosperous place. 'That is why we agreed a landmark Security and Defence Partnership, enhancing our security and defence cooperation and delivering for citizens across the continent.' A wannabe influencer who stabbed his wife to death was caught smirking on CCTV just moments after leaving her to die in the street. Kulsuma Akter was stabbed 26 times and stamped on by 27-year-old Habibur Masum, who had stalked her to a women's refuge in Bradford before attacking her in broad daylight in front of their seven-month-old son. The 'controlling and coercive' husband had tracked her to the shelter in Bradford where she had been staying to escape him after he held a knife to her throat at their home in Greater Manchester. After finding her through her phone location, Masum loitered in streets around the hostel and sent her messages threatening to kill her family members if she did not return to him. He then tried to lure her out by sending her fake messages from a local GP practice pretending their son had an appointment. Ms Akter eventually left the refuge after Masum updated his Facebook page falsely claiming to be in Spain. As she was walking in the city centre with a friend, pushing her baby in a pram, Masum confronted her, the trial heard. After she refused his attempts at reconciling the marriage, he proceeded to stab her multiple times. He then left her dying in the street before casually strolling away from the horrific scene in a 'calm and collected' manor, the trial heard. Sickening CCTV footage later shows Masum - who was described in court as the 'smiling killer' - getting on a bus moments after the 'ferocious' attack, where he is seen grinning at the camera. He was today jailed for life, with a minimum term of for 28 years, after being found guilty of murder, one count of assault, one count of making threats to kill and another count of stalking. Habibur Masum (pictured) was today jailed for life for the murder of his wife Kulsuma Akter in broad daylight in front of their seven-month-old son The killer is seen here on CCTV footage smirking at the camera while getting on a bus moments after attacking his wife The killer then continues to smugly stroll through the bus, with passengers unaware he had knifed his wife to death moments earlier The trial heard the relationship between Masum and Ms Akter was 'an abusive relationship characterised by his jealousy, possessiveness and controlling behaviour'. The couple met and married in Bangladesh, and came to the UK in 2022 after he obtained a student visa and enrolled on a Masters course to study marketing. They moved into a house in Oldham together in September 2022. On November 23 2023, he became jealous over a 'completely innocuous' message Ms Akter received from a male colleague and held a knife to her throat. He was arrested and Ms Akter decided to leave him, being moved to the Bradford refuge by Oldham social services in January 2024. But Masum continued to pursue her and tracked Ms Akter to the refuge through her phone location, and she had been due to move but went out walking with a friend on the day she died after Masum's brother told her he was in Spain. Masum also put photos on Facebook claiming he was in Spain in a bid to trick his estranged wife from leaving the refuge. He then travelled almost 200 miles south to Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, to carry out the 'merciless' attack in broad daylight. CCTV footage of the attack captured Ms Akter's screams as Masum stabbed her at least 25 times. Habibur Masum, 27, was found guilty of murdering Kulsuma Akter in a 'ferocious' knife attack in broad daylight Ms Akter (pictured) was stabbed 26 times and stamped on by 'controlling' Masum in a 'brutal and merciless' attack Kulsuma Akter, 27, pictured with husband Habibur Masum, 26, dressed in traditional finery at their wedding in Oldham The scene in Westgate, Bradford on April 7 2024, where Masum stabbed his wife to death in Bradford city centre in broad daylight Jurors heard he then calmly walked through Bradford city centre and was seen on CCTV grinning as he got on a bus, believing at that point he was getting away. Masum was arrested in the early hours of April 9 in a car park near Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he had gone to be treated for 'lockjaw'. Today, he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 28 years. Ms Akter's brother Emran Hussain said her death had left her family with 'such a deep, painful void in our lives'. 'We will never forgive the monster who took Kulsuma from us,' the family added. Handing down his sentence in Bradford Crown Court, Mr Justice Cotter described Masum as 'violent, self-centred, jealous, controlling and coercive'. 'You stole a precious young life in a brutal and merciless fashion,' he added. 'It is indeed a sad fact that it can be very difficult to entirely protect a woman in a refuge from a determined and cunning man intent on confrontation.' Masum is seen here in CCTV quietly stalking the streets close to where his wife was seeking shelter in a women's refuge Masum is seen here in the same place speaking to his estranged wife as she pushes their baby in a pram just moments before stabbing her to death Masum is seen here in a court sketch in the dock at Bradford Magistrates' Court Mr Justice Cotter said the 'nature and extent' of his attack 'proves beyond all reasonable doubt that you intended to kill her'. Marie Walsh of the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'Habibur Masum is a violent and dangerous man who subjected his estranged wife to violence and domestic abuse causing her to flee their home to live in a safehouse in Bradford. 'Unable to accept the relationship was over, he managed to track her down and then stabbed her multiple times. This was a callous and shocking murder for which Masum has been convicted by the court. 'We hope the convictions against Masum has brought some comfort to the family and friends of Kulsuma.' A Queensland mum has been left stunned after being told her legal first name was too inappropriate to feature on personalised number plates. Indica, who says she's always loved her unique name, was shocked when her order was abruptly cancelled by Personalised Plates Queensland (PPQ) weeks after being approved. PPQ is run by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. The 20-something said she was thrilled to finally afford custom plates after buying her first car, something she'd dreamed of since getting her licence. 'Everyone's got personalised plates,' she said. 'And because my name's so unique, I thought, perfect, I can finally have my own.' Indica ordered plates that simply spelled out her name, but soon received a refund and a notice that the plates had been rejected for being 'inappropriate'. After calling PPQ for answers, she was told her name couldn't be used because it's also the name of a cannabis strain. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, indica is indeed a subspecies of the cannabis plant, but the Queensland mum insists she had no idea. 'They told me over the phone that 'Indica' is a strand of marijuana, so that's why they banned it,' she said. 'It's my name. I didn't even know that until they told me,' she said. 'I think most Aussies wouldn't even know.' Indica (pictured) had her own name rejected as a personal customised licence plate Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads issues the number plates through PPQ It's not the first occasion number plate bans have made headlines. Mahmoud, from Greenacre in Sydney's southwest, was recently told by Transport for NSW he would have to surrender his 'FU2IDF' plates or risk deregistration. He said he registered the controversial message in 2024 as a 'silent protest' against the Gaza War between Hamas and Israel, the deadliest conflict in decades for Palestinians. 'My wife is Palestinian. Her family has had people killed since the start of the occupation in 1948. They've been displaced, they can't go home. So this is raw for us,' he said. On June 30, he received a letter warning that if he didn't return the plates within 18 days, his car would be deregistered. 'Transport for NSW has policies that prevent particular number plate content being displayed,' the letter read. Indica is also the name of a strand of marijuana, something that Indica was not aware of 'This is related, but not limited to, content that has a religious theme, is discriminatory, is political, promotes violence, has a sexual reference, promotes drug taking/drinking or may be deemed to give rise to controversy or public disagreement.' In 2020, South Australia's transport department revealed more than 355 number plate applications had failed a 'decency test' since 2018. Among the banned combinations included 'ZEROFKS', 'OVADOSE', 'LUNATIK', 'MURDERD' and 'BIGARSE'. A retired British Army colonel with a distinguished 37-year career terrified his ex-partner by stalking her and putting a tracker on her car, a court heard. Col Terry Southwood, 57, bombarded Sarah Crossley-Weir with messages, sent her flowers and turned up at her home after she ended their four-year relationship. He also placed a covert air tag device in her car so he could track her movements. His 'relentless' behaviour left her so frightened she beefed up her home security, adding alarms and cameras, and she was given a police phone to use in case matters escalated, the court heard. Ms Crossley-Weir said she even felt scared when she opened her door to let her cats in and had to take medication to treat anxiety. Col Southwood, who graduated from Sandhurst had a 37-year career in the army with 'exemplary conduct'. He partly blamed the PTSD he suffered from his time in the Army for his conduct. A court heard how he had also paid Ms Crossley-Weir thousands of pounds to pay her children's private school fees after they had split up. Col Terry Southwood, 57, was handed a restraining order after admitting stalking his ex partner The retired colonel served for 37 years and had a 'distinguished' career, the court heard Col Southwood, who lives in the north Dorset village of East Stour, was spared prison by a judge after she received glowing character references for him. Instead he was handed a five year restraining order to keep away from his ex-partner after pleading guilty to one count of stalking. Bournemouth Crown Court heard the retired officer spent most of his career in the Royal Army Medical Corps in Salisbury, Wilts. He had been in a relationship with Ms Crossley-Weir for four years and moved in with her and her four children at their home near Milton Abbas in July 2021. But about a year later she told him she needed space and asked him to move out. He 'took that badly' and downed half a bottle of whisky, which reacted with medication he was on and he ended up in hospital. After that Ms Crossley-Weir told him she did not want him to see her children anymore and he 'reluctantly' moved out. Casey Chard, prosecuting, said that on August 30, 2022 he sent 23 text messages 'in quick succession, professing his love'. Mr Chard added that on September 16, 2022, Col Southwood left a bunch of sunflowers outside her home. A note with them said: 'This is from the heart. Don't be mad with me, I miss you in every way. I have a sun tattooed on my chest because that's what you are. I think you will think bad of me for doing this. I miss you all, T.'' Mr Chard said that three days later Ms Crossley-Weir became suspicious about a tracking device in her car. He said: 'She noticed on her mobile an air tag had been located near her and didn't think much of it that day but noticed it again the following day. 'Following investigation she was able to track the device to the vicinity of her car, albeit she was never able to find the device. 'On September 20, the day after she was able to track the device, Mr Southwood told her he had done something stupid, later confessing to placing the air tag within the vehicle. In November and December Col Southwood sent Ms Crossley-Weir two handwritten letters and 86 text messages, prompting her to apply for a non-molestation order, which was granted. But Col Southwood attended 'the vicinity' of her home twice in February 2023, which the court heard although not a technical breach of the order, did go 'against the spirit' of it. Mr Chard said: 'It was persistent action over a prolonged period and very serious distress has been caused.' Ms Crossley-Weir told the court it had been 'exceptionally difficult' and a 'deeply traumatic' time in her life. She said: 'The defendant's actions led to an abject fear of being in my own home. 'My domestic abuse support worker came to assess and advise on safety modifications. Every door and window is now alarmed. 'I was terrified to step outside my home, to do even the most basic of tasks such as letting my cats in. 'I had a police phone due to the unrelenting attempts by the defendant to either contact me, come onto my property or watch me from the farm yard next to my property. 'I was further advised to install an outside camera due to a tracker the defendant placed in my car. 'I am a very happy person who loved life. To be reduced to feeling suicidal was horrendous. I was terrified of absolutely everything, severely depressed and suffering with extreme anxiety. It rendered me incapable of functioning.' He terrified his ex-partner by stalking her and putting a tracker on her car. Col Southwood, who had no previous convictions, admitted one offence of stalking. Towards the end of his army career he was the assistant chief of staff of army personnel and welfare. After retiring he got a job as a medical delivery manager with Leidos, an industry and technology leader that works for both government and commercial companies. Graham Gilbert, in mitigation, said the stalking was not persistent and prolonged because Ms Crossley-Weir had said in October 2022 she had not yet made a decision on whether she wanted to continue the relationship and text messages between them continued until early November. He also said in the first few months after they split up Ms Crossley-Weir still expected Southwood to pay her children's school fees. The court heard between January and October 2022 he transferred 115,000 to her. Mr Gilbert said: 'He is remorseful, no relationship is meant to end up in front of your honour. He's in work and brings a significant amount of value. 'His military history is lengthy and distinguished, in the circumstances he found himself in that career he showed exemplary conduct in difficult personal circumstances.' In sentencing him, Judge Susan Evans said: 'I have listened to the effect on Ms Crossley-Weir. 'She felt unable to function and her ability to parent her children suffered. It was persistent action over a prolonged period.' But she said she could avoid sending him to prison and give him a community order for his 'positive character'. She added: 'You had 37 years in the army, leaving at the rank of colonel. You did active service in various locations and suffered PTSD. 'Following the breakdown of the relationship it is quite clear your mental health declined and you became depressed. It is very much to your credit you're now working full time and clearly valued by your employers.' Judge Evans gave him a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation days. She also ordered him to pay 500 costs. The cause of death of Prince William and Prince Harry's cousin Rosie Roche has been revealed today. The Durham University student was found dead at home in Wiltshire by her family at the age of just 20. The cause of death was recorded as a traumatic head injury and a firearm was found near to her body, the coroner has told MailOnline. Rosie was discovered by close family members, believed to be her mother Pippa and sister Agatha at her family home in Norton. Grant Davies, area coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon, told the opening of her inquest on Sunday: 'Rosie was getting ready to go away with friends and was packing her belongings at home. 'Upon checking the office in the house, Agatha found Rosie deceased and she was slumped over a firearm with significant head trauma.' The coroner said police 'have deemed the death as non-suspicious and there was no third-party involvement'. Emergency services were pictured responding to a serious incident at the family home at around 1pm on Monday, July 14. An ambulance, three ambulance officers, two firearms officers and numerous local response officers were in attendance. Her family have paid tribute to her, saying she was a 'darling daughter' to her parents Pippa and Hugh and an 'incredible sister' to Archie and Agatha. A spokesman for the family said the 20-year-old 'will be sorely missed'. Rosie Roche, pictured having fun with friends at Durham in January, where she was studying English. She has been found dead aged just 20 having suffered a traumatic head injury. A firearm was located nearby Emergency services at the house in Wiltshire where she was found by her mother Pippa and sister Agatha Prince William and Harry's cousin was found by her mother and sister with a 'firearm nearby' (pictured: the princes with Meghan Markle and the now Princess of Wales in 2018) A spokesman for Prince William declined to comment. A spokesman for Prince Harry also declined to comment. Rosie was the granddaughter of Princess Diana's uncle, the 5th Baron Fermoy, Edmund Roche, who killed himself in 1984 after suffering from a long bout of depression. He was found dead aged just 45, from a gunshot at his home, Eddington House. His sister Frances was the mother of Princess Diana. Last February, Thomas Kingston, the husband of royal Lady Gabriella Windsor, died with a gun found near his body at his parents' home in the Cotswolds. He died at his parents' home after suffering a 'catastrophic head injury. An inquest into Rosie Roche's death at Wiltshire and Swindon coroner's court was opened on Sunday and adjourned until October 25. A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said on July 14: 'This relates to the sudden death of a woman in her 20s. 'There are no suspicious circumstances and our thoughts are with her family. 'We would ask that their privacy is respected at this terrible time.' Ms Roche had been studying for a degree in English Literature at Durham University. An obituary published by the Yorkshire Post said: 'Roche, Rosie Jeanne Burke. Died on Monday 14th July 2025. '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.' The death notice of Ms Roche also appeared in The Times newspaper. Durham University has paid tribute today. University College principal Professor Wendy Powers said Rosie had made a strong impression on both staff and students during her short time at Durham. 'University College staff and students are extremely saddened by the tragic death of Rosie Roche,' she said. 'Rosie was a first year student studying for an English Literature degree. Rosie had settled into the University and College beautifully and had lots of friends. 'She was loved for her creativity, energy, her love of books, poetry and travel among many other talents. She will be sorely missed. 'Our thoughts and condolences are with Rosie's family and friends, and we are offering support to those affected at this extremely difficult time.' The student was a scion of the Barons Fermoy and the eldest child of (Edmund) Hugh Burke Roche, 53, and his wife the former Phillipa Kate Victoria Long. Her grandfather was the 5th Baron Fermoy, Princess Diana's uncle, who shot himself dead in 1984. The Princess of Wales talks with her grandmother Ruth Lady Fermoy (right) and Lady Fermoy's daughter, the Rt Hon Mary Roche The tragic last photo of Thomas Kingston and his wife Lady Gabriella Windsor, taken at event in London on Valentine's Day 2024. He died at his parents' home after suffering a 'catastrophic head injury'. A gun was found close to his body Rosie was the granddaughter of Princess Diana 's uncle, the 5th Baron Fermoy, Edmund Roche, left in 1965, who killed himself in 1984 after suffering from a long bout of depression. He is pictured with his wife Lady Fermoy at the christening of their daughter Frances Last February, Thomas Kingston, royal Lady Gabriella Windsor's husband, died from a head injury, with a gun found near his body at his parents' home in the Cotswolds. An inquest in January heard that he had been given several drugs to treat depression by a GP at the Royal Mews Surgery, a practice at Buckingham Palace, after having trouble sleeping following stress at work. In the days leading up to his death, the former hostage negotiator turned financier had stopped taking any medication and toxicology tests showed caffeine and small amounts of sleeping tablet zopiclone in his system. The coroner found that he took his own life while 'suffering adverse effects of medication he had recently been prescribed'. For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support The Canadian father who allegedly killed his nine-year-old daughter in New York had insulted her 'messy art projects' and 'chaotic' toys on his coffee business's website. Luciano Frattolin, 45, wrote on his Gambella Coffee website that he struggled with daughter Melina's impact on his life because of his obsession with keeping 'perfect order' in his home. The businessman included candid insights into his 'feelings of isolation' and struggles with 'incidences of racism', and said he was hit hard by the death of his father as a teenager. At his arraignment on Monday, where he hung his head in shame as he was perp-walked into Ticonderoga Town Court in upstate New York, Frattolin also revealed he is mired in debt. He said he is more than $200,000 in debt due to his failing business in Canada, and admitted he could not afford a lawyer as he pleaded not guilty to murdering Melina. According to authorities, Frattolin killed his little girl as they were heading home from a vacation in New York on Saturday night, and he was set to give custody back to her mother. He called 911 in upstate New York and claimed that she had been abducted, but soon after an AMBER alert was issued, suspicion fell on Luciano. Cops said he had 'inconsistencies' in his story of the abduction, before her body was found in a lake in a remote stretch in Ticonderoga, New York, around 45 miles south of where her father said she had last been seen. Luciano Frattolin, 45, had insulted his daughter's 'messy artwork' and 'chaotic' impact on his life on his failing coffee business website before he allegedly killed her over the weekend 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 Despite his apparent insults at his daughter's 'messy' impact on his life, Frattolin also wrote on his coffee website bio that she is the 'light of his life.' 'She is the inspiration for... well, everything,' the bio read. '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 bio has since been scrubbed from the internet, with Frattolin's coffee company and failing business ventures said to have severely impacted him in recent years. According to a report in Canadian news outlet La Presse, Frattolin had rented a property in a hip neighborhood in Montreal since 2020, which he subletted as an Airbnb. He said in court documents reported by the outlet that he hired two property managers to run the Airbnb and make the rent payments, which he then used to pay for Melina's child support. But he still fell $26,000 behind in rent, and his lease was terminated by the landlord in August 2024. Frattolin is currently suing the two property managers for over $115,000, alleging that they never made the rental payments as promised, per Le Devoir. The managers countered that Frattolin had plans to flee the country and empty his bank account, which he denied. The Bank of Nova Scotia said Frattolin owed around $83,000 on Depanneur Cafe, coffee shop he once owned, alongside $97,000 in credit card debt from Cafe Gambella, a coffee shop with the same name as his failing coffee business. Frattolin, 45, hung his head in shame as he was arraigned on Monday for allegedly killing his daughter, 9, where he pleaded not guilty Frattolin wrote that he struggled with daughter Melina's impact on his life because of his obsession with keeping 'perfect order' in his home, but also described her as the 'light' of his life and 'he inspiration for... well, everything' After Melina's body was found on Sunday, Frattolin is now facing charges of second-degree murder and concealment of a corpse. At a press conference on Monday, officers said they came to believe he 'fabricated' his report of an abduction due to inconsistencies with his story. He 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. 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. Frattolin allegedly killed his little girl before he was set to hand custody back to her mother, and said in court that he cannot pay for his own lawyer because he is over $200,000 in debt from his failing business ventures 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. In a remarkable twist in the winding Jeffrey Epstein case, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell will meet with Donald Trump's Justice Department. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed a meet-up will take place 'in coming days' as Trump's department is embroiled in controversy for failing to put out the full Epstein-related files. MAGA supporters are demanding that Trump do more to get to the bottom of the Epstein files after the president campaigned on making information related to the convicted pedophile public. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Tuesday morning the impending meeting between her deputy and the only person currently behind bars for Epstein's child sex trafficking ring. 'President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence,' Blanche said in a statement posted to X by Bondi. 'If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say.' Maxwell, 63, is in the midst of serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein's crimes. Her attorney David Oscar Markus told CNN the team is in discussions to have Maxwell tell her side of the story. 'I can confirm that we are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully,' Markus said. 'We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case.' Just last week, the DOJ opposed Maxwell's request to have the Supreme Court review her case, with her lawyers claiming she should have never been charged because of a 2008 plea deal the courts struck with Epstein. Ghislaine Maxwell, 63, will meet with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche 'in the coming days,' the Justice Department announced Tuesday, July 22. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in the child sex trafficking crimes Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell conspired in creating a years-long child sex trafficking ring on his private island Trump tried desperately to get his base to abandon criticism of Bondi and the FBI after a memo earlier this month concluded the review found no foul play in Epstein's death. MAGA supporters were particularly enraged that no new material was produced in the Epstein files review and that Trump's DOJ found no existence of a so-called 'client list' of high profile co-conspirators. The president even started calling the whole ordeal the 'Epstein hoax' and claimed Democrats were to blame for stoking conspiracies in an effort to divide Republicans. When that didn't work, Trump directed Bondi last week to request the Southern District of New York to unseal grand jury testimony in the Epstein court case. And now, Blanche will meet with Maxwell to ask her: 'What do you know?' 'I've contacted her counsel,' Blanche said. 'I intend to meet with her soon. No one is above the lawand no lead is off-limits.' Some Trump loyalists still aren't buying the latest attempt to recover from the failure that this month has caused a rift in MAGA world. Leading the opposition to Bondi's investigation has been conservative personality Laura Loomer, who has taken to calling the AG 'Blondi.' She said on Tuesday that the action seems like a way to 'cope' with the growing uprising within the Republican Party. 'Why wasn't this 'interview' with Ghislaine Maxwell done on day 1?' Loomer questioned on X. 'Shouldn't they have already done this?' she continued. 'Maybe there is a mix up in communication. But I just can't help but wonder whether or not this has already happened. And if not, why?' Attorney and political commentator Ron Filipkowski said if Maxwell's statements implicate Trump, nothing will come out but that if it exonerates the president, her sentence will be reduced. 'The truth is in the files, not from Maxwell,' Filipkowski wrote. Blanche still insists that the July 6 joint memo from the DOJ and FBI regarding the Epstein files review 'remains accurate.' He says that the department's recent review did not uncover any new evidence that could bring charges against others potentially involved in the crimes. Attorney General Pam Bondi (left) posted to X on Tuesday morning Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's (right) statement on his intent to meet with Maxwell to ask: 'What do you know?' Donald Trump associated with Epstein in the 1980s and 1990s. His name appears on the flight logs for Epstein's private plane, dubbed the Lolita Express It's not clear if Maxwell will want to speak with Blanche, but he has asked her lawyers to inquire about her willingness to do so. However, a source who spoke with the Daily Mail said that Maxwell would be 'more than happy' to testify before Congress and tell them her side of the story. 'No-one from the government has ever asked her to share what she knows,' the source said. 'She remains the only person to be jailed in connection to Epstein and she would welcome the chance to tell the American public the truth.' Blanche's statement on Tuesday morning acknowledges that no administration or DOJ has ever asked Maxwell to speak with them about the Epstein case. 'That changes now,' he insisted. There was an unusually emotional moment to kick off the new Parliament on Tuesday when Ali France, the woman who made history by unseating Peter Dutton, delivered her maiden speech. France is the first person to take out a sitting Opposition leader and shared deeply personal stories of tragedy and resilience, one of which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese could relate to on a personal level. Both were involved in life-changing car accidents caused by out-of-control drivers. France in 2011 was hit at a shopping centre when an elderly driver lost control of his car and she sacrificed herself to push her young son in a pram out of the way. She lost her left leg as a result. A decade later, in 2021, Albanese was nearly killed in a crash in Sydney's inner west caused by a Range Rover driver who had veered onto the wrong side of the road and hit his car head on. He has called it a turning point before his rise to prime minister. France also spoke of her other hardships, including the painful loss of her 19-year-old son Henry, who died from leukaemia in February 2024 after an 18-month battle. She said her late son's courage was the motivation behind her campaign which successfully claimed the seat of Dickson and ended Dutton's political career. '[My son] told me many times, that this election was my time,' she said in the speech. Ali France and Anthony Albanese shared an emotional embrace after she gave her speech France unseated Opposition Leader Peter Dutton from the seat of Dickson on May 3 The 2025 election was the third run France had at the Queensland seat. 'He was convinced I would win and said a number of times, 'don't make me the excuse for you not doing important things'. 'His words, his courage, were with me every day of the campaign. Henry was instrumental in getting me to this place.' Ms France said her 'epic journey' to sitting in federal parliament was not part of any grand plan, but rather the result of hundreds of little steps. 'A lifetime of small acts of kindness and support from so many good people,' she told the House on Tuesday. She then spoke about her experience in 2011, when she lost her leg. It happened when France was taking her youngest son Zac, then four years old, to an appointment at a Brisbane shopping centre when an out-of-control car came veering towards them. Her left leg was crushed from her thigh down as she was pinned against another vehicle. Ali France lost her leg after an incident in 2011, after she was run down by a car Martin Wullschleger, the trauma surgeon whose split-second decision to amputate saved Ms France's life, was in the gallery to hear her maiden speech. 'The first time I went out to dinner a lady stopped us and said, 'you have such a pretty face, what a pity you are in a wheelchair',' she said. Following six surgeries in four years, PTSD and severe pain left Ms France at the lowest point in her life. It was then she came across Iraqi orthopaedic surgeon Munjed Al Muderis who told her he would do everything to get her walking again as she underwent a risky surgery to implant a metal prosthetic. The refugee and surgeon also watched on from the gallery. She described being pretty angry by the time she joined Labor in 2016. 'Landing a job was incredibly difficult for me. People only saw disability,' she said. 'It's like I was born the day of my accident.' The speech brought a number of MPs in the chamber to tears, including Treasurer Jim Chalmers, and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. Jodie Haydon, Prime Minister Albanese's, fiance previously opened up about how his car crash impacted the couple. Prime Minister Albanese was involved in a crash in 2021, which left him hospitalised Albanese's (right) accident happened just a year into his relationship with Jodie Haydon (left) Haydon had been dating the then Opposition Leader for barely a year when his car was wiped out by a Range Rover driven by a P-plater metres away from his home in Sydney's inner-west in January 2021. Mr Albanese was rushed to hospital with extensive injuries. 'When I got to the accident and I saw the car before I saw Anthony, and I remember thinking at the time, 'this can't end well',' Ms Haydon said at the time. 'And that overwhelming sense of 'what if I lose him?' And I knew then that, yeah, I love him. And I love him deeply.' Albanese also opened up on the crash. 'I thought that was it. That is how it ends, it seemed like it took a long time, it was just a matter of seconds. But I thought that was the end,' he recalled. He was also shown his partner's recollection of the accident. 'She is an amazing woman,' he responded. When asked if it was love, he replied: 'Yes, I am very lucky.' Ali France cried during her emotional speech, brought to tears along with many fellow MPs Albanese and France shared an embrace following the new MP's speech. Ms France was the first person elected at the May poll to give her maiden speech in the 48th parliament, with other first-term MPs to deliver their remarks in coming days. Other MPs who gave speeches on Tuesday included new Melbourne MP Sarah Witty, who beat Greens Leader Adam Bandt. Witty opened up about her difficulties with pregnancy and her journey to becoming a foster parent. A 20-year-old who fled to Kenya after allegedly killing a woman in cold blood during a purse snatching in the Seattle area has been apprehended and taken back to the US to face charges. Salman S. Haji is currently being held in King County Jail after the FBI nabbed him in Kenya for the shooting death of Yuam Ming, 67, in January 2024. He is accused of fatally shooting Ming in the chest in a Costco parking lot in Tukwila, roughly 12 miles outside of Seattle, while trying to steal her sister's purse. He allegedly escaped in a stolen Porsche driven by co-defendant, Ilyiss Abdi, 20. Five days after the alleged murder, Haji fled the US for Kenya when he was identified as a suspect in the killing, court filings viewed by KOMO showed. On the day of the shooting, he was caught on surveillance video getting out of a stolen white Porsche SUV as Ming and her sister were loading groceries into their car. Haji grabbed at the sister's purse and Ming reached over to help when he allegedly shot her in the chest. He then got back into to the Porsche and he and Abdi fled the scene, video showed. Salman S. Haji, 20, (pictured at right with his co-defendant) is is accused of fatally shooting a 67-year-old woman in the chest in a Costco parking lot in Tukwila, roughly 12 miles outside of Seattle Surveillance video captured the victim and her sister wheeling groceries in the Costco parking lot just before the shooting Surveillance video showed Haji allegedly grabbing at the sister's purse while Ming reached over to help Witnesses raced to tell a cop parked in the Costco lot. Police later found the stolen SUV in a church parking lot in Des Moines, roughly eight miles from Tukwila. Abdi and Haji had allegedly stolen the Porsche at gunpoint from a different woman in Seattle during earlier in the day. The victim told police that the car's rear license plate was attached to her vehicle when it was stolen. Authorities found the plate in the trunk and believed it had been removed shortly before Haji allegedly killed Ming. Fingerprints on the plates were identified as belonging Abdi. Haji's fingerprints were found on the passenger side door. The two men were also accused of using the carjacking victim's credit card to buy gift cards at a grocery store shortly before going to Costco. Both have been charged with murder, attempted murder, and robbery. Haji faces an additional charge for carjacking. Abdi was arrested in May 2004 for a different shooting and he is being held on a $6million bond. He pleaded not guilty in both cases. Haji is being held on a $5million bond. It is unclear what his plea is. The HR executive caught on camera cuddling with her boss at a Coldplay concert had recently taken out a massive $1.6million mortgage with her husband, it has emerged. Kristin Cabot and her husband Andrew Cabot, an heir to the $15.4billion Cabot family fortune, purchased a $2.2million home on New Hampshire's coast in March this year. But the wealthy couple, referred to as husband and wife in state property records, did not outright pay for the 'fixer-upper', documents obtained by The Sun reveal. The pair are both reportedly named on loan paperwork for the $1.6million mortgage taken out with Morgan Stanley. Kristin, 52, and Andrew, 60, had planned to renovate the four-bed, two-bath classic New England residence, which is situated on 1.42 acres of land. The property was sold 'as is' and, according to the newspaper, 'needs rehab'. It is unclear if the couple have hired contractors yet or even started renovations. Andrew and his elite family have now faced a global scandal that's hit like a bolt from the blue after Kristin was caught on a kiss cam cozying up to 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 is also married, to a woman called Megan, and they own a sprawling Massachusetts mansion. Kristin Cabot and her husband Andrew Cabot, (pictured together) an heir to the $15.4billion Cabot family fortune, purchased a $2.2million home on New Hampshire's coast in March 2025 The wealthy couple, referred to as husband and wife in state property records, did not outright pay for the 'fixer-upper', documents obtained by the Sun reveal. The pair are both reportedly named on loan paperwork for the $1.6million mortgage taken out with Morgan Stanley 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 and Andrew have not been seen in public since footage of their intimate moment with Byron at the concert went viral. It is unclear if they have since split. Massachusetts property documents dated in January confirmed that Kristin is currently married to Andrew, CEO and COO of Privateer Rum. 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, Massachusetts, earlier this year. 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 posted 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 outing with Byron. Kristin and Andrew are also referred to as 'husband and wife' when they purchased their $2.2million two-story home in Rye, New Hampshire earlier this year. As the home is currently under lien, they may have to sell the property if they are plan to move forward with a divorce or formal separation. Both parties are responsible for mortgage payments regardless of who is physically residing in the home - which features high ceilings, a wrap-around porch, walk-up attic and two-car garage. One party could buy the other out or refinance the loan to take on full responsibility. Andrew Cabot (pictured) who is the CEO and COO of Privateer Rum. Andrew, 60, touts his family lineage on the distiller's website, highlighting how he is the sixth-generation owner of the brand and a direct descender of its founder Andrew Cabot The Cabot 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 the political rise of John F. Kennedy. Pictured: JFK meets with Henry Cabot Lodge in 1961 Kristin and Andrew also sold another four-bedroom property nearby for $1.05million 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. Andrew Cabot is a direct descendant 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 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. 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 the 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' rise to power, the Cabots are still so well-known in the Boston area that locals jokingly claim they 'speak only to God'. CEO Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot appeared to be living the American dream before the viral moment The Cabots were thrust into controversy last week after Kristin was caught cuddling with Byron. 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. 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 Shortly after, Byron's wife Megan removed his last name from her social media accounts 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. The Astronomer HR boss who was caught cuddling up to her CEO at a Coldplay concert in a viral clip is not out of the woods yet, experts say. Kristin Cabot, the Chief People Officer at the AI startup, has been placed on leave at the company despite her alleged fling, Andy Byron, resigning last week following a brief internal investigation. While Byron was ousted following a successful two years in the top job that saw Astronomer grow rapidly, firing Cabot could prove difficult for the tech firm, legal insiders warn. 'In a real-world big company, you cant just fire someone because the headlines are ugly,' attorney Nicole Brenecki told the New York Post. 'There are likely contracts, internal investigations, and legal issues involved.' Cabot and Byron were ridiculed when they were caught in a kiss-cam moment at a Coldplay concert in Boston that saw them quickly try to hide from the camera, leading frontman Chris Martin to quip: 'Either they're having an affair, or they're just very shy.' However, Brenecki said that while sacking Cabot merely for the social media infamy the moment brought on Astronomer could be tricky, she may not yet be out of trouble. 'If HR greenlit what happened with Coldplay, and there is a supporting paper trail, heads will likely roll. It just might take a few more days before the ax drops,' the attorney said. The former CEO, Andy Byron and HR chief Kristy Cabot were caught in an embrace when a jumbotron camera panned to them while the band serenaded thousands of fans at Gillette Stadium in Boston on Tuesday CEO Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot appeared to be living the American dream before the viral moment For Cabot, scrutiny on her status after the Coldplay clip saw Daily Mail exclusively reveal that she is currently married to another CEO. Despite cuddling up to her CEO Byron, 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 Kristin, 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 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. The couple 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. Kristins now-deleted LinkedIn account showed that she has served as an advisory board member at Privateer Rum since September 2020. This was not the first CEO Cabot has been with, as Daily Mail confirmed she is currently married to another high powered man, Andrew Cabot, the chief executive of Privateer Rum, a Massachusetts-based booze maker Last week, Pete DeJoy (pictured), who stepped in as interim CEO for the company, appeared to suggest he's thrilled about the Coldplay concert cuddling scandal Although Byron was humiliated as he was ousted from the company following a brief investigation by Astronomer's board of directors, Cabot has seemingly remained in her executive role. And Astronomer's replacement for Byron, interim CEO Pete DeJoy, surprised many as he gushed over the viral infamy in his first statement since entering the hotseat this week. He appeared to suggest he was thrilled by the Coldplay incident, and celebrated the fact Astronomer is now a household name thanks to the saga. He wrote: '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. '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.' He added that the company 'won't let you down.' President Donald Trump has withdrawn the United States from UNESCO, citing the agency's decision to admit Palestine as a member state and its commitment to 'woke' causes. In a statement to the Daily Mail, White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said UNESCO 'supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November.' The State Department formally announced the decision on Tuesday. It will take effect December 31, 2026. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce added that the agency's 'decision to admit the 'state of Palestine' as a member State is highly problematic and contrary to U.S. policy. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said he deeply regretted Trump's decision but had anticipated it and adjusted its budget accordingly. 'Thanks to the efforts made by the organization since 2018, the decreasing trend in the financial contribution of the U.S. has been offset, so that it now represents 8% of the organization's total budget compared to 40% for some United Nations entities,' Azoulay said in a statement. UNESCO first admitted Palestine as a full member in 2011, in a bow to Palestine's strategy to seek international recognition through UN agencies. This is the third time the U.S. has left UNESCO, with the first withdrawal occurring in 1984 under President Reagan. President Donald Trump is removing the United States from UNESCO The U.N. agency, which is based in Paris, promotes international cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication. But some of its decisions, particularly around the naming of world heritage sites, have been controversial. The Trump administration ordered a review of the United States' membership in the organization earlier this year. Israel has also left the agency. UNESCO is best known for designating World Heritage Sites, including the Grand Canyon in the United States and the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria. But the organization has been criticized for supporting the eviction and abuse of Indigenous peoples in some World Heritage sites. And it faces complaints about its overly-bureaucratic structure. Trump removed the U.S. from UNESCO during his first term - citing anti-Israel bias - but President Joe Biden readmitted the country to the organization. Flags flying in front of the UNESCO headquarters in Paris After withdrawing from the agency during the Reagan administration after claims it advanced the interests of the Soviet Union, President George W. Bush rejoined UNESCO in 2003. Trump, in a push for isolationism, has removed the U.S. from other global bodies. He's already decided to withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization and halt funding to the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA as part of a review of the U.S.' participation in UN agencies, due to be concluded in August. In his first administration, Trump removed the U.S. from the WHO, the U.N. Human Rights Council, a global climate change accord and the Iran nuclear deal. Biden returned the country to those bodies. The children of an unwell elderly British couple imprisoned by the Taliban without charge said they fear their parents will die in custody if they are not released soon. UN human rights experts also remain deeply concerned by the plight of Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who have spent months in 'degrading' high security Afghan prisons, largely away from each other, unaware of what they have done wrong. No charges have been issued - nor any explanation given - for why the pair were arrested on February 1, along with their local interpreter and a visiting Chinese-American friend, Faye Hall. They were detained after flying in a small plane from Kabul to an airstrip near their home in the central province of Bamiyan, known for its giant Buddha statues, which were blown up by the previous Taliban regime. The couple, who have been married for 55 years, have a history of health issues but remain held by the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) in Kabul, and are said to be sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Mr Reynolds, 80, has had heart conditions and is said to be in urgent need of medical care, while his wife, 76, is anaemic and has frequently collapsed since being detained. They have lived in Afghanistan for the last 18 years after founding a research and training business. The Reynolds' four grown-up children, who live in the UK and the US, have now renewed calls for their release. Peter and Barbie Reynolds, aged 80 and 76, have been in custody since being arrested by the Taliban in Afghanistan in February The pair met at university in Bath and have lived in Afghanistan for the last 18 years The quartet 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.' Five UN experts, who specialise in reporting on torture, treatment and punishments, including in Afghanistan, added: 'We see 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.' In their last message to their children, Mrs Reynolds said that her husband urgently needed to be transported to a hospital in Dubai or the UK where he could receive the medical care he so desperately needs. The Reynolds' children said they had written privately to the Taliban leadership twice and made public appeals for the release of their parents. Their daughter Sarah Entwistle said the siblings had held off from making a public appeal during the last two months in the hope it would encourage the Taliban to release their parents, but that there had been no progress. She 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.' The couple were detained as they travelled back to their home in the country's Bamyan province on February 1 of this year The couple's visiting Chinese-American friend, Faye Hall, was released from Taliban jail at the end of March Your browser does not support iframes. The couple moved to Afghanistan after falling in love with the country when they travelled there as students at Bath University. Mr Reynolds has also pleaded with his family not to pay any ransom and demanded the Taliban apologise for detaining them. 'No money should be paid in hush money or hostage money, it doesn't solve anything if millions of dollars are paid,' he said in calls from prison which were shared with The Sunday Times. 'This government needs to face up to the fact it has made a mistake, it has done wrong.' After taking power, the Taliban introduced a ban on women working and education for girls older than 12. The couple, who married in Afghanistan in 1970, were held at the Pul-e-Charkhi prison in the capital, Kabul, until eight weeks ago. They were then transferred to the GDI and promised they would be released within two to three days - but to no avail. Friend Ms Hall was released from Taliban jail at the end of March after the Trump administration lifted huge bounties from the heads of senior Taliban figures. However, the local interpreter and the Reynolds remain in custody. While in Pul-e-Charkhi prison, the couple were said to have had access to phones and called their children every day from the prison yard. 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. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are supporting the family of two British nationals who are detained in Afghanistan.' Donald Trump has put out a casting call for someone - perhaps anyone - to primary Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie - the Republican lawmaker working overtime to release the Epstein files. 'Thomas Massie, the worst Republican Congressman, and an almost guaranteed NO VOTE each and every time, is an embarrassment to Kentucky,' Trump wrote late Monday evening on Truth Social. 'He's lazy, slow moving, and totally disingenuous - A real loser! Never has anything positive to add.' It's the president's latest salvo aimed at Massie, a libertarian-minded Republican who regularly bucks Speaker Mike Johnson and leadership to vote however he pleases - much to the chagrin of White House. Trump has vowed to campaign against the congressman as a result of his maverick tendencies, but Elon Musk has similarly promised to support the Kentuckian's re-election in 2026. The showdown between the world's richest and world's most powerful men could ignite political fireworks. Massie is generally liked among his colleagues, and Johnson has repeatedly defended him. Johnson needs to, given his slim GOP majority. Trump has a different approach - one seemingly inspired by 'The Apprentice'. 'Looking for someone good to run against this guy, someone I can endorse and vigorously campaign for!' the president wrote, soliciting a candidate to primary Massie. President Trump has began a casting call for challengers to Thomas Massie, a Republican maverick who is pushing to have the Epstein files released Jefferey Epstein was found dead in his New York prison cell in 2019 while awaiting a federal trial on child sex trafficking charges. He was known to have many high-profile friends Trump and Massie's beef has lasted years. In 2019, the congressman opposed Trump's use of an emergency declaration to build a border wall. And in 2020 the president called for Republicans to 'throw Massie out' after the lawmaker opposed COVID relief funding. Massie went on to cruise to victory winning a whopping 81 percent of the GOP primary vote in 2020, 75 percent in 2022 and 76 percent in 2024. The president doubling-down on Massie's ouster comes at the same time the libertarian-minded rabble-rouser is leading Capitol Hill's efforts to declassify the Department of Justice's files on Epstein and his potential associates. The Republican's bill, the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), already has bipartisan support. Even Speaker Johnson wants them released. 'When the Epstein records are turned over to the public, which we must do as quickly as possible,' Speaker Mike Johnson said on Tuesday. 'Everyone was involved in that,' he later said, adding 'we must protect the innocent.' In an effort to gain more support for his measure Massie is handing out pocket-sized memos detailing exactly what it does. 'The bill directed the attorney general to publicly release all covered documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein and his associates,' the memo said, according to pictures. 'No record may be withheld, delayed, or redacted on the basis of embarrassment or political sensitivity for U.S. or foreign officials.' 'We all deserve to know what's in the Epstein files, who's implicated, and how deep this corruption goes,' Thomas Massie said. 'Americans were promised justice and transparency. We're introducing a discharge petition to force a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on releasing the complete files. If your Representative won't sign the discharge petition, ask why.' Trump and Epstein in 1997 at Mar-a-Lago The only material in the files that would be withheld are portions relating to abuse or death, personal identifiable information of victims and content that would jeopardize active federal investigations or compromise national security. If the bill secures passage, the DOJ would have 30 days to post the documents online for Americans to see. 'We all deserve to know what's in the Epstein files, who's implicated, and how deep this corruption goes,' Massie said in a statement, who promised to force a vote in the U.S. House. 'If your representative won't sign the discharge petition, ask why.' Trump, meanwhile, has also moved to have Attorney General Pam Bondi unseal files relating to Epstein who, according to authorities, committed suicide in 2019 while awaiting trail on federal child sex trafficking charges. Bondi announced on Tuesday that the DOJ would look to interview Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. Massie's measure cannot be blocked by Speaker Mike Johnson and will likely come to the House floor for a vote in September, following the August recess when lawmakers return to their districts and hear from their constituents. It already has enough GOP support to pass with over half a dozen co-sponsors and all Democratic members on board. If it does become law, it is expected to trigger the release of many more Epstein files than what Trump has ordered Bondi to make public. A young mom, who had just moved to Hawaii to rebuild her life, sadly died on her way home from her birthday celebration after she drove the wrong way on a busy highway. Kylee Noheamaikalani Chun, 25, was heading back home to her two young sons, Liko, three, and Mateo, five, on Sunday when her car collided with an 18-wheeler truck around 3.45am. At the time, Chun, who moved from Los Angeles, California to her home state, was not wearing a seatbelt when she drove her vehicle 'eastbound in the westbound lanes' on the H-1 freeway, the Honolulu Police Department's Vehicular Homicide Section told Honolulu Star Advertiser. After crashing her car into the large truck, driven by a 77-year-old man, Chun was pulled from her vehicle by bystanders before being treated at the scene by paramedics. The mother-of-two was transported to a nearby hospital where she later died of her injuries. The truck driver was also taken to the hospital in stable condition. Police said it remains unclear if drugs or alcohol played a role in the fatal crash. Speed is not believed to be a factor. Chun chose to move for a 'safer, more peaceful life for her children' following the disastrous wildfires and custody battle with her ex-partner, where she was awarded full custody of her sons, according to a GoFundMe created by a close family friend. She moved back to the state in January, as her mother Jenny and younger sister decided to pack up their lives and join her just four days before the fatal crash to help 'raise the boys so she could focus on school,' the page organizer, Ying Drury, wrote. Kylee Noheamaikalani Chun, who just turned 25, tragically died on her way home from her birthday celebration after she drove the wrong way on a busy highway in Hawaii She was heading back home to her two young sons, Liko, three and Mateo, five, on Sunday when her car collided with an 18-wheeler truck around 3.45am. (Pictured: Chu, left, with her two sons, mom and sister) Chun was in her second year of college and just recently got a new job. 'She was working hard toward her bachelors degree while raising her boys. Her entire life was devoted to building a better future for her children,' Drury added. Drury and other loved ones believe Chun was not familiar with the roads, and that might have been why she crashed. 'She's so new to Oahu and she hasn't been home in a really long time,' Drury told Island News. 'So how she was getting around was she was still using Google Maps, you know, or Apple Maps, or whatever, just to get around.' After she and her sons were displaced by the wildfires that took over Los Angeles and other surrounding areas in January, Chun wanted to create a better life for her family. 'She just wanted a better life for the boys. It's been so hard for them the last few months, you know, especially what happened in California,' Drury stated. Chun chose to move for a 'safer, more peaceful life for her children' following the disastrous wildfires and custody battle with her ex-partner, where she was awarded full custody of her sons In a recent Facebook post, Chun excitedly documented her family's move to Hawaii. Alongside a video of her and her boys traveling through the airport to their new home, she wrote: 'First 24 hours back home in Oahu. Being able to experience my childhood all over again through my boys is a dream come true. 'I cannot thank all my family, cousins, aunties and uncles for helping me solo parent and for showing the boys the island life I've missed so much,' she added. Chun has been remembered as someone 'full of light' who dreamt of becoming a teacher one day. 'She was full of light laughter. She was so funny. Always spontaneous with her boys and always doing fun stuff,' a loved one said of the late mother. She ran her own tutoring business called 'Tutoring Services by Ms.Kylee,' which offered not just educational guidance for kindergarten through college students, but financial aid, research and college application services, per the Honolulu Star Advertiser. Chun also worked for HiEmployment, a staffing company that serves Kauai, Maui, Oahu and Hawaii Island. Chun (middle) has been remembered as someone 'full of light' who dreamt of becoming a teacher one day With Chun gone, her mother has had to pick up all the pieces and turn her attention toward raising and protecting Liko and Mateo. 'Jenny is ready to fight with everything she has to keep the boys safe, loved, and supportedjust as Kylee would have wanted,' the donation page said. 'Kylee loved her sons more than anything in the world. She gave everything she had for them, and her dream was to give them a life filled with opportunity, security, and love. Now its up to those of us who loved her to carry that dream forward.' As of Tuesday morning, more than $15,700 was raised to support the grieving family. Chun's unfortunate death marks the 44th traffic fatality this year in Oahu. This time last year, there were 22 reported deaths. Her cause of death is still pending, the city Department of the Medical Examiner told the outlet. Daily Mail contacted the Honolulu Police Department's Vehicular Homicide Section and the Department of the Medical Examiner for comment. Two female friends running a property management business in Colorado have fallen out over allegations that one of them stole at least $1 million from the company. Jessica Carollo-White filed a lawsuit on July 9 accusing her friend Jessica Brittmon of unlawfully withdrawing cash from the firm's accounts for her own personal use. The two Jessicas founded J&J Property Management in the summer of 2018 to help landlords in the Denver metro area maintain their rental properties and communicate with tenants. Brittmon was in charge of bookkeeping, according to the lawsuit, though each woman owns a 50 percent stake in the business. Carollo-White first noticed there was something amiss in May 2025, when she claimed owners that had hired J&J hadn't received their rent payments in months. Concerned, Carollo-White obtained financial records from the company's bank and allegedly found that Brittmon had been stealing money for the last six years. The lawsuit alleged that Brittmon gradually got more brazen with her theft. In 2019, she started by writing herself checks from the company's operating account, according to the suit. By 2021, she was using the company credit card for personal expenses, the filing said. Jessica Carollo-White (pictured) filed a lawsuit against Jessica Brittmon on July 9. She accused Brittmon of stealing around $1 million from their company, J&J Property Management Brittmon (pictured) has allegedly been writing herself checks from the company's accounts since 2019, according to the suit And since 2023, Brittmon has allegedly been moving cash from the company's escrow account, meant to hold security deposits, into the operating account so she could spend it. 'She has made it financially impossible for the LLC to continue business,' Carollo-White's lawsuit stated. 'Since the initial complaints from owners, more owners are now complaining and withdrawing their business from J&J daily,' according to the lawsuit against Brittmon. 'Upon information and belief, the owners are owed approximately $200,000 or more.' 'Ms. Brittmon's actions have placed J&J in serious financial jeopardy, which will be nearly impossible to recover from without recovery of the funds Ms. Brittmon unlawfully absconded with,' it continued. Daily Mail approached Brittmon for comment. Both women live in single-family homes in the Denver area. Brittmon owns a 2,800-square-foot house in Centennial with three bedrooms and four bathrooms. Carollo-White has a slightly bigger home in Aurora that boasts five bedrooms and four bathrooms. Brittmon owns a 2,800-square-foot house in Centennial with three bedrooms and four bathrooms Carollo-White has a slightly bigger home in Aurora that boasts five bedrooms and four bathrooms Carollo-White is asking Arapahoe County District Judge Benjamin Figa to put the J&J into receivership so it can be salvaged. The other alternative is that the judge can shut down J&J if Brittmon doesn't return the allegedly stolen $1 million in funds. 'Brittmon's actions have made it infeasible for the owners to continue working together in any capacity,' Carollo-White said in the filing. 'They have reached an impasse as to how to continue.' Figa has not scheduled a hearing on the request for a receiver and Carollo-White has not suggested someone who can run the company. An American man will be removed from Colombia and will not be allowed to enter the country for 10 years after he destroyed an immigration cubicle at an airport. Emmanuel Hernandez costly meltdown came while he was waiting to have his passport stamped by border agents at Rafael Nunez International Airport in Cartagena last Thursday. The 42-year-old Tampa, Florida resident was filmed cursing at everyone around him and punching a cubicle's plexiglass window when agents arrived and tried to calm him down. The hulking realtor did not relent and lifted a computer screen and slammed it to the ground before he was subdued and placed under arrest. Hernandez, a New York native, told Colombian online news outlet Impacto News that he traveled to Cartagena to celebrate his father's birthday and blamed his outburst on not feeling well. 'I was coming from a long trip from Orlando. The trip was postponed for two days, and I had to stay in a hotel. I was in Panama for two hours,' he said. 'When I arrived in Cartagena, there was a very long line, I felt sick, and I was very hot.' Hernandez explained that he decided to remove his shirt while he waited at the cramped passport control area to make himself feel better. New York native Emmanuel Hernandez holds a computer monitor before slamming it to the ground during the middle of his tantrum in Colombia Emmanuel Hernandez (right) said he traveled to Colombia to visit his father (left), who recently turned 84 years old. Hernandez now regrets the decision of having destroyed the airport immigration counter as authorities have banned him from entering the country for 10 years A Colombia Migration agent and other workers began to film him before he lost his cool. 'I told them to please stop, I told them it was part of my privacy, not to record me,' Hernandez recalled. 'They started taking out cell phones and recording me,' he said. 'Instead of asking how I was, they recorded me.' At one point Hernandez could be heard shouting, 'F*** you. You think you can f*** around with the wrong motherf*****.' After punching the counter's window, he screamed, 'Now f*** everybody.' Hernandez is staying with his parents and is now waiting for an airline that will allow him to board their aircraft for his return to the United States. However, not have agreed to do so. 'I am deeply sorry and I apologize to all the authorities,' he said. 'What someone else does against you shouldn't disturb your peace of mind. That was my mistake.' The 42-year-old lost his temper when he was about to have his passport inspected Emmanuel Hernandez, pictured with his mother, has been ordered to be removed from Colombia following last week's incident in which he destroyed a counter in the passport control area at Rafael Nunez International Airport in Cartagena Hernandez said he was not feeling well while he was waiting to have his passport stamped by immigration agents Rafael Nunez International Airport in Cartagena, Colombia and that he asked an agent and other workers not to record him after he has removed his shirt What pains him the most is that he will have to wait 10 years before he can reunite with his parents in Colombia, where he spent part of his youth. 'My entire family lives here,' Hernandez said. 'In the United States, I basically have no one. It hurts me not to see my parents in Colombia again for ten years.' Hernandez vowed to cover the cost of the damages the he caused. 'US citizen Emmanuel Andres Hernandez assaulted officers of this entity and caused material damage to an immigration control module, which disrupted the normal operation of the service," Colombia Migration said in a statement. An armed police officer filmed on CCTV kicking a suspect in the head at Manchester Airport may still face criminal charges, a court heard today. PC Zachary Marsden has admitted kicking Mohammed Fahir Amaaz and then aiming a stamp near his head during the confrontation last July. Along with two female colleagues he had been trying to detain the teenager for headbutting a passenger at a Starbucks cafe minutes earlier. Instead Amaaz fought back, punching and elbowing the two policewomen - leaving one with a broken nose - a trial has heard. Meanwhile his brother Muhammed Amaad, a former KFC assistant manager, began 'pummelling' PC Marsden, punching him six times, jurors have been told. Finally police managed to Taser and handcuff the suspects, but video of the aftermath went viral on social media. Five months later the Crown Prosecution Service decided that PC Marsden would not be charged with any criminal offence while Amaaz and his brother would face assault charges. But today the trial of the brothers at Liverpool Crown Court was told that the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) could still ask for that decision to be reconsidered. PC Zachary Marsden said he did not know his colleague PC Ellie Cook (left) had just Tasered headbutt suspect Mohammed Fahir Amaaz (in blue, lying on the ground) when he aimed a kick at his head 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, arriving at Liverpool Crown Court where he told a jury he fought back against an armed policeman because he thought he was 'choking' his brother, Mohammed Fahir Amaaz (pictured last week) Muhammad Amaad, 26, (left) and his brother Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, (right) arriving for their trial at Liverpool Crown Court either side of their solicitor, Aamer Anwar As evidence in the case drew to a close, prosecutor Adam Birkby told jurors the IOPC had been investigating 'allegations of professional misconduct' by PC Marsden towards Amaaz and members of the public'. 'The IOPC investigation also encompasses a criminal investigation,' he added. 'On December 20, 2024 the Crown Prosecution Service publicly announced that PC Marsden would not be prosecuted for any criminal offence arising out of the incident. 'It remains an open investigation and upon conclusion a decision will be made as to whether to refer the matter to the CPS if the IOPC decision-maker responsible for that decision believes there is sufficient new evidence for a re-referral.' The court heard today that Amaad, 26, insists his conduct in aiming six punches at PC Marsden was in lawful self-defence. Both brothers claim that PC Marsden and PC Lydia Ward 'grabbed' Amaaz from behind without announcing they were police officers or giving any explanation for their actions. Today Amaad denied to Mr Birkby that the force he used in 'delivering six punches' to PC Marsden was unreasonable and unlawful. Mr Birkby asked: 'Is there anything in your behaviour that you would change?' Amaaz (in blue) was seen to throw 10 punches at the officers during the violence, while his brother - Muhammad Amaad (far left), 26, who is also on trial - threw six Mohammed Fahir Amaaz (pictured left in blue) throws punches at PC Ellie Cook while his brother Muhammad Amaad (right, in black) grapples with her colleague PC Zachary Marsden PC Zachary Marsden told jurors he was trying to clamp his radio wire with his foot when he stamped close to Amaaz's head after the teenager had been Tasered Amaad answered: 'No. He started the violence and he carried on the violence. 'Once PC Marsden had punched me, I defended myself.' He told the court that he did not know that the police officers had been called to the Starbucks cafe in Terminal 2 to reports of Amaaz headbutting a plane passenger who had allegedly racially abused their mother on a flight from Pakistan. Amaad told his barrister Chloe Gardner that he did not know what information the police had and 'did not make any connection' between the Starbucks incident and police approaching them at the pay station. He said: 'The whole thing felt like it lasted five seconds. It was so quick.' Amaad is accused of assaulting PC Marsden, causing him actual bodily harm. Amaaz, now 20, is accused of assaulting PCs Marsden, Ward and Ellie Cook and a member of the public, Abdulkareem Ismaeil, in the Starbucks cafe. The brothers, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, deny all the charges and claim they were acting in self-defence or in defence of one another. The jury are expected to begin their deliberations on Friday or next Monday. The trial continues. A people smuggler who crammed 21 Albanians into a luxury 70,000 yacht to cross the Channel into Britain has been jailed for seven years. Albanian national Bleda Bega, 44, was at the helm of the 23-foot Tacoma bound for the south west coast of England when it was intercepted by the Border Force on April 13. Hidden below the deck in cramped and dangerous conditions were 20 men and one woman. Bega was jailed at Truro Crown Court for seven years and ten months on Friday after pleading guilty to facilitation offences. Albanians Florjand Lika, 30, and Romeo Zani, 32, had both paid to travel on board the hired yacht to sneak back into the UK after previously being deported. They were each given 12 months in prison. The Mail revealed the sinister new people smuggling tactic when it broke the story about the Tacomas interception near Falmouth last month. This newspaper revealed that the yacht had been hired by a man with an Austrian passport from a reputable boat charter company operating at a quayside office in Brest. Its co-owner, Valery Roue, spotted his vessel leaving French waters for Cornwall via a tracking device and alerted the UK authorities. Mr Roue explained: 'I became suspicious after my yacht left Brest. I watched its route and found her sailing across the Channel.' Hidden below the deck of the yacht in cramped and dangerous conditions were 20 men and one woman Albanian national Bleda Bega, 44, has been jailed for seven years and ten months after attempting to take the 21 migrants to Britain on the luxury yacht 17 Albanian migrants, including one woman, hoping to slip illegally into Britain were found hiding inside the cabin of a luxury yacht named Tacoma (pictured) The incident led British and French immigration authorities to sound the alarm over French charter yachts being targeted to bring migrants into the UK. A 'high alert' was sent out by the French customs authority to all charter boat companies along the Brittany coast, warning them to be vigilant about migrant- smuggling gangs who may try to hire, or simply steal, their yachts. The Tacomas passengers were detained pending removal, including Lika and Zani, who are set to be deported. Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) Regional Lead Ben Thomas said the case was an example of excellent collaborative work employed to tackle unscrupulous criminal networks operating in the Channel. Border Force teams were able to quickly apprehend the vessel and stop its progress, whilst CFI acted swiftly to investigate the individuals on board and take the offenders before the courts, he said. Work continues in collaboration with international partners to track and apprehend all involved in this smuggling operation. These criminals put lives at risk for their own gain with these dangerous schemes. One by one, we will put a stop to them to protect our borders and safeguard vulnerable people. Border security minister Dame Angela Eagle said the Government had put forward a serious plan to restore order to the UKs asylum system, which included increased returns and enforcement activity. Anyone who seeks to smuggle people into the country in this way faces arrest, prosecution and a jail sentence, she added. A 'high alert' has been sent out by the French customs authority to all charter boat companies along the Brittany coast British Border Force is using extra surveillance to check pleasure craft arriving at UK ports, private marinas and remote inlets from France, Belgium and the Netherlands The British Border Force is responsible for securing the 11,000 miles of British coastline Begas sentence comes as two other men, Ukrainian nationals, have been charged over an alleged plot to smuggle migrants into Britain on a pleasure boat. Vladyslav Cherniavskyi, 37, and Oleksandr Yavtushenko, 43, appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates Court charged with facilitating illegal immigration, after a yacht was intercepted off the coast of the Isle of Wight on Sunday. Three Albanian men and a Vietnamese woman were handed to the immigration authorities. And another Albanian, Pellumb Selimi, 29, was arrested for failing to appear at court in connection with drugs offences. An 'aggressive' shark spotted chowing down on a sea lion forced the closure of a picturesque Southern California beach. A mile-long stretch of Redondo Beach in Los Angeles was closed after the shark was spotted 'exhibiting aggressive behavior' just south of the Redondo Pier. Lifeguards with the Los Angeles County Fire Department said they saw the shark devouring a sea lion just before 5pm on Monday, ocean lifeguard specialist Natalie Mohagen told The Orange County Register. The beach was quickly evacuated, according to a Facebook post from LAFD lifeguards. The beach was then reopened at 7pm, as lifeguards 'continue[d] to monitor the situation.' Lifeguards asked beachgoers to continue to keep an eye out for any shark sightings and report them immediately. The sighting comes after a terrifying incident in San Diego in which a swimmer made a lucky escape from a 'curious' great white shark. The shark, measuring about seven to eight feet in length, was spotted at Torrey Pines State Beach after a swimmer bumped into the beast. A one-mile section of Redondo Beach was closed after a shark was spotted 'exhibiting aggressive behavior' south of the Redondo Pier Lifeguards said they saw the shark devouring a sea lion just before 5pm on Monday Lifeguards asked beachgoers to continue to keep an eye out for any shark sightings and report them immediately Several warning signs were posted at beach access points after the sighting. The warnings remained in place for 24 hours. Though it is not uncommon for the sea creatures to make their way back to the warm California beaches this time of year, it is 'rare' to see them 'bump' into people, Shark Lab director Chris Lowe told NBC San Diego. 'We have lots of sharks, and we have lots of people, usually in close proximity to each other all summer long, and the sharks tend to ignore people,' he explained. Lowe said the shark might have collided with the swimmer because it was startled or possibly just curious. A woman and three children have gone missing from the Gold Coast, with police releasing more images in a desperate bid to find them. Monique, 41, was last seen on July 18 and police believe she is with a ten-year-old girl, six-year-old boy and seven-week-old baby girl, who were last seen in Pimpama, a Gold Coast northern suburb. Investigators believe the ten-year-old girl and six-year-old boy were last seen near Mirambeena Drive around 8.50am on 18 July. The three children are known to Monique and believed to be with her. Police released more images of the family on Tuesday as the search for the woman and the children continues. Monique is travelling in a white Nissan X-Trail with Queensland registration 992XPS and may be in the Tenterfield area in NSW. A ten-year-old girl (right) and six-year-old boy (left) were last seen near Mirambeena Drive in Pimpama, Gold Coast around 8.50am on July 18 Police have released new images of the missing seven-week-old-baby (pictured) Queensland Police are trying to locate Monique, 41, (pictured) who has gone missing from the Gold Coast with three children known to her She is described as Caucasian, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. The ten-year-old girl and six-year-old boy are both described as Caucasian, with brown hair and brown eyes. Police are urging Monique to get in touch and come forward. Anyone who may have sighted them or the vehicle is urged to contact police. One potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate has rejected a far-left idea that has permeated through his party in recent years. Rahm Emanuel told conservative podcast host Megyn Kelly that he does not believe a man can become a woman, an idea that transgender activists have advocated and gotten even some members of their support. 'Can a man become a woman?' Kelly asked Emanuel, to which the Democrat responded with 'no.' 'Why don't more people in your party just say that?,' Kelly pressed. 'Because I'm now going to go into a witness protection plan,' Emanuel replied. 'I'm not saying medically, I'm just saying it can't happen,' he added. Emanuel is a straight white male with hard core Democrat party bonafides, both in elected office and appointed roles, but he has long been the target of progressives for taking a more pragmatic approach to electoral politics. During the Biden administration, he served as Ambassador to Japan, and was the Mayor of Chicago before that. He was also one of Barrack Obama's White House chiefs of staff, and served three terms in Congress in the early 2000's. Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel appears on an episode of the Megyn Kelly show which aired on July 21st, 2025 A hand holds up a small transgender pride flag. The transgender pride flag is a symbol of pride for the trans community. 'I have a son and two daughters and they are physically different,' Emanuel also said during the interview, which is likely to resurface if he is ultimately a candidate for the White House. The remarks Emanuel made on Kelly's podcast are also not the first time he has rejected the far left of his party in recent weeks. In a letter published in the Wall Street Journal on June 26th, Emanuel appeared to caution his party from skewing too far to the left while commenting on the New York City Democrat Socialist mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani. The letter is subtitled 'we won't realize the American dream by consulting the Democratic Socialists of America's playbook', and in it, Emanuel also notes that 'America doesn't necessarily go the way of the Big Apple.' Conservative podcast host Megyn Kelly during an episode of the Megyn Kelly show which aired on July 21st, 2025 Former Democrat Chicago Mayor and potential 2028 presidential candidate Rahm Emanuel appeared on an episode of the Megyn Kelly show which aired on July 21st, 2025 Emanuel was also not afraid to bite back at remarks made about him by former first son Hunter Biden. The younger Biden accused Emanuel of walking away from party values. 'We got to understand that these people are really mad, and we got to appeal to these white voters,' Hunter Biden said in an interview with YouTuber Andrew Callaghan which aired Monday. 'Rahm, the only people that f***ing appeal to those f***ing white voters was Joe Biden,' Hunter added. Emanuel responded to the criticism, noting that Hunter Biden was not where he would go for advice on his political strategy. The former Chicago mayor has been gradually teasing his interest in a 2028 presidential run through a string of interviews. 'My problem is, our party's only been good in the locker room and the bathroom,' Emanuel said referencing the ongoing debate over transgender issues. 'And so, you got to be comfortable in all those rooms and understand that,' But Emanuel maintained that there was a lane for his line of thinking, adding 'I have something I think I can offer.' A teenager only just turning 19 has been confirmed as the Reform UK leader of a 2billion council, one of Britain's biggest local authorities. George Finch, who celebrated his latest birthday earlier this month, has now been given the seal of approval to run Warwickshire County Council, two months on from being elected as a ward representative. He had been filling the post in an interim role since the resignation last month of fellow councillor Rob Howard just 41 days after taking charge, on health grounds. There have been question marks over whether he would stay in place, since Reform UK does not have a majority on the local authority despite winning most seats in May. But potential challenges from Conservative, Liberal Democrat or Green contenders were seen off in a formal vote held today. Mr Finch's colleagues have welcomed his victory, though critics have also warned about the duties now handed to someone so young and who just 12 months ago was in the middle of his A-levels. Tuesday's decision makes Mr Finch the UK's youngest permanent council leader. Conservative members of the local authority abstained from a vote on who should be granted the role full-time, after their candidate finished third in an earlier round. George Finch, 19, has been confirmed as permanent leader of Warwickshire County Council George Finch, pictured here with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, now finds himself in charge of a local authority with more than 1.5billion in assets and a revenue budget of about 500million Mr Finch then found himself tied on nominations with the Lib Dems' Jerry Roodhouse. But he secured victory thanks to a casting vote by Warwickshire's council chairman Edward Harris, a fellow Reform member. Mr Harris said afterwards he was 'disappointed and excited at the same time', describing the tied vote as 'not something I take lightly at all, and something I would rather not have happened'. Mr Finch switched allegiance from the Conservatives to Reform UK year before being elected as a councillor in this May's local elections, in which his new party formed a minority administration in Warwickshire. The youngster, ward councillor for Bedworth Central, was put in charge of an authority with assets worth more than 1.5billion and a revenue budget of about 500million. Before joining Reform, he was a member of the Conservative Party and did work experience in the parliamentary office of Nuneaton's former Tory MP Sir Marcus Jones. He reportedly switched support after concluding Reform would take a tougher stance on illegal immigration, an issue he described as central to his political beliefs. On the New Reformer website, Mr Finch outlined his views under three core themes: 'Brexit, sovereignty and a strong and united family unit.' Mr Finch took over from Reform colleague Rob Howard (pictured), who quit his post as council leader with immediate effect just weeks after the party's gains in the May local elections Concerns about his lack of 'qualifications' were raised in the House of Commons last month by Rachel Taylor, Labour's Labour MP for North Warwickshire and Bedworth - calling his appointment in the interim role 'of real concern to my constituents'. Among Mr Finch's first moves when given his interim leadership position was ordering to be taken down a Pride flag flying outside Warwickshire's county hall - in line with Reform's stated policy of only flying British flags. But he was defied by Warwickshire County Council's chief executive Monica Fogarty, who said: 'I am afraid I will not be taking the action that you are requesting.' Earlier this month Mr Finch declared that the council needed a 'fresh, bold approach to policy creation', after the Reform-lead cabinet voted unanimously to accept principles set out in the local authority's medium-term financial plan - including how it would 'be necessary to set a very high bar for new permanent budget allocations'. Mr Finch said in a statement: 'For years, the council administration has relied on the corporate policy team to come up with the innovative ideas required to shepherd Warwickshire through the crises we face. 'We've found this team to be unable to bring about the change we were elected for.' He then said last week after being confirmed as Reform's candidate for the permanent leadership: 'I'm pleased to have received the overwhelming consent of my fellow Reform councillors to carry on the work I started as deputy leader, and more recently as interim leader. 'As leader of Warwickshire County Council, I will spearhead the delivery of our comprehensive road renewal plan, be at the forefront of providing better SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) service and oversee Warwickshire's upcoming local government reorganisation where I'm determined to give every Warwickshire resident proper representation at council level. George Finch is thought to be Britain's youngest permanent council leader 'In May's local elections, my colleagues and I stood on a promise of delivering meaningful change, and that's what we will do. 'As well as overhauling transport to properly fix our roads and delivering adequate bus services, we will be reforming education to help young people get into skills-based training and apprenticeships more easily. Warwickshire needs Reform and with me as leader, Warwickshire will get Reform.' Mr Finch's father has worked on construction sites while his mother has been employed in a factory and as a teaching assistant for children with special educational needs and disabilities. He told the Telegraph last month: 'I've seen everything in life. I know I may be 18 and people might think, well, he knows nothing. I've seen a lot, I've experienced a lot more than my age should experience.' He studied history, law and politics at A-level before embarking on a university course whose first year he has just finished, amid ambitions to become a history teacher. Mr Finch said last month: 'I love teaching history, but I can't teach history with the way the curriculum is going, the way the school and the education system is hindering childrens futures and young peoples futures. My aim is to change that and then go back and be a teacher once that's done.' Lib Dem group leader Mr Roodhouse today missed out on the permanent leader role despite support from not only his own party but also Green and Labour members. He said afterwards: 'Democracy was done today, but it was also a sad day as all political groups could have come together to ensure residents get frontline services.' Warwickshire county council's chief executive Monica Fogarty rejected a call by Reform group leader George Finch to take down a Pride flag from outside the authority's HQ He also insisted his party would now 'work hard now for all residents' and 'hold Reform to account'. Meanwhile, Green Party group leader Jonathan Chilvers told of being 'disappointed' that there would not be a cross-party unity administration running the authority. He added: 'With no party having a majority, that would have been the fairest reflection of what people voted for.' A unnamed Conservative councillor has been quoted as saying: 'This is not a moment for experimentation. It is one for experienced leadership.' Announcing his departure from the top job last month, Mr Finch's Reform colleague Mr Howard said his decision to step down so soon was made 'with much regret'. He added: 'The role of leader is an extremely demanding role and regretfully my health challenges now prevent me from carrying out the role to the level and standard that I would wish. 'I am honoured and privileged to have held the role, even if only for a short time. I remain committed to my continued role working as a county councillor for the benefit of Warwickshire residents.' The Government's move to introduce sanctions for people-smugglers is 'an obvious PR exercise' that will do little to stop small boat crossings, experts warned today. Opening a new front in Labour's attempt to 'smash the gangs', anyone involved in helping people arrive in dinghies can now be targeted with asset freezes and travel bans. Businessmen who supply the boats themselves, fraudsters who make fake passports, middlemen who transfer cash and even corrupt police are all likely to be targeted under the plan. The first wave of sanctions will come into force tomorrow with more than 20 people named and shamed, making it illegal for British businesses and banks to deal with them. However, specialists in immigration and sanctions enforcement have pointed out that most smugglers either do not use traditional banking methods or do so beyond the reach of UK authorities. Many smuggling networks are known to use the hawala system, an ancient banking method that allows small boat migrants to pay smugglers - and the criminals to compensate their associates - without leaving any official record. The Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons sanctions regime has been introduced through secondary legislation and will be debated by Parliament after the summer. Amanj Hasan Zada, 33, was handed a 17-year prison sentence for people smuggling last year. While he is an Iranian Kurd, their counterparts in Iraqi now dominate the cross-Channel trade Heralding the move, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: '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. We will not accept this status quo. 'It is our moral duty and a key part of our Plan for Change to do all we can to smash these gangs and secure Britain's borders. '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. 'From tomorrow, those involved will face having their assets frozen, being shut off from the UK financial system and banned from travelling to the UK.' But Roger Gherson, managing partner and sanctions expert at Gherson Solicitors, dismissed the sanctions as political theatre. 'Proposals to use these on people smugglers is nothing more than bluster and an obvious PR exercise for the Government to be seen to be dealing with the problem,' he told MailOnline. 'Most of these smugglers will no doubt operate outside of normal banking system in any case, and most probably in cash. To divert limited police and National Crime Agency (NCA) resources to this will only stretch our much-needed resources further.' Dilshad Shamo, 41, and Ali Khdir, 42, ran a people smuggling empire from a Welsh car wash - using the hawala system to receive funds and pay associates The pair used the Fast Track Hand Car Wash in Caerphilly as a front of their illegal activities How the Hawala system helps pay for crossings 1 - Smuggler gives migrant in one country, such as Iraq, a list of trusted money transfer agents (Hawaladars). They give cash to them alongside the smuggler's details and a code. 2 - When a UK-based smuggler wants their money, they contact a linked hawaladar in Britain and give them a secret code to release the funds. 3 - When someone wants to send money from the UK to Iraq, the debt balances out - meaning no actual money has to be sent across borders. Advertisement Dr Peter Walsh, of the University of Oxford's Migration Observatory, said the measures were 'unlikely to be a game changer' in small boat crossings - not least because gangs usually operate in foreign countries. 'They might be restricted in the UK, but if someone can just go elsewhere, then that defeats the whole purpose of the sanctions,' he told the i. 'You can ban people from opening bank accounts in the UK but they'll open a bank account elsewhere. 'A lot of the financing for smuggling operates outside of the traditional banking system, using wireless transfers that are notoriously difficult to clamp down on.' An insight into how smuggling gangs move money away from the prying eyes of officials came late last year with the prosecution of two Kurds - Dilshad Shamo, 41, and Ali Khdir, 40 - for organising a global people smuggling operation from an apparently ordinary car wash in South Wales. Posing as legitimate businessmen, Shamo, who was born in Iraq, and Khdir, originally from Iran, transported migrants across Europe in cars, lorries and boats in a major conspiracy coordinated via WhatsApp. Central to their operations was the hawala system that involves the use of trusted agents, known as hawaladars. Migrants scramble onboard an overcrowded boat near Wimereux in France last week Rather than carrying out real cash transfers, hawala works through balanced debt. Someone wishing to send money from one country to the UK can leave the cash with a local hawaladar, with the pair agreeing a password. The recipient of the funds will then collect them from a linked hawaladar in Britain. When someone wants to send the same amount from the UK to Iraq the debt evens out - meaning no actual money ever has to be sent. For Shamo and Khdir, hawala gave them a way to transfer money without leaving an official record, with hawaladars in Iraq and Istanbul receiving cash from migrants making their way to Europe. Once a deposit was obtained, they would receive an OK for migrants to be moved by a specified route or within a timeframe - often as part of a full service package covering transportation to the UK from the migrants' countries or origin. The pair were eventually found out when the NCA uncovered their roles in a much larger organised crime group and were able to source messages exposing their exploitation of the hawala system. Your browser does not support iframes. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the sanctions would not deter people from crossing the Channel in small boats, with a record 23,000 arriving so far this year. '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. 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,' he said. '2025 has been the worst year on record for illegal boat crossings, with over 23,000 already this year and more than 46,000 since Labour came to power. The gangs aren't scared - because Labour won't detain, deport or even pretend to enforce the border. We must deport illegal immigrants immediately on arrival, it is the only way to end the pull factor and deter crossings.' Scottish craft brewery BrewDog has announced that it plans to close 10 of its bars - including the first one it ever opened. The firm - best-known for its trademark Punk IPA pale ale - says it will close the branches that it says are no longer 'commercially viable'. Staff at the affected bars were told at 12.30 today, MailOnline understands. It says 'many' of the staff will be moved to other bars, but that some will be 'leaving the business' - and was accused by a union of giving staff as little as three days' notice, with some bars reportedly poised to shut as soon as the end of this week. The news comes as CEO James Taylor told investors that BrewDog's financials did not make for 'happy reading'. It is attempting to revamp its image under new management after wiping its entire social media presence last month. Mr Taylor, who is the second new CEO to take over since founder James Watt stepped back amidst a flurry of accusations of improper conduct, has previously warned the firm is likely to report a pre-tax loss for 2024. And the chain had started the year by closing six pubs across the world, including two in England, three in Europe and one in England. BrewDog has weathered a number of publicity storms in recent years as its reputation has taken a hammering. But it has also faced stiff competition from new entrants into the 'craft beer' market. BrewDog has announced that it will close 10 bars across the UK including its Camden branch (pictured) as its financial performance stalls in a challenging market Your browser does not support iframes. The firm has recently rebranded its cans as it seeks to shed its image problem following a series of scandals Among the bars set to close is a branch in Gallowgate in Aberdeen - the first commercial pub BrewDog opened in 2010, close to their headquarters in Ellon, Aberdeenshire - and one in Dundee. Three bars in London are set to close: Camden, the first one opened in the capital, as well as branches in the trendy Shoreditch district and Shepherd's Bush. Pubs will also close in Brighton, Leeds' North Street, Oxford, Sheffield and York. A note circulated to staff by Mr Taylor states that the focus will turn to 'destination hubs' such as those in Waterloo - which features a bowling alley and a large spiral slide - and smaller 'community bars'. 'We are working hard to minimise the impact on our people, and we expect to redeploy many affected team members across the BrewDog network,' he said. 'For those leaving the business, we're providing as much support as possible during this transition.' And writing on the 'Equity for Punks' investor forum, Mr Taylor said the company's headline financial numbers 'do not make for happy reading'. 'There's still a lot of work ahead to do across our business. But I'm confident that H2 (year half two) will reflect the progress we're making. We're on the right path, doing the right things and the results will follow,' he said. BrewDog was accused by Unite Hospitality of giving staff as little as 'three days' notice that their bar would close. A spokesperson for the brewery said staff were going through a 'meaningful and appropriate consultation' that would last at least 14 days. It did not respond to questions on when the bars themselves would close. BrewDog's first standalone bar in Aberdeen's Gallowgate (pictured) is earmarked for closure BrewDog is best known for its Punk IPA pale ale, but also produces a range of other beers as well as spirits BrewDog co-founder James Watt stepped back as CEO in 2024, months after a complaint over a BBC documentary outlining allegations against him was dropped He launched the brewery with Martin Dickie (left) amid a flurry of publicity stunts including the launch of a 41 per cent beer (above) Bryan Simpson, of Unite, which represents BrewDog staff, said: 'For Brewdog to give loyal workers less than four days' notice of the closure of their workplace is not just morally repugnant, it is potentially unlawful. 'This is yet another example of a company that doesn't have the slightest regard for basic employment law let alone the welfare of their workers. 'We are currently supporting our members across these 10 sites to collectively challenge these redundancies, and we would urge anyone impacted to reach out to us for legal support.' A spokesperson for BrewDog said: 'We can confirm that following a review of our bars business we have made the difficult decision to close 10 bars which reflects a more focused strategy and a rationalisation of our bar footprint. 'Despite our best efforts, and the hard work of our teams, it has simply not been possible to make these bars commercially viable. 'We are working hard to minimise the impact on our people, and we expect to redeploy many affected team members across the BrewDog network. 'For those leaving the business, we're providing as much support as possible during this transition.' In June, the firm reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of 7.5million for 2024 - and has admitted that its conventional pre-tax profit measure will show 'a loss'. BrewDog is on its third CEO in just over a year after James Watt stepped back from the role in May 2024, three months after Ofcom rejected a complaint he had lodged against the BBC after it made a documentary outlining misconduct allegations. He denied claims that he made female bartenders feel 'uncomfortable' and 'powerless' and that he would take intoxicated women on private late-night tours of the brewery. Self-described 'punk' Mr Watt married Made In Chelsea star and socialite Georgia Toffolo earlier this year BrewDog says it plans to focus on 'destination' bars such as Waterloo - which features tenpin bowling and a slide He then married Made In Chelsea media personality Georgia Toffolo earlier this year, and has become a frequent critic of the Labour government on LinkedIn. The self-described BrewDog 'Captain' faced a number of improper conduct allegations in 2021 concerning female staff, and was revealed to have invested in Heineken, contrasting with his brewery's anti-establishment 'punk' image. Months before he quit, he announced that the firm would paying staff the 'real' Living Wage as calculated by the Resolution Foundation as it struggled to turn a profit. The firm is continuing to weather accusations of an image problem after ditching its claim to be 'carbon negative' after it ditched offsetting schemes that it claimed were both too expensive and not efficient enough to justify the label. It had already been criticised for using the label by advertising watchdogs, and was slammed by environmentalists for its claim of creating a carbon-negative forest in Scotland after it was revealed half of the 500,000 saplings had already died. Despite this, CEO James Taylor told the Grocer last month that he did not believe the firm had an image problem. He said: 'It's boring to focus on data, but the data says consumers think of us as a business that produces really high-quality beer. That's how we're perceived by the vast majority of the public.' Alongside Punk IPA, BrewDog produces a range of beers as well as spirits. It bought cider producer Hawkes in 2018 but has since mothballed cider production. The Government is set to trial AI-powered facial recognition technology to determine whether Channel migrants are being wrongly identified as children. The Home Office today announced testing on new technology will begin later this year with the hope it could be fully integrated into the asylum system in 2026. Ministers admitted that assessing the age of asylum seekers is 'an incredibly complex and difficult task' but said AI might soon provide quick and cost-effective results. There have long been fears that some of those who cross the Channel in small boats - who often don't carry official documents such as passports - are wrongly claiming to be children. Unaccompanied minors are more likely to be granted asylum than adults, with some suspected to be faking their ages in a bid to boost their chances of staying in the UK. In the first half of 2024, a total of 1,317 migrants claiming to be minors at the border were later judged to be adults. There were a total of 2,122 age disputes raised over the same period. Currently initial age decisions are made by Home Office staff based on a migrant's physical appearance and demeanour. A group of people thought to be migrants scramble to board a small boat near Wimereux in France earlier this month Migrants are met by Border Force officers after being brought ashore in Dover, Kent, in May 2022 Your browser does not support iframes. The previous Tory government proposed using scientific methods - such as X-rays, CT scans or MRI imaging on key parts of the body - to assess the age of asylum seekers. Powers to conduct such assessments were passed by MPs as part of the 2022 Nationality and Borders Act. But Home Office minister Angela Eagle today revealed the Labour Government has now concluded using AI technology is the most 'cost-effective option'. In a written statement to Parliament, Ms Eagle - the border security and asylum minister - said: 'Accurately assessing the age of individuals is an incredibly complex and difficult task. 'The Home Office has spent a number of years analysing which scientific and technological methods would best assist the current process, including looking at the role that Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology can play. 'Since coming into office, this Government has commissioned further tests and analysis to determine the most promising methods to pursue further. 'Based on this work, we have concluded that the most cost-effective option to pursue is likely to be Facial Age Estimation, whereby AI technology trained on millions of images where an individual's age is verifiable is able to produce an age estimate with a known degree of accuracy for an individual whose age is unknown or disputed. 'In a situation where those involved in the age assessment process are unsure whether an individual is aged over or under 18, or do not accept the age an individual is claiming to be, Facial Age Estimation offers a potentially rapid and simple means to test their judgements against the estimates produced by the technology.' Ms Eagle noted how online retailers, social media websites and other companies were increasingly adopting AI-powered facial recognition technology as part of online age verification tests. She added: 'Early assessments suggest that Facial Age Estimation could produce workable results much quicker than other potential methods of scientific or technological age assessment, such as bone X-rays or MRI scans, but at a fraction of the cost, and with no requirement for a physical medical procedure or accompanying medical supervision.' Labour previously watered down laws, introduced by the Tories, that gave ministers the power to treat asylum seekers who refused to undergo scientific age checks as adults. The announcement on Tuesday came as the borders watchdog report into Home Office age assessments said it is 'inevitable' that some decisions will be wrong without a 'foolproof test' of chronological age. The watchdog added this is 'clearly a cause for concern, especially where a child is denied the rights and protections to which they are entitled'. A North Dakota man has captured on video the moment a Delta airliner was forced to make 'aggressive maneuver' to avoid crashing into a B-52 bomber. Josh Kadrmas and his wife were attending the opening ceremony of the North Dakota State Fair on Friday night when a B52 Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base roared overhead in a scheduled flyover. Kadrmas pulled out his phone to record the bomber but accidentally caught something far more dramatic: Delta flight 3788 swerving to avoid the military aircraft. 'At the time I recorded it I obviously didn't notice that there was maybe a close issue there,' Kadrmas told KFYR. He reviewed the footage after seeing headlines about the close call. 'You take a step back and look at the footage later [there is] not a lot of geographical separation between those two aircraft,' he said. 'Communication is always something that is a challenge in any industry, aviation included,' added Kadrmas, who is a scientist. 'So this is hopefully a lesson learned and something that carries forward in safety when it comes to airlines.' Delta Flight 3788, operated by SkyWest as a regional Delta Connection flight from Minneapolis to Minot, was on final approach at the time of the incident, which the FAA has confirmed it is investigating. Flight tracking data shows the Embraer E175 abruptly climbing and circling before returning to land safely. A North Dakota man has captured on video the moment a Delta airliner was forced to make 'aggressive maneuver' to avoid crashing into a B-52 bomber A Delta pilot narrowly avoided a collision with the military bomber on Friday night (stock photo) The plane came close to crashing into a massive B-52 Stratofortress, which was flying out of Minot Air Force Base (Pictured: stock Air Force bomber jet) SkyWest said: '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 goaround when another aircraft became visible in their flight path. We are investigating the incident.' Passengers on board were unaware at the time just how close they came to a possible catastrophe. 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. 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. '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. Josh Kadrmas and his wife were attending the opening ceremony of the North Dakota State Fair on Friday night when a B52 Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base roared overhead Delta Flight DL3788 climbed abruptly before circling the area and returning for a safe landing, according to flight tracking data '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.' Despite the shock, the pilot's calm and composed explanation was met with a wave of applause from the cabin a collective release of tension as passengers realized how narrowly disaster had been averted. It remains unclear just how close the two aircraft came, or whether any cockpit warning systems were triggered during the encounter, according to ABC News. Republicans voted to subpoena Jeffrey Epstein's accomplice and longtime partner Ghislaine Maxwell, teeing up a public spectacle on the financier's sordid crimes in a move that could anger Donald Trump. Republican Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee - who has regularly bucked Trump's agenda - pushed to have Maxwell subpoenaed after accusing the administration of hiding the full Epstein files. He wants Maxwell to spill all on the details of Epstein's crimes in a public setting so nothing remains shrouded in secrecy. And Maxwell wants to talk too, according to a source who told the Daily Mail 'she would be more than happy to sit before Congress and tell her story.' 'No-one from the government has ever asked her to share what she knows. She remains the only person to be jailed in connection to Epstein and she would welcome the chance to tell the American public the truth.' Trump's closest allies and rank-and-file members - including House Oversight Chairman James Comer, Anna Paulina Luna, Nancy Mace and Marjorie Taylor Greene - backed the subpoena for Maxwell. The move makes it possible that Maxwell's deposition could be recorded and even televised. The specifics of the subpoena are yet to be hammered out by Comer. It comes as the White House has been cagey about releasing the full Epstein files, setting up a stand-off between Republicans and Trump. That's in contrast to what Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Tuesday - that the Department of Justice will meet privately with Maxwell in the 'coming days.' Burchett's request puts both Trump and GOP leadership in a sticky situation Republican Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee asked the Oversight Committee to vote on subpoenaing Ghislaine Maxwell. The panel quickly approved his request Maxwell, shown above with sex offender and accused child trafficker Jefferey Epstein, was a longtime partner of the disgraced financier. She is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking Burchett's move puts both Trump and GOP leadership in a sticky situation, powerless to control what the imprisoned Epstein accomplice will say. The lawmaker first shared he was considering how to get Maxwell's testimony last week. He originally asked Oversight Chairman James Comer to allow Maxwell to testify in a public, televised hearing. The Tennessean said if Maxwell refuses, then the committee should subpoena her. The committee approved Burchett's motion for Maxwell's deposition, meaning the 63-year-old who is serving a 20-year-sentence for sex trafficking may have a chance to air her story to members of Congress craving more information on the sordid saga. 'The Committee will seek to subpoena Ms. Maxwell as expeditiously as possible,' an Oversight spokesperson said. 'Since Ms. Maxwell is in federal prison, the Committee will work with the Department of Justice and Bureau of Prisons to identify a date when Committee can depose her.' Chairman Comer will now have to send the subpoena to Maxwell and set up a time to depose her. If it is similar to recent depositions done by the committee, there is a chance her testimony could be recorded, even televised. Recent depositions of former aides to Joe Biden have been recorded as the Oversight Committee probes the Democrat's mental acuity and whether his diminishing abilities were covered up by staff. This undated trial evidence image obtained December 8, 2021, from the US District Court for the Southern District of New York shows British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and financier Jeffrey Epstein 'We just got to get to the bottom of this thing, folks,' the Tennesseean said in a video he posted on X after the successful vote. 'It's four years and, you know, we don't need to tolerate this stuff anymore.' 'I get the blow back about folks up here are going to be mad at me, but ultimately, with all sincerity, excuse me, I'm answering my Creator on this issue,' he said. The push for the Epstein accomplice's testimony comes amid extreme pressure on Capitol Hill to release files related to the financier's crimes and death. The House canceled votes on Thursday due to complications with Epstein. The Rules Committee, which determines what bills make it to the House floor for votes, has been paralyzed since Democrats on the panel have continuously worked to force Republicans to vote against the Epstein files being released. Rank-and-file members like Reps. Luna and Greene backed the move to subpoena Maxwell The political jockeying has frustrated GOP members on the panel, some of whom have sided with Democrats on rules committee votes to avoid pushing back against the release of the high-profile documents. Already Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., has introduced a bill that would force the Department of Justice to release most of its files on Epstein. Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican leadership have also been supportive of additional Epstein files being published. 'He [Trump] wants maximum transparency, but he's also very insistent that we do not subject people who have been already been victims of unspeakable crimes to further public scrutiny,' the speaker said on Tuesday. 'We have a moral responsibility to expose the evil of Epstein and everybody was involved in that, absolutely, and we're resolved to do it.' Tennessee Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has introduced a bill to force the DOJ to published all its files on Jefferey Epstein Johnson and his team are virtually powerless in stopping Massie's measure. If Massie's bill garners at least 218 co-signers - and almost all Democrats and some Republicans have already said they'd vote for it - then it will get a vote on the House floor. Dubbed the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), the measure already has bipartisan support and is expected to be voted on once the House returns from August recess in September. The only material in the files that would be withheld are portions relating to abuse or death, personal identifiable information of victims and content that would jeopardize active federal investigations or compromise national security. If the bill secures passage, the DOJ would have 30 days to post the documents online for Americans to see. According to the bill, any redactions in the potential DOJ documents would have to be explained in a short memo as to why the material was blotted out. Thieving vandals have turned Minnesota's capital into a dystopian hellscape by indiscriminately smashing hundreds of car windows, leaving a trail of broken glass across the Democrat-run city. Residents in recent weeks have gone to their vehicles to find windows broken and in some cases personal items swiped. More than 70 vehicles were struck on Monday alone, the Minneapolis Police Department told the Daily Mail. A total of 90 vehicles were damaged over the weekend. More than 200 cars have been targeted overall, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune. 'It can't get any worse than this,' one observer said in a social media clip featuring rows of parked cars with their windows based in. Another resident took to Reddit to post a video of their street in the Uptown neighborhood showing dozens of cars that suffered the same fate. 'I woke up to find this on my street today,' the person wrote. 'This is very disappointing to see.' Despite the widespread destruction, no arrests have been made. At least 70 vehicles alone were vandalized on Monday. A total of 90 vehicles were damaged over the weekend Residents took to social media to share of clips of rows of cars with their windows smashed 'Investigators are working diligently to collect information about the incidents and to locate and identify suspects,' the Minneapolis Police Department told the Daily Mail in a statement. Police are trying to determine if the break-ins this weekend were connected to ones from the previous weekend. Teacher Rachel Linnemann discovered her window was busted after her boyfriend told her around 6:15am on Monday, she told the Star Tribune. Her car was sitting outside her home on James Avenue home and camping equipment had been stolen. 'It looks like at least 15 cars,' she told the outlet, noting that cars on James and Lake streets and Lagoon Avenue were targeted. The attacks happened sometime between 10:30pm and 6:15am, as she had walked her dog the night before and saw that her vehicle was fine. Police also said around 25 cars were vandalized near Central Avenue the same night. Linnemann, who is on summer vacation from school, didn't have to commute to work that morning - but many in her neighborhood did. Residents were spotted sweeping up glass from the street and inside cars before leaving for work. Residents were spotted sweeping up glass from the street and inside cars before leaving for work Police are trying to determine if the break-ins this weekend were connected to ones from the previous weekend So far this year, nearly 4,000 vandalism crimes have taken place in the city of 425,000 residents, according to police statistics (pictured: Minneapolis) Joel Van Horn just moved to the area west of the Uptown neighborhood a month ago and was looking forward to taking walks with his dog, he told KARE 11. 'I mean, I knew it was going to happen if I didn't get a parking garage. I didn't act fast enough, you know,' said Van Horn, who paid $350to replace a truck window. 'You just factor that into the cost of living, unfortunately.' Robin Slaman, who has been living on Lyndale Avenue for 20 years, said she has noticed an uptick in crime in the city. 'I'm not shocked, but I haven't quite seen that before,' she told KARE 11. 'Needles on everyone's property, they leave trash everywhere, and if you leave anything sitting out on your property, it will be gone like that.' She's now considering moving out of the neighborhood. 'I love my home, but how much longer do I want to live here, how much worse do I want to see it get?' she said. So far this year, nearly 4,000 vandalism crimes have taken place in the city of 425,000 residents, according to police statistics. There's also been nearly 1,200 burglaries. The childhood friend of a paddleboarder murdered in Maine says she is struggling to fathom the terror she must've experienced in her final moments. Sunshine Stewart, 48, was found beaten and strangled to death in Union, on July 3. She had been staying at the Mic Mac Campground and was paddleboarding on the nearby Crawford Pond when she was killed. For two weeks, the small, tight-knit community was gripped with fear as police hunted Stewarts killer. A breakthrough finally came on August 16, when 17-year-old Deven Young - whod been staying at the same campsite as Stewart with his parents - told State Police he had some information about her death. Young then accompanied investigators on an excursion to 100 Acre Island in the middle of the pond, near where Stewarts body was found. What the teen told police is not clear, but within hours he was arrested and charged with her murder. On Friday, Young appeared in a Knox County courtroom where he denied killing Stewart. Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the crime, sharing only that the scene was unusual while accusing Young of acting with depraved indifference. While several unknowns still hang over the case, Stewart's lifelong friend Meredith Smith told the Daily Mail she is haunted by the thought of what she mustve experienced in her final throes of life. Deven Young, 17, was arrested last week and charged with Sunshine Stewart's murder. A motive for the crime has not been disclosed but authorities accused Young of acting with 'depraved indifference' Stewart, 48, was found dead in Union, Maine, on July 3. Her cause of death was blunt-force trauma and strangulation I cant even explain it in words, but I feel horrific thinking about what she must have seen and felt, looking at this person she mustve been so scared, said Smith. The more I read and see of him those last moments of her life were probably just horrifying. Smith, who remembered Stewart as fierce and strong, believes she wouldve fought like hell to fend off her killer - if she was even given the chance. I have a feeling she was snuck up onsomeone wouldve had to have taken her by surprise, she added. In the days after Stewarts death, Young continued posting on his Facebook page, seemingly unfazed by the commotion stirring within the local community. In his final post before his arrest, on July 12, Young shared an image of a boat anchored at sunset. In a conversation beneath the post, he told a friend, Im doing good, when asked how he was. The owner of Mic Mac Campground, Katherine Lunt, has also shared that there was nothing about Youngs behavior that gave her any cause for suspicion. He continued to act like he always had, Lunt said: offering to assist other campers with their pets, yard work, and making wood crafts by hand, which hed give out to other campers. Young reportedly displayed the same willingness to be helpful when Maine State Police returned to the campground on July 16, seeking leads in the Stewart case. Meredith Smith, who had known Stewart for four decades, told the Daily Mail she's haunted by what Stewart must've experienced in her final moments (Smith and Stewart are seen together, right, as children) On Friday, Young appeared in a Knox County courtroom where he denied killing Stewart The teenager approached the officers and said he had some information to share. Young then accompanied police to Crawford Pond, and reportedly led them to the opposite end of 100 Acre Island from where Stewarts body was found. He was interviewed after the excursion. Police left the camp and returned later the same night, heading straight to the Young familys camper where they remained inside for roughly two hours before taking him into custody at 10:30pm. Smith, like many others who knew and loved Stewart, is curious to know what Young said to investigators that led to his arrest. Evidence in the case was ordered to remain sealed by a judge last week, until at least Youngs next court appearance on August 22. As Smith waits for answers, she blasted Young as a sick individual whom she believes was trying to taunt the police. What kind of game was he playing? asked Smith. I really think he was trying to toy with the cops I dont think he feels guilty or remorseful, judging by his actions and his social media posts. Maybe hes incapable of remorse? Addressing Young directly, she alleged: You're a very sick individual and I hope that you get the help that you need and I also hope that they throw away the key and lock you away forever because I don't think you'll ever be okay to be in society again. Requests for comment from Youngs attorney and his parents have gone unanswered. Stewart had arrived in Union only days before her death. She had planned to spend her summer living out of a camper Young was arrested hours after leading police on an excrusion to 100 Acre Island, claiming to have information about Stewart's death The owner of Mic Mac Campground, Katherine Lunt, has also shared that there was nothing untoward in Youngs behavior that gave her any cause for suspicion 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 in Union from Tenants Harbor only days before her death. 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 campground owner Katherine Lunt denied any truth to the claims. They were never kicked out of the campground, she told the Midcoast Villager. 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 appeared in a Knox County courtroom on Friday morning via Zoom, where he denied responsibility for Stewarts death. He is currently being held in a youth detention center in South Portland. Youngs Facebook page was deleted within hours of his arrest. His profile picture had shown him posing with a shotgun in a chair, glaring at the camera, with a cartoon American flag superimposed at his feet. A video he posted to his now-deleted TikTok in January 2024 showed a slideshow of black and white images of Young sitting in a vehicle, with the voice of a man playing over the top, which said: Its not your fault, mom. You raised a really good kid. The world just f**ked me up. 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 Youngs parents, Tara and Jessie Young, have also deleted their Facebook pages. According to Tara Youngs page, which was viewed by the Daily Mail last week, she works at a residential care facility in Searsport, Maine. Friends and loved ones of Stewarts have voiced their collective heartache over her passing, remembering her as kind, talented, and a free spirit. Everyone who knew her loved her, said Smith. Every time I think of her, I think of home and a childhood filled with happy memories. She was always smiling and she had a laugh that was so infectious Shell be missed terribly. Lunt shared Smith's heartbreak, adding that she was horrified such a terrible crime could take place on her doorstep. 'It is heart-wrenching and terrifying that we had no idea the murderer was amongst us as we were looking for a stranger,' said Lunt. Stewart would have turned 49 next month. Young will turn 18 this September. Investigators are asking anyone with information about Stewarts death to reach out to the Maine State Police at 207-624-7076. A New York City Democrat has said she needed more migrants in her congressional district for 'redistricting purposes'. Rep. Yvette Clarke said on a Zoom call in January 2024, which has recently resurfaced online, that the Big Apple could take in more migrants. She said: 'I'm from Brooklyn, New York, we have a diaspora that can absorb a significant number of these migrants. When I hear colleagues talk about the doors of the inn being closed, no room at the inn. 'I'm saying I need more people in my district just for redistricting purposes, and those members could clearly fit here.' Redistricting is the process of dividing up new electoral district boundaries. Therefore, Clarke's adversaries said her comment showed her desire to move more people, who would perhaps vote in her favor, into her constituency. Clarke's words were brought up during a Homeland Security Committee in March this year - in which President Joe Biden's border security policies were discussed. Rep. Reli Crane, an Arizona Republican, played the clip, saying: 'Her words outline Biden's failed plans for illegal immigration to gain political influence.' Her comments came at a time when Democrats in the state were passing a congressional map that redid district lines. Districts in New York City did not change. Rep. Yvette Clarke said on a Zoom call in January 2024 that her New York City district could take in more migrants President Donald Trump has been cracking down on illegal immigration after his return to the White House earlier this year After recently resurfacing, Clarke's previous comments have sparked fury online amongst conservatives, who blamed her for trying to 'import votes.' One person posted: 'So were just saying the quiet part out loud now? Import votes. Manipulate districts. Call it equity.' They continued: 'This isnt representation, its population engineering for political survival. And every American should be outraged.' Another person posted: 'She's openly admitting to bringing in votes to cling to power. Did she think this wouldn't leak, or have Democrats become this brazen? This isn't democracy, it's blatant voter fraud on a massive scale. Shameful.' 'This has always been their game plan. They can't win on policy, so they must rig it', another added. President Donald Trump has been cracking down on illegal immigration after his return to the White House earlier this year. An operation in New York in April saw 133 people arrested across Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Rouses Point and Massena. Stephen Miller, the president's deputy chief of staff and chief architect of his immigration policies, has set a target of at least 3,000 immigration arrests a day. Clarke speaks during a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 Clarke's previous comments on redistricting have sparked fury online amongst Conservatives Miller and 'Border Czar' Tom Homan have both suggested that the numbers are not currently where they want them. Homan backed the ambitious new benchmark, insisting: 'We've gotta' increase these arrests and removals.' 'The numbers are good, but I'm not satisfied. I haven't been satisfied all year long.' During Trump's first 100 days back in office, ICE officials arrested 66,463 illegal immigrants. A terrifying viral social media prank carried out by teenagers who trick victims into thinking their home is being broken into has swept the nation. A recent video of the purge-style incident, similar to the dystopian movie series about an America where all crime is legal for one night of the year, showed a group of five Florida teens making their way toward a home in Riverview - about 20 minutes from Tampa - on Friday around 10.40pm. Shocking Ring doorbell footage captured the moment one of the unidentified teens walked toward the house with a ski mask covering their face and an airsoft gun in hand before the juvenile kicked the front door and fired a plastic pellet before running away, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said. In the clip, the teen was seen pointing the gun at the front door and firing it as several shots rang out. He then darted out onto the street with the rest of the group, laughing as they ran. Chronister, who called the new trend the 'door kick challenge,' said the prank is making waves across TikTok and needs to stop immediately. 'Parents, please talk with your children about this dangerous trend, which could end in tragedy,' he wrote on X alongside the clip. The sheriff has asked anyone with information on the suspects in the video to call the department. A slew of similar incidents have taken place in Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas, and more. A teen, who approached a home in Riverview, Florida with a group of other juveniles, ran up to the front door, kicked it, then shot an airsoft gun at it before running away The group of unidentified juveniles were seen walking around the neighborhood around 10.40pm Friday This is just the latest incident, as two teenagers were slapped with felony burglary charges after they kicked another stranger's front door in the Sunshine State. Jeffery Merthie, 15, and Zahmarii Reddick, 13, were arrested in DeBary, near Orlando, on July 6 after they kicked a neighbor's door in. Merthie and Reddick were seen on doorbell footage sneaking up to the house, before slowly turning around with their backs to the door and kicking it several times before fleeing. Bodycam footage later showed Merthie being placed in cuffs while he stood next to another teen, who was not identified. Both boys told Volusia Sheriff's deputies that they were leaving Reddick's house. 'Where's the girl?' another officer asked. 'We didn't do nothing, I promise you,' the unidentified teen told police. 'I promise you you did,' the officer, who was placing Merthie in cuffs, said. 'Not you, but he did. 'The camera is crystal clear [of] you running up on their front porch and you turn around and kick their front door in... The camera can not be no more clear,' the cop continued. The incident was similar to the dystopian movie series The Purge (pictured) about an America where all crime is legal for one night of the year The teenager with the weapon frantically ran after shots rang out. The group was then heard laughing as they fled the scene Merthie was picked up by police after they noticed his 'distinctive' shorts, which were multicolored. When asked why they did it, Merthie told them they were 'just being dumb.' 'We weren't responsible, we won't do that no more,' he said. Merthie tried to defend their actions, saying they just kicked the door, but the officer quickly pulled up photos of the broken door on his phone to show the teen. The door had large chunks of splintered wood and the lock and doorknob was entirely busted off. 'That's completely broken in,' he said. 'You know those people could have shot you?' Reddick was taken into custody after her mother allowed officers inside the home to search for the girl. Outside of Florida, a woman in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania - about 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia - caught the suspected prank in action at her home in June. Her Ring camera caught a group of teens trying to kick her front door open, leaving damage to it as they did so. Lansdale Police Chief Mike Trail said the department identified the suspects, and that parents need to monitor their children closely. 'Understand that there a lot of safety parameters that you can institute,' Trail said of TikTok and other social media apps. 'Like family pairing, where you can tell what your kids are looking at.' Also in June, police in Van Buren Township, Michigan responded to two incidents where homeowners said their front doors were forcibly kicked open. One video showed a teen kicking the door while another watched on and recorded it. In May, Fort Worth Police said there were at least 21 reports involving the dangerous prank occurring in multiple parts of the Texas city. Fort Worth police Officer Buddy Calzada told NBCDFW made it clear that in Texas especially, people have 'every right to arm themselves.' 'We're in Texas. People have every right to arm themselves, they have whatever they can do to keep somebody from coming into their house,' he said. 'And when somebody kicks on it, that may not be what they're wanting to do to break in, but it definitely gives a perception of that.' President Donald Trump issued an extraordinary call to investigate former President Barack Obama saying he had been caught 'cold' and accusing his predecessor of 'treason.' Trump issued a stunning series of attacks on the two-term Democratic president shortly after being asked yet another question about Jeffrey Epstein. Trump tried to turn the tables, referring repeatedly to a new report released by his Director of National Intelligence that accused Obama of being behind a 'treasonous conspiracy' to fabricate what Trump repeatedly calls the Russia 'hoax' to bring him down. Intel chief Tulsi Gabbard made a series of criminal referrals to Pam Bondi's Justice Department and the agency is reportedly considering the request. 'After what they did to me, whether it's right or wrong, it's time to go after people,' Trump said while seated next to Philippine President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos, Jr. in the Oval Office. Trump was asked who the Justice Department should investigate following the report's release for a potential criminal referral. He didn't hesitate to name Obama and top members of his security team. 'Well, based on what I read, and I read pretty much what you read, it would be President Obama who started it and Biden was there with him, and [James] Comey was there, and [James] Clapper, the whole group was there,' Trump responded. At another point, Trump said Attorney General Pam Bondi should 'act' on the matter while also indicating it was at her discretion. 'The Justice Department would have to act. We have a very competent, very good, very loyal to our country person in Pam Bondi very respected. And she it's going to be her decision,' Trump said. President Donald Trump meets with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Washington. He accused Barack Obama of 'treason' during a question-and-answer session with reporters Trump said Attorney General Pam Bondi should 'act' on the matter The former president issued a rare statement firing back at his rival after keeping mum even after Trump posted the AI image of him in an orange jump suit. 'Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response,' said Patrick Rodenbush of Obama's office. 'But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.' Then he turned to the Tulsi Gabbard report. 'Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes. These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio.' That last lined referenced Rubio, who serves as Trump's Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, and who was seated next to the president during his lengthy attack. Trump repeated calls to prosecute a wide circle of former Democratic officials come after he posted AI-generated video images of Obama being arrested and thrown in jail wearing an orange jumpsuit. Trump accused his rivals of organizing a failed 'coup' in 2016, when Trump defeated Hillary Clinton and captured the White House. 'They tried to rig the election and they got caught and there should be really severe consequences,' he said. It was one of four criminal trials Trump faced during the campaign, with the January 6 case, his Florida classified documents case, and his New York 'hush money' case all going away after he won the election and captured the White House. A jury convicted Trump after his Manhattan trial last year. Trump has long argued that the FBI counterintelligence probe that began during the 2016 election was the start of a 'coup' to prevent him from taking office. Trump pulled in numerous other targets, including former President Joe Biden, also repeating his false claim that he won the 2020 election despite losing to Biden by 7 million votes. 'Obama was trying to head a coup,' Trump said. 'It was Obama. He headed it up,' he added, while listing top targets including former FBI Director James Comey, former DNI James Clapper, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Clapper was among the top info officials communicating in emails released by Gabbard in her 114-page report and concluding there wasn't a threat of Russia 'directly' manipulating the vote in 2016. During his stream of remarks on Tuesday, Trump reached back to the infamous dossier of information provided by ex British intelligence officer Christopher Steele. AI generated image of Obama being arrested and jailed wearing an orange jump suit that Trump posted to Truth Social over the weekend. Obama's office fired back, saying 'These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.' Trump accused Democrats of trying to 'rig' the 2016 election and called Barack Obama the leader of a 'coup' attempt Trump said the DOJ should target Obama since 'he started it' He called the Steele report, which examined a series of Trump campaign ties to Russia, as 'all lies' and a 'fabrication.' The Robert Mueller report during Trump's first term found that Russia did interfere in the campaign, but 'did not find that the Trump campaign, or anyone associated with it, conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in these efforts, despite multiple efforts from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump campaign.' Trump has hammered his rivals for what he calls the 'no collusion' finding ever since. During his extended answer, Trump referred to the first black president as 'the leader of the gang,' and referred to him by his full name, Barack Hussein Obama. He called Clinton 'as crooked as a three-dollar bill. His comments come six months after Trump took office following a campaign where he both vowed 'retribution' but also said he would leave it to law enforcement officials to make their own decisions on who to charge. A migrant held at Florida's controversial Alligator Alcatraz detention center described dozens of inmates being corralled inside cages at the disorienting, mosquito-infested facility. Juan Palma, 48, who has spent more than two weeks at the center in the Florida Everglades, told NBC6 that the lights stay on around the clock, leaving him clueless as to the time of day. The Cuban migrant said that he and 32 other people live in what he described as a cage and that they are only allowed to shower every three or four days. 'I feel like my life is in danger,' Palma said of the 'torturous' conditions. 'There are too many mosquitos, you can't sleep,' he added. He fears that he will be sent to an unknown country, as Cuba doesn't always take back migrants. Palma, whose criminal record includes charges of grand theft, credit forgery and battery, is struggling to fight his deportation order, his wife Yanet Lopez told NBC News. Lopez said that it was almost as if her husband ceased to exist apart from his ability to call her. Cuban migrant Juan Palma, 48, who has spent more than two weeks at the center in the Florida Everglades, said the lights stay on around the clock, leaving him clueless as to the time of day Palma's wife, Yanet Lopez (pictured left), said that it felt like her husband didn't exist apart from him being able to call her An aerial view of Alligator Alcatraz, located at the site of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee, Florida 'We are stressed, depressed, and the situation we are experiencing is very difficult,' Lopez said. The newly constructed detention center has garnered significant criticism for its allegedly abhorrent state. Fernando Artese, 63, an undocumented immigrant from Argentina, was thrown in the facility after he was arrested for driving with a suspended license. He had lived in the US for more than a decade and was taken into custody on July 3 on a warrant linked to a March charge for driving without a license. Artese described the conditions at the facility as harsh and unsanitary, citing extreme temperature swings, mosquito infestations, and a lack of privacy. He also reported that detainees had to handle human waste after toilets malfunctioned, the Miami New Times reported. He likened the site to a 'Hispanic concentration camp' full of mostly working-class migrants. He added that he had only three showers since arriving at the facility. Fernando Artese, 63, an undocumented immigrant from Argentina, was thrown in the facility after he was arrested for driving with a suspended license U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which runs the facility, has hit back at the claims of poor conditions as 'fake news.' Pictured: The Alligator Alcatraz facility in the Florida Everglades President Donald Trump said he 'couldn't care less' that the center was controversial. He toured the center on July 1, praising its remote, high-security design. Trump looked visibly pleased with the setup during his tour - as he was accompanied on by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem - observing stacks of bunk beds behind chain-linked fencing inside an air conditioned tent in a Florida swamp. The president promised that the center would house what he called 'the most menacing migrants, the most vicious people on the planet.' 'We're surrounded by miles of swamp land and the only way out is deportation,' Trump said. He also said he'd like to see similar facilities in 'many states,' adding Florida would getting a second one 'and probably a couple more.' Stephanie Hartman, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Emergency Management, has since defended the new facility, claiming the allegations against the center are 'completely false.' 'Those allegations are completely false. The facility meets all required standards and is in good working order,' Hartman wrote in an email to the Miami New Times. Trump looked visibly pleased with the setup during his tour - as he was accompanied on by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem - observing stacks of bunk beds behind chain-linked fencing inside an air conditioned tent in a Florida swamp A general view at a temporary migrant detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz 'Detainees have access to potable water from on-site tanks refilled by 6,000-gallon trucks. Each individual is issued a personal cup they can refill at any time, and bottled water is provided at meals. Tanks are regularly sanitized, flushed, and tested to ensure water quality. Full-size showers are available daily with no restriction on bathing water. 'All wastewater is hard-pumped into 22,000-gallon frac tanks, maintained below 50 percent capacity and pumped daily to minimize transfers. Tanks, hoses, and connections are fully contained to prevent spills and are regularly inspected to ensure zero environmental impact,' the statement concluded. The Florida Division of Emergency Management had quickly constructed the controversial site, which officials have said will detain more than 3,000 people. 'Alligator Alcatraz, and other facilities like it, will give us the capability to lock up some of the worst scumbags who entered our country under the previous administration,' U.S. Department of Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem said in a June 30 press release. President Donald Trump looked taken aback when asked about his Justice Department's imminent meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell, the only person currently behind bars for Jeffrey Epstein's child sex trafficking ring. Trump shifted his eyes and looked away when CBS White House reporter Ed O'Keefe asked him about the matter during an Oval Office photo spray with Philippines President Bongbong Marcos. He said he didn't know about the meeting but called it 'appropriate.' 'I don't know anything about it. They're going to what? Meet her?,' the president said. In an unexpected twist on Tuesday in the ever-consuming Jeffrey Epstein case, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the department would meet with Maxwell in the 'coming days.' Trump said he wasn't concerned about the sit down. 'I didn't know they were going to do it. I don't follow that too much,' he said. 'It sounds appropriate to do.' President Donald Trump said he didn't know about the Justice Department's meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell The president then pivoted to call the matter a 'witch hunt' - a favorite description he uses to describe what he considers an unfair prosecution. And then to pivot away from the Epstein sagam he went on to attack former President Barack Obama. The president cited a report from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that claims 'overwhelming evidence' that Obama and his national security officials 'manufactured and politicized intelligence' to launch a 'years-long coup against President Trump' with its conclusion about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election in favor of Trump. 'They tried to rig the election and they got caught,' Trump raged. 'There should be very severe consequences for that.' He did not return to the subject of Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors. She was convicted in 2021 on five counts related to sex trafficking and conspiracy. The Trump White House is trying to distance itself from the case and the outrage from the president's MAGA followers about how it was handled. But, in a shocking twist, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Tuesday morning the impending meeting between Blanche, her deputy, and the 63-year-old Maxwell. 'If Ghislaine Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say,' she said. Maxwell's attorney David Oscar Markus said they are in discussions about the meeting. Just last week, the DOJ opposed Maxwell's request to have the Supreme Court review her case, with her lawyers claiming she should have never been charged because of a 2008 plea deal the courts struck with Epstein. Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein in December 2021 Ghislaine Maxwell, 63, will meet with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche 'in the coming days,' the Justice Department announced Tuesday, July 22. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in the child sex trafficking crimes Trump tried desperately to get his base to abandon criticism of Bondi and the FBI after a memo earlier this month concluded the review found no foul play in Epstein's death. MAGA supporters were particularly enraged that no new material was produced in the Epstein files review and that Trump's DOJ found no existence of a so-called 'client list' of high profile co-conspirators. The president even started calling the whole ordeal the 'Epstein hoax' and claimed Democrats were to blame for stoking conspiracies in an effort to divide Republicans. When that didn't work, Trump directed Bondi last week to request the Southern District of New York to unseal grand jury testimony in the Epstein court case. And now, Blanche will meet with Maxwell to ask her: 'What do you know?' 'I've contacted her counsel,' Blanche said. 'I intend to meet with her soon. No one is above the lawand no lead is off-limits.' Some Trump loyalists still aren't buying the latest attempt to recover from the failure that this month has caused a rift in MAGA world. And Republicans are dealing with the fallout. Speaker Mike Johnson announced Tuesday that he was sending the House home for its summer break early in order to avoid having to hold votes on releasing files related to Epstein. Johnson said he wanted to give the president breathing room in the case. And a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on Tuesday voted to subpoena Maxwell to see what she knows about the case, Epstein's death and the rumors of a 'client list.' Donald Trump with then-girlfriend (and future wife) Melania Knauss, Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in February 2000 Maxwell has long claimed she was innocent. In April she asked the Supreme Court to hear an appeal of her criminal conviction, arguing that a 2007 agreement by federal prosecutors in Florida barred her criminal prosecution because, under the agreement, government lawyers agreed that they would not prosecute any Epstein co-conspirator. The Justice Department countered, arguing the agreement did not bind the entire Justice Department in this case prosecutors in New York from bringing charges against her. The Supreme Court justices have not announced whether they will hear the case. The deputy chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police has been given an 18-month warning after being found guilty of misconduct. Jim Colwell was the force's acting chief at the time of his offence, having replaced the former Chief Constable who had been suspended over allegations of sexual offences. Colwell's suspension came in November last year after a compulsory referral to the police watchdog by Alison Hernandez, the police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall. Claims were made that he had used his work device to exchange messages of a 'personal nature' and over his handling of a force disciplinary matter. It was later found he did not have a case to answer over those allegations, but he did face a misconduct hearing for breaching the force's notifiable associations policy. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said a disciplinary meeting had found misconduct proven as Colwell had breached the force's notifiable associations policy. He was handed the written warning as a result, and is set to return to his role as Deputy Chief Constable. An IOPC spokeswoman said: 'A police disciplinary meeting has found misconduct proven against the Deputy Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, Jim Colwell. Jim Colwell (pictured) was the force's acting chief at the time of his misconduct offences Colwell's suspension came in November last year after a compulsory referral to the police watchdog by Alison Hernandez (pictured), the police and crime commissioner Colwell was handed an 18-month written warning as a result, and is set to return to his role as Deputy Chief Constable at Devon and Cornwall Police (headquarters above) 'The tribunal held on Friday July 18, chaired by the Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police, determined that DCC Colwell had breached the force's notifiable associations policy. 'He has been sanctioned with a written warning, to last for 18 months, after the misconduct tribunal found that his actions breached professional standards relating to orders and instructions and discreditable conduct.' In April, prosecutors in Northern Ireland said the former chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, Mr Kerr, would not be prosecuted. The force is currently being led by interim Chief Constable James Vaughan, who will be joined by Colwell. A spokeswoman said: 'He will be supporting Chief Constable James Vaughan and working with the executive in focusing on delivering policing services to our communities.' A raging inferno ripped through a block of flats in west London after an overcharged e-bike battery caught fire. Residents in Hanwell evacuated themselves at 6pm on July 19 after spotting the blaze from their windows. Footage showed the balcony of a flat totally destroyed by the fire and clouds of grey smoke billowing upwards. Neighbours stopped outside to stare as the blaze took over the home, while others shouted from their own balconies at people trying to go in. As the building went up in flames, concerned residents in a neighbouring block told people to 'get out' and warned them the e-bike 'can explode anytime'. Some residents say they've been left traumatised by the incident - after having a 'lucky escape.' The resident who filmed the footage, 46-year-old journalist Artur Kieruzal, said: 'People who lived in the block opposite saw the fire from their windows. 'At first, people thought it was just fireworks - because it sounded exactly the same. A raging inferno ripped through a block of flats in Hanwell, west London after an overcharged e-bike battery caught fire Footage showed the balcony of a flat totally destroyed by the fire and clouds of grey smoke billowing upwards while locals stood and watched on in horror As the building went up in flames, concerned residents in a neighbouring block told people to 'get out' and warned them the e-bike 'can explode anytime' 'They were shocked to see the e-bike battery had literally exploded.' People who lived in the block of flats, including a 44-year-old mother-of-two, immediately evacuated themselves. The mother, who does not wish to be named, said: 'We heard an explosion that sounded like fireworks. 'My son [11] ran out to me and said: 'The house is burning. 'I went out onto the terrace and saw thick, black smoke - my husband [44] and I grabbed our children and ran. 'We're on the fourth floor - we couldn't see through the smoke, and we had to make our way down four flights of stairs with children aged six and 11. 'We thought we could be engulfed in flames at any moment, so we shouted "fire, fire, everybody get out" to our neighbours.' After evacuating the building, the heroic couple went back in to help vulnerable residents out. Some residents say they've been left traumatised by the incident - after having a 'lucky escape' from the burning building The blaze completely ripped through the home with the fire leaping out of the flat and engulfing the balcony as well as licking at the flats above 'My husband went back in - and re-emerged with an unconscious man in his arms,' the mother-of-two added. 'I left the children with onlookers, and went back inside to alert more people.' The London Fire Brigade confirmed the source of the blaze to be an e-bike battery after putting it out. Artur claims three families needed to be relocated after their flats sustained smoke damage. He said: 'The hall flats are a little bit destroyed - three flats were affected very badly, and the families have needed to relocate. 'Nobody sleeps now - everyone is in shock. 'Even my flat has been affected, the smell of smoke is awful and I can't do anything about it.' The aftermath showed three burnt out flats with the interior gutted by the blaze. The aftermath showed three burnt out flats with the interior gutted by the blaze and blackened, smoke-damaged household items strewn over the courtyard Pictures showed firefighters inspecting the damage and ensuring the flats were safe but the balconies were blackened with smoke and burnt household items such as a microwave and lamp had been thrown on the courtyard below. The London Fire Brigade have confirmed no injuries were reported - but say the blaze started after an e-bike battery was overcharged with an incorrect charger. It issued a new warning for e-bike users after the incident. The residents credited the 'amazing' London Fire Brigade for attending the scene quickly and extinguishing the fire within an hour. A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said: 'If you own an e-bike or e-scooter, there are a number of things you can do to help keep yourself and those around you safe. 'It is vital that you do not store or charge the device on an escape route such as a hallway. 'When charging your e-bike or e-scooter, make sure you are using the correct charger. 'Mismatching the charger increases the risk of fire. 'It's also important not to overcharge and to unplug the charger once it's completed charging. 'Never charge an e-bike or e-scooter unattended or whilst you're sleeping. 'If you're converting your bike from a pushbike into an e-bike, make sure you get a professional or competent person to carry out the conversion. 'We encourage anyone who owns an e-bike or e-scooter, or is thinking about purchasing one, to take a look at all of our ChargeSafe advice on our website to help keep themselves and those around them safer from these types of fires.' A female janitor and a university official are facing up to five years in prison for misgendering a student. The official, Luiz Adripaulo, and the janitor, whose name has been withheld, were accused of transphobia by Federal University of Paraiba student Odara Moraes in October 2022. Psychology major Moraes was seen inside one of the school's women's restrooms when she was confronted by the staff members. The janitor, who had been employed by the Brazilian university for nine years, told news outlet Redduxx that she was hardly ever assigned to the area of the campus when she walked into the bathroom with one of her co-workers. They noticed Moraes wearing 'a crop top and a mini skirt' and approached her before the janitor, who is on trial, told Moraes that she was not in the correct restroom. 'I didn't mean to offend anyone or hurt anyone. I just spoke to him politely, and I was politely bothered because it was a female space, not a male one,' the worker said. 'I was simply speaking about a fact, about a right - my right as a woman to defend our space, a female space. I had never seen anything like that before - a man using a women's bathroom.' The janitor said that Moraes was argumentative and asked to be referred to with female pronouns. Luiz Adripaulo, the administrative director of the Federal University of Paraiba in Joao Pessoa, Brazil is facing two to five years in jail for allegedly misgendering Odara Moraes, a trans student. A female janitor, who is also on trial, approached Moraes in October 2022 in a women's restroom and asked her to leave, claiming she 'was politely bothered because it was a female space, not a male one' Federal University of Paraiba student Odara Moraes accused a university janitor and administrative director of transphobia After learning that the janitor was employed by the school, Moraes requested the presence of a university official and was escorted to the office of Adripaulo, the administrative director. Adripaulo attempted to mediate the incident when he asked Moraes if she had any documents to prove that she was a woman. Moraes accused the janitor and Adripaulo of discrimination and abandoned the office before filing a police report four days later. The incident generated concerns for both the janitor and Adripaulo, who had never gotten in trouble with the law. The janitor was left without a job in 2023 after her contract was not renewed by the company that hired her for the university, and she has had trouble finding employment ever since. 'I never imagined I would go through something like this,' she said. 'What I have been through deeply affected my personal and mental well-being. I have become anxious. I have anxiety attacks, you know?' File image shows a building at the Federal University of Paraiba in Brazil Moraes claimed that she was discriminated by a female janitor and an administrator at the Federal University of Paraiba after she was kicked out of a women's restroom Adripaulo faced constant pressure from LGBT+ activist groups, who held protests outside his office. Student accused him of being a 'fascist.' 'Emotionally, my family and I were devastated, we didn't know how to react,' he said. 'My wife cries in the early hours of the morning; One day I woke up, she was crying on the soft. I made a tremendous effort not to let my children and wife notice what emotional state I'm in right now.' Both were charged in October 2024 with aggravated prejudice and will learn of their fate in the next couple weeks. They could spend two to five years in prison if they are found guilty. Republicans in Congress are working to rename a portion of Washington's John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after First Lady Melania Trump. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, pioneered the effort that would the rename the performing arts center's opera house after the first lady. His amendment was adopted on Tuesday and is expected to be given a full vote on the House floor once Congress returns from August recess in September. 'The Opera House located in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts shall be known and designated as the 'First Lady Melania Trump Opera House,' the text states. The veteran GOP lawmaker, who has been dubbed 'MAGA Mike,' told the Daily Mail in a statement he wanted to honor Melania. It is unclear if the move was coordinated with the White House or the Kennedy Center. 'First Lady Melania Trump serves as the Honorary Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Kennedy Center. Naming a theater after her is an excellent way to recognize her appreciation for the arts.' Simpson is chairman of House committee that oversees federal funding for capital repairs and operations and maintenance at the Kennedy Center. Congressman Greg Casar, a progressive Democrat from Texas, knocked the news as emblematic of misguided Republican priorities. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the opening night of 'Les Miserables' at The Kennedy Center on June 11, 2025 in Washington, DC The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is the United States National Cultural Center, located on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. 'If you're one of 17 million people about to lose their health are, Republicans have some good news: they're renaming the Kennedy Center Opera House after Melania Trump,' Casar posted. The president has sought to remake Washington's premiere art center in his image during his second term, stunningly firing the entire board during his first month in office. Trump later named himself chairman of the board and appointed Special Presidential Envoy Ric Grenell as acting Kennedy Center president and executive director. The first couple most recently attended a showing of 'Les Miserables' at the iconic venue in early June. 'I've seen it, we've seen it, a number of times, it's fantastic. It was just about our first choice. That's what we got and we've got other ones coming, other great ones coming,' Trump said of the show. When the Trumps entered the theater, there were cheers, applause and a USA chant. There were also some boos. In an act of defiance, some of the show's actors boycotted the performance for the president. Melania Trump is an honorary board member at the Kennedy Center Melania Trump has also been appointed to an honorary chair role on the Kennedy Center's board of trustees. As have Dr. Jill Biden, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton. The president has celebrated Grenell's work at the performing arts center. So far the 20252026 season has featured an array of musical hits, including Les Miserables, Chicago, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Mrs. Doubtfire, Monty Python's Spamalot and Back to the Future: The Musical. 'Dumb and Dumber' star Jeff Daniels blasted Republicans and wished Donald Trump voters suffer financial hardship during a recent interview. Daniels called the president a 'snake oil salesman' while speaking on MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace's podcast, 'The Best People.' The two discussed his upcoming role as Ronald Reagan in the upcoming film 'Reykjavik' when Wallace asked him how the 40th president compares to the current administration. Daniels went on a rant about the collapse of the Republican party and expressed his desire for Trump voters to lose their money. 'I'm just an actor, what do I know? But when Mitch [McConnell] started stacking the courts 25 years ago, I said it on your show once, they can see it coming,' Daniels said. 'The new America that is diverse and treats everyone with equality and respect and dignity, you know, kind of like Jesus did. We're ready for that. And Mitch and company could see it coming. 'They were going to be the minority, so they just started and then here we are, and now you got it, and now you're losing money. I hope you're losing tons of money, those of you who thought this would be okay.' Wallace called out voters in Michigan who voted from Trump and said the tariffs are going to negatively impact them. Actor Jeff Daniels (pictured) wished Donald Trump voters suffer financial hardship during a recent interview The 'Dumb and Dumber' star called the president a 'snake oil salesman' and said he believes people will eventually realize Trump is to blame for their problems 'I mean, Michigan voted for Trump this time again,' Wallace said. 'I mean, the tariffs are going to hurt your neighbors, they're going to hurt.' Daniels agreed that everyday people will suffer because of Trump's policies and said he believes people will eventually realize the president is to blame. 'Which I think, at the end of the day, that's what's going to do it. 'Wait a minute, the grocery bill is what? $180 more? I can't get that car that we have to have unless I pay another $8,000. What? Who do I blame for that? Who do I see about that?' One person,' he said. 'I think he's a snake oil salesman, and I think people will see that.' Daniels said that Kamala Harris would have been a better choice for president because she would have lead the country like Abraham Lincoln. 'She would have been a good choice. I don't care what they say, because she would have done what Lincoln did,' he said. '[Lincoln] surrounded himself with the people who would disagree with him, not the people who would, you know, take a knee and go, 'Yeah, more tariffs, sir, more.'' Daniels returned to television in 2024, starring in the Netflix series A Man In Full as Charlie Croker, a real estate agent who's gotten used to living the high life. Daniels said he hopes Trump voters lose their money while speaking on MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace's podcast, 'The Best People' Daniels and Wallace agreed that Americans will suffer from Trump's economic policies and called out people in Michigan who voted for him Prior to that he played Chief Del Harris in the crime drama American Rust for Showtime. It premiered back in September 2021 and ran through January of the following year, before being canceled after one season. In recent years the actor also starred in the leading man role in the Hulu drama miniseries The Looming Tower (2018), the heralded Netflix miniseries Godless (2017) and the political drama series The Newsroom (2012-2014), which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series in 2013. During his career in Hollywood Daniels has also star in such films as The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Something Wild (1986), Gettysburg (1993), Dumb and Dumber (1994), Speed (1994), The Hours (2002), The Squid And The Whale (2005), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), Infamous (2006) Steve Jobs (2015), and The Martian (2015). A senior member of the U.S. Senate Democratic Caucus had some choice words for Hunter Biden after the former first son made an astounding claim about the state of his father's health last year. Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal said on Capitol Hill Tuesday that Hunter Bidens comments were 'regrettable, because we need to be looking forward and focusing on the past really makes no sense.' The younger Biden appeared in an interview with YouTuber Andrew Callaghan which aired Monday, during which he made shocking claims about his father, former President Joe Biden. Hunter revealed that the sleep aid Ambien was to blame for his father's disastrous presidential debate performance, which became a turning point in the 2024 campaign. Monday's interview marked the one year anniversary of the presidential debate between then-incumbent Biden and current President Donald Trump, after which Biden withdrew from the race. 'I know exactly what happened in that debate,' Biden's son said. 'He flew around the world. He's 81 years old. He's tired. They gave him Ambien to be able to sleep and he gets up on the stage and looks like a deer in the headlights.' The then president blamed his lousy June 27, 2024 performance on a cold, though had spent several days at Camp David resting up ahead of the Atlanta showdown. As Republicans in the House and the Senate have been conducting investigations into the usage of the autopen by former President Joe Biden, Democrats have had to toe a tough line. Hunter Biden unleashed on Democrats critical of dad Joe in explosive interview Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Feb. 1, 2022, in Washington Blumenthal has called the GOP investigations 'performative and theatrical' and told the Washington Examiner last month that he was 'not super interested in' attending a hearing on Biden's presidential pardon power. Yet, one of the actions taken by Biden via autopen during the last few days of presidency was the decision to commute the prison sentence of Adrian Peeler, a man who planned and committed the murder of an eight-year-old boy and his mother in 1999. The crime happened in Connecticut, Blumenthal's home state, and the senator remarked back in January that somebody had 'dropped the ball' with that particular decision. Hunter Biden's bombshell interview made numerous headlines Monday as the former first son unleashed f-bomb-laden rants and made shocking revelations about his family. Hunter also attacked prominent Democrats such as his father's former ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, who criticized Democrats performance in the 2024 election, and actor George Clooney who called for the elder Biden to drop out of the Presidential race last year. Hunter even went as far to say that he would invade El Salvador if they refuse to send back deportees sent to the country by the Trump administration. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz remarked that the rant was 'unhinged.' 'This is the current state of the Democrat party,' he added. The family of a missing graduate student are desperately seeking answers after she disappeared on a night out with friends. Eliotte Heinz, 22, vanished along the Mississippi River after leaving a bar in the early hours of Sunday morning in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Heinz, a graduate student at Viterbo College, was last seen on surveillance camera walking along the waterfront in the 500 block of Front Street South at around 3:22am. Family members said she was on her way back to her apartment when the footage was captured. Less than an hour earlier, Heinz had been at Broncos Bar in the citys downtown area, but left around 2.30am. Eliotte Heinz, 22, vanished along the Mississippi River after leaving a bar in the early hours of Sunday morning in La Crosse, Wisconsin She was last seen on surveillance camera walking along the waterfront in the 500 block of Front Street South at around 3:22am On Monday, law enforcement used drones and dive units to search along the banks of the Mississippi River behind Front Street. Another search effort began at 8am Tuesday, with volunteers meeting at the Viterbo University School of Nursing building. A spokesperson for La Crosse PD said investigators have received an influx of tips regarding her whereabouts over the last 48 hours. Heinzs parents and two siblings spent Monday handing out fliers across the city. In an emotional press conference, her mom, Amber Heinz, described her daughter as a smart and responsible person. She needs to be back home with us. That's where she was trying to go and we need her to be able to complete that, said Amber, fighting back tears. We love you, we miss you, and were doing everything we can to get you back to us. In an emotional press conference, her mom, Amber Heinz, described her daughter as a smart and responsible person Heinz had been with a group of friends at Broncos Bar in the citys downtown area, but left around 2.30am Sunday Amber asked anyone with a security camera to look back through their footage, and anyone who knows anything - no matter how small or seemingly insignificant - to come forward and share that information with police. If you have seen anything, even if its small - anything at all - please call the La Crosse Police Department, Amber added. If you have Ring cameras and you think that you might have captured an image of Eliotte, please call them, let them take a look at your footage. Even if you don't think it's a big deal, it might be something that's a really big deal for her. Her brother, Brett Heinz, also shared that her disappearance is tearing our family apart. Everyone is just really messed up right now. We dont know where Eliotte is. We need to find her, said Brett. Heinz is described as being five-foot-four, weighing around 120 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a grey T-shirt and denim shorts. Heinz is working on her doctorate in psychology at Viterbo College Heinz is described as being five-foot-four, weighing around 120 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes Heniz is originally from Hortonville, Wisconsin, which is roughly three hours east of La Crosse. In a post on a local bulletin board, her family shared that Heinz is working on her doctorate in psychology. 'Eliotte Heinz, is missing, and our family is heartbroken,' read the post. 'She is responsible, kind, and deeply loved. Her sudden disappearance is completely out of character. 'We just want Eliotte home. This nightmare has shaken us to the core. In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, La Crosse PD said it's search for Heinz was ongoing. 'Numerous resources are being utilized as we continue to receive tips and follow up with the information,' the department said. 'Thank you to the community for your support and assistance.' Tips and information can be made by calling the police department's non-emergency line at 608-782-7575. Anonymous tips can be made by calling La Crosse Area Crime Stoppers at 608-784-TIPS or online. It turns out the first clue a celebrity has split from their partner isn't a missing wedding ring - it's a real estate listing. A-listers often inadvertently signal trouble in paradise by suddenly shopping for suspiciously large homes long before the press gets wind of a breakup, according to a juicy report from Curbed. Take Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, for example. Rumors began swirling when Lopez was spotted house-hunting. Her team insisted it was merely an 'investment property' - but Affleck quietly moved into a $100,000-a-month bachelor pad in Brentwood. Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness put their Hamptons estate up for rent months before announcing their split in 2023. Records of how they divided their Manhattan penthouse surfaced weeks before their divorce was finalized. Even Sutton Foster raised eyebrows when she offloaded her $2.2 million Tuxedo Park estate in 2024 - a move fans took as a telltale sign of her split from screenwriter husband Ted Griffin. So how do celebrity brokers keep these discreet moves from becoming headlines? Off-market 'pocket listings' are essential, says Steven Cohen of luxury realtor Douglas Elliman. 'It's controlling the paper trail,' he told Curbed. These hush-hush sales allow stars to buy or sell properties without triggering a public record or online listing. To avoid being seen, some celebs skip the tours altogether. Brokers will FaceTime them from the property or send a business manager in their place - with that rep's name often used on the LLC tied to the purchase. Jennifer Lopez was spotted house-hunting before news of her and Ben Afflecks rumored split made headlines Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness listed their Hamptons estate months before announcing their separation And if the star insists on attending in person? That's when the alias comes in. Philip Tabor, from the realtor Corcoran, told Curbed he books showings under generic names like 'John Sullivan' to avoid tipping anyone off. Some clients are even said to have worn disguises. Tabor once helped a well-known star quietly relocate amid a high-profile divorce - taking every precaution along the way. He used fake names, encrypted calls, and even skipped one property entirely because he didn't trust the listing agent. But even the best efforts can be undone by loose lips - especially from nosy neighbors. When Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise split in 2012, residents at the Chelsea Mercantile told The New York Post they had known for weeks. 'I've seen her every day for three weeks,' one blabbed. Sometimes, even the broker is left in the dark. Christie's Aaron Kirman recalled a particularly secretive client who was going through a divorce but refused to reveal their identity, sending a representative to every showing. 'To this day, I don't know who it was,' he admitted to Curbed. And when all else fails? One thing always works: paperwork. 'It's very simple,' Douglas Elliman's Michelle Griffith told Curbed. 'You have an NDA signed. They'll sue your ass.' The mother of an autistic teenager arrested after a SWAT standoff is attempting to relinquish her parental rights to force the state to her handle his alleged violent outbursts. Georgia mother Tracie, who has not revealed her second name, said she is taking the drastic step because she is outraged over a lack of action from authorities. Her son Jonathan, 14, was arrested in January and charged with felony burglary and criminal damage after he allegedly broke into a tractor-trailer business before the incident turned into a SWAT standoff. The teen was found to have knives on him as he broke into the facility in Atlanta, and his arrest came only after cops deployed tear gas to bring him into custody, per Atlanta News First. Despite the seriousness of the incident, Tracie said she was stunned to recently receive word from the Fulton County Juvenile Court saying the case had been dismissed without prejudice. Officials said the decision was down to Jonathan's capacity to face charges, but his mother said she is baffled at the move, which was made despite police noting that he suffers from 'autism with violent tendencies.' Tracie said her son has been in Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) custody since his arrest, and that she made the heartbreaking decision to relinquish her parental rights over fears for her own safety. 'If he comes home, Im not going to be able to stop him,' she told the outlet. Georgia mother Tracie, who has not revealed her second name, said she is attempting to relinquish her parental rights to force the state to help her autistic son's 'violent outbursts' Tracie's son Jonathan, 14, was arrested in January and charged with felony burglary and criminal damage after he allegedly broke into a tractor-trailer business before the incident turned into a SWAT standoff The teen was found to have knives on him as he broke into the facility in Atlanta, but the case against him was dropped, leaving his mother stunned Tracie said the decision over her parental rights ultimately lies with a judge, and that she is afraid of what may happen if it is not granted. 'There's a reason I'm afraid of him,' she said, adding she's suffered a broken leg as a result of his violent outbursts. 'Its very heart-wrenching when a parent feels like the only option they have to prevent any kind of tragic event is to relinquish their rights, knowing all the things they have done.' She said the decision was not out of hatred for her struggling son, and that she hopes to reunite with him as an adult after he receives treatment. 'I would never just give up on him,' she said. 'This is my child. This is not an acquaintance or a stranger on the street; this is my flesh and blood, someone I love in the deepest parts of my soul. 'I wouldnt wish this on any parent because it is like a death, except hes alive.' Tracie said the decision over her parental rights ultimately lies with a judge, and that she is afraid of what may happen if it is not granted after Jonathan allegedly left her with injuries including a broken leg Tracie said the decision was not out of hatred for her struggling son, and that she hopes to reunite with him as an adult after he receives treatment. 'I would never just give up on him,' she said An image of a letter Tracie left her son as he was taken into juvenile custody Peggy Walker, a Georgia Juvenile Courts senior judge, told Atlanta News First that cases like Tracie's are complex. She said Jonathan's charges may have been dismissed over his inability to understand the case, or whether the DFCS was handling the issues within the child welfare system instead. The Atlanta outlet said that 334 instances of parents relinquishing their rights have been recorded this year, and 688 times last year within the DFCS. 'We have to be prepared to address and provide support and respite,' Walker said. 'We should never be in a situation where a parent is surrendering their rights because their child has a disability and services are absent.' 'Its our job to work with the child and the family; provide the resources; and make every effort to reunify that child with the parent.' President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he had reached a settlement with CBS and Paramount triggered by a 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. 'We have just achieved a BIG AND IMPORTANT WIN in our Historic Lawsuit against 60 Minutes, CBS, and Paramount,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'Just like ABC and George Slopadopoulos, CBS and its Corporate Owners knew that they defrauded the American People, and were desperate to settle.' Trump said that Paramount/CBS/60 Minutes paid $16 million in the settlement and anticipated an additional $20 million from the new owners of CBS in advertising, PSAs or similar programming. 'This is another in a long line of VICTORIES over the Fake News Media, who we are holding to account for their widespread fraud and deceit,' Trump wrote. 'The Wall Street Journal, The Failing New York Times, The Washington Post, MSDNC, CNN, and all other Mainstream Media Liars, are ON NOTICE that the days of them being allowed to deceive the American People are OVER.' Trump famously protested the 60 Minutes interview of Harris with host Bill Whitaker after it was revealed that one of the vice president's lengthy spiraling answers on Israel was edited for the public broadcast. In protest, he filed a $20 billion lawsuit to challenge CBS and 60 Minutes, arguing that the show's producers purposefully edited the interview to make Harris look better and sway the presidential election. CBS argued that their edits were part of the normal editorial process. After Trump won the election and became president the Federal Communications Commission ordered for the original video and transcripts to be made public. President Donald Trump celebrated the settlement as a key win over the 'fake news' media Interviewer Bill Whitaker sat down with the then-VP right before the 2024 election The unearthed version of the interview showed that CBS only aired 20 minutes of Kamala Harris talking, of the total 60 minutes that were filmed. The unedited footage opens with the former VP sneezing as she explains she is 'allergic to mold,' while other sections of her answers were cropped and cut out completely. In other places Harris gave rambling answers on why she should be president, foreign policy, and Trump - all which were nixed by CBS. The interview has been nominated for an Emmy this year for 'outstanding edited interview,' despite Trump's repeated attacks against the content Paramount, CBS, and 60 Minutes settled the president's lawsuit out of court, rather than go to trial. The settlement concludes as the company Skydance is preparing to purchase Paramount and CBS, which requires approval from the Federal Communications Commission. News of the settlement is expected to grease the wheels for FCC approval of the proposed merger. Trump's claims of a additional advertising value from Skydance, the future owners of Paramount, has not been confirmed by the company. Vice President Kamala Harris discusses the economy, immigration, the ongoing war in the Mideast, and the differences between herself and former President Trump during a 2024 election interview on 60 Minutes. Interviewer Bill Whitaker sat down with Kamala Harris during the 2024 election Paramount said in a statement on July 2 that they were unaware of the details of any such agreement. Skydance media, founded by David Ellison in 2006, has produced several popular films and television shows including The Jack Reacher movies, Star Trek films, True Grit, and some of the most recent installments of the Mission Impossible franchise. Alina Habba was ousted this week from her Trump-appointed role as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. A panel of mostly Democrat-appointed federal judges decided that Habba, President Donald Trump's close ally and former lawyer, could not continue to serve beyond the temporary 120 days allowed. The order issued on Tuesday directs Desiree Leigh Grace, the first assistant prosecutor to Habba, to assume the interim U.S. attorney role immediately. This means after a whirlwind few years in Trump's inner circle including serving as counselor to the president in the first few months back in office Habba no longer has an official role within his administration. However, Trump has formally appointed Habba to the permanent position, so she may not be out of the fold for long. A spokesperson for Habba did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment on her ouster. Habba is running into several roadblocks to get to final confirmation. Her nomination to take on the role permanently was halted in Congress after opposition from New Jersey's two Democratic Senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim. Trump nominated Habba to take helm at the Attorney's Office in New Jersey on July 1 but her confirmation was held up by New Jersey Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim both Democrats Alina Habba was ousted on Tuesday from her role as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey after her 120-days came to an end without Senate confirmation Democrats have also accused Habba of pursuing 'frivolous and politically motivated' prosecutions despite her relative inexperience as a prosecutor. This potentially is in reference to her role in charging Newark Mayor Ras Baraka with trespassing after he was arrested during a confrontation with border agents at a New Jersey migrant holding facility this summer. Additionally, in an April 2025 post on X, Habba said she would pursue charges against politicians who violate Trump's executive orders, which many interpreted as politically-motivated action. In the lead-up to the vote on her future, Habba gathered her staff on Thursday for a bittersweet all-hands meeting where she acknowledged she might soon have to vacate her role, a person familiar with the meeting told the Daily Mail. They said she thanked her staff and gave a hopeful message that she would be able to continue in her job as U.S. Attorney as she wades through a shaky Senate confirmation process to be Trump's permanent head in New JErsey. The majority of judges who voted on Habba's career future were appointed by Democrats. But a source close to Habba told the Daily Mail that she had been meeting with the judges for weeks before the vote to develop relationships and discuss a path forward should she get the permanent confirmation to the role. Trump has grown frustrated with the bureaucracy in Congress and has called for the Senate to stay in session through their August recess. He wants the upper chamber to quickly confirm all his nominations, which includes Habba, even though Republicans have been working at record speed to get through his picks. The person close to Habba said she 'would never back down' from the job Trump chose for her. Habba told her staff, 'Hopefully this isn't goodbye,' according to the person familiar with the meeting. They said that Habba was making sure she was able to thank them for their work if she doesn't get a chance to do so later. Habba served as a personal attorney to Trump between his first and second term as he faced a slew of lawsuits against himself and his business The judicial meeting on Monday presented judges with the possibility of a choice between two potential candidates First Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Grace and former U.S. District Court Judge Noel Lawrence Hillman. Both are registered Republicans. The former received the next interim appointment, which she will hold for 120 days pending whether any permanent appointment is confirmed. The judges could have also opted to appoint Habba to the role, which they did not choose to do. If the judges decided, however, not to take action this week, Grace would become the next acting U.S. attorney by default. The Senate could intervene at any time to confirm Habba, who is Trump's nominee for the position. The president nominated Habba for a full term as U.S. Attorney on July 1. She had already served as acting attorney since departing the White House in March and her 120 days was up this week. It was supposed to make my life easier, but within an hour I was the most loathed man in the room. Thirty years ago, while working as a reporter for a newspaper in the North-East of England, I was compelled by my employers to attend a stress management course. Over two days inside a stuffy meeting room at St James Park, I would be taught techniques to make me happier and more efficient. The course leader decided to begin proceedings with a general knowledge quiz. This, he said, would place us in a real-life stress situation. The quiz was not in the slightest bit stressful. The aftermath, on the other hand I came top in the quiz, by some distance. Im not saying my fellow stress managers were idiots but Im hardly the fizziest drink in the fridge and I didnt get a question wrong. Having marked myself out, by knowing the name of the capital of Brazil, as having airs and graces, I was treated with suspicion by the others. Over the following two days, we sat in that airless room listening to a man with the most punchable face Id ever seen suggest a variety of ways in which we might reduce our stress levels. What he did was this: every night, as he drove home, hed pass a service station a mile from his house. At this point, he would tell himself that he was no longer in the work world. If this wasnt enough, he might light some candles and have a long soak in the tub. Isla Bumba, who gave evidence to the Sandie Peggie employment tribunal last week Reader, I am what you might call a smart-a*** and so I took great pleasure in irritating this charlatan, who was being paid handsomely so that my bosses could tick a box that said they were doing the right thing by their staff. When he asked whether, if I was in a plane and the engines died, Id parachute to safety, I played it deadpan. Dunno, I said. But if you dont, youll die, he said. I get that, I replied. Its just I dont know whether, in the moment, Id be able to jump. But the planes going to crash, he continued, his exasperation mounting. Yeah, I know, I said. And I hope Id be able to do it but, you know, how can I say I would? I was annoying everyone in the room by this point. A woman from advertising sales snapped that shed jump and the course leader told us all this was evidence that, under terrible pressure, the human mind can find reserves of strength. I went for lunch alone on the first day and then let the afternoon drift past in a hoppy haze. On the second day, the stress management expert managed his stress by ignoring me. When I returned to my desk after two days of sessions, my news editor demanded to know what stories I had for the coming Sundays paper. Well, none, I said. Ive been on a stress management course. Under pressure to catch up, I felt more stressed than before. It isnt healthy to hold grudges but, three decades on, my contempt for the man who ran that course has only intensified. He was at the vanguard of the trend for employers to bring in consultants and workshoppers. Rather than creating genuinely comfortable working conditions and paying decent wages, companies could run a series of expensive and pointless courses and declare themselves committed to the Governments Investors in People scheme. The contemporary equivalent of those consultants are the activists who, over recent years, have been let loose across the public and private sectors to conduct courses on equality and inclusion. Just as my bosses didnt give a hoot about my stress levels 30 years ago, todays employers dont care about the damage these consultants cause. This lanyard-class is perfectly personified by Isla Bumba, equality officer at NHS Fife. In evidence last week during the tribunal of Sandie Peggie suing the health board and trans-identifying doctor Beth Upton for sexual harassment and discrimination after she was suspended for complaining about the presence of a biological male in a female-only space Ms Bumba exposed the vacuity of these box-tickers, employed to ensure their employers comply with whichever target or objective is currently in vogue. In the case of Ms Bumba a 60k-a-year equality officer with seemingly no understanding of the Equality Act this meant giving advice that not only left Sandie Peggie victim of a shocking witch-hunt but also left her employers, funded by the Scottish taxpayer, open to costly legal action, such as the tribunal now taking place. But the hapless equality officer cannot be a scapegoat for her employers. The chief executive of NHS Fife, Carol Potter, and the board chaired by Pat Kilpatrick must all go. And they must go as publicly as possible. This is not only necessary for the good governance of NHS Fife, it is essential if the grip of gender ideologues on public bodies is to be loosened. Carol Potter, Isla Bumba, Pat Kilpatrick and every member of the NHS Fife board must become examples of what happens when those in authority ignore their responsibilities to both employees and the law. Right now, lurking in offices across Scotland, there are overconfident and under- qualified men and women who hold in their hands and seem indecently eager to exercise the power to destroy careers. These people, with their courses and their talk of best practice, are a danger. Fortunately, there already exist robust equality laws which, among other things, protect the sex-based rights of women. There should be no need in any organisation with a functioning legal department to employ someone to ensure compliance with the law, especially when that individual doesnt have the faintest idea what theyre talking about. For decades, workplaces have been invaded by clipboard-wielding, power-tripping consultants and experts who in order to justify their salaries make life unnecessarily difficult for the rest of us. Once youve clashed with one of these exhausting little tyrants, no number of stress management courses will help you forget. The Democrat mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, announced that the city will change some of its immigration policies, making it no longer a sanctuary city. Mayor Craig Greenberg announced on Tuesday that the city will reinstate a policy requiring ICE to receive 48 hours' notice before inmates with immigration detainers are released from jail, reported WAVE. The policy requires that inmates booked at Louisville Metro Corrections be fingerprinted and entered into a federal database accessible by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. If Homeland Security informs Metro Corrections that an inmate has a detainer, the jail will provide immigration with a 48-hour notice before the inmate is released. The city had a 48-hour policy until 2017, but had reduced it to a 5 to 12-hour window, which landed them in hot water with the federal government, according to Greenberg. The mayor said he received a letter from the Department of Justice in June saying that Louisville was violating federal law and is listed as a sanctuary city. 'Louisville stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants if we remain classified as a sanctuary city,' the mayor said. 'Many of those funds are used to provide food, rental assistance, and medical care to our most vulnerable residents. I will not risk hurting them either.' Louisville, Kentucky (pictured), will reinstate a policy requiring ICE to receive 48 hours' notice before inmates with immigration detainers are released from jail Mayor Craig Greenberg (pictured) said he made the decision to reinstate the policy because other sanctuary cities are being targeted by the Trump administration He explained that Louisville was the only city in the state not complying with the 48-hour immigration policy, and he believed the reversal would ultimately benefit immigrants. 'This change in designation is critical. Cities on the sanctuary city list right now are experiencing a terrifying increase in raids by ICE, including mass raids. Just look at what's gone on in LA and other cities across the country,' Greenberg said. 'We have tens of thousands of immigrant families in Louisville. We do not want to see highly coordinated and often violent federal enforcement action here, especially in workplaces, residential areas, schools, places of worship, parks and other areas where law-abiding people gather. 'We do not want the National Guard occupying the streets of Louisville. I will not risk the safety of our broader immigrant community.' The mayor claimed that fewer than 100 inmates in the jail each year are charged with crimes and impacted by the detainer. 'I have been assured by the U.S. Department of Justice that, if we reinstate the 48-hour detainers for inmates who've been arrested for crimes, Louisville will be taken off the federal sanctuary city list,' Greenberg said. 'Accordingly, Metro Corrections will begin honoring 48-hour federal detainers as soon as practical because the stakes are too high.' Louisville Metro Corrections (pictured) will give ICE officials a 48-hour notice before inmates with immigration detainers are released Attorney General Pam Bondi praised Greenberg's decision and called it a 'major victory for the Department of Justice.' 'In a major victory for the Department of Justice, the city of Louisville is dropping its sanctuary city policies as a result of a strong written warning from my office,' Bondi said on X. 'This should set an example to other cities. Instead of forcing us to sue you which we will, without hesitation follow the law, get rid of sanctuary policies, and work with us to fix the illegal immigration crisis.' Melina Frattolin, the nine-year-old girl whose lifeless body was found hours after her father claimed she had been kidnapped, died by drowning, according to her autopsy. Frattolin was reported missing on Saturday by her father Luciano Frattolin, who told police his child was abducted by someone in a white van in upstate New York. However, cops claimed Luciano misled the investigation after they found the little girl's dead body underneath a log in the shallow portion of a pond near Ticonderoga. Luciano Frattolin, a Canadian CEO, was charged with second-degree murder on Sunday night. The father remains in custody and has pleaded not guilty. Now, an autopsy has ruled that Melina died from asphyxia due to drowning. Captain Robert McConnell said her father, who lives in Montreal, Canada, killed the girl on Saturday night while they were on vacation close to the picturesque town of Lake George, located in the Adirondacks region of New York. The father and daughter were both in America legally after starting their vacation on July 11. They were due to return to their native Quebec on Sunday. The horror unfolded on Saturday night, when Luciano called the local Warren County Sheriff's Office claiming that two men in a white van had abducted his daughter. Melina Frattolin, nine, died from asphyxia due to drowning, according to her autopsy report Her father, Luciano Frattolin (pictured with his daughter), was arrested in connection to her death after police 'identified inconsistencies' in the timeline her provided An AMBER alert was then issued by New York State Police around 10pm, as they advised the public they believed she was in 'imminent danger.' Police soon became suspicious of Luciano's story on what happened just before locating her body around 2pm Sunday. He is being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility as he was spotted in a white prison jumpsuit and shackles while he was hauled into Ticonderoga Town Court on Monday. Captain McConnell said Frattolin's mother, who has been estranged from Luciano since 2019, was expecting her daughter to be returned to her home in Montreal on Sunday. The nine-year-old resided full time with her mother and her father visited without limitations. He also had zero criminal record, McConnell said. Surveillance footage from 5.30pm on Sunday showed Frattolin's final moments as she was seen with her father in Saratoga Springs. At 6.30pm, she phoned her mother and told her that she and her father 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 said. The nine-year-old resided full time with her mother and her father visited without limitations. He also had zero criminal record, McConnell said 'The investigation has determined sometime after Melina's phone call with her mother and sometime before Mr Frattolin's 911 call, he allegedly murdered Melina and left her body in a remote area where she was later discovered by law enforcement.' Captain McConnell said Luciano initially told cops that his child was kidnapped on the highway near Lake George when he pulled over to urinate in the woods. The alleged killer dad said he turned around to find his daughter was no longer in their car, and he saw 'a suspicious white van' fleeing the scene. He later added that 'two unknown males forced' Frattolin into the vehicle. But when her body was found, detectives said there was no evidence she was ever abducted, and detectives said there was 'no threat to the public.' Luciano, a Canadian CEO , was charged with second-degree murder and concealing a body. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges McConnell expressed his condolences to the family. 'This is certainly a difficult case and a heartbreaking investigation,' he said. Prior to her death, Frattolin's father gushed about her online, calling her the 'light of his life' and sharing pictures and videos of their 'father daughter' time. In one YouTube clip from 2023, he and his daughter are seen enjoying 'quality time' together in the snow in Montreal, something Luciano said he would 'miss about winter.' The original video was accompanied by lullaby-style music, with the creepy lyrics 'now hush little baby don't you cry, everything's gonna be alright... daddy's here to hold you through the night.' Portraying himself as a doting father on social media, his Instagram is filled with pictures of him and his daughter on holidays and spending time together over recent years. In one snap, the little girl was seen celebrating Thanksgiving with her grandmother, while other content showed her enjoying a sunny holiday in Italy, where part of her father's family is from. When her body was found, detectives said there was no evidence she was ever abducted, and detectives said there was 'no threat to the public' 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 read. '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.' The repatriation of Britons killed in the Air India disaster has been horrifically bungled, the Daily Mail can reveal. Bereaved families are suffering fresh heartache because the remains of their loved ones were wrongly identified before being flown home. Relatives of one victim had to abandon funeral plans after being informed that their coffin contained the body of an unknown passenger rather than their family member. In another distressing case, the 'commingled' remnants of more than one person killed in the crash were mistakenly placed in the same casket. They had to be separated before the internment could go ahead last weekend. The shocking blunders only emerged when Inner West London coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox sought to verify the repatriated Britons' identities by matching their DNA with samples provided by the families. Tonight, a top-level inquiry into the scandal is underway in London and India, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to raise concerns with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on his state visit to Britain this week. Though two instances of mistaken identity have so far come to light, there are fears that more such errors could have been made, leaving families under a shadow of uncertainty. Pictured: Debris at the site of a plane crash near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport Pictured: Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the Air India flight 171 crash Pictured: Thick black smoke billowing from a residential area after Air India flight 171 crashed in Ahmedabad Of the 261 people who died when Air India flight 171 lost power and crashed, seconds after leaving Ahmedabad for London Gatwick, 52 were returning Britons. And while some victims were either speedily cremated or buried in India, in accordance with their religious beliefs, aviation lawyer James Healy-Pratt, who represents many of the British families, says the remains of at least 12 have been repatriated. Mr Healy-Pratt was enlisted to uncover the full facts behind the catastrophe - caused when the Dreamliner's fuel supply was either intentionally or accidentally switched off, according to a preliminary report - and fight for compensation in the courts. But this week he is investigating the botched identification process. 'I've been sitting down in the homes of these lovely British families over the last month, and the first thing they want is their loved ones back,' he told the Mail. 'But some of them have got the wrong remains and they are clearly distraught over this. It has been going on for a couple of weeks (and) I think these families deserve an explanation.' Though the family who received 'commingled' remains had been able to have them separated and hold a funeral service, he said, the second set of relatives - whom he called Family X - had been left 'in limbo'. 'Family X have no-one to bury because it was the wrong person in their casket. And if isn't their relative, the question is, who is it in that coffin? Presumably it's another passenger and their relatives have been given the wrong remains. Pictured: People carrying the body of a victim from the crash site after Air India flight 171 crashed in Ahmedabad Pictured: The Air India flight 171 stuck on the side of the building after the crash Pictured: The aftermath of the Air India plane crash. Within three days the remains of virtually all the victims were believed to have been found, although the 1500C heat had burnt most beyond recognition 'The coroner also has a problem because she has an unidentified person in her jurisdiction.' The lawyer is now trying to establish the precise chain of events in the recovery and identification process, beginning when the bodies were pulled from the jet's smouldering wreckage and ending when they reached Britain. It will be no easy task. For arriving in India in the aftermath of the disaster on June 12, grieving British families were incensed by the chaotic ground operation and immediately recognised the danger of misidentification. One relative criticised the 'lack of transparency and oversight in the identification and handling of remains', and there were calls for a British-run ID unit to be flown in. 'Our loved ones were British citizens. They deserved better in life. They certainly deserved better in death,' was one embittered refrain. The operation to recover remains began soon after the plane crashed into a medical hostel and houses near Ahmedabad airport. It was led by local recovery teams from Ahmedabad's police and fire departments and the state disaster response force. They used sniffer dogs and hi-tech search equipment and were aided by local volunteers who sifted the twisted, smouldering metal with their hands. Within three days the remains of virtually all the victims were believed to have been found, although the 1500C heat had burnt most beyond recognition. Others were mutilated or fragmented by the force of the impact. Pictured: Rescue workers at the site of the crash. The repatriation of Britons killed in the Air India disaster has been horrifically bungled, the Daily Mail can reveal Pictured: Ambulances waiting to transfer the dead bodies of victims from the hospital complex in Ahmedabad on June 14, 2025 It meant that many families received their remains from the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad - which served as the central ID hub - in a plastic container, rather than a coffin. Relatives were asked to supply DNA samples to be used as identification but in the most severe cases they had to be matched against dental records. Families could only rely on officials to carry out the process accurately and label the containers correctly. 'Nobody looked at the remains. We weren't allowed to,' said Altaf Taju, from Blackburn, whose London-based parents Adam, 72 and Hasina, 70, perished along with their son-on-law Altafhusen Patel, 51. 'They just said, "This is your mother or father", and gave us a paper label with an ID number on it. We had to take their word for it. It's horrific that this could have happened, but what could anyone do?' Mr Taju was told of the mix-up by a police liaison officer. He takes comfort from the fact that his parents and brother-in-law were not involved in the confusion because they were buried quickly, in India, to comply with their Muslim faith. By June 28, Indian authorities claimed DNA tests had conformed the identities of all 260 fatalities. Those victims flown back to Britain were transported by Air India, though some families complained of unnecessary delays and lack of information from the airline. Approached by the Mail, Dr Wilcox said it would be inappropriate for her to comment. Pictured: A policeman and medics transferring bodies of victims onto an ambulance after the Air India Flight 171 crash Pictured: Debris at the site of a plane crash near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad Mr Healy-Pratt added: 'On the known evidence, the chain of custody of these lost loved ones was unacceptably poor. 'We are investigating the causes of those failures and demanding answers on behalf of these deserving British families. 'We await formal responses from Air India, and their emergency response contractors - Kenyons International Emergency Services. 'The families are also directly in contact with their MPs, the FCDO and the offices of the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary- ahead of Premier Modi's visit to London this week.' Tonight government sources said British disaster victim identification experts were deployed to Ahmedabad to support the UKs consular response and to understand in-country processes for victim identification, mortuary operations and support services. These experts supplied information on those who have been repatriated to coroner Dr Wilcox, who opened and adjourned inquests into 12 deaths on July 10. A government spokesperson said: 'Formal identification of bodies is a matter for the Indian authorities. We understand that this is an extremely distressing time for the families, and our thoughts remain with them.' An Illinois mother accused of drowning her baby boy in Lake Michigan during a mental health spiral has been held without bail as she awaits trial for firstdegree murder. Surah Amon, 31, allegedly walked into the water with her 14monthold son Sir Watson last Friday night at South Shore Beach in Chicago and 'let go' of him before screaming to bystanders that shed killed her baby and wanted to die. The child was pulled from the lake by the Chicago Fire Departments Marine Unit and rushed to Comer Childrens Hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Authorities say the tragedy unfolded just hours after Amon was dumped by her boyfriend and kicked out of the home she shared with the boys father and grandmother, following a violent confrontation that ended with police serving her with an order of protection. Prosecutors revealed during Tuesdays bond hearing that Amon had a history of clashes with the paternal grandmother, who had repeatedly called police to have her removed from the house. On July 11, the grandmother was granted an order of protection but allowed Amon to stay anyway when it wasnt immediately enforced. That changed on Thursday, July 17, when Amon allegedly struck the woman, prompting police to serve the order. But with nowhere to go, Amon was permitted to stay one more night. On Friday afternoon, another relative called 911 to report Amon was 'having mental health issues.' Surah Amon, 31, allegedly walked into the water with her 14monthold son Sir Watson last Friday night at South Shore Beach in Chicago and 'let go' of him before screaming to bystanders that shed killed her baby and wanted to die The child was pulled from the lake by the Chicago Fire Departments Marine Unit and rushed to Comer Childrens Hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival Later that evening, the grandmother returned home from work and found her still there. She phoned police twice but by the time officers arrived, Amon had vanished with the child. Around 9:45 p.m., beachgoers at Chicagos Yacht Harbor spotted Amon in deeper water screaming that shed drowned her son. 'I killed my son. I want to die,' she allegedly yelled, according to police. Sir Watson was found unresponsive in the water by a CFD helicopter team. First responders performed chest compressions, but to no avail. Amon was pulled from the lake with cuts on her wrists and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center for minor injuries and a mental health evaluation. She later confessed to police that she had killed her son after being 'kicked out' by the boys father, saying she had wanted to end her own life. At Tuesdays hearing, Assistant States Attorney Todd Kleist told the court: 'Shes the person whos supposed to protect this child and she is the one who killed him. If shes capable of doing this to a helpless and innocent child, then she is also a danger to anyone else she comes into contact with.' Judge Suzanna Ortiz agreed to deny bail, ruling Amon posed a threat to herself and the community due to what she called a 'serious mental health crisis.' Amon was pulled from the lake with cuts on her wrists and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center for minor injuries and a mental health evaluation Family members wept in the courtroom as prosecutors outlined the childs final moments. Amons sister, Claudia, told WLS that the family had desperately tried to intervene earlier in the day. 'Three hours before this happened, me and my sister made a call to the police to have a mental health team come out,' she said. 'When the police showed up, they told us there was nothing they could do because my sister was not being violent.' Amon remains in custody and is due back in court on August 13. She has no prior criminal history. Former President Barack Obama tore into Donald Trump in a rare and blistering statement after the president dramatically accused him of 'treason' and said the Justice Department should probe his rival over the Russia 'hoax.' 'Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one, said Patrick Rodenbush, a spokesman for Obama's office. 'These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction,' he added. The former president's spokesman then turned to the report of Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, who alleged that the Obama administration 'manufactured and politicized intelligence' against Trump. 'Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes. These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio.' That last lined needled Trump's secretary of state and national security advisor, who was seated next to the president during his extended discourse on Obama and his team. Trump and Obama have a fraught relationship, although they were spotted chatting in what appeared to be amiable fashion at Jimmy Carter's funeral in January. Trump rode 'birther' conspiracies about Obama to influence in his first successful run for president. And Obama's roasting of Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in 2011 still looms large in Trump's inspiration to finally pursue the White House. Former President Barack Obama has responded to President Donald Trump accusing him of 'treason' and saying the DOJ should investigate him for overseeing a conspiracy The pushback from Obama's team came after Trump issued an extraordinary call Tuesday to investigate the former president saying he had been caught 'cold' and accusing his predecessor of 'treason.' Trump issued his stunning series of attacks on the two-term Democratic president shortly after being asked yet another question about Jeffrey Epstein a matter that is itself so explosive that House Republican leaders sent members home on recess, thereby avoiding a difficult vote on the issue. 'I don't follow it too much,' he said of the Epstein matter. Trump attempted to turn the tables, referring repeatedly to a new report released by his Director of National Intelligence that accused Obama of being behind a 'treasonous conspiracy' to fabricate what Trump repeatedly calls the Russia 'hoax' to bring him down. Intel chief Tulsi Gabbard made a series of criminal referrals to Pam Bondi's Justice Department and the agency is reportedly considering the request. 'After what they did to me, whether it's right or wrong, it's time to go after people,' Trump said while seated next to Philippine President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos, Jr. in the Oval Office. Trump was asked who the Justice Department should investigate following the report's release for a potential criminal referral. He didn't hesitate to name Obama and top members of his security team. 'It would be President Obama who started it and Biden was there with him, and [James] Comey was there, and [James] Clapper, the whole group was there,' Trump responded. At another point, Trump said Attorney General Pam Bondi should 'act' on the matter while also indicating it was at her discretion. 'We have a very competent, very good, very loyal to our country person in Pam Bondi very respected. And she it's going to be her decision,' Trump said. President Donald Trump meets with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Washington. He accused Barack Obama of 'treason' during a question-and-answer session with reporters Trump said Attorney General Pam Bondi should 'act' on the matter Trump repeated calls to prosecute a wide circle of former Democratic officials come after he posted AI-generated video images of Obama being arrested and thrown in jail wearing an orange jumpsuit. Trump accused his rivals of organizing a failed 'coup' in 2016, when he defeated Hillary Clinton and captured the White House. Trump faced four criminal trials during his last campaign, with the January 6 case, his Florida classified documents case, and his New York 'hush money' case all vanishing after he won the election and captured the White House. A New York jury convicted him of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, but it proved to be a rallying cry for his base and part of his campaign message that nefarious forces would do anything to try and halt his comeback. The president fingered Obama for trying to 'head a coup' with acolytes like former FBI Director James Comey and former DNI Director James Clapper doing his dirty work. Trump also called the Steele report, which examined his campaign's ties to Russia, as 'all lies' and a 'fabrication.' The Mueller Report found that while Russia did interfere in the 2016 election, the Trump campaign did not conspire or coordinate with the Russian government, despite at least 140 contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian nationals. AI generated image of Obama being arrested and jailed wearing an orange jump suit that Trump posted to Truth Social over the weekend. Obama's office fired back, saying 'These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.' Trump accused Democrats of trying to 'rig' the 2016 election and called Barack Obama the leader of a 'coup' attempt Trump has hammered his rivals for what he calls 'no collusion' ever since, even though Mueller himself never used that term. During his extended answer, Trump referred to the first black president as 'the leader of the gang,' and called Clinton 'as crooked as a three-dollar bill.' His comments come six months into Trump's second term, following a campaign where he both vowed 'retribution' but also said he would allow law enforcement officials to make their own decisions on who to charge. Man jailed over fart prank gone wrong in Bunnings A father-of-three has been jailed for a prank gone wrong at a Bunnings store as he sprayed a chilli substance which left some shoppers with permanent injuries. Paul Andrew Hart, 52, claimed he was using 'Satan's Spit' in a fart prank at the Bunnings in Northam, a town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. The former mine site chef deliberately dispersed the toxic spray around unsuspecting shoppers while visiting the store on Anzac Day in 2024. CCTV footage showed Hart entering the store and spraying the chilli substance as he walked past a woman and her daughter. Moments later, he was seen spraying the substance in one of the aisles before covering his face and calmly leaving the store. Shoppers started to cough and struggle to breathe as they were exposed to the substance. Others covered their burning eyes, while some ran out of the store in a panic. Bunnings workers ushered the remaining shoppers out of the store, unsure of what was causing the sudden onset of symptoms. Father-of-three Paul Andrew Hart (pictured) was jailed for 16months after 11 people were rushed to hospital after he released a chilli substance inside a Bunnings store on Anzac Day Eleven people were rushed to hospital where they were forced to strip and decontaminate in outdoor showers. One victim told the court they thought they were 'going to die'. 'My lungs tightened, I was gasping for air,' the victim said. Another recalled: 'We were naked and afraid, I was freezing cold and embarrassed'. Many victims said they were still suffering from the 'prank', with one claiming they were left in a constant state of paranoia. The Bunnings store was forced to close for the remainder of the public holiday and reportedly lost $16,000 in profit. Hart claimed he intended to release 'fart spray' to 'lighten the mood' inside the store. However, he told the court he accidentally grabbed the wrong can from his pocket and ended up spraying Satan's Spit instead. Hart sprayed the toxic chilli substance, known as Satan's Spit, throughout the store, which resulted in 11 people being rushed to hospital and decontaminated Hart said he woke up that morning troubled by nightmares and could not remember much of the afternoon, after drinking Wild Turkey, cider, and champagne, The West Australian reports. District Court judge Felicity Zempilas rejected Hart's reasoning, stating he saw the bottle and deliberately decided to dispense the toxic substance. 'You looked down at the spray twice and it would have been immediately clear,' Judge Zempilas said in her ruling on Tuesday. 'You deliberately brought a noxious and a dangerous product to a public place.' Hart was sentenced to 16 months in jail and will be eligible for parole later this year. The court was told that, while awaiting the outcome of the Bunnings matter, Hart was sentenced to a further term of imprisonment for making false statements against an ex-partner, a custody officer and a prosecutor. The court was also told he had outstanding arrest warrants in both Queensland and South Australia. A Utah Republican is being raked over the coals for sharing a fake resignation letter, made out to be from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. GOP Senator Mike Lee shared the fake letter in a post on X with the caption 'Powell's Out!', before he realized his mistake and deleted it. The letter contained several obvious signs of being fake, including a seal that appears to be AI generated. It was also addressed to The President, The White House, Washington DC,' and had several oddly placed hyphens in the middle of words. Lee admitted his error to The Hill, stating that There appeared to be one, and it occurred to me seconds after I posted it that I hadnt seen it anywhere else, so I deleted it out of an abundance of caution. I dont know whether its legit or not. Still, that momentary lapse in judgement drew the ire of social media users who took no pity on Lee. Tim Miller, former communications directors for Jeb Bush's Presidential campaign and now a writer for the Bulwark mocked Lee, replying on X that the post was deleted out of 'an abundance of caution!' X user John Lindsey, wrote 'Bahahaha, he saw one completely fabricated letter and posted it, even though he hadn't seen it anywhere else. Can we please dump these low iq morons. It's such an embarrassment to the country and the state of Utah.' Another X user who posts under the handle @dmgtexas was much more direct in his approach, adding 'He's so hyper online, his brain is mush.' Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, speaks during the confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 16, 2025 Senator Mike Lee's tweet sharing the fake resignation letter. The tweet was deleted shortly after it was posted. Lee has circulated falsities online before, including spreading a Russian propaganda video about Ukrainian soldiers, and sharing a fake statement about the death of former President Jimmy Carter. This isn't the first time in recent weeks that Capitol Hill Republicans have made a spectacle of fake resignation letters for longtime government bureaucrats. Freshman GOP class president Brandon Gill wrote up his own fake letter which he made seem to have been written by NPR CEO Katherine Maher, amid Republican attempts to get her resign her post. .@krmaher, I went ahead and wrote your letter of resignation for youall you have to do is sign it. pic.twitter.com/llB1gU1GLU Congressman Brandon Gill (@RepBrandonGill) July 18, 2025 Gill told Maher that all she had to do was sign the letter. Republicans on Capitol Hill voted in favor of $9 billion in cuts to public media funding last week. Impacted organizations include NPR, PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. READ MORE: Horror jetski crash leaves teen dead and another fighting for life Police vehicle then struck into him A motorbike rider has died after he was struck by two cars, including a police vehicle, on Sydney's M4 motorway in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The motorcyclist was travelling east along the M4 near Church Street at Parramatta, in Sydney's west, when he collided with a white sedan at about 2am on Wednesday. The rider was thrown from his bike and onto the road when a marked police vehicle from Cumberland Police Area Command then struck him. Police immediately started CPR until paramedics arrived at the scene. The man, who is yet to be identified, was rushed to Westmead Hospital but could not be revived. The driver of the sedan and a male Senior Constable were also taken to Westmead Hospital for mandatory testing. 'The police vehicle was not on urgent duty and did not have lights or sirens activated at the time,' NSW Police said. 'There had been no interaction with and no pursuit of the motorcyclist or any other vehicle.' The motorcyclist was travelling on the M4 Motorway when he was thrown onto the road and struck by a police car after he had collided with a white sedan 'Initial information is the officers were returning to the station when the incident occurred.' Police have established a crime scene, and a critical incident team including officers from Auburn Police and the Crash Investigation Unit is investigating the incident. The investigation will be the subject of an independent review by the Professional Standards Command and oversight by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. A report will be prepared for the Coroner. Anyone with information about the incident or who has dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Investigators closed all eastbound lanes between Cumberland Highway and Burnett Street in Merrylands on Wednesday morning. Motorists were urged to avoid the area, or allow extra time for travel, while the closure remained in place. Heavier vehicles were advised to use the Cumberland Highway, Great Western Highway, Church Street, Parramatta Road, and James Ruse Drive to return to the motorway. Police closed all eastbound lanes on the M4 Motorway between Cumberland Highway and Burnett Street in Merrylands causing major traffic delays Light vehicles were instructed to use Cumberland Highway, Great Western Highway, and Burnett Street to return to the M4 Motorway. Congestion was banked up for at least 10km for the morning commute, with queues stretching to Huntingwood. 'The M4 Motorway will remain closed citybound at Merrylands due to this fatal car and motorcycle crash,' Live Traffic NSW wrote in an update shortly after 7am. 'Traffic is heavy and all motorists should allow extra travel time and use an alternative route as ongoing police investigations are expected to take some time.' There is no forecast of when the road will reopen. Erik Menendez was rushed to hospital after being diagnosed with a serious medical condition. The 54-year-old was hospitalized after being diagnosed with kidney stones, according to TMZ. His family wouldn't confirm the condition to ABC News. Erik and his older brother Lyle, 57, were imprisoned for life after murdering their parents Kitty and Jose inside their swanky Beverly Hills home in 1989. Following a years-long campaign for their case to be reviewed, a judge decided to reduce their sentences to 50 years to life, meaning they are now eligible for parole. The brothers are set to face a parole hearing in late August, with attorney Mark Geragos telling TMZ 'it's a serious condition'. He told the outlet that Erik is being treated behind bars at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. Geragos said: 'I just think he should be parole furloughed, I think is the proper term, and he could be medically furloughed in advance of the hearing so that he can work with the parole attorney and get up to speed and be ready and do it and give it his best shot. I think that it's the only fair and equitable thing to do.' The brothers' attorneys have long argued that their thirst for knowledge and pursuit of education during their time in prison proves they have spent the time wisely and bettered themselves. This photo provided by the California Department of Corrections, shows Erik Menendez Erik, right, and his older brother Lyle, left, were imprisoned for life after murdering their parents Kitty and Jose inside their swanky Beverly Hills home in 1996 The duo were 18 and 21 at the time they killed their parents. Defense attorneys argued the brothers acted out of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, while prosecutors said the brothers killed their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance. In Los Angeles County Superior Court in May, Judge Michael Jesic gave the brothers a renewed sense of hope by reducing their sentences. 'I'm not saying they should be released, it's not for me to decide,' Jesic said. 'I do believe they've done enough in the past 35 years, that they should get that chance.' The previous LA County District Attorney George Gascon had opened the door to possible freedom for the brothers last fall by asking a judge to reduce their sentences. Gascon's office said the case would've been handled differently today due to modern understandings of sexual abuse and trauma, and the brothers' rehabilitation over three decades in prison. A resentencing petition laid out by Gascon focuses on the brothers' accomplishments and rehabilitation. On August 20, 1989, armed with two shotguns, the brothers shot both parents to death as they watched a movie at their Beverly Hills mansion. Defense attorneys argued the brothers acted out of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, Lyle is seen here on the right alongside his brother The duo were 18 and 21 at the time they killed their parents, they are seen here alongside their mom Kitty and dad Jose Erik Menendez (L) and his brother Lyle (R) listen during a pre-trial hearing, on December 29, 1992 in Los Angeles Their trial prompted worldwide headlines. Prosecutors said their motive was greed, as they stood to inherit $14 million from their parents. The brothers insisted they acted against a father who sexually abused them for years and a mother who turned a blind eye to the abuse. The first trial ended with a hung jury. But at a second trial in 1996 - where the judge refused to allow any evidence about the brothers being molested by their father - they were convicted and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. California Governor Gavin Newsom could seek to grant the siblings clemency, but said he would wait until their final parole beard hearing to decide. Last month images emerged of Erik smirking as he accepted a bachelor's degree with top academic honors from behind bars. The images were shared by his proud stepdaughter Talia who shared a carousel of new images boasting of his achievements in prison. 'My dad graduated from UC Irvine (UCI) with his bachelors degree - summa cum laude,' she wrote. 'For those who dont know, that means he graduated with the highest honors, recognizing top academic excellence.' In the happy snaps, Erik beamed as he stood shoulder to shoulder with other graduates wearing a cap and gown. Dozens have been evacuated from their homes after a bomb squad descended on a street in Bristol, with a 'suspicious' man arrested in relation to the scare. Police were made aware of concerns that someone at a property in South Liberty Lane may have access to potentially explosive items at around 6pm on Tuesday. Officers closed off the road to the public as police, fire and ambulance staff rushed to the scene. The street, which has 63 homes on it, remains shut and cordoned off with a major incident status in place. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that they safely detained and arrested the suspect at 7.10pm, adding there have been no casualties. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit then arrived about 40 minutes later to investigate whether the property was safe. The team continues to work at the scene, assisted by specialist officers. The force said: 'An arrest has been made following reports of a man acting suspiciously at an address in south Bristol. Dozens have been evacuated from their homes after a bomb squad descended on a street in Bristol, with a 'suspicious' man arrested in relation to the scare Police were made aware of concerns that someone at a property in South Liberty Lane may have access to potentially explosive items at around 6pm on Tuesday Officers closed off the road to the public as police, fire and ambulance staff rushed to the scene Police remained there into the evening as the site of the scare was cordoned off 'Concerns were raised with police at about 5.55pm that an individual at a property in South Liberty Lane may have access to potentially explosive items. 'The road was closed to allow police, fire and ambulance crews to attend, and remains shut at this time. 'The man was safely detained by officers and arrested at 7.10pm. 'The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit arrived at the scene at about 7.50pm to check the property is safe. That work at the scene is ongoing and specialist officers are supporting EOD. 'A major incident has been declared due to the number of emergency services at the scene. There are no casualties. 'Public safety is our main priority and therefore a precautionary 100m cordon has been put in place.' There are 63 properties in South Liberty Lane, Risdale Road and Swiss Lane within that area. Ashton Vale Community Centre, in Risdale Road, is open to support those residents, if required. We are grateful for the publics patience and understanding while we respond to this incident and would please ask the public to avoid the area at this time. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sparked outrage after quietly signing a controversial bill that slashes the independence of the nation's top anti-corruption bodies. The law, passed under the radar in a late-night signature on Tuesday, was confirmed on the official website of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament. It hands sweeping new powers to the Prosecutor General's Office, allowing it to seize control of high-profile corruption investigations from the country's fiercely independent watchdogs - the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). No senior official has publicly commented on the reason for Tuesday's amendments, which would allow the general prosecutor to transfer cases from the agencies and reassign prosecutors. NABU chief Semen Kryvonos had urged Zelensky not to sign the fast-tracked bill, which he described as an attempt to 'destroy' Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure. Hundreds of furious demonstrators, many of them young, poured into the streets in Kyiv in response, staging a defiant protest despite a nationwide martial law ban on public gatherings. An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people gathered near the Ivan Franko Theatre in the heart of the capital, just steps from the presidential compound. 'They are crying that they do not want to return to the times of [former President Viktor] Yanukovych' Kyiv Post reporter Sergii Kostezh said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sparked outrage after quietly signing a controversial bill that slashes the independence of the nation's top anti-corruption bodies Kyiv residents take part in a rally against the implementation of a draft law No. 12414, that regulates the work of s Special Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office and the National; Anti-Corruption Bureau in Kyiv An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people gathered near the Ivan Franko Theatre in the heart of the capital, just steps from the presidential compound 'They are crying that they do not want to return to the times of [former President Viktor] Yanukovych' Kyiv Post reporter Sergii Kostezh said 'They do not want to return to the times of pro-Russian governance in Ukraine.' The bill - known as No. 12414 - was pushed through parliament at breakneck speed, tucked away in amendments to unrelated legislation in what opponents are calling a deliberate attempt to avoid scrutiny. Lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a vocal critic of the move, alleged on Telegram that Zelensky signed the bill almost immediately after its approval by MPs. 'They don't care about protests,' he wrote. The move has left many stunned, particularly given Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia and its efforts to secure Western support. The independence of NABU and SAPO had long been seen as a litmus test for Ukraine's commitment to democratic reform. The protest - the largest of its kind since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 - has ignited fears that the government may be sliding into authoritarian habits just as the county battles for survival. And with Ukraine's Western allies closely watching Kyiv's reform efforts, questions are now swirling over whether Zelensky's latest move will jeopardise international support. Writing on X, EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said she was 'seriously concerned' by Tuesday's vote. 'The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence is a serious step back,' she said, adding that rule of law was at 'the very center' of accession talks. But Zelensky backed his decision, taking to X to confirm he had conversed with NABU Director Semen Kryvonos, SAPO Prosecutor Oleksandr Klymenko, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, and Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Maliuk to 'discuss various challenges'. 'The anti-corruption infrastructure will work. Only without Russian influence, it needs to be cleared of that,' he said. 'And there should be more justice. Of course, NABU and SAPO will work. And it is important that the Prosecutor General is determined to ensure that in Ukraine the inevitability of punishment for those who go against the law is actually ensured. 'This is what Ukraine really needs. The cases that have been lying dormant must be investigated. 'For years, officials who have fled Ukraine have been casually living abroad for some reason in very nice countries and without legal consequences and this is not normal. 'There is no rational explanation for why criminal proceedings worth billions have been "hanging" for years. And there is no explanation why the Russians can still get the information they need. 'Important is without Russians. Important is to have an inevitability of punishment and that society really sees it'. NABU and SAPO were established after the 2014 Maidan revolution that toppled a pro-Russian president and set Kyiv on a Western course. The protest - the largest of its kind since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 - has ignited fears that the government may be sliding into authoritarian habits just as the county battles for survival Despite the protest President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed the law after it was implemented by the Ukrainian parliament Hundreds of furious demonstrators, many of them young, poured into the streets in Kyiv in response, staging a defiant protest despite a nationwide martial law ban on public gatherings With Ukraine's Western allies closely watching Kyiv's reform efforts, questions are now swirling over whether Zelensky's latest move will jeopardise international support A Western diplomat familiar with Ukraine's reform effort described the developments as 'the most dangerous moment' yet for the independence of anti-corruption authorities The two agencies have stepped up their work during the war, leveling charges against lawmakers, ministers, and a former deputy head of Zelensky's administration. Anti-graft campaigners have been alarmed since authorities charged a top anti-corruption activist this month with fraud and evading military service. Critics have cast those charges as political retribution for exposing corrupt officials. The government has also faced criticism for rejecting the candidacy of an economic security chief and current NABU detective who was unanimously backed by an internationally supervised committee. A Western diplomat familiar with Ukraine's reform effort described the developments as 'the most dangerous moment' yet for the independence of anti-corruption authorities. 'The Ukrainian side is testing the limits more and more,' the person said, referring to the patience of Kyiv's allies. Many influential Ukrainians lashed out on social media after Tuesday's vote, saying it was a betrayal of Ukraine's decade-long geopolitical ambition. Fighting corruption is seen as critical to erasing a legacy of Russian rule, a sentiment echoed at the protest in Kyiv. A bid to severely limit foreign state investment in UK newspapers was defeated by peers tonight. Paving the way for the takeover of The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, the House of Lords blocked an attempt to prevent passive shareholdings being raised to 15 per cent. It is the latest turn in a tumultuous two-year takeover process for the 170-year-old business. It comes after the previous Conservative government put a 5 per cent limit in place amid fears the Telegraph could be bought by RedBird IMI, a firm majority-owned by the UAE, in a 500million deal. But following a consultation, Labour proposed a higher cap to enable newspapers to access crucial finance. Tory Baroness Stowell said the 15 per cent cap supports the 'much bigger principle of Press freedom' and told the Lords: 'While we all care about protecting a free Press, upholding that principle will serve little purpose if our news industry can't survive and their economic conditions are worsening.' The previous Conservative government put a 5 per cent limit in place amid fears the Telegraph could be bought by RedBird IMI, a firm majority-owned by the UAE, in a 500million deal Tory Baroness Stowell (pictured) said the 15 per cent cap supports the 'much bigger principle of Press freedom' Liberal Democrat peer Lord Fox had tabled a rare 'fatal motion' to block the proposals, despite approval by the Commons. But it was defeated by 267 votes to 155. RedBird Capital, the US junior partner in RedBird IMI, agreed a deal in May to buy a majority stake in the newspaper for 500 million. Abu-Dhabi's IMI will look to buy a minority stake as part of the consortium. Angela Rayner ordered two beds costing nearly 7,000 for her grace-and-favour Government flat, it emerged yesterday. The Deputy Prime Minister bought them in January, and they were installed on Valentine's Day. Ms Rayner lives in Winston Churchill's old Westminster home, Admiralty House, which was originally built to house the First Lord of the Admiralty. The previous resident was Michael Gove, the former housing secretary, and Ms Rayner moved into the property in December last year. At the time, a source close to Ms Rayner told the Mirror: 'It's become increasingly unsustainable not to have a government base in London now she's the Deputy Prime Minister.' Admiralty House is also where the last Labour deputy prime minister, John Prescott, lived. He became known as 'Two Jags' thanks to his two Jaguar cars. Admiralty House was built in the 18th century at the request of Viscount Howe, Admiral of the Fleet. It is one of several 'grace and favour' ministerial residences offered to Cabinet members meaning Ms Rayner can stay there rent-free. The house has been divided into function rooms and three ministerial flats. Angela Rayner (above) ordered two beds costing nearly 7,000 for her grace-and-favour Government flat, it emerged yesterday Ms Rayner lives in Winston Churchill's old Westminster home, Admiralty House (above), which was originally built to house the First Lord of the Admiralty The previous resident was Michael Gove and Ms Rayner moved into the property (above is a staircase within the flat) in December last year And government-owned properties in the building were furnished with two new beds 'to replace end of life existing beds', according to Freedom of Information requests by the Guido Fawkes website. This cost 5,132.44 plus 20 per cent VAT with an additional bill of 498.14 plus 20 per cent VAT for installation a total of 6,756.70 or 3,378.35 per bed. A Tory source said: 'First we had John 'Two Jags' Prescott and now we have Angela 'Two Beds' Rayner. A woman of the people she is not.' Last year, Ms Rayner was cleared by HMRC over the sale of her former council house in Stockport following a row about whether she owed capital gains tax. A Government spokesman said: 'One of the flats in Admiralty House is allocated to the Deputy Prime Minister in her official capacity. 'The maintenance of Admiralty House, including the replacement of end-of-life beds, is managed and administered by the Government Property Agency.' Sources said that the beds had been replaced as a matter of course to maintain the property. 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 When it comes to footwear, the Royal Family has its firm favourites - and at the top of the list is Penelope Chilvers. The British brand, celebrated for its colourful espadrilles and sleek riding boots, has become a staple among the royals. Fans include the Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and Princess Eugenie - not to mention Peter Phillips' partner, Harriet Sperling, who has worn the brand to recent events like Royal Ascot and the Royal Charity Polo Cup. It was back in 2004 that Kate first catapulted Penelope Chilvers into the spotlight. Then Prince William's university girlfriend, she famously stepped out in the now-iconic Long Tassel Boots, a style she continues to favour for country outings and engagements. I had the pleasure of interviewing Penelope herself, and her humble, down-to-earth nature really stood out. She spoke warmly about her gratitude for royal support and the loyal following her brand has built over the years. Inspired by her time living in Barcelona, Penelope brought the region's exceptional craftsmanship to her designs - each pair is dreamt up in London and handcrafted in Spain. Her signature espadrilles remain a highlight of the summer 2025 collection, especially the bold Sevillana Dali with velvet ribbon ties - a favourite of Harriet Sperling. Equally coveted are Sophie's go-to gold Heeled Shepherdess Leather Sandals, which combine metallic detailing with everyday flair - perfect for transitioning from day to evening. Looking for something statement-making? The Sun Salutation Embroidered Cowboy Boots feature eye-catching stitching and are currently on sale. I own a pair myself, and they're not only visually striking but also incredibly comfortable. And for those who prefer flats, the Chico Satin Espadrilles are a must. The rich claret hue adds a refined touch, though they're also available in standout emerald and peony tones. Discover these standout styles and more in my edit below. The bells of Westminster Abbey rang out, landmarks were illuminated blue to symbolise the birth of a boy and gun salutes marked the occasion in London, Bermuda, New Zealand and Canada. On this day 12 years ago, a wood-and-gold easel announced the birth that was celebrated all over the world as Prince William and Princess Catherine welcomed the birth of their son and heir to the throne. Within hours of Prince George Alexander Louis, Kate appeared on the steps of the Lindo Wing looking immaculately put-together to greet the world's media camping outside. The Princess of Wales - who was 31 at the time - radiated with happiness as she cuddled her newborn son and stood next to her proud husband William. Prince George was born at 4.24pm on July 22, 2013, weighing 8lb 6oz, at the same Paddington Hospital where his father was delivered 31 years earlier. Kate looked effortlessly stylish in a light blue polka dot dress, white heels and minimal makeup for her first public appearance as a mother. Even though Kate was following in her late mother-in-law's footsteps with her Lindo Wing appearance, her glamorous look subsequently upped the style stakes for all royal mothers going forward. But not everyone agreed with this decades-old tradition. On this day 12 years ago, a wood-and-gold easel announced the birth that was celebrated all over the world as Prince William and Princess Catherine welcomed the birth of their son and heir to the throne Within hours of Prince George Alexander Louis, Kate appeared on the steps of the Lindo Wing looking immaculately put-together to greet the world's media camping outside Meghan Markle reportedly felt that the Lindo Wing appearances were a stressful and unnecessary tradition An insider claimed that Meghan Markle 'felt sorry' for Kate Middleton after her public appearance following the birth of Prince George and later Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, particularly the photo calls at the Lindo Wing. This sentiment reportedly stemmed from Meghan's view that the public expectations surrounding these appearances were overly demanding for a new mother. Meghan reportedly felt that the Lindo Wing appearances were a stressful and unnecessary tradition. Some sources indicated that Meghan, a self-proclaimed feminist, may have viewed the post-birth photo calls as putting undue pressure on Kate and other women to present a perfect image shortly after giving birth. Meghan and Harry chose to keep the birth of their son, Archie, private and did not participate in the traditional Lindo Wing photo call. But others argued that Kate both honoured the tradition of the photocall, as well as providing a breath of fresh air by proudly showing her post-baby bump rather than hiding it. Parents from around the world heaped praises on Kate with Netmums founder Siobhan Freegard saying the Duchess had dispelled the 'myth that all mothers should be perfect postpartum'. 'Kate shows what a real mum looks like and natural is beautiful' she added The Princess of Wales' blue polka dot dress has been widely regarded by many as a sweet nod to the late Princess Diana, who is pictured outside the Lindo Wing in 1982 after the birth of Prince William Prince George was born at 4.24pm on July 22, 2013, weighing 8lb 6oz, at the same Paddington Hospital that his father was delivered at 31 years earlier William carries George in a baby carrier to a car waiting for them outside the hospital The Lindo Wing was also used for the birth of William in 1982 and Harry in 1984. This is while in 1977 the Princess Royal had Peter Phillips there, followed by daughter Zara in 1981. As such, the Princess of Wales' blue polka dot dress has been widely regarded by many as a sweet nod to the late Princess Diana. What's more, the royal had her own glam squad on standby in the hospital - as she emerged on the steps with a beautifully styled straight blow-dry and radiant face of makeup. During the hour the birth was announced 12 per cent of all the content read or watched around the world related to the new arrival. Shortly after seeing George, Prince Harry said one of his duties as an uncle was 'to make sure he has fun'. In 2018, Kate Middleton was seen on the steps of the Lindo Wing - just hours after giving birth to Prince Louis - looking equally as glamourous. For the occasion, Kate wore a pretty red dress with a lace-trim Peter Pan collar and nude suede heels. Her flawless appearance, neatly styled locks and full face of make-up in front of cameras was possibly regarded by Meghan as too much to bear just hours after delivery. William and Kate smile with Princess Charlotte as they leave the Lindo Wing on May 2, 2015 Seeing double! Diana and Kate matched once again. Diana is pictured leaving the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital following the birth of Prince Harry on September 16, 1984 and Kate is pictured in 2018 after the birth of Prince Louis Prince Archie was born in the Portland Hospital in Westminster and his birth was only announced after the family of three had returned home to Frogmore Cottage In the Queen's 2013 Christmas broadcast, she spoke about her great-grandson Prince George and said the birth of a baby allows people to think about the future with renewed 'happiness and hope'. In her traditional message to the nation, the Queen also made an observation about the future for new parents - 'life will never be quite the same again'. Opting for an entirely different approach, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry broke from royal tradition in May 2019 and kept Archie's birth a fierce secret. Prince Archie was born in the Portland Hospital in Westminster and his birth was only announced after the family of three had returned home to Frogmore Cottage. The couple decided to hold their carefully managed photocall in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle - with just a handful of press present. For the occasion, Meghan oozed glamour in a crisp white belted blazer dress by British designer Grace Wales Bonner. She kept the look simple by pairing it with her pair of nude Manolo Blahnik BB pumps and kept her accessories to a minimum, wearing a simple Jennifer Meyer turquoise necklace. And in a further break from tradition, the new parents used their Instagram account to announce Archie's name. Over the last decade, the world has watched George grow from a cheeky toddler into a charming young man. And while most 12-year-olds celebrate with cake and presents, this year George's birthday marks more than just a family celebration. A rule set in place to protect the order of succession will come into place, meaning he can no longer travel on the same aircraft as another heir, in this case his father. This right of passage marks a significant step towards his future role as King. The world has watched George grow from a cheeky toddler into a charming young man. Pictured: Brothers Louis (L) and George (R) leave Buckingham Palace ahead of Trooping the Colour ceremony Just like his pa! George and William are seen during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa FC at Parc des Princes on April 9, 2025 William and George showed their close bond during the men's singles final at Wimbledon In February 2020, Kate admitted that she found it 'terrifying' to debut her three children to the world on the steps of the Lindo Wing George will likely feel a sense of duty to uphold the traditions of the Crown, much as Kate did with the photocalls. In February 2020, Kate admitted that she found it 'terrifying' to debut her three children to the world on the steps of the Lindo Wing. The mother-of-three was speaking as a guest on the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast when she was asked by host Giovanna Fletcher what it was like to stand in front of the crowds with a newborn baby in her arms. Ms Fletcher, who was speaking about Kate's first appearance with Prince George in 2013, asked: 'What was it like knowing that there were so many people outside after you've given birth and you're in your little cocoon with your new family?' The Duchess of Cambridge said: 'Slightly terrifying, I'm not going to lie. 'Everyone had been so supportive and both William and I were really conscious that this was something that everyone was excited about and we're hugely grateful for the support that the public had shown us, and actually for us to be able to share that joy and appreciation with the public, I felt was really important. 'But equally it was coupled with a newborn baby, and inexperienced parents, and the uncertainty of what that held, so there were all sorts of mixed emotions.' The largest ever exhibition of Queen Elizabeth II's fashion is to be staged at Buckingham Palace next year to mark the centenary of the late monarch's birth. Some 200 items worn during all ten decades of her life will be on public display, more than half for the first time. Among the key pieces will be a silver lame and tulle bridesmaid dress by Edward Molyneux worn by the eight-year-old Princess Elizabeth at the wedding of her uncle George, the Duke of Kent to Princess Marina of Greece in 1934. Her famous wedding and coronation gowns by Norman Hartnell will also feature, along with jewellery, hats, shoes, accessories, design sketches and fabric samples. The exhibition will show how she used fashion diplomatically, such as the white Hartnell gown designed for a 1961 state banquet in Karachi, which incorporated Pakistan's national colours through a emerald-green pleat down the back. Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style will run from spring to autumn 2026. Tickets will go on sale in November. Princess Elizabeth of York as a bridesmaid at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, November 29, 1934. The dress she wore is one of the items on display at the Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style exhibition Queen Elizabeth II wearing an Evening Gown, Norman Hartnell, 1956, which is also on display The then-Princess Elizabeth's Wedding Dress, Norman Hartnell, 1947 Around 200 items, around half on display for the first time, the exhibition which will run from spring to autumn 2026, will chart the story of Britain's longest-reigning monarch through clothing Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh (formerly Lt Philip Mountbatten, RN) as they leave Westminster Abbey after their marriage ceremony Homes for sale have completely flooded the US real estate market, with more listings now than any time since 2019. Slower demand from buyers is one contributor, according to Zillow's latest market report. Homes are lingering on the market and there is less competition for them, making it a great market for buyers if they care to move. The market itself is now considered balanced or in buyers' favor in 28 of the 50 largest US cities. The surplus of listings means buyers have gained negotiating leverage, can get a lower price and may even be able to get concessions. A surge in new construction is also adding to market listings. In June, 1.36 million homes were for sale - the most since November 2019. A record-high 26.6 percent of listings dropped prices in June, as sellers desperately tried to entice buyers. The cuts were most common in the Sun Belt and Mountain States, specifically Denver. Homes for sale have completely flooded the US real estate market, especially in Denver Denver had the highest share of price cuts at 38.3 percent of the homes listed The share of listings with a price cut for June was the highest it has been in that month since 2018, according to Zillow records. The numbers were also closing in on an all-time high of 27 percent - a record held by September 2022. Price cuts are most common among Sun Belt and Mountain State markets that witnessed massive appreciation early in the pandemic. According to the Zillow Home Value Index - which measures typical home values in cities - Denver had the highest share of price cuts at 38.3 percent of the homes listed. The average home price there is $586,433. Raleigh, North Carolina, where the average home is worth $446,622, saw 36.4 percent of listings slash prices. In Nashville, Tennessee, where the average singe-family home is worth $457,836, 35.5 percent of listings had to cut their prices. Phoenix, which has an average home price of $453,381, saw 35.5 percent of sellers lower the price. And in Dallas, where the average home price is $372,023, 35.5 percent of sellers were forced to cut their listing prices. Raleigh, North Carolina, Nashville, Tennessee, Phoenix and Dallas round out the top five, according to data from Zillow A home for sale in Dallas, where there has been a surplus of listings Downtown Phoenix, where many home prices are being lowered Other cities that saw home price cuts were Tampa, Florida, Salt Lake City, Indianapolis and Austin, Texas. Sellers had the upper hand through most of the past five years as demand for homes far outweighed the options available. Pictured: Kara Ng, Zillow senior economist But affordability for buyers is still a major challenge. Home value growth is at a standstill and mortgage costs have ticked down ever so slightly from a year ago. But high prices and borrowing costs are still big hurdles for buyers, especially first-timers. 'The shift to a "neutral" market is significant, but it shouldn't be mistaken for a universally cool or easy market for buyers,' said Kara Ng, Zillow senior economist. 'While negotiating power is more balanced, the affordability crisis remains a high barrier to entry, especially for first-time buyers. 'Until we see a more meaningful improvement in purchasing power, this newfound balance will primarily benefit more well-off buyers.' Phoenix is one US city where home prices are being lowered A home for sale in Raleigh, North Carolina, which had a flood of listings hit the market this summer Nashville, Tennessee, has seen a flood of homes getting price slashes Inventory is still roughly 21 percent below pre-pandemic averages for June, but that deficit is expected to continue shrinking. Zillow forecasts inventory to approach pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year. For buyers, this is all good news. They have more options to choose from, more time to decide on a house and more bargaining power than in prior years. Sellers need to price realistically and set their listing apart from the crowd. But something else experts are seeing is that buyers are not in a rush. Listings that sell do so in 19 days - just one day faster than before the pandemic. That's compared to 15 days in 2024 and 11 in 2023. Zillow studied the housing market nationwide. In 22 of the 50 largest metropolitan areas, the markets are now labeled neutral, where neither buyers nor sellers have the upper hand. Sellers are still correcting prices at record rates to try and entice buyers Dallas, where home prices were being slashed due to a surplus on the market In Phoenix, where the average home price is $453,381, 35.5 percent of sellers were forced to lower the price In June, Zillow data showed 1.36 million home listings active on the market That's compared to 15 markets that were neutral in May and just eight at this time a year ago. New listings stepped down significantly from May to June, dropping 10.9 percent. Some of that is likely seasonal, since new listings peaked in May in 2018, 2019 and 2024. But some potential sellers are also seeing slower sales in many markets and deciding to hold off. Before having to lower listings, home prices had skyrocketed across the US since the pandemic, and it has become increasingly difficult for average Americans to purchase properties (according to 2024 Pew research, the middle class income range falls between $54,009 and $161,220). From March 2019 to March 2025, home values jumped an alarming 39 percent, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Florida's turbulent housing market has been described in five chilling words as homeowners desperately try to offload properties. Chen Zhao, the head of economics research for Redfin, described South Florida as the 'epicenter of housing market weakness' in the US. 'The question for the rest of the country is, will this spread? Florida is uniquely bad right now,' Zhao told Bloomberg last month. The area saw a huge influx of new residents during the Covid-19 pandemic. Americans, freed by work from home orders, arrived in search of sunnier weather and lower taxes. But now the bubble has well and truly burst, and homeowners are struggling to sell amid a growing condo crisis and soaring insurance and mortgage rates. In April, contracts to buy homes in the Miami, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale regions fell dramatically from the year prior. Homes also lingered longer on the market. Pending sales fell 23 percent in Miami, according to Redfin, which was the largest drop among the 50 most populous metro areas across the US. Transactions were down almost 19 percent in Fort Lauderdale and tumbled around 14 percent in West Palm Beach. In April, contracts to buy homes in the Miami, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale regions fell dramatically from the year prior (Pictured: Miami Beach) Chen Zhao, the head of economics research for Redfin, described South Florida as the 'epicenter of housing market weakness' in the US Homes also spent an average of 83 days on the market in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, and 81 in Miami. This is more than double the national median of 40 days in April. It is a stark turnaround from the height of the pandemic, when homes in these regions were snapped up quickly and regularly sold for more than their listing price. 'I think you're seeing a really long, slow deflation of that bubble,' Zhao told Bloomberg of the southern markets that boomed during Covid. Prices in the region are also taking a hit as sellers try to incentivize buyers and offload properties. In April, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami saw nearly 5 percent of sales close below listing price, according to Redfin. Condo prices, in particular, are plummeting, and Florida is being hardest hit. The average condo sale price in the US fell 2.2 percent year over year to $354,100 in May, according to separate data from Redfin the second largest drop in records dating back to 2012. Condo prices, in particular, are plummeting, and Florida is being hardest hit The 2021 collapse of a condo building in Surfside led to a new law that requires condo buildings to undergo structural inspections and shore up reserves In May, Deltona, Florida, saw prices fall over 32 percent year-over-year, which was the steepest decline nationwide. Seven of the top ten metros with the largest price declines were in Florida, and two in Texas. Sellers in parts of Florida have had to drop prices below $10,000. Rising Homeowners Association (HOA) dues and insurance costs have exacerbated the slowdown for condos in the state, paired with the increased risk of deadly natural disasters and heightened building regulations. The 2021 collapse of a condo building in Surfside led to a new law that requires condo buildings to undergo structural inspections and shore up reserves. This has meant that Many HOAs have been hiking fees and doling out hefty special assessments to comply with the new rules, which has reduced demand for condos. One Miami condo association filed for bankruptcy in June, buried under tens of millions in debt. Experts fear it could be a warning sign of what is to come for other aging complexes across Florida, as communities are pushed to the brink by a perfect storm of issues. An iconic American city already sinking at an alarming rate now faces a fresh threat as a monster storm approaches the Gulf Coast, threatening heavy rain and flash flooding. New Orleans is sinking by up to 2 inches a year as its marshy clay soil compresses under the weight of buildings. This ongoing subsidence is compounded now by a surge of tropical moisture brought by tropical weather system Invest 93L, increasing the risk of flash floods and putting additional strain on the city's drainage systems. 'Much of the infrastructure and drainage systems were designed for rainfall patterns typical of 50 to 100 years ago,' Dan DePodwin, vice president of forecast operations at AccuWeather, told the Daily Mail. 'It is not for the intense and extreme rainfall events we are experiencing right now.' Forecasters are also monitoring the system as it moves north, dragging deep tropical moisture into the central US. The National Weather Service (NWS) has predicted the system will churn through Arkansas by Saturday, then bring repeated thunderstorms to the Midwest and Ohio Valley into early next week. This puts more than 30 million Americans across 11 states under the threat of flash flooding through the weekend. A major tropical rainstorm brought heavy rain to New Orleans (pictured), an area of the US that is sinking at a concerning rate (Stock Image) Volunteers filled sandbags for New Orleans residents on July 16, 2025, before heavy rains the Gulf Coast storm arrived Areas south and west of New Orleans have been projected to be flooded with up to 8 inches of rain due to the storm 'This has been a tremendously impactful and dangerous year,' AccuWeather meteorologist Jonathan Porter said regarding nationwide flooding tragedies. 'The number of flash flood reports this year to date has been a staggering 70 percent above the 10-year historical average.' Earlier this week, the system dumped nearly 8 inches of rain in Pierre Part, over 6 inches in Little Woods and close to 6 inches in New Orleans' Desire neighborhood. On Friday, radar showed the storm's core largely remaining south of New Orleans, with only light showers reaching the city. The worst of the weather stayed offshore. The NWS lowered its rainfall forecast to a range of just 1.5 to 2 inches through Saturday, from an earlier prediction of 4 to 8 inches. As of now, no street flooding has been reported in New Orleans or Jefferson Parish. Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather's lead hurricane expert, told the Daily Mail, 'The tropical rainstorm, once labeled Invest 93L, has lost its structure. But leftover moisture is still capable of triggering localized flash floods across Louisiana through Saturday.' New Orleans (pictured) is home to more than 360,000 people, but much of the city is below sea level A Virginia Tech study has estimated that up to 225,000 people are at risk of death or displacement in sinking coastal communities (Stock Image) Now pushing into the Midwest, the remnants of Invest 93L are colliding with a stalled weather front stretching from Iowa to West Virginia. This setup is expected to bring repeated rounds of heavy thunderstorms through early next week, raising flash flood risks across parts of the Midwest, Ohio Valley and Appalachians. According to AccuWeather, cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh could receive 2 to 4 inches of rain by Monday, with isolated spots potentially seeing over a foot. 'The ample moisture from the tropical rainstorm is expected to be drawn northward,' DePodwin said. 'The flooding could be significant in places that have already been soaked this month.' Experts warn that saturated soils and swollen creeks could lead to rapid water rises in some areas, especially where rainfall rates reach 1 to 3 inches per hour. 'We're increasingly concerned about the risk of flooding through the weekend as the moisture from this tropical rainstorm surges northward,' DaSilva warned. 'Some already waterlogged areas could receive another 4 to 8 inches of rain.' The tropical rainstorm impacting Louisiana also threatens to bring flash flooding to parts of the Midwest, Ohio Valley and Appalachians Where rainfall rates reach 1 to 3 inches per hour, forecasters caution of 'life-threatening flash flooding', landslides and overwhelmed drainage systems. Porter advised, 'Don't let your guard down. People should be prepared to move to higher ground if they receive a flash flood warning.' Although Invest 93L never developed into a named storm, it has nonetheless caused widespread damage. Meanwhile, forecasters are tracking another potential storm near the Gulf, which was expected to develop starting July 21. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) anticipates up to 19 named storms this season, including 10 hurricanes - of which, as many as five are expected to be categorized as major - that could impact the US. They're some of the biggest apps in the world, used by hundreds of millions of people every day. But according to a new investigation, 'data hungry' smartphone apps like Facebook and Instagram ask for 'shocking' levels of access to your personal data. Experts at consumer champion Which? investigated 20 popular apps across social media, online shopping, fitness and smart home categories. They found all of them ask for 'risky' permissions such as access to your location, microphone, and files on your device even when they don't need to. The experts urge people to be more careful about what exactly we agree to when we download an app and mindlessly agree to permissions. We could be compromising our privacy when we hastily tap 'agree'. 'Millions of us rely on apps each day to help with everything from keeping on top of our health and fitness to doing online shopping,' said Harry Rose, editor of Which? 'While many of these apps appear to be free to use, our research has shown how users are in fact paying with their data often in scarily vast quantities.' Among social media apps, Facebook, owned by Meta, was arguably the most keen for user data - it wanted the highest number of permissions (69 in total, of which 6 are considered 'risky' WhatsApp, also owned by Meta, wanted 66 permissions in total, six of which are considered risky) Which? researchers worked with experts at cybersecurity firm Hexiosec to assess the privacy and security features of 20 popular apps on an Android handset. The list included some of the biggest names in social media (including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), online shopping (Amazon, AliExpress) the smart home (Samsung Smart Things, Ring Doorbell) and fitness (Strava). Combined, the 20 apps have been downloaded over 28 billion times worldwide meaning the average UK adult is likely to have several of them on their phone at any given time. If someone were to have all 20 downloaded on their device, collectively they would grant a staggering 882 permissions potentially giving access to huge amounts of an individuals personal data. Overall, the team found Chinese app Xiaomi Home asked for a total of 91 permissions more than any other app in the study five of which are described as 'risky'. Risky permissions include those that access your microphone, can read files on your device, or see your precise location (usually referred to as 'fine location'). Such data is a valuable commodity and may allow firms to target users with 'uncannily accurate adverts'. Samsung's Smart Things app asked for 82 permissions (of which eight are risky), followed by Facebook (69 permissions, six risky) and WhatsApp (66 permissions, six risky). Meta's photo-sharing app Instagram asked for a total of 56 permissions, of which four are considered 'risky' Overall, Xiaomi asked for a total of 91 permissions - more than any other app in the study - five of which described as 'risky' How to improve your app privacy Check privacy information : Review any data collection information on the app store listing, including the permissions an app will request : Review any data collection information on the app store listing, including the permissions an app will request Read the privacy policy : You can find it either on the app store listing or companys website. If you dont want to read the whole thing then focus on the sections on data collection and sharing : You can find it either on the app store listing or companys website. If you dont want to read the whole thing then focus on the sections on data collection and sharing Limit or revoke permissions : In Apple iOS and Google Android, you can control what apps can access your data (tap Settings, and then Apps and Permissions to see what each app can access) : In Apple iOS and Google Android, you can control what apps can access your data (tap Settings, and then Apps and Permissions to see what each app can access) Delete : If you arent sure about an app, delete it - and make sure all your account data is deleted, too Advertisement Xiaomi Home was also one of two apps (alongside AliExpress) to send data to China, including to suspected advertising networks although this was flagged in the privacy policy by both. Ali Express requested six risky permissions such as precise location, access to microphones and reading files on the device. AliExpress also bombarded users with a deluge of marketing emails after download (30 over the course of a month) but the researchers did not see any specific permission request from AliExpress to do so. Temu, another Chinese-owned online marketplace, also gave a heavy push to sign up to email marketing which many users could easily agree to without realising, the experts reasoned. Among social media apps, Facebook was 'the most keen for user data' as it wanted the highest number of permissions (69 in total, six of which risky), followed by WhatsApp (66 altogether, six of which risky). TikTok, meanwhile, asked for 41 permissions, including three risky ones, including the ability to record audio and view files on the device, while YouTube asked for 47 permissions, four of which were 'risky'. Overall, 16 of the 20 apps requested a permission that allows apps to create windows on top of other apps effectively creating pop-ups on your phone, even if you opted out of the app sending notifications. Seven also wanted a permission that allows an app to start operating when you open your phone even if you haven't yet interacted with it. AliExpress was also one of two apps (alongside smart device app Xiaomi) to send data to China, including to suspected advertising networks In some cases there are clear uses for risky permissions for example the likes of WhatsApp or Ring Doorbell may need microphone access in order to carry out certain functions. But other examples the need for risky permissions was less clear cut, according to Which? For example, four apps AliExpress, Facebook, WhatsApp and Strava requested permission to see what other apps recently used or currently running. The researchers stress that the investigation was conducted on an Android phone and that permissions may vary on Apple iOS devices. But we should all be more careful of tapping "yes" to permissions while mentally on 'autopilot' without really being aware of what we're agreeing to, Mr Rose said. 'Our research underscores why its so important to check what youre agreeing to when you download a new app,' he added. The full findings can be read on the Which? website. In response to the findings, Meta (which owns WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram) said none of its apps 'run the microphone in the background or have any access to it without user involvement'. Samsung's Smart Things app asked for 82 permissions (of which eight were risky), followed by Facebook (69 permissions, six risky) and WhatsApp (66 permissions, six risky) Meta also said that users must explicitly approve in their operating system for the app to access the microphone for the first time. A Samsung spokesperson said: 'All our apps, including SmartThings, are designed to comply with UK data protection laws and relevant guidance from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).' Meanwhile, TikTok said that privacy and security are 'built into every product' it makes. It added: TikTok 'collects information that users choose to provide, along with data that supports things like app functionality, security, and overall user experience'. Strava said that risky permission it takes, such as precise location, allow it to 'provide the very service that our users are requesting'. It said that it has 'implemented appropriate guardrails around how data is collected, shared, processed, and used'. Amazon said that device permissions are to provide 'helpful features', such as 'the ability to visualise products in their home with their devices camera or search for products using text-to-speech'. It added: 'We also give customers clear control over personalised advertising by requesting consent when they visit our UK store and providing options to opt out or adjust preferences at any time.' AliExpress claimed that the precise location permission is not used in the UK, and the microphone permission requires user consent. It added: 'We strive to create a platform where consumers can shop with confidence, knowing that their data is safeguarded in accordance with the law and our strict privacy policy. We welcome the findings from Which? as an opportunity to redouble our efforts in this area.' Ring said that it doesnt 'use cookies or trackers on the Ring app for advertising' and all permission as used to 'provide user-facing features'. It added: 'We design our products and services to protect our customers privacy and security, and to put our customers in control of their experience. We never sell their personal data, and we never stop working to keep their information safe.' A Temu spokesperson said precise location permission is used to support completing an address based on GPS location but it is not used in the UK market, adding that it 'handles user data in accordance with local and international regulations and in line with leading industry practices'. Google (representing YouTube), Xiaomi, Impulse and MyFitnessPal did not respond to requests for comment. Scientists have discovered an ominous sign which could hint that Yellowstone's supervolcano is building up to an eruption. Using machine learning, researchers found there have been over 86,000 hidden earthquakes between 2008 and 2022. That is 10 times more tremors than scientists had previously detected. Worryingly, more than half of those earthquakes came in swarms - small groups of interconnected tremors - which have been known to precede volcanic activity. The researchers say these 'chaotic' swarms were found moving along rough, young fault lines running deep below the Yellowstone Caldera. These clusters of seismic activity are likely caused by hot, mineral-rich water forcing itself through cracks in the rock. Yellowstone is one of the world's largest active volcanoes - and if it erupted, it would cover up to two-thirds of the US with ash. Entire states could become uninhabitable as toxic air sweeps through them, grounding thousands of flights and forcing millions to leave their homes. Scientists have spotted an ominous sign that the supervolcano below Yellowstone (pictured) could be building up to an eruption The Yellowstone Caldera is a 30x45 mile (50x70 km) depression which was formed by a cataclysmic eruption some 640,000 years ago. After the eruption emptied out its enormous magma chamber, the land left on top collapsed into the hollow space to form the caldera. When scientists want to look for seismic activity around the caldera, they normally have to manually inspect vast amounts of data. However, by using machine learning techniques, Dr Li and his co-authors were able to comb through years of past seismic recordings to look for previously undetected tremors. Dr Bing Li, an expert on earthquake mechanics from Western University, says: 'If we had to do it old school with someone manually clicking through all this data looking for earthquakes, you couldn't do it. It's not scalable.' This revealed that tens of thousands of earthquake swarms had been missed by earlier manual inspections. Earthquake swarms are not like the familiar shock and aftershock pattern where one big event is followed by a number of smaller tremors. Instead, swarms occur as clusters of small earthquakes which rapidly spread and shift over a small area within a short period of time. Scientists used machine learning to detect over 86,000 hidden earthquakes between 2008 and 2022. That is ten times more earthquakes than had previously been spotted. These graphs show where they were found, as well as how deep and far along the fault they occurred The researchers say these 'earthquake swarms' are likely caused by the movement of superheated liquids beneath the volcano caldera. These same geothermal processes are the reason that Yellowstone produces its famous geysers Are earthquake swarms a sign of an eruption? Earthquake swarms are groups of small, interconnected earthquakes that spread and shift within a relatively small area over a relatively short period of time. These can sometimes be caused by the movement of magma deep below the Earth's surface. In some cases, this means earthquake swarms can precede volcanic activity. This has been the case in major eruptions such as those in Iceland last year. However, swarms can also be caused by shallower movements of gas and liquids in the rock. These are more common and do not signal that any volcanic activity is likely. Advertisement In some cases, this can be caused by molten magma moving upwards through the mantle and crust, building up pressure which can hint at an upcoming eruption. However, volcano experts say this is likely not the case in the Yellowstone Caldera. Professor Valentin Troll, a volcano expert from Uppsala University in Sweden who was not involved in the study, told MailOnline: 'The seismic record reveals episodic activity that occurs in clusters within the upper 10 km beneath the volcano, primarily along pre-existing fault structures. 'These clusters are not associated with deep seismicity; in other words, there is no direct evidence of magma recharge from greater depths. Instead, the seismicity is largely confined to the interior of the volcano.' This kind of activity within the existing volcano is usually caused by the movement of gases and liquids disturbing the ground. As the authors suggest, pressurised liquids are a particularly likely culprit since they lubricate faults in the rock, leading to slips that cause earthquake swarms. Professor Troll says that this can lead to 'hydrous and gas-driven eruptions' in which steam or gases are ejected out of the ground. This was demonstrated by the hydrothermal explosion at Yellowstone's Biscuit Basin last summer, in which a blast of steam sent rocks flying hundreds of feet into the air. Experts say the swarm activity is not an indication of an upcoming major eruption but could lead to 'hydrous and gas-driven' eruptions like those which caused a major explosion at Biscuit Basin last summer (pictured) This comes after a new pool appeared at Yellowstone National Park (pictured), likely formed in a series of mildly explosive events between late December 2024 and early February 2025. The rocks and white material (silica mud) surrounding the pool were probably ejected as the feature formed Similar explosions are the likely cause of a 13-foot pool which recently appeared at Norris Geyser Basin one of the hottest, oldest and most dynamic of Yellowstone's thermal areas. However, these swarms are not an indication that a devastating magma-driven eruption is on the way. Instead, the researchers say that their findings are a valuable tool to help understand and prepare for other eruptions in the future. These same machine learning techniques could be applied to other historical seismic records to help scientists listen to 'Earths volcanic heartbeat'. Dr Li says: 'While Yellowstone and other volcanoes each have unique features, the hope is that these insights can be applied elsewhere. 'By understanding patterns of seismicity, like earthquake swarms, we can improve safety measures, better inform the public about potential risks, and even guide geothermal energy development away from danger in areas with promising heat flow.' It is the least explored continent in the world, famous for its harsh and remote environment. Now, scientists have made a shocking discovery lurking beneath the waters of Antarctica. Researchers have discovered 332 hidden trenches known as submarine canyon networks carved deep into the ocean floor - five times more than previously thought. Some of these underwater trenches reach staggering depths of up to 13,000 feet (4,000m) - roughly as deep as Mont Blanc is tall. Scientists have found roughly 10,000 submarine canyons all over the world. And with just 27 per cent of the sea floor mapped in detail, there are likely to be many more waiting to be found. However, the researchers say those beneath Antarctica's ice are the largest and most impressive anywhere on the planet. David Amblas, of the University of Barcelona, says: 'The most spectacular of these are in East Antarctica, which is characterized by complex, branching canyon systems.' Researchers have discovered 332 hidden submarine canyon networks - interconnected trenches carved deep into the ocean floor. That is five times more than previously expected Scientists have made a shocking discovery lurking beneath Antarctica's Ice Sheet (pictured), and it could have big implications for global sea level increases The submarine canyons around Antarctica are so large because they are carved by a phenomenon known as turbidity currents. These are underwater avalanches of sediment and water, which flow at speeds up to 45 miles per hour down the steep slopes of the continental shelf, digging out deep channels as they pass. Dr Amblas says: 'Like those in the Arctic, Antarctic submarine canyons resemble canyons in other parts of the world. 'But they tend to be larger and deeper because of the prolonged action of polar ice and the immense volumes of sediment transported by glaciers to the continental shelf.' These vast canyons play a vital role in a number of important ocean processes. They transport nutrient-rich sediment from the coast to wider ocean, connect shallow and deep waters, and create habitats rich in biodiversity. However, despite being so important, these unique environments remain profoundly understudied - especially in remote, hard-to-reach locations like the Antarctic. In their paper, published in the journal Marine Geology, Dr Amblas and his co-author used the most complete and detailed map of the Antarctic to hunt for previously unnoticed canyons. These canyons had previously been hidden until the researchers used a new method to sort through maps of the area and identify canyons. These pictures illustrate how the semi-automatic method converts topographical information (A) into an analysed catalogue of canyons (D) The researchers say that Antarctica's canyons are much deeper than those elsewhere in the world because of the massive volume of sediment pushed into the ocean by glaciers. This sediment carves out deep grooves as it slides down the continental shelf By analysing the map with a semi-automated method for identifying canyons, the researchers found far more canyons beneath the ice than had previously been expected. Interestingly, these new maps revealed that there is a big difference between the canyons in different parts of the continent. Co-author Dr Riccardo Arosio, a marine geologist from University College Cork, told MailOnline: 'It has been very interesting to discover a striking difference between East and West Antarctic canyons, which had not been observed before.' Dr Arosio says that those in the East form 'long canyon-channel systems, and have more frequent U-shaped profiles'. Meanwhile, canyons in the West of the continent are 'shorter, steeper, and V-shaped'. This is likely because the canyons in the West have been carved by the water released by relatively recent melting of the ice sheet while those in the East are the product of a much longer process of glacial activity. The researchers say this discovery could have much wider implications for how we predict the impacts of climate change. The Antarctic canyons help exchange water between the deep ocean and the continental shelf. These canyons transport warm water from the open ocean up to the floating sea ice, speeding up ice melt. This map shows sea ice extent for February 25 as well as the average ice extent for February (marked by the red line) This allows cold, dense water formed near the ice sheet to sink into the deep ocean, and drive global ocean circulation currents that help keep the climate stable. At the same time, these canyons also bring warmer waters in from the open sea up to meet the floating ice shelves - driving the ice melt, which is weakening Antarctica's inland glaciers. By affecting how quickly water from the ice sheet enters the ocean, these channels have a direct impact on global sea level increases. However, the ocean models used by organisations such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) don't take the effects of these hidden canyons into account. Dr Arosio says: 'Omitting these local mechanisms limits the ability that models must predict changes in ocean and climate dynamics.' In the future, by gathering more high-resolution data in unmapped areas, the researchers expect to find even more submarine canyons beneath the ice. Properly understanding these canyons and how they affect the circulation of water around the poles could be key to accurately predicting the impacts of climate change. It is the streaming service used by over four million people around the UK. But from tomorrow, BBC iPlayer will stop working for thousands of Britons. Starting on Wednesday 23 July, the streaming service will no longer be supported on Virgin Media's older TV boxes. That means anyone still using the TiVo box will not be able to access BBC iPlayer. Customers affected by the changeover will be eligible for an upgrade to the new TV 360 box at no extra cost. If you don't use BBC services, you don't necessarily have to upgrade, but it's likely that the TiVo box will lose access to more services in the future. The media giant says that it has written directly to customers who have used a TiVo box to access iPlayer in the last six months. However, due to the box's age, Virgin Media says the changeover will only affect a small number of users. Any Virgin Media customers still using the TiVo box (pictured) will lose access to BBC iPlayer starting from tomorrow. Here's what you can do if you are affected The TiVo is the only Virgin Media service which will be affected by this change, and the V6 and Virgin TV 360 box will continue to offer access to iPlayer as normal. Virgin Media first introduced the TiVo box over a decade ago in 2010, offering the ability to record content, watch on-demand services, and pause live television. But the once-popular device has long since been surpassed by more recent offerings. Virgin Media hasn't confirmed exactly why BBC iPlayer will no longer be available, but it is likely that the older hardware can't support upgrades to BBC's platform. Over the last few years, Virgin Media has also been taking a number of steps to upgrade its hardware offering. Most recently, that included the release of the compact Stream box - Virgin Media's answer to the popular Amazon Fire Stick. These small TV streaming boxes include subscriptions to services like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and Paramount+, as well as regular TV services. Unfortunately for some users, that shift means support is slowly being pulled from older devices. Starting from tomorrow, BBC iPlayer will not be supported by the TiVo box. All other streaming services will be available as usual, and BBC iPlayer won't be disappearing from any other devices Affected customers can get themselves a free upgrade to the Virgin Media TV 360 box (pictured), which offers a significant upgrade from the TiVo box The upside is that all affected customers will get a free TV 360 box, which was released in 2020. This offers a significant upgrade from the TiVo box, including a more modern interface, better performance, and support for BBC iPlayer and other streaming apps. To get your free upgrade, any affected customer simply needs to contact Virgin Media via the contact details listed on the email warning them of the changes. Virgin Media has confirmed that there is no expiry date for this offer. A Virgin Media spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We have written directly to the small proportion of customers with a TiVo box, who have used BBC iPlayer within the past six months, to inform them that their box will not support iPlayer from 23 July. 'As we have previously communicated directly to relevant customers, anyone with a TiVo box is able to upgrade to a new Virgin TV 360 box at no extra cost.' This comes as the Virgin Media O2 group becomes the most recent mobile provider to shut down its 3G services. The switch off started in Durham on April 2 earlier this year and will continue across the UK throughout the year. This comes as Virgin Media O2 becomes the latest company to shut off its 3G connection in the UK. The next place to lose connection will be Torquay on August 4 Norwich, Telford, and Guildford all lost 3G connection last week on July 16. The next place to lose 3G connection will be Torquay on August 4. The group says this changeover allows them to offer a faster and more reliable 4G and 5G service instead. This will also affect customers using Giffgaff, Sky Mobile and Tesco Mobile, which use Virgin Media O2's network. 'Corn sweat' has turned up the heat in the US, pushing temperatures above 100 degrees for nearly 200 million people nationwide. A thick wave of extreme humidity is expected to hit at least 30 states from the Plains to the East Coast boiling in a massive heat dome this week, with temperatures rising over 100 degrees, and scientists say 'corn sweat' is making the heat feel even worse. As corn reaches its peak growth phase across the Corn Belt, in states like Iowa and Illinois, the fields started acting like steam machines, fueling dangerous heat that could last through the weekend. They have started pumping thousands of gallons of water per acre into the air each day through a process called evapotranspiration, or corn sweat. That moisture gets trapped under the heat dome, turning the region into a huge sauna. That heat dome is like a hot air bubble covering an area and trapping heat like a lid on a pot, keeping cooler air and rainstorms out. This makes everything underneath get hotter and hotter, with no way to cool down. Officials warned that the heat index is expected to reach 110 to 115 degrees in parts of Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana. Major Midwest cities like Kansas City, Des Moines, and Chicago are all under heat watches or warnings through the night, as meteorologists have said the air will stay thick and damp even after the sun sets. Justin Glisan, an Iowa State University climatologist, said: 'The phenomenon as being thick and oppressive, particularly if there is no wind, like being fully clothed in a sauna or steam room.' Corn is pushing temperatures above 100 degrees for nearly 200 million people nationwide Officials have released an extreme heat warning for areas like the mid-Mississippi Valley Tuesday According to AccuWeather, more than 200 million people across 37 states will experience the triple-digit heat wave by Friday. Officials have issued extreme heat alerts for the Mississippi Valley, while the entire Chicago area is under an extreme heat watch through Thursday. This week, humidity from cornfields has intensified the already severe heat dome, extending from Texas to the Great Lakes. Over 100 cities are expected to challenge overnight heat records, raising serious risks for heat stress, especially where there is no air conditioning. The timing of this summer scorcher is no coincidence, as it coincides with the blossoming period of the corn plant. In Iowa alone, corn is planted across millions of acres. On Thursday and Friday, the heat dome will expand further east, covering the regions that rarely see this level of heat and humidity, especially New England and parts of the Northeast. In Maine, where summer temperature usually stay in the 70s or low 80s, it could reach the 90s by Friday. Portland is most likely to hit 94 degrees, but humidity will make it feels live over 100 Fahrenheit. Boston will also get very hot, with temperatures near 100 when you factor in the moisture in the air. Even cities near the coast would not be safe from the heat. In the Corn Belt, the combo of moist soil, and nonstop sun is making conditions unbearable. Meteorologists say this heat will be short but strong. Its not like the long-lasting heat in the Plains, but it still could cause problems. The heat comes from moisture moving east, mostly from the Midwests corn fields, which release a lot of water vapor into the air. This makes the air feel even hotter. New York City will see some of its hottest days this month with highs in the mid-90s and nights staying warm near 80 degrees. Many cities in the South and Midwest will also stay hot at night, giving little relief from the heat. Places like Little Rock and Jackson could see nighttime lows only reach the 80s. Corn in states like Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana is at a stage where it releases lots of moisture, which adds to the humidity spreading east. Washington, DC, will hit 97 degrees Friday, but it will feel hotter, between 105 and 110 because of the extra humidity coming from the South and Midwest. According to AccuWeather, Dallas will reach over 100 degrees, and Houston and San Antonio will stay in the triple digits. By Friday, the heat dome will expand into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Forecasters say the Central Plains, including Kansas and Nebraska, could shift from humid to dangerously dry by mid-August. The heat will worsen with dry ground, pushing temperatures from the upper 90s to 100, with some areas possibly hitting 110 degrees Fahrenheit. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill said: 'The bottom line is that this has the look of a long-lasting heat wave with limited rainfall.' The Corn Belt is not in a drought right now, but that could change. As the ground dries under this heat dome, less water will evaporate to cool the air, and actual temperatures will rise even more. Some areas could climb to 110 degrees or more. Even tropical moisture from the Gulf would not help much. High pressure is blocking it from moving north in most places, and whatever rain does fall likely would not be enough to cut the heat. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more A 'powerhouse' product so effective it has sold over 15,000 units, earned a loyal following among those in the know - and has Aussie beauty experts obsessed. Plump Fiction, an award-winning anti-ageing moisturiser from skincare brand Dr Naomi, promises to firm, brighten and hydrate, and according to its thousands of fans, it delivers. Clinically formulated and made in Australia, the multi-tasking cream is packed with high-efficacy actives designed to visibly improve everything from fine lines and sagging to pigmentation, redness and dehydration. The lotion is so popular that it was crowned the winner in the Best New Moisturiser category of beautyheaven's Best in Beauty Awards 2022. It's become a go-to for shoppers chasing that elusive glow, with one recent convert declaring it the 'best moisturiser I've ever used,' adding that her 'skin has genuinely never looked better.' Sydney cosmetic tattooist Lauren Hay shared her impressive transformation pictures, showing off the results of using the cult product. In a stunning selfie, the British lip blush and brow specialist displays clear, glowing skin, raving 'the best'. Created by cosmetic doctor and formulating chemist Dr Naomi McCullum, Plump Fiction is a standout in her line of high-performance skincare. Dr Naomi customer Lauren Hay shared impressive before and after photos after incorporating Plump Fiction into her skincare routine Plump Fiction by Dr Naomi Shop the award-winning moisturiser by skincare expert Dr Naomi. Clinically formulated and made in Australia, the multi-tasking cream is packed with high-efficacy actives designed to visibly improve everything from fine lines and sagging to pigmentation, redness and dehydration. Shop The powerhouse ingredients list includes Plant Epidermal Growth Factors and Epigenetic Peptides to boost collagen, elastin and protein production key to maintaining firm, resilient skin. The potent formula also features Hydrolysed Hyaluronic Acid and Kangaroo Paw Extract, a botanical native to Australia, to restore hydration, support skin tightening, and soften the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Plump Fiction's hero ingredient is Dr Naomi's signature NiaMed7 complex a brightening blend of seven advanced ingredients that target pigmentation, redness, and dullness while improving luminosity and clarity. The formulation, which now comes packaged in a recently upgraded refillable glass jar, results in a deeply nourishing, glow-inducing moisturiser that suits all skin types, especially those experiencing dehydration, skin laxity or early signs of ageing. Fans report that it visibly plumps, smooths and transforms tired, dry skin. 'It is the power for brightening and anti-ageing and also the luxe texture,' Dr Naomi tells Daily Mail Australia is the reason for her product's popularity. Plump Fiction sits in the premium skincare bracket but according to the rave reviews and impressive before and after photos from verified customers, the investment is well spent. Clinically formulated and made in Australia, the multi-tasking cream is packed with high-efficacy actives designed to visibly improve everything from fine lines and sagging to pigmentation, redness and dehydration Dr Naomi fans have been sharing their incredible results after using the products consistently (picture of shopper's transformation picture after using Dr Naomi C Bright Vitamin C serum) Plump Fiction's hero ingredient is Dr Naomi's signature NiaMed7 complex a brightening blend of seven advanced ingredients that target pigmentation, redness, and dullness while improving luminosity and clarity 'This moisturiser is absolutely incredible and is perfect for both day and night use,' one glowing review reads. 'My skin is so much smoother, hydrated and more plump. My makeup even sits so much better now as well. The packaging is fantastic and it is hands down the only moisturiser I will buy from now on. Thank you Dr Naomi!' 'This product is one that I have multiples of at all times and won't run out! I use daily and love the texture and smell. It's a beautiful product that needs minimal amounts applied for an amazing reward of beautiful soft skin. It's a must have if you're looking for an all around cream to add into your AM/PM schedule,' another raved. 'The most luxuriously thick, nourishing and glazing moisturiser I have ever used. I can even apply it directly beneath makeup and I get a beautiful glazed, glowy look. My skin tone and texture has honestly never looked and felt better. The price is absolutely worth it,' one added. 'Such a little bomb in a bottle! Sample size was enough to convince me I needed this as a staple. So nourishing and smells lovely,' another shared. One Night Stand by Dr Naomi Shop One Night Stand, a highly active overnight facial cream is comprised of a potent 15 per cent Glycolic Acid combined with 1 per cent Bakuchiol, to brighten and resurface the skin. Shop Other bestsellers from the range include One Night Stand, an overnight sleeping mask that promises to brighten, tighten, resurface and nourish skin while you sleep, so you wake up to smooth, dewy and glowing skin. 'One Night Stand is an industry secret of a large number of Cosmetic Doctors and Nurses even when they are selling other cosmeceutical brand in their clinics,' Dr Naomi divulged. 'They use it as an overnight peel. There isn't a product on the market that can achieve such an overnight change with a homecare product outside a clinic setting.' The highly active overnight facial cream is comprised of a potent 15 per cent Glycolic Acid combined with 1 per cent Bakuchiol, to brighten and resurface the skin, as well as Organic Kangaroo Paw Flower extracts to support collagen and elastin synthesis, and Shea Butter, Niacinamide and Cantella Asiatica. Shoppers who have tried another bestseller, blurring eye cream Catfish, reported seeing visible improvements in the under eye area within just 10 minutes to one hour of application Dr Naomi McCullum , a cosmetic doctor and chemist with over 20 years in aesthetic medicine, launched her eponymous skincare line in 2021, which then launched into Sephora in 2023 Catfish, a blurring eye cream, has been flying off shelves after being voted the best eye cream in Australia. The formula is made up of skin-loving, clinically proven ingredients, including organic kangaroo paw flower extract, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and peptides. The eye cream combines the immediate effects of a 'skin blurring filter', with longer-term skin-loving ingredients. Dr Naomi McCullum, a cosmetic doctor and chemist with over 20 years in aesthetic medicine, launched her eponymous skincare line in 2021, which then launched into Sephora in 2023. Paris Hilton made sure she was the center of attention as she attended fashion designer Jeremy Scott's 50th birthday party at Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. The reality TV star looked in her element as she posed for snaps with Machine Gun Kelly and the birthday boy at the glitzy event which was also attended by Farrah Brittany, Diplo, and Mia Moretti. Sharing a carousel of snaps of the club-themed bash, Paris wrote: 'Leave it to @JeremyScott to throw the most iconic birthday party. Felt like we were at a house party in the early 2000s. Loves it.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Jeremy also shared a slideshow of photos from the bash highlighting his Adidas collab, writing, 'CELEBRATING THE SUPERSTAR WITH SUPERSTARS @adidasoriginals. THANK YOU TO MY HOT ASS FRIENDS FOR SHOWING UP FOR ME AND TURNING THE PARTY,' while tagging Paris and his pals. Meanwhile, MGK is living his best single life following his split from former fiancee Megan Fox. He and Paris were romantically linked in 2019 when they were often seen together in public. While attending an Elton John Oscar viewing party together, eye witnesses were convinced the duo had a close connection after they spent the whole evening locked in conversation. Days earlier they'd been seen 'getting cozy' at an event for Tings magazine in Los Angeles. At the time she denied there was a romance. 'Oh, we're just friends,' she told UsWeekly. 'I'm happy to be single right now.' Mikayla Matthews has welcomed her fourth child with her husband Jace Terry. On Sunday afternoon, The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives star, 25, shared the news on social media and revealed she gave birth to their baby earlier this week. She shared a series of photos of her and Jace's first moments with their newborn baby in the hospital. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Baby bliss! Mikayla Matthews has welcomed her fourth child Doting parents: The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives star welcomed her daughter with husband Jace Terry Mikayla wrote in her caption that she gave birth on Thursday, July 17, and added: 'Our perfect baby girl is here.' In addition to their newest family member, she and her husband are also parents to daughters Haven, five, Tommie, three, and son Beckham, seven. On her Instagram Story, she shared: 'We have just been so in love over here with our baby girl. She's everything we ever wanted and I'm just so happy.' Sweet: In her caption, she told her fans that she gave birth on Thursday, July 17 Adorable: She shared an image of her and Jace admiring their newborn daughter Their happy news comes shortly after it was confirmed that a third season of The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives is in the works. In late February, the mother-of-four shared a video of the moment she discovered her surprise pregnancy. In her Instagram post, she wrote in her caption: 'Praying this baby heals me. So happy I [can] finally talk about this with all you guys, hahaha!' In her element: She wrote in her caption that 'our perfect baby girl is here' Cute: She also included adorable snapshots of her holding her baby's hands Her 'healing' comment was a reference to the chronic illness she has suffered from since childhood and which has caused her severe eczema. She previously said: 'People tell me, "Maybe this baby's gonna heal you". My fingers are crossed because I get my most anxiety about all my health stuff and giving that to my baby. 'It's almost motivated me more to take care of my body because I'm like, "I want this baby to be as healthy as possible. I want me to be as healthy as possible."' A new chapter: She also shared a TikTok of her and her family meeting the baby As millions of Brits head to Spain this summer in search of sun and sangria, language experts are urging holidaymakers to brush up on their Spanish to avoid making some seriously awkward mistakes. Visiting another country and learning local phrases can be a fun and fulfilling experience, but in Spain, a number of linguistic slip-ups are causing red faces. According to Statista, over 18 million Brits visited Spain last year - and many may have left locals scratching their heads - or smirking when their back is turned. Claudio Guasti, head of culture and communication at City Lit, has shared four of the most common - and hilarious - mistakes Brits make when speaking Spanish abroad. Here's what to watch out for - and what to say instead - when visiting the popular holiday hotspot this year: 1. Avoid accidentally telling people you are aroused if you are warm If you're feeling warm and want to express that in Spanish, avoid saying 'estoy caliente.' While this might seem like a direct translation of 'I'm hot,' it actually refers to feeling sexually aroused in Spanish when describing a person. If you're feeling warm and want to express that in Spanish, avoid saying 'Estoy caliente,' as this could indicate to someone you are feeling aroused (pictured: Magaluf, Mallorca) The correct phrase to use is 'tengo calor,' which means, 'I have heat,' and is the appropriate way to say you feel hot due to the weather. 'Caliente' can still be used to describe food or drinks, for example: 'Quiero un te caliente', which means 'I'd like a hot tea', and 'El cafe esta muy caliente', which means 'coffee is very hot'. 2. Avoid accidentally telling people you're married, instead of tired Two similar-sounding Spanish words can cause confusion are 'cansado' and 'casado'. 'Estoy cansado' (for men) or 'estoy cansada' (for women) means 'I am tired'. Meanwhile, 'estoy casado/casada' means 'I am married'. It's an easy mix-up that could lead to confusion and awkwardness in conversation, so take care to use the correct term, especially when discussing how you feel. 3. Avoid accidentally saying you are pregnant, instead of embarrassed A common language mistake is assuming 'embarazada' means 'embarrassed' because of the similarity in spelling. In fact, 'embarazada' means 'pregnant' (pictured: tourists in Madrid) A common language mistake is assuming 'embarazada' means 'embarrassed' because of the similarity in spelling. In fact, 'embarazada' means 'pregnant'. To say you're embarrassed in Spanish, the correct phrase is 'estoy avergonzado' if males or 'estoy avergonzada' if female. Using the wrong word in this case may lead to confusion or misunderstanding, so it's helpful to memorise the correct expression. 4. Avoid using 'hasta la vista' when saying goodbye - no one says this! While the phrase 'hasta la vista' is recognised due to its appearance in popular films, it is not commonly used by native Spanish speakers in everyday conversations. More appropriate and natural phrases for saying goodbye include 'hasta luego' (see you later) or 'adios' (goodbye). These are widely used and understood across Spanish-speaking regions. A 79-year-old woman who has spent six decades visiting every country in the world has revealed her three favourite destinations. Luisa Yu, from the Philippines, completed her extraordinary challenge of visiting all 193 countries on November 2023 after ticking off her final nation of Serbia. Her journey began sixty years ago as a young girl in Leyte, where her growing curiosity for Hollywood and American Western shows on TV inspired her to travel to the United States. She later emigrated to the US in her 20s as an exchange student, which gave her a golden opportunity to tap into her passion for cultural exploration. For many years, she limited her travels to America, but after receiving her Green Card, she finally was able to explore the wider world. Determined to travel as much as possible, Yu worked three jobs, held a real estate licence and eventually secured a job as a travel agent, which further opened doors for international travel. Since then, Yu has hiked the Himalayas, explored the plains of Africa, and is still marvelling at the wonders of the world with recent trips to North Caucasus and the Kalash Festival in Pakistan. After ticking off her last country of Serbia in 2023, Yu has had much time to reflect on standout trips from her global adventures. Luisa Yu, from the Philippines, completed her extraordinary challenge of visiting all 193 countries as of November 2023 after ticking off her final nation of Serbia (pictured) Speaking to NBC Miami in 2023, though she finds it difficult to pick an ultimate favourite, she declared no nation tops her home country, the Philippines. However, she also ranked 'beautiful' Italy highly, and gushed over the diverse landscape in Thailand, adding to her top three. Yu is to celebrate her 80th birthday later this year, and is thrilled to to reign in the landmark occasion after accomplishing her remarkable feat. She added: 'I did fulfil my dream. I was able to buy a house on my own. I was able to travel on my own. I'm just happy. I want to thank all the people that have been so nice and kind to me.' It comes after a man who has visited every country in the world has shared the ones he'd never go back to... and the hidden gems that he believes are overlooked. Luca Pferdmenges, 23, who is originally from Germany, started traveling when he was just 14 years old. An avid juggler, he would jet off to various cities in Europe to perform at juggling conventions, and along the way, he developed a fierce passion for exploring the globe. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and his juggling career came to a halt, he decided that once the world opened back up, he was going to start traveling full-time. Over five decades, Yu has hiked the Himalayas, explored the plains of Africa, and is still marvelling at the wonders of the world with recent trips to North Caucasus and the Kalash Festival in Pakistan Yu is to celebrate her 80th birthday later this year, and is thrilled to to reign in the landmark occasion after accomplishing her remarkable feat (pictured, in Taghit, Algeria) He then made it his goal to visit every country on the planet, and just five years later, he's now spent time in all 195 of them. Now, he has broken down which countries are 'overrated' and which are hidden gems exclusively with the Daily Mail. He admitted that he wouldn't recommend 'small island destinations' that don't offer much except nice beaches and resorts because they are 'boring' to him. He also said he was not a fan of Egypt because he felt like he was 'constantly getting hassled' when he was there. Furious social media users have hit back at Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary after learning the airline pays staff bonuses to catch out passengers with oversized bags. The Irish budget carrier currently pays gate staff around 1.50 (1.30) to intercept passengers who attempt to bring on board carry-on luggage that does not meet their famously tight size requirements of 40x20x25cm. Passengers are charged a fee of up to 75 (65) for bringing luggage that is larger than they paid for while booking their journey - even if it's a mere centimeter over the required size. A former employee claimed they pocketed the sum for every oversized bag they reported, according to the Sunday Times, although they said the monthly bonus was capped at 80 (70). Since then, Mr O'Leary announced he is considering increasing the incentive to 'eliminate the scourge of passengers with excess baggage.' However, hundreds of Ryanair passengers have been left seething at the news, with many taking to Instagram and X to vent their frustration. One person wrote: 'O'Learys latest idea: turn cabin crew into bag police for a 1.50 bounty. 'Ryanair profits soar, but instead of easing baggage rules, they double down on penalties. At what point does enforcement cross into petty revenue hunting?' Furious social media users have hit back at Ryanair boss Michael O' Leary (pictured) after learning the airline pays staff bonuses to catch out passengers with oversized bags The Irish budget carrier currently pays gate staff around 1.50 (1.30) to intercept passengers who attempt to bring on board carry-on luggage that do not meet requirements Another fumed: 'Considering the profit Ryanair and Michael O Leary makes 1.50 to an employee for finding an oversized is pathetic. Why would an employee draw hassle upon him or her self for 1.50 per bag.' A third customer said: 'That - kind of - explains the behaviour of some of Ryanair's ground staff... especially at Edinburgh Airport. 'I've never been affected myself, but now I'm truly amazed, that a mere 1.50 bonus/bag can turn decent people into hyenas.' Another passenger vowed: 'He is such a cheapskate...will never use his airline ever.' On the contrary, dozens of passengers are seeing the funny side to the incentive, with many suggesting they'll solicit bribes in order to pass through with their luggage. One person joked, 'Arriving at the gate with 5 should do it,' while another added, 'I'm gonna start bringing 2 every time I fly Ryanair.' Another quipped: 'Well guess what, they are going to do this until we just don't bring any bag. 'Then when we don't bring any bag they will size us up, and if we don't fit in the seats then we will pay a fee and when we stop flying with them they will impose a fee for us as well for changing carrier.' Passengers are charged a fee of up to 75 (65) for bringing luggage that is larger than they paid for while booking their journey - even if it's a mere centimeter over the required size Hundreds of Ryanair passengers have been left seething at the news on social media - but some have seen the funny side It comes as British holidaymakers were left in shock after a Ryanair flight from Bristol to a popular Spanish island landed without a single suitcase on board - leaving every passenger without their belongings. Flight FR4757, which departed from Bristol Airport on Friday, 18 July, arrived in Gran Canaria with no checked baggage for anyone. Travellers were only informed of the missing luggage after landing, with the flight's captain blaming 'time constraints' and a security issue at the UK airport. Passengers say there was no advance warning and limited information upon arrival. As schools finish for the summer, plenty of families are preparing to head on holiday and make memories with their loved ones. Many will drive to their destination during the six-week holidays. From cramming cases and little ones into the car and heading to the airport, to hitting the road and spending time along the coast, plenty of people will be behind the wheel. However, be prepared for some hurdles along the way in the form of dreaded traffic. Welcome Break has revealed the roads that are most likely to be heaving with cars this summer. These are the roads that are set to be the busiest in July and August. 1. M11 in London / Hertfordshire A major motorway, the M11 is often used by travellers heading to and from the East of England. As the summer holidays begin, travellers should be prepared to expect traffic on some of the busiest roads in the country. Pictured: Congestion on the M3 Welcome Break has revealed the roads that may be heaving with cars the most this summer. Pictured: Traffic on the M40, which places second on the list It's a perfect route for those jetting off on holiday from Stansted Airport, but be prepared for traffic as this road takes the number one spot on the list. 2. M40 in Oxfordshire Families may take this route when driving through the heart of the country between London and Birmingham. However, at number two it's expected to be busy with lots of other cars taking the same trip, both northbound and southbound. 3. M3 in Hampshire The M3 stretches across the south-west of the country and is a popular route for those hoping to enjoy the British seaside to make their way along the south coast. Be prepared, however, to face traffic along the way as Welcome Break places it third on the list. 4. M40 in Warwickshire A major motorway in the UK and a common route for those heading to the idyllic Cotswolds for a holiday, the M40 is set to be busy this summer. While the M11 takes the top spot, the M25, pictured, comes fifth and the go-to route for those hoping to escape London for the summer and people heading to enjoy the city 5. M25 in the Home Counties Located close to London, it's used for those wanting to escape the city for the summer and others wanting to embrace it. Holidaymakers can expect busy traffic on the M25 during the summer, and should be prepared to wait in long queues as they make their way to their destination. A seasoned pilot has shared practical advice for passengers tackling flying anxiety this summer - including the best time to travel and which seat to select. Captain Chris and his wife, Laurie, run their YouTube channel, Travel Tips by Laurie, where they regularly share luggage hacks, airport security advice, holiday outfit ideas, aviation secrets, and more. In a recent video, part of their 'Ask a Pilot' series, Captain Chris, from the US, answered a range of questions sent in from their followers about flying - including how someone can combat nerves whilst taking to the skies. According to the airline captain, early mornings are the best time to fly as the air is generally cooler and less turbulent before the day heats up, especially in summer. This likely reduces the chances of bumps during takeoff and throughout the flight. He also recommends booking seats near the front or over the wings, as they experience less turbulence compared to the rear of the plane. Captain Chris added: 'I realise with a lot of airlines it costs extra to sit up there now, but closer to the airplane you'll feel less of the 'yaw' (a side-to-side motion the back of the tail makes) that an airplane has.' Finally, he urged: 'Ask if you can talk to the pilots and tell them that you're an anxious flyer - a lot of pilots will tell you the forecast and what the rides are going to be like - so don't be shy!' Captain Chris, left, and his wife, Laurie, run their YouTube channel, Travel Tips by Laurie, where they regularly share luggage hacks, airport security advice, holiday outfit ideas, aviation secrets, and more According to the airline captain, early morning flights are the best time for nervous flyers as the air is generally cooler and less turbulent before the day heats up, especially in summer In the comments, one plane passenger wrote: 'I was a nervous flier due to turbulence and Laurie's video really helped me. I would tell the flight attendant that I was a nervous flier and they would check in with me after we hit a patch of turbulence. Meanwhile, a veteran pilot has shared one surprising skill that makes a good captain - and it has nothing to do with flying. Steve Schreiber, 63, from New Orleans, US, has had 26 years of flying experience - including eleven as a captain - which saw him spend a total of 5,860 hours navigating the skies in 60 different aircraft. Also known by his pseudonym Captain Steve online, the former United States Navy officer often shares safety tips on all things flying to his TikTok channel, @captainsteeeve, where he boasts over 370K followers. A health alert has been issued for British tourists travelling to a popular European destination this summer as two potentially fatal diseases have been detected. In Italy, health authorities have reported the first locally acquired cases of both dengue and chikungunya, mosquito-borne viruses that are typically found in tropical regions like South America and India. Both were previously considered primarily imported diseases, found in individuals who had contracted them abroad. However, the two new cases indicate that the viruses were caught within the country, according to the Foreign Office-backed Travel Health Pro. Dengue fever cases have seen a significant rise globally, reaching a record high in 2024 with over 14 million reported cases, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. In June of this year, Australian holidaymakers were issued a warning after The Cook Islands, a nation in the South Pacific, declared the most recent outbreak of the disease after 19 cases, including two active cases, were recorded. Case counts have also been increasing in Samoa, Tonga, French Polynesia, Fiji and Kiribati. In July, Italy reported the first locally acquired case of dengue for the year, specifically in the Emilia Romagna region, while 82 imported cases of the virus were recorded in several regions. In Italy, health authorities have reported the first locally acquired cases of both dengue and chikungunya, specifically in the Emilia-Romagna region (Pictured: Rimini, Italy) Both of the mosquito-borne viruses are typically found in tropical regions like South America and India Italian health officials also reported the first locally acquired case of Chikungunya for the year, again found in the Emilia-Romagna region. An additional 50 imported cases of the virus were recorded across a number of regions. Earlier this month, holidaymakers jetting off to France were warned they were at risk of contracting chikungunya after eight local cases were recorded. The chikungunya outbreak has occurred far earlier in the year than is typical, and this could indicate the mosquitoes that carry chikungunya are becoming increasingly at home in France thanks to climate change, the warning said. Though not fatal, chikungunya can cause a range of effects, which are primarily marked by a sudden onset of fever and severe joint pain, while other common symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash. While the acute phase of the illness usually resolves within a week or two, the joint pain can persist for weeks, months, or even years in some individuals. Meanwhile, dengue fever can cause a range of effects, including mild flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever and joint pain. However, in some cases, infections can progress to severe dengue, which can cause potentially life-threatening complications such as internal bleeding and organ damage, and death. Though not fatal, Chikungunya can cause a range of effects, which are primarily marked by a sudden onset of fever and severe joint pain Meanwhile, Dengue fever can cause a range of effects, including mild flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever and joint pain Holidaymakers are urged to contact a local health professional immediately if they suspect they have been bitten by a mosquito during their travels. It comes as Hawaii health officials are asking visitors to ensure they are vaccinated against whooping cough as cases reach an all-time high in the state. Earlier this week, the state's Department of Health reported 108 cases of the Victorian-era disease dubbed the 100-day cough a stark increase from last year's 84 total cases. According to data from the CDC, about 10,000 cases of the coughing malady and nearly a dozen deaths have already been reported across the country this year. British tourists flocking to Benidorm this summer are being urged to watch out for a growing scam on the town's beaches. Fraudsters posing as charity workers reportedly try to distract and rob unsuspecting holidaymakers. A British bar owner and travel agent who lives in the resort shared a viral video revealing how the scam works. Frank 'The Stag Man', as he is known online, filmed a group of men roaming the beach with clipboards, claiming to be collecting signatures for a petition. In the clip, which has been viewed over a million times, Frank says: 'They're jumping on everyone. Once they've done that, they'll be looking at what's in your wallet to rob you later.' The men are said to often claim they are collecting for blind or disabled people or campaigning for local causes. But according to Frank and his wife Jade, who also appear in the clip, it is nothing more than a con. He adds: 'What youve just seen there is one of the scams that runs along the beach. Its kind of out of sight, out of mind.' Fraudsters allegedly posing as charity workers reportedly try to distract and rob unsuspecting holidaymakers Frank's wife Jade says fraudsters approach saying the are collecting for the blind and the disabled He continues: 'Once you sign it, then they start pushing you for a donation.' Jade, who is said to be Benidorm's 'most legendary stripper', says: 'They'll say it's for the blind, it's for the disabled, for petitioning to get something sorted here in Spain it's all a load of rubbish.' Frank describes a cunning tactic the alleged criminals use to determine whether tourists have cash. He says: 'Some people even get their wallets out and give them a few quid. Then they know you're carrying cash.' He filmed several beachgoers being approached, including himself. In the clip, he is seen brushing off one of the scammers who tells him it is for a petition. The video has sparked a strong reaction online. One viewer wrote: 'Benidorm is getting bad now, that's my opinion.' Another added that the same tactics are being used in Tenerife as well. Fraudsters are said to carry around petitions on a clipboard in an attempt to rob unsuspecting people A third added: 'I had this scam done to me and my partner. Luckily, we had no cash on us.' Someone else commented: 'Coming tomorrow for the first time with the missus. I'm more clued up thanks to this.' Holidaymakers heading to Turkey this summer should be aware of a new rule that could catch out millions. Hordes of travellers visit the transcontinental country every year for its hot weather, sublime landscapes and beautiful beaches. But those planning to make the trip soon need to make sure they prepare their mobile phone for the holiday. A change in Turkey means some eSIM providers no longer work in the country if they don't meet certain regulations and requirements. Travel expert Juan David Soler, from Holafly, advised travellers to check their eSIM is set up properly before going to Turkey, to avoid experiencing activation issues after arriving. He said: 'Turkey's sudden ban on eSIMs has caught many travellers off guard, and it's vital that UK holidaymakers heading there this summer take action before they fly. 'eSIMs have become the go-to option for Brits wanting affordable mobile data abroad without the hassle of physical sims or costly roaming.' Holidaymakers heading to Turkey this summer should be aware of a new rule that could catch out millions A change in Turkey means some eSIM providers no longer work in the country, if they don't meet certain regulations and requirements The expert added: 'But now, travellers will no longer be able to activate a new eSIM once they arrive in Turkey.' 'To avoid getting caught out, UK travellers should ensure their eSIM is fully downloaded and activated before leaving the UK. 'This means setting up your digital SIM while still on UK networks, and confirming it's working properly before departure. 'Otherwise, you could be left without internet access the moment you land, which can be a serious issue if you rely on your phone for maps, transport, or bookings.' The change means those travelling to Turkey need to buy and activate the eSIM card before they arrive to avoid being impacted by the new rule. While those living in Turkey won't be able to buy eSIMs from networks who don't meet the requirements unless they are outside of the country. Holafy, an eSIM company, emphasises that the change impacts residents more than travellers. The change means those travelling to Turkey need to buy and activate the eSIM card before they arrive to avoid being impacted by the new rule They said: 'The eSIM ban is primarily targeted at Turkish residents buying eSIMs for international travel in Turkey.' While they also recommended saving the eSIM QR prior to arrival, to ensure set up is smooth, and even downloading a secure VPN if needed. 'Without a VPN, you will not be able to manage your eSIM solution digitally, check for remaining data usage, or contact customer service,' they added. S China's Guangxi launches 'AI Super League': Why is it leading the charge? People's Daily Online) 13:17, July 22, 2025 The artificial intelligence (AI) wave is sweeping across south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The regional government recently launched the "AI for All: China-ASEAN" competition, dubbed "AI Super League," in its capital city Nanning, quickly capturing widespread attention and sparking public enthusiasm across sectors. The "AI for All: China-ASEAN" competition is launched in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 19, 2025. (Photo provided by the organizer) Some believe the event will become a landmark in the cooperation between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries in AI development. As this top-tier, international "AI Super League" makes Guangxi the first emerging force among China's western border provincial-level regions to embrace AI technology across the board, some questions linger in many people's minds: Why Guangxi? What unique strengths have enabled it to secure a leading position and maintain momentum on the fast track of AI development? In fact, Guangxi has everything it takes to obtain great achievements in AI development. First of all, the timing of its AI development drive is perfect. Guangxi's move to step up efforts to boost the development of AI technology came amid a national push to uphold self-reliance and self-strengthening, prioritize application-oriented development, and promote the healthy and orderly advancement of the country's AI sector toward a beneficial, safe and equitable direction. At the start of this year, Guangxi's top leadership declared AI a development priority, pledging that the region must not be left behind in the AI era. Seizing the momentum of national strategic deployment and rapid development of AI technology in China, Guangxi swiftly followed up with policies such as the action plan for the integrated development of AI and the manufacturing sector (20252027). Secondly, Guangxi is endowed with important geographical advantages for benefiting from historical opportunitiesleveraging AI to empower various industries. As a coastal, riverine, and border region linking China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, southwestern and central southern regions, as well as the ASEAN, Guangxi enjoys close proximity to all three major markets and is uniquely positioned as both a strategic hinterland of the Greater Bay Area and a gateway for China's opening up and its cooperation with the ASEAN countries. Currently, a cross-border industrial ecosystem is rapidly taking shape, with research and development based in major Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, integration centered in Guangxi, and application extending across ASEAN countries. Thanks to its geographical edge, Guangxi enjoys a competitive advantage in multiple endeavors, whether it is building a key hub serving Chinese AI companies seeking expansion into the ASEAN market, creating a major frontier for the convergence of AI resources and essential productive factors for China and the ASEAN, or establishing a high ground for international AI cooperation between China and the ASEAN. Thirdly, Guangxi's push for AI development enjoys strong public support. The region's AI strategy effectively responds to the needs of industries, demonstrating unity of purpose and alignment of efforts. The "AI Super League" itself serves as a platform for cross-industry collaboration and public engagement. The regional government has galvanized support from leading AI firms, research institutions, and international partners. The newly inaugurated China-ASEAN AI Innovation Cooperation Center in Nanning has already received its first batch of ASEAN enterprises. Initiatives such as the "Guizhi-1" platform for data security management and AI agent application, as well as large-scale programs for the commercialization of sci-tech achievements from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have shown Guangxi's determination to foster a thriving AI ecosystem. With favorable policies, strategic geography, and the power of unity, the region is poised to carve out a distinct path on China's AI map and write a new chapter in China-ASEAN digital cooperation. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Though it's only July, it's not too early to start considering Christmas celebrations, even for next year. An enchanting Lapland day trip has been announced by TUI UK&I, with dates and flights from 11 regional airports released for the 2026 festive period. The 'Search for Santa' package promises to create an ultimate magical experience in just one day, with travellers back in their own bed on the very same night. Festive travellers will be able to enjoy a sleigh ride with reindeer and meet Father Christmas in his homeland. The trip is priced from 750 per person, and includes a return flight with a roast dinner served on the plane home. Families will enjoy a private meeting with Santa Claus and every child will be treated to a present. The day trip will begin with a flight to Kittila, in Lapland, and passengers will enjoy a full English breakfast on the plane. Once suited and booted in the included attire, Christmas adventurers will head to the Snow Village before enjoying a sleigh ride pulled by Rudolph and his pals through snow-covered forests. An enchanting Lap Land day trip has been announced by TUI UK&I, with dates and flights from 11 regional airports released for the 2026 festive period The 'Search for Santa' package promises to create an ultimate magical experience in just one day, with travellers back in their own bed on the very same night Festive travellers will be able to enjoy a sleigh ride with reindeer and meet Father Christmas in his homeland Guests can also hop on a husky-led sleigh and be whisked away around the Lappish countryside. Snowmobiling is also included, and passengers will be taught how to ride the fun vehicles before heading out to explore the snowy wonderland. While Lapland locals will be on hand to tell their age old tales and legends about the area, sharing an insight into traditions. Perhaps the most important part of the day, travellers will ride on a skidoo through woodland to meet Father Christmas. His elves will also be on hand to teach families how to say hello in Finnish. At the end of all the festive fun, customers will be taken back to the airport by Santa's elves. On the way home passengers will be able to enjoy a Christmas dinner. Flights to the Lapland adventure will depart from 11 UK airports including Bournemouth, Newcastle, Stansted, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester, Glasgow, Dublin, London Gatwick, East Midlands and Bristol. The trip is priced from 750 per person, and includes a return flight with a roast dinner served on the plane home Snowmobiling is also included, and passengers will be taught how to ride the fun vehicles before heading out to explore the snowy wonderland Perhaps the most important part of the day, travellers will ride on a skidoo through woodland to meet Father Christmas TUI boss Chris Logan said: 'Our much-loved festive Search for Santa day trips are back, and we're making it easier than ever for families across the UK to experience the magic of Lapland. 'Now with flights from 11 regional airports, families have the ease of flying from their local airport to meet Santa and create unforgettable memories together.' The 25th Academy Awards took place on a rainy March evening in 1953, at the Pantages Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. The first nominee to arrive was Gloria Grahame, heavily tipped to be anointed Best Supporting Actress for her compelling performance as a shallow Southern belle in the hit movie The Bad and the Beautiful, also starring Kirk Douglas and Lana Turner. A couple of hours later, actor Edmund Glenn opened the envelope containing the winners name. Gloria Grahame for The Bad and the Beautiful, he declared. Shes the beautiful, he added, for dramatic effect. Certainly, as she made her way to the stage, not yet 30 and now an Oscar winner, she looked every inch the radiant movie star, basking in the adoration of her peers. Yet there were some in the Hollywood establishment who knew that Grahame was bad as well as beautiful. Less than two years earlier, her husband Nicholas Ray, an acclaimed director of film noirs (who would later make Rebel Without a Cause with James Dean), was said to have discovered her in bed, in their Malibu beach house, with his 13-year-old son, Tony. Tony was a well-built, good-looking lad who looked older than his years. But he was still only 13. And she had first seduced him when he was 12. Actress Gloria Grahame with her first husband, Rebel Without A Cause director Nicholas Ray. An explosive new memoir alleges her relationship with his son Tony began when they boy was just 12 Tony Ray wrote Circle Of Lions in 1958, but the memoir's contents are so scandalous it could only be published after his death (he is pictured age 12 on the cover) Grahame had a blast of posthumous publicity eight years ago when Annette Bening played her in the movie Film Stars Dont Die in Liverpool. That was based on a memoir by a Liverpudlian actor called Peter Turner (played on screen by Jamie Bell), whose love affair with Grahame began when he was 26 and she was 55. But there was no sense in that film that her predilection for much younger men had started when she herself was 26; that she was, indeed, a paedophile. Last week, another memoir was published which tells, in intimate detail, the story of what really happened between Gloria Grahame and her adolescent stepson Tony Ray. It is an extraordinary and explosive tale, which has never been properly told before for the simple reason that the man telling it, Tony himself, would not allow publication until long after he and everyone else involved was dead. He wrote the book in 1958 when he was 21, two years before he became Grahames fourth husband (making him stepfather to his own half-brother, Tim, her son by her second husband, Nick Ray). Nick died in 1979, Gloria in 1981 and Tony, aged 80, in 2018. Surviving members of the family have now given the go-ahead to his book Circle of Lions: Nicholas Ray, Gloria Grahame and Me. It starts with a foreword by Tonys daughter Kelsey, who also unearthed the long-forgotten manuscript. In it she acknowledges the deep-seated trauma that trickled into every aspect of his later life. Tony followed his father into the movie industry, becoming head of East Coast production at 20th Century Fox. He was in the running for an Oscar himself as producer of the 1978 Best Picture nominee An Unmarried Woman. Graham and Ray share a cigarette while working on 1950 film In A Quiet Place, a year before he allegedly found the actress in bed with his teenage son Tony The son of a celebrated Hollywood director, Tony Ray became a successful actor and producer in his own right as he grew into adulthood (pictured here in the late 1950s) Tony had first met Grahame at Los Angeles International Airport. It was June 1950, almost six months shy of Tonys 13th birthday (he is pictured here as a teenager) But it was a much-married woman who loomed a good deal larger over his life, who was in many ways responsible for his multiple addictions, to drugs, alcohol and gambling, and for his mood swings between, as Kelsey recalls, euphoric and grandiose mania and deeply destructive catatonic, depressive episodes. Yet she also acknowledges that her father loved Gloria until the day he died, ridden with Alzheimers. She describes one of the most profoundly powerful moments I have ever witnessed beside his hospice bed. My mom (Tonys second wife, Eve) chose to put on a DVD of the movie Oklahoma! (in which Grahame unforgettably sang Im Just a Girl Who Cant Say No) as a way to comfort him. 'She wanted to make sure he wasnt afraid and that he knew he would soon be reunited with so many loved ones. The moment my dad heard Glorias voice, he briefly but abruptly lifted his head, and with a soft smile gently laid back down. Nearly 70 years had passed since Gloria and Tony had first met, at Los Angeles International Airport. It was June 1950, almost six months shy of Tonys 13th birthday. Tony had got into some minor scrapes at school on the East Coast and his mother, a journalist called Jean Evans, Nicks first wife, thought he might do better living in Los Angeles with his father, who had left the family when Tony was a toddler. By then Nick had been married to Gloria for three years. Perhaps surprisingly, he agreed to let the son he barely knew join the household. Grahame kisses her Oscar after winning Best Supporting Actress at the 1953 Academy Awards, two years after she was allegedly caught in bed with her teenage stepson Following her divorce from Ray, the actress married second husband Cy Howard in 1954 (pictured a year earlier at the 1953 Academy Awards) Tony with Gloria Graham at the premiere of John Cassavetes' Shadows in 1960. By now, Graham had divorced Cooper and married her former step-son. The marriage would last until 1974 Tony arrived from New York fully expecting to be met by his dad. The pair had only seen each other a handful of times down the years, but Nick was too busy to greet his son off the plane. Instead, he sent his pretty, stylish and famous young wife, who wore a V-neck cashmere sweater cut very low, and enveloped the boy with a warm hug. While she drove him back to Malibu in her black Cadillac convertible, Gloria asked Tony to light her a Pall Mall cigarette. Reading the book, it is clear that from the start she treated him as if he were much older, and he was duly flattered. That Californian summer the pair became firm friends. While Nick turned down all Tonys entreaties to go fishing, swimming, shooting or riding, even to play cards, with the excuse that he was too busy, Gloria was the opposite of distant. She encouraged her stepson to smoke and drink alcohol with her. She let him brush her hair every morning and even invited him to dry her back after shed stepped out of the shower. Was she calculatedly grooming him? It certainly reads that way. Thrillingly, when the pair of them were out together, people asked her to sign autographs. Tonys life changed on the day Gloria offered to teach him how to kiss properly. From there their physical relationship developed swiftly but discreetly, although they still lived dangerously Grahame was already a fully-fledged movie star and there was no doubt a plethora of willing men available with whom she could have had an extramarital affair, had she wanted to. Yet she chose a boy Gloria had had a small role in Its a Wonderful Life (1946), had been nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in Crossfire (1947), and had been cast opposite Humphrey Bogart in In A Lonely Place (1950). She was already a fully-fledged movie star and there was no doubt a plethora of willing men available with whom she could have had an extramarital affair, had she wanted to. Yet she chose a boy. Tonys life changed on the day Gloria offered to teach him how to kiss properly. From there their physical relationship developed swiftly but discreetly, although they still lived dangerously. When Nick took Gloria and Tony to stay at the celebrated Cal-Neva Lodge and Casino in Lake Tahoe, on the California-Nevada border, they made the most of his compulsive gambling habit by going further than they had before. While Nick was losing his money on the casino floor, Gloria was pleasuring his adolescent son upstairs. The marriage was volatile, to say the least. Gloria accused Nick of having an affair with Marilyn Monroe, while he raged at her for condemning his gambling. He would frequently move out of the Malibu house and then back in again. Tony with co-star Leila Goldoni in director John Cassavetes 1960 film Shadows. Only two years earlier, he completed work on Circle Of Lions, his then unpublished account of an illicit affair with Grahame while she was still married to his father Behind the scenes, there were some in the Hollywood establishment who knew that Grahame was bad as well as beautiful (the actress is pictured in 1953) When Nick took Gloria and Tony to stay at the celebrated Cal-Neva Lodge and Casino in Lake Tahoe, they made the most of his gambling habit by going further than they had before While Nick was losing his money on the casino floor, Gloria was pleasuring his adolescent son upstairs (Gloria and Nick seen) The marriage was volatile, to say the least. Gloria accused Nick of having an affair with Marilyn Monroe, while he raged at her for condemning his gambling. He would frequently move out of the Malibu house and then back in again But nor was all sweetness and light between Gloria and Tony. In the book he describes a row during which she pulled a gun on him, and then called the police claiming that her stepson had just tried to rape her. When the cops arrived she apologised, telling them shed merely over-reacted during an argument. But by any measure it was a deeply dysfunctional household. And Tony was still only 13. The later rumours in Hollywood - that Nick Ray had found his teenage son in bed with his movie-star wife were unfounded. But when Nick heard about the unseemly episode with the police he put two and two together, asking Tony directly how long he and Gloria had been having sex. Tony knew there was no point protesting their innocence. But did his father even want them to be innocent? The book implies that he was already keen to split from Gloria by the time Tony arrived to live with them, and might have manipulated them into having an affair, to facilitate a cheaper divorce. Whatever, Nick and Gloria were divorced in 1952 and two years later she married another director, Cy Howard. But that marriage didnt last either. In 1960, Tony met his father for a drink at Idlewild (later John F Kennedy) Airport in New York. They had barely seen each other since the tumult in Malibu but now Nick was returning to Hollywood from Spain and had an hour or so to spare. Her film credits included a starring role alongside Humphrey Bogart in Nicholas Ray's 1950 film In A Lonely Place (L-R: Bogart, Grahame and Ray are pictured on set) After his father learnt of his affair with Grahame, Tony (pictured) knew there was no point protesting their innocence. But did his father even want them to be innocent? He asked Tony if he had seen his classic 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause, arguably the screens ultimate story of teenage angst. Tony had. For some reason known only to himself, Nick then suggested to his son that he should look up Gloria, and handed over her phone number. In a postscript to his 1958 memoir, added in 2002, Tony wrote: I had had no contact with Gloria since I was 13, but had pined for her throughout my teens. I had kept track of her through her movies When I got to California, I called her. She wanted to see me immediately. I wanted to see her immediately. We agreed to meet at the corner of Laurel Canyon and Ventura Boulevard. She would be driving as she had so many years before a black Cadillac convertible. 'When she pulled up, I jumped in and we hugged each other for a long time. I saw that in the back seat there was a suitcase and a box of groceries. We drove to the modest guest house I was renting and unpacked Glorias things. 'She had not come for an hour-long visit. She had come to stay. Gloria and I were married on May 13, 1960. He was 22 and she was 36. It was the same substantial age gap as before but this time without the smear of paedophilia, not that Glorias sexual attraction to a child, and her stepson to boot, had in any way hampered her career. She had since won the Academy Award and been given a wonderful role in Oklahoma! Oddly, the 1950s are often held up as an age of moral rectitude, yet nobody seemed at all worried about a female movie star having sex with a minor. In a postscript to his 1958 memoir, added in 2002, Tony wrote: I had had no contact with Gloria since I was 13, but had pined for her throughout my teens. I had kept track of her through her movies When I got to California, I called her' (Gloria pictured in The Big Heat) 'She had not come for an hour-long visit. She had come to stay. Gloria and I were married on May 13, 1960. (Gloria pictured in It's A Wonderful Life) Predictably, the marriage between Tony and Gloria came unstuck, although not before she bore him two sons. In 1965, the year their second boy was born, she attempted suicide. She became dependent on alcohol and had a nervous breakdown, while Tony developed his own destructive addictions. When they split up in 1974 the judge granted him custody of the children on the basis that he was the lesser of two evils. It is a desperately sad and seedy story about an illicit Hollywood love triangle that damaged everyone, yet the tone of Tony Rays book is wistful and affectionate. Its title, Circle of Lions, apparently refers to the way that trauma can be passed from generation to generation, like one vicious lion begetting another. But an alternative title might have been: The Girl Who Just Couldnt Say No. For a copy of Circle of Lions: Nicholas Ray, Gloria Grahame and Me, go to https://stickingplacebooks.com/circle-of-lions/ Blake Lively was dealt a savage blow while entangled in yet another lawsuit. In June, the Daily Mail reported that Family Hive LLC, the owner of Lively's haircare line Blake Brown, filed a lawsuit against Kimberlie Hamner, who owns Beauty by Blake, in opposition of the trademarked name. Family Hive cited a 'likelihood of confusion' between the two brands due to the name, claiming that Beauty by Blake would potentially 'damage' Family Hive's own trademark, Blake Brown, which launched in August 2024. Following last month's filing, Hamner, a 27-year-old entrepreneur based in Utah, has since hired an attorney in the fight for her trademark and filed her response to Family Hive's opposition on July 14. She denied the claims, arguing 'there is no likelihood of confusion, mistake, or deception' as the two brands 'differ in connotation, commercial impression, and trade channels.' Lively's Blake Brown sells shampoo, leave in conditioner, hair masks, hair mousse and hair and body mists exclusively at Target stores nationwide and online. Hamner's Beauty by Blake, makes 'cosmetic oils' and 'serums for cosmetic purposes.' In June, the Daily Mail reported that the owner of Lively's (pictured) brand, Family Hive LLC, filed a lawsuit against Kimberlie Hamner, who owns Beauty by Blake, in opposition of the trademarked name Lively's Blake Brown (pictured), which launched in August 2024, sells shampoo, leave in conditioner, hair masks, hair mousse and hair and body mists exclusively at Target stores nationwide and online. The entrepreneur listed her affirmative defenses, including the fact that there are a 'significant number of third-party registrations containing the term "BLAKE" for cosmetic goods and services,' arguing that Beauty by Blake 'exists in a crowded market.' For example, she states there are other trademarks with 'Blake' used in the name, such as 'Olivia Blake, 'Smooches By Blayke' and 'Ryan Blake.' 'The shared term "BLAKE" is not likely to cause consumer confusion as the term is inherently weak as a name and surname,' she stated. '"Blake" is Applicant's maiden name, and thus has little inherent distinction such that the other elements of Applicant's Mark are sufficient to make consumer confusion unlikely.' Hamner concluded: 'Beauty by Blake is sufficiently distinct from Blake Brown such that confusion is unlikely. The fact that both marks share Blake, and that consumers familiar with Blake Brown may recognize the term, is not enough for source confusion to be likely.' She also stated that she had 'lack of knowledge and lack of willful intent' when filing her trademark almost a year ago. Daily Mail has reached out to Family Hive's attorney for comment. Hamner initially filed an application to trademark Beauty by Blake in September 2024, which fell after Family Hive's filings for three trademarks associated with Blake Brown for the brand's name, its honeycomb logo, and the logo with the brand's name. Hamner said, 'Beauty by Blake is sufficiently distinct from Blake Brown such that confusion is unlikely. The fact that both marks share Blake, and that consumers familiar with Blake Brown may recognize the term, is not enough for source confusion to be likely.' Hamner argued that there is a 'significant number of third-party registrations containing the term "BLAKE" for cosmetic goods and services,' arguing that Beauty by Blake 'exists in a crowded market.' Two months after the trademark for Beauty by Blake was published in the Trademark Official Gazette, Family Hive filed an opposition. In the filing, Family Hive's attorney Leo M. Loughlin argued that the 'Beauty by Blake' trademark 'is likely to be confused, to be deceived, and to assume erroneously that Applicant's goods are those of Family Hive or that Applicant is in some way connected with or sponsored by or affiliated with Family Hive.' Loughlin said that Hamner has 'no connection whatsoever with Family Hive and no permission or license' was given by Family Hive for her own trademark. The trademark feud is set against the backdrop of Lively's legal woes involving her former It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, 41, which are at the center of their March 2026 trial. Judge Lewis Liman delivered a blow to Lively, 37, last week when - after Baldoni's legal team accused the actress of receiving special treatment due to her star status - the judge said that their 'celebrity' is 'irrelevant.' After admitting that he didn't know who neither Baldoni nor Lively were prior to the case, he warned the Gossip Girl star that celebrity is 'fleeting.' The remarks came after Lively's deposition was postponed to July 31 and the actress' claims against social media PR expert Jed Wallace were dismissed. Judge Liman also ordered Lively to produce three years of businesses records, not including her net worth, to Baldoni's team after she claimed the alleged smear campaign had cost her Blake Brown sales. Judge Liman ordered Lively (pictured) to produce three years of businesses records, not including her net worth, to Baldoni's team after she claimed the alleged smear campaign had cost her Blake Brown sales. The trademark feud is set against the backdrop of Lively's legal woes involving her former It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, 41, (pictured with Lively in 2024) which are at the center of their March 2026 trial She previously alleged that Baldoni's attacks in the press and on social media caused sales to decrease by between 56 percent and 78 percent. 'Lively must have some basis for stating that she has suffered economic damages,' the ruling stated. Last week, Lively was accused of targeting social media users who were believed to be in favor of Baldoni, sparking an uproar online after sending a subpoena to Google requesting information about the accounts specific YouTubers, demanding bank details, addresses and phone numbers. Notable content creators include conservative firebrand Candace Owens and celebrity blogger Perez Hilton. Others, however, are little-known internet users with only a few hundred followers. In the wake of her varied legal drama, a source exclusively told the Daily Mail that Lively is laying low and 'avoiding pubic appearances.' 'She doesn't want to be seen out at restaurants or parties or anything to belittle the process [of her lawsuit],' the source said, noting, however, that Lively is 'not scared.' Following her July 31 deposition, the source added that Lively will be able to 'breathe a sigh of relief.' 'She knows she has to go through a few things to get to the other side, but she isn't looking at it as a bump in the road,' the source said. 'It's a moment for her to tell it like it is, and show that she is serious.' A smalltime YouTuber has hit back in a court filing after Blake Lively subpoenaed her bank details accusing the Gossip Girl star of pursuing 'desperate and paranoid' tactics, and submitting an official complaint against the actress's lawyer. Lively, 37, has claimed throughout her ongoing legal battle that her ex co-star Justin Baldoni paid influencers to smear her following the premiere of 2024 domestic violence drama film It Ends With Us. But in an ironic twist, pro-Baldoni YouTuber Kassidy O'Connell says the only money she has received is from ads on her videos starring Lively's husband Ryan Reynolds. 'Ms. Lively, who still cannot accept that the criticism against her online is completely organic and of her own making, has made yet another move guaranteed to make matters far worse for her reputation by lashing out at content creators on social media,' O'Connell wrote in the filing published on the docket Friday. It Ends With Us actress Lively sparked uproar on social media when she sent a legal demand to Google for the financial and personal records of 16 YouTubers earlier this month, and to social media site X for another 20 users. Some of the content creators told DailyMail.com they believe Lively is trying to prove a conspiracy that her legal nemesis Baldoni paid them to produce negative content about her, which they deny. Blake Lively sparked an uproar last week after attempting to subpoena pro-Justin Baldoni YouTubers, demanding their bank details, addresses and phone numbers YouTuber Kassidy O'Connell has blasted Blake Lively's 'invasive subpoena' and filed a California State Bar complaint against Lively attorney Esra Hudson. She addressed the drama in a YouTube video shared Sunday (pictured) One creator, who uses the pseudonym Kassidy O'Connell, has filed a fiery response asking the judge to cancel her subpoena, and accusing Lively of a 'desperate and paranoid' attempt to prove 'an imaginary smear campaign'. O'Connell, who has around 16,000 subscribers to her YouTube channel, submitted her initial response last Wednesday without a lawyer, saying she was trying to meet tight court deadlines before she had a chance to hire an attorney. She was scathing of Lively in her 11-page motion to quash the Google subpoena, which she filed alongside a copy of her California State Bar complaint against Lively attorney Esra Hudson. 'No third party has access to add additional money to a YouTuber's monthly pay,' she wrote, trashing the theory that creators were paid by Baldoni. 'We are paid by AdSense according to ads run on our channel. Ironically enough, Mint Mobile often runs ads on my channel featuring their spokesperson, Ryan Reynolds, so if I've been paid directly or indirectly by anyone involved in this case, it's former party, Ryan Reynolds.' Reynolds stars in Mint Mobile commercials, and owned a reported $300million stake in the company until 2023. The subpoena to Google asks for O'Connell's address, bank details, subscriber records, and detailed information on her YouTube account. O'Connell argued in her filing that it was an unwarranted invasion of privacy, pointing to Lively's own previous legal filings that asserted the actress' right to privacy when Baldoni tried to subpoena her data. 'Ms. Lively herself makes a compelling argument that individuals have a constitutional right to privacy regarding their financial information,' O'Connell wrote. 'Ms. Lively appears to recognize the basic elements of privacy rights that individuals are entitled to, despite her attempts to pierce the rights others are equally entitled to.' The YouTuber, who makes videos dissecting court documents in celebrity cases and prominent criminal prosecutions, said she had already been the victim of a stalker and sexual assault, and that she was terrified Lively would leak her private information putting her in harm's way. 'Plaintiffs' counsel has an established history in this case of improper (completely absent) redaction in filings and have exposed the home addresses of every Wayfarer defendant,' O'Connell wrote. The July 18 filing tears into Lively, as well as her attorney Esra Hudson, in a complaint (right) for 'issuing an improper subpoena'. The notices were sent out to the YouTubers via their Google accounts and demanded 16 content creators to produce their private information - which initially led many to believe that it was a phishing scam 'This led to death threats to all the defendants, several of which are women, threats of kidnap and harm to a wife and daughter not affiliated with the lawsuit, an act of arson where the arsonist is currently in jail, and the disclosure of two separate medical conditions, further heightening the risk of exposure and harm to any person's information presented to this lawsuit. 'She proclaims herself to be the 'voice of women' and vowed to not stop speaking for us, while simultaneously causing lasting harm to woman after woman with her counsel and the Court's assistance. 'I, as most of her victims, have done nothing wrong and do not deserve to be unconstitutionally stripped of my rights to suit her whims.' O'Connell called Lively's subpoenas 'abusive' and 'sweeping', noting she served '60 third party subpoenas and intends to file several more' according to court documents. The plucky YouTuber also claimed that Lively's big law firm, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, made a procedural mistake that invalidates their subpoena. O'Connell said clerks in Northern California federal court told her the subpoena to Google's Bay Area, California headquarters was issued from New York, not NorCal. But she cited legal precedents saying that the subpoena must be routed through the nearest court to be valid. In her filing, O'Connell objected to the subpoena, arguing that she is not a plaintiff or defendant in the case Ironically, the YouTuber notes that the only money she has received is from advertisements on her videos, such as those for Mint Mobile, starring Lively's husband Ryan Reynolds She also noted that Lively's subpoena referred to Reynolds as a 'party' to the case, though he has already been dismissed from involvement by the judge. O'Connell noted the alleged mistakes in a complaint against Manatt attorney Esra Hudson to the California State Bar for 'issuing an improper subpoena'. 'Her actions violated multiple California Rules of Professional Conduct and disregarded constitutional protections under the First Amendment,' the YouTuber wrote in her complaint. She included a claim that 'Ms. Hudson's office denied issuing the subpoena on three separate occasions [] which raises serious concerns under the rules of professional honesty and truthfulness. 'The misuse of a legal process to delay litigation, intimidate critics, and obtain improper discovery from non-parties is serious misconduct that undermines both legal ethics and constitutional protections.' New York federal Judge Lewis Liman responded to her initial submission by issuing an order on Wednesday afternoon saying O'Connell must either refile under her real name, or submit additional legal arguments explaining why she should remain anonymous. 'The Court will not entertain the motion to quash unless it is either de-anonymized or accompanied by a motion requesting leave to proceed anonymously in this Court and explaining why the movant's interest in anonymity outweighs the public interest in disclosure and any prejudice to the opposing party,' Liman's order said. O'Connell refiled her documents on Friday, this time signed by an individual named 'Ni Cai', with the title of 'Manager of Kassidy O'Connell, LLC'. Lively's theory that Baldoni hired influencers to smear her was bolstered by messages her lawyers obtained about Jed Wallace, a social media consultant used by Baldoni's publicists. Baldoni PR Melissa Nathan texted colleagues that Wallace quoted $175,000 for a three-month online campaign to 'start threads of theories' and provide 'full social account take downs', and a $25,000-per-month service of 'creation of social fan engagement to go back and forth with any negative accounts, helping to change the narrative and stay on track'. 'All of this will be most importantly untraceable,' Nathan added in the August 6 2024 text. But last Wednesday, Judge Liman dismissed Wallace from the case, in a blow to Lively's claims over the alleged smear campaign. Lively and former co-star Justin Baldoni have been locked in a tense legal battle over incidents which occurred during the creation of their film It Ends With Us, which is based on the 2016 bestseller by Colleen Hoover In a summary of Wallace's arguments, the judge wrote that the online consultant found 'people on social media organically supported Baldoni and disliked Lively.' 'Wallace has an understanding of what a 'social combat' or 'social manipulation plan' could be, but he did not provide such a service related to It Ends With Us, Wayfarer, Baldoni, Lively, or Reynolds,' Liman wrote. 'Wallace states that his role was merely passive observation and analysis of the social media environment.' Liman ruled that Wallace had to be dismissed from the New York lawsuit because the court didn't have jurisdiction over him, adding that Lively was free to separately sue the consultant in his home state of Texas. Lively's lawyers also appear to have sent out a subpoena to social media site X for another 20 content creators. One account, 'The Spiritual Shift', wrote on July 17 that they received an email from X that it had received 'legal process, dated July 3, 2025, requesting information regarding your X account'. The X user, who says they are a licensed attorney, attached an apparent screenshot of the email. 'I'm a licensed attorney and casual content creator who started covering this case in late December 2024 to early January 2025 because it mattered and interested me,' The Spiritual Shift wrote in the July 17 post. 'I'm not monetized. No ads. No sponsors. No donations. Just over 2,400 followers. Zero dollars made. 'The subpoena informs me that they are attempting to obtain my personal X account information simply because I dared to speak truth to power, openly, critically, and transparently, about them and their lawsuit. '20 users were named in my copy of the subpoena,' the X user added. 'This is the height of privileged injustice. It is a fishing expedition, a deliberate attempt by the wealthy and powerful to scare, suppress, and silence dissent. It is intimidation disguised as litigation.' A Lively spokesperson did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. Malcolm-Jamal Warner has kept his personal life out of the spotlight in recent years, prior to his shock death at the age of 54. The Cosby Show alum died in Costa Rica on Sunday, after drowning while swimming off the coast, according to local authorities who spoke with ABC News. Before his passing, Warner navigated a life filled with both significant Hollywood achievements and profound personal heartbreaks. He previously had a very public relationship with actress Regina King, 54, whom he dated from 2011 to 2013. Their relationship came to an abrupt end when Warner reportedly blindsided King by ending their two-year partnership. He also suffered A loss when his longtime love Michelle Thomas, known for her role as Justine Phillips on The Cosby Show, passed away from cancer four years after their split. Prior to his shock death at the age of 54 on Sunday, Malcolm-Jamal Warner had a very public relationship with actress Regina King, 54, which ended in a messy split; The two seen in 2007 He also suffered loss when his longtime love Michelle Thomas, known for her role as Justine Phillips on The Cosby Show, passed away from cancer four years after their split; Seen in 1992 In March, King took to Twitter to deny any relationship issues with Warner. 'Hey everybody PLEASE don't believe everything you read. Me & MalcolmJamalWar are good. Life happens. Forward motion. Godspeed,' she wrote. However, in 2015 she revealed that one of her famous exes broke up with her on Valentine's Day, while speaking with Us Weekly in 2015, hinting that it was Warner. 'Someone broke up with me on Valentine's. Yeah. I'm serious,' she said. 'Then he actually sent me flowers that said, "I still love you," and I threw the flowers in the trash, and he was upset that I threw them in the trash, and I was like, 'F*** you."' 'I love flowers, but he thought that was right. What an a**, right?' King suggested that Warner was the ex, hinting that fans would 'know' who she was referring to. Prior to their split, Warner called his romance with King 'very special.' He dated King from 2011 to 2013. Their relationship ended abruptly in 2013 when Warner reportedly blindsided King by ending their two-year partnership In 2015 King revealed that one of her famous exes broke up with her on Valentine's Day, and hinted that it was Warner; She is seen in 2024 'Then he actually sent me flowers that said, "I still love you," and I threw the flowers in the trash, and he was upset that I threw them in the trash, and I was like, 'F*** you,"' the actress shared; Warner pictured 2023 'We like to protect what we have because it's very special and very precious,' he told BET in October 2011, according to New York Daily News. 'But I will say that it's a relationship that makes all the sense in the world.' The actor also dated Michelle, known for her role as Justine Phillips, his onscreen girlfriend on The Cosby Show. Their relationship lasted from 1988 to 1994. The two remained friends following their split. Tragically, Thomas passed away on December 23, 1998, at the age of 30, due to a rare form of cancer, four years after their split. In 2015 he shared a loving tribute to her on Instagram, writing, 'If there was ever an angel who walked amongst us mere mortals, this woman was it. So powerful even her haters would have to agree. She lit up the room like she lit up the screen! R.I.P. my love. We miss you. Warner went on to have a seven-year relationship with Karen Malina White, before his relationship with Regina. Warner later found love with his wife, with whom he shares an eight-year-old daughter, though he chose not to publicly share their names during his life. They were together for 10 years. The actor also dated Michelle, his onscreen girlfriend on The Cosby Show. Their relationship lasted from 1988 to 1994; Seen in 1992 Warner later found love with his wife, with whom he shares an eight-year-old daughter, though he chose not to publicly share their names during his life; Seen with daughter He made rare comments about his wife on the Hot & Bothered podcast last month. 'If something happened and we weren't together romantically, she would still be the person that I would want to raise a child with,' he said. 'We've been together almost 10 years and we have never had a fight, an argument, a raised voice or a harsh word said to one another. And it's not like we agree on everything,' he added. On Monday, the Costa Rican National Police reported that Warner's 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. While the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, experts note that some beaches in Costa Rica can pose serious risks depending on conditions. 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. The Cosby Show alum died in Costa Rica on Sunday, after drowning while swimming off the coast, according to local authorities who spoke with ABC News; Seen in 2023 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 2006) 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. 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. 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. Bill Cosby praised his late 'TV son' Malcolm-Jamal Warner for his talent and work ethic in the wake of news The Cosby Show alum had drowned at 54 in an accidental incident in San Jose, Costa Rica. Cosby spoke Monday with Jericka Duncan of CBS News, who asked him what he wanted the people to remember about the late actor, who portrayed the role of Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show. Cosby praised Warner's dogged efforts during his 197-episode stretch of The Cosby Show, which aired from 1984 until 1992. 'He was never afraid to go to his room and study - he knew his lines and then he was quite comfortable, even with the growing pains of being a teenager,' Cosby said of his late co-star. Cosby opened up on the emotional discussion the two had about three months back, which would mark the final time they spoke. 'We talked about was very proud of,' Cosby said. 'He had a concert in Minnesota with the symphony and there was something he had written.' Bill Cosby praised his late 'TV son' Malcolm-Jamal Warner for his talent and work ethic in the wake of news The Cosby Show alum had fatally drowned at 54 in an accidental incident in San Jose, Costa Rica. Warner 'was so much more' to Cosby than just a costar, a rep explained Cosby continued, 'He was very proud of what he had done and what he had said - and it was it was about living in America.' Warner in June of 2024 shared on his Instagram his reading of Art In Motion - a Juneteenth poem that he'd been 'commissioned by The Minnesota Symphony Orchestra to write. ' Cosby confirmed he had spoken with Phylicia Rashad (who played Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show) on the somber day. Cosby's lawyer told Daily Mail in a statement that the death of Warner marked another tragedy in the life of the comedy veteran. 'You always hear older people say, "Parents are not supposed to bury their children,"' said Cosby's attorney. 'Mr. Cosby lost his son, Innis, to gun violence, and his daughter, Ensa, died two weeks before our 2018 trial. 'And now he's lost the man who played a character that was modeled after his own son, Innis, at 54 years of age. That is a lot.' The attorney said that Warner 'was so much more' to Cosby, described as a parent whose had to continually bury his children.' Officials with the Judicial Investigation Department in Costa Rica said that the actor died Sunday after he drowned while on a Caribbean beach in the country. Warner had been at Playa Cocles in the Limon province, authorities said, and had been drawn deep into the water by a current. Warner played the role of Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show opposite Cosby's Dr. Heathcliff 'Cliff' Huxtable Officials in Costa Rica said that the actor died Sunday after he drowned while on a Caribbean beach due to a current that pulled him into the water. Pictured in 2020 A first report from the department said that the actor had been 'rescued by people on the beach,' while Red Cross officials said that first responders who located Warner could not detect vital signs; and subsequently transferred him to a nearby morgue. Warner's career in entertainment spanned more than four decades, as he also had featured roles on sitcoms such as Malcolm & Eddie, Listen Up and Read Between the Lines and drama shows such as The Resident and Jeremiah. Warner spoke with the AP in 2015 about his drive in maintaining his career after The Cosby Show went off the air nearly a quarter-century ago. Said the actor, 'I grew up with a maniacal obsession with not wanting to be one of those "Where are they now kids." 'I feel very blessed to be able to have all of these avenues of expression ... to be where I am now and finally at a place where I can let go of that worry about having a life after Cosby.' Warner, who received a nomination for an Emmy in 1986 for supporting actor in a comedy, told the AP in 2015 that the sex assault accusations against Cosby had 'tarnished' the legacy of the series, which virtually disappeared from heavy play in syndication amid Cosby's legal issues. 'My biggest concern is when it comes to images of people of color on television and film,' Warner said. 'We've always had The Cosby Show to hold up against that. 'And the fact that we no longer have that, that's the thing that saddens me the most because in a few generations the Huxtables will have been just a fairy tale.' A European summer romance between Australia's No. 1 real estate agent and a British socialite is the talk of the eastern suburbs. Gavin Rubinstein, the founder of prestige real estate agency The Rubinstein Group, is sailing across the continent with his new girlfriend Ruby Adler. But a cloud of controversy hangs over their sun-kissed fling: Ruby was, until recently, in a relationship with Reza Amiri, her co-star on UK reality show Made In Chelsea. In fact, the latest season of Made In Chelsea wrapped around April, with Ruby and Reza agreeing to remain a couple after a rocky period of being on and off. But shortly after their happy ending was filmed, Ruby clearly had second thoughts. 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. Gavin Rubinstein, founder of prestige real estate agency TRG, is sailing across the continent with his new girlfriend Ruby Adler - who until recently was dating a British reality star Ruby Adler (right) and Reza Amiri (left) got back together at the end of the last season of reality show Made In Chelsea Reza and Ruby's rocky relationship has featured on Made In Chelsea since 2020. They were always on and off, dating other people before coming back together again Deciding she was done with Reza, Ruby promptly flew to the U.S. where she was spotted with Gavin - the star of Amazon Prime Video real estate series Luxe Listings Sydney - in the crowd at an LA Lakers game. Reza, 38, was alerted to the relationship when anonymous Instagram accounts sent him photos of the two sitting together next to Hollywood actor Jason Segel. He apparently only found out about their rendezvous - which also included a visit to the Beverly Hills Hotel and a Rodeo Drive shopping spree - weeks after it happened. Despite the wild speculation that followed, neither Ruby nor Gavin, 34, confirmed they were an item. But now it seems they're no longer interested in hiding. They went public on Monday when Gavin posted a gallery of Instagram snaps with Ruby while living it up on a yacht off the coast of the French Riviera with friends. In one snap, Ruby's body was draped over Gavin as they relaxed on deck. Another picture showed the perma-tanned twosome cuddling up in front of a pair of wine glasses, looking very much a couple. They were joined on the yacht by Cae Thomas - a salesman at The Rubinstein Group - and Tas Costi - whose wife Shani is a buyers agent who featured on Luxe Listings. After wrapping Made In Chelsea, Ruby flew to the U.S. where she was spotted with Gavin - the star of Amazon Prime series Luxe Listings Sydney - in the crowd at a Los Angeles Lakers game Ruby and Gavin went public on Monday when he posted a gallery of Instagram snaps of them together while living it up on a yacht off the coast of the French Riviera with friends Before letting the cat out of the bag, Ruby had spent weeks dropping hints she was being courted across Europe by a mystery fella, with her Instagram posts offering glimpses of a man's hand without revealing his identity. A source familiar with the romance tells us: 'Gavin really likes Ruby - he's spending a fortune on her.' But before you write this off as a standard rebound romance, there's a few more twists to the tale. Firstly, this isn't the first time Gavin has been linked to a Made In Chelsea star. We've heard he used to date Tayla Cohen from Made in Chelsea: Sydney - a spin-off mini-series that saw the English toffs jet Down Under for some winter sunshine. Our society spies say Ruby 'has always been frosty with Tayla'. However, we doubt Tayla will have much to say about her frenemy getting cosy with her ex, as she just got engaged to a wealthy Englishman in Europe. Ruby had spent weeks dropping hints she was being courted across Europe by a mystery fella, with her Instagram posts offering glimpses of a man's hand without revealing his identity A source tells us: 'Gavin really likes Ruby - he's spending a fortune on her' Before getting with Ruby, Gavin's last confirmed romance was with model Holly Young, the Perth girl who reinvented herself as an eastern suburbs socialite. They hard-launched on Instagram in August 2024 but had split by the end of the year. Neither of them announced their break-up at the time, though we heard whispers they fell out while on holiday. Shortly after that split, Holly - who was once linked to Usain Bolt - raised eyebrows by hooking up with one of Gavin's good mates, serial entrepreneur Richie Harkham. She dropped a hint about their fling by reposting an Instagram Story from Richie's winery on Christmas Day - with Gavin nowhere to be seen. Before getting with Ruby, Gavin's last confirmed romance was with model Holly Young (left) - who ended up having a fling with his good friend Richie Harkham after they broke up It comes after a source told Daily Mail last month that Reza is dreading the thought of the whole saga playing out on Made In Chelsea next year. Reza and Ruby's rocky relationship has featured on the show since 2020. They were always on and off, dating other people before coming back together again. At one stage, Reza romanced Love Island star Tina Stinnes while Ruby had a fling with Miles Nazaire. Still, the pair looked keen to make things work at the end of the most recent season - making Ruby's decision to later partner up with Gavin all the more baffling. Neighbours star Jackie Woodburne has revealed a surprising career move following the official end of production on the long-running Aussie soap earlier this month. The veteran actress, 69, will co-star alongside former Coronation Street favourite Kym Marsh, 49, in a brand new TV thriller titled Imposter. The series marks Jackie's first non-Neighbours role in more than 30 years. The beloved performer has not appeared in a single production since stepping onto Ramsay Street as Susan Kennedy back in 1994. Imposter will feature Jackie as matriarch Helen, whose refusal to sell her seaside hotel sparks a dramatic family feud with her three adult children. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Neighbours star Jackie Woodburne has revealed a surprise career move following the official end of production on the long-running Aussie soap earlier this month The veteran actress will co-star alongside former Coronation Street favourite Kym Marsh (pictured) in a brand new TV thriller titled Imposter The plot thickens when Amanda, played by Marsh, arrives claiming to be Helen's long-lost daughter given up for adoption years ago. As Amanda integrates into the family, doubts arise about her true identity, leading to a gripping tale of deception and betrayal that culminates in murder, according to the series' synopsis. The series is set to be filmed across Victoria later this year. Jackie has played Susan, the wife of co-star Alan Fletcher's character Dr Karl Kennedy, since 1994. It follows reports that Fletcher is wasting no time embracing a new chapter following the end of Neighbours production. Last week, it was revealed the beloved Australian actor has swapped Ramsay Street for the stage, announcing a surprise music tour in the UK. Just one week after filming wrapped on the iconic Australian soap, the 68-year-old - best known for playing Dr Karl Kennedy since 1987 - arrived in London with wife Jennifer Hansen to embrace his musical endeavours. Jennifer shared the exciting news on social media on Friday, posting a cheerful snap of herself and Alan beaming after touching down in England. Jackie has played Susan since 1994. Pictured alongside Alan Fletcher, who played Dr Karl Kennedy 'Arrived in London with Alan and getting excited about our first gig at the Bedford Pub on July 22nd,' she wrote, hinting at big things ahead for her husband's post-soap career. The Perth-born actor is one of the most beloved stars to ever appear on the Aussie soap opera. It comes after the long-running soap opera was abruptly axed in February and the final days of filming were completed earlier this month. Amazon did not renew their contract with production company Fremantle Australia. In response to the shock announcement, an Amazon spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Neighbours has brought so much joy over the last 40 years to its fanbase globally. 'Forty years is an incredible milestone and we are proud that Amazon MGM Studios was able to have a small part of bringing further episodes to Freevee and Prime Video customers over the last two years.' In a heartwarming post, the crew assured fans that new episodes from the 40th anniversary season would continue to be broadcast on Prime Video and Ten, with 'all the big soapie twists and turns our viewers love'. The final ever episodes will air at the end of 2025 with fans forced to say goodbye to Ramsay Street for a second time, after first being axed in February 2022. Jason Statham proved he's still got it as recreated his Commonwealth Games dive off his luxury yacht while on a family holiday in Positano in Italy. The Hollywood star, 57, showed off his ripped body on the trip as he leaped from the top deck of the boat last week. He was snapped as his dived from the 30ft vessel and headed straight for the clear water below him. It was like no time had passed for Jason, who previously represented England at the Commonwealth games in 1990 in New Zealand. Statham's best finish in Auckland was eighth place in the 1-metre springboard with a score of 487.26 points. He also took part in the 3-metre springboard and 10-metre platform, where he finished 11th in both events. Jason Statham proved he's still got it as recreated his Commonwealth Games dive off his luxury yacht while on a family holiday in Positano in Italy It was like no time had passed for Jason, who previously represented England at the Common Wealth games in 1990 in New Zealand Statham's best finish in Auckland was eighth place in the 1-metre springboard with a score of 487.26 points His efforts on the Italian coast prompted a wave of responses from social media followers, among them his Fast & Furious co-stars. 'Family,' wrote Vin Diesel, in one post, while rapper and actor Ludacris added: 'Still got it.' Terry Crews also weighed in on the dive, posting: 'Enjoy brother.' Jason previously admitted to developing an interest in diving while on holiday with his parents as a child. 'I was on holiday in Florida with my mum and dad and there was a guy who used to do a high dive at noon every day from one of the hotels we stayed in,' he recalled during an interview with Katie Couric. 'And I say "When we get home, I am going to do that". He added: 'I joined the club then, I was like 11 or 12 years old. Within a year, I was part of the British team and it gained momentum and I spent the next 10 years doing that.' Despite his accomplishments, Jason admitted the Commonwealth Games were still a 'sore point' - because he failed to make the Olympics. 'I started too late,' he admitted. 'It probably wasn't my thing. I should have done a different sport.' Jason, who is engaged to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, has been enjoying downtime with his fiancee and their kids - son Jack, eight, and daughter Isabella, three Jason's accomplished diving prowess led to an influx of responses on social media, including many from his Fast & Furious co-stars Fortunately for the hunk, his performances on the big screens have been much better than those on the high boards. Jason, who is engaged to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, has been enjoying downtime with his fiancee and their kids - son Jack, eight, and daughter Isabella, three. Rosie, 38, showed off her incredible figure as she shared an array of sun-soaked snaps from the trip, giving a rare insight into her family life. In one jaw-dropping shot, she showed off her incredible figure in a chic white bikini bra and matching trousers. Rosie also put her washboard abs on display as she relaxed in the crystal clear ocean while she enjoyed some downtime. She was also every inch the doting mother as she cuddled up to Isabella while she also enjoyed some fun activities in the son with Jack. Rosie also posted an adorable photograph of actor Jason, 57, sharing a hug with their two children. He sweetly cuddled them both on a sofa in the lavish vessel before he took Isabella on a jet ski and enjoyed a swim in the ocean himself. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley shared an array of sun-soaked snaps from her family trip to Positano, Italy (pictured with her daughter Isabella) In one jaw-dropping shot, she showed off her incredible figure in a chic white bikini bra and matching trousers Rosie also put her washboard abs on display as she relaxed in the crystal clear ocean while she enjoyed some downtime The action star proved himself to be every inch the daredevil as he also jumped head first off the top of the boat, perfecting a dive into the ocean. The family has been vacationing in the sun-soaked location in the southern coast of Italy for her brother Toby's wedding to his partner Noa. They were staying at five-star hotel Villa Treville, which boasts stunning views of the Amalfi Coast. Rooms start at 3,416 per night, which makes it a luxury place suitable for the stars. The high-profile couple seemed to enjoy some special family time together during the summer holidays. Rosie and Jason have been together since 2009 and got engaged in January 2016. The model, 38, took to Instagram on Friday to give a rare insight into her family life with her fiance Jason Statham and their kids - son Jack, eight, and daughter Isabella, three Rosie accessorised her outfit with an array of beaded necklaces and shielded her eyes with large sunglasses She was also every inch the doting mother as she enjoyed some fun activities in the son with Jack The model revealed they had taken their relationship to the next level when she flashed her impressive diamond ring at the Golden Globes that year. The model, who grew up in Devon, recently revealed why she returned to the UK in 2020 and explained that it was always 'the plan' to raise her children in the UK. She told The Times: 'We love the schools, the education. Theyre growing up British with their little British accents, which was important for us, and we have a great support system here. 'Jays parents live up the road and see the kids most days, my family come to visit every six or eight weeks.' Elsewhere, she stunned relaxing on the boat's sofa wearing an oversized baby blue T-shirt by Chloe and silky white pants Rosie also posted an adorable photograph of actor Jason, 57, sharing a hug with their son Jack He sweetly cuddled them both on a sofa in the lavish vessel before he took Isabella on a jet ski and enjoyed a swim in the ocean himself Rosie said her kids are having a childhood not dissimilar to her own, even spending large amounts of time in Devon where she grew up. The mum, who only shares the occasional snap of her children online, added: 'In the summer we go down to Devon and our children have the same experiences running around on the farm that I had growing up, and its very special.' While the pair have been together since 2010, and despite getting engaged in 2016 and welcoming two children, they don't feel the need to tie the knot just yet. According to a source close to the couple, they are on the 'same page' when it comes to their relationship. 'Jason might be 20 years older than Rosie but they are on the same page with each other in so many aspects of their lives,' the source told DailyMail.com. 'Their love for each other, and their children is incredibly reassuring and something their friends look up to.' The happy family has been vacationing in the sun-soaked location in the southern coast of Italy for the model brother Toby's wedding to his partner Noa Dog the Bounty Hunter star Duane Chapman's stepson, Gregory Zecca, has been put on a psychiatric hold after accidentally fatally shooting his thirteen-year-old son. Gregory, 38, was placed on a 5150 psychiatric hold following the devastating tragedy amid concerns that he might try to take his own life, according to TMZ. The family's representative clarified that Gregory's psychiatric hold stems from the grief of losing his son Anthony, and not him feeling guilty of a crime in regards to the shooting, which was a 'freak accident.' They added that Gregory hasn't been able to speak with family or police yet due to being heavily sedated. Anthony was accidentally shot and killed by Gregory who is the son of Chapman's wife Francie at their family apartment in Naples on Saturday evening. Anthony'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. Dog the Bounty Hunter star Duane Chapman's stepson, Gregory Zecca, 38, has been put on a psychiatric hold after accidentally fatally shooting his thirteen-year-old son Anthony He was placed on a 5150 hold amid concerns he might try to take his own life, as per TMZ; Dog the Bounty Hunter star Duane Chapman seen with wife Francie, her son Gregory, and Anthony Law enforcement said Anthony 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 8:08 p.m. ET to the scene with Zecca pronounced dead at 8:21 p.m. ET. The firearm used in the shooting was on the kitchen island when deputies arrived. 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. The family's rep clarified that the psychiatric hold stems from grief of losing his son Anthony, and not him feeling guilty of a crime in regards to the shooting, which was a 'freak accident' Anthony was accidentally shot and killed by Gregory - who is the son of Chapman's wife Francie - at their family apartment in Naples on Saturday evening; Anthony seen in 2021 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 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 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. 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."' Zecca who is Francie's son from a prior marriage reportedly collaborates with his stepfather Duane on his bounty hunting team 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.' 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. Nicole Kidman's niece Lucia Hawley has revealed she is unemployed after making the 'risky' move to live in London. The 26-year-old gave up her role as host of 7Bravo in Australia and relocated overseas last month. In her latest Substack blog, she spoke about the challenges of starting afresh in a new country without a job. 'On June 18, I officially made the move to London. On paper, this is a totally stupid decision, and honestly, frightens me (someone hire me pls),' she wrote. 'I am risk-averse, which means my body quite literally rejects the idea of both moving overseas being unemployed.' 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. Nicole Kidman's niece Lucia Hawley has revealed she is unemployed after making the 'risky' move to live in London Lucia revealed she found it 'traumatic' to say goodbye to her boyfriend Henry and younger siblings. 'Saying goodbye to Henry was incredibly difficult (I am traumatised by airport goodbyes). Even harder were the goodbyes to my family - I kissed my little brothers through floods of tears,' she added. The presenter finished by saying while it was a hard decision to make, she knew it was ultimately for the best. 'It is exciting and freeing and kind of what life is all about. I believe home to be a feeling... Having a strong network of people who support you is what truly enables you to navigate the world with confidence and self-assurance,' she wrote. In December, Channel Seven announced that former Bachelor star Bella Varelis would be the new host of 7Bravo, following Lucia's resignation. Bella, who was runner-up on Locky Gilbert's season of The Bachelor, became the channel's new local host and the face of Live From E! red carpet events in Australia. NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer and Distribution, Australia & New Zealand Managing Director, Chris Taylor, said: 'We are thrilled to have Bella step into this much-coveted role, becoming the new host of 7Bravo. 'As a familiar face on 7Bravo, we have every confidence that her on-screen warmth, energy, style and expertise will continue to resonate strongly with audiences and talent alike.' The 26-year-old gave up her role as host of 7Bravo in Australia and relocated overseas last month In her latest Substack blog, she spoke about the challenges of starting afresh in a new country without a job Channel Seven said 'Lucia is departing the role at the end of this year to explore other opportunities' after two years. Lucia is the eldest child of Nicole Kidman's sister Antonia and her ex-husband Angus. She started her TV career after studying Arts at the elite University of Sydney. Following her degree and internship at Vogue Australia, she started working at a production company as an assistant and later applied for a job at 9Honey Channel Nine's women's network. She eventually landed a role with NBC Universal - who launched 7Bravo in 2022. Osher Gunsberg has revealed why he snapped at Dancing With the Stars judge Craig Revel Horwood this week. The pair exchanged some tense words on Sunday night after Gunsberg and partner Sriani Argaet danced an Argentine tango to the strains of David Bowie's Fashion. After Revel Horwood decried the routine as a 'mess', Gunsberg wasted no time in challenging the judge's assessment in what was a fiery exchange. Speaking to Chattr about the incident, Gunsberg said the judge could've peppered some compliments into his harsh critique. 'I tried really, really, really hard, and a part of me was like, "Oh, come on man. You know that was a really f**king hard thing to do, and I was never going to be technically perfect at it",' he said From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Osher Gunsberg has revealed why he snapped at Dancing With the Stars judge Craig Revel Horwood this week 'Im also not trying to be a professional dancer. So, you know, at least give us a compliment sandwich. 'Start with, "Mate, your hair looked good. Your feet look terrible, but you have a nice smile." You know, give us that' Gunsberg, who was eliminated from the series on Sunday night, admitted that he wanted to draw attention to the 'snarkiness' in Revel-Horwood's comments. 'Sometimes you give it back, it works, and sometimes it doesnt,' he said. 'It was always going to be a risk, but you know I was coming from a place of reality, and I wasnt particularly upset at him, I was just trying to draw some perspective to the snarkiness of what he was saying.' And Revel-Horwood did not mince his words with his assessment of Gunsberg's tango. 'A right, Royal mess that was,' he said 'I don't know what that step was meant to be coming down the ramp, darling, but whatever it was it was fumbled.' Visibly annoyed, Gunsberg snapped, 'Would you like to try going down that Perspex ramp in those heels, sir? You're more than welcome to show me.' The pair exchanged some tense words on Sunday night after Gunsberg and partner Sriani Argaet danced an Argentine tango to the strains of David Bowie's Fashion 'A right, Royal mess that was,' Revel Horwood said of the routine. 'I don't know what that step was meant to be coming down the ramp, darling, but whatever it was it was fumbled.' He continued to rage: 'But I need you to be doing it in a tango step while the person next to you is on one foot kicking, and you're holding their momentum against you. After you!' Revel Horwood seemed taken aback by the fiery exchange, replying to a fuming Gunsberg, 'That is not my job'. He then continued on with his critique despite the tense atmosphere, which had host Sonia Kruger visibly shocked. 'It was completely erratic,' Craig said, after dismissing Gunsberg's remarks. Revel Horwood told the frustrated TV personality, 'You were making mistakes left, right and centre.' Fellow judge Mark Wilson did offer Gunsberg some words of encouragement, telling him that he admired his determination to improve his dancing skills. However, the final score was a dismal 15 points and Gunsberg was sent home. Michael Brunelli has launched a searing counter-attack on a social media follower who labelled his two-year-old son Lucius 'overweight.' Michael and his partner Martha Kalifatidis welcomed Lucius to their family in February 2023 and he regularly features in their online content. The former MAFS groom-turned-influencer, who rose to fame on season six of the hit dating show, did not mince his words in an Instagram post shaming the woman who made the comment. Sharing a photo of himself cuddling his toddler Lucias, Michael screenshotted the comment which read: 'You might want to watch his weight. Looks overweight to me.' Michael shared the post with a 'Swipe across' caption, as the fitness trainer directed his 328,000 followers to read an angry missive. 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. Michael Brunelli has launched a searing counter-attack on a social media follower who labelled his two-year-old son Lucius 'overweight' 'Imagine looking at a photo of a toddler and thinking the best course of action is to comment "better watch his weight",' Michael fumed in his response. 'That's not concern,' the father-of-one wrote. 'That's real-life brain rot.' 'If you're wired to see a happy, healthy two-year-old and think "fat", you shouldn't be around children.' 'Get help. Touch grass. Drink some water,' Michael told the troll. 'And keep your projections the f**k away from mine.' Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Michael for comment. Fans of Michael and Martha were quick to condemn the troll in the comments section of his post. The former MAFS groom-turned-influencer, who rose to fame on season six of the hit dating show, did not mince his words in an Instagram post shaming the woman who made the comment Sharing a photo of himself cuddling his toddler Lucias, Michael screenshotted the comment which read: 'You might want to watch his weight. Looks overweight to me' Fans of Michael and Martha were quick to condemn the troll in the comments section 'Imagine body shaming a literal f**king two-year-old. Whats wrong with the world? Bubba is happy and healthy and absolutely f**king gorgeous!' the top comment on the post reads. 'While touching grass, please eat dirt,' a second commenter told the troll. 'Some people are disgusting. My daughter and I are obsessed with how gorgeous your son is! Well replied, too,' a third wrote. One follower told the dad that when they see photos of Luci with his parents, 'I see love. I see joy. I see beauty.' 'Has to win the dumbest comment on the internet today,' concurred another. Just last month, Michael shared an emotional update with fans about the personal toll that parenthood has taken on his mental and physical well-being. Michael revealed in a raw Instagram post that despite loving life as a dad, he no longer recognises the person he's become. 'As cliche as it sounds, I looked in the mirror today and barely recognised the guy looking back,' the 33-year-old began in his vulnerable message, adding, 'Not because there's anything seriously wrong with me, but I finally accepted that I'm not where I should be physically and mentally.' Michael and his partner Martha Kalifatidis welcomed Lucius to their family in February 2023 and he regularly features in their online content Just last month, Michael shared an emotional update with fans about the personal toll that parenthood has taken on his mental and physical well-being Michael, who found lasting love with fiancee Martha Kalifatidis on the show, admitted that he's been stuck in survival mode and has neglected his own health and happiness while focusing on being a parent. 'My gym bag has dust on it, the veggies in the fridge are untouched, and the steps haven't cracked 10,000 in months,' he said. 'It's like I'm physically here, but in a thousand other places mentally.' While he's struggling behind the scenes, Michael made it clear that fatherhood remains his proudest role. 'Being a dad is a massive part of my purpose,' he said. 'But somewhere in the life noise, the pressure, the lack of sleep, the negative thoughts I stopped being much else.' The former PE teacher said a scroll through his old photos was a 'wake-up call to start living healthier again.' Malcolm-Jamal Warner drowned on a Costa Rican beach without lifeguards present, and a second man involved in the same incident was left in a critical condition. The Cosby Show alumnus died on Sunday at age 54 after drowning while swimming off the coast. Following Warner's shock death, lifeguards from Playa Grande a beach community located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica released a statement saying they were not present due to lack of 'resources.' 'We deeply regret the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner at Playa Grande. He was swept away by a strong rip current and died by drowning,' the Caribbean Guard, Costa Rica's volunteer lifeguard association, shared via Facebook on Monday. 'It all happened very quickly, and although there were people on the beach who entered the water to rescue him, they did not arrive in time.' 'He was pulled from underwater without vital signs, and despite CPR maneuvers being performed on the beach, resuscitation was unsuccessful.' Malcolm-Jamal Warner drowned on a Costa Rican beach without lifeguards present, and a second man involved in the same incident was left in a critical condition; Warner pictured 2023 Following Warner's shock death at 54, lifeguards from Playa Grande released a statement saying they were not present due to lack of 'resources' The Guard added that Playa Grande is one of their 'most challenging beaches,' noting the presence of signs in English and Spanish that warn of the 'danger of death due to drowning.' Though the Guard has patrolled there 'over the past few years,' they alleged that they were 'not present' at the time of Warners death. 'Due to recent aquatic incidents in Playa Negra, we had redirected resources there and to Chiquita, another iconic beach known for its strong currents,' they shared in the statement. They then made an appeal to Costa Ricas president, Rodrigo Chaves Robles, and the government. 'From Caribbean Guard, a volunteer lifeguard association, we make an urgent appeal to the President of the Nation, the national government, the Municipality of Talamanca, and the entire Caribbean community to continue joining forces to minimize this problem, which, sadly, is on the rise ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.' 'We do everything within our reach. We have saved numerous lives in recent years, and if Caribbean Guard didnt exist, the number of drownings would be counted in dozens. We give everything we have to minimize the risks, but without help from the government, clear public policies, and strong support from local business owners, this will continue to happen.' According to the Red Cross, emergency personnel also treated a second person at the scene. An unidentified 35-year-old man was transported to a local clinic in critical condition, and his current status remains unknown. Though the Guard has patrolled there 'over the past few years,' they alleged that they were 'not present' at the time of Warners death; Warner pictured in 2023 According to the Red Cross, emergency personnel also treated a second person at the scene. An unidentified 35-year-old man was transported to a local clinic in critical condition, and his current status remains unknown; Warner seen in 2023 The Costa Rican National Police reported that Warners body was discovered near Cocles, a beach in the Limon province (Playa Cocles pictured above) Warner is survived by his wife and young daughter, born in 2017 On Sunday, the Costa Rican Red Cross received a 9-1-1 alert about a water incident at Playa Grande, Cahuita, Limon. In response, three ambulances were sent to the scene, as per Us Weekly. Warner's body has been moved from Limon to the Forensic Medicine Unit in San Joaquin de Flores where an autopsy will be conducted. Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department told Us Weekly that their preliminary investigation indicated Warner 'appeared to have entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current.' Emergency responders from the Red Cross treated two men at the scene. A 35-year-old man, who hasn't been identified, was taken to a local clinic in critical condition. Warner, however, received CPR but was pronounced dead at the scene. A spokesperson confirmed both men were 'involved in the same incident.' Warner had been in Costa Rica since July 13. 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. 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 2006) His performance earned widespread acclaim, including a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 1986 Primetime Emmy Awards (seen with Bill Cosby in a promo image from 1990) While the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, experts note that some beaches in Costa Rica can pose serious risks depending on conditions. Though many areas are safe for swimming, others are known for powerful currents and rip tides that demand caution. Warner is survived by his wife and young daughter, born in 2017. Their identities have not been revealed. 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. 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. 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. 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. Ioan Gruffudd packed on the PDA with his pregnant wife Bianca Wallace on Monday as they attended the world premiere of The Fantastic Four: First Steps in Los Angeles. The Welsh actor, 51, looked every inch the proud father-to-be as he tenderly cradled his new wife's growing baby bump while posing on the blue carpet. Ioan famously portrayed the role of Mister Fantastic in the 2005 version of the Marvel film, starring alongside Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis. And 20 years later, Ioan stepped out in support of his successors as he and Bianca arrived at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to watch the movie. The film star cut a dapper in a black suit with a white shirt as he cosied up to actress Bianca, 32, whom he married in April this year. Meanwhile, the mother-to-be looked radiant as she displayed her bump in a strapless grey midi dress, which she paired with black sandals and a black clutch bag. Ioan Gruffudd packed on the PDA with his pregnant wife Bianca Wallace on Monday as they attended the world premiere of The Fantastic Four: First Steps in Los Angeles The Welsh actor, 51, looked every inch the proud father-to-be as he tenderly cradled his new wife's growing baby bump while posing on the blue carpet Ioan famously portrayed the role of Mister Fantastic in the 2005 version of the Marvel film, starring alongside Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis [pictured] The couple looked happier than ever despite Ioan's bitter legal battle with his ex Alice Evans, 56, who it's reported to have demanded more support money for her and their two young daughters. The film marks the latest reboot of Marvel's iconic superhero team and is one of the studio's most anticipated releases in years. It follows the title characters as they must protect Earth from the nefarious villain known as Galactus. The film is set in what Marvel describes as, 'a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world,' a nod to the comics origins. The comics - created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby - debuted in 1961 in what was known as the Silver Age of comics. The film will be the Fantastic Four's first foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the quartet has been on the big screen before. 20th Century Fox released Fantastic Four in 2005, starring Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans, Jessica Alba and Michael Chiklis. The film took in $333.5 million worldwide and spawned the 2007 sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. The film star cut a dapper in a black suit with a white shirt as he cosied up to actress Bianca, 32, whom he married in April this year The studio also released the much-maligned 2015 Fantastic Four reboot starring Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara and Jamie Bell. In February, Marvel fans were delighted to see the first-look trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. They took to social media to give their opinions on the latest instalment of the superhero franchise, with one person writing on X: 'Okay the Fantastic Four trailer wasn't bad. I'm pleasantly surprised.' Another added: 'I'm not even a Fantastic Four fan, but this looks really sleek. It's nailing the period setting in the same way that First Avenger did.' Someone else weighed in: 'Watched the Fantastic Four trailer and I actually am excited for a Marvel movie again.' And another social media user described the Fantastic Four comic series as 'the only ones I've been able to stomach,' adding, 'The trailer looks so great. I need this.' The film will be released nationwide on July 24. He's the hunky star of the Aussie streaming hit Colin from Accounts. And now Patrick Brammall is heading to the US to appear alongside Hollywood beauty Anne Hathaway in the long-awaited sequel to The Devil Wears Prada. There's no official word on what role the 49-year-old Canberra-born actor will play in the romantic comedy, which reunites many of the cast of the 2006 hit. New Idea reported on Tuesday that, in a surprising casting move, Brammall is set to play the love interest of Hathaway's character. Currently shooting in New York, the sequel will see the 42-year-old star reprise her role as fashion scribe Andy Sachs. 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. Colin from Accounts star Patrick Brammall (pictured) is heading to the US to appear alongside Hollywood beauty Anne Hathaway in the long-awaited sequel to The Devil Wears Prada New Idea reported on Tuesday a source has revealed that in a surprising casting move Brammall is set to play the love interest of Hathaway's character. Pictured: Hathaway was spotted in New York this week filming the sequel According to reports, Adrian Grenier, of Entourage fame, who appeared in the original Prada film as Andy's boyfriend, will not be returning. Meanwhile, Brammall confirmed his part in the new film with a celebratory post to his Instagram. The fan favourite shared a screengrab from industry blog Deadline announcing his exciting new gig which he signed with a cheeky caption that said: 'Girding my loins'. The sequel will reunite Hathaway with original star, Hollywood legend and Oscar winner Meryl Streep, who returns as her ruthless fashion guru character Miranda Priestly. Original cast members Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci will also reprise their roles, alongside new cast members Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, B.J. Novak, and Pauline Chalamet. Also joining the cast is American actress Rachel Bloom, from Stan's streaming hit Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. In the sequel, Blunt's character, Emily Charlton, has climbed the corporate ladder and now holds the power Miranda needs - setting the stage for a delicious clash of ambition, loyalty, and fashion politics. While plot details are still under wraps, sources suggest the film may draw inspiration from Lauren Weisberger's 2013 novel Revenge Wears Prada, which follows Andy's post-Runway life as she becomes a magazine editor, only to find Miranda crashing back into her world. The Devil Wears Prada 2 is slated to hit theatres on May 1, 2026, marking two decades since the original film strutted into pop culture history. Hathaway and Meryl Streep are pictured in the original 2006 hit The Devil Wears Prada 2 is slated to hit theatres on May 1, 2026, marking two decades since the original film strutted into pop culture history. It comes after Brammall and his partner Harriet Dyer welcomed a baby girl into the world in February. The happy couple, who also play on-screen love interests in their series Colin From Accounts, announced the news to Instagram. Sharing a reel of family images, the parents revealed their newborns sweet name. 'Welcoming little Mabel. We love her so much and were all very grateful. 2/2/2025,' Harriet, 36, wrote. Harriet and Patrick first became parents in September 2021 when they adopted Joni from her 'incredible birth mother'. The married couple, who tied the knot in 2021, co-created Colin From Accounts and the series has risen to global acclaim since its 2022 launch. The first series explored the lives of Ashley and Gordon, two complex individuals who are brought together following a fateful car accident and an injured dog. The pair launched a second successful series last year. Pedro Pascal shared a sweet moment with his sister Lux on The Fantastic Four: First Steps red carpet during the film's LA premiere on Monday night. The actor, 50, plays the flexible Fantastic Four leader Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in the movie which comes out July 25. And while posing on the red carpet Pedro took a second to readjust the bottom of his sister's black dress so that she looked picture perfect. The actress, 33, looked great in the halterneck number which featured flattering cut-out detailing. Meanwhile Pedro donned a white blazer over a matching tank top with a b&w cravat around his neck, a red carnation in his lapel, black wide-leg trousers, and Oxfords selected by his brand new stylist Jamie Mizrahi. Pedro and Lux share a strong bond, with the Mandalorian star previously calling her one of the 'most powerful people and personalities' he knows. Pedro Pascal shared a sweet moment with his sister Lux on The Fantastic Four: First Steps red carpet during the film's LA premiere on Monday night The actor, 50, plays the flexible Fantastic Four leader Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in the movie which comes out July 25 Speaking to Esquire last year, he gushed: 'She is and has always been one of the most powerful people and personalities I've ever known. My protective side is lethal, but I need her more than she needs me.' He added that he had always felt 'parental' to Lux and his younger brother Nicolas following the death of their mother, Veronica Pascal, who tragically took her own life in February 1999, when Pedro was 24 and Lux just seven. He explained: 'They were very young kids, so much younger than me and my older sister, so even if they hadn't lost a parent, we would still feel parental toward them. 'And I didn't naively think I could fill a space like that, but I just always wanted to be like, I'm here.' Like her brother, Lux is also an actor, having graduated from the prestigious Julliard School in 2023, and having roles in The Prince, Invisible Heroes, and Chilean drama series Los 80. She publicly came out as transgender in 2021, appearing on the cover of Chilean magazine, Ya, where she bravely detailed her transition. Lux credited Pedro as being an 'important part' of her journey as she recalled: 'When I officially told him about my transition through FaceTime, he asked me how I felt because I remember that he was worried. And while posing on the red carpet Pedro took a second to readjust the bottom of his sister's black dress so that she looked picture perfect The actress, 33, looked great in the halterneck number which featured flattering cut-out detailing Meanwhile Pedro donned a white blazer over a matching tank top with a b&w cravat around his neck, a red carnation in his lapel, black wide-leg trousers, and Oxfords selected by his brand new stylist Jamie Mizrahi Pedro and Lux share a strong bond, with the Mandalorian star previously calling her one of the 'most powerful people and personalities' he knows Like her brother, Lux is also an actor, having graduated from the prestigious Julliard School in 2023, and having roles in The Prince, Invisible Heroes, and Chilean drama series Los 80 She publicly came out as transgender in 2021, appearing on the cover of Chilean magazine, Ya, where she bravely detailed her transition Lux credited Pedro as being an 'important part' of her journey as she recalled: 'When I officially told him about my transition through FaceTime, he asked me how I felt because I remember that he was worried' Pascal has previously shown his support for the transgender community, earlier this year sharing on Instagram the quote: 'A world without trans people has never existed and never will' 'I told him, 'I'm happy.' And his answer was: 'Perfect, this is incredible'.' Pascal has previously shown his support for the transgender community, earlier this year sharing on Instagram the quote: 'A world without trans people has never existed and never will.' He added in his caption: 'I can't think of anything more vile and small and pathetic than terrorising the smallest, most vulnerable community of people who want nothing from you, except the right to exist.' Matt Shakman's $200M-budget reboot of The Fantastic Four, set in a 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic alternate universe known as Earth-828, hits UK theaters this Thursday and US theaters this Friday. Olivia Attwood went braless in a latex top as she filmed a very chaotic GRWM video on Monday. Joking that she was spending her first day off in three weeks with some alcohol abuse,' the TV presenter, 34, gave a behind-the-scenes look as she got dressed for a girls night out. She began the Instagram clip wearing a dressing gown while she did a subtle makeup look before her hairstylist Mikey Dash secured her hair into an updo. In another post, Olivia showed off her completed look, teaming her latex top with a pair of loose fitting jeans and heels. Olivia explained: 'It's my first true day off in about three weeks. Get your violin out. 'I'm just going to treat myself to bit of alcohol abuse. We've had a heatwave foe about three weeks now and I've decided to go out when the weather is like this.' Olivia Attwood went braless in a latex top as she filmed a very chaotic GRWM video on Monday Joking that she was spending her first day off in three weeks with some alcohol abuse,' the TV presenter, 34, gave a behind-the-scenes look as she got dressed for a girls night out She continued: 'I'm not the worst vlogger but Mikey came to do my heai how cute is this. I'm doing my makeup. Just something low-key.' 'I'm going to put a blazer over the top because they weather has decided to... oh look my umbrella has got Labubus on it. Oh! I need to add a Labubu to my bag, who am I?' Olivia captioned the video: 'Im always one wine fuelled girls days away from feeling like myself again (who likes my new umbrella?).' It's been a stressful few weeks for Olivia who recently claimed the 'scumbags' who broke into her home were 'tracking the house'. The TV presenter revealed last week that someone tried to break into her Cheshire home while she was filming a TV project in Spain. And after much concern from her fans on social media, Olivia took to TikTok to answer some of their questions about what was taken and if her dogs were safe. In the clip, the reality star explained that her dogs - Carpathian/German Shepherd mix, Lola, and Rottweiler, Stitch, were not home and so believes they have been tracking her home. Taking to he social media, Olivia said: 'So obviously I can't go into too much detail because it's an open investigation now.' She began the Instagram clip wearing a dressing gown as she did a subtle makeup look before her hairstylist Mikey Dash secured her hair into an updo In another post, Olivia showed off her completed look, teaming her latex top with a pair of loose fitting jeans and heels She was joined by Georgia Harrison for her evening out She added: 'But some scumbags basically smashed a second-floor window, went in, and the security team got the notification within like 30 seconds, and they were there within two minutes with dogs. 'The little scumbags ran off. They got some stuff but they didn't get what they came for, and now I have to just show face because it's a really important work day and I'm feeling a bit tired and a little bit emosh, but yeah, brave face.' She further explained: 'We weren't there and the dogs weren't there. Obviously, if you know my dogs, the rescue Shepherd and Rottweiler, no one's getting into my house and not getting out unalived if my dogs are in there. 'So these f*****g, like disgusting vermin, were obviously tracking the house, and they obviously went at a time they knew the dogs weren't there, but they didn't know that we had security with a dog team, so they came down so quickly, thank God. 'And it's just a horrible thing; the feeling that someone's been in your house. Even though they didn't take the most valuable things, it's just the feeling. It's so horrible.' Olivia then explained that this was not the first time she had been targeted and had now been burgled three times. 'And we have had that happened to us before in Manchester. It's the third time we've been burgled in different houses up there', she added. Olivia Attwood has claimed the 'scumbags' who broke into her home were 'tracking the house'. as she issued an update after the home invasion In the clip, the reality star explained that her dogs - Carpathian/German Shepherd mix, Lola, and Rottweiler, Stitch, were not home and so believes they have been tracking her home Olivia continued: 'It's just sad, isn't it? A sad society. But look, life goes on. There's a lot worse things that could happen. So, we keep it moving. 'I like to think I'm a tough gal, but obviously I was awake from like 2am until 6am, and didn't sleep last night because I was on-and-off the phone with police, security team, neighbours. And I was upset and stressed, and I literally just worked.' 'That's probably why I look like an ageing rocker. My head's going to hit the pillow tonight, and I'm going to be out. We've got people at the house looking after everything.' Earlier this week, Olivia shared how she 'pays through the nose for private security', who arrived within two minutes to try and apprehend the burglars. Olivia was targeted while out of the country, however her security system seemingly outsmarted the criminals who tried to gain entry to the 1million property. Throughout the night, Olivia shared with her followers that they had experienced an attempted break-in and warned the thieves she had their details. Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek left holiday-goers stunned over the weekend as they boarded a public flight together in Mexico City. The two A-listers, who struck up a friendship while appearing in the 2021 film Marvel's Eternals together, were spotted by passengers at the airport preparing for a flight to Veracruz, a port city on the Mexican coast. As on-lookers gazed on in shock, Angelina, 50, and Salma, 58, were filmed deep in conversation while waiting in-line for their flight. Covering her eyes with a pair of shades, Puss in Boots actress Salma kept it casual for the journey with a pair of grey joggers and a matching jumper. While Angelina, who celebrated her milestone birthday last month, sported a cream trench coat and a pair of black sunglasses for the journey. After landing in the eastern Mexican city of Veracruz, the two stars were spotted enjoying a meal together at a cafe in the airport. Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek left holiday-goers stunned over the weekend as they boarded a public flight together in Mexico City As on-lookers gazed on in shock, Angelina, 50, and Salma, 58, were filmed deep in conversation while waiting in-line for their flight Despite previously claiming not to have many friends in Hollywood, Angelina and Salma have struck up a very close relationship since meeting a few years ago. They first bonded while working on the superhero movie The Eternals, with Jolie playing Thena and Hayek cast as Ajak. They later went on to join forces once again when Angelina appointed Salma in the 2024 movie Without Blood. And during an interview at last year's Toronto Film Festival, Salma gushed about the pair's friendship, saying they've become 'like family'. She told People: 'We do things together as a family. We hang out with the kids but also by ourselves. 'I always find it super inspiring. A friend was telling me, "it's the same life whether you laugh or cry". And it's nice to have a friend where you can laugh and cry... and feel always safe.' Angelina's trip to Mexico with her pal comes amid her ongoing legal war with ex-husband Brad Pitt, 60, over their sprawling 1,200 acre winery Chateau Miraval in Correns, France where they wed, which is reportedly worth $164M. Despite previously claiming not to have many friends in Hollywood, Angelina and Salma have struck up a very close relationship since meeting a few years ago (pictured together in January 2025) They first bonded while working on the superhero movie The Eternals, with Jolie playing Thena and Hayek cast as Ajak (pictured left and centre-right at the film's London premiere in 2021) Angelina and Brad purchased the 35-room estate together for $28.4M in 2011, but he sued her in 2021 after she sold her stake in the ownership to the Stoli Group without his approval, which prompted a countersuit. The Maria actress had initially offered to settle, but she reportedly took issue with the mandatory non-disclosure agreement and backed out. And the fallout between the celebrity couple has left Brad with a strained relationship with their children. The exes share sons Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, Zahara, 20, Shiloh, 19, and fraternal twins Vivienne and Knox, 17 on July 12. Several of them have dropped his last name from their monikers recently, with Zahara being the first. Vivienne and Shiloh followed suit and the longtime leading man now has 'virtually no contact' with his adult children. Angelina filed for divorce from the actor in 2019 after five years of marriage. Alice Evans has rejected the claim by her ex-husband Ioan Gruffudd that she asked her children to write unflattering text messages about him. The actress said that Ella, 15, and Elsie, 11, were 'sadly well aware of our financial distress' and were simply making their feelings known to their father, who made their texts public last week in a bombshell court filing. Gruffudd had suggested his ex had turned the children against him, but Evans now says the girls have been caught up in the fallout after being 'screamed at' by their former landlord and evicted. Evans wrote: 'The children are confused as to why we are struggling so much while they see their father living lavishly on social media.' In her filing Evans also insisted she wis broke despite Gruffudd's claims she is wealthier than him - and says she has 'the receipts' to prove it. The filing comes ahead of a hearing on Wednesday in Los Angeles between Evans, 56, a British-American actress, and Gruffudd, 51, the Welsh-born star of the Fantastic Four films. Alice Evans has rejected the claim by her ex-husband Ioan Gruffudd that she asked her children to write unflattering text messages about him [pictured with daughters Ella, 15 (R) and Elsie, 11 (C) The actress said that Ella, 15, and Elsie, 11, were 'sadly well aware of our financial distress' and were simply making their feelings known to their father Gruffudd filed for divorce in March 2021 shortly after Evans announced on social media that the actor, her husband of 14 years, was walking out on her and their children. While the divorce was finalised in 2023, both sides have been taking shots at each other about money in legal filings at the Los Angeles Superior Court. Adding to the drama, Gruffudd married his pregnant second wife Bianca Wallace, 32, last month. Last week, Gruffudd revealed the messages from Ella and Elsie in which they criticised him and asked why he wasn't helping them financially during their hunt for a new home. In May, three weeks before they were kicked out of their home, Elsie wrote: 'We need to find a home dad this is real how will you feel when you remember what you did to your children and their mum'. Evans and the girls did eventually find a place to live with rent just under $3,000-a-month, but they are having to move schools because they are no longer in the district for their old one. In her filing, which we can now reveal, Evans said she 'absolutely did not ask the children to send messages to Petitioner (Gruffudd) about our eviction and pending homelessness'. She said: 'The children are sadly well aware of our financial distress and the eviction. Gruffudd suggested that Evans had turned the children against him but she said the girls couldn't avoid the drama because they were screamed at by their former landlord and evicted In her response Evans listed the amount of money - $23,300 - she's borrowed from her friends Your browser does not support iframes. 'How could they not be when their lives have changed so radically? They were repeatedly accosted and yelled at by our former landlord and his wife about rent and other issues involving the former apartment, which was in a state of decrepitude we had no air conditioning in the living room ever and no heat in the bedrooms for the last year we were there. 'For ten days we did not have a toilet in the master bath, just an open hole in the floor. The children were very distressed by the landlord's yelling and the fact that they had to move and change schools again. 'The children are confused as to why we are struggling so much while they see their father living lavishly on social media. Frankly, I am upset that the children messaged Petitioner because it just creates more legal problems for me because I have to defend against his false allegations'. Evans complained that by making the messages public, Gruffudd had 'violated my children's privacy'. She also said that the new apartment was a 'huge change' and was so small the children had to share a room. In his filing last week, Gruffudd alleged that Evans was far from broke and that she earned $130,141 in 2024 and was on track to get the same amount in 2025. In December 2024 she spent $9,288 including a holiday which cost $2,990, bank statements included in the filing revealed. Evans said the figure for her income for 2024 was misleading because it included child and spousal support payments to her from Gruffudd. In her filing Evans also insisted she is broke despite Gruffudd's claims she is wealthier than him - and has the receipts to prove it [Alice and Ioan pictured in 2015] Last week Gruffudd revealed the messages from Ella and Elsie in which they criticised him and asked why he wasn't helping them financially Evans and the girls did eventually find a place to live in the end with rent just under $3,000 a month [Alice and Ioan with their daughters in 2018] Her actual earnings from appearances at conventions and other sources was $27,260, Evans claims. The document states that in 2024 Gruffudd was paying her $10,000 a month in support payments but stopped in May. He resumed the payments in September but at a lower rate of $4,500 including the missing four months. But that wasn't enough to meet Evans' expenses and last year she had to borrow $23,300 from friends. She was also 'forced' to appeal to the public for funds. As well as bank statements, Evans included a document titled Income and Expense Declaration which states that her total monthly expenses are $9,370. In his filing last week, Gruffudd alleged that Evans was far from broke and that she earned $130,141 in 2024 and was on track to get the same amount in 2025 Adding to the drama, Gruffudd married his pregnant second wife Bianca Wallace 32, last month Evans' income last month was $4,795 but it is typically just $2,531, the document states. Her monthly expenses include $2,500 on groceries and household supplies, $650 on utilities and $600 on healthcare costs. She pays $400 a month for clothes, $400 on laundry and cleaning and $240 for her phone. She owes her utility company SoCal Edison $5,825 for unpaid bills - she is paying it off at $125 per month - and has another $1,800 debt with two banks, apparently referring to credit cards. Evans had $4,300 in her bank account, enough to cover just one month of her rent which comes in at $2,995. Benedict Cumberbatch has slammed the film industry for being 'grossly wasteful' for the amount actors are fed on set and said the experience of overeating while filming is 'horrific'. The London-born film star, 49, recounted on the Ruthie's Table 4 podcast how during the shooting of his Marvel hit, Doctor Strange, he was forced to eat five meals a day. The Sherlock actor said: 'You have someone who can prescribe you what you're eating and they can cook for you. 'We had a fantastic chef on the last Doctor Strange film, but it's this amazing facility to go, Right he needs to be on this many calories a day. He needs to have five meals. 'He needs to have a couple of boiled eggs between those five meals or some kind of high protein snack, cheese and crackers or almond butter and crackers. Crackers. Lots of crackers. Appearing on the Ruthie's Table 4 YouTube channel, the Henry Sugar actor added: 'For me the exercise is great and the end result is that you feel strong and you feel confident. Benedict Cumberbatch has slammed the film industry for being 'hugely wasteful' in the amount actors are fed during filming, he told the Ruthie's Table 4 podcast Benedict revealed during filming for Doctor Strange he was forced to eat five meals a day The Marvel star said overeating felt 'horrific' but it's to help actors hold themselves better and give stamina through the exercise 'You hold yourself better, you have stamina through the exercise and the food that makes you last through the gig.' The father-of-three filmed the Marvel hit in 2016, a year after secretly marrying his wife Sophie Hunter and amid his career defining role as Sherlock in the BBC series which ran from 2010 to 2017. Continuing on the overeating on set, Benedict confessed: 'But it is horrific. I don't like it personally, I think it's horrific, eating beyond your appetite. 'It's just like, what am I doing? I could feed a family with the amount I'm eating. 'It just slowly, slowly, you have to meet people where they are on these issues in filmmaking. Known for playing Sherlock in the BBC hit, he said he could have fed a family with the amount of eating he did, and criticised the film industry for being grossly wasteful. Benedict in February posing for The Thing with Feathers photocall in Berlin Speaking on the Ruthie's Table 4 podcast, Benedict revealed his 'horrific' experience having to overeat on the set of Doctor Strange 'But it's a grossly wasteful industry. So let me think about set builds that aren't recycled. 'Think about transport, think about food, think about housing, but also light and energy.' Ruthies Table 4 invites a range of notable guests to take a seat at the River Cafe with co-founder Ruth Rogers. his season features conversations with people including Sir Elton John, Bono, Guillermo Del Toro, Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, and Sir Ian McKellen. Celebrity chef Martha Stewart has emerged in a new video filmed in a Sydney mansion. The 83-year-old, who recently presented a talk at the Vivid Sydney Festival, can be seen keeping company with a 'mystery man' in the clip, in which the pair appeared to be dressed in matching satin bathrobes. At one point in the short clip, Martha was gazing lovingly as the man strides away from her, with part of his bare chest showing. However, it appears that the clip, shared to News on Tuesday, is actually part of an ad campaign featuring Stewart, who rose to fame in the 1980s behind a series of cookbooks and lifestyle brands and products. According to the report, Martha and her unnamed cast member filmed scenes for the ad at the Crypto Castle, a luxury coastal clifftop pad in Coogee, which is often used for commercial shoots. 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. Celebrity chef Martha Stewart has emerged in a new video filmed in a Sydney mansion. Pictured: The lifestyle guru was recently Down Under to present a talk at the Vivid Festival It comes after reports indicated that Stewart didn't have the best experience at Sydney's Vivid Festival back in May. The lifestyle guru was Down Under to present a talk titled In Conversation with Martha Stewart as part of the event. And according to insiders, the cooking and homewares entrepreneur was not impressed with the ICC theatre, which has hosted stars such as Elton John and Cher. Sources reported to Confidential that Martha was unhappy that she had to use a hand-held microphone throughout her 90-minute talk. However, Confidential's insiders told the publication that it was required because Martha had refused to use a headset for fear of messing up her hairdo. Martha Stewart didn't have the best experience at Sydney's Vivid Festival last month, according to reports. Pictured at Vivid She also rejected the option of using a lapel mic, reportedly because she was concerned it might damage her jacket. The publication also reported that Stewart disapproved of the vehicle that had been arranged for her because the window tinting was not dark enough. The 83-year-old can be seen keeping company with a 'mystery man' in the clip, in which the pair appeared to be dressed in matching satin bathrobes (pictured) At one point in the short clip, the man's bare chest can be seen Stewart also shared a gripe about Sydney Airport, with the entrepreneur complaining that the terminal was 'too big' and that she had to walk 'too far'. Stewart did find something to her liking during her trip. The culinary guru dined at Totti's, a mecca for local and international celebrities, reportedly after a friend's recommendation. The Merivale-owned restaurant, known for its famous bread and small plates, as well as its signature rich pasta dishes, is beloved by the city's in-crowd. We asked around about what America's kitchen queen thought of her dining experience and found a diner who overheard Martha's musings. 'She was impressed. She had a great time and ate everything,' they said, adding that she 'was really lovely', 'super friendly' and asked the staff 'lots of questions'. The cookbook author 'enjoyed a large selection of antipasti' accompanied by the signature wood-fired bread, but our spy didn't stay long enough to see if she sampled any of the mains. She had 'San Pellegrino sparkling water', said our source, and 'seemed very interested in the produce, asking the waiters lots of questions.' Totti's made a name for itself as the place to be among Sydney's elites after it first opened its doors at The Royal Bondi in December 2018. Totti's interior was inspired by an Italian taverna, featuring old timber chairs, pared-back walls and huge olive trees filling out the lavish courtyard. Scott Mills has revealed Prince William and Kate Middleton made a secret trip to Radio 1's Big Weekend in 2010. The Prince and Princess of Wales turned up for the festival which was held in Bangor, North Wales that year to watch the likes of Rihanna, Paramore and Kesha perform. Speaking to Heat magazine, Scott said: 'I remeber them turning up to Radio 1's Big Weekend years ago in Bagor, North Wales. The bosses knew, but the rest of us had no idea for obvious security reasons. 'It was kept quiet, but they were watching Rihanna at the side of the stage. I like it that they got involved.' Scott has interviewed William and Kate in the past with the couple making an appearance on his Radio 1 show in 2017 tp speak about mental health. Scott Mills has revealed Prince William and Kate Middleton made a secret trip to Radio 1's Big Weekend in 2010 The Prince and Princess of Wales turned up for the festival which was held in Bangor, North Wales that year The presenter also revealed William was an avid Radio 1 listener at the time although he has since made the switch to Radio 2. 'He used to text in all the time - obviously not going, "Love HRH" - but he would text in and chip in with the conversation via Radio 1's normal contact number,' Scott said. It comes after Scott recently revealed he's finally 'financially secure' feels like he's 'made it' after landing Zoe Ball's gig on BBC Radio 2. The DJ, 51, took over hosting the highly esteemed breakfast show on from Zoe, 54, in January. Speaking about his career, Scott told The Telegraph how he's finally learned to say 'no' to work after years of missing sleep for various gigs. He said: 'I still feel insecurity a little bit. 'I also think that's because I work in an industry where you don't signup thinking this is a job for life. Contracts can end, radio stations get taken over, and then they decide "we don't have a lot for you". That's happened to a lot of people I know. 'Through my 20s, 30s and even 40s, if I was offered work, I'd take it, sometimes at a risk to my health. Scott said: 'It was kept quiet, but they were watching Rihanna at the side of the stage' (Rihanna pictured at the festival) 'I was working way too much, because my mindset was that you don't know when it might end.' Scott continued: 'There was one freshers' week where my schedule for playing in student unions was: Monday: Aberdeen, Tuesday: Glasgow, Wednesday: Edinburgh. 'I would do my show in London, fly to Scotland, do the gig around midnight, stay over with four hours sleep, fly back, do the show in London, repeat. 'I took every opportunity for 20 years and actually, I don't really want to any more. I enjoyed it, but life is different now.' After a career spanning three decades, Scott now finally believes he's 'made it', following his promotion by BBC bosses in January. He said: 'For the first time, I really do believe in myself. 'It's like, "you have to look at the facts. They've put you on the breakfast show, you must be doing something right".' Scott was previously reported to be taking a small pay rise for presenting his Radio 2 show, earning approximately 450,000 a year which is far below Zoe's 950,000 Scott defended his salary and said he had been 'playing the long game' his whole life to reach this point Scott was previously reported to be taking a small pay rise for presenting the show, earning approximately 450,000 a year which is far below Zoe's 950,000. The dramatic pay difference comes as BBC bosses are under 'enormous pressure' to cut back on costs. Scott defended his salary and said he had been 'playing the long game' his whole life to reach this point. Zoe left the breakfast show to focus on family and admitted how she wouldn't miss the 4am wake up calls that come with anchoring the flagship slot. She said at the time: 'I've decided it's time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter. 'Weve shared a hell of a lot, the good times, the tough times, theres been a lot of laughter. And I am going to miss you cats.' The mum-of-one added: 'But I wont miss the 4am alarm call, if I'm completely honest.' Ioan Gruffudd didn't hold back from putting on a very loved up display with his pregnant wife Bianca Wallace at the world premiere of The Fantastic Four: First Steps in Los Angeles on Monday. The happy couple locked lips in front of photographers, while the Welsh actor, 51, tenderly cradled his new wife's growing baby bump. However the picture gave a striking resemblance to the same premiere 20 years ago, when Ioan packed on the PDA with his now ex wife Alice Evans. Back in 2005 the pair were snapped enjoying a passionate smooch for the world to see, coincidentally also at the original Fantastic Four premiere. The couple couldn't keep their hands off each other in the unearthed snap taken just two years before the pair tied the knot. Ioan and Alice, now 56, 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. Ioan Gruffudd and Bianca Wallace's passionate premiere smooch (L) looks EXACTLY like his loved up display with now ex wife Alice Evans in throwback snap from 20 years ago (R) The couple couldn't keep their hands off each other in the unearthed snap taken just two years before the pair tied the knot Ioan filed for divorce from Alice in March 2021, shortly after the actress announced on social media that her husband of 14 years was leaving her. They officially divorced in July 2023. And now the former couple are expected to face each other in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday when Alice will ask Judge Josh Stinn to increase the $4,500 a month Ioan is currently paying. In the run-up to this week's court hearing, DailyMail.com obtained court documents filed by Alice 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 Ioan - 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. But Ioan is fighting his ex's cash demands and in his own court filing, poured scorn on Alice's 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.' The Welsh actor, 51, looked every inch the proud father-to-be as he tenderly cradled his new wife's growing baby bump while posing on the blue carpet Alice and Ioan are expected to face each other in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday when Alice will ask Judge Josh Stinn to increase the $4,500 a month Ioan is currently paying In her newest court filings, Alice 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 Ioan also maintained that subpoenaed bank records show that, far from being broke, Alice made more than $130,000 in 2024 and is expected to earn a similar amount this year - a claim that Alice called 'false and misleading.' In his recent court filing, Ioan 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, Alice denies manipulating the children to send plaintive messages to their father. 'I absolutely did not ask the children to send messages to (Ioan) about our eviction and pending homelessness,' she said. 'The children are well aware of our financial distress and the eviction.' Alice also pooh-poohed Ioan'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 Ioan's effort 'to muzzle me and violate my First Amendment rights.' Ioan filed for divorce from Alice in March 2021, shortly after the actress announced on social media that her husband of 14 years was leaving her (pictured in 2015) 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.' Ioan sought - and was granted - the restraining order in August 2022 after telling the court how Alice 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, Ioan 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 Alice. 'At the (August 1) hearing, I will be calling witnesses and presenting evidence to show Alice's continued abuse,' declared Ioan - whose latest movie, Bad Boys: Ride or Die has grossed more than $400million worldwide. Lottie Moss showed off her incredible figure in a skimpy orange bikini on her Instagram Story on Tuesday. The English model, 27, who is on vacation in Saint-Tropez, looked nothing short of sensational in the stylish two-piece, featuring a halterneck bikini top and matching tie-side bottoms. Posing up a storm in a mirror, Lottie further accessorised her poolside look with black shades. The bikini-clad snap comes just a day after Lottie sizzled in a skimpy bikini as she partied the night away with her pals. The half-sister of supermodel Kate Moss, 51, took to Instagram to share a glimpse of her lavish holiday in France. In one snap, the former OnlyFans content creator stunned in a gorgeous Bydee bikini in Zephyrus print, which she paired with a matching beach skirt. Lottie Moss, 27, showed off her incredible figure in a skimpy orange bikini on her Instagram Story on Tuesday Switching it up, the blonde personality then posted a side picture in a nude button bikini top and a white bandana. Alongside her album of holiday snaps, Lottie penned: 'Lifes a party I guess'. Earlier this month Lottie revealed she is using her personal diaries to write a biography about her childhood and turbulent life in the spotlight. Lottie will not hold back as she reflects on her battles with alcohol and substance abuse issues, according to the Sun. It's understood that she has kept written and video diaries since she was a teenager and will be using them to reference her colourful past. An insider said: 'Lottie has always been known as Kate's little sister but this is her chance to tell her side of the story. 'She has kept written and video diaries since she was a teenager, so will be compiling all her scribbles and memories into the book. 'Lottie is excited to tell the truth about her struggles with body image, addiction and relationships.' MailOnline contacted Lottie's representatives for a comment at the time. The bikini-clad snap comes just a day after Lottie sizzled in a gorgeous Bydee bikini in Zephyrus print, as she partied the night away with her pals in Saint-Tropez Switching it up, the blonde personality then posted a side picture in a nude button bikini top and a white bandana Lottie recently revealed that she went back to her natural look and had her jaw and lip filler dissolved, as well as a tattoo removed just under her eye. She revealed that she finally 'feels like herself again' after enlisting Dr Rosh (also known as Dr Roshan Ravindran) to reverse her filler, thanking him for 'fixing' her. In an exclusive video seen by MailOnline, Lottie is seen getting treated by Dr Rosh, who is considered the worlds number one aesthetics doctor. After years of cosmetic tweaks, the blonde beauty reflected on her decision to dissolve her previous filler as she complained about how puffy and overdone she'd felt. Speaking to the doctor, a radiant-looking Lottie remarked: 'You fixed me.' 'Ive got a bruise on my lip because Im dissolving all of my filler, but I just feel like myself again. Like, my face looks like me again.' Reflecting on her old jaw and lip filler, Lottie admitted she 'looked awful', going on to say: 'I was really puffy when I came to you from the last person. It was bad.' Guiding her through the next steps, Dr Rosh told Lottie: 'Its better just to align things, isnt it?' before offering options to lift the brow, relax the jawline or refine cheek structure. Clearly chuffed with her new, natural look, Lottie said: 'I love how it looks now. So much better, so much more proportionate.' James Bond star Rory Kinnear has revealed the extreme lengths producers are going to in order to protect the franchise amid feverish speculation over who will play the next 007. The celebrated actor, who has played MI6 Chief of Staff Bill Tanner in four Bond films opposite Daniel Craig, has disclosed that scripts are being delivered by hand rather than emailed - a strict security measure introduced after the 2014 Sony Pictures hack that saw early drafts of Spectre leaked online. 'The script for James Bond is delivered by car,' Rory revealed on Jesse Tyler Ferguson's Dinner's On Me podcast. 'And if there are changes in the script, they are delivered by car.' The unprecedented leak more than a decade ago not only contained major spoilers for Spectre, but also the projected budget of $300 million made the film one of the most expensive to be made at the time. The cyber leak also contained celebrities' details and exchanges between executives slamming the ending, to have it rewritten multiple times. James Bond star Rory Kinnear (left) has revealed the extreme lengths producers are going to to protect the franchise amid feverish speculation over who will play the next 007 The celebrated actor, who has played MI6 Chief of Staff Bill Tanner in four Bond films opposite Daniel Craig (pictured) Producers were forced to immediately scrap digital distribution. Since then, the franchise has become infamous for its cloak-and-dagger approach - even among its own cast. Rory, 47, added of the script delivery strategy: 'They got burnt, so I understand why they do it.' The Olivier award winner starred in Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre and No Time To Die, and is one of the longest-standing actors in the current Bond universe. His comments come at a pivotal moment for Bond, as the franchise undergoes its most radical transformation in decades. Amazon, which bought MGM in an $8.5billion deal, now holds the creative reins, and has appointed Dune director Denis Villeneuve to take charge of Bond 26. The French-Canadian filmmaker, a self-confessed 'die-hard' Bond fan, promised to 'honour the tradition' of 007 while opening up the franchise 'to many new missions to come.' He is joined by powerhouse producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman, with Eon's Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson still involved behind the scenes. Casting, however, remains the hottest topic of conversation - and the race to replace Daniel Craig recently took a dramatic turn. 'The script for James Bond is delivered by car,' Rory revealed. 'And if there are changes in the script, they are delivered by car' (pictured in No Time To Die with Ralph Fiennes and Naomie Harris) While Kick-Ass and 28 Years Later star Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 35, remains the bookies' favourite, a surprise new contender has emerged: 37-year-old Scott Rose-Marsh. The relatively unknown British actor - whose credits include Wolves of War and Code of Silence - has leapt to eighth place on the Oddschecker leaderboard, overtaking heavyweights like Henry Cavill and Jack Lowden. Despite his lack of blockbuster experience, Rose-Marsh's sudden rise has set tongues wagging in industry circles. Sources say Villeneuve is keen to cast an actor who can grow into the role, rather than one already saturated by franchise fame. Tom Holland, Theo James, Aaron Pierre, Harris Dickinson, Jacob Elordi and James Norton also remain in the top ten, though insiders claim the director's shortlist has shifted several times since he took the reins earlier this summer. Meanwhile, on the Bond girl front, Euphoria and Anyone But You star Sydney Sweeney is widely tipped for a lead role. A source told The Sun: 'Sydney is the top name on the casting sheet for Bond. Denis believes she is hugely talented, as well as having an alluring appeal to younger generations vital in modernising the franchise.' Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 35, remains the bookies' favourite to be the next Bond On the Bond girl front, Euphoria and Anyone But You star Sydney Sweeney is widely tipped for a lead role Sydney, 27, is reportedly close friends with Villeneuve and is being considered for a central role in the upcoming film - potentially as a high-stakes MI6 agent or a powerful femme fatale to match 007 blow for blow. Amazon is expected to officially unveil the cast later this year, with pre-production already underway and filming expected to begin in 2026. The release date is currently pegged for late 2027, though that may change depending on location availability. Bond purists were reportedly unsettled by news that filming may not take place in London due to a Central London ban next year. According to insiders, Liverpool is now a frontrunner to double for the capital - a choice previously used in major franchises such as The Batman and Captain America. A source said: 'This will no doubt irk Bond purists who already fear Amazon taking over the 007 franchise may lead to them making big changes. But Liverpool has become a well-known alternative to London for filmmakers. That doesn't necessarily mean the story is set there but fans will spot it.' Jeremy Clarkson's girlfriend Lisa Hogan has shared a terrifying image of the plane crash she miraculously survived in 1996. The Irish model, 51, who was 25-years-old at the time, opened up on the near-death experience as she took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a picture of the wreckage following the horror ordeal. Lisa's post comes after Top Gear star Jeremy, 64, shared that he and Lisa had survived 'three crashes over the years'. Back in 1996, the plane Lisa was flying on collided with a van on the A40 when the vessel came off the runway at RAF Northolt in London. The plane was flying into the UK from Spain for a special film role when the accident happened. Despite the Spanish Learjet 25 jet splitting in half, Lisa and everyone else involved luckily escaped any serious injuries. She captioned the post: 'Amazingly the pilots, van drivers and I survived. I took another flight the same day. And landed safely.' Jeremy Clarkson's, 64, girlfriend Lisa Hogan, 51, has shared a terrifying image of the plane crash she miraculously survived in 1996 (pictured on Clarkson's Farm) The Irish model, who was 25-years-old at the time, opened up on the near-death experience as she took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a picture of the wreckage following the horror ordeal Months after the crash, Lisa told the Irish Independent she was told by the pilot to switch seats - but insisted on staying where she was. She said: 'I insisted on sitting where I was, which was just as well because that was the area where the van came through when we crashed and I would have been killed instantly.' Lisa's post comes after Top Gear star Jeremy, 64, shared that he and Lisa had survived 'three crashes over the years' in his interview in The Sunday Times last week. He said: 'Whenever Lisa and I board an aeroplane, we are usually pretty confident that it will land safely because between us, weve walked away from three crashes over the years. 'Both mine involved broken landing gear and were fairly minor, but hers was a proper shunt. She was the only passenger in a Learjet that careered off the end of the runway at Northolt and on to the A40, where it was hit so hard by a van that it split in two. "Its amazing no one was killed, and if you Google the images, youll see what I mean.' The couple, who work together on Clarkson's Diddly Squat farm, first began dating back in 2017 after being set up by friends at a Christmas party. Back in April 2024, Lisa discussed her hopes of getting engaged to the outspoken presenter. The couple, who work together on Clarkson's Diddly Squat farm, first began dating back in 2017 after being set up by friends at a Christmas party Back in April 2024, Lisa discussed her hopes of getting engaged to the outspoken presenter (Pictured with Lisa in 2017) And the pair chatted to The Sunday Times to discuss the show coming back where the interviewer recalled that the topic of proposing was brought up while the couple were out on a walk during an old episode. At the time Jeremy said that he had a 'big surprise' for her and after she asked if it was a proposal, he pretended not to hear and instead showed her a fallen willow tree bursting back into life. After she followed up about the proposal, he said: 'I'll think about the proposal, OK? I'm not ready yet.' Discussing the exchange, Lisa has now said: 'I just thought I might surprise him.' When asked if she had taken advantage of February 29 to do a leap year proposal, when women typically propose, she added: 'Jeremy doesn't think I proposed but he wasn't wearing his hearing aids, so no-one will know.' Jeremy has been married twice before. He wed his first wife Alexandra James in 1989. The couple were married for six months before they split the following year in 1990. Jeremy went on to remarry as he found love with his second wife Frances Cain. The couple were married for more than two decades before they separated and welcomed three children together including, daughters Emily and Katya as well as son Finlo. Tears for Fears musician Roland Orzabal and his wife have revealed that they are expecting a baby together. The musician, 64, and his spouse, photographer Emily Rath Orzabal, 38, shared the happy news on Instagram as they prepare to welcome their first child together. Emily shared a photo of her showing off her baby bump on social media and captioned simply with a red heart emoji. The couple 'secretly eloped' and married on Aspen Mountain in Colorado in 2020 after having to postpone their original wedding due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Revealing their private nuptials, Emily posted on Instagram: 'We had to postpone our original wedding date in September 2020 because of Covid. 'I felt as all corona brides have been feeling: angry, sad, gypped, and confused as to when we should have a wedding. Tears for Fears musician Roland Orzabal and his wife have revealed that they are expecting a baby together The musician, 64, and his spouse, photographer Emily Rath Orzabal, 38, shared the happy news on Instagram as they prepare to welcome their first child together 'Roland and I were in the States for work. We desperately wanted to get married, even just legally, and so to honour our original date, we secretly eloped, just the two of us, atop a mountain in Aspen. It was the most magical moment of my life. 'It breaks my heart that my family could not be there to see it, but no one wanted to risk their safety. 'Two weddings was never my dream, but we adapted, separating the legal wedding from the celebratory wedding to come.' She continued: 'In September we were able to use the autumnal flowers we'd originally wanted, and next year we can have all of the spring flowers! 'We got married at 11,212 ft high on Aspen Mountain, whereas next year will be inside an incredible venue. 'I wore a stunning Amanda Wakeley dress, which flowed in the wind so beautifully, and next year I will be wearing Phillipa Lepley. 'I still don't feel as though I've had a wedding, because it was just the two of us, and it was a secret. We have yet to have a first dance or a honeymoon! 'But, six months into marriage, I am so happy, and cannot wait to marry Roland again next year, with all of our favourite people around us. We've been planning that one for a very very long time, so it should be extraordinary!' The couple 'secretly eloped' and married on Aspen Mountain in Colorado in 2020 after having to postpone their original wedding due to the COVID-19 pandemic Roland already has two sons, Pascal and Raoul, from his previous marriage to Caroline Orzabal, who died in July 2017 aged 54 after suffering from alcoholism-related dementia and cirrhosis Roland is one half of Tears For Fears with Curt Smith and their hits include Everybody Wants to Rule the World and Head over Heels A year after Roland and Emily's elopement in 2020, they had a celebratory wedding with friends and family at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England. Roland is one half of Tears For Fears with Curt Smith and their hits include Everybody Wants to Rule the World and Head over Heels. He already has two sons, Pascal and Raoul, from his previous marriage to Caroline Orzabal. Caroline died in July 2017 aged 54 after suffering from alcoholism-related dementia and cirrhosis, which followed a depression diagnosis. Following the passing of Caroline with whom he was married to since 1982, Roland told The Irish Times that his life 'sort of fell apart in 2018' and he went to rehab. The traumatic events in his personal life eventually led to Tears For Fears writing their seventh studio LP The Tipping Point. Tears For Fears released the song Emily Said on October 25, 2024, inspiring which Emily to post on her Instagram: 'It's a good day for Emilys around the world because @tearsforfearsmusic just released a song about us.' Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood reportedly wasn't a strong believer in monogamy, with a new biography claiming he viewed marriage as 'a form of confinement.' The revelation comes from author Shawn Levy, who explores the actor-directors life in his new book, Clint: The Man and The Movies. Drawing on interviews, reflections, and decades of public and private insight, the biography dives deep into Eastwoods storied film career, romantic entanglements, and complex personal life. Since his rise to stardom in the early 1960s, Eastwoods love life has drawn headlinesstarting with a first marriage marred by infidelity, followed by on-set affairs, a high-profile romance with a woman 33 years younger, and reportedly fathering eight children. According to the book, Eastwoods friends were 'aware that he considered marriage to be a form of confinement, and he gave himself free rein when it came to other women.' Representatives for Eastwood have been contacted for comment. Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood reportedly wasn't a strong believer in monogamy, with a new biography claiming he viewed marriage as 'a form of confinement' (Eastwood with late girlfriend Christina Sandera in 2015) According to the book Clint: The Man and The Movies, Eastwoods friends were 'aware that he considered marriage to be a form of confinement, and he gave himself free rein when it came to other women' (seen iwth Sondra Locke in 1988) Levy himself weighed in on the stars outlook in a recent interview with Fox, noting, 'Theres a part of him that respects the institution of marriage. But his personal liberty, I think, eventually has equal weight, if not more weight for him. 'He always tried to treat his partners with respect, but he also always followed his passions and instincts.' 'I think, in retrospect, its an appetite,' Levy continued. 'Its something that he found pleasure in, something he could do. 'He did it before he was famous. He did it after he became famous. 'There were periods, long periods, of his life, when he was faithful to a partner. And there were periods when he was in between partners or when he was unfaithful to his principal partner.' Levy concluded, 'He was not faithful in the traditional sense. He found monogamy to be confining, just the way he found being a studio contract actor confining.' Even Clint seemed to acknowledge his wandering ways. In a 1963 Photoplay interview, he reflected on his first marriage to Maggie Johnson, 'One thing Mag had to learn about me was that I was going to do as I pleased. She had to accept that, because if she didnt, we wouldnt be married.' Long before he was even famous, Clint fell in love with a University of California student named Margaret 'Maggie' Johnson, (seen together in 1960) During his marriage, Eastwood began a 14-year affair with stuntwoman Roxanne Tunis (pictured), with whom he had another daughter, Kimber, in 1964. The couple separated in 1978 and finalized their divorce in 1984, ending a marriage that began in 1954. Years later, he opened up further to his authorized biographer Richard Schickel in the 1997 book Clint Eastwood: A Biography. He confessed that his affairs 'just became I dont know addictive like you have to have another cigarette.' That 'addictive' pull led to a tangled love life that started long before he became a household name. He met Maggie on a blind date in 1953, shortly after being discharged from the military. The pair married just six months later and remained together for more than two decades, even as Eastwoods rising stardom brought a series of affairs. While still dating Johnson, he fathered a daughter, Laurie, with another woman a fact he allegedly didn't know at the time. During his marriage, Eastwood began a 14-year affair with stuntwoman Roxanne Tunis, with whom he had another daughter, Kimber, in 1964. Clint dated flight attendant named Jacelyn Reeves in the '80s, and they had two kids - a son, named Scott, in 1986, and daughter, named Kathryn, in 1988; (Jacelyn's seen with Scott in 2016) He later embarked on a highly publicized 13-year relationship with actress Sondra Locke, his co-star in The Outlaw Josey Wales. That affair was mired in controversy, ending in a bitter lawsuit after Locke accused him of emotional abuse and professional sabotage. She also claimed he pressured her into multiple abortions during their time together. In the midst of that relationship, Eastwood quietly fathered two more children Scott and Kathryn with flight attendant Jacelyn Reeves. By the early '90s, he was romantically involved with actress Frances Fisher, with whom he had a daughter, Francesca. That relationship ended after Eastwood was photographed kissing TV reporter Dina Ruiz, whom he would go on to marry in 1996. With Ruiz, Eastwood welcomed his youngest daughter, Morgan, and for years it appeared he had settled down. But their marriage unraveled in the 2010s, with Ruiz citing emotional distance and the revelation of Eastwoods new relationship with her friends ex-wife, Erica Tomlinson-Fisher. By the early '90s, he was romantically involved with actress Frances Fisher, with whom he had a daughter, Francesca; (seen in 2017) Eastwood and Ruiz officially divorced in 2014. Shortly afterward, Eastwood met restaurant hostess Christina Sandera at his Carmel hotel, the Mission Ranch. Despite a 33-year age gap, their relationship lasted a decade and marked one of his longest and most stable romances. Tragically, Sandera passed away in July 2024 at the age of 61. In total, Eastwood is believed to have fathered at least eight children with six different women, though he has never publicly confirmed the full count. Rachel Zoe filed for divorce from her husband Rodger Berman this Monday after more than 33 years together and 26 years of marriage. Although they only announced their split last September, her new legal documents obtained by DailyMail.com give the date of separation as June 27, 2024. The former couple share two sons, Skyler, 14, and Kaius, 11, and when Rachel went public with their breakup last year she issued a statement saying: 'Our number one priority has been and will always be our children.' In her divorce filing, which she submitted in Los Angeles, Rachel cited 'irreconcilable differences' as grounds and asked to return to her maiden name. Zoe petitioned the court for joint legal and physical custody of the pair's sons, Skyler, 14 and Kaius, 11, according to legal docs reviewed by People. Zoe requested the court grant both parents visitation, while child support arrangements were not mentioned, the outlet reported. Rachel Zoe filed for divorce from her husband Rodger Berman this Monday, after more than 33 years together and 26 years of marriage; pictured 2023 During their marriage, the pair frequently worked together and Rodger was prominently featured on his wife's Bravo reality show The Rachel Zoe Project. Last month, it emerged Rachel has rejoined the network where she became a TV star, with her casting as one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. This January, four months after Rachel revealed they had gone their separate ways, Rodger was glimpsed in Los Angeles with an arm wrapped around a mystery blonde. Rachel announced the split with a statement saying: 'After 33 years together and 26 years married, Rodger and I have come to the mutual decision to end our marriage.' She added that she and her estranged husband were 'incredibly proud of the loving family we have created and our countless memories together. Our number one priority has been and will always be our children.' Rachel declared she and Rodger were 'committed to coparent our boys and to continue to work together within the many businesses we share. We ask for privacy during this time as we navigate this new chapter.' In addition to appearing with her on reality TV, Rodger, a former investment banker, is a co-founder and fellow CEO of his wife's company Rachel Zoe, Inc. 'I'm telling you, I am nothing without him,' she told the Guardian in 2006. 'He keeps me sane.' The former couple share two sons, Skyler, 14, and Kaius, 11, whom they are pictured with in March 2024, three months before their listed date of separation An insider recently alleged that Rachel's decision to join The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was partly motivated by the collapse of her marriage. 'The money has been tighter for them for a while. It's complicated because essentially, their entire lives are intertwined,' the source claimed to The US Sun. 'He runs all her businesses so there is no separation of work and home life. And there is no separation of his work and hers,' the insider added. 'They built this together, which is a big reason she joined RHOBH. She wanted to venture out and do something that didn't involve him. This will be her first big job post-divorce that does not involve him, it will be hers.' Over a decade ago, Rachel was asked to name the most difficult aspect of working with her husband and replied that Rodger 'talks over everybody and talks too much so then you have to figure out the polite and political way in a meeting to tell him to stop talking and let other people speak,' via Fortune. The exes got together as college sweethearts in the early 1990s, when they were both students at George Washington University The exes got together as college sweethearts in the early 1990s, when they were both students at George Washington University. 'She was 19, and I was 22. She was a restaurant hostess, and I was working as a waiter in Washington, D.C., where we both attended college,' Rodger recalled in an interview with Harper's Bazaar in 2011. 'I vividly remember the first time I saw her wearing a tight black mini dress, high-heeled pumps, stick-straight hair, and big red lips covered in M.A.C. Chili lipstick.' They tied the knot in Valentine's Day 1998 and he was by her side as she rose to become one of the most sought-after stylists in Hollywood. By the 2000s, she boasted a client list of top-flight names like Britney Spears, Keira Knightley, Lindsay Lohan, Kate Beckinsale, Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway, Demi Moore, the Backstreet Boys, Cameron Diaz, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. Her notoriety grew to the point that she landed a hit realty show about her career, The Rachel Zoe Project, which aired on Bravo from 2008 to 2013. Raven-Symone has broken her silence following the tragic death of her longtime friend Malcolm-Jamal Warner. The actor, 54, died in a drowning accident while on vacation with his family in Costa Rica on Sunday. Raven-Symone, 39, starred as the precocious Olivia Kendall, the step-daughter of Lisa Bonet's Denise on The Cosby Show from 1989 to 1992. Warner starred as Cliff and Claire Huxtables' son Theo from the its debut in 1984 until the show's conclusion in 1992. On Tuesday, the That's So Raven star expressed her grief, sharing a graphic with the message 'I love you' with a white dove against a black background, and a recorded message for Warner's family and fans. 'I cannot describe the pain and sadness and surprise I feel with the recent loss of MJW,' she said. Raven-Symone has broken her silence following the tragic death of her longtime friend Malcolm-Jamal Warner. The actress, 39, shared an emotional tribute to Warner on social media Tuesday 'He was a big brother, he was a beacon, he was one of the most multi-faceted, talented men. So gentle,' she said describing her friend's many qualities. 'And my heart and soul and hugs and kisses go out to his daughter and his wife and his mother,' she said. Speaking of her fondness for her co-star, she said, 'He gave the best advice, he gave the best hugs.' With a catch in her throat, she continued saying, 'and his smile will always be a huge, bright f-ing white smile in head forever. I love you and I know you're watching over all of us now.' She ended the message with a sorrowful, 'Bye Malcolm.' Naomi Campbell. 55, who appeared on two episodes of The Cosby Show in 1988, wrote about how being on the show was a dream come true for her in a mournful post on social media. The supermodel said she told her mom and casting agent Bethann Hardison 'I want to do that show one day. I want to be on The Cosby Show. When I get to New York, Im going to be on that show.' Campbell said, 'At the time, I never truly believed I would even get to New York let alone step foot on the set of The Cosby Show, which was filmed at Astoria Studios in Queens.' On Tuesday, the That's So Raven star expressed her grief with a recorded message for Warner's family and fans. 'I cannot describe the pain and sadness and surprise I feel with the recent loss of MJW,' she said Raven-Symone starred as Olivia Kendall on The Cosby Show from 1989-1992. 'He was a big brother, he was a beacon, he was one of the most multi-faceted, talented men,' she said describing her friend's many qualities 'My heart and soul and hugs and kisses go out to his daughter and his wife and his mother,' she said Naomi Campbell. 55, who appeared on two episodes of The Cosby Show in 1988 shared her own memory of working with Warner 'With a heavy heart, I say goodbye to Malcolm-Jamal Warner,' Campbell wrote. 'On the show, I played a college friend, and off the screen, we were all part of an institution that shaped a generation' 'The Cosby Show was a cultural cornerstone, and growing up with Theo his character felt like growing up with a friend,' the supermodel stated She then bid farewell to the actor writing, 'With a heavy heart, I say goodbye to Malcolm-Jamal Warner. 'On the show, I played a college friend, and off the screen, we were all part of an institution that shaped a generation.' 'The Cosby Show was a cultural cornerstone, and growing up with Theo his character felt like growing up with a friend.' She then addressed those he left behind, writing, 'My deepest condolences to his family, his loved ones, and to all of us who saw a part of ourselves in him, Theo has now left us, and we honor his memory. 'May he rest in the highest peace.' NBC News has reported that his wife, whose identity has been kept private, has begun the process to return his body to the US for a planned funeral. Hollyoaks star Andy Moss has married his boyfriend Mark Bennett in a lavish wedding on an idyllic Greek island. The actor, who is known for his role as Rhys Ashworth in the Channel 4 soap, got engaged to Mark three years ago in Greece. Andy has now shared a series of snaps from the big day to Instagram, and captioned the post: 'Little wedding, BIG fun, best crew!' In one loved-up snap, Andy and Mark posed with a glass of champagne in front of a pool and the sunset. Andy cut a dapper figure in a purple suit teamed with a crisp white shirt, while Mark opted for a cream co-ord. Andy's celeb pals immediately rushed to congratulate them, with Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas saying: 'Love you congratulations brother.' Hollyoaks star Andy Moss has married his boyfriend Mark Bennett in a lavish wedding on an idyllic Greek island Andy cut a dapper figure in a purple suit teamed with a crisp white shirt, while Mark opted for a cream co-ord While his Hollyoaks co-star Ashley Taylor Dawson penned: 'Well this is all kinds of lovely! Congratulations!!' Mandip Gill said: 'Congratulations to both of you.' The pair got engaged during a romantic trip to Greece in 2022. Andy shared a snap of the moment Mark got down on one knee to propose and captioned the post: 'I said YAS!' alongside a couple in love and a diamond ring emoji. The loved-up snap sees Andy beaming as Mark places a ring on his finger during a boat trip. The soap star also shared a snap of the couple laying down on the deck of the yacht as they enjoyed a beer amid the trip to Naxos island. Mark has appeared on Andy's Instagram since 2016, with the couple having travelled the world together with trips including Sri Lanka, Thailand and New York. The duo also share an adorable Labrador Retriever named Rocko together. The actor, who is known for his role as Rhys Ashworth in the Channel 4 soap, got engaged to Mark three years ago in Greece Andy has now shared a series of snaps from the big day to Instagram, and captioned the post: 'Little wedding, BIG fun, best crew!' Andy's celeb pals immediately rushed to congratulate them, with Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas saying: 'Love you congratulations brother' The actor is known for his role as Rhys Ashworth in the Channel 4 soap (pictured) Andy played Rhys in Hollyoaks between 2005 and 2014. His alter-ego was involved in a number of gripping storylines including incest, his relationship with Jacqui McQueen and affair with Cindy Cunningham. Although he was killed off in 2012, his character appeared as a ghost two years later as part of Cindy's bipolar storyline. After his stint on Hollyoaks Andy appeared in Doctors and Deep Cuts. Sir Elton John has reportedly been asked to perform at Steve Jobs' daughter's upcoming wedding for a staggering 1 million fee. The late Apple CEO's wife Laurence Powell Jobs, 61, is said to have splashed out 5million to make the four-day nuptials of their youngest child model Eve, 27, and her Team GB showjumping gold medallist fiance Harry Charles', 26, unique. The wedding - which is taking place in the leafy Cotswolds - begins on Wednesday. It is claimed Laurence - who was married to Steve from 1991 until his death from pancreatic cancer aged 56 in 2011 - has paid the huge sum to secure the services of the music legend, 78, to play an hour-long set. A source told The Sun newspaper: 'Elton is booked to perform for an hour. He will play a selection of his songs, including some of Eve and Harry's favourites. 'A concert from Elton doesn't come cheap. Apparently they've forked out over 1 million to have him perform. It's going to be incredibly special.' Sir Elton John has reportedly been asked to perform at Steve Jobs' daughter's upcoming wedding for a staggering 1 million fee The late Apple CEO's wife Laurence Powell Jobs, 61, is said to have splashed out 5million to make the four-day nuptials of their youngest child model Eve, 27, and her Team GB showjumping gold medallist fiance Harry Charles', 26, unique MailOnline have contacted Elton John's representatives for comment. The couple - who began dating in 2022 and announced their engagement in September 2024 - have reportedly got quite the guestlist for their 'upper class English luxury with a cool, modern American vibe' wedding. For the occasion Eve and Harry have reportedly co-worked with celebrity events planner Stanlee Gatti, 69, to organise. It is claimed the former Democrat First Lady Kamala Harris, 60 - who is said to be very good friends with Laurence - will be attending, as well as Bruce Springsteen's daughter, American equestrian Jessica Springsteen, 33, and ex-Apple designer Sir Jony Ive, 58. Other guests who have been reported to have been invited are Matt Helders from the Arctic Monkeys. Eve's siblings - her brother Reed Jobs, 33, sister Erin Jobs, 29, and half-sister Lisa Brennan-Jobs, 47, who Steve had with his first wife Chrisann Brennan, 70 - are also expected to attend their wedding. Along with Harry's dad, London 2012 team jumping gold medallist Peter Charles, 65, and his close and extended family. The insider added: 'This is a very quiet place not far from the Cotswolds. Everyone is used to tourists and famous faces, but this is something else. The wedding is being planned like a military operation'. It is claimed Laurence has paid the huge sum to secure the services of music legend Elton, 78, to play an hour-long set, which will feature some of Eve and Harry's favourite songs The couple - who began dating in 2022 and announced their engagement in 2024 - have reportedly got quite the guestlist for their 'English luxury modern American' wedding Steve died from pancreatic cancer aged 56 in 2011 A nearby village will go on lockdown from Wednesday - the day guests will reportedly fly into Oxford airport on their private jets, with helicopters on the ground ready to whisk them to the secret estate where Eve and Harry will say 'I do'. It comes after Eve celebrated her hen party in style on the Italian island of Capri. She wore a sparkling white mini dress and veil as she joined a group of girlfriends for the sun-soaked weekend, which included yacht trips, late-night parties, and poolside lounging at a private villa overlooking the sea. In one photo posted to her Instagram account, Eve is seen sitting in a pink-seated buggy with a wide smile as she revels in her pre-wedding antics. 'What a weekend with my favorite girls,' she captioned the post. Among those who liked the photos were Phoebe Gates, daughter of Bill Gates, and Olympic skier Eileen Gu. Guests included a mix of friends from the fashion and equestrian worlds, many of whom appeared in coordinated outfits for both daytime antics and evening celebrations. A man left in critical condition after the drowning death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner was trying to save the actor, officials have confirmed. The Cosby Show icon, 54, died on a Costa Rican beach without lifeguards present, and a spokesman for The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) revealed the Good Samaritan had entered the water to help Warner after he was swept away by a rip current. A statement obtained by People confirmed the unidentified 35-year-old man had no personal connection to the actor beforehand and was simply on the beach at the time Warner got into difficulty. An investigation is still ongoing. DailyMail.com has contacted the OIJ for further comment and has yet to hear back. Costa Rican cops ruled Warner's cause of death as asphyxiation by submersion. A man left in critical condition during the drowning death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner at a Costa Rican beach was trying to save the actor, officials have confirmed; Warner pictured in 2023 The Costa Rican National Police reported that Warners body was discovered near Cocles, a beach in the Limon province (Playa Cocles pictured above) - and a spokesman for The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) revealed the man entered the water to help Warner Warner was swimming at Playa Cocles in Limon province when a current pulled him deeper into the ocean. First responders from Costa Rica's Red Cross found Warner without vital signs when they attended the scene of the 'water related incident' around 2.10pm on Sunday. CPR was performed on him for around 20 minutes before he was pronounced dead. Per the OIJ, Warner's body will be 'removed from the Judicial Morgue by a funeral service company hired and authorized by Mr. Warner's family.' Following Warner's shock death, lifeguards from Playa Grande a beach community located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica released a statement saying they were not present due to lack of 'resources.' 'We deeply regret the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner at Playa Grande. He was swept away by a strong rip current and died by drowning,' the Caribbean Guard, Costa Rica's volunteer lifeguard association, shared via Facebook on Monday. 'It all happened very quickly, and although there were people on the beach who entered the water to rescue him, they did not arrive in time.' 'He was pulled from underwater without vital signs, and despite CPR maneuvers being performed on the beach, resuscitation was unsuccessful.' The Guard added that Playa Grande is one of their 'most challenging beaches,' noting the presence of signs in English and Spanish that warn of the 'danger of death due to drowning.' A statement obtained by People confirmed the unidentified man had no personal connection to the actor beforehand and was simply on the beach at the time Warner got into difficulty ; Warner pictured 2023 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 2006) Following Warner's shock death at 54, lifeguards from Playa Grande released a statement saying they were not present due to lack of 'resources' Though the Guard has patrolled there 'over the past few years,' they alleged that they were 'not present' at the time of Warners death. 'Due to recent aquatic incidents in Playa Negra, we had redirected resources there and to Chiquita, another iconic beach known for its strong currents,' they shared in the statement. They then made an appeal to Costa Ricas president, Rodrigo Chaves Robles, and the government. 'From Caribbean Guard, a volunteer lifeguard association, we make an urgent appeal to the President of the Nation, the national government, the Municipality of Talamanca, and the entire Caribbean community to continue joining forces to minimize this problem, which, sadly, is on the rise ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.' 'We do everything within our reach. We have saved numerous lives in recent years, and if Caribbean Guard didnt exist, the number of drownings would be counted in dozens. We give everything we have to minimize the risks, but without help from the government, clear public policies, and strong support from local business owners, this will continue to happen.' According to the Red Cross, emergency personnel also treated a second person at the scene. An unidentified 35-year-old man was transported to a local clinic in critical condition, and his current status remains unknown. According to the Red Cross, emergency personnel also treated a second person at the scene. An unidentified 35-year-old man was transported to a local clinic in critical condition, and his current status remains unknown; Warner seen in 2023 Warner is survived by his wife and young daughter, born in 2017 On Sunday, the Costa Rican Red Cross received a 9-1-1 alert about a water incident at Playa Grande, Cahuita, Limon. In response, three ambulances were sent to the scene, as per Us Weekly. Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department told Us Weekly that their preliminary investigation indicated Warner 'appeared to have entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current.' Warner had been in Costa Rica since July 13. The Costa Rican National Police reported that Warners body was discovered near Cocles, a beach in the Limon province. While the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, experts note that some beaches in Costa Rica can pose serious risks depending on conditions. Though many areas are safe for swimming, others are known for powerful currents and rip tides that demand caution. Warner is survived by his wife and young daughter, born in 2017. Their identities have not been revealed. His performance earned widespread acclaim, including a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the 1986 Primetime Emmy Awards (seen with Bill Cosby in a promo image from 1990) 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. 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. 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. 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. Adam Sandler issued a telling response when he was asked about his longtime friend Jennifer Aniston's latest relationship. The actress, 56, is currently dating 49-year-old hypnotist hunk Jim Curtis, with their romance being revealed earlier this month. Jennifer - who was previously married to Brad Pitt from 2000 until 2005, and then Theroux from 2011 until 2017 - sparked romance rumors after she was spotted with Jim on vacation in Mallorca, Spain, during Fourth of July weekend. Meanwhile Adam and Jennifer share a friendship that stretches back 35 years to 1990, before either of them reached the global superstardom they enjoy today. Since rocketing to fame, the comedy icons have acted together in three movies - the 2011 romantic comedy Just Go With It and the two Murder Mystery capers, which were released on Netflix in 2019 and 2023. Now Adam, who has been married to his wife Jackie since 2023, has rendered his verdict on his old pal's new relationship, on Access Hollywood. Adam Sandler issued a taciturn response when he was asked about his longtime friend Jennifer Aniston's latest relationship; pictured 2022 'Come on, whatever is going on with Aniston, Im happy for,' he said at the premiere of his new film Happy Gilmore 2. 'Shes just a solid human being, and anything shes doing, but Im always wishing the best cause I love her.' His remarks come after Jennifer herself held forth about 'not putting pressure' on romantic relationships as she spoke in a new interview. She told Closer magazine about her love life: 'A good place to be is to be open to [love], but not seeking it. 'That way you don't put any pressure on the situation, and if it happens organically, then amazing.' She then added of wanting to keep her love life under wraps as much as she can: 'No matter how long I have been in the industry, I will never get used to people thinking they have any sort of right to know about your personal life.' 'She's dating Jim and is very happy, but she's still taking things slowly,' a source previously told DailyMail.com. They adding that Jen 'feels very connected to Jim, as they have the same level of emotional intelligence, unlike some of her previous suitors.' Last week Aniston appeared to be dropping hints about the new man in her life. The actress, 56, is currently dating 49-year-old hypnotist hunk Jim Curtis, with their romance being revealed earlier this month On Monday, she took to Instagram Stories with a pair of cryptic posts that had fans reading between the lines. First, the Friends alum reposted a tweet that read: 'The Friends theme song was right, no one told us life was gonna be this way' - seemingly referencing an unexpected new chapter in her life. Then came the real eyebrow-raiser: a quote from 'mindfulness expert' Case Kenny that read, 'People who still radiate love in a world that has shown them its darkest sides, please never change.' Fans immediately began theorizing that the message was about Curtis, who's known for his uplifting, love-centric philosophy. Curtis regularly posts inspirational quotes and 'manifestations' to help people 'break free from their past and patterns' to find love - and Aniston has been following him on the social media platform for almost two years. This week she told Closer magazine about her love life: 'A good place to be is to be open to [love], but not seeking it...' Last week Aniston appeared to be dropping hints about the new man in her life. On Monday, she took to Instagram Stories with a pair of cryptic posts that had fans reading between the lines Meanwhile, Jen's Instagram clues came hot on the heels of Curtis expressing how meaningful their Mallorca getaway had been. 'I am back from vacation and what an experience!' he wrote in his newsletter, according to Page Six. 'When I was sick, sad, stuck and in pain I never thought I would have the abundance, joy and love I now experience on a daily basis. 'I just took one step, made one decision and the next followed now I look back and realize, oh! That course, that life change, that pain, resulted in this magic.' Jim added: 'The same life that brings struggle also brings opportunity. The possibility of something better more aligned, more free, more meaningful is always here.' Curtis has had his own share of life-changing challenges. Beginning in the summer of 1995, right after his freshman year at the University of New Hampshire, when he was hit with severe nerve pain that would stay with him for years. An MRI later revealed lesions on his spinal cord, a diagnosis that pushed Curtis to pivot from his 'frat guy athlete' persona and explore a different path focused on healing and personal transformation. He credits a university professor for setting that new course into motion. 'He taught me to meditate and introduced me to the idea of mindfulness: focusing on just being present,' Curtis shared in a 2017 interview. Curtis was previously married to Rachel Napolitano, though their relationship reportedly ended not long after she gave birth to their son, Aidan, who is now a teenager. Aniston, of course, has had her own romantic history in the spotlight. She was famously married to Brad Pitt from 2000 to 2005 before their headline-making split when Pitt began a relationship with Angelina Jolie while filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith. She later tied the knot with actor and writer Justin Theroux in 2015, but the marriage ended in divorce three years later. She was famously married to Brad Pitt from 2000 to 2005 before their headline-making split when Pitt began a relationship with Angelina Jolie while filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith (seen in 2004) She later tied the knot with actor and writer Justin Theroux in 2015, but the marriage ended in divorce three years later; (seen in 2015) In a 2022 interview, Aniston opened up for the first time about her private struggle to have children and the emotional toll it took. 'It was a challenging road for me, the baby-making road,' she admitted. 'All the years and years and years of speculation... It was really hard. 'I was going through IVF, drinking Chinese teas, you name it. I was throwing everything at it,' she added. ' 'I would've given anything if someone had said to me, 'Freeze your eggs. Do yourself a favor.' You just don't think it. So here I am today. The ship has sailed.' Still, Aniston noted: 'I have zero regrets.' The full interview appears in the new issue of Closer magazine out today. America's biggest carmaker just posted a steep drop in profits and doubled down on a controversial truth: electric vehicles are still the future. General Motors the company behind Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, and Buick reported $1.89 billion in net income for the second quarter, a sharp $1.1 billion decline from $2.93 billion during the same period last year. That's a 35 percent drop from the previous quarter alone. The company's falling profits come amid major regulatory upheaval and tariff pressure. Earlier this month, Republicans passed the Big, Beautiful Bill Act, which slashed consumer subsidies for electric and plug-in vehicles and rewrote corporate fuel economy targets seemingly a big blow to carmakers investing in battery-powered models. But despite the political pushback, GM CEO Mary Barra made clear in a letter to shareholders: the company isn't backing off its EV strategy. 'We are also growing in EVs because people love the design, performance, range, and value,' she wrote in a shareholder letter Tuesday. 'Despite slower EV industry growth, we believe the long-term future is profitable electric vehicle production, and this continues to be our north star.' GM doubled down on its future EV fleet, praising the company's current sales trajectory Wall Street reacted swiftly to the earnings miss, sending GMs stock down nearly 7 percent. But some analysts said the selloff was overblown. 'The sell off this morning is unfair,' David Whiston, a car industry analyst at Morningstar, told DailyMail.com. 'Tariffs took a lot out of earnings but that should have been expected by the market.' In May, GM lowered its full-year profit forecast and said it expects to spend between $4 billion and $5 billion complying with the trade policies. The company is currently pouring billions into US manufacturing as it looks to avoid steep new import tariffs tied to President Donald Trump's 25 percent levy. The automaker is investing nearly $900 million to overhaul a powertrain plant near Buffalo, New York, where it will build gas-powered V8 engines for its high-margin trucks and SUVs. It also paused production at one of its Mexican truck plants last week before announcing a boost in production from an assembly plant in Michigan. Barra said the company will benefit from the 'longer runway' provided to gas-combustion vehicles in the Republican bill. The company's best-selling cars, the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, produce the most profits for the automaker. GM said reported a $1.1 billion drop in revenue compared to the same quarter last year - Wall Street was not happy with the results In a letter to shareholders, GM's Mary Barra said the company's 'north star' remains EV profitability But Barra said GM's market share in the EV industry is gaining. She doesn't expect that will stop. 'Five years ago, the EV market essentially had one player,' she wrote. 'Today, there are 30, and Chevrolet became the number two EV brand in the second quarter, while Cadillac became the number five EV brand overall and the luxury EV leader.' GM, which currently has a slate of electric SUVs, trucks, and a sedan with price tags between $35,000 and $340,000 is expecting to roll out even more EVs. In February, the company killed off the Cadillac XT4's Kansas-based production to make way for the upcoming Chevy Bolt EV. The upcoming Bolt is expected to compete as one of the cheapest EVs in the US market. GM is also heavily investing in new battery technologies that increase energy density, reduce dependence on foreign rare earth minerals, and are cheaper to produce. 'The EV plan seems to be continuing to have more product choices which can in turn increase EV sales mix, while also reducing battery costs,' Whiston said. 'It's a long journey that's not close to over.' A representative for GM didn't immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. Rite Aid is getting ready to shutter even more stores than originally planned. The 63-year-old pharmaceutical chain is preparing to close another 17 locations in six states this year. Each was named in Rite Aid's 12th notice of additional store closings, which they filed on July 18 in New Jersey. Washington state has the highest number of closures on the notice at 10, while New York and Oregon both have two. Maryland, New Hampshire and Ohio each have one. With these locations, Rite Aid will have closed around 1,219 stores since its second bankruptcy filing. It recently marked its 1000th shutter milestone, and 26 stores will begin operating under different retailer names tomorrow, according to the chain's closure and transfer list. As of now, there are only 708 stores operating across 15 states, a number which is expected to shrink later this year. It's also become a major threat to Thrifty Ice Cream, a popular ice cream chain on the West Coast that operates in 500 Rite Aids that are slated to close. Rite Aid filed its 12th notice of additional store closings on July 18 Its latest closure notice includes 17 stores across six states Rite Aid quickly became one of the nation's most popular pharmaceutical chains after opening its first store in Pennsylvania in 1962. At its peak in 2008, the chain was operating over 5,000 locations, making it the third-largest pharmacy in the US. The chain had been struggling for quite some time before it was forced to file for bankruptcy in 2023. By that time, the chain was operating 2,100 stores, and planning to close hundreds after receiving $3.45 billion in new financing to create a restructuring plan. The plan was initially successful after slashing $2 billion in debt and securing $2.5 billion in exit financing. However, its restructuring efforts slowly crumbled, and by April of this year, Rite Aid was plotting its second bankruptcy. The company has initiated multiple mass closures since its most recent filing, and is on the brink of disappearing for good. Other retailers like Walgreens and CVS have been snapping up Rite Aid locations and pharmacies, but they too have been facing financial crisis. Rite has shuttered over 1,200 pharmacies after filing for bankruptcy a second time in May CVS got away with the most Rite Aid pharmacies after acquiring 625 across 15 states, along with 64 stores in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. However, it's also planning to shutter 270 of over 9,000 locations across the US this year as part of a years-long strategy to right-size the number of pharmacy locations. All 23 CVS locations in Arkansas are also at risk of closing following a new law, which bans Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) from owning or operating pharmacies. The law, which will take effect in 2026, is similar to a House Bill that passed in Louisiana, which could potentially force CVS out of the state. The retailer sent a massive warning via text to customers, who were confused and panicked about the situation. Walgreens also snapped up some Rite Aid locations before finalizing a nearly $10 billion acquisition deal with Sycamore Partners. Because of this deal, the company will go private before the end of the year. Other chains that scooped up Rite Aid's pharmacy services include Albertsons and Kroger. The Bengal Government is likely to call a special Assembly session to discuss the alleged harassment of Bengali migrant workers in the BJP-ruled States. According to sources in the Parliamentary Affairs department, the Session could be held sometime in the month of August, perhaps the first week of August itself. A senior official said that a resolution was likely to be passed in the Assembly after a debate regarding the torture and alleged deportation of Bengali-speaking migrant workers from the saffron States. The debate is likely to be held on two issues: First the targeting of Bengali-speaking migrant workers by branding them as Bangladeshis and secondly, deporting them to Bangladesh. On whether the Opposition BJP had been sounded about the proposed special session, one was told that things are in process, modalities are being worked out and soon things would be officially made known to all the stake holders. In fact the Chief Minister made the harassment of Bengali workers a big talking point in her TMC Martyrs Day rally held on Monday when he asked the party rank and file to launch a ceaseless Bhasha Andolan twice every week at block and booth levels. Is speaking Bengali an offence? she asked alleging more than a thousand people have either been kept in detention or pushed back to Bangladesh just because they speak in Bengali language. According to informed sources in the party the Special Assembly Session has been conceived following reports of a sense of alienation in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees Muslim vote base. Already there were rumblings of discontent in the Muslim-dominated districts of Murshidabad and Malda as also in Nadia and two 24 Parganas where the Muslims have a sizeable population. The Lefts campaign about a so-called setting between the Banerjee and the BJP has started to sink in with minorities questioning the absence of any visible action by the Chief Minister against what they call systematic persecution of Muslims. At least three Muslim TMC MLAs including the maverick Humayun Kabir from Murshidabad have warned the party not to treat the minorities like a forgotten child. Meanwhile more reports of detention of Bengali migrant workers came this time from Haryana. According to sources seven people of two families had been detained by the police at Gurugram on suspicion of there being Bangladeshi nationals illegally living in India. We have received reports that despite showing their ID proofs they have been detained. The State administration has been alerted and the Haryana Police are being contacted, a TMC leader said in Kolkata. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:VLRS Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the eight brokerages that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $7.44. VLRS has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Morgan Stanley downgraded Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $4.40 target price on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, April 29th. Barclays downgraded Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lowered their target price for the company from $12.00 to $4.50 in a research note on Tuesday, April 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion from $13.00 to $7.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th. TD Cowen lowered their target price on Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion from $10.00 to $6.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Finally, UBS Group lowered their target price on Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion from $12.00 to $6.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 15th. Get Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on VLRS Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion Stock Down 1.0% Shares of Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion stock opened at $4.46 on Thursday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $4.55 and its 200-day moving average is $5.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $519.45 million, a PE ratio of 12.38 and a beta of 2.12. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion has a 12-month low of $3.49 and a 12-month high of $9.00. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion (NYSE:VLRS Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The transportation company reported ($0.44) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.54) by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $678.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $708.83 million. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion had a return on equity of 13.07% and a net margin of 1.38%. Equities analysts anticipate that Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion will post 1.21 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional Trading of Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its stake in Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion by 34.5% during the 4th quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 6,396 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 1,641 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. acquired a new position in Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $79,000. Prudential Financial Inc. acquired a new position in Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $79,000. QRG Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $105,000. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $112,000. Institutional investors own 53.32% of the companys stock. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion Company Profile (Get Free Report Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiary, Concesionaria Vuela Compania de Aviacion, SAP.I. de C.V., provides air transportation services for passengers, cargo, and mail in Mexico and internationally. The company operates approximately 590 daily flights on routes connecting 43 cities in Mexico, 22 cities in the United States, 4 cities in Central America, and 2 cities in South America. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. EastGroup Properties (NYSE:EGP Get Free Report) is anticipated to release its Q2 2025 earnings data after the market closes on Wednesday, July 23rd. Analysts expect EastGroup Properties to post earnings of $2.20 per share and revenue of $175.80 million for the quarter. EastGroup Properties has set its FY 2025 guidance at 8.840-9.040 EPS and its Q2 2025 guidance at 2.130-2.210 EPS. EastGroup Properties (NYSE:EGP Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The real estate investment trust reported $2.12 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.11 by $0.01. EastGroup Properties had a return on equity of 7.41% and a net margin of 34.60%. The business had revenue of $174.45 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $169.67 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.98 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 13.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect EastGroup Properties to post $9 EPS for the current fiscal year and $10 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get EastGroup Properties alerts: EastGroup Properties Trading Up 0.2% EastGroup Properties stock opened at $165.51 on Tuesday. 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 has a 12 month low of $137.67 and a 12 month high of $192.61. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $169.21 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $169.43. The firm has a market cap of $8.69 billion, a PE ratio of 36.22, a P/E/G ratio of 3.65 and a beta of 1.01. EastGroup Properties Announces Dividend Institutional Inflows and Outflows The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th were given a dividend of $1.40 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 30th. This represents a $5.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.38%. EastGroup Propertiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 122.54%. A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of EGP. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its position in EastGroup Properties by 18,900.0% during the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 950 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $167,000 after purchasing an additional 945 shares in the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth boosted its position in EastGroup Properties by 2.2% during the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 6,103 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,075,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC lifted its position in shares of EastGroup Properties by 309.8% in the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 15,878 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,797,000 after acquiring an additional 12,003 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of EastGroup Properties by 28.0% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 190,144 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $33,494,000 after acquiring an additional 41,538 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.14% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In EGP has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Barclays cut their target price on EastGroup Properties from $193.00 to $182.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Piper Sandler cut 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. Robert W. Baird cut their target price on EastGroup Properties from $194.00 to $190.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. Evercore ISI raised their target price on EastGroup Properties from $179.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on EastGroup Properties from $189.00 to $183.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 29th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, EastGroup Properties currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $190.00. Get Our Latest Stock Report on EGP About EastGroup Properties (Get 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. See Also 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. Prosperity Bancshares (NYSE:PB Get Free Report) will likely be posting its Q2 2025 quarterly earnings results before the market opens on Wednesday, July 23rd. Analysts expect Prosperity Bancshares to post earnings of $1.40 per share and revenue of $315.66 million for the quarter. Prosperity Bancshares (NYSE:PB Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The bank reported $1.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.02. Prosperity Bancshares had a return on equity of 6.81% and a net margin of 27.69%. The firm had revenue of $306.68 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $307.17 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.18 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 10.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect Prosperity Bancshares to post $6 EPS for the current fiscal year and $6 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Prosperity Bancshares alerts: Prosperity Bancshares Trading Down 1.6% NYSE:PB opened at $72.46 on Tuesday. Prosperity Bancshares has a 1 year low of $61.57 and a 1 year high of $86.76. The stock has a market cap of $6.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.89, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.68. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $71.02 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $72.26. Prosperity Bancshares Announces Dividend Insider Buying and Selling The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $0.58 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $2.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.20%. Prosperity Bancsharess dividend payout ratio is currently 44.19%. In other Prosperity Bancshares news, Director Ned S. Holmes sold 600 shares of Prosperity Bancshares stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.89, for a total transaction of $42,534.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 45,700 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,239,673. The trade was a 1.30% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 11,900 shares of company stock worth $842,005. 4.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in PB. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its position in Prosperity Bancshares by 36.8% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 7,295 shares of the banks stock valued at $521,000 after buying an additional 1,962 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its position in Prosperity Bancshares by 21.4% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 30,198 shares of the banks stock valued at $2,155,000 after buying an additional 5,326 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC increased its position in Prosperity Bancshares by 182.8% in the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 104,755 shares of the banks stock valued at $7,476,000 after buying an additional 67,712 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its position in Prosperity Bancshares by 5.3% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 346,151 shares of the banks stock valued at $24,705,000 after buying an additional 17,345 shares in the last quarter. 80.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms recently issued reports on PB. Hovde Group dropped their target price on Prosperity Bancshares from $90.00 to $80.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on Prosperity Bancshares from $95.00 to $90.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, May 5th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Prosperity Bancshares in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. They set a buy rating and a $85.00 target price on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded Prosperity Bancshares from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their target price on Prosperity Bancshares from $85.00 to $78.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Prosperity Bancshares presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $83.80. Get Our Latest Research Report on Prosperity Bancshares About Prosperity Bancshares (Get Free Report) Prosperity Bancshares, Inc operates as bank holding company for the Prosperity Bank that provides financial products and services to businesses and consumers. It accepts various deposit products, such as demand, savings, money market, and time accounts, as well as and certificates of deposit. The company also offers 1-4 family residential mortgage, commercial real estate and multifamily residential, commercial and industrial, agricultural, and non-real estate agricultural loans, as well as construction, land development, and other land loans; consumer loans, including automobile, recreational vehicle, boat, home improvement, personal, and deposit account collateralized loans; term loans and lines of credit; and consumer durables and home equity loans, as well as loans for working capital, business expansion, and purchase of equipment and machinery. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Prosperity Bancshares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prosperity Bancshares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in Spotify Technology (NYSE:SPOT Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 5,968 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,283,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. HM Payson & Co. lifted its holdings in Spotify Technology by 39.1% in the 1st quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 64 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 18 shares during the period. Adero Partners LLC increased its position in Spotify Technology by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Adero Partners LLC now owns 2,635 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,449,000 after buying an additional 19 shares in the last quarter. North Star Investment Management Corp. increased its position in Spotify Technology by 52.8% during the 1st quarter. North Star Investment Management Corp. now owns 55 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 19 shares in the last quarter. Covenant Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Spotify Technology by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. Covenant Partners LLC now owns 1,024 shares of the companys stock worth $458,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in Spotify Technology by 33.3% during the first quarter. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC now owns 100 shares of the companys stock valued at $55,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. 84.09% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Spotify Technology alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have issued reports on SPOT. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Spotify Technology from $700.00 to $730.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price target on Spotify Technology from $825.00 to $840.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Rosenblatt Securities lowered their price target on Spotify Technology from $658.00 to $657.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Spotify Technology from $700.00 to $850.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Spotify Technology from $680.00 to $775.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and nineteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Spotify Technology currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $701.31. Spotify Technology Trading Down 0.9% NYSE:SPOT traded down $6.14 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $700.74. The stock had a trading volume of 306,633 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,211,148. The stock has a market capitalization of $143.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 116.23, a P/E/G ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.68. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $696.06 and a 200-day simple moving average of $611.91. Spotify Technology has a 52 week low of $290.13 and a 52 week high of $785.00. Spotify Technology (NYSE:SPOT Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The company reported $1.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.29 by ($1.16). The business had revenue of $4.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.22 billion. Spotify Technology had a return on equity of 22.53% and a net margin of 7.19%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.97 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Spotify Technology will post 10.3 earnings per share for the current year. Spotify Technology Company Profile (Free Report) Spotify Technology SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides audio streaming subscription services worldwide. It operates through two segments, Premium and Ad-Supported. The Premium segment offers unlimited online and offline streaming access to its catalog of music and podcasts without commercial breaks to its subscribers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Spotify Technology Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Spotify Technology and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ADT (NYSE:ADT Get Free Report) is one of 41 public companies in the PROTECTION SFTY industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare ADT to related businesses based on the strength of its risk, earnings, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability and valuation. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current ratings for ADT and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat. Get ADT alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score ADT 0 3 1 0 2.25 ADT Competitors 347 648 1062 62 2.40 ADT currently has a consensus target price of $9.05, indicating a potential upside of 7.55%. As a group, PROTECTION SFTY companies have a potential upside of 10.62%. Given ADTs rivals stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe ADT has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets ADT 11.03% 17.23% 4.07% ADT Competitors -19.22% -74.49% -1.08% Insider and Institutional Ownership This table compares ADT and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. 87.2% of ADT shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 49.0% of shares of all PROTECTION SFTY companies are held by institutional investors. 2.7% of ADT shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 18.6% of shares of all PROTECTION SFTY companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Dividends ADT pays an annual dividend of $0.22 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.6%. ADT pays out 37.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, PROTECTION SFTY companies pay a dividend yield of 1.7% and pay out 47.9% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. ADT has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. ADT is clearly a better dividend stock than its rivals, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Valuation and Earnings This table compares ADT and its rivals gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio ADT $4.90 billion $501.05 million 14.51 ADT Competitors $1.23 billion $110.42 million 50.45 ADT has higher revenue and earnings than its rivals. ADT 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. Risk & Volatility ADT has a beta of 1.21, meaning that its share price is 21% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ADTs rivals have a beta of 8.61, meaning that their average share price is 761% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary ADT beats its rivals on 8 of the 15 factors compared. ADT Company Profile (Get Free Report) ADT Inc. provides security, interactive, and smart home solutions to residential and small business customers in the United States. It operates through two segments, Consumer and Small Business, and Solar. The company provides burglar and life safety alarms, smart security cameras, smart home automation systems, and video surveillance systems. It primarily offers security designed to detect intrusion, control access, sense movement, smoke, fire, carbon monoxide, flooding, temperature, and other environmental conditions and hazards; and address personal medical emergencies, such as injuries or unanticipated falls. The company also provides automation and smart home solutions that allow customers to use their smart phones, smart phone application, or touchscreen panels in their homes to arm and disarm their security systems; record and view real-time video; and creates customized and automated schedules for connected devices; programs systems to react to defined events; integrates system with third-party connected devices, such as cameras, lights, thermostats, appliances, and garage doors, as well as offers monitoring and maintenance services. In addition, the company offers energy storage solutions, energy efficiency upgrades, and roofing services. It offers its products under the ADT, ADT Pulse, ADT+, and ADT Commercial brand names. The company was formerly known as Prime Security Services Parent, Inc. and changed its name to ADT Inc. in September 2017. ADT Inc. was founded in 1874 and is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. Receive News & Ratings for ADT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ADT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its position in Pentair plc (NYSE:PNR Free Report) by 2.2% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 907,314 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 19,102 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbHs holdings in Pentair were worth $79,372,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Pentair in the 4th quarter valued at about $36,568,000. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Pentair by 4.8% during the 1st quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 75,337 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $6,590,000 after buying an additional 3,476 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Pentair by 31.5% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,453 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $390,000 after buying an additional 1,067 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its holdings in shares of Pentair by 6.6% during the 1st quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 4,075 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $356,000 after buying an additional 253 shares during the period. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Pentair during the 4th quarter worth about $55,000. Institutional investors own 92.37% of the companys stock. Get Pentair alerts: Insider Transactions at Pentair In other Pentair news, Director David A. /Wi Jones sold 6,558 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.94, for a total transaction of $589,826.52. Following the sale, the director directly owned 26,313 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,366,591.22. The trade was a 19.95% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 1.45% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Pentair Price Performance Shares of NYSE:PNR opened at $105.01 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $101.05 and a 200-day moving average of $95.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.28 billion, a PE ratio of 27.13, a PEG ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 1.09. Pentair plc has a 12 month low of $74.25 and a 12 month high of $110.71. The company has a current ratio of 1.89, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. Pentair (NYSE:PNR Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 22nd. The industrial products company reported $1.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.33 by $0.06. Pentair had a net margin of 15.87% and a return on equity of 21.24%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Pentair plc will post 4.77 EPS for the current fiscal year. Pentair Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 1st. Investors of record on Friday, July 18th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.95%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 18th. Pentairs dividend payout ratio is 25.84%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently commented on PNR shares. Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $125.00 target price (up previously from $99.00) on shares of Pentair in a report on Monday, July 14th. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on shares of Pentair from $114.00 to $107.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Baird R W upgraded shares of Pentair from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 25th. Mizuho set a $100.00 price objective on shares of Pentair in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Pentair from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $90.00 to $113.00 in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $111.00. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on PNR About Pentair (Free Report) Pentair plc provides various water solutions in the United States, Western Europe, China, Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, Canada, and Japan. The company operates through three segments: Flow, Water Solutions, and Pool. The Flow segment designs, manufactures, and sells fluid treatment and pump products and systems, including pressure vessels, gas recovery solutions, membrane bioreactors, wastewater reuse systems and advanced membrane filtration, separation systems, water disposal pumps, water supply pumps, fluid transfer pumps, turbine pumps, solid handling pumps, and agricultural spray nozzles for fluid delivery, ion exchange, desalination, food and beverage, separation technologies in the oil and gas industry, residential and municipal wells, water treatment, wastewater solids handling, pressure boosting, circulation and transfer, fire suppression, flood control, agricultural irrigation, and crop spray in residential, commercial, and industrial markets. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PNR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pentair plc (NYSE:PNR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pentair Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pentair and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Unum Group (NYSE:UNM Get Free Report) and Globe Life (NYSE:GL Get Free Report) are both large-cap finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings, institutional ownership and valuation. Institutional & Insider Ownership 86.6% of Unum Group shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 81.6% of Globe Life shares are held by institutional investors. 0.9% of Unum Group shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.0% of Globe Life shares are held by company 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 Unum Group alerts: Profitability This table compares Unum Group and Globe Lifes net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Unum Group 12.31% 14.17% 2.46% Globe Life 18.33% 21.44% 3.79% Analyst Ratings Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Unum Group 0 4 9 1 2.79 Globe Life 0 3 7 1 2.82 This is a breakdown of recent ratings for Unum Group and Globe Life, as provided by MarketBeat. Unum Group currently has a consensus target price of $90.14, indicating a potential upside of 12.11%. Globe Life has a consensus target price of $143.82, indicating a potential upside of 18.43%. Given Globe Lifes stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Globe Life is more favorable than Unum Group. Dividends Unum Group pays an annual dividend of $1.84 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.3%. Globe Life pays an annual dividend of $1.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. Unum Group pays out 21.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Globe Life pays out 8.8% 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. Unum Group has raised its dividend for 16 consecutive years and Globe Life has raised its dividend for 20 consecutive years. Risk and Volatility Unum Group has a beta of 0.41, meaning that its share price is 59% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Globe Life has a beta of 0.56, meaning that its share price is 44% less volatile than the S&P 500. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Unum Group and Globe Lifes revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Unum Group $12.84 billion 1.09 $1.78 billion $8.49 9.47 Globe Life $5.78 billion 1.73 $1.07 billion $12.29 9.88 Unum Group has higher revenue and earnings than Globe Life. Unum Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Globe Life, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Summary Globe Life beats Unum Group on 12 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks. About Unum Group (Get Free Report) Unum Group, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial protection benefit solutions primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, and internationally. It operates through Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, and Closed Block segment. The company offers group long-term and short-term disability, group life, and accidental death and dismemberment products; supplemental and voluntary products, such as individual disability, voluntary benefits, and dental and vision products; and accident, sickness, disability, life, and cancer and critical illness products. It also provides group pension, individual life and corporate-owned life insurance, reinsurance pools and management operations, and other miscellaneous products. The company sells its products primarily to employers for the benefit of employees. It sells its products through field sales personnel, independent brokers, consultants, and independent contractor agent sales force and brokers. Unum Group was founded in 1848 and is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. About Globe Life (Get Free Report) Globe Life Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides various life and supplemental health insurance products, and annuities to lower middle- and middle-income families in the United States. The company operates in four segments: Life Insurance, Supplemental Health Insurance, Annuities, and Investments. It offers whole, term, and other life insurance products; Medicare supplement and supplemental health insurance products, such as accident, cancer, critical illness, heart, and intensive care plans; and single-premium and flexible-premium deferred annuities. The company sells its products through its direct to consumer division, exclusive agencies, and independent agents. The company was formerly known as Torchmark Corporation and changed its name to Globe Life Inc. in August 2019. Globe Life Inc. was founded in 1900 and is headquartered in McKinney, Texas. Receive News & Ratings for Unum Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Unum Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its position in BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Free Report) by 7.8% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 114,197 shares of the asset managers stock after purchasing an additional 8,246 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurichs holdings in BlackRock were worth $117,012,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Capital World Investors increased its stake in BlackRock by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 4,097,524 shares of the asset managers stock worth $4,200,450,000 after purchasing an additional 93,844 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in BlackRock by 104,598.9% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,500,083 shares of the asset managers stock worth $3,312,759,000 after buying an additional 3,496,740 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in BlackRock by 6.8% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,006,765 shares of the asset managers stock worth $3,072,787,000 after buying an additional 190,188 shares during the period. FMR LLC raised its holdings in BlackRock by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,390,450 shares of the asset managers stock worth $2,450,475,000 after buying an additional 26,485 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in BlackRock during the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,356,357,000. 80.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get BlackRock alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other BlackRock news, Director J. Richard Kushel sold 10,000 shares of BlackRock stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $912.50, for a total transaction of $9,125,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 66,034 shares of the companys stock, valued at $60,256,025. The trade was a 13.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.98% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. BlackRock Stock Up 0.4% Shares of NYSE:BLK traded up $4.41 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $1,097.43. The stock had a trading volume of 169,669 shares, compared to its average volume of 699,148. BlackRock has a 12 month low of $773.74 and a 12 month high of $1,119.19. The company has a quick ratio of 4.34, a current ratio of 4.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $1,013.56 and its 200-day simple moving average is $972.65. The company has a market cap of $170.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.55, a PEG ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.41. BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 15th. The asset manager reported $12.05 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $10.41 by $1.64. BlackRock had a net margin of 29.68% and a return on equity of 15.83%. The firm had revenue of $5.42 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.40 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $10.36 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 12.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that BlackRock will post 47.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. BlackRock Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 23rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 5th were given a dividend of $5.21 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 5th. This represents a $20.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.90%. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 50.39%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have commented on BLK shares. Barclays raised their target price on shares of BlackRock from $990.00 to $1,220.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, July 10th. TD Cowen decreased their price target on shares of BlackRock from $1,251.00 to $1,032.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of BlackRock from $959.00 to $1,210.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. Argus reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of BlackRock in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $1,115.00 price target on shares of BlackRock in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $1,151.21. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on BLK BlackRock Profile (Free Report) BlackRock, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BLK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX Free Report) by 3.8% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 22,339 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after acquiring an additional 810 shares during the quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentuckys holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $5,117,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in BDX. Smallwood Wealth Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,000. REAP Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 75.3% in the 4th quarter. REAP Financial Group LLC now owns 128 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the last quarter. Alpine Bank Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 341.4% during the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 128 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 99 shares during the period. Finally, Nexus Investment Management ULC purchased a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 1st quarter worth approximately $34,000. 86.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Becton Dickinson and Company alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Raymond James Financial downgraded shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $280.00 to $224.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Bank of America downgraded shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $190.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $280.00 to $196.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $219.22. Becton, Dickinson and Company Trading Down 1.9% Shares of NYSE:BDX opened at $175.49 on Tuesday. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a 52 week low of $163.33 and a 52 week high of $251.99. The companys 50 day moving average is $173.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $204.06. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. The company has a market cap of $50.30 billion, a PE ratio of 33.49, a P/E/G ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 0.25. Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.28 by $0.07. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 7.28% and a return on equity of 15.99%. The business had revenue of $5.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.35 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $3.17 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Becton, Dickinson and Company Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 9th were issued a $1.04 dividend. This represents a $4.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.37%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 9th. Becton, Dickinson and Companys payout ratio is 79.39%. Insider Activity In other news, EVP David Shan sold 1,166 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $171.19, for a total value of $199,607.54. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 4,575 shares in the company, valued at approximately $783,194.25. This represents a 20.31% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.36% of the companys stock. Becton, Dickinson and Company Profile (Free Report) Becton, Dickinson and Company develops, manufactures, and sells medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment, and diagnostic products for healthcare institutions, physicians, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical industry, and the general public worldwide. The company operates in three segments: BD Medical, BD Life Sciences, and BD Interventional. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Becton Dickinson and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Becton Dickinson and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWO Free Report) by 113.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,128 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 3,787 shares during the period. Crestwood Advisors Group LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF were worth $1,821,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Lowery Thomas LLC increased its position in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 4.2% during the first quarter. Lowery Thomas LLC now owns 15,851 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $4,050,000 after purchasing an additional 632 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 5.9% in the 1st quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 802 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $205,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC lifted its stake in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 3.0% in the first quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 22,826 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $5,833,000 after acquiring an additional 655 shares during the last quarter. Forum Financial Management LP lifted its stake in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 34.4% in the first quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 1,563 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $399,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stevens Capital Partners raised its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 23.0% in the first quarter. Stevens Capital Partners now owns 12,376 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $3,162,000 after purchasing an additional 2,316 shares during the period. 74.88% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF alerts: iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF Trading Down 0.8% NYSEARCA IWO opened at $290.47 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $11.87 billion, a PE ratio of 21.86 and a beta of 1.15. iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF has a 12 month low of $219.19 and a 12 month high of $317.62. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $280.27 and a 200-day moving average of $273.87. About iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (the 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 Russell 2000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the small-capitalization growth sector of the United States equity market. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 0.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 18,613 shares of the companys stock after selling 110 shares during the quarter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $2,954,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Capital World Investors raised its position in Philip Morris International by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 122,584,210 shares of the companys stock worth $14,752,926,000 after purchasing an additional 4,216,586 shares during the last quarter. GQG Partners LLC lifted its position in Philip Morris International by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 48,746,809 shares of the companys stock worth $5,866,678,000 after buying an additional 6,092,558 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Philip Morris International by 9.9% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 35,286,582 shares of the companys stock worth $4,241,837,000 after buying an additional 3,185,258 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in Philip Morris International by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 17,276,790 shares of the companys stock worth $2,079,262,000 after buying an additional 516,617 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 9.6% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 14,249,131 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,714,883,000 after purchasing an additional 1,248,561 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 78.63% of the companys stock. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Philip Morris International Stock Up 1.2% Shares of PM opened at $180.94 on Tuesday. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52-week low of $106.76 and a 52-week high of $186.69. The firms fifty day moving average is $178.83 and its two-hundred day moving average is $159.09. The stock has a market cap of $281.63 billion, a PE ratio of 37.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 0.51. Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The company reported $1.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.84 by $0.07. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 8.43% and a negative return on equity of 122.40%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 earnings per share for the current year. The firm 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 was Friday, June 27th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.98%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 111.34%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have recently commented on PM shares. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday. Citigroup reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Tuesday. Needham & Company LLC began coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. They issued a buy rating for the company. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $182.00 price target (up from $156.00) on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $170.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $186.73. View Our Latest Report on Philip Morris International Philip Morris International Profile (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 Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report). 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. Equifax (NYSE:EFX Get Free Report) updated its FY 2025 earnings guidance on Tuesday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 7.330-7.630 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 7.607. The company issued revenue guidance of $6.0 billion-$6.0 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $6.0 billion. Equifax also updated its Q3 2025 guidance to 1.870-1.970 EPS. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages recently commented on EFX. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $295.00 price objective on shares of Equifax in a research report on Friday, June 20th. Oppenheimer increased their price objective on shares of Equifax from $277.00 to $296.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $305.00 price objective (up from $295.00) on shares of Equifax in a research report on Tuesday, June 10th. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on Equifax in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. They issued a market perform rating and a $280.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $300.00 target price on shares of Equifax in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $295.50. Get Equifax alerts: Get Our Latest Report on Equifax Equifax Stock Performance EFX traded down $16.44 on Tuesday, reaching $243.20. The stock had a trading volume of 515,117 shares, compared to its average volume of 990,304. Equifax has a 12-month low of $199.98 and a 12-month high of $309.63. The company has a market cap of $30.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 49.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.99 and a beta of 1.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $264.05 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $253.21. Equifax (NYSE:EFX Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The credit services provider reported $2.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.92 by $0.08. Equifax had a return on equity of 18.81% and a net margin of 10.68%. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.82 EPS. The firms revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Equifax will post 7.58 earnings per share for the current year. Equifax Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 23rd were given a dividend of $0.50 per share. This is a positive change from Equifaxs previous quarterly dividend of $0.39. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.82%. Equifaxs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 40.90%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Equifax news, EVP John W. Gamble, Jr. sold 2,000 shares of Equifax stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $259.10, for a total transaction of $518,200.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 65,176 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,887,101.60. The trade was a 2.98% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Mark W. Begor sold 22,160 shares of Equifax stock in a transaction on Monday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $256.61, for a total transaction of $5,686,477.60. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 142,395 shares in the company, valued at approximately $36,539,980.95. This trade represents a 13.47% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.40% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Equifax Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its stake in Equifax by 14.6% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 2,523 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $615,000 after purchasing an additional 321 shares during the last quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Equifax during the 1st quarter worth $204,000. Finally, Brighton Jones LLC increased its stake in shares of Equifax by 49.2% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,638 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $927,000 after acquiring an additional 1,200 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.20% of the companys stock. About Equifax (Get Free Report) Equifax Inc operates as a data, analytics, and technology company. The company operates through three segments: Workforce Solutions, U.S. Information Solutions (USIS), and International. The Workforce Solutions segment offers services that enables customers to verify income, employment, educational history, criminal justice data, healthcare professional licensure, and sanctions of people in the United States; and employer customers with services that assist them in complying with and automating payroll-related and human resource management processes throughout the entire cycle of the employment relationship. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Equifax Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Equifax and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Financial Partners Group Inc lifted its position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF Free Report) by 2.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,129 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the quarter. Financial Partners Group Incs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF were worth $1,130,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd lifted its stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 816.7% during the 1st quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd now owns 7,737 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,794,000 after acquiring an additional 6,893 shares during the period. Financial Sense Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 7.2% during the first quarter. Financial Sense Advisors Inc. now owns 4,051 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,463,000 after purchasing an additional 271 shares in the last quarter. Flynn Zito Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 774.3% in the first quarter. Flynn Zito Capital Management LLC now owns 27,391 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $9,891,000 after acquiring an additional 24,258 shares in the last quarter. Obermeyer Wealth Partners raised its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 27.0% during the first quarter. Obermeyer Wealth Partners now owns 3,565 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,287,000 after purchasing an additional 759 shares in the last quarter. Finally, 1776 Wealth LLC grew its position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 60.9% during the first quarter. 1776 Wealth LLC now owns 970 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $350,000 after acquiring an additional 367 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.33% of the companys stock. Get iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF alerts: iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Stock Performance IWF stock traded down $2.52 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $432.88. The stock had a trading volume of 317,494 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,612,347. The stock has a market cap of $113.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.43 and a beta of 1.08. The companys 50 day moving average price is $411.02 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $391.79. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a 1-year low of $308.67 and a 1-year high of $437.39. About iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF 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. Further Reading 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. Fractal Investments LLC raised its holdings in Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB Free Report) by 11.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 591,500 shares of the pipeline companys stock after buying an additional 60,000 shares during the period. Williams Companies comprises approximately 4.9% of Fractal Investments LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Fractal Investments LLCs holdings in Williams Companies were worth $35,348,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Obermeyer Wealth Partners lifted its stake in shares of Williams Companies by 117.7% in the 1st quarter. Obermeyer Wealth Partners now owns 8,386 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $501,000 after acquiring an additional 4,534 shares during the last quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Williams Companies by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC now owns 32,541 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $1,942,000 after buying an additional 1,033 shares during the period. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of Williams Companies by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP now owns 7,916,565 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $473,094,000 after buying an additional 113,759 shares during the period. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Williams Companies by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC now owns 221,227 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $13,221,000 after buying an additional 684 shares during the period. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Williams Companies by 749.5% in the 1st quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 78,537 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $4,693,000 after buying an additional 69,292 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 86.44% of the companys stock. Get Williams Companies alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $63.00 price objective on shares of Williams Companies in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Wolfe Research raised shares of Williams Companies from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Friday, June 13th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Williams Companies from $58.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 25th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Williams Companies from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 28th. Finally, TD Cowen started coverage on Williams Companies in a research note on Monday, July 7th. They issued a buy rating and a $67.00 target price on the stock. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $61.77. Williams Companies Stock Performance Shares of Williams Companies stock traded down $0.00 on Tuesday, hitting $57.68. 1,591,460 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,848,379. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $59.39 and a 200-day simple moving average of $58.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $70.33 billion, a PE ratio of 30.82, a PEG ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 0.65. Williams Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $40.41 and a 1 year high of $63.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a current ratio of 0.40. Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 5th. The pipeline company reported $0.60 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.55 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $3.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.90 billion. Williams Companies had a net margin of 21.18% and a return on equity of 15.95%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.59 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Williams Companies, Inc. will post 2.08 EPS for the current year. Williams Companies Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 13th were issued a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 13th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.47%. Williams Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 106.95%. Insider Buying and Selling at Williams Companies In related news, SVP Terrance Lane Wilson sold 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.70, for a total transaction of $125,400.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 315,645 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,790,941.50. This represents a 0.63% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.44% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Williams Companies Company Profile (Free Report) The Williams Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy infrastructure company primarily in the United States. It operates through Transmission & Gulf of Mexico, Northeast G&P, West, and Gas & NGL Marketing Services segments. The Transmission & Gulf of Mexico segment comprises natural gas pipelines; Transco, Northwest pipeline, MountainWest, and related natural gas storage facilities; and natural gas gathering and processing, and crude oil production handling and transportation assets in the Gulf Coast region. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Williams Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Williams Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Garner Asset Management Corp bought a new position in shares of Blue Owl Capital Corporation (NYSE:OBDC Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 86,771 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,272,000. Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Golden State Equity Partners boosted its stake in shares of Blue Owl Capital by 1.7% during the first quarter. Golden State Equity Partners now owns 45,680 shares of the companys stock valued at $670,000 after purchasing an additional 742 shares during the period. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Blue Owl Capital by 6.1% during the 1st quarter. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC now owns 13,930 shares of the companys stock worth $204,000 after purchasing an additional 798 shares during the period. Essex Financial Services Inc. grew its stake in shares of Blue Owl Capital by 3.3% during the 1st quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. now owns 31,300 shares of the companys stock worth $459,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its position in shares of Blue Owl Capital by 9.1% during the 4th quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 13,038 shares of the companys stock valued at $197,000 after buying an additional 1,083 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tranquility Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Blue Owl Capital by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Tranquility Partners LLC now owns 153,391 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,249,000 after purchasing an additional 1,210 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 42.83% of the companys stock. Get Blue Owl Capital alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have weighed in on OBDC shares. B. Riley started coverage on Blue Owl Capital in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $15.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $16.00 price objective on shares of Blue Owl Capital in a research note on Thursday, May 15th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on Blue Owl Capital from $15.10 to $14.50 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Blue Owl Capital in a report on Friday, April 11th. They issued a buy rating and a $16.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Blue Owl Capital from $15.00 to $14.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $15.64. Insider Buying and Selling at Blue Owl Capital In other Blue Owl Capital news, Director Victor Woolridge purchased 6,915 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 27th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $14.45 per share, for a total transaction of $99,921.75. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 28,191 shares in the company, valued at approximately $407,359.95. The trade was a 32.50% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.11% of the companys stock. Blue Owl Capital Stock Performance NYSE:OBDC traded up $0.08 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $14.90. 181,920 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,673,938. Blue Owl Capital Corporation has a twelve month low of $12.11 and a twelve month high of $15.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.61 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 1.13. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $14.57 and a 200 day moving average price of $14.59. Blue Owl Capital (NYSE:OBDC Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The company reported $0.39 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.43 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $464.65 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $457.88 million. Blue Owl Capital had a return on equity of 11.72% and a net margin of 39.42%. On average, analysts expect that Blue Owl Capital Corporation will post 1.71 EPS for the current fiscal year. Blue Owl Capital Cuts Dividend The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 13th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 2nd were issued a $0.01 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 30th. This represents a yield of 11.51%. Blue Owl Capitals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 95.48%. Blue Owl Capital Company Profile (Free Report) Blue Owl Capital Corporation is a business development company. It specializes in direct and fund of fund investments. The fund makes investments in senior secured, direct lending or unsecured loans, subordinated loans or mezzanine loans and also considers equity-related securities including warrants and preferred stocks also pursues preferred equity investments, first lien, unitranche, and second lien term loans and common equity investments. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OBDC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Blue Owl Capital Corporation (NYSE:OBDC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Blue Owl Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Blue Owl Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Greenwood Gearhart Inc. decreased its position in shares of Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:VOOV Free Report) by 52.9% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 11,511 shares of the companys stock after selling 12,935 shares during the quarter. Greenwood Gearhart Inc.s holdings in Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF were worth $2,120,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of VOOV. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $43,843,000. LPL Financial LLC boosted its stake in Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF by 13.7% during the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 578,210 shares of the companys stock valued at $106,685,000 after acquiring an additional 69,733 shares during the last quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF by 140.8% during the 4th quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC now owns 113,162 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,880,000 after acquiring an additional 66,174 shares during the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC bought a new position in Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $7,538,000. Finally, Aspire Growth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $6,723,000. Get Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF alerts: Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF Stock Performance Shares of Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF stock traded up $0.12 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $190.58. The companys stock had a trading volume of 98,382 shares, compared to its average volume of 117,722. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $186.19 and its 200 day simple moving average is $184.04. Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF has a one year low of $159.99 and a one year high of $199.72. The stock has a market cap of $5.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.05 and a beta of 0.94. About Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF The Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF (VOOV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500 Value index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap value-style securities from the Committee-selected S&P 500. VOOV was launched on Sep 7, 2010 and is managed by Vanguard. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VOOV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:VOOV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard S&P 500 Value 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 Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GW&K Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 2.4% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 24,889 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 583 shares during the period. GW&K Investment Management LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $20,556,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Garner Asset Management Corp boosted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Garner Asset Management Corp now owns 532 shares of the companys stock worth $411,000 after buying an additional 12 shares during the period. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 22.0% during 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 during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,471 shares of the companys stock worth $1,136,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Orion Capital Management LLC raised its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. Orion Capital Management LLC now owns 1,610 shares of the companys stock worth $1,243,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the period. Finally, Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG raised its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 64,758 shares of the companys stock worth $49,993,000 after purchasing an additional 2,568 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Trading Down 1.2% Shares of NYSE LLY opened at $762.22 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.37. The firms 50 day moving average price is $767.03 and its 200-day moving average price is $800.17. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52-week low of $677.09 and a 52-week high of $972.53. The company has a market cap of $722.39 billion, a PE ratio of 62.02, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.40. Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 22.67% and a return on equity of 85.51%. The company had revenue of $12.73 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.77 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.58 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 45.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be issued a dividend of $1.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 15th. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.79%. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is 48.82%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth LLY has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, June 28th. Erste Group Bank cut shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, June 5th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Hsbc Global Res cut shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a moderate sell rating in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and set a $1,135.00 price target (up previously from $1,133.00) on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $1,012.56. Get Our Latest Research Report on LLY Eli Lilly and 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. Recommended Stories 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. Hartford Funds Management Co LLC grew its position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) by 33.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,521 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after buying an additional 1,634 shares during the quarter. Hartford Funds Management Co LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $865,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in ABT. Cim LLC lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Cim LLC now owns 16,967 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $1,919,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the period. Capital Square LLC grew its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Capital Square LLC now owns 2,941 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $368,000 after buying an additional 77 shares during the period. Consilium Wealth Advisory LLC grew its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Consilium Wealth Advisory LLC now owns 3,822 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $507,000 after buying an additional 78 shares during the period. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 17,327 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,298,000 after buying an additional 78 shares during the period. Finally, Edge Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in Abbott Laboratories by 3.3% during the 1st quarter. Edge Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,530 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $336,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.18% of the companys stock. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms recently weighed in on ABT. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $145.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $147.00 to $142.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Piper Sandler reiterated an overweight rating and set a $145.00 target price (up previously from $133.00) on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. William Blair upgraded shares of Abbott Laboratories to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, July 17th. Finally, Leerink Partners assumed coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Monday, June 16th. They issued a market perform rating and a $143.00 price objective for the company. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $144.47. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Director Sally E. Blount sold 2,600 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.66, for a total value of $337,116.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 34,058 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,415,960.28. The trade was a 7.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.46% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance Shares of ABT stock opened at $125.07 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $217.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.73. The business has a fifty day moving average of $132.98 and a 200 day moving average of $129.68. Abbott Laboratories has a 1 year low of $99.92 and a 1 year high of $141.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 1.78 and a quick ratio of 1.27. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.26. The business had revenue of $11.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.01 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 32.43% and a return on equity of 18.83%. Abbott Laboratoriess revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.14 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 earnings per share for the current year. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.59 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, July 15th. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.89%. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is currently 29.57%. Abbott Laboratories Profile (Free Report) Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Menieres disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Insider and Institutional Ownership 65.8% of shares of all TEXTILE APPAREL companies are owned by institutional investors. 24.4% of Innovative Designs shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 19.3% of shares of all TEXTILE APPAREL companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Profitability This table compares Innovative Designs and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Innovative Designs alerts: 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% Risk & Volatility Innovative Designs has a beta of -3.12, suggesting that its stock price is 412% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Innovative Designs peers have a beta of 0.87, suggesting that their average stock price is 13% less volatile than the S&P 500. Earnings & Valuation Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Innovative Designs $1.38 million $100,000.00 14.70 Innovative Designs Competitors $6.37 billion $620.41 million 7.40 This table compares Innovative Designs and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share 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. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC trimmed its position in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL Free Report) by 31.6% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 12,301 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 5,683 shares during the quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLCs holdings in Aflac were worth $1,336,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in AFL. Lindbrook Capital LLC grew its position in Aflac by 33.5% in the first quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 2,106 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $234,000 after acquiring an additional 529 shares during the period. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its stake in Aflac by 3.3% in the first quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 38,595 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,292,000 after buying an additional 1,230 shares during the period. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Aflac by 1.1% during the first quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 13,784 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,533,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the period. BKM Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Aflac by 8.4% during the first quarter. BKM Wealth Management LLC now owns 25,902 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,880,000 after purchasing an additional 2,015 shares during the period. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc raised its position in shares of Aflac by 18.6% during the first quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 6,787 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $755,000 after purchasing an additional 1,062 shares during the period. 67.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Aflac alerts: Aflac Trading Down 0.7% NYSE AFL opened at $101.14 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.09 and a quick ratio of 0.09. The firms fifty day moving average price is $103.33 and its 200 day moving average price is $105.20. The company has a market capitalization of $54.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.15 and a beta of 0.81. Aflac Incorporated has a 12 month low of $93.00 and a 12 month high of $115.50. Aflac Dividend Announcement Aflac ( NYSE:AFL Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.67 by ($0.01). Aflac had a net margin of 21.27% and a return on equity of 15.55%. The company had revenue of $3.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.53 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.66 earnings per share. Aflacs revenue for the quarter was down 37.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 2nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 21st were issued a dividend of $0.58 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 21st. This represents a $2.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.29%. Aflacs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.25%. Insider Buying and Selling at Aflac In related news, Director Arthur Reginald Collins sold 2,750 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.70, for a total value of $290,675.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 6,728 shares in the company, valued at $711,149.60. This trade represents a 29.01% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Masatoshi Koide sold 37,000 shares of Aflac stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.59, for a total value of $3,906,830.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 70,992 shares in the company, valued at $7,496,045.28. This trade represents a 34.26% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 40,750 shares of company stock worth $4,304,295 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms recently weighed in on AFL. Barclays set a $98.00 price target on Aflac and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Monday, July 7th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Aflac from $103.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Piper Sandler boosted their price target on Aflac from $118.00 to $124.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Wall Street Zen cut Aflac from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on Aflac from $109.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Aflac has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $107.07. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on AFL About Aflac (Free Report) Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. The company operates through Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. segments. The Aflac Japan segment offers cancer, medical, nursing care, work leave, GIFT, and whole and term life insurance products, as well as WAYS and child endowment plans under saving type insurance products in Japan. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Aflac Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aflac and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Profitability This table compares IBC Advanced Alloys and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets IBC Advanced Alloys -13.85% -62.82% -10.43% IBC Advanced Alloys Competitors -976.52% -12.62% -5.25% Earnings & Valuation This table compares IBC Advanced Alloys and its competitors revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get IBC Advanced Alloys alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio IBC Advanced Alloys $25.66 million $1.70 million -2.25 IBC Advanced Alloys Competitors $8.33 billion $455.46 million -2.47 IBC Advanced Alloys competitors have higher revenue and earnings than IBC Advanced Alloys. IBC Advanced Alloys 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. Insider and Institutional Ownership Volatility & Risk 35.8% of shares of all MINING MISC companies are owned by institutional investors. 9.8% of shares of all MINING MISC companies are owned by company 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. IBC Advanced Alloys has a beta of 1.08, indicating that its stock price is 8% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, IBC Advanced Alloys competitors have a beta of 0.76, indicating that their average stock price is 24% less volatile than the S&P 500. Summary IBC Advanced Alloys competitors beat IBC Advanced Alloys on 6 of the 9 factors compared. About IBC Advanced Alloys (Get Free Report) IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. develops, produces, and sells specialty alloy products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Copper Alloys and Engineered Materials segments. It offers various copper alloys as castings and forgings, such as beryllium copper, chrome copper, oxygen-free high conductivity copper, and aluminum bronze in the form of plates, blocks, rounds, discs, bars, rings, tubes, rods, and other custom forgings, as well as specialty copper alloy forgings for plastic mold tooling and resistance welding applications. The company also provides beryllium-aluminum castings, beryllium-aluminum alloys, beryllium-copper alloys, high-strength beryllium-copper casting alloys, high-conductivity beryllium-copper casting alloys, and beryllium-nickel casting alloys. In addition, it manufactures Thermal-Mold Super, a beryllium-free mold alloy of copper-nickel-silicon-chrome, as well as provides tolling services and consulting. It serves automotive, defense, resistance welding, electronics, industrial equipment, injection molding, foundry, aerospace, and oil and gas industries. The company was formerly known as International Beryllium Corporation and changed its name to IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. in March 2009. IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. is headquartered in Franklin, Indiana. Receive News & Ratings for IBC Advanced Alloys Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for IBC Advanced Alloys and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ignite Planners LLC grew its holdings in Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Free Report) by 1.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 16,905 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 285 shares during the quarter. Ignite Planners LLCs holdings in Citigroup were worth $1,152,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Gries Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Citigroup by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. Gries Financial LLC now owns 6,213 shares of the companys stock valued at $441,000 after acquiring an additional 228 shares during the last quarter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Citigroup by 14.2% in the 1st quarter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC now owns 10,818 shares of the companys stock valued at $768,000 after acquiring an additional 1,345 shares during the last quarter. Edgemoor Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Citigroup by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. Edgemoor Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 143,950 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,219,000 after acquiring an additional 5,295 shares during the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Citigroup by 2,152.4% in the 1st quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 215,333 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,286,000 after acquiring an additional 205,773 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Alliance LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Citigroup by 56.0% in the 1st quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC now owns 9,546 shares of the companys stock valued at $678,000 after acquiring an additional 3,427 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 71.72% of the companys stock. Get Citigroup alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts recently issued reports on C shares. Dbs Bank upgraded shares of Citigroup from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a research note on Thursday, July 17th. Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Citigroup from $89.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, June 26th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $93.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Oppenheimer upped their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $107.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Citigroup from $85.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $96.46. Citigroup Stock Performance Shares of C stock opened at $92.57 on Tuesday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $80.43 and its two-hundred day moving average is $75.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 0.99. Citigroup Inc. has a 1 year low of $53.51 and a 1 year high of $94.08. The firm has a market cap of $172.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.67, a PEG ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 1.34. Citigroup (NYSE:C Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 15th. The company reported $1.96 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.61 by $0.35. The business had revenue of $21.67 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.75 billion. Citigroup had a return on equity of 7.29% and a net margin of 8.44%. The companys revenue was up 8.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.52 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Citigroup Inc. will post 7.53 earnings per share for the current year. Citigroup Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 4th will be issued a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.59%. This is a boost from Citigroups previous quarterly dividend of $0.56. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 4th. Citigroups dividend payout ratio is presently 33.09%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Citigroup news, Director Peter B. Henry sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.40, for a total transaction of $271,200.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 2,140 shares in the company, valued at approximately $193,456. The trade was a 58.37% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director John Cunningham Dugan sold 4,417 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.26, for a total transaction of $301,504.42. Following the sale, the director owned 13,048 shares in the company, valued at $890,656.48. The trade was a 25.29% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. About Citigroup (Free Report) Citigroup Inc, a diversified financial service holding company, provides various financial product and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions worldwide. It operates through five segments: Services, Markets, Banking, U.S. Personal Banking, and Wealth. The Services segment includes Treasury and Trade Solutions, which provides cash management, trade, and working capital solutions to multinational corporations, financial institutions, and public sector organizations; and Securities Services, such as cross-border support for clients, local market expertise, post-trade technologies, data solutions, and various securities services solutions. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Citigroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Citigroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC trimmed its holdings in iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (BATS:SMIN Free Report) by 19.0% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 20,000 shares of the companys stock after selling 4,685 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF were worth $1,362,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of SMIN. HighMark Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF by 123.2% during the 1st quarter. HighMark Wealth Management LLC now owns 453 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF by 255.3% during the 4th quarter. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc now owns 1,439 shares of the companys stock worth $110,000 after purchasing an additional 1,034 shares in the last quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF during the 1st quarter worth $235,000. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF during the 4th quarter worth $245,000. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF during the 4th quarter worth $249,000. Get iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF alerts: iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF Price Performance Shares of BATS SMIN traded up $5.15 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $76.84. 201,805 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 237,930. iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF has a 1 year low of $61.54 and a 1 year high of $87.06. The firms fifty day moving average price is $75.26 and its 200 day moving average price is $70.87. The company has a market cap of $937.39 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.27 and a beta of 0.48. iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF Company Profile The iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (SMIN) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI India Small Cap index, a market-cap-weighted index of the bottom 14% of companies traded on Indian stock markets. SMIN was launched on Feb 8, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SMIN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF (BATS:SMIN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI India Small-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Advocacy Wealth Management Services LLC increased its stake in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (BATS:MTUM Free Report) by 14.4% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 83,664 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 10,522 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF makes up 1.2% of Advocacy Wealth Management Services LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest holding. Advocacy Wealth Management Services LLC owned about 0.12% of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF worth $16,911,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of MTUM. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new position in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF in the first quarter valued at about $2,090,000. Choreo LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 6.3% during the 1st quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 43,824 shares of the companys stock worth $8,858,000 after purchasing an additional 2,610 shares during the last quarter. PFG Advisors raised its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. PFG Advisors now owns 5,303 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,072,000 after acquiring an additional 162 shares in the last quarter. Midwest Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 19.3% in the 1st quarter. Midwest Capital Advisors LLC now owns 21,620 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,370,000 after acquiring an additional 3,500 shares in the last quarter. Finally, J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 80.2% in the 1st quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 17,096 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,456,000 after acquiring an additional 7,607 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Stock Up 13.7% MTUM stock traded up $28.70 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $237.69. The stock had a trading volume of 1,275,471 shares, compared to its average volume of 983,916. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF has a twelve month low of $168.49 and a twelve month high of $240.99. The firm has a market cap of $17.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.67 and a beta of 1.02. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $233.07 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $217.71. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Company Profile The iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap US equities, selected and weighted based on price appreciation over 6- and 12-month periods and low volatility over the past 3 years. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Momentum 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 Momentum Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. B&I Capital AG raised its stake in shares of Macerich Company (The) (NYSE:MAC Free Report) by 15.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 428,700 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after purchasing an additional 58,250 shares during the period. Macerich accounts for 2.4% of B&I Capital AGs portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest position. B&I Capital AG owned about 0.17% of Macerich worth $7,361,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of MAC. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH purchased a new stake in Macerich during the first quarter worth approximately $2,782,000. Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its stake in shares of Macerich by 35.6% in the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 674,310 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $11,578,000 after purchasing an additional 177,183 shares during the period. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Macerich by 2.6% in the first quarter. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC now owns 66,067 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,134,000 after purchasing an additional 1,666 shares during the period. Archer Investment Corp purchased a new position in shares of Macerich in the first quarter valued at $98,000. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Macerich by 230.9% in the first quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 301,067 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $5,169,000 after purchasing an additional 210,079 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.38% of the companys stock. Get Macerich alerts: Macerich Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:MAC traded up $0.32 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $17.18. The stock had a trading volume of 378,427 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,916,410. Macerich Company has a 52 week low of $12.48 and a 52 week high of $22.27. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -39.99, a P/E/G ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 2.13. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.91. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $16.05 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $17.11. Macerich Dividend Announcement Macerich ( NYSE:MAC Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Monday, May 12th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.31 by $0.02. Macerich had a negative net margin of 12.26% and a negative return on equity of 4.37%. The business had revenue of $249.22 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $221.61 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.33 earnings per share. Macerichs revenue was up 19.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Macerich Company will post 1.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 17th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 3rd were given a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, June 3rd. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.96%. Macerichs payout ratio is presently -158.14%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have recently issued reports on MAC. Mizuho upgraded shares of Macerich from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $22.00 to $18.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 10th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Macerich from $20.00 to $19.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH began coverage on shares of Macerich in a research report on Friday. They issued a buy rating and a $25.00 price target on the stock. Scotiabank reduced their price target on shares of Macerich from $21.00 to $16.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Macerich from $19.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, June 9th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $19.26. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on MAC Macerich Profile (Free Report) Macerich is a fully integrated, self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT). As a leading owner, operator and developer of high-quality retail real estate in densely populated and attractive U.S. markets, Macerichs portfolio is concentrated in California, the Pacific Northwest, Phoenix/Scottsdale, and the Metro New York to Washington, DC corridor. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MAC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Macerich Company (The) (NYSE:MAC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Macerich Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Macerich and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MCF Advisors LLC lowered its holdings in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK Free Report) by 3.6% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 3,082 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 114 shares during the period. MCF Advisors LLCs holdings in Duke Energy were worth $376,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its holdings in Duke Energy by 11.6% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 6,754 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $728,000 after purchasing an additional 700 shares during the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in Duke Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $282,000. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new position in Duke Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $504,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Duke Energy by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 72,885,939 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $7,852,731,000 after purchasing an additional 779,054 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Congress Wealth Management LLC DE lifted its holdings in Duke Energy by 58.1% during the 4th quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE now owns 10,167 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,089,000 after purchasing an additional 3,737 shares during the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Duke Energy alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $122.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $132.00 price target on shares of Duke Energy in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $127.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 7th. Raymond James Financial initiated coverage on shares of Duke Energy in a research report on Friday, June 13th. They issued a market perform rating on the stock. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $123.00 to $122.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $127.25. Duke Energy Trading Up 0.5% Duke Energy stock traded up $0.55 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $120.38. 936,504 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,455,489. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.50. The firms 50 day moving average price is $116.43 and its 200 day moving average price is $116.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $93.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 0.37. Duke Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $105.20 and a 52-week high of $125.27. Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.59 by $0.17. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.40% and a return on equity of 9.88%. The company had revenue of $8.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.70 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.44 EPS. Duke Energys revenue was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Duke Energy Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be issued a dividend of $1.065 per share. This is a positive change from Duke Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.05. This represents a $4.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 15th. Duke Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 69.32%. Duke Energy Profile (Free Report) Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through two segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I), and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DUK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Duke Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Duke Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Montag A & Associates Inc. decreased its holdings in Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL Free Report) by 15.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,384 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 445 shares during the period. Montag A & Associates Inc.s holdings in Delta Air Lines were worth $104,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Delta Air Lines by 414.4% in the 4th quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 535 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 431 shares in the last quarter. Graney & King LLC purchased a new position in Delta Air Lines in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Continuum Advisory LLC grew its stake in Delta Air Lines by 44.2% in the 4th quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 584 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 179 shares in the last quarter. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in Delta Air Lines in the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,000. Finally, Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new position in Delta Air Lines in the 4th quarter worth approximately $46,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.93% of the companys stock. Get Delta Air Lines alerts: Insider Transactions at Delta Air Lines In related news, EVP Alain Bellemare sold 45,423 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, July 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.56, for a total transaction of $2,523,701.88. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 131,731 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,318,974.36. This trade represents a 25.64% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Peter W. Carter sold 17,550 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.19, for a total value of $1,003,684.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 191,442 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,948,567.98. This represents a 8.40% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 98,973 shares of company stock valued at $5,541,946 in the last three months. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms recently commented on DAL. Dbs Bank lowered shares of Delta Air Lines from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, April 3rd. Susquehanna set a $65.00 target price on shares of Delta Air Lines and gave the stock a positive rating in a research note on Friday, July 11th. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Delta Air Lines in a research report on Friday, July 11th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $62.00 to $65.50 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 11th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane upped their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $58.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, July 11th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $66.21. Get Our Latest Analysis on Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines Trading Down 0.5% NYSE:DAL opened at $56.01 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The businesss 50 day moving average is $50.42 and its two-hundred day moving average is $52.46. The company has a market cap of $36.57 billion, a PE ratio of 8.12, a P/E/G ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.49. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a 52 week low of $34.74 and a 52 week high of $69.98. Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 10th. The transportation company reported $2.10 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.01 by $0.09. Delta Air Lines had a return on equity of 24.86% and a net margin of 7.24%. The business had revenue of $15,507,000 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.16 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.36 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 7.63 EPS for the current year. Delta Air Lines Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 21st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 31st will be given a dividend of $0.1875 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 31st. This is a boost from Delta Air Liness previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. This represents a $0.75 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.34%. Delta Air Liness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 8.70%. About Delta Air Lines (Free Report) Delta Air Lines, Inc provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Bogota, Lima, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Sao Paulo, Seoul-Incheon, and Tokyo. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Delta Air Lines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Delta Air Lines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Obermeyer Wealth Partners cut its holdings in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) by 3.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 13,885 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 426 shares during the quarter. Obermeyer Wealth Partners holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $1,842,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.6% during the first quarter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC now owns 91,815 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $12,179,000 after purchasing an additional 2,298 shares in the last quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 5.3% in the first quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC now owns 347,847 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $46,142,000 after acquiring an additional 17,485 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd. lifted its position in Abbott Laboratories by 11.3% in the first quarter. Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd. now owns 4,736 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $628,000 after purchasing an additional 481 shares during the period. Verus Financial Partners Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 1st quarter worth approximately $235,000. Finally, 4WEALTH Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 5.0% during the 1st quarter. 4WEALTH Advisors Inc. now owns 5,356 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $710,000 after buying an additional 253 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 75.18% of the companys stock. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Abbott Laboratories Trading Up 0.5% Shares of NYSE:ABT opened at $124.27 on Tuesday. Abbott Laboratories has a 52 week low of $99.92 and a 52 week high of $141.23. The company has a market cap of $216.21 billion, a PE ratio of 15.57, a P/E/G ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a current ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The companys 50 day moving average is $132.98 and its two-hundred day moving average is $129.68. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 17th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.26 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.26. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 32.43% and a return on equity of 18.83%. The firm had revenue of $11.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.01 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.14 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, July 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.59 per share. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.90%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, July 15th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is currently 29.57%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Abbott Laboratories from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the company from $143.00 to $145.00 in a research note on Friday. Mizuho boosted their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $147.00 to $142.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $127.00 to $137.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $144.47. View Our Latest Analysis on ABT Insider Activity In related news, Director Sally E. Blount sold 2,600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.66, for a total transaction of $337,116.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 34,058 shares in the company, valued at $4,415,960.28. This trade represents a 7.09% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Abbott Laboratories Profile (Free Report) Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Menieres disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pier 88 Investment Partners LLC lessened its stake in shares of Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE:NET Free Report) by 20.1% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 12,720 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,200 shares during the period. Pier 88 Investment Partners LLCs holdings in Cloudflare were worth $1,433,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in NET. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd bought a new position in Cloudflare in the first quarter worth approximately $4,564,000. Choreo LLC boosted its position in Cloudflare by 7.1% during the 1st quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 5,105 shares of the companys stock valued at $575,000 after acquiring an additional 339 shares in the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its position in shares of Cloudflare by 5.3% in the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 25,700 shares of the companys stock worth $2,897,000 after purchasing an additional 1,288 shares in the last quarter. Miller Financial Services LLC boosted its position in shares of Cloudflare by 41.8% in the 1st quarter. Miller Financial Services LLC now owns 5,862 shares of the companys stock worth $661,000 after purchasing an additional 1,729 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Cloudflare by 54.5% in the 1st quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 197,463 shares of the companys stock worth $22,252,000 after acquiring an additional 69,641 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.68% of the companys stock. Get Cloudflare alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and set a $225.00 target price (up from $150.00) on shares of Cloudflare in a research report on Friday, July 11th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Cloudflare from $200.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday. Guggenheim upped their price objective on shares of Cloudflare from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research note on Friday, May 9th. CICC Research raised shares of Cloudflare from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $154.00 target price for the company in a report on Monday, May 12th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on shares of Cloudflare from $170.00 to $150.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Cloudflare currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $155.32. Cloudflare Price Performance Shares of NYSE NET traded down $4.74 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $193.02. 1,341,499 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,177,121. Cloudflare, Inc. has a 12-month low of $69.26 and a 12-month high of $200.77. The company has a current ratio of 3.20, a quick ratio of 3.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. The company has a market cap of $66.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -839.28 and a beta of 1.85. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $175.86 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $143.68. Cloudflare (NYSE:NET Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.17 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $479.09 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $469.49 million. Cloudflare had a negative return on equity of 6.31% and a negative net margin of 4.62%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 26.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.16 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Cloudflare, Inc. will post -0.11 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CFO Thomas J. Seifert sold 41,556 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.78, for a total value of $6,515,149.68. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 241,550 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $37,870,209. This represents a 14.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Michelle Zatlyn sold 35,098 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.83, for a total value of $5,504,419.34. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 6,390 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,002,143.70. This represents a 84.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 581,062 shares of company stock worth $99,070,153. 10.89% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Cloudflare Profile (Free Report) Cloudflare, Inc operates as a cloud services provider that delivers a range of services to businesses worldwide. The company provides an integrated cloud-based security solution to secure a range of combination of platforms, including public cloud, private cloud, on-premise, software-as-a-service applications, and IoT devices; and website and application security products comprising web application firewall, bot management, distributed denial of service, API gateways, SSL/TLS encryption, script management, security center, and rate limiting products. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NET? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE:NET Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Cloudflare Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cloudflare and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of Hold from the fourteen brokerages that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Ten 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 brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $61.15. O has been the subject of a number of research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Realty Income from $64.00 to $61.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Monday, May 5th. Mizuho upped their target price on Realty Income from $54.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, April 3rd. UBS Group reduced their price objective on Realty Income from $64.00 to $62.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. Wedbush reissued a neutral rating and issued a $61.00 price objective on shares of Realty Income in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. Finally, Wolfe Research downgraded Realty Income from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Monday, July 14th. Get Realty Income alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on Realty Income Realty Income Stock Down 0.2% Realty Income stock opened at $56.37 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.74, a current ratio of 1.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Realty Income has a 12-month low of $50.71 and a 12-month high of $64.88. The firms fifty day moving average is $56.77 and its 200 day moving average is $56.06. The company has a market capitalization of $50.90 billion, a PE ratio of 51.24, a PEG ratio of 3.96 and a beta of 0.75. Realty Income (NYSE:O Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, May 5th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.06 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.06. Realty Income had a net margin of 18.15% and a return on equity of 2.51%. The business had revenue of $1.31 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.28 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.03 earnings per share. Realty Incomes quarterly revenue was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Realty Income will post 4.19 EPS for the current fiscal year. Realty Income Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a aug 25 dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 1st will be given a dividend of $0.269 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 1st. This represents a yield of 5.7%. Realty Incomes dividend payout ratio is currently 292.73%. Institutional Trading of Realty Income Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Revisor Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Realty Income by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. Revisor Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,935 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $454,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares in the last quarter. Pure Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in Realty Income by 3.5% in the 2nd quarter. Pure Financial Advisors LLC now owns 5,519 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $318,000 after purchasing an additional 185 shares during the period. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC raised its position in Realty Income by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC now owns 15,503 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $899,000 after purchasing an additional 186 shares during the period. RB Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Realty Income by 1.1% in the second quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 16,596 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $956,000 after acquiring an additional 187 shares during the period. Finally, Associated Banc Corp boosted its stake in shares of Realty Income by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Associated Banc Corp now owns 10,252 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $595,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.81% of the companys stock. Realty Income Company Profile (Get Free Report Realty Income, The Monthly Dividend Company, is an S&P 500 company and member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index. We invest in people and places to deliver dependable monthly dividends that increase over time. The company is structured as a real estate investment trust (REIT), and its monthly dividends are supported by the cash flow from over 15,450 real estate properties (including properties acquired in the Spirit merger in January 2024) primarily owned under long-term net lease agreements with commercial clients. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Realty Income Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Realty Income and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Robert Half (NYSE:RHI Get Free Report) is anticipated to post its Q2 2025 quarterly earnings results after the market closes on Wednesday, July 23rd. Analysts expect Robert Half to post earnings of $0.45 per share and revenue of $1.35 billion for the quarter. Robert Half has set its Q2 2025 guidance at 0.360-0.460 EPS. Robert Half (NYSE:RHI Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The business services provider reported $0.17 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.36 by ($0.19). Robert Half had a return on equity of 14.54% and a net margin of 3.62%. The company had revenue of $1.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.41 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.61 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 8.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect Robert Half to post $2 EPS for the current fiscal year and $4 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Robert Half alerts: Robert Half Price Performance NYSE RHI opened at $41.83 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $4.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.91 and a beta of 1.00. The stocks 50-day moving average is $43.72 and its two-hundred day moving average is $51.97. Robert Half has a fifty-two week low of $39.61 and a fifty-two week high of $78.41. Robert Half Announces Dividend Institutional Trading of Robert Half The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 23rd were issued a dividend of $0.59 per share. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 23rd. Robert Halfs dividend payout ratio is currently 118.00%. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake in Robert Half by 2.5% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 304,359 shares of the business services providers stock worth $16,603,000 after buying an additional 7,523 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its position in Robert Half by 91.8% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 55,719 shares of the business services providers stock worth $3,039,000 after acquiring an additional 26,672 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada raised its stake in Robert Half by 19.3% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 38,352 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $2,092,000 after acquiring an additional 6,212 shares during the period. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its holdings in shares of Robert Half by 498.7% during the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 6,813 shares of the business services providers stock worth $372,000 after purchasing an additional 5,675 shares in the last quarter. 92.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts recently issued reports on RHI shares. Truist Financial set a $55.00 price objective on Robert Half and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. BNP Paribas Exane cut shares of Robert Half from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $45.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Friday, May 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Robert Half from $65.00 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Robert Half from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, June 6th. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Robert Half from $50.00 to $45.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $48.71. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Robert Half Robert Half Company Profile (Get Free Report) Robert Half Inc provides talent solutions and business consulting services in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company operates through Contract Talent Solutions, Permanent Placement Talent Solutions, and Protiviti segments. The Contract Talent Solutions segment provides contract engagement professionals in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal and administrative, and customer support. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Robert Half Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Robert Half and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. South Dakota Investment Council lessened its stake in Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE:HIMS Free Report) by 37.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 9,500 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,800 shares during the period. South Dakota Investment Councils holdings in Hims & Hers Health were worth $281,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Private Advisor Group LLC grew its holdings in Hims & Hers Health by 243.9% during the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 44,375 shares of the companys stock worth $1,311,000 after purchasing an additional 31,471 shares during the period. Diversify Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Hims & Hers Health by 7.1% in the 1st quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 42,984 shares of the companys stock worth $1,270,000 after acquiring an additional 2,856 shares during the last quarter. Fortis Group Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Hims & Hers Health in the 1st quarter worth about $1,019,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in Hims & Hers Health by 173.9% in the 1st quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 144,006 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,255,000 after buying an additional 91,427 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC raised its position in shares of Hims & Hers Health by 47.7% in the first quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 1,419 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 458 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 63.52% of the companys stock. Get Hims & Hers Health alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts recently issued reports on HIMS shares. Morgan Stanley reissued an equal weight rating and set a $40.00 price objective on shares of Hims & Hers Health in a report on Wednesday, June 11th. Citigroup reissued a sell rating on shares of Hims & Hers Health in a research note on Monday, June 23rd. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Hims & Hers Health from $22.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a hold rating on shares of Hims & Hers Health in a research report on Wednesday, May 7th. Finally, TD Cowen cut shares of Hims & Hers Health from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $44.00 to $30.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 29th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Hims & Hers Health presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $39.83. Hims & Hers Health Trading Down 5.4% Shares of NYSE:HIMS opened at $47.66 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $10.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 69.07, a PEG ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 2.02. Hims & Hers Health, Inc. has a 12 month low of $13.47 and a 12 month high of $72.98. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $53.82 and a 200 day moving average price of $42.04. Hims & Hers Health (NYSE:HIMS Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, May 5th. The company reported $0.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.12 by $0.08. Hims & Hers Health had a net margin of 9.24% and a return on equity of 22.75%. The company had revenue of $586.01 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $535.21 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.05 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 110.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Hims & Hers Health, Inc. will post 0.29 EPS for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling at Hims & Hers Health In related news, insider Soleil Boughton sold 2,572 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, July 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.82, for a total value of $122,993.04. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 158,165 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,563,450.30. This trade represents a 1.60% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Andrew Dudum sold 2,792 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.58, for a total transaction of $141,219.36. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 92,313 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,669,191.54. This trade represents a 2.94% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 647,183 shares of company stock worth $35,310,366 in the last 90 days. 17.71% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Hims & Hers Health Company Profile (Free Report) Hims & Hers Health, Inc operates a telehealth consultation platform. It connects consumers to healthcare professionals, enabling them to access medical care for mental health, sexual health, dermatology and primary care. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HIMS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE:HIMS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Hims & Hers Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hims & Hers Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the nineteen analysts that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $428.55. A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating and issued a $455.00 price target (up previously from $443.00) on shares of Stryker in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of Stryker from $390.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Monday, May 5th. Evercore ISI increased their price target on shares of Stryker from $390.00 to $415.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. JMP Securities reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Stryker in a research note on Monday, May 5th. Finally, Roth Mkm increased their price objective on shares of Stryker from $405.00 to $456.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Get Stryker alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Stryker Insider Buying and Selling Hedge Funds Weigh In On Stryker In related news, Director Ronda E. Stryker sold 200,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $376.96, for a total transaction of $75,392,000.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 3,417,326 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,288,195,208.96. This trade represents a 5.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Corporate insiders own 5.90% of the companys stock. A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Capital A Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Stryker in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Goodman Advisory Group LLC bought a new position in Stryker in the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. City Holding Co. increased its holdings in Stryker by 528.6% in the 1st quarter. City Holding Co. now owns 88 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 74 shares during the period. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Stryker in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Ridgewood Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of Stryker by 48.4% in the 2nd quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLC now owns 92 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. 77.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Stryker Stock Performance Shares of SYK opened at $387.58 on Thursday. Stryker has a 12 month low of $314.93 and a 12 month high of $406.19. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $385.67 and a 200 day simple moving average of $378.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $147.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 52.38, a PEG ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a current ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Stryker (NYSE:SYK Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The medical technology company reported $2.84 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.73 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $5.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.68 billion. Stryker had a net margin of 12.31% and a return on equity of 23.74%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 11.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.50 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Stryker will post 13.47 EPS for the current fiscal year. Stryker Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 31st. Investors of record on Monday, June 30th will be given a dividend of $0.84 per share. This represents a $3.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.87%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 30th. Strykers dividend payout ratio is 45.41%. Stryker Company Profile (Get Free Report Stryker Corporation operates as a medical technology company. The company operates through two segments, MedSurg and Neurotechnology, and Orthopaedics and Spine. The Orthopaedics and Spine segment provides implants for use in total joint replacements, such as hip, knee and shoulder, and trauma and extremities surgeries. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Stryker Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stryker and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its position in shares of Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL Free Report) by 3.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 19,478 shares of the basic materials companys stock after purchasing an additional 627 shares during the quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentuckys holdings in Ecolab were worth $4,938,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 15.6% in the 1st quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 5,576 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,414,000 after purchasing an additional 754 shares in the last quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE lifted its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE now owns 104,153 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $24,405,000 after purchasing an additional 1,249 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 19.3% in the 1st quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 120,176 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $30,467,000 after purchasing an additional 19,431 shares in the last quarter. BLI Banque de Luxembourg Investments bought a new position in shares of Ecolab in the 4th quarter worth $3,257,000. Finally, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Ecolab by 20.1% in the 1st quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 5,278 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,338,000 after purchasing an additional 884 shares in the last quarter. 74.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Ecolab alerts: Ecolab Trading Down 0.2% Shares of ECL opened at $268.29 on Tuesday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $264.96 and a 200 day moving average of $254.44. Ecolab Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $220.96 and a fifty-two week high of $274.17. The firm has a market cap of $76.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a current ratio of 1.32. Ecolab Announces Dividend Ecolab ( NYSE:ECL Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The basic materials company reported $1.50 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.50. Ecolab had a return on equity of 22.53% and a net margin of 13.41%. The company had revenue of $3.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.71 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.34 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Ecolab Inc. will post 7.54 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 17th were issued a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, June 17th. Ecolabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 35.33%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have weighed in on ECL shares. Mizuho raised their price objective on Ecolab from $285.00 to $305.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded Ecolab from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Barclays dropped their price objective on Ecolab from $300.00 to $275.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Redburn Atlantic cut Ecolab from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $270.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Monday, March 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company set a $260.00 price objective on Ecolab and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $288.33. View Our Latest Analysis on Ecolab Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director David Maclennan bought 500 shares of Ecolab stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 7th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $251.75 per share, with a total value of $125,875.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 19,465 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,900,313.75. This represents a 2.64% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.50% of the companys stock. Ecolab Company Profile (Free Report) Ecolab Inc provides water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Global Industrial; Global Institutional & Specialty; and Global Healthcare & Life Sciences. The Global Industrial segment offers water treatment and process applications, and cleaning and sanitizing solutions to manufacturing, food and beverage processing, transportation, chemical, metals and mining, power generation, pulp and paper, commercial laundry, petroleum, refining, and petrochemical industries. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ECL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ecolab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ecolab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. OneAscent Financial Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS Free Report) by 108.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,362 shares of the transportation companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,791 shares during the quarter. OneAscent Financial Services LLCs holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $588,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of UPS. 1ST Source Bank boosted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 2.2% during the 1st quarter. 1ST Source Bank now owns 5,548 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $610,000 after acquiring an additional 117 shares during the last quarter. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC raised its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 132.6% in the 1st quarter. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC now owns 8,787 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $966,000 after acquiring an additional 5,010 shares in the last quarter. Copperwynd Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service by 11.9% in the 1st quarter. Copperwynd Financial LLC now owns 2,305 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $254,000 after buying an additional 245 shares during the period. South Dakota Investment Council boosted its position in shares of United Parcel Service by 4.4% during the 1st quarter. South Dakota Investment Council now owns 122,984 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $13,527,000 after acquiring an additional 5,164 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Calton & Associates Inc. acquired a new position in shares of United Parcel Service in the first quarter worth $231,000. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get United Parcel Service alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have recently issued reports on UPS shares. Raymond James Financial reduced their target price on United Parcel Service from $145.00 to $130.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. UBS Group decreased their target price on United Parcel Service from $128.00 to $124.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Barclays cut their target price on United Parcel Service from $100.00 to $90.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 31st. Citigroup increased their price objective on United Parcel Service from $122.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have assigned a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, United Parcel Service presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $119.13. United Parcel Service Stock Down 0.4% Shares of United Parcel Service stock opened at $98.85 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $83.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.41, a PEG ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 1.21. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 52-week low of $90.55 and a 52-week high of $146.17. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The firms 50 day moving average price is $99.85 and its 200-day moving average price is $107.91. United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The transportation company reported $1.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.38 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $21.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.25 billion. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 40.15% and a net margin of 6.44%. The businesss revenue was down .9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.43 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current fiscal year. United Parcel Service Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 5th. Investors of record on Monday, May 19th were paid a dividend of $1.64 per share. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 19th. United Parcel Services dividend payout ratio is presently 95.63%. United Parcel Service Profile (Free Report) United Parcel Service, Inc, a package delivery company, provides transportation and delivery, distribution, contract logistics, ocean freight, airfreight, customs brokerage, and insurance services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of express letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UPS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for United Parcel Service Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United Parcel Service and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO Free Report) by 18.5% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 22,402 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after buying an additional 3,503 shares during the quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLCs holdings in Valero Energy were worth $2,959,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of VLO. Sendero Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Valero Energy by 11.0% in the 1st quarter. Sendero Wealth Management LLC now owns 20,198 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,668,000 after buying an additional 2,000 shares during the period. Applied Finance Capital Management LLC increased its position in Valero Energy by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Applied Finance Capital Management LLC now owns 178,293 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $21,857,000 after buying an additional 5,203 shares during the period. AlTi Global Inc. increased its position in Valero Energy by 18.2% in the 4th quarter. AlTi Global Inc. now owns 64,793 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $8,585,000 after buying an additional 9,963 shares during the period. Trexquant Investment LP increased its position in Valero Energy by 1,930.4% in the 4th quarter. Trexquant Investment LP now owns 113,603 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $13,927,000 after buying an additional 108,008 shares during the period. Finally, Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC increased its position in Valero Energy by 130.0% in the 4th quarter. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 7,884 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $967,000 after buying an additional 4,456 shares during the period. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Valero Energy alerts: Valero Energy Stock Performance NYSE:VLO opened at $146.09 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $45.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 51.62, a PEG ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 1.00. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $136.65 and a 200 day simple moving average of $130.18. The company has a current ratio of 1.56, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. Valero Energy Corporation has a 1-year low of $99.00 and a 1-year high of $167.78. Valero Energy Dividend Announcement Valero Energy ( NYSE:VLO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The oil and gas company reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.27). The firm had revenue of $28.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.54 billion. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 6.30% and a net margin of 0.72%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.82 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 31st will be issued a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 31st. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.09%. Valero Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 159.72%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have recently weighed in on VLO. Scotiabank decreased their price objective on Valero Energy from $156.00 to $136.00 and set a sector outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 11th. Wolfe Research lowered Valero Energy from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Monday, July 14th. TD Cowen decreased their price target on Valero Energy from $121.00 to $118.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Valero Energy from $151.00 to $168.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Valero Energy from $152.00 to $147.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $152.40. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Valero Energy About Valero Energy (Free Report) Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, Mexico, Peru, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VLO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Valero Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Valero Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A Limavady woman says her alternative style and way of life has inspired her to set up her own business. Earlier this month, Sarah-Jane Kee decided to open her own gift shop on Limavadys Main Street. Scarlett Jayne Accessories was established after the mum saw a niche in the market for a shop which sells a wide range of alternative gifts. Speaking to the County Derry Post she said: I saw a need for an alternative gift shop, when I was out looking for gifts for people and noticed there was nothing I was really into. So I decided to set one up myself. Before that I had been doing markets all over the county in places like Brooke Hall and Estate, Limavady markets, and St Columb's Hall. I kept buying more things so it got to the point where I needed a shop. So I saw the unit where I am now and I thought Ill go for that. Sarah Jane says her opening hours cater for those working during the day. I do still have another job so this is a side project. I usually open in the evenings when I can and that seems to be working well for people, especially with most people working during the day it is handy for them. The street is empty and there is lots of parking for people which is good. The shop was really good on a Saturday. It is doing so much better than I thought. I didn't expect it to be so busy. There have been a lot of people that have come in and said it is great to see a shop like this in Limavady. They felt like that was missing here and now we have it. The stuff I sell is different and quirky and people tend to like that. I love the diffusers and things like that. Everything Ive bought is things I like. There are also a few local designers stuff here which is really nice to see. People like to support locals too. The Limavady woman says she has always been interested in the alternative style and way of life. Coming from a typical Christian Northern Irish background Sarah-Jane was worried about how it may be perceived to be selling things of a more alternative nature but the reception from everyone in the community has been supportive. Talking about her style Sarah-Jane continued: I just naturally picked up the style and was interested in it. None of my friends at school or anything were into it and I sort of hid my style for a while, I was worried about how I would be perceived. When I hit 30 I just forgot about all that, just decided to go for it. If I want to be me and like what I like, I will. My husband and now my kids are really into rock music, I love seeing that in them expressing that when they are younger now, I was always hiding it. Sarah-Jane hopes to build a community from the shop in the future. Ive started to see a lot of people like me, with the same style and interests coming in which is lovely. There is a unit free beside me and it is going to be a pop up for other crafters. That will be great to build a community. I would also love to have somebody here doing card readings and have a crafting day at Halloween where we can all connect and come together to make witches brooms, even have workshops where kids can come and make their own dreamcatchers. Scarlett Jayne Accessories offers a wide range of alternative gifts including, candles, ornaments, jewellery and clothing. The shop is located on 15 Main Street, Limavady and opens Monday, Tuesday & Friday 4pm-8pm, Thursday 12pm-6pm, Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 1pm-4pm. You can find them on Facebook @Sarah-Jane Kee, Instagram @scarlett_jayne_accessories and Tik Tok @Scarlett Jayne Limavady Award-winning journalist and author Peter Taylor will take part in a special evening of conversation as part of Feile Derry 2025's debates and discussions programme. Mr Taylor will be joined by former political prisoner, hunger striker and Sinn Fein elected representative Raymond McCartney for an in-depth conversation about the story behind the headlines. The event will take place on August 11 at 7pm at Culturlann Ui Chanain. The two men first met in 1990 in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh during the filming of Enemies Within - a documentary by Steve Hewlett that featured interviews with both republican and loyalist prisoners. Raymond McCartney Peter Taylor has spent over five decades reporting on the conflict in Ireland, documenting the people, the politics, and the long path to peace. His acclaimed trilogy - Provos, Loyalists and Brits - is widely seen as a definitive account of the conflict from all sides. His reporting for ITVs This Week, Panorama and other BBC programmes brought deeper understanding to many of the key events in our recent history. Mr Taylor's connection to Derry goes back over 50 years. He first visited the city on the night of Bloody Sunday in January 1972 and became a frequent visitor in the decades that followed, developing close relationships with figures such as Martin McGuinness and Brendan Duddy. Tickets for this event are free and can be accessed here: eventbrite.co.uk/e/peter-taylor-in-conversation-with-raymond-mccartney-tickets-1478091364059 This conversation with Raymond McCartney is one of the key highlights of Feile 2025s biggest-ever programme, with hundreds of events taking place right across the city from August 6 to 15. The full programme can be viewed at: feilederry.com/feile-2025 Cross-cultural charms turn China's border regions into tourism hotspots Xinhua) 14:52, July 22, 2025 HOHHOT, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Domed ceiling painted with cherubs decorates the airport. Castle-like facades line the boulevards, and oversized matryoshka doll-shaped hotels loom overhead. This place may look like a Russian fairytale town, but it's actually a city in China. Located in northern China's Inner Mongolia and bordering both Russia and Mongolia, Manzhouli City has long served as China's largest land port and a key hub for cross-border trade. Once dependent on commerce, it is now embracing a new growth engine -- tourism -- as its unique cultural charm and streamlined customs procedures draw an increasing number of visitors. For tourists, no trip is complete without a photo at the national boundary marker. At the Manzhouli border gate scenic area, tourists gather to snap pictures with the landmark, explore exhibits tracing the city's border history, and stock up on Russian grain cookies, honey and binoculars, all without ever leaving Chinese soil. "Just over that narrow strip of land is another country," said Liu Hongchao, a tourist from Henan Province, gesturing toward the border as his friends snapped photos. "It feels surreal to see two nations at once." The influx of visitors is reshaping the city's character. At the China-Russia border tourism zone -- a 5A-rated attraction, the highest in China -- visitors flock into the iconic matryoshka hotel for selfies, browse bustling souvenir stalls, and often stay the night. The local Russian circus plays to packed audiences of Chinese tourists. In the city center, a restaurant called Xinlidu regularly sees lines out the door, even on weekdays, with diners from both China and Russia. This boom is benefiting not only locals but also Russian businesses. At a tourism zone in Manzhouli, Victoria, who sells amber jewelry, speaks little Chinese but skillfully haggles with customers using a calculator. Referring to her Chinese partners as "like brothers," she says the city "feels like a second home." Manzhouli is part of a growing tourism trend. Sharing land borders with 14 countries, China's border regions are increasingly reinventing themselves as attractive tourist destinations. At Heishantou Port in Erguna City, Inner Mongolia's northernmost point, visitors can enjoy a river cruise that glides alongside the Russian border. Meanwhile, in Horgos, Xinjiang, a cross-border cooperation zone near Kazakhstan, border crossings surged by more than 70 percent year on year from January to mid-July. On Xiaohongshu, China's popular lifestyle social platform, the topic "border ports" has attracted nearly 4 million views, with users sharing tips on hidden gems like where to find the finest Russian honey, how to capture the perfect photo at the border marker, and which restaurants serve the most authentic foreign cuisine. A tourist from Jiangsu Province, reflecting on a visit to three Inner Mongolian border checkpoints, summed it up simply on social media: "Standing at that border gate, I felt a rush of pride. Here, two worlds meet, and you feel deeply, unshakably Chinese." To fuel this momentum, China has encouraged its border regions to develop pilot zones for border tourism and cross-border cooperation areas. On June 1, revised national border tourism regulations came into effect, aiming to enhance cross-border collaboration and foster unique, attractive destinations. The geographical location endows border cities with unique tourism resources and development advantages, said Gao Shunli, a researcher at the tourism research center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "With professional development based on local conditions, these regions can become 'blue-chip stocks' in the tourism market." Enditem (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Three men have been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrates' Court today charged in connection with several robberies and assaults in the city centre on July 20. Ryan Doherty (23) of Clon Dara was charged with stealing beer valued at 15, criminal damage, assaults on police and criminal damage to an electronic tag. Martin Trevor Stokes (19) of Cornshell Fields in Derry was charged with robbing a shop in Waterloo Place, assaulting police, stealing beer and two assaults again on July 20. Patrick Kelly (18) of Northland Road was charged with robbery of a shop, retention of stolen goods and two assaults. A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail. Doherty did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody until August 14. The court was told that on July 20 two men entered an off licence and were told they were not going to be served due to an earlier incident. One of the men lifted a case of beer and walked out without paying. The second man then pushed over three cases of beer causing them to smash. Police observed three men walking nearby with a case of beer and drinking from cans. When they stopped two of the men ran off leaving Doherty. At around 10pm two men were said to have entered a shop in Waterloo Street and threatened staff demanding money. Staff were able to give a description of the men and Stokes and Kelly were identified and CCTV from the off licence also resulted in them being identified. Shortly after they were arrested a woman came forward to say she had been racially abused by two men before being pushed over. Another man came forward to say he had been assaulted by two men as he walked across the Peace Bridge. Both Kelly and Stokes made no comment interviews when questioned by police. As regards Stokes the court heard that he had 57 previous convictions and 9 breaches of bail and there was a 'clear risk' of reoffending. Defence counsel Sinead Rogan for Stokes said the offences were going to be denied. She said that her client had been granted bail by the High Court and added that it would be some time before this case came to court. As regards Kelly the court heard that he had 41 previous convictions with 17 breaches of bail. Defence counsel Stephen Chapman said that his client was not currently on bail but did accept that he had several suspended sentences hanging over him. District Judge Conor Heaney said these were 'very serious offences' and added that Kelly had allegedly committed these offences within days of receiving a suspended sentence. He said as regards Stokes there would be no way he could be managed with conditions. Bail was refused and both men were remanded in custody to appear again on August 14. Derry based Ballymagroarty Hazelbank Community Partnership (BHCP) is extending vital support for children and young people through its Read and Feed initiative. Following a successful school year of homework clubs and personalised tuition, BHCP has received a 1,000 grant from Tesco as part of the Stronger Starts scheme to launch a Read and Feed Summer School and ensure children continue to thrive during the holidays. Launched in September 2024, the Read and Feed programme has already made a significant impact across the community. To date, 36 pupils from Holy Family Primary and Nursery School, St Eithnes Primary School, Gaelscoil Na Daroige, and St Marys College have benefited from tailored support in Maths, English, Science, transfer test preparation and GCSE tuition. Sessions take place at the Read and Feed Hub at 14 Synge Court, Ballymagroarty, where pupils not only receive academic help but also enjoy a hot meal. Ingredients for meals are sourced from the FreshLife social supermarket, which relies on donations from local supermarkets including Tesco. This sustainable approach both reduces food waste and tackles food poverty, making the service accessible to more families while reinforcing BHCPs commitment to community wellbeing. Recent feedback from participating pupils has underlined the programmes success. A survey revealed that 96% of students improved their school attendance, and 87% reported a better attitude and effort towards schoolwork, especially homework. Encouraged by these results and following requests from families, the BHCP team is now running the Read and Feed Summer School, combining fun, learning through play, and continued support in reading and core subjects. Emer McDaid, Manager at Ballymagroarty Hazelbank Community Partnership, said: The support from Tesco Stronger Starts scheme has been instrumental in enabling us to deliver vital services for families, children, and young people in our community. With their help, weve been able to provide not just educational support, but also nutritious meals and a welcoming space, making a real difference to wellbeing and learning. The Read and Feed Summer School has opened its doors this month, continuing BHCPs mission to support childrens educational journeys while helping families navigate the challenges of school holiday hunger. The Stronger Starts scheme, in partnership with the Groundwork charity, aims to support many Northern Ireland community projects and good causes in the coming years, with thousands of pounds to give away. Claire De Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said: Were delighted that we can help charities like the BHCP. Stronger Starts invites our customers to use their blue tokens to vote for local schemes they feel will benefit people of all ages, and its so good to see the impact that the funding makes. NI shoppers can support their local schools and charities by dropping the Tesco blue token they receive at checkout into the relevant voting box as they leave the store. READ NEXT: Journalist Peter Taylor in conversation with Derry's Raymond McCartney at Feile 2025 For further information on how to make a difference at Tesco stores across NI, please click here. Leading Derry dissident republican Thomas Ashe Mellon has been given a conditional discharge after being convicted of three breaches of the Counter Terrorism legislation. Mellon (49) of Rathmore Road in Derry faced three charges of failing to notify police in regards to financial arrangements on dates between July 19 2019 and October 22 2024. At today's sitting of Derry Magistrate's Court the court heard that the factual basis of the evidence was agreed. Defence counsel Stephen Mooney said the first country related to an old credit card that Mellon was supposed to declare within three days and he had failed to do so but had declared it on June 15 2024. The barrister said that in the interim the defendant had not been spoken to by police. As regards the second charge Mr Mooney said it related to an old Bank of Ireland account that had not been active since March 2019. He said the only activity on the account was the addition of interest in pennies by the bank. He added that the account contained around 10 and Mellon had 'simply forgotten about it'. The barrister said the third charge related to a Post Office account and Mellon had written to them to close that account. Mr Mooney said given the purpose behind the Counter Terrorism legislation these offences were 'at the bottom end of the scale'. He said Mellon had been subject to the 'onerous' conditions of the legislation for almost 10 years and had generally honoured them. READ NEXT: Number of police officers in Derry assaulted in separate incidents Mellon was given a conditional discharge for 12 months. There is a risk of damage to confidence in the Omagh Bombing Inquiry if the bereaved families are refused their request for a special advocate for closed hearings, it has been argued. The families say a special advocate will be able to represent their interests in closed hearings where evidence is deemed sensitive, including in terms of national security. The probe is examining whether the 1998 atrocity in the Co Tyrone town could have been prevented. Some 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, were killed when the Real IRA exploded a car bomb on a busy Saturday afternoon in Omagh. The inquiry is sitting this week in Belfast to hear arguments over the application for special advocates for the survivors and bereaved families. Hugh Southey KC, acting for a number of survivors and bereaved families, also contended former chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan would appear to be at an advantage over them. He also raised that counsel for the inquiry would have to look after the interests of a number of people who are excluded from the closed proceedings, who have potentially quite conflicting interests. Everybody thinks that the inquiry is capable of doing a good job. Everybody thinks the counsel to the inquiry are experienced in this field. Everybody thinks theyre very well qualified. Everybody thinks theyre very diligent, but we need the second tier of representation, he added. Everyone recognises that large key parts of this process are likely to be closed . its frustrating for the individuals, because they want to know the truth. They want to know that whatever findings may be made are reliable. They would normally be able to do that in one sense, by attending, by viewing, by making sure that they see what questions are asked. They can follow the process and then have confidence in the outcome, when things go into closed they they cant do that. But if they have someone who they have confidence in, who is present, who is, effectively, saying there is no problem here, that adds to confidence in the process, particularly in circumstances where, as I say, the state parties are present, the state parties will have that advantage. Ian Skelt KC, acting for Sir Ronnie, said his client is entirely sympathetic to the requests of the families and acknowledges why they seek and why they feel that there is a need for the appointment of special advocates. He said Sir Ronnie does not seek a special advocate for himself, but acknowledged that having been chief constable at the time of the bombing, he had the authority at that time to view much of the closed material. However, Mr Skelt said if Sir Ronnie is excluded from the closed processes, he may have to ask for some person to represent his interest in closed process beyond the assistance that would be given by the inquiry legal team. Alan Kane KC, representing another group of survivors and bereaved families, said they would like their own special advocate for closed hearings. Their wish would be to see all the relevant evidence after 26 years, however if there must be closed material, then we say that it should, where possible, be kept to a minimum, and if judgments are to be made then close calls must fall on the side of disclosure rather than being hidden from our families view, he said. They view a special advocate not as some special bonus or as a challenge to the inquiry legal team but as something that should be granted as they see it, as an additional assistance to them in shining light on any material which is withheld as closed by the state authorities. They have that legitimate interest we say, and that certainly is a matter of not only public confidence but in particular the confidence of the families. Fintan McAleer, who represents another group of survivors and bereaved families, said they endorsed the submissions made so far. Inquiry chair Lord Turnbull asked Mr McAleer about a point made in written submissions that the deep mistrust and suspicion of the state that exists in this country will never be fully allayed unless its confirmed that every single document and piece of information is placed into the open. Why do you tell me that every single document, piece of information needs to be placed into the open, the chair asked. Mr McAleer responded saying they respect the powers and the processes of the inquiry, but they wanted to reflect the effect of scepticism based on the experience of the core participants. The series of revelations over the years since the bomb have served to undermine their trust in the state, he added. Were simply trying to convey the aspiration of the core participants we represent is that this inquiry should be in public in everything that it does, we accept there is a limitation on that, and that paragraph is an attempt to address that. Meanwhile Michael Mansfield KC, who represents the family of the late campaigner Laurence Rush, whose wife Elizabeth was killed in the bomb, said they are not asking for a special advocate to be appointed for them. They voiced concern about the possibility of delay to proceedings. The hearings continue. Taiwan VP weighs in on US tariff threat Taiwanese Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao has expressed her stance on the US imposition of Section 232 tariffs for the first time, pointing out that the US and Taiwan ultimately have the same goal. Section 232 tariff investigation ongoing The US Federal Government, under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, imposed a 25% import tariff on steel and aluminum products, cars, and auto parts due to national security. Starting August 1, a 50% tariff will also be imposed on copper products. At present, semiconductors are temporarily exempted from Section 232 tariffs, pending the results of an investigation by the US Department of Commerce (DOC). Huai-shing Yen, the deputy trade representative at the Office of Trade Negotiations under the Executive Yuan in Taiwan, said in Taiwan's Legislative Yuan that the DOC is leading the Section 232 investigations and the findings will be reported to US President Donald Trump. Taiwanese officials have already expressed to the DOC that imposing Section 232 tariffs on Taiwanese semiconductors could undermine the cooperative relationship between the US and Taiwan in the semiconductor industry. In response to questions from foreign journalists stationed in Taiwan, Vice President Hsiao said that whether the discussion is about reciprocal tariffs or the Section 232 investigation on semiconductor trade, the ultimate goal is the sameto create prosperity through reciprocity. Taiwan's competitive, unique ecosystem Hsiao pointed out that Trump has once again emphasized his goal to "make America great again," and, similarly, Taiwan's goal is to become stronger. A strong and economically powerful Taiwan is beneficial to the world, as Taiwan has long been a reliable and sustainable contributor to the global supply chain. In response to foreign media inquiries regarding whether Taiwan is worried about losing its strategic advantage in the global semiconductor industry with TSMC building factories overseas, Hsiao said that manufacturers have established a very robust industry ecosystem in Taiwan, made up of thousands of large, mid-size, small, and micro suppliers. It is this ecosystem that makes Taiwan competitive and unique in the global market. This ecosystem is difficult to replicate elsewhere in the world because it is not only cost-effective and efficient, but also competitive and reliable. Hsiao emphasized that the global demand for chips and technology, including the products that Taiwan can supply, is growing significantly. When new market demand emerges or customers want to expand or localize production, the government believes that Taiwan's industries will make the appropriate adjustments to meet customer demand and expand globally. Preventing Taiwan tech from being used against Taiwan Hsiao also addressed Nvidia restarting exports of Taiwan-made H20 AI chips to China and whether it will contribute to China's AI development and be used to threaten Taiwan. Hsiao said that while she could not speak on behalf of any foreign governments or companies, or even Taiwanese companies, from a macro perspective, Nvidia has always been an important partner of Taiwan. Taiwan's technology ecosystem has long been a reliable supplier to top US companies, including leading tech companies like Nvidia. This is precisely what Taiwan hopes to continue contributing to the world through various trade and investment arrangements. According to Hsiao, on the topic of AI and technology export controls, the ultimate goal is to ensure that technology developed and produced in Taiwan will not be used to jeopardize Taiwan's security. The resilience and strength of Taiwan's industry ecosystem remain unique advantages, and the Taiwanese government is committed to ensuring that policy, regulatory environment, talent development, and skills training all meet future industry needs. Article edited by Jack Wu 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. Subscriber content preview SEATTLE (AP) Alaska Airlines has resumed flights after the failure of a critical piece of hardware forced the airline to ground all its planes for approximately three hours. The carrier issued a system-wide ground stop for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air flights around 8 p.m. Pacific time Sunday. The stop was lifted at 11 p.m. . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE Two neighboring apartment buildings in the Bitter Lake area sold last week for about $6.3 million, according to King County records. The sellers were two LLCs associated with Edmonds investors. They acquired the duo in 2012 and 2015 for about $4.5 million. . . . Subscriber content preview Photos from Irons Brothers Construction [enlarge] Irons Brothers Construction took home the coveted Peoples Choice Award for the remodel of a former eye clinic in Shoreline into its new headquarters. The Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) recently announced the winners of its annual BIAW Excellence in Remodeling (EIR) Awards, celebrating the best remodeling and design work by BIAW members statewide. . . . 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. A plan to cut VAT for hospitality to 9% in Ireland is predicted to cost up to a billion euro for a year, which is around two thirds of the 1.5 billion euro tax package. The Irish Government said that Budget 2026 will bring in 1.5 billion euro of tax cuts, however the size of the package could reduce if there is a deterioration in the tariff landscape. Announcing the Summer Economic Statement, which sets out the Governments spending and tax cuts plans, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said that increasing the tax package is not the right thing to do. The Budget Day package, set to be announced of October 7, will be 9.4 billion euro. This will comprise spending of 7.9 billion euro and taxation measures amounting to 1.5 billion euro. Overall spending across current capital will increase by 7.3% for next year. If the Government commits to its pledge to cut the VAT rate for hospitality, it will cost around one billion euro, Mr Donohoe said on Tuesday. Our Budget Day decisions could change depending on the economic environment we find ourselves in during the summer and beyond, he added. It would not be right to grow the scale of our tax package with everything that we are confronting at the moment. Our economy, just by seeing income grow, generates between 1.3 and 1.5 billion euro each year. If we were to have a bigger tax package than that, I dont believe it would be the right thing to do, given all we are confronting, but the exact component of what the tax package would be and the other tax measures that would be in it, I cant answer that question until Budget Day. I mean the Summer Economic Statement lays out the amount of money that will be available. It never lays out the detail of any one measure. Mr Donohoe warned that the figures published on Tuesday are based on a no-tariff scenario imposed by the United States. The statement does not set out how the budget will be effected by any change in tariffs, but states that the Government will recalibrate its fiscal strategy, adding that it will reduce the size of the package. Mr Donohoe published the figures alongside Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers. Our Budget Day decisions could change depending on the economic environment we find ourselves in during the summer and beyond, he said. He said all they can see is change and risk around the uncertainty of trade, investment and politics. Of course, none of this is positive for the economy of the world, and by extension, therefore, for Ireland, Mr Donohoe added. This is most evident in the debates and negotiations that are under way with regard to trade, which is why us, within the European Union and the (EU) Commission on our behalf, will be redoubling our efforts to negotiate a better deal with regard to trade between the EU between now and August 1. Because of all of this, its very clear that were at a moment of significant transition to the economy of the world, and even for the economy. But notwithstanding all of this, our economy continues to grow. In the first quarter of 2025, our economy grew by almost 3% after a year of strong growth in 2024, and where that strong performance is most evident is in the number of people at work in our country. Mr Donohoe said it is very likely that negotiations between the EU and the US will reach a conclusion in the coming weeks. However, he said the Governments intention is to be flexible in its approach to Budget Day. Our overwhelming priority is to maintain our public capital investment, in particular the figures that will be outlined by Minister Chambers, Mr Donohoe added. However, should economic or budget conditions change, we will amend other elements of budget policy to ensure we get the balance right. Minister Chambers and I, in consultation with the party leaders, will continue to assess that balance in the weeks ahead. I emphasise that point because Minister Chambers and I are very much aware that we are publishing this statement and committing to a National Development Plan at a moment of uncertainty. We know an antidote to some of that uncertainty is certainty regarding our investment plans, and that is what is being outlined here today. We can do so because our economy is resilient. Mr Chambers said the Government is having to navigate serious economic uncertainty. If theres a serious economic deterioration, we absolutely will have to revisit what were setting out today to be responsible and agile in the context of changing our global position, and we agree on that, he added So this is very much caveated by what could happen in the coming weeks, and we wont make decisions that arent sustainable or affordable for the Irish economy. He added: While capital expenditure will increase by two billion euro in line with the National Development Plan review, this will result in total available current expenditure of 97.5 billion euro, and capital expenditure of 19.1 billion euro in 2026. It will be against this backdrop that budget negotiations will commence with the individual departments in the coming weeks. The expenditure ceilings for 2026 will facilitate a budget that will provide for enhanced public service delivery and increased capital investment in critical infrastructure under the new and renewed National Development Plan. At the same time, given the profound global economic uncertainty, its crucial we moderate current spending and provide permanent and sustainable investment, as well as focusing on addressing our infrastructure deficits. Cllr Dolores Minogue has said that Louth and rural Ireland must not be left behind in the new National Development Plan and that rural communities need to "thrive and not just survive". In comments to the Dundalk Democrat in relation to the Government's National Development Plan, Cathaoirleach of Ardee Municipal District, Cllr Minogue, said that "as we start the process of the new Development Plan, we must be aware that rural Ireland cannot be left behind and in this case Louth. I fully support my colleague [Fine Gael Deputy] Joe Cooney, when he says "we must not leave rural Ireland behind in the new Development Plan". Cllr Minogue continued: "I would fully agree with him, For too long many of our smaller towns villages have been overlooked when it comes to investment in infrastructure services and connectivity. "The upcoming development plan must do more to support rural communities not just in words, but in action. By making our rural areas more accessible and better connected we given a fighting chance to our local schools, GAA clubs, community halls and small businesses. These are the cornerstones of rural life, and without them, the hearts of our communities begin to fade." Read also: O Murchu slams health service gap in Louth The Ardee councillor added, "it's not enough to talk about balance regional development, we need to see tangible investment in roads, broadband, public transport, and housing that supports families to stay and build their lives locally. A well-developed rural development strategy will help ensure our young people don't feel forced to leave for opportunities elsewhere." Referring to Louth, Cllr Minogue further added, "if we want rural Ireland, to thrive not just survive then the next development plan must deliver on the promise of equality, sustainability, and long-term viability for all our communities." Louth Sinn Fein representative for Dundalk-Carlingford, Cllr Fiona Mhic Conchoille has welcomed the support received for a motion she brought before Louth County Council at its July meeting, calling on the Central Bank of Ireland to immediately stop the regulation of the Israeli Bond Issuance Programme. Cllr Mhic Conchoille's motion stated: "That Louth County Council is concerned that the Central Bank of Ireland is facilitating the selling of Israeli War Bonds which are funding the genocide in Gaza. "Louth County Council notes that in January 2024 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) confirmed the plausibility of the charge of genocide against Israel and in June of that year, the UN's International Commission of Inquiry on Palestine found that Israel's actions in Gaza 'constitute war crimes of willful killing and mistreatment, and the crime against humanity of extermination'. "The following month, in July, an ICJ ruling declared that Israel is committing the crime of apartheid and its entire regime of military occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal and must end immediately. "All institutions are under a moral and legal obligation under the Genocide Convention, International human rights and CFT legislation, under Irish Human Rights Law and Ireland as a neutral country must not act in any way to facilitate these bonds. "This Council therefore calls on the Central Bank of Ireland to immediately end the regulation of the Israeli Bond Issuance Programme." Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Mhic Conchoille said: this is not simply a matter of foreign policy or financial regulationit is a matter of human conscience, of international law and of Irelands moral standing in the world. Ireland must not be complicit in the funding of war crimes. Read also: Dundalk IT hosts hands-on computing summer camps for secondary students Cllr Mhic Conchoille described how we are: witnessing, in real time, one of the most devastating humanitarian catastrophes in recent history. Entire families have been wiped out. Hospitals, schools, and refugee camps have been reduced to rubble. As of this month, tens of thousands of civilians, many of them children, have lost their lives in Gaza. In January 2024, the International Court of Justice found the case that Israel is committing genocide to be plausible. In June of the same year, the UNs Commission of Inquiry confirmed that Israels actions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, including extermination and the following month of July, the ICJ declared that Israel is committing apartheid, and that its entire military occupation of Palestinian land is illegal and must end. These are not fringe opinions, Cllr MhicConchoille continued. These are the findings of the most respected international legal institutions of the world and under the Genocide Convention, every country, including Ireland, is obligated not only to avoid being complicit but to actively prevent genocide. The Central Bank of Ireland continues to regulate and facilitate the sale of Israeli War Bonds. These bonds finance the very regime and military operations that the ICJ and UN have condemned in the strongest possible terms. It was shocking and disgraceful to discover that Irelands Strategic Investment Fund held Israeli bonds, whose value actually increased from 2 million to over 3 million in 2024. Israel does not hide the fact that its bonds are tied to funding its on-going slaughter in Gaza and both ISIF and the Government were aware of this. We would never allow bonds to be sold here funding the Genocide in Rwanda or the ethnic cleansing of Bosnia. Why should we allow it for Gaza? Ireland is a neutral country. But neutrality does not mean silence. Silence is complicity. Inconsistency is hypocrisy. Accountability must be universal. Whilst acknowledging that the Central Bank operates independently Cllr Mhic Conchoille pointed out that independence does not mean immunity from ethical and legal responsibility. This is not about politics. It is about people. It is about children buried under rubble. Families grieving in silence. Laws being shattered in broad daylight. What is happening in Gaza is a disgrace to humanity! We must send a clear and principled message: Louth will not remain silent. "We have a duty to speak out when Irish institutions are complicit - knowingly or unknowingly- in grave breaches of international law. We are calling for compliance with international law and with Irelands core values and to stand on the right side of history. A vibrant evening of celebration unfolded at the Fairways Hotel as the staff and students of O Fiaich Institute of Further Education and Training (FET) came together to mark the 2025 Graduation Ceremony. Over 800 graduates were joined by their proud families and friends, commemorating a major milestone in their academic and personal journeys. Learners from a wide variety of Further Education programmes received QQI and ITEC qualifications, achievements that will support their progression into university or entry directly into the workforce. Animal Science & Care The growing appeal of further education continues to attract Leaving Certificate students, offering practical and accessible pathways to careers and higher learning. The ceremony was filled with emotion and pride, as learners were applauded for their dedication, persistence, and personal growth throughout their time at the Institute. Sadie Ward McDermott, Director of Further Education and Training in LMETB, spoke of the graduates determination to make the most of the opportunities available to them and their readiness to take on the challenges of an evolving job market. Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Science A particularly inspiring element of the evening was the recognition of learners, many of whom returned to education to reskill or embark on entirely new career paths. Padraig Mc Govern, Principal of OFI, spoke of the courage and determination that stood out as a testament to the idea that learning is a lifelong pursuit, no matter ones age or background. Looking ahead, O Fiaich Institute of FET is set to launch over 60 diverse courses in September 2025, reaffirming its commitment to delivering high-quality education tailored to modern industry demands. Conor Rafferty, Deputy Principal of OFI, stated how FET continues to prepare students for dynamic roles across a wide range of sectors, equipping them with the skills and confidence to thrive. Business & Computing Student of the Year, Conor Mc Cabe The evening concluded on a high note with the presentation of special awards in Information Technology, Sports, and Academic Achievement. The event also celebrated those learners who were lucky to take part in the Erasmus Programme. These learners travelled to Spain and Malta for two weeks during the college year to independently live, work and experience life in another country. This fully funded trip was an experience of a lifetime! Computer Science & Mobile Apps For those considering their next steps in education, O Fiaich Institute of FET is now accepting applications for the upcoming academic year. Interested students can apply online at www.ofi.ie and begin their own transformative journey in further education. *Sponsored Content The European Health Insurance Card This allows you to access public healthcare in another EU/EEA state for free or at a reduced rate. You can use it when you are travelling abroad or staying temporarily in another EU State. Each family member needs their own card. It does not cover private healthcare and does not replace travel insurance. It lasts up to four years. When abroad, always carry your EHIC with you. There is no fee for card. To apply, complete an application form and send it to your Local Health Office. You can download the form or pick one up from your local Citizens Information Centre. If you have a medical card or drug payment scheme card, you can apply online. If you already had an EHIC but it has expired, you can renew it online if you have your old EHIC number and your PPS number, provided that your address has not changed. If you dont have your European Health Insurance Card for any reason, you can get a Temporary Replacement Certificate, giving you the same entitlement, but for a shorter period. You can apply online for this also. In some EU member states, you may have to make some payment towards the cost of the services you receive, just as people in that state do. You will not receive a refund for this or for private healthcare. Passport The Passport Service processes Passport Online applications as a priority - the fastest way of getting it. Simple online renewals take around 10 working days to process. Complex ones - when you are asked to submit extra documentation, or you are changing information on your passport - take around 15 working days. If you are applying by post, using a paper application form, allow at least eight weeks for your application to be processed (not including postage times). This period may be extended at certain times of the year. If you are applying for your first Irish passport as an adult, the processing times are longer. The counter service at the Passport Office is mainly designed to help people who need passports urgently, and dont have enough time to apply in other ways. In these cases, you should book an appointment with the Passport Office in Dublin or Cork. Applications in person are more expensive than applying online or through Post Passport. First time applications cannot be made using an Urgent Appointment. The quickest way to apply for the first time is to use Passport Online. If you are an Irish citizen living in Ireland and you have lost your Irish passport, or it has been stolen, you must let the Passport Office know immediately and report the loss or theft to the Garda Siochana. If you lose your passport or it is stolen abroad, you must contact the local police and request a written statement that you have reported the loss of your passport. The Passport Service will not provide you with a new travel document without a police report. In addition, you must contact your nearest Irish embassy or consulate. They may be able to give you a replacement passport that will let you finish your trip, or an emergency travel document that will get you home If you are in a country where there is no Irish representation, you may contact an embassy or consulate of another EU member state. In some cases, they may issue you with an EU Emergency Travel Document (ETD). The Passport Service still offer a same-day emergency service if you need a passport due to a medical emergency or the death of a family member abroad. Contact the Passport Service by phone 01 671 1633 or by webchat if you need a passport in an emergency. The Passport Service must get consent from all the childs guardians before it can issue a childs passport. If you are not in touch with your childs other parent or guardian, or if they refuse to give consent, you can apply to the District Court for a court order, which will allow the Passport Service to issue the passport without that consent. The situation is different if you are the sole guardian. You have to provide an affidavit (AFF 1) stating this is rthe case. This should be completed in the presence of a solicitor or Commissioner for Oaths. If the other parent or guardian is deceased, you will also have to provide a death certificate. Air travel Air passengers have specific consumer rights under European law. You have a right to get assistance from your air carrier and may be entitled to compensation in some cases - if you are denied boarding against your will, your flight is cancelled, your flight is delayed or you are downgraded The law applies to all passengers departing from an EU/EEA airport. It also applies to passengers departing from an airport outside of the EU/EEA but arriving at an EU/EEA airport on an EU/EEA licensed carrier (unless they have already received compensation or assistance in that non-EU/EEA country). If you are denied boarding because a flight is overbooked, or a flight has been cancelled or delayed, and the law does apply, the airline must provide you with a written notice setting out the rules for compensation and assistance. You must be offered two free telephone calls, fax messages, or emails. In addition, a sign must be displayed at the check-in area referring to air passenger rights under the law. Where a flight is cancelled, you are entitled to a choice of a refund the cost of your ticket within 7 days, or re-routing to your final destination at the earliest opportunity, or re-routing at a later date at your convenience, subject to the availability of seats. You may also be entitled to compensation. If the airline can prove the cancellation was caused by an extraordinary circumstance that could not have been avoided, even if all reasonable measures had been taken, no compensation is payable. If you have a complaint about the assistance and compensation received for denied boarding or cancelled or delayed flights, you must begin by contacting your airline directly. If you feel your rights have not been met and you have not received the level of treatment or compensation to which you are entitled, contact the Irish Aviation Authority or the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and make a complaint. You can also contact the Directorate-General for Transport and Energy of the European Commission. How would you feel if your town was labelled an undesirable place to live? That was the fate meted out to Mitchelstown earlier this month, when a study named it as the least desirable property location in Ireland. The report, by luggage delivery company My Baggage, used four factors on which to base its findings, connected to property searches on Google and property prices. The North Cork town scored the lowest using the index - so I headed out to Mitchelstown for the day to see how the locals felt about being labelled as a place where few people apparently want to live. Local councillor Kay Dawson by a pretty plant structure in Mitchelstown - the place has a thriving tidy towns group. Not surprisingly, I was met with a barrage of patriotic locals keen to emphasise the positives of life there... and I could only concur. My first port of call was to one of the many cafes dotted around the town. I received a lovely welcome in Blueberries Cafe and the selection of cakes and pastries there were to die for - highly desirable, in other words. I counted at least eight cafes dotted around, and all of them have beautiful exteriors, outdoor seating, lovely food, and were very reasonably priced. Cafe Praline even boasts its own chocolatier, winning McKenna guide awards for the last four years! Finns artisan butchers have an array of speciality foods - a tradition that Nora Finn is rightly very proud of. There were also beautiful clothing stores on the main street, and many of them had sales that I found hard to resist! The next thing I noticed was the spotlessly clean streets - not a fag-end to be seen anywhere. Thats hardly surprising when the local tidy towns group have many volunteers and a passion for their locality. There was precious little dereliction too. The took looked alive and active. The architecture is divine, and much of it is Georgian, as befits the towns history linked to the Earls of Kingston. The facilities are also very impressive. There is a huge new library, complete with business hubs. A leisure centre, astro turf pitches, a full-time youth worker, a Buddhist centre, historical society, tennis club... There is a Thursday market in the square, two-hour free parking for visitors, a bug trail for smallies, a fully equipped childrens park, and thriving community allotments. Its a dog-friendly place too. St Georges Arts and Heritage Centre in Mitchelstown would give St Catherines in Kinsale and the Sea Church in Ballycotton a good run for their money when it comes to beauty and innovation. So far, so good. Local Fine Gael councillor Kay Dawson told me all about her town as we strolled past the sites on the Historic Walking Trail. We love it, she says, we have countless organisations, all manned by volunteers, keeping our town vibrant and open to all. Attractive artwork in Mitchelstown urging people to keep the town tidy Things to see and do? Theres local walking groups and trails making the most of the mountains, says Cllr Dawson. Theress parking facilities. You can do mountain biking with a local group with all equipment supplied. Families love going over to Doneraile Park and of course the caves. How about negatives? Many towns have issues with some anti-social behaviour for instance? I think every town will experience a bit of that, but theres not much here, says Kay. We have a wonderful local garda, John Hennessy, and hes so approachable and well known. Would I feel safe on my own walking here after dark? Absolutely! Some of the cafes are opening at night now and its keeping the town alive and vibrant well into the evenings. Theres always music in a few of the pubs at weekends and were starting to notice more people coming to visit us as theres two wonderful top-notch hotels in the town too. Is there a strong sense of community in Mitchelstown? Ther are between 40 and 50 community groups! says Kay. Everything from the tidy towns to the age-friendly group who meet at least three times per week. They have regular outings, the destinations decided on by themselves. We conducted a study on mobility and the results of that ensured that we made it as age- friendly as possible, whether that was seating or accessibility. There a huge community spirit here and anything that needs to get done will be taken on until the project is completed. It has been that way for years. Nora Finn and Jurgaenta at the multiple award-winning artisan butchers shop, Finns The town is well stocked for supermarkets too, with a Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, and Supervalu. Are there enough doctors? There are three new young doctors who recently moved to the area so any previous issues with getting appointments have bene rectified, said Kay. Are there enough schools if the population were to grow? Yes, definitely, and theyre excellent schools! So, why would Mitchelstown be scoring low on the desirability scale? Its all to do with housing, says Kay. We are almost at capacity with regard to sewage facilities so now houses cant be built until this issue is sorted. This is a problem that Irish Water inherited but its still not getting rectified. All the local councillors have been pushing this issue for years with motions in the Dail, but progress is slow. There is capacity for the new housing developments currently underway, one by the mart and one at the old convert site, because of a third instillation, but beyond that waste water is still an issue. The current system just hasnt the capacity to facilitate new development. This problem is unresolved since 2019. Water and sewage are an issue in many areas around the country but Mitchelstown and surrounding villages that have problems with water supply need to become a priority at this stage. Its embarrassing how long it is taking to sort out this problem. A childrens playground in Mitchelstown We have zoned land here ready to go to developers, but they cant break ground with the situation as it is. So, not uniquely in Ireland, it seems housing is at the core of Mitchelstowns problems. There are currently no homes available to rent here, and only 15 to buy, according to the website daft.ie. Does that make it an undesirable place to live? Not in my eyes. Patricks Hill, Bells Field and the surrounding areas are badly in need of revitalising to meet their full potential, councillors for the ward have said. Independent Irelands Noel OFlynn has called for a 2007 action plan for the Coburg Street and St. Patricks Hill area to be revised, saying: We need to take out that plan, dust it off and concentrate on this area the same way we did on McCurtain St. He told The Echo: St Patricks Hill is very famous, and we need to freshen it up with new footpaths, looking at traffic flow. It should be a landmark tourist destination. Think of the views, the events, the history, but right now it is neglected and forgotten. Mr OFlynn said he has received council confirmation that graffiti in the nearby Bells Field is set to be removed soon, but in general the area and other nearby green spaces should be better utilised. The area is rich in Corks heritage - steps that have carried generations, the old fever hospital steps, Collins Barracks - places with stories to tell. Residents are living with poor cleaning, chaotic parking, and a lack of basic investment. I'm demanding a fully funded revised masterplan one thats realistic, ambitious and community-led. A spokesperson for Cork City Council told The Echo: The review of the Cork City Development Plan over the next number of years will consider where more localised action plans and framework plans may be required to address area-specific issues. Green Party councillor Oliver Moran asked the chief executive last year for an update on the 2007 action plan, and was told that since its publication, progress had been made in several areas including improvements to footpaths, crossings, lighting, bus lanes and cycle facilities. The council added: On completion of Bishop Lucey Park Redevelopment, Bells Field will be considered for redevelopment, subject to resources being available. Mr Moran told The Echo: The area around Patrick's Hill, Bell's Field, the Fever Hospital Steps and Sunday's Well is a gem waiting to shine again. It's an obvious draw for tourists coming to the city. It's a place thats famous for residents too, a place we should be proud of, where people naturally gather on sunny days. He said that the area was second-place to the MacCurtain Street redevelopment, and to Bishop Lucey Park, saying that given the park will be completed in November, northside councillors should now unite to ensure that Bells Field is prioritised next. In the meantime, there are issues like loose steps and a programme of care that should be prioritised. That can be a starting point to put renewed attention on the area. 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. The Port of Cork Company (PoCC) is celebrating five years of operating their transatlantic partnership with Independent Container Line (ICL), which offers the only direct shipping route connecting Ireland to the USA. Over the past five years, 245 ICL vessels have travelled a total of 1.8 million nautical miles between Cork and the US East Coast - the equivalent of nearly 85 trips around the world. An estimated 72.8 million nautical miles have been saved by choosing the direct connection through the Port of Cork. The ICL vessel travels from Cork to the USA with a fixed weekly schedule, sailing every Saturday and arriving on the US East Coast approximately 10 days later, with Chester, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, North Carolina as the first calls. On Friday 18 July, executives from both companies toured the Cork Container Terminal in Ringaskiddy and attended a special anniversary reception at a quayside city venue. Speaking at the event, Ann Doherty, CEO of Port of Cork, expressed optimism about the economic vitality of the route, saying: This milestone represents more than just a successful shipping route - its a symbol of enduring partnership, trust, and mutual growth. In todays evolving geopolitical climate, its more important than ever that we focus on strengthening our connections. Our collaboration with ICL, our valued customers, and our transatlantic partners reinforces Corks role as a strategic gateway for trade. We are committed to building resilience and prosperity through deeper relationships and enhanced infrastructure. Dean Robertson, President and European Director of ICL, added: Our five-year journey with the Port of Cork has been defined by mutual trust, reliability, and shared ambition. This partnership continues to thrive because of the strong relationships weve built - not only with the port, but with the Irish exporters and importers who rely on this route every day. As we look ahead, we remain focused on nurturing these connections and supporting the long-term success of our customers. The Port of Cork is home to the worlds second largest natural harbour, and its facilities support all modes of shipping. When POCC invested in the Cork Container Terminal (CCT) at Ringaskiddy in 2022, it represented the largest single investment in marine infrastructure, in any Irish port, over the past century. Cork City Council has announced the launch of nine new affordable homes less than 6km from the city centre. The local authority, in partnership with Galtymore Homes, has launched the homes under the affordable housing scheme at Carraig Dun in Killeens. The homes are available for sale from 320,000, representing about 20% below open-market values to those who qualify for the scheme. The homes will be available to first-time buyers who do not have an interest in any other property, although exceptions may apply for fresh start applicants. Income limits apply and potential applicants are advised to familiarise themselves with the qualification criteria by visiting www.carraigdun.ie. Under the terms of the scheme, purchasers will enter an affordable dwelling purchase agreement with the local authority, which will see the council retain a percentage equity share in the house. This new development of semi-detached homes is the 10th offering under the scheme, bringing the total number of homes offered under the initiative to 403 properties to date. The Lord Mayor of Cork, Fianna Fail councillor Fergal Dennehy said the new homes come as efforts are being made to meet the housing needs of our growing city. As the 10th scheme launched under our affordable housing initiative, this project is a clear demonstration of the councils ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable homes for the people of Cork, said Mr Dennehy. Cork City Council has exceeded its housing targets for the 20222024 period, and it is developments like this that are helping to keep us firmly on that upward trajectory. We very much rely on our collaboration with all stakeholders to provide a range of housing options and this scheme is a testament to that, he added. I look forward to seeing many more schemes like this in the future. Brian Geaney, deputy chief executive at Cork City Council, said the new development marks a significant milestone in the delivery of homes across Cork. This is the third affordable housing scheme launched by Cork City Council in recent months, he added. Applications for the homes may be made from 12pm on August 6 until midnight on August 27 at www.carraigdun.ie. For further information, please contact: Affordablehousing@ corkcity.ie. Irish dancing maestro Michael Flatley has said he has been approached by weighted individuals about standing for election as president. Speaking on RTE Radio 1, the dancer, who resides in Castlehyde House outside Fermoy, acknowledged he hadnt been approached by a political party but by weighted people, people in the know and that he was constantly being asked by people he met in the street if he would consider standing. Somebody has to speak for the Irish people, Im not sure we need another politician, he said while being interviewed by Brendan OConnor. Every time I walk down the street now, people stop me everywhere asking will I run and thats all because of Brendan OConnor and the Brendan OConnor Show, he said referring to a previous appearance on the RTE Radio 1 show. I take it seriously Ive not made a decision but I have a team of advisers that are advising me on this, he said, pointing out that he had other commitments including a business to run, an army of dancers counting on him to make a living, a whiskey company, and a wife and son. If I thought I could be of benefit to the Irish people and, maybe more importantly, if I thought I could be a voice of the Irish people ..." Right now, I dont think they have a voice, not a true proper deep voice that, you know, speaks their language. I am very blessed in that I meet the average man, I meet the average person on the street, from five to 95, I meet them all and I hear their concerns and Id be lying if I said theyre happy right now. Somebody has to speak for the Irish people, Im not sure if we need another politician now, I know its a statesmans role, but Ive spent the last 30 years of my life touring the world, promoting Ireland and Irish culture, Ive met them all, Ive met the Bushes, the Obamas, Trump, Putin, Ive met the Clintons, Ive met the king and queen of England, Ive met the king and queen of Sweden and of Spain. "Ive met all those people on a more cultural front, more to promote the country, and I think, maybe thats what the job is all about. In order to secure a nomination, Mr Flatley will have to get the backing of 20 Oireachtas members, TDs, senators, or the current President, Michael D Higgins, or the support of four local authorities. At present, only Catherine Connolly, an Independent TD based in Galway has formally entered the race while it is understood that Mairead McGuinness will be ratified as Fine Gael candidate in September. Cork County Council has granted planning permission to Irish Rail for upgrade works at Millstreet train station. The application submitted by Iarnrod Eireann requested permission to provide an additional 46 parking spaces at Millstreet train station, including seven for EV charging stations. The upgrade works would also include the creation of 10 bicycle parking spaces, a bicycle shelter, and a bus set-down/interchange facility. Subject to funding, construction is expected to begin later this year and to be completed in the middle of 2026. Speaking to The Echo, Cork North West Fianna Fail TD Aindrias Moynihan welcomed the councils decision to grant planning for the upgrade works at Millstreet. This is a big milestone in improving public transport locally and it is important to note that people still have the right to appeal this decision, said Mr Moynihan. Irish Rail submitted the planning application last year and their next step will be to secure funding from the NTA [National Transport Authority] to progress to construction. Last summer I was pleased to show the transport minister the site and the plans and have continued to pursue this. Lots of work ahead yet but big milestone reached. The planned upgrade at Millstreet train station is part of Iarnrod Eireanns national car park expansion programme. Funded by the NTA, the network-wide programme aims is to provide greater car parking, bicycle parking, EV charging, and bus set-down to facilitate growth in multi-modal journeys. Also speaking to The Echo, Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul OShea welcomed the news regarding Millstreet train station. Millstreet is a station that is very well utilised, both from a Kerry side of things and a Cork side of things. To improve the parking situation there first of all is very important. The pedestrian access from the town is going to be improved as part of it as well, so that is a huge positive. It is very welcome news and it is good to see that Iarnrod Eireann are investing in stations like Millstreet. A Cork-based accounting, tax, and business advisory firm has announced the creation of 400 new jobs, to be filled by 2028. Ifac, which has offices in Bandon, Blarney, Skibbereen, and Mallow, announced the new roles today, as the company said it has plans for further expansion across Ireland. The announcement comes as the agency, which specialises in tax advisory, accountancy, pension planning, succession planning, wealth management, and other financial services, celebrates its 50th anniversary. Donal Cashman, who served as chairman of ifac from 1978 to 2006, said that the announcement of the new roles reflects the companys ambition to expand into new markets. With a strong reputation built on trust, community commitment, and expert advice, ifac is not only reflecting on a proud history, it is investing boldly in the future and the communities where it operates, said Mr Cashman, who is a dairy farmer from Coole in Whites Cross. While the firm will continue to respect its heritage, it will continue to grow with Irish farmers and producers, alongside expanding into new markets. Its focus today is very much on continuous improvement, most recently marked by the launch of a new specialist team for mid to large SMEs. As ifac enters its next chapter, its mission remains unchanged to help clients succeed on the farm, in business, and beyond. Founded in 1975, ifac began as a specialist advisor to Irish farmers. Over the last five decades, the firm has seen considerable growth, from undergoing a rebranding in 2018 to expanding its services in farming, food, agri-business, the SME space, tax, and audit. To further support the firms growth, ifac is planning to create 400 new jobs over the next three years, boosting its existing team of 580 professionals across its 30-strong network of offices. Roles will include supporting 18,000 producers, 3,000 clients in the agri-food sector, and 7,000 SMEs with a full suite of professional services, including accounting, tax, audit, corporate finance, consultancy, corporate recovery, payroll, financial planning, company secretarial, and business valuations. Last summer, my family scrambled for tickets for the All-Ireland hurling final against Clare - not for Croke Park, but for the family fanzone area in Pairc Ui Chaoimh. We got a taste of what it might be like to be a Taylor Swift fan, poised at a laptop to snap up gold dust tickets. Fanzone tickets sold out last year in minutes, much to the dismay of my kids, but we managed to secure three tickets from friends and my husband did the time-honoured tradition of holding a homemade Looking for a ticket sign. It was like standing outside the Gresham Hotel in Dublin, vainly hoping the ticket angels will bless you, except here he was handed a spare, free one within seconds. Things were going our way - would it continue with a favourable result? Alas, no. Last summer, we traipsed out of the stadium in the rain, withered, with two crying disappointed children. Misery. We hoped this year was going to be different. That the overwrought tears caused by losing by just a point after extra-time would be replaced by life-long memories of victory. Sadly, it wasnt to be last Sunday. The best thing about Cork doing well in the hurling is not just the joy of watching sporting wizards for 70 minutes, its the bolt of happiness at seeing red and white flags strung from houses, the homemade signs by kids in windows, the enormous flag erected over Tramore Valley Park. The sight of flags fluttering from bridges, balconies and box bedrooms was giving me butterflies all week. Each string of bunting a silent wish - Hon the Rebels, every childs homemade poster a quiet cry of Up Cork. Flags in support of the team, but mainly flying in hope that this year would be the year When your eye becomes tuned to spotting red and white, you see gestures of Cork loyalty everywhere. Red wheelie bins, the red Golden Discs sign on Patrick Street, even the Stop traffic signs all seem to be up for Cork. ( I may have been suffering from a touch of pre-match delirium by this stage.) I lapped up all the articles in the build-up. The stories of the 99-year-old All-Ireland winner, the reminiscences of the 2005 Cork All-Ireland winners, the face-palm photo of the premature tattoo claiming Cork as the 2025 victors (seriously, did he jinx it?), and I revelled in the random conversations with strangers that can be struck up over the hurlers. En route by bike to Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday, a man out walking his dog gave us an Up the rebels greeting. It was near enough to throw-in time and I asked if he was walking the dog to ease the nerves. Chalk it down, he said with a roll of his eyes and a parting salutation to enjoy the match! Sometimes, those quick chats about hurling can quickly take a turn to the personal or the profound. Just after the Munster final, I was queuing in the post office that Brian Hayess mother works at. I was unaware of that fact until an excitable young fella (possibly still celebrating a few days after the win) banged on the window and started roaring unintelligibly, punctuated by Up the rebels at the end of his rant. My fellow queue-ers and I got a fright. From the ferocious roaring, we thought we were under attack, but it turned out, after a bit of repetition, that this young man was simply loudly celebrating that the fantastic hurler Brian Hayes had a familial connection to this post office! What we first feared was a near-death experience turned out to be a celebration! I ended up in a deep and meaningful conversation with a man who was preparing for his daughters wedding. We talked about lasting relationships, the power of sport to lift people, the importance of celebrating the good days because God knows there are plenty of bad ones along lifes path. We should have hugged as we bade farewell, but wed only popped in for a bank withdrawal and stamps, so it seemed premature. For weeks, the level of chat and anticipation about whether Cork could or could not do it continued unchecked. By the weekend, I couldnt listen to another speculating pundit - would they throw the ball in already? Inside the fanzone at the Pairc was the happy scene of families on picnic blankets, cartwheeling kids on the pitch, and young boys gratefully knocking ball back and forth on the hallowed ground. The ear-splitting volume of last years event had been thankfully rectified and, with the sun shining down on us this time, I dared to hope that this might be the day. The dark clouds gathered over the Pairc as half-time approached. The heavens opened and the crowd ducked for shelter. Was it a portent of what was to come? Unfortunately, yes. The Tipperary team devastated everyones hope in the second-half, emphatically bursting all our expectations and completely deflating the fanzone. The red card for Eoin Downey was too much for my kids and the tears started to flow. I spent the rest of the match consoling them and watching other fans leave early. Even though were deeply disappointed, I reminded the kids we had a fantastic season of hurling. Weve been awed by the hurling magicians on the team, jumped around like lunatics on our couches at yet another Cork goal hitting the back of the net. Weve got lumps in our throats watching Cork hurlers lift silverware and appreciate how hard they work and the sacrifices they make to entertain and lift us. Of course, we all want the Liam MacCarthy Cup home, but it wasnt to be this year. Thank-you to the whole team and Pat Ryan for still making summer, 2025, one to remember. Well leave the flags up a little bit longer as symbols of gratitude and hope for next year. By Grainne Ni Aodha and Cate McCurry, PA The Government is set to bring in 1.5 billion of tax cuts as part of next years budget, according to the Summer Economic Statement. The Budget Day package, set to be announced of October 7th, will be 9.4 billion. This will comprise spending of 7.9 billion euro and taxation measures amounting to 1.5 billion. Overall spending across current capital will increase by 7.3 per cent for next year. Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers speaking at a press conference at Government Buildings in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) However, the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe warned that the figures published on Tuesday are based on a no-tariff scenario imposed by the United States. He published the figures alongside Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers. Our Budget Day decisions could change depending on the economic environment we find ourselves in during the summer and beyond, he said. He said all they can see is change and risk around the uncertainty of trade, investment and politics. Of course, none of this is positive for the economy of the world, and by extension, therefore, for Ireland, Mr Donohoe said. This is most evident in the debates and negotiations that are under way with regard to trade, which is why us, within the European Union and the (EU) Commission on our behalf, will be redoubling our efforts to negotiate a better deal with regard to trade between the EU between now and August 1st. Because of all of this, its very clear that were at a moment of significant transition to the economy of the world, and even for the economy. But notwithstanding all of this, our economy continues to grow. In the first quarter of 2025, our economy grew by almost 3% after a year of strong growth in 2024, and where that strong performance is most evident is in the number of people at work in our country. Mr Donohoe said it is very likely that negotiations between the EU and the US will reach a conclusion in the coming weeks. However, he said the Governments intention is to be flexible in its approach to Budget Day. Our overwhelming priority is to maintain our public capital investment, in particular the figures that will be outlined by Minister Chambers, Mr Donohoe said. However, should economic or budget conditions change, we will amend other elements of budget policy to ensure we get the balance right. Minister Chambers and I, in consultation with the party leaders, will continue to assess that balance in the weeks ahead. I emphasise that point because Minister Chambers and I are very much aware that we are publishing this statement and committing to a National Development Plan at a moment of uncertainty. We know an antidote to some of that uncertainty is certainty regarding our investment plans, and that is what is being outlined here today. We can do so because our economy is resilient. Mr Chambers said the Government is having to navigate serious economic uncertainty. If theres a serious economic deterioration, we absolutely will have to revisit what were setting out today to be responsible and agile in the context of changing our global position, and we agree on that, he added So this is very much caveated by what could happen in the coming weeks, and we wont make decisions that arent sustainable or affordable for the Irish economy. He added: While capital expenditure will increase by two billion euro in line with the National Development Plan review, this will result in total available current expenditure of 97.5 billion, and capital expenditure of 19.1 billion in 2026. It will be against this backdrop that budget negotiations will commence with the individual departments in the coming weeks. The expenditure ceilings for 2026 will facilitate a budget that will provide for enhanced public service delivery and increased capital investment in critical infrastructure under the new and renewed National Development Plan. At the same time, given the profound global economic uncertainty, its crucial we moderate current spending and provide permanent and sustainable investment, as well as focusing on addressing our infrastructure deficits. OpenAI has struck a deal with Oracle to add an astounding 4.5 gigawatts of US data center capacity to power the massive workload required by its large language models. The companies haven't specified where these new centers will be built, but Bloomberg is reporting that Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin and Wyoming are all under consideration. The ChatGPT maker says this new capacity is a part of the Stargate Project , and that together with its one GW campus in Abilene, Texas, the company is projecting more than five GW of total capacity running over two million AI chips once the new centers are complete. Oracle began delivering its GB200 racks last month for the Abilene site as it begins operations. OpenAI estimates that the massive undertaking will create over 100,000 jobs, though data centers historically employ few full-time workers , with most of the jobs tied to construction. While details on budget were not shared, OpenAI says that these new data centers represent significant progress toward its promise of investing $500 billion in the United States to build out 10 GW of AI infrastructure over the next four years. These investments, which are all part of The Stargate Project, are being made alongside SoftBank and Oracle as partners, though SoftBank is not financing this phase. Advertisement Advertisement This announcement comes as big tech companies are pouring billions into new data centers and power agreements to sustain the growth of AI and power future models. Google recently closed a 3 billion deal to secure 3,000 megawatts of hydroelectric power, while Microsoft is planning to restart the nuclear power plants of Three Mile Island. In a press release announcing the new project, Open AI said " Stargate is an ambitious undertaking designed to meet the historic opportunity in front of us. That opportunity is now coming to life through strong support from partners, governments, and investors worldwideincluding important leadership from the White House, which has recognized the critical role AI infrastructure will play in driving innovation, economic growth, and national competitiveness." Actress and comedian Ellen DeGeneres confirmed on Sunday that she and her wife, Portia de Rossi, decided to permanently relocate to the United Kingdom because of United States President Donald Trump's re-election. The 67-year-old made the announcement during her first public appearance since leaving the United States, speaking at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. DeGeneres was asked whether reports that Trump influenced her move were accurate. "Yes," she replied, confirming speculation that had surrounded the couple's relocation to the English countryside. The comedian explained that she and de Rossi, 52, had initially purchased what they believed would be "a part-time house" in the Cotswolds region, planning to spend only three or four months per year in the UK. However, their plans changed dramatically following the November 2024 election results. The couple arrived in the UK just one day before the presidential election, before receiving lots of texts from friends, mostly with crying emojis. They told DeGeneres and Rossi that "He got in," referring to Trump, which sparked their decision to stay in the UK. The former talk show host expressed her admiration for life in the UK, describing it as "absolutely beautiful" and stating that "everything here is just better." She praised the treatment of animals and the politeness of people, adding that the villages, towns, and architecture represent "a simpler way of life." The couple officially relocated from their Montecito, California, mansion, which they are reportedly listing for sale. They have settled in the picturesque Cotswolds, an area known for attracting celebrities including David and Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss, and King Charles. During her Cheltenham appearance, DeGeneres also addressed concerns about same-sex marriage rights in the United States, revealing that she and de Rossi are considering remarrying in England. "The Church in America is trying to reverse gay marriage," she noted, referencing recent moves by some groups to challenge marriage equality. DeGeneres acknowledged that the move represented a significant life change following the end of her talk show in 2022 amid workplace allegations. She described the claims as "clickbait" while admitting she could be "very blunt" in her approach. The relocation marks a permanent departure from the United States for the couple, with sources close to them indicating they have no plans to return. DeGeneres emphasized her contentment with the decision, stating simply: "I just love it here." Rapper Ca$h Out, real name John-Michael Gibson, has been sentenced to life in prison, plus an additional 70 years, after being found guilty of multiple charges, including rape and leading a sex trafficking ring. On Friday, a verdict was reached in a Georgia courtroom, bringing a dramatic and emotional trial in Fulton County to a close. Gibson, 34, was convicted of several serious crimes, including rape, aggravated sodomy, human trafficking, pimping, pandering, and battery. He was also found guilty of violating the state's RICO law for organizing and operating a prostitution business, Variety said. The trial, which began in early June, revealed how Gibson allegedly used his fame to exploit women for years. Prosecutors said the rapper's actions amounted to a "seven-year reign of terror." Fulton County prosecutor Earnell Winfrey told the jury, "This ain't just straight pimpingthis is trafficking." Rapper Ca$h Out sentenced to life in prison after being convicted in rape, RICO case. His attorney had asked for a 30-year sentence, saying the State recommended 25 years before the trial, which he hadn't accepted because he "wanted his day in court." pic.twitter.com/KEppTNabh0 SAY CHEESE! (@SaycheeseDGTL) July 21, 2025 Ca$h Out Used Fame, Fear, and Texts to Exploit Victims, Jury Finds The jury also heard how Gibson used text messages, intimidation, and his celebrity image to manipulate women. According to USA Today, Judge Melynee Leftridge, who oversaw the case, said the trial exposed "the very worst of human behavior." She added that the verdict confirmed that prosecutors had proved the "diabolical conduct" beyond a reasonable doubt. Along with Gibson, his mother, Linda Smith, and his friend, Tyrone Taylor, were also found guilty in connection with the case. Smith was given a 30-year prison sentence, while Taylor received the same punishment as Gibsonlife in prison plus 70 more years. Gibson's lawyer, Careton R. Matthews, argued that the charges were exaggerated and claimed that some accusers had contradicted their own statements. "We do respect the court's process and jury's decision," Matthews said, "but we're disappointed with the verdict and the sentence." He added that Gibson maintains his innocence and may appeal. Ca$h Out first gained fame in 2011 with his hit single "Cashin' Out," which climbed to No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. He followed up with another hit, "She Twerkin," in 2014 and released his only full-length album, Let's Get It. Despite his early success, his music career never fully took off. Originally published on Music Times Support Us Your Support will ensure EPWs financial viability and sustainability. The EPW produces independent and public-spirited scholarship and analyses of contemporary affairs every week. EPW is one of the few publications that keep alive the spirit of intellectual inquiry in the Indian media. Often described as a publication with a social conscience, EPW has never shied away from taking strong editorial positions. Our publication is free from political pressure, or commercial interests. Our editorial independence is our pride. We rely on your support to continue the endeavour of highlighting the challenges faced by the disadvantaged, writings from the margins, and scholarship on the most pertinent issues that concern contemporary Indian society. Every contribution is valuable for our future. COLUMBUS Some traditions never go out of style. When the 170th Ohio State Fair opens its gates July 23 to Aug. 3, visitors can expect a vibrant blend of exciting new attractions and classic favorites, because what state fair is complete without a giant butter cow? There will be thrilling carnival rides and live music, aerial stunt performers, magicians, daily lumberjack shows, a free petting zoo, livestock competitions, an Ohio arts gallery and the expansive 8-acre Natural Resources Park, featuring youth fishing, kayaking, a butterfly house and more, all set against sweeping views from the SkyGlider. With final preparations underway, the Ohio Department of Agriculture is expecting crowds to top 1 million for this years celebration of all things Ohio. Safety first Behind the scenes, ODA is already hard at work ensuring the fair is not just fun, but also safe. That includes everything from livestock health checks to ride inspections. Our inspectors are out here from the set-up time into the operation time of the Ohio State Fair, making sure that our folks in Ohio or young people or families that come out to the rides are safe, director Brian Baldridge told Farm and Dairy. Inspecting rides is a meticulous and ongoing process, with Ohio Department of Agriculture teams on-site from the moment the equipment arrives, carefully monitoring setup as the fairgrounds take shape just days before opening. This year, there are 65 rides on the midway, including new attractions like the Scorpion, a spinning ride with three inverted V-shaped arms each holding seven cars, and electric bumper boats that glide across a 75-foot swimming pool. All are brought in and operated by Talley Amusements, a fourth-generation family-run company from Texas. Before any ride opens to the public, it undergoes a thorough inspection to ensure fairgoers safety and to avert any Final Destination-style calamities. Our ride inspectors are highly trained. We have four that are trained to the highest level across the country, Baldridge explained. They are looking for anywhere from torque on bolts to all the paperwork, he said. Ride inspections Since the rides are relocated throughout the year, inspectors carefully verify that every setup step and manufacturer guideline is followed precisely as theyre put together, completing a thorough inspection form before the rides open to the public. If any issues are found, theyre addressed before a ride is allowed to operate. Most of the time, its small things, said Baldridge, because these rides are well maintained throughout the year. Ron Dean, chief ride inspector for the ODA, walked through what his team looks for during inspections. Well look at the different structural components. As the rides assembled, were going to check for pins and retainers, make sure everythings assembled properly. Once the ride is fully assembled, inspectors check all safety features from the start and stop switch to rider restraints. And then once everythings finalized operationally, if everythings compliant, thats when well issue a permit and the general public can then enjoy the ride. Daily ride maintenance is a key part of the fairs safety procedures. According to Dean, operators must complete pre-opening checklists each day, with additional spot checks to ensure everything remains in proper working order. Ride safety regulations remain unchanged from previous years, he told Farm and Dairy, and operators must continue to meet all existing requirements in order to receive a license to operate. While each ride has its own unique safety systems depending on its design especially those with more intense features like going upside down Dean said his team is already familiar with all 65 rides at the fair. No new or unusually challenging safety concerns have emerged this year. Attractions Whats worth lining up for at the fair? Mary Talley, vice president of Talley Amusements, has a soft spot for the Mega Drop, a towering thrill ride built for the company in Italy and delivered by barge over 20 years ago. The feeling that you get in your belly there is just no describing that, she told Farm and Dairy. Ive stayed on it, and theyve taken me back up and dropped and up and dropped. And you never get used to that awesome feeling. If youre in a bad mood, thats a real great one to get on. Shes ridden it at least 100 times. Ive taken all my kids on it as soon as they became tall enough, she said. While the thrill of a ride at breakneck speeds attracts the more adventurous visitors, the fair is just as much dedicated to celebrating Ohios heritage, serving as a showcase of the Buckeye States agricultural roots that everyone can enjoy. Visitors can sample Ohio Proud foods, meaning at least 50% of the product was raised or processed in-state, and taste wines from Ohios 432 wineries, highlighted by the Ohio Wine Association. Meanwhile, the Division of Weights and Measures is making sure buyers get exactly what they pay for. If you buy a pound of candy, we want to make sure you get a pound of candy, Baldridge said. We want to make sure that person selling a pound of candy sells exactly a pound. Livestock Inside the Voinovich Livestock & Trade Center, the livestock exhibitors are just as enthusiastic about the return of fair season. Chris and Camille Kemmerer, a mother-daughter team showing Simmental cattle, are among the many Ohio families preparing their animals and sharing the agricultural experience with visitors. We have four Simmental heifers were showing, Chris said. Their names are Rosie, Jewel, Gene and Diamond. When asked what she hopes people get out of meeting the heifers, Camille paused and thought: To show themselves, she said. Some of the animals have big personalities. Its Camilles second year showing as a junior exhibitor in 4-H, though she and her family have been attending the fair for about four years total, including open shows. For newcomers, she recommends taking time to explore the barns and check out the skill contests. Look around at all the paddings, like see how many you can see, she said, adding that competing in a contest is also part of the fun. Farming unions across the UK have joined forces to sound the alarm on ATV safety, urging farmers to take life-saving action as farm-related accidents continue to mount. The NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland, and the Ulster Farmers Union are working alongside the Welsh Farm Safety Partnership to highlight the serious risks posed by improper ATV use. This is a growing concern, as there were nearly 600 farm-related incidents reported over the past year, according to HSE data. While ATVs remain essential for everyday farm work from checking livestock to transporting equipment their widespread use can come with significant risks if safety measures are ignored. The unions are urging farmers and workers across the UK to take simple, life-saving precautions every time they ride. The push for safer ATV use comes as part of Farm Safety Week 2025, which runs from 21 to 25 July and is led by the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies). The charity named farming the UKs deadliest job, as new figures reveal it accounts for one in five workplace deaths despite employing just 1% of the workforce. To support the campaign, the four unions have launched an ATV safety reminder using the acronym 'ATVS': A Always wear a helmet T Training is essential V Vehicle checks and maintenance S Single rider only The four farming unions have issued a united appeal, highlighting the urgent need to address the ongoing risks associated with all-terrain vehicles on farms. Every year we see lives shattered by preventable ATV accidents, and its time for that to change. Thats why we are coming together to send a clear message: safety must always come first." They stressed that accidents can happen without warning and that everyday farm tasks such as moving between fields or tending to livestock carry real danger when using ATVs. No one plans to have an accident and you never know when one might happen. Whether youre checking livestock or moving around the farm, the risks are real every time you get on an ATV. "Its vital to take life-saving steps like wearing a helmet, completing proper training, being competent and confident in handling the vehicle and carrying out routine safety checks and maintenance. The unions urged farmers to place safety at the forefront of their daily routines and set a strong example within their teams. Safety must be our first thought and not the last. We all have a responsibility to protect ourselves, our families and our teams to make smart choices on farm. "Lets lead by example, speak up when somethings not right and make sure everyone gets home safe. Remember, you matter. Blight-busting tech is on the horizon as Welsh scientists develop a ground-breaking mobile app to detect deadly potato disease before it strikes. The technology seeks to revolutionise disease detection in potato crops by delivering real-time, location-specific forecasts directly to farmers smartphones. The aim is to combat potato blighta disease responsible for 20% of global crop losses and costing the global economy 3.5 billion annually. Blight, caused by the pathogen Phytophthora infestans, is one of the most destructive diseases affecting potatoes, capable of wiping out entire fields. Traditional methods of detection rely on visual inspectionan approach that is labour-intensive, costly, and prone to human error. Dr Edore Akpokodje, lecturer in computer science at Aberystwyth University, explained: Our goal is to empower farmers with a tool which is not only scientifically robust but also practical and easy to use, and which delivers instantaneous, location-specific disease forecasts straight to their phones. "By integrating farmer feedback from the outset, we will ensure that this technology is grounded in real-world needs and challenges. The DeepDetect project combines cutting-edge machine learning with agricultural expertise, aiming to reduce dependence on preventative spraying. In Wales alone, preventive treatment costs farmers up to 5.27m each year. The team hopes the app will make disease management more targeted and sustainable, benefiting both the environment and farming resilience. Potatoes remain a staple food crop worldwide and a vital part of Welsh agriculture, with more than 17,000 hectares devoted to potato farming across the country. Dr Akpokodje added: Addressing the challenge of early diagnosis of potato plant disease would boost productivity and reduce costs for farmers, while supporting more sustainable and targeted disease management. "By decreasing reliance on pesticides, this approach benefits both the environment and the long-term resilience of the potato industry. "The technology also has the potential for wider application across other crops, driving innovation in agricultural practices. Dr Aiswarya Girija, of the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University, underlined the global importance of the project: Potatoes are the fourth most important staple crop globally, and optimal production is essential for a growing global population. Potato blight is therefore not just a farming issue its a food security issue. As well as threatening the stability of food supplies, potato blight drives up production costs and reliance on environmentally harmful fungicides. "The system we plan to develop will be capable of detecting early signs of disease before they become visible to the human eye, allowing for timely and targeted interventions. The projects initial phase involves a feasibility study, funded by the Welsh hovernment's Smart Flexible Innovation Support (SFIS) programme. This includes market research to assess existing early warning systems and identify what farmers in Wales need most from such technology. To kickstart this phase, the DeepDetect team will be engaging with farmers, agronomists, and members of the public at the Royal Welsh Show this week via the Aberystwyth University stand. Following the feasibility study, researchers will build an AI-driven prototype using image datasets of both healthy and infected potato leaves. This will be followed by focus groups and workshops with farmers to ensure the app is both user-friendly and effective in the field. The long-term ambition is to create a fully-fledged national Early Warning System for potato blight, with scope to adapt the technology to other crops and regions. British red meat and dairy producers are being urged to seize fresh export opportunities across Europe, as new analysis reveals the EU remains a powerhouse market worth billions to the UK. AHDB's new report highlights the bloc's enduring importance as the UKs primary trading partner, with a focus on how to better promote British produce and position it competitively. The research covers a range of crucial factors including economic trends, market access requirements, consumer perceptions, and barriers to trade. A newly introduced Route to Market section also offers practical guidance for exporters, detailing the challenges and expanding opportunities within EU supply chains, while stressing the need for products to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Between 2022 and 2024, an average of 83% of the UKs red meat and dairy exports by value were destined for EU markets, underlining the regions significance. In 2024 alone, red meat exports (including offal) were valued at 1.77 billion, with 1.4 billion of that going to EU countries. Sheep meat, in particular, found strong demand in France the UKs top market for lamb where exports grew by 12.8% year-on-year to 330 million. UK dairy exports were similarly EU-focused. Total dairy exports in 2024 reached 1.8 billion, with over 76% shipped to EU countries, amounting to 1.4 billion. While overall European red meat consumption is expected to see limited growth over the next decade, the report says the UK is well-positioned to tap into premium markets. These include high-value beef in France and Italy, halal lamb for expanding communities in France, Germany, and the Netherlands, and niche markets for premium lamb in northern Europe. Meanwhile, per capita cheese consumption in Europe is forecast to rise by 5.5% by 2033. UK cheeses including cheddar and regionally protected varieties like stilton are expected to perform well amid growing demand for speciality and added-value dairy products. Dr Amandeep Kaur Purewal, senior economist at AHDB, acknowledged that while the UK now has the ability to strike trade agreements globally, "we must not forget the relationship we have with our number one trading partner, the EU." She emphasised the value of consistency and quality in overseas trade: "Long-term relationships and high-quality/premium products are key to future export growth in Europe." Dr Purewal added that the updated analysis has pinpointed specific areas where UK red meat and dairy exporters can gain ground, noting that AHDB's resources "can play a pivotal role in helping maximise opportunities for our world class produce in the EU and wider European region. Gareth Renowden, AHDB head of international marketing, added: Although Europe is already the UKs largest market, weve identified further opportunities for our levy payers which has been underlined by the latest updated research." The Labour government's proposed inheritance tax proposals threaten to shatter generations of farming families and undermine Britains food security, the NFU has warned. The fresh interventions comes after the government announced a technical consultation on draft legislation for the Finance Bill, including aspects of inheritance tax, to ensure it works as intended. However, the NFU remains deeply sceptical and has pledged to hold the government accountable for every detail of the policy, warning it does not achieve the governments intentions of closing a loophole, protecting family farms, or generating as much revenue as it should. Contrary to government assurances that the changes will have no material impact on food security, the NFU insists the tax threatens the very farmers who produce the nations food. At the heart of this battle are the elderly farmers who have devoted their entire lives to growing food for the country and supporting their rural communities. They should not become collateral damage," said NFU President Tom Bradshaw. He continued: To see them face such uncertainty, knowing the legacy they and their families have worked hard for and grown could be ripped away by this tax, is heart-breaking. "I cannot begin to imagine the fear many must be feeling right now their homes, their livelihoods and everything theyve worked for is under threat. Despite direct appeals to the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Treasury officials, Mr Bradshaw highlighted that Chancellor Rachel Reeves has refused to meet with the NFU to discuss the industry's alternative 'clawback' proposal. The plan, developed earlier this year, is designed to raise the necessary revenue without forcing farmers to sell their land or breaking up family businesses. The proposal suggests replacing the current system with one that allows farmers to only pay tax when they sell or give away their farm to people outside their family, instead of paying immediately or on a family members death. This way, family farms can keep their land and business running without having to sell to pay taxes. But Mr Bradshaw said: The Treasury claims our solution will raise less revenue, but is refusing to release the modelling on how it came to this conclusion." He echoed Sir Keir's words from a June 2025 interview with The Sunday Times: Getting it right is more important than pushing ahead with a policy that does not achieve its intentions. The proposed 'family farm tax' has faced widespread opposition from across the political spectrum, local councils, farming organisations, the food supply chain, and the public. More than 276,000 people have signed a petition calling for it to be scrapped. Numerous county councils including Buckinghamshire, West Sussex, Shropshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Devon, and Kent have publicly condemned the policy. Major industry groups such as NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland, the Ulster Farmers Union, the Countryside Alliance, and the Confederation of British Industry have all raised concerns about its potential consequences. And in February over fifty signatories from major supermarket retailers added their voices to an NFU letter urging the Treasury to rethink the plans. Mr Bradshaw concluded with a call to action: The prime minister must now take his own advice and listen to the overwhelming evidence that the current policy will not work as intended. "To ignore the consequences this tax will bring would be a betrayal of the very people who feed our nation. We cannot stand by and watch the backbone of the countryside be broken when there is a credible alternative being offered. This is a moment that demands listening, compassion and action. The government needs to sit down with farming representatives to find a solution that protects the future of our domestic food production before it is too late. ICE cotton futures weakened on Monday as the bearish trend in the grain market spilled over into US cotton. Trade tensions amid US tariffs also dampened demand for US cotton. Slow export sales during the week ending July 10 further indicated softened market sentiment. Although the US dollar weakened against other currencies, it failed to support cotton prices. ICEs most active December 2025 contract settled at 68.10 cents per pound (0.453 kg), down 0.58 cent. The contract touched an intraday low of 67.92 cents, the lowest level since July 15. This marked the second consecutive day of losses, with a cumulative two-session decline of 70 points for the December contract. Other cotton contracts closed lower by 47-58 points. Losses over the two sessions ranged from 51 to 71 points. ICE cotton futures fell on July 21 as bearish trends in CBOT grains and USIndonesia tariff tensions weighed on sentiment. December 2025 cotton settled at 68.10 cents/lb, hitting a new weekly low. Despite a weaker US dollar, poor demand and a 93 per cent drop in net export sales curbed support. The USDA rated 57 per cent of the cotton crop as good-to-excellent, up from 54 per cent last week. The trading session was described as lifeless, reflecting subdued activity and bearish sentiment across the board. Although the US dollar weakenedmaking dollar-priced cotton cheaper for overseas buyersthe impact was limited due to already sluggish demand. Total trading volume on July 21 was 31,928 contracts, slightly above the previous sessions cleared volume of 30,857 contracts. The average daily trading volume last week stood at 28,718 contracts, indicating a moderate rise in participation this session. According to market analysts, the downward momentum in CBOT grain markets is spilling over into the cotton market, applying additional pressure. CBOT corn and soybean futures dropped as key US grain and cotton belts are forecast to receive crop-friendly rainfall, weakening sentiment for agricultural commodities. President Donald Trump announced via social media a 19 per cent tariff on all imported Indonesian goods, while US exports to Indonesia will receive tariff-free and non-tariff barrier treatment. Rising global trade tensions have further dampened the outlook for cotton demand, contributing to the bearish tone in the futures market. The USDA Export Sales Report for the week ending July 10 also showed a 35 per cent drop in US cotton export shipments, totalling 156,400 bales from the prior week. Net export sales were only 5,500 balesa sharp 93 per cent decline from the previous week and 89 per cent below the four-week average. The USDA Weekly Crop Progress Report for the week ending July 20 rated 57 per cent of the US cotton crop as good to excellent, up from 54 per cent last week and 53 per cent during the same period last year, indicating improving crop conditions. Currently, ICE cotton for December 2025 is trading at 68.08 cents per pound (down 0.02 cent), cash cotton at 65.29 cents (down 0.58 cent), the October 2025 contract at 66.54 cents (down 0.54 cent), the March 2026 contract at 69.41 cents (down 0.05 cent), the May 2026 contract at 70.49 cents (down 0.03 cent), and the July 2026 contract at 71.31 cents (up 0.04 cent). A few contracts remained at their previous closing levels, with no trading recorded today. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) Bollywood's acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is back on the global stage with his latest film Bandar (Monkey in a Cage), which is all set to have its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025, marking the festivals 50th edition. Running from September 4 to 14, TIFF 2025 will host the unveiling of Bandar, a gritty drama inspired by true events. The film stars Bobby Deol in a powerful lead role, alongside Sanya Malhotra, Saba Azad, and Sapna Pabbi. Produced by Nikhil Dwivedi, the films title and poster were officially revealed this week. Bobby Deol shared the poster on Instagram, writing, The story that should not have been told But is the Official Selection at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival 2025. Our film inspired from true events is premiering at #tiff50. The poster, showcasing Bobby in an intense, haunting look, received praise from the film industry. His brother Sunny Deol dropped heart and thumbs-up emojis, while Vikrant Massey, Pooja Hegde, and Darshan Kumar also congratulated him in the comments. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bobby Deol (@iambobbydeol) Bandar marks Kashyaps return to the international festival circuit, known for his hard-hitting films like Gangs of Wasseypur, Black Friday, and Ugly. This new project is expected to carry the same raw, unfiltered storytelling that Kashyap is celebrated for. The film is backed by Nikhil Dwivedi, who previously produced Veere Di Wedding, CTRL, and the upcoming fantasy drama Naagin starring Shraddha Kapoor. The premiere date for Bandar at TIFF is yet to be announced. Celebrating its golden anniversary, TIFF 2025 will feature films from over 30 countries, with Bandar among a strong Indian presence. Other Indian titles on the lineup include Neeraj Ghaywans Homebound and a special screening of Ramesh Sippys iconic Sholay. With its powerful cast, compelling story, and Kashyaps bold vision, Bandar is already generating buzz as one of the most talked-about Indian films to watch out for this festival season. Also Read: Anurag Kashyap reacts to his daughter, Aaliyah Kashyaps question on premarital sex, pregnancy Malcolm-Jamal Warner who played Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, passed away at 54 due to a drowning accident while swimming in Costa Rica. His former co-stars and industry friends paid tribute to him, remembering his kindness, talent, and lasting impact. On Instagram, Tracee Ellis Ross shared a carousel of photos featuring herself and Warner from the press tour of the BET sitcom Reed Between the Lines, where they played a married couple. She added a caption, I love you, Malcolm. First I met you as Theo with the rest of the world then you were my first TV husband. My heart is so so sad. What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place. Sending so much love to your family. Im so sorry for this unimaginable loss. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tracee Ellis Ross (@traceeellisross) Eddie Griffin, who co-starred with Warner in the UPN sitcom Malcolm & Eddie, shared a photo of Warner on his Instagram story, along with the words "R.I.P. King" and "My big little brother. Eddie Griffin wrote, My heart is heavy todayFor what the world lost was a father, a son, a poet, a musician, an actor, a teacher, a writer, a director, a friend, a warrior, that I had the pleasure of going to war with against the Hollywood machine and sometimes with each other because thats what brothers do but the love was and is always there. Youve taught me so much and I thank you. Rest Well my big little brother. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Edward Griff (@eddiegriffin) Niecy Nash also shared a photograph with Warner on Instagram, along with a caption, My God, we just spoke. You were giving me my flowers for my work in Grotesquerie, and we talked about how happy we both were in our marriages. Damn friend. You were cornerstone of The Cosby Show. We all loved Theo! Never to be forgotten. You will be missed. Rest easy. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Niecy Nash (@niecynash1) Angela Bassett, who worked with Warner on 9-1-1, shared her memories of him, writing, When I met him, he was a star on the show that was TV royalty, The Cosby Show. He warmly embraced me as a working actor who was trying to find my way. Even in his youth, Malcolms empathy, quiet strength, and his bright light surrounded us all. Then to have the opportunity to work with him again last year on 9-1-1 was a memorable full circle moment for us both. In this life, Malcolm is whats known as a soulful artist whose deep commitment to his craft left an impression on me that has never faded. He carried the weight of cultural legacy with grace, and he always made space for others to shine. His light will remain in our hearts as always. My prayers are with you and yours. Rest in perfect peace until we meet again. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Angela Bassett (@im.angelabassett) Also Read: Films And Web Series That Were Shot In Isolation During The Pandemic After months of anticipation, the team behind Dhanushs upcoming directorial venture Idly Kadai has announced the release date for the films first single. Scheduled to drop on July 27, the song is already generating buzz with its festive, village fair-inspired backdrop, showcased in the recently unveiled poster. The imagery suggests a lively, celebratory mood that reflects the essence of rural festivities, perfectly setting the tone for what promises to be a slice-of-life narrative grounded in everyday warmth and community spirit. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) First Single Launch Set to Capture the Festive Spirit Though Idly Kadai is slated for an October 1 theatrical release, the promotional activities have been in full swing for some time. The marketing campaign notably includes eye-catching posters plastered on public walls and, fittingly, many idly carts scattered across Tamil Nadu, cleverly tying into the films title and theme. This grassroots-level publicity underscores the films connection to local culture and the everyday joys of simple living. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) A Stellar Ensemble and a Reunited Creative Team Idly Kadai marks Dhanushs fourth directorial outing, and alongside his lead role, the film boasts a strong supporting cast including Arun Vijay, Nithya Menen, Rajkiran, and Samuthirakani. Rumours suggest that Dhanush plays Sivanesan, the humble proprietor of an eatery named Sivanesan Idli Kadai, which likely serves as the narratives emotional and social hub. While plot details remain tightly under wraps, the films focus on a modest eatery hints at themes of community, livelihood, and the simple pleasures that knit together village life. On the technical front, the film reunites Dhanush with composer GV Prakash Kumar, whose collaborations with the actor have previously yielded memorable soundtracks in films such as Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam, Vaathi, and Captain Miller. The musical partnership promises to deliver an engaging and soulful soundtrack that complements the films tone. The cinematography is handled by Kiran Koushik, with Prasanna GK editing the narrative flow, and Jacki overseeing production design all contributing to crafting an authentic, immersive experience. Produced collaboratively by Dawn Pictures, Red Giant Movies, and Wunderbar Films, Idly Kadai is helmed under the production guidance of Aakash Baskaran and Dhanush himself, with Sreyas Srinivasan serving as executive producer. This alliance of powerhouse production houses and creative minds has set high expectations for the film, as audiences await a heartfelt, culturally rooted story. Also Read: The title of Dhanushs next directorial D50 has been revealed. Read details inside Vijay Deverakonda in Kingdom's trailer release date poster Vijay Deverakonda recuperating Vijay Deverakonda and Bhagyashri Borse in Kingdom Kingdom teaser sets up the tone Vijay Deverakondas upcoming film Kingdom is slated for release on July 31, 2025. And the promotions of the Gowtam Tinnanuri directorial have already begun. In a significant development, the makers of the spy action thriller have announced that the trailer will release on July 26 at a massive event in Tirupati.Vijay Deverakonda is presently recuperating at home after he was discharged from the hospital. The actor was admitted to a hospital due to dengue, but his path to recovery has been very quick. Vijay will resume promotions for Kingdom and will also be part of the trailer launch event at Tirupati. While doctors have advised rest, Vijay is keen to participate in promotions; he knows how important this film is to him. Given what has been at stake, the actor is leaving nothing to chance to take the film to nook and corner.Described as a tale of war, blood and resurrection, Kingdom teaser promises an epic saga filled with war, destiny and redemption. From tribal confrontation to colonial rule to moving prison sequences, Kingdom unfolds as a layered narrative that intertwines political insurgence with mythical revival. The visuals of the film are striking and the emotionally charged narrative blends history with mythological undertones. And the protagonist (Vijay Deverakonda) steps into the role of a warrior seemingly reborn with a task to change the fate of his people. So, theres a lot to look forward to. Director Gowtham Tinnanuri is set to present Vijay in an intense and fierce role hitherto.Producer Naga Vamsi exuded confidence that Kingdom will strike a chord with the audiences. Also, this is the first time Vijay is being part of a film that expounds themes of reincarnation. And the trailer at Tirupati is further set to up the ante for the action thriller, which also features Bhagyashri Borse. 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 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! 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! TOKYO, July 22, 2025 - (JCN Newswire) - Anime Tokyo Station, an anime exhibition center that utilizes Japanese anime content with a strong fan base around the world, serves as a facility enjoyed by children and adults alike. Since opening, it has welcomed 190,624 visitors from both Japan and overseas (as of July 6, 2025), and regularly hosts special exhibitions featuring popular anime series.We are pleased to announce that the TV Anime "SPYxFAMILY" Special Exhibition will be held from August 16 to November 9, 2025, featuring the series that has gained popularity not only in Japan, but worldwide.The special exhibition will look back on various memorable scenes while exploring the appeal of each character from the series. Visitors can enjoy an AR experience where character dialogue appears when they hold up their smartphones, photo spots for taking pictures while being immersed in the world of the series, and other features that allow them to experience the characters' appeal firsthand.We invite you to visit Anime Tokyo Station and fully enjoy the world of TV anime "SPYxFAMILY" and the appeal of its characters.TV Anime "SPYxFAMILY" Special ExhibitionExhibition OverviewIn addition to scene cuts revisiting memorable moments and photo spots, interactive exhibits will be featured. This special exhibition allows visitors to experience the world of the SPYxFAMILY anime and the appeal of the characters appearing in the series.Main Exhibition ContentsExhibitsScene panels revisiting memorable momentsPhoto spots for taking pictures while enjoying the world of the seriesLife-size character panelsExperience CornerAR experience featuring dialogue from exhibited characters*Further details regarding exhibition contents will be announced on the official Anime Tokyo Station website once confirmed.PeriodAugust 16 - November 9, 2025What is SPYxFAMILY?In a world of fierce intelligence warfare, the spy "Twilight" receives a mission: create a fake family and attend an elite school's social gathering to make contact with the target and prevent war with a neighboring country. Twilight assumes the identity of ordinary citizen Loid Forger and assembles a family - but his daughter Anya can read minds, and his wife Yor is a deadly assassin. This hit spy comedy follows a family of secrets striving for world peace.Tatsuya Endo's original manga began serialization in Shonen Jump+ in March 2019, winning multiple manga awards and surpassing 38 million copies with 15 volumes (as of March 2025).When Season 1 premiered in April 2022, to meet the high expectations of the manga's fanbase, an unprecedented collaboration was formed between WIT STUDIO and CloverWorks. The production brought together industry-leading talent including director Kazuhiro Furuhashi, as well as popular voice actors Takuya Eguchi, Atsumi Tanezaki, Saori Hayami, and Kenichiro Matsuda, with theme songs by OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM and Gen Hoshino in the first run of the series, followed by BUMP OF CHICKEN and yama in the second, establishing it as 2022's breakout anime hit.Season 2 aired from October 2023, bringing the fan-favorite Luxury Cruise Arc from the original work to life on an even grander scale. Ado's opening theme "Kura Kura" and Vaundy's ending theme "Todome no Ichigeki (feat. Cory Wong)" became instant sensations.The franchise's first film, SPYxFAMILY CODE: White, premiered December 22, 2023, with Tatsuya Endo providing the original work, supervision, and character designs. Season 1 director Kazuhiro Furuhashi served as animation advisor, while Season 1 assistant director Takashi Katagiri took the helm. Ichiro Okouchi crafted an entirely original story for the screenplay. Riding the wave of popularity enjoyed by "MIXED NUTS," OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM delivered the theme song "SOULSOUP," with the opening day surprise announcement that Gen Hoshino would perform the ending theme "Why" - reuniting the beloved Season 1 combination to tremendous fan enthusiasm. The film became a blockbuster success, earning 6.26 billion yen and drawing over 4.64 million viewers. With Season 3 set to begin in October 2025 in Japan, anticipation continues to build.Venue Overview- Name: Anime Tokyo Station (also known as "Anime Tokyo")- Location: Floors B1 to 2F of Tokyu East 5 (2-25-5 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo)*4 minutes on foot from Ikebukuro Station- Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (last admission: 6:45 p.m.)- Closed: Mondays*If Monday falls on a holiday, the venue will be open on Monday and closed on the following dayNew Year's holiday periodMay be closed on other daysPlease check the venue website before coming.- Admission fee: Free- Website: https://animetokyo.jp/en/- SNS:X | https://x.com/animetokyo_info (@animetokyo_info)Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/animetokyostation/ (@animetokyostation)YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSJOjGJE5Yiqw3PZ97AVdJwInquiries regarding this press releasePublic Relations Office of "Anime Tokyo Station" (Kyodo PR)Contact person: Miri YasudaE-mail: animetokyo-pr@kyodo-pr.co.jpPress release: https://www.acnnewswire.com/docs/files/20250722.pdfSource: Anime Tokyo StationCopyright 2025 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. BANGKOK, July 22, 2025 - (ACN Newswire) - Organized by MMI Asia, the regional subsidiary of Messe Munchen GmbH, and in consultation with Asian Exhibition Services (AES), ASEAN Ceramics and ASEAN Stone 2025 is set to make its grand return to Thailand this year, taking place in Hall 5 of IMPACT Exhibition & Convention Center, in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 15-17, 2025. Endorsed by FTI-CICT, Mining Industry Council Thailand, the Thai Ceramic Society, Confindustria Marmomacchine, Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machinery and Equipment for Ceramics (ACIMAC) and Chinese Council for Promotion of International Trade, Building Sub-Council (CCPIT), the show will continue to support Southeast Asia in ceramic and natural stone's global development as the industries continue to grow in scale and influence around the world.The exhibition's press conference took place yesterday in Bangkok, Thailand, with strong support from the exhibition's long-term association partner, the Thai Ceramic Society (TCS) and sponsor Puresil India. The exhibition is also part of the international cluster of ceramitec, forming an international network for the ceramic industry.Mr. Michael Wilton, Managing Director and CEO of MMI Asia, shared his vision:"We are excited to introduce a fresh wave of business opportunities and innovations to Thailand, empowering companies to lead in the Southeast Asian market while strengthening the local ceramics and natural stone communities."Mr. Atuk Chirdkiatisak, Chairman (FTI-CICT), emphasized:"With ASEAN Ceramics returning to Bangkok and the new addition of ASEAN Stone, FTI-CICT is proud to support the event in uniting local and international ceramics and natural stone sectors. Together, we will showcase the latest manufacturing advancements and drive global sustainability efforts."This October, ASEAN Ceramics and ASEAN Stone will unite a powerhouse lineup of global industry leaders. From the ceramics sector, major brands such as Puresil, MCS Portugal, AKW (Amberger Kaolinwerke), Saint-Gobain, Izawa Pigment, Guzman Minerals, Siam Technical Ceramics, SCG Cement, Padi Mining, Gilfair, Mungyo, Durga, ECT-Kema, Keramischer Ofenbau, LK Lab, Moat City, and Corbario among many others will be featured. The natural stone industry will be equally well-represented by top-tier names including Rajasthan Mining, Midwest, AKEMI, Diabu, Simec, Breton, Pedrini, Tenax, Abra Iride, Omar Crane, Italdiamant, and many more showcasing cutting-edge technologies, materials, and solutions that are shaping the future of the industry.This year's co-located events reflect the theme, "Pioneering a Sustainable & Innovative Future for Ceramics and Stone in Southeast Asia," by bringing together leading companies, renowned brands, industry associations, and think tanks to spotlight cutting-edge advancements and fortify the region's ceramic and stone value chain.The event will feature two dynamic conference stages: the ICTA (International Conference of Traditional & Advanced Ceramics)and the Main Conference Stage. ICTA 2025 will be organized by the Thai Ceramic Society (TCS) in collaboration with the Department of Materials Science, Chulalongkorn University and the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), with co-organization support from ACerS Thailand Chapter, Suranaree University of Technology (SUT), Chiang Mai University, and Ramkhamhaeng University. ICTA will cover a broad spectrum of ceramic-related topics, from Ceramic Art and Design to Industrial Ceramic Technologies. Meanwhile, the Main Conference Stage will deliver a high-impact program featuring industry spotlight panels, cutting-edge tech talks, market insights, innovations in quarrying, architecture and design discussions, and product innovation showcases - bringing together the full spectrum of the ceramics and stone industries.Beyond the conferences, ASEAN Ceramics and ASEAN Stone will deliver a high-impact program featuring exclusive pre-event factory tour, strategic business matching, and premium networking opportunities for exhibitors. Buyers and visitors will benefit from a targeted Hosted Buyer Program and forward-looking career development initiatives. More than just an exhibition, the event is a powerhouse platform driving innovation, business growth, and meaningful connections across the ceramics and stone industries.Visitor registration is now open - don't miss the opportunity to be part of Southeast Asia's premier platform for innovation and industry connection. Sign up today to visit ASEAN Ceramics & ASEAN Stone at: https://aseanstone.aseanceramics.com/newsAbout MMI Asia Pte LtdEstablished in 1992, MMI Asia is the wholly owned subsidiary and the regional headquarters of Messe Munchen GMBH (MMG) and is one of the world largest and leading exhibition organizers. MMI Asia's portfolio of events include editions of world-leading trade fairs from Munich - transport logistic & air cargo, analytica, ceramitec; as well as industry-specific events such as Glasstech and Fenestration Asia, Asia Climate Forum, and Singapore International Water Week. MMI Asia also provides consultancy in professional trade fair and conference management to government bodies, international trade and promotion organizations, and trade associations. For more information, please visit www.mmiasia.comContact:MMI Asia Pte. Ltd.Daniel ShiExhibition Directoraseanceramics@mmiasia.com.sgSource: MMI Asia Pte Ltd (MMI)Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. Gcore is the only European provider on the list ranked as a Leader in the global AI infrastructure sector LUXEMBOURG, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gcore , the global edge AI, cloud, network, and security solutions provider, today announced that it has been named a Leader in the latest GigaOm Radar for AI Infrastructure. The report highlights Gcore's leadership in platform capability, innovation, and expertise in delivering secure, scalable AI infrastructure. The GigaOm Radar evaluated 14 vendors in the AI Infrastructure space, measuring their strengths across key technical and business metrics. It ranks providers based on factors such as scalability and performance, deployment flexibility, security and compliance, and interoperability. Gcore is the only European provider on the list to be ranked as a Leader. GigaOm noted, "Organizations should consider Gcore for its focus on data sovereignty in Europe and its ability to customize solutions to specific business needs". GigaOm Radar writes that "Choosing Gcore AI is a strategic move for organizations prioritizing ultra-low latency, high performance, and flexible deployment options across cloud, on-premises, hybrid, and edge environments. Gcore's global private network ensures low-latency processing for real-time AI applications, which is a key advantage for businesses with a global footprint. The integrated product suite supports deployment across diverse infrastructure, offering per-second billing and dynamic scaling for cost optimization." Gcore offers a comprehensive AI product suite that includes Gcore Everywhere Inference and Gcore GPU Cloud to support scalable AI workflows, including model development, training, fine-tuning, and inference in just three clicks. The platform supports open source and custom AI models of any type: multimodal, LLMs, vision, time series, etc. "Being recognized as a Leader in the GigaOm Radar for AI Infrastructure is a strong validation of our commitment to connecting the world to AI anywhere and anytime," said Seva Vayner, Product Director of Edge Cloud and AI at Gcore. "We're proud to be the only European provider in the Leader category and remain dedicated to delivering high-performance, secure, and scalable AI solutions that help businesses unlock the full potential of AI." Download the GigaOm Radar report on AI Infrastructure for free and discover how Gcore empowers efficient, secure deployment of complex AI workloads. About Gcore Gcore is a global edge AI, cloud, network, and security solutions provider. Headquartered in Luxembourg, with a staff of 600+ operating from ten offices worldwide, Gcore provides its solutions to global leaders in numerous industries. The company manages its own global IT infrastructure across six continents, with one of the best network performances in Europe, Africa, and LATAM, due to the average response time of 30 ms worldwide. Gcore's network consists of 180+ points of presence around the world in reliable Tier IV and Tier III data centres, with a total capacity exceeding 200 Tbps. Learn more at gcore.com and follow them on LinkedIn , Twitter , and Facebook . Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2734958/GigaOm_Gcore.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2527184/Gcore_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/gcore-recognized-as-a-leader-in-the-gigaom-radar-for-ai-infrastructure-2025-302509493.html WARSAW, Poland, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ultra I&C has successfully demonstrated its Orion radio and Archer troposcatter systems to European NATO allies in Poland, marking a critical advancement in secure, multi-domain, and mobile communications networks. The demonstration validates foundational data transport layer capabilities essential to modern warfare, where the speed of battlefield information determines operational success. Ultra I&C deployed Orion X500 and X650 radios and Archer troposcatter technologies across five dispersed locations throughout Poland, delivering high-throughput data transmission across multiple waveforms and frequency bands. The exercise underscored how quickly and easily Ultra I&C's advanced communications solutions can be deployed and operated-even in denied, degraded, intermittent, and limited (DDIL) environments where adversaries actively target communications infrastructure. "This demonstration proves our systems deliver an integrated, tactical advantage now," said Jon Rucker, CEO of Ultra I&C. "Our combined line-of-sight and beyond line-of-sight capabilities provide warfighters with high-capacity, long-range, resilient communications that securely deliver critical data in the toughest operational environments." Performance results Orion radios deployed on multiple platforms, including drones and vehicles, within a mesh network, demonstrated exceptional operational flexibility and interoperability within a small form factor: 200x200 Mbps bidirectional throughput was achieved at distances exceeding 50 kilometers, with Band III and Band IV spectrum capability enabling multi-theater operations and supporting mobile, distributed operations critical to force survivability. Orion's frequency hopping capability demonstrated resilience against detection and jamming in contested environments. The Orion X650 showcased Ultra I&C's latest self-forming mobile ad hoc network (MANET) waveform, which employs advanced multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) techniques to maximize data transmission speed and spectral efficiency. Ultra I&C's next-generation Archer troposcatter system achieved high throughputs over 133 kilometers while maintaining secure links independent of satellites or ground-based infrastructure, with rapid and tool-less setup in under 15 minutes. The demonstration reinforces Ultra I&C's role as a key enabler of military modernization efforts for joint forces, delivering foundational communications infrastructure that enables all other command and control capabilities in next-generation warfare. About Ultra I&C Ultra I&C is powering decision speed across the multidomain battlespace with resilient tactical communications, mission optimization, and encryption technologies. We secure, move, and make sense of data across all domains-delivering real-time, mission-ready intelligence that gives operators at the edge the clarity to act and the speed to win. For decades, global defense forces and allied partners have relied on Ultra I&C to outpace threats and cut through complexity on the battlefield. Headquartered in Austin, TX with more than 700 employees across the global enterprise, we deliver battle-proven technology purpose-built for decision advantage in contested, high-threat environments. For more information, visit https://www.ultra-ic.com. Media Inquiries Amanda Rudolph, Vice President of Strategic Communications: amanda.rudolph@ultra-ic.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2734991/Ultra_I_C.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2670752/ULTRA_I_AND_C__Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ultra-ic-successfully-demonstrates-resilient-tactical-communications-for-european-nato-allies-302509670.html 44% of workers have been involved in a workplace incident or know someone who has. EcoOnline's new research reveals how stress, safety gaps and sustainability concerns are impacting the modern workplace. LONDON, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EcoOnline, a leading global provider of safety and sustainability software, has released its latest research findings: How Safe & Sustainable Is Your Workplace? The study surveyed over 5,700 employees across North America, the UK & Ireland, and the Nordics to understand how safe and sustainable workplaces really are, from the frontline view. The findings from 1,000 UK&I workers expose gaps in chemical safety, digital solutions and lone worker protection - alongside rising stress levels - calling for a renewed focus on the full workplace experience. How safe are UKI workplaces? Workers overwhelmingly feel that their workplace is safe (82%), however nearly half (44%) have personally experienced, either themselves or through a relative, a workplace accident or work-related illness. The majority relate to stress, affecting 64% of UK&I workers, higher than the global average (59%) and North America (54%). Exposing chemical safety gaps Chemical management is complex and rife with risk. 42% of UK&I workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals and, of that, 37% say their company is not actively working to substitute hazardous chemicals. Though 83% have received chemical handling training and 75% have access to Safety Data Sheets (SDS), major digital gaps remain. 40% of employees lack access to QR codes for SDS and 36% have not been provided with a digital chemical management system, highlighting a critical chemical safety shortfall. Rising pressure on lone workers Over a third (35%) of UK&I workers classify themselves as lone workers. While 68% say their employer takes lone worker safety seriously, only 41% strongly agree - showing a notable confidence drop compared to 53% across the full workforce who strongly agree their workplace is safe. Top concerns among lone workers are psychosocial: fatigue (48%), stress and mental health (43%), and threats of aggression (42%). Concerns also vary by country -aggression or assault ranks second highest in the UK at 44%, whereas accidents and falls are the second biggest worry in Ireland at 46%. Digitisation and AI: Trust in a Safer Future? Two-thirds (67%) of employees say they'd feel safer with more digital health and safety tools, rising to 82% among those aged 18-34. Digital training is already widely used - 86% of those trained used e-learning - but other areas still lag. Nearly half (48%) want digital incident reporting, yet most still rely on manual processes. While just 20% believe AI will "definitely improve" safety, 65% of workers are open to AI improving workplace safety, increasing to 78% for 18-34-year-olds. Trust will depend on how it's implemented, and the biggest opportunities lie in showing how AI can support, not replace, human safety processes, with potential use cases such as predictive alerts or virtual assistants. Safety and sustainability: Two sides of workplace experience While health and safety is a key part of workplace experience, sustainability matters deeply too. 76% of workers say environmental responsibility is important, and 54% say their employer placed greater focus on sustainability in 2024. However, only 34% say their business uses a recognised Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework and 29% don't know what ESG is, signalling a disconnect between ambition and understanding. Speaking on the research, EcoOnline's CEO, Tom Goodmanson, said, "Today's workplace experience hinges on the three S's: Safety, Stress and Sustainability. Supporting employee wellbeing means going beyond compliance - creating environments that are productive, supportive, and safe. With 82% of workers saying they'd consider leaving due to poor conditions, the link between safety, sustainability and job satisfaction is clearer than ever. Embracing technology to tackle psychosocial risks and make tangible sustainability commitments will be essential to keeping people protected and engaged." Read the full report for further insights on frontline worker perspectives. Methodology EcoOnline has previously surveyed workers in the Nordic region to assess safety and sustainability perceptions. This survey expands to include North America (NAM) and the UK & Ireland (UKI) regions, conducted by Origo Group from April to May 2025. The online survey targeted 1,000 respondents each in NAM and UKI, aged 18 to 65, with a total of 2,097 responses (1,059 from NAM and 1,038 from UKI). About EcoOnline EcoOnline delivers innovative environment, health and safety (EHS), chemical management and ESG/sustainability technology solutions to forward-thinking leaders. Founded in 2000 and trusted by over 10,000 brands worldwide, EcoOnline's connected suite of SaaS software enables businesses to protect their people and the planet by ensuring compliance, mitigating risk and streamlining operations. Visit ecoonline.com to immediately and positively impact your workplace safety and sustainability. Media Contact Alyssa Fishwick Sr. Director Global Public Relations alyssa.fishwick@ecoonline.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2735258/EcoOnline_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nearly-half-of-uki-workers-have-experienced-workplace-incidents--and-stress-is-the-top-cause-302509859.html Definitive live journalism summit spotlights leading voices, including Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the UAE, Emaar Founder and Chairman, and HashKey Capital CEO NEW YORK, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Reuters today announced the initial lineup of speakers for its premier Reuters NEXT Gulf event in Abu Dhabi on October 22, 2025. The unmatched agenda is set to deliver insights from 40+ experts, including the Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the UAE HE Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Emaar Founder and Chairman Mohammed Alabbar and HashKey Capital CEO Deng Chao. Reuters NEXT Gulf, a collaboration between Reuters Events and Reuters global newsroom, will convene more than 350 global leaders, innovators and CEOs in Abu Dhabi to examine the challenges defining business, society and the world. The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development is the host city partner of Reuters NEXT Gulf. In a world marked by rapid political, financial, social and technological transformation, staying ahead requires insight and foresight. Abu Dhabi's position as a global hub for innovation and business means that nowhere is more relevant for global leaders in business and policy to chart the path forward. Among the first set of speakers announced are: Sinan Ulgen, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Europe and Director, EDAM: The former Turkish diplomat joins the 'What's NEXT? The Gulf's role in a new world order' panel to discuss the critical issues and key leaders shaping the region's future. The former Turkish diplomat joins the panel to discuss the critical issues and key leaders shaping the region's future. Hussain Sajwani, Founder and Chairman, Damac Group: The founder of the Emirati conglomerate, best known for its luxury property development arm, is speaking on the 'New corporate playbook: adapting to shifting consumer behavior' panel, sharing insights on how international consumer dynamics are changing. The founder of the Emirati conglomerate, best known for its luxury property development arm, is speaking on the panel, sharing insights on how international consumer dynamics are changing. HE Khalfan Belhoul, CEO, Dubai Future Foundation: With a focus on shaping Dubai's future, the government-backed organization joins Reuters NEXT Gulf to discuss its mission of fostering innovation, developing future leaders and building a future-ready city. With a focus on shaping Dubai's future, the government-backed organization joins Reuters NEXT Gulf to discuss its mission of fostering innovation, developing future leaders and building a future-ready city. Mohammed Alabbar, Founder and Chairman, Emaar: In a fireside chat, the founder of Dubai-based real estate development company known for its iconic landmarks, including the Burj Khalifa, will discuss new planned ambitious projects both within UAE and as far afield as Montenegro and Indonesia. In a fireside chat, the founder of Dubai-based real estate development company known for its iconic landmarks, including the Burj Khalifa, will discuss new planned ambitious projects both within UAE and as far afield as Montenegro and Indonesia. Luigi Di Maio, Special Representative for the Gulf Region, European Union: Tasked with developing a stronger, more comprehensive and more strategic EU partnership with countries in the Gulf region, he joins the 'Tariff wars and trade shifts' panel. Tasked with developing a stronger, more comprehensive and more strategic EU partnership with countries in the Gulf region, he joins the panel. Giorgos Gerapetritis, Foreign Minister, Greece: Gerapetritis, who made a state visit to the Middle East earlier this year, has been positioning Greece as an active and reliable interlocutor in the region's affairs with a commitment to fostering stability and humanitarian aid. Gerapetritis will discuss the region's future against the backdrop of Greece's upcoming tenure as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council. Gerapetritis, who made a state visit to the Middle East earlier this year, has been positioning Greece as an active and reliable interlocutor in the region's affairs with a commitment to fostering stability and humanitarian aid. Gerapetritis will discuss the region's future against the backdrop of Greece's upcoming tenure as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council. Abdulaziz Al Sager, Head, Gulf Research Institute: The influential businessman, advisory board member and president of Sager Group Holding in Saudi Arabia joins the 'What's NEXT? The Gulf's role in a new world order ' panel. The influential businessman, advisory board member and president of Sager Group Holding in Saudi Arabia joins the ' panel. Deng Chao, CEO, HashKey Capital: Speaking on the ' Deep tech at scale ' panel, Chao brings timely insights from leading a digital asset investment firm that manages more than US$1 billion in client assets and invests globally in crypto and blockchain. Speaking on the ' ' panel, Chao brings timely insights from leading a digital asset investment firm that manages more than US$1 billion in client assets and invests globally in crypto and blockchain. Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department, International Monetary Fund: From modernizing Lebanon's tax and customs systems in his role as Finance Minister in 2005-08 to now overseeing the IMF's work in the Middle East, North Africa, central Asia and Caucasus, Azour brings his unique experience to the 'What's NEXT? The Gulf's role in a new world order ' panel. From modernizing Lebanon's tax and customs systems in his role as Finance Minister in 2005-08 to now overseeing the IMF's work in the Middle East, North Africa, central Asia and Caucasus, Azour brings his unique experience to the ' panel. Nasser Saidi, Politician and Economist, Former Minister of Economy and Industry, Former Vice Governor, Lebanese Central Bank, Lebanon: The founder and president of Nasser Saidi & Associates, which provides economic and business consultancy services to major public and private sector entities, joins the 'Tariff wars and trade shifts' panel. The founder and president of Nasser Saidi & Associates, which provides economic and business consultancy services to major public and private sector entities, joins the panel. Yusuff Ali, Chairman and Managing Director, Lulu Group: The Indian businessman has played a key role in transforming the retail business into a multinational conglomerate, including its listing on the Abu Dhabi stock exchange last year. He will join the 'New corporate playbook: adapting to shifting consumer behavior' panel. The Indian businessman has played a key role in transforming the retail business into a multinational conglomerate, including its listing on the Abu Dhabi stock exchange last year. He will join the panel. John Pagano, Group CEO, Red Sea Global: With an aim to transform Saudi Arabia's tourism sector with its focus on sustainable development, the luxury tourism developer owned by PIF is behind large scale projects like the Red Sea and AMAALA. Pagano will join the 'New corporate playbook: adapting to shifting consumer behavior' panel. With an aim to transform Saudi Arabia's tourism sector with its focus on sustainable development, the luxury tourism developer owned by PIF is behind large scale projects like the Red Sea and AMAALA. Pagano will join the panel. Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar OON, Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Nigeria: Nigeria is one of Africa's largest trading partners with the GCC; its trade with the UAE alone exceeds US$3 billion. In a fireside chat, Tuggar will discuss Nigeria's economic and geopolitical relations with countries across the region. Nigeria is one of Africa's largest trading partners with the GCC; its trade with the UAE alone exceeds US$3 billion. In a fireside chat, Tuggar will discuss Nigeria's economic and geopolitical relations with countries across the region. Abdulrahman Tarabzouni, CEO, Saudi Technology Ventures: The largest technology-focused venture capital firm in the Middle East and North Africa region manages a US$800 million fund. Tarabzouni shares how his firm invests and scales promising and disruptive technology companies in sectors like e-commerce, fintech, logistics and communications. The largest technology-focused venture capital firm in the Middle East and North Africa region manages a US$800 million fund. Tarabzouni shares how his firm invests and scales promising and disruptive technology companies in sectors like e-commerce, fintech, logistics and communications. HE Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the UAE and Former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (2008 - 2021): In a wide-ranging fireside chat with Gargash, Reuters will discuss the UAE's foreign policy objectives in the region, including the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the Syrian civil war. In a wide-ranging fireside chat with Gargash, Reuters will discuss the UAE's foreign policy objectives in the region, including the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the Syrian civil war. HE Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, UAE: Bringing the voice of the UAE government to the 'What's NEXT? The Gulf's role in a new world order' panel, Reuters will unpick how decisions made in the next decade by business, finance and policy leaders in one of the world's fastest-growing regions will have lasting worldwide influence. "We're uniting market movers and leading visionaries across industries and government at Reuters NEXT Gulf because times of great change demand the emergence of strong leaders," said Alessandra Galloni, Reuters Editor-in-Chief. "Our unmatched agenda tackles the world's biggest challenges and opportunities so that leaders can answer today's most pressing questions and ignite change." The agenda covers six main themes: Geopolitics: The Gulf, like every region in the world, finds itself adapting to significant changes on the world political stage after the "global year of elections." Shifting trade patterns are also leading to new financial and diplomatic alliances, amid a broader shift toward deglobalization. The Gulf, like every region in the world, finds itself adapting to significant changes on the world political stage after the "global year of elections." Shifting trade patterns are also leading to new financial and diplomatic alliances, amid a broader shift toward deglobalization. Economy & Markets: The Gulf is experiencing a renaissance, bucking global economic trends and growing fast - with growth expected to surge to around 4.4% in 2025, more than doubling 2024 projections. The Gulf is experiencing a renaissance, bucking global economic trends and growing fast - with growth expected to surge to around 4.4% in 2025, more than doubling 2024 projections. Banking & Finance: The financial services industry in the Gulf is undergoing a significant transformation, fueled by the advances of digital technology. The Middle East public cloud market is expected to reach almost $10 billion by 2027, but challenges remain in the form of data security and privacy concerns. The financial services industry in the Gulf is undergoing a significant transformation, fueled by the advances of digital technology. The Middle East public cloud market is expected to reach almost $10 billion by 2027, but challenges remain in the form of data security and privacy concerns. Technology & AI: A focus on developing technology and AI has been a key plank of the region's concerted push to diversify beyond oil and gas. Alongside heavy AI investment, there have been significant efforts to develop Arab-language models trained on local datasets. A focus on developing technology and AI has been a key plank of the region's concerted push to diversify beyond oil and gas. Alongside heavy AI investment, there have been significant efforts to develop Arab-language models trained on local datasets. Climate & Sustainability: The Gulf is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with rising temperatures, water scarcity, and environmental degradation posing significant challenges. The spotlight is on the region, and its diversification away from oil, with the UAE hosting COP28. The Gulf is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with rising temperatures, water scarcity, and environmental degradation posing significant challenges. The spotlight is on the region, and its diversification away from oil, with the UAE hosting COP28. Business Leadership: Social, political, and economic upheaval have been a constant theme around the world, and with it has come an increased need for leaders to steer a steady course and rebuild trust. "The world is undergoing a period of intense change and leaders need insight on what the future may hold to navigate and plan for success. Reuters NEXT Gulf speakers tap into the expertise and experience needed to do just that," said Josh London, Head of Reuters Professional. "Reuters is committed to providing professionals in the Middle East with the crucial insights needed to navigate doing business in this time of uncertainty. The expansion of Reuters NEXT to Abu Dhabi, alongside the recent launch of digital subscriptions and a new Arabic website coming later this year, demonstrates the importance of this region." Visit our event website to learn more, stay up-to-date with new speakers, and register your interest to attend Reuters NEXT Gulf. MEDIA CONTACT Heather Carpenter Senior Director, Communications, Reuters Heather.Carpenter@thomsonreuters.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/822036/Reuters_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/reuters-announces-first-speakers-to-join-inaugural-reuters-next-gulf-in-abu-dhabi-302510539.html EQS Newswire / 22/07/2025 / 10:14 MSK Solidcore Resources plc ("Solidcore" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a credit facility agreement with Dutch bank ING for up to US$ 100 million. The Company aims to use the funds for general corporate purposes, including the refinancing of loans maturing this year. "Our agreement with ING marks another milestone in Solidcore's track record of securing international financing. Partnering with this leading global institution underscores the strong confidence in our strategy and long-term vision", said Evgenia Onuschenko, CFO of Solidcore Resources plc. "At ING, we are pleased to support Solidcore throughout their journey of growth and transformation. We are committed to building enduring relationships and being a reliable partner at every stage of our clients' evolution. Hence, we look forward to supporting Solidcore as they continue to grow and expand", said Cilia Ruinen, Head Metals Mining & Fertilizers EMEA at ING. About Solidcore Solidcore Resources is a leading gold producer registered in AIFC, Kazakhstan, and listed on Astana International Exchange. Solidcore operates two producing gold mines and a major growth project (Ertis POX) in Kazakhstan. About ING ING Bank, headquartered in Amsterdam, is one of the world's largest financial institutions with a strong European foundation. Operating in over 100 countries, it offers a broad range of retail and corporate banking services, supported by strong digital capabilities and deep sector expertise - particularly in Metals and Mining. Enquiries Investor Relations Media Kirill Kuznetsov Alina Assanova +7 7172 47 66 55 (Kazakhstan) ir@solidcore-resources.com Yerkin Uderbay +7 7172 47 66 55 (Kazakhstan) media@solidcore-resources.kz FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This release may include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this release. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words "targets", "believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may", "anticipates", "would", "could" or "should" or similar expressions or, in each case their negative or other variations or by discussion of strategies, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. These forward-looking statements all include matters that are not historical facts. By their nature, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the company's control that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the company's present and future business strategies and the environment in which the company will operate in the future. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. There are many factors that could cause the company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. The company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based. 22/07/2025 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media archive at www.todayir.com Strongsville, Ohio--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Automated Manufacturing Solutions, Inc. (AMS), a provider of custom manufacturing machinery, has expanded its equipment lineup with five additions designed to meet diverse industrial welding requirements. The new equipment-AMS SureWeld S10 Welder, AMS SureWeld S1 Welder, AMS SureWeld XY Pro, AMS SureWeld XY Pro Dual, and AMS SureWeld S4M-reflects the company's continued focus on engineering precision, configurability, and adaptability across production environments. Founded with the goal of delivering reliable automation systems, AMS has earned a reputation for building quality and customer-oriented service. The newly available equipment addresses a wide spectrum of use cases-from small-part production and lower volume work to high-output and multi-weld processes-while offering customization and integration flexibility across job configurations. "These machines are built to handle real production challenges with simplicity and dependability," said David Minney, the President of Automated Manufacturing Solutions. The AMS SureWeld S10 Welder is structured in three configurable tiers-Basic, Pro, and Elite-supporting both small-batch and scalable operations. Options include manual or electronic pressure control, dual gun integration, and advanced job recipe management with HMI support. Automated Manufacturing Solutions, Inc. Launches Five Specialized Welding Machines for Industrial Automation To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/259438_2d49e0401463c829_002full.jpg The AMS SureWeld S1 Welder, also tiered, is ideal for compact part welding and integrates optional shuttle fixtures, poke-yoke inspection stations, and digital regulation features in advanced configurations. Designed for high-throughput operations, the AMS SureWeld XY Pro incorporates a servo-driven XY platen and programmable weld scheduling through HMI. It supports nut and stud feeding and multiple-part sensing and offers optional high-force weld cylinders. Expanding on this is the AMS SureWeld XY Pro Dual, which introduces dual weld guns capable of handling simultaneous or opposing-end welds within a single assembly. It accommodates fastener variations, high production rates, and the ability to integrate up to four weld guns per configuration. The AMS SureWeld S4M provides a fixed-frame option with support for multiple weld transformers and complex fixturing needs. Integrated LVDT sensors assist with height verification, and elite versions incorporate nut feeders, digital pressure control, and upside-down nut detection technology. "We focus on building practical systems that adapt to our customers' evolving needs," Minney added. Automated Manufacturing Solutions, Inc. continues to support its customers with custom automation systems designed and built in-house by a dedicated team of engineers and trades professionals. About the company: Founded in 2002, Automated Manufacturing Solutions, Inc. is a custom automation provider based in Blaine, Minnesota. The company specializes in designing and building reliable, high-quality manufacturing machinery tailored to meet diverse operational needs. With a team of broadly trained engineers and skilled tradesmen, AMS is known for delivering robust, cost-effective solutions and exceptional customer service. The company maintains a flexible, technology-forward approach to automation, helping clients improve efficiency and adapt to evolving production challenges. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259438 SOURCE: Plentisoft LONDON, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IDX, a leading global strategic communications and performance marketing agency, today announced the appointment of Richard Simons as its new Worldwide Chief Financial Officer, effective July 22. Simons succeeds Scott Paterson, who is stepping down from the role after two years spent successfully guiding IDX through a rebrand amid major market shifts. Simons brings a wealth of experience from senior financial roles across the media and technology sectors. Most recently, he served as CFO at Mediazoo, where he played a key role in architecting and delivering the company's growth strategy and facilitating its successful exit to private equity. "Richard's experience and passion for corporate communications, performance marketing and technology will be invaluable as we expand our AI-driven services globally," said Crispin Beale, Chief Executive Officer of IDX. "At IDX, we're proud to lead with innovation in investor relations, performance marketing and global corporate communications. I'm excited to work alongside such a capable leader and confident he will help us exceed our ambitious growth goals." Earlier in his career, Simons held finance leadership roles at Microsoft, Sky and DMGT. While at Microsoft's MSN division, he supported the rapid expansion of its advertising and subscription-based businesses. At IDX, Simons will lead the finance function as the company enters its next phase of international growth. His focus will include enhancing commercial insight and providing strategic financial support to the leadership team. "I'm excited to join IDX and honoured to have been chosen to work with Investcorp, Crispin Beale and the wider board in this next phase of evolution," said Simons. Simons' appointment reflects IDX's focus on further strengthening its leadership team to support long-term strategic and financial objectives. ABOUT IDX IDX is a global strategic communications and marketing agency, headquartered in London with offices around the world, including New York, London, Phoenix, Helsinki and Vadodara, India. Working with more than 1,600 clients across sectors, IDX combines deep industry knowledge with a data-first mindset to help ambitious brands thrive in complex, fast-moving markets. The firm specialises in performance marketing, investor relations, and stakeholder engagement, delivering integrated campaigns that drive meaningful business outcomes. Visit www.idx.inc to learn more. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/idx-appoints-richard-simons-as-new-worldwide-chief-financial-officer-302509899.html Zurich / Paris, 22 July 2025 PRESS RELEASE GAM Strengthens European Presence with Appointment of Karim Carmoun to Lead France, Benelux and Monaco GAM Investments (GAM) has appointed Karim Carmoun as Managing Director to lead its activities across France, Benelux and Monaco. Based in Paris, Karim will report directly to GAM's incoming Group Chief Distribution Officer, Tim Rainsford, who will re-join the firm on 1 October. Tim returns to GAM after holding senior roles at Generali Investments Partners as CEO, and most recently as Chief Product and Distribution Officer at Generali Asset Management. Karim's appointment marks a key moment in GAM's growth strategy in Europe, supported by NJJ Holding SA, the private investment group of French entrepreneur Xavier Niel and GAM's majority shareholder. Under new leadership, GAM is sharpening its focus on its Specialist Active, Alternatives and Wealth Management capabilities, giving clients access to top-tier investment talent and differentiated strategies. Combining in-house expertise with high-quality partnerships, GAM's model connects professional investors to distinctive sources of return, backed by a global distribution platform and a renewed commitment to local client service. Karim brings over 20 years of experience in asset management and a deep understanding of the French and Benelux markets. He spent the past decade at Robeco, where he served as CEO of Robeco France, following senior roles at Fidelity, Credit Agricole, and BNP Paribas. He is widely recognised for his client-centric approach and ability to navigate evolving market conditions. "I am proud to join GAM at this pivotal moment in its growth strategy," said Karim Carmoun. "With the strong support of NJJ, we are focused on re-establishing GAM's presence in France, Benelux and Monaco. Investors increasingly seek access to specialist strategies, alternative solutions, and the highest-quality investment talent which are all areas where GAM has a distinctive proposition. I look forward to building this exciting business and working closely with professional clients across the region to help them with their investment needs." "France, Benelux and Monaco are strategically important for GAM, and Karim brings the experience, credibility and insight to help us build lasting relationships in the region," said Rossen Djounov, GAM's Global Head of Client Solutions. "His appointment reflects our belief in local expertise supported by global resources." GAM is a specialist asset manager focused on Specialist Active, Alternatives and Wealth Management, including high-conviction equity, multi-asset and fixed income strategies. Its capabilities span hedge funds, alternative credit, insurance-linked securities (ILS) and private markets, delivered through in-house expertise and high-quality partnerships with some of the world's most respected investment teams. Through this model, GAM connects professional investors to differentiated sources of return and specialist insights, offering a platform that is both future-ready and aligned with evolving portfolio needs. To connect with Karim Carmoun regarding GAM's plans in the region, please contact: Karim Carmoun Managing Director Head of France, Benelux and Monaco Karim.Carmoun@gam.com Media Relations: Colin Bennett T +44 Follow us: Xand LinkedIn About GAM GAM Investments is a highly scalable global investment platform with strong global distribution capabilities focusing on three core areas, Specialist Active Investing, Alternative Investing and Wealth Management, that is listed in Switzerland. It delivers distinctive and differentiated investment solutions across its Investment and Wealth Management businesses. Its purpose is to protect and enhance clients' financial future. It attracts and empowers brightest minds to provide investment leadership, innovation and a positive impact on society and the environment. Total assets under management were CHF 16.3 billion as of 31 December 2024. GAM Investments has global distribution with offices in 14 countries and is geographically diverse with clients in almost every continent. Headquartered in Zurich, GAM Investments was founded in 1983, and its registered office is at Hardstrasse 201 Zurich, 8005 Switzerland. For more information about GAM Investments, please visit www.gam.com. Other Important Information This release contains or may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "estimate", "aim", "project", "forecast", "risk", "likely", "intend", "outlook", "should", "could", "would", "may", "might", "will", "continue", "plan", "probability", "indicative", "seek", "target", "plan" and other similar expressions are intended to or may identify forward-looking statements. Any such statements in this release speak only as of the date hereof and are based on assumptions and contingencies subject to change without notice, as are statements about market and industry trends, projections, guidance, and estimates. Any forward-looking statements in this release are not indications, guarantees, assurances or predictions of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the person making such statements, its affiliates and its and their directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors and may involve significant elements of subjective judgement and assumptions as to future events which may or may not be correct and may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such statements. You are strongly cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and no person accepts or assumes any liability in connection therewith. This release is not a financial product or investment advice, a recommendation to acquire, exchange or dispose of securities or accounting, legal or tax advice. It has been prepared without taking into account the objectives, legal, financial or tax situation and needs of individuals. Before making an investment decision, individuals should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to their own objectives, legal, financial and tax situation and needs and seek legal, tax and other advice as appropriate for their individual needs and jurisdiction. Attachments EDINBURGH, Scotland, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Envision Energy, a global leader in green technology, announced today that it has executed two supply agreements to provide Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) containerised battery energy storage systems (BESS) for Field's Holmston and Drum Farm projects in Scotland. Each facility will provide 50 MW / 100 MWh of capacity to deliver electricity to the grid, providing vital flexibility services in a part of the grid subject to significant constraints to continue to accelerate the U.K.'s renewable energy transition. Construction on Field's Holmston project began this summer and construction at Field's Drum Farm will commence in early autumn, with both projects due for completion by the end of 2026. Henry Peng, Senior Vice President and President of Latin America and European Region, Envision Energy, said: "Scotland is a key market for Envision Energy, and our collaboration with Field demonstrates the trust in our technical expertise and proven solutions across battery energy storage. These two projects build on our growing portfolio in the United Kingdom as we continue to provide our solutions and expertise to deliver net zero power solutions. We are proud to bring our energy storage products tailored with a 15-year long-term service agreement to Scotland. These two projects demonstrate our deep commitment to supporting grid stability and accelerating the transition to renewables with safe, reliable, and scalable energy solutions." Amit Gudka, CEO of Field, said: "Breaking ground at Holmston in South Ayrshire and soon at Drum Farm near Keith marks an important milestone for Field, as we work to accelerate the shift toward a cleaner, more secure energy system in Scotland and the wider UK. Battery storage in all its forms is a critical part of that journey, and we're pleased to be working with Envision Energy to deliver advanced solutions that will strengthen the grid and support the growth of renewables." Energy storage is rapidly expanding across the U.K. and Europe, playing a vital role in enabling a more sustainable energy system. With advanced battery technology and deep technical expertise, Envision is helping accelerate the integration of renewable generation while delivering essential capabilities such as grid-forming, black start functionality, and ancillary services that strengthen overall grid performance. Designed for safety, reliability, and long-term value, these systems support the transition to a flexible and resilient net-zero future. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/envision-energy-contracted-to-deliver-two-100-mwh-battery-energy-storage-projects-for-field-in-scotland-302510603.html All the news about the DEA administrator and Rescheduling marijuana means absolutely nothing if the quota system remains untouched. Much attention has been given to breaking Ole Miss's monopoly and who becomes the next DEA Administrator. But the real news isn't about who's appointed-it's what the DEA does with the quota system. WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / For decades, the Drug Enforcement Administration has quietly presided over a regulatory disaster-one so entrenched, so damaging, and so absurd that it's hard to believe it hasn't yet become a national scandal. Its name? The DEA Quota System. Its impact? The systematic sabotage of America's cannabis research ecosystem. Its enabler? A bureaucracy that protects monopolies, not medicine. The 800 lb. Gorilla in the Room: DEA Quotas Weaponized The DEA quota system was created under the Controlled Substances Act to strike a delicate balance: restrict dangerous drug diversion while allowing enough supply for legitimate medical and scientific needs. But in the case of cannabis-and particularly pharmaceutical-grade marijuana for FDA clinical trials-this balance was never the goal. The quota system has devolved into a regulatory chokehold, used to block competition, punish innovation, and protect entrenched, underperforming suppliers. Behind every shuttered research lab, every stalled clinical trial, and every sick patient denied access to life-saving therapies, there's one constant: the DEA's refusal to grant quota. Monopoly by Design: Ole Miss and the Great Federal Lie Let's be clear: the DEA's stranglehold on cannabis science was never about safety. It was always about control. For over 50 years, the University of Mississippi held the sole contract to grow marijuana for research. The quality was so bad that scientists like Dr. Sue Sisley openly called it "moldy ditch weed" unfit for any modern scientific study. Yet the DEA protected it like Fort Knox. Why? Because controlling the only supply meant controlling the science-and who got to participate. Then came the Trump-era Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) order, which forced federal agencies to review wasteful contracts. Quietly, in 2024, NIDA stopped ordering from Ole Miss. But that didn't open the door. The DEA simply locked it again. A Locked Door for Science: MMJ BioPharma and the Quota Wall While the DEA claimed it was "expanding" research licenses, the truth is more insidious: Bright Green surrendered its registration after never growing a plant. Groff NA , Scottsdale Research , and Royal Emerald are inactive or near bankruptcy. Maridose operates a 1,100 sq. ft. lab with virtually no cannabis in production. And the only serious contender-MMJ BioPharma Cultivation-built a multimillion-dollar FDA-compliant pharmaceutical facility, secured FDA Investigational New Drug approvals, and meets DEA quota requirements through its pending FDA Huntington's and Multiple Sclerosis trials. But it still has no DEA API Bulk manufacturing registration to grow pharmaceutical grade cannabis. The reason why? DEA Quota obstruction. Quotas: Bureaucracy's Most Powerful Weapon The DEA's quota system isn't just outdated-it's engineered to fail: Aggregate Production Quotas (APQs) set arbitrary national ceilings. Manufacturing Quotas (MQs) limit what each licensee can produce. Procurement Quotas (PQs) restrict what can be converted into medicine. All of it controlled by opaque algorithms, secret criteria, and mid-year adjustments based on "diversion risk"-a term the DEA wields like a sword to deny supply while avoiding accountability. In 2018, the DEA expanded its authority with a final rule that allows it to demand customer identities, block licenses, and alter quotas on a whim. This isn't regulation. It's sabotage in slow motion. MMJ BioPharma: The Threat DEA Wants to Bury The reason MMJ BioPharma remains unlicensed isn't because of security risks, scientific shortcomings, or legal violations. It's because MMJ threatens to break the DEA's monopoly charade. It has real science. It has real FDA approvals. It has real patients waiting. The DEA's Diversion Control Division knows this. That's why they've buried MMJ's application in red tape and phony administrative hearings, betting that time, money, and politics will wear them down. But MMJ isn't going away-and neither is the lawsuit that may finally bring this quota scam into the light. Time to End the Cover-Up As Congress debates rescheduling cannabis and new leadership takes the reins at the DEA, one thing must be made clear: Rescheduling means nothing if the quota system remains untouched. You can move cannabis to Schedule III, V, or off the CSA entirely-but if the DEA still controls production through its weaponized quota mechanism, then science will remain hostage. Terrance Cole, are you listening? The DEA doesn't need another press release. It needs a purge. Final Thought Patients are dying. Science is stalled. Billions have been wasted. And all the while, the DEA's dirty little secret-the 800-pound gorilla called the quota system-sits unchallenged in the corner, suffocating the future of medicine. It's time for Congress, the courts, and the American public to finally ask: Why is a law enforcement agency still in charge of medical research? Until that answer changes, the war on cannabis isn't over-it's just wearing a lab coat with a badge. MMJ is represented by attorney Megan Sheehan. CONTACT: Madison Hisey MHisey@mmjih.com 203-231-8583 SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/marijuana-rescheduling-the-deas-dirty-little-cannabis-secret-meet-the-1050913 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / American Critical Minerals Corp. ("American Critical Minerals" or the "Company") (CSE:KCLI)(OTCQB:APCOF)(Frankfurt:2P3) is pleased to announce that it has appointed Kenneth Taylor as Strategic Advisor with immediate effect. Kenneth Taylor is an expert in Salt Minerals and Evaporite Deposits and has worked for over 20 years in the States of Utah and New Mexico. Ken was with Intrepid Potash Inc. (www.intrepidpotash.com) for 12 years in a number of roles including as part of Senior Management, latterly as Vice President of Business Development. He has also consulted to a number of entities in Utah and for the last 8 years has been in senior positions with Redmond Minerals focused primarily on its Mineral Salt Products and is its Chief Financial Officer. Ken has process, regulatory, finance, sales, and research experience across a broad range of evaporite minerals including sodium chloride (salt), potash (potassium chloride), lithium chloride, magnesium chloride, and other forms of evaporites. His combination of financial and operational experience combined with work on R&D projects will enable him to provide commercial, operational and strategic advice to the American Critical Minerals Team. His industry connections and current work network will provide access to a number of potential Industry and Strategic Partners as well as State Government Entities. Ken graduated Magna Cum Laude from BYU with a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering and has post graduate degrees in business from the Booth School of Business in Chicago and Stanford Graduate School of Business. Management Commentary Simon Clarke President & CEO stated, "we are delighted to welcome Ken to our team, his knowledge, and insights as well as his strategic relationships will be extremely valuable as we continue to advance our Green River Project. In particular, his knowledge of successful Potash Solution Mining Operations in the Paradox Basin and the evolution of the Paradox Brines as a major source of lithium and associated by-products, provides us with invaluable insights and connections, as does his knowledge of successfully developing evaporite deposits across Utah and beyond." Warrant Incentive Program The Company also announces the implementation of a warrant exercise incentive program (the "Program") intended to encourage the early exercise of up to 4,620,800 warrants (the "Warrants") previously issued in connection with a private placement and which are currently exercisable at a price of $0.1875 per share. Under the Program, the Company is offering an inducement to each holder of the Warrants that exercises on or before August 6, 2025 (the "Program End Date"). Holders exercising Warrants on or before the Program End Date will be entitled to receive one additional warrant (the "New Warrant") for each share subscribed for. Each New Warrant will be exercisable at a price of $0.28 until August 6, 2027. The proceeds from the Program will strengthen the Company's treasury and will be used for working capital purposes and the advancement of the Company's Green River Project. Holders of the Warrants are encouraged to contact the Company to coordinate exercise prior to the Program End Date. About American Critical Minerals' Green River Potash and Lithium Project The Green River Potash and Lithium Project is situated within Utah's highly productive Paradox Basin, located 20 miles northwest of Moab, Utah and has significant logistical advantages including close proximity to major rail hubs, airport, roads, water, towns and labour markets. It also benefits from close proximity to the agricultural and industrial heartland of America and numerous potential end-users for its products. The history of oil and gas production across the Paradox Basin provides geologic data from historic wells across the Project, and the wider Basin, validating and de-risking the potential for high grade potash and large amounts of contained lithium. Wells in and around the project reported lithium up to 500 ppm, bromine up to 6,100 ppm and boron up to 1,260 ppm (Gilbride & Santos, 2012). This data is reinforced by nearby potash production and the advanced stage of neighbouring lithium projects. The Paradox Basin is believed to contain up to 56 billion tonnes of lithium brines, potentially the largest such resource in US (Source: Anson Fastmarkets Presentation - https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/pdf/ASN/02823465.pdf )The Company also has a 43-101 Exploration Target of 600 million to 1 billion tonnes of sylvinite (the most important source for the production of potash in North America) with average grades ranging from 19% to 29% KCL.** The Company holds a 100% interest in eleven State of Utah (SITLA) mineral and minerals salt leases covering approximately 7,050 acres, 1,094 federal lithium brine claims (BLM Placer Claims) covering 21,150 acres, and 11 federal (BLM) potash prospecting permits covering approximately 25,480 acres. Through these leases, permits and claims the Company has the ability to explore for potash, lithium and potential by-products across the entire Green River Project (approx. 32,530 acres). The Company is authorized to drill a total of 7 exploratory drill holes across the Project (pending bonding the recently approved 4 drill holes). Intrepid Potash, Inc. is America's largest potash company and only U.S. domestic potash producer and currently produces potash from its nearby Moab Solution Mine, which the Company believes provides strong evidence of stratigraphic continuity within this part of the Paradox Basin (www.intrepidpotash.com). Anson Resources Ltd. has advanced lithium development projects contiguous to the northern boundary of our Green River Project and neighbouring to the south. Anson has a large initial resource, robust definitive feasibility study and has recently completed successful piloting operations through its partnership with Koch Technology Solutions, as well as an offtake agreement with LG Energy Solution. The Anson exploration targets encompass the combined Mississippian Leadville Formation and the Pennsylvanian Paradox Formation brine-bearing clastic layers, which also underlie American Critical Minerals' entire project area (www.ansonresources.com)*. In 2022, the U.S. imported approx. 96.5% of its annual potash requirements with domestic producers receiving a higher sales price due to proximity to market (intrepidpotash.com/ August 15, 2024, Investor Presentation). In March 2024, the US Senate introduced a bill to include key fertilizers and potash on the US Department of Interior list of Critical Minerals which already includes lithium. Recent market estimates suggest that the global potash market is over US$50 billion annually and growing at a compound annual growth rate ("CAGR") of close to 5%. Annual lithium demand is now estimated to be over 1 million tonnes globally and continuing to grow rapidly.*** Qualified Person The Technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P.Geo., the Chief Operations Officer ("COO") of the Company and a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101. On behalf of the Board of Directors Simon Clarke, President & CEO Contact: (604)-551-9665 *American Critical Minerals' management cautions that results or discoveries on properties in proximity to the American Critical Minerals' properties may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties. **A report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report - Green River Potash Project, Grand County, Utah, USA", prepared by Agapito Associates Inc., and dated effective September 12, 2012, quantifies the Green River Potash Project's potash exploration potential in the form of a NI 43-101 Exploration Target. The Exploration Target estimate was prepared in accordance with the National Instrument 43-101 -Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). It should be noted that Exploration Targets are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define them as Mineral Resources, and, while reasonable potential may exist, it is uncertain whether further exploration will result in the determination of a Mineral Resource under NI 43-101. The Exploration Target stated in the Agapito Report is not being reported as part of any Mineral Resource or Mineral Reserve. A copy of the report can be accessed on the corporate website for the Company: www.acmineralscorp.com. ***United States Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2024 (https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2024/mcs2024-potash.pdf). Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from this forward-looking information include those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding future confirmation drilling and its intended outcomes and the intended use of proceeds from the oversubscribed financing. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. All such forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. This information, however, is subject to a variety of risks and information. SOURCE: American Critical Minerals Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/american-critical-minerals-announces-kenneth-taylor-as-strategic-advisor-to-the-c-1051193 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Independence Gold Corp. (TSXV: IGO) (OTCQB: IEGCF) (the "Company" or "Independence") is pleased to announce assay results from the Ian and Johnny Vein Systems as well as the commencement of its 2025 summer exploration program at the 3Ts Project, located in the Nechako Plateau of central British Columbia. The summer program is designed to advance and refine several underexplored vein systems and high-priority geophysical anomalies for potential future drilling. Located approximately 185 kilometres southwest of Prince George, British Columbia, the 3Ts Project comprises thirty-one mineral claims covering approximately 35,486 hectares in the Nechako Plateau region. The project lies 16 km southwest of Artemis Gold Inc.'s Blackwater Mine and hosts a low-sulphidation epithermal quartz-carbonate vein district within which at least nineteen known mineralized veins, ranging from 50 to over 1,100 metres in strike length and true widths of up to 32 m have been identified. Highlights from drill hole 3TS-25-25 include: 6.96 m grading 6.00 g/t gold and 39.08 g/t silver, including 1.00 m grading 33.85 g/t gold and 209.00 g/t silver 1.91 m grading 3.78 g/t gold and 52.88 g/t silver Additional narrow intercepts of accessory veins Drilling also targeted the area surrounding the Johnny Vein System to assess the potential for previously untested accessory veins similar to those encountered at the Ian Vein System. Drill hole 3TS-25-23 intersected new occurrences of these narrow high-grade veins, including: 1.63 m grading 5.19 g/t gold and 24.54 g/t silver 0.50 m grading 11.08 g/t gold and 30.00 g/t silver Identifying additional veins of this nature could play an important role in future modelling and resource development by converting material that would otherwise be classified as waste rock into ore. The current NI 43-101 resource model was completed in 2022 and the updated resource will include data compiled over five drill programs since then (please see news release dated August 18th, 2022 for further details; "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimate Update for the 3Ts Gold Project, Omineca Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada", authored by Armitage and Miller). The combined in-pit and underground components of Tommy and Ted-Mint vein systems contain a total inferred resource estimate of 4,469,297 tonnes grading 3.64 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold and 96.26 g/t silver, at a cut off grade of 0.4 g/t gold equivalent ("AuEq") in-pit and 2.0 g/t AuEq underground, containing 522,330 ounces of gold and 13,831,415 ounces of silver, totaling 678,156 AuEq ounces. An updated NI 43-101 is anticipated to be completed in the third quarter of 2025. The Ian and Johnny Vein Systems form part of the broader 3Ts epithermal gold-silver district, which contains multiple subparallel quartz-carbonate veins within a well-preserved low-sulphidation system. These latest drill results reinforce the high-grade nature and continuity of the system along strike and at depth, which are critical factors for near-term resource growth. Additional assays and metallurgical results are pending and will be released upon receipt. Drill Hole Target From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Gold (g/t) Silver (g/t) 3TS-25-22 Johnny Vein 108.00 109.00 1.00 1.55 58.00 and 120.00 121.00 1.00 2.29 4.00 3TS-25-23 113.50 115.13 1.63 5.19 24.54 including 114.00 114.50 0.50 11.08 30.00 3TS-25-24 Ian Vein 106.54 107.71 1.17 2.91 32.48 3TS-25-25 92.36 93.05 0.69 1.72 10.14 and 176.23 178.14 1.91 3.78 52.88 and 184.75 191.53 6.96 6.00 39.08 including 185.00 186.00 1.00 33.85 209.00 and 195.39 195.90 0.51 6.16 27.45 and 206.30 206.84 0.54 3.69 20.37 3TS-25-27 79.00 80.00 1.00 1.14 4.00 Table 1: Highlighted intercepts for the Ian and Johnny Vein Systems *The true widths of the veins are average 85% of the reported interval width Summer Exploration Commences The summer exploration program has commenced at the 3Ts project, with a focus on underexplored areas of the property, including refining several new vein systems and following up on geophysical anomalies to identify the potential for future drill targets. As part of this program, the Company has engaged Dias Geophysical to complete a new induced polarization (IP) survey over the eastern half of the property, including the Cardiff, Layman, Ranger, Dobby veins, and Ootsa copper-silver target. This survey is expected to improve geological understanding of subsurface continuity and assist in the definition of potential drill targets. The planned program will include: Detailed soil geochemistry across previously untested geophysical anomalies; across previously untested geophysical anomalies; Prospecting and geochemical sampling of the eastern 3Ts Project , a zone now known to host multiple outcropping veins; of the , a zone now known to host multiple outcropping veins; Detailed mapping of recently discovered veins and targets, including Ranger, Cardiff, Layman, Dobby, and Ootsa, where significant gold, silver and copper grades have been returned in historical surface sampling. These veins remain underexplored, offering significant discovery potential. Highlights from surface samples include: Cardiff Vein : up to 71.3 g/t gold and 178 g/t silver : up to 71.3 g/t gold and 178 g/t silver Layman Vein : up to 13.0 g/t gold and 946 g/t silver : up to 13.0 g/t gold and 946 g/t silver Dobby Vein : up to 18.0 g/t gold and 178 g/t silver : up to 18.0 g/t gold and 178 g/t silver Ranger Vein : up to 24.4 g/t gold and 172 g/t silver : up to 24.4 g/t gold and 172 g/t silver Ootsa target: up to 0.4% copper and 78 g/t silver "These eastern vein systems are some of the most promising and least explored zones at 3Ts," stated Randy Turner, President and CEO of Independence Gold. "This summer's IP survey and fieldwork are designed to elevate these zones to drill-ready status and help unlock the full district potential of 3Ts." Baseline and ESG Work Concurrent with exploration, Independence has also engaged third-party consultants to complete baseline environmental and archaeological surveys across the expanded claim area. These surveys are a proactive step in support of future exploration and permitting. QA/QC Protocols Samples consist of saw-cut (NQ) drill core with one-half retained for reference and one-half submitted for analysis. Samples were submitted in sealed plastic bags delivered to Bandstra Transportation for shipping to SGS Natural Resources Canada (SGS) labs in Burnaby, British Columbia, for sample preparation and analysis. Robotic sample preparation is used to ensure reproducibility and samples are pulverized to greater than 85% passing 75 microns. All samples are submitted for four acid digest with an ICP finish. Gold grades are obtained by fire assay with AAS finish. Samples which return greater than 10 parts per million gold and 100 parts per million silver are resubmitted for fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Sample batches consist of core samples, control standards, blanks and duplicates. Blanks and control standards (QAQC) are inserted into each batch of samples, with one QAQC per 20 samples. QAQC samples that return values 10% outside of the expected range require samples from that internal batch to be rerun by the lab. SGS laboratories operate under a Quality Management System that complies with ISO/IEC 17025. SGS's minerals laboratory in Burnaby is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) for specific mineral tests listed on the scope of accreditation to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard. Please see SGS Analytical Methods for further details regarding analytical procedures. About Independence Independence Gold Corp. is a well-financed mineral exploration company with holdings ranging from early-stage grassroots exploration to advanced-stage resource expansion in British Columbia and Yukon. The Company is positioned to add shareholder value through systematic project advancement, while management continues to evaluate additional gold and silver projects for possible acquisition. For additional information, visit the Company's website www.ingold.ca. Andy Randell, P.Geo., the Company's Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and who is an independent consultant for the Company, has reviewed the technical information in this news release. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF INDEPENDENCE GOLD CORP. "Randy Turner" Randy Turner, President and CEO Neither the 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. Drill Hole Information from this release Drill Hole Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth* Dip Total Meterage 3TS-25-22 362970 5876790 1200 90 45 175 3TS-25-23 362970 5876790 1200 65 45 150 3TS-25-24 363503 5876833 1236 270 60 225 3TS-25-25 363503 5876833 1236 315 50 250 3TS-25-27 363503 5876850 1236 190 60 250 * All drill hole locations are in NAD83, Zone 10 Datum **Based on true north. For magnetic declination add 17.5 degrees Sample Locations for assays mentioned in this release: Vein Sample Sample Number Year Easting Northing Cardiff C00440858 2024 366126 5877023 Layman A00043051 2012 366795 5876879 Dobby A00043313 2012 367343 5876906 Ranger 21582 2003 365529 5877021 Ootsa D00227631 2023 365494 5880379 * All sample locations are in NAD83, Zone 10 Datum All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to Independence within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements with respect to the Company's planned drilling and exploration activities. The Company provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to those identified and reported in Independence's public filings under Independence Gold Corp.'s SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.com. Although Independence 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 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. Independence disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259542 SOURCE: Independence Gold Corp Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Strathmore Plus Uranium Corporation (CSE: SUU) (OTCQB: SUUFF) ("Strathmore" or "the Company") is pleased to announce the 2025 Exploration Plan for the Agate Project is to begin in early August. The Agate Property is in the Shirley Basin Uranium District, of central Wyoming and borders both Cameco and UEC projects and is in proximity to UR-Energy's satellite in-situ operation that is currently under construction. In 2024, Strathmore discovered a new area of shallow mineralization, one mile south of the northern trend, in the middle sand unit, including holes AG-143-24 (14 feet of 0.046% eU3O8 from 30.5-44.5 feet) and AG-147-24 (15.5 feet of 0.051% eU3O8 from 29-44.5 feet). This new trend is open to the north and south, and this discovery will be further explored during the 2025 exploration season. Strathmore is actively advancing this dynamic and promising new area. Currently up to 150 drill sites are permitted, including five core holes to compliment groundwater studies from closely located monitor wells previously installed in 2024. The ongoing groundwater studies will help determine if the host sands are within confined aquifers, which would be ideal for future in-situ recovery operations. The core will be used for chemical equilibrium and leach amenability studies by the Company, and by the University of Wyoming to compliment their ongoing and expanding geophysical research at the project. The goal of the exploration drilling is to expand the mineralization on the property, with the potential of discovering additional roll fronts, with plans designed to link together two discrete areas of mineralization encountered in the lower sand in 2023-24 and expand upon that mineralized trend and the 2024 discovery of mineralization in the shallow middle sand. Collection of this data is necessary to complete a mineral resource estimate and technical report on the project during winter 2025/2026. Strathmore has completed 200 exploration holes, including 5 monitor wells, on the Agate project, with over 90% of the holes hitting mineralization. The 2023-24 exploration defined approximately 3,700 feet of a mineralized trend in the lower sand unit, with notable intercepts in two holes, AG-10-23 (16.0 feet @ 0.081% eU3O8 from 82.0-98.0 feet) and AG-16-23 (21.0 feet @ 0.089% eU3O8 from 79.0-100.0 feet). This northern trend is open to the southwest and northeast. About the Agate Property The Agate property consists of 100 wholly owned lode mining claims covering 2,076 acres. Uranium mineralization on the project is contained in classic Wyoming-type roll fronts within the Eocene Wind River Formation, an arkosic-rich sandstone. Historically, 53 million pounds of uranium were mined in Shirley Basin, including from open-pit, underground, and the first commercial in-situ recovery operation in the USA during the 1960s. At the property, the uranium mineralization is shallow, from 20 to approximately 150 feet deep, much of which appears below the water table and likely amenable to in-situ recovery. Kerr McGee Corporation, the largest US uranium mining company at the time, drilled at least 650 holes across the project area in the 1970s, delineating several targets of potential mineralization. In 2023 and 2024, the Company completed 200 exploration holes on the Project, discovering several areas of potential mineralization. About Strathmore Plus Uranium Strathmore is focused on discovering uranium deposits in Wyoming, and has three permitted uranium projects including Agate, Beaver Rim, and Night Owl. The Agate and Beaver Rim properties contain uranium in typical Wyoming-type roll front deposits based on historical drilling data. The Night Owl property is a former producing surface mine that was in production in the early 1960s. Cautionary Statement: "Neither the CSE Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in policies of the CSE Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release". Certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information", within the meaning of Canadian legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements 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", "be achieved" or "has the potential to". Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may include statements regarding the future operating or financial performance of Strathmore Plus Uranium Corp. which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market conditions and other risk factors listed from time to time in our reports filed with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and Strathmore Plus Uranium Corp. disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed on behalf of the company by Terrence Osier, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration, Strathmore Plus Uranium Corp., a Qualified Person. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Dev Randhawa" Dev Randhawa, CEO To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259577 SOURCE: Strathmore Plus Uranium Corp. Attack Surface Management Leader Enables Organizations to Check APIs for Common and Easily Exploitable API Vulnerabilities Intruder, a leader in attack surface management, has launched Autoswagger-a free, open-source tool that scans OpenAPI-documented APIs for broken authorization vulnerabilities. These flaws are still common, even at large enterprises with mature security teams, and are especially dangerous because they can be exploited with little technical skill. Autoswagger is available now on GitHub This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250722587023/en/ Autoswagger output showing scanned endpoints that are missing authentication, along with an indicator of whether sensitive PII or secrets were discovered in the API response Autoswagger automatically detects authorization weaknesses in APIs and discovers sensitive endpoints not requiring authentication where the application fails to check for a valid API token. According to Verizon's 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report, API-related breaches increased nearly 40% year-over-year, with broken authorization cited as one of the most exploited flaws. While there are a wide range of tools that scan APIs, most options to detect broken authorization are either costly, inefficient, or require manual labor from penetration testers to uncover. This is the first freely available tool that is proven effective in detecting these potentially dangerous vulnerabilities. "These vulnerabilities are so easy to exploit, you could teach someone with no technical background how to do it in a day," said Chris Wallis, CEO and founder of Intruder. "When you consider how common these issues are and how frequently companies release new code or expose new endpoints, it's clear this is a critical gap. That's why we're making Autoswagger available for free-to help teams find and fix these flaws before attackers do." API Sprawl Has Created an Increased Attack Surface for Organizations APIs have become the backbone of modern applications, and the explosion of APIs has created an increased attack surface for every organization, especially those who depend heavily on third-party APIs (payments, analytics, social login, etc.)-which may introduce risks beyond their control. When broken authorization vulnerabilities are discovered and exploited by bad actors, the results can be very damaging such as the Optus data breach in 2022-when the Australian telecom company ended up paying $140 million AUD in related costs as a result of the sensitive customer data that was extracted via a simple API authorization. While the attack on Optus brought a lot of initial attention to these vulnerabilities, three years later even members of the S&P 500 still remain exposed. During Intruder's research and testing of Autoswagger, its security team detected exposed Salesforce records with personally identifiable information (PII) at a large multinational tech company and an exposed internal staff training application that would have allowed potential attackers to run queries against the database at a multinational soda company. Ultimately, this data could have been used to mount a phishing campaign against employees, with real information that could gain the staff member's trust. The majority of the vulnerabilities discovered during the research process were for APIs intended for internal use. How Autoswagger Detects Broken Authorization Autoswagger begins by detecting API schemas across a range of common formats and locations, starting with a list of an organization's domains. It scans for OpenAPI and Swagger documentation pages, sending requests to each host to locate valid schemas. Once identified, it parses the API specifications and automatically generates a list of endpoints to test, taking into account each endpoint's definition, required parameters, and expected data types. From there, Autoswagger executes targeted scans to identify broken authorization flaws by: Sending requests to each endpoint using valid parameters pulled from the documentation. Flagging endpoints that return a valid response instead of expected HTTP 401 or 403 errors, which would normally indicate proper access control. Highlighting endpoints where authentication is missing or ineffective. For more advanced use cases, Autoswagger can be run with the --brute flag to simulate bypassing validation checks. This helps uncover flaws in endpoints that require specific data formats or values, which may reject generic input. Finally, the tool analyzes any successful responses for signs of exposed sensitive data, such as PII, credentials or internal records. Any endpoint missing proper authentication and returning sensitive information is included in the output report. "Exposing documentation for your API effectively increases your attack surface, and as a defence in depth measure, you should not expose API documentation unless it's a business requirement," said Dan Andrew, Head of Security at Intruder. "The lesson here is, in addition to regular API scanning after each development iteration, that you shouldn't publicly document your APIs unless you can't avoid it. Without a 'map,' this kind of vulnerability becomes much harder for attackers to exploit." More information about how to deploy Autoswagger and the team's journey to develop the solution can be found here on Intruder's company blog. Autoswagger is free to download and install via Github. About Intruder Intruder's exposure management platform helps lean security teams stop breaches before they start by proactively discovering attack surface weaknesses. By unifying attack surface management, cloud security, and continuous vulnerability management in one intuitive platform, Intruder makes it easy to stay secure by cutting through the noise and complexity. Founded in 2015 by Chris Wallis, a former ethical hacker turned corporate blue teamer, Intruder is now protecting over 3,000 companies worldwide. Learn more at https://intruder.io. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250722587023/en/ Contacts: Press Contact Jim Cameron Intruder@treblepr.com Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Altiplano Metals Inc. (TSXV: APN) (WKN: A2JNFG) ("Altiplano" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the development of the underground mine at Santa Beatriz, a historic underground copper-gold mine located approximately 45 kilometers south of La Serena, Chile, and 13 kilometers south of the Company's El Penon processing plant. Highlights: Altiplano Metals has engaged Andes Core Mining (ACM) to provide technical support for the underground development at Santa Beatriz. The two-year agreement includes mine engineering and development, based on a pricing structure of cost per tonne in areas of mineralized zones and cost per meter of waste material from the development of ramps and ventilation structures. The mined copper/gold/iron mineralized material will be used to support the production of copper/gold and iron concentrate at El Penon. The development will include the installation of a 75m ramp located at the 414m entrance. The ramp will begin with a 15% decline to intercept the 400 m level, accessing the Santa Beatriz vein structure through the footwall (Figure 1). Operations are expected to begin in late July, with a target set for August 28 to intersect the vein structure. First shipment to the processing plant is anticipated in early September. The next mining intersection will be 8 m below at level 392 m. 3,000 tons/month are expected in the first 4 months of development, increasing to 5,000 tons in the following 6 months. The Company has made the required permit application for the initial extraction amount and will continue with the expansion to 5,000 tonnes. ACM will also provide technical and maintenance support for the El Penon processing facility. Andes Core Capital (www.andescm.com) is a team of geology, engineering, construction, operations and maintenance professionals with experience in the development and management of mining and processing projects. President and CEO Alastair McIntyre comments: We are very excited to partner with Andes Core Mining who bring considerable mining and processing expertise to our business. Our development work, including bulk sampling and drilling, indicate that the IOCG vein system is identical in characteristics and mineralogy that we observed in 7 years mining at Farellon. Mining Santa Beatriz provides an excellent opportunity for APN to maximize supply and returns for the El Penon processing facility and the Company. Figure 1: Section of Santa Beatriz Mine Development To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4303/259583_77dc3039d4d37bff_001full.jpg The decision to develop the historical Santa Beatriz mine is not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability and there is increased uncertainty of economic and technical risks of failure associated with any potential production decision. Altiplano has generated over C$23.8 million from the recovery and sale (after processing costs) of more than 8.2 million pounds of copper with an average grade of 1.8% Cu (Jan 2018 to Mar 2025). Cash has been re-invested into acquisition, exploration, new equipment, underground drilling, expanding underground development and production, and the completion of the El Penon copper-gold-iron processing facility located 30 km from La Serena, Chile. About Altiplano Altiplano Metals is a growing gold, silver, and copper company focused on the Americas. The Company has diversified assets that include exploration properties, a developing copper/gold/iron mine and a state-of-the-art operating copper/gold and iron processing facility. Altiplano is focused on creating long-term stakeholder value through developing safe and sustainable production, reinvesting into exploration and development, and pursuing acquisition opportunities to provide scalable upside opportunities. Management has a substantial record of success in capitalizing on opportunity, overcoming challenges and building shareholder value (www.apnmetals.com). Metals Group Altiplano is part of the Metals Group of Companies, led by a dynamic group of resource sector professionals with a long record of success in evaluating and advancing mining projects from exploration through to production, attracting capital, and overcoming adversity to deliver exceptional shareholder value (www.metalsgroup.com). Qualified Person The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by John Williamson, P.Geol., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Williamson is a Chairman and Director of Altiplano Metals Inc. and is not independent of the Company. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD /s/ "John Williamson" Chairman 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 release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company expects are forward-looking statements. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify any historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves and the issuer is not treating any historical information or estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The Santa Beatriz mine was previously in production mid 2010's with little known production records. This material was processed and sold locally to a private processing facility. Altiplano is relying upon limited past production records, underground sampling and related activities to further explore and potentially develop Santa Beatriz. The decision to develop the project and extract material for potential processing is not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability and there is increased uncertainty and economic and technical risks of failure associated with any future potential production decision. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party opposition, changes in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca . To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259583 SOURCE: Altiplano Metals Inc. New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein, P.A., an investment law firm with offices in New York, Miami and Los Angeles, announced that founding partner Jeffrey B. Kaplan has once again been named to the Super Lawyers list as of July 2025. The recognition marks another step in the firm's business growth and expanding footprint within New York's legal sector. Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein Expands Recognition with Continued Super Lawyers Honors in 2025 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/259607_3f90145914ba78e5_002full.jpg Super Lawyers selects no more than five percent of attorneys in each state, using peer evaluations and independent research to identify those who have demonstrated a high degree of professional achievement. Kaplan has been selected to Super Lawyers each year from 2007 through 2025. This continued recognition fuels Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein's commitment to providing comprehensive Miami legal services for investors while maintaining high standards of representation in complex investment matters. Kaplan, who also serves clients nationally as an investment attorney in Miami, said the recognition shows the firm's expanding caseload in New York and its responsiveness to clients facing financial losses due to broker misconduct and data privacy breaches. The company said the recognition from Super Lawyers is a testament to the quality and focus their team brings to every case. As it continues to handle a growing number of matters in New York, the team remains dedicated to helping clients navigate investment disputes and recover losses in a challenging legal landscape. The firm has seen consistent growth in client engagement in New York, driven by increasing demand from investors and consumers seeking accountability in cases involving securities matters, cybersecurity breaches and data privacy violations. Its attorneys regularly represent individuals and institutions in arbitration and litigation against brokerage firms, investment advisors and corporations. According to the firm, the acknowledgement by Super Lawyers is proof of its commitment to providing effective and principled legal representation while expanding its presence in New York. The company said its growth is rooted in delivering meaningful results for clients who have experienced losses due to misconduct, and intend to continue building on this foundation. Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein's recognition is part of its bigger business trajectory, which includes expanding legal services for investors and consumers while addressing emerging legal challenges in financial markets. As investors face evolving risks in the current climate, the firm's presence in New York allows it to provide targeted counsel that addresses investment losses, cybersecurity incidents and complex commercial disputes. The ongoing Super Lawyers recognition in 2025, according to the company, also demonstrates the firm's efforts to attract and retain clients in New York who require experienced counsel in securities arbitration. The firm continues to expand its team to meet the needs of its growing client base across its offices. For more information on Miami legal services for investors and to learn more about how an investment attorney in Miami can assist with investment and consumer cases, visit dkrpa.com. About Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein, P.A. Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein, P.A. represents investors and consumers nationwide in securities arbitration, data privacy and cybersecurity breach cases. The firm maintains offices in New York, Miami and Los Angeles, providing counsel to individual and institutional clients seeking recovery from financial losses due to misconduct. About Jeffrey B. Kaplan Jeffrey B. Kaplan is a founding partner of Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein, P.A. With nearly 30 years of legal experience, Kaplan has recovered millions of dollars for clients and has been recognized for his professional achievements in securities law and consumer protection matters, including his ongoing selection to the Super Lawyers list from 2007 through 2025. He represents clients across the United States and Latin America in complex arbitration and litigation involving securities and investment disputes. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259607 SOURCE: Plentisoft LONDON, GB / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Pantheon Resources plc (AIM:PANR)(OTCQX:PTHRF) ("Pantheon" or the "Company"), an oil and gas company developing the Kodiak and Ahpun oil fields in close proximity to pipeline and transportation infrastructure on Alaska's North Slope, is pleased to announce the spudding of the Dubhe-1 well to appraise the topsets in the Ahpun field, immediately adjacent to pipeline and road infrastructure. Dubhe-1 will target the topset horizon (SMD-B) as the primary target, appraising an already discovered resource. The well is also designed to encounter three additional exploration horizons (Prince Creek, SMD-C and the Slope Fan System), none of which have any resource estimate attributed to them at the present time, but offer additional upside potential if successful. An Independent Expert Report completed by Cawley Gillespie & Associates ("CGA") in June 2024 estimates the primary target to contain a 2C Contingent Resource of 282 million barrels of ANS Crude (oil, condensate & NGLs) and 804 billion cubic feet of natural gas. Based on an ANS Crude price at the time of the report of $80 per barrel delivered to the US West Coast, CGA estimated the net present value of the total contingent resources in the western topsets in the Ahpun field (using a real discount rate of 10%) at $1.74 billion. Initial results from the well will be announced when drilling operations are complete. Pantheon contracted the Nabors 105AC rig, which the Company is familiar with having used it in previous drilling campaigns, to drill the Dubhe-1 well. Construction of the gravel pad next to the Dalton Highway was completed in June 2025, and the pad can be used year-round to support future drilling and development activities. Max Easley, CEO of Pantheon Resources plc, said: "Assuming initial appraisal success at Dubhe-1, itwill then allow us move forward into a test phase with the ultimate goal of accurately demonstrating a production type curve which would in turn underpin the planned Ahpun full field development, whilst at the same time supporting the natural gas volumes required for the proposed long term gas supply contract into the proposed Alaska natural gas pipeline (Alaska LNG - Phase 1). "Dubhe-1 is an appraisal well, appraising an already discovered resource. Oil has been confirmed in multiple well penetrations of this horizon in the area, and as such has a significantly lower risk profile than the Megrez-1 well which was an exploration well. I look forward to reporting on progress once drilling is complete." Further information: Pantheon Resources plc +44 20 7484 5361 David Hobbs, Chairman Max Easley, CEO Justin Hondris, SVP, Investor Relations Canaccord Genuity Limited (Nominated Adviser, andJoint Broker) Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor Charlie Hammond +44 20 7523 8000 Oak Securities (Joint Broker) +44 20 3973 3678 Jerry Keen Nick Price BlytheRay (Corporate Communications) +44 20 7138 3204 Tim Blythe Megan Ray Matthew Bowld MZ Group (USA Investor Relations Contact) Lucas Zimmerman Ian Scargill +1 949 259 4987 AboutPantheon Resources Pantheon Resources plc is an AIM listed Oil & Gas company focused on developing its 100% owned Ahpun and Kodiak fields located on State of Alaska land on the North Slope, onshore USA. Independently certified best estimate contingent recoverable resources attributable to these projects currently total c. 1.6 billion barrels of ANS crude and 6.6 Tcf of associated natural gas. The Company owns 100% working interest in c. 259,000 acres. Pantheon's stated objective is to demonstrate sustainable market recognition of a value of $5-$10/bbl of recoverable resources by end 2028. This is based on bringing the Ahpun field forward to FID and producing into the TAPS main oil line (ANS crude) by the end of 2028. The Gas Sales Precedent Agreement signed with AGDC provides the potential for Pantheon's natural gas to be produced into the proposed 807mile pipeline from the North Slope to Southcentral Alaska during 2029. Once the Company achieves financial self-sufficiency, it will apply the resultant cashflows to support the FID on the Kodiak field planned, subject to regulatory approvals, targeted by the end of 2028 or early 2029. A major differentiator to other ANS projects is the close proximity to existing roads and pipelines which offers a significant competitive advantage to Pantheon, allowing for shorter development timeframes, materially lower infrastructure costs and the ability to support the development with a significantly lower pre-cashflow funding requirement than is typical in Alaska. Furthermore, the low CO2 content of the associated gas allows export into the planned natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to Southcentral Alaska without significant pre-treatment. The Company's project portfolio has been endorsed by world renowned experts. Netherland, Sewell & Associates estimate a 2C contingent recoverable resource in the Kodiak project that total 1,208 mmbbl of ANS crude and 5,396 bcf of natural gas. Cawley Gillespie & Associates estimate 2C contingent recoverable resources for Ahpun's western topset horizons at 282 mmbbl of ANS crude and 803 bcf of natural gas. Lee Keeling & Associates estimated possible reserves and 2C contingent recoverable resources totalling 79 mmbbl of ANS crude and 424 bcf natural gas. For more information visit www.pantheonresources.com. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Pantheon Resources PLC View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/oil-gas-and-energy/pantheon-resources-plc-announces-spudding-of-dubhe-1-well-1051252 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Equinox Gold Corp. (TSX: EQX) (NYSE American: EQX) ("Equinox Gold" or the "Company") announces a leadership transition. Greg Smith has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer and Director, and Darren Hall, current President and Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and Director effective immediately. Darren is a proven executive with a long history of mining industry experience who previously served as Calibre Mining's President & Chief Executive Officer from 2021 through to the transaction with Equinox Gold. Concurrent with this transition, David Schummer, formerly Executive Vice President, Operations, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of Equinox Gold. Ross Beaty, Chair of Equinox Gold, commented: "Greg is a founding executive and shareholder of Equinox Gold whose leadership and strategic vision have been instrumental in growing the Company from concept into the multi-asset, multi-billion-dollar gold producer it is today. I want to sincerely thank Greg personally, and on behalf of the Board of Directors, for his vision, dedication, and leadership." Greg Smith stated: "This is a natural transition point. I'm extremely proud of what we have accomplished since founding Equinox Gold in 2017, having built the Company into a leading gold producer with operations across the Americas and a clear pathway to producing over one million ounces annually. With the recent successful integration of Calibre Mining and key assets like Greenstone ramping up and Valentine moving into production, the Company is well positioned to evolve from growth through acquisition and construction to disciplined execution and operational excellence. It is the right time for a proven operator like Darren to take the helm. He brings the leadership, focus, and operational expertise to optimize this expanded portfolio and unlock its full potential. It has been an honour and privilege to work alongside the talented Equinox Gold team, Ross Beaty, and our board to build this outstanding Company." Darren Hall brings 40 years of global mining experience with a consistent track record of operational excellence and value creation. As President and Chief Executive Officer of Calibre Mining, he significantly increased production, lowered costs, and drove disciplined capital allocation, delivering strong free cash flow and exceptional shareholder returns. Under his leadership, Calibre transformed into a high-performing gold producer, culminating in its successful merger with Equinox Gold in June 2025. Previously, Darren was Chief Operating Officer at both Kirkland Lake Gold and Newmarket Gold and earlier spent nearly three decades with Newmont Corporation in a series of progressively senior roles. Across all organizations, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to safety, cost discipline, and long-term business performance. Darren Hall, President & Chief Executive Officer, added: "I'm honoured to lead Equinox Gold at such a pivotal moment in the Company's evolution and I'm excited to work alongside our talented team to unlock the full potential of Equinox Gold's exceptional portfolio. Our focus will be on disciplined execution, operational excellence, and delivering consistent, reliable performance as we enter this next phase of growth and optimization, building on the solid foundations Greg and his team have established. This leadership transition marks Equinox Gold's evolution from a high-growth consolidator to a top-tier global gold producer, anchored by Greenstone and Valentine, both high-quality, long-life assets." David Schummer has over 35 years of mining industry experience working in the U.S., Canada, Peru, Indonesia, West Africa and the Middle East. He is a proven executive leader of large-scale mining companies focused on building a strong health and safety culture and value creation through mining efficiencies. Prior to joining Calibre as COO, David was the COO for Perseus Mining, and prior to that he was the President of Ma'aden Gold and Base Metals (MGBM) and was the Chairman of the Board for both MGBM and Ma'aden Barrick Copper Company. David previously held the role of Executive Vice President & COO at New Gold Inc. and also spent 22 years at Newmont Corporation. Cautionary Notes This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation ("Forward-looking Information"). Forward-looking Information in this news release relates to, among other things: the strategic vision for the Company and expectations regarding production capabilities, growth potential, and future financial or operating performance, including the ramp-up of Greenstone and the transition of Valentine to production; management's ability to deliver long-term value for shareholders; and expectations for future success of the Company's management team. Forward-looking Information is generally identified using words like "will", "potential", "deliver", "grow", and similar expressions and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", or "should", or the negative connotation of such terms, are intended to identify Forward-looking Information. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such Forward-looking Information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on Forward-looking Information since the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company has based Forward-looking Information on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events and these assumptions include: Equinox Gold's ability to achieve the production, cost and development expectations for its respective operations and projects; prices for gold remaining as estimated; availability of funds for the Company's projects and future cash requirements; ramp-ups at Greenstone and Valentine being completed and performed in accordance with current expectations. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on Forward-looking Information contained in this news release. Forward-looking Information involves numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such Forward-looking Information. Such factors include those described in the section "Risk Factors in in the Company's MD&A dated March 13, 2025 for the year ended December 31, 2024, and in the section titled "Risks Related to the Business" in Equinox Gold's most recently filed Annual Information Form which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar and in the section titled "Risk Factors" in Calibre's most recently filed Annual Information Form which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking Information reflects management's current expectations for future events and is subject to change. Except as required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any Forward-looking Information contained or incorporated by reference to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or other factors affecting Forward-looking Information. If the Company updates any Forward-looking Information, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or other Forward-looking Information. All Forward-looking Information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259587 SOURCE: Equinox Gold Corp. Visible gold found in first hole-assays are pending Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Nuvau Minerals Inc. (TSXV: NMC) has launched its gold-focused exploration program at its Matagami Property where the first hole drilled intersected what appears to be an orogenic lode gold system close to the Bracemac McLeod Mine in Matagami. Assays are pending after Nuvau intersected visible gold in a structure intersected in the first hole. "We are extremely encouraged by the success of the initial hole of our maiden gold focused diamond drill program on this 1,300 square kilometre land package," said Peter Van Alphen, Nuvau's CEO. "The footwall rock units where this new vein intercept occurs is in a largely untested part of the property, in an area not deemed favourable for base metal mineralization. In addition, this mineralized zone is located less than 25 metres from the mine access ramp at the permitted Bracemac McLeod Mine." The steeply dipping, strong shear zone structure with quartz veining mineralized with pyrite and locally visible gold was intersected at a depth of approximately 200 metres below surface. Although it is within the footwall stratigraphy of the past-producing Bracemac McLeod mine, the area has seen very little drilling in the past as it was not of interest for VMS type exploration. Planning is underway for the follow up drilling which is expected to begin within the next two weeks. Figure 1: Past producing Bracemac McLeod Mine and relative position of gold target drilled To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11236/259588_cc65433c14d5ab64_001full.jpg Figure 2: Visible gold found in more than 30 gold chips identified in logging the core To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11236/259588_cc65433c14d5ab64_002full.jpg The Matagami Property has hosted numerous base metal mines over the last 60 years. However previous owners never applied a gold-focused exploration program to this large-scale property even though it is strategically located in the Abitibi geological sub-province. The Property is located in the Abitibi Region of Quebec, one of the world's most productive gold districts. It includes Canada's largest gold producing mine with the country's largest gold mineral reserves: the Detour Lake Mine. Detour Lake is owned by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, located west of the Matagami Property. The Casa Berardi Mine, which has produced over 3 million ounces of gold, is also located to the just southwest of the Matagami Property. (See Figure 3, below.) Figure 3: Property Location To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11236/259588_cc65433c14d5ab64_003full.jpg Gold Exploration work: background Since satisfying the spending requirement associated with the earn-in agreement with Glencore, Nuvau has begun working on unlocking the overlooked gold potential of this vast, 1,300 square kilometre Matagami property. This work includes compilation of historic data, overburden till sampling, a detailed high-resolution drone airborne magnetic (MAG) survey, and now diamond drilling. The sonic (till) drill program discovered a significant gold grain anomaly in the central portion of the Property (see Nuvau Press Release, March 4, 2025) that will be subject to follow up drilling in the upcoming winter drill program. Compilation of historic data in the vicinity of the base metal mines on the main "mine trend" identified numerous areas where gold mineralization had been intersected, however no follow-up work was ever completed. About Nuvau Minerals Inc. Nuvau is a Canadian mining company focused on the Abitibi Region of mine-friendly Quebec. Nuvau's principal asset is the Matagami Property that is host to significant existing processing infrastructure and multiple mineral deposits and is being acquired from Glencore. Qualified Person and Quality Assurance Bastien Fresia P. Geo. (Qc), Technical Services Director of Nuvau and a "qualified person" as is defined by National Instrument 43-101, has verified the scientific and technical data disclosed in this news release, and has otherwise reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. Drill core samples are sawn by staff technicians to create half core splits. One split is retained in the drill core box for archival purposes with a sample tag affixed at each sample interval and the other split is placed in a labelled plastic bag along with a corresponding sample number tag and placed in the shipment queue. Quality control samples including blind certified reference material ("CRM"), blank material, and core duplicates are inserted at a frequency of 1 in every 20 samples and sample batches of up to 60 samples were then shipped directly by Nuvau personnel to the ALS Canada Ltd. preparation laboratory in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. All submitted core samples are crushed in full to 95 % passing less than 2 mm (ALS code CRU-32). A 1000-gram sample was then riffled split from the crushed material and pulverized to 90 % passing 75 m (SPL-22 and PUL-32a). Pulps are shipped from the preparation laboratory to ALS Canada Ltd.'s analytical lab in North Vancouver, British Columbia, for assay. Lead, silver, copper and zinc analyses were determined by ore grade four acid digestion with an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy ("ICP-AES") or atomic absorption spectroscopy ("AAS") finish (ALS codes Pb-OG62, Ag-OG62, Cu-OG62 and ZnOG62), whereas gold was determined by 50 g fire assay analysis with an AAS finish (code Au-AA23). ALS Canada Ltd. is an accredited, independent commercial analytical firm registered to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015. Cautionary Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends" "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements concerning drill results relating to the Matagami Property, the results of the PEA, the potential of the Matagami Property, the timing and commencement of any production, the restart of the Bracemac-McLeod Mine, the completion of the earn-in of the Matagami Property and the timing and completion of any technical studies, feasibility studies or economic analyses. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and the actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including expectations and assumptions concerning the Company and the Matagami Property. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by the management of the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statement. Except as expressly required by securities law, neither the Company nor Nuvau undertakes any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 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. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259588 SOURCE: Nuvau Minerals Inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands across Canada is pleased to announce that its Heal Wellness brand has secured a real-estate location for its franchisee in the city of Grand Prairie, Alberta. Heal Wellness ("Heal") is a fresh smoothie bowls, acai bowls, and smoothies quick serve restaurant ("QSR"). Happy Belly 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/259597_cd30a1e1443a2961_001full.jpg "We are pleased that in just over two short months we were able to secure our Heal franchisee who signed Heal's 50th franchise agreement on May 13th, 2025, with a real-estate location expected to open in Q4 2025," said Sean Black, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Belly. "Heal Wellness continues to strengthen its development pipeline and drive consistent organic growth with a steady stream of signed franchise agreements and the securing of strategic real estate across Canada. Our progress reinforces our expansion strategy while generating long-term value creation for our shareholders. Our vision remains clear-to establish Heal Wellness as the leading acai bowl and smoothie brand in Canada." Happy Belly 2 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/259597_cd30a1e1443a2961_002full.jpg As we move into the second half of 2025 and planning for 2026, Happy Belly remains focused on accelerating growth through both organic development and strategic acquisitions. Heal Wellness is rapidly gaining national brand recognition, establishing itself as Canada's first true coast-to-coast smoothie bowl brand as it gains traction across new markets, building customer loyalty and brand visibility at an impressive pace-further validating our long-term vision and the strength of our franchise model. With 195 units secured through national development agreements-Heal is delivering on its promise of scalable, asset-light expansion while deepening customer loyalty and market presence. The progress of Heal's national expansion reflects Happy Belly's core vision and commitment to building a leading force in the Canadian QSR sector." "The broader Happy Belly portfolio now boasts 616 contractually committed retail locations across various stages of development, construction, and operation. This momentum-fueled by a proven franchise model, experienced operators, and strategic site selection-is translating into meaningful and shareholder value. As we scale nationally with a repeatable, asset-light framework, we are laying the foundation for sustained and predictable growth across our entire brand ecosystem through 2026 and beyond." "We are just getting started," said Sean Black. Neighborhood Grande Prairie, Alberta presents a strong opportunity for a smoothie and acai bowl restaurant due to its youthful, health-conscious population, growing economy, and limited competition in the health-focused fast-casual space. As a regional hub for northwestern Alberta, the city attracts not only local residents but also consumers from surrounding communities, expanding the potential customer base. The city's active lifestyle culture-supported by recreational facilities, parks, and fitness centers-aligns well with demand for nutritious, on-the-go food options. With a population nearing 70,000 and steady economic growth driven by diverse industries, Grande Prairie offers the right mix of demographics, disposable income, and market gap to support the success of a wellness-oriented food concept. About Heal Wellness Heal Wellness was founded with a passion and mission to provide quick, fresh wellness foods that support a busy and active lifestyle. We currently offer a diverse range of smoothie bowls and smoothies. We take pride in meticulously selecting every superfood ingredient on our menu to fuel the body, including acai smoothie bowls, smoothies, and super-seed grain bowls. Our smoothie bowls are crafted with real fruit and enriched with superfoods like acai, pitaya, goji berries, chia seeds, and more. Franchising For franchising inquiries please see www.happybellyfg.com/franchise-with-us/ or contact us at hello@happybellyfg.com. About Happy Belly Food Group Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company") is a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands across Canada. Happy Belly 3 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/259597_cd30a1e1443a2961_003full.jpg Sean Black Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer Shawn Moniz Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-Looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur and include the future performance of Happy Belly and her subsidiaries. Forward-Looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Happy Belly described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedarplus.ca. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259597 SOURCE: Happy Belly Food Group Inc. 'AI for All' competition launched in Bangkok People's Daily Online) 15:26, July 22, 2025 Photo shows the Bangkok sub-venue of the "AI for All: China-ASEAN" competition. (People's Daily Online/Jian Chengyuan) Themed on "AI Guangxi, AI China, AI ASEAN," the "AI for All: China-ASEAN" competition officially launched in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on July 19, 2025. The competition will run from July to November. Simultaneously, seven sub-venues spanning domestic and international locations for the competition were launched, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Bangkok in Thailand, and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The launch ceremony of the competition in Bangkok took place at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Innovation Cooperation Center (Bangkok), bringing together representatives from AI enterprises from Thailand and other ASEAN nations, as well as Chinese-invested enterprises operating in Thailand. Xu Bo, market general manager of Makerwit Technology, shares the company's practices in applying AI to manufacturing at the Bangkok sub-venue of the "AI for All: China-ASEAN" competition. (People's Daily Online/Jian Chengyuan) At the Bangkok sub-venue, Xu Bo, market general manager of Makerwit Technology, delivered a presentation to the main venue via video link, sharing the company's successful AI applications in intelligent factory systems, smart logistics solutions, and independently developed AGV robots. The presentation included a live demonstration showcasing how AGV robots are empowering the development of ASEAN's intelligent manufacturing sector. Experts, scholars, and enterprise representatives reached unanimous agreement regarding Guangxi's strategic importance in China-ASEAN economic cooperation. They hope to leverage this competition as an opportunity to strengthen multilateral cooperation efforts and better promote AI applications in the ASEAN market to achieve mutual benefits while jointly advancing regional economic development and industrial upgrading by giving play to Guangxi's role as a crucial regional hub. Photo shows participants at the Bangkok sub-venue of the "AI for All: China-ASEAN" competition. (People's Daily Online/Jian Chengyuan) The competition features three major tracks: the "Scenario Breakthrough" Application Innovation Contest, the "Champion's Challenge" Industry Challenge Contest, and the "AI for All" Mass Innovation Contest. It also includes tracks focused on 17 key fields, such as AI + automotive, overseas talents, cross-border e-commerce, smart cultural tourism, and smart agriculture. The competition aims to explore innovative solutions that can be quickly deployed and scaled, ensuring that the development and application of AI are truly people-centered and benefit the public. Photo shows an AGV at the Bangkok sub-venue of the "AI for All: China-ASEAN" competition. (People's Daily Online/Jian Chengyuan) (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) VICTORIA, Seychelles, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- KuCoin, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, proudly announces the resumption of Brazilian Real (BRL) fiat balance transactions for its spot market. This step reinforces KuCoin's dedication to Brazilian traders. Users can now hold BRL in their KuCoin accounts, deposit and withdraw funds via PIX or bank transfers, and trade popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether directly with BRL. Fully compliant with the Central Bank's Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, this service ensures a regulated trading environment. This resumption delivers significant benefits for Brazilian traders, positioning KuCoin as a preferred platform in the region. It introduces cost efficiency by enabling direct BRL trading, eliminating currency conversion fees-a key advantage in a market where cryptocurrencies counter economic volatility. The integration of PIX, Brazil's instant payment system, provides fast and convenient deposits and withdrawals, empowering traders to capitalize on market opportunities effortlessly. KuCoin's adherence to the Central Bank's strict KYC processes fosters trust and security. Moreover, BRL support lowers entry barriers for new traders without foreign currency accounts, expanding crypto market participation. To celebrate, KuCoin launched a limited-time promotion: Top-Up Ranking Contest: The top 10 users with highest BRL top-ups share a 2,050 USDT prize pool. The top 10 users with highest BRL top-ups share a 2,050 USDT prize pool. Large Purchase Bonus: Receive up to 10 USDT when purchasing crypto with BRL. Receive up to 10 USDT when purchasing crypto with BRL. New User First Purchase Gift: 1 USDT bonus for first crypto buy. 1 USDT bonus for first crypto buy. New User 0 Fees: Free top-ups and withdrawals for the first month. For the latest details on activity rules, please visit KuCoin's official website. BC Wong, CEO of KuCoin, stated: "Latin America is a vital market for KuCoin, and our commitment remains unwavering. We are dedicated to providing Brazilian traders with an exceptional trading experience. As the first major exchange to support BRL transfers via PIX after Brazil's Central Bank policy updates in 2022, our current resumption of BRL balance transactions further highlights our leadership in innovation and regulatory alignment." Brazil's crypto market ranks ninth globally, with $4.69 billion in net crypto imports in Q1 2024-a 118% increase. Stablecoins lead transactions, signaling a need for stability. The market is expected to generate $2.8 billion in revenue by 2025, fueled by rising adoption and a favorable regulatory landscape. KuCoin's BRL fiat balance transactions streamline fiat-to-crypto conversions, cutting costs and complexity through PIX. Compliance with upcoming 2025 stablecoin regulations builds further trust, encouraging mass adoption. With this initiative, KuCoin cements its leadership in Brazil's vibrant crypto ecosystem, shaping the future of finance through innovation and strategic partnerships. About KuCoin Founded in 2017, KuCoin is one of the pioneering and most globally recognized technology platforms supporting digital economies, built on a robust foundation of cutting-edge blockchain infrastructure, liquidity solutions, and exceptional user experience. With a connected user base exceeding 41 million worldwide, KuCoin offers comprehensive digital asset solutions across wallets, trading, wealth management, payments, research, ventures, and AI-powered bots. KuCoin has garnered accolades such as "Best Crypto Apps & Exchanges" by Forbes and has been recognized among the "Top 50 Global Unicorns" by Hurun in 2024. This recognition reflects its commitment to user-centric principles and core values, which include integrity, accountability, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Learn more at: www.kucoin.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2735645/image_5002362_12952923.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2641815/5425076/KuCoin_Horizontal_Green_LOGO_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kucoin-resumes-brl-fiat-balance-transactions-strengthening-commitment-to-brazilian-traders-302510464.html Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that mineral processing has started with first copper sales expected in September at the fully-permitted Johnson Camp Mine ("JCM"), in southeast Arizona. "A major milestone for Gunnison Copper has been achieved, as we started leaching copper on July 18, about one year after starting to construct the leach pad," states Robert Winton, SVP Operations of Gunnison Copper. He continues, "Working with our partners, Nuton, M3, Rango, and Schmueser has been a pleasure and the results speak to the incredible dedication and perseverance of the entire team. We have managed to grow our 11 year no lost time accident record at JCM with over 100+ employees and contractors at site. We are just months away from producing finished copper in Arizona, when copper is trading at an all-time high price and when there is an increased need for Made in America solutions to our energy and national security." Progress as of the Company's last update (see Gunnison news release dated June 9th) includes: Stacking and acid curing of mineralized material has commenced (Figure 1). Material continues to be stockpiled in advance of the completion of the leach pads (Figure 2). Leach pad Phase-2 is complete. Phase-3 leach pad is complete and conveyors constructed. Since the Company's last update, the Company is pleased to report that JCM construction activities continue to progress as planned. The overflow pond construction has been completed ahead of first acid irrigation. The pipelines from the leach pads to the SX/EW plant are complete, and Phase-1 pad leaching has started, with first copper cathode from Run-of-mine (ROM) oxide production using conventional leach technology scheduled for September. First copper using Nuton technology is expected before the end of the year. Figure 1 - Stacking mineralized material from the JCM pit in panels for leaching on the ROM pad. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/259568_5abace0f64a49900_002full.jpg Figure 2 - Leach Pad Overhead View, 8 million square feet with dimensions of approximately 1220m by 640m. Phase-1 shows 4 panels of material that have started leaching and Phase 2 shows the crusher pad and Nuton process equipment area. Phase 3 in the upper right corner is the Nuton heap location with overliner being installed above the liner. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/259568_5abace0f64a49900_003full.jpg Figure 3 - Drip line delivering acidified solution to copper rich material on the ROM pad. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/259568_5abace0f64a49900_009full.jpg Figure 4 - Drip lines feeding acidified solution to leach copper from mineralized material on the ROM pad. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2744/259568_5abace0f64a49900_010full.jpg. ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt. Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource containing over 831,6 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (Measured Mineral Resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and Indicated Mineral Resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3 Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link. The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is under construction with first copper production expected in Q3 2025, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually. Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits. For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release. For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com. ABOUT NUTON Nuton is an innovative venture that aims to help grow Rio Tinto's copper business. At the core of Nuton is a portfolio of proprietary copper leaching technologies and capability. Nuton has the potential to economically unlock copper from hard-to-leach ores, including primary sulfides and, in doing so, increase domestic production of critical minerals to support the energy transition. Nuton technologies can achieve market-leading recovery rates and boost copper production in new, ongoing and historical operations, increasing resource utilization and maximizing value. With significantly lower energy and water needs than conventional concentrating and smelting, and the ability to produce copper cathode at the mine site, Nuton offers a reliable source of domestically produced copper, with a short mine-to-metal supply chain and the ambition to set industry-leading ESG credentials. One of the key differentiators of Nuton is the ambition to produce the world's lightest environmental footprint copper while having at least one Positive Impact at each of its deployment sites, across its five pillars: water, energy, land, materials and society. For more information, please visit https://nuton.tech. For further information regarding this press release, please contact: Gunnison Copper Corp. Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the intention to deploy the Nuton technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; (ii) the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; (iii) the details and expected results of the stage two work program; (iv) timelines for future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; (v) timelines for continued construction at JCM; (vi) the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; and (vii) the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects. In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "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", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. 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 future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators. Although the Company 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 not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259568 SOURCE: Gunnison Copper Corp. Highlights: Mining operations to restart at the San Agustin Mine in H2, 2025, with initial production expected in Q4 Operations analysis supports a post-tax NPV 5% of US$35.25M, IRR of 548%, CAPEX of US$4.2M and an output of 45,000 total gold ounces produced at a US$3,000/oz gold price Restart provides confidence for the first significant Heliostar investment into the future of San Agustin, aimed at extending mine life Drilling will commence immediately in H2, 2025, on oxide expansion targets, followed by sulphide porphyry/breccia exploration Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Heliostar Metals Ltd. (TSXV: HSTR) (OTCQX: HSTXF) (FSE: RGG1) ("Heliostar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the restart of mining operations at San Agustin, located in the state of Durango. Heliostar presently produces gold from residual leaching at the San Agustin Mine. The Company will increase production by mining the mineral reserve, principally in an area the Company describes as the Corner Area. This is a key milestone to unlock increased value from San Agustin. "Heliostar is pleased to have met its forecast timelines to recommence mining at San Agustin," commented Heliostar CEO, Charles Funk. "Mining the Corner Area will produce 45,000 ounces of gold from the current reserve. It will generate US$40M in cash flow at a US$3,000 gold price. Heliostar has made this restart commitment, having complied with all the requirements to start mining and having approximately US$30M in cash on our balance sheet to fund the necessary capital." "As the largest local employer, this milestone provides job stability and provides for expanded economic opportunities for our nearby communities and throughout the state of Durango. For Heliostar, it marks a shift from residual leaching to active mining, increasing production and improving cash flow through 2026. It also provides the confidence to begin new investment in growth at San Agustin. This will include drilling aimed at converting oxide resources to reserves and testing sulphide targets that share characteristics with deposits such as Penasquito and Camino Rojo." Technical Report Summary On January 14, 2025, the Company filed an amended and restated technical report titled "San Agustin Operations, Durango State, Mexico, NI 43-101 Technical Report" prepared by Mr. Todd Wakefield, RM SME, Mine Technical Services, Mr. David Thomas, P.Geo., Mine Technical Services, Mr. Jeffrey Choquette, P.E., Hard Rock Consulting, Mr. Carl Defilippi, RM SME, Kappes Cassiday and Associates and Ms. Dawn Garcia, CPG, Stantec with an effective date of November 30, 2024 (the "Technical Report"). The life-of-mine (LOM) plan set out in the Technical Report indicates that a probable mineral reserve of 68,000 ounces of gold can be exploited over a 1.2 year mine life at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of US$1,990/oz Au. The initial capital cost in the Technical Report is estimated at US$4.2M. The Technical Report demonstrates a post-tax NPV5% of US$35.3M, an IRR of 548% and a payback period of 0.2 years for the upside case at a $3,000/oz gold price. The mineral reserve estimate included in the Technical Report is based on the operation of the existing crusher and conveyor system having a nameplate throughput capacity of about 30,000 tonnes/day and continued operation of the heap leach and carbon-in-column (CIC) process circuit to processing ore from the expanded open pit. The mineral reserve estimate included in the Technical Report is presented below. The expected operating performance and cost forecasts were compiled with the benefit of benchmarking historical performance at San Agustin. This was supplemented with the input of seasoned professionals knowledgeable of the conventional technologies being used at San Agustin, the expected consumption quantities of key supplies, and commercial pricing for goods and services in Mexico. Figure 1: View of Corner Area looking to southeast showing the current reserve model and planned pitshell. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7729/259590_ccc95ec664b4ea3f_003full.jpg Restart Steps In 2022, the previous operator of the San Agustin mine reached a private surface rights agreement to access a portion of the deposit referred to as the Corner Area. Despite this, mining operations ceased at the mine in late 2023 due to a lack of permit accessible mineral reserves. In July 2025, Heliostar complied with all required applications and received the required approval to undertake this open pit expansion. The relevant application was submitted in Q4, 2024. Further, the Company has also received a variance to its environmental impact assessment (MIA) to increase the height of the San Agustin leachpad from 77 to 88 metres in height. This variation will save approximately US$5M in capital during the mining of the Corner Area due to not having to prepare an extension to the existing leachpad. Heliostar's restart plan will include selecting civil, drilling and mining contractors, moving of a power transmission line, establishing additional access roads on site and removing and stockpiling the vegetation and topsoil present over the Corner Area. This work is anticipated to be undertaken in Q3 and Q4, allowing for the first stacking of new ore and subsequent new gold production from the Corner Area in Q4, 2025. Oxide Growth Targets The restart of mining at the Corner Area expands the mine life at San Agustin. With the longer production timeline and confidence in the ability to convert resources to gold production, Heliostar will commence a drilling program seeking further mine life extensions. The immediate focus for growth is on near-surface oxide material that could be processed through the existing facilities. The Company recognized several growth targets at the margins of the current pit and at the edge of the Corner Area reserve. Higher-grade oxide results from the priority Corner SW target area include, Hole 14-SAGRC-196 grading 3.52 grames per tonne (g/t) Gold over 18.3 metres from 32.0 metres downhole Hole 14-SAGRC-177 grading 0.34 g/t Gold over 15.24 metres from 27.4 metres downhole The targets are the extensions of mineralized corridors defined by grade control drilling and through a comprehensive re-logging and multi-element re-assaying program undertaken by Heliostar geologists in H1, 2025. The higher gold price environment has also increased the potential of certain lower-grade areas that were not previously a focus at San Agustin. Figure 2: Plan map of San Agustin showing oxide gold growth targets with drilling and blasthole data shown. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7729/259590_ccc95ec664b4ea3f_004full.jpg Sulphide Exploration Targets San Agustin is a very large mineralized system that hosts a significant volume of gold, silver, lead and zinc mineralization immediately beneath and adjacent to the current pit. This mineralization is not amenable to conventional heap leaching, and metallurgical work undertaken by the Company has indicated grades are not high enough for economic extraction at present prices. However, higher-grade results have been returned from within the sulphide domain at San Agustin, including, Hole SA-133 grading 0.49 g/t Gold, 25 g/t Silver, 0.2% Lead and 1.0% Zinc over 297 metres from 16.5 metres downhole Hole SA-184 grading 0.60 g/t Gold, 15 g/t Silver, 0.1% Lead and 1.0% Zinc over 196 metres from 172 metres downhole Figure 3: Geochemical and Geophysical footprints at San Agustin with the four sulphide targets labelled. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7729/259590_ccc95ec664b4ea3f_005full.jpg Similar to central Mexican, gold-rich polymetallic, intrusive-related deposits, including the Penasquito and Camino Rojo Mines, also contain higher grade zones of gold and silver mineralization, demonstrating the potential for defining high-grade mineralization within the San Agustin system. Investors are cautioned that mineral deposits on other properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company's properties. In H1 2025, Heliostar geologists built the most detailed geological model completed to date of the San Agustin deposit. This model proposes that the bulk of the gold and silver mined to date is from an intermediate sulphidation vein system that sits above intrusive related breccias and to the southeast of an interpreted intrusive/breccia centre that is believed to have a porphyry source. This interpretation generated four significant new porphyry/breccia targets beyond the previously drilled mineralization. These four zones are adjacent to and northwest from the San Agustin pit. These targets are supported by geology, alteration vectors, geophysical signatures and significant geochemical footprints. The Company believes they have strong similarities to those at the Penasquito deposit. Upon completion of the oxide drilling, the Company intends to test these new sulphide targets, looking for high-grade mineralization at San Agustin. Silver Vein Targets Figure 4: Silver in rockchips at San Agustin with Consejo Vein target and selected drill hole labelled. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7729/259590_ccc95ec664b4ea3f_006full.jpg In 2021, the previous operator acquired a large claim block from Fresnillo Plc to support an expansion of the open pit. This increased the San Agustin land package to 5,884 hectares. Since this acquisition, no significant regional exploration has been undertaken on these acquired claims. The regional exploration targets at San Agustin include the Consejo vein prospect. Last drilled in 1987, these veins include intercepts such as 1.3 m grading 3,235 g/t silver, 2.85 g/t gold, 15.0% lead and 8.7% zinc (Consejo de Recursos Minerales, 1985). There has been no drilling on these veins since the initial government program 38 years ago. Heliostar will undertake a modern sampling and target generation program focused on these veins and across the broader claim package to define additional drill targets in H2, 2025. Note: A qualified person has not been able to independently verify the assay results in the drill intersections presented here, and Heliostar plans on conducting additional work at San Agustin to establish the grades and widths of targets on the property. San Agustin Reserve Table from Technical Report To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7729/259590_ccc95ec664b4ea3f_007full.jpg Notes to accompany Mineral Reserves table: Mineral Reserves are reported at the point of delivery to the process plant, using the 2014 CIM Definition Standards. Mineral Reserves have an effective date of 30 November 2024. The Qualified Person for the estimate is Mr. Jeffrey Choquette, PE, of Hard Rock Consulting, LLC. A 0.156 g/t AuEq cut-off is used for reporting the Mineral Reserves in oxide, and a 0.310 g/t AuEq cut-off is used for reporting Mineral Reserves in transitional material. Cut-offs were calculated based on a gold price of US$1,900/oz Au, silver price of US$23/oz Ag, processing costs of US$4.23/t for oxide, processing costs of US$5.14/t for transitional, general and administrative costs of US$1.40/t, refining and selling costs of US$0.66/t, gold recovery of 66% for oxide and 38% for transitional and a silver recovery of 10% for oxide and transitional. The AuEq calculation uses the formula AuEq = (Au + Ag/equivalency factor), where equivalency factor = ((Au price in US$/g * Au recovery) / (Ag price in US$/g * Ag recovery)). Mineral Reserves are reported within the ultimate reserve pit design. An external dilution factor of 5% and a metal loss of 3% have been factored into the Mineral Reserve estimate. Tonnage and grade estimates are in metric units. Mineral Reserve tonnage and contained metal have been rounded to reflect the accuracy of the estimate, and numbers may not add due to rounding. Qualified Persons Gregg Bush, P.Eng., Mike Gingles, MBA, Stewart Harris, P.Geo, and Sam Anderson, CPG, the Company's Qualified Persons, as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, have reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and have approved the disclosure herein. About Heliostar Metals Ltd. Heliostar aims to grow to become a mid-tier gold producer. The Company is focused on increasing production and developing new resources at the 100% owned La Colorada and San Agustin mines, and on developing the Ana Paula, Cerro del Gallo and San Antonio deposits in Mexico. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Charles Funk President and Chief Executive Officer Heliostar Metals Limited Email: charles.funk@heliostarmetals.com Phone: +1 844-753-0045 Rob Grey Investor Relations Manager Heliostar Metals Limited Email: rob.grey@heliostarmetals.com Phone: +1 844-753-0045 Neither 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 Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things, the Company's exploration and development plans including the restart plan at San Augustin the completion of drilling activities and the testing of targets. These statements reflect the Company's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in foreign jurisdictions; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding exploration and mining activities; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises, ongoing military conflicts and general economic factors to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's public disclosure documents. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. This news release includes certain non-International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) measures. The Company has included these measures, in addition to conventional measures conforming with IFRS, to provide investors with an improved ability to evaluate the project and provide comparability between projects. The non-IFRS measures, which are generally considered standard measures within the mining industry albeit with non-standard definitions, are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Cash costs (Cash Costs) are a common financial performance measure in the gold mining industry but with no standard meaning under IFRS. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate each project's economic results in the technical reports and each project's potential to generate operating earnings and cash flow. All-in Sustaining Costs (AISC) more fully defines the total costs associated with producing precious metals. The AISC is calculated based on guidelines published by the World Gold Council (WGC), which were first issued in 2013. In light of new accounting standards and to support further consistency of application, the WGC published an updated Guidance Note in 2018. Other companies may calculate this measure differently because of differences in underlying principles and policies applied. Differences may also arise due to a different definition of sustaining versus growth capital. Note that in respect of AISC metrics within the technical reports because such economics are disclosed at the project level, corporate general and administrative expenses were not included in the AISC calculations. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259590 SOURCE: Heliostar Metals Ltd. The Recana System is Designed for the Treatment of Venous In-Stent Restenosis and Native Vessel Obstructions InterVene, Inc., a medical device company pioneering interventional devices for venous inflow and outflow obstructions, announced today that the first patient has been treated with its Recana Thrombectomy Catheter System for venous in-stent restenosis (ISR). The Recana System is the first fully integrated mechanical thrombectomy system designed specifically to address the long-term complications of venous disease, including ISR and native vein obstructions. The case was performed at University Hospital Galway in Galway, Ireland, by Dr. Gerry O'Sullivan, consultant interventional radiologist. "The long-term sequelae of venous obstructions, whether in-stent or native vessel, are a devastating consequence of deep venous thrombotic disease. There remains a considerable gap in effective interventional treatments for physicians and their patients living with persistent symptoms related to venous outflow obstructions," said Dr. O'Sullivan. "I had previously tried and failed to recanalize this patient's vessels on four separate occasions Recana succeeded in just one. This technology offers real promise for patients with limited treatment options." ISR is a common and challenging complication of venous stenting, typically managed with balloon angioplasty or stent relining both of which are suboptimal for restoring and maintaining long-term patency.1,2 Every year, millions of patients are affected by the long-term complications of deep venous obstructions, experiencing persistent symptoms such as leg pain, swelling, skin discoloration, and in the most severe cases, venous leg ulcers.3,4 The case was a result of successful collaboration between InterVene, Inc. and the University of Galway Institute of Clinical Trials. "We are proud to see Recana become one of the first innovations to enter clinical use in Ireland through the Hypercare initiative," said Fidelma Dunne, MD, PhD, director of the Institute for Clinical Trials at the University of Galway. "This first-in-human procedure reflects Hypercare's core mission to streamline the clinical trial process and accelerate patient access to breakthrough therapies." "This successful first-in-human procedure comes after several years of rigorous work to prove a transformative design to address a major unmet need in venous disease," stated Jeff Elkins, CEO of InterVene. "We are proud to support Dr. O'Sullivan in caring for patients suffering from the life-limiting effects of ISR. Completing this first case marks an important milestone in bringing our technology to patients affected by the long-term complications of venous disease." About InterVene, Inc. InterVene is a privately held medical technology company based in Redwood City, Calif., focused on developing transformative products to treat the long-term complications of venous disease. Its flagship technology, the Recana Thrombectomy Catheter System, was designed to treat venous in-stent restenosis and native vein obstructions. InterVene is backed by RiverVest Venture Partners and Treo Ventures. For more information visit www.intervene-med.com. Caution: Investigational device. Limited by Federal (or United States) law to investigational use. Caution: The Recana Thrombectomy Catheter System is an investigational device to be used exclusively for clinical investigations. References Notten P, Ten Cate H, Ten Cate-Hoek AJ. Postinterventional antithrombotic management after venous stenting of the iliofemoral tract in acute and chronic thrombosis: A systematic review. J Thromb Haemost. 2021. Raju S, Davis M. Anomalous features of iliac vein stenosis that affect diagnosis and treatment. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord. 2014. Engeseth M, Enden, T, Sandset, P.M. Predictors of long-term post-thrombotic syndrome following high proximal deep vein thrombosis: a cross-sectional study. Thrombosis J. 2021. Rabinovich A, Khan S. How I treat the possthrombotic syndrome. blood. 2018. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250722780441/en/ Contacts: info@intervene-med.com Donna Hargrove to Serve as Senior Advisor CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Amwins, a global distributor of specialty insurance products and services, today announced a planned leadership change within its legal team. Effective January 1, 2026, Deputy General Counsel Molly Shah will step into the role of General Counsel. At the same time, Donna Hargrove will move from her current role as General Counsel into a new position as Senior Advisor. Shah joined Amwins in 2019 and currently serves as Deputy General Counsel, specializing in labor and employment matters. Her role has expanded over the past several years to touch on nearly every aspect of our business. She also serves on Amwins' Diversity & Inclusion Council and as a steering committee member for the Women's Leadership program at Amwins. "This transition has been in the works for some time, and Molly is an outstanding leader and a natural fit for this role," said Scott Purviance, CEO, Amwins. "We couldn't be more confident in her ability to carry the torch. She embodies our values and brings incredible legal knowledge, a thoughtful leadership style, and a clear sense of purpose to our legal team. We are excited about the future under her leadership." Hargrove joined Amwins in 2008 as the company's general counsel. Her leadership has been instrumental in supporting Amwins' aggressive growth, guiding the firm through numerous transactions, and fostering a culture of sound legal governance. In addition to her role at Amwins, Hargrove actively serves the community through her work on the Board of Directors of the Isabella Santos Foundation, a nonprofit focused on advancing treatment for rare pediatric cancers. "Donna has been a key part of our story and her impact on Amwins is immeasurable," Purviance added. "She's been a trusted partner to leadership and has helped support our firm during a period of extraordinary expansion. We are grateful for her continued counsel and proud to see her take on a new chapter as Senior Advisor." As part of the transition, Hargrove will remain actively involved throughout 2026, offering guidance and continuity as Shah assumes leadership, ensuring a seamless handoff and continued momentum. About Amwins Amwins is the largest independent wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products in the U.S., dedicated to serving retail insurance agents by providing property and casualty products, specialty group benefits, and administrative services. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the company operates through more than 138 offices globally and handles premium placements in excess of $44.5 billion annually. For more information, visit amwins.com. For further information contact: Amwins Lisa Kuszmar Telephone: 704.749.2780 Email: lisa.kuszmar@amwins.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2735146/Amwins_Molly_Shah.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2735147/Amwins_Donna_Hargrove.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1450185/amw_brokerage_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/amwins-names-molly-shah-general-counsel-302509920.html Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Gold Hart Copper Corp. (TSXV: HART) (the "Company", "Gold Hart", or "HART") is pleased to announce the results of the first diamond drill hole (DDHTOL02) at its flagship Tolita gold-copper-molybdenum property in the Vicuna District of Chile. Gold Hart's first diamond hole encountered long porphyry-style mineralization typical of the Vicuna District, including near continuous gold, copper, and molybdenum intercepts from approximately 137m until the end of the drill hole at 610m (473m) except for a sterile zone surrounding a potentially significant fault zone of 150m. Specifically, Gold Hart intercepted 203.5m of 0.25g/t gold equivalent from 137.5m, including a higher grade zone of 67m at 0.38g/t gold equivalent. Later in this same hole, Gold Hart intercepted another 118m of 0.24g/t gold equivalent, including 45.5m at 0.30g/t gold equivalent. The drill hole finished in mineralization. Enrique Viter-Aldunate, Vicuna pioneer and Tolita discoverer commented, "I could not be happier with the first drill hole at Tolita, as 320m+ of 0.24-0.25g/t is highly indicative of a potentially very large gold system. I recall from my personal experience drilling Cerro Casale that the first several holes did not return such an extensive and continuous presence of gold, and of course that asset has now become the largest gold-copper deposit on the continent. In fact, from around 130m to the end of the hole at 610m (nearly 480m), it would appear that there is nearly consistent mineralization except for the 150m sterile zone which we now believe to be a major geological fault. This drill hole has also significantly advanced our geological understanding of the asset, as Dr. Professor Jose Frutos and I now both strongly believe that this fault may have caused the higher-chargeability and higher-conductivity anomaly to land closer to surface on the eastern side of the property, which could potentially host higher grades. I believe this first hole (DDHTOL02) should lay to rest any questions around whether or not Tolita has potential to be a porphyry, because the drill hole clearly proves we intercepted porphyry-style mineralization typical of the Vicuna. Like this first diamond drill hole, all historic RC holes were also drilled into the western side of Tolita; so the eastern side remains completely untested, and drilling the near-surface high-chargeability high-conductivity zone must be priority number one, as was our original plan with DDHTOL01. I am extremely excited about the future as Gold Hart advances further drilling particularly on the eastern side of the asset." "We are thrilled to have encountered such long intervals of gold, copper, and molybdenum particularly so early on in our first drill hole ever at Tolita," stated Isaac Maresky, Co-founder & CEO of Gold Hart. "I am more excited than ever about the potential of Tolita and to continue the drill campaign in September. Now that we have been fortunate enough to return porphyry-style intercepts so early, with good correlation between geophysical anomalies and gold-copper-molybdenum, we can focus on honing in on the top-tier drill targets where we might find grades. Interestingly, the eastern side of the property - totally open and untested - is exactly where the chargeable geophysical anomaly is highest and also where the highest conductive zone overlaps as well." Note: For the purposes of calculating gold equivalent, the following metal prices were utilized: Gold: $3,340.20/oz Copper: $11,180/t Molybdenum: $61,917/t Gold Hart Copper - Second Hole Assay DDHTOL05 Gold Hart hopes to be in a position to report on the results from the second and final hole (DDHTOL05) from its recent ~1,200m campaign in the coming two weeks. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10786/259604_gold_hart_-_first_hole_results_1.jpg To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10786/259604_gold_hart_-_first_hole_results_2.jpg To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10786/259604_gold_hart_-_first_hole_results_3.jpg To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10786/259604_gold_hart_-_first_hole_results_4.jpg To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10786/259604_gold_hart_-_first_hole_results_5.jpg About Gold Hart Copper Gold Hart Copper is one of the largest independent land owners surrounding major miners where the famous Maricunga Gold Belt meets the emerging Vicuna Copper Belt in Chile. HART is actively acquiring, exploring and developing its portfolio of gold, copper & silver properties adjacent to the largest gold and copper assets on the continent. In addition to its large land position in the Vicuna District, Gold Hart recently acquired three properties just West on Chile's Paleocene-Eocene Belt on the famous Domeyko Faul, which is home to some of Chile's largest gold, copper, and silver assets including Escondida, Chuquicamata and Collahuasi. The new Gold Hart properties host several historic gold and copper mines with high grades of gold, copper, and silver on surface, with a large alteration and magnetic anomaly extending approximately 6km. HART's team of geologists were personally involved in pioneering exploration in the region, leading to some of its greatest gold, copper, and silver deposits, and include the country's former Geological Survey National Deputy Manager Dr. Professor Jose Frutos. Specifically, senior Gold Hart geologists were personally involved in the Escondida copper discovery, now the largest copper mine in the world1 controlled by Rio Tinto and BHP, as well as Cerro Casale, the largest gold-copper discovery in Chile2 acquired by Barrick and Newmont (GoldCorp) with 59-million ounces of gold and 12.5-billion pounds of copper. HART has rolled-up a portfolio of historically significant assets surrounding majors, in some cases personally staked by the very same geologists who made the adjacent mega-discoveries, since the early 1990s. Some of the Gold Hart properties have already undergone a first phase of RC drilling, with highly encouraging results of gold, copper, and silver. Gold Hart properties are controlled 100% and not subject to any royalties whatsoever. HART believes it may be sitting on one of the only fully-preserved untested large-scale gold-copper-silver porphyry targets in the Vicuna District - an asset that was first recognized for its uniquely high grades of gold and copper on surface - and staked by one of the Maricunga-Vicuna district's pioneering geologists3 in 1993. Gold Hart Copper is fully funded for its planned drill campaign. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10786/259604_hart_-_first_tolita_hole_-_results_ddhtol02_6.jpg To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10786/259604_gold_hart_-_first_hole_results_7.jpg To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10786/259604_gold_hart_-_first_hole_results_8.jpg To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10786/259604_gold_hart_-_first_hole_results_9.jpg About Gold Hart Copper's Tolita Gold-Copper-Silver-Molybdenum Target The Tolita property is a historically significant gold-copper-molybdenum asset which was first recognized and staked in 1993 - by one of the pioneering geologists of the Maricunga-Vicuna district - for its uniquely high grades of gold and copper on surface3. Geochemical surveys revealed gold, copper, silver, and molybdenum anomalies, which led to trenching. Tolita has had significant trenching (5,600m / 5.6km) with the highest grade trench returning grades up to 52g/t gold equivalent including 4% copper. Tolita has undergone helicopter mag surveys which identified 4 unique anomalies as well3. In 1996, a third party company optioned the property and drilled 3 short 200m RC holes, without any geophysics, and yet still hit gold and copper in all 3 holes, including long intercepts of gold and copper (150m and 164m, respectively) close to surface in 2 of the 3 holes. At the time, gold was approximately $300/oz and copper traded below $1.00/lb, and large scale sulphide / porphyry deposits with both gold and copper were often considered less favorable than smaller scale gold-only oxide deposits. As a result, and due to general market sentiment for junior exploration companies in 1997-1998, Tolita was only drilled to a depth of 200m with 3 short RC holes (out of a planned 8 hole campaign)3. When Gold Hart acquired the property, a full geophysical survey was conducted by a recognized geophysics firm, and a large high-chargeability and conductive anomaly was discovered that is near surface and almost 2.5km2 in size and "interpreted as a copper-gold or gold-copper porphyry system that certainly warrants additional exploration and drilling4". Gold Hart Copper has therefore launched diamond drilling and is fully funded for this planned campaign. References & Notes: Escondida is the largest copper mine globally, as defined by producing the greatest number of copper tonnes per annum. Numbers sourced directly from property owner's website and public filings. Norte Abierto is considered the largest gold asset in Chile as defined by hosting the largest number of total gold ounces. Numbers sourced directly from property owner's website and public filings. Please refer to the Company's NI 43-101 Technical Report on Sedar for information pertaining to Gold Hart Copper's properties including historical exploration at Tolita, including but not limited to, the history of the asset and its original staking, geochemical surveys, trenching surveys, helicopter magnetic surveys, and historical RC drilling. Geophysical survey is summarized in the Company's NI 43-101 Technical report available on Sedar. Such geophysical surveys are not definitive, and the results are still at an early stage of interpretation, with no guarantee of a mineral discovery. HART | Gold Hart Copper Corporation - Social Media Channels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/goldhart/ X / Twitter: https://x.com/goldhartcopper Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoldHartCopper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldhartcopper/ Qualified Person The technical information contained in this news release related has been reviewed by Mr. Jonathan A. Warner, Executive Vice President of Gold Hart Copper and a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves 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", "potential", "feasibility", "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, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management, in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, including, without limitation, assumptions about: the ability of exploration results, including drilling, to accurately predict mineralization; errors in geological modelling; insufficient data; equity and debt capital markets; future spot prices of copper and zinc; the timing and results of exploration and drilling programs; the accuracy of mineral resource estimates; production costs; political and regulatory stability; the receipt of governmental and third party approvals; licenses and permits being received on favourable terms; sustained labour stability; stability in financial and capital markets; availability of mining equipment and positive relations with local communities and groups. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information are set out in the Company's listing statement dated March 14, 2025, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company'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 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. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259604 SOURCE: Gold Hart Copper Corp. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Black Swan Graphene Inc. (TSXV: SWAN) (OTCQX: BSWGF) (FSE: R960) ("Black Swan" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its ongoing commercial initiatives, underscoring the success of its strategic approach to providing Graphene-Enhanced Masterbatch or GEM ("GEM") to the polymer industry. This model, which involves working closely with distribution partners and masterbatch manufacturers, continues to demonstrate its value by supporting product adoption and maximizing market reach. "We are incredibly excited to see our efforts and investments culminating in significant progress toward commercialization as our graphene gains traction in the industrial sector. As for many innovative products, the initial commercialization is paramount, as progress with prospective customers and production activities can provide supply security for eventual customers. As volumes expand, not only will the Company be able to compete more effectively in higher-volume applications, but lower production costs open doors to more price-sensitive markets. The path to commercialization success is now clearly within reach," stated Michael Edwards, Chief Operating Officer of Black Swan. Since launching multiple GEM products in mid-2024 (see press releases dated April 30, July 9, and July 16, 2024), Black Swan is already working with over 40 customers or companies engaged in joint projects. The Company cautions that there are no assurances that all or substantially all the initiatives currently being progressed with potential customers will result in sales to such customers. While protecting confidentiality, the Company presents below various details of its commercial progress across diverse markets. While some key variables are still being formalized, the Company aims to reach a point where it can sell most of its current annual production capacity. Black Swan is confident it can swiftly build on this momentum thereafter. Expansion of Production Capacity at Consett, United Kingdom Black Swan has ordered its next-generation production unit and is undertaking a significant expansion that will increase its production capacity to 140 tonnes per annum, more than tripling its current capacity. This scale-up will position the Company among the leading graphene producers globally (see press release dated June 3, 2025). The additional production unit will be installed within the Company's existing operational facility located at Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd. ("Thomas Swan"), a United Kingdom-based global chemicals manufacturer with a century-long track record. Thomas Swan has been at the forefront of graphene innovation and remains a strategic shareholder of Black Swan. This site already comprises a well-established infrastructure, with power and other essential utilities required for expansion. By leveraging the existing site and utilities at the Thomas Swan facility, the Company will be able to minimize capital expenditure, reduce lead times for installation, and accelerate the path to increased commercial output. GEM: A Game-Changing Strategy The GEM strategy is a cornerstone of Black Swan's recent commercial advancements, and the Company has previously announced three key early non-exclusive partnerships with Hubron International Ltd, Broadway Colours Ltd. and Modern Dispersions Inc. (see press releases dated January 16, July 23, 2024, and May 14, 2025). Black Swan is particularly encouraged by feedback from masterbatch companies, which are independently supported by the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre ("GEIC"), indicating that, after working with various graphene sources, Black Swan's product stands out as exceptionally well-suited for masterbatch applications. This is largely due to its excellent dispersion, where no special technique or dispersant are required, which enables our GEM partners to rapidly develop and deliver tailored solutions for customers. Offering a library of standard GEMs, Black Swan gives any potential graphene customer access to the technology with a low-cost entry and a quick determination of product suitability. By focusing on producing high-quality graphene powder and partnering with masterbatch specialists, Black Swan avoids the complexities of directly managing end-user supply chains. Furthermore, by dealing with masterbatch specialists, instead of creating its own masterbatch, Black Swan can accelerate the market adoption since customers, often already customers of those firms for other polymer additives, can be confident that those GEMs have gone through a rigorous testing process and provide the advertised benefits with batch-to-batch consistency. This approach allows Black Swan to concentrate on innovation and product development while leveraging the distribution networks and expertise of its partners. Not only does this streamline logistics, but it enhances profitability by focusing on higher-margin graphene powder sales. As more partners adopt the GEM products into their portfolios, Black Swan is positioning itself as a leader in the graphene market, capitalizing on first-mover advantages in multiple industries. Black Swan is currently working through the GEM qualification process with other global masterbatch and compounding companies which provides a quick and robust graphene testing route. GEM delivers remarkable performance benefits, including1: Over 20% weight reduction with 1.0% loading in TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane); Over 20% increased impact resistance in PP (polypropylene) at 0.2% loading; More than 40% reduction in water vapor transmission in PLA (polylactic acid) with less than 1.0% loading; and 36% improvement in oxygen transfer rate in PET (polyethylene terephthalate) with 0.2% loading. This strategy not only expands Black Swan's market penetration but also allows the Company to scale efficiently. By focusing on graphene powder production and allowing partners to handle downstream logistics and customer relationships, Black Swan aims to maximize its gross margins and reduce the logistical complexities that often come with direct customer management. GEM Trademark As a first mover in graphene-enhanced masterbatch solutions, Black Swan has secured a trademark for its proprietary GEM brand, setting a new industry standard that prospective customers can confidently trust and quickly test in applications. This trademark not only solidifies Black Swan's leading position but also allows customers in diverse industries to market their products as "Made with GEM" ensuring traceable quality and performance consistency in graphene-enhanced materials, and to build a user community of "Made with GEM" customers, similar to the "Intel inside" model to share insights and updates from Black Swan on material developments. With GEM as a hallmark of innovation in graphene, Black Swan is primed to lead as demand for high-performance, scalable graphene solutions accelerates. Agricultural Films - North American Agricultural Manufacturer In the agricultural sector, Black Swan's GEM are being trialed by a major North American manufacturer of agricultural films. This project, facilitated by one of Black Swan's masterbatch partners, aims to enhance the strength, barrier properties, and sustainability of agricultural films used in crop protection. The global agricultural films market was valued at USD $11.45 billion in 20232 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.8% from 2024 to 2030. This growth is driven by rising agricultural output, increasing demand for modern farming practices, and a focus on sustainable agriculture. Agricultural films are used to protect crops in greenhouses and help plants withstand extreme weather conditions. Agricultural films support various farming techniques by enhancing crop quality, regulating soil temperature, managing weed growth, and increasing crop yields. These films are also essential for storing silage, corn, and hay, fulfilling diverse cultivation needs. Known as effective solutions for soil protection, greenhouse productivity, and precision farming, these elastic films protect plants in both indoor and outdoor settings. Their durability and efficiency contribute significantly to increased production, and in areas with extreme climates or heavy rainfall, they help mitigate the effects of hail. As the demand for food grows, the use of plastic films in agriculture has surged. These films play critical roles in low tunnels, irrigation, mulching, and silage, all of which improve crop yields and harvest quality. Consequently, agricultural films have become integral to modern farming practices. Packaging Solutions - Global Packaging Innovator Black Swan is closely collaborating with a number of prominent packaging companies to enhance the barrier properties of PET in multiple packaging and bottling applications. Those projects have progressed significantly with products undergoing advanced testing in both cases. By using GEM to improve barrier properties and reduce plastic usage, Black Swan is positioning itself in the sustainable packaging market. Black Swan is also seeking FDA approval for food contact and is currently in the application process with a leading partner. The success of these trials could lead to widespread adoption of graphene in high demand packaging solutions, reinforcing the strength of Black Swan's masterbatch strategy. Bio-Based Packaging Black Swan is also making strides in the bio-based packaging sector with global sustainability-focused manufacturers. These projects focus on incorporating graphene-enhanced polylactic acid ("PLA") into consumer packaging with enhanced barrier properties approaching 50%, specifically in the areas of aerosols, with our partner Farrag Packaging, and vehicle components, resulting in a 40% improvement in barrier properties. Water Bottles and Water Dispensers Black Swan is progressing with a Middle Eastern manufacturer of polycarbonate and PET water bottles. The company has entered the final testing phase with Black Swan's GEM for these products. The global plastic bottle market represents a significant growth opportunity for Black Swan as it continues to expand its footprint in the sustainable packaging sector. About Black Swan Graphene Inc. Black Swan is focused on the large-scale production and commercialization of patented high-performance and low-cost graphene products aimed at several industrial sectors, including concrete and polymers, which are expected to require large volumes of graphene. Black Swan's graphene processing technology was developed by Thomas Swan over the last decade. Thomas Swan is a United Kingdom-based global chemicals manufacturer, with a century-long track record and has been at the forefront of graphene innovation. More information is available at: www.blackswangraphene.com. Black Swan Graphene Inc. on behalf of the Board of Directors Simon Marcotte, CFA, President & Chief Executive Officer Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to the TSXV listing, risk related to the failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with the industry; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of feasibility studies, and the possibility that future results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity prices fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Furthermore, performance results of graphene products as additives can vary widely depending on type and the specificity of the target material, the specifics of the graphene product itself, including but not limited to, carbon purity, particle size, surface agent, dispersion behavior, and application and usage methods. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements and initial test results. These forward-looking statements and test results are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections. 1 All figures are approximate. 2 https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/agricultural-films-market To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259576 SOURCE: Black Swan Graphene Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Military Metals Corp. (CSE: MILI) (OTCQB: MILIF) (FSE: QN90) (the "Company" or "MILI") reports the analyses of five samples of antimony (stibnite) and gold-rich mineralized material taken from a historical mine stockpile at the Company's 100% owned past producing West Gore antimony-gold project ("West Gore" or "the Project") located in the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. These samples were collected as part of efforts to characterize the historical deposit to optimize initial exploration methods. These high-grade results support the documented grades of material historically mined between 1914-1917 when West Gore was one of Canada's most significant antimony producers during World War One, to support the allied war effort. These results complement the announcement on July 8, 2025 that the Company had identified new drill targets extending well beyond the area of previous mining, plans to commence a drill program are currently being finalized. Historical Stockpile Sample Highlights: Highest grade sample returned 40.6 percent (%) Antimony and 106.5 Grams Per Tonne (gpt) in sample 247228 (Antimony samples ranged from 2.12% to 40.6%, gold samples ranged from 11.75 gpt to 106.5 gpt in sample 247228 (Antimony samples ranged from 2.12% to 40.6%, gold samples ranged from 11.75 gpt to 106.5 gpt Additional high-grade antimony results included 23.5% and 18.1% in samples 247230 and 247232, respectively in samples 247230 and 247232, respectively Additional high-grade gold results included 27.4 gpt and 25.8 gpt in samples 247232 and 247230, respectively in samples 247232 and 247230, respectively Average antimony results over all five samples of 17.94% Average gold results over all five samples of 34.68 gpt 3 high priority drill targets that were never previously identified will be drill tested in an upcoming work program Scott Eldridge, CEO of Military Metals, stated: "The recent samples collected of up to 40.6% antimony seen in massive stibnite, the mineral that hosts antimony, from our project area have returned some spectacular results, reinforcing our exploration plan to commence drilling. With additional exploration, we can further unlock the potential of our asset and, play a strategic role in the critical minerals supply chain at a time when secure, domestic sources of antimony are in growing demand. Today's results also demonstrate the gold values that could be an important by-product or co-product as we prepare to drill. We are extremely encouraged by the high antimony and gold grades of these five specimens from the past producing mine at our Nova Scotia project. We look forward to advancing this discovery through further exploration and unlocking its full value for our shareholders. Nova Scotia's government, led by Environment Minister Tim Halman, has announced updates to the approval process for metal-mining projects aimed at accelerating timelines. In summary, the new rules are designed to streamline mining approvals and benefit industry progress." Summary of Results: Historical documentation reports that 32,000 metric tons were mined at West Gore in turn producing 7,000 metric tons of concentrate grading 46% antimony yielding 3,220 metric tons of antimony metal, and 6,861 ounces of gold (source: NI 43-101 Technical Report for the West Gore Sb-Au Project, May 25, 2021, prepared by M.S. King, PGeo & M.C. Corey PGeo, May 25, 2021, for Battery Elements Corp). This indicates recovered grades of 10.06% antimony and 0.21 ounces per ton (6.5 gpt) gold, historically. Historical mining was both small-scale and selective, almost certainly enhanced by hand sorting at surface prior to processing. Commercial production ceased in 1917. Table 1 below displays the analytical results for antimony and gold from the five samples. Antimony varies from a low of 2.12 to a high of 40.6%, for an average of 17.94%; gold varies from a low of 11.75 to a high of 106.5 gpt, for an average of 34.68 gpt (uncapped). These grades support the accuracy of historical documentation of mined grades. Of mineralogical interest is the fact that two of the samples, 247230 and 247231, ran 2.01 and 2.81% lead, respectively. Table 1: Sample Results To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10818/259593_6c12fb9e645578af_001full.jpg Note: Grab samples are selective by nature and samples visually estimated to be high-grade were intentionally selected for characterization in this exercise. The results presented in this news release should not be considered overall representative of the historically exploited West Gore deposit or the stockpile from which they were chosen. The historical nature of this stockpile is unknown. Image 1: Sample 247228 Demonstrating Massive Stibnite To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10818/259593_6c12fb9e645578af_002full.jpg Quality Assurance and Quality Control: The samples were analyzed at the laboratories of ALS Canada in Vancouver. Samples were crushed, split, ground, split, and a 35 gram portion subjected to a four-acid digestion followed by Induction Coupled Plasma ("ICP") - Mass Spectrometry ("MS") analysis. Over-limit samples for gold and antimony (all five of them) were analyzed by fire assay and ICP- Atomic Emission Spectrometry ("AES") analysis, respectively. Internal Quality Assurance - Quality Control protocols were followed by the lab including blanks, standards, and duplicates to ensure analytical accuracy. Mining History and Geology of the Region: Gold in Nova Scotia was first discovered in 1860, which led to gold rushes throughout many parts of the province over the years following. Gold production in the Rawdon hills began in 1884 and continued until 1932 from several mines. Gold deposits of Nova Scotia's Meguma Terrane typically occur as relatively shallow-dipping, bedding-parallel "saddle reef" type vein systems controlled by regional fold structures. Gold deposits of the Rawdon area, which is found at the east edge of West Gore, are uniquely characterized by the occurrence of steeply east-dipping gold-bearing veins striking north-northwest across bedding. The Government of Nova Scotia's Mineral Occurrence Database reports that historical production from the Rawdon Hills area mines totaled 13,494 ounces. Antimony is a common accessory element in many gold mines around the world, occasionally occurring in higher concentrations. The technical contents of this release were reviewed and approved by David Murray PGeo, President and Principal Consultant of Resourceful Geoscience Solutions Inc. of Halifax, Nova Scotia, a consultant to the Company, and qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Murray has independently verified that the historical information presented here about the West Gore deposit is consistent with the historical records available. For more information about Military Metals Corp. and its critical minerals initiatives, please visit: https://www.militarymetalscorp.com. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/military-metals/ X: https://x.com/militarymetals Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564717587797 About Military Metals Corp. The Company is a British Columbia-based mineral exploration company that is primarily engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties with a focus on antimony. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD of DIRECTORS This news release contains "forward-looking information". Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words 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. Forward-Looking information in this news release includes statements related to the Company's exploration of the Project, including exploration activities at West Gore such as its anticipated future drill program, and the potential for further activities beyond the exploration stage, or the ability of the Company to be part of the supply chain of either antimony or gold. A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this news release. Additional risk factors can also be found in the Company's public filings under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. 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 or otherwise. 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. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances, management's estimates, or opinions should change, except as required by securities legislation. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259593 SOURCE: Military Metals Corp. Delta SkyMilesMembers Can Now Earn and Redeem Miles on SIXT Rentals Worldwide, Unlocking New Value for Everyday Travel SIXT USA a subsidiary of Sixt SE, a global leader in premium mobility services today announced a strategic partnership with Delta Air Lines, bringing together two trusted premium travel brands known for putting customers at the center of everything they do. Through this collaboration, Delta SkyMiles Members can now earn and redeem miles when booking SIXT rental cars through the Delta Cars Stays platform, offering enhanced value and convenience for travelers in the United States and across the globe. Starting today, travelers can reserve SIXT rentals directly through Delta's Cars Stays platform unlocking access to SIXT's premium fleet at more than 2,000 locations across 100 countries, including SIXT's more than 100 locations in the U.S. with presence at 51 major airports. SkyMiles Members will earn 2 miles per eligible dollar spent on SIXT rentals booked through the platform. To celebrate the launch, SIXT will be featured in Delta's annual Beyond the Summer event and where Members can earn 3 miles per eligible dollar on rentals booked between July 21 and August 20, 2025. With a focus on delivering seamless, digitally enabled travel experiences, the partnership reflects the strengths of both brands, providing a high-end travel experience to customers. The collaboration is designed to meet the shared needs of frequent travelers and international visitors seeking a smooth transition from the runway to the road. With SIXT's continued expansion to both top-tier airport and off-airport locations in major metro areas and other popular travel destinations in the United States and internationally, the collaboration with Delta supports a more integrated and rewarding journey for customers from start to finish. Regine Sixt, Senior Executive President International Marketing, Sixt SE: "Delta and SIXT share the ambition to set global standards for customer experience, quality, and service. Our new expanded partnership reflects a shared understanding of mobility as a premium experience. We're bringing our brands together where travelers expect the highest standards: in an environment defined by trust, comfort, and global excellence." Tom Kennedy, President, SIXT North America: "We are proud to partner with Delta Air Lines to further elevate the travel experience for SkyMiles Members. Driven by a mutual commitment to premium service and streamlined mobility, SIXT and Delta are making it easier than ever for guests to move in style and comfort. With our expanding presence at key U.S. airports and a diverse fleet that represents quality and performance, we are excited to help customers get the most out of every journey." Prashant Sharma, V.P. of Loyalty at Delta: "Customers want a loyalty experience that is relevant, reliable and valuable at every touchpoint in their journey, not just on their flight. Our partnership with SIXT is the newest way we are meeting customers where they are as their preferences evolve across the world." With aligned footprints across key Delta hubs, the partnership connects Delta and SIXT at some of the busiest U.S. airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Minneapolis-Saint Paul International, Salt Lake City International, Los Angeles International, John F. Kennedy International, among others. It also extends to SIXT's growing network of off-airport locations including recent openings such as Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Casino, Hollywood, FL, New Orleans Hyatt Regency, New York City Brooklyn, Calgary Downtown, and San Antonio River Walk. In just a little over a decade, the United States has become the most important growth market for SIXT. Today, SIXT operates more than 100 rental branches in 25 states, employs more than 2,000 team members, and now serves 51 of the most important airports across the country. In addition, by launching operations in Canada in 2022, SIXT is tapping into another billion-dollar market that also offers potential for synergies with its U.S. operations. About SIXT Sixt SE with its headquarters in Pullach near Munich, is a leading international provider of high-quality mobility services. With its products SIXT rent, SIXT share, SIXT ride and SIXT+ on the mobility platform ONE the company offers a uniquely integrated premium mobility service across the fields of vehicle and commercial vehicle rental, car sharing, ride hailing and car subscriptions. The products can be booked through the SIXT App, which also integrates the services of its renowned mobility partners. SIXT has a presence in more than 100 countries around the globe. The company stands for consistent customer orientation, a lived culture of innovation with strong technological competence, a high proportion of premium vehicles in the fleet and an attractive price-performance ratio. In 2023 Sixt Group achieved consolidated pre-tax earnings of EUR 464.3 million and another significant increase in consolidated revenue to EUR 3.62 billion. Sixt SE has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 1986 (ISIN ordinary share: DE0007231326, ISIN preference share: DE0007231334). https://about.sixt.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250722054500/en/ Contacts: Zimmerman PR, sixt@zimmerman.com Joseph Gerbino, SIXT, us-communications@sixt.com The global chemical company Oxea has appointed Michael McHenry as its new chief executive officer, effective Aug. 15, 2025. With the appointment, the company is entering a new phase of leadership focused on transformation and operational excellence across its business in the oxo intermediates and oxo derivatives market. "Oxea has a strong foundation, a skilled global team, and a clear position in a core part of the chemical value chain," said Michael McHenry. "Together, we will build on that strength to accelerate performance and create long-term value for our customers and stakeholders." McHenry brings more than 30 years of experience in the international chemicals and materials industry. Most recently, he served as CEO of Techmer PM, a private equity-backed manufacturer of engineered materials. Prior to that, he held senior positions at Master Fluid Solutions, BASF, and Ciba Specialty Chemicals, overseeing business units in resins, additives, pigments, and coatings. "Michael McHenry has proven experience in managing complex transformation processes and international teams. His values and vision align with Oxea's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and customer-centric performance," said Craig Rogerson, Chairman of the Oxea Board of Directors. "We are confident that his operational focus and strategic mindset will support Oxea's continued development." Dave Richards, co-head of the US operating team at Strategic Value Partners, whose managed funds are Oxea's majority shareholder, said: "We welcome Michael McHenry to Oxea and look forward to working with him and the leadership team. Together with our partners at Blantyre Capital, we aim to support the company's long-term growth and strategic positioning." McHenry holds a degree in chemistry from Rutgers University and serves on the board of Share the Good Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting at-risk individuals. About Oxea Oxea (formerly OQ Chemicals) is a global manufacturer of Oxo Intermediates and Oxo Performance Chemicals such as alcohols, polyols, carboxylic acids, specialty esters, and amines. These are used to produce high-quality coatings, lubricants, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, flavors and fragrances, printing inks, and plastics. Oxea employs more than 1,200 people worldwide and markets its chemicals in more than 60 countries. More information at www.oxea.com About SVP Strategic Value Partners, LLC (together with its affiliates, "SVP") is a global alternative investment firm that focuses on special situations, private equity, opportunistic credit and financing opportunities. The firm uses a combination of sourcing, financial and operational expertise to unlock value in its portfolio companies. Today SVP manages over USD 22 billion in assets under management, and since inception, has invested more than USD 53 billion of capital. The firm, established by Victor Khosla in 2001, has over 200 employees, including more than 100 investment professionals, across its main offices in Greenwich (CT) and London, and a presence in Tokyo. Learn more at www.svpglobal.com About Blantyre Blantyre is a London-based investment manager specialising in middle market equity and debt. The firm transforms businesses by providing time-sensitive capital that can support companies in financing growth, M&A, capital structure optimisation, operational enhancements, shareholder changes and recapitalisation, and liquidity solutions. Blantyre manages more than EUR 2.7 billion of long-term capital commitments on behalf of highly regarded institutional investors, including public and private pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, foundations, private funds, and family offices. Blantyre strives to be the middle market firm of choice for its partners and investors. For more information, please visit: www.blantyrecapital.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250722275778/en/ Contacts: Media contact OXEA GmbH, Rheinpromenade 4a, 40789 Monheim am Rhein, Germany sc.communications@oxea.com Glass manufacturer saves $2M USD per year; secures connected assets, safeguards IP and improves efficiencies Armis, the cyber exposure management security company, today announced that PGP Glass Private Limited is leveraging Armis Centrix, the Armis Cyber Exposure Management Platform, to secure the design, decoration and production of its premium glass packaging solutions. "The security of manufacturing facilities is essential to keeping society as we know it running effectively," said Yevgeny Dibrov, CEO and Co-Founder, Armis. "In instances of successful manufacturing disruptions, scarcity of essential products often leads to fear and panic buying among individuals, placing further strains on the entire supply chain. We are incredibly proud to do our part to support PGP Glass and look forward to continuing to build on the incredible results we've achieved to the benefit of consumers worldwide." Prior to working with Armis, PGP Glass faced three critical challenges: Seeing, protecting and managing an increasing (60%) number of users and devices (OT, IoT and beyond) within the business environment. This challenge was exacerbated by legacy technology on the network. This challenge was exacerbated by legacy technology on the network. Preventing data leakage and exfiltration of essential Intellectual Property (IP) , such as documentation for making glass molds and customer design files. , such as documentation for making glass molds and customer design files. Ensuring that real-time, reliable data was fed into its energy optimization model, which uses AI and ML to improve efficiency and reduce waste in manufacturing processes. The AI-powered Armis Centrix platform is a critical part of a holistic technology ecosystem leveraged by PGP Glass to monitor, map and relay essential insights from over 10,000 sensors and sources, including OT, IoT, SAP systems and more. These insights span everything from water in the borewell, to the energy in the pit and furnaces. "Being a data-driven manufacturing company, it is of the utmost importance for us to ensure that data on our assets, vulnerabilities and security controls coming in is continuous, secure and uncompromised, and that we know exactly what is happening within our environment in real time," said Sudip Mazumder, Global Chief Digital and Information Officer of PGP Glass. "That is one of the things that Armis does extremely well." With Armis Centrix, PGP Glass has greatly improved its situational awareness of all assets connected to its network, boosting its overall security posture and averting IP exfiltration. With this real-time, contextual and reliable data, PGP Glass has the insights needed to improve production efficiencies and reduce waste in processes. "We are building reliable AI models with this reliable data," continued Mazumder. "That is where Armis is doing its work to ensure the devices are visible and operational parameters are visible, which provides us data reliability. We save substantially every year through our AI ML models based on the reliable data from operations. Hence, it is so important for us to have both the IT and the OT network running properly and securely." "Prior to Armis, we did not have a tool that was strong enough or intelligent enough to provide the comprehensive understanding we needed of all of the assets in our environment," said Amit Jha, General Manager and Global Head IT and Cybersecurity, PGP Glass. "A critical missing piece of the picture previously was operational technology data, but Armis now provides those insights so we have everything we need thanks to their help. The plan is to expand Armis across all our locations." PGP Glass, a Blackstone portfolio company, stands as a quiet packaging force behind the world's most cherished brands. The company has manufacturing facilities in India (Kosamba and Jambusar) and Sri Lanka (Horana) with a manufacturing capacity of 1730 tons per day. Through the 12 furnaces and 70 production lines PGP Glass is dedicated to crafting specialty glass packaging products produced in an increasingly sustainable environment. A one-stop shop for all glass packaging needs, be it designing, advanced mold making or comprehensive decoration services, PGP Glass is one of the global leaders in glass packaging solutions for Cosmetics Perfumery, Specialty Food Beverage and Pharmaceutical industries through constant innovation, consistency in quality and technologically advanced processes. Read the full case study with additional details on PGP Glass and Armis' collaboration here. Learn more about Armis' work with global customers across industries here. About Armis Armis, the cyber exposure management security company, protects the entire attack surface and manages the organization's cyber risk exposure in real time. In a rapidly evolving, perimeter-less world Armis ensures that organizations continuously see, protect and manage all critical assets from the ground to the cloud. Armis secures Fortune 100, 200 and 500 companies as well as national governments, state and local entities to help keep critical infrastructure, economies and society stay safe and secure 24/7. Armis is a privately held company headquartered in California. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250722629434/en/ Contacts: Media Contacts: Rebecca Cradick Vice President, Global Communications Armis pr@armis.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - BeWhere (TSXV: BEW) (OTCQB: BEWFF) ("BeWhere" or the "Company"), a leading provider of low-power IoT tracking solutions, is pleased to announce the release of a new case study featuring California Freight, a prominent U.S. logistics company specializing in the transport of dairy and other liquid food products. This new case study follows BeWhere's June spotlight on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and highlights the growing adoption of scalable, real-time tracking solutions across mission-critical industries. California Freight has integrated BeWhere's solar-powered BeSol and BeSol+ asset trackers across its fleet of semi-tankers to monitor asset location, movement, and condition in real time. Powered by AT&T's LTE-M network, these devices support compliance, reduce manual intervention, and improve operational responsiveness across geographically dispersed fleets. "After equipping our entire fleet with BeWhere trackers, we gained instant visibility into the status of every asset. That visibility has been a game-changer," said Nick Donahoe, Director of Logistics at California Freight. Key Benefits Highlighted in the Case Study: Real-time tracking of tanker location and movement Unauthorized use detection with automated alerts Regulatory compliance support through accurate, cloud-based time/location logs Operational efficiency via remote asset visibility and mileage tracking Incident resolution with verifiable data (e.g., weather delays and route validation) With strict industry regulations and increasing customer expectations, California Freight needed a solution that could deliver reliability, ease of deployment, and cross-network compatibility. BeWhere's intelligent tracking devices meet those needs, supporting a wide range of daily operations and edge cases. The case study highlights three events dealing with incident resolution, operational efficiency and real-time tracking where California Freight was able to realize an immediate validation of its investment. "California Freight is a great example of how real-time, solar-powered asset tracking can transform operations in demanding logistics environments," said Margaux Berry, Chief Strategy Officer at BeWhere. "With AT&T powering our connectivity, we're able to deliver best-in-class uptime and visibility-at scale." California Freight has expanded its use of BeWhere's platform to drive ongoing growth and modernization of its fleet operations. Most recently, the company scaled its future deployment by entering into a 3-year leasing agreement with BeWhere to connect additional trailers. Download Case Study here About BeWhere BeWhere (TSXV: BEW) (OTCQB: BEWFF) specializes in low-power 5G IoT wide-area tracking technology, creating remote monitoring solutions that address cost, power, and environmental challenges. In just 6 years, the company has experienced rapid growth, collaborating with Fortune 500 companies, top resellers and installers to deploy hundreds of thousands of trackers across numerous sectors, including transportation, construction, logistics, utilities, health, and government. BeWhere's tracking solutions are designed to be both cost-effective and simple to implement, significantly expanding the scope of assets that can be connected. These connected devices generate data that powers intelligent AI management platforms. By increasing the number of connected devices, BeWhere enhances the capabilities and growth potential of AI solutions. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations, or beliefs of future performance, are "forward-looking statements". We caution you that such "forward-looking statements" involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual and future events to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to commercial operations, including technology development, anticipated revenues, projected size of market, and other information that is based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. BeWhere Holdings Inc. (the "Company") does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, technology development and marketing activities, the Company's historical experience with technology development, uninsured risks. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company's audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, together with its corresponding Management's discussion and analysis can be found under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.com and on the Company's website at www.bewhere.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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259569 SOURCE: BeWhere Holdings Inc. Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Northern Graphite Corporation (TSXV: NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF) (FSE:0NG) (XSTU: 0NG) (the "Company" or "Northern") is pleased to provide comment on and clarify recent developments in the US critical minerals industry that promote a shift toward domestic sourcing of graphite based active anode material ("AAM"), the largest component of lithium-ion batteries used in everything from power tools to electric vehicles. The U.S. Department of Commerce's ("Commerce") preliminary determination last week that China is dumping AAM into the American market marks a change in the North American battery materials landscape, especially when viewed alongside President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill." In its July 17 determination, Commerce imposed preliminary anti-dumping (AD) tariffs of 93.5% on imports of Chinese graphite-based active anode material, including AAM within finished lithium-ion batteries. The effective tariff rate for AAM is now 160% when added to countervailing duty (CVD) tariffs of 11.5% placed by Commerce in May, President Trump's blanket 30% tariff on goods from China, and 25% Section 301 tariffs implemented by USTR last year. The measures are effective almost immediately and are retroactive, meaning importers must post large cash deposits on recent and future shipments. In a statement posted to its website, Commerce noted the value of AAM imports from China amounted to US$350 million in 2023 and $380 million in 2022. Commerce identified a number of Chinese firms subject to the preliminary 93.5% duties, while others that were not specifically listed and which are not able to demonstrate independence from the Chinese government, will face even higher rates of 102.72%. "Following the recent passing of the Big Beautiful Bill, which already puts pressure on battery manufacturers to source their materials from outside China or risk losing access to the 45X tax credit, this determination increases the likelihood that U.S. battery manufacturers will turn to regional suppliers like Northern," said Northern Chief Executive Officer Hugues Jacquemin. "Together, these developments strongly favour domestic sourcing and represent a historic opportunity for North America's only producer of natural graphite, Northern Graphite. With plans to build one of the region's largest AAM plants in Baie-Comeau, Quebec, Northern is well positioned to support a secure and sustainable graphite supply chain for North America as the market continues to develop." Northern Graphite is a founding member of the North American Graphite Alliance (NAGA), a coalition formed to advance policy and promote investment in a secure domestic graphite supply chain. NAGA has worked actively to engage U.S. policymakers and advocate for trade measures and incentives that support the development of a sustainable and competitive graphite industry that can meet demand from legacy and defense applications and the rapid growth driven by the energy transition and widescale electrification. The antidumping and countervailing duty cases were initiated by the American Active Anode Material Producers (AAAMP), a subset of NAGA, alongside other North American AAM industry petitioners with Commerce and the International Trade Commission (ITC) in December 2024. The anti-dumping investigation determined that AAM is being sold at less than fair value ("dumped"), and follows a separate, countervailing duty (CVD) investigation in which Commerce made a preliminary determination in May that affirmed that the Chinese government is subsidizing the production and supply of graphite AAM to the United States. "While preliminary, this determination carries real and immediate legal weight," said Mr. Jacquemin. "It's a clear signal that efforts to establish a fair and competitive North American graphite industry are gaining traction." The final determinations for both the AD and CVD investigations - which could result in higher tariffs - will be issued around December 5th, 2025. View more on the Commerce determination here: Preliminary Affirmative Determination in the Antidumping Duty Investigation of Active Anode Material from the People's Republic of China. View comments from the AAMP here: AAAMP Welcomes Commerce Ruling That China Is Wrongfully Dumping Graphite Into U.S. - North American Graphite Industry. About Northern Graphite Northern, the only flake graphite producing company in North America, is a Canadian, TSX Venture Exchange listed company that is focused on becoming a world leader in producing natural graphite and upgrading it into high-value products critical to the green economy, including anode material for lithium-ion batteries/EVs, fuel cells and graphene, as well as advanced industrial technologies. The Company's mine-to-battery strategy is spearheaded by its Battery Materials Division, which has a fully equipped, state-of-the-art laboratory in Frankfurt and is focused on developing advanced anode materials to improve the cycle life and increase the charging rate of lithium ion batteries. Northern's graphite assets include the producing Lac des Iles mine in Quebec where the Company plans to increase production to meet growing demand from industrial customers and coming demand from North American battery makers. The Company also owns the large-scale, advanced stage Bissett Creek project in Ontario, the Mousseau Project in Quebec and the fully permitted Okanjande graphite mine in Namibia that is currently on care and maintenance. All projects have "battery quality" graphite and are located close to infrastructure in politically stable jurisdictions. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will", "could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding, among others, the Company's plans to extend the mine life of its LDI mine, develop its Baie-Comeau Battery Anode Material facility, intentions to restart the Okanjande mine in Namibia and development plans for its other projects including Bissett Creek. All such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by management based on their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. However, these statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected including, but not limited to, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of other parties to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure and the failure of ongoing and contemplated studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued studies, development or operations and the inability to raise required financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259585 SOURCE: Northern Graphite Corporation A new distribution agreement expands access to high-performance solar technology for homes and businesses MILAN and BOLOGNA, Italy, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TCL SunPower Global, a leading provider of innovative solar energy solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Comet S.p.A., one of Italy's most established distributors of electrical products and solutions. Through this agreement, Comet will distribute TCL Solar panels in the regions served by the Group, making advanced TCL Solar technology more accessible to installers and customers. This collaboration marks a key milestone in TCL SunPower Global's European expansion and reflects a shared commitment to accelerating Italy's energy transition. TCL SunPower Global will continue to offer SunPower products through its established SunPower partner network, launched in 2008, which has consistently delivered premium solar solutions to residential and commercial customers across Italy since its inception. Building on this solid foundation, the company is now expanding into broader distribution channels under the TCL Solar brand. This new offering introduces value-driven, high-performance products designed to meet the growing demand for accessible clean energy solutions nationwide. A new chapter for solar in Italy Comet, headquartered in Bologna, brings decades of experience in consumer electronics, electrical systems, and energy solutions. With its extensive retail footprint and robust logistics capabilities, Comet is uniquely positioned to deliver TCL Solar products quickly and efficiently to installers across the regions served by the Group and its affiliates. "Partnering with Comet is a natural step forward for us," said Steven Zhang, General Manager of TCL SunPower Global. "This partnership represents more than market expansion-it's about aligning with a distributor that understands the evolving needs of Italian consumers. Comet has a long history of successfully bringing TCL TVs and electronics to Italian households, and with its reach and reputation, we're confident that TCL Solar panels will become a go-to choice for installers seeking performance, style, and dependability." As part of the new agreement, Comet will distribute the full range of TCL Solar panels, providing Italian installers with versatile solutions tailored to every project type and budget. Engineered for dependable energy production and reliable performance, TCL Solar panels feature robust glass-glass construction and come with comprehensive warranties, delivering an optimal balance of efficiency, durability, and value. Designed to perform under real-world conditions, they ensure consistent output across Italy's diverse climates and rooftops. What this agreement means for installers and customers: Faster access - Comet's logistics network ensures timely delivery and high service standards. Comet's logistics network ensures timely delivery and high service standards. Broader choice - Installers can choose from a wide range of TCL Solar solutions to meet diverse customer needs. Installers can choose from a wide range of TCL Solar solutions to meet diverse customer needs. Reliable solutions - Backed by a 25-year warranty from one of the world's leading consumer electronics brands, and developed by industry-leading solar technology experts. Looking ahead "With TCL Solar, we're choosing a partner projected towards the future of renewable energy. TCL solutions combine efficiency, durability, and smart design, perfectly aligned with Comet Group's philosophy of enhancing everyday life through innovation and sustainability," said [Comet Group renewable energies manager, Ivano Benedet]. "This partnership empowers households and businesses to reduce energy costs and gain greater energy independence." This agreement marks the beginning of a new era for solar adoption in Italy - where advanced technology, trusted distribution, and a shared vision for sustainability come together to power progress. To support this momentum, Comet will launch a post-summer tour across its covered regions, inviting installer customers to explore TCL's broad solutions catalogue and take the next step toward smarter, cleaner energy. About TCL SunPower Global TCL SunPower Global, a proud member of the TCL Group, stands at the forefront of pioneering solar energy solutions. As a brand trusted by millions of homeowners, businesses, and energy producers around the globe, we are committed to empowering a sustainable connected future and transforming the way our world is powered. Leveraging our 40 years of experience in solar, we are fast-tracking the transition to clean, renewable energy, ensuring a brighter tomorrow for all. Find more at https://sunpowerglobal.com and on LinkedIn. About Comet Group Comet Group is leader in the electric material distribution in Italy with a long history on its behalf (founded in 1967). Spanning from the center to the north of Italy, the distributor counts more than 130 stores, serving installers, industrial and tertiary sectors in twelve regions and keeps growing. Over the past years the company has developed a structure in the renewable energy market with sales professionals and technicians at all levels. With an accurate selection of qualified suppliers and a wide availability of products in stock, thanks to various centralized warehouses, Comet Group aims to be the partner for their customers capable of offering a large array of solutions. The customer-centric approach is the key to its establishment: sales experts that support, recommend and guide installers through the different markets. The vision of Comet Group is to bring efficiency, competitiveness and support to their network, knowing well that these objectives, as they are meant to be, are part of an evolving process. For media inquiries, please contact: TCL SunPower Global Anna Porta: anna.porta@sunpowerglobal.com Comet Spa Vittorio Perini: vittorio.perini@gruppocomet.it Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2735830/TCL_SunPower_Global_Comet.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2680312/TCL_SunPower_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tcl-sunpower-global-and-comet-spa-partner-to-deliver-tcl-solar-panels-across-italy-302510748.html Strategic Lending Fund 6 is the largest NAV finance fund to date This capital raise demonstrates the continued growth of the overall NAV financing market and increasing adoption among the world's largest and most established buyout managers 17Capital ("the Firm"), the world's largest dedicated NAV finance provider, today announced the final closing of 17Capital Strategic Lending Fund 6, with approximately $5.5 billion of commitments, including co-investment and affiliated vehicles ("Fund 6" or "the Fund"). The Fund follows its predecessor, 17Capital Fund 5, which closed at $2.9 billion in July 2021, and is one of the five largest private credit funds closed so far in 20251. The Firm has now raised $19 billion since its inception. Fund 6 attracted a global, blue-chip investor base comprising pension funds, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, prominent family offices and endowments across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The strength of the support from investors demonstrates the success and acceptance of NAV finance within the private equity industry. It also marks the first fund raised by 17Capital since forming its strategic partnership with global credit specialist Oaktree. Fund 6 has already committed $2.5 billion across ten investments, split evenly between the US and Europe. It is the latest vehicle for 17Capital's Strategic Lending program, which provides non-dilutive, flexible capital solutions to management companies (GPs) to fund larger GP commitments, franchise growth and consolidation and support succession plans. In addition to Strategic Lending, 17Capital also manages a dedicated Credit program focused on providing NAV loans to private equity buyout funds. Since launching its inaugural Credit Fund in 2020, which closed at 2.6 billion, the Firm has deployed $6.7 billion in NAV loans through its Credit program. 17Capital continues to be active in the fund-level financing market, as market adoption of NAV loans continues to increase. Reflecting its sustained philanthropic approach, 17Capital has pledged a percentage of the carried interest earned from the Fund to Epic, a global non-profit organisation fighting to change the lives of disadvantaged youth. The commitment reflects a longstanding initiative that 17Capital launched in 2017 with Fund 4, becoming the first private equity fund to pledge a portion of carried interest to Epic. That commitment continued with Fund 5 and the 17Capital Credit Fund. Pierre-Antoine de Selancy, Managing Partner at 17Capital, said: We are grateful to our investors for their continued trust and support. Reaching the hard cap for Strategic Lending Fund 6 is a significant milestone for 17Capital in our 17th year. It reinforces our position as a leading NAV finance provider and enables us to keep supporting high quality private equity managers as they increasingly use NAV finance at the management company level. Dane Graham, Partner at 17Capital, said: Since opening our New York office in 2016, we have extended our leadership in NAV finance across the US, deploying over $6 billion across more than 30 US investments. This is reflected in Fund 6, where half of the existing portfolio is invested with US managers. We are also encouraged by the strong response from US-based investors, who increasingly view NAV finance as a compelling alternative within an otherwise crowded private credit market. Fokke Lucas, Partner at 17Capital, said: The successful $5.5 billion close of Fund 6 is a strong endorsement of 17Capital and the NAV finance market we have been pioneering since 2008. NAV finance is now firmly established as a standalone asset class within private credit. We are proud to have the continued support of our investors, including those who have partnered with us for 17 years, across the full 17Capital platform, where we have raised $19 billion exclusively for NAV finance to date. About 17Capital 17Capital is a private credit manager specializing in NAV finance for the private equity industry. It specializes in providing non-dilutive capital to high-quality private equity management companies, funds and institutional investors to increase investment capacity and finance strategic initiatives. Investments are structured to support clients' objectives, while keeping the interests of GPs and LPs aligned. Founded in 2008, 17Capital operates primarily from London and New York and has completed 119 investments and 57 exits, raising $19 billion since inception across eight successive funds and mandates. For additional information, please visit 17Capital's website at 17capital.com. 1 Source: Preqin and other publicly available sources. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250722827453/en/ Contacts: 17Capital (US) Prosek Partners Pro-17Capital@prosek.com 17Capital (UK Europe) H/Advisors Maitland 17Capital@h-advisors.global RENO, NEVADA / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Brookmount Gold (sic: Brookmount Explorations, Inc.) (OTC:"BMXI"), a US based gold exploration and production company, is pleased to announce that it has filed, with OTC Markets, its management report and financial statements for the second quarter of 2025. Q2 2025 Financial Highlights: Revenue for three months was $3.75 million, a decrease of 30% from Q2 2024, but up 8% over Q1 2025. This was primarily due to ramping down production earlier this year to make the mining operations more efficient than in 2024 and from an increase in gold inventory held. It is expected that revenue will accelerate significantly during the second half of 2025 and beyond. Operating earnings were significantly higher than for the previous quarter, however, net earnings of $1.2 million (.01 EPS) were impacted by non-recurring charges arising from closing of the Talawaan acquisition. The Company continued increasing its mining workforce and is in the process of expanding the number of shafts in use as it builds towards the target output of twenty-five tonnes of ore per day (450-550 grams/day at current ore grades) by the end of the month. Total Assets increased to $57.39 million compared to $48.90 million at the end of Q2 2024 and $55.51 million at the end of Q1 2025. This is a result of inventory increasing by $1.98 million during the quarter and Property, Plant and Equipment increasing $1.57 million due to investment into additional and more efficient equipment. Total Liabilities decreased from $2.23 million on 5/31/24 to $1.79 million on 5/31/25. This is primarily a result of a 7% reduction in convertible notes. Following the conversion of the previous JV partner receivable to equity "Land Usage Rights" as part of the pricing structure for the acquisition of control of Talawaan, the Company's balance sheet now carries additional value which is not reflected. This is due to the significant difference in the appraised value of the Company's mining assets (over $167 million) and their acquisition price. 2025 Q2 Operational Highlights The company made substantial progress with audit compliance. Shortly after the quarter ended, the company completed its 2021/22 IFRS audit by internationally recognized auditing firm Russell Bedford. The Company anticipates the completion of the 2023/2024 audits next month at which time it will be fully current with financial audits. During the quarter, the company mined, and sold, approximately 35,000 grams (approximately 1200 ounces) of gold. Also, Brookmount's inventory of gold increased as the company anticipates higher prices for gold in the future The company added over thirty five new workers, increasing the tonnage output of the mine significantly. The company plans to continue to regularly add to its labor force resulting in corresponding increases in revenue and profits. The company added to the depth of its mining operation and added additional vertical and horizontal shafts New equipment has eliminated bottlenecks and increased production efficiency and capacity The Company continues to work with SGS Group, the world's leading mining consultant, to identify and access the highest available ore grades For additional information, please visit www.otcmarkets.com for full filing. "We are currently exceeding our financial forecasts and our investments in our mining operations should lead to accelerated cash flow in the near future. With the takeover of the mining operations completed earlier this year, we are seeking to be more efficient and mine a considerably larger area with a larger workforce. While the initial transition to full ownership of the mine during 2025 slowed production, the groundwork for growth has been set. As the price of gold continues to rise and we continue to mine successfully and profitably, the future for the company is bright. We believe the next year will see record revenues and profits for Brookmount," stated Nils Ollquist CEO of Brookmount Gold. A shareholder call is currently being scheduled for Friday, August 1. The purpose of the call will be to discuss recent operational performance and results and to provide a forum for our stakeholders to engage with management. About Brookmount Gold Founded in 2018, Brookmount Gold is a high-growth gold-producing company quoted on OTC Markets in the United States (OTC:BMXI). With operating gold mines in Southeast Asia and exploration and production assets in North America, the company is focused on acquiring and developing high-quality gold assets with JORC/NI 43-101 verified resources. Safe Harbor Statements: Except for the historical information contained herein, certain of the matters discussed in this communication constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "could," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "predict," "project," "future," "potential," "intend," "seek to," "plan," "assume," "believe," "target," "forecast," "goal," "objective," "continue" or the negative of such terms or other variations thereof and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future plans, actions, or events identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding benefits of the proposed license, expected synergies, anticipated future financial and operating performance and results, including estimates of growth. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements included in this communication. For example, the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the pending transaction, including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental and regulatory approvals of the pending transaction that could reduce anticipated benefits or cause the parties to abandon the transaction, the ability to successfully integrate the businesses, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the negotiations, the risk that the parties may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the proposed transaction in a timely manner or at all, risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction, the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of Brookmount's common stock. All such factors are difficult to predict and are beyond our control. We disclaim and do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this report, except as required by applicable law or regulations. Investor Relations Contact: info@chesapeakegp.com or 410 825 3930 Website: https://www.brookmountgold.com Corporate Contact: corporate@brookmountgold.com Social Links: Brookmount Gold X (Formerly Twitter); @BrookmountAu https://x.com/brookmountgold SOURCE: Brookmount Explorations, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/brookmount-gold-announces-financial-results-for-second-quarter-fiscal-2025-1051290 The challenge will invite students to design a social impact program Finalists will present to a panel of judges for a chance to win prizes totaling $17,500 EL CERRITO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Net Impact announced the launch of the Community Innovation Challenge, a global case competition that seeks innovative ideas that leverage Cisco's technology to drive social impact and positive business outcomes. The global competition invites students around the world to learn about how social impact programs drive meaningful business outcomes for corporations. Prospective participants are invited to join a virtual program launch call in September learn how Cisco approaches its social impact work. Final submissions are due in October, and in December, five finalist teams will present their social impact program designs to a panel of judges, including representatives from Cisco. The first-place team will be awarded $10,000, followed by $5,000 for second place and $2,500 for third place. "This collaboration couldn't have come at a better time. Corporations like Cisco are in a powerful position to teach student leaders how corporations can both give back to the communities where they reside while also driving business growth," said Karen Johns, CEO of Net Impact. "We're proud to work with Cisco on this program as a leader in corporate responsibility and a leader in technology and innovation." Net Impact manages and facilitates the program by bringing together its global network of emerging social impact and sustainability leaders at colleges and universities worldwide and supporting participants throughout the program experience. With more than 10 years of experience building and executing experiential education opportunities such as the Community Innovation Challenge, Net Impact specializes in equipping business leaders to address social challenges, protect the environment, develop new concepts, and leverage the tools of business toward the greater good. More information about the Community Innovation Challenge, including participant eligibility and how to apply, can be found at netimpact.org/programs/community-innovation-challenge. About Net Impact Net Impact, one of the largest and oldest global member organizations focused on impact, engages over 50,000 students and professionals annually. With almost 300 chapters in over 40 countries, our members are pursuing impactful careers and impactful lives across diverse industries, including business, sustainability, and social impact fields. Net Impact engages its global chapter community in experiential education-focused programming, convenings, and civic and community engagement projects. Net Impact is committed to using business as a force for good and building the capacity of the next generation of workforce members. Visit www.netimpact.org. CONTACT: Net Impact Hilary Manzo, Associate Director of Programs Phone: 415-495-4230 x369 Email: hmanzo@netimpact.org View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Net Impact on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Net Impact Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/net-impact Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Net Impact View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/net-impact-announces-global-case-competition-on-social-impact-an-1051303 Collaboration addresses growing maritime challenges to safety of navigation and visibility of high-value assets in degraded and compromised GPS/GNSS environments MANASSAS, Va. and LYSAKER, Norway, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NAL Research, a U.S.-based pioneer in Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (APNT) solutions, together with SGM Technology AS (SGM), a leader in maritime technology solutions for commercial shipping and fishing, and Tschudi Shipping Company, a leader in maritime-related services and logistics, today announced a strategic collaboration to deliver a resilient navigation and tracking product line for the commercial shipping industry enabled by Iridium's low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network. This partnership responds to the urgent need for reliable asset tracking and assured navigation in high-risk maritime environments. Threats to Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals, such as jamming, spoofing, and interference, are reaching unprecedented levels worldwide. In some regions, maritime authorities reported a 350% increase in affected vessels over the past six months, according to NorthStandard. These disruptions are leading to serious consequences, including collisions, delays, financial impacts on global trade, and heightened security risks for crews at sea. Under the partnership agreement, the companies are leveraging NAL Research's 25+ years of expertise in APNT, tracking, and connectivity to develop solutions built on the Iridium PNT service, a powerful and fully authenticated L-band signal resilient to spoofing and jamming. The partnership will also benefit from SGM's 15+ years of experience delivering technology to the commercial maritime sector and Tschudi Shipping Company's global presence and 140+ years in commercial shipping and logistics. Together, the collaboration aims to provide maritime users with unmatched resilience and reliable navigation for GPS/GNSS-compromised environments. Trials of this state-of-the-art solution are currently underway. "Protection against GPS vulnerabilities is no longer a nice-to-have, but a necessity to ensure operational success and asset safety," said NAL Research President, Robert Bills. "Through this collaborative effort, we are aiming to achieve complete global situational awareness and increase safety at sea for our commercial maritime customers, even in the most remote and challenging situations." "In today's maritime landscape, the threat of GPS jamming and spoofing is no longer theoretical-it's a growing reality. Ensuring navigational safety is critical, not just for protecting cargo and vessels, but for safeguarding the lives of seafarers who rely on precise and trustworthy systems every day," said Steffen Grefsgard, CEO, SGM Technology AS. "At SGM Technology, we are committed to developing robust solutions that help mitigate these risks and maintain the integrity of maritime operations." "As a fifth-generation shipping company, we've witnessed the evolution of maritime navigation, but never before have we faced technological threats like GPS jamming and spoofing," said Felix Tschudi, Chairman, Tschudi Group. "These disruptions pose a serious risk to vessel safety, crew welfare, and the reliability of global trade routes. The industry must act collectively to address these vulnerabilities to protect maritime personnel and assets." "We're proud to support our valued partners to enable this vital service in the critically important maritime markets," said Iridium Vice President of PNT, Rohit Braggs. "Iridium PNT-enabled technologies are available today and provide trusted location services for high-value assets-and more importantly, help to keep mariners safe." To learn more about this partnership and for initial inquiries about its combined APNT offering, reach out to sales@nalresearch.com. ABOUT NAL RESEARCH NAL Research is a pioneer in delivering trusted and resilient connectivity and PNT solutions - designed to meet the dynamic communications, data intelligence, location, and timing needs of the future. In 2024, NAL Research and Blue Sky Network strategically merged to optimize operations and provide a diverse enterprise and government customer base with transformative solutions and enhanced service and support. NAL and Blue Sky Network's combined portfolio now includes emerging satellite and mobile technology products, satellite-based tracking systems, powerful APNT modules, intelligent software applications, IoT tracking, and two-way devices enabling seamless global connectivity. For more information visit www.nalresearch.com. ABOUT SGM Technology SGM Technology has been delivering innovative solutions to the maritime industry for over a decade. The company specializes in developing advanced reporting and tracking systems for sectors such as commercial fishing, the seismic industry and other maritime operations. SGM's core focus is solving client challenges in a productive, efficient and results-driven manner. With a commitment to technological innovation and customer-centric development, SGM Technology continues to support the maritime sector with reliable, forward-thinking solutions. For more information visit www.sgm-tech.com. ABOUT TSCHUDI SHIPPING COMPANY Tschudi Shipping Company AS is a family-owned shipping and logistics company with its roots back to 1883. The head office is at Lysaker Norway with subsidiaries in several European countries and in Mozambique. The group has through generations been known for its entrepreneurship and for finding new solutions to new and old maritime challenges. Recognizing that electronic warfare and vulnerable data security is an increasing threat to the maritime industry, Tschudi Shipping Company AS is excited to be working together with NAL Research and SGM Technology to use their already proven solutions combined and adapted to create a new solution tailormade for secure navigation and communication for the maritime industry. For more information visit www.tschudigroup.com. Media Contacts: NAL Research media@nalresearch.com SGM Technology hello@sgmtech.no Tschudi Group hello@tschudigroup.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1738149/NAL_Research_Logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2735941/NAL_Research_SGM_Technology_Tschudi_Shipping.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nal-research-sgm-technology-as-and-tschudi-shipping-company-partner-to-deliver-resilient-navigation-and-tracking-solution-for-commercial-maritime-vessels-302510798.html LR Health Beauty SE announces that Mr Jorg Korfer has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He will take over the responsibilities of the previous members of the Management Board, Dr Andreas Laabs and Andreas Grootz, with effect from 1 August 2025. Both gentlemen will leave the company by mutual agreement on 31 July 2025. In order to further strengthen the management team in the future, the Supervisory Board is exploring options for another complementary member of the Management Board. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250722003136/en/ Jorg Korfer, CEO LR Health Beauty SE Jorg Korfer has extensive expertise in global direct sales from his many years of management experience with international companies. Among other things, he spent 14 years at Vorwerk (CEO Kobold and CEO Thermomix) and served as Chairman of the Advisory Board at Bofrost for six years, as well as acting as CEO in an advisory capacity. He will now bring this experience to LR and continue to exploit the full potential of Europe's leading social commerce platform in line with the strategy that has been pursued. The Supervisory Board would like to express its sincere thanks to the two departing members of the Management Board for their trust and dedication. Under Dr Laabs' leadership in particular, LR has developed excellently over the past eleven years and is ideally positioned to enter its next phase of growth. Since joining LR in 2014, Dr Laabs has played a key role in shaping the company and successfully transformed LR from a traditional direct sales model into a globally active social commerce company. The key milestones of his tenure include the digitalisation of the business model, several of LR's most successful product launches, and infrastructure projects such as the insourcing of Aloe Vera Drinking Gels in 2018 and the opening of the IT hub in Athens, all of which have contributed significantly to LR's current position. Andreas Grootz is leaving the company after fourteen years. He established capital market-compatible governance structures at LR and drove forward the opening of new markets. The Supervisory Board is confident that Mr Korfer is the right successor to LR to continue the success story started by Dr Laabs and his team. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250722003136/en/ Contacts: Public Relations: LR Global Holding Almut Kellermeyer Head of Corporate Communication Kruppstrae 55 59227 Ahlen Tel.: +49(0)2382 7658-106 Email: a.kellermeyer@LRworld.com MANCHESTER, England, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- New research from Peninsula Group shows the impact that mental health is having on small and medium-sized businesses around the world. The global HR, employment law and health & safety consultancy surveyed 79,000 businesses across Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK, revealing the strain that both leaders and employees are feeling. Alan Price, Chief Operations Officer at Peninsula Group, says, "Employers have a duty of care to safeguard the wellbeing of their people. However, the pressures that employers themselves feel can often be overlooked. 1 in 7 UK employers surveyed reported experiencing poor mental health over the last year. And when they're struggling, who do they turn to? "Interestingly, while 69% of employers surveyed have an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in place, only 5% of those who experienced mental ill-health over the last 12 months sought support from it. 23% spoke to friends and family and 14% spoke to their GP. "It's certainly encouraging to see an overall decline in mental health-related absences in our survey results; however, an overwhelming majority of respondents (76%) say they are not fully confident that their employees would disclose mental health concerns. That's a huge figure, and it's clear that more still needs to be done by employers to help bring this number down. "Whilst the onus isn't solely on the employer, this tells us that mental health stigma is still very much present in the workplace, and more work still needs to be done to reduce it. "It's clear that progress is being made - many employers are taking steps to support staff, but our data shows there is still plenty of opportunity to expand that support further. Even small changes, like basic training for managers, can make a big difference." Key findings include: 1 in 3 employers globally saw increased sickness absence due to mental health over the last 12 months employers globally saw increased sickness absence due to mental health over the last 12 months Canada and Ireland have seen the lowest increased rates of absences related to mental health; Australia saw the largest increase Irish and Canadian employers are the least confident that employees would discuss mental health issues with them - 1 in 3 employers in each country said they were either 'unsure' or 'not confident'. employers in each country said they were either 'unsure' or 'not confident'. The UK is leading the way when it comes to mental health support in the workplace Employers in New Zealand are most likely, with UK and Irish employers least likely, to take time off due to mental ill health Employees in Canada are least likely to speak up if they are struggling with their mental health 78% of employers do not feel very confident that employees would disclose a mental health condition of employers do not feel very confident that employees would disclose a mental health condition Only 20% of employers globally offer mental health days in addition to annual leave of employers globally offer mental health days in addition to annual leave 1 in 7 UK SME owners and managers have experienced mental health issues in the last 12 months UK SME owners and managers have experienced mental health issues in the last 12 months 1 in 5 UK workplaces have a mental health first aider in place, compared with 1 in 8 globally UK workplaces have a mental health first aider in place, compared with globally Around 1 in 10 workplaces globally plan to introduce mental health first aiders within the next 12 months Mental health days Our data found that Canadian employers are most likely to offer mental health days in addition to personal leave entitlement. In comparison, 85% of employers in the UK, 83% in Ireland, 73% in New Zealand and 72% in Australia do not offer mental health days or plan to introduce them in the next 12 months. One employer commented "I do not intend to offer additional leave for 'mental health days' - that would increase the strain on the remaining employees as well as increase costs we can't recover." The stigma around mental health remains Some employees surveyed expressed strong feelings towards mental health issues, some of which continue to perpetuate the stigma around mental health. Comments such as "Mental health has become a bit of an excuse......... Of course, there are genuine cases - but there seem to be an awful lot of people jumping on a bandwagon......" and "Obsessing over mental health creates insecurity, fearfulness and is also emasculating", show there is still work to be done when it comes to employers having fundamental education around mental health and the ways in which work, and workplace culture, can cause or worsen issues for their people. Where is the disconnect? Bertrand Stern-Gillet, CEO at HA Wisdom Wellbeing - part of the Peninsula Group, says, "Globally, over half of the leaders surveyed (55%) noticed more open discussions about mental health at work over the last 12 months. 48% have observed employees, as well as themselves, prioritising work-life balance. "This begs the question, why are so many leaders not confident their employees would disclose if they were struggling with a mental health issue? If conversations are more open, and work-life balance is on the rise, then where is the disconnect? "Are the measures being put in place by employers to help manage mental health in the workplace actually being embedded into workplaces or just a tick box exercise? "Worryingly, our data also shows that 51% of respondents have no plans to introduce support measures such as mental health training, EAPs, or mental health first aiders to their workplace in the next twelve months. It remains to be seen what impact this will have." Notes to editor Download the full whitepaper HERE Alan Price, COO at Peninsula Group Global, and Bertrand Stern-Gillet, CEO at HA Wisdom Wellbeing, are available for interview. Method of survey The survey was conducted from 12-23 May 2025 across Peninsula Group's global client base. About Peninsula Group Across the globe, Peninsula Group supports employers through their toughest workplace challenges. Each day, small business owners face hurdles of all different sizes. From HR to health & safety, technology to tax advice, the Peninsula Group companies have got you covered, providing familiar reassurance, expert knowledge, and practical solutions to keep you compliant. It's how more than 135,000 employers around the world reduce their legal risk and free up more time for their business. www.peninsulagroupglobal.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/a-quarter-of-smes-unsure-whether-employees-would-discuss-mental-health-issues-global-survey-by-peninsula-group-finds-302510800.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Originally published on 3M News Center 3M's vehicle wrap demonstration was a popular stop at the recent SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta. Students interested in the skilled trades, as well as their parents and instructors, watched as Jody Frego smoothed the tiny bubbles and wrinkles in the vehicle wrap, leaving behind a smooth, sleek surface on the car. Frego runs a 3M-authorized training facility in Phoenix called Full Circle Wrap Training, where he offers a variety of hands-on classes teaching wrap design and installation to both beginners and experienced installers. He also strives to help students get into his line of business by going to classrooms in the Phoenix area to talk about the work he does and the need for highly skilled workers to install wraps on cars, windows, and buildings. "We've gone from a niche business to a full-blown industry," Frego said. "There are new applications, like architectural films, that open doors to other industries. We need people to keep up with this growth." The need for more workers to fill skilled trades positions is something that a lot of industries, including manufacturing, are keeping their eyes on right now. The National Association of Manufacturers reports that the skilled trades gap could result in?2.1 million unfilled manufacturing jobs by 2030.?? 3M's commitment to helping close that coming gap includes efforts to interest students in these well-paying careers as early as middle and high school.??? 3M's collaboration with SkillsUSA and its participation in the National Leadership and Skills Conference is one way the company is helping address the future need for more workers in the skilled trades. 3M is also working to support skilled trades through community partnerships and workforce training initiatives. "This partnership is part of a broader commitment we've had at 3M to our communities," Michael Stroik, 3M's vice president of community impact, told NYSE TV. "Last year alone, we invested over $56 million back into local communities where we operate. The 3M and Skills USA partnership was established to bridge the gap between industry needs It's a win-win for business and community outcomes." Stroik, while acknowledging the concern over the looming gap in skilled trades, also sees positive moves in preparing more young people to enter the skilled trades. "We want students to have access to cutting-edge technologies, preparing them for successful careers and inspiring the next generation of skilled workers," Stroik said. "We aim to foster a generation of leaders equipped with the necessary skills to drive progress in their communities." View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from 3M on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: 3M Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/3m Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: 3M View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/national-leadership-and-skills-conference-spotlights-3ms-efforts-1051313 Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Digital Silk, an award-winning agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites, and digital marketing campaigns, has released new insights into the evolving role of word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing in today's digital economy. The analysis, published in Digital Silk's recent article, outlines how referrals, reviews, and social sharing may support trust and engagement for U.S. brands in 2025. Digital Silk Shares Latest Insights on How Word-of-Mouth Marketing May Influence Consumer Behavior in 2025 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10732/259622_ced4be1b54fe5b14_001full.jpg According to a Nielsen study, 92% of U.S. consumers trust personal recommendations more than advertising, while 88% say they trust online reviews as much as word-of-mouth from friends. These findings emphasize the need for businesses to prioritize strategies that encourage organic customer advocacy across multiple platforms. Social Sharing, Reviews, and Referrals Driving Purchase Behavior As part of its research, Digital Silk analyzed how WOM strategies are potentially influencing purchase decisions and customer retention. The findings suggest that digital reviews and influencer partnerships are playing a growing role in brand discovery and loyalty. "Word-of-mouth is no longer limited to in-person conversations-it happens online, in reviews, and across social channels," said Gabriel Shaoolian, CEO of Digital Silk. "Our goal is to help brands harness this trust-driven channel in measurable, scalable ways." Why Word-of-Mouth Marketing Remains a Strategic Priority With customer acquisition costs rising across paid channels, WOM marketing offers an alternative approach that can potentially drive long-term value. Research cited in Digital Silk's article shows that: Customers acquired through referrals have a 37% higher retention rate 74% of consumers identify word-of-mouth as a key influencer in purchase decisions 72% of users say they'll share a good experience with six or more people Online reviews may influence purchasing decisions for up to 93% of buyers These insights are helping inform strategies for SEO, influencer marketing, loyalty programs, and referral campaign development. Supporting Data from U.S.-Based Sources Digital Silk's insights are based on data from Nielsen, BrightLocal, Invesp, Statista, and Semrush. The full breakdown of findings and supporting statistics is available in the original article: Word-of-Mouth Marketing Statistics About Digital Silk Digital Silk is an award-winning Digital Marketing Agency focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, we create digital experiences through strategic branding, custom web design, and digital marketing services to help improve visibility and support engagement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259622 SOURCE: Digital Silk BEIJING, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2025 International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS) officially kicked off on July 13 at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, gathering the world's brightest scientific minds for a landmark two-week conference. The event brings together four Fields Medalists, three Nobel Laureates, and two Turing Award winners, including Shing-Tung Yau and Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, alongside more than 80 academicians and nearly 1,000 researchers from leading global institutions. President of Tsinghua University Li Luming warmly welcomed scientists from around the world. He emphasized that the ICBS has evolved into a premier platform for global scientists to engage in dialogue and deepen collaboration. Tsinghua University will continue to support Professor Shing-Tung Yau's efforts to advance basic science, and will work together with scientists from all countries to strengthen fundamental research, drive scientific and technological innovation, promote socio-economic development, and jointly create a better future for humanity. Shing-Tung Yau - ICBS President, Fields Medalist, and Chair Professor at Tsinghua University - highlighted recent breakthroughs in mathematics, physics, and information science. He believes a new era driven by theoretical breakthroughs and technological innovations may be dawning. Six trailblazing scientists-Samuel C.C. Ting, Steven Chu, David Gross, Robert Tarjan, Shigefumi Mori, and George Lusztig-were honored with the 2025 Basic Science Lifetime Award, the most prestigious award honoring scientists' contributions to fundamental science. The Congress also awarded 118 Frontiers of Science Awards (FSA) across mathematics, physics, and information science, with winners from over 20 countries. Global AI leaders OpenAI and Meta's FAIR team were also among the recipients. The ICBS was initiated by Shing-Tung Yau in 2023 and is held annually with the theme "Advancing Science for Humanity". Over the next two weeks, nearly 1,000 scholars and students-including over 400 world-leading scientists-will gather at the Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications. Over 500 sessions will cover mathematics, physics, and information science and engineering, with a focus on cutting-edge AI research, interdisciplinary innovation, and frontier theoretical breakthroughs. Beyond academic exchange, ICBS emphasized youth engagement through a diverse range of activities, including the "Tsinghua Day" special event on July 19th. ICBS 2025 celebrates international collaboration and academic exchange in global scientific advancement. "Science thrives on collaboration," said Yau. "This is where the next era of discovery begins." View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-2025-international-congress-of-basic-science-opens-in-beijing-302510857.html LAGOS, Nigeria, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Since her appointment as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc on January 1, 2021, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe has delivered a clear strategic direction that continues to drive exceptional shareholder value, operational performance, and sustainable growth. Under Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe's leadership, Fidelity Bank reported landmark results for the Full Year 2024, marking a pivotal milestone in the institution's growth trajectory. According to the bank's 2024 audited financial statements, Profit Before Tax (PBT) rose by 210% year-on-year to ?385.2 billion. Gross Earnings grew by 87.7% to ?1.04 trillion, bolstered by a 106.9% increase in interest and similar income, which reached ?950.6 billion. Fidelity Bank also recorded a 47.9% increase in customer deposits, which rose from ?4.0 trillion in FY 2023 to ?5.9 trillion in FY 2024. Loans and advances expanded by 41.9% from ?3.1 trillion to ?4.4 trillion within the same period, further reinforcing the institution's role in supporting economic growth through increased lending. The bank's strong momentum continued into Q1 2025, with PBT reaching ?105.8 billion, reflecting a 167.8% year-on-year increase. Gross earnings for the quarter stood at ?315.4 billion, representing a 64.2% rise from Q1 2024, driven by growth across interest and non-interest income streams. Despite challenging macroeconomic conditions, Fidelity Bank has demonstrated operational resilience and sound risk management. Under Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe's guidance, the bank has significantly improved brand equity. A recent Brand Finance report ranked Fidelity Bank as the fastest-growing Nigerian brand, with its brand value more than tripling. Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe was also named among the 2024 Most Influential Global Top 100 Export and International Trade Leaders, recognizing her contribution to expanding Nigeria's trade and export financing capabilities. During her tenure, Fidelity Bank has received multiple awards, including Export Finance Bank of the Year (2023 BAFI Awards), Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023, and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 (Global Banking and Finance Awards). The bank was also recognized by Euromoney for Best Bank for SMEs (2023) and Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria (2023). Fidelity Bank under Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe continues to deliver strong financial performance, enhance stakeholder value, and execute on a growth-focused strategic agenda. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2736049/Fidelity_Bank_Dr_Nneka.jpg Contact: Temilloluwa Sobowale, temi@intelligentinteractiveltd.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fidelity-bank-delivers-record-growth-under-dr-nneka-onyeali-ikpes-strategic-leadership-302510871.html ABILENE, TX / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / The world knows them as bucket trucks, boom trucks, basket cranes, or "cherry pickers." In the industry, names vary-but not all high-reach access solutions are created equal. As the demands of utility, infrastructure, and construction grow more complex, legacy and retrofitted equipment are showing their limitations in safety, precision, and efficiency. In response, Blade Platforms-one of the nation's premier providers of truck-mounted aerial work platforms (AWPs / MEWPs)-is launching a new educational campaign aimed at raising awareness about modern access solutions designed to elevate safety, performance, and value. Petr Bartusek, Commercial Vice President of Blade Platforms, says the campaign will highlight the importance of choosing technology that's purpose-built-not retrofitted from older lifting systems-to meet the needs of today's workforce. "Safety drives every decision we make," Bartusek said. "But we also understand that operational efficiency and service matter. Our platform solutions are built for modern challenges, and our campaign will highlight why the industry must raise its standards-and how Blade already does." The campaign will include weekly blog content published at https://www.bladeplatforms.com, along with periodic media releases and insights focused on safety, productivity, and total cost of ownership. Blade Platforms maintains key deployment hubs in New York, Illinois, Texas, and California to serve clients across North America. Its fleet of truck-mounted aerial work platforms-engineered for jobs above 150 feet-deliver unmatched height, precision, and mobility in the most challenging elevated work scenarios. Blade is widely recognized as a U.S. leader in aerial work platform innovation and reliability. Media Contact: Petr Bartusek Commercial Vice President (855) BLADE-US info@bladeplatforms.com SOURCE: Blade Platforms View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/utilities/blade-platforms-launches-educational-campaign-on-safe-purpose-built-high-lift-equipment-1051315 Cascale members receive exclusive briefing on recent global policy shifts NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Cascale has published its Q2 2025 Global Legislative Update, the latest installment in its quarterly series. Covering developments from April to June 2025, the report details and assesses the impact of policy shifts across major markets-including the United States, the European Union (EU), and the Asia-Pacific region-that are shaping the future of sustainability in the consumer goods sector. These include developments in extended producer responsibility (EPR), corporate sustainability reporting, climate-related disclosure, and circular economy policy. Below is a snapshot of key takeaways from the full report, which is available exclusively to Cascale members via the members-only platform Cascale Connect. Key Insights In Q2, the UnitedStates federal and state policies moved in opposite directions. While the Trump administration continued efforts to roll back environmental and energy efficiency standards, states like Maryland and Washington advanced new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws. At the federal level, bipartisan lawmakers launched the Recommerce Caucus, signaling ongoing support for circular business models. In Europe, the EU focused on improving market efficiency and sustainability. A key development was the Council's approval of the 'Stop-the-clock' directive, part of the EU Omnibus Package, which aims to simplify corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements. Member States must transpose the directive into national law by the end of 2025. The EU also introduced a new Single Market Strategy and updates to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The European Commission introduced a benchmarking system to assess deforestation risk by country, adopted a five-year work plan for ecodesign and energy labeling - with textiles as a priority product category - and welcomed a new Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for apparel and footwear. The Commission also signaled plans to withdraw the Green Claims Directive, creating uncertainty around its future. France approved revisions to its fast fashion law, potentially introducing a new eco-score system and ad bans for ultra-fast fashion brands. In the Asia-Pacific region, momentum continued toward ISSB-aligned sustainability reporting. MainlandChina released draft climate disclosure guidelines aligned with international frameworks and introduced its first unified environmental code. Taiwan, Province of China, formally approved ambitious third-phase carbon reduction goals. Meanwhile, Pakistan proposed a draft Textiles and Apparel Policy 2025-30 to boost global competitiveness through regulatory simplification. Stay Up to Date Cascale's Policy & Public Affairs team is committed to helping members stay informed and prepared through continuous policy monitoring, expert publications, targeted advocacy, and member-only events. These efforts provide members with timely, actionable insights to navigate regulatory change and align with evolving global expectations. As an example of this work, Cascale recently hosted the EU Omnibus Simplification Package Webinar, offering an in-depth analysis of proposed changes to EU sustainability reporting rules. Read the full recap here. The full Q2 2025 Global Legislative Update is now available on Cascale Connect. Stay informed-subscribe to our newsletter for the latest Cascale updates, events, and public affairs activities. Not yet a member? Explore Cascale membership today. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cascale on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Cascale Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cascale Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Cascale View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/cascale-publishes-update-on-global-policy-shaping-the-future-of-1051422 A collaborative emissions reduction and electrification program helps EnerSys cut fossil fuels, save on energy costs and realize strategic benefits. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Trane Technologies is helping solve our customers' big challenges by innovating and delivering solutions that are better for their business and for the environment. Through our Gigaton Challenge, we aim to reduce 1 gigaton of GHG emissions from our customers' footprints by 2030. Project At-a-Glance: The opportunity: Drive emissions reductions and increase electrification across the entire EnerSys facilities portfolio Eliminate Scope 1 emissions company-wide by 2040 Significantly reduce facility energy costs while optimizing operations The solution: A customized enterprise-wide decarbonization program focused on electrification Planned energy optimization upgrades at EnerSys Warrensburg, Mo., Richmond, Ky., and Reading, Penn. Sustainability outcomes: 2,000+ mtCO2e operational emissions reductions EnerSys is a leading battery manufacturer for industrial applications with a global manufacturing footprint. The proven reliability and durability of EnerSys' solutions have made the company a trusted provider of clean energy storage, increasingly essential for manufacturers worldwide. This has also made EnerSys a critical player in the global effort to reduce emissions. A leader in sustainable business Driven by a commitment to building a more sustainable future, EnerSys launched an ambitious initiative to achieve company-wide Scope 1 carbon neutrality by 2040. This goal was motivated by multiple factors, including the desire to improve operational efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of its manufacturing and distribution processes, particularly given that EnerSys' products and services are critical to the low-carbon transition. To accomplish this, they collaborated with Trane to create a comprehensive decarbonization program, which was ultimately recognized with an Environment + Energy Leader Award for Energy Innovation. Key members of the project team included Christina Sivulka, EnerSys Global Sustainability Senior Manager; Sam Shiroff, EnerSys Senior Director of Global Sustainability; and Trevor Joelson, Trane Energy & Decarbonization Services Account Executive. "We focused on Scope 1 emissions because we understand that electrification is a key to decarbonization," said Shiroff. "The batteries we make can also play a key role in decarbonizing electricity by increasing the amount of renewable energy that can be used." Expanding electrification The two companies began the collaborative program with a strong goal: to reduce fossil fuel emissions and expand electrification across the EnerSys facilities portfolio. The project began with a thorough evaluation of all EnerSys facilities and operations. The results of that evaluation were then used to gauge the company's overall fossil fuel use, identify immediate opportunities for reducing fossil fuel consumption, and create a roadmap for the company's transition to alternative energy sources.? "Some of the critical value Trane brought to EnerSys in the early phases of the project was helping to identify and prioritize opportunities with the highest ROI from both a financial and a carbon reduction perspective," said Trevor Joelson, Energy & Decarbonization Services Account Executive at Trane. "Trane's biggest advantage in this regard is our platform." The Trane platform consists of a centralized group of resources created specifically to help support customers through every phase of their decarbonization journey. Those resources are combined according to the individual customer's need into unique programs made up of several mission-aligned solutions, each of which is delivered on the customer's timetable. "The best part for the customer," said Joelson, "is that program design and advisory phases come at zero cost, making it an easy first step." Incorporating digital enablement That advisory phase led to a multi-step equipment electrification program that kicked off in 2023 with an automation and controls upgrade at the EnerSys battery manufacturing plant in Warrensburg, Missouri. The upgrade resulted in an operational emissions reduction of over 2,000 mtCO2e, and approximately $240,000 in annual energy savings. The upgrades have yielded dramatic emissions reductions overall. In the process, EnerSys has also realized significant cost savings. For example, by collaborating with local utility providers for the Warrensburg controls project, EnerSys realized an estimated $300,000 in rebates, which helped pay for the implementation. The benefits of the upgrades don't stop there, however. The facility improvements EnerSys has made are also paying off in the form of optimized production, increased safety and improved indoor environmental quality (IEQ). What's next The Warrensburg upgrade will be followed by a boiler, compressed air, and domestic hot water upgrade at the EnerSys plant in Richmond, Kentucky, and a comprehensive energy optimization initiative at EnerSys headquarters in Reading, Pennsylvania. In coming years, more facility upgrades are expected to help the company realize both Scope 2 neutrality and a full clean energy transition by 2050. The initiative has also helped cement the position of EnerSys as a climate technology innovator. Among the recognition the company has received is a 2025 WISE (Women in Smart Energy) Award, which was given to EnerSys Global Sustainability Senior Manager Christina Sivulka at the Smart Energy Decisions (SED) Neto Zero Forum in April. "We're proving that sustainability isn't a trade-off, but rather a strategic advantage and a smart business strategy," said Sivulka. "By prioritizing our carbon reduction goals, we're unlocking a world of previously unseen efficiencies and savings, confirming that sustainability isn't just a commitment, but a catalyst for innovation and growth." "We expect this engagement to be a model for other long-term decarbonization programs," said Joelson. "More and more manufacturers are realizing that if they want to reach their net-zero goals by 2040 or 2050, they had better start now. The electrified, low-carbon, sustainable future isn't coming someday, it's here now. Trane can help turn their decarbonization commitments into reality." Learn more about this story. Explore how we are growing through sustainability and innovation in our 2024 Sustainability Report. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Trane Technologies on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Trane Technologies Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/trane-technologies Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Trane Technologies View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/consumer-and-retail-products/innovating-for-impact-decarbonization-is-smart-business-strategy-for-e-1051423 KEY FIGURES OF DASSAULT AVIATION CONSOLIDATED DATA H1 2025 H1 2024 Order intake EUR 8,075 million 26 Rafale Export 8 Falcon EUR 5,134 million 18 Rafale Export 11 Falcon Adjusted net sales EUR 2,847million 7 Rafale incl. 4 Export and 3 France 12 Falcon EUR 2,538 million 6 Rafale France 12 Falcon as of June 30, 2025 as of December 31, 2024 Backlog EUR 48,290 million 239 Rafale incl. 186 Export and 53 France 75 Falcon EUR 43,224 million 220 Rafale incl.164 Export and 56 France 79 Falcon H1 2025 H1 2024 Adjusted operating income Adjusted operating margin EUR 180 million 6.3% of net sales EUR 170 million 6.7% of net sales Self-funded Research and Development EUR 182 million EUR 200 million Adjusted net income Adjusted net margin EUR 386 million 13.6% of net sales EUR 442 million 17.4% of net sales as of June 30, 2025 as of December 31, 2024 Available cash EUR 9,547 million EUR 8,434 million Recorded headcount 14,682 14,589 N.B. : Dassault Aviation recognizes Rafale Export contracts in their entirety (incl. the Thales and Safran parts), Net income for the 1st half of 2025 includes the tax surcharge in France of EUR 67 million. Main aggregates under IFRS (see tables of reconciliation in appendix) Consolidated net sales EUR 2,854 million EUR 2,538 million Consolidated operating income EUR 186 million EUR 169 million Consolidated net income EUR 334 million EUR 476 million Saint-Cloud, July 22nd, 2025 - The Board of Directors, which met today, under the chairmanship of Mr. Eric Trappier, approved the 2025 half year financial statement. The Statutory Auditors have performed a limited review of these consolidated financial statements and have expressed an unqualified opinion. At the end of the Board meeting, Eric Trappier said: "The commercial success of the Rafale was strengthened with the signing and entry into force in the 1st half of India's acquisition contract of 26 Rafale Marine to equip the Indian Navy. India will be the first user outside France of the Rafale Marine. Since the beginning of the program, 533 Rafale have been ordered, including 323 for export. The backlog set a new record at June 30, 2025, at EUR 48.3 billion (including 314 aircraft: 186 Rafale Export, 53 Rafale France and 75 Falcon). Net sales for the 1st half of 2025 was EUR 2.8 billion, up 12% compared with the 1st half of 2024. 7 Rafale (4 Rafale Export and 3 Rafale France) and 12 Falcon were delivered. Operating income increased by 6% compared with the 1st half of 2024, to EUR 180 million. Net income for the 1st half of 2025 was EUR 386 million, down by EUR 56 million, compared with the 1st half of 2024. This net income includes the tax surcharge in France of EUR 67 million. Military and budgetary contexts create uncertainty for business activity and results. Regarding the tariffs, Dassault Aviation is awaiting the final outcome of negotiations between the United States and Europe, the result of which could impact our Falcon activity. This 1st half of 2025 saw: the delivery of 7 Rafale (4 Rafale Export and 3 Rafale France) and 12 Falcon, the signing on April 28, 2025 and the entry into force on May 7, 2025 of India's acquisition contract of 26 Rafale Marine to equip the Indian Navy, the order for 8 Falcon, the continuation of development work of the Rafale and the F5 standard risk clearance notification, in the context of the "Make in India", Dassault Aviation, through the joint venture DRAL, set up the 1st final assembly line for the Falcon 2000 outside of France. The 55th Paris Air Show once again demonstrated its ability to bring together the aerospace sector, with a record attendance rate (more than 300,000 visitors). It was an opportunity for meetings and discussions with institutions, foreign delegations, Falcon clients and partners. The popularity of our aircraft was illustrated by the success of the Rafale and Falcon 6X flight demonstrations. The Rafale and the UCAS were the stars of the static displays, enhanced by the Battle Lab presentation on future challenges of collaborative combat. The Space Hub was also in the spotlight, with the presentation of the VORTEX space aircraft. "L'Avion des Metiers" was very active, allowing visitors to learn about various jobs and training in the aerospace and defense sectors. The 2025 guidance is unchanged: an increase in 2025 net sales compared with 2024, in the range of EUR 6.5 billion (including the delivery of 40 Falcon and 25 Rafale). This 2025 guidance does not take into account U.S. tariffs and potential European countermeasures." Eric TRAPPIER, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dassault Aviation 1. CONSOLIDATED ORDER INTAKE Order intake for the 1st half of 2025 was EUR 8,075 million, vs. EUR 5,134 million in the 1st half of 2024. Export order intake stood at 96%. Order intake was as follows, in millions of euros: H1 2025 % H1 2024 % Defense 7,172 89% 4,095 80% Defense Export 6,897 3,871 Defense France 275 224 Falcon 903 11% 1,039 20% Total consolidated order intake 8,075 5,134 % Export 96% 96% The order intake is entirely composed of firm orders. Defense programs The order intake for Defense for the 1st half of 2025 totaled EUR 7,172 million, compared with EUR 4,095 million in the 1st half of 2024. The Defense Export order intake totaled EUR 6,897 million in the 1st half of 2025, compared with EUR 3,871 million in the 1st half of 2024. Dassault Aviation has notably registered an order from India for 26 Rafale Marine. The Defense France order intake totaled EUR 275 million in the 1st half of 2025, compared with EUR 224 million in the 1st half of 2024. Falcon programs During the 1st half of 2025, 8 Falcon orders were recorded, compared with 11 orders in the 1st half of 2024. The Falcon order intake was EUR 903 million in this 1st half, compared with EUR 1,039 million in the 1st half of 2024. 2. ADJUSTED CONSOLIDATED NET SALES Adjusted consolidated net sales for the 1st half of 2025 totaled EUR 2,847 million, compared with EUR 2,538 million for the 1st half of 2024. Export net sales stood at 71% in the 1st half of 2025. Consolidated sales were as follows, in millions of euros: H1 2025 % H1 2024 % Defense 1,751 62% 1,558 61% Defense Export 949 552 Defense France 802 1,006 Falcon 1,096 38% 980 39% Total adjusted consolidated net sales 2,847 2,538 % Export 71% 59% Defense programs 7 Rafale (4 Export and 3 France) were delivered during the 1st half of 2025 compared with 6 Rafale France in the 1st half of 2024. Defense net sales for the 1st half of 2025 amounted to EUR 1,751 million, vs. EUR 1,558 million for the 1st half of 2024. The Defense Export net sales amounted to EUR 949 million in the 1st half of 2025, compared with EUR 552 million in the 1st half of 2024. The Defense France net sales amounted to EUR 802 million in the 1st half of 2025, compared with EUR 1,006 million in the 1st half of 2024. Falcon programs 12 Falcon were delivered in the 1st half of 2025, the same as in the 1st half of 2024. Falcon net sales for the 1st half of 2025 amounted to EUR 1,096 million, vs. EUR 980 million for the 1st half of 2024. **** The "book-to-bill ratio" (order intake/net sales) is 2.84 for the 1st half of 2025. 3. CONSOLIDATED BACKLOG Theconsolidated backlog (determined in accordance with IFRS 15) was EUR 48,290 million as of June 30, 2025, compared with EUR 43,224 million as of December 31, 2024. The backlog trend is as follows: 06/30/2025 % 12/31/2024 % Defense 43,627 90% 38,207 88% Defense Export 35,212 29,265 Defense France 8,415 8,942 Falcon 4,663 10% 5,017 12% Total consolidated backlog 48,290 43,224 % Export 80% 76% The backlog at June 30, 2025 breaks down as follows: Defense Export:EUR 35,212 million at June 30, 2025, compared with EUR 29,265 million at December 31, 2024. This figure notably includes 186 new Rafale compared with 164 new Rafale as of December 31, 2024. Defense France:EUR 8,415 million at June 30, 2025, compared with EUR 8,942 million at December 31, 2024. This figure includes 53 Rafale, the support contracts for the Rafale (Ravel), Mirage 2000 (Balzac) and ATL2 (OCEAN), AlphaJet (AlphaCare), the FCAS and the Rafale F4 standard. Falcon: EUR 4,663 million at June 30, 2025 compared with EUR 5,017 million at December 31, 2024. It includes 75 Falcon, compared with 79 as of December 31, 2024. 4. ADJUSTED CONSOLIDATED RESULTS Adjusted operating income Adjusted consolidated operating income for the 1st half of 2025 came to EUR 180 million, compared with EUR 170 million in the 1st half of 2024. Research and development expenses in the 1st half of 2025, mainly related to the Falcon 10X, totaled EUR 182 million compared with EUR 200 million for the 1st half of 2024. The consolidated operating margin stood at 6.3%, compared with 6.7% for the 1st half of 2024. The hedging rate for the 1st half of 2025 was USD 1.13/EUR, compared with USD 1.14/EUR in the 1st half of 2024. Adjusted financial result Adjusted consolidated financial result for the 1st half of 2025 was EUR 77 million, compared with EUR 106 million for the same period in the previous year, down mainly due to the effect of the increase in the financing component. Adjusted net income Adjusted consolidated net income for the 1st half of 2025 was EUR 386 million, compared with EUR 442 million in the 1st half of 2024. Net income for the 1st half of 2025 includes the tax surcharge in France of EUR 67 million. The contribution of Thales to the net income of Dassault Aviation was EUR 234 million, compared with EUR 231 million in the 1st half of 2024. The adjusted consolidated net margin thus stood at 13.6% for the 1st half of 2025, compared with 17.4% for the 1st half of 2024. Adjusted consolidated net income per share for the 1st half of 2025 was EUR 4.94 compared with EUR 5.62 for the 1st half of 2024. 5. CONSOLIDATED RESULTS (IFRS) Consolidated operating income (IFRS) Consolidated operating income for the 1st half of 2025 came to EUR 186 million, compared with EUR 169 million in the 1st half of 2024. Research and development expenses in the 1st half of 2025, mainly related to the Falcon 10X, totaled EUR 182 million compared with EUR 200 million for the 1st half of 2024. The consolidated operating margin stood at 6.5%, compared with 6.7% for the 1st half of 2024. Consolidated financial result (IFRS) Consolidated financial result for the 1st half of 2025 was EUR 78 million, compared with EUR 102 million in the 1st half of 2024, down mainly due to the increase in the financing component. Consolidated net income (IFRS) Consolidated net income for the 1st half of 2025 was EUR 334 million, compared with EUR 476 million in the 1st half of 2024. Net income for the 1st half of 2025 includes the tax surcharge in France of EUR 67 million. The contribution of Thales to the net income of Dassault Aviation was EUR 177 million, compared with EUR 269 million in the 1st half of 2024. The consolidated net margin thus stood at 11.7% for the 1st half of 2025, compared with 18.8% for the 1st half of 2024. Consolidated net income per share for the 1st half of 2025 was EUR 4.28, compared with EUR 6.06 for the 1st half of 2024. 6. AVAILABLE CASH Dassault Aviation uses a specific indicator called "Available cash," which reflects the amount of total liquidities available to Dassault Aviation, net of financial debts. It includes the following balance sheet items: cash and cash equivalents, current financial assets (at market value) and financial debt, excluding lease liabilities. The calculation of this indicator is detailed in the consolidated financial statements (Note 7 of the condensed interim consolidated financial statements). The available cash of Dassault Aviation stands at EUR 9,547 million as of June 30, 2025, compared with EUR 8,434 million as of December 31, 2024. This increase is mainly due to advances received on orders for Rafale export. 7. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (IFRS) Total equity stood at EUR 6,185 million as of June 30, 2025, compared with EUR 6,332 million as of December 31, 2024. Borrowings and financial debt amounted to EUR 204 million as of June 30, 2025, compared with EUR 238 million as of December 31, 2024. They are composed of locked-in employee profit-sharing funds for EUR 25 million and lease liabilities recognized for EUR 179 million. Inventories and work-in-progress increased by EUR 903 million to reach EUR 7,627 million as of June 30, 2025. Advance payments received on orders net of advance payments paid, stood at EUR 13,956 million, an increase of EUR million to EUR 2,325 million. The derivative financial instruments market value stood at EUR 73 million as of June 30, 2025, vs. EUR -100 million as of December 31, 2024. This financial press release may contain forward-looking statements which represent objectives and cannot be construed as forecasts regarding Dassault Aviation's results or any other performance indicator. The actual results may differ significantly from the forward-looking statements due to various risks and uncertainties, as described in Dassault Aviation's half-year financial report. The English language version of this report is a free translation from the original, which was prepared in French language. All possible care has been taken to ensure that the translation is an accurate presentation of the original. However, in all matters of interpretation, views or opinion expressed in the original language version of the document in French take precedence over the translation. CONTACTS : Corporate Communication Stephane Fort - Tel. +33 (0)1 47 11 86 90 - stephane.fort@dassault-aviation.com Mathieu Durand - Tel. +33 Investor Relations Louis Proisy - Tel. +33 APPENDIX 1. DEFINITION OF ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS To reflect the actual consolidated economic performance and for monitoring and comparability reasons, Dassault Aviation presented an adjusted income statement of: foreign exchange gains/losses resulting from the exercise of hedging instruments which do not qualify for hedge accounting under IFRS standards. This income, presented as financial result in the consolidated financial statements, is reclassified as net sales and thus as operating income in the adjusted income statement; the value of foreign exchange derivatives which do not qualify for hedge accounting, by neutralizing the change in fair value of these instruments (considering that gains or losses on hedging should only impact net income as commercial flows occur), with the exception of derivatives allocated to hedge balance-sheet positions whose change in fair value is presented as operating income; amortization of assets valued as part of the purchase price allocation (business combinations), known as "PPA" (Purchase Price Allocation); adjustments made by Thales in its financial reporting. Dassault Aviation also presents the "available cash" indicator, which reflects the amount of total liquid assets, net of financial debt. It covers the following balance sheet items: cash and cash equivalents; other current financial assets; financial debt, excluding lease liabilities. The calculation of this indicator is detailed in the condensed interim consolidated financial statements (see Note 7). Only consolidated financial statements are audited by statutory auditors. Adjusted financial data are subject to the verification procedures applicable to all information provided in the half-yearly report. 2. Impact OF ADJUSTMENTS The impact of the adjustments of income statement aggregates for the 1st half of 2025 is set out below: (in EUR thousands) Consolidated income statement H1 2025 Foreign exchange derivatives PPA Adjustments applied by Thales Adjusted income statement H1 2025 Foreign exchange gain/loss Change in fair value Net sales 2,853,603 -6,383 2,847,220 Operating income 185,692 -6,383 970 180,279 Financial result 78,327 6,383 -7,892 76,818 Share in net income of equity associates 185,212 56,733 241,945 Income tax -114,793 2,038 -167 -112,922 Net income 334,438 -5,854 803 56,733 386,120 Net income attributable to the owners of the Parent Company 334,438 -5,854 803 56,733 386,120 Net earnings per share (in EUR) 4.28 4.94 The impact of the adjustments of income statement aggregates for the 1st half of 2024 is set out below: (in EUR thousands) Consolidated income statement H1 2024 Foreign exchange derivatives PPA Adjustments applied by Thales Adjusted income statement H1 2024 Foreign exchange gain/loss Change in fair value Net sales 2,538,156 2,538,156 Operating income 168,980 1,059 170,039 Financial result 101,942 4,418 106,360 Share in net income of equity associates 274,719 1,977 -40,417 236,279 Income tax -69,444 -1,141 -187 -70,772 Net income 476,197 3,277 2,849 -40,417 441,906 Net income attributable to the owners of the Parent Company 476,197 3,277 2,849 -40,417 441,906 Net earnings per share (in EUR) 6.06 5.62 Attachment Shanghai, China--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - In the auditorium of the WLSA campus in Shanghai, Sophia Fu stood before students, investors, and educators, and with a firm voice, she kicked off this historic event. "Today is not just a competition - it proves that young people do not need to wait until adulthood to start solving the world's problems." This event is the first CHSSI National High School Student Social Entrepreneurship Competition and Incubation Camp, held on July 6, 2025. The driving force behind it is the China High School Students' Social Impact Fund (CHSSI) - The first "VC behind non-profit projects" in China, and Asia's first and China's only non-profit educational organization independently managed by high school students, providing them with opportunities for entrepreneurship and investment simulation and practice centered around the theme of social responsibility. Sophia Fu mentioned, "Young people never lack creativity in solving social problems, but often lack funds, mentorship, and practical experience, making it difficult to turn ideas into action; on the other hand, high school students in Asia also lack a real practice field to work on real investment practices. This stands in stark contrast to Europe and the United States: hundreds of student-managed funds such as Harvard's "Undergraduate Capital Partners Program" have existed for decades, while Asia has long been a void in this field, except for a few pioneers that grew from university campuses in Singapore. With CHSSI, I have created a strong social impact element in addition to the common model and practice of that of US and European universities, built on my own passion, also shared by most high schoolers based on the research of my founding team." To prepare for "the day", Sophia has been persistently fundraising on her own for 3 years since grade 9 via countless charity sales and visiting high net worth friends of her parents one by one. The fund kicked off at a size of RMB100,000, which is already very large for high school students, with a clear road map to grow 10x - 30x in the next 5 years. A grand event filled with roadshows, mentor guidance, and breakthroughs The event on July 6 marked the official unveiling of CHSSI. After the opening ceremony, eight finalist teams from high schools across mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, the United States, and UK, selected from over a hundred applications, gathered with several guest mentors, including top financial institution executives, legal and education industry experts, and Ivy League alumni, for a memorable day of their entrepreneurship journey. Subsequently, during the entrepreneur forum session, representatives from various projects held a roundtable discussion, introducing their respective projects and answering a series of questions posed by the host. Afterwards, they also engaged in face-to-face talks with the guests present. The five finalist teams' representatives who have attended the on-site discussion discussed their experiences and difficulties in creating their social organizations. The spokesperson for the Dianhong Plan revealed, "The biggest surprise? How difficult it is to balance systematic operations and the autonomy of project members. When the project first started, there were only five people, and everyone could freely do things according to their own ideas. As the number of organization members increased, we had to formulate relevant regulations, which may limit the individual ideas of members, because we must have a complete task system." Another project founder joked, "The biggest difficulty we encountered was when everyone denied us at the beginning of our project; we ourselves also found lots of problems." When asked about the key social values of the project, Student Zhang from the "Yi Shu Plan" said, "Perhaps I would prefer to use 'support' and 'change' to describe our non-traditional volunteer teaching project." After the forum, the exciting Incubation Camp kicked off with two VC investor mentors initiating practical training for all attendees, dissecting core entrepreneurial skills one by one, ranging from "How to design an attractive project" and "How to write a plan that can impress investors" to "Financial budgeting and cost control." "A good public welfare project should not only be 'meaningful', but also 'sustainable'," emphasized one mentor. After the training session, the eight teams break into respective groups to quickly improve their projects within a short time frame, while using their allocated mentor Q&A sessions to their ultimate benefit. During the Demo Day pitch session, each team presented their project for 6 minutes and answered questions from the judges for 4 minutes. During this process, Chen Bo, Chairman of Shanghai Linghui Venture Capital, commented, "What you are doing is very rare - even in the United States, few high school students can manage real funds or guide their peers. Seize this opportunity." All finalist teams were awarded the "National Top 8" title and a certificate of completion for the incubation camp. As of the publication of this article, the Champion, runner-up, and second runner-up have been unveiled, and generous angel funding was awarded to the top 3 teams. Look into the future. The event on July 6 marked a milestone, but CHSSI's journey had already begun. Since its establishment in 2024, it has supported four bright social entrepreneurship projects founded by Chinese high school students, including "C&C anti-body shame clothing brand", "Dian Hong Social Plan" which have educated more than 5000 students across China to reclaim self-awareness and mental health, ReMatter, a O2O market place that recycles used "trash" into designer cultural products, as well as APCSA, a free online software that helps underprivileged high schoolers to prepare their AP Computer Science exam for free. It has also recruited a new student leadership team and investment team, having held two large-scale offline events in Shanghai to mingle and market the organization in the wider community. In the coming year, the CHSSI student investment team will conduct simulated portfolio investment in the secondary market under the guidance of financial analysts (for purely educational purposes) and continue to incubate and support more social impact projects founded by high school students. "There has long been a tradition of student investment funds in European and American universities, but in Asia, it is groundbreaking to let high school students lead the allocation of funds and make investment decisions. This is not just about money, but also about social impact and youth education accelerated by the "leverage of finance". By handing over the 'car keys' to young people, CHSSI is teaching them responsibility, critical thinking, and the belief that 'their voice deserves to be heard'." When the event came to an end on July 6, Sophia Fu looked at the young people who were exchanging business cards and discussing cooperation, and said, "This is just the beginning. Just wait and see what we will do next. At the very least, within the next 3 years, CHSSI will be setting up multinational branches to empower high school students and society not only in China but also across the globe." To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259618 SOURCE: 41Caijing PRESS RELEASE Revenue for the first half of 2025: +30% (35.95 million) Simultaneous ramp-up of the Explosion Energy business linked to BESS and the Explosion Industry business Outlook remains favorable, driven in particular by the dynamic BESS market in Asia and Europe Saint-Georges-sur-Loire, July 22, 2025 - 5:45 p.m. - STIF (FR001400MDW2, ALSTI), a specialist in explosion protection, has published its consolidated revenue for the first half of 2025, ended June 30. In line with the change in revenue, the Group's management has decided to change the structure of its reporting and make its segment information easier to read. Business activity is now structured around three distinct sectors: "Explosion Energy" (BESS), "Explosion Industry" and "Other products" (buckets, fittings, handling, etc.). The comparative financial information below has been restated based on this new segmentation. (in million) H1 2025 H1 2024 Change Total revenue 35.95 27.66 +30% Explosion Energy 17.42 10.96 +58.9% Explosion Industry 7.34 5.50 +33.5% Other products 11.19 11.19 ns Jose Burgos, Chairman and CEO of STIF, said: "The first half of 2025 ended with another remarkable performance, marked by strong growth in Group revenue. This commercial momentum demonstrates the strength of our model, the relevance of our strategy and, above all, the unwavering commitment of our teams around the world. I would like to warmly thank all our employees, partners, and distributors for their dedication, professionalism, and innovative spirit, which make a difference every day. This positive momentum reinforces our ambition and opens up encouraging prospects for the rest of the year, characterized by customer loyalty, the quality of our products, and a constant desire to anticipate the needs of our markets." Strong and sustainable revenue growth The STIF Group's consolidated revenue for the first half of 2025 amounted to 35.95 million, up 30% (+8.3 million) compared to the same period last year. This performance reflects the simultaneous ramp-up in sales of products dedicated to the protection of BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) and products related to explosion protection in industrial environments. In the BESS segment, STIF recorded half-year revenue of 17.42 million, compared with 10.96 million for the first half of 2024. It was driven in particular by strong demand for products in Asia, following the various business volumes signed at the beginning of the year with Fluence and Sungrow, major players in the international energy storage products and services market. In line with the sharp increase in the Group's consolidated revenue, this activity now accounts for nearly 50% of total business volumes. Sales of explosion protection solutions for industrial environments benefited from an innovative product range and a geographical presence in several promising markets. This activity generated revenue of 7.34 million in the first half of 2025, up 33.5% compared to the same period last year, representing 20.4% of half-year revenue. The launch at the end of 2024 of the new flameless relief panel, Vigiflam Vi, contributed significantly to this growth momentum. During the same half-year, revenue from the "Other products" segment related to the Group's core businesses (buckets, couplings, handling equipment, etc.) remained at levels equivalent to those of the first half of 2024, demonstrating the quality and robustness of this business, which supported the Group's overall performance. Internationally, strong momentum in Asia and balanced revenue distribution by geographic region In the first half of 2025, strong growth was initially driven by Asia, where revenue reached 11.3 million, a fivefold increase compared with the first half of the previous year. Sales in this region were the result of the ramp-up of orders signed in 2024, the development of BESS product sales to Fluence and Sungrow, and the start of sales to Tesla China, which opened its new BESS production plant at the end of the first quarter of 2025. In Europe (excluding France), the business posted revenue of 9.6 million, up 33.7%, driven in particular by business volumes related to the BESS market won from Nidec, CEN, and Siemens. In France, the business posted slight growth. In North America, sales for the first half of the year came in at 9.3 million, down slightly compared to the same period in 2024 (12.1 million), due to a one-off destocking at Tesla following significant deliveries at the end of 2024. An analysis of sales by geographical area highlights the quality of STIF's diversification of commercial outlets. Asia accounted for 31% of sales in the first half of the year, while Europe (excluding France, 27%), North America (26%) and France (14%) demonstrated the Group's solid foothold in a number of mature markets. 2025 targets confirmed, strategic and operational roadmap to follow Building on its current levels of activity and ongoing discussions with all major players in the industrial and energy security market in Europe and internationally, the Group is looking to the future with confidence, and serenity. It confirms its ambition to achieve strong annual revenue growth in 2025 of more than 20% compared to 2024 revenue, on a like-for-like basis (excluding acquisitions). The integration, completed on July 1st, 2025, of the Belgian company Stuvex, a leading European player in active explosion protection technologies and devices for industrial environments, will also contribute to the Group's strong and profitable growth in 2025 and beyond. This acquisition is fully in line with STIF's long-term strategy to strengthen its independence, increase the recurrence of its revenues and assert the strength of its product offering, which is perfectly suited to the safety challenges of today and tomorrow. Finally, the Group would like to remind you that it will publish a new strategic and commercial roadmap, accompanied by new financial targets, in October when it announces its half-year results. Upcoming events Results for the 1st half of 2025: October 1st, 2025 (after market close) Investor Day: October 2nd, 2025 STIF, the explosion protection specialist Founded in 1984, the STIF Group is a French industrial player specializing in the design, manufacture, and marketing of innovative industrial equipment for niche markets. Historically positioned in handling equipment for bulk products, such as elevator buckets, elevator belts, and compression fittings, the family-owned group has diversified over the past decade by expanding into passive and active protection against industrial dust explosion risks and protection against explosion risks in battery energy storage systems (BESS). With a headcount close to 350, internationally recognized product ranges, and four factories in France, Asia, and the US, the Group aims to become a global player in industrial and energy safety in Europe and internationally. Contact STIF External Relations Department Geraldine Baudouin direction@stifnet.com +33 (0)2 41 72 16 83 SEITOSEI.ACTIFIN Investor Relations Ghislaine Gasparetto stif@seitosei-actifin.com +33 (0)6 85 36 76 81 SEITOSEI.ACTIFIN Press Relations Michael Scholze michael.scholze@seitosei-actifin.com +33 (0)6 85 86 17 35 ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: yXByYpxmaJiZl2psapaZZ5Znm29klGDJbWbGl5dsZcmaa2ySyWtim8WbZnJklmpv - 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-0-93159-20250722_stif_cas12025_vfinal.pdf Press release Chassieu (France), 22 July 2025 - 5.45 pm - Amoeba (FR0011051598 - ALMIB), industrial greentech specialized in the development of natural microbiological solutions based on the patented use of amoebae, announces the signing of an agreement with Metron Technology, a subsidiary of the Chinese group Oriental Beauty Valley (OBV group). This agreement confirms the main terms of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) announced on 1 April 2025[1] and covers both the regulatory and commercial aspects of Amoeba's cosmetic ingredient in China. As a reminder, the Oriental Beauty Valley group is based in Shanghai and is an industrial centre of excellence officially supported by the Chinese authorities as part of their national strategy for the development of the cosmetics sector. It brings together more than 1,000 companies (including L'Oreal, Shiseido, etc.), laboratories, research centres and specialised organisations, forming a unique ecosystem that promotes synergies between innovation, production and regulation. As a true strategic hub, Oriental Beauty Valley offers a structured and secure environment to support innovative projects, from formulation to regulatory compliance, while meeting growing demands for safety, efficacy and sustainable development. The agreement signed has a dual regulatory and commercial dimension. It provides for: Support and advice from the Oriental Beauty Valley group to obtain registration for Amoeba's cosmetic ingredient in China; The priority given to Metron Technology to distribute Amoeba's cosmetic ingredient in China once registration has been obtained. Amoeba accelerates the development of its cosmetic business While Amoeba has already obtained INCI (International Nomenclature for Cosmetic Ingredients) registration for its cosmetic ingredient in 2024, which allows it to be marketed worldwide without further authorisation except in China, this agreement allows Amoeba to accelerate its entry into the Chinese market, the world's second largest cosmetics market after the United States. Amoeba is now closer than ever to being able to market its ingredient worldwide, whose effectiveness has been proven both by specialised laboratories[2] in in vitro studies and by a clinical study[3] for various claims (including its repairing effect on the superficial dermis). Following the appointment of Charlotte FRANCERIES (former member of L'Oreal's senior management team for 25 years and currently President of the French agency of the McCann Group) to its Board of Directors, who will bring all her expertise and knowledge of the cosmetics industry, Amoeba is taking another major step forward in the development of its cosmetics business. Benoit VILLERS, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Amoeba, said: "We are delighted to sign this agreement with Oriental Beauty Valley (OBV), which is the ideal partner to support our development in China. Having already achieved a number of key milestones in biocontrol this year, we are now accelerating the development of our cosmetics segment with players recognised worldwide for their expertise. We are proud that the full potential of our cosmetic ingredient has been recognised by OBV, a global leader in its field, and we are demonstrating our ability to continue on our ambitious development path." About Oriental Beauty Valley Group : Oriental Beauty Valley Group is a state-owned company under the jurisdiction of Fengxian District (Shanghai region), with registered capital of 600 million yuan. It focuses on promoting the beauty and health industry, as well as creating a "Silicon Valley" for the cosmetics industry. Thee Group actively plays the role of a market entity to enrich industrial resources, accelerate industrial development, carry out mergers and acquisitions and acquire stakes in high-quality enterprises in the entire beauty and health industry chain, consolidate industrial ecology, and promote the agglomeration and development of the beauty and health industry cluster in Fengxian District. About Metron Technology (Oriental Beauty Valley Group) : Metron Technology is a strategic subsidiary of Oriental Beauty Valley, specialising in regulatory, scientific and technological support for innovative cosmetics projects. Created with the support of the local authorities and as part of the development of the beauty ecosystem in Shanghai, Metron Technology's mission is to facilitate the integration of international innovations on the Chinese market, by ensuring their compliance with local standards. Positioned at the interface between research, industry and government, Metron Technology offers cutting-edge expertise in regulatory approval, safety assessment and validation of cosmetic ingredients, working directly with the relevant authorities. Thanks to its partner laboratories, scientific teams and consultancy services, it supports foreign companies throughout the registration and marketing process. Contacts: Anson ZHU Eunice YANG CEO Assistant of CEO Tel: +86 130 5222 2798 Tel: +86 1350 171 6703 zhuyuecheng@obvmt.cn qingyi@obvmt.cn Adress: The Orient Beauty Valley Group Metron (shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd. 2F, Building 21, 6055# Jinhai Road, Fengxian District, Shanghai About Amoeba: Founded in 2010, Amoeba is a greentech company based in Chassieu (Lyon, France) whose ambition is to become a major player in the treatment of microbiological risk based on the patented use of amoebae in the plant protection and cosmetics sectors. With know-how that is unique in the world and protected by numerous patents, Amoeba is currently the only company capable of exploiting the full potential of the Willaertia amoeba on an industrial scale and growing it in sufficient volumes to offer biological solutions that constitute a viable alternative to the chemical products widely used today. Amoeba is currently focusing on the global biocontrol market for plant protection and the cosmetics market. As the marketing of plant protection products is subject to obtaining local regulatory approvals, the Company has taken the necessary regulatory steps and in 2022 obtained approval for its active substance in the USA as well as the recommendation for approval in Europe issued by the Austrian authority. Cosmetic applications do not require prior approval from a competent authority in Europe or the United States. Amoeba is listed on Euronext Growth (ALMIB). The company is a member of the Bpifrance Excellence network and is eligible for the PEA-PME scheme. For more information, visit https://amoeba-nature.com/en/. Contacts: Amoeba ACTUS finance & communication Droit Devant Agency Chief Executive Officer Jean-Francois DOUCET 04 26 69 16 00 jf.doucet@amoeba-nature.com Investor relations Pierre JACQUEMIN-GUILLAUME 01 53 67 36 79 amoeba@actus.fr Financial press relations Serena BONI 04 72 18 04 92 sboni@actus.fr Trade and general public press relations Laetitia PINTO 07 64 83 39 85 pinto@droitdevant.fr Disclaimer This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Amoeba which are based on its own assumptions and estimates and on information that is currently available to us. However, Amoeba gives no assurance that the estimates contained in such forward-looking statements will be verified, with these estimates subject to numerous risks, including the risks set forth in Amoeba's universal registration document filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers) on April 17, 2025 under number D.25-0281 and available on the Amoeba website ( www.amoeba- nature.com). The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks not yet known to Amoeba or not currently considered material by Amoeba. The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause Amoeba's actual results, financial conditions, performance, or achievements to be materially different from such forward-looking statements. [1] See the press release dated 1 April 2025. [2] See the press release dated 21 November 2024. [3] See the press release dated 10 June 2024. ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: ym1paMduYZuXmGlrZ56XbpWXZm+UlmScapWXm5Jtlp2YmmloyWuWa5nGZnJklmlq - 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-0-93144-amoeba-cp-accord-obv-vdef-eng.pdf SOITEC REPORTS FIRST QUARTER REVENUE OF FISCAL YEAR 2026 Q1'26 revenue: 92m, down 16% year-on-year on an organic 1 basis, slightly better than the guidance Q1'26 year-on-year revenue development reflects, as expected, ongoing RF-SOI inventory correction among customers, a weak automotive market, the anticipated phase-out of first-generation Imager-SOI, and the strong momentum in Photonics-SOI Q2'26 revenue is expected to grow around 50% versus Q1'26, on an organic basis Bernin (Grenoble), France, July 22nd, 2025 - Soitec (Euronext Paris), a world leader in designing and manufacturing innovative semiconductor materials, today announced unaudited consolidated revenue of 92 million Euros for the first quarter of FY'26 (ended on June 29th, 2025), down 24% on a reported basis compared with 121 million Euros achieved in the first quarter of FY'25. This reflects a 16% decline on an organic basis, a negative currency impact of 5% and a negative scope effect2 of 3% related to the divestment of Dolphin Design's businesses. Pierre Barnabe, Soitec's CEO, commented: "Q1'26 revenue was slightly better than the guidance, down 16% year-on-year on an organic basis. This includes the phase-out of Imager-SOI. Artificial Intelligence continues to support strong growth in Edge & Cloud AI division, with traction both at the edge and in the cloud accelerating adoption of FD-SOI for Edge AI and Photonics-SOI for data centers. Conversely, the correction of RF-SOI inventories among our direct customers, and the ongoing weakness in the Automotive market continued to impact our revenue. Looking ahead, we expect Q2'26 revenue to grow around 50% versus Q1'26, on an organic basis. This reflects ongoing RF-SOI inventory correction in Mobile Communications, continued weakness in Automotive & Industrial, and strong growth in Edge & Cloud AI. In an uncertain and volatile environment, we remain focused on the factors within our control to prepare Soitec for the future. We are broadening our end-market exposure and customer base to diversify the company's foundations. In parallel, we are accelerating the expansion of our product portfolio - across both SOI and compound semiconductors - to serve a wider range of applications. At the same time, we are building robust ecosystems that support the adoption of our products, with the ambition of establishing them as new industry standards." First quarter FY'26 consolidated revenue Q1'26 Q1'25 Q1'26/Q1'25 (Euros million) change reported chg. at const. exch. rates & perimeter Mobile Communications 43 48 -12% -7% Automotive & Industrial 5 26 -82% -81% Edge & Cloud AI 44 46 -4% +13% Revenue 92 121 -24% -16% Mobile Communications Mobile Communications revenue reached 43 million Euros in Q1'26, down 7% year-on-year on an organic basis. After a strong seasonal tailwind in Q4'25, further correction was expected in RF-SOI customer inventories. As a result, sales of RF-SOI wafers decreased to a low level in Q1'26, below Q1'25. This mostly reflects a significant year-on-year decrease in 200-mm RF-SOI volumes sold. Sales of 300-mm RF-SOI wafers were higher than in Q1'25, driven by higher volumes, despite a slightly negative price / mix effect. Sales of POI (Piezoelectric-on-Insulator) wafers dedicated to RF filters were stable year-on-year, reflecting ongoing growth with key US customers and a temporary slowdown in Asia. POI is becoming the reference substrate for advanced Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filters, increasingly adopted by leading fabless globally. Sales of FD-SOI wafers, the only solution for fully integrated 5G mmWave system-on-chip, were significantly higher than in Q1'25. FD-SOI adoption is progressing with first design wins for Wi-Fi 7 SoCs, for premium Android smartphones. Automotive & Industrial In a persistently complicated automotive market, Automotive & Industrial revenue reached 5 million Euros in Q1'26, down 81% year-on-year on an organic basis. As expected, the Power-SOI inventory replenishment that took place at customer level in Q4'25, came at the expense of volumes in Q1'26, and will continue to impact Q2'26. Meanwhile, Soitec is accelerating the transition from 200-mm to 300-mm Power-SOI to address growing demand for Battery Management Systems. Automotive FD-SOI wafer sales were negligible in Q1'26, although the build-up of a solid ecosystem is supporting the strengthening of its adoption for analog/digital systems such as radars, microcontrollers and wireless connectivity. Regarding SmartSiCTM, the slower growth of the electric vehicle market combined with the longer qualification cycles confirms the delay in the production ramp-up, as already communicated. Edge & Cloud AI Edge & Cloud AI revenue reached 44 million Euros in Q1'26, up 13% on an organic basis compared to Q1'25 despite the discontinuation of the first generation of Imager-SOI wafers for 3D imaging applications, which recorded 25 million Dollars in revenue in Q1'25. On a reported basis, Edge & Cloud AI revenue went down 4% due to the scope effect of the divestment of Dolphin Design's businesses combined with a negative currency impact. Soitec delivered another strong performance in Photonics-SOI in Q1'26, with sales significantly above Q1'25 levels. As AI computing power expands, driving demand for faster and more efficient data centers, Photonics-SOI stands out as the optimal solution for high-speed, high-bandwidth optical links, whether for pluggable transceivers or Co-Packaged Optics (CPOs). Soitec is capitalizing on strong Cloud infrastructure investments from Big Tech and AI players and is accelerating its Photonics-SOI roadmap with AI leaders. FD-SOI sales were also above Q1'25 levels. Thanks to its benefits in power efficiency, performance, thermal management, and reliability, FD-SOI is a key enabler of AI-driven IoT applications across consumer, healthcare, and industrial markets. Q2'26 outlook Q2'26 revenue is expected to grow around 50% versus Q1'26, on an organic basis. The impact from the phasing out of Imager-SOI will be less pronounced than in Q1'26, as Imager-SOI revenue amounted to approximately 7 million Dollars in Q2'25. Excluding Imager-SOI, Edge & Cloud AI is expected to maintain solid momentum and should be slightly up vs. Q1'26. Mobile Communications revenue will remain low, despite nearly doubling from Q1'26, as customers continue to work through excess RF-SOI inventory. As in Q1'26, Automotive & Industrial revenue in Q2'26 is expected to decline sharply versus Q2'25. Projected FY'26 Capex cash-out is confirmed around 150 million Euros, down from 230 million Euros in FY'25. Key events of Q1'26 Soitec has successfully issued a new 200 million Euros Schuldschein loan This is a 200 million Euros Schuldschein loan offering a floating rate coupon with an average maturity of 4.1 years, which was subscribed by high quality European investors. The offering is structured in tranches of 3, 4, 5 & 7 years, with 72% of the transaction on the 4-year and 5-year tenors. The 100 million Euros initially planned were significantly oversubscribed, reflecting investor interest and confidence in Soitec's financial profile and strategy, despite a volatile environment. The proceeds of the new Schuldschein loan will be used to partially refinance the 325 million Euros convertible bonds maturing in October 2025 and for general corporate purposes. Through this transaction, Soitec is actively managing its debt profile and extending its debt maturity. Soitec and PSMC collaborate on ultra-thin TLT technology for nm-scale 3D stacking On June 3rd, 2025, Soitec announced a strategic collaboration with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC). Under the collaboration, Soitec will supply PSMC 300mm substrates incorporating a release layer, Transistor Layer Transfer (TLT) ready, to support a new demonstration of advanced 3D chip stacking at the wafer level. This marks the first public announcement of Soitec's TLT technology. The technology is an enabler for next-generation semiconductor designs that allow for more powerful, compact and energy-efficient chips - with potential applications ranging from smartphones, tablets and AI devices to autonomous driving systems. CEA-Leti and Soitec announce strategic partnership to leverage FD-SOI for enhanced security of integrated circuits On June 18th, 2025, CEA-Leti and Soitec announced a strategic partnership to enhance the cybersecurity of integrated circuits (ICs) through the innovative use of fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FD-SOI) technologies. This collaboration aims to position FD-SOI as a foundational platform for secure electronics by leveraging and extending its inherent resistance to physical attacks. At the heart of the initiative is a joint effort to experimentally validate and augment the security benefits of FD-SOI-from the substrate level up to circuit design. The project aims to deliver concrete data, practical demonstrations, and roadmap guidance to meet the surging cybersecurity demands in critical markets such as automotive, industrial IoT, and secure infrastructure # # # Analysts conference call to be held in English on Wednesday 23rd July at 8:00 am CET. To listen to this conference call, the audiocast is available live and in replay at the following address: https://channel.royalcast.com/soitec/#!/soitec/20250723_1 # # # Agenda Q2'26 revenue and H1'26 results are due to be published on November 19th, 2025, after market close. # # # Disclaimer This document is provided by Soitec (the "Company") for information purposes only. The Company's business operations and financial position are described in the Company's Universal Registration Document (which notably includes the Annual Financial Report) which was filed on June 11th, 2025, with the French stock market authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers, or AMF) under number D.25-0439. The French version of the 2024-2025 Universal Registration Document, together with English courtesy translation for information purposes of this document, are available for consultation on the Company's website (www.soitec.com), in the section Company - Investors - Financial Reports. Your attention is drawn to the risk factors described in Chapter 2.1 (Risk factors and controls mechanism) of the Company's Universal Registration Document. This document contains summary information and should be read in conjunction with the Universal Registration Document. This document contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to the Company's future prospects, developments and strategy and are based on analyses of earnings forecasts and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties as they relate to future events and are dependent on circumstances that may or may not materialize in the future. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of the Company's future performance. The occurrence of any of the risks described in Chapter 2.1 (Risk factors and controls mechanism) of the Universal Registration Document may have an impact on these forward-looking statements. The Company's actual financial position, results and cash flows, as well as the trends in the sector in which the Company operates may differ materially from those contained in this document. Furthermore, even if the Company's financial position, results, cash-flows and the developments in the sector in which the Company operates were to conform to the forward-looking statements contained in this document, such elements cannot be construed as a reliable indication of the Company's future results or developments. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or make any correction to any forward-looking statement in order to reflect an event or circumstance that may occur after the date of this document. This document does not constitute or form part of an offer or a solicitation to purchase, subscribe for, or sell the Company's securities in any country whatsoever. This document, or any part thereof, shall not form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract, commitment or investment decision. Notably, this document does not constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase, subscribe for or to sell securities in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Company's shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act. Neither the Company nor any other person intends to conduct a public offering of the Company's securities in the United States. # # # About Soitec Soitec (Euronext - Tech Leaders), a world leader in innovative semiconductor materials, has been developing cutting-edge products delivering both technological performance and energy efficiency for over 30 years. From its global headquarters in France, Soitec is expanding internationally with its unique solutions, and generated sales of 0.9 billion Euros in fiscal year 2024-2025. Soitec occupies a key position in the semiconductor value chain, serving three main strategic markets: Mobile Communications, Automotive and Industrial, and Edge and Cloud AI. The company relies on the talent and diversity of more than 2,200 employees, representing 50 different nationalities, working at its sites in Europe, the United States and Asia. Nearly 4,300 patents have been registered by Soitec. Soitec, SmartSiC and Smart Cut are registered trademarks of Soitec. For more information: visit our websiteand follow us on LinkedIn and X # # # Media Relations: media@soitec.com Investor Relations: investors@soitec.com # # # Consolidated revenue per quarter Quarterly revenue Q1'25 Q2'25 Q3'25 Q4'25 Q1'26 (Euros millions) Mobile Communications 48 124 154 220 43 Automotive & Industrial 26 33 25 45 5 Edge & Cloud AI 46 61 47 63 44 Revenue 121 217 226 327 92 Change in quarterly revenue Q1'26/Q1'25 (vs. previous year) Reported change Organic change1 Mobile Communications -12% -7% Automotive & Industrial -82% -81% Edge & Cloud AI -4% +13% Revenue -24% -16% 1 At constant exchange rates and comparable scope of consolidation: in Q1'26 there is a negative scope effect related to the divestment of Dolphin Design's mixed signal IP activities (completed on October 31st, 2024) and the divestment of Dolphin Design's ASIC activities (completed on December 30th, 2024). 1 At constant exchange rates and perimeter 2 The scope effect is related to the divestment of Dolphin Design's mixed-signal IP activities (completed on October 31st, 2024) and that of Dolphin Design's ASIC activities (completed on December 30th, 2024) Attachment BURNSVILLE, MN / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Inspired Spine has returned from its third and most impactful mission to India, continuing its commitment to making minimally invasive spine surgery accessible worldwide. The 12-day international visit included surgical education events in Mumbai and Bareilly, engaging participants from eight countries and advancing the adoption of the Trans-Kambin Oblique Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (OLLIF) technique. The program began at SMISS-AP in Mumbai, where attendees observed a video-recorded surgical demonstration followed by a hands-on cadaver lab. Interest and skill development were on full display as surgeons from across Asia, the Middle East, and beyond joined the training. The mission continued in Bareilly at Rohilkhand Medical University, where Inspired Spine's team performed a three-level OLLIF in under one hour, showcasing the efficiency and reduced surgical trauma achievable with this approach. At Bareilly International University, over 70 delegates from seven countries registered to observe and participate, highlighting the growing international enthusiasm for this minimally invasive technique. Inspired Spine also formalized academic collaborations during this visit. Dr. Hamid Abbasi, founder of Inspired Spine, awarded honorary professorships from Avicenna Technical University (ATU) to Dr. Varun Agarwal and Dr. Karthik Kailash in recognition of their educational leadership. In return, Dr. Abbasi accepted professorships from the universities in Chennai and Bareilly, reinforcing a shared commitment to global medical training. In 2024, Inspired Spine donated its intellectual property to developing countries, including India, enabling the production of affordable Spartan surgical hardware and the transfer of technical know-how. The impact is already visible: trained surgeons are returning home equipped with both hardware and skills to implement Trans-Kambin OLLIF procedures in underserved regions, including Iran, Dr. Abbasi's birth country. "The momentum is real, the interest is exploding," said Dr. Abbasi. "We're not just exporting tools-we're building sustainable capability around the world." With renewed energy and a growing global network, Inspired Spine remains committed to transforming spine care through innovation, affordability, and education. Visit www.inspiredspine.com for more information. Media Contact: Inspired Spine (952) 225-5266 SOURCE: Inspired Spine View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/inspired-spine-expands-global-reach-with-successful-trans-kambin-olli-1051356 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - SILICON METALS CORP. (CSE: SI) (FSE: X6U) ("Silicon Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has acquired additional mining claims by means of map staking. The new claims encompass the Aggregate Production Permit and other recently acquired mining claims near Sudbury, Ontario, announced by the Company on July 15, 2025. The total mining claim blocks encompassing the Aggregate Production Permit now total 1,848 hectares. The combination of the newly acquired mining claims with the Aggregate Production Permit constitutes a brand-new project that the Company has coined the 'Maple Birch Project', located in the Sudbury Mining District of Ontario, Canada. The 1,848 hectare Maple Birch Project is underexplored and is highly prospective for high purity quartz-rich pegmatite mineralization (Figure 1). This rare and valuable type of mineralization has already been discovered on the project, and the recently acquired interest in the Aggregate Production Permit allows for the extraction of a high purity quartz pegmatite "pod". The technical team is planning a detailed exploration program with the goal of potentially discovering more of these valuable pegmatite pods. Figure 1: High purity quartz pegmatite mineralization samples taken from the Maple Birch Project in June 2025. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8241/259643_db8888e2a47fb992_001full.jpg Morgan Good, Chief Executive Officer of Silicon Metals Corp., commented, "The Company is clearly excited about the ground surrounding this 3,000 tonne per year permitted area, as the pegmatites found here bears a similar resemblance to those of 'The Spruce Pine Mine', located in North Carolina, a pegmatite-type deposit. Spruce Pine is famous for being some of the purest quartz in the world, used in high tech applications."[1] Management is currently in discussions with local contract miners and refiners in order to execute the following: re-establish old resource roads prep quarry area drill and blast haul material to local refiner refine material perform exploration programs utilize potential profits to acquire additional production assets If the Company is able to extract, haul, refine and process the Maple Birch material, there could equitable upside for the Company and its shareholders. Typical quarrying costs in the area range from $100 to $200 per tonne. Historical information regarding the Aggregate Production Permit indicates that, between 2010 - 2015, prior operators had extracted approximately 20 tonnes of bulk samples under the Aggregate Production Permit and subsequently sold such bulk samples for USD $1,000 per ton. Readers are cautioned that this figure is historical in nature and, in presenting this figure, the Company is relying on information provided by third-parties in the course of the Company's due diligence on the Aggregate Production Permit. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to confirm whether such figure would be representative of current value. Mr. Good further stated, "Having the potential for significant growth in 2026 could bode for a sizable shareholder increase in value while also performing exploration. We want to turn silicon metals into a unique junior mining resource company, and the Maple Birch Project is a perfect starting point." The Company believes that the quartz material found at the project is potentially highly pure, rare, and valuable. Management has begun planning advanced geochemical and metallurgical testing for the high purity material among other intentions to be shared with our audience as soon as possible. Technical Information Raymond Wladichuk, P.Geo., COO of Silicon Metals Corp., a qualified person as per National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific information in his new release. Mr. Wladichuk is a professional geoscientist registered in British Columbia and Ontario. About Silicon Metals Corp. Silicon Metals Corp. is currently focused on exploration and development in Canada, namely British Columbia and Ontario. The Company has 100% ownership in the Maple Birch Project, located approximately 30km south-east of Sudbury, Ontario, which is a high purity quartz pegmatite project with a 3000 tonne per year production permit. The Company also holds an undivided 100% right, title and interest in the exploration stage Ptarmigan Silica Project located approximately 130km from Prince George, British Columbia. The Company has also acquired an option to purchase an undivided 100% right, title, and interest in both the exploration stage Silica Ridge Silica Project located approximately 70kms southeast from the town of MacKenzie, British Columbia, as well as the exploration stage Longworth Silica Project located approximately 85km East from Prince George, British Columbia. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SILICON METALS CORP. "Morgan Good" Morgan Good Chief Executive Officer and Director Neither 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). Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, development and plans for the Maple Birch Project. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied certain material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will be able to execute its plans for the development of the Maple Birch Project, and that the Company will have all the necessary resources, including personnel and capital to carry out its business plans. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that the Company may not be able to develop the Maple Birch Project as anticipated, that the Company will be unable to carry out its business plans as disclosed; changes in applicable legislation impacting the Company's exploration plans; unanticipated costs; loss of key personnel; failure to raise the capital required to carry out the Company's business plans. Although management of the Company has 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. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor. [1] (Google Spruce Pine: https://www.sibelco.com/en/150-years/spruce-pine) To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259643 SOURCE: Silicon Metals Corp. Aix-en-Provence, 22 July 2025 (6 p.m.) HIGHCO: BUSINESS DECLINE IN Q2 2025 IN LINE WITH FORECASTS (GROSS PROFIT: DOWN 10% LFL); EXPECTED DROP IN HALF-YEAR RESULTS; 2025 GUIDANCE RAISED WITH A RETURN TO GROWTH AS OF Q3 2025 Drop in business in Q2 2025 in line with expectations, with double-digit growth in the Activation division in France Q2 2025 gross profit 1 of 15.19 m, down 10% LFL 2 . of 15.19 m, down 10% LFL . H1 2025 gross profit 1 of 30.96 m, down 8.2% LFL 2 . of 30.96 m, down 8.2% LFL . Growth in the Activation division still driven by France (Q2 up 5% LFL; H1 up 3.1% LFL), decline in Mobile businesses (Q2 down 17% LFL; H1 down 7.8% LFL), and sharp drop, as expected, in Consulting & In-store media selling, due to Casino (Q2 down 32.1% LFL; H1 down 32.1% LFL). Decline in businesses in France (Q2 down 9.4% LFL; H1 down 7.9% LFL) and in International businesses (Q2 down 14.1% LFL; H1 down 10.1% LFL). 2025 Half-year earnings: forecast decrease in adjusted headline PBIT3 and adjusted operating margin3 Acquisition of the promotion activities of Sogec and BudgetBox: deal completion expected by end-September 2025 Implementation of performance share plans 2025 guidance raised Decline in gross profit between 1% and 2% LFL. Adjusted operating margin of approximately 12%. Gross Profit ( m)1 2025 2024 LFL2 2025/2024 LFL2 change Q1 15.77 16.85 -6.4% Q2 15.19 16.87 -10.0% H1 30.96 33.72 -8.2% 1 Limited audit by the Statutory Auditors currently in progress. 2 Like for like: Based on a comparable scope and at constant exchange rates (i.e. applying the average exchange rate over the period to data from the compared period). Furthermore, in application of IFRS 5 - Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations, the activities of High Connexion were reported as sold as of the first quarter of 2025. For reasons of consistency, the data reported for FY 2024 has been restated to account for the impact of High Connexion. 3 Adjusted headline profit before interest and tax (adjusted headline PBIT): Recurring operating income before restructuring costs and excluding the impact of performance share plans. Adjusted operating margin: Adjusted headline PBIT/Gross profit. Didier Chabassieu, Chairman of the Management Board, stated, "Following this eventful first half of 2025 for HighCo, I am proud of the journey achieved by all our teams. Thanks to the work they have accomplished, we were able to celebrate the Group's 35th anniversary, complete the sale of High Connexion, and start exclusive negotiations to acquire the promotion businesses of Sogec and BudgetBox. After five consecutive quarters of business decline, the Group is approaching the second half of the year with confidence and expects a return to growth as of the third quarter." DROP IN BUSINESS IN Q2 2025 IN LINE WITH EXPECTATIONS, WITH DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH IN THE ACTIVATION DIVISION IN FRANCE HighCo posted gross profit of 15.19 m for Q2 2025, down 10% like for like and down 19.4% on a reported basis, with, as expected: Continued strong momentum in the Activation division ( up 5% ; 63.9% of the Group's gross profit), driven by the coupon processing businesses in France and by the development of solutions by HighCo Nifty (mobile coupons) and HighCo Merely (promotion management SaaS platform); division ( ; 63.9% of the Group's gross profit), driven by the coupon processing businesses in France and by the development of solutions by HighCo Nifty (mobile coupons) and HighCo Merely (promotion management SaaS platform); Decline in the Mobile division ( down 17% like for like; 10.9% of the Group's gross profit) excluding High Connexion; division ( like for like; 10.9% of the Group's gross profit) excluding High Connexion; Sharp decline, as expected, in the Consulting & In-store media selling division (down 32.1%; 25.2% of the Group's gross profit) due to Casino. As a result, in H1 2025 (down 8.2% like for like), the Activation division (67.5% of the Group's gross profit) grew by 3.1%, the Mobile division (11.5% of the Group's gross profit) declined by 7.8% like for like, and the Consulting & In-store media selling division (21% of the Group's gross profit) fell by 32.1%. Group revenue for H1 2025 came out at 45 m. Businesses in France FRANCE Gross Profit ( m) 2025/2024 LFL change % Total gross profit 2025 2024 LFL Q1 13.58 14.51 -6.4% 86.1% Q2 13.31 14.69 -9.4% 87.7% H1 26.89 29.20 -7.9% 86.9% In France, business decreased by 9.4% in Q2 2025 to 13.31 m. As anticipated, and in continuity with the previous quarters, the Consulting & In-store media selling businesses fell sharply (down 32.1%), due to the sale of Casino hypermarkets and supermarkets primarily in the second and third quarters of 2024. This business decline was partially offset by the strong growth in the Activation division (up 10.9%). Excluding High Connexion, the Mobile division - consulting businesses - came out lower for the quarter (down 17%). In H1 2025, business in France declined (down 7.9%), as expected, accounting for 86.9% of the Group's gross profit. International businesses INTERNATIONAL Gross Profit ( m) 2025/2024 LFL change % Total gross profit 2025 2024 LFL Q1 2.19 2.33 -6.3% 13.9% Q2 1.88 2.18 -14.1% 12.3% H1 4.06 4.52 -10.1% 13.1% International businesses fell 14.1% in Q2 2025 to 1.88 m. In Belgium, gross profit decreased by 15% to 1.65 m, due to the continued decrease in coupon processing and the drop in traditional promotion management. Businesses in Spain also declined (down 7.2%) and accounted for 1.5% of the Group's gross profit. In H1 2025, International businesses were down by 10.1% to 4.06 m, accounting for 13.1% of the Group's gross profit. EXPECTED DECREASE IN 2025 HALF-YEAR EARNINGS Based on the half-year closing in progress, the Group forecasts: Drop in adjusted headline PBIT 3 (H1 2024 adjusted for High Connexion: 7.59 m); (H1 2024 adjusted for High Connexion: 7.59 m); Adjusted operating margin3 of about 16% (H1 2024 adjusted for High Connexion: 22.5%). The 2025 half-year earnings will be released on Wednesday, 10 September after market close. A conference call for financial analysts is scheduled for Thursday, 11 September at 10 a.m. ACQUISITION OF PROMOTION ACTIVITIES OF SOGEC AND BUDGETBOX: DEAL COMPLETION EXPECTED BY END-SEPTEMBER 2025 On 17 June 2025, HighCo announced that it has entered exclusive negotiations with SMP SAS, a subsidiary of Groupe La Poste, to acquire certain businesses offering promotional marketing solutions. For background, the deal involves SMP SAS's divestment of the promotion execution and management businesses sold under the Sogec brand as well as its retail media subsidiary BudgetBox. The sale, subject to fulfilment of the usual conditions, should be complete by the end of September 2025. This planned acquisition would strengthen HighCo's positioning in the sector and boost the future growth of its Activation division. IMPLEMENTATION OF PERFORMANCE SHARE PLANS After an eventful first half of the year, marked by the sale of High Connexion and the beginning of exclusive negotiations to acquire the promotion businesses of Sogec and Budgetbox, and with current efforts to stimulate growth, the Management Board decided to implement performance share plans, to benefit its employees among others. This scheme is designed to align employee interests more closely with the Group's performance and value creation. It is part of an active loyalty policy to acknowledge employee engagement and motivate staff members to contribute towards the Group's new growth prospects. The main characteristics of these plans are: Grant of a maximum of 1,940,000 performance shares (9.5% of share capital); (9.5% of share capital); Shares awarded to corporate officers, managers and employees in France; Vesting based on criteria of annual performance and company service from 2025 to 2030 ; ; Vesting of performance shares exclusively by awarding treasury shares to avoid diluting share capital ; ; Impact on 2025 headline PBIT estimated at 1.8 m. 2025 GUIDANCE RAISED Given the reported performance for H1, the business growth forecast for H2, thanks essentially to the positive trends in the Activation France division with the development of HighCo Nifty and HighCo Merely solutions, and the expected growth in the Consulting & In-store media selling division for H2, the Group has raised its guidance for 2025: Gross profit revised from a "decline between 3% and 4%" to a " decline between 1% and 2% " (2024 gross profit adjusted for High Connexion: 61.03 m); revised from a "decline between 3% and 4%" to a " " (2024 gross profit adjusted for High Connexion: 61.03 m); Adjusted operating margin (adjusted headline PBIT/gross profit) revised from "more than 11%" to "approximately 12%" (2024 operating margin adjusted for High Connexion: 12.4%). This guidance does not factor in the current acquisition of the promotion activities of Sogec and BudgetBox, which could be consolidated as of Q4 2025. As a reminder, the disposal of High Connexion will enable HighCo to distribute an exceptional dividend of 1.00 per share, in the form of an interim dividend. The payment date is scheduled for 5 September 2025 (ex-dividend date of 3 September 2025). About HighCo As an expert in marketing and communication, HighCo supports brands and retailers in accelerating the transformation of retail. Listed in compartment C of Euronext Paris, and eligible for SME equity savings plans ("PEA-PME"), HighCo has more than 400 employees. HighCo has achieved a Gold rating from EcoVadis, meaning that the Group is ranked in the top 5% of companies in terms of CSR performance and responsible purchasing. Your contacts Cecile Collina-HueNicolas Cassar Managing DirectorPress Relations +33 1 77 75 65 06+33 4 88 71 35 46 comfi@highco.comn.cassar@highco.com Upcoming events Publications take place after market close . H1 2025 Earnings: Wednesday, 10 September 2025 Conference call on half-year earnings: Thursday, 11 September 2025 at 10 a.m. Q3 2025 and 9-month YTD 2025 Gross Profit: Wednesday, 15 October 2025 Q4 2025 and FY 2025 Gross Profit: Wednesday, 28 January 2026 HighCo is a component stock of the indices CAC Small (CACS), CAC Mid&Small (CACMS), CAC All-Tradable (CACT), Euronext Tech Croissance (FRTPR) and Enternext PEA-PME 150 (ENPME). ISIN: FR0000054231 Reuters: HIGH.PA Bloomberg: HCO FP For further financial information and press releases, go to www.highco.com. This English translation is for the convenience of English-speaking readers. Consequently, the translation may not be relied upon to sustain any legal claim, nor should it be used as the basis of any legal opinion. HighCo expressly disclaims all liability for any inaccuracy herein. The "An Ideal Lawyer's Portrait: Representation Matters" Scholarship promises its winning student $2.5K LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Shook & Stone invites students attending United States trade schools, colleges, universities, and/or graduate schools to apply for the firm's new "An Ideal Lawyer's Portrait: Representation Matters" Scholarship . This scholarship promises $2,500 in academic support to a student who can present a compelling description of today's ideal lawyer. The scholarship selection committee specifically requests that students interested in applying for the "An Ideal Lawyer's Portrait: Representation Matters" Scholarship draft an essay of no more than 1,000 words that goes into detail about the qualities that make an ideal lawyer. The team also invites students to describe lawyers they know who uphold the qualities of ideal legal professionals. Students have until January 1, 2026, to complete their essays and submit them for the team's consideration. Shook & Stone encourages students to carefully read through the scholarship's terms and conditions before submitting their applications, as the firm cannot consider incomplete application forms, AI-generated essays, or applications submitted after the January 1 deadline. The scholarship selection committee reserves up to three months after January 1, 2026, to read students' applications and select a winner. The team will then reach out to that winning student and draft a press release and blog post celebrating their achievements. Students should keep an eye on the Shook & Stone website for these announcements, as the firm cannot contact non-winners after choosing its scholarship recipient. Shook & Stone also requests that neither students nor their families reach out to the firm for questions about the status of a student's application or opinions on a student's essay. The team with Shook & Stone strongly believes in supporting its community and has dedicated hundreds of hours to improving the lives of people in need. Shook & Stone now looks forward to helping a high-achieving student overcome the tuition fees standing between them and their long-term goals. About Shook & Stone Shook & Stone proudly services Las Vegas as a specialized personal injury law firm. Since its founding in 1997, Shook & Stone has offered high-quality legal representation to clients in Las Vegas, greater Southern Nevada, and Reno. The team's efforts have allowed the firm to establish itself as a mover and shaker in the legal field. Clients can trust the team at Shook & Stone to take an individual-first approach to their personal injury cases. Each person who turns to Shook & Stone for legal support will benefit from unique civil strategies designed to make the process of filing an insurance claim or pursuing a personal injury lawsuit more accessible. Anyone struggling to overcome losses from a recent personal injury accident can count on Shook & Stone's dedication to legal excellence to help them recover from their losses. Shook & Stone invites recent accident victims to reach out and book their free personal injury case consultations today . SOURCE: Shook & Stone View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/shook-and-stone-announces-new-representation-matters-scholarship-1051447 Participation certificates (Partizipationsscheine) with a nominal value of CHF 0.001 each will replace the non-voting equity securities (Genussscheine). Reduction of the nominal value of the bearer shares (Inhaberaktien) from CHF 1 to CHF 0.001 in line with the nominal value of the new participation certificates. Participation certificates are economically equivalent to Genussscheine and will be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Discontinuation of printed dividend vouchers and a further transition to intermediated securities, in line with efficient and modern market practices. The exchange of Genussscheine for participation certificates and the reduction as well as the repayment of the nominal value of the bearer shares will be submitted to the shareholders for approval at the 2026 Annual General Meeting Basel, 22 July 2025 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today its Board of Directors' decision to propose to shareholders a modernisation of Roche Holding Ltd's capital structure for approval at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 10 March 2026 ("2026 AGM"). The proposal includes the exchange of the existing non-voting equity securities ("Genussscheine") for participation certificates with a nominal value of CHF 0.001 each. To ensure equal treatment of the participation certificates with the bearer shares in accordance with the articles of incorporation of Roche Holding Ltd, shareholders will be asked to approve a reduction of the nominal value of the bearer shares from CHF 1.00 to CHF 0.001 per share. Subject to shareholder approval, holders of bearer shares will receive, by way of a repayment of nominal value, CHF 0.999 in cash per bearer share, resulting in a total repayment of CHF 106,584,309. The exchange of Genussscheine, an outdated form of equity instrument, for participation certificates follows Roche's articles of incorporation and is an adjustment driven by the revised Swiss corporate law. Participation certificates are economically equivalent to Genussscheine: Following the exchange, the participation certificates replacing the Genussscheine will be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and have the same dividend entitlement as well as the same entitlement to any liquidation proceeds as the bearer shares. Detailed explanations of the proposals of the Board of Directors will be made available together with the shareholder invitation to the 2026 AGM. Subject to the approval by shareholders at the 2026 AGM, the exchange is expected to be implemented shortly after the 2026 AGM. Discontinuation of dividend vouchers After payment of the dividend for the financial year 2025, the repayment of the nominal value reduction amount of the bearer shares and the exchange of the Genussscheine for participation certificates there will be no remaining unused printed dividend vouchers. Roche will cease issuing printed dividend vouchers. Home custodians are urged to submit their printed certificates representing Roche equity securities, together with the remaining dividend vouchers, to a depository bank promptly for conversion into intermediated securities. This will ensure smooth future dividend payments to current home custodians and avoid a potential loss of dividend claims. Dividends will be forfeited if not claimed within five years. No issuance of new printed certificates Roche will cease issuing printed certificates for bearer shares, Genussscheine and participation certificates in the future. Home custodians are asked to submit their printed certificates and dividend vouchers to a depository bank for conversion into intermediated securities and booking into a securities account. For additional details, please refer to the information documentand consult the dedicated FAQ section available here. Roche employees will be informed accordingly. 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 Pharmaceuticals 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. Roche Global Media Relations Phone: +41 61 688 88 88 / 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: +49 172 636 72 62 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 61 687 52 84 e-mail: bruno.eschli@roche.com Dr Sabine Borngraber Phone: +41 61 688 80 27 e-mail: sabine.borngraeber@roche.com (mailto:sabine.borngraeber@roche.com) Dr Birgit Masjost Phone: +41 61 688 48 14 e-mail: birgit.masjost@roche.com Investor Relations North America Loren Kalm Phone: +1 650 225 3217 e-mail: kalm.loren@gene.com Attachment Travel Nurses, Inc. ranked among the top 15 healthcare companies nationwide, solidifying its reputation as an employer of choice in the industry. GERMANTOWN, TN / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Travel Nurses, Inc. is proud to announce its recognition as one of the Top Industry Workplaces for 2025 in the Healthcare category! This national award honors organizations that create exceptional, people-centered cultures, places where employees feel appreciated, inspired and empowered to do their best work. Travel Nurses, Inc. ranked among the top 15 healthcare companies nationwide, solidifying its reputation as an employer of choice in the industry. The recognition reflects the company's deep commitment to supporting healthcare professionals on every level. From its leadership to its clinical teams, Travel Nurses, Inc. is driven by the belief that when caregivers are cared for, everyone thrives. "As a nurse, this recognition is deeply personal. We built Travel Nurses, Inc. to be a place where clinicians feel seen, supported, and empowered because I've stood where they stand," said Cristina Duncan, BSN, RN, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer. "Earning a Top Workplaces award means our mission is resonating not just with our team but with the professionals caring for patients every day." The Top Workplaces awards are based entirely on employee feedback gathered through a research-backed engagement survey, making this honor a true reflection of the company's culture and values. To learn more about Travel Nurses, Inc., visit travelnursesinc.com. Additional details about the award and its selection process can be found at Top Workplaces. About Travel Nurses, Inc. Travel Nurses, Inc., in Germantown, Tennessee, provides quality healthcare professionals to facilities across the nation. Our commitment to transparency ensures that all professionals, not just nurses, can confidently accept any assignment without financial uncertainties. We were a top-rated agency 2023-2025 on Great Recruiters, USA Today Top Workplace, a recipient of the Inc. Best Places to Work award two years in a row, Inc. 5000 and are Joint Commission-accredited (formerly JCAHO). To find out more about Travel Nurses, Inc, please visit our website at travelnursesinc.com. and follow us on social media at @travelnursesinc on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. SOURCE: Travel Nurses Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/travel-nurses-inc.-named-2025-top-healthcare-industry-workplace-1049550 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / FastSensor, a leader in AI-powered analytics for physical spaces, today announced the launch of its innovative mmWave People Flow Tracking solution. This cutting-edge technology is set to transform the retail media landscape by providing unprecedented accuracy and privacy-safe insights into shopper behavior within brick-and-mortar stores, finally bridging the gap between digital and physical campaigns. FastSensor Brings AI-Powered mmWave Tracking to Retail Environments FastSensor's new mmWave technology powers in-store analytics for Retail Media Networks, enabling brands and retailers to measure impressions, dwell time, and engagement-without cameras or personal data. As Retail Media Networks become a vital channel for brand engagement, the ability to measure impact in physical retail environments has remained a significant challenge. FastSensor's new mmWave solution directly addresses this by capturing real-time shopper movement, dwell times, and engagement without relying on cameras or compromising personal privacy. "The future of retail media demands granular, actionable insights, not just in the digital realm, but in physical stores where the vast majority of purchases still occur," said Kalon Welch, EVP of Business Development, FastSensor. "Our mmWave People Flow Tracking solution delivers exactly that. It's a game-changer for retailers and brand partners seeking to validate impressions, optimize campaign performance through A/B testing, and truly understand the shopper journey with unmatched accuracy and complete privacy compliance." The FastSensor mmWave solution stands out due to its core advantages: Privacy-Safe & Anonymous: Unlike video solutions, mmWave captures only body movement and presence, never capturing or storing any Personally Identifiable Information (PII). It is fully GDPR and CCPA compliant by design, ensuring complete shopper anonymity. High Accuracy in All Conditions: The technology tracks detailed shopper movement, dwell, and engagement even in crowded or low-visibility areas where other solutions struggle. Fast, Scalable Deployment: Each compact device covers up to a 50-ft diameter, and fits easily into high-impact locations such as entryways, product aisles, endcaps or promotional zones. With simple power and LTE connectivity, it requires minimal calibration and runs independently of store infrastructure. With FastSensor's mmWave solution, retailers and brand partners can gain critical metrics to quantify attention and engagement: Impressions: Understand the exact number of people who passed by a specific display or area. Stop Rate: Measure the percentage of passersby who stopped and engaged with an activation. Campaign Lift: Perform direct comparisons of engagement before, during, and after a campaign to prove ROI. This powerful spatial intelligence empowers Retail Media Networks to deliver media-grade measurement for in-store campaigns, providing the same accountability and precision as online advertising. Key applications across the store include Endcap & Display Tracking, Entrance Flow & Conversion, Engagement & Ad Effectiveness, and Pop-Up Performance analysis. By integrating mmWave data with sales and media delivery, FastSensor enables the creation of closed-loop attribution models, offering advertisers premium reporting on how their in-store presence directly impacted traffic and engagement. FastSensor is committed to helping brands and retailers bridge online and offline metrics, equipping partners with the robust data they crave to build stronger, more effective retail media businesses. About FastSensor: FastSensor is an AI-powered ecosystem that provides real-time foot traffic and customer journey analytics for physical spaces, including retail environments, trade shows, and experiential activations. By leveraging AI powered advanced sensor technology, FastSensor delivers actionable insights into visitor behavior, enabling businesses to optimize operations, improve customer experiences, and drive measurable ROI, all while prioritizing consumer privacy. Learn more at www.fastsensor.com SOURCE: FastSensor View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/computers-technology-and-internet/fastsensor-launches-privacy-safe-mmwave-tech-to-power-media-grade-1051328 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. (CSE: NOP) ("NOP" or the "Company"), a B.C. based company engaged in the exploration, in Nevada, for organic, sedimentary raw rock phosphate, is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated June 20, 2025, May 22, 2025, and May 13, 2025; it has closed the third and final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for aggregate proceeds of $15,000 (the "Third Tranche") through the issuance of 500,000 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.03 per Unit. Together with proceeds from the first tranche and second tranche the Company has raised total proceeds of $341,448 in the Offering. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Share") and one Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one additional Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.05 per Warrant Share for a period of sixty months following the date of issuance. No fees were paid in connection with the Third Tranche. Together with the first and second tranche of the private placement, the Company paid aggregate finder's fees of $19,590 and issued 805,000 finder's units (the "Finder's Units") to certain finders. Each Finder's Unit consists of one Share and one finder's Share purchase warrant (each, a "Finder's Warrant"), with each Finder's Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one additional Share (each, a "Finder's Warrant Share") at a price of $0.05 per Finder's Warrant Share for a period of sixty months following the date of issuance. The aggregate proceeds of the Third Tranche are anticipated to be used for advancement of the Company's Murdock Property and for general working capital. Each Warrant and Finder's Warrant will be subject to an acceleration provision providing that, if the volume weighted average price for the Company's common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE", or such other exchange on which the common shares may be traded at such time) is equal to or greater than $0.08 for a period of ten (10) consecutive trading days at any time after the Date of Issue, the Company can accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by disseminating a news release advising the holders of the acceleration and, in such case, the Warrants will expire on the thirtieth day after the date of such notice. All securities issued in connection with the Third Tranche are subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after the date of issuance, as set out in National Instrument 45-102 - Resale of Securities. The Offering remains subject to regulatory approval and the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"). None of the securities sold in connection with the Third Tranche have been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and no such securities may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. 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 the United States or any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. NOP is a junior exploration company with a sedimentary rock phosphate property (the "Murdock Property") hosting a nearly flat lying sedimentary bed of known phosphate mineralization in NE Nevada. The increasing interest in organic and sustainable agriculture practices has contributed to the demand for organic fertilizers, including those derived from rock phosphate. Organic rock phosphate is often marketed as a fertilizer that not only provides phosphorus but also contributes to overall soil health. The Issuer aims to be one of the only certified organic rock phosphate producers with large scale potential in North America. The Murdock Property is situated adjacent to a main highway and the rail head to California. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services providers have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information ("FLSI") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. FLSI may include expectations, anticipations, beliefs, opinions, plans, intentions, estimates, forecasts, projections, guidance or other similar statements and information that are not historical facts. All statements which are not historical statements are considered FLSI. Forward- looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed Offering and the anticipated use of proceeds of the Offering. All FLSI is based on assumptions, which may prove inaccurate, and subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's public securities filings, which may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated or implied in FLSI. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance or value on FLSI. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any FLSI in this news release are reasonable at the present time, it can give no assurance that such FLSI will prove to be correct. Any FLSI in this news release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to publicly update or revise any FLSI, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. Any FLSI in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259653 SOURCE: Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / This July, AEG's People for the Planet Business Resource Group (BRG) turned commitment into action, activating a series of community-driven events across four cities in honor of Plastic Free July. From riverbanks to urban parks, the message is clear: sustainability starts with showing up. In Cleveland, the month kicked off with the second annual River Cleanup at Jacob's Pavilion. AEG employee volunteers gathered along the Cuyahoga River, armed with gloves, trash grabbers, and a shared mission to protect their local environment. As they walked the boardwalk and park, they collected plastic bottles, wrappers, and other debris that threatened the health of the river. The event wasn't just about cleaning up-it was about reconnecting with nature and inspiring others to do the same. Next, in Los Angeles, the focus shifted from plastic to trees. In collaboration with TreePeople, volunteers gathered at Huntington Park for a morning of urban forestry. They cared for recently planted trees by removing invasive weeds, watering, mulching, and adjusting support stakes. The work was hands-on and humbling, a reminder that climate action can be as simple-and as powerful-as nurturing a tree in your own neighborhood. Later in the month, the movement is heading west to Denver, where People for the Planet will team up with Keep Denver Beautiful for a regional street cleanup around the Mission Ballroom and AEG Presents and AXS offices. The event will bring together employees who will work together to remove litter from sidewalks, parking lots, and green spaces. As the month draws to a close, the final activation is scheduled for Detroit, where People for the Planet will join Conscious City Cleanup for their 3rd Annual Cass Park Cleanup. With music playing and community energy high, volunteers will collect trash while enjoying a morning walk through the historic neighborhood. Across all four cities, the impact is tangible. Dozens of bags of waste are being removed from public spaces. Trees are being tended to. Conversations are being sparked. And most importantly, a sense of shared purpose is being ignited. Plastic Free July serves as more than a campaign-it is a catalyst for connection, education, and action. Through these events, AEG's People for the Planet BRG demonstrates that environmental change doesn't require grand gestures. It starts with people-coming together, rolling up their sleeves, and doing the work. In collaboration with TreePeople, AEG employees gathered at Huntington Park for a morning of urban forestry. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from AEG on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: AEG Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/about-aeg Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: AEG View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/travel/four-cities-one-planet-aeg%e2%80%99s-people-for-the-planet-brg-mobilizes-members-for-plastic-free-ju-1051530 TORONTO, ONTARIO / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Ontario Business Central Inc., a trusted provider of online business registration, incorporation, and corporate filing services, has been honoured with the 2025 Consumer Choice Award in the Business Registration Services in Canada category for Toronto Central. This recognition celebrates the company's exceptional track record-since 1992-in empowering entrepreneurs through accessible, compliant, and efficient business setup solutions. Ontario Business Central has supported over 300,000 entrepreneurs across Canada-handling everything from provincial and federal incorporations to NUANS name searches, business registrations and renewals, corporate records updates, extra-provincial filings, dissolutions and corporate searches. Decades of Seamless Service for Canadian Entrepreneurs Since 1992, Ontario Business Central has been a trusted partner for entrepreneurs across Canada. The company offers a comprehensive range of services to help individuals start a business, in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and federally within Canada. As part of the process, Ontario Business Central provides assistance with business name searches and domain registration.Beyond registrations, Ontario Business Central delivers a full suite of corporate solutions-ranging from corporate searches, changes to both registered and incorporated businesses, corporate supplies and so much more. They assist with ongoing compliance assistance-so clients can maintain good standing with confidence and ease. Transforming Business Registration with Technology & Expertise Ontario Business Central pairs its user-friendly online platform and responsive customer support with professional guidance every step of the way. From name selection to NUANS searches, BN/HST registrations, and filing completion, clients benefit from fast, transparent, and reliable service. Automated reminders further support compliance and provide peace of mind. "When I founded Ontario Business Central in 1992, I aimed to simplify the journey of business ownership in Canada," said Laura Harvey, Founder and CEO of Ontario Business Central Inc. "This Consumer Choice Award confirms that our efforts matter. It's deeply rewarding to be recognized for simplifying entrepreneurship and earning the trust of so many business owners." Excellence Anchored in Trust and Compliance Operating from its Toronto-based headquarters on University Avenue, Ontario Business Central holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and is an authorized intermediary across federal and provincial jurisdictions. The Consumer Choice Award reflects independent consumer feedback, solid brand reputation, and unwavering service excellence. Invested in Entrepreneurial Success Beyond core services, Ontario Business Central enriches the entrepreneurial landscape through educational content, including informational blog posts. In February 2019, the Ontario Business Central YouTube Channel was created as a comprehensive resource for individuals seeking clear, informative guidance on topics such as business registration, incorporation, business naming, taxation, and regulatory compliance. With an extensive library of educational content, it has become a valuable tool for entrepreneurs across Canada. One of our most notable series, "Taking the Leap," features in-depth interviews with clients who have launched their businesses through Ontario Business Central. These candid conversations explore the challenges, successes, and meaningful experiences that come with entrepreneurship-offering valuable perspective and encouragement to those considering starting their own business. Made in Canada is a podcast for the dreamers, doers, and builders shaping the future of Canadian business. Hosted by the team at Ontario Business Central, each episode dives into the real stories behind Canada's entrepreneurs - from bold side hustles to full-fledged companies. We explore what it takes to start and grow a business in Canada today, sharing insights, inspiration, and advice from those who've taken the leap. Whether you're just starting out or scaling your next big idea, this podcast is your roadmap to making it happen - right here at home. Made in Canada can be found on Spotify or Amazon Music among other major streaming platforms. For more information on business registrations and incorporation options, CLICK HERE or visit www.ontariobusinesscentral.ca. About Consumer Choice Award: Consumer Choice Award has been recognizing and promoting business excellence in North America since 1987. Its rigorous selection process ensures that only the most outstanding service providers in each category earn this prestigious recognition. Visit www.ccaward.com to learn more. Contact Information: Sumi Saleh Communications Manager ssaleh@ccaward.com SOURCE: Consumer Choice Award View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/toronto-centrals-ontario-business-central-inc.-receives-2025-con-1051485 LINK TO ASSETS WASHINGTON, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Afro+ Fest , the East Coast's first large-scale festival celebrating the full spectrum of global Black music and culture, will debut Sunday,August 31,2025, at RFK Festival Grounds in Washington, D.C. The inaugural lineup features superstar headliners Gunna and Asake, leading a cross-continental roster of A-list talent for an expected crowd of 20,000 fans. Powered by the ethos "Africa, plus more," Afro+ Fest offers a one-day, all-ages experience that honors both the future and the legacy of Black music-hip-hop, Afrobeats, soca, dancehall, R&B and amapiano-alongside immersive art installations, global cuisine, fashion activations and a marketplace of Black-owned brands and local creators. 2025 Lineup Highlights Gunna Asake (closing the festival) Gabzy DJ Tunez Foggie Raw Machel Montano Ricky Platinum Shatta Wale Shenseea TXC Uncle Waffles Wande Coal Special Guest: Shy Glizzy (D.C.'s own hometown hero) A Founder's Vision "This is the block party we've dreamed about for a decade," said founder and executive producer Michael Awosanya. "With the support of Mayor Muriel Bowser and Events DC, Afro+ Fest is bringing the full diaspora to RFK-music, food, culture-driven by the people and sounds that shape us." What began as a college dream has grown into a cultural movement-created by and for the communities that have defined Black music worldwide. On August 31, Afro+ Fest is set to become Washington, D.C.'s boldest new tradition. "The festival's impact will be felt not only through the music, but in the real opportunities it creates for local businesses and visionaries," Awosanya added. Festival Details Date/Time: Sunday , August 31 , 2025 | 12 PM - 11 PM , , | - Location: RFK Festival Grounds, 2500 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC Tickets: On sale now at theafroplus.com Instagram/TikTok/Facebook/X: @TheAfroPlus PRESS & MEDIA CREDENTIALS For all media inquiries, including requests for press credentials, hi-res images, artist bios, site maps, and sponsor materials, accredited journalists and creators are invited to contact Asma Amani of Asma Amani PR at asma@asmaamanipr.com or +1 (703) 286-9084. About Afro+ Fest Afro+ Fest is the East Coast's first large-scale festival dedicated to the full spectrum of global Black music and culture. Founded by DMV-area creatives and community leaders, Afro+ Fest aims to amplify Black sounds, unite the diaspora, and foster economic and creative opportunity through music, art, and entrepreneurship. It is a gathering where every member of the diaspora-and every ally who loves Black creativity-can come together in joyful celebration. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2736098/Afro__Fest_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/gunna-asake-to-headline-afro-festdcs-first-festival-for-global-black-music-aug-31-302511135.html MEXICO CITY, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cobre del Mayo, S.A. de C.V. ("CDM") announced today that it has commenced an offer (the "Exchange Offer") to Eligible Holders described below to exchange any and all of its outstanding $146,558,173 aggregate principal amount of Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2030 (ISIN: XS2343881855 and XS2343881939; Common Codes: 234388185 and 234388193) (the "Existing Notes") for, New Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2032 (the "New Notes"). The purpose of this Exchange Offer is to better align the Company's debt service requirements with its anticipated cash generation capabilities. Going forward, the Company intends to use its cash flow to service senior debt, optimize its operations, resolve contingent risks and increase levels of working capital. In this context, the Company does not expect to be in a position to make any payments in respect of the Existing Notes outstanding after the Exchange Offer. The New Notes will be fully, unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by certain direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of our parent company, Frontera Copper Corporation, S.A.P.I. de C.V. ("Frontera"), but will not be guaranteed by Frontera. BCP Securities, Inc. is acting as Dealer Manager for the Exchange Offer. Ipreo LLC is acting as Exchange Agent and Information Agent for the Exchange Offer. Available Documents and Other Details The New Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the Exchange Offer is only being made to registered holders of Existing Notes outside of the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act or otherwise to, or for the account or benefit of, non-U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S) in accordance with Regulation S ("Eligible Holders"). Eligible Holders who wish to review the Confidential Exchange Offer Memorandum, dated July 22, 2025 (the "Statement"), should contact Ipreo LLC, the Exchange Agent and the Information Agent for the Exchange Offer, at 55Water Street, 39th Floor, New York, New York 10041, Attention: Aaron Dougherty, e-mail: ipreo-exchangeoffer@ihsmarkit.com, banks and brokers call at +1 (212) 849-3880, toll-free at +1 (888) 593-9546. Eligible Holders may also contact James Harper of BCP Securities, Inc. at +1 (203) 629-2186 or at jharper@bcpsecurities.com. The complete terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer are set forth in the informational documents relating to the Exchange Offer. This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States or elsewhere. The New Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. The Exchange Offer is not being made to any holder of Existing Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cobre-del-mayo-sa-de-cv-announces-exchange-offer-302511147.html Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Suncor Energy (TSX: SU) (NYSE: SU) will release its second quarter financial results on August 5, 2025 before 5:00 p.m. MT (7:00 p.m. ET). A webcast to review the second quarter will be held on August 6, 2025 at 7:30 a.m. MT (9:30 a.m. ET). Representing management will be Rich Kruger, President and Chief Executive Officer and Kris Smith, Chief Financial Officer. A question and answer period with analysts will follow brief remarks from management. Troy Little, Senior Vice President, External Affairs will host the call. To listen to the webcast please follow the instructions provided at https://www.suncor.com/en-ca/investors/events-and-presentations. The event will be archived for 90 days. Suncor Energy is Canada's leading integrated energy company. Suncor's operations include oil sands development, production and upgrading; offshore oil production; petroleum refining in Canada and the U.S.; and the company's Petro-CanadaTM retail and wholesale distribution networks (including Canada's Electric HighwayTM, a coast-to-coast network of fast-charging EV stations). Suncor is developing petroleum resources while advancing the transition to a lower-emissions future through investments in lower emissions intensity power, renewable feedstock fuels and projects targeting emissions intensity. Suncor also conducts energy trading activities focused primarily on the marketing and trading of crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products and power. Suncor's common shares (symbol: SU) are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. For more information about Suncor, visit our website at suncor.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259641 SOURCE: Suncor Energy Inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Clear Blue Technologies International Inc. (TSXV: CBLU) ("Clear Blue" or the "Company"), the Smart Off-Grid Company, is pleased to announce that Mr. Greg Ross has joined Clear Blue's Board of Directors. Mr. Ross is an award-winning investment executive bringing over 35 years of senior management experience across North American insurance and asset management companies. "I am honored to join Clear Blue's board at a critical time in the Company's evolution," stated Greg Ross. "The Company's smart off-grid technologies play an important role in sustainable, mission-critical infrastructure by reducing both emissions and costs for customers. I look forward to leveraging my past success in public and private financings, and debt restructuring as the Company enters this next phase of growth." Mr. Ross is currently President of Big Red Management Consulting Ltd., where he provides investment advisory to various clients. He previously served as President and CEO of Foresters Asset Management prior to its acquisition by Fiera Capital Corporation (TSX: FSZ). Mr. Ross also held the same role at Aegon Capital Management and was Chief Investment Officer at Transamerica Life Canada, where he received the Lipper awards in 2012 and 2014. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Toronto. In addition, Clear Blue has signed a service agreement ("Agreement") with Ontario-based Panolia Investor Relations Inc. ("Panolia"), to develop and execute a comprehensive investor relations program. The program's goal is to broaden the Company's shareholder base, manage investor communications and expectations, and provide Clear Blue with strategic capital markets advisory. "Clear Blue is a unique company benefiting from several trends in distributed energy, satellite internet, and telecommunications infrastructure investment," stated Brandon Chow, Principal & Founder at Panolia. "With the recent restructuring completed and key commercial partnerships in place, I believe there is a compelling long-term opportunity. I am excited to help the team execute their next phase of investor relations efforts." Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company will pay Panolia a monthly fee of $3,500, plus applicable taxes and reasonable expenses, on a month-to-month basis. The Company is at arm's length from Panolia and the costs of the activities under the Agreement are expected to be funded with cash on hand. The Agreement remains in effect until either party terminates the Agreement by providing the other party 30 days' prior written notice of termination. Also pursuant to the Agreement, 80,000 options to purchase common shares will be granted to Mr. Brandon Chow, principal and sole shareholder of Panolia. These options are granted effective July 22, 2025, and will vest in quarterly instalments over a 12-month period at a price of $0.09, which represent the closing price of the previous trading day, and expire after five years. All the foregoing stock options are subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's Stock Option Plan. Panolia confirmed to the Company that neither Panolia nor Mr. Chow currently owns, directly or indirectly, any securities in the Company or any right to acquire any securities of the Company. Mr. Chow intends to acquire, through open-market transactions, additional Common Shares of the Company for personal investment purposes. The Agreement is subject to the regulatory acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. About Clear Blue Technologies International Clear Blue Technologies provides Smart Off-Grid power solutions and services for mission-critical infrastructure such as telecommunications, Internet of Things (IoT), and street lighting. The Company's technology enables cost savings, predictive maintenance, and reliable power in remote or challenging environments. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the following: that the investor relations program will broaden the Company's shareholder base, and manage investor expectations; that the recent restructuring completed and key commercial partnerships in place will lead to a long-term opportunity. Forward-looking information is based on information available at the time and/or management's good-faith belief with respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to the risks, uncertainties and assumptions described under "Financial Instruments" and "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, nor does it undertake any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise, except if required by applicable laws. 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 the release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259666 SOURCE: Clear Blue Technologies International Inc. Illinois Media School - Chicago has earned the prestigious title of top-rated media trade school in USA TODAY's "America's Top Vocational Schools 2025" rankings under Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Illinois Media School - Chicago has earned the prestigious title of top-rated media trade school in USA TODAY's "America's Top Vocational Schools 2025" rankings under Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs. It's the only media school to make the list, a testament to our commitment to excellence in media education. Students in Action IMS Students This recognition underscores the school's dedication to providing exceptional hands-on education to aspiring media professionals. The rankings, developed in partnership with Statista, evaluated schools based on key factors such as graduation rates, graduates' salaries, time to pay off net costs, social mobility, and diversity. "We are incredibly proud to be recognized as the top Media trade school in Chicago," said Lee Mueller, Campus Director of Illinois Media School - Chicago. "Robert Mills, Founder added, "This ranking reflects our commitment to providing high-quality, hands-on education that prepares students for successful careers in media." Located in downtown Chicago, Illinois Media School boasts industry-relevant facilities designed to help students thrive in media production and broadcasting. From a high-definition TV production studio with Tri-Caster switching capabilities to fully equipped audio and podcasting studios, our infrastructure is built for creatives to experience hands-on learning. You'll also find video editing labs, digital content studios, and even two on-air internet radio stations. These resources provide aspiring professionals with real-world experience, setting them up for success in the fast-paced media industry. "Nancy Rodriguez, CEO of the Beonair Network of Media Schools commented, "Our faculty and staff are dedicated to fostering a supportive learning environment where students can thrive and achieve their full potential." The Illinois Media School is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and is approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education. Additionally, the school was recognized with the ACCSC School of Distinction Award for 2022-2023, further highlighting its commitment to educational excellence. With hands-on experience in our immersive practical labs and studios and the unwavering guidance of our expert faculty, we provide an environment designed to foster skills, build confidence, and deliver real-world results. At every step, we're dedicated to helping each student turn their passion into a thriving career." shared Mueller. For those interested in joining a community of media enthusiasts and pursuing a career in communication and broadcasting, Illinois Media School offers Federal Financial Assistance Programs for qualifying students, making these opportunities accessible to a diverse group of learners. About Illinois Media School Illinois Media School, located in downtown Chicago, specializes in providing hands-on education in media production and broadcasting. Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), the school prepares students for dynamic and successful careers in media. With industry-relevant facilities and experienced faculty, Illinois Media School connects students to both practical experience and industry opportunities. For more information, visit https://www.BeOnAir.com. Contact Information John Girard National Director of Marketing and Brand Management for the Beonair Network of Media Schools jgirard@beonair.com 5189561385 SOURCE: M & S Media Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/education/illinois-media-school-chicago-named-%231-media-trade-school-by-usa-today-1051674 India received the first batch of AH-64E Apache helicopters for the Army on Tuesday after a 15-month delay. These advanced multi-role choppers will bolster Indias defence posture along the western border. Equipped with cutting-edge weaponry and radar, the Apaches will provide close air support and anti-tank capabilities in sensitive combat zones (File) A Greek Apache helicopter flies as Nato holds training exercise 'Immediate Response' drills with host nations at Krivolak army base, North Macedonia, June 2, 2025. Reuters India took delivery of the first batch of three AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for the Army on Tuesday (July 22, 2025), reinforcing its defence capabilities, particularly along the western frontier. The delivery long delayed by supply chain disruptions and technical issues is the result of a government-to-government foreign military sales agreement signed with the United States in 2020. The $600 million deal will see the Indian Army receive six state-of-the-art multi-role combat helicopters in two batches. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Defence Ministry officials, the second batch is expected to be delivered in November. This handover follows a phone conversation on July 1 between Indias Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, where both sides reviewed ongoing defence cooperation. The Armys 451 Aviation Squadron, based at Nagtalao in Jodhpur, was raised in March 2024 specifically for operating these Apache helicopters. However, due to a delivery delay of more than 15 months, the squadron has been without its primary aircraft since its inception. The helicopters were initially expected between May and June 2024 but were later rescheduled for December. Now, with deliveries beginning shortly, operational deployment is finally within reach. Why India needed the new Apaches These Apaches are expected to significantly enhance the Armys capability along the Line of Control and the International Border with Pakistan, where tensions and troop presence have risen in recent years, including under the ambit of Operation Sindoor. Their deployment is designed to provide rapid-response attack power and direct air support to ground units operating in sensitive terrain, including desert and semi-arid zones. The Army views the AH-64E Apaches as central to strengthening its aviation corps strike capability. Indias acquisition is intended to complement the 22 Apache helicopters already operated by the Indian Air Force under a separate agreement signed in 2015. Unlike the Air Forces use of Apaches in broader combat missions, the Armys units are tailored for tactical battlefield roles such as close air support and anti-armour strikes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What we know about the Apache AH-64E The AH-64E Apache, also known as the Apache Guardian, is the latest and most advanced version of the renowned Apache helicopter lineage. Globally recognised as one of the most capable multi-role combat helicopters, it forms the backbone of the US Armys attack aviation fleet and is in use by a growing number of international forces. As of today, over 1,280 Apache helicopters are in active service worldwide, having collectively logged more than five million flight hours. Of these, more than 1.3 million hours were recorded in combat operations, establishing the platforms credibility in real-world scenarios. The AH-64E variant, which will be in production until at least 2028, is engineered to remain operational until the 2060s. With its Version 6 (v6) upgrade, the AH-64E brings improved sensors, software, avionics, and weapons systems. The Apache is built around the concept of Multi-Domain Operations (MDO), integrating seamlessly into a connected battlefield environment. Its Modular Open Systems Architecture allows it to adapt to new technologies and battlefield requirements. Boeing, the manufacturer of the Apache, has focused on the aircrafts agility, reach, and resilience. The platform supports a wide range of roles, from anti-tank warfare and close air support to reconnaissance and suppression of enemy air defences. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What the Apache Guardian brings to the battlefield The Apache Guardian is equipped with some of the most sophisticated firepower and avionics in modern rotary-wing aviation. The aircraft carries a 30mm M230 Chain Gun, capable of firing up to 625 armour-penetrating rounds per minute. In addition, it can be fitted with up to 16 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and air-to-air Stinger missiles for both ground and aerial threats. It also supports up to 76 70mm unguided or laser-guided rockets for area suppression. One of its key technological strengths is the AN/APG-78 Longbow fire-control radar (FCR), mounted on a dome above the rotor. This advanced radar system enables the Apache to detect targets behind obstacles such as terrain and structures. The radar can simultaneously track 128 targets and engage 16 of them in under 30 seconds. According to Boeing, the modernised Apache builds on the mature, combat-proven AH-64 platform. Graphic via Boeing The aircraft also features the Modernised Target Acquisition and Designation System (MTADS), allowing pilots and gunners to carry out precision targeting using day/night sights and laser designators. The pilot night vision sensor offers helmet-mounted infrared vision, which is crucial for night operations or in low-light conditions. Another major asset is its ability to integrate with unmanned aerial systems. The Apache can control drones such as the MQ-1C Gray Eagle, providing extended surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It can receive and transmit real-time battlefield imagery, aiding in both tactical planning and rapid engagement. Designed for survivability, the Apache Guardian features crashworthy external fuel tanks, in-flight refuelling capability, and redundant systems to maintain performance in combat situations. An auxiliary internal fuel tank can be used in place of ammunition for extended-range missions, a critical feature in Indias vast terrain, especially in desert regions. The helicopters digital cockpit, advanced communication systems, and tactical internet integration make it a highly connected and interoperable platform suitable for modern joint-force operations. Why this move lends a hand in Indias defence production ambitions Indias Apache acquisition programme is also tied to its broader objective of promoting domestic defence manufacturing. Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL), a joint venture between Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems, delivered the first fuselage for the Apache helicopter in January 2023 from its facility in Hyderabad. This contribution supports the Indian governments Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and reflects an ongoing effort to build indigenous capability in high-end defence platforms. While the current delivery includes six helicopters, the Indian Army has expressed interest in acquiring an additional 18 Apaches in the future. These plans are still under evaluation and subject to further approvals. The helicopters are being acquired under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, which facilitates direct government-to-government procurement of American military platforms. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In addition to the airframes, the package includes training, munitions, spare parts, electro-optical systems, radar equipment, certification and long-term logistical support. Some estimates suggest that the total deal value, including add-ons, could range between 4,100 crore and 6,700 crore (approximately $600 million to $930 million). Also Watch: With inputs from agencies Bangladesh witnessed one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent memory after a Chinese-origin fighter jet crashed into a school and college campus in Dhaka, killing over 25 people, including several children, and injuring more than 170 others. A high-level investigation is underway to uncover the exact cause of the fatal crash, as the Bangladesh air forces Chinese-origin F7 BGI plane is under the scanner On lookers watch the site through a damaged window, after an air force training aircraft crashed into a building belong to Milestone School and College campus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 22, 2025. Reuters Monday turned into a day of mourning and shock in Bangladesh after a military jet crashed into a school campus in Dhaka, killing over 25 people, including the pilot and several children, and injuring more than 170 others. The crash, one of the deadliest aviation disasters in the countrys recent memory, took place shortly after the Chinese-origin F-7 BGI fighter jet took off from the Air Force Base AK Khandaker. Within minutes, it plummeted into Milestone School and College in Uttara, just as students were lining up to leave for the day. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Scenes of chaos unfolded almost instantly, smoke billowed over the site, flames engulfed parts of the school, and screams echoed through the building. Parents, locals, and emergency responders rushed in to pull the injured from the rubble. The government has since declared a national day of mourning, while a high-level investigation is underway to uncover what led to the fatal crash. Heres what we know so far. Saw little children running, saw bodies on fire Purnima Das, a teacher at Milestone School and College, had just returned to the faculty room after finishing a class when a loud bang shook the building. Startled, she rushed out to understand what had happened only to be met with a horrifying scene. Flames had engulfed the school corridor, and smoke was quickly filling the two-storey building. The section of the school that was hit housed mostly primary and secondary students. By then, 80 per cent of the children in that building had gone home. And then there was a terrible noise in the building, before I knew it, I saw little children running. I saw that their bodies were on fire," Das wrote in a post on Facebook. 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 In the chaos, she ran to the washroom and splashed water on some of the students who had suffered burns, hoping to relieve their pain. But panic and fire were already spreading rapidly across the school. When I came out of the room, I saw so much fire. The entire corridor was on fire. Just two feet away, a colleague of mine had run into the fire. He fell at my feet, pleading to be saved. His whole body was burned. I stood there like a stone. Someone pulled me away, and we were taken out," she recalled. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The aircraft involved was an F-7BGI, an advanced model of Chinas J-7 fighter jet, which had been on a training flight and took off from the air force base, just about 11 kilometres away. A desperate search for the loved ones The emotional and psychological impact of the crash has deeply scarred students and their families, many of whom witnessed the unthinkable. Farhan Hasan, a student who had just stepped out of an exam room, said he saw the jet hit the school with his own eyes. The plane hit the school building right before my eyes, he told BBC Bangla. My best friend, the one I was in the exam hall with, he died right in front of my eyes. Women react at the site of a At the crash site, panic quickly turned into desperation. Families scrambled for news about their children, and chaos unfolded both on the ground and at nearby hospitals. Jewel, a father who goes by one name, was among those waiting in agony to find out whether his daughter had survived. The plane crashed on the building where my daughter was. My wife called me, but I was praying so I could not pick up, he told the AP. When I came here I saw there was a huge fire. There was a dead body of a child. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Fortunately, his daughter made it out alive. But many others were not as lucky. I saw many other children suffering from burns, he said. Outside the school and at nearby medical centres, panic unfolded. Ambulances, rickshaws, and even the arms of firefighters and parents were used to carry the injured. Members of Bangladesh Airforce work at the site, after an air force training aircraft crashed into a building belong to Milestone School and College campus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 22, 2025. Reuters Several victims were rushed to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), while others were transported via Air Force helicopters and emergency vans, local media reported. Rescue operations saw the army, air force, police, and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) jointly carrying out rescue and relief efforts, according to the Dhaka Tribune. Bangladeshs interim Prime Minister, Muhammad Yunus, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and pledged a full investigation. He announced on social media that an emergency hotline had also been set up at the school to assist families. PM Narendra Modi also expressed solidarity with Bangladesh in a statement, saying, Our hearts go out to the bereaved families. India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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, reports AP. A blood donation camp has been opened at a specialised burn hospital where most of the injured were being treated. Experts point to the Chinese jets poor track record Authorities say the fatal crash that turned a school campus into a site of devastation was caused by a technical failure. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate, the Bangladesh Air Force FT-7 BGI fighter jet developed a technical malfunction shortly after it took off. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md Towkir Islam Sagar, tried to steer the jet away from the densely populated neighbourhood of Uttara. But despite his efforts, the aircraft ended up crashing into a two-storey school building, killing himself and many others on the ground. The ISPR also confirmed that a high-level investigation committee has been formed by the Air Force to determine what exactly went wrong. However, aviation experts are already pointing towards the aircrafts troubling history. A former Bangladesh Air Force officer told Dhaka Tribune on condition of anonymity that the Chinese origin of the plane may be linked to the crash. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bangladesh Air Force J-7BGI in 2018. Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons Chinese aircraft are one of the main reasons behind these repeated crashes, yet the Air Force continues to use them due to various constraints, the retired officer said. Military data cited by the same report reveal that out of 11 crashes over the past two decades, seven involved China-manufactured aircraft. The remaining four were linked to three Russian-made jets and one Czech-made. The aircraft involved, the F-7 BGI, is a Chinese-made light, multi-role fighter jet developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. Designed to perform a wide range of missions, from air-to-air combat and aerial bombing to reconnaissance and defence suppression, this model was regarded as an upgrade when Bangladesh purchased 36 of them in 2022, customised to meet military requirements. Others say that poor urban planning and violations of safety regulations may have contributed to the disaster. The area where the plane crashed used to be clear land, but unchecked development has transformed it into a densely populated area. Referring to the incident, a retired air official told Dhaka Tribune, Towkir (Pilot) was approaching for landing, and the crash site was near his middle marker line This area should have been cleared, but urban development took place on what used to be an empty canal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He added that basic flight safety protocols were not being followed. Regardless of the location, at least an eight-nautical-mile obstacle-free fly zone is required for safe landings. But we are not following these rules. Even our approach lines are obstructed by numerous obstacles, he said. On Tuesday, a national day of mourning is being observed across Bangladesh with flags flown at half-mast in all government offices, semi-government bodies, autonomous institutions, and educational campuses. With input from agencies A deadly F-7 fighter jet crash in Dhaka has killed 27, including 25 schoolchildren, putting the spotlight on Chinas ageing F-7 aircraft, which is still in service across Asia and Africa. With a history of crashes and maintenance concerns, many are now asking: Why are these outdated jets still part of air fleets? 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. File Image/Reuters A Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) fighter aircraft crashed into a school building in Dhaka on Monday (July 21, 2025), killing 27 people including 25 schoolchildren and injuring over 100 others. The incident has drawn attention to the safety record of Chinas F-7 fighter jets, which remain in service across several countries despite concerns about their ageing technology, reliability issues and history of mechanical failures. As investigations continue, aviation experts and military analysts are questioning the continued use of the Chinese-made F-7 series, especially in high-density civilian areas and for critical military operations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What happened in Dhaka The F-7 BGI fighter aircraft departed from the Bangladesh Air Force base in Kurmitola at 1:06 pm local time on what was meant to be a routine training sortie. However, shortly after takeoff, the aircraft developed a mechanical fault. The pilot, in a bid to avoid heavy civilian casualties, attempted to manoeuvre away from populated zones. Despite the effort, the aircraft slammed into a two-storey building belonging to Milestone School and College in the Diabari area of Dhaka, approximately ten kilometres from the originating base. The impact ripped through the structure, destroying iron railings and leaving a large gash in the building. Emergency responders retrieved the bodies of 27 individuals from the site, including the aircrafts pilot, a teacher, and 25 students. Additionally, more than 100 children and at least 15 other people suffered injuries. Seventy-eight of them remain hospitalised, most of them with serious burn injuries. Visuals captured after the crash showed a mangled fuselage embedded in the building, signalling a catastrophic structural failure during flight. Authorities from the Bangladesh Air Force have formed an investigative committee to determine the cause of the malfunction. In response to the tragedy, interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus assured the public: We will take all necessary measures to ensure accountability and safety. He also confirmed that "all kinds of assistance" are being provided to the families of the victims. Why Bangladesh is reliant on Chinese F-7 jets The aircraft involved in the crash was an F-7 BGI, a variant of the Chinese J-7 fighter series itself based on the Soviet-designed MiG-21. Despite being phased out by some countries, Bangladesh continues to operate a fleet of these jets, primarily for training and air defence purposes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bangladesh Air Force J-7 BGI fighter jet in 2018. Image/Wikimedia Commons Bangladesh first began acquiring F-7 fighters in the late 1980s. Between 1989 and 1990, the country received its first batch of 20 F-7s. Another 20 followed between 1999 and 2006. From 2012 to 2013, Bangladesh received 16 units of the upgraded F-7 BGI variant as part of a contract signed in 2011. As of 2023, the Bangladesh Air Force maintained an active fleet of 36 F-7 fighters and 11 FT-7 trainer aircraft. These jets form the backbone of the countrys light combat and training missions, largely due to their lower cost and the slow pace of military modernisation. Under the Forces Goal 2030 defence modernisation plan, Dhaka has begun to diversify its military purchases including aircraft sourced from Russia and Europe but F-7 variants continue to dominate training and interception roles within the Air Force. What Bangladeshs crash record says The Monday disaster is not the first fatal crash involving the F-7 in Bangladesh. According to Dhaka Tribune, over the past two decades, the BAF has witnessed at least four significant accidents involving this aircraft type: In April 2008, an F-7 crashed in Ghatail, Tangail, killing Squadron Leader Morshed Hasan. In June 2015, an F-7MB went missing over the Bay of Bengal near Patenga, Chattogram. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Tahmid Rumman, was never found. In November 2018, an F-7BG crashed during a training mission in Madhupur, Tangail. The crash killed pilot Arif Ahmed Dipu. The most recent accident on July 21, 2025, is the deadliest, with 27 confirmed fatalities. In total, since 2005, Bangladesh Air Force aircraft have experienced at least 11 crashes. Of these, seven involved Chinese-made aircraft, including F-7s, FT-7s, PT-6s, and K-8Ws. Three crashes were linked to Russian Yak-130 aircraft, and one to a Czechoslovakian-made L-39 trainer. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bangladesh Air Force J-7 BGI fighter jet. File Image Data also shows that between 1993 and 2006, 16 planes and helicopters crashed within the Air Force, resulting in 14 pilot deaths many involving Chinese-manufactured models. These patterns have raised persistent concerns over the mechanical reliability and safety of older fighter platforms, particularly those originating from Chinas military-industrial ecosystem. How spotty is the global safety record of the F-7 Although China officially ended production of the F-7 in 2013, the aircraft continues to be operated by several nations for training and limited combat roles. Countries still flying F-7 variants include Pakistan, Iran, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Korea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Globally, the F-7 has a long service history marked by frequent accidents. In Pakistan, three F-7 crashes in November 2015 and January 2020 resulted in the deaths of military pilots. In May 2022, two Iranian pilots died in Isfahan after their F-7 jet went down. More recently, on June 10, 2025, a J-7 crashed in Pale Township in Myanmar, and a prior crash in Chinas Hubei province saw a J-7 hit a residential structure in Xiangyang city. The aircraft, while cost-effective, suffers from serious limitations by modern aviation standards. Aerospace Global News (AGN) highlights that the jets outdated airframe, absence of fly-by-wire systems, and restricted safety features contribute to a higher accident rate compared to newer-generation fighters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why the Chinese F-7 is under scrutiny Originally reverse-engineered by China from the Soviet MiG-21 following a partial technology transfer agreement in 1961, the J-7 and its export variant F-7 became Chinas most widely exported fighter aircraft. Over 2,400 units were reportedly manufactured by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) between 1966 and 2013, evolving through more than a dozen iterations. However, several operators have reported issues in maintaining the fleet. Nigeria, for example, had to return seven of its nine F-7 jets to China due to an inability to repair them locally. Reports cite poor documentation practices and language barriers in technical manuals as persistent problems. Translations are often inaccurate or confusing, rendering maintenance and part replacement difficult. Also, design modifications occur without timely notification, leading to mismatched or incompatible spare parts. Myanmars Air Force also reported dissatisfaction with the aircrafts ground attack capabilities, and analysts note that Chinas closed industrial ecosystem for J-7 production has limited countries flexibility in servicing or upgrading their fleets independently. The F-7 BGI, while more advanced than earlier versions, is still classified as a third-generation fighter. It lacks the stealth, avionics, and survivability of fourth and fifth-generation jets. Still, it continues to be used in several developing nations due to its affordability and availability. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite widespread concerns about its airworthiness, many air forces retain these aircraft as stopgaps until more modern replacements can be procured. Experts view the F-7 as a temporary platform suitable only for basic training and limited defence roles. The Bangladesh Air Force had viewed the F-7 BGI in a similar light: as a bridging solution until newer jets are added under the Forces Goal 2030 initiative. However, following the Dhaka school tragedy, that calculus may be revisited sooner than expected. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies China may have just initiated a water war with India. How? It has begun work on the controversial dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, known as the Brahmaputra River in India. Once completed, it will be the worlds biggest dam. This, in turn, has prompted India to speed up work on the dam in Arunachal Pradeshs Siang district The mega dam with a price tag of around 1.2 trillion yuan ($167.1 billion or Rs 14.4 lakh crore) is designed to harness the power of the Yarlung Tsangpo river. File image/AFP Worlds biggest hydropower megadam. Project of the century. Thats how many are describing the dam that China has begun to build on the Yarlung Tsangpo river, in Tibetan territory. On Saturday (July 19), Chinese Premier Li Qiang presided over a ceremony marking the start of construction on the Yarlung Tsangpo river, just before the river bends into Arunachal Pradesh as the Brahmaputra. While China and the markets celebrated the start of construction on this mega project it will overtake the Three Gorges dam as the worlds largest India is watching closely. In fact, New Delhi is keeping a close eye on the dam, as it could be a water bomb exacerbating floods in monsoons, or that it could steal water in dry seasons. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Heres what we know. Chinas dam of all dams On Saturday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Nyingchi, a southeastern city in the Tibet autonomous region, to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the dam to be built on the Yarlung Tsangpo river. This comes after Beijing had approved the project in December, linking it to the countrys carbon neutrality targets and economic goals in the Tibet region. The dam will be constructed at a major gorge in the Himalayas where the Brahmaputra makes a dramatic U-turn before flowing into Arunachal Pradesh and eventually into Bangladesh. But what do we know of this dam? Chinas dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo is expected to generate more than 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. File image/AFP Once built, the dam could dwarf the record-breaking Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in central China. Chinese media Xinhua reported that the project will entail constructing five hydropower stations, with the total investment estimated to be around 1.2 trillion yuan ($167.1 billion or Rs 14.4 lakh crore). Once completed, the mega dam is expected to generate more than 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which is enough to power over 300 million people. That would almost certainly make it the worlds biggest source of green energy. Chinas markets surge As a result of work starting on this megadam, Chinese markets began reacting positively. In fact, experts see the project as a major stimulus for the domestic economy. Iron ore and steel prices climbed to four-month highs after China broke ground on the construction of the dam. A Bloomberg report stated that iron ore surged as much as 2.9 per cent in Singapore to near $104 a tonne, while Shanghai rebar futures touched their highest levels since March. Copper, zinc, and aluminium also gained on the London Metal Exchange. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Controversy surrounding the mega dam However, this dam isnt without controversy. Firstly, the price tag of this dam has raised many eyebrows. With an estimated cost of 1.2 trillion yuan, many wonder if its the right use of the funds. Moreover, the new dam will be built in a seismically active area of Himalayan Tibet. This means that scientists and engineers will have to work even harder to make sure that the construction is strong and stable enough to avoid catastrophic damage in the event of a big tremor. A general view shows the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in Yichang, Hubei province, China. The new dam that China is now building is expected to be bigger than the Three Gorges Dam. File image/Reuters Environmentalists have also expressed concern of potential damage to the Yarlung Tsangpo gorge, where the river drops 2,000 metres over a 50-kilometre (31-mile) stretch in an area that hosts a national nature reserve and is one of Chinas most biodiverse regions. Last December, a report by the International Campaign for Tibet had stated that dam construction in the region has often disrupted the livelihoods of local communities and led to many people being permanently displaced. In response, the government in Beijing said it will not harm areas downstream of the dam and has pledged to ensure safety and protect the local environment. Chinas mega dam and Indias concerns When Beijing announced the project last December, both India and Bangladesh raised concerns about its possible impact on people living downstream. In January, Indias foreign ministry officially raised concerns with the project. The Chinese side has been urged to ensure that the interests of downstream states of the Brahmaputra are not harmed by activities in upstream areas, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. We will continue to monitor and take necessary measures to protect our interests. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Earlier this month, Arunachal Pradeshs Chief Minister Pema Khandu also expressed worry over the project, with news agency PTI quoting him as calling it a ticking water bomb. The issue is that China cannot be trusted. No one knows what they might do, said Khandu, adding, Setting aside the military threat from China, it seems to me that this is a far bigger issue than anything else. It is going to cause an existential threat to our tribes and our livelihoods. It is quite serious because China could even use this as a sort of water bomb. He further noted that the biggest issue was the fact that China wasnt a signatory to international water-sharing agreements. In fact, if China was, this project could have been a blessing for India, he added. Arunachal Pradeshs Chief Minister Pema Khandu has called the new mega dam by China a ticking water bomb. File image/PTI But China is not a signatory, and that is the problem Suppose the dam is built and they suddenly release water, our entire Siang belt would be destroyed. In particular, the Adi tribe and similar groups would see all their property, land, and especially human life, suffer devastating effects, he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even Khandus deputy echoed similar sentiments. Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein had said that the massive dam over Yarlung Tsangpo river could result in the drying up of the Siang river and its distributaries affecting the aquatic life of the river and the large population in the plains of Assam and Bangladesh which depends on Brahmaputra river for the irrigation of their agricultural fields. Additionally, if conflict was to arise between India and China, Beijing could release a large amount of water from the dam, causing flooding in the downstream areas in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam causing loss of lives and properties. Other experts also flag concerns for India owing to Chinas mega dam. Genevieve Donnellon-May, a geopolitical and global strategy adviser, wrote in AsiaGlobal Online in 2022 that the Brahmaputra is important for India and Chinas socioeconomic development. The river accounts for nearly 30 per cent of Indias freshwater resources and 40 per cent of its total hydropower potential. For China, the Brahmaputras role in the countrys total freshwater supply is limited, but the river plays a significant role in Tibets agricultural and energy industries as well as civilisation. Yet, growing populations mean water resources are under increasing stress and demand in both countries, Donnellon-May wrote in her piece. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She further added, India has long speculated about Chinas intention of using hydropower dams to control the Brahmaputra. Many Indian analysts argue that Chinas water ambitions and the growing competition over water between China and India will inevitably lead to water waters between the two nations. An older report published by the Lowy Institute, an Australian-based think tank, noted that control over these rivers [in the Tibetan Plateau] effectively gives China a chokehold on Indias economy. But not everyone is on board with this analysis. For instance, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday (July 21) said he does not foresee any immediate cause of worry as the river gets most of its waters from Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh. He said the exact impact of the massive dam is not properly known as different theories are being floated. Dam wars on the horizon And it seems that Chinas actions have spurred a strong reaction from India. New Delhi has proposed the 11.2 GW Upper Siang Multipurpose Project a massive storage-based dam in the Siang district, in Arunachal Pradesh. This project is aimed to act as a buffer and regulate water flow and protect downstream populations and infrastructure. This project, which is expected to cost $13.2 billion, will have a reservoir that can hold nine billion cubic metres of water and generate 11,000 megawatts of electricity upon completion, more than any other Indian hydroelectric project. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And a day after China began work on the dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river, Arunachal Pradesh minister Ojing Tasing said: China has already started their dam construction, and we can not sit idle. We must act and we are acting. This is about Indias future water security. If we do not act now, we may suffer later. With inputs from agencies A newly declassified US Justice Department document alleges the FBI, under James Comey, failed to fully investigate Hillary Clintons private email server use during her time as US Secretary of State. Critical evidence such as a thumb drive containing sensitive government data was never reviewed. This has revived questions over whether the probe was politically compromised ahead of the 2016 election Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reacts ahead of the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, US, January 20, 2025. File Image/Reuters A newly declassified document from the United States Department of Justice has revived long-standing questions about the FBIs 2016 investigation into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server during her tenure as US Secretary of State. The document, an addendum to the 2018 report by the DOJs Office of the Inspector General (OIG), alleges that the FBI did not carry out a comprehensive inquiry under then-Director James Comey. According to Republican lawmakers, key evidence including sensitive data found on a thumb drive was never examined, raising concerns over the integrity of the original investigation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Unsealed on Monday (July 21, 2025), by the Senate Judiciary Committee, the 35-page supplement referred to by US Senator Chuck Grassleys office as the Clinton annex details what it describes as significant gaps in the FBIs probe of Clintons handling of classified information. The annex had remained classified since July 2018 and was only made public this month through a congressional request championed by Grassley. What is the Clinton email controversy? Between 2009 and 2013, Hillary Clinton served as the US Secretary of State under President Barack Obama. During this period, she conducted all official email correspondence through a personal email account hosted on a private server located at her residence in Chappaqua, New York. This setup circumvented the official state.gov domain typically used by federal employees and raised alarm among oversight bodies and political opponents over transparency, data security, and compliance with federal record-keeping statutes. Investigations by both the State Department and the FBI later revealed that Clintons email system had transmitted classified material through unsecured channels. From a set of approximately 30,000 emails Clinton voluntarily returned to the State Department, 110 emails in 52 distinct threads were found to contain classified information at the time they were sent or received. Of these, eight threads included Top Secret content, 36 contained Secret information, and eight held Confidential data the lowest classification level. Federal authorities also discovered that, retroactively, over 2,000 additional emails were designated as classified. A 2019 State Department review identified 38 individuals who were culpable in 91 cases of transmitting classified information that reached Clintons inbox. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, that same investigation determined there was no persuasive evidence of systemic, deliberate mishandling of classified information. Despite concerns, Comey concluded in July 2016 that the case did not merit prosecution. He stated, Although there is evidence of potential violations of the statutes regarding the handling of classified information, our judgement is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case. Former FBI Director James Comey is sworn in prior to testifying before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Russias alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, June 8, 2017. File Image/Reuters He also noted that prosecutorial decisions consider multiple factors such as intent, context, and precedent. What are the Republican-backed allegations? The Clinton annex paints a troubling picture of how the investigation was handled. According to the addendum, the FBI failed to follow up on a thumb drive that was found to contain highly sensitive US government information, including material from the State Department and even emails from then-President Barack Obama. A draft memorandum recommended targeted searches of the thumb drive to ensure a complete investigation, but these were never performed. This document shows an extreme lack of effort and due diligence in the FBIs investigation of former Secretary Clintons email usage and mishandling of highly classified information, Grassley said in a public statement. Under Comeys leadership, the FBI failed to perform fundamental investigative work and left key pieces of evidence on the cutting room floor. The annex, created as a classified appendix to the OIGs publicly released June 2018 report, had not been previously disclosed. It was compiled just weeks after the main report but remained under wraps until its recent release. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Grassleys office, the FBI never took action to incorporate the thumb drive into their inquiry despite evidence that it contained information critical to the probes integrity. The annex also notes that multiple devices relevant to the investigation were destroyed or deemed inaccessible, limiting the FBIs ability to conduct a comprehensive digital forensic examination. The FBI reportedly focused on roughly 30,000 emails but left out a significant amount of data, some of which may have had national security implications. Was the Clinton investigation botched? Grassley, who has overseen congressional inquiries into the Clinton investigation for nearly a decade, contrasted the FBIs approach to the Clinton case with its subsequent handling of the Trump-Russia collusion investigation. The Comey FBIs negligent approach and perhaps intentional lack of effort in the Clinton investigation is a stark contrast to its full-throated investigation of the Trump-Russia collusion hoax, which was based on the uncorroborated and now discredited Steele dossier, he said. Comeys decision-making process smacks of political infection. US Attorney General Pam Bondi, who worked with FBI Director Kash Patel to declassify the annex, commended Grassleys persistence. Today, the Department of Justice honored Chairman Grassleys request to release information relating to former-FBI Director James Comeys failed investigation into Hillary Clintons mishandling of highly classified information during her tenure as Secretary of State, she stated. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I commend Chairman Grassley for his unwavering, years-long commitment to exposing the truth and holding those who seek to conceal it accountable. Grassley also alleged that intelligence gathered during the original FBI investigation indicated efforts by the Obama administration to scuttle the Clinton inquiry and shield her from political fallout. According to Grassleys office, these intelligence leads were never thoroughly investigated by the bureau under Comeys leadership. Adding to the controversy, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recently released declassified intelligence asserting that Obama-era officials manufactured and politicised data to engineer the Russia interference narrative during the 2016 election. Gabbard said that this information laid the foundation for what later became the protracted Trump-Russia investigation. Why is Comeys role being scrutinised? Comeys actions during the 2016 election cycle remain a contentious subject. In addition to his July announcement recommending against charges, Comey made headlines again in late October 2016, when he informed Congress that the FBI was reopening the case after discovering additional emails. Just days later, he stated that the agencys findings remained unchanged. The timing of these announcements mere days before the election drew intense criticism and, according to some analysts, played a significant role in Clintons eventual defeat. Comey would later reflect on these decisions in his 2018 book A Higher Loyalty, writing that he may have been subconsciously influenced by the assumption that Clinton would win the presidency. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite the controversy, the OIGs June 2018 report concluded there was no evidence of political bias in the FBIs handling of the investigation and affirmed the decision not to prosecute Clinton. Nonetheless, critics argue that newly revealed omissions such as the failure to examine the thumb drive and possible intelligence suppression warrant deeper scrutiny. I warned years ago that the Clinton investigation failed to hit the mark, and Im grateful the American people can finally see the facts for themselves, Grassley said. After nearly a decade in the shadows, this information is now coming to light thanks to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patels dedicated efforts to fulfill my congressional request. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is in Washington DC and will meet his American counterpart, Donald Trump, today in a bid to secure a more favourable trade deal. The UKs F-35B Lightning fighter jet, which was stranded in Kerala for more than a month, is likely to fly back home. Bangladesh will observe a one-day mourning following the crash of an air force training aircraft in a school in Dhakas Diabari area President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos (left), and US President Donald Trump (right) are likely to meet. File image/AP It is set to be a busy Tuesday with several events lined up for the day. Firstly, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is set to meet US President Donald Trump today, hoping to secure a more favourable trade deal. Meanwhile, the British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning fighter jet is likely to fly back home after being stranded in Keralas Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for nearly a month. Bangladesh will observe a one-day mourning after an air force training aircraft crashed in a school in Dhaka on July 21. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to speak during a banking conference in Washington, DC, today. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The UK government will begin enforcing the first phase of immigration reforms from today. The UEFA Womens EURO 2025 semi-finals will witness the first match between England and Italy in Geneva today. Here is all that is set to take place throughout the day. Philippines president to meet Trump President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington today to secure a more favourable trade deal before the August 1 deadline. I expect our discussions to focus on security and defence, of course, but also on trade, Marcos said in a speech before leaving Manila. Marcos will be the first Southeast Asian leader to meet Trump in his second term. Trump has already struck trade deals with two of Manilas regional partners, Vietnam and Indonesia, driving tough bargains in trade talks even with close allies that Washington needs to keep onside in its strategic rivalry with China. F-35B fighter to fly out of Kerala The British Royal Navy F-35 fighter jet that is parked in Keralas Thiruvananthapuram will fly back home today. The aircraft made an emergency landing at the airport over a month ago and has been parked here since then. According to airport sources, the repair works of the jet, part of the UKs most advanced stealth fleet, were completed. It is being brought out of the hangar now. The jet will be brought to our bay, and it will fly back on Tuesday, a source said. F-35 fighter jet has parked in Keralas Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for nearly a month. File image/PTI Known to be one of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world and worth over $110 million, the jet has remained grounded at the international airport here since June 14 after it developed a technical snag, reported news agency PTI. Bangladesh govt declares 1-day mourning for crash victims The Bangladesh government has declared a one-day state mourning after the tragic crash of a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft into a school in Dhaka just a day earlier. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As part of the mourning, the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all government, semi-government, and autonomous institutions, as well as educational institutions across the country. The flag will also remain at half-mast at all government and private buildings, including Bangladesh missions abroad. Throughout the country, all religious institutions will hold special prayers for the victims of the accident, both those who perished and those who sustained injuries. Jerome Powell to speak in Washington US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to speak at a conference in Washington, DC, today. Powell will be speaking at the Integrated Review of the Capital Framework for Large Banks Conference, which is being hosted by the Federal Reserve. The event will be a hybrid one, allowing for both in-person attendance at the Federal Reserves Martin Building and a livestream for remote viewing. This speaking engagement comes at a time of heightened scrutiny and political tension as President Donald Trump has repeatedly and publicly criticised the Fed for its monetary policy decisions. US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. File image/AP The conference itself is focused on the capital framework for large banks, a crucial area of financial regulation and stability. Following Powells opening, Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman is also scheduled to moderate a discussion on Innovation at the same conference later in the day. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD UK new visa rules to be implemented The first phase of the immigration reforms will take place today as new visa rules will be enforced in the United Kingdom. This is a part of the wider immigration policy agenda titled Restoring control over the immigration system. To reduce net migration, new measures will narrow the list of jobs eligible for sponsorship and prohibit overseas hiring in the care sector. The white paper, released on May 12, indicates the governments strategic objective of increasing the difficulty of relocating to and establishing residency in the UK. While this document does not constitute an alteration to immigration law per se, several of its outlined proposals are presently being operationalised through modifications to existing immigration regulations. UEFA Womens Euro semi finals Defending champions England are set to face a resurgent Italy in the UEFA Womens Euro 2025 semi-final at Stade de Geneve in Geneva. Kick-off is set for 8 pm BST (12 am IST), with both teams aiming to book a place in the final on July 27. Englands path to the semi-final has been dramatic and hard-fought. After recovering from an opening loss to France, the Lionesses bounced back with dominant group-stage wins over the Netherlands and Wales. Their quarter-final clash against Sweden was a test of resilience. With inputs from agencies The Tricolour was adopted to be the national flag of independent India on July 22, 1947. The flag was designed by Pingali Venkayya in 1921 and initially consisted of red and green bands instead of saffron, white and green colours that are visible today The Indian national flag is a symbol of the country's freedom from 200 years of British oppression. Representational image The Indian national flag is a sign of the countrys freedom from British rule. Fluttering high, especially on government buildings, the Tricolour invokes feelings of pride and nationalism in the hearts of Indians. But did you know that it was adopted just weeks before independence? The Constituent Assembly adopted the tricolour as the national flag of independent India on July 22, 1947. 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 2011, Norway experienced one of the deadliest attacks in its modern history when Anders Behring Breivik carried out a two-part assault that claimed 77 lives. Here is all that happened on this day. India adopted Tricolour as its national flag The Constituent Assembly of India officially adopted the Tricolour as the national flag of independent India on July 22, 1947, just weeks before gaining independence. This decision marked a defining step in Indias journey to sovereignty. The flag, initially designed by Pingali Venkayya in 1921, had evolved through several alterations over the years as various designs were proposed and used by different factions of the Indian independence movement. The initial design featured red and green bands (symbolising Hindus and Muslims respectively) with the spinning wheel in the centre. On Gandhis suggestion, a white stripe was later added to represent all other communities and peace. This Swaraj Flag or Gandhi Flag gained unofficial acceptance and was used during various Indian National Congress sessions. The flag consists of saffron, white and green colours along with the Ashoka Chakra. File image/PTI However, the need for a flag that represented all of India without any communal interpretations became paramount as independence approached. An ad-hoc committee, headed by Dr Rajendra Prasad, was tasked with finalising the design. On July 22, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru moved the resolution in the Constituent Assembly that cemented the design. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This flag consisted of saffron (symbolising courage and sacrifice) at the top, white (representing peace, truth and purity in the middle) and dark green (showing fertility and prosperity) at the bottom. The Ashoka Chakra in the middle, derived from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Emperor Ashoka, symbolises continuous progress. The adoption of the flag was more than a symbolic gesture; it was a proclamation of identity. As Jawaharlal Nehru said in his speech during the flags adoption, This flag is not only of freedom for ourselves, but a symbol of freedom to all people. Deadliest shooting incident in Norway Norway experienced its deadliest attack since World War II, carried out by far-right extremist Anders Behring Breivik on this day in 2011. The two-part attack claimed the lives of 77 people and injured hundreds more. The first attack took place at approximately 3:25 pm, when Breivik detonated a powerful car bomb in the government quarter in central Oslo. The blast, placed near the office of then-Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, killed eight people and caused significant damage to government buildings, shattering windows and creating widespread chaos. Many public offices were less occupied than usual due to the summer holiday, which likely prevented an even higher casualty count. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Andres Behring Breivik gestured as he arrived during his trial in court in Oslo, Norway. File image/AP Roughly an hour and a half later, Breivik arrived at the island of Utoya disguised as a police officer. The island was hosting the annual summer camp of the Workers Youth League (AUF), the youth wing of Norways ruling Labour Party. For over an hour, armed with an automatic rifle and a pistol, Breivik systematically hunted down and shot the hundreds of mostly teenage attendees. He lured some victims closer by pretending to be a rescuer, resulting in a horrifying massacre that killed 69 people, many of whom were shot repeatedly or drowned trying to escape into the cold water. Breivik was arrested on the island without resistance. During his trial in 2012, he showed no remorse and described his actions as cruel but necessary to fight what he believed was the Islamisation of Europe and the Labour Partys role in promoting multiculturalism. He was found sane and guilty and sentenced to 21 years in prison, the maximum under Norwegian law, with the possibility of extension. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This Day, That Year On this day in 1992, Colombian drug trafficker Pablo Escobar escaped from police custody. American aviator Wiley Post completed the first solo flight around the world on this day in 1933. In 1812, the duke of Wellington defeated 40,000 Frenchmen in 40 minutes at Salamanca, Spain. The incident occurred in Dublins Tallaght neighbourhood at Parkhill Road on Saturday evening. The victim, an Amazon employee, arrived in Ireland just a few weeks ago. Irish authorities have described the incident as a vile and racist attack. Heres what we know The Irish National Police, known as the Gardai, were alerted about the incident at 6 pm. Image courtesy: garda.ie An Indian man has been viciously assaulted in Ireland. The man, who is in his 40s, was beaten up and stripped by a right-wing gang. The Irish police have opened an investigation into the incident which officials have described as vile and racist. But what happened? What do we know? Lets take a closer look: What happened? The incident occurred in Dublins Tallaght neighbourhood at Parkhill Road on Saturday evening. The victim, an Amazon employee, is said to have arrived in Ireland just a few weeks ago. He is said to have been beaten up and partially stripped by the young hoodlums. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD They are said to have removed his trousers. The victim is said to have been bleeding profusely and suffered injuries to his face, arms and legs. Some passers-by are said have come to his aid. A woman on social media claimed she was among those who came to the victims aid and called for help. She said that the youth involved in the attack were around 15 to 16 years old. Jennifer Murray, a resident of the area, told the Journal the victim was covered in blood head to toe and pleading for help. She said some passers-by were simply recording the incident with their phones. He was a gentle man and he was stripped, he was attacked. He told us what happened, that they punched him in the head first. He had about an inch and a half gash above his eyebrow, and then about an inch above his other eyebrow, Murray said Then they took his head and rammed it into a lamppost three times. Then they all punched him and kicked him, and they stripped his shoes, off his trousers, off his underwear off. They took his phone and they took his money, and then they left him for dead. His legs were completely saturated in blood, Murray added. The blood had actually congealed so much we had to cut his jacket often to check for wounds on his chest. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She called the incident pure racism, leading to innocent people being attacked. The victim was taken to the Tallaght University Hospital for treatment. The Irish National Police, known as the Gardai, were alerted about the incident at 6 pm. The incident occurred in Dublins Tallaght neighbourhood Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons Gardai in Tallaght were alerted to an incident at Parkhill Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on the evening of Saturday 19th July, 2025 at approximately 6pm. Gardai attended the scene and a male, aged in his 40s was taken to Tallaght University Hospital with injuries, the police said. Authorities are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. However, no arrests have been made as of now. The right-wing gang accused the victim of acting inappropriately around children. However, the police has dismissed such allegations completely. The victim has been released from hospital on Sunday. Investigators think the assailants may have launched similar unprovoked attacks on foreign nationals in the Tallaght area recently. Ireland is home to around 1 lakh Indians many of them professionals who work in healthcare and Information Technology. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Attacks against minorities including from South Asia have been on the rise over the past few years. Ireland was not unsafe earlier, but over the past three years, the situation has dramatically changed because of the rise of violent racist gangs that target foreigners, a diplomatic source told The Hindu. What are authorities saying? The Indian government is in touch with its Irish counterparts. The Indian Embassy has said it is in touch with the victim and his family and is offering all possible assistance. The Embassy wrote on its X account: Regarding the recent incident of physical attack on an Indian national happened in Tallaght, Dublin, Embassy is in touch with the victim and his family. All the requisite assistances are being offered. Embassy is also in touch with the relevant Irish authorities in this regard. India in Ireland (Embassy of India, Dublin) (@IndiainIreland) July 23, 2025 Indian Ambassador Akhilesh Mishra told The Hindu that Indias Embassy has been in contact with authorities. Mishra said Indians in Ireland have been left anxious by the attack. The horrible attack has naturally caused widespread concern and fear in the local Indian community. Embassy is in touch with the victim, the larger community and has taken up the matter with various Irish authorities, Mishra said. Mishra earlier took to X to slam the reporting about the case. How can an ALLEGED assault cause such horrible injury & bleeding? he asked. However, Mishra thanked the Irish police for their help. Baby Pereppadan, Fine Gael councillor for Tallaght South, said the victim is in shock. He couldnt speak much because of the shock he was in, he only arrived in Ireland three weeks ago. He is not taking any visitors at the moment", Pereppadan told The Irish Independent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pereppadan called for police presence in the area to be increased and said such incidents were occurring with alarming frequency. People need to understand that many Indian people moving to Ireland are here on work permits, to study and work in the healthcare sector or in IT and so on, providing critical skills", he added. Sean Crowe, Sinn Fein TD for Dublin South-West, called the incident violent and racist. Crowe said the incident was vile and utterly unacceptable on so many levels. Anyone who thinks this sort of mindless, racist violence makes their community safer is lying and fooling no one. Some residents are increasingly nervous to leave their homes due to this type of behaviour, regardless of whether they are new arrivals to our community or have lived here all their lives. I condemn this attack entirely and call on anyone with any information relating to this incident to reach out to the garda authorities. This is not the first such attack in our area, but it has to be the last, he added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Local People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said, The local community is in shock at this appalling attack. This appears to be the latest in a series of recent racially motivated attacks by a gang in the area. Those responsible must be found and stopped. Minister for Justice Jim OCallaghan added, Increasingly, you hear of people blaming immigrants for crimes. All I can say to you is: I have asked for the statistics and when you look at the prison population of people convicted of offences, the percentage of immigrants in prison is lower than the percentage of immigrants in society. So theres no substance to the suggestion that immigrants are more likely to commit a criminal offence. With inputs from agencies After conducting an eventful day of proceedings in the Rajya Sabha on Monday (July 21), Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar dropped a bombshell that he was resigning to prioritise his health care. The move has triggered speculation from many Opposition leaders and political pundits. Is there more to Dhankars resignation than meets the eye? Jagdeep Dhankhar, 74, assumed office as the 14th Vice President in August 2022. He resigned on Monday, July 21, two years before his tenure ends, citing medical reasons. File image/PTI Monday, July 21, was the opening day of the monsoon session in Parliament. Business began as usual in both the houses of Parliament with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar presiding over proceedings in the Upper House, Rajya Sabha. It all went smoothly until a few hours later when Vice President Dhankhar dropped a huge bombshell; the 74-year-old announced that hes resigning from his position in a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, in which he wrote that he was stepping down immediately to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His move comes two years too early in his five-year tenure his tenure was to officially end on August 10, 2027 prompting leaders from the opposition to speculate about the reasons for his resignation. So, what exactly led to Vice President Dhankhar resigning? Was it owing to his health or is there some other reason? What did Dhankhars resignation letter reveal? On Monday, after an eventful first day at Rajya Sabha, sources note that Dhankhar had an unscheduled meeting with President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Hours later, he dropped the bombshell that he was resigning immediately. President Droupadi Murmu administering the oath of office to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. File image/PTI In a letter to the President, Dhankhar wrote, 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. 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. He concluded his letter, writing, As I leave this esteemed office, I am filled with pride in Bharats global rise and phenomenal achievements and hold unwavering confidence in her brilliant future. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Notably, Dhankhars exit comes two years before his tenure comes to an end. Dhankhar was elected as Indias 14th Vice-President in 2022, taking the oath on August 11, 2022. And through his tenure, hes been known for his firmness, which even resulted in an unprecedented impeachment motion filed by opposition parties in December 2024. Are health concerns reason for Dhankhars exit? While Dhankhar claims that it was for medical reasons that he had taken the step of quitting, many in the opposition are questioning the timing and speculating if theres more than meets the eye. It is no secret that the 74-year-old now former vice president had health issues he had undergone angioplasty at AIIMS, Delhi, and was admitted for a few days in March. In June, he even fainted while attending the Golden Jubilee celebrations at the Kumaon University. However, he remained active in Parliament, chairing the proceedings in Rajya Sabha quite capably. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar being taken for medical aid after he fell ill during an event, in Nainital, Uttarakhand in June. File image/PTI In fact, many in the Congress questioned the timing of Dhankhars exit. One such MP is Jairam Ramesh. He said that he had been with Dhankhar earlier that day and had a conversation with him shortly before the announcement. 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 (he) 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, wrote the Congress general secretary in-charge communications on X. Two and two dont always make four. In politics, not everything is straight. There are some things. There are the Bihar elections. You can think Tomorrow will bring answers. He could have resigned in the day, but it seems he was under pressure or it was as per planning, said Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar conducting the proceedings in the Rajya Sabha. File image/PTI Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey also speculated over Dhankhars exit. 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. Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha member Javed Ali Khan said he had seen the vice president in the House and he seemed fine. Today, it didnt seem like there is a health issue, but if there is any issue, we pray to God he stays healthy. Things will become clear soon, he said. For many MPs of Parliament, the timing of Dhankhars resignation was suspect. Many even pointed to the fact that the vice president had an eventful first day in Rajya Sabha and even planned for meetings and events for the next day. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For instance, on Monday, he asked the secretary general to take the necessary steps required after an opposition-sponsored notion for a motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma of Allahabad High Court over burnt wads of cash found at his residence was submitted to him. Moreover, he also administered the oath to the newly elected and nominated members of the Rajya Sabha. Dhankhar had even scheduled a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee for Tuesday afternoon, and was also supposed to make major announcements related to the judiciary. Many political pundits are guessing now as to whether Dhankhars health reasons are the real cause of his resignation. They point to the fact that the vice president accepted the oppositions appeal to remove Justice Varma a move that caught the Centre unaware. According to a report in The Federal what has stoked the fires even more is that JP Nadda, BJP president and Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju were not president for a meeting that Dhankhar had called on Monday evening. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He also had a packed schedule for the coming days beyond his role as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. In fact, the Vice Presidents Secretariat had put out a press communique announcing that he would be travelling to Jaipur on July 23 to interact with the newly elected members of Credai, the apex body of private real estate developers in India. All of these reasons have led some to believe that it wasnt Dhankhars health that led him to hand in his resignation all of a sudden. What comes next? While the Centre hasnt issued any comments yet on the matter of Dhankhars exit, it has been reported that Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh, will fill in for him for the rest of this session. Meanwhile, the Election Commission will notify the poll schedule for the vice president soon. Only MPs of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will vote in this election using a secret ballot and a proportional system. As per the rules, the election must be held before September 19, 2025. The big question is: who will be the candidates for the ruling National Democratic Alliance and for the oppositions Indi bloc? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhars surprise resignation has sparked buzz about his successor. While there is no fixed deadline, the elections to fill the vacancy have to be held as soon as possible. As the VP is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Deputy Chairman of the Upper House is now presiding over the proceedings Jagdeep Dhankhars resignation as the vice president has sent shockwaves across India. The sudden move came late Monday (July 21) evening, two years before his tenure was to end. Dhankhar, 74, said in his letter to President Droupadi Murmu that he was exiting his post with immediate effect to prioritise health care. He said he was stepping down in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution. This is a rare moment that the post of vice president has become vacant before the end of the term. The five-year tenure of Dhankhar, who assumed office in August 2022, was set to conclude in August 2027. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What will happen now as VP post becomes vacant? We will explain. Dhankhars resignation sparks buzz Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation came on the first day of the Monsoon Session. The Vice President of India is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Earlier on Monday, Dhankhar had urged the members of the Upper House across party lines to tone down acrimony. While political parties may pursue the same goals through different approaches, no one in India opposes the nations interests Dialogue and discussion, not conflict, are the way forward. In his resignation letter to Murmu, Dhankhar thanked the President for her unwavering support and the soothing, wonderful working relationship they shared. He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Council of Ministers for their invaluable support." 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, Dhankhar wrote. In a post on X today, PM Modi wished the VP good health. 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. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 22, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Home Ministry has also notified the resignation of Dhankhar. Commenting on the resignation and the next VP, a BJP leader told PTI: We are still processing it. But I believe the party will choose someone who is a solid choice and is non-controversial. The Congress has raised questions on Dhankhars surprise resignation. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh said Dhankhars resignation speaks highly of him. It also speaks poorly of those who had got him elected as Vice President in the first instance, he posted on X. Ramesh said that in a truly unprecedented move, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar has resigned. He has given health reasons for doing so. Those should be respected. But it is also a fact that there are far deeper reasons for his resignation," the Congress leader claimed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Yesterday, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar chaired the Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha at 12:30 PM. It was attended by most members, including Leader of the House JP Nadda and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju. After some discussion, the BAC decided to meet Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 22, 2025 Who will chair Rajya Sabha? As Dhankhar resigned with immediate effect, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, a Janata Dal (United) MP, chaired the proceedings of the morning session on Tuesday (July 22). The Indian Constitution does not mention an acting Vice-President. So, until Dhankhars successor is elected, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha will chair the Houses proceedings. How is Indias Vice President picked? Dhankhars exit has sparked speculations about who will be the next vice president. If the post of President is vacant, the Constitution says it should be filled within six months. However, no such deadline is fixed for the vacancy of Vice President, Indias second-highest constitutional office after President. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to the rules, the polls have to be held as soon as possible to fill the vice-presidential vacancy. The elections for the VP are governed by Articles 63 to 71 of the Constitution and the Vice-President (Election) Rules, 1974. The Election Commission will begin the process to elect the new VP. As per Article 66, the Vice President is elected by an electoral college comprising members from both Houses of Parliament the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Voting is held in Delhis Parliament House by secret ballot, deploying a system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. To be eligible for the post, the candidate should be a citizen of India who is at least 35 years old; and qualified for election as a member of the Council of States. A person shall not be eligible for election as Vice-President if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State or under any local or other authority subject to the control of any of the said Governments, Article 66 states. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD To elect a VP, the Members of Parliament (MPs) rank candidates in order of preference, with each vote carrying equal weightage. To win, the candidate must reach a required minimum number of votes, called the quota. In case no candidate reaches the quota, those with the fewest first-preference votes are eliminated. The votes of the eliminated candidates are transferred to the remaining contenders based on second preferences. The process goes on until one candidate touches the quota and is declared the Vice President. The role of VPs As the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the VP maintains order and presides over the Upper House. The vice president can also become acting President if the sitting President resigns, or in case of their death or removal. The VP discharges the functions of the President until a new person is elected to the post. With inputs from agencies Today, July 22, the Earth will complete its daily rotation 1.34 milliseconds faster than the standard 24 hours, making it the second shortest day in history. Scientists note that shorter days are becoming the norm. But why is this planet spinning faster? What does it have to do with the Moon? The Earth will spin faster today, making it the second-shortest day in history. Representational image/Pixabay Do you feel as if you are running out of time during the day? Are you feeling like you cant fit all your tasks in a day? Well, its not something you are imagining today, July 22, will be recorded as the second-shortest day in history. Scientists note that the Earth will complete its daily rotation 1.34 milliseconds faster than the standard 24 hours, making it the second shortest day in history. While this difference hardly makes a difference to our daily lives, its a puzzling trend in Earths rotational behaviour that has scientists intrigued. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moreover, this isnt a one off. Scientists expect another shorter day on August 5 after witnessing a short one on July 9. So, we put on our thinking caps and help in deciphering whats causing the days to become shorter and how it could affect our lives later? Who keeps time and how? Before we get into why days on Earth are getting shorter, lets understand how time is measured. A day is measured as per the time taken by the Earth to complete one full rotation on its axis 24 hours or 86,400 seconds on average. But the speed of Earths rotation isnt fixed. During the Mesozoic, dinosaurs experienced 23 hours days, and as early as the Bronze Age, the average day was 0.47 seconds shorter. A 2023 study revealed that billions of years ago, a day was as long as 19 hours owing to the interplay of solar and lunar tidal forces However, over time, the Moons gravitational pull slowed Earths spin, gradually lengthening days as the Moon drifts farther away. This process, called tidal friction, has been the main driver of Earths slowing rotation for eons. A day is measured as per the time taken by the Earth to complete one full rotation on its axis 24 hours or 86,400 seconds on average. Representational image/Reuters So, whats happening now? Why are days shorter? Since atomic clocks began tracking Earths rotation precisely in 1973, days were generally slightly longer than 24 hours. However, recent times have shown a surprising twist. Since 2020, Earth has been spinning faster, repeatedly setting new records. The shortest day ever occurred on July 5, 2024, when Earth spun 1.66 milliseconds quicker than normal. And again on July 22, when the Earth will complete its spin 1.34 milliseconds early. And current predictions place the shortest day, August 5, at roughly 1.51 milliseconds shorter than average. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But whats causing this phenomena? Scientists note that there could be a number of factors that influence the Earth s spinning rate. One of the primary reasons being the Moon. If it is remote from Earths equator, the planet spins slightly quicker. A report in Space.com explains it accurately: if the Moon is far from the Earths equator, it creates an off-centre gravitational pull that slightly changes Earths axial wobble, leading to a small but measurable increase in rotational speed. Melting ice and Earths changing core are other reasons. Some experts note that the slowing of Earths liquid core, could result in redistributing angular momentum in a way that makes the mantle and crust spin slightly faster. Ocean level variations and volcanic eruptions also contribute. In fact, earthquakes can also affect the length of our days, say scientists. The spin rate of Earth is affected by many factors, but the moon and the tides have traditionally played a major role. Representational image/Pixabay How these shaved off milliseconds will affect our lives? While we are unlikely to notice such a miniscule difference in time, it could lead to the possibility that scientists will have to add a negative leap second to the calendar by 2029. Wait, what is a negative leap second? Traditionally, when Earths rotation slowed down over time, scientists added a leap second to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to keep civil time aligned with Earths actual spin. However, as the Earth spins faster, we could soon be ahead of atomic time, which would need us to remove a second. This is what is a negative leap second. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Duncan Agnew, a professor emeritus of geophysics at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a research geophysicist at the University of California, San Diego, told CNN, Theres never been a negative leap second but the probability of having one between now and 2035 is about 40 per cent. Judah Levine, a physicist and a fellow of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the time and frequency division, also concurred with this assessment. When the leap second system was defined in 1972, nobody ever really thought that the negative second would ever happen, he was quoted telling CNN. It was just something that was put into the standard because you had to do it for completeness. Everybody assumed that only positive leap seconds would ever be needed, but now the shortening of the days makes (negative leap seconds) in danger of happening, so to speak. And this could be a huge issue, affecting everything from satellite systems and GPS accuracy to how we measure time itself. It could also have an impact on telecommunications, financial transactions, and electric grids. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As Dr David Gozzard, an experimental physicist who specialises in technologies for precisely keeping and synchronising time at the University of Western Australia, told The Guardian, Computers, servers, GPS systems, banking and electricity networks, as well as large telescopes, all rely on incredibly accurate synchronisation, sometimes within a fraction of a billionth of a second, he says. Were transmitting data so quickly, and it all needs to be time tagged, so computers know what data goes where. Levine even goes as far as comparing it to the Y2K problem, which threatened to bring modern civilisation to a halt. But for now, time continues to fly. With inputs from agencies Does Gen Z have a problem with sex? One in four Gen Z adults has had zero sexual partners, and they are masturbating less than before, according to studies. But why are they staying off sex? Gen Z are those born in the 1990s and early 2000s. They come after the millennials, also known as Gen Y. Gen Y came after Gen X the original alphabet generation. Representational Image/Pixabay Gen Z has a problem with sex. Specifically that they cant get any in what has been dubbed the sex recession. This, according to Carter Sherman, author of The Second Coming: Sex and the Next Generations Fight Over Its Future. Sherman, who is a reporter at The Guardian, interviewed over 100 Gen Z-ers under the age of 30 for her book. She previously worked for Vice News. But what do we know? What does it mean? Why is this happening? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lets take a closer look: A brief look at Gen Z First, lets take a brief look at Gen Z. Gen Z are those born in the 1990s and early 2000s. They come after the millennials, also known as Gen Y. Gen Y came after Gen X the original alphabet generation. The data shows that over 60 per cent of 18- to 29-year-olds lean to the Left. Gen Z women are said to be the most left-wing bloc in history particularly on issues such as the environment, gun control and abortion. What do we know? Sherman in her book said the data reflects the scope of the sex recession. She quoted a 2022 study as showing that o ne in four Gen Z adults have had zero sexual partners. She said in 2023, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that a third of high schoolers had sex. That number was nearly 50 per cent in 2013. Sherman says Gen Z is even masturbating less than before. She said what she discovered was contrary to the media narratives that they are disinterested in sex or simply prudes. Many of them are very horny. They would like to be having sex, and in fact they feel a lot of shame over the fact that they havent had sex yet or that theyre not having sex enough, Sherman told Wired. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sherman in her book writes that young people feel stranded before the maw of a vast and dehumanising internet. The ubiquity of porn in the lives of Gen Z cannot be taken for granted. She described the internet as a TikTokian carousel of porn and also a mass social experiment with no antecedent and whose results we are just now beginning to see. Sherman said many Gen Z-ers had learned about sex from porn which had impacted their ideas about sexual preferences. A lot of young people told me that they felt like porn had normalised rough sex and in particular had normalized choking. If youre under 40, you are almost twice as likely to have been choked during sex. And I talked to one young woman who was telling me, you know, when she was first having sex in high school, and all of her friends were having sex, all of them were getting choked, and she was like, Some of us liked it, but not all of us liked it, Sherman told Wired. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The ubiquity of porn in the lives of Gen Z cannot be taken for granted. While some data show that nearly half of adult Gen Z-ers think porn is harmful, three-fourths of young Americans have done so by the time they turn 18, Worse, 15 per cent have watched it at age 10 or below. Why is this happening? Sherman has claimed that Gen Z is worried about being punished for having sex. Sherman has said that these attitudes are a result of sexual conservatism which seeks to eliminate abortion and access to birth control being on the upswing in America. This has become more far more acute in the aftermath the fall of Roe vs Wade. Sherman in her NPR interviewed described Gen Z as petrified of the consequences of sex. I think that feeling that people are now going to face a kind of punishment for sex, because theyll be forced to have kids that they dont want I think that is really rife within Gen Z. And that contributes to this overall miasma of anxiety and fear around sex that really doesnt lead people to want to have it, Sherman said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She also pointed to the MeToo movement having unintended consequences of having created concern around sex but not providing women with ways to improve the system. Gen Z in America worried about being punished for having sex. This has become more far more acute in the aftermath the fall of Roe vs Wade. AP So for the young women I talked to, that makes the whole world just seem so much more dangerous because it just makes it seem like now you know that something bad happened, but no one else cares, Sherman added. She also blamed Covid-19 for depriving this generation of real life experiences when it comes to sex. I think that they are very interested in sex, but theyre not necessarily able to put it into practice as much. I mean, this is a generation that grew up during COVID, and so they missed a lot of key milestones they just missed out on having that really critical IRL experience to know what its like to try and get with somebody else, Sherman said. With inputs from agencies KNP Logistics, one of Britains oldest companies, collapsed after a ransomware attack exploited a weak password and hacked into its internal network. The gang of hackers, known as Akira, demanded a ransom of 5 million pounds (Rs 58 crore), which the firm couldnt pay. The transport company eventually filed for bankruptcy, leaving as many as 700 employees jobless overnight A gang of hackers, known as Akira, accessed the companys complete network by cracking a weak employee password and then reportedly demanded a ransome for decryption key. Image for Representation. A simple, easy-to-guess password has led to the downfall of one of Britains oldest companies, leaving more than 700 people without jobs. KNP Logistics, a 158-year-old transportation firm, collapsed after falling victim to a ransomware attack that locked them out of their own systems. According to the BBC, hackers are believed to have accessed the companys complete network by cracking a weak employee password. Once inside, they encrypted data, froze the companys operations and asked for a huge ransom. And just like that, a company that had been around for over a century and a half was gone. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This is not a one-off. The UK has been seeing a surge in similar attacks, and if things continue this way, authorities say this could be the worst year yet for ransomware in the country. So how exactly did this happen? And why are so many companies getting hit? Heres a closer look. How a weak password brought down the firm Back in 2023, KNP was running a fleet of 500 lorries most of them under the well-known brand, Knights of Old. On paper, everything seemed in place. The company said its IT systems followed industry standards, and it even had cyber insurance in case of an attack. But a gang of hackers, known as Akira, got into the system, leaving staff incapable to access any of the data needed to run their business. To regain access, the hackers demanded a ransom payment in exchange for the decryption key. If youre reading this it means the internal infrastructure of your company is fully or partially deadLets keep all the tears and resentment to ourselves and try to build a constructive dialogue, read the ransom note. A hooded man holds a laptop computer as blue screen with an exclamation mark is projected on him in this illustration picture taken on May 13, 2017. Representational Image/Reuters The hackers didnt name a price, but a specialist ransomware negotiation firm estimated the sum could be as much as 5 million pounds (Rs 58 crore). KNP didnt have that kind of money. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the end all the data was lost, and the company had no other option but to file for insolvency. In a surprising admission to the BBC, KNP director Paul Abbott revealed he never told the employee that their password may have led to the companys collapse. Would you want to know if it was you? he said. Cyberattacks on the rise in the UK Stories like KNPs are more commonplace than you might realise. Recently, prominent UK companies, such as M&S, Co-op, and Harrods, have also fallen victim to similar attacks. In Co-ops case, the data of 6.5 million members was stolen. At M&S, hackers simply tricked IT staff by pretending to be someone they werent. This tactic, known as blagging or pretexting, works when a hacker creates a fake backstory, builds trust, and slowly talks their way into gaining access. And thats really all it takes. Theyre just constantly finding organisations on a bad day and taking advantage, one cyber team member from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) told the BBC. This is organised crime, added Paul Cashmore, a cyber expert brought in by KNPs insurers. Theres very little progress in catching these people but the impact is devastating. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And the numbers are only climbing. Suzanne Grimmer from the National Crime Agency (NCA) says ransomware attacks have nearly doubled in the past two years. If it continues, I predict its going to be the worst year on record for ransomware attacks in the UK, Grimmer added. Young gamers are turning to cybercrime Inside Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), where some of Britains best cyber officers work to prevent online threats, they say cyber attacks are a growing concern. The number of cases has now up to 3540 incidents a week, according to Grimmer. Part of the problem? Hacking is getting easier. You no longer need advanced tech skills to pull off a cyberattack, Grimmer told the BBC. All it takes is a few online tools many of them bought easily on the dark web. Whats even more worrying is where the next wave of hackers is coming from. James Babbage, Director General (Threats) at the NCA, says young gamers are turning to cybercrime, often starting by using their skills to con helpdesks or customer support staff into giving access to internal systems. Once theyre in, they deploy ransomware tools and shut everything down. Its a national security threat in its own right, Babbage said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to the UK governments cyber-security survey, there were an estimated 19,000 ransomware attacks on local businesses last year. The average ransom is around four million pounds (Rs 46 crore), and around one in three companies simply pay up to keep the ship afloat. Earlier this year, the National Audit Office warned that the cyber threat to the UK is severe and evolving fast. New government proposals suggest that public bodies could soon be banned from paying ransoms, while private firms may need to report attacks and seek permission before paying. Every victim needs to make their own choice, Babbage said. But its the ransom payments that are keeping this industry alive. Back in Northamptonshire, KNPs boss Paul Abbott is now using his story as a warning. He gives talks urging businesses to tighten their defences and calls for companies to undergo mandatory checks something like a regular cyber-MOT. There need to be rules, he told the BBC, that make you much more resilient to criminal activity. With input from agencies Russia has ordered its officials to switch over to the Max app by September 1. Moscow has, in recent years, been trying to reduce its use of foreign apps such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and YouTube. Russia, after the invasion of Ukraine, designated Meta which owns Facebook and WhatsApp as an extremist organisation. What is the Max app? Russian President Vladimir Putin has given Russian officials until September 1 to switch over to Max. Reuters Russia is set to ban WhatsApp in favour of its own chat app. This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered officials to switch to a Russian app being developed known as Max. But what happened? What do we know about the Max app? Lets take a closer look: What happened? Russia has been trying to reduce its use of foreign apps such as Telegram and WhatsApp. Facebook and Instagram are already banned in Russia. Russia in 2024 blocked Viber messenger. Russia after the invasion of Ukraine designated Meta which owns Facebook and WhatsApp as an extremist organisation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moscow is now set to ban WhatsApp, which is used by around 68 per cent of Russians every day. Putin in June signed a law mandating the development of a state-sponsored messenger. The Max app is being designed by state-run VK Company, which owns VK Video, a rival to YouTube. VK Company was founded by Pavel Durov, the creator of Telegram. The law also calls for apps to be banned from nations that have imposed sanctions on Russia. He gave Russian officials until September 1 to switch over to Max. Authorities are now telling WhatsApp to be prepared to stop services in Russia. Moscow is now set to ban WhatsApp, which is used by around 68 per cent of Russians every day. AP "The presence of such services in Russia's digital space is, in fact, a legal violation of national security," Anton Nemkin, a member of the State Duma IT Committee, said. The Kremlin this week published a list of instructions from Putin, including an order to introduce additional restrictions on the use in Russia of software, including communication services, produced in unfriendly countries that have imposed sanctions against Russia. Russian lawmakers also approved sweeping legal amendments, proposing fines of up to $63 for anyone searching for material online that the government deems extremist - which includes not just the likes of Instagram and Facebook, but many opposition politicians and activists. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The move drew criticism, including from some Kremlin backers such as Margarita Simonyan, a state media executive who said journalists would be unable to investigate activities of opposition groups such as the Anti-Corruption Fund of late opposition figure Alexei Navalny. What do we know about Max app? Not much. Officials say it is a messaging app much like WhatsApp, but with a huge difference. The Max app is said to have full control over users microphone, camera, contacts, geolocation and files. It does not turn off by standard means, uses root access and system files. It also sends data automatically to its parent company which is controlled by Russian authorities. Pravda.com quoted one official as saying, The authorities have already created a new element of the centralised digital tracking system messaging app Max from VK. All officials were ordered to switch to Max. The application has full access to the microphone, camera, contacts, geolocation and files. Does not turn off by standard means, uses root access and system jar files signs of malicious software. The data is automatically transmitted to servers linked to VK, which is under the control of the secret services of the Russian Federation". STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Many are worried that the state is going to use Max to further tighten its grip on the lives of its citizens. Some also fear that the authorities could hinder access to WhatsApp to encourage people to switch to Max. Russia has done this in the past. YouTube has seen its audience in Russia drop sharply after Russia has slowed download speeds. The user base, which was over 40 million daily users in mid-2024, is now just under 10 million. Anton Gorelkin, deputy head of the lower house of parliaments information technology committee, said in a statement on Telegram that the state-backed app, MAX, could gain market share if WhatsApp left. Its time for WhatsApp to prepare to leave the Russian market, Gorelkin said. Russian Senator Artem Sheikin last year had said that Moscow may block the app if it refuses to fall in line with Russian laws. Telegram, ironically, is also under the eye of the authorities. The app was created by Russian entrepreneurs Pavel and Nikolai Durov. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While it does not have end-to-end encryption by default, it is known for its secret chats that can protect users privacy. With inputs from agencies Iran is boiling with 18 out of 31 provinces across the country including Tehran witnessing extreme temperatures. Much of the country has seen water and electricity supply disrupted. The development comes in the backdrop of water levels in the reservoirs dropping to their lowest levels in nearly 100 years A man crosses an intersection on a hot summer day in downtown Tehran, Iran. AP The Islamic Republic is witnessing temperatures soaring across the country. It is importing water to meet the citizens and has been forced to declare a holiday. But what happened? What do we know? And why is this happening? Lets take a closer look What happened? Eighteen out of 31 provinces across the country including Tehran are witnessing extreme temperatures. Temperatures in the southern and northern part of the country have exceeded 50 degrees Celsius. The city of Shabankareh over the weekend recorded a temperature of 52.8 degrees Celsius. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This could be the hottest temperature of the year. Meanwhile, the town of Abadan, which is on Irans southwestern border, saw a temperature of 51.6 degrees Celsius. Ahwaz, which is near Abadan, saw a temperature of 50.3 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Tehran for the first time this year saw a temperature of over 40 degrees Celsius. Government offices in nearly a dozen provinces including the capital have been urged to conserve water. The heatwave, which began last Friday, is slated to slowly dissipate starting Thursday. Much of the country has seen water and electricity supply disrupted. The development comes in the backdrop of water levels in the reservoirs dropping to their lowest levels in nearly 100 years. Tehrans Provincial Water Supply Company has said that the water levels in reservoirs are at their lowest level in nearly a century. The firm urged residents to cut their water use by 20 per cent. According to a newspaper, Tehran on Sunday saw water outages lasting between 12 and 18 hours in some areas. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Iran is negotiating with several countries including Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to import water. AFP Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani took to X to announce that a holiday has been declared on Wednesday in Tehran province. In light of the continued extreme heat and the necessity of conserving water and electricity, Wednesday has been declared a holiday in Tehran province, she wrote. Mohajerani urged Iranians to have a rest, a short trip, or being with family, of course, while observing safety guidelines and conserving energy. Irans Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi on Sunday apologised for the water shortages. Aliabadi last week said Iran is negotiating with several countries including Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to import water. Meanwhile, citizens are suffering. I feel the skin is going to burn. [My] shirt gets wet so quickly and I prefer to take shower twice a day at this age amidst severe heat. Thank God, there is no water crisis where I live, one resident of Tehran, who is his 50s, told The Guardian. I have heard from people that cutting water supply has resulted in water outages lasting at least 12 hours and more, he added. It feels more than 45 degrees Celsius. It is so hot. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We have nine-hour load-shedding daily as the temperature has soared across Iran including my home town, a man living in Mashhad added. The water crisis is one of the biggest issues. Our dams are becoming dry and water reservoirs are depleting so fast. Why is this happening? Iran has been facing drought-like conditions for the past five years. This, combined with record-low rainfall, has left its dams at the lowest levels in decades. The World Resources Institute ranks Iran at number 14 in the world when it comes to baseline water stress. Experts think a potential day zero, when Iran completely runs out of water, could come sooner rather than later. Experts say climate change is making water scarcity worse. Iran has long since battled issues with water and electricity. They also point the finger at authorities, who they are mismanaging and overexploiting resources. This is particularly true of Irans capital Tehran where groundwater levels have depleted by 12 metres over the past two decades. Tehran has lost an estimated 25 per cent of its water due to mismanagement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Things are so dire that the is even said to be mulling whether to shift the capital to Makhran region in the countrys south. Tehran has lost an estimated 25 per cent of its water due to mismanagement. AP Irans leaders are also worried. The water crisis is more serious than what is being talked about, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday. Pezeshkian has called for a joint task force comprising government experts and academics to be established to examine the issue. Pezeshkian said Iran will face a situation in the future for which no solution can be found if nothing is done. Measures such as transferring water from other places to Tehran will not solve the problem fundamentally, he added. In the water sector, beyond management and planning, we also need to address excessive consumption. With inputs from agencies As India prepares to retire the last MiG-21 jets that defined its aerial power for decades, the nation reflects on a legacy marked equally by combat glory and tragic sacrifice Having earned the dubious nickname as Flying Coffin for the many spates of accidents that took a fatal toll on both men and machine, the Indian Air Force will finally bid adieu to the last batch of MiG-21 fighter jetsdrawing curtains on a saga of military history that began 62 years ago. A final combat before goodbye Amid the pall of gloom that gripped the country over frequent crashes of MiG-21s during routine missions, the aircraft is at least going out with one last giant combat feat. That came on 27 February 2019, when Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a Pakistani F-16 with his MiG-21 Bison during an aerial dogfightan encounter triggered by an attempted violation of Indian airspace. Supersonic legacy Designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the 1950s, the MiG-21 had its first flight in 1956 and entered service in the Soviet Union in 1959. It followed earlier MiG designs like the MiG-15 and MiG-17 but introduced supersonic performance and a delta wing, ideal for high-speed interception. Featuring a single-engine design, delta-wing configuration, and basic avionics, the MiG-21 could exceed speeds of Mach 2. It was built for short-range engagements, typically armed with heat-seeking missiles, an internal cannon, and unguided bombs or rockets. The MiG-21 grew to symbolise not only Cold War-era Soviet engineering but also the evolution of affordable airpower that spread across the developing world. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Triumph over technology In comparison to the F-16, these capabilities were practically ancientmetaphorically, a club-and-hammer against an AK-47 or a Beretta pistol. Yet, in that iconic 2019 dogfight, the MiG-21 triumphed over the American-made F-16, converting a so-called primitive machine into an instrument of humiliation for a more advanced opponent. A record marred by tragedy Despite its historic status, the MiG-21 also carries a heavy legacy of loss. According to a report in The Economic Times, the last of these aircraft belong to the 23 Squadronalso known as the Panthersand will be decommissioned in a farewell ceremony at the Chandigarh airbase on September 19. It wasnt dubbed the Flying Coffin merely by clever wordsmithing. Too old for frontline duty and riddled with mechanical issues, the aircraft was involved in multiple fatal crashes. According to open-source data, around 200 pilots and at least 60 civilians have died in no fewer than 400 MiG-21 accidentsan alarming statistic that has affected both morale and public trust. Indias airpower backbone for long The MiG-21 entered Indian service in 1963, just a year after Indias military debacle against China. Its notable that India didnt use its air force during that warperhaps a decision that, had it gone differently, might have rewritten the outcome from humiliation to hurrah. From its induction, the MiG-21 quickly became the backbone of Indias airpower from the 1970s to the mid-2000s. During the 1971 Indo-Pak War, Indian MiG-21s proved decisive, shooting down Pakistani F-104 Starfighters. Since then, it has taken part in every major air operationincluding Operation Sindoor in May this year. A high attrition rate Between 1966 and 1984, over 840 MiG-21s were built in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), but more than half were lost in accidents. Whether due to mechanical failures or human error, the MiG-21s story in India is one of both glory and deep grief. Before production ended in the USSR in 1985, over 11,000 MiG-21s were built, some under license in countries like India. It became a defining product of Cold War-era military commerce. The Chinese licensed version, the Chengdu J-7, was in production until as late as 2013. Countries like North Korea still operate MiG-21s and J-7s, alongside even older MiG-19saircraft with origins in the Korean War era. Combat service across continents The MiG-21s service history spans multiple continents. In Vietnam, it was flown by North Vietnamese forces who used its agility and speed at low altitudes to ambush American F-4 Phantoms. It was also widely used in the Arab-Israeli conflictsparticularly the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur Warby Egypt, Syria, and Iraq. Though outmatched in training and tactics, the MiG-21 held its ground. In Africa, the Balkans, Central America, and Afghanistan, the aircraft served various Soviet allies and client states. It became an airborne symbol of the USSRs global reach and influence throughout the Cold War. IAFs shrinking fleet The IAF is supposed to maintain 42 fighter squadrons but currently operates only around 31. With the retirement of the last MiG-21 squadronNo. 23the number is expected to drop to just 29. This is the lowest combat strength the IAF has seen since the 1960s. Even during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War, the IAF had 32 active fighter squadrons. Waiting for Tejas Until the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Mk1A) Tejas, developed by HAL, becomes fully operational, India faces the grim reality of reduced aerial firepower. The Tejas programme, despite its promise, has suffered decades of delays. Until it gains full combat readiness, India risks having air superiority on paper, not in the skies. With his shock resignation yesterday, Jagdeep Dhankhars political career came to an apparent end that began with a massive rally at Delhis Boat Club in 1987. While he entered politics with former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lals blessing at the Boat Club, the Jat leader ended his career quietly with a social media post with no farewell speech or message. Here we retrace the former vice presidents political journey. Dholpur: Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar addresses the cadets and staff at Rashtriya Military School, in Dholpur, Tuesday, Januar 16, 2024. (Photo: PTI) In a shock announcement, Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned as the Vice President of India on Monday, becoming the first person to leave the office this way. In his long political career spanning decades, Dhankhar transitioned from a Congressman to a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader. As governor and then the vice president, he frequently faced allegations of partisanship from Opposition parties. Dhankhar contested his first election on a Janata Dal ticket for Lok Sabhas Jhunjhunu seat in Rajasthan in 1989. He was associated with Congress during 1993-98 when he was an MLA in Rajasthan. He joined the BJP in 2008. He was the Governor of West Bengal (2019-22) before becoming the Vice President of India in 2022. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns: How will the next vice president be elected? Who will chair Rajya Sabha? Throughout all these years, Dhankhars popularity as a leader of the Jat community played a role in his rise. Here we retrace his political journey from a rally at Delhis Boat Club where he proved his credentials as a Jat leader in 1987 to his shock exit this week. The Boat Club rally that propped Dhankhar Dhankhars initial years in politics were defined by his relationship with Chaudhary Devi Lal, the Jat icon from Haryana who served as the Deputy Prime Minister of India (1989-91) when Dhankhar also served as a union minister in the governments of Prime Ministers VP Singh and Chandra Sekhar. In 1987, Devi Lal organised a large rally of the Opposition at the Boat Club in Delhi and Dhankhar joined it with thousands of people from Rajasthan, earning praise from Devi Lal and laying the partnership of a yearslong alliance between the two Jat leaders. Ranjit Singh Chautala, Devi Lals son and former Haryana minister, previously told The Indian Express that Dhankhar is like a member of the family and his entry into politics was inspired by Devi Lal. In 1987, Chaudhary Devi Lal had called for a rally of the Opposition at Boat Club in Delhi. Dhankhar brought as many as 500 vehicles full of people from Jhunjhunu to participate in the rally. Devi Lal patted him on the back. Devi Lal called him from his home and offered a ticket of Janata Dal to contest from the Jhunjhunu Lok Sabha constituency in 1989, said Chautala. Dhankhars turbulent time as governor, VP After more than a decade in the BJP, Dhankhar was appointed as the Governor of West Bengal in 2019. As the governor, Dhankhar often clashed with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress. Commentators often dubbed him as the principal opposition leader in the state over his sharp criticism of Mamatas government and the way the two leaders used to clash. Dhankhars time as the Rajya Sabha Chairman, in his capacity as the vice president, was much more turbulent. He frequently suspended Opposition members and the Opposition accused him of partisanship. They also moved a motion for his ouster. The motion could not pass. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With the motion, Dhankhar became the first vice president whose removal was sought by lawmakers over what they said was partisanship in favour of the ruling party. Dhankhar also emerged as a vocal critic of the judiciary. He criticised the Supreme Courts verdict in the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) case as a glaring instance of severe compromise of parliamentary sovereignty and disregard of the mandate of the people. The Opposition has frequently accused Dhankhar of being submissive towards the government. They frequently circulated videos of Dhankhar engaging with government figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and accused him of being unfairly close to the government. The Opposition also criticised him for praising the Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh (RSS) as having unimpeachable credentials. In one instance last year, Dhankhar appeared to refer to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi without naming him and said nothing was more condemnable than someone at a constitutional post being part of enemies of the nation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite sparring with the BJPs opponents for years, Dhankhar resigned unceremoniously on Monday evening. The quiet exit announced via a post X marked the end of a political career of a Jat leader that began in 1989 a career that critics say continued even after he assumed the apolitical constitutional role of the vice president. The AH-64E Apache is equipped with cutting-edge avionics, weaponry, and sensor systems designed for high-intensity battlefield roles. The Apache attack helicopter is well-known for its survivability, and is often called 'tank in the air'. Representative image/Reuters Boeing on Tuesday delivered three AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to the Indian Army, marking a significant boost to its combat aviation capabilities. The delivery is part of a contract for six helicopters approved by the Defence Ministry in 2017. These state-of-the-art platforms will bolster the operational capabilities of the Indian Army significantly, the Army said in a social media post, welcoming the addition of the advanced multi-role combat helicopters to its fleet. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD #Apache for Indian Army Milestone moment for Indian Army as the first batch of Apache helicopters for Army Aviation arrive today in India. These state-of-the-art platforms will bolster the operational capabilities of the #IndianArmy significantly.#YearofTechAbsorption pic.twitter.com/phtlQ4SWc8 ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 22, 2025 The Armys acquisition of the Apache fleet follows the Indian Air Forces (IAF) earlier procurement of 22 AH-64E helicopters under a multi-billion dollar deal signed in 2015. Boeing completed deliveries for the IAF in 2020. The current Army-specific order was cleared in 2017 at a cost of Rs 4,168 crore, and the deliveries were scheduled to begin in 2024. The remaining three helicopters are expected to arrive later this year. Once inducted, the Apaches will provide the Indian Army with enhanced offensive capability in high-altitude and armoured warfare scenarios. The AH-64E Apache, originally developed by Hughes Helicopters in the 1970s for the US Army to replace the AH-1 Cobra, is equipped with cutting-edge avionics, weaponry, and sensor systems designed for high-intensity battlefield roles. The twin-engine, tandem-seat attack helicopter is widely regarded as one of the deadliest and most survivable combat helicopters worldwide, thanks to its combination of firepower, technology, and battlefield adaptability. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The chopper is designed primarily for anti-armour and close air support. Apaches have proven highly effective in conflicts such as the Gulf War, Afghanistan, Iraq, and more. Their presence in militaries like Indias is seen as a major force multiplier, providing critical tank in the air capability against armored threats. With inputs from agencies The Supreme Court has agreed to urgently hear the Maharashtra governments plea challenging the acquittal of all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings case. The hearing is scheduled for July 24, following a Bombay HC verdict that raised serious questions over investigation and prosecution. The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to urgently hear the Maharashtra governments appeal against the Bombay High Courts decision to acquit all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings. The hearing has been scheduled for July 24. A bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai, along with Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria, listed the matter after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state, sought an early hearing, citing the cases gravity and urgency. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Bombay High Court, in a stunning verdict delivered on Monday, set aside the convictions, ruling that the prosecution had utterly failed to prove its case. The court noted it was hard to believe the accused committed the crime. The serial blasts on Mumbais suburban rail network during rush hour on July 11, 2006, killed over 180 people and injured hundredsmarking one of Indias worst terror attacks. Inhuman, barbaric torture by ATS: Bombay HC slams probe In a damning critique of the investigation, the High Court found that the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) subjected the accused to most inhuman and barbaric torture, leading to forced confessions that were later retracted. Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak, who delivered the verdict, observed that the accused were kept in police custody for up to 76 days and withdrew their confessions immediately upon being presented before a magistrate. The court noted that such confessions, obtained under duress, cannot be considered admissible evidence. It is well known that, in most cases, police are in the habit of extorting confessions through illegal means, including torture, the court said, quoting established legal principles that dismiss statements extracted under fear or coercion. The court further highlighted inconsistencies in the prosecutions claim that the accused were uncooperativean assertion made just before their confessions were recorded. The 7/11 Mumbai train blasts The 7/11 attacks refer to a series of seven coordinated bomb blasts that tore through first-class compartments of Mumbais suburban trains on July 11, 2006. The explosions, timed within 11 minutes during peak evening hours, caused mass casualties and widespread panic. Over 180 people were killed and more than 800 injured in what remains one of Indias deadliest terror attacks. The Maharashtra ATS had arrested several suspects, alleging cross-border links and a larger terror conspiracy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistans focus on external threats over internal reconciliation highlights its failure to assert sovereignty through governance, leaving Balochistan a battleground for both local aspirations and global ambitions In the past week, the BLA has launched a deadly assault on Pakistani security forces, killing 29 people in Quetta and Kalat. The attack targeted a bus reportedly carrying over 48 passengers, including Pakistani soldiers. Image: AFP The Balochistan Liberation Armys (BLA) relentless campaign against Pakistani forces has thrust Pakistans largest yet most marginalised province into the spotlight of a deepening crisis. In the first half of 2025 alone, the BLA claimed responsibility for 286 attacks, resulting in over 697 Pakistani military personnel killed and significant territorial gains, including the seizure of 45 strategic locations. In the past week, the BLA has launched a deadly assault on Pakistani security forces, killing 29 people in Quetta and Kalat. The attack targeted a bus reportedly carrying over 48 passengers, including Pakistani soldiers. This incident marks one of the deadliest strikes in recent months, pushing the militarys casualty count to its highest in the past six months. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These audacious operations, marked by sophisticated tactics and coordinated assaults on military infrastructure, signal a reinvigorated insurgency that challenges Pakistans sovereignty over its resource-rich western frontier. The BLAs actions, including high-profile attacks like the Jaffar Express hijacking in March 2025, underscore a growing defiance rooted in decades of grievancespolitical exclusion, economic exploitation, and systemic human rights abuses. Balochistan, despite its vast reserves of gas, gold, and copper, remains Pakistans poorest region, with 70 per cent of its population living in multidimensional poverty. The provinces strategic significance, amplified by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has only intensified tensions, as Baloch nationalists view such projects as tools of external exploitation rather than local development. Pakistans heavy-handed military response, characterised by enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, has further alienated the Baloch, swelling the ranks of insurgent groups with educated youth and even women. This escalating conflict exposes not only Pakistans failure to integrate Balochistan but also its inability to reconcile with a population demanding autonomy or independence. The BLAs growing sophistication and public support signal a broader rejection of Islamabads authority, raising questions about the states capacity to maintain control over a region integral to its geopolitical ambitions. As the violence intensifies, the roots of this conflicthistorical neglect, resource disputes, militarisation, and external influencesdemand closer examination to understand why Pakistans grip on Balochistan is slipping. Historical Neglect and Broken Promises The roots of the Pakistan-BLA conflict trace back to the forced annexation of Balochistan in 1948, when the princely state of Kalat was coerced into joining Pakistan despite its brief declaration of independence. This historical grievance set the stage for recurring rebellions, with five major uprisings since 1947, each driven by the Baloch peoples sense of betrayal. The Pakistani states early policies, such as the One-Unit scheme of 1955, which merged Balochistan into West Pakistan, stripped the region of its distinct identity and political agency. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These actions sowed seeds of distrust that have persisted for decades. Baloch nationalists argue that Islamabads promises of autonomy and development have consistently been broken, leaving the province politically marginalised. Despite constituting 44 per cent of Pakistans landmass, Balochistan holds only 5 per cent of its population and lacks proportional representation in federal institutions, with Punjabi elites dominating the bureaucracy. The dismissal of Balochistans provincial government in 1973, followed by a brutal four-year insurgency, further deepened this alienation. Successive governments have failed to address these grievances, opting instead for cosmetic reforms or outright repression. The Baloch see their regions strategic importancebordering Iran and Afghanistan, with a coastline along the Arabian Seaas a curse, exploited by the central government for geopolitical gain without reciprocal investment in local welfare. This historical neglect has created a fertile ground for the BLAs narrative of resistance, framing their fight as a legitimate struggle against a state that has consistently failed to honour Balochistans sovereignty or aspirations for self-determination. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Economic Exploitation and the CPEC Balochistans vast natural resourcesgas, coal, gold, and coppershould have made it a cornerstone of Pakistans economic growth, yet the province remains mired in poverty. The central governments exploitation of these resources, often without equitable benefit to the local population, has been a key driver of the BLAs insurgency. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $62 billion infrastructure project linking Chinas western region to Gwadars deep-sea port, has become a lightning rod for Baloch grievances. While CPEC is touted as a game-changer for Pakistan, Baloch nationalists view it as a symbol of external exploitation, with Chinese investments prioritising federal and foreign interests over local needs. Militarised Repression Deepens Alienation Pakistans response to Baloch dissent has relied heavily on militarisation, exacerbating the conflict and undermining its sovereignty over Balochistan. The Pakistani militarys kill-and-dump policy, involving enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, has targeted thousands of Baloch activists, students, and intellectuals since the early 2000s. Estimates suggest over 20,000 Baloch have gone missing, with bodies often found bearing torture marks, fuelling public outrage. Operations like the 2025 counterinsurgency campaign, involving drone strikes and mass arrests in Quetta and Mastung, have failed to quell the BLAs momentum, instead radicalising more civilians. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The militarys heavy presenceover 50,000 troops stationed in Balochistancreates a siege-like atmosphere, with checkpoints and raids disrupting daily life. This approach has alienated even moderate Baloch, who view it as collective punishment. The BLAs recruitment of educated youth, including women, reflects this growing resentment, with groups like the BLAs Majeed Brigade conducting suicide attacks against military targets in 2025. Pakistans refusal to pursue political solutions, coupled with its reliance on force, has strengthened the BLAs narrative of state oppression, eroding trust in federal authority. By prioritising security over dialogue, Pakistan has failed to address the root causes of unrest, allowing the BLA to gain legitimacy as defenders of Baloch rights. This militarised approach not only escalates the conflict but also exposes Pakistans inability to govern Balochistan effectively, weakening its claim to sovereignty. External Influences and Geopolitical Stakes Balochistans strategic location and resources have drawn external actors, complicating the Pakistan-BLA conflict and exposing vulnerabilities in Pakistans sovereignty. Bordering Iran and Afghanistan, with access to the Arabian Sea, Balochistan is a geopolitical hotspot. The CPEC has elevated its importance, with China investing heavily in Gwadar and energy projects. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, Irans concerns about Baloch militancy spilling across its border have led to joint military operations with Pakistan, further complicating the regional dynamic. The BLAs reported ties to sanctuaries in Afghanistan, where porous borders allow training and arms flows, have emboldened its 2025 offensive, with 45 strategic locations seized. These external factors expose Pakistans failure to secure Balochistans borders, undermining its territorial control. The involvement of global powers in CPEC amplifies local grievances, as Baloch nationalists frame their struggle as resistance to foreign-backed exploitation. Pakistans reliance on Chinese investment to stabilise its economy ties its hands, limiting its ability to address Baloch demands for fear of jeopardising CPEC. This geopolitical entanglement, coupled with Pakistans inability to counter external influences or secure regional cooperation, has allowed the BLA to exploit fault lines, intensifying the conflict. The states focus on external threats over internal reconciliation highlights its failure to assert sovereignty through governance, leaving Balochistan a battleground for both local aspirations and global ambitions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The author, a columnist and research scholar, teaches journalism at St. Xaviers College (autonomous), Kolkata. His handle on X is @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Rather than follow the Wests tired and failed strategies on Yemen, India should take the diplomatic lead. The greater problem is the unchallenged belief among many diplomats that unity brings stability An Indian security guard was rescued from the Red Sea on July 10, 2025, after Yemeni Houthis sank the Eternity C, the ship on which he worked. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), meanwhile, helps the Houthis target Red Sea shipping not only out of animus toward Israel and the United States, but also because Revolutionary Guards-owned transport companies lose out financially if India-Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEC) traffic bypasses Iran. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As a regional superpower and the worlds fourth largest economy, India also relies on freedom of navigation and stability and security in the Indian Ocean basin. Rather than follow the Wests tired and failed strategies on Yemen, India should take the diplomatic lead. For too long, Western priorities and assumptions have shaped policy toward Yemen. First and foremost, the US, the UK, and the UN have prioritised unity over defeating the Houthis. Outside powers have also promoted a big-tent approach. Both approaches make defeat of the Houthis and restoration of security impossible. The assumption that broad coalitions bring peace and stability is rooted in wishful thinking rather than evidence. Forcing US President Donald Trump to share an office with Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party nominee for the post Trump contested and won, would bring dysfunction, not smooth governance. Yet the international community forces divergent groups together into Yemens Presidential Leadership Council. President Rashid al-Alimi represents the General Peoples Congress, the former political party of Yemens long-time leader Ali Abdullah Saleh. Vice Chairmen of the Council come from the Southern Transitional Council, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Salehs own family. Other tribal leaders and religious agendas fill out the council. The practical problem with the Council, though, is that each member promotes his agenda over the paramount goal of defeating the Houthis. Yemens Muslim Brotherhood branch too often supports Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and facilitates the smuggling of weaponry to the Houthis. Their actions make them liable to the former terror designation, yet they remain a Trojan Horse inside the Presidential Leadership Council. Other northern officials prioritise undermining southern success over Houthi defeat. Aden has a surplus of fuel oil in its storage tanks, yet northern officials will not allow them to sell it. Residents of Aden suffer through 45-degree Celsius days with high humidity and no electricity for fans, let alone air conditioners. The greater problem, however, is the unchallenged belief among many diplomats that unity brings stability. In Yemen, that has never been the case. The British colonised Aden in 1839 as a coaling station to support British commerce and shipping to and from India. The Aden Colony became the Aden Protectorate, which then formed the Federation of Arab Emirates of the South and finally the Federation of South Arabia before the British withdrew and Communist insurgents formed the Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen, colloquially called South Yemen. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With the fall of the Soviet Union, North and South Yemen united, but it was not a happy marriage. South Yemen has always been more cosmopolitan, tolerant, and progressive. It sought to leave the union in 1994, but North Yemeni forces conquered and occupied the region. Even if outside powers date Yemeni unity to 1990, the Houthi conquest of Sanaa in 2014 led South Yemen to restore its de facto autonomy. Put another way, Yemeni unity accounts for only 13 per cent of Yemeni history. Not by coincidence, those 24 years represent the most tumultuous and least stable time in Yemeni history. Any honest historical assessment would conclude that Yemen is most stable with South Yemenor South Arabia, as many residents now see themselvesindependent. The notion that there must be only one Yemen makes no logical sense when there are 22 Arab states, two Albanias (one called Kosovo), and two Romanias (one called Moldova). The international community recognised Kosovo and Moldova for purely practical reasons, as they recognised that forcing unity could actually worsen regional conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here, India should play a diplomatic role. South Yemenis orient themselves toward India. Many Indians immigrated into Aden during the period of British control and chose to stay following South Yemens independence. Today, Indian heritage is a source of pride. Some Yemenis introduce themselves as Indian, and it is common for Yemenis whose families arrived from India five generations back to still speak Hindi and know their home regions and towns. As India seeks to secure the Indian Ocean basin, it should leverage positive feelings toward India to support former British protectorates like Somaliland and South Yemen in their quests for independence. Under Jawaharlal Nehru, India became the intellectual and diplomatic centre of anti-colonialist sentiment. Today, his goal is incomplete. India could resume its intellectual and diplomatic leadership, leverage its Indian diaspora, and bring stability to South Arabia and the Gulf of Aden by forcing other influential states to reconsider the stale assumptions underpinning their diplomacy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Michael Rubin is director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Six months into his second term, far from the hottest and most respected country that he had promised, President Donald Trump has made the United States an untrustworthy partner, an expansionist regime that threatens allies with invasions and forced annexation, ushered in geopolitical instability with his patchy policies, and has also failed to end the wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. US President Donald Trump came to office with the promise to end ongoing wars, smoothen geopolitical tussles, and make America great again. Six months later, however, Trump has not just failed to end a war but has plunged the United States into a new one. Instead of smoothening geopolitics, he has launched a trade war and turned allies into adversaries. Instead of making America great again, he has driven country towards stagflation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While his Make America Great Agan (Maga) base cheers him on regardless, allies and adversaries defy him alike. While Benjamin Netanyahu of Isreal bombs Syria, Lebanon, and the Gaza Strip at will in defiance of the White Houses positions, Vladimir Putin of Russia continues to wage war on Ukraine by refusing all peace proposals and pleadings from Trump to end the conflict. ALSO READ Maga at work: In New America, Trump is emperor and the world is up for grabs Trumps approval (or rather disapproval) rating sums up his term so far: 54 per cent Americans disapprove of his term and just 44 per cent approve it. The state of affairs is such that he has miffed people even on immigration, which has been his strongest domain for a long time. Trumps failure in Ukraine Nowhere are Trumps failure more visible than in Ukraine. Trump came to office with the promise of ending the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. Six months later, the war is nowhere close to an end. Even after Trump has floated sops after sops to Putin, ranging from renewed trade and dismantling US intelligence operations directed at Russia, Putin has refused to budge from his maximalist demands. Instead, empowered from Trumps appeasement, Putin has not just doubled down on his maximalist term but has expanded them. He has also rejected all three ceasefire proposals floated by Trump Ukraine has accepted all of them. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The result is that even though Trump has reset generations of US foreign policy by aligning himself with Putin, the Russian leader has not offered any reciprocity and has left Trump red-faced at the world stage. ALSO READ: Trumps 50-day tariff threat to Russia could mean a licence for Putin to execute his Ukraine plan With his de facto alliance with Trump, he has also alienated European partners, who are now not just on a rearmament spree but are also looking forward to replace US companies in strategic areas with alternative. For example, Poland has sought to replace the likes of Starlink and Maxar with alternatives and the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan are making a fifth-generation fighter plane without US involvement. Israel attacks country after country Just like Ukraine, Trump has failed to end the war in Gaza. He has also faltered on his top promise of not starting a war. However, just months into the first term, Trump plunged the United States into a new war when he joined Israel in the war on Iran last month. Even though Israel started the war, the United States delivered the most decisive blows to Iran's nuclear sites. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even though Trump has struck a ceasefire with Yemens Houthis and is reaching out to Syrias Ahmed al-Sharaa, Netanyahu has continued to attack Houthis, the regime in Syria, and even carry out strikes inside Lebanon despite a ceasefire. Netanyahu has also expanded the war in Gaza that has complicated peace talks. The CNN has reported that Trump was caught off-guard last week with Israeli strikes in Syria and Gaza. To sum it up, far from ending the war in Gaza, Trump not just plunged the United States into a new war with Iran but also failed to rein in Netanyahu who continue to bomb a different country in the region every week. Trumps crackdown on free speech after championing it For much of the campaign, Trump and his Maga base accused the mainstream media and internet giants for curbing social media. When social media platforms and media fact-checked Trump and his extremist supporters false claims or blocked their hate speech, they accused the media and social media platforms of bias and censorship. After assuming office, however, the Trump administration has sought to crush descent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard has fired analysts whose assessments she did not like, woman and black leaders have been fired over their gender and race, and people have been denied entry into the United States over memes. Moreover, the new visa policy seeks to review peoples social media and anything critical of Trump or Maga is set to ban you from entering the country. After Elon Musks ownership, X (formerly Twitter) has become a far-right bastion. Under Musks control, X has promoted the far-right agenda much more openly than Trump and his supporters accused the mainstream media of pushing the Democratic Partys agenda. Trumps assaults on independent institutions While Trumps authoritarian tendencies were not a secret in his first term, the second term has seen a complete transition from a president into an emperor. While he had independent-thinking advisers checking his impulses and Congress pressuring him in his first term, Trump has a total control of the government now: both the Senate and House of Representatives have Republican majorities and the Supreme Court is in his pocket with a 6:3 conservative majority. Trump has also captured all institutions: he has fired watchdogs, turned the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into his personal sword-arms, and attacked the independence of the Federal Reserve. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump has also fired entire departments and removed entire offices doing critical roles at the defence and state departments. Trump is not winning trade war Trumps signature tariff war on the world appears to have backfired. Trump expected to raise $6 trillion in revenues a year from tariffs. Six years later, he has only raised $47 billion. For context, there are 1,000 billion in 1 trillion. On the back of near-monopoly in rare earths supply, China has already forced Trump to blink. Under pressure from China, whose hold on rare earths threatened to choke virtually every industry across the world, Trump relaxed export controls related to Chinas access to semiconductors and chip designing. Moreover, tariffs coupled with mass-firing have led to fears that stagflation might be on the horizon. Trump turns allies into adversaries Trump has turned traditional allies into enemies whereas he has sought friends in traditional adversaries. Consider this: Trump has threatened to invade and annex Denmarks Greenland island. He has slapped high tariffs on allies like South Korea and Japan but has completely spared Russia and imposed minimal tariffs on Iran. He has also vowed to annex Canada. He has also withdrawn from Europe and made Asia anxious. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ: Is Putin using Trump to kill Nato? While Trump has long been skeptical of Nato, he has now put Aukus pact with Australia and the UK at risk as well. Trump has also aligned himself with a band of jihadist and Islamist regimes from West Asia to Central Asia that have long found a common foe in India. He has constantly repeated Pakistans position in the India-Pakistan conflict in May. French President Emmanuel Macron, writing on X, said UNESCO had his unwavering support and insisted that backing for the organisation would not waver after the American decision French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump meet at the White House in Washington, DC, US, February 24, 2025. (Photo: Reuters) The United States said on Tuesday (July 22) it would withdraw from UNESCO, accusing the UN cultural and education agency of bias against Israel and pursuing a globalist, ideological agenda. Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States, said State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, confirming that the withdrawal would take effect in December 2026. Bruce criticised UNESCO for promoting divisive social and cultural causes and prioritising the UNs sustainability goals, which she described as a globalist, ideological agenda. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She also cited UNESCOs 2011 decision to admit Palestine as a member state and its recognition of heritage sites in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as Palestinian as further reasons for the US departure. UNESCOs decision to admit the State of Palestine as a member state is highly problematic, contrary to US policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organisation, Bruce said. The announcement marks the second time Washington has turned its back on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation under President Donald Trump. The US previously exited in 2017 during Trumps first term, before rejoining under President Joe Biden. I deeply regret President Donald Trumps decision to once again withdraw the United States of America from UNESCO, said Director-General Audrey Azoulay, adding that the move contradicted fundamental principles of multilateralism. However regrettable, this announcement was expected, and UNESCO has prepared for it, she added. Azoulay said the organisation had introduced major structural reforms and diversified its funding sources in recent years, limiting the financial impact of the US exit. She noted that the US currently contributes only 8 per cent of UNESCOs budget, down from nearly 20 per cent a decade ago, according to a source within the agency. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She added that Washingtons claims contradict the reality of UNESCOs efforts, particularly its work on Holocaust education and combating antisemitism. A UNESCO official who asked not to be named said the agency had already adapted to life without US funding after the 2017 exit, though additional resources would still be needed. French President Emmanuel Macron, writing on X, said UNESCO had his unwavering support and insisted that backing for the organisation would not waver after the American decision. Unwavering support for UNESCO, a universal guardian of science, the Ocean, education, culture, and world heritage. The withdrawal of the United States will not weaken our commitment alongside those who lead this fight. Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 22, 2025 Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar welcomed the US move. This is a necessary step, designed to promote justice and Israels right for fair treatment in the UN system, he posted on X. UNESCO, known globally for designating world heritage sites, also works to promote education, scientific collaboration and cultural preservation. Its iconic heritage list includes locations such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Serengeti, the Acropolis and the Pyramids of Giza. Despite the withdrawal, the US is expected to retain a seat on the World Heritage Committee, as it did during its previous absence. With inputs from agencies Major (Retd) Adil Raja, a former Pakistani army officer, alleged that Army Chief General Asim Munir sought total control of the South Asian nation by orchestrating chaos A man carries a portrait of Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, during a rally to express solidarity with Pakistan's armed forces, in Islamabad. AFP Major (Retd) Adil Raja, a former Pakistani army officer turned whistleblower, has accused Pakistans army chief, General Asim Munir, of undermining the countrys democracy. Raja alleged that Munir, who earlier promoted himself to the rank of Field Marshal, seeks total control by orchestrating chaos. The plan is allegedly by the Army Chief, Asim Munir putting his brother-in-law as PM, himself or another general as president a Musharraf-style accountability push to claim they cleaned up Pakistan, he claimed, referencing the former Pakistani president and army chief. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In an India Today interview, Raja accused Munir of orchestrating a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP)a defamation case filed in the UK by Brigadier Rashid Nasir, the ISIs Punjab sector commander. This is part of the lawfare launched against me by the Pakistani military establishment and its intelligence arm, the ISI, with whom I was once working, Raja said, days before his London trial that started on July 21. Living in exile in the UK, Raja told the Indian news channel that UK counterterrorism police investigated him for nine months on terrorism charges but fully cleared him. He claimed the defamation trial is the Pakistan armys backup plan to silence him. They couldnt get me under counterterrorism, so now theyre trying their luck in the courts. The UK is the libel tourism capital of the world as Kings Counsel Geoffrey Robertson says, he stated. ISI exploiting UKs laws to silence critics? Raja accused Munir and DG ISI Lt Gen Asim Malik of exploiting the UKs lenient libel laws to suppress dissent and conceal military crimes, including political manipulation, judicial interference, and widespread violations of civil liberties. He said that his family in Pakistan faces severe repercussions, with his mother under de facto house arrest and her passport revoked to block his return. Shes practically under house arrest her passports have been cancelled. My entire familys nationalities have been blocked, he said. Raja also disclosed that Shahzad Akbar, a witness in his case, was attacked with acid in the UK, an act he attributes to ISI-orchestrated intimidation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The ISI is using all its power to silence this. They just dont want any coverage, because it exposes their soft belly, he said. Court-martialed in absentia and sentenced to 14 years under Pakistans Official Secrets Act, Raja insisted his only offence was exposing the militarys grip on Pakistans politics. I was committing the cardinal sin: exposing the crimes of my institution regime change operations, controlling the government, judicial manipulation, and corruption, he said. The Chinese-made F-7 BGI training aircraft experienced a technical malfunction moments after takeoff from the A.K. Khandaker air force base at 1:06 p.m. Monday, according to a statement from the military Onlookers are seen through a burnt classroom window of a school building after a Bangladesh air force training jet crashed into it in Dhaka, Bangladesh. AP On Tuesday, the death toll from the crash of a Bangladesh air force training jet into a school in the countrys capital rose to 31, including at least 25 students, a teacher who died from burn injuries sustained while assisting others in getting out of the burning building, and the training aircrafts pilot. As the military began its inquiry, firefighters further guarded the area in the crowded Uttara neighbourhood of Dhaka. The probe did not directly include the nations civil aviation authorities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tuesday was declared as a day of national mourning in Bangladesh, and all flags were flown at half-mast. Mondays crash at the Milestone School and College caused a fire that gutted the two-story school building. Officials said 171 people, mostly students and many with burns, were rescued and carried away in helicopters, ambulances, motorized rickshaws and in the arms of firefighters and parents. Many say theyre haunted by the tragedy Yesterday, when the plane was approaching, the sound was so loud you cant even imagine it felt like eardrums were about to burst. Within five seconds, the plane crashed right in front of me here, Smriti, a student who only gave one name, said outside her school. Suddenly, I saw flames rising fiercely upward from the building, the 11th grader said. When I got here, I saw some children lying with their limbs spread out, some of their lifeless bodies scattered around. Can you save them? Tell me, will they ever be able to return to their parents arms again, she asked. On Tuesday, 78 people, mostly students, remained hospitalized, said Sayeedur Rahman, a special assistant to Bangladeshs interim leader Muhammad Yunus. Twenty deaths were reported initially, and seven died of their injuries overnight, authorities said. Another four deaths were reported later Monday, the military said. Maherin Chowdhury, a teacher who rescued more than 20 students from the burning school, died from severe burn injuries, her colleague Tanzina Tanu said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Doctors said late Monday that the condition of about two dozen injured remained critical. A blood donation camp has been opened at a specialized burn hospital where most of the injured were being treated. Twenty bodies have been handed over to their families, with some of them possibly needing DNA matching after they were charred beyond recognition. Many relatives waited overnight at a specialized burn hospital for the bodies of their loved ones. The plane reported a malfunction The Chinese-made F-7 BGI training aircraft experienced a technical malfunction moments after takeoff from the A.K. Khandaker air force base at 1:06 p.m. Monday, according to a statement from the military. 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. The Milestone school, about an 11-kilometer (7-mile) drive from the air force base, is in a densely populated area near a metro station and numerous shops and homes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It was the pilots first solo flight as he was completing his training course. It remained unclear if he managed to eject before the jet hit the building. The first funeral prayers were held for the pilot in Dhaka on Tuesday morning and second prayers will be held in southwestern Rajshahi district where his parents live. 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. A former Louisville police officer has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for using excessive force during the 2020 raid that led to Breonna Taylors death, marking the first prison term in the case. The judge rejected the Justice Departments push for no jail time, calling the actions too serious to go unpunished. A federal judge on Monday sentenced former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison to 33 months in prison for using excessive force during the 2020 raid that led to Breonna Taylors death. The sentence comes despite the Justice Departments recommendation for no prison time, a suggestion the judge firmly rejected. Hankison, who fired 10 bullets during the botched drug raid but did not hit anyone, was the only officer charged at the scene of Taylors killing. While his shots didnt cause injury, they pierced the walls of her apartment and entered a neighboring unit, putting lives at risk. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings criticized the DOJs recommendation as inappropriate and said it treated Hankisons actions as inconsequential. She added she was startled that no one else was harmed during the chaotic operation. Hankison will serve three years of supervised release after completing his sentence. The Bureau of Prisons will determine when and where he begins serving time. Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, who helped secure a $12 million settlement for Taylors family, condemned the DOJs recommendation and called it a betrayal of justice. After the hearing, he led a crowd outside the courthouse in chanting, Say her name with the response, Breonna Taylor. Taylors death in March 2020, along with George Floyds killing two months later, helped ignite a national movement against police brutality and racial injustice. The Justice Departments sudden shift now under the Trump administration after Hankisons conviction suggested probation and time already served (just one day), arguing he no longer posed a danger. The reversal drew sharp backlash from activists and Taylors supporters. The stolen files included blueprints for infrared sensors used in space-based systems to detect nuclear missile launches and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles The US Justice Department said Monday (July 21) that a Chinese-born US researcher admitted guilt to stealing trade secrets, including technology for detecting nuclear missile launches. The man, identified as a 59-year-old Chenguang Gong, is a resident of San Jose, California. Gong was charged with transferring over 3,600 files from his employer, a research and development company, to his personal storage devices. In a central California district court, Gong pleaded guilty to one count of theft of trade secrets, facing up to 10 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for September 29. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Having become a US citizen in 2011, Gong briefly worked as an engineer in 2023 at a Los Angeles-area research and development company, which was not named, the Justice Department stated. The stolen files included blueprints for infrared sensors used in space-based systems to detect nuclear missile launches and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles, per the Justice Department. Additionally, Gong took blueprints for sensors enabling US military aircraft to detect incoming heat-seeking missiles and deploy countermeasures. The files Gong transferred include blueprints for sophisticated infrared sensors designed for use in space-based systems to detect nuclear missile launches and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as blueprints for sensors designed to enable US military aircraft to detect incoming heat-seeking missiles and take countermeasures, including by jamming the missiles infrared tracking ability, the Justice Department wrote in a press release. Between 2014 and 2022, while employed at various major US technology companies, Gong applied to join Chinese government-funded Talent Programs, the Justice Department noted. These programs aim to recruit individuals with expert skills, abilities, and knowledge of advanced sciences and technologies to bolster Chinas economy and military capabilities. Gong also transferred files containing trade secrets relating to the development of next generation sensors capable of detecting low observable targets while demonstrating increased survivability in space, as well as the blueprints for the mechanical assemblies used to house and cryogenically cool the victim companys sensors. This information was among the victim companys most important trade secrets that are worth hundreds of millions of dollars, the department noted. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The US House of Representatives has been paralysed for the second week straight as Republicans have refused to convene proceedings to avoid taking up motions moved by Democrats over the Epstein files. To shield President Donald Trump from criticism related to the so-called Epstein files, Republican lawmakers have paralysed the House of Representatives for the second week straight. Republican lawmakers have refused to convene proceedings in the House so they dont have to take up motions moved by Democrats related to the Epstein Files. The Epstein files refer to the purported evidence related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. For years, far-right figures, including Trumps son Donald Trump Jr and current FBI chief Kash Patel, peddled theories that Epsteins crimes were covered up and he was killed to save powerful people. They said that the Epstein files had a client list that contained names of powerful people who were clients of Epsteins illicit sex business. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Earlier this month, however, the Trump administration announced that there was no foul play in Epstein's death and that there was no client list. That led to an outrage among a section of Trump's extremist Maga base. Those outraged accused the administration of a cover-up. ALSO READ: Trump on Epstein timeline: A decades-long relationship faces new scrutiny by Maga Democrats have joined the criticism and have sought to pressure the administration to release any and all documents related to Epstein. Republicans controlling the House have refused to convene to avoid taking up such motion and prevent Trump from facing embarrassment. Democrats press Trump with Epstein saga As Democrats have sought votes on the Epstein saga, Republicans have shut the proceedings for the rest of the session to avoid taking the vote. However, Democrats are still counting on support from a small bunch of Republican rebels to force a vote. The Hill has reported that Republican Representative Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna have pledged to force a vote on their Epstein-release bill through the discharge petition process. If Massie and Khanna can get 218 House members to sign on, which would mean that all Democratic representatives and all the Republicans who have already co-sponsored the bill would need to sign, they can back the Republican House leadership into a corner and force a vote. However, any vote is unlikely to take place until at least after the House returns after the recess in September. By then, the Republicans hope that the outrage over Epstein files would have died down. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Amir Ali Hajizadeh, IRGC Aerospace Force commander, and his deputies were allegedly lured to a Mossad-arranged meeting, where a single missile strike killed them all Commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Hossein Salami and commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, visit an underground of the new 'missile city' at an undisclosed location in Iran, in this picture obtained on January 11, 2025. Reuters A month after the war with Iran ended, fresh details are surfacing about Israels targeted assassinations of senior Iranian officials and the severe damage inflicted on the Islamic Republic. Iran International, an opposition-linked outlet, in one of its reports has described the events as one of the most unusual security and military defeats of the modern era. Mossad allegedly lured Hossein Salami to assassination site The report claimed that Israels Mossad intelligence agency leaked the date of an attack through an agent close to Hossein Salami, the IRGC commander, to draw him to a preplanned assassination site. It further revealed that Amir Ali Hajizadeh, IRGC Aerospace Force commander, and his deputies were lured to a Mossad-arranged meeting, where a single missile strike killed them all. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The fake phone call inviting them was reportedly so convincing that they rushed to attend the meeting. Assassination of Ali Shadmani Mossads deep infiltration into the lives of Iranian officials enabled the assassination of Ali Shadmani, who succeeded Gholam Ali Rashid as commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, just four days after Rashids death. Iran International reported that Mossad tracked Shadmani using a sophisticated operation, obtaining a DNA sample digitally and employing AI-based facial recognition and genetic profiling. Malware planted in Tehrans security cameras located him in the Zaferania neighbourhood, where he was killed by a drone strike on June 27. In another counterintelligence operation, the head of IRGC intelligence, Mohammad Kazemi, and two deputies were killed after an agent lured them to a safe house in Kurdbacheh alley. Israeli forces delayed the strike until a nearby kindergarten was empty, hitting the house 10 minutes later, killing Kazemi and his deputies. The sites proximity to two kindergartens and a girls school also raises questions about the Revolutionary Guards potential use of civilians as human shields. Irans communications minister reported on Tuesday that the country faced over 20,000 cyberattacks during the war. In many cases, we managed to counter the attacks, he stated. Meanwhile, Iranian spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani reported 1,062 deaths during the conflict with Israel, including 102 women and 38 children. Dati, a high-profile minister who hopes to become mayor of Paris next year, was investigated in 2019 on suspicion of lobbying for the Renault-Nissan auto firm while working at the European Union agency France's Culture Minister Rachida Dati is to go on trial accused of receiving payments from Renault-Nissan while she was a member of European Parliament. File image/AFP Rachida Dati, Frances Culture Minister, will face trial on charges of corruption and abuse of authority as a member of the European Parliament, a court source told AFP on Tuesday. Dati, a high-profile minister who hopes to become mayor of Paris next year, was investigated in 2019 on suspicion of lobbying for the Renault-Nissan auto firm while working at the European Union agency. Dati, aged 59, denies the allegations. She did not return an AFP request for comment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We will appeal this decision today, Datis lawyers, Olivier Baratelli and Olivier Pardo, told AFP. Dati, a daughter of working-class North African immigrants, was defiant. I will lead you to victory. Some people are trying to attack me over my private life, over many aspects that are collateral to my candidacy, said Dati, who is mayor of the French capitals 7th district that is home to most French ministries, the countrys parliament and many foreign embassies. I am not afraid of anything or anyone. Dati, who served as justice minister under right-wing leader Nicolas Sarkozy from 2007 to 2009, will continue in office, according to a Macron colleague. The president has taken note of the decision to refer Rachida Dati to the criminal court. As a referral is not a conviction, she will continue her work, said the associate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Dati is suspected of taking 900,000 euros in lawyers fees from a Renault-Nissan company in the Netherlands between 2010 and 2012 while not working for them throughout her tenure as an MEP from 2009 to 2019. Until the end Investigations have sought to determine whether she carried out banned lobbying for the carmaker at the European Parliament. In their order signed on Tuesday, a copy of which was seen by AFP, the investigating magistrates said that Datis activities in parliament amounts to lobbying, which appears incompatible with both her mandate and the profession of lawyer. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Initially placed under the more favourable status of assisted witness a step before being indicted in 2019, Dati was charged in 2021. She has since repeatedly sought to have the charges quashed. French investigating magistrates also ordered that Carlos Ghosn, the former Renault-Nissan chairman and chief executive, be tried, the judicial source said. The 71-year-old, who has been living in Lebanon for years after escaping arrest in Japan, has also rejected the charges against him. A hearing on September 29 will decide on the date of the trial, the source said. According to another source following the case, the trial could be held after the Paris municipal elections in March next year. She will go until the end, Jean-Pierre Lecoq, mayor of the French capitals 6th district and one of Datis close associates, said on Tuesday. Ghosn, who headed the Renault-Nissan alliance, was arrested in Japan in November 2018 on suspicion of financial misconduct, before being sacked by Nissans board. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He jumped bail the following year and made a dramatic escape from Japan hidden in an audio-equipment box, landing in Beirut, where he remains as an international fugitive. Japan and France have sought his arrest. Ghosns lawyers did not respond to a request for comment. Gita Gopinath, a prominent Indian-American economist and the No.2 official at the IMF, is set to return to Harvard University as a professor this September, ending nearly seven years at the global financial institution. Indian-American economist Gita Gopinath, currently the First Deputy Managing Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is stepping down to return to academia. She will rejoin Harvard University as a professor in the Economics Department. After nearly seven amazing years at the IMF, I have decided to return to my academic roots, Gopinath announced on X. After nearly 7 amazing years at the IMF, I have decided to return to my academic roots. On September 1, 2025, I will rejoin @HarvardEcon as the inaugural Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics. I am truly grateful for my time at @IMFnews, first as Chief Economist and then Gita Gopinath (@GitaGopinath) July 21, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Starting September 1, she will assume the newly created position of Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics at Harvard, marking a new chapter in her illustrious career. Gita Gopinath, the first woman to serve as Chief Economist at the IMF, said she is truly grateful for her time at the institution. She joined the IMF in 2019 and was promoted to First Deputy Managing Director in 2022. Calling her tenure a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Gopinath said she was proud to serve the IMF during a time of global challenges. I now return to my academic roots, where I hope to continue advancing research in international finance and macroeconomics, and mentor the next generation of economists, she said. Before her IMF role, Gopinath was the John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard from 2005 to 2022. She previously taught at the University of Chicagos Booth School of Business from 2001 to 2005. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva praised Gopinath as an outstanding colleaguean exceptional intellectual leader, deeply committed to the Funds mission, and a caring, capable manager who inspired our staff. The UNRWA has estimated that at least 1,000 Palestinians have been killed seeking aid in Gaza since the end of May. It added that food prices have increased by 40 times in Gaza due to acute shortage of supplies A Palestinian woman comforts a child as casualties are brought into Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital following an Israeli strike, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, July 10, 2025. REUTERS The UN on Tuesday said that its staff members, including doctors and aid workers in Gaza, are fainting on duty due to a lack of food supply, which is leading to hunger and extreme exhaustion among workers. The UN Palestinian Refugee Agency Chief Philippe Lazzarini said, Caretakers, including UNRWA colleagues in Gaza, are also in need of care now, doctors, nurses, journalists, humanitarians, among them, UNRWA staff are hungry. Many are now fainting due to hunger and exhaustion while performing their duties. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During a press briefing in Geneva, Lazzarini described the situation in Gaza as hell on earth, adding that nowhere is safe as Israel continues to bomb areas near food distribution centres. The UNRWA has estimated that at least 1,000 Palestinians have been killed seeking aid in Gaza since the end of May. It added that food prices have increased by 40 times in Gaza due to acute shortage of supplies. WHO says its facilities The World Health Organisation 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 agencys staff residence, forced women and children to evacuate on foot, and handcuffed, stripped and interrogated male staff at gunpoint. After more than 21 months of fighting that have triggered catastrophic humanitarian conditions for Gazas 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 WHOs main warehouse in Deir el-Balah, echoed that call: A ceasefire is not just necessary, it is overdue, he said on X. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies Nigerias 2024 GDP now stands at N372.82tn ($244bn) at current prices, up from the $187.76bn estimated by the World Bank. The magic lies in the statistics Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu looks on after his swearing-in ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 29, 2023. Reuters File Nigerias economy is about 30 per cent larger than previously thought after the west African nation updated the method by which GDP is calculated, the first rejigging of its statistical model in more than a decade. Nigerias 2024 GDP now stands at N372.82tn ($244bn) at current prices, up from the $187.76bn estimated by the World Bank, after the countrys National Bureau of Statistics changed the base year from 2010 to 2019. This was done to account for previously excluded sectors such as a booming digital services industry, pension funds and the informal labour market, which employs most Nigerian residents. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Emerging market economies are encouraged by development experts to regularly rebase their economies to better capture the size of their national output and produce economic data reflective of their nascent economies, Financial Times reported. Nigeria, Africas most populous nation, last rebased its GDP in 2014. At the time, the change allowed it to surpass South Africa to become continents largest economy, although it lost that crown in 2023. Following the latest rebasing, Nigerias economy remains the fourth largest on the continent, behind South Africa, Egypt and Algeria. The rebasing exercise was timely, said Michael Famoroti, an economist and head of research at Lagos-based data company Stears. Its usually good to do these every 10 years or so especially in developing countries when the economy can change quite a bit. Add the emergence in the digital economy in that period and we needed an updated picture of the economy. Famoroti said the exercise had shown that a change in the composition of the Nigerian economy was well under way, with agriculture firmly cementing its place as the largest contributor to national output and crude oil barely contributing, at 5 per cent. The rebasing makes certain metrics such as the countrys debt-to-GDP ratio seem healthier. Nigerias debt-to-GDP ratio was 52 per cent before the model change, but now stands at about 40 per cent. That is the same level as governments self-imposed 40 per cent mark and below the 55 per cent level encouraged by the World Bank and the IMF. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD My worry is that the higher GDP figure will embolden the government to be laxer with its debt sustainability, added. The debt-to-GDP ratio has already declined on the back of this. But thats only masking the situation unfortunately. Adeyemi Adeniran, head of the NBS, described the rebasing as the most comprehensive ever carried out by the bureau at a press briefing in the capital Abuja. Digital activities, pension fund administrators and the informal sector activities, where more than 90 per cent of Nigerians are employed, are now being measured, he said. Nigeria lost its status as Africas biggest economy in 2023 after President Bola Tinubu devalued its currency to reflect its true value and attract foreign investment. The naira has lost more than 70 per cent against the US dollar since the measure was taken. Last week, Senegals finance ministry said it would soon rebase its GDP for the first time since 2018, in the midst of a scandal over hidden borrowing that threatens to push its debt burden well over the current size of its economy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rebasing could improve debt/GDP along with continued strong economic performance, Bank of America analysts said. As such, the authorities may find this option appealing to resolve issues around the debt stock. Senegals dollar bonds have rallied since the announcement. The West African countrys GDP currently uses 2014 as a base year. Last year, the IMF suspended a bailout for Senegal after billions of dollars in debt were misreported. The fund is waiting for the results of an investigation into the scandal. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced Tuesday that the long-delayed India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is nearing completion, with both nations finalising legal scrubbing and other closing formalities PM Narendra Modi shakes hands with his UK counterpart PM Keir Starmer at the G20 Summit that took place in Brazil. Image courtesy: X.com/@narendramodi Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day state visit to the United Kingdom starting July 23, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announcing Tuesday (July 22) that the long-delayed India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is nearing completion, with both nations finalising legal scrubbing and other closing formalities. We are working on legal scrubbing and other last-minute work that needs to be done, Misri stated at a press conference ahead of Modis London visit, where the trade pact is slated for signing on July 24. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The UK is the sixth-largest investor in India, with cumulative investment of $36 billion. Interestingly, India is also a major investor in the UK, with nearly $20 billion in cumulative FDI, he highlighted. During the visit, PM Modi will engage in comprehensive discussions with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, covering trade, defence, innovation, climate change, and education. Misri stressed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2021 between the two countries, noting, There have been regular high-level exchanges between the two sides, and institutional mechanisms are in place to drive cooperation across financial, strategic, energy and scientific domains. PM Modi will also embark on a state visit to the Maldives from July 2526 at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu. This marks Modis third trip to the Maldives and the first by a head of state or government during Muizzus presidency. On July 26, Modi will serve as the Guest of Honour at the 60th anniversary celebrations of Maldives Independence. During the visit, he will hold talks with President Muizzu on shared interests and review progress on the India-Maldives Joint Vision for a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership, adopted during Muizzus October 2024 state visit to India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The visit reflects the importance India attaches to its maritime neighbour, Maldives, which continues to hold a special place in Indias Neighbourhood First policy and Vision MAHASAGAR. The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to further deepen and strengthen the close bilateral relationship, Indias Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. The US President has long been accused of capitalising on Russia in his favour to win the 2016 elections. However, on Monday, Trump turned that accusation around on former President Barack Obama The White House on Tuesday shared a post on X that gallantly showed President Donald Trump, with the caption, I was the hunted, now I am the hunter, a quote said by the Republican leader referring to Democrat leaders. The post read, They came after the wrong man. They came after the wrong man. pic.twitter.com/hgKfdvAVQS The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 22, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump completed six months in the White House on Monday. These six months were defined by chaos, internal struggles, and rifts with the world that cornered Trump. The president has come under attack from not only the Opposition but within his Maga (Make America Great Again) campaign members. Trump: "I was the hunted, now I'm the hunter" The golden collection of quotes from the U.S. president got a new addition. https://t.co/YrF6Ovznuv pic.twitter.com/fH7Gs5mdsk NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 19, 2025 How the tables turn The US President has long been accused of capitalising on Russia in his favour to win the 2016 elections. However, on Monday, Trump turned that accusation around on former President Barack Obama. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) under Tulsi Gabbard has published a report revealing overwhelming evidence that President Obama and his national security officials manufactured and politicised intelligence to launch a years-long coup against President Trump. The declassified files show Obama administration officials exchanging correspondence regarding Russian attempts to interfere in the election, concluding that while it was unlikely Russian hackers could successfully breach physical election infrastructure or alter vote totals without being detected, they could potentially succeed in undermining public confidence in the electoral process. Trump posts AI video Escalating his attacks against Obama, Trump posted an AI-generated video showing the former president getting arrested by FBI agents in the Oval Office, the same room he once occupied. The digitally altered video, shared on Trumps Truth Social platform, opens with Obama saying, especially the President is above the law, followed by a montage of various US leaders asserting, no one is above the law. The scene then shifts to a fabricated sequence of two FBI agents handcuffing Obama, while Trump watches from the sidelines with a smile. The clip ends with a fake shot of Obama in an orange jumpsuit behind bars. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The district administration of Dera Ghazi Khan has issued a circular prohibiting traffic from crossing into Pakistan-administered Balochistan after 5 pm. All vehicles will now be able to enter or leave the province only in daylight hours Pakistan will no longer allow private or public vehicles to enter Balochistan at night to prevent any untoward incident, as the situation in the region remains tense. The district administration of Dera Ghazi Khan has issued a circular prohibiting traffic from crossing into Pakistan-administered Balochistan after 5 pm. All vehicles will now be able to enter or leave the province only in daylight hours. The protection of citizens lives and property is the top priority, and security measures are being made more effective and comprehensive, Deputy Commissioner and Chairman Regional Transport Authority Muhammad Usman Khalid said, according to Dawn. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What other measures have been imposed? In addition to the nighttime travel ban, a formal notification detailed several other safety protocols. Authorities will record video footage of drivers and passengers on all public transport vehicles at bus terminals prior to departure. Vehicles will also operate under tight security, moving in protected convoys. The directive further requires all public transport vehicles to be equipped with active CCTV cameras, GPS tracking systems, and emergency panic alarms to enable a rapid response in case of any crisis. Balochistan on boil The region has been making news for quite some time as isolated cases of violence surface from Balochistan, with the Pakistan government expressing concern over the situation. Last weekend, a deadly armed conflict exploded in Pakistans Chaman, killing 7 people and injuring over 12 others. The clashes broke out between two opposing groups in Balochistan. Meanwhile, last week, authorities recovered the bullet-riddled bodies of nine bus passengers who were kidnapped by insurgents during a series of attacks in the province. The separatist Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) claimed responsibility, accusing the victims, identified as labourers, of spying for Pakistani intelligence agencies. Baloch separatists, long demanding a larger share of regional resources, have previously targeted individuals from the eastern province of Punjab in similar killings. The Pentagon has announced the withdrawal of 700 US Marines from Los Angeles, ending a controversial deployment ordered by President Donald Trump in response to protests over immigration raids, despite strong opposition from Californias governor and city officials. Members of the California National Guard stand outside the Edward R Roybal federal building after their deployment by US President Donald Trump, in response to protests against immigration sweeps, in Los Angeles, California, US June 8, 2025. File Image/Reuters The Pentagon on Monday announced the withdrawal of 700 US Marines from Los Angeles, ending a controversial military deployment that had drawn criticism from local and state leaders. The Marines were sent to the city last month following President Donald Trumps order to deploy thousands of National Guard troops and several hundred Marines in response to widespread protests over federal immigration raids. The move was strongly opposed by California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who both criticized the presence of troops on city streets. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the Marines presence delivered a clear message that lawlessness would not be tolerated. He praised their rapid response and discipline for helping to restore order during a period of unrest. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued the withdrawal order days after authorizing the drawdown of 2,000 National Guard troops, effectively cutting the overall federal troop presence in the city by half. Mayor Karen Bass welcomed the decision in a post on X, calling it another win for Los Angeles and labeling the deployment unnecessary. Los Angeles, a self-declared sanctuary city with a large undocumented population, has been a frequent target of Trumps immigration policies since his return to office earlier this year. Last months raids triggered protests and tension across the city, prompting Trump to deploy federal forcesdespite opposition from state officials. The deployment marked the first time since 1965 that a sitting U.S. president ordered the National Guard into a state against the governors wishes. Even as Russia has ramped up attacks on Ukraine in recent months, it has lost up to 240,000 soldiers so far this year, according to a British assessment. 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) Even as Vladimir Putin has ramped up attacks on Ukraine and made gains on the ground, the costs have been huge, according to the latest Western assessment. British Defence Minister John Healey has said that Russia suffered up to 240,000 casualties in the first seven months of this year. The number of Russian soldiers killed or wounded since the start of the full-scale invasion has surpassed 1,000,000. Since the beginning of this year alone240,000 casualties, said Healey at a meeting of Ukraine Defense Contact Group, as per military-focussed Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The British assessment is in line with US and Ukrainian assessments about the high toll of the war on Russia. ALSO READ: With Russias terms to Ukraine, Putin seeks surrender not a peace deal Since the beginning of the war in 2022, Russia has relied on a meat-grinder strategy in which Russia has pushed waves after waves of soldiers to overwhelm Ukrainian defences with sheer numbers instead of fighting tactical battles and trying to avoid losses. Even though the strategy has resulted in successes, the losses have been high for Russia and commentators have said that the approach may eventually fail if Western assistance to Ukraine continues. Russia has lost over 1 million soldiers since 2022 The British assessment is in line with previously reported assessment of the United States, Ukraine, and independent researchers. Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that at least 100,000 Russian soldiers have been killed this year. Rubio said that since the beginning of 2025, roughly 100,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukrainedead, not wounded. Similarly, Ukraine this month said that the Russian toll injured and killed this year has been 252,360. Such figures are in line with the independent assessment of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) that concluded that Russia had suffered around 1 million casualties. The assessment was published in June. Out of around 1 million casualties, around 250,000 soldiers were killed and the rest were wounded, according to the CSIS study. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Last week, the US released 250 Venezuelan immigrants from the notorious El Salvador jail in exchange for 10 American prisoners who were held in Venezuela. The migrants were detained in jail since March as part of President Donald Trumps swift deportation drive Salvadoran police officers escort alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua recently deported by the US government to be imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison, as part of an agreement with the Salvadoran government, in Tecoluca, El Salvador. These deportations have led to a standoff between a US federal judge and Donald Trump. Reuters Migrants who were housed at the El Salvador prison in the US underwent human rights abuses, Venezuela claimed on Tuesday, as the country launched a formal investigation into the reported tortures. Last week, the US released 250 Venezuelan immigrants from the notorious El Salvador jail in exchange for 10 American prisoners who were held in Venezuela. The migrants were detained in jail since March as part of President Donald Trumps swift deportation drive. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab said that the migrants were subjected to systemic torture inside the Salvadorian prison, which included instances of sexual abuse, daily beatings and serving of rotten prison food. During a press conference, Saab shared testimonies and images that appeared to show detainees with injuries, including bruises and missing teeth. The attorney general said that the country will be probing El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele, Justice Minister Gustavo Villatoro and Head of Prisons Osiris Luna Meza over the alleged torture of its citizens. Meanwhile, Venezuela is currently under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague over allegations similar to those it is making against El Salvador, including the torture of prisoners and the denial of legal representation. How many Venezuelans have been deported? The United States had sent a group of 252 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador in March to be locked up in its feared CECOT anti-terrorism jail, accused without evidence of belonging to the Tren de Aragua criminal gang. Trump invoked rarely used wartime laws to have the men flown to the Central American nation without any court hearings. Clamping down on migrants is a flagship pursuit of Trumps administration, which has ramped up raids and deportations. It has agreed with President Nicolas Maduro to send undocumented Venezuelans back home, and flights have been arriving near daily also from Mexico, where many got stuck trying to enter the United States. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Official figures show that since February, more than 8,200 people have been repatriated to Venezuela from the United States and Mexico, including some 1,000 children. With inputs from agencies The British Royal Navy F-35 fighter jet that was stuck at Keralas Thiruvananthapuram airport for over a month due to a technical issue has finally taken off for the United Kingdom. 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 British Royal Navy F-35 fighter jet, which had been grounded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala for over a month due to a technical snag, finally took off for the United Kingdom on Tuesday. The advanced jet, valued at over $110 million, was forced to make an emergency landing at the airport on June 14 after developing a technical malfunction and fuel shortage. It had remained grounded since then after a month long repair and maintenance work making it fit for flying. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD #WATCH | Kerala: The British Navy's F-35 fighter aircraft, which made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14, takes off from the airport. pic.twitter.com/RT9vlsL73W ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2025 Airport authorities declared an emergency to ensure a safe landing. Soon after, the 85-million fighter was towed from the runway to an Air India hangar, where it was kept for repairs. Although British aviation engineers arrived shortly after the incident, initial attempts to fix the issue were unsuccessful. The jet had also reported low fuel levels at the time of landing, further escalating the urgency of the repairs. The jet was part of the UK Navys aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. According to reports, it was on a routine sortie when it encountered a technical fault, preventing it from landing back on the carrier. After five weeks of technical work inside the hangar, the aircraft was later cleared to fly back to the United Kingdom. Donald Trump accused Barack Obama of treason, claiming, without evidence, that the former president led a conspiracy to sabotage his 2016 campaign. He also hinted at consequences for Obama-era officials over the Russia probe. Former US President Barack Obama and US President-elect Donald Trump speak at an event in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 2025. File image/ Reuters On Tuesday, President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of treason, without providing evidence, for leading an effort to falsely link him to Russia and undermine his 2016 presidential campaign. While Trump has regularly targeted Obama by name, he has not gone so far as to accuse his Democratic predecessor of criminal action since taking office in January. A representative for Obama did not respond immediately to a request for comment. During his remarks in the Oval Office, Trump seized on statements made by his intelligence head, Tulsi Gabbard, on Friday in which she threatened to bring Obama administration officials to the Justice Department for prosecution over an intelligence assessment of Russian influence in the 2016 election. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She declassified documents and said the information she was releasing showed a treasonous conspiracy in 2016 by top Obama administration officials to undermine Trump. Its there, hes guilty. This was treason, Trump said on Tuesday. They tried to steal the election, they tried to obfuscate the election. They did things that nobodys ever imagined, even in other countries. An assessment by the US intelligence community in 2017 concluded that Russia, using social media disinformation, hacking and Russian bot farms, sought to damage Democrat Hillary Clintons campaign and bolster Trump. The assessment determined that the actual impact was likely limited and showed no evidence that Moscows efforts actually changed voting outcomes. A 2020 bipartisan report by the Senate intelligence committee had found that Russia used Republican political operative Paul Manafort, the WikiLeaks website and others to try to influence the 2016 election to help Trumps campaign. Trump under pressure Trump has called the assessments a hoax on many occasions. Trump has been reposting a fake video of Obama being arrested in handcuffs in the Oval Office on his Truth Social account in recent days. Following pressure from his conservative supporters to provide further details regarding Jeffrey Epstein, who committed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, Trump has been attempting to shift the focus to other matters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Supporters of Epstein conspiracy theories have encouraged President Trump, who socialised with the disgraced billionaire in the 1990s and early 2000s, to disclose investigation files on the case. When questioned about Epstein in the Oval Office, Trump swiftly shifted his focus to attacking Clinton and Obama. The witch hunt that you should be talking about is they caught President Obama absolutely cold, Trump said. What they did to this country, starting in 2016 but going up all the way to 2020 and the election, and they tried to rig the election, and they got caught, and there should be very severe consequences for that. Trump suggested action would be taken against Obama and his former officials, calling the Russia investigation a treasonous act and the former president guilty of trying to lead a coup. Its time to start, after what they did to me, and whether its right or wrong, its time to go after people. Obama has been caught directly, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Democrats, responding to Gabbard last Friday, had called her accusations false and politically motivated. Democratic Congressman Jim Himes posted on X in response to Trumps Oval Office allegations against Obama: This is a lie. And if hes confused, the President should ask @SecRubio, who helped lead the bipartisan Senate investigation that unanimously concluded that there was no evidence of politicization in the intelligence communitys behavior around the 2016 election. Former Republican Senator Marco Rubio is now Trumps secretary of state. Obama has long been a target of Trump. In 2011 he accused then-President Obama of not being born in the United States, prompting Obama to release a copy of his birth certificate. Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after receiving the news of Israeli strikes in Syria and asked him to rectify the matter US President Donald Trump was caught off-guard by Israels unprecedented air strikes against Syria last week, the White House has said. Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after receiving the news of Israeli strikes in Syria and asked him to rectify the matter. The president was, similarly, surprised by Israels airstrike on the only Catholic church in Gaza that killed at least three people. The White House said he strongly condemned the attack on the church to Netanyahu and asked the prime minister to release a statement calling the strike a mistake. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The president enjoys a good working relationship with Bibi Netanyahu, and stays in frequent communication with him. He was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and also the bombing of a Catholic Church in Gaza, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Leavitt also highlighted US State Secretary Marco Runios efforts to ease tensions in Syria as Trump goes soft on the country by showing support to its new interim rebel chief-turned-president, Ahmed al-Sharaa and relaxing sanctions. Trump-Netanyahu relationship taking a hit? Trump has had a complex relationship with Netanyahu. Though they have maintained a strong political alliance, sources familiar with their interactions have told CNC that the two are not personally close, and their partnership has occasionally been marked by mutual distrust. However, when Israel launched an attack against Iran earlier this month, Trump backed Netanyahu every step along the way until he decided to join the conflict himself by sending US fighter jets to destroy Irans nuclear facilities. Trump had hoped that Netanyahus four-day visit to Washington would lead to progress on securing a ceasefire in Gaza, one that included the release of hostages still held by Hamas and a substantial increase in humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave. In the days leading up to the visit, the US president repeatedly expressed his expectation that a ceasefire would be reached that week. With multiple deals still in flux and the August 1 deadline fast approaching, Trumps trade agenda in Asia is nearing a critical test. While Washington seeks to extract concessions, its approach has sparked concern among partners The United States aggressive tariff push under President Donald Trump is entering a decisive phase, as key trade partners across Asia scramble to negotiate last-minute deals before a looming August 1 deadline. From New Delhi to Tokyo, pressure is mounting on negotiators to deliver outcomes that will spare their countries from steep tariff hikes, while Washington also eyes curbs on Chinese transshipments through regional allies. India-US trade talks Indias trade team, led by chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal, recently concluded its fifth round of talks in Washington, with the American delegation expected to visit New Delhi next in a last-ditch effort to secure a breakthrough. The key sticking points include Indias refusal to open its agriculture and dairy markets, and US reluctance to cut tariffs on Indian steel, aluminium and autos. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While both sides are said to be considering deferring contentious issues to a later phase, no formal commitments have been made. A formal tariff notice has yet to be issued by Washington, adding to the uncertainty. Trump had threatened in April to impose a 26 per cent tariff on Indian imports, but paused implementation to allow negotiations. Marcos Jr heads to the White House Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr of the Philippines is scheduled to meet Trump this evening (Tuesday) in a bilateral engagement that officials say could include trade talks and defence cooperation. While Manila has not faced the same level of tariff threats as other Asian nations, the meeting is expected to underscore the US pivot to the Indo-Pacific, and Manilas alignment with Washington in regional security matters could play into trade goodwill. Japans top negotiator in Washington In another critical development, Japans chief trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa met US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington on Monday evening for more than two hours. Japans cabinet secretariat described the discussions as frank, in-depth and said they were aimed at achieving a mutually beneficial agreement. Akazawa is in Washington for an eighth round of talks, but no concrete results have emerged since negotiations began in April. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is under added pressure following his coalitions election setback on Sunday. Without a deal, tariffs on Japanese exports to the US will rise to 25 per cent on August 1, up from a baseline of 10 per cent and an initial offer of 24 per cent, Bloomberg reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Loopholes used by China come under scrutiny A parallel challenge for the Trump administration is curbing trade practices it claims are being used by China to circumvent US tariffs. According to Bloomberg Economics, China has increasingly routed goods to the US via third countries such as Vietnam and Mexico. The share of Chinas value-added manufacturing channelled this way surged to 22 per cent in 2023 from 14 per cent in 2017. Trade flows via third countries are substantial and have helped cushion the blow from existing US tariffs, Bloomberg Economics analysts Chang Shu, Rana Sajedi and David Qu wrote. Tighter controls on these shipments would increase the damage from the trade war and could erode growth opportunities in the long term. Analysts estimate that targeting such transshipments could affect up to 70 per cent of Chinas exports to the US and dent more than 2.1 per cent of Chinas GDP. Malaysia and Vietnam weigh their options Malaysia, meanwhile, is pushing for a reduced tariff rate closer to those offered to Indonesia and Vietnam, but is resisting US demands on electric vehicles, foreign ownership and subsidy cuts. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has made it clear that the government has drawn a red line on policies favouring Malays and indigenous people. Vietnam too has faced turbulence in its dealings with Washington. Officials in Hanoi were reportedly blindsided in early July by a US announcement that it had agreed to a 20 per cent tariff rate. Negotiators are still working to finalise the terms of that deal, according to recent statements from Vietnamese officials. With inputs from agencies The Trump administration has declassified and released over 240,000 pages of FBI surveillance files on Martin Luther King Jr, drawing strong opposition from his family and civil rights leaders who warn the records must be handled with care and historical context The Trump administration has made public over 240,000 pages of FBI surveillance records on Martin Luther King Jr., despite opposition from his family and the civil rights group he once led. The files, kept under seal since 1977, were handed over to the National Archives decades ago but only now released in digital form. Kings children, Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, called the release deeply personal, reminding the public that their fathers assassination remains a source of ongoing grief. They urged people to read the files with empathy, restraint, and historical context. The family, who reviewed the documents ahead of the public release, also reiterated their long-standing belief that James Earl Ray, the man convicted for the assassination, wasnt solely responsibleif responsible at all. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bernice was just 5 when her father was killed in 1968; Martin III was 10. The release, described as unprecedented by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbards office, follows a 2017 executive order by President Donald Trump to declassify documents related to the assassinations of MLK, John F. Kennedy, and Robert F. Kennedy. While some hail it as a move toward transparency, others see it as a political distraction amid controversy surrounding Trumps handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Alveda King, MLKs niece and a vocal conservative, thanked Trump for the disclosure. However, many civil rights leaders, including Rev. Al Sharpton, criticized the move, calling it a diversion tactic rather than a pursuit of justice. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference also opposed the release, citing the FBIs history of illegal surveillance and smear campaigns against King and other civil rights activists. Under J. Edgar Hoovers leadership, the FBI wiretapped Kings phones, bugged hotel rooms, and used informants to undermine his work. Kings children condemned those tactics, saying their father was the target of a relentless and disturbing campaign to destroy both his reputation and the broader Civil Rights Movement. They said they support historical transparency but warned against using the files to distort Kings legacy or spread misinformation. In his later years, King expanded his focus from civil rights to economic justice and opposition to the Vietnam War, drawing criticism from political leaders and suspicion from the FBI, which viewed him as a threat to the status quo. He was assassinated in Memphis in 1968 while supporting striking sanitation workersa reflection of his deepening commitment to social and economic equality. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD China commemorates victory against Japanese aggression, fascism to reaffirm peace commitment: scholar Xinhua) 08:22, July 22, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) US Senator Lindsey Graham has warned that Trump is planning tough economic action against countries still importing oil from Russia, naming India, China, and Brazil as top targets. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi enter a hall for a family photo before a plenary session of the BRICS 2024 Summit in Kazan, Russia, October 23, 2024. File Image/Reuters US Senator Lindsey Graham has said that President Donald Trump is preparing to slap hefty tariffs on nations continuing to buy Russian oil, with India, China, and Brazil in the crosshairs. Speaking to Fox News, Graham stated that Trump intends to impose a 100 per cent tariff on oil-related imports from these countries in a bid to choke off revenue to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump is going to impose tariffs on people that buy Russian oil China, India, and Brazil, Graham said, pointing out that these three nations are responsible for nearly 80 per cent of Russias crude exports, which he claims are funding Moscows war effort in Ukraine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Graham, the move is part of Trumps broader strategy to hold countries accountable for indirectly supporting Russias war machine. President Trumps going to put a 100 per cent tariff on all those countries, punishing them for helping Putin, he said. Graham said, You have played President Trump at your own peril. You made a major league mistake, and your economy is going to continue to be crushed. Were flowing weapons to Ukraine, so Ukraine will have the weapons to fight Putin back. Senator Lindsey Graham accused Vladimir Putin of attempting to rebuild the Soviet empire by forcefully seizing neighboring nations. Putin is trying to reclaim countries that are not his, Graham said, adding that the Russian leader has shown blatant disregard for international agreements. He pointed to Ukraines decision in the mid-1990s to surrender over 1,700 nuclear weapons in exchange for security assurances, including a commitment from Russia to respect its sovereignty. Putin shattered that promise, Graham noted, calling it a betrayal of the post-Cold War order. The WHO has accused Israeli forces of striking its facilities in central Gaza, including a staff residence and main warehouse, during ongoing military operations in Deir al-Balah. The attacks have raised serious concerns over the safety of humanitarian workers. A view of the site of Thursday's Israeli strike that damaged and destroyed residential buildings, at Shati (Beach) refugee camp, in Gaza City. Reuters The World Health Organization has accused the Israeli military of attacking its main warehouse and staff residence in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, on Mondayseriously impacting its ability to operate in the region. According to the UN agency, three airstrikes hit the WHO staff compound, causing a fire, major structural damage, and putting staff and their familiesincluding childrenat risk. On the same day, Israeli tanks advanced into southern and eastern parts of Deir al-Balah for the first time. The Israeli military reportedly suspects hostages may be held in the area. Shelling struck homes and mosques, killing at least three Palestinians and injuring others, according to local medics. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a statement, the WHO said Israeli forces entered its premises, forcing women and children to flee on foot amid ongoing hostilities. Male staff and relatives were allegedly handcuffed, stripped, and interrogated at gunpoint. Two WHO staff members and two family members were detained; three have since been released, while one staff member remains in custody, the agency said in a post on X. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for the immediate release of the detained staff and demanded full protection for all humanitarian personnel. WHO vows to stay in Gaza despite attack, global calls for ceasefire grow Deir al-Balah, now crowded with Palestinians displaced by more than 21 months of war, saw hundreds more flee west or south after Israel issued new evacuation orders. The Israeli military said the move aimed to dismantle Hamass infrastructure and operational capabilities in the area. The World Health Organization reported that its main warehouse, located within the newly designated evacuation zone, was damaged in a strike on Sunday, triggering explosions and a fire. Despite the attack, the WHO said it will remain operational in Deir al-Balah and plans to expand its humanitarian efforts. Meanwhile, on Monday, the UK, Canada and over 20 other nations jointly called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, expressing deep concern over Israels handling of aid distribution. The criticism follows reports that hundreds of Palestinians were killed near food distribution points, raising alarm over the mounting civilian toll. The latest surge began in early 2025, with severe outbreaks in the same Indian Ocean islands that had previously been affected, notably La Reunion, Mayotte, and Mauritius. A female mosquito is seen on the forearm of a health technician in a laboratory at the entomology department of the Ministry of Public Health in Guatemala City. File image/ Reuters The World Health Organization issued an urgent call to action on Tuesday to prevent a recurrence of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus epidemic that swept the globe two decades ago, as fresh outbreaks related to the Indian Ocean region spread to Europe and other continents. Diana Rojas Alvarez, a medical official at the WHO, told reporters in Geneva that an estimated 5.6 billion people reside in regions of 119 nations where the virus can cause high fever, joint discomfort, and long-term impairment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We are seeing history repeating itself, she said, drawing parallels to the 2004-2005 epidemic, which affected nearly half a million people, primarily in small island territories, before spreading around the world. The latest surge began in early 2025, with severe outbreaks in the same Indian Ocean islands that had previously been affected, notably La Reunion, Mayotte, and Mauritius. Rojas Alvarez estimates that one-third of La Reunions population has already been affected. The virus is already moving to Madagascar, Somalia, and Kenya, and it has caused epidemic transmission in Southeast Asia, including India. The rising number of imported cases, as well as recent local transmission inside Europe, are particularly concerning. Rojas Alvarez reported that there have been approximately 800 imported chikungunya cases in continental France since May 1. Twelve local transmission episodes have been detected in several southern French regions, meaning individuals were infected by local mosquitoes without having travelled to endemic areas. A case was also detected last week in Italy. Chikungunya, for which there is no specific treatment and which is spread primarily by Aedes mosquito species, including the tiger mosquito which also transmits dengue, and Zika, can cause rapid and large outbreaks. As the mosquitoes bite in the daytime, prevention is key, through the use of insect repellent and long-sleeved clothing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. Months after acknowledging a cyberattack on its computer systems, the Fort Bend County Libraries system said in a recent update that patrons' data was not compromised in the attack. 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. DNI Gabbard, in Partnership with DOJ, FBI, CIA, and NARA, Release Martin Luther King Jr. Assassination Files FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ODNI News Release No. 16-25 July 21, 2025 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On July 21, 2025, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard released over 230,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK), in accordance with President Donald J. Trump's Executive Order 14176. This unprecedented release follows through on President Trump's commitment to fully release previously-classified records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy (JFK), Senator Robert F. Kennedy (RFK), and MLK, and was carried out in coordination with the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the National Archives. Unlike the majority of the JFK assassination files which were identified and released in accordance with federal law the MLK files in today's release had never been digitized and sat collecting dust in facilities across the federal government for decades, until today. The documents include details about the FBI's investigation into the assassination of MLK including the discussion of potential leads, internal FBI memos detailing the progress of the case, and documents related to James Earl Ray's former cellmate, who stated he discussed with Ray an alleged assassination plot. Additionally, as James Earl Ray fled the country following the assassination, the release includes unique foreign evidence from a Canadian police department. Never-before-seen CIA records outline overseas intelligence on the international hunt for the prime suspect in the assassination. "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. "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." "The American people have waited nearly sixty years to see the full scope of the federal government's investigation into Dr. King's assassination," said DNI Gabbard. "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. I extend my deepest appreciation to the King family for their support." "The American people deserve answers decades after the horrific assassination of one of our nation's great leaders," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "The Department of Justice is proud to partner with Director Gabbard and the ODNI at President Trump's direction for this latest disclosure." "In partnership with ODNI and FBI, today's release represents a significant milestone in CIA's efforts to deliver maximum transparency to the American people," said CIA Director John Ratcliffe. "CIA is proud to contribute to President Trump's historic initiative to declassify and release intelligence information that serves the public's interest." "Today's record release marks a historic step in the Trump Administration's ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability," said Secretary of State and Acting U.S. Archivist Marco Rubio. "Preserving, protecting, and releasing the records of the U.S. government is at the core of NARA's mission. Thanks to President Trump's leadership and a coordinated interagency process, NARA was able to review and release the records at an unprecedented speed." While some of the documents released were made public through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, today's release is the first time these records are published online in one collection with minimal redactions for privacy reasons including redactions for Social Security Numbers and grand jury information. 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 to ensure all MLK assassination documents can be found in a centralized location. Two-weeks in advance of today's release, members of the King family were provided an opportunity to review the files. DNI Gabbard will post updates on X (@DNIGabbard) and Truth Social (@DNlTulsiGabbard). ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two more Mossad-linked agents arrested in northeast Iran Iran Press TV Monday, 21 July 2025 8:59 AM Iranian security forces have arrested two terrorist elements of the Israeli regime's Mossad spy agency in the northeastern province of North Khorasan. The public and revolutionary prosecutor of North Khorasan, Javad Ilali, said on Monday that the judicial system in the province is firmly determined to take decisive action against the criminals engaged in espionage activities. He added that 15 individuals are being prosecuted in the province on charges of spreading lies and propaganda against Iran during the recent 12 days of Israeli-US aggression. Late last month, three men convicted of collaborating with Mossad and smuggling bombs and demolition charges into Iran to assassinate distinguished Iranian figures were executed. Iran has arrested hundreds of operatives affiliated with Mossad across the country in recent weeks. Security forces have also dismantled many underground drone facilities operated by Mossad agents. The arrested suspects are accused of planning to use attack drones, building bombs, spying on military sites, and transmitting sensitive information to the Israeli regime. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SSU checks state secrets protection in SAPO Security Service of Ukraine 14:10, 21 July 2025 On July 21, the Security Service of Ukraine has launched a comprehensive inspection of compliance with state secrets legislation in the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office within the limits and in the manner prescribed by law, in particular Article 37 of the Law on State Secrets. Please be informed that the Security Service of Ukraine did not have access to information on all covert and investigative actions, as well as special operations conducted by the NABU and the SAPO. The SSU inspection does not involve studying of such documents in general. The allegations about the possible disclosure by the SSU of information about covert investigative actions conducted by the NABU and the SAPO are groundless and manipulative. We would also like to emphasize that conducting urgent investigative actions without a court order is not a violation of the law in cases where obtaining such orders may cause information leakage and, in particular, impede special operations as part of investigations into cooperation with the aggressor country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Contracts Contracts For July 21, 2025 AIR FORCE Lockheed Martin Corp., Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $999,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile production support (LRASM). This contract provides for lifecycle support for all efforts related to JASSM, LRASM (Air Force Inventory) and all their variants in the areas of system upgrades, integration, production, sustainment, management and logistical support. Work will be performed at Orlando, Florida, and is expected to be complete by July 17, 2030. This contract was a sole source acquisition. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity (FA868225-D-B001). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, has been awarded $11,737,827 modification (P00031) to previously awarded (FA8617-21-C-6237) for contractor logistics support of Iraq's C-172 & C-208 fleets. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $58,886,759 to $70,624,586. Work will be performed at Martyr BG Ali Flaih Air Base (formerly Balad Air Base, Iraq) and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2026. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Iraq. FMS funds in the amount of $11,737,827 are being obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Legacy Training Aircraft Division, Rapid Acquisition and Sustainment Management Branch, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. (Awarded June 30, 2025.) ARMY Acquisition Logistics LLC, Henrico, Virginia, was awarded a $231,878,229 firm-fixed-price contract to establish and operate a 5,000 capacity, single adult, short-term detention facility for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in support of Presidential Executive Order 14159. Bids were solicited via the internet with 13 received. Work will be performed in El Paso, Texas, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2027. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $231,878,229 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Field Directorate Office, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9124J-25-F-A075). (Awarded July 18, 2025.) Benham - Mead & Hunt, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (W912HP-25-D-A006); Cems Engineering Inc.,* Summerville, South Carolina (W912HP-25-D-A007); Cromwell Architects Engineers Inc.,* Little Rock, Arkansas (W912HP-25-D-A008); IMEG-PRIME AE JV LLC., Rock Island, Illinois (W912HP-25-D-A009); and The Mason & Hanger Group Inc., Lexington, Kentucky (W912HP-25-D-A010), will compete for each order of the $99,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for architect-engineer services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 23 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 21, 2030. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston, South Carolina, is the contracting activity. Sevenson Environmental Services Inc.,* Niagara Falls, New York, was awarded a $49,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for excavation of waste contaminated soils and sediments at the Raymark Superfund Site. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 20, 2030. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Concord, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (W912WJ-25-D-0004). CodeMettle LLC, Atlanta, Georgia, was awarded a $45,245,217 firm-fixed-price contract to provide enterprise license and support services. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 20, 2030. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W15P7T-25-D-0008). General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $27,433,287 modification (P00107) to contract W56HZV-22-C-0012 for Abrams system technical support. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2026. Fiscal 2025 other procurement, Army; and Foreign Military Sales funds (Australia, Poland), in the amount of $27,433,287, were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. Shiers Communication Specialists Inc.,* Vicksburg, Mississippi, was awarded a $22,950,000 firm-fixed-price contract for voice, video and data communications networks. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 20, 2030. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi, is the contracting activity (W912HZ-25-D-A001). Valiant Government Services LLC, Fayetteville, North Carolina, was awarded a $22,074,477 modification (P00010) to contract W91278-24-C-0038 for operations and maintenance services. Work will be performed in Fort Detrick, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of July 21, 2026. Fiscal 2025 Defense Health Program funds in the amount of $22,074,477 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co LLC, Houston, Texas, was awarded a $7,739,870 modification (P00002) to contract W912P8-25-C-0012 to increase the contract quantity by 53 days. Work will be performed in Venice, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 5, 2025. Fiscal 2025 civil operation and maintenance funds in the amount of $7,739,870 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, Louisiana, is the contracting activity. NAVY General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, is awarded a $159,675,741 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-17-C-2100) to establish five contract line-item numbers (CLINs), each procuring a shipset of onboard repair parts for Virginia-class submarines SSN 802-806. Each CLIN is an order placed on a sole source basis under the authority of the "Orders" clause G-216-H002 Orders (Naval Sea Systems Command) (March 2019) and 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1). Work will be performed in Groton, Connecticut, and is expected to complete by November 2029. This contract action includes options for five follow-on onboard repair parts shipset CLINs that if exercised would increase the cumulative value of the contract by $176,140,177. If all options are exercised, work will continue through February 2032. Fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,000,000 (40%); fiscal 2020 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,000,000 (40%); and fiscal 2021 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,000,000 (20%), will be obligated at the time of award, $5,000,000 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Supervisor of Shipbuilding Groton, Groton, Connecticut, is the contracting activity. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, is being awarded a sole-source indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract in the amount of $99,000,000 for the Navy Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Electro Optics Center of Excellence. The Pennsylvania State University is an educational institution. The contractor will operate and manage the Electro Optics Center of Excellence (herein EOC or the Center) in its mission to develop naval platform-related manufacturing technologies and transition the technology for implementation in United States electro optics and other industrial facilities. In addition to accomplishing the Centers core mission, the contractor shall manage, operate, sustain, and enhance the Centers ability to function as an Office of Naval Research (ONR) ManTech Center of Excellence. Work will be performed at University Park, Pennsylvania. The maximum dollar value, over the 5-year ordering period from July 21, 2025, through July 21, 2030, with a five-year ordering period option through July 21, 2035, is $99,000,000. Fiscal 2025 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $859,940 will be obligated on a cost-plus-fixed-fee task order at time of award. The first task order will be issued for a cost-plus-fixed-fee total of $399,940. The second task order will be issued for a cost-plus-fixed-fee total of $460,000. ONR, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00014-25-R-7001). The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri is awarded a $91,832,523cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide post-production engineering, logistics, and technical support for the T-45 aircraft, as well as associated systems, subsystems, support equipment and ancillary equipment in support of lifecycle sustainment of the T-45 platform for the Navy. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri (95%); and Balderstone, Lancashire, United Kingdom (5%), and is expected to be completed in July 2030. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competed pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(B). Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N0042125D0085). JCB Inc., Pooler, Georgia, is awarded a $45,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the backhoe loader (BHL). The intent of this contract is to procure BHLs replacing the current BHL which is reaching the end of its economical service life. Work will be performed in Pooler, Georgia, and is expected to be completed in July 2033. This contract is awarded based on a full and open competitive solicitation. Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-25-D-5302). General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Connecticut, is awarded a $31,500,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee undefinitized contract action modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-20-C-2120) for lead yard support and development studies and design efforts related to Virginia-class submarines. Work will be performed in the continental U.S. and is expected to be completed by June 2028. No additional funding will be obligated at time of award. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Vectrus Systems LLC, Colorado Springs, Colorado, is awarded a $10,063,917 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity modification to previously awarded contract (N62470-20-D-0004). This award brings the total cumulative value to $60,541,752. This modification provides for the exercise of option five for base operating support services at Naval Support Facility Deveselu. Work will be performed in Deveselu, Romania, and is expected to be completed by July 2026. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds will be obligated on individual task orders, subject to the availability of funds. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Europe, Africa, Central, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Woodward HRT Inc., Valencia, California, has been awarded a maximum $8,037,600 firm-fixed-price, one-time-buy contract for F-15 engine linear actuating caps. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 3204 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 (a)(2). The performance completion date is Oct. 31, 2028. Using military service is Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (SPRTA1-25-C-0006). *Small business https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4250988/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address July 21, 2025 Transcript Secretary of Defense Bilateral in Honor of His Excellency Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., the president of the Philippines, at the Pentagon SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH: Well, Mr. President, it's great to see you again. PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS, JR.: Thank you. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH: And welcome to the Pentagon. PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS, JR.: Thank you. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH: As well as Secretary Teodoro. It's, likewise, a pleasure to see you again and so soon as well. Your personal leadership is vital to advancing a secure, prosperous and sovereign Asia Pacific. And I want to thank you, Mr. President, and thank you both for your shared vision that includes leading with courage and determination. Our storied alliance has never been stronger or more essential than it is today and 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. As I emphasized at Shangri-La, the Asia Pacific is our priority theater and the United States is committed to achieving peace through strength and willing to work with all nations who share this desire in the region. We do not seek confrontation, but we are and will be ready and resolute. We're proud to support our mutual economic vitality, including your efforts to modernize your armed forces and collective defense. And since our last meeting in Manila, during my first trip to the Asia Pacific in March, our teams have made remarkable strides. Under President Trump and your leadership, Mr. President, we've made rapid progress enhancing real deterrence and upholding a free and open Asia Pacific through deepening our interoperability and expanding joint exercises, including the largest and most sophisticated exercise Balikatan ever conducted, as well as the Philippines historic participation in Talisman Saber in Australia. We're also deploying new cutting-edge missiles and unnamed excuse me, unmanned systems and revitalizing our defense industrial bases. Together, we must forge a strong shield of real deterrence for peace, ensuring the long-term security and prosperity for our nations. So I look forward to our discussion today and your meeting with President Trump tomorrow. Welcome, Mr. President. PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS, JR.: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Thank you once again. It's a very great pleasure to be with you and to meet with you once again after your visit to us in Manila. It was the visit, turns out your visit to Manila became a very strong message and very symbolic message of the continuing partnership between the Philippines and the United States, not only on defense and security not only in the defense and security sector, but in all other fields. As it has been described before, you cannot limit Philippine American relationship to one dimension. Because of the length of time that we have been partners, the evolution of that partnership has really encompassed all kinds of other areas, starting from the people to people, to the G2G [ph] to all I cannot think actually of an area of cooperation where the United States and the Philippines are not involved. Since your it was a symbol, an important symbol. Your visit was an important symbol and sent a very clear message about our continuing partnership and our continuing understanding of the mutual defense treaty, the mutual defense treaty. The United States is our only treaty partner and the Mutual Defense Treaty continues to be the cornerstone of that relationship, especially when it comes to defense and security cooperation. But that, we must continue to be in discussion, we must continue to evolve that relationship as the circumstances, the context in which we operate has evolved. And I think that we have done a great deal in that regard. Since your visit, we have come to many agreements. We, again, have reaffirmed our mutual defense treaty and the importance that both countries, the United States and the Philippines regard that treaty and the joint exercises that we have had, they have been extremely useful and I'm very, very happy to note that the feedback that we get from our own military has been very good. And when I see the officers who were involved and I speak to the men and women who were involved, they say it was extremely useful. And essentially, we've achieved our purpose because they say they have learned a lot about how to operate together, not only with American forces, but also with, as you've mentioned, forces around the Asia Pacific and down to Australia and even to Canada and all of the other countries that that have been involved. So it has been a good development and I thank yourself and the United States government and President Trump for the continuing support that we feel and that we need in the face of the threats that we, our country, is facing. So I'm very happy and the continuing support that you have given us in terms of the modernization of our armed forces. And again, that forms a very, very important part of that relationship. And again, it is the proper response considering the challenges, let me put it that way. The challenges that we face in the Philippines specifically are vis a vis the changing political geo political forces and the political developments around our part of the world. But again, this, I believe that our alliance, the United States and the Philippines, have formed a great part in terms of preserving the peace, in terms of preserving the stability of the South China Sea. But I would even go as far as to say in the entire Indo-Pacific region and we are always very, very happy to continue to strengthen that relationship. And we look forward to the coming discussions between our two governments and the results that I am certain that we will find at the end of those discussions. So thank you once again, Mr. Secretary. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH: Absolutely. Well, thank you, Mr. President. Appreciate it. Thank you. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/4250596/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address July 21, 2025 By C. Todd Lopez, DOD News Hegseth, Philippine President Meet to Advance Deterrence in Indo-Pacific Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Pentagon today, where the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and discussed shared security concerns in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as recent advances in the long-standing U.S.-Philippines alliance. "Our storied alliance has never been stronger or more essential than it is today," Hegseth said. "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." The United States has identified the Asia-Pacific region as its priority theater, and Hegseth said the U.S. would work with the Philippines and other like-minded nations there to advance President Donald J. Trump's peace through strength agenda. "The United States is committed to achieving peace through strength, and willing to work with all nations who share this desire in the region," he said. "We do not seek confrontation, but we are and will be ready and resolute." The Philippines has been a U.S. ally for seven decades now, and its position in the South China Sea makes it an ideal partner in the region. "We're proud to support our mutual economic vitality, including your efforts to ... modernize your armed forces and collective defense," Hegseth told Marcos. "We've made rapid progress enhancing real deterrence and upholding a free and open Asia-Pacific." The secretary noted the success of the most recent iteration of the Balikatan military exercise, which involved the Philippines, the U.S. and more than 20 other nations. "We've made rapid progress enhancing real deterrence and upholding a free and open Asia-Pacific through deepening our interoperability and expanding joint exercises, including the largest and most sophisticated exercise Balikatan ever conducted," he said. Balikatan 2025, conducted April 21-May 9, was the 40th iteration of the annual exercise and involved more than 14,000 participants. The exercise assessed readiness across multiple domains, including air, land, sea, cyber, information and space. But Hegseth noted that the U.S. and the Philippines are doing even more together. "We're also deploying new cutting-edge missiles and ... unmanned systems, and revitalizing our defense industrial bases," he said. "Together, we must forge a strong shield of real deterrence for peace, ensuring the long-term security and prosperity for our nations." The recent Balikatan exercise, Marcos said, has proven valuable, as evidenced by feedback from personnel within the Philippines military. "When I see the officers who were involved, and I speak to the men and women who were involved, they say it was extremely useful," Marcos said. "Essentially, we've achieved our purpose, because they say they have learned a lot about how to operate together not only with American forces but also with ... forces around the Asia-Pacific and down to Australia and even to Canada and all of the other countries that have been involved." Marcos stated that he is pleased with how the U.S. and the Philippines are working together to modernize the Philippine military. "I believe that our alliance ... the United States and the Philippines, [has done a great deal] in terms of preserving the peace [and] in terms of preserving the stability of the South China Sea," he said. "But I would even go as far as to say in the entire Indo-Pacific region. And we are always very, very happy to continue to strengthen that relationship." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bulgaria - Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System NEWS | July 21, 2025 Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov Transmittal No. 25-42 WASHINGTON, July 21, 2025 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Bulgaria of Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System and related equipment for an estimated cost of $620 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of Bulgaria has requested to buy a Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System (NSM CDS), including three (3) Link-16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System - Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS-JTRS) and the following non-MDE items: tactical Naval Strike Missiles (NSM); inert NSM handling; telemetered NSM; operational, inert NSM; mobile fire control centers with associated communications equipment; mobile missile launch vehicles with associated communications equipment; NSM transport loading vehicles; NavStrike-M Global Positioning System receiver; operator trainer consoles; Simple Key Loaders (SKL); and associated support including but not limited to technical publications, training documentation, technical data packages, support equipment, software support spare parts, training, training simulators, integration services, and U.S. government and original equipment manufacturer technical assistance; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $620 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO Ally that is an important force for political and economic stability in Europe. The proposed sale will enhance Bulgaria's capability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible force that is capable of deterring adversaries and participating in NATO operations. The proposed sale will support its goal of improving national and territorial defense as well as interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces. Bulgaria will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace AS, located in Kongsberg, Norway. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the temporary duty travel of three to five U.S. Government and contractor representatives to Bulgaria for a duration of up to five years. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale. The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded. All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military-Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen launches drone attack on Israel IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 21, 2025 A drone attack was launched from Yemen on the occupied territories, Israeli media reported. The Israeli military radio reported that a drone was fired from the Yemeni territory towards the occupied territories. The attack was carried out while none of the sirens in the occupied territories were activated. The Israeli military officials have expressed concern that the warning system is not working. The Israeli regime has been repeatedly targeted by missile and drone attacks by the Yemeni armed forces in recent months. The attacks by Yemen's Ansarullah have intensified, especially after the start of the Gaza war, and have also targeted areas such as the port of Eilat. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli attacks kill 134 Palestinians in Gaza: Ministry IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 21, 2025 The death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 59,029 as the Israeli aggression against Palestinians in the besieged enclave continues unabated, authorities reported on Monday. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that 134 more people were killed and 1,155 others injured in Gaza in the past 24 hours. According to the report, 8,196 people have been killed and 30,094 others injured since March 18, when Israel resumed its military assault in violation of a ceasefire. The ministry also stated that a total of 142,135 people have been injured in Israeli attacks since the war began on October 7, 2023. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Baqaei says human conscience remains silent regarding Gaza situation IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 21, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has expressed regret over the ongoing situation in Gaza, saying that human conscience has remained silent in the face of the situation in the strip. In the past two years, Israel has committed "an unprecedented genocide," employing starvation and thirst as tools to exterminate and erase Palestine, Baqaei said addressing his regular press conference on Monday. In just 24 hours, nearly 150 innocent people were killed while receiving food from a so-called American N.G.O., he added. The Israeli regime has used bread lines for killing people, he said adding that no word cannot describe the brutality and ugliness of this crime. Gaza human rights reporter's sanction by the U.S. He criticized the international community's inaction with regard to the U.S. support for the Israeli aggression against Iran and urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (O.I.C.) to convene an extraordinary session to address the matter. Facing intimidation and threats, human rights and international organizations have been powerless in this regard, failing to fulfilling their responsibilities , he stated. Reports claiming Iran accepting enrichment levels under 1% are false. Regarding reports regarding Iran had agreed to enrichment below 1%, he said that the purpose behind such statements should be asked of those who made them. But such an agreement does not exist. Europe is accused of failing to comply with its J.C.P.O.A. commitments Regarding the Foreign Ministry's stance on Europe's proposal to delay the activation of the "snapback" mechanism, Baqaei said, "Our position has been consistent, firm, and principled". Yesterday, the Foreign Minister sent a letter to the E3, China, Russia, and the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, outlining Iran's legal positions. After the U.S. withdrew the J.C.P.O.A. and after waiting a full year for Europe to compensate for the damage, Iran began taking phased retaliatory steps. European J.C.P.O.A. parties have no moral, political, or legal justification for using U.N.S.C. 2231 Baqaei said that Europe lacks any credible basis ethically, politically, or logically to use Resolution 2231 to restore sanctions, when their own actions undermined the J.C.P.O.A. implementation from the start. Ali Larijani's recent visit to Moscow The Iranian president's special envoy's visit to Russia conveyed Iran's comprehensive message and perspective on regional and international developments, he said. Iran and European Troika to meet in Istanbul The meeting will be held in Istanbul and be participated by deputy foreign ministers from Iran and the E3 (France, Germany, U.K.), as well as the E.U.'s senior foreign policy deputy. Claims by U.S. officials about damaging Iran's nuclear facilities are self-incriminating evidence In response to a question on the recent remarks by U.S. officials about targeting Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities, he said that these statements serve as clear evidence of their admission to an illegal and criminal act against the Iranian nation. Reports claiming Iran accepting enrichment levels under 1% are false. Regarding reports regarding Iran had agreed to enrichment below 1%, he said that the purpose behind such statements should be asked of those who made them. But such an agreement does not exist. Europe is accused of failing to comply with its J.C.P.O.A. commitments Regarding the Foreign Ministry's stance on Europe's proposal to delay the activation of the "snapback" mechanism, Baqaei said, "Our position has been consistent, firm, and principled". Yesterday, the Foreign Minister sent a letter to the E3, China, Russia, and the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, outlining Iran's legal positions. After the U.S. withdrew the J.C.P.O.A. and after waiting a full year for Europe to compensate for the damage, Iran began taking phased retaliatory steps. European J.C.P.O.A. parties have no moral, political, or legal justification for using U.N.S.C. 2231 Baqaei said that Europe lacks any credible basis ethically, politically, or logically to use Resolution 2231 to restore sanctions, when their own actions undermined the J.C.P.O.A. implementation from the start. Reports claiming Iran accepting enrichment levels under 1% are false. Regarding reports regarding Iran had agreed to enrichment below 1%, he said that the purpose behind such statements should be asked of those who made them. But such an agreement does not exist. Europe is accused of failing to comply with its J.C.P.O.A. commitments Regarding the Foreign Ministry's stance on Europe's proposal to delay the activation of the "snapback" mechanism, Baqaei said, "Our position has been consistent, firm, and principled". Yesterday, the Foreign Minister sent a letter to the E3, China, Russia, and the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, outlining Iran's legal positions. After the U.S. withdrew the J.C.P.O.A. and after waiting a full year for Europe to compensate for the damage, Iran began taking phased retaliatory steps. European J.C.P.O.A. parties have no moral, political, or legal justification for using U.N.S.C. 2231 Baqaei said that Europe lacks any credible basis ethically, politically, or logically to use Resolution 2231 to restore sanctions, when their own actions undermined the J.C.P.O.A. implementation from the start. Ali Larijani's recent visit to Moscow The Iranian president's special envoy's visit to Russia conveyed Iran's comprehensive message and perspective on regional and international developments, he said. Iran and European Troika to meet in Istanbul The meeting will be held in Istanbul and be participated by deputy foreign ministers from Iran and the E3 (France, Germany, U.K.), as well as the E.U.'s senior foreign policy deputy. Claims by U.S. officials about damaging Iran's nuclear facilities are self-incriminating evidence In response to a question on the recent remarks by U.S. officials about targeting Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities, he said that these statements serve as clear evidence of their admission to an illegal and criminal act against the Iranian nation. Iran does not oppose legal immigration Highlighting that the international community has repeatedly acknowledged the responsible and ethical approach of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Iranian people in hosting Afghan refugees, he said what has been implemented over the past year is, in fact, an effort to regulate the issue of asylum and migration. Iran has persistently called on global bodies, notably the U.N. Refugee Agency, to provide tangible assistance to Iran as it shoulders the burden of refugee hosting, he stated. Tehran is to host trilateral meeting of Iran, Russia, and China on Tuesday Regarding the snapback mechanism, Iran has held extensive consultations with Russia and China over the past year, he said. The Iranian president's special envoy's visit to Russia conveyed Iran's comprehensive message and perspective on regional and international developments, he said. Iran and European Troika to meet in Istanbul The meeting will be held in Istanbul and be participated by deputy foreign ministers from Iran and the E3 (France, Germany, U.K.), as well as the E.U.'s senior foreign policy deputy. Claims by U.S. officials about damaging Iran's nuclear facilities are self-incriminating evidence In response to a question on the recent remarks by U.S. officials about targeting Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities, he said that these statements serve as clear evidence of their admission to an illegal and criminal act against the Iranian nation. Iran does not oppose legal immigration Highlighting that the international community has repeatedly acknowledged the responsible and ethical approach of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Iranian people in hosting Afghan refugees, he said what has been implemented over the past year is, in fact, an effort to regulate the issue of asylum and migration. Iran has persistently called on global bodies, notably the U.N. Refugee Agency, to provide tangible assistance to Iran as it shoulders the burden of refugee hosting, he stated. Tehran is to host trilateral meeting of Iran, Russia, and China on Tuesday Regarding the snapback mechanism, Iran has held extensive consultations with Russia and China over the past year, he said. Iran stresses maintaining Syria's territorial integrity Iran's stance on Syria is clear, he said, adding, "We unequivocally support Syria's sovereignty and territorial unity." Israel's repeated attacks flagrantly contravene the U.N. principles and global norms, without any legal or moral basis, he stressed. Cooperation with the I.A.E.A. Cooperation with the I.A.E.A. will be regulated and implemented on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the considerations of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. We remain a member of the I.A.E.A. and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (N.P.T.), and the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement between Iran and the I.A.E.A. remains in place, he said. President Pezeshkian is to visit Pakistan He said that President Masoud Pezeshkian is to visit Pakistan next week, adding that it demonstrates the importance we attach to bilateral relations with Pakistan. Germany is an accomplice to the aggression against Iran He criticized German government's approach over the last month, urging the German government to clarify its stance and prevent this approach from becoming a permanent stain on the history of its relations with Iran, he said. 9376**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 19 Gazans die of hunger in a single day as Israel continues to restrict food IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 21, 2025 Health authorities in Gaza have announced that 19 Palestinians starved to death in 24 hours, as an ongoing Israeli siege of the territory is worsening a hunger crisis there. The Ministry of Health made the announcement on Sunday, warning that hundreds more people, who are 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," Qatar's Al Jazeera TV network quoted a spokesperson for the ministry. Israel imposed a crippling siege on March 1 this year, after a ceasefire deal expired and the regime unilaterally withdrew from talks aimed at extending the truce. The siege has remained in place, restricting the entry of food, water, medicine, and other basis supplies into Gaza. On Sunday, Al Jazeera reported the World Food Program as saying that malnutrition is escalating in Gaza where the hunger crisis continues to deteriorate. "Gaza's 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 news outlet quoted the WFP. A similar warning was echoed by Amjad Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (P.N.G.O.) in the Gaza Strip. According to Palestine's Shehab news agency, he warned about severe hunger in Gaza, describing the situation as a complete humanitarian catastrophe that will lead to the silent death of Palestinians if the Israeli regime continues to prevent the delivery of international aid to the territory. Shawa said elderly individuals and children are losing their lives due to a lack of food and medicine. Supplies of flour and rice in aid centers and markets have been completely depleted, and people are facing a humanitarian disaster that endangers the lives of hundreds of thousands, he added. According to the official, the Israeli regime forces Gaza residents to go to its designated aid distribution centers, which are "deadly traps" where civilians are killed while searching for food. This tactic serves the objectives of the Israeli occupiers to empty Gaza, he cautioned. Over the past weeks, Israel has run its own distribution centers that replace zones operated by the United Nations to deliver food and other supplies to Palestinians in Gaza. The centers, which are also backed by the United States and have drawn growing international outcry, have become new sites of Palestinian casualties, as Israeli forces open fire on aid seekers gathered there. The latest such incidents left at least 92 people dead on Sunday. They were killed while trying to get food at the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza, as well as at aid distribution centers in Rafah and Khan Younis in the south of the strip. 4208**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel rejects the joint statement published by a group of countries Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs 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. Press Releases Topic: Terrorism Secondary topic: Swords of Iron 21.07.2025 (MFA Spokesperson Announcement) Israel rejects the joint statement published by a group of countries, as it is disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas. Israel rejects the joint statement published by a group of countries, 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. 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. There is a concrete proposal for a ceasefire deal, and Israel has repeatedly said yes to this proposal, while Hamas stubbornly refuses to accept it. The statement fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognize Hamas's role and responsibility for the situation. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Republic of North Macedonia "considers the Autonomy Plan, put forward by the Kingdom of Morocco in 2007, as the only basis for the settlement of this dispute." Morocco Ministry of Foreign Affairs Monday 21 July 2025 This position was expressed in the Joint Statement signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, and North Macedonia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timco Mucunski, following their meeting on Monday in Skopje. Mucunski reaffirmed "his country's longstanding support for the UN-led process aimed at reaching a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution for the parties," the Joint Statement reads. "The Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of North Macedonia reiterated their commitment to the UN's leadership in this political process, and expressed their support for UN Security Council Resolution 2756 (October 2024), which underscores the parties' role and responsibility in seeking a realistic, lasting political solution based on compromise," the document highlights. In this Statement, the two ministers also reaffirmed the support of Morocco and North Macedonia for "the efforts of the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy and his mission to advance the political process, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions and the principles of the UN Charter." This new stance of North Macedonia is part of the international momentum supporting the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco, a dynamic driven by the impetus of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, and backed by an increasingly strong international consensus. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Allied Capabilities on Display During the Royal International Air Tattoo 2025 NATO Allied Air Command Jul 21 2025 RAMSTEIN, Germany -- From July 18 to 20, 2025, over 20 Allied Nations came together at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at Fairford, United Kingdom, showcasing the full spectrum of NATO air capabilities under this year's theme, 'Eyes in the Skies'. RIAT 2025 highlighted the vital role aviation plays across all air specializations, with fighters from Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, alongside rotary-wing assets, tankers, transport aircraft, intelligence, surveillance, and airborne control platforms. This multinational participation demonstrated NATO's maritime patrol, search and rescue, advanced aerial surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence, and airborne early warning capabilities. Regarding the latter domains, NATO operates around the clock with their own "eyes in the skies" thanks to the E-3A AWACS and RQ-4D Phoenix assets. NATO's own Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEW&C Force) ensures situational awareness to support NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defence. In addition, it ensures airborne Command and Control, which enables battlespace management in contested environments. The NAEW&C Force conducts a wide range of NATO missions, including air policing, counter-terrorism support, crisis response, and non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO). NATO's E-3A AWACS aircraft has the capability to detect, track, and identify potentially hostile aircraft at low altitudes while providing fighter control of Allied aircraft. It can track maritime contacts and coordinate with surface forces, underscoring its essential role in NATO's integrated defence. NATO's RQ-4D Phoenix high-altitude long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft is another example of NATO's ability to project ISR capability flexibly across the entire Alliance territory. Operated by the NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force (NISRF), the RQ-4D ensures informed decision-making and effective response wherever and whenever the Alliance requires. Reinforcing NATO's transatlantic ties, the United States Air Force contributed a B-1B Lancer to the flypast, under the umbrella of the Bomber Task Force (Europe) mission. This flypast highlighted the strategic reach and deterrence capability the U.S. brings to the Alliance and demonstrated NATO's ability to conduct long-range strike operations. RIAT 2025 provided more than 175,000 spectators over three days with a dynamic flying display combining stealth fighters, rotary-wing platforms, tankers, and ISR assets in complex, choreographed scenarios demonstrating Allied interoperability and readiness to operate seamlessly across complex operations. Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address House: ICC case vs. Duterte based on evidence, not gossip Philippine News Agency By Jose Cielito Reganit July 21, 2025, 6:31 pm MANILA -- The House of Representatives on Monday firmly maintained that former president Rodrigo Duterte's case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) is based on solid evidence and sworn testimonies of witnesses and not on mere gossip. House spokesperson, lawyer Princess Abante, issued the statement in response to Vice President Sara Duterte's comment that her father's detention by the ICC was "dahil sa Marites (because of Marites)"a colloquial term referring to rumors or baseless talk. "Well, 'yung statement ni VP ay base sa Marites. Ang kaso doon sa ICC ay ayon sa ebidensya. Siguro doon tayo tututok kung ano 'yung pinagbabasehan ng mga reklamo. Hindi ito galing sa anumang tsismis, ito ay galing sa mga ebidensya at testimonies ng mga witnesses (according to the VP, it's based on gossip. The case at the ICC is based on evidence. We should maybe focus on where the complaints are based. This did not come from any gossip, it came from evidence and the testimonies of the witnesses)," Abante said in a press conference. She stressed that the ICC case is rooted in an international legal process supported by documentary evidence and victim testimonies, not hearsay or political noise. She also made it clear that the House is not involved in the ICC proceedings and has consistently maintained its independence from the international court. "In fact, time and time again, sinabi na rin naman ng mga members of the House na hindi sila nakialam at nakikialam sa kaso sa ICC (House members have always said that they did not and will not meddle in the ICC case)," she said when asked to respond to the younger Duterte's call for the ICC to drop the case and let Filipinos decide the fate of the former president. Abante also pointed out that as a lawyer, Duterte should understand how international judicial bodies operate, and that legal remedies, including motions to dismiss, must be raised in the appropriate forum. "Wala din sa saklaw ng House of Representatives 'yung hinihingi ni VP Sara (VP Sara's request is not within the purview of the House,... they have their defense lawyer to assert that before the court," she said. Former president Duterte is currently detained and awaiting trial before the ICC for charges of crimes against humanity over his administration's bloody war on drugs. While the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019, the ICC retains jurisdiction over offenses committed while the country was still a state party. Debunking VP's 'conspiracy theory' Meanwhile, Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun slammed the Vice President over her claims that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. faked kindness and colluded with the ICC to arrest her father, calling it "baseless, dishonest and deeply irresponsible." In a statement, Khonghun said President Marcos has consistently kept a firm distance from the ICC in connection with the case against the former president. He said the Vice President's "conspiracy theory" was not only absurd but a dangerous attempt to mislead the public and stir unrest. "President Bongbong Marcos is not hiding behind kindness. He leads with calm, principle and respect for the rule of law. Hindi siya tulad ng mga lider na kailangang sumigaw, manakot at magsinungaling para mapansin (He is not like other leaders who need to shout, threaten and tell lies to get noticed)." Khonghun said the Vice President's remarks betray a fundamental misunderstanding or a willful distortion of how a constitutional democracy works. "Hindi lahat ng galaw ng gobyerno ay kontrolado ng Pangulo (Not all actions of the government are controlled by the President). We are no longer under a regime where one man can order arrests left and right. President Marcos governs with restraint and humility, not with vendetta," he said. During a rally calling for the release of her father, Duterte accused President Marcos of giving the ICC what it wanted by supposedly helping facilitate the former president's arrest, saying this was all political theater to remove a strong critic. Khonghun called this logic twisted and insulting. "Tsismis ba ang libo-libong patayan? Tsismis ba ang luha ng mga nanay na naulila? Tsismis ba ang mga ulat ng international and local human rights groups (Were the thousands of killings, the tears of the bereaved mothers and the reports from international and local human rights groups just mere gossip)?" he asked. "You call this gossip, we call it justice. Kung talagang walang kasalanan, harapin. Hindi 'yung puro drama at siraan ang ginagawa (If you are truly innocent, face the charges, instead of going into theatrics and vilification)." (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Top PH, US security execs discuss WPS in Washington meeting Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno July 21, 2025, 1:53 pm MANILA -- National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Ano met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington D.C. last week where they exchanged views regarding topics of mutual interest, including the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the National Security Council (NSC) said Monday. "The two NSAs exchanged views on the regional security situation, particularly in the South China Sea (SCS) and West Philippine Sea (WPS), and future activities to further strengthen the alliance between the two nations in order to establish credible deterrence in the region," the NSC said in a statement. Rubio concurrently sits as the US' acting NSA, replacing Mike Waltz on May 1. The meeting took place days before the scheduled meeting of Presidents Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Donald Trump in Washington this week to deepen the two countries' strategic partnership, particularly on defense and economic cooperation. During their meeting, Ano and Rubio underscored the need to enhance deterrence in the SCS and WPS and the importance of maintaining peace and security in the region for the economic security of both the Philippines and the US. The Philippine official stressed the inseparability of defense-security and economic security. Both officials also underscored the importance of engaging with traditional allies and other like-minded partners to ensure a rules-based international order and a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. "The two NSAs expressed optimism for all future joint activities related to defense, security, and industrial cooperation and Secretary Rubio assured Secretary Ano of the US' ironclad commitment to the Philippines under the Trump administration," the NSC said. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH, Cambodian armies conclude 3-week drills Philippine News Agency By Priam Nepomuceno July 21, 2025, 12:40 pm MANILA -- The Philippine Army (PA) successfully concluded over the weekend its three-week bilateral training exercise with the Royal Cambodian Army (RCA), as part of efforts to beef up its defense relations. In a statement on Monday, PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said the drills took place at the Techno Sen Phnom Thom Mres Prov, Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Training Center in Kampong Speu. During the closing ceremonies on Saturday, PA chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido highlighted the training's role in enhancing operational competencies and mutual understanding between the two armies. "Through this joint training, the Philippines and Cambodia have taken meaningful steps toward deeper regional cooperation and enhanced interoperability cornerstones of a stable and secure Southeast Asia," he said. Galido commended the professionalism, discipline, and openness of the RCA as he underscored the value of sustained military-to-military partnerships in strengthening ASEAN solidarity. For three weeks, participants from the PA's Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) and the First Scout Ranger Regiment engaged in joint training with their Cambodian counterparts focusing on urban infantry operations and combat tracking. Meanwhile, a combat engineer regiment team from the PA and their RCA counterparts conducted a subject matter expert exchange on collapsed structure search-and-rescue operations. Dema-ala said the joint training forms part of the PA's strategic approach to international defense cooperation, prioritizing engagements that foster meaningful collaboration and reinforce regional peace and stability. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Araghchi: Israel's attack on aid seekers is a blatant war crime Iran Press TV Monday, 21 July 2025 11:09 PM Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has condemned Israel's attack on Palestinians seeking food and humanitarian aid in Gaza as a clear example of war crimes and crimes against humanity. In a social media post on Monday, Araghchi described Gaza as a symbol of both resistance and oppression, underscoring the unyielding resilience of its people. He emphasized that Israel's forces have exploited every means at their disposal against the Palestinian population, including the use of starvation and deprivation of basic necessities. "Gaza remains a symbol of resistance and oppression, a fact proven once again through the astonishing, tireless steadfastness of its men, women, and children against the crimes of the terrorist Israeli entity over the past twenty-two months," Araghchi said. During this time, the criminal Zionists have not shied away from using the most egregious tactics, including imposing thirst and starvation on the defenseless residents of Gaza. Yet, despite these efforts, they have failed to shatter the iron will of the Palestinian people, he added. He condemned the attack on civilians congregating for essential resources such as bread, water, or humanitarian aid, calling it a "blatant example of war crimes and crimes against humanity." Araghchi reiterated that, despite Israel's brutal tactics, the unwavering determination of the Palestinian people remains intact. He also called on the international community and Western nations that profess to champion human rights to take responsibility for the situation in Gaza. He emphasized that they share accountability for the deaths of over a thousand innocent Palestinian civilians caught in the deadly traps set by the United States and Israel at aid centers. Moreover, Araghchi condemned the 140-day siege of Gaza, which has resulted in more than 600 deaths due to shortages of medicine, food, and water. "The justice of history and the collective conscience of humanity will judge this indifference and evasion of responsibility," he concluded. 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 Yemen targets Israel with five drones in fresh retaliatory ops Iran Press TV Monday, 21 July 2025 5:08 PM The Yemeni armed forces have "successfully" targeted key strategic sites deep inside Israeli-occupied territories using five drones, just hours after the regime launched an attack on Yemen's Red Sea port. In a statement on Monday, the Yemeni military said its drone unit "carried out a qualitative military operation, targeting the Lod airport (Ben Gurion airport) and another military target in the region of Yaffa, as well as the port of Umm al-Rashrash (Eilat) and Ramon airport, along with a vital target in the Ashdod area in occupied Palestine." It noted that the strikes came in response to Israel's genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza, and the regime's latest attack on the Hudaydah port on the Red Sea conducted earlier in the day. The statement stressed that Yemen's operation "successfully achieved its objectives." Yemen is "ready to confront any hostile movements" aimed at stopping it from "fulfilling its "religious, moral, and humanitarian duty toward the oppressed Palestinian people", as it has done over the past months, the army stressed. The statement affirmed that Yemen will continue to support the Palestinians and conduct military operations against Israel in unwavering solidarity with their struggle. "Our operations will not stop except with the cessation of aggression against Gaza and the lifting of the siege imposed on it." Earlier on Monday, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a senior member of the Political Bureau of Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement, warned that the country will escalate its retaliatory operations if the Israeli regime intensifies its attacks on Yemen. Since the onset of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, Yemeni forces have carried out numerous operations in support of the war-hit Gazans, striking targets throughout the occupied Palestinian territories. Yemen has also been attacking Israeli ships or vessels heading towards ports in the occupied territories. The Israeli regime's bloody onslaught on Gaza has so far killed at least 59,029 Palestinians, mostly women and children. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Massive Israeli offensive targets Deir al-Balah, labeled as 'safe zone' Iran Press TV Monday, 21 July 2025 4:31 PM Israeli forces have launched a new brutal aerial and ground assault following forced displacement orders targeting parts of Deir al-Balah, a central Gaza area previously designated as a so-called "safe humanitarian zone." On Monday, Israel carried out intense airstrikes and a large-scale ground offensive in Gaza, targeting Deir al-Balah and the surrounding areas. Local residents and witnesses described a relentless overnight bombardment in the central Gaza City. The latest assault came just hours after the Israeli military air-dropped leaflets over residential neighborhoods in Deir al-Balah, ordering civilians to evacuate southward toward al-Mawasi, an already overcrowded and underserved strip of land. The area under evacuation lies between central Deir al-Balah and southern Khan Yunis and is home to nearly 100,000 people, many of whom have been displaced multiple times. The Israeli army's order includes the forced removal of displaced families living in makeshift tents. Reports suggest that Israeli ground troops may be preparing to advance from northern Khan Yunis to storm the southwestern flank of Deir al-Balah, a move that could sever the city's southern edge from the rest of the central region. If Israel proceeds with a ground incursion, it could result in the loss of yet another stretch of vital farmland, further exacerbating the already catastrophic famine gripping the Gaza Strip. Observers now warn that Israel may be seeking to carve out a new military corridor, effectively cutting Khan Yunis off from central Gaza. Similar divisions were previously enacted when Rafah was isolated from Khan Yunis. Such fragmentation of the Gaza Strip into isolated zones would grant Israel near-total control while pushing civilians into ever-smaller, overcrowded pockets, primarily along the coastline. With the growing threat of widespread starvation, the UN, in a statement released by its Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) emphasized the importance of Deir al-Balah for what remained of the struggling international aid effort. "Any damage to this infrastructure will have life-threatening consequences," the agency said. "With this latest order, 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 fragmented 12% of the strip, where essential services have collapsed," OCHA stated. The latest Israeli assault follows Sunday's massacre of desperate Palestinians seeking food aid, one of the deadliest single-day death tolls in Gaza in the past 21 months. At least 73 people were killed and around 150 others wounded by Israeli gunfire as they waited for food assistance across the besieged Palestinian territory. In total, nearly 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces across Gaza on Sunday alone. The attacks were among the deadliest in a series of repeated incidents in recent weeks, where Palestinians seeking aid have been killed. The UN rights office has documented the killing of about 1,000 Palestinians in 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 en route to other aid convoys. The Israeli regime's bloody onslaught on Gaza has killed at least 59,000 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 Yemen will escalate retaliatory operations if Israel intensifies attacks: Official Iran Press TV Monday, 21 July 2025 2:01 PM Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a senior member of the Political Bureau of Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement, has warned that Yemen will intensify its retaliatory operations if the Israeli regime escalates its aggression against the country. "Any escalation by Israel against us will be met with a new wave of retaliatory strikes," al-Bukhaiti was quoted as saying by the al-Araby television network on Monday. He emphasized that the Israeli attacks will not undermine Yemen's ongoing operations against Israel. "The Israeli strikes against us will serve as a motive to continue our support for Gaza." His remarks came as Israeli warplanes on Monday carried out new airstrikes on Yemen's Hudaydah port on the Red Sea. Since the onset of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, Yemeni forces have carried out numerous operations in support of the war-hit Palestinians, striking targets across the occupied Palestinian territories and targeting Israeli ships or vessels heading towards ports in those areas. Yemen has vowed to continue its pro-Gaza operations until the Israeli aggression ends and the brutal siege imposed on the strip is lifted. The Israeli regime launched the genocidal war after Gaza's resistance fighters carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm in response to decades of bloodshed and devastation inflicted by the Zionist regime on the Palestinian people. The regime's bloody onslaught on Gaza has killed at least 59,029 Palestinians, mostly women and children. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli warplanes conduct series of airstrikes on Yemen's Hudaydah port Iran Press TV Monday, 21 July 2025 10:12 AM Israeli warplanes on Monday carried out a series of airstrikes on Yemen's Hudaydah port on the Red Sea. According to the Yemen Press Agency (YPA), there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage after the airstrikes. The Israeli army said the targets included "engineering vehicles, fuel containers and naval vessels." The strikes came in response to recent Yemeni missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets. Soon after Israel's genocidal war on Gaza began in October 2023, the Yemeni Armed Forces started carrying out operations against Israeli-bound or linked vessels in the Red Sea in what they say are acts of solidarity with Gaza, where close to 59,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed. Yemen has also launched missiles against targets deep inside the occupied territories. On Friday, Yemen's Armed Forces struck Ben Gurion airport near the city of Tel Aviv for the third time in just two days, this time hitting the facility with a hypersonic ballistic missile. "The operation successfully achieved its objective, causing millions to flee to shelters and halting activity at the airport," the army said in a statement. The strike came as part of an aerial blockade that Sana'a has been enforcing against the regime since May, targeting Ben Gurion. Yemen has said that the strikes would continue as long as Tel Aviv sustained the Gaza war and the deadly siege that it has been enforcing simultaneously on the coastal sliver. In support of Israel, the US announced the formation of a maritime task force in the Red Sea in December 2023 to protect the passage of vessels bound for the Israeli-occupied territories. The Yemeni forces responded by ramping up their strikes against strategic and sensitive American targets, including the US warships and aircraft carriers that are deployed off Yemen's coastline. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Houthi: Israeli-enforced starvation in Gaza 'shameful disgrace' to Arab, Muslim leaders Iran Press TV Monday, 21 July 2025 7:02 AM The leader of Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement has strongly denounced the world's Arab and Muslim states for their failure to respond effectively to the Israeli regime's deliberate starvation of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. "What the Palestinian people in Gaza are enduring is a horrific tragedy. Children are dying daily from hunger this is the worst stage of starvation," Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said during a speech on Sunday. The Yemeni official blasted the broader Muslim world for its passivity amid the situation, saying, "Many in Gaza are suffering extreme hunger while surrounded by hundreds of millions of Arabs and two billion Muslims watching helplessly -- as if they were a paralyzed nation." He slammed the Arab and Muslim world for its "absence of honor and conscience," calling its inaction a "shameful disgrace." The resistance leader also warned that the global Muslim nation's silence and evasion of responsibility in the face of the outrage contributed to the regime's impunity and further emboldened it towards escalating its atrocities. Al-Houthi's remarks came while the Israeli regime was using starvation as, what has been billed by human rights campaigners, as "a weapon of war" during its October 2023-present war of genocide against the coastal sliver. As cases in point, he cited the regime's totally eliminating entry of direly-needed humanitarian aid into the territory, and, instead, setting up so-called aid distribution posts, where swarming hungry Palestinians would regularly be targeted with deadly fire. The outposts were rather "death traps" serving the machinery of genocide, he said. The resistance leader also noted how the starvation-fueled genocide was receiving unprecedented American military, political, and intelligence support. 'Entire Muslim world at risk' The official additionally cautioned about the threats that faced the global Muslim community as a result of the US-backed Israeli atrocities in Gaza. "The Palestinian people are part of us, and their suffering is that of the entire Ummah (Muslim Nation)," al-Houthi said. The threats facing the Palestinians were, accordingly, also faced by the entire Muslim world. "The US-Israeli threat is a danger to all." 'Yemen stands apart' In contrast to the deafening silence of others, al-Houthi reaffirmed Yemen's unyielding commitment to the Palestinian cause of liberation from Israeli occupation and aggression, regardless of the cost. The official was referring to hundreds of strikes that Yemen's Armed Forces have been carrying out against sensitive Israeli targets and vessels heading towards the occupied Palestinian territories in solidarity with the war-hit Gazans. "Our position in supporting the Palestinian people and confronting American and Israeli tyranny remains unchanged," he asserted. He cited the Yemeni people's tireless mobilization, despite enduring two rounds of intense military aggression by the Israeli regime, the US, and Britain aimed at trying to stop its pro-Palestinian operations. "We are confident in victory," said the official, who also vowed Sana'a's resolve to withstand the blockades and economic warfare that were simultaneously being imposed on it to supposedly cause it to stop the strikes. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Yemeni leader stated that his country's resistance was not confined to the battlefield. He exposed a parallel front, namely a psychological and propaganda war, designed to distort Sana'a's priorities and destabilize its morale. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel's new evacuation order in Gaza another 'devastating blow' to aid efforts: UN Iran Press TV Monday, 21 July 2025 6:48 AM The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says the Israeli regime's new evacuation order for the displaced people and residents of Gaza's Deir el-Balah to move south dealt "another devastating blow" to humanitarian efforts in the war-ravaged territory. OCHA warned on Monday in a statement that "today's mass displacement order issued by the Israeli military has dealt yet another devastating blow to the already fragile lifelines keeping people alive across the Gaza Strip." On Sunday morning, the Israeli regime's forces ordered the displaced people and residents of central Gaza to leave immediately due to "imminent operations." As a result, entire Palestinian families were forced to gather their belongings as fast as possible and leave the area. According to OCHA's initial estimates, between 50,000 and 80,000 people were taking refuge in the area when the evacuation order was issued. OCHA said UN staff were "remaining" in the territory and their coordinates had been shared with "relevant parties." "These locations, as with all civilian sites, must be protected, regardless of displacement orders," OCHA said. The agency warned that any damage to aid warehouses, health clinics, and water infrastructure will result in the death of civilians who are still in the area. Since the Israeli regime began its campaign of genocide on October 7, 2023, nearly all of Gaza's population, which is also facing famine, has been displaced at least once by repeated Israeli evacuation orders. The latest order means that 87.8 percent of Gaza's area is now under displacement orders or within Israeli militarized zones, OCHA said. That leaves "2.1 million civilians squeezed into a fragmented 12 per cent of the Strip, where essential services have collapsed," said the UN agency. "[The order] 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," it added. Israel on Sunday also withdrew the residency permit of Jonathan Whittall, the head of the OCHA office in occupied Palestine. Whittall has been an outspoken critic of the Israeli regime's genocidal actions and has condemned the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Since Israel began its war against Gaza, it has killed 58,895 Palestinians and wounded 140,980, most of whom are children and women. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China begins building mega-dam in Tibet The hydropower dam, which China says will be the world's largest, has raised concerns from neighboring countries and environmentalists. By RFA staff 2025.07.21 -- China has started to build a massive dam on Tibet's longest river, a move approved by the central government in December despite concerns by India, Bangladesh and Tibetan rights groups about its impacts on residents and the environment. The structure is expected to cost more than 1 trillion yuan (US$137 billion). Once completed, it would be the world's largest hydropower dam, generating 300 billion kilowatt-hours of power annually, about three times the power of China's Three Gorges Dam, Xinhua, a state-run news agency, reported last year. Operations are expected to begin sometime in the 2030s. Premier Li Qiang attended a commencement ceremony with other officials in Nyingchi in southeastern Tibet over the weekend. Xinhua reported that the electricity generated "will be primarily transmitted to other regions for consumption, while also meeting local power needs in Tibet." The river is known as Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, Brahmaputra in India, and Jamuna in Bangladesh. It flows through all three areas from its origin in the glaciers of western Tibet. Climate activist and researcher Manshi Asher told RFA in December that there is "substantial evidence" of negative impacts from hydropower projects in the Himalayas. "This project will undoubtedly alter the environmental flows of the river," Asher said. "The larger the dam, the greater the impact on the river flows." Neeraj Singh Manhas, a special adviser on South Asia at Parley Policy Initiative in South Korea, said in December that the dam could affect agriculture, hydropower generation and drinking water availability in India. "Seasonal changes in water discharge could exacerbate floods or intensify droughts downstream, undermining livelihoods and ecosystems," Manhas said. Over the weekend, the Chinese premier said that special emphasis "must be placed on ecological conservation to prevent environmental damage," according to Xinhua. China has built an estimated 22,000 large dams to help fuel decades of rapid industrialization and economic growth about 40% of the world's total. Includes reporting from Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli Attacks on Gaza Aid Centers Kill Almost 1,000 Since May 27 Sputnik News 20250721 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The death toll from Israeli attacks on humanitarian aid distribution centers in the Gaza Strip has risen to nearly 1,000 people since May 27, the Gaza government's media office said on Sunday. "The number of people who were waiting for humanitarian aid distribution at so-called death traps has risen to 995, another 6,011 people have been injured, 45 count missing," the office said. The authorities in Gaza call humanitarian aid distribution centers run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation "death traps" due to multiple incidents of deadly Israeli attacks on people waiting in lines. Earlier in the day, the Gaza health ministry said that it expects sharp rise in deaths among Palestinians amid malnutrition and inability to get medical aid. According to the ministry, 60,000 of babies are suffering from malnutrition, while 600,00 lives of children under 10 are under threat due to lack of food and 60,000 pregnant women are not getting enough food. In June, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported, citing anonymous Israeli soldiers fighting in the Gaza Strip, that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officers had been ordered to deliberately shoot at unarmed Palestinians near aid distribution sites during the past month. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected the allegation. Israel has refused to work with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). In late October 2024, the Israeli parliament passed bills aimed at banning UNRWA activities in Israel and the territories it controls after accusing some UNRWA staff of involvement in the October 2023 Hamas attack. The UN says Israel has not provided any evidence to substantiate its allegations. On January 30, the law banning UNRWA activities came into force. At the same time, Israel and the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation have opened aid distribution points concentrated in the south of the Gaza Strip. On May 20, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini accused Israel of using humanitarian aid to forcibly displace Palestinians. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Philippine President Marcos, Jr. US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson July 21, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., today in Washington, DC, ahead of the meeting between Presidents Marcos and Trump. Secretary Rubio and President Marcos underscored the importance of the ironclad United States-Philippines Alliance to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to deterrence and reinforcing freedoms of navigation and overflight in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Secretary Rubio and President Marcos discussed efforts to advance the United States' and the Philippines' shared prosperity, including through the Luzon Economic Corridor, by strengthening supply chains and delivering economic growth to both countries. The Secretary and President Marcos looked forward to maintaining regular high-level engagement between the United States and the Philippines as friends, partners, and allies, particularly ahead of the 80th anniversary of United States-Philippines diplomatic relations in 2026. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK pledges lifesaving aid for Gaza Tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza will receive additional humanitarian aid funded by the UK government. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon David Lammy MP Published 21 July 2025 UK government announces new 60m humanitarian aid package to support healthcare, food and water. Includes vital funding to treat patients at UK-Med field hospitals in Gaza Aid package will help provide emergency food, shelter and support for over 2 million people Tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza will receive additional humanitarian aid funded by the UK government. In a statement to Parliament, the Foreign Secretary David Lammy outlined that food assistance programmes, water and sanitation services and maternal and children's healthcare will be scaled up through this new 60 million funding. This will include continued support to two field hospitals in Gaza run by UK-Med. UK-Med are a frontline medical organisation deployed to crises who have now treated over 500,000 Gazans over the course of the conflict. 24,000 of these were in the past fortnight alone, with UK-Med treating a range of medical conditions as well as injuries related to the conflict. This announcement also includes 20 million in support for UNRWA's essential services for Palestinian refugees. This funding will provide emergency food, shelter and other support for over 2 million people, as well support UNRWA's wider work across the region. UNWRA's work in Gaza ensures water provision reaches up to 600,000 people monthly across Gaza. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: UK aid has been saving lives and under the most appalling circumstances, it is saving lives today. Today I am announcing extra humanitarian assistance in Gaza to support tens of thousands of civilians that are urgently in need this year. This includes supporting UK-Med to sustain the vital operations they perform right now in Gaza. The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths - almost 1000 civilians have been killed since May seeking aid. We continue to call for, work for, and vote for an immediate ceasefire and the release of the hostages at every possible opportunity. We will keep doing so until this war is over. UK-Med CEO David Wightwick said: I have never seen a crisis of this scale and severity, and it has only deteriorated in recent months. UK Government funding is vital in supporting UK-Med to deliver over 500,000 patient consultations in Gaza during this conflict. I want to thank our 400-strong team on the ground for their determination, professionalism and tireless work to address the medical needs of Gazans in incredibly difficult circumstances. This announcement is part of the 101 million of Official Development Assistance the UK has committed to the OPTs this financial year. It demonstrates the UK's commitment to playing a leading role in alleviating Palestinian suffering and building security, in support of the government's Plan for Change. The Foreign Secretary reflected on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza in his statement and thanked medics and humanitarian workers for the work they are doing in the most difficult and dangerous circumstances. He said the new aid system in Gaza - which has seen almost 900 people killed since May while seeking food and water - was creating further disorder for Hamas to exploit. The Foreign Secretary reiterated his complete condemnation of the Israeli defence minister's plan for the forcible displacement of Gaza's entire population into Rafah, with the potential for deportation. The UK also announced 7m of support to strengthen governance in the OPTs, including supporting the Palestinian Authority's delivery of their reform agenda. The UK continues to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, a surge in aid and a path towards long-term peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians. Background: This 60m funding is part of the UK's 101m programme for the Occupied Palestinian Territories this year. Of this, 7.5m will go to UK-Med to operate their two field hospitals 20m for UNRWA to support their essential services for Palestinian refugees 7m will go to strengthen governance, accountability and civic space in the OPTs, including supporting the PA's delivery of their reform agenda. Please see the Foreign Secretary's statement to parliament: Foreign Secretary statement on the Middle East, 21 July 2025 Please see the joint statement on behalf of 26 partners on the OPTs: Occupied Palestinian Territories: joint statement, 21 July 2025 - GOV.UK NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Secretary statement on the Middle East, 21 July 2025 Oral statement to Parliament The Foreign Secretary made a statement to parliament on the Middle East From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon David Lammy MP Published 21 July 2025 Delivered on: 21 July 2025 With permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I would like to make a statement on the Middle East. I'll begin on Syria. We have been horrified by the recent violence in the south, including civilian deaths. Clashes between Druze and Bedouin militias have quickly escalated into intense fighting between government forces and further Israeli strikes on the Syrian military. As I said directly to Foreign Minister Shaibani we want to see the fighting ended, civilians protected and the rights of all Syrians upheld. The violence in Suwayda must be investigated and those responsible held accountable. We want humanitarian access to be restored, aid delivered and Syria's sovereignty must be respected. The UK can be proud of our support to the Syrian people over many, many years. And a stable Syria matters to the UK's national interest, for terrorism, for irregular migration, for regional stability. We must work to prevent extremism, sectarianism or lawlessness taking hold now that Assad is gone. That's why we are backing a sustainable ceasefire and that is why we support an inclusive transition. And that's why I visited Damascus recently to support and to press the new government to meet its commitments. I will now turn to the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. It's two and a half months since Prime Minister Netanyahu restarted offensive operations. The IDF has driven Palestinians out of 86 per cent of Gaza, leaving around two million people trapped in an area scarcely over twenty square miles. Whatever this Israeli government might claim, repeated displacement of so many civilians is not keeping them safe. In fact, it's quite the reverse. Mr Deputy Speaker, the new Israeli aid system is inhumane, it's dangerous and it deprives Gazans of human dignity. It contradicts long-stablished humanitarian principles. It creates disorder Hamas is exploiting with distribution points reduced from 400 to just four. It forces desperate civilians, children among them, to scramble unsafely for the essentials of life. It's a grotesque spectacle, wreaking a terrible human cost. Almost 1000 civilians have been killed since May seeking aid, including 100 over this weekend alone. There are near daily reports of Israeli troops opening fire on people trying to access food. Israeli jets have hit women and children waiting for a health clinic to open. An Israeli drone has struck down children filling water containers which Israeli officials blamed on a 'technical error'. Hamas is contributing to the chaos and taking advantage of it. I utterly condemn the killing of civilians seeking to meet their most basic needs. The Israeli government must answer: What possible military justification can there be for strikes that have killed desperate, starving children? What immediate actions are they taking to stop this litany of horrors? What will they do to hold those responsible to account? Mr Deputy Speaker, I have said before I am a steadfast supporter of Israel's security and right to exist. I treasure the many connections between our peoples And the horrors of October 7th must never be forgotten. But I firmly believe the Israeli government's actions are doing untold damage to Israel's standing in the world and undermining Israel's long-term security. Netanyahu should listen to the Israeli people, 82 per cent of whom desperately want a ceasefire. And to the hostages' families because they know it offers the best chance to bring their loved ones home. Those hostages may be hidden in cramped tunnels under the ruins of Gaza but we will not forget them or Hamas's despicable actions and we will continue to demand their unconditional release. This offensive puts them in grave danger. But still Netanyahu persists. Indeed, Minister Katz has gone further proposing to drive Gaza's entire population into Rafah, imprisoning Palestinians, unless persuaded to emigrate. Mr Deputy Speaker, this is a cruel vision which must never come to pass. I condemn it unequivocally. Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law. Many Israelis themselves are appalled. A former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said 'it marches us into the abyss'. He was right. Mr Speaker, today I joined a joint statement by 25 Foreign Ministers with a simple, urgent message: the war in Gaza must end now. There is no military solution. Negotiations will secure the hostages. Further bloodshed serves no purpose. Hamas and Israel must both commit to a ceasefire now. And the next ceasefire must be the last ceasefire. I thank the US, Qatar, and Egypt for their tireless efforts. And I am sure all Members share my intense frustration it has not happened. Until there is such a breakthrough, we must keep doing all we can to relieve suffering. UK aid has saved lives. Reaching hundreds of thousands with food, water, hygiene, and sanitation, and essential healthcare. And under the most appalling circumstances our aid is saving lives today. That includes, the almost nine million pounds the UK has provided to UK-Med, since we entered office, reaching half a million patients inside Gaza, 24,000 in the past fortnight alone. Like 3-year old Razan. UK-funded medics removed a bullet from her neck after nearly three hours of surgery. These doctors and nurses working in the most extreme conditions are true heroes. They deserve the thanks and admiration of the entire House. We are also working, of course, multilaterally. The 149 trucks from the World Food Programme and UNICEF entering Gaza in recent day included food supplies funded by the UK. And thousands more trucks laden with aid paid for by British taxpayers can enter, the moment the Israeli government lets it. Today, I am announcing an extra 40 million for humanitarian assistance in Gaza this year, including seven and a half million for UK-Med to sustain their vital operations in Gaza and save more lives. Mr Deputy Speaker, accompanying the horrors in Gaza, there is an accelerating campaign to prevent a future Palestinian state in the West Bank. It's embraced by Netanyahu, it's encouraged by his Ministers. It's driven by an extremist ideology which wants to suffocate the two-state solution, the only route to a lasting peace and security. We see it in the unprecedented pace of settlement expansion. In the shocking levels of settler violence, even settler terrorism, for that is what the most egregious ideological attacks are. And in the deliberate attempts to squeeze the Palestinian Authority, unjustly denying it access to its own funds, and it harms Israel's long-term interests. Now, the Israeli government is reintroducing plans to construct new units in the E1 area of occupied east Jerusalem. If built, this settlement would separate the West Bank's north from its south and Palestinians in the West Bank from East Jerusalem. These plans are wholly unacceptable. They are illegal. And they must not happen. Mr Deputy Speaker, we are also striving to keep open the prospects of a two-state solution. UK assistance has been preserving the Palestinian Authority, contributing to essential Palestinian workers' salaries and supporting them to progress critical reforms. Today, I can confirm we are enhancing our support, providing 7 million to strengthen the PA and Palestinian governance, implementing the agreement signed by myself and PM Mustafa earlier this year. And we're delivering the reform plans President Abbas has set out. I can also confirm that we are providing 20 million to support UNRWA's many services for Palestinian refugees. And alongside this support, we are leading diplomatic efforts to show there must be a viable peaceful pathway to a Palestinian state, involving the PA, not Hamas, in security and governance of the area. Hamas can have no role in the governance of Gaza nor use it as a launchpad for terrorism. Israeli Ministers should support the PA - not actively undermine its economy, as Ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are doing. The UK is co-leading with Egypt the humanitarian and reconstruction track for the forthcoming Two-State Solution Conference. And we are pushing to agree plans for a credible next phase in Gaza with a responsible, reformed PA at their core. So we turn any temporary ceasefire into a lasting peace. Mr Deputy Speaker, in our year in office, this Labour Government has acted to address this horrendous conflict. We restored funding to UNRWA, after the Tories froze it. We suspended arms export licenses, when the Tories declined to act. We have provided nearly a quarter of a billion in humanitarian assistance, this year and next, getting medical treatment and food to hundreds of thousands of civilians in Gaza. We have stood with the hostage families at every stage. We've worked with Jordan to fly medicines into Gaza, with Egypt to treat medically evacuated civilians, with Kuwait and UNICEF to help children in Gaza. We've delivered three sanctions packages on violent settlers, suspended trade negotiations with this Israeli government and sanctioned far-right Israeli Ministers for incitement. We have defended the independence of international courts. We signed a landmark agreement with the Palestinian Authority, and hosted the Palestinian Prime Minister in London, pushing for the reform it needs. We called for... worked for... and voted for... an immediate ceasefire and the release of the hostages at every possible opportunity. And we will keep doing so until this war is over, Hamas release the hostages and we finally have a pathway to a two-state solution. I commend this statement to the House. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The UK and 28 international partners gave a joint statement on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon David Lammy MP Published 21 July 2025 Joint statement by: We, the signatories listed below, come together with a simple, urgent message: the war in Gaza must end now. 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. 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. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law. 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. A 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. We strongly oppose any steps towards territorial or demographic change in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The E1 settlement plan announced by Israel's 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. People dying from lack of aid every day in Gaza: WFP official 21 July 2025 - The hunger crisis in Gaza has reached new and astonishing levels of desperation, with a third of the population not eating for multiple days in a row, a senior official with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Monday. Ross Smith, director of emergency preparedness and response, briefed journalists in New York in the wake of a deadly incident on Sunday in which dozens of civilians were killed and injured while waiting to access food as a WFP convoy was entering northern Gaza. "Yesterday's incident is one of the greatest tragedies we've seen for our operations in Gaza and elsewhere while we're trying to work," he said, speaking from Rome. "And it's completely avoidable, and it's an absolute tragedy," he added. Famine conditions and malnutrition Gaza's population stands at roughly 2.1 million and earlier this year, food security experts warned that one in five people faces starvation. Mr. Smith said WFP assessments show that a quarter of the population is facing famine-like conditions. Almost 100,000 women and children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition and need treatment as soon as possible. Pointing to reports, he said "people are dying from lack of humanitarian assistance every day, and we are seeing this escalate day by day." He stressed that food assistance, and humanitarian assistance more broadly, are "the only solution at the moment" for Gaza. Minimum operating conditions Mr. Smith said humanitarians have a set of minimum operating conditions that need to be in place for them to work effectively. These include crossing points into Gaza, "proper routing" inside the enclave so that teams can move independently, and the entry of more than 100 trucks of aid a day. "We also need to have no armed actors near food distribution points, near our convoys, and near the movement of those convoys from one place to another," he continued, while underscoring the need to reach people where they are and not in otherwise predetermined locations. "And I would say above all that we have had agreements in principle on these things, but we have not had adherence to these in practice in Gaza itself. And this is really where the breakdown is, and it's where we see incidents like (yesterday) take place," he said. Ceasefire now Mr. Smith also highlighted the critical need for a ceasefire "so that we can move effectively." In response to a journalist's question, he said WFP moved more than 200 trucks of assistance per day into Gaza during the ceasefire earlier this year. Since mid-May, it has been able to move less than 10 per cent of what is needed. He said the UN agency has enough stocks pre-positioned outside Gaza to supply the entire population for two months "if we can get a ceasefire and if we can move." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Terror and chaos for Gaza's people now entering the 'death phase' 21 July 2025 - After another deadly weekend in Gaza in which at least 67 Palestinians were reportedly killed seeking food, UN aid teams on Monday described "mayhem" and starvation in the enclave as the Israeli military pushed into Deir Al-Balah for the first time. In an alert, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, relayed desperate testimonies from its colleagues who are also struggling to survive in the war-torn enclave. "We're in the death phase," one UNRWA worker said. "Everything around people at the moment is death, whether it's bombs or strikes, children wasting away in front of their eyes from malnourishment, from dehydration, and dying." Doctors and nurses who continue to work in the UN agency's clinics and medical centres "are watching children disappear and die in front of their eyes, and there's absolutely nothing that they can do about it," the worker continued. Civilians 'faced sniper and tank-fire' The development comes after desperate Gazans seeking aid came under fire at the weekend "from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire", according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP). In a detailed statement after the incident on Sunday 20 July, it explained that a 25-truck lorry convoy crossed the Zikim border point in northern Gaza "destined for starving communities". Shortly after passing the final checkpoint after the Zikim crossing point, the convoy encountered large crowds of civilians waiting to access food supplies. This was when the shooting began, leaving "countless" Gazans dead, WFP said, echoing reports by the health authorities. Condemning the incident, WFP noted that the victims "were simply trying to access food to feed themselves and their families on the brink of starvation". A great tragedy Speaking later on Monday in a briefing to journalists in New York, WFP's director of emergencies Ross Smith called the incident "one of the greatest tragedies we've seen for our operations in Gaza and elsewhere while we're trying to work." The UN agency said furthermore that the violence had happened "despite assurances from Israeli authorities that humanitarian operational conditions would improve; including that armed forces will not be present nor engage at any stage along humanitarian convoy routes." Without such fundamental guarantees, it will not be possible to continue providing life-saving support across the Gaza Strip, WPF said, its reaction coming a day after a reported 36 people seeking aid were reportedly killed close to a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation hub run by the Israeli and US in the south of the Strip. Deir Al-Balah evacuation shock In central Gaza's Deir Al-Balah, meanwhile, 50,000 to 80,000 people have been impacted by a mass displacement order issued by the Israeli military - the first since war erupted on 7 October 2023. "The new order cuts through Deir Al-Balah all the way to the Mediterranean Sea, further splintering the Strip," OCHA said. "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." UN staff remain in Deir Al-Balah across "dozens of premises" whose coordinates have been shared with the warring parties. "These locations - as with all civilian sites - must be protected, regardless of displacement orders," OCHA insisted, as Israeli tanks reportedly moved into southern and eastern areas of the city. According to reports, this may be where some of the remaining hostages seized in Hamas-led terror attacks on 7 October 2023 in Israel may still be held. Gaza cut in two The latest evacuation order means that almost 88 per cent of Gaza is impacted by displacement orders or falls within Israeli-militarized zones. Some 2.1 million civilians who have been uprooted multiple times are now squeezed into the little remaining space, where essential services have collapsed. "There's nowhere for [Gazans] to escape. They are trapped," said UNRWA Senior Emergency Officer Louise Wateridge. "They cannot leave the Gaza Strip. They're trying to keep their children alive. They're trying to keep themselves alive." In comments to UN News, the veteran humanitarian explained that no food is available and only very limited water, explaining why so many desperate Gazans risk their lives to fetch aid from the few distribution centres and arrival points still operational. "Children are malnourished, they're dehydrated, they are dying in front of their [parents'] eyes," Ms. Wateridge continued. "The bombs and the strikes are continuing; there's no way to run, there's nowhere to hide. There's no way to escape there." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address World News in Brief: Houthi-Israel tensions, Sudan cholera cases rise, deadly attacks in Ukraine 21 July 2025 - As tensions between Houthi rebels in Yemen and Israel escalate, the UN Secretary-General is "deeply concerned" about the renewed airstrikes on Hudaydah Port conducted by Israel this Monday, Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told journalists in New York. These strikes occurred while the UN Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement - established in 2018 to support the ceasefire between the Government of Yemen and the Houthis - was patrolling at locations to the northern parts of the Port. The Secretary-General also expressed deep concern about the continuing missile and drone strikes conducted by the Houthis against Israel. Risk of further escalation Concerned about the risk of further escalation, the UN recalled that international law, together with international humanitarian law, must be respected by all parties at all times, including the obligations to respect and protect civilian infrastructure. "The Secretary-General remains profoundly concerned about the risk of further escalation in the region," said Mr. Dujarric. As the UN Chief reiterated his call for "all involved to cease all military actions and exercise maximum restraint," he also renewed his call for the immediate and unconditional release of all UN and other personnel arbitrarily detained by the Houthi authorities. Sudan: Crisis worsens as cholera and floods drive needs higher The humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to deepen as cholera spreads, flooding displaces communities, and thousands of people return to areas with little to no support, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). In the locality of Tawiola, in North Darfur State, over 1,300 confirmed cases of cholera in just one week were reported on Sunday by an association of Sudanese doctors. While local and international partners have set up cholera treatment centres, the current capacity is far from sufficient to cope with the rising caseload. As Tawila hosts several hundred thousand displaced people, partners on the ground have been struggling to keep pace with the growing needs, notably as such needs are set to increase as the upcoming rainy season sets in. Vulnerable returnees Across Sudan, people returning to their communities face serious challenges, including the lack of essential services and the threat posed by explosive remnants of war. In White Nile State, some residents have begun returning after being displaced for a year. Yet, an assessment by OCHA and its partners last week found that health, water, sanitation and hygiene support is urgently needed, even more so ahead of the rainy season. Similarly, in eastern Sudan, OCHA warns that many families returning to Kassala State are struggling to cope with the impact of heavy rains and flooding, as heavy rains destroyed more than 280 homes in the village of Tirik earlier in July. Additionally, as insecurity continues to impede the work of humanitarians, challenges faced by returnee families often lead them to return to displacement sites, undermining the sustainability of return efforts. In this context, OCHA called for increased international support to meet soaring needs across Sudan. Ukraine: At least 20 civilians reportedly killed in recent attacks In Ukraine, attacks over the weekend and into Monday reportedly killed over 20 civilians and injured more than 100 others, including several children, according to authorities. The strikes affected the capital Kyiv, as well as western and front-line regions, damaging homes, schools, and a health facility. In Kyiv, a kindergarten, metro stations, shops and residential buildings were hit. The Ivano-Frakivsk region in western Ukraine which hosts many displaced people and had previously been less affected by hostilities, suffered the largest attack since the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. Frontline regions Meanwhile, in areas near the frontlines in the Donetsk, Dnipro and Kherson regions, hostilities caused civilian casualties and further damage to schools, a health facility, and apartment buildings. Odesa, Kharkiv, Sumy and other regions also reported that homes and shops were destroyed. With support from UN agencies, and coordinating with local authorities and first respondents, humanitarian organizations on the ground continue to provide shelter materials, non-food items, legal aid, psychosocial support and assistance for children across the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Sudan, Ukraine UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Occupied Palestinian Territory Hostilities, displacement orders strain Gaza's fragile lifelines OCHA reports that amid ongoing shelling, displacement and destruction in Gaza, OCHA continues to receive deeply concerning reports of severely malnourished people who are arriving at medical points and hospitals in extremely poor health. Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported that more than a dozen people, including children, have reportedly died from hunger in the last 24 hours. On Sunday, a World Food Programme (WFP) convoy carrying vital food assistance crossed from Israel into Gaza and encountered large crowds of desperate and hungry civilians. In a statement, WFP said that as the convoy approached, the surrounding crowd came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire. The agency said it is deeply concerned and saddened by this tragic incident resulting in the loss of countless lives. Many more suffered life-threatening injuries. These people were simply trying to access food to feed themselves and their families on the brink of starvation. Nasser Medical Complex was overwhelmed with dozens of cases and is stretched well beyond capacity at 300 percent, with the facility referring dozens of injured patients to field hospitals. UN agencies warn that conditions in Gaza are near impossible on the ground. Civilians must be protected, and the consistent and safe delivery of aid at scale must be facilitated to reach more than 2 million people on the brink of famine. Over the weekend, the Israeli military issued another displacement order in Deir al Balah spanning four neighbourhoods. OCHA warns that this mass displacement order has dealt yet another devastating blow to the already fragile lifelines keeping people alive across the Gaza Strip. The directive cuts through Deir al Balah all the way to the Mediterranean Sea, further fragmenting the Strip and pushing people into overcrowded, unsafe areas with no shelter or essential supplies. 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. Several primary health clinics and medical points were within the newly designated area, as is the Southern Gaza Desalination Plant, and other vital water infrastructure. The plant is a main source of drinking water for internally displaced people in Al Mawasi, as it serves hundreds of thousands of people, producing about 2,500 cubic metres per day. The loss of this facility would be catastrophic. OCHA notes that as of early July, 80 per cent of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities fall within the Israeli-militarized zone or in areas that have been placed under displacement orders. In June, it was estimated that 93 per cent of households have no water. UN staff are remaining in Deir al Balah, spread across dozens of premises. Their coordinates have been shared with the relevant parties. These locations - as with all civilian sites - must be protected, regardless of the issuance of displacement orders. Meanwhile, the UN's humanitarian partners have relocated to the northern part of Deir al Balah or Al Mawasi. OCHA says that 87.7 per cent of Gaza is now under displacement orders or within Israeli-militarized zones, squeezing 2.1 million people into a fragmented area of the Strip, where hardly any services are available. UN agencies note that about 1.35 million people need shelter and household items. Harsh weather, humidity, overcrowding, as well as frequent disassembly and reassembly of tents and tarpaulins, lead to a shorter lifespan of shelter items, further exacerbating the dire situation. No shelter supplies have been allowed to enter Gaza for more than four months - 140 days. Meanwhile, the fuel crisis continues. The limited quantities that have been allowed to enter Gaza in recent days are hardly sufficient. UN agencies and partners are prioritizing this fuel for the most critical operations. The Israeli authorities must facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently needed humanitarian assistance - including fuel, food, aid and shelter items - into and throughout the Strip, to enable humanitarians to provide life-saving services for the deprived population. The new Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, today met the Prime Minister of the State of Palestine, Dr. Mohamed Mustafa, in Ramallah. In a press conference, Dr. Alakbarov called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, and the lifting of all restrictions on access to people in Gaza. To address immediate needs, he said humanitarian organizations must be able to use traditional systems of aid delivery, noting that these are currently undermined by violence, including armed looting and recurrent shootings at civilians seeking aid - which he said must be independently investigated. Dr. Alakbarov further warned that the West Bank is on a dangerous trajectory that - if not reversed - will further complicate the two-state solution. Syria Tens of thousands displaced by As-Sweida hostilities OCHA reports that as of yesterday, more than 93,000 people have been displaced due to the escalation of hostilities in Syria's As-Sweida Governorate - both within As-Sweida and towards neighbouring Dar'a governorate and Rural Damascus. In As-Sweida, most displaced people are being hosted by local communities and in at least 15 reception centres. Some 30 collective shelters have also been opened in Dar'a. Partners on the ground in southern Syria indicate that humanitarian assistance is urgently needed in As-Sweida. A number of hospitals and health centres are reportedly out of service. Water infrastructure in As-Sweida has been critically damaged, disrupting services for over a week. Significant cuts to electricity have also been reported, as well as disruptions to food and other supplies. With the security situation still tense and volatile, OCHA is engaging with all relevant parties at all levels to facilitate humanitarian access and ensure the protection of people caught up in the violence. On Sunday, a first aid convoy deployed by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent reached As-Sweida City and Salkhad District, where the majority of displaced people have sought safety. The 32 trucks were carrying aid provided by WFP and UNICEF, as well as other partners. Teams are delivering vital food, water, medical supplies and fuel to affected people. Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed this initial delivery as a desperately needed first step, but he said much more relief is needed. He stressed that teams in country and at UN Headquarters are mobilized to move as much as possible. The UN is working with its partners to prepare a next convoy of supplies to be sent through the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. Meanwhile, OCHA is working with humanitarian partners and the interim authorities to facilitate a direct visit to As-Sweida to assess needs and deliver further assistance when security conditions allow. In neighbouring Dar'a, the UN and its partners are delivering food, nutrition, health, water, protection and other critical items to newly displaced people at reception centres. The UN continues to urge all parties to protect people who have been caught up in the violence, including by allowing them to move freely to seek safety and medical assistance. Sudan Cholera, floods drive needs higher OCHA warns that the humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to deepen as cholera spreads, flooding displaces communities, and thousands of people return to areas with little or no support. In the locality of Tawila, in North Darfur State, an association of Sudanese doctors yesterday reported more than 1,300 confirmed cholera cases in just one week, a dramatic surge underscoring the urgent need to scale up the response. Tawila is hosting several hundred thousand displaced people, the majority of whom fled deadly attacks on the famine-stricken Zamzam camp near El Fasher in mid-April. Partners on the ground have been struggling to keep pace with the growing needs in the area, and the challenges will only increase as the rainy season sets in. Local and international humanitarian partners have set up cholera treatment centres, but the current capacity is far from sufficient to cope with the rising caseload. Additional resources are needed immediately to curb the outbreak and save lives. This includes more treatment centres, mobile health facilities, ambulances and waste management tools. Meanwhile in eastern Sudan, OCHA warns that many families returning to Kassala State are struggling to cope with the impact of heavy rains and flooding. Earlier this month, more than 1,400 people were displaced by heavy rains, which destroyed more than 280 homes in the village of Tirik. A rapid needs assessment by OCHA and its partners noted that people returning to their homes are finding they have been damaged by floods. Returnees must also rely on open water pools contaminated by waste and other pollutants, as no other sources of water are available. The flooding of over 300 household latrines also poses a serious risk of disease. In White Nile State, residents in the locality of Um Rimta have begun returning after being displaced for a year. An assessment by OCHA and its partners last week found that health, water, sanitation and hygiene support is urgently needed. OCHA is working with its partners to mobilize supplies before the ongoing rains cut off access. Returns to Khartoum and Blue Nile states are also increasing, with authorities beginning to restore basic services. At Sudan's northern border, returns from Egypt have surged, with IOM reporting that nearly 200,000 people have crossed back into Sudan so far this year. The agency says that since November last year, more than 1.3 million people have returned to their areas of origin. However, people returning face serious challenges, including the lack of essential services and the threat posed by explosive remnants of war. These conditions often lead families to return to displacement sites, undermining the sustainability of return efforts. At the same time, insecurity continues to impede the work of humanitarian organizations. In the town of Zalingei in Central Darfur State, unknown gunmen looted a national NGO's aid convoy last week, forcing partners to suspend aid operations and leaving 8,000 people without assistance. Once again, OCHA calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians and aid workers, unimpeded humanitarian access, and increased international support* to meet soaring needs across Sudan. *Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Sudan with urgent support. Ukraine Recent hostilities kill at least 20 civilians, authorities say OCHA reports that over the weekend and into today, attacks in Ukraine killed at least 20 civilians and injured more than 100 others, including several children, according to authorities. Between Friday and today, these strikes affected the capital Kyiv, as well as western and front-line regions - damaging homes, schools and a health facility. In Kyiv, a kindergarten, metro station, shops and residential buildings were hit. Authorities report that at least one civilian was killed, and several others, including a child, were wounded. In western Ukraine, the Ivano-Frankivsk region - which hosts many displaced people and had previously been less affected by hostilities - suffered the largest attack since the escalation of the war in 2022. Meanwhile, in eastern and southern Ukraine, hostilities in areas near the front line in the Donetsk, Dnipro and Kherson regions caused civilian casualties and further damage to schools, a health facility and apartment buildings. Odesa, Kharkiv, Sumy and other regions also reported that homes and shops were destroyed, and electricity and other public utilities were disrupted. Humanitarian organizations, with support from UN agencies, provided shelter materials, non-food items, legal aid, psychosocial support and assistance for children in Odesa, Pavlohrad, Kyiv and Ivano-Frankivsk. They coordinated with local authorities and first responders to help affected families. Posted on 21 July 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address F-35 international interfly at Talisman Sabre 25 - A first for the USAF Published July 21, 2025 By Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman Pacific Air Forces NORTHERN TERRITORY, Australia (AFNS) -- Two U.S. Air Force pilots successfully flew Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft during an international interfly training mission during exercise Talisman Sabre 25, in Northern Territory, Australia, July 16. This display of interoperability signified the first time USAF pilots flew 5th Generation aircraft belonging to a partnered or allied nation. The U.S. Air Force pilots achieving this first-ever feat were Air Force Reserve Maj. Justin Lennon, 48th Fighter Wing, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-U.S. Air Forces Africa F-35A evaluator pilot, and Maj. Colby Kluesner, 388th Fighter Wing F-35A evaluator pilot. "In the short term, Interfly events like this allow us to exchange information and best practices," Lennon explained. "In the long term, as a coalition, normalizing Interfly gives commanders additional options for agility and versatility in a future conflict. In a prolonged conflict, airplanes are capable of flying more hours a day than a pilot. Having the added flexibility to put any pilot in any F-35 and generate combat airpower anywhere in the world adds to the F-35 coalition's lethality." The RAAF has also increased its efforts in normalizing F-35 Interfly training among allies by the creation of its Lighting-X program: a 2023 initiative developed to take advantage of the mutual benefits provided to F-35 communities that Interfly concepts provide. "[The Lightning-X program] allows RAAF commanders to treat our coalition counterparts as RAAF aircrew when we consider things like medical, dental, physiological issues, egress systems and human factors," said RAAF Squadron Leader Nicholas Reynolds, No. 77 Squadron executive officer. "It is a big win to be able to seamlessly integrate here at Talisman Sabre 25 with 77 Squadron." In addition to the two USAF pilots, the RAAF also invited Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Daniel Goff, and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Johnny Rose, both F-35B instructor pilots, to participate in the international Interfly. The USAF, USMC, and RAF pilots embedded with two of RAAF's F-35 squadrons, No. 77 Squadron and No. 75 Squadron. After a day of simulator training and academic courses, the four F-35 pilots were approved to conduct training exercises during Talisman Sabre 25 using RAAF's F-35 aircraft. "The crew are treated no differently than any other RAAF F-35 pilot during Talisman Sabre 25," Lennon said. "The only way anyone might know it's not an Australian in the RAAF F-35 is the accent on the radio." Lennon also added that familiar training and equipment usage in the F-35 makes adapting to another nation's aircraft easier than one might think. "Thanks to the commonality of F-35 variants, aligned training and operational practices between F-35 users, the flying portion is the easiest part," Lennon explained. "Our visiting USAF pilots are able to execute and fly a RAAF F-35 no different from their Australian wingmen." This recent effort in pilot interchangeability by multiple branches and nations in the F-35 community is aimed at preparing the U.S. and its allies for future conflicts long into the future. "Interfly has allowed the USAF to train partner nations on weapons systems they have purchased, as well as conduct exchange assignments," Lennon said. "However, until now the USAF has never performed international interfly on an ad-hoc basis. This effort is part of a larger plan to normalize F-35 Interfly training with our allies." Talisman Sabre 25 is a large-scale, bilateral military exercise between Australia and the U.S. which advances a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and enhances our collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns. This year marks the eleventh iteration of the exercise. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 510th Buzzards, a history of excellence Published July 21, 2025 By 2nd Lt Hannah Malone 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (AFNS) -- Nine pilots from the 510th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Aviano Air Base earned Single-Event Air Medals, and two were simultaneously awarded the Distinguished Flying cross, after returning from a deployment to the Central Command area of responsibility. During the deployment, they flew various defensive counter air sorties to protect U.S. Naval assets traveling through the Bab el Mandeb Strait, breaking records along the way. "As the new Buzzard Commander, I am honored and humbled to lead such an accomplished team," said Lt. Col. Brent Smith, the newly appointed commander of the 510th EFS. "The legacy of excellence, dedication and professionalism is inspiring and motivating. It's a privilege to step into this role and work alongside some of the most talented and mission-focused individuals in the Air Force." During the deployment, the Buzzards flew 8,800 hours and 1,400 total sorties. "The Buzzards supported a variety of missions, including Inherent Resolve's fight against ISIS, Operation Prosperity Guardian's protection of coalition partners and civilian vessels in the Red Sea, Operation Spartan Shield's defense of US interests in the Arabian Gulf, and many other force protection and deterrence missions," Smith said. The 510th EFS has a long history of excellence, beginning in 1943 as the 625th Bombardment Squadron until being re-designated the 510th Fighter-Bomber Squadron later that same year. After being stationed at various locations across the globe and experiencing multiple periods of activation and inactivation, the 510th EFS was permanently reactivated in 1994, establishing its current home at Aviano AB, Italy. The 510th EFS has been the highest flown PSAB fighter unit since 2019, highest flown Aviano deployed unit since 2010, and the highest flown rotation fighter unit in the area of responsibility. The Buzzards have flown combat missions during World War II, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Provide Comfort, Operation Deny Flight and many more. During their most recent deployment to support Operation Prosperity Guardian, the squadron exuded excellence while protecting American assets overseas. "Each decoration represents not only a specific event, but also the precision, teamwork and unwavering commitment to the mission required to successfully execute in combat," Smith said. "They represent countless hours of preparation, sacrifice and high intensity training by the whole Buzzard operations and maintenance team. They are proof of a culture that demands and delivers high performance every single day." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and ESPS Canarias (F86) Transit Strait of Gibraltar US Navy 21 July 2025 From Lt. Ian Tumulty MEDITERRANEAN SEA -- The United States' newest and world's largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) and USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), all assigned to Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG), transited the Strait of Gibraltar with Spanish Navy Santa Maria-class ESPS Canarias (F86), and fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6), July 19, 2025. A credible and capable naval presence like this combined force increases maritime security, and highlights our shared commitment to fostering regional security and stability among partnered and allied nation naval militaries. "This operational activity in the Strait of Gibraltar shows the solid commitment of Spain as a strong Ally in a key access point to the Mediterranean Sea," said Cmdr. J. David Garcia, commanding officer of Canarias. "Both the U.S. Navy and the Spanish Navy are used to working together, not only at sea, but also from the Rota Naval Base - the main U.S.-Spanish naval station in South Europe, that was set up back in the 1960s. From there, the defense of our common values has been broadly developed through a firm friendship, which makes us stronger together." Built on more than seven decades of partnership and experience, NATO is the strongest military alliance in history. Carrier strike groups like Gerald R. Ford's showcase the inherent flexibility and scalability maritime forces provide to the combined force, while reinforcing the U.S. Navy's ironclad commitment to the stability and security of the European theater. "Our ship and crew has assumed the watch in U.S. 6th Fleet. Gerald R. Ford's mission remains clear: maintain freedom of navigation in international waters for all nations," said Capt. David Skarosi, commanding officer of Gerald R. Ford. "Our Sailors are excited to execute this mission and operate side-by-side with our Allies and partners throughout the region." This combined straits transit is a visible demonstration of the U.S. and Spain's ability to cooperate and integrate effectively - proof of the strong cohesion and trust between North American and European Allies. Carrier Strike Group Twelve is on scheduled deployments in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to support the warfighting effectiveness, lethality, and readiness of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and defend U.S., Allied and partner interests in the region. For more than 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa has forged strategic relationships with our Allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel rejects 25 Western nations' call to end Gaza war, says statement 'disconnected from reality': media Global Times By Global Times Published: Jul 22, 2025 09:53 AM Israel rejects the joint statement signed by 25 Western nations calling for an "unconditional and permanent ceasefire" in Gaza and condemning Israel's handling of the humanitarian situation in the territory, the Israeli Foreign Ministry writes on X, according to the Times of Israel on Monday evening. According to the report, the statement "is disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas," the ministry says, asserting that "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." More than two dozen Western countries called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza on Monday, saying that suffering there had "reached new depths" as Israel's military expanded its operations to the central city of Deir el-Balah, AFP reported. After more than 21 months of fighting that have triggered catastrophic humanitarian conditions for Gaza's more than two million people, 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 Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity...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," read the joint statement released by the UK government. "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," said the statement. The statement has been 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. According to AFP, the plea came as Deir el-Balah came under intense shelling on Monday, after Israel's military warned 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, per AFP. At least 58,895 Palestinians have been killed and 140,980 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7,2023, the Gaza health ministry said on Sunday, the Guardian reported. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH-US alliance key to SCS, Indo-Pacific stability -Marcos Philippine News Agency By Darryl John Esguerra July 22, 2025, 8:02 am MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the vital role of the Philippines-United States alliance in preserving peace and stability in the South China Sea (SCS) and the broader Indo-Pacific region, amid rising geopolitical tensions. In his bilateral meeting with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon on Tuesday (Manila time), Marcos, currently in Washington, DC for a three-day official visit, said the long-standing partnership between the two countries continues to serve as a cornerstone for regional security. "I believe that our alliance, the United States and the Philippines, had formed a great part in terms of preserving the peace, in terms of preserving the stability of the South China Sea. But I would even go as far as to say in the entire Indo-Pacific region," he said. The President cited the importance of sustained dialogue and cooperation, especially in light of evolving regional dynamics and security challenges. "We must continue to be in discussion. We must continue to evolve that relationship as the circumstances, the context in which we operate has evolved," he added. Marcos thanked the US for its continued support through joint military exercises and defense assistance that bolster the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including efforts to modernize its capabilities. "That forms a very, very important part of that relationship. And again, it is a proper response considering the challenges that we face in the Philippines, specifically vis-a-vis the changing geopolitical forces and the political developments around our part of the world," he said. He also recalled Hegseth's visit to Manila in March as a "symbol" of the enduring PH-US defense alliance and a reaffirmation of commitments under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty. Marcos was accompanied at the Pentagon by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, Presidential Adviser for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, and Defense Undersecretary Salvador Melchor Mison Jr. Upon arrival, the President was welcomed with an enhanced honor cordon a ceremonial tribute reserved for top foreign dignitaries underscoring the strength of diplomatic and military ties between the two countries. Marcos is on a three-day official visit to Washington, DC from July 20 to 22, upon the invitation of US President Donald Trump. He is the first Southeast Asian leader to meet with Trump during the latter's second term. He is expected to meet with the American leader to discuss trade and defense cooperations. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas hails UK-led call to end Gaza war, urges 'concrete actions' to stop Israel's starvation policy Iran Press TV Tuesday, 22 July 2025 4:44 AM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has welcomed a joint statement issued by the United Kingdom and 24 other countries calling for an immediate end to the Israeli regime's war on Gaza and the urgent entry of humanitarian aid. Israeli allies the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada and 21 other countries, plus the European Union, said in a joint statement on Monday that suffering in the Gaza Strip had "reached new depths" and that the war "must end now." In their statement, released on Monday, 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 [regime's] aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity," the countries said. "The Israeli [regime's] denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law." In a statement later in the day, Hamas said the joint statement's recognition of Israel's starvation policy as a blatant violation of international humanitarian law marks an important step toward global accountability. The resistance movement praised the statement's condemnation of the killing of more than 800 Palestinian civilians at US-Israeli aid distribution points, which it said "confirms the brutality of this mechanism, its criminal objectives of killing and humiliating our people, the urgent need to dismantle it and hold its operators accountable." It said the declaration adds to international recognition of the "fascist occupation government's" systematic violations against civilians, including a starvation campaign that has already killed over 70 children and threatens mass fatalities amid worsening famine. The group called on the signatories to turn their words into "concrete actions" to end the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, halt the genocide, and ensure the immediate and sustained delivery of life-saving aid. Israel launched the war on Gaza after Hamas led a surprise operation against the regime on October 7, 2023, in response to intensified Israeli violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. According to Gaza's health ministry, the genocidal war has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and left over 142,000 others injured. Since late May, 875 people have been killed by Israeli forces in the strip while trying to get food. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Management of the Zangezur Corridor In The Caucasus? Iran Won't Like It. By Kian Sharifi July 22, 2025 A US proposal to place the proposed Zangezur Corridor -- a critical link between mainland 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 Iran's 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 Iran's "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 Iran's geoeconomic standing." He added that sidelining Iran's route through Armenia could also reduce its role in China's Belt and Road Initiative, weakening its value as a partner to Beijing. Security And Regional Order Tehran's 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 in...East-West transport," Azizi said. A US-managed route heightens these anxieties by placing American interests "directly on Iran's northern border." This shift comes as Russia's 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, Iran's 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 seriously...skepticism better defines the view in both Baku and Yerevan." He called it a "reckless real estate deal" and questioned whether Washington grasps the region's complexities. "It's more about pursuing a [Nobel] Peace Prize for President Donald Trump...without any real preparation and little potential for follow through." Russia's management of Armenia's railway networks and Western sanctions also raise feasibility issues. "It would make it complicated, because...a 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. Iran's options to counter any project are limited, constrained by recent setbacks in the Middle East and last month's 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-proposal-zangezur- corridor-iran-influence-caucasus/33479973.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 - 22 July 2025 - Day 1245 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 the Defense Forces are directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential. Since the beginning of the day, there have been 131 combat encounters, the Russian opponent committed one missile and 51 aviation strikes, applied one missile and dropped 66 cab. In addition, used 1218 kamikaze drones, carried out 4094 shells of settlements and positions of Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian soldiers repelled seven Russian assault actions in the North Slobozhansky and Kursky directions since the beginning of the day. The Russian enemy also launched 13 air strikes using 22 controlled air bombs, and carried out 234 shells, two of which were from reactive systems of salpovogo fire. In the South Slobozhansky direction, Russian forces tried to attack the positions of Ukrainian units near the Western settlement. Three attacks were repelled by Ukrainian defenders in the Kupyansky direction in the areas of Golubivka, Stepova Novoselivka and Zagrizovy. The battle is currently brewing. In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers stopped seventeen Russian attacks in the areas of settlements Grekivka, Kolodyazi, Green Valley, Mirne, Yampolivka, Torske and in the direction of Serebryanka, four more clashes are still ongoing. In the sivers komu direction, Russian forces carried out four offensive actions in the area of grigorivka. In the Kramators komu direction, Ukrainian defenders stopped one attempt to advance in the area of Time Yar. In the Toretsky direction, the Russian occupiers today 12 times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of Diliyivka, Toretsk, Oleksandro-Kalinovy and Rusynoy Yar. Defense Forces have firmly suppressed the pressure and repelled ten offensive actions of the Russian opponent, so far two clashes are ongoing. In the Pokrovsky direction, Russian forces committed 61 attacks. The occupiers tried to advance near the settlements of Poltavka, Novotoretske, Novoekonomicne, Peace-loving, Beam, Fox, Novoukrainka, Zvirove, Udaachne, Green Corner, Dachne and Oleksiyivka. Eight combat clashes are still ongoing. According to preliminary calculations, today in this direction Ukrainian warriors eliminated 131 occupiers and wounded 70. Damaged infantry fighting vehicle, motorcycle, two artillery systems, 15 BPLAs, communication antenna, BPLA control antenna, and two enemy personnel shelters. A tank, four motorcycles, five artillery systems, four personnel shelters, two satellite communications and Russian occupiers' control point were also significantly damaged. In the Novopavlovsky direction, Ukrainian units stopped five Russian attacks near the settlements of Voskresrenko, Yalta, Piddubne and Zelene Pole. In the Pridniprovsky direction, seven Russian attempts to advance in the position of Ukrainian units have failed. The Russian enemy did not carry out offensive actions in the Gulyajpils komu and Orihivskomu direction. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Governor Newsom calls for immediate withdrawal of all soldiers in Los Angeles California Governor - Gavin Newsom Jul 21, 2025 What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom calls on the President to send every soldier home now - this dangerous militarization must end. Los Angeles, California -- As pressure continues mounting for the President to end the unlawful deployment of soldiers in Los Angeles, with the remaining Marines in the area withdrawing, 2,000 federalized National Guard members still remain - away from their families, communities and civilian jobs as doctors, police, and teachers. The women and men of the California National Guard deserve more than to continue serving as puppets in Trump and Stephen Miller's performative political theater. 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. Governor Gavin Newsom End the militarization now For over a month, about 4,000 National Guard members have been serving as political pawns for the President in Los Angeles, pulled away from their families, communities, and civilian jobs. While half are now demobilizing and the deployed Marines are being sent home, many remain without a clear mission, direction, or a timeline for returning to their communities. California urges Trump and the Department of Defense to end this theatrical deployment and send all remaining guardsmembers home immediately. Community leaders, public officials, veterans and others agree - the federal government's actions in California not only have a chilling effect on the state's society and economy, but also continue to undermine the valuable contributions from members of the military while in and out of uniform. Republican and Democratic former governors agreeTrump's federalization violates the critical balance between state and federal government. Recently, a bipartisan group of 25 former governors filed a brief in support of Newsom v. Trump, urging the court to enforce state sovereignty and block the unprecedented federalization of the National Guard. Police off the streets, teachers out of classrooms Of the over 4,000 California National Guard members sent to Los Angeles under Trump's order, the California National Guard estimates that their servicemembers have been pulled from essential civilian duties such as medical and first responders, service workers, building trades contractors, law enforcement personnel, corrections officers, civil service and government workers, technology specialists, educators and teachers, and agriculture workers. Drugs arriving at the border, fewer soldiers to stop them Typically, under the Governor's command, nearly 450 servicemembers are deployed statewide, including at ports of entry, to combat transnational criminal organizations and seize illegal narcotics. CalGuard's servicemembers dedicated to the state's Counterdrug Task Force have been reassigned by President Trump to militarize Los Angeles. The consequences are dire - CalGuard's efforts help ensure the public safety of communities statewide. High-ranking U.S. military officials agree Retired four-star admirals and generals and former secretaries of the Army and Navy filed another amicus brief outlining the grave risks of Trump's illegal takeover of the CalGuard. Several veterans and veteran rights' groups came together to decry Trump's militarization of California. Economic impact of cruel immigration policy Governor Newsom recently met with local restaurant owners in the City of Bell and faith leaders in Downey to discuss the economic impact these indiscriminate immigration actions have had on their small business. Trump's actions have a ripple effect - the state's economy is likely to contract later this year due to fallout from global tariffs and immigration raids in Los Angeles and other cities that have rattled key sectors, including construction, hospitality, and agriculture, according to a UCLA Anderson forecast. Mass arrests, detentions and deportations in California could slash $275 billion from the state's economy and eliminate $23 billion in annual tax revenue. The loss of immigrant workers, undocumented and those losing lawful status under the Trump administration, would delay projects (including rebuilding Los Angeles after the wildfires), reduce food supply, and drive up costs. Undocumented immigrants contributed $8.5 billion in state and local taxes in 2022 a number that would rise to $10.3 billion if these taxpayers could apply to work lawfully. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two Mexican Nationals Sentenced for Roles in Black Market Peso Exchange Money Laundering Scheme Monday, July 21, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Two Mexican nationals were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison to 55 months each in prison for their roles in a two-year, multimillion-dollar trade-based money laundering conspiracy to move drug trafficking proceeds through Texas to Mexico. According to court documents, Mauricio Anzures-Zarate, 53, of Mexico City, Mexico, and Beatriz Salcedo-Carreon, 63, of Guadalajara, Mexico, participated in a sophisticated, international money laundering conspiracy to transfer funds from the sale of illegal drugs in the United States to cartels in Mexico without physically transporting money across the U.S.-Mexico border. The conspirators concealed those funds through the movement of goods between the two countries. "The defendants used an elaborate, trade-based money laundering scheme to exploit our financial system and transfer the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking from the United States to Mexico," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "These financial facilitators actively promoted cartel operations in cities across the United States, which enabled the flow of deadly narcotics into our communities. The Criminal Division will continue to pursue the total elimination of cartels and the money launderers who enable their pernicious activities." "The lifeblood of any drug trafficking organization is the uninterrupted flow of cash," said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas. "Here, defendants laundered drug proceeds through a sophisticated trade-based scheme. This criminal operation, and others like it, put money in the pockets of the cartels and endangered lives on both sides of the border. Taking this conspiracy out of commission is a great win, but it's just the beginning." "Despite the sophisticated tactics used to conceal profits made from smuggling poison into our country by the Mexican cartels, our expertise enabled us to dismantle their thriving operations," said Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Houston Division. "DEA, along with its federal counterparts, has dealt a significant blow to the finances of the Mexican cartels through the incredible investigative work of our agents. If we trace your money activities back to the cartels, you will have your day in court and will face justice." "Anzures-Zarate and Salcedo-Carreon thought they could escape justice, but found our reach extends past the money trail they left," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan of IRS Criminal Investigation's (IRS-CI) Houston Field Office. "They conspired to use black market peso exchanges, which are one of the classic methods to launder drug dollars, and a method that leaves a traceable trail to the cartels. For businesses that get approached for a quick cash sale to transport goods into Central and South America, remember that we will find you because your greed leaves evidence." According to court documents, the defendants directed money couriers to collect drug proceeds in numerous U.S. cities and then transfer the funds to Laredo, Texas, to be laundered through local businesses. As part of the scheme, store owners in downtown Laredo accepted the drug proceeds as payment for merchandise to be exported to businesses in Mexico. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Salcedo-Carreon, Anzures-Zarate, and others instructed the Mexican businesses to transfer pesos to accounts or people in Mexico who were affiliated with cartels. Through this trade-based money laundering scheme, Mexican cartels disguised illicit drug proceeds as legitimate international commercial transactions and received laundered drug proceeds in Mexico without physically transporting cash across the U.S.-Mexico border. Eight other defendants were previously convicted and sentenced for their roles in the money laundering conspiracy. Anzures-Zarate was ordered to pay a money judgement of $1,176,165 and Salcedo-Carreon was ordered to pay a money judgement of $887,269. The DEA and IRS-CI investigated the case. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section's Office of Judicial Attache in Bogota, Colombia provided significant assistance in this matter. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and April 2024 extradition of Salcedo-Carreon. Trial Attorneys Keith H. Liddle and Stephanie Williamson of the Criminal Division's Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lance Watt, Amanda Gould, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Angel Moreno for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case. Topic: Drug Trafficking Components: Criminal Division Criminal - Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section Criminal - Office of International Affairs Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) USAO - Texas, Southern Press Release Number: 25-761 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Global Hack Hits US Agencies via Microsoft SharePoint Flaw Sputnik News 20250721 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Hackers attacked US government agencies and companies thanks to a vulnerability in Microsoft's SharePoint application, the Washington Post reports, citing officials and private researchers. Hackers have taken advantage of a major security breach in Microsoft's widely used server software to launch a global attack on government agencies and companies over the past few days, the publication said. According to the publication, national and regional agencies, universities, and energy companies have been affected. The newspaper said that the US, as well as Canada and Australia, had begun investigating the vulnerability of SharePoint servers. At the same time, as the publication points out, Microsoft has not yet released an update to fix the situation. It is still unclear who exactly carried out the hack and what its ultimate goal was. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Effective partnerships can stop the next pandemic 21 July 2025 - "There will be another pandemic, and it will not be 100 years from now." Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar, a professor of infectious diseases at University College London, issued this warning at a recent meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York. It is not a question of if but when, and Dr. Abubakar believes the answer is sooner than anyone wants in part because the global healthcare system remains drastically siloed. This is a problem because, intrinsically, a pandemic cannot be stopped by one country alone. "Infectious diseases will not respect borders. Therefore, health systems to ensure equity, dignity and universal access must also be agile to implement policies across borders," Dr. Abubakar said. Rather, stopping pandemics and promoting broader global development requires robust partnerships and consistent investment in multilateral systems as a practice, not just an ideal. "If we are to meet the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda, we must reimagine cooperation, not as a transactional action but as a dynamic, inclusive and future-ready partnership," said Lok Bahadur Thapa, vice president of ECOSOC. A goal to unite all goals The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development is convening at UN Headquarters in New York to discuss progress - or lack thereof - towards the globally agreed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The first 16 SDGs deal with specific aspects of development such as poverty, gender equality and climate change but the 17th puts forward a path to achieve the others. And this path lies in embracing global partnerships between State governments, civil society organizations, communities and the private sector. However, with an annual financing gap for the SDGs which exceeds $4 trillion, the partnerships of today are not sufficient to realize the goals for tomorrow. "We must forge truly transformative partnerships that break traditional silos: governments, civil society, the private sector and multilateral institutions all have roles to play in an inclusive coalition for sustainable development," Dima Al-Khatib, director of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) said at an HLPF event. Prioritize prevention, not reaction Right now, the current health system, which includes pandemic preparedness, is oriented towards halting health emergencies once they emerge as opposed to proactively preventing them, according to Dr. Abubakar. Member States recently adopted a pandemic prevention treaty which endeavours to do just this limit the likelihood of future pandemics. But for many, this emphasis on prevention extends beyond pandemics to issues like rehabilitation services and primary care, both of which experts say are critical investments not only in human well-being but also in peace and security. Moreover, these types of preventative medicine are cheaper than reactive medicine, according to Mandeep Dhaliwal, the Director of Health at the UN Development Programme (UNDP). "It's important to invest in prevention as much as it is in treatment, and it is more cost-effective because ... you're turning off the tap," Ms. Dhaliwal said. However, convincing investors to support preventive care can be difficult because, when done correctly, tangible results are not necessarily visible. Health is in every system Nevertheless, investing in preventive medicine like primary care and the socioeconomic determinants of health such as climate and nutrition can help ensure that health systems are holistically supporting people before a crisis begins. "Health is not a silo... the factors that influence health are often outside the health sector," Ms. Dhaliwal said, citing the example of air pollution which is a climate problem that inherently influences health. This sort of holistic investment requires robust partnerships which work to ensure that every initiative no matter how seemingly distanced considers health implications. "We have too often treated [health] as a downstream issue, something that improves only if other systems are working. But we now understand that health and well-being is not simply the result of good developments. It's the starting point," said Tony Ott, a professor of agricultural sciences at the Pennsylvania State University. The weak link in the health system Migrants and displaced people tend to be among those least likely to have access to preventive medicine and often those most impacted by the social determinants of health. "Migration and displacement, whether it's driven by conflict, climate change or economic factors, are defining factors in terms of our health," he said. By the end of 2024, 123.2 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide, a decade-high number which proves that in the 10 years since the SDGs were adopted, the world has regressed in relation to displacements. For Dr. Abubakar, these displaced people and the millions more voluntary migrants embody why the health system simply cannot continue to silo itself and must instead embrace cross-border partnerships. "Health systems must ensure access to essential services regardless of immigration status ... Any community without access is that weak link that may mean we are all not protected," Dr. Abubakar said, referring to the next pandemic. Communities at the centre The idea of partnerships as foundational to achieving the SDGs is logical for many people. After all, the goals are universal in nature and demand global collaboration. But this collaboration, especially for health, must do more than just engage experts it must engage the people who seek out healthcare. Dr. Abubakar said that all health policies must be culturally appropriate to local contexts, something which can only happen if communities are placed at the centre of healthcare. "The new future that I see would embrace global partnership, including countries irrespective of income level, public and private sector, academic and civil society. And within this framework, communities must be at the centre... not just as recipients but as co-creators of solutions." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Reserve on point for major warfighting exercise By Captain Aaron Pegram 21 July 2025 Four months ago, in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, Australian Army soldiers from 41st Battalion, the Royal New South Wales Regiment (41 RNSWR), were clearing roads, filling sandbags and conducting welfare checks on community members at Lismore, northern NSW. Today, laden with field packs and fighting equipment at the air movements facility at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland, the part-time soldiers from the Australian Army's 5th Brigade are preparing to board a KC-30A multi-role transport for rapid air movement to RAAF Base Curtin in Western Australia. There, the reservists will be force assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force to conduct agile air operations tasks during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Talisman Sabre is the largest bilaterally planned, multilaterally conducted training activity between the ADF and the United States military - the 11th iteration of the exercise, which seeks to test planning and conducting high-end, multi-domain warfare across participants. Lieutenant Rob Murray is a platoon commander at 41 RNSWR, whose soldiers form part of 5th Brigade's security and response task units. Among their foundational warfighting skills being tested on Talisman Sabre is the protection of Defence assets during conflict. "My platoon's role on Exercise Talisman Sabre is to provide security for all the Air Force aircraft at these regional airstrips," Lieutenant Murray said. "It's going to be [a] really fluid operation. We are going to be trying new things and it's going to be really exciting for the unit to try out." This exercise is an important milestone for 2nd (Australian) Division, as it steps up to lead the defence of the Australian mainland to enable Army's contribution to a strategy of denial - protecting critical infrastructure and expeditionary air bases in Australia's north. "The soldiers in the reserve world have a really good capability to pivot on the spot and learn new things, so I'm really confident with our troops to do the mission," Lieutenant Murray explains. Having emigrated to Australia in 2020 with three years' service as a 'baggie' (part-time infantryman) in the New Zealand Territorial Army, the 31-year-old architectural designer from Coolangatta, Queensland, is excited to be contributing to Talisman Sabre in such a meaningful way. "I really enjoy very much being part of the Army Reserves and recommend to everyone in Australia that they join up," Lieutenant Murray said. "There's nothing better than serving your country - I thoroughly enjoy doing this." More than 35,000 military personnel from 19 partner nations are expected to participate in Exercise Talisman Sabre across Australia and Papua New Guinea. The exercise runs from July 13 to August 4. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address His Majesty's Canadian Ship Ville de Quebec Completes Rearmament in Australia while participating in Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 25 National Defence News release July 21, 2025 - Ottawa - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Ville de Quebec completed the forward rearmament of Block II Harpoon Missiles while participating in Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 25 in Australia. The rearmament, conducted at the port of Darwin, Australia, was a joint Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Australian Defence Force effort, demonstrating the continued military interoperability between Canada and Australia. This rearmament follows the forward rearmament of HMCS Vancouver in the port of Broome, Australia, in 2024, which was the first of its kind for a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) ship outside of North America. The 2025 rearmament builds on important lessons learned from the inaugural iteration in 2024 and further develops an important logistical capability that ensures the CAF can be agile when deploying RCN ships to the Indo-Pacific region. The rearmament took place ahead of, and immediately after, a live-fire missile shoot of a Block II Harpoon Missile during Exercise TALISMAN SABRE, where the missile engaged a ground-based target. Quotes "Conducting this rearmament of His Majesty's Canadian Ship Ville de Quebec so far from home, and once again with the help of our close partners in the Australian Defence Force, is a real demonstration of the close relationship and deep interoperability between our militaries. Forward re-arming operations conducted in cooperation with our Allies are a demonstration of our ability to maintain an enduring military presence in the region. The Canadian Armed Forces' continued commitment to operations in the Indo-Pacific is made more effective by this capability." Lieutenant-General Steve Boivin, Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command "This rearmament is further proof of the Australian Defence Force's growing capability to utilise northern bases to support our key partners. Utilising Darwin to rearm a Canadian warship with conventional munitions is a significant achievement for the Australian Defence Force and our interoperability with close partners. Canada's participation in Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 25 and rearmament of HMCS Ville de Quebec in Darwin will help to maintain strong interoperability between our forces." Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations, Australian Defence Force "His Majesty's Canadian Ship Ville de Quebec is building on the important work of His Majesty's Canadian Ship Vancouver from that ship's forward rearmament in 2024. Working with the team from the Australian Defence Force to further develop this forward capability for the Royal Canadian Navy has been a great experience for our entire crew. As His Majesty's Canadian Ship Ville de Quebec continues its deployment under Operation HORIZON, we are grateful for this increased interoperability with the Australian Defence Force and for their support to the ship's logistical program in the region." Commander Peter MacNeil, Commanding Officer HMCS Ville de Quebec Quick facts HMCS Ville de Quebec has been sailing alongside the United Kingdom-led Carrier Strike Group 25 under their Operation HIGHMAST. While in the Indo-Pacific region, the ship is participating in Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 25. While in the Indo-Pacific, HMCS Ville de Quebec is deployed under the CAF's Operation HORIZON, working to support Government of Canada objectives in the region. HMCS Ville de Quebec was rearmed with an exercise-use version of a Block II Harpoon Missile ahead of conducting a live-fire exercise. Following the live fire, the ship was rearmed with the operational variant of Harpoon missiles The Harpoon Block II missile is an autonomous weapon with advanced capabilities that allow it to engage targets with a high degree of precision, regardless of proximity to land and other obstacles. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Carney meets with United States senators Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney July 21, 2025 Ottawa, Ontario Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with a bipartisan delegation of United States senators in Ottawa. The Senator for Oregon, Ron Wyden, the Senator for Alaska, Lisa Murkowski, the Senator for New Hampshire, Maggie Hassan, and the Senator for Nevada, Catherine Cortez Masto, were present. The Prime Minister and the senators underscored the significance of the trading relationship between Canada and the U.S., including the important economic impact of Canadian businesses in the senators' home states. They also discussed the sectors most impacted by the shifting trade landscape and Canada's recent measures to transform our steel industry. They discussed work to strengthen continental defence and security, as well as Canada's successes in dismantling illegal drug smuggling and securing the border. The Prime Minister and the senators expressed a shared commitment to tackling the scourge of the fentanyl crisis on both sides of the border. As Canada negotiates a new trade and security relationship with the U.S., the Prime Minister affirmed his focus on securing the best deal for Canadians. Last week, senior officials, including the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, Marc-Andre Blanchard, were in Washington, D.C., to advance negotiations. The President of the King's Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy, Dominic LeBlanc, will be there this week to continue that work. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Carney meets with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney July 21, 2025 Ottawa, Ontario Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan during His Majesty's visit to Canada. This was their first in-person meeting since the Prime Minister took office. Prime Minister Carney welcomed His Majesty King Abdullah II to Ottawa. The leaders underscored the long-standing partnership between Canada and Jordan, including in trade, defence, and security. They discussed opportunities to strengthen bilateral commerce and investment as Canada diversifies its trade partners and builds a stronger economy. To that end, Prime Minister Carney announced that Canada will allocate $28.4 million to support border security and development efforts in Jordan. This includes helping Jordanian security forces protect against terrorism and transnational crime, using Canadian steel to repair border infrastructure, and reducing global pressures by assisting with education, health, and job creation for refugees. The Prime Minister and His Majesty also discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the imperative of a ceasefire in Gaza, called for urgent, life-saving humanitarian aid to reach civilians, and the imperative for stability in Syria. His Majesty King Abdullah II thanked Prime Minister Carney for his hospitality, and the leaders looked forward to remaining in close contact. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wang Yi holds talks with visiting Croatian FM Global Times Two countries urged to strengthen exchanges at all levels, align initiatives By Zhao Yusha Published: Jul 21, 2025 10:50 PM Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with the Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman on Monday in Beijing. Wang urged the two countries to strengthen exchanges at all levels, further align the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Croatia's development strategy, and expressed hope that Croatia would continue to play a constructive role in promoting China-Europe cooperation. The visit will not only advance economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and boost people-to-people exchanges, but also signals the efforts of some European nations to look beyond the continent in diversifying their markets, experts said. China and Croatia should strengthen exchanges at all levels to enhance mutual understanding and trust, remain committed to mutual respect and support, further align the BRI with Croatia's development strategy, and deepen cooperation across various fields, said Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, according to a readout published by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday. Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries constitutes an important part of China-EU relations. China is willing to continue strengthening cooperation with Croatia based on the principles of openness, transparency, and mutual benefit, said Wang. The Chinese foreign minister noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, a critical juncture in China-EU ties. A key lesson from the development of China-EU relations over the past 50 years is the importance of treating each other as partners committed to cooperation and win-win outcomes. A stable, healthy, and positively developing China-EU relationship serves the fundamental interests and shared aspirations of both sides. The two parties should stay true to their original intentions, maintain their partnership and commitment to open cooperation, respect each other, learn from one another, and properly manage differences through dialogue to achieve mutual benefit, Wang said. Wang expressed hope that Croatia would continue to play a constructive role in advancing China-EU cooperation. Radman said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than 30 years ago, China and Croatia have advanced their cooperation based on mutual respect and reciprocal benefit, with bilateral relations maintaining sound and steady development. The Croatian government firmly upholds the one-China principle, recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing all of China, and regards Taiwan as an inalienable part of Chinese territory. Croatia looks forward to closer high-level exchanges with China and to strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, and connectivity. It also welcomes more Chinese tourists, Radman said. Radman's visit aims to bolster economic and trade cooperation, as well as people-to-people exchanges with China, at a time when the China-EU Summit is set to convene and as this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive cooperative partnership between the two countries, Jian Junbo, director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times. Jian explained that there is significant potential for cooperation between the two countries in areas such as agricultural trade, infrastructure development, and emerging sectors like digital technology and artificial intelligence. Moreover, Croatia's rich tourism resources continue to attract large numbers of Chinese tourists. China and Croatia have maintained strong diplomatic relations for over three decades, with growing economic, cultural, and infrastructural tiesmost notably, the Peljesac Bridge, constructed by a Chinese consortium, remains a flagship example of collaboration, according to the Dubrovnik Times, a Croatian newspaper. Grlic Radman's upcoming visit is expected to further align the two countries' strategic interests, deepen dialogue, and expand avenues for cooperation across trade, infrastructure, education, and tourism, said the newspaper. From July 10 to 12, 2025, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on European Affairs Lu Shaye also visited Croatia. He had a brief conversation with Radman, along with other Croatian officials, and attended and addressed the Dubrovnik Forum. Lu stated that China is ready to work with Croatia to take the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive cooperative partnership as an opportunity to further elevate bilateral relations. There is no fundamental conflict of interests between China and the EU, and the two sides share extensive common interests. China hopes that Croatia will make positive contributions to the sound and stable development of China-EU relations. In January, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said the EU must increase its economic cooperation with China and believed "a little pragmatism" will be necessary when dealing with the US, CGTN reported. Amid the complicated geopolitical situation, which involves US pressure and economic challenges in Europe, Radman's visit to China has extended beyond the bilateral level, Zhao Yongsheng, a research fellow at the Institute of Regional and International Studies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, told the Global Times. The visit signals that Croatia - like many other countries on the continent - is trying to reach beyond Europe seeking to diversify its market, and strengthening economic ties with China is always a key part of its strategy to diversify markets, Zhao noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China looks forward to Europe viewing bilateral ties in a comprehensive, dialectical, and developing manner: Chinese FM spokesperson Global Times By Global Times Published: Jul 21, 2025 04:34 PM China has announced news of the upcoming 25th China-EU Summit. When asked to introduce China's expectations on this summit and how to assess current China-Europe relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that as two major forces advancing multipolarity, two major markets supporting globalization, and two major civilizations promoting diversity, the China-EU leaders' meeting at this time holds significant importance and has drawn broad attention from the international community. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN. At a time when the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century and facing a volatile and complex international landscape, with unilateralism and acts of bullying severely undermining the international order and rules, humanity stands at a critical crossroads, the spokesperson said. As two major forces advancing multipolarity, two major markets supporting globalization, and two major civilizations promoting diversity, China and Europe holding leaders' meeting at this time holds significant importance and has drawn broad attention from the international community, Guo noted. Guo noted that over the past half-century, China-EU relations have weathered many storms and have grown into a mature and stable relationshipnow one of the most influential bilateral relationships in the world. China-EU cooperation has yielded fruitful results, strongly supporting mutual development and delivering tangible benefits to nearly 2 billion people on both sides, Guo said. It has made important contributions to global peace and development and set a model for mutually beneficial cooperation in the era of economic globalization. Bilateral trade has grown from $2.4 billion to $785.8 billion, and two-way investment stock has increased from almost zero to nearly $260 billion. People-to-people exchanges have also become increasingly close, Guo noted. While China and the EU have achieved fruitful cooperation in areas such as climate change, the relationship also faces certain challenges, Guo said. Some in the EU have continued to reinforce the so-called "triple positioning" of their China policy, exaggerate specific trade and economic issues in a one-sided manner, and make groundless accusations against China over the Ukraine issue, causing unnecessary disruptions to China-EU relations. China firmly believes that, having developed over the past 50 years, China-EU relations have accumulated enough experience and positive momentum to withstand changes and overcome difficulties, Guo noted. The spokesperson emphasized that with the 25th China-EU Summit approaching, China-EU relations stand at a crucial juncture, and are poised to move forward by building on past achievements. China looks forward the EU meeting China half way, viewing China-EU relations in a comprehensive, dialectical, and developing manner, and drawing meaningful lessons from the past 50 years of engagement, responding to the trends of the times and the shared expectations of both peoples and the broader international community, building consensus, rising above differences, and jointly planning the next 50 years of cooperation, thereby opening a new chapter in the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the EU, the spokesperson said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese FM comments on Australian Prime Minister Albanese's recent visit to China: 'consensus on deepening and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation reached' Global Times By Global Times Published: Jul 21, 2025 04:15 PM Commenting on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's recent visit to China, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson from Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated on Monday that during Albanese's official visit to China, the leaders of China and Australia reached an important consensus on deepening and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation. He said the Chinese side is willing to work with the Australian side to strengthen cooperation planning and design in various fields, enhance communication and exchanges at all levels, and make greater efforts to promote a higher level of mutually beneficial outcomes that better serve the people of both countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese ministries slam EU sanctions involving Chinese banks, companies over Russia, vow to safeguard rights Global Times By Global Times Published: Jul 21, 2025 09:36 PM Chinese Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Monday slammed EU sanctions involving Chinese banks and companies over Russia, and vowed to safeguard legitimate rights with necessary actions. The normal interactions between Chinese and Russian companies and financial institutions should be free from interference or disruption, a Chinese experts noted. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized at a press conference on Monday that China opposes any unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or the authorization of the UN Security Council, in response to a media question about the EU's latest round of sanctions against Russia last Friday involving some Chinese-funded banks and five Chinese enterprises. 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, Guo said. 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, Guo said. The MOFCOM said on Monday that the EU, ignoring China's repeated representations and objections, has arbitrarily pressed ahead with including some Chinese enterprises in the sanctions list and imposed sanctions on two Chinese financial institutions on trumped-up charges. China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes this move. China has always opposed unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law and are not authorized by the UN Security Council. The EU's move runs counter to the spirit of the consensus reached by Chinese and EU leaders and has a serious negative impact on China-EU economic and trade relations and financial cooperation, a spokesperson of the MOFCOM said. China urges the EU to immediately stop the wrong practice on Chinese enterprises and financial institutions. China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and financial institutions, the spokesperson said. The EU on Friday adopted the 18th package of sanctions against Russia, including imposing sanctions on some Chinese companies, with the EU claiming these companies have links with Russia's military operation in the Ukraine, according to a press release on the website of the European Commission (EC). Also, two Chinese financial institutions have been targeted, with the EU claiming they "helped circumvent EU sanctions." EU entities have been barred from conducting transactions with these institutions, according to a document listing questions and answers about the 18th package of sanctions against Russia on the website of the EC. Normal interactions between Chinese and Russian enterprises and financial institutions should be free from interference or disruption, Jian Junbo, director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Monday. The business engagements between the Chinese institutions and those in Russia represent bilateral financial exchanges and trade activities rooted in national sovereignty, with the goal of safeguarding the smooth functioning of international trade, Jian said. On the contrary, the EU's unilateral sanctions, along with the extension of Russia-targeted sanctions to other countries, essentially constitute a blatant interference in international trade or an act of hegemony, Jian added. China and the EU share extensive common interests in fields such as opposing trade protectionism, addressing climate change, and safeguarding the international order. The EU should actively cooperate with China instead of continuously seeking to escalate conflicts, which is in line with the respective interests of both sides, Jian said. As agreed between China and the EU, President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the EC Ursula von der Leyen will visit China on July 24, according to the Xinhua News Agency. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun's Regular Press Conference on July 21, 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: July 21, 2025 19:27 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. As 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 other's 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 cause 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 China's 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 play 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 UN's central role and greater democracy in international relations. China stands ready to work with the EU to take the UN's 80th anniversary as an opportunity to further strengthen the UN's 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 Fargo's banker named Mao Chenyue was blocked from leaving China in recent weeks. What's China's comment? Guo Jiakun: According to what we've learned, Ms. Mao Chenyue is involved in a criminal case currently being handled by Chinese law-enforcement authorities and is subjected 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. Mao's 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 minister's trip to China last week, it finished on Friday. What was the Chinese government's reaction to the trip? Guo Jiakun: Regarding the relevant events of Australian Prime Minister Albanese's visit to China, the Chinese side has put out readouts and you may refer to that. Let me say that during Prime Minister Albanese's 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 Albanese's visit here, the Chinese side arranged for relevant protocol activities in accordance with the schedule of his 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. I'm 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: Japan's ruling coalition lost its majority in the recent elections to select members of the House of Councillors. What is China's comment? Guo Jiakun: China noted relevant results. This is Japan's 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 I've read you and your colleagues speak about before, he said that didn't 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 company's 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 China's 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. I'm 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, it'll be one year since I've 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: First of all, we welcome you to return to Beijing and, as an Australian correspondent, report on China's foreign policy and relevant practice of Chinese modernization here. 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 minister's physiques? Guo Jiakun: China's 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 what's China's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Former senior executive of China's state-owned enterprise handed death sentence with reprieve for bribery People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:58, July 22, 2025 SHIJIAZHUANG, July 21 (Xinhua) -- He Wenzhong, a former deputy general manager of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, was sentenced on Monday to death with a two-year reprieve for accepting a large amount of bribes. He was also stripped of his political rights for life, with all of his personal property confiscated, according to the verdict issued by the intermediate people's court of Zhangjiakou City in Hebei Province. The court stated that between 2006 and 2023, He took advantage of his various positions at the state-owned enterprise to offer assistance to others in matters related to product supplies and loan obtainment. He accepted money and valuables in return and took kickbacks, which totaled 289 million yuan (about 40 million U.S. dollars). The court decided that He's offenses had caused particularly serious losses to the interests of the state and the people, yet he was given a lenient sentence due to several mitigating factors, including his confession and remorse, and proactive return of his ill-gotten gains. The case was heard at the court on April 11. At the trial, prosecutors, the defendant and his defense counsel cross-examined the evidence and gave their respective accounts. He pleaded guilty and expressed remorse in his final statement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Let Us Remain True to Our Party's Line of Building Military Giant by Building Mighty New-Type Warship Nampho Shipyard Vows to Build Choe Hyon-class Destroyer No. 3 till WPK Founding Anniversary of Next Year Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, July 22 (KCNA) -- True to the ever-victorious Workers' Party of Korea's line of building a military giant, the workers at the Nampho Shipyard are making steady progress with uninterrupted innovations and successive leaps forward aimed at the rapid transformation of our navy. The workers, technicians and officials at the Nampho Shipyard, a reliable base for building large warships which is honorable with the tradition and might of self-reliance, pledged to build another new-type destroyer by October 10, 2026 by redoubling the same spirit and mettle as were displayed in successfully building the first multi-mission destroyer of a new generation so as to make a breakthrough in accomplishing the historic sacred cause of rapidly turning our country into a maritime power of the 21st century. On July 21, employees of the Nampho Shipyard gathered to vow to build Choe Hyon-class Destroyer No. 3. The venue for the meeting was full of the high revolutionary enthusiasm of the workers at the shipyard for upholding with the building of a powerful warship of our own type the unshakable determination and will of the Party Central Committee to firmly defend the inviolable maritime sovereignty and national interests of the DPRK with the inexhaustible might of the naval forces. Present there were Jo Chun Ryong, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, officials concerned, and workers and technicians at the Nampho Shipyard and in the shipbuilding industry. Yun Chi Gol, manager of the Nampho Shipyard, made a report. The reporter referred to the pride of the workers of the Nampho Shipyard who successfully built the first multi-mission destroyer of the DPRK to honorably implement the decision of the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee. The new-type destroyer, which was built as a creation symbolic of the strength and spirit of the DPRK, is a priceless creation of the revolution in the warship-building industry that was brought about by the iron faith and will and outstanding strategy of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un who visited the Nampho Shipyard ten times in a little more than a year and gave precious instructions on the building of the warship and inexhaustible wisdom and strength for working miracles, the reporter noted. He said that through the process of building the destroyer in the face of countless challenges and hardships, the workers at the Nampho Shipyard hardened their faith that they can turn impossibility into a miracle and hasten even the remote future into reality when they do as instructed by Kim Jong Un . He expressed the unshakable will of all the officials and employees of the shipyard to demonstrate once again to the whole world the honor of the revolutionary industry group by achieving miraculous success also in the building of another new-type warship. He called upon officials to launch a strong ideological offensive and conduct the operation and command in a bold and effective way at the pulsating worksites and upon technicians and skilled workers to continuously work new miracles in the overall production processes. The reporter ardently called for more firmly uniting with the mind of patriotism while always remembering the greatest trust of Kim Jong Un , and for successfully building the destroyer within the fixed period by displaying the fighting spirit of self-reliance based on science and technology, thus demonstrating once again the inexhaustible creativity and indomitable spirit of the honorable vanguard who is taking the lead in upholding the Party Central Committee's plan for building a powerful army. The meeting declared the start of the building of Choe Hyon-class Destroyer No. 3 and announced a schedule for finishing the building of the destroyer by October 10, 2026. Then oath-taking speeches were made. The venue for the meeting resounded with a shout of slogans reflecting the soaring spirit and enthusiasm of all the participants to glorify the great era of Kim Jong Un as a new heyday of strengthening the Juche-oriented naval forces. A letter of pledge to Kim Jong Un was adopted at the meeting amidst a storm of applause. At the end of the meeting, the workers of the Nampho Shipyard started the building of Choe Hyon-class Destroyer No. 3. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign National Sentenced for Conspiring to Export U.S.-Made Drill Rigs to Iran in Violation of U.S. Sanctions Laws Monday, July 21, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Brian Assi, also known as Brahim Assi, 63, of Beirut, Lebanon, was sentenced to 44 months in prison for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR), attempted unlawful export of goods from the United States to Iran without a license, attempted smuggling goods from the United States, submitting false or misleading export information, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. "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." "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. Heekin for the Northern District of Florida. "My office will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who violates our laws and offers material support to America's enemies." Assi was convicted of the charges in October 2024. According to evidence presented at trial, Assi was a Middle East-based salesman of a multinational heavy machinery manufacturer with a U.S.-based subsidiary and production plant located in Alachua, Florida. Assi conspired with individuals affiliated with Sakht Abzar Pars Co. (SAP-Iran), based in Tehran, Iran, to export U.S.-made heavy machinery indirectly to Iran without first obtaining the required licenses from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Assi and his Iranian co-conspirators orchestrated the scheme by locating an Iraq-based distributor to serve as the forward-facing purchaser of two U.S.-origin blasthole drills from the U.S. subsidiary of Assi's employer. The drills are a type of heavy machinery used to create holes in the ground that are then filled with controlled explosives for mining. Assi facilitated the sale of the drills and attempted export them to Iran and used freight forwarding companies to ship the heavy equipment from the U.S. to Turkey. In doing so, Assi concealed any Iranian involvement in the transaction from his employer, claiming the drills were ultimately destined for use in Iraq. But in truth, Assi intended for his Iranian co-conspirators to transship or reexport those items from Turkey to Iran, in circumvention of the U.S. export control and sanction laws. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Assi concealed his activities with his Iranian co-conspirators by causing false information to be entered into the Automated Export System (AES), a U.S.-government database containing information about exports from the United States. The U.S.-based plant hired a U.S. freight forwarder to arrange the drill's export from the U.S. to Iraq. As part of the shipping process, the freight forwarder submitted information to AES about the shipment, including the ultimate consignee's name and the ultimate delivery destination. Assi misled his employer by claiming that the Iraqi distributor was the ultimate consignee, and that the ultimate delivery destination was Iraq. In fact, Assi knew that his co-conspirators in Iran were the true intended recipients, and Iran was the ultimate intended delivery destination. In furtherance of the illicit transaction, Assi and his co-conspirators caused the transfer of approximately $2.7 million from Turkey to pass through the United States. The Commerce Department Bureau of Industry and Security's Office of Export Enforcement investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew J. Grogan and Harley W. Ferguson for the Northern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case. Topics: Export Control National Security Components: National Security Division (NSD) USAO - Florida, Northern Press Release Number: 25-754 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese FM responds to Iran's announcement of nuclear talks with European countries Global Times By Global Times Published: Jul 21, 2025 07:57 PM When asked for comments on media report that the Iranian foreign ministry announced earlier that Iran, France, Germany, and the UK will hold talks on the Iranian nuclear issue in Istanbul on Friday at the level of deputy foreign ministers, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that 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, Guo said. "We call on relevant parties to work in the same direction for bringing the issue back to the track of political settlement," he said. Iran, Britain, France and Germany will hold nuclear talks in Istanbul on Friday, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson says on Monday, Reuters reported. "The meeting between Iran, Britain, France and Germany will take place at the deputy foreign minister level," Esmaeil Baghaei is quoted by Iranian state media as saying. The talks scheduled for Friday come after foreign ministers of the three European countries, as well as the European Union's foreign policy chief, held their first call on Thursday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi since Israel and the US attacked Iranian nuclear facilities a month ago, per Reuters. On Monday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu exchanged views on the Iran nuclear issue with Frederic Mondoloni, Director General of Political and Security Affairs at the French Foreign Ministry, during a phone conversation at the latter's request. Ma emphasized the need to resolve the Iran nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means, urging all parties to resume dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible to prevent escalation of the situation. "The right of Iran to peacefully utilize nuclear energy should be guaranteed. China is willing to continue playing a positive and constructive role in this regard," Ma said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran and Russia's Defense Ministers hold strategic meeting in Moscow IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 21, 2025 Moscow, IRNA -- The Ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, says Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh met with his Russian counterpart, Andrei Belousov, during an official visit to Russia. Speaking with the IRNA correspondent on Monday, Jalali said that the two defense ministers held a strategic meeting in Moscow. He emphasized that their discussions concentrated on enhancing bilateral cooperation in defense and military areas. Additionally, he said that Iran's Defense Minister had previously participated in a high-level meeting on Sunday between Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. Iran and Russia enjoy a close diplomatic and political relationship, and both remain under Western sanctions and pressure. In January, the two countries signed a Comprehensive Strategic Agreement, aimed at expanding bilateral relations, especially in the fields of economy, science, technology, culture, and tourism. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China calls for diplomatic resolution to Iran's nuclear issue IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 21, 2025 China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, has stressed the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Middle East, calling for a political and diplomatic resolution to Iran's nuclear issue. "The Iranian nuclear issue is concerned with peace and security in the Middle East and is also concerned with the international non-proliferation regime," said Guo during a news conference in Beijing on Monday. "We always believe a diplomatic approach should be used to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, and this is the only right way," he said. He added, "We call on all parties to walk in the same direction and contribute to the political settlement track of the Iranian nuclear issue." Beijing's statement came as Iran and the three European countries, collectively known as the E3 (France, Germany, and the United Kingdom), have agreed to resume nuclear talks this Friday in Istanbul, Turkiye. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, Russia conduct joint drills in Caspian Sea IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 21, 2025 Rasht, IRNA -- Second Admiral Mohsen Razzaghi Delarestaghi, spokesperson for the Iran-Russia joint drills codenamed CASAREX 2025, announced that the hybrid rescue exercises are taking place in two phases, namely coastal and maritime, in the Caspian Sea. Delarestaghi made the remarks on Monday as the drills kicked off. Participating forces include the naval units of Iran's Army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), the Law Enforcement Force, and the Russian Federation Navy. Observers from other Caspian Sea littoral states are also in attendance. CASAREX 2025 is being held under the slogan "Together for a Safe and Secure Caspian Sea." According to the spokesperson, the objectives of the exercise are to demonstrate the capabilities of regional naval forces in establishing security and safety, enhance the confidence of vessel personnel and operational units, and foster cohesion among the naval forces of Caspian-bordering countries. Earlier on Monday, the Iranian Army's public relations department announced that Russian vessel SB738 entered the exercise area and was welcomed by Iran's Naval Forces. Meanwhile, the commander of the Russian vessel expressed hope that such exercises would strengthen cooperation between the two countries, and that they could continue conducting these drills regularly to reinforce their forces. 4208**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran and Russia maintain E3 has no right to reimpose previous anti-Iranian sanctions IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 21, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Tehran and Moscow say that the E3 - namely France, Germany, and Britain - have no legal or moral right to launch the so-called snapback mechanism to reimpose previous sanctions against Iran. Writing on his X account late on Sunday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi released a report on a letter addressed to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the Security Council, E.U. Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas and members of the U.N. Security Council, in which the top diplomat outlined why the E3 lacks any legal, political, and moral standing to invoke the mechanisms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (J.C.P.O.A.) and United Nations Security Council (U.N.S.C.) Resolution 2231. 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 U.S., rejection of the main pillars of the J.C.P.O.A., and their longstanding and ongoing failure to uphold their commitments, the E3 have relinquished their role as participants in the J.C.P.O.A., making any attempt to reinstate terminated U.N.S.C. Resolutions null and void, the official said. Iran responded to the unilateral U.S. withdrawal from the J.C.P.O.A. by first exhausting the accord's dispute resolution mechanisms before gradually implementing remedial measures under Paragraph 36 of the J.C.P.O.A., going to great lengths to convince other then-participants to return to compliance with their obligations, Araqchi added. However, he said, "The E3 have reneged on their commitments and actively contributed to the so-called U.S. 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. The E3 cannot and should not be allowed to undermine the credibility of the U.N. Security Council by abusing a Resolution to which they themselves have not been committed, he said. The E3 must heed their own advice to the U.S. in their letter of August 20, 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 added. As stressed in my letter, Araqchi said, 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. Replying to Araqchi's message on X, Russia's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, wrote, "Indeed, the E3 has no legal or moral right to launch the so-called snapback mechanism to reimpose previous anti-Iranian sanctions." 7129**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Any E3 attempt to snap back sanctions is legally baseless, morally flawed: Iran foreign minister IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 21, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has described any attempt by Britain, France, and Germany - the three European countries known as E3 - to invoke the so-called snapback mechanism under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal as unlawful. The mechanism, outlined in the Iran deal officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and United Nations Security Council (U.N.S.C.) Resolution 2231 that endorsed the agreement, will restore all U.N.S.C. sanctions against Iran once it is invoked. The top diplomat on Sunday sent a letter to the United Nations secretary-general, president and members of the U.N. Security Council, as well as the European Union's high representative, explaining why the E3 lacks any legal, political, and moral standing to invoke the mechanisms of the JCPOA and U.N. Resolution 2231. The following is the full text of the letter. Excellency, In light of the recent assertions by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (E3) that they retain a purported right to invoke the Dispute Resolution Mechanism (DRM) under Paragraphs 36 and 37 of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or paragraphs 11-13 of UNSCR 2231, and reinstate the previously terminated Security Council resolutions, I am writing to draw your attention to a series of statements and actions by E3 that constitute flagrant violations of their obligations under UNSC Resolution 2231 (2015), the JCPOA, and international law as a whole. Mindful that the JCPOA distinguishes its signatories not as "Parties" but "Participants", reflecting how the agreement is a Plan of Action and not a treaty, Participant status is a dynamic condition contingent upon good faith compliance, including an ongoing role in implementing deal provisions. As the actions and positions adopted by the E3 are fundamentally incompatible with JCPOA Participation, any resort to DRM or remedial measures is null and void. Regrettably, the same unlawful conduct has been evident in the statements of the European Union, through its High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, which acts as Coordinator of the JCPOA. This concerning development, a clear manifestation of bad faith conduct aimed at depriving the Islamic Republic of Iran from its rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, is accompanied by several statements that signal an intent to abuse the mechanisms foreseen in UNSCR 2231 (2015) and the JCPOA to reinstate the Resolutions that were terminated by UNSCR 2231 (2015). As detailed in numerous communications, including the letter dated 20 July 2021 and its annexes (A/75/968-S/2021/669) authored by the then Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran and addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, due to a series of legal, procedural, and substantive reasons the E3/EU cannot legitimately invoke the DRM under the JCPOA or UNSCR 2231. As underscored in numerous official communications attached to the aforementioned documentincluding letters addressed to the JCPOA Coordinator on 25 June 2019, 17 July 2019, 29 January 2020, and 10 March 2020Iran invoked and exhausted the DRM under Paragraph 36 to address significant nonperformance, rendering any subsequent invocation by the E3/EU inadmissible. 1. Legal and Procedural Exhaustion of Paragraph 36 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. This forbearance is thoroughly documented in letters sent to the JCPOA Coordinator, where Iran repeatedly identified E3/EU failures. 6 November 2018 Letter: Iran detailed its grievances regarding E3/EU nonperformance, highlighting that, despite the U.S. withdrawal, the E3/EU still bore independent obligations to safeguard Iran's economic benefits. The failure to do so, particularly regarding normal banking and financial channels, was already jeopardizing the deal's viability. Iran detailed its grievances regarding E3/EU nonperformance, highlighting that, despite the U.S. withdrawal, the E3/EU still bore independent obligations to safeguard Iran's economic benefits. The failure to do so, particularly regarding normal banking and financial channels, was already jeopardizing the deal's viability. 8 May 2019 Letter: Iran officially notified the coordinator that it had exhausted the DRM procedures and would begin remedial measures. Despite convening multiple Joint Commission meetings to address breaches by the E3/EU and the U.S., none of Iran's fundamental concerns such as restoring essential commercial and financial channels were resolved. Subsequent communicationsincluding the letters of 25 June 2019 and 29 January 2020underscored how Iran not only invoked Paragraph 36 several times in good faith but also requested further ministerial sessions to discuss persistent E3/EU non-performance. Having gone well beyond what the JCPOA itself required, Iran firmly asserts that any new attempt by the E3/EU to trigger the very same paragraph is incompatible with basic principles of fairness and good faith, set out both in the JCPOA and in international law. 2. Lack of Legal Standing of the E3 to Invoke JCPOA Mechanisms It is well established in international law that a party failing to fulfill its own obligations cannot then claim the benefits of the same agreement it has violated. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in its 1971 Namibia Advisory Opinion, stated that a party "which disowns or does not fulfill its own obligations cannot be recognized as retaining the rights which it claims to derive from the relationship." A. E3/EU Non-Performance: In numerous communications, in particular those addressed to the JCPOA Joint Commission Coordinator such as the letters of 17 July 2019 and 10 March 2020, Iran has enumerated specific and ongoing breaches by the E3/EU, including failure to preserve the effects of sanctions-lifting required under Paragraphs 3, 4, and 5 of Annex II of the JCPOA; lack of any practical mechanism to shield European operators from U.S. secondary sanctions; and insufficient efforts to sustain lawful trade with Iran. These unremedied violations undermine the E3's legal basis for invoking the DRM. B. UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015): This resolution endorses the JCPOA and provides a carefully constructed multi-tiered mechanism to prevent the arbitrary and unlawful "snapback" of sanctions. Activating the DRM while disregarding Iran's documented complaints of non-performance contradicts the Resolution's aim of ensuring balanced, good-faith compliance by all parties. 3. Iran's Good Faith Efforts and the E3's Non-Performance Iran demonstrated restraint and patience for more than a year following the U.S. withdrawal before gradually implementing remedial measures in keeping with Paragraph 36 of the JCPOA. As described in the 25 June 2019 letter, Iran exercised the remedial measures only after repeatedly calling for meaningful action from the E3/EU. These efforts included: A. Engaging in Ministerial-Level Meetings: Iran requested the urgent convening of the JCPOA Joint Commission to address the impact of U.S. sanctions and E3/EU shortfalls in providing promised economic dividends to the Iranian people. Although statements were issued on 6 July and 24 September 2018, the E3/EU did not deliver the measures they pledged, such as facilitating oil exports and normalizing banking relations. B. Providing Detailed Evidence of Non-Performance: 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. This discrepancy was most evident when banks and financial institutions left the Iranian market or restricted services, demonstrating that the economic benefits promised by the JCPOA had not materialized. C. Urging Dialogue: The 10 March 2020 letter reiterated Iran's willingness to continue discussions at any level in order to reverse the remedial measures it had lawfully adopted under Paragraph 36 of the JCPOA full compliance. The E3, however, persisted in referencing a "better deal" or "longer-term framework," going well beyond the scope of the JCPOA and contradicting the timelines explicitly negotiated in 2015 and enshrined in UNSCR 2231. Based on the above points, it is unequivocal that: 1. Iran Has Exhausted the DRM: The Islamic Republic of Iran has triggeredand in good faith concludedall procedures under Paragraph 36 of the JCPOA. Having received no adequate redress, Iran began proportional remedial steps only after extensive correspondence, ministerial sessions, and official notifications. Any subsequent E3 effort to reopen or manipulate the same mechanism is inadmissible. 2. The E3 Lack Legal Standing: Because the E3/EU themselves have not upheld key commitmentsincluding facilitating normal trade, preventing extraterritorial effects of U.S. sanctions, and delivering on promises made in 2018 ministerial statementsthey lack the necessary standing to invoke the DRM's provisions against Iran. 3. Abuse of Process: 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. In the last few weeks, the E3/EU have explicitly condoned, supported and actively contributed to the unprovoked and reckless Israeli and later U.S. aggressionsright in the middle of nuclear talks between Iran and the United Statesagainst safeguarded Iranian nuclear facilities, and residential quartersleading to the massacre of countless women and children as well as cold-blooded murder of scientists and off-duty military commanders. These are all blatant violations of international lawmaking E3 leaders accomplices in these war crimes. The actions and statements of the E3 countries, as briefly elaborated below, has made them accomplices in these war crimes and has rendered any claim of good will and commitment to UNSC Resolution 2231 (2015) and the JCPOA spurious and false. The shameful statement by German Chancellor Merz on 17 June 2025 that "This is the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us" is a clear admission of guilt and participation in this act of aggression by Germany and other E3 leaders. In the same vein, France and the UK have voiced support for the unprovoked attacks against Iran by invoking the claim of "Israel's right to defense" instead of condemning the Israeli regime's aggression against the Iranian people, which claimed over 1,000 lives in the period 13 June 2025-24 June 2025. They have further contributed to the Israeli aggression by supplying the aggressor with arms and ammunition. France admitted that it has provided direct military assistance to Israel, as it is evident in the statement made by French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu on 25 June 2025, where he admitted complicity in defending the aggressor and obstructing the exercise of Iran's right to self-defense by stating that the French Army shot down fewer that ten drones, using aircraft and surface to air missiles. This pattern of material assistance, public endorsement, and operational coordination with a foreign military assault targeting safeguarded Iranian facilities amounts to more than diplomatic biasit constitutes direct abetment of unlawful aggression. These acts have not only undermined the E3's residual credibility as good faith participants, but have also triggered a fundamental change in the circumstances under which the JCPOA was concluded. The entire framework of mutual obligations and expectations that once underpinned the agreement has been ruptured by the E3's alignment with policies aimed at forcibly dismantling Iran's peaceful nuclear program through extrajudicial means. Even the EU, as the Coordinator of the JCPOA, has breached its obligations by questioning Iran's legal rights and calling for "ending Iran's nuclear program" as stated by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on 1 July 2025. These admissions make the E3 liable for compensation and reparation to Iran and deprive them of any legal, moral, or political ground to opportunistically invoke the DRM. If anything, E3 leaders must be held to account in international criminal tribunals as defendants for complicity in war crimes, and not claimants in the United Nations Security Council. The abhorrent statement of the G7 Foreign Ministerswhich include the E3 Foreign Ministers on 1 July 2025that "we... urge Iran to refrain from reconstituting its unjustified enrichment activities" is a clear indication that the E3 have relinquished their role as "Participants in the JCPOA" by rejecting its most fundamental pillarnamely Iranian enrichmentand actively participating in its dangerous destruction through an unprovoked war of aggression right in the middle of diplomatic talks. There is no doubt of the strong grounds to deprive the E3/EU of any standing in good faith under the JCPOA and UNSCR 2231, and thus being legally in a position to conveniently and unjustifiably resort to JCPOA mechanisms in absolute bad faith. Under the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the agreement distinguishes its members not as "parties" in the traditional treaty sense, but as "participants." This designation is not merely semantic; it reflects a functional concept. Participation is not a static status acquired once and for all, but a dynamic condition contingent upon continued engagement, good faith compliance, and sustained commitment to the object and purpose of the agreement. In clear departure from these requirements, the E3France, Germany, and the United Kingdomhave, in recent years and especially in recent months, adopted a series of positions and undertaken actions fundamentally incompatible with the responsibilities and qualifications of JCPOA participants. Based on the above, it is abundantly clear that since Iran has lawfully and conclusively exhausted the DRM in accordance with Paragraph 36, and since the E3 have themselves failed to discharge their own obligations following the U.S. withdrawal; actively supported, participated in and even publicly admitted sponsorship of the Israeli aggression against Iranian safeguarded nuclear facilities; and finally renounced their Participant status in the JCPOA by rejecting the agreement's fundamental pillars in recent statements, any recourse to the DRM by these same parties is legally baseless, morally flawed and politically dangerous, constituting in and of itself a threat to international peace and security. Excellency, The E3 cannot and should not be allowed to undermine the credibility of the UN Security Council by abusing a Resolution to which they themselves have not been committed. Iran calls on the United States and the E3/EUwhich have in effect abandoned any claims to JCPOA Participant statusto cease and desist their illegal measures, including blatant aggressionin violation of the JCPOA and international lawand provide compensation for the severe human and financial losses imposed on Iran by the U.S. unlawful withdrawal and the E3/EU failure to fulfill their obligations under UNSCR 2231 coupled with their active participation in the Israeli regime's act of aggression against Iran. After a decade of bad faith in not implementing any of their individual and collective obligations under the JCPOA and UNSCR 2231, the United States and the E3/EU must also provide objective guarantees to Iran and the international community that they will refrain from such reckless illegal acts in the future. 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. 4354**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, Russia defense chiefs discuss strengthening cooperation Iran Press TV Monday, 21 July 2025 5:34 PM The Iranian and Russian defense chiefs have discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in defense and military affairs, Iran's Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali says. He said Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh and his Russian counterpart, Andrey Belousov, met in Moscow on Monday. Jalali said the meeting focused on "reinforcing bilateral cooperation in the defense and military fields." The diplomat noted that the Iranian minister also attended the July 20 meeting in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ali Larijani, a senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Larijani "conveyed assessments of the escalating situation in the Middle East and around the Iranian nuclear program." He said 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". Iran and Russia, both subject to illegal Western sanctions, have over the past years deepened their relations in a range of areas. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, signed the strategic partnership treaty together during a ceremony at the Kremlin on January 17. On April 21, Putin officially ratified the landmark pact. A month later, the Iranian Parliament approved the agreement that includes defense cooperation, the fight against terrorism, collaboration in the energy and industrial sectors, financial integration, transportation infrastructure development, agricultural partnership, and exchanges in the areas of culture, science, and technology. Russia has also condemned the recent Israeli-US acts of aggression against the Islamic Republic, which led to the killing of many high-ranking military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China defends Iran's peaceful nuclear right, urges diplomacy to resolve issues Iran Press TV Monday, 21 July 2025 3:29 PM Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu has asserted Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy, calling for the settlement of issues through diplomacy. In a phone conversation on Monday, Ma exchanged views with Frederic Mondoloni, Director General of Political and Security Affairs at the French Foreign Ministry, on the Iranian nuclear issue. "The right of Iran to peacefully utilize nuclear energy should be guaranteed. China is willing to continue playing a positive and constructive role in this regard," Ma said. He stressed the importance of resolving issues about Iran's nuclear activities through political and diplomatic means. Ma urged all parties to resume dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible to prevent escalation of the situation. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the Iranian nuclear issue bears on regional peace and security as well as the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. He made the comments in response to a question about Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei's announcement earlier on Monday that Iran and the European troika of Britain, France, and Germany are scheduled to hold fresh talks on Tehran's nuclear issue in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday. Baghaei said the meeting will be held at the level of deputy foreign ministers in the presence of European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. Guo said, "China always advocates resolving the Iranian nuclear issue peacefully through political and diplomatic means. This is the only right way forward." The Chinese spokesperson called on relevant sides to work in the same direction to place the issue back on the track of political settlement. During his Monday weekly press briefing, Baghaei pointed to Iran's "good consultations" with Russia and China over the past year regarding the snapback mechanism and said a meeting among representatives of the three countries will be held in Tehran on July 22. He said it will be "a meeting at the level of general managers, focusing on discussions on nuclear issues, which naturally will also include the return of sanctions." Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a recent letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the UN Security Council Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, European Union high representative and members of the UN Security Council, ruled out the legal or moral authority of the European troika to trigger snapback sanctions against the country. He outlined how the three European countries and original signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) lack any "legal, political or moral standing" to invoke the mechanisms of the JCPOA and UN Resolution 2231 (2015). Araghchi said the E3 have relinquished their role as "participants" in the JCPOA through their actions and statements, including political and material support for the recent Israel's unprovoked and illegal aggression against Iran, rejection of the main pillars of the 2015 nuclear deal, and failure to uphold their commitments. All that, the Iranian foreign minister stated, renders any attempt to trigger the snapback mechanism "null and void." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address E3 violated JCPOA, lost right to reinstate UN sanctions against Iran: Russian envoy Iran Press TV Monday, 21 July 2025 3:09 PM A senior Russian diplomat says Britain, France, and Germany, known as the E3, have repeatedly violated the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal, and thus forfeited their right to trigger the snapback mechanism that would re-impose all UN Security Council sanctions on Iran. Russia's Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, made the remarks in an interview with Izvestia newspaper on Monday, days after the E3, in coordination with the US, threatened to initiate the 30-day snapback process if there is no progress on Iran's nuclear talks by the end of August. "As for the threats of Westerners to initiate a mechanism for restoring sanctions, it is quite rightly noted that this idea is illegitimate," Ulyanov said. "The Americans themselves withdrew from the JCPOA, renouncing the rights and obligations of a participant in the nuclear deal, and the United Kingdom, Germany and France are violators of both the JCPOA and UN Security Council resolution 2231. This means that they have also deprived themselves of the right to initiate a 'snapback.'" He was referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the official name of the Iran nuclear accord, which the US ditched in 2018 before returning the illegal sanctions that it had lifted against Iran and launching the so-called "maximum pressure" campaign. Following the US withdrawal, the European signatories to the JCPOA failed to uphold their commitments and made no efforts to save the agreement. Also in his remarks, the Russian envoy criticized the Europeans and Americans for using "the tactics of forceful pressure" against Tehran, saying such an approach has no chance of success. "The habit of Europeans and Americans to set certain deadlines all the time is quite counterproductive," he said, citing the negotiations aimed at restoring the JCPOA in 2021-2022 as an example. In an X post on Sunday, Ulyanov emphasized that the E3 "has no legal or moral right" to activate the snapback procedure. Earlier, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a letter to the UN chief, the Security Council president, and the top EU diplomat, saying the E3 have relinquished their role as "participants" in the JCPOA, rendering any attempt to trigger the snapback mechanism "null and void." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran to push demands in E3 talks; Europe at fault over nuclear deal collapse: Tehran Iran Press TV Monday, 21 July 2025 11:20 AM Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says Iran will press its demands in upcoming talks with the E3, as the European powers are in no position to make demands due to their failure to uphold the 2015 nuclear agreement after US withdrawal. Speaking at his weekly press conference in Tehran on Monday, Baghaei briefed the reporters on the upcoming talks between Iran and the European trio (France, Germany, and Britain), saying the talks will focus on lifting sanctions and nuclear disputes. The difference is that this time Iran "will seriously raise its demands," he said, adding that European countries must be held accountable for the stance they took during the US-Israeli aggression against Iran. "These three countries, as members of the JCPOA [The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] and parties that unanimously accepted Security Council Resolution 2231, had legal and moral responsibilities to condemn these aggressions; something that unfortunately was not achieved," he emphasized. According to Baghaei, some of these countries "even supported the Zionist regime and the United States, by justifying their crimes." "The European parties must be held accountable for these behaviors," he noted. On June 13, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked act of aggression against Iran, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders, nuclear scientists, and killing civilians. On June 22, the United States also entered the war and bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, in a clear violation of international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Tehran to host trilateral Iran-Russia-China meeting Regarding the issue of Snapback, Baghaei said, "We have had good consultations with [Russia and China] over the past year," adding that a trilateral meeting between Iran, Russia, and China will be held in Tehran on Tuesday. He added that it will be "a meeting at the level of general managers, focusing on discussions on nuclear issues, which naturally will also include the return of sanctions." "Therefore, we are in continuous interaction and consultation with these countries so that we can either prevent this situation from occurring or minimize its possible consequences," he said underscoring that "from a legal, logical, moral and political perspective, there is no basis or justifiable reason for the return of sanctions that have been lifted under the JCPOA." The snapback mechanism was embedded in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA. It allows any one party to the deal to trigger a process that restores all previous UN sanctions on Iranwhich were lifted under the accordif Iran is found to be in "significant" breach of its obligations. E3 lacks any justification for invoking 2231 resolution "The European countries that are members of the JCPOA have no moral, political, or logical justification for using a resolution that they created as the basis for its non-implementation to reinstate sanctions," the Iranian diplomat said. He underscored that the European parties themselves "are in the position of the accused due to their negligence and fault in fulfilling their obligations under the JCPOA." He noted that the European countries are using this tool to threaten Iran. He added that should this threat materialize, it would demonstrate that European states no longer view themselves as relevant actors in the Iranian nuclear negotiations. Such a move would effectively marginalize their own role in this critical diplomatic process. Claims of Iran accepting below 1% enrichment false In response to a question on the former US Secretary of State's claims regarding Iran's agreement to enrichment below one percent, Baghaei said that "the purpose of such statements should be asked from them, what is their intention, but there was no such thing." Anthony Blinken claimed in an interview with CNN, before the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, that Tehran had allegedly presented a series of proposals to European officials including reducing uranium enrichment to below one percent and opening talks on its ballistic missile program. Larijani carried message on regional, intl. developments to Putin Pointing to Ali Larijani's visit to Moscow and his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Baghaei stated that Larijani "carried the message and broad vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding regional developments, international developments, and bilateral relations." He added that Larijani had a very good meeting with Putin where they discussed "a diverse range of topics, especially bilateral relations and regional issues following the developments of the last three to four weeks." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'E3 lack legal, moral standing to invoke snapback': Snippets from Iran FM's letter to UN chief Iran Press TV Monday, 21 July 2025 10:55 AM Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President of the UN Security Council Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, European Union High Representative Kaja Kallas and members of the UN Security Council, ruled out the legal or moral authority of the European troika to trigger snapback sanctions against the country. He outlined how the three European countries and original signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - France, Germany and the UK - lack any "legal, political or moral standing" to invoke the mechanisms of the JCPOA and UN Resolution 2231 (2015). Through their actions and statements, including political and material support for the recent unprovoked and illegal aggression against Iran, rejection of the main pillars of the 2015 nuclear deal, and failure to uphold their commitments, Araghchi said the E3 have relinquished their role as "participants" in the JCPOA, rendering any attempt to trigger snapback mechanism "null and void." In a tweet, the top Iranian diplomat noted that Tehran responded to the unilateral US withdrawal from the JCPOA by first exhausting the accord's dispute resolution mechanisms before gradually implementing remedial measures under Paragraph 36 of the agreement. "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"," he added. The letter comes just days ahead of a scheduled meeting between Iran and the E3 countries in Istanbul at the level of deputy foreign ministers. The following are snippets from the Iranian top diplomat's letter: E3 actions constitute flagrant violations of their obligations under UNSC Resolution 2231 (2015), the JCPOA, and international law as a whole. JCPOA distinguishes its signatories not as 'Parties' but 'Participants'" and "Participant status is a dynamic condition contingent upon good faith compliance. Any resort to DRM or remedial measures by the European troika is null and void. Statements of the European Union constitute a clear manifestation of bad faith conduct aimed at depriving the Islamic Republic of Iran of its rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. E3/EU signal an intent to abuse the mechanisms foreseen in UNSCR 2231 (2015) and the JCPOA. Due to a series of legal, procedural, and substantive reasons, the E3/EU cannot legitimately invoke the DRM under the JCPOA or UNSCR 2231. Iran invoked and exhausted the DRM under Paragraph 36 to address significant non-performance. Any subsequent invocation by the E3/EU is inadmissible. The Islamic Republic of Iran formally triggered the DRM under Paragraph 36 of the JCPOA on 10 May 2018. While Iran was entitled to immediately cease compliance, it acted in good faith, postponing its remedial measures. In a 6 November 2018 letter, Iran detailed its grievances regarding E3/EU non-performance. Failure to do so, particularly regarding normal banking and financial channels, was already jeopardizing the deal's viability. In an 8 May 2019 letter, Iran officially notified the coordinator that it had exhausted the DRM procedures and would begin remedial measures. Despite convening multiple Joint Commission meetings, none of Iran's fundamental concerns were resolved. In letters on 25 June 2019 and 29 January 2020, Iran underscored how it not only invoked Paragraph 36 several times in good faith but also requested further ministerial sessions. Having gone well beyond what the JCPOA itself required... any new attempt by the E3/EU to trigger the very same paragraph is incompatible with basic principles of fairness and good faith. A party failing to fulfill its own obligations cannot then claim the benefits of the same agreement it has violated. ICJ Namibia Advisory Opinion (1971) stated that a party which disowns or does not fulfill its own obligations cannot be recognized as retaining the rights which it claims to derive from the relationship. Failure to preserve the effects of sanctions-lifting required under Paragraphs 3, 4, and 5 of Annex II of the JCPOA. There is a lack of any practical mechanism to shield European operators from US secondary sanctions. There are insufficient efforts to sustain lawful trade with Iran. These unremedied violations undermine the E3's legal basis for invoking the DRM. Activating the DRM while disregarding Iran's documented complaints of non-performance contradicts the Resolution's aim of ensuring balanced, good-faith compliance. Iran demonstrated restraint and patience for more than a year... before gradually implementing remedial measures> Statements were issued on 6 July and 24 September 2018 that the E3/EU did not deliver the measures they pledged, like facilitating oil exports and normalizing banking relations. Iran's letters repeatedly cited cases where the E3 effectively harmonized their policies with those of the US 'maximum pressure' campaign. In a 10 March 2020 letter, Iran reiterated its willingness to continue discussions at any level. The E3, however, persisted in referencing a 'better deal' or 'longer-term framework, contradicting the timelines explicitly negotiated in 2015 and enshrined in UNSCR 2231. The Islamic Republic of Iran has triggeredand in good faith concludedall procedures under Paragraph 36 of the JCPOA. Any subsequent E3 effort to reopen or manipulate the same mechanism is inadmissible. Because the E3/EU themselves have not upheld key commitments... they lack the necessary standing to invoke the DRM's provisions. Attempting to trigger 'snapback' under these circumstances... constitutes an abuse of process. In the last few weeks, the E3/EU have explicitly condoned, supported and actively contributed to the unprovoked and reckless Israeli and later US aggression. The aggression came right in the middle of nuclear talks between Iran and the US. The aggression happened against safeguarded Iranian nuclear facilities and residential quarters, leading to the massacre of countless women and children as well as the cold-blooded murder of scientists and off-duty military commanders. These are all blatant violations of international law, making E3 leaders accomplices in these war crimes. The shameful statement by German Chancellor Merz on 17 June 2025 that this is the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us' is a clear admission of guilt. France and the UK have voiced support for the unprovoked attacks... by invoking the claim of 'Israel's right to defense', claiming over 1,000 lives in the period 13 June 2025-24 June 2025. They have further contributed to the Israeli acts of aggression by supplying the aggressor with arms and ammunition. France admitted that it has provided direct military assistance to Israel. Statement made by French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecomu on 25 June 2025... The French Army shot down fewer than ten drones." This pattern of material assistance, public endorsement, and operational coordination... constitutes direct abetment of unlawful aggression. These acts have triggered a fundamental change in the circumstances under which the JCPOA was concluded. The entire framework of mutual obligations and expectations has been ruptured by the E3's alignment. Even the EU has breached its obligations by questioning Iran's legal rights and calling for 'ending Iran's nuclear program' as stated by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on 1 July 2025. These admissions make the E3 liable for compensation and reparation to Iran and deprive them of any legal, moral, or political ground to opportunistically invoke the DRM. If anything, E3 leaders must be held to account in international criminal tribunals as defendants for complicity in war crimes. The abhorrent statement of the G7 Foreign Ministers, which includes the E3 Foreign Ministers on 1 July 2025, that we urge Iran to refrain from reconstituting its unjustified enrichment activities, is a clear indication that the E3 have relinquished their role as 'Participants in the JCPOA.' By rejecting its most fundamental pillarnamely, Iranian enrichmentand actively participating in its dangerous destruction through an unprovoked war of aggression. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Caspian unity in action: Iran, Russia to hold joint search-and-rescue drill Iran Press TV Monday, 21 July 2025 9:12 AM Iran and Russia have started bringing their naval forces together for CASAREX 2025, a major joint search-and-rescue drill in the Caspian Sea. The three-day exercise, held under the banner "Together for a Safe and Secure Caspian Sea," is set to begin Monday and will be hosted by the Northern Fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Navy. Naval forces from the Navy, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and Iran's Law Enforcement Command will take part on behalf of Iran -- representing the full breadth of the country's naval defense apparatus. Earlier in the day, a Russian naval vessel entered the Iranian waters and docked at the designated exercise zone, setting the stage for the launch of the main operational phase. Activities will unfold within the Fourth Naval Region commanded by the Iranian Navy, which is known as the Imam Reza (AS) Maritime District. Rear Admiral Mohsen Razaghi, spokesperson for CASAREX2025, said the drill will have two phases and will be held under the slogan "together for a safe and secure Caspian Sea." Razaghi said the objective of CASAREX 2025 is to promote maritime diplomacy, streamline coordination among Caspian Sea navies, ensure the safe navigation of commercial vessels, and establish a framework for future joint drills. A wide range of operational scenarios will be practiced during the drill, including rescue operations for distressed vessels, search and rescue missions, naval formation and aerial photography, "man overboard" responses, and officer-of-the-watch maneuver training, he said. The spokesperson noted that regional and international stability is a strategic priority for Iran, stressing that naval forces will not tolerate any violations in its maritime domain. Joint planning and coordination meetings have already been held between Iranian and Russian commanders to align operational logistics and ensure smooth execution. Military observers from other Caspian littoral states will also be in attendance. Experts say the drills, which call for a high degree of interoperability, serve as a show of strength, coordination, and solidarity in a strategically sensitive maritime corridor. They add that the event reflects a deepening multipolar alignment -- one that challenges Western efforts to dominate global maritime affairs. Tehran and Moscow, they emphasize, have consistently called for regional nations to secure their own waters without outside interference. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan's ruling coalition certain to lose majority in upper house: NHK People's Daily Online (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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting of Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister with the President of the UN General Assembly Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Today, the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, held a meeting with President of the UN General Assembly, Philemon Yang in, New York. The DPM/FM reaffirmed Pakistan's steadfast commitment to multilateralism and the leading role of the UN in international affairs. He called for strengthening global governance and reforming the UN in a manner that meets the expectations of the entire international community. The DPM/FM and the PGA exchange views on a wide range of issues including the situation in the Middle East, developments in Iran, Afghanistan and the wider region, as well as other key matters on the agenda of the United Nations including the promotion of sustainable development. The DPM/FM commended PGA's leadership in advancing the Pact for the Future and the UN80 Initiative, emphasizing the need for synergy between these efforts to ensure a more effective, inclusive and responsive UN that is well placed to meet the challenges of our times. The issue of Security Council reform, including the need to make the Council more democratic and effective, also came under discussion. The DPM/FM expressed his serious concerns over India's aggressive posturing, disinformation campaigns, and violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which threaten regional peace and stability. He called for urgent international attention to India's actions, including its illegal measures in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and its support of terrorism against Pakistan through its proxies. He further underscored the need for a peaceful resolution of all disputes between Pakistan and India through dialogue, in accordance with international law, the UNSC resolutions and the UN Charter. The PGA affirmed his commitment to advancing peace, development, and inclusivity within the framework of the General Assembly. He outlined his vision for promoting effective multilateralism and centrality of the United Nations to serve all humanity. Islamabad 21 July 2025 214/2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting of the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister with the UN Secretary General Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, met with the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, at the United Nations Headquaters today. During the meeting, the DPM/FM reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering and resolute commitment to multilateralism and the central role of the UN in addressing the most pressing global challenges. The DPM/FM reassured the Secretary General of Pakistan's focus on strengthening the UN's role in conflict resolution, in promoting sustainable development, and in upholding the fundamental rights of all peoples around the world. The Secretary-General appreciated Pakistan's strong role and principled positions in the Security Council. Several key issues on the Council's agenda were discussed, including the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and the situation in Iran. The DPM/FM underscored that Pakistan is fully committed to the pruposes and principles of the UN Charter, especially the need to advance peace through dialogue and diplomacy. He further stated that the high-level debate on multilateralism and peaceful settlement of disputes and the meeting on UN-OIC cooperation, under Pakistan's Presidency of the UN Security Council for the current month, reflects on Pakistan's commitment to multilateralism and the promotion of peace. The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister emphasized issues of critical national and regional importance to Pakistan, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and externally sponsored terrorism in Pakistan. He stressed the imperative of a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the resolutions of the Security Council. The DPM/FM lauded the Secretary-General's leadership and sincere efforts for de-escalation of recent tensions between Pakistan and India. The DPM/FM reiterated Pakistan's unwavering support for Palestinian statehood, an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and firm opposition to Israel's annexation plans in the West Bank. The DPM and the UNSG also discussed the upcoming High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, being held in New York next week, and exchanged views on the need to decide meaningful outcomes at that Conference. The DPM/FM emphasized that the Secretary-General's "UN80" initiative offered a critical opportunity to strengthen the three pillars of the United Nations to promote international peace and security, sustainable development and human rights worldwide. The DPM/FM also briefed the Secretary-General on the steps being taken by Pakistan to promote regional connectivity and spur economic growth. Islamabad 21 July 2025 213/2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rosatom Unveils Next-Gen Uranium Centrifuge With Record Efficiency Sputnik News 20250721 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom said on Monday that it had created a new 10th generation gas centrifuge for enriching uranium with increased productivity. "The fuel division of Rosatom has manufactured a pilot batch of 10th-generation gas centrifuges for separating uranium isotopes ... In terms of its technical characteristics, the new machine surpasses all centrifuges of previous generations operating at Rosatom enterprises," the company said in a statement. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU Sanctions on Oil Refinery in India Violate International Law Rosneft Sputnik News 20250721 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The European Union's decision to impose sanctions on the Nayara Energy oil refinery in India is groundless and in breach of international law, Russian oil giant Rosneft said on Sunday. On July 18, the permanent representatives of the EU member states have agreed on the 18th package of sanctions against Russia. The new package included sanctions on "the biggest Rosneft refinery in India." "Rosneft Oil Company considers the European Union's decision to impose restrictive measures on the Indian refinery of Nayara Energy as unjustified and illegal. These sanctions are yet another example of extraterritorial implementation of politically motivated restrictions that blatantly violate international law and infringe on the economic interests of a sovereign state," Rosneft's statement read. The sanctions will directly threaten India's energy security and will have a negative impact on the country's economy, the statement said. "Rosneft views these sanctions as part of the EU's destructive policy aimed at destabilizing global energy markets. The restrictions on Nayara Energy are yet another example of the EU's use of unfair competition practices," the statement read. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Bibi acted like a madman': Trump team berates Netanyahu after Syria attacks Iran Press TV Monday, 21 July 2025 10:54 AM After the Israeli regime attacked Syria, the US president's inner circle has called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "madman" who bombs any place he dislikes and undermines Donald Trump's plan for the region. According to a report published by Axios, despite the US-brokered ceasefire that halted the escalation of violence in Syria, Trump's inner circle is significantly more alarmed about Netanyahu and his regional policies. "Bibi acted like a madman. He bombs everything all the time ... This could undermine what Trump is trying to do," one White House official said, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname. Another US official said, "Netanyahu is ... like a child who just will not behave," and there is growing skepticism inside the Trump administration about his disruptive behavior. A third official said the damage the Israelis had done to their standing at the White House over the past week did not seem to be breaking through to them. Trump has so far refrained from public criticism of Netanyahu, and it is unclear if he shares his advisers' frustrations over Israel's actions in Syria. On Tuesday, Israel bombed a convoy of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) army tanks en route to the city of Suwayda in response to violent clashes between Druze minority groups and Bedouin tribesmen, which had resulted in the deaths of over 700 people as of Saturday, according to the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. In defiance of the call, Israel escalated the strikes and on Wednesday dropped bombs on the military headquarters of the HTS and near the presidential palace. The bombing of Syria took Trump and his administration by surprise, as they believed they could control Netanyahu. The US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, announced on Sunday that Syria and Israel agreed to a ceasefire, following days of intense Israeli airstrikes and violence in Syria's Suwayda region. The HTS regime also declared an "immediate ceasefire" and called on "all parties to fully respect" the truce. Israel claimed its strikes in Syria were aimed at protecting Syria's Druze minority. The HTS regime in Syria has condemned Israel's intervention as a violation of international law. Following the Israeli attacks, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, leader of the HTS-led regime in Damascus, had said in a televised speech early on Thursday that protecting the country's Druze citizens and their rights was a priority, and though Syria would prefer to avoid a conflict with Israel, it was not afraid of war. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Administration Concerned With Netanyahu's Actions in Syria - Reports Sputnik News 20250721 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump's administration is concerned with the "mad" regional policy of Israeli Prime MInister Benjamin Netanyahu, especially in the light of his latest attack on Syria, Axios reported on Sunday, citing unnamed US officials. "Bibi [Netanyahu] acted like a madman. He bombs everything all the time... This could undermine what Trump is trying to do," a US official told the portal on the condition of anonymity. Other White House officials believe that the Israeli leader's actions will turn out as a "a big mistake" for him in the long-term, as he evidently does not realize how much damage he is doing to Israel's reputation among the US leadership. Netanyahu's actions can only lead to more instability in Syria, which can be detrimental for both the Druze community in the country and Israel, yet another US official told Axis. Furthermore, many countries in the region, such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia, complained to the Trump administration about Netanyahu's attack on Damascus, while some top level US officials, including US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, complained to Trump personally, according to the report. Should the Israeli leader continue acting unpredictably, his luck with Trump may also run out soon, the report summed up. Last week, armed 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. According to data from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights non-governmental organization, the true death toll of 940, including 262 Druze civilians, since last weekend. 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. On Wednesday, Israel struck the presidential palace and general staff building in Damascus. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Experts laud Han Kuang drills for realism, discipline and practicality ROC Central News Agency 07/21/2025 08:48 PM Taipei, July 21 (CNA) The 2025 Han Kuang military exercises -- the longest in the history of the annual drills -- have drawn positive feedback for their emphasis on realistic combat training, higher troop visibility, and the debut of new military equipment, despite a few minor incidents during the 10-day period over which the exercises were held. Chieh Chung (), an adjunct researcher at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said Monday that he observed a marked improvement in training intensity and public engagement. In past years, many Taiwanese perceived conscription or refresher programs as a waste of time due to poor organization resulting from limited resources, he said. However, this year, many service members acknowledged that the training was physically demanding yet meaningful, especially given its focus on mission-based combat tasks, such as close-quarters fighting and multi-round blank firing, Chieh added. During a visit to the Army's 206th Infantry Brigade on July 11, Chieh said he was particularly impressed by the reservists' performance during a combat-readiness drill -- troops remained focused and disciplined throughout the day, even conducting the after-action review in heavy rain. Chieh said their professionalism made him question whether they were actually reservists, and he only confirmed their status after noticing their longer hair. This highlights the fact that reforms carried out by the government in refresher programs are succeeding in turning civilians into combat-ready troops, according to Chieh. Chieh also noted that this year's Han Kuang drills included more than 100 disclosed training scenarios, most of which were conducted in actual wartime mission areas. This not only enhanced realism but also allowed the public to observe the military up close, he said. As China ramps up military pressure on Taiwan, the higher troop visibility has helped to reassure the public and foster a stronger sense of national defense, Chieh said. Despite a number of traffic accidents caused by military vehicles during the annual drills, overall public support for the military remains strong, he added. Meanwhile, Lin Ying-yu (), an associate professor at Tamkang University's Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies, said both the public and reservists generally had a positive view of this year's drills. Many felt the training was substantive and clearly, not a box-ticking exercise, thanks in part to changes within the military itself and heightened public awareness of regional threats, Lin said. However, Lin cautioned that there is still room for improvement -- for example, drone warfare, which is now a crucial element of modern warfare, was not sufficiently addressed in the current training, he said. Front-line forces and reserve units should update their training models to reflect evolving threats, Lin added. In addition, while the United States has repeatedly called on Taiwan to increase its defense budget, this year's Han Kuang exercises demonstrated that Taiwan's defense hinges on more than just spending. Lin said. For instance, information security training undertaken by the military's Information, Communications and Electronic Force Command and drills involving military police in the Taipei Metro system are not included in the national defense budget but play a crucial role in strengthening Taiwan's overall resilience, Lin added. Online praise In addition to the experts' feedback, online discussion following the live-fire component of the exercises from July 9-18 was also more favorable than in previous years, with many reservists participating in the drills sharing their reflections and experiences on social media. One citizen, who asked to remain anonymous, said he had previously undergone refresher training and visited a public training site during the exercises. He noted a shift in approach: in the past, soldiers conducting blank-fire drills were required to use shell catchers to ensure that the number of shots fired matched the number of shells recovered. This year, reservists were no longer mandated to use them. Instead, officers said an approximate match would suffice. This change allowed troops to focus on combat fundamentals such as improving reaction speed and muscle memory, the observer said. During the nationwide military exercises, a light tactical vehicle operated by the military veered off the road and crashed into a roadside stone barrier on Qinan 3rd Road in Kaohsiung's Qishan District at around 6 p.m. on July 12. The crash left the vehicle interior in disarray, and the three soldiers in the vehicle with head trauma, though none of them suffered life-threatening injuries. In a separate incident, a military Patriot missile transporter became stuck at an intersection in Xindian District, New Taipei, at around 8 p.m. on July 11 after the driver misjudged a turn and the vehicle became lodged against the awning of a nearby shop, leaving it unable to move. (By Matt Yu and Sean Lin) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. House approves 'Honest Maps' amendment targeting China's depiction of Taiwan ROC Central News Agency 07/21/2025 03:02 PM Washington, July 20 (CNA) The U.S. House has passed an amendment banning the Defense Department from creating, buying, or displaying any map that shows Taiwan as part of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The "Honest Maps" amendment was approved in a voice vote on Friday as part of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for the 2026 fiscal year. The amendment prohibits using any funds from the Act to create, buy, or display maps that show Taiwan, Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu, Wuciou, Green Island, or Orchid Island as part of the PRC. The Act includes US$831.5 billion in discretionary spending. Before the vote, Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin, who proposed the amendment, urged support from his colleagues. He noted that the House had approved a similar measure last Congress as part of the State Department Appropriations bill, and this new amendment aims to extend the policy to the Department of Defense. Tiffany said the amendment was not controversial, as lawmakers in the House recognize that "Taiwan is not -- nor has it ever been -- part of Communist China, even for a single day." The U.S. lawmaker said people in Taiwan choose their leaders, maintain their armed forces, conduct their foreign policy and manage their trade agreements with other countries. "By every measure, Taiwan is a sovereign, democratic and independent nation -- and any claims to the contrary are simply false," Tiffany said. Tiffany added that since the 1970s, Washington's so-called "One China Policy" has acknowledged Beijing's unsubstantiated claims over Taiwan. He called it "an antiquated and dishonest policy -- one that we should abandon." Although Tiffany said the "Honest Map" amendment will not end the misguided One China Policy, he emphasized that it would ensure U.S. maps reflect the reality that "China is China, and Taiwan is Taiwan." The U.S. House passed its 2026 Department of Defense Appropriations Act Friday, including US$500 million in aid for Taiwan's Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative (TSCI). Before the vote, President Donald Trump urged Congress to increase funding to US$1 billion, saying Taiwan's credible defense is vital for Indo-Pacific deterrence and protecting U.S. personnel, according to the Office of Management and Budget. (By Chung Yu-chen and Frances Huang) Enditem/kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Experts urge focus on anti-drone tactics in Han Kuang drills ROC Central News Agency 07/21/2025 02:48 PM Taipei, July 21 (CNA) Defense experts have called for more focus on counter-drone drills in future Han Kuang exercises, saying the 41st edition, which ended Friday, lacked preparation for a potential large-scale drone attack by China. Extending the drills to 10 days gave troops a taste of wartime stress, while mobilizing a record 22,000 reservists aimed to gradually boost reserve combat readiness, said defense expert Yang Tai-yuan (), deputy director of the Research Project on China's Defense Affairs at the Secure Taiwan Associate Corporation. However, he said the drills lacked a clear focus on counter-drone operations, despite the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) large-scale use of strike drones. Although mesh cages over armored vehicles are common in foreign battlefields, such anti-drone measures were not seen in the drills. He warned that low-flying drones could pose a serious threat if China were to attack Taiwan. Chieh Chung (), an adjunct researcher at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, agreed, saying most ground troops -- apart from special forces -- still lack drone deployment capabilities. He said anti-drone measures were rarely seen and suggested they should become a focus of future live-fire drills once drones are more widely deployed and doctrines are formalized. Yang also noted a lack of joint operations, with branches and theater commands largely conducting drills independently -- something he said may have stemmed from the exercise's scenario design. Chieh concluded that the Ministry of National Defense could consider releasing simulated wartime information to the public and media after each phase of the exercises. He said this could improve communication and is an area for future improvement. (By Wu Su-wei and Sean Lin) Enditem/kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump urges Congress to boost Taiwan defense aid to US$1 billion ROC Central News Agency 07/21/2025 12:51 PM Washington, July 20 (CNA) The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed support for U.S. aid to Taiwan to bolster its defense capabilities and "strongly urged" Congress to increase the appropriation to US$1 billion. In the statement dated July 15, the Office of Management and Budget under the Executive Office of the President said the Trump administration appreciated the House Appropriations Committee's inclusion of US$500 million for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative (TSCI) in the fiscal 2026 Department of Defense Appropriations Act. The office said the US$500 million is crucial to the Department of Defense's efforts to enhance Taiwan's self-defense capabilities. However, the office said, "The Administration strongly urges full consideration of the fiscal 2026 budget request of US$1 billion for TSCI, as Taiwan's ability to credibly defend itself is vital for deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and important for safeguarding United States personnel in the event of a contingency." The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday passed its version of the 2026 defense appropriations bill, which includes US$500 million in aid for Taiwan, though a final version must still be negotiated with the Senate, which has yet to release its draft. The bill includes US$831.5 billion in spending and sets aside funds for Taiwan, managed by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, available until Sept. 30, 2027, for the TSCI. It requires the U.S. Secretary of Defense to report quarterly to congressional defense committees on how the funds are being used. The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party told CNA that the House discussed the TSCI after hearing testimony from retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery in May titled "Deterrence Amid Rising Tensions: Preventing CCP Aggression on Taiwan." In his testimony, Montgomery urged Congress to increase financial aid to Taiwan to strengthen its defense, noting that Taipei is too small to face Beijing alone since China's GDP is 23 times larger than Taiwan's. Montgomery said defense aid to Taiwan can be increased through Foreign Military Financing (FMF), Presidential Drawdown Authorities (PDA) and the TSCI, which allow the U.S. to provide equipment to Taiwan. Montgomery recommended US$300 million for TSCI's first year and urged Congress to approve US$1 billion for 2026 and beyond. A key use for this money would be training Taiwan's troops, including captain's courses and battalion-level training at U.S. bases in Hawaii and the West Coast, Montgomery said. Montgommery served 32 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a rear admiral in 2017, with key roles including commander of Carrier Strike Group 5 and senior staff positions at U.S. Pacific and European Commands. (By Chung Yu-chen, James Thompson and Frances Huang) Enditem/kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025/07/21 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date 6 a.m. Jul. 20 (Sun.) to 6 a.m. Jul. 21 (Mon.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities 1 sortie of PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 1 sortie crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 1140721_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan.jpg [Open a new window] 1140721_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan.jpg [Open a new window] NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defence Minister McGuinty participates in the 29th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group National Defence News release July 21, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces Today, the Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, participated in the 29th Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting, hosted by the United Kingdom and Germany. The meeting was held virtually and brought together representatives from more than 50 countries. During the meeting, Minister McGuinty announced that Canada will be donating an additional $20 million to support the Leopard 2 Maintenance and Repair facility in Poland. This donation comes from the Government of Canada's 2025-26 investment for military assistance to Ukraine. Minister McGuinty also reaffirmed that Canada is providing an additional $2 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, highlighting Prime Minister Carney's announcement last month at the 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit. This brings Canada's total commitment of military assistance to $6.5 billion since February 2022. The Minister also noted that the delivery of Armoured Combat Support Vehicles to the Polish logistics hub will begin in August 2025. Training is underway and the delivery of all 50 vehicles will be completed before the end of this year. Canada continues to work closely with Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with the comprehensive military aid that it needs as quickly as possible. Quotes "Ukraine's fight against Russia's illegal and unprovoked war is also a fight for democracy, freedom, and human rights. Through our coordinated military assistance, Canada and our international partners are working to enhance Ukraine's defences against Russian aggression. Canada commends the bravery and strength of Ukrainians, and we will continue to stand with Ukraine." The Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence Quick facts Since February 2022, Canada has committed over $19.5 billion in total assistance to Ukraine, including $6.5 billion in military assistance. This includes multi-mission drones, Armoured Combat Support Vehicles, anti-tank weapons, small arms, M777 howitzers and associated ammunition. Canada is also contributing to multinational efforts to train pilots and maintain and support Ukraine's F-16s. Canada also contributes to four Capability Coalitions under the UDCG, including the Air Force Capability Coalition, Armour Capability Coalition, Drone Capability Coalition and Information Technology Capability Coalition. Canada further supports Ukraine's security through Operation (Op) UNIFIER. Op UNIFIER is the Canadian Armed Forces' (CAF) military training and capacity building mission in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). Since 2015, the CAF has trained over 54,000 members of the AFU under Op UNIFIER. Over 300 CAF members are deployed under Op UNIFIER in various roles, including the provision and coordination of training, and the facilitation and delivery of military donations to Ukraine in coordination with Allies and partners. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Additional EUR 200 million to support critical projects - Ukraine and France announce creation of new Recovery Support Fund Ukraine Government Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, posted 21 July 2025 16:31 Ukraine and France will establish a new Fund to support critical infrastructure and priority economic sectors in Ukraine, with a target funding volume of EUR 200 million. By the end of 2025, a new intergovernmental agreement will be signed to deepen economic cooperation and create better conditions for attracting investments. The respective Declarations of Intent were signed on 21 July 2025 in the presence of Prime Minister of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko by Ukraine's Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Oleksii Sobolev and France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot. "We are grateful to France for its consistent support of critical infrastructure and priority economic sectors. Thanks to last year's intergovernmental grant agreement, French companies, together with Ukrainian businesses and communities, are already implementing 19 projects worth EUR 200 million in strategic economic sectors. France's new initiative will enable the realisation of even more critical projects and expand our partnership. We are preparing to sign a new agreement that will provide opportunities for broader economic cooperation, attracting French investments, and integrating Ukrainian companies into European production chains," said Oleksii Sobolev. The Declaration outlines that the Fund for Critical Infrastructure and Priority Economic Sectors of Ukraine will be established next year. Starting in 2027, the Fund's resources will finance projects aimed at enhancing resilience. To finance the Fund, the parties will seek the maximum possible co-financing from: Participating companies; Ukrainian partners (public or private); Ukraine's state budget; French and Ukrainian local authorities; International donors. In a separate signed document, the parties declared their intent to conclude a new intergovernmental agreement, which will include: Deepening economic cooperation in defence, energy (including renewables), nuclear energy, transport, digital technologies, aerospace, agriculture, water supply, critical minerals, and metals; Creating conditions for attracting French investments and integrating Ukrainian companies into European production chains; Joint implementation of large-scale projects and identifying financial and administrative mechanisms to support them; Supporting reforms related to Ukraine's integration into the European market and energy system. Background The first Grant Agreement between France and Ukraine to support critical infrastructure and priority economic sectors was signed in Paris on 7 June 2024. The agreement provided EUR 200 million in grants. As a result, French companies and Ukrainian public beneficiaries submitted over 70 projects for funding, totalling EUR 750 million. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Budrys: Lithuania will do its utmost to ensure that prisoners of war and abducted Ukrainian children held in Russia return home safely and as soon as possible Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Updated 2025-07-21 On 21 July, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kestutis Budrys, opened the first international expert-level meeting of the "Safe Pathways Home" initiative in Vilnius. This initiative aims to coordinate international efforts to bring back the abducted Ukrainian children, prisoners of war, and other deported individuals from illegal Russian captivity. "From children to prisoners of war, every life matters. More than 1.6 million Ukrainian children are still living in Russian-occupied territories, and the number of Ukrainian children illegally deported to Russia is nearly 20,000. Lithuania will do its utmost to ensure that their journey home is safe, dignified, and as swift as possible," said Budrys. Discussions at the meeting will focus on practical steps to facilitate border crossings, ensure transit possibilities, provide legal and humanitarian assistance, and contribute to the return of unlawfully imprisoned persons or abducted children to their families. Lithuania expressed its wish to join the "Safe Pathways Home" initiative at the Conference on the Human Dimension of the Peace Formula held in Canada on 31 October 2024. Lithuania is also a member of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, initiated by Canada and Ukraine. This coalition aims to identify practical steps to support Ukraine and its efforts to recover deported children, as well as to contribute to rehabilitation and reintegration of those who have been returned. At the meeting, the Minister stressed that the only way to peace was through Ukraine's victory and the restoration of justice - the return of territorial integrity, accountability for the aggressor, and justice for war crimes committed. Lithuania will never recognise illegal occupation, neither de jure nor de facto. The meeting highlighted the role of international organisations in documenting war crimes and called for the effective implementation of their mandates. The expert-level meeting in Vilnius is a follow-up to last year's conference in Montreal, which focused on human dimension issues and was organised by Ukraine, Canada, and Norway. Experts gathered in Vilnius today affirmed that Europe must remain united and that every person rescued is a step toward a shared, secure future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia says open to talks with Ukraine, but insists on its goals People's Daily Online (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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kremlin Confirms Composition of Russia's Negotiation Team Remains Unchanged Sputnik News 20250721 The composition of the Russian delegation will remain the same for the upcoming round of negotiations with Ukraine, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov assured. "There are no changes to the Russian negotiating team," Peskov replied to reporters when asked whether there would be any changes to the Russian Federation's delegation for the third round of talks with Ukraine. Earlier on Saturday, Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary, Rustem Umerov, had proposed resuming negotiations with Russia by arranging another meeting between the negotiating teams next week. A source within the Russian delegation confirmed to RIA Novosti that such a proposal had indeed been put forward. Additionally, a separate Moscow-based source indicated that signals from Kiev suggest an upcoming decision on a specific date for such negotiations, offering hope that arrangements will be finalized soon. Russia and Ukraine have already held two rounds of direct talks, which took place in Istanbul. The talks resulted in a prisoner exchange, and Russia also handed over the bodies of fallen Ukrainian servicemen. Additionally, both sides exchanged draft memorandums on conflict resolution. However, a date for the third round has not yet been set, despite repeated statements from Turkey and Russia expressing readiness to proceed. Moscow will provide an update as soon as there is clarity on the dates for the next round of Russia-Ukraine negotiations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. His other statements: Russia and Ukraine are set to exchange views on two draft memorandums regarding a settlement. The Russian and Ukrainian drafts are fundamentally opposed, indicating that extensive diplomatic efforts will be required. Moscow emphasizes the importance of respecting Russian citizens in Azerbaijan. Russia and Azerbaijan maintain mutually beneficial cooperation based on mutual respect. Regarding Azerbaijan's plans to file a lawsuit against Russia over the downed aircraft: if Baku chooses to proceed, that is its right. Putin is preparing for a visit to China; Moscow has not heard of any similar plans from Donald Trump. The Kremlin does not rule out that the question of a possible Putin-Trump meeting in China could be raised, if the US president is also present. On Monday, Putin will receive a report from the head of Udmurtia, Aleksandr Brechalov. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Denys Shmyhal held phone conversations with the defence ministers of the United Kingdom and Germany ahead of the Ramstein-format meeting Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 21 July, 2025, 4:27 PM EEST The Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, held working phone calls with the UK Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, and the German Federal Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius. The parties coordinated next steps ahead of the upcoming Ramstein-format meeting. Denys Shmyhal underscored Ukraine's appreciation for the direct involvement of its partners in enhancing the country's defence capabilities. The discussion also covered Ukraine's key defence needs, notably the reinforcement of air defence systems and the advancement of joint defence initiatives, including the expansion of drone production in Ukraine. A weekly coordination of joint efforts was agreed upon with UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey. In a conversation with German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius, the Ukrainian Defence Minister underscored the expectation of Germany's support for Ukraine's involvement in the European SAFE initiative, which serves as an essential instrument for ensuring security across Europe. The Minister of Defence of Ukraine expressed gratitude to the partners for their steadfast support in countering russian aggression and their willingness to advance close cooperation further. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sergiy Boyev discussed funding for the Ukrainian defence industry and the implementation of the SAFE mechanism with EU representatives Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 21 July, 2025, 10:27 AM EEST First Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Sergiy Boyev, held a meeting with a delegation from the European Union. The European delegation included Simon Mordue, Deputy Director-General DG Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood; Benedikta von Seherr-Thoss, Managing Director for Peace, Security, and Defence at the European External Action Service; and Andre Denk, Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency. The parties focused on the European Union's steps to support Ukraine on the battlefield this year and throughout 2026. Specifically, Sergiy Boyev emphasised the critical defence and security requirements of Ukraine. The delegations examined avenues for directing funding towards the production of drones, long-range strike systems, and interceptors. Furthermore, the parties explored the potential use of additional revenues generated from frozen russian assets to bolster Ukraine's defence industry. Another important subject was the deployment of the EU SAFE mechanism, designed to facilitate new investments in the production of weaponry to meet Ukraine's defence requirements. Sergiy Boyev also informed partners about the prospects for cooperation within the Build with Ukraine project. "Ukraine counts on the participation of European partners in this initiative. This will enable scaling up the production of the most advanced weapons for the Defence Forces of Ukraine, integrate the Ukrainian defence industry into the European security framework, and make a vital contribution to the continent's defence," stated the First Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We Are Introducing a Moratorium - A Ban - On Business Inspections and Any Interference by Law Enforcement, Regulatory Bodies, or Various State Agencies in Business Activities - Address by the President President of Ukraine 21 July 2025 - 20:32 I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians! Today, I held a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council - the first in its renewed format following changes in the Government - and focused precisely on what we had discussed with Government officials. We are introducing a moratorium - a ban - on business inspections and any interference by law enforcement, regulatory bodies, or various state agencies in business activities. Of course, this excludes very high-risk "shadow" sectors, such as excise goods - alcohol and tobacco - to prevent new "grey" schemes there. There is also now a clear list of legislative changes and concrete measures at the Government level, aimed at positively transforming the business environment in our country during the moratorium and placing each element of state agencies under real control. The Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Ruslan Kravchenko, has proposed a completely transparent and clearly understandable system to ensure true integrity in law enforcement work on economic cases and to eliminate opportunities for corruption. I expect the relevant amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code and other laws to be adopted as swiftly as possible. Ukraine's Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and our Government officials must also ensure the implementation of support programs for Ukrainian production, Ukrainian jobs, and investment in our state - all of which enable us to supply our army and maintain our country's resilience. We remember that it is precisely Ukrainian businesses and Ukrainian enterprises that provide normal living conditions for our people and the opportunity to work under any circumstances. Business needs predictability - and it will have it. I am grateful to everyone who supports this. Today, we also had very detailed discussions with the Government and the military officials about procurement of drones - all types of drones, including interceptor drones. In addition to this, deep strikes and drones for the frontline. I have instructed that contracting be expanded to the maximum - we are procuring everything capable of defending our cities from "shaheds" and protecting our frontline positions. This is also one of the tasks for Ukrainian diplomats - today I took part in a meeting with our country's ambassadors. We have a significant funding shortage for arms production in Ukraine; and Ukrainian diplomats, together with all Government officials and the Presidential Office, must secure agreements with partners on financing. I have already raised this issue with some leaders. There is readiness among our friends, readiness among Europeans to help. We must fully and rapidly implement every agreement. We are also preparing a significant intensification of work on sanctions against Russia over this war. These are both new sanctions by us and our partners, as well as synchronizing sanctions. Russia exploits every sanction loophole to fund its war. Accordingly, we must maximize the synchronization of all sanctions - our partners' sanctions in Ukrainian jurisdiction, Ukrainian sanctions in our partners' jurisdictions, and partners' sanction regimes must be harmonized among them as well. The workload is significant, but sanctions have proven effective. We see in the "negatives" in the Russian economy, their budget problems, production issues - sanctions really work. There must be more of this to drain Russia's economic potential. And one more thing. All day today, efforts have been underway to eliminate the consequences of the Russian strike on our cities and our Ukrainian communities. Various regions - from Kharkiv and Sumy to Ivano-Frankivsk. There was a massive attack on Kyiv. A significant number of "shaheds" and missiles were shot down. And every such wave of Russian strikes reminds us of two things: air defense - we need more systems, more coverage across our country; and also our long-range strikes on Russia - if Putin is off the deep end with this "shahed" obsession and terror, they must be left without logistics. Everyone working to protect life and limit Russia's war potential is working toward achieving peace. I also thank all partners who are pushing for new and stronger sanctions, including secondary sanctions. Let Russian bravado not deceive anyone - they are truly feeling the impact of sanctions, and they must end the aggression. Russia must end this war it itself started. Nobody else needs this war but Russia. There will definitely be peace. I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine! I thank our warriors! And one more thing. Today I discussed with Rustem Umerov the preparation for a prisoner exchange and another meeting in Turkiye with the Russian side. Umerov reported that the meeting is planned for Wednesday. More details will follow tomorrow. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Funding for the Defense Industry, Use of Russian Assets, EU and NATO Membership, Negotiations to End the War, and Support for Ukrainians Abroad - President Names Ukraine's Diplomatic Priorities for the Year President of Ukraine 21 July 2025 - 16:51 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in the Annual Meeting of the Heads of Ukraine's Foreign Diplomatic Missions "From the Power of Diplomacy to the Diplomacy of Power," where he outlined the main priorities for the work of Ukrainian diplomats. According to the Head of State, these priorities include strengthening cooperation with partners in weapons production, especially drones; increasing pressure on Russia and utilizing Russian assets; opening negotiation clusters for Ukraine's accession to the European Union and continuing integration with NATO; increasing momentum in negotiations to end the war; and supporting Ukrainians abroad. "The main task of Ukrainian diplomacy is to support everything that protects Ukrainian lives in Ukraine above all and everything that inflicts pain on Russia for this war. And each of you must deliver concrete results for the sake of our people, for the sake of Ukrainians," the President emphasized. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that one of the key tasks is securing funding for the production of all types of drones. "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. The world must know what is happening because of these despicable Russian strikes and how exactly life can be protected here. This must be the work not only of Kyiv but of all our embassies and all our representatives," the Head of State said. He stressed the importance of working on the use of Russian assets and turning the rulings won against Russia into the financial realm. In particular, the President called for supporting NJSC "Naftogaz" and its legal team, which are working on collecting funds from Russia and affiliated entities. The amount involved is USD 6.9 billion - this is the total sum of arbitration awards won against Russia and Gazprom. "Overall, this should be one of your primary tasks - to advocate for the necessity of Russia fully paying for what it is doing against Ukraine," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. In addition, the Head of State pointed out the need to continue synchronizing sanctions. Ukraine enforces partners' sanctions within its jurisdiction, and Ukrainian sanctions must be extended within partners' jurisdictions. According to him, particular attention must be paid to the sanctions track in relations with the United States and implementing agreements reached with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding air defense, Ukrainian drones for America, economic cooperation, and investments. The President emphasized that the entire legal architecture must function to hold Russia accountable for this war. Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to prepare a concrete list of steps for launching the Special Tribunal on Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Next, the Head of State called for continuously enriching each of the partnership formats with substance. According to him, this year the Government must ensure readiness regarding all negotiation clusters for Ukraine's EU accession, and Ukrainian diplomats must continue working to ensure the European Union fulfils its promises. Integration with NATO continues at the working level, which is why it is important to take all available steps at the political level. Separately, the President called not to reduce activity in implementing bilateral security agreements, of which there are already 28. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also stressed the need to intensify efforts in the countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Arab world, and the Pacific region. Another priority for Ukraine is increasing momentum in negotiations to end the war. According to the Head of State, a prisoner exchange with Russia is currently being prepared. NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov has proposed a new meeting of representatives with the Russian side 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. I ask you to inform the countries of your posting about the necessity of exactly this negotiation approach, of exactly this agenda, and to ensure Ukraine receives the required political support," the President said. In addition, Ukraine's embassies and consulates must assist Ukrainian citizens and communities to maintain their connection with their country. "In particular for this purpose, a law on multiple citizenship was recently adopted, and we have begun its implementation. This is both a task and, I believe, a very significant historic achievement. We will gradually determine the countries where the corresponding procedures will be introduced," the Head of State said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Ukrainian diplomats for their work and presented them with state awards. In particular, the Order of Merit, I class, was awarded to the Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, Vsevolod Chentsov; the Orders of Merit, II class, to the First Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergiy Kyslytsya, and the Special Presidential Envoy for Cooperation with the United States, Olha Stefanishyna. The Orders of Merit, III class, were presented by the Head of State to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Czech Republic, Vasyl Zvarych, and to the Ambassador to the French Republic, Vadym Omelchenko. The Order of Princess Olga, I class, was awarded to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States, Oksana Markarova. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Address by the President to the Participants of the Annual Meeting of the Heads of Ukraine's Foreign Diplomatic Missions: "From the Power of Diplomacy to the Diplomacy of Power" President of Ukraine 21 July 2025 - 16:40 Good afternoon! Welcome, everyone! Glory to Ukraine! Dear Mr. Minister, esteemed guests! It's a pleasure to see you. Mr. Barrot, I thank you for your visit. Dear Olena Anatoliivna, Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. I'm glad to see everyone. Thank you for being here. Our dear Ukrainian diplomats! Almost all of you were in Zaporizhzhia yesterday - you saw what is needed there and what the situation is, which is very difficult, in the frontline regions of our state. Today, Kyiv endured yet another strike by "shaheds" and other enemy weapons, missiles. Other cities and our Ukrainian communities were also targeted - from Kharkiv to Ivano-Frankivsk. Which means you don't just know what the tasks of modern Ukrainian diplomacy are - you've felt them. And those are: even greater efforts to protect the lives of our people, even closer engagement with our partners. The Russians, without doubt, are seeking resources to continue their war - including for this coming year. Much has already been done to limit their resources and much has been done to limit their capabilities, thanks to our warriors, and thanks to diplomacy, to the entire state, and to our people. However, more is still needed. More. The main task of Ukrainian diplomacy is to support everything that protects Ukrainian lives in Ukraine above all and everything that inflicts pain on Russia for this war. And each of you must deliver concrete results for the sake of our people, for the sake of Ukrainians. This is not pathos; this is the truth. I believe this to be the key goal. First - weapons. Of course, we won't publicly discuss the details of each line of effort right now. But each of you knows what capabilities exist in your countries and what opportunities there are for cooperation and joint production. We now have truly global cooperation - the largest ever built for Ukraine. But this does not mean that we can stop expanding activities. We must always seek new formats. There was a time when the Danish model was a breakthrough, indeed, a real breakthrough. Also, the Czech initiative on artillery. Much has been done to develop these models, and also much has been done to develop our national aviation - and, by the way, it's not just the F-16s, but French Mirage jets are also being used very effectively. We thank the French partnership for this, and we thank President Macron - please convey warm greetings to him from me and from Ukraine. And I thank Mr. Minister. I also want to thank our Ambassador to France. Thank you! I don't see him; we thank you, Vadym. 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 - that's 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. The world must know what is happening because of these despicable Russian strikes and how exactly life can be protected here. This must be the work not only of Kyiv but of all our embassies and all our representatives. Your host countries must hear you and must support you. We need this result. Second. Russian assets must be used for defense against Russian aggression. Yesterday, by the way, I received a report by the CEO of NJSC "Naftogaz Ukraine." Naftogaz has won arbitration cases against Russia and against Gazprom. The total amount currently stands at approximately USD 6.9 billion, which would make a significant difference right now if we could direct such a large sum of money to our defense. We must be creative, and we must be persuasive in turning Ukraine's already won rulings into concrete reality - into the financial realm. Naftogaz and its legal team are working to collect funds from Russia and affiliated entities. They must be supported in this effort. Please get in touch with the CEO of Naftogaz via the Minister of Foreign Affairs if your country has the relevant capacity to enforce these arbitration decisions. Overall, this should be one of your primary tasks - to advocate for the necessity of Russia fully paying for what it is doing against Ukraine. This notably applies to sanctions as well. In Ukraine, we have initiated efforts to synchronize sanctions. We enforce our partners' sanctions within our jurisdiction, and accordingly, Ukrainian sanctions must be extended within our partners' jurisdictions. I know it's not easy, but it's necessary, and it is precisely the responsibility of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the National Security and Defense Council. I also ask you to pay attention to harmonizing the sanctions imposed by certain partners across the jurisdictions of others. Currently, not all EU sanctions packages have even been synchronized among European countries that are not EU members. This must be fixed, and maximum effort must be put into promoting the strengthening of sanctions against Russia. Particular emphasis is required on the sanctions track in relations with the United States. Since the change of Administration, the substance of our relations with America has transformed. However, the goal of our cooperation with the United States remains unchanged - we must withstand Russian strikes, and this is important even beyond our region and Europe. The defense of Ukraine provides a stronger foundation for global security and helps prevent any wars, including in the Indo-Pacific region. This connection must be affirmed. I also want to thank our Ambassador, Oksana Markarova, for her work in Washington. Thank you, Oksana, I see you! These were very tough years. Very tough, yet productive: much has been accomplished. Thank you, Oksana! Now, the U.S. direction is led by Olha Stefanishyna. I wish her success. The challenges won't lessen. 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 it's a challenge - to implement all of these. And the role of the embassy should be significant. We also need to advocate strongly within the G7 to ensure that sanctions and sanction measures are taken also in the U.S., in Europe, in Japan. The entire legal architecture must also work on holding Russia accountable for this war. Efforts are underway to document and investigate Russian war crimes, including our work at the level of the International Criminal Court and our new agreement to establish a Special Tribunal on Russia's aggression against Ukraine. I would also like to thank the team for this work. Thank you! Greater clarity and specific timelines are needed, particularly regarding the Tribunal's establishment. Earlier this morning, Andrii and I discussed this. I have instructed Andrii Sybiha, the Minister, to prepare a concrete list of steps - what must be done and when the Tribunal can be launched. Frankly, I would not want the Ukrainian people to wait decades for this launch. Next - in addition to our traditional relations in Europe at the level of the European Union and NATO, which are now filled with more substance than at any point since Ukraine's independence, we have also established several special formats. In particular, these include the Ukraine - Northern Europe format, the Ukraine - Southeast Europe format, the Ukraine - Romania - Moldova format, the Lublin Triangle, our special relationship with Turkiye, and our Crimea Platform. Each of these formats requires an ongoing sense that the work is gaining more substance. There is real potential for this, and I ask you to be more proactive in proposing ideas on how to secure results. As for the European Union - this year, our Government must ensure full readiness across all negotiations and all negotiation clusters. And it will. I have faith in you. We understand that Ukraine is not responsible for the slowdown in its accession process. And that is a fact, and for that I would like to thank the team and you personally, dear Ms. Olha Stefanishyna. Thank you for the result! We will continue working with the EU to ensure it delivers on its promises. And this is also part of your responsibilities - for those ambassadors working in the European Union, as well as in countries that have influence on the EU. Anyone who harms Ukraine's interests and undermines global trust in the EU must face consequences. The European integration agenda, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will now be led by Taras Kachka. Congratulations. We know you're a qualified professional - and we'll see what comes next. There will also be some other changes regarding the European direction - probably personnel changes. But all that's a bit later. NATO remains the strongest and potentially most effective security architecture in Europe and likely in the world. Undoubtedly for all, and we are fully aware of that. At the working level, our integration with NATO continues, and we must also take every available step at the political level. I ask you to continue conveying this position in your engagement with partners - it is NATO that is the guarantee of peace in Europe, the most cost-effective - it's a fact - the most cost-effective and the most efficient guarantee. Russia talks a lot about NATO's advance, but it is precisely where NATO has advanced that decades of peace have taken hold, while in places where NATO is slow to act, peace is often scarce. I also ask you not to slow down efforts in implementing our bilateral security agreements. They are important. There is a serious result - 28 such agreements are already in place, and each one must be delivered on, particularly with regard to the financial commitments they contain. We must also be active in other regions of the world, and the foundation of our diplomacy must be economic, where that approach truly works, and value-based, where that approach works. The countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Arab world, and the countries of the Pacific region - as I noted earlier today, Ukraine has and must pursue its interests everywhere: economic, political, and security-related. We must already build our positions strategically - after this war, Ukraine will become a security exporter 100%, and our partners should today already see Ukraine accordingly. Fourth priority. We need increased momentum in negotiations to end the war. This is a challenging track. And we all understand that truly effective negotiations can only happen at the leaders' level. 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. I ask you to inform the countries of your posting about the necessity of exactly this negotiation approach, of exactly this agenda, and to ensure Ukraine receives the required political support. And fifth. Our embassies and our consulates must support Ukrainian citizens and Ukrainian communities. Ukrainians have already become a global community. Of course, there are some differences between migration waves and varying needs across different geographies, but the core is the same - we must maintain the connection between Ukraine and all our people. In particular for this purpose, a law on multiple citizenship was recently adopted, and we have begun its implementation. This is both a task and, I believe, a very significant historic achievement. 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, 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. 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. I ask that you get in direct contact with our Government officials on education, social matters, the economy - everything that our citizens need in your countries of assignment and that can be provided - everything that can be provided must be provided. Ukraine's embassies and Ukraine's consulates must truly function as hubs of action in support of Ukraine. And we also discussed this in detail today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and we will demonstrate a new approach regarding consulates in other countries. I thank all of you here today, and I thank each of you who work this very way - for results, for a free, strong, and independent Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President of Ukraine Meets with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France President of Ukraine 21 July 2025 - 15:30 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Noel Barrot, who took part in the annual meeting of Ukrainian ambassadors. The Head of State thanked the Minister for his visit, which demonstrates support for Ukraine. This morning, Jean-Noel Barrot, in particular, visited one of the Kyiv districts damaged during last night's massive Russian shelling. "We are grateful to President Macron for his support, leadership within the Coalition of the Willing, and assistance with what Ukraine has needed since the beginning of this war. Two days ago, we had a conversation with him and agreed on some important decisions," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The President expressed special gratitude for the Mirage aircraft, which have significantly strengthened the capabilities of the strike aviation, primarily in destroying Russian drones and cruise missiles. During the meeting, the parties discussed France's defense support, especially the critical need for air defense systems, as well as the training of Ukrainian warriors and the outcomes of meetings in the Ramstein format. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that our state is ready to expand joint defense production and commended the decision of French companies to begin manufacturing drones on Ukrainian territory. Among other important topics discussed was the strengthening of sanctions against Russia for the sake of peace. The Head of State welcomed the adoption of the EU's 18th sanctions package against the Russian Federation, including the lowering of the price cap on Russian oil. "We need to keep up our efforts to help you protect the Ukrainian people and increase pressure on Russia to achieve a ceasefire. This will allow real peace negotiations to begin that will lead to a just and lasting peace," noted the French Minister for Foreign Affairs. Additionally, the parties discussed the negotiation process regarding Ukraine's accession to the EU. The President acknowledged France's and partners' efforts to develop a mechanism that will enable the opening of the first negotiation cluster. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Jean-Noel Barrot for his personal stance on supporting Ukraine and Ukrainians and awarded him the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, III class. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy Introduces the new Minister of Defense President of Ukraine 21 July 2025 - 15:06 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy introduced the newly appointed Minister of Defense, Denys Shmyhal, to the teams of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the General Staff of the Armed Forces. The Head of State expressed gratitude to the former Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov, his team, and the team of the Ministry of Strategic Industries, which is being integrated into the Ministry of Defense system. "I am confident that Denys Anatoliiovych Shmyhal, having experience as a Prime Minister during wartime, a comprehensive vision, and sufficient determination, will definitely handle all challenges and can ensure the full implementation of all our important tasks," the President said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that one of the main tasks of the Ministry of Defense and all defense manufacturers must be to provide a proportionate response to Russian strikes. "All available interceptor drones and other effective drones must be contracted this week. Among the top priorities must also be the proper training of operators for such drones and support of the entire infrastructure: from production to the use of interceptors," the Head of State noted. The President noted that the needs of army aviation, the Air Force, and all units protecting lives in cities and villages must be met. According to him, it is important to increase the frequency and range of use of Ukrainian drones against Russian targets and to scale up weapons production. After all, every facility in Russia that Moscow uses to produce weapons must become reachable for the Ukrainian Defense Forces. "People must see, in particular, that Ukraine has its own missiles. Overall, the task regarding weapons is - thanks to increased domestic production - to raise the share of Ukrainian weapons in our Defense Forces to 50% within the next six months," the President emphasized. He highlighted that within ten days, Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal and NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov must report on the results of auditing agreements with partners regarding weapons supplies, joint production, and investment. "This concerns everything: the Danish model, coalitions of capabilities, bilateral agreements, and especially agreements on building weapons factories on the territory of partners, as well as other joint projects. A clear timeline for implementation is needed," the Head of State noted. The President also said that the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the NSDC Secretary must intensify work in partner formats, including Ramstein. Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal thanked Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the trust and said that the Ministry of Defense must step up work in three lines of effort. The first is to provide the military with weapons, clothing, equipment, food, medical assistance, and psychological support. The second is the production of Ukrainian weapons. The third is building an effective system within the Ministry of Defense that envisages efficient solutions and personal responsibility for each employee. "There must be more Ukrainian-made weapons at the front: drones, artillery, missiles, shells. Our defense industry will produce the widest possible range of weapons," he said. NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov thanked the President for his trust and everyone he worked with daily in the team, summarizing the main results achieved as Minister of Defense. "Almost 40% of frontline needs are met by the Ukrainian defense industry, 95% of drones at the front are Ukrainian, and ammunition and artillery production has tripled. Under the Danish model, we managed to attract over USD 4 billion in investments, and the volume of security assistance in 2025 reached USD 43 billion," Rustem Umerov emphasized. He noted that he will continue to perform tasks in another security area and wished success to Denys Shmyhal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SSU and PGO detain fsb 'mole' in ranks of National Anti-Corruption Bureau: he was supervised by deputy head of Yanukovych's security Security Service of Ukraine 15:15, 21 July 2025 The SSU and the PGO exposed the fsb's agent infiltration into the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. As a result of comprehensive measures taken in Kyiv, an an employee of the Central Office of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine was detained. He worked in 'D-2', the most exclusive, closed division and spied for the russian special services. The investigation established that the agent's subversive activities were coordinated by traitor Dmytro Ivantsov, Yanukovych's deputy head of security, who in February 2014 helped the fugitive president flee to russia, while he himself remained in Crimea, joined the ranks of the occupiers, and was recruited by the fsb. The Security Service has documented at least 60 incidents of the transfer of classified information to Yanukovych's former deputy head of security by the suspect. Among other things, the 'mole' collected personal data for the fsb on Ukrainian security officials and other citizens against whom the enemy was planning terrorist attacks and psychological operations. To obtain personal information about potential 'targets', the suspect used restricted databases of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies. For each task completed, the agent received money from his supervisor, which was transferred to his bank card. Previously, officers of the Security Service of Ukraine had informed the management of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine about possible risks associated with the aforementioned employee. However, the leadership of the Agency did not take any measures in response, and the person in question continued to work in his position and attempted to destroy evidence of his illegal activities. Subsequently, after thoroughly documenting the crimes committed by the 'mole', the SSU and the PGO officers detained him. His phone and computer equipment, which he used to contact his supervisor, were seized. Currently, the russian agent has been notified of suspicion under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 1 of Article 111 (high treason); Part 3 of Article 362 (unauthorized actions with information processed in electronic computers, automated systems, computer networks, or stored on such information carriers, committed by a person who has access to it). The perpetrator faces imprisonment for up to 15 years. Comprehensive measures were carried out under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SSU and PGO expose current member of Ukrainian parliament collaborating with russia: he had significant influence on NABU activities Security Service of Ukraine 11:10, 21 July 2025 The Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office have exposed Fedir Khrystenko, a current MP from the banned Opposition Platform-For Life party party, on charges of high treason. According to the investigation, the people's deputy was a high-level FSB agent and was responsible for strengthening russian influence on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU). The traitor has been served a notice of suspicion in absentia under the following articles of the CCU: 28.2, 111.1, 111.2 (high treason committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons under martial law); 369-2.2 (abuse of influence). According to the investigation, after the start of the full-scale invasion, Khrystenko fled Ukraine and continues to influence the NABU. As established, Fedir Khrystenko was recruited by the FSB during the Yanukovych administration and is currently in close contact with Yurii Ivaniushchenko (aka Yura Yenakiievskyi), who is a resident of the FSB, 'watching' for the so-called DNR. In addition, Khrystenko was a liaison of collaborator Armen Sarkisian (aka Armen Horlivskyi), who died in an explosion in one of Moscow's elite residential buildings in early 2025. According to findings, Khrystenko actively performed tasks of the russian intelligence service during the Revolution of Dignity. In particular, for the organization of the Anti-Maidan, he used private carriers under his control to transport "titushky". In addition, Khrystenko is currently in close relations with some of the NABU's leaders, including Ruslan Mahamedrasulov, the head of the NABU's Interregional Detective Department, who has been detained by the SSU today on suspicion of doing business with russia and contacts with ruscists. According to the available data, Khrystenko met this detective since they studied together at Donetsk University. Moreover, Khrystenko is in close contact with the head of the NABU detective unit, Oleksandr Skomarov. There is evidence that in 2022, during the full-scale invasion, Skomarov's wife was traveling abroad in a car belonging to Khrystenko's wife. Skomarov participated in the competition for the head of another law enforcement agency of Ukraine - the Bureau of Economic Security. The investigation found that if he won the competition, Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoiskyi hoped that Skomarov, as the new head of the BES, would help close the criminal proceedings against him. This information was confirmed by evidence of Kolomoiskyi's correspondence with one of his subordinates. However, Kolomoiskyi is not the only oligarch whom FSB agent Khrystenko tried to help. It has been documented that NABU detectives assisted another Ukrainian businessman, Ihor Kolomoiskyi's business partner, Hennadii Boholiubov, escape. In particular, two employees of the Bureau, Skomarov's subordinates, accompanied the fugitive oligarch when he crossed the state border of Ukraine: they were in the neighboring compartment of the train "for safety". According to the investigation, the corresponding "special operation" was also organized by Fedir Khrystenko. During the searches of the contacts of the MP from the banned Opposition Platform-For Life party, Khrystenko, materials of NABU criminal proceedings were found, including documents of covert surveillance of the suspects, as well as questionnaires of candidates for detectives of the Bureau, which evidences russian influence and systematic leaks of information from the anti-corruption agency. The SSU is taking comprehensive measures to establish all the circumstances of possible infiltration of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau by russian intelligence services. The investigation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General's Office. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelenskyy Says New Talks Set July 23 As Russia Continues To Blast Ukrainian Cities By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service July 22, 2025 KYIV -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a fresh round of peace talks with Moscow is set for July 23 in Turkey as the West steps up pressure on the Kremlin to agree to a cease-fire, even while Russian forces continue to launch deadly air strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. "Today, I discussed with Rustem Umerov the preparation for a prisoner exchange and another meeting with the Russian side in Turkey," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address on July 21, referring to the new head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council. "Umerov reported that the meeting is planned for Wednesday [July 23]. More details will follow tomorrow," he added. Umerov previously was Ukraine's defense minister and led the first two rounds of talks with Russia 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. "Everything should be done to achieve a cease-fire," Zelenskyy said in his regular evening address on July 19. "The Russian side should stop hiding from decisions," he added. 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. The Kremlin did not confirm the date or location for the next round of talks, saying only that it was waiting for more details and adding that the two sides still held "diametrically opposed" positions on ways to end the long, deadly conflict. "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. 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. Zelenskyy earlier told a meeting with Ukrainian diplomats that "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." 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 leader's 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, British defense chief John Healey, Germany's Boris Pistorius, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and NATO leader Mark Rutte were among those attending a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal called on allies to rush deliveries of US Patriot air-defense missile systems under the plan set out by Trump. "I request the US make these weapons available for purchase, and our European partners to extend all the needed financing for their procurement," Shmyhal told the meeting. Trump on July 14 announced that NATO members would send existing weapons, including Patriot missile systems, to Ukraine and that the United States will be reimbursed for all of the equipment. On the battlefront, 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. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, in Kyiv for talks with Zelenskyy, visited some of the affected areas. 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. Away from the battlefield, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) and the Prosecutor's Office said they had detained officials from the country's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) in efforts to "neutralize Russian influence." The SBU said it had arrested one NABU official as a suspected Russian spy and another over suspected business links to Russia. NABU said some 70 searches had been conducted by law-enforcement and security agencies in connection with 15 of its staff and alleged that they had taken place without court approval. "In most cases, the grounds cited for these actions are the alleged involvement of certain individuals in traffic accidents,' although it acknowledged that some of the employees were "accused of possible connections with the aggressor state [Russia]." With reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-putin-trump- zelenskyy-turkey-corruption-arrest/33480207.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 Pentagon Quietly Returns Nuclear Bombs to UK for First Time Since 2008 Sputnik News 20250721 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States has reportedly returned its nuclear weapons, including an unspecified number of B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs, to the British Lakenheath air force base in Suffolk, the UK Defense Journal reported, citing multiple sources. For the first time since at least 2008, the United States has transported weapons from the US Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico to a newly established secure storage facility in Suffolk, UK, the journal reported on Sunday. The Lakenheath base stored US nuclear weapons during the Cold War, with their removal occurring in 2008 as part of disarmament initiatives. The potential reintroduction of nuclear bombs to Europe coincides with worsening relations between NATO and Russia, particularly due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the military alliance's efforts to enhance its readiness. The B61-12 bomb is an enhanced version of the B61 nuclear bomb, featuring advanced guidance systems and variable yield capabilities. As a key element of the United States' strategic nuclear arsenal, it is designed for deployment through various delivery systems, including F-35A Lightning II aircraft and other platforms. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NOVAGOLD RESOURCES INC. (NOVAGOLD or the Company) (NYSE American, TSX: NG) is pleased to announce that the Companys Board of Directors (the Board) has approved the appointment of Ali Erfan to serve on the Board effective immediately. Mr. Erfans ascension will fill the vacancy left by the departure of director Diane Garrett. I am very pleased to welcome Ali Erfan to NOVAGOLDs Board, said Dr. Thomas S. Kaplan, NOVAGOLDs Chairman. Mr. Erfan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a long-standing Vice-Chairman of The Electrum Group, investment adviser to Electrum Strategic Resources, which is the Companys largest shareholder and a global leader in precious metals mining, with multi-billion-dollar investments and operations in North America. I also wish to extend my deepest appreciation to Diane Garrett for her valued guidance and significant contributions to the Company over her seven years of committed service. Mr. Erfan has extensive capital markets and industry experience as one of the key executives at Electrum, which he joined in 2007, and as a founding board member of Leor Energy, a privately held North American natural gas producer that went from a start-up in 2003 to being sold to Encana in 2007 for $2.6 billion. He later served on the board of Gatos Silver from IPO through to its merger with First Majestic and presently sits on the boards of Gabriel Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: GBU.V), and Electrums two privately-held silver vehicles Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining and Sinda. Prior to joining Electrum, Mr. Erfan was a senior partner at 3i Group plcs London headquarters, one of the worlds most prominent listed private equity and venture capital investment companies. Earlier in his career, Mr. Erfan was invested in several early-stage technology companies that achieved IPOs and M&A exits internationally. These included, among others, HTE (acquired by BASF), Insensys (acquired by Moog Inc.), Smart Fuel Cells (IPO Frankfurt), and CSR (IPO London, then acquired by Qualcomm). Mr. Erfan graduated from the University of Oxford with a BA and an MA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He holds an MBA from the London Business School and is a member of Kauffman Fellows Class 10. About NOVAGOLD NOVAGOLD is a well-financed precious metals company focused on the development of the Donlin Gold project in Alaska, one of the safest mining jurisdictions in the world. With approximately 39 million ounces of gold in the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource categories, inclusive of Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves (541 million tonnes at an average grade of approximately 2.24 grams per tonne, in the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource categories on a 100% basis)1, the Donlin Gold project is regarded to be one of the largest, highest-grade, and most prospective known open-pit gold deposits in the world. According to the 2021 Technical Report and the S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary, once in production, the Donlin Gold project is expected to produce an average of more than one million ounces per year over a 27-year mine life on a 100% basis. NOVAGOLD Contacts: Melanie Hennessey Vice President, Corporate Communications Frank Gagnon Manager, Investor Relations 604-669-6227 or 1-866-669-6227 info@novagold.com www.novagold.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This media release includes certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward- looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as expects, continue, ongoing, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, potential, possible, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results will, may, could, would or should occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements contained in this media release are based on a number of material assumptions, including but not limited to the following, which could prove to be significantly incorrect: our ability to achieve production at Donlin Gold; the cost estimates and assumptions contained in the 2021 Technical Report and the S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary; estimated metal pricing, metallurgy, mineability, marketability and operating and capital costs, together with other assumptions underlying our resource and reserve estimates; our expected ability to develop adequate infrastructure and that the cost of doing so will be reasonable; assumptions that all necessary permits and governmental approvals will be obtained and the timing of such approvals; assumptions made in the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of our mineral deposits; our expectations regarding demand for equipment, skilled labor and services needed for exploration and development of mineral properties; our ability to improve our ESG initiatives and goals; and that our activities will not be adversely disrupted or impeded by development, operating or regulatory risks. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on several opinions, estimates and assumptions that management of NOVAGOLD considered appropriate and reasonable as of the date such statements are made, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding perceived merit of properties; mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; and the success of the strategic mine plan for the Donlin Gold project, including expected production and mine life. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent the expectations of NOVAGOLD managements estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances on the date the statements are made. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include the need to obtain additional permits and governmental approvals; the timing and likelihood of obtaining and maintaining permits necessary to construct and operate; the need for additional financing to complete an updated feasibility study and to explore and develop properties; availability of financing in the debt and capital markets; disease pandemics; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drill results and geological tests and the estimation of reserves and resources; changes in mineral production performance, exploitation and exploration successes; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/or changes in the administration of laws, policies and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in the United States or Canada; the need for continued cooperation between the owners of Donlin Gold LLC to advance the project; the need for cooperation of government agencies and Native groups in the development and operation of properties; risks of construction and mining projects such as accidents, equipment breakdowns, bad weather, disease pandemics, non-compliance with environmental and permit requirements, unanticipated variation in geological structures, ore grades or recovery rates; unexpected cost increases, which could include significant increases in estimated capital and operating costs; fluctuations in metal prices and currency exchange rates; whether or when a positive construction decision will be made regarding the Donlin Gold project; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in NOVAGOLDs most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, particularly the Risk Factors sections of those reports and other documents filed by NOVAGOLD with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. Copies of these filings may be obtained by visiting NOVAGOLDs website at www.novagold.com, or the SECs website at www.sec.gov, or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking statements contained herein reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections of NOVAGOLD on the date the statements are made. NOVAGOLD assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. __________________________________ 1 Donlin Gold data as per the report titled NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Donlin Gold project, Alaska, USA with an effective date of June 1, 2021 (the 2021 Technical Report) and the report titled S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary on the Donlin Gold project, Alaska, USA (the S-K 1300 Technical Report Summary), dated November 30, 2021. Donlin Gold possesses Measured Resources of approximately 8 Mt grading 2.52 g/t and Indicated Resources of approximately 534 Mt grading 2.24 g/t, each on a 100% basis and inclusive of Mineral Reserves, of which approximately 5 Mt of Measured Resources and approximately 320 Mt of Indicated Resources inclusive of Reserves is currently attributable to NOVAGOLD through its 60% ownership interest in Donlin Gold LLC. Exclusive of Mineral Reserves, Donlin Gold possesses Measured Resources of approximately 0.9 Mt grading 2.23 g/t and Indicated Resources of approximately 69 Mt grading 2.44 g/t, of which approximately 0.5 Mt of Measured Resources and approximately 42 Mt of Indicated Resources exclusive of Mineral Reserves is currently attributable to NOVAGOLD. Donlin Gold possesses Proven Reserves of approximately 8 Mt grading 2.32 g/t and Probable Reserves of approximately 497 Mt grading 2.08 g/t, each on a 100% basis, of which approximately 5 Mt of Proven Reserves and approximately 298 Mt of Probable Reserves is attributable to NOVAGOLD. Mineral Reserves and Resources have been estimated in accordance with NI 43-101 and S-K 1300. San Francisco, CA , July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Project Odyssey, the worlds largest AI filmmaking competition opens submissions August 29, 2025 for Season 3. This season is projected to feature over 10,000 AIgenerated films from more than 3,000 creators across 100+ countries, before culminating in a hybrid redcarpet gala and livestream in midNovember. "Project Odyssey Season 3" with an astronaut walking on Mars. AI video has moved from niche experiment to mainstream creative force, said Cale Frombach, Executive Director. Project Odyssey is more than a contest - its a global showcase of how AI is rewriting the rules of storytelling and a huge opportunity for brands to tap into genuine creativity at scale." Building on Season 2s success - 4,593 film submissions from 2,043 teams in 87 countries - Season 3 aims to double participation, generate 300+ hours of original video, and surpass 2 million global impressions. Season 3 Key Dates (Tentative) Submissions Open: August 29, 2025 August 29, 2025 Submissions Close: October 3, 2025 October 3, 2025 Final Gala & Winners Announced: MidNovember 2025 (Las Vegas, NV; hybrid event) Sponsor Opportunities & Benefits Sponsors are invited to directly connect their brands to an innovative global audience of creators and enthusiasts through highly visible partnership tiers, including opportunities to have naming rights to the awards gala, have their models/services/apps promoted to thousands of AI filmmakers, provide creative briefs for AI-generated promotional content, and much more. Why Sponsor Season 3? Global Creator Reach: Engage 3,000+ filmmakers across 100+ countries, embedding your product in their creative process. Engage 3,000+ filmmakers across 100+ countries, embedding your product in their creative process. Thought Leadership: Position your brand at the forefront of AIdriven storytelling and creativity. Position your brand at the forefront of AIdriven storytelling and creativity. Authentic UGC: Leverage Ad Lab briefs to generate genuine, passiondriven microfilms that outperform polished ads. Leverage Ad Lab briefs to generate genuine, passiondriven microfilms that outperform polished ads. Talent Scouting: Scout, connect, and recruit emerging filmmakers for internships, freelance gigs, or longterm partnerships. Scout, connect, and recruit emerging filmmakers for internships, freelance gigs, or longterm partnerships. Expert Insights: Speak on gala panels, join weekly livestreams, and collaborate with Cale Frombach and industry experts. Press & Media Engagement Embargoed Press Kits & Trailers: Available upon request ahead of August 29 launch for media planning. Available upon request ahead of August 29 launch for media planning. Exclusive Interviews: With Executive Director Cale Frombach and Season 2 winners. With Executive Director Cale Frombach and Season 2 winners. BehindtheScenes Access: Join our press list for continuous updates, insider insights, and gala coverage. About Project Odyssey Founded in 2024, Project Odyssey is the worlds premier AI filmmaking competition. Seasons 1 & 2 attracted over 6,000 films and 2,000+ teams from 87 countries. Season 3 scales up with a target of 10,000+ film submissions, a global livestream, and an inperson gala in Las Vegas. Media Contact Cale Frombach - Executive Director, Project Odyssey cale@projectodyssey.ai Press Page www.projectodyssey.ai/media Sponsors Page https://www.projectodyssey.ai/sponsors WASHINGTON, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Texas parents gathered outside the White House for a solemn memorial and press conference following the catastrophic flooding in Kerr County that claimed more than 120 lives, including 27 children attending summer camp. Organized by impacted families and the Make Polluters Pay, a campaign by Fossil Free Media, the memorial featured a powerful visual display of 27 childrens camp trunks on the Ellipse Lawneach representing a young life lost. Parents placed yellow roses atop the trunks in silence before delivering impassioned remarks demanding federal accountability and urgent action to protect children from worsening climate-driven disasters. The ceremony concluded with a stirring performance by a local choir, who sang Lean on Me and Rise Like the Water as families stood arm in arm, calling for justice and change. Parents directly blamed the Trump administrations cuts to disaster preparedness and early warning systems, including FEMA, NOAA, and the National Weather Service, which they say left communities vulnerable. Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, recently inserted language into H.R. 1 that slashed millions from NOAA programs essential for flood forecasting and public alerts. We know that this administration, by destroying renewable energy and using our tax dollars to prop up the fossil fuel industry, an industry that earned $102 billion dollars last year, is doing everything it can to supercharge this climate crisis, said Texan and mom Samantha Gore . To also be defunding our NWS and NOAA, the agencies we use to keep our children safe, at the same time is unthinkable. How dare they. Parents won't sit back while our children die from floods that shouldn't have been supercharged, from DOGE cuts that put their lives on the line, and from weather services not being funded. What are they thinking? We won't back down. They are destroying everything we love. In addition to demanding the restoration of life-saving public programs, demonstrators called on President Trump and Congress to hold fossil fuel companies financially accountable for the damage their pollution has caused. Texans are grieving because public safety systems were dismantled to serve fossil fuel interests, said Cassidy DiPaola, spokesperson for the Make Polluters Pay campaign. Senator Cruz helped cut flood forecasting programs days before the storm. Now families are paying the price while polluters and their allies deflect blame. Texans deserve accountability, not excuses. Speakers stressed that the Kerr County tragedy reflects a growing pattern of climate disasters that will only intensify without bold action and restoration of critical safeguards. It feels like weve lost our way as a country in a very short time. In the six months since this administration has been in charge they have encouraged, enabled, allowed a temporary government agency, one with no oversight, to wantonly cut budgets and offer early retirements for roles that are crucial to the safety of our communities. There were other serious failures at lower levels of government, all of which directly contributed to the loss of dozens of childrens lives. These werent accidents or acts of God. These were intentional choices. Let that sink in, said Texan and mom Helen Waters. This event affected me deeply as I grew up going to summer camp in the area and I have close friends who were caught in the flooding and nearly died. However its clear to me that this has, and will, happen in other places. We must fight for a social contract with reliable and accountable. As an Austin mom, Ive been feeling the losses of the children from my community in a very visceral, immediate way, said Texan and mom Eileen McGinnis. As the founder of The Parents Climate Community, a climate nonprofit in Central Texas, I was moved to join because its also vital to connect these losses, this collective grief, to a larger story: kids around the world are bearing the brunt of climate changes impacts, and we are failing to protect them. To speak with parents or campaign representatives, please contact: Cassidy DiPaola | Fossil Free Media | cassidy@fossilfree.media | 401-441-7196 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dec3545d-41ef-480b-a8bf-bb3665e09832 After nearly twenty years of successful business activity in the Bulgarian real estate market, the Management Board of Arco Vara AS has initiated a strategic exit process, with the ultimate goal of a complete withdrawal from the Bulgarian market. The decision was confirmed by the companys Supervisory Board in July 2025, following a thorough evaluation of Arco Varas long-term strategy and the current and future development opportunities across different markets. The management has already launched the sale process, and several local Bulgarian real estate developers have expressed interest in participating in the transaction. Potential buyers will have the opportunity to conduct thorough due diligence and submit their offers to acquire Arco Varas Bulgarian operations. According to Kristina Mustonen, Member of the Management Board of Arco Vara, this is a well-considered and forward-looking decision. Exiting Bulgaria allows us to focus even more clearly on our core market Estonia. Our major project in the Luther Quarter, one of the most attractive development areas in Tallinn, requires strong leadership, focused attention, and financing capacity. By freeing up resources from Bulgaria, we will be better positioned to realise the growth potential of our Estonian projects and strengthen our position in the domestic market, commented Mustonen. This decision was not made lightly we have achieved significant results in Bulgaria, built a strong team, and delivered high-quality developments we can be proud of. However, from the perspective of Arco Varas long-term growth and shareholder value, it is strategically justified to concentrate our focus on Estonia, where the potential of our projects is greater today than ever before, explained Kert Keskpaik, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Arco Vara AS. The company will keep shareholders and the public informed about the progress of the exit process and will provide further updates as transactions or other material developments reach the next stage. Darja Bolshakova CFO Arco Vara AS darja.bolshakova@arcovara.com LONDON, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Singapore-based exchange Bitrue has officially listed HEGE on its new Bitrue Alpha platform today, July 21. Bitrue, launched in July 2018 and now supporting over 700 cryptocurrencies, adds HEGE to its growing roster of assets, providing expanded access and liquidity for global users. This milestone comes amid a broader resurgence in animalbased memecoins. Over the past seven days, the global market cap of animal-themed memecoins has risen by 8.95%, while trading volume across the sector has surged by 101%, underscoring renewed interest and participation worldwide. Within that same period, HEGE itself has climbed 11.6%, reflecting growing attention and engagement from its community. This milestone arrives as interest in longterm communitydriven memecoins continues to rise. HEGE, a hedgehogthemed token on the Solana blockchain, has steadily evolved beyond a typical meme asset into what its community calls a brandcoin, blending onchain culture with offchain brand development. Timely Expansion: Bitrue Alpha Listing With the listing on Bitrue Alpha, HEGE holders and new participants alike gain access to one of Asias leading trading platforms, known for its broad asset support and strong infrastructure. Bitrue Alpha offers enhanced trading features and improved visibility for emerging projects, positioning HEGE for its next phase of growth. The team behind HEGE commented, Todays listing on Bitrue Alpha is another step in bringing HEGE to a broader global audience. Were excited to expand our reach and continue building a project rooted in culture and creativity. Building Beyond a Memecoin Launched over 15 months ago, HEGE has established itself through consistent community initiatives and an expanding ecosystem. Rather than operating as a shortterm meme, the project has focused on brandbuilding and delivering creative content. Key highlights of the HEGE ecosystem include: Hegends NFT Collection Lore-based characters including Hege, Hegena, and Hendrix Lore-based characters including Hege, Hegena, and Hendrix Merchandise Store A newly launched collection of onbrand apparel and collectibles A newly launched collection of onbrand apparel and collectibles Original Animated Content HEGE is finalizing a contract with a professional studio to produce over 20 highquality animations in the coming weeks. All content is fully custom, from preproduction through final output, and entirely nonAI generated HEGE is finalizing a contract with a professional studio to produce over 20 highquality animations in the coming weeks. All content is fully custom, from preproduction through final output, and entirely nonAI generated Community Campaigns Weekly raids, meme contests, and social challenges Weekly raids, meme contests, and social challenges Consistent Branding A narrative universe positioning HEGE as more than just a meme A Market Ready for Growth As the broader cryptocurrency market gains traction and liquidity continues to flow across exchanges, projects with strong community foundations and creative direction are finding new opportunities. The Bitrue Alpha listing marks an important step for HEGE as it extends its presence to a wider global audience. About HEGE: Website: https://www.hegecoin.com Twitter/X: @HegeCoin Media Contact: marketing@hegecoin.com Disclaimer: This press release is provided by HegeCoin. 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. 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. 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 sector--including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining--complete 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.Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.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. 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 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. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/101c3cd7-f41f-41ab-9600-2caeb59a0d94 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f5e8f068-4bc9-4851-b8ad-1f1312d01304 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/047c8917-08f3-4395-9a2b-d2e0fe6b0c72 Press Release Eviden sets the stage for AtLaS, the European Defence Fund challenge on Human Language Technology processing Selected by the European Commission, Eviden will provide a platform to integrate the applications and its own innovative human language processing application Paris, France July 22, 2025 Eviden, the Atos Group product brand leading in advanced computing, cybersecurity products, mission-critical systems and vision AI, today announces that it has been selected by the European Commission to provide the technical platform to host and integrate the applications developed by the nine selected organizations constituting the AtLaS consortium for the HLTP Challenge. This project, one of the four selected projects, is launched and financed by the European Defence Fund. Eviden will also supply BARTENDER, its own innovative software which enables natural language processing in hundreds of languages. The AtLaS project focuses on advancing Human Language Technology (HLT) in defense, by combining artificial intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to handle low-quality and multilingual data. AtLaS' objectives include developing resilient systems for noise and multiple language handling, leveraging advanced training and technologies like denoising. During the challenge, the participating consortium members will have the opportunity to improve defense communication and intelligence gathering as well as create adaptable systems for a European library of language technologies. Bernard Payer, Global Head of Mission-Critical Systems, Eviden, Atos Group, said: We are proud to have been selected by the European Commission on the HLTP challenge and to leverage our expertise in Systems Integration and Human Language Processing within a consortium of industrial companies. This is all the more important as HLTP is an essential tool for identifying threats and gathering information that can be exploited for defense purposes. AtLaS aims to evaluate the automatic language processing (ALP) solutions provided by various European partners in the defense sector. It addresses the specific constraints of these solutions operational frameworks, such as processing different dialects and languages in degraded and varied contexts including noisy environments, theaters of operation, and communications. *** The AtLaS project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed in this press release are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Defence Fund. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. *** About the European Defence Fund The European Defence Fund supports companies across Member States develop competitive and collaborative defence projects that will deliver innovative and interoperable defence technologies and equipment. It offers support and advice to participants throughout the entire cycle of research and development. About Eviden Eviden is the Atos Group brand for hardware and software products with c. 1 billion in revenue, operating in 36 countries and comprising four business units: advanced computing, cybersecurity products, mission-critical systems and vision AI. As a next-generation technology leader, Eviden offers a unique combination of hardware and software technologies for businesses, public sector and defense organizations and research institutions, helping them to create value out of their data. Bringing together 4,200 world-class talents and holding more than 2,100 patents, Eviden provides a strong portfolio of innovative and eco-efficient solutions in AI, computing, security, data and applications. About Atos Group Atos Group is a global leader in digital transformation with c. 72,000 employees and annual revenue of c. 10 billion, operating in 68 countries under two brands Atos for services and Eviden for products. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, Atos Group is committed to a secure and decarbonized future and provides tailored AI-powered, end-to-end solutions for all industries. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea) and listed on Euronext Paris. The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space. Press contact Isabelle Grange | isabelle.grange@atos.net | +33 (0) 6 64 56 74 88 Attachment CALGARY, Alberta, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. (the Company or ReconAfrica) (TSXV: RECO) (OTCQX: RECAF) (Frankfurt: 0XD) (NSX: REC) provides an operational update on the Kavango West 1X exploration prospect and announces the resignation of Iman Hill as a Corporate Director of the Company effective July 31, 2025. Kavango West 1X (Prospect I) Spud scheduled before end of July The drilling rig has been safely moved on-site and all necessary permits required to spud the well have been received by the Company from the various regulators. Final drill-rig assembly and safety checks are underway and the Kavango West 1X exploration well is scheduled to spud before the end of July. The well is planned to reach total depth (TD) of approximately 3,800 metres (12,500 feet) and is expected to penetrate over 1,500 metres of Otavi carbonate reservoir section, which is the primary target of the Damara Fold Belt play. The Kavango West 1X exploration well will be the second test in the expansive Damara Fold Belt play. The prospect is a large structural fold identified on modern 2D seismic data, which extends over 22 kilometers long by three kilometers wide. The Company has identified over 19 prospects and leads mapped in the Damara Fold Belt trend, with an additional 5.0 million acres captured in a recently executed Memorandum of Understanding in offsetting Angola. Brian Reinsborough, President and CEO of ReconAfrica stated: Everyone at the Company has worked diligently to get drill-ready on the Kavango West 1X prospect and we are excited to spud the well in the coming days. We recognize the importance of this play opening well holds for our shareholders, the local communities in which we operate and the broader energy industry in Namibia. We are committed to remaining engaged with local communities and authorities and to ensuring the safe and efficient operation of this well. Board of Directors Update Iman Hill, who was appointed a Director of ReconAfrica in August 2023, has resigned from the Board of Directors effective July 31, 2025, due to foreign work obligations. Following Imans resignation, the Board of Directors will consist of five members, three of whom are independent directors. Currently, the Board of Directors intends to remain at five seats. Diana McQueen, Board Chair of ReconAfrica commented: We thank Iman for her work and guidance over the past two years and wish her well in her future endeavors. With respect to the Kavango West 1X well, ReconAfrica wishes to thank all community and regulatory stakeholders in Namibia for working with the Company to bring the well to the current drill-ready stage. ReconAfrica remains engaged with its stakeholders and is focused on operations that are safe for all employees and neighbouring communities, as well as wildlife and the environment. About ReconAfrica ReconAfrica is a Canadian oil and gas company engaged in the exploration of the Damara Fold Belt and Kavango Rift Basin in the Kalahari Desert of northeastern Namibia, southeastern Angola and northwestern Botswana, where the Company holds petroleum licences comprising ~13 million contiguous acres. In all aspects of its operations, ReconAfrica is committed to minimal disturbance of habitat in line with international standards and implementing environmental and social best practices in its project areas. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information contact: Brian Reinsborough, President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Friesen, Managing Director, Investor Relations & Capital Markets IR Inquiries Email: investors@reconafrica.com Media Inquiries Email: media@reconafrica.com Tel: +1-877-631-1160 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information under applicable Canadian, United States and other applicable securities laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, statements with respect to the expected including timing of spud of the Kavango West 1X well, the well being drilled to a planned total depth of approximately 3,800 metres (12,500 feet), timing to reach total depth of the well and the Companys commitment to minimal disturbance of habitat, in line with best international standards and its implementation of environmental and social best practices in its project areas. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on ReconAfrica's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company's actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's annual information form (AIF) dated April 29, 2025 for the financial period ended December 31, 2024, available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Actual future results may differ materially. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to ReconAfrica. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and ReconAfrica undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Dublin, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.: 360? Company Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Thermo Fisher Scientific, covering key details such as key milestones/history, product offerings, technologies, major applications and end-user industries it serves. It includes details of Thermo Fisher Scientific's ownership structure and key management. It also includes company's business segments and evaluates financial performance for 3 years. The strategic analysis chapter highlights recent developments, including mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, collaborations, product launches, and innovation initiatives. It further provides an analysis of R&D expenditure during the 2023-2025 period, discussing key focus areas and technological breakthroughs. Additionally, a list of distributors across regions was mapped and includes an in-depth SWOT analysis to evaluate the micro and macro environment on a company's growth trajectory. Report Includes A detailed company profile of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. including sections of business overview, HQ address, history, mission/vision and key management details Business segment and a detailed list of products offered by Thermo Fisher Scientific Details of applications and end-user industries for which Thermo Fisher offers products A list of citations of "Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc." company in the recently published reports Financial outlook of the company for three most recent fiscal years Details about the company's distributors across regions Analysis of the strategic alliances, M&A activity and strategic development outlook of the past 3 years Overview of sustainability trends and ESG developments and targets A SWOT analysis of the company, analyzing major factors impacting the company's performance Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Company Background Overview Snapshot Corporate HQ Address Mission/ Vision Company Milestone/ History Leadership and Team Key Management Who Owns the Company Chapter 2 Company Business Business Segments Business Portfolio/ Business Line Applications/ End Users Recent Citation Chapter 3 Financial Reporting and Analysis Key Financial Highlights Company Financials Key Financial Parameters Business Segment Financial Geographic Segment Financial Conclusion/ Viewpoint Chapter 4 Corporate Social Responsibility (ESG) Introduction Mission Sustainability Trends/ Initiatives and Strategies Environmental Social and Governance Conclusion/ Viewpoint Chapter 5 Strategic Analysis Strategic Moves/ Key Developments Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. in News Research and Development (R&D) Analysis Supplier and Distributor/ Partnering and Licensing SWOT Analysis Strength Weakness Opportunity Threat Conclusion / Viewpoint For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tvr51q 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. Dublin, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Koninklijke Philips N.V.: 360? Company Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Koninklijke Philips N.V., covering key details such as key milestones/history, product offerings, technologies, major applications and end-user industries it serves. The core of the company's work culture is its 130-year heritage of ground-breaking innovation to meet global health challenges. The company IP portfolio consists of 50,500 approx. patent rights, 150,000 design rights, 30,500 trademarks and 3,200 domain names. Koninklijke Philips N.V. is the parent company of The Philips Group. Its operating model allows end-toend businesses to have a single responsibility, which enables the company to be more agile in creating and driving value with sustainable impact. Philips operates through four major segments: diagnosis and treatment, connected care, personal health, and others (which includes six major businesses). The company's main motto is diversification from consumer products to the healthcare industry through innovation, design and sustainability. It operates across oceans and is organized into three regions: North America, Greater China, and the international region (Europe and the Growth regions). However, for financial calculation purposes, it is organized into four regions: Western Europe, North America, Other mature geographies and Growth geographies. It also includes Philips's business segments and evaluates financial performance for 3 years. The strategic analysis chapter highlights recent developments, including mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, collaborations, product launches, and innovation initiatives. It further provides an analysis of R&D expenditure during the 2023-2025 period, discussing key focus areas and technological breakthroughs. Additionally, a list of distributors across regions was mapped and includes an in-depth SWOT analysis to evaluate the micro and macro environment on a company's growth trajectory. Report Includes A detailed company profile of Koninklijke Philips N.V. includes an overview, corporate address, history, mission/vision and Key management details Business segment and a detailed list of products offered by Philips Details of applications and end-user industries for which Philips offers products A list of citations of Koninklijke Philips N.V; in the recently published reports Financial outlook of the company for three most recent fiscal years Details about the company's distributors across regions Analysis of the strategic alliances, M&A activity and strategic development outlook of the past 3 years Overview of sustainability trends and ESG developments and targets SWOT analysis of Koninklijke Philips N.V., analyzing major factors impacting the company's performance Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Company Background Overview Snapshot Corporate HQ Address Mission/Vision Company Milestone/History Leadership and Team Key Management Chapter 2 Company Business Business Segments Business Portfolio/Business Line Applications/End-Users Recent Citation Koninklijke Philips N.V. Chapter 3 Financial Reporting and Analysis Key Financial Highlights Company Financials Key Financial Parameters Business Segment Financial Geographic Segment Financial Conclusion/Viewpoint Chapter 4 Corporate Social Responsibility (ESG) Introduction Mission Sustainability Trends/Initiatives and Strategies Environmental Social Governance Conclusion/Viewpoint Chapter 5 Strategic Analysis Strategic Moves/Key Developments Koninklijke Philips N.V. in News Research and Development (R&D) Analysis Supplier and Distributor/Partnering & Licensing SWOT Analysis Strength Weaknesses Opportunity Threat Conclusion/Viewpoint For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cx5bi2 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. To give an overview of the 2025 Q2 financial results, LHV Group organised an investor meeting webinar on 22 July. An overview of the company's progress was given by Madis Toomsalu, former Chairman of the Management Board of LHV Group, Mihkel Torim, Chairman of the Management Board of LHV Group, and Meelis Paakspuu, CFO of LHV Group. The live coverage was followed by 32 participants, the live feed of the presentation was broadcast over Zoom. Recording of the investor meeting (in Estonian) is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HRsdcw4O_c Presentation (in English) at: www.lhv.ee/assets/files/investor/LHV_Group_Investoresitlus_2025-Q2_EN.pdf LHV Group is the largest domestic financial group and capital provider in Estonia. LHV Groups key subsidiaries are LHV Pank, LHV Varahaldus, LHV Kindlustus, and LHV Bank Limited. The Group employs over 1,100 people. As at the end of June, LHV Pank services are being used by 474,000 clients, the pension funds managed by LHV have 110,000 active clients, and LHV Kindlustus protects a total of 176,000 clients. LHV Bank Limited, a subsidiary of the Group, holds a banking licence in the United Kingdom and provides banking services to international financial technology companies, as well as loans to small and medium-sized enterprises. Investor Relations Sten Hans Jakobsoo Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Development Email: stenhans.jakobsoo@lhv.ee Communications Paul Pihlak Head of Investment Communications Email: paul.pihlak@lhv.ee MIAMI, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Defiance ETFs, a leader in thematic and leveraged exchange-traded funds, today announced the launch of a new innovative ETF: the Defiance Daily Target 2X Long VST ETF (Ticker: VSTL) . VSTL provides investors with amplified 2X daily exposure to Vistra Corp. (VST), empowering retail investors to capitalize on high-growth opportunities in the energy sectors without the need for a margin account. VSTL aims to provide 200% of the daily performance of Vistra Corp., a leading integrated retail electricity and power generation company driving innovation in sustainable energy solutions. VSTL utilizes derivatives such as swaps and options to achieve their leveraged objectives, offering precise exposure to these dynamic companies. VSTL represents Defiance's continued commitment to pioneering leveraged ETFs that give investors amplified access to transformative companies, said Sylvia Jablonski, CEO of Defiance ETFs. Vistra's pivotal role in the energy transition makes VSTL a timely addition to our lineup, allowing active investors to pursue high-growth strategies in resilient sectors. Why Vistra Corp.? Vistra Corp. is at the forefront of the clean energy revolution, operating one of the largest fleets of zero-carbon nuclear and solar power in the U.S. With increasing demand for reliable, sustainable energy sources, Vistra's focus on renewables, battery storage, and grid modernization offers investors exposure to the burgeoning green energy market, fueled by policy support and technological advancements. An investment in VSTL is not an investment in Vistra Corp. The Fund is not suitable for all investors. The Fund is designed to be utilized only by knowledgeable investors who understand the potential consequences of seeking daily leveraged (2X) investment results, understand the risks associated with the use of leverage, and are willing to monitor their portfolios frequently. The Fund is not intended to be used by, and is not appropriate for, investors who do not intend to actively monitor and manage their portfolios. For periods longer than a single day, the Fund will lose money if the Underlying Security's performance is flat, and it is possible that the Fund will lose money even if the Underlying Security's performance increases over a period longer than a single day. An investor could lose the full principal value of his/her investment within a single day. About Defiance Founded in 2018, Defiance is at the forefront of ETF innovation. Defiance is a leading ETF issuer specializing in thematic, income, and leveraged ETFs. Our first-mover leveraged single-stock ETFs empower investors to take amplified positions in high-growth companies, providing precise leverage exposure without the need to open a margin account. IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES The Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contain this and other important information about the investment company. Please read carefully before investing. A hard copy of the prospectuses can be requested by calling 833.333.9383. Defiance ETFs LLC is the ETF sponsor. The Fund's investment adviser is Tidal Investments, LLC ("Tidal" or the "Adviser"). Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. As an ETF, the funds may trade at a premium or discount to NAV. Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. A portfolio concentrated in a single industry or country, may be subject to a higher degree of risk. There is no guarantee that the Fund's investment strategy will be properly implemented, and an investor may lose some or all of its investment. VST Risks. The Funds invest in swap contracts and options that are based on the share prices of VST. This subjects the Funds to the risk that the respective share prices decrease. If the share price of VST decreases, the Funds will likely lose value and, as a result, the Funds may suffer significant losses. Therefore, as a result of the Funds' exposure to the values of VST, the Funds may also be subject to the following risks: Underlying Securities Trading Risk. The trading prices of VST may be highly volatile and could continue to be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors. Underlying Securities Performance Risk. VST may fail to meet publicly announced guidelines or other expectations about their businesses, which could cause their share prices to decline. Energy Industry Risk (VSTL). The energy industry is susceptible to commodity price volatility, regulatory risks, environmental concerns, and shifts in demand for renewable energy. Derivatives Risks. The Funds' derivative investments carry risks such as an imperfect match between the derivative's performance and its underlying assets, and the potential for loss of principal, which can exceed the initial investment. Swap Agreements. The use of swap transactions is a highly specialized activity, which involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. Leverage Risk. As part of the Funds' principal investment strategy, the Funds will make investments in swap contracts and options. These derivative instruments provide the economic effect of financial leverage by creating additional investment exposure to the Underlying Securities, as well as the potential for greater loss. Compounding Risk. The Funds have a single day investment objective, and performance for any other period is the result of compounding daily returns for each trading day. The effects of compounding will likely cause the performance of a Fund to be either greater than or less than the Underlying Security's performance times the stated multiple in the Fund's investment objective, before accounting for fees and fund expenses. High Portfolio Turnover Risk. A high portfolio turnover rate increases transaction costs, which may increase the Funds' expenses and reduce performance. Frequent trading may also cause adverse tax consequences for investors in the Funds due to an increase in short-term capital gains. Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Funds are non-diversified, they may invest a greater percentage of their assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if they were diversified funds. Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk of the market generally. The value of the Fund, which focuses on an individual security, may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole. Additionally, the Fund will seek to employ its investment strategy as it relates to the underlying issuer regardless of whether there are significant corporate actions such as restructurings, enforcement activity, or acquisitions or periods adverse market, economic, or other conditions and will not seek to take temporary defensive positions during such periods. New Fund Risk. As newly formed funds, they have no operating history, providing a limited basis for investors to assess performance or management. Brokerage commissions may be charged on trades. Distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. David Hanono, info@defianceetfs.com, 833.333.9383 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/730d34c6-68f9-4ebe-8bc9-46b13df3d522 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Headwater Gold Inc. (CSE: HWG, OTCQB: HWAUF) (the "Company" or "Headwater") is pleased to announce it has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) with a subsidiary of OceanaGold Corporation (OceanaGold) (TSX: OGC, OTCQX: OCANF). The parties propose to enter into a definitive agreement (the Agreement) within 90 days for OceanaGold to acquire an option to earn up to a 75% interest in Headwaters TJ, Jake Creek and Hot Creek projects in Nevada (collectively, the Projects) through staged exploration expenditures totalling up to US$65,000,000 and the completion of Pre-Feasibility Studies. Highlights: OceanaGold proposes to fund a firm minimum commitment of US$2,500,000 in exploration expenditures across three Projects within the first two years of the Agreement; OceanaGold may elect to earn up to a 65% interest in each Project by funding exploration expenditures of US$25,000,000 on each of TJ and Jake Creek and US$15,000,000 on Hot Creek within an 8-year period; OceanaGold may elect to earn an additional 10% interest (to 75%) by completing a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) on each Project and granting Headwater a 1% NSR royalty upon completion of the PFS; Under the partnership, Headwater will be the initial operator of the Projects and will receive a 10% management fee; and Headwater and OceanaGold are preparing to initiate drilling programs at the TJ project immediately following the execution of the Agreement. Caleb Stroup, Headwaters President and CEO, states: We are excited to announce this LOI with OceanaGold, a highly respected technical partner and a successful epithermal gold explorer and mid-tier gold miner. The LOI outlines a clear framework to advance our TJ, Jake Creek and Hot Creek projects through significant exploration funding and drilling, while allowing Headwater to retain meaningful carried interests and royalties. This deal aligns with our strategy of partnering with strong corporate partners to aggressively accelerate exploration on our high-potential projects in Nevada, one of the worlds premier mining jurisdictions. We look forward to working with OceanaGold and initiating the various programs which will supplement another busy year of exploration for the Company. Table 1: Principal Structure of the Proposed Transaction: Stage Project Specific Expenditures (US$) OceanaGold Interest (%) Time for Each Stage TJ Jake Creek Hot Creek Minimum Commitment $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $500,000 0% 2 Years from Execution Date of Agreement Stage 1 $10,000,000 $10,000,000 $5,000,000 51% 4 Years from Execution Date of Agreement Stage 2 +$15,000,000 +$15,000,000 +$10,000,000 65% 4 Years from commencement of Stage 2 Stage 3 Completion of PFS Completion of PFS Completion of PFS 75% 2 Years from commencement of Stage 3 LOI Commercial Terms: The LOI outlines the proposed terms for the definitive agreement under which OceanaGold would make cash payments and incur exploration expenditures to acquire up to a 75% interest in each of the three Projects through a three separate staged earn-in process (Table 1). As consideration for entering into the LOI, OceanaGold shall advance a non-refundable payment of US$150,000 to Headwater that will be used to fund pre-drilling expenses on the Projects. Upon execution of the Agreement (the Execution Date), OceanaGold will pay US$100,000 to Headwater and an additional US$100,000 on the first anniversary of the Agreement if OceanaGold elects to continue into the second year on at least one Project. Earn-in Structure Stage 1: OceanaGold may elect to earn a 51% interest in each Project by sole funding expenditures of US$10,000,000 per Project for each of TJ and Jake Creek and US$5,000,000 for Hot Creek within 48 months of the Execution Date. Stage 1 includes a firm commitment to fund a minimum of $1,000,000 in exploration expenditures on both TJ and Jake Creek and $500,000 at Hot Creek within the first two years. Stage 2: OceanaGold may elect to earn an additional 14% interest (to 65%) in each Project by sole funding additional expenditures of US$15,000,000 per Project for each of TJ and Jake Creek and US$10,000,000 for Hot Creek within 48 months following the completion of Stage 1. Stage 3: OceanaGold may earn an additional 10% interest (to 75%) in each Project by completing a Pre-Feasibility Study for the respective Project and granting a 1% NSR royalty to Headwater, within 24 months following completion of Stage 2. About the TJ Project: The TJ project is located on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in a relatively underexplored area of northeastern Nevada, approximately 25 km southeast of the town of Jackpot. The project area contains indications of a fully preserved epithermal system, including a thick and laterally extensive accumulation of silica sinter in the core of the property. Epithermal alteration is localized along a series of steeply inclined faults that bound a graben filled with Miocene-age sedimentary rocks. Limited historic exploration on the property included shallow Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling that confirmed the presence of a broad zone of high-level epithermal alteration. The Company completed an initial round of scout drilling in 2024 which confirmed the project has potential for high-grade epithermal vein-style mineralization at depth (Headwater news release - January 16, 2025). A follow-up core drilling program is being planned with the objective of testing prospective epithermal structures identified during the 2024 program at depth. The TJ project is subject to an underlying exploration lease and option to purchase agreement under which the Company may acquire a 100% interest in the project for US$1,500,000 inclusive of annual minimum payments. A portion of the project is subject to NSR royalties ranging from 1.5% to 2.5% with Headwater retaining the right to buy-down 80% of the NSR. About the Jake Creek Project: The Jake Creek project is 100% owned and consists of 189 unpatented lode mining claims on BLM land in Humboldt County, Nevada, located 65 km northwest of Winnemucca and 8 km east of the Nevada Gold Mines Turquoise Ridge Mine Complex. Historic drilling by Evolving Gold Corp. in 2010 and 2011 (13 RC holes) intersected widespread epithermal mineralization at the Tertiary unconformity, with notable intercepts1 such as 11.3 g/t Au over 1.52 m within 45.72 m grading 0.96 g/t Au in hole JC-005. This mineralization, associated with silicification, clay alteration and banded quartz veining, suggests a robust low-sulfidation epithermal system with potential for high-grade feeder zones at depth or along strike. A portion of the project is subject to a 1% NSR, half of which can be purchased for $1,000,000 at any time. For further information see Headwater news release - March 3, 2025. About the Hot Creek Project: The Hot Creek project is 100% owned and royalty-free and consists of 52 unpatented mining claims staked by Headwater in the Tuscarora District in Nevada. The project hosts a widespread zone of silica flooding in Tertiary sediments in the immediate hanging wall of a silicified range front fault. Historical shallow drilling1 results include grades up to 1.04 g/t Au over 12.2 m and 0.34 g/t Au over 117.3 m along a range front fault. The majority of the historic drill holes at Hot Creek were relatively shallow and did not adequately test for the presence of high-grade feeders at depth along the range front fault or subsidiary structures. Future exploration at Hot Creek will focus on refining the geological model, identifying new high-potential targets and conducting additional geological mapping and surface sampling. For further information see Headwater news release - September 4, 2024. About OceanaGold: OceanaGold Corporation (TSX: OGC, OTCQX: OCAND) is a growing intermediate gold and copper producer committed to safely and responsibly maximizing the generation of free cash flow from its operations and delivering strong returns for its shareholders. OceanaGold has a portfolio of four operating mines: the Haile Gold Mine in the United States of America; Didipio Mine in the Philippines; and the Macraes and Waihi operations in New Zealand. For more information, please visit investors.oceanagold.com. About Headwater Gold: Headwater Gold Inc. (CSE: HWG, OTCQB: HWAUF) is a technically-driven mineral exploration company focused on exploring for and discovering high-grade precious metal deposits in the Western USA. Headwater is actively exploring one of the worlds most well-endowed, mining-friendly jurisdictions, with a goal of making world-class precious metal discoveries. The Company has a large portfolio of epithermal vein exploration projects and a technical team with diverse experience in capital markets and major mining companies. Headwater is systematically drill-testing several projects in Nevada and has strategic earn-in agreements with Newmont on its Spring Peak and Lodestar projects. In August 2022 and September 2024, Newmont and Centerra Gold Inc. acquired strategic equity interests in the Company, further strengthening Headwaters exploration capabilities. Headwater is part of the NewQuest Capital Group which is a discovery-driven investment enterprise that builds value through the incubation and financing of mineral projects and companies. Further information about NewQuest can be found on its website at www.nqcapitalgroup.com. For more information about Headwater, please visit the Company's website at www.headwatergold.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Caleb Stroup President and CEO +1 (775) 409-3197 cstroup@headwatergold.com For further information, please contact: Brennan Zerb Investor Relations Manager +1 (778) 867-5016 bzerb@headwatergold.com Qualified Person The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Scott Close, P.Geo (158157), an independent Qualified Person (QP) as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. 1Historical drill intercepts and surface samples cannot be relied upon and are treated by the Company as historical in nature and not current or NI 43-101 compliant. 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 negotiation and entering into of the Agreement, future exploration expenditures by OceanaGold,, anticipated content, commencement, and cost of exploration programs in respect of the Company's projects and mineral properties, completion and timing of the Agreement, , OceanaGolds anticipated funding of the minimum commitment and the payment by OceanaGold of the pre-drilling expenses, 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 and OceanaGold, including the Company's and OceanaGolds exploration plans and the proposed expenditures for exploration work on the Projects, the ability of OceanaGold to obtain sufficient financing to fund the proposed exploration programs, delays in obtaining governmental and regulatory approvals (including of the Canadian Securities Exchange) for the Agreement, the risk that OceanaGold will not elect to obtain any additional interest in the Projects in excess of the minimum commitment, the ability of the Company to obtain the required permits, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, the Company's limited operating history, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims, environmental issues and liabilities, as well as those factors discussed in the Company's filings 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. Corporate services income increased significantly by 112.1% YoY to US$2.9M on new client momentum Net profit reached US$1.2M, reflecting a return to profitability SINGAPORE, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enigmatig Limited (NYSE American: EGG) ("Enigmatig" or the "Company"), an international consultancy firm providing one-stop cross-border licensing solutions and related services, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first six months of fiscal year 2025, ended March 31, 2025. First Six Months of Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Highlights Total corporate services income increased by 112.1% to US$2.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2025, compared with US$1.4 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024. Cost of sales remained stable at US$0.7 million for the six months ended March 31, 2025, compared with US$0.6 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024. Gross profit increased by 192.1% to US$2.2 million for the six months ended March 31, 2025, compared with US$0.7 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024. Profit from operations was US$1.2 million for the six months ended March 31, 2025, marking a significant turnaround from a loss of US$0.2 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024. Net profit was US$1.2 million for the six months ended March 31, 2025, marking a significant turnaround from a net loss of US$0.1 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024. Business Updates In June 2025, the Company completed its initial public offering on the NYSE American, raising gross proceeds of approximately US$15.0 million, including proceeds from the partial exercise of the underwriters over-allotment option. As of March 31, 2025, the Company has established a presence across key international markets, with four offices located in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and London, as well as a representative desk in Bangkok. These locations support the Companys global operations and enhance its ability to serve a diverse and growing client base. During the six months ended March 31, 2025, the Company consistently expanded its client roster for regtech services (RegTech), including KYC, AML and transaction monitoring functions, which are integrated into the Companys proprietary CRM platform. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had completed onboarding for five RegTech services clients, following the initial rollout of these services in late 2024. The Company is actively marketing its RegTech offerings to both new and existing clients, positioning RegTech as a strategic growth pillar for the future. Desmond Foo, Founder and CEO of Enigmatig, commented, "We are incredibly encouraged by our performance in the first half of fiscal 2025, particularly as we navigated a dynamic and fast-evolving business environment. Our successful listing on the NYSE American in June marked a pivotal milestone, not just in terms of capital markets access, but as a strong reaffirmation of Enigmatigs long-term vision for bold, global expansion. With this solid foundation, we are advancing our strategic priorities with clarity and conviction: expanding our international footprint, deepening our value proposition through innovation and technology, pursuing selective M&A opportunities, and investing in global talent to better serve our diverse, growing client base." Mingwen Teo, the Companys Director and CFO, added, "We delivered a strong financial performance in the first six months of fiscal 2025, with revenue more than doubling year-on-year and profitability significantly improving across all key metrics. Our operating leverage is beginning to materialize, as demonstrated by gross margin expansion driven by more efficient absorption of fixed costs over a larger revenue base. Following our IPO, we also strengthened our capital position, providing the financial flexibility to invest in future growth, accelerate development of our technology platforms, and create long-term value for our shareholders." First Six Months of Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Results Corporate Services Income Corporate services income grew by 112.1% year-on-year to US$2.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2025, up from US$1.4 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024. The increase was driven by strong momentum in both license application and renewal services and corporate secretarial and other services. The table below sets forth the breakdown of our corporate services income for the periods indicated: For the Six Months Ended March 31, 2024 2025 US$ % US$ % Corporate services income: License application and renewal services 441,118 32.3% 1,138,271 39.3% Corporate secretarial and other services 926,227 67.7% 1,761,745 60.7% Total 1,367,345 100.0 2,900,016 100.0 License application and renewal services . Income from license application and renewal services increased by 158.0% to US$1.1 million, compared to US$0.4 in the prior-year period. The growth was primarily driven by a higher number of projects, supported by an expanding client base. Income from license application and renewal services increased by 158.0% to US$1.1 million, compared to US$0.4 in the prior-year period. The growth was primarily driven by a higher number of projects, supported by an expanding client base. Corporate secretarial and other services. Income from corporate secretarial and other services rose by 90.2% to US$1.8 million from US$0.9 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024. This was mainly attributable to increased new client engagements, particularly from larger accounts with higher average revenue contributions. Cost of Sales Cost of sales was US$0.7 million for the six months ended March 31, 2025, compared to US$0.6 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024. The Companys cost of sales primarily comprises staff costs, license application and renewal services costs, and corporate secretarial and related services costs. While total costs increased year-over-year, the Company benefited from economies of scale, with fixed costs more efficiently absorbed across a larger revenue base. Gross Profit Gross profit jumped by 192.1% to US$2.2 million from US$0.7 million in the prior-year period. Gross margin for the first half of fiscal year 2025 expanded significantly to 74.8%, compared to 54.3% in the same period of fiscal year 2024, reflecting improved operating leverage and enhanced service efficiency. Operating Expenses Operating expenses totaled US$0.9 million, in line with US$0.9 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024, despite the inclusion of the professional service fees associated with the Companys initial public offering. Profit from Operations Profit from operations reached US$1.2 million, a substantial turnaround from an operating loss of US$0.2 million in the corresponding period of fiscal year 2024. Other Income Other income totaled US$0.2 million, compared to US$0.02 million in the prior-year period. The increase was primarily driven by one-off income of US$0.1 million and unrealized foreign exchange gains of US$0.06 million. Net Profit The Company reported net profit of US$1.2 million for the six months ended March 31, 2025, marking a return to profitability from a net loss of US$0.1 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024. Cash and Cash Equivalents As of March 31, 2025, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of US$3.4 million, compared with US$1.6 million as of September 30, 2024, strengthening its financial position following its successful IPO. About Enigmatig Limited Enigmatig is an international business enabler dedicated to helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) achieve their international ambitions. Since 2010, we have connected businesses with the expertise, infrastructure, and regulatory support needed to succeed in cross-border markets. With deep capabilities in FX brokerage consultancy, licensing, RegTech, FinTech, and corporate services, Enigmatig delivers tailored solutions across the full business lifecycle from company incorporation to ongoing compliance. Our experienced team specializes in navigating complex regulatory environments across global financial hubs and key offshore centers, including London, Cyprus, and Belize Headquartered in Singapore with a strategic presence in Hong Kong, Shanghai, London, and a representative desk in Bangkok, Enigmatig supports a diverse and growing international client base. For more information, please visit: https://enigmatig.com Safe Harbor Statement Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Companys current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as may, could, will, should, would, expect, plan, aim, intend, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, is/are likely to, potential, project or continue or the negative of these terms or other comparable or similar terminology. 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, except as may be required by law. 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 Companys registration statement and other filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: Enigmatig Investor Relations Email: investors@enigmatig.com ENIGMATIG LIMITED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In U.S. dollars, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted) As of September 30, 2024 March 31, 2025 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,593,037 $ 3,375,833 Accounts receivable, net 1,081,866 592,128 Contract assets 528,342 85,416 Other current assets 153,241 240,379 Total current assets 3,356,486 4,293,756 Non-current assets Property and equipment, net 731 217,503 Right-of-use assets, net 104,911 845,235 Deposits 21,549 181,192 Total non-current assets 127,191 1,243,930 Total assets $ 3,483,677 $ 5,537,686 LIABILITIES Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 327,992 $ 384,825 Accrual and other liabilities 205,875 150,781 Contract liabilities 1,048,934 972,490 Operating lease liabilities, current 58,561 295,042 Income taxes payable 28,230 281,207 Total current liabilities 1,669,592 2,084,345 Non-current liabilities Operating lease liabilities, non-current 33,557 538,001 Total non-current liabilities 33,557 538,001 Total liabilities $ 1,703,149 $ 2,622,346 ENIGMATIG LIMITED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In U.S. dollars, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted) As of September 30, 2024 March 31, 2025 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY Class A ordinary shares, US$0.000002 par value, 17,500,000,000 shares authorized, 9,250,000 issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and September 30, 2024 19 19 Class B ordinary shares, US$0.000002 par value, 7,500,000,000 shares authorized, 15,750,000 issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and September 30, 2024 31 31 Additional paid-in capital $ 117,320 $ 117,320 Retained earnings 1,519,286 2,752,846 Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income 143,872 45,125 Total shareholders equity 1,780,528 2,915,345 Total liabilities and shareholders equity $ 3,483,677 $ 5,437,686 Dublin, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Travel Vaccines - Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global market for Travel Vaccines was estimated at US$13.2 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$18.8 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2024 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions. The report includes the most recent global tariff developments and how they impact the Travel Vaccines market. Travel vaccines have emerged as vital safeguards in a globalized world, where the ease of international movement also raises the risk of infectious disease transmission. Vaccines for yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, rabies, cholera, and Japanese encephalitis are not only recommended but often mandatory for travelers visiting specific countries. These immunizations protect travelers and host populations alike, acting as essential public health tools in global disease containment. Heightened awareness following the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the uptake of pre-travel medical consultations and vaccination plans. As governments tighten cross-border health checks, travelers are more willing to comply with immunization schedules. Multilateral health bodies and travel medicine clinics are reinforcing guidelines, and digital vaccine certification systems have been deployed to validate traveler readiness, particularly in higher-risk regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. How Are Technological and Formulation Advances Enhancing Vaccine Uptake? The field of vaccinology is undergoing significant innovation, with mRNA platforms, thermostable formulations, and combination vaccines being tailored for travel use. These advances are reducing cold chain dependency, extending shelf life, and simplifying dosage schedules-key benefits for last-minute or remote-area travelers. Some travel vaccines now require just one dose or offer oral options, improving compliance and accessibility. Another key development is the integration of electronic health records and mobile apps that automate reminders and provide guidance based on destination-specific risks. Clinics are offering bundled packages with tailored vaccine plans and digital certificates. Additionally, prefilled syringes, microneedle patches, and intranasal formulations are enhancing administration safety and efficiency, particularly for pediatric and elderly populations. Which Traveler Segments and Destinations Are Fueling Demand? Tourists, humanitarian workers, international students, and business travelers to high-risk regions are primary consumers of travel vaccines. The surge in eco-tourism, rural tourism, and adventure travel increases exposure to vector-borne diseases and zoonoses, driving vaccination needs. Additionally, corporate travel to emerging markets and global supply chain expansion has led to a rise in enterprise-funded immunization programs. The demand is also rising in non-traditional traveler categories such as digital nomads, missionaries, and expatriates, who require long-term or multiple booster doses. Destination-specific health risks and outbreak alerts frequently alter vaccine requirements, prompting last-minute surges in demand at travel clinics. Furthermore, national mandates and health advisories continue to influence both vaccine availability and traveler compliance. The Growth in the Travel Vaccines Market Is Driven by Several Factors Expansion in global travel volumes, heightened awareness of region-specific disease risks, and stricter cross-border health protocols are key growth enablers. Advancements in vaccine platforms-including mRNA, conjugate, and recombinant technologies-are increasing the availability and efficacy of travel vaccines. The rise in adventure, eco-tourism, and off-grid travel is pushing more travelers into regions with higher pathogen exposure, necessitating preemptive immunization. Digital health tools and mobile vaccine passport systems are streamlining pre-travel compliance, encouraging more consistent uptake. Additionally, institutional support from governments and global health organizations, alongside private sector initiatives in workforce protection, are further accelerating market momentum. Key Insights: Market Growth: Understand the significant growth trajectory of the Influenza Vaccines segment, which is expected to reach US$9.4 Billion by 2030 with a CAGR of a 5.5%. The Diphtheria Vaccines segment is also set to grow at 4.9% CAGR over the analysis period. Regional Analysis: Gain insights into the U.S. market, estimated at $3.6 Billion in 2024, and China, forecasted to grow at an impressive 9.4% CAGR to reach $3.8 Billion by 2030. Discover growth trends in other key regions, including Japan, Canada, Germany, and the Asia-Pacific. Report Features: Comprehensive Market Data: Independent analysis of annual sales and market forecasts in US$ Million from 2024 to 2030. In-Depth Regional Analysis: Detailed insights into key markets, including the U.S., China, Japan, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. Company Profiles: Coverage of players such as Abbott Laboratories, ALK-Abello A/S, AstraZeneca PLC, Bavarian Nordic A/S, CSL Limited and more. Complimentary Updates: Receive free report updates for one year to keep you informed of the latest market developments. Scope Of Study: Disease Type (Influenza Vaccines, Diphtheria Vaccines, Hepatitis Vaccines, Typhoid & Other Vaccines) End-Use (Adult End-Use, Pediatric End-Use) Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 281 Forecast Period 2024 - 2030 Estimated Market Value in 2024 13.2 Billion Forecasted Market Value by 2030 18.8 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.0% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: MARKET OVERVIEW Influencer Market Insights World Market Trajectories Tariff Impact on Global Supply Chain Patterns Travel Vaccines - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2025 (E) Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for Players Worldwide in 2025 (E) MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Rising International Travel and Cross-Border Movement Drives Demand for Pre-Travel Vaccinations Increased Awareness of Endemic Disease Risks in Emerging Destinations Fuels Preventive Vaccine Uptake Growth in Business, Educational, and Medical Tourism Supports Volume Demand Expanded Inclusion of Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Hepatitis, and Meningococcal Vaccines in Pre-Travel Protocols Regulatory Requirements for Entry Into Certain Countries Drive Compliance-Driven Vaccine Demand Use of Combination and Single-Dose Formulations Improves Convenience and Reduces Missed Doses Growth in Private Clinics and Travel Health Centers Enhances Access to Targeted Immunizations Increased Awareness Campaigns by Health Ministries and Airlines Support Preventive Measures Seasonal Travel Peaks Correlate With Vaccine Appointment Upticks in Urban Markets Availability of Pre-Filled Syringes and Multi-Dose Packs Improves Distribution Efficiency Travel Health App Integrations Support Vaccine Reminders and Record Management Adoption in Backpacking, Volunteer, and High-Risk Travel Segments Sustains Niche Growth FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS |Some of the 44 companies featured in this Travel Vaccines market report include: Abbott Laboratories ALK-Abello A/S AstraZeneca PLC Bavarian Nordic A/S CSL Limited F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG GlaxoSmithKline plc Janssen Pharmaceuticals (J&J) Merck & Co., Inc. Moderna Inc. (if included) Novartis AG Novavax, Inc. Pfizer Inc. Qiagen NV Sanofi S.A. Valneva SE For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fggs0r 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 Irvine, CA, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue Navy Recovery, a professional unclaimed property recovery firm, announced today the expansion of its service operations in Georgia to manage a growing volume of state-held asset claims. This move reflects growing demand for unclaimed property recovery in Georgiadelivering trusted, no-upfront-cost recovery assistance for individuals and families. Blue Navy Recovery expands service operations to address growing unclaimed property recovery needs in Georgia. With experience navigating Georgias complex claims process, Blue Navy Recovery offers full-service handlingfrom eligibility checks and paperwork to agency communication and verification. Clients dont need to interact with government agencies or decipher procedural forms; the firm takes on the entire burden. This expansion comes as Blue Navy continues to see success through a growing number of client-reported outcomes on Google, demonstrating how its personalized service model helps claimants navigate the system efficiently. Weve seen a spike in demand across Georgia, and this expansion is about meeting that need with speed and integrity, said David Dorfman, Managing Partner at Blue Navy Recovery. Every successful recovery tells a storyand were here to make sure more Georgians are part of that success. This announcement comes alongside a similar announcement that the company is increasing services across the Unclaimed Property in California service as well. The firms model is performance-based, meaning clients owe nothing unless their claim is successfully paid. Each case is personally managed by trained recovery specialistsnot automated systemsensuring accuracy and personal support. Client experiences shared on platforms such as Google and Yelp reinforce the impact Blue Navy is making across the Southeast. The company recently celebrated their 200th successful unclaimed property recovery case alongside their 40th 5-star review, a story that was picked up by media outlets like Yahoo! Finance, Business Insider, and Globe Newswire. Blue Navys personalized guidance and support materials make it easy for residents to determine eligibility and understand the Georgia claims process. Clients can explore the process, read relevant user studies, and get started at the official website. Logo of Blue Navy Recovery, a trusted leader supporting unclaimed property claims across Georgia. About Blue Navy Recovery Blue Navy Recovery is a professional unclaimed property recovery firm that helps individuals and families recover lost or forgotten funds held by the state. With deep experience navigating the claims process in California and Georgia, weve helped return millions of dollars to rightful owners. We handle the paperwork, follow-ups, and filing so you dont have to. Our team only collects a percentage of the recovered amount, with no upfront cost. Press inquiries Blue Navy Recovery https://www.bluenavy.org David Dorfman david@bluenavy.org (619) 215-1972 GOLDEN, Colo., July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A sharp and concerning rise in global gas flaring has been detected by the Earth Observation Group (EOG) at the Colorado School of Mines. EOGs findings are reflected in the newly-released World Bank 2025 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report. The report reveals that global gas flaring reached 151 billion cubic meters (BCM) in 2024, a 2 percent increase from 148 BCM in 2023, marking the highest level since 2007. This flaring activity emitted 389 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MMtCO2e), including 46 MMtCO2e of unburnt methane, equivalent to the emissions of approximately 5 million cars. The top nine flaring countries -- Russia, Iraq, Iran, the United States, Venezuela, Algeria, Nigeria, Mexico, and Libya -- accounted for 75% of global flaring, despite contributing less than half of global oil production. EOGs analysis, based on satellite data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), underscores persistent challenges in reducing flaring intensity, which has remained largely unchanged over the past 15 years. The flared gas in 2024 represents a missed opportunity to provide energy to some of the worlds most energy-deprived regions, said Dr. Christopher Elvidge, Director of EOG at Colorado School of Mines. Our findings emphasize the urgency of achieving the World Banks Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 goal, supported by the Global Flaring and Methane Reduction Partnership (GFMR). EOGs VIIRS Nightfire algorithm and regression models provide a robust, independent assessment of global gas flaring. Mikhail Zhizhin on our team has done exceptional work in developing and calibrating the VIIRS Nightfire. This tool has been instrumental in delivering these critical insights, Elvidge said. By leveraging satellite data, we empower policymakers and industry leaders with independent, verifiable and actionable insights to tackle flaring and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. EOGs approach continues to drive progress in environmental monitoring, support global efforts to mitigate climate change and promote sustainable energy practices. EOG has been working with the World Bank on these critical issues since 1998. About the Earth Observation Group at Colorado School of Mines The Earth Observation Group (EOG) at Colorado School of Mines specializes in advanced satellite data analysis to monitor environmental phenomena, including gas flaring and nighttime lights. Through cutting-edge algorithms like VIIRS Nightfire and VIIRS Boat Detector, EOG provides critical data to inform global policy and sustainability initiatives. About Mines Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and innovations to serve industry and benefit society all to create a more prosperous future. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION NEW YORK, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP ("Wolf Haldenstein"), a preeminent national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of MediaAlpha Inc. (NYSE: MAX).(MediaAlpha or the Company). The investigation concerns whether MediaAlpha and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION MediaAlpha aims to help insurance carriers and distributors target and acquire consumers more efficiently and at greater scale through technology and data science. The Companys technology platform brings together leading insurance carriers and high-intent consumers through a real-time, programmatic, transparent, and results-driven ecosystem. MediaAlpha claims to be the largest online customer acquisition platform in the core verticals of property & casualty insurance, health insurance and life insurance. On November 4, 2024, MediaAlpha disclosed receipt of a letter from the FTC, which stated that the FTC was prepared to recommend the filing of a complaint against the Company claiming that MediaAlpha falsely represented itself as affiliated with government entities, made misleading claims (in particular regarding health insurance products and use of consumers personal information) and utilized deceptive advertising. On this news, MediaAlphas stock declined $4.46 per share or 27.7% to close at $11.62 per share. Wolf Haldenstein has experience in the prosecution of securities class actions and derivative litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas, and offices in New York, Chicago, Nashville and San Diego. The reputation and expertise of this firm in shareholder and other class litigation has been repeatedly lauded by the courts, which have appointed it to major positions in complex securities, multi-district and consolidated litigation. If you wish to discuss this investigation or have any questions regarding your rights and interests, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735 or via e-mail at classmember@whafh.com. Contact: Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial Analysis Email: gstone@whafh.com or classmember@whafh.com Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774 This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Denver, Colo., July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A storm of activity is coming from Washington in the form of funding cuts and executive orders, upending the lives of Native American communities and students; jeopardizing access to the funding, education and opportunity that helped create progress for decades to ensure the success of tribal nations, communities, and people. The American Indian College Fund (the College Fund), the nations largest charity supporting Native higher education for the past 35 years, is working to ensure Native American students and communities have the support and resources they need to navigate todays unprecedented challenges. Recent government actions fail to honor ongoing treaty commitments and trust obligations to Native people and tribal nations, negatively impacting the ability of Native people to survive and thrive. But the College Fund, its students, tribal nations, and Indigenous communities arent running from this stormthey are tackling these challenges with fearlessness and resilience. Native students are standing strongcontinuing to show up, work hard, and learnwith the College Fund working alongside them to ensure they complete their education and pursue their career goals to lead their communities. To illustrate the challenges Native students are facing, the College Fund is launching its new public service announcement, Defy the Storm, featuring three of its scholarship recipients: Promise (Yankton Sioux Tribe and Santee Sioux Nation), Sky (Navajo/Dine), and Tasheena (Navajo/Dine). The current storm is causing irreparable damage to Native youth like Promise, Sky, and Tasheena, and their communities. In 2022, American Indian and Alaska Natives ages 18-24 had the lowest college-going rate of any group in the United States, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Although there are many reasons for this, a lack of financial resources tops the list. Without funding, our hard-working students will face even more obstacles to earning a college degree or learning the trade of their choice, resulting in knowledge and skill gaps in their communities. Without an educated workforce, Native and rural communities will face shortages of skilled workers and servicesand the economic impact on families, regions, and our nation will be devastating. Defy the Storm calls upon supporters of higher education and Native communities to help bolster thriving, self-sustaining people and communities nationwide by learning more about the Native students the College Fund serves - and ensuring they continue to receive an education. People can learn more at indigenouseveryday.com. Advertisers: For information about the PSA, available in video and audio format for placement with your outlets, please contact: Sam Hoover, shoover@collegerfund.org, (303) 285-1466. About the American Indian College Fund The American Indian College Fund has been the nations largest charity supporting Native higher education for 35 years. The College Fund believes Education is the answer and provided $17.4 million in scholarships and other direct student support to American Indian students in 2023-24. Since its founding in 1989 the College Fund has provided more than $319 million in scholarships, programs, community, and tribal college support. The College Fund also supports a variety of academic and support programs at the nations 34 accredited tribal colleges and universities, which are located on or near Indian reservations, ensuring students have the tools to graduate and succeed in their careers. The College Fund consistently receives top ratings from independent charity evaluators and is one of the nations top 100 charities named to the Better Business Bureaus Wise Giving Alliance and is a Charity Navigator four-star charity. For more information about the American Indian College Fund, please visit www.collegefund.org. Photos : Defy the Storm is the American Indian College Funds new public service announcement featuring its scholarship recipients and addressing the devastating impact government funding cuts will have on Native students. Journalists The American Indian College Fund does not use the acronym AICF. On second reference, please use the College Fund. Attachment ATHENS, Greece, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Ship Lease, Inc. (NYSE:GSL) (the Company), a containership owner and lessor, announced today that it will hold a conference call to discuss the Companys results for the second quarter 2025 on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The Company will issue financial results for the second quarter 2025 on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 before the open of market trading. What: Second Quarter 2025 Conference Call and Webcast When: Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time Where: There are two ways to access the conference call: Dial-in: (646) 307-1963 or (800) 715-9871; Event ID: 4124631 Please dial in at least 10 minutes prior to 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time to ensure a prompt start to the call. Live Internet webcast and slide presentation: http://www.globalshiplease.com The webcast will be archived on the Companys website: http://www.globalshiplease.com About Global Ship Lease Global Ship Lease is a leading independent owner of containerships with a diversified fleet of mid-sized and smaller containerships. Incorporated in the Marshall Islands, Global Ship Lease commenced operations in December 2007 with a business of owning and chartering out containerships under fixed-rate charters to top tier container liner companies. It was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in August 2008. Our fleet of 69 vessels as of March 31, 2025 had an average age weighted by TEU capacity of 17.5 years. 39 ships are wide-beam Post-Panamax. As of March 31, 2025, the average remaining term of the Companys charters, to the mid-point of redelivery, including options under the Companys control and other than if a redelivery notice has been received, was 2.3 years on a TEU-weighted basis. Contracted revenue on the same basis was $1.87 billion. Contracted revenue was $2.37 billion, including options under charterers control and with latest redelivery date, representing a weighted average remaining term of 3.0 years. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements provide the Companys current expectations or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements include statements about the Companys expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, intentions, assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts. Words or phrases such as anticipate, believe, continue, estimate, expect, intend, may, ongoing, plan, potential, predict, project, will or similar words or phrases, or the negatives of those words or phrases, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not necessarily mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that may be incorrect, and the Company cannot assure you that the events or expectations included in these forward-looking statements will come to pass. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including the factors described in Risk Factors in the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F and the factors and risks the Company describes in subsequent reports filed from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investor and Media Contact: IGB Group Bryan Degnan 646-673-9701 or Leon Berman 212-477-8438 FORT WORTH, Texas, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION (NYSE: RRC) today announced its second quarter 2025 financial results. Second Quarter 2025 Highlights Cash flow from operating activities of $336 million Cash flow from operations, before working capital changes, of $301 million Repurchased $53 million of shares, paid $21 million in dividends, and reduced net debt to $1.2 billion Capital spending was $154 million, approximately 23% of the annual 2025 budget Realized price, including hedges, was $3.49 per mcfe Natural gas differential, including basis hedging, of ($0.50) per mcf to NYMEX Pre-hedge NGL realizations of $23.73 per barrel a premium of $0.61 over Mont Belvieu equivalent Production averaged 2.20 Bcfe per day, approximately 68% natural gas Improved 2025 production guidance and increased expected lateral footage in year-end inventory, while lowering 2025 capital due to operational efficiencies. Commenting on the results, Dennis Degner, the Companys CEO said, This year is off to a great start with another quarter of efficiency gains and consistent well performance driving strong free cash flow and building operational momentum. Our strong financial results supported $74 million in share repurchases and dividends, while lowering net debt to $1.2 billion. We believe Range is well positioned to benefit as in-basin demand opportunities materialize alongside a global call on natural gas. Range is one of the few producers in Appalachia with sufficient high-quality inventory to support the required growth in baseload supply. Further, Ranges continued efficiencies are supported by our countercyclical investments in drilled inventory over the last 18 months and consistent well results. Importantly, we intend to help meet future demand increases while also returning significant capital to shareholders. Financial Discussion Except for generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) reported amounts, specific expense categories exclude non-cash impairments, unrealized mark-to-market adjustment on derivatives, non-cash stock compensation and other items shown separately on the attached tables. Unit costs as used in this release are composed of direct operating, transportation, gathering, processing and compression, taxes other than income, general and administrative, interest and depletion, depreciation and amortization costs divided by production. See Non-GAAP Financial Measures for a definition of non-GAAP financial measures and the accompanying tables that reconcile each non-GAAP measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Second Quarter 2025 Results GAAP revenues and other income for second quarter 2025 totaled $856 million, GAAP net cash provided from operating activities (including changes in working capital) was $336 million, and GAAP net income was $238 million ($0.99 per diluted share). Second quarter earnings results include a $155 million mark-to-market derivative gain due to decreases in commodity prices. Cash flow from operations before changes in working capital, a non-GAAP measure, was $301 million. Adjusted net income comparable to analysts estimates, a non-GAAP measure, was $158 million ($0.66 per diluted share) in second quarter 2025. The following table details Ranges second quarter 2025 unit costs per mcfe(a): Expenses 2Q 2025 (per mcfe) 2Q 2024 (per mcfe) Increase (Decrease) Direct operating(a) $ 0.11 $ 0.11 0 % Transportation, gathering, processing and compression(a) 1.52 1.44 6 % Taxes other than income 0.04 0.03 33 % General and administrative(a) 0.16 0.16 0 % Interest expense(a) 0.13 0.14 (7 %) Total cash unit costs(b) 1.97 1.88 5 % Depletion, depreciation and amortization (DD&A) 0.46 0.45 2 % Total unit costs plus DD&A(b) $ 2.43 $ 2.33 4 % (a) Excludes stock-based compensation, one-time settlements, and amortization of deferred financing costs. (b) Totals may not be exact due to rounding. The following table details Ranges average production and realized pricing for second quarter 2025(a): 2Q25 Production & Realized Pricing Natural Gas (mcf) Oil (bbl) NGLs (bbl) Natural Gas Equivalent (mcfe) Net production per day 1,497,771 6,382 110,209 2,197,321 Average NYMEX price $ 3.44 $ 63.72 $ 23.12 Differential, including basis hedging (0.50 ) (10.95 ) 0.61 Realized prices before NYMEX hedges 2.94 52.77 23.73 3.35 Settled NYMEX hedges 0.19 1.45 0.15 0.14 Average realized prices after hedges $ 3.13 $ 54.22 $ 23.88 $ 3.49 (a) Totals may not be exact due to rounding Second quarter 2025 natural gas, NGLs and oil price realizations (including the impact of cash-settled hedges and derivative settlements) averaged $3.49 per mcfe. The average natural gas price, including the impact of basis hedging, was $2.94 per mcf, or a ($0.50) per mcf differential to NYMEX. Range continues to expect its 2025 natural gas differential to average ($0.40) to ($0.48) relative to NYMEX. Ranges pre-hedge NGL price during the quarter was $23.73 per barrel, approximately $0.61 above the Mont Belvieu weighted equivalent. Range is improving its expected 2025 NGL differential to average +$0.40 to +$1.25 relative to a Mont Belvieu equivalent barrel. Crude oil and condensate price realizations, before realized hedges, averaged $52.77 per barrel, or $10.95 below WTI (West Texas Intermediate). Range continues to expect its 2025 condensate differential to average ($10.00) to ($15.00) relative to NYMEX. Repurchase Activity and Financial Position During the second quarter, Range repurchased 1,453,438 shares at an average price of approximately $36.35 per share. As of June 30, 2025, the Company had approximately $900 million of availability under the share repurchase program. In May 2025, Range paid off the remaining principal balance of its 4.875% senior notes due 2025 at par by utilizing cash on hand and by borrowing on the bank credit facility. As of June 30, 2025, Range had net debt outstanding of approximately $1.22 billion, consisting of $1.1 billion of senior notes, $125 million on the facility, and $0.1 million in cash. Capital Expenditures and Operational Activity Second quarter 2025 drilling and completion expenditures were $136 million. In addition, during the quarter, approximately $11 million was invested in acreage, and $7 million was invested in infrastructure, pneumatic devices, and other investments. Year-to-date capital investments of $301 million are approximately $10 million below plan as a result of operational efficiencies. As a result, Range is lowering the high-end of its 2025 capital guide to $680 million. During the quarter, Range drilled ~285,000 lateral feet across 20 wells, while turning to sales ~156,000 lateral feet across 12 wells. The added inventory of drilled but not completed laterals places Range on track to exit 2025 with greater than 400,000 lateral feet of growth inventory to support future development. The table below summarizes expected 2025 activity plans regarding the number of wells to sales in each area. Wells TIL 1H 2025 Remaining 2025 2025 Planned TIL SW PA Super-Rich 5 3 8 SW PA Wet 17 12 29 SW PA Dry 0 5 5 NE PA Dry 0 4 4 Total Wells 22 24 46 Guidance 2025 Updated Capital & Production Guidance Ranges 2025 all-in capital budget is now $650 million - $680 million, improved from prior guidance of $650 million - $690 million. Annual production is now expected to be approximately 2.225 Bcfe per day in 2025, updated from prior guidance of ~2.2 Bcfe per day. Liquids are expected to be over 30% of production. Updated Full Year 2025 Expense Guidance Updated Guidance Prior Guidance Direct operating expense: $0.12 - $0.13 per mcfe $0.12 - $0.14 per mcfe Transportation, gathering, processing and compression expense: $1.50 - $1.55 per mcfe $1.50 - $1.55 per mcfe Taxes other than income: $0.03 - $0.04 per mcfe $0.03 - $0.04 per mcfe Exploration expense: $24 - $28 million $24 - $28 million G&A expense: $0.17 - $0.18 per mcfe $0.17 - $0.19 per mcfe Net Interest expense: $0.12 - $0.13 per mcfe $0.12 - $0.13 per mcfe DD&A expense: $0.45 - $0.46 per mcfe $0.45 - $0.46 per mcfe Net brokered gas marketing expense: $8 - $12 million $8 - $12 million Updated Full Year 2025 Price Guidance Based on recent market indications, Range expects to average the following price differentials for its production in 2025. Updated Guidance Prior Guidance FY 2025 Natural Gas:(1) NYMEX minus $0.40 to $0.48 NYMEX minus $0.40 to $0.48 FY 2025 Natural Gas Liquids:(2) MB plus $0.40 to $1.25 per barrel MB plus $0.25 to $1.25 per barrel FY 2025 Oil/Condensate: WTI minus $10.00 to $15.00 WTI minus $10.00 to $15.00 (1) Including basis hedging (2) Mont Belvieu-equivalent pricing based on weighting of 53% ethane, 27% propane, 8% normal butane, 4% iso-butane and 8% natural gasoline. Hedging Status Range hedges portions of its expected future production volumes to increase the predictability of cash flow and maintain a strong, flexible financial position. Please see the detailed hedging schedule posted on the Range website under Investor Relations - Financial Information. Range has also hedged basis across the Companys numerous natural gas sales points to limit volatility between benchmark and regional prices. The combined fair value of natural gas basis hedges as of June 30, 2025, was a net gain of $19.9 million. Conference Call Information A conference call to review the financial results is scheduled on Wednesday, July 23 at 8:00 AM Central Time (9:00 AM Eastern Time). Please click here to pre-register for the conference call and obtain a dial in number with passcode. A simultaneous webcast of the call may be accessed at www.rangeresources.com. The webcast will be archived for replay on the Company's website until August 23rd. Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement the presentation of its financial results prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Companys earnings press release contains certain financial measures that are not presented in accordance with GAAP. Management believes certain non-GAAP measures may provide financial statement users with meaningful supplemental information for comparisons within the industry. These non-GAAP financial measures may include, but are not limited to Net Income, excluding certain items, Cash flow from operations before changes in working capital, realized prices, Net debt and Cash margin. Adjusted net income comparable to analysts estimates as set forth in this release represents income or loss from operations before income taxes adjusted for certain non-cash items (detailed in the accompanying table) less income taxes. We believe adjusted net income comparable to analysts estimates is calculated on the same basis as analysts estimates and that many investors use this published research in making investment decisions and evaluating operational trends of the Company and its performance relative to other oil and gas producing companies. Diluted earnings per share (adjusted) as set forth in this release represents adjusted net income comparable to analysts estimates on a diluted per share basis. A table is included which reconciles income or loss from operations to adjusted net income comparable to analysts estimates and diluted earnings per share (adjusted). On its website, the Company provides additional comparative information on prior periods. Cash flow from operations before changes in working capital represents net cash provided by operations before changes in working capital and exploration expense adjusted for certain non-cash compensation items. Cash flow from operations before changes in working capital (sometimes referred to as adjusted cash flow) is widely accepted by the investment community as a financial indicator of an oil and gas companys ability to generate cash to internally fund exploration and development activities and to service debt. Cash flow from operations before changes in working capital is also useful because it is widely used by professional research analysts in valuing, comparing, rating and providing investment recommendations of companies in the oil and gas exploration and production industry. In turn, many investors use this published research in making investment decisions. Cash flow from operations before changes in working capital is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flows from operations, investing, or financing activities as an indicator of cash flows, or as a measure of liquidity. A table is included which reconciles net cash provided by operations to cash flow from operations before changes in working capital as used in this release. On its website, the Company provides additional comparative information on prior periods for cash flow, cash margins and non-GAAP earnings as used in this release. The cash prices realized for oil and natural gas production, including the amounts realized on cash-settled derivatives and net of transportation, gathering, processing and compression expense, is a critical component in the Companys performance tracked by investors and professional research analysts in valuing, comparing, rating and providing investment recommendations and forecasts of companies in the oil and gas exploration and production industry. In turn, many investors use this published research in making investment decisions. Due to the GAAP disclosures of various derivative transactions and third-party transportation, gathering, processing and compression expense, such information is now reported in various lines of the income statement. The Company believes that it is important to furnish a table reflecting the details of the various components of each income statement line to better inform the reader of the details of each amount and provide a summary of the realized cash-settled amounts and third-party transportation, gathering, processing and compression expense, which were historically reported as natural gas, NGLs and oil sales. This information is intended to bridge the gap between various readers understanding and fully disclose the information needed. Net debt is calculated as total debt less cash and cash equivalents. The Company believes this measure is helpful to investors and industry analysts who utilize Net debt for comparative purposes across the industry. The Company discloses in this release the detailed components of many of the single line items shown in the GAAP financial statements included in the Companys Annual or Quarterly Reports on Form 10-K or 10-Q. The Company believes that it is important to furnish this detail of the various components comprising each line of the Statements of Operations to better inform the reader of the details of each amount, the changes between periods and the effect on its financial results. We believe that the presentation of PV 10 value of our proved reserves is a relevant and useful metric for our investors as supplemental disclosure to the standardized measure, or after-tax amount, because it presents the discounted future net cash flows attributable to our proved reserves before taking into account future corporate income taxes and our current tax structure. While the standardized measure is dependent on the unique tax situation of each company, PV 10 is based on prices and discount factors that are consistent for all companies. Because of this, PV 10 can be used within the industry and by credit and security analysts to evaluate estimated net cash flows from proved reserves on a more comparable basis. RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION (NYSE: RRC) is a leading U.S. independent natural gas and NGL producer with operations focused in the Appalachian Basin. The Company is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. More information about Range can be found at www.rangeresources.com. Included within this release are certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are not limited to historical facts, but reflect Ranges current beliefs, expectations or intentions regarding future events. Words such as may, will, could, should, expect, plan, project, intend, anticipate, believe, outlook, estimate, predict, potential, pursue, target, continue, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. All statements, except for statements of historical fact, made within regarding activities, events or developments the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, such as those regarding future well costs, expected asset sales, well productivity, future liquidity and financial resilience, anticipated exports and related financial impact, NGL market supply and demand, future commodity fundamentals and pricing, future capital efficiencies, future shareholder value, emerging plays, capital spending, anticipated drilling and completion activity, acreage prospectivity, expected pipeline utilization and future guidance information, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on assumptions and estimates that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information; however, management's assumptions and Range's future performance are subject to a wide range of business risks and uncertainties and there is no assurance that these goals and projections can or will be met. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information on risks and uncertainties is available in Range's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Unless required by law, Range undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events after the date they are made. The SEC permits oil and gas companies, in filings made with the SEC, to disclose proved reserves, which are estimates that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions as well as the option to disclose probable and possible reserves. Range has elected not to disclose its probable and possible reserves in its filings with the SEC. Range uses certain broader terms such as "resource potential, unrisked resource potential, "unproved resource potential" or "upside" or other descriptions of volumes of resources potentially recoverable through additional drilling or recovery techniques that may include probable and possible reserves as defined by the SEC's guidelines. Range has not attempted to distinguish probable and possible reserves from these broader classifications. The SECs rules prohibit us from including in filings with the SEC these broader classifications of reserves. These estimates are by their nature more speculative than estimates of proved, probable and possible reserves and accordingly are subject to substantially greater risk of actually being realized. Unproved resource potential refers to Range's internal estimates of hydrocarbon quantities that may be potentially discovered through exploratory drilling or recovered with additional drilling or recovery techniques and have not been reviewed by independent engineers. Unproved resource potential does not constitute reserves within the meaning of the Society of Petroleum Engineer's Petroleum Resource Management System and does not include proved reserves. Area wide unproven resource potential has not been fully risked by Range's management. EUR, or estimated ultimate recovery, refers to our managements estimates of hydrocarbon quantities that may be recovered from a well completed as a producer in the area. These quantities may not necessarily constitute or represent reserves within the meaning of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Petroleum Resource Management System or the SECs oil and natural gas disclosure rules. Actual quantities that may be recovered from Range's interests could differ substantially. Factors affecting ultimate recovery include the scope of Range's drilling program, which will be directly affected by the availability of capital, drilling and production costs, commodity prices, availability of drilling services and equipment, drilling results, lease expirations, transportation constraints, regulatory approvals, field spacing rules, recoveries of gas in place, length of horizontal laterals, actual drilling results, including geological and mechanical factors affecting recovery rates and other factors. Estimates of resource potential may change significantly as development of our resource plays provides additional data. In addition, our production forecasts and expectations for future periods are dependent upon many assumptions, including estimates of production decline rates from existing wells and the undertaking and outcome of future drilling activity, which may be affected by significant commodity price or drilling cost changes. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, available from our website at www.rangeresources.com or by written request to 100 Throckmorton Street, Suite 1200, Fort Worth, Texas 76102. You can also obtain this Form 10-K on the SECs website at www.sec.gov or by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. SOURCE: Range Resources Corporation Range Investor Contacts: Laith Sando 817-869-4267 Matt Schmid 817-869-1538 Range Media Contact: Mark Windle 724-873-3223 RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS Based on GAAP reported earnings with additional details of items included in each line in Form 10-Q (Unaudited, In thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 2024 % 2025 2024 % Revenues and other income: Natural gas, NGLs and oil sales (a) $ 666,638 $ 478,450 $ 1,458,558 $ 1,045,451 Derivative fair value income (loss) 154,747 16,808 (4,210 ) 63,406 Brokered natural gas and marketing 33,009 31,393 87,417 60,224 ARO settlement gain (loss) (b) 1 - 1 (26 ) Interest income (b) 1,762 3,376 4,815 6,319 Gain on sale of assets (b) 102 66 164 153 Other (b) 16 16 84 38 Total revenues and other income 856,275 530,109 62 % 1,546,829 1,175,565 32 % Costs and expenses: Direct operating 22,616 22,281 47,452 43,945 Direct operating - stock-based compensation (c) 504 471 1,041 968 Transportation, gathering, processing and compression 304,714 281,495 610,823 572,370 Taxes other than income 7,835 4,974 14,822 10,342 Brokered natural gas and marketing 34,183 33,513 91,544 64,408 Brokered natural gas and marketing - stock-based compensation (c) 802 583 1,642 1,291 Exploration 7,562 6,316 13,606 10,518 Exploration - stock-based compensation (c) 366 335 713 659 Abandonment and impairment of unproved properties 6,781 1,524 11,355 3,895 General and administrative 32,757 31,372 64,310 65,144 General and administrative - stock-based compensation (c) 9,326 8,482 19,437 18,460 General and administrative - lawsuit settlements 63 287 90 478 Exit costs 8,502 10,094 17,399 20,409 Deferred compensation plan (d) (88 ) 1,240 2,791 7,645 Interest expense 25,630 28,356 53,415 57,472 Interest expense - amortization of deferred financing costs (e) 1,166 1,357 2,542 2,717 Gain on early extinguishment of debt - (179 ) (3 ) (243 ) Depletion, depreciation and amortization 91,514 87,598 182,073 174,735 Total costs and expenses 554,233 520,099 7 % 1,135,052 1,055,213 8 % Income before income taxes 302,042 10,010 2917 % 411,777 120,352 242 % Income tax expense (benefit) Current 4,645 2,399 6,645 3,981 Deferred 59,819 (21,093 ) 70,502 (4,471 ) 64,464 (18,694 ) 77,147 (490 ) Net income $ 237,578 $ 28,704 728 % $ 334,630 $ 120,842 177 % Net income Per Common Share Basic $ 0.99 $ 0.12 $ 1.40 $ 0.50 Diluted $ 0.99 $ 0.12 $ 1.39 $ 0.49 Weighted average common shares outstanding, as reported Basic 238,187 241,125 -1 % 239,106 240,815 -1 % Diluted 239,717 242,983 -1 % 240,772 242,766 -1 % (a) See separate natural gas, NGLs and oil sales information table. (b) Included in Other income in the 10-Q. (c) Costs associated with stock compensation and restricted stock amortization, which have been reflected in the categories associated with the direct personnel costs, which are combined with the cash costs in the 10-Q. (d) Reflects the change in market value of the vested Company stock held in the deferred compensation plan. (e) Included in interest expense in the 10-Q. RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION BALANCE SHEET (In thousands) June 30, December 31, 2025 2024 (Unaudited) (Audited) Assets Current assets $ 272,616 $ 636,982 Derivative assets 51,115 87,098 Natural gas and oil properties, net (successful efforts method) 6,535,097 6,421,700 Other property and equipment, net 2,736 2,465 Operating lease right-of-use assets 170,159 119,838 Other 73,388 79,592 $ 7,105,111 $ 7,347,675 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities $ 580,744 $ 1,263,247 Asset retirement obligations 1,189 1,189 Derivative liabilities 1,201 9,634 Bank debt 121,092 - Senior notes, excluding current maturities 1,090,607 1,089,614 Deferred tax liabilities 611,873 541,378 Derivative liabilities 23,187 10,488 Deferred compensation liabilities 64,262 65,233 Operating lease liabilities 109,026 35,737 Asset retirement obligations and other liabilities 143,174 137,181 Divestiture contract obligation 232,062 257,317 2,978,417 3,411,018 Common stock and retained deficit 4,761,293 4,449,987 Other comprehensive income 582 611 Common stock held in treasury (635,181 ) (513,941 ) Total stockholders' equity 4,126,694 3,936,657 $ 7,105,111 $ 7,347,675 RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL DEBT AS REPORTED TO NET DEBT, a non-GAAP measure (Unaudited, in thousands) June 30, December 31, 2025 2024 % Total debt, net of deferred financing costs, as reported $ 1,211,699 $ 1,697,883 -29 % Unamortized debt issuance costs, as reported 13,301 10,819 Less cash and cash equivalents, as reported (134 ) (304,490 ) Net debt, a non-GAAP measure $ 1,224,866 $ 1,404,212 -13 % RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES (Unaudited, in thousands) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 2024 2025 2024 Net income $ 237,578 $ 28,704 $ 334,630 $ 120,842 Adjustments to reconcile net cash provided from continuing operations: Deferred income tax expense (benefit) 59,819 (21,093 ) 70,502 (4,471 ) Depletion, depreciation and amortization 91,514 87,598 182,073 174,735 Abandonment and impairment of unproved properties 6,781 1,524 11,355 3,895 Derivative fair value (income) loss (154,747 ) (16,808 ) 4,210 (63,406 ) Cash settlements on derivative financial instruments 31,466 128,057 36,039 250,430 Divestiture contract obligation, including accretion 8,502 10,062 17,399 20,329 Amortization of deferred financing costs and other 962 1,193 2,144 2,425 Deferred and stock-based compensation 11,047 11,122 26,130 29,337 Gain on sale of assets (102 ) (66 ) (164 ) (153 ) Loss (gain) on early extinguishment of debt - (179 ) (3 ) (243 ) Changes in working capital: Accounts receivable 96,785 (30,541 ) 68,064 76,913 Other current assets 518 (13,461 ) (8,510 ) (22,405 ) Accounts payable (27,023 ) (17,906 ) 9,158 (5,718 ) Accrued liabilities and other (26,912 ) (19,431 ) (86,754 ) (101,805 ) Net changes in working capital 43,368 (81,339 ) (18,042 ) (53,015 ) Net cash provided from operating activities $ 336,188 $ 148,775 $ 666,273 $ 480,705 RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES, AS REPORTED, TO CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE CHANGES IN WORKING CAPITAL, a non-GAAP measure (Unaudited, in thousands) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 2024 2025 2024 Net cash provided from operating activities, as reported $ 336,188 $ 148,775 $ 666,273 $ 480,705 Net changes in working capital (43,368 ) 81,339 18,042 53,015 Exploration expense 7,562 6,316 13,606 10,518 Lawsuit settlements 63 287 90 478 Non-cash compensation adjustment and other 66 185 (109 ) 84 Cash flow from operations before changes in working capital - non-GAAP measure $ 300,511 $ 236,902 $ 697,902 $ 544,800 ADJUSTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING (Unaudited, in thousands) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 2024 2025 2024 Basic: Weighted average shares outstanding 238,804 242,647 239,785 242,365 Stock held by deferred compensation plan (617 ) (1,522 ) (679 ) (1,550 ) Adjusted basic 238,187 241,125 239,106 240,815 Dilutive: Weighted average shares outstanding 238,804 242,647 239,785 242,365 Dilutive stock options under treasury method 913 336 987 401 Adjusted dilutive 239,717 242,983 240,772 242,766 RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF NATURAL GAS, NGLs AND OIL SALES AND DERIVATIVE FAIR VALUE INCOME (LOSS) TO CALCULATED CASH REALIZED NATURAL GAS, NGLs AND OIL PRICES WITH AND WITHOUT THIRD-PARTY TRANSPORTATION, GATHERING, PROCESSING AND COMPRESSION COSTS, a non-GAAP measure (Unaudited, In thousands, except per unit data) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 2024 % 2025 2024 % Natural gas, NGLs and Oil Sales components: Natural gas sales $ 397,955 $ 209,652 $ 888,332 $ 481,127 NGLs sales 238,034 228,285 513,688 484,361 Oil sales 30,649 40,513 56,538 79,963 Total Natural Gas, NGLs and Oil Sales, as reported $ 666,638 $ 478,450 39 % $ 1,458,558 $ 1,045,451 40 % Derivative Fair Value Income (Loss), as reported $ 154,747 $ 16,808 $ (4,210 ) $ 63,406 Cash settlements on derivative financial instruments - (gain) loss: Natural gas (29,114 ) (126,194 ) (33,843 ) (247,107 ) NGLs (1,508 ) (1,978 ) (1,096 ) (1,901 ) Oil (844 ) 115 (1,100 ) (1,422 ) Total change in fair value related to commodity derivatives prior to settlement, a non-GAAP measure $ 123,281 $ (111,249 ) $ (40,249 ) $ (187,024 ) Transportation, gathering, processing and compression components: Natural Gas $ 154,704 $ 153,040 $ 312,223 $ 303,152 NGLs 149,209 128,077 297,047 268,351 Oil 801 378 1,553 867 Total transportation, gathering, processing and compression, as reported $ 304,714 $ 281,495 $ 610,823 $ 572,370 Natural gas, NGL and Oil sales, including cash-settled derivatives: (c) Natural gas sales $ 427,069 $ 335,846 $ 922,175 $ 728,234 NGLs sales 239,542 230,263 514,784 486,262 Oil Sales 31,493 40,398 57,638 81,385 Total $ 698,104 $ 606,507 15 % $ 1,494,597 $ 1,295,881 15 % Production of natural gas, NGLs and oil during the periods (a): Natural Gas (mcf) 136,297,159 136,099,063 0 % 272,260,589 268,749,303 1 % NGLs (bbls) 10,029,051 9,376,810 7 % 19,949,040 19,137,533 4 % Oil (bbls) 580,791 593,020 -2 % 1,004,370 1,203,299 -17 % Gas equivalent (mcfe) (b) 199,956,211 195,918,043 2 % 397,981,049 390,794,295 2 % Production of natural gas, NGLs and oil - average per day (a): Natural Gas (mcf) 1,497,771 1,495,594 0 % 1,504,202 1,476,645 2 % NGLs (bbls) 110,209 103,042 7 % 110,216 105,151 5 % Oil (bbls) 6,382 6,517 -2 % 5,549 6,612 -16 % Gas equivalent (mcfe) (b) 2,197,321 2,152,946 2 % 2,198,790 2,147,221 2 % Average prices, excluding derivative settlements and before third-party transportation costs: Natural Gas (per mcf) $ 2.92 $ 1.54 90 % $ 3.26 $ 1.79 82 % NGLs (per bbl) $ 23.73 $ 24.35 -3 % $ 25.75 $ 25.31 2 % Oil (per bbl) $ 52.77 $ 68.32 -23 % $ 56.29 $ 66.45 -15 % Gas equivalent (per mcfe) (b) $ 3.33 $ 2.44 36 % $ 3.66 $ 2.68 37 % Average prices, including derivative settlements before third-party transportation costs: (c) Natural Gas (per mcf) $ 3.13 $ 2.47 27 % $ 3.39 $ 2.71 25 % NGLs (per bbl) $ 23.88 $ 24.56 -3 % $ 25.80 $ 25.41 2 % Oil (per bbl) $ 54.22 $ 68.12 -20 % $ 57.39 $ 67.63 -15 % Gas equivalent (per mcfe) (b) $ 3.49 $ 3.10 13 % $ 3.75 $ 3.32 13 % Average prices, including derivative settlements and after third-party transportation costs: (d) Natural Gas (per mcf) $ 2.00 $ 1.34 49 % $ 2.24 $ 1.58 42 % NGLs (per bbl) $ 9.01 $ 10.90 -17 % $ 10.91 $ 11.39 -4 % Oil (per bbl) $ 52.84 $ 67.48 -22 % $ 55.84 $ 66.91 -17 % Gas equivalent (per mcfe) (b) $ 1.97 $ 1.66 19 % $ 2.22 $ 1.85 20 % Transportation, gathering and compression expense per mcfe $ 1.52 $ 1.44 6 % $ 1.53 $ 1.47 4 % (a) Represents volumes sold regardless of when produced. (b) Oil and NGLs are converted at the rate of one barrel equals six mcfe based upon the approximate relative energy content of oil to natural gas, which is not necessarily indicative of the relationship of oil and natural gas prices. (c) Excluding third-party transportation, gathering, processing and compression costs. (d) Net of transportation, gathering, processing and compression costs. RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AS REPORTED TO INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES EXCLUDING CERTAIN ITEMS, a non-GAAP measure (Unaudited, In thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 2024 % 2025 2024 % Income from operations before income taxes, as reported $ 302,042 $ 10,010 2917 % $ 411,777 $ 120,352 242 % Adjustment for certain special items: Gain on the sale of assets (102 ) (66 ) (164 ) (153 ) ARO settlement (gain) loss (1 ) - (1 ) 26 Change in fair value related to derivatives prior to settlement (123,281 ) 111,249 40,249 187,024 Abandonment and impairment of unproved properties 6,781 1,524 11,355 3,895 Loss (gain) on early extinguishment of debt - (179 ) (3 ) (243 ) Lawsuit settlements 63 287 90 478 Exit costs 8,502 10,094 17,399 20,409 Brokered natural gas and marketing - stock-based compensation 802 583 1,642 1,291 Direct operating - stock-based compensation 504 471 1,041 968 Exploration expenses - stock-based compensation 366 335 713 659 General & administrative - stock-based compensation 9,326 8,482 19,437 18,460 Deferred compensation plan - non-cash adjustment (88 ) 1,240 2,791 7,645 Income before income taxes, as adjusted 204,914 144,030 42 % 506,326 360,811 40 % Income tax expense, as adjusted Current 4,645 2,399 6,645 3,981 Deferred (a) 42,485 30,728 109,810 79,006 Net income, excluding certain items, a non-GAAP measure $ 157,784 $ 110,903 42 % $ 389,871 $ 277,824 40 % Non-GAAP income per common share Basic $ 0.66 $ 0.46 43 % $ 1.63 $ 1.15 42 % Diluted $ 0.66 $ 0.46 43 % $ 1.62 $ 1.14 42 % Non-GAAP diluted shares outstanding, if dilutive 239,717 242,983 240,772 242,766 (a) Taxes are estimated to be approximately 23% for 2024 and 2025 RANGE RESOURCES CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME, EXCLUDING CERTAIN ITEMS AND ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE, non-GAAP measures (In thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 2024 2025 2024 Net income, as reported $ 237,578 $ 28,704 $ 334,630 $ 120,842 Adjustments for certain special items: Gain on the sale of assets (102 ) (66 ) (164 ) (153 ) ARO settlement (gain) loss (1 ) - (1 ) 26 Gain on early extinguishment of debt - (179 ) (3 ) (243 ) Change in fair value related to derivatives prior to settlement (123,281 ) 111,249 40,249 187,024 Abandonment and impairment of unproved properties 6,781 1,524 11,355 3,895 Lawsuit settlements 63 287 90 478 Exit costs 8,502 10,094 17,399 20,409 Stock-based compensation 10,998 9,871 22,833 21,378 Deferred compensation plan (88 ) 1,240 2,791 7,645 Tax impact 17,334 (51,821 ) (39,308 ) (83,477 ) Net income, excluding certain items, a non-GAAP measure $ 157,784 $ 110,903 $ 389,871 $ 277,824 Net income per diluted share, as reported $ 0.99 $ 0.12 $ 1.39 $ 0.49 Adjustments for certain special items per diluted share: Gain on the sale of assets - - - - ARO settlement (gain) loss - - - - Gain on early extinguishment of debt - - - - Change in fair value related to derivatives prior to settlement (0.51 ) 0.46 0.17 0.77 Abandonment and impairment of unproved properties 0.03 0.01 0.05 0.02 Lawsuit settlements - - - - Exit costs 0.04 0.04 0.07 0.08 Stock-based compensation 0.05 0.04 0.09 0.09 Deferred compensation plan - 0.01 0.01 0.03 Adjustment for rounding differences (0.01 ) (0.01 ) - - Tax impact 0.07 (0.21 ) (0.16 ) (0.34 ) Dilutive share impact (rabbi trust and other) - - - - Net income per diluted share, excluding certain items, a non-GAAP measure $ 0.66 $ 0.46 $ 1.62 $ 1.14 Adjusted earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure: Basic $ 0.66 $ 0.46 $ 1.63 $ 1.15 Diluted $ 0.66 $ 0.46 $ 1.62 $ 1.14 NEW YORK, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of National Grid plc (NYSE: NGG) resulting from allegations that National Grid plc may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased National Grid securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=41344 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On July 2, 2025, Reuters published an article entitled Preventable National Grid failures led to Heathrow fire, findings say. The article stated that a fire that shut Londons Heathrow airport in March, stranding thousands of people, was caused by the UK power grids failure to maintain an electricity substation, an official report said on Wednesday, prompting the energy watchdog to open a probe. Further, the article stated that the United Kingdoms Energy minister, Ed Miliband, had called the report deeply concerning, after it concluded that the issue which caused the fire was identified seven years ago but went unaddressed by power grid operator National Grid[.] On this news, the price of National Grid American Depositary Shares (ADSs) fell 5%, on July 2, 2024. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. At the time Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com Naples, FL , July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saggio Realty Inc., a well-established real estate firm based in Naples, Florida, announced today that Mike Rivera, an experienced associate broker, licensed appraiser, and team leader with over 30 years of expertise in Southwest Florida, has secured new office listings for lease. This significant achievement is in partnership with a Corporate institutional Health Care provider, marking a new chapter in Rivera's illustrious history as a broker. Summary The first property to be made available is located at: 1885 SW Health Pkwy, Naples, FL 34109. LISTING PAGE - https://www.crexi.com/lease/properties/995324/florida-prime-8500-sqft-class-a-medical-office-space-for-lease-in-n FLYER -https://www.crexi.com/lease/properties/995324/florida-prime-8500-sqft-class-a-medical-office-space-for-lease-in-n?flyer=download This prime office space in North Naples offers 8,500 square feet of Class A office space, ideal for medical, corporate, and professional use. The property is brand-new to the market and boasts sleek wooden floors, elegant reception areas, and is surrounded by lush greenery with 1.3 acres of parking. Mike Rivera, who has been a pivotal figure in the Southwest Florida real estate market for three decades, expressed his enthusiasm for this new assignment. "This partnership with this institutional Health Care provider allows us to offer unparalleled institutional qualty office spaces that meet the highest standards of quality and functionality," said Rivera. Saggio Realty Inc has a rich history of providing market insights and advice to both everyday homeowners and investors. With a background as a former mortgage professional for Apple Mortgage and Security Mortgage, as well as a licensed real estate appraiser for Landsafe, Countrywide, and 5/3 Bank, the company continues to leverage its extensive expertise to serve the community effectively. This new listing is a testament to Saggio Realty Inc's commitment to excellence and innovation in the real estate sector. The company invites interested parties to explore this exceptional opportunity to secure a prime location in one of Florida's most sought-after areas. For more information on this exciting new listing, potential clients are encouraged to contact Mike Rivera directly. This opportunity represents a significant milestone for Saggio Realty Inc as it continues to expand its footprint in the competitive real estate market. 2nd Listing Offering 4989 Royal Gulf Cir Fort Myers, FL 33966 Office | *For Lease: Ready-to-Move-In Medical Office!** Check out this turnkey built-out office | 2,150 SqFt. Listing Page - https://www.crexi.com/lease/properties/919852/florida-cypress-preserve-office Flyer - https://www.crexi.com/lease/properties/919852/florida-cypress-preserve-office?flyer=download Send an Instant Message LinkedIn Contact here www.CreNaples.com | www.MikeRiveraSR.com Saggio Realty Inc | Rivera Capital 4 photo block About Saggio Realty Inc A real estate company and developer for over 30 years in Southwest Florida. Offering market insights and advice for the everyday homeowner and Investor. A former mortgage professional for Apple Bank and mortgage, Security Mortgage. and A former licensed real Estate appraiser for landsafe, Countrywide, 5/3 bank and certified express appraisal in Naples Fl. Press inquiries Saggio Realty Inc https://www.mikeriverasr.com Mike Rivera realestateradio1@gmail.com 9412290888 4548 W Alhambra Cir Naples Fl A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.youtube.com/embed/M0wrGF4RP90/VIDEO7061064 Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States TORONTO, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PIMCO Canada Corp. (PIMCO Canada) is pleased to announce today that it has declared monthly distributions on its Class A Units (the Units) of the PIMCO Canada closed end funds (the Funds). The distributions will be paid on August 14, 2025 to the holders of record at the close of business on July 31, 2025. Details of the distribution amounts are as follow: Fund Name Ticker Cash Distribution per Unit Change from Previous Month Percentage Change from Previous Month PIMCO Global Income Opportunities Fund PGI.UN $0.05688 - - PIMCO Monthly Enhanced Income Fund PMEI.UN $0.07166 - - Unitholders are reminded that each Fund offers a distribution reinvestment plan (DRIP) which will provide unitholders with the ability to automatically reinvest their distributions. Eligible unitholders are encouraged to contact the institution through which they hold their Units to confirm enrollment procedures and timelines. A copy of the DRIP is available at www.pimco.ca. The Manager, PIMCO Canada, retains Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (PIMCO), to provide investment management services to the Funds. About PIMCO PIMCO is a global leader in active fixed income with deep expertise across public and private markets. We invest our clients capital across a range of fixed income and credit opportunities, drawing upon our decades of experience navigating complex debt markets. Our flexible capital base and deep relationships with issuers have helped us become one of the worlds largest providers of traditional and nontraditional solutions for companies that need financing and investors who seek strong risk-adjusted returns. This is not an offer to sell Units and not a solicitation of an offer to buy Units in any region where the offer or sale is not permitted. Before you invest, you should carefully read the Funds disclosure documents and consider carefully the risks you assume when you invest in the Units. There can be no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objectives or be able to structure its investment portfolio as anticipated. Copies of the Funds disclosure documents may be obtained from your financial advisor. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions expect, intend, will and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Funds. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect each Fund, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCOs current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including, but not limited to, market factors. Although the Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other factors which affect this information, except as required by law. You will usually pay brokerage fees to your dealer if you purchase or sell Units on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX). If the Units are purchased or sold on the TSX, investors may pay more than the current net asset value when buying Units and may receive less than the current net asset value when selling them. There are ongoing fees and expenses associated with owning Units. An investment fund must prepare disclosure documents that contain key information about the fund. You can find more detailed information about the Funds in these documents. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Each Fund is a closed-end exchange traded investment fund. The material presented here is only to provide information and is not intended for trading purposes. Closed-end funds, unlike open-end funds, are not continuously offered. After the initial public offering, units are sold on the open market through a stock exchange. Closed-end funds may be leveraged and carry various risks depending upon the underlying assets owned by a fund. Investment policies, management fees and other matters of interest to prospective investors may be found in each closed-end funds annual and semi-annual report. For additional information, please contact your investment professional. For a summary of the risks of an investment in each Fund, please see the Funds disclosure documents. Units of closed end funds frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase risk of loss. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination. PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. This material contains the current opinions of the manager and such opinions are subject to change without notice. This material has been distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America LLC in the United States and throughout the world. 2025, PIMCO The products and services provided by PIMCO Canada Corp. may only be available in certain provinces or territories of Canada and only through dealers authorized for that purpose. PIMCO Canada has retained PIMCO as sub-adviser. PIMCO Canada will remain responsible for any loss that arises out of the failure of its sub-adviser. PIMCO Canada Corp. 199 Bay Street, Suite 2050, Commerce Court Station, P.O. Box 363, Toronto, ON, M5L 1G2, 416-368-3350 Contact: Agnes Crane PIMCO Media Relations Phone: +212 597.1054 MADISON, Wis., July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW) board of directors announced its Executive Committee for Fiscal Year 2026 and welcomed newly elected members. Twenty-five dairy farmer leaders, chosen by their peers from across the state, will lead the organizations strategic efforts from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Together, they remain focused on advancing Wisconsins dairy industry and strengthening support for dairy farmers. The board re-elected Janet Clark, District 16 from Rosendale, as Board Chair for a fourth consecutive term. "Its a privilege to serve as Board Chair and represent Wisconsin's dedicated dairy farmers," says Clark. "Together with the full board and DFW team, we are focused on strengthening the dairy community, growing demand for our products, and ensuring Wisconsin continues to lead as Americas Dairyland." The board selected the following members to serve on the FY2026 Executive Committee alongside Clark: Tasha Schleis, District 10 from Kewaunee Vice Chair Sandra Madland, District 15 from Lyndon Station Secretary Mark Crave, District 19 from Watertown Treasurer Andrew Christenson, District 4 from Amery Chair, Communications Committee Jonathon Hallock, District 13 from Mondovi Chair, Channel Management Committee Kay Zwald, District 5 from Hammond Chair, Policy/Bylaw Committee Jessica Pralle-Trimner, District 8 from Athens Chair, Center for Dairy Research Liaison Committee During the July annual election meeting, the board seated eight directors. Two new members Stephanie Ann Hughes, District 12 from Pittsville, and Chad A. Sime, District 21 from Gays Mills joined the board following their election. Returning for additional three-year terms are Gary Kohn, District 3 from Medford, Ali Straschinske, District 6 from Boyd, Jeff Betley, District 9 from Pulaski, Sandra Madland, District 15 from Lyndon Station, Rick Roden, District 18 from West Bend, and Virgil Haag, District 24 from Mt. Horeb. "The leadership and insight our board members bring are vital to the success of Wisconsins dairy community," said Chad Vincent, CEO of Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. "Their dedication ensures we remain focused on delivering meaningful results for farmers, building consumer trust, and driving demand for Wisconsin dairy both here at home and across the country." About the Board: Twenty-five farmer-elected directors serve three-year terms and represent Wisconsins diverse dairy-producing regions. The board actively shapes DFWs marketing strategies, creates organizational policies, approves long-range business plans and budgets, and ensures responsible stewardship of dairy checkoff funds. Directors work closely with DFWs professional staff in marketing, communications, and research to support high-impact programming that elevates Wisconsin dairy. As Wisconsins dairy marketing and promotion organization, DFW serves as a tireless advocate for the states dairy farmers and leads efforts to grow demand for Wisconsin cheese and dairy products. The organization also supports dairy education in schools and collaborates with the Center for Dairy Research at the University of WisconsinMadison to advance innovation in dairy. Visit WisconsinDairy.org/board for the full list of board members. To receive updates on DFW programs, promotions, and industry news, subscribe to the monthly farmer newsletter at WisconsinDairy.org or follow Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin on Facebook. ### About Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin: Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is a non-profit organization funded entirely by Wisconsin's dairy farmers. Founded in 1983, DFW's mission is to develop markets for Wisconsin's dairy products and support the state's dairy industry. DFW is committed to promoting the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of Wisconsin's dairy farms and ensuring the continued success of the dairy industry in the state. Attachments VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lancaster Resources Inc. (CSE:LCR | OTCQ:LANRF | FRA:6UF0) (the Company or Lancaster) is issuing a clarification at the request of the CSE and CIRO concerning the staking of the Lac Iris Polymetallic Project that was previously disclosed as an acquisition. Lancaster is also pleased to provide an update on its properties. The Companys portfolio of projects includes: Lake Cargelligo Gold project, a district-scale gold exploration property in Australia Lac Iris Polymetallic Project and the Trans-Taiga Project, both in the James Bay region of Quebec; Catley Lake and Centennial East Uranium Projects in the prolific Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan; and Piney Lake Gold Project Saskatchewan. The Company continues to review gold and critical mineral projects for acquisition. Lac Iris Polymetallic Project Lac Iris is a ~1,443ha project located along the same geological trend as the NISK polymetallic high-grade nickel-copper sulphide deposit. The Lac Iris properties are prospective for polymetallic exploration. Acquisition: The Lac Iris Polymetallic Project was acquired through online staking using Quebecs Mining Title Management system (GESTIM Plus). The titles are currently pending the completion of the provincial mining title review process. Lancaster will provide updates once the review is complete. Lancaster has started collaboration with KorrAI to review opportunities for hyperspectral imaging and a targeted field geological and geochemical program in early fall 2025. The goal of this exploration project is to identify polymetallic and lithium-rich areas/outcroppings, construct detailed geological maps, and evaluate the high-value metals content through rock and soil sampling. Lake Cargelligo Gold Project The Lake Cargelligo Gold project, which encompasses over 28,768 hectares under a single exploration license, features multiple historical high-grade gold and silver occurrences, identified through rock chip and channel sampling, as well as historical drilling. Historical sampling includes results up to 204 g/t Au and 273 g/t Ag from rock chips, and up to 16m @ 5.83 g/t Au and 7.20 g/t Ag from channel sampling.1 Lancaster has initiated local stakeholder discussions to ensure rapid and fulsome approval with both stakeholders and regulatory bodies. This work is expected to complete by mid August 2025 and will allow for Lancaster to initiate its exploration program in Q3 2025. The exploration program will target confirmation of the highly anomalous gold and silver concentrations previously reported. Field geologists will gather rock and soil samples for analysis, along with detailed outcropping and surface geological mapping. In addition, Lancaster will conduct a targeted geophysical program to support follow-up drilling opportunities within the project. The Company has also initiated preparation of a maiden NI 43-101 technical report on the project. Trans-Taiga James Bay Project Lancaster holds the rights to acquire a 100% interest in the Trans-Taiga property located within the James Bay lithium district of Quebec, Canada. Lancaster is reviewing opportunities for a joint field exploration program and HSI data set with the Lac Iris project. This combined effort would save capital and help confirm the significant opportunity at Trans Taiga. Catley Lake & Centennial East Uranium Projects Lancaster holds 100% of the Catley Lake and Centennial East properties in Saskatchewan, Canada. The properties are immediately adjacent to the Cameco Centennial deposit claims. The Cameco Centennial deposit is located just 12 km to the west and has notable uranium concentrations of up to 8.78% U 3 O 8 over 33.9m and 25.6% U 3 O 8 over 0.5m.2 Approximately 24km southwest of Lancasters claims is the Cameco Dufferin deposit, which has shown assays of up to 1.73% U 3 O 8 over 6.5m. 3 Lancaster's exploration plans include an initial detailed surface outcrop mapping, using hyperspectral data to identify vegetation stress indicative of subsurface uranium, acquiring high-resolution optical imagery, and purchasing corrected imagery for hyperspectral analysis (HSI). Piney Lake Gold Project Lancaster holds 100% of the Piney Lake Gold Property in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is approximately 65 km east of La Ronge Provincial Park and 2.5 km east of North Arrow Minerals' Pikoo property. Historical geochemical samplings for Piney Lake mention significant gold showings identified along a north-south trend. These include concentrations of 7.55g/T Au approximately 375 meters north, and an impressive 41.35g/T Au approximately 4.1km north, among others. 4 Management Commentary The Lancaster team is extremely excited about closing our the Lake Cargelligo acquisition. We can now accelerate the development of our precious and critical mineral portfolio by launching exploration programs at Lake Cargelligo and in the James Bay area. With these programs underway, we are focused on delivering significant exploration results and unlocking the discovery potential of both projects, said Lancaster CEO Andrew Watson. All exploration results are historical in nature and have not been verified by a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. The Company considers these results relevant for exploration purposes but not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the property. Management cautions that mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of the presence of similar mineralization or geology on Lancasters properties. Andrew Watson, P.Eng., President, CEO, and a Director of the Company, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Watson has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Watson is the President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company and is not independent of the Company. About Lancaster Resources Inc. Lancaster is focused on building a portfolio of district-scale exploration assets positioned for future resource development. The Company holds a 100% interest in the Piney Lake Gold Project in Saskatchewan, uranium projects at Catley Lake and Centennial East in the Athabasca Basin, and the Lac Iris Polymetallic Project in Quebecs James Bay region, where it also holds an option to acquire the Trans-Taiga property. In Australia, Lancaster owns the Lake Cargelligo Gold Project in New South Wales, covering 28,768 hectares with over 25 km of prospective strike and three primary target zones. Andrew Watson, President & Chief Executive Officer, Lancaster Resources Inc. andrew@lancasterlithium.com Tel: 604 923 6100 www.lancaster-resources.com The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or Lancasters future performance. The use of any of the words could, expect, believe, will, projected, estimated and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Lancasters current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, the ability of Lancaster to execute its exploration plans, raise capital, retain key personnel, identify, acquire, explore, and develop high-quality mineral-rich properties constitutes forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. Lancaster disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws. Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses LOS ANGELES, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Organon & Co. ("Organon" or the "Company") (NYSE: OGN) investors of a class action representing investors that bought securities between November 3, 2022 and April 30, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Organon investors have until July 22, 2025 to file a lead plaintiff motion. Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 310-692-8883 or email: lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses. CASE ALLEGATIONS: Organon is a healthcare company that develops and delivers prescription therapies and medical devices. According to the class action lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose material facts, including that: (i) Organon concealed critical information regarding its capital allocation strategyparticularly its plans for the quarterly dividend payout; (ii) despite public statements positioning the dividend as the companys number one priority, Organon had adopted a debt reduction strategy that conflicted with maintaining the dividend; and (iii) following its acquisition of Dermavant Sciences Ltd., Organon intended to shift capital priorities toward debt reduction, leading to a substantial dividend cut. The Complaint further alleges that on May 1, 2025, Organon released its Q1 2025 financial results and announced a sharp reduction in its quarterly dividendfrom $0.28 to $0.02 per share. On this news, Organons stock declined more than 27%, according to the Complaint. Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information. The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq. Admitted CA and NY Bar lesley@portnoylaw.com 310-692-8883 www.portnoylaw.com Attorney Advertising Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses LOS ANGELES, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC ("Reckitt Benckiser" or the "Company") (OTC: RBGLY) investors of a class action representing investors that bought securities between January 13, 2021 and July 28, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Reckitt Benckiser investors have until August 4, 2025 to file a lead plaintiff motion. Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 310-692-8883 or email: lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses. CASE ALLEGATIONS: Reckitt Benckiser is a U.K.-based global consumer goods company. In 2017, the company acquired Mead Johnson Nutrition for $19.7 billion. According to the class action lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) preterm infants faced an increased risk of developing Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) from consuming Reckitt Benckisers cows milk-based infant formula, Enfamil; and (ii) the company failed to adequately warn consumers and investors of the associated health risks, potential impact on Enfamil sales, and the companys legal exposure. The Complaint further alleges that on March 15, 2024, a jury in Watson v. Mead Johnson Co., Docket No. 21-L-1032 (Ill. Cir. Ct.), returned a $60 million verdict against Mead Johnson. The jury found the company negligent for failing to warn a mother about the risk of NEC from cows milk-based formula. Following the verdict, Reckitt Benckisers American Depositary Shares (ADSs) dropped nearly 14%. Then, on July 29, 2024, in a related case (Gill v. Abbott Laboratories, Inc., Docket No. 2322-CC1251, Mo. Cir. Ct.), a Missouri jury awarded $495 million in damages over NEC caused by a competing formula for premature infants. On this news, Reckitt Benckisers ADSs fell nearly 9%, according to the Complaint. Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information. The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq. Admitted CA and NY Bar lesley@portnoylaw.com 310-692-8883 www.portnoylaw.com Attorney Advertising Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With rising traffic congestion and an uptick in vehicular crash incidents across Pennsylvania, Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. has broadened its legal services to include Harrisburg and Camp Hill. The firm, headquartered in Philadelphia, continues a comprehensive approach to car accident advocacy, representing motorists, pedestrians, rideshare passengers, and commercial vehicle victims in a region experiencing increased collision frequency. Lowenthal & Abrams extends car accident advocacy to Harrisburg and Camp Hill, addressing rising crash incidents across Pennsylvania with dedicated legal support. Automobile collisions in the Harrisburg metropolitan area now include rear-end crashes, intersection-related collisions, sideswipe incidents, multi-vehicle pileups, and pedestrian-involved wrecks. These accidents often result in serious injuries such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, fractures, and internal organ trauma. Medical costs from emergency care, hospitalization, and long-term rehabilitation, along with lost income and reduced earning capacity, place considerable financial strain on victims and their families. Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. upholds Pennsylvania personal injury law to seek recovery of both economic and non-economic damages. Car accident victims in Harrisburg and Camp Hill are offered a no-cost initial consultation to assess crash reports, insurance policies, medical documentation, and evidence from accident scenes. Those affected may visit https://lowenthalabrams.com/ or call (610) 6677511 to explore claim eligibility and begin pursuing rightful financial compensation. Navigating insurance claims presents a significant challenge for accident victims. Insurance companies often seek to reduce payouts or rely on policy language to deny valid claims. Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. remedies this by managing settlement negotiations, advocating for fair treatment, and preparing cases for trial when needed. Timely filing is essential in light of Pennsylvanias two-year statute of limitations on car accident lawsuits. Auto accident victims often face steep medical expenses, including hospital stays, ongoing medical care, and physical therapy. Resulting medical bills and lost wages can create significant financial strain, especially when an injured party is unable to return to work. In many cases, benefits from workers compensation may not fully cover out-of-pocket costs or future income losses. A skilled auto accident lawyer assesses all aspects of a personal injury caseincluding property damage, insurance coverage, and entitlement to compensation from at-fault driversto guide victims through the legal system. The police report and witness statements play a critical role in proving liability and demonstrating the severity of injuries in auto accidents. A crash involving a rear-end collision or drunk driving often leads to catastrophic injuries requiring extensive medical treatment. Insurance providers typically examine these reports to determine insurance coverage, but claimants may encounter disputes. Legal advice is essential to counter reduction tactics by insurers and ensure that victims' legal rights under insurance law are protected. Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. on Google Maps Motor vehicle negligence can lead to multiple legal issues, from minor insurance claims to full-scale court proceedings. In certain collision cases, medical malpractice claims may arise if substandard care following the accident leads to worsened injuries. Such supplementary claims can strengthen a personal injury suit and result in higher settlements. Auto accident lawyers work to hold negligent parties accountable while documenting emotional trauma alongside visible physical harm. Victims facing medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage can benefit significantly from contingency-based legal representation. By selecting an auto accident lawyer, accident victims gain access to professional case evaluation, negotiation with insurers, and successful navigation of the legal system. Court appearances are only required if settlement offers fall short of covering both current and anticipated expenses, ensuring that claimants can pursue justice without upfront legal fees. Rush-hour traffic in Harrisburg and suburban routes around Camp Hill amplify risk factors including distracted driving, aggressive maneuvering, improper lane changes, and failure to yield. Collisions involving rideshare services, delivery vans, commercial trucks, and motorcycles complicate fault determination. Liability may apply to drivers, vehicle owners, employers, or third-party maintenance providers. Thorough review of accident reports, vehicle damage, and photographs from the crash scene is paramount to assign responsibility accurately and maximize compensation. Victims requiring a comprehensive legal strategywhether due to neck injuries, whiplash, broken bones, or permanent disabilitybenefit from coordination with medical professionals and reconstruction experts. Car crash injuries may include traumatic brain injury, nerve damage, long-term pain, or diminished quality of life. Legal action aims to secure restitution for medical attention, vehicle repairs, prescription medication, home care support, loss of income, diminished earning capacity, and emotional distress. In certain cases, a punitive damages award may be pursued, particularly where reckless driving, intoxication, or gross negligence contributes to the collision. Parents of injured children and families of wrongful death victims may seek additional compensation through survival actions and wrongful death filings. Commercial truck crashes require particular scrutiny, including review of cargo logs, driver hours-of-service, vehicle maintenance schedules, and load-securement standards. The firm continues advocacy in disputes over trucking accident liability. Similarly, representation extends to motorcycle accident victims, bicycle collisions, and pedestrian injuries on crosswalks and multi-use paths. In each scenario, application of traffic laws, vehicle safety standards, and local road regulations informs the legal strategy. Beyond physical harm, accident victims often experience financial stress and psychological complications such as anxiety or post-traumatic stress. Compensation calculations recognize pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental anguish, alongside tangible costs. Personal injury claims may include both economic and non-economic damages. Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. provides representation on a contingency fee basis, ensuring that no attorney fees are charged upfront. This structure enables access to legal advocacy without immediate financial burden, allowing victims to focus on their health and recovery. As collision rates continue to rise in Harrisburg and Camp Hill, Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. remains committed to safeguarding the rights of car accident victims. Through court filings, settlement advocacy, and trial preparation, the firm supports those impacted by negligent driving, roadway hazards, or defective vehicles. About Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C.: Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. is a leading personal injury law firm headquartered in Philadelphia with reach across Pennsylvania, including Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Pittsburgh, Erie, Lancaster, Reading, and Bala Cynwyd. The firm handles a broad range of claims, including car accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability, workers compensation, nursing home abuse, and wrongful death. Renowned for aggressive advocacy and legal proficiency, it remains dedicated to securing justice and full compensation for injury victims statewide. As crash cases rise in PA, Lowenthal & Abrams expands services in Harrisburg and Camp Hill to support car accident victims seeking justice and compensation. Press inquiries Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. https://lowenthalabrams.com/ Justin West justin@rankwithnews.com 1800 John F Kennedy Blvd #12b Philadelphia, PA 19103, United States CALGARY, Alberta, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pulse Seismic Inc. (TSX:PSD) (OTCQX:PLSDF) (Pulse or the Company) is pleased to report its financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025. The unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements, accompanying notes and MD&A are being filed on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca ) and will be available on Pulses website at www.pulseseismic.com . Today, Pulses Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.0175 per common share and also declared a special dividend of $0.20 per common share. The total dividend declared will be approximately $11.0 million based on Pulses 50,755,057 common shares outstanding as of July 22, 2025, to be paid on August 20, 2025, to shareholders of record on August 13, 2025. This dividend is designated as an eligible dividend for Canadian income tax purposes. For non-resident shareholders, Pulses dividends are subject to Canadian withholding tax. In the first half of 2025 the Company has benefited from increases in traditional data sales as well as energy sector M&A, generating revenue of $41.1 million, an EBITDA margin of 86% and $27.2 million of shareholder free cashflow, stated Neal Coleman, Pulses President and CEO. Pulses industry leading seismic data library contains vital subsurface information used by E&P companies for risk mitigation and maximization of drilling results, he continued. The Company continues to rely on shareholder free cashflow as the basis for its capital allocation strategy and remains focused on returns to shareholders, as evidenced by distributing 84% of 2025 free cash flow in the form of dividends. Pulses Board of Directors today declared the second special dividend of 2025, Coleman continued. In the last 24 months, special dividends of $0.80 have been declared, in addition to the regular dividend which has increased annually and is currently set at $0.07 per year, he concluded. HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 The regular quarterly dividend of $0.0175 per common share declared and paid in the second quarter of 2025 was a 17% increase over the regular quarterly dividend of $0.015 per common share declared and paid in the first quarter of 2025. A special dividend of $0.20 per common share totaling $10.2 million was also declared and paid in the first quarter of 2025; The Company renewed its Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB) on February 24, 2025. During the six months ended June 30, 2025, the Company purchased and cancelled 80,600 shares under the NCIB at an average price of $2.43 per share, for total cost of approximately $197,000; Total revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2025, was $18.3 million, compared to $6.3 million for the same period in 2024. Total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2025, was $41.1 million, compared to $15.1 million for the same period in 2024. Revenue generated in the first half of 2025 reflects an increase of 71% compared to the last three years average of annual revenue; Shareholder free cash flow(a) was $11.7 million ($0.23 per share basic and diluted) for the three months ended June 30, 2025, compared to $3.9 million ($0.07 per share basic and diluted) for the same period in 2024. Shareholder free cash flow was $27.2 million ($0.53 per share basic and diluted) for the six months ended June 30, 2025, compared to $8.9 million ($0.17 per share basic and diluted) for the same period in 2024; EBITDA(a) was $15.2 million ($0.30 per share basic and diluted) for the three months ended June 30, 2025, compared to $4.4 million ($0.0.09 per share basic and diluted) for the same period in 2024. For the six months ended June 30, 2025, EBITDA was $35.3 million ($0.69 per share basic and diluted) compared to $10.6 million ($0.21 per share basic and diluted) for the same period in 2024; Net earnings for the three months ended June 30, 2025, was $9.6 million ($0.19 per share basic and diluted) compared to net earnings of $1.3 million ($0.03 per share basic and diluted) for the same period in 2024. Net earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2025, was $22.9 million ($0.45 per share basic and diluted) compared to net earnings of $4.0 million ($0.08 per share basic and diluted) for the same period in 2024; and At June 30, 2025, the Company had a cash balance of $25.9 million as well as $5.0 million of available liquidity on its revolving demand credit facility. SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING INFORMATION (Thousands of dollars except per share data, Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, Year ended, numbers of shares and kilometres of seismic data) 2025 2024 2025 2024 December 31, (Unaudited) (Unaudited) 2024 Revenue 18,316 6,300 41,075 15,077 23,379 Amortization of seismic data library 2,224 2,279 4,449 4,549 9,090 Net earnings 9,565 1,341 22,940 4,022 3,391 Per share basic and diluted 0.19 0.03 0.45 0.08 0.07 Cash provided by (used in) operating activities 12,543 (1,269 ) 29,158 9,195 14,195 Per share basic and diluted 0.25 (0.02 ) 0.57 0.18 0.28 EBITDA (a) 15,238 4,418 35,286 10,647 15,496 Per share basic and diluted (a) 0.30 0.09 0.69 0.21 0.30 Shareholder free cash flow (a) 11,733 3,869 27,152 8,907 12,408 Per share basic and diluted (a) 0.23 0.07 0.53 0.17 0.24 Capital expenditures Seismic data - - - 225 225 Property and equipment - - - - 45 Total capital expenditures - - - 225 270 Dividends Regular dividends declared 885 775 1,648 1,490 3,018 Special dividends declared - - 10,167 - 2,548 Total dividends declared 885 775 11,815 1,490 5,566 Normal course issuer bid Number of shares purchased and cancelled 37,300 539,500 80,600 1,166,800 1,784,000 Cost of shares purchased and cancelled 91 1,222 197 2,407 3,880 Weighted average shares outstanding Basic and diluted 50,761,321 51,734,590 50,795,174 51,928,298 51,448,985 Shares outstanding at period-end 50,755,057 51,455,063 50,837,863 Seismic library 2D in kilometres 829,207 829,207 829,207 3D in square kilometres 65,310 65,310 65,310 FINANCIAL POSITION AND RATIO June 30, June 30, December 31, (Thousands of dollars except ratio) 2025 2024 2024 Working capital 24,202 10,996 9,222 Working capital ratio 4.8:1 4.0:1 5.1:1 Cash and cash equivalents 25,876 9,392 8,722 Total assets 36,479 29,184 21,516 Trailing 12 -month (TTM) EBITDA(b) 40,135 27,528 15,496 Shareholders equity 29,177 25,177 18,295 (a)The Companys continuous disclosure documents provide discussion and analysis of EBITDA, EBITDA per share, shareholder free cash flow and shareholder free cash flow per share. These financial measures do not have standard definitions prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies. The Company has included these non-GAAP financial measures because management, investors, analysts and others use them as measures of the Companys financial performance. The Companys definition of EBITDA is cash available for interest payments, cash taxes, repayment of debt, purchase of its shares, discretionary capital expenditures and the payment of dividends, and is calculated as earnings (loss) from operations before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The Company believes EBITDA assists investors in comparing Pulses results on a consistent basis without regard to non-cash items, such as depreciation and amortization, which can vary significantly depending on accounting methods or non-operating factors such as historical cost. EBITDA per share is defined as EBITDA divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period. Shareholder free cash flow further refines the calculation of capital available to invest in growing the Companys 2D and 3D seismic data library, to repay debt, to purchase its common shares and to pay dividends by deducting non-discretionary expenditures from EBITDA. Non-discretionary expenditures are defined as non-cash expenses, debt financing costs (net of deferred financing expenses amortized in the current period), net restructuring costs and current tax provisions. Shareholder free cash flow per share is defined as shareholder free cash flow divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period. These non-GAAP financial measures are defined, calculated and reconciled to the nearest GAAP financial measures in the Management's Discussion and Analysis. (b) TTM EBITDA is defined as the sum of EBITDA generated over the previous 12 months and is used to provide a comparable annualized measure. These non-GAAP financial measures are defined, calculated and reconciled to the nearest GAAP financial measures in the Management's Discussion and Analysis. OUTLOOK Pulse had a very strong first half year, generating revenue of $41.1 million and ending the quarter with $24.2 million of working capital including $25.9 million in cash. These financial results have provided capital returns to shareholders, strengthened the balance sheet, and positioned the Company for solid financial performance in 2025. Pulses ability to forecast future revenue continues to be challenging, as significant annual fluctuations are the norm in the seismic data library business. Industry trends that we consider relevant as we look forward include land sales in Western Canada, drilling forecasts for the year, commodity price levels, M&A forecasts and the status of industry infrastructure improvements. It is difficult to predict in the midst of the current market dynamics how this will unfold through the remainder of 2025. M&A activity for the year so far, has surpassed many analysts earlier expectations and is expected to remain strong for the remainder of 2025. Lower oil prices have contributed to decreased corporate valuations which often lead to acquisition opportunities. Alberta land sales through 2024 were strong, but at midpoint in 2025 have generated just over half the amount for the same period in 2024. In British Columbia land sales were resumed in Q3 2024 after a pause of over three years. New infrastructure, such as the TMX pipeline expansion, a driver of increased drilling activity, which was completed in 2024 has provided increased export capacity. The Canadian Association of Energy Contractors, in November 2024 forecast an increase to 6,604 wells to be drilled in 2025, an approximate 7% increase over 2024. There has been no update published to this forecast, and drilling activity is reported to be relatively stable. LNG Canadas liquified natural gas export facility is now operational and is expected to contribute to increased drilling and may lead to an improvement in Canadian natural gas prices. Of course, there continues to be a high level of uncertainty on political and economic fronts. Uncertainty around energy tariffs and trade policy between Canada and the United States, are contributing to the lack of clarity for the future. It is clear that Canada needs to continue to build pipelines and increase natural gas egress, to support the countrys energy security, as well as to secure new buyers of Canadian energy. Pulse, as previously stated, has low visibility regarding future seismic data library sales levels, regardless of industry conditions. The Company remains focused on business practices that have served throughout the full range of conditions. The Company maintains a strong balance sheet and carries no debt. Led by an experienced and capable management team, Pulse operates with a low-cost structure and focuses on maintaining excellent client relations and providing exceptional customer service. Pulses strong financial position, high leverage to increased revenue in its EBITDA margin and careful management of its cash resources continue to translate to the return of capital to shareholders through regular and special dividends. CORPORATE PROFILE Pulse is a market leader in the acquisition, marketing and licensing of 2D and 3D seismic data to the western Canadian energy sector. Pulse owns the largest licensable seismic data library in Canada, currently consisting of approximately 65,310 square kilometres of 3D seismic and 829,207 kilometres of 2D seismic. The library extensively covers the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, where most of Canadas oil and natural gas exploration and development occur. For further information, please contact: Neal Coleman, President and CEO Or Pamela Wicks, Vice President Finance and CFO Tel.: 403-237-5559 Toll-free: 1-877-460-5559 E-mail: info@pulseseismic.com . Please visit our website at www.pulseseismic.com This document contains information that constitutes forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking information) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as anticipate, believe, expect, plan, intend, forecast, target, project, guidance, may, will, should, could, estimate, predict or similar words suggesting future outcomes or language suggesting an outlook. The Outlook section herein contain forward-looking information which includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding: > The outlook of the Company for the year ahead, including future operating costs and expected revenues; > Recent events on the political, economic, regulatory, and legal fronts affecting the industrys medium- to longer-term prospects, including progression and completion of contemplated infrastructure projects; > The Companys capital resources and sufficiency thereof to finance future operations, meet its obligations associated with financial liabilities and carry out the necessary capital expenditures through 2025; > Pulses capital allocation strategy; > Pulses dividend policy; > Oil and natural gas prices and forecast trends; > Oil and natural gas drilling activity and land sales activity; > Oil and natural gas company capital budgets; > Future demand for seismic data; > Future seismic data sales; > Pulses business and growth strategy; and > Other expectations, beliefs, plans, goals, objectives, assumptions, information and statements about possible future events, conditions, results and performance, as they relate to the Company or to the oil and natural gas industry as a whole. By its very nature, forward-looking information involves inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. Pulse does not publish specific financial goals or otherwise provide guidance, due to the inherently poor visibility of seismic revenue. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations and anticipations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking information. These factors include, but are not limited to: > Uncertainty of the timing and volume of data sales; > Volatility of oil and natural gas prices; > Risks associated with the oil and natural gas industry in general; > The Companys ability to access external sources of debt and equity capital; > Credit, liquidity and commodity price risks; > The demand for seismic data; > The pricing of data library licence sales; > Cybersecurity; > Relicensing (change-of-control) fees and partner copy sales; > Environmental, health and safety risks; > Federal and provincial government laws and regulations, including those pertaining to taxation, royalty rates, environmental protection, public health and safety; > Competition; > Dependence on key management, operations and marketing personnel; > The loss of seismic data; > Protection of intellectual property rights; > The introduction of new products; and > Climate change. Pulse cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. Additional information on these risks and other factors which could affect the Companys operations and financial results is included under Risk Factors in the Companys most recent annual information form, and in the Companys most recent audited annual financial statements, most recent MD&A, management information circular, quarterly reports, material change reports and news releases. Copies of the Companys public filings are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. When relying on forward-looking information to make decisions with respect to Pulse, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Furthermore, the forward-looking information contained in this document is provided as of the date of this document and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking information, except as required by law. The forward-looking information in this document is provided for the limited purpose of enabling current and potential investors to evaluate an investment in Pulse. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking information may not be appropriate, and should not be used, for other purposes. PDF available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/8df92694-2a01-45f3-b5b4-ecc0f5bd6edb Perseus Mining Ltd. (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 Perseus's 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 Vancouver, July 21, 2025 - Pacific Empire Minerals Corp. (TSXV: PEMC) ("Pacific Empire", "PEMC" or the "Company"), a British Columbia copper-gold explorer, is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of up to C$300,000. The Offering will consist of up to 15,000,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.02 per Unit. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at a price of C$0.05 for a period of 24 months from the date of closing. Proceeds from the Offering will be used for general working capital, exploration at the Company's flagship Trident copper-gold project, and marketing activities. The Offering is expected to involve one or more directors or officers of the Company and therefore is expected to be a related party transaction subject to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Offering will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities to be distributed to, nor the consideration to be received by, such related parties for the securities under the Offering will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Offering is subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"), and all securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a four month and a day hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws and the concurrent Exchange hold period pursuant to the policies of the Exchange, in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada. In connection with the Offering, the Corporation has agreed to pay to Haywood Securities Inc. (the "Finder") a commission equal to 7% of the gross proceeds raised from the Units sold to the purchasers placed by the Finder (the "Finder's Fee") payable in cash and to issue to the Finder such number of Common Share purchase warrants (the "Broker Warrants") equal to 7% of the aggregate number of Units placed by the Finder. Each Broker Warrant will entitle the Finder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.05 for a period of 24 months from the date of closing. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. 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 state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons as defined under applicable United States securities laws unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Pacific Empire also announces the resignation of Mrs. Kim Casswell as Corporate Secretary of the Company. The duties and responsibilities of Corporate Secretary will be assumed by the Company's legal counsel at this time. The Company thanks Mrs. Casswell for her many years of service and wishes her all the best in future endeavors. About Pacific Empire Pacific Empire Minerals Corp. is a copper exploration company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PEMC. The Company holds a district-scale land position totaling 22,694 hectares in north-central British Columbia, encompassing its flagship Trident and Pinnacle gold-enriched copper porphyry projects. British Columbia is a Tier 1 mining jurisdiction and an emerging source of "Green Copper", with abundant hydroelectric power, established infrastructure, and direct access to the North American end market. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, 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. Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws, including, without limitation, statements with respect to the use of proceeds of the Offering and the receipt of regulatory approvals. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. 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. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: the ability and time frame within which the Company will complete the Offering; the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mineral exploration; fluctuations in commodity prices; title matters; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers, directors or promoters with certain other projects; the absence of dividends; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume and the additional risks identified the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259572 Vancouver, July 22, 2025 - Thor Explorations Ltd. (TSXV: THX) (AIM: THX) ("Thor" or the "Company") is pleased to announce initial drilling results from its maiden drilling campaign at its 100% owned Guitry Gold Project ("Guitry") in Cote d'Ivoire. During May and June 2025, Thor completed an initial 3,000 metre ("m") reverse circulation ("RC") drilling program at Guitry and has received initial assay results from the program. The objective of the program was to gain a better understanding of both the geometry and geological controls on gold mineralisation based on a new interpretation of the historic drilling results obtained by Endeavour Mining, the historical owner of the asset. The assay results received to date from this drilling program include the following highlights: Drillhole GURC25-208 - 14m at 2.59 grammes per tonne ("g/t") of gold ("Au") from surface Drillhole GURC25-209 - 4m at 6.87 g/tAu from 38m Drillhole GURC25-212 - 5m at 7.48 g/tAu from 5m Drillhole GURC25-214 - 10m at 10.36g/t Au from 57m Drillhole GURC25-216 - 7m at 3.93 g/tAu from 7m Drillhole GURC25-219 - 3m at 14.50 g/tAu from 82m Drillhole GURC25-221 - 13m at 3.46/t Au from 114m Drillhole GURC25-227 - 7m at 7.71 g/tAu from 77m Drillhole GURC25-228 - 5m at 12.65 g/tAu from 69m Drillhole GURC25-229 - 17m at 2.16 g/tAu from surface Further exploration at the Krakouadiokro Prospect will include both infill and step-out drilling. Additionally, drilling will commence on numerous geochemical anomalies at both the Krakouadiokro and Gbaloukro Prospects, many of which remain untested or only partially tested. Segun Lawson, President & CEO, stated: "We are extremely pleased to report our first drilling results from Cote d'Ivoire. Guitry is an advanced exploration project which, when acquired, was characterised by numerous gold-in-soil geochemical anomalies that had only been partially drill tested with shallow drilling by the previous explorers. Our initial drilling program was designed based on our new interpretation, suggesting a different orientation of a number of parallel mineralised lodes. "We are particularly encouraged that the drilling confirmed our new interpretation of the orientation of these mineralised lodes which remain open. We also successfully intersected previously untested deeper bedrock mineralisation which also remains open at depth. "This is a great start to our drilling activities in Cote d'Ivoire. The Guitry Project has scope to grow from here and we continue to target our maiden resource in the country by the end of this year. "We look forward to receiving the remaining assay results and are excited to return later this quarter following the rainy season to continue the next phase of drilling and also to kick off our maiden drilling program on our Marahui Project where we have been advancing exploration through the course of the year. "As a country, Cote D'Ivoire is a West African gold mining and exploration success story that hosts over 30% of West Africa's greenstone belts and is proving to be an emerging region for world class gold discoveries. We are pleased with our low-cost entry into the country and believe these two permits provide an excellent platform from which to grow our activities in the country." Introduction The Guitry Project was acquired by Thor from Endeavour Mining Corporation ("Endeavour") during 2024 for a total consideration of US$100,000 in cash and a 2% Net Smelter Royalty. The Project is located 220 kilometres ("km") due west from Abidjan and covers 295 square kilometres ("km2") of prospective Tehini (Birimian) Greenstone Belt comprising a north-easterly trending sequence of greywacke sediments and volcano-sedimentary schists and andesite with later granitic intrusive located to the north. The Tehini Greenstone Belt extends northwards into Burkina Faso where it hosts large gold deposits such as Hounde (5.2Moz) and Mana (2.3Moz). Early-stage exploration at Guitry completed by Endeavour Mining includes 7,672 soil samples and over 11,000m of drilling (Figure 1). Figure 1: Guitry Gold Project Location Map To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7003/259513_e8cc3c14542989d2_002full.jpg Two main prospects were defined by soil geochemistry: Krakouadiokro and Gbaloukro. A broad gold in soil anomaly extends over a 8.5km north easterly trending zone with a continuous 5km long anomaly at Krakouadiokro (Figure 2). Follow up drilling at Krakouadiokro produced several significant drill intersections from relatively small area of drilling including. However, insufficient information was obtained regarding the geometry and extents of the primary gold mineralisation. Mineralisation appears to be open along strike to the southwest and northeast and down dip at the two main prospects. Figure 2: Guitry Soil Geochemical Map To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7003/259513_e8cc3c14542989d2_004full.jpg Drilling Results Historically, most of the drilling intersected gold mineralisation in a near-surface flat-lying supergene horizon. Only limited drilling of the primary mineralisation at Krakouadiokro was carried out. The current program was designed based on a new interpretation of the orientation of what is understood to be several parallel mineralised lodes. Since May 2025, Thor completed an initial RC drilling program of approximately 3,000 metres with the results for the initial holes received. All holes were oriented at an azimuth of 225o at a dip of 55 o. Industry standard QAQC protocols were followed, and drill samples were collected, stored and transported under secured conditions. Drill samples were analysed by SGS Laboratories in Yamoussoukro using the FAA505 fire assay method (50-gram charge). The significant intersections from this program are listed in Table 1. The current drilling area is located on the crest of a laterite-capped hill which overlies a north-east striking sequence of pelitic sedimentary (greywacke) rocks. These rocks are strongly weathered to a depth of about 30m from surface before transitioning into fresh bedrock. Primary gold mineralisation is developed within moderately to steep north-dipping zones in the south-west part of the drilling area. Towards the north-east the mineralised zones appear to be sub-vertical (Figure 4). Table 1: Guitry Gold Project Significant Drilling Intersections (>5 gram-metres, 0.3g/tAu cut off, Minimum Interval 3m, Maximum Internal Waste 3m, all holes reported) Hole ID Easting Northing RL Depth Dip Azi- muth From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Grade (g/tAu) True Width (m) GURC25-208 240488 605214 224 78 -55 225 0 14 14.0 2.59 11.9 GURC25-209 240509 605235 233 96 -55 225 38 42 4.0 6.87 3.4 GURC25-210 240354 605221 211 72 -55 226 0 10 10.0 0.62 8.5 GURC25-210 46 57 11.0 1.07 9.4 GURC25-211 240375 605242 218 102 -55 225 81 90 9.0 1.34 7.7 GURC25-212 240467 605405 243 72 -55 226 25 30 5.0 7.48 4.3 GURC25-214 240603 605396 240 78 -54 225 57 67 10.0 10.36 8.5 GURC25-215 240619 605418 252 102 -54 225 70 75 5.0 3.21 4.3 GURC25-216 240640 605358 252 66 -56 226 45 52 7.0 3.93 6.0 GURC25-217 240654 605382 237 60 -55 225 3 8 5.0 1.05 4.3 GURC25-218 240657 605374 264 138 -55 225 5 15 10.0 0.54 8.5 GURC25-219 240581 605458 245 150 -55 225 10 20 10.0 0.97 8.5 GURC25-219 82 85 3.0 14.50 2.6 GURC25-220 240524 605393 259 108 -55 225 60 64 4.0 1.65 3.4 GURC25-220 86 94 8.0 0.72 6.8 GURC25-221 240500 605382 241 84 -55 225 77 84 7.0 7.11 6.0 GURC25-222 240439 605440 245 114 -55 225 3 8 5.0 2.38 4.3 GURC25-222 66 69 3.0 2.50 2.6 GURC25-223 240449 605455 239 132 -55 225 87 92 5.0 3.17 4.3 GURC25-227 240397 605263 233 144 -55 225 114 127 13.0 3.46 11.0 GURC25-228 240528 605258 256 108 -55 225 69 74 5.0 12.65 4.3 GURC25-229 240496 605289 247 114 -55 225 0 17 17.0 2.16 14.5 Figure 3: Guitry Drillhole Location Map To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7003/259513_e8cc3c14542989d2_005full.jpg Numerous high grades have been intersected in the primary zone over a 400m by 300m area. In the Southern Zone intersections such as 7m at 7.71 g/tAu in GURC25-227 and 5m at 12.65 g/tAu in GURC25-228 indicate that grades appear to increase at depth with most of the grades exceeding 5g/tAu being located in the fresh bedrock (Figure 4). This moderate to steep dipping lode attains an average true thickness of 9m which at these elevated gold grades forms an attractive open pit and underground target. Figure 4: Guitry Cross Sections To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7003/259513_e8cc3c14542989d2_006full.jpg In the Central Zone where assays are still pending, further drilling will be required to fully define the mineralisation. However, drillhole GURC25-221, which ended in grade, suggests the development of another lode. Assays are pending for several other holes including GURC25-232 and GURC25-233 which targeted this zone further to the east. The Northern Zone is characterised by several narrow mineralised structures including 3m grading 14.50g/tAu which was intersected in drillhole GURC25-219 (Figure 4). Further drilling is planned to obtain a better understanding of the geometry of the mineralisation in this area. Next Steps At the Krakouadiokro Prospect further systematic resource drilling is warranted. This drilling would comprise both infill and step-out drilling. Drilling of the numerous geochemical anomalies at both the Krakouadiokro and Gbaloukro Prospects that have, to date, been either untested or partially tested. Generative geochemical surveys along the north-east and to the south-west strike extents of the Krakouadiokro and Gbaloukro Prospects. These areas, which total approximately 10km of prospective strike, have either been partially sampled on 800m spaced lines or not sampled at all. Commercial Terms Further details can be found on the Company's website: www.thorexpl.com Qualified Person The above information has been prepared under the supervision of Alfred Gillman (Fellow AusIMM, CP), who is designated as a "qualified person" under National Instrument 43-101 and the AIM Rules and has reviewed and approves the content of this news release. He has also reviewed QA/QC, sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information. About Thor Explorations Thor Explorations Ltd. is a mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of mineral properties located in Nigeria, Senegal and Burkina Faso. Thor Explorations holds a 100% interest in the Segilola Gold Project located in Osun State, Nigeria and has a 70% economic interest in the Douta Gold Project located in south-eastern Senegal. Thor Explorations trades on AIM and the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "THX". THOR EXPLORATIONS LTD. Segun Lawson President & CEO Appendix 1 Guitry Drilling Results (>5 gram-metres, 0.3g/tAu cut off, Minimum Interval 3m, Maximum Internal Waste 3m) Hole ID Easting Northing RL Depth Dip Azimuth From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Grade (g/tAu) True Width (m) GURC25-208 240488 605214 224 78 -55 225 0 14 14.0 2.59 11.9 GURC25-209 240509 605235 233 96 -55 225 38 42 4.0 6.87 3.4 GURC25-210 240354 605221 211 72 -55 226 0 10 10.0 0.62 8.5 GURC25-210 46 57 11.0 1.07 9.4 GURC25-210 59 64 5.0 0.64 4.3 GURC25-211 240375 605242 218 102 -55 225 0 7 7.0 0.61 6.0 GURC25-211 67 73 6.0 0.35 5.1 GURC25-211 81 90 9.0 1.34 7.7 GURC25-212 240467 605405 243 72 -55 226 2 10 8.0 0.70 6.8 GURC25-212 25 30 5.0 7.48 4.3 GURC25-212 64 69 5.0 0.32 4.3 GURC25-213 240488 605426 242 96 -55 225 nsr 0.0 GURC25-214 240603 605396 240 78 -54 225 57 67 10.0 10.36 8.5 GURC25-215 240619 605418 252 102 -54 225 70 75 5.0 3.21 4.3 GURC25-216 240640 605358 252 66 -56 226 45 52 7.0 3.93 6.0 GURC25-216 57 62 5.0 0.37 4.3 GURC25-217 240654 605382 237 60 -55 225 3 8 5.0 1.05 4.3 GURC25-218 240657 605374 264 138 -55 225 5 15 10.0 0.54 8.5 GURC25-219 240581 605458 245 150 -55 225 10 20 10.0 0.97 8.5 GURC25-219 82 85 3.0 14.50 2.6 GURC25-220 240524 605393 259 108 -55 225 2 10 8.0 0.35 6.8 GURC25-220 60 64 4.0 1.65 3.4 GURC25-220 86 94 8.0 0.72 6.8 GURC25-221 240500 605382 241 84 -55 225 0 4 4.0 0.50 3.4 GURC25-221 77 84 7.0 7.11 6.0 GURC25-222 240439 605440 245 114 -55 225 3 8 5.0 2.38 4.3 GURC25-222 66 69 3.0 2.50 2.6 GURC25-223 240449 605455 239 132 -55 225 11 14 3.0 0.93 2.6 GURC25-223 43 50 7.0 0.43 6.0 GURC25-223 87 92 5.0 3.17 4.3 GURC25-224 240676 605401 245 108 -55 225 5 9 4.0 0.40 3.4 GURC25-224 80 82 2.0* 16.90 1.7 GURC25-224 98 97 2.0* 3.12 1.7 GURC25-225 240690 605347 237 120 -55 225 7 12 5.0 0.57 4.4 GURC25-226 240674 605333 251 108 -55 225 nsr GURC25-227 240397 605263 233 144 -55 225 0 6 6.0 0.83 5.1 GURC25-227 114 127 13.0 3.46 11.0 GURC25-228 240528 605258 256 108 -55 225 0 6 6.0 0.39 5.1 GURC25-228 69 74 5.0 12.65 4.3 GURC25-229 240496 605289 247 114 -55 225 0 17 17.0 2.16 14.5 GURC25-230 240573 605381 253 156 -55 225 pending GURC25-231 240565 605358 224 160 -55 225 pending GURC25-232 240599 605321 242 144 -55 225 pending GURC25-233 240614 605341 249 120 -55 225 pending GURC25-234 240647 605433 242 150 -55 225 pending GURC25-235 240443 605385 242 144 -55 225 pending *Below Minimum Interval criteria NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. WIRE SERVICES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259513 Vancouver, July 22, 2025 - Headwater Gold Inc. (CSE: HWG, OTCQB: HWAUF) (the "Company" or "Headwater") is pleased to announce it has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent ("LOI") with a subsidiary of OceanaGold Corporation ("OceanaGold") (TSX: OGC, OTCQX: OCANF). The parties propose to enter into a definitive agreement (the "Agreement") within 90 days for OceanaGold to acquire an option to earn up to a 75% interest in Headwater's TJ, Jake Creek and Hot Creek projects in Nevada (collectively, the "Projects") through staged exploration expenditures totalling up to US$65,000,000 and the completion of Pre-Feasibility Studies. Highlights: OceanaGold proposes to fund a firm minimum commitment of US$2,500,000 in exploration expenditures across three Projects within the first two years of the Agreement; OceanaGold may elect to earn up to a 65% interest in each Project by funding exploration expenditures of US$25,000,000 on each of TJ and Jake Creek and US$15,000,000 on Hot Creek within an 8-year period; OceanaGold may elect to earn an additional 10% interest (to 75%) by completing a Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") on each Project and granting Headwater a 1% NSR royalty upon completion of the PFS; Under the partnership, Headwater will be the initial operator of the Projects and will receive a 10% management fee; and Headwater and OceanaGold are preparing to initiate drilling programs at the TJ project immediately following the execution of the Agreement. Caleb Stroup, Headwater's President and CEO, states: "We are excited to announce this LOI with OceanaGold, a highly respected technical partner and a successful epithermal gold explorer and mid-tier gold miner. The LOI outlines a clear framework to advance our TJ, Jake Creek and Hot Creek projects through significant exploration funding and drilling, while allowing Headwater to retain meaningful carried interests and royalties. This deal aligns with our strategy of partnering with strong corporate partners to aggressively accelerate exploration on our high-potential projects in Nevada, one of the world's premier mining jurisdictions. We look forward to working with OceanaGold and initiating the various programs which will supplement another busy year of exploration for the Company." Table 1: Principal Structure of the Proposed Transaction: Stage Project Specific Expenditures (US$) OceanaGold Interest (%) Time for Each Stage TJ Jake Creek Hot Creek Minimum Commitment $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $500,000 0% 2 Years from Execution Date of Agreement Stage 1 $10,000,000 $10,000,000 $5,000,000 51% 4 Years from Execution Date of Agreement Stage 2 +$15,000,000 +$15,000,000 +$10,000,000 65% 4 Years from commencement of Stage 2 Stage 3 Completion of PFS Completion of PFS Completion of PFS 75% 2 Years from commencement of Stage 3 LOI Commercial Terms: The LOI outlines the proposed terms for the definitive agreement under which OceanaGold would make cash payments and incur exploration expenditures to acquire up to a 75% interest in each of the three Projects through a three separate staged earn-in process (Table 1). As consideration for entering into the LOI, OceanaGold shall advance a non-refundable payment of US$150,000 to Headwater that will be used to fund pre-drilling expenses on the Projects. Upon execution of the Agreement (the "Execution Date"), OceanaGold will pay US$100,000 to Headwater and an additional US$100,000 on the first anniversary of the Agreement if OceanaGold elects to continue into the second year on at least one Project. Earn-in Structure Stage 1: OceanaGold may elect to earn a 51% interest in each Project by sole funding expenditures of US$10,000,000 per Project for each of TJ and Jake Creek and US$5,000,000 for Hot Creek within 48 months of the Execution Date. Stage 1 includes a firm commitment to fund a minimum of $1,000,000 in exploration expenditures on both TJ and Jake Creek and $500,000 at Hot Creek within the first two years. Stage 2: OceanaGold may elect to earn an additional 14% interest (to 65%) in each Project by sole funding additional expenditures of US$15,000,000 per Project for each of TJ and Jake Creek and US$10,000,000 for Hot Creek within 48 months following the completion of Stage 1. Stage 3: OceanaGold may earn an additional 10% interest (to 75%) in each Project by completing a Pre-Feasibility Study for the respective Project and granting a 1% NSR royalty to Headwater, within 24 months following completion of Stage 2. About the TJ Project: The TJ project is located on Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") land in a relatively underexplored area of northeastern Nevada, approximately 25 km southeast of the town of Jackpot. The project area contains indications of a fully preserved epithermal system, including a thick and laterally extensive accumulation of silica sinter in the core of the property. Epithermal alteration is localized along a series of steeply inclined faults that bound a graben filled with Miocene-age sedimentary rocks. Limited historic exploration on the property included shallow Reverse Circulation ("RC") drilling that confirmed the presence of a broad zone of high-level epithermal alteration. The Company completed an initial round of scout drilling in 2024 which confirmed the project has potential for high-grade epithermal vein-style mineralization at depth (Headwater news release - January 16, 2025). A follow-up core drilling program is being planned with the objective of testing prospective epithermal structures identified during the 2024 program at depth. The TJ project is subject to an underlying exploration lease and option to purchase agreement under which the Company may acquire a 100% interest in the project for US$1,500,000 inclusive of annual minimum payments. A portion of the project is subject to NSR royalties ranging from 1.5% to 2.5% with Headwater retaining the right to buy-down 80% of the NSR. About the Jake Creek Project: The Jake Creek project is 100% owned and consists of 189 unpatented lode mining claims on BLM land in Humboldt County, Nevada, located 65 km northwest of Winnemucca and 8 km east of the Nevada Gold Mines' Turquoise Ridge Mine Complex. Historic drilling by Evolving Gold Corp. in 2010 and 2011 (13 RC holes) intersected widespread epithermal mineralization at the Tertiary unconformity, with notable intercepts1 such as 11.3 g/t Au over 1.52 m within 45.72 m grading 0.96 g/t Au in hole JC-005. This mineralization, associated with silicification, clay alteration and banded quartz veining, suggests a robust low-sulfidation epithermal system with potential for high-grade feeder zones at depth or along strike. A portion of the project is subject to a 1% NSR, half of which can be purchased for $1,000,000 at any time. For further information see Headwater news release - March 3, 2025. About the Hot Creek Project: The Hot Creek project is 100% owned and royalty-free and consists of 52 unpatented mining claims staked by Headwater in the Tuscarora District in Nevada. The project hosts a widespread zone of silica flooding in Tertiary sediments in the immediate hanging wall of a silicified range front fault. Historical shallow drilling1 results include grades up to 1.04 g/t Au over 12.2 m and 0.34 g/t Au over 117.3 m along a range front fault. The majority of the historic drill holes at Hot Creek were relatively shallow and did not adequately test for the presence of high-grade feeders at depth along the range front fault or subsidiary structures. Future exploration at Hot Creek will focus on refining the geological model, identifying new high-potential targets and conducting additional geological mapping and surface sampling. For further information see Headwater news release - September 4, 2024. About OceanaGold: OceanaGold Corporation (TSX: OGC, OTCQX: OCAND) is a growing intermediate gold and copper producer committed to safely and responsibly maximizing the generation of free cash flow from its operations and delivering strong returns for its shareholders. OceanaGold has a portfolio of four operating mines: the Haile Gold Mine in the United States of America; Didipio Mine in the Philippines; and the Macraes and Waihi operations in New Zealand. For more information, please visit investors.oceanagold.com. About Headwater Gold: Headwater Gold Inc. (CSE: HWG, OTCQB: HWAUF) is a technically-driven mineral exploration company focused on exploring for and discovering high-grade precious metal deposits in the Western USA. Headwater is actively exploring one of the world's most well-endowed, mining-friendly jurisdictions, with a goal of making world-class precious metal discoveries. The Company has a large portfolio of epithermal vein exploration projects and a technical team with diverse experience in capital markets and major mining companies. Headwater is systematically drill-testing several projects in Nevada and has strategic earn-in agreements with Newmont on its Spring Peak and Lodestar projects. In August 2022 and September 2024, Newmont and Centerra Gold Inc. acquired strategic equity interests in the Company, further strengthening Headwater's exploration capabilities. Headwater is part of the NewQuest Capital Group which is a discovery-driven investment enterprise that builds value through the incubation and financing of mineral projects and companies. Further information about NewQuest can be found on its website at www.nqcapitalgroup.com. For more information about Headwater, please visit the Company's website at www.headwatergold.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Caleb Stroup President and CEO +1 (775) 409-3197 cstroup@headwatergold.com For further information, please contact: Brennan Zerb Investor Relations Manager +1 (778) 867-5016 bzerb@headwatergold.com Qualified Person The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Scott Close, P.Geo (158157), an independent "Qualified Person" ("QP") as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. 1Historical drill intercepts and surface samples cannot be relied upon and are treated by the Company as historical in nature and not current or NI 43-101 compliant. 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 negotiation and entering into of the Agreement, future exploration expenditures by OceanaGold,, anticipated content, commencement, and cost of exploration programs in respect of the Company's projects and mineral properties, completion and timing of the Agreement, , OceanaGold's anticipated funding of the minimum commitment and the payment by OceanaGold of the pre-drilling expenses, 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 and OceanaGold, including the Company's and OceanaGold's exploration plans and the proposed expenditures for exploration work on the Projects, the ability of OceanaGold to obtain sufficient financing to fund the proposed exploration programs, delays in obtaining governmental and regulatory approvals (including of the Canadian Securities Exchange) for the Agreement, the risk that OceanaGold will not elect to obtain any additional interest in the Projects in excess of the minimum commitment, the ability of the Company to obtain the required permits, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, the Company's limited operating history, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims, environmental issues and liabilities, as well as those factors discussed in the Company's filings 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. Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. (the "Company" or "Spanish Mountain Gold") (TSX-V: SPA) (FSE: S3Y) (OTCQB: SPAUF) is pleased to announce that, further to the Company's news release on July 4, 2025, the Company has completed a shares for debt transaction with Whittle Consulting Ltd., an arm's length creditor of the Company ("Whittle") to settle an aggregate of $379,720 in outstanding debt (the "Debt"). In settlement of the Debt, the Company has (i) paid Whittle $14,320, in cash, and (ii) issued 2,110,919 common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Shares") as directed by Whittle at a price of $0.1731 per Share (the "Debt Settlement"). The Debt Settlement extinguishes the Debt owed to Whittle for past services to the Company. Closing of the Debt Settlement was subject to a number of customary closing conditions, including, but not limited to, approval from the TSX Venture Exchange. The Shares are subject to a statutory four month plus a day hold period in accordance with applicable securities legislation. About Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. is focused on advancing its 100%-owned Spanish Mountain Gold Project (Project) towards construction of the next gold mine in the Cariboo Gold Corridor, British Columbia. The Company will publish, within 45 days of the July 3, 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) news release, a new NI 43-101 Technical Report setting out the new executable vision to advance the Project. This new NI 43-101 Technical Report, with a de-risked and optimized PEA with an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), will supersede the prior technical report of the Company. Upon receipt of the new PEA and updated MRE, the Company will decide the next steps to advance the Project to position the Company to make a construction decision in or before 2027. We are striving to be a leader in community and Indigenous relations by leveraging technology and innovation to build the 'greenest' gold mine in Canada. The Relentless Pursuit for Better Gold means seeking new ways to achieve optimal financial outcomes that are safer, minimize environmental impact and create meaningful sustainability for communities. Details of the Company are available on www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website: www.spanishmountaingold.com. On Behalf of the Board, "Peter Mah" President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. 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. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: Certain of the statements and information in this press release constitute "forward-looking information". Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be considered forward-looking information. The Company's forward-looking information is based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this press release and include but are not limited to information with respect to, the potential to extend mineralization within the near-surface environment; the potential to expand resources and to find higher-grade mineralization at depth; the timing, size and budget of a winter drill program, and the results thereof; and the delivery of a maiden resource for the Phoenix Target, and the timing and results thereof. Other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250722217643/en/ Contact For more information, contact: Peter Mah (604) 601-3651 info@spanishmountaingold.com Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp. ("Pinnacle" or the "Company") announces that it is clarifying its previous news release at the request of CIRO. The Company's continuing underground channel sampling in the historic Pinos Cuates mine at the El Potrero Project in Durango, Mexico has returned multiple high-grade assays up to 85.1 grams/tonne gold (g/t Au) and 520 grams/tonne silver (g/t Ag) over 0.5 metres. A raise (inclined tunnel) between the main and upper levels of the mine provided additional access to the highest grade portion of the vein reported in Pinnacle news release of June 2, 2025 that returned composite channel assays of up to 19.4 g/t Au and 266 g/t Ag over 4.1 metres. The recent installation of metal ladders provided new and safe access for the geological crew to sample a different portion of this zone on a sub-level, resulting in composite channel assays of 50.3 g/t Au and 269 g/t Ag over 1.7 metres, 34.6 g/t Au and 228 g/t Ag over 1.0 metre, 9.84 g/t Au and 141 g/t Ag over 4.2 metres and 8.33 g/t Au and 154 g/t Ag over 1.8 metres. "We continue to be impressed by the tenor and consistency of the grades at Pinos Cuates," stated Robert Archer, Pinnacle's President & CEO. "While the underground workings give us access to a portion of the mineralized zone, we still don't know its extent. In these low-sulphidation epithermal systems, pockets of high-grade mineralization typically pinch and swell both along strike and up and down dip. The underground work is allowing us to characterize the mineralization such that we will be better able to find and delineate other zones within the Dos de Mayo vein system. Some follow up sampling on these results has already been conducted and we are planning an underground drilling program to better define the extent of this mineralized zone as it can be difficult to drill through underground workings from surface." Individual Sample Results and Composite Channel Assays - Pinos Cuates Raise Sample No. Sample Length (m) Composite No. Composite Length (m) Au g/t Ag g/t EPUG25421 1.0 13 1.0 34.6 228 EPUG25422 0.5 14 85.1 520 EPUG25423 0.6 14 30.5 143 EPUG25424 0.6 14 41.1 187 14 1.7 50.3 269 EPUG25425 0.8 15 7.8 59 EPUG25426 0.6 15 24.1 288 EPUG25427 0.7 15 5.8 138 EPUG25428 0.7 15 17.4 327 EPUG25429 0.7 15 4.0 38 EPUG25430 0.7 15 2.3 31 15 4.2 9.8 141 EPUG25431 0.5 16 10.7 214 EPUG25432 0.5 16 15.0 256 EPUG25433 0.8 16 2.7 52 16 1.8 8.3 154 A total of 42 channel samples were taken in 16 composite channels in the raise. Grades ranged from 0.105 to 85.1 g/t Au and 9 to 520 g/t Ag. All samples were assayed for gold, silver and a suite of 32 other elements, including copper, lead and zinc. However, the base metal assays were consistently low, confirming that this is a precious metal dominant system. The Pinos Cuates mine is the middle of three historic mines along a 500 metre strike length on the Dos de Mayo vein system on the Potrero property. Underground sampling is continuing at the Dos de Mayo mine to the southeast and will be followed by sampling of the La Dura mine to the northwest. The vein system has been traced on surface for 1,600 metres and there are other parallel and splay veins that are being further defined as the property has never been systematically explored. The mine workings are currently being accurately surveyed such that a 3D model can be created. QA/QC The technical results contained in this news release have been reported in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Pinnacle has implemented industry standard practices for sample preparation, security and analysis given the stage of the Project. This has included common industry QA/QC procedures to monitor the quality of the assay database, including inserting certified reference material samples and blank samples into sample batches on a predetermined frequency basis. The systematic chip channel sampling was completed across exposed mineralized structures using a hammer and maul. The protocol for sample lengths established that they were not longer than two metres or shorter than 0.3 metres. The veins tend to be steeply dipping to vertical, and so these samples are reasonably close to representing the true widths of the structures. Samples were collected along the structural strike or oblique to the main structural trend. All samples were bagged in pre-numbered plastic bags; each bag had a numbered tag inside and were tied off with adhesive tape and then bulk bagged in rice bags in batches not to exceed 40 kg. They were then numbered, and batch bags were tied off with plastic ties and delivered directly to the SGS laboratory facility in Durango, Mexico for preparation and analysis. The lab is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017. All Samples were delivered in person by the contract geologist who conducted the sampling under the supervision of the QP. SGS sample preparation code G_PRP89 including weight determination, crushing, drying, splitting, and pulverizing was used following industry best practices where all samples were crushed to 75% less than 2 mm, riffle split off 250 g, pulverized split to >85% passing 75 microns (?m). All samples were analyzed for gold using code GA_FAA30V5 with a Fire Assay determination on 30g samples with an Atomic Absorption Spectography finish. An ICP-OES analysis package (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry) including 33 elements and 4-acid digestion was performed (code GE_ICP40Q12) to determine Ag, Zn, Pb, Cu and other elements. Qualified Person Mr. Jorge Ortega, P. Geo, a Qualified Person, and independent from Pinnacle, as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and the author of the NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Potrero Project, has reviewed, verified and approved for disclosure the technical information contained in this news release. About the Potrero Property El Potrero is located in the prolific Sierra Madre Occidental of western Mexico and lies within 35 kilometres of four operating mines, including the 4,000 tonnes per day (tpd) Cienega Mine (Fresnillo), the 1,000 tpd Tahuehueto Mine (Luca Mining) and the 250 tpd Topia Mine (Guanajuato Silver). High-grade gold-silver mineralization occurs in a low sulphidation epithermal breccia vein system hosted within andesites of the Lower Volcanic Series and has three historic mines along a 500 metre strike length. The property has been in private hands for almost 40 years and has never been systematically explored by modern methods, leaving significant exploration potential. A previously operational 100 tpd plant on site can be refurbished / rebuilt and historic underground mine workings rehabilitated at relatively low cost in order to achieve near-term production once permits are in place. The property is road accessible with a power line within three kilometres. Surface rights covering the plant and mine area are privately owned (no community issues). Pinnacle will earn an initial 50% interest immediately upon commencing production. The goal would then be to generate sufficient cash flow with which to further develop the project and increase the Company's ownership to 100% subject to a 2% NSR. If successful, this approach would be less dilutive for shareholders than relying on the equity markets to finance the growth of the Company. About Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp. Pinnacle is focused on district-scale exploration for precious metals in the Americas. The high-grade Potrero gold-silver project in Mexico's Sierra Madre Belt hosts an underexplored low-sulphidation epithermal vein system and provides the potential for near-term production. In the prolific Red Lake District of northwestern Ontario, the Company owns a 100% interest in the past-producing, high-grade Argosy Gold Mine and the adjacent North Birch Project with an eight-kilometre-long target horizon. With a seasoned, highly successful management team and quality projects, Pinnacle Silver and Gold is committed to building long-term, sustainable value for shareholders. Signed: "Robert A. Archer" President & CEO For further information contact: Email: info@pinnaclesilverandgold.com Tel.: +1 (877) 271-5886 ext. 110 Website: www.pinnaclesilverandgold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Colapinto hype spurs unexpected F1 revival in Argentina Days ago, rumours swirled that Franco Colapinto's F1 future with Alpine was in doubt, but corporate Argentina is rallying around him and a major motorsport renaissance could be underway. Franco Colapinto, British GP 2025 Alpine The familiar Autodromo Oscar y Juan Galvez in Buenos Aires will undergo a massive renovation, ultimately aiming for a return to the Formula 1 calendar. The circuit last hosted an F1 race in 1998, before dropping off due to outdated infrastructure. Spearheaded by renowned F1 circuit designer Hermann Tilke, the track's master plan involves a complete overhaul - a new layout, FIA Grade 2 homologation, and a Phase 2 upgrade path for full Grade 1 status. We have a two-phase plan. Phase 1 is for MotoGP in 2027 and Phase 2 is for Formula 1, Tilke said, as reported by Soy Motor. It should result in a very good and very exciting circuit. The redesign removes famous corners like Vivorita and Ombu, but their names will remain in use. The Salotto Curve and Ascari Chicane survive intact. Infrastructure upgrades will include drainage, curbs, power, garages, and grandstands for 120,000 fans. Everything we redesign is not just for the drivers, it's also for the spectators, Tilke added. "We have elevation for viewing, a 360 degree spectator circuit, and a concert area. We need to significantly expand the paddock - increase the capacity of the pit building, add garages, and modernise them. Construction begins this November and ends February 2027. MotoGP will debut there in March. While MotoGP is confirmed, F1 clearly remains the long-term goal. The F1-specific layout will be 500 metres longer and alter two corners. Securing a GP would require infrastructure upgrades and an approximately $40 million annual hosting fee. Political and commercial momentum is building, with figures like Jorge Macri, Orly Terranova, and Daniel Scioli lending support. (GMM) Zandvoort track damaged ahead of Dutch GP Severe weather in the Netherlands has caused flooding and damage in Zandvoort, including to the town's Formula 1 circuit just five weeks before the scheduled Dutch GP. Max Verstappen, Dutch GP 2024 Red Bull Starting Sunday night, torrential rains battered the municipality, with water levels reaching 40 to 50 centimeters in some areas after a nearby watershed overflowed. This Monday has not been an easy day for the residents of Zandvoort, Soy Motor reported. One social media user said the F1 venue has been impacted, including flooded access roads, erosion, and apparent damage to the track surface at the banked final corner. There goes Zandvoort, the caption to a photo revealing the damage read. The conditions forced the postponement of a planned test session by Delft University students, who were set to run their hydrogen-powered vehicle. Our car runs on hydrogen, but it can't handle that much water, student Renzo Bootsma told NOS. It's a shame, because tonight we were going to do a longer test drive for the first time. Track officials are yet to comment on the timeline for repairs, just over 30 days before the Dutch GP. (GMM) Featured Former GCB/NIB MD Agbesi chairs Consolidated Bank Ghana LTD GraphicOnline Business News Jul - 22 - 2025 , 11:17 Consolidated Bank Ghana LTD (CBG) has welcomed a new Board Chairman, Ernest Mawuli Agbesi. Mr Agbesi is an experienced banker and financial executive with over four decades of experience in banking, audit, and institutional leadership. He holds an MBA in Strategic/Consultancy Management from the Paris Graduate School of Management and a Diploma in Accounting from the University of Ghana, with his expertise spanning operations, business development, credit management, and governance. He began his career with the Ghana Audit Service and has held top executive roles, including Managing Director/CEO positions at GCB Bank Plc and National Investment Bank, as well as senior positions at uniBank Ghana and International Commercial Bank, where he led significant institutional reforms and operational enhancements. He has held key board roles in institutions such as Ghana International Bank (London), Nestle Ghana Ltd, and GCNet. Widely respected for his integrity, strategy execution, and governance expertise, Mr Agbesi continues to contribute to national development through his involvement in academic councils and financial boards. Statement A statement from the bank said the management and staff of CBG were excited about the leadership, vision and expertise Mr Agbesi brought to the CBG family. Other members of the board are the Managing Director of CBG, Dr Naomi Wolali Kwetey , Dr Irene Ackuaku, David Adom, Michael Kwasi Anyamesem, Stephen Kporzih, Dr Sa-ad Iddrisu, Immaculate Kawe Kanlisi and John Alexander Ackon. CBG is wholly owned by the government and operates as a universal bank with over 100 branches in 13 regions. The bank has strong government support, a large small and medium enterprise (SME) client network, and a pool of diverse talent. Featured Trade Minister rallies cement firms to reflect cedi gains in prices; warns of sanctions over substandard products GraphicOnline Business News Jul - 21 - 2025 , 19:24 The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has urged cement manufacturing companies operating in Ghana to reduce prices to reflect the recent appreciation of the Ghanaian cedi. Speaking at a crucial engagement with the Chamber of Cement Manufacturers, Ghana (COCMAG) on Monday, July 21, 2025, the Minister called on industry players to allow consumers to benefit from the appreciation of the cedi, which has recorded significant gains in recent months. The meeting focused on two major issues affecting the sector; pricing and the standardisation of cement products on the Ghanaian market. Ofosu-Adjare announced that beginning August, inspectors from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) would be deployed as part of quarterly inspections to ensure cement products meet national standards. She cautioned manufacturers that failure on their part to meet the required GSA standards will result in the companys shutdown. Her directive signals a renewed government commitment to consumer protection and quality assurance within the construction sector, especially as infrastructure development continues to be a national priority. In response, the COCMAG members welcomed the Ministers engagement and expressed optimism about the countrys economic outlook. They acknowledged the governments efforts in stabilising the economy, particularly in managing the exchange rate. Industry giants including Ghacem, Cimaf, CBI, Dimond Cement, Dangote, Dzata, and Empire Cement were represented at the meeting. The manufacturers commended the Trade Minister for initiating the dialogue and pledged to cooperate with government directives on pricing and quality control. They also committed to work to ensure price reduction in the coming months and adhere to strict standardisation processes. The engagement forms part of broader government efforts to ease the cost of construction materials and enhance regulation in the sector to support both consumers and contractors. Next article: Taylor Swift and Drake music giant files to list on US stock market Previous article: Playing a woman wasnt easy Melvin Dain on his role in For Love and Country 2 Featured Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts leads charge to recover Ghana's looted cultural treasures Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Jul - 22 - 2025 , 10:25 3 minutes read The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts is taking bold steps to reclaim the country's stolen cultural heritage. The ministry has launched a focal team dedicated to restitution and reparation efforts, signaling a renewed commitment to restoring national identity and cultural pride. Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie highlighted the significance of this initiative, emphasizing that it's not just about retrieving artifacts, but about reviving Ghana's history, identity, and dignity. The youth must understand that you cannot look forward without knowing where you are coming from, she stated, affirming that the recovery of artifacts provides a bridge across generations, linking Ghanas past with its present and future. She pointed out the broader significance of the initiative, calling it a cultural and moral commitment, bemoaning the long-standing absence of sacred and symbolic objects in Ghana, many of which remain in foreign institutions because of colonial exploitation. Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie speaking at the ceremony Professor Kojo Gavua, a renowned Archeologist from the University of Ghana, highlighted the teams groundwork through regional workshops and public engagement initiatives. These included gatherings in Cape Coast, Bolgatanga, Ho, and a major international workshop in Accra. According to him, progress has been made with global partners leading to the Durban Museum in South Africa offering to return two Asante artifactsa traditional stool and a shrine figure and the Fowler Museum in the United States recently repatriated a gold item and has shown willingness to return more. The National Museum of the Netherlands has submitted a catalog of Ghanaian-origin items for consideration as well. He also announced that Ghana is also participating in a German committee revising policies around cultural returns, particularly in relation to looted artifacts from kpando. UNESCO representative Mr. Carl Ampah praised Ghanas leadership in ratifying international conventions that prohibit illicit trade in cultural property. He noted that these legal frameworks now empower the country to formally request the return of its heritage. The focal team led by Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, sector Minister, professor Kodzo Gavua, University of Ghana, Mr. Mohammed Seidu, Representative of the Ministry of Forign Affairs, Mrs. Daphne Akonor, Attorney Generals Department, Mr. Richrad Obeng Boafo, Ministry of local Government, Decentralization and rural Development and Dr. Aba Mansa Eyifa-Dzidzienyo, University of Ghana. The others are Mr. Edmond Moukala- UNESCO, Mr. Kwesi Essel Blankson, GMMB, Professor Wazi Apoh, University of Ghana and Mr. Divine Kwame Owusu Ansah, MoTCCA will lead national efforts to identify, document, and negotiate the return of sacred regalia and historic items seized during the colonial era. Their work aims to support wider calls for reparative justice and address historical wounds left by the loss of cultural property. Drawing from international supportincluding ECOWAS, the African Union, and UNESCOGhanas renewed drive is part of a broader African movement demanding cultural restitution. Source: Public Relations -MoTCCA Next article: Africa Food Systems Summit to be held in Senegal this August; 6,000+ global food systems stakeholders expected Featured This is why India's Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has resigned Graphic.com.gh International News Jul - 22 - 2025 , 10:51 2 minutes read Indias Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar, resigned from his post on Monday, July 21, citing medical reasons. In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar stated that he was stepping down with immediate effect in order to "prioritise health care." "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," he said in the letter to the President. Dhankhar, who is also the Rajya Sabha Chairman, resigned on the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament. With Dhankhar quitting as the vice president, the election to appoint his successor will have to be held "as soon as possible". The 74-year-old Dhankhar had served as the vice president of India for nearly three years since August 2022. 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 or removal, or otherwise will be held "as soon as possible" after it becomes vacant. 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, the letter further reads. The former Vice President also appreciated the cooperation of the countrys Prime Minister and the council of ministers, saying he had learned much while in office and believed that leaving office, hes filled with pride in Bharats global rise and phenomenal achievements and hold unwavering confidence in her brilliant future. 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 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 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, Dhankhars letter further read. Meanwhile, Hindustan Times reports that the countrys constitution does not specify who performs the duties of the Vice President of India when a vacancy occurs in the office before the expiry of term, or when the Vice President acts as the President of India. Next article: This is why India's Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has resigned Featured Trump administration releases files on Martin Luther King Jr bbc.com International News Jul - 22 - 2025 , 12:29 3 minutes read US President Donald Trump's administration has released a trove of records on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr, including FBI surveillance files on the civil rights leader. A court-imposed order had kept the documents, totalling 230,000 pages, blocked from public view since 1977. Prominent members of King's family had opposed the release. A statement from his two living children condemned "any attempts to misuse these documents in ways intended to undermine our father's legacy". King, a Baptist minister, was shot in Memphis on 4 April 1968, at age 39. James Earl Ray, a career criminal, pleaded guilty to the killing, but later renounced his plea. Trump's critics noted the release comes as the administration is accused of a lack of transparency over files relating to influential sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whose 2019 jail death was ruled a suicide. Civil rights leader Al Sharpton said the disclosure of the King files was "a desperate attempt to distract" from "the firestorm engulfing Trump over the Epstein files and the public unraveling of his credibility". King Jr's two living children, Martin III and Bernice, who were notified ahead of time about the release, said in a statement on Monday: "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. "The release of these files must be viewed within their full historical context. "During our father's 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." The statement said the government's surveillance had denied King the "dignity and freedoms of private citizens". The family also cited a jury verdict in a 1999 wrongful death civil lawsuit that found the civil rights leader was the victim not of a lone racist gunman, but of a vast conspiracy. In January, Trump ordered that documents from the assassinations of King and former President John F Kennedy be declassified, along with the records in the assassination of Robert F Kennedy. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) said in a press release on Monday that the King files had "sat collecting dust in facilities across the federal government for decades, until today". The documents include "internal FBI memos" and "never-before-seen CIA records" behind the hunt for King's assassin, the DNI said. The release was co-ordinated with the FBI, Department of Justice, National Archives and CIA. "The American people deserve answers decades after the horrific assassination of one of our nation's great leaders," US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said. Not all of King's family was upset about the release. Referring to the civil rights leader as "my uncle", Alveda King said: "I am grateful to President Trump and DNI Gabbard for delivering on their pledge of transparency. "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." Before his arrest, King's convicted assassin, James Earl Ray, fled the country to Canada, Portugal and the UK, where he raided a bank. Extradited to Memphis, he entered a guilty plea in 1969 and was sentenced to 99 years in prison. He later claimed he had been framed by shadowy conspirators and tried to recant his guilty plea, but it was repeatedly upheld by the courts. Ray died in 1998 at 70. Featured WHO condemns Israeli attacks on facilities in Gaza bbc.com International News Jul - 22 - 2025 , 12:57 7 minutes read The World Health Organization (WHO) says Israel's offensive in central Gaza has compromised its efforts to continue working, after its facilities came under attack. The UN agency accused Israeli forces of attacking a staff residence in the city of Deir al-Balah on Monday and mistreating those sheltering there. Its main warehouse was also attacked and destroyed. The WHO said one of its staff detained by troops during the raid on the residence was still being held and demanded their immediate release. The Israeli military said it detained "several individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism" in the area and that most were released. The first major Israeli ground operation in Deir al-Balah since the start of the war has displaced tens of thousands of civilians, amid warnings of a severe hunger crisis. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said on Tuesday 15 people, including four children, had died from malnutrition across the territory over the past 24 hours. The UN also said it had received growing reports of children and adults suffering from malnutrition and warned that "the last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing". UK and 27 other nations condemn Israel over 'inhumane killing' of Gaza civilians seeking aid Israeli tanks advance into Gaza's Deir al-Balah city for first time On Sunday, the Israeli military ordered the immediate evacuation of six city blocks in southern Deir al-Balah, warning that it would be operating "with great force to destroy the enemy's capabilities and terrorist infrastructure". The estimated 50,000 to 80,000 people living in the affected areas were instructed to head south towards the al-Mawasi area in the south of the territory. The UN's humanitarian office said UN staff would remain in Deir al-Balah despite the evacuation order, spread across dozens of premises whose co-ordinates had been shared with Israel, and stressed that they had to be protected. On Monday night, the WHO put out a statement saying it condemned "in the strongest terms" attacks on its facilities. It said the WHO staff residence was attacked three times, and that staff and their families, including children, were "exposed to grave danger and traumatized after air strikes caused a fire and significant damage". "Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward al-Mawasi amid active conflict. Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and screened at gunpoint," it added. "Two WHO staff and two family members were detained. Three were later released, while one staff member remains in detention." The WHO demanded the immediate release of its detained staff member and the protection of its other staff, who have been relocated with their families to its office in Deir al-Balah. The WHO said its main warehouse in the city was damaged after "an attack caused explosions and fire inside". The warehouse was later looted by desperate crowds, it added. The agency did not attribute blame for the attack, but said it was "part of a pattern of systematic destruction of health facilities". The WHO warned that its operational presence in Gaza was "now compromised, crippling efforts to sustain a collapsing health system and pushing survival further out of reach for more than two million people". The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Tuesday its troops had come under fire in the Deir al-Balah area and "responded toward the area from which the shooting originated". Without mentioning the WHO, the IDF said it had warned civilians to evacuate beforehand and had also been "in contact with the international organisations working in the area". "As part of IDF activity against the terrorist organisations in the area, the troops detained several individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism," it added. "After questioning in the field, the majority were released and evacuated from the area in co-ordination with the international organisations. It should be emphasized that the suspects are treated in accordance with international law." The aim of the Israeli offensive in Deir al-Balah is not year clear. But Israel's Haaretz newspaper said troops were operating to "establish a corridor that will cut through the city, severing it from the al-Mawasi area and preventing free movement between central Gaza refugee camps where the Israeli army has no ground presence". Israeli sources say that the possible presence of Israeli hostages held by Hamas is one reason why Deir al-Balah has so far not been the target of a ground offensive. At least 20 of the 50 hostages still in captivity are believed to be alive. Hostages' families have expressed concern that an offensive could endanger them. Wounded 'left to bleed without treatment' Medics said shellfire killed at least three Palestinians in Deir al-Balah on Monday, as Israeli tanks advanced into southern and eastern areas. Another two people were killed on Tuesday, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency. In northern Gaza, at least 14 people were killed and 25 wounded overnight when tents for displaced families were hit by two shells in al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, a local hospital said. Children and women were among the casualties, it added. Raed Bakr said a "massive explosion" blew away the tent where he lives with his three children. "I felt like I was in a nightmare. Fire, dust, smoke and body parts flying through the air, dirt everywhere. The children were screaming," he told AFP news agency. According to the UN, about 87.8% of Gaza is now covered by Israeli evacuation orders or is within Israeli militarised zones, leaving the 2.1 million population squeezed into about 46 sq km (18 sq miles) of land where essential services have collapsed. Asma Mustafa, a mother of two and teacher who has just been displaced for the ninth time during the war, said Gaza was "a place of death, hunger and exhaustion". "Clean water is a dream. The wounded are left to bleed without treatment. Children cry from hunger and mothers are powerless. We are living through a slow miserable death," she said in a message to the BBC's Newsday programme. UN human rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement: "It seemed the nightmare couldn't possibly get any worse. And yet it does." "Given the concentration of civilians in the area, and the means and methods of warfare employed by Israel until now, the risks of unlawful killings and other serious violations of international humanitarian law are extremely high," he said. Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged Israel to allow international media access to Gaza "to show what is happening there and bear witness". He spoke after AFP's Society of Journalists warned that the lives of local freelance journalists it was working with in Gaza were in danger and appealed to Israel to allow their evacuation. A statement from the society cited the example of one of the journalists, 30-year-old Bashar, who wrote on social media on Sunday: "I no longer have the strength to work for the media." He also said his older brother "fell because of hunger". On Monday, one freelance photojournalist, Tamer al-Zaanin, was killed and another freelance photojournalist, Ibrahim Abu Ushaibeh, was injured when Israeli special forces detained a senior official in Gaza's health ministry, Dr Marwan al-Hams, according to Nasser hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis. The two journalists were reportedly interviewing Dr Hams outside a field hospital run by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the Rafah area at the time of the incident. The health ministry cited witnesses as saying that Dr Hams sustained a foot injury while being detained and expressed deep concern for his health in Israeli custody. The ICRC confirmed it treated casualties from the incident but did not comment further on their status. The Israeli military has also not yet commented. Channel 4 News said it understood a freelance journalist who regularly worked for it was injured and that it was "working to establish the facts on the ground". The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. At least 59,029 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's health ministry. Featured 2025 KNUST E-learning Awareness Week opens Gilbert Mawuli Agbey Education Jul - 22 - 2025 , 17:29 4 minutes read The fourth edition of the E-learning Awareness Week has opened at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The four-day event, organised by the universitys E-Learning Centre, is being held on the theme: Transforming Education Through Responsible Innovation and Inclusion in the Digital Era. It is being attended by students from 12 senior high schools, KNUST students, and other stakeholders. Highlights Key activities during the week include engagements with SHS students in practical lessons in robotics and artificial intelligence through RAIL-KNUST, and the Tek Smartest Quiz Competition, organised in collaboration with the SRCa vibrant contest aimed at promoting digital literacy and academic excellence. College-level activities, led by passionate College E-Learning Champions, will also feature prominently. These decentralised initiatives aim to ensure that each college engages meaningfully with the theme in ways that reflect their academic and technological contexts. Other activities include a podcast discussion on artificial intelligence and plagiarism in tertiary education, featuring the Dean of QAPO, the University Librarian, and the Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor of GCTU. A parallel workshop on content creation for instructional designers will be facilitated by Dr Kim Welch. Renowned digital storyteller Berthold Kobby Winkler, popularly known as WODE MAYA, is scheduled to speak on Building Professionalism Through Storytelling. The week will climax with the much-anticipated E-Learning International Conference, which will feature renowned speakers from around the world. The event will also see the launch of the KNUST E-Learning Journal, a platform to advance research contributions and strengthen Ghanas voice in the global e-learning discourse. Leverage technology Opening the awareness week at the Great Hall of KNUST on Monday, July 22, 2025, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, underscored the need to leverage technology responsibly for societal benefit. It is the responsible use of digital tools that we keep emphasising, so that at the end of the day you do not try to solve one problem and create other problems, she said. We believe that the true value of educational technology lies not just in improving efficiency, but in advancing equity and ensuring that no one is left behind. She expressed optimism that the event would bring together more innovators, educators, policymakers, researchers, industry partners, and stakeholders to exchange ideas and share best practices. Digital access In a keynote address delivered on his behalf, the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, said the government remained fully committed to deepening digital access and transforming education as a national priority. He stated, Our Ministry, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, is expanding broadband connectivity to rural and underserved communities through the Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project. Over 2,000 communities are currently being connected to 4G mobile infrastructure, creating the digital foundation upon which education can thrive. He added that the private sector was also being engaged to provide more affordable smart devices to students and teachers, support the rollout of data bundles for e-learning, and develop content that is local, accessible, and interactive. Coherent strategy Mr George further noted that these interventions were not isolated efforts, but part of a coherent strategy to ensure that Ghanas educational system is resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive. Through partnerships with global tech companies, Ghanaian universities such as KNUST, and local innovation hubs, the Ministry, he said, plans to integrate coding into the curricula of schools, TVET institutions, and community learning centres. He stressed that the interventions would also prioritise equity and inclusivity by promoting the active participation of girls, persons with disabilities, and youth in rural and underserved regions. Essence of innovation Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Agri-Impact Limited, Mr Daniel Fahene Acquaye, an agribusiness expert, said the core purpose of innovation was to create jobs and improve livelihoods. He acknowledged that although there are barriers to innovation, innovators must strive to overcome them in order to bring about societal change. He further called for stronger collaboration between academia and innovators to support national development. Call to action In his welcome address, the Director of the KNUST E-Learning Centre, Professor Eric Appau Asante, said the theme was a call to action and a recognition that while innovation is at the heart of modern education, it must be driven by responsibility, inclusion, and ethics. As we witness the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, immersive technologies, and big data shaping teaching and learning, our responsibility is to ensure that these tools become instruments of equity, accessibility, and empowermentrather than barriers that deepen educational divides, he stated. Next article: LIST: See the members as Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts inaugurates advisory board Featured A-G drops charges against Dr Duffuor, others after 60% recovery in UniBank case Mohammed Ali Jul - 22 - 2025 , 16:19 2 minutes read The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dominic Ayine has discontinued the criminal case against founder of the defunct UniBank, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, and seven others. This according to the Attorney-General was coming after the State recovered over 60 percent of the funds allegedly lost through the collapse of UniBank Ghana Limited. The decision was communicated in a nolle prosequi application filed on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in the case, The Republic v. Kwabena Duffuor & 7 Others (CR/0248/2020). Read also: Kwabena Duffuor fights investigations over stealing, money laundering A press statement signed by Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai explained that the move followed substantial recoveries and prolonged negotiations between the State and the accused persons. "Considering the significant recoveries made for the State, the Honourable Attorney-General has satisfied himself that continuing with the prosecution will not serve any additional public purpose," the statement said. The Attorney-Generals Office had reportedly set a recovery benchmark of 60 percent of the alleged losses as the basis for reconsidering prosecution in similar matters. The statement also clarified that this decision does not imply an absence of wrongdoing nor a vindication of any conduct, but was a practical step aimed at avoiding further legal and administrative costs. Dr Duffuor himself a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana and the others, including his son Kwabena Duffuor II, had been charged with willfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, and dishonest appropriation of public funds. The charges stemmed from the collapse of UniBank, whose licence was revoked by the Bank of Ghana in August 2018. The central bank declared the bank insolvent and cited unlawful related-party transactions and a severe capital shortfall. According to the state, over GH5.7 billion was siphoned from UniBank by insiders and related entities, leading to losses for depositors and exposing weaknesses in the banking sector. The prosecution, which began in 2020, became one of the most prominent legal actions following the governments financial sector clean-up. That reform affected more than 400 institutions and cost the state over GH25 billion in bailouts and repayments. Dr Duffuor, an economist and a former Governor of the Bank of Ghana, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. GAYO holds National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Just Transition Pacome Emmanuel Damalie Jul - 22 - 2025 , 07:01 3 minutes read The Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO), a youth-led environmental and climate change advocacy non-governmental organisation, has held a National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Just Transition in Ghana. The one-day consultative workshop, held in Accra last Thursday (July 17), provided stakeholders with an opportunity to explore the full potential of the Just Transition principlenot only as a social safeguard but as a driver of ambitious climate actionas the country advances towards its third Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The event aimed to co-develop recommendations for integrating just transition components into NDC 3.0, including workforce reskilling, pathways for the informal sector, and gender-inclusive programming. It also sought to highlight research insights on labour market gaps, risks faced by informal workers, and governance challenges regarding transition minerals in mining-affected communities. Held under the theme Reskilling and Workforce Transformation as a Key Driver of Ghanas NDCs, the event brought together stakeholders from government, civil society organisations, private industry, informal labour groups, and youth-led organisations to co-create pathways that embed just transition into Ghanas climate policy architecture, while drawing lessons from the countrys Energy Transition and Investment Plan. Promoting transparency Speaking at the event as Guest Speaker, the Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Rashid Pelpuo, called for extensive dialogue with all stakeholders as the country transitions to a low-carbon economy. According to him, such engagements would help build trust, promote transparency, and foster effective collaboration and partnerships in the implementation of green interventions. Dr Pelpuo noted that the Ministry is committed to promoting green jobs at both the national and sub-national levels. Government has demonstrated a great deal of commitment by developing and implementing the National Green Jobs Strategy to create platforms, build capacities, and institute measures that will organise and harmonise ongoing green interventions through effective coordination, he said. The Minister further indicated that the ongoing Ghana-EU Pact for Skills project is complementing the implementation of existing green initiatives. He added that the Ministry would continue to play its role in ensuring that green job interventions are effectively coordinated and aligned to support the growth of green enterprises. Focus For her part, the Operations and Programmes Director of GAYO, Mrs Betty Adjei, emphasised that the development of the countrys third NDC was a reminder that climate ambition must be matched by equity, inclusion, and justice. This dialogue on advancing a Just Transition within Ghanas NDC 3.0 is not just about updating targetsit is about reshaping the narrative. Its about ensuring that our climate commitments reflect the real lives and struggles of people on the ground, she said. Mrs Adjei lamented the vast disconnect between African countries and the rest of the world in climate change and environmental sustainability discussions. It was a space for global reflection, but it still reminded me of the critical gaps that remain. One moment struck me deeply: while the world discusses green industrialisation, Africas informal systemsfrom waste pickers to youth-led recyclersare still absent from the policy tables shaping our shared future. That disconnect was loud, she said. Affirming GAYOs firm belief in an inclusive transition, Mrs Adjei stated that Ghanas shift to a green economy must reflect the realities, aspirations, and voices of all Ghanaians, particularly those historically excluded from climate conversations. She urged stakeholders to challenge themselves to move beyond ambition and towards implementation, as the country reflects on Ghanas Energy Transition and Investment Plan. Previous article: National Cathedral site will not be converted into convention and cultural complex - Felix Kwakye Ofosu Featured Ghana building forward bases to guard northern borders Defence Minister Mohammed Ali Jul - 22 - 2025 , 10:54 2 minutes read The Minister for Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, has warned that any further deterioration of security in Burkina Faso could leave Ghana exposed to terrorist attacks. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, July 21, 2025, Dr Boamah said Ghanas northern borders remain exposed and must be protected with the completion of Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) currently under construction. Because, note that, if the terrorists overcome the system in Burkina Faso, Ghana becomes the next target, Dr Boamah said. And that is what makes managing the situation in Burkina Faso and its environs very, very important. Because it will be one of the entry points. He said the Ghana Armed Forces is setting up a number of forward operating bases along the northern frontiers as a deterrent to extremist groups operating from the Sahel. That is why I spoke about the forward operating bases that almost are enveloping the northern borders of the country, Dr Boamah explained. And thats why we are committed to completing them. Dr Boamah also said President John Mahamas recent visit to the military-led governments in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger had opened a new path for regional security cooperation. President Mahamas visit to the three Sahel countries was a game changer, he told reporters. The three Sahel countries had lost trust and confidence in ECOWAS Fortunately, with Ghanaians giving President Mahama a resounding victory, he became president and embarked on that game-changing trip. It is helping exchange of information. His comments come amid growing fears that jihadist groups operating in the Sahel may begin to target coastal West African countries, particularly in light of recent military takeovers and the declining influence of ECOWAS. Dr Boamah declined to provide operational details but said the Ghana Armed Forces and the intelligence services are on high alert and preparing for any possibility. Next article: GAYO holds National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Just Transition Previous article: Northern MPs and chiefs demand action on roads, factories and schools to lift the North out of poverty Featured 37,000 Candidates write licensure exams Joyce Awuni Jul - 22 - 2025 , 07:57 2 minutes read A total of 37,000 candidates across the country are sitting for this years examination. Of the number, 5,000 are rewriting the exam while 32,000 are writing it for the first time. The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, visited the candidates at the Accra Senior High School centre, where some of the candidates wrote the examination He interacted with the candidates and encouraged them to give of their best, stressing the governments commitment to supporting aspiring teachers through policy reforms. He assured the first-time candidates that those who did not pass would be given another opportunity to rewrite the examination. Mr Iddrisu reaffirmed his earlier directive to the National Teaching Council (NTC) to provide a final window for the previous cohort of unsuccessful candidates to resit the exam before the August 30 deadline. Licensure regime He said the current licensing regime would be replaced by a new system for assessing teacher qualifications. The new framework would shift focus from standardised examinations to a more practical, skills-based approach, emphasising academic grounding and classroom experience over formal testing. The minister said the move was part of the governments plan to phase out the current licensure examination model and integrate it into the final year assessments of teacher training institutions. We are honouring the manifesto pledge. While we welcome suggestions, we will not compromise on quality. We are committed to improving the quality of teachers, Mr Iddrisu stated. He further stressed the need to build a strong professional foundation for Ghanas teachers, highlighting continuous assessment and professional development as critical tools to enhance teaching standards. The Education Ministers visit forms part of ongoing efforts by the ministry to ensure transparency, fairness and inclusiveness in Ghanas teacher qualification process while aligning future reforms with the broader goal of improving educational outcomes nationwide. 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. Featured Chiefs cant renegotiate sold lands - Justice Osei-Tutu Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Jul - 22 - 2025 , 10:25 4 minutes read A change of a chief as a result of death, abdication or destoolment does not affect the status of land sale transactions existing within the jurisdiction before a new chief ascends the throne. A Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Alexander Osei-Tutu, said it was, therefore, unlawful for a new chief to direct that land transactions concluded under a predecessor chief be regularised under new terms merely on the basis of the new chief ascending the throne. Our chiefs must refrain from harassing people who have bought lands. It is unlawful for a new chief to say that he does not recognise the sale of land under a previous chief, and tell the grantees to regularise their lands or else the lands will be taken from them, he said. Justice Osei-Tutu explained that such practices by chiefs had been proscribed by Section 183 of the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036), which further extended to heads of families and clans. Section 183 of Act 1036 stipulates that: a change of a person authorised to make a grant of a stool or skin, or clan, or family land shall not affect the grant of a stool, skin, clan or family land made by that person prior to the change. Training programme Justice Osei-Tutu made this known when he delivered a lecture at a training programme for lawyers of the National House of Chiefs and the various regional houses of chiefs. The lecture was on the topic: Chiefs and Customary Land Administration: Legal and Fiduciary Duties. The two-day training programme was organised by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, in collaboration with the Judicial Training Institute and the Institute of Local Government Studies. Other facilitators at the training programme included Justice Stephen Alan Brobbey, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court; Justices Gabriel Pwamang, Kweku T. Ackaah Boafo, Philip Bright Mensah, all Justices of the Supreme Court; and Justice Eric Kyei Baffour of the Court of Appeal. Accountability of chiefs Justice Osei-Tutu observed that in spite of the various provisions in Act 1036 to ensure accountability of chiefs in the sale of lands, lapses in the Act had made it virtually impossible to enforce such provisions. He said although Act 1036 criminalised the lack of accountability on the part of a chief in the sale of lands, there was a lack of clarity on the ingredients of such an offence. Such challenge, he said, had made the provisions on accountability of chiefs much ado about nothing. Under Section 13 (2) of Act 1036, a chief, clan head, family head or anyone in charge of the management of stool, family or clan land holds a fiduciary duty to subjects of the stool or members of the family or clan, and must be accountable in transactions relating to the land. Section 13 (3) of Act 1036 provides that a chief, family head or clan head or any person in charge of the management of stool, skin, clan or family land shall be transparent, open, fair and impartial in making decisions affecting the specified land, while Section 13 (4) states that a fiduciary who contravenes sub-section (2) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of not less than GH60,000 and not more than GH120,000 or to a term of imprisonment not less than five years, and not more than 10 years, or both. However, Justice Osei-Tutu explained that the ingredients of the offence were clearly stated in Section 13(3), although Section 13(4), which created the offence, rather made reference to sub-section (2), with the lawmaker failing to include sub-section (3) in the offence. Article 19 (11) of the Constitution states that an offence must be clearly defined before a person charged under that offence can be convicted, he said. The offence is created in Section 13(4) of Act 1036, which makes reference to sub-section (2); meanwhile, the ingredients are under sub-section (3). How can a chief, therefore, be convicted of such an offence? Justice Osei-Tutu queried. Responsibility Speaking at the closing ceremony of the training programme in Accra last Friday, the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, urged chiefs to take action to preserve the sanctity of the chieftaincy institution. Our laws are clear on who qualifies to be a chief. We must protect such a revered institution or else there would be dire consequences, he said. For his part, the Director of the Judicial Training Institute, Justice I.O. Tanko Amadu, who is also a Justice of the Supreme Court, called on the lawyers for the various houses of chiefs to work to promote public interest and not their personal interests. You have to be impartial in your dealings because just like judges, one day, we will all account to a higher authority, he said. Writers email; [email protected] Featured LIST: See the members as Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts inaugurates advisory board GraphicOnline Jul - 22 - 2025 , 14:57 3 minutes read In a bid to sharpen its policy direction and deepen stakeholder engagement, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MoTCCA) has inaugurated its Ministerial Advisory Board, bringing together a diverse mix of professionals and institutional representatives tasked with steering the sector forward. The inauguration ceremony, held at the Ministrys Conference Room in Accra on July 22, 2025, was presided over by the Minister, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, who underlined the legal basis for the boards establishment under Sections 39 and 40 of the Civil Service Act, 1993 (Act 327). She said the board would play a crucial role in ensuring the Ministrys decisions and strategies are aligned with sound policy and legal frameworks. Our Ministry oversees 13 agencies, and we must ensure decisions are rooted in legal frameworks to move forward with unity and purpose, Gomashie said. She lauded the range of expertise brought together by the board and reaffirmed the Ministrys commitment to inclusive and collaborative governance. The Minister further revealed key appointments as part of an internal restructuring aimed at strengthening leadership across the Ministry. Mr. Divine Owusu Ansah has been appointed Director for Culture, while Dr. Tamakloe takes over as Director for Tourism. A Director for Creative Arts, she noted, would be named shortly. The Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr. Joseph Kwasi Amoah, who officially opened the event, acknowledged the delay in the boards formation but expressed optimism that the Ministry was now poised to accelerate its mandate. The absence of the board meant we were missing out on critical guidance, he said. We are grateful for your commitment, and we are ready to work together. He attributed the delay to logistical and administrative challenges, but said these had now been addressed, paving the way for more coordinated leadership. The inauguration was capped by the formal administration of the oath of office by Hon. Gomashie, who expressed confidence in the boards capacity to shape the national tourism, culture, and creative arts agenda with impact. The newly inaugurated Advisory Board comprises the following members: - Yussif Issaka Jajah Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts - Mr. Joseph Kwasi Amoah Chief Director, MoTCCA - Comfort Aki Dede Ashiagbor Ministry of Education - Mr. Noah Tumfo Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry - Mr. Richard Gyasi Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development - Mr. Kwasi Adu Ministry of Finance - Mr. Ahuma Bosco Ocansey Ghana Culture Forum - Dr. Kwasi Eyison Ghana Tourism Federation - Naa Juyoo Oshedu Woblor Jueteer Tsofayelor Cultural advocate and queen mother The Ministry says it expects the board to provide strategic counsel to drive growth in Ghanas tourism, culture, and creative arts sectors, ensuring they contribute meaningfully to national development. Next article: A-G drops charges against Dr Duffuor, others after 60% recovery in UniBank case Previous article: See the areas that will be affected by ECGs planned maintenance on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 National Association of Farmers and Fishermen President decries fuel shortage, plans national stakeholder durbar GraphicOnline Jul - 22 - 2025 , 17:38 3 minutes read The newly elected President of the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen, Mr Mike Kwetey Tetteh, has voiced concerns over the persistent shortage of gasoline and premix fuel, which he says is severely affecting the livelihoods and productivity of stakeholders in the agriculture and fisheries sector. Mr Tetteh, who made the remarks during his official inauguration ceremony on July 22 in Accra, lamented the struggles fisherfolk are currently enduring due to their inability to secure sufficient fuel and oil for their operations at sea. This ongoing fuel challenge is making life unbearable for our fishermen. They are unable to go to sea regularly, and this is affecting their income, productivity, and overall food supply, he said. The newly elected President of the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen, Mr Mike Kwetey Tetteh In a bid to address these pressing challenges, Mr Tetteh announced his intention to convene a national durbar of farmers and fisherfolk. The forum, he explained, will provide a platform for stakeholders to openly discuss the various obstacles they face and offer recommendations for sustainable solutions. The national durbar will allow us to collectively brainstorm the issues confronting fisherfolk across the country. Many of these challenges remain unknown not only to the government but even to the very agencies mandated to support us, he stressed. Acknowledging the trust reposed in him through the recent election, Mr Tetteh praised the membership for their commitment to the association's ideals. Your hard work and dedication, as demonstrated during last Saturdays election, truly represent the strength and hallmark of this great association, he said. He pledged to match that commitment with strong leadership, aimed at ushering in a period of transformation and productivity within the sector. As president, I shall lead this association with the same strength, zeal, and commitment that you have shown over the years, Mr Tetteh stated. He expressed confidence in the associations ability to contribute meaningfully to national food security by improving both productivity and profitability among its members. He also reiterated his commitment to ensuring the welfare of all farmers and fisherfolk, emphasising the critical role they play in Ghanas socio-economic development. As I said in my speech last Saturday, no society can ever imagine a future without farmers, fishermen, and women. I shall therefore prioritise your welfare in all considerations as president of this association, he affirmed. Mr Tetteh further assured members of the associations willingness to collaborate with the government and other relevant institutions to overcome the sectors challenges and position Ghanas agriculture and fisheries industry for growth. Under his leadership, the association, he said, would strive to confront the threat of food insecurity and pursue inclusive policies that would transform the sector into a viable engine of economic development. Featured Northern MPs and chiefs demand action on roads, factories and schools to lift the North out of poverty Mohammed Ali Jul - 22 - 2025 , 09:51 3 minutes read Northern Members of Parliament and traditional leaders have called on government and development agencies to take concrete steps to improve agro-processing, roads, and education across the five northern regions, saying these are crucial to tackling poverty and improving living conditions. The call was made at the Northern Development Conference held in Tamale on Monday, July 21, 2025. The meeting, under the theme A Conference of Northern People, Leaders and Partners, brought together chiefs, political figures, civil servants, and representatives of development organisations to discuss coordinated responses to the regions long-standing challenges. Speaking at the event, the Minority Leader, Mr Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, described northern Ghana as the countrys breadbasket, noting that it contributes over 40 percent of the national food supply. He said the regions agricultural potential remains underutilised due to poor road networks, lack of processing centres, and limited investment in local industries. We must move beyond declarations and take bold steps to unlock the Norths full potential, Mr Afenyo-Markin said. This means investing in roads, schools, agro-processing, energy, and health systems. We owe it to the people who have long been left behind. He also referenced the formation of the Northern Caucus in Parliament, describing it as a major step forward. The caucus, inaugurated by the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, brings together 57 MPs from the Upper West, Savannah, Northern, North East, and Upper East regions, across political lines. According to Mr Afenyo-Markin, the group will serve as a platform to advocate for policies and funding that reflect the regions real needs. The Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mr Mahama Ayariga, also addressed the gathering. He called for practical development targets backed by timelines, saying the people of the north have heard many promises over the years without results. We are not here for another talk shop, Mr Ayariga said. We must turn these discussions into practical action with clear timelines and proper follow-up. Mr Ayariga referenced past attempts to close the north-south development gap, including President Kwame Nkrumahs Seven-Year Development Plan, the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority under President John Evans Atta Mills, and the One District, One Factory initiative under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He said despite these initiatives, many parts of northern Ghana still face poor infrastructure, limited access to education, and weak health systems. He said the newly formed caucus must act as a strong voice in Parliament to push for fair distribution of resources and demand projects that can create employment and improve public services. We must use our numbers and experience to improve lives. This includes lobbying for budget allocations that meet the actual needs of our people, he added. Among those present were Mr. Julius Debrah, who represented President John Dramani Mahama, and senior civil servants, regional ministers, traditional leaders, and representatives of development organisations. Discussions during the conference touched on a range of persistent issues, including poverty rates of up to 80 percent in some communities, poor access to water and electricity, low school enrolment, and recurring disputes over chieftaincy and ethnicity that continue to hamper development. At the end of the event, participants made a collective appeal to traditional authorities, political leaders, private investors, and development partners to support efforts to lift the northern regions out of poverty. Proposals included creating jobs through agriculture with value addition, building more schools and health facilities, and establishing long-term measures to promote peace in areas affected by conflict. Mr Afenyo-Markin, who closed the conference, urged stakeholders to abandon what he called empty promises. We can no longer afford piecemeal solutions, he said. With honesty, proper planning and follow-through, the North can move forward. This is not just about the northern regions. It is about building a stronger Ghana for everyone. Next article: National Cathedral site will not be converted into convention and cultural complex - Felix Kwakye Ofosu Previous article: LIST: See the members as Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts inaugurates advisory board Featured Supreme Court quashes 2020 High Court contempt arrest warrant for Kevin Taylor Graphic.com.gh Jul - 22 - 2025 , 11:42 3 minutes read The Supreme Court has quashed an arrest warrant issued against Ghanaian US-based social media commentator Kevin Ekow Taylor. In a 4:1 majority decision delivered in Accra on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, the Supreme Court said the process breached the principles of natural justice and denied him the right to be heard. In a 4-1 majority decision, the court quashed the bench warrant on the basis that it was issued without due process. Justice Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu, who presided was joined by Justices Senyo Dzamefe, Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh and Philip Bright Mensah, as the majority. Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu dissented. The arrest warrant was issued in January 2020 by the High Court in Accra presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour in a contempt case. Taylor had been cited for making comments on social media in a relation to a case that was pending before the court and was deemed disrespectful to the judiciary. Although he was never arrested, the warrant remained in force until the Tuesday morning Supreme Court decision. The decision in quashing the arrest warrant effectively brings to an end a five-year legal standoff that stemmed from Taylors commentary on a case presided over by Justice Kyei Baffour. Related article: Accra High Court issues bench warrant for arrest of Kevin Ebo Taylor Background The said warrant was for Taylor to appear before the court and show why he should not be imprisoned for contempt. Justice Eric Kyei-Baffour, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, sitting as a High Court judge, issued the warrant on January 16, 2020 due to a video circulated by Taylor on Facebook. Justice Kyei-Baffour issued the warrant before the cross examination of Eugene Baffour-Bonnie, one of the accused persons and a former Board Chairman of the National Communications Authority (NCA). Taylor said in the video that Justice Kyei-Baffour was promoted to the Court of Appeal from the High Court because he was doing the bidding of the government in the trial of the five people accused of embezzling $4 million belonging to the National Communications Authority (NCA). In his ruling, Justice Kyei-Baffour said the video by Taylor sought to incite people against him and the court. He held that Taylors action was scandalous and an affront to the justice delivery system. As a judge of impeccable integrity and outmost honesty, I find it necessary to invoke the powers vested in me under the constitution to proceed and cite him for contempt. I issue a warrant for him to be produced before the court to show cause why he should not be committed to prison, Justice Kyei-Baffour ruled. The warrant was directed to the Ghana Police service and other security agencies to find Taylor who was said to be outside the country. Next article: No more hidden rates: Bank of Ghana cracks down on shipping industry FX practices Featured Tense gunfight: Police kill 2 suspected robbers, launch manhunt for accomplices GraphicOnline Jul - 22 - 2025 , 19:27 2 minutes read The Police on Monday thwarted what was a suspected planned armed robbery, which had targeted a foreign national in Accra. The police response resulted in the death of two suspects and injury to a police officer. The foiled attempt followed an intelligence-led operation by the Police Intelligence Directorate (PID). The police in a statement said the operation took place on Monday [July 15, 2025] after credible intelligence revealed that five armed men were lodging at a hotel in Labadi, planning to stage an attack at Cantonments, an Accra suburb. While the suspects were en route to execute their operation onboard a Toyota Yaris vehicle, they detected surveillance by the police and opened fire on the police. "While en route to their target location... the suspects, detecting police surveillance, opened fire on the police team shooting one of our officers in the process," the statement said. Police returned fire during the confrontation, injuring two of the suspects. The injured assailants were taken to the Police Hospital, where they were later pronounced dead. A police officer who sustained gunshot wounds to the legs and underarm during the shootout is currently on admission and responding to treatment. "The injured officer... is receiving medical attention and responding to treatment," the police confirmed. Items retrieved from the scene include two pump-action guns loaded with ammunition, live cartridges, three mobile phones, talismans, and other materials believed to be linked to the foiled attack. Meanwhile, a manhunt has been launched to apprehend the remaining three suspects who are currently on the run. The Police have assured the public of their continued commitment to ensuring safety and security across the country. Featured Ewurabena Aubynn sworn in as Ablekuma North MP after Minority walkout GraphicOnline Politics Jul - 22 - 2025 , 12:13 2 minutes read Ewurabena Aubynn of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was on Tuesday (July 22, 2025) officially sworn in as the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North, despite a walkout by the Minority side in Parliament. The swearing-in, presided over by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, followed a brief procedural standoff that saw Minority MPs exit the chamber in protest. The disagreement stemmed from the Speakers decision to deny a request from Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, who sought permission to make a statement before the oath was administered. Annoh-Dompreh, after catching the Speakers attention, attempted to raise the matter formally. However, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga opposed the move, insisting that the appropriate time to make such remarks would be after the swearing-in ceremony. Ruling on the matter, Speaker Bagbin sided with the Majority Leader, stating that the Minority would be given the opportunity to speak afterwards. Annoh-Dompreh, dissatisfied with the ruling, responded: Mr. Speaker, we cannot be part of this swearing-in, and proceeded to lead the Minority out of the chamber. Despite the walkout, the ceremony went ahead without disruption, officially inducting Aubynn into Ghanas Parliament. Her swearing-in comes on the heels of a fiercely contested parliamentary rerun in the Ablekuma North constituency. The rerun, held in 19 polling stations earlier this month, followed the Electoral Commissions (EC) nullification of the original December 2024 parliamentary results. That decision was based on widespread electoral irregularities, including unsigned pink sheets, discrepancies in vote tallies, and procedural breaches during collation. In the rerun, Ewurabena Aubynn secured a narrow victory with 34,090 votes, edging past the New Patriotic Partys (NPP) Akua Afriyie, who polled 33,881 votes. Featured Making National Chairman leader best for party growth Experts Albert K. Salia Politics Jul - 22 - 2025 , 09:57 4 minutes read The decision by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to make the National Chairman the party's leader at all times is a step in the right direction, a political scientist and a legal luminary of the party have separately stated. They said that the decision would allow the party and its structures to function effectively and enable the party to grow, while the President concentrates on the business of governance. The two, the Director of Democracy Project, Dr John Osae-Kwapong and Joseph Ayikoi Otoo, a stalwart of the NPP, were sharing their views on the outcome of the partys annual delegates conference held at the University of Ghana Stadium last Saturday. Conference The NPP held its National Annual Delegates Conference at the University of Ghana Stadium, Legon, in Accra, last Saturday, on the theme: "Rebuilding Together with Our Values." The conference, attended by thousands of delegates, party executives and grassroots members, aimed to regroup and chart a path forward for the NPP after its defeat in the 2024 general election. Distinct lines Dr Osae-Kwapong said the decision was a step in the right direction, insisting that it helped to keep the lines distinct between party and government when in power and between party and an unsuccessful flag bearer when in opposition. The flag bearer serves a particular role to try and win the election. If elected, the President primarily focuses on governing, not party business. That should be left to party executives. An unsuccessful candidate can play the role of opposition leader without being leader of the party, he stated. He noted that the issue has regularly come up in intraparty discussions and I'm assuming the party realised the time to address it is now. Ayikoi Mr Ayikoi Otoo said he proposed that the chairman of the party become the party's leader at all times. What we had was the chairman being the leader until a flag bearer is elected, who then takes over and hands over the role to the chairman, when he loses the contest. However, when the flag bearer wins the presidential contest and becomes the President, he continues to hold office until his tenure ends, he noted. Again, Mr Ayikoi Otoo explained that as President and leader of the party, he decided party matters and government issues. He said that, in such a situation, the President did not show respect to the chairman and leadership of the party. With the previous arrangement, the party that produces the President looks weak and irrelevant in the face of the President. The proposal is to allow the party to grow and chart its course, he stressed. Mr Ayikoi Otoo noted that the expansion, as explained, was a limited one pending the one man one vote, which will happen at the next delegates conference in about two years. He said that by the transitional provisions, a limited expansion for the election of a flag bearer by January 31, 2026, comes into force immediately. That, he said, meant that all the new delegates, such as former Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, former Members of Parliament, former ministers, former deputies, among others, were eligible and could vote in January 2026. On his part, Dr Osae-Kwapong said his preference had always been an electoral college where all registered party members participated in all internal elections, including choosing a flag bearer. While I applaud the party's effort in expanding the electoral college, I believe it fails to address two key issues of the current system the undue influence of the use of monetary and non-monetary incentives to get delegates' support and the unchecked power of delegates, he said. As to whether the tenure of the current executives and by which time the procedures for amendment would have been concluded before the election of the flag bearer, Dr Osae-Kwapong said ideally, that would be the best approach. However, the party reserves the right to decide how to proceed. The most important thing is the integrity of the process and outcome, he said. Conference Dr Osae-Kwapong described the conference as a successful one. He said it was essential to hear speeches that emphasise party unity. A heavy electoral defeat often leads to finger-pointing, creating division. If the party wants to bounce back quickly, party unity would be key, he said. Featured Moves to 'kick out' Afenyo-Markin from ECOWAS Parliament; Patricia Appiagyei rejects replacement nomination Graphic Online Politics Jul - 22 - 2025 , 21:05 4 minutes read The Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, Patricia Appiagyei, has rejected a nomination to replace Alexander Afenyo-Markin as part of Ghanas reconstituted delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament. "I respectfully write to express my objection and hereby decline to be included in the reconstituted list of Ghana's delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament as adopted on the floor of the House today - an action that was taken in the absence of my good self and the Minority Leader," she stated in a memo dated July 22, 2022, and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament. "Respectfully, I wish to place on record that I was neither consulted nor did I give my consent to be considered as a replacement for the Minority Leader, Hon Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, on the ECOWAS Parliamentary delegation. At no point have I expressed any intention to replace my Leader, and I am particularly concerned that this development appears to be a calculated effort to cause division between myself and my Leader," she stated. "Mr Speaker, prior to today's proceedings, there was an understanding by leadership that the Minority Leader [Afenyo-Markin] would be on the ECOWAS Parliament delegation, as was communicated to the Committee of Selection. It is therefore deeply troubling that a contrary nomination was advanced on the floor without consultation and even more so that proposal was made by the Majority Leader. She argued that beyond the procedural impropriety, the action also contravenes the legal and institutional framework governing the ECOWAS Parliament stating that "Once a member is sworn in as an ECOWAS Parliamentarian, the Member's tenure runs for a term of four years. "When elected as Speaker or Deputy Speaker, that tenure is co-terminous with the parliamentary term. Hon Afenyo-Markin was duly sworn in as a Member of the ECOWAS Parliament last year and subsequently elected as a Deputy Speaker. His tenure, by law and by ECOWAS protocol, remains valid and ongoing. There is therefore no legal or procedural justification for his removal and any attempt to replace him on the delegation not only breaches internal parliamentary practice but also violates ECOWAS statutes. Furthermore, consistent with ECOWAS Parliamentary practice, a sitting Member cannot be removed from the delegation unless the Member voluntarily resigns, is removed from office, appointed to the Executive or as a Judge, or otherwise become ineligible under the governing rules. The Minority Leader has not vacated his seat, nor has he been disqualified under any such criteria. Any action outside these parameters is completely against the Supplementary Act and the rules of the ECOWAS Parliament and may be rejected by the ECOWAS Parliament itself. Mr Speaker, while I acknowledge the argument advanced in favour of enhancing women's representation in regional bodies such as the ECOWAS Parliament, such representation must be pursued within the bounds of due process, consultation, and internal consensus. The Minority Caucus is fully committed to promoting gender equity in all spheres of governance. However, using gender parity as a pretext for unilateral and procedurally irregular decisions undermines both the objective and the institutional harmony we seek to preserve. True inclusion must be built on transparent dialogue and not imposed at the expense of established norms or the integrity of leadership structures. "Mr Speaker, I am mindful of the high regard in which your office is held and the discretion you exercise in facilitating consensus. However, I wish to respectfully decline my inclusion on the ECOWAS Parliament delegation and state that, in my considered opinion, the proposed change is not desirable. The Minority Leader is a duly designated member with an unexpired term, and any attempt to remove him from that position without cause or consensus is both procedurally irregular but also politically regrettable. "I respectfully pray that the Minority Caucus' original nominees to the ECOWAS Parliament be maintained, namely: Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin - Member Kwame Anyimadu Antwi - Member Bryan Acheampong - Member For the avoidance of doubt, I reiterate that the resolution that has my name as a nominated member for the delegation to ECOWAS Parliament be stayed. The House should take steps to rescind such decision since I do not intend to accept the offer made to me by the House and by this memo I am refusing to be part of such delegation and pray that the Clerk to Parliament does not communicate any such resolution to ECOWAS Parliament that includes my name. It is my hope that this matter is addressed in a manner that preserves the unity and integrity of the House and avoids public embarrassment to the institution of Ghana's Parliament. Attached below is a copy of the Term of Office and Grounds for Replacement of a Member of the ECOWAS Parliament President Donald Trump issued a July 21 message on the 81st anniversary of Guams liberation by U.S. military forces from Japanese imperial occupation during World War II. Heres the full text of the presidents message that the White House released: Today, on the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Guam from Imperial Japanese control, our Nation proudly honors the strength, courage, and unbreakable resilience of every hero of liberty who gallantly fought to free the people of Guam and establish a foothold from which we would win the Second World War. On July 21, 1944, American forces stormed the beaches of Guam to conquer tyranny and restore the righteous promise of American sovereignty in the Pacific. As Imperial Japanese forces tried to hold their ground, they struggled to withstand the full might of the U.S. Armed Forces. After three weeks of gruesome and blood-soaked warfare in jungles, caves, and rugged hills, America triumphedregaining control of Guam and putting U.S. forces within striking distance of ending the war in the Pacific. As we commemorate Americas hard-earned victory in Guam, our Nation also solemnly pays tribute to the more than 1,200 Service members and more than 1,000 residents of Guam who made the ultimate sacrifice to liberate the American territory. To this day, the liberation of Guam remains etched upon our Nations history as a bold reassertion of American sovereignty at a time when our future and our freedom were in peril. Under my leadership, the United States remains committed to upholding a foreign policy of peace through strengthand we will never waver in defending our interests, our citizens, our territory, and our glorious way of life from all enemies, foreign and domestic. We started on opposite sides. One of us runs the Port. The other raised hard questions about port fees. We talked through the cost of doing business, the complexity of Port operations, and the balance between public responsibility and private impact. It turns out, we agree on more than we expected. Rorys perspective Our focus since day one has been on maximizing all charges per the tariff, and we have been making good on this commitment. Fee enforcement is not new. Some recent discoveries, as I have disclosed, were long-overdue corrections that were validated, uncontested, and discussed with industry partners before implementation. We operate with financial discipline and fairness to all port users, confirmed by audits, improved finances, stronger bond ratings, and continued trust from our industry partners, local and federal. Charlies perspective As a former port user and operator, I have seen both sides. Customers need to understand what they are being charged and why. That was my goal in raising these questions. I have always known Rory to have an open-door policy and his willingness to address these issues strategically will go a long way. The Port has developed a mission-driven approach and willingness to solve problems in real time. Those qualities continue to be make a huge difference. One thing that stood out in our conversation was how the Port kept cargo moving during the pandemic. While other ports on the mainland faced serious backlogs, Guam avoided those outcomes. That level of coordination and foresight made a real difference for everyone in the supply chain, from carriers and customers to residents and businesses across the region. This will serve as the framework for future operations and why the Port of Guam serves as a strategic gateway when it comes to the transshipment of goods, both raw materials and finished products. Some of the anxiety around recent fee enforcement stems from the sense that these are just higher costs without a clear path to hiring more workers. That naturally raises questions about whether vessel service standards will hold. The truth is, the Port has set a new standard, and no one wants to see that progress slip and this is why this open dialogue is very important. The Port is moving in the right direction, and this conversation is part of that shift. What we see now is a Port that has been course correcting, closing gaps, and communicating more clearly with stakeholders. The effort to engage is real. What matters is that the process stays fair and responsive. Rorys perspective The Port works because of its people and its partnerships, including our workforce, management team, board of directors, the governor, lieutenant governor, Legislature, Guams congressman, our local and federal partners, and the military. We stay focused on our customers while remaining accountable to those who rely on the Port for the movement of goods, mission readiness, and economic stability. We are proud of the men and women who have kept cargo flowing across five decades through typhoons, a pandemic, and everyday challenges, too. Every correction we have made was backed by data and due diligence. We are committed to getting it right even when critics and naysayers are quick to say otherwise. This Port is about resilience, sustainability, and strengthening Guams role in regional security and national interest. That is something I will continue to follow, including through the upcoming PUC process. The Ports mission is twofold. First, to serve the people and economy of Guam through reliable, cost-effective operations. Second, to support national security by remaining one of sixteen strategic American ports for joint military readiness in the Pacific. These two goals are not separate. They are connected. And both require a Port that is stable, disciplined, and ready. Charlies perspective The Port of Guam serves as a strategic port and is the lifeline of our islands economy. As the master plan continues to unfold, we need to ensure that the ports demand matches its capabilities. We need to ensure that we continue to drive efficiencies so that the Port also plays an integral part in lowering the price of goods. This has to be a collaborative effort across the board to include the support from the Department of Transportation primarily from the Maritime Administration. President Trump has been very clear on restoring Americas Maritime Dominance. Joint closing We may come from different sides of the wharf, but we agree on this: Guams Port has aging infrastructure and gantry cranes in need of immediate replacement. In addition, it must be allowed to operate like a business. Strong leadership and efficient management, rolled together with engaged industry partners and a dedicated workforce from across the public and private sectors, are what keep things moving and how trust and confidence are earned. Standing on facts, working through differences, and staying focused on real solutions makes progress matter more than posturing and keeps us mission ready, all day, every day. Haiti - Justice : Prominent Haitian businessman Reginald Boulos arrested in the USA On July 16, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security investigators arrested Haitian businessman Pierre Reginald Boulos, 69, a U.S. lawful permanent resident, at his home in Palm Beach, Florida, for for violating the Immigration and Nationality Act contributing to the destabilization of Haiti. This case was investigated jointly with the U.S. Department of States Diplomatic Security Service and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate. The Department of State determined that Boulos presence or activities in the United States would have potential serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States, providing a basis for the charge of removability. Specifically, officials determined that he engaged in a campaign of violence and gang support that contributed to Haiti's destabilization. Furthermore, in his application for legal permanent residence, he failed to disclose his involvement in the creation of a political party in Haiti, the Movement for the Transformation and Valorization of Haiti, and that he was prosecuted by the Haitian government's Anti-Corruption Unit for misusing loans, which provides additional grounds for deportation based on this fraud. He is currently in the custody of ICE's Enforcement and Deportation Service. He will be heard on July 31, 2025, by Immigration Judge Jorge Pereira. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Security : Government mobilizes exceptional resources against gangs On Monday, July 21, 2025, under the authority of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime and Transitional Presidential Advisors Leslie Voltaire and Laurent St-Cyr, a high-level strategic meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office. The meeting was attended by Patrick Pelissier, Minister of Justice and Public Security; Mario Andresol, Secretary of State for Public Security; representatives of the Security Task Force; and senior officials from the Haitian Armed Forces (FAd'H), the Haitian National Police (PNH), and the Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS). This meeting demonstrates the unity of the highest government authorities and their determination to eradicate armed groups and restore order throughout the country. The Government confirmed the implementation of exceptional budgetary and logistical measures designed to immediately strengthen the capabilities of the Haitian National Police (PNH) to intensify and accelerate its operations against gangs. The authorities emphasized the need for ongoing and close coordination between all national institutions and international partners, an essential condition for ensuring effective, rapid, and sustainable action. To be continued... HL/ HaitiLibre The serious "ToolShell" Sharepoint security vulnerability continues to keep Microsoft admins and security experts on their toes. The software company has now provided the first patches for the on-premise versions of its collaboration tool. However, administrators must take further measures to eliminate possible backdoors. Anzeige Microsoft has now provided updates for the two affected major versions Sharepoint Enterprise Server 2016 and Sharepoint Server 2019. The bug-fixed version Sharepoint Enterprise Server 2016 16.0.5508.1000 and Sharepoint Server 2019 16.0.10417.20027 are available on the company's help pages. Microsoft expressly points out that the ASP.Net "Machine Keys" must always be rotated after the update, which involves an IIS restart. The corresponding Powershell commandlets can be found on the ToolShell help pages. Microsoft's cloud offerings are not affected, only "on-premise" installations are at risk. Their admins should act immediately. The US cyber security authority CISA has also issued a warning about the vulnerability in its "Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Database" and has written its own overview article, which is essentially based on Microsoft's information. CISA instructions are binding for US authorities. The security company Eye Security provides a detailed analysis and timeline in its blog according to which the exploitation of the vulnerability began in the night from July 18 to 19 and dozens of systems have been "downed". Variant of Pwn2Own vulnerability The vulnerability with the CVE-ID CVE-2025-53770 is a variant of the vulnerabilities CVE-2025-49706 & CVE-2025-49704 exploited on Pwn2Own Berlin, which allows remote takeover of the Sharepoint server with an HTTP request. As the German "Code White GmbH" demonstrates on X, it is sufficient to inject a system command in the right place. This allowed the previously unknown attackers to take over the systems and extract the "machine keys". With these it is possible to secure permanent access to the Sharepoint server. (cku) 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. Microsoft gives no guarantee that EU data will never be passed on to the US government: Anton Carniaux, General Counsel of Microsoft France, testified at a hearing before the French Senate of Parliament. Specifically, it was about data that Microsoft receives from the Union des Groupements d'Achats Publics (UGAP), the central public sector procurement body for schools, town halls, and municipal administrations. When asked whether the company would never transfer their information to the US government without the express consent of the French authorities, Carniaux replied that he could not guarantee this under oath. Anzeige Request for information must be formally correct However, he added that the situation had never occurred. Carniaux explained that Microsoft can only refuse requests for information from the USA if they are formally unfounded. Accordingly, Microsoft would check the validity of all requests very carefully the US government cannot make requests that are not precisely defined. However, in the case of correct requests, Microsoft must in any case fulfill its obligation and pass on the requested data. The company also wants to inform the affected customers about this but must first ask the US authorities for permission to do so. IT Summit 2025: Digital sovereignty Basis for resilient IT Whether cloud, AI or M365: hardly any company today can do without software and services from the USA. In view of the political upheavals since the start of Donald Trump's presidency, more and more IT managers are asking themselves: How can I reduce dependencies and make my own IT more sovereign, more resilient and therefore more future-proof? The answers can be found at the IT Summit by heise 2025 on November 11 and 12 in Munich. Obviously, the significance of Carniaux's statements at the hearing goes beyond the scope of the UGAP and France: there is uncertainty throughout the EU about the use of US cloud services In addition to Microsoft, the business of large hyperscalers such as Amazon AWS is particularly affected. Critics are focusing on the CLOUD Act and the Patriot Act, which allow the US government to request information from cloud providers, among other things. However, it is not just data transfers that are feared, but measures up to and including the shutdown of cloud services in the EU. Trust advertising and open-source competition Hyperscalers such as Amazon are therefore setting up new subsidiaries in Europe that promise independence from the US parent company. AWS promises that it is technically impossible to pass on data. Microsoft, on the other hand, wants to install the cloud infrastructure directly on the customer's premises so that services such as M365 remain completely under their control. The systems will continue to be maintained by Microsoft, but by local employees. However, it is questionable how successful these promises of sovereignty will be: providers such as Nextcloud have seen a significant increase in demand since the start of the year. Anzeige A transcript of Carniaux's public hearing can be found here. It took place on June 10. iX-Workshop: Sovereign Cloud - Roadmap for secure and resilient IT Digitalization and the use of cloud technologies present companies with key questions of sovereignty. How do they retain control over data and systems, keep dependencies under control and also meet regulatory requirements? This workshop offers a compact introduction to the topic of cloud sovereignty, presents different cloud models and provides an overview of current market trends and offerings. The opportunities and risks of multi-cloud strategies will be examined in a practical way and participants will develop a future-proof IT strategy. Registration and dates at heise.de/s/nlrBA (fo) 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. According to Tuomo Bergman , on-call meteorologist at FMI, a precipitation system moved into southwestern and southern Finland on Tuesday morning. Warnings are in place for high heat, thunderstorms, and increased fire risk in several regions, and many are expected to remain active through the week. The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) has issued heatwave and wildfire warnings for most of Finland, with temperatures forecast to reach 30 degrees Celsius in parts of Lapland on Tuesday. Localised showers are likely in those areas throughout the day, while heavier rain and thunderstorms are expected further north. In the north, the showers may be a bit heavier, and winds could strengthen, Bergman said. Southwestern Lapland is forecast to record the highest temperatures, with some areas reaching the 30C mark. The threshold for a heatwave warning is met when daytime highs are at least 27C and the daily average remains at 20C or above. The ongoing hot and dry weather has prompted FMI to warn of elevated wildfire risk across much of the country. Conditions remain especially dry in central and eastern Finland, where authorities have asked the public to avoid open flames and exercise caution during outdoor activities. Weather maps published by FMI show heat warnings covering most inland and northern areas on Tuesday and Wednesday. The combination of heat and dry ground conditions is increasing the risk of forest and grass fires, especially in sparsely populated rural areas. Thunderstorm warnings also apply to parts of northern Finland. The potential for strong winds and heavy rain may add to fire risk, particularly where lightning could strike dry vegetation. The public is advised to follow local alerts and avoid lighting campfires or using outdoor grills in regions where wildfire warnings are in effect. Authorities also recommend that residents check the latest forecasts before travelling or engaging in outdoor activities. HT According to Noora Salmelainen , project coordinator for mobility services at the City of Turku, the proposal would restrict e-scooter use in the city centre from midnight to 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. The City of Turku is preparing to ban rental electric scooters during weekend nights as part of new licensing rules allowed under Finlands updated micromobility legislation. No decisions have been made yet, but weve prepared for a potential weekend night ban based on experiences from other cities, Salmelainen said. Helsinki has had a weekend night restriction in place since 2021. It will retain the ban under the new law, which took effect in June. The updated micromobility legislation allows cities to require rental operators to obtain licences and follow local conditions, including limits on parking, hours of use, and speed. Reetta Putkonen, director of traffic and street planning in Helsinki, said the ban has helped reduce incidents without disrupting overall availability. The weekend night driving ban has been effective in reducing problems, while still allowing the business to operate quite well, Putkonen said. The law also introduced a national age minimum and blood alcohol limit for e-scooter users. In Turku, one of the main problems has been improper parking. Scooters are often left on pavements or in pedestrian areas despite marked parking zones. City officials are now planning to increase the number of designated parking spots and introduce no-parking or restricted driving zones in the central district. Salmelainen said parking issues are more pressing for the city than late-night usage, but both are under review as part of the new licensing framework. Rental companies are watching developments closely. Voi Technology Finland, one of the leading providers of shared e-scooters, criticised the proposed night ban but supported other elements of the law, including the new alcohol and age restrictions. Max Thelen, Vois country manager for Finland, called the planned driving restriction premature. Our view is that it is not worth rushing into such restrictive measures now that the new legislation is in place. It is worth remembering that the majority of use is during weekday commuting, not at night, she said. Municipal licensing systems are now being developed across Finland and are expected to be in place by early 2026. Turku aims to finalise its framework this autumn and implement it at the start of next year. HT The project , proposed by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz , involves relocating around 600,000 Palestinians to a newly constructed area near Rafah, on the Egyptian border. According to Katz, the zone would be operated by foreign forces, exclude Hamas, and permit residents to leave only for emigration abroad. Israel is continuing with plans to establish a closed containment zone for Palestinians in southern Gaza, despite rising criticism from domestic and international sources. Movement within Gaza would be blocked. Critics across Israels political spectrum have denounced the proposal. Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert labelled it a concentration camp. The Chief of Staff of the Israeli military, Eyal Zamir, reportedly called the plan unworkable and criticised its logistics. Legal experts in Israel have stated the plan breaches both domestic and international law. Human rights groups describe it as forced displacement under armed conflict. International opposition has also intensified. A British minister said he was appalled. The foreign ministers of Austria and Germany expressed concern. The United Nations stated it is firmly against the policy. Despite this, Israeli authorities have escalated demolition activities in Rafah. An investigation by Al Jazeera found that recent destruction may be linked to clearing the area for the planned containment site, described by Katz as a humanitarian city. On Monday, the Israeli military expanded operations in central Gaza, launching strikes on Deir al-Balah. The city has become a refuge for many who fled northern areas. Local civil defence authorities and witnesses reported heavy shelling and more evacuations. Israeli forces also dropped leaflets over Deir al-Balah ordering residents to evacuate. These leaflets are part of what critics see as a broader effort to push the population south, where access to food and aid remains limited. According to the UN, nearly 1,000 people have died in Gaza while seeking humanitarian aid. Finnish Middle East researchers Susanne Dahlgren and Hannu Juusola said on Tuesday that the humanitarian situation has sharply deteriorated. Dahlgren, who leads the Finnish Institute in the Middle East, said the zone in Rafah is in practice a concentration camp. Aid efforts in Gaza have been hampered by structural and operational changes. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the United States, has replaced previous international organisations. Aid distribution has become inconsistent. Access points are few, schedules irregular, and Israeli troops are stationed nearby. Juusola, professor of Middle Eastern studies at the University of Helsinki, said the transfer of responsibility to GHF created avoidable obstacles. He described the shift as a deliberate design flaw that obstructs aid delivery. Dahlgren said the presence of the Israeli military near aid points is intentional. Israel has received clear instructions to fire, she said. The aim is the depopulation of Gaza. On Monday, over 20 countries issued a joint statement calling for an end to the war. Finland was among the signatories. Juusola said statements must include pressure to have effect. Dahlgren noted that this marks the first time key Western nations have directly condemned Israeli actions. HT The meeting, scheduled to take place in Istanbul, will focus on issues including a potential prisoner exchange and a future meeting between Zelenskyi and Russian President Vladimir Putin , according to news agency AFP. Ukraine and Russia are set to resume peace talks in Turkey on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced in a video address on Sunday evening. I discussed preparations for the exchange of prisoners and the second round of talks with the Russian side in Turkey with Rustem Umerov today, Zelenskyi said. Umerov reported the meeting is set for Wednesday. Further details will be shared tomorrow. Umerov, secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defence Council, has led both previous rounds of talks with Russian representatives in Istanbul over the past five months. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Sunday that Russia is reviewing the timing for renewed negotiations. He noted, however, that significant diplomatic work remains due to the sharp differences between the parties. Zelenskyi stated earlier that Ukraine had proposed new negotiations for this week and called for faster progress toward a ceasefire. The talks follow comments by former US President Donald Trump, who recently gave Russia a 50-day deadline to reach a truce. Trump warned of possible new import tariffs on Russian goods if no agreement is reached within that period. Both Ukraine and Russia have signalled readiness to return to the table, although previous discussions have failed to produce any agreement on ending the war. Earlier negotiations in Istanbul led to agreements on prisoner exchanges but no progress on broader ceasefire terms. The latest announcement comes amid continued drone and missile strikes across Ukraine, including recent attacks on Kyiv and the Sumy region. Civilian infrastructure has sustained damage, and casualties have been reported in several areas. HT BRCC lands $500,000 Lowe's grant for construction trades training Blue Ridge Community College is one of 12 recipients of a Lowes Foundation Gable Grant to community and technical colleges to help solve Americas critical skilled trades worker shortage. BRCC will use the $500,000 grant to support ongoing Hurricane Helene recovery efforts through expanded training for advanced manufacturing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and construction apprenticeships. The grant will help Blue Ridge hire certified instructors and offer tuition support to students from across Western North Carolina. We are incredibly grateful to the Lowes Foundation for this investment in our workforce and the skilled trades that are vital to strengthening and rebuilding our community, BRCC President Laura B. Leatherwood said. As Western North Carolina continues to recover from Hurricane Helene, the Gable Grant helps students prepare for essential careers that will enable them to support their families while contributing to the regions long-term resilience. The new round of funding expands the Lowe's Foundations nationwide network of Gable Grants recipients to 60 organizations, each delivering scalable pathways into high-demand trades careers. Through expanded training, grants to this cohort will help build the next generation of skilled tradespeople at a time when the industry needs it the most. According to the National Association of Homebuilders, the skilled labor gap drives a $10 billion annual economic loss in the housing industry. Collectively, we are writing a comeback story for the skilled trades industry, said Janice Dupre, Lowe's executive vice president of human resources and chair of the Lowes Foundation. Through our Gable Grants network, these schools join a community of innovators helping one another effectively recruit, train and employ the people America needs to revitalize our infrastructure. Since launching the Gable Grants program in 2023, the foundation has invested $43 million across 28 states. The grants are part of a five-year, $50 million commitment to help community and technical colleges and nonprofits recruit, train and prepare 50,000 trades professionals across carpentry and construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and property maintenance. Waterway cleanup gets $10 million boost Leslie Beninato leads a MountainTrue cleanup crew on the French Broad River. The project is now expanding to more counties. [KATIE MYERS/BPR] Plenty of big items, like cars and trailers, have been cleaned out from Western North Carolina rivers after Helene but there is still a lot of smaller trash throughout the regions creeks and streams. Related Stories This month, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and the environmental group MountainTrue announced a new initiative to get smaller waterways cleaned up. MountainTrue French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson said its an expansion of an effort that has been ongoing since April, when the environmental group organized small crews to pick up garbage on the rivers. Many of these crewmembers were outdoor workers left unemployed after Helene. When the storm hit, I was just sort of devastated at what we all saw, Carson said. Rivers being trashed, homes washed away and businesses ruined. They picked up 3 million pounds of trash, but thought they could do even more. Carson talked with state legislators about the scope of the problem and lobbied for debris cleanup funding as a part of North Carolinas Disaster Recovery Act of 2025. He said the DEQ was a strong advocate for the funding, and it has also been a partner in planning the scope of the work. Were committed to helping Western North Carolina recover and rebuild, and this investment will help clean up debris still left in our rivers, DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. This initiative represents a critical opportunity to restore our waterways, protect our communities and support local economies dependent on outdoor recreation and tourism. The project includes $10 million allocated to DEQ, which the agency granted to MountainTrue. MountainTrue will oversee the implementation of the project, including cleanup site selection, crew safety training and supervision, volunteer coordination and community outreach, program monitoring and reporting, and marketing and donor engagement. Around 80 people will be employed for 18 months to clean Helene debris from waterways mostly the small stuff, like plastic bags and personal items. They will be working throughout the region, including in Henderson, Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties, and on the Qualla Boundary with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. According to Carson, there will be both crew member and crew leader jobs available, paying at least $20 per hour, with full benefits, paid time off and 401K benefits. Itll be appealing for folks in the outdoor recreation industry, Carson said. Sometimes those jobs arent good-paying or dont come with benefits. Jon Stamper, MountainTrues River Cleanup coordinator, said the nonprofit is hoping to continue employing people who have experienced difficulties after Helene. The goal is to hire local people that are a part of these communities that have been impacted by Helene to get out there and continue the effort of removing the debris, Stamper said. Its going to come at no cost to the private property landowners, he added. MountainTrue will be contacting landowners for permission to access right-of-ways, and the nonprofit encourages interested landowners to reach out. More information for landowners and prospective job applicants can be found at mountaintrue.org/cleanup-crew/. * * * * * This coverage is made possible through a partnership between BPR and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization. A WOMAN from Checkendon is still getting used to the idea of the highest qualification for playing piano. Mary Daniels, 61, has been awarded the Fellowship of the Royal Schools of Music (FRSM) diploma. It is the highest qualification awarded by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Equivalent to a masters degree, it is achieved by only the most experienced music educators and has a pass rate of around 50 per cent. It took Mrs Daniels, a piano teacher who lives in Whitehall Lane with husband Steve, about three years to prepare for and complete the qualification. She was helped through the process by her piano teacher Pamela Chilvers, from Caversham. Mrs Daniels said one of the biggest challenges she faced was a lack of confidence in her own ability, having encountered many other talented musicians while at university. She said: I had a long break from playing the piano for about 11 years, which was very painful because it meant a lot to me, but I just thought I wasnt very good. Pam got me out of that way of thinking and made me much more positive. She was just so incredibly encouraging and we got on so well. We were so in-tune musically and I thought, This is someone who can really help me. We were a meeting of minds. To build her confidence and prepare for the diploma, she gave recitals at Caversham Baptist Church, Goring Church and at St Marys Church in Henley and she rediscovered her love of the piano. Mrs Daniels first began to learn piano aged 11 and, within five years, she had reached Grade 8 level the highest performance grade. After her 11-year break she attended a summer school hosted by concert pianist Mark Tanner, who encouraged her to work towards her FRSM diploma. As part of this she submitted a written essay and played for 55 minutes from memory. She opted to play from Debussys Images Book 1, Beethovens Appassionata sonata and Black Earth, an unusual, contemporary piece by Turkish composer Fazl Say. Mrs Daniels said: When I think back to the days when I wouldnt even play for my husband when my anxiety was at its most extreme and then think about performing a huge work like the Appassionata with abandon, I do feel incredibly grateful that I stuck with it. It has been a very long journey but a really rewarding one. Mrs Daniels said she may take up violin lessons and hopes to resume lessons with Pamela perhaps with the goal of playing a concerto with a local orchestra. But, for now, she is reflecting on all the support she received from her family. I am still getting used to the idea that I have got it, said Mrs Daniels. I want to thank everyone who has helped me along the way: Pam particularly, Mark Tanner, the people who taught me at school, and my lovely family my daughter Emily and my husband Steve, because theyve been incredibly supportive. Mrs Chilvers, who has been teaching piano for 50 years, said: Its easy to teach Mary because shes so responsive and takes it seriously. Her attitude is 100 per cent, so its a joy to teach someone like that. But, with the FRSM, its not teaching per se, its more of a collaboration. We worked together through all of the ups and downs it was quite a process. Mrs Chilvers said supporting Mrs Daniels to achieve her FRSM was without a doubt one of the crowning achievements of her career, adding: Im very proud of Mary. HOME decor in 2025 has been all about celebrating personality bold colours, tactile textures and styles that bring everyday joy into living spaces. From kitchen cabinets painted in warm olive tones to playful Portuguese girl patterns and nostalgic butter yellow accents, this summer its clear people are leaning into interiors that feel lived-in, expressive and full of character. To explore how homeowners are embracing these shifting tastes, some of the regions top interior designers share their observations. Hannah Dean, from Henley, says: This year, Im seeing a move towards softer, more lived-in interiors. Gone are the days of grey minimalist spaces, people want to feel like they live in a real home. Among my clients, colour, pattern and texture are more in demand than ever before. Theres definitely a shift to embracing spaces that feel personal and comfortable. My design philosophy is all about creating homes with heart, so I am loving this newfound bravery. Colour-wise, interiors are reflecting the trends we are seeing in fashion, lots of soft pinks, greens, blues and yellows, plus a real interest in grown-up earthy neutrals such as terracotta, brown and ochre. Everything is warmer and has a bit of charm and people feel much more open to mix layers of colour together rather than staying within a limited palette. But it is pattern and texture that is really having a moment. My clients are embracing everything from florals to stripes, in tactile natural fabrics like linen, boucle and raw cotton. It is once we start layering these patterns and textures together that the real design magic happens. Hannah Dean Interiors was established eight years ago and is award-winning. Her studio provides bespoke curtains, two-hour colour and interiors consultations, as well as full interior design services for revamping single rooms or large-scale renovation projects. For more information, visit www.hannah deaninteriors.com Sara Copeland is embracing a clean, contemporary approach to interiors that prioritises freshness, simplicity, and the quiet sophistication of neutral palettes. She says: Neutral colour schemes are leading the way, with shades of ivory, sand, soft taupe and warm greys creating versatile backdrops. These hues reflect natural light beautifully, giving even compact spaces an expansive feel. This summer, the trend is clear out with heavy textures and ornate details and in with airy spaces that feel both modern and timeless, accessories are being used sparingly but deliberately. A statement ceramic vase, an abstract canvas in muted tones, or a single sculptural lamp can create a focal point without overwhelming the senses. The result is a style that feels purposeful yet effortless a retreat from the chaos of everyday life into an environment that is clear, contemporary and refreshingly serene for this season. Established more than 25 years ago, Sara Copeland Interiors offers the full range of interior design services for residential, commercial, hotel, yachts and holiday homes. Sara, who studied fine art and design, says: I see a house as a blank canvas, by slowly building on the shape, colour, texture and light, you can help people create an individual design and space, a home that they can enjoy looking at and living in for years to come. Changing the interior of a house should not be seen as a cosmetic exercise, it can affect the way you move around your home, how you use your space and ultimately the way you live your life. For more information, visit www.saracopelandinteriors .co.uk Niki Schafer of Niki Schafer Interior Design is relieved that grey has been put to one side in favour of real colours. She says: Yellow has been a strong favourite this year and we have used it in a variety of places from exterior walls, soft and buttery, to stronger pops in cushions and very bold on statement walls. Powder pinks are also on trend and we designed a stunning dressing room for a client in this soft, feminine colour. Earthy tones, rich reds, terracotta, yellows and greens have also played a role these past few years and these are strong enough to take on board bold patterns and organic shapes. We have also brought back more details in our work bobbles, fringes, appliqued braid and tassels around lampshades. These are playful and fun or can hint at the history of a place if done with some research and care. Niki Schafer and Sarah McLean at NSID have been designing, refurbishing and renovating homes in and around Henley for 15 years. They provide design, sourcing and professional project management from beginning to end. For more information, visit www.nikischaferinteriordesign .co.uk A Canadian father accused of killing his 9-year-old daughter while vacationing in New York reportedly suffered an "unfortunate event" years before his daughter's death, according to his corporate bio. Luciano Frattolin, 45, has been charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a corpse after his daughter Melina's body was discovered in a pond in a wooded area. Frattolin, who originally called 911 claiming his daughter had been kidnapped, has pleaded not guilty. The father is the founder of Gambella Coffee. According to the company's website, the coffee beans are harvested in Ethiopia, where Frattolin was born to an Ethiopian mother and an Italian father. Gambella Coffee's "About Us" page revealed how Frattolin experienced "incidences of racism" and "feelings of isolation" while growing up in Ethiopia. It also discussed how he felt more accepted when he left to study in London and the U.S. following his dad's death when he was 17. In 2019, the page states that Frattolin suffered an "unfortunate event that severely affected his well-being." Although the event was not specified, the company maintained that the father "remained determined" through the "long and arduous" recovery process. The page also described Frattolin as "an experienced entrepreneur" and Melina as the "light of his life." "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 world's diversity," the page reads. Frattolin had been on vacation with Melina since July 11 when on Saturday, he called first responders to report that she had been kidnapped. However, after noting inconsistencies in his accounts of when she went missing, authorities said they began to suspect Frattolin. Authorities said Melina had been set to return to her mother that weekend following the trip, who has been estranged from Frattolin since 2019. Police have not yet declared a motive in the case. Frattolin pleaded not guilty on Monday, and is being held in Essex County Jail. Originally published on Latin Times Origin Hotel Atlanta, a Wyndham Hotel, officially opens its doors today, becoming South Downtown's newest lifestyle destination. Owned by The Thrash Group and operated by Tandem Hospitality Group, the 122-room boutique hotel blends bold design with Southern charm, offering a vibrant new gathering place in the heart of the city. The property features an onsite restaurant and bar, a local retail storefront selling ATL-themed gear and souvenirs, a state-of-the-art fitness center, is pet-friendly and offers flexible meeting spacesincluding a top-floor private room with sweeping skyline views. Situated in the city's original business district and just minutes away from major local attractions including Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the Georgia Capitol Museum, this hotel is perfect for explorers and professionals alike. STAY AWHILE: AMENITIES DESIGNED FOR COMFORT AND CONNECTION Accommodations at Origin Hotel Atlanta include a variety of layouts: corner king, king classic, corner double queen, double queen classic, a bunk room (fun for families) and a premier suite; accessible options are also available. All rooms feature mini-fridges, Nespresso coffee machines, HD TVs, work desks and wireless charging stations. In collaboration with Faulkner + Lockean Atlanta-based art consulting firm known for elevating spaces through curated designthe hotel features a custom accessories collection to reflect its unique charm. Each room includes nostalgic touches like vintage typewriters, custom books and locally inspired memorabilia, assembled exclusively for Origin Atlanta to complement the hotel's artistic vision. For a more tailored stay, Origin offers unique in-room enhancements. The Pup Pack caters to four-legged companions with dog bowls, a plush bed, treats and a local guide to dog-friendly spots in Atlanta, while the In-Room Yoga Kit offers a complete wellness setup with a Gaiam yoga mat, fitness towel and an instructional card. Guests who call Georgia home can enjoy 15 percent off the hotel's best available rate, while couples can toast to their getaway with the Celebrate Love package, which includes a bottle of bubbly and late checkout. In the coming months, guests will be invited to explore the city on two wheels with complimentary e-Bike rentals, available in partnership with Pedego Atlanta, offering a fresh and flexible way to explore South Downtown. Group rides will be available for corporate gatherings or guest groups. THE PEOPLE'S BISTRO: AN INSTITUION OF GOOD TASTE Debuting alongside the hotel is Social Capitol American Bistro (@socialcapitolatl), a vibrant fusion of global flavors and Southern hospitality. Located just off the lobby, the restaurant offers a warm yet sophisticated setting for elevated, scratch-prepared dining. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Social Capitol puts a fresh spin on regional staples using locally sourced ingredients. Specialties include flavorful dishes like peach braised pulled pork, biscuit-battered tenders and hearty skillets. Diners can also enjoy a thoughtful selection of craft cocktails and desserts to round out the experience. ARTISTIC ROOTS: A STATEMENT SCULPTURE IN THE LOBBY The hotel's vibrant sense of place is brought to life the moment guests walk in, thanks to a striking large-scale sculpture titled "ATL" by Atlanta-based artist Phil Proctor. Proctor is the founder of Nucleus Sculpture Studio in South Atlanta and is known for his large public works displayed across the U.S. and internationally. The lobby also features works by other artists, including Ricardo Moody, known for his painted murals throughout Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Adelle Harvey, whose works are influenced by the songs she listens to and the music she writes. Complementing the visual art is a partnership with The Victorian Atlanta, bringing the natural beauty of the outdoors inside with live plant and floral arrangements that enliven the hotel's lobby space. A DOWNTOWN GATHERING PLACE FOR WORK AND CELEBRATION Origin Hotel Atlanta offers more than 2,500 square feet of distinctive spaces suitable for both corporate and social affairs. The hotel features the Olympic Meeting Room and "The A" Event Space, ideal for board and conference style meetings, while the Private Dining Room provides the perfect setting for productive lunches or formal dinners. The property's ideal location is just steps away from Atlanta's historic attractions and government establishments. Origin Hotel Atlanta is located at 110 Mitchel Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303. To learn more, please visit the hotel's website or call (470) 845-1136. Hotel website Wink Hotels, Vietnam's boldest lifestyle hotel brand has made its highly anticipated Northern Vietnam debut with the opening of Wink Hotel Hai Phong. This boutique hotel in Vietnam offers a fresh, tech-savvy hospitality experience in one of the country's most rapidly evolving cities. Centrally located at 135 Dien Bien Phu, the new lifestyle hotel in Hai Phong brings together smart design, digital convenience, and 24/7 flexibility making it the top choice for both business and leisure travelers seeking a place to stay in Hai Phong. Just 15 minutes from Cat Bi International Airport, and steps from landmarks like Hai Phong Cathedral (200m), Hoang Van Thu Bridge (550m), and the Opera House (650m), the property is ideally placed for immersive city exploration. Smart Technology Meets Vietnamese Hospitality At Wink's New Hai Phong Hotel With 225 stylish rooms and 77 Wink Live 1- and 2-bedroom suites and serviced residences, Wink Hotel Hai Phong is setting a new standard for modern Vietnamese hospitality. Travelers enjoy digital check-in and keyless room entry via the Wink App, and benefit from Wink's signature STAY24 concept where check-in time equals check-out time for true 24-hour stays. Room types include: Wink Lite+ Queen & Twin Cityview Rooms (20sqm) - For solo travelers or pairs of city explorers with smart TVs, power showers, blackout blinds, and premium bedding. - For solo travelers or pairs of city explorers with smart TVs, power showers, blackout blinds, and premium bedding. Wink Luxe Triple Cityview Rooms (30sqm) - For solo travelers or pairs of city explorers with smart TVs, power showers, blackout blinds, and premium bedding. - For solo travelers or pairs of city explorers with smart TVs, power showers, blackout blinds, and premium bedding. Wink Live - One-bedroom (35sqm) and Two-bedroom (55sqm) suites and serviced residences featuring fully-equipped kitchens, living areas, dedicated workspaces, and hotel-level 24/7 services for longer stays. With premium linens, locally-sourced eco-friendly amenities, and floor-to-ceiling views, Wink caters to millennial travelers, digital nomads, and "bleisure" guests blending work and play. A Lifestyle Hotel In Hai Phong Built For 24/7 Urban Life Wink Hotel Hai Phong isn't just a place to sleep it's a hotel with co-working space, a 24-hour gym, self-service laundry, and a grab-and-go convenience-store style shop for anytime convenience. Travelers can work, socialize, or unwind around the clock in spaces like: Wink Space Lobby - a buzzing hub for collaboration with local coffee and craft cocktails. - a buzzing hub for collaboration with local coffee and craft cocktails. East West Brewing Co. - a stylish social hub in the outdoor space on the ground floor featuring craft beers, cocktails, and live events spotlighting local artists. This also kicks off a nationwide partnership with Vietnam's best craft brewing company. - a stylish social hub in the outdoor space on the ground floor featuring craft beers, cocktails, and live events spotlighting local artists. This also kicks off a nationwide partnership with Vietnam's best craft brewing company. Endless Summer Rooftop Pool & Lounge - sweeping views and all-day chill, with a pool that's heated in winter for all-year enjoyment. - sweeping views and all-day chill, with a pool that's heated in winter for all-year enjoyment. Conference and Meeting Rooms - with 100m and 60m spaces available for business events and gatherings. Plus, the property is LEED Gold certified, features single-use plastic-free amenities, and utilizes recycled furnishings reinforcing Wink's commitment to sustainable development and eco-conscious travel. Hai Phong On The Rise According to 2025 tourism data, Hai Phong welcomed 2.55 million visitors in the first four months alone, while industrial output surged over 15% - underscoring the city's growing role in the global supply chain and on the Vietnam travel map. Book now or learn more of this new breed of smart hotel in Vietnam at http://www.wink-hotels.com/ Hotel website A new chapter in Qatar's luxury lifestyle story begins as Rosewood Doha officially opens its doors at the forefront of Lusail. Much more than a hotel, it is a destination of experience, meaning, and memoryinviting guests to explore the intersection of Qatar's storied heritage and its dynamic present. From the moment guests arrive, they are welcomed into the grace of manor-style livingan intentional design language that reflects the spirit of home and the soul of place. The architectural vision, rooted in the organic shapes of coral formations and the flowing patterns of pearl-diving tradition, reflects the fluid relationship between nature and innovation. Every line, texture, and material tells a story of where Qatar has beenand where it is going. Rosewood Doha was never meant to be seen in passing. It is designed to be lived into be felt. Across its 155 guest rooms and suites, 162 apartments, and 276 residences, the property offers not just comfort, but character. Each space is imagined as a private rhythm within the pace of the city, shaped by a deep awareness of how atmosphere influences emotion. Light shifts gently across walls in tones both warm and cool. Materials evoke the coast and the desert. Thoughtfully placed pieces of local art don't simply hangthey speak. Much of the hotel's visual storytelling is shaped by collaborations with leading Qatari artists, whose works appear throughout suites, residences, and public spaces. These pieces reflect the landscapes, memories, and layered identity of Qatarnot as seen from afar, but as lived and felt from within. Whether through abstract expressions of desert light or photographic moments drawn from the coast, the art collection is woven with a sense of personal narrative, inviting guests to see the city not as it is shown in postcards, but as it is felt by those who call it home. The cultural journey continues in the culinary spaces that anchor the property. Mila, the 24-hour Levantine brasserie, brings Middle Eastern comfort food into an elegant, contemporary settingensuring guests can enjoy a thoughtfully prepared meal at any hour. Asaya Kitchen takes a wellness-forward approach to Mediterranean cuisine, with nourishing, locally sourced seasonal ingredients. Koo Madame, inspired by 1920s Shanghai and the legacy of Madame Wellington Koo, blends bold Chinese flavors with theatrical flair in an atmosphere of rich detail and mystique. The narrative continues at Stoke & Stoker, a bar inspired by the golden age of travel, and Sikar, the hotel's plush cigar lounge where rare cigars and curated spirits encourage guests to linger. The Butterfly Room brings a sense of poetry to the hotel's rhythma luminous setting for refined lunches, teas, and evening gatherings. Here, the Butterfly Patisserie, helmed by award-winning chocolatier and Executive Pastry Chef Tony, transforms chocolate and pastry into art. Each venue is a chapter in Rosewood Doha's cultural storycrafted to stir memory, spark conversation, and inspire connection. The Manor Club redefines the essence of a private guest lounge. More than just a space for comfort, it is a refined experience curated for those who appreciate a quieter rhythm of living. Access is reserved for guests staying in rooms and suites with Manor Club privileges, as well as those enrolled in the Manor Club membership program - a community brought together by an appreciation for grace, discretion, and thoughtful service. The lounge is a composition of calmthoughtfully designed with intimate corners, warm materials, and an atmosphere that favours meaningful pauses over passing time. But it is the care that shapes the spaceeach detail considered not just for beauty, but for how it makes one feel. Whether used as a morning workspace, a place to reconnect with a book, or a quiet interlude between engagements, the Manor Club holds space for individual rhythms. It's not just a guest amenityit's a lived expression of Rosewood's belief in residential, gracious living. Beyond the dining experience, Rosewood Doha's programming offers guests quiet, curated windows into Qatar's cultural rhythm. From guided dhow experiences and traditional falconry introductions to calligraphy workshops and art studio visits, every moment has been designed to immerse guests into the soul of the placewithout spectacle, and always with intention. This is a property that cultivates not just hospitality, but belonging. At the heart of the property is Asaya, Rosewood's social wellness club and the first of its kind in the country. Here, wellness is reframed as a journeydeeply personal, sensorial, and transformative. From hydrotherapy rituals and immersive sound healing to biohacking and movement practices, Asaya is where high-tech meets high-touch. A membership offers more than accessit offers community, intention, and the gentle power of self-healing. Private gatherings and milestone events unfold across 3,477 square meters of thoughtfully designed space, where Qatari elegance meets modern sophistication. The hotel's grand Ballroom offers a stately and adaptable venue for large-scale gatherings, from cultural ceremonies to social galas. Adjacent to it, the Bridal House provides a serene and beautifully appointed space for preparations, quiet moments, and reflectionensuring every detail of a significant celebration is supported with care and grace. For those seeking a more intimate or bespoke environment, the Events Studio offers a one-of-a-kind experience where hosts can curate every element of their eventfrom the chinaware and table linens to the menu and ambiance. Designed for creative freedom and deep personalization, it is a space that celebrates individuality, elegance, and immersive storytelling. Complementing these venues is The Pavilion, a residential-style setting ideal for elevated social events. With four versatile meeting salons, a private show kitchen, a bar, and adjoining living rooms, it offers the ease and intimacy of a gracious private residence. For more traditional gatherings, the Majlis provides a warm, refined setting that honors Qatar's cultural heritage through a contemporary lens. Adding a distinct and practical edge to Rosewood Doha's event offerings is a private car lifta bold architectural feature designed to accommodate VIP arrivals and high-profile product launches with discretion and impact. Whether celebrating life's milestones or hosting influential moments, every experience at Rosewood Doha is shaped by care, precision, and quiet sophistication. Rosewood Doha redefines the standard for luxury in the Gulf. Not by replicating what exists elsewhere, but by creating a living narrativewhere architecture, gastronomy, and community programming reveal Qatar through the cultural lens of Rosewood. This is not just a place to stay. It is a place to root, to connect, and to live the story of Dohacurated with intention, framed by design, and carried forward through every guest who passes through its doors. To learn more or plan your visit, please explore: www.rosewoodhotels.com/doha Hotel website Highway West Vacations, a leading collection of boutique hotels, lodges, cabins, and glamping resorts across the United States, is excited to announce important updates to its leadership team. These changes include the promotion of valued team members and the addition of new leaders who will support the company's continued growth and commitment to delivering exceptional, personalized guest experiences at all the Highway West Vacations properties. Trevor Bridge joins Highway West Vacations as Regional Vice President, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience in resort management. Having held roles from general manager to food & beverage director, Bridge has led high-performing teams across a wide range of hospitality settings, including boutique hotels, lodges, and university hospitality programs. In this new role, Bridge will lead operational and administrative support for Highway West Vacation's California portfolio. This includes the newly acquired properties of Costanoa, Avila Pismo RV Resort, Flying Flags Avila Beach, and Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort, as well as out-of-state locations Shelter Cove, Pacific Marina Inn, and Kilauea Lodge. This leadership advancement supports Highway West Vacations' ongoing growth and long-term strategy to deliver exceptional guest experiences and memorable stays rooted in comfort and authentic hospitality. Highway West Vacations, a leading collection of boutique hotels, lodges, cabins, and glamping resorts across the United States, is excited to announce important updates to its leadership team. These changes include the promotion of valued team members and the addition of new leaders who will support the company's continued growth and commitment to delivering exceptional, personalized guest experiences at all the Highway West Vacations properties. Logan Parris joins as General Manager of Costanoa. With over a decade of managing boutique hotels and destination retreats, Parris recently led a 40-acre eco-retreat in Florida and contributed to repositioning a nationally recognized boutique property in Utah. She will focus on optimizing operations, elevating guest service, and advancing Costanoa's sustainability mission. This leadership advancement supports Highway West Vacations' ongoing growth and long-term strategy to deliver exceptional guest experiences and memorable stays rooted in comfort and authentic hospitality. SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDS THE LUXURY ITINERARY IN EAST & NORTH EAST PARTNERSHIP GROWS TO 40+ HOTELS Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), Indias largest hospitality company, today announced the agreement signing for 15 new hotels across IHCLs brands cape with the Ambuja Neotia Group. This capital light arrangement will grow the partnership to over 40 hotels. IHCLs pioneering legacy of building destinations like Rajasthan, Kerala, Goa and Andaman and Lakshadweep Islands will now extend to unlocking the tourism potential of the East and North East with this agreement. We are delighted to extend our partnership with the Ambuja Neotia Group, known for their luxury hospitality developments showcasing the spirit of this region. These projects, predominantly under the Taj brand are expected to come on stream over the next five years beginning with the signing of four hotel operating agreements for a Taj in Darjeeling and a SeleQtions in Kolkata and Siliguri each and one Tree of Life in Lataguri. Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, IHCL The 15 new sites identified to be developed are a combination of greenfield, brownfield and conversion projects and are spread across the states of West Bengal, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh. This includes a Taj resort in Sunderban, Darjeeling, Shimla and Rabong, SeleQtions hotels in Kolkata and Siliguri and a Tree of Life in Lataguri. A few select projects will also include Taj branded villas, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Lataguri and Raichak. This announcement follows closely on the heels of IHCLs strategic partnership with the Ambuja Neotia Group for Tree of Life, reflective of the strength and success of our ongoing collaboration. IHCL with its iconic brand Taj, recently ranked as the Worlds Strongest Hotel Brand is renowned for its world-class service, enabling it to showcase these destinations on the global tourism map. North East, the unexplored region of India has tremendous potential for bespoke luxury travel. The addition of premium room inventory this fiscal to Taj Chia Kutir in Kurseong as well as the upcoming Taj branded luxury villas in Darjeeling, Lataguri and Gangtok reflects the growing demand from the segment. Mr. Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman, Ambuja Neotia Group About the Ambuja Neotia Group Ambuja Neotia is a prominent corporate house headquartered in Kolkata, with its forte in real estate and subsequent forays into hospitality, healthcare, and education.The company, led by Harshavardhan Neotia, has been responsible for landmark projects in the Eastern Region, particularly in and around Kolkata. Udayan, Kolkatas first condoville, made good living affordable and earned Harshavardhan Neotia, the Padmashree in 1999. This was followed by township projects and housing complexes in Kolkata, Durgapur, Burdwan and Siliguri.With City Centre Salt Lake, the mall concept was revolutionised, followed by City Centres in New Town, Haldia, Raipur and Patna. Leisure destinations like Raichak on Ganges, Taj Chia Kutir, Taj Guras Kutir and Taj Taalkutir added to luxury escapades. The Group forayed into healthcare with Bhagirathi Neotia Woman and Child Care Centre, and the Neotia Getwel Healthcare Centre. Business Parks & Towers including Ecospace and Ecocentre were developed for better work-life balance. The Group established The Neotia University for a brighter tomorrow.Please visit: www.ambujaneotia.com About The Indian Hotels Company Limited The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries bring together a group of brands and businesses that offer a fusion of warm Indian hospitality and world-class service. These include Taj the iconic brand for the most discerning travellers and ranked as World's Strongest Hotel Brand 2024 and India's Strongest Brand 2024 as per Brand Finance; SeleQtions, a named collection of hotels; Tree of Life, private escapes in tranquil settings; Vivanta, sophisticated upscale hotels; Gateway, full-service hotels designed to be your gateway to exceptional destinations and Ginger, which is revolutionising the lean luxe segment. Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata, the Company opened its first hotel - The Taj Mahal Palace, in Bombay in 1903. IHCL has a portfolio of 360 hotels including 123 under development globally across 4 continents, 13 countries and in over 150+ locations. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is India's largest hospitality company by market capitalization. It is listed on the BSE and NSE. Please visit: IHCL; Taj; SeleQtions; Tree of Life; Vivanta; Gateway; Ginger UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. The Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society (PSHRS) and Penn State School of Hospitality Management will honor 14 alumni during the 2025 Alumni Awards Reception, held in conjunction with the schools 20th annual "Alumni in the Classroom" event, on Oct. 15. This years award ceremony will take place in the Marriott Foundation Building, the schools collaboratory for inclusion and innovation, on the Penn State University Park campus. Registration for "Alumni in the Classroom" is open to Penn State School of Hospitality Management alumni. These Penn State alumni demonstrate the value of hospitality higher education across a broad array of business sectors. Each of these Penn Staters are contributing mightily to their organizations and to the Nittany Lion reputation for excellence and achievement. Donna Quadri-Felitti, Marvin Ashner Endowed Director of the school PSHRS Alumni Award recipients for 2025 are: Alumni of the Year Kiva Bartlett Baron, class of 2003 in psychology, senior vice president human resources, Aramark Entrepreneur of the Year William Yahr, class of 1995 in hotel, restaurant and institutional management (HRIM); co-partner and director Kiwi Country Day Camp Alumni Industry Achievement Nathan Ayres, class of 2005 in HRIM; vice president of operations, Sage Hospitality Michael Ditterline, class of 1999 in HRIM; senior vice president of asset management, Rockbridge Thomas Fraher, class of 1995 in HRIM; corporate senior vice president, operations, Davidson Hospitality Group Scott McCoy, class of 1987 in HRIM; senior vice president of lodging operations U.S. and Canada, Marriott International Jim Meinecke, class of 2005 in HRIM; senior director of food services, Penn State Emerging Professionals Graduate Juliana Pagan Hernandez, class of 2024, master of professional studies in hospitality management (HM); assistant manager, Westin Denver International Airport, Marriott International Emerging Professionals Undergraduate Lindsey Yearly Barnes, class of 2016 in HM; senior catering sales manager, Kimpton Hotel Monaco, Pittsburgh Jason Firestone, class of 2014 in HRIM; senior director of concessions, Citizens Bank Park, Aramark Josh Kaye, class of 2016 in HM; global services product portfolio leader, Cytiva, Danaher Catarina Matias, class of 2016 in HM; strategic account executive, ACRELEC Shannon McDonagh Scharf, class of 2016 in HM; director of revenue management, Marriott W, NY Union Square, Marriott International Alex Shockley, class of 2017 in HM; director brand management, Curio Collection, Hilton Hotels As we celebrate 20 years of Alumni in the Classroom, it is an honor to recognize one of our largest classes of Alumni Award winners. These alumni individually and collectively exemplify the high caliber of excellence, ethics and leadership that remain hallmarks of our school. Tom Neely, class of 1987 in HRIM, president of PSHRS and chief executive officer of Thomas E. Strauss Inc. For event sponsorship opportunities and information about the School of Hospitality Management, contact Ben Jellison, director of industry and alumni relations, at [email protected] or 814-865-6728. Learn more about selection criteria and previous award recipients. About PSHRS The Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society was founded to strengthen all hospitality professions and enhance the reputation of the Hospitality Management program. PSHRS is an affiliate program group of the Penn State Alumni Association and the College of Health and Human Development Alumni Society. PSHRS provides a means for achieving closer fellowship among alumni, faculty and students. PSHRS serves those who are currently attending Penn State in hospitality management or who are graduates of the program, as well as those who work within the hospitality management industries and have attended Penn State or are friends of the program. About the School of Hospitality Management Established in 1937, Penn States School of Hospitality Management is one of the nations oldest and most respected schools of hospitality management. Its top-ranked undergraduate and doctoral programs prepare global leaders with a rigorous, diverse curriculum focused on engaged scholarship, featuring partnerships with Penn State's Hospitality Services, Housing and Food Services, and top global hospitality brands. It is also home to the oldest Penn State alumni program group, the Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society. New to the schools portfolio is an innovative and focused Master of Professional Studies in Hospitality Management graduate degree program. About Penn State School of Hospitality Management Established in 1937 Penn State's School of Hospitality Management is one of the nation's oldest and most respected. Its top-ranked undergraduate and doctoral programs prepare global leaders with a rigorous, diverse curriculum focused, since its inception, on engaged scholarship, featuring partnerships with Penn State's Hospitality Services, Housing and Food Services, and top global hospitality brands. It's also home to the oldest Penn State alumni program group, The Penn State Hotel and Restaurant Society. Ben Jellison Director of Industry and Alumni Relations 814-865-6728 Penn State School of Hospitality Management ProposalPath, the hospitality industrys most widely adopted proposal platform, today introduced ProposalPath Assistant, a built-in AI feature that transforms how hotel sales teams respond to RFPs and client requests. Powered by applied artificial intelligence and built specifically for hospitality, the assistant generates fully-branded, interactive proposals in under one minutefrom virtually any input. AI in hospitality needs to adapt to the fast-paced, highly personalized nature of group sales. With ProposalPath Assistant, were automating the repetitive taskslike formatting proposals or sourcing standard contentso sales teams can focus their time and energy on the conversations, customizations, and client relationships that actually drive revenue. Ryan Hamilton, the companys co-founder Smarter Workflows. Real Results. ProposalPath Assistant is a purpose-built smart assistant that uses advanced technology to design hotel-specific content and brand guidelines to build intelligent, visually-rich proposals from emails, RFPs, PDFs, screenshots, meeting notes - even voice memos. There are no integrations, and no IT requirements with the easy to use, system agnostic and mobile-friendly solution. ProposalPath AI empowers sales teams to: Instantly generate on-brand, high-quality proposals Maintain portfolio-wide brand control, local personalization Deliver polished responses without extra training or integration work Free up time to focus on human relationship-building and conversions Once generated, proposals arrive as an editable draftcomplete with smart placeholders. Add-on's include online menus, eSignature, 3D floor plans (Visrez), Business Intelligence, eRFPs, and online planner dashboards. Fast ROI, No Friction Every feature of ProposalPath is crafted around the real workflows, brand standards, and unique needs of hotels and venues to sell the experience, not just the space. With ProposalPath Assistant hotels can scale groups and events business without adding overheadmeeting todays planner expectations for speed and precision. ProposalPath Assistant is now available. For a live product tour, visit bluebuzzard.com/demo About ProposalPath by Bluebuzzard Bluebuzzard puts smart technology in the hands of hospitality's top sales professionals, with ProposalPath as the companys flagship proposal platform. Co-founders Ryan Hamilton and Brian Eng started Bluebuzzard in 2004 to fill a need for hotel and meeting professionals. Based in suburban Chicago with a uniquely qualified staff, Bluebuzzard is the premier solutions provider for the hotel, meetings, and meetings planning industries. For more information, visit bluebuzzard.com. Mike Pavicich Vice President of Global Sales AI and the Fear of Job Displacement: Why Smart Hotels Embrace Both Tech and Talent - By John Smallwood, President Travel Outlook - Image Credit Travel Outlook In the hospitality industry, few topics stir as much debateand anxietyas artificial intelligence. For some, AI conjures visions of front desks replaced by machines or once-warm guest experiences reduced to robotic exchanges. But the truth is far more nuanced. At Travel Outlook, we believe that AI isn't here to replace people; it's here to empower them. In today's hospitality landscape, tools like Annette, The Virtual Hotel Agent, are helping hotels strike the ideal balance between cost efficiency and exceptional guest service. The Real Goal: Smarter Service, Not Smaller Teams With staffing shortages and rising operational costs reshaping how hotels operate, outsourcing services like call handling and reservations has become a necessitynot a luxury. But this isn't about replacing jobs. It's about allowing hotel staff to focus on what they do best: delivering high-touch, personalized guest experiences. That's where Travel Outlook comes in. As the premier hotel call center, Travel Outlook combines a highly trained reservations team with cutting-edge AI technology to support hotel operations and alleviate pressure on front desk staff. Our secret weapon? Annette, The Virtual Hotel Agent (Annette), is a guest-led conversational AI solution designed specifically for the hospitality industry. Annette doesn't compete with human staffshe complements them. She answers frequently asked questions, handles multiple calls simultaneously, offers multilingual support, and transfers guests to the correct department when needed. The result? Hotel staff regain valuable time to focus on in-person service, while guests receive faster, more accurate, and more satisfying support across all touchpoints. Debunking the Myth: AI Doesn't Eliminate Hospitality Jobs Fears around AI and job loss are understandable. But in hospitality, those fears are often misplaced. As guest demands evolve, many hotels are discovering that AI isn't about cutting headcountit's about covering more ground with the same team. By automating repetitive tasks and call handling, Annette enables hoteliers to do more with less, particularly in today's lean staffing environment. Rather than replacing front desk agents, Annette acts as the first line of contact, handling routine inquiriessuch as check-in times, pet policies, or local dining recommendationswith natural, human-like conversation. When a call needs a human touch, Annette transfers it seamlessly. This handoff isn't a failure of AIit's a feature. It's part of what makes Annette unique. Better Guest Experiences Through AI-Human Synergy According to McKinsey, 71% of consumers expect personalized service, and 76% become frustrated when they don't receive it. In hospitality, that level of personalization can make or break a guest's impression. But personalization isn't just about using someone's name in a confirmation emailit's about understanding tone, urgency, and context. This is where most AI falls short. Generic bots or IVR systems often provide cold, scripted replies that fail to capture the nuance of genuine service. Annette is different. She has been trained specifically for the hospitality industry, utilizing natural language processing and conversational AI developed by PolyAI. That means she doesn't just answer questionsshe holds conversations. With multilingual capabilities, customizable voice talent, and hotel-specific knowledge, Annette delivers seamless, intuitive interactions that reflect your brand's tone and standards. She can remember previous interactions, personalize responses, and escalate when necessary, ensuring that no guest feels like a ticket number in a support queue. Proven to Perform: The Power of Integration When paired with Travel Outlook's expert reservations team, Annette becomes part of a larger system designed to increase revenue and guest satisfaction. Travel Outlook is the only hotel call center certified by the Kennedy Training Network and has proven to convert up to 70% of qualified reservation calls into revenue at higher ADRs. Our proprietary training, developed in partnership with Forbes, ensures that every call is handled with efficiency, hospitality, and expertise. With Annette managing routine volume and Travel Outlook's reservations team ready to close high-value calls, hotels enjoy the best of both worlds: the speed and availability of AI combined with the persuasive power of a trained sales professional. A More Human Future, Powered by AI It's time to stop viewing AI as the end of hospitality jobs and start seeing it as the beginning of a new era; one where hotel teams can deliver even more personalized, emotionally intelligent service by offloading the tasks that slow them down. Guests, staff, and hotel operators all benefit. It's not a zero-sum game. It's a more innovative and sustainable way forward. As the industry continues to evolve, solutions like Annette help hotels rise to meet new challenges without compromising on the heart of hospitality. Because, in the end, it's not about man versus machine. It's about how the two work together more effectively. And with the right hotel call center partner, like Travel Outlook, that future is already here. For more information on how Travel Outlook and Annette, the Virtual Hotel Agent can transform your hotel's operations, visit TravelOutlook.com/Annette today. About John Smallwood, President of Travel Outlook A veteran in the hospitality industry, John has owned, developed, and managed hotels for many years. After earning a BBA from New Mexico State University, he started his career with AT&T, gaining invaluable insight and experience in the early years of the data revolution. His experience in technology and hospitality merged in his development of Travel Outlook, the world-class hospitality contact center. More recently, he has branched out with the creation of Annette, the first AI-powered conversational AI assistant for the hotel industry. About Travel Outlook the Premier Hotel Call Center Travel Outlook is an innovative, custom off-site central reservations office (CRO) service that serves as either a primary or overflow reservations department for hotels. Travel Outlook utilizes industry-leading talent combined with hospitality-specific AI-powered technology (Annette, The Virtual Hotel Agent) to enhance customers voice channels and increase conversion rates. Given its progressive approach to the voice channel in terms of performance, training, transparency, testing and the tools used to measure performance Travel Outlook, the premier hotel call center is the leading voice reservations team in hospitality. Travel Outlook's valued client list includes Viceroy Hotel Group, Curator Hotels and Resorts, Outrigger, KSL Resorts, Proper Hospitality Group, Atlantis, The Irvine Company, Sage Hospitality, Noble House Hotels, HEI Hotels, Pyramid Global, and many others. Travel Outlook's team and approach increases sales conversion and helps to create more effective voice communication between hotels and their guests, resulting in improved social scores in addition to increased voice channel revenue. https://traveloutlook.com/ About Annette, The Virtual Hotel Agent Annette is a guest-led conversational AI assistant designed specifically for the hospitality industry. Annette has been programmed using a breakthrough approach to conversational AI, using natural language understanding software built from human conversations. Using social media, chat forums, and movie dialogue, Annette learns from billions of casual human conversations to understand human inflections and multi-turn queries. This revolutionary approach means Annette understands callers no matter what they say, when they say it, or how they speak. Annette can answer FAQs specific to your property, understand multiple languages, route calls, send follow up texts, and more. For more information, visit https://traveloutlook.com/annette/ Germany's Tourism Sector Poised for Record Growth in 2025 - Image Credit Unsplash Germany's travel and tourism sector is expected to achieve unprecedented growth in 2025. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), international visitor spending is projected to reach 57 billion, marking the highest inbound spend ever recorded in the country. GDP Contribution and Employment The WTTC's Economic Impact Research (EIR) forecasts that the sector's total contribution to Germany's GDP could reach 499 billion in 2025, accounting for 11.6% of the GDP. Additionally, the sector is expected to support 6.5 million jobs, which would account for 14% of national employment. Domestic Spending Growth Domestic visitor spending is also expected to surpass previous records, with projections indicating it will reach 425 billion in 2025. This growth positions Germany as a leader in both European and global travel and tourism. Policy and Sustainability Germany's tourism strategy involves integrating tourism within the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. This approach encourages sustainable growth in the travel and tourism sector. The focus on sustainability has not impeded economic progress, demonstrating that economic growth and sustainability can coexist. 2024 Performance Review In 2024, the travel and tourism sector contributed 484 billion to Germany's economy and supported 6.1 million jobs. Domestic visitor spending reached 422.3 billion, while international visitor spending totaled 45.1 billion. These figures set the stage for the anticipated growth in 2025. Future Projections for 2035 Looking ahead to 2035, the WTTC forecasts that the sector will contribute 579 billion to the economy, equivalent to 12.1% of GDP, and support 7.6 million jobs. International visitor spending is expected to surge to 74 billion, with domestic spending projected to exceed 480 billion. To achieve these targets, the sector must focus on innovation, sustainability, and enhancing global competitiveness. IHG Signs Third Garner Hotel in India with Agreement for Kutch, Gujarat Hotel - Image Credit IHG Hotels & Resorts IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a franchise agreement for a new Garner hotel in Kutch, Gujarat, marking the brand's third signing in India this year. IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced a franchise agreement for a new Garner hotel in Kutch, Gujarat, with Royal Buildspace LLP. This development is the third signing for the Garner brand in India following its recent launch in the region. The hotel is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2026. The Garner Kutch will be located in Gujarat's largest district by area and will be managed by Rosastays, a preferred third-party operator for IHG in India. The hotel will feature 40 rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, a swimming pool, a fitness center, a spa, and meeting spaces. It aims to serve business travelers, professionals, and tourists visiting the area for work and leisure. The signing aligns with IHG's strategy to expand its portfolio in secondary and tertiary markets in India, where demand for midscale hotels is increasing. The hotel will be situated approximately 6 kilometers from the DP World Special Economic Zone, which is expected to enhance commercial activity in the region. Rosastays will also manage two other Garner hotels in India, located in Etawah and Kathua, which are scheduled to open in 2026 and 2027, respectively. IHG currently operates 50 hotels across six brands in India and has a pipeline of 63 hotels set to open in the next three to five years. Image Credit Upgraded Points A survey by Upgraded Points examined European perceptions of American tourists, revealing varied opinions across 22 countries. Upgraded Points conducted a survey to assess European views on American tourists, engaging over 2,200 residents from 22 European countries. The study aimed to understand how Europeans perceive American travelers, considering factors such as general impressions, influential experiences, and the impact of recent political events. Additionally, more than 1,000 frequent American travelers were surveyed to gauge their perceptions of how Europeans view them. The findings indicate that 27% of Europeans hold a generally negative opinion of American tourists. Furthermore, 36% of Europeans believe Americans behave worse than other tourists, a sentiment that aligns closely with the 40% of Americans who expect to be perceived negatively abroad. The survey also explored which U.S. states are perceived to produce the most troublesome tourists. Europeans identified Texas (33%), Florida (21%), and California (14%) as the top three states. American respondents largely agreed, with Florida (23%), Texas (21%), and New York (19%) topping their list. The survey also identified the European countries perceived as least welcoming to American tourists. France led with 15% of respondents viewing their country as unwelcoming, followed by Hungary (8.7%), Norway (8%), Denmark (7.5%), and Spain (6.9%). Conversely, Belgium (1.9%) and Italy (2%) were seen as the most welcoming, with Estonia, the Netherlands, Finland, and Poland averaging 3% in welcoming attitudes. Common reasons for European annoyance with American tourists include perceptions of loudness (64%), expectations for English to be spoken (61%), excessive friendliness (33%), and disregard for local customs (30%). The study provides insights into the complex perceptions Europeans hold about American tourists, highlighting both critical and welcoming attitudes across different countries. The full results of the survey are available on the Upgraded Points website. More than just its neon-lit streets and famous coffee shops, Amsterdam is an enchanting city with narrow canals, romantic bridges and historic townhouses. Its an instantly likeable city with a long list of unmissable sights, shaped by world-class museums, street cafes and quaint restaurants that add to its cosy ambience. Things to do in Amsterdam A simple stroll through the picturesque streets of Amsterdam yields its biggest attractions, where you can shop for fresh produce at Nieuwmarkt, pick up souvenirs from the boutiques on the Nine Little Streets, or pop into one of the bars and nightclubs along Leidseplein. For a look at the citys ethnic restaurants and famous street market, head to De Pijp, known by locals as the Latin Quarter. Amsterdam is full of fascinating places to explore. The Heineken Experience teaches you about the world-famous beer companys brewing process in a centuries-old factory, while also providing beer tastings and multimedia experiences. You can also see the industrial landscapes of Amsterdam-Noordor shop for quirky souvenirs on Warmoesstraat, one of the oldest streets in Amsterdam. In a city famous for its museums, you absolutely must head to Rijksmuseum in Museumplein to see beautiful masterpieces by Rembrandt or admire the hundreds of post-Impressionist artworks at the Van Gogh Museum located right next door. For a moving experience, take a day to visit the Anne Frank House and see where her family hid from Nazis during World War II. Looking for a place to unwind? Pack a picnic and head to the 48-hectare Vondelpark to laze around in its green patches of grass and picturesque lakes. For a perfect sunny-day excursion, hop on the train for a 30-minute ride to Zandvoort, a Dutch coastal town with a long sandy beach. Getting Around Amsterdam is a pedestrian-friendly city with designated bike lanes, so walking or riding a bike around its inner canals is a great way to see the citys hidden treasures. Amsterdam also boasts an excellent public transportation system, where trams, metros and buses make it easy to traverse the city. For a unique view of Amsterdam, hop on a canal boat tour to see 16th-century buildings that line the waterways. With its flashing lights and towering skyscrapers, Hong Kong offers one of the world's most recognisable skylines. Yet when visitors explore beneath the towers and the narrow streets theyll find atmospheric local markets, restaurants, and temples. Travel a few minutes from the skyscrapers and Hong Kong transforms into a place of beaches, remote islands, and idyllic villages. Hong Kong is famous for a series of islands lying just off the coast of China. However, a large part of the territory is connected to mainland China. This land culminates in Kowloon, the vibrant peninsula district that is amongst the most densely populated places in the world. While it can look chaotic and crowded at first glance, the vibrant atmosphere makes Kowloon an iconic part of the Hong Kong experience and one of the world's most unique travel destinations. Just across the water from Kowloon is Hong Kong Island, packed with huge skyscrapers and a famous waterfront. This is the famous Hong Kong skyline and the best views come from The Peak, a mountain rising above the cityscape. Every evening, a dazzling light and fireworks show fills 44 skyscrapers around Victoria Harbour in Kowloon, with the best views found on the Hong Kong Island promenade. Another side of Hong Kong is found on the Outlying Islands, where small beaches and quirky villages offer a relaxed atmosphere. The large Lantau island is filled with beaches and mountains, as well as being the home of Disneyland and Hong Kong International Airport. Express trains provide the quickest travel from the airport to Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Most visitors get around using the MRT system, a network of underground and overground rail lines. These are complemented by traditional double-decker city trams and local buses. The most scenic way to connect the islands is by public ferry. Formerly a British territory, Hong Kong is a specially administered region of China that has its own border and immigration. It has its own entry requirements and most visitors don't need a visa, unlike when visiting mainland China. However, note that anyone visiting Hong Kong then returning to China will need a double or multiple entry Chinese visa. Medina is a holy city, home to Islams three oldest mosques and the burial site of Islam founder and prophet, Muhammad. While most travellers to Medina visit on a pilgrimage during Hajj or Eid Al Fitr, this peaceful city is surrounded by the towering Uhud Mountain range and worth exploring deeper. Things to do in Medina Youd be amiss not visiting Medinas revered mosques, including the Quba Mosque, said to have had its first stones laid by the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Masjid al-Qiblatayn is another historic mosque with an elaborate prayer hall, while Al-Masjid an-Nabawi is one of the worlds largest and is the resting place of Muhammad. Avid historians will love Medina, which is near the site of the Battle of Uhud that took place on Mount Uhud in 625AD. You can also discover Islams rail history at the Hejaz Railway Museum, which displays exhibits on the historic Ottoman railway station including engines and pieces of the original train. Medinas streets are filled with pilgrims during Hajj, an annual Islamic pilgrimage that brings hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city for six days of religious ceremonies. The citys malls are also packed during this time, but are a great place for finding unique treasures year-round. Medina is located about two hours from the Red Sea, one of the worlds most historically-rich waterways where Egyptians, Romans and other empires once traded and fought. You can also take the four-hour drive to Mecca, considered Islams holiest city and the main stop on an Islamic pilgrimage. Getting around Medina There is no public transport in Medina, but you can walk to many points of interest. Destinations further afield can be reached with one of the citys taxis. Although Medinas holy centre is only open to Muslims, non-Muslims can visit the outer parts of the city and the airport. A visual artistic masterpiece, Vienna oozes contemporary vibes from the pores of its Baroque streetscapes, chic coffee houses and an ensemble of lavish galleries. This capital city holds timeless cultural charm and is aptly referred to as The City of Music. Things to do in Vienna If you like horses, Vienna is famous for its Spanish Riding School, which houses a population of the finest Lipizzaner stallions, used in popular shows performed around the world. These horses are trained to execute dressage movements similar to ballet dancing and regarded for their commanding elegance. One of the best sights to see is Stephansdom, Viennas most coveted Gothic treasure. This beautiful church boasts a vibrantly patterned tile roof, rows of chevrons and the symbolic Austrian eagle perched on its top. The interior is equally magnificent, featuring a Gothic stone pulpit and the tomb of Friedrich III. For an intimate introduction to some of Viennas finest art, plan a trip to the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna. This large museum offers a huge collection of paintings and sculptures, highlighted by the exclusive Picture Gallery. If youre hungry for more, head over to Oberes Belvedere and stroll through galleries displaying splendours from the Habsburg Empire. Vienna is renowned for its coffee houses, and no trip is complete without a visit to at least one of them. They are usually located on every corner and even their chains Oberlaa and Aida are high quality. Looking to splurge? Try the famous Sachertorte at the historic Cafe Sacher and let your tastebuds do the talking. Getting around Vienna Vienna International Airport is your gateway to Vienna, located only 30 minutes from the city centre on public transportation. Viennas extensive public transit system includes railways, commuter rails, trolleys and buses. Taxis are plentiful, while horse-drawn carriages offer a fun way to see the sights. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. HooWRA Forest Bathing and Stream Splashing WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. On Saturday, July 26, from 11:30am-12:30pm, join naturalist educator and HooRWA's director Arianna Alexsandra Collins along the Broad Brook Trail where we will practice elemental breathing technique, sensory awareness activities, and gentle play. This program is free and open to the public and brought to you by a grant from the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. HERE. Meet at the Broad Brook Trailhead on the border of Williamstown & Pownal on White Oaks Road. Directions will be in the confirmation email. Register. Meet at the Broad Brook Trailhead on the border of Williamstown & Pownal on White Oaks Road. Directions will be in the confirmation email. What to bring: footwear that can get wet, insect repellent, water bottle, portable sit-upon. 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. 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 senior Wells Fargo banker is barred from leaving China while authorities investigate a criminal case involving her, Beijing says, sparking fears among foreign businesses over the use of exit bans. Chenyue Mao, Shanghai-born managing director at the US bank, landed in China recently on a business trip. Shes not yet charged with any offence but is required to remain in China to cooperate with the investigation, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. Her exit ban comes at a tense moment in US-China relations as the two countries wrangle over trade policies. Ms Mao Chenyue is involved in a criminal case currently being handled by Chinese authorities who have lawfully imposed exit restrictions on her, ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing on Monday. He didnt provide further details about the case or specify Ms Maos alleged role in it. The case has not been publicly linked to any business dispute or specific allegations. The exit ban on Ms Mao came amid growing diplomatic strain between Washington and Beijing and prompted Wells Fargo to halt all employee travel to mainland China, reported the Wall Street Journal. open image in gallery A person enters a Wells Fargo branch in New York ( Reuters ) The bank, headquartered in San Francisco, said in a brief statement that it was closely tracking this situation and working through the appropriate channels so our employee can return to the United States as soon as possible, CNN reported. It was unclear if Ms Mao still held Chinese citizenship, Reuters reported, quoting unnamed sources as saying she was a US national. Ms Mao has been at Wells Fargo since 2012. She leads the banks international factoring business, a form of trade finance in which companies sell their receivables to third parties to obtain immediate cash. She advises multinational firms on working capital strategies for cross-border transactions. Three weeks before the exit ban was imposed, she was elected chair of FCI, formerly Factors Chain International, a global trade finance association with nearly 400 members worldwide, including 48 in China. I am excited for what lies ahead, she told an industry conference in Rio de Janeiro, according to a post on her LinkedIn, together we will go far. She travelled to China shortly after the conference but was prevented from returning to the US. She lives in Alpharetta, Georgia. An automated out-of-office reply from her email continues to state she is travelling internationally. open image in gallery A man walks from a branch of Wells Fargo bank in the University District of Seattle ( Reuters ) Wells Fargo has a relatively limited footprint in China than other global banks but maintains offices in Beijing and Shanghai. According to two sources familiar with the matter, the company is quietly seeking clarification through diplomatic and legal channels, hoping to avoid further complications by maintaining a low profile. Exit bans are not new in China but are increasingly drawing concern from foreign firms and governments. Often imposed without formal charges, such bans are used in a range of scenarios, including regulatory probes, civil disputes, or criminal investigations. The scope and legal grounds are rarely made public and the affected individuals are often left in legal limbo for extended periods. Two individuals familiar with how exit bans are enforced in China said they were typically initiated by local authorities and could stem from anything ranging from financial disagreements to allegations of improper business conduct. Factoring, the financial service in which Mao specialises, can become legally complex in China due to strict capital controls and regulatory scrutiny over cross-border payments. Ms Maos case emerged alongside similar reports of foreign nationals facing travel restrictions. According to the Washington Post, a Chinese-American employee of the US Department of Commerce has been prevented from leaving China after failing to declare his government employment on a visa application. The man, who works at the US Patent and Trademark Office, had gone to visit family several months ago. Chinese authorities have not confirmed his identity or provided details of the case. Beijing insists such exit restrictions are lawful and do not reflect a broader policy shift. This is an individual judicial case and China will continue to welcome people from all countries to visit and do business, while upholding their rights in accordance with the law, the foreign ministry spokesperson said, according to CNN, referring to Ms Maos case. Everyone in China, whether they are Chinese or foreigners, must abide by Chinese laws, he was quoted as saying by Reuters. However, business groups and rights organisations warn that the increased use of exit bans poses a serious reputational and operational risk for international firms. The signal it should send is that no one is safe when travelling to China, said Laura Harth, China in the World director at Safeguard Defenders, a human rights advocacy group. Too often companies and countries prefer to remain silent in the hopes of improving or accelerating the process. open image in gallery Shanghai World Financial Centre, where a Wells Fargo office is situated, in Lujiazui financial district of the city on 18 July 2025 ( Reuters ) The Wells Fargo case is the latest in a string of incidents involving foreign executives facing legal action or detention in China. In recent years, senior personnel from AstraZeneca, the risk consultancy Kroll and Japanese pharmaceutical firm Astellas have all been restricted from leaving the country amid various investigations. The US State Department currently advises American citizens to exercise increased caution when travelling to China, citing the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including exit bans. The advisory warns that individuals may be detained or barred from departing China without transparent legal procedures, particularly in cases involving state security or business disputes. Chinese officials continue to maintain these are isolated incidents. Still, the steady rise in reported cases is expected to further unsettle executives and investors considering travel to the country, particularly those of Chinese descent with foreign passports, who may be more vulnerable to legal ambiguities under Chinese jurisdiction. 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 South Korea is actively exploring options to enhance its relationship with North Korea, a Unification Ministry spokesperson confirmed on Monday. This comes amid reports that Seoul is contemplating allowing individual tours to the North. Koo Byung-sam, the ministry's spokesperson for inter-Korea affairs, refrained from commenting on the "particular issue" directly. However, Mr Koo clarified his understanding that individual tours would not breach international sanctions. Tourism is one of a narrow range of cash sources for North Korea that are not targeted under United Nations sanctions over its nuclear and weapons programs. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has pledged to improve strained relations with Pyongyang that have reached their worst level in years. In a bid to ease tensions, Lee suspended anti-North Korea loudspeaker broadcasts along the border and ordered a halt to leaflet campaigns criticising the North's leaders by anti-Pyongyang activists. The president has said he will discuss further plans with top security officials to resume dialogue with North Korea that is technically at war with the South. North Korea opened a massive resort area on its east coast, state media said on 2 July. Later, Kim Jong Un welcomed Russian foreign minister at the tourism zone. South Korea dubbed the tourism zone 'North Korea's Waikiki' ( KCNA ) North Korea recently opened a beach resort in the city of Wonsan, a flagship project driven by leader Kim Jong Un to promote tourism. But, the tourist area is temporarily not accepting foreign visitors, according to a July 16 note by DPR Korea Tour, a website operated by North Korea's National Tourism Administration. North Korea first needs to open the area to the outside world, the Unification Ministry spokesperson said, asked if South Koreans could travel to Wonsan. South Korea once ran tours to North Korea's Mount Kumgang area, but suspended them in 2008, when a South Korean tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier. 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 South Koreas defence ministry suspended the countrys head of drone operations command over concerns that military drones were sent to North Korea illegally last year in preparations for former president Yoon Suk Yeols imposition of martial law. Major general Kim Yong-dae, who was serving as the commander of the unit, was relieved from his duties on Monday with suspension pending, the defence ministry said. Gen Kim was taken into custody on Friday without an arrest warrant regarding accusations that Mr Yoon ordered a covert drone operation into the North last year to inflame tension between the neighbours and justify his martial law decree.. Mr Yoon has denied the accusations. Gen Kims charges include forging of official documents. Mr Yoon's brief, ill-fated imposition of martial law on 3 December led to his indictment on charges that he directed a rebellion, which is punishable by life imprisonment or death. Prompted by concerns he might destroy evidence, Mr Yoons arrest could mark the start of a prolonged period in custody as investigators pursue additional charges. Investigators claim the former president issued direct orders to the drone commander in October last year, instructing him to dispatch drones to North Korea without alerting the defence ministry or the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The move was likely aimed at provoking military escalation from North Korea to allegedly justify the martial law imposition. However, the warrant request by a special counsel team led by Cho Eun-suk was rejected by the Seoul Central District Court on Monday noting that a detention would excessively restrict his defence rights. Prosecutors and police in South Korea are permitted to make an "emergency arrest" if they have a strong belief someone is guilty of a serious crime and may flee or destroy evidence. The South Korean commander has denied the allegations and said the incident was part of a clandestine military operation to respond to North Koreas act of sending trash balloons, and not intended to provoke the neighbour. In October last year, North Korea said the South had sent drones to scatter anti-North Korea leaflets over its capital city Pyongyang. North Korean state media also published photos of the remains of a crashed South Korean military drone. South Korea at the time declined to disclose whether it had sent the drones. 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 Indian vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar, 74, resigned unexpectedly on Monday, citing health reasons and the need to follow medical advice. He had held the position since August 2022. To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, Mr Dhankhar said in a letter to countrys president Droupadi Murmu, posted on X. As vice president, he held Indias second-highest constitutional office and also served as the chair of the Rajya Sabha (upper house of parliament). The vice president holds office for five years. Meanwhile, his sudden resignation has sparked political shock and speculation in India. The Congress called his exit shocking and inexplicable, questioning its timing just before key parliamentary announcements and during the first day of the monsoon session. Many opposition leaders noted that Mr Dhankhar appeared healthy and active earlier in the day and suspected deeper political reasons behind the move. 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 5pm today and had spoken to him over the phone at 7.30pm. No doubt (he) 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, Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, said in a post on X. Some hinted at turmoil within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party or a possible constitutional crisis. The Indian Express reported, citing sources, that Mr Dhankar had an unscheduled meeting with Ms Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan hours before his resignation. However, there was no official statement from either the presidents or the vice presidents office regarding the meeting. While Mr Dhankhar cited health reasons, the lack of prior indication and the abrupt nature of the resignation have led several parties to urge him to reconsider and called on the prime minister Narendra Modi to intervene. Congress Lok Sabha MP Imran Masood questioned the suddenness of the resignation. 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, said Mr Masood. RJD MP Sudhakar Singh remarked that Mr Dhankhar appeared to be in good health while overseeing the Rajya Sabha proceedings earlier in the day. Within the BJP and the government, this is a time of constitutional crisis I believe this is political distress. The truth will come out tomorrow. His health does not seem to be the reason. If he is unwell, we wish him well, said Mr Singh. 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, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey said. The resignation also follows past tensions between Mr Dhankhar and the opposition, including a no-confidence motion accusing him of bias and partisanship as Rajya Sabha chair. Despite undergoing angioplasty and showing signs of frailty, Mr Dhankhar remained active in Indian parliament until his sudden resignation, The Hindustan Times reported. As of now, the government has not named a successor. 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 At least three teachers died trying to get young children to safety after a fighter jet crashed into a school in Bangladeshs capital on Monday, killing at least 31 people in one of the worst aviation disasters in the countrys history. So far 25 school pupils, most of them under the age of 12, have been reported killed in the crash which saw a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft come down on top of a school building in Dhaka's densely populated Uttara neighbourhood. The members of the schools faculty who were killed include Mahrein Chowdhury, a 46-year-old school administrator, who sustained 80 per cent burns while trying to escort students out of the Hyder Ali Hall building at the school when the F-7 BGI crashed into the school, about 12 minutes after its takeoff from a nearby military facility. Chowdhury was escorting students to meet their parents when the aircraft crashed into the gate of the building. Despite being severely burned herself, Chowdhury helped take 20 students to safety. Hours later, she succumbed to her injuries in hospital. "She didn't get out first from her building when it caught fire, instead tried to get as many students out but ended up suffering 100 per cent burns, said her brother, Munaf Mojib Chowdhury. He recalled his elder sister as a mother-like figure who had helped to raise him. Mahrein Chowdhury was buried on Tuesday in her family graveyard beside her parents. Two other teachers are known to have succumbed to their burn injuries, a senior teacher who was present in the next building at the time of the disaster told The Independent. The crash took place shortly after 1pm when students were leaving exams and teachers were busy checking papers, according to the senior teacher, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the school. He recalled hearing a loud sound comparing it to a bomb blast when the aircraft first crashed into a school building. "The school is near an air force base, so we are used to the noise of fighter aircraft, but this was extraordinarily loud. At first glance, I couldn't spot anything, but seconds later, a thick stream of smoke started coming out of the building," he recalled. The senior teacher saw dozens of injured students mostly those with minor injuries running toward the school's medical room on the lower floor, while many other pupils were trapped under debris on the second floor. Army personnel stationed nearby rushed to the school as the fire from the blast intensified and spread rapidly about 15 minutes after the crash, leading to more fatalities. Ambulances and a helicopter arrived at the scene shortly after. open image in gallery Firemen work at the site of a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft that crashed into a school campus shortly after takeoff in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) "As the fire spread, we were asked to move toward the playing field. Everyone was evacuated to the grounds to make space for the ambulance and the helicopter to take the pupils to the nearest hospitals," the senior teacher said. "Everyone who could help, including teachers, staff and pupils, jumped in to the rescue without thinking twice." Doctors said late on Monday that about two dozen people remained in a critical condition, out of a total 165 injured. A blood donation camp has been opened at a specialised burns hospital where most of the injured were being treated. Twenty bodies have been handed over to their families, with some needing DNA matching after they were charred beyond recognition. Many relatives waited overnight at the burns hospital while identification processes were carried out. Nasima Begum was among the mothers whose children were admitted to the hospital after suffering severe burns in the crash. Her son, who studies in grade seven, was playing when the crash happened, Ms Begum told The Independent. "He's completely burned," she said. "It has been more than 24 hours, his state is critical. The doctors are not saying anything positive. This is the second hospital we have had to take him," she said, as she prayed to Allah to save her son. 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 ) Rubina Akter said her son Raiyan Toufiq had a miraculous escape after his shirt caught fire when he was on a staircase. "He sprinted to the ground floor and jumped on the grass to douse it," she told Reuters. "He tore his shirt and vest inside which saved him from severe burns." Another student who had already left the classroom after finishing his exam told BBC Bangla: "My best friend, the one I was in the exam hall with, he died right in front of my eyes." Rescue workers continued to scour the charred buildings for debris on Tuesday as distressed residents of the area looked on. Abul Hossain mourned his nine-year-old daughter after saying his final goodbye on Monday night. "I took her to school yesterday morning like every day. I had no idea it would be the last time I would be seeing her," he said. The pilot, Flight Lt Mohammed Toukir Islam, who died in the crash, made "every effort to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas toward a more sparsely inhabited location," the military said. The Chinese-made F-7 BGI training aircraft experienced a "technical malfunction" moments after takeoff from the AK Khandaker air force base at 1.06 pm local time on Monday, the military added. It was the pilot's first solo flight as he was completing his training course. It remained unclear if he managed to eject before the jet hit the building. The Bangladesh air force said it has launched a formal investigation. The government declared Tuesday was a day of mourning, with flags at half-mast and special prayers at all places of worship as hundreds of students protested near the site of the crash. The Milestone school is located about 11km from the air force base in a densely populated area near a metro station and numerous shops and homes. open image in gallery Bangladesh's national flag keeps half-mast on Supreme Court building in homage to the victims of Monday's Bangladesh air force training aircraft crash ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The protesting students transparency over the numbers and identities of the dead and injured, compensation for their families, and an immediate halt to the use of "outdated and unsafe" training aircraft by the Bangladesh Air Force. They chanted slogans and accused security officials of beating them and manhandling teachers. The students angrily confronted two senior government advisers who arrived to visit the scene, forcing them to take cover for six hours inside the school campus before additional security forces arrived and escorted them out. Scores of students suffered injuries after police charged them with batons after they broke through security barricades and entered the Bangladesh Secretariat complex, elsewhere across the capital. Security fired tear gas and used stun grenades to disperse the crowd. Mondays plane crash was the deadliest aviation incident in the Bangladeshi capital in decades. In 2008, another F-7 training jet crashed outside Dhaka, killing its pilot, who had ejected after he discovered a technical problem. 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. The incident comes as neighbour India is still grappling with the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade after an Air India plane crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad city in Gujarat last month, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground. 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 South Australia has declared its toxic algal bloom a natural disaster following weeks of pressure from scientists, local officials and community members over what has been called an unprecedented marine crisis. The bloom fuelled by the toxic algae Karenia mikimotoi has devastated marine life along more than 500km of the coastline since March, killing thousands of fish, rays, sharks, and dolphins, and threatening local fisheries and coastal livelihoods. This is so entirely unprecedented we dont really know how its going to play out over coming weeks and months ahead, South Australia premier Peter Malinauskas told ABCs News Breakfast, noting over 400 marine species had been impacted. Federal environment minister Murray Watt visited some of the affected areas this week and pledged a $14m assistance package but said the event did not yet meet the criteria for formal natural disaster status. South Australia, however, invoked state authority to make its own declaration, unlocking additional emergency support. Marine experts have been sounding the alarm over the crisis for months. In May, conservationists said the boom had already killed over 200 marine species. Its hard to overstate the extreme severity of the algal bloom environmental crisis in South Australia, Adriana Verges, a marine ecologist at the University of New South Wales, said. We are talking about extensive mortality of nearly 500 different marine species, including key habitat-forming sponges and other invertebrates, as well as fish over more than 500 km of coastline. Its completely devastating. open image in gallery A toxic algal bloom washes dead and dying sea creatures between O'Sullivan Beach and Hallett Cove in Adelaide on 12 July 2025 ( Getty ) Described as a toxic blanket, the bloom suffocates fish by damaging their gills and attacking their red blood cells and the nervous system. It can lead to haemorrhaging and erratic behaviour in the affected animals. Photos from beaches around Adelaide show carcasses of snapper, stingrays and other dead sea creatures lining the shore. According to local records cited by The Guardian, over 13,800 animals are confirmed dead but the real toll is likely far higher. Professor Shauna Murray, a harmful algal bloom expert at the University of Technology Sydney, said the bloom had impacted several hundred square kilometres of coastline since mid-March and was now impacting Adelaide, a city of 1.5 million. She warned that brevetoxins neurotoxins produced by the algae had already been detected in some seafood. Its not just having an ecologically disastrous effect, its now severely impacting fishing and aquaculture industries as well as tourism. We need regular monitoring and financial support for all affected, she said. The crisis has already led to the closure of Coorongs pipi fishery and parts of the states oyster aquaculture due to health concerns. Scientists warn that less mobile species, like seahorses, flatheads and leatherjackets, may take years to recover. John Morrongiello, associate professor at the University of Melbourne, described it as an ecological catastrophe that could have long-term consequences for marine food webs and coastal economies. open image in gallery New South Wales to deploy oxygen pumps to aerate water affected by algal blooms Climate and nutrient pollution are believed to have played a role in the crisis. Scientists say it is being fuelled by an ongoing marine heatwave, with sea temperatures 2.5C above average, and calm conditions that allow it to thrive. This is climate change in real time, Dr Nina Wootton from the University of Adelaide said. The consequences of years of inaction are now unfolding before our eyes. The algae species behind the toxic bloom has traits that may explain its unusual scale and persistence, according to scientists. This species of algae has several adaptations that may have enhanced its ability to grow in the context of the South Australian blooms, professor Perran Cook from the School of Chemistry at Monash University said. It can swim up and down in the water column, which allows it to take up nutrients from the deeper layers of water when there is little mixing, as has been the case in the waters off South Australia this year, he explained. The warmer conditions typically favour most algal growth, and this species is no exception. It also has a wide temperature tolerance, which might help explain its persistence into winter. Dr Cook noted the algaes ability to assimilate the remains of other algal blooms could link it to the 2023 Murray River floods, which released vast amounts of nutrients that stimulated algal growth then, and it is possible that these nutrients are still rippling through the food web. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the $14m assistance announced by the federal minister was just a downpayment and criticised the government for failing to declare the crisis a federal emergency. Speaking in the parliament, she warned that such events were becoming more likely due to the climate crisis. Its Adelaide beaches today but it could be Bondi tomorrow, she said, calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the bloom and the introduction of a climate trigger in Australias environmental laws. In response, prime minister Anthony Albanese said the governments support was timed appropriately given the event was unfolding primarily in state waters. What is important is that there be a response, he told ABCs 7.30 show. We are responding, giving support to the South Australian government. Dr Christopher Keneally from the University of Adelaide said the toxic blooms scale, potential to cross state boundaries and long-term ecological legacy placed it on par with the bushfires and floods that routinely trigger federal interventions. This is not just an environmental event its an ecological disaster, added Dr Lucille Chapuis, a marine biologist at La Trobe University. Like a bushfire or floodwater, a toxic bloom can sweep through an ecosystem, and we must treat it with the same urgency. Scientists are calling for a national response strategy and long-term investments in monitoring and early warning systems for such events. We cannot just treat this as a one-off event that should be monitored. This is a complex problem and we need a coordinated scienceindustrygovernance response, professor Martina Doblin, director of the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, said. 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 Habibur Masum, who stabbed his wife Kulsuma Akter to death as she pushed their baby in a pram in April last year, has been jailed for life at Bradford CrownCourt with a minimum term of 28 years. Habibur Masum, 27, was found guilty of murdering Kulsuma Akter in a ferocious knife attack in broad daylight after tracking her to a womens refuge in Bradford where she had been staying to escape him after he held a knife to her throat at their home in Greater Manchester. He left his wife bleeding to death and calmly walked away, leaving their seven-month-old son behind. The family of murder victim Kulsuma Akter have said in a statement we will never forgive the monster who took Kulsuma from us, after her killer was jailed for life. They added they have been left with a painful void in our lives. The Crown Prosecution Service described the murder as callous and shocking. open image in gallery Habibur Masum walking with his wife Kulsuma Akter and their baby ( West Yorkshire Police ) Marie Walsh, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: Habibur Masum is a violent and dangerous man who subjected his estranged wife to violence and domestic abuse causing her to flee their home to live in a safehouse in Bradford. We hope the imprisonment of Masum has brought some comfort to the family and friends of Kulsuma, she added. Masum found Kulsuma Akter through her phone location and loitered in streets around the hostel before sending her messages threatening to kill her family members if she did not return to him. He then tried to lure her out by sending her fake messages from a local GP practice pretending their son had an appointment. The court heard Ms Akter eventually felt safe enough to leave the refuge on April 6 last year after Masum updated his Facebook page falsely claiming to be in Spain. As she was walking in the city centre with a friend, pushing her baby in a pram, Masum confronted her, the trial heard. open image in gallery Habibur Masum, 26, (centre) on a bus prior to him attacking his wife ( West Yorkshire Police ) CCTV footage of the attack captured Ms Akters screams as Masum stabbed her at least 25 times. Jurors heard he then calmly walked through Bradford city centre and was seen on CCTV grinning as he got on a bus, believing at that point he was getting away. Masum travelled almost 200 miles south to Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and was arrested in the early hours of April 9 in a car park near Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he had gone to be treated for lockjaw. The trial heard the relationship between Masum and Ms Akter was an abusive relationship characterised by his jealousy, possessiveness and controlling behaviour. The couple met and married in Bangladesh, and came to the UK in 2022 after he obtained a student visa and enrolled on a Masters course to study marketing. open image in gallery Kulsuma Akter was stabbed her to death as she pushed her baby in a pram ( West Yorkshire Police ) They moved into a house in Oldham together in September 2022. On November 23 2023, he became jealous over a completely innocuous message Ms Akter received from a male colleague and held a knife to her throat. He was arrested and Ms Akter decided to leave him, being moved to the Bradford refuge by Oldham social services in January 2024. Kulsuma Akters family said in a statement: Kulsuma was a much-loved daughter, sister, aunt and mother. Her loss has left a gaping hole in the lives of all her family and friends. We have been left with a profound sense of emptiness and a deep and painful void in our lives. She was a loving, caring and kind soul with a generous nature, and touched the lives of everyone she came into contact with. As a family we miss her beautiful smile which would light up any room she entered. We will miss her humour, her kindness and her love. We will never forgive the monster who took Kulsuma from us and we do not wish to utter his name. It does not deserve to be mentioned. The monster who savagely took Kulsuma from not only us, but also from her baby son. He will never know her beauty and her kindness. He will never know his mother, other than the memories we as a family will share with him as he grows. He is the only light in all this darkness and Kulsuma radiates throughout him. Although we are grateful for the judicial process that found him guilty of this crime and for the sentence he has received today, no amount of time in prison will change the life sentence he has inflicted upon us all. No family should have to endure the pain and heartache we have had to endure since he took Kulsumas life so horrifically. We can only try and keep her memory alive by continuing to love her and to remember her name. 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 Afghans evacuated to safety in Britain are at risk of being radicalised because they may feel let down by their new lives in the UK, a review into the catastrophic Ministry of Defence (MoD) data leak has warned. Paul Rimmers review warned that competing pressures on the UK housing system and wider public services meant there was a growing gap between the expectations and reality of life in Britain for Afghans who resettle here. The former deputy head of Defence Intelligence, who led the governments review into the data breach, urged the Home Office to investigate the risk of radicalisation further, warning that Afghanistan is becoming a base for a wide range of terrorist groups. Under secret plans to evacuate Afghans affected by the breach to the UK, ministers had approved a scheme which estimated that 10 per cent of refugees could become homeless. Those brought to Britain are housed in temporary accommodation for nine months before, in most cases, being expected to find their own homes. The review found that many of them may not have anywhere to live long term. The findings were revealed in a new version of the report, which was shared with media that were connected to the superinjunction case, after a private version of the report was opened up by lawyers, allowing it to be shared. Mr Rimmers review said experts, including NGOs and independent case workers, who gave evidence to the review, expressed concern around the risk that resettled Afghans could be radicalised in the UK. It said there is a risk of a growing gap between resettled Afghans expectations, and the reality of what ever-more stretched domestic services can deliver. Some experts also highlighted concerns around the extent to which Afghanistan is becoming a base for a wide range of terrorist groups, prompting Mr Rimmer to urge the Home Office to investigate the issue in more detail. It was revealed last week that around 18,700 Afghans who had applied to relocate to Britain over safety fears had their names and contact details exposed in a catastrophic MoD data leak. The breach happened when a member of the armed forces emailed a secret database to trusted contacts in February 2022. The blunder, which was only discovered in August 2023, resulted in some 16,000 Afghans being relocated to Britain as part of a covert operation over fears they would be targeted by the Taliban The operation was only publicly revealed last Tuesday after an unprecedented superinjunction banning details of the leak from being reported was lifted after nearly two years of secrecy. The trigger behind the lifting of the ban was Mr Rimmers review, which concluded that, while the Taliban does commit reprisals against former Afghan security forces, being identified from the dataset was unlikely to constitute sole grounds for targeting. It comes as prime minister Sir Keir Starmer told MPs on Monday that ministers were quite uncomfortable about the continuing superinjunction when they discovered its existence on taking office in 2024. Sir Keir told the Liaison Committee: It was a shocking inheritance, we inherited the breach, the injunction and a secret scheme. A number of us were quite uncomfortable about that, which is why we set up the review to ask the question: is it necessary for these arrangements still to be in place? That produced an answer, which was no. Asked why it took Labour a year to come to that view, Sir Keir responded: It was a very complicated review... I wanted the review to be as careful as it could be. That was a risk assessment which held peoples lives in it. The prime ministers comments come as an accompanying report to the policy review revealed that more than 1,300 Afghans have become homeless and been given emergency housing help by councils since July 2023. Over 100 families were living in temporary accommodation, such as B&Bs and hotels, as of April this year. Under the governments Afghan Resettlement Programme, which covered public and secret resettlement routes for Afghans to come to the UK, around 10 per cent of Afghans were estimated to become homeless. Officials estimated this would be around 730 people a year, but the government review said this was overly optimistic, as it was overly reliant on Afghan families being able to find their own private rented accommodation. Ministers have now closed the secret Afghanistan Response Route scheme, but will honour sanctuary invitations already sent out and will continue to process cases in the two public Afghan resettlement schemes. A government spokesperson said that all arrivals have to undergo robust security checks, including for national security. If they dont pass these checks, they are not granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK. He added that the government is working with local authorities to ensure housing solutions meet the needs of the UK population, as well as Afghans who are resettling here. 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 Beer giant Brewdog is set to close ten of its bars this week, including its first ever bar in Aberdeen. The move is expected to put nearly 100 jobs at risk. The Scottish company stated that despite efforts to maintain these locations, it "has simply not been possible to make these bars commercially viable." All affected venues are slated to cease operations on July 26, initiating a consultation period of at least 14 days for staff. Brewdog said it will shut sites including its Aberdeen flagship pub on Gallowgate, the groups first bar site, following a review process. Founder James Watt told staff the closures are part of a refresh of its estate, partly in response to rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures on the sector. open image in gallery Brewdog said it will shut the bars on Saturday and launch a consultation with staff. He added that the brand will however still look to grow its bar business, with plans for more larger bars in destination locations and to open smaller community bars. The company will shut the following bars: -Aberdeen Gallowgate -Brighton -Camden, London -Dundee -Leeds North Street -Oxford -Sheffield -Shepherds Bush, London -Shoreditch, London -York A Brewdog spokesman said: We can confirm that following a review of our bars business we have made the difficult decision to close 10 bars which reflects a more focused strategy and a rationalisation of our bar footprint. This decision is not simply a response to the challenging UK hospitality market, but a proactive decision to redefine the bar divisions focus for long-term and profitable growth accounting for ongoing industry challenges, including rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures. We are working hard to minimise the impact on our people, and we expect to redeploy many affected team members across the BrewDog network. For those leaving the business, were providing as much support as possible during this transition. 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 smoke flares filled the air amid violent protests and heavy-handed clashes with police, the historic market town of Epping found itself at the centre of intense media attention for all the wrong reasons. Just two days after the latest demonstration, which saw hundreds gather outside the Bell Hotel in Essex, which is believed to house asylum seekers, the mood has substantially quietened. But locals remain divided over the events that sparked the unrest that has plagued the former royal hunting ground for the past 10 days. While many who have protested against the use of migrant hotels have remained peaceful, holding signs reading Im worried about my kids, others had different intentions, with smoke flares thrown towards police vans and eight officers in riot gear being forced to retreat, injured. open image in gallery The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, has been at the centre of the unrest ( PA ) Describing it as a crisis that has reached boiling point, the local Conservative MP Dr Neil Hudson has called for the dilapidated Bell Hotel to close. He said: This is a crisis that is boiling over, and for the safety of our community, the government must get a grip on this situation now, and they must listen and act quickly to close the hotel. I continue to call on the government to immediately close the Bell Hotel, and I have raised this urgently in the House of Commons Chamber. The violence was sparked when Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, a 38-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker reportedly living there, was charged with three counts of sexual assault after allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl. He denied the charges at Chelmsford magistrates court last Thursday and has been remanded in custody. But his court appearance failed to dampen local outrage. Around 1,000 people gathered outside the 79-room hotel on Sunday, with six people arrested and bottles thrown towards police. On Tuesday, the key indicator of recent unrest is the large metal barrier now surrounding the hotel, with warning signs against taking pictures or videos. Police officers are still stationed at the site, and passersby stop to scan the windows for any sign of life inside. open image in gallery Police scuffle with protesters on Sunday ( AFP/Getty ) Among them is Craig, a 24-year-old local who helped organise the protests last week. Speaking from his car, he insists that the demonstrations were organised to protect local children, and this is not a race issue. I think its unfair to label us as racist or far right, he said. Ive never been to a protest in my life until the last three weeks. Its not so much about race; its about the people who came. On Sunday, there were all sorts of races here protesting. A father himself, he added that the protests were for the childrens future and called for migrants to enter the UK through a legal route. Describing the protests as mostly peaceful, he said: I organised the protests through word of mouth, mostly. Obviously, once wed done the first one, that was it word of mouth spread and it was every Thursday and every Sunday. open image in gallery Sunday saw protesters arrive with placards reading save our kids ( PA ) It has now been rumoured that those residing at the hotel will now be moved to another part of London, with reports that another demonstration is planned for this weekend, with far-right leader Tommy Robinson potentially in attendance. But not all those who have stopped outside the hotel are anti-immigration. One man on a motorbike stops to call to a young man entering the hotel, to offer him the towns apologies. Another retired man, who wished to remain anonymous, had travelled from south London to visit the hotel after reading reports of the protests in the news. My father was Polish, so he came over in the war, so I do have a connection with people coming over to this country for reasons that are good, bad, and indifferent, he said. But I do think we have closed the stable door after the horse has bolted. open image in gallery Police officers block a road during a demonstration near the Bell Hotel ( Getty ) He added that he had not been surprised to see the rioting, and added: Its not the kind of thing you expect in Epping, because its a bit middle class and conservative. But whether its the right place to put people who are waiting to be processed, I dont know. Walking into the town centre, the incident remains a divisive topic. Speaking outside a bus stop, one couple simply responded: "It's been a fuss over nothing, media making it out to be a bigger deal than it is." Outside a newsagent's, a man described the refugee hotel as a nightmare and scoffed at the mention of the recent demonstrations. Others said they felt afraid of the possibility of further violence. One elderly couple, who did not wish to be named, said they had decided to rearrange a visit from their grandchildren in order to keep them away from any potential riots. Its meant to be to save our children, and yet my grandchildren cant come to the house, she said. I think its very disturbing. Ive lived in Epping a long time, and Ive never had hate near me like this. I knew as soon as I heard about it that it was going to have a snowball effect. I have never had any trouble from the refugees here. open image in gallery Some peaceful protesters held flags reading 'save our kids' ( Getty ) She described Epping as a town still divided by Brexit but added that while residents were far from united on the issue, she believed many involved in the violence had travelled in from elsewhere. Epping is a lovely town, she said. But I think this has damaged its reputation. Today is the first day it feels peaceful since the riots started. One particular concern for residents has been protesters travelling in from afar, deliberately to participate in violence. Speaking to The Independent, Craig said: A lot of people come from out of area, as long as youre coming for the right reasons, then anyone is welcome. Meanwhile, the charity Hope Not Hate has said it has identified several individuals connected to the far-right in attendance. Its CEO Nick Lowles said: The allegations of sexual assault are deeply worrying, and the people of Epping are right to be concerned about this case. A man has been arrested and its vital that the legal process is allowed to run its course. open image in gallery Police were stationed outside the Bell Hotel during protests ( PA ) 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. The far right demonise and vilify all migrants, including the other innocent residents at the hotel, creating a climate of hatred and hatred locally. Sadly, violence is the result. The far-right is seeking to sow division in the local area, which does nothing to assist the victims of sexual abuse. Local MP, Dr Hudson, said the scenes on Thursday and Sunday night were deeply troubling and unsettling, and he condemned the violence as completely unacceptable. open image in gallery Local MP Neil Hudson called the violence 'unacceptable' ( AFP/Getty ) Police put themselves in harms way to keep us safe. People quite rightly have the right to peaceful protest, but these violent scenes are not us, they are not Epping, and they are not what we stand for. It is deeply disturbing that people from outside Epping are coming to these protests not to support the real concerns of our local community, but to disrupt and cause violence. He continued: As I said previously, I am deeply disturbed by the alleged sexual assaults in Epping the week before last, and my thoughts are with the victims, their families, and their peers. 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 Newly-released government files have suggested that it was politically impossible to draw back from the the Iraq War unless dictator Saddam Hussein surrendered. Britains ambassador warned that President George W Bush was bent on the overthrow of Hussein as part of a mission to rid the world of evil-doers. In January 2003 two months before US and UK forces launched their invasion Tony Blair to flew to Camp David to urge the president to allow more time for diplomacy to work. However, files released to the National Archives at Kew, west London, show that Britains ambassador to the US, Sir Christopher Meyer, warned it had become politically impossible to draw back from war unless Hussein surrendered. British officials were still hoping that the the United Nations Security Council would agree a new resolution specifically authorising the use of military force against Iraq. Mr Blairs foreign policy adviser, Sir David Manning, said that when he met the president he should make the point that a new resolution was politically essential for the UK, and almost certainly legally essential as well. However, the Americans were becoming increasingly impatient with the unwillingness of France and Russia which both had a veto on the council to agree a resolution so long as UN inspectors were unable to find any evidence of Husseins weapons of mass destruction, the supposed justification for war. Britain's ambassador to the US, Sir Christopher Meyer ( Fiona Hanson/PA Wire ) Following Mr Bushs annual State of the Union address to Congress, shortly before Mr Blairs visit, he warned that the options for a peaceful solution had effectively run out. It is politically impossible for Bush to back down from going to war in Iraq this spring, absent Saddams surrender or disappearance from the scene he wrote. If Bush had any room for manoeuvre beforehand this was closed off by his State of the Union speech. In the high-flown prose to which Bush is drawn on these set-piece occasions, he said in effect that destroying Saddam is a crusade against evil to be undertaken by Gods chosen people. In a cable sent the previous month, Sir Christopher said that much of the impulse for deposing Hussein was coming from the president, a born-again Christian, who was scornful of what he saw as the self-serving reservations of the Europeans. His view of the world is Manichean. He sees his mission as ridding it of evil-doers. He believes American values should be universal values, Sir Christopher wrote. He is strongly allergic to Europeans collectively. Anyone who has sat round a dinner table with low-church Southerners will find these sentiments instantly recognisable. In the event, the US and UK abandoned their efforts to get agreement on a new Security Council resolution, claiming French president Jacques Chirac had made it clear he would never agree. 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 Hewlett-Packard (HP) is set to recoup more than 700m ($944m) from the estate of the late Mike Lynch and his former business partner, Sushovan Hussain, a London High Court judge ruled on Tuesday. The sum relates to HPs ill-fated acquisition of British software firm Autonomy. The US technology giant had sought to recover losses from Dr Lynch, who died in 2024 when his luxury yacht sank off Sicily, and Mr Hussain. HP had accused the pair of orchestrating an elaborate fraud to inflate Autonomys value before its $11.1bn purchase in 2011, a deal that subsequently unravelled. Within a year of the acquisition, HP wrote down Autonomys value by $8.8bn and launched a $5bn lawsuit against Dr Lynch and Mr Hussain in London. A judge ruled in HPs favour in 2022. Hewlett-Packard sued Lynch and Sushovan Hussain, accusing them of masterminding an elaborate fraud to inflate the value of the software firm Autonomy ( AP ) Dr Lynch, once lauded as Britains answer to Bill Gates, consistently maintained his innocence, instead blaming HP for its failure to integrate Autonomy into its operations. He was acquitted of criminal charges related to the deal in the US and had intended to appeal the High Courts 2022 ruling, a process that was on hold pending this weeks decision on damages. According to The Guardian, Dr Lynchs estate has been estimated to be worth about 500m, and it could be bankrupted by the court ruling. Judge Robert Hildyard ruled HP sustained losses of over 646m in relation to the difference between what HP paid for Autonomy and what HP would have paid had Autonomys true financial position been correctly presented. Hilyard also said HP was entitled to another 51.7m in relation to personal claims for deceit and/or misrepresentation against Dr Lynch and Mr Hussain, plus another $47.5m in relation to losses suffered by group companies. HP said at a hearing in 2024 that it was seeking up to $4bn. Hussain settled with HP earlier this year. 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 Newly released official files reveal the extent of Peter Mandelsons determination to re-enter government after twice being forced to resign from Tony Blairs cabinet. The papers, made public by the National Archives in Kew, west London, show that Mr Mandelson even sought the assistance of Lord Birt, the former BBC director general, in his bid to secure a senior position. Mr Mandelson had been compelled to step down as Northern Ireland secretary in January 2001 amid allegations he had facilitated a UK passport for controversial Indian businessman Srichand Hinduja, in connection with the Millennium Dome. This followed an earlier resignation over an undeclared home loan from fellow Labour minister Geoffrey Robinson. Despite an official inquiry clearing him of impropriety in the Hinduja affair, Mr Blair was hesitant to reinstate his long-time ally, given his prior departures. However, in April 2003, Lord Birt, then a senior policy adviser in No 10, wrote to the prime minister, urging him to reconsider. Peter Mandelson is currently the British Ambassador to the United States ( AP ) Mr Mandelsons persistence was ultimately rewarded when Mr Blair appointed him Britains commissioner to the European Commission in Brussels, with responsibility for trade. I gather from Peter that you still talk to him regularly but, as a safeguard, you may like to know what he reports to me about his current state of mind, he wrote. He feels this spring/summer may be the moment of decision for him. Hes approaching 50 and he is sorely conscious that time is passing and he has yet to fulfil his promise. As you know, Peters deepest wish is to return to government. He stresses that he has already proved to be a capable minister, and that he would be a strong ally for you in cabinet. If you judge a return to government is not possible, then he would like you to consider appointing him as EC Commissioner. One way or another, he says he wants to settle his future this year, even if it means a career outside politics. Just four months later, it was announced that he was to be the UKs next European commissioner. He was subsequently awarded a life peerage in 2008 and is currently the British Ambassador to the United States. 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 Prince George has turned 12, with the Prince and Princess of Wales releasing a new photograph of their eldest child to mark the occasion. The future king one year away from being a teenager is pictured outdoors, smiling and relaxed as he leans on a rustic wooden gate in Norfolk. George is wearing a white checked shirt with rolled up sleeves and a dark green fleece gilet, and a blue and white friendship bracelet can be seen on his left wrist as he rests his folded arms on the gate. open image in gallery George is wearing a white checked shirt with rolled up sleeves and a dark green fleece gilet ( Josh Shinner/Kensington Palace ) It was taken earlier in the year by photographer Josh Shinner and posted on Kensington Palaces social media. The post was accompanied by the message: Happy 12th Birthday to Prince George! followed by a cake emoji. The Prince and Princess of Wales frequently post photographs of their children for their followers, often taken by Kate herself, who is a keen amateur photographer. Earlier this year, they released an image of Princess Charlotte, captured by Kate on an iPhone during a family trip to Cumbria, to mark Charlottes 10th birthday. open image in gallery The Prince of Wales and Prince George at Wimbledon ( PA ) They also shared a portrait of Prince Louis for his seventh birthday, which was taken by Mr Shinner. George, whose birthday falls during his summer break from school, has one year left at his prep school, Lambrook, before he moves on to his senior school, with either Eton or Marlborough College thought to be the frontrunners. The future king joined his parents and sister, Princess Charlotte, at the Wimbledon mens final earlier this month, where he used a fan to keep cool in the Royal Box in the blazing afternoon sun. In June, George was seen nudging his boisterous younger brother Louis on the Buckingham Palace balcony to wave more calmly at the crowd following the Trooping the Colour ceremony. open image in gallery William and Kate leave the Lindo Wing of St Marys Hospital in London with their newborn son, Prince George, in 2013 ( PA ) Prince George Alexander Louis was born in the private Lindo Wing of St Marys Hospital, Paddington, London, at 4.24pm on July 22 2013, weighing 8lb 6oz. He made his debut in front of the worlds media on the hospital steps one day later, wrapped in a white merino wool shawl, cradled in his mothers arms. 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 Liz Kendalls announcement of a new review into the state pension age has drawn a strong response from readers, especially older workers and pensioners who feel increasingly squeezed by reforms they see as both unfair and unrealistic. Many took issue with the idea of raising the retirement age again, warning that it fails to account for physical decline, especially among manual workers. My knees have packed in, said one 73-year-old, who retired at 65 after a lifetime of physical labour. Theres no way I could keep doing the work I used to. Several readers questioned Ms Kendalls assertion that future pensioners should take heed and save more, with many pointing out that saving is only an option for the wealthy or those with disposable incomes. A recurring theme was frustration at a system seen to punish those who had done everything right saving into private pensions and paying contributions, only to be left with little support. He told me to retire penniless, another reader said of her fathers bitter advice, because then you get everything. A few commenters looked to the future, suggesting that instead of clinging to outdated models, the government should explore policies like basic income to address the long-term impacts of AI and inequality. Heres what you had to say: Pensioners dont drain the system Pensioners are nearly always referred to as if they're draining the system of something they're not entitled to. Forgotten is the fact that most of them worked until 65 and paid what was due until they did. As we now know, it doesn't protect them from poverty in old age. Only those with private pensions, which are also subject to taxation that wasn't foreseen when many set these plans up, have enough to cover basic costs. Saving? How does the average worker do that? They can hardly afford to put food on the table and get by. Take more money out of people's pockets, which cuts spending, and even more high streets will become derelict and industries will fail. Increasing retirement age? A friend died at 69 recently, and another at 72 (neither were manual workers). Increasing retirement age for manual workers would be cruel as well as disastrous, or are people supposed to work until they drop? Too many pensioners are having to desperately look for jobs to boost pensions that don't enable them to eat and heat. Maybe it's time the government took a look at some of the systems that work in other countries! Quick-fix ideas aren't the solution. A system fit for purpose, where everyone pays their fair share and people can retain their dignity and are able to live without having to calculate how and if they're entitled to benefits or charity to get by, is the only sensible way forward. Will it happen? I would lie if I said I was optimistic! Ambigirls Do you think the state pension age should rise or is it already too high? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Reform, not tinkering There are issues with the triple lock, but the savings narrative is a fiction. As people (particularly working-class people) approach 70, they are more likely to find themselves unable to find suitable employment or be underemployed. So they will require working-age benefits. It is not difficult to imagine that there would also be increased costs on the health system as ageing bodies are required to work more and more. Further, it is likely that around one-third of millennials will end their working lives in the private rental sector, so housing support will be required at greater levels. We cannot keep tinkering with these systems just to balance the books on paper. We must reform the tax code and the social security net to make both fit for the modern age. lostboy88 Punished for saving My dad saved, paid into private pensions and paid his contributions. He was never unemployed and did everything the government asked him to do. When he retired, he found to his disgust that he was entitled to very little from the state effectively punished for having saved, etc, whilst others who contributed nothing were given everything by the state. That's socialism. He told me to never make his mistake and ensure I retired penniless to get the maximum back from all I had paid in. saghia Work until we die? OK, so here we have the result of all those people who wanted to avoid benefits cuts. The alternative is for working people to work longer. Some benefit cuts were needed, in my opinion. And before anyone suggests a 0.2 per cent tax on billionaires whether we like it or not they can leave the UK, fly in from time to time if they really want to, and then we'd lose the huge amount they do pay in tax. What then? Work until we die? Ordinary people are paying for a few too many freeloaders, in my opinion. Where is the sympathy for non-unionised people who work and pay tax? Hi5 Saving is not the answer Saving? Saving is NOT the answer. If we try to save more, we spend less. If we spend less, businesses sell and make less, so they invest less... just the opposite of what we need to increase the output needed to pay pensions. It is a good example of the confused thinking that affects so many people. An individual who saves more will have more to spend in retirement than they would otherwise have. If we all try to do that, we are all worse off. What is right for an individual is often not right collectively (wet wipes, panic buying, burning smoky fuel, saving for retirement, etc). The Fallacy of Composition. much0ado People arent saving because they cant People aren't saving because they can't it's that simple. There is no money left at the end of the month to save anything because of the cost of living. A large majority of people are having to live pay cheque to pay cheque with no slack. Unless something is done about that, then there is a huge problem being stored up for the future, let alone Reeves saying she was going after people's savings!! deadduck Gross inequality is the root of our problems The government cant simply keep increasing the state pension age for one reason: some people become physically incapable of working when they get a little bit older. Asking a manual worker to keep digging holes when he's nearly 70 is absurd. The government needs to deal with tax evasion and avoidance, including offshore. Id also introduce a land value tax, which forces the wealthy to pay their share. Gross inequality is the root cause of many of our societal problems, and its time it was addressed. You dont deal with it by taxing working people more you tax the ultra wealthy who pay basically nothing. flying scot It makes sense to raise the pension age People are largely living longer because of better living conditions, nutrition and healthcare. For example, I'm now much older than all my grandparents were when they died. Although the most vulnerable must still be cared for, it makes sense to raise the pension age to reflect this change in society it is the 21st century rather than the 1900s... hayneman Onsalught on working-class people I'm 73, retired at 65 and did manual work most of my life. My knees have packed in, and the rest of my body is slowly packing in now there is no way I am able to do the sort of work I did when I was younger, and havent been able for well over 10 years now. This is the case for many manual workers. How can Kendall, Reeves, Streeting, Starmer etc. call themselves a Labour government with this continual onslaught on working-class people? The trade unions should withdraw support and funding immediately and advise their members to place their votes elsewhere, preferably not in Farage's direction, though. manwithnoname The future looks unpredictable We must bear in mind that the relentless march of AI and other systems is considerably reducing the number of jobs in many sectors dependent on 'exchanges of data', from simple insurance to DVLA or HMRC, for instance... The list is endless. How can these workers be 'recycled' in the short term? How do we ensure that those mythical 16-year-old voters HAVE some employment to look forward to after finishing their studies, at whatever level? Importing 'low-grade' labour is eating into the job supply at the bottom end, while all those 'surgeons and engineers' cream off the top end... The future looks unpredictable for too many youngsters. Problems must be addressed now! Failure to do that will make the triple lock an invaluable resource to many pensioners still look like change from the back of the sofa... YvesFerrer These reviews are so detached from peoples realities Financial literacy is not taught in schools. I suspect a large proportion of people who are not planning for retirement don't understand money very well. Also, a huge number of people don't have enough disposable income to save at a level that would give a comfortable retirement. You need, in current terms, around 300,000 to 500,000 in private funds. That is for someone who owns their own home. If you retire but have to still pay for rented accommodation, you've got no chance. These reviews are so detached from peoples realities. After paying tax and National Insurance for 50 years, I get my State Pension next year and I will be paying income tax on it :) Lithiumiron Some of the comments have been edited for this article for brevity and clarity. Want to share your views? Simply register your details below. Once registered, you can comment on the days top stories for a chance to be featured. Alternatively, click log in or register in the top right corner to sign in or sign up. 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 Newly released official files have shared discreet manoeuvring by Buckingham Palace officials to influence the government's decision on replacing the Royal Yacht Britannia. By 1993, the 39-year-old royal vessel was nearing the end of its operational life, prompting John Majors Conservative government to consider a significant 50 million investment in a new yacht. It was widely believed that Queen Elizabeth II strongly favoured the commissioning of a new yacht, but the Royal Family was keen to avoid any public appearance of political interference. However, documents from the National Archives at Kew reveal how senior courtiers privately approached Downing Street. Their aim was to persuade the then Prime Minister to issue a Commons statement highlighting Britannias "inestimable value" to the nation. This thinly veiled attempt to garner support for a new vessel was swiftly rejected by the Cabinet Office, with officials warning that any such comments would be "highly prejudicial". One senior official caustically remarked that the Palaces assertion of the Queens "indifference" regarding the yachts future "hardly rings true". open image in gallery The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh disembarking from the Royal Yacht Britannia in Portsmouth Dockyard ( PA ) The issue of a new yacht came at an extremely difficult time for the government and for the Palace, with support for the royals at a low ebb. There had been an angry public backlash the previous year when ministers announced the taxpayer would pick up the bill which eventually ran to 36 million for the restoration of Windsor Castle following a catastrophic fire. In the aftermath of her annus horribilis which also saw the separation of Charles and Diana the Queen agreed that she would for the first time pay taxes. With Mr Major due to announce the historic move in a statement to parliament, the Queens private secretary Sir Robert Fellowes saw an opportunity to secure what would amount to a show of support for a new yacht. He asked the prime ministers principal private secretary Alex Allan if Mr Major would insert a passage referring to the importance of Britannia as well as the Queens flight and the royal train. He suggested the prime minister should tell MPs that it was not just a question of cost but also the style in which we wish our head of state and members of the royal family to represent us in their public duties. It is always difficult to put a price on prestige but I have no doubt that over the years these items have been of inestimable value to this country. Sir Robins proposed addition to Mr Majors statement went on: I would also like to make clear that there is not, and never has been, any pressure from the Queen to build a replacement for HMY Britannia. Should the government decide it is in the national interest for the yacht to be replaced that would be of course another matter. However, Nicolas Bevan, the official heading the working group set up to consider the future of the yacht, warned that the proposed remarks could be prejudicial to any future decisions. open image in gallery Senior courtiers from Buckingham Palace privately approached No 10 to see if the prime minister would make a Commons statement stressing Britannias inestimable value to the nation ( Getty ) For example to say that the royal yacht has been of inestimable value to this country will not be a helpful remark if ministers in due course decide not to replace Britannia, he said. Equally it hardly rings true to suggest that it is a matter of complete indifference to the Queen as to whether Britannia is replaced or not. Despite the palaces protestations of neutrality, the files suggest courtiers were involved in what amounted to some not-so-subtle lobbying on behalf of a new yacht. On 13 May, 1993, senior government officials, led by the cabinet secretary Sir Robin Butler, were invited to a splendid lunch on board Britannia where they were regaled by the former lord mayor of London, Sir Hugh Bidwell, and the Earl of Limerick, a senior banker, on the value of the yacht to UK business. Expressing his thanks afterwards to the master of the Queens household, Major General Sir Simon Cooper, Sir Robin noted that the setting had brought home the issues to those involved in a unique way. However, when news of the meeting leaked out, government press officers were instructed to impress upon journalists unattributably that the Queen and royal family were not fighting any kind of rearguard action on the yacht. Despite misgivings over the costs, the Major government finally announced in January 1997 that they would build a replacement yacht if they were returned to power in the general election later that year. The move was however widely interpreted as a desperate attempt to shore up support among wavering Tory voters, and when Labour was swept to power in a landslide they promptly reversed the decision. When Britannia was finally decommissioned after returning the last governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, following the handover to China the Queen, who rarely displayed any emotion in public, was seen to shed a tear. 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 have announced new plans to curb people-smuggling and illegal immigration to the UK, including those involved in the buying and selling of small boats for Channel crossings. The Foreign Secretary announced on Tuesday a raft of sanctions that will be introduced to target anyone involved in assisting illegal immigration to the UK. This ranges from those involved in supplying and financing small boats, fake passports, and middlemen putting cash through the Hawala system, a legal money transfer system, which is also used in payments linked to Channel crossings. Gang leaders, corrupt police officers and companies selling small boat equipment for Channel crossings could face having their assets frozen and being banned from travel to the UK. The first wave of sanctions comes into force on Wednesday, and will publicly name anyone sanctioned, so it will be illegal for UK businesses and banks to deal with them. The measure is expected to include more than 20 designations, and could include corrupt public officials and police officers in steps to tackle the multi-billion-dollar industry. David Lammy announced the sanctions ( PA ) Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 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. We will not accept this status quo. Thats why the UK has created the worlds first sanctions regime targeted at gangs involved in people smuggling and driving irregular migration, as well as their enablers. From tomorrow, those involved will face having their assets frozen, being shut off from the UK financial system and banned from travelling to the UK. It follows legislation being introduced under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill to ramp up enforcement powers for police forces and partners to investigate and prosecute people smugglers. Fresh sanctions aim to target organised crime gangs wherever they are in the world and disrupt their flow of cash, including freezing bank accounts, property and other assets, to hinder their activities. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: It will allow us to target the assets and operations of people smugglers wherever they operate, cutting off their funding and dismantling their networks piece by piece. Through the Border Security Command and key partners like the National Crime Agency, we are strengthening our ties with other nations to tackle this global problem. Together, we are sending a clear message that there is no hiding place for those who exploit vulnerable people and put lives at risk for profit. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Kemi Badenoch has carried out a reshuffle of her shadow cabinet, with Sir James Cleverly returning to the Conservative Party front bench. The Tory leader has brought her former leadership rival back to the frontline to build party unity and bolster the partys credibility. A senior Tory source said Sir James would help take the fight to this dreadful Labour government. open image in gallery Kemi Badenoch launching a shadow Cabinet reshuffle ( PA ) Ms Badenoch made a series of changes to her top team on Tuesday, with the source adding that they reflect the next stage of the partys policy renewal programme and underline the unity of the party under new leadership. Sir James was appointed shadow housing secretary and will be Angela Rayners opposite number and go head to head with her in the Commons. Despite reports that Robert Jenrick was gunning for his job, Sir Mel Stride stayed on as shadow chancellor in a blow to Ms Badenochs other main rival for the leadership. Ex-foreign secretary Sir James was the most high-profile name appointed to the front bench on Tuesday. Other big names from the last Conservative government, such as Suella Braverman, were not called upon by Ms Badenoch. Sir James replaced Kevin Hollinrake, who will become Conservative Party chairman. MP Stuart Andrew moved from his role in culture to the health brief, replacing the current shadow health secretary Ed Argar. Mr Argar was the first casualty of Ms Badenochs reshuffle, with the Tory leader thanking him for his service. It had become a social media joke that searching Google for Ed Argar and his shadow cabinet role revealed only his appointment to the position, suggesting he had failed to cut through with the public and media. His resignation letter, which was written on 9 July, cited an ongoing health issue after an illness last year. A full list of changes is expected to be published on Tuesday evening. The shadow cabinet reshuffle comes just eight months after Ms Badenoch was elected leader by Tory members and is an admission the party has been underperforming. Even as she conducted her reshuffle, Ms Badenoch lost another defector to Nigel Farages Reform UK. Laura Anne Jones, a member of the Welsh Senedd, joined the party, following in the wake of two former Tory cabinet ministers, Jake Berry and David Jones. Amid the continued rise of Reform UK, Ms Badenochs party has been unable to grab the agenda and get a clear message across. A spokesman for Mr Farages party said the reshuffle is like moving deckchairs on the Titanic. open image in gallery Former home secretary James Cleverly is expected to return to the Tory front bench ( PA ) Only a handful of her shadow cabinet ministers have been prominent publicly since joining the Tory top team, including Mr Jenrick, who has made a series of eye-catching videos exposing social problems in the UK. After Mays disastrous local election results, as well as months of dire showings in the polls, Ms Badenoch hopes the reshuffle will shore up her authority ahead of the Tory conference in October. Talk of a potential leadership challenge has been mounting, with communications consultant Guto Harri, who worked for Boris Johnson during his time in No 10, warning recently that a bid to replace her was inevitable. In January, Ms Badenochs spokesman ruled out any reshuffle of her top team before the next general election. A Labour source said: After initially claiming her shadow Cabinet would be in place until the next election, Kemi Badenoch has already hit the panic button. The Tory leader can shuffle as many deckchairs as she likes, but itll still be the same old faces that were responsible for 14 years of failure. They crashed the economy and ran public services into the ground. The Conservatives havent changed. Its the same old chaos. Sir James served as both foreign secretary and home secretary when the Conservatives were in power. He stood as a candidate in last year's Conservative leadership election, but lost out on the Tory top job ahead of the final heat between Ms Badenoch and her now-shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick. Since the leadership contest, Sir James has returned to the Tory back bench as the MP for Braintree. He has used his influential position as a former minister to warn against pursuing a populist agenda similar to Reform UK. Appearing at the Institute For Public Policy Research (IPPR) think tank last week, the senior Tory hit out at calls to smash the system and start again from scratch, branding them complete nonsense. He also appeared to take a different position on net zero from party leader Ms Badenoch in a recent speech, urging the Conservatives to reject climate change luddites on the right who believe the way things are now is just fine. 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 Nigel Farages Reform UK party has put a teenager in charge of a major county council, overseeing hundreds of millions of pounds of public spending. George Finch, 19, took over temporarily after the previous council leader, also a member of Reform, resigned just weeks after being elected. Now he has been voted in as the leader of Warwickshire County Council, which has 1.5bn of assets and a budget of around 500m. George Finch ( Facebook ) Before the vote, Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, Preet Gill, criticised his position, saying the people of Warwickshire frankly deserve better. This is not work experience, she told the BBC. This is not about learning on the job. Reform is the largest party on the council, but it did not have an outright majority. The BBC reported on Tuesday that Conservative members abstained from the final round of voting, leading to a tie with the Liberal Democrat nominee, Jerry Roodhouse, which was ultimately broken by the councils chair, Reforms Edward Harris. As he voted to install Mr Finch as leader, Mr Harris said he was disappointed and excited at the same time. It [the tie] is not something I take lightly at all, and something I would rather not have happened, he added. Last month, Reforms Rob Howard said it was with much regret that he was quitting as the councils leader, citing health challenges which he said prevented him from carrying out the role to the level and standard that I would wish. His resignation came in the wake of the chaos that followed Reforms success at the local elections, when it took hundreds of seats across England. One newly elected councillor resigned from the party just days after being elected. As she left, Donna Edmunds also called for the ousted Reform MP Rupert Lowe to establish a challenger party on the right of the party and said Mr Farage must never be prime minister. Another councillor, Wayne Titley, who was elected in Staffordshire, quit after just two weeks in the wake of criticism over a Facebook post about small boats arriving in Britain. And another Reform councillors failure to declare that he worked for the council forced a by-election to be announced in Durham just a week after the election. While the chaotic scenes appeared to do little to dent Reform in the opinion polls, a leading pollster has now suggested that support for the party has topped out, and that the momentum that was leading it to soar in the polls has ground to a halt. Conservative peer Robert Hayward told The Independent that the results of recent council by-elections, which Reform lost while defending seats, coupled with a small fall in the partys national polling figures, suggest that the march of Mr Farage to Downing Street at the next general election could be facing a setback. 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 Welsh Senedd member Laura Anne Jones has defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK, becoming the partys highest-profile defection in Wales. Nigel Farage announced the news at the Royal Welsh Show, with Ms Jones who was first elected in 2003 saying she could longer justify Conservative policies on the doorstep. Standing alongside Mr Farage, she said: "I've just suddenly felt that the Conservative Party was unrecognisable to me. It wasn't the party that I joined over three decades ago." She said Reform, meanwhile, was "listening to the people of Great Britain". Ms Jones is the latest in a growing list of high-profile Tories to have defected to Reform, following former Conservative Party chairman Sir Jake Berry earlier this month, as well as Dame Andrea Jenkyns and former Wales secretary David Jones. Her defection means the Conservatives are down to 14 politicians in the Welsh Parliament, ahead of crunch elections next year. But who is Ms Jones? From waitressing to the Welsh Assembly Ms Jones was first elected to the then-National Assembly in 2003, becoming the joint-first Welsh Conservative female assembly member (AM). She had the backing of the Conservative Party despite a conviction for drink-driving in 2002, which saw her banned from driving for 12 months and fined 75. Jones said after the hearing: "I've never justified drink-driving and the decision is one I deserve. I've never done it on purpose." She had been earning 5 per hour as a waitress before she was elected. Ms Jones served one term, until 2007, before returning in 2020 after the death of Mohammad Asghar. She was re-elected in 2021, for South Wales East. She once used a racist slur in a WhatsApp chat Ms Jones hit the headlines last year when it emerged she had used a racist slur about Chinese people in a WhatsApp group chat. The Senedd member used the offensive term in an exchange about the Chinese-owned video app TikTok. She later apologised and issued a statement, saying the word was "unacceptable and I deeply regret using it". "I sincerely apologise for any offence this has caused," she added. Nigel Farage and former Conservative Member of the Senedd, Laura Anne Jones, at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show ( Getty Images ) She apologised for saying she wanted to shoot chavs In 2021, she was forced to apologise over old Facebook posts, in which she said she would like to do a spot of Chav shooting", and added it is "a shame that isn't legal." She also joked about shooting the then Labour leader, Ed Miliband, saying she would become the "perfect shot" if she had "ol' Red Ed to aim at." When she wrote the posts she was not an elected politician, although she had previously served as a member of the Senedd. 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 Nigel Farage has defended people protesting outside an asylum hotel in Essex, claiming most were genuinely concerned families. The Reform UK leader insisted violent scenes outside the hotel were caused by some bad eggs, alleging clashes were between the usual far-right thugs and far-left anti-fascist activists, known as Antifa. Some of the demonstrators have been seen wearing black face coverings, similar to those often worn by members of Antifa, but it has not been verified whether the group has attended the protests. Mr Farage also claimed civil disobedience on a vast scale will break out unless migrants stop arriving to the UK on small boats. Six people were arrested on Sunday evening after a string of protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, which is believed to house asylum seekers. Eight police officers were injured following clashes at what had started as a peaceful demonstration on Thursday evening, while the latest rally on Sunday saw more than 100 protesters assemble, with some chanting save our kids. The events were organised in response to the arrest of an asylum seeker, who was later charged with sexual offences against a teenager and adult in the town, eight days after arriving to the UK via boat. Hadush Kebatu, 38, from Ethiopia, who denies the allegations and remains in custody, is charged with three counts of sexual assault, alongside inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and harassment without violence. open image in gallery Nigel Farage has defended those protesting outside an asylum hotel in Epping, claiming most were genuinely concerned families ( PA Wire ) Mr Farage did not condone violence seen outside the hotel however, he did say it should serve as a stark warning to this government that the British people will not put up with this betrayal for the next four years. When asked whether the scenes were understandable, he told The Times: I dont think anybody in London even understands just how close we are to civil disobedience on a vast scale in this country. Of course, there were some bad eggs that turned up at Epping. There were the usual far-right thugs, but equally, what about Antifa? Why? Why are Antifa allowed to go to these demonstrations, to wear balaclavas, to not be identified, to do gestures, last night, of them shooting at members of the public. Why are they there? So it isnt all far-right thuggery, as you might sometimes hear from our prime minister. But do I understand how people in Epping feel? You bet your life I do. open image in gallery Protesters stand in front of a line of riot police as demonstrators march from The Bell Hotel into the town centre of Epping on Sunday ( AFP via Getty Images ) He continued: Dont underestimate the simmering anger and disgust that there is in this country that we are letting in every week, in fact, some days, 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. So the answer is, yes, I do understand the genuine upset and anger, and Ill bet you that most of the people outside that hotel at Epping werent far-right or far-left or anything like that. They were just genuinely concerned families. Hope Not Hate, an anti-fascism campaign group, said the series of gatherings outside the hotel began with largely peaceful intent, but were co-opted by actors intent on causing violence. Footage and photography from Thursday and Sundays events show people with links to groups such as the British National Party (BNP), Britain First, Patriotic Alternative and neo-nazi group Blood & Honour were all in attendance. The Bell Hotel has regularly attracted anti-migrant protests organised by groups such as these since 2020, according to Hope Not Hate. open image in gallery Protesters outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, on Sunday ( Yui Mok/PA Wire ) Downing Street described the scenes at Epping as clearly unacceptable. The prime ministers official spokesman said: Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, but its clearly unacceptable to see police coming under attack as they ensure that peaceful protest is able to take place. And I think Essex Police put out the statement making very clear: people who protest peacefully, lawfully and responsibly cause us and the wider public no concern. However, we can never and will never tolerate criminal violence, and I think the Prime Minister will obviously echo that. 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 Angela Rayner has issued an ultimatum to Sir Keir Starmer, warning that the UK faces a repeat of last years summer riots unless the government shows it can address peoples concerns. In a dramatic intervention in the final cabinet meeting before the summer recess, the deputy prime minister said economic insecurity, immigration, the increasing time people spend online, and declining trust in institutions were having a profound impact on society. She warned ministers that it was incumbent on the government to acknowledge the real concerns people have and to deliver improvements to peoples lives in their communities amid growing concerns that there could be a repeat of the unrest that scarred communities in the wake of the Southport murders. Her words come days after violent protests broke out outside an asylum hotel in Epping, Essex, which has pushed the community to boiling point, according to local Tory MP Neil Hudson. open image in gallery Deputy PM Angela Rayner ( PA ) Calling on the government to deliver improvements to people's lives, Ms Rayner noted that 17 of the 18 places that saw the worst of last summers disorder ranked among the countrys most deprived areas. Islamophobic claims circulating online about the Southport murderer fuelled violent far-right protests in Southport, Belfast, Manchester, Aldershot, London and Sunderland. A Holiday Inn housing asylum seekers in Rotherham was also set on fire, prompting Sir Keir to order a nationwide clampdown. The violent scenes began less than a month after Labour won power, but Ms Rayner is concerned that continuing problems over immigration with record numbers of small boats crossing the Channel rising unemployment and a flatlining economy are laying the groundwork for a new series of riots. The warnings were reflected in a recent joint report by former Tory home secretary Sir Sajid Javid and former Labour MP Jon Cruddas, who are chairing the new Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion. The report found Britain is sitting on a powder keg of social tension that could easily ignite again. open image in gallery Protesters near the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex ( PA ) Ms Rayner told colleagues that while Britain was a successful multi-ethnic, multi-faith country, the government had to show it had a plan to address peoples concerns and provide opportunities for everyone to flourish. The deputy prime minister highlighted how her own Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Governments Plan for Neighbourhoods would deliver billions of pounds of investment over 10 years in hundreds of the most deprived places, to restore pride in peoples local areas and improve peoples lives. It is understood that she has been working on a community cohesion project for some time in the wake of last years riots. Her warning follows concerns over the way that Reform leader Nigel Farage has defended the protesters in Epping. The violent protests began after claims that asylum seekers in the hotel were responsible for sexual assaults. Mr Farage claimed that the violent scenes were some bad eggs from the far right clashing with Antifa far-left activists. He also claimed civil disobedience on a vast scale will break out unless migrants stop arriving in the UK on small boats. Ms Rayners intervention also comes as her position in the government has been strengthened in recent weeks after she played a pivotal role in negotiating a deal with Labour rebels to prevent defeat on the welfare reforms. Allies claim she is best placed to take on Reforms surge in popularity as a working-class champion within the cabinet who represents traditional Labour values. While she has repeatedly denied wanting to be prime minister, she is regularly discussed as the favourite to take over from Sir Keir if he is forced out as a result of poor local election results in May next year. open image in gallery Police near the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, during a protest ( PA ) She is also expected to get an official Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in any government reshuffle after the summer. Responding to Ms Rayner, the prime ministers official spokesperson said he was focused on taking action to ensure that we address peoples concerns, peoples very legitimate concerns. And we start by acknowledging that those concerns are legitimate, and we start by dealing with the underlying causes of those concerns, they added. Meanwhile, as violent scenes have continued in Epping, Mr Hudson warned that outside groups are stoking up trouble. He said: People quite rightly have the right to peaceful protest, but these violent scenes are not us, they are not Epping, and they are not what we stand for. It is deeply disturbing that people from outside Epping are coming to these protests not to support the real concerns of our local community, but to disrupt and cause violence. But he warned: This is a crisis that is boiling over, and for the safety of our community, the government must get a grip on this situation now, and they must listen and act quickly to close the hotel. I continue to call on the government to immediately close the Bell Hotel. 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 A Reform UK council leader has said police should be given the power to shoot people if necessary" as the party launches a crackdown on crime. Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran said police forces should have the proper backing to shoot those who pose a risk to officers or members of the public. Speaking to Times Radio, she said: We must give our police force the proper backing to be able to do their job, to catch the criminals, to shoot people if necessary, if they feel that that person is going to present a real and present danger to either themselves and the police or to members of the public. open image in gallery Linden Kemkaran said police should have the power to shoot people if necessary ( PA ) You know, look at the police that have been dragged through the courts simply for doing their job. I think it's disgusting. I think what we need to do, if a police officer discharges their firearm because they genuinely think that either their life, their colleagues' life or members of the public lives are about to be put in danger, that police officer should not be dragged through the courts and be held up like a criminal when they're not. Ms Kemkaran was discussing Reforms plans, outlined on Monday by Nigel Farage, to launch a wave of tough-on-crime measures. She said it is a miracle if you see a police officer on the streets because there are not enough officers. And the Reform politician said whenever she does see an officer I feel sorry for them, because I know that if they do their job, if they actually try and stop a crime from being committed, the chances are they'll find themselves in court being held up for gross misconduct. She appeared to be referring to cases similar to the trial of firearms officer Martyn Blake, who fatally shot 24-year-old Chris Kaba in Streatham, south London, in September 2022. open image in gallery Nigel Farage has pledged a tough on crime approach ( Getty ) The government has backed a law change to allow officers in specialist roles such as Mr Blakes anonymity up to the point of conviction if they are accused of murder. There were claims that Mr Blake was left with a bounty on his head after his trial, and questions were raised as to whether he should have been prosecuted. Asked whether she believed more police should have guns, Ms Kemkaran said not necessarily. She added: That is a very slippery slope, we do not want to end up like America. But I think what we need to do if a police officer discharges their firearm because they genuinely think that either their life, their colleagues life, or members of the public lives, are about to be put in danger, that police officer should not be dragged through the courts and be held up like a criminal. Her comments came after Reform promised to halve crime in five years if the party gets into government. Speaking at a press conference in Westminster on Monday, Mr Farage said: Reform will be the toughest party on law and order and on crime that this country has ever seen. We will aim to cut crime by half in the first five years of a Reform government. We will take back control of our streets. We will take back control of our courts, of our prisons. If youre a criminal, I am putting you on notice today that from 2029 or whenever that may be, either you obey the law or you will face very serious justice. The Reform leader said bobbies on the beat should be big strapping male officers because society needs criminals to slightly fear the police. He promised a higher and physically tougher standard of police officer on our streets. Mr Farages plans also included using prison places overseas in places such as El Salvador to free up prison places in the UK. It comes as Mr Farage unveiled his partys first defector in the Welsh Senedd. Laura Anne Jones had been in the Tories for 31 years. Mr Farage said that her defection comes ahead of his partys push to win control of the Senedd in the Welsh election next year. 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 killing American Idol executive Robin Kaye and her husband inside their Los Angeles home allegedly used the couples gun in the shootings and called the police after the shooting, authorities said. Raymond Boodarian, 22, allegedly used a gun owned by Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, to kill the couple, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman revealed Monday during a town hall, according to Eyewitness News. After the fatal shooting of the 70-year-old pair, Boodarian called 911 from his cellphone and provided his name, which was how police tracked him down, Hochman added. "We're having phenomenal numbers on crime reduction. That being said when two wonderful people end up dead in their own home, those crime statistics fall kind of flat," LAPD Deputy Chief Marla Ciuffetelli told town hall attendees. The LAPD said theyve ramped up patrols throughout the Encino area, where the couple lived, as some residents now say they are worried about crime in the neighborhood. open image in gallery The suspect accused of killing Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca used a gun that was owned by the couple and called 911 on himself after the shooting. ( Facebook ) The crime is out of control, Encino resident Deborah Palace told Eyewitness News. You dont even feel safe going to sleep in your own home. Boodarian, who had battery charges against him dismissed before he was placed in a conservatorship last year, was arrested five days after the killing without incident, police said. Three misdemeanor cases against Boodarian were dismissed last year, with court documents revealing that in the months prior, he was deemed mentally incompetent. After a mental health evaluation, he was then placed in a conservatorship, allowing another adult to be in charge of his major life decisions, according to NBC Los Angeles. The mental health evaluations findings were not made public, but court records indicated that he was released from jail. Boodarians also faced charges of brandishing a knife and criminal threats against his stepfather in 2023, as well as battery against his mother and sister in 2024. All three misdemeanor cases were dismissed late last year. The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office declined to say how Boodarians mental health evaluation may affect their ability to prosecute the new murder case. Authorities said Kaye and Deluca were shot to death on July 10, around the same time that a neighbor called 911 to report seeing a man scaling a wall that surrounds their home. open image in gallery Authorities said the couple was killed with their own gun inside their Los Angeles home. ( NBC4 Los Angeles ) While there were no signs of forced entry or trouble at the location during the investigation, it is now believed that the suspect had gained entry into the residence through an unlocked door, police said. Kaye and Deluca had returned home to find the suspect, which ultimately led to a deadly confrontation. Boodarian is believed to have run away after the shooting. The couple hadnt been seen for several days when officers were called back to the home for a welfare check and found their bodies. According to local reports, the pair was found in different rooms of their home, with Deluca in the bathroom and Kaye in the pantry. The couple died from multiple gunshot wounds, authorities said. Kaye worked as a music supervisor for American Idol from 2002 to 2023, according to her IMDb biography. She contributed to nearly 300 episodes of the singing competition show. She also won three Guild of Music Supervisors awards for her contributions to the reality show. Before working on the talent show, Kaye launched her own record company, SyncroniCity, in 2000. open image in gallery Kaye was a longtime music supervisor on the beloved TV series, American Idol. ( Getty ) Deluca also had a music career, working as a songwriter and musician. His album Down To The Wire was released by Epic Records in 1986, according to his website. His most recent effort, Street Rock, came out in 2022. A spokesperson for American Idol said they were devastated to hear of Robin and her dear husband, Toms, passing. "Robin has been a cornerstone of the 'Idol' family since 2009 and was truly loved and respected by all who came in contact with her. Robin will remain in our hearts forever and we share our deepest sympathy with her family and friends during this difficult time, the statement continued. Their deaths are being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Departments Valley Bureau Homicide Division. 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 former Louisville police officer involved in the 2020 raid that killed Breonna Taylor has been sentenced to 33 months in prison and three years supervised probation for violating the 26-year-olds civil rights. The punishment exceeds the nominal one-day sentence the Trump administration had sought for Brett Hankison, who blindly fired 10 shots into Taylors apartment during a no-knock police raid, none of which struck the 26-year-old or anyone else. Taylor's mother Tamika Palmer said she had mixed feelings regarding the Monday sentencing. "It wasn't justice, but I got essentially what I started out for, which was jail time," she told CNN. She added that the Trump administration's proposed one-day sentence for Hankison was an insult, compounded by a government prosecutor who Palmer said never met with the Taylor family and didn't appear to recognize them in court on Monday. open image in gallery Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankisons 33-month sentence exceeds the Trump administrations recommendation of a one-day sentence for his role in the 2020 operation that killed Breonna Taylor during no-knock police raid ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) "Breonna never stood a chance in that courtroom," Palmer added. The Trump administrations requested punishment fell well short of the possible sentence, which would typically range from 135 months to life in prison. U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings reportedly said in court on Monday that the administrations recommendation, which cut against the Biden administrations repeated efforts to convict Hankison, was not appropriate and gave the impression the officers actions were an inconsequential crime. Hankison, who was fired from the police force in June 2020, is the only officer directly involved in the drug raid shooting to be convicted of criminal charges. During the March 2020 operation, police forcibly entered Taylors apartment to execute a no-knock search warrant, though they say they identified themselves as law enforcement. Taylors boyfriend Kenneth Walker, who thought the couple was being robbed, said he fired a warning shot that struck an officer in the thigh. In an ensuing firefight, Taylor was killed. During the exchange, Hankison retreated outside the building then fired through the 26-year-olds apartment door and window, with some rounds passing into an adjoining unit. open image in gallery The shooting of Taylor, an emergency room technician, helped fuel 2020 racial justice protests and prompted scrutiny of use of no-knock police warrants ( Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Hankison was not immediately taken into custody and will remain out on bond until the federal Bureau of Prisons determines where he will serve his sentence. In 2023, his first federal trial on civil rights charges ended in a hung jury. In the final days of the Biden administration, a federal jury conducting a retrial found Hankison guilty of violating Taylors civil rights. The former officer was acquitted in 2022 on state charges of wanton endangerment. Kelly Goodlett, a former Louisville detective, pleaded guilty in 2022 to federal charges of helping falsify an affidavit used the justify the search of Taylors apartment, part of a drug investigation into a former friend of Taylors. Taylors death, along with that of George Floyd in Minneapolis that same year, helped fuel mass protests challenging excessive police use of force against Black people. In late 2024, the Biden administrations Justice Department reached an agreement, pending court approval, to reform the citys police department, after federal officials found the agency had a pattern of violating the constitutional rights of and discriminating against Black people. This spring, the Trump administration withdrew from the consent decree process in the city, as part of a series of decisions pulling Biden-era police reform lawsuits. The city of Louisville paid Taylors family $12 million and reformed its use of no-knock warrants after 26-year-olds killing. 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 Dog the Bounty Hunters stepson, Gregory Zecca, has reportedly been put on a psychiatric hold after he shot and killed his own 13-year-old son in what is being described as a "freak accident." The individuals representing the family told TMZ that the hold was for Zecca's protection, as there is reportedly some fear that he may try to hurt himself in his grief. The representatives also noted that his current state is grief from losing his son, and not an admission of guilt related to the shooting. At the time of publishing, no charges have been brought against anyone involved. Zecca reportedly has not been able to speak with his family or the police because he has been heavily sedated since the shooting. Under Floridas Baker Act also called the Florida Mental Health Act people exhibiting serious signs of mental illness or who are acting in ways that indicate they could be a threat to themselves or others can be placed under an involuntary medical hold, though it is unclear if Zecca's hold is voluntary or involuntary. Gregory Zecca, the stepson of Duane Chapman aka Dog the Bounty Hunter has been placed into a psychiatric hold after he accidentally shot and killed his 13-year-old son, Anthony, in their Naples, Florida home ( Instagram/@franciedogchapman/Instagram ) The shooting occurred at Zecca's apartment in Naples, Florida on Saturday evening. According to the Collier County Sheriff's Office, Anthony Zecca's son was shot in his neck, just above his sternum. Deputies were dispatched to the apartment around 8:08 pm local time. Anthony was pronounced dead at 8:21 pm the same evening. The firearm involved in the deadly shooting was sitting on the family's kitchen island. Zecca, who works with his stepfather, Duane Chapman also known as Dog the Bounty Hunter is a noted gun enthusiast, and would take Anthony to gun ranges, often posting photos on Instagram, according to the New York Post. Chapman and his sixth wife, Francie Zecca's mother issued a joint statement following Anthony's death. "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 couple said. The Collier County Sheriff's Office told The Daily Mail that an investigation is ongoing, and that the tragic event was an "isolated incident." According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unintentional injury is a leading cause of death among U.S. children between the ages of 0 and 17, and firearms are a leading cause of such injuries, second only to motor vehicle accidents. Approximately half of unintentional firearm injury deaths that affect children happen at their homes when guns are not properly locked away. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An 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. 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. "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. 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 new CEO of Astronomer, the data company embroiled in the Coldplay kiss cam scandal, has described the newfound attention as unusual and surreal. Pete DeJoy stepped up to the plate after the former CEO, Andy Byron, resigned on Saturday after being caught in an embrace with his companys chief people officer, Kristin Cabot, at a concert last week. 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. Software company Astronomer has launched a formal investigation after its CEO Andy Byron was caught on camera at a Coldplay concert ( TikTok/@instaagraace ) A social media storm followed as the clip went viral and was widely covered by the media. The events of the past few days have received a level of media attention that few companies let alone startups in our small corner of the data and AI world ever encounter, DeJoy said in a statement on LinkedIn. However, DeJoy suggested a silver lining in that the furore had brought the New-York company into the spotlight. 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 said. DeJoy boasted that Astronomer, a company that began as a software company in Cincinnati, Ohio, "never shied away from challenges," including a recovery from the collapse of the bank that held all our cash and expanding from 30 to 300 people during the Covid-19 pandemic. He went on to add: Were here because Astronomer is built by people who live to solve hard problems, stay late to fix whats broken, and care deeply about doing things the right way. On Saturday, Astronomer released a statement saying their leader had flouted the companys values when he was caught in the act. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met, the company statement read. 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. The company also squashed rumors online that other employees were at the concert with the duo, and thus knew about the affair. Alyssa Stoddard was not at the event and no other employees were in the video, the company wrote in its statement. Byrons wife, Megan Byron, 50, is reportedly laying low at the family's $2.4million Maine mansion as crisis talks unfold over her marriage, The Daily Mail reported Monday. Cabot is believed to be on leave, but the details of her employment with Astronomer remain unclear, reports The New York Post. 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 Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, has issued a stark warning to the financial sector, predicting a "significant impending fraud crisis" driven by artificial intelligence. He highlighted AIs growing capability to impersonate human voices, allowing sophisticated bypasses of security protocols to illicitly transfer funds. Speaking at a Federal Reserve conference in Washington, Mr Altman expressed particular alarm over outdated authentication methods. "A thing that terrifies me is apparently there are still some financial institutions that will accept the voiceprint as authentication," he stated. "That is a crazy thing to still be doing. AI has fully defeated that." ( AP ) Voiceprinting, which involves customers uttering a challenge phrase to access accounts, gained popularity over a decade ago, particularly among wealthy bank clients. However, Mr Altman cautioned that AI-generated voice clones, and eventually video clones, are becoming increasingly "indistinguishable from reality," necessitating entirely new verification systems. Michelle Bowman, the Feds Vice Chair for Supervision and the central banks top financial regulator, who hosted the discussion with Mr Altman, indicated a willingness to collaborate on solutions. "That might be something we can think about partnering on," she remarked. 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 14-year-old boy has died after falling into a canal and being attacked by crocodiles in Mexico. Andres Alejandro Santana Hernandez accidentally fell into the water while on a walk with family in Lazaro Cardenas on Mexico's Pacific Coast on Friday. He was dragged by crocodiles into the swamp before his parents could help. Rivers and canals in the region are hotbeds for crocodiles, who kill multiple people each year. Local police divers have started searching the area for the teenage boys remains. It remains unclear if his body has been recovered. Authorities have warned people to stay away from the canal banks. They also issued safety warnings to visitors and walkers due to the unpredictable nature of the animals, according to The Sun. open image in gallery File picture: Local police divers have started searching the area for the boys remains ( AFP via Getty Images ) Andres was part of the local Cortazar Fire Department's marching band and a local altar boy. Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Church confirmed his death in a statement, saying: With deep sorrow, but with our hope placed in our Lord Jesus Christ, who has Risen and is the Lord of life, I earnestly ask you to join in prayer for the eternal rest of Andres Alejandro Santana Hernandez, altar server of the main parish, who has been called to the house of the Eternal Father. A Morelets crocodile, a species usually found in the Atlantic region of Mexico, is thought to be responsible for the attack. The species can grow up to three metres and weigh about 400 pounds. Also known as Mexican or Belize crocodiles, there are believed to be between 79,000 to 100,000 Morelets in the country. They are known for being aggressive and opportunistic predators and have been linked to at least 12 recorded human deaths. 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 United States will again pull out of the U.N.'s educational, scientific and cultural agency because of what Washington sees as its anti-Israel bias, only two years after rejoining. This will be the third time that the United States leaves UNESCO and the second time during a Trump administration. President Donald Trump had already pulled out during his first term and the United States returned after a five-year absence after the Biden administration applied to rejoin the organization. The decision will take effect at the end of December 2026. The move is a blow to the Paris-based agency, founded after World War Two to promote peace through international cooperation in education, science, and culture. Trump took similar steps during his first term, quitting the World Health Organization, the U.N. Human Rights Council, a global climate change accord and the Iran nuclear deal. Joe Biden reversed those decisions after taking office in 2021, returning the U.S. to UNESCO, the WHO and the climate agreement. UNESCO is best known for designating World Heritage Sites, including the Grand Canyon in the United States and the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria. The United States initially joined UNESCO at its founding in 1945 but withdrew for the first time in 1984 in protest against alleged financial mismanagement and perceived anti-U.S. bias, returning almost 20 years later in 2003 under President George W. Bush, who then said the agency had undertaken needed reforms. UNESCO's full name is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The United States provides about 8% of UNESCO's total budget, down from about 20% at the time Trump first pulled the United States out of the agency. 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 America is feeling the hangover from Canadas boycott of U.S. liquor, as sales dropped by 66 percent up north, a new analysis has found. In March, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario announced it would no longer carry American booze in response to President Donald Trumps tariffs on the country. From March through the end of April, sales of U.S. booze in Canada plummeted more than 66 percent, an analysis by trade group Spirits Canada, seen by Bloomberg, found. That figure was even higher in Ontario, the countrys largest liquor market. There, sales of U.S. alcohol dropped 80 percent in the same period, according to the analysis. This month, Trump has threatened a new 35 percent tax on goods imported from Canada, one of the U.S.s top trading partners. In a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the president cited the countrys failure to stop [fentanyl] from pouring into our Country as the reason behind the new tariffs. In March, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said less than 1 per cent of the fentanyl intercepted at the U.S. border comes from Canada. The new tariffs are set to take effect August 1. open image in gallery A liquor store in Canada urges customer to ''Buy Canadian Instead'' in response to President Donald Trumps tariffs on the U.S.s northern neighbor ( Reuters ) As tensions flare between the U.S. and Canada, Ontario Premier Doug Ford this week urged Canadians to buy local. Start buying Canadian-made everything. That will hurt them more than anything at all. Were their number one customer, Ford, according to CTV News. We are an economic powerhouse, and we dont have to take a backseat to anyone. Canadians first pushed back after Trump threatened initial hefty levies in March. Moosehead Breweries, a Canadian brewery founded in 1867, announced the Presidential Pack. Each pack contains 1,461 cans, one beer for each day remaining in Trumps second presidency. The company called it just enough to get through the full presidential term. Karen Grigg, Director of Marketing at Moosehead Breweries, issued a statement at the time: "If the start of 2025 has taught us anything, it's that it will take determination to weather four years of political uncertaintyand what better way to make it through each day than with a truly Canadian beer." As part of the boycott, some liquor stores boasted empty shelves where American liquor was once kept while others put up signs that urged customers to Buy Canadian instead. open image in gallery Canadian liquor stores boast empty shelves after Trump initially threatened hefty levies against Canada in March ( Reuters ) Canadas boycott on U.S. goods could pose a threat to U.S. trade. Canada served as the U.S.s second-largest food export market last year, valued at $28.4 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Canadas restrictions on American liquor isnt just impacting the U.S., its leading to a decrease in all spirit sales in the country, the analysis revealed. Total liquor sales plunged 13 percent. The removal of American products from Canadian shelves is deeply problematic for spirits producers on both sides of the border, Cal Bricker, chief executive officer of Spirits Canada, told Bloomberg. Trailing behind the European Union, Canada is the second-highest export market for American liquor, accounting for $262 million in exports, according to a 2023 report from the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. By comparison, the U.S. exported $883 million to the EU that same year. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The 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. 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. open image in gallery 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. 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. open image in gallery 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. 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. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The House Oversight Committee approved a subpoena for Ghislaine Maxwell, the onetime girlfriend of pedophile and alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, by voice vote on Tuesday. Lawmakers voted to compel Maxwells testimony before the committee as the issue of whether a so-called client list of Epsteins co-conspirators exists continues to consume Washington and much of American political discourse across X, Truth Social and other social platforms. In the House of Representatives, the investigation provoked a rare moment of unity between some of Donald Trumps closest supporters in the GOP, some of his strongest critics on the left, and even a Republican representative who has become one of the biggest thorns in the presidents side. While the committees vote to compel Maxwell to testify is clearly significant, a bipartisan cohort of lawmakers is threatening to take it a step further by forcing a vote on a resolution directing the Justice Department to release the entirety of its evidence on the Epstein and Maxwell cases. Congressional subpoenas carry the weight of a court order, and Maxwell remains incarcerated oj a 20-year sentence following her conviction for sex trafficking of a minor and other charges. As Epsteins lead accomplice, shes thought to know more about the inner workings of his social circles than anyone besides Epstein himself. Ghislaine Maxwell, pictured in 2003, was convicted of aiding Epstein's criminal efforts. Now, Congress wants her to testify amid the fallout over whether or not the DOJ has additional information on powerful people who helped enable Epstein ( Getty ) Arrested for similar charges after a prior conviction, Epstein died in 2019 in federal custody. The circumstances of his death are another mysterious angle in the saga, given that it was ruled a suicide and occurred in what was supposed to be tightly controlled federal custody. The Justice Department released video of an area outside Epsteins cell earlier this year that contained at least a full minute of missing footage, drawing further speculation. The alleged ties between a dead pedophile and powerful figures and institutions in American society are now under the microscope as Americans of all political stripes question whether the federal government is engaged in a cover-up to protect them. The relationship between Epstein and President Donald Trump is central to those questions, as the president was a known friend of Epstein for years. Last Thursday, the Wall Street Journal published the contents of a birthday note the paper reported as allegedly authored by Trump for Epsteins 50th birthday celebration in 2003. The contents of the bawdy alleged note hint at a secret shared by the two men. Trump, in response, denied the authenticity of the note and said the reporting was false. Hours later he filed a $10 million libel suit against the WSJ in Florida federal court. Epsteins efforts to cultivate powerful relationships went far beyond Trump, who at the time was a real estate mogul in New York. The billionaire financier held an office at Harvard University and was connected to other U.S. intellectual and political figures, including former President Bill Clinton. Britains Prince Andrew was also engulfed in scandal over his own friendship with Epstein. A top Justice Department official, deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, tried to stifle some of the speculation about a supposed Justice Department cover-up on Tuesday. In a tweet, he wrote that the agency would have investigators meet with Maxwell to determine whether she has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims of Epstein. The statement was bizarre on its face; Maxwell, as Epsteins co-conspirator, obviously would be the prime source of such information and Blanches statement implies that such information was not gathered as part of the prosecution leading to her 20-year sentencing in 2022. A statement from the Justice Department and FBI accelerated the backlash after officials declared that there was no list of Epsteins co-conspirators and no evidence definitively linking others besides Maxwell to his crimes. On the right, conversations about the issue veered quickly towards accusations of a cover-up involving the president himself. Trump, in response, sought to distract from the growing scandal by deploying some of his typical strategies. In statements and a now-deleted Truth Social post, he attacked his own followers and supporters as weak and stupid, and blamed them for focusing on an issue he claimed was unimportant. Separately, he has launched a wave of attacks against his favorite targets, from Barack Obama to Rosie ODonnell and the Washington Commanders, vowing improbable retribution for imagined slights 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 Videos from inside a small immigrant detention facility at a federal building in New York City show roughly two dozen people crammed in, lying on a cement floor with nothing but emergency blankets, steps away from a toilet separated only by a waist-high partition. Look how they have us like dogs in here, the person filming the videos can be heard saying in Spanish. Immigrants rights groups, lawyers and lawmakers have warned for weeks about deteriorating conditions inside the building, which also houses immigration courts. Federal law enforcement officers have been stationed in the buildings hallways since at least May 20 to make arrests moments after immigrants appear in court. People have been detained on the 10th floor for days and weeks at a time without showers, medication or a change of clothes, with only minimal food and outside contact, according to the New York Immigration Coalition. The American Dream, the man recording the videos says in Spanish. Immigration, 26 Federal Plaza. open image in gallery Videos clandestinely recorded by detained immigrants show conditions inside the 10th floor of 26 Federal Plaza in New York City, which houses immigration courts ( New York Immigration Coalition ) Footage, obtained by The Independent, provides outsiders with a first glimpse of the room, which Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have prevented members of Congress from seeing. In a statement to The Independent, Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the building does not house a detention center but a processing center where illegal aliens are briefly processed to be transferred to an ICE detention facility. Any claim that there is overcrowding or subprime conditions is categorically false, she said. The brief clips, which were first reported by The City, show the inside of one of several brightly lit holding rooms. The men inside are seated on benches that line the walls or are lying on aluminum emergency blankets on the bare floor. Two toilets in the room, one of which appears to be covered by tinfoil, are blocked off by a small partition. There are no doors separating the toilets from the rest of the room. ICE is kidnapping so many people from New Yorks immigration courts that they had to create a new detention facility, New York Immigration Coalition president Murad Awawdeh said in a statement. But instead of sharing the truth with the public, ICE has skirted accountability by consistently lying about whats happening on the 10th floor, and breaking the law by not allowing Congressmembers to view the conditions, Awawdeh added. The group is demanding the facility be immediately inspected and shut down. open image in gallery Masked federal agents have lined the hallways outside immigration courts inside the Manhattan federal building, prepared to make arrests moments after immigrants leave their hearings ( AFP/Getty ) As we arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens and public safety threats from the U.S., ICE has worked diligently to obtain greater necessary detention space while avoiding overcrowding, McLaughin said in a statement. Despite a historic number of injunctions, DHS is working rapidly overtime to remove these aliens from detentions centers to their final destination home. Democratic members of Congress and other New York officials have repeatedly been denied entry to the facility, despite congressional authority granted to lawmakers to conduct unannounced inspections of detention facilities holding individuals in federal immigration custody. Since May, ICE has been snatching New Yorkers off the streets and out of immigration court and taking them to this floor, said Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who is among House lawmakers who were denied entry to the facility. Theyve claimed its not a detention facility, just a processing center, to block members of Congress from exercising our legal right to conduct oversight, she said. This video confirms what weve feared all along: ICE has been lying and locking us out to hide whats happening inside. There is no more excuse. ICE must grant members of Congress immediate access to the 10th floor and shut this facility down. Rep. Adriano Espaillat said the facility is emblematic of the Trump administrations anti-immigration agenda, which he says views immigrants as disposable. This video demonstrates a moral and legal failure that demands immediate action, he said. While ICE has repeatedly denied that the room on the buildings 10th floor is being used as a detention facility, detention data analyzed by The City shows that the floor is being used for much more than just processing immigrants cases. In May and June, when arrests at immigration check-ins and courthouses began to skyrocket, immigrants were being held inside the room for 29 hours on average, according to The Citys review. Within those two months, 81 people were detained there for four days or more at a time. Detentions peaked on June 5, when 186 people were held there overnight. open image in gallery Federal agents arrested New York City comptroller Brad Lander and accused him of assaulting law enforcement after he observed immigration court proceedings on June 17. Hundreds of people have been held inside a makeshift detention center in the building in recent months ( AP ) On June 17, masked federal officers arrested New York City comptroller Brad Lander after observing immigration court hearings in the building. The citys elected watchdog, among the citys top officials second only to the mayor, was accused of assaulting and impeding an officer. He was released from federal custody hours later, and said that the charges against him were dropped. Thousands of people have faced arrest after showing up for court-ordered ICE check-ins, and immigration court hearings, as part of the Trump administrations mass deportation agenda. The administration has effectively de-legalized tens of thousands of immigrants, including people who show up to immigration courts each week only to have their cases dismissed, with federal agents waiting to arrest them on the other side of the courtroom doors. Those actions have radically expanded a pool of undocumented people to add to the presidents demands for mass deportations. Unlike federal district court judges, immigration judges operate under the direction of the attorney generals office. The Department of Justices Executive Office for Immigration Review has issued guidance to judges to grant motions from government lawyers to immediately dismiss immigrants cases, making them easy targets for arrest and removal. 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 Hunter Biden has claimed that his father Joe Biden was groggy from taking the sleeping aid Ambien during his presidential debate against Donald Trump last year, accounting for his disastrous performance. I know exactly what happened in that debate, Hunter told YouTube personality Andrew Callaghan in an interview released on Monday. He flew around the world. 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. The veteran Democrat cut a frail figure when he took to the CNN debate stage in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27 last year to battle it out with Trump as he sought another four years in the White House. open image in gallery Hunter Biden is interviewed by YouTuber Andrew Callaghan ( Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan/YouTube ) Biden went on to give a series of mangled answers, failing to make the case for his record in the Oval Office or a second term and at one point declared incoherently: We finally beat Medicare. I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence, his Republican opponent said after one garbled answer. I dont think he knows what he said either. After more than three weeks of pressure from panicked Democrats for Biden to step aside, he finally did so on July 21, paving the way for then-vice president Kamala Harris to run in his stead, only for her to lose to Trump the following November. While the use of Ambien is common for sleep disorders, there was no mention of it among the six medications prescribed to the Democrat that were referenced in his annual physical report published on February 28 2024, signed off by Bidens presidential physician Dr. Kevin OConnor. In the same interview, Hunter noted that there was little opposition to Biden running again prior to the televised head-to-head: The people who came out against him were nobody, except Speaker Emeritus [Nancy] Pelosi did not give a full-throated endorsement. The entirety of the progressive side of the Democratic Party said Joe Biden has got more of our agenda accomplished in four years than any president in history. open image in gallery Joe Biden examining his notes during his fateful CNN debate against Donald Trump in Atlanta, Georgia ( AFP/Getty ) That changed in the aftermath of his fathers very public humiliation, Hunter alleged. They said, We are going to blow up the party if you dont drop out. Were going to protest this all the way up for the next month, all the way up to the convention. Picking up his fathers story, Hunter told Callaghan: He gets over the hump, he goes and does the [ABC News anchor George] Stephanopoulos [interview]. Everybody goes, OK, thats not enough, we got to see him give a press conference. What followed was another troubling public appearance on July 12 at which Biden appeared alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and accidentally referred to him as Vladimir, apparently confusing him with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Five days after that, with the pressure campaign on him to step aside only intensifying, Biden was diagnosed with Covid-19. He woke up in the morning and he had a severe case of Covid, and the pictures of him getting on and off the plane were just devastating, and then the vultures descended, Hunter remembered. open image in gallery Trump and Biden on the CNN debate stage ( Getty ) So Joe Biden, I think, did the most selfless thing that I know of any politician in the history of this f***ing country. He stepped aside to save the party. In the same interview, Hunter lashed out at Hollywood actor George Clooney who wrote a New York Times editorial last year calling on the president to drop out of the race after becoming concerned by his appearance at a charity gala alongside Barack Obama. F*** you. What do you have to do with f***ing anything? Hunter said angrily of Clooney. While the presidents son made his opinion clear on why the Democratic ticket failed at the polls last year, others have pointed to his own role in bringing down his fathers presidency. A lightning rod for MAGA conspiracy theories, Hunters prosecution on tax and gun charges led to speculation that the president would pardon his son, which he denied and then did anyway leading some to feel he had received favorable treatment because of his privileged position. The book 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America by Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager and Isaac Arnsdorf argues that Biden was preoccupied with the prospect of his son going to prison at the height of election campaigning last summer, causing him to take his eye off the ball. 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 House Republicans are pushing to rename the Kennedy Centers Opera House after Melania Trump. The House Appropriations Committee considered an amendment to an existing bill Tuesday that would call for the theater to be renamed as the First Lady Melania Trump Opera House. The measure passed 33-25, The Washington Post reports. Representative Mike Simpson, a Republican from Idaho, introduced the proposal as an amendment to a funding bill for the Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency and other related agencies. This is an excellent way to recognize [Melania Trumps] support and commitment to promoting the arts, and I would encourage members to vote for this Republican en bloc amendment, Simpson said. The Opera House can hold more than 2,300 attendees and hosts the annual Kennedy Center Honors. The event is typically attended by high-profile celebrities and politicians, including the president. open image in gallery President Donald Trump walks hand-in-hand with Melania Trump. Republicans are pushing an amendment to a bill that would rename a Kennedy Center theater in honor of the First Lady ( Getty Images ) President Donald Trump broke tradition and skipped the celebration in 2017 to allow the honorees to celebrate without any political distraction. This came after one of the honorees threatened to boycott the event if Trump attended. Representative Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, called the amendment divisive, the Post reports. Pingree argues that Republicans snuck in, I think, something that is slightly divisive, which is renaming one section of the Kennedy Center after the family member of this administration. open image in gallery President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend a performance of 'Les Miserables' at the Kennedy Center ( Getty Images ) Other Congressional Republicans have pitched similar ideas, including renaming a D.C.-area airport after Trump, putting Trump on the $100 bill and carving Trumps face into Mount Rushmore. The First Lady serves as the honorary chair of the Kennedy Center. In February, Trump fired members of the Kennedy Centers board who were hired by President Joe Biden and replaced them with his picks. The board then elected him as the new chair. The Trumps attended a Kennedy Center performance of the musical Les Miserables alongside Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance last month. Multiple cabinet members, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, also attended. The Trumps were met with a mix of boos and cheers as they entered the theater and took their seats. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Trump administration may be taking a flexible approach to what it previously described as a hard deadline of long-promised tariffs taking effect on August 1. The important thing here is the quality of the deal, not the timing of the deals, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Monday, arguing the presidents tariff threats had created maximum leverage as only he can do for countries to swiftly reach trade deals with the U.S. Our trading partners were told that the rates could boomerang back toward the April 2nd levels, he added. We can continue talking then. But again, were proceeding apace with the negotiations, but were not going to rush for the sake of doing deals. Other Trump officials have described the August 1 deadline, when U.S. trading partners could face up to 40 percent tariffs, as a firmer cutoff point. Thats a hard deadline, so on August 1, the new tariff rates will come in, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CBS News on Sunday. Nothing stops countries from talking to us after August 1, but theyre going to start paying the tariffs on August 1. The Trump administration is focusing more on the quality of trade deals than White Houses August 1 tariff deadline, though Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says U.S. is applying maximum leverage through Trump to secure swift results ( REUTERS ) The president, for his part, has called the deadline "firm but not 100 percent firm. Throughout July, the Trump administration has written letters to foreign leaders warning of the coming tariffs, expected to include a 35 percent tariff rate against Canada, a major U.S. trading partner, and a 30 percent rate for the European Union and Mexico. Since being unveiled in April, Trumps Liberation Day tariff agenda has been repeatedly delayed, and the administration has conceded it wont achieve its original promise of 90 trade deals in 90 days. Theres 200 countries, the president said earlier this month. You cant talk to all of them. The presidents hesitancy to fully implement the tariffs has prompted critics of the president to deem the tariff agenda the TACO plan, for Trump always chickens out. The markets shrugged off Trump's move to push back the tariffs to August, Carolyn Kissane, a professor at NYU's School of Professional Studies Center for Global Affairs, told The Independent earlier this month, compared to the initial market plunge when the tariffs were first revealed. The pattern is familiar: dramatic declarations, walk-backs, and renewed threats. It's eroded his credibility and resembles the boy who cried wolf, Kissane added. He believes this tactic gives him a unique leverage to negotiate, but it also weakens the threats. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Justice Department plans to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell, the disgraced socialite and former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, in the coming days to see if she has additional information about the highly-scrutinized case. U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Tuesday that he had contacted Maxwells attorneys to pursue any potential new leads as Trumps MAGA base excoriates the administration over its handling of the so-called Epstein Files after the DOJ and FBI memo revealed this month that there were no more significant disclosures to be made in the case. Justice demands courage. For the first time, the Department of Justice is reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell to ask: what do you know? At AG Pam Bondis direction, Ive contacted her counsel. I intend to meet with her soon. No one is above the lawand no lead is off-limits, Blanche posted on X. Until now, no administration on behalf of the Department had inquired about her willingness to meet with the government. That changes now, Blanche added. Maxwell, 63, was sentenced to 20 years in 2021 for her role in a scheme to sexually exploit and abuse multiple girls with Epstein. She is being held at the Florida Correctional Institution-Tallahassee. Her attorneys have taken an appeal of her conviction to the Supreme Court. Shortly after Blanches announcement Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee approved a subpoena for Maxwell. Trump said that the subpoena for Maxwell "sounds appropriate" during questions from reporters at the White House. open image in gallery The Justice Department plans to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell, the disgraced socialite and longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, to see if she has additional information about the highly-scrutinized case ( US District Court for the Southern District of New York ) The DOJs overture to Maxwell is the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to attempt to quell outrage in the wake of a July 6 memo from DOJ and the FBI which stated that an exhaustive review of documents in the Epstein case did not expose any additional third-parties to allegations of illegal wrongdoing. The review also found no evidence of a client list of high-profile associates linked to the sex offenders trafficking scheme, the memo stated. The DOJ additionally confirmed an earlier investigations findings that Epstein had died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019. Blanche reiterated Tuesday that the DOJ was not changing its position on the memo. Namely, that in the recent thorough review of the files maintained by the FBI in the Epstein case, no evidence was uncovered that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties, the deputy AG wrote. If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say. Therefore, at the direction of Attorney General Bondi, I have communicated with counsel for Ms. Maxwell to determine whether she would be willing to speak with prosecutors from the Department. David Oscar Markus, one of Maxwells attorneys, told CNN that the DOJ and his client were in discussions. open image in gallery Convicted sex offender and former socialite, Ghislaine Maxwell, is being held at the Florida Correctional Institution-Tallahassee. ( Federal Bureau of Prisons ) I can confirm that we are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case, Markus said. The Trump administration has found itself at the center of a firestorm over the Epstein investigation after officials, including Bondi, had insinuated that there was much more to be revealed in the case. Elon Musk, formerly known as Trumps first buddy, claimed in a social media post on X last month that Trumps name appeared in the Epstein files. The tech billionaire later deleted the post. The president has denied that his name appears in the files. Last Thursday, the Wall Street Journal published a report about an alleged 50th birthday card that the president reportedly sent Epstein in 2003. The WSJ described the card as a sexually suggestive drawing and containing a reference to secrets both men shared. Trump vehemently denied the allegations, and then sued the paper and its owners for $10 billion. In February, the Attorney General suggested to Fox News that Epsteins apparent client list was sitting on her desk. The memo this month stated there was no evidence to support such a list existed. That same month, Bondi also provided right-wing influencers with binders of Phase 1 Epstein information. But that turned out to contain little that wasnt already in the public domain. open image in gallery President Trump asked AG Pam Bondi to release all pertinent grand jury testimony from the Epstein and Maxwell criminal cases ( AP ) In the weeks since the DOJ memo, prominent Republicans and Trumps MAGA supporters have demanded increased transparency around the case. A rift over the memos decisive conclusion even erupted from within the Trump administration, with deputy FBI director Don Bongino allegedly informing allies that he may resign in its wake. The president, meanwhile, has tried to deflect attention from the situation. He has dubbed the Epstein files a hoax cooked up by the Democrats and tried to steer reporters questions away from the matter. He went so far as to call Republicans stupid and foolish for pursuing information on the case while claiming he no longer wants the support from his followers who have demanded answers. But a poll conducted by The Economist and YouGov last week found most Americans 67 percent believe the government is hiding evidence related to the late financier. Amid the mounting media pressure and negative polling, Trump last week asked Bondi to release any and all pertinent grand jury testimony. DOJ officials subsequently asked the Southern District of New York to unseal the grand jury transcripts as a matter of public interest in both the Epstein and Maxwell cases. The Justice Department said it would work with the Southern District to ensure victim-related information, and other personal identifying information, was redacted before any release. Experts say these transcripts will only account for a fraction of the files, and a judge would need to approve the release. 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 When Donald Trump pushed back against a report alleging he drew a bawdy sketch to celebrate convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epsteins 50th birthday, the president insisted he doesnt draw pictures. I never wrote a picture in my life, he said in an awkwardly-phrased rebuttal to the Wall Street Journal last week, vehemently denying having anything to do with the birthday card. In a later Truth Social tirade he doubled down on the statement and bluntly declared: I dont draw pictures. Despite the presidents claims, multiple sketches by Trump have been made public over the years. Analysts were quick to pounce on Trumps denial, including Media Matters chief Angelo Carusone, who told MSNBC, I can think of three [Trump sketches] off the top of my head that were auctioned. open image in gallery This sketch Trump did in 2005 of the Manhattan skyline was sold at auction in 2017 ( Heritage Auctions ) At least five sketches from the late 1990s and early 2000s have been sold at auction. Trumps take on the Empire State Building, scribbled in his signature black marker pen, from his days as a Manhattan real estate mogul when he was pursuing the prized property, went up for auction back in 1995. The 12-by-nine-inch piece was etched from his Mar-a-Lago estate for a charity auction, according to Juliens Auctions. The signed sketch sold in 2017 for $16,000, according to The New York Times. There was another marker and pencil drawing from the early 2000s, in which Trump depicted dollar bills falling from a spiral-leafed tree, punctuated by a large gold signature. A placard on the back read that The Donald was known for his outspokenness and media exposure, along with his distinct comb over. The Money Tree Drawing sold at the North Carolina-based auction house Lealand Little in December 2020 for $8,500, the website reads. open image in gallery The president has repeatedly attempted to downplay the Epstein case, to the dismay of some MAGA allies ( Reuters ) In October 2003, Trump drew the Cityscape Skyline, this time entirely in gold marker pen, originally done for a celebrity art auction to benefit the Capuchin Food Pantry. Dated 2004, the Art of the Deal author depicted a scene reminiscent of the Riverside South development project in Manhattan. The drawing was sold in January for $15,000, according to Sothebys auction house. Trump drew a more minimalist rendition of his New York City skyline piece in 2005, which sold at Nate D. Sanders auctions in 2017 for $29,000. The auction house stated that there was an additional variant of the drawing. In 2006, Trump scrawled the George Washington Bridge in black marker. That drawing, which was sold by Juliens auctions for $4,480 in April 2019, was described as an original ink illustration on paper and signed in black ink by Donald Trump lower center. In his 2010 book Trump Never Give Up, the president boasted, Each year I donate an autographed doodle to the Doodle for Hunger auction at Tavern on the Green. Art may not be my strong point, he admitted. 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 Trump hastily changed the subject to his years-long bid to seek revenge against Barack Obama after he was questioned about the Jeffrey Epstein files during a meeting Monday with the president of the Philippines at the White House. The U.S. president accused his first-term predecessor of sedatious behavior apparently mispronouncing seditious and ranted about an imaginary coup after Ed OKeefe of CBS News asked him about the Justice Department reaching out to attorneys for Ghislaine Maxwell to request a new interview about Epstein and the sex trafficking ring for which her involvement earned the socialite a 20-year prison sentence in 2022. I dont know about it, but I think its something that would be, sounds appropriate to do, the president said, before telling OKeefe: Its sort of a witch hunt, the continuation of the witch hunt. He then said that the witch hunt you should be talking about was how Tulsi Gabbard, his director of national intelligence, supposedly caught President Obama absolutely cold. Trump proceeded to rant for several minutes about his long-debunked claims that Barack Obama was engaged in an illegal effort to spy on his campaign, overturn the 2016 election, and spread false information about links between his first campaign for office and Russia. Donald Trump attacked Barack Obama falsely during a rant in the Oval Office, accusing the ex-president of launching a 'coup' ( AP ) He previously appointed John Durham, a special prosecutor, to review the origins of that FBI investigation into his 2016 campaign for any criminal behavior in 2019; the probe came up with nothing against Obama or others in his administration, and found no evidence of a Deep State conspiracy against Trump. But Trump insisted to reporters on Tuesday that a memo issued by Gabbard accusing the Obama administration of doctoring intelligence assessments related to Russian influence and hacking efforts during the 2016 election season was the evidence his administration needed to begin criminal prosecutions of the 44th president; his 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton; former President Joe Biden, former director of national intelligence James Clapper; and former FBI Director James Comey. "There should be very severe consequences, Trump said. Whether it's right or wrong, it's time to go after people. Obama has been caught directly. Hes guilty. This was treason, the president insisted. It remains unclear why, if Trump and his administration were able to uncover evidence linking a former president, his then-vice president and two of the nations top intelligence officials to a criminal conspiracy, such evidence would remain unaddressed for the entirety of his first term in office. In reality, the presidents accusations of a coup against him are the result of a conveniently worded ODNI assessment released by Gabbard, wrongly baselessly accusing the Obama administration of ginning up the threat of Russian cyberattacks for political gain. Gabbards ODNI assessment, released at the end of last week as part of a clear effort by the White House to distract from the Epstein story, dishonestly conflated the Obama administrations assessment that Russian agents did not directly hack into voting systems or attempt to influence vote totals with an assessment that Russian actors did not interfere with the election at all. The latter assessment is obviously and patently false. The nations intelligence community as well as bipartisan House and Senate investigations found clear evidence to the contrary. Russian-aligned actors hacked into the files of the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 primary season and released stolen documents online, stirring up division within Trumps opponents, while Russian-backed misinformation efforts using bot farms and other methods flourished on social media, mainly fueling criticism of Hillary Clinton. Epstein-related fallout continues to be a massive problem for the White House, motivating Trump to seek red meat to throw to his base. The House Oversight Committee voted on bipartisan lines Tuesday to issue a subpoena for the testimony of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epsteins former girlfriend, now imprisoned for her role in his crimes. The Justice Department and FBI announced in early July that no list exists compiling the convicted pedophiles known associates, which many speculate includes powerful figures in American society with whom Epstein cultivated personal relationships during his life. Arrested on the same sex trafficking charges that later led to Maxwells conviction, Epstein died in 2019 in federal custody. His death in federal custody was ruled a suicide. The Justice Department released video of an area outside Epsteins cell which contained at least a full minute of missing footage, drawing further speculation. On Thursday of last week the Wall Street Journal published the contents of a birthday note the paper alleged was authored by Trump for Epsteins 50th birthday celebration in 2003. The contents of the note hint at a secret shared by the two men. Trump, in response, denied the notes authenticity and called the reporting fake news before launching a libel suit against the WSJ. 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 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. 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. open image in gallery 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. 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. open image in gallery 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 Trump is claiming that late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon will be the next to go if he has his way, following the shock announcement that CBS will permanently retire the Stephen Colbert-helmed Late Show next year. The word is, and its a strong word at that, Jimmy Kimmel is NEXT to go in the untalented Late Night Sweepstakes and, shortly thereafter, Fallon will be gone, Trump wrote on Truth social on Tuesday of the comedians, both of whom regularly mock the president on their shows. These are people with absolutely NO TALENT, who were paid Millions of Dollars for, in all cases, destroying what used to be GREAT Television. Its really good to see them go, and I hope I played a major part in it! The comments follow similar ones from the president last week, who wrote on social media that he heard Jimmy Kimmel is next and called Fallon a moron. The Independent has contacted representatives of both hosts for comment. Kimmels contract expires next year, while Fallons runs through 2028. open image in gallery Trump has claimed more late-night TV hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon will see their shows cancelled, following the surprise announcement that CBS will end the Stephen Colbert-hosted Late Show ( ABC/AP ) CBS announced the end of the top-ranked Late Show last week, calling it a purely financial decision, as late-night TV faces declining ad revenue and viewership, as well as competition from social media and streaming services. Colbert, however, as well as various Hollywood figures and prominent elected Democrats, saw the cancellation as another move designed to curry favor with Trump, after CBS parent Paramount agreed earlier this month to a $16 million settlement in a lawsuit from the president over the editing of a 2024 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris. The administration also has final sign-off on a proposed $8.4 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance, a production company with ties to pro-Trump billionaire Larry Ellison. Colbert has blasted the settlement as a a big fat, bribe, and staged an elaborate segment on Monday spoofing the cancellation, modeled after an incident in which the jumbotron at a Coldplay concert recently exposed an affair between a tech company CEO and his head of HR. open image in gallery Stephen Colbert mocked Paramount, the parent company of his home network of CBS, during a July 21 broadcast for allegedly bending to Donald Trump by cancelling the Late Show and settling a Trump lawsuit against 60 Minutes ( The Late Show/CBS ) In the Late Shows version, the audience was filled with fellow late-night hosts including Fallon, Seth Meyers, Andy Cohen, John Oliver, and John Stewart, as well as an animated Donald Trump hugging a Paramount logo. Fellow comedians have rallied behind Colbert. I think the answer is in the fear and pre-compliance that is gripping all of Americas institutions at this very moment, institutions that have chosen not to fight the vengeful and vindictive actions of our pubic hair doodling Commander in Chief, Stewart said on The Daily Show. This is not the moment to give in. Love you, Stephen. F*** you and all your Sheldons, CBS, Kimmel wrote last week in an Instagram Story, referring to the CBS show The Big Bang Theory and its variety of spinoffs. Outside of late-night TV, the president has shown an unprecedented willingness to publicly wield his power against media institutions engaged in work that paints him in an unflattering light. Trump has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over a report that prior to taking office, Trump sent an explicit 50th birthday card to sex offender and alleged human trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. 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 Australian government privately pressured Tony Blair in 1999 not to meet an Indigenous delegation led by Patrick Dodson, labelling them troublemakers, according to newly released government files. Mr Dodson, a Yawuru elder and one of Australias most influential Indigenous leaders, later elected as an Australian Labour senator, is widely regarded as the father of reconciliation. Australian officials feared the delegation would seek an apology from the Queen and raise the historical failure of the British government to consult Australias Indigenous population during colonisation, according to a report in the Guardian based on papers from the National Archives. A memo from Mr Blairs foreign affairs adviser, John Sawers, reportedly reveals that the Australian high commissioner, Philip Flood, urged Mr Blair not to meet the visiting Indigenous delegation. The UK government was uneasy about the optics and feared diplomatic fallout, with Mr Sawers suggesting Mr Blair cite diary problems to avoid the meeting, an idea Mr Blair appeared to agree with. The Australians are pretty wound up about the idea of you seeing the Aborigines at all, Mr Sawers reportedly wrote in a note to Blair, the outlet reported. Their high commissioner rang me to press you not to see them: they were troublemakers it would be like [the then Australian prime minister] John Howard seeing people from Northern Ireland who were trying to stir up problems for the UK. Mr Dodson has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Notre Dame in Broome, and he was recognised as a National Living Treasure in 2008. He also has received the Sydney Peace Prize. In 2022, Mr Dodson was visibly moved to tears as he recalled meeting Queen Elizabeth II two decades ago. Indigenous Australians still grapple with the lasting impact of British colonisation, dispossession, and systemic discrimination. Earlier this month, Australias first truth-telling inquiry revealed that the British committed genocide of the Aboriginal people in Victoria during their colonisation of the country. The same memo also noted that meeting the delegation could complicate Blairs position on a forthcoming request to meet Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng. It will be harder to avoid seeing Wei if youre seeing Australian dissidents next week. Newly released National Archives files also revealed that Blairs government quietly changed the rules for laying wreaths at the Cenotaph in 2004 to appease unionist sensitivities during Northern Irelands peace process. The shift reportedly came after a defection altered party standings, leaving the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) just short of eligibility under existing rules, prompting complaints and a rule change to maintain political balance. CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 03: Senator Patrick Dodson speaks in the senate at Parliament House on April 03, 2019 in Canberra, Australia. Senator Anning is facing a censure motion over his comments following the Christchurch terror attack on 15 March, in which he blamed the Muslim population in New Zealand for the shooting. (Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images) ( Getty Images ) The newly-released National Archive papers also revealed that Mr Blair was advised to repay thousands of pounds in discounts which he received on designer clothes. Papers released to the National Archives show that No 10 officials recommended he should pay back more than 7,600 on items bought from designers Nicole Farhi and Paul Smith. The discounts were negotiated by his wife Cheries controversial friend and style adviser, Carole Caplin, who bought clothes for Mrs Blair. The papers also revealed that Mr Blair bitterly accused French president Jacques Chirac of trying to undermine UK efforts to put pressure on Zimbabwes dictatorial leader Robert Mugabe. Papers released by the National Archives show Mr Blair erupted with anger when he learned Mr Chirac was insisting the Zimbabwean president should be allowed to attend an EU-Africa summit due to be held in 2003. But this is the opposite of what he said to me, he scrawled in a handwritten note after No 10 officials told him Mr Chirac feared South African president Thabo Mbeki would stay away from the gathering unless Mr Mugabe was invited. Ultimately if France wants to take the heat on this they can and probably they are using it to damage the UKs standing in Africa in the belief (mistaken) that Mugabe retains credibility. But we should be seen to do all we can to protest. The row came as Zimbabwe was caught up in a worsening spiral of violence and economic collapse after Mr Mugabe instigated a violent campaign to drive the countrys remaining white farmers from their lands. Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Dominique Pelicot, the French man jailed last year for drugging and raping his wife, could avoid prosecution for a separate murder due to lost evidence, it has emerged. Police officers are not able to find clothes found at the scene of the murder of 23-year-old estate agent Sophie Narme, who was raped and strangled in 1991, according to Paris Match. Pelicot has been accused of being behind the attack, but has consistently denied responsibility. Florence Rault, the lawyer representing the victims family, told the magazine that a search was carried out for the clothes at the beginning of this year, but no one has been able to get their hands on them. The clothes could provide crucial DNA evidence for the case, by linking it to another attempted rape case from 1999 which Pelicot has admitted involvement in. In December, the 72-year-old was imprisoned for 20 years after inviting dozens of strangers he met online to rape his unconscious wife, Gisele Pelicot, who he had drugged in their home in Mazan for more than ten years. The trial gripped the worlds attention after Ms Pelicot waived her anonymity, in an attempt to make the "shame swap sides". open image in gallery Gisele Pelicot waived the right to anonymity to speak out on behalf of other victims of sexual assault ( Alamy/PA ) Two years after his initial arrest for taking upskirting photos of women in October 2020, Pelicot was accused of the 1991 rape and murder of Ms Narme and the attempted rape of another woman, 19, eight years later. Pelicot, who admitted to the crimes against his wife, has consistently denied the allegations relating to Ms Narme. Her murder took place on 4 December 1991, after she made her way to an appointment with a potential buyer who wanted a top floor flat, Paris Match reported. After she failed to return home, Ms Narmes mother alerted her employer, who sent someone to the apartment where she had been giving a viewing. She was found face down with her belt tied around her neck, after having been strangled to death and raped by her murderer. Three years ago, Pelicot admitted assaulting the other woman, also an estate agent, in a Parisian suburb in 1999. open image in gallery Dominique Pelicot in the courthouse last December during the trial over his abuse of wife, Gisele ( AFP/Getty ) He was accused of pinning the woman to the floor of an apartment where she was due to be giving a viewing. Prosecutors said Pelicot threatened the unnamed woman with a box cutter, before forcing a cloth soaked in ether in an attempt to knock her out. The victim fought back until the assailant eventually fled. Pelicot has since retracted his confession in part and claimed there was no intention to rape the women, but instead to force her to show him her underwear. In 2004, a special software system found a link between the rape and murder of Sophie Narme and the attempted rape of the other woman, in terms of the attacker being alone, the victims being estate agents, and a product used by the attacker - ether - in both attacks, Paris Match reported. But attempts to link the cases using DNA had no result. open image in gallery Gisele Pelicot faces her ex-husband who orchestrated years of abuse ( AFP/Getty ) Nearly two decades later, in 2022, after an investigating judge asked her team to re-explore the attempted rape case from 1999, a bombshell discovery was made. DNA extracted from a drop of blood from the womans attacker, which was taken from the heels of one of her shoes, matched that of Dominique Pelicot. The cases are 85-90 per cent identical, Ms Rault said. Judge Turquey therefore ordered a joinder between the two cases." The loss of the clothes from the Sophie Narme case may hinder the prosecution's ability to irrefutably link the two cases. With new analysis techniques, new DNA evidence could have been found. Ms Rault said, in a letter to French justice minister Gerald Darmanin: "These seals have not been destroyed. They exist and must be effectively searched for and recovered by all means. Otherwise, this new loss would constitute a new cause of State liability." 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 Interpol has said it is removing a most-wanted designation for anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson. Watson is sought by Japan over an encounter with a whaling ship and who was jailed for several months last year in Greenland. The 74-year-old is a former head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, whose high seas confrontations with whaling vessels have drawn support from celebrities and featured in the reality television series Whale Wars. Japan wants his extradition over an encounter with a Japanese whaling research ship in 2001, when he was accused of obstructing the crews official duties by ordering the captain of his ship to throw explosives at the whaling ship. Starting in 2012, Watson had been subject to a red notice of Interpol, the Lyon, France-based international police body. Environmental activist Paul Watson smiles as he arrives at Charles de Gaulle's airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Dec. 20, 2025 after being released from prison few days ago ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The Canadian-American activist was arrested and jailed on the Japanese warrant last year in Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, but released after five months. Denmark does not have an extradition treaty with Japan, where Watson's foundation says he could have faced a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, and the Danish government declined to extradite him to Japan. At the time of his release, the Danish Justice Ministry said it had not received adequate guarantees from Japanese authorities that the time Watson had already served in custody would be counted against any sentence he would receive in Japan. In a statement, Interpol said the decision to remove Watson from the red notice list did not reflect any judgment on the merits of the case in Japan, but that it did take into account Denmark's refusal to extradite him. This is not a judgement on the merits of the case, or the events that occurred in 2010, the Interpol statement said. The police agency said the decision was made by an independent body, the Commission for the Control of Interpol's File, which is tasked to ensure that the police body's processing of personal data adheres to its internal rules. Lamya Essemlali, president of Sea Shepherd France, hailed the good news that this notice was finally cancelled," but she noted that Watson still could be arrested and sent to Japan for prosecution. It does not give Paul Watson his freedom of movements because the Japanese arrest warrant is sufficient for a country to order his arrest, she said. 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 Poland is preparing a manual on how to cope in case of war or natural disaster, an interior ministry official says. The 40-page pamphlet - titled "Safety guide" - aims to strengthen national resilience amid heightened regional uncertainty, including conflict in neighbouring Ukraine. It will include 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. 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. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk ( AP ) "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. 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 per cent of gross domestic product to boosting its armed forces in 2025. 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 In just two months, every new digital device in Russia will come equipped with a brand new messenger app, named Max. Beneath its playful white-and-blue logo lies software that experts believe could allow the Kremlin to dramatically expand its capacity to spy on the Russian public. The app, launched in March by Russian tech company VK, will be installed on every new device sold in Russia from September this year. But there are fears it will work as a spy programme, allowing Russias FSB security service to establish a rigid surveillance programme. The app will provide not only a space for messaging and video calls, but will be a broader information system with access to government services and mobile payments, analysts told The Independent. With servers based in Russia, Max will be subject to Russian law, which grants the FSB to have access to certain materials. WhatsApp - the global messenger app used by more than 70 per cent of Russians - is highly likely to be banned as Moscow looks to push people towards using Max, Mark Galeotti, a veteran observer of Russian security and politics and director of Mayak Intelligence, told The Independent. open image in gallery The logo of the Max messenger app ( Max ) Russian opposition journalist Andrey Okun said Max would be central to the Kremlins dream of constructing a digital gulag. Writing for the Republic website, he said in comments reported by The Times: This will be a sterile space in which the authorities have complete control over the leisure time, motives and thoughts of citizens. But experts on Russian technology and surveillance say that the introduction of the app, which is said to have been developed on Vladimir Putins orders, is only the latest step in repeated measures to ramp up its ability to monitor the entire Russian online sphere. This is a normalisation of Russia's surveillance of its internet use it's part of a long, long process, Keir Giles, author of Russias War on Everybody, told The Independent. The perceived threat from Western communications technology is not something that's new. It's something that has always been a focus for the Russian security services. Moscows security industry has for decades been frustrated by Russian citizens using foreign software such as Google, Skype and Hotmail, all of which made it much more difficult to read their messages, Mr Giles explained. Western communications technologies have always been perceived as a threat by Russian security services. After years of trying to clamp down on services such as WhatsApp, the latest move to push Russians towards Max is really just tidying up at this point, he added. Popular apps such as WhatsApp - a messenger owned by Meta, which is designated as an extremist organisation by Russia - are now facing a potential ban. Mr Giles said the messenger app has been an anomaly in avoiding the Russian crackdown so far, likely due to its widespread use across the country. Figures show it is used by more than 70 per cent of people in Russia. open image in gallery Many Western social media apps have already been banned in Russia, and Whatsapp is likely to be next ( PA ) It would be disruptive and unpopular to [ban it] without having a replacement available, Mr Giles added. Prof Galeotti said: The Russian state looks keen to be using sticks rather than carrots by either banning or putting restrictions on WhatsApp and possibly also [messaging service] Telegram in the future, just to kind of drive people towards Max. Whether it's a complete ban or whether it's just simply sort of slowdowns and restrictions, I think WhatsApp is going to find itself under real pressure in Russia. Pushing users towards Max is unlikely to have a significant impact on Russian opposition and activism against the government, Prof Galeotti explained, because they tend to avoid WhatsApp in favour of more seriously secure apps such as Proton Mail and Signal. But it may prompt a significant change in casual dissent, he added. That's where it might have a freezing effect: people who might be under other circumstances willing to send messages with slightly scurrilous content about the Kremlin might think twice. Russia previously attempted to block the Telegram messaging app in 2018. But the attempt failed, and did not practically affect the availability of Telegram in Russia, leading it to be officially unblocked two years later. But Mikhail Klimarev, the head of Russias Internet Protection Society, told The Times that he expected Moscow to renew attempts to ban it by the end of the year. 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 fugitive Moldovan oligarch implicated in a $1 billion bank fraud and other illicit schemes was detained Tuesday in Greece, Moldovas national police said. Vladimir Plahotniuc fled Moldova in 2019 as he faced a series of corruption charges including allegations of complicity in a scheme that led to $1 billion disappearing from a Moldovan bank in 2014, which at the time was equivalent to about an eighth of Moldovas annual GDP. Plahotniuc has denied any wrongdoing. Moldovan police said in a statement they were informed by Interpols office in Athens that two Moldovan citizens had been detained, including Plahotniuc, who was placed on Interpol's international wanted list in February. Authorities did not name the other detainee. The Greek police unit tackling organized crime said Interpol was seeking Plahotniuc on suspicion of participating in a criminal organization, fraud and money laundering. Moldova's Ministry of Justice and Prosecutors Office are in the process of exchanging information to begin seeking extradition of Plahotniuc and the other detainee, a government official told The Associated Press. Plahotniuc, one of Moldovas wealthiest men, fled to the U.S. from Moldova in June 2019 after failing to form a government with his Democratic Party. The U.S. declared him persona non grata in 2020 and his whereabouts were unknown for years. The powerful businessman and politician was added to a U.S. State Department sanctions list in 2022 for alleged corruption. The charges included controlling the countrys law enforcement to target political and business rivals and meddling in Moldovas elections. He was added to a U.K. sanctions list in 2022 and barred from entering the country. His assets were frozen in the U.K. and its overseas territories. 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 Seventy years after Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin gifted Warsaw its towering Palace of Culture and Science, the skyscraper at the heart of Poland's capital still stirs strong feelings. The palace which is marking the 70th anniversary of its opening on 22 July 1955, when Poland was part of the Soviet-led communist Eastern Bloc was conceived by Stalin as a symbol of Soviet domination and initially bore his name. "If you put a big palace, a kind of skyscraper at the time, in the middle of the city that can be seen from 30km (19 miles) away, it shows the power," said Dorota Zmarzlak, a member of the palace's board. Younger people no longer see it that way, she said. After the end of communist rule in Poland in 1989, many Soviet-era monuments were removed and street names changed. open image in gallery A socialist realist sculpture is seen on the facade of the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw ( Reuters ) The palace remained, even though prominent politician Radoslaw Sikorski, who is now Poland's foreign minister, called for it to be demolished in 2007. It has been used as a concert venue and hosted political events, exhibitions and fashion shows. A riot broke out when the Rolling Stones played there in 1967, long before communist rule ended. "It was an escape for me, I could go somewhere," said Zygmunt Kowalski, 89, a retired railway worker who moved to Warsaw a month after the palace opened, and swam with his daughter in its pool as well as seeing films and concerts there. "Everything can be torn down, but let this stay for future generations, as proof of what once was ... the next generations will have evidence that communism was here," he said. The palace still has four theatres, a large cinema and museums, and hosts exhibitions. The concert hall is being renovated. open image in gallery A drone view shows the skyline of Warsaw with the Vistula River and a pedestrian footbridge in the foreground, and the Palace of Culture and Science visible among the citys landmarks in the background ( Reuters ) Some younger Warsaw residents focus less on the palace's political history than on its status as a Warsaw landmark. Karol Los, a 23-year-old student, said the palace, now surrounded by modern skyscrapers, is inseparable from the city's identity. "For me, it's a symbol of Warsaw. I think young people see it very differently than the older generation," he said. Ukrainian architect Valerii Shcherbak, 32, admires the palace's architectural detail and its popularity with tourists. "This is history and we need to respect it," he said, noting that many Soviet-era buildings in Ukraine have been destroyed. "What happened in the past should be kept for history, not destroyed." 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 Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says that Tehran cannot abandon its uranium enrichment programme, which was seriously damaged in Junes conflict with Israel. The declaration follows five rounds of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Oman, which failed to agree on the extent of Iran's enrichment. While Israel and Washington claim Iran was close to levels for rapid nuclear weapon production, Tehran insists its programme is for civilian purposes. It is stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe, Mr Araghchi said on the Fox News show Special Report with Bret Baier on Monday. 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 said the damage to the Iranian nuclear facilities after US and Israeli strikes is being evaluated further. open image in gallery An Iranian security official in protective clothing walks through part of the Uranium Conversion Facility just outside the Iranian city of Isfahan in 2005 ( AP ) Israel targeted some of Irans key nuclear facilities Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow and killed several Iranian nuclear scientists in the strikes. The facilities are heavily fortified and largely underground. Natanz and Fordow are Irans uranium enrichment sites, and Isfahan provides the raw materials. Mr Araghchi also said that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is in "good health" and that Tehran is open to talks with Washington but that those will not be direct "for the time being". open image in gallery Ayatollah Ali Khamenei photographed on 16 July 2025 ( via REUTERS ) Israel attacked Iran on 13 June 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 UN nuclear watchdog says it has "no credible indication" of an active, coordinated weapons program in Iran. Tehran maintains its nuclear programme 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. 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 World Health Organization said the Israeli military attacked its staff residence and main warehouse in the central Gazan city of Deir al-Balah on Monday, endangering humanitarian workers and compromising relief operations in the besieged Palestinian territory. The UN agency said its staff accommodation was struck three times, causing a fire and significant damage. "Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot towards Al-Mawasi amid active conflict. Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and screened at gunpoint, WHO said. Two agency personnel and two family members were detained during the raid. According to WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, three were later released while one staff member remained in Israeli custody. WHO demands the immediate release of the detained staff and protection of all its staff, Dr Tedros said. A spokesperson for the agency later said the WHO does not know the reasons behind the detention of its staff by the Israeli authorities, and again urged for their release. The UN agency said its main warehouse in Deir al-Balah, located within an Israeli-declared evacuation zone, was damaged in a separate strike on Sunday, triggering explosions and a fire inside the facility. The Israeli military was still to respond to these allegations by WHO. open image in gallery Men ride in a tricycle cart in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza while smoke billows from Israeli bombardment on 21 July 2025 ( AFP via Getty ) The UN agency vowed to continue and expand its operations in the area, a critical centre of humanitarian aid distribution during more than 21 months of war. Deir al-Balah is densely packed with Palestinians displaced by Israeli bombardment and evacuation orders. Israeli tanks entered the citys southern and eastern neighbourhoods on Monday for the first time since the conflict began. Tank shelling in the city hit homes and mosques, killing at least three people and injuring several more, according to medics. Gunfire was reportedly heard throughout the day and thousands of people fled on foot or using donkey carts, eyewitnesses said. More than 25 countries, including the UK, France, Canada, Japan and Australia, issued a joint statement on Monday urging an immediate end to the war. The signatories criticised Israels restriction of aid, describing it as dangerous and a violation of international humanitarian law. The Israeli governments denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable, they said. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law. Israel's foreign ministry rejected the statement, saying it was "disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas. US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, also rejected the statement from many of Washingtons closest allies, denouncing it as "disgusting" in a post on X and saying they should instead pressure the "savages of Hamas. The broader Israeli assault across Gaza left at least 130 Palestinians dead and over 1,000 wounded over the past 24 hours, Gazas Hamas-run health ministry said on Monday. The cumulative death toll from Israels war on the besieged territory exceeded 59,000, with widespread destruction of infrastructure and displacement of people. Israel launched a ground and air assault on Gaza after nearly 1,200 civilians and soldiers were killed and 251 taken hostage during a Hamas attack on 7 October 2023. open image in gallery Smoke and flames rise from a residential building hit by an Israeli strike in Gaza on 21 July 2025 ( Reuters ) The UNs top humanitarian officials have raised the alarm over a collapsing healthcare system and rising malnutrition in Gaza due to the Israeli war and siege, particularly among children. WHO said Gazas health sector was on its knees amid critical shortages of fuel, medicines, and medical equipment. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed two UN guesthouses were also hit in the latest Israeli strikes, despite all parties being informed of their protected status. These locations as with all civilian sites must be protected, regardless of evacuation orders, he said. UN secretary general Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over what he called an accelerating breakdown of humanitarian conditions. The last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing, he said, according to the spokesman. The head of the UN humanitarian office in Gaza, Jonathan Whittall, who Israel said would not have his visa renewed, described the situation as conditions of death, calling the suffering preventable and intentional. 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, he said. 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 Just a few months into the tentative rebirth of a new Syria, a bloody sectarian conflict is once again raging in the volatile southern borderlands. War now threatens to tip the country over the edge and spill into an already unstable region. Fighting has engulfed Suweida, a southern city with a majority Druze population an ethnic-religious minority with roots in Shia Islam, whose adherents live in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. Videos shared from the ground claim to show horrific summary executions and violence. Neighbouring Israel, facing pressure from its own Druze population, has taken a violent stand. Missiles have rained down on government forces in Suweida and in central Damascus, pounding the countrys defence ministry and presidential palace. open image in gallery Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike that hit the Syrian Defence Ministry in Damascus ( SANA ) In this whirl of shrapnel and shellfire, hopes for a new era of peace in a nation long torn apart by dictatorship and an almost 14-year civil war are quickly fading. Instead, Syria appears on the brink of being dragged into yet another civil and international conflict. A lot of the dead have been shot in the head. Eighty per cent of the population are now refugees in the surrounding villages. Its a disaster, says Samer (not his real name), a Druze journalist who spent years clandestinely reporting from Suweida during Syrias bloody civil war. Samer spoke to The Independent from a partially functioning hospital in Suweida, where he said hundreds of the injured and dead were taken. He asked to remain anonymous for fear of his life. We are trying to bury the bodies around the hospitals because of the smell and because we are afraid of infection. Some of them were shot in the head, some killed by bombing, Samer adds. open image in gallery Syrian government forces deploy at the Mazraa village on the outskirts of city of Suweida ( AP ) Samer described how, following a tit-for-tat slew of kidnappings, bloody battles have raged between Syrias Druze fighters and local Bedouin Arab armed factions. Damascus then sent troops to quell the fighting, but they were drawn into the violence and accused of widespread violations against the Druze. The Independent has repeatedly reached out to multiple branches of the new government for comment and has yet to receive a reply. Residents of the area told The Independent that Druze citizens had been shot at close range in their homes or in the streets by troops who appear to be government forces videos shared online show people in military fatigues shooting men who are on their knees. In one video, which fact-checking website Verify Syria has verified, a group of men in fatigues force three men to jump off a balcony of a multi-storey building as they are shot. The Independent has been unable to independently confirm any of the videos, but the death toll is climbing. Outside of combatant deaths in battle, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said more than 320 have been killed by summary executions, other forms of violence, and in Israeli strikes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, another monitoring group, has reported a total death toll of at least 940 people. The UN says at least 87,000 people have been displaced within the Suweida governorate and towards neighbouring Daraa. The area has been unable to receive much-needed humanitarian and medical aid due to ongoing clashes. After the initial heady celebration following the overthrow of long-term autocratic Bashar al-Assad in December by Islamist-led factions, cracks in Syrias diverse society have started to show and deepen. The surge in violence underlines the challenges facing interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose former militant faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham a one-time al-Qaeda affiliate that has distanced itself from its jihadi past led the charge against Assad. But since then, he has struggled to assert control over the south and areas near the Israeli border. While Mr Sharaa has been buoyed by rapidly improving ties with global powers, including US president Donald Trumps administration, the violence has highlighted lingering sectarian tensions and widespread distrust among minority groups towards his Islamist-led government. That distrust has only deepened following the mass killings of Alawites in March. Deadly clashes have now erupted in the south, with Syrias large Druze community accusing Bedouin tribes of kidnappings and summary executions. Experts warn that the Syrian government has done little to stop this. open image in gallery A boy who was injured in Sweida city during clashes between the Syrian government forces and Druze militias, lies inside an ambulance in Busra al-Harir village ( AP ) Instead of pursuing an inclusive, reconciliatory approach to reintegrate Suweida into the Syrian state the authorities keep making the wrong choices, said Armenak Tokmajyan, non-resident scholar at the Carnegie Middle East Centre. He said that while there had been rounds of dialogue with powerful Druze leaders, the discussions were largely focused on disarming them. Despite divisions within the Druze community, most were unwilling to hand over their weapons without clarity on the future shape of the state. Then came the recent escalation, which I think could have been averted had the authorities exercised self-restraint and not immediately resorted to violence. This approach has backfired. Druze leaders who have taken a harder stance against the government, like influential Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri who had even been accused from within the Druze community of helping to instigate the tensions and violence are now gaining greater support. open image in gallery Israeli soldiers stand guard as Syrian Druze people cross back into Syria at the Israeli-Syrian border, in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights ( AP ) Amid this chaos, Israel has entered the fray. From the early days following Assads ousting, Israel has been bombing military bases across the country. By day two, residents in Syrias restive southern borderlands told The Independent that Israeli forces were already conducting patrols. The Israelis took all the weapons from the people, says Ahmed Hassoun, head of the municipality of Hader, a Druze town just 2.5 miles from the border with Israeli-occupied Golan. Most days they are here. Its become a fact for us. We can do nothing. Their forces are coming in and out we are helpless. We are just civilians. What can we do with this reality? Just a mile from the border area outside Hamidiyah town, Moussa, a local leader who is not Druze, spoke to The Independent next to a sandbank he said Israeli forces had clawed out of the earth. The only language Israel understands is force. But we want a peace deal between Israel and the new Syrian government with conditions, he said. open image in gallery Moussa points at an Israeli sandbank outside Hamidiya town in southern Syria ( Bel Trew/The Independent ) In Suweida, Samer said that Israels claims that it has come to the rescue of the Druze have only stoked pre-existing sectarian tensions that have simmered and flared throughout the 14-year civil war. Just a few months after liberation, Israel has mixed the cards in the south, he added. Israel fears a build-up of Islamist Sunni forces along its northern border, while simultaneously facing pressure from the Druze minority in Israel, who have been concerned about their kin across the border. More than half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 six-day war and annexed in 1981. The Druze minority in Israel, many of whom serve in the Israeli military, are often fiercely loyal to the Israeli state, but tensions with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus political party Likud, have grown in recent years. open image in gallery Bedouin fighters gather as Syrian government security forces block them from entering Suweida province, in Busra al-Harir village ( AP ) With violence erupting in Suweida, Mr Netanyahu ordered the bombing of Syrian government forces and struck the Defence Ministry in Damascus last week, stating that the strikes were intended to save our Druze brothers and to eliminate the gangs of the regime. He said Israel had established a policy demanding the demilitarisation of territory near the border, stretching from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to the Druze Mountain, east of Suweida. Israeli military expert Amos Harel told The Independent that Israel was facing growing domestic pressure from its Druze minority. Some recently crossed the border, causing chaos with Israeli border guards briefly losing control. The Israeli military issued a statement on Saturday saying it emphasises that crossing the border to Syria constitutes a criminal offence and endangers the public, as well as IDF soldiers. Im not sure there is a goal, Harel said. The end result is yet unclear but the element that changes everything is the Trump administration. The US has stated it did not support the Israeli strikes. Last Friday, an Israeli official said it had agreed to allow Syrian forces limited access to the Suweida area for two days. But many fear that this is just temporary and that Israel is trying to leverage internal domestic turmoil in Syria to keep it weak. In Hader, Druze leaders say they just want their normal rights and decentralisation from Damascus. In Suweida, where a tentative ceasefire is fast collapsing, the biggest fear is yet more massacres. There is a ceasefire in place but five minutes ago government forces attacked one area by drones, says Samer, with desperation. The Druze people just want safety. They dont want to be afraid of other factions and sects. They dont want to separate from the rest of Syria. We want to live as citizens, without fear of others. Thats it. 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 Often cited as the catalyst for the transformation of Barcelonas Sants neighbourhood, Nobu Barcelona sits amongst the vermouth bars and the homes of young, hip Barceloneses, offering a phenomenal restaurant, free yoga classes for guests, a spa and rooftop bar with nightly DJ sessions. Location Nobu Hotel, Barcelona is located in the residential area of Sants. While the neighbourhood might only be a 10-minute metro ride from the centre of the city, it wasnt always what youd describe as cool. Its large railway station the main terminus in the Catalonian capital gave the location the vibe of an airport departure lounge: transient, liminal. Read more: The best spa hotels in Barcelona, 2025 That is, until Nobu arrived in 2019 and a switch-up ensued. Inarguably sleek, stylish and full of people you swear you recognise from Instagram, the luxury hotels arrival coincided with Sants glow-up, which is now home to fashionable young Barceloneses, whove made the area their home thanks to its vermouth bars, community feel and easy access to transport links. Ideally located for nipping into central to see the main tourist attractions, or jumping on a train to escape the city and explore further afield areas like Sitges or Girona for a day trip, Sants is also home to a lively food market, as well as Parc l'Escorxador where the Joan Miro sculpture Dona i Ocell looms. open image in gallery The minimalist Sake Suite at Nobu Barcelona has exceptional views of the city ( Nobu ) The vibe The hospitality group behind Nobus hotels and restaurants views itself as place-makers, actively selecting locations in areas they believe could use revitalisation. As such, the hotel is inside a former 1970s office block. To put it bluntly, its ugly from the outside. But the entrance inspired by a Japanese Shinto Temple gate offers a zap of zen as soon as you step over the threshold. As you might expect, the hotels interior design is heavy on Japanese influence mixed with artwork by Gaudi to give a nod to its host city. Throughout the 23-story building, the views over Barcelona are gorgeous and panoramic, with the citys highest rooftop pool and lounge perched on the top floor. Lifes all about balance is the hotels ethos, so rooftop DJ sets take place mere hours after complimentary guest yoga classes. Its an undoubtedly fun place to grab a drink, even if youre not staying the night. Read more: Barcelona city guide where to shop, eat and drink open image in gallery Nobu Barcelona blends Japanese minimalism with Barcelonas vibrant style ( Nobu ) Service The service here is attentive without being overly doting. Just as were about to take a quick siesta before a night of partying, theres a gentle rap on the door: a bell hop, bringing us CBD patches, eye masks and sleep mist to ensure we get the best shut-eye we can before our night kicks off at midnight. Contrastingly, on arrival, were handed warm flannels and herbal tea to shake off the stress of the outside world. Rave and recovery probably best sums up this fun wellness approach, with wait staff at the rooftop restaurant ready and eager to recommend the best cocktails and small plates to gorge on. Read more: Best hotels in London Bed and Bath Nobus rooms are minimalist and immaculate. Think crisp white sheets, a rain shower, double sinks, sliding doors, light tiling, and spacious baths in the Sake Suites. Everywhere you turn, the view is there, with huge windows drenching the room with light and exposing the beauty of Barcelonas cityscape. Amenities include a 65-inch TV, Bluetooth speakers, a Nespresso coffee machine and, of course, a traditional Japanese tea set. Food and drink The food at Nobu is phenomenal, with the main restaurant on the 23rd floor serving the groups famed black cod in miso dish. If you want to go for it, opt for the six-course menu which features tuna tataki with truffle Tosazu. Or, for a more casual option, nip down to the lobby-side restaurant Kozara, where healthy bites like grilled salmon and tuna poke bowls are on the menu. If you prefer to remain poolside, you could opt to have lunch at the Rooftops terrace restaurant. Quite literally everything is delicious, but the grilled tuna skewers are especially so. Breakfast is a pretty straightforward buffet that is restocked quickly, even at peak times, with everything from fresh pastries to English fry-up classics. open image in gallery Nobu's famous miso black cod is on the menu at the hotel restaurant ( Nobu ) Facilities As Nobu is as serious about relaxation as it is about partying, its no surprise their wellness facilities are a main feature of their Barcelona hotel. They say the Japanese philosophy of Shiawase a celebration of happiness and wellbeing is used to infuse moments of fitness and relaxation into details of your stay. Read more: Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona hotel review This manifests itself in the Nobu Spa, in which theres a sauna, steam bath, and water circuit. In the gym, where workout equipment is available 24/7 and in the free yoga classes for guests. Or, if youre more private, the wellness classes are also available through the TV in your room. There is also free wifi running throughout the hotel. Disability access Ten wheelchair-friendly rooms with wheelchair-accessible bathrooms are available. Pet policy Pets are allowed, with the hotel providing special amenities, toys, beds and guides to the best dog friendly places in the city for canines. Dogs are, however, not allowed in the Nobu restaurant and a 50 (42) per night charge will be added at check out. Check in check out Check-in at Nobu Hotel Barcelona is from 3pm, and check-out is at 12pm. Family friendly Nobu hotel is family friendly, offering colouring books to children at check-in and in the restaurants. They also offer a Nobu Family package, where they offer a special rate on a second connecting room for children. The only thing to note is children under 16 are not permitted to enter the hotels spa facilities. At a glance Best thing: Unbelievable food and a fun atmosphere balanced out by a commitment to wellness. Worst thing: It is markedly further from tourist attractions than other hotels in the city. Right for: Anyone who likes sashimi and staying stress-free. Not right for: Those who want to wake up in walking distance to the Sagrada Familia. Instagram from: The rooftop with a cocktail in your hand. Address: Avinguda de Roma, 2, 4, Distrito de Sants-Montjuic, 08014 Website: www.nobuhotels.com/barcelona Read more: Nobu Hotel Shoreditch, London review 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 Malaysia has recorded a 20 per cent increase in international tourist arrivals, compared to the same period in 2024. The tourism ministry said 16.9 million international tourist arrivals were recorded from January to May of this year. About half of Malaysia's total international tourist arrivals during the first five months of the year were from neighbouring Singapore, with 8.34 million visitors, followed by Indonesia at 1.82 million, China at 1.81 million, and Thailand at 1.06 million, the ministry said in a written parliamentary reply on Monday. Arrivals from "long-haul markets" such as Australia and the United Kingdom also saw increases of 16.6 per cent and 8.7 per cent respectively, compared to the same period in 2024. A view of Kuala Lumpur and the Petronas Towers, formerly the tallest buildings in the world ( Getty Images/iStock ) "This increase in foreign visitor numbers clearly reflects the effectiveness of various initiatives implemented by the government through strategic approaches, progressive policies such as the visa liberalisation plan, and support and incentives given to industry players," the ministry said. The Southeast Asian country recorded just over 25 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, falling short of its 27.3 million target. Malaysia is targeting 47 million international tourist arrivals in 2026, with a focus on key markets such as Central Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Oceania. In Spain, international holidaymakers are forcing Spaniards off their own sun-kissed beaches with local tourism dropping by 800,000 people last year and foreign visitors increasing by 1.94 million, according to previously unreported official data reviewed by analysis firm inAtlas. With a population of 48 million - half the number of foreign visitors each year - Spain relies heavily on tourism, which contributes more than 13 per cent of GDP. But protests are growing over housing shortages exacerbated by mass tourism - and could be exacerbated by the indignity for Spaniards being priced out of their favourite holidays. Spaniards also made nearly 400,000 fewer trips to the country's major cities in 2024 compared to the previous year, while foreign tourist visits there increased by almost three million. 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 NASA has begun testing a new supersonic aircraft, almost 22 years after Concorde flew its last passenger service. The quiet X-59 research aircraft 99.7 feet long, with a wingspan of 29.7 feet is designed to fly faster than the speed of sound, without generating loud sonic booms. On 10 July, NASA test pilot Nils Larson performed the X-59s first low-speed taxi test at US Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. During the taxi test, flight crews monitored steering and braking systems as the aircraft manoeuvred the runway. According to NASA: Over the coming weeks, the aircraft will gradually increase its speed, leading up to a high-speed taxi test that will take the aircraft just short of the point where it would take off. The X-59 is part of NASAs Quesst mission to complete a quiet supersonic flight with a thump rather than a sonic boom. The space administration says that the aircraft is expected to fly at 1.4 times the speed of sound, or 925mph, with the potential to connect New York and London in three and a half hours. NASA said that data gathered from the X-59 test flights will be used to inform acceptable noise thresholds for commercial supersonic flights over land. On 27 April 1973, the US federal government banned all civilian supersonic flights over land to prevent the resulting sonic booms from startling the public. NASA's Quesst mission integration manager Peter Coen previously said: Instead of a rule based solely on speed, we are proposing the rule be based on sound. If the sound of a supersonic flight isnt loud enough to bother anyone below, theres no reason why the airplane cant be flying supersonic. Concorde, the last supersonic passenger service, was operated by British Airways from New York's JFK Airport to London's Heathrow Airport on 24 October 2003. The supersonic aircraft suffered a catastrophic crash in Paris on 25 July 2000, which, along with high operating costs and declining passenger numbers, caused the aircraft to be retired. For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast This is the moment Kentucky police were captured beating anti-ICE demonstrators. Demonstrators gathered on Roebling Bridge, which links Kentucky and Ohio in Cincinnati, to protest the detainment of a former hospital chaplain on Thursday (17 July). Roughly 100 people joined the demonstration, according to TMZ. Video of the incident shows a Covington police officer repeatedly punching a protester in the head even after he is brought to the ground with the help of another officer. Police have said the man tried to grab the officers weapon, but he has denied that claim. Other officers on the bridge can be seen tasing a woman before wrestling her to the ground by the back of her head. Protesters are heard screaming for the officers to stop. Authorities arrested 15 people for felony rioting and various misdemeanor charges, per TMZ. While political attention has been focused on how much Ireland sells to the US, because of the tariffs threatened by president Donald Trump, the identities of the countries to which we buy the least have just been revealed. Stock market-listed conglomerate DCC has applied to the Commercial Court for approval of a reduction in its share capital by nearly 1bn following the recent sale of its healthcare division. DCC PLC is the parent of DCC Energy, which specialises in the sale, marketing and distribution of clean energy solutions, and of DCC Technology, a specialist distribution partner for global technology and appliance brands and customers. It was also the parent of DCC Healthcare, a provider of high-quality medical devices and other healthcare products, and also partners with brands to create and manufacture health and beauty products, until it decided to sell that division. A large proportion of the income of DCC group, which is London-listed and Dublin-headquartered, is generated in the UK. In November last, DCC announced it would focus on the energy division and began preparations for the sale of the healthcare division, CEO Donal Murphy said in an affidavit. In April, an agreement was entered into to sell the division and in May it announced it intended to return 800m (923m) to shareholders, he said, through a reduction in share capital. Mr Murphy said the capital reduction is a step in the larger process of focusing the business of the company on the energy sector and deploying the proceeds of the sale of the healthcare division for the benefit of the shareholders. He was commenting as the company sought to have the legal process entered in the fast-track Commercial Court. It is envisaged the transaction will be completed by September. Lyndon MacCann SC, who made the application to Mr Justice Mark Sanfey yesterday, said he was looking for a date for a hearing of the matter during the court vacation in August. The judge said while it was not normal to deal with such applications in August, he understood the urgency of the matter. He said he would be writing up judgments in August and he would hear it during that week. In April, DCC announced the sale of the healthcare arm to HealthCo Investment a subsidiary of European investment firm Investindustrial Advisors in a deal valuing the division at 1.05bn. The sale price was lower than analysts had anticipated, reflecting market volatility at the time, in the wake of the shock unleashed by US president Donald Trumps so called Liberation Day tariffs announcement that month. The Irish arm of aircraft lessor BOC Aviation last year recorded pre-tax profits of $243.3m (208.6m) mainly due to a $158m insurance payment received concerning 15 aircraft detained in Russia. New accounts filed by Dublin-based BOC Aviation (Ireland) Ltd show the pre-tax profits of $243.3m for 2024 are 21pc down on pre-tax profits of $308.19m in 2023. The $158m paid out in insurance payouts last year followed $258m paid out in 2023 under the same heading. Total revenues and other income decreased by 7pc to $660.4m in 2024 from $710.6m in 2023. The 2024 revenues included lease revenues of $374.25m. The directors said the decline is mainly due to lower insurance settlements in respect of aircraft owned by the company and formerly leased to Russian airlines which were detained in Russia. The company is continuing to pursue insurance claims in respect of aircraft currently or formerly detained in Russia, the directors added. The firm saw a return to growth across the industry with traffic recovering in 2024 to near-2019 levels. The Irish unit is a wholly owned subsidiary of BOC Aviation Limited, which is a public company incorporated in Singapore and listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange. The insurance settlement concerning the 15 aircraft coincided with the companys professional fee costs increasing by 59pc, from $7.98m to $12.69m. At the end of last December, the company had a total of 111 owned and 31 managed aircraft. The company recorded a post-tax profit of $206.7m after incurring a corporation tax charge of $36.6m. The pre-tax profit takes account of non-cash depreciation costs of $166.24m and finance costs of $181.3m. The firm last year recorded profits of $22.4m from $211.92m realised from the sale of aircraft. The firm employs 11 people in Ireland and staff costs last year increased by 69pc from $3.16m to $5.33m. Directors pay last year totalled $963,000, which included emoluments of $731,000. The firms cash funds last year increased from $119.65m to $151.16m. The business paid out no dividend last year. The directors said total assets were stable year-on-year, at $5.39bn at December 31, 2024, compared with $5.38bn a year earlier. Minister urges consumer watchdog to probe profits of supermarket chains as grocery prices keep rising Junior enterprise minister Alan Dillon also wants the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to see if foreign retail giants are allowed to operate in Ireland, increasing competition Call for probe into profitability of supermarket chains Charlie Weston Tue 22 Jul 2025 at 06:30 The competition watchdog has been urged to investigate how profitable supermarkets are and whether there are barriers stopping new retail chains entering the market. Adrian Weckler: Futuristic, convenient job-creators or intrusive pests delivery drones are here, and it seems nobody is in charge Minister says Ireland must address the Habitats Directive if we are to have any chance of extending the derogation The Minister also confirmed that appropriate assessments would not take place on a farm-by-farm basis, but rather on a catchment or sub-catchment basis. Photo: Damien Eagers There is no guarantee Ireland will be granted an extension of its Nitrates Derogation, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon said. The Department announced last week that the European Commission has been explicit that Ireland must address the Habitats Directive as well as water quality if it wants to keep the derogation. I havent been given any firm commitment from the Commission, Mr Heydon said. Its really important that Im clear on this. I havent been given any nod and wink that we will get an extension. That is something that will be a vote from all member states. But its been made very clear if we dont address the Habitats Directive, there is no vote on extending the derogation. So this is really the only option available. Speaking to the Farming Independent, he said the plan is to communicate to the Commission it is Irelands intention to incorporate the Habitats Directive in order to keep the Nitrates Derogation. The Minister also confirmed that appropriate assessments would not take place on a farm-by-farm basis, but rather on a catchment or sub-catchment basis. The efforts and the work that farmers have made in improving water quality has kept us on the pitch, he said, but incorporating the Habitats Directive would take time. While the vote by member states will be either in December or next March, he said the immediate plans is to officially indicate to the Commission this month that we will be addressing the Habitats Directive as part of our approach. He added: We obviously have a significant amount of work to do around that process for the autumn. We dont need the detailed plan to go to the Commission in July. Ive no intention of trying to put together anything in a rush here, we will do this right. Im being really, really clear with the Commission that we are engaging here in good faith to give us the best chance for that to continue. To have the derogation, we need flexibility around time because what we will be undertaking will take years, will not be done in a couple of months, will not be done by the end of the year. My intention would be to indicate officially that we were addressing the Habitats Directive as part of that and drawing up a plan as what that looks like. There are 46 catchment areas and 583 sub-catchments and we know we would need to go through the sub-catchment basis as well as the catchment basis, and that is a very big undertaking. Our plan this year will be putting structures in place to be able to start that process as soon as possible, possibly over the winter into next year. This plan, he said, would involve hiring a number of ecologists, which he says is his intention to do within his Department. While we need to bring in outside expertise, I want to retain control of that within the Department. I think thats very important. By engaging in good faith with the Commission, we give ourselves the best chance for them to allow us to proceed with our plan and grant us a derogation He also said it is his intention that his Department, or the Exchequer, will fund the Appropriate Assessment process. If a farmer individually wanted to do an appropriate assessment down the line, it will be open to them to do that, but I dont think thats a practical approach from the State, to say that we would do that at that level. He also said the process would take place on a phased basis, hence the need for an extension from Europe. Obviously, youre not going to be able to do all the country in one go, so this can be done in phases at a time. Thats why the ask now is an extension as part of this process. No more than four years ago, when the detailed negotiations went to the wire and we were operating out of derogation if you like... there always is the risk that you dont get the derogation, and then overnight, we have a very big challenge in the country. So this will be down to the wire again. But my hope and expectation will be that by engaging in good faith with the Commission, we give ourselves the best chance for them to allow us to proceed with our plan and grant us a derogation. Minister Martin Heydon expresses misgivings over Commissions CAP proposal EU Commissioner Christophe Hansen is said to be determined to move the dial on generational renewal. Photo: Getty Images Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon says it is important there's flexibility to adapt farming rules and a new CAP around our own farming system. Photo: Collins Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon said he would have significant concern around the implications of the proposal by the European Commission to cut farm payments to farmers in receipt of pensions. While I welcome [EU] Commissioner [Christophe] Hansens focus on the importance of generational renewal in his proposals, I would have significant concern around the implications of the pension proposals on our farmers, in particular the many farmers who dont have an identified successor, Mr Heydon told the Farming Independent. My focus on the upcoming negotiations will be to work with Commissioner Hansen and to achieve maximum flexibility for member states, so that I have the ability to design a CAP scheme that best suits our agriculture system in Ireland and would best support our farmers, while delivering real simplification in the future. The EU Commission proposed last week that farmers receiving a pension would no longer get EU supports under the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Farm organisations here hit back at the proposal, saying the move would be totally unacceptable. Around one-third of Irish farmers could be impacted if the proposal becomes a reality under the new CAP. The Minister said all the proposals would be negotiated on a line by line basis and the time for deciding any individual proposal is down the line. We definitely know from previous processes that what was proposed at the outset and what ends up at the end is very different. This is the opening shot, if you like, of [EU] Commissioner [Christophe] Hansen. He is very determined to move the dial in generational renewal... he is very mindful of our own Commission on Generational Renewal and were going to work closely on an area like this. This would be a very significant change if you were to have that change around pensions. Mr Heydon said he would go through the very detailed document on a line-by-line basis. I will work with all the key stakeholders here to see what is the best approach for it and what is the best suite of things we can control and also to try and get as much national leverage as we can, so I can shape a CAP with whatever the final budget is, [that] is best suited and the best structure for Irish farmers. He said Ireland has a very different farming system to other EU countries and it is important it has the flexibility to be able to adapt farming rules and a new CAP around our own system. People can rest assured that we are going to engage with stakeholders and when we get to the point where were looking at what will be transposed into our own strategic plan, Ill do that in consultation with the CAP strategic plan committee that has all the key stakeholders on it. This is a very lengthy process and will take the next 18 months or more to walk through, and well have lots of time to debate all the issues. Im not trying to run this all on my own, or make decisions on a whim myself. There is a process here and Ive established a forum for people to have their say and have meaningful input into what any final CAP looks like. Future of Nitrates Derogation depends on buy-in from every farmer Teagasc said continued progress on water quality is essential for retaining the derogation, meeting environmental objectives and maintaining the sustainability reputation of Irish agriculture. Photo: Stock image All farmers, not just those in Nitrates Derogation, must play their part in improving water quality if Ireland is to retain its Nitrates Derogation. That is according to Teagasc, which issued the statement following a meeting of the Better Farming for Water Stakeholder Steering Group at Oak Park, Co Carlow, last week. In a statement after the meeting, Teagasc said the Committee reaffirmed its belief that achievement of the objective of good or high ecological status in our water bodies is fundamental to retaining Irelands Nitrates Derogation and compliance with the Habitats Directive and to maintaining the reputation for sustainability that Irish food enjoys. It is clear that responsibility for this objective rests with all farmers, regardless of farm enterprise and not just derogation farmers. The meeting reviewed progress in implementing the 8 Actions for Change in the Better Farming for Water campaign. The initiative focuses on nutrient management, farmyard management and land management. Teagasc said the aim is to support farmers to reduce nutrient losses to water and that responsibility for this work rests with all farmers, regardless of enterprise type. Under EU requirements, Ireland must demonstrate compliance with both directives in its engagement with the European Commission regarding the continuation of the Nitrates Derogation. It comes after the Department of Agriculture last week proposed a new catchment-based plan of 600 sites in a bid to secure Irelands Nitrates Derogation. The Commission has indicated that nitrates derogations are now classified as projects under the Habitats Directive. This means they must be assessed for their impact on protected habitats as part of Irelands application to retain the derogation. The Steering Group noted the recent EPA report showing improvements in nutrient concentrations in Irish waterways, as well as the uptake of measures by farmers. Over 3,895 farmers have applied to the 50m Farming for Water EIP fund, including many grain growers planting catch crops to absorb nitrogen during the winter months. Teagasc said continued progress on water quality is essential for retaining the derogation, meeting environmental objectives and maintaining the sustainability reputation of Irish agriculture. The Steering Group is chaired by Jim Bergin and includes representatives from Teagasc, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), IFA, ICMSA, ICOS, Macra, Meat Industry Ireland, Dairy Industry Ireland, Tillage Industry Ireland, and the Local Authority Waters Programme. Sheep quotes unchanged as IFA hits out at factories over price cuts Factories must be stronger in the marketplace and maximise returns to sheep farmers to stop the decline in the national flock and return confidence to the sector Numbers in most marts rose last week. Photo: Roger Jones Martin Coughlan Tue 22 Jul 2025 at 06:30 Yesterday saw no movement in relation to factory quotes for sheep. It was disappointing, however, that both Kepak Athleague and Dawn Ballyhaunis were unable to provide any quotes, while Kildare Chilling had nothing available in relation to lamb. Judge sets next date for case against 31-year-old Co Armagh man Appearing in the dock of Armagh Magistrates Court, sitting in Newry, Co Down, the 31-year-old confirmed he was aware of the charges against him, all of them alleged to have been committed in the US on November 17 last year. The jury of seven men and five women in the assault trial of former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler, Niall Gilligan are to continue their deliberations on Wednesday. Average listener would not know carbon cut claims excluded aircraft DAA breached advertising rules when it ran a radio ad voiced by Marty Whelan talking up its plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI) upheld a complaint by MEP Lynn Boylan that the average listener would not realise the airport was excluding flight emissions from its claims, even though they make up the biggest part of its carbon footprint. What now after your Leaving Cert results? Heres how to plan your next steps whether you got top points or not The man will appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice this morning. A man in his 70s will appear in court to face criminal charges in Dublin today after he was extradited from the US this morning. The man landed in Ireland around 5am on Tuesday morning after being extradited from the US after a request by gardai and was brought to a garda station in the capital. A gun carriage at the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre near Drogheda, Co Louth. Photo: Getty The OPW has banned tour guides from wearing green or orange clothing at the site in Meath where the Protestant King William III defeated the Catholic King James II in the Battle of the Boyne. The location is of particular significance to Unionists, because Williams victory in 1690 established Protestant dominance in Ireland, and is commemorated by the Orange Order with a series of marches on July 12 each year. 100bn infrastructure spending forecast in next five years as defence spending to significantly increase Ministers will signal greater caution in Summer Economic Statement and National Development Plan Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe. Photo: Collins Mary Regan and Tabitha Monahan Tue 22 Jul 2025 at 06:30 The countrys economic model is under threat, ministers will be warned today as the Government plans to signal a shift in budgetary strategy towards more permanent spending on infrastructure and services. Thousands sign petition urging Government to help dog owners forced to choose between their pet or their home Dogs Trust wants to end blanket bans in rental properties 'We don't want to see anybody heartbroken having to decide whether to keep their dog or have a place to live' Laura Lynott Tue 22 Jul 2025 at 06:30 Almost 20,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Government to stop tenancy agreements banning pets, after a 112pc increase in surrenders to Dogs Trust. Ksenia Samotiy: Memes that gloat over the demise of CEOs are not funny they are unadulterated cruelty The Coldplay couple incident last week sparked thousands of jokes online, but one stood out from the rest as being decidedly unfunny Coldplay accidentally reveal tech CEOs affair with firms HR director on kiss cam Ksenia Samotiy Tue 22 Jul 2025 at 06:30 When historians are looking back at the early 21st century, I wonder whether anyone will look at memes. They may be inconsequential and ephemeral, but they also reflect back on society. And the memes that flooded social media this week about the Coldplay couple told me perhaps more than I wanted to know. It has been pointed out that it wasnt raining when Noah built his ark. On the other hand, he did have the benefit of divine inspiration something Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and his colleague in expenditure Jack Chambers will be hoping for when the National Development Plan (NDP) and the Summer Economic Statement are published today. No matter how meticulously they are drafted, given the climate of uncertainty created by Donald Trumps tariffs, the whole exercise may be considered somewhat performative. Whether they reach fruition or not, they are supposed to set out a blueprint for the countrys development. The massive investment is a down-payment aspiring to secure assets for nation-building into the future. This year will be very, very different from previous years But the 200bn injection contained in the NDP is desperately needed where vital infrastructure is either creaking or utterly inadequate, as well as developing to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. The Governments goal in the NDP is to transform housing, water, energy and transport over the next decade. Alluding to the turbulence created by Washingtons targeting of the EU, Tanaiste Simon Harris said: I think its important that people are aware that the backdrop against which the Summer Economic Statement will be published this year will be very, very different from previous years. We are endeavouring to put together a set of economic projections at a time of huge global uncertainty. While Mr Trumps machinations may well play merry hell with best laid plans, there is much the Government could have done to ring-fence its expenditure. As things stand, Uisce Eireann can only supply water to an extra 33,000 houses annually, whereas the Government aspires to delivering 50,000 down the line. The Governments record on delivering major infrastructural projects has been less than impressive. Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe. Photo: Getty Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd As Dublin City Universitys Dr Paul Davis said on RTE, there are two critical things the Government could do in the area of procurement to safeguard taxpayer money. The first, he said, was to think strategically in underpinning projects with the necessary legislation to expedite their delivery. Looking at legal pitfalls and making sure challenges are boxed off before embarking on expensive plans. The second, he recommended was to tie payments to outcomes. Only on delivery within the agreed contract would payments be made. Too often we have seen budgets ballooning because the terms were not strictly tied down to start with. In the past decade or so, the Government has been forced to adapt and react to a number of unforeseen economic challenges such as Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. These put huge pressure on spending. Thanks to the boon to revenue from our pharma and tech sectors we were able to ride out these storms. But there is no guarantee such windfalls can be relied upon in the new America First paradigm. Big change is coming. We cant guarantee it will be for the better, but can focus on limiting its negative impact. To make it an offence for a person to import or sell goods or services originating in an occupied territory or to extract resources from an occupied territory in certain circumstances. So states the outline of the Occupied Territories Bill, as introduced in 2018 by senator Frances Black. Seven years later, the bill is increasingly the subject of public pressure and debate, as Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris continue to address criticism. And its not just here at home, with a growing number of international political voices chiming in, some in more derogatory fashion than others. US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee slated the Occupied Territories Bill and told Ireland to "sober up". "Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness," he posted on Twitter. The diplomat said the bill was "so stupid" it smacked of "diplomatic intoxication". The Taoiseach stressed that people needed to focus on the ongoing loss of life in Gaza and across the Middle East. Today on The Indo Daily, Fionnan Sheahan is joined by Mary Regan, Political Editor with the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent, and by Tabitha Monahan, Political Reporter with the Irish Independent, to explore the Occupied Territories Bill, and the political flashpoints that underline it. News Cork TD calls for IFI to appear before the Oireachtas to answer River Blackwater fish kill queries Labour TD Eoghan Kenny has called on the Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to appear before the Oireachtas committee in relation to the massive fish kill that took place in the River Blackwater over two weeks ago. Oak Fire Pizza is celebrating reaching their tenth anniversary with a special new dish: the Clonakilty Breakfast. A pizzeria that was born ten years ago in West Cork now has nine thriving outlets throughout Cork city and county and over 90 staff members. Oak Fire Pizza, the artisan wood-fired pizzeria founded by Andrew Loane and Tayfur Turkan is celebrating ten years in business in Clonakilty this month. They have grown into one of Corks most recognisable homegrown food brands and have won several industry awards along the way. They have also established a reputation for high-quality, handmade pizza using Cork ingredients (even pioneering Clonakilty black pudding as a mainstream pizza topping). Founder and MD Andrew Loane admitted its been a decade of hard work, creativity, and serious community support. Weve weathered economic downturns, Vat increases, and Covid, but weve never compromised on quality, local ingredients, or the people-first culture that makes this business special. Andrews journey began during the recession, when he transitioned from the construction industry to food, bringing a portable pizza oven and gazebo to local markets and festivals. In 2010 Andrew launched The Oak Fire Italian Pizzeria in Skibbereen. Five years later after partnering with friend Tayfur Turkan, they relocated the business to Clonakilty, and rebranded it as Oak Fire Pizza the name and vision that locals and visitors know today. Mr Loane recalls the first few months operating from their base in Clonakilty. In the first few months, it was myself in the kitchen, Tayfur out front, and a couple of part-time helpers in the kitchen. It was a very small team, seven day weeks, 15 hour days. We never envisioned that ten years later wed be operating nine units around the city and county. The focus was on keeping the standards very high and consistent. The recipes and processes are meticulously precise. Dough batches measured to the gram, timed to the second and proving temperatures maintained to the degree, he added. Oak Fire Pizza has built its reputation on authentic wood-fired techniques, handmade dough, and fresh Irish ingredients, including Clonakilty black pudding, Macroom Buffalo Mozzarella and locally grown produce. Pizzas are crafted by hand, baked directly on stone in traditional ovens, and prepared using methods that honour Naples-style pizza making. Were not driven by corporate investors or profits, said Andrew. Were driven by a love of local food, of real food, and doing things the right way, even when its harder. There is a growing health-consciousness, and demand for higher-quality, transparent, local food. Consumers are becoming more educated about what they eat and are rejecting ultra-processed options in favour of fresh, sustainable ingredients. This summer, Oak Fire Pizza is celebrating reaching their tenth anniversary with a special new dish: the Clonakilty Breakfast. This limited-time menu addition features the famous Clonakilty black pudding, sausage, bacon, fior di latte, and a drizzle of hollandaise. Oak Fire Pizza has remained adaptable in the face of industry challenges, from skyrocketing utility costs to supply chain disruptions and the return of the 13.5% Vat rate. During the pandemic, the pizzeria closed off all the restaurant seating areas across all locations and converted their shopfronts into service hatches to keep the wheels turning. Andrew said they made it work because their customers and team believed in them. We scrambled some weeks to source products from multiple suppliers, but we never gave up. The biggest challenge is staying ahead of everything, keeping things relevant and interesting to keep our customers coming back. Sitting still just isnt an option. Oak Fire is also renowned for its deep involvement in the community. Mr Loane who is a long-time organiser of the Irish Yoghurts Clonakilty Street Carnival said it is important to give back to the local community. Clonakilty welcomed us with open arms in 2015. That sense of community and belonging is what motivates us to give back. As Oak Fire Pizza celebrates ten years, the future is equally ambitious. The team is currently developing new projects across Cork city and even exploring potential national opportunities. Andrew said they would love to bring a slice of Cork to the rest of the country. Continuous improvement is our biggest goal. Wed love to bring a slice of Cork to the rest of the country. This milestone isnt just about pizza. Its about people, the staff whove grown with us, the customers whove stuck by us, and the towns that helped build this dream, he added. The number of properties in County Cork receiving payments for providing accommodation to people fleeing the war in Ukraine has almost doubled in the past year and a half. Known as the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP), the payment amounts to 600 a month. In County Cork the number of ARP properties is currently 1,611. At the start of this year it was 1,399 while the figure was 816 in January 2024. Nationally, 16,900 hosts are accommodating almost 39,600 temporary protection beneficiaries in over 21,800 properties supported by the ARP, according to figures released by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. Sinn Fein TD for East Cork, Pat Buckley, said that the rise in the number of ARP properties in County Cork is concerning at a time of rising rents and an ongoing housing crisis. This is an extremely significant rise when you consider the small number of properties that are available to rent in Cork at present. The failure of the government to recognise the impact of this scheme on the private rental sector is outrageous, particularly given soaring rents and the fact that we are in the middle of such a severe housing crisis, Deputy Buckley said. Sinn Fein repeatedly pointed out that this scheme was unfair because it gave Ukrainians access to housing supports, without a means test, which are not available to any other person, including those on lower wages trying to secure housing. We also pointed out that it was driving up rents, particularly in parts of the state that traditionally had lower rents. Deputy Buckley said the figures show that there are significantly more properties under ARP than property owners, "which clearly indicates that a large number of people have more than one property under this scheme. "This highlights that landlords are availing of this scheme because it financially benefits them while avoiding the normal obligations and responsibilities regarding tenancies. According to the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, the number of property owners under the scheme is not known as the application process does not distinguish between hosts who are property owners and those who are tenants. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Plans to expand a Galway GP surgery have been refused this week after residents voiced concerns over unacceptable changes to privacy and parking in the area. A proposal was put forward for the extension and renovation of Renmore Park Surgery including the provision of staff car parking to the rear of the building and connection to existing services. Mary DArcy once interviewed and sang with star of The Pogues, Shane MacGowan, in her kitchen in Co Kildare for her son's radio show The mother of RTE star Ray DArcy will be laid to rest in her home county of Kildare on Wednesday as tributes pour in from across the country for a truly remarkable woman. Mother of nine children, Mary DArcy, passed away peacefully at Naas Hospital in Co Kildare on Friday, July 18. Kildare born radio and television presenter Ray DArcy had a close relationship with his mother. In 2001 Mary DArcy even interviewed and sang with star of The Pogues, Shane MacGowan, in her kitchen in Co Kildare for her son's radio show, The Ray DArcy Show, which was airing on Today FM at the time. In 2019, during an interview with the RTE Guides Donal ODonoghue, Ray, who has two children, Kate and Tom with his wife Jenny, said that having children changed his view of the world and brought him even closer to his mother. I didnt hug my mum until six or seven years ago, Ray told Donal. But I hug her all the time now and tell her that I love her. Id never have done that years ago but as you get older, especially when you have your own children, you see the world differently. "Also when you have children, you want to keep the generations connected and you feel more of a pull home. You want your children to be part of this family and to know the mother that you knew. Mary D'Arcy (Photo: RIP.ie) Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd Describing his mother Mary, Ray added: Shes probably referred to locally as a saint. My mum is amazing, a very thoughtful, insightful and intelligent woman. Shes now in her 80s but travels to Dublin most Wednesdays to go to a movie and can chat about any current news story. Since news broke of Marys passing, RIP.ie has been flooded with tribute messages remembering a lady who brought sunshine to everyone lucky enough to have crossed her path. Aunty Mary was such a warm and welcoming presence in my life, wrote one of hundreds of mourners paying tribute to Mary on RIP.ie. I have such fond memories of her open house during my visits to Kildare. She always made me feel right at home, with her kindness, her generous spirit, and her lovely homemade bread. "She was also a truly remarkable woman who will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Thinking of you all during this very difficult time and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. The late Mary D'Arcy. Photo: RIP.ie "What a wonderful, strong woman Mary was, added another mourner. A true lady who brought help, encouragement and sunshine to everyone lucky enough to have crossed her path. "Condolences to all the family on your very sad loss. Thinking of all of you. Rest easy now Mary, your work is done. You will be sorely missed in Kildare Town. Marys remains will repose at McWeys Funeral Home, Abbeyview in Kildare Town from 4pm on Tuesday July 22, concluding with rosary at 7pm. Follow Independent Kildare on Facebook Removal by Glennons Funeral Directors will take place on Wednesday morning, July 23, to arrive at St. Brigids Parish Church in Kildare Town for requiem mass at 11am. Burial will take place afterwards in St. Conleths Cemetery in Kildare Town. "Mary D'Arcy nee Bonar, Campion Crescent, Kildare Town, Co Kildare, read her death notice on RIP.ie. Peacefully on July 18, 2025, at Naas Hospital. "Pre deceased by her husband Ray (Snr). Sadly missed by her loving children Joe, Jackie, Ray, Hughie, Anne, Paul, Marianne, Claire and Joan, sons and daughters in law, her 16 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, sister Angela, brother Bill, sisters in law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends. Tanaiste Simon Harris and local Cllr Padraig McNamara in discussion with a group of younger show enthusisats in Granard on Saturday. Show sectretary Hazel McVeight, Fr Simon Cadam and Cllr Turlough McGovern watch on as judging and festivities at the Granard Agricultural Show get underway. Photo: Granard Agricultural Show Facebook page.i Showjumping followers were treated to an afternoon of high quality action at Higginstown Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon. Granard's 75th Agricultural Show attracted some of the finest entries from right across the country. Photo: Granard Agricultural Show Facebook page. Show season continued in rich vein in north Longford at the weekend as Granard showcased arguably its finest agricultural showcase in recent memory. Now in its 75th year, patrons came from near and far to sample the rustic delights of a show that is fast becoming one of the most popular spectacles on the rural calendar. Part of that rapidly growing repute was borne out by the presence of Tanaiste Simon Harris who was among the many legions of spectators to file through the gates of Higginstown Showgrounds for what was a two day affair like no other. Tanaiste Simon Harris joins spectators at the Granard Agricultural Show on Saturday. A long-held destination of choice for some of the finest pedigree champions in the country, this years offering certainly didnt disappoint with both its cattle and horse sections attracting particularly noteworthy entries. One of the chief, overriding highlights came courtesy of the Buddy Kiernan Milling Commercial Heifer Class with its winners mantle going to Kevin Devine from Carrigallen, Co Leitrim. Judge Sam Coleman expressed his own astonishment at the calibre of cattle which were on show to the wider public, a feeling that was mirrored by fellow judge Philip Scott in the horse ring. Show sectretary Hazel McVeight, Fr Simon Cadam and Cllr Turlough McGovern watch on as judging and festivities at the Granard Agricultural Show get underway. Photo: Granard Agricultural Show Facebook page.i Chairperson Gerry Tully said that level of positive feedback was one he and his fellow committee members were keen to build on in order to underpin the shows enduring legacy for the next 75 years and beyond. The Young Handlers classes were a huge success in all sections, he told the Irish Independent. It is important to keep running these Young Handlers classes to ensure the involvement of the youth attending agri shows. A key element behind that drive to inspire the next generation of show enthusiasts was very much evidenced by a local schools competition which was spearheaded by local librarian and committee member Rosemary Gaynor in the events main indoor exhibition hall. Tanaiste Simon Harris and local Cllr Padraig McNamara in discussion with a group of younger show enthusisats in Granard on Saturday. There was an almost equal level of excitement when Longford based McNally Motors took the wraps off its all new Toyota Landcruiser. Organisers have already set their sights on holding a major fundraising draw in the hope of selling 1,000 tickets at 100 each with the winning entrant getting their hands on the keys to a brand new landcruiser at its 2026 showcase. As has been customary fashion with its schedule of events in recent years, a healthy crowd of spectators turned out on Sunday to take in an afternoon of high-class showjumping action. We cannot thank all the sponsors, volunteers, gate personnel, judges, spectators and anyone that helped us in any way possible to ensure our 75th anniversary show was the best yet, added an enthused Mr Tully. We are forever indebted to each and every one of them for their continued support and it just shows how community spirit is alive and well in Granard and surrounding areas. Bailey the bichon to fly the Roscommon flag at the twelfth annual Nose of Tralee A four-year-old bichon from Roscommon has made it to the final of one of the most popular pet competitions in the country. Bailey, owned by Roscommon native Ciara Kelly, is among 31 cats and dogs to feature in twelfth annual Nose of Tralee. Follow Independent Roscommon on Facebook Even on our toughest days, Bailey always brings a smile to our face. He is the most friendly and lovable dog, said his owner, who works as a pharmacy technician. The winner of the 2025 Nose of Tralee will be announced online on Tuesday, August 19 and will receive a hotel stay, a Pet Sitters Ireland voucher, a photo shoot and many other prizes. Voting begins online on Thursday, July 24 and ends on Monday, August 18 at 5pm. BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- China and the European Union (EU) will hold the 25th China-EU Summit in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a daily news briefing on Monday, when he also talked about China's expectations for the upcoming summit and current China-EU relations. Guo said that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The world is currently undergoing a historic transformation -- the international landscape is experiencing more instability and rapid change, and unilateralism and bullying practices are significantly undermining international rule and order, placing humanity at a critical crossroads once again, Guo said. As two major forces advancing multipolarity, two major markets supporting globalization and two major civilizations championing diversity, the 25th China-EU summit is of great importance and is drawing widespread attention from the international community, he added. "Over the past half century, China-EU relations have weathered challenges and are now progressing toward maturity and stability, becoming one of the most influential bilateral relationships in the world," Guo said. Cooperation between China and the EU has yielded fruitful results, he said, with each providing significant support for the other's development and providing tangible benefits to nearly 2 billion Chinese and EU people, making important contributions to global peace and development, and setting an example of mutually beneficial cooperation in the era of economic globalization. Guo noted that over the past 50 years, annual trade between China and the EU has skyrocketed from 2.4 billion U.S. dollars to 785.8 billion U.S. dollars, and the stock of mutual investment has expanded from near zero to almost 260 billion U.S. dollars. People-to-people exchanges have become increasingly frequent, and both sides have engaged in effective cooperation to address climate change and other issues, he said. "However, China-EU relations are also confronted with challenges," Guo added. Certain individuals in the EU have played up the "partner-competitor-rival" characterization of bilateral relations, exaggerated individual trade and business issues and made baseless accusations against China on the Ukraine issue, unnecessarily hampering China-EU relations, he said. China holds that over the course of their 50-year history, China-EU relations have accumulated ample experience and positive forces to navigate any winds or tides that may come, and to overcome difficulties and meet challenges, he noted. He said that as the 25th China-EU Summit will be held soon, China-EU relations are at an important point as they build on past achievements and open 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," said Guo. Minister Marian Harkin has welcomed the revised National Development Plan (NDP), which outlines a record 275.4 billion in total investment from 2026 to 2035. The updated plan, published by Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Jack Chambers, includes an additional 34 billion in capital funding compared to the original 20212030 framework. This brings the total investment to 102.4 billion over the next five years, with a further 100 billion earmarked through to 2035. This revised NDP represents the most substantial capital allocation in the history of the State, aiming to secure Irelands future and deliver on vital infrastructure projects. This is a once-in-a-generation investment that must deliver real progress for people in Sligo, Leitrim and south Donegal said Minister Harkin The revised NDP focuses on transformational infrastructure across key sectors including housing, water, energy, and transport, alongside major investments in health, disability services, and education. Speaking after the launch Minister Harkin said I support the plans emphasis on Balanced/Equitable regional development, ensuring all parts of the country benefit from this investment. This is absolutely crucial for me because we have seen a history of underinvestment in the Northern and Western region. "This Review commits to ensuring a 50:50 distribution of future growth as outlined in the National Planning Framework and this will mean more investment in infrastructure, roads, rail, water, electricity, the construction of homes for families and individuals in the region and the provision of adequate services especially in healthcare and education including lifelong education which relates to my Department. "We also need to ensure sensible, long-term planning, particularly in the face of global trade tensions and ongoing economic uncertainty. Equally investing in childrens disability services and expanding access to childcare and school places is an important part of the plan. Follow Independent Leitrim on Facebook In regard to her own Department she stated: Investing in further education and vocational training to meet the growing demand for construction workers required to deliver the expanded pipeline of national projects is central to the delivery of housing. "My departments emphasis on expanding the number of apprenticeships especially in construction and green skills will play a central role here and combined with the drive to embed modern methods of construction in our apprenticeship courses we hope to see an acceleration of construction delivery in the next number of years. Each Government Department has now been charged with delivering essential infrastructure, and I will continue to ensure that the revised NDP achieves meaningful outcomes for the people of Sligo, Leitrim and South Donegal, she said. Saoirse Ronan in a scene from 'Brooklyn', much of which was filmed on location in Enniscorthy. Wexford has a rich cinematic history. Back in 1998, Oscar winning film director Steven Spielberg picked Wexfords coastline to stage the most dramatic and intense scenes of Saving Private Ryan. More recently, Saoirse Ronan brought Colm Toibins Brooklyn to life on the streets of Enniscorthy. Now, Screen Wexford have launched the New Voices Short Film Fund to support the next generation of Wexford filmmakers The fund was created in partnership with Wexford Arts Department, Wexford County Council, Bodecii Film Ireland, and Film Equipment Ireland. The hope is that it will serve as an incubator for short films that reflect the creativity, diversity and truly unique voices of the region. The call for applications is open to short films of all kinds, including drama, animation, documentary and experimental art films, from directors, writers and creative producers. Competition is expected to be fierce for the total fund of 20,000 which will be awarded to two successful projects. Both winners will receive 7,000 in production funding and 3,000 worth of equipment hire, in December 2025, with production commencing in 2026. At least one of the creative team must be either from or living in Wexford and the film must have either a cultural focus on Wexford be based in the county. Applications for the fund opened at the end of June and will remain open until Monday September 30, 2025. Find out full details on how to apply by heading over to www.screenwexford.com/new-voices-2026 Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange. Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko and Olena Nianyhyk from Hookless with some of her art students. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange. From left; John Caulfield parlamentry assistant to George Lawlor, Joan Eite WLD, Enid Woolmington WLD and Olena Nianyhyk from Hookless Village. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange photographed with Mags Murphy. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange. From left; Svatla Aleneds from New Ross, Nona from New Ross, Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko, Jack Butler chairperson SWWFRC and Blokes with Cameras and Lucy Momodenka from New Ross. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange. From left; Valeriia Stebanenko and Liliia Novoselska from Hookless village. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange photographed with family support team. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange. From left; Anchelika Kruka and Sinead Colfer family support workers, Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko, Jack Butler chairperson SWWFRC and Blokes with Cameras and Sharon Kennedy manager. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange photographed with Connect Cafe volunteers and participents. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange. Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko photographed with some members of the Danescastle music group Ava Reville, Sarah McDonald, Lauren Finn and Ciara McDonald. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange photographed with 'Blokes with Cameras' Martin Doran, Jack Butler and Frank Carbury. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange photographed with the board members Martin Doran, Stella Power, Ann Champman and Jack Butler chairperson. Photo; Mary Browne The South West Wexford Family Resource Centre (SWWFRC) in Ramsgrange welcomed a distinguished guest last week, which caused a political stir among Wexford County Councils dignitaries. Her Excellency Larysa Gerasko, Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland, visited the centre for a vibrant celebration of cultural connection and community solidarity. The visit on Tuesday, July 8, co-hosted by Blokes with Cameras, brought together local residents, Ukrainian families, community leaders, and staff for an afternoon of music, art, and shared stories. Ambassador Gerasko was greeted on arrival by Jack Butler, Chair of the SWWFRC Board of Management, and Anzhelika Kruk, SWWFRC staff member and representative of the Ukrainian community. A live harp performance at the entrance set the tone for the occasion, followed by heartfelt speeches from Mr. Butler, the Ambassador, and Ms. Kruk, delivered from the centres balcony to an enthusiastic crowd. In the centres activity room, guests enjoyed a cultural showcase featuring Irish and Ukrainian music, and an inspiring art exhibition created by Ukrainian children living in the area. The celebration concluded with refreshments in the Community Cafe and informal conversations between guests, families, and staff. It was a privilege to welcome Ambassador Gerasko to our community, said Centre Manager, Sharon Kennedy. This visit highlights the incredible resilience and cultural richness of the Ukrainian people, and the strong bonds that have formed here in South West Wexford. We are proud to support inclusion, friendship, and cultural expression at the heart of our work, Ms Kennedy added. The event was documented by Blokes with Cameras, a local group that continues to capture community life through film and photography. Meanwhile, local Councillor, Michael Sheehan stirred some political upset online as he asked why the event was not attended by the Cathaoirleach of the New Ross District Council, John Dwyer; nor the Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Joe Sullivan. Both local representatives responded and said neither had received an invite to the event, in which, prior to an updated statement from the SWWFRC, created speculation that a visit had been facilitated by another politician without the knowledge of their local councillor colleagues and members of the executive. The speculation stemmed from a visit facilitated by the Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy TD, as she and Director of Services with Wexford County Council, Eamonn Hore, welcomed the Moroccan Ambassador, Lahcen Mahraoui, to New Ross recently. Mr Butler clarified that this was not the case, and in the Chairpersons statement he said: Id like to note that this event was organised by SWWFRC and Blokes with Cameras as a community-focused gathering to highlight the strength, culture, and resilience of our local Ukrainian families alongside our wider community. He continued: The visit by Ambassador Gerasko was a celebration of grassroots support and inclusion, and the guest list reflected those directly involved in that ongoing local work. We remain committed to engaging with all stakeholders in support of our shared community mission, Mr Butler concluded. Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange photographed with the board members Martin Doran, Stella Power, Ann Champman and Jack Butler chairperson. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange photographed with Connect Cafe volunteers and participents. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange. Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko photographed with some members of the Danescastle music group Ava Reville, Sarah McDonald, Lauren Finn and Ciara McDonald. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange. From left; John Caulfield parlamentry assistant to George Lawlor, Joan Eite WLD, Enid Woolmington WLD and Olena Nianyhyk from Hookless Village. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange photographed with family support team. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange. From left; Anchelika Kruka and Sinead Colfer family support workers, Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko, Jack Butler chairperson SWWFRC and Blokes with Cameras and Sharon Kennedy manager. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange. From left; Valeriia Stebanenko and Liliia Novoselska from Hookless village. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange. Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko and Olena Nianyhyk from Hookless with some of her art students. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange. From left; Svatla Aleneds from New Ross, Nona from New Ross, Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko, Jack Butler chairperson SWWFRC and Blokes with Cameras and Lucy Momodenka from New Ross. Photo; Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange photographed with 'Blokes with Cameras' Martin Doran, Jack Butler and Frank Carbury. Photo; Mary Browne Adrian and Helan Hegarty with Bobby at the New Ross Guitar Festival: Busking on the Beach at Duncannon. Photo: Mary Browne Kiss My Grass from Clonroche playing in Brennan's Lane for the New Ross Guitar Festival. Photo: Mary Browne Pat Murphy from Kiss My Grass from Clonroche playing in Brennan's Lane for the New Ross Guitar Festival. Photo: Mary Browne. Sean Flood and Pat Murphy playing at the New Ross Guitar Festival: Busking on the Beach at Duncannon. Photo: Mary Browne Gary and Sean Flood and Pat Murphy of Kiss My Grass from Clonroche playing in Brennan's Lane for the New Ross Guitar Festival. Photo: Mary Browne. New Ross Guitar festival Busking on the Beach at Duncannon. Ayda from Wexford. Photo; Mary Browne Kiss My Grass from Clonroche playing in Brennan's Lane for the New Ross Guitar Festival. Photo: Mary Browne Ayda from Wexford performing at the New Ross Guitar Festival: Busking on the Beach at Duncannon. Photo: Mary Browne Seamus, Murt, Gary and Sean Flood and Pat Murphy of Kiss My Grass from Clonroche in Brennan's Lane for the New Ross Guitar Festival. Photo: Mary Browne From world-renowned stars to local musicians debuting for their inaugural busking performances, New Ross Guitar Festival struck a powerful chord with audiences across Wexford this past weekend. With a balanced programme embracing not just classical guitar but also rock, blues, country, and Americana, it was a vibrant celebration of music, community, and connection. The festivities began on Thursday night with US bluesman Eric Bibb playing to a full house at St. Michaels Theatre. His heartfelt, soul-stirring blues accompanied by Gunnar Lindstrom on guitar, Greger Andersson on harmonica, and Ulrika Bibbs stunning vocals set a high bar and a deeply emotional tone for the days ahead. Friday evening offered something completely different in the form of a transcendent classical performance in the serene surrounds of St. Marys Church. The ever-gracious Irish guitarist, Pat Coldrick, stepped in for Vera Danilina, who was unfortunately unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances. Pats performance held the room in rapt attention, a gentle masterclass in musical storytelling. That theme of mastery continued into Saturday morning, when classical virtuoso John Feeley led an inspiring and intimate masterclass, guiding young musicians through the works of Bach and Brouwer with quiet authority and encouragement. But the magic wasnt confined to the concert halls and this years festival saw New Ross come alive in various outdoor settings. Gary and Sean Flood and Pat Murphy of Kiss My Grass from Clonroche playing in Brennan's Lane for the New Ross Guitar Festival. Photo: Mary Browne. Saturday afternoon saw local Wexford band, Kiss My Grass, fill Brennans Lane with joyful country, bluegrass, and Americana. Their toe-tapping tunes and playful spirit had locals and visitors alike dancing, laughing, and soaking up the sunshine between sets. By Saturday night, the town was buzzing and the energy centred the sold-out show from Hothouse Flowers. Liam O Maonlais magnetic presence and lyrical piano playing wove beautifully through a rich tapestry of Irish trad, rock, and soul. Joined by Fiachna O Braonain on guitar, Peter O'Toole on bouzouki and bass, Dave Clarke on drums, and Martin Brunsden on double bass, the band delivered a performance that left the crowd spellbound, as an audience member described the experience as "an emotional and unforgettable evening". "Fiachna and the lads are just an incredibly gifted group of musicians... an absolute privilege, they added. Fiachna, in turn, reflected on his deep connection to the instrument that started it all, describing his love of the guitar as something that set my world on fire". On Sunday, the weekends formal events came to a graceful close with a solo concert by John Feeley. Performing original compositions and beloved classical works, he offered a tender, nuanced set that left listeners moved and uplifted. But the festival had one more surprise in store and for the first time ever, the New Ross Guitar Festival partnered with Duncannon Village to host Busking on the Beach where the event comprised of local and international musicians performing right on the sand. With the sea as their backdrop, and the weather kindly cooperating, Duncannon came alive with song, spirit, and seaside celebration. As the weekend wrapped up, it became clear that this was no ordinary festival. It was a heartfelt celebration of what music makes possible, not just world-class artistry, but also grassroots joy, spontaneous moments, and deep connection. Artistic director of the festival, David Creevy, said: The artists gave memorable performances, with a wide range of talent from international stars to local musicians busking for the first time. We look forward to doing it all again next year. Niall O Muilleoir of the Duncannon Village Renewal Group echoed that sentiment: This was a perfect partnership because of the quality of the musicians. The event raised the spirit of the community - locals and visitors alike. It was a great success, and we even managed to duck the rain! Its been confirmed that preparations are already under way to include more magic, music, and meaningful connection when the festival returns next summer. Seamus, Murt, Gary and Sean Flood and Pat Murphy of Kiss My Grass from Clonroche in Brennan's Lane for the New Ross Guitar Festival. Photo: Mary Browne New Ross Guitar Festival: Busking on the Beach at Duncannon. Photo: Mary Browne New Ross Guitar Festival: Busking on the Beach at Duncannon. Photo: Mary Browne Kiss My Grass from Clonroche playing in Brennan's Lane for the New Ross Guitar Festival. Photo: Mary Browne New Ross Guitar Festival: Busking on the Beach at Duncannon. Photo: Mary Browne Pat Murphy from Kiss My Grass from Clonroche playing in Brennan's Lane for the New Ross Guitar Festival. Photo: Mary Browne. Sean Flood and Pat Murphy playing at the New Ross Guitar Festival: Busking on the Beach at Duncannon. Photo: Mary Browne Adrian and Helan Hegarty with Bobby at the New Ross Guitar Festival: Busking on the Beach at Duncannon. Photo: Mary Browne Kiss My Grass from Clonroche playing in Brennan's Lane for the New Ross Guitar Festival. Photo: Mary Browne New Ross Guitar Festival: Busking on the Beach at Duncannon. Photo: Mary Browne Ayda from Wexford performing at the New Ross Guitar Festival: Busking on the Beach at Duncannon. Photo: Mary Browne Visit of Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko to South West Wexford Family Resource Centre in Ramsgrange. From left; Anchelika Kruka and Sinead Colfer family support workers, Ukraninian Ambassador Laraysa Gerasko, Jack Butler chairperson SWWFRC and Blokes with Cameras and Sharon Kennedy manager. Photo; Mary Browne For the second time in as many months the first citizen of New Ross has not been invited to meet and greet an international dignitary visiting the town. Last month the districts elected representatives complained bitterly about being overlooked for the visit of the Moroccan Ambassador to New Ross and now, just weeks later, it has happened again. On this occasion, Ms Larysa Gerasko, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland, was in town to meet her compatriots at a special event organised by the South West Wexford Family Resource Centre (SWWFRC). However, once more none of the local councillors received an invite. Im getting a little bit tired of seeing all these wonderful things happening in the community and the people who have been supporting them day in and day out being left on the sidelines, said Councillor Michael Sheehan at the July meeting of the New Ross Municipal District (NRMD). This is the third incident in the last couple of months where the cathaoirleach of this district has been sidelined. Mindful that one of those incidents saw Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy pictured with the Moroccan Ambassador, Cllr Pat Barden of the Wexford Independent Alliance was quick to point out that invites had been issued on that occasion. I believe (district manager) Alan Fitzhenry was informed of that visit, he said. Its not up to the district manager to invite us to events, replied Cllr Sheehan. It would be a courtesy to notify all the councillors. As the newly-elected cathaoirleach of the NRMD, Cllr John Dwyer now assumes the role of first citizen of New Ross and he confirmed there had been no invites issued for either ambassadorial visit. "I do believe Alan was invited to the event with the Moroccan Ambassador in his capacity as district manager, but there was certainly no invitation to the councillors, he said. And there was no invitation offered to the cathaoirleach of either Wexford County Council or this district to attend the event with the Ukrainian Ambassador. Read more Guest list to Ukrainian Ambassadors Wexford visit ruffles feathers Cllr Sheehan meanwhile, had no doubt that the organisers of the most recent event would be capable of contacting the district office when it was to their own benefit. I take umbrage when people come flying in and were left on the sidelines except when it comes to budget time, then we getting letters saying we need this. Its happening too often, we need to nip it in the bud and inform people of the protocol here, its up to whoevers co-ordinating the event to make sure the elected members are invited. Keen to ensure all local organisations were aware of the protocols regarding the district office and the need to invite the cathaoirleach to public events, Mr Fitzhenry suggested he could write to each organisation to explain how to proceed in future. This suggestion was immediately shot down. The people who are organising these events would know perfectly well what the protocols are, said Cllr Dywer. They know exactly what theyre doing, agreed Cllr Sheehan. At this point, director of services Eamonn Hore interjected. Weve had ambassadors here to beat the band, and if the Ukrainian Ambassador or the Moroccan Ambassador doesnt tell us they want to meet the council we cant force them, he said. After the meeting, Jack Butler, chairperson of the board of management at the South West Wexford Family Resource Centre (SWWFRC) issued the following statement. Id like to note that this event was organised by SWWFC and Blokes with Cameras as a community-focused gathering to highlight the strength, culture, and resilience of our local Ukraine families alongside our wider community. The visit by Ambassadir Gerasko was a celebration of grassroots support and inclusion, and the guest list reflected those directly involved in that ongoing local work. "We remain committed to engaging with all stakeholders in support of our shared community mission. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Alisha Carroll with Greenhill Fruit Farm Wexford Strawberries celebrating the launch of the 2025 Wexford Fleadh Artisan Food Hall, presented by The Wexford Food Producers Network. Shot on location at the Riverbank House Hotel, Wexford. Photo; Mary Browne Alisha Carroll and Reese Kelly with Greenhill Fruit Farm Wexford Strawberries celebrating the launch of the 2025 Wexford Fleadh Artisan Food Hall, presented by The Wexford Food Producers Network. Shot on location at the Riverbank House Hotel, Wexford. Photo; Mary Browne Cllr Joe Sullivan, An Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council, Breege Cosgrave, Head of the Economic Unit, Wexford County Council, Paul Kehoe, Chairperson, The Wexford Food Producers Network, Lara McCann, FBD Wexford Branch Manager, Lee Devereux, FBD Wexford Branch Sales Executive, Philip Gore Executive Head Chef, Marie McGinley, Chef de la Patisserie, Riverbank House Hotel with Greenhill Fruit Farm Wexford Strawberries celebrating the launch of the 2025 Wexford Fleadh Artisan Food Hall, presented by The Wexford Food Producers Network. Shot on location at the Riverbank House Hotel, Wexford Bridge. Photo; Mary Browne Alisha Carroll and Reese Kelly with Greenhill Fruit Farm Wexford Strawberries at the Riverside Park Hotel celebrating the launch of the 2025 Wexford Fleadh Artisan Food Hall. Photo; Mary Browne Food lovers coming to the 2025 Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann are in for a real treat with a bespoke food event The Wexford Fleadh Artisan Food Hall located at the Wexford Presbyterian Church, Anne Street which will showcase the very best of Wexfords award winning artisan food producers. The Wexford Fleadh Artisan Food Hall runs from Wednesday, August 6 to Sunday, August 10 and will be open from 10am - 5.30pm daily during the forthcoming 2025 Fleadh Cheoil. This event is hosted by the Wexford Food Producers Network with support from Wexford County Council and Wexford Local Enterprise Office. The event is one of the many highlights planned during the forthcoming 2025 Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. Speaking about the event Paul Kehoe, Chairperson, the Wexford Food Producers Network said: "Following the success of this event last year, we are delighted to present the Wexford Fleadh Artisan Food Hall again which is set in the unique backdrop of the Wexford Presbyterian Church on Anne Street, Wexford. "This special event provides us with a great opportunity to showcase our local award winning food producers, which is the best that Wexford has to offer. We encourage the local community and visitors to Wexford during the forthcoming 2025 Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann to come and meet our local Wexford food producers and taste their delicious produce. This event would not have been possible without the continued support of Wexford County Council and Wexford Local Enterprise Office. We would also like to thank the Wexford Presbyterian Church for allowing us to use this incredibly special setting for our event. Executive Head Chef Philip Gore, Marie McGinley, Chef de la Patisserie, Riverbank House Hotel and Alisha Carroll at the Riverbank House Hotel, Wexford. Photo; Mary Browne Last year the Wexford Presbyterian Church on Anne Street was brought back to life to host this particular event and since then has been used by multiple Wexford based community groups for meetings, training workshops and exhibitions. The Wexford Presbyterian community is delighted that the building will be used again once more as a host venue for the Wexford Fleadh Artisan Food Hall for this years fleadh. World award winning jam and preserve company, Wexford Home Preserves is once again sponsoring the Wexford Home Preserves Jam Session Tent adding to the appeal of the 2025 Fleadh Cheoil. Wexford Home Preserves is a founding member of the Wexford Food Producers Network. The alcohol-free Jam Session Tent was a new feature of Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2024, facilitating teenagers and young people who wanted to come and play music in an alcohol-free setting. Located at Crescent Quay car park from Thursday, August 7 to Sunday, August 10, this is sure to be a hit. Further details can be found on www.fleadhcheoil.ie The Strawberry Village located at the Bank of Ireland car park, features Wexford Food Producers again this year with their artisan food and beverage trucks. Greenhill Fruit Farm, All About Nectar, Killiane Castle Honey, Wexbury Irish Spirits, Bosca Capaill Woodfired Pizza and The Crazy Vegetable will all be located there for the duration of the festival. The Wexford Food Producers Network provide a centralised member led and member representative organisation with a core remit to promote and support the business of Wexford food. The organisation has over fifty members who are Wexford based sole traders, SMEs and large companies. Their continued aim is to support Wexford food producers, to build a sustainable food industry and to contribute significantly to the Irish economy on a local, regional, national and international level through the export markets. The Wexford Food Producers Network is recognised and supported by Wexford County Council, Wexford Local Enterprise Office and Wexford Local Development. The Wexford Food Producers Network engages with the Department of Agriculture, Food & The Marine and with national agencies Bord Bia, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Ornua The Irish Dairy Board and Failte Ireland on various important issues for the Irish Food & Drinks sector. FBD Insurance is the Preferred Insurance Partner of The Wexford Food Producers Network. For further information please visit www.wexfordfoodfamily.com The old Wexford Arms premises on Upper John Street has been listed for sale with a guide price of 495,000. The old Wexford Arms premises on Upper John Street has been listed for sale with a guide price of 495,000. The old Wexford Arms premises on Upper John Street has been listed for sale with a guide price of 495,000. The old Wexford Arms premises on Upper John Street has been listed for sale with a guide price of 495,000. The old Wexford Arms premises on Upper John Street has been listed for sale with a guide price of 495,000. The old Wexford Arms premises on Upper John Street has been listed for sale with a guide price of 495,000. The old Wexford Arms premises on Upper John Street has been listed for sale with a guide price of 495,000. The old Wexford Arms premises on Upper John Street has been listed for sale with a guide price of 495,000. The old Wexford Arms premises on Upper John Street has been listed for sale with a guide price of 495,000. The old Wexford Arms premises on Upper John Street has been listed for sale with a guide price of 495,000. The old Wexford Arms premises on Upper John Street has been listed for sale with a guide price of 495,000. The old Wexford Arms premises on Upper John Street has been listed for sale with a guide price of 495,000. The old Wexford Arms premises on Upper John Street has been listed for sale with a guide price of 495,000. Having recently been the subject of a controversial planning application to convert it into an IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Services) centre, the old Wexford Arms premises on Upper John Street has been listed for sale with a guide price of 495,000. Listed with Sherry Fitzgerald Radford in Wexford town, the old pub/B&B premises is described as a unique commercial opportunity with a total of 14 bedrooms, 11 of which are good-sized, en-suite rooms. The property also features a dining/living room, kitchen and main bath room, while auctioneer John Radford reveals that most of the bedroom have been fully modernised, with some requiring some minor cosmetic upgrading. The sellers, Sheila ORiordan of Riolaett Ltd with an address at Blanchardstown in Dublin, had previously sought to declare the property an exempted development", in a bid to accommodate up to 34 asylum seekers, however, in November of last year, following some opposition locally, Wexford County Council deemed that it did not meet the required criteria. According to Wexford County Councils records, another application to convert the premises into IPAS accommodation was made on March 31 of this year and was refused on April 11. The old Wexford Arms premises on Upper John Street has been listed for sale with a guide price of 495,000. The old Wexford Arms premises on Upper John Street has been listed for sale with a guide price of 495,000. Internal work had clearly been carried out inside the property to prepare it for the provision of accommodation for international protection applicants. The same seller last week sold a collection of 5 commercial units and accommodation of North Main Street/Charlotte Street, known as Walkers Mall, for 510,000 at auction 135,000 less than what it was purchased for in 2022. It was in May of 2022 that Ms ORiordan also acquired The Wexford Arms from Chiara and Neil Feeney, whose parents Jacinta and PJ had run the popular hostelry and one of Wexfords oldest pubs for some 30 years. At the time, it went on the market with a guide price of 450,000. Mr Radford anticipates substantial interest in the property, which has the potential to be converted into a stylish bed and breakfast in a town that is crying out for more accommodation for tourists and visitors. For more details or to arrange a viewing, contact Sherry Fitzgerald Radford Wexford. Master stonemason Eric Byrne of Hennessy & Byrne Ltd in Blessington will be taking part in this years Design & Crafts Council Ireland Made Local campaign, which will spread awareness of his crafted, locally produced products made from indigenous Irish stone. Taking pride in creating high-quality and functional tableware and giftware, Hennessy & Byrne work with indigenous Irish stone, such as Connemara Marble, Kilkenny Limestone and Dublin and Wicklow Granite. Building on a family tradition of working with fine marble and granite, which spans more than half a century, their products are entirely designed and handcrafted in their studio, which is open to the public all year round, on the grounds of Russborough House. All Hennessy & Byrne giftware is handcrafted by Eric, a second-generation master stonemason with over 20 years of experience. Working with the finest marble and granite from all over the world, Eric has always had a passion for Irish stone, whether its the swirling green veins of Connemara Marble, the lustrous black shades of Kilkenny Limestone or the silver flecks of mica characteristic of Wicklow Granite. Being part of this years Made Local campaign represents a huge boon for the business, as it celebrates the exceptional talent, skill, and creativity of Irelands designers and makers from studio to shop shelf. With sustainability at its core, the Made Local campaign seeks to increase awareness and appreciation of Irish-made products and support the growth of Irelands sustainable design and craft industry. During the pandemic, Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) developed the Made Local initiative to support the Irish design and craft industry, to boost sales and to drive revenue for makers and the retailers that support them. As makers continue to face challenges from the cost of living to soaring energy prices, Made Local, Made to Last highlights the value and longevity of well-crafted products through a nationwide campaign. The campaign is a reminder to people that buying locally produced, well-crafted products is much more meaningful, sustainable, and impactful, a campaign spokesperson said. This year, Made Local is calling on retailers from across Ireland to register to become a member of the campaign. By joining Made Local retailers across Ireland can show their support for the Irish design and craft industry by stocking beautiful products made in Ireland. One of the buildings in 'The Village' at Dorlindon Nature Sanctuary. Photo: Leigh Anderson A captivating woodland hideaway nestled among small lakes in the heart of Co Wicklow is gearing up for an open-air festival celebrating ancient music. Dorlindon Nature Sanctuary is a little-known spot situated between Roundwood and Kilmacanogue. It blends magical, fantasythemed handcrafted elementslike elven domes, log bridges, shrines, and rustic stone structureswith pristine forest and wetland habitats. Forest warden Brendan Hyldbrand said: We have been operating for the past seven years at Dorlindon Nature Sanctuary, and continue to develop and rewild the site. We want it to be accessible but without comprising too much at the same time. Its about giving space to nature, and the compromise involved. Once humans are involved in nature, there has to be a compromise as well. 'The Cathedral' at Dorlindon Nature Sanctuary. Photo: Leigh Anderson Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd I suppose you would call me the owner, but really we dont own anything as we wont be around forever. I rewilded the place and included a number of structures, which I crafted myself. Music in the Forest will run over weekends in July and August, bringing together live performances of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music, performed in a mythical forest environment. Brendan added: This is our first time hosting a festival like this and it is something we are very excited about. We have hosted events such as weddings, yoga retreats and school treasure hunts before. The weddings we hosted were pretty low key and involved lovers of nature. The festival dates will have a maximum of 135 people permitted as we want to limit the potential impact on biodiversity. Its a rare opportunity to gather, listen, and reflect in a place where music, imagination, and tradition meet. A contribution from the proceeds will go to the Childrens Health Foundation. The festival will feature 3pm to 5pm daytime concerts in a natural forest amphitheatre. Things got underway on Saturday, July 19, with Catherine Rhatigan, Treasa Ni Mhaoilean and Eileen Carr. On Saturday, July 26, a selection of Renaissance sacred polyphony from Josquin Desprez sacred music, performed by the Renaissance music vocal ensemble based in Dublin. Join Traditional Arts Collective on Saturday, August 2, for an afternoon of traditional music, myth, dance and song. You will hear tales from Irish mythology and be introduced to ancient instruments including Irish bronze age horn, flute, harp, voice and bodhran along with sean-nos dancing demonstrations. Kathleen Loughnane and Cormac Cannon will explore 17th- and 18th-century Irish and Scottish repertoire on Sunday, August 3, drawing from the manuscripts of early music collectors. With her harp arrangements and Cormacs deep dive into the piping traditions of past uilleann masters, their programme blends solo and collaborative pieces. Cormac joins on pipes, flute, and whistle for a selection of tunes that bring old sounds vividly to life. Paul Dooley and Kseniya Rusnak present an eclectic selection of traditional tunes from Ireland and Ukraine on Saturday, August 9,, including music from the old Irish harper composers and the medieval harp repertoire, songs and some contemporary pieces. On Sunday, August 17, Ravensdale will present compositions that include a variety of inspirations from the Early Medieval period and are sang in Old Norse, Slavic, English and Germanic, in reference to Slavic and Nordic lore. The vocal octet Dynamics Vocal Ensemble presents a selection of choral music ranging from the renaissance to contemporary, from Farmer, Palestrina, Monteverdi, Part, Alfven, Kodaly to Irish and German folk songs, on Saturday, August 23. Tickets for each concert can be purchased by visiting eventbrite.ie. Bafta-winning actress Sarah Lancashire has said her star role in Happy Valley was born out of fear. Lancashire, 60, won two leading actress Baftas for playing no-nonsense Sergeant Catherine Cawood in the BBC drama set in Hebden Bridge. Her decades-long brilliant and intangible working relationship with writer Sally Wainwright influenced her role, but fear was key to her performance. Lancashire was honoured by the Princess Royal (Jonathan Brady/PA) Discussing the role at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, after being formally made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE), Lancashire told the PA news agency: That was just born out of fear, abject fear, of feeling quite off-piste. Literally it was a leap of faith, jumping off the cliff at midnight in the dark. But knowing that somebody has the confidence in you and the belief in you she (Wainwright) is deeply persuasive as an individual, which I absolutely, really admire, Im very grateful, always. Lancashires breakout role came as fan-favourite barmaid Raquel Watts in Coronation Street, which she played for five years until 1996, appearing in more than 260 episodes. She and Wainwright first met when they were cutting their teeth on the soap opera. The duo later collaborated on the BBC drama Last Tango In Halifax, for which Lancashire won her first Bafta in 2014 for her supporting role. They worked together again on Happy Valley, which ran from 2014 to 2023. Asked what spurred the terror of playing Sergeant Cawood, Lancashire told PA: The setting of it, being asked to play something which I had no knowledge of at all absolutely no knowledge. And knowing that the level of research that was available to me was going to be quite limited in the time available. But in actual fact as she (Wainwright) always said it wasnt a procedural drama, it was not a police drama, it was a family. She spoke about performing during a conversation with the Princess Royal at the ceremony at the Berkshire royal residence. Anne told her that she had briefly acted while at boarding school, Lancashire said. The actress told PA: We were really talking about performance, and how shed done a little bit of this when she was at boarding school. I think they all had to go onto a stage at some point and it can stand you in very good stead for future roles in life, no matter where it takes you. Being a professional actor is sort of clinging on for dear life, she said. It never changes. Very often as an actor youre swimming against the tide whilst standing on shifting sand. You feel that you may have some sort of trajectory but then the industry changes, because the industry is ever-evolving every 10 years, youll find yourself in an industry which is slightly different, requiring something different from you. So youre never secure, theres never a moment where you can be complacent, at all. Its sort of a clinging on for dear life, you just hope that you can stay with it. Her relationship with Wainwright was pivotal in fighting that tide. She said: Having known her (Wainwright) for a very long time, decades, and just meeting someone whose voice you admire so much. Who knows why theres an alchemy, that just works. Its a wonderful thing when you find it, not that I was looking for it, but it just happens thats a tremendous thing. After committing with intensity to every role, the actor quit the big screen following Phantom Thread and has been living a quiet retirement in Wicklow since 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 said. 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. Daniel Day-Lewis has won three Best Actor awards at the Oscars. Photo: Mark Davis Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd If we cant have a new Day-Lewis film this summer, we can at least have an old one, unearthed and re-issued. 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). 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. But it also shows the poignant lost world of a pre-stardom Day-Lewis. The actor, enjoying a quiet retirement in Wicklow in recent years, 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. Daniel Day-Lewis as Irish writer and artist Christy Brown in 'My Left Foot' 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. 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. 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). Daniel Day-Lewis in 'Phantom Thread'. Photo: Laurie Sparham 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. Here he found himself stuck being finicky Reynolds Woodcock in perpetual sweaty close-up for week after week, both on-screen and off. Its hard to work with a crew that really hates you The shoot was awful, he said, 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 fool-proof and everyone has their limit. In Phantom Threads townhouse, 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. Day-Lewis 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. 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 August 1 Investigators search for evidence at the Air India crash site last month in Ahmedabad. Photo: Getty A cockpit recording of dialogue between the two pilots of the Air India flight that crashed last month supports the view the captain cut the flow of fuel to the planes engines, said a source briefed on US officials assessment of evidence. The first officer was at the controls of the Boeing 787 and asked the captain why he moved the fuel switches into a position that starved the engines of fuel and requested that he restore the fuel flow, the source said on condition of anonymity because the matter remains under investigation. The US.assessment is not contained in a formal document, said the source, who emphasised the cause of the June 12 crash in Ahmedabad, India, that killed 260 people remains under investigation. There was no cockpit video recording definitively showing which pilot flipped the switches, but the weight of evidence from the conversation points to the captain, according to the early assessment. Indias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the investigation into the crash, said in a statement on Thursday that certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting. It added the investigation was ongoing and it remained too early to draw definitive conclusions. The Wall Street Journal first reported similar information on Wednesday about the worlds deadliest aviation accident in a decade. The Federation of Indian Pilots sent a legal notice to Reuters about a July 17 story published by the news agency which referenced the WSJ article. The notice asked Reuters to desist from publication of any content that speculates on the cause of the crash or attributes fault to any individuals, especially deceased pilots, in the absence of official confirmation and final report. Most air crashes are caused by multiple factors, and under international rules, a final report is expected within a year of an accident. A preliminary report released by the AAIB said one pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel and the other pilot responded that he did not do so. Investigators did not identify which remarks were made by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and which by First Officer Clive Kunder. The AAIBs preliminary report said the fuel switches had switched from run to cut-off just after take-off, but it did not say how they were moved. The plane clipped some trees and a chimney before crashing in a fireball into a building on a nearby medical college campus, killing 19 people on the ground and 241 of the 242 on board the 787. The crash has rekindled debate over adding flight deck cameras, known as cockpit image recorders, on airliners. Chaotic scenes at heavily populated area as rescuers work to save lives Firefighters remove the wreckage from the Milestone College campus, in Dhaka, yesterday. Photo: Reuters A Bangladesh air force training aircraft crashed into a school campus in the capital, Dhaka, shortly after takeoff yesterday, killing at least 19 people including the pilot and injuring more than 100, officials said. According to the military and a fire official, the Chinese-made F-7 BGI aircraft crashed into the campus of Milestone School and College, in the Uttara neighbourhood, in the afternoon as students were attending classes. The fire service and civil defence said that at least 19 people, mostly students, died and another 116 were rescued with injuries. A significant number sustained burns. The government announced a national day of mourning for today, with flags to fly at half-staff across the country. The military said the jet took off from Bangladesh Air Force Base AK Khandaker at 1.06pm local time and crashed soon after. It said the aircraft experienced a technical malfunction, but that a high-level committee within the Air Force would conduct an investigation to determine the cause. The flight lieutenant 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 is the deadliest airplane crash in the Bangladeshi capital in recent memory. Relatives panicked at the scene as rescuers, using tricycle rickshaws or whatever was available, transported the injured to local hospitals. A desperate scene unfolded as the crash occurred. Local residents and rescuers carried wounded students on their laps, while worried parents ran frantically. One father sprinted with his daughter cradled in his arms. A mother cried out, having found her younger child, but desperately searching for her elder. Students said the schools buildings trembled violently followed by a big explosion, sending them running for safety. Screams and desperation filled the air at a nearby hospital. Doctors at Uttara Adhunik Hospital reported that more than 60 students, many aged 12-16, were transferred to a specialised burn hospital after arriving with burn injuries. At the crash scene, soldiers used megaphones to control the crowd, complicated by the areas dense population, a nearby metro station and numerous surrounding shops and homes. Yesterday evening, rescuers continued to scour the debris, searching for bodies. Bangladeshs interim leader Muhammad Yunus pledged an investigation into the crash, expressing his deep sorrow over the heartbreaking accident at Milestone School and College. In a statement, he lamented the irreparable loss suffered by Air Force personnel, students, parents, teachers, staff, and others, calling it a moment of deep national grief. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi expressed shock and sadness over the tragic air crash in Dhaka that resulted in the loss of many lives, including young students. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families, Mr 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, told The Associated Press by phone that the school, with some 2,000 students, offers classes from elementary to 12th grade. I was terrified watching videos on TV, the 16-year-old said. My God! Its my school. Belgian police questioned two members of the Israeli army who were attending a music festival in Belgium over allegations of serious violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza, the Federal Prosecutors Office in Brussels said in a statement yesterday. In a statement to The Associated Press, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said an Israeli citizen and an Israeli soldier who were on vacation in Belgium were taken in yesterday for interrogation and were released shortly afterward. It said Israeli authorities dealt with this issue and are in touch with the two. Russia targets Ukraine capital in massive assault as talks on US arms deal begin Barrage comes just days after Donald Trump gave Moscow 50-day deadline to reach ceasefire An apartment in Kyiv destroyed by a Russian drone strike. photo: Reuters/Valentyn Ogirenko Emma Burrows and Illia Novikov Associated Press Tue 22 Jul 2025 at 06:30 Russia unleashed one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent months hours before the UK and Germany chaired a meeting yesterday to discuss US President Donald Trumps plans for Nato allies to provide Ukraine with weapons. Ukrainian security services arrested officials from the countrys main anti-corruption agency yesterday 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 (NABU) as a suspected Russian spy and another over suspected business ties to Russia. Other NABU officials had ties to a fugitive Ukrainian politicians banned party, the SBU said. Ireland among 28 signatories calling for end to war as IDF pushes deeper Israel condemned for its inhumane killing of people in Gaza seeking aid Smoke and flames rise from a residential building hit by an Israeli strike, in Gaza City. Photo: Reuters Cillian Sherlock, Wafaa Shurafa and Melanie Lidman Associated Press Tue 22 Jul 2025 at 06:30 Ireland is prepared to take further action to bring about a ceasefire in the Middle East, the Tanaiste has said. Chris Martin warned the audience about the kiss-cam at Saturday's Coldplay concert in Wisconsin. Photo: Robert Okine Coldplay frontman Chris Martin gave fans a playful heads-up about the now-infamous kiss-cam during the bands latest show in the US. The gig in Wisconsin at the weekend marked the bands return to the stage following their show in Massachusetts, where a viral video appeared to show Astronomer CEO Andy Byron embracing senior colleague Kristin Cabot on the big screen. Donald Trumps officials accused of defying one in three judges who ruled against him President and his team are said to have flouted courts Donald Trump Justin Jouvenal Washington Post Tue 22 Jul 2025 at 06:30 US president Donald Trump and his appointees have been accused of flouting courts in a third of the more than 160 lawsuits against the administration in which a judge has issued a substantive ruling. Demonstrators join the group Crimson Courage in support of Harvard University during a hearing before a US federal judge over cancelled grants. Photo: Reuters Harvard University yesterday urged a federal judge to order US president Donald Trumps administration to restore about $2.5bn (2.14bn) in cancelled 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 cancelled grants reflect a government priority not to send money to institutions that practise antisemitism. Harvard prioritised campus protesters over cancer research, Michael Velchik, a senior lawyer at the US Justice Department, said. US President Donald Trump has upset supporters by refusing to release all the Epstein files. Photo: PA One of Jeffrey Epsteins accusers twice urged the FBI to look at Donald Trump following an alleged incident with him. In 1996, Maria Farmer told police she was groped by Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. Ms Farmer, who worked for Epstein as an art adviser, was one of the first people to accuse the paedophile financier of sexual misconduct. Trump pulls US out of woke and divisive UNESCO for second time White House says UNESCO supports 'woke' causesUNESCO boss says decision regrettable but expectedIsrael welcomes US decision to pull out US president Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) John Irish and Doina Chiacu Reuters Tue 22 Jul 2025 at 22:10 US president Donald Trump has decided to pull the US out of the "woke" and "divisive" UN culture and education agency UNESCO, the White House has said, repeating a move he took in his first term that was reversed by Joe Biden. MRI machines are designed to find ailments in the body using powerful magnets. Photo: Getty A man has died after the large metallic chain he was wearing led to him being pulled into an MRI machine as his wife underwent examination at a clinic in New York. latest | Six-week-old infant among 15 people who died of starvation in Gaza in past 24 hours, health officials say Doctors and staff fainting on duty from hunger in Gaza as growing numbers suffer malnutritionUrsula von der Leyen said images of civilians killed during the distribution of aid were "unbearable" Palestinians wait in line to receive hot meals in Gaza City, Gaza on July 20, 2025. Photo: Ahmed Jihad Ibrahim Al-arini/Anadolu via Getty Images. Nidal Al-Mughrabi Reuters Tue 22 Jul 2025 at 16:00 A six-week-old infant was among 15 people who have died of starvation in Gaza in the past 24 hours, local health officials said, with malnutrition now killing Palestinians faster than at any point in the 21-month war. Appointment of Foreign Nationals as Company Directors in India: A Legal Checklist As foreign enterprises broaden their operations in India, many opt to appoint foreign nationals as company directors in their Indian entities. Such appointments enhance corporate governance, bring valuable international perspectives, and support the integration of local operations with global strategic goals. DOING BUSINESS IN INDIA EXPLORE IN-DEPTH INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS GUIDES. Explore vital economic, geographic, and regulatory insights for business investors, managers, or expats to navigate Indias business landscape. Our Online Business Guides offer explainer articles, news, useful tools, and videos from on-the-ground advisors who contribute to the Doing Business in India knowledge. Start exploring India has emerged as a key destination for global investment, drawing foreign companies from a wide range of industries. As these businesses scale their operations in the country, many appoint foreign nationals as directors in their Indian subsidiaries. These appointments bring global expertise, enhance corporate governance, and facilitate better alignment between local operations and international business objectives. While Indian law permits foreign nationals to serve as company directors, the appointment process entails several legal and procedural requirements. Companies must adhere to regulations concerning documentation, taxation, visa approvals, and statutory filings to ensure the appointment is valid and fully compliant. A clear understanding of these obligations is critical to enabling a smooth and legally sound onboarding process. Director roles available to foreign nationals in Indian companies Foreign nationals are eligible to hold various director positions in Indian companies, including executive, non-executive, and independent roles. Executive directors are actively involved in the companys day-to-day operations and management. Non-executive directors provide strategic guidance and oversight but are not part of daily business functions. Independent directors may be appointed, subject to meeting the eligibility requirements under the Companies Act 2013. These include having relevant professional expertisesuch as in law, finance, or technologyand no financial or pecuniary relationship with the company that may impair their independence. Nominee directors are often designated by foreign parent companies to safeguard their interests in Indian subsidiaries. Foreign nationals may also be appointed in specific roles, such as women directors or small shareholders directors, wherever such appointments are legally mandated. For roles such as managing director or whole-time director, Indian law imposes a residency condition. The appointee must have resided in India for a continuous period of at least 12 months prior to the date of appointment. Visa, FRRO, and regulatory essentials Foreign nationals appointed as directors in Indian companies must obtain a visa appropriate to the nature of their engagement. Employment visas are typically required for directors involved in operational roles or those receiving remuneration. Business visas may suffice for directors serving in non-remunerative, advisory, or oversight capacities. The visa must accurately reflect the directors role and should be issued by the Indian consulate in the individuals country of residence. Foreign directors staying in India for more than 180 days in a calendar year must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). This registration must be completed within 14 days of arrival in the country. This also includes submission of the visa, passport, proof of residence in India, and other supporting documents. Permanent Account Number (PAN) and bank account requirements Any foreign director earning income in Indiawhether in the form of salary, commission, or sitting feesis required to comply with Indian tax laws. A PAN must be obtained from the Income Tax (IT) Department for taxation and reporting purposes. If remuneration is paid or business expenses are reimbursed in India, the director may also need to open a local bank account, subject to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines. Compliance requirements for appointing foreign nationals as company directors Appointing a foreign national as a director in an Indian company involves several legal and procedural steps to ensure compliance with the Companies Act, 2013 and Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) regulations. Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) and Director Identification Number (DIN) The foreign national must first obtain a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC), which is used for signing electronic documents on the MCA portal. They must apply for a DIN using Form DIR-3. If the individual is a citizen of a country that shares a land border with India, prior security clearance from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs is mandatory before applying for DIN. DIR-3 KYC is an annual compliance requirement for all individuals holding a DIN in India. It ensures that the MCA maintains accurate and up-to-date records of directors. Filing this form is mandatory for every DIN holder, regardless of whether they are actively serving as a director in a company. Eligibility checks and legal declarations The company must verify that the proposed director is not disqualified under Section 164 of the Companies Act. Disqualifications may include insolvency, past criminal convictions, or non-compliance with legal filings. The foreign national must submit the following: Consent to act as a director using Form DIR-2. A declaration of eligibility via Form DIR-8. A disclosure of interest in other companies or entities using Form MBP-1. Taxation and remuneration compliance Income earned by foreign directors in India is taxable under the Income Tax Act, 1961, and companies are obligated to tax deducted at source (TDS) before making any payments. Tax rates vary based on the directors residency status and any applicable Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). All payments must comply with Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) regulations and be routed through authorized banking channels with appropriate documentation. If a foreign director provides services beyond board dutiessuch as independent consultingsuch services may attract Goods and Services Tax (GST). In these cases, GST may be payable under the reverse charge mechanism. Accurate classification of the directors role is critical for determining tax treatment. Risks and penalties for non-compliance Non-compliance with statutory requirements can result in significant legal and financial consequences: Failure to obtain a Director Identification Number (DIN) or file Form DIR-12 within 30 days of appointment as company director can invalidate the appointment. This can also attract penalties up to INR 50,000. Missing or incorrect declarations and disclosures can lead to disqualification under Section 164 of the Companies Act, along with additional fines. Failure to report known disqualifications via Form DIR-9 may trigger enforcement action by the Registrar of Companies (RoC). On the taxation front, non-deduction or non-payment of TDS may result in interest, penalties, or prosecution under the Income Tax Act. Submitting incomplete or improperly attested documents may delay regulatory approvals or lead to rejection by the MCA. FAQs: Appointment of foreign directors in Indian companies Can a foreign national be appointed as a director in an Indian company? Yes. Foreign nationals can be appointed as company directors in Indian companies, subject to compliance with the Companies Act, 2013 and other applicable laws. Is physical presence in India necessary for the appointment? No. Physical presence is not mandatory unless required by the directors role, visa conditions, or FRRO registration requirements. What is the first step in appointing a foreign director? The initial steps include obtaining a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) and applying for a Director Identification Number (DIN) through Form DIR-3. Is a PAN mandatory for foreign directors? Yes, if the director earns income in India or is required to file Indian tax returns. A PAN is essential for tax compliance. Do foreign directors need to be residents of India? Only if they are being appointed as Managing Director or Whole-Time Director, which requires a minimum 12-month residency before appointment. Are foreign directors allowed to receive remuneration in India? Yes. They can be paid salary, commission, or sitting fees, subject to Income Tax and FEMA compliance. Payments must be routed through authorized banking channels. What types of visas are required for foreign directors? An Employment Visa is required for operational roles with a salary. A Business Visa may be sufficient for advisory or non-executive roles. The visa must align with the directors actual responsibilities. When is FRRO registration required? If a foreign director stays in India for more than 180 days in a calendar year, they must register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) within 14 days of arrival. Can a foreign national be appointed as an independent or nominee director? Yes. Foreign nationals can serve as independent directors if they meet eligibility criteria or as nominee directors representing foreign parent entities. What are the consequences of non-compliance? Non-compliance may lead to the following actions: Marvel had Jack Kirbys granddaughter and the cast of the unreleased 1994 Fantastic Four movie invited to the premiere of the new movie. Thats really good. pic.twitter.com/JUYB95sCvH Comic Tropes (@CTropes) July 22, 2025 The first Fantastic Four film was never released There are conflicting accounts on who stopped the films release For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to become Marvels fourth major adaptation of their seminal comic book series to be released in theaters. However, this is not the fourth Fantastic Four film that was produced overall.An unreleased 1994 film, titled The Fantastic Four, has become a cult favorite among the hardcore Marvel fandom, with many fans curious about the story behind this obscure first attempt at bringing Stan Lee and Jack Kirbys iconic comics to the big screen. The 1994 film starred Alex Hyde-White as Reed Richards, Rebecca Staub as Sue Storm, Jau Underwood as Johnny Storm and Michael Bailey-Smith as Ben Grimm, all of whom will cameo in First Steps.While the 1994 film has never been officially released in any capacity, bootleg versions can be downloaded from the internet or viewed on YouTube and Dailymotion.The 1994 Fantastic Four film was produced on a low budget, with the film being intended as an ashcan copy that would allow film producer Bernd Eichinger to retain the movie rights to the Marvel comics characters. Eichinger collaborated with Roger Corman and New Horizons Pictures to produce the feature on a low budget in order to get things underway before Eichinger lost the film rights. Bernd Eichingers ulterior motives would end up preventing the 1994 films release, catching the cast and crew unawares.Director Oley Sassone and the cast had been hard at work trying to get the word out about their film, with the actors even hiring a publicist at their own expense. Eventually, a film premiere was planned to take place at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, the proceeds of which would go to the charities Children Miracles Network and the Ronald McDonald House. However, all these plans were unceremoniously undone when Eichinger abruptly cancelled the premiere, sent everyone cease and desist letter, and sought to confiscate the negatives.Reflecting on the events, Stan Lee claimed that Eichinger had never planned to release the movie in the first place. Eichinger himself has disputed Lees account, claiming that producer Avi Arad had talked him out of releasing the film. Real-life Drishyam murder: Husband buried under tiles Nalasopara, Maharashtra: In a shocking incident in Dhaniv Baug, Nalasopara, a woman allegedly murdered her husband with the help of her lover and buried the body under the house floor, later covering it with tiles to avoid suspicion. The crime came to light nearly 15 days later pic.twitter.com/e3udcvauTX IANS (@ians_india) July 21, 2025 Jeethu Joseph warns of legal action over Ajay Devgns Drishyam 3 About Drishyam, the movie that inspired the horrific murder In a shocking incident reminiscent of the Bollywood film Drishyam, a woman from near Mumbai has been charged with killing her husband and hiding his body beneath the floor tiles of their home. The gruesome crime has left the local community stunned and has garnered attention for its striking resemblance to the movie's storyline. Heres a breakdown of what has emerged so far.As per NDTV, 35-year-old Vijay Chavan had been untraceable for the past 15 days. He lived with his 28-year-old wife, Komal Chavan, in Gadgapada, Nalasopara East, located around 70 km from Mumbai.On Monday, his brothers visited his home during their search. They noticed that some of the floor tiles looked different in colour. When they removed the odd tiles, they found a vest buried beneath and noticed a foul smell, prompting them to contact the police immediately.Police later discovered Vijay's body hidden under the tiles. They now suspect that he was murdered by his wife Komal, who has been missing for two days along with a neighbour named Monu. The two are allegedly in a romantic relationship and are the primary suspects in the case.More details about the case are awaited.The Malayalam movie Drishyam 3, starring Mohanlal and directed by Jeethu Joseph, is currently in development. In a recent interview with Mathrubhumi, Jeethu addressed speculation that the Hindi remake with Ajay Devgn would begin production before the original. He clarified that he had to step in to prevent the Hindi version from moving forward first, as the Malayalam version holds originality. Although there were talks about filming both versions at the same time, no concrete decision was made. The idea of launching the Hindi version initially was dropped after the makers were cautioned about possible legal action.Drishyam is a well-known Indian thriller praised for its suspenseful plot and emotional storyline. First released in Malayalam in 2013, it was later remade in multiple languages, including a Hindi version in 2015. The film tells the story of Vijay Salgaonkar, a cable TV operator in Goa who lives with his wife and two daughters. Their lives are turned upside down when his daughter accidentally kills a boy who was threatening her with a private video. The boy turns out to be the son of a senior police officer. To protect his family, Vijay uses his intelligence and love for films to plan an elaborate cover-up, faking a timeline and hiding the body to mislead the police. Ajay Devgn plays Vijay in the Hindi adaptation. Bank holiday tomorrow: Sawan Shivratri will be observed on July 23 2025. It is considered an auspicious day dedicated to Lord Shiva. On this festival, many parts of the country will observe holidays in schools and government offices, especially in the northern states where the Kanwar Yatra has a strong influence. This has led to confusion among people about whether banks will remain closed on Wednesday, July 23, for Sawan Shivratri. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) releases a list of bank holidays every year, which includes national festivals, local events, and regional holidays. However, RBI has not declared a bank holiday on July 23. According to the RBI calendar, there is no holiday for Sawan Shivratri. This means that banks will remain open on Wednesday. Even during holidays, online services like net banking, mobile banking and UPI will work round-the-clock. So, you can still transfer money, pay bills, or check your balance easily. But if you need to deposit a cheque, get a draft made, or deposit or withdraw cash, it's better to do these tasks in advance especially in states where banks will remain closed for two or more days in a row. RBIs Bank Holiday List for July 2025 The RBI issues a monthly bank holiday list that reflects the diversity of Indian states and their cultural events. July 2025 includes 13 bank holidays, including national weekends, religious festivals, and regional events. Below is a state-wise bank holiday list for July: State-wise Bank Holidays in July 2025 Full List of Bank Holidays in July 2025 (State-wise) Here is a complete list of July bank holidays in India for the year 2025, based on local festivals and observances: July 3, 2025 Kharchi Puja Where: Tripura Banks in Tripura will remain closed on this day to observe Kharchi Puja, a traditional and important local festival. July 5, 2025 Guru Hargobind Jis Birthday Where: Jammu and Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir) Banks in these regions will be shut to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Hargobind Ji, the sixth Sikh Guru. July 14, 2025 Beh Deinkhlam Where: Meghalaya This is a significant tribal festival in Meghalaya. All banks will remain closed in the state. July 16, 2025 Harela Where: Uttarakhand Harela is an important agricultural festival, especially in the Kumaon region. Banks will be closed for the celebration. July 17, 2025 Death Anniversary of U Tirot Singh Where: Meghalaya Banks in Meghalaya will remain closed in memory of freedom fighter U Tirot Singh. July 19, 2025 Ker Puja Where: Tripura Ker Puja is another important ritual in Tripura. Banks will remain closed in the state on this date. July 28, 2025 Drukpa Tshe-zi Where: Sikkim Banks in Sikkim will remain shut for Drukpa Tshe-zi, a festival celebrated by the Buddhist community. Regular Weekend Bank Holidays in July 2025 Apart from regional festivals, banks across the country will also be closed on weekends. Here's the weekend holiday schedule: Second Saturday July 12 July 12 Fourth Saturday July 26 July 26 Sundays July 6, 13, 20, 27 On these dates, all public and private sector banks will remain closed throughout India. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Today Kolkata FF result, 22 July 2025: Kolkata FF enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the Kolkata Fatafat result today, 22 July 2025, featuring the latest winning numbers, prize details, and valuable FF lucky tips to maximise winning chances. The fast-paced Kolkata FF lottery offers eight rounds (bazis) daily from 10:03 AM to 8:33 PM, with results declared approximately every 90 minutes. Kolkata FF result today: Winning numbers for 22 July 2025 Here are the required Kolkata Fatafat winning numbers for 22 July 2025 listed: Round (Bazi) Result Time Winning Number (Expected) 1st Bazi 10:00 AM To be updated 2nd Bazi 11:30 AM To be updated 3rd Bazi 01:00 PM To be updated 4th Bazi 2:30 PM To be updated 5th Bazi 4:00 PM To be updated 6th Bazi 5:30 PM To be updated 7th Bazi 7:00 PM To be updated 8th Bazi 8:30 PM To be updated Kolkata Fatafat result timing & how to check todays results? Below is the required Kolkata Fatafat result timing for today July 22, 2025 listed: 1st Bazi: 10:00 AM 2nd Bazi: 11:30 AM 3rd Bazi: 1:00 PM 4th Bazi: 2:30 PM 5th Bazi: 4:00 PM 6th Bazi: 5:30 PM 7th Bazi: 7:00 PM 8th Bazi: 8:30 PM Players in general betting 100 on a winning number can expect 900 as returns. The rewarding prize system makes Kolkata Fatafat popular among players. You can check Kolkata FF live results today on official websites such as kolkataff.in, kolkataff.com, and other verified portals that update results in real-time. Kolkata FF lucky tips for 22 July 2025 Below is the required Kolkata FF lucky tips for 22 July 2025 listed: Analyse patterns from previous Kolkata FF results to identify frequently appearing numbers. Bet on pakka numbers and combinations recommended by trusted Kolkata Fatafat tipsters. Focus on rounds with historically higher winning possibilities. Always play responsibly and avoid excessive betting to minimise losses. Following these expert FF lucky tips can enhance your chance to win big in todays Kolkata FF draws. Kolkata FF prize details and winning amounts, July 22, 2025 Below is the required Kolkata FF prize details and winning amounts, July 22, 2025 listed: Bet Amount () Winning Amount () First Prize 10,000 Second Prize 5,000 Consolation Prize 1,000 FAQs Q. Where can I check the Kolkata FF result for 22 July 2025? Answer: The latest Kolkata FF results today are available live on official websites like kolkataff.in and kolkataff.com, updating instantly after each round. Q. How many rounds (bazis) are conducted in Kolkata Fatafat daily? Answer: There are eight rounds from Monday to Saturday, starting at 10:03 AM and ending at 8:33 PM, with four rounds on Sundays. Q. What are the best Kolkata FF lucky tips for today? Answer: Players should analyse previous result patterns, bet on pakka numbers, use patti combinations, and follow expert FF lucky tips available on various portals. Q. What is the prize multiplier in Kolkata Fatafat? Answer: Winning bets in Kolkata FF are generally multiplied by 9, so a 100 winning bet yields 900. Q. Is Kolkata FF legal and where can it be played? Answer: Kolkata FF is regulated by local authorities and can only be played physically within Kolkata city limits. Players are advised to participate responsibly. Disclaimer: The above mentioned data is based on information available from official online sources. We do not endorse or promote any lottery or Teer games. Please play responsibly and verify results through official channels. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. US Senator Lindsey Graham: But here's what I would tell China, India, and Brazil. If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to allow this war to continue, we're going to tear up the hell out of you and we're going to crush your economy because what you're doing is blood money. pic.twitter.com/09IbsgpHhv Ukraine News (@Ukrainene) July 21, 2025 Donald Trump continues hardline pivot against Russia Last night, new NATO Sec Gen Mark Rutte met with President-elect Trump at Mar-a-Lago. NATO Spokesperson on the meeting: They discussed the range of global security issues facing the Alliance. Photo by NATO/Erik Luntang: pic.twitter.com/i2YK1YkBUX Vaughn Hillyard (@VaughnHillyard) November 23, 2024 The Russia-Ukraine war still has no end in sight For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Donald Trump and the GOPs pivot against Russia in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war continues with Republican party senator Lindsay Graham playing hardball with India and China over their ties to Russia.Ever since the Russia-Ukraine war escalated with a full-scale invasion order by Vladimir Putin in February 2022, India and China have faced increased scrutiny for retaining their economic ties to Russia, thus impeding America and Europes attempts to financially cripple the country.Speaking to Fox News, Lindsay Graham had this to say: "Here's what I would tell China, India and Brazil: If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to allow this war to continue, we're going to tear up the hell out of you, and we're going to crush your economy."Donald Trump has been continuing his gradual, but notable sharp pivot against Russia in recent weeks and months. While his early months as president had him go harder on Ukraine and the countrys president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump has begun losing patience with Russian president Vladimir Putin as well recently, with him explicitly stating he was not happy about Putins actions when meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.Lindsay Graham has been a United States Congressman since 1994, when he was elected to the House of Representatives. He was elected to the Senate in 2002. Over the years, Graham has developed a reputation for being among the more hawkish and aggressive United States Senators currently in office, so his belligerence in and of itself is not surprising.It is notable, however, that Grahams harsh rhetoric concerns Russias war with Ukraine, signifying that Donald Trump wants to increase the pressure on Vladimir Putin to reach a deal and end the war as soon as possible.Despite Donald Trump blaming Joe Biden for the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war, the current presidents own policies have so far failed to bring an end to the conflict. Trumps detractors have accused him of being weak on the issue, or in more extreme cases, a useful idiot serving Vladimir Putins agenda. Genshin Impact has finally unveiled the first full teaser for its next region, Nod-Krai, and its packed with familiar faces and exciting new characters. The teaser video hints at deepening conflicts, new factions, and lore that could change everything we know about Teyvat. The new Genshin Impact 5.8 update will drop on July 30, 2025. Heres a full list of every character revealed and what their arrival could mean in the upcoming patch. Varka, Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius Varka is the long-awaited Grand Master of Mondstadts Knights of Favonius. His appearance suggests hell be central to Mondstadts upcoming storylines. His explorer-like armour reflects both leadership and experience, possibly preparing for a showdown with powerful new forces beyond the region. Nefer, the Mysterious Newcomer Nefer is one of the most visually striking new characters. While little is known about them, their ancient-looking design hints at connections to forgotten civilisations or experimental origins. The name also references Nefertiti, adding an Egyptian flair to their mystery. Flins from the Lightkeepers Flins represents the Lightkeepers, a completely new faction introduced in Nod-Krai. The Lightkeepers are tasked with protecting the land from the Abyss, also known as the Wild Hunt. This faction could bring new story mechanics revolving around light-based relics and powers. Nicole of the Hexenzirkel Nicole, previously known only as N, is finally revealed. She is a member of the Hexenzirkel, the secretive witches council that Alice is part of. Nicoles elf-like appearance, complete with wings, may link her to the Snowland Fae faction, adding more depth to Teyvats magical history. Alice, Adventurer and Witch Alice, Klees mother and a famed adventurer, is finally stepping into the spotlight. Seen in her classic witch outfit, she might play a guiding role in the upcoming region, especially given her ties to the Hexenzirkel and the mysteries of Teyvats world beyond. Lauma of the Frostmoon Scions Lauma is tied to the Frostmoon Scions, a group associated with faith and powers rooted in the Frostmoon. Her Latvian-inspired design suggests a solemn and devoted character. The Frostmoon Scions might be descendants of the mythical civilisation of Hyperborea. Jahoda, the Adventurer Jahoda is seen sporting goggles and pilot-like attire, making her stand out as a possible explorer or member of the Treasure Hoarders. Her design hints at connections with the Voynich guild, another possible faction in Nod-Krai. Durin of Mondstadt Durin, the corrupted dragon from Mondstadts past, is shown in human form for the first time. His transformation could be a result of alchemy or timeline disruptions, and his presence signals major shifts in Mondstadts narrative. Aino from the Craftshop Aino was teased earlier but now makes a full appearance, dressed in green with motifs suggesting ties to the Clink-Clank Krumkake Craftshop. She might have connections to crafting or merchant guilds within Nod-Krai. Sandrone, the Puppeteer Harbinger Sandrone, the Fatui Harbinger known for her Victorian-style attire and puppeteering, returns alongside her automatons. Her presence may deepen the Fatuis manipulation of ruin-based technology and expand their influence in the new region. Columbina, the Moon Maiden Columbina, another Fatui Harbinger, is back as the hauntingly serene Moon Maiden. She wears celestial-themed white clothing and hints at the Moons importance in the unfolding story. Her ties to music, dreams, or divine forces remain a tantalising mystery. Bonus: Other teases and factions Apart from these characters, the teaser also hints at new factions like the Snowland Fae and further elaboration on the Hexenzirkel council. The trailers rich visuals and character introductions suggest Nod-Krai will not just expand the map, but also redefine Genshins ongoing lore and conflicts. Area 51 has captured the imagination of everyone from UFO hunters to meme makers, and the truth might just be stranger than fiction. Among all the shocking stories from the place, the most recent report reveals that multiple staff at Area 51 have reportedly died or suffered from a similar deadly disease after being exposed to a 'top secret' project. Area 51 is highly classified as a US Air Force facility situated near the Nevada desert that has long been linked to controversy and strange goings-on, with many aliens and UFO sightings also being reported close to the base over many years, reported Lad Bible. Not only this, but even Google Maps believes that they have spotted otherworldly activities close to the base, with alien conspiracy theories. I found this little tidbit of info quite interesting and revealing. During the recent Tucker Carlson interview with Rob ONeil, he talked about his experience at Area 51 while preparing for the Bin Laden raid. For those that dont know, Rob was the Seal Team 6 operator that pic.twitter.com/DsPmZRAJgK THIS GUY (@gregsUPSIDEdown) July 22, 2025 Multiple staff members at Area 51 died of severe illness According to the Lad Bible, some US Air Force veterans and security guards claim that they were handed a death sentence by the government due to the presence of a mysterious and invisible killer at the location. David Crete, a former Air Force sergeant who worked at the Nevada Training and Testing Range (NTTR) between 1983 and 1987, said that the left side of his brain was 'dying' due to atrophy (the decrease in size or wasting away of a body part, cell, tissue, or organ) while speaking at the House of Veterans Affairs Committee in early 2025. Over 450 staffs at Area 51 have died from same disease | Credit: X | VertigoWarrior Around 490 people died of severe diseases like cancer at Area 51 Crete is voicing himself to seek help for denied healthcare in the US because none of the surviving veterans can prove they were exposed to radiation near Area 51, and their work was so 'top secret' that there were no records of anyone being there. While Sergeant Crete made bold claims that nearly 490 of his former colleagues have died of severe diseases, including cancer, since the time they served at the former nuclear site, due to the radiation risks. "My wife had three miscarriages. One of the guys that I worked with, his wife had seven," he quoted in the report. He added that all four of his children were born with birth defects or significant health problems, and it is not their fault. Scarred lungs and cysts in the liver Apart from this, Crete also suffers from scarred lungs and has cysts in his liver. "My wife had three miscarriages. One of the guys that I worked with, his wife had seven," he added. Beloved actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner has tragically passed away at the age of 54 following an accidental drowning at Playa Grande in Cahuita, Limon, Costa Rica. The actor was reportedly pulled underwater by a powerful rip current on Sunday, July 20. Despite the efforts of beachgoers who attempted a rescue and performed CPR, Warner could not be revived. Lifeguards absent at dangerous beach where Malcolm-Jamal drowned | Credit: Instagram/malcolmjamalwar Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner swept away by rip current amid lifeguard absence According to the Caribbean Guard, a volunteer lifeguard association, there were no trained personnel present on the beach at the time of the incident. They attributed their absence to resource shortages and claimed their limited team had been redirected to other beaches considered high-risk at the time. Lifeguards absent at dangerous beach where Malcolm-Jamal drowned | Credit: Instagram/malcolmjamalwar No lifeguards on site at time of incident The association expressed deep regret over Warners passing, acknowledging that Playa Grande is known for its unpredictable waters and warning signs are clearly posted in English and Spanish. In their official statement, they stressed that without increased governmental support and public safety policy reform, such tragedies will likely continue. Emergency services respond when Malcolm-Jamal Warner drowned Authorities confirmed that emergency services were alerted through Costa Ricas 911 system at 2:10 p.m. on the day of the incident. Three ambulances were dispatched, and Warner was pulled from the water without vital signs. Despite resuscitation attempts, he was declared dead at the scene. A second man, aged 35, was also involved in the same incident and is currently hospitalised in critical condition. Lifeguards absent at dangerous beach where Malcolm-Jamal drowned | Credit: Instagram/malcolmjamalwar Warners body has been transferred to the Forensic Medicine Unit for an autopsy. Preliminary findings from Costa Ricas Judicial Investigation Department suggest the actor had entered the sea and was quickly swept away by the current. The Caribbean Guard used this moment to call for immediate action from President Rodrigo Chaves Robles and local government bodies. They argued that their work, though vital, cannot continue without significant support. They warned that the frequency of drownings is rising across the country. Warner had been vacationing in Costa Rica since July 13. He is survived by his wife and daughter, whose identities have not been publicly disclosed. Atlanta rapper Cash Out, whose real name is John Gibson, has been sentenced to life in prison for rape, with an additional 70 years for a string of crimes including sex trafficking and racketeering. The court ruling, delivered on 18 July, brings to a close a harrowing trial that exposed a seven-year criminal enterprise hiding in plain sight. Atlanta rapper Cash Out has been sentenced to life in prison plus 70 years for rape, sex trafficking, and RICO charges. | Credit: Instagram/1cashout Rapper Cash Out sentenced to life for orchestrating vicious trafficking ring Cash Out rose to fame in the early 2010s with hits like "Cashin' Out" and "She Twerkin". But behind the celebrity image was a grim reality. Prosecutors say Gibson exploited his fame to lure vulnerable women into sex work. His victims were manipulated, starved, and abused, all under the guise of industry opportunities. Cash Outs mother Mama Cash Out was also covicted The rapper's mother, Linda Smith, infamously known as "Mama Ca$h Out," was also convicted and sentenced to 30 years. His cousin Tyrone Taylor received life in prison plus 70 years. Prosecutors described the trio as the core operators of a trafficking network targeting women across Atlanta. Evidence included messages from eight seized phones and disturbing testimonies from survivors. Atlanta rapper Cash Out has been sentenced to life in prison plus 70 years for rape, sex trafficking, and RICO charges. | Credit: Instagram/1cashout Fulton County prosecutor Earnell Winfrey called the operation more than just pimping, it was modern-day slavery. One woman testified she was only fed if she performed sex acts. Prosecutors painted a picture of systematic abuse, with earnings collected in kitchen drawers and victims subjected to physical control and threats. Who is Rapper Cash Out? Signed to Epic Records in 2011, Cash Out seemed destined for stardom. Instead, his conviction now stands as a dark symbol of celebrity abuse. With 11 convictions including rape, aggravated sodomy, and RICO violations, Gibsons legacy has been shattered. He must also register as a sex offender and avoid areas connected to his crimes. The British royal family is no stranger to bizarre conspiracy theories, but the latest one might be the strangest of all time. Princess Beatrice, daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, is now the subject of online speculation after old clips from her 2018 Met Gala appearance began making the rounds again, with netizens questioning if she's a human or a royal robot. Princess Beatrice's 2018 Met Gala clips spark wild conspiracy theory Out of nowhere, multiple clips from Princess Beatrices 2018 Met Gala red carpet walk have popped up across TikTok, X, and Reddit. In the videos, shes seen arriving in a regal, floor-length deep purple gown with a high waistline, subtle beading, and a matching jewel-encrusted headband. Her hair is slicked back into a neat low bun, and her makeup is soft and understated, very much on the demure side for an event known for theatrical excess. But what caught peoples attention wasnt the dress or the styling. It was the way she stood so perfectly still, holding a fixed expression, barely blinking as cameras flashed. Some viewers claim she doesn't move her mouth or eyes at all for several seconds, making the footage feel unsettling and oddly stiff. These clips might have gone unnoticed back in 2018, but in todays hyper-online culture, theyve been dubbed suspicious enough to spark Is she a robot? debates. Princess Beatrice, the elder daughter of Prince Andrew. Do you notice anything? pic.twitter.com/29X9T1AL77 Johnny Midnight (@its_The_Dr) July 21, 2025 So, not sure whats up with Prince Andrews daughter, but I jokingly call those MK ULTRA eyes when I see them in the wild. In this situation, not sure its a joke with Princess Beatrice. Look into her eyes! pic.twitter.com/XrYUt5QSSb GnosisWolf (@GnosisWolf) July 21, 2025 Is that a robot? Internet reacts to uncanny Beatrice footage One user wrote, Is this actually her? It looks like a robot in a Beatrice mask. No mouth or face movement at all. Unnatural eye movement and a partial blink that goes about halfway. Another added, You mean besides the robotic movements and Chucky expression frozen on her face? A third simply asked, Is that a robot? Serious question. This is eerie shit. Is this actually her? It looks like a robot in a Beatrice mask. No mouth or face movement at all. Unnatural eye movement and a partial blink that goes about halfway Max Igan (@MaxtheCrowhouse) July 22, 2025 You mean besides the robotic movements and Chucky expression frozen on her face? Paul Stewart (@pt_stewart) July 21, 2025 Is that a robot? Serious question. This is eerie shit. Eric Henson (@echo16photo) July 21, 2025 Of course, not everyone jumped on the conspiracy bandwagon. Some viewers defended Beatrice, saying she might have been overwhelmed by the cameras and was simply trying too hard to hold a pose. I pulled up a different video, and it's definitely not a robot.... I think she was just trying waaaaaay too hard not to blink for the photags.https://t.co/czm9DoAiVP Mindy MF Robinson (@iheartmindy) July 22, 2025 I notice a beautiful lady IN HER OWN UNIQUE WAY First of all WHAT DID SHE DO TO YOU TO MOCK & BULLY HER,she lives quietly & doesnt seek attention at all, 2nd of all ITS NOT HER FAULT SHE WAS BORN IN THE RF & Andrew as her father veni (@inev_y2015) July 22, 2025 Who is Princess Beatrice? Princess Beatrice is known for avoiding the royal spotlight| Credit: X Born in 1988, Princess Beatrice is the eldest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Though shes ninth in line to the throne, shes mostly kept a low profile compared to her cousins William and Harry. Over the years, shes become known for her charity work, support of dyslexia awareness, and occasional headline-grabbing fashion choices. She married property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a private 2020 ceremony, and the couple shares two daughters, Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi and Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending. Lindsey Grahams Warning to Nations Buying Russian Oil Fox News Lindsey Graham Fox News These countries will soon have to decidethe American economy or supporting Putin. I believe they will choose the American economy, A Closer Look at Lindsey Grahams Career Donald Trump (Left) and Lindsey Graham (Left) ( Image credit : Donald Trump (Left) and Lindsey Graham (Left) | Credit: X/Lindsey Graham ) American politician lawyer US Senator South Carolina Republican Party Net Worth of Lindsey Graham in 2025 Graham's Relationship with Donald Trump I really enjoyed dinner this evening at the White House with President @realDonaldTrump and my Republican Senate colleagues, celebrating the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill and so many other accomplishments in the historic first six months of this administration. Mr. pic.twitter.com/At0jSwzHcA Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 19, 2025 What he thinks about Russia and world affairs US Senator Lindsey Graham Senator Lindsey Graham of the United States is back in the news for this time because he said bad things about India, China, and Brazil for still buying oil from Russia. Graham is known for being very outspoken about his political views. He gave a strong warning: countries that buy oil from Russian President Vladimir Putin will have serious economic problems if Trump becomes president.In a recent interview withtoldthat President Trump would take strong action against countries that buy oil from Russia. Trump is going to impose tariffs on people that buy Russian oilChina, India, and Brazil. These three countries are purchasing nearly 80% of discounted Russian oil, which is directly funding Vladimir Putins war machine, he said.Graham claimed that Trump plans to implement a 100% tariff on these nations to penalise them for indirectly supporting Putins agenda.Graham added confidently.Born on 9 July 1955, Lindsey Graham is a seasonedand. He has been serving as the seniorfromsince 2003. A loyal member of the, and led the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2021.He served in the US Air Force from 1982 to 1988. He was the head of the Judge Advocate General's Corps's prosecution and defence teams in Europe. He was in the Air Force Reserve while he was in Congress. For his service, he got the Bronze Star Medal in 2014. He didn't fight in person, though.He was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995. His term in the US House of Representatives was from 1995 to 2003. He was in charge of South Carolina's 3rd congressional district. He has worked in politics for a long time, which shows that he values both safety and a strong government.Even though Lindsey Graham has been a senator for a long time, he doesn't have as much money as some other senators who have been in office for a long time. His worth will likely be between $2 million and $4 million in 2025.His Senate salary of $174,000 a year brings in most of his money. There are also smart places for Graham to put his money, such as in corporate bonds, real estate, and mutual funds. He has more money because he owns homes in Washington, D.C. and South Carolina.Lindsey Graham used to be against Trump, especially when he was running for president in 2016. In public, he spoke out against Trump's controversial remarks, even those about Graham's close friend John McCain.Lindsey Graham used to be against Trump, especially when he was running for president in 2016. In public, he spoke out against Trump's controversial remarks, even those about Graham's close friend John McCain.Lindsey Graham is a strong neoconservative who has always backed a foreign policy that involves the US in the problems of other countries. A lot of people know him for criticising governments like Vladimir Putin's and calling for strong military action when it should be done.Graham has said many times that he is worried about threats to world peace, especially when they hurt the United States. He just recently said that India, China, and Brazil shouldn't buy oil from Russia to help its economy, either directly or indirectly. A Greek court has ordered the ex-wife of a murdered Polish professor to be held in pretrial detention on suspicion of masterminding his killing, despite her claims of innocence. The 43-year-old woman's 35-year-old partner, who confessed to the shooting, was also remanded in custody along with three alleged accomplices. During questioning, the ex-wife denied any involvement, stating she had no motive and was "devastated and shocked." However, judges rejected her claims and ordered her detained. The confessed shooter told investigators he acted alone to "free my family," fearing the victim would take their children to America. He claimed his partner and the accomplices were unaware of his plan to kill. Testimonies from the accomplices supported this, with both a 30-year-old Bulgarian and a 23-year-old Albanian national telling police they were hired only to "intimidate" the professor and did not know about a murder plot. The investigation is ongoing. iefimerida.gr A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has sentenced three internet fraudsters to various jail terms. In a statement by Spokesman for Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Dele Oyewale, on Monday, disclosed that the trio were convicted by Justice Maureen Oyetenu. Oyewale noted that the accused individuals were sentenced after pleading guilty to separate count charges bordering on internet fraud, following their arraignment by the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the commission. Advertisement He identified the convicts as Emmanuel Okwa, Felix Akaninyene Tom, and Ubok Ubong Edet. READ MORE: Akwa Ibom Court Sentences Man To Death For Beheading Elder Brother One of the charges reads: That you, Emmanuel Okwa (aka Jennifer Aniston) M sometime in 2024, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently presented yourself as Jennifer Aniston on the social media with intent to gain advantage for yourself, did take possession of the sum of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1500) knowing that the money formed part of the proceed of an unlawful act to wit; cyber impersonation and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act. Meanwhile, the defendants on Monday, pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them, prompting the prosecution counsel, Joshua Abolarin, to review the facts of the case and pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. Emmanuel received a sentence of one years imprisonment, with the option of paying a fine of two million naira (N2,000,000). The court also ordered the forfeiture of his iPhone and Samsung mobile devices to the Federal Government. Felix and Edet were each handed a six-month jail term, with the alternative of a five hundred thousand naira (N500,000) fine. Both men were further directed to forfeit a Tecno Camon 18 Spark and a Tecno Pro 10 Spark phone, respectively, with the devices to be sold and the proceeds paid into the EFCCs Proceeds of Crime Account. Jake Larson, popularly known as Papa Jake, an American Army veteran who moved millions on TikTok with his vivid recollections of World War II, has died at 102. In a TikTok post, Larsons granddaughter McKaela shared that the veteran passed away peacefully on Thursday. She noted that Larson stayed witty and full of joy right up until the end. Advertisement READ MORE: I Dont Have Capacity To Womanise Timini Egbuson Its with a heavy heart that I have to make this announcement. Our beloved Papa Jake has passed away on July 17th at 102 years young, the post reads. Please know, he went peacefully and was even cracking jokes til the very end. At this time the family and I ask for some privacy as we process this loss. I am so thankful to have shared my Papa Jake with you all. You meant the world to him. When the time is right, I will continue to share Papa Jakes stories and keep his memory alive. We appreciate all the kind words and posts. As Papa would say, love you all the mostest. Social media was filled with tributes from fans, celebrating Larsons incredible life and dedicated service. Larson, born on December 20, 1922, in Owatonna, Minnesota, started his military path at the age of 15 after falsifying his age to join the Minnesota National Guard. In 1942, he was sent to Northern Ireland with the American Armys 135th Infantry Regiment of the 34th Red Bull Division, where he served as an operations sergeant and played a role in planning the D-Day invasion. Larson was among the 34,000 Allied troops who stormed Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, surviving a barrage of machine-gun fire during the D-Day invasion. Larson later took to TikTok to share memories from his wartime experiences, including his landing at Omaha Beach, amassing 1.2 million followers under the username @storytimewithpapajake. He also garnered over 16,000 subscribers on YouTube. In June, his D-Day interview with CNNs Christiane Amanpour received an Emmy Award. Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects, including a female student who allegedly faked her own kidnapping in a plot to extort 10 million from her family. The suspects, identified as 28-year-old Chinecherem Okonkwo, a female student at Enugu State University of Science and Technology, and 30-year-old Chinecherem Aronu, allegedly conspired to stage their own abduction and used a disguised voice to demand a ransom of 10 million from their family. The revelation was made in a press statement issued on Monday by the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga. Advertisement READ MORE: Army Arrests 62 Suspects During Crack Down Against Oil Theft In Niger-Delta Ikenga stated that officers from the Rapid Response Squad, acting on intelligence gathered during the investigation of a reported abduction of a female student, apprehended the suspects at a lodge situated in the UNIZIK Temporary Site area of Awka. The statement read in part, The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects involved in a self-orchestrated kidnap incident designed to extort money from the victims own family. The suspects are Chinecherem Okonkwo, f, aged 28 years old, and Chinecherem Aronu, m, aged 30years old. Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad acting on an intelligence-led investigation of a disturbing report of alleged abduction of Chinecherem Nwaokoye, a female student of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, stormed a lodge located at UNIZIK Temp Site, Awka, where the victim was found alive and in the company of her male accomplice. According to the report, Chinecherem had earlier contacted her family on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, informing them that she was returning home from school but never arrived. Her phone remained switched off throughout that day. On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, her family received a call from an unknown male voice who claimed responsibility for her kidnap and demanded a ransom of N10m only. After negotiations, the ransom was reduced to N3,000,000, and a part payment of N1,000,000 was later paid into the victims bank account. Ikenga revealed that during interrogation, the two suspects admitted to faking the kidnapping as part of a scheme to extort money from the victims family. He further disclosed that the female suspect, Nwaokoye, confessed to being the mastermind behind the plot, inspired by a movie she had watched, and planned to hand over the ransom money to her boyfriend to start a business. The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has directed that the suspects be charged to court without delay and condemned the incident as a clear sign of deepening moral decay among some youths in the society. He issued a warning that the command would not condone such acts of criminal deception and urged parents and guardians to closely monitor their childrens activities and the influence of their peers. The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the position of the partys National Chairman is returned to the North-Central region during the partys upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Thursday. In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, and signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the Forum insisted that anything short of returning the chairmanship to the North-Central would be a betrayal of trust and loyalty. As the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), meets on Thursday, July 24, 2025, we the North-Central APC Forum, appeal to President Bola Tinubu and other leaders of the party to do the right thing and ensure that the National Chairman is returned to the North-Central, the Forum said. Advertisement READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/babangidas-son-denies-rejecting-tinubus-appointment-as-bank-of-agriculture-chairman.html Zazzaga noted that the zone had demonstrated unwavering loyalty, saying, The North-Central has over the years played an important and strategic role in the progress and growth of the APC. Any decision that goes contrary to returning the position of National Chairman to the region will amount to betrayal. He warned against retaining the current acting chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori from Borno State, stating, Allowing Dalori to continue is like robbing Peter to pay Paul. The North-East didnt deliver APC in the 2023 presidential election despite producing the vice-presidential candidate. The Forum concluded, Returning the position to the North-Central is not a favour. It is justice. It is equity. It is what will keep the party united going forward. A Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Monday, dismissed a suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking to halt statutory federal allocations to the 44 local government councils in Kano State, currently controlled by the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP). The legal action, filed in November 2024 by APC Chairman Prince Abdullahi Abbas, challenged the legality of the NNPP-led LG executives, claiming they were not validly elected and violated Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution. Justice Simon Amobeda ruled that the suit lacked merit and dismissed it outright, stating it could not be revived. Advertisement He also rejected an oral application by APCs counsel to withdraw the suit, citing Order 50 Rules 3, 4, and 5 of court procedure. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/ex-bauchi-ssg-ibrahim-kashim-dumps-pdp-eyes-2027-governorship-bid.html The appellate court had already ruled that this court lacks jurisdiction, APC lawyer Sunday Olowomoran told the court. But several respondents insisted on a full dismissal and demanded compensation. We urge the court to dismiss the case and impose a 2.5 million cost on the plaintiffs, said Tajudeen Abdullahi, representing the Attorney-General of the Federation. Counsel to the Central Bank of Nigeria and RMAFC also demanded 1 million each. The Kano State Governments lawyer requested 2 billion in damages. KANSIEC counsel Ibrahim Wangida said, Our office was locked for three months. We suffered psychological and physical trauma, and demanded 2 million. The 44 local government chairmen, represented by Mustapha Hussaini, requested 44 million, at 1 million per council. Son of former military head of state Ibrahim Babangida, Muhammed Babangida, has officially accepted his appointment as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture. Mr. Muhammed dismissed viral reports claiming that he declined the role, given to him by President Bola Tinubus administration, describing it as false and malicious. Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA had reported that the son of the former military head of state, in a statement on Monday, cited personal reasons behind his decision. Advertisement Barely few hours, following the purported reports, Mr. Muhammed, in a statement expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the confidence placed in him, affirming his full acceptance of the appointment. He said: We wish to clarify that Muhammed gratefully accepts the appointment as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture, as announced by the federal government, and extends his sincere appreciation to President Tinubu for the trust and confidence bestowed upon him. These reports are false and malicious. They are a deliberate attempt to misinform the public and tarnish the image of the Presidents administration. READ MORE: Babangidas Son Rejects Tinubus Appointment, Cites Personal Reasons We call on all citizens to remain discerning and to verify information from credible sources to prevent the spread of misinformation. Also confirming Muhammeds acceptance statement on Monday, Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, quoted Babangidas Son in a post shared via his X page. He said: It further assured the public that those behind the fake reports would be identified and held accountable. We also want to assure the public that those spreading these falsehoods will be thoroughly investigated and brought to justice. We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and fostering unity within our nation. Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has declared that any traditional title holder found guilty of domestic violence, particularly against women, risks losing his title. He made the statement on Monday, at his palace in Kano while addressing a delegation from the Development Research and Project Center (dRPC) and the Center for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID) under Bayero University. The visit was part of a Ford Foundation-sponsored initiative aimed at mobilising Islamic leaders to actively combat gender-based violence in northern Nigeria. Advertisement Emir Sanusi reaffirmed Islams stance against violence, especially within the home, insisting that harmful practices masked as correction are unacceptable. I never believe in beating women, and those who do, are not beating their wives with the intention of reforming them, he said. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/weve-become-beggars-struggling-to-survive-retired-police-officers-protest-in-plateau.html He condemned the growing trend of physical abuse under the guise of discipline, stating, What we see today is even serious beating and injuring of women in the name of reforming them. The Emir warned, Any titleholder found guilty of such behaviour will have his traditional title withdrawn immediately. Sanusis position adds momentum to the ongoing push by faith and community leaders to challenge toxic norms and protect women from abuse. According to him, Violence, no matter the excuse, is not supported by Islamic teachings. It is time we begin to show women the respect and dignity that our religion commands. Former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has once again taken a swipe at the administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing it of executing what he termed an evil agenda against the Nigerian people. Speaking on Monday, on Channels Televisions Politics Today, Ortom said Buhari introduced deceptive policies to displace communities and push divisive agendas under the guise of development. Of course, Ive said it. It wasnt hidden and I have raised the alarm several times, Ortom stated when asked if he had been frustrated by Buharis administration. Advertisement READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/lack-of-party-ideology-weakening-nigerias-democracy-senator-natasha.html They brought different programmes to execute the evil agenda that the then-government had on Nigeria. The former governor specifically referenced the Ruga settlement scheme, cattle colony initiative, and livestock development programme, describing them as mere smokescreens. Be it Ruga, be it cattle colony, be it livestock development programme, all those things were just a camouflage to deceive Nigerians, and I raised an alarm, he added. Ortom said he consistently resisted the implementation of these policies during his tenure as governor, particularly in Benue State, which witnessed multiple clashes between herders and farmers under Buharis rule. Each time they brought it, I stood against it, and its unfortunate they never listened, he lamented. Drama unfolded on Tuesday at the National Assembly complex, as lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was denied entry. Senator Natasha, who was suspended for six months by the Senate, had vowed to resume legislative duties following a court ruling asking the Senate to recall her. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the lawmaker was spotted in a viral video with her convoy arriving at the entrance, but was denied by heavy security officials. Advertisement She was stopped alongside a car ahead of her, which conveyed controversial human rights activist Aisha Yesufu. The standoff intensified as her supporters began chanting Push! and tried to force their way through the security barricade. After some minutes, Senator Natasha alighted from her vehicle and walked into the National Assembly premises in Abuja, accompanied by her supporters. READ MORE: Natasha Defies Suspension, Walks Back Into Senate She was stopped again at the 2nd gate and asked to turn back. However, the senator and her supporters made their way past the checkpoint only to meet a locked gate. Despite attempts to gain entry, the embattled lawmaker and her team were denied access into the Assemblys complex. They later left with the lawmaker who expressed displeasure over the move, noting that she will consult her legal team to know the next steps. Addressing newsmen after the she was denied, Natasha vowed to return once the Senate resumes from a two-month recess. She said: That Ive been denied entrance to the National Assembly is a statement being made. Its on record that the National Assembly under Akpabio has decided to be in contempt of a court decision, and its quite ironic that they are lawmakers. That poses the question: how far is our democracy in this day and age? l will have a meeting with my legal team so they can proceed to the appellate court to seek interpretation into what just happened. Im a law-abiding citizen. See Video Here: https://www.facebook.com/channelsforum/videos/1277056000693051/?app=fbl Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Monday, engaged with angry protesting retired police officers in Abuja. The IGP reaffirmed Nigeria Police Forces commitment to address plights of retired officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme. Speaking with the aggrieved former officers at the Force Headquarters, on Monday, Egbetokun expressed empathy for their situation, saying that the issue of poor retirement benefits was also a concern for serving officers. Advertisement The IGP added that he had just come from a meeting with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, where the welfare of retired police officers was also discussed. He said: We all feel concerned. We empathise with you because we are also going to retire. I have been engaging at the highest level to ensure that something is done to improve the condition of the poor pensioner. READ MORE: Weve Become Beggars, Struggling To Survive Retired Police Officers Protest In Plateau Even right now, I was just coming from a meeting with the NSA. The subject matter is the poor pension of retired officers. There are things that we need to make to ensure that your suffering in retirement is alleviated. There are a number of things that we have done, steps that I have been taking, the details of which I would not like to disclose with the press present. But I just want to assure you that we empathise with you and we are not just folding our arms. We are doing a lot to ensure that something is done. Dont allow the enemies of the police to use you. Be suspicious of those who pretend to be on your side. They may not mean well for you. Former Labour Party vice presidential candidate, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has dismissed speculations of a rift between him and Peter Obi, asserting that their political bond remains strong ahead of the 2027 general elections. In a statement issued on Monday, Datti disclosed any talks of division between him and Obi were unfounded. You are saying if there is a crack there is no crack. And by the grace of God Almighty, there will never be a crack, Datti said. Advertisement He added, It is easier to break the head of APC than to break the crack that exists between us. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/weve-become-beggars-struggling-to-survive-retired-police-officers-protest-in-plateau.html Speaking further on his loyalty to the Labour Party, Datti reaffirmed his commitment to the political movement that supported his 2023 vice-presidential bid. I stated clearly that as a loyal member to a party that has achieved what no party in Nigerias political history has achieved this party is one not to be abandoned, he declared. Datti also addressed rumours linking him and Obi to emerging coalition talks, including those involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC). A coalition is not a political party. To the best of my knowledge, Obi is still a member of Labour Party, and I am too, he clarified. He emphasised his focus on unity within the LP, stating, I wish to reconcile all parties. This is what a loyal and unambitious member does, and thats what Im doing. Operatives of Kebbi State Police Command have arrested a suspect, identified as Mr. Amakwa, in connection with alleged murder of one Auwal Umaru of Katami from Silami Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Disclosing the unfortunate incident in a statement on Monday, Spokesman for the states Police Command, Nafiu Abubakar, said that on July 21,2025, at about 8 a.m, the police received information that Umaru was seen lying in a pool of blood behind Central Market in Birnin Kebbi. He noted that Mr. Amakwa, was later arrested after credible information. Advertisement Abubakar also confirmed that the knife used in the attack had been recovered by the police. READ MORE: 11 Arrested In Kebbi For Allegedly Impregnating Mentally Ill 13-Year-Old Girl He said: Upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Central Market, mobilised a team of policemen and vigilantes to the scene and evacuated the victim to Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, where a medical practitioner certified the victim dead. Following a credible lead, one Bello Amakwa, 30, of Birnin Kebbi was arrested in connection with the case. In the course of preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed to having stabbed the deceased with a knife on his neck as a result of a mere argument at about 2:30 a.m. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the Federal Government and state governors of oppressing workers, crushing dissent, and unlawfully seizing their contributions a move it described as stealing workers sweat. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made the statement on Monday, at the opening of the 21st Rain School of the NLC in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Ajaero painted a grim picture of Nigerias political climate, warning that the country was sliding into authoritarianism. Advertisement We are witnessing a systematic silencing of workers voices. Civic freedoms are under siege. This is not democracy; it is the tyranny of the ruling class, he said. He further decried the growing interference in union activities and clampdowns on peaceful protests. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/babangidas-son-rejects-tinubus-appointment-cites-personal-reasons.html When a government is afraid of union gatherings and workers protests, it signals the death of participatory governance, Ajaero declared. Accusing the political elite of abandoning governance for premature politicking, he added: Governance has been abandoned for 2027 politicking. Leaders who should be working to alleviate suffering are instead consumed by power games, leaving workers and ordinary Nigerians to bear the brunt of economic hardship and mounting insecurity, all imposed by their policies. He also questioned the sincerity of those in power, stating, They collect our contributions, deduct from our salaries, and divert them without accountability. That is stealing. It is criminal, and we will not tolerate it. Ajaero warned that the NLC would resist all attempts to undermine the rights of workers. We will not fold our arms and watch democracy die. If they continue on this path, Nigerian workers will be forced to rise. Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has declared that no political coalition can stop President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from securing a second term in the 2027 presidential election. The governor made the statement on Monday, during the South East zonal meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital. Describing Tinubus presidency as divinely orchestrated, Nwifuru noted that his emergence in 2023 was not by chance. Advertisement God chose President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be President of Nigeria contrary to the wishes and expectations of the opposition, he said. God ignored others who contested on religious sentiments because He sees the heart of everybody; that is why He brought Tinubu. He expressed strong confidence in the presidents leadership capacity, stating, No amount of coalition can derail Gods purpose of Tinubu winning the election. Let me assure the people that no one is disturbed by the coalition. No opposition is well-prepared more than our President. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/igp-meets-retired-police-officers-over-poor-welfare.html Nwifuru urged party stakeholders to stay committed and united behind the President, adding, We need someone who can take bold decisions. President Tinubu has such capacity. He is leading with courage and vision. He further stated: The party is at home in Ebonyi State. We must be tolerant to divergent views and opinions and join Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to succeed and complete his tenure. The statement, signed by the governors Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Monday Uzor, was made available to journalists in Abakaliki. Nwifuru also commended the APCs zonal leaders for their dedication, saying, Anytime I see party executives, I know these are the people that work for the people. He also emphasized party reforms, stating, We must strengthen internal democracy by ensuring inclusivity. It is wrong to impose candidates during elections. Let every aspirant have a fair chance. In his remarks, Ebonyi APC Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, said, We are committed to ensuring that the APC remains strong in Ebonyi. We will continue to conquer new grounds and bring more opposition members into our fold. Zonal Chairman, Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, said the event was part of a consultation tour. We are here to assess the strength and weaknesses of our party and to engage stakeholders. I am not surprised with what is happening because the governor of the state is very supportive of the party, he said. He added, What the governor is doing in Ebonyi is commendable. I drove around last night; I saw a beautiful city. The progress is visible. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has formally announced that its 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will be held across three days Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, at the partys national secretariat in Abuja. The update was contained in a statement posted on Tuesday, July 22, via the partys official X handle. It was signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba. Distinguished members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party are hereby reminded of the scheduled 101st NEC meeting earlier summoned, the statement read. Advertisement It added that NEC members, as provided under Section 31(1) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), are expected to attend this critical gathering. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/its-easier-to-break-apc-than-my-bond-with-peter-obi-datti-baba-ahmed.html Ologunagba further stated, This meeting is crucial for the unity and forward march of our great party. All members are enjoined to attend punctually and participate actively. He outlined the categories of participants expected: The meeting will be attended by the national chairman; serving and former presidents and vice presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who are PDP members; chairman and secretary of the Board of Trustees (BoT); all BoT members; and principal officers of the National Assembly from the PDP. Others listed include all state governors of the party, all national officers and their deputies, all state chairmen, six ex-officio members, and all former NWC and principal officers of the National Assembly and former state governors produced by the PDP who are still in the party. This meeting will shape our strategy heading into 2027, Ologunagba emphasised. https://x.com/OfficialPDPNig/status/1937917778410746318?t=5a6C6w85GXA6eTtjNObC3A&s=19 Former presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi was missing in a meeting held by Julius Abure-led faction of the party and the 2023 vice president candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed. Speaking on Monday, at the National Working Committee meeting convened by the Abure faction held in Abuja, Baba-Ahmed said that he attended as a peacemaker. He acknowledged attending meetings of opposition coalition against the ruling All Progressive Congress, but said that he remained a LP member. Advertisement Datti said: I am here as a peacemaker and I am also here to reconcile divergent opinions. I am very proud to say that I did attend meetings of certain attempts of a coalition in Nigeria. Morally speaking, if your neighbourhood invites you to discuss security, you must attend. READ MORE: 2027: Peter Obi Is No Threat To APC Edo Commissioner However, if you attend and they discuss other matters outside that, you are at liberty to restore yourself to your former position. I have attended and I have listened to the coalition attempts. Yes, I still remain in the Labour Party. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the Labour Party has been embroiled in an internal leadership crisis since after the 2023 general elections. The internal crisis has threatened the partys cohesion and performance ahead of future elections. Recently, Obi expressed support for the political coalition under the platform of the African Democratic Congress. Suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has issued warning to Senate President Godswill Akpabio against placing himself above the Nigerian Constitution. Senator Natasha on Tuesday, accused the Senate leadership of violating a valid court order by preventing her from resuming duties at the National Assembly. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the Kogi lawmaker arrived at the NASS complex to reclaim her seat following a ruling by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, which nullified her suspension. Advertisement It was learnt that Mrs. Natasha was later denied entry by security personnel at the gate. Following her failed attempt to enter the Senate complex, the female lawmaker, while addressing newsmen, described the development as a deliberate act of contempt by the Senate, particularly targeting Senate the Senate President. She said: Akpabio cannot be greater than the Nigerian Constitution. I want Nigerians to know that the Office of the Senate President doesnt give me legitimacy as a senator. READ MORE: Were Strongly With Senator Natasha Aisha Yesufu Declares Support The fact that he has done an appeal does not invalidate the decision of Justice Binta Nyako, and that does not stop me from being a senator. I got my legitimacy as a senator from the people of Kogi who voted me into office as senator. That Ive been denied entrance to the National Assembly is a statement being made. Its on record that the National Assembly under Akpabio has decided to be in contempt of a court decision, and its quite ironic that they are lawmakers. That poses the question: how far is our democracy in this day and age? Bernadette Gaudio, seen here with her sons Robert (left) and Andrew, testified Tuesday that she vividly remembers the night two armed burglars killed Andrew and grievously wounded her. Read more On a dark December night, in the flash of a muzzle, Bernadette Gaudio lost her youngest son and her independence. Seven months later, inside a Montgomery County courtroom, she confronted the burglars who prosecutors say robbed her of both. Gaudio, 62, took the stand Tuesday to describe the physical and mental scars she still bears from when two men broke into her home in Lower Merion and attacked her as she slept. Advertisement I miss this life of independence, being able to drive anywhere, said Gaudio, who was left paralyzed from the neck down after one of her attackers gunshots shattered her spinal cord. Now it takes me an hour just to get out of bed. Charles Fulforth, 41, and Kelvin Roberts, 42, are on trial this week, charged with murder, burglary, and related crimes in the attack, which investigators have said targeted the wrong house. Both have denied shooting anyone during the burglary. The men, who worked for a junk-hauling company in Willow Grove, allegedly intended to rob guns from an elderly mans home in Holland, Bucks County, as part of a black market gun ring they are accused of operating. Instead, they drove to the wrong address and forced their way into Gaudios home. She testified that after a full day celebrating her older sons birthday, she woke up at 2 a.m. to see a man pointing a gun at her. They locked eyes, she said, before the gunman who she said matched Roberts description fired, striking her in the neck. She knew immediately that she was paralyzed, she said. (Roberts has said through his attorney that he denies shooting Gaudio.) Gaudio heard several more gunshots, then heard her younger son, Andrew, yelling for her in confusion and pain. Struggling to maintain consciousness, she listened as her son made his way to her. Using Siri, Gaudio was able to call 911 and report the shooting. She said she cut the call short when she heard footsteps approaching, closing her eyes as another figure appeared in her room, holding her jewelry box. I closed my eyes because I was afraid and didnt want them to think I was still alive, she said as an aide wiped tears from her eyes. Gaudio said she heard two more gunshots, which prosecutor said were fired by Fulforth at her son as he lay wounded on the floor. As Gaudio waited for police to arrive, she said, she knew that her son was bleeding out from his injuries and would not survive. Responding officers took Gaudio to Lankenau Medical Center, where she underwent three surgeries to stabilize her spine. Meanwhile, detectives worked to identify the men who carried out the attack. As a Lower Merion officer sped to the scene, he passed a Hyundai driving away from the Gaudio home. Dashcam footage shown in court depicted Roberts behind the wheel of that vehicle. Investigators traced it to the home of Roberts girlfriend in West Philadelphia, according to testimony Tuesday. Inside that home, detectives found Gaudios stolen jewelry box, as well as mail with Roberts name on it. And about a block away, they found Gaudios Jeep Grand Cherokee, which had been stolen during the burglary. The trial will continue Wednesday. Brenda Elliott has been hired by the Philadelphia School District in a shakeup in the student services department. She'll be the associate superintendent of student life and innovation. Read more Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. is shaking up his student support services department. Watlington has hired Brenda Elliott, a veteran educator who was the Tennessee state superintendent for school turnaround, to staff a new role for the Philadelphia School District: associate superintendent of student life and innovation. Advertisement To make way for the new hire, Watlington is eliminating two positions chief of student support services and assistant superintendent of student life. The changes represent a net cost savings, officials said. Jayme Banks, who last held the student services chief role, will soon leave the district; Randi Klein-Davila, former assistant superintendent of student life, has already left. We will miss Chief Banks and Assistant Superintendent Klein-Davila, and wish them all the best, Watlington said in a note to staff. Banks joined the school system in 2019 as the director of trauma-informed school practices; Klein-Davila is a longtime district official who also served as a teacher and principal in the district. Elliott will be paid $208,934 annually. Watlington, in a statement, said he believed Elliott would help the district achieve its goal of becoming the fastest-improving large urban school system in the country. As we reorganize the Office of Student Support Services, we will better maximize our limited resources while continuing to provide the supports that our students need, Watlington said. I have great confidence that Dr. Brenda Elliott, who has been a battle-tested leader in multiple states, will bring a wealth of experience and a demonstrated track record of driving positive student outcomes. In Tennessee, Elliott was responsible for supports and interventions for the states 300 lowest-performing schools. It was a short-lived role, though Elliott left the position after less than a year, according to news reports. Critics of the Tennessee education department said Elliotts brief tenure underscored problems with the states takeover of struggling schools. Elliott also worked in the Washington, D.C., public schools, as the districts chief of equity and then its chief of school improvement and supports, and in multiple North Carolina districts. She is a veteran of the U.S. Army. She will report to Jermaine Dawson, the districts deputy superintendent of academic services. Elliotts office will be responsible for student services functions now split between the Office of Student Support Services and the Office of Student Life. She will also be responsible for partnerships with community organizations, businesses, and colleges and universities. Pizzaiolo Steven Calozzis story started in Bristol, veered off to Seattle, headed back cross-country to New Hope, and zoomed down I-95 to land on the Ben Franklin Parkway in Center City. Last week, Italian Family Pizza premiered at 17th Street and the Parkway, across from Friends Select School, in what had been a Subway sandwich shop for 30 years. Advertisement Thats a lot of traveling for Calozzi, who grew up in a family of pizzeria owners. His specialty is a 24-inch cheese-on-the-bottom, Trenton-style pie with a thin, crispy crust that is some approximation of round. (Calozzi wants to keep it homey.) The pizzas are baked till well-done the outer crust has a pleasant char but doesnt have that burnt effect. You may have to tilt the box slightly as you wrestle it out the door. (Theres a 12-inch version, too.) The other calling card are his tender, oven-roasted meatballs, whose outer nubs beautifully capture the red sauce. You can order them on a plate his childhood best friend and sidekick, John Paul Adamson, ladles them out from a slow cooker or in a baked-to-order roll made from pizza dough. Calozzi, 50, and his family owned pizzerias throughout Northeast Philadelphia and Bucks County. He, his older brother, Al, and an uncle had a place in Bristol, but we sold that because we were fighting all the time. Everybody went their own way, he said. In 2008, Al Calozzi relocated to Seattle to follow a girlfriend and open Calozzis Famous Cheesesteaks, first as a food cart and then as a brick-and-mortar store. Meanwhile, Steven and his wife, Jennifer, were considering opening a pizzeria in Wildwood. My brother called and said, Mommy told me youre going to open a place in Wildwood, Steven Calozzi said. Before you go off and work the Ferris wheel rides, remember its seasonal. Are you stupid? He said, Come out here. Steven Calozzi relocated his family to Seattle, where the brothers partnered on Calozzis. Boom, it caught on fire, Steven Calozzi said. But he and Al had another falling out. Al kept the cheesesteak shops (theres also one now in San Diego), while Steven opted to go the pizzeria route, with three Italian Family Pizza locations. Life rolled along in Seattle. In 2018, Steven Calozzi said, his older son got into college in suburban Washington, and my wife woke up crying, saying, I dont want to be here anymore. He sold the three Italian Family Pizza shops, and the family moved to Fairless Hills, Bucks County only a few hours from their son and opened a shop called Russos in an old coffee shop in New Hope. Business was good, especially after 2023, when Dave Portnoy of Barstool gave the pizza a respectable 7.5 rating. But Calozzi wanted to run a shop in a big city, and with their younger son enrolled at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia, he and his wife sold Russos and signed the lease for the Parkway. And here we are, said Calozzi, who said he revived Italian Family Pizza to spare his son from having to explain why the pizzeria a few blocks from his school bears his family name, though the brick-walled dining room is adorned with family photos. Calozzi is using his grandmothers recipes for pretty much everything on the menu. She worked by eye and so does he. (Asked the percentage of hydration in his dough, he replied: I dont know. I just pour in the water until I see its wet.) Theres a tomato pie drizzled with Pecorino and olive oil (just like what the old ladies did on Friday nights at home), a sauceless white pizza, and a cheese pie (heavy on the toppings), as well as a thicker-crust Sicilian and one topped with meatballs. The 12-inchers start at $12.50, while the 24-inchers will run $30 to $40. Theres also fried dough, another Calozzi family Friday night staple. Everything is simple: The tomato sauce, for the pizza and the meatballs, is just peeled tomato, a little bit of salt, and a little olive oil. The salad ($13.50) is a head of Romaine, artichoke heart, Kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, and feta topped with a roasted red pepper dressing. Theres a house-made cannoli ($7) for dessert. In keeping with the simplicity, theres no online ordering or delivery, just phone ordering for takeout and dine-in. Italian Family Pizza, 1701 Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-801-5198. Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Gov. Shapiro at White Pine Country Store, Cafe & Lodge, in Germania, Potter County, on July 10 to announce the awarding of a $162,461 Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) grant. Read more A single, shuttered gas pump outside a quaint country store in an area of Pennsylvania known as Gods Country will reopen after Gov. Josh Shapiro paid a visit last week. Shapiro visited the White Pine Country Store, Cafe & Lodge, in Germania, Potter County, on July 10 to announce the awarding of a $162,461 Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) grant to help it replace the storage tanks beneath its lone gas pump. Advertisement White Pine Country Store has long been a hub for residents and travelers alike whether youre grabbing a bite to eat, stocking up on fishing gear, or gearing up to hit the ATV trails, Shapiro said at a news conference outside the store. This store sits at the heart of the Northcentral Regional ATV Trail, one of the Commonwealths premier outdoor recreation destinations but without a working gas pump, folks couldnt fuel up for the ride. With this investment, were supporting a key local business and keeping the outdoor recreation economy growing here in Potter County. When the Inquirer visited the store on Memorial Day weekend, the gas pump was covered with a black trash bag. The ATV trail opened that weekend, and those vehicles and larger side-by-side UTVs were crisscrossing the area all day. Riders normally fueled up at White Pine on their ATVs and UTVs as opposed to driving longer distances to fill up gas cans. Those customers, in turn, would come into the store and get food and coffee, owner Kim Manchego said. Manchego bought the store in 2024, knowing the storage tanks would need to be replaced, but she believed the process would cost her $50,000. She later learned it could cost as much as $200,000. Locals told the Inquirer the pump was vital. If the state wants this to be an ATV destination, they should help with the gas situation, one man said. Shapiro was paying attention, claiming he read about the stores conundrum in the Inquirer. I was inspired by Kims story, Shapiro told the crowd outside the store. She chose to bet on Pennsylvania. Manchego and her daughter, Meghan, left the funeral business in Casper, Wyoming, to move east to Potter County to buy the circa-1875 store, in what is one of Pennsylvanias most rural areas. The entire ride to Pennsylvania was filled with great anticipation and lots of fear that I walked away from an amazing company and job to run a little country store, she wrote on the stores blog. Shapiro said the ATV trail generates millions of dollars for the townships, counties, and state, along with local businesses like Manchegos. The gas pump is also vital for residents and emergency services, Manchego said. Manchego, who was wary of starting a fundraiser or taking out a major loan, said she felt blessed by the governors visit. Its more shock than anything else, she said Monday. Were going to have gas flowing again. Manchego said shes currently looking for a contractor who could, ideally, have the tanks installed and gas flowing in a year. People wait outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Philadelphia in June. Read more Federal immigration authorities say a story about an 82-year-old Chilean national being arrested in Philadelphia and deported to Guatemala after trying to replace his lost green card is a hoax. The tale, reported by the Morning Call on Friday, described how Luis Leon traveled from his home in Allentown to Philadelphia immigration offices for what he thought was a routine appointment, only to be taken away in handcuffs. The family told reporters Leon had been granted asylum in 1987 after surviving torture during Augusto Pinochets regime. Advertisement For ICE to surreptitiously deport an octogenarian green-card holder to a third country would have marked yet another escalation in removal efforts by President Donald Trumps administration. News outlets overseas and in this country, from the Guardian to the Daily Beast, reported on the story. But claims of deportation quickly began to crack, as a Chilean reporter found that the real Luis Leon had died years ago and the photo circulating of the alleged missing man was of someone else entirely. The discrepancies highlight the challenges in covering immigration arrests and removals and how affected families can fear reprisal for speaking out. Is there an Allentown grandfather, perhaps going by another name, who was arrested by ICE in Philadelphia on June 20 and sent to a country he had never set foot in? Heres what we know. An alleged death in ICE custody and a miraculous reappearance The Morning Call learned about Leons case in a July 9 Lehigh County commissioners meeting. Michele Downing, whom The Inquirer could not reach for comment, told the story of a Chilean grandfather who had been arrested while trying to replace his green card. She told commissioners, who also did not respond to a request for comment, that the man had died in ICE custody. Leons granddaughter, who served as the primary contact for the Morning Calls story, told the reporters that news of the death came from a woman who described herself as an attorney. The woman claimed to know where Leon was and said she could help return him home. The granddaughter, who is referred to only by the name Natalya for privacy reasons, told reporters the alleged lawyer told the family he had died in ICE custody. A week later, the family heard it is unclear from whom that Leon was not dead; he was in a Guatemalan hospital. The granddaughter told reporters she was in Guatemala City on Saturday and met with an emaciated, weak Leon, who allegedly said he did not want to return to the United States. Then Guatemalan officials issued a statement denying that such a man had entered the country. Discrepancies emerge On Sunday, the Guatemalan Institute of Migration said it had no record of a man who matched Leons name, age, or citizenship. The statement contradicted the granddaughters claim she was with him in a Guatemala City hospital. No other outlet, including The Inquirer, has been able to corroborate the account laid out by Leons family over the weekend. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a scathing statement that it had no record that a man named Luis Leon had a green card appointment in or around Philadelphia on June 20. ICE spokesperson Jason Koontz added the agency had no record of any arrests at the 41st Street center matching the description of the grandfather that his family offered reporters in the original story. The only record immigration authorities had of a Chilean by that name entering the country was through the visa waiver program in 2015. If that person is the Leon family grandfather, it would contradict claims he had received asylum years before. The Morning Call said in a story Monday night that Leons alleged granddaughter had stopped communicating with the news outlet. Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary for public affairs, called the Morning Call stories journalistic malpractice. ICE never arrested or deported Luis Leon to Guatemala, she wrote, adding the agency does not disappear people, as claimed by immigration rights advocates. Does Luis Leon from Chile exist? Jose Maria del Pino, a Chilean reporter with Canal 13, jumped into the story as outrage and concern spread. Working with the name Luis Leon and a date of birth, del Pino found a man who matched that information, with the full name of Luis Guillermo Zuniga Leon. This is the man who had entered the United States in 2015, he said, but he never lived abroad. Whats more, that man died in Chile in 2019, according to a death certificate del Pino shared with The Inquirer. Del Pino said Chilean diplomats held emergency meetings to track the alleged missing man. The Chilean consulate scoured Guatemala City hospitals to no avail, according to del Pino. Soon after del Pino broadcast what he had found Monday morning, Luis Guillermo Zuniga Leons family reached out to the station, cementing the reporting. Another family reached out to Canal 13 to inform the station that the photo of the alleged Luis Leon circulating across the world was of another Chilean man entirely. In the end, the Chilean government gave up on a continued search in Guatemala City because they came to the conclusion that the story was false, or we were faced with a Chilean who did not want to be found, and we were looking for a fake identity, del Pino said. The Morning Call story Morning Call editor John Misinco said reporters planned to publish a follow-up piece. Immigration rights advocates double down Ramped-up immigration enforcement means arrests can take place during routine appointments, as seen on Fathers Day in Philadelphia, or while someone is at work. Confirming ICE operations with a department spokesperson can also be a slow process. When 17 people were arrested in a workplace raid in Bethlehem on June 11, the official confirmation was not published until a week later. Due to the confusion, it is not unusual for families to close ranks after a loved one has been arrested and slated to be deported. Some worry going public will attract further attention from immigration authorities. Often, immigration advocacy groups like Juntos or Make the Road Pennsylvania help families field interview requests with local media. The Lehigh Valley Emergency Response Network, a coalition that manages an ICE hotline and rapid response effort when someone is deported, pushed back on ICEs damning rebuttal, saying it had been in touch with the Leon family. ICE works to sow confusion about the whereabouts and well-being of the people that they are kidnapping, and we are committed to defending the families being torn apart by these disappearances, the group said in a statement Tuesday. But the group would not say whether an 82-year-old grandfather was arrested in Philadelphia on June 20, perhaps under another name. Coalition officials also said they could not connect The Inquirer with the familys attorney, citing the familys request for privacy. The story drew international attention, they said, and the family was retreating. Sorting through the noise in real time Messages to members of the Allentown City Council, the Lehigh Valley Board of Commissioners, people who had publicly offered legal services to the family, the Chilean Embassy in Washington, and the Chilean Embassy in New York City were largely not returned. Those who did respond privately expressed concern about the validity of the story, not having confirmed it themselves. Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk said he had given everyone his number in hopes of talking to the family, to no avail. Im still trying to figure out whats going on here, he said. David Dickson is taken to courtroom 625 in City Hall for his hearing on the murder of a female Drexel University student for her shoes. Read more At David Dicksons trial for the 1984 murder of Drexel University student Deborah Wilson, the judge repeatedly remarked that the case was tainted by sweeping prosecutorial misconduct and a troubling reliance on an infamous jailhouse informant. If there is a conviction, it will certainly be overturned, Judge Juanita Kidd Stout said at the 1995 trial. There is no way, with all of this, that it can stand. Advertisement Yet, it did stand for 30 years until Tuesday, when Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Jennifer Schultz reversed Dicksons conviction, permitting him to plead guilty in return for his immediate release from state prison. Dickson maintained his innocence, entering whats known as an Alford plea to third-degree murder and robbery. It was an emotional moment for his siblings, nieces and nephews filling the courtroom who said they wanted his name cleared. But more than that, they just wanted Dickson home. Now, Dickson will be starting over at age 65. You cant try to make up for lost time, his brother, Michael Avery, said. That lost time is in the past. You gotta think about going forward. Dicksons is at least the eighth murder conviction overturned in connection with misconduct by prosecutor Roger King, who died in 2016. A 2021 Inquirer investigation into Dicksons case found King had repeatedly manipulated evidence, intimidated witnesses and made improper comments in court. At Dicksons trial, King buttressed his informants testimony with days of evidence focused on Dicksons martial arts training and his alleged sneaker fetish to support the theory Wilson was killed for her sneakers. For the family of Wilson, the court proceeding was yet another chapter in a traumatic 40-year story thats now left open-ended. Wilsons sister, Nancy Hughes, testified to that impact, describing Wilson as kind, generous and optimistic, with big dreams and a keen intellect. Mr. Dicksons conviction was a comfort to my family, she said. She said she still believes Dickson killed her sister with his black belt karate hands. Wilsons murder, late at night in a computer science building on the Drexel campus, had gone unsolved for eight years before police arrested Dickson, an Army veteran who had been working overnight security at the building where she died. The breakthrough came when a homicide detective presented the case to the Vidocq Society an organization cofounded by Richard Walter, who, according to a New York Magazine profile, falsified his credentials as a criminal profiler and testified in at least three murder cases that were later overturned. It was Walter who came up with theory that the killer had a foot fetish. King ran with that salacious theory, which attracted intense news coverage. But the only direct evidence was testimony by John Hall, a prolific jailhouse informant who became known as the monsignor for his supposed knack for obtaining confessions to high-profile crimes. On Tuesday, the District Attorneys Office stipulated that it had withheld evidence proving Hall lied in some or all of the nine murder cases he cooperated on in Philadelphia. Hall fabricated those stories with help from his wife, Phyllis, who worked as his research assistant gathering news clippings and visiting crime scenes. After Halls 2006 death, Phyllis Hall told the Inquirer that when it came to the Dickson case, nothing [Hall] said was true. The prosecutors knew and considered this information false, Assistant District Attorney Jessica Attie Gurvich said, adding that Hall had repeatedly provided testimony that contradicted physical evidence. Mr. Hall was the only direct evidence tying Mr. Dickson to the crime. Dickson was not available for comment on Tuesday. Jennifer Merrigan, Dicksons lawyer, said her client has a flawless prison record a rarity and an honorable discharge from the Army. His plea deal includes eight years on probation. Given his advanced heart disease and his ailing father, who was in the hospital while Dickson was in court, he didnt feel he had a choice. Its bitter for him to have to take a plea, Merrigan said. Its bitter that justice wasnt done because it should have been done 40 years ago, when this case was investigated. Two of Halls other victims were in court Tuesday to witness Dicksons resentencing. Walter Ogrod served 23 years on death row for the 1988 murder of 4-year-old Barbara Jean Horn, based on Halls testimony and a coerced confession, before being exonerated in 2020. And Herbie Haak, Halls stepson, was acquitted in 1997 of the 1995 Center City jogger murder of Kimberly Ernest after Hall admitted that hed tried to fabricate evidence linking Haak to the crime. After Haak discovered a cache of letters almost 20 years ago from Hall to his mother discussing the plans to frame Ogrod and Dickson, he turned them over to journalist Tom Lowenstein, and the cases began to unravel. Haak said it was surreal to reunite with Ogrod and Dickson 30 years after all three were in jail together fighting Halls allegations. Haak said hes still rebuilding from the damage Hall caused. Im trying to live, and Im hoping Walter and David and all the other people affected can do the same thing, he said. Adam Weiner of Philly band Low Cut Connie says the groups show scheduled for Wilkes-Barre this Friday has been canceled for political reasons. On Monday morning, Weiner posted a video on social media explaining that the July 25 free concert at the Rockin the River concert series had been canceled. The reason, he said, is because the organizers of the event feel that my show is too controversial, that its going to alienate people and be too polarizing. Advertisement On Monday afternoon, Luzerne County manager Romilda Crocamo confirmed that the concert was canceled because our goal is to have a place where we can enjoy music, food, promote our community, have fun, be safe and free of politics and propaganda. On the Rockin the River schedule, Low Cut Connie has been replaced by Halfway to Hell: A Tribute to AC/DC. Aaron Fink & the Fury, who were scheduled to be Low Cut Connies opening act when the series was announced in April, are still on the bill. In February, when President Donald Trump announced he was taking over the Kennedy Center in D.C., Low Cut Connie made headlines, along with Shonda Rhimes, Renee Fleming, and Ben Folds, when the band canceled its scheduled March performance. In May, Low Cut Connie released Livin in the USA, a protest song that, Weiner said in his social media post on Monday, speaks to the terror, unease, the fear that so many people in the United States are experiencing now because of these ICE raids that are absolutely inhumane and anti-American. READ MORE: Why Adam Weiner of Phillys Low Cut Connie wont play Donald Trumps Kennedy Center Shortly after that song was released, Weiner says his booking agent was contacted by Alan K. Stout, executive director of Visit Luzerne County, who said that members of the organizations board had expressed concerns that the Low Cut Connie show was going to be polarizing. Trump soundly defeated Kamala Harris in Luzerne County last November, winning 59% of the vote. Speaking on the phone from Arkansas while driving home to Philly after Low Cut Connie completed a tour of the Western and Southwestern states, Weiner said that a week after hearing from Stout, we received a snail mail letter saying the Low Cut Connie concert had been canceled. No reason was given, he said. Speaking of the Low Cut Connie show, Stout told the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice this month, we did have an original band this year but we decided to go in a different direction. It was basically a long story, and Im not sure how much of it I want to get into. Told that the Luzerne County manager had characterized his music as propaganda, Weiner said: I get on stage and tell people I love every single person in the room. Everyone is welcome at the Low Cut Connie show. Its like a big, sexy salad bowl. If pointing out the beauty and diversity of the crowd is wrong, I dont want to be right. We play red states, blue states, little towns, big towns. I say this stuff every single night. And you know what? The people are with me. I get people to hug each other. I dont know who they vote for. I dont know where they come from. And I think its really funny that they think its a better solution to their problem to have an AC/DC cover band called Halfway to Hell. The cancellation, Weiner says, is a sign of the times. I think authoritarian regimes and fascism force everyone to make a choice. Townships and counties that are trying to do their business-as-usual summer concert series, he said, are becoming a referendum on where we are right now. So Im not surprised that Luzerne County is in the crosshairs, said Weiner. I just think they made the absolute wrong decision. Low Cut Connie is scheduled to perform at Concerts Under the Stars in King of Prussia on Aug. 1. The band will also do a show in the Wilkes-Barre area to make up for the Rockin the River cancellation, Weiner said. I just got a call from the mayor of Allentown saying he would love to have us play there, he said. And we got offers from Scranton and other places in Wilkes-Barre. So we will do something, but it wont be this Friday. But Im inviting everyone from northeastern Pennsylvania to come down and see us in King of Prussia. Traffic around the Walt Whitman Bridge in July. A bill that would require cars in the commonwealth to have front license plates deserves support in the General Assembly, writes the Editorial Board. Read more Imagine if a small rectangular piece of metal could help make streets safer while securing funds for roads and public transportation across Pennsylvania. Making that a reality is the goal behind a bill that would require vehicles in the commonwealth to have front license plates just like in 29 other states, including neighboring New York, New Jersey, and Maryland. Advertisement The proposal by State Sen. Katie Muth, who represents parts of Berks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties, deserves swift consideration by the General Assembly and support from Gov. Josh Shapiro. Law enforcement has long recognized the benefits of dual plates. If an offense is being committed with someone behind the wheel, dual plates help aid identification. Beyond simply giving cameras and witnesses two opportunities to capture the plate numbers, front plates are also easier to read during daylight hours, and can reflect light at night, aiding in visibility. READ MORE: By bringing the trash strike to an end with a new deal for DC 33, Parker passes a major test | Editorial Too often in Pennsylvania, security cameras will capture footage of a shooting, robbery, or hit-and-run, but the lack of a front plate makes speedy identification harder. Dual plates would also increase the effectiveness of the 200 automated license plate readers purchased by the Philadelphia Police Department two years ago. These readers, when combined with dual plates, should help law enforcement prevent and solve more car thefts in the city. Research suggests that with dual plates, law enforcement can increase how many plates are accurately read to 97%, from the 22%-58% rate for cars with just one plate. Beyond their assistance in identifying lawbreakers, double tags could also help ease traffic flow along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which has shifted to all-electronic tolling. The convenience of having motorists no longer stopping at physical tollbooths or maneuvering through turnstiles to pay also comes with the need to reliably read license plates to bill motorists who dont already use E-ZPass. According to a report from Texas A&M, roughly 16% of vehicles passing through the turnpike have plates that could not be read. Thats less money going to fund transportation projects throughout the state. More accurate license plate identification could also provide relief to people like Kathie Ellzey. As reported by The Inquirer, the Lansdale driver has been getting another car owners toll letters for years. Given how much Philadelphia and other local governments are relying on cameras to enforce traffic laws these days, thats an important layer of protection for law-abiding motorists. Shifting to a two-plate system can help improve the long-needed push to reduce fatalities and crashes, as part of the citys Vision Zero plan. Last year, 54 pedestrians in Philadelphia were killed in car crashes thats nearly a third of the 174 fatalities in crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists statewide. READ MORE: Americas big birthday year is coming. Will Philadelphia be ready? | Editorial To be sure, some might ask why the commonwealth should focus on second plates given how many motorists are driving around with fake, expired, obscured, or just plain missing back plates. It is certainly true that reducing these violations should be a priority, and that the current fines are too low. But adding a second plate only makes driving with phony tags more difficult. Some may argue that issuing two license plates increases the cost of car ownership. It does. However, given PennDot charges just $14 to replace lost or defaced plates while AAA puts the annual cost of car ownership at more than $12,000 this seems like a reasonable price to pay for the potential benefits. Requiring front plates might represent change in a place thats infamously averse to it, but the potential benefits to public safety are simply too compelling to ignore. Pennsylvania should become the 30th state in the nation to require dual plates. Amid the tumult of the second Trump administration, Black people can no longer afford to treat Black leaders and especially Black female leaders with disdain, Solomon Jones writes. Read more The more I write about race and class, the more I realize America is dealing with issues that go well beyond the subjugation of some groups at the hands of others. In truth, we are locked in an ever-evolving fight for power, and the battle lines are not always clearly drawn. That fight can cross the boundaries of skin color and ethnicity, gender and class. Advertisement In fact, the fight can sometimes leave groups squaring off within their own ranks. Those intramural battles play out often in my own community, because no one tears down their own like Black folks. I watched as it happened during the recently concluded District Council 33 strike, as a mostly Black union relentlessly attacked the character, appearance, and integrity of Cherelle L. Parker, Philadelphias first Black female mayor. Given I have known Parker for more than 20 years, both as a neighbor and a political leader, it hurt me when I drove past a group of picketers at 1515 Arch St. and heard Black women yelling, To hell with Cherelle. It hurt me to see social media posts that falsely claimed shed given herself a 9% raise. I was astounded when I read personal insults I wont repeat here, because I dont want to dignify them with a response. But this isnt about the lies, the disrespect, or the personal slights. This is about the overriding truth that Black people must embrace. We have to treat one another better. Not because it will change how other people view us it wont. We must treat one another better because it will change how we view ourselves. African Americans are unique in that we have endured hundreds of years of indoctrination at the hands of those who would have us believe we are inferior. Its impossible to know the full effect of that kind of psychological torture. However, its easy to see that far too many of us have difficulty trusting one another, respecting one another, or following one another. Thats learned behavior, taught to us by oppressors who thrive on a divide and conquer strategy. Far too many of us have difficulty trusting one another, respecting one another, or following one another. Thats learned behavior, taught to us by oppressors who thrive on a divide and conquer strategy. That mistrust permeates every aspect of our lives, including our interpersonal relationships, leaving Black men and women at odds in ways that can be toxic. We saw that during the strike. As a former city employee who was once a member of DC 33, I believe the workers were right to seek a life-altering increase in their wages. However, the debate devolved into personal, petty, and misogynistic drivel, with Black men who werent even union members lobbing rhetorical grenades at the Black female mayor. Yes, there will be disagreements between Black men and women as we engage in the very human struggle for power, but I embrace a rather simple and old-school point of view. One of our most important jobs, as Black men, is to protect Black women. Whether we are in leadership or not, whether we are in power or not, whether we are in lockstep or not. We can disagree with them. We can argue with them. We can be in conflict with them. But we can never be the source of the kind of hatred that belittles Black women and besmirches their character. Thats never where a Black man should be. READ MORE: I love seeing anti-Trump protests. Like many other Black folks, I wont be joining them. | Solomon Jones Thats especially true now, when we are facing a Trump administration that seems hell-bent on destroying Black progress. In just over six months, Donald Trump has rescinded a decades-old executive order that prohibited federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of race, sex, and national origin. He has sought to eliminate all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion staff. He is fighting to upend the constitutional requirement for birthright citizenship an amendment created specifically for Black people. And because Black workers make up 18.5% of federal employees more than the Black share of the population Trumps mass firings of federal workers will disproportionately affect African Americans. Does this mean Black people should focus solely on Trump and ignore deficiencies in Black leadership? Of course not. But we can no longer afford to treat Black leaders, and especially Black female leaders, with disdain. This is not the time for that. This is the time for Black men and women to stand up together, before those who hate us can once again drive us apart. Vice President Kamala Harris takes a selfie with Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and his wife Gisele Barreto Fetterman, after Harris arrived at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria Airport, in Johnstown, Pa., for a campaign event in 2024. Read more Gisele Barreto Fetterman said she does not want her husband, Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.), to run for president and dismissed bizarre speculation about her own political ambitions in a new interview with Meghan McCain for her podcast Citizen McCain. In a clip obtained by Fox News Digital, Barreto Fetterman said she would never consider running for office. Advertisement I have never told anyone in my life that I would run for office or had any desire to, she said. You couldnt pay me to run for office. In the wake of her husbands hospitalization for clinical depression in 2023, Barreto Fetterman said, rumors spread about her own political aspirations. At the time, in an op-ed for Elle magazine, she wrote about being cast as an ambitious, power hungry wife, secretly plotting to fill his Senate seat. That was the running news for months, she said. Barreto Fetterman also addressed whether her husband has any intention to launch a bid for president. Thats a question for him, but I certainly wouldnt be supportive of that, she told McCain, whose father, the late Arizona Sen. John McCain, was the Republican nominee for president in 2008. In a second clip, Barreto Fetterman reflected on life under the spotlight, criticizing the media for their coverage of her husbands hospitalization for depression. She said media trucks surrounded her familys home in Braddock, Pa., when the senator checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. They knew John wasnt in there. They were looking for me, she said. They were surrounding literally the whole outside of my house. My husband is a public figure, but I am a private citizen, and journalists dont seem to really care, Barreto Fetterman added. In response to a question from McCain about whether the media have learned any lessons about respecting the privacy of people experiencing health issues, Barreto Fetterman said, Definitely not. I think theyre rewarded by clicks and how many people read the article, she said. I think its rewarded, so the goal is to be more and more terrible. The interview follows the release of Barreto Fettermans book, Radical Tenderness: The Value of Vulnerability in an Often Unkind World, earlier this month. Barreto Fetterman also made a recent appearance on WHYY in Philadelphia to discuss the book. The full episode of Citizen McCain is set to air on Wednesday. Renee Chenault Fattah, the new executive director of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and Fair Housing, was an NBC10 reporter and anchor for nearly 25 years. Read more Attorney and former NBC10 anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah is the new leader of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, an agency that investigates civil rights and fair housing complaints. Chenault-Fattah is married to former U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, who resigned after being convicted in 2016 on federal corruption charges and was released from prison in 2020. Chenault-Fattah was not charged in the case, but she stepped down from NBC10 around the time of her husbands indictment. Advertisement Mayor Cherelle L. Parker appointed Chenault-Fattah last month to her new position, which comes with an annual salary of $170,000. Chenault-Fattah said the role is an opportunity to lean into my decades of experience in law, communications and commitment to equal justice. I look forward to working with the experienced and dedicated team at [the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and Fair Housing], who are focused on investigating and enforcing our antidiscrimination laws and working on conflict resolution throughout our communities, she said in a statement. The Inquirer learned of Chenault-Fattahs hiring from a review of city payroll data. Parkers office confirmed Tuesday that Chenault-Fattahs first day on the job was June 30. She replaces interim executive director Randy Duque, who has returned to his role as deputy director. Duque in turn replaced Kia Ghee, who was appointed by former Mayor Jim Kenney and stepped down earlier this year to run for a seat on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. Chenault-Fattah has a bachelors degree in political science from Johns Hopkins University, a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a masters degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. Although she was not charged in her husbands indictment, prosecutors in the case detailed a bogus 2012 sale of her Porsche convertible, which they alleged was meant to conceal a bribe that benefited her husband. Chenault-Fattah at the time disputed prosecutors narrative of the Porsche sale and criticized their characterization of her involvement in the case. Chenault-Fattah went on to work in public interest law, both at the SeniorLAW Center and as executive director of the Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity, which provide services to indigent clients, according to an online resume. Parker, who took office in January 2024, has tapped several relatives of notable political figures for jobs in her administration or board appointments. City Representative Jazelle Jones, whose job entails promoting tourism and events in Philadelphia, is the wife of City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. Councilmember Jimmy Harritys wife, Marnie Aument-Loughrey, was hired as a community coordinator for Parkers Kensington cleanup initiative. And Parker appointed Dawn Chavous, a charter school consultant and the wife of Council President Kenyatta Johnson, to serve on the nominating committee for the citys school board in an unpaid position. After losing reelection amid a public mental health crisis, former state Rep. Kevin Boyle, the brother of U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, was hired this year as deputy director of external affairs for an agency advancing the administrations initiatives for people with substance-use disorder. Parker has also hired former state Rep. Leslie Acosta, who pleaded guilty in 2016 to taking part in an embezzlement scheme involving a mental health clinic, to a community outreach job in the Department of Commerce. Leslie Acosta is the daughter of former state Rep. Ralph Acosta. The storefront of the AIA, Center for Architecture, and Design Philly headquarters, which is up for sale. Read more The headquarters of the Philadelphia chapter of the American Institute of Architects at 1218 Arch St. is being listed for sale this week at $2.9 million. The Arch Street space is technically owned by the Center for Architecture, a nonprofit created by AIA, which owns the first floor and the basement as a 24,400-square-foot condo unit in the eight-story Smyth Building. It is a half-block to the west of Reading Terminal Market, next to the Fabric Workshop and Museum, and across the street from the Convention Center. Advertisement AIA purchased the space in 2008. It is known locally for hosting a wide variety of events for the nonprofit itself, aligned organizations such as the Design Advocacy Group, and conventioneers who used its soaring ceilings and hardwood floors as a stylish after-hours gathering space. But that business never recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the AIA itself doesnt use the office space to the extent that it used to. This has been a couple years in the making, really since the pandemic, said Rebecca Johnson, executive director of AIA Philadelphia and Design Philadelphia. We are struggling to cover our real estate costs, and its kind of draining us. Its not serving us as much as it used to. Johnson said event rentals alone used to cover the mortgage before the pandemic, but today only about a third of that business is back. AIA and Design Philadelphia are hosting more events outside their space. They have a partnership with the School District of Philadelphia that involves sending design professionals to classrooms and recreation centers for workshops. The group is also receiving more individual donations in support of Design Philadelphias educational work. Our organization is going gangbusters in terms of engagement and individual donations in a way we havent had in a long time, Johnson said. Its a tale of two organizations. The programs last year made money; the real estate lost it. Josh Weiss and Jacob Cooper of MSC, a real estate retail services company, are handling the listing. Philadelphia does not have a lot of commercial condominium units, making the Arch Street location an unusual find. Its got exposed brick and ductwork, high ceilings, the original hardwood floor, Weiss said. Its got a very cool feel to it. Another unusual feature is that in the basement, AT&T and T-Mobile leased space, so theres rental income from those leases. Johnson said AIA plans to rent a new headquarters in Center City, perhaps sharing it with other nonprofits. Before moving to Arch Street in 2008, AIAs headquarters was at 17th and Sansom Streets, where the quirky bookstore was a major draw. That concept did not work as well on Arch Street, and the bookstore was closed in 2018. Johnson said there are no plans to bring it back at a new location. Ocean City's council voted last week to charge visitors a 3% tax on short-term rentals booked through third-party platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Read more Vacationers in Ocean City should prepare to pay a bit more for their Jersey Shore rentals if they use sites such as Airbnb or Vrbo. In a 4-3 vote, city council members decided last week to charge visitors a 3% tax on short-term rentals that they book through these kinds of third-party platforms. Advertisement Council members who voted in favor of the fee said during the meeting Thursday night that short-term rentals offering stays of just a few nights are bringing in more visitors and that more visitors mean the city must provide additional services. They said the fee can help cover those additional costs. The 3% fee will not apply to rentals booked directly with a property owner or through a real estate office, which are ways renters have traditionally secured vacation homes in Ocean City. The tax would take at least three months to go into effect, with the timing dependent on the state. Sean Barnes, who hosts on Airbnb, was one of the council members who voted against the tax. He said he doesnt that think short-term rental guests cost the city any more than other types of guests and that the ordinance is unfair because it penalizes certain rental platforms. During the meeting, Ocean City resident and rental property owner Brian Salvo agreed that the tax was unfair, because it does not apply to all vacation rentals. Guests who use short-term rental platforms already complain about all the fees they have to pay, he said. We use Vrbo and Airbnb, and I actually lost a couple renters because the fees are already tough, and we really cant lower the price. It hurts our bottom line, Salvo said, pointing to the costs of condo association fees, taxes, maintenance, and other expenses. Salvo said that he gets most of his renters through Vrbo and Airbnb and that the platforms generate more exposure than he could get through other means. Council member Dave Winslow said that other Shore towns have similar fees and that Ocean Citys tax is not astronomical, giving the example of a renter having to pay $75 on a $2,500 rental. Most people are not going to leave Ocean City for $75, he said. In a letter submitted to Ocean Citys council before last weeks vote, lawyers for Airbnb argued that the tax also must apply to hotels and motels to comply with state law and that the ordinance violates short-term rental hosts right to equal treatment under state law. The attorneys said passing the ordinance would likely result in costly litigation for the city. Council member Jody Levchuk, an Ocean City rental property owner who hosts on Airbnb and Vrbo, said during the meeting that the tax would not apply to hotels and motels because those places pay for private trash removal and have on-site staff to handle noise and other complaints. He voted in favor of the tax. In a written statement to The Inquirer, Alain Xiong-Calmes, public policy manager at Airbnb, said short-term rentals are important to New Jerseys economy, particularly in places with limited affordable hotel options. READ MORE: Priced out of the Jersey Shore: Some travelers opt for all-inclusive resorts instead as rental costs soar In Ocean City, where most guests come from within the New Jersey region, this short-term rental tax risks pricing out families seeking affordable stays with access to the coast and threatens the local businesses and attractions that rely on visitor spending from short-term rentals, Xiong-Calmes said. A view of the apartment building from the southwest side with the historic home at 6901 Germantown Ave. seen on the right. Read more TierView Development is planning an 81-unit apartment project for 6903-6915 Germantown Ave. in Mount Airy, with mid-market prices and some family-sized units. The plan for the five-story building includes 11 parking spaces in the rear, over 2,700 square feet of retail, and building materials that seek to echo its surroundings, especially the historic building at 6901 Germantown Ave. Advertisement Weve tried to maintain the beautiful parklike setting, said Jenn Patrino, president of TierView Development, based in Philadelphia. The brick is meant to be very traditional and part of the historic fabric of the neighborhood. The entire design was meant to be as thoughtful and reflective of the neighborhood as possible. Seven of the units are designated as affordable at 60% of area median income, or a little over $50,000 for a one-person household. The rest of the units wont be priced at radically more than that, Patrino says, with an average unit meant to be affordable to those at 79% AMI. The project includes a mix of studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedrooms large enough to house parents and children. Patrino said the mix of units reflects the diversity of tenants the company has attracted to the roughly 200 units that TierView already owns and operates in Northwest Philadelphia. We have a very broad demographic in Germantown and Mount Airy, Patrino said. Everything from people just getting out of school to long-term residents of the neighborhood who didnt want to be homeowners anymore. Thats a big part of why we target the middle market price point, so that our units are attainable for long-term residents. Patrino says TierViews Northwest Philadelphia apartments tend to be larger than their counterparts closer to Center City as well. Partly thats because land is at a premium in more centrally located parts of the city, but its also because theyve found tenants space needs are more diverse in the Northwest. We have people with families, everything from young children all the way up to teenagers living at home, Patrino said. Our units go all the way down into efficiencies that are very affordable, all the way up to large units that would be appropriate for families. The project has approvals needed from the citys Historical Commission and the Zoning Board of Adjustment. It will be considered at the advisory Civic Design Review committee meeting on Aug. 5. Patrino said a main point of neighborhood pushback has been the small number of parking spaces, but the company was constrained by both historic preservation regulations that cover the site and the presence of heritage trees on the property. TierView is working on an alternative means to add more parking off-site. The Mt. Airy Business Improvement District held community meetings about the project in June, and ended up endorsing it. The Mt. Airy BID RCO supports this development project which will add new residents and potential customers to our commercial corridor, reads a letter posted to the BIDs website. The number of scam cases are far too high, and behind every case is a consumer who has been traumatised and often suffered life changing impacts, he said. We urgently need mandatory industry codes and further action from all to prevent, protect, and respond to scams. This evil trade causes so much human harm, and the law and regulatory framework we currently have is not sufficient to address this. Industry should not wait to take action; every day, we see the impact of more people affected. Hambleton commented on the appointment, saying: On behalf of the Avant board, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Adrian Urquhart as group CEO & managing director of Avant. He is a natural leader who genuinely cares about our membership, and it is particularly pleasing to promote an internal candidate to this pivotal role. The revelations have prompted concern in Beijing. Reports in state-affiliated media, including China Securities Journal and Peoples Daily, have criticised the practice, suggesting it misleads consumers and distorts sales data. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is now considering a rule that would prohibit resale of vehicles within six months of registration a move designed to curb manipulation of sales numbers. While Microsoft has since issued patches for affected SharePoint versions, cybersecurity authorities warn that the breach is not only ongoing but may also involve multiple sophisticated threat actors with ties to China. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and Britains National Cyber Security Centre have confirmed active exploitation, and the FBI has acknowledged it is investigating the attack alongside its private-sector partners. The gap is beginning to narrow but more must be done to deliver fair and affordable premiums for Australians in disaster-prone regions. We cannot accept the current gap over 100% as the new normal, he said. Rivera has been with RPS since 2011 and has played a key role in scaling the firms Florida personal lines operations. Under her leadership, the Fort Lauderdale offices personal lines team grew from a one-person unit into a $20 million book of business. She will continue to be based in Fort Lauderdale and report to Matt Lynch, president of binding at RPS. Under the statute, carriers writing fire or casualty insurance must notify the New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID) and their appointed agents at least 120 days in advance of a planned exit. For other lines of insurance, such as health or life, the notice period is 90 days unless otherwise directed by existing statutes. Building from the ground up Across all regions, Juarezs message remains focused: local depth is non-negotiable. Insurers that try to overlay a global model without local investment are likely to face setbacks. Theres got to be an understanding that you cant just jump into something without really having the expertise and the research behind it, he said. This post is part of a series sponsored by AgentSync. The strength of an insurance partnership is about more than good vibesits about the money. A strong partnership delivers real bottom-line value for both parties; a weak one often feels like a one-way street. For insurance carriers and agencies in the distribution chain, the state of your distribution channel management comes into sharp focus when its commission time. Many accounting departments fall onto either side of a better-safe-than-sorry divide. To the left, we have the folks whod rather pay their partners faster, who understand that the speed of the check contributes to the trust of the relationship. These insurance businesses run the risk of paying out inappropriate commissions, facing state insurance regulators, or having to tussle over commission clawbacks. To the right are the folks who play it safe and hold their commissions in pending or held status until theyve thoroughly vetted that the agent was licensed and appointed at all times of the sales cycle. These companies that follow the rules have a different risk. By delaying payments they might make their distributors angry or even break the Department of Labor wage payment rules. The complex insurance commission hierarchy structure Commission accuracy is complicated because of the various differences between carrier-to-agent relationships. A single agent may have multiple avenues for getting a commission from a carrier, with different lines of business or agency structures sitting between them, all impacted by: Product-specific commissions Relationships between agencies and other business entities such as a financial marketing organization (FMO), insurance marketing organization (IMO), national marketing organization (NMO), brokerage general agent or agency (MGA), or managing general underwriter (MGU) Agent-to-agent relationships like uplines and downlines, brokers vs. captive agents, referrals, and W-2 or 1099 employees Geographical and regional factors Where current ICM methods fall short Many incentive compensation management (ICM) methods face the same issues endemic to other legacy insurance infrastructure: theyre manual, labor intensive, slow, and prone to human error. This means missed payments or clawbacks, and, overall, business risk. Legacy systems include everything from pen and paper to multiple (typically dated) technology systems. Even when theres some modern technology involved, systems dont connect with one another and leave staff to spend time checking and cross referencing information. include everything from pen and paper to multiple (typically dated) technology systems. Even when theres some modern technology involved, systems dont connect with one another and leave staff to spend time checking and cross referencing information. Shadow accounting happens when a history of legacy system troubles and human errors make agencies and agents start to doubt theyre being paid correctly and begin doing their own math. This works about as well as youd expect. Instead of focusing on sales, insurance agents and insurance agency leaders spend time recalculating their compensation and comparing it against their paychecks. happens when a history of legacy system troubles and human errors make agencies and agents start to doubt theyre being paid correctly and begin doing their own math. This works about as well as youd expect. Instead of focusing on sales, insurance agents and insurance agency leaders spend time recalculating their compensation and comparing it against their paychecks. Audits and compliance checks may be more necessary and frequent if those in your distribution channel commonly wonder if theyre receiving the right commission payments. Not only are these audits themselves time-consuming, but if youre working with legacy systems, the time-suck is multiplied as people work to gather the information for an audit from numerous, disparate sources. may be more necessary and frequent if those in your distribution channel commonly wonder if theyre receiving the right commission payments. Not only are these audits themselves time-consuming, but if youre working with legacy systems, the time-suck is multiplied as people work to gather the information for an audit from numerous, disparate sources. Trust vacuums arise from incorrect or slow commissions payments. Payment errors or delays ultimately erode your working relationships and reputation. Digital ICM upgrades alone arent enough Its easy to see the trouble with managing this complexity by hand, with Ashley and Jim trying desperately to keep all the data current on a spreadsheet (or, lets be honest, a large number of different spreadsheets, web browser tabs, and PDF documents). Using a digital ICM solution to enforce payment structures and state regulations is a solid first step in solving for accurate commissions. At AgentSync, we happen to integrate with several ICMs that do just that. But an ICM alone isnt enough. Without a way to connect these different relationships into a consolidated and reactive hierarchical structure, then every change to a relationship could have a cascading effect on calculating the commissions for every single downstream person or entity. That means your commissions could be delayed or erroneous if: A carrier updates the compensation structure, contract, or product offering for downstream agencies An agent moves agencies, adds or drops an appointment, moves states, or gets promoted An agency is part of a merger or acquisition, changes its designated responsible licensed person (DRLP), expands states, or adds or drops a carrier relationship If you dont have a way of reflecting accurate hierarchies in your commissions payment system, then every one of these changes can set off a whack-a-mole effort to update every place you store data. Risks to poor distribution channel management when it comes to commissions One of the worst risks of automating everything in a set it and forget it manner without accurate hierarchies is that someone will get paid a commission while in the midst of a compliance violation. Whether its an agency whose designated responsible licensed person (DRLP) has let their license renewal lapse (often negating the validity of the licenses of every agent selling under them), or an individual agent who hasnt kept up on child support payments but is an upline for 20 other agents, these things happen! But they present a legal, financial, and reputational harm to your business. How AgentSync Hierarchy Management stops money from ruining your relationships Imagine a world where one of your agency partners sells a branch, changing the commissions structures and hierarchical relationships for 200 agents. This data firedrill is a regular occurrence for the carriers and agencies that have high-M&A partners. And its a situation ripe for commission clawbacks. Now imagine that it takes your team 10 minutes or less to update this new information in your system. Imagine that, once the team changes that single structure in your core system, that information automatically synchronizes up and down the other impacted agent and agency records, and, since youve integrated your distribution channel management system data with your ICM, youre done. Its accurate. No other handwringing, changes, spreadsheet shuffle, or action necessary. Thats the power of AgentSync Hierarchy Management. Its not about doing more with less, its about doing less while getting more. Accurately reflecting the complex network of insurance relationships is more than a nice to have. It means nearly eliminating inaccurate commissions, drastically lowering your risk, and having an audit-ready data log that saves you time and money. To learn more about how managing hierarchies well can elevate your commissions management, check out our page or schedule a personalized consultation. Topics Data Driven When Trumps huge tax bill was signed into law July 4, missing were changes to the taxes third-party litigation funders pay. Once included within the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) was language to tax earnings by litigation funders at a rate of nearly 41%. Critics have said the litigation funding industry was not taxed enough or, in some cases, not at allespecially foreign investors. The insurance industry has routinely blamed third-party litigation funding (TPLF)investments in lawsuits in exchange for a percentage of a settlement or judgmentfor the rapid increase in litigation costs. According to a new consumer guide on legal system abuse from the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and Munich Re US, legal system abuse costs each American family about $6,664 more for goods and services, and costs small businesses $160 billion in tort costs. The insurance industry has lobbied to rein in the practice, looking to potential tax reform as an opportunity. In a statement sent to Insurance Journal, Jimi Grande, senior vice president of federal and political affairs for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), said the provisions once in the bill would have been a win for Congress, the Trump Administration, and American consumers and businesses. Instead, shortly before the House vote, the Senate parliamentarian ruled the proposed tax increases for profits connected to TPLF violated certain budget rules. The language was removed from the mammoth bill. Due to some misinformation, partisanship, and efforts of those who profit off the U.S. court system, the Senate parliamentarian decided to rule against the closing of the tax loophole, which led to its removal from the OBBB, Grande said. Keeping this foreign funder loophole open means additional billions will fuel legal system abuse, and these foreign entities will continue paying nothing in U.S. taxes. American citizens will keep footing the bill as trial lawyers and litigation funders are incentivized to keep doing business as usual, contributing to a more litigious society and out-of-control tort costs impacting nearly the entire economy. Meanwhile, the International Legal Finance Association (ILFA) called the decision to omit the tax on TPLF a clear victory for Americans. The ILFA said litigation funding is a vital mechanism that enables individuals and small businesses to seek justice against well-funded defendants. Rather than curbing predatory behavior, this bill would shift power away from consumers and small businesses and into the hands of the very industriesBig Tech, Big Pharma, and Big Insurancethat most often seek to avoid liability for their misconduct, said the global TPLF trade association. Topics Lawsuits A former chief executive of two clothing technology companies was released on $1 million bail Friday after pleading not guilty to charges alleging she cheated investors of over $300 million over the past six years. Christine Hunsicker, 48, of Lafayette, New Jersey, was charged with six counts, including fraud, aggravated identity theft and false statement charges in the indictment in Manhattan federal court. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said in a release that Hunsicker forged documents, fabricated audits and made material misrepresentations about her companys financial condition to defraud investors in CaaStle Inc. and P180. The indictment said Hunsicker, once portrayed as an on-the-rise fashion entrepreneur, portrayed CaaStle as a high-growth, private company with substantial cash on hand when she knew it faced significant financial distress. In a statement, defense lawyers Michael Levy and Anna Skotko said prosecutors have chosen to present to the public an incomplete and very distorted picture in todays indictment, despite Hunsickers efforts to be fully cooperative and transparent with prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission. There is much more to this story, and we look forward to telling it, they said. Hunsicker did not comment as she left the courthouse with Skotko after entering the not-guilty plea and agreeing to the rules of her $1 million bail, which included not having any contact with former or current investors or employees. According to the indictment, Hunsicker continued her fraudulent scheme even after the CaaStle board of directors removed her and prohibited her from soliciting investments or taking other actions on the companys behalf. She persisted in her scheme even after law enforcement agents confronted her over the fraud, the indictment said. Before the fraud allegations emerged, Hunsicker seemed to be a rising star in the fashion world after she was named to Crains New York Business 40 under 40 lists, was selected as one of Inc.s Most Impressive Women Entrepreneurs and was recognized by the National Retail Federation as someone shaping the future of retail, the indictment noted. At a time when the business was in financial distress with limited cash available and significant expenses, CaaStle was valued by Hunsicker at $1.4 billion, the indictment said. Hunsicker was lying to investors in February 2019 and continued to do so through this March, prosecutors alleged. They said she fed investors falsely inflated income statements, fake audited financial statements, fictitious bank account records and sham corporate records. She allegedly told one investor in August 2023 that CaaStle reported an operating profit of nearly $24 million in the second quarter of 2023 when its operating profit that quarter was actually less than $30,000. The indictment alleged that she carried out the majority of the fraud by bilking CaaStle investors of $275 million before forming P180 last year to infuse CaaStle with cash before its investors could discover her fraud. Through misrepresentations and omissions, she cheated P180 investors out of about $30 million, the indictment said. It said CaaStle filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last month, leaving hundreds of investors holding now-worthless CaaStle shares. Hunsicker was forced to resign from CaaStles board in December and formally resigned as chief executive in March. In a related civil filing, the SEC said Hunsickers fake financials supported her narrative that CaaStle was nearing an initial public offering or sale in late 2022 as it enjoyed rapid and steady revenue growth after launching a new monetization model called Clothing-as-a-Service. In reality, CaaStles revenues were shrinking, its losses were increasing, and the company was never profitable, the lawsuit said. Not a single existing or prospective CaaStle investor received accurate monthly, quarterly, or annual CaaStle financial statements from Hunsicker. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics InsurTech Fraud A last-minute settlement between Meta Platforms shareholders and the companys 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 Delawares 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 states 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 states 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 TechnologiesPLTR.O co-founder Peter Thiel and Reed Hastings, who co-founded NetflixNFLX.O. 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 Musks $56 billion pay package from Tesla. That ruling is on appeal. Adding to the high stakes, Andreessens venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz, said earlier this month it was moving its incorporation to Nevada from Delaware and encouraged other companies to follow. In particular, Delaware courts can at times appear biased against technology startup founders and their boards, said a blog post on the firms website, citing McCormicks Musk pay ruling. The firm did not respond to a request for comment. Earlier this year, representatives from Meta met with Delawares governor and soon after the state changed its widely used corporate law to make it harder for shareholders to sue corporate boards over deals with controlling shareholders like Zuckerberg. Delawares political leaders said the changes were meant to keep Meta and other companies from fleeing the state. Delaware gets more than a quarter of its budget revenue from fees associated with chartering businesses. Despite the new law, some companies, like Affirm HoldingsAFRM.O, still opted to leave, saying it was unclear how it would be interpreted by Delaware courts. Lawrence Cunningham, director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance in Delaware, said the Meta shareholder settlement highlighted the strengths of the Delaware court in handling a complicated case and guiding it to a resolution, which might be hard to replicate elsewhere. It was a very desired judicial outcome, he said of the case. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Daniel Wallis) The insurer for the actor Justin Baldoni and other executives at his movie studio Wayfarer says its policies do not cover actress Blake Livelys allegations of sexual harassment during the filming of the movie It Ends With Us. Wayfarer and Baldoni have demanded that Harco National Insurance Co. provide it with a defense and indemnity for liability in Livelys lawsuit against them. But Harco claims it has no obligation due to prior knowledge exclusions in its management liability policies. Harco maintains that Baldoni and other Wayfarer executives had knowledge of the incidents that were likely to result in claims when they applied for insurance in July 2023 yet did not disclose the incidents and that they did not file a claim for a 2023 incident on time. Lively has alleged that during early 2023 while she was working as a lead actor in the film, Baldoni and executives at Wayfarer sexually harassed her and subjected her to a hostile work environment. She further alleges that they later retaliated against her for complaining about the alleged mistreatment. According to her complaint, the alleged harassment was primarily by Baldoni and Heath, both of whom controlled Livelys work given Baldonis positions as a co-chairman of Wayfarer, director of the film, and the co-lead in the film, and Heaths position as the CEO of Wayfarer and his frequent presence on the set. Baldoni, Heath, and another Wayfarer executive, Steve Sarowitz, were also allegedly involved in the retaliation. As relief, Lively has sought compensatory damages, damages for mental pain and anguish and severe and serious emotional distress, pre- and post-judgment interest, statutory and civil penalties, punitive damages, and attorneys fees and costs. Livelys lawsuit was filed in December 2024. However, the suit alleges that during April through June 2023, which was before the inception of the 2023 policy issued by Harco, Lively and others complained of sexual harassment on the set of the film. It further alleges that Baldoni and Heath acknowledged that they were aware of serious HR problems on set. In addition, allegations in a separate action filed by Wayfarer against Lively admit that Lively raised her complaints with Baldoni and Heath as early as May 2023, according to Harco. Harco argues that despite the pre-July 2023 complaints by Lively and others, Wayfarers July 2023 application for the 2023 management liability insurance policy includes a letter from Wayfarer warranting that they did not have any knowledge of any act, error, omission, fact or circumstance which may give rise to a claim under the employment practices liability coverage issued by Harco. Harco also contends that Wayfarer failed to report a November 2023 demand from Livelys lawyer for workplace changes within the reporting time period required in the 2023 policy. Furthermore, in its application for 2024 renewal, Harco says Wayfarer advised it that there was no claim, notice of potential claim, or any situation that may give rise to a claim within the last 12 months. On June 20, 2025, Harco advised Baldoni and Wayfarer that there was no coverage for the Lively lawsuit under the 2024 or 2023 policy. Since the insureds disagree with Harcos coverage position, Harco is seeking a declaratory ruling that it has no obligation to provide coverage. Baldoni and Wayfarer have denied Livelys allegations, calling them false and outrageous. They have fought back with several lawsuits of their own. Last month a New York judge dismissed Baldonis $400 million defamation suit that he filed against Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds, alleging a smear campaign. The judge ruled that allegations made in a lawsuit are exempt from libel claims. The judge also dismissed Baldonis $250 million defamation lawsuit against The New York Times, which had reported on Livelys sexual harassment allegations. It Ends With Us is about a romance that takes a dark turns into domestic violence. Harco issued a 2023 policy to Wayfarer for the period from July 15, 2023 to July 15, 2024 and an identical 2024 policy from July 15, 2024 to July 15, 2025. The policies provide $2,000,000 directors and officers and entity liability coverage and $2,000,000 employment practices liability coverage. The EPL coverage includes an additional defense costs separate limit of $1,000,000. Harco is a North Carolina-based specialty insurer and member of the IAT Insurance Group. Its lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Manhattan. Topics Carriers Claims Britain plans to ban public sector bodies and operators of critical national infrastructure, including the state-run health service, local councils and schools, from paying ransom demands to cyber criminals, it said on Tuesday. The country has been the victim of many high-profile ransomware attacks in recent years, from the WannaCry cyber attack that crippled Britains National Health Service in 2017 to the British Library suffering disruption when it refused to pay a ransom in 2023. Were determined to smash the cyber criminal business model and protect the services we all rely on, security minister Dan Jarvis said in a statement. We are sending a clear signal that the UK is united in the fight against ransomware. Ransomware, which is malicious software used by criminals to access victims computer systems, encrypt data, or steal information and hold it hostage until a ransom is paid, is estimated to cost the economy millions of pounds each year, the statement said. The recent attacks highlight the severe operational, financial, and even life-threatening risks, it said. The package of measures includes a ransomware payment prevention regime for victims of ransomware attacks and a ransomware incident reporting regime. A more recent attack on the NHS was cited as one of the factors that contributed to a patients death, according to the statement. A slew of attacks on British retailers from Marks & Spencer to Co-op Group have also shaken public confidence this year. Under the proposals, businesses not covered by the planned ban would be required to notify the government of any intent to pay a ransom, so they can be provided with advice and support, while mandatory reporting is also being developed to equip law enforcement with essential intelligence to deal with perpetrators and disrupt their activities. (Reporting by Muvija M in London; editing by Nia Williams) Philippine authorities suspended government work and classes in the capital region and dozens of provinces for a third day on Wednesday, warning of continued strong rains that killed at least six people and forced thousands in flooded areas to evacuate. Monsoon rains and a tropical storm have combined to pour the equivalent of a months worth of rain in just four days, Manilas weather bureau said Tuesday, submerging many cities and displacing more than 82,000 individuals. The suspension covers the capital region, home to at least 14 million people, and 36 provinces, most of them in the main Luzon island, the office of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in a circular. The southwest monsoon will bring moderate to intense rains in the next few days in northern and central Philippines, the interior ministry said in a statement. Flooding is expected in areas that are urbanized, low-lying and near rivers. Landslides may also occur in moderate to highly susceptible areas, it said, adding that forced evacuation has started in some areas. The weather bureau said it expects widespread incidents of severe flooding with landslides through Friday, with three low pressure areas east of the country likely to become tropical cyclones this week. TO THE RESCUE. Personnel from the Aguilar Police Station in Pangasinan assist in the evacuation of residents from flooded areas in the town due to heavy rainfall caused by the southwest monsoon. The weather disturbance has already affected 28,016 families or 88,252 individuals in pic.twitter.com/Pj512n7k87 Philippine News Agency (@pnagovph) July 22, 2025 The adverse weather had caused about 1.2 billion pesos ($21 million) in damage to both agriculture and infrastructure, according to the government. Government offices and schools were shut from Monday afternoon amid the heavy downpour. Financial markets were open. Marcos, whos in Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump, ordered government agencies to focus on flood response and relief operations, his office said in a statement. Some 118,000 households were without power, Joe Zaldarriaga, head of corporate communications at Manila Electric Co., told DZMM radio. Some 30 flights were canceled, authorities said. The Southeast Asian nation is one of the most natural disaster-prone countries in the world, where about 20 cyclones pass through each year. In 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan killed more than 6,000 in the Philippines. Photograph: Vehicles plough through a flooded street in Manila on July 22, 2025. Photo credit: Jam Sta Rosa/AFP/Getty Images Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Coverys, the Boston-based medical professional liability and healthcare insurer, has signed an agreement for the sale of its Italian managing general agent, AEC Agenzia di Assicurazione e Riassicurazione SpA (AEC), to Edge Group, a leading Italian insurance broking platform. Financial details of the transaction were not provided. Founded in 2001, AEC was among the first MGAs operating in Italy and rapidly established itself as a leading provider of professional liability coverage. In 2020, it became part of the U.S. Coverys Group, continuing to be led by current CEO Alessandro Cianelli and the ACE management team. AEC specializes in underwriting specialist risk for major national and international insurers as a wholesale intermediary and Lloyds coverholder. Milan-based Edge Group is a leading Italian insurance broking platform. backed by London-based private equity firm AnaCap. Edge offers brokerage, risk management, MGA and welfare solutions for Italian corporate clients. With technical and operational support from Coverys, AEC has been able to accelerate the development of its service offering in the medical liability sector, achieving double-digit growth and consolidating an increasingly competitive market position. Coverys said it will continue to support AEC by providing existing products and services, while also working with Edge to explore opportunities for additional product lines and premium growth. Although terms of the transaction are confidential, both parties anticipate broader collaboration as Coverys deepens its presence across Europe, Coverys said. AEC is a strong, well-managed business that will continue to thrive under Edges ownership, said Joe Murphy CEO of Coverys. This transaction exemplifies our strategic approach partnering with quality organizations while maintaining our focus on expanding Coverys underwriting capabilities and market reach across the UK and Europe. With the acquisition of AEC, Edge significantly strengthens its presence in the MGA sector, which we consider to be a strong strategic pillar for the future development of insurance distribution in Italy, according to Manfredo Sciarretta, Edge Groups CEO. AECs solid structure and organizational maturity enables the delivery of immediate scalability and sustainable growth that fully aligns with our business plan, Sciarretta added. This trajectory will also be further supported by our enhanced partnership with Coverys, who will continue to distribute its products through AECs network ensuring operational continuity and delivering real tangible value to the wider market. The transaction marks a strategic shift for Coverys towards a relationship-driven distribution model in the UK and Europe, the company said. We are seeing renewed momentum across European markets, and this relationship-focused approach positions us to capture these opportunities more effectively, continued Murphy. Were excited to work with high-performing distribution partners across key markets, which enables us to deepen our presence and expand our reach throughout the region. The sale forms part of Coverys wider international growth strategy, the company said. Its London operations have cemented a strong presence in underwriting complex healthcare risks, wile Coverys International Insurance Company DAC, based in Dublin, works with MGAs across Europe particularly in the SME space focusing on healthcare and other specialist professional lines. Following the successful establishment of its London and Dublin operations, Coverys said it is actively pursuing further healthcare opportunities across key European markets. *** Portuguese Insurance Broker Universalis Rebrands as Acrisure Universalis, the Lisbon-based insurance brokerage with over 50 years in the Portuguese market, has officially rebranded as Acrisure Portugal Insurance Broker, following the acquisition of the company by Acrisure, a global fintech in 2023. The name change reflects a deeper strategic alignment with the groups global identity and signals a new chapter of innovation and accelerated growth, the company said. Acrisure Portugal has a national footprint of 12 offices, offering insurance solutions (families and corporate) and trade credit insurance, and a portfolio of over 25,000 clients. This milestone marks the culmination of a two-year integration process and reinforces our long-term commitment to our clients and partners, said Jose Rodrigues, CEO of Acrisure Portugal. We are the same trusted team, now with the added strength, scale, and innovation of a global brand behind us. Acrisure Portugal will maintain its existing management structure, client relationships and operational model. All legal, regulatory and licensing aspects remain unchanged, and the company will continue to operate under the supervision of ASF Autoridade de Supervisao de Seguros e Fundos de Pensoes, Portugals insurance and pension funds regulator. The rebranding will roll out progressively to visual identity, website, client communications, social media, and corporate materials. For more information visit: www.acrisure.pt Topics Agencies Insurance Wholesale President Donald Trump is allowing chemical makers, coal-fired power plants and other facilities to bypass a range of environmental regulations on grounds that the waivers are needed for national security purposes. The plants, which also include taconite iron ore processing operations and chemical manufacturing facilities that play a role in the production of semiconductors and energy, were granted two-year waivers from Environmental Protection Agency rules via proclamations signed by Trump and released on Thursday evening. The rules were finalized under the Biden administration. The exemptions ensure that these facilities within these critical industries can continue to operate uninterrupted to support national security without incurring substantial costs to comply with, in some cases, unattainable compliance requirements, the White House said in a statement. Environmental groups slammed the move, with the Natural Resources Defense Council characterizing it as a literal free pass for polluters. If your family lives downwind of these plants, this is going to mean more toxic chemicals in the air you breathe, said John Walke, a senior attorney with the group said. All the claims of technology problems and national security concerns are pretexts so a few big corporations can get richer. Among the exempted operations were taconite iron ore plants in Minnesota owned by the United States Steel Corp. and six facilities owned by Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. in Minnesota and Michigan, according to the White House, which said the steel was used in national defense systems and other critical infrastructure. Chemical makers, including Dow Inc. and BASF SE, and refiners such as Phillips 66 and Citgo Petroleum Corp., were granted waivers from EPA regulations requiring emissions controls for certain facilities, according to the White House, which said the requirements would have required massive capital investments or even forced the plants to shut down. The White House also said coal-fired power plants in Ohio, Illinois and Colorado had been exempted from stringent air pollution mandates limiting the emission of mercury and other toxins. Several commercial medical device sterilization facilities were exempted from EPA rules setting emission standards for ethylene oxide, a widely used chemical in the sterilization process, the White House said. The Biden emissions standards impose costly and, in some cases, unattainable compliance requirements on these industries essential to national interests, according to a White House fact sheet. The waivers follow guidance earlier this year by the EPA that said companies could ask for exemptions to a range of regulations for as long as two years. Photo: A smoke stack at the Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. Cleveland Works steel mill in Cleveland. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics Pollution The Richardsons ground squirrel weighs less than a pound, is about a foot long and is native to the northern Plains. The little creature also is a ferocious tunneler, and its exasperating the people of Minot, North Dakota, where its burrowing everywhere from vacant lots to the middle of town, and growing more plentiful over the past two decades. Now North Dakotas fourth-largest city is fighting back, but even the pest control guy leading the charge acknowledges that it will be difficult to turn the tide against the rodent. An uphill battle Joshua Herman said fighting the squirrels is akin to one guy standing against a massive storm. If Im trapping but my neighbor isnt, well then, were really not going to get anywhere with it, long-term, Herman said. Ground squirrels have been an issue in Minot, a city of nearly 50,000 people, for at least 20 years, but the problem has dramatically worsened in the last few years, said Minot Street Department Superintendent Kevin Braaten. Its unclear how many of the squirrels live in Minot but it likely nears or even exceeds the citys population. Gosh, theres got to be tens of thousands of them in the area, Herman said. Officials in the city, a green spot along the winding Souris River surrounded by farmland and grassy prairie, know they cant get rid of the squirrels, but hope to simply get the rodent numbers down. I dont see the population ever going to zero, Braaten said. I mean, its almost impossible by the numbers that we have. Put another way, Minot wont be able to rid itself of the squirrels because the animals have lived on the prairie for centuries. Outside of town, predators like coyotes, badgers, owls and even snakes love to dine on the squirrels. But in residential neighborhoods and even downtown, where few of their predators live, the rodents can roam pretty freely. Greg Gullickson, an outreach biologist with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, adds that the squirrels now have fewer grassland areas available to them and like the mowed spots they find in town. No land is safe Female squirrels typically give birth to litters of about six babies a year, so its easy to see how their numbers can quickly soar. Herman said he kills 3,500 to 5,000 of them a year, primarily by putting snares and carbon monoxide into the holes, and using an air rifle. Ive had calls downtown, calls in the mall, along the highways, here at the airport really every part of the city Ive done trapping for ground squirrels here in Minot, Herman said as he checked his traps along an apartment building and shoveled dirt over holes. Herman says they damage driveways, sidewalks and lawns; create tripping hazards with their holes and can harbor disease from fleas. Along an apartment building, the squirrels had dug under a concrete slab and against the foundation. Nearby in a vacant lot, the rodents popped in and out of holes. Ground squirrels near Pashone Grandsons ground-level apartment dig holes near her door and eat her plants. One squirrel even got around her baby gate at the door and into her daughters clothes in her bedroom. It was a little scary. You dont know what disease they carry. Theyre dirty. I have a young daughter I didnt know if it was going to bite her, Grandson said. North of town, Minot Air Force Base, which houses bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles, has fought the ground squirrels for years. Earlier this month, the base said it had trapped more than 800 dak-rats, a base name for the rodents. Base officials declined to comment on the squirrels. Jared Edwards, facilities director for Minot Public Schools, which has three schools on the base, said residential areas of the base and runways are overrun by ground squirrels. He called it a continuous battle for them for the last 75 years since the base has been there. Im not going to exaggerate: Theyre by the millions out there, Edwards said. In town, three school properties have large populations of ground squirrels, he said. Last year, the school system began using snares, and for years before that had used poison. Its something you have to keep up with. It is Mother Nature, Edwards said, adding that theyve probably been in the area since homesteaders came through. A cute nuisance Still, not everyone sees the squirrels as a pest. Some find the critters cute and fuzzy. Herman said people have sabotaged, stolen or thrown out his traps. They occasionally confront him when he shoots at ground squirrels with an air rifle, scolding him for hurting the wildlife, he said. They get that cute association, and they are, you know, adorable, but theyre a vermin and a pest and dangerous when they are allowed to proliferate, Herman said. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. W. R. Berkley Corporation, headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, named Shadi Albert as president of Vela Insurance Services. He succeeds Arthur G. Davis, who will assume the role of chairman of the business. The appointments are effective immediately. Albert joined Berkley as president of Berkley Luxury Group in 2023, after serving as the executive vice president of strategy and business development in a key division at Selective Insurance. Previous roles include assistant vice president of reinsurance, strategy and enterprise risk capital advisory at WTW. Davis joined Vela in 2018 as senior vice president and chief underwriting officer and has served as its president since 2019. As chairman, he will support the Vela team through the transition. Fusion Specialty Insurance Appoints Underhill Head of Americas Fusion Specialty Insurance, headquartered in New York, hired Robert Underhill as head of Americas, based in New York. Underhill joins Fusion following nine years as global head of transactional liability at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, where he launched and led its M&A transactional liability business across the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia. Before Berkshire Hathaway, Underhill held senior positions at Locke Lord as partner in the transactional and regulatory insurance practice group, managing director and counsel at Fortress Investment Group, and director and counsel roles at Credit Suisse Investment Bank and Citigroup Investment Banking. He began his career as a corporate lawyer at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton. Topics Excess Surplus One year after American Coastal Insurance went through a regulator-forced shakeup in leadership, the Florida-based carriers holding company has received a slight upgrade in its debt rating from KBRA, producing a savings on interest expenses. We are proud to have regained investment-grade status and positive outlooks, President and CEO Brad Martz said in a statement Monday. This will immediately reduce the companys annual interest expense by $1.5 million and supports our strategy to grow the business responsibly. KBRA, the Kroll Bond Rating Agency, announced Monday that it has upgraded AmCoastals issuer rating and debt rating from BB+ to BBB-. The insurers financial strength rating remains at A- and the outlook for all ratings has been improved, from stable to positive, KBRA said in a statement. The upgrades reflect KBRAs expectation that St. Petersburg-based American Coastal will continue to report favorable operating results and maintain its strong risk-adjusted capitalization, robust reinsurance programs with strong counterparties, and high credit quality investment portfolio, the company noted. AmCoastal, founded in 2007, had about 4,000 policies in force in Florida as of Q1 this year, mostly in condominium association and other commercial residential coverage. The company was the remaining subsidiary left standing after United Property & Casualty Insurance was deemed insolvent in 2023. In July 2024, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, began seeking to enforce a 2002 no-fly list law that forbids officers and directors of insolvent insurers from leading other carriers for at least two years. The office warned 12 people at AmCoastal more than any other Florida carrier that they would need to justify their positions or move on. Several officers were removed or reassigned after that, including former CEO Dan Peed, who moved into the chairmans role. Martz received one of the OIR letters but remained in the presidents office. The number of board members was reduced from 10 to five. In its first quarter earnings report this year, the publicly traded AmCoastal showed a net income of $21.3 million, down 9.5% from the same period in 2024. It also reported $646 million in total direct premium written, a $10 million increase from the year before, according to OIR information. The company has been profitable every year, except for 2020, KBRA pointed out. KBRA also noted the completion of American Coastals sale of its subsidiary, Interboro Insurance Co., in New York, for $25.7 million. Despite the financial rating news, AmCoastals share price closed slightly down Monday at $10.66, well below its December 2024 high of $14.30, according to Yahoo!Finance. Oldenburg Joins Alliant Insurance Services as Senior Vice President in Portland, Oregon Andy Oldenburg joined Alliant Insurance Services as senior vice president within its Alliant Americas division. Based in Portland, Oregon, Oldenburg will provide a strategic risk and insurance services to clients throughout the Pacific Northwest. Oldenburg has more than 20 years of experience working with clients in an array of industries. He specializes in risk management and alternative risk strategies and has experience with general liability, employment practices liability, property, auto, workers compensation and other lines of coverage. Before joining Alliant, Oldenburg was a commercial lines agent with Marsh McLennan Agency. He was previously a commercial lines producer at Western States Insurance. Alliant is headquartered in Irvine, California. IMA Financial Group Names Branch Oregon Market President IMA Financial Group Inc. named Adam-Ross Branch its Oregon market president. Branch replaces Ken Price, who is retiring from the company. Branch has more than a decade of industry experience across the Pacific Northwest. He started his career at k.p.d. Insurance and joined IMA Financial Group in 2021 after the company acquired k.p.d. He previously served as a financial adviser at OnPoint Community Credit Union and Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. Topics Alliant Oregon Alaska Air Group Inc. continued to recover on Monday after temporarily grounding its entire fleet due to a data center equipment failure that affected several of the carriers key operating systems. Eighty-three Alaska Air flights, or about 9% of its total, had been canceled as of midday, along with 22 at subsidiary Horizon Air, according to FlightAware data. More than 150 flights at the two carriers were grounded Sunday, the airline said. A critical piece of multi-redundant hardware at Alaskas data centers suffered an unexpected failure around 8 p.m. Pacific time on Sunday, Alaska Air said in a statement, declining to provide additional detail. Related: Erie Insurance Restores All Operations After Month Outage; Says No Data Breached The safety of our flights was never compromised, the airline said. The ground stop was lifted around 11 p.m. Its the second time in just over a year Alaska Air has had to briefly ground its fleet because of IT problems. In April 2024, the carrier temporarily halted flights after experiencing an issue while upgrading the system that calculates weight and balance. That disruption came about three months after a door plug on a Boeing Co. plane blew out mid-flight and upended Alaska Airs operations. Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics Aviation 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. Killarney Brewing & Distillery (KBD) Company has confirmed the unsuccessful conclusion of its examinership process, with more 50 jobs to be impacted by the brewery ceasing operations. The premises, which opened in 2022, includes the plush multi-million euro brewery, whiskey distillery, and visitor centre overlooking the lakes of Killarney in Fossa. The company said high tariffs on Irish whiskey exports to the US and wider economic uncertainty further hurt the business and had compounded previous challenges arising from the pandemic and ongoing global tensions. "Like many in the drinks manufacturing industry, KBD has faced significant and sustained challenges in recent years, stemming from the lasting effects of the pandemic, delays in opening our state-of-the-art distillery in Fossa, global supply chain disruptions, rising input costs, and ongoing geopolitical and trading pressures," the brewery said on Tuesday. "More recently, high tariffs on Irish whiskey exports to the US and wider economic uncertainty have further impacted the business." Earlier this year, the company had reached a preliminary agreement to merge with a US-based strategic partner, but the partner ultimately chose not to proceed. In response, KBD entered the examinership process in the hope of securing new investment to protect jobs and stabilise operations for the long term. Last week saw the mayor of Killarney and local councillors call on the Department of Enterprise to push for every possible support to help the distillery, but KBD said that despite "tireless efforts, no suitable investor was secured within the timeframe set out by the court." Speaking on its closure, the brewery concluded: "The company would like to express its sincere and heartfelt thanks to our exceptional employees, whose dedication, resilience, and passion never wavered throughout this incredibly difficult time. "We are also deeply grateful to our shareholders and wider investment community for their support and belief in our vision, and to our loyal customers, partners, and the local community in Killarney who have stood by us at every turn. "We remain proud of what weve built together and the craft, care, and creativity that defined our journey." The large distillery opened in 2022, expanding on the operation which began in 2015 in Killarney town. Millions of euro has been invested by the company in the Fossa premises and distillery, which includes a restaurant, a number of bars, and large function rooms, all catering to leisure, tour, and corporate business. Jason Manford likely got the performing bug from his mothers side of the family. His maternal grandparents, a folk-singing duo called The Peates, emigrated from Dublin to Manchester in the 1950s. Later, they jumped on the showband wagon. As a kid, Manford, now 44, remembers his grandmother, Nora, playing in Irish bars on Sunday afternoons in the 1980s. My memory of those afternoons is sitting under the pool table with me brothers eating crisps hearing my nana singing, Grace or The Fields of Athenry. At some point, my parents worked out that I was able to sing. Nana took a shine to me because of that. As soon as I was able to sing, Id get up and sing a few songs with her. I think, always, I had an idea of what might be funny. From an early age, maybe eight, I used to sing In the Ghetto by Elvis, which is not a funny song, but obviously it's funny because an eight-year-old is singing it. I would try and do a bit of an Elvis impression the karate kick, a lip curl and shaking the hips. I remember it used to make people laugh. My Uncle Michael, the eldest, probably the only one of my uncles and aunties born in Ireland, and the only one with an Irish accent, was hilarious. I loved watching him because he was such a funny performer. He was talented. He did everything he sang, he played the guitar. He could properly yodel, which is such a funny thing to do. That classic Irish thing where almost the talking between the songs is as entertaining as the songs. During summer months, Manford came over to Ireland for a couple of weeks holidays, running amok with his cousins around Templeogue, Dublin. His father is very English, so religion wasnt a big part of their lives growing up. He was shocked by how long mass lasted in a Catholic church. In C of E, youre in and out, he says. In 25 minutes, hes said his thing. Off you go. In Dublin, it was a case of, Are we still here? It felt like everything in Ireland was a little bit stricter because of the religious element. There were a lot more rules You cant do that, you cant say that kind of thing. Back in Manchester, things felt a bit more feral. Jason Manford grew up in Moss Side, near Manchester City's old Maine Road stadium. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images) He adds: It's funny, in the UK when Im on tour, a cousin somewhere or an uncle will occasionally get in touch, and go, Oh, Jason, I know youre in Preston this week. I wondered if it's possible to get two tickets. I don't mind paying. Then I come to Dublin, and I get a phone call from some cousin I've seen three times in me life: Jason, can I get 40 tickets? They ask for all sorts. Can you do a meet-and-greet with my girlfriend? Theyre not shy about coming forward in Ireland. Manford grew up on Moss Side, part of inner-city Manchester, home to Manchester Citys old stadium, Maine Road. It was a tough neighbourhood, notoriously dubbed The Triangle of Death because of gang violence. Many of Manfords classmates are either dead or in prison. He used his knack for humour as a survival tool. Humour was massive for me during my childhood learning to have a laugh, he says. Learning to laugh at yourself is the most important thing you can learn as a human being. If you don't take things seriously, you're not quick to snap if someone says something provocative. You've always got a way of getting out of things with words rather than actions or being physical. If youre funny at school, you can have a laugh with everybody, whether its the nerds or the bullies. You can get away with things. Bullies didnt pick on me necessarily because I always had something to say, I might be a bit mouthy. Generally, bullies are not good with their words so they wouldn't go toe to toe with you when it comes to arguments, certainly in front of other people or girls. Humour kept me out of trouble. Comedy was always something I was interested in. Being witty meant grown-ups noticed me more. The odd teacher noticed me and thought of me for certain things. When I got to high school, our deputy head teacher, Mr. Wiley, if there were any presenting things he needed doing, he would often ask me. Obviously, that's part of the reason my life has shaped the way it is because of someone like him. Manford was still a teenager when he first did live stand-up in 1999. He was working at a comedy club in Manchester as a glass collector when a comedian booked to perform failed to show up. Manford stepped into the breach and never looked back. Hes built an impressive career on the stand-up circuit and is a regular on UK television light entertainment shows. In 2012, Manford made his West End debut in a musical; hes performed lead roles in several musicals, including Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk and Prince Charming in Cinderella. He hasnt yodelled on stage yet, like his Uncle Michael, but his quick-fire comedy chops are always on hand to get him out of a jam if needed. He recalls an incident on stage in Northern Ireland a few years after a 1996 Provisional IRA bombing of city-centre Manchester, close to a shopping centre. I remember one of my very early gigs was in Belfast, he says. Belfast now is very different to Belfast around the time coming out of the Northern Ireland Peace Process. We were one of the first sets of English comics to go over and play in the centre of Belfast. There was a guy on, from London before me, and the audience ruined him. I went on, and I said, Im from Manchester. A guy made a heckle, Did you enjoy the bomb? The whole crowd were like, Ooh, thats too far. I said, Well, nobody died, and we got a new NEXT. That helped to diffuse the situation. Jason Manford is on a nationwide tour, including Corks The Everyman, Friday, July 25. See: www.jasonmanford.com Jason Manford Five of his jokes Today a man knocked on my door and asked for a small donation towards the local swimming pool. I gave him a glass of water. I spent two years in therapy for my Phil Collins addiction, but I did it. Against all odds. Just take a look at me now. Me and my wife decided we don't want kids. So, if anyone wants them, we can drop them off tomorrow. I don't hate ginger people. Don't get me wrong, I like ginger people. They were the only people who stopped me from getting bullied at school. 'Do not touch' must be the worst thing to read in braille. Ryanair recently announced that it will increase the size of its underseat bag by 5cm for travellers this summer. While the airline is yet to confirm when the changes will come into effect, it has confirmed that the new dimensions will measure 40 x 30 x 20cm. Previously, this was 40 x 20 x 25cm. The change comes after EU lawmakers voted to make free airline luggage allowances meet a minimum size of 40 x 30 x 15cm, which has resulted in Ryanair increasing the height by 10cm, but reducing the depth by 5cm. The news has been welcomed by customers, as Ryanair currently has the smallest underseat bag dimensions of all major airlines that fly from Cork, Dublin and Shannon airports. If youre planning on booking a holiday abroad this year and are wondering what you're allowed to bring onboard with you on the major airlines that operate in Ireland, weve got you covered. Below, we compare the baggage allowance on the following airlines: Ryanair Aer Lingus KLM Air France Lufthansa British Airways TAP Air Ryanair Ryanair's current baggage allowance While Ryanair has announced changes to the size of its underseat bag for travellers this summer, the airlines website still references old luggage guidelines and has yet to announce when the new rules will kick in. As it stands, the airlines hand baggage allowance is 40 x 20 x 25cm. Under the changes to their onboard baggage allowance, the airline will allow passengers to bring bags measuring 40 x 30 x 20cm onto the plane with them. Ryanair's upcoming baggage allowance - no start date is confirmed yet for this So, if youre flying with Ryanair this summer, be sure to take a carry-on bag that is no larger than 40 x 20 x 25cm, until it confirms otherwise. Aer Lingus Aer Lingus's baggage allowance Aer Lingus offers its passengers two different ways to bring a 10kg bag on their journey - bring onboard or check-in at the at the bag drop kiosk. The airlines 10kg bag options, applicable on Aer Lingus flights within Europe, allow passengers to bring a 10kg bag onboard with them by booking the 10kg carry-on bag option online for 9.99. Alternatively, passengers can drop their bag off at the check-in desk or bag drop kiosk (available in Dublin, Shannon and London) when check-in opens and collect it again at the bag carousel when they land, for free. If a booking includes a carry-on bag, then the passenger has to take the bag onboard with them. A small personal item, such as a handbag or laptop bag, is still included for all passengers. The maximum dimensions for carry-on baggage for Aer Lingus 10kg bags is 55 x 40 x 24. When travelling on an Aer Lingus Regional flight, a 7kg limit per passenger for carry-on baggage applies. This bag must be stored in the overhead locker on Aer Lingus Regional flights. A small personal item is also included and must be stowed under the seat in front. The maximum dimensions for carry-on baggage for all Aer Lingus Regional flights is 48 x 33 x 20cm. KLM KLM's baggage allowance Whether passengers can bring hand baggage on their KLM flight depends on their travel class and ticket type. A small bag and hand baggage combined may weigh up to 12kg. If travelling in Business Class, a small bag and hand baggage combined may weigh up to 18kg. Passengers can always take a small bag with them. A small bag must not exceed the maximum size of 40 x 30 15cm and must be placed under the seat in front. Hand baggage, including handles and wheels, must not exceed the maximum size of 55 x 35 x 25cm and must be placed in the overhead bins. Hand baggage is not included when travelling in economy class with a basic ticket. Passengers can purchase one piece of hand baggage online or at the airport if needed. In economy class, cabin baggage allowance depends on your ticket type. Passengers with a basic ticket are allowed to bring one small bag with a maximum size of 40 x 30 x 15cm. Passengers with a light, standard, or flex ticket, are allowed to bring one small bag with a maximum size of 40 x 30 x 15cm and one piece of hand luggage with a maximum size of 55 x 35 x 25cm, including handles and wheels, onboard with them. A small bag and hand baggage combined may weigh up to 12kg. In premium comfort class, passengers can bring onboard a small bag and two pieces of hand baggage. A small bag and hand baggage combined may weigh up to 12kg. In business class, passengers can bring onboard a small bag and two pieces of hand baggage weighing up to 18kg. Air France Air France's baggage allowance On Air France flights, cabin baggage allowance depends on the fare chosen by the passenger. In economy, up to one hand baggage is allowed depending on the chosen fare, plus one small bag with a maximum total weight of 12kg. In the premium cabin, two hand baggage items and one small bag with a maximum total weight of 12 kg are permitted. In the business and La Premiere cabins, two hand baggage items and one small bag with a maximum total weight of 18kg are permitted. The maximum dimensions for hand baggage is 55 x 35 x 25cm, including pockets, wheels, and handles, and the bag must be stored in the overhead compartment. In the cabin, one small bag with the dimensions of 40 x 30 x 15cm is allowed onboard and must be placed under the seat in front. Lufthansa Lufthansa's baggage allowance As carry-on baggage, passengers can take one item of baggage with them onboard, such as a trolley case, a compact, foldable baby buggy or a foldable garment bag. Carry-on baggage must weigh a maximum of 8kg. Two items of 8kg are allowed in business or first class. The permitted amount of carry-on baggage for HON Circle Members, Senators, frequent flyers and passengers with Star Alliance Gold or Silver status is determined by the respective travel class. The dimensions for carry-on baggage with Lufthansa is a maximum of 55 x 40 x 23cm. Dimensions for foldable garment bags is a maximum of 57 x 54 x 15cm. British Airways British Airways' baggage allowance Passengers flying with British Airways can bring a handbag of up to 40 x 30 x 15cm onboard with them, which must be placed under the seat in front. Hand luggage with the maximum dimensions of 56 x 45 x 25cm, including wheels and handles, is allowed onboard. Those travelling on the airlines hand baggage only (economy basic) fare are charged extra to put any bags into the hold, as these fares do not include checked baggage. The cost of each additional hold bag depends on the passengers destination and how many more bags they want to check in over their hold allowance. TAP Air TAP Air's baggage allowance TAP Air allows passengers to bring hand baggage of a maximum weight of 10kg and maximum dimensions of 55 x 40 x 25cm. The airline also allows a personal article, such as a computer briefcase, a handbag or a shoulder bag, a duty-free shopping area bag, walking aids, and medical devices. Personal items can be a maximum weight of 2kg with maximum dimensions of 40 x 30 x 15cm. Those flying economy class can bring one item of hand baggage and one personal article onboard. Passengers flying business class to/from North American destinations can bring one item of hand baggage and one personal article onboard. Those flying business class to/from Europe, Africa, South America or on domestic flights are allowed two items of hand baggage and one personal article. The Irish Prison Service (IPS) pleaded with the Department of Justice to stop scheduling extra court sittings and to consider using cells in Garda stations for prisoners. A message from IPS director of operations said they had done everything in their power to deal with overcrowding in jails, as numbers in custody approached 5,000. However, the senior official said they had now run out of options and decisions outside of their control meant the number of people in prison would continue to rise. The email was sent last summer as the IPS struggled with high levels of overcrowding, which have since deteriorated further. The director of operations whose name was withheld on security grounds under Freedom of Information laws said there were no easy or palatable decisions left. He said the UK government had just introduced emergency measures and delayed some court cases due to its own problems with overcrowding. The message said there were eight steps that needed to be considered or reconsidered as a matter of urgency to ease pressure on Irish jails. This included: Cancellation of scheduled additional court sittings and a commitment that no further additional sittings will be arranged pending prison capacity being addressed. He also called for the decision to appoint or reassign criminal judges to be reconsidered and cases involving asylum claims be dealt with in alternative facilities. The director of operations said Ireland should also consider delaying court cases and using Garda cells to house prisoners. He added: [We should] reconsider the proposal to unilaterally increase the rate of remission provided for under current legislation. The email said a new policy on bail was needed urgently to ensure people awaiting trial for non-serious offences were not sent to jail. An eighth suggested measure was redacted from the records on the basis it could compromise the security of the prison system. The email was forwarded to the Department of Justice in May along with an update from the governor of Mountjoy Prison, Ray Murtagh. The governors message said: We now have an historical number of 912 prisoners in custody this morning, and when I previously expressed concern we were at 858. I now have all my additional 114 bunk beds filled and an additional 57 on mattresses. He said the C base of Mountjoy was at full capacity, and a newly arrived batch of 12 prisoners would also have to sleep on mattresses on the floor. We are currently over 120% capacity, and this has placed significant unprecedented pressure on the prison, wrote Mr Murtagh. He added he could see no abatement in sight and other prisons in Dublin and Laois were also running over capacity. The records were only released this week by the Irish Prison Service following an appeal under FOI. The number of prisoners in custody has since smashed the 5,000 barrier, and on Monday of this week reached more than 5,500. That included 588 on temporary release as authorities have sought to ease pressure on a system that is operating at 119% of capacity. Asked about the correspondence, a spokesman said: The Irish Prison Service must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the courts. As such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time. He said temporary release was used on a case-by-case basis, and they were working closely with the Department of Justice to ensure a safe working environment for staff and for prisoners. A Cork man who performed donuts in front of a crowd of more than 150 people has been disqualified from driving by the district court. Court presenter Inspector Anthony Harrington told Mallow District Court that a garda patrol came upon a meeting of car enthusiasts after midnight at a rural location at Tooreen South, Bottle Hill, Mallow on February 21, 2025. Giving evidence, Garda James Cullinane said that at 12.42am he approached a large crowd of spectators he estimated to be between 150 and 200 people watching a car doing donuts on the public road. He told the court that the car was spinning its wheels and there was a lot of smoke from the manoeuvres it was carrying out. Gda Cullinane said it was a wet night and the conditions at the time were foggy. He approached the car to prevent it from driving off and he spoke to the driver, identified as Dale Walsh, aged 21, of Mannixs Cottage, Killeens, Co Cork. Walsh was arrested for dangerous driving and taken to Mallow Garda Station where he was formally charged. Defence solicitor Cathal Lombard said the incident occurred at a remote rural location near forestry and asked Judge Colm Roberts to consider reducing the charge from one of dangerous driving to the lesser charge of careless driving. Mr Lombard said his client was fully co-operative, had no previous convictions and was a very young man. He said his client has since undertaken a pro-social driving course and had never been in trouble before. Judge Roberts said: If the court takes the view that doing donuts with 100 or 150 people watching after midnight is not dangerous driving, we may as well all go home. The judge said that Walsh had obtained his licence and he wasnt aware of the part of the driving test exam that stated its grand to do donuts. The judge said it was not a marginal case where he could reduce the charge and clearly came under the definition of dangerous driving. He convicted Walsh of dangerous driving and disqualified him from driving for the mandatory two-year period and agreed to defer commencement of the driving ban to November 1. He also fined Walsh 250 and allowed him one month to pay. The judge added: It was a serious error of judgement. It seems Im being told to care about his driving licence when he didnt. Recognisance for appeal was fixed at 500 with 250 cash. This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme New applications for housing adaptation grants in Limerick have been suspended, with the council saying it would have a 1m black hole if all applications for 2025 were approved. In a letter to TDs, the council confirmed it was pausing accepting all applications for such grants for older people and people with disabilities, citing budget shortfalls. Two Limerick TDs, Conor Sheehan and Maurice Quinlivan, said they had been told only emergency applications would be permitted. In total, Limerick City and County Council was allocated 5.8m for adaptation grants to last the full year, with 3.1m being spent to date. A further 2.3m has been approved for payment for 2025, leaving 350,000 remaining in the councils budget. However, the total value of applications yet to be approved or paid for 2025 is 1.4m, which would leave a 1m black hole if all grant claims were paid out. Any applicants that are approved between now and the end of 2025 will be advised that payment of the grant in 2025 will be subject to funding being available in 2025, and if funding is not available in 2025, payment will be made in 2026, the council wrote. Every effort will be made to secure additional surplus funding that may become available from the department of housing. The scheme itself refers to three separate grants: The housing adaptation grant for disabled people; the mobility aid grant; and housing aid for older people. Mr Sheehan, a Labour TD, said the fact applications were being suspended halfway through the year was proof the scheme is not working as it should. This grant is not a luxury, it is a lifeline for many people in Limerick and across the country. It enables people to live safely and independently in their own homes. We have seen time and again how the scheme can be transformative, yet it is chronically under-funded. This is not the first time weve seen this situation arise, and unless serious funding is committed, it wont be the last. Housing adaptation grants play a crucial role in supporting older people and people with disabilities to live at home with dignity. Mr Sheehan cited the Governments review of the scheme, which outlined a need to expand eligibility and increase the income thresholds. We in Labour have consistently called for the housing adaptation grant limits to be increased to 60,000, and for income thresholds to be indexed to reflect todays reality, he said. People are being denied access to basic, life-enhancing modifications such as stairlifts, accessible bathrooms or ramps because this Government refuses to plan properly or fund these schemes at the level required. Mr Quinlivan of Sinn Fein called for the council to reconsider its pause on further applications. He said the department must step up now and provide additional funding to Limerick Council. The cost of construction materials has increased dramatically over the last number of years, but especially in the last 12 months, and this is pushing up the cost of many of the works, adding to council costs, Mr Quinlivan said. The Department of Housing must recognise this and assist councils with additional funding to allow the grants to continue to be paid for the duration of 2025. The Government will stay tight-lipped until October about projects that will benefit from a review of the National Development Plan, which will see 200bn invested in infrastructure over the next decade. Public expenditure minister Jack Chambers will unveil the plan following Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, after weeks of intensive negotiations. Some 200bn will be invested in capital projects over the next decade, with 100bn to be spent over the next five years to address shortfalls in water and energy infrastructure that is stalling the delivery of new homes. It is understood the plan will commit to an extra 30bn allocation for projects over the next five years, bringing total spending to 100bn; a further 100bn investment in infrastructure between 2030 and 2035; a ringfenced 10bn for the electricity grid, water infrastructure, and transport projects, including the Dublin Metrolink; the largest single investment in the countrys electricity network; and a major increase in defence spending over the next five years. The National Development Plan, launched in 2021 in Cork, is being updated due to an influx of cash received in recent months. This includes the 14bn Apple tax windfall following last Septembers European Court of Justice ruling, as well as the sale of the States remaining AIB shares. Negotiations were continuing late yesterday, despite suggestions that the plan would be signed off by the Coalition leaders, including Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris, at a pre-lunchtime meeting. However, meetings were still taking place yesterday evening, with discussions on housing holding up the review being finalised. Sources stressed that the plan announcement will be a review rather than a new plan that will see specific projects and details announced. The new capital allocations for each department will be confirmed by Mr Chambers on Tuesday. However, details of how each department will use its allocation will not be revealed for another three months, with specific projects not expected to be outlined until budget day in October. Mr Harris, who is also defence minister, is understood to have secured an increase in defence spending over the next five years. He will tell Cabinet that the revised plan presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Irelands infrastructure against the backdrop of global uncertainty over trade and tariffs. He is expected to tell his colleagues that quicker approval processes and less red tape will be critical to delivering on the plan to upgrade water, energy, transport, and other infrastructure that will enable the delivery of new homes, more schools and childcare places, and improved disability services and health outcomes. Meanwhile, ministers will be told of the need to moderate day-to-day spending ahead of this years budget. The Government will today release the summer economic statement, which will outline the broad parameters of Octobers budget. While Government sources say that there will be money to spend, economic uncertainty means that current spending will need to be managed. It is expected Mr Harris will tell Cabinet this years document will be different from previous years, and that decisions made in the budget will have to focus on protecting jobs and investment during what could be an economically turbulent period ahead. Government sources have said the increase in protectionism, rising tariffs, and the fragmentation of global supply chains poses a threat to Irelands economic model, but that Budget 2026 will see additional public spending and taxation measures delivered. In last years summer statement, the projection for this years budget was that there would be around 2bn for additional expenditure and 1.2bn for tax-related changes. "Government sources said that the focus has been on finding the right balance between enhancing our public infrastructure, improving public services and maintaining the long-term sustainability of the public finances. Earlier this month the Taoiseach Micheal Martin made a four-day trip to Japan to strengthen bi-lateral ties between the two countries. During a speech at the opening of the new Ireland House in Tokyo the Taoiseach said: The Ireland-Japan relationship is built on a solid foundation of shared and longstanding commitment to the rules-based international order. We share a vision for a future of peace and prosperity for all, built through international co-operation, democratic values and peaceful resolution of disputes. He went on to note that these shared values were already evident in 1974, the year that Ireland established its first embassy here in Tokyo. In that year, Irelands former minister for foreign affairs, Sean MacBride, and the former Prime Minister of Japan, Eisaku Sato, shared that years Nobel Peace Prize for their work on disarmament. To underline the importance of Ireland-Japan collaboration on disarmament the Taoiseach also visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park during his trip. There he met with hibakusha, survivors of the USs atomic bomb attacks. The Taoiseach spoke to journalists about the harrowing testimony he heard from Teruko Yakata, who was eight years old when the bomb was dropped on her hometown, and about the legacy of trauma still suffered by Yakata and other survivors. As he was leaving Hiroshima Mr Martin was asked if he believed the world was a more dangerous now than in 1945. I believe it is, he answered, it is in a very dangerous place. The Taoiseach was right to highlight Irelands proud tradition of international leadership on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. This is a particularly important history to underline whilst visiting Japan, which remains the only country to have suffered attack with nuclear weapons. The United Nations landmark Treaty of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), signed in 1968, had its origins in the 1950s when then Fianna Fail foreign minister Frank Aiken introduced the first of what became known as the Irish Resolutions' which eventually led to the NPT. Aiken was the first to sign the NPT in 1968 in recognition of Irelands crucial role in advancing the cause of disarmament. The Taoiseach Micheal Martin was right to highlight Irelands proud tradition of international leadership on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. File photo: GIS Press Office Yet, at the very same time as the Taoiseach was in Japan promoting Irelands commitment to international diplomacy and disarmament, he is leading a government that is trying to fundamentally re-orient Irelands foreign policy away from disarmament and international peace building towards militarization and war-fighting alliances. In doing so Mr Martin and his government are betraying the foreign policy achievements of Aiken and his own party, Fianna Fail, but more importantly they are betraying the will and trust of the Irish people who remain deeply attached to active neutrality. Opinion polls consistently show a large majority of the Irish public support maintaining neutrality. A poll conducted in January by Uplift found that 75% were in favour of maintaining neutrality. In April another poll, conducted by The Irish Times and Ipsos, found that 63% of people wanted to keep Irelands neutrality as it is. The Governments revolution in foreign affairs In his speech to the Global Ireland Summit on May 6 this year the Taoiseach said that even in newly volatile geopolitical conditions Ireland will maintain its role as a strong advocate for the rules-based international order, with the UN at its centre. Yet, his government is actively undermining the UN in its quest to remove the Triple Lock, legislation that requires a UN mandate for more than 12 members of the Irish Defence Forces to be deployed overseas. The government justify this change on the basis of false claims that Russia and China enjoy a veto over Irish peace-keeping missions in the UN Security Council. It is not only the UN Security Council that can authorize peace-keeping missions. File picture: REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton This is not true because it is not only the UN Security Council that can authorize peace-keeping missions. The UN General Assembly also has the power to do so. Further, this is a hypothetical. China alone has exercised such a veto, and then only once regarding the extension of an existing UN peace-keeping mission. That was in 1999, before the Triple Lock existed. Why is the government making these false claims? Removing the need for a UN mandate on deploying Irish Defence Forces personnel overseas would allow this government - and any future Irish government - to commit Irish troops to EU and NATO military operations. Remarkably the government insist that removing the Triple Lock will not impact Irelands neutrality, but participating in western military alliances would clearly mark the end of neutrality. Participating in EU and NATO military operations overseas without UN backing is certainly not compatible with what the Irish public understand neutrality to mean. Further, states around the world, including those that the government claim are already hostile, will understand that Ireland is no longer to be regarded as a neutral state. This will only serve to increase the security risks Ireland faces, not defend against them. Whilst the government continue to pay lip service to neutrality it is clear they aim to abandon it in order to explicitly take sides with the US, EU, and NATO in international conflicts, even when this is manifestly against the wishes of the Irish people. Ireland is in effect undergoing a quiet revolution in foreign affairs imposed from above, even as the government lacks a mandate to fundamentally reorient the states place in the world. All those interested in Irelands future security and in world peace, should be extremely concerned by the governments backdoor erosion of neutrality. Rules-based international order vs The UN Despite the Taoiseachs insistence that Ireland remains committed to a rules-based international order, with the UN at its centre, his government is actively trying to depart from a world in which the UN is the body tasked with defining, governing, and sometimes policing the rules-based international order. In attempting to remove the requirement for a UN mandate to deploy Irish troops overseas, Mr Martin and his government have been arguing that the UN is not the international guarantor of international order but rather an obstacle to it, on the basis that Russia and China might hypothetically veto peacekeeping missions. Likewise, the government are arguing that the role of these states within the UN Security Council is an obstacle to the exercise of Irish sovereignty. This might make sense if Irish sovereignty were defined by the capacity to join EU and NATO military operations overseas without a UN mandate. This might make sense if the rules of the rules-based international order are set not by the UN but by the US, EU, and their allies. However, it is incompatible with a commitment to a rules-based international order governed by the UN. It is interesting to note that western governments, including our own, are increasingly using the terminology of rules-based international order rather than reference the UN or international law. Whilst a majority of the public no doubt understands the rules-based international order to refer to the UN and the existing institutions of international law the sudden popularity of this term amongst western states indicates that it may mean something quite different. It seems clear from the Irish governments maneuverings around the Triple Lock that the rules-based international order they have in mind is at very least not principally defined by the UN. This is extremely concerning given that we can see the type of rules western states adopt beyond the frame of the UN. The active material and diplomatic support given to Israels genocide in Gaza by the US, the UK, and the EU (notably Germany) indicates that the rules-based international order these states have in mind has no regard for international law whatsoever, at least not when it applies to them or their allies. It is right and reasonable then that the public ask who defines the rules of the rules-based international order and whose interests these rules might serve. America first America should write the rules. America should call the shots. Other countries should play by the rules that America and our partners set, and not the other way around. It may surprise some that these are not the words of President Trump but of former President Barack Obama, writing in the Washington Post in 2016. Obama was writing about the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement designed to constrain Chinas increasing influence over Pacific trade, but regardless of the context, the quote is indicative of a fundamental set of assumptions about the role of the US in the world - assumptions common to US liberals and conservatives alike, Democrats as well as Republicans, and shared by most European states, certainly those that are also members of NATO. The Taoiseach and his government like to argue that the Russian invasion of Ukraine marked the beginning of a new world and that Irelands foreign policy must adapt to meet the changing times. According to the government this means abandoning neutrality (in everything but name) and massive increases in military spending to prepare Ireland for future conflict with Russia, or even China. Former US President Barak Obama wrote in the Washington Post in 2016: 'America should write the rules. America should call the shots'. File photo: Chris Jackson/PA The EU White Paper on European Defence published in March makes the direction of EU foreign policy travel and expectations of military spending for member states very clear. Yet this breakneck European militarization is not only a reaction to Russias invasion of Ukraine but responds to a longer term strategic shift of US resources and attention away from European security towards Chinese containment. This move was first announced in 2009 with Obamas Pivot to Asia but was pursued more aggressively since under both Trump and Biden administrations. Hence, it is crucial that we understand European militarization not simply as a collective response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, but a development dictated by the shifting geostrategic priorities of the US. I am hardly alone in wondering if Obamas upcoming visit to Dublin in September is partly timed to smooth public concerns about militarization ahead of a Dail vote on the Triple Lock, by presenting an image of US leadership more acceptable to the Irish public than the current occupant of the White House. Government fog It is reasonable that there be a frank and honest discussion of the changes the government are trying to implement to Irelands foreign policy, that the real drivers and consequences of these transformations are acknowledged, and that the policy changes proposed are open to serious democratic scrutiny and challenge. Currently, this is not the case. The nature and stakes of the changes the government are trying to implement are shrouded in a technocratic fog and most media coverage platforms anti-neutrality partisans, advocates of militarization, and arms lobbyists as the relevant experts. Government parties protest that they are being honest with the public, but in reality they are trying to ensure their plans are subject to as little democratic oversight as possible. The government know that a great majority of Irish people do not support the changes they are attempting to ram through and that insulating them from transparency is the best path to success. The governments gamble is that if the public dont know about - or understand that removing the Triple Lock means the end of Irelands neutrality then they wont mount any meaningful opposition. By the time Irish troops are being sent to take part in multiple EU Battlegroups overseas and the public spending needed to address pressing crises in housing, health, care, and climate is being used to buy fighter jets it will be too late. Such a scenario is not a conspiracy but a plan, and it lies just on the other side of a successful vote on removing the Triple Lock. The coalition have promised a vote when the Dail returns from summer recess. Merrion Square Just opposite the Dail in Merrion Square Park stand two memorials marking the horrors of war. Facing government buildings is the National Memorial to members of the Defence Forces who died in the Service of the State, a pyramid-shaped structure by the sculptor Brian King, unveiled in 2008 by then President Mary McAleese. Close by a small plaque marks the spot where a cherry tree was planted in 1980 by the Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in memory of A-bomb victims. Just metres away from each other, these memorials offer a stark reminder of the distance the Irish government has already gone in weakening the foreign policy positions that have been Irelands strength on the world stage. The principled stand Ireland has taken against militarization, imperialism, and great power conflict have ensured this country enjoys a positive international reputation and outsize diplomatic influence, particularly in the Global South. The Irish public are rightly proud of and deeply attached to this legacy. Pursuing a foreign policy based on international diplomacy, the peaceful resolution of conflict, and independence from military alliances has not always been an easy path and it has often displeased friendly states on whom Ireland is economically dependent. Then-Taoiseach, Brian Cowen and Then-President, Mary McAleese at the ceremony in 2008 at Merrion Square to mark the Dedication of the National Memorial to Members of the Defence Forces who have died in the service of the State. File photo: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland However, it has not only been the right thing to do - upholding the states values, as expressed in the Constitution - but it has also served the countrys interests well. A lack of enemies has been, and remains, Irelands best defence. The Irish public remember the lessons of our own history, and the terrible costs of war, even as the government seem determined to forget them. Opinion polls show that a very large majority of the Irish public are deeply attached to a vision of Ireland that is opposed to imperialism and war. However, active neutrality is not simply a popular policy position but something that people strongly identify with, that touches on the core of what they understand Irishness to be. The governments attempts to remove the Triple Lock threatens to undermine this crucial connection between people and State. Betraying the public on this issue risks sowing alienation, suspicion, and resentment - sentiments already providing fertile soil for the growth of anti-democratic and far right forces across the country. The government is right that the world is changing. It is up to all of those invested in democracy, peace, and international co-operation best expressed in the existing institutions of the UN to ensure they make the right response. Israeli strikes killed at least 20 people in Gaza, Palestinian health officials said on Tuesday, as Israel pushed on with a new incursion in an area that had largely been spared heavy fighting during the 21-month war. The expansion of Israels ground invasion comes as Israel and Hamas have been considering terms for a ceasefire for Gaza that would pause the fighting and free at least some hostages. The latest round of talks has dragged on for weeks with no signs of breakthrough, though negotiators have expressed optimism. With Israel expanding its control over large chunks of Gaza, an expected pullback of troops is a major point of contention in the talks. The Trump administration has been pushing Israel to wrap up the war and has shown signs of impatience. Smoke and flames erupt from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) On Monday, President Donald Trumps press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said Mr Trump was caught off guard by a recent Israeli strike on a Catholic church in Gaza. Top Christian clergy visited that church last week and in a press conference Tuesday in Jerusalem called for the war to end. In the latest round of strikes, at least 12 people died when tents sheltering displaced people in the built-up, seaside Shati refugee camp on the western side of Gaza City, were hit, according to the citys Shifa Hospital, which received the casualties. The dead included three women and three children, Dr Mohamed Abu Selmiyah, director of the hospital told the Associated Press. Thirty-eight other Palestinians were wounded, he said. The strike tore apart tents, and left some of the dead lying on the ground, according to footage shared by the health ministrys ambulance and emergency service. An overnight strike that hit crowds of Palestinians waiting for aid trucks in Gaza City killed eight, hospitals said. At least 118 were wounded, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the strikes. Israel blames the deaths of Palestinian civilians on Hamas because the militants operate in densely populated areas. It accuses the group of prolonging the war because Hamas has not accepted Israels terms for a ceasefire including calls to give up power and disarm. Caribou and elk are both part of the family Cervidae, which also includes whitetail deer, roe deer, fallow deer, and red deer. Elk are classified as Cervus canadensis, while caribou are a different species altogether, Rangifer tarandus. Caribou are known as reindeer in Europe and northern Asia. Despite belonging to the same family, caribou and elk are far from the same species, showing distinct differences in physical and behavioral traits. By Bin Lu, Australian National University and Marnie Shaw, Australian National University (The Conversation) As the electrification of transport and heating accelerates, many worry the increased demand could overload national power grids. In Australia, electricity consumption is expected to double by 2050. If everyone charges their car and heats water using electric systems at the same time, peak demand could rise sharply, forcing costly grid upgrades. But this would only happen if theres no planning done. The shift to electric vehicles (EVs) and electric water heating has a huge silver lining. As more Australians make the switch, theyre quietly expanding a vast network of distributed energy storage. In a fully electrified future, each person could have on average about 46 kilowatt hours worth of energy storage both in EV batteries and hot water systems. Scaled up, thats a huge resource. If all cars and water heaters run on electricity, their combined flexible energy storage could reach over 1,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) across Australia. Thats far beyond the 350 GWh capacity of the Snowy 2.0 hydroelectric project and all existing grid-scale batteries put together. Authorities can use these devices to help operate the grid more efficiently and slash infrastructure costs. In fact, our new research shows that with the right coordination, cities can transform from energy consumers into flexible energy hubs able to store energy and release it as necessary. This would make it possible to avoid billions of dollars worth of grid upgrades. Storage built in Electrification replaces fossil fuel-burning technology with electric-only systems, powered by a grid getting steadily cleaner. For households, electrification means switching a combustion engine car for an EV and replacing gas hot water with electric systems such as heat pumps. Both slash carbon emissions when run on grids with high levels of renewables. EVs and electric hot water systems offer more than just mobility or heating. They also have built-in energy storage. EV batteries store huge amounts of electricity usually several times the size of a house battery. Hot water systems store energy too, in the form of heat. Both of these resources are very useful to power grid authorities, because they can help optimise how the grid operates. Power grids are a constant balancing act, where supply and demand have to be carefully matched up. At times of intense demand, such as during a heatwave, demand can outstrip normal supply and send prices skyrocketing. When EVs are charged and water heated during off-peak periods, the strain on the grid can be significantly lessened. Canberra is pointing the way Since 2020, Canberra has been 100% powered by renewable electricity. The ACT Government is aiming for net zero by 2045. In our modelling, we found this goal could get a lot closer if EVs and hot water systems are used cleverly. We found changing the time cars are charged and water heated would shift around 5 kWh of electricity per person per day. Thats about a third of each Canberra residents average daily electricity use. Unmanaged charging and water heating would cause peak load to jump 34%. But if charging and heating was shifted to off-peak hours overnight, it could restrict the rise in peak load to just 16%. Reducing the rise in peak load would make it possible to avoid billions of dollars in grid upgrades such as expanding substations and building more transmission lines. Where flexibility matters most We found Canberras new energy storage resources are concentrated in storage hotspots densely populated areas with many electric hot water systems and where many EVs are parked during the day. Importantly, these hotspots dont stay put. During working hours, vehicle batteries tend to concentrate in high-density office areas where EVs are parked. Storage capacity rose up to 31% in some Canberra working districts during the working week. It would make sense to make the most of these hotspots by installing smart chargers, which optimise the timing of EV charging and creating virtual power plants, which can coordinate the time when household devices and EVs draw power. Both of these approaches offer a cost-effective way to aggregate small scale household devices into a large coordinated storage resource. Aligning demand with solar peaks means using renewable energy which might otherwise go to waste during peak times. Policy needs to catch up Capturing the huge benefits from these new storage resources wont happen automatically. It requires smart systems and supportive policies. Chevy Bolt, Renaissance Building, Detroit, June 2023 Juan Cole. Technologies such as smart chargers and virtual power plants already exist. South Australias Virtual Power Plant shows whats possible in practice. But to date, most Australian households dont have these kinds of smart systems. In many areas, electricity pricing is relatively inflexible and theres limited coordination between flexible energy use and the needs of the grid. To unlock the full potential of this huge new energy storage resource, governments and energy companies should: encourage uptake of smart chargers and smart water heaters in buildings expand dynamic pricing schemes which better reflect real-time supply and demand to help shift electricity use to off-peak periods focus on rolling out workplace EV chargers in high-density areas to boost charging during solar peak periods develop smart energy systems able to aggregate devices in individual households into a large grid-supporting fleet. More demand but more storage As Australia increasingly goes electric, cities are becoming more than just energy consumers. Rather, theyre becoming flexible energy hubs able to help balance supply and demand. Used wisely, humble electric water heaters and EVs can do more than meet household needs they can help power Australias clean energy future. Bin Lu, Senior Research Fellow in Renewable Energy, Australian National University and Marnie Shaw, Associate Professor in Engineering, Australian National University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association of North America | Letter to Georgetown University protesting its statements and actions with regard to Professor Jonathan Brown Robert M. Groves Interim President, Georgetown University presidentsoffice@georgetown.edu Dear Interim President Groves, Interim Provost Colbert, Dean Edelstein and Vice President Ferrara: We write on behalf of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) and its Committee on Academic Freedom to express our grave concern about Georgetown Universitys punitive actions and statements against Professor Jonathan A. C. Brown, who holds the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Chair of Islamic Civilization in Georgetowns School of Foreign Service. These actions and statements, which sanction Professor Brown for speech acts protected by the First Amendment, violate the principles of academic freedom and blatantly contradict Georgetowns own policies on freedom of expression. They may also have helped fuel the barrage of threats, including death threats, to which Professor Brown and his family have been subjected. MESA was founded in 1966 to promote scholarship and teaching on the Middle East and North Africa. The preeminent organization in the field, the Association publishes the prestigious International Journal of Middle East Studies and has nearly 2,800 members worldwide. MESA is committed to ensuring academic freedom and freedom of expression, both within the region and in connection with the study of the region in North America and outside of North America Georgetown Universitys actions and statements against Professor Brown revolve around a single tweet that he posted on X on 22 June 2025. That tweet was posted while the war, which Israel had initiated against Iran, was ongoing, and one day after the United States entered that war by launching strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. In his tweet, Professor Brown stated, in part: Im not an expert, but I assume Iran could still get a bomb easily. I hope Iran does some symbolic strike on a base, then everyone stops. As Professor Brown subsequently explained , his tweet proposed a way to end the conflict by referencing a previous episode involving the US and Iran in which a symbolic Iranian retaliatory strike on a US military base that caused no American casualties quickly led to de-escalation and an end to that conflict. Shortly after his tweet was posted, right-wing individuals and media outlets scurrilously accused Professor Brown of calling for violence against US troops. Your administration responded to these attacks by pressuring Professor Brown to delete his tweet. He promptly complied with that request and, in another tweet, clarified that his original message was not a call for violence, that he had two immediate family members in the US military whove served abroad and that he wouldnt want any harm to befall American soldiers . . . or anyone! Nonetheless, on 26 June 2025, David M. Edelstein, at the time Interim Dean of Georgetowns College of Arts and Sciences, formally notified Professor Brown that the university would not be renewing his position as interim chair of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, specifically because of his 22 June 2025 tweet. Professor Brown had served as the interim chair of the department at the universitys request and was set to be renewed for a second term before the smear campaign against him began. At his appearance on 15 July 2025 before the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the US House of Representatives, Interim President Groves responded to inflammatory and tendentious questions about Professor Brown by declaring that the university was disciplining and investigating Brown, that it had forced him to remove his tweet, that he was no longer a department chair and that he was on leave. Groves response amounted to complicity with the smear campaign against Professor Brown as well as with the committees ongoing efforts to eviscerate academic freedom, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly at this countrys institutions of higher education. In addition to violating Professor Browns academic freedom, Georgetown Universitys statements and actions with regard to him are a clear and obvious violation of the universitys own policy on speech and expression. As that policy states: As an institution of higher education, one specifically committed to the Catholic and Jesuit tradition, Georgetown University is committed to free and open inquiry, deliberation and debate in all matters, and the untrammeled verbal and nonverbal expression of ideas. It is Georgetown Universitys policy to provide all members of the University community, including faculty, students, and staff, the broadest possible latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge, and learn. The ideas of different members of the University community will often and naturally conflict. It is not the proper role of a university to insulate individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive. Deliberation or debate may not be suppressed because the ideas put forth are thought by some or even by most members of the University community to be offensive, unwise, immoral, or ill conceived. By pressuring Professor Brown to delete his tweet, removing him as department chair and threatening to discipline and investigate him for his views, Georgetown University has violated its avowed commitment to free and open inquiry, egregiously trampled upon his ability to enjoy the broadest latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge, and learn, and suppressed his perspective because some found it to be offensive, unwise, immoral, or ill conceived. Moreover, by failing to publicly defend Professor Brown as well as by implicitly validating the baseless accusations against him, Georgetown also bears some responsibility for the many threats of violence made against him and his family since 22 June 2025. These included phone calls and emails, as well as reports of individuals traveling to your campus and attempting to locate Professor Brown. In these fraught times, college and university leaders have a heightened responsibility to protect the freedom of speech and academic freedom of all members of their communities. As MESAs Board of Directors put it in a statement dated 18 December 2023: We call on university leaders and administrations to affirmatively assert and protect the rights to academic freedom and freedom of speech on their campuses. That statement went on to quote from an earlier board statement : We reaffirm that there can be no compromise of the right and ability of students, faculty, and staff at universities across North America (and elsewhere) to express their viewpoints free of harassment, intimidation, and threats to their livelihoods and safety. We therefore call on Georgetown University to immediately reinstate Professor Brown as interim chair of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies and to terminate all disciplinary investigations or procedures under way against him. We further call on Georgetown University to publicly state its support for Professor Browns right to express his opinions on a matter of public concern and to condemn the threats of violence against him and his family. Finally, we urge your administration to forcefully reaffirm its commitment to defend the academic freedom and free speech rights of all members of the Georgetown University community. We look forward to your response. Sincerely, Asl U. Bali MESA President Professor, Yale Law School Laurie A. Brand Chair, Committee on Academic Freedom Professor Emerita, University of Southern California The foreign ministers of 25 nations, including much of Europe along with Japan, Canada and Australia, have issued a Joint Statement demanding that the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu end its total war on Gaza immediately. The governments of these countries issued what they called a simple and urgent message: the war in Gaza, they insisted, must end now. They underline that the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. These countries point out that the current militarized aid distribution mechanism is dangerous and deprives Gazans of human dignity. Referring to the tiny amount of aid being delivered by the Israeli army, and the propensity of its troops to shoot down dozens of aid seekers every day, the foreign ministers write, 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. Referring to all the Palestinians applying for aid who have been shot down, they say It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. The Israeli blockade on food and other aid to the Palestinians in Gaza, they emphasize, is unacceptable. They instruct the Israeli army to obey International Humanitarian Law and 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. They point out that if anyone actually cared about securing the release of the Israeli hostages, ending the fighting is the best way to accomplish it. It is hard to discern snark in diplomatic documents, but if this were an oral statement I think it would be icily sardonic. They are frank about the unacceptability of the Israeli governments commitment, endorsed by US President Donald Trump, to ethnically cleanse the Palestinians and to bottle them up in a tiny strip of territory in the far south of Gaza: Proposals to remove the Palestinian population into a humanitarian city are completely unacceptable. Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law. They also condemn Israeli plans to further divide the Palestinian West Bank, expel its population, and replace the Palestinians with Israeli squatters who steal their land and property and conduct pogroms against their villages: settlement building across the West Bank including East Jerusalem has accelerated while settler violence against Palestinians has soared. This must stop. They urge the parties to an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire. They imply that Israel no longer has a discernible military war aim, but is just blowing shit up aimlessly: Further bloodshed serves no purpose. The statement ends with a cryptic assertion that they 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. This statement has been signed by: The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK; The EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management. Alas, Germany, the worlds third-largest economy, is AWOL here, even though at this point it should be easy to ask that Palestinians not be starved to death while being randomly shot and blown up. Gaza 45, Digital, Dream / Dreamland v3 / Clip2Comic, 2025 Statements like this one are toothless. None of these countries has committed to doing anything practical. When the UN Security Council put sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear program, some of these countries actually stopped and boarded North Korean vessels on the high seas. No one is saying they would treat the Israeli navy that way. Most of them are implicated in supporting the Israeli arms industry and its technological advances in one way or another. Most of them allow Israeli squatters to steal Palestinian land, grow crops on it, and then export those crops for profit. Among them, France and Poland have openly repudiated their obligations under the International Criminal Court and the Rome Statute to arrest Netanyahu and to deny him overflight rights. The government of Keir Starmer in Britain has criminalized speaking out for Palestine, so for it to sign off on this statement is particularly hypocritical. Will Foreign Secretary David Lammy be thrown to the ground by police and arrested for signing it? It is possible that the statement is for some of these governments merely a way of appeasing the left wing of the ruling party or the increasingly distressed electorate, and consists of mere posturing genocide washing if you will. To be sure, the governments of Ireland, Spain, Norway, Slovenia and some of the others are sincere in taking this stance and have actually considered practical steps, but relatively minor ones. In a world in which professors are being fired for simply pointing out that Israel is committing crimes against humanity in Gaza, I suppose it is praiseworthy at least to call for an end to Israels exercise in shooting fish in a barrel (it is not a war). But you have to wonder whether it is more shameful to say these things and then do nothing than to say nothing at all. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Equinox Gold Corp. (TSX: EQX) (NYSE American: EQX) ("Equinox Gold" or the "Company") announces a leadership transition. Greg Smith has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer and Director, and Darren Hall, current President and Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and Director effective immediately. Darren is a proven executive with a long history of mining industry experience who previously served as Calibre Mining's President & Chief Executive Officer from 2021 through to the transaction with Equinox Gold. Concurrent with this transition, David Schummer, formerly Executive Vice President, Operations, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of Equinox Gold. Ross Beaty, Chair of Equinox Gold, commented: "Greg is a founding executive and shareholder of Equinox Gold whose leadership and strategic vision have been instrumental in growing the Company from concept into the multi-asset, multi-billion-dollar gold producer it is today. I want to sincerely thank Greg personally, and on behalf of the Board of Directors, for his vision, dedication, and leadership." Greg Smith stated: "This is a natural transition point. I'm extremely proud of what we have accomplished since founding Equinox Gold in 2017, having built the Company into a leading gold producer with operations across the Americas and a clear pathway to producing over one million ounces annually. With the recent successful integration of Calibre Mining and key assets like Greenstone ramping up and Valentine moving into production, the Company is well positioned to evolve from growth through acquisition and construction to disciplined execution and operational excellence. It is the right time for a proven operator like Darren to take the helm. He brings the leadership, focus, and operational expertise to optimize this expanded portfolio and unlock its full potential. It has been an honour and privilege to work alongside the talented Equinox Gold team, Ross Beaty, and our board to build this outstanding Company." Darren Hall brings 40 years of global mining experience with a consistent track record of operational excellence and value creation. As President and Chief Executive Officer of Calibre Mining, he significantly increased production, lowered costs, and drove disciplined capital allocation, delivering strong free cash flow and exceptional shareholder returns. Under his leadership, Calibre transformed into a high-performing gold producer, culminating in its successful merger with Equinox Gold in June 2025. Previously, Darren was Chief Operating Officer at both Kirkland Lake Gold and Newmarket Gold and earlier spent nearly three decades with Newmont Corporation in a series of progressively senior roles. Across all organizations, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to safety, cost discipline, and long-term business performance. Darren Hall, President & Chief Executive Officer, added: "I'm honoured to lead Equinox Gold at such a pivotal moment in the Company's evolution and I'm excited to work alongside our talented team to unlock the full potential of Equinox Gold's exceptional portfolio. Our focus will be on disciplined execution, operational excellence, and delivering consistent, reliable performance as we enter this next phase of growth and optimization, building on the solid foundations Greg and his team have established. This leadership transition marks Equinox Gold's evolution from a high-growth consolidator to a top-tier global gold producer, anchored by Greenstone and Valentine, both high-quality, long-life assets." David Schummer has over 35 years of mining industry experience working in the U.S., Canada, Peru, Indonesia, West Africa and the Middle East. He is a proven executive leader of large-scale mining companies focused on building a strong health and safety culture and value creation through mining efficiencies. Prior to joining Calibre as COO, David was the COO for Perseus Mining, and prior to that he was the President of Ma'aden Gold and Base Metals (MGBM) and was the Chairman of the Board for both MGBM and Ma'aden Barrick Copper Company. David previously held the role of Executive Vice President & COO at New Gold Inc. and also spent 22 years at Newmont Corporation. Cautionary Notes This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation ("Forward-looking Information"). Forward-looking Information in this news release relates to, among other things: the strategic vision for the Company and expectations regarding production capabilities, growth potential, and future financial or operating performance, including the ramp-up of Greenstone and the transition of Valentine to production; management's ability to deliver long-term value for shareholders; and expectations for future success of the Company's management team. Forward-looking Information is generally identified using words like "will", "potential", "deliver", "grow", and similar expressions and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", or "should", or the negative connotation of such terms, are intended to identify Forward-looking Information. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such Forward-looking Information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on Forward-looking Information since the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company has based Forward-looking Information on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events and these assumptions include: Equinox Gold's ability to achieve the production, cost and development expectations for its respective operations and projects; prices for gold remaining as estimated; availability of funds for the Company's projects and future cash requirements; ramp-ups at Greenstone and Valentine being completed and performed in accordance with current expectations. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on Forward-looking Information contained in this news release. Forward-looking Information involves numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such Forward-looking Information. Such factors include those described in the section "Risk Factors in in the Company's MD&A dated March 13, 2025 for the year ended December 31, 2024, and in the section titled "Risks Related to the Business" in Equinox Gold's most recently filed Annual Information Form which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar and in the section titled "Risk Factors" in Calibre's most recently filed Annual Information Form which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking Information reflects management's current expectations for future events and is subject to change. Except as required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any Forward-looking Information contained or incorporated by reference to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or other factors affecting Forward-looking Information. If the Company updates any Forward-looking Information, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or other Forward-looking Information. All Forward-looking Information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Thor Explorations Ltd (TSXV: THX) (AIM: THX) ("Thor" or the "Company") is pleased to announce initial drilling results from its maiden drilling campaign at its 100% owned Guitry Gold Project ("Guitry") in Cote d'Ivoire. During May and June 2025, Thor completed an initial 3,000 metre ("m") reverse circulation ("RC") drilling program at Guitry and has received initial assay results from the program. The objective of the program was to gain a better understanding of both the geometry and geological controls on gold mineralisation based on a new interpretation of the historic drilling results obtained by Endeavour Mining, the historical owner of the asset. The assay results received to date from this drilling program include the following highlights: Drillhole GURC25-208 - 14m at 2.59 grammes per tonne (" g/t ") of gold (" Au ") from surface ") of gold (" ") from surface Drillhole GURC25-209 - 4m at 6.87 g/tAu from 38m Drillhole GURC25-212 - 5m at 7.48 g/tAu from 5m Drillhole GURC25-214 - 10m at 10.36g/t Au from 57m Drillhole GURC25-216 - 7m at 3.93 g/tAu from 7m Drillhole GURC25-219 - 3m at 14.50 g/tAu from 82m Drillhole GURC25-221 - 13m at 3.46/t Au from 114m Drillhole GURC25-227 - 7m at 7.71 g/tAu from 77m Drillhole GURC25-228 - 5m at 12.65 g/tAu from 69m Drillhole GURC25-229 - 17m at 2.16 g/tAu from surface Further exploration at the Krakouadiokro Prospect will include both infill and step-out drilling. Additionally, drilling will commence on numerous geochemical anomalies at both the Krakouadiokro and Gbaloukro Prospects, many of which remain untested or only partially tested. Segun Lawson, President & CEO, stated: "We are extremely pleased to report our first drilling results from Cote d'Ivoire. Guitry is an advanced exploration project which, when acquired, was characterised by numerous gold-in-soil geochemical anomalies that had only been partially drill tested with shallow drilling by the previous explorers. Our initial drilling program was designed based on our new interpretation, suggesting a different orientation of a number of parallel mineralised lodes. "We are particularly encouraged that the drilling confirmed our new interpretation of the orientation of these mineralised lodes which remain open. We also successfully intersected previously untested deeper bedrock mineralisation which also remains open at depth. "This is a great start to our drilling activities in Cote d'Ivoire. The Guitry Project has scope to grow from here and we continue to target our maiden resource in the country by the end of this year. "We look forward to receiving the remaining assay results and are excited to return later this quarter following the rainy season to continue the next phase of drilling and also to kick off our maiden drilling program on our Marahui Project where we have been advancing exploration through the course of the year. "As a country, Cote D'Ivoire is a West African gold mining and exploration success story that hosts over 30% of West Africa's greenstone belts and is proving to be an emerging region for world class gold discoveries. We are pleased with our low-cost entry into the country and believe these two permits provide an excellent platform from which to grow our activities in the country." Introduction The Guitry Project was acquired by Thor from Endeavour Mining Corporation ("Endeavour") during 2024 for a total consideration of US$100,000 in cash and a 2% Net Smelter Royalty. The Project is located 220 kilometres ("km") due west from Abidjan and covers 295 square kilometres ("km2") of prospective Tehini (Birimian) Greenstone Belt comprising a north-easterly trending sequence of greywacke sediments and volcano-sedimentary schists and andesite with later granitic intrusive located to the north. The Tehini Greenstone Belt extends northwards into Burkina Faso where it hosts large gold deposits such as Hounde (5.2Moz) and Mana (2.3Moz). Early-stage exploration at Guitry completed by Endeavour Mining includes 7,672 soil samples and over 11,000m of drilling (Figure 1). Figure 1: Guitry Gold Project Location Map Two main prospects were defined by soil geochemistry: Krakouadiokro and Gbaloukro. A broad gold in soil anomaly extends over a 8.5km north easterly trending zone with a continuous 5km long anomaly at Krakouadiokro (Figure 2). Follow up drilling at Krakouadiokro produced several significant drill intersections from relatively small area of drilling including. However, insufficient information was obtained regarding the geometry and extents of the primary gold mineralisation. Mineralisation appears to be open along strike to the southwest and northeast and down dip at the two main prospects. Figure 2: Guitry Soil Geochemical Map Drilling Results Historically, most of the drilling intersected gold mineralisation in a near-surface flat-lying supergene horizon. Only limited drilling of the primary mineralisation at Krakouadiokro was carried out. The current program was designed based on a new interpretation of the orientation of what is understood to be several parallel mineralised lodes. Since May 2025, Thor completed an initial RC drilling program of approximately 3,000 metres with the results for the initial holes received. All holes were oriented at an azimuth of 225o at a dip of 55 o. Industry standard QAQC protocols were followed, and drill samples were collected, stored and transported under secured conditions. Drill samples were analysed by SGS Laboratories in Yamoussoukro using the FAA505 fire assay method (50-gram charge). The significant intersections from this program are listed in Table 1. The current drilling area is located on the crest of a laterite-capped hill which overlies a north-east striking sequence of pelitic sedimentary (greywacke) rocks. These rocks are strongly weathered to a depth of about 30m from surface before transitioning into fresh bedrock. Primary gold mineralisation is developed within moderately to steep north-dipping zones in the south-west part of the drilling area. Towards the north-east the mineralised zones appear to be sub-vertical (Figure 4). Table 1: Guitry Gold Project Significant Drilling Intersections (>5 gram-metres, 0.3g/tAu cut off, Minimum Interval 3m, Maximum Internal Waste 3m, all holes reported) Hole ID Easting Northing RL Depth Dip Azi- muth From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Grade (g/tAu) True Width (m) GURC25-208 240488 605214 224 78 -55 225 0 14 14.0 2.59 11.9 GURC25-209 240509 605235 233 96 -55 225 38 42 4.0 6.87 3.4 GURC25-210 240354 605221 211 72 -55 226 0 10 10.0 0.62 8.5 GURC25-210 46 57 11.0 1.07 9.4 GURC25-211 240375 605242 218 102 -55 225 81 90 9.0 1.34 7.7 GURC25-212 240467 605405 243 72 -55 226 25 30 5.0 7.48 4.3 GURC25-214 240603 605396 240 78 -54 225 57 67 10.0 10.36 8.5 GURC25-215 240619 605418 252 102 -54 225 70 75 5.0 3.21 4.3 GURC25-216 240640 605358 252 66 -56 226 45 52 7.0 3.93 6.0 GURC25-217 240654 605382 237 60 -55 225 3 8 5.0 1.05 4.3 GURC25-218 240657 605374 264 138 -55 225 5 15 10.0 0.54 8.5 GURC25-219 240581 605458 245 150 -55 225 10 20 10.0 0.97 8.5 GURC25-219 82 85 3.0 14.50 2.6 GURC25-220 240524 605393 259 108 -55 225 60 64 4.0 1.65 3.4 GURC25-220 86 94 8.0 0.72 6.8 GURC25-221 240500 605382 241 84 -55 225 77 84 7.0 7.11 6.0 GURC25-222 240439 605440 245 114 -55 225 3 8 5.0 2.38 4.3 GURC25-222 66 69 3.0 2.50 2.6 GURC25-223 240449 605455 239 132 -55 225 87 92 5.0 3.17 4.3 GURC25-227 240397 605263 233 144 -55 225 114 127 13.0 3.46 11.0 GURC25-228 240528 605258 256 108 -55 225 69 74 5.0 12.65 4.3 GURC25-229 240496 605289 247 114 -55 225 0 17 17.0 2.16 14.5 Figure 3: Guitry Drillhole Location Map Numerous high grades have been intersected in the primary zone over a 400m by 300m area. In the Southern Zone intersections such as 7m at 7.71 g/tAu in GURC25-227 and 5m at 12.65 g/tAu in GURC25-228 indicate that grades appear to increase at depth with most of the grades exceeding 5g/tAu being located in the fresh bedrock (Figure 4). This moderate to steep dipping lode attains an average true thickness of 9m which at these elevated gold grades forms an attractive open pit and underground target. Figure 4: Guitry Cross Sections In the Central Zone where assays are still pending, further drilling will be required to fully define the mineralisation. However, drillhole GURC25-221, which ended in grade, suggests the development of another lode. Assays are pending for several other holes including GURC25-232 and GURC25-233 which targeted this zone further to the east. The Northern Zone is characterised by several narrow mineralised structures including 3m grading 14.50g/tAu which was intersected in drillhole GURC25-219 (Figure 4). Further drilling is planned to obtain a better understanding of the geometry of the mineralisation in this area. Next Steps At the Krakouadiokro Prospect further systematic resource drilling is warranted. This drilling would comprise both infill and step-out drilling. Drilling of the numerous geochemical anomalies at both the Krakouadiokro and Gbaloukro Prospects that have, to date, been either untested or partially tested. Generative geochemical surveys along the north-east and to the south-west strike extents of the Krakouadiokro and Gbaloukro Prospects. These areas, which total approximately 10km of prospective strike, have either been partially sampled on 800m spaced lines or not sampled at all. Commercial Terms Further details can be found on the Company's website: www.thorexpl.com Qualified Person The above information has been prepared under the supervision of Alfred Gillman (Fellow AusIMM, CP), who is designated as a "qualified person" under National Instrument 43-101 and the AIM Rules and has reviewed and approves the content of this news release. He has also reviewed QA/QC, sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information. About Thor Explorations Thor Explorations Ltd. is a mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of mineral properties located in Nigeria, Senegal and Burkina Faso. Thor Explorations holds a 100% interest in the Segilola Gold Project located in Osun State, Nigeria and has a 70% economic interest in the Douta Gold Project located in south-eastern Senegal. Thor Explorations trades on AIM and the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "THX". THOR EXPLORATIONS LTD. Segun Lawson President & CEO Appendix 1 Guitry Drilling Results (>5 gram-metres, 0.3g/tAu cut off, Minimum Interval 3m, Maximum Internal Waste 3m) Hole ID Easting Northing RL Depth Dip Azimuth From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Grade (g/tAu) True Width (m) GURC25-208 240488 605214 224 78 -55 225 0 14 14.0 2.59 11.9 GURC25-209 240509 605235 233 96 -55 225 38 42 4.0 6.87 3.4 GURC25-210 240354 605221 211 72 -55 226 0 10 10.0 0.62 8.5 GURC25-210 46 57 11.0 1.07 9.4 GURC25-210 59 64 5.0 0.64 4.3 GURC25-211 240375 605242 218 102 -55 225 0 7 7.0 0.61 6.0 GURC25-211 67 73 6.0 0.35 5.1 GURC25-211 81 90 9.0 1.34 7.7 GURC25-212 240467 605405 243 72 -55 226 2 10 8.0 0.70 6.8 GURC25-212 25 30 5.0 7.48 4.3 GURC25-212 64 69 5.0 0.32 4.3 GURC25-213 240488 605426 242 96 -55 225 nsr 0.0 GURC25-214 240603 605396 240 78 -54 225 57 67 10.0 10.36 8.5 GURC25-215 240619 605418 252 102 -54 225 70 75 5.0 3.21 4.3 GURC25-216 240640 605358 252 66 -56 226 45 52 7.0 3.93 6.0 GURC25-216 57 62 5.0 0.37 4.3 GURC25-217 240654 605382 237 60 -55 225 3 8 5.0 1.05 4.3 GURC25-218 240657 605374 264 138 -55 225 5 15 10.0 0.54 8.5 GURC25-219 240581 605458 245 150 -55 225 10 20 10.0 0.97 8.5 GURC25-219 82 85 3.0 14.50 2.6 GURC25-220 240524 605393 259 108 -55 225 2 10 8.0 0.35 6.8 GURC25-220 60 64 4.0 1.65 3.4 GURC25-220 86 94 8.0 0.72 6.8 GURC25-221 240500 605382 241 84 -55 225 0 4 4.0 0.50 3.4 GURC25-221 77 84 7.0 7.11 6.0 GURC25-222 240439 605440 245 114 -55 225 3 8 5.0 2.38 4.3 GURC25-222 66 69 3.0 2.50 2.6 GURC25-223 240449 605455 239 132 -55 225 11 14 3.0 0.93 2.6 GURC25-223 43 50 7.0 0.43 6.0 GURC25-223 87 92 5.0 3.17 4.3 GURC25-224 240676 605401 245 108 -55 225 5 9 4.0 0.40 3.4 GURC25-224 80 82 2.0* 16.90 1.7 GURC25-224 98 97 2.0* 3.12 1.7 GURC25-225 240690 605347 237 120 -55 225 7 12 5.0 0.57 4.4 GURC25-226 240674 605333 251 108 -55 225 nsr GURC25-227 240397 605263 233 144 -55 225 0 6 6.0 0.83 5.1 GURC25-227 114 127 13.0 3.46 11.0 GURC25-228 240528 605258 256 108 -55 225 0 6 6.0 0.39 5.1 GURC25-228 69 74 5.0 12.65 4.3 GURC25-229 240496 605289 247 114 -55 225 0 17 17.0 2.16 14.5 GURC25-230 240573 605381 253 156 -55 225 pending GURC25-231 240565 605358 224 160 -55 225 pending GURC25-232 240599 605321 242 144 -55 225 pending GURC25-233 240614 605341 249 120 -55 225 pending GURC25-234 240647 605433 242 150 -55 225 pending GURC25-235 240443 605385 242 144 -55 225 pending *Below Minimum Interval criteria NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. WIRE SERVICES VANCOUVER, BC, July 22, 2025 /CNW/ - First Mining Gold Corp. ("First Mining" or the "Company") (TSX: FF) (OTCQX: FFMGF) (FRANKFURT: FMG) is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced over-subscribed public offering (the "Public Offering") of 66,670,000 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.18 per Unit (the "Unit Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $12,000,600. The Public Offering was completed pursuant to an agency agreement dated July 16, 2025, among the Company, Haywood Securities Inc., as lead underwriter and joint bookrunner, along with Cormark Securities Inc. and National Bank Financial Inc., as joint bookrunners, and including BMO Capital Markets, H.C. Wainwright & Co., and SCP Resource Finance LP. Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Unit Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of $0.27 per share at any time prior to the date which is 36 months following the closing date. The Public Offering was conducted by way of a prospectus supplement dated July 16, 2025 (the "Supplement") to the Company's base shelf prospectus dated January 23, 2024 (the "Shelf Prospectus") in each of the provinces and territories of Canada (excluding Quebec). The net proceeds from the sale of Units under the Public Offering will be used to advance First Mining's Springpole and Duparquet gold projects, as well as for general working capital and corporate purposes, as disclosed in the Supplement. The Units offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the Units in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About First Mining Gold Corp. First Mining is a gold developer advancing two of the largest gold projects in Canada, the Springpole Gold Project in northwestern Ontario, where we have commenced a Feasibility Study and permitting activities are on-going with a final Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Assessment for the project submitted in November 2024, and the Duparquet Gold Project in Quebec, a PEA-stage development project located on the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone in the prolific Abitibi region. First Mining also owns the Cameron Gold Project in Ontario and a portfolio of gold project interests including the Pickle Crow Gold Project (being advanced in partnership with Firefly Metals Ltd.) and the Hope Brook Gold Project (being advanced in partnership with Big Ridge Gold Corp.). First Mining was established in 2015 by Mr. Keith Neumeyer, founding President and CEO of First Majestic Silver Corp. ON BEHALF OF FIRST MINING GOLD CORP. Daniel W. Wilton Chief Executive Officer and Director Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "opportunities", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, the use of the proceeds of the Public Offering and the Company's plans for its mineral projects. All forward-looking statements are based on First Mining's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Such factors include, without limitation, the Company's business, operations and financial condition potentially being materially adversely affected by the outbreak of epidemics, pandemics or other health crises, and by reactions by government and private actors to such outbreaks; risks to employee health and safety as a result of the outbreak of epidemics, pandemics or other health crises, that may result in a slowdown or temporary suspension of operations at some or all of the Company's mineral properties as well as its head office; fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in the currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar); changes 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 formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding); the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities, indigenous populations and other stakeholders; availability and increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; title to properties; and the additional risks described in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the SEC on EDGAR. First Mining cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to First Mining, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. First Mining does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA TheNewswire - July 22, 2025 (TSXV: PINN, OTC: PSGCF, Frankfurt: P9J) Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp. ("Pinnacle" or the Company") announces that it is clarifying its previous news release at the request of CIRO. The Companys continuing underground channel sampling in the historic Pinos Cuates mine at the El Potrero Project in Durango, Mexico has returned multiple high-grade assays up to 85.1 grams/tonne gold (g/t Au) and 520 grams/tonne silver (g/t Ag) over 0.5 metres. A raise (inclined tunnel) between the main and upper levels of the mine provided additional access to the highest grade portion of the vein reported in Pinnacle news release of June 2, 2025 that returned composite channel assays of up to 19.4 g/t Au and 266 g/t Ag over 4.1 metres. The recent installation of metal ladders provided new and safe access for the geological crew to sample a different portion of this zone on a sub-level, resulting in composite channel assays of 50.3 g/t Au and 269 g/t Ag over 1.7 metres, 34.6 g/t Au and 228 g/t Ag over 1.0 metre, 9.84 g/t Au and 141 g/t Ag over 4.2 metres and 8.33 g/t Au and 154 g/t Ag over 1.8 metres. We continue to be impressed by the tenor and consistency of the grades at Pinos Cuates, stated Robert Archer, Pinnacles President & CEO. While the underground workings give us access to a portion of the mineralized zone, we still dont know its extent. In these low-sulphidation epithermal systems, pockets of high-grade mineralization typically pinch and swell both along strike and up and down dip. The underground work is allowing us to characterize the mineralization such that we will be better able to find and delineate other zones within the Dos de Mayo vein system. Some follow up sampling on these results has already been conducted and we are planning an underground drilling program to better define the extent of this mineralized zone as it can be difficult to drill through underground workings from surface. Individual Sample Results and Composite Channel Assays Pinos Cuates Raise Sample No. Sample Length (m) Composite No. Composite Length (m) Au g/t Ag g/t EPUG25421 1.0 13 1.0 34.6 228 EPUG25422 0.5 14 85.1 520 EPUG25423 0.6 14 30.5 143 EPUG25424 0.6 14 41.1 187 14 1.7 50.3 269 EPUG25425 0.8 15 7.8 59 EPUG25426 0.6 15 24.1 288 EPUG25427 0.7 15 5.8 138 EPUG25428 0.7 15 17.4 327 EPUG25429 0.7 15 4.0 38 EPUG25430 0.7 15 2.3 31 15 4.2 9.8 141 EPUG25431 0.5 16 10.7 214 EPUG25432 0.5 16 15.0 256 EPUG25433 0.8 16 2.7 52 16 1.8 8.3 154 A total of 42 channel samples were taken in 16 composite channels in the raise. Grades ranged from 0.105 to 85.1 g/t Au and 9 to 520 g/t Ag. All samples were assayed for gold, silver and a suite of 32 other elements, including copper, lead and zinc. However, the base metal assays were consistently low, confirming that this is a precious metal dominant system. The Pinos Cuates mine is the middle of three historic mines along a 500 metre strike length on the Dos de Mayo vein system on the Potrero property. Underground sampling is continuing at the Dos de Mayo mine to the southeast and will be followed by sampling of the La Dura mine to the northwest. The vein system has been traced on surface for 1,600 metres and there are other parallel and splay veins that are being further defined as the property has never been systematically explored. The mine workings are currently being accurately surveyed such that a 3D model can be created. QA/QC The technical results contained in this news release have been reported in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Pinnacle has implemented industry standard practices for sample preparation, security and analysis given the stage of the Project. This has included common industry QA/QC procedures to monitor the quality of the assay database, including inserting certified reference material samples and blank samples into sample batches on a predetermined frequency basis. The systematic chip channel sampling was completed across exposed mineralized structures using a hammer and maul. The protocol for sample lengths established that they were not longer than two metres or shorter than 0.3 metres. The veins tend to be steeply dipping to vertical, and so these samples are reasonably close to representing the true widths of the structures. Samples were collected along the structural strike or oblique to the main structural trend. All samples were bagged in pre-numbered plastic bags; each bag had a numbered tag inside and were tied off with adhesive tape and then bulk bagged in rice bags in batches not to exceed 40 kg. They were then numbered, and batch bags were tied off with plastic ties and delivered directly to the SGS laboratory facility in Durango, Mexico for preparation and analysis. The lab is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017. All Samples were delivered in person by the contract geologist who conducted the sampling under the supervision of the QP. SGS sample preparation code G_PRP89 including weight determination, crushing, drying, splitting, and pulverizing was used following industry best practices where all samples were crushed to 75% less than 2 mm, riffle split off 250 g, pulverized split to >85% passing 75 microns (m). All samples were analyzed for gold using code GA_FAA30V5 with a Fire Assay determination on 30g samples with an Atomic Absorption Spectography finish. An ICP-OES analysis package (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry) including 33 elements and 4-acid digestion was performed (code GE_ICP40Q12) to determine Ag, Zn, Pb, Cu and other elements. Qualified Person Mr. Jorge Ortega, P. Geo, a Qualified Person, and independent from Pinnacle, as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and the author of the NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Potrero Project, has reviewed, verified and approved for disclosure the technical information contained in this news release. About the Potrero Property El Potrero is located in the prolific Sierra Madre Occidental of western Mexico and lies within 35 kilometres of four operating mines, including the 4,000 tonnes per day (tpd) Cienega Mine (Fresnillo), the 1,000 tpd Tahuehueto Mine (Luca Mining) and the 250 tpd Topia Mine (Guanajuato Silver). High-grade gold-silver mineralization occurs in a low sulphidation epithermal breccia vein system hosted within andesites of the Lower Volcanic Series and has three historic mines along a 500 metre strike length. The property has been in private hands for almost 40 years and has never been systematically explored by modern methods, leaving significant exploration potential. A previously operational 100 tpd plant on site can be refurbished / rebuilt and historic underground mine workings rehabilitated at relatively low cost in order to achieve near-term production once permits are in place. The property is road accessible with a power line within three kilometres. Surface rights covering the plant and mine area are privately owned (no community issues). Pinnacle will earn an initial 50% interest immediately upon commencing production. The goal would then be to generate sufficient cash flow with which to further develop the project and increase the Companys ownership to 100% subject to a 2% NSR. If successful, this approach would be less dilutive for shareholders than relying on the equity markets to finance the growth of the Company. About Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp. Pinnacle is focused on district-scale exploration for precious metals in the Americas. The high-grade Potrero gold-silver project in Mexicos Sierra Madre Belt hosts an underexplored low-sulphidation epithermal vein system and provides the potential for near-term production. In the prolific Red Lake District of northwestern Ontario, the Company owns a 100% interest in the past-producing, high-grade Argosy Gold Mine and the adjacent North Birch Project with an eight-kilometre-long target horizon. With a seasoned, highly successful management team and quality projects, Pinnacle Silver and Gold is committed to building long-term, sustainable value for shareholders. Signed: Robert A. Archer President & CEO For further information contact: Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel.: +1 (877) 271-5886 ext. 110 Website: www.pinnaclesilverandgold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. VANCOUVER, BC, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - Group Eleven Resources Corp. (TSXV: ZNG) (OTCQB: GRLVF) (FRA: 3GE) ("Group Eleven" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Cormark Securities Inc., as lead underwriter, on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters (collectively, the "Underwriters") in connection with a "bought deal" private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of C$5 million (the "Offering"). The Offering will consist of the issuance and sale of 15,625,000 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a price of C$0.32 per Common Share (the "Issue Price"). The Company has granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable in whole or in part, at any time prior to closing of the Offering, to sell up to an additional 2,343,750 Common Shares at the Issue Price for additional gross proceeds of up to C$750,000. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to expand the remaining funded exploration drill program at Ballywire from approximately 5,000m to approximately 25,000m, and for working capital and general corporate purposes, as described further in the Offering Document (as defined below). The Common Shares will be offered pursuant to Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions, as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption") to purchasers in each of the provinces of Canada (other than the province of Quebec). The Underwriters will also be entitled to offer the Common Shares for sale in the United States pursuant to available exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and in certain other jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States provided it is understood that no prospectus filing or comparable obligation, ongoing reporting requirement or requisite regulatory or governmental approval arises in such other jurisdictions. The Common Shares issued under the Offering to Canadian subscribers will not be subject to a hold period in Canada. The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or available exemptions from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to acquire securities in any jurisdiction. In addition to and concurrent with the Offering, the Company will be offering on a non-brokered basis, the number of Common Shares, on the same or substantially same terms as the Offering, to its pre-existing shareholder, Glencore Canada Corporation, to allow such shareholder to exercise its participation right and maintain its 15.2% ownership interest in the Company (the "Non-Brokered Offering"). No commission or other fees will be paid to the Underwriters in connection with the Non-Brokered Offering. There is an offering document (the "Offering Document") related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website at https:// groupelevenresources.com. Prospective investors of Common Shares should read the Offering Document before making an investment decision. The Offering is expected to close on or about July 31, 2025, or on such other date as may be agreed to by the Company and the Underwriters, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws (the "Closing Date"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the closing must occur no later than the 45th day following the date of this news release. The Company will pay a fee in connection with the Offering comprised of (i) a cash commission equal to 6.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the Offering ("Cash Commission"), and (ii) an aggregate number of compensation warrants (each, a "Compensation Warrant") equal to 6.0% of the aggregate number of Common Shares issued pursuant to the Offering. Each Compensation Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price equal to the Issue Price for a period of 24 months from the Closing Date, subject to adjustment in certain events. The Cash Commission payable to the Underwriters will be reduced to 3.0%, and no Compensation Warrants will be issued, with respect to certain purchasers identified on the Company's president's list. The completion of the Offering is subject to customary conditions, including, but not limited to, the negotiation of an underwriting agreement between the parties with respect to the Offering and the receipt of all necessary approvals, inclusive of the conditional acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. Qualified Person Technical information in this news release has been approved by Professor Garth Earls, Eur Geol, P.Geo, FSEG, geological consultant at IGS (International Geoscience Services) Limited, an independent 'Qualified Person' as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Group Eleven Resources Group Eleven Resources Corp. (TSX.V: ZNG; OTCQB: GRLVF and FRA: 3GE) is drilling the most significant mineral discovery in the Republic of Ireland in over a decade. The Company announced the Ballywire discovery in September 2022, demonstrating high grades of zinc, lead, silver, copper, germanium and locally, antimony. Key intercepts to date include: 10.8m of 10.0% Zn+Pb and 109 g/t Ag (G11-468-03) of 10.0% Zn+Pb and 109 g/t Ag (G11-468-03) 10.1m of 8.6% Zn+Pb and 46 g/t Ag (G11-468-06) of 8.6% Zn+Pb and 46 g/t Ag (G11-468-06) 10.5m of 14.7% Zn+Pb, 399 g/t Ag and 0.31% Cu (G11-468-12) of 14.7% Zn+Pb, 399 g/t Ag and 0.31% Cu (G11-468-12) 11.2m of 8.9% Zn+Pb and 83 g/t Ag (G11-3552-03) of 8.9% Zn+Pb and 83 g/t Ag (G11-3552-03) 29.6m of 10.6% Zn+Pb, 78 g/t Ag and 0.15% Cu (G11-3552-12) and of 10.6% Zn+Pb, 78 g/t Ag and 0.15% Cu (G11-3552-12) and 11.8m of 11.6% Zn+Pb, 48 g/t Ag (G11-3552-18) of 11.6% Zn+Pb, 48 g/t Ag (G11-3552-18) 15.6m of 11.6% Zn+Pb, 122 g/t Ag and 0.19% Cu (G11-3552-27) of 11.6% Zn+Pb, 122 g/t Ag and 0.19% Cu (G11-3552-27) 12.0m of 1.4% Zn+Pb, 560 g/t Ag, 2.30% Cu and 0.17% Sb (25-3552-31), including of 1.4% Zn+Pb, 560 g/t Ag, 2.30% Cu and 0.17% Sb (25-3552-31), including 6.4m of 2.1% Zn+Pb, 838 g/t Ag, 3.72% Cu and 0.27% Sb (25-3552-31) of 2.1% Zn+Pb, 838 g/t Ag, 3.72% Cu and 0.27% Sb (25-3552-31) 39.7m of 9.5% Zn+Pb, 131 g/t Ag and 0.27% Cu (25-3552-35) Ballywire is located 20km from Company's 77.64%-owned Stonepark zinc-lead deposit1, which itself is located adjacent to Glencore's Pallas Green zinc-lead deposit2. The Company's two largest shareholders are Michael Gentile (15.3%) and Glencore Canada Corporation (15.2% interest). Additional information about the Company is available at www.groupelevenresources.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bart Jaworski, P.Geo. Chief Executive Officer Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information ("forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the closing of the Offering, the timing of the closing of the Offering, the use of proceeds from the Offering, the receipt of regulatory approvals and future results of operations, performance and achievements of the Company, including the Company drilling the most significant mineral discovery in the Republic of Ireland in over a decade. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedarplus.ca and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. 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. Solid low-cost production profile from year one via a phased mine plan: Phase 1: Low Initial capital cost of $155 million , builds average annual gold production of 69.3koz oz Au 1 at an AISC 2 of US$1,282 /oz Au in Years 1 to 4 planned to fund Phase 2. Phase 2: Growth capital of $442 million , builds average annual gold production of 172.2koz Au at an AISC of US$1,090 /oz Au in Years 5 to 9 paid back in less than one year. Early revenue potential: Initial gold production targeted for 2027 pending regulatory approval. Initial gold production targeted for 2027 pending regulatory approval. Significant leverage to gold price: After-tax NPV 5% 3 increases to $1.45 billion from $743 million and IRR 4 increases to 197% from 56.3% when gold price raised to US$3,300 /oz Au from base case of US$2,500 /oz Au. After-tax NPV increases to from and IRR increases to 197% from 56.3% when gold price raised to /oz Au from base case of /oz Au. Total production: 1.5 Moz Au over a 15-year LOM 5 at an average total cash cost of US$1,085 /oz Au and an AISC of US$1,256 /oz Au. 1.5 over a 15-year LOM at an average total cash cost of /oz Au and an AISC of /oz Au. Exploration upside: Significant resource expansion potential, both near-MRE6 and camp scale over 110 km7 strike extent. All amounts in Canadian dollars unless stated otherwise. VANCOUVER, BC, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - New Found Gold Corp. ("New Found Gold" or the "Company") (TSX-V: NFG) (NYSE-A: NFGC) is pleased to announce the results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (the "PEA" or Study") for the development of the AFZ Core on the Company's 100% owned Queensway Gold Project ("Queensway" or the "Project") located near the town of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The Study is the first conceptual assessment of the potential economic viability of gold mineralization on the 175,450 hectare ('ha") Project. The Company will hold a webcast to discuss the Queensway PEA results on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, which will include a virtual presentation and a question-and-answer session with analysts and investors. Please see dial-in numbers and webcast link below. Keith Boyle, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We are pleased to deliver the first economic study for Queensway, just months after announcing an initial mineral resource estimate for the Project. The PEA reinforces our conviction that Queensway can become a low-cost, high-margin, cashflow generating mine. This is a significant step in achieving our goal of building and operating a gold mine in central Newfoundland. Since day one, the objective of the new management team at New Found Gold has been to advance Queensway to cash flow. The PEA outlines a phased approach with an initial small high-grade open pit mine with toll milling, followed by the construction of a larger on-site operation, which will include both open pit and underground mining. A phased project design provides for early gold revenue generation, processing of the highest-grade mineralized material at the start of the operation and in-pit tailings deposition. This unique combination of design elements allows for low initial capital investment, a rapid payback of that initial investment, using cashflow to grow the operation thereby providing for a superior rate of return, and minimizing dilution to shareholders." "The infill, definition and exploration drilling, completion of the environmental baseline work, trade-off and further engineering studies will allow for rapid advancement of the phased Project." continued Mr. Boyle. The PEA is preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Table 1: Queensway PEA Summary Production1 Value Units LOM 15 years Total Mill Feed 27,373 ktonnes Phase 1: Off-Site Toll Mill 1,150 ktonnes Phase 2 and 3: On-Site Mill 26,223 ktonnes Average Head Grade 1.85 g/t Au Phase 1: Off-Site Toll Mill (Years 1-5) 9.64 g/t Au Phase 2: On-Site Mill (Years 5-9) 2.22 g/t Au Cut-off Grade (OP) 0.3 g/t Au Cut-off Grade (UG) 2.68 g/t Au Average Gold Recovery 91.9 % Contained Gold 1,626 koz Recovered Gold 1,494 koz Average Annual Gold Production (Years 1-4) 69.3 koz/yr Average Annual Gold Production (Years 5-9) 172.2 koz/yr Average Production Mining Rate Phase 1 700 tpd Average Production Mining Rate Phases 2 and 3 7,000 tpd Strip Ratio 6.0 - Capital Costs1 Initial Capital (Phase 1) 154.8 $M Growth Capital (Phase 2 and 3) 584.9 $M Sustaining Capital 325.4 $M Reclamation and Closure Capital 30.0 $M Total Capital Costs 1,095.1 $M Total Operating Costs1,2 1,977 $M Royalty NSR 0.40 % Total Cash Cost 1,085 US$/oz Au AISC (LOM)3 1,256 US$/oz Au AISC (Years 1-4)3 1,282 US$/oz Au AISC (Years 5-9)3 1,090 US$/oz Au Financial Summary Gold Price (Base Case) 2,500 US$/oz Au Exchange Rate 1.43 C$/US$ After-Tax NPV 5% 743 $M After-Tax IRR 56.3 % After-Tax Payback <2 years Mine Net Revenue 4,924 $M EBITDA 2,947 $M EBITDA Margin 59.8 % Notes: 1 Denotes a "specified financial measure" within the meaning of National Instrument 52-112 non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure. See note on "Non-IFRS Financial Measures". 2 Total operating costs refer to onsite charges that cover open pit mining, underground mining, third party processing and material handling, onsite processing, and onsite general and administrative costs. 3 AISC is calculated as the sum of treatment and refining charges, royalties, onsite operating costs, sustaining capital costs, and closure costs, divided by the quantity of ounces sold. PEA Overview Queensway is planned as a primary conventional open pit ("OP") mine complemented by a high-grade underground ("UG"), mechanized cut and fill mine, with early off-site toll milling transitioning to on-site treatment of the mined material. Material will be processed through a conventional circuit consisting of comminution, gravity concentration, flotation of a sulphide concentrate for off-site treatment, and cyanide leach and adsorption via carbon-in-leach ("CIL") of the flotation tailings, carbon elution and gold recovery circuits. The two products to be produced are dore on site, plus a gold-bearing, sulphide concentrate sold for treatment at an off-site facility. The PEA envisions a 15-year LOM producing 1.5 million ounces ("Moz") recoverable gold and is planned to be developed in three distinct phases (Figure 1). Phasing of the Project allows for lower upfront capital requirements, early revenue generation, funding of subsequent phases, processing highest grade first, and best-in-class in-pit tailings deposition. Phase 1 (Years 1-4): OP Mine with Off-Site Toll Milling Phase 1 involves preparing the Queensway site and installing the infrastructure for a small OP mine. High-grade material will be crushed and transported to an off-site toll mill located in Newfoundland, at a rate of 700 tonnes per day ("tpd") for the first five years of the operation. Lower grade material will be stockpiled on-site for future processing once the on-site processing plant is in operation. Phase 1 has an initial capital cost of $155 million, average annual gold production of 69.3 koz Au and AISC of US$1,282/oz measured over Year 1 to Year 4. Phase 2 (Years 5-15): OP Mine with Construction and Operation of On-Site Processing Plant and In-Pit Tailings Deposition Phase 2 involves the construction of the on-site 7,000 tpd processing plant. Construction of the plant is scheduled to start in Year 3, with completion in Year 4. Processing of the material will commence in Year 5 of the operation, for a planned total of nine years, followed by two years of reclaiming low grade stockpiles. The stockpiles created during Phase 1 and the UG high-grade material in Phase 3 will allow for grade sequencing, thereby prioritizing higher grade mined material during the initial years of processing to optimize the project economics. The mining rate and sequence for the OP will allow for in-pit tailings deposition for the life of the operation. Phase 2 has average annual gold production of 129.0 koz and AISC of US$1,206/oz (measured from Year 5 to Year 13), including average annual production of 172.2 koz and AISC of US$1,090/oz during the first five years of operation (project Year 5 to Year 9). Phase 3 (Years 6-10): UG Mine Development and Operation Construction of the UG mine is scheduled to commence in Year 5. The UG mine is planned as a high-grade cut-and-fill operation from Year 6 to Year 10 at a nominal production rate of 700 tpd. The UG mine will consist of a series of five separate ramp systems to access the stopes and mine the mineralized material in a traditional mechanized cut-and-fill method with 3 metre ("m") x 3 m heading size. The mineralized material will be hauled to surface using 20 tonne trucks. Optimized Project Economics Through a Phased Mine Plan The phased mine plan is possible because of the high-grade core of the deposit and is intended to minimize both initial capital and shareholder dilution with the first phase funding future expansions. This is accomplished through grade sequencing that is, the stockpiles created during Phase 1 and UG high-grade ores in Phase 3 will allow prioritizing higher grade mined material during the initial years of on-site processing to optimize project economics. The lowest grades will be processed starting in Year 13 through to the end of processing in Year 15 after the mining has been completed. Processing the higher grades first will generate higher cash flow in the earlier years. Queensway PEA and Technical Report The Queensway PEA was prepared using the Company's initial mineral resource estimate with an effective date as at March 15, 2025 (the "MRE"). The PEA, with an effective date as at June 30, 2025 was prepared by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. ("SLR") in accordance with the 2019 Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards and Canadian National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). SLR is independent of New Found Gold. A technical report prepared in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101 compliant technical report (the "Technical Report") will be filed on the Company's website and under its SEDAR+ profile within 45 days of this news release. Property Description, Location, Access and On-Site Infrastructure Queensway is located in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, on the northeast portion of the island of Newfoundland. Queensway is located approximately 20 km west of the town of Gander and can be accessed via the Trans-Canada Highway ("TCH"), which passes through the Property. Access to the site is planned from the TCH located adjacent to the project site. The Town of Gander, with a population of nearly 12,000, has many amenities that one would expect to find in a major city, including an international airport and most of the equipment and supplies required for industrial operations. Low-cost hydroelectric power is available from the provincial grid, which has three electricity transmission corridors that cross the Project. Mineral Resource Estimate Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources ("M&I") total 18.0 million tonnes ("Mt") at an average gold grade of 2.40 grams per tonne ("g/t Au") for 1.39 million contained ounces of gold. Inferred Mineral Resources total 10.7 Mt at an average grade of 1.77 g/t Au for 0.61 million ounces of gold. The Mineral Resource estimate has an effective date of March 15, 2025. The OP Indicated Mineral Resources total 17.3 Mt grading 2.25 g/t Au containing 1.25 million ounces Au, and Inferred Mineral Resources total 9.0 Mt grading 1.24 g/t Au containing 0.36 million ounces Au. The UG Indicated Mineral Resources total 0.8 Mt grading 5.76 g/t Au containing 0.14 million ounces Au, and Inferred Mineral Resources total 1.7 Mt grading 4.44 g/t Au containing 0.25 million ounces Au. The resource database was closed on November 1, 2024 and contains 3,214 drill holes for a total of 723,387 m, for which 550,949 m have assay intervals. The Company is currently conducting a 70,000 m 2025 drill program and anticipates completing as required to advance future economic studies. An updated MRE is planned to be completed in the first quarter of 2026. Table 2: Mineral Resource Estimate Summary (Effective Date March 15, 2025) Zone Category Tonnage (Mt) Grade (g/t Au) Contained Metal (Moz Au) Open Pit Indicated 17.3 2.25 1.25 Inferred 9.0 1.24 0.36 Underground Indicated 0.8 5.76 0.14 Inferred 1.7 4.44 0.25 Total Indicated 18.0 2.40 1.39 Inferred 10.7 1.77 0.61 Notes: 1. CIM (2014) definitions were followed for Mineral Resources. 2. Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term gold price of US$2,200 per ounce, and a US$/C$ exchange rate of US$1.00 = C$1.43. 3. Open pit Mineral Resources are estimated at a cut-off grade of 0.3 g/t Au and constrained by a preliminary optimized pit shell with a pit slope angle of 45, and bench height of 5 m. 4. RPEEE (as defined in the Company's March 24, 2025 news release) for underground Mineral Resources was demonstrated by constraining within reporting panels generated at a cut-off grade of 1.65 g/t Au, with heights (H) of 10 m, lengths (L) of 5 m and minimum widths of 1.8 m. 5. The optimized pit shell, underground reporting shapes, and cut-off grades were generated by assuming metallurgical recovery of 90%, standard treatment and refining charges, mining costs of C$5.0/t moved for open pit and C$120/t processed for underground, processing costs of C$20/t processed, and general and administrative costs of C$7.5/t processed. 6. Bulk density within the vein and halo mineralization domains is 2.7 t/m. 7. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. 8. Numbers may not add due to rounding. 9. See the New Found Gold news release dated March 24, 2025 for additional information. The Qualified Person ("QP") is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic, marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could materially affect the Mineral Resource estimate. No Mineral Reserves are defined for the Property. The overall conversion of Mineral Resources to the PEA mine plan was 92% and 74% for the indicated and inferred categories respectively. Only the AFZ Core was considered for the PEA. A lower conversion of the UG Inferred category is mainly attributed to changes in the cutoff grade between the MRE and PEA. The MRE considered underground mining with the longhole open stoping method, while the PEA assumed the comparatively higher cost cut and fill method. Mining The mine plan is based on conventional OP truck and shovel methods with a complementary high-grade UG cut and fill mine. The OP operation will consist of 17 pits. The three main pits, Iceberg, Keats and Keats West, are sequenced early in the mine life and will subsequently serve as the in-pit tailings deposition facilities. A total of 26.3 Mt of mineralized material will be mined from the pits at an average diluted gold grade of 1.65 g/t Au and an overall strip ratio of 6:1. The OP optimization was completed with a 5 m x 5 m x 5 m block model. The OP operation is planned to be an owner-operated mining fleet, using smaller equipment to minimize dilution and maximize selectivity. The equipment fleet will consist of 70 tonne-class haulage trucks and 10 m3 shovels. The mining sequence and rate have been optimized to prioritize higher grades first by ensuring the highest grades for the 700 tpd Phase 1 operation and moving into Phase 2 at 7,000 tonnes per day and having an open pit available for in-pit tailings deposition starting in Year 5 (Figure 2). The UG operation will take place in five zones, accessible from five surface portals collared from the smaller open pits. The primary mining method will be mechanized cut and fill mining method. A 3 m x 3 m stope size was selected to minimize dilution while maximizing selectivity. The backfill method will be a combination of rock fill and cemented rockfill. A total of 1.1 Mt of mineralized material will be mined at an average diluted gold grade of 6.67 g/t Au over a 5-year period, with a nominal production rate of 700 tpd. Initial capital development is planned for one year, followed by ongoing capital development over three additional years. It is envisaged that capital development will be executed using contractors, while production mining will be accomplished by owner operators. The infill drilling currently being conducted is targeting the inferred material to upgrade to indicated. Processing and Recovery Phase 1 Toll Milling The PEA envisions toll milling a total of 1.2 Mt in Year 1 to Year 5 at an average diluted grade of 9.64 g/t Au at an offsite location some 300 km from the Queensway site. High grade material will be crushed at the Queensway site and transported for processing at the toll mill. Plant modifications of the toll mill have been accounted for in the PEA capital estimate to convert the existing grinding and carbon in pulp ("CIP") leach plant to a grind - gravity concentration - carbon in leach ("CIL") plant, with an estimated recovery of 92%. A gravity concentration circuit and additional leach tanks will be added to the toll mill flowsheet to achieve a 700 tpd capacity and the estimated 92% recovery. Sufficient tailings storage is available at the toll mill site for the proposed Phase 1 tonnage. The metallurgical test work completed to date supports the recovery assumptions for the high-grade feed that will be processed at this site. Phase 2 On-Site Processing and In-Pit Tailings Deposition An on-site 7,000 tpd process plant will be constructed that will comprise comminution, gravity concentration, sulphide flotation, cyanide leaching and carbon adsorption via CIL, carbon elution and gold recovery circuits. CIL tailings will be treated in a cyanide destruction circuit and pumped to the in-pit tailings storage facility. The mill will operate for 10.5 years, from Year 5 to Year 15. Select key design criteria include crushing plant utilization of 75%; grinding, gravity, CIL, gold recovery and tailings handling circuit utilization of 92% through the use of standby equipment in critical areas, in-line crushed material stockpile, and reliable power supply; the comminution circuit will produce a primary grind size of (P 80 ) 80% passing 75 m; and CIL residence time of 36 hours to achieve optimal gold extraction. Test Work NFG has completed two phases of metallurgical test work, and a third phase is in progress. Phase 1 of the test work evaluated three mineralized zones, Keats, Golden Joint, and Lotto, and phase 2 studied mineralization from the Iceberg and Iceberg East zones. The phase 3 test work currently underway is examining mineralized material from Keats West. Test work samples characterized each zone by combining intervals of mineralized core from different vein and structural intercepts to create numerous variability composites. Master composites for each zone were created by combining portions of the variability composites from each respective zone. Exploratory test work was completed on the master composites and included comminution testing, mineralogical analysis, gravity recovery testing, cyanide leaching (direct and CIL), and preg-robbing testing. Based on results of the exploratory testing, the variability composites were tested using a gravity-CIL base-case flowsheet at three different grind sizes. Additional exploratory test work investigated the rejection of carbon via flotation, and sulphide flotation for the recovery of gold associated with sulphides. The test work indicated that the majority of gold not recovered in gravity concentration could be recovered by flotation. Based on metallurgical test work completed to date, the PEA assumes an overall recovery of 92%, with 48% of the gold reporting to dore, and 44% of the gold reporting to concentrate. Gold reporting to dore will be recovered by gravity concentration, as well as CIL of the flotation tailings. Sulphide concentrate will be produced from gravity concentration tailings and will be sold to a concentrate processor. The PEA assumes maximum gold payability in concentrate of 97.5% subject to a minimum 2 g/t Au deduction, C$120/ wet metric tonne ("wmt") transportation costs, US$200/ dry metric tonne ("dmt") for treatment costs, refining charges of US$8.00/oz, and an allowance for penalties of US$10/dmt. On-Site Infrastructure Plant site activities, including the process plant, crushing and stockpile management facility, UG mine, OP mine, and balance of plant infrastructure, will require an average of 15 to 20 megawatts ("MW") at full operation. The plant's full power consumption was benchmarked against similar projects, with OP mining and UG mining adjusted for processing throughputs. Access to the site will be from the Trans-Canada Highway located adjacent to the project site. Power to the site will be provided from the existing transmission grid, which is proposed to be realigned to the north of the mine area prior to mining. Environmental and Permitting The Company has completed comprehensive environmental baseline studies for Queensway, thereby laying a strong foundation for the Project's future development. These studies have been instrumental in identifying and understanding the environmental context of the Project area. To date, no significant environmental obstacles have been identified, which highlights the potential for responsible and sustainable advancement of the Project. Given the site's proximity to a nearby town (Town of Appleton) and an important Newfoundland and Labrador salmon river, effective water management has been identified as a critical priority for operational planning. The Company has proactively addressed this challenge by conducting thorough baseline studies, equipping the Company with the necessary insights and strategies to manage water on-site effectively during the construction, operation and decommissioning phases of the Project. Moreover, to further mitigate potential environmental impacts, New Found Gold is planning to implement in-pit tailings management, a well-regarded approach that reduces disturbance to surrounding ecosystems while providing efficient waste containment. Recognizing the importance of community involvement and social responsibility, the Company has also commenced early and widespread social engagement efforts. To date, these initiatives have garnered positive feedback from stakeholders, reflecting an encouraging level of community support for the Project. Through its diligent and pro-active approach to the reduction of environmental impacts and meaningful stakeholder engagement, New Found Gold demonstrates a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility. These efforts not only enhance the Project's sustainability but also facilitate the permitting process, ensuring that Queensway aligns with both regulatory requirements and community expectations. Capital and Operating Costs Queensway is planned to be built in three phases. Phase 1 capital will support a 700 tpd mine with offsite toll milling. The OP mine equipment fleet is assumed to be a capitalized lease. The mining capital costs include all site clearing and road construction, waste dump, stockpile pads, water management, building and maintenance facilities. The on-site infrastructure includes the power installation, water supply and water treatment and temporary crushing facilities. The off-site infrastructure includes the modifications required at the off-site toll mill facility, the relocation of the main transmission lines that run through the Queensway property, and the access to the site from the Trans-Canada Highway. Phase 2 capital is related to the 7,000 tpd on-site processing plant, the permanent crushing plant, and prepare the Iceberg OP for in-pit tailings deposition. Phase 3 capital is related to the UG mine and includes initial capital development, mobile equipment and fixed plant equipment. The sustaining capital costs include the ongoing capital development for the underground mine, fleet purchases and lease payments for the open pit equipment, and allowances for tailings infrastructure relocation. Operating costs are developed from first principles based on recent precedent projects with similar mining methodologies and location (Tables 3 to 6). Refining and transporting costs are all inclusive of concentrate and dore costs, penalties and charges. Royalties assume 0.4% on the net smelter return. Table 3: LOM Operating Cost and AISC Value Units LOM Operating Costs1,2 Mining (OP) 906,607 $ '000 Mining (UG) 188,525 $ '000 Off-Site Toll Milling 57,499 $ '000 Material Handling 86,248 $ '000 Processing 549,501 $ '000 G&A 188,746 $ '000 Total LOM Operating Costs 1,977,125 $ '000 Dore transport and refining charges 9.15 $/oz Concentrate transport charges 120 $/wmt Concentrate treatment charges 200 US$/dmt Penalties 10 US$/dmt Royalty NSR 0.40 % OP Mining Cost 4.91 $/t moved UG Mining Cost 176 $/t Off Site Processing & Transport cost 125 $/t On-Site Processing cost 20.83 $/t Total Cash Cost 1,085 US$/oz Au AISC (LOM)3 1,256 US$/oz Au AISC (Years 1-4)3 1,282 US$/oz Au AISC (Years 5-9)3 1,090 US$/oz Au Notes: 1 Denotes a "specified financial measure" within the meaning of National Instrument 52-112 non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure. See note on "Non-IFRS Financial Measures". 2 Total operating costs refer to onsite charges that cover open pit mining, underground mining, third party processing and material handling, onsite processing, and onsite general and administrative costs. 3 AISC is calculated as the sum of treatment and refining charges, royalties, onsite operating costs, sustaining capital costs, and closure costs, divided by the quantity of ounces sold. Table 4: Unit Operating Cost Unit Operating Costs (LOM)1,2 Unit Value Mining $/t proc 40.01 Processing $/t proc 25.33 G&A $/t proc 6.90 Total $/t proc 72.23 Unit OP Mining Costs $/t moved 4.91 Notes: 1 Denotes a "specified financial measure" within the meaning of National Instrument 52-112 non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure. See note on "Non-IFRS Financial Measures". 2 Total operating costs refer to onsite charges that cover open pit mining, underground mining, third party processing and material handling, onsite processing, and onsite general and administrative costs. Table 5: LOM Capital Cost Phase 1 $M Phase 2 $M Phase 3 $M Sustaining Capital $M Total $M Mining 47,749 104,162 321,365 473,276 Onsite Processing 220,504 220,504 Onsite Infrastructure 15,680 23,520 4,000 43,200 Offsite Infrastructure 40,497 40,497 Indirects/Owner's Costs/EPCM 19,906 109,750 10,000 139,656 Contingency 30,958 88,444 28,540 147,942 Total1 154,790 442,218 142,702 325,365 1,065,075 Notes: 1 Denotes a "specified financial measure" within the meaning of National Instrument 52-112 non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure. See note on "Non-IFRS Financial Measures". Economic Analysis At a base case consensus long-term gold price of US$2,500 and an exchange rate of 1.43 (C$/US$) the Project generates an after-tax NPV 5% of $743 million and an IRR of 56.3%. Growth Capital of $442M for Phase 2 is spent in Year 2 to Year 4 and is paid back in Year 5, less than one year after Phase 2 is in operation. The after-tax NPV 5% increases to $1.45 billion and the IRR increases to 197% when the gold price is raised to US$3,300 /oz Au. After-Tax Cash Flow Using the base case gold price of US$2,500, the average annual after-tax cash flow is $75.2 million and the cumulative LOM after-tax cash flow is estimated at $1,128 million (Table 6). The Phase 1 average annual after-tax operating cash flow is $117 million, demonstrating the ability to pay back the initial capital of $155 million in Year 2. The Company plans to reinvest the after-tax cash flow generated in Phase 1 to fund the Project growth capital needed in Phases 2 and 3, to be paid back in Year 5. Table 6: Gold Price Sensitivity Analysis Scenario Downside Case Base Case Upside Case Gold Price USD/oz $2,000 $2,500 $3,300 Foreign Exchange CAD/USD 1.43 1.43 1.43 0 % 504 1,128 2,113 After Tax NPV $MM 5 % 295 743 1,450 8 % 210 583 1,175 10 % 164 498 1,026 After-Tax IRR % 24 56 197 Payback Years 1 <2 <1 Phase 1 (Years 1-4) Average Annual EBITDA $M 95 145 224 Avg Annual After-tax Op Cash Flow $M 86 117 166 Phase 2 (Years 5-9) Average Annual EBITDA $M 263 382 573 Avg Annual After-tax Op Cash Flow $M 212 283 395 LOM (Years 1-15) LOM EBITDA $M 1,909 2,947 4,606 LOM After-Tax Operating Cash Flow $M 1,600 2,223 3,208 Note: Average annual figures represent a 15-year LOM. Next Steps As Queensway moves towards cashflow as soon as possible, the following activities are being completed: Geological work including a planned 70,000 m drill campaign consisting of: Infill drilling of the Mineral Resource to upgrade and add to the initial MRE. Definition drilling of the high-grade areas where initial mining is to take place at a very tight 5 m centre drilling to permit appropriate statistical analysis of a high-grade gold deposit. centre drilling to permit appropriate statistical analysis of a high-grade gold deposit. Channel sampling of Iceberg zone and excavation and channel sampling of Lotto zone. Exploration of regional targets looking for the next major deposit. Engineering studies and data collection programs to support the project development schedule include: Ongoing metallurgical testing programs, with additional work to further refine the flowsheet for the next phase of studies. Geo-metallurgical modelling of the refractory gold distribution to be incorporated into future block models. Condemnation drilling for siting of plant infrastructure, geotechnical and hydrogeological data collection programs. Trade-off and optimization studies with more detailed engineering to support a rapid, small mine development. Environmental studies and data collection programs to support the project development schedule include: Complete the baseline studies based on the mine design and layout. Preparation of project description and submission of EA. Continued engagement with communities and government. The potential timeline for the project with key milestones includes: Submission of an Environmental Assessment in H1/26. An updated MRE and technical report to support Phase 1 by Q2/26 with detailed engineering starting thereafter. Subject to project financing, long lead time equipment would be procured and early works program initiated in 2026. Phase 1 construction is planned to commence in 2027 with first production in Q3/27. PEA Conference Call and Webcast In connection with this news release, the Company's senior management team will host a conference call on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 10:00 am ET to discuss the PEA results. Participants may join the conference call via webcast or through the following dial-in numbers: Toronto and International: 647-932-3411 Toll free (Canada and the U.S.): 800-715-9871 Webcast: https://app.webinar.net/GZLwWaVRnz5 A replay of the call/webcast will be posted to the Company website at www.newfoundgold.ca when available. Preliminary Economic Assessment Study 3D VRIFY Presentation A 3D VRIFY presentation to accompany the webcast will be posted to the Corporation's website at www.newfoundgold.ca on July 22, 2025. Qualified Persons The Study has an effective date of June 30, 2025 and a technical report will be filed on SEDAR+ within 45 days. It was authored by independent QPs and is in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The QPs are David M. Robson, P.Eng. having overall responsibility for the study including capital and operating costs, infrastructure, and mining methods, Lance Engelbrecht, P.Eng. having responsibility for metallurgy, recovery methods and process plant operating costs. Pierre Landry, MSc, PGeo, is responsible for property description, geology, drilling, sampling and the mineral resource estimate. Sheldon Smith, P.Geo., of Stantec Consulting Ltd., is responsible for the environment and permitting aspects. The technical content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Keith Boyle, P.Eng., Chief Executive Officer of New Found Gold and a QP as defined in NI 43-101. About New Found Gold Corp. New Found Gold holds a 100% interest in Queensway, located in Newfoundland and Labrador, a Tier 1 jurisdiction with excellent infrastructure and a skilled local workforce. The Company has completed an initial MRE and PEA at Queensway (see New Found Gold news release dated March 24, 2025 and July 21, 2025). Recent drilling continues to yield new discoveries along strike and down dip of known gold zones, pointing to the district-scale potential of the 175,450 ha project that covers a 110 km strike extent along two prospective fault zones. New Found Gold has a new management team in place, a solid shareholder base, which includes a 19% holding by Eric Sprott, and is focused on growth and value creation at Queensway. Keith Boyle, P.Eng. Chief Executive Officer New Found Gold Corp. Follow us on social media at https://www.linkedin.com/company/newfound-gold-corp https://x.com/newfoundgold Acknowledgements New Found Gold acknowledges the financial support of the Junior Exploration Assistance Program, Department of Natural Resources, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 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 Statement The PEA is preliminary in nature, it included inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Forward-Looking Statement Cautions This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to exploration, drilling and mineralization on the Company's Queensway gold project in Newfoundland and Labrador; the interpretation of the results and benefits of the drilling program; future drilling and the timing and expected benefits thereof; the initial resource estimate; potential resource expansion; a preliminary economic assessment and the expected funding, timing and benefits thereof; assay results; the interpretation of drilling and assay results, the extent of mineralization and the discovery of zones of high-grade gold mineralization; future exploration and the focus and timing of same; the merits of the Queensway Project; future press releases by the Company; and funding of the drilling program. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "interpreted", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "suggests", "indicate", "often", "target", "future", "likely", "encouraging", "pending", "potential", "goal", "objective", "opportunity", "prospective", "possibly", "preliminary", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with the Company's ability to complete the preliminary economic assessment, the results and timing of the preliminary economic assessment, possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of exploration, drilling and assay results, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's Annual Information Form and Management's discussion and Analysis, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR+) at www.sedarplus.ca for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. Non-GAAP Financial Measures The Company has included certain non-GAAP financial measures in this news release. These financial measures are not defined under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation. The Company believes that these financial measures, together with financial measures determined in accordance with IFRS, provide investors with an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. The inclusion of these financial measures is meant to provide additional information and should not be used as a substitute for performance measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. These financial measures are not necessarily standard and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers. All-in Sustaining Cost All in sustaining cost is a non-GAAP financial measure calculated based on guidance published by the World Gold Council ("WGC"). The WGC is a market development organization for the gold industry and is an association whose membership comprises leading gold mining companies. Although the WGC is not a mining industry regulatory organization, it worked closely with its member companies to develop these metrics. Adoption of the all-in sustaining cost metric is voluntary and not necessarily standard, and therefore, this measure presented by the Company may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The Company believes that the all-in sustaining cost measure complements existing measures and ratios reported by the Company. All-in sustaining cost includes both operating and capital costs required to sustain gold production on an ongoing basis. Sustaining operating costs represent expenditures expected to be incurred at the Project that are considered necessary to maintain production. Sustaining capital represents expected capital expenditures comprising mine development costs, including capitalized waste, and ongoing replacement of mine equipment and other capital facilities, and does not include expected capital expenditures for major growth projects or enhancement capital for significant infrastructure improvements. __________________________ 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +44-7788-687-567 For Media Inquiries: John Vincic Oakstrom Advisors This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +1-647-402-6375 For Regulatory Inquiries: Kathy Love Corporate Secretary This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +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. First Drill Hole Confirms Presence of Porphyry & Finishes in Mineralization Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Gold Hart Copper Corp. (TSXV: HART) (the "Company", "Gold Hart", or "HART") is pleased to announce the results of the first diamond drill hole (DDHTOL02) at its flagship Tolita gold-copper-molybdenum property in the Vicuna District of Chile. Gold Hart's first diamond hole encountered long porphyry-style mineralization typical of the Vicuna District, including near continuous gold, copper, and molybdenum intercepts from approximately 137m until the end of the drill hole at 610m (473m) except for a sterile zone surrounding a potentially significant fault zone of 150m. Specifically, Gold Hart intercepted 203.5m of 0.25g/t gold equivalent from 137.5m, including a higher grade zone of 67m at 0.38g/t gold equivalent. Later in this same hole, Gold Hart intercepted another 118m of 0.24g/t gold equivalent, including 45.5m at 0.30g/t gold equivalent. The drill hole finished in mineralization. Enrique Viter-Aldunate, Vicuna pioneer and Tolita discoverer commented, "I could not be happier with the first drill hole at Tolita, as 320m+ of 0.24-0.25g/t is highly indicative of a potentially very large gold system. I recall from my personal experience drilling Cerro Casale that the first several holes did not return such an extensive and continuous presence of gold, and of course that asset has now become the largest gold-copper deposit on the continent. In fact, from around 130m to the end of the hole at 610m (nearly 480m), it would appear that there is nearly consistent mineralization except for the 150m sterile zone which we now believe to be a major geological fault. This drill hole has also significantly advanced our geological understanding of the asset, as Dr. Professor Jose Frutos and I now both strongly believe that this fault may have caused the higher-chargeability and higher-conductivity anomaly to land closer to surface on the eastern side of the property, which could potentially host higher grades. I believe this first hole (DDHTOL02) should lay to rest any questions around whether or not Tolita has potential to be a porphyry, because the drill hole clearly proves we intercepted porphyry-style mineralization typical of the Vicuna. Like this first diamond drill hole, all historic RC holes were also drilled into the western side of Tolita; so the eastern side remains completely untested, and drilling the near-surface high-chargeability high-conductivity zone must be priority number one, as was our original plan with DDHTOL01. I am extremely excited about the future as Gold Hart advances further drilling particularly on the eastern side of the asset." "We are thrilled to have encountered such long intervals of gold, copper, and molybdenum particularly so early on in our first drill hole ever at Tolita," stated Isaac Maresky, Co-founder & CEO of Gold Hart. "I am more excited than ever about the potential of Tolita and to continue the drill campaign in September. Now that we have been fortunate enough to return porphyry-style intercepts so early, with good correlation between geophysical anomalies and gold-copper-molybdenum, we can focus on honing in on the top-tier drill targets where we might find grades. Interestingly, the eastern side of the property - totally open and untested - is exactly where the chargeable geophysical anomaly is highest and also where the highest conductive zone overlaps as well." Note: For the purposes of calculating gold equivalent, the following metal prices were utilized: Gold: $3,340.20/oz Copper: $11,180/t Molybdenum: $61,917/t Gold Hart Copper - Second Hole Assay DDHTOL05 Gold Hart hopes to be in a position to report on the results from the second and final hole (DDHTOL05) from its recent ~1,200m campaign in the coming two weeks. About Gold Hart Copper Gold Hart Copper is one of the largest independent land owners surrounding major miners where the famous Maricunga Gold Belt meets the emerging Vicuna Copper Belt in Chile. HART is actively acquiring, exploring and developing its portfolio of gold, copper & silver properties adjacent to the largest gold and copper assets on the continent. In addition to its large land position in the Vicuna District, Gold Hart recently acquired three properties just West on Chile's Paleocene-Eocene Belt on the famous Domeyko Faul, which is home to some of Chile's largest gold, copper, and silver assets including Escondida, Chuquicamata and Collahuasi. The new Gold Hart properties host several historic gold and copper mines with high grades of gold, copper, and silver on surface, with a large alteration and magnetic anomaly extending approximately 6km. HART's team of geologists were personally involved in pioneering exploration in the region, leading to some of its greatest gold, copper, and silver deposits, and include the country's former Geological Survey National Deputy Manager Dr. Professor Jose Frutos. Specifically, senior Gold Hart geologists were personally involved in the Escondida copper discovery, now the largest copper mine in the world1 controlled by Rio Tinto and BHP, as well as Cerro Casale, the largest gold-copper discovery in Chile2 acquired by Barrick and Newmont (GoldCorp) with 59-million ounces of gold and 12.5-billion pounds of copper. HART has rolled-up a portfolio of historically significant assets surrounding majors, in some cases personally staked by the very same geologists who made the adjacent mega-discoveries, since the early 1990s. Some of the Gold Hart properties have already undergone a first phase of RC drilling, with highly encouraging results of gold, copper, and silver. Gold Hart properties are controlled 100% and not subject to any royalties whatsoever. HART believes it may be sitting on one of the only fully-preserved untested large-scale gold-copper-silver porphyry targets in the Vicuna District - an asset that was first recognized for its uniquely high grades of gold and copper on surface - and staked by one of the Maricunga-Vicuna district's pioneering geologists3 in 1993. Gold Hart Copper is fully funded for its planned drill campaign. About Gold Hart Copper's Tolita Gold-Copper-Silver-Molybdenum Target The Tolita property is a historically significant gold-copper-molybdenum asset which was first recognized and staked in 1993 - by one of the pioneering geologists of the Maricunga-Vicuna district - for its uniquely high grades of gold and copper on surface3. Geochemical surveys revealed gold, copper, silver, and molybdenum anomalies, which led to trenching. Tolita has had significant trenching (5,600m / 5.6km) with the highest grade trench returning grades up to 52g/t gold equivalent including 4% copper. Tolita has undergone helicopter mag surveys which identified 4 unique anomalies as well3. In 1996, a third party company optioned the property and drilled 3 short 200m RC holes, without any geophysics, and yet still hit gold and copper in all 3 holes, including long intercepts of gold and copper (150m and 164m, respectively) close to surface in 2 of the 3 holes. At the time, gold was approximately $300/oz and copper traded below $1.00/lb, and large scale sulphide / porphyry deposits with both gold and copper were often considered less favorable than smaller scale gold-only oxide deposits. As a result, and due to general market sentiment for junior exploration companies in 1997-1998, Tolita was only drilled to a depth of 200m with 3 short RC holes (out of a planned 8 hole campaign)3. When Gold Hart acquired the property, a full geophysical survey was conducted by a recognized geophysics firm, and a large high-chargeability and conductive anomaly was discovered that is near surface and almost 2.5km2 in size and "interpreted as a copper-gold or gold-copper porphyry system that certainly warrants additional exploration and drilling4". Gold Hart Copper has therefore launched diamond drilling and is fully funded for this planned campaign. References & Notes: Escondida is the largest copper mine globally, as defined by producing the greatest number of copper tonnes per annum. Numbers sourced directly from property owner's website and public filings. Norte Abierto is considered the largest gold asset in Chile as defined by hosting the largest number of total gold ounces. Numbers sourced directly from property owner's website and public filings. Please refer to the Company's NI 43-101 Technical Report on Sedar for information pertaining to Gold Hart Copper's properties including historical exploration at Tolita, including but not limited to, the history of the asset and its original staking, geochemical surveys, trenching surveys, helicopter magnetic surveys, and historical RC drilling. Geophysical survey is summarized in the Company's NI 43-101 Technical report available on Sedar. Such geophysical surveys are not definitive, and the results are still at an early stage of interpretation, with no guarantee of a mineral discovery. HART | Gold Hart Copper Corporation - Social Media Channels LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/goldhart/ X / Twitter: https://x.com/goldhartcopper Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoldHartCopper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldhartcopper/ Qualified Person The technical information contained in this news release related has been reviewed by Mr. Jonathan A. Warner, Executive Vice President of Gold Hart Copper and a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves 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", "potential", "feasibility", "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, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management, in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, including, without limitation, assumptions about: the ability of exploration results, including drilling, to accurately predict mineralization; errors in geological modelling; insufficient data; equity and debt capital markets; future spot prices of copper and zinc; the timing and results of exploration and drilling programs; the accuracy of mineral resource estimates; production costs; political and regulatory stability; the receipt of governmental and third party approvals; licenses and permits being received on favourable terms; sustained labour stability; stability in financial and capital markets; availability of mining equipment and positive relations with local communities and groups. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information are set out in the Company's listing statement dated March 14, 2025, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company'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 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. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept 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. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - K2 Gold Corporation (TSXV: KTO) (OTCQB: KTGDF) (FSE: 23K) ("K2" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on exploration and permitting progress at its 100% - owned Mojave Project, a highly prospective oxide gold project located in Inyo County, California. Highlights: Permitting Nears Key Milestone: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is preparing the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for K2's Mojave Project following the close of the public comment period. The Final EIS will address all substantive public input and support the advancement of the Phase II drill program. High-Grade Gold Confirmed at New Zones: Ongoing surface exploration continues to expand the footprint of known mineralization: Gold Valley : Rock samples collected over 100m south of the original discovery zone returned values of 27.6 g/t Au and 21.5 g/t Au . : Rock samples collected over 100m south of the original discovery zone returned values of and . Flores Area (East Zone): Reconnaissance sampling returned 3.07 g/t Au and 4.02 g/t Au, in the vicinity of K2's high-grade chip-channel sampling at the target (3.78 g/t Au over 43m in channel 19-MOT-006). Phase III Drill Targets Taking Shape: Field work has focused on targets beyond the current drill permit boundary, targeting future drilling at Gold Valley and East Zone-two areas with significant discovery potential. "As we move closer to finalizing the EIS, our confidence in the scale and quality of the Mojave Project continues to grow," stated Anthony Margarit, President and CEO of K2 Gold. "These new high-grade surface results reinforce our belief that Mojave represents one of the most compelling underexplored oxide gold systems in the western U.S." Mojave Rock Sampling Program Overview: During the most recent program, 74 rock samples were collected from the Eastern Target Area, focused on extending and integrating emerging zones into a broader geologic framework. The effort was designed to prioritize high-potential drill targets for a future Phase III campaign. Figure 1: Mojave Project - Eastern Target Area 2025 Gold in Rocks Gold Valley Zone: High-grade grab samples* (27.6 g/t and 21.5 g/t Au) were recovered from quartz-rich boulders approximately 130m SSE of previous Gold Valley discovery samples. This marks the first example of high-grade, quartz-hosted gold at this target, expanding the known styles of mineralization at Mojave. *Grab samples are selective in nature and may not represent underlying mineralization. Figure 2: Mojave Project - Gold Valley & Dragonfly Target Areas 2025 Gold in Rocks East Zone / Flores Target: Located east of the primary Dragonfly-Newmont-Gold Valley corridor, the East Zone hosts multiple structurally controlled gold targets. Sampling in the vicinity of the Flores Target, (where K2 collected a chip-channel sample which returned 3.78 g/t Au over 43m in 2019) confirmed contact-hosted gold mineralization over 280m to the southwest (3.07 g/t Au) and 750m to the southeast (4.02 g/t Au) of the discovery channel sample. The samples were collected at structural contacts between a panel of graded limestone and two separate packages of siltstone. The broader East Zone includes additional anomalous zones such as Broken Hill several unnamed clusters of surficial gold anomalism. Figure 3: Mojave Project - East Zone & Flores Target Areas 2025 Gold in Rocks Permitting Progress - Final EIS in Preparation K2 remains on track in its permitting process for Phase II drilling. The Company is working closely with the BLM and technical consultants to incorporate public feedback received during the 45-day comment period for the Draft EIS. The Final EIS will ensure regulatory compliance and environmental stewardship, and its completion represents a significant milestone for advancing exploration activities at Mojave. Qualified Person ("QP") and QA/QC The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Eric Buitenhuis, M.Sc., P.Geo., K2's QP and Vice President of Exploration. The analytical work for the rock sampling programs was performed by ALS Laboratories ("ALS") in Reno, Nevada and North Vancouver, British Columbia. Samples were submitted to ALS's Reno, Nevada facility where they were prepared using procedure PREP-31 (crush, split, and pulverize 250g to better than 85% passing 75 microns). Pulp samples were then analysed for gold by method Au-AA23, a 30-gram Fire Assay fusion with an atomic absorption finish (AAS). A 0.5g pulp was analysed by aqua-regia acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) for 36 elements using method ME-ICP41. Samples containing >10 g/t Au were analyzed by Au-GRA21, a 30-gram Fire Assay fusion with gravimetric finish. Samples containing overlimit silver, copper, lead, or zinc were analyzed by methods Ag-OG62, Cu-OG62, Pb-OG62, and Zn-OG62, which are aqua regia digests with ore grade ICP finishes. About K2 Gold Corporation K2 Gold is a member of the Discovery Group and is focused on advancing gold exploration projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions across the Western U.S. and Canada. The Company's flagship Mojave Project covers 5,830 hectares and includes multiple previously drilled oxide gold targets. Since acquiring the project, K2 has advanced exploration through geochemical, geophysical, and remote sensing surveys, as well as RC drilling. Notable past drill highlights include: 4.0 g/t Au over 86.9m from surface at the Dragonfly Zone at the Dragonfly Zone 1.69 g/t Au over 41.15m at the Newmont Zone K2 also holds: The Si2 Gold Project in Nevada, a large steam-heated alteration system with confirmed gold mineralization and compelling similarities to AngloGold Ashanti's Expanded Silicon project (3.40 Moz Au at 0.87 g/t Au Indicated Resource, 12.91 Moz Au at 1.03 g/t Au Inferred Resource 1 . in Nevada, a large steam-heated alteration system with confirmed gold mineralization and compelling similarities to AngloGold Ashanti's Expanded Silicon project (3.40 Moz Au at 0.87 g/t Au Indicated Resource, 12.91 Moz Au at 1.03 g/t Au Inferred Resource . The Wels Project in Yukon, Canada, where recent drilling intersected gold in all holes and outlined a new mineralized corridor at the Saddle South target. K2 Gold is committed to responsible exploration, Indigenous and community engagement, and advancing high-quality projects through a collaborative and technically disciplined approach. K2 Gold Corporation is a proud member of Discovery Group based in Vancouver, Canada. For more information please visit: discoverygroup.ca. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that are not historical facts. Forward- looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the exploration program at Si2, Wels, and Mojave, including results of drilling, and future exploration plans at Si2, Wels, and Mojave. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its planned activities, and the Company's inability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies. The reader is referred to the Company's public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR+ (sedarplus.ca). Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply 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. Except as required by securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This news 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, including any of the securities in the United States of America. No securities of the Company have been or will, in the foreseeable future, be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. 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 Highlights: Courvan Trend infill drilling results intersected near-surface gold zones with significant grades up to 8.7 g/t Au over 6 metres (cut) including 50 g/t Au over 1.0 metres and an intersection of 7.2 g/t Au over 6 metres . infill drilling results intersected near-surface gold zones with including 50 g/t Au over 1.0 metres and an intersection . The recently completed 50,000-metre winter infill drilling program was designed to support the upcoming 2025 Pre-Feasibility Study, which is expected by year-end. TORONTO, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Probe Gold Inc. (TSX: PRB) (OTCQB: PROBF) (Probe or the Company), is pleased to provide the latest results from the Novador in-fill drill program on its 100%-owned Novador property (the Property) located near Val-dOr, Quebec. The 50,000-metre winter infill drill program, initiated during the fall of 2024, was designed to support the 2025 pre-feasibility study. Results from thirty-six (36) infill drill holes, totaling 8,202 metres, have returned significant gold intercepts from near-surface to approximately 200 metres vertical depth in the Bussiere and Creek deposit areas. (see figure 1 and table of selected drill results below). David Palmer, President and CEO of Probe, states, The infill drilling program at Novador continues to deliver strong results, confirming mineral continuity and underscoring meaningful expansion potential along strike and at depth at Courvan. These winter drill results will play a critical role in supporting resource conversion and will be incorporated into the upcoming Pre-Feasibility Study, an important step forward in advancing Novador toward development. Were making steady progress across key areas, including permitting, resource growth, and mine plan optimization. Backed by a strong treasury, we remain fully committed to positioning Novador as a top-tier gold development project. These latest in-fill drilling results will continue to enhance our 3D models with the addition of new high-grade intercepts at Creek. The Courvan Creek Zone remains open for significant expansion along strike and at depth. Selected infill drill results from the Courvan Creek deposit drilling program are as follows: Hole Number From (m) To (m) Length (m) Gold (g/t) Zone CO-25-504 42.0 46.5 4.5 5.6 Creek 001A Including 43.5 45.0 1.5 15.2 Creek 001A CO-25-504 126.0 135.0 9.0 2.1 Creek 004 Including 133.0 134.1 1.1 11.1 Creek 004 CO-25-508 103.0 109.0 6.0 7.2 Creek 004 Including 107.0 108.0 1.0 35.3 Creek 004 CO-25-509 34.0 41.5 7.5 2.9 Creek 001A Including 34.0 35.0 1.0 13.1 Creek 001A CO-25-509 121.0 125.5 4.5 4.5 Creek 004 Including 122.5 124.0 1.5 11.4 Creek 004 CO-25-514 98.0 101.0 3.0 5.1 New Including 98.0 99.0 1.0 14.4 New CO-25-515 70.0 71.0 1.0 10.1 Creek 002 CO-25-515 79.0 83.0 4.0 2.7 Creek 003 Including 81.0 82.0 1.0 9.0 Creek 003 CO-25-515 107.0 113.0 6.0 4.1 Creek 004 Including 111.0 112.0 1.0 17.6 Creek 004 CO-25-516 209.0 210.0 1.0 21.7 New CO-25-518 87.0 89.0 2.0 8.8 Creek 004 Including 87.0 88.0 1.0 12.1 Creek 004 CO-25-520 96.8 97.8 1.0 10.2 Creek 004 CO-25-522x 503.0 512.0 9.0 2.1 Creek 018 CO-25-523 79.0 83.0 4.0 5.1 Creek 001 Including 79.0 80.0 1.0 17.6 Creek 001 CO-25-524 16.0 19.0 3.0 4.8 Creek 001A Including 18.0 19.0 1.0 9.6 Creek 001A CO-25-524 110.0 114.0 4.0 8.8 Creek 004 Including 111.0 112.0 1.0 29.3 Creek 004 CO-25-532 116.0 117.0 1.0 16.1 Creek 004 CO-25-532 209.0 213.0 4.0 11.7 New Including 211.0 212.0 1.0 36.5 New CO-25-533 524.0 530.0 6.0 10.9 Creek 018 (Uncut) Including 525.0 526.0 1.0 63.3 Creek 018 (Uncut) CO-25-533 524.0 530.0 6.0 8.7 Creek 018 (Cut) Including 525.0 526.0 1.0 50.0 Creek 018 (Cut) CO-25-534 133.0 136.5 3.5 6.0 BM-17 Including 133.0 134.0 1.0 19.9 BM-17 CO-25-535 597.7 607.0 9.3 1.5 Creek 019 Including 597.7 599.0 1.3 9.4 Creek 019 CO-25-535 698.7 706.0 7.3 4.5 Creek 024 Including 705.0 706.0 1.0 26.9 Creek 024 CO-25-535 718.0 719.0 1.0 12.2 New (1) All the new analytical results reported in this release and in this table, are presented in core length and cut to 50 g/t Au when needed. True width is estimated between 65 to 95 % of core length. Only grade times thickness above 10.0 g/t Au * m is reported. Figure 1: Courvan Area Surface Map Courvan Gold Trend new drilling results Mineralization along the Courvan trend, including Bussiere Mine and Creek sectors, is characterized by a series of shallow-dipping East-West gold-bearing veins spatially associated with shear zones that intersect the Bourlamaque granodiorite batholith. The veins encountered containing gold are primarily composed of sulphide-bearing quartz-carbonate-tourmaline, and gold is typically associated with centimetre-scale pyrite masses within the veins. Gold mineralization intersected in the volcanics is associated with a shear zone and sulphide-bearing quartz-carbonate-tourmaline veins. The Bussiere deposit remains open laterally and at depth. Qualified Person The scientific and technical content of this press release has been prepared, reviewed, and approved by Mr. Vivien Janvier, P.Geo, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Quality Control During the last drilling program, assay samples were taken from the NQ core by sawing the drill core in half, with one-half sent to a certified commercial laboratory and the other half retained for future reference. A strict QA/QC program was applied to all samples, which includes insertion of mineralized standards and blank samples for each batch of 20 samples. The gold analyses were completed by fire-assayed with an atomic absorption finish on 50 grams of materials. Repeats were carried out by fire-assay followed by gravimetric testing on each sample containing 3.0 g/t gold or more. Total gold analyses (Metallic Sieve) were carried out on the samples which presented a great variation of their gold contents or the presence of visible gold. About Probes Novador Project Since 2016, Probe Gold has been consolidating its land position in the highly prospective Val dOr East area in the province of Quebec with a district-scale land package of 842 square kilometres that represents one of the largest land holdings in the Val-dOr mining camp. The Novador project represents one property block of 202 square kilometres that hosts four past producing mines (Beliveau Mine, Bussiere Mine, Monique Mine and Beaufor Mine) and contains 80% of the Companys gold resources in Val-dOr East. Novador is situated in a politically stable and low-cost mining environment that hosts numerous active producers and mills. About Probe Gold Probe Gold Inc. is a leading Canadian company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of highly prospective gold properties. The Company is well-funded and dedicated to exploring and developing high-quality gold projects. Notably, it owns 100% of its flagship asset, the multimillion-ounce Novador Gold Project in Quebec, as well as an early-stage Detour Gold Quebec project. Probe controls a large land package of approximately 1798-square-kilometres of exploration ground within some of the most prolific gold belts in Quebec. The Companys recent Novador updated Preliminary Economic Assessment outlines a robust mining plan with an average annual gold production of 255,000 ounces over a 12.6-year mine life. Val-dOr properties include gold resources totaling 6,728,600 ounces in the Measured and Indicated category and 3,277,100 ounces in the Inferred category along all trends and deposits. On behalf of Probe Gold Inc., Dr. David Palmer, President & Chief Executive Officer For further information: Please visit our website at www.probegold.com or contact: Seema Sindwani Vice-President of Investor Relations This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +1.416.777.9467 Forward-Looking Statements Neither TSX Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties, and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Companys objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to failure to identify mineral resources, failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves, the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, inability to fulfill the duty to accommodate First Nations and other indigenous peoples, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, and those risks set out in the Companys public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. New Drilling Returns Longest Continuous Intercept to Date of 853 Metres Averaging 0.20% Cu, 1.43 g/t Ag, and 0.02% Mo (0.30% CuEq) MONTREAL, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Metals Incorporated (the Company" or "Osisko Metals") (TSX-V: OM; OTCQX: OMZNF; FRANKFURT: 0B51) is pleased to announce new drill results from the Gaspe Copper Project, located in the Gaspe Peninsula of Eastern Quebec. Osisko Metals Chief Executive Officer Robert Wares commented: These new results underscore the overall large-scale potential of mineralization at Gaspe Copper, with drill hole 1082 cutting 853 metres of continuous mineralization, including the bottom 424 metres being located immediately below and outside the 2024 MRE model. Furthermore, drill hole 1088 intersected new mineralization 80 metres southwest of the 2024 MRE model, emphasizing the excellent potential for increasing the size of the known deposit at depth and to the south. Significant new analytical results are presented below (see Table 1) and include 35 mineralized intercepts from ten drill holes. Infill intercepts are all located inside the 2024 Mineral Resource Estimate model (MRE, see November 14, 2024 news release), and are focused on upgrading inferred mineral resources to measured or indicated categories, as applicable. Expansion intercepts are all located outside the 2024 MRE model and may potentially lead to additional resources that will be classified appropriately within the next MRE update. Some of the reported intercepts have contiguous shallower infill as well as deeper expansion (noted on Table 1 below as Both**). Maps showing hole locations are available at www.osiskometals.com. Highlights: Drill hole 30-1082 853.5 metres averaging 0.20% Cu (infill and expansion) 147.5 metres averaging 0.19% Cu (infill) Drill hole 30-1089 645.0 metres averaging 0.28% Cu (infill and expansion) 91.5 metres averaging 0.21% Cu (infill) Drill hole 30-1083 427.5 metres averaging 0.26% Cu (infill and expansion) 153 metres averaging 0.18% Cu (infill) Drill hole 30-0974 351.0 metres averaging 0.20% Cu (expansion) 295.5 metres averaging 0.29% Cu (infill) Drill hole 30-1087 334.5 metres averaging 0.23% Cu (infill) 74.5 metres averaging 0.62% Cu (expansion) Drill hole 30-1094 227.5 metres averaging 0.26% Cu (infill) 49.9 metres averaging 0.24% Cu (expansion) Drill hole 30-1088 122.7 metres averaging 0.24% Cu (expansion) 79.5 metres averaging 0.31% Cu (expansion) Drill hole 30-1091 42.6 metres averaging 1.14% Cu (expansion) 210 metres averaging 0.21% Cu (infill) Table 1: Infill and Expansion Drilling Results DDH No. From (m) To (m) Length (m) Cu % Ag g/t Mo % CuEq* Type 30-0974 6.0 301.5 295.5 0.29 1.88 <0.005 0.30 Infill And 322.5 673.5 351.0 0.20 1.72 0.017 0.27 Expansion And 733.5 781.5 48.0 0.32 2.00 <0.005 0.33 Expansion 30-1082 21.0 69.0 48.0 0.19 1.46 <0.005 0.20 Infill And 112.0 259.5 147.5 0.19 1.86 <0.005 0.20 Infill And 286.5 1140.0 853.5 0.20 1.43 0.023 0.30 Both** (including) 286.5 716.0 429.5 0.20 1.52 0.020 0.28 Infill (including) 716.0 1140.0 424.0 0.21 1.33 0.026 0.32 Expansion 30-1083 65.0 101.0 36.0 0.22 1.78 <0.005 0.23 Infill And 138.0 174.0 36.0 0.15 1.66 <0.005 0.16 Infill And 202.5 355.5 153.0 0.18 1.56 0.011 0.31 Infill And 388.5 816.0 427.5 0.26 1.54 0.021 0.35 Both** (including) 388.5 488.0 99.5 0.31 1.90 0.025 0.42 Infill (including) 488.0 816.0 328.0 0.24 1.43 0.020 0.32 Expansion And 846.0 900.0 55.5 0.16 1.34 0.006 0.19 Expansion 30-1087 13.8 54.0 40.2 0.17 1.82 <0.005 0.18 Infill And 78.0 412.4 334.5 0.23 1.93 0.011 0.28 Infill And 447.0 521.5 74.5 0.62 3.19 0.004 0.65 Expansion And 550.2 598.5 48.3 0.36 2.83 0.013 0.43 Expansion 30-1088 69.0 111.0 42.0 0.32 2.20 <0.005 0.33 Expansion And 139.5 262.2 122.7 0.24 2.63 <0.005 0.25 Expansion And 445.0 524.3 79.5 0.31 2.19 0.005 0.34 Expansion 30-1089 5.2 96.0 91.5 0.21 1.54 <0.005 0.22 Infill And 211.5 235.5 25.5 0.13 1.54 0.006 0.14 Infill And 268.5 294.0 27.0 0.16 1.54 <0.005 0.14 Infill And 319.5 964.5 645.0 0.28 1.46 0.023 0.37 Both** (including) 319.5 567.8 248.3 0.26 1.65 0.023 0.36 Infill (including) 567.8 964.5 396.7 0.30 1.34 0.023 0.40 Expansion 30-1091 5.5 28.5 23.0 0.50 6.62 <0.005 0.54 Infill And 109.5 135.0 25.5 0.13 1.35 <0.005 0.14 Infill And 169.5 379.5 210.0 0.21 2.10 <0.005 0.22 Infill And 408.0 446.0 38.0 0.22 1.50 0.013 0.28 Expansion And 540.4 583.0 42.6 1.14 5.86 0.009 1.20 Expansion 30-1093 14.0 126.0 112.0 0.25 2.73 <0.005 0.26 Infill And 346.0 373.5 27.5 0.13 1.19 <0.005 0.14 Expansion And 576.5 643.5 67.0 0.20 2.13 <0.005 0.21 Expansion And 714.8 738.7 23.9 0.50 4.57 <0.005 0.53 Expansion And 811.5 834.4 22.9 0.48 5.40 <0.005 0.51 Expansion 30-1094 8.0 235.5 227.5 0.26 2.11 <0.005 0.27 Infill And 268.5 325.5 57.0 0.13 1.33 0.020 0.21 Infill And 388.5 414.5 26.0 0.49 3.00 0.008 0.54 Expansion And 511.1 561.0 49.9 0.24 1.99 <0.005 0.25 Expansion * Please see explanatory notes below on copper equivalent values and Quality Assurance / Quality Control. ** Both indicates these drill holes have contiguous shallower infill as well as deeper expansion intercepts. Discussion Drill hole 30-0974 was an extension of a shallow (300 m) hole drilled in 2019, located near the southwestern margin of the 2024 MRE model. It returned 295.5 metres averaging 0.29% Cu and 1.88 g/t Ag (infill) followed by a second intercept of 351.2 metres averaging 0.20% Cu and 1.72 g/t Ag (expansion) and a third deeper intercept of 48.0 metres averaging 0.32% Cu and 2.00 g/t Ag (expansion), extending mineralization to a vertical depth of 780 metres. Drill hole 30-1082, located on top of Copper Mountain near the central part of the 2024 MRE model, intersected 48.0 metres averaging 0.19% Cu and 1.46 g/t Ag (infill), followed by a second intercept of 147.5 metres averaging 0.19% Cu and 1.86 g/t Ag (infill), followed by a third deeper intercept of 853.5 metres averaging 0.20% Cu, 1.43 g/t Ag and 0.023% Mo. The latter incudes an expansion lower intercept, below the base of the 2024 MRE model, of 424.0 metres averaging 0.21% Cu, 1.33 g/t Ag and 0.026% Mo. This hole extends mineralization near the centre of the deposit to a vertical depth of 1140 metres. Drill hole 30-1083, located in the south-central part of the 2024 MRE model, intersected two short 36 metre-long mineralized zones followed by 153.0 metres averaging 0.18% Cu and 1.56 g/t Ag (infill), followed by a deeper intercept of 427.5 metres averaging 0.26% Cu, 1.54 g/t Ag and 0.021% Mo. The latter incudes an expansion lower intercept, below the base of the 2024 MRE model, of 328.0 metres averaging 0.24% Cu, 1.43 g/t Ag and 0.020% Mo. This was followed by a final intercept of 55.5 metres averaging 0.16% Cu and 1.34 g/t Ag. This hole extends mineralization to a vertical depth of 900 metres. Drill hole 30-1087, located in the south-central part of the 2024 MRE model, intersected a short 40 metre-long mineralized zone followed by 334.5 metres averaging 0.23% Cu, 1.93 g/t Ag and 0.011% Mo (infill). This was followed by 74.5 metres averaging 0.62% Cu and 3.19 g/t Ag and then by another 48.3 metres averaging 0.36% Cu and 2.83 g/t Ag (both expansion), extending mineralization to a vertical depth of 598 metres. Drill hole 30-1088, located 80 metres outside the southwestern limit of the 2024 MRE model, intersected 42.0 metres averaging 0.32% Cu and 2.20 g/t Ag followed by 122.7 metres averaging 0.24% Cu and 2.63 g/t Ag. A third intersection at depth comprised 79.5 metres averaging 0.31% Cu and 2.19 g/t Ag (all expansion). Previously undocumented mineralization in this sector reached a vertical depth of 524 metres. Drill hole 30-1089, located in the south-central part of the 2024 MRE model, intersected 91.5 metres averaging 0.21% Cu and 1.54 g/t Ag (infill), followed by two short 26 to 27 metre-long mineralized zones, followed by 645.0 metres averaging 0.28% Cu, 1.46 g/t Ag and 0.023% Mo. The latter incudes an expansion lower intercept, below the base of the 2024 MRE model, of 396.7 metres averaging 0.30% Cu, 1.34 g/t Ag and 0.023% Mo. This hole extends mineralization to a vertical depth of 965 metres. Drill hole 30-1091, located in the southeastern part of the 2024 MRE model, intersected two short 23 to 26 metre-long mineralized zones, followed by 210.0 metres averaging 0.21% Cu and 2.10 g/t Ag (infill). This was followed by 38.0 metres averaging 0.22% Cu and 1.50 g/t Ag and then by another 42.6 metres averaging 1.14% Cu and 5.86 g/t Ag (both expansion), extending mineralization to a vertical depth of 583 metres where the hole was stopped in an open stope of historical E Zone mining operations. Drill hole 30-1093, located near the southeastern margin of the 2024 MRE model, intersected 112.0 metres averaging 0.25% Cu and 2.73 g/t Ag (infill), followed by four short 23 to 67 metre-long mineralized zones (all expansion), which extended mineralization to a vertical depth of 834 metres. Drill hole 30-1094, located near the southern limit of the 2024 MRE model, intersected 227.5 metres averaging 0.26% Cu and 2.11 g/t Ag (infill), followed by 57.0 metres averaging 0.13% Cu and 1.33 g/t Ag (infill), followed by two short 26 to 50 metre-long mineralized zones (both expansion), which extended mineralization to a vertical depth of 561 metres. Mineralization occurs as disseminations and stockworks of chalcopyrite with pyrite or pyrrhotite and minor bornite and molybdenite. At least five retrograde vein/stockwork mineralizing events have been recognized at Copper Mountain, which overprint earlier prograde skarn and porcellanite-hosted mineralization throughout the Gaspe Copper system. Porcellanite is a historical mining term used to describe bleached, pale green to white potassic-altered hornfels. Subvertical stockwork mineralization dominates at Copper Mountain whereas prograde bedded replacement mineralization, which is mostly stratigraphically controlled, dominates in the area of Needle Mountain, Needle East and Copper Brook. High molybdenum grades (up to 0.5% Mo) were locally obtained in both the C Zone and E Zone skarns away from Copper Mountain. The 2022 to 2024 Osisko Metals drill programs were focused on defining open-pit resources within the Copper Mountain stockwork mineralization (see May 6, 2024 MRE press release). Extending the resource model south of Copper Mountain into the poorly-drilled prograde skarn/porcellanite portion of the system subsequently led to a significantly increased resource, mostly in the Inferred category (see November 14, 2024 MRE press release). The current drill program is designed to convert of the November 2024 MRE to Measured and Indicated categories, as well as test the expansion of the system deeper into the stratigraphy and laterally to the south and southwest towards Needle East and Needle Mountain respectively. The November 2024 MRE was limited at depth to the base of the L1 skarn horizon (C Zone), and all mineralized intersections below this horizon represent potential depth extensions to the deposit, to be included in the next scheduled MRE update in Q1 2026. All holes are being drilled sub-vertically into the altered calcareous stratigraphy which dips 20 to 25 degrees to the north. The L1 (C Zone) and the L2 (E Zone) skarn/marble horizons were intersected in most holes, as well as intervening porcellanites that host the bulk of the disseminated copper mineralization. Table 2: Drill hole locations DDH No. Azimuth () Dip () Length (m) UTM E UTM N Elevation 30-0974 42 -88 501.0 316178.9 5425842.2 585.3 30-1082 0 -90 1161.0 316097.0 5426259.0 754.8 30-1083 0 -90 930.0 316300.0 5426004.9 642.3 30-1087 0 -90 770.5 316411.0 5425787.0 583.7 30-1088 0 -90 654.0 316100.0 5425613.0 570.6 30-1089 0 -90 1032.0 316273.8 5426098.5 686.9 30-1091 0 -90 583.0 316500.0 5425897.0 608.1 30-1093 0 -90 849.0 316687.0 5425707.0 577.5 30-1094 0 -90 720.0 316178.9 5425842.2 720.0 Explanatory note regarding copper-equivalent grades Copper Equivalent grades are expressed for purposes of simplicity and are calculated taking into account: 1) metal grades; 2) estimated long-term prices of metals: US$4.25/lb copper, $20.00/lb molybdenum and US$24/oz silver; 3) estimated recoveries of 92%, 70% and 70% for Cu, Mo and Ag respectively; and 4) net smelter return value of metals as percentage of the price, estimated at 86.5%, 90.7% and 75.0% for Cu, Mo and Ag respectively. Qualified Person The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed, prepared, and approved by Mr. Bernard-Olivier Martel, P. Geo. (OGQ 492), an independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101). Quality Assurance / Quality Control Mineralized intervals reported herein are calculated using an average 0.12% CuEq lower cut-off over contiguous 20-metre intersections (shorter intervals as the case may be at the upper and lower limits of reported intervals). Intervals of 20 metres or less are reported unless indicating significantly higher grades. True widths are estimated at 90 92% of the reported core length intervals. Osisko Metals adheres to a strict QA/QC program for core handling, sampling, sample transportation and analyses, including insertion of blanks and standards in the sample stream. Drill core is drilled in HQ or NQ diameter and securely transported to its core processing facility on site, where it is logged, cut and sampled. Samples selected for assay are sealed and shipped to ALS Canada Ltd.s preparation facility in Sudbury. Sample preparation details (code PREP-31DH) are available on the ALS Canada website. Pulps are analyzed at the ALS Canada Ltd. facility in North Vancouver, BC. All samples are analyzed by four acid digestion followed by both ICP-AES and ICP-MS for Cu, Mo and Ag. About Osisko Metals Osisko Metals Incorporated is a Canadian exploration and development company creating value in the critical metals sector, with a focus on copper and zinc. The Company acquired a 100% interest in the past-producing Gaspe Copper mine from Glencore Canada Corporation in July 2023. The Gaspe Copper mine is located near Murdochville in Quebec's Gaspe Peninsula. The Company is currently focused on resource expansion of the Gaspe Copper system, with current Indicated Mineral Resources of 824 Mt averaging 0.34% CuEq and Inferred Mineral Resources of 670 Mt averaging 0.38% CuEq (in compliance with NI 43-101). For more information, see Osisko Metals' November 14, 2024 news release entitled "Osisko Metals Announces Significant Increase in Mineral Resource at Gaspe Copper". Gaspe Copper hosts the largest undeveloped copper resource in eastern North America, strategically located near existing infrastructure in the mining-friendly province of Quebec. In addition to the Gaspe Copper project, the Company is working with Appian Capital Advisory LLP through the Pine Point Mining Limited joint venture to advance one of Canada's largest past-producing zinc mining camps, the Pine Point project, located in the Northwest Territories. The current mineral resource estimate for the Pine Point project consists of Indicated Mineral Resources of 49.5 Mt averaging 5.52% ZnEq and Inferred Mineral Resources of 8.3 Mt averaging 5.64% ZnEq (in compliance with NI 43-101). For more information, see Osisko Metals' June 25, 2024 news release entitled "Osisko Metals releases Pine Point mineral resource estimate: 49.5 million tonnes of indicated resources at 5.52% ZnEq". The Pine Point project is located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, NWT, close to infrastructure, with paved road access, an electrical substation and 100 kilometers of viable haul roads. For further information on this news release, visit www.osiskometals.com or contact: Don Njegovan, President Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Phone: (416) 500-4129 Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves 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", "potential", "feasibility", "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, 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 news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to, among other things: the tax treatment of the FT Units; the timing of incurring the Qualifying Expenditures and the renunciation of the Qualifying Expenditures; the ability to advance Gaspe Copper to a construction decision (if at all); the ability to increase the Company's trading liquidity and enhance its capital markets presence; the potential re-rating of the Company; the ability for the Company to unlock the full potential of its assets and achieve success; the ability for the Company to create value for its shareholders; the advancement of the Pine Point project; the anticipated resource expansion of the Gaspe Copper system and Gaspe Copper hosting the largest undeveloped copper resource in eastern North America. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management, in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, including, without limitation, assumptions about: the ability of exploration results, including drilling, to accurately predict mineralization; errors in geological modelling; insufficient data; equity and debt capital markets; future spot prices of copper and zinc; the timing and results of exploration and drilling programs; the accuracy of mineral resource estimates; production costs; political and regulatory stability; the receipt of governmental and third party approvals; licenses and permits being received on favourable terms; sustained labour stability; stability in financial and capital markets; availability of mining equipment and positive relations with local communities and groups. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information are set out in the Company's public disclosure record on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Osisko Metals' 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 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. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept 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. Intends to Release Assay Results of 1,216 Meters of Drilling Over Course of Next 6-8 Weeks Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 15, 2025) - Gold Hart Copper Corp. (TSXV: HART) (formerly Vicunau Metals... Read More Venezuela announced a probe Monday into torture claims by 252 migrants the United States had sent to a notorious Salvadoran prison where they said they were beaten, sexually abused and fed rotten food. Attorney General Tarek William Saab presented photos and testimonies at a news conference in Caracas of some of the men, who said they had feared not making it out alive. Several had bruises on their bodies, marks of being shot with rubber bullets, and one had a split lip. Andry Hernandez Romero, a 32-year-old beautician among those sent to the notorious CECOT prison as part of US President Donald Trump's migrant crackdown, said he barely survived the ordeal. "We were going through torture, physical aggressions, psychological aggressions," he said in a video presented by Saab. "I was sexually abused." Saab said the prosecutor's office was interviewing the returned migrants. Many spoke of being held in "inhuman cells," deprived of sunlight and ventilation, and given rotten food and unsafe drinking water. The men had no access to lawyers or their relatives, and the last time many of them were seen was when President Nayib Bukele's government issued photos of them arriving at the prison shackled and with their heads shorn. - 'Mom, it's Mervin' - By Monday afternoon, the migrants had not yet been reunited with their families. Officials said they were undergoing medical exams, being issued with new Venezuelan ID cards, and interviewed by the prosecutor's office. Mercedes Yamarte, 46, told AFP she was preparing a welcome party for her 29-year-old son Mervin -- one of the men released from the prison Bukele built as part of his mass anti-gang crackdown. She had put up balloons, banners and prepared food at their home in a poor neighborhood of Maracaibo in northern Venezuela, but had no idea when to expect him. At lunchtime on Monday, she received a call, and heard the words: "Mom, it's Mervin." "I hadn't heard my son's voice in four months and seven days, listening to him was a joy, a joy I cannot describe," she told AFP. - Crimes against humanity - The men were accused in the United States of being gang members and flown in March to El Salvador, after Trump invoked rarely used wartime laws to deport the men without court hearings. Their treatment elicited an international outcry. Saab said the Venezuelan investigation would target Bukele and other Salvadoran officials for alleged crimes against humanity. And he urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the UN Human Rights Council to act. The men were freed last Friday and flown back home in what the Trump administration said was an exchange for 10 Americans or US residents and dozens of "political prisoners" held in Venezuela. President Nicolas Maduro on his TV show Monday claimed Bukele had tried "last minute" to prevent the migrants from leaving. "You could not stop the first plane, but for the second plane he put some car on the runway... to provoke either an accident or prevent them from leaving," he said. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado labeled the process as an "exchange of prisoners of war" during a television interview Monday. Venezuela itself faces an investigation by the ICC in The Hague, with similar allegations of torturing prisoners and denying them access to legal representation. Hundreds of people are held for political reasons in Venezuela, according to rights group Foro Penal. Some 2,400 people were arrested, 28 killed and 200 injured in a crackdown on protests that broke out last July after Maduro claimed victory in elections he is widely accused of having stolen. On Sunday, Maduro's government insisted negotiations for the migrants' release were held "only with the United States of America" and not "the clown" Bukele. jt/nn/jgc/mtp SAAB AB On 26 February 2022, Russian tanker Mikhail Kulikov fired at a multi-storey building on Kiltseva Street in Chernihiv, northern Ukraine. The investigation revealed that Kulikov was given an order by Russian Major Leonid Shchotkin to turn the tank's turret towards the newly constructed building and make an aimed shot. Kulikov hit an apartment on the tenth floor. There were no people inside. The Ukrainian military took both tankers prisoner the same day. Shchotkin, an officer, was exchanged two weeks later. The Desnianskyi District Court of Chernihiv tried Kulikov from June to August 2022. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Ukrainian lawyer from Chernihiv Pavlo Kostiuchenko defended him. Despite the high profile of this first in-person trial of a Russian soldier in the Chernihiv oblast, Kostiuchenko said that for him it was an ordinary case, no different from drug dealers who spread drugs and also kill people. He even said that he hardly remembers it. There are a lot of cases. As for this man, I no longer remember him as a person, nor do I recall the details. I was appointed to defend him, and I did my job. I don't focus on one person. I completed the case and moved on. Defending criminals is a lawyer's job, he said. The law provides for a defence, so it doesn't matter whether it's a military or a civilian defendant. Why would you work at the Bar if you are going to refuse to defend someone? A lawyer cannot resign of his own accord. Only the client can revoke his consent. If not me, then another lawyer will defend. Oleksandr Baranov, director of the Coordination Centre for Legal Aid: There was a case when the interpreter told the lawyer directly to his face that he was a traitor because he was defending a Russian. As a result, the interpreter was replaced." Ukraine is a rare example of a country that prosecutes war criminals during the active phase of the war. War crimes supects began to be massively tried in Ukrainian courts soon after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The Constitution of Ukraine prescribes that everyone has the right to a defence. Lawyers for accused Russian soldiers are appointed through Ukraines free legal aid (FLA) system. The register of lawyers who can provide free legal aid includes more than 9,000 specialists, but only 3,000 of them sign contracts with the FLA system every year. However, not all of them may take cases related to war crimes, explained Oleksandr Baranov, director of the Coordination Centre for Legal Aid Provision. Such cases are not tried across all regions of the country. And not all lawyers are willing to provide such a defence because of their opinions or the way they have been personally affected by the war. This decision [to defend Russian servicemen] is taken by the lawyer on his own accord. There is no such clause in the lawyer's code about whether or not to defend. It's more about the fact that a lawyer can refuse an assignment if he or she realises that he or she will not be able to provide the [required] quality of service or is inexperienced in this type of cases. Some lawyers, when they sign contracts with us, simply indicate which kind of cases they will not take, Baranov said. Traitors Then there is the stigma. Lawyers are often associated with suspects in Ukraine, notes Baranov. Because of this, they can be accused of being traitors defending war criminals. People do not think that a lawyer assures his client's access to a fair trial, and that this is his professional duty, he said. There was a case when the interpreter told the lawyer directly to his face that he was a traitor because he was defending a Russian. As a result, the interpreter was replaced. In fact, this situation is not the first. Lawyers have been associated with clients for a long time. I know lawyers whose cars were burned down, and Grabovsky was killed because of his professional duties, he continued, referring to Iouri Grabovsky, a Ukrainian lawyer who was murdered in March 2016 while defending a Russian citizen captured in Eastern Ukraine. Most cases involving Russian soldiers in Ukraine are tried in absentia. According to the Prosecutor General's Office, since February 2022 and until 8 July 2025, 175,363 war crimes have been documented in Ukraine. And as of 1 July 2025, 679 indictments have been submitted to courts on war crimes charges. As of 8 July 2025, the Chernihiv oblast Prosecutor's Office has registered 438 war crimes cases, for which 47 verdicts were issued, including 44 in absentia. A total of 73 people have been convicted. As for the Chernihiv region, we are not aware of any cases of threats or pressure, but this does not mean that they do not exist, said Baranov. Unlike in Kulikov's case, the lawyer in an absentia trial is not able to communicate with his/her client. It is for the lawyer alone to choose the strategy for handling the case. We talk about a client whom you have never met, but you represent his interests and protect him. It can't be otherwise, whether you like it or not. Honestly, many people don't want to defend, but that's the job, said Konstantin Sapon, another lawyer from Chernihiv. All soldiers and mid-level officers who are not part of the Russian Federation's highest command will never find themselves in special international institutions, such as the International Criminal Court in The Hague, explained Yuriy Belousov, head of the Department for combating crimes committed in the context of armed conflict at the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine. We have to handle it in the national system. 99.9% of all crimes will be tried in our national courts." Why Ukraine needs in absentia trials Sapon has had two war crimes cases involving Russian soldiers. One of them was against Fail Mansurovich Khustnutdinov, a native of the Russian Kemerovo region. He was stationed in the Chernihiv region, namely in the village of Andriivka, from 20 to 30 March 2022. Along with other Russians, my client trespassed on the territory of Ecoenergy Ukraine LLC and stole property there. They looted computers, household electronics, etc. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, he recalled. Prosecuting criminals in absentia is a new procedure for us. In fact, this procedure emerged after Yanukovych [president of Ukraine from 2010 to 2014] fled in 2014. Many countries still do not have this type of criminal prosecution. Many believe that this is nonsense. It should not exist. Others believe, to the contrary, that we have the relevant regulations already established. Both lawyers, prosecutors and judges express scepticism about trials in absentia. However, they all believe that Ukraine needs this process and that it fulfils a number of objectives. Initially, this procedure was perceived in a negative context, because there may be risks for the defense, said Belousov. But in fact, it is possible to look at this procedure from a different angle. On the one hand, of course, the country should take all possible measures to ensure the right to a defence. On the other hand, I often quote one of our international experts who did a legislative assessment of the in absentia procedure. He said that the procedure allows the victim to be heard in court. In my opinion, the victim should not wait 20-30 years before his or her testimony is finally heard. Therefore, this is the main argument for us regarding the proceedings in absentia, the prosecutor said. According to prosecutor Kyrylo Pugachov, another argument in favour of trials in absentia is a notion of restoring justice and material compensation. It's easier to get some compensation when you have a court verdict in hand, he argued. According to Kulikov's case file, his tank shot at the newly constructed building caused material damage of over 900,000 hryvnia (about 18,500 euros at todays rate). In absentia procedure allows us to use or seize the property of these individuals if they have it in other jurisdictions, explained Belousov. How do Russians suspects know they are indicted? One of the primary difficulties encountered by lawyers defending Russian soldiers is the notice of suspicion informing the accused that they are being prosecuted for a war crime in Ukraine. Ukraine has formally recognised that an announcement of proceedings being opened in the Uriadovyi Courier or on the Prosecutor General's Office website is considered due notification on our part. However, according to our interlocutors, it is unlikely that the Russian military visits such Ukrainian websites. Pugachov says that the Chernihiv Regional Prosecutor's Office attempts to notify Russian war crimes suspects by all means possible. These practices, he says, are not provided for in the criminal code, but prosecutors try to follow the European Court's case law. If we know the mobile phone numbers, we send messages with draft notices of suspicion, translated into Russian, of course. If we know the email address, we send them emails. If we know the place of work, most often it's a military unit or some Russian Ministry of Defence institution, we send it to these institutions' official email addresses. We had a case when a person responded with just a question mark. What can it mean? Did he understand or not? At the very least, we found out that the person had read it. Different situations occur. The key point is to take all possible measures we can. A big issue with in absentia procedure is the possibility of re-examining a court decision, Belousov said. If a convicted person becomes physically in the hands of justice, he or she should have the right to a re-trial. Currently, Ukrainian justice system does not have a procedure for re-examining a court decision. However, Belousov said that the Prosecutor General's Office is working on this issue and is preparing a large-scale draft law factoring in the European Court's practices. And then there is the issue of the execution of the sentence. How can it be executed when the party is not in Ukraine? There are cases when a person is extradited. But Russia and Belarus will not hand us over anyone, explained judge Mykola Kuziura, for whom the Kulikov trial was the first war crime case in 32 years of judicial practice. But the first thing that worries him is the impossibility for the parties to argue during the trial. The lawyer is unlikely to be able to collect any evidence. He is entrusted with the right to collect evidence in favour of the defence but he only has the information that the prosecution has gathered. He has no opportunity to communicate with the suspect. He cannot provide his own evidence, because it is, in fact, difficult to obtain it under such circumstances. Therefore, when considering such cases in the absence of one party, the role of the lawyer, in my opinion, is outweighed. Judge Mykola Kuzuria (here, right, at a hearing in the Kulikov trial in July 2022): "When considering such cases in the absence of one party, the role of the lawyer, in my opinion, is outweighed. Photo: Thierry Cruvellier The judges memory of Kulikov The nature of the criminal offence itself, the duration of the investigation, and the sufficient evidence that can be gathered are important. For example, when the fighting was ongoing in Chernihiv, it was impossible to conduct an investigation. Because law enforcement agencies were evacuated. The investigation was only possible after the de-occupation. In the case of Kulikov, it was an obvious fact since he was detained at the scene. There was evidence, there were witnesses, and we were able to consider the case, the judge said. While Kulikov's lawyer says he hardly remembers the case, judge Kuziura does remember. It was a tense trial. I had to prepare and know the rules of international law, as they were at the core of the indictment. However, in terms of procedure, this case did not cause me any difficulties, because it was conducted within the usual framework of criminal procedure law. The judge recalled Kulikov behaving quite confidently in court, giving confessions, speaking seemingly frankly, sometimes trying to minimise his responsibility. He apologised to the Ukrainian people. However, a main underlying theme was that he was a soldier, following orders from his commander. I specified in the verdict that only a lawful order must be executed, as explained by the Geneva Conventions. He knew what he was doing and where. He understood that they had entered the territory of another state, that they had been ordered to occupy the airfield. And that this is a form of aggression. Since Kulikov was an ordinary sergeant, I think he was simply hoping to be exchanged like Major Shchotkin. I didn't see any sincerity in him. He was just telling the whole truth because he understood that it was better to confess than to be proven guilty. That's why he tried to minimise his responsibility; he faked remorse. How much do defense lawyers make? Defense lawyers faced another challenge a financial one. On average, they earn 3,500 hryvnias (72 euros) for each phase of the legal assignment, according to Baranov. This is the average payment in the system. The cost of work is affected by the severity of the crime, the number of accomplices, and the number of episodes. These are the things that increase the lawyer's working time. If it is one episode, the cost will be lower. If it is 10 episodes, i.e. more hearings, the cost will be different. This is how it works. As to whether it is possible to speak of a quality defence when lawyers receive such low pay, Baranov responded: Back in the day, a lawyer could stretch a case for years and eventually receive 100,000-200,000 hryvnias (between 2,000 et 4,000 euros). Now there is a limit on the amount within a year, and it encourages lawyers not to delay the case. The system of free legal aid has never been able to provide a market-based level of payment. Because some lawyers charge 2,000 dollars for defending a client in criminal proceedings, others charge even more. Baranov explains that the FLA centre provides lawyers with training, networking opportunities and ongoing practice. In our country, a lawyer does not wait for a client to contact him, he is constantly working. Some lawyers earn a million hryvnias (20,500 euros) or more per year. It all depends on how hard the lawyer wants to work. But for a lawyer to work on assignments efficiently, he or she cannot take more than 30 assignments per month, because he or she simply will not have enough time. Appealing is right Chernihiv lawyers Sapon and Kostiuchenko confirmed having received payments from the state for defending Russian soldiers. Kostiuchenko referred to the single case of Kulikov. Sapon spoke about two cases. Both lawyers filed an appeal. I always file an appeal, said Sapon. A lawyer does not only untangle the issue of guilt or innocence. There are many other things, including the extent of the punishment. However, neither of them disclosed a specific amount per case. Instead, Kostiuchenko asked a rhetorical question: Do you think the state pays a lot? Where can you be paid adequately in our country? I once came across an analysis of war crimes trials in Kyiv courts, judge Kuziura told me. It stated that the lawyers were generally passive, sometimes simulating being active. I don't know the reasoning behind this. How should a defence lawyer behave in court when he or she has only the information from the criminal case file at his/her disposal? As for the practice in Chernihiv courts, I see that lawyers behave quite assertively. They challenge verdicts. They file appeals. And I think they are doing the right thing in these cases. In order to avoid any questions later, a court case must go through all instances. A person who does not appeal to the Court of Appeal cant go to the Supreme Court. Therefore, I think this is the correct lawyers approach. A team from Justice Info outside the Chernihiv court in July 2022 during Kulikov's trial. Photo: Thierry Cruvellier The Chernihiv Court of Appeal informed us that they do not have separate statistics on the number of cases filed by lawyers defending Russian military personnel suspected of war crimes. They keep general records, including those filed by the prosecutor's office. In total, from 2022 to 1 July 2025, 36 cases were appealed under Article 438 (war crimes). All decisions were upheld. In response to Suspilne's request, the Supreme Court replied that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion and until 17 June 2025, one cassation appeal for war crimes had been considered, and the decision of the previous court was upheld. Would I go and tell my wife about a murder or a rape? According to Sapon, the law clearly defines the grounds for a lawyer to be recused from a case: Personal interests. A conflict of interest is certainly a ground for recusal. The fact that you don't like the client is not, nor is what he has done. That is, you can still arbitrarily say I don't want to defend this Russian, so I won't. Talking about his own safety while handling such cases, Sapon said: First of all, I didn't have any communication with people who would associate me with the enemy. Secondly, this is not a topic you discuss while walking down the street or wearing a sign saying that you are defending a Russian soldier. He also said that he does not tell his family about such cases. You try to protect your family from certain information, because there are unpleasant things: murder, rape, and everything else. Would I go and tell my wife about a murder or a rape? The Bar Council of Chernihiv oblast responded that it does not have information on the number of lawyers who refused to defend Russian military men suspected of war crimes, as it does not keep such records and does not have the authority to collect, analyse or disclose such information. They also noted that each lawyer is independent and autonomous in his/her activities. Ukraines free legal aid system has issued 4,970 mandates to lawyers in criminal cases from 2022 to 23 May 2025. 56 mandates related to charges of war crimes. According to Pugachov, war crimes cases continue to be considered in the Chernihiv region, but the number of cases is not as high as in 2022. We currently have eight indictments pending in court. It is, of course, more difficult to find evidence at this time. However, we keep trying. We document the shelling of civilian structures and the population. We are looking for shelling operators, gunners and their commanders who were handling a particular machinery or rocket launcher, for example. As of July 2025, Sapon was defending a second case against a Russian soldier suspected of torturing civilians in Lukashivka. Court hearings are held in the Chernihiv District Court. Kostiuchenko said that after the Kulikov case, hes not had any cases involving war crimes defendants. As for Kulikov, he was sent back to Russia in June 2023 as part of a prisoners exchange. This report was produced thanks to a grant by Fondation Hirondelle/Justice Info. A full version of this article was published on July 8, 2025, in "Suspilne". Spain's leftist government approved a draft law Tuesday to automatically declassify confidential documents older than 45 years, potentially shedding new light on the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco and the country's transition to democracy. The proposed law, which still must be approved by parliament -- where it could be subjected to changes -- would replace the existing secrets law dating from the dictatorship which lacks any timeline for automatic declassification, as exists in many other European nations. Justice Minister Felix Bolanos said the legislation would align Spain's secrecy laws with "European standards" and promote greater transparency around "sensitive information". "I believe that with this law, we are finally overcoming a longstanding shortcoming in our legislation," he told a news conference following a weekly cabinet meeting that approved the draft bill. The proposed law would lift secrecy on archives from before 1980 -- a period that includes Franco's decades-long dictatorship and the turbulent years that followed his death in 1975, during which Spain transitioned to democracy. All classified materials older than 45 years would be made public unless their disclosure still poses a threat to national security or defense. The bill would also restrict the classification of information to exceptional cases, which must be clearly justified. Documents related to serious human rights violations or crimes against humanity could not be classified under any circumstances. Multiple efforts to reform the outdated secrets law have failed in recent years. The most recent attempt initiated by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in 2020 was shelved three years later when parliament was dissolved and a general election called. Amnesty International welcomed the approval of the draft law and urged Spain's political parties to set aside partisan disputes to quickly approve it. "This law could change history," the rights group said in a statement posted on X, arguing that the current law has hindered investigations into grave human rights abuses during the dictatorship and denied victims their right to reparation. Franco ruled Spain with an iron fist after his side emerged victorious from Spain's 1936-39 civil war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. No senior officials from his regime were ever prosecuted, as the country adopted a sweeping amnesty following his death in 1975. vab/CHZ/ds/gv X US President Donald Trump agreed Tuesday to reduce threatened tariffs on the Philippines, but only by one percentage point, after what he termed a successful meeting with his counterpart Ferdinand Marcos. Welcoming Marcos to the White House, Trump called him a "very tough negotiator" and said: "We're very close to finishing a trade deal -- a big trade deal, actually." In a social media post shortly afterward, Trump said that while the Philippines would open up completely to US goods, he would still impose a 19 percent tariff on products from the Southeast Asian country, a major exporter of high-tech items and apparel. "It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. The Philippines was among two dozen economies confronted by Trump with letters this month warning of 20 percent tariffs on all goods coming into the United States as of August 1. The 19 percent rate is still above the 17 percent threatened by Trump in April, when he threatened sweeping global tariffs. The trade rift comes despite increasingly close defense relations between the United States and the Philippines, a former US colony and treaty-bound ally that has seen high tensions with China. The United States last year, under Trump's predecessor Joe Biden, deployed ground-launched missiles in the Philippines. Washington has also eyed ammunition manufacturing in the Philippines, despite the closure in 1992 of the US naval base at Subic Bay due to heavy public pressure. "All of what we consider part of the modernization of the Philippine military is really a response to the circumstances that surround the situation in the South China Sea," Marcos said next to Trump. Trump devoted much of the appearance to attacks on his Democratic predecessors Biden and Barack Obama. "We are essentially concerned with the defense of our territory and the exercise of our sovereign rights," said Marcos. "Our strongest, closest, most reliable ally has always been the United States." - Trump eyes China visit - China and the Philippines have engaged in a series of confrontations in the contested waters of the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely, despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. Trump has frequently questioned allies over their military spending, pondering why the United States should defend them in the NATO alliance. He has voiced fewer doubts about the Philippines. Both Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in meetings with Marcos on Monday vowed to honor the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Southeast Asian nation. The Trump administration has identified China as the top US adversary but the US president has also boasted of his relationship with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Speaking alongside Marcos, Trump said he would "probably" visit China at Xi's invitation "in the not-too-distant future." He said of Marcos: "I don't mind if he gets along with China very well, because we're getting along with China very well." Trump added the Philippines had been "maybe tilting toward China" and "we untilted it very, very quickly." "I just don't think that would have been good for you," Trump said. The US president credited himself with the shift, although the turn towards Washington began after the 2022 election of Marcos, before Trump returned to power. Marcos's predecessor Rodrigo Duterte had flirted with closer relations with China and bristled at US criticism over human rights under Biden and Obama. Duterte is facing charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court over a sweeping campaign against drug users and dealers that rights groups say killed thousands. Netflix has canceled the live broadcast for its upcoming action thriller 'Trigger' due to increased public concern following a fatal shooting involving an illegal firearm in Incheon. Originally scheduled for July 22, the Naver online live talk show for Trigger is no longer happening, Netflix confirmed to Dispatch on Sunday. "We have decided to cancel the Naver live broadcast of the Trigger talk show that was scheduled for the 22nd," a Netflix representative said. "However, we will proceed with the offline event with fans who applied." Trigger is a disaster-action series set in a fictional South Korea where illegal firearms start circulating in a gun-free society. The story follows Kim Nam-gil as Lee Do and Kim Young-kwang as Moon Baek, two men caught in the chaos of the mysterious gun epidemic. The decision to cancel the broadcast came just two days after a real shooting in Incheon shocked the nation. On July 20, a man in his 60s fatally shot his son with an illegal firearm in an apartment in Songdo. Authorities arrested the suspect three hours later and found a staggering collection of weapons, including 11 homemade firearms, 86 rounds of ammunition, and 15 explosives. Police reported that the suspect confessed to making the weapons himself. While the Trigger offline fan event will proceed on July 22 with lead actors Kim Nam-gil and Kim Young-kwang attending, the series is set to premiere on Netflix on July 25. READ MORE: Top K-Dramas Premiering This June 2025: Romance, Revenge, and Returning Legends Discovery courses provide hands-on experiences for Kennesaw State Honors students KENNESAW, Ga. | Jul 22, 2025 Terri Collins and Jessica Torres Kennesaw State University Honors student Jessica Torres wants to pursue a career in biology, and she is feeling inspired after having an up-close experience this summer with one of the oceans most fascinating creatures. For an Honors Discovery course led by Kennesaw States Terri Collins and Leigh Funk, Torres spent a week on Wassaw Island off the Georgia coast studying the nesting and hatching practices of loggerhead sea turtles. Torres and other volunteers monitored the beach for turtles coming ashore to lay eggs in the sand and collected biological data on them for the Caretta Research Project, which protects Georgias threatened sea turtles. But Torres didnt observe the nesting turtles from a distance she was right alongside them. The loggerheads go into this trance and don't really notice you once they actually start laying their eggs, she explained, so that calmness enabled Torres to measure the size of each turtle along with each nests distance from the dunes and from the tide line. It was incredible to be right there next to them, said Torres, a junior from Duluth majoring in biology. I had never been that close to a turtle, so it was amazing to be able to touch them and measure them while they were perfectly fine with you being there. The sea turtle study is just one example of the Honors Discovery courses offered through the KSU Journey Honors College. Honors Discoveries are short-term, non-credit learning experiences focused on unique topics beyond the regular curriculum, often integrating current events or popular culture. Honors Discovery courses involve small groups of Honors students learning through seminar discussion and experiential learning under the guidance of a Kennesaw State subject matter expert. Because Honors serves the whole university, we have a really interesting group of students from every major who work closely with faculty in these hands-on or discussion-based courses, said Karen Kornweibel, dean of KSU Journey Honors College. Honors students are curious about a variety of things beyond the area in which they are getting their degree. They know that by pursuing opportunities in different areas they will get the most out of their KSU experience and set themselves up for future success. The Wassaw Island excursion was the second Honors Discovery recently led by Collins, a senior lecturer of elementary education, and Funk, assistant vice provost and a professor of special education and education technology. During Maymester, they conducted a five-day study in the coastal plains of South Georgia, exploring conservation and environmental practices necessary to maintain a healthy ecosystem. In addition to faculty members leading courses, several Kennesaw State administrators, deans and cabinet members have taught Honors Discoveries. Earlier this year, KSU President Kathy S. Schwaig and Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Ivan Pulinkala taught an Honors course called Cultivating Leadership Skills. Honors Discovery courses are a win-win-win for students, faculty, and the university in general, because they provide different levels of exposure, encourage students to explore varied topics, and allow everybody to have fun in the learning environment, said Daniel Hoffman, the associate director of Honors curriculum, data, and infrastructure. We love the interdisciplinarity of Honors, which allows students to engage with other students who have different perspectives and to connect with faculty outside of their subject area who they otherwise wouldnt get to meet. One of the sea turtles KSU student Jessica Torres saw up-close during the Honors Discovery field lab on Wassaw Island. The Honors Discovery on Wassaw Island was a chance of a lifetime, Torres said. She stayed busy, as sea turtles laid 29 nests during her one week there. Since loggerheads are nighttime nesters, Torres typical schedule involved catching some sleep during the day and then working from 9:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Along with collecting data, Caretta Research Project volunteers marked the location of each new nest, covered the nests with screens to protect them from predators, and tagged the turtles so they can be identified if they return to Wassaw to nest again. Torres added that studying sea turtles affirmed her interest in becoming an aquatic veterinarian. Also, seeing a variety of wildlife on Wassaw Island snakes, alligators, deer and shorebirds, to name a few expanded her scope. Through this experience, I've learned that I definitely want to do more hands-on things that can help make a difference for all animals and the environment, she said. It felt like I had a purpose being there. Story by Paul Floeckher Photos provided Related Stories A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The universitys vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu. Monday, July 21, 2025 - Social media is buzzing with disbelief after a man was exposed for actively searching for a new wife even before his late wife has been laid to rest. The man, whose wife passed away recently and is scheduled to be buried in August, has been reaching out to potential suitors online, sparking reactions online. He wrote a post on a group formed on Facebook for single people to connect, saying he was looking for a God-fearing lady to become his wife. While some Netizens have defended him, citing the finality of till death do us part, others have strongly condemned the move as disrespectful, rushed, and emotionally tone-deaf. The grave hasnt even been dug and hes already scouting for replacements? This is wild, one user wrote. Imagine if it were the wife doing this after losing her husband. Society would eat her alive, another pointed out. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, July 21, 2025 - A captivating video of Magina Girls High School students participating in a modelling competition during a talent search event has taken social media by storm. The now-viral clip showcases confident young ladies strutting down a makeshift runway with the poise and flair of professional models, dressed in stylish outfits that turned heads. Spectators can be heard cheering loudly, some rising from their seats to capture the moment on their phones, adding to the electric atmosphere. The video has drawn widespread praise online, with many viewers urging modelling agencies to scout the girls, calling them Kenyas next supermodels. Others lauded the school for nurturing creativity and offering students a chance to shine beyond academics. Watch the video. Magina Girls High School talent show pic.twitter.com/l9RlYR3Jq4 DAILY POST (@dailypost_ke) July 21, 2025 The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, July 21, 2025 - Firebrand political commentator and blogger, Aoko Otieno, known for her explosive online revelations, has once again lifted the lid on alleged steamy affairs involving top Kenya Kwanza leaders. In a fiery post shared on her X account, Aoko claimed that Tessie Mudavadi, wife of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, is having a secret affair with her husbands own bodyguard and head of security. The bodyguard is said to be a long-serving member of Mudavadis security detail, trusted and close enough to raise no eyebrows But Aoko didnt stop there. She went on to expose National Assembly Majority Leader, Kimani Ichungwah, alleging that he has a married side chick with whom he secretly shares a son. The womans identity was hinted through a photo posted on Aokos X account, with reports emerging that she is a banker. The blogger further accused Ichungwah of hypocrisy, claiming he recently attempted to smear former Deputy President Rigathi Gachaguas wife, Pastor Dorcas, by linking her to a Bishop in a fake affair story. Ichungwah is bitter because his own marriage is falling apart while Gachaguas home is rock solid, Aoko added. Below is a photo of Ichungwahs married side chick and their son. Nairobi, Kenya A growing number of online shoppers across Kenya are raising the alarm about an online store named Nukia Best, which is allegedly involved in selling counterfeit perfumes and colognes under the guise of original designer products. According to multiple complaints, the store lures customers with attractive offers on popular fragrance brands, claiming to offer authentic products at discounted prices. However, what unsuspecting buyers receive tells a different story. Scents dont last, Packaging Off Several victims report receiving products that are clearly fake - with poorly printed packaging, missing seals, spelling errors, and unfamiliar bottle designs. The scents themselves fade within minutes, a sharp contrast to the longevity expected from genuine designer colognes. I ordered a bottle of Mancera Red Tobbaco from Nukia Best last month. What I received was nowhere near authentic. The scent was off, and the box looked fake. When I tried to contact them, they had already blocked me, said one victim who requested anonymity. Disappearing Act: Customers Blocked After Purchase What makes the situation even more alarming is the stores complete lack of accountability. After making a sale, the sellers reportedly block customers on WhatsApp and ignore follow-up calls. The phone numbers linked to Nukia Best - 0708 397 299 and 0748 796 730 - are both registered under the name Risper Waigiri, according to several victims. These people are taking advantage of the fact that many Kenyans now shop online, said a Nairobi-based digital fraud analyst. Once they have your money, they cut off all communication. There is no way to return the product or get a refund. Growing List of Victims As reports of fake products continue to surface online, some victims are now banding together to report the scam to consumer protection bodies and the police. Authorities Urged to Take Action Concerned citizens are now urging the Communications Authority of Kenya, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Anti-Counterfeit Authority to investigate the individuals behind the store and shut down their operations. What to Watch Out For Experts advise consumers to be extra cautious when buying branded perfumes online. Warning signs include: Prices that are significantly lower than market value. Sellers who insist on full payment before delivery. Vague product photos and refusal to provide videos or receipts. Sellers who only communicate via WhatsApp and dont have a verified business presence. Until authorities take action, consumers are advised to avoid Nukia Best and any sellers operating under the numbers 0708397299 and 0748796730. Monday, July 21, 2025 - Kapsaret MP, Oscar Sudi, has lashed out at Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader, Rigathi Gachagua, over controversial statements made during his ongoing tour of the United States. The former Deputy President had urged Kenyans from the Mt Kenya region to withhold remittances to Kenya until a new Government takes over - remarks that have sparked sharp criticism. Sudi condemned Gachaguas call as reckless and economically dangerous, accusing him of promoting division at a time when the country is grappling with political instability. You want people from the mountain to keep their money in their pockets and wait for you until 2027? I think you have a mental issue. How do you even say something like that? Sudi questioned. The outspoken MP warned that such utterances could damage Kenyas economy and reverse gains made in diaspora investment mobilisation. In his U.S address, Gachagua had claimed that the souring relationship between President Ruto and Mt Kenya was destabilising the economy. He framed the withholding of remittances as a form of economic resistance, insisting the regions financial influence was being underestimated. They tried to dismantle my support base, but the mountain has stood firm, he said. I want to tell you the Government has failed economically. We have withheld our money back at home, and I urge you to do the same that you are doing here, he added. Gachagua, who was impeached in October, claimed the Governments efforts to isolate him politically had failed. Despite mounting backlash at home, he has remained defiant and continues to rally support from the Mt Kenya diaspora during his two-month U.S. tour ahead of the 2027 elections. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, July 21, 2025 - What was meant to be a night of leisure ended in irreversible tragedy after Mandela Nabala, a legal scholar and a father of two, was shot dead after he had a heated argument with Dr. Paul Sena Kanyike, a licensed civilian firearm holder and a lecturer at Egerton University, at a popular club in Narok. According to a police report, Sena drew his Glock pistol in the heat of the altercation and shot Nabala once in the chin while arguing over parking space. The victim was rushed to the Narok County Referral Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. A photo shared online now reveals the heartbreaking reality of the tragedy, a young widow and two little children left behind, grappling with a loss too heavy to bear. Nabala was widely respected in legal circles for his integrity, sharp intellect, and calm demeanor. Colleagues describe him as a rising star in law and a devoted family man. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, July 21, 2025 - Former Deputy President and DCP party leader, Rigathi Gachagua, has alleged that police officers in Nakuru County are receiving illegal instructions from Governor Susan Kihikas husband, Sam Mburu. Speaking in Boston on Sunday, hours after police teargassed his allies in Subukia, Gachagua claimed that several officers had privately informed him of Mburus undue influence. I have talked to the police in Nakuru, and they are crying. They say Sam Mburu, Governor Kihikas husband, is the one giving them orders, Gachagua said. He further alleged that Mburu, leveraging a close business relationship with President William Ruto, has taken control of national Government operations in Nakuru. According to Gachagua, Mburu has been boasting that while his wife runs the County, he controls State agencies, including the police. Gachagua claimed Mburu told police officers that his partnership with the President includes joint importation deals involving Kenya Power meters, fertilizer, and duty-free rice and sugar. He further alleged that Mburu had threatened to transfer any officer who defied his instructions, citing his financial contribution to Rutos campaign as leverage. Gachagua said police at the Subukia rally reluctantly used teargas, admitting they were under pressure but sympathetic to his cause. They told us Mburu acts like the President of Nakuru, he added. Gachagua has urged Nakuru residents to reject Kihikas re-election in 2027. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, July 21, 2025 - Lawyer and former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi has urged President William Ruto to take a break from public appearances. Speaking on Monday, July 21st, Havi drew parallels with the late President Daniel Moi, who at one point withdrew from the public eye during a turbulent period. It is imperative for President William Ruto to do what Moi did at one point. Please disappear for a few weeks. Stop annoying the people of Kenya, Havi stated. Havis criticism followed President Rutos remarks during a Sunday church service in Machakos County, where he placed the burden of moral guidance squarely on parents. The police are trained to deal with criminals, not to parent children, Ruto said, urging parents to take responsibility. However, Havi found the comments inappropriate and asked the President to issue a public apology. You cannot come on national TV, in a church, and make such statements. It is not consistent with the dignity of the Presidency, he said. These are the same children you will one day ask to vote for you. Apologize to the church, parents, and children, Havi added, emphasizing he was speaking as a friend with Rutos best interests at heart. The well-known Athy baker Graham Herterich is to open a dining space in the new Shackleton Museum which will be known as the Shackleton Experience. Graham, the much-loved Irish baker, author, and the entrepreneur behind The Bakery by The Cupcake Bloke in Rialto, Dublin 8, is set to launch the venture this October, according to a press release. Visitors to the Shackleton Experience will enjoy high-tech interactive exhibits alongside a unique collection of original artefacts. After the success of Grahams retail pop-up in Athy two years ago, Ernies @ Shackleton Experience a name inspired by Ernest Shackleton and Grahams grandfather, Ernest will serve up tasty dine-in, take-away and retail options for locals and visitors alike. Graham is also the talent behind mixing old-school Irish recipes with fresh, modern flavours. He will run the outlet in addition to his existing business in Dublin. Graham Herterich was born in Athy and raised above his familys butcher shop on Duke Street, and his love for food started young. He followed his passion to Waterford Institute of Technology, where he trained as a chef. From there, he worked as a product developer and production manager for a coffee chain, securing practical hands-on experience in large-scale kitchen operations and creating recipes both sweet and savoury. But it was the joy of baking, passed down from his grandmother, that pulled him back to his roots and eventually inspired him to open his own bakery. Eva Osborne Details of the National Development Plan were announced on Tuesday, outlining Government spending on infrastructure for the next decade until 2035. There will be a total investment of 275.4 billion over the period 2026 to 2035, with the Government deeming it the largest ever capital investment plan in the history of the State. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the review is significant in addressing Irelands infrastructure needs. This NDP Review is a landmark moment for Irelands future. With a record 275.4 billion in public capital investment, we will deliver the infrastructure that will help us meet the economic and social needs of the Irish people for generations to come," he said. The money, made up of the Apple tax, sale of AIB shares, and other State funds, will also be put towards areas like public transport and electricity services. Housing and energy Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said housing is the main priority. 36 billion is being provided to 2030 for housing - not including investment in water. "Between wastewater infrastructure and supports for the Department of Housing, that will be in and around 40 billion of the 100 billion which we're announcing today," Chambers said. "And really we're commiting, as a Government, to driving the delivery of social affordable homes but also that critical infrastructure which underpins housing supply right across our economy." The Government said improvements to critical sectors of economic infrastructure have been prioritised to support the core ambition of the review, which is to deliver 300,000 additional homes by 2030 and boost Ireland's competitiveness. A total of 3.5 billion in equity has been earmarked for energy projects with ESB Networks and Eirgrid to meet the growth to deliver on the housing target of 300,000 new homes. 3.5 billion in equity funding is being provided to ESB and Eirgrid in 2025 to fund enhanced energy grid capacity to support the Governments housing and competitiveness objectives. The Government is increasing its equity shareholdings of both ESB Networks and EirGrid, to provide for regulatory requirements, meet the growth to deliver on the housing target of 300,000 new homes and support necessary investment for Irelands competitiveness. The Government said a total of 3.5 billion in equity has been earmarked for these energy projects and is available for drawdown when required. Military spending This revised NDP has provided the largest ever rise in military spending, according to Martin Wall of The Irish Times. The Defence Forces is to receive about 1.7 billion in new capital investment under the revised NDP. The new funding will be focused on the introduction of new primary radar systems to identify aircraft in Irish skies as well as sonar equipment to detect objects under the sea. Cost-of-living It was made clear ahead of time that once-off cost-of-living spending will be cut, to allow for funding for long-term capital projects. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said the Government appreciates people are struggling, but said potential tariffs are posing a threat. "Given how uncertain the economic environment is, we do have to make choices," he said. "We have to prioritise investment in that which can support our country continuing to grow, while at the same time accompanying that with measures that we're confident we can afford but will be permanent." Health The health service is to receive 9.25 billion in funding under the Governments revised National Development Plan, according to The Irish Times. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill had sought funding for a programme of digitalisation in the health service including the introduction of electronic patient records. This was expected to cost about 2 billion. Transport 24.3 billion has been allocated for the transport sector, including low carbon transport projects such as Metrolink. The Government has identified the need to provide support for the development of low carbon transport projects such as Metrolink before 2030. Given the unique scale of the Metrolink, the Government said it has decided to fund it from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. "The funding approach will allow the ambitious pipeline of other public transport projects." Climate The Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Act 2024 (the Act) was enacted in July 2024 and established the ICNF. The purpose of the ICNF is to seek to manage the pro-cyclicality of public spending and to assist with climate change objectives and with addressing nature, water quality and biodiversity issues. A total of 2 billion will be invested in the ICNF each year from 2024 to 2030, building up to an overall fund of 14 billion, the Government said. Water 12.2 billion has been allocated for the water sector for water and wastewater services. 2 billion in equity funding is being provided to Uisce Eireann in 2025 to enable the delivery of 300,000 additional homes to 2030. A further 2.5 billion in funding is being provided to Uisce Eireann for large scale projects over the period to 2030. These funds are available and ready for drawdown when required. The Government is leveraging wider funds held to increase capacity for water infrastructure and Uisce Eireann services. An additional injection of 4.5 billion has been provided specifically for water services, on top of the NDP provision. Across all sources, including the NDP investment, a total of 12 billion has been released and earmarked specifically for critical water infrastructure investment. Ken Foxe The Irish Prison Service pleaded with the Department of Justice to stop scheduling extra court sittings and to consider using cells in garda stations for prisoners. A message from their director of operations said they had done everything in their power to deal with overcrowding in jails as numbers in custody approached 5,000. However, the senior official said they had now run out of options and decisions outside of their control meant the number of people in prison would continue to rise. The email was sent last summer as the Irish Prison Service (IPS) struggled with high levels of overcrowding, which have since deteriorated further. The director of operations whose name was withheld on security grounds under Freedom of Information laws said there were no easy or palatable decisions left. He said the UK government had just introduced emergency measures and delayed some court cases due to their own problems with overcrowding. The message said there were eight steps that needed to be considered or reconsidered as a matter of urgency to ease pressure on Irish jails. This included: Cancellation of scheduled additional court sittings and a commitment that no further additional sittings will be arranged pending prison capacity being addressed. He also called for the decision to appoint or reassign criminal judges to be reconsidered and that cases involving asylum claims be dealt with in alternative facilities. The director of operations said Ireland should also consider delaying court cases and using garda cells to house prisoners. He added: [We should] reconsider the proposal to unilaterally increase the rate of remission provided for under current legislation. The email said a new policy on bail was needed urgently to ensure people awaiting trial for non-serious offences were not sent to jail. An eighth suggested measure was redacted from the records on the basis it could compromise the security of the prison system. The email was forwarded to the Department of Justice in May along with an update from the governor of Mountjoy Prison, Ray Murtagh. The governors message said: We now have an historical number of 912 prisoners in custody this morning and when I previously expressed concern we were at 858. I now have all my additional 114 bunk beds filled and an additional 57 on mattresses. He said the C base of Mountjoy was at full capacity and that a newly arrived batch of twelve prisoners would also have to sleep on mattresses on the floor. We are currently over 120 per cent capacity, and this has placed significant unprecedented pressure on the prison, wrote Mr Murtagh. He added that he could see no abatement in sight and that other prisons in Dublin and Laois were also running over capacity. The records were only released this week by the Irish Prison Service following an appeal under FOI. The number of prisoners in custody has since smashed the 5,000 barrier and, on Monday of this week, reached more than 5,500. That included 588 on temporary release as authorities have sought to ease pressure on a system that is operating at 119 per cent of capacity. Asked about the correspondence, a spokesman said: The Irish Prison Service must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the courts. As such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time. He said temporary release was used on a case-by-case basis and that they were working closely with the Department of Justice to ensure a safe working environment for staff and for prisoners. By Rebecca Black, PA There is a risk of damage to confidence in the Omagh Bombing Inquiry if the bereaved families are refused their request for a special advocate for closed hearings, it has been argued. The families say a special advocate will be able to represent their interests in closed hearings where evidence is deemed sensitive, including in terms of national security. The probe is examining whether the 1998 atrocity in the Co Tyrone town could have been prevented. Some 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, were killed when the Real IRA exploded a car bomb on a busy Saturday afternoon in Omagh. The inquiry is sitting this week in Belfast to hear arguments over the application for special advocates for the survivors and bereaved families. Hugh Southey KC, acting for a number of survivors and bereaved families, also contended former chief constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan would appear to be at an advantage over them. He also raised that counsel for the inquiry would have to look after the interests of a number of people who are excluded from the closed proceedings, who have potentially quite conflicting interests. Everybody thinks that the inquiry is capable of doing a good job. Everybody thinks the counsel to the inquiry are experienced in this field. Everybody thinks theyre very well qualified. Everybody thinks theyre very diligent, but we need the second tier of representation, he added. Everyone recognises that large key parts of this process are likely to be closed . its frustrating for the individuals, because they want to know the truth. They want to know that whatever findings may be made are reliable. Sir Ronnie Flanagan was chief constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary at the time of the Omagh bomb in 1998 (Liam McBurney/PA) They would normally be able to do that in one sense, by attending, by viewing, by making sure that they see what questions are asked. They can follow the process and then have confidence in the outcome, when things go into closed they they cant do that. But if they have someone who they have confidence in, who is present, who is, effectively, saying there is no problem here, that adds to confidence in the process, particularly in circumstances where, as I say, the state parties are present, the state parties will have that advantage. Ian Skelt KC, acting for Sir Ronnie, said his client is entirely sympathetic to the requests of the families and acknowledges why they seek and why they feel that there is a need for the appointment of special advocates. He said Sir Ronnie does not seek a special advocate for himself, but acknowledged that having been chief constable at the time of the bombing, he had the authority at that time to view much of the closed material. However, Mr Skelt said if Sir Ronnie is excluded from the closed processes, he may have to ask for some person to represent his interest in closed process beyond the assistance that would be given by the inquiry legal team. 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. Chambers Ireland has welcomed the decision by An Coimisiun Pleanala to approve the Greater Dublin Drainage Project seven years after it was originally mooted. This is a critical piece of national infrastructure that will support the sustainable development of the Greater Dublin Area and surrounding counties, including parts of south Meath and north Kildare. The 1.3bn project will provide essential wastewater treatment capacity for the equivalent of half a million people across the three counties, but is not expected to be fully functional until 2032. It will also enhance the development potential of Dublin and parts of the surrounding counties by delivering new infrastructure that eases pressure on the existing wastewater network. The project is important because the treatment plant in Ringsend is currently at full capacity. The Greater Dublin Drainage Project is a keystone investment for the State and is an example of the essential large-scale projects so urgently required to unlock housing delivery and enable the State to grow sustainably and competitively, said Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland. Chambers Ireland recognises the importance of long-term planning and investment in core infrastructure, and the delivery of this and other delayed critical infrastructure projects is vital to ensure that Ireland remains an attractive place to live, work and invest." 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. 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. Two men are to go on trial in Kilkenny charged with offences including blackmail and extortion and aggravated burglary, following an alleged incident at a home in the south of the county. At Kilkenny District Court both men were presented with books of evidence in the case. Gary Malone, 2 Mount Garrett Terrace, New Ross, is charged with: threatening to damage property; aggravated burglary; burglary; and blackmail/ extortion. All alleged to have occurred at the same home in Rosbercon, Co Kilkenny, on April 3, 2025 His co-accused Rhys Mahon, 33 St Ronans Crescent, Clondalkin, Dublin, is facing three charges: threatening to damage property; aggravated burglary; and blackmail/ extortion. All alleged to have occurred at the same home in Rosbercon, Co Kilkenny, on April 3, 2025. CLICK HERE FOR MORE CRIME UPDATES AND COURT REPORTS Garda Damien Quirke gave evidence, to the court, of putting one new charge, of aggravated burglary, to both men, before the court sitting. He said Mr Malone made no reply when charged after caution. Mr Mahon said: I didnt do it. Sergeant Morgan OConnor said the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to the matter going forward to Kilkenny Circuit Court for trial on indictment. Both men were given the usual alibi warning, by District Court Judge Geraldine Carthy. The matter was then sent forward to the current sittings of Kilkenny Circuit Court. Legal aid was granted to the defendants. Both men were remanded on bail with conditions including they do not contact the alleged victim in this matter and they stay away from each other. Conditions also include an undertaking to sign on at a garda station, three times a week, and be contactable by gardai at all times. Radio NZ reports: Canada has agreed to allow access for New Zealand dairy products following a long running trade dispute, Trade Minister Todd McClay says. Dairy exporters had been blocked from the Canadian market, despite the move being in breach of the CPTPP trade agreement. On Friday morning McClay announced an agreement had been reached. He says Canada has committed to making changes to its dairy quotas which will deliver up to $157 million to New Zealand dairy exporters. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Clouds and some sun this morning with more clouds for this afternoon. High near 80F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 58F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. 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. MINDEN, La. -- A Minden police officer who was fired Monday by the City Council believes the decision was made because he knew about the behin A DECISION to grant planning permission for a new Lidl store on the Laois border has been appealed to An Coimisiun Pleanala. The discount supermarket chain was granted permission in June for a food store on the site of the former National Learning Network Centre, located on the Killeshin Road in Graiguecullen. The appeal was brought by David and Majella Geoghegan who live next to the site. They were also among those who had lodged objections on the original planning application for a store on the Laois/Carlow border, who included St Fiaccs House, Graiguecullen Parish and local PP Fr John Dunphy. The Geoghegans had originally objected to the store based on excessive noise pollution from mechanical units and delivery trucks and expected traffic volumes along the road. Other issues cited were overshadowing and loss of privacy. St Fiacc's House had strongly objected to the proposed supermarket following their investment of 50,000 in the development of a picnic area, which is directly adjacent to the proposed boundary wall of the store. Other areas of concern included noise impact, light pollution and the restriction of daylight at St Fiaccs House. In their submission to Carlow County Council, St Fiaccs House said the loss of natural light would negatively impact their residents, a sentiment that was shared by Fr Dunphy in his objection. A decision in the case is due by 3 November. Lidl said the proposal would see an investment of 8 million and the creation of 30 new jobs, with a further 100 jobs supported during a six-month construction phase. County councils in Laois and Carlow granted approval in June, subject to 12 conditions, on the planning application that was submitted a year ago. The plans involve demolition of the National Learning Network Centre/Rehabcare building to make way for a supermarket and off-licence, together with a car and cycle parking area with access from the Killeshin/ Castlecomer Road. It is the second new Lidl store at the planning stage in Laois, following a recent application for another discount supermarket on the site of the derelict former Central Garage in Mountmellick. A green light for both would bring the number of Lidl stores in the county to four, together with Portlaoise and Portarlington. THE Laois store that sold a 1 million winning Lottery ticket at the weekend has been revealed. The National Lottery confirmed this afternoon that Dunnes Stores in the Kyle Shopping Centre, Portlaoise sold the winning Daily Million top prize ticket. The newly minted millionaire bought the Quick Pick ticket in Dunnes on the day of the draw on Friday 18 July. Store manager Ken Cullen said: Its an incredible moment for our shop and for Portlaoise. Were absolutely delighted to have played a part in such a life-changing event. Theres a real buzz around the place and were so proud that someone in our community has won this amazing prize." The lucky player became the fifth winner of the top prize in the Daily Million so far this year, after scooping 1 million in the 9pm draw. The winning numbers were 9, 20, 25, 33, 37, 39 and the bonus was 29. As they wait for the winner to come forward, the National Lottery is urging all players who purchased tickets at Dunnes Stores Kyle Shopping Centre to check their tickets carefully. If youre holding the winning ticket, contact the National Lottery prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie to arrange the collection of your prize. Darragh ODwyer, National Lottery spokesperson, said: Were encouraging everyone who bought a ticket at the store to check it carefully you could be Irelands newest millionaire. Associated Press When Malcolm-Jamal Warner started acting, he had trouble landing roles because he didnt look street enough for most of the movie and television roles available to black teen-age boys. Then came The Cosby Show and stardom for Warner as son Theo Huxtable. In The Father Clements Story, Sunday on NBC, Warner hopes to break out of the clean-cut Theo image with his role as Joey, the homeless street kid adopted by Father George Clements, a black Roman Catholic priest who wanted to set an example for his parishioners and encourage them to also adopt homeless black children in their midst. Im trying to break the stereotypical role now of the Theo-type character, because in my post-Cosby life, as I call it, I dont want to be known as just the kind of guy who can play a Theo Huxtable-type character, Warner said from his home in Brooklyn. I want to be known as being able to do more things, being able to stretch. For me that was the most important thing. Advertisement Louis Gossett Jr. plays Clements, and Warner responded with typical teen-age enthusiasm when asked what it was like working with the Oscar-winning actor: It was cool! Joey was 13 when Clements adopted him, but Warner, 17, plays him older. The movie was shot on location in Chicago, where Warner met the real Joey Clements. What was it like hanging around with the character he plays in the movie? It was cool! When I was hanging out with Joey Clements in Chicago, I made it a point not to try to emulate him, Warner said. I wanted basically to create my own character. I didnt want him to think I was hanging out with him solely to use him as research. And I also went back to acting classes for a couple of weeks before I went out to Chicago, because it had been a while since I had done something serious, and I wanted to just dip my feet in it. Advertisement Its hard to imagine a kid Warners age with so much success sounding so well grounded. I always think tomorrow it can all be over with, he said. Fine, Im on The Cosby Show, he said. Fine, right now it seems I have a successful career, but this isnt success yet because Im on a series now. But what happens five, seven years down the line? Thats the time when you sit down and even contemplate measuring success. He already has an interest in directing and hopes to emulate the career of Ron Howard, who started as a child actor on The Andy Griffith Show and became a successful director of such movies as Splash and Cocoon. Advertisement Directing just seemed to appeal to me more than anything right now, Warner said. Because I know acting may be there. It may or may not, after The Cosby Show. Even if it is, I still want to get into directing. Warner makes anti-drug speeches at schools and helps raise money for good causes like childrens hospitals. But he takes his image as a teen role model in stride, too. I didnt go into acting because I wanted to be a role model, he said. The role-model job inevitably came along with the success of the show. Im not really bothered by it that much, because I dont have to go out of my way to live my life a certain way thats consistent with the role model. I just live my life the way I do. Known as the city of eternal spring, Medellin is reinventing its tourism offerings. Beyond the classic tours of Pueblito Paisa or the Metrocable, the Colombian city opens its doors to a different type of visitor: those looking to learn, create, and connect with the local culture. What's new? Unique experiences led by artisans, chefs, and artists that allow tourists to be protagonists, not just spectators. Through Airbnb , travelers from all over the world are finding a new way to experience Medellin. It's not just about sleeping in an apartment overlooking El Poblado. Now it's possible to weave a traditional backpack with an indigenous artisan, design a postcard inspired by the city's skyline, or prepare secret dishes in a hidden kitchen. Medellin's new cultural tourism Among the most sought-after offerings is the experience of creating a Colombian backpack from scratch. Guided by a local designer and using natural fibers, travelers learn ancestral techniques from the Iku community. This isn't just a workshop: it's a journey into the roots of Colombian craftsmanship. Each visitor returns home not only with a bag woven by their own hands, but also with a deeper understanding of the indigenous heritage. For those who prefer art, a local artist trained in Florencia offers an intimate workshop with panoramic views of Medellin. There, paintbrush in hand, each participant creates their own souvenir postcard while discovering the city's emerging art scene. But when it comes to literary experiences, Medellin also has something different to offer. A stroll through its most iconic bookstores concludes with a discussion with local writers. The tour includes meetings with booksellers, signature coffees, and even the opportunity to write a poem dedicated to a loved one. A perfect option for travelers who love words. The charm of flowers and the hidden kitchen No trip to Medellin would be complete without immersing yourself in the silletera tradition with a flower artisan. One experience allows tourists to visit the Casa de las Flores (House of Flowers) and learn from local flower makers how the iconic silletas, which are paraded each year at the Flower Fair, are made. The activity concludes in the hills of Santa Elena, where visitors create their own floral creation. And for the most inquisitive palates, the culinary offerings also break new ground. At Gabriela, a hidden kitchen laboratory , food happens at the center of the table. Unexpected dishes and signature drinks are shared in an environment where the chef is also the host. More than just a dinner, it's an immersive culinary experience. Tourism with a purpose: connecting, learning and creating Far from being simple tourist activities, these experiences reflect a global trend: travelers are no longer just looking to "see" but rather to experience the culture of their destinations. Medellin, with its blend of tradition and innovation, is positioning itself as an epicenter of creative tourism in Latin America. Airbnb, the platform that connects hosts with travelers around the world, has been key to this movement. Since its inception in 2007 in San Francisco, it has evolved from renting rooms to offering experiences that bring visitors closer to the true essence of each city. Medellin is now one of those spots on the map. For those planning to visit Colombia, the recommendation is clear: don't just observe. In Medellin, the invitation is to create. Originally published on Latin Times Boricua superstar Bad Bunny is taking over late-night television, and he's doing it while in the middle of one of the biggest concert residencies Puerto Rico has ever seen. The global music sensation, currently performing his historic No Me Quiero Ir De Aqui residency at San Juan's iconic Coliseo de Puerto Rico, is set to headline not one but two major U.S. talk shows this Tuesday night. First up, the Puerto Rican superstar will appear as the lead guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS, airing at 11:35 p.m. ET. Fans won't want to go to bed after that, because immediately following, Bad Bunny will jump over to NBC, where he'll headline Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:37 a.m. ET. In a rare one-two punch across competing networks, the reggaeton king is set to dominate both time slots back-to-back, a feat rarely achieved by any artist. Adding even more excitement to the night, Bad Bunny will be joined on Seth Meyers by Adam Sandler, his co-star in the highly anticipated comedy sequel Happy Gilmore 2, set to premiere worldwide on July 25. In the film, Bad Bunny stars as Sandler's sharp-tongued new caddy, marking his first major Hollywood role. According to insiders, the collaboration between Sandler and Bad Bunny delivers some of the film's biggest laughs and most unexpected moments. He had talked about the experience in another talkshow, Colbert's rival The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. This double late-night takeover comes as Bad Bunny continues his record-breaking run of sold-out concerts back home in Puerto Rico. His No Me Quiero Ir De Aqui residency, which translates to "I Don't Want to Leave Here," has turned San Juan's largest arena into a nightly cultural phenomenon. Blending reggaeton with traditional bomba, plena, and salsa, the shows have featured surprise guest stars, political messages, and the live debut of new songs like Alambre Pua. The residency has not only become a cultural celebration but has also generated an estimated $200 million boost to the local economy. While most artists focus solely on touring or promoting their films, Bad Bunny is doing both at once and at the highest level. His simultaneous presence on Puerto Rican stages and American late-night television underscores his unparalleled crossover appeal. Whether he's headlining El Choli or U.S. prime time, Bad Bunny continues to break barriers as both a global music icon and a rising Hollywood actor. Fans tuning in Tuesday night can expect lively interviews, behind-the-scenes stories from Happy Gilmore 2, and possibly a few surprises. With Stephen Colbert's political humor and Seth Meyers' sharp comedic timing, both conversations are expected to touch on Bad Bunny's recent statements about Puerto Rican identity, his current residency, and his evolution as an artist. One thing's certain: between two networks, one blockbuster movie, and 30 sold-out concerts back home, Bad Bunny isn't slowing down anytime soon. For fans across the world, Tuesday night's double feature is simply unmissable. Originally published on Music Times An Allentown man will spend 21 to 50 years in state prison for the sexual abuse of two girls, according to a news release from the Lehigh County District Attorneys Office. In one of the cases, Joshua Mickey Martel admitted he paid the mother of a 12-year-old girl in cash and drugs so he could rape the girl, the DAs office said. The mother left Martel, now 32, alone with the girl sometime between April 23 and April 24, 2024, in a hotel room in the 1000 block of Airport Road, the release says. Martel also admitted he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl on May 21, 2024, at the same hotel. Police got a tip from a school resource officer and found the pair in a room there, the news release says. Martel was represented by attorney Matthew Rapa of Lehighton at the plea and sentencing hearing on Tuesday, according to court records. Rapa didnt immediately return a message seeking comment. Martel pleaded guilty to rape of a child and trafficking in individuals in connection with the first case. For the second case, he pleaded guilty to statutory sexual assault. He was sentenced Tuesday by Lehigh County Judge Robert L. Steinberg and ordered to register for life as a sex offender. The mother of the first victim, a 31-year-old Allentown woman, is charged with conspiracy to commit rape of a child, conspiracy to traffic in individuals, and solicitation for rape of a child. Her name was not released to protect the victims identity. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. The three biggest U.S. aircraft carriers are charging solo travelers more than groups to fly economy, according to a report. If youve ever looked up flights on Google or another pricing platform for solo travel, this revelation may surprise you. The three biggest U.S. aircraft carriers American, United and Delta had charged solo travelers more than groups to fly economy, according to a report. News of the bulk discount was first uncovered by Thrifty Traveler, which provided an analysis of the fares from the three major U.S. carriers. The investigation into the fares came about after the site found routes with notable price discrepancies. However, upon further investigation of the fare discrepancies using Newark (EWR) as the origin airport to certain destinations, United and Delta eventually reversed their practices. But when NJ Advance Media did a search for American flights originating from Newark (EWR), there was a slight difference in fares. What were the discrepancies in flight prices for solo vs. group travelers on American? In one example, a flight from Newark (EWR) to Orlando (MCO) for a solo traveler from Friday, Aug. 22, to Monday, Aug. 25, cost $243 in Basic Economy. A screenshot of a Newark to Orlando flight fare for a solo traveler on American. Google Flights However, that same Basic Economy flight for two people on those exact travel dates and times on American showed a $1 discount per person. A screenshot on Google Flights of a Newark to Orlando Basic Economy fare on American for two people. Google Flights Another flight fare between Newark (EWR) and Los Angeles (LAX) showed the same decrease. A screenshot of a Google Flights solo traveler fare on American from Newark to Los Angeles. Google Flights A solo Basic Economy fare on American from Newark (EWR) to Los Angeles (LAX) was $217. A screenshot on Google Flights of a Basic Economy fare on American for two people. Google Flights That same fare on Basic Economy for two people on American turned out to be $433, $1 less than it would for two single fares at $434. Add four passengers to the mix on that same Basic Economy fare on American, and the solo traveler would be paying $2 more than on a bulk fare. A screenshot of a Google Flights listing for a Basic Economy fare for four people on American. Google Flights What should flyers take away from this data? Next time you travel on American Airlines out of Newark, you might find a cheaper fare if you book group seats. So its best to gather your extended family or a group of your closest friends for a big vacation if you choose to fly with American Airlines. You can also shop around to check out other airlines, particularly during sales, or try budget airlines, like Frontier, Southwest and French Bee, for more affordable single ticket flights. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. The Pumpkin Spice Latte is returning to Starbucks main menu in August 2025. AP Photo/Peter Morgan Summer may be in full swing, but if youre looking for a taste of fall, you dont have long to wait. Starbucks has revealed the date for when the beloved Pumpkin Spice Latte will return to the menu, along with other fan-favorite items, as well as new items. Here is what you need to know about when you can get the Pumpkin Spice Latte and other fall menu items. When will the Pumpkin Spice Latte return to the Starbucks menu? The Pumpkin Spice Latte will return to menus on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, according to Starbucks. This is later than the PSL return to Starbucks last year. In 2024, the Pumpkin Spice Latte was brought back on August 22, which was the earliest that Starbucks had ever debuted the drink for the fall menu. It looks like Starbucks is giving us a few extra days of summer before taking over with pumpkin-spiced everything. This is also the first time that Starbucks has announced the return. Typically, rumors begin to swirl in July of the PSLs return, and Starbucks previously didnt confirm it until closer to the official Pumpkin Spice Latte release date. What ingredients make up the Pumpkin Spice Latte? According to Starbucks Coffee at Home recipe, the fan-favorite consists of espresso, milk, Pumpkin Spice Syrup, and whipped cream, with pumpkin pie spice sprinkled on top. Starbucks also adds real pumpkin to the Pumpkin Spice Latte, in addition to other fall drinks. Starbucks 2025 fall menu The coffee chain said its bringing back three other returning favorites and introducing two new items. The following drinks are returning to the menu, according to Starbucks: Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte There is also one new drink being added to the menu, as well as one new food item. The new drink is the Pecan Oatmilk Cortado, and the new food item is the Italian Sausage Egg Bites. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. The IMPACT Project removes low-level juvenile offenders from the Northampton County Juvenile Justice system, which operates out of this building on Ferry Street in Easton. lehighvalleylive.com file photo The IMPACT Project has been in Northampton County fewer than two years, and its already making a difference, according to programs administrator. The diversionary program has a 77% success rate since it started in late 2023, said Abigail Stevens, the supervisor of diversion services for the Emmaus-based service provider. The program offers an alternative for low-level juvenile offenders. Rather than have their cases adjudicated through the Northampton County Juvenile Justice system, the offenders appear before one of two panels of community volunteers. The juveniles typically make a first appearance before the panel within a few weeks of facing charges. Thats a big improvement over the standard juvenile justice system, Stevens said. The sooner the hearing date, the more responsive the juvenile is to accepting responsibility, Stevens said. If you go through the court system, youre going to wait six months to a year until you even have a court hearing. After a year, what kid remembers what they did? Stevens said. Juveniles in the program make their own restitution, not their parents. The victims have a say in how each case is handled. They might ask for an apology letter or, as a hypothetical example, ask a child to repair the mailbox they damaged. One woman insisted that the juvenile who bullied her autistic son should read articles about autism and watch a documentary. The youth and their families will understand that their community cares and expects responsible resolutions for criminal behavior, says an introductory pamphlet for the program. Children who commit summary offenses are eligible, as are children who commit low-level misdemeanors, according to Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta. A theft could be handled through the IMPACT Project. A sex offense cannot, Baratta said. The child must be able to make full restitution to enter the program, Stevens said. Middle-school offenders have cases reviewed by a School Justice Panel. Each child reviewed by this panel gets a mental health evaluation as part of the program, Stevens said. The program started with Easton and Bethlehem area middle schools but is being expanded to the rest of the county, Baratta said. Offenders in high school and elementary school have cases reviewed by a Community Justice Panel. That panel also covers middle school kids who commit offenses outside of school. The panels consist of folks who have a background dealing with children typically, theyre social workers, child psychologists or school counselors, Baratta said. Bethlehem Area School District Director of Student Services Tracy Hirner said her district has professionals trained to sit on the panels. They are able to sit side by side with the (offenders) family and IMPACT Project folks and say, Here are the contributing factors that led to this incident, Hirner said. Its better than relying on a punitive system, she said. Having juvenile cases handled by the IMPACT Project is cheaper than having them go through the regular juvenile justice system. And the IMPACT Project is more holistic because it involves the local community. Everyones working together to be that early intervention for a juvenile to make better choices, Stevens said. By the numbers Heres the success rate for each panel since the programs first case in September 2023 through the latest numbers in May 2025: Community Justice Panel Accepted: 271 Successful: 199 Unsuccessful: 72 Percent who were successful: 73% School Justice Panel Accepted: 114 Successful: 98 Unsuccessful: 16 Percent who were successful: 86% Combined success rate of both programs: 77% Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. A pleasant early summer pattern will bring mild temperatures and low humidity to the Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, July 22, with conditions gradually warming through the week and thunderstorms developing by Friday. High pressure moving from southeast Canada will deliver comfortable conditions Tuesday, with temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s and dew points dropping into the 50s. Overnight low temperatures will range from the upper 50s to mid-60s, providing excellent sleeping weather with mostly clear skies. By Wednesday and Thursday, temperatures and humidity will begin to increase. Residents can expect gradually warming conditions with increasing cloud cover, particularly on Wednesday. Winds will remain light, generally from the northeast at five to ten miles per hour. The weather pattern will shift dramatically by Friday, with a cold front approaching that could trigger scattered showers and thunderstorms. Heat index values may become high enough to warrant potential heat advisories. Precipitation chances will increase through the weekend, with Saturday and Sunday featuring the highest likelihood of thunderstorms. Long-range forecasts suggest the cold front may stall near the area through the weekend, maintaining unsettled weather conditions, including heavy rainfall. Residents should monitor local forecasts and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by lehighvalleylive.com staff. Hundreds of people attended a meeting in the Castle Arms Hotel in Durrow on Monday evening to voice their opposition to two planned IPAS centres in the village. Fianna Fail TD Sean Fleming, Independent Councillors James Kelly and Ollie Clooney and Fine Gael Cllr John King were among those present. Independent TD Brian Stanley sent his apologies and told organisers that he would be approaching the planning section at Laois County Council in relation to the plans. The meeting was called by Durrow Community Council in response to two planning applications for asylum centres at Lennons Bar and Peadars Bar at Mary Street in the village. Marc Lennon, who lodged the planning applications with Laois County Council, was invited to attend the meeting but wasnt present. Chair of Durrow Community Council Ethel Dunphy said two submissions have already been lodged in relation to the plans. We dont want unvetted males in the town we also dont have the services here, she said. Ms Dunphy said our garda station is not manned 95% of the time. She referred to claims by Mr Lennon that only families would be accepted at the centre and said, once Marc Lennon signs on the dotted line he has no say in who goes in. Cllr Kelly estimated that planned 21 bedrooms associated with the planning applications could house up to 80 people. He expressed his belief that a local business is selling out the community. He said the village- which has a population of 946 according to the 2022 census- didnt have the school places, health facilities or public transport to deal with such an influx. Cllr Kelly said garda resources are also an issue and he expressed frustration at the lack of engagement with gardai. We havent had a Joint Policing Committee meeting in 18 months because there is a new forum and the government is stalling on that as well, said Cllr Kelly. Cllr Kelly said the owner of the bars had no contract for IPAS and he questioned where the Ukrainians who are currently residing in one of the buildings would go. He also said there were around 1,700 people on Laois County Councils housing list. Cllr Kelly explained that an approval for a guesthouse was a route which could lead to an application for an International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) contract. There is no contract yetI know that for a fact, he told the gathering. He advised those present to make submissions to the Council in relation to the application before the submission deadline of August 13. Cllr Kelly noted there had been similar applications on two buildings in Mountrath in the past. Cllr Clooney promised attendees his 100% support and said it is services we need in Durrow, not this. We have to fight this and when we look down the hall here tonight we are on our way to fighting this, he remarked. Cllr Clooney said he had already made representations to Laois County Council in relation to the plans and he said the matter could be appealed to An Coimisiun Pleanala if needs be. He questioned the motive of the plans. Its about money, lets face it, he said. Cllr King said the situation with regard to an IPAS centre in his town of Rathdowney was different. He said the building they are in was sold after a fire and the new owner secured a contract. We werent aware that we could object, he admitted. He said the Ukrainian modular homes in Rathdowney for Ukrainians were built in Spring Crescent, which he said was aptly named due to all of the springs on the land. He said the Ukrainians were welcomed and their arrival had benefitted the area and meant the school could get extra teachers. Cllr King supported the opposition to the centres in Durrow. We will make it quite clear at the meeting that we are not going to support these IPAS centres, he said. Fianna Fail TD Sean Fleming noted there were over 250 people at the public meeting. He said he had contacted the Council in relation to the plans. No contract has been signed by IPAS, more importantly, no application has been made to IPAS, he said. He explained that the Ukrainians staying in Peadars bar can do so without planning permission as there is an exemption due to the emergency nature of their needs. He said both buildings would require planning permission before an IPAS contract could be sought. Dep Fleming said the only place in Laois which had large numbers of IPAS residents was the hotel in Emo. As a TD, I have never heard a peep out of it, he said. He noted a property in Abbeyleix had applied but the Council refused planning and he said Laois County Council do look at these things very carefully. He suggested that people make submissions not on their emotions but in relation to planning matters such as traffic, parking and schools. I think we have to look at this type of area, he said. One of the crowd questioned Dep Flemings support of an EU migration pact. Dep Fleming said the IPAS centre in Emo has been in operation for 20 years. He said the people for Emo welcome them. In general Ireland as a country, we do need to get other people from outside the country to come in, he said. There was a single dissenting voice on the night. Derry Townsend had travelled from Portlaoise to voice his support for IPAS centres. I would be in broad support of IPAS centres, he told the crowd. I heard, unvetted males, he said. Mr Townsend said there were no statistics to support the view that there was higher criminality among foreigners. There is not higher criminality among foreigners, he told the crowd, who were vocal in their opposition to his views. They are coming in. There is a system in place for applicants, he said. Pictured above: Derry Townsend (with mic) voices his support for IPAS centres at the top table He asked how many of those in the room had someone close to them emigrate for a life elsewhere in the last 100 years. Ireland was desolate. We left en masse and we were called every racist name, he told the gathering. A woman in the crowd agreed that the Irish had gone abroad but said they werent given food, shelter and weekly money. I welcome people who come into this country who are workers, she added. Another person asked if the man had gone out on the streets of Portlaoise after 9pm lately. An English man who was in the crowd said it is an army that is coming in and he acknowledged his own heritage. He claimed it was men of fighting age who were coming through Ireland via the UK. Cllr Clooney suggested the attendees focus on the planning application. Fear and concern has to come into it and the services here and not who they could be, he said. He said money was following the population and he worried about the future of villages and smaller towns. If that continues the big will get bigger and the small will be wiped away, he remarked. Durrow Community Council Secretary Mary Monahan suggested setting up a protest committee in opposition to the plans. Those gathered were advised to put their objections in submissions to the council. They were told separate submissions would be required for each plan and a fee of 20 would be required for each submission. What is 20 towards safety, one resident asked. Another said, 40 to save the town basically. One person recalled the protests to save Abbeyleix Hospital and suggested marching on the streets. People power was on the street, they said. A show of hands was requested to indicate who would be willing to protest and the majority in the room put up their hands. Pictured above: A show of hands in support of a protest Dep Fleming said a number of quality objections should suffice. The meeting ended with the formation of a Protest Committee which will organise templates for submissions in opposition to the planned IPAS centres. A second public meeting is also being planned for next week. On July 21st, the Information Office of Anhui Provincial Peoples Government held a press conference to brief on the provinces economic performance in the first half of this year. The data shows the regional gross domestic product (GDP) reached 2,572.3 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.6% at constant prices, outpacing the national average by 0.3 percentage points. The total summer grain output was 35.24 billion catties, an increase of 50 million catties, ranking third nationwide after Henan and Shandong. This achievement stems from expanded sowing areas and relatively stable yields per unit area. In H1, Anhuis industrial sector demonstrated robust momentum overall: Value-added output from industries above designated size surged 8.4%, with manufacturing expanding at 10.4%serving as the primary growth engine. Specifically, production of industrial robots skyrocketed by 93.3%, while integrated circuit output grew by 9.9%. In the first half of the year, Anhui's tertiary industry recorded an added value of 1.4491 trillion yuan, representing a 5.3% increase. Exhibition venues saw frequent on-site contract signings, with leasing and business services growing by 13.1%, information transmission, software and IT services increasing by 6.2%, and transportation sector rising by 5.6%. From January to May, service enterprises above designated size in Anhui achieved 5.4% revenue growth. Retail markets maintained steady growth, with notable success from trade-in programs for upgrading consumer goods. In H1, smartphone sales soared 99.3%, household appliance and audiovisual equipment retail jumped 21.3%. These figures vividly illustrate Anhuis total retail sales of consumer goods reaching 1,205.1 billion yuan during this period. Regarding investment, fixed asset structures optimized with rapid growth in infrastructure spending. In the first half of the year, Anhui's foreign trade achieved record-breaking import-export volume of 458.5 billion yuan, marking a 15.2% growth and setting a new historical high for the same period. Anhui's growth rates for total trade, exports and imports exceeded the national average by 12.3, 8.2 and 17.4 percentage points respectively. Notably, the province ranked 6th nationwide and 1st in the Yangtze River Delta region for its import-export growth rate. Among Anhui's export commodities, electromechanical products remained the dominant category, accounting for 71.9% of total exports. Particularly noteworthy were the 'new trio' of green and low-carbon products - lithium-ion batteries, photovoltaic products, and electric vehicles. These three categories collectively achieved 37.1 billion yuan in exports, representing robust 67.8% growth. Source: anhuinews.com Eleven projects in Laois will share in 502,761 of grants to deliver essential water and waste water infrastructure. Rural Group Water Schemes in Raheen, The Heath, Errill, Cullohill, Ballypickas and Attanagh are among the Laois recipients from the 73.9m allocated nationally for 291 projects across Ireland under the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 20242026. 20,000 of the grants via Laois County Council, will go towards the cost of taking in charge multiple group water schemes and sewerag schemes, some connected to the Portarlington and Ballybrophy public water schemes, others around Laois. The Heath group water scheme is the biggest recipient, receiving 221,000 for water conservation and leak reduction and prevention, and another 5,228 for "innovative demonstration projects". Cullohill group water scheme is the next biggest, granted 157,752 also to reduce and prevent leakages. Fine Gael TD William Aird welcomes the funding as "great news for communities in Laois". Its so important that we protect our water sources and ensure the highest standards in water treatment. We must ensure that communities across County Laois have the benefit of high quality infrastructure and water services. The Rural Water Programme delivers improvements to private domestic water and waste water services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public water services. This funding and the completion of these projects will allow Group Water Schemes to continue to improve the quality, quantity and reliability of the water services across our County. Fine Gael is working hard to improve our infrastructure to ensure more homes can be built. This funding to improve our water and waste water facilities will go a long way to supporting communities across our County, Deputy Aird said. Read also: 95% approval rate in Laois for vacant homes grant says TD Fianna Fail's Laois TD Sean Fleming also welcomes the cash which he says is for eight group water schemes. " The Group Water Schemes that will receive funding are The Heath, Errill, Cullohill, Ballybrophy, Portarlington, Raheen, Ballypickas and Attanagh. A key element of this funding is to support leakage reduction and water conservation efforts which will directly benefit families in these areas. "This funding will assist in the sustainable growth in these areas as people will be able to have a good, reliable and clean water supply. This will benefit people for generations to come. "I want to pay special tribute to all the volunteers and members who assist in the local group water schemes in their areas for the benefit of their local communities. Without these volunteers we would not have these group water schemes in the first place," Dep Fleming said. Nationwide, 291 projects will share in 73.9m, to benefit 63,000 rural households by improving water quality and infrastructure. Projects will range from minor works to major capital investments of over 2m for complex or bundled schemes. Fianna Fail Senator for Kildare South, Fiona OLoughlin, welcomed Minister for Justice Jim OCallaghan to Newbridge last week to see first-hand the challenges local Gardai and business owners are tackling when it comes to retail crime and anti-social behaviour. During the visit, Minister OCallaghan and Senator OLoughlin spent time at Newbridge Garda Station, meeting with local officers who outlined the pressures they face in keeping communities safe. Gardai spoke about the increasing demands on resources and the rising incidents of shoplifting, as well as the importance of stronger supports and updated legislation to help them better protect both businesses and residents. READ NEXT: Council lists potential youth spaces/play park areas for this Kildare town The Minister and Senator OLoughlin also visited several local businesses, where owners shared their concerns about the growing impact of shop theft on already tight margins. In addition, they highlighted persistent issues with anti-social behaviour in the town centre, noting its direct effect on both staff wellbeing and customer safety. Minister OCallaghan acknowledged their concerns and stressed the importance of Garda visibility, noting that while increased patrols have made a difference, further support is needed. He committed to raising the matter directly with the Garda Commissioner and expressed his intention to explore the possibility of increasing Garda numbers at Newbridge station to better meet the needs of a growing and busy town. Every town has its own unique challenges, Senator OLoughlin said. Its crucial that ministers are on the ground, hearing these experiences directly, so they can legislate with a real understanding of whats happening. Retail crime is on the rise nationally, with CSO figures showing shop thefts have jumped nearly 47% over the past decade. Gardai report a sharp increase since 2024, with over 8,000 shop thefts reported in just the first three months of 2025, resulting in nearly 2,000 arrests and more than 4,750 charges or summonses. Retail crime is not victimless, OLoughlin warned. It drives up costs for businesses, which trickle down to families through higher prices, at a time where they are already struggling. We have to draw a line. The Senator also voiced strong support for the Protection of Retail Workers Act 2025, introduced by Fianna Fail colleague Senator Mary Fitzpatrick. The bill aims to amend the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 to create specific offences for assaulting, threatening, harassing, or abusing retail workers while they are carrying out their employment. Our retailers are a cornerstone of our towns. They deserve protection, and this legislation is an important step in ensuring they feel safe and supported in their workplace. Nine projects in Leitrim will receive 509,082 to deliver essential water and wastewater infrastructure, which was announced on Tuesday, July 22. This funding is part of a larger 73.9 million allocation for 291 projects across Ireland under the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2024 to 2026. The Rural Water Programme delivers improvements to private domestic water and wastewater services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public water services and will benefit 63,000 rural households across the country. The funding will support both Group Water Schemes (GWS) and Group Sewerage Schemes (GSS), focusing on water conservation, leakage reduction, and prevention. READ NEXT: Musicians flood into Leitrim for a week of tunes at Joe Mooney Summer School In Leitrim, Carrigallen GWS will receive 23,639, and Aghagrania Upper GWS will be allocated 7,098 for these efforts. The remaining funding in Leitrim will go toward the taking in charge of GWS and GSS. This includes Mullaghboy/Drumbranned GWS receiving 237,895; Lisduff GSS getting 18,000; Drumshangore GWS allocated 90,100; Drumcoora GSS receiving 26,175; Drumbranned GWS 16,150; Corlough GSS 16,775; and Aughadrumcarne GWS 73,250. Sligo-Leitrim TD Frank Feighan welcomed the announcement, saying, This announcement is great news for communities in Leitrim. Its so important that we protect our water sources and ensure the highest standards in water treatment. We must ensure that communities across Leitrim have the benefit of high-quality infrastructure and water services. READ NEXT: Current south Leitrim water system is 'crumbling' - councillors speak out This funding and the completion of these projects will allow Group Water Schemes to continue to improve the quality, quantity, and reliability of the water services across Leitrim, he added. A man has appeared in a Dublin court charged with historical sex offences. The man, aged in his 70s, appeared before the Dublin District Court in the Criminal Courts of Justice on Tuesday morning. He was charged with 78 counts of indecent assault against four girls and one charge of attempted rape against one of the girls. All the offences allegedly took place at various locations in the 1970s and 1980s. Garda Superintendent Amy Kelly said she arrested the man at Dublin Airport before he was brought to Ballymun Garda Station. Judge Michele Finan was told there was no application for bail and so he was remanded in custody on consent before a court appearance next Tuesday at 10.30am. Defence solicitor Tracy Horan made an application for legal aid. She also said that he had no hearing aid and no dentures and as a result he cannot eat. The judge noted that he was to urgently be given medical assistance as requested. The man appeared in court in a wheelchair wearing shorts and a hoodie. Following Met Eireann's Status Orange and Yellow weather warnings for heavy rain and thunderstorms in a number of counties on Monday, their latest forecast for the week ahead shows there's more rain on the way over the coming days. There will be more dry weather over the next few days, however showers are forecast everyday of this week. Although Met Eireann has assured that, unlike what we saw on Monday morning, "accumulations will be small." In some more optimistic news, the forecaster has said that a good deal of dry weather is expected on Saturday with sunny spells and some showers. Here is how the forecast is shaping up for the week ahead according to Met Eireann. Tuesday morning will be dry in most parts with bright spells and some isolated showers. More frequent showers will start to spread from the west through the morning and afternoon. Highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees. READ NEXT: RIP: Teenage boy dies in fatal road crash in Cork as gardai appeal for witnesses Tuesday night will the see the showers become more isolated as drier conditions and clear spells start to develop in most areas. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees. Wednesday will be cloudy and dry, although there will be some showers in places. Highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees. Wednesday night will be mostly dry with clear spells. Cloud will build towards morning time. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees. Similarly, Thursday will be dry and cloudy in most places with the chance of some showers. Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will develop in western and southwestern areas later in the evening. Highest temperatures of 18 to 22 degrees. Friday will be off to a cloudy start with some scattered showers. These showers will become more isolated through the day with more sunny spells developing. Highest temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close The ratification of the Protocol will empower Liberians by granting all victims of human rights abuse direct access to the African Court, he noted. Former President Weah signing book of Condolence for the late President Buhari in Nigeria. VINTNERS and businesses in Limerick are being urged to play a leading role in a campaign aimed at helping victims of sexual harassment and assault in public places to seek help. Cllr Sarah Beasley is calling on local businesses to actively support the Ask for Angela campaign across Limerick. It's an initiative designed to help victims of sexual harassment and assault to safely seek assistance in public venues. Speaking at a meeting of Limerick City and County Council last Monday, Cllr Beasley said: If a person feels unsafe or threatened, they can go to staff and simply ask, can I please see Angela? Staff members trained to recognise the cue will then approach and offer assistance, whether that's helping the individual leave safely, contacting security, or calling the gardai if necessary. Recent studies show that up to thirty percent of women in Ireland experience sexual harassment in public spaces, while specific figures for other vulnerable groups such as the LGBTQ individuals or minority case communities are less precisely documented. READ MORE: Limerick leads national effort to cement Ireland as the home of Halloween Cllr Elisa O'Donovan said she isn't generally a fan of these kinds of campaigns. I think that they are reactive rather than proactive, and they place the onus on women rather than creating safe spaces in our communities. A YOUNG Limerick mother has been described as "full of life" and a "beautiful soul with a heart that knew no limits" at her Funeral Mass today. Clodagh Ferguson (25) from Corbally was found dead in a hotel in Limerick city last Wednesday. A post mortem was carried out on Thursday afternoon at University Hospital Limerick. Her mother Sonia gave a heartfelt eulogy at her Requiem Mass, which took place today at St John's Cathedral, Cathedral Place, saying that Clodagh's presence lit up every room she entered. Sonia said the defining role of Clodagh's life was as a mother to her cherished son, Dylan. READ MORE: With broken hearts the family of mum found dead in Limerick hotel announce her funeral details "Dylan was her whole world. She didn't just love him. She lived for him. Every decision, every plan, every hope in the future had Dylan at the centre." "From the very beginning, she had a spark, a joyful energy that touched everyone around her. Whether it was through her laughter or hugs or just her kind presence, she made sure people felt seen, heard, and loved," expressed Sonia. "As a daughter, she brought pride and joy to her family. She was caring, thoughtful, and full of life. As a sister, she was the one you could always count on for a shoulder to cry on or secret to share or a spontaneous adventure... Her loyalty went deep, and once she loved you, that was forever." Sonia explained that her daughter's life wasn't always easy and that she had faced her share of challenges. "She never gave up. No matter how many times life knocked her down, she stood back up. Every setback, every hardship only seemed to make her stronger. She didn't just survive. She fought." Clodagh's sister Allida continued the eulogy, saying that she had "strength like no other" and "fierce determination" that inspired everyone around her. "Clodagh showed us what strength really looks like, not just in the big moments, but in the everyday courage it takes to keep going, to keep loving, to keep believing that better days were ahead. We will all miss her laugh, her strength, her presence." Allida concluded that her sister's story was far too short but was full of love, meaning and moments that they would never forget. "We promise to keep her memory alive, especially for her son, Dylan. He will always know how deeply he was loved. He will always know how special his mother was, not just to him, but for all of us." Fr John Daly performed the Funeral Mass and said that Clodagh was "larger than life" and "a very warm-hearted person." "She was able to make her feelings known and always had the sensitivity to take on board the feelings of other people." Several gifts were brought to the altar to remember Clodagh's life; a picture symbolising her relationship with her son Dylan who was her whole world, earbuds representing her love of music, books symbolising Clodagh's drive to always improve herself and perfume to highlight how she loved to be her best self, a phone to illustrate her wish to always be in touch with her loved ones and a dreamcatcher as a symbol of her following her dreams. Clodagh was the adored daughter of Sonia, beloved mother of Dylan, cherished sister of Allida and Abi. She is sorely missed by her grandparents Ann and Tom O'Halloran and Chris Ferguson, aunts, uncle, brother-in-law Evan, god father Patrick, Dylan's father Dominic, cousins, extended family and many friends. SPECIAL Needs Assistant Eileen Collins has retired, after a career spanning 45 years, all of which was spent in Catherine McAuley School in Limerick city. Eileens job back then was known as a classroom assistant in 1980 and she was one of the first classroom assistants to be employed in Ireland. She recalls being interviewed for the position by the then school principal, Sr Kilian Bogler, who started the school in 1961, and by Sr Cabrini Moloney. At that time the school had just moved to its present site, on land donated by the Mercy Sisters. Eileen went on to become the longest serving staff member in the schools history. School principal, Greg Browne said: Eileen was a most caring and diligent SNA. She had a great rapport with all the pupils and all considered her as a lot more than an SNA, a trusted adult with a listening year when things were not going well. READ MORE: University of Limerick seeking firm to carry out executive search for new president Eileen kept up contact with many past pupils and was always to the fore in times of difficulty. Her role in school was multifaceted, looking after the care needs of the pupils as well as supporting many teachers that she met during her career, with implementing the curriculum. Eileen's last week in school was filled with several events to mark her retirement including a school Mass. A presentation was made to her by the pupils followed by a guard of honour as Eileen made her final exit from the school as a staff member. To celebrate her career, the staff also held a retirement function in The Woodlands Hotel in Adare where presentations were made to her on behalf of the Board of Management. PLANNERS have given the green light for a brand new housing estate on the outskirts of the city. KPH Construction are planning to build a huge new development on a patch of land next to Corbally Road. Bounded to the south by the existing Carraig Midhe housing estate, and the Westbury Shopping Centre, the project is expected to bring 101 homes to the area - 52 apartments and 49 houses. READ MORE: Limerick mayors remote meeting attendance under scrutiny All the 49 houses planned are to be three-bedroomed, the plans show. All but six of the houses in the development will be terraced, the remainder semi-detached. Meanwhile, there will be 28 one-bed apartments, and 24 two-bedroomed apartments as part of the multi-million euro proposals. Agents for the developer have stated in documents that: It is considered that this proposed mix responds appropriately to the current local housing demand. They noted a pent-up demand and undersupply of small residential units in the area. This claim was backed up with letters from local auctioneers. Despite the site being located less than three kilometres from Limerick city centre, the developers have secured permission from Clare County Council. Thats because the land lies just over the border in the Banner county. Eleven groups and individuals wrote to Clare County Council to have their say on the plans. In this number were a group of residents from Westbury, Carraig Midhe and Shannon Banks, led by Clare Fianna Fail TD Cathal Crowe. Separately, the Carrig Midhe Residents Association made their own submission, signed by 80 locals. Both Carrig Midhe groups said they are not opposed to the housing development, but were contacting planners just to make observations. They gave the council a series of asks, mainly around traffic, and water infrastructure. Irish holidaymakers heading to Turkey this year have been warned not to get caught out following the country's recent ban on the use of eSIMs. People have long opted for eSIMs when travelling abroad in order to avoid purchasing local sim cards or taking on the extortionate costs of roaming fees to use their own mobile data. These eSIMs are digital sims that allow international visitors to purchase data plans for use abroad without needing a physical sim card or local provider. However, Turkey has now banned the use of eSIMs from eight popular providers such as Saily, Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, Instabridge, Mobimatter, Alosim, and BNESIM. Many Irish people heading to the popular tourist destination this summer could potentially get caught out by this new ban on eSIMs. READ NEXT: Small world! Wallet lost on Irish beach returned in 'moment of true serendipity' Fortunately, there is a way around the ban. You can still use eSIMs in Turkey once you have installed and activated your eSIM prior to entering the country. If you do this, you will still be able to use the data plan as the preloaded profiles will continue to function as normal. If you wait until you arrive in Turkey to install or purchase an eSIM, then you will encounter the access issues. Commenting on the recent ban, travel expert at Holafly, Juan David Soler, said: "Turkeys sudden ban on eSIMs has caught many travellers off guard, and its vital that Irish holidaymakers heading there this summer take action before they fly. "eSIMs have become the go-to option for Irish people wanting affordable mobile data abroad without the hassle of physical SIMs or costly roaming. But now, travellers will no longer be able to activate a new eSIM once they arrive in Turkey. "To avoid getting caught out, Irish travellers should ensure their eSIM is fully downloaded and activated before leaving Ireland. This means setting up your digital SIM while still on Irish networks, and confirming its working properly before departure. Otherwise, you could be left without internet access the moment you land, which can be a serious issue if you rely on your phone for maps, transport, or bookings." Taoiseach Micheal Martin has pledged to fund new arts and cultural programmes that will see more island-wide productions, tours and exhibitions on both sides of the border. Mr Martin said programmes will be launched later in the year to help communities celebrate the diversity across the island. In the annual Seamus Share Home Place lecture, at Navan Fort in Armagh, Mr Martin spoke of conversations he had with the former deputy first minister of Northern Ireland and a founder of the SDLP. Mr Martin said Mr Mallons wise words inspired him when he announced the Shared Island Initiative some five years ago. Orla Mallon, daughter of Seamus Mallon said; It is an honour that Taoiseach Micheal Martin TD, a good friend of my late father, will deliver the annual Seamus Mallon Lecture. pic.twitter.com/x4QtNTlA7J The John and Pat Hume Foundation (@humefoundation) July 22, 2025 Then, as now, I drew on Seamuss wise words to encapsulate why we need to do more to accommodate and understand each other across the different and often interwoven communities of this island, Mr Martin said in his speech. The Fianna Fail leader listed projects and initiatives to connect both sides of the border, including an hourly train service from Dublin to Belfast, which he said brought a 50% increase in passenger numbers. He also cited the Narrow Water Bridge project, a Shared Destinations tourism programme, the Ulster Canal restoration and island-wide enterprise and biodiversity programmes as ways of connecting different communities. Because, as Seamus perfectly described it, this is and will always be our shared home place, Mr Martin added. Our focus on fostering people-to-people interaction is also now moving to a higher level. To meet the scale of the demand and the potential there is now, to foster connections in every domain, and to involve and benefit every town and community on this island. We are continuing and expanding the Shared Island Civic Society Fund and island-wide Creative Ireland programming. We are this year initiating major new arts and cultural heritage programmes, backed with more than 20 million euro from the Government of Ireland out to 2030. This will see more island-wide productions, tours and exhibitions across all arts spheres and a new Ireland-UK cultural partnership for institutions and audiences to engage more with the culture and heritage of both our countries. Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Martin visited the Middletown Centre, which works with children and young people with autism and is funded by the Irish Government and Stormont. The centre is doing excellent work, not only through providing services and supports, but also in terms of contributing to the broader body of knowledge on autism, through their essential research, he added. It is also a shining example of practical North-South co-operation in action. It was established by the two departments of education, north and south, in 2007, and is funded by both departments. It demonstrates the strength of collaboration on this island, and what can be achieved by working together. MAYOR of Limerick, John Morans extended absence sparked sharp criticism at a meeting of Limerick City and County Council, with councillors questioning his ability to lead from abroad, raising concerns over governance. Mayor Moran is currently on annual leave but attended the meeting remotely. Cllr Michael Collins opened the discussion on the mayor's absence, saying: You won't be physically in Limerick. I think that's absolutely appalling to hear that because you're the leader of this council...To hear that you'd be away for four weeks is absolutely mind-boggling. Cllr Dan McSweeney asked whether executive powers had been properly delegated: In your absence, mayor, I think it's really important that this local authority continues to function. Has a delegation order been signed to delegate powers to Dr Daly? READ MORE: Limerick TD received support from nationals and non-nationals after call to protect Ireland's culture Mayor Moran said he would arrange for others to be able to sign a delegation if something was urgent. I'm essentially still working full-time at the moment on all of them and checking everything that needs to be done. I think I cleared about 40 mayoral orders on the Friday and Saturday before I left to go to Dublin. Cllr Adam Teskey demanded answers from the mayor regarding a 1.2 million property purchase outside Adare and questioned his absence during debates on the Local Property Tax (LPT). I'm amazed really because some of us can't leave this chamber for four days, never mind four weeks. I want to know who's running the ship here?... We don't have the leader of the council to talk to us about (LPT) so I think we need to get clarity as to when the debates that surround the LPT are going to take place inside in this chamber that we were elected to, not over in Spain, France or over in Bordeaux... but Ireland, Limerick. The Fine Gael councillor continued: I was hoping that you would be in attendance today... you indeed signed a mayoral order on the 9th of April to purchase a council house for 1.2m outside a red line in Adare, Co Limerick. He added that it must be the most expensive council house in the world. I want to know answers and I won't stop til I get the answers, mayor. If it means that we'll call a special full meeting of this council and fly you home, I'll do it. Mayor Moran defended his attendance record and pointed to confusion over meeting scheduling. We've had conversations about whether the mayor has to attend or not and the department has actually confirmed that that's not the case but I'm nonetheless attending today. Cllr Liam Galvin proposed a written record of meeting participation. We need to have a written record of our own signatures of meetings that we've attended. Cllr Sharon Benson questioned the rescheduling of the meeting, saying: The mayor has pointed out that this meeting was scheduled for the 21st and it was rescheduled to the 14th after the mayor indicated he couldn't be here today so I want to know who scheduled that meeting. Cllr John Sheahan highlighted that under current legislation, councillors could spend the rest of their time in Timbuktu online if they wanted to. He suggested that they write to Minister James Browne to change the legislation back that except under exceptional circumstances you have to be in the chamber. The issue of administrative continuity was also raised by Cllr Joe Leddin, who said: I would agree with certain elements of the comments, certainly the fact that if the mayor is away for several weeks or so and the DG isn't able to sign mayoral orders well then how do we actually operate? Mayor Moran was contacted by the Leader last Wednesday and it was clear that he was working during his annual leave. He said: This meeting was originally scheduled for a different date on which I would have been fully available. When the suggestion was made to move it to this alternative date at the last council meeting, I pointed out that I could not physically be there. ELECTED members of Limerick City and County Council have given the green light for a 999-year lease on lands at Opera Square in Limerick city. The decision to sell lands at the Opera Square site to the Office of Public Works came at a council meeting last Monday despite councillors raising concerns around the current structure of Limerick Twenty Thirty (LTT). The decision will allow works to commence on a new 14-storey office building which will be constructed on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners. The OPW will pay 1.1m for this, as well as the development costs incurred to date by Limerick Council. It will then be the OPW which builds the landmark building that will be home to almost 1,000 workers. LTT is a designated activity company (DAC) which operates at arms length from council, and is charged with developing key sites in the city centre including the Opera Square at Rutland Street. READ MORE: Up to 74 bats found on Limerick site earmarked for student halls Up until the last local election, a number of councillors had sat on the board of the company in order to provide oversight. But a row broke out last summer when Mayor John Moran said in line with best corporate practice, council members would have to apply to sit on the board, and he would decide the positions. Cllr Kieran O'Hanlon said that he was happy to propose this disposal of land but also raised issue with the DAC saying that basically the mayor has told us all to send in our CVs. The question is, has any progress been made on this because it's 12 months on? Cllr Dan McSweeney seconded the disposal, saying that it was a transformational project. He also highlighted the code of corporate governance for local authorities. Elected members should be sitting on subsidiary companies of Limerick City and County Council, Discover Limerick DAC, Innovate DAC, Askeaton Pool & Leisure, and Limerick Twenty Thirty. This governance document has been sitting on a desk somewhere for twelve months... We are not having code of good governance in those DACs because it is failing to comply with the code of corporate governance for local authorities. Cllr McSweeney continued: There has been nominations made by this chamber for people to sit on that DAC and we got into the legal argument previously on who should appoint those onto the DACs. We have legal opinions saying it's the mayor. It now rests with the mayor. There is clear code of governance, and it's now time for the mayor to step up to the plate or if he's not we need to stop funding these DACs. We need to stop carrying out any work with these DACs because it does not comply with the code of corporate governance. Cllr Michael Collins said he was happy to support the 999-year lease because it's the right thing to do. Cllr Joe Leddin also supported the disposal for the lease, saying that it's a hugely important project. It's great to have the OPW now with the actual funds to pay upfront...It is extremely important in terms of the whole viability of project Opera to have the OPW now in there as an anchor in that and with the funding in place for the building. Cllr Leddin added that the governance of DACs is a mess. It has been handled really poorly I think from the outset because we do have a role to play. It's the local authority that's going out and drawing down loans from various different European banks or Irish banks... At the end of the day, we, as elected members of the council, I think, should have a role going forward on the DACs. He also said a huge mistake was made by not including more residential units and apartments. Cllr Bridie Collins said it was made very clear to her that she would be in breach of regulation if she stayed on the DAC. I'm here now proposing that we have a special meeting to appoint those positions to the DACs within the next couple of weeks or at the very latest, we have it as an agenda item at the September meeting because this is ridiculous. We were all very well invested in those DACs... It's insulting that we have not been allowed to keep those positions. Director of Planning, Environment & Place-Making for Limerick City and County Council, Vincent Murray stated: In relation to the complexity of the disposal today, and the previous disposal, there was a proposal at one stage that the council would draw down significant funding from the European Investment Bank... Post Covid and the recovery of the economy, the OPW have come into funds. Bengaluru: Back in 2020, as the covid-19 pandemic swept across the world and overwhelmed healthcare systems, Qure.ai, a medical diagnostic startup, was field-testing its most promising leap in medical artificial intelligence (AI): a software that could detect signs of tuberculosis and lung cancer from chest X-rays with high accuracy. But there was a catch. Each scan, roughly 100 MB in size, had to be uploaded to the cloud, processed and the results sent back. This cycle was time consuming because of internet connectivity issues and power outages, common to rural areas. It resulted in a long line of patients waiting for results. The delayed scan reports made it harder to isolate a patient or start treatment in time. This was a reminder of the mismatch between cutting-edge AI and the ground realities it was built for. If youre building healthcare solutions for the Global South, you have to assume the testing conditions are far from ideal. The internet will be patchy. Electricity supply will be irregular. Machines need to have longer battery lives to last at least a day," said Prashant Warier, co-founder of Qure.ai. So, the team found a way to re-engineer their system. Instead of directing every scan through the cloud, they embedded the AI model directly onto local laptops attached to X-ray equipment, making the diagnostics system work even in offline mode. These laptops with edge AI chips handled the heavy computing needed to analyse the scans on the spot, in under 20 seconds. Today, Qure.ai partners with more than 15 medical device makers to embed AI directly into edge devices, making advanced diagnostics practical in places where stable internet connectivity is still a luxury. In 2025, the company announced it had crossed five million AI-enabled chest X-rays across 20 countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. The shift to offline-first AI is gaining momentum in India and finding use cases beyond healthcare, across e-scooters, surveillance systems, smart meters and government services, where latency, power constraints or patchy networks make cloud AI unreliable. Unlike cloud-based AI, which depends on remote servers to process data, edge AI has task-specific chips to enable real-time decisionsthey need not contact distant data centres. For instance, a surveillance camera in a remote area that needs to detect intruders instantly cant afford to rely on uploading footage to a distant data centre in order to take quick action. It must process that data locally to trigger real-time alerts. Or in railway safety systems, edge-enabled cameras mounted at crossings or on train engines can instantly detect obstructions on the tracks like stalled vehicles or pedestrians and trigger alerts without waiting for cloud-based processing to take action. To be clear, edge AI is not about replacing the cloud entirely. Its about shifting critical intelligence closer to the problem. Made in India At the heart of this movement is a new breed of Indian chip designers. A handful of Indian founders, many of whom have spent years in global semiconductor firms or top research labs, are now building fabless chip startupswhere design is done domestically and fabrication outsourced to foundries abroadfrom the ground up. The fabless model is the global industry norm, followed even by companies like Apple, which designs its chips in the US but manufactures them abroad. The model allows startups to focus on innovation without the heavy capital costs of running fabrication plants. BigEndian Semiconductors, founded by IIT alumnus Sunil Kumar, is now building vision-processing chips for surveillance, automotive and industrial use. Shashwath T.R. and Sharan Jagathrakshakan, co-founders of Mindgrove Technologies, and both IIT Madras alumnus, are designing ultra-low-power system-on-chips (SoCs), intended for use in connected appliances, smart meters and other cost-sensitive devices. Netrasemi, founded by former Intel engineers, is developing a homegrown 64-bit RISC-V processor, targeting use cases in consumer electronics and embedded AI. Together, these initiatives represent a growing pool of vastly experienced engineers betting that India holds a chance in the AI hardware game, through the edge AI route. This is where Indias semiconductor journey might finally find a foothold. Why it matters The shift toward edge chips, while global superpowers engage in AI wars, could be a strategic realignment in Indias hardware journey. While cloud chips, such as Nvidias A100s and H100s, are used to train and run massive AI models such as ChatGPT or Gemini, they are expensive and highly dependent on infrastructure. India imports nearly 100% of these high-end chips and despite recent government GPU leasing initiatives, it remains far behind in building foundational AI infrastructure. Edge chips, by contrast, are narrower in function but more suited to Indias immediate needs. They dont require massive data centres and can be deployed widely in the field. And while the global chip market is consolidated among giants such as Qualcomm and NVIDIA, the edge AI space leaves room for new entrants solving highly localized problems. India is fundamentally a low-bandwidth, power-constrained, cost-sensitive market, so the typical cloud-first AI stack was never going to scale here," said Vishesh Rajaram, managing partner at the deeptech-focused, early-stage fund Speciale Invest. India doesnt just need edge AI," he added. We are one of the best sandboxes to build it for the world." Last year, Speciale Invest co-led an $8 million funding round in Mindgrove Technologies, alongside Rocketship.vc. Pranay Kotasthane, deputy director at The Takshashila Institution, a think tank, noted that Indias strength lies not in controlling raw chip supply chains but in its globally embedded talent pool. By harnessing Indian design expertise across the AI stack, particularly in edge applications, India can create dependencies that are geopolitically difficult to ignore. The Edge AI game We dont have the economic muscle to build hyperscale GPU infrastructure like the US or China. So, we started where India has a natural advantage: AI at the edge," said BigEndian Semiconductors Kumar. He had previously worked at Broadcom, Intel and ARM and also co-founded the SaaS unicorn Zenoti. Instead of importing and assembling parts like many others in the ecosystem, Kumar and his team chose to go deeper by designing their own chips tailored to Indias most pressing and high-volume use cases in public infrastructure, including surveillance systems, and defence and automotive applications, where real-time video or image processing is essential. Indias video surveillance market is projected to reach $7.12 billion by 2030. View Full Image Executives of BigEndian Semiconductors at the companys office in Bengaluru. Clockwise from left: Sunil Kumar, CEO; Harpreet Wadhawan, CFO; Kanagaraju P., head of engineering; Renuka Prasad, head of system engineering; Dinesh Annayya, head of silicon engineering. (Sampath Kumar G.P./Mint) The chips powering surveillance cameras in India are almost entirely imported from a single Chinese supplier today. We saw an opportunity to not only replace them but make them smarter, secure and India-specific," he said. BigEndians camera-focused chips are currently being tested by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Honeywell for use in consumer security systems, traffic surveillance and industrial monitoring. While the chips are manufactured at a fabrication facility in Taiwan, the architecture and design are developed in-house by BigEndian in India. Unlike chips that are exported or rebranded, BigEndians semiconductors are shipped back to India as finished and tangible components for local deployment. Kumar noted that the designs are specifically built for Indias conditions to account for power fluctuations, limited connectivity and security flaws commonly found in foreign firmware. These arent generic processors. Theyre tightly integrated stacks of security firmware, AI engines, and signal processors shrink-wrapped into a 5mm die," he said. Mindgroves local chips A similar principle guides Shashwath T.R., founder of Mindgrove Technologies, which is building Indias first commercial-grade high-performance microcontroller (MCU). India has millions of smart meters, washing machines and mobility devices. These arent smart unless they can run AI locally. Thats what were solving for," said Shashwath. View Full Image Embedded design engineers at Mindgroves laboratory. Mindgroves chips can be locally programmed, audited and securedan important consideration in the environment of geopolitical chip vulnerabilities. The companys first product, a general-purpose microcontroller designed entirely in-house in Chennai, is now moving into volume production after completing its prototyping phases last year. Shashwath says Mindgrove has already signed on a few early OEM partners and the chip is expected to show up in biometric authentication devices, smart meters, robotics and even thermal printers over the next year. These chips arent just for India, though. Theyre designed around both Indian and international specifications, allowing them to serve similar markets with shared conditions like patchy power, limited compute and regulation-heavy device sectors. In an era of rising concern over data privacy and digital sovereignty, the ability to process sensitive data locally from a smart meter, biometric scanner or factory sensor, can reduce technical and regulatory risks. Thats a feature Indias public infrastructure increasingly wants. Challenges within and outside Despite the rise of these startups, Indias hardware realities are rooted in systemic challenges. Hardware startups are up against a hostile environment, plagued by challenges such as low investor interest, long timelines and supply chain gaps. Last September, BigEndian Semiconductors raised $3 million in a funding round led by Vertex Ventures SEA & India. We first mapped the entire value chain," Kumar said. Who builds what; where the components are sourced; what local OEMs want. Only then did we start designing." Kumar explains that unlike software, the hardware industry leaves little room for trial and error. Mistakes or pivots cost much more and development is very capital-intensive. This makes it a daunting space for both founders and investors, unless theres a clear path to revenue. As a result, many startups begin with commercially viable applications such as industrial surveillance before venturing into more complex and long-cycle domains such as defence. Anyone trying to actually do real building is breaking their heads against an ecosystem that doesnt exist," said Shashwath. Indian edge chip makers can make a real difference if they sell in the Global South, where they are currently up against larger players. But unlike their global peers, in Taiwan or China, where tight integration between chipmakers, foundries and design houses allows new iterations in as little as two weeks, Indian teams can take up to six months to ship the same update. The specialized software and licenses required to design, test and verify chips are also prohibitively expensive for Indian startups. Startups must carefully ration tool usage among engineers (because they can afford only a limited number of licenses), even with support from the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme, an initiative by the ministry of electronics and information technology. The scheme offers financial and infrastructural aid to encourage domestic semiconductor design. Were always rationing tools," Shashwath said, and it shows in how long we take to ship." Were always rationing tools, and it shows in how long we take to ship. Shashwath T.R. Both Kumar and Shashwath believe that while schemes like DLI are helpful, they are not enough. What Indias semiconductor ecosystem really needs is patient capital, easier access to tools and IP, more domestic buyers and better alignment between R&D and manufacturing. The local electronics market in India is only beginning to warm up to local chip makers. Despite a strong base of electronics manufacturing in India, most OEMs currently rely on global chip suppliers. Many Indian OEMs still hesitate to switch from global incumbents unless theres a proven delta on cost, performance or availability," said Speciale Invests Rajaram. Startups that offer a drop-in alternative with local support, tighter integration and a roadmap win faster." Kotasthane of The Takshashila Institution argues that India should double down on fabless incentives, niche areas like compound semiconductors and even fund open-source AI accelerator projects under the National AI Mission. The upside is real. If India gets edge AI right, it can build a sovereign technology stack for itself, and for the worlds underserved regions. India's third largest airline in terms of market share, Akasa Air's financial performance in FY25 improved as per the airline's chief financial officer (CFO) Ankur Goel, with a revenue growth of 49% year-on-year (y-o-y). Akasa also registered a 48% y-o-y jump in Available Seat Kilometres (ASK)the passenger-carrying capacity of an airline. Its fleet grew 50% to a current fleet strength of 30 aircraft, all from the Boeing MAX 737 family. Akasa's Available Revenue per Available Seat Kilometer (RASK) stood at 13%. On the other hand the Cost per Available Seat Kilometer (CASK) was under 10%. RASK is a metric to measure how much revenue and airline makes per seat. CASK is the cost of operating one seat. "Our CASK stood at 8% including fuel expenses, the margins have become significantly better and our Ebitda margins for the last fiscal year is actually 50% better compared to FY24. As a new airline it will take us time to become operationally profitable and we are on the right path," said Goel. Ebitda, a measure of profitability, stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Also Read | Akasa Air aims to soar with funds from family offices of Azim Premji, Ranjan Pai Akasa's CFO further said that RASK will continue to improve and costs are expected to go down. "In the first seven months of this year and first four months of the current fiscal, we are seeing y-o-y improvement in RASK and are seeing a cost reduction. The current situation is better than what we had projected at the beginning of the year," said Goel. Akasa Air since its inception has placed orders for Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft three times. Initially the airline placed an order for 72 aircraft in 2021 with a follow-up order of 4 aircraft in 2023. In 2024 the airline placed a significantly bigger order of 150 aircraft, taking the total order book to 226 aircraft. The airline has received 30 aircraft while another 196 will be delivered by 2032. Goel is confident about the fleet induction and said that the airline enjoys a good relationship with Boeing. Boeing has been a very reliable and supportive partner. Let's not underestimate what Boeing has done for us; not many airlines in the world can induct 30 aircraft in a span of 2-3 years, he said. He said that the airline is looking at a new Boeing. "A lot of the issues are behind them, sowe are confident in terms of their ability to deliver. The conversation that we're having with Boeing these days is around how soon can we get our aircraft," said Goel. The airline is expected to induct more aircraft this year than anticipated earlier. "The plans that we had laid out for FY26, it seems that we may just end up with more aircraft than what we planned for at the beginning of the year. Our plan is to induct all aircraft by 2032 and we will be growing our fleet between 25-30% every year" added Goel. For the current year, Akasa expects to grow it's ASKs by over 30% and an upward trajectory in RASK. The airline is also planning to capitalize on the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport and Noida International Airport. Akasa also plans to increase its international operations from the current 16% to around 20-25% this year. Responding to Mint's question Goel said, Having more bilaterals is generally good and are working to get more especially for Middle East. But we are not constrained by these markets, our aircraft are capable of flying 6 hourshave a lot of flying opportunitieslike to South East Asia. Also Read | Akasa Air fined 10 lakh by DGCA New Delhi: The Coca-Cola Co. has said its beverage volumes in India saw a decline during the three summer months ended June 27, and attributed it to unseasonal rains and the India-Pakistan conflict, which dampened consumer sentiment in the region. In India, after a strong start to the year, volumes declined as our business was impacted by early monsoons and geopolitical conflict early in the important summer season," James Quincey, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) said during the companys earnings call on Tuesday. The company said it has moved to mitigate the issue. "We're engaging consumers with integrated marketing campaigns like Coca-Cola Meals supported by execution in the quick service restaurant channelThums Up with biryani, Sprite with spicy meals and Maaza with festivals and tailoring these activations to regional and local needs. Also, our system is adding customer outlets and recently surpassed 1 million customers on its digital ordering platforms, the CEO said. Also Read | Donald Trump claims Coca-Cola will switch to real cane sugar in United States The US-headquartered beverage company does not disclose country-specific volume growth. Overall, unit case volumes for the quarter declined by 1%. Growth in Central Asia, Argentina, and China was offset by declines in Mexico, India, and Thailand, the company said in its earnings announcement on Tuesday. Overall, net revenues during the period grew 1% to $12.5 billion. Also Read | Kinley Soda breaches 1,500 crore in revenue in Indian market India Focus The company is stepping up its marketing campaigns in India to boost volumes in the market. Coca-Cola sells brands such as Coca-Cola, Thums Up, Sprite, Fanta and Minute Maid in India. It is currently facing competition from homegrown Reliance Industries Ltd, which has relaunched a dated cola brand Campa Cola with significant vigor and lower pricing. It also competes with rival PepsiCo in India. In the case of India, it is never going to be a straight line, and indeed, Q2 was not. We're very bullish on India overall. Q2 did decline as I said due to the conflict and the monsoon, but we have a lot of marketing campaigns focused on India," the CEO added. Late last year, the Jubilant Bhartia Group, which operates India's largest food services business, acquired a 40% stake in Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd (HCCB), Coca-Cola's largest bottler in India. HCCB operates 13 factories, serving 236 districts across 12 states in India's south and west. The company also partners with 11 large bottlers across India aside from owned operations. Earlier this month, HCCB announced the appointment of Hemant Rupani as its new chief executive officer, effective 8 September 2025. Quincey said the move is expected to energize the business. By Deborah Mary Sophia and Zaheer Kachwala (Reuters) -Alphabet, faced with unprecedented threats from AI rivals, will be keen to assure investors this week that the company's own spending on the technology is helping it dig a deeper moat around its search and advertising businesses. Rivals of the Google parent, including AI startups such as OpenAI and Perplexity, have attracted tens of millions of users to their platforms. They are looking to break Google Chrome's dominance with their own browsers, even as a U.S. court weighs breaking up the tech company with remedies that may include a forced Chrome sale. To maintain its grip, Alphabet has rolled out tools such as AI Overviews, which show AI-generated summaries on top of traditional links that have drawn 1.5 billion users per month, and made more Gemini models available to enterprise users. The integration of AI into Google search is key to its advertising appeal, as it offers advertisers the ability to run more effective campaigns and get bigger returns on their dollars. In March, Google added a new AI-only mode to its search. Alphabet, scheduled to report second-quarter results on Wednesday, has also staged a coup, securing rival OpenAI as a customer for its cloud business. "AI targeting advantages and increasing ad loads in AI Overviews could drive ad performance above traditional search," BofA Global Research analysts said. THE CONTEXT Wall Street has been looking for returns from Big Tech's AI spending spree that is expected to total $320 billion this year. Google reassured investors in late April with better-than-expected first-quarter earnings that were powered by AI demand. But OpenAI and Perplexity's launch of their own browsers has intensified pressure on Google's search business, which was already under strain from AI chatbots pulling away queries. "As those (AI) companies deploy their browsers, that'll take more searches away from Google. But the bigger threat will be when those companies have enough of a user base that they start selling advertising," said D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria. "It's only when Google loses advertisers that the revenue is going to be impacted." Also, Alphabet's Waymo, the early U.S. leader in autonomous cabs and often overlooked during earnings, is likely to draw more attention as Elon Musk's Tesla rolls out a test fleet in Austin, Texas. THE FUNDAMENTALS ** Alphabet is expected to report a near 11% jump in total revenue for the second quarter, per LSEG data. ** Analysts expect a 7.5% rise in advertising revenue and a 26.2% jump in its cloud computing segment. ** Per-share earnings are expected to be around $2.18, excluding one-off items. WALL STREET SENTIMENT ** Alphabet shares are largely flat so far this year. ** Stock is among the laggards in the "Magnificent Seven" group of megacap stocks, with Nvidia leading the range with a 28% jump and Tesla at the bottom with a 19% decline. ** Alphabet is rated "buy" on average among 55 brokerages, with a median price target of $203.84. Federal trial judges in New Jersey appointed Desiree Grace, first assistant in the states US attorneys office, as interim head of the office, declining to extend the appointment of current temporary chief Alina Habba. The appointment was announced by the District Court for the District of New Jersey in a Tuesday standing order signed by Chief Judge Renee Marie Bumb. Habba, a former Trump personal defense attorney, has since late March served as the acting head of the New Jersey US attorneys office. The office during her tenure brought high-profile cases against Democratic politicians and dismissed a long-running overseas corruption matter. An interim US attorney can serve for no longer than 120 days after their appointment, under federal law. Once that appointment expires, a district court may appoint a US attorney to serve until the vacancy is filled on a permanent basis. Habba was sworn in on March 28 as interim US attorney, which would give her just a few more days in the post. Grace is a longtime prosecutor whos served in the office since 2016, according to her Linkedin profile. Shes served as first assistant to the US attorney since April. Habba Nomination Trump on July 1 nominated Habba to be the full-time US attorney for New Jersey. But home state senators approval is needed for the pick to move forward under Senate custom. Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both Democrats, havent explicitly said they would block her nomination, but they said in a joint statement that Habba does not meet the standard to serve. Habba worked as a defense attorney for Trump in some of his most high-profile legal fights prior to his return to the White House. Prior to being tapped to the position in New Jersey, she served a short stint as a counselor to the president. Top Justice Department officials in recent days came to Habbas defense. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in a post on X Tuesday accused district judges of trying to force Habba out of her job. Their rush reveals what this was always about: a left-wing agenda, not the rule of law, Blanche said. When judges act like activists, they undermine confidence in our justice system. Alina is President Trumps choice to leadand no partisan bench can override that. Mike Davis, the leader of the conservative legal group, the Article III Project, threatened to file judicial misconduct complaints against judges on the New Jersey district court bench if they declined to extend Habbas term. Were seeing a precedent set in this Trump 47 administration where these Democrat activist judges whether theyre in New York or now New Jersey are trying to fire these US attorneys, Davis said on former Trump White House adviser Steve Bannons War Room show. The New Jersey court declined to extend Habbas appointment a week after judges in the Northern District of New York declined to exercise their authority to pick a US attorney for the district. The decision meant John Sarcone, the Trump administrations interim US attorney pick in Albany, would be limited to a 120-day term. But the Justice Department appointed Sarcone as Special Attorney to the Attorney General as well as the districts First Assistant U.S. Attorney to bypass that restriction and keep him in the job. To contact the reporter on this story: Justin Wise in Washington at jwise@bloombergindustry.com To contact the editor: Seth Stern at sstern@bloomberglaw.com 2025 Bloomberg L.P. A Supreme Court judge ordered an investigation into potential insider trading in Brazils currency markets around the announcement of US tariffs on Brazilian goods. Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the order on Monday in response to a request from Brazils attorney general based on local media reports of significant foreign exchange transactions shortly before and after the official tariffs announcement on July 9. The attorney general said the currency movements suggested possible use of privileged information by individuals or legal entities. The real began to weaken around 1:30pm ET on July 9, after President Donald Trump said Brazil hadnt been good to the US and warned tariffs were imminent. Three hours later, he followed up with a letter to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announcing a 50% levy on Brazilian exports, causing the currency to decline further. The insider trading allegations have also become part of an inquiry into whether Eduardo Bolsonaro, a son of the former conservative president, has used the threat of tariffs to pressure the court. Since moving to the US in March, Eduardo has been meeting US administration officials in Washington, trying to persuade them to impose sanctions on members of the Brazilian judiciary. Moraes is overseeing all cases related to ex-President Jair Bolsonaro and his son at the top court. The position has put him in collision course with Trump, who has demanded Brazilian authorities drop charges against him over an alleged coup attempt. Instead, Moraes on Friday ordered Bolsonaro to wear an ankle monitor and barred him from using social media, among other restrictions. On Monday, he issued a follow-up order clarifying that interviews by the former president may not be retransmitted on social media. With assistance from Vinicius Andrade and Augusto Decker. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Chinas biggest shipping company is set to join the global consortium thats acquiring Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shings overseas ports, and is requesting a powerful role in the group in order to secure Beijings blessing for the controversial deal, people familiar with the matter said. State-owned China Cosco Shipping Corp. is asking to have veto rights or equivalent powers in the entity taking over the 43 ports, including two strategically important ones along the Panama Canal, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private matters. Cosco has argued such rights are necessary to block any decisions that are potentially harmful to Chinas interests, the people added. Lis CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. and the original buyer group, which includes BlackRock Inc.s Global Infrastructure Partners unit and Italian billionaire Gianluigi Apontes Terminal Investment Ltd., have agreed that Cosco should have full informational access to the operation, the people said. But talks are still ongoing as to the powers that Cosco will have in the consortium and no final decisions have been made, they said. Read: Chinese Firms in Talks to Join Group for Li Ka-Shings Ports A 145-day period for exclusive talks between CK Hutchison and the consortium is likely to lapse on July 27, and details of Coscos role in the consortium could be settled by the end of September, some of them said. Cosco didnt respond to calls and a faxed request for comments. CK Hutchison and the Aponte familys MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co., which controls Terminal Investment, didnt respond to separate requests for comment. BlackRock declined to comment. Coscos demands mark the latest twist for a deal thats become a proxy for US-China rivalry, after President Donald Trump painted the transaction as the return of Panama Canal to US influence. Chinese regulators have, for their part, vowed to investigate the transaction, and Li and his family have come under intense scrutiny and criticism. The Hong Kong tycoons younger son Richard Lis talks to expand his insurance business into mainland China have stalled after the ports deal upset Beijing, Bloomberg reported earlier this month. That followed another Bloomberg report in March that China told its state-owned firms to hold off on any new collaboration with businesses linked to the Li family. The original structure of the buyer consortium was designed to give the Aponte family-controlled Terminal Investment ownership of all the ports except the two in Panama, whose control will go to the BlackRock unit. With assistance from Silla Brush. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. European leaders will meet their Japanese and Chinese counterparts this week, with high expectations for better defense and trade cooperation with Tokyo contrasting sharply with limited hopes for discussions in Beijing. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa will travel to Asia this week, first meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday in Tokyo, then Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on Thursday in Beijing. In Japan, the leaders plan to sign agreements on defense industry cooperation and economic security, according to European officials who briefed journalists ahead of the meeting. However, there is no expectation of a joint statement from the summit meeting in Beijing, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The European delegation expects to reach no substantial deals from the Chinese meeting, aiming only for a substantive, open, direct, good and constructive conversation, one of the officials said. Europe hopes to make clear what it wants Beijing to do to fix unsustainable economic relations and rebalance ties, the official said. The atmosphere of China-Europe relations has become delicate before the summit, said Cui Hongjian, a former Chinese diplomat who teaches at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Some favorable conditions, such as Trumps tariffs, could bring both sides closer, but other unfavorable conditions, like their differences on the Ukraine issue, are preventing better China-Europe relations. An agreement on climate change cooperation might emerge, though even that remains uncertain, one official said. Ties between the EU and China have deteriorated since the pandemic, with European complaints spanning Beijings trade practices and its support for Moscow. For Brussels, cooperation between Chinese and Russian firms that supports Moscows military industrial complex despite European sanctions is a particular point of contention. The EU on Friday sanctioned two Chinese banks and five China-based companies as part of its latest measures against Russia over the Ukraine invasion. The move marked the first European sanctions against Chinese banks and prompted protest from Beijing, which promised a response that would safeguard and protect its own firms. Highlighting European trade frustrations, Chinas goods trade surplus in the first half of this year rose to a record for any six-month period, according to data released last week. Fast-growing Chinese exports and shrinking imports pushed the surplus to almost $143 billion through June, the highest on record, even though the first half of the year is typically slower before shipments pick up ahead of the holidays. Tensions were worsened by Beijings April decision to impose export controls on rare earth magnets and related products, which shook European car companies and other sectors. While these shipments saw a rebound last month, it remains unclear if this will satisfy Europeans, who had demanded China fix the issue before the summit. Von der Leyen had previously accused China of weaponizing the magnet supply chains at the Group of Seven meeting last month. In contrast, the visit to Japan will announce initiatives to build upon what the European officials described as our closest strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region. They said the steps will cover defense and security, industrial policy, foreign interference and manipulation, business competitiveness, as well as cooperation between the EU and countries in the CPTPP, a free trade agreement among 12 nations in the Asia-Pacific region and the UK. The EU and Japan also held their first security and defense dialogue last month. One official noted that the EU and Japan would express their joint opposition to any attempt to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait by force or coercion, a remark aimed at China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory. With assistance from Martin Ritchie. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- George Hongchoy plans to retire as head of Link Asset Management Ltd., the manager of Asias largest real estate investment trust. Hongchoy, 63, will remain with the property firm as it searches for a successor, Hong Kong-based Link said in a statement Tuesday. A former investment banker, Hongchoy joined Link in 2009 as chief financial officer before moving to the top job the following year. Link manages the Link REIT, which runs HK$226 billion ($29 billion) in assets across retail, office and logistics, according to its website. Under Hongchoys tenure, the LINK REIT has more than doubled the Hang Seng Index, returning 10.2% a year including dividends, compared with a 5% annual gain for Hong Kongs main equity gauge. Over that time, Link has diversified its portfolio, which initially comprised low-end neighborhood malls in Hong Kong. It now also holds office buildings and shopping malls in mainland China, Australia, Singapore and the UK. Hongchoy has been one of the highest paid executives in Hong Kong, awarded annual pay of HK$70 million. Link has also expanded into fund management. It hired John Saunders, former head of Asia-Pacific real estate at BlackRock Inc., last year to lead the operation known as Link Real Estate Partners. In a challenging market, Links continued resilience shows the underlying strength of the business, Duncan Owen, chair of Link said in the statement. We have good momentum in our efforts to grow and diversify our investment platform with the recent launch of Link Real Estate Partners. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com LOS ANGELES (AP) As Californias much-loved hamburger chain In-N-Out Burger expands across the country into Tennessee, billionaire owner and CEO Lynsi Snyder has announced she and her family are going with it and heading east, too. There are a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here, Snyder announced last week on the Relatable podcast, hosted by conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey. Doing business is not easy here. Snyder said the corporate headquarters will remain in California. The company announced in 2023 that it planned to open a corporate office in Tennessee, along with restaurants in and around Nashville. With her move to Tennessee, Snyder becomes the latest high-profile business figure to decamp a state known for its sunshine but also heavy taxes and regulation, progressive politics and a punishing cost of living. Other departures have included Charles Schwab and Chevron, which cited regulatory issues, taxes and high operating costs, and Elon Musk announced last year he was moving the headquarters of SpaceX and social media company X to Texas. He said at the time that a California law barring school districts from requiring staff to notify parents of their childs gender identification change was the final straw. Snyder is the granddaughter of the chains founder, Harry Snyder, who opened his first drive-thru hamburger stand in Southern California in 1948. The California cache has long been part of the brand's identity. According to its website, In-N-Out Burger has over 400 locations across eight states California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Colorado and Idaho. (Bloomberg) -- Julius Baer Group Ltd. reported better-than-expected inflows in the first half as new Chief Executive Officer Stefan Bollinger seeks to move on from a string of missteps. Clients added a net 7.9 billion Swiss francs ($9.9 billion) in the six months through June, exceeding the 6.5 billion francs estimated by analysts. Net income fell 35% to 295 million francs, reflecting the impact of a previously disclosed loan loss allowance and a divestment in Brazil. We have good momentum and we are moving in the right direction, Bollinger said in an interview. The CEO and Chairman Noel Quinn are seeking to put the bank on a path for growth again after losses linked to the collapse of Rene Benkos real estate empire prompted the wealth manager to shake up its management. Yet a drip feed of bad news has complicated their mission. In May, the bank booked another large loss from property developments it helped finance, resulting in a 130 million-franc charge related to its private debt business and selected positions in its mortgage operation. Julius Baer said it hasnt found a need so far for more loan loss allowances as it continues the review of its credit book, which is expected to be completed in the next few months. Shares of Julius Baer rose 2.3% at 9:O2 a.m. in Zurich, paring losses this year to around 1%. While it is early days in the execution of the strategy, net new money trends and operating performance especially on costs were encouraging, Anke Reingen, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, wrote in a note. As part of his turnaround plan, the new CEO has slashed the top management ranks and announced hundreds of job cuts. He has cautioned that his restructuring efforts will push up expenses at first, before bearing fruit from next year. Julius Baer said on Tuesday that 78 relationship managers have left so far this year, most of them for performance reasons. (Updates with CEO comment in third paragraph, shares in seventh.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 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. A spokesperson from Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said its passport office specialist investigators and intelligence offices assess every allegation of fraudulent use of the nations passports. The use of a false Australian passport can lead to a maximum 10 years imprisonment or a fine, or both, it added. 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. With assistance from Ainslie Chandler. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Three months ago, Microsoft Corp. issued a progress report on what it described as the largest cybersecurity engineering project in history. Battered by its role in several major hacks, the software giant in late 2023 vowed to overhaul its cybersecurity, in a project called the Secure Future Initiative. The April report noted significant advances, including fostering a security-first mindset in employees and making strides in meeting engineering goals. Our progress will not be linear, the report added. It didnt take long to prove the companys point. On Tuesday, Microsoft accused three Chinese hacking groups, two tied to the government in Beijing, of exploiting flaws in SharePoint document management software as part of a global campaign thats targeted businesses and government agencies, including the US Department of Education. Attackers have exploited the flaws since July 7, according to cybersecurity researchers. The full extent of the damage isnt yet clear. The flaws apply to SharePoint customers who manage the software on their own networks, as opposed to on the cloud. That limits potential victims though the number could still be significant given Microsofts reach. Roger Cressey, a former cybersecurity official under presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, said errors at organizations as dominant as Microsoft have high stakes and changes are hard to make given its size. When you have one provider so omnipresent in our digital ecosystem, the blast radius of their mistakes is enormous, said Cressey, a partner at Mountain Wave Ventures, whose clients include some Microsoft competitors. Its another reminder that Microsofts failure on making security a priority is impacting our national and economic security. Microsoft quickly rolled out patches for the flaws, though it said in a blog post Tuesday that it had high confidence that hackers would continue to use the flaws to attack unpatched SharePoint systems. The intrusion is another public relations headache for a company trying to bolster its cyber defenses and reputation. Microsoft is the worlds largest software vendor, making it a target for cyber-spies and criminals. It is also the biggest seller of cybersecurity products. As part of the Secure Future Initiative, were focused on accelerating and strengthening our security incident response, said Microsoft spokesman Frank Shaw. In this case, we acted quickly, delivering detailed customer guidance and releasing three new security updates within 72 hours to help protect against adversary attacks. Theres little evidence that previous major cyberattacks tied to Microsoft have hurt the companys bottom line. Anurag Rana, a senior analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, said it could even help Microsoft by convincing customers to move SharePoint to the tech giants cloud, which he described as safer and cheaper in the long run. Whats less clear is what impact the latest breach will have on Microsofts efforts to repair its cybersecurity credentials and appease long-term critics. One of them, US Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, said government agencies have become dependent on a company that not only doesnt care about security but is making billions of dollars selling premium cybersecurity services to address the flaws in its products. Each hack caused by Microsofts negligence results in increased government spending on Microsoft cybersecurity services, Wyden said in a statement, when asked to respond to the SharePoint vulnerabilities. The government will never escape this cycle unless it stops rewarding Microsoft. In its April report, Microsoft described the Secure Future Initiative as an ambitious undertaking that would take years. For instance, out of 28 engineering objectives, five are nearing completion, 11 have made significant progress and Microsoft continues to work on the others. The threat landscape will continue to evolve, resulting in new vulnerabilities and security incidents, according to the report. Technology will advance, creating new ways to improve security and new issues to address. Each of these is an opportunity to work with our customers and the industry to strengthen our collective defenses. --With assistance from Jake Bleiberg. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- The UK will freeze the properties and bank accounts of financiers that the government says are facilitating people-smuggling, as it introduces a new sanctions regime to stem the flow of irregular migration. Dozens of individuals and companies, spanning gang leaders, those trading fake passports and firms selling small boat equipment used to cross the channel from France to Britain, will be targeted by sanctions when they are imposed on Wednesday, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office said late Monday in a statement. They will be publicly named, making it illegal for the UK financial system to engage with them, the government said. After a year in power, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under growing pressure to tackle irregular migration, because the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats has hit record levels. Earlier this month, the premier unveiled a new one in, one out migrant-return deal with France, which will initially only cover around 50 returns a week. Over one thousand migrants have arrived via this route in the past week alone. The government has been working on an extensive pipeline of sanctions to be put in place under new laws, with the first wave this week being used to target who ministers see as the linchpins of people smuggling: the businesspeople at the very top of the trade, rather than smaller-scale criminals. The people sanctioned this week are also expected to span various countries and include corrupt police officers and middlemen facilitating payments through so-called hawala networks of money brokers. The new sanctions regime marks a decisive step in our fight against the criminal gangs who profit from human misery, Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper said in the statement. It will allow us to target the assets and operations of people-smugglers wherever they operate, cutting off their funding and dismantling their networks piece by piece. Starmer-Macron Migrant Deal Shows Limit of UKs Europe Reset The new sanctions regime which the government says is the worlds first dedicated to targeting people smuggling and organized immigration crime - is novel and untested, and the opposition Conservative party expressed doubt over whether it would be effective. You dont stop the Channel crossings by freezing a few bank accounts in Baghdad or slapping a travel ban on a dinghy dealer in Damascus, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said in a statement. 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. The idea is that the program targets the supply of money, as well as the materials used, to facilitate the trade. The UK is in talks with Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy to encourage them to use existing sanctions designation powers, or develop their own regime, to work in tandem with the UKs new program. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Mumbai: As banks grow more cautious on unsecured loans on the back of increased regulatory oversight, non-bank financiers may be rushing in to fill the gap, pushing more personal loans. Although non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) cater to slightly different customer categories, such as those with weaker credit scores, self-employed people and those without salary income, data from a credit bureau showed they have gained market share from banks in this segment. A personal loan is unsecured, meaning borrowers dont need to provide any collateral, and is categorised as a consumption loan. After the central bank tightened lending norms for higher-risk categories in 2023, banks decided to go slow on advancing such loans. The aggregate market share of outstanding personal loans held by banks both private and public sector fell 260 basis points (bps) to 70% in FY25 from 72.6% in FY24, whereas the market share of NBFCs increased by 160 bps to 23.5% in FY25 from 21.9% in FY24, according to data from credit bureau Crif High Mark. The remaining market share was held by other financial institutions including cooperative banks and small finance banks. Non-bank lenders have increased their market share by targeting borrowers often ignored by banks, especially those who earn low income or are new to credit, said Kunal Varma, chief executive officer and founder of Freo, a digital banking platform with an NBFC licence. Banks, said Varma, have been more cautious in these segments. Also Read | Lower capital requirements for bank loans to NBFCs to ease funding woes The Crif data showed that NBFCs increased their share in personal loan originations by value to 36.4% in FY25 from 32.2% in FY24. Originations refer to the process of onboarding customers, doing due diligence and assessing their credit eligibility. The share of private banks in personal loan originations decreased to 29.2% from 29.8% during the same period. Indias public sector banks held 31% of the market share in FY25, although their share also declined from 33.6% in FY24. According to Rohit Patwardhan, chief credit officer at HDB Financial Services, the NBFC owned by HDFC Bank, Indias largest private sector lender, the rise in personal loans reflects a structural shift in the economy. No undue risks There is a growing move toward a consumption-driven economy. NBFCs have built their personal loan portfolios by targeting borrowers in tier-2 and below cities through lower ticket-size loans," said Patwardhan. Banks continue to focus on salaried, middle-aged borrowers in tier-1 cities and this divergence in strategy has allowed NBFCs to cater to a wider and often underserved customer base, he said. HDB Financial Services had assets of 1.09 trillion under management at end-June. Patwardhan said NBFCs are not taking undue risks despite the unsecured nature of these loans. We maintain strict credit assessment practices and leverage technology such as AI and big data analytics for accurate risk profiling. This helps mitigate the risk of over-indebtedness," he said. Also Read | Financial services secretary urges fintechs to drive financial inclusion Freo's Varma said, The digital-first and quicker loan disbursement, minimal documentation, flexible underwriting, and scalable model make NBFCs more accessible, particularly in tier-2 and tier-3 cities" NBFCs reduce risk by using several layers of underwriting that incorporate credit bureau scores, income verification, spending habits, and even behavioural information, he said. According to data from EY, the overall credit books of NBFCs expanded at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 20% from FY22 to reach 28.2 trillion by FY25. This growth was largely driven by a 2.3x jump in unsecured lending, primarily personal loans, compared to a 1.6x increase in similar lending by banks," said Pratik Shah, partner and national leader, financial services, EY India. Although NBFC credit growth moderated to 17-20% in FY25, bank credit growth slowed more sharply to around 12% year-on-year, he said. Risk weights In November 2023, the Reserve Bank of India increased the risk weights on consumption loans, credit card exposure and loans to NBFCs by 25 percentage points each. This came after several months of attempts to sensitize lenders against the ongoing credit binge. Risk weights are pivotal in banking regulation as they dictate the capital set aside for various loan types, reflecting their risk profiles. Unsecured loans, perceived as riskier, have higher weights, thus requiring more capital. Although the risk weight increases on bank loans to NBFCs were rolled back in February, those on unsecured loans remain. Banks are already seeing signs of some improvement in the asset quality of personal loans. As Amitabh Chaudhry, CEO of Axis Bank, told reporters last week, There are clear signs of improvement." Also Read | What RBI has in store for banks and NBFCs next year Jitendra Meghrajani, associate director at CareEdge Ratings, said the RBIs increased oversight on unsecured lending has impacted the personal loan growth of banks and NBFCs differently, reshaping lending strategies. Banks responded to the regulatory caution by reducing their disbursements towards unsecured personal loans and shifting focus towards other segments. Single-product/personal loan focused NBFCs including fintechs paused briefly, tightened their underwriting norms and resumed growth," said Meghrajani. Meghrajani added that NBFCs led by fintechs have increased their share of disbursements in the sub- 50,000 personal loan category. Slower disbursements However, not everyone is convinced that NBFCs are rushing towards more unsecured loans. Some experts said NBFCs have slowed their disbursements of unsecured loans after the higher risk weight led to reduced lending from banks to NBFCs. According to Pankaj Naik, director at India Ratings & Research, asset quality has been range-bound for personal loans because a good proportion of the loans are to the salaried segment, and there have been no severe job losses. Over a period of time, underwriting models have also been fine-tuned to onboard the right set of customers," said Naik. India Ratings said the asset quality of personal loans may not show stress in FY26 if there is adequate growth in income levels and NBFCs refrain from growing the loan book. One97 Communications, Paytm's parent company, on Tuesday reported a net profit of 123 crore in the April-June quarter of FY26 (Q1FY26), buoyed by artificial intelligence-led improvements in its cost structure. This sharp turnaround comes after a 539.8 crore loss in the three months through March, driven mainly by a one-time exceptional expense of 492 crore from accelerated ESOP cost and an additional 30 crore in other impairments. Excluding these exceptional items, the adjusted loss had stood at 23 crore in Q4FY25. The Noida-based company's first-quarter results, announced in an exchange filing after market hours, mark a significant recovery from an 840 crore net loss in the June quarter of the previous fiscal year. Shares of the company settled 3.4% higher at 1,052.60 apiece on the BSE on Tuesday. The company also reported a positive Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) of 72 crore in the quarter. This is the first quarter where weve reported pure Ebitda, without adjusting for ESOP costs. Going forward, well remove the ESOP line entirely, and report pure employee expenses, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Paytm founder and chief executive officer, said during an earnings call on Tuesday. Consolidated revenue from operations in Q1FY26 rose 28% year-on-year to 1,918 crore, helped by an increase in merchant subscription and growth in financial services revenue, the company added. Meanwhile, sequentially, the revenue remained almost flat. Merchant payments, across both small and large online and offline enterprises, will remain a key focus, and we expect a lot of innovation in that area, said Madhur Deora, president and group chief financial officer. While wallet and BNPL (buy now, pay later) are not immediate quarterly priorities, we are actively working on them. We will continue to grow our merchant lending business, while personal loan growth will depend on a broader recovery in the market. Rahul Jain, director at Dolat Capital, noted that while Paytm has mentioned about focus on these products, no timelines were provided for some new product initiatives. Growth for now will be led by merchant payments and merchant loans. The company also announced a rejig of its board. Deora will step down from the board after the upcoming AGM but will continue in his role as the company's finance head. Operating responsibilities are far more important for now, especially with our future growth line items, theyre all geared towards consistent profitability from the same core businesses, international expansion, said Sharma. He added that Deoras focus will, hence, shift towards active business decisions and growth opportunities. The board also appointed Urvashi Sahai, currently Paytms General Counsel, as a Whole-time Director for a five-year term starting 22 July. Independent Director Bimal Julka also resigned, citing a desire to focus on interests in emerging technologies and ease of doing business. Forward looking plans Overall, analysts believe the company has shown recovery across financial metrics. Dolat Capital's Jain said, The results were better on all fronts, with strong profitability driven by steady growth, efficient cost management, and improved execution. Paytm earns most of its revenue from payments, financial, and marketing services. Payment services revenue (including other operating revenue) rose 23% YoY to 1,110 crore. Net payment revenue increased 38% YoY to 529 crore due to a rise in payment processing margin and device additions, the company said. For incremental revenue, while the company had expressed optimism in the last quarter about monetising its UPI services if the government re-introduced the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), that potential revenue lever for the payments business now appears to be off the table. In June, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified that no MDR will be levied on transactions via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), putting to rest earlier industry speculation that large merchants might soon be subject to the charge again. This policy clarity may impact Paytms plans to drive incremental revenue through UPI monetisation. We will see what happens as and when we get informed. We are not basing our business on some distant hope of the future. We are committed to continue to drive profitable business even without it, said Sharma. In October last year, National Payments Corporation of India had allowed Paytm to onboard users on its UPI platform through partner banks, after the RBI barred Paytm Payments Bank from onboarding new customers due to compliance concerns. Revenue from financial services rose to 561 crore, up 3% quarter-on-quarter from 545 crore. This revenue also doubled year on year from 280 crore, led by merchant loan disbursements and improved collections from the default loss guarantee (DLG) portfolio. However, a shift to non-DLG disbursements by its largest lending partner is expected to slow sequential revenue growth even as disbursements rise. Under DLG, Paytm gives a guarantee to its lending partners for a portion of the loans it facilitates in case of a default. The overall financial services customer count increased slightly in the quarter to 560,000. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea by the tax department seeking to impose higher service tax on charter flight services used by Reliance Industries executives through its subsidiary, Reliance Commercial Dealers Ltd (RCDL). RCDL operates charter flights for RILs nominees, transporting passengers on demand based on the companys requirements. A bench of justices Manoj Misra and Ujjal Bhuyan issued notices to the Reliance subsidiary and observed that it will decide the larger legal issue of classification of such services. The court directed both parties to file written submissions within two weeks. This is an important issue to consider and decide as it involves a pure question of law regarding interpretations and classification. Issue notice. After considering the above, we deem it appropriate to require the learned counsel for the parties to submit written submissions along with the relevant provisions of the statute, and also the agreements under which the service supply was rendered, Misra said. The tax department argued that RCDL is effectively renting aircraft to Reliance, which should attract higher taxes like equipment rentals. RCDL contends it is simply flying passengers on charter flights, which should be taxed like normal air transport services at lower rates. If the Supreme Court rules in favour of tax authorities, corporate charter services could become significantly more expensive, with companies facing retrospective tax demands and higher ongoing costs, making private jet use for executives costlier. Also Read | RIL eyes next big catalyst for new energy business What do the rules say? Under DGCA rules, non-scheduled air transport services (passenger) involve transporting passengers, mail, or goods without a fixed timetable, operating on a charter or on-demand basis. Operators hold a non-scheduled operators permit (NSOP), allowing them to fly whenever customers require, either by selling seats individually or chartering the entire aircraft. Currently, passenger transport services are taxed at lower rates like normal airlines (e.g. 5% under GST for economy class), while aircraft rentals or leasing (STGU) attract higher taxes (up to 18% under GST) as they are treated like renting equipment. The Commissioner of Service Tax, Mumbai approached the Supreme Court against a 2 May order of the Customs, Excise & Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT), which had favoured Reliance and quashed tax demands of around 42 crore covering FY 2008-09 to FY 2010-11. The issue arose after RCDL, in 2008, signed agreements with RIL to provide domestic and international air transport services for its executives, personnel, and nominees, giving RIL a right of first refusal to use certain aircraft. RCDL operated under an NSOP issued by DGCA for such passenger services. However, based on intelligence inputs, the tax department alleged that RCDL was essentially hiring out aircraft on a time basis without paying applicable service tax under the supply of tangible goods for use (STGU) category. This led to three show cause notices issued between 2009 and 2011. In March 2016, the commissioner upheld these tax demands, prompting RCDL to appeal to CESTAT Mumbai. RCDL argued its agreements were for passenger transport, not aircraft rental, and that it paid service tax under passenger services until June 2010 when domestic flights became taxable. The company highlighted that it bore all operational costs, charges were based on actual flying hours, and no bills were raised if flights were cancelled due to regulatory or weather issues, proving it was not a rental arrangement. The taxman, however, insisted that RCDL was effectively providing aircraft to RIL as goods for use, pointing to the right of first refusal clause as evidence of a rental arrangement. It also noted no individual passenger tickets were issued, unlike normal air transport services. Also Read | Mint Explainer: Draft aircraft rules and why they matter In its 2 May order, CESTAT ruled in favour of RCDL, stating it held the correct permits to operate as a passenger transport provider and that RIL never took possession or operational control of the aircraft. The tribunal concluded RCDLs services were rightly classified under transport of passengers by air under a section of the Finance Act, 1994, not as STGU. Section 65(105)(zzzo) of the Finance Act, 1994 taxes charter flights as passenger transport services. The tribunal noted STGU tax applies only when goods are supplied for use without giving possession or control to the user, which was not the case here. Setting aside the commissioners 2016 order, CESTAT quashed the tax demands, interest, and penalties in full. Aggrieved, the tax department has now moved the Supreme Court, which will decide whether such corporate charter flights should be taxed as aircraft rentals or passenger transport a ruling that could have significant implications for corporate aviation. An emailed query to Reliance Industries remained unanswered till press time. RCDL, the air charter arm of Reliance Industries, operates a fleet of around six business jets, with an average aircraft age of 6.4 years, according to aviation data site Planespotters.net. According to Airports Authority of India data, general aviation aircraft movements rose sharply in early 2025 up 43.3% in January (26,890 flights) and 13.9% in February (27,360 flights). Between April 2024 and February 2025, charter flight movements grew 19.7% to 253,000 flights. A Denzev research report noted there were 1,156 active business jets in the Asia-Pacific by end-2024, up 1.2% year-on-year, as the region's business aviation recovered from the pandemic. India had the largest private jet fleet in South Asia and the third largest in Asia-Pacific, with over 151 registered private jets in 2023. Also Read | A 15-year tax on imported private jets might fly into the sunset Leading Indian charter providers include Poonawalla Aviation, Taj Air, JetSetGo, Hype Luxury, BookMyCharters, and Club One Air, offering luxury private flying options. The cost of owning a private jet ranges from around 16 crore for light jets like the Cirrus Vision to over 550 crore for long-range jets like the Gulfstream G650. If the Supreme Court reverses the tribunals decision, the industry could face huge tax bills and interest for past years, as the dispute is from before 2012. It could also affect how such services are taxed under GST in the future, said Gopal Mundhra, Partner, Economic Laws Practice. MUMBAI : Direct-to-consumer startup Renee Cosmetics Pvt. Ltd is in talks to raise over 200 crore from new investors in a mix of primary and secondary transactions, according to three people familiar with the matter. The startup is currently conducting due diligence. Several new investors, including Playbook Partners India, Spark Capital's Midas Investments, and Infinity Investments, are eyeing a stake in the company, said two of three people, on condition of anonymity. Also Read | Beauty on a budget: Sugar Cosmetics targets Gen Z with affordable glam The round will likely value the company at around $200-240 million ( 1,700- 2,000 crore), marking a significant jump from the last round," the second person said, adding that the company is eyeing 500 crore in annual recurring revenue in 2025-26. Renee, Midas, and Infinity declined to comment. Playbook did not immediately respond to Mints request for comments Mint reported on 1 May that Mensa Brands planned to sell its investment in Renee Cosmetics. Founded by Priyank Shah, Ashutosh Valani and Aashka Goradia, the startup claims to offer a range of cruelty-free and vegan products in the beauty and cosmetics segment. The trio previously founded male-grooming brand Beardo, which was acquired by FMCG major Marico Ltd. The brand has a portfolio of about 30 products, including eye makeup, lip colours, skin serums, and highlighters, among other items, across three categories. It has a presence in over 500 outlets in addition to digital marketplaces. Over the last two years, it has been aggressively expanding its offline presence. The new round comes after the new-age beauty brand raised 100 crore in its series B round, led by existing investors Evolvence India and Edelweiss Group, in June 2024. The funds were raised at a valuation of 1,200-1,400 crore ($150-$170 million). It competes with Sugar Cosmetics, MyGlamm, and Pilgrim, among others. In 2023-24, Renees revenue from operations surged to 191.65 crore from 97.15 crore a year ago. Its losses widened to 61.45 crore from 32.66 crore in 2022-23, according to an Entrackr report. AP EAMCET Counselling 2025 Highlights: The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) has declared the AP EAMCET (EAPCET) 2025 first phase seat allotment results. Candidates who appeared for the Engineering, Agriculture, and Pharmacy Common Entrance Test can check their allotment status on the official website eapcet-sche.aptonline.in/EAPCET. Stay tuned for the latest updates and direct result link. How to check AP EAMCET Counselling 2025 seat allotment result Follow the steps given below to check AP EAMCET Counselling 2025 seat allotment status: Step 1: Visit the official website of EAPCET at eapcet-sche.aptonline.in Step 2: Navigate to "Seat Allotment Result Phase 1" link Step 3: Enter your hall ticket number and date of birth Step 4: Click on Submit Step 5: Allotment details will appear on the screen Step 6: Check and download the allotment letter, take a printout for future reference. Track all AP EAMCET Counselling 2025 updates here New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) Filmmaker Rakesh Roshan on Tuesday posted that he was in the hospital to get preventative procedures done after he found out that both of his carotid arteries to the brain were "above 75 per cent blocked". The 75-year-old actor-filmmaker, who shared the health update with a photograph from the hospital, said he is now back home and fully recovered. "This week has been truly eye opening, during a routine full body health check up the Dr conducting the sonography for the heart suggested I also do one for the neck. By chance we found out that although asymptomatic, both my carotid arteries to the brain were above 75 per cent blocked," Roshan said on Instagram. The director revealed that if ignored the condition could be extremely dangerous. "I immediately admitted myself into the hospital and got the preventative procedures done. I am back home now fully recovered and hope to get back to my workouts very soon. I hope this inspires others to stay on top of their health especially where the heart and brain is concerned," the director added. Roshan, who is the father of Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan, said above the age of 45, everyone should get regular scans such as a heart CT and a carotid brain artery sonography which are "often ignored completely". "I think its important to remember that prevention is always better than cure. I wish a healthy and aware year to you all," Roshan said. The most well-traveled leader in Chinas history has reduced his international journeys in recent years, easing a once-packed diplomatic schedule that had honed his reputation as a globe-trotting statesman. Xi traveled to 10 countries across four overseas trips in 2024, and five nations over three trips in the first half of this year, compared with his average of visiting about 14 countries a year between 2013 and 2019, and a 20-nation peak he set in 2014. Since resuming foreign travel in 2022 after a 32-month pause during the Covid pandemic, he has yet to match the peripatetic pace he set during his first two terms in power. Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan disembarked from a plane in Bali, Indonesia, in 2022. This month, Xi skipped an annual summit of the Brics bloc of emerging nations after participating in the past 12 meetingsthe second time in two years that he missed a major international gathering where he had been a fixture. Both times he sent Premier Li Qiang, one of Xis top lieutenants, to represent Beijing. Meanwhile, a China-European Union summit originally set to take place in Brussels this year was moved to Beijing after Chinese officials signaled to EU counterparts that Xi had no plans to visit Europe this year, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Xi is scheduled to meet EU leaders in Beijing on Thursday when they visit for the summit. Chinese officials havent explained why Xi chose not to travel for these events, or commented on his reduced foreign visits. Chinas Foreign Ministry didnt respond to a request for comment. Some analysts say Xi, 72, may be dialing back his travels to devolve some of the many responsibilities he wields as leader, particularly as he grows older and approaches the end of his third five-year term as Communist Party chief in 2027. Xi is increasingly willing to delegate the operational bits of foreign policy to his trusted interlocutors," said Dylan Loh, an assistant professor at Singapores Nanyang Technological University who studies Chinas diplomacy. Xi may be doing so to better manage his energy, given his age, and to prioritize domestic issues as Beijing grapples with persistent economic headwinds such as weak consumer demand, according to Loh. China is certainly not taking its eyes off foreign policy," Loh said. But it seems to me that Xi is now content with exercising broad strategic direction and while selectively choosing his trips abroad." Since taking power in 2012, Xi has used his foreign excursions to expand Chinas economic and political reach around the globeand stamp his mark as a world leader. These trips have often come with promises of infrastructure investment and deeper trade ties, aimed at positioning Beijing as a benign partner and strategic counterweight to Washington. More recently, China is also trying to capitalize on what many see as a U.S. retreat from global leadership, marked by President Trumps moves to cut foreign aid, sideline multilateral institutions and impose tariffs on adversaries and allies alike. Xi has sought to cast China as a responsible power and a source of stability, using a mix of political, economic and soft-power tools to reshape global narratives in Beijings favor. To that end, Xi has stayed active on the diplomatic circuitas a host. China lifted its Covid border controls in late 2022, and foreign leaders have been traveling there at a frequency similar to prepandemic levels. In 2023, Xi hosted at least 74 visits by foreign heads of state and government, as well as de facto leaders, according to a Wall Street Journal review of Chinese Foreign Ministry disclosures. The count, which includes repeat visits by some leaders, rose to 84 last year, compared with the average of about 76 trips that Xi hosted annually between 2013 and 2019. Xi has welcomed leaders from more than a dozen countries so far this year, including Australias prime minister, who visited Beijing this month. Xi is expected to host more foreign counterparts visiting China later this year to attend diplomatic summits and a military parade. Xis lieutenants have picked up the slack in foreign travel. Li, during his first full year as premier in 2024, journeyed abroad at a pace similar to that set by his predecessor, Li Keqiang, before the pandemic. Li Qiang traveled to 13 countries last year, matching the number that Li Keqiang visited in his most prolific year in 2014. Another frequent flier is Liu Jianchao, a veteran diplomat and chief of the Communist Partys International Department, which handles relations with foreign political parties and socialist states. A candidate for foreign minister, Liu has traveled more often than his predecessor did since getting the job in 2022, including trips to the U.S. and other Western democracies that past International Department chiefs generally hadnt visited. As Chinas leader, Xi has embarked on more than 50 international trips and visited more than 70 countries, far surpassing what his predecessors did. He has also hosted visiting world leaders more frequently than previous Chinese heads of state or recent U.S. presidents, according to data collated by Neil Thomas, a fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute. The Covid pandemic kept Xi in China between 2020 and 2022. During that time, he mostly relied on phone calls and videoconferencing to engage with foreign counterparts. When he restarted international travel in late 2022, Xi first visited nearby countries in Asia before venturing further in subsequent trips. Xis evolving travel patterns drew attention in the fall of 2023, when he skipped a summit of the Group of 20 advanced and developing economies that India was hosting. He sent Premier Li instead. Chinese officials didnt say why Xi missed an event where he had been a regular participant. China had typically been represented by its president at G-20 summits since the bloc began arranging leader-level meetings in 2008. In early July, when Xi skipped the Brics summit, Li filled in at the meeting in Brazil, where Xi had gone just seven months earlier to attend a G-20 summit and conduct a state visit. Diplomats and analysts say that Xis decision to skip a Brics summit is notable given his efforts to boost the relevance of multilateral groupings where China holds greater sway, compared with institutions such as G-20, which Beijing has portrayed as too beholden to the U.S. The Brics groupnamed after its early members of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africahas presented itself as a multilateral counterweight to a U.S.-dominated world order. Physical stamina is a precious political resource, and Xi knows it. As Xi grows older, he is carefully managing his travel to preserve his strength," said Thomas, the fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute. Skipping the Brics summit in Brazil likely had less to do with geopolitics and more with jet lag. A 48-hour round-trip for a two-day meeting just was not worth the physical toll." Write to Chun Han Wong at chunhan.wong@wsj.com Harvards odds to win its Boston court battle look favorablebut the larger war is up in the air. Legal analysts say Harvard has a strong case in arguing that the U.S. government improperly cut $2.2 billion in federal funding from the Ivy League school. The federal district judge presiding over a key hearing Monday appeared skeptical of the governments arguments. But President Trump is already threatening to appeal. He has many ways to inflict damage on the university meanwhile, and Harvards prospectsshould the case end up at the Supreme Courtare less clear. Harvard can win in the courtroom but still lose almost everything its fought for," said Allison Wu, the co-founder of the 1636 Forum, a Harvard alumni community named for the year the university was founded, who supports the universitys case. Mondays closely watched court hearing showcased an unprecedented clash between Harvard and the very U.S. government its graduates worked to create in 1776and have helped shape in the 2 centuries since. The Trump administration, alleging the nations oldest university has strayed from its academic mission, fallen victim to ideological capture" and tolerated antisemitism, cut off billions in federal research funds after Harvard rejected demands it says amount to a government takeover. In arguments before Judge Allison Burroughs, an Obama appointee, Harvard mounted two main arguments. It asserted that the Trump administration imposed unconstitutional conditions on federal funds, requiring it to surrender its First Amendment rights to academic freedom to obtain a public benefit. The universityin an argument that some legal analysts say could be more potentalso contended that the government declared the school in violation of civil-rights laws without affording it due process to address the allegations, or without following the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act, which limits arbitrary action by federal agencies. Michael McConnell, a professor at Stanford Law School and a former federal circuit judge, said Burroughs has a clear path to granting Harvards motion for summary judgmentmeaning a decision declaring that no trial is necessary, because undisputed facts entitle one side to win. By far the most straightforward thing for the court to say is that this claim of antisemitism is a claim under Title VI" of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which sets out procedures to review allegations of discrimination in federally funded programs. The government, McConnell said, doesnt even claim to have followed those procedures before finding Harvard in violation. Thats not to say that other claims might not kick in at a later stage," he added. Harvard says the government has ignored extensive steps it has taken to combat antisemitism on campus and broaden intellectual diversity in the months following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. Burroughs, the judge, repeatedly pressed a Justice Department lawyer Monday while hearing arguments from both sides on why each deserved a swift victory. You cant violate the constitution to terminate a contract," Burroughs said. There are limits to what you can terminate and why and how." President Trump indicated in a social-media post that he already expects a loss. When she rules against us, we will IMMEDIATELY appeal, and WIN," Trump said on Truth Social Monday, calling the judge a TOTAL DISASTER." Legal analysts anticipate the case will advance beyond the Boston court. Its hard to imagine a district court judge in Boston ruling against Harvard, and the First Circuit is chockablock with Harvard grads, so if the administration prevails, that relief is likely to come from the Supreme Court," said John Malcolm, director of the Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation. Four of the nine Supreme Court justices also hold Harvard degrees, but that proved of scant help in 2023, when the court struck down Harvards admissions formula, which used an applicants race as a plus factor to achieve a diverse undergraduate class. The court split 6-3and its Harvard alumni divided evenlyover the case, which overruled precedents dating from 1978 to find that consideration of race in admissions was unconstitutional. Malcolm, who himself attended Harvard Law School, said that while the specific legal issues differ, the funding case recalls the broader context of the admissions case, where Harvard prevailed at the district and First Circuit courts before reversal by the Supreme Court. Harvard argues in the funding case that the federal government failed to follow the typical administrative processes used for terminating grants or adjudicating a discrimination case. Robert Tsai, a law professor at Boston University, said he thinks Harvards administrative law arguments are in some ways the easier ones to make, given the unprecedented nature of the governments actions. But the First Amendment arguments still matter, Tsai said, and hes skeptical the government can make it into a contract case as they tried to do Monday in court. It would be hard for me to expect the judge to put on such blinders given all the weighty actions," Tsai said. In addition to cutting federal research grants, the Trump administration has tried to block international students from enrolling at Harvardwhich is tied up in a separate lawsuitthreatened its tax-exempt status and probed foreign funding donations. Burroughs appeared skeptical Monday about the governments contention that it canceled the funds over antisemitism, asking at one point why they didnt have to go lab by lab to determine where antisemitic actions had taken place. Michael Velchik, an attorney for the Justice Department arguing the governments case, said Harvard has exhibited an indifference to antisemitism that applies to the entire university. Burroughs later called it a big stumbling block" that the executive branch could decide whats discriminatory or racist without any procedure. Velchik, who appeared in court alone without other government lawyers, ended his arguments by pushing back on the contention that the government is anti-Harvard. I reject that," he said, saying the government wants a Harvard thats the best research institution in the world. How can they be the best research university," Burroughs wondered, with the erasure of $2.2 billion in federal funding. Write to Jess Bravin at Jess.Bravin@wsj.com and Sara Randazzo at sara.randazzo@wsj.com News / Local by Staff reporter The Government has issued a stern warning to unregistered schools operating across Zimbabwe, declaring that their days are numbered. This follows mounting concern from legislators over the rapid growth of substandard and illegal learning institutions that continue to exploit desperate parents.Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerai Moyo told the Senate during a Question and Answer session that Cabinet would soon issue a directive ordering the closure of all unregistered schools."It is important to repeat that it is illegal for any unregistered school to operate. Let us warn parents not to take learners to such schools. When you look for vacancies at any school, find out whether it is registered," said Moyo.He was responding to Senator Chief Chikwaka, who raised alarm over the proliferation of bogus schools and colleges that lack basic infrastructure, operate below standard, and take advantage of parents eager to secure an education for their children.Minister Moyo clarified that while the Government does not intend to act abruptly, a grace period will be granted to allow these institutions time to meet the minimum standards required for legal operation."One day, and very soon, it is going to happen where Government, through Cabinet, will order all illegal schools to close. But we will not close immediately. We will give deadlines, perhaps four months, for such schools to register, regularise, and ensure that their facilities are up to standard, even for health reasons," Moyo said.He also expressed concern over reports that some of the unregistered institutions were deceiving parents by collecting examination fees, only to fail to remit those funds to the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC)."We realised that such schools are ripping off parents. Sometimes they claim examination fees but that school does not further remit the fees to ZIMSEC," Moyo said.The Ministry's move signals a broader effort to restore quality and accountability in Zimbabwe's education sector. Chinas thirst for oil drove global demand for decades. Now a government campaign to curb that addiction is nearing a milestone, with national consumption expected to peak by 2027, then begin to fall. Chinese officials have long worried that the U.S. and its allies could hamstring the nations economy by choking off its supply of foreign oil. So China has poured hundreds of billions of dollars into weaning itself off the imported stuff by reviving domestic production and swiftly building the worlds leading electric-vehicle industry. The energy rice bowl must be held in our own hands," Chinese leader Xi Jinping has said. Across China, fleets of gas-guzzling Volkswagen and Hyundai taxicabs are being replaced by electric models designed and produced locally. Last year, nearly half of passenger vehicles sold in the country were either all-electrics or plug-in hybrids, compared with 6% in 2020. In a remote corner of China called the sea of death" for its harsh conditions, oil workers are trying to coax more crude out of the ground by drilling holes as deep as Mt. Everest is high. State-owned PetroChina reported $38 billion of capital expenditures last year, nearly as much as Exxon Mobils and Chevrons combined. China boosted oil output by 13% from 2018 to 2024, to around 4.3 million barrels a day. Crude imports fell nearly 2% last year, though they have rebounded slightly this year as some Chinese companies built stockpiles. Chinas biggest state oil companies and the International Energy Agency all forecast that Chinas demand for oil will likely peak within two years, while gasoline and diesel demand has already topped out. China wont stop importing oil. It still brings in roughly 11 million barrels a day, about 70% of what it consumes, up from less than three million a day 20 years ago. And overall oil consumption is likely to decline only gradually as Chinas demand for oil to make petrochemicals continues to grow. Nevertheless, Xis campaign will have ramifications for global energy markets, with billions of dollars of Chinese oil imports projected to vanish in coming years. In June, the IEA, a Paris-based organization that tracks global oil consumption, slashed its forecast for Chinese demand in the 2028-30 period by more than one million barrels a day from its year-earlier prediction. Many oil-exporting nations are eager to retain a slice of Chinas market. Russia has been selling oil to China at a discount to ensure Beijing keeps buying. Saudi Arabia has invested in Chinese refineries to shore up long-term contracts to supply those facilities with oil. During a trip to Beijing in March, Saudi Aramcos chief executive lavished praise on China, telling Xi that China was inspirational and admirable" and an oasis of certainty" in an unpredictable world. The campaign has been costly for Chinas government. The Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington pegged Chinese government support for electric vehicles at $231 billion from 2009 to 2023. Many of the nations electric-vehicle makers are unprofitable. Overproduction has spurred a brutal price war at home, and rising EV exports that have fueled trade tensions. Energy revolution In late 2013, when China overtook the U.S. as the worlds biggest net oil importer, its reliance on foreign crude looked set to grow unchecked, accounting for about half of global demand growth over the prior decade. Soon after, Xi gathered his economic team and told them China needed an energy revolution" to protect national security. Beijing was leery of relying too much on Middle Eastern oil, which had entangled the U.S. in that regions conflicts for decades. Xi also was facing domestic discontent over choking smog, attributable in part to the surging numbers of cars on Chinas roads. During the first Trump administration, as relations between the two nations deteriorated, Chinese government strategists grew concerned about the nations reliance on the Strait of Malacca. Most of the ships importing oil and gas to China go through that narrow passage near Singapore, leaving them susceptible to intercept by the U.S. Navy in the event of a conflict. U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Paul Dabbar has estimated that if China lost access to all seaborne oil-and-gas imports, its economy could shrink by as much as 17%. Xis call for action ignited a flurry of government activity to boost its nascent EV industry. Not only would EVs help slash oil demand, they offered China a chance to leapfrog automakers in the U.S. and elsewhere after years of struggling to catch up to them in producing internal-combustion engines. To reduce the cost of EVs, Beijing exempted them from a 10% sales taxa program estimated to have cost more than $100 billion since 2018. Nearly 500 companies sought to make EVs. Some were founded by executives with little experience running car companies, who burned through government money before flopping. By 2019, EVs and plug-in hybrids accounted for only a fraction of the market, with many Chinese consumers still hesitant to make the switch. The turning point came late that year when Tesla, with strong backing of Shanghais government, opened its first factory in China. For the first time, Chinese consumers saw a really appealing, futuristic automobile," said Michael Dunne, chief executive of auto consulting firm Dunne Insights. It was good-looking, it was fast, it had all these highly attractive elements to a consumer." As EV sales surged, the government ramped up subsidies for companies to build public charging ports. It also required new apartment buildings to provide infrastructure enabling residents to easily install their own. As of May, China had more than 14 million charging points, nine times as many as at the end of 2020. The U.S., by comparison, has around 230,000 public and private chargers, in addition to hundreds of thousands at private homes that are more difficult to track. An EV charging station on display at the Auto Shanghai show in April. As of May, China had more than 14 million charging points.The production line for electric-vehicle maker Zeekr in Ningbo, China. In recent years, sales of EVs have surged in China. In Shanghai, the city provided EV buyers with free green license plates while auctioning plates for traditional cars for more than $10,000. Cities replaced diesel-powered buses with electric ones. By 2023, more than 80% of Chinas city buses were all-electrics or hybrids. Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology reported $18 billion in net profit over the last three years and invested more than $7 billion into research and development. Today, CATL and rival BYD say their R&D spending has enabled each of them to develop technology to charge cars in just five minutes. These days, Chinas EV factories are symbols of its manufacturing prowess. Less than 100 miles south of Teslas Shanghai operation, Chinese carmaker Zeekr has automated entire processes such as welding, with more than 800 robots doing the work. One of its cars, the Zeekr 001, has a range of up to 466 milesabout 180 miles more than the median range of an EV in the U.S. Inside a showroom recently, a salesman voice-activated a massage function built into the drivers seat, while one of the cars apps played Chinese karaoke classics on a video screen. In the U.S., sales of EVs and hybrids have risen more slowly than in China, to 20% of light-vehicle sales at the end of last year, from 12% in early 2022, according to research firm Omdia. But high EV inventory levels at some dealerships suggest a limit to U.S. demand, and Congress is scrapping tax credits of up to $7,500 for EV purchases to save money for other priorities. Drilling push Chinas desire for energy independence dates all the way back to former leader Mao Zedong, who once dispatched tens of thousands of workers to search for oil in Chinas northeast to ensure China wouldnt be dependent on imports. The discovery in 1959 of a massive deposit near the city of Daqing became the stuff of Communist Party lore, with Daqing Spirit" coming to mean hard work in the face of challenges. But production at Daqing and other fields couldnt keep up with the surge of demand following Chinas economic reforms. As the government prioritized EVs, state companies began cutting domestic oil output, preferring to import more of the crude they needed from less expensive sources abroad. In July 2018, Xi personally intervened, ordering state-owned companies to revive domestic production to safeguard national security. Three state-owned oil majors invested an additional $10 billion the following year in exploration and production. They zeroed in on offshore areas such as the South China Sea and the Bohai Sea off the countrys northeast coast, as well as remote reserves near Chinas western border with Kyrgyzstan, in a region called the Tarim Basin. Cnooc, the company focused on offshore reserves, accelerated its drilling cycles to bring oil fields online more quickly. It teamed up with Chinese technology giant Huawei to digitize its operations, using tens of thousands of sensors to collect data and improve decision-making. By 2023, the Bohai oil field accounted for 50% of the growth in Chinas oil output. Cnooc also increased production in the South China Sea by more than a quarter since 2020. In that expanse of water off South China, the government has aggressively enforced disputed maritime claims against its neighbors. Cnooc said in a written statement that it aimed to raise its total oil-and-gas production as much as 15% between 2024 and 2027, and that two-thirds of its production would continue to come from China. In the deserts of the Tarim Basin crews are exploring some of the nations deepest reserves. Summer temperatures can top 120 degrees, and in the winter they can hit minus 20. Such ultradeep exploration is expensive, with some wells costing three times as much as shallower traditional wells, a Chinese oil executive told state media. In 2023, Xi held a video call with Tarim Basin oil workers, praising their indispensable contributions" to the nation. About 5% of Chinas total oil and gas output last year came from the basins deep reservoirs, a number Chinese oil executives intend to increase. As of May, PetroChinas parent company, China National Petroleum, said it had drilled 193 wells in the Tarim Oilfield at least 5 miles deep. In the U.S., many wells are a mile or two deep. In February, the company said it completed its deepest-ever exploratory wellthe Shenditake 1at nearly 7 miles deep. State media said it is the worlds second-deepest vertical well, after a scientific well drilled by the Soviets many years ago. Advancing into the deep-Earth is the only path forward for the future development of oil and gas in our country," said PetroChina vice president He Jiangchuan. A sign greets workers at the gates of the drilling site. Challenge the forbidden zone to forge the tools of a great power," it said. Strive to become pillars of guaranteeing energy supply." Grace Zhu contributed to this article. Write to Brian Spegele at Brian.Spegele@wsj.com A $500 billion effort unveiled at the White House to supercharge the U.S.s artificial-intelligence ambitions has struggled to get off the ground and has sharply scaled back its near-term plans. Six months after Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Son stood shoulder to shoulder with Sam Altman and President Trump to announce the Stargate project, the newly formed company charged with making it happen has yet to complete a single deal for a data center. Sons SoftBank and Altmans OpenAI, which jointly lead Stargate, have been at odds over crucial terms of the partnership, including where to build the sites, according to people familiar with the matter. While the companies pledged at the January announcement to invest $100 billion immediately," the project is now setting the more modest goal of building a small data center by the end of this year, likely in Ohio, the people said. Stargates lethargic launch is a setback to the vast ambitions of Son, who despite spending billions of dollars over the years, has been playing catch-up in the fast-evolving AI sector. SoftBank committed $30 billion to OpenAI earlier this year. It is by far the largest-ever startup investmentan enormous wager that has led SoftBank to take on new debt and sell assets. The investment was made alongside the plans for Stargate, giving SoftBank a role in the physical infrastructure needed for AI. Altman, eager to secure the computing power to support the next generations of his companys signature product, ChatGPT, has plowed ahead without SoftBank, signing deals for data centers with other operators. The leaders of both companies say all is well in their joint effort. Last week they appeared on video at a SoftBank event, and Altman said they have an initial goal of building 10 gigawatts of data centers together. It is a wonderful partnership," he said. In a joint statement, the two companies said they were advancing projects in multiple states and were moving at hyperscale and speed to deliver the AI infrastructure that will power the future and serve humanity." Stargates rocky start hasnt slowed the data-center development spree thatt Trump has said is a national priority. AI enthusiasts say the world will require a gargantuan effort to build the warehouse-like structures filled with computer serversand the electricity needed to supply themon par with the construction of railroads in the 19th century. Altmans OpenAI recently struck a data-center deal with Oracle that calls for OpenAI to pay more than $30 billion a year to the software and cloud-computing company starting within three years, according to people familiar with the transaction. That deal, which doesnt involve SoftBank, totals 4.5 gigawatts of capacity, and would consume the equivalent power of more than two Hoover Dams, enough to power about four million homes. The data centers are spread among locations around the U.S., people familiar with the deal said. Taken with a smaller deal OpenAI struck with CoreWeave, OpenAI has now completed data center deals for nearly as much capacity as Stargate promised for this year in January. (OpenAI has said $100 billion roughly equates to 5 gigawatts of data centers.) Despite Stargates slow start, Son has told associates he is bullish on OpenAI and would like to invest even more in the company, a person familiar with the matter said. Son has long craved a prominent seat at the AI table. Over the past decade, he devoted the two largest startup funds ever raisedmore than $140 billionto finding the AI companies of the future, only to miss out on OpenAI and all of its competitors before the launch of ChatGPT, while being tarred by high-profile flops such as WeWork and construction startup Katerra. He had better success with his 2016 acquisition of chip company Arm, which surged in value during the past two years. In the fall, he zeroed in on OpenAI. Altman had ambitions on a scale without precedent: He has said trillions of dollars will be needed to fund the next stages of AI. In November, Son and Altman met in Tokyo to hash out an agreement. They next brought their plans to Trump aides with the offer of announcing a giant U.S. investment. On the second day of Trumps new administration, they stood smiling in the White House beside Trump, vowing to spend $500 billion by 2029. This is the beginning of our golden age," Son said at the White House. OpenAI and SoftBank each pledged $18 billion to the venture to get started, which they expected would develop data centers and then lease them to OpenAI. The two companies said they would jointly control the entity, with Son as its chairman. with SoftBank focusing on the financial details and OpenAI on the operations. They named Oracle and U.A.E. firm MGX as partners in the initial announcement, but their role was unclear. No agreement setting out their investment levels had been at the time reached. Stargate is not formed yet," Oracle CEO Safra Katz said on an investor call last month. One recent complication between OpenAI and SoftBank has been over how extensively to build data centers on sites tied to SB Energy, a SoftBank-backed energy developer, according to people familiar with the matter. Altman has used the Stargate name, shared with a 1994 Kurt Russell film about aliens who teleport to ancient Egypt, on projects that arent being financed by the partnership between OpenAI and SoftBank. The trademark to Stargate is held by SoftBank, according to public filings. For instance, OpenAI refers to a data center in Abilene, Texas, and another it agreed in March to use in Denton, Texas, as part of Stargate even though they are being done without SoftBank, some of the people familiar with the matter said. Building data centers isnt easy. Companies need to find sites, develop the physical structuresor pay another company to do thatbuy expensive AI chips, source vast loads of electricity and find lenders to cover much of the cost, among other details. Stargate is hoping to use a new, lower-cost design for its first project in Ohio, people familiar with the matter said. Training new, better AI models requires evermore data processing, which means companies including OpenAI are committing to larger and larger spending well before the business models of AI companies have proved profitable. OpenAIs $30-billion-a-year deal with Oracle is roughly three times as much as what Altmans company has recently projected in annual revenue. The company, which is losing billions of dollars a year, is betting its revenue will multiply thanks to the growing ranks of paying customers and advertising, allowing it to pay for its hefty commitments. Write to Eliot Brown at Eliot.Brown@wsj.com and Berber Jin at berber.jin@wsj.com Fifty years ago Thinh Nguyen left his homeland aboard an American navy ship. Some of his compatriots escaped in helicopters. Tens of thousands fled in makeshift boats. Many more, including Mr Nguyens father and brother, were left behind as troops from North Vietnam stormed into Saigon, then the capital of American-backed South Vietnam. The chaotic evacuation marked the end of the Vietnam war, badly damaged American credibility and left Vietnam in Communist hands. It also helped create one of the worlds biggest diasporas. Today, the Vietnamese diaspora is a force of around 5m people, living and working everywhere from America to eastern Europe. They also do a lot for Vietnam. They send back roughly $16bn of remittances a year, one of the highest hauls in Asia and greater than the diasporas of Indonesia or Thailand. But far more than their money, the people themselves are transforming the home country. Half a century on, Vietnamese emigrants and their children are coming back, bringing with them not just wealth but also the skills and education they have picked up abroad. Hundreds of thousands of overseas Vietnamese, who are known as Viet Kieu", visit their homeland every year. Official data on how many stay permanently are scarce, but many do. The flow began slowly in the 1990s, when memories of war were still fresh. The government started to encourage Viet Kieu to return, describing them as an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation". Some came back to start businesses after the Communists opened up the economy through market reforms called doi moi. Mr Nguyen, who had worked in Silicon Valley, returned in 2002 to found a software company. Vietnam was the new El Dorado" and startup heaven", he says, because costs were low. His return coincided with a thaw in relations with America, which helped Vietnam develop its successful, export-oriented economic model. In the years since Mr Nguyen arrived, Vietnams economy has boomed. Last year it grew by 7%, faster than any other country in Asia. Companies such as Samsung and Apple have set up in Vietnam, which is now a crucial cog in global supply chains, exporting everything from smartphones to trainers. The diaspora is returning to take up opportunities in these bustling tech and manufacturing industries, as well as many others. They can use their upbringing abroad to their advantage: some American-Vietnamese work for Intel, which assembles chips in Vietnam. Viet Kieu also come to connect with their roots. Having grown up abroad, they want to see what their homeland is like and improve their language skills. It is not always an easy transition. John Vu, a 33-year-old who grew up in America, moved to Saigonknown today as Ho Chi Minh Cityin 2019 and organises meet-ups for Viet Kieu. He says some complain that they stand out like a sore thumb" and that locals speak English to them even when they try to speak Vietnamese. Younger returnees also face resistance from their parents, who knew a different Vietnam. Celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam warwhich the government calls Reunification Day"were complicated for some Viet Kieu. On April 30th tens of thousands of Vietnamese gawped at fireworks and fighter jets soaring above tanks and troops in Ho Chi Minh City. Mr Nguyen stayed at home. To him, having lived through the fall of Saigon, it is not a cause for celebration." But younger Viet Kieu, as well as many local Vietnamese, do not have the same painful memories. Mimi Vu (no relation), who moved from America several years ago, was among those who felt happy the country is united". Some, though, were just happy to get a few days off work. India's push for clean mobility is hitting a fork in the road, as states increasingly diverge from the Centre's approach to supporting all types of clean vehicles. The growing divide, evident in automobile policies in various states, has also set the stage for intense lobbying, as rivals vie for policy support. At the central level, the view is to treat electric and hybrids equally when it comes to incentives. But states are having different thoughts. Key states like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh have decided to reserve incentives for battery EVs (BEVs) in their automobile policies for 2025, a Mint review found. Chhattisgarh recently tweaked a 2022 policy to explicitly remove incentives for hybrids. While Uttarakhand and Delhi had toyed with incentives for hybrids in their draft policies, the former is now reconsidering its position, a person aware of the matter said. State choice In Para 3 of the said rule, the phrase Hybrid electric vehicles will be eligible to receive 50% of the purchase incentive amount given to a fully electric vehicle should be replaced with No subsidy will be given to any type of hybrid vehicles," Chhattisgarh government said on 29 May. Union ministers have backed equal treatment for both EVs and hybrids. "Under the FAME-II Scheme, EV and hybrid versions of electric four-wheelers were allowed for incentivization. Similarly, in the case of the PM E-Drive scheme, a hybrid version of e-ambulances, that is, electric plug-in hybrid & strong hybrid, shall be incentivized," Union heavy industries minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said in a June 6 interview. Union road minister Nitin Gadkari too has backed both hybrid and ethanol-powered cars. While EV makers demand incentives should be reserved for zero-tailpipe emission vehicles, hybrid makers say their vehicles are far more fuel-efficient than conventional ICE vehicles, and that they serve as a bridge to a cleaner future. Also Read | Electric vehicles now cheaper to run than petrol, finds CEEW study Few takers According to analysts at HSBC Global Research, at the end of 2024, only five states and union territories had incentivized sales of hybrid vehicles, which included Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Chhattisgarh. With the withdrawal of hybrid incentives in Chhattisgarh, the number has reduced to four. Incentives by Delhi and Uttarakhand havent been implemented yet, with final EV policy notification expected in months ahead. With states charting their own course to clean mobility through targeted policies, the hybrid lobby led by Maruti Suzuki has locked horns with the EV lobby led by Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra. We believe that government incentives should be directed toward technologies that require support to bridge a funding gap and accelerate innovation. Incentives are most effective when they help emerging technologies reach scale and maturityparticularly those that contribute meaningfully to long-term sustainability goals," a Tata Motors spokesperson said in response to queries on policy stance of state governments. Also Read | In charts: Thousands of Indian auto workers are losing fingers to poor safety Bridge to future Maruti Suzuki argues that promoting hybrids can reduce pure diesel and petrol vehicle sales, leading to an overall reduction in pollution. Rahul Bharti, senior executive officer, corporate affairs at Maruti Suzuki, said, "EV penetration in India is still around 3%. While all efforts should be made to maximize this, it still leaves 97% unaddressed. If we have to achieve the national objectives of decarbonization and oil import reduction, this 97% cannot be ignored. A technology like Strong Hybrid reduces CO emission by 26-32% and improves fuel efficiency by 35-44% over pure petrol/diesel. However, it has a viability gap which needs to be addressed, as many countries of the world and many Indian states are already doing by incentivizing hybrids." The reluctance among states to include incentives for hybrid vehicles comes at a time when the automobile industry is locked in a sharp contest over a provision in Delhi's EV policy. Mint reported on 30 May that top automakers including Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra and Hyundai Motor India Ltd had approached the heavy industries ministry and federal thinktank Niti Aayog after the Delhi government proposed to include incentives for hybrid vehicles on par with EVs in its upcoming EV policy. Tata Motors, MG Motor India, Mahindra and Mahindra and Hyundai Motor India are India's leading EV manufacturers. Maruti Suzuki, Toyota India and Honda Cars India are the only companies offering hybrids. Policy dilemma In India, the broader policy consensus so far has been not to incentivize hybrids, with most benefits reserved only for BEVs," said Nikhil Dhaka, vice-president at consultancy firm Primus Partners. As companies slug it out, independent experts are also split on whether or not to incentivize hybrid vehicles. (Not incentivizing hybrids) could be a missed opportunity, especially since our EV infrastructure is still developing. Only a few states like Delhi and Uttarakhand have taken steps to support strong and plug-in hybrids by offering some incentives," Dhaka of Primus Partners said, adding hybrids can reduce fuel use and emissions right away, making them a useful option while India builds a stronger EV ecosystem. Sharif Qamar, associate director of transport and urban governance at The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri), differed. The objective of the EV policy is to cut down emissions of vehicles and also contribute to improving the air quality," he said. When it comes to the emission reduction objective, currently, only zero-tailpipe emission vehicles need to be prioritized. Incentives should be crafted to encourage players to move towards zero emission vehicles." Meanwhile, both hybrids and EVs have gained traction in India. In FY25, 107,000 electric cars and 83,000 hybrid vehicles were sold, both growing 18% each. New Delhi: The government on Tuesday said that the gross non-performing assets (NPA) ratio of public sector banks (PSBs) has declined from 9.11% in March 2021 to 2.58% in March 2025, marking a consistent improvement over the past five financial years. In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, minister of state for finance Pankaj Chaudhary said gross NPAs of PSBs stood at 6.16 trillion as of 31 March, 2021, and have since dropped by more than half to 2.83 trillion as of 31 March, based on provisional RBI data. Chaudhary attributed this sharp reduction to comprehensive measures taken by the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to reduce and recover NPAs. He said the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) has transformed the credit landscape by altering the creditor-borrower relationship, stripping defaulting promoters of control and barring wilful defaulters from resolution processes. Personal guarantors to corporate debtors have also been brought under the IBCs ambit to tighten the enforcement process. Also Read | Non-bank financiers rush in to fill unsecured loan space vacated by banks Choudhary said the government has amended the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, and the Recovery of Debt and Bankruptcy Act, increasing the pecuniary jurisdiction of Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) to focus on high-value cases, resulting in higher recovery. Public sector banks have set up specialised stressed assets management verticals and branches for effective monitoring. Deployment of business correspondents and adoption of the feet-on-street model have also boosted the recovery trajectory of NPAs in banks. Prudential framework for resolution of stressed assets was issued by RBI to provide a framework for early recognition, reporting and time bound resolution of stressed assets, with a build-in incentive to lenders for early adoption of a resolution plan. Also Read | Why RBI's new rules on bad loans have enthused buyers of stressed asset The minister also outlined RBI-mandated practices around asset valuation. Banks are required to follow board-approved policies for property valuation, conducted by independent, qualified valuers. For assets worth 50 crore or more, at least two independent valuation reports must be obtained to ensure transparency. Japanese government bonds drifted higher on Tuesday as investors returning from a long holiday weekend assessed the fiscal implications of the ruling coalition's recent election defeat. Benchmark 10-year JGB futures added 0.2 yen to 138.55 by 0350 GMT, after flipping between gains and losses earlier in the session. Cash 10-year JGBs edged up, sending yields down 1 basis point to 1.51%, after starting the day with small losses. Japan election outcome fallout Japan's ruling coalition lost control of the upper house in Sunday's election, a widely anticipated setback that further eroded the authority of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who lost his majority in the more powerful lower house in October. While the ballot does not directly decide the fate of Ishiba's administration, and the embattled leader has vowed to stay on for now, it could lead to policy paralysis or a bigger fiscal deficit, with leading opposition parties calling for debt-funded consumption tax cuts to ease the burden of rising living costs. Ishiba has rejected calls for tax cuts in favour of cash handouts, paid using tax revenues, and Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato reiterated on Tuesday the government's stance that sales tax cuts are not appropriate. Japan has the largest debt burden in the developed world at about 250% of its gross domestic product. "The election defeat shows that the consensus among voters is 'no' to cash handouts, meaning that the consumption tax cuts advocated by opposition parties are looking more likely to be realised, although the scale and duration would still need to be determined," said Daisuke Uno, chief strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. "The political situation remains fluid." JGB yield trend The 10-year JGB yield rose to the highest since October 2008 at 1.595% last Tuesday after opinion polls increasingly pointed to opposition gains. The 30-year yield shot to an all-time peak of 3.2%, and the 20-year yield leapt to the highest since November 1999 at 2.65%. Also Read | A Wealth Tax Wont Solve Britains Fiscal Problems In the latest session, the 20-year yield added 1 bp to 2.535%. The 30-year and 40-year bonds had yet to trade on the day, ahead of an auction of 40-year securities on Wednesday. The two-year JGB yield declined 1 bp to 0.755%, and the five-year yield slipped 1.5 bps to 1.025%. Brigade Hotel Ventures IPO date of subscription is scheduled for Thursday, July 24, and will close on Monday, July 28. Brigade Hotel Ventures IPO price band has been set in the range of 85 to 90 per equity share of the face value of 10. Brigade Hotel Ventures has set aside 75% of the shares in its public offering for qualified institutional buyers (QIB), 15% for non-institutional investors (NII), and 10% is designated for retail investors. An allocation of equity shares worth 75.96 million has been reserved for employees. Additionally, equity shares valued at 303.84 million have been set aside for shareholders of Brigade Enterprises Ltd (BEL). Brigade Hotel Ventures' initial public offering consists solely of a new issuance of equity shares without any offer-for-sale (OFS) portion. Of the total funds raised, 468.14 crore is set aside for paying off debts, 107.52 crore is earmarked for purchasing an undivided share of land from the promoter, BEL, and the rest of the money will be allocated to acquisitions, several strategic initiatives, and general corporate purposes. Brigade Hotel Ventures IPO GMP today is +17. This indicates Brigade Hotel Ventures share price was trading at a premium of 17 in the grey market, according to investorgain.com. Considering the upper end of the IPO price band and the current premium in the grey market, the estimated listing price of Brigade Hotel Ventures share price was indicated at 107 apiece, which is 18.89% higher than the IPO price of 90. Here are 10 key things from the Red Herring Prospectus (RHP) that investors might want to know before subscribing to the issue. Brigade Hotel Ventures IPO - Promoters Brigade Enterprises Ltd serves as the promoter of the company. BEL possesses 281,430,000 equity shares with a face value of 10 each in their company, which accounts for 95.26% of the pre-Issue issued, subscribed, and paid-up equity share capital of the company. Brigade Hotel Ventures IPO - Business Brigade Hotel Ventures specializes in owning and developing hotels in major cities across South India. As of March 31, 2025, they rank as the second-largest owner of chain-affiliated hotels and hotel rooms in South India, which includes the states of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and the Union territories of Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Pondicherry, among significant private hotel asset owners (those owning at least 500 rooms nationwide), according to the Horwath HTL Report. Their parent company, Brigade Enterprises Limited (BEL), ventured into the hospitality sector in 2004 by launching their first hotel, Grand Mercure Bangalore, which began operations in 2009. Brigade Hotel Ventures IPO - Portfolio The firm boasts a collection of nine active hotels located in Bengaluru (Karnataka), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Kochi (Kerala), Mysuru (Karnataka), and the GIFT City (Gujarat), totaling 1,604 keys. Brigade Hotel Ventures IPO - Group Companies The firm consists of the following Group Companies: BCV Developers Private Limited; Brigade Flexible Office Spaces Private Limited; Brigade (Gujarat) Projects Private Limited; Brigade Hospitality Services Limited; Brigade Properties Private Limited; Mysore Holdings Private Limited; Perungudi Real Estates Private Limited; SRP Gears Private Limited; Subramanian Engineering Limited; and WTC Trades & Projects Private Limited. Brigade Hotel Ventures IPO - Management The board of the company consists of seven members, including one Managing Director, two Non-Executive and Non-Independent Directors, and four Independent Directors. As of the date of this red herring prospectus, the company has two women serving as Directors on its Board. Brigade Hotel Ventures IPO - Industry As of 31 March 2025, India boasts 204,000 hotel rooms affiliated with chains, spread across various segments. The market for independent hotels remains highly fragmented, primarily consisting of midscale or lower-tier establishments. Over the years, the composition of supply has changed, resulting in a more diverse and balanced distribution across segments, with the Luxury-Upper Upscale categories accounting for 33.9% of the supply share, 38.4% for the Upscale - Upper Midscale categories, and 27.7% for the Midscale-Economy segments as of 31 March 2025. The geographic distribution of hotels is also expanding. The share of supply in key markets (Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, Goa, and Jaipur) has decreased from 69% in Fiscal 2015 to 57% in fiscal 2025, and it is projected to drop to 49% by fiscal 2030; 66% of the expected supply between fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2030 is anticipated to emerge outside these key markets. Brigade Hotel Ventures IPO - Financial The company's profit fell by 24%, totaling 23.7 crore in FY25, down from 31.14 crore the year before. At the same time, revenue for this period increased by 16.6%, growing to 468.3 crore from 401.7 crore. Brigade Hotel Ventures IPO - Key Risks Some of the key risks are as follows; The company has entered into agreements for hotel operator services and related contracts with Marriott, Accor, and InterContinental Hotels Group to obtain operating and marketing support for their hotels. In Fiscal 2025, two hotels managed by Marriott accounted for 43.81% of their operating revenue. If these agreements are canceled or not renewed, it could negatively impact their business, operational results, financial health, and cash flows. The company employs a significant number of staff across its hotels, which may lead to exposure to service-related claims and losses or employee disruptions that could harm their reputation, business, operational results, financial health, and cash flows. The employee turnover rate in Fiscal 2025 was 58.19%. Brigade Hotel Ventures IPO - Lock-in of equity shares allotted to anchor investors A 90-day lock-in period will apply to 50% of the equity shares allocated to the anchor investors starting from the date of allotment, while a 30-day lock-in will pertain to the other 50% of the equity shares allotted to the anchor investors from the same date of allotment. By Anjana Anil July 22 - Oil prices edged down on Tuesday as concerns the brewing trade war between major crude consumers the U.S. and the European Union will curb fuel demand growth by lowering economic activity weighed on investor sentiment. Brent crude futures fell 24 cents, or 0.35%, to $68.97 a barrel by 0055 GMT after settling 0.1% lower on Monday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $66.99 a barrel, down 21 cents, or 0.31%, following a 0.2% loss in the previous session. The August WTI contract expires on Tuesday and the more active September contract was down 23 cents, or 0.35%, to $65.72 a barrel. Still, the oil market has struggled to find any direction since the ceasefire on June 24 ending the conflict between Israel and Iran removed concerns about major supply disruptions in the key Middle East producing region. Since then, Brent has traded in a range of $5.19 and WTI in a range of $5.65 as supply concerns have been alleviated by major producers raising output and investors are increasingly worried about the global economy amid U.S. trade policy changes. However, a weaker U.S. dollar has provided some backing for crude as buyers using other currencies are paying relatively less. Prices have slipped "as trade war concerns offset the support by a softer ," IG market analyst Tony Sycamore wrote in a note. Sycamore also pointed to the possibility of an escalation in the trade dispute between the U.S. and the EU over tariffs. The EU 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. The U.S. has threatened to impose a 30% tariff on EU imports on August 1 if a deal is not reached. There are also signs rising supply has entered the market as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies unwind output cuts. Saudi Arabia's crude oil exports in May rose to their highest in three months, data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative showed on Monday. By Ahmad Ghaddar LONDON (Reuters) -Oil prices declined for a third consecutive session on Tuesday on concerns the brewing trade war between major crude consumers the United States and the European Union will curb fuel demand growth by reducing economic activity. Brent crude futures were down 49 cents, or 0.7%, to $68.72 a barrel at 0915 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $66.60 a barrel, down 60 cents, or 0.9%. The August WTI contract expires on Tuesday and the more active September contract was down 47 cents, or 0.7%, to $65.48 a barrel. "Oil prices fell for a third straight session ... as urgency builds in trade negotiations between the U.S. and its partners," Soojin Kim, an analyst at bank MUFG, said in a note. The Trump administration has set an August 1 deadline for countries to secure trade deals or face steep tariffs. The EU 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. The U.S. has threatened to impose a 30% tariff on EU imports if a deal is not reached. A weaker dollar has limited some losses for crude as buyers using other currencies are paying relatively less. Prices have slipped "as trade war concerns offset the support by a softer (U.S. dollar)," IG market analyst Tony Sycamore wrote in a note. Stronger distillate profit margins due to low inventories are also supporting crude prices. "The move lower might have seen more momentum if it were not for the continued performance in distillates which continues to be aided by low stocks," PVM Oil analyst John Evans said in a note. Meanwhile, a Reuters poll of analysts showed U.S. crude oil inventories likely fell by about 600,000 barrels in the week to July 18. The billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Times, Patrick Soon-Shiong, plans to take the newspaper public over the next one year, according to a Bloomberg report. Shiong unveiled his plans to launch a public offering for his newspaper on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Monday night. Well allow it to be democratised and allow the public to have ownership of this paper, Soon-Shiong said on The Daily Show, according to the Bloomberg report. Unless you have truth and trust, I think were not going to have healing in this country. Shiong has been at the helm of the newspaper since 2018, when his Nant Capital investment vehicle purchased it in a $500 million deal. South Africa-born Soon-Shiong helped steady the business after a clash between its editorial staff and the previous owners. News / Local by Staff reporter Zimbabwe has intensified efforts to root out counterfeit products from the market amid growing concerns over the health risks these goods pose to unsuspecting consumers.During a routine inspection conducted in downtown Harare on Tuesday, several tuck shops were found stocking fake goods, including large quantities of counterfeit mealie meal packages.The operation was led by inspectors from the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) and the Trade Measures Department under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police accompanied the officials following tip-offs from whistle-blowers.Among the seized goods was a fake version of the popular Pearlenta mealie meal brand. National Foods Limited's Quality Assurance Supervisor, Nyasha Mudita, confirmed that the counterfeit packaging did not match their official trade or logo features."This is fake Pearlenta. You can clearly see that the features do not align with our prescribed branding. The next step is to test the contents, but the packaging alone already points to unlawful activity," said Mudita.Tom Muleya, from the Consumer Protection Commission's Research and Public Affairs Department, urged the public to remain vigilant when purchasing groceries."This exercise is ongoing, and we are calling on consumers to carefully inspect the logos and trademarks of the goods they buy. Many of these counterfeit products are being passed off as genuine," Muleya warned.Tawedzerwa Muwani, Regional Inspector of Trade Measures for Harare Metropolitan, condemned the illicit trade and cautioned retailers and consumers alike."What we have seen today highlights illegal dealings that ultimately harm consumers. We urge retailers and shoppers to be alert and ensure they do not end up on the wrong side of the law through association with counterfeit goods," he said.The confiscated fake products have been handed over to police for further investigations. AVIC Chengdu Aircraft share price: Shares of Chinese jet maker - AVIC Chengdu Aircraft - declined up to 2% in intraday trade on Tuesday following a deadly crash of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) combat jet into a bustling school in Dhaka. The crash, which occurred on Monday, left at least 27 dead including the pilot and injured over 170 others in one of the worst aerial disasters in Bangladesh's recent history. AVIC Chengdu in focus amid Bangladesh aircraft crash At the heart of the crash was the F-7 BGI, a modernised version of China's Chengdu F-7, which traces its lineage back to the Soviet-era MiG-21 and was in mass production into the 1980s. Deemed obsolete by international standards, the manufacturing of the J-7 ended in the 2010s. However, some international users remain, including Bangladesh. The F-7 remains a core component of Bangladeshs air fleet largely due to its affordability and reliability for pilot training and light combat missions. The country had purchased 57 F-7 jets from China between 1989 and 2011, a Bloomberg report said, citing the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. That puts it as the fourth biggest buyer of the Chinese jets historically. The Chinese aircraft have been in the spotlight this year. AVIC Chengdu Aircraft, the manufacturer of J-7 jets, also produced the J-10Cs that Pakistan used against India during the military conflict earlier in May, albeit without much success. AVIC Chengdu Share Price Today Snapping its four-day winning run, AVIC Chengdu Aircraft share price declined 2% to a low of 86.22 yuan in intraday today. The Chinese defence stock opened at 87.30 yuan as against its last close of 88 yuan. So far in July, AVIC Chengdu share price is down 2% after a massive rally seen in June and May. In June, the J-7 manufacturer had jumped 14.59% building on a 30.62% rally seen in May. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) turned net sellers in the Indian stock market in July 2025, marking a pause after three consecutive months of inflows. This shift comes after FPIs began FY26 on a positive note with cumulative net inflows of 38,673 crore in April, May, and June. As per NSDL data, FPIs withdrew 1,446 crore from the Indian equity markets during the first fortnight of July 2025. This compares with net investments of 14,590 crore in June alone. While FPIs continued to participate actively in the primary market especially through Qualified Institutional Placements (QIPs) they offloaded shares in the secondary market, citing stretched valuations and Indias relative underperformance versus other emerging markets and the MSCI EM Index. FPIs Turn Cautious in July; IT, FMCG, Autos Witness Heavy Selling After three straight months of steady inflows, foreign portfolio investors took a more cautious stance in July 2025, pulling out 1,446 crore from Indian equities during the first half of the month. The shift in sentiment was most evident in the secondary market, where FPIs trimmed exposure to sectors with elevated valuations and rotated funds into select cyclical and services-oriented plays. Top Sectors Witnessing FPI Outflows (July 115) Information Technology (IT): The IT sector saw the largest outflow, with FPIs selling stocks worth 5,479 crore in the first fortnight of July, NSDL data showed. This is a sharp reversal from June, when the sector recorded net inflows of 1,166 crore primarily in the latter half. Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG): FMCG stocks continued to face pressure, with FPI outflows of 1,428 crore in early July. This adds to the 3,985 crore that exited the sector in June, suggesting sustained bearishness driven by high valuations and muted consumption trends. Consumer Durables: The Consumer Durables segment saw net outflows of 1,292 crore in Julys first half, following a 2,493 crore sell-off in June, indicating ongoing profit booking. Automobile and Auto Components: Autos sector faced 1,159 crore in net FPI selling, reversing the previous months strong inflow of 4,724 crore, according to data on NSDL. Healthcare: Healthcare stocks witnessed FPI outflows of 757 crore in early July, continuing the trend from June, when the sector saw net selling of 403 crore. Top Sectors Witnessing FPI Inflows (July 115) Services: The Services sector emerged as the biggest beneficiary of FPI inflows in July so far, with net buying worth 2,733 crore. This is a significant jump from 346 crore inflows seen in June. Metals & Mining: Metals & Mining saw a turnaround in sentiment, with FPIs pumping in 1,724 crore, compared to net outflows of 357 crore in June. The uptick may reflect a rebound in global commodity prices. Consumer Services: FPIs invested 953 crore in Consumer Services in early July, sustaining momentum from Junes inflow of 1,348 crore, driven by a shift toward experiential and service-oriented consumption. Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels: After drawing 6,137 crore in June, the Oil & Gas sector continued to attract FPI interest with 905 crore in net inflows. Capital Goods: Capital Goods received 922 crore in FPI inflows in Julys first fortnight, partially offsetting the 1,831 crore net outflows recorded in June. This could signal renewed interest in infrastructure-related themes. Financial Services: The Financial Services sector remained resilient, attracting 820 crore in July after leading the June inflows with 8,946 crore. The sector continues to benefit from robust credit growth and strong Q1 earnings outlook. Sectoral Rotation Evident in FPI Strategy A clear pattern of sectoral rotation is visible in FPI flows between June and July. Investors appear to be moving away from defensives like FMCG, IT, and Healthcare, while increasing allocations to cyclicals such as Metals, Capital Goods, and Services. The growing interest in primary market offerings and selective positioning in undervalued sectors suggests FPIs are adopting a more nuanced, valuation-conscious approach amid global uncertainty and rising geopolitical risks. With Q1 results season underway and global central bank actions in focus, FPI flows in the coming weeks will likely remain sensitive to both domestic performance metrics and external macro triggers. JSW Infra Q1 Results: JSW Infrastructure on Tuesday, July 22, posted a strong double-digit growth in its net profit and revenue for the first quarter of the financial year 2025-26 (FY26). In an exchange filing, post-market trading hours, JSW Infra said its consolidated net profit surged 31% year-on-year (YoY) to 389.57 crore in the June quarter as against 296.55 crore in the same period a year ago. However, the figure declined on a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis from 515.58 crore profit the company posted in the preceding March quarter. Its revenue from operations saw a 21% YoY growth to 1,223.85 crore in the said quarter, as against 1,009.77 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. The figure was flat against 1,283.18 crore posted in Q4 FY25. On the operating front, its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) came in at 581 crore, an increase of 13% YoY. JSW Infra Volume Update During the quarter, JSW Infra handled cargo volumes of 29.4 million tonnes, a growth of 5% over the last year. The volume increase was mainly due to strong performance of the coal handling operations at Ennore, PNP and Paradip. Robust performance at South West Port and Dharamtar Port, along with interim operations at the Tuticorin terminal and the JNPA liquid terminal, also contributed to the growth. However, this growth was partially offset by reduced cargo volumes at the Iron Ore terminal in Paradip, the company said in a press release. The increase in the third-party volume was stronger with 8% year-on-year growth, and the share of Third Party in the overall volumes stood at 52% vs 50% a year ago. JSW Infra-owned Navkar Corporation delivered strong operational and financial results in Q1 FY26. Total EXIM cargo volumes reached 81,000 TEUs, representing a robust 31% year-on-year growth. Domestic cargo volumes stood at 275,000 metric tonnes, up 11% compared to the same period last year. The higher port volumes and strong performance of Navkar Corps business translated to 21% YoY growth in the operational revenue, which stood at 1,224 crore in Q1 FY26. On Monday, Indias benchmark indices staged a strong turnaround after an early slip. The Sensex rebounded from a morning low of 81,609 to finish about 378 points (0.46%) higher at 82,136 points, while the Nifty clawed back from 24,900 to trade near 25,066 (up 0.39%) by late morning. Here are the best stock picks for today, 22 July, as recommended by leading market experts. Three stocks to buy today, recommended by NeoTraders Raja Venkatraman SCHAEFFLER India Ltd (Cmp 4,282.20) SCHAEFFLER: Buy CMP and dips to 4,190 | Stop: 4,160 | Target: 4,625-4,775 Why Schaeffler India is recommended: Schaeffler India recently reported significant turnaround ahead of its quarterly numbers, helping stem a recent decline. Given the encouraging numbers the previous two quarters, we can expect the trends to show some robustness. Also, a positive long body candle highlights that a premium is building up to push the trends towards new highs. A fresh uptick in momentum is encouraging. Schaeffler India recently reported significant turnaround ahead of its quarterly numbers, helping stem a recent decline. Given the encouraging numbers the previous two quarters, we can expect the trends to show some robustness. Also, a positive long body candle highlights that a premium is building up to push the trends towards new highs. A fresh uptick in momentum is encouraging. Key metrics P/E: 65.88 52-week high: 4,360.70 Volume: 158.14K Technical analysis: Support at 4,100; resistance at 4,900 Support at 4,100; resistance at 4,900 Risk factors: Demand conditions in urban areas and seasonality headwinds Demand conditions in urban areas and seasonality headwinds Buy: CMP and dips to 4,190 CMP and dips to 4,190 Target price: 4,625-4,775 in 1 month 4,625-4,775 in 1 month Stop-loss: 4,160 UTI Asset Management Co. Ltd (Cmp 1471.10) UTIAMC: Buy CMP and dips to 1431 stop 1405 target 1580-1640 Why UTI Asset Management is recommended: Asset management company stocks have been performing quite well, and taking a cue from HDFC AMC, UTI AMC has managed to demonstrate a trended action the last few weeks. But despite the strong push backed by volumes we will encounter some periods of consolidation. As momentum is also picking up, providing a favourable tailwind, we can consider some bullish prospects. Asset management company stocks have been performing quite well, and taking a cue from HDFC AMC, UTI AMC has managed to demonstrate a trended action the last few weeks. But despite the strong push backed by volumes we will encounter some periods of consolidation. As momentum is also picking up, providing a favourable tailwind, we can consider some bullish prospects. Key metrics P/E: 28.85 52-week high: 1,450.25 Volume: 491.39K Technical analysis: Support at 1,340; resistance at 1,750 Support at 1,340; resistance at 1,750 Risk factors: Industry competition, market volatility, elongated operating tailwind Industry competition, market volatility, elongated operating tailwind Buy: CMP and dips to 1,431 CMP and dips to 1,431 Target price: 1,580-1,640 in 1 month 1,580-1,640 in 1 month Stop-loss: 1,405 APTUS Value Housing Finance India Ltd (Cmp 352.35) APTUS : Buy CMP and dips to 340 | Stop: 335 | Target: 385-398 Why Aptus is recommended: Aptus has been going through a rough patch and the rounding pattern backed by volumes are suggesting a trended action. The last few days the prices have been indicating a strong push above value area resistance around 347, which augurs well for the prices. As momentum is also providing a favourable tailwind, we can consider some bullish prospects. Aptus has been going through a rough patch and the rounding pattern backed by volumes are suggesting a trended action. The last few days the prices have been indicating a strong push above value area resistance around 347, which augurs well for the prices. As momentum is also providing a favourable tailwind, we can consider some bullish prospects. Key metrics P/E: 30.61 52-week high: 401.65 Volume: 953.91K Technical analysis: Support at 310; resistance at 450 Support at 310; resistance at 450 Risk factors: Industry competition, market volatility, elongated operating tailwind Industry competition, market volatility, elongated operating tailwind Buy: CMP and dips to 340 CMP and dips to 340 Target price: 385-398 in 1 month 385-398 in 1 month Stop-loss: 335 Top 3 stocks to buy, recommended by Ankush Bajaj for 22 July Buy: Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Ltd Current Price: 885.80 Why its recommended: Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Ltd is exhibiting strong bullish momentum, supported by key technical indicators and a breakout from a consolidation pattern. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is currently at 73 on the daily chart, which signals robust buying strength just below the overbought threshold. The MACD stands at +30, indicating strong upward momentum, while the ADX is at 45, confirming a well-established trend with solid directional movement. Adding to the bullish case, the stock has broken out of a triangle pattern on lower timeframes, projecting an upside target of 940+. This technical breakout, combined with strong momentum indicators, suggests continuation of the current rally. Key metrics: Breakout zone: Triangle breakout on lower timeframes with sustained volume Breakout zone: Triangle breakout on lower timeframes with sustained volume Pattern: Triangle breakout with bullish momentum follow-through Triangle breakout with bullish momentum follow-through RSI: Strong at 73, indicating steady buying pressure Strong at 73, indicating steady buying pressure MACD: Positive at +30, reinforcing the upward move Positive at +30, reinforcing the upward move ADX: 45, showing trend strength and conviction 45, showing trend strength and conviction Technical analysis: The stock is holding above near-term support and has confirmed its breakout with increasing volumes and bullish follow-through. With the trend backed by momentum and pattern confirmation, the near-term target lies at 940. The stock is holding above near-term support and has confirmed its breakout with increasing volumes and bullish follow-through. With the trend backed by momentum and pattern confirmation, the near-term target lies at 940. Risk factors: A close below 862 would negate the bullish setup and may lead to short-term weakness. Traders should watch for sudden reversals near the resistance zone and maintain a disciplined stop-loss strategy. A close below 862 would negate the bullish setup and may lead to short-term weakness. Traders should watch for sudden reversals near the resistance zone and maintain a disciplined stop-loss strategy. Buy at: 885.80 885.80 Target price: 940 940 Stop loss: 862.00 Buy: Ambuja Cements Ltd Current Price: 613.25 Why its recommended: Ambuja Cements Ltd has confirmed a rectangle breakout on the daily chart, indicating a resumption of bullish momentum after a period of consolidation. The MACD is trending positive at +11.28, while the RSI stands at 64, reflecting healthy bullish momentum without being overextended. This technical breakout aligns with strengthening momentum indicators, suggesting that the stock is gearing up for a fresh leg of upside. The structure looks poised for continuation, especially if broader sentiment remains stable. Key metrics: Breakout zone: Rectangle breakout on daily chart Breakout zone: Rectangle breakout on daily chart Pattern: Post-consolidation breakout with upward strength Post-consolidation breakout with upward strength RSI: Bullish at 64, supporting uptrend Bullish at 64, supporting uptrend MACD: Positive at +11.28, confirming strength Positive at +11.28, confirming strength ADX: Not specified but implied momentum is strong Not specified but implied momentum is strong Technical analysis: Ambuja is currently sustaining above key breakout levels, suggesting strong follow-through. The stock has a clear upside path towards the 636 level in the near term, provided the momentum sustains. Ambuja is currently sustaining above key breakout levels, suggesting strong follow-through. The stock has a clear upside path towards the 636 level in the near term, provided the momentum sustains. Risk factors: A close below 603.60 would invalidate the bullish setup. Traders should remain cautious if volume fades or the stock faces selling pressure at higher levels. A close below 603.60 would invalidate the bullish setup. Traders should remain cautious if volume fades or the stock faces selling pressure at higher levels. Buy at: 613.25 613.25 Target price: 636 636 Stop loss: 603.60 Buy: Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd Current Price: 3,246.70 Why its recommended: Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd has staged a bullish flag breakout on the daily chart, typically a continuation pattern that signals trend strength. The RSI is holding at 63, reflecting steady buying interest, while the MACD stands at +28, suggesting that bullish momentum is firmly in place. This breakout from a flag formation confirms the resumption of the prior uptrend. With momentum and price action aligned, the stock appears well-positioned for further upside. Key metrics: Breakout zone: Flag breakout on daily timeframe Breakout zone: Flag breakout on daily timeframe Pattern: Bullish flag continuation Bullish flag continuation RSI: Positive at 63, confirming trend strength Positive at 63, confirming trend strength MACD: Bullish at +28 Bullish at +28 ADX: 15 also implied strength due to breakout 15 also implied strength due to breakout Technical analysis: M&M is maintaining price levels above breakout resistance and has established a bullish structure. The upside target is set at 3,320, with potential for even higher levels if broader market conditions support the move. M&M is maintaining price levels above breakout resistance and has established a bullish structure. The upside target is set at 3,320, with potential for even higher levels if broader market conditions support the move. Risk factors: A close below 3,208 would weaken the bullish outlook. Traders should closely monitor price action near resistance and stay disciplined with stop-loss management. A close below 3,208 would weaken the bullish outlook. Traders should closely monitor price action near resistance and stay disciplined with stop-loss management. Buy at: 3,246.70 3,246.70 Target price: 3,320 3,320 Stop loss: 3,208.00 Stocks to trade today, recommended by Trade Brains Portal for 21 July Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd Current price: 378.60 Target price: 480 in 16 - 24 Months Stop-loss: 325 Why it is recommended: RVNL was founded in 2003 to revolutionize the railway landscape in India with a focus on project implementation and the development of transportation infrastructure, such as railway lines, electrification, bridges, and more. The Department of Public Sector Enterprises (PSE) had awarded the company the title of Navratna, which denotes a large, profitable, and strategically significant PSU. To carry out projects in their respective regions, RVNL has 30 project implementation units spread across 25 locations in India. Additionally, two project units have been formed outside of India: one in Dubai and one in the Maldives. In FY25, the company's revenue was 19,923 crore, down 8.9% on year from 21,878.5 crore. Net profit fell 17.3%, from 1,550.87 crore to 1,281.5 crore. This decline was due to a delay in funding by the Ministry of Railways. They anticipate higher margins in FY26, and the turnover would be the same as the FY25 projection of 21,000 crore. As the company expands into new areas, such as metro maintenance, small-scale manufacturing, and international projects, the margins are expected to improve. The company is actively diversifying into long-term revenue visibility outside of the fiercely competitive EPC market. Utilizing the increasing number of metro projects around India, key priority areas are railway infrastructure and metro system operation and maintenance (O&M). Furthermore, the company has one of the key joint ventures in the development of Vande Bharat, which will begin production in June FY26, and the company anticipates positive cash inflows starting the following year. On the order book part, the company anticipates that Bharat Net orders will rise from the present order of 14,000 crore to 17,000 to 18,000 crore in FY26, a 20% to 25% increase. The company currently has a 1 lakh crore order book, of which 45,000 crore comes from Indian Railways and around 55,000 crore comes from projects that were put out to bid. Risk factors: Since RVNL is not designated as a Zonal Railway, it does not have the authority to approve plans, drawings, and other materials. As a result, delays in obtaining approval from Zonal Railways for plans, traffic blockages, etc., could affect RVNL's project development. Additionally, delays may occur due to modifications made to the Railways' approved plans during project execution. Varun Beverages Ltd Current price: 489 Target price: 630 in 12 Months Stop-loss: 406 Why its recommended: VBLs revenue from operations grew by 28.9% YoY to 5,566.9 crore in Q1 CY2025 from 4,317.3 crore in Q1 CY2024. Their sales volume also increased by 30.1% to reach 312.4 million cases, driven by strong organic volume growth of 15.5% in India and inorganic volume contributions from South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo. VBLs EBITDA increased by 27.8% in Q1 CY 2025 to Rs. 1,263.96 crore. PAT increased by 33.5% to Rs. 731.4 crore in Q1 CY2025, driven by robust volume growth and lower finance costs. (Note: The company follows a January-December calendar year format.). The company has commissioned new production facilities at Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) and Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) and also set up backward integration facilities at the Prayagraj plant, as well as at the DRC plant in the international region. Acquired BevCo along with its wholly owned subsidiaries and SBC Beverages Ghana Limited (SBCG) in West Africa. VBL has recently entered into binding agreements to acquire a 100% stake in Tanzania and Ghana, further enhancing its African market presence. The company has also secured exclusive snacks franchising rights for PepsiCos brands in Morocco, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, set to commence by October 2025. VBL successfully raised 7,500 crore through a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) for strategic acquisitions and expansions. Currently, the company's net debt stands at 6,000 crore, with plans to utilize the proceeds for debt reduction for CY2025.VBL is adding about 10-12% additional outlets (400,000-500,000 outlets) every year, bolstering its growth. The company owns 130+ depots, 2800+ primary distributors, and 10,000+ vehicles, and also has franchise rights in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. VBL is the worlds second-largest PepsiCo franchisee with a market share of 72% in the carbonated segment, holding exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute PepsiCos carbonated and non-carbonated beverages across 27 Indian states and 7 union territories. The company has 50 state-of-the-art production facilities, 38 in India & 12 international territories. Risk factors: Consistent growth in revenue and sales volumes may be affected due to fluctuations in seasonal sales that might pose a risk to the company's overall financial performance throughout the year. Further, regulations like plastic bottle bans, high sugar taxes, and FDI restrictions pose risks for Varun Beverages. Two stock recommendations for today by MarketSmith India Dixon Technologies (India) Limited(current price: 16,281) Why its recommended: Growth and strategic expansion, strong structural advantages Key metrics: P/E: 118.49, 52-week high: 19,148.90, volume: 846.02 crore 19,148.90, volume: 846.02 crore Technical analysis: Cup-with-handle pattern breakout on above average volume Risk factors: Client concentration and demand volatility, thin margins and PLI reliance, execution risk and backward integration, supply chain and tech risk Buy: 16,281 16,281 Target price: 18,900 in two to three months 18,900 in two to three months Stop loss: 15,300 L&T Finance Ltd (current price: 210) Why its recommended: Diversified lending portfolio, shift toward retail focus, robust asset quality, and collection efficiency Key metrics: P/E: 19.08, 52-week high: 213, volume: 594.83 crore 213, volume: 594.83 crore Technical analysis: 21-DMA bounce Risk factors: Exposure to rural and semi-urban markets, competitive pressure Buy at: 210 210 Target price: 238 in two to three months 238 in two to three months Stop loss: 198 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. Dividend paying small-cap stocks: Small-cap stocks are quite popular among retail investors, as the right bet can help them earn multibagger gains and mostly for the low price. But what if these small-cap stocks could also offer additional income in the form of dividends? According to a study by Axis Securities, 15 small-cap stocks have given dividends of up to 200 in the last 12 months, resulting in a dividend yield of 4-8%. Several of these small-cap stocks' dividend yields have also beaten the returns provided by various government schemes and bank fixed deposits (FDs). Dividend yield What is it and why does it matter? Dividend yield, a key metric tracked by many income-focused investors, helps investors assess the income they can expect from holding the stock. A higher yield can signal steady income. Long-term investors often look for stable or growing dividend yields as a sign of strong fundamentals and consistent cash generation. A dividend yield of 4% or more is generally considered good. High dividend-paying small-cap stocks Therefore, the small-cap stock with the highest dividend yield is PSU company MSTC. It has paid a dividend of 45.5 in the last 12 months, resulting in a dividend yield of 8%. It is closely trailed by Chennai Petroleum Corporation, with a dividend yield of 7%. The company has paid a dividend of 55 per share in the last 12 months. Another small-cap stock with a high dividend yield of 7% is PTC Limited. PTC is another PSU small-cap stock on the list, offering 12.8 dividend in the past 12 months. Catrol India and Allcargo Logistics have delivered a dividend yield of 6% during the period. They are followed by Nirlon Limited, Gujarat Pipavav Port and Indraprastha Gas Limited with a yield of 5% each, offering dividends of 26, 7.7 and 10.5, respectively. Seven other small-cap stocks on the list DB Corp, RITES, Balmer Lawrie, La Opala RG, HeidelbergCement India and Pfizer have given a dividend of 4% to investors. In absolute terms, Pfizer has paid the highest dividend of 200 among small-cap companies. Stock Market Today: The market started a new week on a positive note as the benchmark Nifty-50 index ended 0.49% higher. The Bank Nifty gained 1.19% to 56,952.75 levels, while metals, realty, and auto were other key gainers, though Oil & Gas and FMCG stood among key losers. In the broader indices While mid caps gained more than half a percent, small caps ended flat. Trade Setup for Tuesday Going forward, 24,900 remains a crucial support level for the index; a decisive fall below this level is likely to empower the bears. On the other hand, resistance is placed at 25,20025,260, as per Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities A decisive breakout above the 57250 level for Bank Nifty would open the door for a further rally towards the 58,000 mark. Global markets today and Q1 Results Markets would be closely following further trade talks over the coming weeks, as both India and the US aim for a deal before the August 1 deadline. We expect the market to remain range-bound, tracking quarterly earnings outcomes and developments on the India-US trade deal, said Siddhartha Khemka, Head of Research, Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. Key results scheduled for Tuesday include Colgate, JSW Infra, Dixon Tech, and Paytm, amongst others. Stocks to buy today Regarding stocks to buy today, market expertsSumeet Bagadia, Executive Director at Choice Broking; Ganesh Dongre, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Anand Rathi; and Shiju Koothupalakkal, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladherrecommended these eight intraday stocks for today: Interarch Building Solutions Ltd, Hariom Pipe Industries Ltd., PB Fintech Ltd., Tata Steel, Bharat Forge Ltd., Raymond Ltd., Websol Energy System Ltd., and Lloyds Engineering Works Ltd. Sumeet Bagadia's stock picks Interarch Building Solutions Ltd.-Bagadia recommends buying INTERARCH at around 2312, keeping stop loss at 2230 for a target price of 2500 INTERARCH is currently positioned at 2312 levels and delivered a stellar upside move in todays session. The price action marks a decisive breakout above the short-term consolidation zone, with increased volumes supporting the bullish move. Todays breakout attempt is the first major thrust from the lower end of this band, raising expectations of a bullish breakout. 2. Hariom Pipe Industries Ltd-Bagadia recommends buying HARIOMPIPE at around 501.3, keeping Stoploss at 485 for a target price of 540 HARIOMPIPE witnessed a powerful bullish breakout in todays session. The stock surged with significant volume expansion, indicating robust buying interest and potential accumulation at lower levels and a clear shift in sentiment. The closing is also above the 200-day EMA at 459, which adds significant strength to the breakout and validates bullish sentiment. Ganesh Dongre's stocks to buy today 3. PB Fintech LtdDongre recommends PB Fintech Ltd, or POLICYBZR, at around 1802, keeping Stop Loss at 1775 for a target price of 1850 Stock has exhibited a strong, notable, continued bullish pattern, offering another promising opportunity for short-term traders. The stock is currently priced at 1802 and maintaining strong support at 1775. The technical setup indicates the potential for a price retracement towards the 1850 level. With the stock reversing from a support base and showing signs of renewed strength, entering at the current market price with a stop-loss at 1775 offers a prudent approach to capturing the anticipated upside. 4. Tata SteelDongre recommends buying TATASTEEL at 163, keeping stop loss at 159 for a target price of 170 Stock has exhibited a strong, notable, continued bullish pattern, offering another promising opportunity for short-term traders. The stock is currently priced at 163 and maintaining strong support at 159. The technical setup indicates the potential for a price retracement towards the 170 level. With the stock reversing from a support base and showing signs of renewed strength, entering at the current market price with a stop-loss at 159 offers a prudent approach to capturing the anticipated upside. 5. Bharat Forge LtdDongre recommends buying BHARATFORG at 1220, keeping Stoploss at 1200 for a target price of 1260 In the latest short-term technical analysis, the stock has shown a strong and consistent bullish trend, indicating the potential for an extended upward move. The stock is currently trading at 1220 and holding above a key support level at 1200. This support zone serves as a critical point for risk management. Given the bullish momentum, traders are advised to consider a buying opportunity with a stop-loss placed strategically at 1200 to manage downside risk. The target for this trade is set at 1260, suggesting a favorable risk-to-reward ratio and a continuation of the prevailing upward trend Shiju Koothupalakkal intraday stocks for today 6. Raymond Ltd. -Koothupalakkal recommends buying RAYMOND at around 738.50 for a target price of 777, keeping the stop loss at 723 The stock has maintained a strong uptrend recently after a short correction and has indicated a higher low formation on the daily chart, currently having a series of bullish candle formations with huge volume participation visible, which has improved the bias to anticipate further upward movement in the coming sessions. The chart setup technically looks good, with the RSI well positioned after cooling off from the highly overbought zone, with once again much upside potential visible from the current rate. With the chart technically looking good, we suggest buying the stock. 7. Websol Energy System Ltd.Koothupalakkal recommends buying WEBSOL ENERGY at around 1422 for a target price of 1485. keeping Stop loss: 1395 The stock has indicated a positive trend reversal with a bullish candle formation on the daily chart to break out above the trendline zone at the 1407 level after taking support near the confluence of the moving average of 50 EMA and the 200-period MA at the 1325 zone to improve the bias, and we can expect a further rise in the coming sessions. The RSI is on the rise, indicating strength, and can carry on with the positive move further ahead. With the chart technically looking attractive, we suggest buying the stock for an upside target of 1485, keeping the stop loss at the 1395 level. 8. Lloyds Engineering Works Ltd-Koothupalakkal recommends buying LLOYDS ENGG WORK at 78.90 for a target price of 85 keeping Stop loss at 77 The stock has been hovering near the strong zone, and after a short period of correction, it has once again indicated a fresh positive move with a bullish candle to improve the bias, and we expect another round of fresh upward moves in the coming sessions. The RSI has cooled off significantly from the overbought zone and is currently well positioned, indicating a positive trend reversal to signal a buy with much upside potential visible from the current rate. With the chart technically looking good, we suggest buying the stock . At the newly-opened Amar Khamar Lunch Room in Kolkata, the ceiling bears an artwork showcasing the indigenous varieties of rice grown in Bengal. The design sets the tone for the lunch titled Chhuti-r Bhat, that literally translates to holiday meal. The spread at the approximately 20-seater restaurant, situated in Ballygunge, is served in four courses on a banana leaf, each paired with a rice variety cultivated by the farmer partners. But, there is no gobindobhog , the most popular aromatic rice from the region. Amar Khamar or my farm" is a social enterprise, and was founded by Sujoy Chatterjee in 2019 with the objective of empowering farmers, mostly women, to cultivate rice on a small piece of land. Today, it boasts of a store called Annaja (same location), and retails a diverse variety of folk rice, and hyperlocal, organic products like lentils, honey, ghee, jaggery and spices sourced from across the state. The culture of ingredient-driven, home-cooked conscious consumption of food is a way forward," says Chatterjee, explaining why he decided to open Lunch Room (in May) almost six years after founding Amar Khamar. We want to serve food that comes from years of experience and wisdom from everyday kitchens," he adds. There is no kosha mangsho, biryani, or dishes that one would commonly associate with Bengali cuisine, and popularised by (Bengali) restaurants in the city. View Full Image The dish 'chui jhaal mangsho'. For the first course, I am served chine kamini its delicate fragrance fills up the room along with shaak bhaja (stir-fried greens), aam shorshe (ripe mango with mustard), deshi potol-er khosa bata (ground peels of pointed gourd), and the classic vegetarian stew shukto. To accentuate the aroma of rice, the server drizzles a spoonful of ghee over it. Also Read | On the ultimate kochuri trail in Kolkata It is not just the variety of rice that the meal highlights. Every course showcases the regional and seasonal diversity of Bengal, like the aam diye masur-er tok dal, a hearty sweet and sour masur dal cooked with green mango, or the pat pata-r bora, jute leaf fritters popularly made by the bangal community, or those migrated from East Bengal. Both the dishes are a common occurrence in Bengali homes during summer. The duo is served with dudh potol shorshe, or small pointed gourd cooked in a milk- and mustard-based sauce, and laal shada (red and white) rice. The menu spans across the state, and brings in specialities from both bangal and ghoti (those originally from West Bengal) kitchens. One such dish is chui jhaal mangsho, a mutton curry cooked with chui, a pepper native to the region. Chui or Piper chaba/chilli was used to spice fish and meat before chillies were introduced by the Portuguese colonisers in the 15th century. While the pepper grows in abundance in Bangladesh and parts of Bengal, the restaurant sources it from partner farms in north 24 Parganas. The flavour profile is a cross between black pepper and mustard. The roots as well as stem are used in cooking. At Amar Khamar Lunch Room, the former is cooked with mutton, while the latter is turned into a pickle. The deem, maach, mangsho egg, fish and meat courses respectively are served with soru siddho mohonshal bhat. Soru siddho means parboiled rice, which is a staple in Bengali homes. View Full Image 'Tormuj-er shukto'. The dishes also reflect the tradition of zero-waste cooking. We make our shukto with watermelon rind instead of the usual bitter gourd, drumstick and plantain. It surprises our guests," says Rekha Das, chef and daughter of one of the oldest partner farmers Aparna Das from the Sunderbans. The kitchen team is predominantly women, who come from an agrarian background, and bring their recipes, and cooking techniques. The bori (dried lentil drops), pickles and chutneys served with the meal are all made in-house. Kancha aam-er tawk, a sweet and sour soup made with green mango, acts as an interlude to the meal before the mishti course arrives. Theres payesh (rice kheer) made with badshahbhog rice, and mishti doi topped with the summer speciality taal-er gur, a jaggery made with the sap of tal or ice apple tree. It is thick, grainy, and milder in sweetness, when compared to nolen gur, the more popular winter-special date palm jaggery. View Full Image 'Mishti doi with taal-er gur'. On the Friday noon I visited, the restaurant was packed with both locals and outsiders. Many of our younger patrons (not living in the city) are reserving meals for their parents so that they can come over and eat with us. Even guests from Kolkata frequently end their meal with Ill bring my parents here the next time," says Chatterjee. The meal at Lunch Room holds a great deal of nostalgia for the locals, and for the people visiting the city, it is a great way to learn about the regions cuisine beyond the dominant narrative of Kolkata food. Chuti-r Bhat ( 1,290 + taxes for veg, 1,690 + taxes for non-veg) is available on weekends, Friday to Sunday, for lunch and dinner. Dal Bhat ( 450 + taxes) is available on weekdays (lunch) and weekends (dinner). Also Read | On a cocktail trail in Kolkata Shirin Mehrotra is a Delhi-based food writer and researcher. The monsoon season comes as a great respite from the sweltering summer just gone by. But this wet weather calls for more than just a hot cup of tea. For, it is during these rainy months that the body is more receptive to cleansing, seeking relief in potent sauna therapies where the heat purges toxins, loosens muscles, and calms the nerves. But in a country defined largely by tropical and subtropical climate zones, how much heat is healthy? And what is a the right way to do it? As Lounge explored these questions with wellness experts and retreats, what emerged was that the Indian approach to sauna is not about heat for heats sake. Its about balancethermal, spiritual, and ecological. It is about aligning the bodys needs with natures cycles to heal...gently. This curated round up of wellness retreats across India offers you a glimpse into therapeutic treatments that balance ancient wisdom with modern thermal science. DETOXIFY WITH FAR-INFRARED SAUNA Where: Dharana at Shillim, Maharashtra Set high in the Sahyadris, Dharana at Shillims traditional and far-infrared saunas are not instruments of extreme temperature but tools of calibrated transformation. We aim to harmonize with the climate, not overpower it," says Gavin de Souza, CEO of Dharana. Far-infrared therapy is favoured for its ability to penetrate deeply into tissues, encouraging detoxification and muscular recovery. Paired with contrast treatments like the Chilled Plunge, these rituals are timed to cooler parts of the daymorning or eveningand thoughtfully folded into personalized detox programs such as Ayurveda Panchakarma or Dharanas signature Art of Detox. Pursuing a philosophy of restraint, sauna sessions are capped at 20-30 minutes followed by cooling therapies like aloe vera wraps or dips in chilled water. Healing," de Souza says, is not about forcing a result. Its about listening to your body, your environment, your season." View Full Image An infrared sauna room at Swastik Wellbeing Sanctuary, Pune. HERB-INFUSED HEAT TREATMENTS Where: Swastik Wellbeing Sanctuary, Pune, Maharashtra At Swastik, nestled against the Sahyadri hills on the outskirts of Pune, signature treatments include herbal saunas infused with tulsi, camphor, dashamoola and triphala, selected according to ones dosha. Infrared sauna sessions are balanced with cooling mists of rose or vetiver, and traditional Ayurvedic hot sand therapy, or Valuka Sweda, is used for deep muscular detoxification. Each session is framed within a ritualistic arcbeginning with guided breathwork and concluding with abhyanga, a herbal oil massage. At Swastik, temperature regulation is precise: traditional saunas are maintained between 65C and 80C, infrared sessions range from 45C to 60C, and steam therapies stay between 40C and 50C, ensuring both efficacy and safety. Dr Milind Salunke, director of wellness at Swastik says, Since Maharashtra is a warm subtropical region, we exercise caution and customization. The sauna sessions are scheduled during cooler parts of the day, using pitta-pacifying herbs and done in shorter durations to avoid excess internal heat. Guests hydrate with herbal infusions such as cilantro or cumin teas prior to treatment. And intermittent cooling intervals ensure thermal balance." View Full Image The Tata Suite in Taj Palace has a private sauna discreetly integrated into it's personal spa zone. PURPOSEFUL WARMTH TO SOOTHE THE NERVES Where: Taj Palace, New Delhi In, Delhi, where summer temperatures routinely climb past 45C and the air can feel like its pressing down on skin, the idea of willingly stepping into a room of dry, searing heat might seem absurdif not masochistic. And yet, nestled within the capitals most storied address, a quiet recalibration of this very notion is taking place. Step inside the Tata Suite Grand Presidential. Within this nearly 7,000-square-foot enclave, a private sauna discreetly integrated into the suites personal spa zone, offers a counterintuitive form of solace: 15 minutes of enveloping warmth that soothes the nervous system, softens muscles, and restores equilibrium. This is purposeful warmth," says Praydhumna Singh Rathore, general manager of Taj Palace, designed to cleanse, calm, and trigger the bodys natural healing mechanisms." Unlike traditional saunas built for colder Nordic climates, this experience has been tailored to the Indian context and is an oasis of dry, gentle heat that encourages stillness. Also Read | How Indian wellness retreats are offering sleep therapy to fight insomnia View Full Image A treatment room at Carnoustie Ayurveda & Wellness Resort, Kerala. TRADITIONAL THERAPY TO MELT THE TOXINS Where: Carnoustie Ayurveda & Wellness Resort, Kerala Located in Mararikulam, on the shores of the Arabian Sea, Carnoustie is a resort revered for detox and holistic healing. Here, you will not find the typical wood-paneled sauna cabins associated with Nordic wellness culture. There are no dry-heat boxes or pine-scented enclosures, and no attempts to recreate a sauna experience that feels aloof from its setting. Instead, the resorts approach is firmly rooted in the classical Ayurvedic philosophy of swedana, a therapeutic steam treatment that has endured for centuries without the need for Western reinterpretation. The swedana treatment here uses herbal-infused steam tailored to each guests body type and condition to open the srotas (the bodys intricate network of channels) and liquefy toxins buried within the tissues. This moist heat gently mobilizes impurities toward the gastrointestinal tract for natural elimination, doing the heavy lifting of internal purification while calming the nervous system," explains Sruthy Mohan from the team. View Full Image An infrared sauna cabin at Ananda in the Himalayas. DEEP HEALING WITH GENTLE HEAT Where: Ananda in the Himalayas Set against the crisp, high-altitude air of the Himalayan foothills, the retreat employs low-temperature infrared sauna cabins that raise the core body temperature gently, stimulating detoxification and circulation without taxing the cardiovascular system. Anandas traditional sauna heats up to 8090C, while its infrared sauna operates at a milder 4550C for deeper, gentler body penetration. The emphasis is on subtle, restorative heat rather than intensity," explains Dr Sreelal Sankar, head of Ayurveda, Ananda. Sessions are prescribed through Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis and adjusted for season and prakriti (body constitution): intense for kapha sluggishness, moderate for vata sensitivity, and pared backor replaced with cooling therapies like Takradharafor pitta type or during sweltering summers. This integration of heat-based rituals into seasonal Ayurvedic routines or ritucharya is fundamental to Anandas approach," says Lal. RADIANT HEAT TO IMPROVE CIRCULATION Where: Salt World World Wellness Centre, Bengaluru Infrared saunas, which operate at gentler temperatures of 45 to 65C, have proven especially effective in Indias warm, often humid environments, allowing users to reap the benefits of heat therapy without added thermal stress," says Deepthi Babu, founder of Salt World. Unlike conventional saunas, which rely on high ambient temperatures, infrared technology uses radiant heat to directly warm the body, triggering detoxification and circulation without overwhelming users. Salt Worlds protocols reflect a calibrated approach to safety and efficacy. Clients are advised to hydrate with alkaline water and mint lemon drinks before and after each 30-minute session, while facilities are equipped with ventilation and cooling zones to prevent heat fatigue," Babu explains. According to Babu, clients with sedentary or high-stress lifestyles report improved circulation, reduced muscle stiffness, and better sleep following the treatment. International studies link infrared sauna use with improved cardiovascular and metabolic markers. As per the Grand View research, the demand for infrared saunas is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% over the forecast period of 2024 to 2030. Tanisha Saxena is a Delhi-based independent journalist. She writes stories that are on the intersection of art, culture and lifestyle. A sophisticated credit card scam has rocked Kolkata and this time, the fraud didnt come from some shadowy cybercriminal overseas. It came from inside the bank. Police have busted a racket led by Nafisa Ali, a former bank employee, who, along with a few accomplices, is suspected of siphoning off nearly 1 crore from unsuspecting customers, reported TOI. Their strategy? Brutally simple and disturbingly effective. The group has been making phone calls to bank clients while posing as legitimate representatives for the last six months. They sounded completely credible because they had real client information, and the insider knowledge of bank processes to sound very genuine. Victims were convinced to provide credit card information. That was all it took, and sometimes within minutes, the gang used this information to hit the credit limit, and make illegitimate transactions. After the fraud was detected, the bank started looking through call logs and transaction patterns, which eventually helped connect them to the person who committed the fraud. As it turns out, this was not some random phishing scam. This was a well planned effort by someone who knew the system. So what does this mean for the rest of us? Here's how to not be the next victim Lets break it down: 1. No real bank asks for OTP, CVV, or PIN over the phone: If someone does, even if they sound polite and convincinghang up. Then call your bank using the official number on your credit card or their website. 2. Fraudsters rely on urgency: Common red flags might include Your card will be blocked or somewhere else, "Congrats, you've won some cashback, just confirm your OTP". Banks don't pressure or intimidate you into giving them information. 3. Check your SMS and email alerts religiously: Do you have a transaction alert that you don't recognize? Don't ignore it and report it immediately. An insignificant, unrecognizable alert could be the start of something significant. 4. Use credit cards with low limits for online purchases: Many banks allow you to create a new virtual or secondary card with a set limit, and in doing so, any unauthorized access would have limited upset. 5. Keep your mobile device locked and secure: Do not store card information on public computers, use antivirus software, and avoid potentially shady apps. A lot of scams start with hacked phones. 6. Report scams fastspeed matters: After you contact the bank's fraud helpline, report the scam through the Cybercrime portal. The longer you wait increases your chances of losing money. This scam hit people who never imagined they'd fall for one because it didnt look like a scam. It looked like their bank calling. Trust is what made the fraud work. And awareness is what will stop the next one. Stay alert. Stay sceptical. And remember when it comes to money, caution isn't paranoia. It's protection. For all personal finance updates, visit here. While making any purchase, everybody would like an additional cashback over and above all other shopping benefits. According to a Research and Markets report, the market for cashback programs in India was $7.6 billion in 2024. The market is growing fast and is expected to reach $14.3 billion by 2029. These days, we have credit cards that offer cashback, marketplaces like Amazon that offer cashback, and a host of third-party companies that provide cashback to members for shopping through them. One such company that offers cashback to its members for online shopping is CashKaro. It is one of Indias largest cashback and coupon sites. In this article, we will understand what CashKaro is, how it works, cashback categories and merchants, how to redeem cashback by transferring it to the bank account, etc. Also Read | How to update your SBI credit card mobile number before travelling abroad What is CashKaro? CashKaro is a cashback and coupon website. When a member visits their favourite shopping website through the CashKaro website, they get rewarded with cashback. For example, suppose you want to buy furniture from Amazon, garments from Myntra, or medicines from Netmeds. All you have to do is log in to CashKaro.com, search for the merchant, visit Amazon/Myntra/Netmeds through CashKaro, and complete your purchase on the merchants website. Instead of visiting the merchant website directly, when you visit the merchant website through CashKaro, you get rewarded with cashback. The cashback is a certain percentage of the order value placed on the merchants website or a flat amount. The cashback rate can range from a low of 0.25% to as high as 100%. Yes, with 100% cashback, you can get certain products for free. Specified products/categories on specified merchants may be excluded from cashback. Hence, read the cashback terms and conditions carefully before proceeding ahead with the transaction. Is there a CashKaro membership fee? The CashKaro membership program is a lifetime free program. So, there are no joining fees, renewal fees, redemption fees, or any other fees to be paid by a member. How does the cashback process work? A member has to log in to the CashKaro website and search for their merchant. Check the cashback rates and the related offer terms and conditions. From the CashKaro website, visit the merchant website and shop like you usually do. Thus, CashKaro is just a pass-through website, and the final transaction and payment are always done on the merchants website. Once the transaction is completed, it will be tracked and shown in your account in pending status. Once the merchant confirms the transaction, CashKaro will confirm the cashback. You can request the cashback payment for all transactions where the status is confirmed. The payment request can be made through one of the following options: Bank transfer UPI Amazon Gift Card Flipkart Gift Card Suppose you select the UPI option. You will be asked to enter your UPI ID. In the next step, you will receive an OTP. Once you enter the OTP, the payment will be transferred to your bank account. CashKaro gives you real cashback that can be transferred to the bank account. Many loyalty programs give you points, coins or other currency that have restricted usage and can be redeemed for various products/services. CashKaro is different because the cashback amount can be transferred to the bank account. The change in transaction status from pending to confirmed may take 15 to 120 days. It differs from merchant to merchant. If a product is returned to the merchant, the pending status will change to cancelled and you will not get any cashback for any such transaction. How does CashKaro earn money? Now that you have understood the CashKaro cashback process, you must be wondering how CashKaro itself makes money to pay cashback to its members. CashKaro works like an affiliate marketing company. They direct traffic to various online merchant websites. When the CashKaro members shop at a partner merchants website, the merchant gets business. In return, the merchant pays CashKaro an affiliate commission. CashKaro keeps a small part of the commission and passes a major part of it to the member as cashback. So, that is how CashKaro earns, from which it pays you cashback. CashKaro statistics In the earlier section, we saw how CashKaro keeps only a small part of its earnings from partner merchants. Is it enough to sustain CashKaro? Well, CashKaro plays the big volumes game. Every day, lakhs of their members transact at various partner merchants that pay CashKaro for the sales generated. Here are some CashKaro statistics: It has more than 2 crore members It has more than 1,500 partner merchants Till date, it has paid more than Rs. 1,000 crores as cashback to its members Its investors include Late Ratan Tata, Kalaari Capital, Korea Investment Partners, and Affle Partner merchants CashKaro has onboarded more than 1,500 e-commerce merchants in various categories. Some of these include the following. Merchant category Merchants Marketplaces Amazon, Flipkart Fashion Myntra, Ajio, Snitch, Adidas, Libas, W, Puma, Firstcry, Biba, Aurelia Pharmacy Truemeds, Netmeds, Medibuddy, Healthkart Beauty Dot & Key, Mamaearth, Kama Ayurveda, VLCC, Forest Essentials, Sugar Electronics Croma, Oneplus, Oppo, Acer, Boat, Noise, Dell, Asus Wellness Clove, Zandu, Hyugalife, Fitspere, Muscleblaze, Kapiva, Dabur Food True Elements, Veeba, Organic India Travel Booking.com, Expedia, Cleartrip, MakeMyTrip, Akasa, Air India, Tripify The above are only some of the categories and some of the merchants in those categories. For the complete list, check the CashKaro website. From time to time, new merchants may get added and existing merchants may leave. The cashback rate differs from merchant to merchant. For the same merchant, the cashback rate usually differs for various shopping categories. The cashback rate for the same category may change (increase or decrease) from time to time. How to manage your CashKaro account? Whenever you do a transaction through CashKaro, it will get tracked. You will receive an email with the cashback amount, the tentative confirmation timeline, and other details. You can check your transaction details in your dashboard. The transaction status will be pending, confirmed, cancelled, paid, etc. Initially, the transaction status will be pending. If the merchant confirms, the status will change to confirmed. If the order is cancelled or there is any other issue, the transaction status will change to cancel. You can request a payment from the payment section. Once you request the payment for a confirmed transaction and the payment is made, the status will change to paid. The minimum withdrawal/payment request amount is Rs. 1 only. The payment history section has the details of all the payments that you have requested in the past. Clubbing CashKaro benefits with credit card benefits You can club your CashKaro cashback benefits with other benefits and increase your overall benefits. Here is how you can club multiple benefits in a single transaction: Discount on MRP offered by the merchant CashKaro cashback by visiting the merchant through CashKaro Instant discount on the credit card Base reward points and milestone/accelerated reward points on the credit card Any cashback or other benefit offered by the merchant Depending on the offers going on at the time of the transaction, it may be possible to club all or some of the above benefits in a single transaction. For example, suppose you want to buy apparel or beauty products from Amazon. In this case, Amazon gives a discount on most products on MRP. Also, sometimes Amazon gives cashback in the form of Amazon Pay balance, depending on the transaction amount. When you visit Amazon through CashKaro, you will get cashback from CashKaro. Finally, if there is a credit card offer going on, you will get an instant discount when you pay through the credit card. You will also earn reward points and any other benefits that the credit card offers. Should you become a CashKaro member? CashKaro is a lifetime free program. It offers cashback over and above other shopping benefits like a discount on MRP, instant discount with credit cards, etc. The cashback can be transferred to the bank account, unlike other loyalty programs that offer points that have restricted usage. Thus, CashKaro increases your overall online shopping benefits. So, if you want to earn additional cashback over and above other online shopping benefits, you must become a CashKaro member. News / Local by Staff reporter Two Harare men who suffered brutal assaults at the hands of soldiers during Zimbabwe's 2019 fuel protests have finally secured justice after a civil court ruled in their favour, ordering the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Commander, Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Matatu, and Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri to compensate them for their injuries.Harare Civil Magistrate Mandlenkosi Ndhlovu ruled that Felix Mafondokoto must be paid US$29,182 (approximately R545,000) for injuries sustained after being shot by soldiers during the unrest. In a separate judgment, Magistrate Tamara Chibindi ordered that Muchademba Muponde be awarded ZiG45,976 for the injuries he suffered during the same military crackdown.The violence occurred in January 2019 when soldiers were deployed to quell protests sparked by sharp increases in fuel prices. Mafondokoto, aged 44, was shot on January 19 while soldiers were dispersing crowds, despite not participating in the demonstrations. He still carries bullet fragments in his body.Represented by human rights lawyer Kossam Ncube from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Mafondokoto had initially sought US$49,000 (about R915,000) in damages for pain, suffering, nervous shock, loss of earnings, and medical expenses. ZLHR confirmed the court's ruling through a statement on X (formerly Twitter), noting the severe nature of his injuries."Felix Mafondokoto suffered severe injuries from the shooting and still has some bullet fragments in his body," ZLHR said.Three days earlier, on January 16, 2019, Muchademba Muponde was caught up in the chaos as soldiers descended on Glenview 1 Shopping Centre while he was accompanying his grandfather to buy a chicken. As crowds fled, Muponde also tried to escape but was captured by an armed soldier."One of the soldiers gave chase and caught him before assaulting him on the back and neck using the back of a firearm," ZLHR detailed.The soldier allegedly pursued Muponde into a nearby home where the assault continued until he bled from the head. Muponde sustained injuries to both legs and his back, leaving him unable to walk for a period. He later engaged lawyer Tinashe Chinopfukutwa to sue for damages.During court proceedings, both Muchinguri and Matatu attempted to shift responsibility, claiming the soldiers were acting under the Zimbabwe Republic Police's command rather than the ZNA's. However, the court dismissed this argument."Hon. Muchinguri and Lieutenant-General Matatu unsuccessfully tried to absolve themselves," said ZLHR.The court ultimately held the two senior officials accountable for the conduct of the soldiers under their command.For both Mafondokoto and Muponde, the rulings mark a significant victory after years of physical and emotional suffering."Victims of brutality perpetrated by some soldiers have begun accessing justice," ZLHR said in a statement. From greed to givingthats how Manish Kejriwal describes his evolution with money. The Founder and Managing Partner of Kedaara Capital joined Mints Neil Borate on the Lets Mint Money podcast to share candid reflections on disciplined investing, building one of Indias leading private equity firms, and embracing simplicity in personal finance. Watch the full episode below, Early Experience with Debt Shaped His Approach Kejriwal spoke openly about a tough period early in his career when he faced personal financial liability after signing guarantees for his familys business interests. He described this episode as deeply formative. Because of that experience, I developed a very strong bias against personal debt, he said. Even when we finally bought a house in 2013almost 20 years after I started workingit was with no mortgage. That philosophy of avoiding personal guarantees and keeping things simple has stayed with me throughout. Learning the Art of Investing at Temasek After starting at McKinsey, Kejriwal joined Temasek to help establish its India officean experience he credits with teaching him how to invest. I learned the art of investing there, he said. We had an incredible seven or eight years. I hired every person there from the janitor to the investment team. He also cited Temaseks then-CEO Ho Ching as a major influence. I haven't seen anyone smarter or more strategic, he said. She gave me the opportunity to set up their first office outside Singapore. Founding Kedaara Capital After Temasek, Kejriwal co-founded Kedaara Capital. He said the idea of starting his own firm was compelling but came with significant risk. As a consultant you think bankers make a lot of money. As a banker you think PE guys make a lot of money. The ultimate nirvana is starting your own firmbut that involves a hell of a lot of risk, he said. He also described the challenge of launching the firm. Raising the first fund is the toughest thing to do. It took us almost 2.5 years to raise about $540 million, he said. Focus on Control and Discipline Kedaara Capital is known for its disciplined approach, favouring control-oriented, late-stage private equity investments over venture capital. Retail investors put alternatives in one bucket, but alternatives are very complex, he explained. A good PE guy doesn't necessarily make a good VC. He contrasted PEs steady, cash-flow-based strategy with VCs higher-risk, higher-failure-rate model. We do boring manufacturing, bricks-and-mortar businesses. We expect each return to give us between 3x to 5x over four to five years, with 2535% IRR, he said. VCs need to take much more risk and expect flameouts. Simplicity in Personal Spending Kejriwal described how his relationship with money evolved over time. In the earlier part of my career, making money was very important, he admitted. But about 15 years ago, something switched. I stopped caring about things like which car I showed up in. He shared examples of his more minimalist approach today. We used to have a Maybachits sitting in the garage. Now I drive an MG. My son calls me the Uniqlo dad because all my clothes are Uniqlo. Fees, Alignment, and Manager Selection Kejriwal also discussed his approach to public market investing, emphasizing cost-consciousness and alignment. He supported the advisory model of wealth management. It has to be, for me, pure advisory fees. Any model which involves a commission on stuff sold, is frankly, for me, a panacea for the industry. Im very sensitive to gross and net, he said. If Im paying a feewhether its management or performancethe alpha has to exceed that. Otherwise, its not worth taking. He said he prefers ETFs for their low cost until he finds a manager he trusts. I believe in the power of compounding. Till I find a good manager, I keep money in ETFs, he said. As the date of income tax submission nears, taxpayers across the country are actively seeking ways to bring down their taxable income without locking in their funds for years. While many popular investment instruments such as Public Provident Fund (PPF), Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS) among others require long term commitments, several provide quick liquidity, lower risk and efficient Section 80C or other related deductions, thus making them ideal for those aspiring to prioritise financial flexibility. Keeping the same factors in mind below are five tax saving options that investors can avail without decadal or very long lock in periods and ensure that they are able to save money smartly. 5-year fixed deposits with tax benefit Several banking institutions provide 5 year tax saving fixed deposits (FDs) under Section 80C. Given these fixed deposits do have a five year lock in period, still they also provide premature liquidity in emergencies through a personal loan or overdraft, unlike PPF or NPS. Do keep in mind, the interest earned on such deposits is taxable, but the principal invested qualifies for deduction up to 1.5 lakh. Tax deduction through health insurance (Section 80D) Health insurance continues to be a reputable tax saving recommendation by banking institutions and financial advisors. Premiums of up to 25,000 ( 50,000 in case of senior citizens) are deductible under Section 80D. It is also important to note that there is no lock in and deductions can be claimed every year upon renewal, making it one of the most lucrative and flexible options. Also Read | Income tax 2025: Documents you must download before filing your return Employee Provident Fund contributions For salaried individuals, all contributions made to the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) automatically qualify for Section 80C deductions. Though EPF has a retirement oriented vision and structure, still partial withdrawals are permitted for marriage, education, home ownership and medical emergencies such as serious surgeries and procedures. Thus providing partial liquidity without breaking the investment. Home loan principal and interest The repayment of home loan principal amount qualifies under Section 80C. The interest up to 2 lakhs is deductible under Section 24(b). Theres no fixed lock in and deductions can be claimed yearly throughout the tenure of the home loan. It remains one of the most utilised tax saving strategies for home owners. Also Read | Can Indian tech founders avoid paying the income tax by shifting base to Dubai? National Pension System Tier I and Tier II National Pension System (NPS) provides deductions under Section 80CCD(1B) of up to 50,000 over and above the deduction provided under Section 80C. Though tier I is long term, tier II accounts offer flexible withdrawals. Do keep in mind that tier II is tax exempt only for government employees. Withdrawal of partial amounts are also permitted after three years under specific terms and conditions. An Air India flight arriving from Hong Kong reported a fire incident shortly after landing at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday. All passengers and crew members were safely evacuated, although the aircraft sustained minor damage. The incident took place on Flight AI 315, which landed in Delhi on the evening of July 22. The fire broke out in the aircraft's auxiliary power unit (APU) after it had parked at the gate and while passengers had begun disembarking. Confirming the incident, an Air India spokesperson said, "Flight AI 315, operating from Hong Kong to Delhi on 22 July 2025, experienced an auxiliary power unit (APU) fire shortly after it had landed and parked at the gate. The incident occurred while passengers had begun disembarking, and the APU was automatically shut down as per system design." The airline added that, "There was some damage to the aircraft; however, passengers and crew members disembarked normally and are safe. The aircraft has been grounded for further investigations and the regulator has been duly notified." Officials from Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) confirmed the fire was promptly extinguished and said that a detailed investigation is currently underway. Air India made headlines on Monday due to two separate aircraft-related incidents. At Delhi airport, a Kolkata-bound Air India flight was forced to abort takeoff because of a technical snag. Meanwhile, flight AI2744 from Kochi torain at Mumbai airport."> Mumbai veered off the runway while landing in heavy rain at Mumbai airport. The aircraft taxied safely to the gate, and all passengers and crew members have since disembarked. The aircraft has been grounded for checks, an Air India spokesperson confirmed. Following the incident, one of the runways at Mumbai airport was temporarily closed. In a separate case, an IndiGo flight from Goa to Indore, carrying 140 passengers, made an emergency landing at Indore airport due to a technical issue with its landing gear. Bangladesh Fighter Jet Crash: A Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) combat jet crashed into a bustling school in Dhaka on Monday, leaving at least 27 dead including the pilot and injuring over 170 others, in a chilling reminder of the risks posed by ageing military hardware. The horrific crash, now deemed one of Bangladeshs worst aerial disasters in recent history, has once again placed the spotlight firmly on China-made fighter jets, particularly the controversial Chengdu F-7 series. A Solo Flight Turns Fatal: The Dhaka Plane Crash On Monday afternoon, an F-7 BGI fighter jet of the Bangladesh Air Force crashed directly onto the campus of Milestone School & College in Dhaka's Uttara locality a packed educational institution in the midst of regular classes. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam Sagar, was on his first solo fighter mission when the aircraft went down at 1:06 pm local time, just moments after take-off. Though he was rushed to hospital, Towkir Islam Sagar succumbed to his injuries. The Bangladesh military's media wing, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), confirmed that the ill-fated jet had suffered a technical malfunction mid-flight. The pilot made every effort to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas, but failed, the ISPR stated, adding that a high-level inquiry has been ordered into the crash. Eyewitnesses reported a deafening explosion, as flames and debris engulfed parts of the school complex. The F-7 BGI: Ageing Chinese Workhorse of Bangladesh's Air Force The F-7 BGI, a modernised version of China's Chengdu F-7, traces its lineage back to the Soviet-era MiG-21. Despite being deemed obsolete by international standards, the F-7 remains a core component of Bangladeshs air fleet largely due to its affordability and reliability for pilot training and light combat missions. The Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and several other nations have continued to deploy the J-7 (F-7 in export markets) as an interceptor aircraft, even though its production ceased in 2013. The final batch of these jets was supplied to Bangladesh that same year. Checkered Past: The Crash-Prone History of the Chengdu J-7/F-7 The Chengdu J-7 or F-7 carries a grim history of malfunctions, engine failures, and fatal crashes across various air forces, according to media reports. In June 2025, a Myanmar Air Force J-7 crashed in Pale township under mysterious circumstances, possibly due to a technical fault or being shot down. In 2022, a J-7 plummeted into a residential block in Xiangyang, Hubei Province, China, though the pilot successfully ejected before impact. Such incidents have fuelled concerns about the Chinese aircraft's safety and operational reliability worldwide. Bangladesh Air Forces Grim Crash Record According to a report by the Dhaka Tribune, the Bangladesh Air Force has recorded 27 crashes involving fighter jets and trainer aircraft since 1992 a troubling statistic that underscores persistent safety concerns. Are Chinese Aircraft Behind Bangladeshs Air Crashes? Military records reveal that of 11 aircraft crashes over the past two decades in Bangladesh, seven involved Chinese-made planes, three were Russian-made, and one originated from the Czech Republic. Also Read | NTSB slams media reports on AI-171 crash investigation Chinese aircraft are one of the main reasons behind these repeated crashes, yet the Air Force continues to use them due to various constraints, a former Bangladesh Air Force officer told Dhaka Tribune on condition of anonymity. The ill-fated F-7 BGI was among a fleet of approximately 40 such aircraft in Bangladeshs inventory all sourced from China. A strange incident from Bengaluru is going viral on social media after a passenger recorded a confrontation with an auto driver over payment methods. Insisting on UPI payment, the passenger bragged about refusing to pay cash for the ride after using ride-hailing service. Documenting the happenings in a post on X, he stated, Auto guy denied UPI today morning. I said, I am not going to pay cash." Following the refusal to pay in cash, a heated exchange ensued, the passenger said, "He threatened a bit.I started recording his convo. Either UPI or I will not pay," the passenger gave the blunt reply, knowing that the auto driver had marked the ride as paid on the app. He refused to settle the amount if the driver did not accept UPI payment. Either show QR code or number or I am walking away, the passenger warned. Elaborating further that he decided to walk away without paying, he mentioned that the driver called someone and asked what to do. The man on the phone wanted to talk to me. I said, I will not talk to any random person.He said, if you have guts walk away." Social media reacts This post shared on July 21 garnered 9.319 lakh reactions and sparked outrage online as social media users criticised the passenger, stating that payment for services rendered is legally obligation. A user wrote, You are legally required to pay for the service availed. The auto man is not legally required to have UPI. You are NOT a hero here. Another user remarked, Its simple, before getting into the auto, just ask if they take UPI, same way you would at a shop without a visible QR code. A third comment read, Congrats. You're a cheap thief now, having taken service & refusing to pay, stealing his labour. Why couldn't you have clarified this before you went through with the ride & refused to continue if he didn't have UPI? Also Read | 40 Bengaluru schools receive bomb threats after Delhi scare, searches underway A fourth user stated, Harassing poor drivers is the new norm in digital India. Whereas industrialists are getting worth thousands of crores loans at none.[sic] The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday, 22 July, asked Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala to justify the continuation of his Y+ security cover, following the Central governments proposal to withdraw it. In its order, the high court demanded Randeep Surjewala to submit threat proof within four weeks. The non-applicant/petitioner, within a period of four weeks, from the date of passing of this order, shall submit all the material before the apt authorities concerned, and thereupon, after affording due opportunity of hearing to the non-applicant/petitioner, the authorities concerned, shall take a decision thereof, most expeditiously, the court said, the Bar and Bench reported. The high court passed the order on an application by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in which the ministry told the court that the assessment does not indicate any specific threat perception to Randeep Surjewala. Back in 2016, Randeep Surjewala had moved the High Court seeking a directive for the authorities to grant him Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) protection, citing a threat to his life. The Central government had then provided a Y+ category nationwide security to him. Also Read | Surjewala gives suspension notice to discuss Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a four-day visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives starting Wednesday, 23 July. The visit aims to finalise the much-awaited free trade deal with the former, strengthen bilateral ties, and advance key strategic partnerships. During a weekly discussion, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also said that India and Maldives are in discussions to negotiate a free trade agreement and an investment treaty ahead of PM Modi's visit to the South Asian nation. The prime minister's visit to the Maldives will take place on 25 and 26 July. This would be PM Narendra Modi's third visit to the Maldives. The Prime Minister's visit to Maldives will take place on 25th and 26th July. He will be embarking on a state visit at the invitation of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of Maldives (sic), Vikram Misri said. The countries are also discussing new areas of cooperation, including in renewable energy, Vikram Misri said. He said the prime minister will be the guest of honour at celebrations to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the independence of the Maldives. This will be the Prime Minister's third visit to the Maldives and the first state visit of a head of government that President Muizzu has hosted since he assumed office in November 2023. According to the foreign ministry, a major highlight of the UK leg of the visit will be the formalisation of the much-anticipated India-UK free trade agreement, which is expected to double the bilateral trade volume of USD 60 billion by 2030. During the UK visit, PM Narendra Modi will hold wide-ranging discussions with his UK counterpart on the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations. They will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance. Speaking of the May agreement on the conclusion of the free trade agreement, the foreign secretary said, There was conversation on the sixth of May, between the Prime Minister Modi and the Prime Minister of the UK, where an announcement had been made that the two sides had concluded negotiations on Free Trade Agreement and other issues. Since then, the two sides have been in very close touch with each other. We will update you on the final details related to this at the appropriate time. The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has dismissed an appeal by the Congress party seeking income tax exemption for the income of 199.15 crore during the assessment year 2018-19. The Tribunal rejected the party's claim for exemption on the ground that there was a violation of the conditions in Section 13A of the Income Tax Act, legal news website LiveLaw reported. The assessee's return filed on 2.02.2019 is not within the 'due' date to make it eligible for the impugned exemption, the ITAT said in the order issued on 21 July, according to a report in NDTV. The Congress party filed its income tax return on 2 February 2019, well beyond the due date of 31 December 2018, and declared nil income. It also claimed an exemption of 199.15 crore. However, under Section 139(4B) of the Act, political parties must file their returns within the due date to qualify for this exemption. The ITAT rejected Congress party's argument that a belated return, like those permitted for charitable trusts under Section 12A, should suffice. Also Read | NSUI Odisha chief arrested in connection with alleged Bhubaneshwar rape case The authorities at Nagpur airport received a bomb threat on Tuesday morning, which triggered a massive search operation, reported PTI. The report added that the threat was sent via an email at around 7:30 am and claimed that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was placed inside a cigarette packet. It also claimed that the bomb could detonate at any time. Also Read | Hyderabad court receives bomb threat, security forces conduct emergency sweep Sonegaon police station was immediately informed about the mail. Following this, police teams, along with the bomb disposal squad, dog squad, and fire brigade, reached the airport. They soon began their intensive checking across the airport premises. The Airports Authority of India received an email about bomb threat at the Nagpur airport on Tuesday morning. The information was subsequently communicated to the airport authority here, the official told PTI. A committee concerned assessed the threat email and all the required checks were conducted by various security agencies, including the police and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad, he added. However, no suspicious object has been found as of yet, and the search operation is underway. This is not the first time that such a threat was received at Nagpur airport. Earlier on June 25 and 26, similar threats were received. Similar threats: Earlier on Friday, over 80 private schools over 40 in Delhi and another 40 in Bengaluru received bomb threats. While bomb threats in at least four schools in Bengaluru turned out to be hoax, in Delhi, fire department and police personnel were deployed at schools in Paschim Vihar, Rohini, and Dwarka to tackle the situation. Also, total of five bomb threats">sacred shrine Golden Temple received a total of five bomb threats since July 14, reported PTI. The e-mails, threatening to blow up the gurdwara, were addressed to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). The authorities apprehended a software engineer from Faridabad. The techie detained in this case is identified as 24-year-old Shubam Dubey, who is being questioned in connection with the first threatening mail. New Delhi: Beep beep. India's ambition to become a global toy hub has run into a problem children's scooters. The matter concerns a category called non-motorized mobility scooters the kind children zip round on, whether sitting or standing. Those fitted with lights are taxed at 18%, whereas those without lights attract only a 12% Goods and Services Tax (GST). Indian toy manufacturers say the higher rate is arbitrary and runs counter to the governments aim of promoting domestic toy production for global markets, two people aware of the matter told Mint. The matter is being dealt with by the commerce ministry, they said. The complaint comes even as the government aims to boost toy exports, which are set for a boost after the finalization of trade agreements with the UK, US, and EU. Also read | From toys to apparel: Inside the growing market for childrens products There is a flat 18% GST on products that fall under the electronics category. However, in the case of mobility toys, there is no change in the features or characteristics of the toy. Its function remains the same, and the lights are produced through magnets by friction, without the use of any battery or electronic component, said Rajeev Batra, treasurer of the Toys Association of India (TAI) and director of Kiddies Centre, a toy trading company. The essential functions of the toys remain the same, and only some add-on features are included. A four-wheeled car continues to attract 18% GST, even though it includes components like batteries or audio systems that fall under higher GST categories. However, in the case of toys, if a simple feature like a horn is added, the GST rate jumps from 12% to 18%. This inconsistency needs to be addressed, said Batra. Queries sent to the spokespersons of the commerce ministry and the GST Secretariat remained unanswered at press time. Motion powered The lights on mobility scooters are not battery-operated but powered by motion through magnetsan added feature that costs barely about 20 per unit, said an industry representative who wished to remain unnamed. While these lights enhance the toy's appeal, the increased tax burden is discouraging manufacturers from making such versions. The government is trying to find a workable solution after consultations with stakeholders, which will then be recommended to the GST Council, said one of the two people cited above. The proposal is currently under consideration by the ministry, said the second person. This (anomaly) not only discourages manufacturers from adding value but also limits affordable access to engaging, educational, and interactive toys for Indian children. At a time when India aims to become a global toy hub, such policies risk stifling creativity and competitiveness, said Vivek Singhal, CEO, Bidso --a B2B manufacturer of outdoor toys. Also read | CCPA issues notices to e-commerce entities for selling toys that violate compulsory BIS standards Indian toys are gaining global popularity, with exports rising from 1,260.88 crore ($151.9 million) in 202324 to 1,430.82 crore ($172.4 million) in 202425, as per commerce ministry data. Imports during the same period saw a modest increasefrom 537.52 crore ($64.7 million) to 626.21 crore ($75.4 million). To convert the figures into USD, an exchange rate of 83 per dollar has been used. Potential for expansion While toy exports grew 13.5% year-on-year over the period FY202324 to FY202425, industry figures say that policy supportsuch as GST rationalization, export incentives, and global trade dealscould help unlock a new phase of expansion. The global toy market is projected to reach $179.4 billion by 2032, according to a report by Punjab National Bank (PNB) published in February 2025. Commerce & industry minister Piyush Goyal had on 4 July announced that the government is close to finalizing a dedicated scheme to boost toy production. The scheme would focus on strengthening design capabilities, improving quality manufacturing, enhancing packaging standards, and facilitating brand-building efforts, Goyal had said. Also read | Can traditional Indian toys make a comeback? Indias toy industry, once heavily import-dependent, is now manufacturing exporting to 153 countries. News / Local by Staff reporter The Republic of Madagascar is putting the final touches on its preparations to host the 45th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State and Government next month, as the island nation gears up to assume the bloc's rotating Chairmanship from Zimbabwe.The high-profile Summit will see President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially handing over the SADC leadership to Madagascar, which will steer the organisation for the next year, through to August 2026.A delegation from the SADC Secretariat, led by Deputy Executive Secretary for Corporate Affairs, Dr. Judith Kateera, is currently in Madagascar to assess the country's state of readiness ahead of the crucial meeting. In a statement, the Secretariat confirmed that the mission aims "to discuss the state of preparedness of the Republic of Madagascar for the Summit."The visiting team conducted site inspections at key infrastructure, including Madagascar's main international airport and select hotels, evaluating their suitability to host Heads of State, government officials, and other dignitaries expected to attend. Feedback and guidance were provided to ensure that the facilities meet the standards required for a successful SADC event.During the visit on July 21, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Madagascar's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Rafaravavitafika Rasata. She expressed appreciation for the SADC Secretariat's partnership in ensuring Madagascar delivers a seamless Summit."I commend the SADC Secretariat for their commitment and dedication in working with our country to ensure that Madagascar delivers a successful Summit," said Minister Rasata. She reaffirmed Madagascar's readiness and determination to host the regional event to the highest standards.Dr. Kateera expressed satisfaction with the preparations observed so far."I am grateful for the good work put into preparations for the Summit," she said. "We are confident that Madagascar is ready to deliver a successful event."The delegation is also expected to meet with Madagascar's Minister of Finance to fine-tune logistical and financial planning ahead of the Summit.This year's Summit carries added significance as Madagascar prepares to take over the SADC Chairmanship, a central feature of the annual gathering where regional leaders discuss and adopt key strategies to advance regional integration, peace, and economic development across Southern Africa.As is tradition, the Summit will be preceded by a meeting of the SADC Council of Ministers, tasked with preparing and clearing the working documents that will shape the agenda for the Heads of State and Government.With just weeks to go, Madagascar appears poised to welcome the region, confident in its preparations and eager to lead the 16-member bloc into its next phase of cooperation and development. Delhi-NCR residents woke up to fresh spells of rain on Tuesday morning, bringing respite from intense heat. The national capital recorded a temperature of 26.2 degrees Celsius at 11:30 AM with 100 per cent humidity. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted light to moderate rain, thunderstorms, and lightning for Delhi-NCR on 22 July. As the Monsoon Session of Parliament marks Day 2, several MP's en-route to Parliament were spotted carrying umbrellas to shield themselves from heavy rainfall. Also Read | IMD issues Orange Alert for heavy rainfall in Maharashtra, Goa on 22 July In the latest weather bulletin, IMD stated, Generally cloudy sky. Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorm/lightning is likely to occur over Delhi on 22 and 23 July 2025, and light rain is likely thereafter. Maximum and minimum temperature On Tuesday, the minimum temperature will be below normal up to 2 to 4C and the maximum temperature will be below normal up to 1 to 2C, IMD said. Over the coming seven days, the minimum temperature will be around 36 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature will be around 23 degrees Celsius. The Regional Meteorological Centre issued a nowcast warning at 10:40 AM predicting, Light to moderate rainfall accompanied with light thunderstorm and lightning (30-40 Km/h gusty winds) is very likely to occur throughout Delhi and NCR during the next 2 hours. Delhi rains prompted the Opposition to postpone a planned protest. The agitation was scheduled to take place at the Makar Dwar of the Parliament building under the banner of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign, causing inconvenience to commuters, waterlogging, and traffic snarls. Sawan Shivratri 2025: Sawan Shivratri is a significant Hindu festival celebrated during Shravan in the Hindu lunar calendar and dedicated to Lord Shiva. It occurs on the 14th day of the waxing moon phase in the Shravan month. This year, it falls on Wednesday, 23 July 2025, while the Shivaratri Parana takes place at 5:53 am on 24 July 2025. Sawan Shivratri is observed through fasting, prayer, and rituals such as Abhishekam of the Shiva lingam with sacred substances. It is believed that this festival purifies the soul and fulfils wishes. On this day, most public offices, schools, and other institutions are expected to be closed to mark the festival. Here's a list of what's open and closed on Sawan Shivratri 2025 Sawan Shivratri 2025: Are banks open today? According to the Reserve Bank of India holiday calendar, all banks across the country will remain open on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Customers can access all banking services at their nearest bank branches on the occasion of Sawan Shivratri. Also Read | When is Sawan Shivratri 2025? Check key dates and times here Sawan Shivratri 2025: Is the Indian stock market open or closed? The Indian stock market will open on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, according to the holiday calendar of NSE and BSE. Hence, the Indian stock market is not closed on Sawan Shivratri. Sawan Shivratri 2025: Are schools and colleges closed? Schools and colleges in multiple states, such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana, will reportedly be closed on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, due to Sawan Shivratri and Kanwar Yatra. Notably, no official announcement has been made regarding school closures in Punjab. Therefore, schools will remain open on July 23. There is no holiday for Sawan Shivratri in Telangana; however, a statewide bandh on July 23 may result in school closures. The first batch of Apache attack helicopters for the Indian Army has arrived in India and will soon be deployed at Jodhpur, according to Army officials. The induction of these advanced combat helicopters is set to bolster the Armys operational capabilities in the region. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Indian Army posted, Indian Army inducts #Apache. Milestone moment for Indian Army as the first batch of Apache helicopters for Army Aviation arrive today in India. These state-of-the-art platforms will bolster the operational capabilities of the #IndianArmy significantly. Notably, Indian Army received the first batch of Apache Helicopters after a delay of about 15 months, media reports said. The development comes after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in a telephone call with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, sought fast-tracking deliveries of the combat helicopters and GE F404 engines that will power Indias LCA Tejas, the Indian Express said in a report. India and the United States signed a $600 million deal to procure six additional Apache helicopters for the Army in 2020, following a contract to procure 22 helicopters for the Indian Air Force in 2015. All You Need to Know About Apache Helicopters The AH-64E Apache is regarded as one of the worlds most advanced attack helicopters, engineered for delivering precision strikes in hostile combat environments. Built by US defence giant Boeing, the Apache is in active service with several leading militaries, including those of the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, Egypt, and now India. Armed with a formidable 30 mm chain gun, the Apache also carries laser- and radar-guided Hellfire missiles designed for precision targeting, alongside rocket pods capable of engaging multiple ground threats simultaneously. Jammu and Kashmir floods: As of Tuesday, 22 July 2025, Jammu and Kashmir continues to face severe monsoon conditions, with heavy rainfall since 20 July causing widespread disruption. Flood-like conditions have emerged in Rajouri after a sharp rise in water levels in the Dharhali and Saktoh rivers, prompting precautionary school closures. The region is also grappling with landslides, including a tragic incident in Poonch district in which one student died and several others were injured. In neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, two people were killed on Monday in a rain-triggered landslide in Chamba district after a boulder crashed onto a house during heavy rainfall. Also Read | IMD issues Orange Alert for heavy rainfall in Maharashtra, Goa on 22 July Jammu and Kashmir Floods: 10 Updates Heavy Rainfall Continues Intense monsoon showers have lashed most parts of Jammu and Kashmir since 20 July. The Jammu plains received heavy rain on 21 July morning, and widespread rainfall is expected on 22 July across the region. Flash Flood and Landslide Risks The Meteorological Department has issued repeated warnings about the heightened risk of flash floods, landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones, especially along vulnerable hilly routes like the Srinagar-Jammu highway. IMD Issues Red and Orange Alerts Multiple districts, including Jammu, Rajouri, Kathua, Samba, Reasi, and Kashmir Valley towns such as Srinagar and Anantnag, are under red and orange alerts for heavy rainfall and associated flood threats. Transport and Travel Disruptions in J&K Landslides and road blockages noted on key routes like the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway have caused difficulties for commuters and emergency responders. 4 dead in landslides Landslides and torrential rains wreaked havoc in parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, leaving four people, including a 5-year-old, dead and several injured on Monday. In the Reasi district of J-K, a 70-year-old pilgrim was killed and nine others were injured when a massive landslide struck the old track to the Vaishno Devi shrine. Flood-like Situation in Rajouri The Dharhali and Saktoh rivers in Rajouri district have seen significant rises in water levels due to incessant rainfall. This has created a flood-like situation and caused waterlogging in low-lying areas. School Closures in Rajouri As a precaution, the Rajouri District Administration has ordered the closure of all government and private schools in the district for 22 July. Also Read | IMD issues orange alert for heavy rains in several districts; see Delhi forecast Landslide in Poonch Causes Casualties A landslide struck Bainch Kalsan in Poonch on Monday, resulting in the death of one student and injuries to 23 others, including a teacher. Two injured students remain in critical condition and are undergoing treatment at the district hospital in Poonch. IMD Weather Outlook Rainfall is expected to persist through 23 July, with a gradual improvement from 24 July onwards when showers will likely become isolated and less intense. Rain Havoc in Himachal Pradesh In Himachal Pradesh, a newly married couple in Chamba district was killed after a boulder fell on top of a house in Sutanh village. Normal life was disrupted as heavy rainfall triggered landslides, blocked 401 roads, and forced the closure of educational institutions. New Delhi: The Centre is looking to further tighten safety norms for two-wheelers, India's most widely used and accident-prone mode of transport. After mandating anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and certified helmets, it is now considering rules that would make overspeed warnings and hands-off riding detection compulsory for all new two-wheelers. The changes, currently under consultation, reflect a broader effort to reduce the alarming number of road accident deaths, nearly half of which involve two-wheeler riders. According to two people aware of the development, the Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) is considering an amendment to the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) that will make warning systems for high-speed and hands-off riding mandatory for all two-wheelers. Fresh measures Just last month, the government mandated ABS for all two-wheelers and dealerships were asked to provide two Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)-certified helmets with each vehicle sale. The associated testing criteria for these new features are likely to lead to a marginal increase in vehicle prices, which are already set to rise next year with the recently mandated ABS. These measures aim to stem the rising number of road accident fatalities in the worlds largest two-wheeler market. "There are consultations going on with the industry about the features to be added to two-wheelers to increase safety. Some measures like helmet warnings and an alert system for hands-off driving are being discussed, along with speeding warning systems," said one of the persons cited above, who requested anonymity. Safety layer The plan to add another safety layer assumes significance, given that the number of two-wheeler registrations in the country is on the rise. In FY25, about 18.9 million two-wheelers were registered in India, approximately 7.8% more than the previous year's 17.5 million, according to data from the Vahan portal. There were more than 170,000 Indian road accident fatalities in 2022, with a little over 45% of the victims being two-wheeler riders, according to the latest available Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The data showed more than 446,000 road accidents had taken place in the country in 2022, and over 100,000 fatalities were reported due to over-speeding. The second person aware of the development said that stakeholder consultations were going on regarding safety measures that could be enforced for two-wheeler riders, after the ABS mandate was announced. The amendment toCMVR may be likely 1-2 months after these consultations have concluded," this person said without giving any timeline since the plan is still in an early stage. An email query sent to the ministry of road transport and highways remained unanswered. Section 126 of the CMVR lays down the process for manufacturers to submit their vehicle prototypes for testing and compliance with the broader Central Motor Vehicles Act as well as other rules. Price to pay Any additional testing or safety requirement is likely to lead to an increase in prices," said Ashim Sharma,senior partner and business unit head, Nomura Research Institute (NRI) Solutions and Consulting. In case a manufacturer has to add any new feature to their vehicles, they have to bear the cost of material and development. This is generally passed onto the consumer," Sharma added. If implemented, the new norms would bring an additional cost burden for the buyer. The government's ABS mandate for two-wheelers, to be in force from 1 January 2026, can lead to a price increase of 3,000-5,000 per vehicle, according to an analyst note by Kotak Institutional Equities dated 20 June. About 84% of India's two-wheeler market will undergo price increases in 2026, after the ABS mandate kicks in, the analyst note said. About 76% of the motorcycle segment and about 100% of the scooter and moped segments will be affected," said Rishi Vora of Kotak Institutional Equities in the note. Queries sent to Hero MotoCorp Ltd, Bajaj Auto Ltd, Ola Electric Mobility Ltd, TVS Motor Co. Ltd remained unanswered. The ABS safety feature will give the two-wheeler rider more control by preventing wheel lock-up during sudden braking, especially on slippery roads. Defence officials said on Tuesday, 22 July, that the Indian Air Force will phase out its MiG-21 fighter jet aircraft by September 2025, after 62 years of service. They also stated that the jets will be replaced by the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mark 1A. The squadrons currently operating the MiG-21s are based at the Nal Air Force Station in Rajasthan. A defence official said, Indian Air Force to phase out the MiG-21 fighter jet by September this year. The squadrons operating the aircraft are currently in Nal air base in Rajasthan. The LCA Mark 1A aircraft would be replacing the MiG-21s in the IAF. ABOUT MiG 21 The MiG-21, Indias first-ever supersonic jet, was inducted into the Air Force in 1963 under a deal with the former Soviet Union. The aircraft has had limited use in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, but was subsequently used in the 1999 Kargil War and 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The aircraft was also used during the 2019 Balakot airstrike against terrorist camps in Pakistan. The present Air Force Chief of Air Staff, AP Singh, also flew the MiG 21 aircraft recently. Also Read | Bangladesh jet crash: How Chinas F-7 fighters born from Soviet MiG-21, are facing scrutiny? In October 2023, Number 4 Squadron, known as the "Oorials" of the IAF, based at Air Force Station Uttarlai (Barmer), Rajasthan, decommissioned its MiG 21 and Su-30 MKI, marking a watershed moment in the squadron's history. The squadron had been operating the MiG-21 since 1966. Earlier in July 2025, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was handed over the first set of wing assemblies for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A, produced by Larsen & Toubro, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Defence. Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar attended the event virtually, while General Manager (LCA Tejas Division) M Abdul Salam received the assemblies on behalf of HAL from the Precision Manufacturing & Systems Complex unit of L&T. In a major breakthrough, the Kerala Police have arrested two men from Uttar Pradesh for running a nationwide cyber fraud operation using a fake mobile app mimicking the government's "Parivahan" app, officials said on Sunday. According to officials, the accused, identified as Atul Kumar Singh (32) and Manish Yadav (24) -- both residents of Uttar Pradesh-- allegedly defrauded thousands of vehicle owners across multiple states by circulating malicious APK files via WhatsApp under the pretense of collecting pending vehicle fines and collecting personal data through Telegram bots. They reportedly used Telegram bots to harvest vehicle details and targeted users across multiple states. Police said the main developer of the fake app is a 16-year-old relative of Manish Yadav, believed to be the mastermind behind the operation. The investigation began after an Ernakulam-based individual reported to the NCRP portal that they had been defrauded of 85,000 through a fake Parivahan link. Acting on this complaint, Kochi Cyber Police registered an FIR and launched a detailed investigation. A special team led by Inspector Shameer Khan, and officers Arun, Ajith Raj, Nikhil George, Alfit Andrews, and Sharafudheen tracked and apprehended the accused based on digital evidence. During the raid, data from over 2,700 vehicles across Kerala, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal were found on the suspects' devices, indicating the scale of the scam. Earlier on Friday, Kerala Police arrested two persons for allegedly smuggling 16 kilograms of cannabis in a fish transport vehicle in Edakkara in Kerala's Malappuram district. The arrests were made by a team led by Edakkara Sub-Inspector P Jayakrishnan, in collaboration with the DANSAF (District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force) team. The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the "QR" code directive for eateries along Kanwar Yatra route in UP, Uttarakhand and directed all hotel owners along the route to display their licences and registration certificates in line with the statutory requirements. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh said it was not going into the other issues over display of names of the hotel or dhaba owner and the QR code, Tuesday being the last day of the Kanwar Yatra. "We are told that today is the last day of the yatra. In any case it is likely to come to an end in the near future. Therefore, at this stage we would only pass an order that all the respective hotel owners shall comply with the mandate of displaying the licence and the registration certificate as per the statutory requirements," the bench said. The top court was hearing a plea filed by academician Apoorvanand Jha and others. What did Abhishek M Singhvi, appearing for the petitioners, say? Senior advocate Singhvi submitted that the UP government should have sought the modification of the court's 2024 order before issuing the QR code directives. Singhvi argued the state government was trying to ostracise and exclude minorities by its QR code directive for eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route. "This is the most divisive initiative, to ostracise people during the yatra, as if these people are untouchables. Will my surname ensure that 'kanwariyas' receive good quality food not menu card? This is the most divisive initiative possible," the senior lawyer submitted. Referring to news reports over the alleged attacks on certain shops by kanwariyas, the senior lawyer said, When you sow the seeds of divisiveness, the rest is taken care of by the populace. Also Read | Delhi traffic advisory for Kanwar Yatra: THESE key roads closed until July 23 Responding to his submission, Justice Sundresh said people had different food choices and a vegetarian may choose to go to only a place serving exclusively vegetarian food, especially during a religious pilgrimage. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, said directions were issued in line with the requirements of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India regulations. "There are people in this country who will not eat in there brother's house if meat is cooked. There are sentiments of devotees," Rohatgi said, and as per the regulations under the Act they require photo identity. Why are you scared of showing your name? I don't understand. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing other petitioners, said the eateries along this route only sold vegetarian items during this period according to local regulations. Justice Sundresh observed a customer must have the choice of knowing if a place was exclusively selling vegetarian items throughout. "If a hotel is running as a vegetarian hotel all through, then the question of indicating names and other things will not arise. But if only for the purpose of yatra, somebody stops serving non-vegetarian and starts selling vegetarian, the consumer should know," the judge remarked. He continued, "To that extent, consumers should have that flexibility. If one hotel was earlier serving non-vegetarian, and for the purpose of better business they serve only vegetarian during the yatra, it will be an issue for the consideration of the consumer. The choice is of the consumer. Consumer is the king." The bench further said it was not inclined to examine the petition as the issue was infructuous considering it was last day of the yatra. The Supreme Court last year stayed similar directives issued by Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh governments, asking eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners, staff and other details. Referring to a press release issued by the UP government on June 25, Jha, said, "The new measures mandate the display of QR codes on all eateries along the kanwar route which reveal the names and identities of the owners, thereby achieving the same discriminatory profiling that was previously stayed by this court." The petitioner said the state government's directive asking stall owners to reveal religious and caste identities under "lawful license requirements" breaches the right to privacy of the shop, dhaba and restaurant owners. A large number of devotees travel from various places with "kanwars" carrying holy water from the Ganga to perform "jalabhishek" of Shivling during the Hindu calendar month of "Shravan". The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday agreed to hear, on 24 July, the Maharashtra governments plea challenging the Bombay High Courts verdict acquitting all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bomb blasts case. A bench headed by Chief Justice BR Gavai, alongside Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria, listed the matter for Thursday after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the state, mentioned it for urgent listing, citing an element of urgency. The Bombay High Court, on Monday, acquitted all 12 men, stating that the prosecution had utterly failed to prove its case. The bench remarked it was hard to believe the accused committed the crime. The devastating serial blasts claimed over 180 lives and injured hundreds more. Maharashtra ATS Tortured Accused, Officers Were Frustrated: Bombay HC Delivering a scathing observation, the Bombay High Court noted that the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) subjected the accused to the most inhuman and barbaric torture. According to the Bombay High Court, ATS officers, frustrated during the probe, extracted confessional statements from the accused, rendering them inadmissible as evidence. After evaluating the evidence, a special division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak remarked that the accused had been held in prolonged police custody, up to 76 days. The judges observed that the accused withdrew their confessions the moment they were presented before the court for judicial custody. It is well known that, in most of the cases, police are in habit of extorting confessions by illegal and improper means, including by causing torture. It is a settled law that confessions obtained in this manner must be excluded from evidence as it is not safe to receive a statement made by an accused under any influence of fear or favour, LiveLaw quoted the Bombay HC bench. The Bombay High Court further noted: The main thrust of the argument is that the accused were in prolonged police custody spanning from 24 days to 76 days. During this period, and just before recording the confessional statements of the accused, while seeking remand of the accused, it was the consistent case of the prosecution that the accused are not co-operating. What Is the 7/11 Mumbai Train Blasts Case? The 7/11 Mumbai train blasts refer to the coordinated series of bomb explosions that rocked Mumbais suburban railway network on 11 July 2006. Within a span of 11 minutes, seven bombs went off in first-class compartments of packed local trains during peak evening hours. China has emerged as the safest country in Asia according to the Numbeo Safety Index 2025, ranking 15th globally with a safety score of 76.0. The index evaluates nations based on crime rates, perceptions of safety, and trust in law enforcement, using user-contributed data from across the world. India, meanwhile, outperformed several developed nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom, securing the 66th position out of 147 countries with a safety score of 55.7. In comparison, the UK was ranked 87th (score: 51.7) and the US 89th (score: 50.8)nations typically considered safe and stable. Among Indias South Asian neighbours, Sri Lanka ranked 59th (score: 57.9), Pakistan was placed 65th (score: 56.3), and Bangladesh lagged far behind at 126th (score: 38.4). Topping the global list was the small European nation of Andorra, named the worlds safest country of 2025 with a score of 84.7. Nestled in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain, Andorra was praised for its low crime rates and high public safety. Three Middle Eastern nationsUnited Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Omanalso featured in the top five globally, credited with their robust security systems and minimal crime levels. Worlds Top 10 Safest Countries of 2025 Andorra 84.7 United Arab Emirates (UAE) 84.5 Qatar 84.2 Taiwan 82.9 Oman 81.7 Isle of Man (a British Crown Dependency) 79.0 Hong Kong (China) 78.5 Armenia 77.9 Singapore 77.4 Japan 77.1 On the opposite end of the spectrum, Venezuela was labeled the least safe country, with a troubling safety score of 19.3. Other nations plagued by instability and crimesuch as Afghanistan, Syria, and Haitialso found themselves at the bottom of the list. Worlds Top 10 Least Safe Countries Venezuela 19.3 Papua New Guinea 19.7 Haiti 21.1 Afghanistan 24.9 South Africa 25.3 Honduras 28.0 Trinidad and Tobago 29.1 Syria 31.9 Jamaica 32.6 Peru 32.9 News / Local by Staff reporter The long-running Esidakeni Farm ownership dispute has taken a fresh turn after four government-allotted beneficiaries filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, challenging a recent High Court decision which nullified their offer letters and declared the State's acquisition of the land unconstitutional.Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Bongani Ndlovu last month ruled that the State's compulsory acquisition of Esidakeni Farm, owned by Kershelmar Farms (Private) Limited, was unlawful. He declared any subsequent offer letters null and void, effectively restoring ownership rights to Kershelmar, whose shareholders include human rights activist Siphosami Malunga, Zephaniah Dhlamini, and Charles Moyo.In his June 30 ruling, Justice Ndlovu found that the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement had violated sections 68 and 72 of Zimbabwe's Constitution, as well as Section 3 of the Administrative Justice Act, when it sought to acquire the 554-hectare farm. The court determined that the Government failed to follow due legal process, particularly by not consulting or notifying Kershelmar before gazetting the acquisition in 2020.The farm was legally transferred to Kershelmar Farms in 2017 through a share sale agreement and has been home to a joint farming operation between Malunga, Dhlamini, and Moyo.The latest appeal has been filed by Legina Muchimba, Lovemore Jiyane, Dumisani Madzivanyathi, and Reason Mpofu, who were allocated plots on the disputed farm under Government's land reform programme. Represented by Kossam Ncube and Partners, the four appellants argue that the High Court erred both in fact and in law.In their notice of appeal, the appellants have cited Malunga, Dhlamini, Moyo, Kershelmar Farms (Pvt) Ltd, Lands Minister Dr. Anxious Masuka, the Matabeleland North chief lands officer, the Registrar of Deeds, Provincial Affairs Minister Richard Moyo, Dr. Gatsha Mazithulela, Mswelangubo Farm (Pvt) Ltd, and Zanu PF Secretary-General Dr. Obert Mpofu, among others.The appellants claim the High Court improperly invalidated a lawful acquisition and failed to recognise the constitutional framework underpinning Zimbabwe's land reform. They further argue that the acquisition was made from a company, not individuals, rendering arguments about indigenous ownership irrelevant."The court a quo erred in nullifying the offer letters issued pursuant to the acquisition of the farms, as the first to fourth respondents had failed to demonstrate a plausible and satisfactory legal basis for the setting aside of the acquisition and consequently the invalidation of the offer letters," reads part of their grounds of appeal.They also challenge the court's award of legal costs to Malunga and his co-applicants, arguing there was no sound basis for overturning the acquisition.The appellants are seeking to have the High Court ruling overturned or, alternatively, for the case to be remitted for a hearing to determine whether Kershelmar approached the court with "unclean hands."The Supreme Court is now expected to determine whether the controversial land acquisition and subsequent offer letters can legally stand, or if the High Court's decision will be upheld. Hariyali Teej 2025: Teej comes with the sound of traditional, authentic songs, the scent of mehendi and the excitement of wearing new clothes, green and red bangles and doing shringar. Fasting through the day, praying silently and chanting Gauri Shankar geet for a love that lasts a lifetime, with every ritual of singing, dancing and smiling, Teej becomes the heartbeat of every woman. It's not just a celebration but a living story, a story of love, devotion and tradition. Hariyali Teej isnt just a festival, its a story of patience, strength and unwavering faith. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati observed intense penance for years to win Lord Shivas love and acceptance. Her deep devotion and countless prayers were finally answered when Shiva accepted her as his partner. Why Is Teej So Special This Year What makes Teej 2025 even more special is that it falls right in the heart of the Shravan season, when the energy of devotion is at its peak. With monsoon in full bloom, the spirit of the festival is amplified, from the lush greenery to the sacred songs echoing through homes. This year, women arent just observing tradition; theyre reconnecting with a story that celebrates inner power, loyalty and feminine grace. In a fast-moving world, Teej reminds us to pause, reflect and honour the strength that lies in love and prayer When is Hariyali Teej in 2025 and What Are the Auspicious Timings? AsperDrik Panchang, the festival of Hariyali Teej will be observed on Sunday, 27 July 2025. The auspicious Tritiya Tithi timings are as follows: Tritiya Tithi Begins : 10:41 PM on26 July 2025 10:41 PM on26 July 2025 Tritiya Tithi Ends:10:41 PM on27 July 2025 A spokesperson for former President Barack Obama, responding sharply to allegations from President Donald Trump, that had accused Obama and top officials from his administration of orchestrating a treasonous plot to falsely link him to Russia following his 2016 election win, denounced the claims as "ridiculous". These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction, Obama spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush said. Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes, he said. These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio. Trump calls declassified intel a treasonous revelation Earlier on Tuesday, President Donald Trump escalated tensions by accusing Obama and his top aides of committing treason through their role in launching the TrumpRussia probe after 2016 election win. Trumps remarks came after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released declassified documents pointing to what she called politically driven intelligence manipulation during the Obama era. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump declared: Its there, hes guilty. This was treason. They tried to steal the election, they tried to obfuscate the election. They did things that nobodys ever imagined, even in other countries. Gabbard files criminal referral over Obama-era intel practices The controversy stems from documents declassified by Gabbard, which name several senior officials including former DNI James Clapper, CIA Director John Brennan, National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Secretary of State John Kerry, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe as allegedly involved in shaping a narrative that tied Trump to Russia. On Monday, Gabbard sent a criminal referral to the Department of Justice, urging an investigation into what she described as the politicization of intelligence and misuse of federal power by the Obama administration. 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. A mandatory evacuation was ordered on Tuesday afternoon at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicagos Loop after a man armed with a knife threatened to harm himself in the buildings lobby, according to a report which cited authorities. Staffers were instructed to leave the building around 2:30 p.m. as emergency personnel responded, as per Chicago Sun Times. Theres a male in the lobby with a knife to his throat threatening suicide, a dispatcher announced over police radio during the unfolding situation, the news outlet reported. The incident was first reported shortly before 11 a.m., when US Marshals warned the public to avoid the courthouse lobby at 219 S. Dearborn St. The building was placed on lockdown shortly after. Brady McCarron, a spokesperson for the US Marshals Service, confirmed that a male with a knife was in the lobby of the courthouse, but stressed there was no danger to [the] public. He added that the lobby had since been cleared. Orderly evacuation, no injuries reported While no injuries were reported, precautionary measures were taken. At approximately 2:30 p.m., a judges deputy advised personnel on various floors, including the 5th-floor cafeteria, on how to safely exit the building. Groups of staff were later seen being escorted by marshals toward State Street. Emergency services on standby As the situation continued, a Chicago Fire Department ambulance was placed on standby. Someone is threatening to harm themself, fire department spokesperson Larry Merritt said. FBI and local police also involved In addition to US Marshals, spokespeople for the FBI and the Chicago Police Department confirmed that both agencies were responding to the incident. Coca-Cola has confirmed it will release a new cola made with cane sugar this fall in the US, expanding its Trademark Coca-Cola product range. The move was announced Tuesday (July 22) in the companys second-quarter earnings report. As part of its ongoing innovation agenda, this fall in the United States, the company plans to launch an offering made with U.S. cane sugar, the company stated. This addition is designed to complement the companys strong core portfolio and offer more choices across occasions and preferences. A specific release date has not yet been announced. Trump: 'They have agreed to do so' The announcement follows a July 16 social media post by President Donald Trump, who claimed credit for influencing the companys decision. I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so. Id like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them Youll see. Its just better! Coca-Cola CEO: Appreciate the Presidents enthusiasm Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey acknowledged Trumps interest during an investor call on Tuesday. We appreciate the presidents enthusiasm for our Coca-Cola brand, Quincey said. We are definitely looking to use the whole toolkit of available sweetening options. He added that Coca-Cola already uses cane sugar in some of its other US beverages, including its Simply lemonade line and Honest Tea, and has long sold the popular Mexican Coke, made with cane sugar, in the US since 2005. Coke open to more innovations Asked if Coca-Cola would consider a prebiotic version of its flagship cola similar to a new PepsiCo offering Quincey said the company is already testing such innovations abroad. Were currently selling a Coke with added fiber in Japan and are studying consumer response to it, he said. Quincey emphasised that the company is responding to shifting consumer tastes: Were always looking for opportunities to innovate and see whether theres an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving. Its a good sign that the industry, including ourselves, are trying lots of different things. Strong global demand Coca-Cola reported stronger consumer demand in key markets during the second quarter. I would say overall that the global economy and the global consumer remains resilient, Quincey noted, citing improved sales in China, Europe, Africa, and North America. Also Read | Coca-Cola India volumes fall in peak summer US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (July 22) announced a new trade agreement with the Philippines following a high-level meeting at the White House with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Trump made the announcement via a post on Truth Social, describing the deal as a significant step toward economic cooperation. President Ferdinand Marcos, of the Philippines, is just leaving the White House We concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs, Trump wrote. He added that the Philippines would pay a 19% tariff. Trump emphasised the bilateral military component as well: In addition, we will work together Militarily... He [Marcos Jr.] is also a very good, and tough, negotiator. Balancing US-China relations During their Oval Office interaction, both leaders addressed concerns over how the Philippines would manage its diplomatic relationship with both Washington and Beijing. Trump downplayed potential tensions, referencing a personal invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping: I dont mind if he gets along with China because were getting along with China very well. Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the Philippines commitment to its longstanding alliance with the United States while seeking broader regional partnerships: Our strongest partner has always been the United States But we are trying to form coalitions and multilateral relations. US missile presence raises questions The two leaders were also asked whether the presence of US missiles in the Philippines would be perceived as provocative by China. Trump suggested that previous tensions were due to a shift under a former Philippine president, hinting at Rodrigo Dutertes China-friendly policies: You had a country that was tilting toward China for a period of time When I got elected, everything changed and they came right back to us. Marcos Jr. framed the missile deployments as part of a broader military modernization plan and reaffirmed the importance of national defense: Any kind of military spending, we would wish that it wasnt necessary, but it is The United States is assisting the Philippines in what we call our self-reliance defense program. US President Donald Trump hosted Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House on Tuesday (July 22), as the United States and the Philippines aim to deepen strategic and economic cooperation amid growing regional tensions, particularly with China. Marcos became the first Southeast Asian leader to visit the White House since Trumps re-election. The three-day state visit included meetings with top US officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump told reporters, Were very close to finishing a trade deal big trade deal, actually, signaling potential progress on a long-anticipated bilateral agreement. Marcos expressed strong support for the alliance, calling the US-Philippines relationship as important a relationship as is possible to have. When asked about balancing ties between Washington and Beijing, Marcos emphasised Philippine sovereignty: There is no need to balance because our foreign policy is an independent one, he said. Our strongest partner has always been the United States. Trade talks and tariff threats loom Trade was high on the agenda. Trump has threatened to impose 20% tariffs on Filipino goods starting August 1 unless a bilateral deal is reached. I intend to convey to President Trump and his Cabinet officials that the Philippines is ready to negotiate a bilateral trade deal that will ensure strong, mutually beneficial and future-oriented collaborations, Marcos said prior to his departure from Manila. Philippine Finance Secretary Ralph Recto indicated the country is open to zero tariffs on certain US goods in exchange for an agreement. Shared defense goals in the Indo-Pacific In remarks Monday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed US support for the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty. Our storied alliance has never been stronger or more essential than it is today, Hegseth said. 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. Marcos responded by reaffirming Manilas commitment to the alliance: That assurance continues to be the cornerstone of that relationship, especially when it comes to defense and security cooperation. Also Read | Jeffrey Epstein whistleblower says she warned FBI about Donald Trump decades ago Chinas actions add urgency to talks Tensions in the South China Sea were a key backdrop to the visit. Chinas coast guard has repeatedly used water cannons on Filipino vessels in disputed waters, drawing international concern. The White House said the Trump-Marcos discussions emphasized a shared vision for a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific. Hegseth, in a May speech, had warned that China poses a threat and the US is reorienting toward deterring aggression by Communist China. Diplomatic engagements with Beijing continue Despite growing friction, the US remains open to dialogue with China. Rubio met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier this month in Kuala Lumpur, where both sides agreed to manage tensions and seek areas for cooperation. The United States will again withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), marking another reversal of President Joe Bidens multilateral approach, according to reports citing US and European officials. The move is part of President Donald Trumps renewed campaign to distance the US from international institutions he deems hostile or unaligned with American interests. White House: UNESCO is out of step President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO which supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November, said White House deputy spokesperson Anna Kelly, as quoted by The New York Post. The administration cited the agencys pro-diversity, equity and inclusion policies, and a perceived bias in favor of Palestine and China. A White House official told the news outlet that UNESCO has leveraged its influence to advance global standards favorable to Beijings interests and force through anti-Israel and anti-Jewish actions. Historical sites at center of controversy UNESCO, headquartered in Paris, is best known for designating World Heritage Sites. However, US officials have objected to some recent listings, accusing the agency of politicising heritage by designating Jewish holy sites as Palestinian World Heritage. Past withdrawals set precedent This is not the first time the US has parted ways with the agency. The country first withdrew from UNESCO in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan, citing mismanagement and anti-US bias. It rejoined in 2003 under President George W. Bush after reforms. Trump previously pulled the US out in 2017 on similar grounds, and Biden rejoined in 2021. The latest withdrawal comes as Trump reimplements a broader disengagement from global institutions. Since returning to the White House in 2025, Trump has already decided to quit the World Health Organization (WHO) and cut funding to the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA. Musk has cast fresh doubt over the financial backbone of OpenAI and SoftBanks $500 billion Stargate initiative, after reports revealed the project has dramatically scaled down its immediate ambitions due to internal disagreements and delays. In response to a viral post on X by user NIK (@ns123abc), which declared, BREAKING: OpenAI and SoftBank at odds struggling with Stargate project after 6 months of delay and have sharply scaled back its near-term plans. its over, Musk simply commented, They simply dont. NIK also shared a screenshot of OpenAIs initial announcement of the Stargate Project from earlier this year, alongside a remark Musk had made at the time: They dont actually have the money. SoftBank has well under $10B secured. I have that on good authority. While Musk himself did not reshare his old statement, his comment on the thread renewed attention to his earlier scepticism. The Stargate project was launched in January with major fanfare and the promise of reshaping the United States AI infrastructure. Spearheaded by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, the initiative was touted to bring more than 100,000 jobs and establish advanced data centres across the country. The project also received backing from then-President Donald Trump, who hosted leading tech CEOs at the White House to celebrate the venture. However, according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI and SoftBank have reportedly clashed over key terms of their partnership, including the location of the data centres. With momentum stalling, the immediate focus has now shifted to building a single, smaller data facility, likely in Ohio, by the end of the year. This is a far cry from the scale originally envisioned. When the project was announced, stakeholders had pledged $100 billion for rapid deployment, with the remaining funds to follow over four years, Reuters reported. Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison had even claimed the first centre was already under construction in Texas. In a joint statement to Reuters, OpenAI and SoftBank said they were moving with urgency on site assessments and working on multiple fronts across different states. The projects slowed progress comes amid a broader push by the Trump administration to accelerate AI development and energy production, including the declaration of a national energy emergency to eliminate regulatory barriers. In a move hailed by the Donald Trump administration as a victory for transparency, over 6,000 documents amounting to nearly a quarter of a million pages related to the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were made public via the US National Archives website late Monday. However, the move comes as MAGA grows impatient over the promised Jeffrey Epstein Files. Historians Doubt New Revelations in Martin Luther King Jr. Assassination Files Yet, Martin Luther King scholars and historians expressed scepticism that the long-awaited trove would yield any significant revelations. Crucially, the newly released material excludes FBI wiretap recordings and other sensitive documents that remain sealed under court order until 2027. Assassination Files Released Under Donald Trumps Executive Order The Martin Luther King Jr. assassination files were disclosed under an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump shortly after taking office a decision seen by some as an attempt to shift focus from mounting right-wing backlash over the Jeffrey Epstein files. What the Released King Files Contain And What They Dont According to administration officials, the records include investigator notes, interviews with individuals linked to Kings assassin, James Earl Ray, and details of foreign intelligence cooperation during the manhunt for Ray. One audio file a police interview with Jerry Ray, James Earl Rays brother was also released. Officials stated these documents had never been digitised and sat collecting dust in government archives for decades. However, much of the digitised content appears fuzzy or barely legible, leading experts like Pulitzer Prize-winning King biographer David Garrow to conclude, I saw nothing that struck me as new. Fears of Smear Campaigns: Kings Private Life Under Scrutiny The release has revived concerns that sensationalised claims particularly those relating to Dr. Kings private life could be misused to tarnish his legacy. Historians and Kings family have consistently challenged the credibility of such claims, often sourced from FBI files linked to J. Edgar Hoovers aggressive surveillance of King. But the files could still contain salacious documents with the potential to harm the civil rights leader's reputation, including some that purportedly detail aspects of Dr. Kings romantic and sexual history, like documents previously released in a tranche related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Experts Warn Against Taking FBI Files at Face Value Experts, historians, and Dr. Kings family have expressed doubts about the veracity of some of the contents of those previously released documents, particularly when it comes to the more provocative claims about aspects of Dr. Kings romantic and sexual life. Those details, they said, could be more reflective of official efforts to undermine the civil rights leaders reputation than of reality. Youve got to read this carefully and not take it at face value, warned Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginias Center for Politics, suggesting that many FBI reports from that era were crafted to satisfy Hoovers desire for incriminating material on King. King Family Urges Empathy and Context in Public Response The King family has urged the public to approach the documents with empathy and context, highlighting Dr. Kings lasting contribution to civil rights. In a joint statement, his surviving children, Bernice King and Martin Luther King III, said: We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint and respect for our familys continuing grief. Alveda King Welcomes the Release Amid Family Concerns Trump administration officials claimed they consulted with the King family, though it remains unclear whether the family was permitted to request redactions. In contrast, Alveda King, Dr. Kings niece and an outspoken Trump supporter, endorsed the release, calling it a historic step towards the truth that the American people deserve. Trump-Appointed US Attorney Tried to Fast-Track FBI File Release Earlier this year, the Donald Trump-appointed interim US Attorney for Washington, DC, Ed Martin, sought to unseal FBI surveillance files in the King case nearly two years before their court-ordered release. His request, citing strong public interest, was opposed by the civil rights group King founded and ultimately denied by a federal judge. This attempt marked a rare shift for the FBI and the Justice Department, which have traditionally resisted such disclosures. Trump's interest in high-profile political assassinations including those of President John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy has fuelled suspicions about the motives behind these releases. Previous Kennedy Files Release Disappointed Truth Seekers Despite Donald Trumps promises, the previously released Kennedy documents offered little new insight. With much of the King files still under seal, questions remain over whether this latest disclosure serves the cause of truth or political theatre. The Department of Education has paused student loan forgiveness under the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan. While IBR is one of several income-driven repayment options available to borrowers, it is currently the only one not facing any legal disputes or court-ordered blocks. Currently, IBR forgiveness is paused while our systems are updated, announced the department in updated guidance on pending court challenges issued earlier this month. IBR forgiveness will resume once those updates are completed. The departments announcement corroborates previous statements by former education department officials. And it confirms what some borrowers who had reached the threshold for student loan forgiveness but didnt get a discharge had already suspected. Heres what we know, and what borrowers can do. Also Read | US Supreme Court greenlights Trumps education department layoffs What is IBR and does it work? The Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Plan is anincome-driven repayment planwith monthly payments that are generally equal to 15 per cent of your discretionary income, divided by 12. The amount of payment you have to make is 10 per cent if you are a new borrower on or after July 1, 2014. Student loan forgiveness under IBR is calculated based on the borrower's income and their family size. This formula determines how much money the borrower has to pay each month. Payments are recalculated every 12 months. Those who do not pay back their entire student loan in the stipulated time, are then entitled to student loan forgiveness. For those who took a loan on or after July 1, 2014, the repayment tenure is 25 years, and before that it is 20 years. Why has it been discontinued? The Trump administration did not provide a solid explanation on why the plan was suspended. The Department of Education suggested that IBR was paused while our systems are updated to accurately count months not affected by the courts injunction", pointing to the SAVE plan. Also Read | Student loans key reason of highest default rate in US since 2020: Report News / Local by Staff reporter The High Court has sharply criticised and overturned a 15-year prison sentence imposed on a Beitbridge man convicted of dealing in cannabis, citing gross misapplication of the law and failure to consider mitigating factors and sentencing guidelines.Tapfuma Moyo was convicted on 21 May 2025 after being caught with 40.56 kilograms of cannabis (locally known as mbanje) at the Beitbridge Border Post. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced by a regional magistrate to 15 years' imprisonment, with six years suspended.However, in a strongly-worded review judgment, Justice Mutevedzi - sitting with Justice Ndlovu - ruled that the sentence was both procedurally flawed and excessively harsh. The court noted that under Zimbabwean law, cannabis is not classified among the dangerous drugs that attract mandatory minimum sentences, even in cases involving aggravating circumstances.Justice Mutevedzi highlighted that cannabis has been "separated from all other dangerous drugs and placed in a special category," noting its growing global and local acceptance for medicinal and economic purposes."The maximum sentence an offender can receive for unlawful dealing in mbanje is 15 years' imprisonment," the judge ruled. "The jurisprudence in sentencing is that the maximum penalties must be reserved for the worst types of a given crime. The trial magistrate erred in treating 15 years as a presumptive sentence."The judgment further stressed that courts must first consider imposing fines before resorting to imprisonment, especially for first-time offenders - a principle the magistrate failed to observe in Moyo's case.The High Court also criticised the magistrate's order to destroy the confiscated cannabis, pointing out that Zimbabwe liberalised cannabis cultivation for medicinal and research purposes in 2018."Throwing 40 kilograms of mbanje down an incinerator simply because it is tradition may be uneconomical," Justice Mutevedzi remarked.Ultimately, the High Court reduced Moyo's sentence to nine years' imprisonment, with three years suspended on condition of good behaviour for five years. The revised sentence reflects an effort to strike a balance between deterring drug trafficking and ensuring proportionate punishment.The court directed that the trial magistrate recall Moyo to inform him of the amended sentence.This ruling is expected to influence future sentencing in cannabis-related offences and could accelerate policy discussions around how cannabis is treated within Zimbabwe's legal system. Bangladesh's F-7 Air Force jet crash, which killed at least 27 people and injured 171 when it went down into Milestone School and College in the Uttara neighbourhood of Dhaka on Monday, July 21, was caused by a technical malfunction", according to the military. A committee has been set up to investigate the incident. Bangladesh jet crash: Top updates so far According to the military, it departed from Bangladesh Air Force Base A K Khandaker in Dhakas Kurmitola area at 1:06 pm local time and crashed shortly afterward, bursting into flames. 2. The military said that the pilot attempted to steer clear of densely populated zones, but the jet ultimately struck a two-story building. It was noted that the aircraft suffered a technical malfunction, and a high-level Air Force committee has been formed to investigate the incidents cause, PTI reported. 3. The US State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) stated on X, We are deeply saddened by the tragic crash of the Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft in Uttara. Our thoughts are with those injured and the families who lost their loved ones during this difficult time." 4. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the interim government, also expressed sorrow over the incident. He said, I express my deep grief and sorrow over the tragic incident of casualties caused by the crash of a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BJI training aircraft at the Milestone School and College campus in the Diabari area of the capital today. 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. 5. Search and rescue operations were carried out at the site by emergency response team. 6. Following the fatal crash, the government of Bangladesh has declared a one-day state of mourning. The national flag will be flown at half-mast across all government, semi-government, autonomous, and educational institutions throughout the country. 7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound grief and shock over the loss of lives in the training jet crash in Dhaka. In a message shared on X, he offered his condolences and affirmed that India stands with the people of Bangladesh, ready to provide support and assistance in the ongoing rescue efforts following the incident. 8. Rafiqa Taha, a student who was not there when the crash took place, said that the school with some 2000 students provides classes from elementary to twelfth grade, according to AP. 9. This marks the most fatal airplane crash in Dhaka in recent memory. 10. Back in 2008, an F-7 Air Force training jet crashed on the outskirts of Dhaka, resulting in the death of the pilot, who had ejected after detecting a technical issue. Eyewitnesses have described the horrifying Bangladeshi Air Force's F-7 jet crash incident that killed at least 27 when the Chinese made aircraft went down at Milestone School in Uttara neighbourhood of Dhaka on July 21. Purnima Das who is a teacher there recalled that she saw children running and their bodies on fire. Another's friend died in front of his eyes. When I came out of the room, I saw so much fire. The entire corridor was on fire. Just two feet away, a colleague of mine had run into the fire. He fell at my feet, pleading to be saved. His whole body was burned. I stood there like a stone. Someone pulled me away, and we were taken out, Das recounted in a Facebook post. She added, By then, 80% of the children in that building had gone home. And then there was a terrible noise in the building, before I knew it, I saw little children running. I saw that their bodies were on fire. According to Farhan, he saw the planeengulfed in flameshitting the building and his best friend died right in front of his eyes. My best friend, the one I was in the exam hall with, he died right in front of my eyes. In front of my eyes... the plane went right over his head. And many parents were standing inside because the younger kids were coming out since it was the end of the school day... the plane took the parents along with it," BBC Bangla quoted Farhan who was speaking in the presence of his uncle and father. Video footage from a school in a northern suburb of Dhaka captures a massive fire and dense smoke following the aircraft's collision with a two-storey building. Over 170 people sustained injuries in the crash. The country's military said it took off from Bangladesh Air Force Base A K Khandaker in Dhakas Kurmitola area at 1:06 pm local time and crashed shortly afterward. Only saw fire and smoke The aircraft directly struck the building, Rezaul Islam, a teacher told BBC. When I looked back, I only saw fire and smoke... There were many guardians and kids here, Reuters quoted another teacher, Masud Tarik who heard the explosion as saying. A woman, who was present at the scene and looking for information, said she had not talked to her son since their last call following the crash. Shah Alam, the uncle of a Year 8 boy, Tanvir Ahmed, who lost his life in the crash, was inside the hospital with other relative of those killed. He said, My beloved nephew is in the morgue right now." The majority of the victims at the burns hospital are minors, mostly aged between 9 and 14. Many came to the hospital to donate blood, and several politicians from the two leading parties, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, also paid visits. The British Navy's F-35 fighter aircraft departed from India on 22 July after making an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport on 14 June due to technical snag. It flew back at 10.50 am to Darwin in Australia after being grounded for 39 days. A UK F-35B aircraft, which landed following an emergency diversion on June 14, departed today from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. A UK engineering team, deployed since July 06 completed the repairs and safety checks, allowing the aircraft to resume active service," British High Commission Spokesperson said. It added, "The UK remains very grateful for the support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams throughout the repair and recovery process. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our defence partnership with India." What exactly happened? The HMS Prince of Wales was conducting a routine sortie outside the Indian Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) when it sought permission to land at Thiruvananthapuram airport, designated as the emergency recovery airfield. The aircraft experienced a hydraulic failure, according to defence officials, an ANI report said. The British Royal Navys F-35B Lightning fighter jet was moved out of the Air India hangar and stationed at the airport bay yesterday. The Indian Air Force offered all the support needed and helped in the process, even refuelling. A team from the UK Royal Air Force had arrived to perform a complete overhaul. Photos of the lonely F-35B, stationed on the tarmac and drenched by the Kerala monsoon rains went viral on social media. The Kerala Tourism Department was the first to post a picture of the aircraft on social media platform X, accompanied by a witty caption, Kerala, the destination you'll never want to leave. Soon after, similar posts appeared from Milma (Kerala's dairy cooperative), the Kerala Police, the State AIDS Control Society, and various private organisations. About British Royal Navys F-35B jet Developed by Lockheed Martin, they are celebrated for their capacity to take off from short distances and land vertically. It is a key component of the UKs most advanced stealth fleet and is recognised as one of the most advanced military aircraft globally and priced above USD 110 million. Previously, the Indian Navy and the United Kingdoms Carrier Strike Group (UK CSG25) carried out a joint naval exercise, known as a Passage Exercise (PASSEX), in the western Arabian Sea. This represented the UK Strike Groups first major engagement" after arriving into the Indo-Pacific region. UK media regulator Ofcom has issued a stark warning to social media firms including Elon Musks platform X, demanding the implementation of strict age-verification measures to prevent children from accessing pornographyor face fines that could be up to 200 million. The directive, which comes into effect this Friday (July 25), is part of the Online Safety Act 2023, a law designed to protect both children and adults from harmful online content. Crackdown targets under-18 access According to MailOnline, the new rules require that "all firms hosting pornography online must have robust and highly effective age checks" in place to stop users under the age of 18 from viewing explicit material. By Friday, all sites and apps that allow pornography whether theyre dedicated adult sites or social media apps must use highly effective age checks, a UK government insider told the news outlet. If companies fail to act, they should expect to face enforcement. X facing massive penalties Under the new regime, any company that fails to comply could be hit with fines of up to 18 million or 10% of global revenue, whichever is higher. For Musks platform Xpreviously known as Twitterthis could mean a potential penalty of 200 million, based on its estimated 2 billion in global revenue, the publication reported. Options for compliance Industry insiders cited by the news outlet suggest that X may have three options to meet Ofcoms demands: Ban under-18s entirely from using the platform Remove all pornographic content from the site Introduce targeted age checks for accounts or sections containing adult material Age checks could include facial recognition tools, photo ID submission, open banking verification, or mobile phone provider checks. Musks platforms under scrutiny The enforcement push comes amid growing criticism of Elon Musks digital ventures. MailOnline notes that his AI company xAI recently launched a chatbot girlfriend accessible to users as young as 12, raising further alarm among regulators and parents. Musk, 54, has overseen X since acquiring it in 2022. The platform, which officially allows users aged 13 and up, has long been criticized for hosting a high volume of explicit content. Ban threat looms In addition to monetary penalties, Ofcom now has the authority to bar non-compliant platforms from operating in the UK, a move that could severely impact platforms like X if action isnt taken swiftly. A Chinese factory worker was left heartbroken after being tricked by a woman he believed was his fiancee. The man, surnamed Ji, was financially ruined. Ji, in his 30s, worked at a car factory in Chengdu. In 2018, he met a woman online who introduced herself as Li Hua. She claimed to be a military officer in the Armed Police Force. They met only four or five times over eight years, mostly for lunch. Li convinced Ji and his parents that she was serious about marriage. She introduced them to her supposed family in Chishui, Guizhou. She said the marriage was almost fixed. By 2020, they had taken wedding photos. Over time, Ji and his family gave her around 650,000 yuan ( 78 lakh). He believed it was for marriage preparations and family needs. Eventually, Li vanished without a trace. Ji later realised he and his family had been scammed. How the scam unfolded Li said she bought a four-bedroom flat and convinced Ji to pay for its renovation. Over time, she took more money from Ji and his family. She said it was for wedding expenses, raising pigs, her parents illness and paying off debts. Jis farmer family gave away their savings. Li also told Ji not to share their photos online or ask questions. She said her identity was top secret. She kept saying everything was classified. Every time I asked about her personal details, she just told me they were confidential, the South China Morning Post quoted Ji as saying. However, she refused to show him her ID card and avoided any talk about visiting her hometown or fixing a wedding date. Ji later realised he had been tricked. He said he was too trusting and had believed everything she said. The woman disappeared and stopped all contact, leaving Ji in shock. Ji went to check the flat she said she owned, but it was locked. Building staff confirmed no owner named Li Hua. Ji reported her to the police in January. A criminal case started in February. Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Tehran cannot abandon its uranium enrichment program despite serious damage to its nuclear infrastructure following the recent Israel-Iran war. Speaking to Fox News on Monday, Araghchi described enrichment as a core achievement and a matter of national pride. It is stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe. But obviously we cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists, Araghchi said. And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride. Facilities can be rebuilt, Iran says While acknowledging the extensive destruction of Iranian nuclear facilities from US and Israeli strikes, Araghchi emphasised Irans continued capacity to pursue enrichment. The technology is there. The scientists are there. The people who have run these facilities are there, he said. Buildings can be rebuilt. Facilities can be rebuilt. Machines can be replaced. When asked about Irans stockpile of enriched uranium, Araghchi said he had no detailed information on whether it was destroyed in the attacks. Araghchi firmly rejected any demand from the United States to curtail Irans missile program or to halt its support for regional armed groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. They are fighting for a just cause, and we have always supported them, he said. On our missiles that is our most reliable means of defense. How can we disarm ourselves? Who can [Iran] accept anything like that? So, we will never disarm ourselves. Open to indirect talks with US While ruling out direct dialogue for the time being, Araghchi said Tehran remains open to talks with Washington. Prior to the recent war, the two sides had held five rounds of nuclear negotiations mediated by Oman, but failed to agree on limits to enrichment. If the goal is to make sure that Iran will never have nuclear weapons, that is achievable, he said. But if the goal is to deprive Iran from its rights, including the right of enrichment, I think we have difficulty. Iran blames US and Israel for escalation The 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in June began with Israeli airstrikes on June 13, prompting retaliation from Tehran and subsequent US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. A ceasefire was reached in late June. Despite the destruction, Araghchi claimed the conflict proved that military action cannot halt Irans nuclear ambitions. I think the recent attack proved that there is no military option for our nuclear program. Iran stands by NPT Iran remains a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The UN nuclear watchdog has said it has no credible indication of an active weapons program in Iran. Tehran insists its nuclear efforts are exclusively for civilian use. Israel, widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, has said its goal is to prevent Iran from ever acquiring one. Also Read | See how drones are dominating every corner of the war in Ukraine There is a widespread misconception that copyright law exists to provide authors with the incentive to write. But most writers are unable to earn a living off writing. With Generative AI challenging traditional notions of intellectual property, it is well worth asking what truly motivates writersand what exactly it is that society should be looking to reward. Intellectual property dates back to the mid-1400sto a time when the importance of the Venetian Republic was on the rise. While Venetians were already wealthy from trade, they knew they would be richer still if, instead of travelling to acquire the fine silks their customers craved, they could learn how to make this fabric. For this, they needed to entice Eastern artisans to settle in Venice for long enough to pass on their skills to local craftsmen. And so, they came up with the concept of the privilegio, a special privilege that provided an assurance that, for the duration of their residency in Venice, no one else would be allowed to manufacture the goods that these artisans produced. Before long, Venice became renowned across Europe as a centre of fine craftsmanship and that limited monopoly became the way in which creators were compensated. When Johannes de Spira (master printer and contemporary of Johannes Gutenberg), decided to ply his craft in Venice, he was rewarded with a privilegio for printing books in the Republic. This transformed the Venetian Republic into a major centre for publishing. Other countries envious of Venices success followed suit and privilege-based protections were issued to publishers in Germany, Portugal, Spain, France and Englandto the point where the very business model of publishing came to centre around the grant of exclusive rights to print. In time, the privilege granted to the publisher was reframed as being derived from the labour of the author. England was the first country to vest this right in the author by law, enacting the Statute of Anne in 1710, the worlds first law that elevated copyright to the status of a personal right. In practical terms, however, this made little difference. By then, powerful supply chains were already in place, controlling every aspect of the publishing industry. This made it virtually impossible for books to reach their intended audience unless publishers allowed it to happen. Even though authors had a legal right over their literary works, they still depended on the publishing industry to monetize it. If copyright law were truly an incentive for writing, youd expect it to yield lucrative rewards. And yet, according to the Authors Guild, the median book income of authors in the US hovers around just $2,000 a year. If you consider the median income of just full-time, well-established writers, this improves marginally, to just over $10,000. Also read: The brain behind Generative AI has his sights set on India Even among professional writers, only one in every ten can claim to make a decent living from the books they write. Despite these abysmally low income numbers, books continue to be written around the world. In 2022 alone, close to 4 million titles were published. Which seems to suggest that, notwithstanding the claims of copyright purists to the contrary, most authors are motivated by things other than financial reward. As a published author, I can confirm that the royalties I earn from the three books I have written will never be sufficient to sustain me. But that has not in any way curbed my enthusiasm. One of the reasons I, and I suspect many others like me, put in the hard work is not the money we think we are going to make, but because this is the surest way to ensure that our ideas reach a wider audience. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has forced a showdown between those representing the interests of the creative industry and the companies building large language models (LLMs). The argument is that the mere act of training AI is a violation of the strict letter of copyright law and an erosion of the monetary incentive that authors depend on for their livelihood. If AI can generate stories in an authors style, they ask, will anyone still want to buy original works? This argument presumes that authors write to make moneywhich, as we have seen, is rarely their sole motive. What we do know is that one of the motivations that encourages authors to keep writing even though they may not earn a sufficient income is that it allows them to get their ideas out into the world. If that is the case, perhaps they should embrace AI rather than think of it as something that has come to eat their lunch. According to renowned economist Tyler Cowen, the path to intellectual immortality lies in writing for the AIs." He points out that people already get so much of their information from LLMs, and in a few short years, it is likely that AI will become our primary source for all information on the internet. When that happens, the only way that succeeding generations will get to know what we thought about a given topic is if AI tells them. For as long as books have been around, authors have relied on their publishers to get their ideas out into the world. AI allows them to bypass these traditional channels, giving them an opportunity to allow their ideas to shape the conversations and consciousness of the future. Copyright has never guaranteed writers a livelihood, but AI may finally offer readership. If only we would let it. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- The finding by British lawmakers that His Majestys Revenue and Customs doesnt know how much tax the countrys billionaires pay has done little to enhance the UK collection agencys prestige. A side effect of the report by Parliaments Public Accounts Committee may be to stoke support for a more radical method of ensuring that societys richest pay their fair share namely, a wealth tax. Wealth taxes have a patchy record of success and have been abandoned by most countries that tried them. France is the most recent example, dropping its levy in favor of a real estate tax in 2018. Only four of the 38 countries in the OECD still impose one Norway, Spain, Switzerland and Colombia. Yet the idea is gaining renewed global momentum, helped by the work of French economist Gabriel Zucman, whose blueprint for a 2% global minimum tax on billionaires was endorsed by the G-20 under Brazils presidency last year. In the UK, former Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock proposed a 2% tax on assets valued at more than 10 million ($13 million) earlier this month, saying it would bring in as much as 11 billion a year. The Labour government of Keir Starmer, which is facing a fiscal shortfall of as much as 30 billion this year, has declined to rule out the idea, while groups including Unite, the countrys largest trade union, have backed the plan. Patriotic Millionaires UK, a group that advocates for the wealthy to pay higher taxes, said last month that a survey showed 80% of the countrys millionaires support the proposal. These concurrent events formed a suggestive backdrop for the cross-party committees inquiry into whether Britain is collecting the right tax from its wealthiest individuals. HMRC might count itself a little unfortunate with the reports framing. It can point to successes: In 2023-2024, its compliance work brought in an additional 5.2 billion of revenue from the wealthy which it defines as those with incomes of 200,000 or assets of at least 2 million in any of the previous three years up from 2.2 billion in 2019-2020. The committee said the agency deserved great credit for this, before immediately noting that its success meant either that non-compliance among the wealthy had got worse or that HMRCs previous estimates of the extent of avoidance were too low. Sometimes, you cant win. HMRC is hardly a laggard in efficiency, scoring well in international comparisons. It has brought down the UKs estimated tax gap the difference between what should be paid and what is actually paid by close to a third in the past two decades. The tax authority might question why the rich are getting so much attention when theyre nowhere near the biggest evaders that would be small businesses. And it has a defense to its lack of knowledge on what billionaires pay: As officials pointed out to the committee, it has no reason to collate this data because people arent taxed on the basis of their wealth but on their income and gains. Then again, other tax authorities often do collect this information even when they dont levy a wealth tax. And HMRCs estimate of the tax gap may be wrong even wildly wrong. That looks highly likely in the case of the 849 billion that British residents hold in offshore accounts. The authoritys (partial) estimate of tax evasion on that pot is a mere 300 million described as implausibly low by the committee. Either way, the criticism of HMRC by a cross-party committee with a Conservative chair looks helpful to those who would like Britain to take a more robust approach to taxing the countrys most affluent individuals. The social justice case for a wealth tax is compelling. Inequality has widened since the 2008 global financial crisis as monetary easing and government stimulus inflated asset values while average incomes in many countries stagnated. Making the richest pay a percentage of their wealth would go some way to redress the balance and repair national finances weakened by the extraordinary support extended during the pandemic. Global sentiment appears to be moving in this direction. Brazil and Spain announced the creation of a coalition of the willing to work on the topic in Seville at the start of this month, and have been joined by South Africa and Spain, Zucman told me. Frances National Assembly voted in favor of a minimum tax of 2% on centi-millionaires in February. The practical objections are also weighty, though. The costs of evaluating and monitoring wealth and then collecting the levies are considerable. The biggest challenge is how to prevent capital flight. A level of 2% might not seem like much; low enough to ensure that net wealth keeps growing. But look at it as a share of the income stream that those assets might produce and its much more significant. Assume a 5% annual return and 2% of the asset base equates to a 40% additional tax on that unless other levies are simultaneously reduced or simplified. Britain already appears to have underestimated the behavioral response to other revenue measures targeted largely at the wealthy such as the abolition of non-dom status and the imposition of value-added tax on private school fees. There are also potentially more insidious second-order effects to consider, such as the impact on enterprise and innovation, and the fostering of a culture that looks to lean on one group of taxpayers. A wealth tax might start out with a low rate and a high cutoff point, but the temptation would be to expand it and move down the distribution. The UK had 22,000 taxpayers with at least 10 million and 626,000 with at least 2 million, according to a 2020 study by the Wealth Tax Commission, a research group. Its difficult to see how a wealth tax will work except as part of a coordinated global program. That may be the direction of travel, but its some way away from becoming a reality. Britains fiscal challenges are a lot more urgent. Theres no immediate solution here. More from Bloomberg Opinion: This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Matthew Brooker is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering business and infrastructure. Formerly, he was an editor for Bloomberg News and the South China Morning Post. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion Over the past 25 years, the share of women-owned enterprises in the Indian economy has been steadily rising, a promising development amid the concerns surrounding low female labour force participation. We ask, what lies behind this growth? How large are these enterprises? Do they operate primarily in manufacturing or services? Are they concentrated in specific industries within these sectors? Crucially, what are the constraints faced by women-owned enterprises, and how can we fully tap the potential of such enterprises? Data from the Economic Census (EC) of India shows a steady increase in women-owned enterprises between 1998 and 2013, both in manufacturing and services. We observe sharp growth particularly between 2005 and 2013, even among firms that have more than 10 paid workers. Also read: Women entrepreneurs need a tribe of their very own We combine data from older rounds (2010 and 2015) with the most recent rounds (2021, 2022 and 2023) of the unorganized sector enterprise survey, with the caveat that these primarily cover informal, unregistered enterprises. Here too, we observe an upward trajectory of own-account enterprises and those with more than one worker in manufacturing and services both. Within manufacturing, the increase in women-owned enterprises is mostly in select industries, namely tobacco, food and beverages, paper and chemicals; for services, the growth is led by sectors like education and other personal services. The growth of women-led enterprises can drive economic development. By engaging more women in income-generating and productive activities, a substantial segment of the populationpreviously not actively participating in the economycan be brought into the workforce. This impact is amplified by the phenomenon of employment homophily, where individuals tend to hire others similar to themselves. For example, the 2013 EC reported that 65% of employees in women-owned businesses were women. Therefore, encouraging womens entrepreneurship could create more jobs for women, improving Indias overall womens labour force participation. The rise in womens entrepreneurship is in tandem with recent financial inclusion initiatives by the government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Following the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) in 2014, Indias banking sector saw a steep rise in the share of bank accounts held by women. According to the ministry of finance (2024 data), 55.6% of PMJDY beneficiaries are women. As for women entrepreneurs, the enterprises survey shows that the share of women owners with a bank account has gone up from 40% in 2015 to 61% in 2023. This has enabled credit access, increasing the share of loan accounts held by women. Moreover, targeted schemes offered by banks under their Priority Sector Lending goals have also increased credit flow to women, particularly in rural areas. The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana launched in 2015 also aims to ease credit constraints through collateral-free loans with flexible repayment tenures and concessional rates for women borrowers. The share of MUDRA loan accounts held by women increased dramatically from about 18% in 2015 to 36% in 2024. Similarly, the female share of retail business loan accounts rose from 19.9% to 30.7%. This trend is reflected in the enterprise data, where commercial banks, cooperative banks and government schemes account for up to a third of outstanding loans to women-owned enterprises in 2023. Another constraint faced by women is their lack of property rights, which deprives them of collateral against which they can borrow. Lakshmi Narayanan (2019) finds that amendments to Indias property-rights laws to ease womens inheritance of property strengthened their rights and paved the way for more women entrepreneurs. While targeted financial integration is expected to close gender gaps in credit access, social norms and lack of awareness contribute to gender disparities in entrepreneurship. There is ample evidence that women are influenced by role models and peers, particularly other women in leadership positions, not just in developing countries but in developed ones as well. Given this, how do we bring more women into entrepreneurship? The government has started the Women Entrepreneurship Platform to identify and mentor women entrepreneurs who want to start businesses and provide knowledge as well as hands-on support for doing so. There have been several initiatives in specific sectors to leverage this platform. The steady rise in womens entrepreneurship in India is a promising development, but significant challenges remain. While financial inclusion has opened new doors, deep-rooted social norms, limited property rights and weak support networks continue to constrain many women. Credit access and training, though essential, are not sufficient on their own. A more holistic approach is needed, one that combines financial support with legal empowerment, mentorship, access to networks and sector-specific interventions. The Women Entrepreneurship Platform is a step in this direction. As more women enter and sustain themselves in entrepreneurial roles, gender-disaggregated data and a careful evaluation of policy initiatives will also be critical. Only through such an integrated strategy can we ensure that the gains made so far translate into a more inclusive and dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem. The authors are affiliated with the Centre for Advanced Financial Research and Learning (CAFRAL). Leftist leaders attending at a pro-democracy summit in Chile sought to avoid conflict with Donald Trump by steering clear of any mention of US tariffs until Brazils Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva spoke to the press after the meeting. During the high-profile gathering hosted by President Gabriel Boric on Monday, leaders including Colombias Gustavo Petro, Spains Pedro Sanchez and Uruguays Yamandu Orsi focused their speeches on the threat posed by online disinformation and the misuse of technology. Even though the event is fresh off Trumps threat to slap 50% tariffs on Brazil and his defense of former President Jair Bolsonaro accused of an attempted coup the joint statement made no mention of the US leader, levies or political interference. Only when asked directly about Trump did Lula say the US should take into account the strong diplomatic relationship between the two countries. Brazil is not in a tariff war, Lula told journalists at the end of the event. A tariff war will start when I give my answer to Trump, if he doesnt change his mind. During most of the day, the participants had stuck closely to the script of a meeting called to foment multilateralism, combating hate speech, disinformation, corruption, inequality and the concentration of power in the world. Today in many parts of the world, democracy is under threat, Boric said. That threat cannot just be reduced to military force. This summit had put a spotlight on leaders like Boric, who has so far evaded Trumps threats, as well as others like Petro, who is navigating souring relations with the US. On July 16, Trump said he will send letters to over 150 countries notifying them of tariffs in the latest sign of his strategy for weaponizing trade. Mondays meeting mirrors growing cooperation in other regions of the world such as the European Union, which is preparing to step up engagement with countries like Canada that have been hit by Trumps tariffs and ultimatums. What Bloomberg Economics Says We had a very recent precedent that could repeat itself. Were seeing objectives that are at odds with Trump and also progressive leaders that are teaming up, potentially with a statement that he can feel is also criticism of himself and his policies. Jimena Zuniga, Latin America Geoeconomics Analyst The gathering in Chile marked the first formal, face-to-face encounter of the group following an online conference in February this year. In a joint statement, the five leaders emphasized the need to respect international law, to commit to peace and to overhaul multilateralism to make it more participative. We are completely aware that the world is passing through a period of profound uncertainty in which democratic values are challenged in a permanent way, the leaders wrote in the statement. The groups proposals will be presented and developed further at its next meeting on the sidelines of Septembers United Nations General Assembly. Spain also agreed to hold a future meeting of the participant countries. These are countries that are not inclined to just bow down and make concessions to Washington, given the very coercive and punitive approach that Washington is taking, Kenneth Roberts, a Cornell University professor of government who focuses on Latin American politics, said before the meeting. Big Gamble The summit represented is a particularly big gamble for Boric as host, given that his government is weak and counts the US as its biggest trading partner after China. There are scenarios where the United States could take economic actions, at least in the short term, which would be detrimental to Chile, Roberts said. Lula presided over Julys BRICS conference in Rio de Janeiro which released a declaration criticizing trade protectionism and airstrikes on Iran, both clear swipes at Trump even if it didnt mention him or the US by name. Days later, the US president threatened aggressive tariffs on goods from Latin Americas largest economy, heavily citing political reasons. At a time when extremism tries to redo interventionist practices, we need to act together, Lula said on Monday. The event gives Borics team an opportunity to learn from Lulas recent experiences. Borics outgoing administration is already on alert as it awaits details on Trumps plan to impose a 50% tariff on copper. The red metal is Chiles top export product. Any backlash from Trump stands to elicit some criticism because some Chileans may say, hey Boric, this just happened to Brazil, you should have been more careful, Zuniga said. With assistance from Carolina Gonzalez and Danielle Balbi. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. News / National by Staff reporter Zimbabwe is likely to witness low voter turnout in the upcoming local authority by-elections set for later this month and the first week of August, according to the Election Resource Centre (ERC), a think-tank and advocacy group focused on electoral and democratic issues.The by-elections, scheduled for July 26 and August 2, will take place in Chikomba Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 10, Chiredzi RDC Ward 4, and Marondera RDC Ward 6. Elections in Chikomba and Chiredzi are slated for July 26, while Marondera will hold its poll on August 2.In its latest report, titled Quarterly Electoral Environment Update for the Second Quarter of 2025, ERC said the country's continued political repression and authoritarian tendencies were contributing to voter apathy, particularly in smaller electoral contests. The report highlights that voter turnout for by-elections remains low, averaging 42.1% for National Assembly by-elections. Local authority by-elections, however, have recorded a slightly higher turnout, averaging 48.7%, which ERC attributes to the traditionally stronger voter participation in rural communities compared to urban areas.The think-tank warned that Zimbabwe's political and electoral environment continued to deteriorate throughout the second quarter of the year. It noted that the period was marked by heightened repression, increased legal targeting of government critics, and a deepening crisis in governance.According to statistics from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission's printed ballot paper summary, Chiredzi RDC Ward 4 has 4 552 registered voters, Chikomba Ward 10 has 2 357 voters, and Marondera Ward 6 has 3 022 voters. Epworth Municipality Ward 6, although not part of the upcoming by-elections, was also cited in the report with 14 264 registered voters.The ERC report also observed that the ruling Zanu-PF party had intensified efforts to consolidate its political dominance by launching a nationwide cell verification campaign. This exercise, aimed at strengthening grassroots structures and ensuring accurate membership data, is seen as part of the party's broader strategy to maintain its influence ahead of future elections.The upcoming by-elections are expected to reflect both the level of public confidence in Zimbabwe's electoral processes and the prevailing political mood in the country. However, with persistent reports of repression and growing disillusionment among voters, civic groups warn that turnout is unlikely to improve without significant reforms to restore faith in democratic participation. Parliament Monsoon Session: Both houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day on Tuesday amid protests by INDIA bloc members who raised slogans and waved placards against the ongoing voter list revision in Bihar and calling for a discussion on Operation Sindoor. Both houses will meet at 11 AM on July 23, the third day of Monsoon Session of Parliament. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Kiren Rijiju, slammed the Opposition for what he called double standards. They (opposition) are demanding discussion and we are ready for it. Then why are they not allowing the House to function?, the minister said. "This double standard is wrong. If you want discussion, then do not create ruckus. The government has said that we are ready for discussion. You are wasting public money," he said, speaking between the Opposition protest on the floor of the house on Tuesday. Opposition Continues to Protest Opposition on Tuesday forced adjournments in the Lok Sabha by raising slogans and waving placards against the ongoing voter roll revision in Bihar and calling for a discussion on Operation Sindoor. Opposition members trooped to the Well of the Lok Sabha on the second day of the Monsoon session of Parliament, demanding a rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise initiated by the Election Commission in Bihar ahead of assembly polls scheduled for later this year. When the House re-convened at 12 noon, BJP member Jagdambika Pal, who was in the chair, urged the floor leaders of the opposition parties to ask their members to return to their seats and allow the House to function. "The government is ready to discuss any issue which the Speaker allows as per the rules. I appeal to you to go back to your seats," said Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. Also Read | Bills of lading legislation cleared on 1st day of Parliament session Pal also urged opposition members not to show placards and instead give in writing their demands at the meetings of the Business Advisory Committee. As ruckus continued, Pal adjourned proceedings till 2 PM. The House was later adjourned for the day as the protests continued. Similar scenes were witnessed in Rajya Sabha too. Speaker Om Birla intervenes Earlier, when Lok Sabha House met at 11 am, opposition MPs, including Congress, were on their feet, demanding discussion on the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and Operation Sindoor. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan appealed to the opposition members to go back to their seats so that the House can take up questions related to farmers during the designated time of Question Hour. Speaker Om Birla intervened and told the opposition MPs that sloganeering and showing placards lowered the dignity of the House. He later adjourned the House till 12 noon. The House could not function on the first day of the session on Monday due to repeated adjournments following opposition protests over the demand of discussion on Operation Sindoor. Under Operation Sindoor, armed forces attacked Pakistani terror sites and defence installations for three days beginning May 7 following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 in which 26 people were killed. Parliament Monsoon Session: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government has agreed to a 16-hour discussion in the Lok Sabha on Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack. However, this discussion will likely be taken up next week after PM Modi returns from his UK-Maldives tour. The opposition INDIA bloc has, however, insisted that the debate should start this week and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must reply. Protests by Opposition parties disrupted both houses of Parliament on the first day of session. Also Read | Bills of lading legislation cleared on 1st day of Parliament session The Monsoon Session of Parliament began on July 21. At the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), attended by members of different parties and chaired by Speaker Om Birla, sources told news agency PTI that the government representatives noted that PM Modi is leaving on a foreign visit this week, and a debate when he is present in the House is possible only next week. PM Modi will visit the United Kingdom and the Maldives between 23 and 26 July 2025. According to the news agency, no decision has been made on whether the PM will speak on the issue. The prime minister met with his senior Cabinet colleagues, who later deliberated on the ruling alliance's strategy. Opposition Protests Opposition members protested at the BAC meeting that the government's agenda for this week did not mention their demand for a debate on the issue. They said the Home Minister and the Defence Minister should also be present during the discussion. Some opposition members also called for a debate on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and the situation in Manipur. With the impasse continuing, the Lower House was adjourned for the day as protesting opposition members disrupted proceedings. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi later slammed the government for not including the opposition's demand for a discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor in this week's agenda. Speaking to reporters, he accused the government of double standards, saying it does not follow what it claims in public. The government is listing its bills but is not ready to prioritise an issue on which the entire nation wants to hear from Parliament. "The government is listing its bills but is not ready to prioritise an issue on which the entire nation wants to hear from Parliament," he said. India launched Operation Sindoor its precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir on May 7, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed in South Kashmir's fabled hill station on April 22. KOSTYANTYNIVKA, UkraineOn the sun-drenched eastern front of this grueling war, Ukrainian drones are doing more and more jobs, from killing Russian troops to evacuating casualties to bringing dinner to foxholes. Around this city, some infantry from Ukraines 93rd Mechanized Brigade have been stuck in their dugouts for three months. Rotating the troops must wait for fog and rain to block the view of Russian drones. So Ukraines air and ground drones bring the men food, water and ammunition, said Lt. Col. Yehor Derevianko, a battalion commander in the brigade. We even deliver burgers." Hes been fighting Russian forces in Ukraines east since 2014, and says the war is evolving faster than ever. Drones are now so dominant that they force everything elseinfantry, armor, artillery, logistics and even trench designto adapt to a sky full of buzzing robots. The wiry commander leads the defense of his sector from a basement full of large screens under an abandoned apartment block. Men with laptops direct drone pilots to where Russian infantry are trying to infiltrate the fields and woodlands around the city. Members of the 93rd Brigade monitor drone footage in a basement in Kostyantynivka, eastern Ukraine. On one screen, the crosshairs of a reconnaissance drone fixed on a Russian soldier squatting in a bush. A small quadcopter drone closed in slowly and dropped a grenade. It missed. Hes going to die of old age out there," grumbled Derevianko. The bush swayed gently in the summer breeze. A second grenade turned it into a cloud of gray smoke. Kostyantynivka, an industrial city once home to 67,000 people, is one of the main targets of Russias summer offensive. Moscows invasion forces are inching westward across the fertile Donetsk region, exploiting their greater numbers but losing hundreds of assault troops a day for small gains. Drones have overtaken artillery as the number-one cause of Russian fatalities, according to Ukraines military. Dystopian fantasies With the experienced 93rd Brigade holding firm in Kostyantynivka, the Russians are trying to outflank it via the countryside. Russian infantry must first cross miles of deadly open farmland. They try on foot or on motorbikes. Kostyantynivka, once home to 67,000 people, is a key target in Moscows summer offensive. Kostyantynivkas train station has been destroyed by Russian shelling and drones. Most are picked off before they come near Ukrainian lines by first-person-view drones, known as FPVsaircraft the size of dinner plates with four rotors, controlled through a live feed on a pilots goggles. The surviving Russians try to regroup, then assault a Ukrainian trench or dugout. We have to hit them one by one, before they gather," said Derevianko. The most recent armored attack here was around New Years, when 14 Russian armored vehicles tried to run the gantlet of drones. Only two got close. Then the defending infantry hit them with rocket-propelled grenades. But Russias drones are also tormenting Kostyantynivka. Their fixed-wing Orlan and Zala reconnaissance drones survey the city continually. Russian FPVs connected to long fiber-optic cables, which make them immune to electronic jamming of the signal, hit anything they see, including civilians. Outside the tidy command basement, the city is dying. Only a fraction of its residents remain. Most shops have closed. Airstrikes scar buildings. Orange husks of burned-out civilian cars lie where they were hit by drones. Derevianko, of the 93rd Brigade, inside an armored vehicle. Army vehicles rumble about covered in grills, nets and other welded-on drone shields, looking like dystopian fantasies from a Mad Max movie. Pvt. Nikita Kremnov rescues wounded infantry in a Nissan Navara pickup sprayed a dull green and sporting a full-body cage with netting. Beyond the city limits, he uses a more nimble quad bike. The last mile to the trenches is now so exposed to Russian fiber-optic drones that the battalion uses only unmanned ground vehiclesdrones with tires or tracksto carry wounded men back from a foxhole. Kremnov was hit and wounded by a fiber-optic drone while evacuating a wounded man who was having an epileptic seizure. There was nothing I could do about it. I had to carry on driving." Hiding the tanks Thirty miles to the southwest, the city of Pokrovsk is further down the road to destruction. It hasnt fallen so far, but the damage is extensive. The Russian advance, like slow-moving lava, is consuming every town it touches with drones and heavy glide bombs. A Ukrainian unit launches an observation drone near Orikhiv, southern Ukraine.Drones are doing more and more jobs in the war. A T-72 tank of Ukraines 68th Jaeger Brigade hides under the thick summer canopy of a copse outside the city. The units tanks work in shifts, rolling into Pokrovsk to fire at Russian targets from long range. The Soviet-era tank was captured from the Russians early in the war. Its crew call it Lyalya," an affectionate name a small girl would give a doll. The previous night, Lyalya killed a group of Russian infantry with three direct hits on their dugout. In a drone war, tanks are useful only as mobile artillery pieces, said the company sergeant, who goes by the call sign Puma. Used in an assault, it wouldnt even get near the fight, he said. FPVs are just going to kill us." The tank had a narrow escape from a Russian FPV drone only days earlier. It was heading into Pokrovsk before dawn when a cars headlights lit it up from behind. Morons," said Puma. The tanks electronic defenses soon sensed a drone and tried to jam it. Members of the 68th Jaeger Brigade on a tank hidden among the trees near Pokrovsk, eastern Ukraine.A mechanic works on the tank. In a drone war, tanks are useful only as mobile artillery pieces, one company sergeant said. The crew used their special tactics, said Puma: Accelerate, maneuver, pray." The drone exploded yards away. AI, lasers and shotguns In a secret bunker under acacia groves and sunflower fields, men of the Bulava drone unit are tinkering with technology to stay a step ahead of the Russians in a robotic arms race. Serhiy Ignatukha, the units leader, holds up one kind of answer to the Russians fiber-optic drones. Its an FPV armed with four 12-bore shotgun barrels. Recently, one such drone had a dogfight with a Russian FPV. Its shotguns missed, so it downed the enemy drone by ramming it and breaking its propellers, said a drone technician known by his call sign Udav. The unit is also working with Ukrainian drone manufacturers on more sophisticated solutions, including FPV-borne lasers that can cut fiber-optic cables. A member of the Bulava drone unit makes antipersonnel mines to be dropped from drones. FPVs using artificial intelligence could become the next big thing, said Udav. He held up a drone with a tiny AI chipboard. Once a pilot has selected a moving target, the drone can complete the attack autonomously from up to 700 yards away, even if jamming blocks the signal. Improved versions are coming out every few months. This one is the sixth generation and it has had no failures," Udav said. Previously, when you saw 15 Russian vehicles, it was scary. Now its fun," he said. Sadly its the same for the enemys drone units." A bomb maker with the unit used a 3-D printer to make drone-dropped mines. Costing $9 each to make, the mines stick in the ground, spray out several 26-foot-long tripwires with small anchors and wait for Russian infantry. The Bulava unit is part of Ukraines Presidential Brigade, which also performs ceremonial guard duties in Kyiv but mostly became a regular combat brigade after the 2022 invasion. Ignatukha and his men saw the war changing and got into drone technology, using their own salaries to buy equipment and build their skills. The Bulava unit is part of Ukraines Presidential Brigade, which also performs ceremonial guard duties in Kyiv but mostly became a regular combat brigade after the 2022 invasion. Serhiy Ignatukha, in a green T-shirt and beard, oversees the units efforts to stay a step ahead of Russian drone forces in the robotic arms race. We had to think out of the box to survive," said Ignatukha. The informal unit, clad in a miscellany of T-shirts, looks more like a tech startup than a palace guard. No more lions East of Kostyantynivka, men of the Alcatraz Battalion are fighting Russias infantry and trying to survive its drones. The unit, part of the 93rd Brigade, is made up of convicted criminals who have signed up to be assault troops. Honorable service gets a conditional release or pardon. The first missions last year went well, said men in the unit. But drones are exacting a growing toll. Convicted thief Pavlo Shyptenko has survived four attacks by FPVs. He was rescuing a wounded comrade this spring when a quadcopter dropped a grenade on him. A tree branch broke the grenades fall, saving Shyptenko, but coin-sized bits of shrapnel still cut into his back and neck. Full of adrenaline, he carried the wounded man to a car and only noticed a terrible pain when he sat down to drive, he said. Now hes telling new recruits what to do if theres a drone above them. Stay still and wait for the grenade drop. Then you have three to five seconds to run away," he said, proudly wearing an Alcatraz unit T-shirt. If a suicide drone is trying to crash into you, wait and dive out of the way, he said. The Alcatraz Battalion interviews applicants for suitability, and doesnt take rapists or serial killers. But it has recruited some murderers. We are also murderers," said the deputy battalion commander, a professional officer known by the call sign Daredevil. On a balmy evening, men from Alcatraz trained in the woods, practicing digging covered shelters capable of withstanding FPV hits. This one is for a funeral," Daredevil told the diggers of a weakly protected foxhole. Daredevil carries a scar over his right eye from when a Russian shot him in a basement gunfight early in the war. We came out of that basement. They didnt." Its a different war today, he said. The lions from 2022-2023, who were real warriors, no longer exist," he said. Heavy losses have reduced the quality of soldiers on both sides. The men now are not capable of the same feats. Now its a war of drones." Ukrainian soldiers have had to adapt to a sky full of drones. Drones are exacting a toll on Ukrainian troops. Write to Marcus Walker at Marcus.Walker@wsj.com (Bloomberg) -- At Moscows central Taganskaya metro station, commuters stream past a newly-restored monument to a former ruler whose reputation is undergoing a dramatic revision in Russia: Joseph Stalin. With President Vladimir Putin tightening the screws of repression as his invasion of Ukraine drags on, the Soviet dictator is making a comeback as a victorious World War II leader rather than the man responsible for the deaths of millions of his citizens. Russias Communist Party, still the second-largest in the parliament, voted this month to press for full political rehabilitation of Stalin, whos shown flanked by children offering flowers and gratitude in the metro station sculpture unveiled in May. The Kremlin, meanwhile, is reviving Soviet-era practices of censorship and prison sentences to suppress dissent and present Russian society as united behind Putin and the war. Polls suggest its working, too. Amid regular drone attacks, airport closures and internet outages, a growing number of Russians express support for Putin and satisfaction with the economic and political situation in the country despite the war and international sanctions. Those who are opposed are largely keeping quiet. This is Putins stability 2.0, said Denis Volkov, director of the independent Levada Center pollster, who drew parallels with the public mood around 2007, when rising oil prices boosted incomes and ushered in a period of optimism under Putin after the turmoil of the Soviet Unions collapse. Levadas most recent surveys in June showed 70% of Russians believed the country is headed in the right direction with only 17% opposed. Putins approval rating was 86%. A sense of fear reaches into parts of the Russian elite, too, amid intensifying pressure from Putins security services in a purge of corruption. The apparent suicide of Transport Minister Roman Starovoit on July 7, hours after he was dismissed by Putin, shocked many top officials, who worry they may be next to face scrutiny and threats of arrest, according to two people close to the government, asking not to be identified because the matter is sensitive. Putin gave no explanation for removing Starovoit, who became transport minister in May last year after serving five years as governor of Russias Kursk border region. But Russian media reported that he was about to be implicated in an embezzlement case linked to defense spending in Kursk region following the surprise incursion by Ukrainian forces in August last year. Starovoit is a victim of purges and intra-elite repression, which is gradually increasing in Russia, said Alexander Baunov, senior fellow at the Carnegie Berlin Center. Still, Russian officials are embracing the legacy of Stalin, whose personality cult was dismantled by Soviet leaders in the 1960s. Putin signed an order April 29 renaming Volgograds airport as Stalingrad in honor of the WWII battle in the southern Russian city, after the local governor said veterans including from the war in Ukraine had made the request. Their word is law for me, the president replied. North of Moscow, Vologda region Governor Georgy Filimonov told a cheering crowd that Stalin was one of the greatest figures in the history of our country, as he unveiled a statue to him in December. Yes, there were undoubtedly tragedies but there were also advances, there was a great victory, there were great achievements, he said. Russians named Stalin the most outstanding figure of all time in a Levada survey in April, with 42% choosing the Soviet leader, a figure that was just 12% in 1989. Putin ranked second with 31%, double the level in 2021 before he ordered the invasion of Ukraine. Stalin is now associated with order, not evil, said Alexandra Arkhipova, an anthropologist and researcher at the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris. Hes seen as a manager who built the country. While Putins the longest serving Kremlin ruler since Stalin, Russias hardly alone in taking ideological inspiration from deceased political forebears. President Xi Jinping has leaned on Mao Zedongs legacy to bolster his position as Chinas most powerful leader in decades. Russias foreign agent law is one of many the Kremlin uses to suppress criticism. It now ensnares more than 1,000 organizations and individuals who must tag their work with a foreign agent label and risk prosecution for breaching stringent reporting rules on their activities. Russia has also declared more than 200 foreign organizations including Yale University, Amnesty International, the British Council and the Elton John AIDS Foundation as undesirable, forcing them to cease activities in the country. Laws against extremism and discrediting the Russian military target anything from peaceful political expression to posts on social media. Playwright Svetlana Petriychuk and director Yevgenia Berkovich were convicted of justifying terrorism and sentenced to six years in 2024 for a play that explored the stories of Russian women lured by ISIS recruiters. The drama won two Golden Mask awards, Russias most prestigious theater prize, two years earlier. Nearly 3,000 people faced prosecution for political reasons last year and more than 1,400 were in prison, up 25% on 2023, according to a report by the OVD-Info monitoring group. A Kremlin-affiliated department oversees ideological conformity in the cultural sphere. Artists who criticize the war are blacklisted, losing access to venues unless they publicly recant. Books by writers who left Russia and opposed the war were initially sold wrapped in plain paper and hidden on inconspicuous shelves, only to disappear entirely once their authors were declared extremists. Under pressure from security services, publishers have withdrawn and destroyed books deemed unauthorized. Criminal cases have been opened against staff at one of the countrys largest publishers for recruiting for extremist activities. That can mean anything from anti-war literature to books that mention LGBTQ themes. Theres a form of self-censorship, said Moscow-based political scientist Andrei Kolesnikov. Modern Russian authorities have gone further than Soviet ones. Back then, censorship was mostly preventive. Now, they jail people retroactively. Former Russian Culture Minister Mikhail Shvydkoi argued for a return to Soviet-style censorship by thousands of enlightened servants of the state, in a July 1 article in the official Rossiiskaya Gazeta newspaper. It would be much more honest to return to censorship, he wrote. The State Duma voted last week to fine people who search for extremist material online, aiming at consumers of information for the first time rather than producers. While Russia has already throttled access to many popular social media platforms, some lawmakers questioned how the new law could be implemented. It is proposed to punish thought crime, said Alexei Kurinny, a Communist deputy. Were implementing, it would seem, the most absurd versions of dystopia. The Stalin-era practice of informing has returned, too, as a growing number of Russians write denunciations accusing fellow citizens. Nadezhda Buyanova, a 68-year-old Moscow pediatrician, was sentenced to five and a half years in November after a war widow complained that shed criticized the assault on Ukraine. A saxophonist from Samara was jailed for six years in February for posts he wrote on Facebook, while a Russian who helped Ukrainian refugees was sentenced to 22 years for treason and aiding terrorism by a military court in Belgorod last month. Russian courts have heard 694 criminal cases of treason and espionage involving 756 people since the war started, according to Kirill Porubets, an analyst with legal watchdog First Department. Much of Russian society remains passive, Levadas Volkov noted. Restrictions are visible primarily to a small urban elite, and most people believe the crackdowns dont affect them, he said. The modern pattern of repression is random, and people arent targeted for belonging to a social group as they were under Stalinism, said Arkhipova, the anthropologist. Russia now has an information autocracy, not the totalitarian regime of Stalin, she said. --With assistance from Karolina Sekula. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com The US ambassador to NATO said China needed to be called out for their subsidizing of Russias war in Ukraine as the Trump administration ratchets up its threat to impose tariffs if Moscow does not agree to a peace deal. China thinks theyre fighting a proxy war through Russia, and were seeing in some statements by the Chinese government that they want to keep the United States and our allies occupied with this war, so that we cant focus on our other strategic challenges, NATO ambassador Matthew Whitaker said Tuesday on Fox Business. China, I think, has miscalculated, he added. I think they need to be called out for their subsidizing this killing that is happening on the battlefields in Ukraine. Whitakers comments come a week after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose tough economic penalties on Russia if it does not end its war on Ukraine within 50 days. Trump has said he would impose 100% tariffs, which officials have cast as secondary levies that would fall on countries who buy Russian exports such as oil. Chinas imports of Russian oil have climbed since Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Washington and other capitals allied with Kyiv view such oil purchases as a form of tacit support for Russia, helping to bolster its economy and undercut sanctions. Russias crude exports hit a one-month high ahead of Trumps tariff threat on buyers of Russian oil. Earlier: Russias Crude Shipments Rebound Ahead of Trump Sanctions Threat The secondary sanctions are going to be significant. Theyre going to hit countries that are buying Russian oil, whether thats China, India or Brazil, Whitaker said. Trump has raised the prospect of tightening economic pressure on Russia before without following through and trade analysts have said secondary tariffs would be difficult to implement. The threat also comes at a crucial time in US-Chinese relations with a tentative trade truce between the worlds two largest economies set to end next month. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business on Tuesday that he would meet Chinese counterparts for talks next week in Stockholm. Bessent earlier this week said that the next round of talks between the countries could include a discussion on Chinese purchases of both Russian and Iranian oil. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Humans beat generative AI models made by Google and OpenAI at a top international mathematics competition, despite the programmes reaching gold-level scores for the first time. Neither model scored full marks -- unlike five young people at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), a prestigious annual competition where participants must be under 20 years old. Google said Monday that an advanced version of its Gemini chatbot had solved five out of the six maths problems set at the IMO, held in Australia's Queensland this month. "We can confirm that Google DeepMind has reached the much-desired milestone, earning 35 out of a possible 42 points -- a gold medal score," the US tech giant cited IMO president Gregor Dolinar as saying. "Their solutions were astonishing in many respects. IMO graders found them to be clear, precise and most of them easy to follow." Around 10 percent of human contestants won gold-level medals, and five received perfect scores of 42 points. US ChatGPT maker OpenAI said that its experimental reasoning model had scored a gold-level 35 points on the test. The result "achieved a longstanding grand challenge in AI" at "the world's most prestigious math competition", OpenAI researcher Alexander Wei wrote on social media. "We evaluated our models on the 2025 IMO problems under the same rules as human contestants," he said. "For each problem, three former IMO medalists independently graded the model's submitted proof." Google achieved a silver-medal score at last year's IMO in the British city of Bath, solving four of the six problems. That took two to three days of computation -- far longer than this year, when its Gemini model solved the problems within the 4.5-hour time limit, it said. The IMO said tech companies had "privately tested closed-source AI models on this year's problems", the same ones faced by 641 competing students from 112 countries. "It is very exciting to see progress in the mathematical capabilities of AI models," said IMO president Dolinar. Contest organisers could not verify how much computing power had been used by the AI models or whether there had been human involvement, he cautioned. The Government of India has issued a strong warning against a new phishing scam circulating via email that falsely promises users an upgraded PAN 2.0 card. According to the Press Information Bureaus (PIB) Fact Check unit and the Income Tax Department, these emails are entirely fake and designed to steal personal and financial information from unsuspecting citizens. The scam operates through phishing emails sent from suspicious addresses such asinfo@smt.plusoasis.com, often with subject lines like Get Your PAN 2.0 Card. These emails attempt to lure recipients into clicking on a link that allegedly lets them download a new version of their e-PAN card featuring a QR code. However, instead of leading to a government website, the link redirects users to a fraudulent site crafted to look official. Once there, individuals are asked to enter sensitive details such as their PAN number, Aadhaar number, bank account information, and other personal credentials. This stolen information can then be used for identity theft or financial fraud. The PIB Fact Check unit posted an alert on social media, clearly stating: Scam alert!! Have you received an email asking you to click on a link to download your e-PAN Card? This email is #Fake. The Income Tax Department also emphasised that it does not send unsolicited emails or SMS messages asking for personal or financial details. Genuine PAN-related services are provided only through official government portals and not via random emails or third-party websites. The government has advised citizens to remain vigilant and to follow some key safety measures to protect themselves from falling victim to such scams. Firstly, always verify the senders email address, legitimate government communications will come from domains ending in.gov.in or.nic.in. Secondly, users are urged never to click on suspicious links or download attachments that claim to be from government agencies without proper verification. Official e-PAN services can only be accessed via the Income Tax Departments website or NSDL/UTIITSL portals. In the event of receiving such a phishing email, the government encourages users to report it immediately. Complaints and suspicious emails should be forwarded towebmanager@incometax.gov.in andincident@cert-in.org.in. These agencies are actively monitoring the scam and will take appropriate action to contain the threat. Also Read | AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Perplexity could send you to scam links The warning comes at a critical time when more citizens are relying on digital services for tax filings and financial transactions. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of this growing dependency on digital infrastructure to launch sophisticated scams that mimic official government communication. News / National by Staff reporter Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa has publicly rebuked controversial businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei following his failed bid to join the party's Central Committee, accusing him of attempting to use money and influence to bypass the party's constitutional processes.Tagwirei, a wealthy businessman with strong links to Zimbabwe's political and economic elite, was endorsed in May by Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa for co-option into the powerful Central Committee, which serves as the party's highest decision-making body between congresses. However, his bid fell apart earlier this month when he was ejected from a Central Committee meeting, with the party clarifying that his appointment had not yet been ratified.Reports surfaced that Tagwirei, said to harbour presidential ambitions, had allegedly offered top-of-the-range vehicles to members of the Politburo and Central Committee in a bid to smoothen his path into the party's leadership structures. This move was widely interpreted as an attempt to buy influence within the ruling party.Addressing journalists on Monday, Mutsvangwa delivered a blunt assessment of Tagwirei's conduct, warning that wealth and influence count for little in the party's internal processes."There could have been an issue of bribes or cars and money, an issue of peddling influence, but in Zanu-PF, it really doesn't pay," Mutsvangwa said. "We are a party of long institutional memory about where we came from. Along the way, we acquired knowledge about how we administer our party from our past experiences."Explaining Tagwirei's removal from the Central Committee meeting, Mutsvangwa said the Zanu-PF constitution is clear on how one becomes a member of the influential organ. He said Harare province's recommendation for Tagwirei was considered but ultimately found wanting."Harare province might have had aspirations for him to become a Central Committee member, but the party has its leadership. The recommendations of Harare province were assessed on whether they satisfy the eligibility criteria. Sadly, for Harare province, it wasn't the case. Their bid to support him was not successful," Mutsvangwa said.He stressed that while businesspeople are welcome in Zanu-PF, they must follow established processes."You can always go back and start again and go through the processes. If you finally meet the tick box, you may find yourself in the Central Committee. But for the time being, you may not be satisfying those conditions," he said.Mutsvangwa was particularly scathing of Tagwirei's alleged use of financial inducements to curry favour with party elites."Elections are done by mass universal suffrage. So, can you afford to bribe all provinces, the whole country, with the money you made? We know the origin of that money. Do not try to use it against this party's popularity or the voting public," said Mutsvangwa.He reminded business elites like Tagwirei that Zanu-PF's power is rooted in popular support and sacrifice, not wealth."Respect the party which made them what they are and do not try to use the money whose origin is the stewardship of this party and the way it has run this economy. It will not work," Mutsvangwa said."I want Zimbabweans to be confident that Zanu-PF, as a mass party, will not compromise on the integrity of the vote as the only way we express leadership in this country. Any system which tries to subvert the vote through inducements will not work in Zanu-PF because it barks against the trade of sacrifice," he added.Tagwirei has remained silent on the accusations, but the incident has further fuelled speculation about his growing ambitions within the political sphere and the uneasy relationship between wealth and power in Zimbabwe's ruling party. Another longtime downtown restaurant has closed its doors, marking what many say is a troubling trend in Chattanoogas dining scene. Sticky Fingers, the popular barbecue restaurant that had called Broad Street home since 1996, has officially closed. The closure follows a string of downtown restaurant shutdowns in recent weeks, including Thai Smile, TacoMac and Ernest Chinese. Sticky Fingers in downtown Chattanooga closes doors Another location of the franchise near Hamilton Place Mall closed several years ago. The parent company of Sticky Fingers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March. However, a judge later converted the case to Chapter 7 meaning complete dissolution and permanent closure of the business. We really did think that there was going to be an opportunity for us to consolidate and get back on track, said Chief Operating Officer Ashlee Geier. But the court had other things in mind for us. Geier said the circumstances surrounding Sticky Fingers closure were unique, but she believes the challenges facing other downtown businesses are similar: rising rent, competitive wages, and the high cost of parking. This day and age, you know, $20 is the new $100, Geier said. Its tough for people. Geier also shared that the outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming. On TikTok, I saw someone say, I met my first boyfriend there, or My husband proposed to me there, she said. Those little moments, I hope, resonate with people forever and that they dont forget about us, because we do love Chattanooga. Meagan Sparks, owner of Chattanooga Carriage Company, echoed that sentiment. For the past 15 years, shes seen the restaurant landscape of downtown shift dramatically. When we have people riding on the carriage, they would always say, Wheres the best place to get barbecue? Sparks said. And of course, it was always, Go to Sticky Fingers. Sparks worries that ongoing closures, paired with increasing parking costs, could deter locals from visiting downtown altogether. If youre like me and youre from here, youre doing good just to pay your rent, she said. Former Sticky Fingers employee Nicholas Acord worked at the restaurant for the last two years. He described the recent wave of closures as heartbreaking. To watch it significantly dwindle and watch everything close around me its very upsetting, unmotivational, Acord said. Despite the difficult goodbye, both Acord and Geier emphasized the close-knit culture that defined Sticky Fingers. Were not employees were all friends, and its a family that weve created, Acord said. Geier added, Whether theyve been employed here for two weeks or 20 years, they showed up. They came walking through the doors saying, How can we help? For a team of people who just found out theyre losing their jobs it was inspiring. It just showed how resilient they are. For now, only one Sticky Fingers location remains in operation in Charleston, South Carolina. Geier says the company will focus on that restaurant, but she hopes they can one day return to Chattanooga. Longford County Council has been announced as a finalist in The Ireland eGovernment Awards under the Digital Inclusion Award category, recognising the authority's exceptional work on the Microsoft Dream Space Showcase programme. The nomination places Longford amongst the leading local authorities driving digital transformation across Ireland. With over 50% of this year's finalists coming from the local government sector, the 2025 awards spotlight the significant role councils play in reshaping public service delivery. The nomination is also worthy recognition for the many teachers and primary schools throughout County Longford which take part in the Dream Space Showcase and is testament to their unwavering support and engagement with the innovative programme. Read more: Longford native from Killoe becomes CEO of Tallaght University Hospital Now in its third year, Longford's Microsoft Dream Space Showcase has become a cornerstone of STEAM education in the county. The programme engages hundreds of primary school children annually through a comprehensive 10-week initiative that combines hands-on learning with real-world problem-solving. Students work alongside their teachers, Longford County Council's STEM Engagement Officer Siobhan Grealy, and Microsoft's specialist teaching team to develop coding and STEAM skills. These abilities are then channelled into creating innovative projects that address sustainability challenges aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The initiative forms part of a broader strategic investment in local education, funded through the Government of Ireland and European Union's Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027. This targeted support focuses on accelerating student interest in Computer Science and STEAM subjects during the crucial transition from primary to post-primary education. Paddy Mahon, Chief Executive of Longford County Council, said: "This recognition validates our commitment to ensuring no child in Longford is left behind in the digital age. The Dream Space Showcase demonstrates how local government can be a catalyst for educational innovation, creating opportunities that might otherwise be beyond reach for our young people." Cathaoirleach Cllr Garry Murtagh added: "We're immensely proud to see Longford's vision for digital inclusion recognised on the national stage. This programme embodies our belief that every child deserves access to cutting-edge learning opportunities, regardless of their background or location." The Ireland eGovernment Awards, now in its 22nd year, celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact across Ireland's public sector. Sixteen local authorities have been shortlisted across 16 of the 17 categories, highlighting the growing influence of local government in public service innovation. Read more: Cool as ICE: Renowned Longford structural steel company win prestigious award Sabahat Khan, CIO of the Local Government Management Agency and judging panel member, praised the finalists for "innovation, thinking outside the norm and trying new things," saying, Its not just about technology: its about coordinated, secure, and meaningful transformation that delivers value to our communities. These are the basic tenets the Local Government Digital and ICT Strategy is built upon. The awards ceremony takes place on 18th September at O'Reilly Hall, UCD, where An Taoiseach Micheal Martin TD will present the awards following a Leadership Summit featuring Ireland's top digital changemakers. News / National by Staff reporter Communities in Hwange have raised serious concerns over mining companies extracting water from Kalope Dam, warning that the practice threatens to cause severe water shortages for locals who rely on the dam for irrigation and daily use.Speaking out against the practice, Hwange East legislator Joseph Bonda said it was illegal for private companies to draw water from a community-owned source. He urged the companies to follow the example of others in the area and source their water from the Zambezi River instead."The President of the Second Republic is a listening President, and if you see any traditional leader soiling his name over Kalope Dam, we should expose them. Raise the red flag and let the world know that criminals are messing up in Change Lukosi ward," Bonda said.He added that such actions were not only detrimental to local communities but also threatened wetlands at Kasibo and contributed to the pollution of the Deka River. Bonda called on communities to resist activities that undermine President Mnangagwa's Vision 2030 and work to preserve vital resources.According to a recent report by the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG), community leaders in Diki village have already taken steps to address what they described as a growing crisis at Kalope Dam, the primary water source for the Lukosi Irrigation Scheme.The report revealed that four streams feeding into the dam had been diverted by two Chinese mining companies operating in the area. Specifically, South Mining's Mutargech division and Zimbabwe Zhongjing Heli Energy (Pvt) Ltd were cited as having drilled eleven boreholes and constructed a pipeline diverting water directly to their mining sites."This has resulted in severe water scarcity, threatening the livelihoods of 282 families who depend on the irrigation scheme," CNRG noted. "As the fate of the Lukosi Irrigation Scheme and the livelihoods of hundreds of families hang in the balance, community leaders have taken immediate action to prevent its collapse, working alongside a local civil society advocacy organisation."The Lukosi Irrigation Scheme plays a vital role in the local economy. According to irrigation management executives, the scheme produced 30 tonnes of wheat last season and benefits more than 5 000 people.The report also highlighted growing fears among locals about the environmental consequences of diverting water from the dam, including the destruction of aquatic ecosystems and disruption of natural water flow patterns.Village head Peter Mpala confirmed that efforts to engage with the mining companies had so far yielded no progress. He appealed to authorities for urgent intervention to unblock the streams and halt the construction of water diversion infrastructure."We are appealing to relevant authorities to unblock the streams to allow water to flow into Kalope Dam and halt construction of the pipeline diverting water to the mine site. Our engagement with the mining companies has not been fruitful," Mpala said.He further indicated that he was working closely with the affected communities, and a team had already visited the sites of the blocked tributaries to assess the situation and seek urgent solutions.Ndaizivei Garura from CNRG stressed the need for an on-site assessment to inform possible solutions to a crisis that threatens the sustainability of the community's irrigation scheme and livelihoods.The dispute highlights growing tensions between resource-hungry mining operations and rural communities, who accuse some companies of prioritising profits at the expense of local livelihoods and environmental sustainability. In 2024, over 1,280 people and 450 businesses in Longford and Roscommon participated in upskilling with a Skillnet Ireland Business Network. talent training days in Longford and Roscommon last year. 58% of those who undertook training were men and 42% were women, while those aged 30 to 39 availed of upskilling supports more than any other age group. Figures from the Skillnet Ireland Annual Report 2024 reveal the national agency fordevelopment delivered over 7,450training days in Longford and Roscommonlast year. 58% of those who undertook training were men and 42%were women, while those aged 30 to 39 availed of upskilling supports more than any other age group. Commenting on the uptake of Skillnet Ireland supports from businesses in 2024, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, said: As the national workforce development agency, Skillnet Ireland plays a key role in developing the talent that Irish businesses need through upskilling and reskilling. In 2024, it supported over 24,000 businesses, the vast majority of them SMEs, to address their skills needs in order to remain competitive. By supporting Irish businesses to upskill and reskill, Skillnet Ireland is helping to foster resilience and innovation, so that companies can adapt to and meet the challenges posed by the digital and green transitions. The vast majority (96%) of companies in Longford and Roscommon that upskilled their employees with Skillnet Ireland in 2024 were small and medium size enterprises. The greatest uptake came from the agriculture sector followed by services, health, food & drink, pharmaceutical, business and retail. Companies based in Longford and Roscommon undertook upskilling programmes with more than 50 of the 70 Skillnet Business Networks based on the sector in which their company operates, or with one of the Networks in their region, which include Midland Border East Skillnet, National Organic Training Skillnet and Taste 4 Success Skillnet. Skillnet Ireland Chief Executive, Mark Jordan, said: As a knowledge-based economy nurturing our highly skilled workforce is central to our national competitiveness. Over 24,000 Irish businesses chose to invest in upskilling and develop their people through Skillnet Ireland in 2024, which indicates the appetite for upskilling within the corporate landscape. We are proud to support employers throughout Ireland to both invest in their teams and strengthen Irelands position as a leader in innovation and sustainable growth. More than 24,000 businesses participated in upskilling programmes for their employees through Skillnet Ireland last year, amounting to 90,136 workers across the Irish economy. Through a cost sharing approach with employers, contributions from businesses represented 28 million, 37% of the total investment into upskilling for businesses, of 76million. This demonstrates a high level of confidence and buy-in from companies developing their teams in partnership with Skillnet Ireland. As the national talent development agency, Skillnet Ireland is working to support businesses in Longford and Roscommon, to build competitiveness through skills and to meet both the challenges and opportunities that owning and running a business brings. Home care supports, healthcare, industry, and community services were some of the issues discussed by Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Councillor Garry Murtagh and An Tanaiste Simon Harris during a high-level meeting in Government Buildings. The Tanaiste, along with all of his senior Ministers, met with the eleven Fine Gael Councillors who have recently been elected as the first citizen of their county on Tuesday, July 8. Councillor Murtagh, who was elected as Cathaoirleach in June, outlined his main priorities for his term. READ NEXT: Longford nursing home flagged for governance and management and fire precautions The Home Care Support Network in county Longford is under pressure. The HSE needs to actively recruit new Health Care Assistants to support the elderly and people with additional need to live in their own home and community. I also spoke to Minister Kieran ODonnell about the need to implement a standalone Care & Repair with a significant capital and labour budget and my belief that the scheme should be piloted in Longford to support people with disabilities and the elderly. Minor Injury Clinic needed in Longford I also raised the need for a new Minor Injury Clinic in county Longford on the grounds of St Josephs campus. READ NEXT: Longford man who had knife put mother in fear after drugs intake A large number of people are currently required to travel to Mullingar and Roscommon to receive care for minor injuries, but the treatment process could be made far more efficient and sped up if a unit was present in Longford town. This in turn would ease the burden on other follow up services and we have a significant campus at St Josephs that could accommodate such a development. IDA Advanced Factory I want to see significant progress made with support for the IDA Advanced Factory project and from all the relevant stakeholders with a view to developments happening at the site in the short-term future. Longford has a number of excellent employers with high quality jobs on offer and development of the advanced site will add significantly to the offering Longford can provide to potential industry investors. Family Resource Centre in Longford town There is long standing need for a Family Resource Centre in Longford town to address the many challenges facing all elements of the community and I advocated to the Ministers the need to deliver THRIVE funding to the county which would see significant money invested in towns and villages across Longford to boost and give new life to communities and our town centres. I received positive feedback from the Tanaiste and Ministers to the matters I raised, and we will be working together closely over the coming weeks and months to deliver for the people of Longford. Impressed by level of ambition Tanaiste Simon Harris said, It was a real honour to sit down with Councillor Garry Murtagh, the new Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, in government buildings. I was very eager to meet the Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council as he takes up office to discuss his priorities for the year ahead and about how I can assist him in my role as the leader of Fine Gael and as Tanaiste. We discussed a range of issues that he wanted to prioritise including how we drive the delivery of housing, private housing, people want to buy and how to deliver that in counties like Longford. How we get state agencies more involved, how we get the IDA to take investment in Longford seriously, how we improve the transport infrastructure and support local businesses. I was really impressed by the level of his ambition for the year ahead and very much look forward to working with him in the time ahead and delivering for Longford. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: July 21 2025 Summer Subway Ridership Hits Four Million Riders on July 15, 16, 17 a First Since the Start of the Pandemic. Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) achieved its best summer subway ridership week since 2019, hitting four million subway riders three days in a row in a summer season a first since the start of the pandemic. On Tuesday, July 15, New York City Transit recorded 4,046,610 subway riders; on Wednesday, July 16, the agency recorded 4,121,751 subway riders; and on Thursday, July 17 saw 4,029,692 riders. This milestone was also achieved during the same week NYC experienced a near-record rainfall on Monday, July 14, and transit crews worked expeditiously to restore service the evening of the storm and through the night to ensure a smooth commute the next day. Moreover, Wednesday's ridership of 4,121,751 subway riders is a new post-pandemic ridership high for the summer. We're delivering a transit system that is safer and more reliable, and New Yorkers have responded by riding in record numbers, Governor Hochul said. Transit is the lifeblood of New York City, it powers our economy and makes city life possible for millions. When ridership is on the rise, New York is on the rise. The four million mark has now been achieved seven times in three weeks, starting at the end of the school year. The first time the MTA reached four million subway riders in a single day during a summer season since the start of the pandemic was on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, followed by Thursday, June 26, 2025, Wednesday, July 9, 2025, and Thursday, July 10, 2025, and now July 17 through July 19. This milestone comes days after the Governor announced the Authoritys path towards a record-breaking year in ridership and on-time performance. This is the first summer NYC students are enjoying expanded benefits from Student OMNY cards distributed last September, which allow use after the conclusion of the school year. Student OMNY cards are valid 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Previously, Student MetroCards limited rides on days when the students school was open for class. MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, New Yorkers are demonstrating their confidence in the MTAs faster and more reliable transit, voting with their taps to get around the City this summer. And thanks to Governor Hochuls investments in state-of-good-repair work, safety, and accessibility, were achieving post-pandemic ridership records every week. New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said, Thanks to the dedication of New York City Transit workers, were continuing to see record-breaking ridership on subways and buses this year. And were not done yet with a capital plan that funds new train cars, more accessible stations, and computerized signals that allow for increased speeds and shorter travel times, riders will continue to see improvements both in the short term and well into the future. On top of the ridership increases, tap-and-go continues to surge in popularity with 75 percent of riders deciding to tap their phones, contactless debit/credit cards, or OMNY cards to pay their fares during the week of July 14, up from 67 percent in March 2025. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: July 22 2025 Website Includes Information on Credit for Prior Learning, Scholarships, Benefits, and Available Resources for All 64 SUNY Campuses. Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of a one-stop-shop for active duty servicemembers, veterans, and family members currently enrolled or interested in attending any SUNY college or university. The landing page: www.suny.edu/military, includes information on available credit for military service and experience, tuition assistance, specialized scholarships, and dedicated campus services like veteran lounges and associations for all 64 SUNY campuses. The website also connects veterans with services offered by the counties where each campus is located, helping them stay close to home and community, and will be regularly updated as new information becomes available. We continue to rely so much on our veterans and military to protect everything we hold sacred, and it is a priority of my administration to make sure we help our military-connected New Yorkers have a smooth transition to their next career, Governor Hochul said. This one-stop shop from SUNY is easy to follow and helps guide service members and their families and puts them on a path to a rewarding degree or credential. Governor Hochul has recently announced expanded access to an affordable education through the Veterans Tuition Assistance Program, which went into effect on July 1. Under Governor Hochuls leadership, the program will now serve even more veterans by broadening eligibility and increasing flexibility. Thirty-seven SUNY campuses offer academic credit for military service and experience, and the new website includes connecting visitors to an easy-to-use search for available credit for military experience and training. Additionally, SUNY campuses have tailored support available including student veteran associations and military and veteran offices, and counties throughout New York State have programs and staff available as well. SUNY developed this comprehensive website so that servicemembers and veterans would be able to easily learn about and access all of the available programs and benefits that they have earned through their service. SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, SUNY provides a wide array of services for all those who stepped up and answered the call to serve our nation. From tuition assistance and specialized scholarships, to lounges and clubs, to credit for prior learning, it is important that every servicemember and veteran knows about the great programs at their disposal at every SUNY campus. We honor our veterans and servicemembers, and our campus communities are richer for their presence. The SUNY Board of Trustees said, We owe our servicemembers and veterans a debt of gratitude that can never truly be repaid, and we are grateful for their dedication to our state and nation. That is why the SUNY system has worked to ensure that as servicemembers and veterans transition back to civilian life, they have the support they have earned easily accessible at each of our campuses. We hope all eligible students will learn more about the programs, scholarships, and credit for prior learning available for current and former members of the military and take advantage of the benefits they have earned. State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said, "Our SUNY schools offer so many programs and benefits for active duty military and veteran students, and Im glad the Governor is launching a more streamlined system to help them access these resources. Its so important that New York remains a state with competitive educational opportunities, and our SUNYs are committed to recruiting and retaining the best and brightest veterans and active duty service members. We want all our veterans and active duty members to be able to pursue their education and build their lives right here in New Yorkand this new website is a great step toward that." Assemblymember Steve Stern said, As the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee of the New York State Assembly, I applaud Governor Hochul for expanding critical educational support, funding and access to services for the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much to serve our great nation and importantly, also for their families. This new One-Stop Shop will provide streamlined access to vital information for all SUNY campuses. I encourage all active-duty military, veterans and families to visit www.suny.edu/military to learn more about benefits to which they are entitled. New York State Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Viviana M. DeCohen said, This new SUNY one-stop-shop is more than a website it is a gateway to opportunity for Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families across New York State. By streamlining access to campus-based support, credit for military experience, and vital tuition assistance through this new resource, it ensures that no one who served is left navigating college alone. Thanks to Governor Hochuls leadership and visionary expansion of this initiative and the Veterans Tuition Assistance Program, even more of our heroes can now pursue a world-class SUNY education. This is what it means to value service and put Veterans first. New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs Adjutant General Major General Raymond F. Shields Jr. said, Hundreds of members of the New York Army and Air National Guard and the New York Naval Militia have furthered their education through the SUNY system, thanks to the free tuition benefit available to them at SUNY and CUNY. Anything that makes it easier for our Citizen Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, and Marines to access SUNY services for veterans and service members is very welcome. About The State University of New York The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNYs 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the countrys oldest school of maritime, the states only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.16 billion in fiscal year 2024, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit www.suny.edu. MS-13 Gang Member Convicted of Kidnapping, Gang Assault & Robbery for Attack On 15-Year-Old Boy at Pilgrim Psychiatric Center in Brentwood Crime By Chris Boyle Published: July 22 2025 Yeison Chavez Campos Robbed, Kidnapped, Assaulted and Left the Victim Unconscious in an Abandoned Building at the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Yeison Yerba Chavez Campos, 23, of Huntington Station, was convicted of Gang Assault in the First Degree, Kidnapping in the Second Degree and other related charges after a jury trial, for his role in a January 6, 2024 violent attack on a 15-year-old at the Pilgrim State Mental Facility in Brentwood that left the child unconscious. Chavez Campos is the final one of the seven members and associates of the Huntington Criminal Locates Salvatrucha or HCLS clique of the MS-13 street gang convicted of the attack. MS-13 has no place in Suffolk County, said District Attorney Tierney. The actions of this defendant and his MS-13 co-defendants on a 15-year-old boy will not be tolerated. I commend my office and our law enforcement partners for bringing this defendant and all of his associates to justice. The evidence at trial established that on the morning of January 6, 2024, the 15-year-old victim was lured to the Huntington Train Station by a group of MS-13 members and associates. While at the train station, Chavez Campos and four other MS-13 members/associates surrounded the victim and took the victims money. Chavez Campos and the others then punched the victim repeatedly, knocked the victim to the ground, and kicked the victim multiple times. After the assault, Chavez Campos and his MS-13 associates forced the victim into a vehicle and drove the victim to the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center in Brentwood. Once there, the assailants brought him into an abandoned building. Inside the building, Chavez Campos and the other MS-13 members/associates, beat the victim repeatedly, struck him with a brick in the back of the head, and stabbed him in the neck. Chavez Campos and the other assailants then fled the abandoned building and left the victim unconscious on the ground inside the abandoned building. Hours later, Chavez Campos and his co-defendants returned to the building with garbage bags and shovels, prepared to bury the victim but could not find him. Miraculously, the victim lived through the assault. He regained consciousness, found a way out of the building and walked to a nearby road where he collapsed. A short time later he was found by a Good Samaritan who called 911. The victim was brought to a local hospital, and required surgery, including a craniotomy, to treat a brain bleed and fractured skull. He ultimately survived his injuries. On July 18, 2025, Chavez Campos was convicted after a jury trial before Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr. on the following charges: One count of Gang Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony; One count of Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony; One count of Kidnapping in the Second Degree, a Class B violent felony; One count of Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a Class C violent felony; One count of Gang Assault in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony; Two counts of Robbery in the Second Degree, Class C violent felonies; and Two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Class D violent felonies. Chavez Camposs co-defendants Josue Shrek Zepeda Padilla, Brayan Gucci Jimenez Avila, Maycoll Pirata Ramirez Cerrato, Marcos Jero Serpos, Maybelline Garcia Cornejo and Henry Lemus Nieto previously pleaded guilty to the charges contained in the indictment and are awaiting sentencing. Chavez Campos is due back in court on August 20, 2025, and faces 25 years on each of the top counts, which are eligible to be run consecutively to each other. He is being represented by Pierre Bazile, Esq. The United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has lodged a detainer to take custody and deport Chaves Campos after he serves his sentence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Donald Barclay, Kristen E.L. Yeamans, and Elizabeth Moran from the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau. The investigation was led by Detective Sean Walsh of Suffolk County Police Department Third Precinct Detective Squad, and the Suffolk County Police Departments Criminal Intelligence Section with assistance from the Suffolk County Police Departments Second Precinct Anticrime Team. Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law. A screen capture from a Hasm propaganda training video. Egyptian security forces killed two suspected members of the Harakat Sawaid Misr (HASM) militant group in a shootout on the outskirts of Giza on Sunday, according to the countrys Interior Ministry. Members of the National Security Agencys Hostage Rescue Force raided the suspected militants hideout only days after the group issued new threats against the Egyptian state. Founded in 2016, Harakat Sawad Misr (Arms of Egypt Movement) is a militant group linked to the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood. Egyptian authorities accuse HASM of functioning as the Brotherhoods armed wing, responsible for a wave of attacks targeting police, judges, and infrastructure between 2016 and 2018. The group was listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity by the United States in 2021. In a statement, the Egyptian Interior Ministry said that the suspects opened fire as police approached a suspected hideout in the densely populated neighborhood of Bolaq el Dakrour, prompting an exchange that left both gunmen and one bystander dead, and one police officer wounded. Egyptian authorities identified the two slain gunmen as HASM members Ahmed Abdel-Rezek and Ihab Abdel-Latif. The clash comes as the US-designated terrorist group appears to be reactivating. Days earlier, HASM released a new propaganda video titled, The Path of the Believers, This Is the Way, in which it vowed to resume violent operations in Egypt, including attacks on prisons and security sites. The footage shows operatives undergoing military-style training in a desert setting and simulating assassinations and bombings. The Egyptian government says the video was shot in one of the neighboring countries. Between 2016 and 2018, HASM claimed responsibility for a series of high-profile operations targeting police, judges, and government figures, including an attempted assassination of former Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa, one of Egypts leading anti-Islamists and anti-Brotherhood religious figures. The groups ability to operate in Egypts urban centers distinguished it from jihadist groups concentrated in the Sinai Peninsula. The latest security operation in Giza coincided with reports that a high-ranking HASM member was arrested while attempting to enter Turkey through Istanbul Airport. The suspect, identified as Mohamed Abdel Hafeez Abdullah Abdel Hafeez, is alleged to have played a key role in the groups leadership structure. Egyptian officials say he will be deported from Turkey to Egypt, but the Turkish government has not officially confirmed the extradition. The arrest prompted a reaction from Ahmad al Mansour, an Egyptian national and former fighter with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Syria who is currently wanted by Egyptian authorities. In an X post, Mansour called on Egyptians in Turkey to stand with our brother Mohamed Abdel Azim [Hafeez]. The deportation order is an issue that unites all Egyptians abroad [] Make our might against our enemy severe. Mansour is wanted by Egypt and has previously issued threats against Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi. Meanwhile, the Turkey-based Muslim Brotherhood organization known as the Midan Foundation, headed by Reda Fahmy, a Brotherhood leader and former head of the Egyptian parliaments National Security Committee, resumed open calls for armed and revolutionary activism. The group is reportedly recruiting exiles and fugitives in Turkey to return to their home countries and engage in sabotage operations, bombings, and targeted attacks. Egyptian sources also link the Midan Foundation to Yahya Moussa, a senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood based in Turkey. Whether HASM can return to its previous operational strength in Egypt and the region remains unclear. But its renewed propaganda efforts, alleged leadership activity in Turkey, and the deadly exchange in Giza suggest that Egyptian authorities no longer view the group as dormant. Mariam Wahba is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Follow her on X @themariamwahba. News / National by Staff reporter The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) is facing stiff resistance in its fight against graft in the border town of Beitbridge, with insiders revealing that some State agencies, suspected to be benefitting from corruption, are actively working against the anti-graft body's efforts.After a high-profile launch of its anti-corruption campaign at Zimbabwe's busiest border post - notorious for smuggling and bribery - Zacc officials returned to Harare, leaving behind concerns and unanswered questions. Plans to establish a permanent Zacc office in Beitbridge were quietly shelved under unclear circumstances. In a further sign of pushback, a contributor at one of Zacc's public engagement meetings was arrested, in what appeared to be an act of victimisation.Efforts to get a comment from Zacc head Michael Reza were unsuccessful at the time of going to press.Investigations by this publication revealed that Zacc's presence in Beitbridge had unsettled certain security agents, who appeared uncomfortable with the anti-graft body's message of empowering the public to demand accountability. These agencies are suspected of benefiting from corrupt dealings at the border, where smuggling and bribery are said to be rampant.During the public campaign, Zacc encouraged citizens to verify the identities of individuals claiming to be acting on behalf of the State and to demand proper documentation and receipts when making payments."You must understand that while you must comply with regulations and pay duty where it is due, you must also get receipts for all transactions and money paid to anyone claiming to be a State agent," Commissioner Kindness Paradza told more than 600 stakeholders during the campaign's launch.This guidance followed reports that bogus officials posing as Zacc agents were intercepting buses and other vehicles, falsely accusing them of smuggling and extorting money from travellers. In some cases, travellers reportedly pay bribes to avoid delays or legal trouble."We have heard such reports. We use registered cars, mostly Nissan and Isuzu. We identify ourselves. We do not have roadblocks. We investigate to arrest," said Commissioner Chido Madiwa during a phone-in programme on community radio station Lotsha FM.Zacc's brief presence in Beitbridge had initially signalled a serious crackdown, with arrests of court officials and multiple meetings held with government departments, private sector players, and members of the public. The anti-corruption drive attracted widespread attention and support during its vibrant public launch.However, soon after the campaign gained momentum, Zacc abruptly disappeared from the scene. According to sources, public demands for transparency - including calls for clear identification of officials and the establishment of a one-stop search point at the border - sparked tensions with other State organs involved in anti-smuggling operations.These agencies reportedly expressed displeasure, arguing that while anti-smuggling efforts were helping the government collect revenue, Zacc's aggressive approach risked undermining their operations. Some went as far as accusing Zacc of "killing the goose that lays the golden egg.""Several adverse reports were made, resulting in Zacc abandoning its noble cause. The question which begs an answer is: if anti-smuggling operations are above board, why worry about the presence of Zacc?" a government official at the Beitbridge Border Post asked.A truck driver also weighed in on the issue, saying delays caused by repeated searches and unclear processes were hurting the industry. "The trucking industry pays when the wheels of the trucks are turning. We do not mind being stopped to be searched, but can that be done timeously? Sometimes a truck is delayed for a day and that is a lot of downtime," he said.For now, Beitbridge's corruption woes seem far from over, as Zacc's initial momentum has been blunted by internal resistance and entrenched interests. After trying for most of 2025 to procure a set of keys to Apples encrypted iCloud data, senior U.K. government officials now reportedly recognize that they cannot win their privacy war with Apple and are looking for a discreet way out of the dispute. This is something that the vice-president is very annoyed about and which needs to be resolved, said one official from the UKs technology department. Its a big red line in the USthey dont want us messing with their tech companies The Home Office is basically going to have to back down. In January, the office of the Home Secretary issued a secret order demanding that Apple create a back door providing access to all content uploaded to the cloud by any of the companys customers throughout the world. This technical capability notice, which was revealed via a tipoff the following month, was based on powers afforded by the U.K. Investigatory Powers Act of 2016. Unsurprisingly the notice proved highly contentious. Macworlds own Jason Cross said the order would instantly compromise the security of over 2 billion Apple users across the globe, a sentiment mirrored across the tech media landscape. Politicians were quick to identify the potential security implications, with U.S. Vice President JD Vance saying it would be crazy to create a vulnerability which could be exploited by Americas enemies. President Trump compared the order to something that you hear about with China and reportedly told UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, You cant do this. And Apple itself point-blank refused to comply, choosing instead to remove its encrypted Advanced Data Protection feature from iPhones in the U.K. and reiterating its defiance: We have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products, and we never will. This accumulated pressure now appears to have taken its tolland the political dimension is the key factor. The Financial Times reports that the UK government is seeking a way out of a clash with the Trump administration, citing the testimony of two senior officials. The issue is that targeting Apple in this way is having repercussions in terms of the U.K.s wider relationship with the U.S. and its ability to forge favorable trade deals. It doesnt help that Apple CEO Tim Cook appears to be viewed as an ally by president Trump, who carved out a tariff exemption for the Cupertino company. In other words, Starmers government has bitten off more than it can chew and will probably have to back downbut hopefully without looking weak or submissive. Not an easy assignment. We await further developments with interest. If you are browsing the web using your iPad or iPhone your online activity is visible to your internet service provider (ISP), your government, and potentially others. You might think you have nothing to hide, but if you are accessing the web via a public Wi-Fi network there is a chance of interception that could put your data at risk. There is a really simple solution if you want to maintain online privacy and anonymity: a VPN. The VPN will encrypt your data and provide a secure means of surfing the web. If privacy is important to you, and why wouldnt it be, surfing via a VPN will guard your identity. If you are surfing from a location that requires some form of identification to view certain sites, a VPN would allow you to bypass that requirement by hiding your IP address and switching it for a new IP address somewhere else in the world. You can switch to an IP address in the same country, or it could be halfway across the globe. This makes a VPN an essential tool for iPad and iPhone users wanting to access streaming services in countries where they dont exist (such as HBO Max in the U.K. or BBC iPlayer in the U.S.) or to watch content that isnt available where you are on services like as Disney+, Netflix, or Amazon Prime. If youre traveling abroad and missing out on your favorite shows you can use a VPN to connect to a server in your own country and carry on watching as if you were at home. Best iPad and iPhone VPN 2025: Reviewed & Ranked Weve tested many VPN services on Macs and weve tested them on iPads and iPhones. The good news is its never been easier to find a great VPN for your iPhone or iPad, but theyre not all created equal. Here are our picks. What to consider when choosing the best VPN for iPad A VPN ideally serves two purposes for the user: obfuscating network traffic and allowing for geo-unblocking. Still, some VPN options on this list are better at one or the other, so you should lean towards what you need it to do. For example, if youre looking to anonymise your online activity, youll want to find a service that puts your privacy first. If your main focus is unblocking sites and streaming services around the world, either for accessing new content libraries or because you travel regularly, many services are packed with streaming-focused servers. That brings us nicely to server count. While some streaming services have hundreds of available server locations, others have thousands, increasing your options substantially. These sometimes come at a price, though, and budget will naturally be a concern. Many VPN services will aim to tie a user into a longer-term subscription by enticing them with cheaper payments, but you should always check the renewal costs as many will climb steeply after a year or two. Above all else, its important that the VPN works on your device of choice, and while some iPad VPNs are lacking in features compared to their Mac counterparts, you can read our full review for each to find out. How we test VPNs for iPad and iPhone We tested every VPN in this list, and worked to check out their performance on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. We tested speeds, attempted to unblock streaming services around the world from BBC iPlayer to Amazon Prime Video and more, while also poking around the various app offerings. We focus on the practicalities of device compatibility (iPad, iPhone, Apple TV, and Mac), the number of devices supported, geo-restrictions and ease of use. We also pay attention to security and validate the privacy promises made by each VPN company. Why trust Macworlds advice We have been testing Mac hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. We put every product through its paces using rigorous benchmarking and hands-on evaluation. Wed never recommend something we wouldnt use ourselves. We use the software ourselves so our reviews are based on our own experience with the software and include our own insights and unbiassed opinions. Macworlds VPN specialist Lloyd Coombes has made it his aim to assess every VPN going. FAQ 1. Do iPads and iPhones have a built-in VPN? iPads and iPhones dont come with a VPN out of the box, but Apple does offer iCloud Private Relay which is a sort of halfway house. iCloud Private Relay sends your data to a relay server thats owned by Apple. This can tell who you are, but not what youre looking at in Safari, and the traffic then moves to another (third-party) relay, which assigns a temporary IP address. This means your IP address is only visible to Apple, but not to the third-party relay. Youll need an iCloud+ subscription to use it, and its only available in Safari. All of the offerings on this list can be used with other browsers, though. 2. Should I put a VPN on my iPad or iPhone? A VPN for your iPad or iPhone offers many of the same benefits to putting a VPN on your Mac. If youre looking to protect your online activity when using iffy coffee shop or train station Wi-Fi, theyll obfuscate your data so its not easy for hackers to gain access. They can also be used to relocate your device to access streaming services from elsewhere. 3. Can I get a free VPN on my iPhone/iPad? There are free VPN options, but they tend to have limitations on server locations and speeds, or struggle to break through geoblocks. A free VPN can be a solid way to get started, letting you do some private browsing in a pinch, but if youre using them regularly, youll soon want to move to a paid option. Most VPNs cost less than $3/3 per month if you sign up for a one- or two-year deal. However, once that deal period ends the price can jump, so its worth setting a reminder to shop around a month before your subscription runs out so you can search for a better deal, alternatively, you might be able to cancel and sign up with another email address. You may be able to save money if you take a look at our round-up of the best VPN deals. 4. Is it safe to use a VPN on my iPhone or iPad? Yes! Since VPN apps are installed through the App Store and are therefore signed off by Apple, you should have no issues. With that said, if sideloading a VPN via a third-party app store or browser download then you forgo that safety. Everything on this list is found on the App Store. 5. When should you not use a VPN? If youre not looking to unblock Netflix or any other streaming services in your region, then theres a good chance you wont need a VPN if youre at home or on a connection you trust. For example, if youre on your home network, you can use your iPad or iPhone without a VPN because your network is a trusted one. If theres a chance that your network might be compromised, however, then a VPN becomes more important. Next: learn how to use a VPN on iPhone or iPad. For more information on the legalities and whether it is safe to use a VPN read: Is a VPN safe for iPad and iPhone? If youve still got some questions and want to find out more, read what is a VPN and are VPNs legal? News / National by Staff reporter Zanu-PF has formally barred controversial business tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei from joining its influential Central Committee, insisting he must return to the grassroots and start from the bottom if he wants to climb the party ladder.Tagwirei's attempted elevation to the ruling party's top decision-making body in-between congresses was blocked after it was ruled that his nomination had not followed due process. The party's leadership concluded he was ineligible for co-option into the Central Committee.Addressing a press conference at the Zanu-PF headquarters in Harare, party spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa was blunt and unapologetic in his remarks, confirming the reports while delivering a series of hard-hitting statements about the role of money in party politics.Mutsvangwa said Tagwirei should "go back to the cell," referring to the village committee, the lowest party structure, and start from scratch if he genuinely wished to rise within Zanu-PF. He made it clear that financial muscle will not secure anyone a position in the party, warning that attempts to buy influence through backdoor deals would not be tolerated."Money will not buy anyone any position in the party; that will not succeed," Mutsvangwa declared. "If he wants to buy structures, he must go down to start from the cell or village committee, and then work his way up to branches, districts, and provinces for people to see if he can pay everyone to buy positions."He further claimed that the wealth Tagwirei flaunts "belongs to Zanu-PF," arguing that the businessman owes his success to opportunities created by the ruling party. "All local businessmen associated with Zanu-PF were created by the party; they are products of the Shake Shake Building," he said, referring to the party headquarters.Mutsvangwa warned that Zanu-PF would not risk its future by accommodating individuals who seek to manipulate party structures through money, adding that doing so would endanger the party's prospects in the 2028 elections. He stressed that the integrity of party processes had to be maintained.Turning to broader party matters, Mutsvangwa said the upcoming Zanu-PF annual conference in Mutare from 13-18 October would address unresolved leadership questions and the controversial "2030 agenda," referring to discussions about extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa's rule beyond his current constitutional limit. Although last year's Bulawayo conference passed a resolution allowing Mnangagwa to extend his tenure, the President has publicly declared himself a constitutionalist, insisting he will not seek to overstay his term.Mutsvangwa acknowledged there are forces within and outside Zanu-PF who never wanted Mnangagwa to assume power in the first place and still oppose his leadership. He said the next party congress, scheduled for 2027 ahead of the general elections, will definitively resolve the succession struggle within Zanu-PF.For now, Tagwirei's political ambitions within the ruling party appear thwarted, as Zanu-PF seeks to tighten its internal discipline and avoid the dangers of patronage politics ahead of critical upcoming elections. Baleia, a South End establishment serving up modern takes on traditional Portuguese cuisine in a stylish, upscale dining space, is a more recent addition to the Boston restaurant scene. The 264 East Berkeley St. restaurant opened in 2024 and even then was among the citys top 5 restaurants last year. Among its food selection is its charred and juicy piri piri chicken served with fries and a garlic aioli sauce. The piri piri chicken and seared cod dishes from Baleia in Boston. Alexandra Francisco Read More: New waterfront restaurant in Mass. serves food from sunrise to sunset There is also the seared cod served in a caldo verde puree with chourico, a type of Portuguese sausage, and crispy potatoes. The dish is a creative take on traditional Portuguese bacalhau e batatas mixed with other cultural staples. For drinks, Baleia offers a variety of cocktails and many Portuguese wines, including a not-always-easy-to-find and crisp vinho verde. To open the meal, try the Portuguese sweet rolls as a starter. To close out your dinner, try the pasteis de nata egg custard tart pastries or a sonhos fried dough treats with chocolate and caramel dipping sauces for dessert. The restaurant Baleia in Boston's South End serves up modern takes on traditional Portuguese cuisine and favorite dishes. Alexandra Francisco Read More: Martini flight among items served at Bostons newest waterfront restaurant There is an outdoor patio space to dine al fresco, but inside patrons will find a stylish, upscale dining room filled with yellow hues and an open kitchen. The name Baleia means Whale in Portuguese and features a whale tail in its signage. The restaurant is open daily at 5 p.m. for dinner service. Sunday through Thursday it closes at 9:30 p.m., but stays open later on Friday and Saturday until 10:30 p.m. The restaurant Baleia in Boston's South End serves up modern takes on traditional Portuguese cuisine and favorite dishes. Alexandra Francisco Baleias bar is open from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Massachusetts is home to one of the largest Portuguese-American communities in the country. A Cape Cod nurse is facing charges in connection with stealing oxycodone pills from a Boston rehab facility, the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office announced Monday. West Yarmouth resident Kaitlin Tipton, 34, was charged with drug larceny and drugs obtained by fraud in East Boston District Court on Friday, the district attorneys office said in a press release. She formerly worked as a licensed practical nurse at Advocate Health Care a long- and short-term rehabilitation facility in East Boston. An investigation by the Massachusetts Department of Public Healths Drug Control Program revealed that between Nov. 15, 2023, and Feb. 23, 2024, Tipton diverted more than 50 oxycodone pills from Advocate Health Care by falsifying medical records, the district attorneys office said. Investigators discovered that she stole the drugs by not documenting doses, removing more medication than ordered by doctors and making false entries on days she didnt work. Tipton told police she had a friend with back problems who turned to her for help, and that she stole the addictive pain medication to help her friend, the district attorneys office said. The nurse was unsure how many times she had done this, she told investigators. Well likely never know where these pills ended up, but we do know that substances like oxycodone and oxycontin are huge contributors to dependency issues we see in Boston and every other community. So diversions from dispensing facilities must be taken seriously, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in the release. During Tiptons arraignment, a judge released her on personal recognizance bail and ordered her to stay away from Advocate Health Care, the district attorneys office said. She is due back in court on Sept. 10 for a probable cause hearing. Following President Donald Trumps post on Truth Social that he had been speaking with Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke, the company has made an announcement. Come this fall, the iconic soda company will introduce a new formula in the United States using cane sugar. As part of its ongoing innovation agenda, this fall in the United States, the company plans to launch an offering made with U.S. cane sugar to expand its Trademark Coca-Cola product range, the company wrote in its second-quarter report on July 22. This addition is designed to complement the companys strong core portfolio and offer more choices across occasions and preferences. Coca-Cola clarified to MassLive that cane sugar will not be a replacement for high-fructose corn syrup. Our other beverages will continue, a spokesperson from Coca-Cola said. The cane sugar product will be an addition to the Trademark Coke lineup. Regarding potential health impacts, the choice between sweetness is inconsequential, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and director of the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, told NBC News. Both high-fructose corn syrup and cane sugar are about 50% fructose, 50% glucose, and have identical metabolic effects, he told the media outlet. This means that both sweetness can equally raise the risk of obesity, diabetes and high triglycerides and blood pressure, NBC reported. The sugars also provide the same number of calories. WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 21: The U.S. Capitol Building is seen as the sun sets on June 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images) Getty Images After brutal fights over President Donald Trumps deficit-busting domestic policy bill and a $9 billion rescissions bill that slashed funding for public media, Republicans on Capitol Hill are sweating that their next act could include a government shutdown. A senior Republican on the high-powered Senate Appropriations Committee has put the odds of a shutdown this fall at a real square 50-50, according to The Hill. Thats because Republicans will need Democratic cooperation to keep the government funded. And after months of partisan infighting, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., has told GOP lawmakers not to expect business as usual, the publication reported. Democrats may get even testier if, as expected, White House Budget Czar Russell Vought sends another round of cuts to Capitol Hill. Some Republicans also are warning that there may not be the votes to pass it, according to The Hill. The lawmaker told The Hill that he agreed with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., saying that we need to get to a regular appropriations process, and I think it gets in the way of that. So the timing, if they do another one, is going to have to be better timed and [have] much more detail. That same lawmaker acknowledged that Democrats are furious after Republicans rammed through The Big Beautiful Bill. Who gets blamed for it? the lawmaker mused to The Hill. Another Republican senator, speaking on condition of anonymity, voiced similar concerns. I think the Democrats are very unhappy, the senator told The Hill. You got some of them that are running for president, you got some of them that are running for majority or minority leader over there. So, I think theyre going to fight for us no matter what, and I think they see government funding as one of those places they want to fight. Were already thinking and talking about what we do there, the lawmaker, whos been in on discussions with Republican leaders, told the publication. That cut to NPR and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which affected outlets in Massachusetts, was definitely on U.S. Sen. Ed Markeys mind. Republicans who supported public broadcasting for years voted for $1 billion in cuts for one reason: Donald Trump. Americas kids, communities, and families deserve better, Markey, D-Mass., wrote in a post to X. Taking to X, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., included her shopping list of Democratic grievances stemming from the domestic policy bill. Five under the radar things Trump snuck into his "Big Beautiful Bill": - Delivers tax breaks to Big Oil - Defunds Planned Parenthood - Raises drug prices for seniors (Big Pharma giveaway) - Hikes monthly student loan payments - Makes ICE the biggest federal law enforcement agency Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) July 20, 2025 They included a vote that cut off Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood, increased student loan costs and tax breaks for fossil fuel producers. On the other side of Capitol Hill, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-1st District, the top Democrat on the. budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee, had his list of objections. More hospitalizations + fewer doctors = unnecessary lives put at risk due to Republicans cuts. Billionaire tax breaks shouldnt be funded on the backs of working people and their health care.https://t.co/dtBOSChrYO Rep. Richard Neal (@RepRichardNeal) July 18, 2025 More hospitalizations + fewer doctors = unnecessary lives put at risk due to Republicans cuts, Neal wrote in a post to X. Billionaire tax breaks shouldnt be funded on the backs of working people and their health care. U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-5th District, foreshadowed Democratic messaging heading into the 2026 midterm cycle -- and, likely, talking points in the event of a shutdown. Republicans fear Trump more than they love their country. They pushed through the Big, Ugly law KNOWING it would punish their own constituents. All to fund tax breaks for billionaires. Cowards. Katherine Clark (@WhipKClark) July 20, 2025 Republicans fear Trump more than they love their country. They pushed through the Big, Ugly law KNOWING it would punish their own constituents, Clark, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, said. All to fund tax breaks for billionaires. Cowards. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Prosecutor Adam Lally gives his closing arguments in the Karen Read trial at Norfolk Superior Court on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. (Nancy Lane/The Boston Herald via AP, Pool) AP 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The states public defender agency is asking a single justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to implement the Lavallee protocol in place for courts in Suffolk and Middlesex counties to now include juvenile court in those counties and beyond. The Committee for Public Counsel Services, or CPCS, made the request in a brief submitted to a single justice of the SJC on Friday, noting that more than 100 children across the state have cases pending in juvenile court and are not represented by lawyers. The protocol, in place since the beginning of July, essentially requires judges to release defendants held for longer than seven days without a lawyer and to dismiss charges against defendants whose cases have been pending for more than 45 days. But CPCS is asking the single justice to modify the protocol for the juvenile courts, reflecting the unique nature of that system. In the juvenile courts, the agency says, children who have been held without lawyers should be released after three days in custody, rather than seven. Children out of custody not represented by lawyers should have their cases dismissed after 15 days, not 45, and judges in the juvenile court should have the ability to dismiss cases with prejudice, meaning the charges could not be re-filed, the agency wrote. A hearing on the petition is scheduled for July 28 at 2 p.m., a spokesperson for the trial courts said. The courts declined to comment on the petition itself. The request from CPCS comes as bar advocates private defense lawyers who take on cases for those who cant afford representation refuse to take on new cases across the state amid a pay dispute. That shortage has grown to a crisis in both the Boston municipal courts and district courts in Suffolk and Middlesex counties, where hundreds of defendants could have their cases dismissed in the coming weeks. CPCS represents about 30% of juvenile defendants in Massachusetts. The shortage of other lawyers to take on cases has left 101 children without representation in Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Middlesex, Norfolk and Suffolk counties, according to the agency. The majority of those children, 53, are in Suffolk County, where one child has been held in Department of Youth Services custody. The concerns that gave rise to the Lavallee protocol for adult court defendants are just as present, if not more so, for youth charged with crimes in Juvenile Court," the agency wrote in its petition. Much the same as it is for adults, CPCS says it is increasingly difficult to find lawyers willing to take on cases in Suffolk and Middlesex counties. There, approximately 50 children have gone unrepresented for at least 15 days, with 34 such cases in Suffolk County and 16 in Middlesex. Eight children have been unrepresented for at least 45 days, CPCS wrote. Youth are uniquely harmed by the lack of representation from the very beginning of their cases, the petition reads. In juvenile court, children are represented at their first appearance in court, where there is often litigation about whether to dismiss the case. Children cant be arraigned unless they have lawyers, CPCS argues. Detention is also particularly harmful for children and can increase the rate at which they reoffend, the agency notes. Where the conditions of detention are so uniquely harmful to youth, access to counsel to address those conditions, navigate the stress and trauma of detention, and reduce the length of detention is necessary, the petition reads. If a childs case could be delayed for 45 days with no remedy, or dismissed but then refiled at any time, it could have negative impacts on the youth and the community at large. News / National by Staff reporter High Court judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi has urged magistrates to reconsider the blanket practice of automatically ordering the destruction of large quantities of mbanje (marijuana) forfeited to the State, suggesting instead that courts explore whether the seized drugs could be redirected to licensed dealers for medicinal and research purposes.Justice Mutevedzi made the remarks while reviewing the conviction and sentence of Tapfuma Moyo, who was jailed for possessing more than 40 kilograms of mbanje at the Beitbridge Border Post. Moyo was sentenced on May 21 this year to 15 years in prison, with six years suspended on condition of good behavior. The court had also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the mbanje.While upholding Moyo's conviction and the forfeiture order, Justice Mutevedzi questioned the necessity of destroying the seized drugs. He reduced the effective sentence from nine years to six, but took the opportunity to reflect on Zimbabwe's evolving legal framework regarding marijuana.The judge noted that while Zimbabwe had, for decades, maintained a hardline stance against marijuana cultivation and use frequently ordering the destruction of seized consignments the legal landscape shifted significantly in 2018 when the government liberalized the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and scientific research purposes."What remains banned is the growing or use of dagga for recreational purposes," Justice Mutevedzi said. "There are, therefore, businesses, institutions and possibly individuals who are licensed to grow and process mbanje for those specified purposes."He pointed out that the historical rationale for ordering destruction no longer necessarily applies in all cases. "Throwing 40 kg of mbanje down an incinerator simply because it is tradition may be uneconomical," the judge remarked. "My view is that the trial magistrate ought to have just forfeited the dagga to the State and stopped there. Because there are lawful avenues of dealing with the drug, it would then have been left to the responsible State functionaries to determine how best to deal with it."Justice Mutevedzi stressed that his comments should not be seen as diminishing the seriousness of drug-related offenses, affirming the judiciary's commitment to supporting efforts to combat drug abuse. "I do not seek to play down the chaos that the scourge of drugs has brought upon society in this country," he said. "There is no gainsaying that the courts must play their role in the fight against the abuse of drugs and other substances."The judge's remarks are expected to spark debate on how Zimbabwe manages seized marijuana, particularly in light of the country's policy shift towards recognizing its medicinal and economic potential. An accused cocaine trafficker, a man charged with beating a pregnant woman and a woman who had been on the Boston Police Departments most wanted list were among the more than 100 defendants whose charges were dismissed Tuesday because there were no public defenders to represent them. The cases were the first to go up in smoke since private attorneys, in search of a pay increase from the state, began declining to take new cases of people who cannot afford a lawyer. Without attorneys to represent those indigent defendants, judges are forced to dismiss some cases and release other suspects held on serious charges. Today is quite an unprecedented tragedy, I believe, to our victims in the commonwealth and to the community with these cases being dismissed, Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Amelia Singh told a Boston courtroom after the days proceedings. The cases dismissed also included stabbings, an attempt by a woman to burn a family member, and attacks on female victims in the middle of the street in front of witnesses, said Marc Tohme, chief of district and municipal courts for the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office. We have great concerns for public safety, given some of the cases being dismissed, he said. Prosecutors and staff for the Committee for Public Counsel Services, the states public defender agency, scrambled Tuesday morning to find lawyers willing to take on new indigent clients before their cases could be dismissed. In only a handful of cases were they successful. Repeatedly, Tohme urged Judge Tracy-Lee Lyons, the chief justice of the Boston Municipal Courts, to hold off dismissing the cases to allow more time to find lawyers who might take the cases. But when attorneys could not be found, Lyons ruled the Committee for Public Counsel Services, or CPCS, had made a good faith efforts to connect defendants with representation. The vast majority of the roughly 130 defendants whose hearings Tuesday came after they had been without counsel for 45 days saw their cases tossed out. One by one, court staff read down the list of defendants facing a variety of charges. Numerous defendants faced counts of drug possession or distribution, assault and battery and various forms of theft. The private defense attorneys, known as bar advocates, represent about 80% of criminal defendants in Massachusetts who cant afford legal representation. Frustrated by a pay rate they say remains far too low, the attorneys have largely refused to take new cases since May. We are living through an unprecedented moment in the criminal legal system in Massachusetts, CPCS Chief Counsel Anthony Benedetti said in an emailed statement after the hearings. Our clients, overwhelmingly low-income individuals, many of whom are Black and Brown, are being denied the most basic constitutional protection: the right to counsel. Our staff is working tirelessly, but the system is stretched beyond its limits, and it is having a deep impact on all of us and those we represent. The hearings occurred under the states Lavallee protocol, a system invoked in recent weeks to address the shortage of public defenders. As of last week, more than 50 defendants who had been held because of their danger to the community were granted Lavallee hearings after they could not be assigned attorneys within seven days in custody. Nearly half were released. Tuesdays hearings addressed cases where defendants out on bail had gone 45 days without legal representation. Their charges must be dismissed under the Lavallee protocols. One of the defendants had been listed in May on the Boston Police Departments most wanted list. She was charged with overnight breaking and entering a felony as well as larceny. Both charges were dismissed. In another case, a man named Charles Arvin was charged in Dorchester with a domestic assault and battery in which prosecutors said he punched a pregnant woman in the stomach, Tohme said. Arvin had already been released without bail when there were no attorneys available to take his case. Again unable to find him legal counsel on Tuesday, Lyons was forced to dismiss his charges. Another woman was accused of severely burning her nephew using a bottle of cologne and a lighter. It was one of multiple instances of a defendant facing serious violent charges in which Tohme said he was desperately asking CPCS to make every effort to find a public defender. No lawyers were available to take the case, though, and the charges were dismissed. Rebecca Jacobstein, an attorney for the committee, said the organization had already gone to tremendous lengths to find lawyers willing to take new clients. As required, it had prioritized assigning lawyers with cases where they were most urgently needed or where public safety could be at risk if the defendant went free. The district attorneys office maintained that though it had assisted CPCS in tracking down lawyers for indigent defendants, that was outside its responsibilities. Prosecutors could not prioritize finding representation for one defendant over another, assistant district attorney Elisabeth Martino said. A small number of defendants were able to locate private counsel or public defenders and were no longer eligible to have their cases dismissed. As the public defender work stoppage stretches on, more serious cases will reach the 45-day mark where they must be dismissed, Martino said. Hundreds of cases could ultimately be dismissed. More than 200 defendants are scheduled for Lavallee hearings in Boston Municipal Court on Aug. 5. Hearings have not yet been scheduled in Suffolk and Middlesex courts, the two counties where the Lavallee protocols have been invoked. But court officials said some 450 defendants may see their cases considered under the process. More Lavallee hearings are scheduled for defendants in custody Wednesday morning in Boston Municipal Court. Hearings for the district courts in Suffolk and Middlesex counties will be held Thursday morning. By law, bar advocates make between $65 and $120 an hour in Massachusetts, depending on the type of case. In New Hampshire, bar advocates make $125 an hour. They make $112 per hour in Rhode Island and $150 per hour in Maine. The memorial for the victims of the fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility on July 13. Photos were taken on July 19. Gustavo Atencio Flores/MassLive A spokesperson for the Gabriel House ownership issued a statement on Monday, a week after a deadly fire killed 10 residents and hospitalized dozens more at the assisted living facility in Fall River. 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, the statement reads. The statement said that there were quarterly inspections of the fire suppression system and that the latest happened five days before the fire on July 8. The tests found the sprinklers were in working order, according to ownership. 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, the statement read. Firefighters responded to the July 13 fire shortly before 9:40 p.m. and found flames blowing out the front door of the building, which housed about 70 residents, on Oliver Street. Residents claimed the sprinkler system was working inconsistently during the fire, and police body camera footage seemed to back up those claims. Many of the residents have mobility issues, and were yelling out of windows for help. A charred window on the east side of the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River on July 19. Gustavo Atencio Flores/MassLive A MassLive investigation of conditions at the Gabriel House found that residents in wheelchairs lived on the third floor of the building with a broken elevator for prolonged periods of time. Sanitary and safety issues plagued the building, including cockroaches and a perceived absence of emergency planning, which were detailed by residents, family members and documents provided by the city. Neighbors of the assisted living facility told MassLive that they heard residents screaming for help on the third floor of the facility and rushed to the building with ladders. They helped firefighters pull a man out of a room through a window. Messages left for Gabriel House owner Dennis Etzkorn have not been returned. One person who answered the phone said, Not available, and quickly hung up when a reporter identified themselves. The Bristol County District Attorneys Office is investigating the fires origin. Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon described the incident as an accidental fire. What does the ownership statement say? The statement on Monday by George Reagan Jr., a spokesperson for the Gabriel House ownership, said they were eternally grateful to the Fall River fire and police departments for their heroic response to the fire. The statement also commended ambulance companies and medical personnel who provided care to the victims. The press statement by Reagan described the Gabriel House as a fixture in the community for decades and said that staff, some of whom have been there for a decade or more, are dedicated to improving the lives of the residents. 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, Reagan said. We are currently providing temporary housing to residents who were displaced by the fire. Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan told MassLive last week that the city has incurred costs to help victims of the fire, including finding them new housing, and that the costs would be made public once the bills are added up. He said, Ill cover any costs, Coogan said about Etzkorn. As far as Im concerned, were still incurring costs. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, center, and Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan, left, speak with a member of law enforcement, right, near the Gabriel House assisted living facility, Monday, July 14, 2025, following a fire that started late Sunday, in Fall River, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) AP The Reagan statement said that 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, the statement read. Reagan said one focus of the investigation has been the status of the buildings sprinkler system, and that investigators have taken several sprinkler heads for further investigation. Gabriel House ownership has provided documentation of regular tests of the sprinklers by the vendor, and the July 8 test reported the sprinkler system to be in working order, the statement read. 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, the statement concluded. Price matching will no longer be offered at Target as of July 28. Kalina Kornacki Target shoppers are losing a discount option used when the stores competitors had lower prices listed. Previously, a Target customer could show a staff member a competitors lower price on an identical product to receive a discount at checkout. That will no longer be an option at Target as of July 28, according to Retail Dive. The company told the media outlet that it found that shoppers overwhelmingly price match Target and not other retailers. Were always working to deliver consumers outstanding value and give them confidence to choose Target, with our everyday low prices, affordable and quality-focused owned brands, incredible deals, free-to-join membership program, Target Circle, and more, the spokesperson said. Target currently states on its website that it matches pricing for identical qualifying items at Amazon and Walmart. Price matches may be requested at time of purchase or within 14 days after purchase. Shoppers will still have the opportunity to match prices between Targets in-store and online options, according to Newsweek. Neither Walmart nor Amazon price match competitors. Target did not respond to MassLives request for comment. A 21-year-old student who was shot while interning in the nations capital was remembered in his obituary for his kind heart, intelligence, his sense of justice, love of nature and his unwavering curiosity. Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, of Granby, was in Washington, D.C., interning in the office of U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, R-Kansas, when he was shot near 1200 7th St. on June 30, around a mile from the White House. Estes recalled his kind heart and how he always greeted anyone who entered our office with a cheerful smile in a statement. Tarpinian-Jachym was a Latin enthusiast, competitive recurve archer and fisher. He was also noted for his academic excellence, according to his obituary. Eric was a humble old soul, the obituary reads. Tarpinian-Jachym grew up fishing, crabbing and clamming when he was a toddler in Rhode Island with his siblings, grandpa and parents. He was a member of Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association with his father. Competing in tournaments, he also took part in free dives to remove marine debris. He was the youngest board member in the Pioneer Valley Boat & Surfs history in Agawam. Tarpinian-Jachym received honors by passing the National Latin Exam, receiving a gold medal, and a series of other awards for his Latin. He began archery in fourth grade, becoming a competitive recurve archer, and competing in Jr. Olympic Archery Development and the USA Archery National. He was a level one instructor. Tarpinian-Jachym was born in Springfield as the youngest of three children. A graduate of Granby Public Schools, he was on Debate Club, Model UN, Chess Club and Bowling Club. He was also an alumnus of the Bement School in Deerfield and later attended Bryant University for finance his freshman year. He decided to come back to Massachusetts to be with his family and committed to Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for his sophomore year. Tarpinian-Jachym was active in Ski Club, Armenian Club, Chess Club, Finance Society and Investment Club during his time there. He received a full scholarship in January to attend the Fund for American Studies in Washington, D.C. and was a full-time fellow with Advanced Advocacy from January through May and while attending George Mason University full time for the semester. He leaves behind his parents and siblings and their family German short hair pointer, among other family members. Friends and family are invited to gather on Wednesday, July 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Forastiere Smith Funeral & Cremation, 220 North Main St., East Longmeadow. Funeral services will be held the following day at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will occur at 11 a.m. at St. Cecilia Church, 42 Main St., Wilbraham, MA 01095. The family is asking for memorial contributions to be made out to organizations that helped educate and mentor Tarpinian-Jachym. Those include The Fund for American Studies and a future fishing derby in memory of Eric through the Pioneer Valley Boat and Surf Club, along with other organizations. What happened at the shooting? Tarpinian-Jachym and two other people, a woman and a 16-year-old boy, were wounded in the gunfire. The 21-year-old was pronounced dead at a hospital on July 1. Police have said he is not believed to be the intended target of the shooting. The Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department initially set a $25,000 reward for information, which was upped to $40,000 by the FBI Washington Field Office. The shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. on June 30, when multiple suspects exited a vehicle at the intersection of 7th and M Street, Northwest and began firing at a group, police said. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said, We believe that the two groups had an altercation that did not result initially in gunfire prior to the shooting. The vehicle believed to be involved in the shooting, a black Acura, was recovered in a neighboring jurisdiction. At a press conference, Smith said the 16-year-old boy was kind of engaged as part of the group. He was hospitalized with wounds to his spine. Local police were bringing in the FBI to aid in the investigation, and Smith said the department was working closely with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. We do have some good video footage ... thats a little grainy, so were bringing in the FBI to kind of help enhance the video ... so we can see a little bit better, Smith said, adding the department may be able to publish images that could assist in the investigation. Our Major Crimes Division Unit, the detectives, are really doing some great work and making sure that we can kind of bring this case to a close, Smith added. Charlie McKenna contributed to this reporting. While the Red Sox were picking up a big win at Wrigley Field on Sunday, members of their front office were handling some draft-related business back home. Boston announced its first batch of draft pick signings, with first-rounder Kyson Witherspoon a right-hander from Oklahoma headlining the group of players who have already put pen to paper. Witherspoon, the No. 15 pick, signed for a $5 million signing bonus, according to MLB.coms Jim Callis. Thats slightly under his slot value of $5,114,200. Witherspoons bonus is tied for the second-largest in Red Sox history, tying 2024 first-rounder Braden Montgomery (who got $5 million before being traded to the White Sox). Marcelo Mayers $6.64 million commitment from 2021 is the highest. Witherspoons bonus is the largest the Sox have ever given to a pitcher. The previous record holder was the $3.65 million bonus the club gave to Jay Groome, the 12th overall pick in 2016. Boston also got a deal done with its second pick (No. 33 overall), Tennessee righty Marcus Phillips, thats reportedly worth $2.5 million (a bit less than the slot value of $2,898,300). Third-rounder Anthony Eyanson, a righty out of LSU, also got a seven-figure bonus of $1.75 million, per Callis. That exceeds his slot value of $907,200. Boston also got deals done with its fifth round pick, Arkansas righty Christian Foutch, valued a bit under slot at $400,000, and its sixth round pick, Georgia righty Leighton Finley at slot value of $364,800. Ninth-rounder Jacob Mayers got $190,000 and 10th-rounder Maximus Martin received $191,300. The Red Sox signed 16 of their 20 draftees. Notably, 11th rounder Barrett Morgan, a right-handed pitcher out of Cowley Community College in Kansas, got a big bonus of $500,000 to prevent him from honoring his commitment to Texas A&M. Its expected Witherspoon and potentially Phillips, Eyanson and other top picks will be at Fenway Park to be officially introduced as members of the Red Sox soon. Theres no word yet on where any of the signed players, who all reported to Fort Myers, will be assigned to start their pro careers. The five unsigned draftees are second-round compensation pick Henry Godbout, fourth-rounder Mason White, seventh-rounder Myles Patton, eighth-rounder Dylan Brown and 20th-rounder Garrison Sumner. Because draft bonuses are often agreed upon before the draft, theres little indication that the Red Sox dont expect to get deals done with those players. A Connecticut man is facing charges in connection with a stabbing at the Mount Greylock Campground in Lanesborough on July 18, the Berkshire County District Attorneys Office announced Monday. Jeffrey Deluca, 47, of Wilton, Connecticut, is facing two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, three counts of reckless endangerment of a child, two counts of armed assault with intent to murder and one count of assault and battery causing a serious bodily injury, according to an email from the district attorneys office. Deluca was arraigned on Monday at Central Berkshire District Court, with the judge ordering him to be held on dangerousness, the district attorneys office wrote. Video News: [Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 23 juillet 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 22 juillet 2025[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 22 juillet 2025[Video news] Nando Bodha : Mo convaincu ki linite loppostion li sel solution contre enn gouvernement 60/0Parlons de : 175 ans de lEglise St John.[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 19 juillet 2025[Video News] La MFDC, Mauritius Telecom et Media Trust unissent leurs forces pour former les assistants-cameramans mauriciens[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 18 juillet 2025[Video News] Sonu Nigam promet une soiree electrisante, ce samedi 19 juillet a 20H au SVICC, Pailles[Video News] Conference de presse de Nando Bodha[Video News] Assurance Quantum Insurance transforme lexperience client avec un service 24/7[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 16 juillet 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 15 juillet 2025[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 15 juillet 2025 en Live[Video News] Edition Speciale[Video news] Dimans Politik[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 12 juillet 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 11 juillet 2025Parlons de: Systeme de parking relais a Rennes [Video News] [Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 09 juillet 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 9 juillet 2025[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 8 juillet 2025 en Live[Video News] Renganaden Padayachy a dit[Video News] Sudheer Ramnoruth a fait la premiere partie de Robin Sharma[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 5 juillet 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 4 juillet 2025[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 4 juillet 2025 en Live[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 2 juillet 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 1er juillet 2025[Video News]Lancement officiel du programme 2025 JCI Mauritius Creative Young Entrepreneur[Video News] Renganaden Padayachy a dit[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 30 juin 2025 en LIve[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 28 juin 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 27 juin 2025[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 27 juin 2025 en Live[Video News]Horizon 2024 : Une initiative qui change des vies[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 26 juin 2025 en Live[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 25 juin 2025[Video News] Cloture du programme Horizon 2024[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 24 juin 2025 en Live[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 23 juin 2025 en Live.[Video News] Edition Speciale[Video News] Fete de la Musique a lIFM[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 21 juin 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 20 juin 2025[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 20 juin 2025[Video news] Conference de presse de la SEF du 18 juin 2025[Video news] Conference de presse de la FPU du 19 juin 2025[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 19 juin 2025 en Live[Video News] Edition Speciale[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 18 juin 2025[Video News] Educathon @ IFM[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 18 juin 2025 en Live[Video News] Middlesex University Mauritius tient un colloque sur lexcellence et linnovation dans lenseignement et lapprentissage a lere numerique[Video news] LAMM et Made in Moris marque leurs presences dans Hotel World 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 17 juin 2025[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 17 juin 2025[Video news] Teaching and Learning Colloquim 2025[Video News] Lancement de Paradise Club et autres histoires [Video News] Conference de presse Platform Pas Touss nu pension 60 ans [Video news] Conference de presse de Roshi Bhadain[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 14 juin 2025[Video news]MCB Talk : Une banque pour tous, mais des defis bien reels[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 13 juin 2025The Lux Collective continue de definir les standards de lindustrie en matiere de formation professionnelle[Video news] Pravind Jugnauth decortique le budget 2025-2026[Video News] 14 equipes en lice pour le STEM Racing Mauritius[Video News] Avinash Ramtohul a dit[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 11 juin 2025[Video news] Presentation de New Hair Graft[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 10 juin 2025[Video news] Mets-Tissages[Video news] Debrief de lEDB sur le Budget 2025-2026 au Sir Harilall Vaghjee Hall[Video news] Forum Terre & Eau : cultiver lavenir @ LIFM[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 7 juin 2025[Video news] Commentaires et explications de Roshi Bhadain sur le Budget 2025-2026[Video news] Coca-Cola annonce le retour du Coca-Cola Food Fest Moris[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 6 juin 2025[Video news] Pravind Rughoo: fair attention lor la rout Bai du cap, Riviere des galets, maconde. [Video news] Reaction a chaud du Leader de lOpposition sur le Budget 2025-2026[Video news] Patrick Belcourt: sa bidget fair mwa pense sega Saya [Video News] Lecture du Budget 2025-2026[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 4 juin 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 3 juin 2025[Video news] Exposition Richelieu, entre memoire et resilience [Video news] Sensibilisation ReUSE-ReVamp et MDPA sur le recyclage des Laptop et la technologie a Flacq[Video news] Dimans Politik[Video news] Coca Cola Food Fest 2025 avec Burna Boy[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 31 mai 2025[Video news] LEsperance en action: Caritas Ile Maurice marque 60 ans dengagement solidaire[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 30 mai 2025[Video News] Caritas a fete ses 60 ans de presence a Maurice[Video news] Lancement de Comme on dit [Video news] Huawei lance la WATCH FIT 4 Series a Maurice avec Ennoia[Video news] Formation pour les communicants et journalistes au Media Trust[Video News] Huawei a lance la WATCH FIT 4 Series a Maurice chez Ennoia[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 28 mai 2025La LGSC va recruter 2 245 travailleurs manuels, annonce Paul Berenger[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 28 mai 2025[Video news] la jeunesse mauricienne recompensee pour sa creativite et son engagement citoyen a travers lintelligence artificielle THE tremendous support for various fund-raising ventures undertaken by the team at Gilligans Bar, The Square, Claremorris, was reflected with the presentation of a cheque for an incredible 25,220 to Mayo Roscommon Hospice. Chief among the ventures was the Croagh Patrick Emergency Services Climb in memory of Martin Gilligan who died on December 6, 2024, and who had been involved with the Fire Service and various other groups. The climb received huge support on June 7 when members of The Irish Air Corps, An Garda Siochana, Mayo Fire Service, Search and Rescue teams, paramedics, nurses, family and friends climbed the Reek together in honour of Martin. READ MORE: Mayo roadworks set to last into August, say Council Lorraine and the team also organised a Table Quiz Night and a Coffee Morning in the bar in support of the Hospice. Martina Jennings, CEO of Mayo Roscommon, lauded the efforts of Gilligans Bar and all who supported the ventures. This phenomenal amount will go directly towards providing vital palliative care services across Mayo and Roscommon. To Olive, Lorraine, Paul, the Gilligan family, everyone at the bar, and all who took part, thank you. Your support means the world to us and to the families we serve every day. What a powerful display of community, generosity, and remembrance. A 42-year-old Mayo woman who bit the finger and scratched the neck of two male gardai in a prison cell has been sentenced to six months imprisonment. Rosemary Sweeney of Bridge Street, Ballinrobe appeared before Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court where she was sentenced after pleading guilty to two counts of assault causing harm to two male gardai in Claremorris Garda Station. The court heard that on June 30, 2022, Gardai were called to an incident on Circular Road in Kiltimagh at 2.30pm where a female was reported to be intoxicated and lying on the ground. READ NEXT: Gardai seize cars: Mayo drivers face court date and severe consequences Sergeant Fiona Farrell explained that Ms Sweeney was arrested for intoxication in a public place and brought to Claremorris Garda Station. While in the garda station, she was placed in a cell by Garda Darragh Mullahy and Garda Patrick Egan who asked her to remove her shoes and jacket for her safety but she refused. Sgt Farrell said that Ms Sweeney then spat at Garda Mullahy and kicked out at both of the male gardai. As a struggle ensued, Ms Sweeney scratched down the back of Garda Mullahy's neck and bit Garda Egan's finger, causing it to bleed. Ms Sweeney continued to kick out at the two gardai as they attempted to remove her shoes and kicked Garda Egan in the left knee. She said Garda Egan received a tetanus shot for the bite to his finger and his left knee was sore after the assault. Garda Mullahy she said had bruising and lower back pain but his skin to his neck was not broken. The court heard the two gardai have made a full recovery having been off work and there were no victim impact statements. Previous convictions JUDGE Eoin Garavan heard that Ms Sweeney has 18 previous convictions and two bench warrants were issued against her in connection to these charges resulting in her going into custody at the end of February. She is also serving six months imprisonment after receiving a two month sentence in Carrick-on-Shannon District Court on March 31 and a subsequent four month sentence from Castlebar District Court on May 21 last for offences before the current offence happened. When questioned by gardai in relation to the assaults, Ms Sweeney did not acknowledge what she did other than to say she got a bit 'lippy' and shouted at them. She also told gardai that at the time she was mixing alcohol with antidepressants. Mr Diarmuid Connolly, counsel for Ms Sweeney said that the incident should not have happened in the context that the gardai were called to help her when she was intoxicated. He said that the bulk of her previous convictions have occurred while she is intoxicated and explained that his client was nearly 40 years old when she received the first of her 18 convictions. A mother of five, Mr Connolly said Ms Sweeney has not seen her children since she has been in custody as she does not want them to see her in prison. He added she was a victim of domestic violence and fell into addiction and self-medication with alcohol and drugs which resulted in her committing offences. He asked Judge Garavan to consider how a female may feel at being searched by male gardai and the assault occurred as a result of a kneejerk reaction to being frightened and intoxicated. He also accepted that it took a while for Ms Sweeney to accept what had occurred because she had been intoxicated.# Mr Connolly said he was not trying to downplay the seriousness of the assaults but noted that the DPP had initially directed the matter be dealt with in the district court but jurisdiction was refused. Remorseful HE said she was remorseful for what occurred and has spent the last six months in custody and to consider this when imposing a sentence. Judge Garavan described what happened to the gardai as a serious matter as the two gardai had been assisting her at the station and she lashed out 'pretty viciously'. He noted her previous convictions and had not been co-operative during the investigation. He imposed a sentence of 18 months imprisonment but suspended the final 12 months for a three year period and informed Ms Sweeney that she would not get any credit for the month served while in custody as it was imposed following a bench warrant. He accepted that sentence may be lenient but there must be hope for Ms Sweeney as she is now sober and she must complete an addiction course. He also ordered that she come under the supervision of the Probation Service for two years post release. READ NEXT: Barman told Mayo gardai that punch was an 'impulsive reaction' 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. News / National by Staff reporter Seventeen people have been confirmed dead following a horrific road accident involving a haulage truck and a commuter omnibus along Seke Road in Harare on Tuesday morning. The fatal collision occurred at Hunyani Bridge near the Water Works area, leaving the nation in shock.According to rescue and medical teams at the scene, among the deceased were two pedestrians who were struck by the 30-tonne haulage truck before it rammed into the commuter omnibus, trapping it for a prolonged period before rescue efforts could commence.Three other victims were rushed to hospital in critical condition as emergency teams battled to save lives amidst the wreckage.Early videos of the gruesome aftermath circulated widely on social media, with harrowing scenes of victims crying for help capturing the public's attention and raising urgent questions about road safety.While authorities are yet to provide an official account of the circumstances leading to the deadly crash, eyewitnesses have given preliminary accounts suggesting that the haulage truck was travelling towards Harare while the commuter omnibus was en route to St Mary's when the collision occurred.It is believed that a Honda Fit veered into the truck's lane, forcing the driver to swerve into oncoming traffic where it collided head-on with the commuter omnibus. Witnesses said the kombi was dragged for some distance before being crushed beneath the heavy vehicle.The victims have not yet been identified, and police have urged families with missing loved ones to come forward as investigations continue.The latest accident adds to Zimbabwe's growing road carnage toll, with calls intensifying for improved traffic enforcement and stricter safety regulations on major highways. The keynote speakers have been announced for the Annual General Meeting on the Westport Chamber of Commerce, which takes place next Monday evening, July 28, at Leeson Enterprise Centre on Altamont Street. Siobhan OSullivan, as Director of Sales and Marketing, has recently joined Westport Estate with huge expertise in high-end hospitality. Siobhan has come from the 5-star Mount Juliet Estate to help drive Westport Estate into a world-class destination. Joining her at the Leeson Enterprise Centre on the evening is Ciaran Reidy General Manager of The Grace. Ciaran has a distinguished background in luxury and heritage hospitality, having led award-winning properties such as The Johnstown Estate and Lough Rynn Castle. Both Siobhan and Ciaran will oversee daily operations and lead a dedicated team committed to creating experiences that celebrate the estates cultural and natural heritage. READ MORE: Mayo applicants urged to apply to take part in new TG4 series As local businesses struggle with finding staff, Westport Chamber has also invited Damian Hughes to outline the Ready to Work programme as part of the South West Mayo Leader Pathways to Employment. Damian is dedicated to helping people with disabilities find the right job and build a fulfilling career. Their services include education, training, skill development, and in-work support, all tailored to meet your unique needs, abilities, and potential. Ready to Work is designed for people with disabilities who arent yet ready for work or who face barriers to entering the labour market. The Ready to Work programme will focus on collaborating with employers to enhance their understanding and capability to hire, retain, and promote employees with disabilities. All Westport business people are invited to attend this very informative meeting with an opportunity to network with refreshments afterwards MORE For more information contact 098 27375 or email chamber@westportireland.com Pilgrims from across Ireland and beyond are being invited to take part in the annual Reek Sunday pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick on this weekend from July 25 to 27, as the ancient tradition continues into its 1,600th year. This years pilgrimage takes on special significance, with Christian Hope chosen as the central theme in harmony with the Jubilee Year 2025, designated by the late Pope Francis as a universal Jubilee Year of Hope. READ MORE: Profound disappointment - Mayo County Council reacts to town centre fire Irelands Holy Mountain rises 765 metres (2,520 ft) and is steeped in spiritual, cultural, and natural heritage. Reek Sunday commemorates Saint Patricks legendary 40-day Lenten fast on the summit in 441 AD and has drawn the faithful for centuries. Pilgrimage Schedule The Reek Sunday Weekend begins on Garland Friday, July 25. There will be a Mass on the summit of Croagh Patrick celebrated by Fr Tod Nolan, PP, Newport at 10am. It is hoped this Mass will also be streamed online. That evening, there will be a 7.30pm Mass at Murrisk Community Cafe, Croagh Patrick Carpark for those for people who cannot make the climb. On Reek Saturday, July 26, at 8.30am the Tochar Phadraigh Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee Pilgrimage departs from Ballintubber Abbey. There will be a Vigil Mass in St Marys Church, Westport, celebrated by Archbishop Francis Duffy, Archbishop of Tuam at 6.30pm. On Reek Sunday, July 27, there will be Masses on the summit from 8am to 2pm on the hour. Confessions will be available from 7.30am to 2.00pm. There will be a Mass in Irish, celebrated by Bishop Fintan Monahan, Bishop of Killaloe, outside the oratory at 10.00am. It's a busy schedule and after a call-out for priests, all but one half an hour slot have been filled. Organisers are confident that they will fill the slot between now and the weekend. READ MORE: Priests sought for Reek Sunday Pilgrimage on Croagh Patrick Archbishop Duffy will be present on Sunday morning to greet and encourage pilgrims. In keeping with the Jubilee Year theme, Croagh Patrick is one of three national pilgrimage sites identified by the Irish Bishops, alongside Knock Shrine and Lough Derg. Pilgrims can now obtain a Pilgrim Passport, which will be stamped at each location. Completion of all three pilgrimages during 2025 makes pilgrims eligible for a Jubilee Year commemorative medal. Croagh Patrick stamps are available at The Presbytery Office, Westport (F28 TN28); at the hut at the foot of Croagh Patrick and Murrisk Community Cafe (F28 KX75) Warm welcome Fr John Kenny, Administrator of Westport Parish, welcomed pilgrims and praised the successful completion of the Pilgrims Path restoration project, which enhances both safety and environmental sustainability on the mountain. As Reek Sunday is the largest gathering on Croagh Patrick each year, its vital that all pilgrims help protect its fragile ecosystem. We encourage everyone to stay on the defined Pilgrim Path, respect stewarding instructions, and embrace the principle of Leave No Trace, said Fr Kenny. I've lived in Mayo all my life, and Croagh Patrick has been visible from my home parish and from every parish that I worked in. It was always somewhere distant in the horizon. So it's like a magnetic mountain in terms of its presence, but also, of course, patron saint of our country, and the faith that we that I've grown up with, and the faith that I try to live and share in my ministry as a priest. Fr Kenny also wants to express a big thank you to all the people who help out. That's the Gardai, Mayo Mountain Rescue, the Order of Malta, all the various voluntary groups and bodies who help out on the day, the community locally, as well as the Murrisk Development Association. Croagh Patrick is a challenging climb. Pilgrims are advised to wear suitable clothing and footwear. Bring water, walking stick/staff, and rain gear and to follow the guidance of stewards, mountain rescue teams, Order of Malta, and Gardai. Note that dogs are not permitted on the mountain. Russia supplies 25% of the EUs nitrogen fertilisers, worth 1.3 billion each year, but from 1 July these will be subject to tariffs ranging from 6.5% this year to levels close to 100% by 2028. The tariffs will apply to products from Russia and its neighbouring ally Belarus, which has facilitated military action against Ukraine. In addition, 50% tariffs will be imposed on agri-food products from both countries, such as meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables. "There is a strong moral and strategic justification. Russia imposes a 23.5% export tax on fertilisers, which means that by buying these products, the EU is indirectly financing the war in Ukraine," said Euronews reporter Gerardo Fortuna, who's covered the topic. - Euronews "There's also an environmental aspect, because the EU production of fertilisers has roughly half the carbon intensity of the Russian manufacturing of fertiliser. So, by importing this fertiliser from Russia, we also drive emissions," adds Fortuna. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EU fertiliser producers are pleased with expectations of increased market share. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the sector has faced higher energy costs and has been unable to compete with cheaper Russian exports, leading to the closure of production facilities. "Our producers have already lost a lot because of Russia. There is at least three million tons of idle capacity, compared to the eight million tons that the EU exported to other countries," said Latvian MEP Inese Vaidere, from the centre-right EPP group, who steered the proposal through the Parliament. - Euronews Farmers fear being squeezed Farmers fear having to spend more of their budget to purchase fertilisers as a result however. "There are some mitigation measures from the European Commission, but farmers don't consider them adequate to deal with the expected price increase," says Gerardo Fortuna. To reduce the risk of price spikes, the block could eliminate tariffs on other fertiliser suppliers to the EU, such as the US, Canada, Oman, Morocco and Algeria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, around 500 billion has been spent to help farmers. The European Commission monitors monthly price fluctuations and will know what to do," said MEP Inese Vaidere. On the other hand, the bloc will not impose tariffs on Russian exports to third countries, as they are crucial for some developing countries, such as Vietnam and Bangladesh in Asia, and Kenya and Tanzania in Africa. Russia is the worlds largest exporter of fertilisers, with its main markets being Brazil, India, the United States, China and Indonesia. Gas is an essential ingredient for fertiliser production, so the EU is indirectly trying to target this Russian asset as well. The EU justifies the measures on economic grounds, but also ethical imperatives, given the war in Ukraine. Watch the video here! Journalist: Isabel Marques da Silva Content production: Pilar Montero Lopez Video production: Zacharia Vigneron Graphism: Loredana Dumitru Editorial coordination: Ana Lazaro Bosch and Jeremy Fleming-Jones Your tone while complaining may reveal more than your words. Trusted Source The sound of complaints Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? French complain sadly, Quebecois complain angrilyyour accent may just shape your emotion! #medindia #mentalhealth #voiceresearch #cultureandemotion #psychology French complain sadly, Quebecois complain angrilyyour accent may just shape your emotion! #medindia #mentalhealth #voiceresearch #cultureandemotion #psychology Advertisement Signature Sound of a Complaint Advertisement Sad in Paris, Angry in Quebec? Cultural Twists in Tone Advertisement Complaints: A Tool for Emotional Expression Why This Matters: Voice as a Social Signal The sound of complaints- (https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communication/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1592994/full ) We often think of complaints as just grumblingbut theres much more going on beneath the surface. Our tone, rhythm, and pitch speak volumes, often revealing sadness, anger, or frustration before we even finish our sentence. There are hidden emotional layers in our voices when we complainand how these differ across cultures. Its not just what we say, butthat shapes empathy and social connection().Complaints stand out from neutral speech thanks to. These include a higher pitch, slower rhythm, louder volume, and more tone variation. They aim to sound more emotional, whether on purpose or not. These prosodic features act as, possibly aimed at drawing empathy and attention from listeners.Although French and Quebecois speakers share the same language, their complaints dont sound the same.leaned toward a, whilecarried more. Cultural differences shape social norms and emotional expressions. This affects how people express dissatisfaction.Complaints are not just random grumbling. They help people process negative experiences and seek emotional validation. The study found that complaints often express sadness, anger, or surprise. This shows how speakers use their voice to show pain and seek support from others.Understanding the emotional aspect of complaints benefits **therapy, communication training, and AI voice recognition. Listening to how someone speaks, not just their words, can help understand their feelings. This can boost empathy, strengthen relationships, and enhance care, especially in different cultures.Source-Frontiers A silent surge in maternal filicide is forcing experts to look beyond criminal intent and examine deep emotional dysfunction. Highlights: 21-year forensic study at Weskoppies Hospital links maternal murder to mental illness, not malice Bipolar depression and postpartum psychosis are often misdiagnosed, leading to tragedy Trauma, financial stress, and lack of support contribute to a dangerous emotional collapse Trusted Source Case series of females charged with murder or attempted murder of minors and referred to Weskoppies Hospital in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act over a period of 21 years Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? Many women who commit #filicide suffer from untreated #bipolardisorder or #postpartumpsychosis. #womenkillers #crime #psychologyofkillers #mentalhealth #medindia Many women who commit #filicide suffer from untreated #bipolardisorder or #postpartumpsychosis. #womenkillers #crime #psychologyofkillers #mentalhealth #medindia Advertisement Motherhood and Murder: A Shocking Intersection Advertisement Depression: Unipolar or Bipolar? The Silent Battle Within Trusted Source A closer look at depression in mothers who kill their children: is it unipolar or bipolar depression? Go to source Trusted Source Extreme emotional detachment Hallucinations and delusions (in cases of psychosis) A belief that they were sparing the child from future suffering Lack of prior criminal history, reinforcing mental illness as the primary trigger Advertisement When Coping Fails, Violence Wins! Why Society Must Take Notice Mandatory mental health screenings for new mothers for new mothers Better education around the signs of postpartum depression and psychosis around the signs of postpartum depression and psychosis Support networks for at-risk mothers for at-risk mothers Crisis helplines that are sensitive to maternal mental distress that are sensitive to maternal mental distress Training of police and social workers to recognize red flags Heal the Mind, Protect the InnocentBecause Prevention is the Best Protection! Case series of females charged with murder or attempted murder of minors and referred to Weskoppies Hospital in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act over a period of 21 years - (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6138167/) A closer look at depression in mothers who kill their children: is it unipolar or bipolar depression? - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19192446/) An alarming trend is subtly taking shape: more women, especially mothers, are being charged with the murder or attempted murder of children, a startling departure from traditional criminal trends. Even though these cases are still uncommon, their rise indicates a growing need for a closer look at the problem.According to experts, the underlying causes are severe emotional dysfunctions, untreated mental illnesses, and an unsettling lack of social support rather than inherent violence. In addition to case studies atand other forensic psychiatric facilities, this article offers a more thorough analysis of these tragic events by referencingand research studies ().Women charged with murder and those who attempted the murder of minors were subjected to aconducted atMany of these women were not hardened criminalsthey were mothers, often young, isolated, and battling undiagnosed or poorly managed psychiatric conditions.All these resulted from an overwhelming amount of major depressive disorders postpartum psychosis , and bipolar mood disorders . They were not of intentional violence but of psychological collapse!Another crucial study, A Closer Look at Depression in Mothers Who Kill Their Children, investigated whether these mothers experienced bipolar or unipolar depression. The results were shocking: a large percentage of them suffered from bipolar disorder or unipolar depression. A wrong diagnosis can lead to poor treatment, which can increase the risk of impulsivity and suicidal thoughts, which can, regrettably, result in filicide (when a parent kills their own child) ().Women in these studies frequently exhibited symptoms such asMental illness alone cannot account for every case. Increasingly, psychologists are attributing these violent acts to poor coping mechanisms, emotional dysregulation, and a history of trauma. A large number of the women who committed these crimes had been abused, abandoned, or under constant stress, frequently as a result of things likeWhen these women reached a point of extreme psychological breakdown, they acted out of despair rather than malice, sometimes interpreting their actions as mercy killings.It is not just a criminal justice issue; its a public health emergency. These tragedies are caused by the stigma attached to maternal mental illness, the lack of postnatal psychiatric evaluation, and adequate support frameworks. These women frequently beg or say much more before the event, but no one pays attention.Interventions for prevention must consist of:These are not monstersthey are women in mental agony! Addressing this rising trend requires compassionate awareness, early intervention, and a collaborative mental health infrastructure. Every unheeded cry for help is a potential tragedy in waiting.Source-Medindia New IVF study shows men over 45 face a 46% higher miscarriage riskand lower live birth rates, even when young donor eggs are used. Highlights: Men over 45 linked to higher miscarriage and lower live birth rates Study used young donor eggs, isolating male age as a key factor Experts urge fertility counseling to include paternal age risks Trusted Source ESHRE 2025: Impact of Advanced Paternal Age on Donor Egg IVF Success Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? It's not just the woman's age that matters - men over 45 may be quietly tipping the odds against a successful pregnancy. #ivf #paternalage #fertilityawareness #malefertility #medindia It's not just the woman's age that matters - men over 45 may be quietly tipping the odds against a successful pregnancy. #ivf #paternalage #fertilityawareness #malefertility #medindia Advertisement Why Paternal Age Matters Advertisement Why Fertility Clinics Need to Talk About Dads Age Advertisement Future Focus: Understanding Genetic Risks Linked to Older Sperm ESHRE 2025: Impact of Advanced Paternal Age on Donor Egg IVF Success - (https://www.emjreviews.com/reproductive-health/news/impact-of-advanced-paternal-age-on-donor-egg-ivf-success/) When it comes to, most people focus on a womans age. However, a new international study suggests that thematters too, even whenare used ().Researchers presented data at the 41st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) showing thatand lower live birth rates during IVF cycles , even with young, healthy donor eggs.The study analyzed 1,712 first egg donation cycles between 2019 and 2023 across six IVF centers in Italy and Spain. The donor eggs were from women with an average age of 26, while female recipients were an average of 43 years old. The researchers divided male partners into two groups: those 45 years or younger and those over 45.Key outcomes revealed that men over 45 had a miscarriage rate of 23.8%, compared to 16.3% among younger men. The live birth rate was also lower, at 35.1% for older fathers versus 41% for those aged 45 or younger., said Dr. Maria Cristina Guglielmo, an embryologist at Eugin Italy and lead researcher of the study.She explained that as men age, the repeated division of sperm stem cells increases the risk of DNA errors and mutations. This can lead to sperm carrying abnormal chromosomes, higher DNA fragmentation, and changes in the sperms epigenetic profile, all of which may harm embryo development and raise miscarriage risk..The findings highlight the need for fertility clinics to inform male patients about the influence of advancing paternal age. Clinics should ensure that male patients are fully informed about how their age can impact fertility potential, pregnancy success, and miscarriage risk, Dr. Guglielmo advised.Professor Dr. Carlos Calhaz-Jorge, immediate past chair of ESHRE, described the paper as important and suggested it could reshape how doctors counsel couples. , he said.Dr. Guglielmo and her team plan to investigate more deeply how paternal age affects the long-term health of children born through donor egg cycles, including links to neurodevelopmental disorders., she said.While maternal age has long been the primary focus of fertility conversations, this research serves as a timely reminder: the fathers age counts, too.Source-Medindia As of Monday, the Air Force had not yet responded to public questions about the four-star command status of Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, expressed in a letter sent earlier this month by Ohio's senators and U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, and in an earlier letter Turner quietly sent last month. Turner sent a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink on June 20 stating his conviction that the command needs and deserves the leadership of a four-star general, the highest rank an officer can attain in the Air Force. That letter, shared recently with the Dayton Daily News by Turner's office, was not initially publicized. A later letter from Turner and Ohio's two senators restates those concerns. The Air Force has not yet responded to either letter, a representative of Turner's office told the Dayton Daily News Monday. The more recent letter, released last week, urges Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth not to strip Wright-Patterson Air Force Base of its four-star command status, as Hegseth and the Trump administration move to reduce the numbers of the military's top officers. Sens Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno, with Turner, sought to make the case to Hegseth that a four-star general should lead AFMC, the command responsible for researching, acquiring and maintaining Air Force planes and armaments. All three politicians are Republicans. Wright-Patterson, with some 35,000 military and civilian employees, has long been seen as Ohio's largest concentration of employment in a single location. Protecting the base has been a principal concern for Ohio elected officials. "While I applaud Secretary Hegseth's steps to streamline leadership, the loss of a four-star position at AFMC would significantly impact U.S. national security," Turner wrote in his June 20 letter to Meink. Turner penned that letter before the official retirement of Gen. Duke Z. Richardson earlier in July. Richardson's deputy, Lt. Gen. Linda Hurry, a three-star general, assumed the duties of commander. "AFMC touches nearly every aspect of the service, providing airmen with everything they need from uniforms to spare parts to nuclear-capable B-2 bombers. Its scope and responsibilities are vast, complex, and critical to supporting our warfighters and maintaining lethality throughout the Air Force," the senators wrote with Turner in their more recent letter, echoing themes Turner struck earlier. Headquartered at Wright-Patterson, AFMC manages an $81 billion annual budget and a global workforce of 89,000 people who research, equip and sustain Air Force planes, weapons and equipment. That figure represents more than a third of the Air Force budget, dispersed across multiple installations. As Turner noted in his earlier letter, AFMC is the Air Force's largest command by budget and its second largest by number of Air Force personnel. A spokeswoman for the Department of the Air Force said senior leaders will respond directly to members of Congress. "I don't have any information to share at this time," spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said. The Air Force does not make public its congressional correspondence, she added. 2025 the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio). Visit www.daytondailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Every Fisher House has a special mission: to serve as a "Home Away From Home" for wounded warriors and their families while a loved one is receiving care at a military hospital. That includes the 100th Fisher House, scheduled to be dedicated in North Chicago this Saturday, July 29. But across the river in Delaware, there is one Fisher House with a mission different from all the others. Not to serve families who are supporting their hurting heroes, but to support families who have suffered the ultimate loss. It's the Fisher House for Families of the Fallen at Dover Air Force Base. "When Zach Fisher began the Fisher Houses, he wanted the families to be treated like guests; those were his standards," David Coker, president of the Fisher House Foundation, told DVJournal. Zach Fisher, an immigrant to the U.S., helped create a successful construction business. He built the first Fisher House in 1991 at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. All of the houses are partnered with a military hospital, allowing active-duty military members injured during their service or veterans receiving life-saving care to stay in a home setting with their families while undergoing treatment. And always for free. Freedom Oak at the Mediation Pavilion on the Fisher House for the Families of the Fallen campus at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, May 23, 2025. The Fisher House Foundation commissioned artist Deran Wright, along with the Schafer Art Bronze Team, to create a new bronze tree of life. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jason Minto) Since the first house opened, more than 534,000 families have been served, receiving more than 12.5 million nights of lodging and saving these families more than $650 million in lodging and transportation costs. But at the Fisher House in Dover, the mission is different. Instead of being partnered with a hospital, it serves the Campus for the Families of the Fallen at Dover Air Force Base, part of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation. Instead of hospital supplies and IV hookups, the Fisher House for the Families of the Fallen features a 1,714-square-foot Meditation Pavilion that provides a place for families to gather, pray, and reflect. In her year and a half in charge of the Fisher House at Dover, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Samantha Hogan has comforted more than 200 bereaved families. Hogan told DVJournal she volunteered for the Fisher House position. "It's one of the most prized appointments of our career field (mortuary affairs)," she said. "It can be quite difficult caring for these grieving families as they move through, really, one of the most difficult times in their lives. But it's also really rewarding in the end. We truly get to watch them go through a portion of their grief process." The idea behind the Fisher House is to have multiple families in the house at the same time, sharing a kitchen and common rooms--a natural support network of military families helping each other. Tech. Sgt. Samantha Hogan, Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Fisher House for Families of the Fallen section chief, briefs members of the 436th Force Support Squadron at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Jan. 24, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jason Minto) That included the family of Air Force Capt. Ryan Phaneuf, who perished in a plane crash in Afghanistan in 2020. His sister, Christina Larsen, traveled to Dover and stayed at the Fisher House. While she was there, Larsen met the family of Lt. Col. Paul Voss, the other pilot killed in the crash. "I don't think, if we never went to Fisher House, we would even know who the Voss Family is," Larson said in an interview. "But for our circumstance, where, you know, it was just my brother and this other pilot. You have people who are going through the exact same thing. And oddly enough, that makes the best friends. I mean, we all still talk to them. I have them on Facebook. I know one of his daughters just graduated from college. We've met up with them at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia, as well as a dedication memorial in Georgia. "That's all because of the Fisher House." Another "great mission partner," according to Hogan, is the USO. "The USO has a separate Families of the Fallen (FOF) lounge at the Philadelphia Airport, where grieving families have a quiet, calm space to use during their travels to and from Dover, " said Jessica Reid, USO executive director for the region. Helping families can be as simple as providing a ride from the airport. That's why a Casualty Affairs officer transports the family from the Philadelphia Airport to the Fisher House in Dover. "Navigating the airport on a good day can be overwhelming. But when families are going through this tough journey, it can be even more so," said Reid. Many people who stay at the Fisher House are drawn to the Meditation Pavilion, centered by a bronze "Freedom Oak." "This space gives the family a tranquil space to use for anything they need, whether it's private conversations or prayer," Hogan said. At the dedication of the sculpture in May, Lt. Col. Crystal Glaster, AFMAO Deputy Commander, explained its significance and how it reflects the mission of this Fisher House. "These families come to us in the most difficult times of their lives, some numb, some in shock and disbelief, but all very aware that their life will be forever changed. Our hope is this piece reminds them to look up and keep moving forward. There are new branches, new leaves, and more blooming that is yet to come, but they are anchored by the memory of their loved ones." 2025 Delaware Valley Journal, West Chester, Pa. Visit delawarevalleyjournal.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. It's back to square one for the Catonsville armory in Maryland. With plans to turn the state-owned, former military site into a first-of-its-kind cannabis incubator now off the table, the future of the vacant two-story brick building on Mellor Avenue remains uncertain. In the meantime, state officials have begun pointing fingers over why the project was ever considered for that site in the first place. Baltimore County Councilman Pat Young, a Democrat who represents the area, said in hindsight, he "probably should have" held a meeting letting the community know about the Maryland Cannabis Administration's interest in housing the incubator there -- even though the building is out of his control as a county council member. "I'll own it," he said of the lack of communication, during a meeting last week at the Catonsville library. "At this point, I can't fix that. What I can say is that as of right now, without a clear path forward for a vacant armory in Catonsville, this is the first step in the conversation that you wanted to see happen." Plans to use the site as a state-run incubator for Maryland's burgeoning cannabis industry took shape last summer when the Maryland Economic Development Corporation and the Maryland Cannabis Administration began eyeing the building. This followed years of uncertainty about the property. Young said several Baltimore County agencies toured the property in 2022, but it "wasn't in great shape," Young said. Officials scoping it out also had to wait to see if the 1950s-era building would receive a historical designation, which comes with extra redevelopment hurdles. State and county agencies toured the building again in 2023, and Young said he was hopeful at the time that it could be turned into a community center or another public facility. But the county didn't want it due to the estimated price tag for rehabilitation -- $11 million to renovate it to a "government standard," he said. Though an incubator would settle the building's future, the public hadn't been sold on the idea. Young said he tried to slow the process down last year, after Baltimore County got $250,000 in state funding to appraise the building and get a more accurate remediation estimate, but there was no way to stop it unless state legislators requested a work group or commission to evaluate the project. Young didn't believe the cannabis agency knew what they were getting into with the armory -- or what it would take to build it. "They wanted to have this controversial opportunity to build an incubator, but then they wanted everyone else to do the work in terms of outreach," he said. As envisioned, the incubator would serve as a secured storage site for up to 100 small cannabis dispensaries and allow other such "micro-businesses" to use shared equipment to develop products. The site was selected because it's already state-owned, centrally located and has a reinforced vault. Opponents of the project complained that the Armory is not an appropriate site because it is adjacent to a residential neighborhood and near Catonsville Elementary School. A single public meeting on the project was held last November. No other meetings were held after that, Young said, though MEDCO sought millions in funding for the incubator project during this year's legislative session. But state lawmakers restricted $100,000 in funding for the cannabis administration in the fiscal 2026 budget until it submitted a report detailing community engagement efforts for the incubator project. A budget analysis also indicated that construction at the armory was set to start this summer, which prompted further confusion. Following months of community outcry about the project, Gov. Wes Moore withdrew support for the project at the armory and said the state would look at other viable sites. "This administration -- they fumbled the ball, they did," said state Sen. Charles Sydnor, a Baltimore County Democrat. "And we looked awful because we didn't know what was going on." What's next for the armory? Young said he plans to meet with Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier to discuss next steps. State lawmakers are also trying to meet with the governor to request to halt the surplus process. Officials hope to pause it before the building heads to the Maryland State Clearinghouse, a part of the state's planning department that makes recommendations on excess properties ahead of their eventual sale. Residents have recently floated several ideas for the future if it were to go under county control. During a public meeting last week, one suggested a community center with ball fields and pickleball courts. Another suggestion was to open it up for parking for nearby sporting events. A third man asked if it could be turned into an animal sanctuary. If so, it wouldn't be the first transformed armory in Baltimore County. Nearly two years ago, the county acquired the former Pikesville Armory for $1 and transferred it to the nonprofit Pikesville Armory Foundation to redevelop the property for future use as a senior center and recreational facilities. But according to the cannabis administration, the armory can be sold with approval from the state's Board of Public Works and if no other state government agencies are interested. Under state law, Baltimore County would have the right of first refusal to buy it. The Department of General Services anticipates issuing a request for bids or a request for proposals to sell the property to any buyer with the best offer. What about the incubator? With plans for the armory abandoned, the state is launching a new search process for potential incubator sites. Moore asked the three agencies in charge of the project -- the Maryland Cannabis Administration, the Maryland Department of General Services and the Maryland Economic Development Corporation -- to look for new sites that aren't close to residential communities or schools. While the 37 potential incubator sites identified in a December 2023 report are being reviewed, some counties are showing renewed interest in housing the project. Montgomery County, for instance, submitted a revised list of potential incubator properties to MEDCO. The county had listed seven sites in the 2023 report. Dorchester County, on the Eastern Shore, is also interested in hosting the incubator. 2025 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Bipartisan support is building for a bill that would revise a 2022 law allowing victims of contaminated water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina to seek damages from the government. The legislation from two North Carolina Republicans, Rep. Greg Murphy and Sen. Thom Tillis, would make technical corrections to the law known as the Camp Lejeune Justice Act so plaintiffs could request jury trials, cases could be heard in more federal courts and attorney fees could be capped at 25%. Since the 2022 law was enacted, clearing the way for as many as a million people who were exposed to contaminated drinking water at the base between 1953 and 1987 to seek compensation for illnesses and deaths that resulted, more than 400,000 damage claims have been filed with the Navy and more than 2,800 lawsuits are pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. But only about 100 settlements have been reached with victims, according to attorneys representing the plaintiffs, and the lawsuits have taken three years to get ready for trials in the courtrooms of four federal judges in North Carolina. The first of 25 so-called bellwether cases, which could determine damage amounts for other victims with certain diseases linked to the water at Camp Lejeune, are now expected to begin early next year. "It's just been absolutely egregious that essentially only 100 of over 400,000 claims have been adjudicated," Murphy said in an interview. "Time is of the essence. We need to get to this." Since Murphy introduced his bill on June 25, 32 co-sponsors have signed on, including 18 Democrats and 14 Republicans. Tillis' bill, introduced in March, now has three Democratic and two Republican co-sponsors. "Veterans have a very, very strong network, and word gets out," Murphy said. "And I think this is finally, or this is probably just now, getting back to their representatives, to co-sponsor and get this issue resolved and get remedy for those people who deserve it." Murphy and Tillis introduced similar legislation in the last Congress, but the bills never moved through committees. The most significant effect of the measures would be to allow plaintiffs to request jury trials, after the federal judges ruled that Congress didn't clearly delineate that right in August 2022 when it passed the law allowing those harmed by the contamination to file damage claims with the Navy and then lawsuits in federal court if those claims weren't resolved within six months. Murphy's bill would also allow victims to file lawsuits in federal courts in both North Carolina and South Carolina, while Tillis' bill would open the cases to any of the five states in the jurisdiction of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit -- Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. The bills would also set limits on attorney fees, as the Department of Justice recommended when it announced a process for settling claims in 2023: Fees should not exceed 20% for administrative claims and 25% for lawsuits filed in court. Murphy said he believes the bill could pass as a stand-alone measure if it gets through the House Judiciary Committee. "I think there will be plenty of bipartisan support to move it," he said. "And, you know, Tillis is running it over in the Senate." Tillis's office did not respond to a request for comment last week, but he issued a statement when the bill was introduced in March. "Currently, veterans and other victims exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune are running into roadblocks that are denying them their day in court before a jury for the often-crippling and deadly medical conditions they have suffered," Tillis said. "I am proud to introduce this legislation with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to bring justice for victims and provide a path forward for justice after decades of delay." Asked why it has taken so long for the litigation to move forward, Murphy said: "There was a lot of kickback from the Navy. Totally ridiculous, in my opinion. If the government causes harm or has a problem that needs to be corrected, why do we not just admit it and move on with it?" He added that as a physician he believes "objective science" can be used to determine the validity of claims linking exposure to toxic chemicals to various diseases. "I also believe that people who are injured, and there is science to back up causation, that those people should be afforded relief," Murphy said. 2025 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A union representing workers at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Madison County says its concerned about the future of the facility. Ryan McCarthy, a business representative for District 1888 of the IAM Union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said in an interview last month there has been discussion about merging the Blue Grass Army Depot with the Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas. He said the U.S. Department of Defense is looking for redundancies among the facilities, and there is concern about workforce reductions. Its a constant threat over there, McCarthy said. Theyre trying to reduce spending. If that happens, he said, its going to devastate Madison County and surrounding counties. Union representatives said about 535 employees at the depot are represented by IAM. Those employees are in a variety of roles, and McCarthy said they have good jobs, paying $60,000 to $70,000 a year. DeLane Adams, assistant communications director for the union, said last month the union was in the early stages of reaching out to Kentuckys congressional delegation about the situation. In a June 5 hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican who chairs the committee, asked Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll about potential closure of the Blue Grass Army Depot and two other facilities. Weve read about potential closure of Pine Bluff Arsenal, Blue Grass Army Depot, Red River Army Depot, Wicker said. I would caution that we be very careful about that. Are you planning to propose closing these three facilities? Driscoll responded: We are creating a plan to look at what we can do with them with shifting work from them as one of the options. I think General (Randy) George and I stand hand in hand with you acknowledging that our organic industrial base is not sufficient for the threats today or in the future. I think spending is constrained as it should be. We owe that to the American taxpayer. We are working on plans that could use those facilities for other purposes. But if the funding does not come and it has to come from the rest of the budget, I think our current belief is that those dollars at our current budgeted level would be best suited somewhere else. William Ritter, public affairs officer for the Blue Grass Army Depot, said in a briefing with the Herald-Leader that there is no plan to downsize or close the Blue Grass Army Depot or to merge its operations with Pine Bluff. The Army had what was called the Army Transformation Initiative, and theyre just looking at ways to be more efficient, you know save money. How do we train better, things of that nature, he said. Were in the review stage, and its a multiple year plan expected to span five to seven years, he said. Eliminating waste and obsolete programs is one of the missions of the Army Transformation Initiative, as stated by Driscoll in a May 1 letter to Army leaders. We will also continue to cancel programs that deliver dated, late-to-need, overpriced, or difficult-to-maintain capabilities, he wrote. Yesterdays weapons will not win tomorrows wars. When asked about the depots future, Justine Barati, director of public and congressional affairs for Joint Munitions Command, said in a statement, The Army Transformation Initiative directed that Army Materiel Command develop options for the future state of the Armys Organic Industrial Base. AMC and Joint Munitions Command are initiating planning and actively conducting analysis to comply with the Army directive while continuing to support the Army readiness and surge capability that our arsenals, depots and ammunition plants provide warfighters, allies and partners. No closures are being announced at this time. However, we are evaluating options to optimize workloads at depots and munitions sites to improve efficiency and readiness across the Total Army. The artisan workforce at the OIB remains vital to national security, and we are committed to ensuring we maintain the right workforce to accomplish the mission. What Blue Grass Army Depot does While the destruction of chemical weapons stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot has grabbed headlines over the years, Ritter points out that was a small portion of the operations on the more than 14,000-acre property. The depot serves as a storage, inspection and shipping site for bombs and bullets of all shapes, sizes and weight. The depot ships conventional munitions to other military sites, supplying not only all branches of the U.S. military but also providing ammunition for other countries, such as Ukraine and Israel. About 92% of the militarys non-standard ammunition, such as the AK-47, which is not a standard weapon used by the U.S., is stored at and shipped from the Blue Grass Army Depot, he said. Additionally, he said the depot also stores and ships for the East Coast all the chemical defense equipment, such as protective suits and masks, that soldiers would need if they encountered chemical weapons. Ritter said the depot ships about 300 containers of supplies per day by truck or locomotive. Were kind of like the Amazon of bombs and bullets, he said. The site also provides training to military units and operates a security guard training program that Ritter said is expected to expand. BGAD has a lot of unique capabilities that dont exist anywhere else in Americas military in some cases, or in the Army specifically, Ritter said. While there are more than 1,200 buildings at the depot, Ritter said some of them are empty or underutilized, so the Army is reaching out to civilian defense type contractors to do business on the depot in hopes of expanding public-private partnerships. While he said he couldnt provide specifics about who the Army is talking to, he did confirm one defense contractor has already signed on to store items in one of the buildings there. There are going to be new jobs on the depot. However, we dont know what the jobs might be, or how many, or with what organizations, he said. Aside from the contractor employees who work on-site at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, Ritter said there are about 600 full-time and contract workers at the depot, most of whom are civilians. There are fewer than six uniformed military stationed at the site full-time, Ritter said. Ritter said the Army is still considering what to do with the site where the chemical weapons were destroyed. While the buildings where chemical weapons were destroyed will have to be demolished, Ritter said there are other parts of the plant that can be repurposed that are set up with infrastructure: all the phone lines, computer cables, water, sewer, all that kind of stuff thats needed to run a facility. One of the things feasibility studies identified the BGCAPP would be a good home for is called energetics, Ritter said. Energetics, he said, are like gunpowder, providing the blast and thrust to make bullets, rockets or other weaponry go. Another example were still waiting on is making metal components for the 155 millimeter artillery round that has been the greatest used munition that we have shipped out of here for Ukraine, he said. More layoffs at plant that destroyed chemical weapons Meanwhile, another round of layoffs is expected among the five companies contracted to run the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, where the last weapon in the nations chemical weapons stockpile was destroyed in 2023. Its mission largely accomplished, the plant is now in the closure phase, and earlier this year, the contractors began filing notices of impending layoffs under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, Act. Five contractors have worked together to destroy the chemical weapons stockpile in Madison County: Bechtel National, Parsons Corp., Amentum, GP Strategies and Battelle Memorial Institute. Another round of notices will be coming soon from some of those companies, as about 200 more employees are expected to be released over the next several months, said Mark York, communications manager for Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass, the joint venture that built and operates the plant. This continues our gradual drawdown of employees from the project, York said. He said several job fairs have been held for the workers and others are coming up. Some employees at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant are finding new jobs, York said, some are choosing to retire and others are staying with the company they work for at the plant but moving on to other projects elsewhere. We believe our workforce will be an asset to any organization, York said. These are people who have worked in very dangerous conditions. 2025 Lexington Herald-Leader. Visit kentucky.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Rangers have signed veteran right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. to a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple-A Round Rock. Kennedi Landry of MLB.com was among those to relay the news. Edwards, 33, returns to his original organization. The Rangers drafted him back in 2013, though he was traded to the Cubs prior to his major league debut. He went on to have his best years with the Cubs, winning a ring with them in 2016. More recently, Edwards has been up and down as he has entered journeyman mode. After a rough 2019 season, he struggled to get playing time for a few years. He had a nice bounceback with the Nationals in 2022. He carried that over into 2023 somewhat but then got shut down in August of that year due to a stress fracture in his shoulder. He was limited to just one major league appearance last year and has made just two this year. His 2025 season has seen him go to Mexico and back a couple of times now. In early March, he signed with the Tigres de Quintana Roo. But by late March, he had a minor league deal with the Angels. He was called up to the majors in late April, made two appearances for the Halos before being designated for assignment. He cleared waivers, elected free agency and then rejoined the Tigres. Though hes been a reliever throughout his MLB career, hes been starting for the Tigers for the past few months. He tossed 74 2/3 innings over 14 starts with a 3.38 earned run average, 18.9% strikeout rate and 7.5% walk rate. For context, its worth pointing out that the Mexican League is very hitter-friendly, with a league-wide ERA of 5.90 this year. The Rangers have sacrificed some Triple-A starting depth in recent months. Adrian Houser was granted his release in May and signed with the White Sox. Gerson Garabito was released to sign in Korea last month. Dane Dunning was traded to Atlanta last week to trim some payroll. Six pitchers have made eight or more starts for Round Rock this year and three of them are no longer in the organization. Edwards is stretched out and has been pitching well, relative to the standards of the Mexican League, so hell presumably plug into the rotation for the Express and give the Rangers some extra depth in that department. Photo courtesy of Matt Krohn, Imagn Images Views of the VEOS USA, Inc. powdered egg facility in Adrian, 1336 E Maumee Street in Adrian as seen on Saturday, July 29, 2025. Neighbors have complained about odors coming from the facility. J. Scott Park | jpark4@mlive.com ADRIAN, MI Tammy Gunnin has grown accustomed to a new greeting when she runs into neighbors on the east side of Adrian, in Lenawee County. If we see each other, well say, Hows it smelling down by your house? she said. For several years now a stink thats been likened to organic death has sent Gunnin scurrying for her front door when she arrives at her home of 60 years, retching at the odor. Were making jokes now because thats how bad it is, she said. The smell emanates from a red brick facility several blocks away that dries eggs unfit for the grocery store into a powder added into pet food. But for Gunnin and others in Adrian, it isnt always a laughing matter. Efforts to stem the odor have dragged on into a yearslong saga of court battles and environmental violations, including a $106,000 state fine. The latest twists include the bankruptcy of the plants owner, triggering the sale of the facility to the U.S. arm of a Belgian company and further prolonging an ultimate resolution. While regulators say technological improvements at the facility have helped, the new owner VEOS USA, Inc. is still racking up state odor violations as recently as July 1. The company faces a new class action lawsuit filed by Gunnin and neighbors, who allege their properties have been physically invaded by noxious odors forcing them indoors during the height of the Michigan summer. VEOS didnt respond to requests for comment left at its Adrian office, emailed to company officials and submitted via its parent companys website. In the meantime, Gunnin is still dealing with the smell she characterizes as rotten, like a dead animal. They need to resolve it, instead of just covering it up, she said. Court battles, fines stack up for prior plant owner Despite years of trying, a solution to stop the odors coming from the plant on East Maumee Street has proved elusive. The stink dates back as far as late 2021, when Crimson Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of a Wisconsin-based company, bought the facility from Dairy Farmers of America, which had previously produced powdered milk there. The change from milk to eggs immediately wrinkled noses in Adrian. Views of the VEOS USA, Inc. powdered egg facility in Adrian, 1336 E Maumee Street in Adrian as seen on Saturday, July 29, 2025. Neighbors have complained about odors coming from the facility. J. Scott Park | jpark4@mlive.com While Crimson officials contended the smells werent as bad as some made them out to be, calling them flighty, the company worked to upgrade the plant with a taller exhaust stack, air sealing and other measures. The changes came as regulators with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, (EGLE), repeatedly cited it for violations, including emitting the sulfurous odors and failing to obtain a new air permit when the egg drying began. Its the only manufacturer of its kind in Michigan, and also among only a few located across the nation, according to Scott Miller, Jackson District supervisor for EGLEs Air Quality Division. The others are located far from neighbors, rather than pressed up against a residential neighborhood, he said. Its place in Adrian, coupled with the buildings age and the number of times additions have been built onto it, represent inherent challenges with what the company is trying to do, he said. It wasnt just EGLE breathing down Crimsons neck. Adrian city officials issued nuisance violations and took the company to court. A judge temporarily limited its hours of operations before ordering it to install a new two-stage scrubber system to treat emissions before they left the buildings walls. Crimson also agreed to pay the city $100,000 for a grant program meant to aid nearby residents, though officials say Adrian has only received half of the funds so far. They plan to hold a town hall to discuss how community members want the money to be spent, said Adrian Community Development Director Lisa Hewitt-Cruz. The state fined the company $106,180, as part of negotiations for a February 2024 consent order meant to force it to follow an odor-fixing plan. At the same time, Gunnin and other residents were taking their grievances to federal court, arguing in a June 2023 class action suit that Crimson needed to compensate them for unleashing odors that prevented them from opening windows or sitting on porches. Its not only an outdoor issue, Gunnin says. Youre going through your house thinking, Oh my God, do I have a backed-up sewer? New owner, same smell While Crimson fought back regulators and unhappy neighbors, not all was well within the company. In April 2024, it filed for bankruptcy in federal court in Wisconsin, listing debts ranging from a potential $1 million settlement in the neighbors class action lawsuit to $50,000 it still owed the city. Crimson faced other external challenges including the judges order limiting its operations and another legal settlement in separate intellectual property litigation, according to a news release from an investment banker that helped broker the eventual sale of its assets to VEOS. The transaction closed in late 2024, bringing the Adrian facility under the control of VEOS USA, affiliated with a Belgian powdered protein firm with other locations in Europe and Brazil. Views of the VEOS USA, Inc. powdered egg facility in Adrian, 1336 E Maumee Street in Adrian as seen on Saturday, July 29, 2025. Neighbors have complained about odors coming from the facility. J. Scott Park | jpark4@mlive.com The bankruptcy and sale effectively ended Gunnins first lawsuit, which she filed with fellow plaintiffs and Adrian residents Dan and Diana Mueller, according to their attorney David Dubin. My clients have been waiting anxiously the last six, seven months, and nothing has changed, he said. In fact, in their opinion its gotten worse. On July 14, Dubin filed another class action suit, this time against VEOS USA, seeking to represent residents who own or occupy property within three miles of the plant, potentially more than 11,000 people. There is really no excuse, other than its putting profit before people again, the same thing Crimson did, like the people of Adrian and their lives dont matter to these out-of-state corporations, he said. As of Monday afternoon, July 21, VEOS had not yet filed a legal response to the lawsuit, filed in federal court. Somethings not working, regulators say The changeover at the Adrian powdered egg plant also had ripple effects for the states efforts to find a remedy for the odors. The consent order EGLE negotiated with Crimson did not carry over to VEOS, Miller said, though a separate air permit had many of the same conditions and did transfer. The agency takes odor complaints. Recent odor-related violations regulators issued to VEOS the ninth set of environmental violations at the plant since 2022 fault it for smells detected almost a fourth of a mile away from the facility. Thats an improvement from before the scrubber system was in place, where the smells would waft up to 2 miles away, Miller said. But theyre still a nuisance nearby, he said. Its obvious thats somethings not working. If VEOS cant prove the current control system is enough to quell the odors, theyll have to propose additional measures, he said. The company is required to respond to the recent violations, likely by the end of July. EGLE inspectors are continuing to investigate odor complaints and log smells near the facility. Views of the VEOS USA, Inc. powdered egg facility in Adrian, 1336 E Maumee Street in Adrian as seen on Saturday, July 29, 2025. Neighbors have complained about odors coming from the facility. J. Scott Park | jpark4@mlive.com Miller acknowledged the bankruptcy and facility sale slowed down the progress at the plant, also bringing with it a dip in production that may have given the false impression the issue was fixed for neighbors. The change in ownership also resets EGLEs progression of enforcement, which usually begins with voluntary measures before moving to negotiated consent orders or referral to the Michigan Attorney Generals Office for a lawsuit, he said. We cant arrest them, we cant force them to do what they dont agree to do, and we felt like we had made significant progress this last go around, keeping our fingers crossed that it would be enough, and it appears that its not, Miller said. City officials in Adrian have issued their own new municipal violations to VEOS, according to Hewitt-Cruz, and recently issued a ticket that will likely be adjudicated in court. Were doing everything within our power to help along with EGLE, working right alongside with them, she said. State officials evaluated the emissions and did not find any associated health concerns, Miller said. Theyre likely caused by various sulfide compounds and ammonias, but its difficult to pinpoint the exact source, he added. This is a high priority for us. We understand the impact that this is having to the community, and we want to seek resolution to this as quickly as possible, Miller said. After several years of hurrying inside from her car after work, Gunnin isnt expecting an immediate end to the stink. I just hope that they can fix the problem and that if they want to keep their business going, especially there, that they do right by the people, she said. HAMLIN TOWNSHIP, MI - Big Sable Point Lighthouse perches on the sandy shoreline of Lake Michigan. Most of the time, visitors need to hike or bike 1.8 miles to reach this iconic black-and-white beacon. However, on select days, theres another way: a special bus service. These are the 5 takeaways from the original article about visiting this landmark on bus days. RELATED: Beach bus adventure: Tips and tricks for hitching a ride to this popular Lake Michigan lighthouse Big Sable Point Lighthouse visitors walk toward the lighthouse on the Lake Michigan shoreline. It can be reached by hiking or biking a 1.8-mile sand-and-gravel trail at Ludington State Park, 8800 M-116 in Hamlin Township, Mich. On select summer days, buses take visitors to the lighthouse. The tower is open for climbing during the summer and fall. The lighthouse grounds include a sandy beach, restrooms, a gift shop, picnic tables, pathways and interpretive signage. Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com Special bus service makes this lighthouse accessible to more visitors Bus days make a day at Big Sable accessible to more visitors. It only happens about five times a year when Lakeshore Keepers, which manages that lighthouse, partners with the Ludington Mass Transportation Authority and Ludington State Park. This service is particularly valuable for those with mobility challenges, families with small children, and visitors with a large load of beach essentials. On bus days, anyone can skip the 1.8-mile hike (each way). The next scheduled bus day is Thursday, July 24, with three more dates to follow on Aug. 2, 14 and 30. Visitors headed to Big Sable Point Lighthouse on the Lake Michigan shoreline line up to ride a bus rather than hiking or biking a 1.8-mile sand-and-gravel trail at Ludington State Park, 8800 M-116 in Hamlin Township, Mich. On select summer days, buses take visitors to the lighthouse. The tower is open for climbing during the summer and fall. The lighthouse grounds include a sandy beach, restrooms, a gift shop, picnic tables, pathways and interpretive signage. Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com Your lighthouse bus trip requires some preparation Visitors should arrive at Ludington State Park early on bus days, as the service runs from noon to 4:30 p.m. A Michigan Recreation Passport is required to enter the park ($19 annual for residents, $11 daily or $41 annual for non-residents). Round-trip bus tickets cost $6 for adults and $4 for students 17 and younger, with one-way options also available. The bus ride takes 10-12 minutes along the same sand-and-gravel trail used by hikers and bikers, dropping passengers a few hundred yards from the lighthouse. A view of the Lake Michigan shoreline from the balcony at the top of Big Sable Point Lighthouse. It can be reached by hiking or biking a 1.8-mile sand-and-gravel trail at Ludington State Park, 8800 M-116 in Hamlin Township, Mich. On select summer days, buses take visitors to the lighthouse. The tower is open for climbing during the summer and fall. The lighthouse grounds include a sandy beach, restrooms, a gift shop, picnic tables, pathways and interpretive signage. Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com Tower climbing offers spectacular views but has limitations Visitors can climb the lighthouse tower for $8 for adults or $5 for students, with free access for military personnel and veterans. The climb involves 130 steps up a spiral staircase with two low hatches. Children must be at least 40 inches tall to climbthey cannot be carried. RELATED: Video: See Lake Michigan views from 112-foot lighthouse tower From the balcony encircling the top, visitors enjoy panoramic views of Lake Michigan and the surrounding landscape. The lighthouse is open for tower climbs during summer (through Sept. 7) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, with reduced fall hours (Sept. 11 to Oct. 26) of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. For those unable to make the climb, Lakeshore Keepers recently added a live webcam with a west-facing fisheye view from the towers lantern room. RELATED: This breathtaking Lake Michigan lighthouse view is now available without the long hike Big Sable Point Lighthouse on the Lake Michigan shoreline can be reached by hiking or biking a 1.8-mile sand-and-gravel trail at Ludington State Park, 8800 M-116 in Hamlin Township, Mich. On select summer days, buses take visitors to the lighthouse. The tower is open for climbing during the summer and fall. The lighthouse grounds include a sandy beach, restrooms, a gift shop, picnic tables, pathways and interpretive signage. Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com The lighthouse grounds offer multiple attractions Beyond the tower itself, the Big Sable Point Lighthouse grounds feature a gift shop selling apparel and souvenirs, interpretive signage about the lighthouses history, picnic tables for visitors to enjoy meals, restroom facilities, and a sandy beach on Lake Michigan. A view of the sandy Lake Michigan beach at Big Sable Point Lighthouse from a porthole window in the tower. It can be reached by hiking or biking a 1.8-mile sand-and-gravel trail at Ludington State Park, 8800 M-116 in Hamlin Township, Mich. On select summer days, buses take visitors to the lighthouse. The tower is open for climbing during the summer and fall. The lighthouse grounds include a sandy beach, restrooms, a gift shop, picnic tables, pathways and interpretive signage. Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com Big Sable has a rich history dating back to 1867 Big Sable Point Lighthouse was originally built in 1867 with cream-colored brick that quickly began to erode. By 1900, the tower was encased in steel, which was eventually painted with its now-iconic white with a black stripe in the middle. The lighthouse became fully automated in 1966 and continues to serve as an active navigational aid with an LED beacon that can be seen from 15 miles away. The lighthouse is one of five managed by the nonprofit Lakeshore Keepers, which also oversees lighthouses in Ludington, Whitehall, Mears, and Manistee. A view of the sandy Lake Michigan beach at Big Sable Point Lighthouse from a porthole window in the tower. It can be reached by hiking or biking a 1.8-mile sand-and-gravel trail at Ludington State Park, 8800 M-116 in Hamlin Township, Mich. On select summer days, buses take visitors to the lighthouse. The tower is open for climbing during the summer and fall. The lighthouse grounds include a sandy beach, restrooms, a gift shop, picnic tables, pathways and interpretive signage. Justine Lofton | jlofton@mlive.com Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story based on data from a previous article. It was reviewed and edited by MLive staff. Correction: An earlier version of this story included a project that did not use ARPA funds. That project has been removed. Michigans historic state park overhaul is nearing the finish line. With just 16 months left, the state has completed 73% of its project list. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources started this undertaking in 2022 when the state legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed off on directing $273 million in federal funding to state parks. The American Rescue Plan Act funding came with a tight deadline though. It mandated all funds must be spent by the end of 2026. Repairs and upgrades on the list had accumulated over decades and stretched across both peninsulas, touching all five Great Lakes. The department has completed 122 of its 168 proposed projects. Heres seven highlights of completed upgrades around the state. Bald Mountain Recreation Area in Oakland County used $1 million in ARPA funding to replace the beach day-use area toilet building. (DNR) DNR Bald Mountain Recreation Area (Oakland County) Home to a popular beach in Metro Detroit, the Bald Mountain Recreation Area constructed a new bathroom and shower building for its beachgoers. The construction in the day-use area and the water replacement system were funded by $1.75 million from ARPA. Saginaw Bay Visitor Center in the Bay City State Park had substantial renovations to the interior and exterior funded by $1.5 million in ARPA funding. (DNR) DNR Bay City State Park (Bay County) Long awaited upgrades to Bay City State Parks Saginaw Bay Visitor Center came through during the ARPA overhaul. The $1.5 million renovation to both the interior and exterior closed the center for a year. Renovations include the reception area, exhibit hall, roof and siding, and the addition of a new science lab. Additionally accessibility enhancements were made to make the park more accessible for all visitors. Significant upgrades happened at the parks day-use area, including a reconfigured road, new pedestrian sidewalks and a bus drop-off loop. The modern campground also features a new entrance and pedestrian sidewalk. These improvements, along with the visitor center, were made possible by $4.35 million in ARPA funding for this and other projects. Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park paved 21 miles of the 92-mile-long trail in Cadillac and replaced two culverts using $9.6 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding. (DNR) DNR Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park (Montcalm County) The Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park, which starts at the Mitchell State Park parks eastern shore of Lake Cadillac, is now fully paved. The 92-mile trail became completely paved after the final a 21-mile stretch between Howard City in Montcalm County and Big Rapids in Mecosta County was finished this spring. This large-scale repaving project was awarded $9.6 million in ARPA funding. The Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park's Visitor Center in the Upper Peninsula underwent a major renovation that features new, accessible amenities and updated restrooms, among other enhancements funded by $1.05M in ARPA money. DNR Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park (Ontonagon and Gogebic counties) The Upper Peninsulas fan-favorite park, the Porkies, upgraded its Visitor Center just in time to celebrate its 80th birthday this year. The $1.05 million renovation features new, accessible amenities and updated restrooms, among other modern enhancements for the 1980s building. The Porkies received $6.125 million in ARPA funding for upgrades including an expanded Summit Peak parking lot, renovations to the historic service area, modern lodge and staff quarters, upgrades to the sewage system, and paving of roads and parking lots at the park headquarters and visitor center. The Port Crescent State Park's $4.95 ARPA funding resurfaced roads and parking lots, modernized water and sewer lines, renovated the day-use beach house, upgrades electrical systems and the sanitation station. A new full-hookup site was completed as well. (DNR) DNR Port Crescent State Park (Huron County) At the tip of Michigans thumb, the popular Lake Huron campground revamped its roads, buildings and utilities. The Port Crescent State Park resurfaced roads and parking lots, modernized water and sewer lines, electrical systems and the sanitation station. A new full-hookup site was completed as well. The $4.95 in ARPA upgrades also included renovations to the day-use beach house. Tawas Point State Park in Iosco County made electrical system upgrades at the modern campground and paving throughout the park. These improvements, among others, were supported by $3 million in ARPA funding. (DNR) DNR Tawas Point State Park (Iosco County) Sitting at the intersection of Tawas Bay and Lake Huron, Tawas Point State Park brings visitors in for camping, hiking, paddling, sailing, birding and lighthouse tours among other attractions. The state park used $3.09 million in ARPA funding for electrical system upgrades at the modern campground, road paving throughout the park, stabilizing the Lake Huron shoreline and repairing water-damaged brick on the historic Tawas Point Lighthouse. Yankee Springs Recreation Area in Barry County completed significant upgrades using $4.25 million in ARPA funds, including upgraded electrical and sewer systems at the Gun Lake modern campground, as well as renovations to the fishing pier and toilet and concessions building in the day-use area on Gun Lake. (DNR) DNR Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Barry County) The Southwest Michigan camping, boating and swimming spot completed significant upgrades along Gun Lake. This $4.25 million project included upgraded electrical and sewer systems at the modern campground, as well as renovations to the fishing pier and toilet and concessions building in the day-use area on Gun Lake. Stormy Kromer is offering a special edition cap in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald's final voyage. The ship sank in Lake Superior on Nov. 10, 1975. Stormy Kromer IRONWOOD, MI Stormy Kromer is offering a special edition cap in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgeralds final voyage. The limited-edition Original Stormy Kromer Cap features a dark blue and black check pattern and includes a leather patch with a silhouette of the ship and the words Edmund Fitzgerald. The company has partnered with Friends of the Fitz, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit, to offer the hat. A portion of the proceeds ($20) from each hat sold will help fund a historical marker in Superior, Wis. - the ships last port of call. The cap is available for $60, now through Aug. 10. For so many in our community, the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald is deeply personal, the item description says. This cap is a tribute to the ship, her crew, and the Great Lakes shipping tradition that has shaped our region. On Nov. 9, 1975, the 728-foot Fitzgerald left Superior, Wis., with her crew planning to cross Lake Superior to deliver a load of iron ore at Detroits Zug Island. The next day, the ship was gone, broken in two by a gale and sent to the lake bottom where it now rests in 530 feet of water. All 29 souls aboard were lost. Founded in 1903, Stormy Kromer is known for its wool caps with a signature ear band. They are cut and sewn in Michigans Upper Peninsula. Jerry DeGrieck and Nancy Wechsler in October 1972 after they won seats on the Ann Arbor City Council as members of the Human Rights Party. Jack Stubbs | Ann Arbor News archives courtesy of OldNews.AADL.org ANN ARBOR, MI A pivotal chapter in LGBTQ+ history unfolded in Ann Arbor in the 1970s and soon it will be documented on a new historical marker at city hall. City officials are inviting community members to a special unveiling ceremony at 11 a.m. Sept. 4. ANN ARBOR TWP., MI When Robin Kunkel returned home from vacation in July 2023, her home north of Ann Arbor had no water. The Kunkels called a local well drilling company and discovered the water level in their drinking water well had dropped below the pump. Around the same time, other residential wells in the township were having issues, including some running completely dry. Kunkel said her pump had to be lowered nearly to bottom on her well. A neighbor had to drill a new well, and another neighbor had to replace a filter due to muck in their water lines, she said. A photo of Randy Wise Hyundai in Flint Township on Tuesday, July 22. The Grand Blanc Township Planning Commission approved a preliminary site plan for a new Randy Wise Hyundai dealership on Holly Road during its July 17 meeting. Nick Taylor | Ntaylor@Mlive.com GRAND BLANC TWP, MI A new car dealership could be coming to Genesee County as an area auto dealer looks to open a new facility in Grand Blanc Township. Randy Wise Auto Group plans to construct a 23,000-square-foot building on a vacant 3.95-acre property on Holly Road, which is the former site of the old Colony Market. The market is now known as Colonys Quality Meats and is located at 311 E. Grand Blanc Road in Grand Blanc. The new dealership, Randy Wise Hyundai, would be the companys third Grand Blanc Township location, joining Randy Wise Toyota and Randy Wise Motorcar, also both on Holly Road. The Grand Blanc Township Planning Commission on July 17 voted unanimously to approve a preliminary site plan and special land use for the proposed dealership. The special land use would allow for the sale of new automobiles on the property, which is zoned for general commercial use, said Grand Blanc Township Planning and Zoning Administrator Jeremy Smith. The site plan and special land use applications were submitted by Wiseman Realty, and Chris Enright spoke on behalf of the Royal Oak-based Contour Land Group, an architecture firm, as well as Randy and Chris Wise during the commissions meeting. Preliminary plans for the development feature a total of 157 parking spaces, including three accessible parking spaces, for new cars on display, employees, and customers, Smith said. They want to be open as soon as possible, Smith said. Randy Wise Auto Groups existing Hyundai dealership is located at 4350 Lennon Road in Flint. The company also owns dealerships in Beecher, Fenton, Vienna Township, Mt. Morris Township, Durand, and Ortonville. The company has already sold or is in the process of selling its existing Flint Hyundai dealership and plans to move employees from that location to the new Grand Blanc Township dealership, Smith said. However, it is unclear who is purchasing the property and what they plan to do with it. Its not going to be a dealership anymore, Smith said. Nearby car dealerships include Grand Blanc Nissan, BMW of Grand Blanc, Mercedes-Benz of Grand Blanc, Honda of Grand Blanc, Al Serra Chevrolet, and others offering several different car brands. Weve got pretty much every dealership nailed down except for in your exotics, Smith said. Smith is optimistic that a new car dealership would help spur economic growth in the area, which is already home to the NCG Cinema Grand Blanc movie theater, a Buffalo Wild Wings location, and other businesses. We havent had much development in that area lately, probably the last five or 10 years actually, he said. Were hoping that with this coming in, maybe itll be more attractive for other developers over there. Smith recommended the planning commission approve the site plan during its July 17 meeting, provided it is revised to further address several matters, including access to the rear of the property, lot coverage, parking spaces, and lighting as well as the loading and unloading of vehicles. A final site plan for the dealership will have to be submitted to the township and approved through the planning commission, the townships site plan committee, or Smith before Randy Wise Auto Group can move forward with the project. Agendas for future planning commission meetings are available online at grandblanctwpmi.gov. Officials with Randy Wise Auto Group could not immediately be reached for comment. Additional information about Randy Wise Auto Group can be found online at randywiseauto.com. KENT COUNTY An investigation is underway after an armed man was shot by Kent County sheriffs deputies. The two deputies involved in the Tuesday, July 22 incident have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol following such incident, police said. The incident started as a 9 a.m. call to police regarding a domestic assault at a home in Fontenelle Street in Gaines Township, Kent County Undersheriff Bryan Muir told media outlets. Police were told a man was armed with a gun and pointing it at neighbors. Upon arrival, the 66-year-old man pointed the weapon at police, Muir said. The man went back into his home as police tried to deescalate the situation. The man exited the home a second time, again armed with a gun, and hid under the home, Muir said. Police continued negotiations, but the man fired multiple rounds at deputies, Muir said. Two deputies returned fire and the man was hit at least once by gunfire. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital for treatment and was last known to be in critical condition. No officers were hurt during the incident. The investigation will be turned over to Wyoming Police Department, which is also standard protocol. Brett Hankison, a former Kentucky officer convicted in the death of Breonna Taylor, a Grand Rapids native, was sentenced to 33 months in prison on Monday, July 21. Taylor, 26, an emergency medical technician, was was shot and killed on March 13, 2020, during a botched raid authorized by the Louisville Metro Police Department. Pictured is a photo of Taylor at a 2023 memorial event in Grand Rapids. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) Joel Bissell | MLive.com MICHIGAN -- A former Louisville police officer has been sentenced to nearly three years prison for using excessive force when police raided Grand Rapids native Breonna Taylors apartment in 2020. Brett Hankison, 49, was sentenced by a federal judge Monday, July 21 to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised probation. Pictured is a rendering of the expanded space at John Ball Zoo on Grand Rapids west side. (Photo/TowerPinkster and Stefansson Design & Consulting) TowerPinkster and Stefansson Design & Consulting GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Giraffes will officially make Grand Rapids their home thanks to a $15 million gift to John Ball Zoo. The donation from the Bill and Bea Idema Foundation is the single largest philanthropic contribution in the zoos history. The donation will support the Grand Rapids zoos African expansion, including a state-of-the-art giraffe habitat set to open in 2028, according to a news release. We are incredibly honored by this generous gift from the Bill and Bea Idema Foundation, which has been a longtime champion of conservation, education and community enrichment in West Michigan, said Peter DArienzo, CEO of John Ball Zoo. Thank you to the Foundation for its continued support of our commitment to save wildlife and wild places. The expansive new space will include a winding forested path leading to a panoramic African savannah environment and features opportunities to feed and view giraffes, ostriches and other animals, as well as space for educational engagement. Conservation efforts are particularly important as the worlds giraffe population is trending down due to habitat loss, poaching and the impacts of climate change. Due to that decline, John Ball Zoo will participate in species survival plans for the giraffes through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, an organization recognized for upholding the worlds highest standards in animal welfare, conservation and education. With this latest contribution, the Bill and Bea Idema Foundation has now donated a total of $20 million to John Ball Zoos Rising to New Heights capital campaign, including a previous $5 million lead gift for the North American river otter habitat The upgrade of the African area at the John Ball Zoo is one of the projects included in the organizations 10-year master plan, which outlines the development and direction of the zoo for the next decade. This expansion will be a powerful symbol of conservation in action, and it will connect children and families with one of our most iconic species in unforgettable ways, DArienzo said. Funding has enabled John Ball Zoo to launch the next phase of the capital campaign, which will include expanded public engagement and naming opportunities for supporters. As the zoo launches the next phase of its capital campaign, the community will be invited to play a more active role through expanded public engagement and naming opportunities. SalonCentric, a Florida-based beauty supply distributor, told state officials that layoffs will occur around September 13 at its Kentwood plant. (MLive file photo) J. Scott Park KENTWOOD, MI A Florida-based wholesale salon and beauty supply distributor is cutting 79 jobs at its plant at 4555 Danvers Drive SE in Kentwood. SalonCentric, in a filing with the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, said the layoffs are expected to take place around Sept. 13. The company told the state that the workers will not have the right to bump or displace another employee from another job. The affected employees are not represented by a union, the company said. A representative of SalonCentric could not be reached for comment Tuesday morning. The company, which is based in Saint Petersburg, Florida, describes itself as one of the largest wholesale salon and beauty supply distributors of professional beauty products in the United States. The positions being laid off include 21 forklift operators, 15 pickers, the director of human resources, and various managers, supervisors and trainers. MUSKEGON, MI A former Muskegon Heights police officer allegedly tried to persuade a woman to perform oral sex on him after responding to a domestic report at her home, court records show. Prosecutors charged the ex-officer, Richard James-Eugene Wilson, with misconduct in office, a five-year felony, following an investigation. BAY CITY, MI A controversial vote on whether Bay City should contract with Flock Safety for the use of license plate readers was delayed this week. Commissioners voted 4-4 Monday, July 21, to refer to staff a resolution on whether to contract with Flock Safety for license plate reading technology to be installed in the city. Mayor Chris Girard cast the deciding vote in favor of referring the measure to staff so a series of questions and misconceptions could be cleared up. The decision to defer appeared to delay a rejection of the resolution. Several commissioners declaring during discussion that they would be voting against the measure. This is wildly unpopular, Bay Citys 4th Ward Commissioner Benjamin Tenney said. Were going to make sure you dont live in a surveillance state in Bay City. Andrea Burney-Obershaw and Joseph Charlebois suggested any money used on a contract with Flock should go toward other, more pressing needs. Commissioners Craig Kokaly, 2nd Ward, and Christopher Runberg, 6th Ward, said they would be voting against the measure, citing the views of their constituents and data concerns, respectively. According to the resolution, the measure would cost just over $45,000 in fiscal year 2026, with an additional $39,000 in the following year. Flock Safety License Plate Readers (LPRs) are already in use across numerous jurisdictions in Michigan and nationwide. Bay City law enforcement officials report that the technology has been instrumental in solving crimes that might otherwise have been extremely difficultor even impossibleto crack. Neighboring communities have also used LPRs to support Bay City in joint investigations. The cameras, installed along public roads, do not provide live video feeds. Instead, they capture a still image of the rear of a vehicle, focusing on the license plate. The system compares the captured platesstored for 30 daysagainst a hotlist of vehicles linked to serious crimes. If a match is found, police are notified of the time and location of the sighting. Investigators can also use the system to search for vehicles matching specific descriptions that passed through an area. Local municipalities using the system include Saginaw and Flint, where Michigan State Police troopers also assist through regional task forces. Bay City Director of Public Safety Caleb Rowell previously said the license plate-reading cameras are essentially force multipliers, assisting the department when it cant have officers placed strategically at intersections throughout the city every hour. They will help notify officers about stolen vehicles or vehicles related to felony warrants. There have been so many cases solved throughout the country utilizing this technology that it is hard to ignore, Rowell said. The technology has been around for multiple years and their track record is pretty amazing. But across the nation, the tool has been heavily scrutinized for its alleged vulnerabilities. Similar systems have been cited in investigations, allegedly being used by those in law enforcement to stalk ex-partners. There has also been at least one instance in which federal immigration control used the system employed by local law enforcement without permission. One resident, Adam Reddick of Bay City, spoke in opposition of the resolution, comparing the deal with Flock with the privately-owned Bay city Bridge Partners. Its just another private deal locked in, easy to forget until its too late, and while were talking about safety, lets not ignore the massive invasion of privacy that this creates, Reddick said. These cameras dont just catch criminals. They log the movements of every single person every single day. Where you go, when you go, how often. No warrant, no notice, and no way to opt out. Weve already been burned once by a private partnership with Bay City Bridge Partners, and now were on the verge of doing it again. But this time, were not handing over our bridges. Were handing over our right to move freely and without being tracked. More elimination games are set for Tuesdays Little League Softball World Series Regionals action. Watch the LLSWS on ESPN+ CENTRAL Canfield (OH) vs. Columbia (MO) Time: 10 a.m. ET Where: Central Region Headquarters (Whitestown, Ind.) Stream: ESPN+ Ohios team struggled to keep up with Elmhurst (IL) in their first game on Sunday, losing 12-4. Missouris team had to bounce back after losing to Owensboro on Sunday, coming from behind to beat Appleton in extra innings on Monday. Owensboro (KY) vs. Elmhurst (IL) Time: 1 p.m. ET Where: Central Region Headquarters (Whitestown, Ind.) Stream: ESPN+ Owensboro had a thrilling win to start their tournament, walking off Columbia (MO) on Sunday. Illinois team had a little bit of an easier time against Canfield, winning 12-4. Omaha (NE) vs. Floyds Knobs (IN) Time: 4 p.m. ET Where: Central Region Headquarters (Whitestown, Ind.) Stream: ESPN+ Omaha had a wild game against Le Mars (IA) on Sunday. After squandering a huge lead in the sixth inning, but managed to win 8-7 in extras. Floyds Knobs has not given up a run in two games after beating Hudsonville (MI) 2-0 on Monday. MID-ATLANTIC Delmar (MD) vs. Toms River (NJ) Time: 1 p.m. ET Where: East Region Headquarters (Bristol, Conn.) Stream: ESPN+ Delmar hopes to get some offense going with its tournament on the line. Toms River is recovering after a disappointing loss to Delaware, giving up five runs in the sixth on their way to a Washington, DC vs. Wappingers Falls (NY) Time: 7 p.m. ET Where: East Region Headquarters (Bristol, Conn.) Stream: ESPN+ The team from the nations capital needs to get some offense going to stay alive after losing to Delawares team on Sunday. New Yorks team got caught up in a defensive battle with Johnstown (PA), losing 1-0 on Monday. NEW ENGLAND Concord (NH) vs. Buxton (ME) Time: 10 a.m. ET Where: East Region Headquarters (Bristol, Conn.) Stream: ESPN+ Concords season is on the line after losing 9-0 to Guilford (CT) on Sunday. Despite winning their first game of the tournament, Buxton lost a chaotic 4-3 game to St. Albans (VT) in eight innings on Mondy Cranston (RI) vs. Canton (MA) Time: 4 p.m. ET Where: East Region Headquarters (Bristol, Conn.) Stream: ESPN+ Rhode Islands team is looking to get a win after a rough 10-0 loss to Buxton on Sunday. Canton also had a rough time in their first game on Monday, losing to Connecticuts team, 12-3. SOUTHEAST Lake Mary (FL) vs. Cartersville (GA) Time: 11 a.m. ET Where: Little League Southeast Park (Warner Robins, Ga.) Stream: ESPN+ Lake Mary just could not get enough bats on balls against Charlotte (TN) on Sunday, losing 1-0. Cartersville failed to follow up their win on Sunday by losing to Charlotte (NC) on Monday. Taylors (SC) vs. Charlotte (TN) Time: 2 p.m. ET Where: Little League Southeast Park (Warner Robins, Ga.) Stream: ESPN+ After winning 1-0 on the first day of the tournament, Charlotte was on the wrong end of a 1-0 decision on Monday, losing to McLean (VA). Taylors fell to Georgia on Sunday, but bouned back with a convincing 9-0 win over West Virginia on SOUTHWEST Hewitt (TX-West) vs. Hallettsville (TX-East) Time: 11 a.m. ET Where: Southwest Region Headquarters (Waco, Texas) Stream: ESPN+ It is an all-Texas battle on Tuesday, as Hewitt Little League started off strong with a 7-0 win over New Mexico. Now, they will take on Hallettsville, who had Day 1 off. Carlsbad (NM) vs. Tulsa (OK) Time: 2 p.m. ET Where: Southwest Region Headquarters (Waco, Texas) Stream: ESPN+ Carlsbad had a tough result in the first game of the regional, getting shut out by Hewitt on Monday. Tulsa ended up on the wrong end of a 6-3 decision to Sterlington (LA) on Monday. WEST Los Angeles (S-CA) vs. Honolulu (HI) Time: 6 p.m. ET Where: West Region Headquarters (San Bernardino, Calif.) Stream: ESPN+ After suffering a tough loss to Tucson on Sunday, L.A. responded with a big 15-5 win over Utah on Monday to stay alive. Hawaii managed to keep playing thanks to a wild 9-8 win over Las Vegas on Monday. NORTHWEST Monument (CO) vs. Hermiston (OR) Time: 9 p.m. ET Where: West Region Headquarters (San Bernardino, Calif.) Stream: ESPN+ After a rough loss to Idaho on Day 1 of the regional, Monument bounced back with a 6-3 win over Anchorage on Monday. Oregon had to work hard to stay alive in the tournament, beating Billings (MT) on Monday night, 6-5. 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 Rajni Pandey is a seasoned content creator with over 15 years of experience crafting compelling stories for digital news platforms. Specializing in diverse topics such as travel, education, jobs, science, wildlife, religion, politics, and astrology, she excels at transforming trending human-interest stories into engaging reads for a wide audience. Rajni 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 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 Did you know Shilpa Shirodkar, who failed her 10th standard, married Aparesh Ranjit, a UK-based banker with dual MBA degrees? 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 Hrithik Roshan and NTR starrer War 2's trailer to unveil on July 25 marking a special reason: Here is what we know M Snehanjali 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 James Camerons Avatar: Fire and Ash first trailer to be shown only in theaters, fans express disappointment 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 Maargan OTT release: Here is when and where the Vijay Antony starrer film stream 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 M Snehanjali 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 Sanjay Dutt wishes wife Maanayata Dutta as she turns 47: Thank you for being in my life... 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 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 When Salman Khan spoke about his kissing scene with Bhagyashree in Maine Pyar Kiya: Hamara woh proper kissing scene tha, but hum dono ne kaha ki... 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 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 Rohit 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 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 Gita Gopinath to step down as IMFs first deputy MD in August, return to Harvard 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 Brajesh Kumar 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 Gainers & Losers: Stocks that moved the most on July 22 Debaroti Adhikary 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 Debaroti Adhikary 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 Paras Bisht 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 GST may be removed on term life and senior health insurance: Heres what it means for you Manisha Lal Khandpur 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 to earn rewards by using your credit card on UPI Manisha Lal Khandpur 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 This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources 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 Tilaknagar Industries board to consider fund-raise tomorrow; all eyes on Imperial Blue whiskey sale process Ashwin Mohan is Editor (Deals) at Moneycontrol and leads the M&A, private equity and equity capital market transactions coverage. He anchors the video show 'Deal Central ' and tweets at @ashwinmohansays. He has previously worked with ET NOW, CNBC TV-18 and The Times of India. 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 Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years. Hemant Abhishek 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 Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years. Adrija Chatterjee 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 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 As Opposition ups ante against SIR in Bihar, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slams Centre: 'They are murdering democracy' 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 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 Dhankhar's sudden resignation may have even caught govt unaware: What's the inside story? 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 Farewell to a legend: IAF's old warhorse, MiG-21, to fly into history 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 First batch of Apache helicopters reaches India from US 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 'Fraud' against NCR homebuyers: SC allows CBI to register 22 cases in builders-banks nexus 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 Sonalee Borgohain 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 Presenting her Judy Garland tribute show at the Virginia Theatre Festival gives University of Virginia alumna Jenna Pastuszek a chance to connect her passions for music and history in the place where they first came alive. Pastuszek will perform in Get Happy! A Celebration of the Worlds Greatest Entertainer, which runs Thursday through Sunday in UVas Ruth Caplin Theatre to complete the festivals 51st summer season. And she looks forward to a really great homecoming at UVa. I love history, and I love storytelling, Pastuszek told The Daily Progress. What I loved about UVa is it allowed me to be the well-rounded person I am. During her years at UVa, from the fall of 2005 to the completion of her masters degree in teaching in the spring of 2010, Pastuszek was able to take voice lessons, serve as president of the Silhooettes a cappella group and dive into the history and other academic pursuits she loved. But her attachment to UVa started even earlier, in 1992, when her grandfather started teaching there after he retired from the foreign service. She said her grandparents enjoyed UVa so much that they bought a home on Angus Road in Charlottesville and settled in after a year of commuting from Washington, D.C. People in her hometown of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, assumed shed be seeking a conservatory and a renowned musical theater program, but Pastuszek said, Id set my sights on UVa. It was the first [college campus] I visited, and I said, I have to go here. She soon discovered that her life needed to draw on both academic and musical joy to satisfy. During the fall of 2009, while she served as a student teacher to fourth graders in Albemarle County, Pastuszek said she realized that something wasnt right. Im not singing; Im not performing, she said. Thats more a part of me than I thought. Pursuing a masters degree at New York University and becoming a certified voice teacher helped enrich her comprehensive approach. When Get Happy! opens Thursday evening, audiences will discover a similarly well-rounded and thoughtfully researched approach to Garlands life and career. Theres no Judy Garland impersonation here, Pastuszek said. Im not trying to be Judy Garland here; there was only one. Instead, I kind of go through Judys whole life, from her MGM days through her concert era, which was from 1959 to 1969, Pastuszek said. I also loved The Judy Garland Show, which was on for one season in 1963. Audience members who are newcomers to Garlands story and know her for perhaps a handful of hits, including Somewhere Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz or The Trolley Song from Meet Me in St. Louis, will find their way into Garlands story with ease. Diehard Garland fans who are more familiar with her three-decade catalog will savor carefully curated, lesser-known gems, which Pastuszek fondly calls B-sides. I have great taste in music, so youll like all the songs, Pastuszek said. Its a fun, delightful show where you dont have to think too hard. Joining Pastuszek on stage will be fellow performer Will Stephan Connell, wholl join her for duets Garland shared with Mickey Rooney, Frank Sinatra and other stars, plus music director Kyle Branzel. Pastuszek said Connell brings a rich trove of Rat Pack lore to enhance the vibrancy of Garlands concert-era performances. Pastuszek created Get Happy! in 2019 after a theater in Cape May, New Jersey, asked her to develop a Garland tribute for its upcoming gala and gave her free rein. Pastuszek channeled both her musical and historical talents into the piece, interviewing people whod worked with Garland over the years and working with a dramaturg who helped her get a strong sense of Garlands life and times. If you go "Get Happy! A Celebration of the World's Greatest Entertainer" 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday Ruth Caplin Theatre at UVa $40-$15 artsboxoffice.virginia.edu (434) 924-3376 The resulting show was received enthusiastically in November 2019, and Pastuszek was planning its New York debut for May 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down stages near and far. Despite challenges and setbacks throughout her life, Garland persevered as a performer and as a person. Pastuszek said that Garlands resilience was a touchstone during the COVID-19 pandemic, when stages went dark for safety and performers struggled to find ways to bring live theater to audiences who couldnt gather the way they once did. Pastuszek knew she needed to get creative to sell the show during hard times, and the projects flexibility gave it a distinct advantage. She was able to tell promoters that I have this Judy Garland show that can be done 6 feet apart from my music director and could be done outside. This show has evolved with me as a performer for the past five years, Pastuszek said, adding that she strove to capture the pandemics collective sense of loss and grief and how to channel this into something productive. How better than to learn this from Judy, who did this her entire life? The thesis of our show is how to move through life and how to reach out and give, Pastuszek said. Hope Dhankhar's successor will do justice in real sense to VP's chair: Omar Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept How Jagdeep Dhankhar, once Opposition's bete noire, turned into its poster boy 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 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 Jagdeep Dhankhar entitled to govt bungalow, to leave VP Enclave after 15-month stay: Official 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 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 Jagdeep Dhankhars last day in Parliament: Presiding over monsoon session, allowing notice against Justice Varma 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 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 Kerala Police book two for defamatory posts on late CPI(M) leader VS Achuthanandan as state bids emotional farewell 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 Khalistani extremists' issue been brought to attention to our partners in UK: Foreign Secy Vikram Misri 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 Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Parliament Session 2025 Live Updates: Special Intensive Revision part of conspiracy to snatch voting right of poor people, says Manickam Tagore Congress MP Manickam Tagore says, "Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is part of a conspiracy to snatch the voting rights of the poor people of Bihar. The Election Commission of India is also supporting the BJP in this conspiracy. This is very sad... I hope this issue will be discussed in Parliament..." He further says, "Parties of the INDIA alliance are united and the government is under pressure and they have accepted a discussion on Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor..." NOTAM vs NOTAM: India and Pakistan keep airspace on alert weeks after Operation Sindoor 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 Summit a key moment for China-EU ties 08:24, July 22, 2025 By ZHAO JIA in Beijing and ZHANG ZHOUXIANG in Brussels ( Chinadaily.com.cn Marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, the 25th China-EU Summit, to be held on Thursday in Beijing, will offer a critical opportunity to deepen strategic communication, promote win-win cooperation and provide certainty and stability in a turbulent world, officials and analysts said. President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will visit China on Thursday and meet with President Xi Jinping. Premier Li Qiang will co-chair the summit with the European Union leaders on the same day. Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Monday that as China and the EU are 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 is receiving international attention. "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," he said. According to a news release by the European Council on Friday, Costa described the summit as an opportunity to engage with China at the highest level and have frank, constructive discussions on issues that matter to both sides. "We want dialogue, real engagement and concrete progress. We aim for a fair, balanced relationship that delivers for both sides," he was quoted as saying. The meeting comes as global trade frictions heat up and follows a series of high-level bilateral exchanges to secure closer economic and political ties. Official statistics showed that annual bilateral trade jumped from $2.4 billion in 1975 to $785.8 billion in 2024, while two-way investment has grown from nearly zero to $260 billion. People-to-people exchanges are more frequent, and effective coordination and cooperation is taking place in climate response and other areas. In July, the 13th China-EU High-Level Strategic Dialogue and the sixth China-EU High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue were held in Brussels and Beijing, respectively. Additionally, China and the European Parliament agreed to simultaneously and comprehensively lift previous restrictions on mutual exchanges, highlighting both sides' recognition of the importance of dialogue and cooperation. However, the relationship does face some challenges, said Guo, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, noting that 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 has caused unnecessary disruptions to bilateral relations. "The European side should avoid obstructing the mainstream of cooperation, exaggerating competitive factors or resorting to unilateral restrictions, which could aggravate tensions," said Cui Hongjian, director of Beijing Foreign Studies University's Center for European Union and Regional Development Studies. "Both sides should stay focused on their original intent of cooperation, build consensus and work to translate dialogue into concrete outcomes to boost confidence in the ties," he added. Jian Junbo, director of Fudan University's Center for China-Europe Relations, noted that China and the EU share a strong commitment to multilateralism, support the authority of the United Nations, and are working together to tackle global challenges such as climate change and terrorism through multilateral means. Gerhard Stahl, former secretary-general of the European Committee of the Regions, emphasized that both external pressures and internal populist movements are threatening European democracy and integration. "Against this backdrop, the summit will help reset relations under new international conditions," he said. Alberto Alemanno, the Jean Monnet professor of EU law and policy at HEC Paris, said China was not Europe's strategic priority, but that's changing rapidly as global power dynamics shift and the EU realizes that it urgently needs a coherent China strategy. While the United States reshapes the world order it once built, China is constructing its own alternative framework, he said, adding that this leaves Europe facing a fundamental choice between pursuing deeper economic integration with China or maintaining geopolitical distance to satisfy US expectations. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Zhong Wenxing) 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 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 Resignation speaks highly of Dhankhar but poorly of those who got him elected as VP: Oppn slams govt Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept SC seeks responses of Centre, States on Prez reference on timeline for assent to state bills 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 SC upholds order for Rs 20 lakhs rent to Bihar Ex-MLA for overstay in govt accomodation 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 'Cannot deny the pace of work of Fadnavis': Sharad Pawar hails Maharashtra CM on his 55th Birthday 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 "And then a telegram come from Washington station, / This is what it read, / 'Oh that brave engineer that run 97, / Is lyin' in Danville dead.'" Those lyrics from Wreck of the Old 97, a disaster ballad written in the early 20th century, were given renewed life for a new generation of listeners by Johnny Cash on his 1957 debut album, With His Hot and Blue Guitar, as well as on his live album Live at San Quentin. Sung by Cash hundreds of times and recorded in several versions plus versions by Hank Snow, Woody Guthrie and Flatt and Scruggs it became a staple song for the country legend. But it has its roots in a real-life tragedy in Danville at the dawn of the 20th century. On Sept. 27, 1903, Southern Railways Southbound No. 97, a mail train comprising four cars and an engine, left Washington, D.C., at 8 a.m., headed toward New Orleans. Around 2:30 p.m., it jumped the track and fell through the Stillhouse trestle, about 45 feet high, in Danville, causing a fatal wreck. An article in the Sept. 29, 1903, Richmond Times-Dispatch described the wreck: Without a moments warning, the entire train was precipitated to the bottom of the ravine, about fifty feet deep, and practically demolished. Nine people were killed in the accident, including engineer J.A. Broady, and seven were injured. With a reputation for being prompt, the No. 97 kept a tight schedule, though it was initially not believed to be moving at above-average speed about 30 mph at the time of the crash. The Times-Dispatch article continued, Just north of the Stillhouse ravine, the track takes a sudden turn. This curve had been passed, and the train was approaching the trestle. When within a hundred feet of the trestle, the engine jumped the tracks and ran along the cross-ties. As it was about to pass onto the bridge, the engine careened, striking the wooden supports of the bridge structure. The impact was terrific. Four supports, each thirteen feet long, were greatly weakened and gave way under the weight of the engine. Mail bags flew off the train, torn to pieces, and the mail itself went in every direction. And though the wreckage caught fire, it was promptly contained by Danville firefighters. Several thousand people were involved in the rescue and clean-up efforts. Still, the damage was extensive, and the cars were reduced to a great mass of broken wood and twisted steel and iron. Though the track itself was cleared that day, removing the wreckage from the ravine took considerably longer, due to the challenge of bringing the heavy debris up from a 45-foot depth. Despite the initial suggestion that the No. 97 was traveling at a normal pace, however, officials ultimately concluded that the speed of the train precipitated the wreck: There was no difference of opinion as to what caused the wreck of No. 97. Everyone said it was caused by the train striking the curve at too great a rate of speed. That was the general opinion of all the railroad men who were heard to speak of the matter. Among the survivors was a mail clerk who managed to jump from the train before it plunged into the ravine and suffered only minor injuries. But those who made it out alive were left with the trauma of having barely escaped, including postal clerk J.J. Dunlap, who escaped with only a few cuts on his body and several cuts on one of his hands. His face showed plainly the awful ordeal he had passed through. He was as pale as a dead man, and his nervous system a perfect wreck. Remarkably, this was the Southern Railways second disaster on the No. 97 route in just one years time, with another crash having taken place on April 13 near Lexington, North Carolina, causing the death of two crew members. Yet the Danville wreck has become an enduring piece of Virginia folklore in the nearly 122 years since it took place, the epicenter of the tragedy commemorated with a historical marker in 1947. But more than anything, its the song that kept the memory alive, given added gravitas by the baritone vocals of "the Man in Black" singing of the brave engineer that has run old 97. Shashi Tharoor hits out at Congress colleague over not with us remark: Those saying such things Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Stranded no more: After month-long wait in Kerala, UKs stealth F-35B fighter to take off today 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 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 Supreme Court rejects PIL against political parties using national tricolour in their flags Smriti Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Varanasi court asks Magistrate to reconsider plea for FIR against Rahul Gandhi over objectionable statement against Sikhs 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 Who will be new Vice President? As Jagdeep Dhankhar quits, here are the likely frontrunners 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 'Will do what we need to do': India dismisses EU sanction threat on Russian oil 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 Shishir Tripathi is a journalist and researcher based in Delhi. He has worked with The Indian Express, Firstpost, Governance Now, and Indic Collective. He writes on Law, Governance and Politics. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. 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 Brazil journalist stumbles on girl's body in water while reporting her disappearance: 'Will never forget' Shubhi Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Shubhi Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 'Spend less time doomscrolling: Perplexity AI CEO warns youth to prioritise AI to be more 'employable' Shubhi Mishra USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Cosmic dreams in cold deserts: How Ladakh's harsh landscape is becoming Indias space frontier 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 Scientists discover hidden bones in skin of Australian monitor lizards What they reveal is surprising 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 Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years. 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 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 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 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 The nonprofit group that monitors the health of the Rivanna River is asking the public for assistance spotting otters in the tributary of the James River. Because where there are otters, there are healthy waters, according to the Rivanna Conservation Alliance. Otters are indicator species, Claire Sanderson, the alliances director of water quality monitoring, told The Daily Progress. They really rely on healthy waterways for survival. The Rivanna flows southeast through Albemarle County, skirting the eastern edge of the city of Charlottesville, breaching the Southwest Mountains near Monticello and passing through Palmyra before entering the James at the town of Columbia. If there are otters in the river, that is a good sign that the water is clean and full of food at least otter food, which includes fish, amphibians, worms and crustaceans. In turn, the presence of both signals there are healthy riparian buffers, the land and vegetation alongside bodies of water that filter debris. The alliance launched the Rivanna River Otter Monitoring Project in February to collect data about otters in the area. People who spot an otter are encouraged to fill out an online report, which asks for the time, date and location of the sighting. Sanderson said that since the project was launched, fewer than 15 sightings had been reported, but the alliance is promoting the program and hoping for more responses, especially now more people are likely to be out on the water during the summer season. Leah Card, the furbearer biologist for Virginias Department of Wildlife Resources, told The Daily Progress she highly values this sort of localized data collection. As a furbearer biologist, she specializes in the study and conservation of animals prized for their coats. River otters were hunted for their water-repellent fur in the 19th and 20th centuries to the point that, by 1978, they were considered an endangered species in Virginia. Although measures taken in the 1980s helped restore Virginias otter population back to a stable point, Card said it can be difficult to collect data on the true otter population because of their elusive natures, which makes the Rivanna River Otter Monitoring Project all the more valuable. North American river otters, as their name suggests, can most often be found swimming in rivers. They are not to be confused with their sea otter counterparts, who dwell in saltwater environments. Sanderson said most of the sighting reports she has received so far have been on the Rivanna itself, but there have been some in small ponds, including the one near Holymead Town Center in Albemarle County. River otters are nocturnal, so dusk and dawn are typically the best times to spot one, but Sanderson said, surprisingly, there have been reports from times throughout the day. Just because you didnt see an otter in an area doesnt mean theyre not there, Sanderson said. They might be traveling elsewhere and come back, or it just might not be the right timing. Card said otters can travel 20 miles from their holts while looking for food. She said the trick to seeing one is patience and silence. For those who do get the chance to spot an otter, she recommends keeping about 100 feet away and turning the flash off of their camera, so as not to disturb the wildlife. Pictures and videos of Rivanna otters can be submitted via the alliances online form or emailed to Sanderson directly at clairesanderson@rivannariver.org. Card said taking a video can be better for data collection, especially if the person recording is unsure if what they are seeing is an otter. The form has a scale asking how confident the otter spotter is they saw an otter, since otters can easily be mistaken for other animals, particularly minks, beavers and muskrats. One of the easiest ways to differentiate these creatures is to look at their tails. Beavers have wide, flat, hairless tails; muskrats have skinny, hairless tails; and minks have shorter, bushier tails. Otter tails are long, thick at the base and tapered to a point. Other distinguishing characteristics of otters are their playful personalities, since they can sometimes be seen sliding on their stomachs down hills. Those who want to submit an otter sighting report or who want to learn more about the Rivanna River Otter Monitoring Project can visit rivannariver.org/rromp. But, Sanderson said, as helpful as the data is, the program also is about engagement with local residents. I think thats one of the most important things: getting outside, getting out on the river, enjoying nature, learning about whats happening within our watershed and how were hoping to encourage stewardship among community members, she said. 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 Aihik Sur 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 Shaurya Shubham 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 1/11 Who hasnt dreamt of walking down the aisle beneath Tuscan skies, or dancing the night away on a candlelit beach in the Maldives? Destination weddings have moved far beyond fleeting trends. Theyve become elaborate, immersive celebrationsblending travel, tradition, and a touch of the fantastical. For couples ready to trade banquet halls for breathtaking backdrops, tying the knot overseas offers more than scenic settings; it delivers stories youll relive forever. (Image: Canva) 2/11 Whether inspired by royal nuptials, celebrity ceremonies, or the rising influence of wedding content on social media, many locales have emerged as favouriteseach promising something rare and remarkable. And while timeless charm continues to draw lovers to perennial classics, fresh openings, smoother travel access, and cultural visibility have added new allure to these already-iconic destinations. From opulent palaces in Rajasthan to coastal elegance on the French Riviera, here are 9 wedding destinations that continue to captivate hearts across the globe. (Image: Canva) 3/11 1. Udaipur, India Often referred to as the Venice of the East, Udaipur stands unmatched in regal splendour. Its romantic lakeside setting, heritage havelis, and grand palace hotels like the Oberoi Udaivilas and Taj Lake Palace make it the jewel of Indian destination weddings. Think elephant processions, Rajasthani folk music, and candlelit banquets under starlit skiesUdaipur isnt just a location; its a legacy in motion. (Image: Unsplash) 4/11 2. Tuscany, Italy Rolling vineyards, medieval hill towns, and rustic villas make Tuscany the epitome of romantic charm. Couples drawn to art, wine, and tradition will find its olive groves and sun-drenched terraces ideal for intimate celebrations. Towns like Siena and Cortona offer historical gravitas with timeless beauty. (Image: Canva) 5/11 3. Santorini, Greece Whitewashed buildings cascading into the Aegean Sea, blazing sunsets, and cliffside chapelsSantorini delivers cinematic grandeur. Whether it's a clifftop vow exchange in Oia or a beachside reception in Imerovigli, the islands drama is part of its appeal. (Image: Canva) 6/11 4. Paris, France If ever a city embodied the spirit of romance, it is Paris. From historic churches like Eglise Saint-Eustache to riverbank vows beside the Seine, Paris is elegance personified. A wedding here feels like living inside a timeless black-and-white film. (Image: Canva) 7/11 5. Bali, Indonesia Balinese weddings offer a fusion of exotic spirituality and tropical grace. Choose from oceanfront villas, jungle retreats in Ubud, or cliffside resorts in Uluwatu. Balis spiritual depth and vibrant ceremonies add a soulful touch to celebrations. (Image: Canva) 8/11 6. Provence, France Frances rural south offers a more rustic yet equally enchanting alternative to coastal luxury. In Provence, golden fields, lavender farms, and stone farmhouses define the landscape. Venues such as Le Mas des Poiriers near Avignon are celebrated for hosting elegant yet intimate weddings amid fruit orchards and vineyards. (Image: Canva) 9/11 7. Amalfi Coast, Italy For those seeking dolce vita magic, the Amalfi Coast delivers. Dramatic coastlines, lemon-scented air, and intimate cliffside venues in Positano or Ravello create the ideal stage for Mediterranean romance. (Image: Canva) 10/11 8. Ibiza, Spain Beyond its reputation as a party island, Ibiza offers a deeply romantic side. Rural fincas, serene coves, and olive groves offer secluded backdrops for chic, bohemian-style weddings. Whether it's a beachside blessing or a sunset ceremony in the hills, Ibiza delivers both charm and freedom in equal measure. (Image: Canva) Priyanka Roshan With over eight years in multimedia journalism, is passionate about storytellingboth visual and textualacross travel, jobs, business, markets, politics, and daily news. From crafting engaging articles to producing compelling videos, she blends creativity with strategy to bring stories to life. With a strong foundation in SEO, and video production she ensures content not only informs but also resonates with audiences. 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 India launches e-visa facility for Kuwait national: All you need to know before you travel 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 Jharkhand government launches India's first mining tourism initiative - All you need to know 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 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 UN warns Sustainable Development Goals are at risk in Africa amid global crises UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued an urgent call for action, stating that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are in jeopardy due to the current global political and economic climate, according to a report in Africa News. Progress is being impeded by escalating geopolitical conflicts, a global economic slowdown that has worsened debt crises for many African nations, and the intensifying impacts of climate change across the continent. These factors are diverting attention and resources, limiting the ability of African governments to invest in critical sectors like health, education, and infrastructure. Experts cited in the report emphasize that without significant debt relief, increased development aid, and a renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation, many African countries are on track to miss the 2030 targets. As Russia and Ukraine head for another peace talks, Kremlin issues a warning: Do not expect miracles 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 British stealth jet's long vacation: How much did it cost UK to park its F-35 in Kerala for over a month? 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 Explainer: Taiwan's recall elections and how the process could play out Sonalee Borgohain 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 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 First Apache Guardians land in India: What they mean for the Army and border with Pakistan 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 'I think we will': Trump confident of inking trade deal with Philippines as he meets Ferdinand Marcos 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 Inside the FBIs 2016 Hillary Clinton email probe: Did it miss key leads and why it still matters? 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 Khalistani extremism high on agenda as PM Modi heads to UK: Why India is turning up the heat 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 The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed a discrimination lawsuit in which the plaintiff was referred to as loud and aggressive and was terminated by the same person who hired him five weeks earlier. Alonzo Morton, a Black man, claimed that he was discriminated against by his employer, Froehling & Robertson Inc., a minority-owned engineering firm, alleging race and sex discrimination and retaliation for his participation in protected activity. Morton was hired on Oct. 9, 2023, by human resources director Patricia Preston as a human resources generalist. After starting in his role, Morton realized that F&R was not effectively tracking demographic data of job applicants and hires and that F&R had only a few Black managers working there despite claiming to be a minority owned business bringing diversity to your team. When Morton requested access to this information, he was given looks of confusion and vague answers and his efforts were stalled. His request to join the National Society for Black Engineers was also denied. Five weeks into his job, Preston terminated him. At the termination, Preston allegedly told him: That his termination had nothing to do with his work ethic, but that Mortons focus on recruiting projects was not the big priority right now. That he had a great personality, but Preston criticized him for being very aggressive, very loud, very strong. That he did not communicate well and communicated largely by email which could be taken out of proportion. That they were not getting along as a group and that it was not working out, but that he would be eligible for unemployment. That his work was good, but it was not working out. That his termination was in part because he was coming to work too late, sometimes as late as by 15 minutes. Morton claimed others were late too. Morton alleged that statements made by the manager (referring to Morton as loud and aggressive) were race-based stereotypes of Black men and those were sufficient to allege unlawful discrimination. Based on these allegations in the complaint, the court held, That premise is not a plausible one because many individuals, no matter their race or sex can properly be labeled as loud and aggressive. Thus, Prestons statement cannot plausibly be considered a race-based reason for the termination decision. The court also relied on the same actor defense, holding, That conclusion is bolstered by the Fourth Circuits creation of a strong inference against a finding of discriminatory animus as to employees who, over a short time-span, were quickly hired and fired by the same individual. In cases where the hirer and firer are the same individual and the termination of employment occurs within a relatively short time span following the hiring, a strong inference exists that discrimination was not a determining factor for the adverse action taken by the employer. The court relied on prior case law in which even a six-month gap could be supported by the same actor inference. On the issue of sex discrimination, the court held that Mortons offered comparators of two other women coworkers failed because he could not show they were similarly situated to him. Merely being officemates is insufficient. The court held, The complaint does not offer whether the putative comparators worked in the same HR Department as Morton, who at F&R supervised them, or even what their jobs [sic] titles and responsibilities are. Without such basic information that might allow a permissible inference respecting their similarly to Morton. Thus there was no cognizable disparate treatment claim. The court also found that Morton did not engage in protected activity, and therefore could not support a cause of action for retaliation. Making sound hiring decisions is difficult and employers are not always going to get it right. Its important to provide effective onboarding and set expectations, but if a new employee is not picking up the job timely, is engaging in disruptive or other behavior or not assimilating with the team, early action is better than delay. Ideally, he would have received some performance feedback before termination and this may have prevented the lawsuit. This case provides sound support for employers who quickly identify that a hiring decision may have been in error and to take early action, especially if the same person who hired an employee also makes the decision to terminate. Managers should be careful not to use language that could implicate stereotypes and should always be armed with specific examples of behaviors to justify taking disciplinary action. Musharraf 2.0 in the making? How Asim Munir's power grab is reducing Shehbaz to Pakistan's newest puppet PM Abhinav Gupta With over 12 years in digital journalism, has navigated the fast-evolving media landscape, shaping digital strategies and leading high-impact newsrooms. Currently, he serves as News Editor at MoneyControl, leading coverage in Global Affairs, Indian Politics, Governance and Policy Making. Previously, he has spearheaded fact-checking and digital media operations at Press Trust of India. Abhinav has also led news desks at Financial Express, DNA, and Jagran English, managing editorial direction, breaking news coverage, and digital growth. His journey includes stints with The Indian Express Group, Zee Media Group, and more, where he has honed his expertise in newsroom leadership, audience engagement, and digital transformation. 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 pulls US out of UN cultural agency UNESCO for second time 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 Visa is a privilege, not a right: US Embassy issues fresh warning to Indians amid visa crackdown 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 Why Gazas chaos is growing: Israels failure to plan postwar governance fuels aid crises and global backlash Sonalee Borgohain 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 Yves here. This article describes a minerals pact among the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and the US with the US getting investment rights with no actual security obligations, despite this agreement being touted as a peace deal. We just saw this movie in Ukraine, except this version has a bit more colorable optics via having a joint oversight committee. However, this article criticizes this scheme as following in the footsteps of ones with China and Russia, without mentioning the intelligence and sovereignity insulting Ukraine raw earth plan. By Hanri Mostert, SARChI Chair for Mineral Law in Africa, University of Cape Town and Tracy-Lynn Field, Professor of Environmental and Sustainability Law, University of the Witwatersrand. Originally published at The Conversation US-brokered peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda binds the two African nations to a worrying arrangement: one where a country signs away its mineral resources to a superpower in return for opaque assurances of security. The peace deal, signed in June 2025, aims to end three decades of conflict between the DRC and Rwanda. A key part of the agreement binds both nations to developing a regional economic integration framework. This arrangement would expand cooperation between the two states, the US government and American investors on transparent, formalized end-to-end mineral chains. Despite its immense mineral wealth, the DRC is among the five poorest countries in the world. It has been seeking US investment in its mineral sector. The US has in turn touted a potential multi-billion-dollar investment programme to anchor its mineral supply chains in the traumatised and poor territory. The peace that the June 2025 deal promises, therefore, hinges on chaining mineral supply to the US in exchange for Washingtons powerful but vaguely formulated military oversight. The peace agreement further establishes a joint oversight committee with representatives from the African Union, Qatar and the US to receive complaints and resolve disputes between the DRC and Rwanda. But beyond the joint oversight committee, the peace deal creates no specific security obligations for the US. The relationship between the DRC and Rwanda has been marred by war and tension since the bloody First (1996-1997) and Second (1998-2003) Congo wars. At the heart of much of this conflict is the DRCs mineral wealth. It has fuelled competition, exploitation and armed violence. This latest peace deal introduces a resources-for-security arrangement. Such deals arent new in Africa. They first emerged in the early 2000s as resources-for-infrastructure transactions. Here, a foreign state would agree to build economic and social infrastructure (roads, ports, airports, hospitals) in an African state. In exchange, it would get a major stake in a government-owned mining company. Or gain preferential access to the host countrys minerals. We have studied mineral law and governance in Africa for more than 20 years. The question that emerges now is whether a US-brokered resources-for-security agreement will help the DRC benefit from its resources. Based on our research on mining, development and sustainability, we believe this is unlikely. This is because resources-for-security is the latest version of a resource-bartering approach that China and Russia pioneered in countries such as Angola, the Central African Republic and the DRC. Resource bartering in Africa has eroded the sovereignty and bargaining power of mineral-rich nations such as the DRCand Angola. Further, resources-for-security deals are less transparent and more complicated than prior resource bartering agreements. DRCs Security Gaps The DRC is endowed with major deposits of critical minerals like cobalt, copper, lithium, manganese and tantalum. These are the building blocks for 21st century technologies: artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, wind energy and military security hardware. Rwanda has less mineral wealth than its neighbour, but is the worlds third-largest producer of tantalum, used in electronics, aerospace and medical devices. For almost 30 years, minerals have fuelled conflict and severe violence, especially in eastern DRC. Tungsten, tantalum and gold (referred to as 3TG) finance and drive conflict as government forces and an estimated 130 armed groups vie for control over lucrative mining sites. Several reports and studies have implicated the DRCs neighbours Rwanda and Uganda in supporting the illegal extraction of 3TG in this region. The DRC government has failed to extend security over its vast (2.3 million square kilometres) and diverse territory (109 million people, representing 250 ethnic groups). Limited resources, logistical challenges and corruption have weakened its armed forces. This context makes the United States military backing enormously attractive. But our research shows there are traps. What States Risk Losing Resources-for-infrastructure and resources-for-security deals generally offer African nations short-term stability, financing or global goodwill. However, the costs are often long-term because of an erosion of sovereign control. Heres how this happens: certain clauses in such contracts can freeze future regulatory reforms, limiting legislative autonomy other clauses may lock in low prices for years, leaving resource-selling states unable to benefit when commodity prices surge arbitration clauses often shift disputes to international forums, bypassing local courts infrastructure loans are often secured via resource revenues used as loan security. This effectively ringfences exports and undermines sovereign fiscal control. Examples of loss or near-loss of sovereignty from these sorts of deals abound in Africa. For instance, Angolas US$2 billion oil-backed loan from China Eximbank in 2004. This was repayable in monthly deliveries of oil, with revenues directed to Chinese-controlled accounts. The loans design deprived Angolan authorities of decision-making power over that income stream even before the oil was extracted. These deals also fragment accountability. They often span multiple ministries (such as defence, mining and trade), avoiding robust oversight or accountability. Fragmentation makes resource sectors vulnerable to elite capture. Powerful insiders can manipulate agreements for private gain. In the DRC, this has created a violent kleptocracy, where resource wealth is systematically diverted away from popular benefit. Finally, there is the risk of re-entrenching extractive trauma. Communities displaced for mining and environmental degradation in many countries across Africa illustrate the long-standing harm to livelihoods, health and social cohesion. These are not new problems. But where extraction is tied to security or infrastructure, such damage risks becoming permanent features, not temporary costs. What Needs to Change Critical minerals are critical because theyre hard to mine or substitute. Additionally, their supply chains are strategically vulnerable and politically exposed. Whoever controls these minerals controls the future. Africa must make sure it doesnt trade that future away. In a world being reshaped by global interests in critical minerals, African states must not underestimate the strategic value of their mineral resources. They hold considerable leverage. But leverage only works if it is wielded strategically. This means: investing in institutional strength and legal capacity to negotiate better deals demanding local value creation and addition requiring transparency and parliamentary oversight for minerals-related agreements refusing deals that bypass human rights, environmental or sovereignty standards. Africa has the resources. It must hold on to the power they wield Yves here. American abuse of its supposed strategic allies has gotten to be so severe and inexcusable that some are having debates in political circles and the media about why they are continuing to accept this treatment. Its as if the abusive husband intensified his wife-beating even as his income was shrinking due to bad career moves. Admittedly, the US has been engaged in a stunning show of disrespect and preening sense of entitlement towards Europe, so theres every reason to see if the US can pull the same stunt on the Pacific Rim. The US harmed all of Europe by promising it would do whatever it takes to beat Russia in Ukraine in a conflict the US sought, drained NATO members of weapons stocks and EU states via non-military Ukraine assistance, and harmed Europe and most of all Germany by blowing up the Nordstream pipeline. But to add insult to injury, the Trump team has threatened the EU with further harm via sanctions while acting as if Europe should further subsidize the US by buying US weapons to continue Project Ukraine, rather than let them derive some modest benefit from continued war-mongering by fabricating their own arms. Now this pattern is obviously self-destructive, but theres at least an explanation, which is the Iron Law of Institutions. The US exerts considerable influence in EU institutions and the NGOs that are career ladders and safety nets for pols and bureaucrats. So they see upside in playing nicely with the US and risk if they dont. My sense is that while there is, or was, fear of crossing the US among its soi-disant Asian and antipodean allies, the upside is more limited. The Andrew Korybko piece below focuses on a fresh bit of US cheek, in the barely-coded demand by Under Secretary of Defense Eldridge Colby to Japanese and Australian official to pre-commit to assisting the US if things get ugly in its planned escalation with China. Although space prevents us from giving the full context, Japan and Australia were already souring on the US before the latest demand, Renegotiating such complicated relationships wont happen quickly, but the fact that both countries are debating whether the US is worth its ever rising price is a seismic shift. For Japan, Trumps trade thuggery has been a slap in the face, and the US shows no interest in repairing the damage. Alienating Japan is even more epically stupid than alienating Canada, since Japan is richer and in a more geopolitically important location. Unlike the EU, Japan has also been uncomfortable with its status as a military protectorate1 but has lacked an internal consensus as to what if anything to do about it. When Trump announced his Liberation Day tariffs, Japan made a point of being one of the first to enter into talks. As former ambassador Chas Freeman recounted it, the Japanese were shocked to find the US completely unprepared, with no proposals as to what it might provide Japan and what it might expect in return, and instead thuggishly asked Japan what it was prepared to offer to escape US tariff punishment. If you have ever worked with the Japanese, they are extremely loath to complain or argue. The fact that many officials are now sharply criticizing US conduct means they are incandescent. The depth of the souring on the US is confirmed by media reports that Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea were discussing how to coordinate trade talk strategies against the US. I am pretty sure the translation below was sanitized. The key word reported elsewhere was gangster. Note that this was the head of the opposition party and the ruling LPD just suffered its biggest setback in 70 years in upper house elections, with the governments poor performance in the trade negotiations cited as a big, if not the, reason: This Japanese MP (whose name is Shinji Oguma) absolutely nails it, and reflects what pretty all countries in Asia are thinking: pic.twitter.com/U1jZahc5Sh When Japan negotiates with what [Trump] is saying its akin to being extorted by a delinquent. If Japan gives in, thinking Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) April 18, 2025 And there are signs of spine-stiffening: Japan draws a red line in trade talks with the U.S., rejecting any deal that doesnt include relief from harsh automobile tariffs. As Washington threatens 25% duties on Japanese goods starting August 1, Tokyo stands firm, refusing to trade away its auto sector or make rushed pic.twitter.com/wdo4qhfzu9 Asia Fact-Check (@AsiaFactCheck) July 21, 2025 All is not well in Asia. Japans PM called the trade talks a battle and urged reduced US dependence. Seeking more from allies is fine, even appropriate. But how one does it matters because allies have domestic politics, face, agency and yes, choices. pic.twitter.com/LIC1KgC5fQ Rush Doshi (@RushDoshi) July 12, 2025 Now to Australia. The disgraceful AUKUS submarine deal was a massive sellout to the US. For an overview, a section from a 2023 cross post by Prabir Purkayastha: The recent Australia, U.S., and UK $368 billion deal on buying nuclear submarines has been termed by Paul Keating, a former Australian prime minister, as the worst deal in all history. It commits Australia to buy conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines that will be delivered in the early 2040s. These will be based on new nuclear reactor designs yet to be developed by the UK. Meanwhile, starting from the 2030s, pending approval from the U.S. Congress, the United States intends to sell Australia three Virginia class submarines, with the potential to sell up to two more if needed (Trilateral Australia-UK-U.S. Partnership on Nuclear-Powered Submarines, March 13, 2023; emphasis mine). According to the details, it appears that this agreement commits Australia to buy from the U.S. eight new nuclear submarines, to be delivered from the 2040s through the end of the 2050s. If nuclear submarines were so crucial for Australias security, for which it broke its existing diesel-powered submarine deal with France, this agreement provides no credible answers. For those who have been following the nuclear proliferation issues, the deal raises a different red flag. If submarine nuclear reactor technology and weapons-grade (highly enriched) uranium are shared with Australia, it is a breach of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to which Australia is a signatory as a non-nuclear power. Even the supplying of such nuclear reactors by the U.S. and the UK would constitute a breach of the NPT. This is even if such submarines do not carry nuclear but conventional weapons as stated in this agreement. So why did Australia renege on its contract with France, which was to buy 12 diesel submarines from France at a cost of $67 billion, a small fraction of its gargantuan $368 billion deal with the U.S.? What does it gain, and what does the U.S. gain by annoying France, one of its close NATO allies? And as Satyajit Das noted: American willingness or ability to support allies, other than with financial assistance and low risk stand-off weaponry, is questionable. Outside of minor affairs like Panama and Granada, the US record in military combat is unimpressive. For Australians tied to the US and UK through the opaque 2021 AUKUS defence agreement, the possibility of being drawn into a military conflict with China and the prospect of the American cavalry not reporting for duty is a clear concern. The parallel to Great Britains abandonment of Australia during the World War 2 is striking. The criticism has become even more fierce as new bad facts are coming out, including a campaign to exit AUKUS: You thought the toxic nuclear submarines were the worst part of AUKUS. It gets worse much worse. pic.twitter.com/DEsX0fQn8y David Shoebridge (@DavidShoebridge) July 10, 2025 Nuclear waste costs are expected to double the already nosebleed level price tag. As the Michael West site explains (which ample detail): Everything about AUKUS nuclear waste is a political secret, including the cost, which will more than double the $368B announced AUKUS price tag. Former submariner Rex Patrick with the story. If we ever get these subs, the total price tag may well be over $1 trillion. Im in the Federal Court at present, trying to pry open a November 2023 report into how the Government intends to deal with the high-level nuclear waste from AUKUS submarines. But theres already a lot we can deduce by combining what has been extracted from the Government using Freedom of Information (FOI) laws, from Senate testimony and also looking at how the United States does and doesnt take care of its naval nuclear waste. For starters, there was a short but insightful exchange in Senate Estimates last year between Senator Lidia Thorpe and the head of the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA), Admiral Jonathon Mead. After making quick reference to the cost of nuclear waste facilities overseas, Senator Thorpe asked about the waste costs for AUKUS, Theres no costing as yet; is that right? Mead responded, Thats correct. For an organisation that is required to cost its capability from cradle to grave, including support facilities, its a huge omission. It might be the case that theyre too frightened to do the math Well see if the backbenchers have enough support to move the leadership: Rank-and-file Labor members in Victoria are preparing to launch a blistering attack on US president Donald Trump and demand the Albanese government withdraw from AUKUS.https://t.co/gBfNxeG8Xe Financial Review (@FinancialReview) July 22, 2025 Now to the main event. By Andrew Korybko, a Moscow-based American political analyst who specializes in the global systemic transition to multipolarity in the New Cold War. He has a PhD from MGIMO, which is under the umbrella of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Originally published at his website Playing any role in a Sino-US war over Taiwan, even a logistical one, could provoke Chinese retaliation. The Financial Times reported that US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby recently asked Australian and Japanese defense officials how their countries would respond to a war over Taiwan. He also asked them to boost defense spending after NATO just agreed to do so during its latest summit. Colby lent credence to this report by tweeting that hes focused on implementing the Presidents America First, common sense agenda of restoring deterrence and achieving peace through strength. This sequence shows that Trump 2.0 is serious about Pivoting (back) to (East) Asia in order to more robustly contain China. This requires freezing the Ukrainian Conflict and assembling a de facto Asian NATO, however, both of which are uncertain. As regards the first, Trump is being drawn into mission creep, while the latter is challenged by Australias and Japans reluctance to step up. To elaborate, they seemingly expected the US to do all the heavy lifting, just like NATO expected till recently as well. That would explain why they didnt have a clear answer to Colbys inquiry about how their countries would respond to a war over Taiwan. Simply put, they likely never planned to do anything at all, thus exposing the shallowness of the de facto Asian NATO that the US has sought to assemble in recent years via the AUKUS+ format. This refers to the AUKUS trilateral of Australia, the UK, and the US alongside what can be described as the honorary members of Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Taiwan. Australia and Japan are correspondingly envisaged as this informal blocs Southeast and Northeast Asian anchors, yet theyre evidently unwilling to fulfill the military roles that their US senior partner expects. What it apparently had in mind was them at the very least playing supportive logistical roles in the scenario of a Sino-US war but their representatives reportedly didnt even suggest as much to Colby. This in turn reveals that they fear retaliation from China even if they dont participate in combat. Japans population and resultant economic density make it extremely vulnerable to Chinese missile strikes while unconventional warfare could be waged against Australia through sabotage and the like. Moreover, China is their top trade partner, which opens up additional avenues for retaliation. At the same time, however, neither of them wants China to seize control of Taiwans TSMC (if it even survives a speculative conflict) and obtain a monopoly over the global semiconductor industry. The US doesnt want that either, but the problem is that the two envisaged anchors of its de facto Asian NATO arent willing to boost defense spending nor seemingly assist America in a war over Taiwan. Thats unacceptable from Trump 2.0s perspective so tariff and other forms of pressure could be applied for coercing Australia and Japan into at least spending more on their armed forces. The endgame, however, is for them to agree to play some sort of role (whether logistical or ideally combative) in that scenario. Seeing as how the US wont relent on its Pivot (back) to (East) Asia, itll likely coerce the aforesaid concessions from Australia and Japan one way or another. The same goes for the other members of AUKUS+, namely South Korea, the Philippines, and Taiwan, albeit with perhaps a little less defense spending from the last two. All in all, The US Is Rounding Up Allies Ahead Of A Possible War With China as was assessed in May 2023, but its anyones guess whether it actually plans to spark a major conflict. ____ 1 Depending on who is doing the grading, Japans self defense force ranks between number five and number 8 in military power. An important white paper argued for increasing defense spending from 1% of GDP to 2% by 2027. A North Albany property owner is suing the city for nearly $1 million, alleging city staff harassed and intimidated him over his plans to build his dream house on land overlooking Horseshoe Lake. Earlier this month, a judge granted a preliminary injunction against the city, ending a stop-work order that had prevented Win Eaton, an immigration attorney whos representing himself in the case, from continuing construction. According to the lawsuit filed in Benton County Circuit Court earlier this year, it all stems from what Eaton called extraordinarily high permit fees and a dispute over which government body the city of Albany or Benton County has the final say over development of his 3-plus-acre parcel of land. In an email, City Manager Peter Troedsson said the city could not comment on ongoing litigation. Moving in Eaton and wife Norma, both in their 70s according to the lawsuit, purchased the site on Northwest Violet Avenue in 2021 with the intention of building a home. Most of the property sits in Benton County jurisdiction except for a small portion on the southeast corner within Albanys city limits, online zoning maps show. That's where the house will go. According to the lawsuit, Eaton was assured by city officials that the corner was buildable and that Albany would issue building permits. At the time, Eaton claims, the city estimated those costs, including the building permit, utility connections and associated fees, would total between $18,000 and $19,000. But that estimate didnt pan out, according to the lawsuit. Turns out, that wasn't even close. High fees? Albany issued Eaton permits to excavate, install sewer, water and electrical utilities for his planned home, installations that he said he understood were inspected and approved, according to the complaint. The city also approved building plans which Eaton alleges took longer than expected because a city plan reviewer had "insufficient experience with the kind of construction proposed. After that, he was shocked to learn in December 2023 he still owed Albany over $34,000, according to the lawsuit. Thats in permits and system development charges, one-times fees cities charge builders to pay for expanding public services. That was on top of the $10,000 Eaton said he already paid in the process, according to the lawsuit. Eaton said he challenged that amount and, according to his complaint, believed some of the fees charged could be nixed following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a similar matter. But after a meeting with a city building official who dismissed that possibility in the spring of 2024, the lawsuit reads, city officials subjected Eaton to relentless antagonism, intimidation, bullying, and unreasonable, contrived enforcement tactics to allegedly hinder his building plans. Harassment? In July 2024, according to the lawsuit, Eaton requested an extension to pay his permit fees, adding he and his wife needed a little more time to close the sale of a home, the proceeds from which would go to the "extraordinarily high permit fees. But his request was denied, according to the lawsuit, and he was told his permits would be canceled later in August that year if he failed to pay. Later that fall, Eaton alleges the city wrote several emails and posted signs on his property, accusing him of violating various city codes, and in December two ORDER TO DISCONNECT signs on the property gate, claiming Eaton installed various plumbing devices and electrical service without proper permits. Those were the permits, Easton asserts, that were issued in 2023 but were arbitrarily canceled in August, after the installations were complete and inspected by the city. Eaton also cited an instance later in December, in which he said a team of city employees conducted a public safety inspection on the property, identifying a loose screw on a conduit fitting which Eaton said he tightened that day. According to the lawsuit, Eaton said he was told for his electrical service to remain, he needed to apply for a new permit and have another inspection, which Eaton said he later did at yet further additional cost. Stop-work order Then theres the stop-work order. In October 2024, according to the lawsuit, Eaton and a friend worked on installing a pipe on the property, which Eaton said would be used to protect the area from stormwater erosion. That work was interrupted when an Albany Public Works inspector issued a verbal stop-work order, saying the excavation required a city permit, according to the lawsuit. Eaton said he didnt need a city permit because the installation was on the Benton County side of the property. According to the lawsuit, Eaton said Benton County informed him he didnt need a permit. But he obtained one anyway in November 2024 to cover the pipe and to clarify jurisdictional authority of the property. That happened after Eaton said city officials told him in October, following the stop-work order for the pipe installation, he needed a "system improvement permit for that project because Albany had an easement for a culvert on the property. However, according to the lawsuit, city officials have not offered documentation to show proof of that easement. According to his complaint, Albany later expanded the stop-work order to include the small portion of the property within city limits where Eaton intends to build his home even though Eaton said all excavation and construction work on that spot had stopped when the city denied Eatons request for an extension to pay permits. Eaton claims when he asked the public works inspector why the stop-work order included that site, he was told Albany had jurisdiction over the dirt excavated from the Albany portion of the land, now piled on the Benton County side of the property. According to the lawsuit, Eaton alleges the city included the lot in the stop-work order so they could claim jurisdiction over the entire property. Eaton said meetings with Albany officials, including the city manager, city attorney and public works staff in October 2024 and a separate meeting with the city attorney in December 2024, didnt reach a resolution, with Eaton still demanding proof of the citys claim of an easement. Taking Albany to court Facing the threat of heavy fines from the city for not applying for the permit, Eaton said in the complaint, he filed the lawsuit in February, requesting a declaratory judgment to define the citys authority to issue permits on the property, and injunctive relief from the citys stop-work order. Eaton is also seeking damages for public humiliation and financial harm caused by the city through the stop-work order and "associated threatened fines. That includes $475,000 in monetary damages and $500,000 in punitive damages. Benton County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Donohue granted Eatons motion for a preliminary injunction on July 8, stopping the city from further enforcing the stop-work order that prevented Eaton from permitted construction activities on the property, court documents show. Sympathetic neighbors At the most recent City Council meeting this month, three North Albany residents came to Eatons defense. Tom Cordier, an often-vocal city government critic, said Eaton was a friend and had faced harassment from city employees via the stop-work orders. He also claimed city employees would use neighbors lots to spy on Eatons property and employed drones as well. Ron Kloess, a neighbor, said he had witnessed Eaton's interactions with city employees and found them very antagonistic, in contrast to Benton County employees. Dennis Holbert, who lives next to Eatons property, said hes a retired contractor and had never seen such confusion in his life concerning this property. Im disappointed with our city, Holbert said. He also said at one point, two city employees asked to look at his property, a request he granted. He then said he saw the employees looking over his fence at Eatons property. They apparently didnt want to look at Holberts property at all. That is deceitful, Holbert said. At the end of the meeting, Mayor Alex Johnson II said this was the first time he had heard these complaints, adding he knew this was an issue, but didnt know it was like this. City Attorney Sean Kidd chimed in, however, noting Albany is a defendant in the case and officials couldnt discuss it. Related stories: Before our current age of nuclear war anxiety, there was widespread concern about an earlier terrifying weapon of mass destruction: poison gas. I will describe the history of war gases in the context of our current concerns about atomic war. It is an ugly topic, but examining it may provide some hope for a way out of our current predicament. How It Started The origins of chemical weaponry trace back to antiquity, when armies first used noxious substances and smoke to gain an advantage in battle. In sieges, defenders and attackers alike employed burning sulfur, pitch, or quicklime to create choking or blinding clouds. The Byzantines famed Greek fire, developed in the 7th century, also had elements of psychological terror and chemical combustion, though it was more incendiary than toxic. These early efforts, however, were rudimentary and lacked scientific control. It was not until the scientific advances of the late 18th and 19th centuries that the foundation for modern chemical warfare was established. Pioneering chemists such as Carl Wilhelm Scheele, Humphry Davy, and others isolated and described a variety of highly toxic gases, including chlorine, phosgene, and hydrogen cyanide. These substances were known for their suffocating and lethal properties, and some military thinkers began to consider their potential use. During the Crimean War in 1854, British scientist Lyon Playfair even proposed deploying shells filled with cacodyl cyanide against Russian forces, though the idea was rejected as contrary to the norms of civilized warfare. The first systematic and large-scale use of chemical weapons came during the First World War. As the Western Front descended into stalemate, Germany turned to its growing chemical industry and the expertise of chemist Fritz Haber to develop a new weapon. On April 22, 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres, German forces released over 150 tons of chlorine gas from cylinders, creating a greenish-yellow cloud that drifted across no-mans-land into Allied trenches. The attack killed and wounded thousands and shocked the world. In the years that followed, both sides deployed an escalating array of agents, including phosgene and diphosgene, which were more potent choking agents, and finally mustard gas, introduced in 1917, which caused severe chemical burns and long-lasting contamination of the battlefield. By the end of the war, chemical weapons had inflicted more than a million casualties and left a lasting scar on the collective memory of the conflict. On October 15, 1918, just weeks before the Armistice, Adolph Hitler was serving as a corporal in Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment 16. On that day, his unit near Ypres in Belgium came under a British mustard gas attack. Hitler reportedly suffered temporary blindness and lung irritation from exposure to the gas cloud. He was evacuated to a military hospital, where he was still recovering when Germany signed the Armistice on November 11, 1918. Hitler later described his hospitalization and the news of Germanys surrender as one of the most traumatic experiences of his life, shaping his sense of betrayal and anger that would feed into his postwar political ideology. Chemical Deterrence The interwar years saw widespread condemnation of chemical warfare and the signing of the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which banned the use of chemical and biological weapons. Yet research continued in secret, with nations stockpiling mustard gas, phosgene, and newly discovered nerve agents such as Tabun and Sarin, developed in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Although WWII was vastly more destructive than WWI, war gases were not used in the European or Pacific Theaters. The reason was fear of retaliation. The allied and axis powers had amassed substantial stocks of chemical weapons that acted as deterrents. The exception to this standoff was Japanese use of war gases against Chinese military and civilian personnel from 1937 to 1945. China had no gas weapons with which to retaliate. The history of chemical weapons reflects a tension between scientific progress, military innovation, and ethical restraint. What began as crude battlefield smoke evolved, through industrial and scientific advances, into some of the most feared weapons of modern warspurring both horror and international efforts to control their use. Public revulsion and international diplomatic efforts eventually resulted in comprehensive treaties banning chemical weapons. Final Agonies Poison gas use in warfare did not end completely after WWII, but major powers gradually abandoned such weapons because of deterrence, treaty restrictions, and operational limitations. Chemical weaponry was used sporadically in regional wars, but this was seldom acknowledged by the belligerents. The most extensive post-WWII use of poison gas was by Iraq in its war with Iran, but in no case was this weapon strategically decisive. The technology of weaponry increasingly favored precision targeting over area-effect munitions, and this further diminished the utility of an internationally banned weapon. From Poison Gas to Radioactive Fallout The evolution of nuclear weapons has followed a course parallel to that of chemical weapons. In the years following the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, nations have accumulated large arsenals of weapons that are so frightfully devastating that they have yet to be used. This balance of terror has been accompanied by diplomatic efforts to lessen the danger by limiting the size and composition of nuclear arsenals through arms control treaties. The historical parallels extend to the lives of Fritz Haber and J. Robert Oppenheimer. Both were distinguished scientists, prominent in their fields, who turned their talents toward designing weaponry for patriotic reasons. Haber, who was raised in a Jewish family, believed that his work in leading development of war gases in WWI would spare him from persecution under the Hitler regime, but he was effectively forced out of his prestigious position at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute and left Germany in 1933. Among his scientific achievements was receiving the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1919 for the Haber process enabling the efficient generation of ammonia for fertilizer, which greatly expanded global food supplies. The dark legacy of this work on toxic gases was the research that would later result in the development by others of the Zyklon B gas used in the German extermination camps. Ironically, Haber died in 1934 while on his way to assume the directorship of what would become the Weizmann Institute in Palestine. Oppenheimer left a distinguished career in physics to lead the Manhattan project, which developed the first atomic bomb. He was motivated by the fear that Nazi Germany would develop a nuclear weapon. When Germany was defeated, this threat no longer existed, but he was unwilling to oppose the use of the bomb against Japan. He subsequently felt moral unease and worked to prevent further use of nuclear weapons by advocating international agreements to prevent an arms race. He hoped to prevent further proliferation and to make nuclear weapons a political deterrent, not a military tool. His resistance to development of the even more devastating hydrogen bomb led to the government stripping him of his security clearance 1954. He was cast out of the inner circle of U.S. nuclear policy, publicly shamed, and made a symbol of the dangers of dissent during the Cold War. Conclusion If the future of nuclear weapons continues to parallel that of chemical weapons, we may hope that the current balance of terror will be ended by arms control agreements culminating in dismantling of nuclear arsenals. Although neither chemical nor nuclear weapons can be un-invented, their availability and the willingness to use them can be effectively restricted. Moreover, the steady advance in the potency of non-nuclear weapons promises to meet the defensive military security requirements of the worlds nations. The final irony may be that the quest for an ultimate weapon becomes self-extinguishing. Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center had been working on antibody treatments for measles for more than a year when measles outbreaks began popping up in the United States. Weve been working on measles for two years, says Dr. James E. Crowe, director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center. In the middle of that, theres been a lot of vaccine hesitancy, and all of a sudden we have thousands of people being infected. Measles is one of 100 viruses that the team at VUMC is systematically making antibodies for by using single-cell sequencing that is, isolating the cells that react well in fighting an infectious disease. Its hard to predict when the next outbreak of an infectious disease will be, so they sought to get ahead of it. It confirms what we said, says Crowe. Any of these 100 could happen even if theres a vaccine that works perfectly well, because if people dont take that vaccine, you can have an outbreak, and thats whats happening. +3 RFK Jr. Talks God, Addiction at Nashville Opioid Summit Trumps HHS secretary endures heckles in address to split crowd meanwhile, Metro Nashville brings a lawsuit against Kennedy and HHS Once completed, antibody treatments could be used for people who arent vaccinated ahead of exposure, which could also be useful for those who cannot be vaccinated, like chemotherapy patients. They can also, at times, be used as a drug. The earlier someone is given antibody treatment, the better it works, Crowe says. As of July 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 1,309 measles cases in the country so far this year, making it the highest single-year total since the U.S. declared measles eliminated in 2000 and thats with more than five months left in the year. Texas has seen the largest outbreak, with more than 700 cases. There have been three confirmed deaths in the U.S. this year. In the context of the nation, Tennessee has remained relatively unscathed. The Tennessee Department of Health reports just six cases since the start of the year, none of them in Davidson County. All of the cases were in people who were not vaccinated, most of them were children between ages 5 and 17, and none of them were hospitalized. The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine comes in two doses: one at 12 months old and one between ages 4 to 6. The two provide lifelong protection. But Tennessee has seen kindergarten vaccine rates including the MMR vaccine plummet in the past decade. The Tennessee Department of Health measures by a threshold of 95 percent vaccination, which ensures protection of the entire population, including those who are unable to be vaccinated because of their age or other health conditions. In the 2023-24 school year, the state saw the immunization coverage rate for children enrolled in kindergarten in Tennessee decline 0.5 percent, which correlates with an increase of religious exemptions, according to a report from the Tennessee Department of Health. In Davidson County, 91.3 percent of students were fully immunized, with 42 of the countys 121 schools reaching the 95 percent threshold. Sickness can be especially serious in children, and more acute in those who are younger than 5 years old, says Dr. Joanna Shaw-KaiKai, interim chief medical officer at the Metro Health Department. When she talks to people who have vaccine hesitancy, she emphasizes the risk of complications, especially in very young people. It can go throughout the entire body and cause a systemic problem so it can affect just about any organ in the body, including the central nervous system, Shaw-KaiKai tells the Scene. Unfortunately, youve heard of the deaths that occurred from complications of measles, and we definitely dont want that to happen to anybody or any family when theres preventive measure thats highly effective and quite safe. Investigation uncovers hundreds of criminal charges linked to asylum seekers housed in U.K. hotels Over three years, 312 migrants in taxpayer-funded hotels faced 708 criminal charges, including rape, sexual assault, assaults on emergency workers and theft, exposing gaps in public safety oversight. Data from 70 of 220 asylum hotels revealed 18 rape charges, 35 sexual assaults, 89 assaults (27 against police) and 43 drug offenses. Notable cases include a Sudanese migrants attempted rape and a student raped by a hotel resident. The U.K. government does not track asylum-seeker crimes and police rarely note defendants' immigration status. Critics blame temporary hotel policies for becoming a costly, unsafe long-term solution. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called for deportations to Rwanda, while Labour's Diane Abbott controversially blamed "hostility toward migrants." Former officials demand secure detention facilities instead of hotels. A secret 7/$9 billion Afghan resettlement program (hiding some violent offenders) and a rapist's disappearance during transfer highlight systemic dysfunction. Debates intensify over balancing humanitarian duties with public safety. A Mail on Sunday investigation has uncovered a startling surge in serious crimes linked to migrants housed in taxpayer-funded hotels across Britain. Over the past three years, at least 312 asylum seekers have faced 708 criminal charges including rape, sexual assault, attacks on emergency workers and theft raising urgent questions about public safety and the U.K.'s asylum accommodation policies. Amid escalating small-boat crossings and record-high hotel costs (3/$4 billion annually), the findings expose dangerous gaps in oversight, fueling political debate over immigration enforcement. The investigation analyzed court records from 70 of the 220 hotels currently housing asylum seekers, revealing alarming patterns of criminality: 18 rape charges, five attempted rape, 35 sexual assaults and 51 thefts 89 assaults, including 27 against police or emergency workers 43 drug offenses, 18 burglaries and 16 robberies Notable cases include: A Sudanese asylum seeker sentenced to seven years for strangling and attempting to rape a woman in a Wakefield nightclub toilet. A 20-year-old Oxford student dragged into a churchyard and raped by a migrant staying at a local hotel. Over 90 charges at a single London hotel including arson attacks against the accommodation itself. "This lays bare the risk posed by illegal immigrants to the British public," said Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, demanding immediate deportations to Rwanda or other destinations. Systemic failures and political reactions The U.K. government does not track or publish crimes by asylum seekers, leaving gaps in accountability. Police reports rarely note defendants' immigration status, obscuring the full scope of the problem. Critics argue the hotel policy meant as a temporary measure has spiraled into a costly, unsafe contingency plan. "The small-boats crisis must be treated as a national security emergency," insisted former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, calling for detained migrants to await deportation in secure facilities, not hotels. Meanwhile, Labour's Diane Abbott controversially blamed the incidents on "hostility toward migrants" from political opponents a claim that drew backlash amid the severity of the offenses. The report follows revelations of a 7 billion ($9.5 billion) secret operation to resettle 18,500 Afghans in the U.K. some with previously rejected asylum claims due to violent or sexual offenses. A "super-injunction" hid the program for nearly two years, intensifying scrutiny of vetting processes. With accommodations evolving from budget hotels to luxury cruise ships and five-star properties, critics warn that high-profile cases like a rapist vanishing during a transfer underscore systemic dysfunction. As Britain grapples with its asylum backlog and Channel crossings, the Mail on Sunday's findings underscore a fraught balance between humanitarian obligations and public safety. With Labour pledging to empty migrant hotels by 2029 and the Home Office vowing to "thoroughly investigate" the allegations, the political stakes have never been higher. Yet for victims and communities, the urgent question remains: How many more crimes will unfold before reforms take hold? (Related: Migrant Universal Credit claims in the U.K. surge to 1.26 million.) Watch the video below that talks about an expose on the U.K.'s justice system. This video is from the Recharge Freedom channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: U.K.'s digital ID push exploits immigration crisis, critics warn. U.K. government's secret cover-up highlights democratic crisis as truth becomes "unpublishable." U.K. Labor government uses immigration failures to justify digital ID rollout. Sources include: DailySceptic.org DailyMail.co.uk Brighteon.com Puerto Rico bans gender-affirming care for people under 21 Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon signed Senate Bill 350 on July 16, banning gender-affirming hormone therapy and surgeries for individuals under 21, the legal age of majority in the territory. The law imposes a $50,000 fine per violation, permanent revocation of medical licenses and a mandatory 15-year prison sentence for healthcare professionals who provide gender-affirming care to those under 21. The legislation also prohibits the use of public funds to support any form of gender-affirming medical care for minors and young adults. Organizations such as the ACLU, the Puerto Rico Psychological Association and the Puerto Rico Bar Association warned of serious mental health and legal implications, urging a veto that never came. While LGBTQ+ advocates vowed to challenge the law in court, conservative leaders, including Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz and Sen. Joanne Rodriguez Veve, praised it as a victory for protecting youth. Republican Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon has signed a law that bars people under the age of 21 from accessing gender-affirming hormone therapy and surgeries. Senate Bill 350, enacted on Wednesday, July 16, bars people under the age of 21 from accessing gender-affirming hormone therapy and surgeries. This, in turn, also imposes steep criminal penalties on healthcare providers who offer such care, including $50,000 fine per violation of doctors, the permanent loss of their medical license and permits and a mandatory prison sentence of 15 years. It is scheduled to take effect in October. (Related: Supreme Court allows Idaho to enforce ban on sex change procedures for transgender youths.) "Minors, having not yet reached the necessary emotional, cognitive and physical maturity, are particularly vulnerable to making decisions that can have irreversible consequences," the law stated. "Therefore, it is the State's duty to ensure their comprehensive well-being." Puerto Ricos age of majority is 21, making the law more far-reaching than similar bans on the U.S. mainland, which typically restrict care only for those under 18. The new statute applies to both minors and young adults, effectively barring access to gender alteration procedures for an age group often already navigating the early stages of gender transition. Furthermore, the legislation also stipulates that public funds are prohibited from being used to support "gender-affirming care." SB 350 draws praise from conservative lawmakers Health and civil rights organizations, including the Puerto Rico Psychological Association, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Puerto Rican Association of Professional Counseling and the Puerto Rico Bar Association, urged the governor to veto the bill, warning of grave mental health consequences and legal violations. But the governor signed it. In response, Puerto Rico's LGBTQ+ Federation has announced plans to take the matter to court. "Let there be no doubt: We will go to court to challenge the constitutionality of the governor's cruel and inhumane signing of a law that criminalizes health professionals for caring for trans minors," said Justin Jesus Santiago, the federation's co-director. Meanwhile, conservative lawmakers in Puerto Rico celebrated the new law. Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, the author of the legislation and a member of the New Progressive Party and the U.S. Republican Party, hailed the law as a victory for youth protection. "I thank our Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez for signing SB 350, among other projects I have presented. The protection of our children and the well-being of all minors is fundamental and non-negotiable. Likewise, I thank my fellow legislators from both chambers who supported the approval of this measure with their vote," Schatz posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, the following day. Senator Joanne Rodriguez Veve, affiliated with the conservative Proyecto Dignidad Party, echoed his sentiments. "Senate Bill 350 Becomes Law!!!! Now no minor will be able to be subjected to alleged 'sex change' treatments. I thank everyone who, in various ways, both privately and publicly, bravely contributed to this legislative achievement," Veve wrote on Facebook. "This is great news for Puerto Rico!" Head over to Gender.news for more stories about the pushback against transgenderism. Watch the video below that talks about protecting the youth from transgenderism's false ideology. This video is from the Flyover Conservatives channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Florida Gov. DeSantis: Doctors performing sex change operations should face LEGAL ACTION. UK government bribing doctors with cash to mutilate patients with "sex-change therapy." Former NIH head Francis Collins green-lighted sex-change testing on young children. Author of U.K. report about child sex change procedures being TARGETED by trans activists. While America embraces LGBT drag queens and pedophilia, Russia to BAN sex change surgery. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com MSN.com X.com Facebook.com Brighteon.com The total unaccountability of Israel demonstrates the moral failure of the Western world Sometimes I think its astonishing how aggressively Israels supporters work to stomp out criticism of Israel. Then I remember that these people also support mass murdering children; trying to take away my speech rights is one of their less evil goals. It shouldnt shock me. (Article by Caitlin Johnstone republished from PaulCraigRoberts.org) I saw someone talking online about how crazy it is that music groups who speak out against Israels atrocities are starting to form alliances with each other in an effort to counteract the campaign to silence them and destroy their careers, saying it shouldnt be necessary to form an alliance in order to oppose an ongoing genocide. And thats true, it shouldnt be necessary. But it also shouldnt surprise us that people who think bombing hospitals is fine would try to cancel musicians for criticizing Israel. One mistake westerners keep making is thinking of Israels supporters as normal people with normal moral standards just because we happen to know them and interact with them in our communities. They look like us, speak like us, dress like us and act like us, so we assume they must think and feel a lot like us as well. But they dont. If youre still supporting Israel in the year 2025, theres something seriously wrong with you as a person. You do not have a normal, healthy sense of empathy and morality. Its 2025. Israeli soldiers are telling the Israeli press that theyre being ordered to massacre starving civilians trying to obtain food from aid centers. Countless doctors have been telling the world that Israeli snipers are routinely, deliberately shooting children in the head and chest throughout the Gaza Strip. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and all the leading genocide experts and human rights authorities are saying that a genocide is being perpetrated in Gaza. The New York fucking Times just published an op-ed by a Zionist genocide scholar whos finally admitting that its a genocide. Theres no way to deny what this is anymore. If you still support Israel in the year 2025, its not because you dont believe Israel is committing horrific atrocities. Its because you believe those horrific atrocities are good, and you want to see more of them. Most Israel supporters will deny that this is the case, because they lie. They lie constantly. They have no moral problem with lying. They have no moral problem with burning children alive, so of course they have no problem with lying. Thats where people go wrong. They assume Israel supporters cant possibly be lying about their concerns about antisemitism in order to promote the information interests of Israel, because nobody could be that evil. But Israel supporters think its fine to intentionally starve babies by blockading baby formula from entering Gaza. Of course they are that evil. People assume Israels supporters wouldnt deliberately stage fake antisemitic incidents or artificially inflate antisemitism figures in their own countries so that their governments will implement authoritarian measures to stomp out criticism of Israel in the name of fighting antisemitism, because they assume nobody could be that depraved. But these people think its fine for the IDF to systematically assassinate Palestinian journalists to stop them from telling the truth. Of course they are that depraved. Of course theyd try to silence our speech. Of course theyd try to send our kids off to war with Iran. Of course theyd work to manipulate our government. Of course theyd pollute the information ecosystem with mountains of lies. They support a live-streamed genocide. Theyre bad people. Supporting Israel and its actions is not some political opinion like your position on property taxes or marijuana legalization. Its not just some people having a point of view we need to respect and treat as equal to our own view on the matter. Theyre working to make it possible to conduct an extermination campaign of unfathomable horror. Thats as political as a gang rape, and just as worthy of respect. Theres not really anything you can put past Israels supporters at this point. They will lie. They will manipulate. They will pretend to believe things they do not believe. They will pretend to feel things they do not feel. And they will do these things to facilitate some of the worst atrocities you can possibly imagine. This is who Israels supporters are. Theyre showing you who they are every single day. Click the share button below to email/forward this article. Follow us on Instagram and X and subscribe to our Telegram Channel. Feel free to repost Global Research articles with proper attribution. https://www.globalresearch.ca/if-youre-still-supporting-israel-2025-something-wrong-person/5895422 Comment by PCR: It is shameful how weak, cowardly, and corrupt people are. They will support genocide rather than to criticize Israel. Read more at: PaulCraigRoberts.org Washington REVOKES visas of Brazilian judges in escalating clash over Bolsonaro witch hunt The Trump administration revoked visas for Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and his allies, accusing them of orchestrating a "political witch hunt" against former President Jair Bolsonaro. The sanctions also targeted top Brazilian prosecutors and federal police officials. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed Moraes' actions violated free speech rights, extending censorship beyond Brazil to target Americans. He emphasized the Trump administration's stance against foreign censorship affecting U.S. citizens. The move followed Bolsonaro's confinement under draconian measures (house arrest, ankle monitor, social media ban) ordered by Moraes, who alleged flight risk. Trump condemned the case as an "international disgrace" and threatened 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian imports if it continued. Bolsonaro, like Trump, alleges election fraud undermined his defeat. Rubio accused Moraes of suppressing free speech globally, while Brazilian prosecutors claim Bolsonaro incited insurrection. The clash reflects deepening global divides over judicial independence and electoral legitimacy. The visa revocations evoke Cold War-era interventions, drawing criticism for threatening Brazilian sovereignty and praise for resisting judicial overreach. Trump's tariff threats intertwine trade policy with Bolsonaros legal battles, exacerbating U.S.-Brazil tensions amid broader geopolitical struggles. In a dramatic escalation of diplomatic tensions, the Trump administration revoked the U.S. visas of Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) Justice Alexandre de Moraes and his allies Friday, July 18. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the move, accusing Moraes and his close associates of orchestrating a "political witch hunt" against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Also sanctioned were Brazilian Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, Brazilian Federal Police (PF) Director-General Andrei Rodrigues and Fabio Schor, head of the PF's Cybercrime Division. Aside from Moraes, Washington likewise revoked the visas of STF President Justice Luis Roberto Barroso; Justice Gilmar Mendes; Justice Luiz Edson Fachin; Justice Carmen Lucia Antunes; Justice Jose Antonio Dias Toffoli; Justice Cristiano Zanin; and Justice Flavio Dino. Rubio's order also extends to the families of the magistrates. According to Rubio, U.S. President Donald Trump has made it clear that his second administration "will hold accountable foreign nationals who are responsible for censorship of protected expression in the United States." He also pointed out that the witch hunt spearheaded by Moraes "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." The secretary of state's Friday edict marks a sharp rebuke of Brazil's judiciary. It also raises concerns over foreign interference in democratic processes, a charge both nations have traded in recent years. From election trials to trade war Rubio's announcement came hours after Bolsonaro was placed under house arrest, fitted with an ankle monitor and barred from social media. Moraes defended these draconian measures, citing fears the former leader might flee abroad. "This trial is an international disgrace," Trump wrote on Truth Social, likening Bolsonaro's treatment to his own legal battles. He threatened a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian imports unless the case is dropped, framing it as retaliation for "censorship" extending to Americans. Bolsonaro, who denies coup allegations, called his prosecution "supreme humiliation" in an interview with Reuters. (Related: Trump Media, Rumble sue Brazilian judge over censorship of U.S. conservatives.) The dispute mirrors deepening global divides over election integrity and judicial independence. Bolsonaro, like Trump, claims fraud undermined his electoral defeat. Gonet told the STF that Bolsonaro "acted systematically ... to incite insurrection," while Rubio accused Moraes of suppressing free speech beyond Brazils borders. Historically, such clashes evoke Cold War-era interventions, where the U.S. frequently backed leaders facing perceived political persecution. Critics argue the visa revocations signal a return to heavy-handed diplomacy, risking Brasilia's sovereignty. Supporters, however, hail it as a stand against judicial overreach citing parallels to Trump's own indictments. Trump's tariff threats complicate matters further, intertwining trade policy with Bolsonaro's fate. Brazil, a BRICS member, faces economic pressure as Trump warns of additional penalties for nations aligning with the bloc's "anti-American policies." As Bolsonaro fights his legal battles and faces a ban from running for public office until 2030, the Washington-Brasilia rift underscores a broader trend: Leaders challenging elections worldwide face mounting legal and political repercussions. Visit BigGovernment.news for more similar stories. Watch Alex Jones of InfoWars talking about STF Justice Alexandre de Moraes' legal battle with X owner Elon Musk in this clip. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump slams Brazil over social media censorship, slaps 50% tariff on imports. Pro-censorship Brazilian justice TRAMPLES on free speech and U.S. sovereignty. Brazil's supreme court orders SHUTDOWN of Elon Musk's X to silence speech they can't control. Sources include: InfoWars.com TheHill.com Newsweek.com Brighteon.com Seven illegals, including five Iranians, arrested at the northern border On July 1, U.S. Border Patrol agents near Mooers Forks, New York stopped a minivan carrying seven men five Iranians and two Uzbekistanis attempting to enter the U.S. illegally from Canada. All had prior illegal entry records and faced deportation proceedings. The arrests raised alarms about foreign operatives exploiting weak borders amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions, with experts warning of potential sleeper cells or hostile actors bypassing inadequate vetting processes. The incident followed U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in late June, prompting Iranian retaliation threats and scrutiny of Iran-linked individuals entering Western nations. Historical Iranian aggression abroad (e.g., assassination plots, espionage) adds urgency to border security. The Swanton Sector (U.S.-Canada border) has seen over 300 migrants from 45 countries intercepted in 2024, with this being the first involving Iranians. The arrests highlight the tension between open borders and national security, fueling debates over immigration enforcement priorities as geopolitical risks escalate. Immigration courts will decide the detainees' fate, but their capture underscores ongoing homeland security challenges. Border agents intercepted a minivan carrying seven men attempting to enter the U.S. illegally early this month, according to a statement by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In the statement released on July 15, CBP confirmed the July 1 incident that happened near Mooers Forks, New York. The area is part of the U.S. Border Patrol's Swanton Sector, a rural stretch along the country's border with Canada. Border Patrol agents from the Champlain, New York station responded to suspicious activity and discovered the minivan packed with foreign nationals. A total of seven men five Iranians and two Uzbeks were apprehended on the scene. According to the CBP statement, all seven foreigners arrested had previously entered the country illegally. It noted that the men were detained pending deportation proceedings. "Border security is national security," the CBP emphasized. The incident follows targeted U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in late June. Washington's strikes prompted threats of retaliation from Tehran and renewed scrutiny of Iran-linked individuals entering Western nations. Moreover, the arrest of the seven reignites concerns about foreign operatives exploiting porous borders amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions. It also raises alarms about recurrent breaches as counterterrorism experts warn of potential sleeper cells embedded nationwide. Foiled plots and failed vetting: How Tehran's operatives could exploit open borders Counterterrorism expert Jonathan Gilliam told Fox News this month that Iranian operatives could be "hiding in plain sight." He cited lax border policies under the Biden administration as a vulnerability, something the second Trump administration seeks to rectify. According to Gilliam, a former special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, inadequate vetting might allow hostile actors to slip through. "They could go to the border and say they seek asylum," he warned. The Department of State's 2023 terrorism report documented Iranian plots across Europe and the United States. These include a foiled assassination attempt in New York and espionage targeting dissident media in London. Historically, Iranian aggression abroad has triggered crackdowns. Albania expelled Iranian diplomats in 2018 over terrorist ties, while Denmark recalled its ambassador in 2023 after uncovering an Iran-backed assassination plot. The latest arrests underscore persistent gaps in border enforcement, with Swanton Sector agents apprehending over 300 illegal migrants from 45 countries this year alone. Until the July 1 incident, none of those arrested were from the Islamic republic. (Related: 160 Individuals on terror list have attempted to cross into U.S. this year ILLEGALLY, of course.) As geopolitical tensions flare, the interception highlights the challenges of securing borders against transnational threats. With Iranian leaders vowing vengeance for U.S. strikes and migration routes increasingly exploited, the stakes for homeland security have never been higher. The detained men's fate now rests with immigration courts, but their capture serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between open borders and national safety. Their arrest underscores why border security remains a flashpoint in debates over America's priorities domestic stability or foreign entanglement. Head over to InvasionUSA.news for more similar stories. Watch former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson warning about the dangers of Iranian terrorists in the country in this interview. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Five illegal migrants on FBI's terrorist watchlist ARRESTED shortly after Title 42 expired. ISIS-linked migrant was living in the U.S. for more than two years before his arrest. Political scientist secretly working for the Iranian government arrested by feds. Sources include: InfoWars.com FoxNews.com IranIntl.com Brighteon.com Educations new frontier: Blockchain and AI rewrite the ruleswith environmental costs hanging over AI-driven EdTech revitalizes music schools, transforms course delivery with adaptive learning tools. Blockchain credentials create immutable records, reducing fraud, while cutting costs for certifications. Sustainability challenges loom as AIs energy/water consumption strains resources, sparking calls for accountability. Governments push for emissions transparency, while startups advance decentralized alternatives (e.g., EDU Chain). Corporate-led initiatives explode amid warnings to balance profit motives with public interest in education systems. Artificial intelligence and blockchain are rapidly reshaping global education systems, offering unprecedented access to courses, secure credentials and cost-effective learningyet concerns about energy consumption and corporate overreach are complicating this tech-driven revolution. From AI-powered music schools to blockchain-based academic records, advances are being hailed as democratizing tools amid soaring costs for traditional degrees. But critics warn Big Techs push into education may prioritize profit over sustainability, echoing calls for stricter oversight of a sector already strained by rising demands on natural resources. Key innovations: From music classes to universal credentials Educators and tech entrepreneurs are pioneering mechanisms to bypass traditional gatekeepers. John von Seggern, founder of the Futureproof Music School, uses AI to customize electronic music production lessons and plans to issue blockchain-based certificates for course completersa system that avoids bureaucratic delays while offering tamper-proof verification. Similarly, Open Campuss EDU Chain project, a blockchain-based platform, aims to create a transparent, global repository of academic achievements, eliminating paper records and fraud risks. Meanwhile, Binance co-founder CZ has launched Giggle Academy, a free online school using AI-generative content, claiming to reach a billion children. The OECD describes blockchains role in empowering learners by giving them control over their data and enabling seamless mobility across institutions. Proponents argue these tools cut costs, especially for marginalized groups, and counteract surging university fees. Blockchains promise: Security, transparency and equity Blockchains decentralized ledger offers a vision of academic fairness. Unlike centralized systems susceptible to corruption, a blockchain-stored degree or transcript becomes irreversible and verifiable in seconds. This is critical in regions with unstable bureaucracies, where grades may vanish in system errors or fraud. The OECD notes blockchains potential to facilitate the movement of learners and workers between geographies, easing credential recognition across borders. For cash-strapped institutions, smart contracts could automate payments for scholarships or tuition, reducing administrative burdens. In India, pilot blockchain programs are already streamlining vocational certification processes, while universities in Estonia and the UAE test digital student IDs on distributed ledgers. AIs climate footprint Despite pledges of green growth, AIs energy consumption remains staggering. A single dataset analysis for a machine learning model can use as much power as five average American homes annually, per a University of Massachusetts study. Cooling massive server farms often drains local water suppliesa dilemma in drought-prone regions. Rare earth metals required for processors are frequently sourced from mines linked to deforestation or child labor. John Ternaski, an environmental policy researcher at Stanford, warns that tech giants claim to prioritize sustainability, but their data centers in energy-dirty areas like Virginia reveal disclosures rarely match reality. Environmental activists argue the focus on efficiency over ecological impact mirrors past industrial eras hubris, urging mandates to offset carbon footprints and invest in green data storage. Balancing innovation with accountability As governments lag behind tech adoption, advocates demand clear regulations. A bipartisan U.S. House hearing in March urged disclosure standards for data center emissions, while the EUs proposed Digital Education Act aims to audit e-learning platforms sustainability practices. Critics argue voluntary corporate initiatives, like Microsofts AI for Earth fund, lack teeth, and meaningful change requires enforceable caps on resource use. Education shouldnt become another frontier for tech monopolies, said Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), proposing grants for schools to transition to renewable-powered AI infrastructure. Meanwhile, decentralized networks like EDU Chain offer a template for bottom-up innovationempowering users rather than central authorities. A new classroom, a new deal? Blockchain and AI promise to end monopolies on knowledge and credentials, yet their environmental toll risks overshadowing these gains. For students in Kenya or Kansas, the ability to earn an affordable, digital degree verifiable globally is transformativebut not if the energy powering that blockchain harms ecosystems. Conservatives remain divided, approving techs disruption of legacy systems but wary of allowing Big Tech to shape curricula without oversight. As CZs Giggle Academy awaits its first student login, the lesson is clear: Technology can democratize education, but only if innovation and stewardship proceed hand-in-hand. Sources in this article include: CoinTelegraph.com AInvest.com eLearningIndustry.com Chiles LITHIUM MINES fuel an ECOLOGICAL DISASTER, draining vital water supplies In the race to save the planet from climate catastrophe, the world has turned a blind eye to the environmental carnage unfolding in Chiles Atacama Desert . Beneath its vast salt flats lies a treasure trove of lithium the lifeblood of electric car batteries, solar panels, and the green energy revolution. But for the indigenous communities who have called this arid land home for generations, the price of progress has been unbearable: vanishing water, dying ecosystems, and a way of life slipping through their fingers like desert sand. As corporations and governments celebrate the rise of "clean" energy, the people of the Atacama are left to ask who is really paying the cost? Key points: Lithium mining in Chiles Atacama Desert consumes staggering amounts of water 65 percent of the regions water supply while local farmers struggle to survive. The industrys explosive growth (global demand more than doubled between 2021 and 2024) comes at the expense of flamingos, wetlands, and ancient carob trees. Indigenous communities, sidelined in decision-making, warn that corporations treat their homeland as a "natural laboratory" for untested extraction technologies. Despite promises of economic benefits, locals reject hollow payouts, preferring their ancestral right to water and land over temporary financial relief. The water wars: "Before, the Vega was green. Now, everything is dry" For Raquel Celina Rodriguez, the Atacama salt flats were once a thriving oasis. "You couldnt see the animals through the grass," she recalls, her voice thick with sorrow. Today, the land is cracked and barren, her familys sheep-rearing tradition decimated by drought and the relentless thirst of lithium mining. Each ton of lithium extracted requires 500,000 gallons of water, draining aquifers that took millennia to form. In Peine, Sergio Cubillos watches as his communitys drinking water systems collapse, replaced by pipelines feeding corporate evaporation pools. "Mining companies have taken millions of cubic meters," he says. "Decisions are made in Santiago far from the people who suffer." Biologist Faviola Gonzalez documents the fallout in Los Flamencos National Reserve, where flamingo chicks are a rare sight and shrinking lagoons disrupt entire food chains. "The water here is ancient," she explains. "If we take too much, theres nothing left to replenish it." A 2022 report by the U.S. National Resources Defense Council found that one-third of native carob trees near SQM mining sites had died by 2013. Yet, as Faviola notes, the world shrugs: "Electric cars are for Europeans not us. But its our water theyre stealing." Corporate greenwashing: New technologies, old exploitation Mining giants like SQM now promise "sustainable" solutions direct lithium extraction, water reinjection but locals see these as gambles with devastating stakes. "The Atacama is an experiment," Faviola warns. Valentin Barrera, SQMs sustainability deputy, insists their pilots recover "over a million cubic meters of water," with full-scale changes by 2031. But Sara Plaza, a lifelong resident, scoffs: "They gave us money, but Id trade it all for the water weve lost." Chiles government, eager to cash in on the lithium boom, touts its "National Lithium Strategy" as climate action. Yet, as Prof. Karen Smith Stegen observes, "Indigenous communities dont want jobs they want their land." Daniel Jimenez, a pro-mining consultant, dismisses their protests as greed: "This is about money." But Sergio Cubillos fires back: "We wont let Peine become a ghost town for their profits." The Atacamas plight mirrors a chilling pattern: the green energy revolution, hailed as salvation, is built on sacrifice zones places ravaged so others can feel virtuous. As Faviola notes, the Global Norths carbon footprint dwarfs South Americas, yet its her flamingos, her water paying the price. "Lithium may end," Sara Plaza whispers, tears welling. "Then what? No water, no cropsjust dust." Chiles salt flats hold a bitter lesson: you cannot save the planet by destroying its people. Sources include: DailySkeptic.org BBC.com Enoch, Brighteon.ai 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 Climate Judiciary Project main goal is to convince judges to join the Ponzi scheme and convince the world to give all their money to the CLIMATE CULT A recently exposed communication network between climate activists and members of the judiciary has raised significant ethical and legal concerns, prompting accusations of judicial capture from critics such as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). The controversy centers on the Climate Judiciary Project (CJP), an initiative launched in 2018 by the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), a left-leaning environmental nonprofit. CJP's mission, according to its founders, is to provide judges with objective and trusted education on climate science and its relevance to law. But detractors argue that its real goal is to subtly influence judges presiding over climate-related litigation. Climate Judiciary Project under scrutiny for alleged bias : A private online forum created by the Climate Judiciary Project (CJP) allowed direct communication between environmental activists and judges, raising ethical questions about judicial impartiality and transparency in climate-related cases. : A private online forum created by the Climate Judiciary Project (CJP) allowed direct communication between environmental activists and judges, raising ethical questions about judicial impartiality and transparency in climate-related cases. Ted Cruz slams effort as 'judicial capture' : At a Senate hearing, Cruz accused CJPbacked by left-wing groups and alleged foreign fundingof indoctrinating judges with selective climate data, then funneling lawsuits to those same courts, calling it a rigged game that undermines U.S. energy independence. : At a Senate hearing, Cruz accused CJPbacked by left-wing groups and alleged foreign fundingof indoctrinating judges with selective climate data, then funneling lawsuits to those same courts, calling it a rigged game that undermines U.S. energy independence. Listserv with judges quietly hidden : The email-based group chat, launched in 2022 and made private in May 2024, previously included 29 members and was described as a Forum for Judicial Leaders in Climate Science. Critics argue its secrecy undermines public trust in the judiciary. : The email-based group chat, launched in 2022 and made private in May 2024, previously included 29 members and was described as a Forum for Judicial Leaders in Climate Science. Critics argue its secrecy undermines public trust in the judiciary. Broader backlash against climate activism grows: The revelation adds fuel to growing public skepticism, amplified by cultural figures like actor Billy Bob Thornton, who denounce the green energy movement as a fossil-fuel-dependent illusion propped up by misinformation and political agendas. Unearthed Chat Sheds Light on Cozy Ties Between Judges, Climate Activists, Raising Ethical Concerns Key among the concerns is a private listserv-style group chat that ran from September 2022 to May 2024, allowing direct communication between CJP leaders and federal judges across the country. Documents reviewed by Fox News Digital revealed that this forum, which once had a publicly visible web portal, included at least 29 participants described as Judicial Leaders in Climate Science. The group was abruptly made private after concerns began to surface about the appropriateness of such behind-the-scenes communication. Critics like Sen. Cruz contend that CJPs influence represents a coordinated effort by environmental activists to shape judicial outcomes in climate litigation. During a Senate hearing in June, Cruz likened the groups strategy to paying the players and the umpire, claiming CJP trains judges to sympathize with climate lawsuits funded by the same interests backing CJPs work. He further alleged that CJP receives funding from foreign entities, including China, to manipulate Americas legal system and disrupt its energy dominance. The Climate Judiciary Project, however, insists it simply provides neutral scientific information to help judges navigate complex environmental cases. It denies pushing any political or legal agenda. The debate comes at a time of growing skepticism over climate alarmism and green energy policies. Public voices, including celebrities like Billy Bob Thornton, are fueling backlash against climate initiatives they see as economically unrealistic or hypocritically dependent on fossil fuels. In a viral scene from his new TV series Landman, Thornton fiercely criticizes wind turbines and solar panels, arguing they rely heavily on diesel, petrochemicals, and materials with high environmental costs. His remarks have resonated with a segment of the public frustrated by rising energy prices and perceived elitist climate agendas. Thorntons commentary is being celebrated by opponents of the Green New Deal and clean energy mandates, especially with a potential shift in federal energy policy expected under a possible new Trump administration. He underscores the contradictions in climate policy, pointing out that most green technologies require fossil fuel infrastructure to exist in the first place. Meanwhile, revelations about the CJP's judicial communication network are prompting calls for greater transparency and potential legal reforms. As environmental litigation continues to rise, the impartiality of the courts is becoming a central battleground in the wider climate debate. With major industries, politicians, and advocacy groups all jockeying for influence, the line between education and manipulation may soon require far clearer definition. Check out ClimateAlarmism.news for updates on psychotic billionaires paying off judges and climate activists (cultists) to pretend like the earth is going to boil next year so they can take all our money and control us. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com BezoEarthFund.org ClimateDepot.com More than 65 deli meat products RECALLED in Canada over Salmonella outbreak Over 65 salami and cacciatore products from multiple brands (Bona, Rea, Imperial Meats, etc.) have been recalled across six Canadian provinces after 87 Salmonella cases (nine hospitalized). The outbreak began in mid-April, peaking in early May with no deaths reported as of July 19. Contaminated deli meats reached grocery stores, specialty markets and restaurants in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan, highlighting concerns about food safety oversight gaps. Salmonella infection can cause fever, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, posing heightened risks to vulnerable groups (children, elderly, pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals). Some cases required hospitalization. The recall including specific salami brands was announced in June but quickly expanded as inspectors implicated more products, including sandwiches and deli-counter items. This is one of Canada's largest meat recalls in years, echoing past crises like the deadly 2008 listeriosis outbreak. Authorities urge consumers to discard affected products and monitor updates. The outbreak underscores the need for stricter inspections, transparent supply chains and prioritizing public health over profit, amid annual $4 billion costs from foodborne illnesses in Canada. A sweeping recall of more than 65 salami and cacciatore products has been issued across six Canadian provinces after a Salmonella outbreak left 87 people sick, including nine hospitalized. The contaminated deli meats spanning multiple brands like Bona, Rea, Imperial Meats and Cosmo's Smoked Meats were distributed to grocery stores, specialty markets and restaurants in six provinces. Affected products were sent to Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan, raising alarms about gaps in food safety oversight. Health Canada warns that Salmonella-contaminated food may appear normal. However, it can cause severe illness particularly among vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly, pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, with some cases requiring hospitalization. The Public Health Agency of Canada notes that infections have been reported since mid-April and peaked in early May. Fortunately, no deaths have been recorded as of July 19. The outbreak traces back to a June recall of Rea brand Genoa Salami and Bona brand Mild Genova Salami, initially limited to Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario. However, as investigators from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) expanded their probe, additional products including prepared sandwiches and deli-counter items were implicated. (Related: Drug-resistant Salmonella strain triggers nationwide recall of salami in Canada.) Latest meat recall echoes past food safety failures This recall of more than 65 deli meat products marks one of Canada's largest meat recalls in recent years. It echoes past foodborne illness crises, such as the 2008 listeriosis outbreak linked to deli meats that killed 22 people and prompted stricter food safety regulations. Authorities urge consumers to discard or return affected products and monitor recall updates on the CFIA's website. The agency emphasizes that salmonella can spread even after symptoms subside, underscoring the need for vigilance. With foodborne illnesses costing Canada an estimated $4 billion annually in healthcare and lost productivity, this outbreak serves as a stark reminder of the lasting consequences of contamination and the fragile trust between consumers and food suppliers. As the investigation continues, health officials say more recalls are possible. This leaves Canadians grappling with the unsettling reality that everyday foods once taken for granted may carry hidden dangers. The CFIA has pledged to ensure all contaminated products are pulled from shelves, but for those already infected, the damage is done. In a world where food safety failures can have deadly repercussions, this outbreak underscores the urgent need for stricter inspections, transparent supply chains and a system that prioritizes public health over profit. Head over to CleanFoodWatch.com for more similar stories. Watch this clip that explains how to prevent Salmonella infection in the kitchen. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: MASSIVE nationwide meat and poultry recalls for Salmonella poisoning issued by CDC, FDA, HHS, and USDA during final days of October, 2018. America's poultry giants have sold tens of thousands of meat products contaminated with DEADLY BACTERIA. Recall issued for 9.9 million pounds of meat and poultry due to listeria contamination. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com CBC.ca CTVNews.ca Brighteon.com DNI Gabbard unleashes years-long coup claims against Obama admin, threatens prosecutions DNI Tulsi Gabbard declassified 100+ documents alleging a "treasonous conspiracy" by Obama-era officials to falsely accuse Trump of Russian collusion. Key figures implicated include James Clapper, John Brennan, James Comey and Susan Rice, who allegedly fabricated intelligence to undermine Trumps 2016 victory. Gabbard submitted the findings to the DOJ for criminal referral, with Trump advocating for Obamas prosecution and damaging AI-generated visuals mocking Obamas arrest. GOP leaders hailed the revelations as a "Watergate-era scandal," while Democrats condemned the claims as politically motivated and distracting from Epstein fallout. The row reignites debates over U.S.-Russia relations, election integrity and systemic corruption within intelligence agencies. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has taken unprecedented action, revoking security clearances for multiple high-ranking officials implicated in a alleged conspiracy to fabricate the Russia collusion narrative against former President Donald Trump. The accused include Anthony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Lisa Monaco, Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, Andrew Weissmann, Mark Zaid and Norm Eisenall of whom face claims of orchestrating illegal schemes, including Ukraine war mismanagement, money laundering and election-related fraud. Gabbard accuses the Obama administration, citing declassified documents from 2025, of intentionally disregarding factual evidence to create a false narrative of Russian interference in the 2016 election. The alleged plotters named in the revelations include former Obama-era officials James Clapper, John Brennan, James Comey and Susan Rice, who, according to Gabbard, spearheaded a years-long campaign of unfounded investigations and prosecutions targeting Trump. Announced July 20, Gabbards findings characterize the effort as treasonous, alleging it culminated in the Mueller investigation and two impeachments of Trump. She further alleges that Sullivan, among others, orchestrated the failed Ukraine war and illicit financial activities, while Monaco and James pursued politically motivated charges. The scandals exposure underscores a broader institutional crisis within U.S. intelligence and legal systems, raising critical questions about partisanship and accountability in national security. The alleged coup: Fabricated intelligence as a blueprint for a democracy steal Gabbards declassified documents suggest the Obama administration repressed intelligence assessments that found no evidence of direct Russian voting system manipulation while inflating claims of Russian "meddling." According to a timeline provided by her office, officials acted immediately after Trumps 2016 victory, orchestrating leaks to the media and pressuring the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) to assert Russia undermined U.S. democracy. Key claims include: Intelligence agencies in late 2016 were advised to "probably not" expect cyber interference, yet post-election assessments pivoted to allege pro-Trump hacking. Former Obama officials allegedly pressured the ICA to ignore countervailing evidence and emphasize Russias bias toward Trump, despite lacking proof. Leaked reports fueled Hillary Clintons claims of "Russian invasion of Trump Tower" and later underpinned Muellers $30 million probe. Gabbard called this "not just politicization, but manufactured intelligence to overthrow election results." Federal agents prepare to arrest an individual during a protest outside the U.S. Capitol in 2020. Gabbards revelations reignite debates over accountability and electoral integrity. Partisan recoils: GOP cheers a Watergate 2.0; Democrats dismiss as cooked books Republicans rallied around Gabbards disclosures. Trump posted AI-generated imagery mocking Obamas arrest, while Sen. Mike Lee labeled the scandal "far deadlier to the Republic than any foreign adversary." Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) deemed it "Watergate-esque," emphasizing the plots "corrosive threat to democracy." White House strategist Stephen Miller warned adversaries "will do anything to seize power," framing accountability as a fight to "preserve the Republic." Democrats counterattacked swiftly. House Intelligence Ranking Member Jim Himes called the report "baseless," citing bipartisan Senate findings from 2020 that confirmed Russian meddling without implicating collusion. "No legitimate judge would treat this as anything but a joke," Himes said, linking the scandal to GOP desperation over Epstein revelations. Sen. Mark Warner accused Gabbard of "weaponizing her position" to back Trumps "conspiracy theories," contrasting her claims with IC assessments under her watch that reaffirm Russias ongoing election interference aims. Decoding the 2016 intelligence controversy The conflict hinges on competing interpretations of the 2017 ICA. While Gabbard now brands it a "phony" product of Obamas bias, most intelligence reviewsincluding the Senate Intelligence Committees 2020 reportconcurred it reflected real concerns about foreign disinformation campaigns. The CIAs 2024 internal review criticized the ICAs rushed drafting but not its Russia-favored-Trump conclusion. "Those who sold this lie became the villains they invented," Lee averred, echoing conspiratorial GOP narratives. However, critics stress that the original "Russiagate" investigation never alleged voting tampering, which Gabbards allies falsely accuse Obama of fabricating. The NICs 2024 annual threat assessment, released under Gabbard, also reaffirmed Russias "advantage" in amplifying "doubt in electoral integrity"a claim she now dissociates from entirely. Implications: A test of democratic resilience amid internal threats Gabbards allegations mark an unprecedented escalation in accusations of systemic intelligence corruption. If substantiated, they would rank alongside the Pentagon Papers and Watergate as landmarks in institutional self-sabotage. The fallout threatens to further fracture public trust in core democratic institutions. Gabbards alignment with Trumps imperious rhetoric, including his smirking endorsement of Obamas AI incarceration montage, risks normalizing vengeful politics. Critics warn it undermines a principle she champions: accountability for those polluting the truth. For voters, the debate revives central 2020s anxietieswho guards the guardians?as Congress prepares hearings to scrutinize Gabbards claims. The DOJ faces immense pressure to act, though some experts doubt criminal charges will proceed without overwhelming evidence of tampering with U.S. election infrastructure, which Gabbards documents do not directly address. A crossroads for accountability and democratic integrity The Gabbard revelations force Americans to confront uncomfortable truths about their security apparatus vulnerability to political manipulation. The clash over "whose truth matters" defines this moment, with consequences for how future elections are securities, investigated and remembered. As Gabbard and Trump demand accountability for Obamas team, Democrats counter with calls to reject revisionism. The Democratic Republic itself, they insist, hinges on confronting present dangerslike digital dark arts and corruptionnot revisiting battles long embroiled in partisan quicksand. As voter confidence hovers near historic lows, this saga tests whether remedies for domestic threats can outpace the allegations themselves, proving democracys immunity to self-inflicted wounds. Sources for this article include: RT.com Time.com Yahoo.com Big Techs culture war: Google buries Catholic voices opposing Pope Francis reforms under vague hate speech claims Google abruptly removed Messainlatino.it, a major Italian Catholic blog hosting 22,000 posts since 2007, citing unspecified hate-speech violations. The blogs focus on pre-Vatican II liturgy and conservative theology prompted over one million June 2025 visits amid anticipation of liturgical reforms under Pope Leo XIV. Editor Luigi Casalini called the action a grave violation of free speech, launching legal action under Italys constitutional protections. Critics argue the takedown risks ideological gatekeeping, weaponizing vague content policies against dissenting religious views. The incident highlights Silicon Valleys growing influence over religious discourse and raises questions about digital pluralism. When visitors to Messainlatino.it on July 12, 2025, encountered a stark Blog has been removed notice, what followed was not just personal outrage but a cultural reckoning. The closure by Googles Blogger service of the widely read Catholic bloghost to 22,000 posts defending traditionalist theology and pre-Vatican II liturgical practiceshas sparked fierce debates about free speech, corporate power and the fragility of religious expression in the digital age. Editor Luigi Casalini condemned the move as a grave violation of constitutional rights, while supporters see it as a coercive pruning of contention by tech giants. With no transparency on grounds for removal, the episode underscores the volatile intersection of religious advocacy and Silicon Valleys evolving content policies. The blogs role in Vatican II retros and liturgical reform Messainlatino.it (MiL), established in 2007, was a cornerstone for Catholics advocating the Tridentine Mass, a Latin liturgy restricted under Pope Francis 2021 Traditionis Custodes doctrine. Its rise to over one million June 2025 visitors reflected renewed interest in traditionalist rites under newly elected Pope Leo XIV. The site also critiqued modern theological trends, emphasizing doctrinal fidelity and starkly opposing causes like female ordination. Luigi Casalini, a journalist and editor since 2014, framed MiL as both a liturgical chronicle and a vigilant voice for doctrine in an age of activism. Its archives detailed theological debates, papal decrees and updates on Romes political climate. A follower from France, commenting on rival platform X, wrote, This was our spiritual GPSgone like paperwork in a government fire. Googles justificationciting its community guidelinesremained vague, leaving critics to question how Catholic teachings on traditional marriage or sexual ethics could constitute hate speech. Legal and constitutional backlash Casalini announced plans to sue Google, citing Italys Article 21 of the Constitution, which enshrines free expression and bans censorship. He stated, If the law cant protect a tradition older than our nation, what hope have we? Many Italian Catholics echoed his alarm. Stefano Fontana, an analyst at the International Observatory Cardinal Van Thuan, noted MiLs historical significance as a countercultural lifeline during decades of doctrinal drift. He added, They werent just archiviststhey were custodians of clarity in papal statements. Now their entire record is scrubbed, as if erased from history. Legal experts argue the case could test whether corporate content takedowns collide with national speech protections. If Google can delete centuries of theology under opaque policies, Fontana warned, any dissent not palatable to Big Tech could vanish next. A symbolic clash over digital ideology The MiL controversy parallels broader tensions between tech giants and religious institutions. Since the 2010s, platforms like Google and Twitter have banned ads demeaning religious groups, yet critics now accuse them of applying rules inconsistently. MiLs opposition to practices like online gambling and LGBTQ+ inclusionaligned with Church teachingsmay have conflicted with modern platform sensibilities. Civility vs. conviction is central to the dispute. While Google claims its policies prohibit incitement, supporters argue MiL never crossed into overt hate speech. Casalinis posts argued for liturgical preservation, not persecution, noted Rome-based legal blogger Elena Di Pietro. Yet the vague hate speech label allowed Google to act without transparency. Cultural observers warn this amplifies a litmus test effect, where platforms prefer users who align with liberal secular values. Theyre not just moderating contenttheyre sculpting culture, said historian Marco Borghi. A digital crossroads for religious expression The MiL takedown challenges how faith communities can thrive online. As traditional venues dwindle, digital platforms become vital for worship, education and community. Yet reliance on these spaces cedes control to corporations prioritizing profit. The next generation cant have their theology forced through the sieve of a venture capital board, argued Fr. Paolo Marziliano of the University of Bologna. The case also reflects global divides. In the U.S., apples-to-oranges legal comparisons existSection 230 shields platforms from liability herebut European nations have stronger free speech norms. Italys Article 21 explicitly prohibits censorship, putting Google in legal crosshairs. Testing the limits of liberty online As Messainlatino.it vanishes from cyberspace, its disappearance symbolizes deeper struggles: the narrowing space for religious and ideological diversity in digital spaces. Googles actionsdenied most details to the publicthreaten to normalize a state where companies, not constitutions, frame acceptable discourse. The incidents ripple effect looms. Traditionalist communities worldwide now confront existential dilemmas: digitize and risk censorship, or retreat into analog silos? For Casalini and supporters, the fight isnt just about one blog, but defending pluralisms right to exist in public. As Fontana poignantly put it, If we let algorithms edit heaven, what does that say about our earthly souls? Sources for this article include: ReclaimTheNet.org Zenit.org CatholicCulture.org Wikipedia censorship of Sayer Ji: How the Encyclopedia of Truth became a global tool for suppression Wikipedia editors weaponized Sayer Jis page to advance pro-pharma agendas and suppress alternative health narratives, per platform archives. A disputed CCDH report, hosted on a spam-blacklisted site, fueled Jis defamatory Wikipedia entry, while its claims were debunked by Meta. Pharmaceutical-funded entities like McGill disguise bias as science, cementing false misinformation labels on researchers like Ji. AI systems like ChatGPT amplify Wikipedias biases, creating a self-sustaining cycle of reputation sabotage across the digital ecosystem. Legal challenges and Supreme Court cases like Murthy v. Missouri highlight systemic censorship risks, urging accountability for deep state tools like Wiki. In the latest chapter of an escalating battle over truth in the digital age, whistleblower Sayer Ji has exposed systemic corruption within Wikipedia, revealing how the platforms editors weaponize its infrastructure to advance ideological agendas while stifling free speech. Ji, the founder of GreenMedInfo (a leading source of research on natural health solutions), uncovers how his Wikipedia page was created as a tool of retaliation, part of a broader censorship complex involving organizations like the U.S. FDA, Big Pharma-backed academics and transatlantic NGOs. The case of Sayer Ji On May 20, 2021 four days before the Center for Countering Digital Hates (CCDH) Disinformation Dozen report labeled Ji as a purveyor of vaccine misinformation a Wikipedia article about Ji appeared, explicitly citing the CCDH report as a source. The pages creator, editor Robincantin, admitted the connection, stating the article aimed to document CCDHs claims. Yet the CCDH report, later debunked by Meta as grossly inflated, falsely claimed Ji and 11 others were responsible for 73% of vaccine-related disinformation. Actual data from Meta revealed the group accounted for just 0.05% of such content. The page also relied on a blog post by McGill Universitys Jonathan Jarry, whose affiliation with an office funded by Pfizer and Merck was omitted. Despite Wikipedias own spam filters blacklisting the CCDHs source, editors circumvented internal safeguards to include it, violating standards for neutral content. This article contains egregious violations of Wikipedias neutrality and biographies policies, wrote editor Dakotacoda in 2025, to no avail. Rebellious editors advocating for corrections faced suspension, while others defended the page as a shaming tool to counter Jis influence a tacit admission of Wikipedias shift toward political curation. Big Pharmas stealth hand in the anti-science narrative McGill Universitys denunciation of Ji underscores a troubling conflict of interest. The Office for Science and Society (OSS), which published the anti-Ji article, received millions in pharmaceutical funding. If Wikipedia cites McGill as an unbiased critic, they ignore the ties to Pfizer and Merck, said health freedom advocate Marjorie Tietz. Meanwhile, GreenMedInfo though tagged pseudoscientific primarily aggregates peer-reviewed studies from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), which screens for quality. Its database, used by researchers globally, has served 250 million search inquiries, yet critics demand its deletion without addressing its NLM origins. This bias mirrors broader trends: the FDAs Rumor Control arm and the OECDs DISMIS Hub, funded by entities like Big Tech and the Gates Foundation, systematically suppress holistic health approaches while prioritizing pharma-friendly solutions. As Ji notes, The so-called science supporting these campaigns often ignores studies that defy industry narratives. AI eats bias The damage transcends Wikipedia. AI systems like ChatGPT scrape its pages, perpetuating falsehoods. By 2023, queries about Ji yielded AI-generated summaries mirroring Wikipedias libel, entrenching the misinformation label. MIT researchers term this a vicious cycle, where biased platforms amplify themselves into a self-reinforcing ecosystem. This isnt just censorship its algorithmic erasure, said digital rights activist Ethan Zuckerman. Judicial showdown In the Supreme Court case Murthy v. Missouri, litigated during the 202324 term, justices debated government power to compel platforms to suppress speech a legal lens now sharpened by the CCDH-Ji saga. When Biden called Jis peers killing people with misinformation, he echoed the CCDHs discredited claims, illustrating the harms of unaccountable censorship. Jis federal lawsuit against CCDH demands justice for digital proxy attacks that damage careers and silence dissent. I chose to fight not just for myself, but for a world where truth isnt copyrighted to regimes, Ji stated. Will truth survive the WikiComplex? Sayer Jis ordeal exposes a precarious truth: As oligopolistic platforms and NGOs weaponize fact-checking, democracy faces existential threats. Wikipedia, once a beacon of crowdsourced knowledge, now embodies the dangers of centralized narrative control. With AI amplifying this bias and courts crafting landmark precedent, the battle over information sovereignty has reached a crescendo. Jis legal fund and advocacy efforts exemplify the fight to reclaim free expressiona fight that will define whether the digital age fosters liberty or submission. As the CCDHs 2021 report slides deeper into infamy and Supreme Court justices grapple with censorships limits the question lingers: When Wikipedias all volunteers serve shadowy agendas, who guards credibility? Sources for this article include: Substack.com GreenMedInfo.com TheFP.com Humanitarian aid from hell: The extermination of Palestinians is being disguised as help The Gaza genocide is special. And not in one but two regards. (Article by Tarik Cyril Amar republished from RT.com) As has often been observed, this is the first genocide in history that is, in essence, livestreamed. No genocide before has been committed under the eyes of the world like this one. And second, the Gaza genocide is undermining and, in effect, devastating whole moral and legal orders or at least longstanding claims to them in an equally unprecedented way. These two peculiarities are related: The only way the world as a whole could have tolerated the Gaza genocide for almost three years now is by stubbornly disregarding fundamental norms, both written and unwritten. For instance, almost no state with the exception of Yemen (under de facto control of the Ansar Allah movement or Houthis) has even tried to comply with its binding and clear obligations under the 1948 UN Genocide Convention, namely to prevent and punish the crime of genocide. No one with the power alone or with others to do so, not in the Middle East, not beyond it, has come to save the Palestinian victims of the Gaza genocide in the only manner that would work: By stopping their Israeli murderers by massive force. Yet the small but still disproportionately influential part of the world that calls itself the West has gone beyond merely failing to act. Thats because, whether the West is a civilization once shaped by Christianity or not, for a long time now, its true inner core has been hypocrisy. And during the Gaza Genocide, the Wests compulsive need to rationalize even its most vicious actions into acts of virtue covered by values, has led to a new peak of absolute moral and intellectual perversion: Precisely because the West has not only abandoned the Palestinian victims but is actively co-perpetrating this genocide together with Israel, its elites in politics, culture, the media, the police, and judiciary have made a sustained, obstinate effort to radically alter our sense of right and wrong, from specific legal norms down to our intuitive and widely shared understanding of limits never to be crossed. Waging, for example, a so-called war by killing or injuring often maiming for life over 50,000 children (as of May 2025)? A war in which we receive one reliable testimony after another that many of these children are targeted deliberately, including by drone operators and snipers? A war in which starvation, medical deprivation, and the promotion of epidemics have all been deployed equally deliberately? In the West, we are told to call this self-defense. Indeed, we are asked with great insistence, to say the least to believe that this form of mass-murderous, infanticiding self-defense is something to be proud of, even vicariously: The mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, for instance notorious for his suppression of any signs of resistance to Israeli genocide has just declared that city hall will keep flying the Israeli flag. In the same depraved spirit, the establishments of the West hand out punishment from vicious police beatings to crippling lawfare to international sanctions not to the perpetrators and accomplices of the Gaza genocide, in Israel and elsewhere, but to those who resist it in solidarity with its Palestinian victims. Protesters, journalists worth their salt, and even a UN special rapporteur are treated like criminals, even terrorists for actually standing up against the crime of genocide, as just yesterday, it seems we were all officially supposed to do. But never again has been turned into definitely again, and as long as the murderers want, since they are Israelis and our friends. It is in this context of a reversal of morality, law, and meaning so complete the overused term Orwellian for once really applies that we can understand what is now happening to the concept of humanitarian action. According to the Encyclopedia Britannicas back-to-basics definition, a humanitarian is a person who works to make other peoples lives better, for instance, by trying to end world hunger. Since modern humanitarianism already has a history of two centuries, historians, such as Michael Barnett in his Empire of Humanity, have delivered more complex accounts. Critics have long denounced humanitarianisms limits and even flaws. For French sociologist Jean Baudrillard, it is whats left when a more optimistic humanism decays: A sort of bleak emergency response, a sign that the world has gotten worse, again. In particular, during the post-Cold War decades of American hubris misnamed the unipolar moment humanitarianism often allied with Western imperialism. In the war of aggression against Iraq that started in 2003, for instance, humanitarian organizations became servants to the aggressors, invaders, and occupiers. Yet, whatever view of humanitarianism you may endorse, there are things the concept can only accommodate for the completely deranged and limitlessly evil, such as massacring starving civilians and concentration camps. And yet, in Gaza, both have been labeled humanitarian. The so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a shady US-Israeli concoction, has promoted a scheme in which pittances of food are effectively used as bait for lethal traps: Palestinians deliberately blockaded by Israel have been lured to four kill zones masquerading as aid distribution points. Over the past one and a half months, Israeli forces and Western mercenaries have killed at least 789 victims and injured thousands at or near these satanic traps. Obviously, killing the unarmed on such a scale is not collateral damage but deliberate. By now, the murderous intent behind the scheme has been confirmed by various sources, including Israeli. No wonder that 170 real humanitarian and human rights group have signed a protest against this fake relief and genuine mass murder scheme. And then there is the concentration camp plan: Israeli leaders have already driven the surviving inhabitants of Gaza one of the most densely settled places on Earth even before the genocide into an area comprising only 20% of Gazas devastated surface. Yet that is not evil enough for them: On the way to what seems to be their idea of a final solution of the Gaza question, they have now pitched a new plan to their US allies, namely, to herd the survivors into an even smaller area. This de facto concentration camp they advertise as a humanitarian city. From there, Palestinians would have only two ways out: By death or by leaving Gaza. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz wants to sell us this as voluntary. It is an irony of history that Israeli genociders now compete not only with the crimes of the Nazis but also with the Germans horrendous abuse of language. The location of this deadly ethnic-cleansing transit station? The ruins of Rafah. You may remember Rafah, once a bustling city in southern Gaza, as the place Israels Western allies pretended to try to protect, sort of, for a while. Those warnings were worth nothing, of course. Rafah was flattened, and now the area is earmarked for the concentration camp to end it all. The scheme is so outrageous but then, that is Israels ordinary modus operandi that even its critics can hardly keep up with just how depraved it is. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA the effective aid distribution organization that Israel has shut down in pursuit of its starvation strategy, killing almost 400 of its local staff has posted on X that the humanitarian city would amount to a second Nakba and create massive concentration camps at the border with Egypt for the Palestinians. The Nakba was the Zionist ethnic cleansing, interspersed with massacres, of around 750,000 Palestinians in 1948. But Lazzarini is wrong if he believes that the first Nakba ever ended: For the Palestinian victims of Israeli violence, it only initiated an ongoing process of theft, apartheid, and often murder. A process that has now culminated in genocide, as multiple international experts acknowledge, including the eminent Oxford historian Avi Shlaim. This is not a second Nakba, but the Israeli attempt to complete the first one. Lazzarinis comment that the humanitarian city plan would create concentration camps on the border with Egypt is, of course, also true as far as it goes. Yet all of Gaza has long been what (even by 2003) the Israeli sociologist Baruch Kimmerling called the worlds largest concentration camp ever. The point is not to be pedantic. What Lazzerinis protest welcome as it is still misses is that what Israel is now doing to the Palestinians is creating a fresh hell within a much older one. But not Israel alone. The West is, as always, deeply involved. Lets set aside that the interwar Zionists learned about how to use concentration camps against Palestinians from the British Mandate authorities, as with other methods of vicious suppression, too. Now as well, various Western figures and agencies have become involved in the Israeli schemes of resettlement that drive the humanitarian city plan. Tony Blairs foundation really a commercial consulting and influence-peddling company systematically working for the dark side wherever it pays well and the prestigious and powerful Boston Consulting Group have both been caught contributing to Israeli ethnic cleansing planning. And behind that stands the declared will of no one less than Donald Trump, the president of the US, who has long been explicit that he would like to see Gaza rebuilt as a vast, glitzy Trumpistan and without Palestinians. From the beginning of the Gaza genocide, it has been both a brutal crime and a constant attempt to redefine what is right and what is wrong so that this crime would appear necessary, justifiable, and even as a legitimate opportunity to profit. And the Wests elites with far too few exceptions have joined Israel in this absolute perversion of fundamental ethics and reason no less than in the mass murdering. If both Israel and the West are not stopped at long last, they will use the Gaza genocide to change much of the world into a hellscape where everything we have learned to despise about the Nazis will become the new normal. Read more at: RT.com Health Ranger Report: Michael Yon and Mike Adams discuss geopolitics and government Michael Yon and Mike Adams allege USAID functions as a "CIA slush fund," enabling corruption, regime change and exploitation (e.g., human and drug trafficking). They credit Trump-era funding cuts for reducing migration in the Darien Gap and call for dismantling USAID and the UN. Highlighting Taiwan's strategic value, Yon advocates for U.S. recognition of its sovereignty to counter China. Greenland's potential acquisition is also discussed as a move to secure Arctic dominance, with Trump reportedly considering the option. Yon predicts a bleak outcome for Ukraine, framing the conflict as a resource-driven power play rather than a fight for freedom. Both agree the world is shifting toward multipolarity, necessitating adaptive strategies from Western leaders. Globalization and Western interventions (e.g., USAID, UN) erode indigenous cultures like Panama's Kuna and Embera tribes. Adams warns this loss of traditional medical and ecological wisdom serves a globalist agenda favoring Big Pharma. The conversation underscores the need for policymakers and citizens to integrate geography, history and cultural understanding into geopolitics, urging proactive engagement with global complexities. Michael Yon and Mike Adams engaged in a riveting conversation on the "Health Ranger Report" about pressing global issues, offering a comprehensive analysis of the current geopolitical landscape. The discussion conducted remotely, with Yon situated near the Panama Canal, covers a wide range of topics including the now-disbanded U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the situation in Ukraine. They also touched on the strategic importance of territories like Greenland and Taiwan, and the implications of a potential shift towards a multipolar world. The conversation began with a critical examination of USAID, which Adams described as a "slush fund" by the Central Intelligence Agency used to bankroll corrupt non-governmental organizations and orchestrate regime changes worldwide. Yon, who has extensively documented the destructive impact of USAID and the United Nations in regions like the Darien Gap, agreed. (Related: Trump administration reduces USAID support: Mike Adams and Michael Yon highlight allegations of global misconduct.) The experienced combat correspondent highlighted the dramatic decrease in migration flows through the Darien Gap. He attributed it to the Trump administration's decision to cut funding to these organizations. Yon emphasized the need to dismantle USAID and the United Nations, arguing that their activities are detrimental to American interests. "The big thing we need to do is take off all these NGOs because they are also involved in the drugs," he told Adams. "We need to defund and dismantle [the UN]." Yon provided firsthand accounts of the situation in the Darien Gap, sharing his experiences of documenting the dire conditions faced by migrants and the involvement of NGOs. The reduction in funding has led to a significant decline in migration, suggesting that cutting off financial support to these organizations is an effective strategy. Adams concurred, noting that the current administration's approach, which includes deploying Mexican troops to combat fentanyl trafficking, is a step in the right direction. However, this may not be sufficient without addressing the broader issue of NGO involvement. The strategic importance of territories The discussion shifted to the strategic importance of territories like Greenland and Taiwan. Yon emphasized the need for the U.S. to acknowledge Taiwan's sovereignty, arguing that this would strengthen its position in the region and counter China's influence. He criticized the current U.S. policy, which he sees as weak and ineffective. Adams agreed, highlighting the historical context of the U.S. betrayal of Taiwan and its consequences for American manufacturing and technological dominance. Yon also discussed the potential acquisition of Greenland, suggesting that it would provide strategic advantages in the Arctic region. He recounted a conversation with Vice President J.D. Vance, who indicated that President Donald Trump is serious about pursuing this option. The former Green Beret believes that understanding the geopolitical significance of these territories is crucial for comprehending global power dynamics. The multipolar world and the future of geopolitics The conversation took a broader view as Adams asked Yon about his thoughts on the future of Ukraine. Yon predicted a grim outcome, emphasizing that the conflict is not about freedom but about resources and geopolitical influence. He criticized the lack of historical understanding among Western policymakers, particularly in the Biden administration, which he believes has led to misguided strategies. Adams then brought up recent comments by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who acknowledged the inevitability of a multipolar world. Yon agreed, stating that the world is already moving in this direction. He emphasized the importance of recognizing this shift and adapting strategies accordingly. The discussion took a cultural turn as Adams and Yon explored the impact of Western influence on indigenous populations. Yon shared his experiences with the Kuna and Embera tribes in Panama, highlighting their traditional knowledge and the threats posed by globalization. The author and combat correspondent criticized the imposition of Western medical practices and the destruction of indigenous cultures by organizations like USAID and the United Nations. Adams added that the loss of indigenous knowledge is a significant loss for humanity, as these communities possess valuable insights into natural remedies and sustainable living. He argued that the globalist agenda, driven by figures like Bill Gates, aims to eradicate this knowledge and replace it with a one-size-fits-all approach that benefits pharmaceutical companies. In conclusion, Adams and Yon emphasized the importance of understanding geography, history and culture in shaping effective geopolitical strategies. They advocated for a more informed and proactive approach to global issues, urging policymakers to recognize the interconnectedness of global events and the need for strategic foresight. Follow BigGovernment.news for more news about the American government. Watch the full conversation between Michael Yon and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Michael Yon: TRAITORS in the government enable the MIGRANT INVASION of America. Trumps bold move: Reshaping USAID could redefine U.S. foreign policy. Rubio: U.S. commits to continued WEAPONS SUPPORT for Ukraine amid escalating conflict. Sources include: Brighteon.com MichaelYon.Substack.com The protest-for-hire industry: How wealthy elites manufacture outrage Firms like Crowds on Demand (CoD) orchestrate paid protests, hiring actors and activists to create the illusion of grassroots movements for political or corporate clients. These manufactured campaigns, funded by wealthy elites, manipulate public perception by simulating organic activism, undermining genuine democratic expression. Past movements, including the Women's March and Black Lives Matter, faced allegations of inflated participation through hired protesters, though proof is often obscured by NDAs. Billionaires like George Soros are accused of funding "fake" activist groups to shape political narratives, raising concerns about foreign and elite interference in domestic issues. Reliance on paid protests suggests a lack of authentic grassroots support for liberal causes, highlighting a disconnect between party messaging and public enthusiasm. Protests have long been a hallmark of American democracy, a tool for citizens to voice dissent and demand change. But what if many of these demonstrations are not organic expressions of public sentiment but carefully orchestrated campaigns funded by wealthy elites? A growing industry, led by firms like Crowds on Demand (CoD), specializes in manufacturing protests, hiring actors and mobilizing activistsall for a price. This revelation raises serious questions about the authenticity of modern political movements and the integrity of America's democratic process. The business of protests Adam Swart, CEO of Crowds on Demand, openly advertises his company's ability to generate crowds, speakers and even letter-writing campaigns on behalf of political causes. His firm operates as a one-stop shop for advocacy groups, corporations and political operatives seeking to amplify their messageregardless of genuine public support. (Related: Sen. Rand Paul says left-wing mobs are PAID, well-organized thugs, confirming they are terrorists-for-hire.) Swart's services include hiring protesters, staffing phone banks to pressure lawmakers and flooding congressional offices with pre-written constituent letters. His companys website boasts that it is the "ultimate guerilla lobbying and government relations firm," a claim that underscores the commodification of activism. Astroturfing: Fake grassroots, real influence This practice, known as "astroturfing," creates the illusion of widespread grassroots support where none exists. Unlike genuine movements, which emerge organically from public discontent, astroturfed campaigns are bankrolled by deep-pocketed donors who seek to manipulate political outcomes. Swart recently admitted that his firm was offered a $20 million contract to assist in organizing the July 17 protests against former President Donald Trump, coordinated by the left-wing group Good Trouble Lives On. The demonstrations, held on the anniversary of civil rights icon John Lewis' death, were marketed as a continuation of his legacy. Yet, Swart rejected the deal, citing concerns that the events could turn violent. A history of manufactured movements The idea of paid protesters is not new. Critics on the right have long accused liberal organizations of inflating protest numbers with hired activists. The 2017 Womens March and the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations faced similar allegations. More recently, the No Kings Day protestsreportedly the largest single-day demonstration in U.S. historywere suspected of being bolstered by Crowds on Demand, though the company denies involvement. The anonymity of these operations makes them difficult to trace. CoD employees sign non-disclosure agreements, shielding clients from public scrutiny. This secrecy allows wealthy donors to influence politics without accountability. The Soros connection George Soros, the billionaire financier of progressive causes, has been repeatedly linked to protest movements. Last summer, during anti-Israel campus demonstrations, legal scholar Alan Dershowitz accused Soros-funded groups like Jewish Voice for Peace of being "fake organizations" designed to radicalize activists. Soros' Open Society Foundation has poured millions into activist networks, raising concerns about foreign influence in domestic politics. While Soros defenders argue he supports democratic values, critics see a pattern of elite manipulationusing money to manufacture dissent rather than foster genuine debate. Democrats in disarray? The reliance on astroturfing suggests a deeper problem for the Democratic Party. If liberal causes require paid protesters to appear viable, it implies a lack of authentic grassroots enthusiasm. This desperation reflects a party struggling to counter the populist energy of Trump's MAGA movement. As one Trump administration official quipped, Nothing screams a party in disorder more than one that obviously lacks grassroots support and is forced to rig the political system. The rise of the protest-for-hire industry exposes a troubling reality: American democracy is increasingly for sale. Wealthy elites, unaccountable firms and political operatives can now purchase the appearance of public outrage, distorting the national conversation. While Adam Swart deserves credit for rejecting a lucrative but ethically dubious contract, his business model remains a symptom of a broken system. Watch this video about astroturfing. This video is from the Son of the Republic channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: ABSURD: DOJ sues Elon Musk's SpaceX for refusing to hire ILLEGALS Enemies for hire: Muslim WaPo contributor caught on video firing missile, chanting Death to America Junk food corporations hire paid shills to propagandize junk food as healthy Black Lives Matter is a Marxist group backed by billionaires Most Americans see antifa protesters for the violent criminals they are, despite media spin Sources include: RT.com Azerbaycan24.com Foxnews.com Brighteon.com Russia reaffirms nuclear doctrine amid U.S.-Ukraine weapons speculation On July 16, the Kremlin reaffirmed its nuclear doctrine, emphasizing its continued validity. This comes amid speculation that the U.S. might supply Ukraine with longer-range weapons capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a revision of the doctrine last year, expanding the scope of countries and military alliances subject to nuclear deterrence. The doctrine now considers any attack by a non-nuclear state, backed by a nuclear power, as a joint attack. The U.S. is considering supplying Ukraine with more advanced weapons, such as Patriot air defense systems, through NATO countries to avoid direct Congressional approval. However, there are concerns about Ukraine's potential lack of restraint in using these weapons, especially after Ukraine's use of ATACMS missiles against Russian targets. Ukraine has used domestically-produced drones to target Russian military installations, including a daring attack in early June dubbed "Operation Spiderweb," which destroyed or damaged at least 12 strategic bombers. In response, Russia has threatened to attack Western targets and has updated its nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for potential nuclear first strikes against NATO countries. Kremlin reaffirmed Russia's nuclear doctrine on Wednesday, July 16. This announcement comes amid rumors that the United States might supply Ukraine with longer-range weapons capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized the continued validity of Russia's nuclear doctrine, stating, "The nuclear doctrine remains in force, and consequently, all its provisions apply." This statement was made in response to a question about whether the doctrine's provision, which considers any attack by a non-nuclear state supported by a nuclear power as a joint attack, was still in effect. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered last year to revise the doctrine in response to the U.S. allowing Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles, with a range of about 190 miles, against Russian targets. The amendments expanded the scope of countries and military alliances subject to nuclear deterrence and broadened the list of military threats. The doctrine now classifies any attack by a non-nuclear state, backed by a nuclear power, as a joint attack. This change reflects Russia's growing concern over the involvement of Western nations in the Ukraine conflict. (Related: Putin revises nuclear doctrine, making it easier for Russia to target Ukraine with nukes.) The situation took a dramatic turn when reports emerged that President Donald Trump had privately encouraged Ukraine to intensify its strikes on Russian territory. According to sources briefed on the discussions, Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky if his forces could hit Moscow or St. Petersburg if the U.S. provided longer-range weapons. Although Trump later denied considering such a move, the conversation highlighted his frustration with Putin's reluctance to engage in ceasefire talks. U.S. weapons supply and NATO involvement Trump announced a new plan to supply Ukraine with more U.S. weapons by selling them to NATO countries, thereby circumventing the need for direct Congressional approval. This plan includes the potential provision of Patriot air defense systems and interceptor missiles. However, the U.S. administration has expressed concerns about Ukraine's lack of restraint in using such weapons. Ukraine has also requested Tomahawk missiles, but the Trump administration, like its predecessor, has again hesitated due to fears of escalation. The U.S. has at times warned Ukraine against using long-range weapons to strike deep inside Russia, but these constraints seem to be easing. Ukraine has primarily used its domestically-produced long-range drones to target military installations inside Russia. In early June, Ukraine's SBU security service launched a daring attack, smuggling swarms of suicide drones into Russia to strike the country's fleet of strategic bombers. The operation, dubbed "Operation Spiderweb," resulted in the destruction or severe damage of at least 12 aircraft. Russia has repeatedly threatened to attack Western targets in response to the supply of advanced weapons to Ukraine. After Ukraine used ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory last November, Putin warned that Moscow was entitled to use its weaponry against countries allowing their weapons to be used against Russia. The Russian president also test-fired an experimental intermediate-range missile in response to the strikes. Following the ATACMS strikes, Russia updated its nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for potential use. The changes could envision a Russian nuclear first strike against NATO's three nuclear powers, the U.S., U.K. and France, in response to Ukraine's attacks on Russia with weapons like the ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles. The reaffirmation of Russia's nuclear doctrine and the ongoing discussions about supplying Ukraine with longer-range weapons highlight the precarious state of global security. As the conflict in Ukraine continues to evolve, the potential for escalation remains a significant concern. The international community watches closely, aware of the high stakes involved and the need for diplomatic solutions to prevent a broader conflict. The situation underscores the complex interplay of military strategy, diplomacy and the ever-present threat of nuclear escalation in modern geopolitical conflicts. Watch the video below that talks about what nuclear war would look like. This video is from The Truth Shall Set You Free channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump's Iran strikes backfire: Russia warns that Iran will likely be resupplied with nuclear warheads. Russia warns U.S. that military intervention in Iran-Israel conflict risks nuclear catastrophe. Putin warns of potential nuclear escalation amid Ukraine conflict, accuses West of provocation. Sources include: News.AntiWar.com Tass.com FT.com Brighteon.com Texas floods and global weather chaos: Climate engineering exposed as weaponized control Deliberate Weather Manipulation: Catastrophic floods in Texas and extreme global weather events are not natural but engineered via climate modification by power structures to control food, economies, and populations. Catastrophic floods in Texas and extreme global weather events are not natural but engineered via climate modification by power structures to control food, economies, and populations. Disrupted Hydrological Cycle: Geoengineering operations have severely damaged Earths water cycle, with unnatural droughts, floods, and wildfires intentionally orchestrated using military-grade frequency transmissions and aerosols. Geoengineering operations have severely damaged Earths water cycle, with unnatural droughts, floods, and wildfires intentionally orchestrated using military-grade frequency transmissions and aerosols. Global Consequences: Engineered weather causes food shortages, toxic environmental contamination (aluminum, barium), and ozone layer collapseposing existential threats to life while governments deny its existence. Engineered weather causes food shortages, toxic environmental contamination (aluminum, barium), and ozone layer collapseposing existential threats to life while governments deny its existence. U.S.-Led Weather Warfare: The U.S. Department of Defense dominates weather manipulation, deploying aerial tankers for aerosol dispersal, while ineffective laws and cover-ups distract from military operations. The U.S. Department of Defense dominates weather manipulation, deploying aerial tankers for aerosol dispersal, while ineffective laws and cover-ups distract from military operations. Urgent Action Needed: Survival hinges on mass awareness, grassroots pressure, and military stand-downs to halt geoengineering before irreversible ecosystem collapse leads to extinction. In an explosive emergency interview with Mike Adams of Brighteon.com, geoscientist Dane Wigington, founder of GeoengineeringWatch.org, exposed the horrifying truth behind recent catastrophic floods in Texas and extreme weather events worldwide: they are not natural disasters. Instead, they are the result of deliberate, weaponized climate engineering deployed by global power structures to control food supplies, economies, and populations. As Texas reels from unprecedented floodingwith bodies still being recoveredWigington warns that geoengineering operations have completely disrupted Earths hydrological cycle. "Theres nothing natural about any of this," he declared. "Climate engineering has derailed the planets life support systems for power and control." The Weaponization of Weather Wigington argues that extreme droughts, wildfires, and floods are intentionally engineered. Using military-grade frequency transmissions (like NEXRAD) and chemical aerosols, authorities manipulate atmospheric pressure zones to corral moisture, forcing devastating rainfall over specific regions while starving otherslike Californiaof precipitation. Flood Manipulation: The recent Texas deluge (20+ inches of rain in 48 hours) mirrors Hurricane Harvey (2017), where moisture-laden storms were "parked" via frequency repulsion, dumping catastrophic rainfall. Wigington presents evidence that global elites knew Harveys path a week in advance. The recent Texas deluge (20+ inches of rain in 48 hours) mirrors Hurricane Harvey (2017), where moisture-laden storms were "parked" via frequency repulsion, dumping catastrophic rainfall. Wigington presents evidence that global elites knew Harveys path a week in advance. Drought Engineering: Meanwhile, the Western U.S. faces engineered desiccation. Reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell, which supply water and power to millions, are collapsingwhile planes disperse aerosols to block cloud formation. Meanwhile, the Western U.S. faces engineered desiccation. Reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell, which supply water and power to millions, are collapsingwhile planes disperse aerosols to block cloud formation. Fire Acceleration: Californias fires spread unchecked due to sterilized soils (from aluminum-laced rain) and dead forestsdirect results of geoengineering, not just "climate change." A Global Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight Despite mounting evidence, governments and environmental groups deny geoengineering existseven as: Food shortages plague 36 nations due to weather warfare. plague 36 nations due to weather warfare. Toxic nanoparticles (aluminum, barium, lead) saturate air, water, and soil, poisoning populations. (aluminum, barium, lead) saturate air, water, and soil, poisoning populations. Ozone layer collapse, accelerated by geoengineering, threatens near-term extinction. Wigington warns: "If we dont stop this, nothing else matters. The planets ability to sustain life is being systematically destroyed." Who Controls the Weather? While foreign actors (cough China, Russia) may play a role, Wigington confirms that U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) operations dominate domestic weather warfare. The military possesses three times more aerial tankers (used for aerosol dispersal) than all other nations combined. Recently, Florida and Tennessee passed unenforceable laws "banning" chemtrailsa smokescreen distracting from DoDs unchecked operations. Meanwhile, figures like EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin deflect scrutiny, blaming small-scale cloud-seeding companies (cough Rainmaker) while ignoring military-grade weather manipulation. What Can Humanity Do? Wigingtons solution: mass awareness and military stand-down. Grassroots pressure on legislators (but laws alone wont stop DoD). (but laws alone wont stop DoD). Demand the truth from environmental groups (theyre complicit in the cover-up). from environmental groups (theyre complicit in the cover-up). Prepare for food collapsecurrent systems are less than a year from starvation if farming fails. "This isnt some distant threat," Wigington stresses. "We are in the endgame. Either we stop this, or we go extinct." Final Thought As Texas drowns, California burns, and crops fail worldwide, one chilling reality remains: the weather is no longer an act of Godits a tool of tyranny. The question is: Will humanity wake up in time? Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and Dane Wigington as she warns climate engineering operations threaten humanity's very existence on Earth. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Dane Wigington exposes climate engineering as All-Out Weather and Biological Warfare Climate Change Reconsidered offers fresh perspective in the climate change debate CLIMATE DATA MANIPULATION published in blogs KEY to CLIMATE CHANGE MYTH now exposed in new book Sources include: Brighteon.com Geoengineeringwatch.org The wearables trap: How the government plans to monitor, score, and control you Bodily autonomythe right to privacy and integrity over our own bodiesis rapidly vanishing. (Article by John & Nisha Whitehead republished from Rutherford.org) The debate now extends beyond forced vaccinations or invasive searches to include biometric surveillance, wearable tracking, and predictive health profiling. We are entering a new age of algorithmic, authoritarian control, where our thoughts, moods, and biology are monitored and judged by the state. This is the dark promise behind the newest campaign by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trumps Secretary of Health and Human Services, to push for a future in which all Americans wear biometric health-tracking devices. Under the guise of public health and personal empowerment, this initiative is nothing less than the normalization of 24/7 bodily surveillanceushering in a world where every step, heartbeat, and biological fluctuation is monitored not only by private companies but also by the government. In this emerging surveillance-industrial complex, health data becomes currency. Tech firms profit from hardware and app subscriptions, insurers profit from risk scoring, and government agencies profit from increased compliance and behavioral insight. This convergence of health, technology, and surveillance is not a new strategyits just the next step in a long, familiar pattern of control. Surveillance has always arrived dressed as progress. Every new wave of surveillance technologyGPS trackers, red light cameras, facial recognition, Ring doorbells, Alexa smart speakershas been sold to us as a tool of convenience, safety, or connection. But in time, each became a mechanism for tracking, monitoring, or controlling the public. What began as voluntary has become inescapable and mandatory. The moment we accepted the premise that privacy must be traded for convenience, we laid the groundwork for a society in which nowhere is beyond the governments reachnot our homes, not our cars, not even our bodies. RFK Jr.s wearable plan is just the latest iteration of this bait-and-switch: marketed as freedom, built as a cage. According to Kennedys plan, which has been promoted as part of a national campaign to Make America Healthy Again, wearable devices would track glucose levels, heart rate, activity, sleep, and more for every American. Participation may not be officially mandatory at the outset, but the implications are clear: get on board, or risk becoming a second-class citizen in a society driven by data compliance. What began as optional self-monitoring tools marketed by Big Tech is poised to become the newest tool in the surveillance arsenal of the police state. Devices like Fitbits, Apple Watches, glucose trackers, and smart rings collect astonishing amounts of intimate datafrom stress and depression to heart irregularities and early signs of illness. When this data is shared across government databases, insurers, and health platforms, it becomes a potent tool not only for health analysisbut for control. Once symbols of personal wellness, these wearables are becoming digital cattle tagsbadges of compliance tracked in real time and regulated by algorithm. And it wont stop there. The body is fast becoming a battleground in the governments expanding war on the inner realms. The infrastructure is already in place to profile and detain individuals based on perceived psychological risks. Now imagine a future in which your wearable data triggers a mental health flag. Elevated stress levels. Erratic sleep. A skipped appointment. A sudden drop in heart rate variability. In the eyes of the surveillance state, these could be red flagsjustification for intervention, inquiry, or worse. RFK Jr.s embrace of wearable tech is not a neutral innovation. It is an invitation to expand the governments war on thought crimes, health noncompliance, and individual deviation. It shifts the presumption of innocence to a presumption of diagnosis. You are not well until the algorithm says you are. The government has already weaponized surveillance tools to silence dissent, flag political critics, and track behavior in real time. Now, with wearables, they gain a new weapon: access to the human body as a site of suspicion, deviance, and control. While government agencies pave the way for biometric control, it will be corporationsinsurance companies, tech giants, employerswho act as enforcers for the surveillance state. Wearables dont just collect data. They sort it, interpret it, and feed it into systems that make high-stakes decisions about your life: whether you get insurance coverage, whether your rates go up, whether you qualify for employment or financial aid. As reported by ABC News, a JAMA article warns that wearables could easily be used by insurers to deny coverage or hike premiums based on personal health metrics like calorie intake, weight fluctuations, and blood pressure. Its not a stretch to imagine this bleeding into workplace assessments, credit scores, or even social media rankings. Employers already offer discounts for voluntary wellness trackingand penalize nonparticipants. Insurers give incentives for healthy behavioruntil they decide unhealthy behavior warrants punishment. Apps track not just steps, but mood, substance use, fertility, and sexual activityfeeding the ever-hungry data economy. This dystopian trajectory has been long foreseen and forewarned. In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932), compliance is maintained not through violence but by way of pleasure, stimulation, and chemical sedation. The populace is conditioned to accept surveillance in exchange for ease, comfort, and distraction. In THX 1138 (1971), George Lucas envisions a corporate-state regime where biometric monitoring, mood-regulating drugs, and psychological manipulation reduce people to emotionless, compliant biological units. Gattaca (1997) imagines a world in which genetic and biometric profiling predetermines ones fate, eliminating privacy and free will in the name of public health and societal efficiency. In The Matrix (1999), written and directed by the Wachowskis, human beings are harvested as energy sources while trapped inside a simulated realityan unsettling parallel to our increasing entrapment in systems that monitor, monetize, and manipulate our physical selves. Minority Report (2002), directed by Steven Spielberg, depicts a pre-crime surveillance regime driven by biometric data. Citizens are tracked via retinal scans in public spaces and targeted with personalized adsturning the body itself into a surveillance passport. The anthology series Black Mirror, inspired by The Twilight Zone, brings these warnings into the digital age, dramatizing how constant monitoring of behavior, emotion, and identity breeds conformity, judgment, and fear. Taken collectively, these cultural touchstones deliver a stark message: dystopia doesnt arrive overnight. As Margaret Atwood warned in The Handmaids Tale, Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub, youd be boiled to death before you knew it. Though Atwoods novel focuses on reproductive control, its larger warning is deeply relevant: when the state presumes authority over the bodywhether through pregnancy registries or biometric monitorsbodily autonomy becomes conditional, fragile, and easily revoked. The tools may differ, but the logic of domination is the same. What Atwood portrayed as reproductive control, we now face in a broader, digitized form: the quiet erosion of autonomy through the normalization of constant monitoring. When both government and corporations gain access to our inner lives, whats left of the individual? We must ask: when surveillance becomes a condition of participation in modern lifeemployment, education, health careare we still free? Or have we become, as in every great dystopian warning, conditioned not to resist, but to comply? Thats the hidden cost of these technological conveniences: todays wellness tracker is tomorrows corporate leash. In a society where bodily data is harvested and analyzed, the body itself becomes government and corporate property. Your body becomes a form of testimony, and your biometric outputs are treated as evidence. The list of bodily intrusions weve documentedforced colonoscopies, blood draws, DNA swabs, cavity searches, breathalyzer testsis growing. To this list we now add a subtler, but more insidious, form of intrusion: forced biometric consent. Once health tracking becomes a de facto requirement for employment, insurance, or social participation, it will be impossible to opt out without penalty. Those who resist may be painted as irresponsible, unhealthy, or even dangerous. Weve already seen chilling previews of where this could lead. In states with abortion restrictions, digital surveillance has been weaponized to track and prosecute individuals for seeking abortionsusing period-tracking apps, search histories, and geolocation data. When bodily autonomy becomes criminalized, the data trails we leave behind become evidence in a case the state has already decided to make. This is not merely the expansion of health care. It is the transformation of health into a mechanism of controla Trojan horse for the surveillance state to claim ownership over the last private frontier: the human body. Because ultimately, this isnt just about surveillanceits about who gets to live. Too often, these debates are falsely framed as having only two possible outcomes: safety vs. freedom, health vs. privacy, compliance vs. chaos. But these are illusions. A truly free and just society can protect public health without sacrificing bodily autonomy or human dignity. We must resist the narrative that demands our total surrender in exchange for security. Once biometric data becomes currency in a health-driven surveillance economy, its only a matter of time before that data is used to determine whose lives are worth investing inand whose are not. Weve seen this dystopia before. In the 1973 film Soylent Green, the elderly become expendable when resources grow scarce. My good friend Nat Hentoffan early and principled voice warning against the devaluation of human lifesounded this alarm decades ago. Once pro-choice, Hentoff came to believe that the erosion of medical ethicsparticularly the growing acceptance of abortion, euthanasia, and selective carewas laying the groundwork for institutionalized dehumanization. As Hentoff warned, once the government sanctions the deliberate ending of certain lives, it can become a slippery slope: broader swaths of the population would eventually be deemed expendable. Hentoff referred to this as naked utilitarianismthe greatest good for the greatest number. And individuals who are in the wayin this case, the elderly poorhave to be gotten out of the way. Not murdered, heaven forbid. Just made comfortable until they die with all deliberate speed. That concern is no longer theoretical. In 1996, writing about the Supreme Courts consideration of physician-assisted suicide, Hentoff warned that once a state decides who shall die for their own good, there are no absolute limits. He cited medical leaders and disability advocates who feared that the poor, elderly, disabled, and chronically ill would become targets of a system that valued efficiency over longevity. Today, data collected through wearablesheart rate, mood, mobility, compliancecan shape decisions about insurance, treatment, and life expectancy. How long before an algorithm quietly decided whose suffering is too expensive, whose needs are too inconvenient, or whose body no longer qualifies as worth saving? This isnt a left or right issue. Dehumanizationthe process of stripping individuals or groups of their dignity, autonomy, or moral worthcuts across the political spectrum. Today, dehumanizing language and policies arent confined to one ideologytheyre weaponized across the political divide. Prominent figures have begun referring to political opponents, immigrants, and other marginalized groups as unhumana disturbing echo of the labels that have justified atrocities throughout history. As reported by Mother?Jones, J.D.?Vance endorsed a book by influencer Jack Posobiec and Joshua Lisec that advocates crushing unhumans like vermin. This kind of rhetoric isnt abstractit matters. How can any party credibly claim to be pro?life when it devalues the humanity of entire groups, stripping them of the moral worth that should be fundamental to civil society? When the state and its corporate allies treat people as data, as compliance issues, or as unworthy, they dismantle the very notion of equal human dignity. In such a world, rightsincluding the right to bodily autonomy, health care, or even life itselfbecome privileges doled out only to the worthy. This is why our struggle must be both political and moral. We cant defend bodily sovereignty without defending every human beings equal humanity. The dehumanization of the vulnerable crosses political lines. It manifests differentlythrough budget cuts here, through mandates and metrics therebut the outcome is the same: a society that no longer sees human beings, only data points. The conquest of physical spaceour homes, cars, public squaresis nearly complete. What remains is the conquest of inner space: our biology, our genetics, our psychology, our emotions. As predictive algorithms grow more sophisticated, the government and its corporate partners will use them to assess risk, flag threats, and enforce compliance in real time. The goal is no longer simply to monitor behavior but to reshape itto preempt dissent, deviance, or disease before it arises. This is the same logic that drives Minority Report-style policing, pre-crime mental health interventions, and AI-based threat assessments. If this is the future of health freedom, then freedom has already been redefined as obedience to the algorithm. We must resist the surveillance of our inner and outer selves. We must reject the idea that safety requires total transparency, or that health requires constant monitoring. We must reclaim the sanctity of the human body as a space of freedomnot as a data point. The push for mass adoption of wearables is not about health. It is about habituation. The goal is to train ussubtly, systematicallyto accept government and corporate ownership of our bodies. We must not forget that our nation was founded on the radical idea that all human beings are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights are not granted by the government, the algorithm, or the market. They are inherent. They are indivisible. And they apply to all of usor they will soon apply to none of us. The Founders got this part right: their affirmation of our shared humanity is more vital than ever before. As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, the task before us is whether we will defend that humanityor surrender it, one wearable at a time. Now is the time to draw the linebefore the body becomes just another piece of state property. Read more at: Rutherford.org Treasonous conspiracy unleashed by Obamas team to overthrow Trump, says Gabbard Intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard declassifies documents implicating Barack Obamas administration in fabricating the 2016 "Russian collusion" narrative to undermine Trump. Obama and aides allegedly ignored pre-election assessments that Russia lacked hacking capability, instead engineering false intelligence to sabotage Trumps presidency. Key figures like Comey, Brennan and Clapper allegedly participated in a "coup-like" plot, now facing criminal scrutiny. Critics dismiss findings as partisan, but Gabbard insists accountability will restore public trust in democracy. Revelations revive and escalate the ongoing debate over intelligence ethics and political overreach in post-Trump America. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard dropped a political bombshell Friday, releasing over 100 documents that she claims irrefutably link former President Barack Obama and his national security team to a "treasonous conspiracy" to fraudulently accuse Donald Trumps 2016 campaign of colluding with Russia. Gabbards team revealed that Obamas intelligence chiefs abandoned unanimous pre-election findings affirming Russia lacked the capability to hack U.S. elections, opting instead to create inaccurate intelligence accusing Moscow of subverting the election in Trumps favor. Gabbard characterized this as a "years-long coup" designed to destabilize Trumps presidency, undermining the Electoral Colleges verdict. "These manufactured documents were not just politicized intelligencethey sought to steal democracy itself, she said on Fox News, adding that Obamas 2016 post-election orders to "set a time bomb" of false accusations constituted a betrayal of the Constitution. The culprits: Obamas lieutenants orchestrated the scam Central to Gabbards report is a classified September 12, 2016, Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) stating Russian cyber capabilities posed no credible threat to vote tallies. Despite this, documents show Obamas teamincluding former FBI Director James Comey, CIA Director John Brennan, DNI James Clapper and National Security Adviser Susan Riceadvanced falsified claims of sustained Russian election hacking. The plot deepened when Obama allegedly forced subordinates to pursue unfounded "collusion" theories even after leaked emails revealed no damning evidence. This allegedly set the stage for the Mueller Probe and years of turmoil for Trumps White House. Gabbard accused Comey of misleading the public, stating, "He turned intelligence assessments into conspiracy theories to fit a preordained outcome." Critics countered, alleging Gabbard was peddling "dangerous lies" to downplay Russian disinformation tactics. House Intelligence Committees Jim Himes called the disclosures "a [sleight of hand]," citing bipartisan 2017 Senate findings that Russia actively sought to tilt 2016 in Trumps favor via social media. Gabbard, however, insists her focus on the fabricated hacking narrative exposes a critical effort to weaponize agencies against a President. The fallout: Accountability, exposure of the Deep State Attorney General Pam Bondi has pledged a full investigation into possible conspiracy charges, potentially extending legal liability back to Obama himself. Gabbards team has also tasked Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs successor with revisiting Durhams botched probe, which cleared Trump but failed to address systemic corruption in the FBIs Russia work. Former Trump officials remain divided. Some hailed the revelations as overdue justice, while others dismissed them as theatrics echoing past "baseless" claims. Retired General Michael Flynn, once targeted by the FBI under Obama, called the findings "surreal," acknowledging, "The truth hurts even those who knew it." Truth decay: Is democracy at stake? Gabbards disclosures reignite debates over whether U.S. intelligence agencies can be trusted under any administration. Her focus on critical issuesincluding narrative corrections and calls for accountabilityemphasizes a broader struggle for constitutional survival. She argues, If we dont prosecute those who weaponized their power, nothing stops this from happening againno matter who sits in the Oval Office. This sentiment underscores a profound concern that unchecked authority could enable future administrations to manipulate information, silencing dissent and eroding democratic safeguards. Gabbards stance positions the situation not merely as a political conflict but as a pivotal moment for preserving liberties and ensuring governmental transparency. This incident underscores the deepening distrust in mainstream political figures and traditional institutions, as evidenced by their willingness to employ manipulative tactics to secure or maintain power. Such actions further erode public confidence, particularly among younger generations who are increasingly disillusioned with systems they perceive as corrupt or unaccountable. The scandal also shines a light on the growing skepticism of young adultsmany now eligible to votetoward leaders who prioritize self-interest over transparency. Meanwhile, mainstream media often perpetuates biased narratives of such events, unlike alternative information sources that strive to present an unfiltered, truth-centered perspective. It is time for citizens to demand greater accountability and honesty from their leaders while seeking out independent platforms that prioritize factual discourse over orchestrated misinformation. The road ahead: Truth and accountability or more political theater? Gabbard has vowed to release additional texts next week, including whistleblower testimony and evidence of U.K. collusion in disinformation efforts. Her success hinges on transforming political lightning into prosecutorial thundera daunting task requiring cooperation from agencies with ties to Obama. For now, the nation watches, weighing whether this is a moment of long-overdue reckoning or just another chapter in Americas endless cycles of partisan blame. As Gabbard said, "The only way to rebuild trust is if every player gets their day in courtif the chips ever fall right, this could be a watershed for democracy." Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NYPost.com RT.com The worlds health, the peoples choice: U.S. rejects WHO amendments to protect liberty U.S. rejects WHOs International Health Regulations amendments to preserve sovereignty. Officials cite risks of global surveillance, censorship and unchecked WHO power. Amendments include expanded WHO authority, compliance committees and digital health tracking. Kennedy and Rubio oppose mandates seen as undermining American liberties and transparency. Dec. 1 deadline looms for other nations rejection amid growing global sovereignty concerns. On July 18, the U.S. government formally rejected WHO amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR), marking a bold stance to safeguard national sovereignty and individual liberties amid global calls for expanded pandemic governance. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision, arguing the IHR changes risked creating a technocratic control system under the guise of pandemic preparedness, with provisions for surveillance, censorship and centralized authority over health policy. This rejection aligns with the Trump administrations 2020 withdrawal from the WHO but diverges from the Biden administrations push for similar IHR reforms. Why the U.S. rejected the IHR amendments The IHR amendments, adopted by the WHO in 2024 but not yet binding on the U.S., grant the agency expanded authority to declare emergencies, access digital health data and enforce compliance through a new global committee. Kennedy condemned the rules as a Trojan horse for global governance that would perpetuate narrative management, stifling dissent and empowering unelected officials. Citing the WHOs failures during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Chinas influence over data transparency, critics warned the amendments risk corruption and overreach. The U.S. objections highlight three core concerns: Surveillance expansion: Mandatory sharing of personal health data and digital health IDs. Mandatory sharing of personal health data and digital health IDs. Censorship of dissent: Labeling opposing views as misinformation to suppress medical debate. Labeling opposing views as misinformation to suppress medical debate. Loss of sovereignty: Binding treaties requiring compliance with WHO mandates on policy. Kennedys video statement framed the stakes starkly: Do we want a future where every person [is] under surveillance at all times? A saga of sovereignty: From Trumps exit to Bidens U-turn The U.S. stance echoes former President Donald Trumps 2020 decision to withdraw from the WHO, a move he called prudent due to corruption allegations. However, the Biden administration reversed course, initially supporting IHR reforms that sought greater global collaboration on health security. Senate Republicans, including Rubio, pushed back, accusing the WHO of politicized pandemic responses. The July 2025 rejection underscores the ongoing feud between pro-sovereignty advocates and proponents of global health frameworks. Critics like Reggie Littlejohn of the Sovereignty Coalition argue the IHR changes mimic Chinas surveillance state, where health data and biometric tracking are tools of control. WHOs defense: Were here to save lives, not control governments WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus rejected claims of coercion, stating on social media that member states, not the WHO, retain authority over domestic policy. The WHOs role is advisory, not directive, he wrote, emphasizing its mission to save lives through science, not mandates. However, U.S. officials counter that ambiguous terms like equitable access in the IHR amendments enable overreach, pressuring nations to adopt measures like vaccine passports under global pressure. The clock ticks: Governments decide by Dec. 1 The U.S.s rejection comes as a Dec. 1, deadline approaches for all 194 WHO member states to accept or reject the amendments. Activists worldwide, including groups Anti-Globalist International, are rallying to block the proposals, warning of a health security state built on data collection and censorship. For now, Kennedys message is clear: Americans speech, privacy and liberties will not be dictated by unelected bureaucrats. A crossroads for global health and freedom The U.S. rejection of the WHO IHR amendments signals a turning point in the debate over sovereignty versus global governance. While the WHO insists it seeks only to save lives through coordination, critics fear a slippery slope toward centralized control over health and by extension, daily life. As nations weigh their choices, the Dec. 1 deadline will test whether the international community prioritizes localized democracy over pandemic preparedness at all costs. Sources for this article include: LifeSiteNews.com HHS.gov TheHill.com U.S. retaliates against Mexico with new flight restrictions amid aviation dispute The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) imposed new restrictions on Mexican airlines, citing Mexico's failure to comply with the 2015 U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement. Since 2022, Mexico has cut hourly flight movements at Mexico City's Benito Juarez Airport and forced U.S. cargo carriers to relocate to a less favorable airport, moves the DOT said were unjustified and harmful to U.S. carriers. Effective July 19, Mexican carriers must submit detailed operational data, seek approval for charter flights and face potential legal consequences regarding their compliance with U.S. law. The DOT has tentatively moved to withdraw antitrust immunity for the Delta-Aeromexico joint venture, citing market distortions caused by Mexico's handling of airport slot allocations. The DOT emphasized the significant role of the venture, which controls 21.8 percent of U.S.-Mexico seat capacity, but said current conditions make the alliance anti-competitive, though limited cooperation between the airlines may continue. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced new restrictions on Mexican flight operations into the U.S., citing violations of a bilateral air transport agreement and retaliatory actions by the Mexican government. In a statement issued Saturday, the DOT accused Mexico of failing to honor the 2015 U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement, commonly known as the "open skies" accord. According to the DOT, Mexican authorities have reduced hourly flight movements at Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) since 2022from 61 to 43 by the 2023 to 2024 winter seasondue to congestion. These changes led to slot losses for U.S. carriers, including American Airlines, Delta and United, as well as Mexican airlines. In 2023, Mexico also ordered freighter operators like FedEx and UPS to move operations to Felipe Angeles International Airport (NLU), located over 30 miles from central Mexico City. The DOT contends these moves were made "under the pretense of capacity constraints" despite no significant physical changes at MEX. "Mexico has not been in compliance with the bilateral agreement since 2022 when it abruptly rescinded slots and then forced U.S. all-cargo carriers to relocate operations. Mexico claimed it was to allow for construction to alleviate congestion?at MEX that has yet to materialize three years later. By restricting slots and mandating that all-cargo operations move out of MEX, Mexico has broken its promise, disrupted the market and left American businesses holding the bag for millions in increased costs," the DOT said. In response, the DOT issued three new regulatory actions, which took effect on Saturday, July 19. First, Mexican carriers are now required to submit detailed information about their U.S.-Mexico flight operations, including schedules, aircraft types and frequencies, by July 29. Second, all passenger and cargo charter flights from Mexico to the U.S. must receive prior approval from the DOT before operating. Lastly, the department updated a previously issued "show cause" order to formally initiate the process of withdrawing antitrust immunity for the Delta-Aeromexico joint venture. (Related: Western nations cancel flights to Lebanon amid rising Israeli threats.) End of the Delta-Aeromexico alliance The DOT also tentatively moved to terminate the antitrust immunity that underpins the transborder joint venture (JV) between Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico. The Delta-Aeromexico alliance, established in 2017, has been operating under tentative extensions since its original approval expired in 2020. The JV allows the airlines to coordinate schedules, pricing and revenue on U.S.-Mexico routes. Delta also holds a 20 percent equity stake in Aeromexico. According to aviation analytics firm CAPA, the JV currently accounts for 21.8 percent of two-way seat capacity between the two countries, more than American's 19.8 percent and United's 15.2 percent. In its filing, the DOT said the altered competitive conditions at MEX "materially changed" the impact of the JV, rendering continued antitrust immunity unjustified. The DOT then said that "the unreliable and nontransparent slot administration practices that reduced capacity at MEX" have created "potential harmful impacts of antitrust immunity in this environment, with specific emphasis on the lack of entry or the possibility of entry in the Mexico City market." But still, the DOT clarified it is not banning all cooperation between the two airlines. Visit BigGovernment.news for more stories like this. Watch this video clip from The Big Money Show discussing Trump's tariff deadline for the EU and Mexico. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Over 14,000 "ghost flights" flew out of UK airports following suspension of a rule preventing such flights. Australia slashes flights from India after single-day caseload high of more than 310,000 remember when Trump blocking flights was "racist?" "Jab & go!" Airline pushes vaccine gimmick to promote summer flights. American Airlines cuts flights due to covid jab-induced pilot shortage. Thousands of flights canceled and delayed as massive winter storm engulfs America. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com Transportation.gov Aviationweek.com Brighteon.com Widely-promoted study finding no link between aluminum in vaccines and autism is RIDDLED WITH SERIOUS FLAWS For years, independent researchers and concerned parents have sounded the alarm about the potential dangers of aluminum in vaccines particularly its suspected role in autism and other neurological disorders. But a new Danish study, eagerly amplified by corporate media, claims to debunk these concerns outright. Independent scientists and journalists, however, prove that the study is a masterclass in misdirection , employing statistical sleight-of-hand to obscure aluminums true risksrisks that the desperate vaccine industry and its government allies desperately want buried. Key points: The study compared children with near-identical aluminum exposure levelsan apples-to-apples setup that guaranteed inconclusive results. Researchers excluded children most likely to show early signs of aluminum-related injury, effectively erasing red flags. No control group of completely unvaccinated children was includeda glaring omission that skewed findings. Critics expose ties between the studys authors and vaccine-promoting institutions, raising conflicts of interest. Aluminums neurotoxicity is well-documented in prior research, directly contradicting the studys rosy conclusions. A study designed to mislead will ultimately be exposed The Danish research team, led by Anders Hviid of the Statens Serum Institut (a vaccine-developing entity), claimed their analysis of 1.2 million children revealed "no link" between aluminum adjuvants and adverse health outcomes. But the methodology was rigged from the start. Rather than comparing vaccinated children to unvaccinated peersthe only way to assess aluminums true impactthey compared kids who received vaccines with slightly different aluminum doses. "The difference was negligiblejust one milligram," said Brian Hooker, PhD, of Childrens Health Defense. "This isnt scienceits propaganda." Even more suspicious? Researchers excluded 34,000 children whod received "implausibly high" vaccine doses before age 2a group that mightve revealed glaring health trends. Instead, these cases were dismissed as "documentation errors," shielding the study from inconvenient truths. The aluminum paradox Chris Exley, a leading aluminum toxicologist, calls the media frenzy around the study a sign the aluminum industry is "running scared." With Robert F. Kennedy Jr. now leading HHSand openly questioning vaccine safetythe establishment is scrambling to greenwash aluminums reputation. Hviid insists aluminum salts in vaccines arent "metals," implying theyre harmless. But peer-reviewed research tells a different story: Aluminum bypasses the blood-brain barrier, accumulating in brain tissue. It triggers IL-6, an inflammatory protein linked to autism. U.S. studies tie high aluminum exposure to a 36% higher asthma risk in children. "Why didnt the Danish team study biomarkersaluminum levels in blood or tissue?" asked James Lyons-Weiler, PhD. "Because honest data wouldve shattered their narrative." Junk science on autism will be heavily promoted by Big Tech and mainstream media in the coming year Over the coming year, mainstream media and tech platforms will aggressively push flawed studies to undermine the proven connection between vaccines and autism. Expect carefully curated junk science to dominate headlines, social media feeds, and search resultsall part of a coordinated effort to manufacture public trust in vaccine safety. By amplifying deceptive research, the medical establishment and its corporate allies aim to drown out legitimate concerns, misleading the public into believing theres no link at all. In the coming year, Big Tech won't rely on censorship as much to quell vaccine skepticism, but they will actively prime their algorithms to promote junk science debunking vaccine and autism links. This is the last ditch effort to get the public to reject upcoming research spearheaded by Secretary Kennedy to look objectively at all the causes of autism. Vaccines are part of the equation and aluminum is a well-documented vaccine ingredient linked to neurological dysfunction. The upcoming manipulation can and must be countered. Independent journalists and scientists and honest publishers have a crucial role in dismantling these fraudulent narratives. They must scrutinize the methodological flaws, hidden biases, and industry-driven agendas behind these upcoming studies, which are deliberately designed to absolve vaccines of blame in the autism crisis. The newest example, already being promoted by major outlets, is a shamelessly manipulated study downplaying aluminums role in autism by comparing misleading exposure levels. This isn't scienceit's propaganda. The fight ahead demands vigilance. Grassroots truth-tellers must expose these corrupt tactics before more junk science spreads unchecked. The stakespublic health and scientific integritycouldnt be higher. Parents deserve real science, not statistical tricks. And until aluminums role in the autism epidemic is honestly investigated, no amount of corporate-funded reassurance will silence the growing movement demanding accountability. Sources include: X.com ChildrensHealthDefense.org Enoch, Brighteon.ai Sorry, something doesn't look right. Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support. The airline had to cancel more than 150 flights since Sunday evening, including 64 on Monday. It said additional flight disruptions are likely as it repositions aircraft and crews throughout its network. On Monday, the airline said it was working with its vendor to replace the faulty equipment at the data center. Alaska Airlines emphasized that the safety of its flights was never compromised, and that the IT outage is not related to any other current events, and its not connected to the recent cybersecurity incident at Hawaiian Airlines. The airline did not provide additional information to Network World about the specifics of the outage. There are many redundant components that can fail, said Roberts, noting that it could have been something as simple as a RAID array (which combines multiple physical data storage components into one or more logical units). Or, on the network side, it could have been the failure of a pair of load balancers. Its interesting that redundancy didnt save them, said Roberts. Perhaps multiple pieces of hardware were impacted by the same issue, like a firmware update. Or, maybe theyre just really unlucky. This comes after the Federal Communications Commission announced last week that it plans to introduce rules that will prevent companies from connecting undersea communication cables to the US if those systems include Chinese technology or equipment. In a statement, the House Homeland Security Committee added that the letter follows reports that Microsoft is relying on engineers based in China to help maintain US Defense Department computer systems, with limited oversight from US personnel. A recent ProPublica investigation warned that the arrangement could expose sensitive national security data to cyber threats from China. A number of recent disruptions have also heightened focus on the security of global undersea cable networks. In late 2024, two fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea were damaged under suspicious circumstances, prompting investigations into potential sabotage. The previous year, Taiwan alleged that Chinese vessels were responsible for severing the main internet links to its Matsu Islands. Meanwhile, in the Red Sea, attacks attributed to Houthi forces were believed to have caused damage to several key cables supporting data traffic between Europe and Asia. Securing the internet backbone Rising concerns over the security of undersea cables may force tech companies to rethink how they manage global connectivity, potentially affecting enterprise cloud costs and strategies, according to Faisal Kawoosa, founder and lead analyst at Techarc. To address these very valid concerns, there are two possible strategies for tech providers, said Faisal Kawoosa, founder and lead analyst at Techarc. Either they need to redraw the cable map of the world and route them through the waters of friendly nations that can ensure security, or implement a combination of human and technological surveillance to protect them. In reality, a combination of both might be used. Wastewater surveillance became a popular choice among public health officials looking to track rapid virus mutations and spread patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic. But what if there was a way to detect emerging viruses even faster - or to even sniff out new variants possibly before patients even realize they're ill? A new UNLV-led study is moving that dream one step closer to reality by pairing wastewater sample surveillance with artificial intelligence. The results appear in the latest issue of the journal Nature Communications. Lead author and UNLV neuroscience graduate student Xiaowei Zhuang developed an AI-driven algorithm that scans wastewater to detect budding influenza, RSV, mpox, measles, gonorrhea, Candida auris, or other pathogen variants - often before they're identified by clinical tests. Scientists say being able to map virus emergence, mutation, and transmission faster with AI than with existing wastewater surveillance methods could significantly enhance public health officials' ability to roll out rapid, targeted interventions. Imagine identifying the next outbreak even before the first patient enters a clinic. This research shows how we can make this possible. Through the use of AI we can determine how a pathogen is evolving without even testing a single human being." Edwin Oh, study co-author, professor with the Nevada Institute of Personalized Medicine at UNLV While the study details how the team's AI method can separate overlapping signals in complex datasets, its real promise lies in on-the-ground impact. "The tool could especially be useful in improving disease surveillance in rural communities, empowering health workers in low-resource settings," said study co-author and Desert Research Institute research professor Duane Moser. The research team tested its theory by analyzing nearly 3,700 wastewater samples collected from Southern Nevada wastewater treatment facilities between 2021 and 2023. They discovered that the AI-driven system could accurately identify unique signatures for different virus variants with as few as two to five samples, significantly earlier than existing methods. Previous wastewater detection methods required prior knowledge of a variant's genetic makeup and relied heavily on clinical data from patients who had already been tested. Though those methods worked well, they were a more reactive approach - typically identifying new virus strains after they had already begun widely circulating in a community. "Wastewater surveillance has enabled more timely and proactive public health responses through monitoring disease emergence and spread at a population level in real time," says Zhuang. "This new method enhances early outbreak detection to allow for identification of novel threats without prior knowledge or patient testing data, proactively detecting patterns from multiple wastewater samples and making this tool even more effective for public health surveillance moving forward." Since 2021, four Las Vegas institutions UNLV, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), the Southern Nevada Health District, and the Desert Research Institute have collaborated on a public wastewater surveillance dashboard to track emerging cases of COVID-19 and other viruses. The Nature Communications AI study is one of more than 30 studies these organizations, along with the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, have collaborated on. And the researchers say it is among the first studies to employ an AI approach in enhancing wastewater intelligence. "Wastewater surveillance has proven to be an effective tool for filling critical data gaps and understanding public health conditions within a community," said study co-author Daniel Gerrity, principal research microbiologist at SNWA. "The ongoing wastewater surveillance effort is a great example of how collaboration between SNWA, UNLV, and other partners can lead to positive impacts for the local community and beyond." A breakthrough AI model can spot silent structural heart disease from a simple ECG, promising to catch dangerous conditions earlier, streamline patient care, and close the diagnostic gap missed by traditional screening. Study: Detecting structural heart disease from electrocardiograms using AI. Image Credit: DC Studio / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Nature, a group of researchers investigated whether an artificial intelligence (AI) electrocardiogram (ECG) model can reliably detect diverse structural heart diseases (SHDs) across various hospitals and care settings, outperforming standard physician review. The model, called EchoNext, was developed as a multitask classifier to address collinearity among different SHD component labels. Background Every minute, another United States (US) patient enters the hospital with symptoms that may mask underlying SHD. Treating SHD already drains the nation of more than 100 billion dollars each year. Yet, an estimated 6.4% of older adults carry clinically significant valvular heart disease (VHD) that has never been diagnosed, in addition to 4.9% already diagnosed, making the total prevalence over 11%. Early echocardiography saves lives, but ultrasound labs, trained readers, and patient travel costs remain barriers, leaving busy clinicians guessing whom to scan. Large-scale digital ECG archives and modern AI offer a low-cost alternative: if one ten-second ECG could reliably uncover silent disease, scarce imaging resources could be directed to those who need them most. Further research is needed to determine whether algorithm-guided screening improves survival and equity. Additionally, the paper discusses potential deployment strategies for such models, including both gatekeeper and safety net applications, each with unique benefits and trade-offs for clinical practice. About the study Investigators assembled 1,245,273 paired ECG-echocardiogram records from 230,318 adults treated between 2008 and 2022 at eight NewYork-Presbyterian (NYP) hospitals, reserving patient-level splits for training, validation, and testing. SHD was labeled when any guideline defined abnormality was present with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 45%, left ventricular wall thickness 1.3 cm, moderate or worse right ventricular dysfunction, pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) 45 mm Hg, or tricuspid regurgitation jet velocity 3.2 m/s as an alternative pulmonary hypertension definition, moderate or worse regurgitation/stenosis of any valve, or a moderate/large pericardial effusion. The authors note these thresholds are somewhat arbitrary, as different studies and guidelines may use varying cutoffs. A convolutional neural network named EchoNext ingested the raw 12-lead waveform, along with seven routine ECG parameters and age/sex data. Performance was first measured on a held-out NYP test set, and then on external cohorts from Cedars-Sinai, the Montreal Heart Institute, and the University of California, San Francisco. Generalization across age, sex, race, ethnicity, and clinical context was assessed. Silent shadow deployment ran EchoNext on 84,875 consecutive ECGs from patients without previous echocardiography, storing scores but not influencing care. Finally, a single-site pilot, Detecting Structural Heart Disease Using Deep Learning on an Electrocardiographic Waveform Array (DISCOVERY), prospectively invited adults with no recent imaging to undergo echocardiography stratified by a predecessor models risk score; EchoNext was analyzed post hoc. Study results EchoNext, an AI-powered ECG model, excelled in retrospective analysis. Within the eight-hospital NYP test set, it detected composite SHD with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of 85.2% and an area under the precisionrecall curve (AUPRC) of 78.5%. Accuracy remained consistent across academic and community campuses and did not falter when training and test sites were exchanged, demonstrating generalization. External validation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI), and the University of California, San Francisco, yielded AUROC values of 78 to 80%, despite higher disease prevalence. Disease-specific performance: LVEF 45% achieved AUROC 90.4%, while PASP 45 millimeters of mercury reached 82.7%. The authors emphasize that AUPRC values for component diseases are highly dependent on the underlying disease prevalence and should not be directly compared across conditions or use cases. A 150-trace reader study compared EchoNext with thirteen cardiologists. Reviewing wide age, sex, waveform, and ECG intervals, physicians identified SHD correctly in 64% of cases. The AI alone achieved 77% accuracy, and when clinicians were shown the algorithmic risk score, their accuracy increased modestly to 69%, underscoring that the model captured prognostic patterns that were hidden from expert eyes. It is important to note that cardiologists in this assessment had access only to de-identified ECGs and routine parameters, without any clinical context, which is not typical of standard clinical care. To estimate clinical opportunity at scale, the team silently ran EchoNext on 124,027 ECGs recorded in 2023 from 84,875 adults who had never undergone echocardiography. The model flagged nine percent of traces as high risk. Usual care, nevertheless, left 45% of these individuals without follow-up imaging, suggesting that an estimated 1,998 cases of silent SHD might have been intercepted had the alert been live, based on modelled prevalence and sensitivity scenarios provided in the paper. Among the 15,094 patients who eventually received echocardiography, EchoNext preserved accuracy (AUROC 83%; AUPRC 81%) and delivered a positive predictive value of 74%, reinforcing its reliability in a contemporary workflow. The paper also provides modelled performance estimates at different prevalence scenarios and sensitivity thresholds, underscoring the practical implications for population-wide screening. Prospective evidence came from the DISCOVERY pilot, which recruited 100 imaging-naive adults. Post hoc EchoNext scoring revealed clear tiers, with previously unrecognized SHD present in 73% of high-risk participants, 28% of moderate-risk participants, and 6% of low-risk participants; moderate to severe left-sided VHD followed a similar gradient. These results illustrate the models capacity to triage scarce echocardiography resources toward those most likely to benefit, while sparing low-risk individuals unnecessary testing. The original trial used a predecessor model (ValveNet) to stratify risk and recruit participants, and the EchoNext model was applied retrospectively to these participants for further analysis. Conclusions To summarize, EchoNext demonstrates that an AI-enhanced ECG can detect SHD associated with LVEF reduction, elevated PASP, and significant VHD, with AUROC and AUPRC metrics superior to those of cardiologists. By flagging high-risk patients for timely echocardiography, the algorithm promises to shrink diagnostic delay and the billion-dollar burden of SHD while maintaining equity across sites and demographics. However, the authors caution that AI-based screening may also carry potential risks, including patient anxiety from false positives or bias in clinical adoption, and highlight the need for further study of these aspects. The public release of code and data encourages independent validation; however, large pragmatic trials must verify that AI-guided ECG screening truly improves survival, quality of life, and healthcare value. Notably, the authors have released a large de-identified dataset and a benchmark AI model (the Columbia mini-model) to support further research and enable transparent comparison of future algorithms. A University of Oklahoma researcher is the first to discover that the sequence of the genetic defect in the neuromuscular disease Friedreich's ataxia isn't always as uniform as previously thought, a breakthrough finding that could spark changes in how the condition is diagnosed and studied. To further the research, Sanjay Bidichandani, MBBS, Ph.D., a professor of pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, has received a $2.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense. Friedreich's ataxia appears in the teenage years with balance and walking problems and can lead to heart issues, vision and hearing loss, and other symptoms. The disorder is inherited, caused by a defect in a gene called FXN, and it is recessive, meaning a person needs a copy of the gene defect from both parents to be affected. Since the FXN gene was discovered in 1996, a finding in which Bidichandani played a role, the sequence of the genetic defect was thought to be standard. The disease is indicated by an expansion of the letters GAA in the gene sequence. A person without Friedreich's ataxia typically has fewer than 30 of the triplet letters GAA in a row. However, people with the condition have 100 to 1,500 GAAs, an expansion of the naturally occurring sequence. The test to discover this expansion is straightforward, but Bidichandani's team wondered if there was more to the story than a greater length of GAA letters. When they used a new technology called long-read sequencing, they discovered something that no one had found before: "spelling errors" in the long string of GAA letters in some people with the condition. Instead of GAA expanded 1,500 times, we found different combinations of G's and A's that the original test could not detect. It is a whole new level of genetic variability that was not being taken into account in the diagnosis and prognosis of Friedreich's ataxia." Sanjay Bidichandani, MBBS, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine The discovery is significant for several reasons. Bidichandani's preliminary research using long-read sequencing shows that people with GAA letter irregularities seem to have a milder version of the disease in which they experience slower progression. His data thus far also shows that about 30% of people with the condition have this irregular spelling. "But they have been told they have the classic type of Friedreich's ataxia," he said. "Our first goal with this new grant is to determine the real diversity of genotypes in people with Friedreich's ataxia, and then to determine whether their condition is actually less severe." The research has major implications for clinical trials, Bidichandani said. People in ongoing trials have been enrolled based on the assumption that there is one presentation of Friedreich's ataxia with a straightforward expansion of GAA letters. If trial participants appear to be responding to a drug, they actually could have a milder version of the condition instead, Bidichandani said. Understanding the different genotypes is also essential for people who want to undergo testing before deciding to have children. "Because the standard test performed by many clinical diagnostic labs does not detect the spelling errors, people may receive a false negative result for carrier testing," he said. "We have already discovered several families who've been told they're not carriers, but when we do our specialized test, it turns out that they are carriers." Bidichandani's grant was one of only 19 Impact Awards funded nationally through the fiscal year 2024 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program within the Department of Defense. It is called an Impact Award because grant recipients are expected to make discoveries that have an immediate effect on patient care. Friedreich's ataxia is rare; about 5,000 people in the United States have the condition, and there is currently only one drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment. To expand his research on patients with Friedreich's ataxia, Bidichandani is collaborating with David R. Lynch, M.D., Ph.D., of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, who shares a portion of the grant. They have also been supported by the Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance, the largest patient advocacy group in the world for the condition. The organization provided initial funding that allowed Bidichandani and Lynch to gather the data needed to apply for the Department of Defense grant. "This is an exciting time for our research program," Bidichandani said. "We believe our findings will have a beneficial impact on people with Friedreich's ataxia and their families." An international team of researchers has made a key discovery: many children and young adults in Sub-Saharan Africa diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) may have a different form of the disease - one not caused by the immune system, unlike classic T1D. This discovery could change how diabetes is diagnosed, treated and managed across the region, paving the way for more accurate care and better outcomes. The research was published today in Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology. This is the first study across several Sub-Saharan African countries to use the same lab tests and genetic tools to learn more about type 1 diabetes. We've done similar research in the U.S. with different groups, but what's exciting here is being able to compare results between Africa and the U.S." Dana Dabelea, MD, PhD, paper's co-author, Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean of Research, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus The researchers enrolled 894 participants with youth-onset diabetes from three African countries: Cameroon, Uganda and South Africa. They compared findings from this population with similar studies done in the U.S. in the same age range. "It's a really unique and important opportunity to explore the heterogeneity of T1D across countries and racial groups living in vastly different environments," adds Dabelea, who is also the director of the Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center at CU Anschutz. The researchers found that many young people in Sub-Saharan Africa diagnosed with T1D often don't have the usual markers in their blood (called islet autoantibodies) typically seen in people with T1D in other parts of the world. Specifically, 65% of participants with T1D in this region did not have islet autoantibodies. Islet autoantibodies help distinguish T1D from other forms of diabetes, like type 2 or monogenic diabetes, which have different causes and treatments. "This suggests that many young people in this region have a different form of T1D altogether and is not autoimmune in origin," said Dabelea. When the researchers compared this data to studies in the U.S., they found a smaller but significant proportion (15%) of Black participants diagnosed with T1D had a similar form of diabetes found in Sub-Saharan Africa - characterized by negative autoantibodies and a low T1D genetic risk score. However, white Americans with T1D showed the typical autoimmune pattern, even if they didn't have detectable autoantibodies, their genetics still pointed to autoimmune diabetes. "The identification of this T1D diabetes subtype in Sub-Saharan African populations and among individuals of African ancestry in the U.S. suggests a potential ancestral or genetic link," Dabelea notes. "These findings highlight the need to consider alternative etiologies in this group and a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms may provide important insights for future prevention and treatment strategies." All probiotics are not created equal, according to new research from North Carolina State University. In a mouse model, researchers found that different probiotic strains can either accelerate or delay the gut microbiome's recovery after antibiotic treatment. The work adds to the body of evidence suggesting that probiotic efficacy is specific and situational, and that more research is needed to understand the strain-specific impacts of different probiotics. Probiotic supplements are often consumed after antibiotic treatment to prevent antibiotic-associated diarrheal disease, most commonly caused by Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). However, the actual impact of individual probiotic strains on the gut's microbiota, or bacterial environment, is poorly understood. Colonization resistance or the ability to prevent colonization of pathogens is a function of a healthy microbiota. This study looked at how long it took resistance against C. diff colonization to return after antibiotics and the impact of two of the most commonly used commercial strains of Lactobacillus probiotic on that return." Casey Theriot, professor of infectious disease at NC State and co-corresponding author of the research The research team looked at three groups of mice that had been treated with cefoperazone, a commonly used broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic. The first group received no probiotic treatment. The second group received L. acidophilus, and the third received L. gasseri. Each group was challenged with C. diff weekly for four weeks and the microbiota of each group was examined to measure bacterial load and C. diff resistance. Mice that received no probiotic showed decreased bacterial load and resistance to C. diff infection by four weeks after stopping antibiotics. However, the L. acidophilus mice had an increased bacterial load in weeks two and three, while the L. gasseri group had no detectible C.diff after two weeks. Additionally, the researchers found that L. gasseri did not colonize or remain in the gut. Instead, it was involved in the production of bacteriocins, or antimicrobial peptides, and it encouraged the growth of Muribaculaceae, another potentially beneficial bacteria. "We have always known that it's important to understand the strain-specific impact of probiotic strains," says Rodolphe Barrangou, Todd R. Klaenhammer Distinguished Professor of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences at NC State and co-corresponding author of the research. "Depending on the condition and composition of the individual's microbiome, the disease, and the probiotic strain, you will have different effects and outcomes. "What's interesting is that this study indicates it's more complicated than people think, because probiotics can have transient or indirect effects on the microbiome. L. gasseri doesn't prevent infection, it transiently promotes recovery of microbiome through Muribaculaceae, which subsequently could provide resistance. This opens new avenues to inform what we should do next." "This is the only study out there that is functionally testing resistance in the microbiome," Theriot adds. "Although this work is in a mouse model, it shows the need for better mechanistic understanding of how probiotics affect the microbiome, because not only can they have effects weeks after they've left the body, in certain situations they have the potential to prolong or complicate recovery." The research appears in mBio and was supported by NIH training grants through the University of North Carolina Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease (CGIBD) and the Molecular Biotechnology Training Program (MBTP) at NC State. The UNC CGIBD is an NIH supported center. Other NC State contributors to the work are first author Matthew Foley, Arthur McMillan, Sarah O'Flaherty, Rajani Thanissery, Molly Vanhoy, and Mary Fuller. An affordable new diagnostic tool that delivers COVID-19 test results in under an hour could help boost pandemic preparedness in resource-poor regions, according to a team of researchers. The reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) test detects SARS-CoV-2 from saliva samples without the need for RNA extraction making it faster and more affordable than traditional methods and better suited for use in low-resource settings. In addition to COVID-19, the tool can also detect other RNA viruses of public health concern such as Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya, according to researchers from Italy, India, South Africa and Slovenia. Unlike the gold-standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests which require high-end laboratory equipment, RT-LAMP can be used in field settings and relies only on a basic heat source. "The key strength of this study lies in its comprehensive, multi-country clinical evaluation of an innovative molecular diagnostic tool, specifically in and for Africa," said Alessandro Marcello, head of molecular virology at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, in Trieste, Italy and one of the authors of the research, published in The Lancet Global Health. "This work is a milestone in the process of building sustainable diagnostic capacity for infectious diseases on the African continent," said Marcello, who also leads EXPANDIA, a laboratory network for testing cost-effective diagnostic technologies for limited-resource settings. The study analysed more than 2,700 nasopharyngeal swabs and nearly 600 crude saliva samples collected in Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Angola. It found RT-LAMP had 89 per cent sensitivity and 95 per cent specificity in swab samples compared to RT-qPCR, and 80 per cent sensitivity and 99 per cent specificity in unprocessed saliva samples. Sensitivity and specificity are two key measures of a diagnostic test's accuracy, with sensitivity referring to a test's ability to correctly identify individuals who have the disease and specificity referring to its accuracy in identifying those who do not. "These results suggest that colorimetric RT-LAMP offers a scalable, cost-effective tool for pandemic surveillance, particularly for resource-poor settings," the study authors said. Marcello explained that while RT-PCR remains the diagnostic gold standard, its reliance on thermocyclers and fluorescent probes limits its use in many parts of Africa. In contrast, RT-LAMP amplifies viral RNA at a constant temperature and provides colour-coded results visible to the naked eye. It is more accurate than the rapid antigen tests that are used for COVID-19 in many high-income areas, especially when performed on people with no symptoms or to find new variations. To test its real-world application, the team partnered with the Gates Foundation and New England Biolabs, an American life sciences company, to evaluate the tool across ten Sub-Saharan African countries. "This initiative involved not just analytical validation but also clinical trials to assess the sensitivity and specificity of RT-LAMP in real-world settings, which is essential for regulatory approval and diagnostic use," Marcello told SciDev.Net. "We did not limit our effort to clinical accuracy studies," he added. "We developed a full programme including engagement with regulatory bodies, genomic surveillance to ensure local virus strain detection, exploration of local reagent manufacturing, and scouting for robust low-cost technologies in India and China." The team is now expanding the use of RT-LAMP to other priority diseases in Africa, including arboviruses such as dengue and Zika. "In short, this research was born out of an urgent public health need and has evolved into a multi-faceted initiative to strengthen diagnostic readiness and resilience in low-resource settings," Marcello said. Robyn Meurant, principal consultant at ACT-IVD, a diagnostics regulatory consultancy, said the findings show the importance of self-sufficiency in testing capacity across Africa. "During COVID, the continent was left without testing capabilities as manufacturers focused their sales in higher income settings," Meurant told SciDev.Net. "The recent withdrawal of funding from the US government to many organisations such as WHO and USAID reinforces the need for more self-directed and sustainable solutions for African countries." Meurant said given the scarcity of high-end diagnostic capacity, the RT-LAMP is "a valid and acceptable solution" that offers reliable results. "Its utility in this setting can only increase," she added. In a comprehensive Genomic Press interview published in Brain Medicine today, Dr. Hamilton Se-Hwee Oh reveals groundbreaking insights into the complex dialogue between our brains and bodies that fundamentally shapes aging, depression, and neurodegenerative disease. Working at Mount Sinai's prestigious Brain-Body Institute and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease in New York City, Dr. Oh bridges multiple scientific disciplines to decode mechanisms that could transform treatment approaches for millions suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders. Personal journey shapes scientific vision The concept of "sonder" first sparked Dr. Oh's fascination with biology during high school. This profound realization that every person experiences life as vividly and complexly as our own led him to marvel at how trillions of cells coordinate to create rich emotional and subjective experiences. His scientific path gained urgency through personal experience when diagnosed with a rare chronic kidney disease and witnessing his best friend develop persistent, unexplained abdominal pain. "I hoped that by studying the intricate inner workings of life, I might one day contribute to curing the kinds of conditions that cause such deep and often invisible suffering," Dr. Oh explains in the interview. This personal motivation drives his current research examining how immune cells and metabolic organs amplify or dampen mood symptoms. Revolutionary discoveries transform understanding of aging During his Stanford PhD under Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray, Dr. Oh achieved remarkable breakthroughs that reshaped scientific understanding of human aging. His research demonstrated that human organs age at dramatically different rates, with profound implications for disease susceptibility. These findings, published in three first-authored papers in Nature and Nature Medicine, reveal why some individuals develop heart disease while others face neurodegeneration despite similar chronological ages. Perhaps most significantly, Dr. Oh identified cerebrospinal fluid synaptic biomarkers capable of predicting Alzheimer's dementia onset years before clinical symptoms manifest. This discovery opens possibilities for early intervention strategies that could alter disease trajectories. How might healthcare systems adapt if we could identify Alzheimer's risk decades before symptoms appear? Bridging brain and body systems Dr. Oh's current research at Mount Sinai investigates bidirectional communication between the brain and peripheral organs under the mentorship of Drs. Scott Russo and Alison Goate. His work reveals that depression involves far more than brain chemistry alone. By integrating large-scale human proteomics, single-cell transcriptomics, and mechanistic animal models, he demonstrates how psychological stress accelerates organ aging while peripheral molecular signals rewire neural circuits affecting mood and cognition. This multidisciplinary approach positions Dr. Oh at the forefront of precision medicine development. His research examines molecular fingerprints of interventions including exercise and ketamine therapy, seeking to understand why certain treatments work for specific individuals while failing for others. Could peripheral blood markers eventually guide personalized depression treatment selection? From stem cells to systems biology Dr. Oh's scientific evolution reflects broader shifts in biomedical research. Initially drawn to stem cell research at UCLA for its regenerative potential, he noticed inflammation appearing across diverse diseases from cancer to heart disease. This observation led him to study hematopoietic stem cells in Dr. Hanna Mikkola's laboratory, investigating how transcription factors regulate immune system development. His transition to studying brain-immune interactions emerged from recognizing that external environmental cues profoundly influence cellular identity and function. This systems-level perspective now guides his investigation of how metabolic organs and immune cells shape emotional states and cognitive function. What other unexpected organ systems might influence brain health in ways science has yet to discover? Implications for future therapeutics The implications of Dr. Oh's research extend beyond academic discovery. By revealing how specific proteins and metabolites track with depressive behavior, his work identifies novel therapeutic targets. Understanding differential organ aging patterns could enable interventions targeting root causes rather than symptoms alone. His research on exercise and ketamine's molecular mechanisms provides frameworks for developing next-generation treatments. Major depressive disorder affects multiple body systems, yet current treatments primarily target brain neurotransmitters. Dr. Oh's findings suggest that effective therapies might need to address peripheral inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and organ-specific aging processes. How might psychiatric care transform if clinicians routinely assessed organ aging profiles alongside traditional mental health evaluations? Advancing scientific culture Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Oh advocates for transforming scientific funding priorities. He notes that while scientists celebrate unconventional thinking and groundbreaking discoveries, funding agencies often favor incremental research with substantial preliminary data. This disconnect may limit transformative discoveries that require high-risk exploration. Dr. Oh particularly values academic freedom to pursue unexpected leads and develop new skills, even when this temporarily reduces productivity. His career trajectory from stem cell biology to computational aging biology exemplifies how interdisciplinary exploration can yield unexpected breakthroughs. What revolutionary discoveries might emerge if funding structures better supported exploratory research? Dr. Hamilton Se-Hwee Oh's Genomic Press interview is part of a larger series called Innovators & Ideas that highlights the people behind today's most influential scientific breakthroughs. Each interview in the series offers a blend of cutting-edge research and personal reflections, providing readers with a comprehensive view of the scientists shaping the future. By combining a focus on professional achievements with personal insights, this interview style invites a richer narrative that both engages and educates readers. This format provides an ideal starting point for profiles that explore the scientist's impact on the field, while also touching on broader human themes. More information on the research leaders and rising stars featured in our Innovators & Ideas Genomic Press Interview series can be found in our publications website: https://genomicpress.kglmeridian.com/. By sparking the immune system into action, radiation therapy makes certain tumors that resist immunotherapy susceptible to the treatment, leading to positive outcomes for patients, according to new research by investigators at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and the Netherlands Cancer Institute. The work was supported by the National Institutes of Health. In the study, published July 22 in Nature Cancer, investigators dove deep into the molecular biology of non-small cell lung cancer to pinpoint what happens on a cellular and molecular level over time when the cancer is treated with either radiation therapy followed by immunotherapy or immunotherapy alone. They found that radiation plus immunotherapy induced a systemic anti-tumor immune response in lung cancers that do not typically respond to immunotherapy. The combination therapy also yielded improved clinical response in patients whose tumors harbor features of immunotherapy resistance. Clinically, the results suggest that radiation therapy can help overcome immunotherapy resistance in certain patients. "For a fraction of lung cancers where we aren't expecting therapy responses, radiation may be particularly effective to help circumvent primary resistance to immunotherapy; this could potentially be applicable to acquired resistance, too," says senior study author Valsamo "Elsa" Anagnostou, M.D., Ph.D., co-director of the Upper Aerodigestive Malignancies Program, director of the Thoracic Oncology Biorepository, leader of Precision Oncology Analytics, co-leader of the Johns Hopkins Molecular Tumor Board and co-director of the Lung Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence at Johns Hopkins. Researchers have long sought to better understand why some tumors grow resistant to immunotherapy - a treatment strategy that leverages the body's own immune system to fight cancer cells - and how to intercept that resistance. Radiation therapy has been proposed as one possible way to induce a systemic immune response because of a unique phenomenon called the abscopal effect. Radiation at the site of a primary tumor typically causes tumor cells to die and release their contents into the local microenvironment. Sometimes, the immune system discovers those contents, learns the tumor's molecular footprint, then activates immune cells around the body to attack cancer cells at tumor sites that were not the targets of the radiation, including some far away from the primary cancer in the body. Because of this effect, radiation therapy could potentially improve how well an immunotherapy works against a cancer, even far from the original radiation site. Yet little has been known about the molecular biology behind the abscopal effect, or how to predict when and in which patients it will occur. To study this phenomenon, Anagnostou and colleagues obtained samples from patients with lung cancer at different times throughout their treatment journey and from various locations in the body, not just at the primary tumor site. They collaborated with Willemijn Theelen and Paul Baas at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, who were running a phase II clinical trial on the effect of radiation therapy followed by immunotherapy, specifically the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab. With help from Theelen and Baas, Anagnostou's team analyzed 293 blood and tumor samples from 72 patients, obtained at baseline and after three to six weeks of treatment. Patients in the control group received immunotherapy alone, while the experimental group received radiation followed by immunotherapy. The team then performed multiomic analyses on the samples - that is, combining different "omics" tools, including genomics, transcriptomics and various cell assays - to deeply characterize what was happening to the immune system systemically and in the local microenvironment at tumor sites that were not directly exposed to radiation. In particular, the team focused on immunologically "cold" tumors - tumors that typically do not respond to immunotherapy. These tumors can be recognized by particular biomarkers: a low mutation burden, no expression of a protein called PD-L1, or the presence of mutations in a signaling pathway called Wnt. Following radiation and immunotherapy, the team found that "cold" tumors far from the site of radiation experienced a prominent reshaping of the tumor microenvironment. Anagnostou describes this shift as the tumors "warming up," transitioning from little or no immune activity to inflamed sites with strong immune activity, including the expansion of new and pre-existing T cells. "Our findings highlight how radiation can bolster the systemic anti-tumor immune response in lung cancers unlikely to respond to immunotherapy alone," says lead study author Justin Huang, who led the multiomic analyses. "Our work underscores the value of international, interdisciplinary collaboration in translating cancer biology insights to clinical relevance." Huang was awarded the 2025 Paul Ehrlich Research Award in recognition of groundbreaking discoveries by young investigators and their faculty mentors at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. With Kellie Smith, Ph.D., an associate professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and a Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy researcher, Anagnostou's team focused on patients who attained long-term survival with combination radiotherapy and immunotherapy, and performed a functional test to find out what the patients' own T cells were doing in the body. In cell cultures, they confirmed that the T cells expanding in patients who received radiation and immunotherapy were indeed recognizing specific mutation-associated neoantigens from the patients' tumors. Finally, by tracking patient outcomes from the clinical trial, the team observed that patients with immunologically cold tumors that "warmed up" due to radiation therapy had better outcomes than those who did not receive radiation therapy. It was super exciting, and truly made everything come full circle. We not only captured the abscopal effect, but we linked the immune response with clinical outcomes in tumors where one would not expect to see immunotherapy responses." Valsamo "Elsa" Anagnostou, M.D., Ph.D., senior study author Using specimens from the same cohorts of patients, the team has recently been working to capture the body's response to immunotherapy by detecting circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the blood. That work was presented April 28 at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Chicago. Additional co-authors on the study include Zineb Belcaid, Mimi Najjar, Daphne van der Geest, Dipika Singh, Christopher Cherry, Archana Balan, James R. White, Jaime Wehr, Rachel Karchin, Noushin Niknafs and Victor E. Velculescu. Michel M. van den Heuvel of Radboud University Medical Center also contributed. The study was supported by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and the National Institutes of Health (grant #CA121113). The latest UK asthma guidelines1 clearly define the role of Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) testing in both diagnosing and managing asthma over time. Backed by up-to-date clinical evidence and strong cost-effectiveness data, these recommendations are designed to support more accurate, efficient care across the board. Image Credit: SewCreamStudio/Shutterstock.com But what does that look like in practice, especially for the individual navigating day-to-day life with asthma? Lets take a look at an example. Meet Ramila. She is 19 years old and visits her doctor complaining of chest tightness, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Initially, it was primarily tied to exercise, but now it occurs more frequently, and Ramila recognizes it, especially when she wakes up in the morning. Ramila has avoided seeing her GP as it has not been a consistent issue. Ramila recalls having an inhaler, a blue one, when she was younger, but has never had a formal diagnosis of asthma. Her older brother has asthma, and so does her aunt. Ramila has never experienced hay fever or eczema symptoms, has no allergies, and is otherwise healthy. The GP listened to Ramila's chest, which sounded normal. However, just because she is asymptomatic doesnt mean asthma can be ruled out. Ramila's GP has access to FeNO at the clinic, so they are able to do a FeNO test during this session. The result came back as 61 parts per billion (ppb), which, given Ramila's history and symptoms, is consistent with an asthma diagnosis. According to the latest guidelines, a single test is enough to confirm an asthma diagnosis, and Ramila can begin treatment immediately. If the GP did not have access to FeNO or there was a delay in receiving the test, they could also have ordered a blood test to determine Ramila's eosinophil count. Yet, this would mean a delay in diagnosis and possibly treatment until the test was processed, as this is not a near-patient test. It was also possible that Ramila would have needed to schedule another appointment, putting further strain on primary care services and her already hectic schedule. Once asthma is confirmed, Ramila can begin treatment. If her symptoms were only occasional, the recommended approach would be an Anti-Inflammatory Reliever (AIR) regimen. This involves using a combination inhaler that contains Formoterol and an inhaled steroid on an as-needed basis to relieve symptoms while also addressing inflammation. However, since Ramila is experiencing symptoms daily, a Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART) regimen would be more appropriate. This still uses a Formoterol-containing combination inhaler, but with a different schedule: its taken regularly each morning and evening, and additionally as needed for symptom relief. Notably, short-acting bronchodilators are not required with either the AIR or MART approach. When it comes to choosing an inhaler device, a dry powder inhaler should be the first option, provided Ramila can use it correctly. These devices are not only effective but also have a significantly lower carbon footprint. Ramila would need to be shown how to use the inhaler device properly, educated about asthma and how the drug works, and begin developing a personalized asthma action plan with the clinician. This will help Ramila understand what good asthma control looks like and what medications she should take to achieve it. It will also assist her in identifying any deterioration in her symptom control and when urgent advice is required. The plan should include who Ramila should contact, when her symptoms should be less effectively controlled, and what to do in an emergency. This is also an excellent chance to provide general health advice on smoking, alcohol, weight control, and leading an active lifestyle. Ramila will be invited to attend regular reviews. The guidelines suggest this as a good time to check a FeNO level. It is also a good opportunity to reaffirm patient education, and FeNO is a useful tool for determining whether the current treatment regimen is controlling airway inflammation or not. If the FeNO level is raised, it brings up a discussion about Ramila's understanding of the asthma diagnosis and how her prescribed inhalers work. When Ramila had her FeNO examined, it seemed that it had crept up to 52 ppb from around 18 ppb. After a discussion, it became evident that Ramila had gotten more complacent about her asthma and was using her inhaler less frequently. She had been using it only when she needed it, but on reflection, she realized that her symptoms were not as well controlled as they had been. FeNO is an effective technique for identifying medication nonadherence and initiating a non-judgmental discourse. The guidelines also recommend monitoring FeNO before and after changing medications. It can help decide which treatments are appropriate and assess treatment response. This is especially pertinent when Ramila returns with poor asthma control a few years later. She has good inhaler technique and has been following her MART regimen with good adherence. Regardless, her symptoms are worsening. At a prior review, she was moved from a low-dose MART regimen to a moderate-dose MART regimen (with an increase in the steroid dose of the combo inhaler), which had been treating her symptoms for some time until recently. In this case, the guidelines recommend measuring FeNO to help guide the next treatment option. Ramila's FeNO level was found to be normal (21 ppb), but as her symptoms worsen, she will require more medication. With a normal FeNO level (showing that eosinophilic airway inflammation is under control), the clinician is advised to add extra treatment. This could include taking Montelukast orally once a day in addition to the MART regimen or using a Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA) as inhaled therapy. Ramila discussed the alternatives, benefits, and probable adverse effects before deciding to take Montelukast. If Ramila had a higher FeNO level, the treatment prescription would have been to continue anti-inflammatory therapy. The alternatives here are to give high-dose inhaled steroids or to start biologic therapy. Both possibilities would be evaluated, and decisions would be made in consultation with Ramila and a respiratory physician, thus Ramila would require a referral for this. Without FeNO to guide decisions, a referral may be delayed needlessly. It is also worth thinking about how to reduce asthma treatments; asthma is a changeable condition, thus treatment must be titrated up and down during periods of variance. If Ramila had been on a moderate-dose MART regimen and remained symptom-free for at least three monthswith no exacerbations and no need for additional rescue dosesthis would suggest good asthma control. In that case, it might be appropriate to consider stepping down to a low-dose MART regimen by reducing the steroid component in her combination inhaler. FeNO testing can be a valuable tool in guiding this decision, especially if the patient meets the criteria for well-controlled asthma. If Ramilas FeNO level were low, indicating that eosinophilic airway inflammation was well managed, it would be a good time to discuss reducing the steroid dose, assuming she wasnt approaching a time of year when her symptoms are typically triggered. On the other hand, if her FeNO result were even moderately elevated, suggesting ongoing inflammation, stepping down the inhaled steroid wouldnt be advisable. While FeNO testing is often associated with asthma diagnosis, the latest UK guidelines highlight its value throughout the entire patient pathway. Its role extends well beyond diagnosis, supporting treatment decisions and ongoing management. Ensuring easy, timely access to FeNO testing in primary care can significantly improve the accuracy and quality of care for people presenting with asthma symptoms. FeNO testing with NObreath Bedfont Scientific Limited is the world leader in breath analysis, with over 48 years of experience and knowledge in designing and producing breath analysis instruments. Bedfont is devoted to enhancing patient safety by developing innovative breath analysis devices like the NObreath. The device is a portable, handheld FeNO device that healthcare providers use to help diagnose and treat asthma. Visit the NObreath website to learn more about the FeNO and NObreath tests. Acknowledgments This article is based on materials originally authored by Carol Stonham. References National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2024). Overview | Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management (BTS, NICE, SIGN) | Guidance | NICE. (online) NICE. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG245. About NObreath The NObreath is a FeNO device by Bedfont Scientific Ltd. which can be used to measure airway inflammation for the management and diagnosis of asthma. Our mission is to help improve asthma diagnosis & management of adults and children worldwide through FeNO measuring. Our purpose is to make FeNO measuring more accessible globally, with the creation of an effective yet cost-efficient FeNO device and equally low cost consumables. Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments. 9-year-old Montreal girl found in upstate New York pond drowned in homicide Last Updated: July 23, 2025, 02:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Glens Falls (New York), Jul 23 (AP) A 9-year-old girl from Canada found dead in an upstate New York pond after her father reported her missing was drowned, according to preliminary autopsy results released Tuesday. Luciano Frattolin, 45, of Montreal, was charged with murdering and concealing the corpse of his daughter, Melina Frattolin. He pleaded not guilty Monday and was being held in a county jail. Recommended Stories Frattolin called 911 on Saturday night and said his daughter went missing from a parking lot near Lake George, a resort town in the Adirondack region. He later told authorities that two men forced his daughter into a white van, according to New York State Police. Officials issued an Amber Alert, seeking the publics help in the search. But investigators noticed inconsistencies in the fathers account and eventually concluded there was no evidence the girl had been abducted. A team led by state forest rangers found the girls body on Sunday afternoon in the shallow part of a pond in the woods of Ticonderoga, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Lake George. The criminal complaint said Frattolin concealed her body under a log. The preliminary autopsy results said the cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning" and classified it as a homicide, according to state police. Final autopsy results are pending. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Police said the father and daughter had been vacationing since July 11 in the U.S. and were expected back in Montreal that weekend. The girl lived with her mother, who has been estranged from Luciano Frattolin since 2019, police said. The investigation into the girls death is continuing. (AP) AS AS First Published: July 23, 2025, 02:45 IST News agency-feeds 9-year-old Montreal girl found in upstate New York pond drowned in homicide 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... CPI(ML) urges EC to stop SIR, cites danger of mass disenfranchisement Last Updated: July 23, 2025, 00:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) Mass disenfranchisement remains a very real danger" for the poor in Bihar in the ongoing SIR exercise, CPI(ML) Liberation told the Election Commission on Tuesday, urging it to withdraw the circular and conduct the forthcoming polls in the state on the basis of updated version of the electoral rolls used for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. This was communicated to the EC by a delegation of the CPI(Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, who met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the election commissioners and submitted a detailed memorandum expressing strong objections to the ongoing SIR exercise. Recommended Stories The delegation, comprising Rajaram Singh (MP, Karakat and CPI(ML) floor leader in the Lok Sabha), Sudama Prasad (MP, Ara), Shyam Chandra Chaudhary (secretary, Bihar State Committee) and Sanjay Sharma (central headquarters, CPI(ML), raised concerns about alleged procedural violations, exclusionary practices, and the danger of mass disenfranchisement of the poor, migrant, and young voters," the party said. In its memorandum, the CPI(ML) questioned the claims of BLOs coming across large numbers of foreign nationals from Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar in their house-to-house visits. They also questioned the figures of likely deletion from the rolls. Did the summary revision fail to note this and revise the rolls accordingly?" they asked. The party pointed out that though there is a provision for migrants to fill the form online, which was belatedly" pulicised in newspapers, many may not have access to information and internet facilities. They also said it is well known" that large numbers of electors do not have the documents mentioned in the ECs indicative list of eleven documents. On the basis of our experience of the first four weeks of the SIR drive in Bihar, we are afraid that mass disenfranchisement remains a very real danger for Bihars poor, women, migrant workers and young electors, with all its alarming consequences," the CPI(ML) said. We therefore once again urge the EC to withdraw the SIR circular and conduct the forthcoming Assembly elections of Bihar on the basis of a duly updated version of the electoral rolls used for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," they said. The EC, in its statement, said the meeting is in continuation of the interactions being held by ECI with the presidents of various national and state political parties. These interactions provide for a long-felt need of constructive discussions which enable national and state party presidents to share their suggestions and concerns directly with the commission," it said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This initiative aligns with the commissions broader vision of further strengthening the electoral process in accordance with the existing legal framework with all stakeholders," it said. The EC added that in March, a total of 4,719 all-party meetings were conducted, including 40 meetings by CEOs, 800 by DEOs, and 3879 by EROs, engaging over 28,000 representatives of various political parties. PTI AO MNK MNK First Published: July 23, 2025, 00:15 IST News agency-feeds CPI(ML) urges EC to stop SIR, cites danger of mass disenfranchisement 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 rejects plea to transfer Waqf Act petition from Delhi HC Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 23:45 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a plea seeking transfer of a petition challenging the 1995 Waqf Act from the Delhi High Court to the apex court. A bench headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai said that courts are increasingly being used for generating newspaper headlines rather than genuine legal redress. Recommended Stories The bench, which also comprised Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria, made sharp remarks while hearing a transfer petition filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay. The petition sought to move his challenge to various provisions of the Waqf Act from the Delhi High Court to the Supreme Court. This issue is already pending before this court. Why do you want more petitions," the CJI asked at the outset. The bench noted that an earlier bench led by then CJI Sanjiv Khanna had already set a clear timeline for admitting such challenges. The court had also permitted fresh petitioners to file intervention applications in the ongoing batch of 11 petitions challenging similar provisions of the Act. Appearing in person, Upadhyay argued, I was the first person to challenge this," insisting that his petition was the one that drew public attention to the alleged land grab" by waqf boards involving over 40 lakh acres. You are always the first. What is the hurry to rush to court? Only after seeing the newspapers? Petitions are nowadays being filed only for the newspapers," the CJI said. We are not inclined to entertain the prayer." Upadhyays writ petition before the Delhi High Court challenges the constitutional validity of Sections 4 to 9 and Section 14 of the Waqf Act, 1995, as amended by the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He said that these provisions are arbitrary and violate fundamental rights under Articles 14, 15, 21, 25, and 27 of the Constitution. A similar challenge to the Waqf Act and its 2025 amendments is already pending before the Supreme Court, where a batch of petitions is being heard. PTI SJK KVK KVK First Published: July 22, 2025, 23:45 IST News agency-feeds SC rejects plea to transfer Waqf Act petition from Delhi HC 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... Trump envoy Steve Witkoff to visit Middle East in push for ceasefire in Gaza Last Updated: July 23, 2025, 02:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Washington, Jul 23 (AP) President Donald Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was heading to the Middle East as the U.S. tries once again to reach a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, a breakthrough that has eluded the administration for months as conditions worsen in Gaza. Tammy Bruce, the State Department spokesperson, told reporters Tuesday that Witkoff was going to the region with a strong hope" that the U.S. can deliver a ceasefire deal as well as a new humanitarian corridor for aid distribution. Recommended Stories I would suggest that we might have some good news, but, again, as we know, this could be a constantly changing dynamic," Bruce said. Bruce didnt have other details about where Witkoff would be going or what he had planned. It comes as Gaza saw its deadliest day yet for aid-seekers in over 21 months of war, with at least 85 Palestinians killed while trying to reach food Sunday. The Israeli army has said it fired warning shots, but says the reported death toll was greatly inflated. The United Nations food agency accused Israeli forces of firing on the crowd of Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid. Bruce said that the incident that took place while civilians were trying to reach aid entering through the Zikim crossing with Israel is absolutely horrible" and reinforced why the U.S. is pushing for a new humanitarian corridor to be created as part of any truce. The sides have held weeks of talks in Qatar, reporting small signs of progress but no major breakthroughs. Officials have said a main sticking point is the redeployment of Israeli troops after any ceasefire takes place. The U.S. plan calls for a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release some hostages while Israel would free Palestinian prisoners and allow a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza. During the 60 days, the sides are also to begin negotiations on a permanent end to the war. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas yields power and is disarmed, while Hamas says it will not release all of the hostages until the war is over. It is seeking assurances that Netanyahu will not resume the war after the 60 days, as he did in March after an early ceasefire expired. Hamas is holding 50 hostages 20 of whom are believed to still be alive. (AP) AS AS First Published: July 23, 2025, 02:30 IST News agency-feeds Trump envoy Steve Witkoff to visit Middle East in push for ceasefire in Gaza 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... Trump says China trip is not too distant as trade tensions ease Last Updated: July 23, 2025, 04:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Washington, Jul 23 (AP) President Donald Trump on Tuesday said a trip to China might be not too distant," raising prospects that the leaders of the worlds two largest economies may meet soon to help reset relations after moving to climb down from a trade war. Trump made the remarks while hosting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House, where he praised the fantastic military relationship" with Manila as the U.S. looks to counter Chinas influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Recommended Stories Yet, Trump still said the U.S. is getting along with China very well. We have a very good relationship." He added that Beijing has resumed shipping to the U.S. record numbers" of much-needed rare earth magnets, which are used in iPhones and other high-tech products like electric vehicles. Widely speculated about since Trump returned to the White House, a summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping would be expected to stabilize even for a short while a difficult relationship defined by mistrust and competition. Beijing believes a leader-level summit is necessary to steady U.S.-China relations and that Trump must be wooed because he has the final say on Americas policy toward China, despite more hawkish voices in his Cabinet, observers say. The question, however, is when. Danny Russel, a distinguished fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said Trump has consistently shown his hunger for a visit to China and that Beijing has used that to bolster leverage. As soon as the leadership in Beijing is satisfied that Trump will be on his best behavior and will accept terms for a deal that they think are favorable, they will give a green light to the visit," Russel said. Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Washington-based think tank Stimson Center, said a visit is in the making" with two sides likely to strike a trade deal. What Trump said might mean the visit would not be in September but potentially November, but still depends on whether they play ball on trade and other things we want," Sun said. Trumps campaign to impose tariffs on other countries kicked off a high-stake trade war with Beijing. China raised tariffs on U.S. goods to 125% in response to Trumps hiking the tax on Chinese goods to 145%. Both sides also imposed on each other harsh trade restrictions on critical products: China on rare earths, and the U.S. on computing chips and jet engine technology. Trade tensions, however, eased following two rounds of high-level talks in Geneva and London, when the two sides agreed to lower tariffs pending a more permanent deal by mid-August and pull back on trade restrictions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday on Fox Business Mornings with Maria" that he will be meeting with his Chinese counterparts in Stockholm next week to work on what is likely an extension" of the Aug. 12 deadline. I think trade is in a very good place with China," Bessent told host Maria Bartiromo. Hopefully, we can see the Chinese pull back on some of this glut of manufacturing that theyre doing and concentrate on building a consumer economy." He said he also expects to bring up Chinas purchases of Russian and Iranian oil and Beijings role in aiding Moscow in its war against Ukraine. Beijing has not announced any travel plans for Vice Premier He Lifeng, who led trade negotiations in both Geneva and London on behalf of the Chinese government, but it is not unusual for China to make such announcements closer to a travel date. In a possible friendly gesture, Beijing on Tuesday said it suspended an antitrust investigation into chemical maker DuPonts operations in China. Chinas State Administration for Market Regulation made the announcement in a one-line statement but gave no explanation for the decision. DuPont said in a statement that it is pleased" with Chinas action. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Chinese regulators launched the investigation in April against DuPont China Group, a subsidiary of the chemical giant, as part of Beijings broad, retaliatory response to Trumps sky-high tariffs. Beijing also has agreed to approve export permits for rare earth elements and rare earth magnets that U.S. manufacturers need to build cars, robots, wind turbines and other high-tech products. The U.S. has eased restrictions on some advanced chips and other technologies. (AP) AS AS First Published: July 23, 2025, 04:15 IST News agency-feeds Trump says China trip is not too distant as trade tensions ease 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... Centres FPO Scheme Bears Fruit: 340 Farmer Groups Clock Over Rs 10 Crore Turnover Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 12:35 IST The Centre's initiative to create 10,000 FPOs is successful, with 1,100 FPOs reaching Rs 1 crore turnover and 340 exceeding Rs 10 crore. On the occasion of 19th installment of PM-KISAN in Bhagalpur, Bihar, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the 10,000th FPO. It has been registered in Khagaria district and focuses on maize, banana, and paddy. The Centre governments effort to set up over 10,000 farmer producer organizations (FPO) seems to bear fruit after an arduous toil in the past four years. According to a report of Financial Express citing data gathered by the Union agricultural ministry, approximately 1100 or 11 per cent FPOs have clocked a turnover of Rs 1 crore. Of the 1,100 FPOs, 340 have reportedly clocked a turnover over Rs 10 crore. Recommended Stories The FE report stated that the growth of these FPOs are driven by digital platforms like Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), electronic national agriculture market (e-NAM), and the government e-marketplace (GeM). Now, the government is planning to reward these high-performing FPOs so that other such organisations too get encouraged to boost their business prospects, said the official as per FE report. The Central Sector Scheme for Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) was launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 29th February, 2020. The scheme was launched with a budget outlay of Rs 6,865 Crore till 2027-28. Under this scheme, there is a provision for handholding support for a period of five years to each new FPO formed, and financial assistance to the tune of Rs.18 lakhs to each FPO under the scheme towards management cost for 3 years. On the occasion of 19th installment of PM-KISAN in Bhagalpur, Bihar, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the 10,000th FPO. It has been registered in Khagaria district and focuses on maize, banana, and paddy. What are FPOs? Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) is a generic name, which refers to farmer- producers organization incorporated/ registered either under Part IXA of Companies Act or under Co-operative Societies Act of the concerned States and formed for the purpose of leveraging collectives through economies of scale in production and marketing of agricultural and allied sector. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The concept behind Farmer Producer Organizations is that farmers, who are the producers of agricultural products, can form groups. To facilitate this process, the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) was mandated by Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India, to support the State Governments in the formation of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). 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, 12:29 IST News business economy Centres FPO Scheme Bears Fruit: 340 Farmer Groups Clock Over Rs 10 Crore Turnover 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... Jubilant Bhartia Group Acquires 40% Stake In Hindustan Coca-Cola Holdings Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 22:24 IST Jubilant Bhartia Group has completed the acquisition of a 40% equity stake in Hindustan Coca-Cola Holdings Private Limited Coke (Representative Photo) Jubilant Coca Cola Deal: The Jubilant Bhartia Group has completed the acquisition of a 40 per cent equity stake in Hindustan Coca-Cola Holdings Private Limited (HCCH) for Rs 1,17,04,40,00,000 on Tuesday, marking a significant development in the Indian beverages and FMCG space. In a regulatory filing with the stock exchanges under Regulation 51 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, the company confirmed the closure of the deal. Recommended Stories With this strategic investment, the Jubilant Bhartia Group becomes a key stakeholder in HCCH, which is the holding company of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd (HCCB), the bottling and distribution arm of Coca-Cola in India. The move is expected to bolster the groups presence in the non-alcoholic beverages sector and open new avenues for growth and collaboration in the fast-moving beverage segment. Jubilant Bhartia X Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Jubilant Bhartia Group had announced in December that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 40 per cent equity interest in HCCH through Jubilant Beverages. The deal had received approval from the Competition Commission of India on May 1, 2025. In India, The Coca-Cola Co. bottles products such as Thums-Up, Sprite, Fanta, Limca and flagship brand Coca-Cola through subsidiary HCCB, as well as a set of independent bottling companies. Jubilant Bhartia Group has now acquired 40 per cent in Hindustan Coca-Cola Holdings, the parent of HCCB, through Jubilant Beverages Ltd. HCCB operates 13 factories, serving 236 districts across 12 states in Indias south and west. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all HCCH is the parent company of HCCB, the largest CocaCola bottler in India. The Jubilant Bhartia Group, which started out as a drugs and chemicals company, has since branched into contract research and development services, agricultural products, performance polymers, and food services. Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd is Indias largest food services company, and holds exclusive rights to develop and operate Dominos Pizza in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. 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 22, 2025, 22:24 IST News business economy Jubilant Bhartia Group Acquires 40% Stake In Hindustan Coca-Cola Holdings 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... Top Indian Companies Line Up To Partner In Rs 60,000-Crore ITI Upgrade Scheme: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 07:46 IST At least a dozen top Indian companies are in talks to join the Rs 60,000-crore ITI Upgradation Scheme with the Skill Development Ministry Candidates can download their OMR sheets until July 12. (Representative/File) At least a dozen leading Indian companies are in talks to partner with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship for the Rs 60,000-crore National Scheme for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Upgradation, The Economic Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Eight corporates Reliance Group, Adani Group, Mahindra Group, JK Cement, Jindal Group, Toyota India, Schneider Electric, and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel have already submitted their preferred states and sectors to the ministry, outlining plans to establish hub and spoke" ITIs to enhance skills training, the report said. Recommended Stories Besides these, discussions are also underway with Larsen & Toubro, Bajaj Auto, Aditya Birla Group, and several major public sector enterprises including Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to take part in the ITI upgradation effort," a source told ET on condition of anonymity. Approved by the Union Cabinet in May, the scheme aims to modernise 1,000 ITIs and train 2 million youth over the next five years. The hub-and-spoke model will allow central ITIs (hubs) to share resources with connected vocational institutes. The financing structure includes Rs 30,000 crore from the Centre, Rs 20,000 crore from states, and 10,000 crore from the industry. Half of the central share is expected to be co-financed equally by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank. Arunkumar Pillai, CEO of NAMTECH (New Age Makers Institute of Technology) an ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel initiative said, NAMTECH aims to train 500,000 youths by 2028. We stand ready to partner with the government to scale this mission and create a globally competitive, future-ready workforce." According to an internal ministry presentation reviewed by ET, JK Cement has proposed to operate in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, with a focus on training in construction, electronics, renewable energy, and hospitality. Mahindra Group is keen on ITI upgrades in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa, focused on the automotive and hospitality sectors. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Reliance Group has shortlisted Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh for training in renewables, retail, advanced manufacturing, and petrochemical engineering. Jindal Group plans to offer skills in both traditional and new-age trades in clusters across Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jharkhand. Toyota India is looking to upgrade ITIs in Karnataka for automobile-related training, while Adani Group has identified ITIs across Gujarat, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and the Northeast for programmes in solar energy, drone operations, and port management. 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 22, 2025, 07:43 IST News business economy Top Indian Companies Line Up To Partner In Rs 60,000-Crore ITI Upgrade Scheme: 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... Paytm Soars 122% In A Year, Still Lags IPO Price By 53%; Will Q1 Results Push Paytm Higher? Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 12:26 IST Shares of One97 Communications, which operates Paytm, have surged over 122% in the past year; Whill it rally further? Paytm Shares Price Paytm Q1 Results Today: Shares of One97 Communications, which operates digital payments platform Paytm, have surged over 122% in the past year. Despite the sharp recovery, the stock remains 53% below its IPO issue price of Rs 2,150. All eyes are now on the companys June quarter (Q1FY26) results, due on July 22, which analysts say could determine the stocks next big move. Paytm made its market debut in November 2021 with much anticipation but witnessed a steep fall of 27% on the listing day. After hitting a record low of Rs 438.35 in November 2022, the stock has staged a steady comeback and now trades around Rs 1,016. Recommended Stories While the rally has lifted investor sentiment, analysts believe that for the stock to return to its IPO levels, Paytm must demonstrate consistent earnings growth and improved operational performance. Currently hovering around Rs 1,018, the stock has shown signs of a technical breakout, supported by a consistent pattern of higher highs and higher lows (HHHL) on the charts. Technical analysts believe the upcoming June quarter results, due today, July 22, could be a key trigger for further upside. The stock has shown significant recovery and is forming a higher-high, higher-low structure on the weekly charts, which is a bullish signal," said Rajesh Bhosale, Technical Analyst at Angel One. He noted that a decisive close above Rs 1,100 could open the path towards Rs 1,250 and potentially Rs 1,400. The company has been focusing on profitability, reporting an EBITDA before ESOP cost of Rs 153 crore in Q4 FY24, a notable turnaround from a Rs 234 crore loss in the same period the previous year. Management has also pointed to improved contribution margins across business segments. In a recent investor update, Paytm highlighted robust growth in merchant payments, lending, advertising, and financial services. Its lending arm, in particular, showed strong traction. With Q1 earnings just around the corner, analysts say that continued profitability and margin improvement will be critical to sustain investor interest and determine the stocks future trajectory. Paytm Result Q1 Expectations Paytm is expected to post a net profit of Rs 18.9 crore for the quarter ended June 2025 (Q1FY26), a sharp turnaround from a net loss of Rs 839.6 crore in the year-ago period, according to estimates by JM Financial. In the previous quarter (Q4FY25), the company had reported a net loss of Rs 544.6 crore. Motilal Oswal Financial Services (MOFSL) also projects a net profit for the quarter, albeit at a more modest Rs 2 crore. On a consolidated basis, Paytms revenue in Q1FY26 is projected to rise 27% year-on-year to Rs 1,910.9 crore, from Rs 1,501 crore in Q1FY25, primarily supported by strong traction in its payments and financial services verticals, JM Financial noted. However, sequential revenue growth is likely to remain flat. The contribution margin is estimated to decline by 67 basis points quarter-on-quarter due to a growing share of financial servicesparticularly from merchant loans via the Default Loss Guarantee (DLG) model, which carries higher take rates. Still, better operating leverage, especially lower employee costs, is expected to keep the company Adjusted EBITDA positive, with an estimated margin of 1.1%, according to JM Financial. Analysts at Yes Securities anticipate Paytms revenue from Payment Services (excluding UPI incentives) to grow 6% quarter-on-quarter and 21% year-on-year. The Financial Services and Others segment is expected to see a 10% QoQ revenue increase. Loan disbursals during the quarter are likely to grow 8% sequentially and 23% annually, led primarily by merchant loans, with a notably reduced share of DLG-backed loans. Meanwhile, personal loan disbursements are expected to remain tepid due to tightened norms around unsecured lending. Key Triggers to Watch Looking ahead, analysts will be closely tracking management commentary on UPI incentives, EBITDA guidance, and updates related to three key regulatory developments. Trends in customer acquisition will also be an important monitorable. Stock Performance top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Paytm shares have seen strong gains recently. The stock has rallied 19% in the past month, 17% in three months, and 23% over six months. On a year-to-date basis, it is up 5%, and over the past year, it has delivered multibagger returns of 122%. At 11:40 AM on Monday, Paytm shares were trading 2.92% higher at Rs 1,048 on the BSE. 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 22, 2025, 12:26 IST News business markets Paytm Soars 122% In A Year, Still Lags IPO Price By 53%; Will Q1 Results Push Paytm Higher? 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 Streets Return To Indian Markets With Conditions Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 09:32 IST Jane Street, a US trading firm, is allowed to resumed activities in India after depositing Rs 4,844 crore in escrow. Sebi sets conditions for Jane Steet Group to enter into Indian markets. Jane Street Fraud Case: The US-based trading firm Jane Street gets a respite from the Indian market regulator following its ban from the Indian securities market over alleged manipulation in the derivatives market and fraud. The trading firm was allowed to resume its activities in the market after it deposited Rs 4,844 crore in an escrow account to comply with SEBIs order. Recommended Stories But the respite that comes for Jane Street comes with some conditions and terms. SEBI has told the exchanges, BSE and NSE, to keep a strict surveillance on Jane Street Groups future dealings and positions to ensure that they wont indulge in any kind of manipulative activity till the completion of its investigation. Exchanges have confirmed that they will comply with this," Sebi said in a statement on Monday. SEBI also directed Jane Street group to not make any debits in respect of assets without the prior approval of SEBI. Moreover, the market regulator directed the banks where Jane Street affiliates are holding bank accounts to ensure no debits were made without permission of SEBI, according to ET report. Jane Street, as per Et report, said in the undertaking that it will not enter into options trading. Moreover, the group wont trade in the cash segment until it has explained its trading strategies to SEBI. 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. 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. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 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. 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 22, 2025, 09:32 IST News business SEBI Allows Jane Streets Return To Indian Markets With Conditions 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... Delhi Govt To Distribute Free Laptops To 1200 Meritorious Students, Establish ICT Labs Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 19:48 IST Under the Mukhya Mantri Digital Education Scheme, students from Delhi government schools who achieved high marks in Class 10 will receive i7 laptops. The scheme is expected to cost Rs 8 crore, Education Minister Ashish Sood said. (Representational image/File) The Delhi government announced on Tuesday that it will provide free i7 laptops to 1,200 top-performing students who excelled in their Class 10 exams, PTI reported. Additionally, 175 government-run schools will have ICT labs established, according to Education Minister Ashish Sood. During a press conference, Sood highlighted that these historic" decisions were made at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Recommended Stories Under the Mukhya Mantri Digital Education Scheme, students from Delhi government schools who achieved high marks in Class 10 will receive i7 laptops. This initiative aims to support their future digital education needs in line with the National Education Policy, as per the minister. The scheme is expected to cost Rs 8 crore, he added. Sood criticised the previous AAP governments claims of an education revolution," pointing out that none of the 1,074 government schools had functional computer labs. He stated that the Cabinet, led by the chief minister, decided to establish Information and Communication Technology (ICT) labs in 175 schools during the current session, the PTI report added. Each ICT lab, designed to meet Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) standards, will be equipped with 40 computers, Sood explained. The education minister also mentioned that the Delhi government recently signed an MoU with a private organisation to set up 100 ICT labs in 100 government schools as part of a corporate social responsibility scheme. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sood further alleged that the previous AAP government did not establish a single computer lab in schools and failed to maintain those built under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan. Computer labs were constructed in 907 government schools between 2015 and 2019 during AAP rule, funded by the Centre under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan. However, all these labs remained non-functional, Sood claimed. Additionally, the minister announced that an orientation programme for nursery to Class I students and their parents will be held at all Sarvodaya Vidyalayas under the Delhi government on Wednesday. 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 22, 2025, 19:46 IST News education-career Delhi Govt To Distribute Free Laptops To 1200 Meritorious Students, Establish ICT Labs 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... School Holiday: Several UP, MP Schools To Remain Closed On July 23 Due To Sawan Shivratri Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 14:21 IST School Holiday: The decision to close schools on Sawan Shivratri and Mondays is based on expected crowding, traffic jams, and security concerns during the Kanwar Yatra. In several districts, including Ujjain, Badaun, Meerut, and Muzaffarnagar, schools will be closed for Sawan Shivratri on July 23.(Representative/File) The month of Sawan is considered a sacred period dedicated to Lord Shiva. In 2025, Sawan commenced on July 11 and will continue until August 9. During this time, Mondays are significant, and Sawan Shivratri holds particular importance. Due to anticipated traffic disruptions caused by crowds at temples and the Kanwar Yatra, many schools in UP and MP have declared holidays. This year, Sawan Shivratri will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. This day holds great religious significance. To manage the heavy crowd and traffic on Kanwar Yatra and Shivratri, schools and colleges in many North Indian states will remain closed. Recommended Stories In several districts, including Ujjain, Badaun, Meerut, and Muzaffarnagar, schools will be closed for Sawan Shivratri on July 23. Students should verify the holiday status before heading to school on that day to avoid any inconvenience. Many schools have already informed parents about the holiday, and checking with teachers is recommended. Check full list here: In Meerut and Muzaffarnagar, all schools and colleges will be closed till tomorrow, July 23, with strict penalties for violations of the order. In Bareilly, schools and colleges within a 5 km radius of the Delhi-Badaun road will be closed on every Monday of Sawan (July 14, 21, 28 and August 4). In Badaun, schools from class 1 to 8 will be on holiday on Saturdays and Mondays (July 19-21, July 26-28, August 2-4), with mandatory attendance for teachers. In Varanasi, schools will close every Monday of Sawan, with classes held on Sundays. In Jabalpur, a school holiday is declared on July 21. In Ujjain, schools will close every Monday from July 14 to August 11, with compensatory classes held on Sundays, due to the crowds at Mahakaleshwar temple. In Noida, most schools in Noida and Ghaziabad of Delhi-NCR will be closed for Sawan Shivratri on July 23, 2025. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sawan Shivratri is a day for worshipping Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in Hinduism. Devotees offer water, Belpatra, milk, and other items to the Shivling. During the Kanwar Yatra, millions of devotees bring Gangajal from Haridwar, Gangotri, and other pilgrimage sites to offer in Shiva temples. This Yatra leads to congestion and traffic jams, making it difficult for children to commute to schools, hence the closures in sensitive areas. The decision to close schools on Sawan Shivratri and Mondays is based on expected crowding, traffic jams, and security concerns during the Kanwar Yatra. With no-vehicle zones in place in many areas, school buses and childrens movement might be affected. Some schools may conduct online classes, and parents are advised to check the schools official notice for updates. 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 22, 2025, 14:10 IST News education-career School Holiday: Several UP, MP Schools To Remain Closed On July 23 Due To Sawan Shivratri 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... Student Suicides 7.6% Of All Suicide Cases Across India In 2022: Minister Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 13:47 IST In 2022, student suicides made up 7.6% of all suicide cases in India, a slight decrease from 8.0% in 2021 and 8.2% in 2020, as per data shared in the Lok Sabha. Student suicides made up 7.6% of all suicide cases in India in 2022, shows government data. Student suicides accounted for 7.6 percent of all suicide cases reported in India in 2022. This marks a small drop from 8.0 percent in 2021 and 8.2 percent in 2020, according to official data shared in the Lok Sabha. Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar shared the figures while responding to a written question in Parliament. The data is from the Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) report published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Recommended Stories The minister said that the government is taking several steps to address student mental health, including offering psychological support to students, teachers and families. The Ministry of Educations Manodarpan initiative has provided counselling and live interactive sessions to lakhs of students through dedicated helplines. The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), run by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is active in 767 districts and offers suicide prevention services along with life skills training in schools and colleges. To tackle rising substance abuse among students, the Centre has also increased its focus on anti-drug campaigns alongside mental health awareness. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked colleges and universities to focus on student well-being by promoting sports, physical fitness, emotional health and overall student welfare. Institutes such as IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and IIT Guwahati have started organising workshops on stress management and resilience as part of the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme, the minister added. ALSO READ: TS TET Result 2025 Declared At tgtet.aptonline.in, Check Direct Link Here Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar also informed that the Ministry of Education is working on a draft legislation to set up the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) a single regulatory body proposed to oversee the entire higher education sector. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In a written reply, the minister said the move is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which calls for a light but tight" regulatory system to enhance transparency, efficiency and accountability while encouraging institutional autonomy, innovation and good governance. At present, non-technical education is regulated by the University Grants Commission (UGC), technical education falls under the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and teacher education is overseen by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). The idea of merging these functions under one umbrella body was first proposed in a 2018 draft bill that also recommended repealing the UGC Act. The draft was later opened for public feedback. 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 22, 2025, 13:46 IST News education-career Student Suicides 7.6% Of All Suicide Cases Across India In 2022: Minister 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-India Young Professionals Scheme 2025: Application Open Till July 24, Check Details Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 17:20 IST UK-India Young Professionals Scheme 2025: The application requires a 319 visa fee along with a healthcare surcharge. If an application is rejected, the visa fee is non-refundable. The visa allows a stay of up to 24 months in the UK. (Representative image/File) The UK government has announced the UK-India Young Professionals Scheme 2025, providing an exciting opportunity for 3,000 Indian nationals to live, work, study, and travel in the UK for up to two years. Interested candidates can now register online for a free ballot on the official UK government website, gov.uk. The ballot will close at 1:30 PM (IST) on July 24. Successful applicants will be randomly selected and notified within two weeks of the ballot closing. Recommended Stories Interested candidates will need to submit their personal details, including name, date of birth, passport information, phone number, and email address, along with a scanned copy of their passport. Only those selected in the random draw will receive an email invitation to apply for the visa. Once invited, successful applicants will need to complete an online visa application within 90 days, undergo biometric verification, and pay the necessary fees. They must maintain the required funds for 28 consecutive days, with the final day falling within 31 days of the visa application date. The application requires a 319 visa fee along with a healthcare surcharge. If an application is rejected, the visa fee is non-refundable. UK-India Young Professionals Scheme 2025: Who Can Apply? To be eligible for the UK-India Young Professionals Scheme 2025, applicants must: Be an Indian national aged between 18 and 30 at the time of planned travel. Hold a UK-recognised bachelors degree or higher qualification. Have at least 2,530 (approximately INR 2,70,824) in personal savings for financial support. Maintain a minimum balance of Rs 2,50,000 in their bank account for 30 consecutive days. Not have dependent children under 18. Candidates must note that individuals holding a Youth Mobility Scheme visa are not eligible to apply. UK-India Young Professionals Scheme 2025: What the Visa Entails for Students The visa offers young professionals the chance to study (though some courses may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate), work in most jobs, and start a business within specific financial and employment limits. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The visa allows a stay of up to 24 months in the UK, during which individuals can freely enter and exit the country. If an individual turns 31 after receiving the visa, they can still remain in the UK for the full duration of the visas validity. However, visa holders cannot extend their stay, access most public benefits, bring family members under their application, or work as professional sportspeople. 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 22, 2025, 17:14 IST News education-career UK-India Young Professionals Scheme 2025: Application Open Till July 24, Check Details 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... BJP Aims Big, JDU Wants Balance & Chirag Paswan Seeks Larger Role In Bihar Seat-Sharing Talks Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 15:32 IST As the BJP signals its intent to dominate the election by eyeing 120 seats, a jittery JD(U) insists on a 50-50 split as the Paswan factor looms With the polls inching closer, the NDA is showing more signs of internal friction than cohesion. (PTI) Ahead of the formal launch of seat-sharing talks, the NDA in Bihar is currently grappling with growing internal competition over constituencies. As the BJP signals its intent to dominate the election by eyeing 120 seats, a jittery JD(U) insists on a 50-50 split. Add to this the Chirag Paswan wildcard that neither Nitish Kumar nor BJP quite want, which may look like a ticking electoral time bomb. Recommended Stories With the polls inching closer, the NDA is showing more signs of internal friction than cohesion. The BJP, buoyed by its Lok Sabha performance and sensing Nitish Kumars slipping popularity, is quietly preparing to assert its control over the alliance. Party insiders said the BJP wants to contest as many as 120 out of the 243 seats, which may effectively reduce the seats for the JD(U) on its home turf. Rajeev Ranjan Prasad, JD(U) national spokesperson, however, said the formal discussion for seat-sharing is yet to start. The NDA, comprising all its Bihar constituents, is gearing up to contest all 243 seats together under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. While formal seat-sharing talks are yet to begin, there is clarity and unity in our camp. In contrast, the Mahagathbandhan is riddled with internal tantrums and constituency-level chaos." The JD(U) is not going down quietly. Having already suffered a major blow by playing second fiddle to BJP in the general elections, Kumars party is now pushing hard for a 50-50 seat-sharing formula. The JDU believes in workable and discussion based seat-sharing formulas. All NDA constituents are together and there is no crack over seat sharing," added Prasad. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Sources indicate that the JD(U)s organisational strength is eroding, and its vote bank among Muslims, EBCs and Mahadalits is showing signs of drift. Adding to the pressure is the return of a familiar ghostcrime. The surge in law-and-order incidents and related concerns is reviving memories of Bihars jungle raj, denting Nitish Kumars long-standing Sushasan Babu" image. Amidst the brewing storm stands Union minister Chirag Paswan, the leader of the LJP. He now wants his share to grow in Bihar politics. But both BJP and JD(U) are reluctant. While BJP fears that Paswans ambition might lead to parallel posturing among voters, JD(U) sees him as a direct threat. Neither the BJP nor the JDU wants Paswan to fight elections, though ruling JDU is keen on LJP contesting on 20-25 seats. About the Author Madhuparna Das Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa... Read More Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa... Read More First Published: July 22, 2025, 09:49 IST News elections BJP Aims Big, JDU Wants Balance & Chirag Paswan Seeks Larger Role In Bihar Seat-Sharing Talks 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 Long Can Jadgeep Dhankhar Stay In Official VP Residence After Resigning And What Next? Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 14:02 IST The VicePresidents Enclave, located on 108 Church Road, New Delhi, serves as the officeresidence for the sitting Vice President. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. (PTI) Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar submitted his resignation on Monday under Article 67(a) of the Indian Constitution, citing medical advice and worsening health. His departure took effect immediately, making him only the third Vice President to step down midterm since Indias independence. President Droupadi Murmu formalised Dhankhars resignation on Tuesday and a Gazette Notification was issued announcing his resignation. Deputy Chair of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh, now chairs the Upper House during the vacancy. Recommended Stories The election for the next Vice President of India has to take place within the next 60 days, as per the ruled laid down in the Indian Constitution. Till a new Vice President is elected, will Dhankhar continue to live in the VPs official residence? While there is no confirmation on when Dhankhar will vacate the official residence, heres what the rules say. How Long Can Dhankhar Stay in the VP Residence After Quitting? The VicePresidents Enclave, located on 108 Church Road, New Delhi, serves as the officeresidence for the sitting Vice President. Once Dhankhar resigned, he has ceased to be the legal occupant. The Allotment Rules under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs grant official residences only to sitting officeholders. The Constitution and related regulations are silent on grace periods postresignation. Typically, highranking officials are expected to vacate official government residences promptly upon stepping down. The VicePresidents Enclave is not retained even for short durations, any temporary extension requires special administrative orders, not covered under standard rules. A grace period of 15 days or a month can be rewarded only upon administrative orders. In past cases, former officeholders have vacated within days or weeks, transitioning to lifetime government accommodation but not the same building where they held office. Will Dhankhar Get a Permanent Government Residence? Though Dhankhar is required to leave the official VP residence, he remains eligible for a TypeVIII government bungalow under the Ministry of Home Affairs rules. The residence will be rentfree, customisable by location choice, governed under the VicePresident Pension, Housing and Other Facilities scheme (MHA, ~2009). He is eligible for continued support services like staff assistance, medical coverage, official transport depending on seniorstatus provisions. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all What Next For Dhankhar? He must relocate from the Enclave but can move into another governmentprovided residence of similar standard. The new bungalow will become his permanent official home, distinct from the former VP residence in Lutyens Delhi. 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 22, 2025, 14:02 IST News explainers How Long Can Jadgeep Dhankhar Stay In Official VP Residence After Resigning And What Next? 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: How Is India's Vice-President Elected? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 14:02 IST As per rules of the Constitution, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh will take over the duties of RS Chairman starting Tuesday till a new Vice-President is elected In a sudden move, Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post citing medical reasons. (Image: PTI/File) The sudden resignation of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar from his post on Monday eveningalso Day 1 of Parliaments Monsoon Sessionhas generated a buzz in political circles. Dhankhar, who sent his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, cited medical reasons for taking the step 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. Recommended Stories As per the rules of the Constitution, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh will take over the duties of Rajya Sabha Chairman (V-P) starting Tuesday till a new Vice-President is elected. Following Dhankhars resignation, the position of Vice President of Indiawho also serves as the Rajya Sabhas chairmanis now vacant, paving the way for a closely watched and potentially high-stakes election in the days ahead. Heres how the V-P is elected in India Who elects the Vice-President of India? The Vice-President is elected by an Electoral College, which consists of the members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha (both elected and nominated members). Who can be elected as Indias Vice President? A person cannot be elected as Vice-President unless he: is a citizen of India; has completed the age of 35 years, and is qualified for election as a member of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). A person is not also eligible if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or a State Government or any subordinate local authority. What are the other conditions to be fulfilled? Nomination paper of a candidate for the election in the prescribed form (Form 3 appended to the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974) has to be subscribed by at least 20 electors as proposers and at least 20 electors as seconders and has to be presented to the Returning Officer, between 11am and 3pm on any day appointed for the purpose, either by the candidate himself or by any of his proposers or seconders. The Security Deposit for the election of Rs 15,000 should also be deposited either in cash with the Returning Officer or a receipt showing that the amount has been deposited by the candidate or on his behalf in the Reserve Bank of India or in a Government Treasury should be furnished along with the nomination paper. The candidate is also required to furnish a certified copy of the entry showing his name in the current electoral roll for the parliamentary constituency in which the candidate is registered as an elector. Who conducts the election to the Office of Vice-President of India? Under Article 324 of the Constitution of India, the authority to conduct elections to the Office of Vice-President is vested in the Election Commission of India. What is the term of the office of the Vice-President? The Vice-President holds office for a term of 5 years from the date on which he enters upon his office. However, notwithstanding the expiration of his term, he shall continue to hold office, until his successor enters upon his office. In the case of death, removal or resignation of the Vice-President, the Constitution does not provide any method of succession, apart from a fresh election. However, in such event, the Deputy Chairman can function as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. What electoral system/process is adopted for the election? As per Article 66(1) of the Constitution of India, the election of the Vice-President shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot. Each MP ranks the candidates in order of preference (1, 2, 3, etc). A prospective candidate must secure at least 20 proposers and 20 seconders from among MPs to file a valid nomination. A security deposit of Rs 15,000 is also required. To win, a candidate must obtain a majority of the valid votes castmeaning more than half. If no one meets this quota based on first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed according to the voters next preferences. This process continues until a candidate surpasses the required threshold. The Election Commission must hold a fresh election promptly, preferably within 60 days of the position becoming vacant. Who is appointed the Returning Officer/Assistant Returning Officer for the election? By convention, the Secretary General, Lok Sabha or the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha is appointed as the Returning Officer, by rotation. Two other senior officers of the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha Secretariat are appointed as the Assistant Returning Officers. The Election Commission of India makes such appointments. Where is the election to the Office of Vice-President held? A room in the Parliament House in New Delhi is generally fixed as the place of poll. How is the value of votes of members of the Electoral College calculated? Unlike the Presidential election (where the value of votes cast by the Members of Parliament and of the various State Legislative Assemblies is different), the value of every vote cast in the Vice-Presidential election has the same value i.e. 1(one). Are the provisions of the Anti-Defection law applicable in Vice-Presidential elections? No. Members of the Electoral College can vote according to their choice/wish and are not bound by any party whip. The voting is by secret ballot. Is the winner in a Vice-Presidential election elected on the basis of obtaining simple majority? Or by securing a specified quota of votes? As the Vice-Presidential election is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote, every elector has as many preferences as candidate contesting the elections. The winning candidate has to secure the required quota of votes to be declared elected, is 50 per cent of the valid votes cast +(plus) 1. What is the procedure of counting in a Vice-Presidential election? How is the quota of votes to be secured by the winning candidate determined? After the valid ballot papers are segregated from the invalid ones, the valid ballot papers are distributed among the contesting candidates on the basis of first preference marked on each of them for those candidates. The number of votes which each contesting candidate gets in this process is ascertained. The total number of valid votes secured by all contesting candidates is then ascertained by adding together the number of votes secured by each of them. This is the first round of counting. For ascertaining the quota sufficient to secure the return of a candidate, the total number of valid votes cast at the election as ascertained in the first round of counting is then divided by two, and one is added to the quotient so obtained, ignoring the remainder, if any. The number so determined, is the quota, which a candidate should secure to be declared elected. If the total value of the votes credited to any candidate at the first count, is equal to, or greater than the quota sufficient to secure the return of a candidate, he is declared elected by the Returning Officer. If, however, after the first round of counting, no candidate secures the requisite quota, then the counting proceeds on the basis of a process of elimination and exclusion, whereby the candidate credited with the lowest number of votes is excluded and all his ballot papers are distributed among the remaining (continuing) candidates on the basis of the second preferences marked thereon. The ballot papers on which second preference is not marked is treated as exhausted ballot papers and shall not be further counted, even if the third or subsequent preferences are marked thereon. If no candidate secures the requisite quota, then the process of counting will continue on the same basis of elimination and exclusion, till a candidate secures the required quota of votes. In case, even after the exclusion of the candidates receiving the lowest number of votes, no candidates secures the requisite quota and ultimately one candidate remains as the lone continuing candidate, he is declared elected even if he has failed to secure the quota sufficient to secure the return of a candidate. At an election where there are only two contesting candidates, the result of election will be known after the first round of counting itself. The candidate who has secured more number of votes than the other candidate shall be declared elected, as he has obviously secured the quota, i.e. 50 per cent of valid votes cast plus one. Can the results of the election to the Office of Vice-President be challenged? Yes. An election to the Office of the Vice-President can be called in question by means of an election petition presented to the Supreme Court. Such election petition should be presented by a candidate or ten or more electors joined together, and may be presented at any time after the date of publication of the declaration containing the name of the returned candidate at the election under Section 12 (of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952), but not later than 30 days from the date of such publication. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Can a former V-P contest again? Yes. The Indian Constitution does not restrict the number of terms a person can serve as Vice-President. A former Vice-President is fully eligible to contest again, whether immediately after completing a term or after a gap. They can serve multiple terms if elected through the prescribed process. 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 First Published: July 22, 2025, 13:53 IST News explainers Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns: How Is India's Vice-President Elected? 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 Was Maria Farmers Troubling Encounter With Trump? How Is She Linked To Epstein Case? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 15:38 IST Maria Farmer is now alleging a troubling encounter with Donald Trump in the 1990s and linking him to Jeffrey Epstein (From left) Maria Farmer, Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump. (mariafarmerart.com/News18) The Jeffrey Epstein case has been grabbing the headlines for a while now. While the resurgence of interest in Epstein and unanswered questions about his crimes, has led to a boost in book sales, Netflix streams and YouTube searches, President Donald Trump has filed a libel lawsuit against the publisher of the Wall Street Journal and reporters who wrote a story about a collection of letters gifted to Epstein for his 50th birthday in 2003, including a note bearing Trumps name. Maria Farmer, one of the first to file a criminal complaint against Epstein, is now alleging a troubling encounter" with Trump in the 1990s and linking him to Epstein. Recommended Stories Who is Jeffrey Epstein? Jeffrey Epstein was an American financier and convicted sex offender who became notorious for running a large-scale sex trafficking operation involving underage girls and connections to influential elites. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1953, he initially worked as a teacher and later moved into finance, claiming to manage the wealth of billionaires through a secretive investment firm. In 2005, Epstein was first investigated by Florida police after a 14-year-old girl accused him of sexual abuse. The investigation uncovered more than 30 underage victims, but in 2008, Epstein struck a controversial plea deal that allowed him to plead guilty to lesser state charges, serving just 13 months in jail with generous work-release privileges. In July 2019, Epstein was arrested againthis time by federal authorities in New Yorkon charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors, with prosecutors accusing him of sexually abusing dozens of girls between 2002 and 2005 at his residences in Manhattan and Florida. While awaiting trial in the Metropolitan Correctional Center, Epstein died on August 10, 2019, in what was officially ruled a suicide. At the time of his death, Epstein had been denied bail and faced potentially decades in prison. His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was later arrested and convicted for her role in helping Epstein recruit and abuse underage victims. Who is Maria Farmer? Maria Farmer is an American figurative visual artist and one of the earliest known accusers of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. She filed a criminal complaint about Epsteins conduct in 1996. She grew up in Kentucky; studied art at Santa Clara University (B.A., 1992), then earned her MFA from the New York Academy of Art in 1995. She completed a postgraduate workshop at the Santa Fe Art Institute under painter Eric Fischl in 1995. Maria Farmers allegations against Jeffrey Epstein Farmer was introduced to Epstein and Maxwell at her MFA show in 1995. She was subsequently hired by Epstein as an art consultant and desk receptionist at his New York townhouse. In 1996, while isolated at Epstein associate Leslie Wexners Ohio estate, Farmer alleged she was sexually assaulted by Epstein and Maxwell. She escaped and reported the incident to the NYPD and FBI. Despite detailing threats from Maxwell and lack of follow-up by authorities, her case faded from public view until journalist Vicky Wards 2002 Vanity Fair expose omitted her story reportedly under pressure. The trauma impacted her art: she paused painting for over 20 years. What did Maria Farmer say about Donald Trump? In July 2025, Farmer alleged she reported concerns about Donald Trumpwho allegedly made her uncomfortable at Epsteins NYC officesto the FBI in 1996 and again in 2006. Farmer alleged 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 alleged she had 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 wearing running shorts, alleged Trump, who was in a business suit, stared at her bare legs". 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. 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 impact top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 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. With Agency Inputs 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 22, 2025, 15:25 IST News explainers What Was Maria Farmers Troubling Encounter With Trump? How Is She Linked To Epstein 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... Walking Through The Kill Zone For Food: The 800+ Deaths At Gaza Aid Centres Explained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 13:41 IST Over 800 Palestinians die while seeking aid: How does the process of giving aid work in Gaza? What makes it dangerous? Explained Palestinians carry food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. (AP) Twenty-eight countries including Britain, Japan and a host of European nations issued a joint statement on Monday saying the war in Gaza must end now". The foreign ministers of countries, 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 U.N. human rights office. Recommended Stories How does the process of giving aid work in Gaza? What are the dangers involved? Explained The Israel-Hamas war 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. The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the U.N. and other international organisations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. What is drip feeding of aid? The term drip feeding" of aid in Gaza refers to the extremely limited, tightly controlled, and insufficient flow of humanitarian assistance into the territory since the escalation of conflict in October 2023. Aid deliveries have often fallen far below the daily minimum needed to sustain the populationat times dipping to just 1020 trucks a day, compared to the pre-war average of 500. Humanitarian groups and UN officials describe this as a deliberate restriction, accusing Israel of using aid as a tool of political pressure, while Israel cites security concerns over aid diversion by Hamas. The result is a humanitarian system that delivers just enough to avoid total collapse, but not enough to prevent widespread hunger, disease, and death. This slow and inadequate supplycharacterized as starvation by design" by some rights groupsforces desperate civilians to risk their lives to obtain even the most basic necessities. How do Gazans get aid? Most of the food supplies Israel has allowed into Gaza go to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an American group backed by Israel. Arrival & First Halt: Aid seekers (on foot, by cart, or vehicle) travel up to a designated drop-off point, usually 1.5 km from the distribution site, where they must disembark and proceed on foot carrying supplies. Wait at alJoura: From there, they walk to alJouraa sandy pit where families wait, often for 1224 hours, to receive a drone or military go" signal to move toward the aid point. Final Approach to Aid Gate: Once the signal arrives (supposedly indicating safe passage), they proceed roughly another 1 km through lines of Israeli military checkpoints, sniper positions, drones, and barriers to reach the guarded gate of the distribution center. Atrisk even when waiting: Witnesses have reported fire near or into alJouraeven before the signal is givenendangering crowds gathered for hours hoping for sustenance. What Happens Immediately After the Signal Thousands of people who have waited for hours (often overnight) in alJoura or nearby dunes begin sprinting toward the distribution gate to ensure they get aid before the supplies run out, often causing stampede. To reach the gate, people must cross 5001,000 meters of exposed terrain. This area is often surveilled by Israeli drones, surrounded by sniper or observation posts and l ined with Israeli army checkpoints or trenches. Despite the go signal," witnesses say that gunfire frequently breaks out, either to control the crowd or for unclear reasons. Many are killed or injured in the chaos shot by live rounds, rubber bullets, or drone-fired projectiles; crushed in crowd surges or while trying to flee; trampled if they fall. Reports from UN and journalists estimate dozens to hundreds have died during these rushes since GHF distribution began. Israeli soldiers or GHF staff allow only a small number of people through the final gate. The rest are either turned back or forced to wait again until the next day. Kill / NoGo Zones in Gaza 1. Northern Gaza Governorate (Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, Gaza City) 2. AlMawasi / Khan Yunis Area 3. Deir alBalah & Eastern Central Gaza Zone 4. Israeli Security / Buffer Corridors: Netzarim, Philadelphi, Morag Gazas aid-related deaths According to the United Nations and humanitarian sources, at least 875 people have been killed while trying to access food, water, or medical assistance since late May. The vast majorityover 670 deathsoccurred near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution centers, primarily in Rafah and Khan Younis. Another 200+ fatalities were recorded along aid convoy routes, often due to attacks, stampedes, or exposure. In some incidents, such as a deadly surge at a GHF site on July 16, more than 20 people were crushed or suffocated while scrambling for supplies. Human rights organizations and UN officials have condemned these deaths as the direct result of a broken and dangerous aid system, describing the environment as inherently unsafe" and calling for urgent changes to ensure civilian protection. What has Israel said? 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. The Israeli governments aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity," the countries said in their statement. 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. have rejected the criticism. Israels Foreign Ministry rejected the statement, saying it was disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas." 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. 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. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 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. With Agency Inputs 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 22, 2025, 13:34 IST News explainers Walking Through The Kill Zone For Food: The 800+ Deaths At Gaza Aid Centres 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... Was July 22 Second Shortest Day Of 2025? Why Is Earth Spinning Faster? Should You Be Worried? Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 17:29 IST The length of a day is the time it takes for the planet to complete a full rotation on its axis an average of 24 hours or 86,400 seconds. Each rotation is however irregular Follow us on: Why is Earth leaking gold and precious metals? A new study explores just that. (News18) On July 22, Earth is expected to spin a little faster than usual, skipping 1.34 milliseconds of the usual 24-hour day. This will make it the second shortest day of the year so far. July 10 was the shortest day of the year so far, lasting 1.36 milliseconds less than 24 hours, according to data from the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service and the US Naval Observatory, compiled by timeanddate.com. Recommended Stories August 5 is predicted to be 1.25 milliseconds shorter than 24 hours. How is the length of a day calculated? The length of a day is the time it takes for the planet to complete one full rotation on its axis 24 hours or 86,400 seconds on average. But in reality, each rotation is slightly irregular due to a variety of factors, such as the gravitational pull of the moon, seasonal changes in the atmosphere and the influence of Earths liquid core. As a result, a full rotation usually takes slightly less or slightly more than 86,400 seconds a discrepancy of just milliseconds that doesnt have any obvious effect on everyday life. Why do shorter days matter? These discrepancies can, in the long run, affect computers, satellites and telecommunications, which is why even the smallest time deviations are tracked using atomic clocks, which were introduced in 1955. CNN, in its report, highlighted how experts believe this could lead to a scenario similar to the Y2K problem, which threatened to bring modern civilization to a halt. Atomic clocks count the oscillations of atoms held in a vacuum chamber within the clock itself to calculate 24 hours to the utmost degree of precision. We call the resulting time UTC, or Coordinated Universal Time, which is based on around 450 atomic clocks and is the global standard for timekeeping, as well as the time to which all our phones and computers are set. Astronomers also keep track of Earths rotation using satellites that check the position of the planet relative to fixed stars, for example and can detect minute differences between the atomic clocks time and the amount of time it actually takes Earth to complete a full rotation. Is it becoming a trend? Last year, on July 5, 2024, Earth experienced the shortest day ever recorded since the advent of the atomic clock 65 years ago, at 1.66 milliseconds less than 24 hours. Weve been on a trend toward slightly faster days since 1972," Duncan Agnew, a professor emeritus of geophysics at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a research geophysicist at the University of California, San Diego told CNN. But there are fluctuations. Its like watching the stock market, really. There are long-term trends, and then there are peaks and falls." In 1972, after decades of rotating relatively slowly, Earths spin had accumulated such a delay relative to atomic time that the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service mandated the addition of a leap second" to the UTC. This is similar to the leap year, which adds an extra day to February every four years to account for the discrepancy between the Gregorian calendar and the time it takes Earth to complete one orbit around the sun. Since 1972, a total of 27 leap seconds have been added to the UTC, but the rate of addition has increasingly slowed, due to Earth speeding up; nine leap seconds were added throughout the 1970s while no new leap seconds have been added since 2016. In 2022, the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) voted to retire the leap second by 2035, meaning we may never see another one added to the clocks. But if Earth keeps spinning faster for several more years, according to Agnew, eventually one second might need to be removed from the UTC. Theres never been a negative leap second," he said, but the probability of having one between now and 2035 is about 40%." What is causing Earth to spin faster? The shortest-term changes in Earths rotation, Agnew said, come from the moon and the tides, which make it spin slower when the satellite is over the equator and faster when its at higher or lower altitudes. This effect compounds with the fact that during the summer Earth naturally spins faster the result of the atmosphere itself slowing down due to seasonal changes, such as the jet stream moving north or south; the laws of physics dictate that the overall angular momentum of Earth and its atmosphere must remain constant, so the rotation speed lost by the atmosphere is picked up by the planet itself. Similarly, for the past 50 years Earths liquid core has also been slowing down, with the solid Earth around it speeding up. The role of melting ice Climate change is also a contributing factor to the issue of the leap second, but in a surprising way. While global warming has had considerable negative impacts on Earth, when it comes to our timekeeping, it has served to counteract the forces that are speeding up Earths spin. A study published last year by Agnew in the journal Nature details how ice melting in Antarctica and Greenland is spreading over the oceans, slowing down Earths rotation much like a skater spinning with their arms over their head, but spinning slower if the arms are tucked along the body. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all If that ice had not melted, if we had not had global warming, then we would already be having a leap negative leap second, or we would be very close to having it," Agnew said. Meltwater from Greenland and Antarctica ice sheets has is responsible for a third of the global sea level rise since 1993, according to NASA. With CNN 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 view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 17:23 IST News explainers Was July 22 Second Shortest Day Of 2025? Why Is Earth Spinning Faster? Should You Be Worried? 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 A Supermarket Manager, English Teacher, YouTuber & Now Japans Trump: Who Is Sohei Kamiya? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 16:14 IST Who Is Sohei Kamiya? Formed in 2020 with dissatisfied citizens who wanted 'Japanese First', his party, Sanseito, won 1415 seats in upper house, eroding PM Ishibas majority Sohei Kamiya, leader of the Sanseito party, speaks during an election campaign in Tosu, Saga prefecture, southwestern Japan, on July 12. (Kyodo News via AP) Who Is Sohei Kamiya? The fringe far-right Sanseito party emerged as one of the biggest winners in Japans upper house election on Sunday, gaining support with warnings of a silent invasion" of immigrants, and pledges for tax cuts and welfare spending. Sohei Kamiyas Sanseito secured 1415 seats in the 248-member upper house, a major leap from just one seat in 2022, making it a significant force in national politics. This surge has eroded Prime Minister Shigeru Ishibas coalition majority and placed Sanseito in a stronger position to shape legislation. Kamiya is keen to build political alliances with other fringe parties rather than collaborate with the ruling coalition. Recommended Stories 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. Who is Sohei Kamiya? What is his party Sanseitos agenda? Why is he called Japans Trump? Explained Who is Sohei Kamiya? Born on October 12, 1977, in Takahama, Fukui Prefecture, Kamiya is a Japanese politician and founder of the farright populist party Sanseito. Since 2022, he has served as a Member of the House of Councillors via proportional representation. He holds a law degree and formerly served on the Suita City Council in Osaka. Prior to founding Sanseito, he worked as a supermarket manager, English teacher, and later hosted political content on YouTube. As Secretary General and de facto leader of Sanseito since its founding in March 2020, Kamiya has been the chief face and strategist of the party. His prior affiliations include periods as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (20122015) and an independent (20152020). All about Kamiyas Sanseito the Party of Do It Yourself It was established in April 2020, led by ordinary citizens unsatisfied with existing political options. Its ideology is Japanese nationalism, ultraconservatism, right-wing populism, and staunch anti-immigration stance. The party was vocal in promoting COVID-19 conspiracy theories, opposing masks and vaccines, and resisting LGBTQ+ rights and gender equality policies. It gained national party status by earning over 2% of votes in the 2022 House of Councillors election, where it secured one seat. By the 2025 upper house election, it surged to 15 seats (from just one). Its influence continues to grow, especially online. National doping to young women: Kamiyas controversial views Kamiyas rhetoric often draws comparisons with global populists like Donald Trump and European farright parties (e.g. AfD, Reform UK). During the campaign, Kamiya used the phrase national doping" to describe Japans reliance on foreign labour, sparking criticism for xenophobic undertones. He stoked controversy by stating, Only young women can have children." Sanseito also proposed making terminally ill patients pay fully out-of-pocket for lifeprolonging treatments. The party faced scrutiny after a candidates appearance on Russias Sputnik news sparked speculation of pro-Russia tiesKamiya denied any such affiliations and called it a misunderstanding. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier in 2025, Kamiya made misleading claims about the Battle of Okinawaasserting that only US troops killed Okinawans, not the Imperial Japanese Army. With Reuters, Agency Inputs 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 22, 2025, 16:05 IST News explainers A Supermarket Manager, English Teacher, YouTuber & Now Japans Trump: Who Is Sohei Kamiya? 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... 1.19 Lakh Bighas Cleared, 63 Lakh Acres Still Under Encroachment: Assam CM Sarma Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 20:21 IST "Till now, an estimated 1,19,548 bighas of land has been cleared through eviction drives," said Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. At least 63 lakh acres of land, which would be equivalent to countries like Singapore, is still under encroachment in Assam, according to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Till now, an estimated 1,19,548 bighas of land have been cleared through eviction drives. But making Assam entirely free of encroachment could take another 20 years. Despite the timeline, our government is fully committed to this mission and will not relent," Sarma declared. Recommended Stories He cautioned that halting the eviction efforts would invite further encroachment, especially on forest and grazing lands, accelerating demographic shifts that could endanger Assamese culture, tradition, and the rights of indigenous communities. The Chief Minister reiterated that the state government is strictly implementing the eviction policy to protect Assams social and cultural fabric. We have lost our culture, our land, our temples. The law gives us no remedy. Thats why we are desperatenot for revenge, but for survival Yes, we may be fighting a losing battle. But we will go down fightingwith dignity, within the law, and for the soul of our Assam Do not stop us. Just do not stop us from fighting for what is ours. This is our last battle for survival," Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said on X. He was replying to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. She had said, The second most spoken language in the country, Bengali, is also the second most spoken language of Assam. To threaten citizens, who want to coexist peacefully respecting all languages and religions, with persecution for upholding their own mother tongue is discriminatory and unconstitutional. This divisive agenda of the BJP in Assam has crossed all limits and people of Assam will fight back. I stand with every fearless citizen who is fighting for the dignity of their language and identity, and their democratic rights." Agree. Legally, all of them may not be foreigners. But we, the people of Assamespecially Hindusare becoming a hopeless minority in our own land. All this has happened over a span of just 60 years.We have lost our culture, our land, our temples. The law gives us no remedy. https://t.co/OCDEilTESf Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 19, 2025 In another X reply to Sanjay Hegje, Sarma said, Legally, all of them may not be foreigners. But we, the people of Assamespecially Hindusare becoming a hopeless minority in our own land. All this has happened over a span of just 60 years. We have lost our culture, our land, our temples. The law gives us no remedy. Thats why we are desperatenot for revenge, but for survival. Yes, we may be fighting a losing battle. But we will go down fightingwith dignity, within the law, and for the soul of our Assam. Do not stop us. Just do not stop us from fighting for what is ours. For us this is our last battle of survival". In a recent speech, Sarma said, We have dedicated the recovered land for public welfare. In Orang, the reclaimed land has become a habitat for one-horned rhinos and tigers. A solar project has come up in Borsola. Elephants have returned to Lumding, and human-elephant conflict has reduced significantly. The reclaimed Bura Pahar now provides a safe home for one horned rhinos and tigers. Paikan, once filled with teak trees, will soon be green again. In Garukhuti, the area has emerged as a hub for employment generation. Garukhuti has been devoted to freeing our land from illegal encroachers." An MLA of Khumtai constituency of Assam, in his Facebook post, highlighted the threat of encroachers. In the post, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Mrinal Saikia stated that the Assam government has reclaimed 1.19 lakh bighas (nearly 43,000 acres) of encroached land. Over 3.62 lakh hectares of forest are still under the control of encroachers," said Saikia. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all If we fail to reclaim this forest land, can the Assamese community survive? Can our next generation survive?" Mauritius has 2,040 square kilometres (790 sq mi) of land, Maldives has 298 square kilometres (115 sq mi) of land and Singapore has approximately 735.7km of land. Location : Assam, India, India First Published: July 22, 2025, 20:11 IST News india 1.19 Lakh Bighas Cleared, 63 Lakh Acres Still Under Encroachment: Assam CM Sarma 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... 10 Years Of Vengeance: Lucknow Man Murders Mothers Attacker, Then Throws A Party Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 13:04 IST He roped in four friends, Ranjit, Adil, Salamu, and Rehmat Ali, all on one condition, there would be a party after the deed. The saga of revenge ended not with triumph, but with handcuffs, an extraordinary reminder of how grudges can consume years, and ultimately, lives. (Representative image) What began as a mothers humiliation a decade ago ended in bloodshed, celebration, and arrest. In a chilling tale that sounds straight out of a Bollywood revenge thriller, Lucknows Sonu Kashyap spent ten relentless years tracking down Manoj, a man accused of assaulting his mother. His obsession culminated in a brutal murderand a party that would seal his fate. Manoj, a coconut vendor, had assaulted Sonus mother over a minor dispute and fled the area soon after. While Manoj vanished, Sonus desire for vengeance only deepened. Earlier this year, Sonu finally found Manoj in Lucknows Munshi Pulia area and began planning his attack. Recommended Stories He roped in four friends, Ranjit, Adil, Salamu, and Rehmat Ali, all on one condition, there would be a party after the deed. On May 22, they ambushed Manoj after he closed his shop, bludgeoning him with iron rods. Manoj succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. The murder might have gone unsolved, but the celebratory party that followed turned out to be their undoing. Photos from the gathering, featuring drinks, music, and dancing, surfaced on social media. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all One image showed an accused wearing the same orange T-shirt seen in the CCTV footage from the crime scene. The police cross-referenced the visuals, identified the suspects through their online profiles, and arrested all five men involved in the killing. The saga of revenge ended not with triumph, but with handcuffs, an extraordinary reminder of how grudges can consume years, and ultimately, lives. 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 22, 2025, 13:04 IST News india 10 Years Of Vengeance: Lucknow Man Murders Mothers Attacker, Then Throws A Party 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... Innocent In Jail In Train Blasts Case: Why Lincoln Lawyer & Ex-HC Judge Muralidhar Said This Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 23, 2025, 16:12 IST 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts Explainer: "Innocent people are sent to jail, released years later..., said senior counsel and former HC judge S Muralidhar in January. Who is he? Follow us on: (Left) Shaikh Mohammed Ali Alam Shaikh (in white) released after his acquittal by the Bombay HC; (right) senior counsel and former Delhi High Court (HC) judge S Muralidhar. (PTI) 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts: In January, senior counsel and former Delhi High Court (HC) judge S Muralidhar said something which is ringing true in the wake of the acquittal of the 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case. There is a bias in the investigation. Innocent people are sent to jail, and years later, they are released for want of evidence. By then, there is no possibility of reconstructing their lives," argued Muralidhar. Representing two of the accused, Zameer Shaikh and Muzzammil Shaikh, the former judge had pointed to what he called serious flaws and communal bias" in the investigation. Recommended Stories On July 11, 2006, seven blasts within a span of 11 minutes in the first-class compartments of Western Railway (WR) local trains left 189 dead and several injured. The MCOCA court in September 2015 convicted 12 of the 13 arrested in the case. Mumbai Train Blasts Case Recap: 189 Deaths In 11 Minutes In 2006 To Acquittal Of 12 In 2025 Kamal Ansari (now dead), Mohammad Faisal Ataur Rahman Shaikh, Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddiqui, Naveed Hussain Khan and Asif Khan were sentenced to death, while 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 were sentenced to life imprisonment. The Bombay High Court (HC) on Monday acquitted all 12 accused, saying the prosecution utterly failed to prove the case and it was hard to believe they committed the crime". The state plans to challenge the verdict. Who is justice S Muralidhar? Justice Dr. S. Muralidhar was born on August 8, 1961. He began his academic journey in Chennai, where he completed his B.Sc. in Chemistry from Vivekananda College under the University of Madras in 1981, graduating with first-class honors. He then pursued law at the Madras Law College, also affiliated with the University of Madras, where he earned his Bachelor of Laws (B.L.) degree in 1984, securing the first rank and receiving multiple academic distinctions, including the L.C. Miller Medal and the Carmichael and Innes Prize. He went on to complete an LL.M. in Constitutional and Administrative Law from Nagpur University in 1990, again topping his class. In 2003, he was awarded a Ph.D. in law by the University of Delhi for his thesis on Legal Aid and the Criminal Justice System in India." Additionally, he qualified as a Company Secretary in 1985. He demitted office as the Chief Justice of Orissa HC on August 7, 2023, after a 17-year illustrious career as a judge. Justice Muralidhar served the Delhi HC 14 years, before being transferred to the Punjab and Haryana HC through a midnight order. In December 2020, he was elevated as the Chief Justice of the Orissa HC. In September 2022, the Supreme Court collegium recommended his transfer to Madras HC, but the Centre did not notify it. Indias Lincoln Lawyer: Blue Maruti Omni as office & key judgments The judge was known for his blue Maruti Omni van that used to be parked at the SCs parking lot that he used as his chamber. Some of his prominent verdicts as Delhi HC judge include: Northeast Delhi riots in 2020: His bench in an emergency midnight hearing on February 26, 2020, directed Delhi police to ensure safe passage to GTB hospital for treatment. CAA-linked violence: He rapped the Delhi police for failing to take action against three BJP leaders for hate speech. Homosexuality: He was part of the bench that first decriminalised homosexuality in the Naz Foundation case in 2009. Bhima-Koregaon case: He granted relief to Gautam Navlakha. 1986 Hashimpura massacre : He also convicted 16 members of the Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary for their role in the case, which witnessed the killing of 50 Muslim men by police. 1984 anti-Sikh riots: He delivered the verdict on conviction of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar for his role in the incident. Disclosure of assets of SC judges: He allowed RTI pleas on in 2010. Essential to imbibe Constitutional values: Justice Muralidhar The most moving moment as a judge was in this very court sitting where I am today when on July 2, 2009, Chief Justice A.P. Shah and I delivered our judgment in Naz Foundation. Even as we held that consensual same-sex between adults in private was not a crime, the relief that swept through the courtroom amongst those waiting to hear the verdict was palpable. Many broke down right here in front of us. At that moment, we knew that something irreversible had happened," he said in his farewell speech in Delhi HC in 2020. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Over the years, I have realised that it is not enough for lawyers and judges to speak about constitutional values. It is essential to imbibe them." With Agency Inputs 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 22, 2025, 12:58 IST News india Innocent In Jail In Train Blasts Case: Why Lincoln Lawyer & Ex-HC Judge Muralidhar Said This 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 900 Pharma Units Inspected In 3 Years, 700 Actions Taken; Himachal Key In Drug Quality Crackdown Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 17:12 IST In Himachal alone, 2,275 drug samples from local firms have been tested in the past two years, signalling the regulatory focus on pharma hotspots. The scale of non-compliance, where roughly 3 actions were taken for every 4 units inspected underscores concern about quality control in the countrys pharma ecosystem. (representational Image) In a crackdown that exposes lapses in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, Indias drug regulator has ramped up scrutiny, issuing almost 700 regulatory actions following risk-based inspections across India. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Indias apex drug regulator, has inspected 905 pharmaceutical units as part of its risk-based surveillance drive and 694 actions have been taken, leading to enforcement measures ranging from stop production orders and license suspensions to show cause notices and warning letters. As of now, 905 units have been inspected, resulting in 694 actions being taken." The data has been shared by the Minister of State, Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Recommended Stories The scale of non-compliance, where roughly 3 actions were taken for every 4 units inspected underscores concern about quality control in the countrys pharma ecosystem. The actions on these firms include Stop Production Orders (SPO), Stop Testing Orders (STO), licence suspensions/cancellations, warning letters, and show cause notices, depending on the severity of non-compliance," the minister replied. This initiative has provided valuable insights into the ground reality of manufacturing practices and has led to relevant corrective actions, resulting in noticeable improvements in the regulatory framework," Patel said. Focus on Himachal Pradesh In Himachal alone, 2,275 drug samples from local firms have been tested in the past two years, signalling the regulatory focus on pharma hotspots. In the last two years, CDSCO has tested 2275 drug samples of pharma companies situated in Himachal Pradesh. These drugs include vitamins, antipyretics, antibiotics, antihelminthics, antihistaminics, antineoplastics, corticosteroids, anticoagulants, analgesics, antacids, antidiabetics, anti-lipidemic and antihypertensives etc," she said while responding to the question on the details of drugs of pharmaceutical companies tested by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) during the last two years in Himachal Pradesh" The inspections, along with many other moves detailed by the minister in the Rajya Sabha, claim to be one of the most aggressive regulatory exercises in recent years to clean up Indias drug manufacturing practices. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to the data shared by Patel, in the latest May 2025 drug alert released by CDSCO, 186 drug samples failed quality checks and were classified as Not of Standard Quality (NSQ). Among these, 49 products were manufactured in Himachal Pradesh, one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing hubs in India. The flagged samples, now publicly listed on CDSCOs website, include medicines used for a wide range of conditions from common antibiotics and antihypertensives to corticosteroids, antidiabetics, and anticoagulants. She further added that the central government is providing regular residential, regional training and workshops to officials of CDSCO and state drug regulatory authorities on good manufacturing practices. In the financial year 2023-24, CDSCO has trained 22854 persons while in financial year 2024-25, 20,551 persons have been trained." 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 22, 2025, 17:12 IST News india 900 Pharma Units Inspected In 3 Years, 700 Actions Taken; Himachal Key In Drug Quality Crackdown 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 Bengali Student, A Kannada Name, And A Watch Thats Now World-Famous Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 14:58 IST What makes Prithvirajs story remarkable isnt just the global acclaim, but the way hes woven regional craftsmanship into an object of everyday utility. NIFT Bengaluru Student Patents Olavu Watch Inspired by Karnataka Art (Image: NIFT/Instagram) At just 21, fashion design student Prithviraj Choudhary has turned heads across the globe not with a new runway collection, but with a wooden watch inspired by Karnatakas iconic Channapatna toy art. His creation, called Olavu, is now an internationally patented design that blends age-old craftsmanship with contemporary utility. Originally from Kolkata, Prithviraj currently resides in Bengalurus HSR Layout and studies at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bengaluru. His deep interest in horology, the study of watches met its match when he came across the vibrant Channapatna lacquerware tradition. What began as a hobby soon transformed into a fusion of form and function. Recommended Stories The Olavu Watch: Tradition Meets Innovation The standout feature of Olavu lies in its handcrafted wooden dial, made using techniques traditionally employed in Channapatna toy making. The watch uses recycled aluminium and other sustainable components, further reflecting the Make in India ethos. The dial isnt just a nod to craft, its also customisable and available in a variety of colours, drawing attention for both its aesthetic appeal and cultural homage. The watch was first prototyped in February 2024 and quickly picked up buzz in design circles. Within two months, Prithviraj filed for an international design patent in April 2024. The patent was granted on July 13, 2025 a rare feat for a student designer still in the early stages of his career. About the Channapatna Toys Channapatna toys are traditional handcrafted wooden toys made in the town of Channapatna in Karnataka, often called the Toy Town of India." These toys are known for their smooth, lacquered finish and vibrant natural dyes, crafted using a centuries-old technique passed down through generations. Made primarily from ivory wood and coloured with safe, non-toxic pigments, Channapatna toys blend aesthetic charm with eco-friendly design making them both child-safe and culturally iconic. The craft is also protected under the Geographical Indication (GI) tag and remains a symbol of Karnatakas rich artisanal legacy. A Nod to Kannada, a Gift to the World Prithviraj named the watch Olavu, which means Love in Kannada, a reflection of his admiration for the states language, culture, and artistic legacy. Despite not being a native Kannadiga, his affection for local traditions shines through his work. The recognition hasnt gone unnoticed. Karnatakas Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar publicly congratulated him on social media, calling it a proud moment for Karnatakas craft heritage. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all What makes Prithvirajs story remarkable isnt just the global acclaim, but the way hes woven regional craftsmanship into an object of everyday utility. In an era of mass production, Olavu reminds us that innovation can also come from roots, not just trends. With his design now protected and praised internationally, Prithviraj Choudhary is not just telling time, hes making a timeless statement. First Published: July 22, 2025, 14:57 IST News india A Bengali Student, A Kannada Name, And A Watch Thats Now World-Famous 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... Presight, a global AI and big data analytics company, with Abu Dhabi-based technology group G42 as its majority shareholder, has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Tajikistan to establish strategic collaboration in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The MoU outlines a strategic collaboration to support the growth of Tajikistans AI ecosystem. Under the MoU, the parties intend to cooperate in areas including the piloting of AI-powered government and enterprise solutions in key sectors such as smart cities, energy and cybersecurity. The MoU also includes the creation of a joint working group to coordinate pilot projects, support the transfer of technologies, and explore AI-driven innovation across the country. In addition, the parties will explore AI-based operational solutions for critical infrastructure such as the Dushanbe International Airport. The collaboration, say the partners, is a testament to the growing economic and technological ties between Tajikistan and the United Arab Emirates, and reflects Presights commitment to advancing digital transformation across Central Asia. Sherali Kabir, Minister of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan, says: Our nation has pioneered the full supply chain of AI from green AI compute to frontier synthetic data applications and introduction of AI in the school curriculum. We view Presight as a strategic AI partner for Area AI, our global AI technopark, with plans for joint AI deployments in smart cities, industry and infrastructure. Presight is an Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX)-listed public company. It says it combines big data, analytics and AI expertise to serve every sector, of every scale, to create business and positive societal impact. It adds that it excels at all-source data interpretation to support insight-driven decision-making. After PM Modis Croatia Visit, Indian Firms Take On Chinas BRI In Mega Infra Projects: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 19:55 IST PM Modi's Croatia visit led Indian firms to bid for major infrastructure projects, competing with Chinese rivals, including railway and highway projects worth 1.1 billion euros. In this AI-generated image, Indian engineers are seen being welcomed by Croatian locals as they begin work on major infrastructure projects in the region. In contrast, Chinese engineers stand off to the side, appearing sidelined. (IMAGE: IMAGEN 3 ENGINE) When Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic in Zagreb last month, Plenkovic praised Indias growing interest in maritime trade routes to the Mediterranean. Barely weeks later, two top Indian infrastructure firms are looking to outpace Chinese rivals by bidding for some of Croatias biggest rail and road projects, according to a report by Bloomberg, who were among the first to report the developments. PM Modis visit has prompted growing interest from Indian firms eyeing big-ticket infrastructure projects in Croatia. Recommended Stories In the past week, a leading Indian engineering and construction heavyweight which is known for its work in marine infrastructure, metros, bridges and tunnels has placed three bids for key state-backed railway and highway projects in the EUs newest member, with a combined value of 1.1 billion euros ($1.3 billion). Another Indian conglomerate, based in Nashik and known for its expertise in highway and transport EPC projects, is also competing for the same railway reconstruction contract. New Delhi is a relatively new player in the Balkans, a region where Beijing has long had a strong presence through its Belt and Road infrastructure push. One of the most prominent Chinese-led projects is the 2.4-kilometre Peljesac Bridge, Croatias largest sea bridge, built by a consortium headed by China Road and Bridge Corporation. Opened in 2022 and largely funded by the European Union, the bridge linked Croatias coastal regions, bypassing a narrow stretch of Bosnian territory, and gave a significant boost to transport and tourism. As part of the tender process, the Mumbai-based infrastructure player submitted the lowest bid for a major railway reconstruction project floated by HZ Infrastruktura, valued at around 620 million euros. The project, partly funded by the European Union, is among the largest rail ventures in Croatias recent history. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In two other highway construction tenders in southern Croatia, the same firm is competing with a Chinese consortium, placing bids of 240.5 million euros and 214.4 million euros respectively. A Nashik-based engineering and EPC major is also in the race for the railway project, signalling a stronger push by Indian firms into Croatias infrastructure sector. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Location : Zagreb/New Delhi First Published: July 22, 2025, 19:55 IST News india After PM Modis Croatia Visit, Indian Firms Take On Chinas BRI In Mega Infra Projects: 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... Bihar Poll Roll Overhaul: Won't Lose Citizenship If Rejected By SIR, Election Commission Tells SC Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 17:05 IST In an 88-page affidavit, the ECI defended the SIR process as a constitutional mandate to maintain the purity and integrity of electoral rolls 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 (ECI) has assured the Supreme Court that a person would not lose Indian citizenship if found ineligible for registration in the electoral rolls under the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar. This assurance addressed concerns from opposition parties and civil society groups that the exercise might lead to mass disenfranchisement and act as a citizenship screening" drive. In an 88-page affidavit filed on Monday, the ECI defended the SIR process as a constitutional mandate to maintain the purity and integrity of electoral rolls. The commission emphasised its legal and constitutional authority to request proof of citizenship to enable the right to vote. However, it clarified that ineligibility under Article 326 (adult suffrage) does not affect citizenship status, which is determined by the ministry of home affairs. Recommended Stories The electoral roll revision began on June 24, with a comprehensive house-to-house enumeration in Bihar, requiring all 7.8 crore existing electors to submit new forms by July 25. The draft rolls will be published on August 1, followed by a claims and objections period until September 1, with the final rolls due on September 30. Petitioners, including the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and various political figures, have expressed concerns about the timing of the exercise near the November 2025 assembly elections, the burden of proof on citizens, and the exclusion of common documents like Aadhaar, voter ID cards (EPICs), and ration cards from the list of accepted documents. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Although the Supreme Court has allowed the SIR to proceed, it has suggested that Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards should be considered for verification. However, the ECI reiterated that these documents cannot be accepted as standalone documents" for SIR, citing reasons such as Aadhaar only being proof of identity and the prevalence of fake ration cards. The poll body assured rigorous safeguards to prevent the exclusion of eligible voters and maintained that the process is transparent and fair, with nearly 90% of electors having already submitted their forms by July 18. 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 22, 2025, 17:04 IST News india Bihar Poll Roll Overhaul: Won't Lose Citizenship If Rejected By SIR, Election Commission Tells SC 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 Denied Tax Exemption Of Rs 199.15 Crore, Tribunal Cites Lapses, Donor Rule Violations Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 23:16 IST The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal rejected the argument that late returns should be treated like charitable trusts, stressing political parties must strictly file within deadline The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal dismissed the appeal made by the Congress and upheld an incometax demand of Rs 199.15 crore on July 22. (Image: PTI/File) In a significant legal setback for the Congress, its tax exemption claim for Rs 199.15 crore was denied due to procedural lapses and violation of donation rules. Recommended Stories The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) on Tuesday dismissed the appeal made by the Congress and upheld an incometax demand of Rs 199.15 crore. It also rejected the partys argument that late returns should be treated like charitable trusts under Section 12A, stressing that political parties must strictly file within the statutory deadline. The ITAT found that the Congress violated two critical conditions under Section 13A, which governs tax exemptions for political parties. It noted that the Congress filed its income tax return on February 2, 2019, missing the mandatory extended deadline of December 31, 2018, as specified under Section 139(4B). The Congress received cash contributions of a total of Rs 14.49 lakh from various donors, with individual donations exceeding the permissible limit of Rs 2,000 under Section 13A provisions. While the party provided donor names and PAN details mostly from its own elected MLAs and MPs the tribunal ruled that the cash payment method itself violated the law. The bench, comprising judicial member Satbeer Singh Godara and accountant member M Balaganesh, stated that Section 13A represents a special exemption that must be applied with strict adherence to all conditions, with any breach rendering the entire exemption invalid. The tribunal dismissed an attempt by the Congress to distinguish between voluntary contributions" and donations," noting that the party itself made no such differentiation in its records or Election Commission filings. Additionally, the ITAT rejected the partys plea that only surplus funds after expenses should be taxed, instead ruling that once Section 13A exemption is denied, all voluntary contributions become taxable income. Beyond the primary tax demand, the tribunal also upheld additional financial penalties including interest charges under sections 234A, 234B, and 234C totaling over R 35 crore, plus a Rs 10,000 fee under Section 234F for delayed filing. This brings the total financial liability to approximately Rs 234 crore, representing a substantial burden for the opposition party. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Congress had previously appealed to the CIT (appeals) but was unsuccessful, with that appeal being dismissed in March 2023. (With ANI 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 22, 2025, 23:16 IST News india Congress Denied Tax Exemption Of Rs 199.15 Crore, Tribunal Cites Lapses, Donor Rule Violations 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... 'Dragged Court To Toilet': Gujarat HC Raps Man Who Appeared In Proceedings From Washroom Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 16:25 IST The video of a man attending the Gujarat High Court online proceedings from a toilet seat had gone viral on social media, prompting the court to take up suo motu case against him. Gujarat man joins online court proceedings from toilet (Photo: X) The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday rapped the man who had attended virtual court proceedings from a toilet seat and was seen relieving himself on live video in June, stating that he dragged the court to the toilet". On July 14, the court had imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the man, identified as Saman Abdul Rehman Shah. Recommended Stories The court said that it has ordered Shah to do community service for contempt of court. A Division Bench of Justices AS Supehia and RT Vachhani heard the suo motu contempt of court case against him today. The court said that by his actions, the majesty of the court is obliterated". Can we expect litigants to at least not take a dump while attending court! Hey bhagwan! pic.twitter.com/ROT1GimXnO sanjoy ghose (@advsanjoy) June 27, 2025 I view it in the sense that because of his action, the court proceedings or the court institution are dragged to the washroom. I view it in that sense. Whats happening is that the sanctity and majesty of the court is absolutely obliterated," Justice Supehia said, Bar and Bench reported. The judge said that the institution, such as the court, was dragged into a place like a toilet. and that hurts. Its very serious. He is participating in the process; he is dragging the high court to the toilet," the judge observed. Shahs lawyer told the court that he has deposited Rs 1 lakh fine as imposed on him. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The bizarre incident at the Gujarat High Court grabbed a lot of attention after the man joined the session from his toilet. This happened on June 20 in front of Justice Nirjar S. Desai, and the moment was recorded on video. The video starts with a close-up of the man, known as Samad Battery, wearing earphones around his neck. As he moves his phone, it becomes clear that he is sitting in a bathroom. The video even shows him cleaning himself before leaving the toilet. He disappears for a short while and then returns in a different room. 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 : Gujarat, India, India First Published: July 22, 2025, 16:25 IST News india 'Dragged Court To Toilet': Gujarat HC Raps Man Who Appeared In Proceedings From Washroom 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... Efforts Ongoing: Jitendra Singh Says Embassy Trying To Free Indian Kidnapped In Niger Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 10:26 IST Ranjit Singh, employed as a senior safety officer at Transrail Lighting Limited, was abducted on July 15 during an attack in the Dosso region, about 140 km from Niamey. Union Minister Jitendra Singh | File Image Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said the government is making efforts to secure the release of Ranjit Singh, an Indian national from Jammu and Kashmir, who was kidnapped during a terror attack in Niger. Ranjit Singh, employed as a senior safety officer at Transrail Lighting Limited, was abducted on July 15 during an attack in the Dosso region, about 140 km from Niamey. Two other Indian nationals were killed in the incident. Recommended Stories The Indian Embassy in Niamey is actively engaged with local authorities, Singh said, while sharing an official update from the Ministry of External Affairs on social media. Important update and followup on Ranjit Singh, hailing from district Ramban in J&K, who has gone missing in Niger. In response to continuous follow- up by my office, the Ministry of External Affairs has sent the following response based on the inputs received from the Indian Embassy in Niamay, Niger," Singh said in his X post. The Indian embassy in Niamay is continuously on the job and trying to get Ranjit Singh released from the alleged kidnappers," he added. The Embassy said in a statement: The Embassy are aware of the tragic incident where two Indian nationals lost their lives and the other (Mr. Ranjeet Singh) was kidnapped on 15 July 2025. The embassy is in contact with the host government for the repatriation of mortal remains of the deceased." Family members said they lost contact with Ranjit Singh on the day of the attack. We talked on WhatsApp on July 15, and since then, I have not been able to contact him. I called his management and was initially told that there is no network at the work site," his wife, Sheela Devi, told news agency PTI. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all She added that she learned of his kidnapping through a friend the next day, while the company claimed he had fled into a nearby forest. I do not know what kind of situation my husband is in. I do not have any idea about the efforts of the local government," she said. Niger has seen a rise in attacks targeting foreign nationals, with several kidnappings reported this year. The security situation has deteriorated since a military coup in July 2023, with armed groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State stepping up operations, especially in rural areas. First Published: July 22, 2025, 10:26 IST News india Efforts Ongoing: Jitendra Singh Says Embassy Trying To Free Indian Kidnapped In Niger 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... From 1965 War To Balakot Airstrikes: The MiG-21s Decades-Long Role In Indias Military Might Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 14:58 IST Inducted in 1963 as the countrys first supersonic fighter jet, the MiG-21 became a symbol of airpower and national pride. In 2022, two IAF pilots died when their MiG-21 crashed in Rajasthan. (PTI) From fierce dogfights in the 1965 and 1971 wars to a high-stakes interception during the 2019 Balakot air strikes, the MiG-21 has been at the heart of Indias combat aviation for over six decades. Inducted in 1963 as the countrys first supersonic fighter jet, the MiG-21 became a symbol of airpower and national pride. Its unmatched speed, affordability, and adaptability made it a frontline warrior in nearly every major military operation India has undertaken. Yet behind its storied legacy lies a more sobering record, one marred by fatal accidents, mechanical failures, and the grim nicknames it eventually earned: the Flying Coffin and the Widow Maker. Recommended Stories Also Read: Indian Air Force To Retire MiG-21 Fighter Jets, Used In Balakot Airstrikes, By September Crashes And Deaths Inducted in 1963, the MiG-21 served as Indias first supersonic fighter jet and a symbol of aerial dominance. But over its 62 years of service, it has seen at least 400 accidents that claimed the lives of more than 200 pilots and at least 60 civilians. According to reports, despite the presence of experienced pilots, the aircrafts ageing design and reliability issues have led to a disturbingly high crash rate. Between 1966 and 1984, over 840 MiG-21s were produced under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore, and more than half have been lost in accidents. The accidents havent slowed down in recent years. In 2022, two IAF pilots died when their MiG-21 crashed in Rajasthan. In 2023, another pilot ejected safely, but the crash killed two civilians on the ground. Since 2010 alone, over 20 MiG-21s have crashed, raising questions about the continued reliance on the ageing aircraft. Each IAF squadron typically comprises around 20 jets. According to The Wire, one of the last three squadrons has already been phased out, with only two squadronsaround 40 aircraftstill operational. These remaining jets are primarily used as interceptors and for training exercises, a far cry from their frontline fighter role during the 1965 and 1971 wars. Where Were The Fighters Used The MiG-21 participated in all major military operations since its induction, including the 1965 and 1971 wars, the 1999 Kargil conflict, and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes. According to IAF records and expert assessments, MiG-21s were used to shoot down several enemy aircraft during the 1965 and 1971 conflicts and were instrumental in India achieving air superiority during those wars. What Are MiG-21 Jets? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The MiG-21 is a single-engine, single-seat, multi-role aircraft capable of both air-to-air combat and ground attack missions. Since its induction in the early 1960s, it has served as a cornerstone of the Indian Air Forces combat fleet. Initially introduced in 1963 as an interceptor, the MiG-21 was later upgraded to handle a broader range of operational roles, including ground strikes. To strengthen its aerial capabilities, the IAF acquired over 870 MiG-21s, making it one of the largest operators of the aircraft in the world. 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 22, 2025, 14:58 IST News india From 1965 War To Balakot Airstrikes: The MiG-21s Decades-Long Role In Indias Military Might 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... 'Goodbye Comrade': Kerala Fills The Streets As Achuthanandan Begins His Final Journey Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 23:38 IST Thousands in Kerala mourned former Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other leaders paid tribute. Kerala declared three days of mourning. The mortal remains of former Kerala chief minister and veteran CPI (M) leader VS Achuthanandan being taken to his native place Alappuzha from the state Secretariat, in Thiruvananthapuram. (IMAGE: PTI) The roads of Kerala turned red on Tuesday as thousands lined the national highway, pouring in to bid farewell to former Kerala chief minister and veteran Indian communist leader VS Achuthanandan. Thousands took to the streets to mourn the man who fought his way from the fields and factory floors to the frontlines of Indias communist movement. The turnout was staggering. In CPI(M) leader Thomas Isaacs words, It has taken eight hours for the cortege to cover just 30 kilometers" indicating that it was not crowd control but the masses refusing to let go. He also posted an image of the sea of people lining the highway, referring to the photo he shared on X showing crowds stretching for miles to pay tribute to Achuthanandan. Recommended Stories Achuthanandan wasnt like the other legends of Indian communism. While EMS Namboodiripad, Jyoti Basu and EK Nayanar came from privilege and found communism in its books, Achuthanandan lived the brutality they theorized. Beaten and left for dead by colonial police in a pre-Independence workers protest, he got back up and never stopped fighting. When he finally became Keralas Chief Minister, the office didnt tame him. He took on land mafias, corruption and even factionalism in his own party. He called things as they were and for that, generations called him simply VS". It is unprecedented! Crowds gathered to pay homage to the departed leader VS are so huge all along the NH, it has taken 8 hours to the funeral cortege to traverse the first 30 kms. It is a testimony of how much VS had endeared to the people of Kerala. Red salute Comrade. pic.twitter.com/R5kFFGUom2 Thomas Isaac (@drthomasisaac) July 22, 2025 On Tuesday, Kerala gave him a honourable send off. In the morning, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan visited the residence of the late leader to pay his respects. State ministers, including V Sivankutty, and senior CPI(M) leaders also paid tribute. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Kerala government has declared a three-day mourning period starting July 22 as a mark of respect. During this period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings across the state. All state government offices, educational institutions, public sector units, statutory bodies, and establishments covered under the Negotiable Instruments Act remained closed on Tuesday. In a message shared on social media, Chief Minister Vijayan said Achuthanandan played a key role in Keralas political history and contributed to movements like the Punnapra-Vayalar uprising. The final rites will be held after the public homage. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Location : Thiruvananthapuram, India, India First Published: July 22, 2025, 23:32 IST News india 'Goodbye Comrade': Kerala Fills The Streets As Achuthanandan Begins His Final Journey 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... India Sets Tone For PM Modis UK Visit: Fugitives, Khalistani Extremism Key Talking Points Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 15:35 IST Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, "PM Modi will embark on an official visit to the United Kingdom tomorrow, 23rd July, for discussions with UK PM Keir Starmer..." Prime Minister Modi has met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer twice over the past one year. (File) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks for his fourth visit to the UK, India-UK ties will see new energy, with the finalisation of the much-awaited Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, The Prime Minister will embark on an official visit to the United Kingdom tomorrow, 23rd July, for discussions with Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He will also call upon King Charles III. Interaction is also planned with the business leaders, both from India and the UK. This will be Prime Ministers fourth visit to the UK since assuming office" Recommended Stories We are working on the legal scrubbing and other last-minute work for the FTAThe UK is the sixth-largest investor in India, with cumulative investment of $36 billion. Interestingly, India is also a major investor in the UK, with nearly $20 billion in cumulative FDI," said Misri. #WATCH | Delhi | On PM Modis visit to the United Kingdom, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, The Prime Minister will embark on an official visit to the United Kingdom tomorrow, 23rd July, for discussions with Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He will pic.twitter.com/LXNyfHyuRZ ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2025 According to the MEA, PM Modi will hold wide-ranging discussions with his UK counterpart on the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations. They will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance. The presence of Khalistani extremistswe have brought to the attention of our partners in the UK. This should be a matter of concerns for our partners as well," said Misri. On the extradition of fugitives, he said, We have been in touch with each other. We will try to explain them that how others like Tahawwur Rana has been extraditedWe can do it." PM Modi has met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer twice over the past one year. They met on the sidelines of G20 Summit in Brazil in November 2024, and again during G7 Summit in June 2025. Both also had multiple telephonic conversations over the period. A significant marker of the strength of ties is the five Ministerial level Institutional Mechanisms in strategic, economy & finance, trade, energy, science and technology, between the two countries. The India-UK Free Trade Agreement PM Modi in a social media post in June welcomed the successful conclusion of the IndiaUK Free Trade Agreement along with the Double Contribution Convention. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom H.E. Sir Keir Starmer had a telephone conversation today. The two leaders welcomed the successful conclusion of an ambitious and mutually beneficial IndiaUK Free Trade Agreement along with the Double Contribution Convention," a statement released by the government said. The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, reacted to the signing of the trademark deal by saying that strengthening alliances and reducing trade barriers with economies around the world is part of their Plan for Change to deliver a stronger and more secure economy". Delighted to speak with my friend PM Keir Starmer. In a historic milestone, India and the UK have successfully concluded an ambitious and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement, along with a Double Contribution Convention. These landmark agreements will further deepen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and catalyse trade, investment, growth, job creation, and innovation in both our economies," PM Modi said in a social media post on X. Delighted to speak with my friend PM @Keir_Starmer. In a historic milestone, India and the UK have successfully concluded an ambitious and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement, along with a Double Contribution Convention. These landmark agreements will further deepen our Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 6, 2025 India-UK ties In June, Misri and UK Permanent Under-Secretary Oliver Robbins co-chaired the 17th UK-India Foreign Office Consultations and the inaugural Strategic Exports and Technology Cooperation Dialogue, focusing on deepening the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across trade, technology, defence, and people-to-people exchanges. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In May, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy had said that the landmark trade agreement between the United Kingdom and India marks a new era of bilateral cooperation, highlighting the economic and strategic importance of the deal. This is just the start of supercharging our GBP 43 billion trading relationship," he said. With ANI, Agency Inputs First Published: July 22, 2025, 14:49 IST News india India Sets Tone For PM Modis UK Visit: Fugitives, Khalistani Extremism Key Talking Points 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... India Sends Doctors To Bangladesh After Deadly Jet Crash Kills 31, Mostly Children Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 22:46 IST The move comes a day after PM Modi assured Bangladesh of India's full support. 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, 2025. A Bangladeshi training fighter jet crashed into a school in the capital Dhaka on July 21, killing at least 19 people and injuring dozens more in the country's deadliest aviation accident in decades. (IMAGE: AFP) India is sending a team of burn specialists and medical staff to Dhaka to assist victims of Mondays deadly fighter jet crash that killed at least 31 people, most of them children. A team of burn-specialist Doctors and Nurses with necessary medical support are scheduled to visit Dhaka shortly to treat the victims. They will make an assessment of the condition of patients with recommendation for further treatment and specialised care in India as necessary. Additional medical teams may also follow depending on their preliminary assessment and treatment," a statement by the Ministry Of External Affairs released Tuesday said. Recommended Stories The move comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on July 21, assuring Bangladesh of Indias full support following the countrys worst air disaster in decades. A Chinese-made F-7 BJI fighter jet crashed into the Milestone School and College in Dhaka on Monday, moments after students were dismissed from class. The crash killed at least 31 people and injured more than 170, according to officials. Ten of the injured remain in critical condition. Indias medical team will assess the condition of the injured and recommend further treatment or specialized care in India if needed. Officials said additional medical teams may follow based on the initial assessments. As grief turned to anger in Dhaka on Tuesday, students held protests on the school campus, accusing authorities of downplaying the death toll. There were hundreds of students in that building. We saw body parts strewn all over the ground. Where are they?" a 17-year-old student told AFP, declining to be named. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Bangladeshs Ministry of Health said hospitals were still treating dozens of patients, and efforts were underway to identify victims. The crash has triggered a wave of public anger, with demands for transparency over the investigation and accountability for what is being called the deadliest aviation accident in Bangladesh in decades. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More First Published: July 22, 2025, 22:43 IST News india India Sends Doctors To Bangladesh After Deadly Jet Crash Kills 31, Mostly Children 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 Air Force To Retire MiG-21 Fighter Jets, Used In Balakot Airstrikes, By September Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 13:50 IST Although the jets were originally scheduled for retirement earlier, their service tenure was extended due to delays in the delivery of the Tejas Mk1A aircraft. The Mig-21 aircraft has been part of many major operations. (AFP) The Indian Air Force is set to retire its remaining Russian-made MiG-21 Bison fighter jets by September this year. At present, the IAF operates two squadrons of the upgraded Bison variant. Sources have indicated that a formal farewell ceremony is being planned to honour the aircraft that has served the nation for decades and played a pivotal role in several key operations. Although the jets were originally scheduled for retirement earlier, their service tenure was extended due to delays in the delivery of the Tejas Mk1A aircraft. Notably, during the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman flew a MiG-21 Bison and engaged in a high-profile dogfight with Pakistani jets. Only the Bison variant of the MiG-21 remains in service today. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Recommended Stories The MiG-21, developed by the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich Bureau, was inducted into the Indian Air Force in 1963. As Indias first supersonic jet, it became a cornerstone of the countrys air defence capabilities. Since its induction, the IAF has operated over 870 MiG-21s. The aircraft played a pivotal role in the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan. According to reports, the MiG-21 rose to iconic status in aviation history, with more than 11,000 units produced across various variants. Its affordability, agility, and supersonic capabilities made it a favoured choice for air forces across Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. About the Author Akash Sharma Akash Sharma, Defence Correspondent, CNN-News 18, covers the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways. In addition, he also follows developments in the national capital. With an extensive experience coverin... Read More Akash Sharma, Defence Correspondent, CNN-News 18, covers the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Railways. In addition, he also follows developments in the national capital. With an extensive experience coverin... Read More First Published: July 22, 2025, 13:23 IST News india Indian Air Force To Retire MiG-21 Fighter Jets, Used In Balakot Airstrikes, By September 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... Operator Ooredoo Kuwait has partnered with tech giant Ericsson to modernise its charging system, paving the way, the partners say, for new business opportunities and competitive marketing strategies. This strategic upgrade, hosted on Ericssons Cloud Native Infrastructure (CNIS), will see the deployment of the latest release of Ericsson Charging, including Ericssons cloud-native Charging Access Function (CAF), enhancing Ooredoo Kuwaits ability to offer advanced 5G services. Ericsson Charging is a cloud-native, scalable and flexible solution that focuses on user experience and future-proof product roadmaps, enabling real-time convergent charging, policy control and rapid service creation. This in turn enables Ooredoo Kuwait to create new digital charging opportunities flexibly through configurable packages, offers or discounts for its subscribers. It will also support Ooredoo Kuwait in enabling monetisation of advanced 5G capabilities, supporting innovative services and differentiated 5G use cases in the country. Indeed, Issa Haider, Chief Technology Officer at Ooredoo Kuwait, explains: The deployment of the latest capability from the Ericsson Charging for 5G Standalone will empower us to better monetise our advanced 5G offerings and enhance customer experiences. This partnership marks a pivotal step in our digital transformation journey, enabling us to create new digital opportunities for our subscribers. Ericsson Cloud Native Infrastructure, the company says, is a proven, standards-based, and fully system-verified on-premises cloud infrastructure solution that caters to both virtual and cloud-native 5G applications. Providing the capability to deploy containers as a service (CaaS) over bare metal servers without the need for a virtualisation layer, the infrastructure solution delivers a radically simplified architecture compared to running containers in virtual machines. Indian Army Displays State-Of-The-Art Apache Attack Helicopters, First Visuals Out Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 14:59 IST The Indian Army inducted the first batch of three state-of-the-art AH-64E Apache helicopters, which are known as one of the world's most advanced multi-role combat choppers. India received three Apache helicopters today. (News18) In a major milestone for Indias military capability, the Indian Army inducted the first batch of Apache helicopters developed by Boeing. These state-of-the-art choppers are expected to significantly bolster the operational capabilities of the Indian Army. Boeing delivered the AH-64E Apache choppers, known as one of the worlds most advanced multi-role combat helicopters, as part of a contract to supply six helicopters to the Indian Army. Recommended Stories Other procedures, such as assembling, the Joint Receipt Inspection (JRI), and induction, would be followed as per the protocol. The Indian Air Force (IAF) had signed a multi-billion-dollar contract with the US government and Boeing Ltd in September 2015 for 22 Apache helicopters. The Defence Ministry in 2017 approved the procurement of six Apache helicopters along with weapons systems from Boeing at a cost of Rs 4,168 crore for the Army. India has now joined the likes of the United States, the UK, Israel and Egypt to use the Boeing-made Apache choppers. These helicopters are armed with a powerful 30 mm chain gun, laser and radar-guided Hellfire missiles for precision strikes, and rocket pods capable of engaging multiple ground targets. Milestone moment for Indian Army as the first batch of Apache helicopters for Army Aviation arrive today in India. These state-of-the-art platforms will bolster the operational capabilities of the Indian Army significantly," said the Indian Army on X. #Apache for Indian ArmyMilestone moment for Indian Army as the first batch of Apache helicopters for Army Aviation arrive today in India. These state-of-the-art platforms will bolster the operational capabilities of the #IndianArmy significantly.#YearofTechAbsorption pic.twitter.com/phtlQ4SWc8 ADG PI INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 22, 2025 India first acquired 22 Apache helicopters for the Indian Air Force under a 2015 agreement, which have been deployed in Ladakh and western sectors. The six new ones being inducted are for the Indian Armys Aviation Corps. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 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 22, 2025, 14:59 IST News india Indian Army Displays State-Of-The-Art Apache Attack Helicopters, First Visuals Out 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... Flashpoint With Govt Over Opposition's Justice Varma Notice Preceded Dhankhar's Resignation Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Ashesh Mallick Last Updated: July 23, 2025, 08:33 IST Hours before his resignation, Jagdeep Dhankhar had accepted the Opposition's notice on the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma in Rajya Sabha. Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar (PTI File Image) Hours before he stepped down from the post of the Vice-President in a shock move, a key decision by Jagdeep Dhankhar may have sealed his fate. On Monday, Dhankhar accepted the Oppositions proposal in the Rajya Sabha to initiate proceedings for the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma. The government, however, was not informed about the development in advance, sources said. Recommended Stories Before his sudden resignation, Dhankhar had confirmed receiving a motion to remove the high court judge, months after piles of cash were recovered from his residence during a firefighting incident in the national capital. He added that he had directed the Secretary General to take necessary steps in this direction". This caught the Centre unawares as the government had readied a motion for Justice Varmas removal, including taking signatures from opposition MPs, and wanted to introduce it in the Lok Sabha. As Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said in Rajya Sabha that 152 Lok Sabha MPs had submitted a similar resolution to the Speaker, Dhankhar informed that he has received a Notice of Motion for the impeachment of the judge, which was signed by over 50 Rajya Sabha 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. Sources told CNN-News18 that the government was not informed of the move in advance. Dhankhar accepted the Oppositions proposal to initiate proceedings for the removal of Justice Verma. The government was not informed about this in advance. Had the government been informed, MPs from the ruling party would have also signed the proposal." The sources added that the government did not take kindly to the move as it had taken a strong stand on the issue of corruption in the judiciary and Dhankhars actions threatened to undermine its leadership on the matter. In the aftermath, the former VicePresident reportedly received multiple calls from senior ministers condemning his actions as unacceptable. Amid the din, Dhankhar announced his resignation to the President in a letter, citing health reasons and medical advice. His resignation has necessitated an election to the office of the Vice President within 60 days of the date of quitting. The decision regarding the date of poll will be taken by the Election Commission of India. It does not fall under the jurisdiction of the government. Whether the election will be held during this session or not is entirely the Election Commissions decision," sources said. GOVT VS OPPN Dhankhars resignation has triggered a volley of criticism from the Opposition, with Congress leader Jairam Ramesh calling his exit inexplicable". Congress MP Mallu Ravi also said: Indias Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar conducted the two-day Rajya Sabha session properly without showing any signs of physical discomfort His resignation letter states that his health is not suitable, but we feel this is more about his political ill-health than physical ill-health. Especially before the Bihar elections, perhaps the BJP wanted to replace him with someone who could help them." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all CPI(M)s John Brittas expressed that he was deeply troubled by suggestions that the resignation may not only be due to health reasons. The entire House was working with him even today. It is shocking that he has resigned," Brittas said. The government, meanwhile, has been tight-lipped on the issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday acknowledged Dhankhars dedicated service to the nation across multiple roles, most notably as the Vice President of India. In a post on X, PM Modi highlighted Dhankhars contributions to public life and governance, and extended his wishes for his continued good health and well-being. First Published: July 22, 2025, 20:12 IST News india Flashpoint With Govt Over Opposition's Justice Varma Notice Preceded Dhankhar's Resignation 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... Kanwar Yatra Chaos: Delhi Lodges Over 200 Complaints Against Loud Music, Traffic Violations Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 14:05 IST Delhi Police confirmed the complaints, primarily about noise and traffic, with some areas reporting grievances daily. Locals in Delhi are complaining about the disruption caused due to Kanwar Yatra. (Image: PTI/file photo) The ongoing Kanwar Yatra in Delhi has led to significant disruption, with residents from various districts filing over 200 complaints to the police about excessive noise, traffic violations, and sleepless nights. Pilgrims traveling through South, South East, East, and South West Delhi with trucks equipped with loud sound systems have caused frustration among locals, especially in areas like New Friends Colony, Maharani Bagh, and Ashram. Recommended Stories Delhi Police confirmed the complaints, primarily about noise and traffic, have been coming in since Friday, with some areas reporting around 10 grievances daily, according to Hindustan Times. Chitra Jain, president of the New Friends Colony Residents Welfare Association, told HT that the constant noise was unbearable. Students trying to study are disturbed, and its a big issue for senior citizens. The vibrations are also a nuisance," she said, while acknowledging her respect for religious sentiments but insisting the uncontrolled volume was intolerable. Similar frustrations were voiced in Greater Kailash-II, where RWA president Sanjay Rana described late-night chaos. I was returning from the airport around 2.30 am during the weekend when I saw multiple trucks playing very loud music," he said, adding that pilgrims often wandered into colony lanes, worsening congestion. In Jangpura, a resident claimed elderly family members were unable to sleep, while a Patparganj local alleged noise levels exceeded 80 decibels, calling it harassment" despite religious respect. Delhi Police reiterated that law and order teams are deployed across districts, with approximately 200 officers in each shift and round-the-clock vigilance at at least 21 Kanwar camps. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari said the number of complaints remains consistent with previous years and authorities are trying to manage the situation. We have made dedicated corridors and have an average of 200 staff deployed in three shifts," he told HT. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In East Delhi, the situation is similar. Pilgrims marching along major highways and arterial roads have caused distress and health concerns among vulnerable populations. Delhi Police officials stated that over 1,000 personnel are patrolling East Delhi, addressing complaints by persuading pilgrims to lower sound system volumes and, in some cases, disconnecting wiring to enforce compliance. East Delhis DCP Abhishek Dhania reported fewer recent complaints but acknowledged proactive measures. We talk to pilgrims and ask them to lower the volume In other cases, we also remove the wiring of the sound systems," he said. 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 22, 2025, 14:05 IST News india Kanwar Yatra Chaos: Delhi Lodges Over 200 Complaints Against Loud Music, Traffic Violations 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... Minor Girl Gang-Raped In Odisha By 3, Then Assaulted Again By Truck Driver While Fleeing Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 22:47 IST A minor girl in Odisha's Malkangiri was abducted and gang-raped by three men. She was raped again by a truck driver while fleeing. The victim is currently receiving medical treatment and her condition is said to be stable. (Image: Representational) A minor girl in Odishas Malkangiri was allegedly abducted and gang-raped by three men while returning from a birthday party on Sunday. Adding to the trauma, she was reportedly raped again by another man while attempting to flee. All four accused have since been arrested, the police said. The minor girl was forcibly taken to a secluded spot approximately 10-15 kilometers from Malkangiri town, where the initial gang-rape occurred. After the harrowing ordeal, the victim managed to escape her captors but she encountered a truck driver on the way, who then also allegedly raped her, police said as per NDTV. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Recommended Stories Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Binod Patil confirmed the arrests, saying, First incident of rape occurred with the minor victim in a forest area, nearly 10-15 kilometers away from Malkangiri town. Four persons involved in the crime, including the truck driver, have been arrested." The girl was able to return home, bleeding profusely and was immediately rushed to a local hospital. The victim is currently receiving medical treatment and her condition is said to be stable. Location : Odisha (Orissa), India, India First Published: July 22, 2025, 22:47 IST News india Minor Girl Gang-Raped In Odisha By 3, Then Assaulted Again By Truck Driver While Fleeing 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 Ahmedabad, Nagpur Airport Gets Bomb Threat; Police Launch Search Ops Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 13:38 IST The Nagpur airport received a bomb threat on Tuesday morning, triggering a massive search operation inside the premises. The Nagpur airport received a bomb threat on Tuesday. (PTI File Photo) The Nagpur airport on Tuesday received a bomb threat via email, which triggered a massive search operation by security agencies. The threat was received at 7:30 am today, claiming that the explosive had been placed inside a cigarette packet and could explode at any time. According to reports, airport officials immediately alerted the Sonegaon Police Station after receiving the bomb threat. Teams from the police, bomb disposal squad, dog squad and the fire brigade rushed to the spot and began search operations. Recommended Stories No suspicious material has been discovered so far as the search operation is underway. An investigation has been initiated into the incident. Earlier, the Nagpur airport had received similar bomb threats on June 25 and 26. An email about a bomb in the toilet was received a little after midnight on July 26, an airport official said. A similar threatening email had been received by the Airports Authority of India on the previous day. Security agencies searched the airport but nothing suspicious was found. Prior to that, an IndiGo flight from Kochi to Delhi was diverted to Nagpur on Tuesday after authorities received a bomb threat that specifically mentioned the flight number. The flight, identified as IndiGo 6E 2706 and scheduled to depart at 9:20 am, safely landed in Nagpur, where police and fire brigade teams were immediately deployed. The flight touched down approximately twenty minutes before reports emerged, and no suspicious object has been found. The incident occurred on the same day that Ahmedabad police received a bomb threat related to the citys Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, leading to search operations. On Monday, the ISKCON temple at Girgaon in Mumbai, Maharashtra, received a bomb threat via email, triggering panic and a swift security response. The threat email, sent from an unknown ID, claimed that five IED bombs loaded with RDX would detonate within 16 hours unless the Tamil Nadu government implemented the recommendations by various committees. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 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 : Nagpur, India, India First Published: July 22, 2025, 13:15 IST News india After Ahmedabad, Nagpur Airport Gets Bomb Threat; Police Launch Search Ops 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 Refuses To Intervene In QR Code Directives, Says Hotels Along Kanwar Yatra Route Must Display Licences Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 13:11 IST The top court said it was not going into the other issues of displaying the name of the hotel or dhaba owner and the QR code as Tuesday is the last day of the Kanwar Yatra. SC refused to intervene in the row over the display of owner details on the QR code for eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to intervene in the row over the display of owner details on the QR code for eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, as Tuesday is the last day of the yatra. The top court directed all hotel owners along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their licences and registration certificates in accordance with statutory requirements. Recommended Stories A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh said it was not going into the other issues of displaying the name of the hotel or dhaba owner and the QR code as Tuesday is the last day of the Kanwar Yatra. We are told that today is the last day of the yatra. In any case, it is likely to come to an end in the near future. Therefore, at this stage, we would only pass an order that all the respective hotel owners shall comply with the mandate of displaying the licence and the registration certificate as per the statutory requirements," the bench said. The top courts verdict came while hearing the plea filed by academician Apoorvanand Jha and others. Responding to the order issued by the Uttar Pradesh government on June 25, Jha, said, The new measures mandate the display of QR codes on all eateries along the Kanwar route which reveal the names and identities of the owners, thereby achieving the same discriminatory profiling that was previously stayed by this court." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The petition said the state governments directive asking stall owners to reveal religious and caste identities under lawful license requirements" breaches the right to privacy of the shop, dhaba and restaurant owners. A large number of devotees from across the country travel with kanwars carrying holy water from the Ganga to perform jalabhishek of Shivling during the Hindu calendar month of Shravan. 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 22, 2025, 12:47 IST News india SC Refuses To Intervene In QR Code Directives, Says Hotels Along Kanwar Yatra Route Must Display Licences 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... Rs 2.5 Crore Raised And Land Donated In 1 Hour: Rajasthan Village Rallies For New Hospital Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 14:56 IST In just an hour, villagers in Rajasthan raised Rs 2.51 crore and land for a 100-bed hospital, showcasing unity, generosity, and a shared vision for better rural healthcare Once completed, the hospital will serve thousands of residents in Sanglia and surrounding villages, offering a lifeline in a region long underserved by healthcare infrastructure. (Representative Image/ News18) A remarkable display of community spirit has emerged from Sanglia village in Sikar district, Rajasthan, where a long-standing healthcare issue has inspired a swift and powerful response. The Baba Lakkaddas Khivadas Charitable Trust, led by Swami Omdas Maharaj, Peethadheeshwar of All India Sangliya Dhuni, announced plans to build a 100-bed hospital and trauma centre. Donations Poured In Within An Hour Recommended Stories The proposal received overwhelming support. In just one hour, villagers and donors contributed Rs 2.51 crore in cash and land worth crores. The crucial challenge, that is, of securing land, was met when philanthropist Dularam Devaram Burdak donated 3.25 bighas of land on the spot. Inspired by his generosity, others followed suit. Major Contributors Stepped Forward Donors from across India and abroad pledged support in front of over 150 community leaders. Notable contributions included Rs 51 lakh each by Dubai-based Sohanlal Meghwal and Omkar Mund. Rs 20 lakh from Surendra Singh Kanseda, Rs 11 lakh each from Amar Singh Dheeraj and Kailash Subhash Ramavatar. Additional donations from Pramod Arya, Dr BL Ranwa, Satyanarayan Kalika, Iqbal Khan, and others ranged between Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5.51 lakh What The Future Holds The hospital will be operated by the Baba Lakkaddas Khivadas Charitable Trust and will include a fully-equipped trauma centre. Swami Omdas Maharaj explained the urgent need for such a facility, as locals currently travel to Sikar or Jaipur for treatment, losing both time and resources. The new hospital aims to provide quick, quality medical care, especially for emergencies like road accidents. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Recognition And Hope Swami Omdas Maharaj reiterated the Trusts mission to strengthen community service. Once completed, the hospital will serve thousands of residents in Sanglia and surrounding villages, offering a lifeline in a region long underserved by healthcare infrastructure. Location : Rajasthan, India, India First Published: July 22, 2025, 14:54 IST News india Rs 2.5 Crore Raised And Land Donated In 1 Hour: Rajasthan Village Rallies For New Hospital 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... 'Who're They': Shashi Tharoor Slams Congress Colleague Muraleedharan Over 'Exclusion' Remark Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 13:28 IST Responding to claims that he was not invited to party events, Shashi Tharoor questioned the authority and basis of colleague K Muraleedharans comment. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor during the Monsoon session of Parliament (Photo: PTI) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday hit back at his party colleague K Muraleedharan over the latters Tharoor not invited to party programmes remark, and questioned the basis of his claim. Tharoor also questioned Muraleedharans position in the party to have passed such remark against him, and demanded a valid basis. Recommended Stories First, tell me, what is the basis of this claim?" Tharoor asked, as he responded to a question on Muraleedharans remark. Those who are saying such things, what position do they even hold in the party? Who are they?" he asked. People saying this also have to have a basis for their statement. Unless theres a valid basis, theres no need to respond," the Congress MP said. Dont ask me to explain other peoples behaviour. You talk to them about their behaviour. I can only talk about my own behaviour," Shashi Tharoor told reporters. On Sunday, senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan said Tharoor will not be invited to any party programme in the state capital till he changes his stance on the national security issue. Muraleedharan said that Tharoor, also a Congress Working Committee (CWC) member, was no longer considered as one of us". He said that the partys national leadership will decide what action is 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. He was replying to reporters query seeking his view on Tharoor sticking to his stand on the issue of national security. His response also came a day after Tharoor had said that nation comes first and parties are the means of making the country better. A day later, on Monday, Muraleedharan alleged that the party was not ready to cooperate with Tharoor in Kerala. 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," he told reporters. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all We are not ready to cooperate with him in Kerala because he always keeps attacking the Congress and Indira Gandhi. In the last year, PM Modi did not say a single word about Sanjay Gandhi, but he accused Sanjay Gandhi. He always opposes Rahul Gandhis statement," Muraleedharan added. ALSO READ | 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 22, 2025, 13:17 IST News india 'Who're They': Shashi Tharoor Slams Congress Colleague Muraleedharan Over 'Exclusion' 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... So Near Yet 'Sofa': DRI Cracks Down On Rs 30 Crore Luxury Furniture Import Scam Last Updated: July 23, 2025, 03:24 IST The investigation revealed a meticulously planned operation to evade customs duties by undervaluing premium furniture sourced from top European brands Once the furniture cleared customs, it was transferred on paper to the luxury brands name through a proxy intermediary, but in reality, it went directly to the brands warehouse or high-end clients. Image/News18 In a significant recent crackdown on customs fraud, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has uncovered a massive scheme involving the import of luxury furniture using fake invoices and dummy companies. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI Mumbai officers raided several locations linked to a well-known luxury furniture brand operating across India. The investigation revealed a meticulously planned operation to evade customs duties by undervaluing premium furniture sourced from top European brands. Instead of declaring the real price, the accused routed payments through shell companies based in Dubai and Singapore. Goods were shipped directly from Europe to India but were declared as unbranded furniture at a fraction of their actual value. This clever paper trail using dummy importers and fake invoices allowed the masterminds to dodge customs duty worth Rs 30 crore. Recommended Stories Searches were conducted at offices, warehouses, freight forwarders, and customs brokers connected to the racket. DRI officials stated that the scam involved multiple layers: shell companies abroad, local intermediaries, dummy Importer Exporter Code (IEC) holders, and fabricated paperwork. Once the furniture cleared customs, it was transferred on paper to the luxury brands name through a proxy intermediary, but in reality, it went directly to the brands warehouse or high-end clients. In a swift move, DRI arrested the beneficial owner of the brand, the dummy importer, and the local intermediary on July 21 and 22 under the Customs Act, 1962. Officials noted that this is not an isolated case. Just two months ago, in May, DRI uncovered a similar scam worth over Rs 20 crore, again involving luxury furniture brands using front companies to misdeclare imported goods. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Such frauds significantly impact government revenue and harm honest businesses that pay their dues. A senior DRI official said, These operations create an unfair market for genuine importers and domestic manufacturers. We are determined to expose these networks and plug the leaks." The DRI is now investigating other shell companies, dummy IEC holders, and financial channels linked to the scam. More arrests and wider revelations are expected as the probe continues. 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 23, 2025, 03:24 IST News india So Near Yet 'Sofa': DRI Cracks Down On Rs 30 Crore Luxury Furniture Import Scam 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... Sonam Raghuvanshi in Jail: Who She Meets And How She Spends Her Time Behind Bars Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 16:57 IST Sonam Raghuvanshi is under constant CCTV watch in jail, but despite efforts by officials, she has stayed silent when questioned about her husband's murder, say sources Despite being allowed to contact her family according to jail rules, Sonam Raghuvanshi's family has not reached out to her. (News18 Hindi) A month after being arrested for the alleged murder of her husband during their honeymoon in Meghalaya, Sonam Raghuvanshi remains lodged in Shillong jail. According to officials, she has not received any family visitors so far and appears to be showing no remorse for her actions. Where Is Sonam Raghuvanshi Lodged? Recommended Stories Sonam, who has been adapting to the environment of the Shillong jail, has grown comfortable with other female prisoners. Reports indicate that she adheres to a daily routine, waking up at a fixed time each morning and following the jail manual. She avoids discussing her crime or personal life with either fellow prisoners or jail staff. She resides with two other female undertrial prisoners near the jail wardens office. How Sonam Spends Her Time in Jail Currently, Sonam has not been assigned any special tasks in the jail, but she is expected to soon learn sewing and other skill development activities. She also has access to television. It has been reported that despite being allowed to contact her family according to jail rules, her family has not reached out to her. Sonam Under CCTV Watch There are 20 women prisoners in Shillong jail, with Sonam being the second inmate facing murder charges. The jail administration monitors her activities through CCTV cameras and has attempted to gather information about the murder of her husband. However, sources indicate that she remains silent on the matter. How Sonam Was Caught Raja Raghuvanshi, a businessman from Indore, went missing on May 23 while honeymooning in Meghalaya with his wife Sonam. Days later, on June 2, his dismembered body was recovered from a deep gorge in the Sohra region of East Khasi Hills district. Raja Raghuvanshi had tied the knot with Sonam on May 11. Shortly after, Sonam and Raj Kushwaha were accused of orchestrating his murder by hiring three contract killers-Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi. All five, including Sonam and Kushwaha, are currently in judicial custody. On the night of June 7, Sonam was arrested from an eatery (dhaba) on the Varanasi-Ghazipur main road. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Family Cuts Ties Sonams family has reportedly cut ties with her following the incident. Her brother stated to the media that the family stands with Rajas family in their quest for justice. Location : Shillong, India, India First Published: July 22, 2025, 16:57 IST News india Sonam Raghuvanshi in Jail: Who She Meets And How She Spends Her Time Behind Bars 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... Philippine broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions said on Monday that its upcoming Caloocan data centre has secured full certification from the Uptime Institute as a Tier III facility. Converge said the data centre in Metro Manila which completed construction in March and has been powered up for operational testing has been certified Tier III for both design and construction. Converge also claims the Caloocan data centre the first in the Philippines to achieve Tier III certification for both categories. According to the Uptime Institute's web site, it has awarded Tier III certifications for design documents (but not construction) in the Philippines to two data centre facilities operated by DITO Telecommunity, and three by STT Global Data Centres. The Caloocan data centre is a 300-rack, 3-MW facility that will host Converges assets to support its critical business functions. With our Caloocan Data Center having been fully certified as Tier III, now both for design and for construction, we are on track to building a digital ecosystem that ensures the highest levels of reliability and security for our network, said Converge CEO and Co-Founder Dennis Anthony Uy in a statement. This further enhances our infrastructure to support our core assets and services, ultimately enabling us to deliver seamless data delivery to both our residential and enterprise customers nationwide and around the world. Converge is also constructing a 1,200-rack data centre in Pampanga, which will not only support Converges internal operations, but also enterprise clients across different sectors. Later this year, Converge expects its data centres to be backed by new international connectivity by two new subsea cables slated to be activated this year the Bifrost Cable System which directly links Singapore to the US west coast with a landing point in Davao, and the Southeast Asia Hong Kong-Hainan Express Cable System (SEA-H2X) which connects Hong Kong and Hainan, China to the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Converge said the two subsea cables, combined with its data centres, will boost its capacity to serve residential, enterprise, and wholesale customers. Two Key Accused, Involved In Bihar Gangster Chandan Mishras Murder, Injured In Police Encounter Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 09:07 IST The encounter, conducted in a late-night operation by the Bhojpur Police and Bihar STF, occurred when cops intercepted a group of suspects connected to Chandan Mishras murder. Firing at Patna hospital by armed men (Screengrab/CCTV video) Two accused involved in the murder of Bihar gangster Chandan Mishra were injured on Tuesday during an encounter with police in Bhojpurs Arrah city, said officials. The encounter, conducted in a late-night operation by the Bhojpur Police and Bihar STF, occurred when cops intercepted a group of suspects connected to Chandan Mishras murder. Recommended Stories Two individuals Balwant Kumar Singh and Ravi Ranjan Kumar Singh were injured in the exchange of fire during the police operation, said officials. Along with them, Abhishek Kumar was also taken into custody. All three are currently being held by the police, while the injured have been admitted to a hospital for treatment. Balwant Kumar Singh, one of the individuals injured in the encounter, is a key accused in the murder case. His name appears at the top of the FIR filed in connection with the incident. During the encounter, security personnel recovered two pistols, a country-made firearm (katta), and a magazine from the scene. According to officials, the arrested suspects confessed to their involvement in the July 17 murder of Chandan Mishra, a convicted criminal who was out on parole, inside a private hospital in Patna. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Mishra, a resident of Buxar district, was serving his sentence at Beur Jail and had been taken to a hospital for medical treatment when he was fatally shot. CCTV footage of the incident, which circulated widely on social media, captured five armed individuals entering the ICU and firing at Mishra from close range. Location : Bihar, India, India First Published: July 22, 2025, 08:57 IST News india Two Key Accused, Involved In Bihar Gangster Chandan Mishras Murder, Injured In Police Encounter 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's F-35 Jet Finally Departs After A Month At Kerala Airport, Take-Off Caught On Camera Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 14:25 IST The aircraft, part of a British military deployment, had been stranded since June due to technical and logistical complications. News18 A UK F-35 fighter jet, which had been grounded at Keralas Thiruvananthapuram International Airport due to a technical glitch, finally took off after 39 days. The aircraft, part of a British military deployment, had been stranded since June due to technical and logistical complications. #WATCH | Kerala: The British Navys F-35 fighter aircraft, which made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14, takes off from the airport. pic.twitter.com/RT9vlsL73W ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2025 Recommended Stories Soon after the takeoff, British High Commission Spokesperson said, A UK F-35B aircraft, which landed following an emergency diversion on June 14, departed today from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. A UK engineering team, deployed since July 06 completed the repairs and safety checks, allowing the aircraft to resume active service." The spokesperson added that the UK is very grateful for the support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams throughout the repair and recovery process. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our defence partnership with India," the spokesperson added. The UK F-35B fighter jet landed at Keralas Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14 after experiencing technical difficulties triggered by bad weather during a sortie over the Indian Ocean. Despite initial inspections by a 24-member team from the British Royal Air Force and subsequent repair efforts by engineers from the UK Royal Navy, the advanced stealth aircraft remained grounded, prompting widespread curiosity over how such a state-of-the-art jet could be stranded for weeks on foreign soil. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Following the failed repair attempts, a 14-member engineering team from the UK Ministry of Defence was dispatched with specialised equipment to assist in the recovery and maintenance of the jet. The aircraft was moved to a secure hangar at the airport for detailed assessment. After thorough inspections, British engineers deemed the aircraft fit to fly back to the United Kingdom. Throughout the recovery operation, the Indian Air Force extended crucial logistical support to the British teams. Valued at over $110 million, the F-35B is one of the worlds most sophisticated fifth-generation fighter jets, known for its short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities. It had been operating about 100 nautical miles off Keralas coast when it was forced to land due to a technical malfunction. 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 22, 2025, 10:55 IST News india UK's F-35 Jet Finally Departs After A Month At Kerala Airport, Take-Off Caught On Camera 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... Very Sad: Tharoor Reacts to Jagdeep Dhankhar's Exit As VP, Expresses Concern Over His Health Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 16:56 IST Shashi Tharoor has reacted to the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar as the Vice President. Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns: Shashi Tharoor reacts to his resignation (Photos: Sansad TV, PTI) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday expressed concerns about Jagdeep Dhankhars health, a day after he resigned as the Vice President of India, citing health reasons. He extended best wishes to Dhankhar for a speedy recovery. Recommended Stories We are all very concerned about his health. It is very sad that hes got this sudden health issue. Our best wishes for his recovery," Tharoor told reporters as he arrived at the Parliament earlier today. Delhi: On Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhars resignation, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, We are all concerned about his health. Its very sad that he has got this sudden health issue" pic.twitter.com/xcWWM1DdXm IANS (@ians_india) July 22, 2025 His reaction comes a day after Dhankhar abruptly resigned from his position in a letter to President Droupadi Murmu. He cited health reasons and medical advice as reasons behind his shocking resignation. Dhankhar, 74, had assumed office in August 2022 and would have completed his term in 2027. Mixed reactions have come to the resignation, with several Opposition leaders extending best wishes to the VP, while some raising eyebrows over the sudden exit. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Congress has also asked him to reconsider his decision and continue in office. The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is inexplicable. No doubt Mr Dhankhar has to give top most priority to his health. But clearly there is far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye," Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh said on X. 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 22, 2025, 16:56 IST News india Very Sad: Tharoor Reacts to Jagdeep Dhankhar's Exit As VP, Expresses Concern Over His Health 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... We Are In Shame: Supreme Court After Girl Set On Fire Case In Odisha Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 17:28 IST The Supreme Court has reacted to the horrific incident in Odisha, where a 15-year-old girl was set on fire. Supreme Court reacts to girl set on fire incident in Odisha (PTI File) The Supreme Court has remarked on the horrific incident in Odishas Puri, where a 15-year-old girl was set on fire by a few miscreants at Balanga in the district last week. The top court described the incident as a shame" and unfortunate" and sought suggestions from the Centre and other parties on what steps can be taken to empower girls, homemakers in rural areas. Recommended Stories On July 19, a 15-year-old girl was set on fire by miscreants in Puri district. She was admitted to AIIMS Delhi, for treatment on Sunday. According to reports, three men came on a motorcycle at an isolated place in Puri and tied a handkerchief around her face. They set her on fire and fled. Upon hearing her screams, the locals rushed to the spot and shifted her to the hospital. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi heard a petition by Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association. We need suggestions from everyone on what concrete steps can be taken to empower the school girls, homemakers, children in rural areas, who are the most vulnerable and the voiceless people. Our directions should have some impact and visible imprint," the court said. Senior advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani, who appeared for the Association, said that a couple of days ago, the minor was burnt, and similar incidents have taken place in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. How long will this go on? This court needs to pass some directions for the safety of women," Pawani said. The bench reacted to the argument, We are in shame, and it is unfortunate that these incidents are still taking place. This is not adversarial litigation. We need suggestions from the centre and all the parties." Justice Kant said that the registry has not put the Centres affidavit on record and posted the matter for next week. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared for the Centre, said that the government gave details of steps. He said that CCTV cameras and face scan systems would be installed in public places to identify sexual offenders, and timely actions would be taken. She said that one-stop centres were now operational in every district, which would help women in distress. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The court said that while the one-stop centre was good, it needs to go to the taluka level. (With PTI inputs) 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 22, 2025, 17:13 IST News india We Are In Shame: Supreme Court After Girl Set On Fire Case 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... Rakesh Roshan Undergoes Preventive Procedures After Cartoid Artery Blockage Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 17:20 IST Rakesh Roshan recently revealed that he underwent preventive procedures after doctors discovered 75% blockage in the carotid arteries to his brain. Rakesh Roshan encouraged regular screenings for those over 45-50 years old. Filmmaker Rakesh Roshan recently took to his social media to share an important health update with his fans. In an Instagram post, Rakesh mentioned how the doctors had found that the arteries carrying blood to his brain were over 75% percent blocked, even though he showed no symptoms. He revealed that the doctors discovered this during a routine check-up, and he underwent a preventive procedure. Taking to his Instagram, Rakesh Roshan wrote, This week has been truly eye-opening. During a routine full-body health check-up, the doctor conducting the sonography for the heart suggested I also do one for the neck. By chance, we found out that although asymptomatic, both my carotid arteries to the brain were above 75% blocked. Which, if ignored, could be potentially dangerous. I immediately admitted myself into the hospital and got the preventative procedures done." Recommended Stories He continued, I am back home now, fully recovered and hope to get back to my workouts very soon. I hope this inspires others to stay on top of their health, especially where the heart and brain are concerned. A heart CT and a carotid brain artery sonography ( which is often ignored completely) are a must for everyone above 45- 50 years old. I think its important to remember that prevention is always better than cure. I wish a healthy and aware year to you all." Take a look at the post here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rakesh Roshan (@rakesh_roshan9) What Do The Carotid Arteries Do? The carotid arteries are two major blood vessels, one on each side of the neck, that supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain, neck, and face. Theyre essential for maintaining proper brain function and circulation. Why Preventive Screenings Matter Over time, these arteries can become narrowed or blocked due to plaque buildup (a condition called carotid artery stenosis), increasing the risk of stroke, which often occurs without warning. Why Everyone Should Consider Screening top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Early Detection: Screenings can detect narrowing before symptoms appear. Screenings can detect narrowing before symptoms appear. Prevent Stroke: Identifying blockages early helps reduce stroke risk, one of the leading causes of death and disability. Identifying blockages early helps reduce stroke risk, one of the leading causes of death and disability. Simple & Non-Invasive: Most screenings use ultrasound, which is painless and quick. Most screenings use ultrasound, which is painless and quick. Especially Important If Youre Over 50, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or a family history of stroke. In December 2018, Rakesh Roshan revealed that he had been diagnosed with early-stage throat cancer. With unwavering support from his son Hrithik Roshan and the entire family, he faced the diagnosis head-on. He underwent surgery, followed by a course of chemotherapy and radiation therapy as part of his treatment. 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 22, 2025, 17:20 IST News lifestyle health-and-fitness Rakesh Roshan Undergoes Preventive Procedures After Cartoid Artery Blockage Inside Alpana Buchs Mumbai Home: A Celebration Of Indian Craft And Memories Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 13:08 IST Best known for her role as Leela in Anupamaa, actor Alpana Buch recently gave her fans a glimpse of her soulful Mumbai abode. Alpana Buch's home reflects Indian heritage and art. Alpana Buch, widely loved for her portrayal of Leela, Anupamaas feisty and endearing mother-in-law in the hit show Anupamaa, has long been a familiar face on Indian television. But off-screen, she finds solace in a space thats as layered, warm, and expressive as her on-screen character. In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, the actor opened the doors of her thoughtfully curated apartment in Mumbai, which is a true reflection of her love for Indian heritage, art, and family. Recommended Stories A Home That Breathes Indian Artistry From the moment you step in, Alpanas home feels less like a city apartment and more like a lovingly assembled cultural tapestry. At the entrance, a handcrafted nameplate, made using an authentic Maharashtrian khana saree, sets the tone. Beside it, a Gond-style painting made by her daughter instantly catches the eye. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alpana Buch (@alpanabuch19) Inside, every item tells a story. Theres not a single showroom piece in sight. Instead, the decor is a blend of handwoven, hand-painted, and handmade. All pieces in Alpanas home have been sourced from skilled artisans across India or crafted by her family members. Inside Alpana Buchs Living Room The living room is grounded in earthy hues, thanks to its warm terracotta-colored walls. A television sits on the main wall, perched above a handcrafted jute console. Between two comfortable sofas rests a modest coffee table that invites intimate conversations. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alpana Buch (@alpanabuch19) But its the details that truly sing: paper-cut artworks, tribal Warli paintings, a striking pattachitra-painted kettle, a vintage gramophone, and a paper vase. Cultural nods from Assam to Africa also make an appearance, reflecting the familys admiration for global folk traditions. The curtains, made from vibrant Khand fabric, filter in the light with a traditional charm. Kitchen: Minimalist With Character The open kitchen stands out for its elegant simplicity. Adopting a monochrome palette, it strikes a balance between functionality and aesthetic appeal. Compact cabinets line the space, neatly housing everyday essentials. A tall island counter with high stools doubles as a casual dining spot. A Hallway Of Family And Time A narrow corridor leading to the bedrooms serves as a nostalgic gallery wall. Framed photographs capture cherished family moments, making this passage not just a transition space but a moving tribute to togetherness. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alpana Buch (@alpanabuch19) The Bedrooms The first bedroom belongs to Alpanas daughter and radiates creative energy. The room features a study nook, a spacious cupboard, and a bed, all framed against walls dotted with her daughters paintings. The doorway bears a charming mix of souvenirs brought back from travels to Kerala and Himachal Pradesh. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Alpanas room exudes tranquillity. Anchored by a sturdy king-size bed and lined with classic furnishings, its a restful retreat. But perhaps the most fascinating element is a vintage painting from Kashmir, estimated to be over three decades old, that adds both historical and emotional depth to the space. Alpanas home is more than just a place to live: its a personal museum, a creative playground, and a living embodiment of Indias rich artisanal spirit. Every nook, from the curated corners to the memory-laden walls, speaks of intention, emotion, and a deep-rooted love for all things handmade and heartfelt. 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 22, 2025, 13:08 IST News lifestyle Inside Alpana Buchs Mumbai Home: A Celebration Of Indian Craft And Memories Nita Ambani Rewears Her Wedding Jewels With A Pink Madurai Cotton Gharchola Saree Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 13:50 IST For her appearance at the inauguration of a new Swadesh store in Mumbai, Nita Ambani stunned in a pink saree. What stole the show was her heirloom jewellery. Nita Ambani accessorized with heirloom gold armlet from her wedding. Nita Ambani recently attended the inauguration of a new Swadesh store in Mumbai with poise and traditional flair. Staying true to her timeless love for sarees, Nita turned to a heritage-inspired look, elevating the moment with exquisite craftsmanship and ancestral jewellery rich in history. For the occasion, Nita Ambani wore a beautifully woven gharchola saree in a soft blush-pink palette, crafted from fine Madurai cotton. Delicately embroidered borders and subtle touches of gold lent the saree a refined elegance. Dressed in the classic seedha pallu drape, her look paid tribute to Gujarats traditional textile heritage. Recommended Stories Take a look at Nitas saree here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Swadesh Online (@swadesh_online) What made this ensemble even more special was its origin. The saree took nearly ten months to complete, painstakingly handwoven by master craftsman Shri Rajshrundar from Rajkot. Styled by Manish Malhotra, it was paired with a phirozi blue silk kanchali blouse, which featured antique gold threadwork, adding an air of vintage regality. True to her signature style, Nita chose meaningful jewellery pieces, each carrying layers of familial significance. She wore an intricate gold bajubandh, an heirloom passed down from her maternal great-grandmother. A deeply personal piece, this armlet was also part of Nitas wedding trousseau and is now intended for her daughter Isha, and eventually, granddaughter Aadiyashakti. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Her necklace was a true work of art: each section set in white gold, hand-painted to depict scenes from the life of Lord Srinath, celebrating devotion and craftsmanship alike. A pair of diamond-studded earrings and a stack of soft pink bangles tied the entire look together with understated sophistication. For the makeup, Nita kept it polished. Her makeup featured rosy eyeshadow, defined eyeliner, and lush lashes, balanced with rosy cheeks, a hint of highlighter, and glossy pink lips. Her hair was parted neatly and styled into a sleek low bun, while a soft pink bindi added the perfect final note of tradition. With this appearance, Nita Ambani not only highlighted the richness of Indian textiles and heirloom jewellery but also brought to the forefront the importance of preserving craftsmanship and familial legacies. Her look served as a graceful blend of tradition, sentiment, and style. 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 22, 2025, 13:50 IST News lifestyle Nita Ambani Rewears Her Wedding Jewels With A Pink Madurai Cotton Gharchola Saree The British-Era Reason Why Nainital's Mall Road Closes For 2 Hours Daily Even Today Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 15:03 IST Since the 1960s, vehicle movement on Mall Road is restricted for two hours daily to preserve its heritage and tourist appeal The construction of Mall Road began in 1845 and was completed in 1846. (Local18) The iconic Mall Road, which defines Nainital, the lake city of Uttarakhand, is not just a road but a symbol of the towns colonial legacy, British-era planning, and evolving culture. Running alongside the lake, this picturesque stretch connects Tallital to Mallital and remains one of the most recognisable spots in the city. But have you ever wondered why this road was built by the British? And why is it still closed to vehicles for two hours each evening? Why Was Mall Road Built? Recommended Stories The construction of Mall Road began in 1845 and was completed a year later, in 1846, under the commissionership of G.T. Lushington. At that time, Nainital was being developed as the summer capital of the British administration in Kumaon. British officers, fleeing the heat of the plains, wanted a scenic walkway beside the lake for leisure, to stroll, ride horses, and socialise. This vision laid the foundation for what we now know as Mall Road. A Symbol of Prestige and Power According to Professor Ajay Rawat, a noted historian from Nainital, Mall Road was more than a convenience; it was a status symbol. Lined with British clubs, hotels, and restaurants, the road quickly became the hub of colonial social life. Interestingly, while most hill stations restricted Indian entry to such exclusive areas, Nainitals Mall Road allowed locals to access the area, a rare exception granted due to the support offered by some residents to the British during the 1857 revolt. This access was considered a mark of respect by the British for the loyalty of certain locals. In contrast to other colonial towns where Indians were barred from elite spaces, the people of Nainital were permitted to walk on Mall Road freely, a significant gesture for that time. By 1856, the headquarters of the Kumaon Commissionerate shifted from Almora to Nainital, enhancing the towns administrative importance. In 1858, the establishment of Indias first Methodist Church on Mall Road further cemented its religious and historical relevance. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Evening Road Closure Even today, Mall Road remains central to the charm of Nainital. To preserve its heritage and offer tourists a peaceful experience, vehicular movement is restricted every evening for two hours. This tradition began in the 1960s, under the leadership of them union minister Govind Ballabh Pant, who promoted limited vehicle access. Since then, the road has remained a vital link between Nainitals colonial past and its vibrant present. 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 : Nainital, India, India First Published: July 22, 2025, 15:03 IST News lifestyle The British-Era Reason Why Nainital's Mall Road Closes For 2 Hours Daily Even Today Rs10,000 For Buddhist, Jain, Sikh Pilgrims - Whos Eligible And How To Apply Curated By : Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 11:38 IST A total of 120 people will benefit this year including 50 Buddhists, 50 Jains, and 20 Sikhs with a cumulative allocation of Rs12 lakh. Planning a Pilgrimage? You May Get 10,000 Here's What to Know In a move to support spiritual tourism and inclusivity, the Tamil Nadu government has rolled out a financial assistance scheme for Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs residing in the state. The scheme aims to help religious minorities undertake pilgrimages to key holy sites across India and abroad, offering a subsidy of Rs10,000 per person. A total of 120 people will benefit this year including 50 Buddhists, 50 Jains, and 20 Sikhs with a cumulative allocation of Rs12 lakh. The initiative is meant to ease the financial burden of spiritual travel and encourage deeper community participation in preserving cultural heritage. Recommended Stories Where Can Pilgrims Go? The list of eligible pilgrimage destinations covers significant religious landmarks for each community. For Buddhists, the scheme includes sacred locations such as Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, and Vaishali in Bihar, Kushinagar and Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh, and Lumbini in Nepal, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Jain applicants can visit revered temples such as Dilwara and Ranakpur in Rajasthan, Shikharji in Jharkhand, Palitana in Gujarat, Pawapuri in Bihar, and Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, all deeply tied to Jain philosophy and tradition. Sikh pilgrims are eligible for assistance to travel to holy shrines like the Golden Temple (Amritsar), Takhts in Punjab and Maharashtra, and even international locations such as Nankana Sahib and Panja Sahib in Pakistan, which hold immense importance in Sikh history. How to Apply and Whos Eligible District Collector Sheikh Abdul Rahman announced that the Rs10,000 subsidy will be credited directly into the bank accounts of selected applicants via ECS (Electronic Clearing Service). This applies only to pilgrimages undertaken on or after July 1, 2025. Eligible residents of Tamil Nadu belonging to the Buddhist, Jain, or Sikh communities can collect application forms free of cost from the District Minorities Welfare Offices located within their District Collectorates. Forms can also be downloaded from the official website: www.bcmbcmw.tn.gov.in top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Completed applications must be submitted to the Commissioner, Minorities Welfare Department, Kalas Mahal Heritage Building, Chepauk, Chennai-600005, no later than November 30, 2025. This scheme underscores the states commitment to religious diversity and equitable support across communities. 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 : Tamil Nadu, India, India First Published: July 22, 2025, 11:38 IST News lifestyle travel Rs10,000 For Buddhist, Jain, Sikh Pilgrims - Whos Eligible And How To Apply Global Watch | Pakistans New Travel Policy For Shia Pilgrims Reveals A Deep Sectarian Fault Line Written By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 19:32 IST From January 1, 2026, Pakistani nationals undertaking pilgrimages to Shia sacred sites in Iran and Iraq will no longer be allowed to travel independently Historically, Pakistans constitution guaranteed equal rights to all citizens regardless of their faith or sect, although it has explicitly discriminated against the Ahmadiyya communityanother oppressed group alongside Hindus, Shias, and Christians. Representational pic/AP In a move justified through bureaucratic reasoning but deeply rooted in longstanding sectarian inequalities, the Pakistani government has unveiled extensive new measures that will significantly affect the countrys Shia community. On July 15, interior minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that, starting from January 1, 2026, Pakistani nationals undertaking pilgrimages to Shia sacred sites in Iran and Iraq will no longer be allowed to travel independently. Instead, such religious journeys must be conducted exclusively in closely monitored groups, overseen by government-certified operators known as Zaireen Group Organisers (ZGOs). Presented as a necessary reaction to diplomatic concerns from Iran and Iraq regarding visa overstays and unauthorised activities, the newly announced policy has raised more concerns than clarity, drawing attention to the pronounced sectarian bias embedded within it. The governments rationale fails to hold under closer examination, particularly when contrasted with its tolerant approach to similar violations committed by Sunni pilgrims visiting Saudi Arabia. Consequently, this directive represents more than a mere procedural alterationit conveys a veiled message to Pakistans Shia population that they are not deemed trustworthy to travel independently. Recommended Stories Central to the states defence of the policy is the assertion that Iranian and Iraqi officials have voiced complaints regarding Pakistani Shia pilgrims, known as Zaireen, who allegedly exceed visa limits, take on informal employment, or attempt to remain illegally. The government contends that such behaviours necessitate the introduction of a supervised travel" system in order to safeguard the pilgrimages sanctity and deter potential misuse. The double standard is unmistakable. For example, in December 2024 alone, Saudi Arabia deported nearly 5,000 Pakistani citizens in just one monthprimarily Sunni pilgrims who had overstayed their Umrah visas and were found begging. This issue is not limited to Saudi Arabia; other Gulf nations such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have also deported hundreds of Pakistanis for similar infractions. In fact, in April 2025, Saudi authorities imposed a temporary visa ban on 14 countries, including Pakistan, citing the need to curb unauthorised Hajj participation and widespread visa violations. Despite these developments, the Pakistani government has not implemented any restrictions on individual Sunni pilgrimages to Mecca or Medina, nor has it introduced a system of regulated group travel for them. If the core concern truly lies in visa breaches and diplomatic pressures, it raises a pressing question: why has only one sect been subjected to such punitive regulation, particularly when Gulf monarchies have consistently expressed concerns about Pakistani nationals engaging in begging and other illicit activities? The stance adopted by the Pakistani government reveals a clear sectarian inclination and forms part of a broader, long-standing pattern of discriminatory practices against the Shia minority, which constitutes an estimated 15-20 per cent of the national population. For decades, Pakistans Shia citizens have faced state-backed marginalisationranging from explicit exclusion in key government positions to more covert institutional apathy that overlooks violence perpetrated by the Sunni majority, as notably seen in Parachinar within the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. While many such forms of bias are subtle, others have been overt and violently repressive. Viewed within the broader historical context, the newly introduced pilgrimage regulation is merely another addition to a persistent trend of policies that have implicitly, if not explicitly, relegated the Shia community to a subordinate status. This so-called administrative requirement" fails to withstand scrutiny when placed against the wider backdrop of the states consistent alignment with Sunni orthodoxy. For many Shia Muslims, visiting the sacred sites of Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, as well as Qom and Mashhad in Iran, represents more than merely a religious dutyit serves as a profound emotional, spiritual, and cultural connection. These pilgrimages, primarily undertaken during the Islamic months of Muharram (for Ashura) and Safar (for Arbaeen), are vital expressions of faith and identity within the Shia tradition. Under the newly imposed regulations, such pilgrimages must now be conducted exclusively through state-approved organisers, many of whom impose prohibitively high charges and operate with little transparency. Independent travel options, which tend to be more affordable and allow for greater flexibility, will be rendered unlawful under this system. As a result, this policy effectively marginalises low-income Shia families and places additional constraints on their already restricted religious liberties. The disparity is striking. Sunni pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia for Umrah continue to benefit from a largely unmonitored travel framework, despite persistent reports of visa overstays, unlawful employment, and even infractions such as widespread begging. The governments reaction has typically been to ignore these issues or, at most, issue mild advisorieswithout imposing any broad restrictions or invoking claims of administrative necessity". Although it is accurate that the Iranian and Iraqi authorities have raised concerns about certain pilgrims, particularly during mass gatherings like Arbaeen, it is misleading to argue that the new restrictions are solely a response to these issues. If that were genuinely the case, the Pakistani government would have already put in place a regulatory policy addressing Umrah travel to Saudi Arabiaespecially given Riyadhs repeated complaints regarding visa violations and begging by Pakistani citizens. Yet, instead of devising such a framework, Islamabad has consistently chosen to overlook these infractions committed by Sunni nationals deported from these Gulf states. The sole discernible distinction appears to lie in sectarian affiliation. Pakistans centres of powerparticularly its military-intelligence apparatus and dominant Sunni religious institutionshave long influenced the definition of full citizenship. Consequently, this measure does not merely constitute a travel regulation; it symbolises what appears to be a litmus test for citizenship, wherein a Pakistani Shia is denied the right to undertake pilgrimages independently, while a Sunni remains free to do so. By implementing such exclusionary travel protocols, the state not only marginalises a segment of its population but also risks exacerbating sectarian divisions in a nation already burdened by deep polarisation, political suppression, and widespread instability. Historically, Pakistans constitution guaranteed equal rights to all citizens regardless of their faith or sect, although it has explicitly discriminated against the Ahmadiyya communityanother oppressed group alongside Hindus, Shias, and Christians. Yet, for many within the Shia community, as with other religious minorities, that constitutional assurance has rarely translated into practice. The introduction of the new travel regulation serves as a stark reminder that in the Islamic Republic, religious liberty is not a universal entitlement but rather a tightly controlled and selectively granted privilege, managed and rationed by the state. Although visa enforcement, like border control, is a legitimate responsibility of the state, its impartiality is compromised when its execution aligns with sectarian fault lines. At that point, it no longer remains a neutral administrative act but becomes a vehicle for discrimination. If Pakistan genuinely seeks to foster national unity, it must reject the selective application of the law and commit to governance grounded in fairnessapplying rules uniformly across all communities without favour or prejudice. This approach should also support, rather than restrict, religious expression, regardless of sectarian identity. Crucially, it requires avoiding the misuse of bureaucratic mechanisms as tools of sectarian exclusion. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Until such principles are upheld, the concept of equal citizenship" in Pakistan will continue to ring hollowserving more as a bitter irony than a constitutional assurance. This is particularly evident for communities that are repeatedly compelled to demonstrate their loyalty, even in their most sacred journeys of faith. The writer is an author and a columnist. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: July 22, 2025, 19:32 IST News opinion Global Watch | Pakistans New Travel Policy For Shia Pilgrims Reveals A Deep Sectarian Fault Line 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... AfriLabs a pan-African network of innovation hubs says it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Telecommunications Union to fast-track digital innovation across the African continent. Under the MoU announced on Friday, ATUs 52 member states will unite with AfriLabs ecosystem of over 500 innovation hubs across 53 African countries to drive inclusive technological advancement, empower local solutions, and catalyse transformative economic growth. AfriLabs said the initiative intends to address the widening gap between Africas digital potential and current internet access levels. According to ATU Secretary General John Omo, some market analysts estimate Africas internet economy could reach US$712 billion by 2050, but only 38% of Africas total population was online by the end of 2024, marking the lowest penetration rate among regions covered by the International Telecommunication Union. Our entrepreneurs have the ideas and resilience; however, they continue to face challenges such as fragmented regulations and limited continental visibility, Omo said in a joint statement. This collaboration with AfriLabs seeks to provide a framework that will enable ATU and AfriLabs to address some of these challenges and innovators to concentrate on addressing practical issues rather than bureaucratic hurdles. ATU and AfriLabs said they aim to leverage the potential growth in mobile internet adoption over the next five years particularly for 5G to incubate solutions tailored to Africas diverse markets in the hopes of translating the expected surge in mobile internet connectivity into more digital inclusion. By aligning our pan-African network of innovation hubs, innovators and entrepreneurs with the regulatory and institutional influence of ATU, we are laying the groundwork for a future where every entrepreneur, regardless of location, can turn bold ideas into scalable solutions, said AfriLabs executive director Anna Ekeledo. Meanwhile, the MoU also includes the establishment of a joint programme for intellectual property (IP) protection and commercialization for African innovators that strengthens the existing IP ecosystem. ATU and AfriLabs added that the agreement is aligned with the African Unions goal to boost internet penetration to 80% by 2030 under its Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa 2020-2030. Opinion | Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh: A Legacy Of 70 Years, A Future Of Hope Written By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 18:25 IST Over the decades, the BMS has played a vital role in transforming Indias labour sector Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh was the last of the major central trade union organisations to be formed. Dattopant Thengadiji, the founder of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), often remarked that BMS was a Sangh Srushti" a creation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He founded the organisation under the able guidance of Guruji Golwalkar, the second Sarsanghchalak of the RSS. Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh was the last of the major central trade union organisations to be formed, after AITUC, INTUC, HMS, and others. Yet, within just 34 years, it rose to become the largest Central Trade Union in the country. Throughout its journey, the BMS championed issues often ignored by other unions. Recommended Stories India has a rich tradition of a powerful trade union movement. Much of the progress and rights enjoyed by workers today are the result of tireless struggles led by towering figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Dr BR Ambedkar, and Dattopant Thengadiji, who were also eminent leaders of the trade union movement. Beyond bread and butter, national spirit at the core The BMS has been at the forefront in ensuring decent wages and working conditions for the workers. But it always thought beyond bread and butter. It has been distinguished by its deeply nationalist character. Its rallying call in the labour sector was Nationalise the Labour. It firmly rejected both political unionism" and mere bread and butter trade unionism". In negotiations, the BMS advocated not just for the workers but considered society at large as a third and most critical stakeholder in all industrial matters, apart from workers and employers. While striving for better wages and improved working conditions, the BMS consistently emphasised that workers efforts must contribute meaningfully to nation-building. This balancing vision was captured in its inspiring slogan: Desh ke hit mein karenge kaam, kaam ke lenge poore daam (We shall work in the nations interest, and receive full wages for our work). In times of national crisis, the BMS consistently called upon Indian labour to rise in service of the nation. During the Chinese aggression in 1962, the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971, and the liberation of Bangladesh, the BMS mobilised like-minded trade unions to form the Rashtriya Mazdoor Morcha to support the governments war efforts. It also suspended all protests and demands during these periods. True to its cultural roots, the BMS has promoted a trade union movement grounded in the Bharatiya ethos. It celebrates Vishwakarma Jayanti on September 17 as National Labour Dayan alternative to May Day. May Day is observed in remembrance of a failed struggle that ultimately weakened the trade union movement in the United States, where the events associated with May Day originally took place. In India, Vishwakarma symbolises the dignity and noble status of labour in society. Today, several states officially observe a holiday on this day. Landmark contributions in the service of labour The BMS has been at the forefront of many groundbreaking labour reforms. Wages constitute the most critical element in fulfilling the economic aspirations of the labour. The BMS was the first to critically study and expose flaws in the calculation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the basis for determining Dearness Allowance. Despite initial opposition from other unions like INTUC and HMS, who later came to endorse it, the movement gained momentum, culminating in a successful Mumbai Bandh on 20th August 1963. The government eventually appointed the Lakdawala Committee to revise CPI methodology. The BMS championed the principle that the bonus is a deferred wage, advocating the slogan Bonus for All" a position later adopted by all major stakeholders in the labour sector. The First National Commission on Labour, chaired by Justice Gajendragadkar, was established in 1967. The BMS made an exhaustive submission before the Commission outlining a comprehensive set of demands for the welfare of labour. In 1971, the BMS took up the issue of domestic workers, recognising that they lacked both legal protection and formal recognition within the labour framework. The BMS established the Gharelu Kamgar Sangh in Mumbai. A massive rally of around 60,000 domestic workers took place during BMSs third national conference on 22-23 May 1972. In 1974, the Bharatiya Railway Mazdoor Sangh played a pivotal role in the national railway strike along with other unions. While some other unions contemplated damaging national property during the strike, the BMS firmly insisted that the strike be carried out without harming any national assets. The struggle continued without causing any loss of national property. A voice of resistance in times of oppression On July 26, 1976, Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency. In response, the Lok Sangarsh Samiti was formed, and a joint circular was issued by BMS, CITU, HMS, and HMKP. While leaders of other central trade unions were later afraid and reluctant to continue the agitation against the autocratic rule, the BMS took to the streets, resulting in the arrest of more than 5,000 of its activists, with around 111 imprisoned under the oppressive MISA law. The courageous resistance and the sacrifices made by the BMS during the Emergency won the confidence of workers across the country. It led to a period of growth for the organisation after the Emergency was lifted in 1977. Representing the BMS for the first time, Thengadiji attended the 63rd session of the International Labour Conference of the ILO in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1977 as part of the Indian delegation. By 1980, the BMS was declared the second-largest Central Trade Union in the country by the Congress Government, next to INTUC. Following this, the BMS was officially included in every Indian trade union delegation to international conferences and forums such as the ILO. Finally, based on the 1989 verification conducted by the then Congress government, the BMS was declared the largest central trade union in the country by the same Government. Consequently, in the 1990s, the BMS was entrusted with the responsibility of leading Indian delegations to the ILO and other international forums. By 1980, the Government officially recognised the BMS as the second-largest central trade union, after INTUC. Following the 1989 verification conducted by the Congress government, the BMS was declared the largest central trade union in the country. From the 1990s onwards, the BMS began leading Indian delegations to global labour fora, including the ILO. In 1980, leaders from various trade unions were invited to participate in the Viswakarma Jayanti celebrations, which BMS observed as Labour Day. On June 4, 1981, a National Campaign Committee comprising eight Central Trade Unions and National Industrial Federations, including the BMS, was formed to counter the governments flawed anti-labour policies. In 1986, 10 central trade unions once again united to form a common platform to address broader issues such as national unity, disarmament, and racial discrimination. The BMS welcomed this initiative and played a leading role in these activities with the vision of advancing world peace and harmony. During its seventh national conference in 1984, held in Hyderabad, BMS declared a War of Economic Independence Against Imperialism. Technology, yes, but not at the cost of jobs The BMS firmly believes that technology and machines should assist, not replace, human workers. Given Indias status as a labour-surplus country, the BMS asserts that technologies should be adapted to suit Indian conditions rather than adopted in their original form, as uncritical adoption may adversely impact employment. In line with this, the 1981 Hyderabad conference resolved to observe 1984 as Anti-Computerisation Year in protest against labour-displacing devices. However, the BMS did not object to the use of computers in complex domains such as research, defence, meteorology, oceanography and the like. It also demanded a Round Table Conference involving all stakeholders to deliberate on the job-displacing impacts of computerisation, particularly in sectors like banking. Four decades later, the world is once again engaged in the same debate, raising similar concerns and arguments in response to the growing spread of artificial intelligence and robotics. The BMS has adopted a distinctive policy of responsive co-operation" toward successive governments, regardless of political affiliation. Replacing class conflict with harmony On the international front, the BMS replaced the class-divisive Communist slogan Workers of the World, Unite! with its message of harmony: Workers, Unite the World! The BMS has maintained positive relationships with global trade union movements. Notably, the BMS was invited as a special guest to the pro-Communist Conference of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) in Moscow in November 1991. At this conference, Prabhakar Ghate presented before the World, the BMSs apolitical ideals for a genuine trade union movement. When the ILO proposed incorporating a social clause in trade agreements with developing countries, the BMS strongly opposed the move. The social clause, which aimed to prohibit imports from countries allegedly using child labour, would have jeopardised export prospects for nations like India and Nepal. The then BMS representative, R Venugopal, mobilised many developing nations against it. To empower women workers, the BMS established its womens wing during the 1981 conference in Kolkata. In April 1994, the Sarvapanth Samadar Manch was founded to foster religious harmony in Indias diverse cultural landscape. In 1995, the Paryavaran Manch was launched to address rising environmental concerns, such as the rising levels of industrial pollution and their adverse effects. The initiative championed the Bharatiya ethos that Mother Nature should be milked, not exploited. To safeguard the nations economic interests in global forums, the BMS organised a massive rally on April 16, 2001 at Ram Lila Grounds in New Delhi, attended by lakhs of workers. The rally highlighted the potential dangers of blindly following WTO policies, with the slogan: WTO Modo, Todo, Ya Chodo (Change WTO, Break It, or Quit It). The BMS regards labour as the true capital and promotes the concept of Labourisation of Industry. This approach was successfully piloted in Calcutta Jute Mills and other industries for a considerable period. Labourisation encompasses three components: a share in capital investment, participation in management, and proportional profit sharing. The BMS asserted that labour participation should go beyond tokenism on boards of directors; workers should be prioritised in the allotment of company shares and in the distribution of profits. The Vajpeyi Government constituted the Second National Commission on Labour under the chairmanship of Ravindra Verma. While leftist trade unions boycotted the commission, the BMS submitted a comprehensive memorandum addressing labours varied needs in June 2001. When the commission made anti-worker recommendations on eight key issues, Saji Narayanan CK, a member of the Commission and representative of the BMS, submitted a dissenting note that drew widespread attention in labour circles. One media outlet wrote, the dissenting note of BMS would be remembered more than the Commissions report itself. A leader in modern labour movements On November 23, 2011, the BMS held a historic rally in Delhi, attended by nearly 2 lakh workers, which was an unprecedented show of strength in recent decades. In that event, BMS declared the beginning of a sustained agitation. The show of strength inspired other trade unions, and on the very next day, their leaders came to the BMS office to plan joint actions, accepting the leadership of BMS. Two nationwide strikes followed on 28th March 2012 and 20-21 February 2013, by all the central Trade Unions together under BMS leadership. These actions had a significant impact, drawing serious attention from the government, employers, media and all those related to labour. For the first time, then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh directly intervened at the eleventh hour and appointed a group of four ministers to engage with trade unions and address their demands. During the Indian Labour Conference held in Delhi on May 17, 2013, the Prime Minister openly recognised the demands of trade unions, rekindling hope and enthusiasm among workers across the country. The 46th Indian Labour Conference, held on July 20-21, 2015 after a gap of more than two years, marked a turning point amid turbulent labour conditions. During the conference, in a committee on Labour Law Reforms chaired by the BMS representative, all three social partners employers organisations, the 11 central trade unions, and government representatives from both the Centre and the States unanimously agreed upon three foundational pillars for all future labour legislations: (i) the rights and welfare of workers; (ii) the sustainability of enterprises and job creation; and (iii) industrial peace. When the four Labour Codes were in the drafting stage, a team of BMS activists actively participated in the Governments consultation process, while other Central Trade Unions belonging to opposition parties chose to boycott it. As a result of BMSs proactive engagement, several major pro-labour reforms, particularly steps toward the universalisation of labour benefits, were successfully incorporated into the Codes. However, certain clauses still contain provisions that remain a cause of serious concern. Thus, the Code on Wages and the Code on Social Security are considered historic and revolutionary in many respects. Nevertheless, BMS remains committed to its ongoing struggle to amend the anti-worker provisions in the remaining two Codes. Under the leadership of BMS, the Central Trade Unions raised a 12-point joint Charter of Demands (as revised on June 24, 2014) before the Government and declared a national strike on September 2, 2015. In response, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, constituted a Group of Five Ministers, led by Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, to engage in wide-ranging consultations with all 11 Central Trade Unions regarding the demands. These consultations were held on August 26 and 27, 2015. After extensive discussions, the Government took a historic step by either fully or partially accepting nearly 10 out of the 12 demands. Emphasising the critical role of trade unions, the Finance Minister assured all Central Trade Unions that any labour law reforms would be undertaken only after thorough tripartite consultations. In light of the Governments proactive efforts to address the Charter of Demands, BMS decided to postpone the strike. However, the central trade unions affiliated with opposition political parties chose to proceed with the strike, despite the majority of demands having been accepted. The strike, without the participation of the BMS, failed to make any significant impact. This development marked a clear separation between labour welfare" and labour politics." Since then, opposition trade unions have continued to organise frequent politically motivated strikes ceremoniously, without BMS involvement and without making any meaningful impact on the labour landscape. During 2015-2016, the International Labour Organization (ILO) undertook a historic initiative to formalise the informal sector", conducting two years of global discussions on the matter. BMS delegate Shri Saji Narayanan C.K. was selected to represent the Asia-Pacific region in the ILO Workers Group Steering Team for the two year period. He was invited to attend the key preparatory meeting of the workers team held in Copenhagen, organised by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), ahead of the ILO Conference. In 202021, while the world was in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic, BMS carried out one of the largest service initiatives in the history of the trade union movement. District-level helplines were established, and extensive service activities were carried out at the grassroots level across the country. Tragically, the BMS lost around 600 of its senior activists in the process. BRICS and L20: An Indian voice in the global labour arena The BMS has also taken on a new role in global leadership. In 2016, for the first time, the BMS assumed the Presidency of the BRICS Trade Union Forum. The BRICS conference held in India that year received high praise from international delegates for its organisation and hospitality. In 2021, amid the pandemic, the BRICS TUF conference was once again held, this time online, under BMSs presidency. The year 2023 was a significant milestone as India hosted the G20 Summit under the Presidency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Labour20 (L20), one of the key verticals of the summit, was chaired by BMS as Indias largest central trade union. The L20 conference saw participation from representatives of 20+9 countries, making it the most widely represented L20 event to date. During both the BRICS and L20 conferences, the BMS proposed the idea of universalisation (antyodaya) of labour benefits, an idea that received unanimous appreciation and endorsement from all participating countries. During the Indo-Pak conflict in May 2025, the BMS declared its unwavering support for the soldiers guarding the nations borders. Towards Antyodaya: A future to be built on firm foundations Today, the BMS comprises over 5,700 unions spanning approximately 60 labour sectors. These have been consolidated into 42 all-India federations active across diverse domains. Going forward, India will face two critical challenges in its labour sector: the vast size of the unorganised sector and the growing trend of contractualisation within the organised sector. India, unfortunately, holds the ignominious distinction of having the worlds largest unorganised labour force. According to government statistics, 93.7% of the working population is in unorganised sector, falling outside the protection of labour laws and social security frameworks. Moreover, the increasing use of contract labour within the organised sector has created a vast number of islands" of unorganized labour within it. A stagnant manufacturing sector further pressured by the influx of Chinese goods and a non-profitable agricultural economy have placed a disproportionate burden on the already falling real wage levels and deteriorating working conditions of Indian labour. At its 2011 Jalgaon conference, the BMS resolved to focus all efforts on addressing issues in the unorganised sector by launching two key initiatives: March to Villages and Organise the Unorganised. The BMS has established a separate wing for unorganised workers, coordinated by senior members and supported by 12 national-level federations. Among them is the Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Gramin Mazdoor Mahasangh, one of the largest tribal federations, actively working in Madhya Pradesh and surrounding states. A nation cannot claim development while the majority of its working population languishes in low economic standards, poverty and vulnerability. Therefore, the BMS has steadfastly promoted the philosophy of antyodayaupliftment of the last workeras an essential component of its foundational ideology, Ekatma Manav Darshan. The Bharatiya social order envisioned by Thengadi was deeply rooted in this concept. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Over the decades, the BMS has played a vital role in transforming Indias labour sector and will continue this struggle until the vision of antyodaya is fully realised. Saji Narayanan CK is Former President, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: July 22, 2025, 18:24 IST News opinion Opinion | Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh: A Legacy Of 70 Years, A Future Of Hope 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 | Erased In Silence: How Intelligentsia Ignores Hindu Persecution Written By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 19:12 IST The world must wake up to the reality that Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh are not just second-class citizens, they are targeted and oppressed minorities If human rights are to mean anything, they cannot be filtered through ideological convenience. (PTI File Photo) For generations, the liberal intelligentsia in India and the West have platformed themselves as the flagbearers of a conscience-driven society and champions of the oppressed and voiceless. Yet, their silence on the relentless persecution of Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh exposes the absolute hollowness of this claim. These are states whose very foundations were laid on the idea of Islamic othering. The non-Muslim, particularly the Hindu, exists as an unwanted relic of a rejected hangover of 1947. As a consequence, the persecution they suffer isnt just societal but institutional, legal and sustained via the States policy mechanisms. Recommended Stories The Partition That Never Ended It is often forgotten that over 90% of Indian Muslims of undivided British India, who voted in the 1946 elections, supported the Muslim Leagues call for Pakistan. Yet after Partition, more than 70% of them who voted, chose to stay back in India and not embrace the Pakistan they helped create. Some, like Khaliquzzaman, who were patrons of the Muslim League and Gazwa-E-Hind project (literal translation Holy War against Hind), even stayed on to help shape Indias Constitution sitting in the constituent assembly before eventually departing for Pakistan they had politically birthed. This unacknowledged historical truth is uncomfortable for the intelligentsia, which continues to present Muslims of the Indian subcontinent as mere victims of Hindu majoritarianism, while refusing to scrutinise the ideological forces and often deflecting it on the Hindu Mahasabha or Savarkar that led to Partition and its consequences. Two Neighbouring Islamic States. One Silent Genocide Despite the global blindspot and gaslighting of facts, it is undeniable that in Pakistan and Bangladesh, Hindus are being quietly erased. Their temples are frequently desecrated, their daughters abducted, raped and converted under State patronage, their lands snatched, and their identities crushed. This is not anecdotal but rather state-enabled. In Bangladesh, a pivotal study conducted by Professor Abdul Barakat of Dhaka University revealed that between 1964 and 2013, an estimated 11.3 million Hindus were forced to flee the country due to religious persecution and systematic dispossession. Laws like the Enemies Property Act (Pakistan) and the Vested Property Act (Bangladesh) were designed to dispossess Hindus under the guise of nationalism or land reform. These draconian policies have been used for decades to legally plunder Hindu-owned properties, with millions of families rendered homeless and stateless without recourse or redress. And yet, the global liberal elite, so quick to decry Islamophobia" in India, continues to demonstrate a deafening silence when it comes to this religious apartheid. False Equivalences and Intellectual Gaslighting What we instead hear are shrill claims of Muslim oppression in India, based not on institutional disenfranchisement, but often on isolated incidents inflated into sweeping narratives. Meanwhile, the systemic dispossession of Hindus in Islamic states is explained away, or worse, ignored. Consider this in India, Muslims benefit from exclusive educational scholarships, religious reservations, personal law privileges, and vast land holdings under Waqf Boards, unchecked by Parliament or courts. Bodies like the All India Muslim Personal Law Board act as parallel legal systems, undermining efforts like the Uniform Civil Code in the garb of minority rights. And yet, any mention of these imbalances is branded Islamophobic." Meanwhile, no such label exists for ignoring the actual, ongoing erasure of Hindus in neighbouring Islamic republics. The Islamo-Leftist Nexus What explains this hypocrisy? It is the alliance between Islamist politics and leftist intellectual elites, a mutually beneficial arrangement. The Left provides cover for Islamists under the garb of anti-majoritarianism; the Islamists, in turn, help perpetuate the victimhood narrative that fuels leftist politics in democratic setups like India. This axis has succeeded in portraying Indias Muslims as oppressed, while remaining eerily silent about the crimes against Hindus committed in the name of Islam just across the border. The result? A distorted moral compass that condemns imagined majoritarianism while enabling real, ongoing theocratic oppression. The Nehruvian Lie India, too, carries historical baggage. For decades, Nehruvian historians like Irfan Habib, Romila Thapar, D N Jha etc (today known as distorians) gave us a whitewashed version of the past, airbrushing centuries of trauma under the guise of composite culture" and secular harmony." The brutalities of Islamic invasions, the forced conversions, the destruction, desecration and loot of temples, none of it found meaningful space in our textbooks or discourse. This wilful historical amnesia was meant to foster social cohesion, but instead bred historical dishonesty, crippling Indias ability to have an honest conversation about religious and historical fault lines. The Case for Intellectual Honesty If human rights are to mean anything, they cannot be filtered through ideological convenience. The world must wake up to the reality that Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh are not just second-class citizens, they are targeted and oppressed minorities whose lives, property, and dignity are under a constant assault. And in India, we must stop pretending that the Muslim minority is uniformly oppressed while Hindu refugees from Pakistan and Bangladesh continue to live in squalor and fear, denied the sympathy freely offered to others. It is time to dismantle the false equivalences and hold all states, not just politically convenient ones, accountable for their treatment of minorities. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Justice cannot be selective. Nor can memory. Adit Kothari is a Calcuttan residing in London as a Pravasi Bharatiya, working to dismantle the plethora of false narratives and misinformation against India and Hindutva. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: July 22, 2025, 19:11 IST News opinion Opinion | Erased In Silence: How Intelligentsia Ignores Hindu Persecution 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 | Trump's Epstein Evasion: AI Deepfakes, Russia Rants And A Presidency In Panic Written By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 14:40 IST Once hailed by his MAGA base as the leader who would "drain the swamp," Trump now seems more determined than ever to keep the swamp water murky. US President Donald Trump. (AP file photo) As public anger over the Epstein files grows, Trumps arsenal of deflections from deepfakes of Obamas arrest to resurrecting Russia conspiracies lays bare a presidency in panic. For a man who built his political brand on the promise of exposing the dirty secrets" of Americas elite, US President Donald Trumps recent behaviour around the Epstein files is nothing short of spectacular hypocrisy. Once hailed by his MAGA base as the leader who would drain the swamp," Trump now seems more determined than ever to keep the swamp water murky. While House Democrats twice attempted to force the release of all DOJ documents related to Jeffrey Epsteins sex trafficking case, Trumps Republican allies shut them down. Not once, twice. Recommended Stories The Epstein Files and a MAGA Revolt The Epstein saga has haunted Americas political elite for years, but its Trump who now finds himself ensnared in its most volatile chapter. After Attorney General Pam Bondi declared there would be no further prosecutions, no client list" and no more documents released, the backlash wasnt led by Democrats, it erupted from Trumps own base. Prominent MAGA influencers like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Elon Musk, demanded transparency. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epsteins longtime accomplice, even reportedly offered to testify before Congress. Instead of action, Trump asked his boys and gals" to leave Bondi alone and called the Epstein controversy sordid but boring." That language alone, a wealthy man dismissing a child sex trafficking scandal as boring" should disqualify him from ever holding public office again. The Farmer Testimony That Wont Go Away Adding to the storm, Maria Farmer, one of Epsteins earliest accusers, has confirmed to multiple outlets including The New York Times that she reported Donald Trumps name to law enforcement in 1996 and again in 2006. Farmer described an unsettling encounter in Epsteins office where Trump allegedly hovered over her and, thinking she was 16, made a lewd comment before Epstein stepped in to say, Shes not here for you." Trump has denied ever being in Epsteins office, but his history of praise for Epstein calling him a terrific guy" in 2002 and admiring his preference for beautiful women on the younger side" does little to help his defense. Enter Tulsi Gabbard and the Russia Hoax Revival As Trump struggled under Epstein-related scrutiny, his Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, lobbed a grenade into the news cycle. Gabbard accused Barack Obama and senior intelligence officials of a treasonous conspiracy" to manufacture evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 election. She called for Obama, John Brennan, James Comey, and others to be prosecuted, alleging they laid the groundwork for a years-long coup" against Trump. The claims are as unhinged as they are unsubstantiated. Every major investigation including a Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee report has upheld the original assessment: Russia interfered to help Trump win. The AI Video That Crossed the Line If the world needed a reminder of Trumps disdain for truth, they got it on Monday. The sitting president posted an AI generated video on Truth Social showing Barack Obama being arrested by FBI agents inside the Oval Office. The clip ends with Obama in an orange jumpsuit behind bars, overlaid with the caption No one is above the law." No disclaimers or context; just a digital lynching of his predecessor designed to stir the MAGA base and muddy the waters around Epstein. Deepfakes have already been flagged as a growing national security threat by the Pentagon. That a US president would deploy one as a political weapon is a low point in American history. CIA Note: Weaponising Intelligence for Distraction Trumps allies arent stopping there. John Ratcliffe, his former CIA Director, released a review" of the 2016 intelligence assessment on Russian interference, criticising its tradecraft and alleging political bias. But the report doesnt refute any findings; it merely questions process, conveniently omitting the Republican Senate Intelligence Committees confirmation of those findings. Its worth noting that this so-called CIA Note" was commissioned by Ratcliffe, a Trump loyalist, and its selective release reeks of political engineering. Former DNI James Clapper described it best, This is a document that violates every standard of intelligence integrity while pretending to champion it." Common Thread: Delay, Distract, Deny Trumps tactics follow a familiar pattern. Delay the release of damaging information, distract the public with inflammatory accusations, deny responsibility for anything, whether its Epsteins ties to power or Russias cyber warfare. This time, though, the stakes are higher. Trump isnt just trying to save his legacy; hes actively undermining trust in Americas institutions to shield himself from scrutiny. Silent Scream of Accountability What remains of the Epstein files? According to Attorney General Bondi, theyre still under review." Yet Senator Dick Durbins letter to the FBI suggests otherwise, revealing that Trump ordered hundreds of agents to comb through 1,00,000 Epstein related records earlier this year. They were told to flag every mention of Trump. It resulted with a DOJ memo declaring there was nothing to see." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Donald Trump promised his followers hed burn down the old order. Instead, hes become its most cynical operator, hiding Epsteins secrets, reviving old conspiracies and peddling digital fantasies of his enemies in chains. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: July 22, 2025, 14:40 IST News opinion OPINION | Trump's Epstein Evasion: AI Deepfakes, Russia Rants And A Presidency In Panic 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 22, 2025, 08:58 IST 1 / 5 The Mogaram festival, which fell on a Sunday this year, did not result in an additional public holiday. However, there is welcome news for those looking forward to more time off. Several districts across Tamil Nadu have announced local holidays on July 23, 24, and 28, much to the delight of schoolchildren, teachers, and government employees. 2 / 5 In particular, the district of Ariyalur will observe a local holiday on Tuesday, July 23, in honour of the birth anniversary of the illustrious Chola emperor, Rajendra Chola I. Known for his remarkable military conquests and administrative acumen, Rajendra Chola is a revered historical figure, and his birthday is celebrated with various cultural and commemorative events throughout the region. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 5 Meanwhile, the Thiruvadhirai festival, an important religious occasion observed annually in the Tamil month of Aadi, will be celebrated with great fervour this year. The festival, which holds deep spiritual significance, especially for devotees of Lord Shiva, attracts lakhs of worshippers who gather to participate in rituals and festivities. In keeping with tradition, the district administration has declared a public holiday on the day of the festival to facilitate public participation. 4 / 5 To ensure academic schedules and administrative work remain on track despite the extended holiday period, the District Collector has announced that Saturday, July 26, will be a full working day for both schools and government offices. ADVERTISEMENT Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 12:54 IST 1 / 7 International Monetary Fund (IMF) Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath is celebrated worldwide for her economic expertise and policy acumen. However, her sartorial choices have also garnered admiration. 2 / 7 Recently, it was announced that she will be stepping down from her role at the IMF at the end of August to return to Harvard University. Alongside discussions of her illustrious career, her elegant and poised dressing style is also receiving praise. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 7 What truly distinguishes Gita Gopinaths fashion is her ability to merge global professionalism with her Indian heritage. Her style is neither ostentatious nor overly modest but strikes a perfect balance that many professional women could emulate. 4 / 7 She is frequently seen in graceful saris and salwar suits at international events, proudly reflecting her Indian roots while maintaining an air of sophistication. Whether adorned in silk or cotton, she carries traditional attire with a professional and modern flair. ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 7 Gita Gopinath favours subtle, natural makeup and minimalist jewellery. Typically, she opts for a simple chain, stud earrings, and bangles, which complement her look with understated confidence and dignity. Her hairstyles, usually straight and left open or softly waved, complete her polished appearance. 6 / 7 Gita Gopinaths style exemplifies how one can ascend to professional heights while preserving a strong and stylish identity through clothing. Her fashion sense is a fine example of tradition seamlessly interwoven with modernity. ADVERTISEMENT Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 13:56 IST Hariyali Teej is one of the auspicious festivals in Hindu religion, which is celebrated with great joy by all married women. 1 / 9 Hariyali Teej is one of the auspicious festivals in Hindu religion, which is celebrated with great joy by all married women. It falls on Tritiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha during the Shravana month, typically occurring two days before Nag Panchami. (Image: AI-Generated) 2 / 9 This year, it will be celebrated across India on July 27 (Sunday). (Image: AI-Generated) ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 9 The festival symbolises the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. On this day, women pray to Goddess Parvati for a happy married life. Even unmarried women fast in the hope of finding their ideal life partner. (Image: AI-Generated) 4 / 9 Parvati is said to have had 107 births before she was able to marry Lord Shiva. When Parvati took birth for the 108th time, she could marry Lord Shiva on the Shukla Paksha Tritiya of Shravan. (Image: AI-Generated) ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 9 Lord Shivas strict discipline of celibacy prevented him from realising Parvatis love for him. The goddess understood that in order to attract Lord Shivas attention, she needed to show him her love. After making the perilous trek to the Himalayas, she settled in a cave wherein she was totally engrossed in her adoration of Lord Shiva. (Image: AI-Generated) 6 / 9 With her devotion for Lord Shiva, Parvati carved a Shiva Lingam out of sand. Lord Shiva, pleased by her devotion, stood before her and granted her desire. Because of the fast she had kept and the ceremonies she had performed during the day, Lord Shiva declared that Goddess Parvati was his wife. (Image: AI-Generated) ADVERTISEMENT 7 / 9 Since then, it has been thought that any woman who observes this fast with complete devotion would receive the benefits she desires from Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. (Image: AI-Generated) 8 / 9 On Hariyali Teej, Hindu women fast without drinking water for the whole day and offer prayers for their husbands to enjoy long and successful lives. (Image: AI-Generated) ADVERTISEMENT After Dhankhar Exit, Numbers Stack Up In Favour Of NDA For Vice Presidential Poll: Here's How Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 18:07 IST Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh said the further constitutional process concerning vacancy in the Office of Vice President of India will be communicated as and when received Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns: What's next for Vice President? (PTI File Image) A day after the surprise resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar from the post of the vice president of India, there has been much speculation on social media about who will assume the office next from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. The ruling NDA has a comfortable edge in the elections to the post of the next vice president, necessitated by Dhankhars exit on Monday (July 21). Recommended Stories The Union home ministry notified Dhankhars resignation on Tuesday, a day after he sent a letter to President Droupadi Murmu saying he was stepping down with immediate effect due to medical reasons. The vice president of India is ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha, whose deputy chairman Harivansh presided over the House soon after it met on the second day of the monsoon session in Parliament. Harivansh told members that the further constitutional process concerning vacancy in the Office of Vice President of India will be communicated as and when received. The vice president is Indias second highest constitutional office. He serves for a five-year term, but can continue to be in office, irrespective of the expiry of the term, until the successor assumes office. Heres all you need to know: HOW DOES IT WORK? The vice president is elected by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs. Nominated members of the Upper House are also eligible to cast their vote. The 543-member Lok Sabha has one vacant seat Basirhat in West Bengal while there are five vacancies in the 245-member Rajya Sabha. Of the five vacancies in Rajya Sabha, four are from Jammu and Kashmir and one from Punjab, where sitting member Sanjeev Arora quit the seat after being elected to the state assembly in a bypoll last month. The effective strength of both the Houses together is 786 and the winning candidate will require to win 394 votes in the vice presidential election, considering all eligible voters exercise their franchise. HOW DOES NDA HAVE A COMFORTABLE EDGE? In Lok Sabha, the BJP-led NDA enjoys the support of 293 members in the 542-member House. The NDA has the support of 129 members in Rajya Sabha, which has an effective strength of 240, assuming that the nominated members vote in support of the NDA nominee. Hence, it has the support of 422 members among 786 members the combined strength of both the Houses. HOW DO THE POLLS TAKE PLACE? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 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 or removal, or otherwise, will be held as soon as possible" after it goes vacant. The person elected to fill the vacancy will be entitled to hold office for the full term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office". Article 66(1) of the Constitution provides that the election shall be held in accordance with the system of Proportional Representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot. In this system, the elector has to mark preferences against the names of the candidates. (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 22, 2025, 18:07 IST News politics After Dhankhar Exit, Numbers Stack Up In Favour Of NDA For Vice Presidential Poll: Here's How 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... Days Before Resignation, VP Dhankhar Hinted At Full Term, But With A Caveat Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 10:12 IST The remark, largely overlooked at the time, has gained renewed attention following his sudden departure from office. Jagdeep Dhankhar's resigned from the post of VP on Monday evening. File pic/PTI Just ten days before his unexpected resignation, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar had expressed confidence in serving his full term until August 2027, but with a caveat. According to a report by NDTV, Dhankhar remarked while speaking at an event at Jawaharlal Nehru University on July 10. I will retire at the right time, August 2027," Dhankhar stated during his address, before qualifying the comment with, subject to divine intervention." Recommended Stories The remark, largely overlooked at the time, has gained renewed attention following his sudden departure from office. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post on Monday evening, citing medical reasons, triggering speculation in political circles. In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar said he was stepping down with immediate effect to prioritise health care". 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," he said in the letter to the President. Dhankhar, 74, assumed office in August 2022 and his tenure was till August 2027. The resignation of Dhankhar, also the Rajya Sabha Chairman, came on the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament. He had recently undergone angioplasty at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi and was admitted to the hospital for a few days in March this year. He appeared not so well at a few events, but has been mostly seen as lively and energetic in his most public appearances, including in Parliament. 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 in independent India to remove a sitting Vice President, was later rejected by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh. He is the third Vice President of India after V V Giri and R Venkataraman to resign during tenure. Giri and Venkataraman had resigned from the post of Vice President to contest the presidential election. There was no official word from anyone in the government or the ruling BJP on why Dhankhar resigned or who could be his successor. According to rules, elections have to be held as soon as possible" to fill the post of vice president. However, the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman can take over the House proceedings till the time a new vice president is elected. Dhankhar was the BJP-led National Democratic Alliances candidate in the election for Vice President, who is the ex-officio Chair of the Rajya Sabha, in 2022. His resignation triggered speculation with the Congress expressing surprise, saying it is totally unexpected" and there is far more to it than meets the eye". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is inexplicable," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. His 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 the same in the House and asked the secretary general to take further necessary steps. 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 22, 2025, 10:12 IST News politics Days Before Resignation, VP Dhankhar Hinted At Full Term, But With A Caveat 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... 'His Health Is Absolutely Fine': Is Mamata Banerjee Sceptical About Dhankhar's Resignation? Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 22:05 IST West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's cryptic comments on Jagdeep Dhankhars sudden resignation hinted -- like other opposition parties -- that it could be more than what meets the eye Jagdeep Dhankhar was known for his frequent run-ins with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee during his tenure as the governor of the state from 2019 to 2022. (Image: PTI/File) Jagdeep Dhankhars longtime political adversary, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed scepticism about his surprise resignation citing health issues and has declared him a healthy man". While Banerjee said she is unwilling to comment on Dhankhars sudden exit, she said she believed that his condition is absolutely fine". Known for her frequent run-ins with him when he was Bengal governor from 2019 to 2022, she made the cryptic remarks during a press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna. Recommended Stories She, however, like other opposition parties hinted there could be more to the development than what meets the eye. Political parties cannot decide why Mr Dhankhar resigned. I have no comments on the issue," Banerjee said. Let us watch. He is a healthy man. I think his health is absolutely fine." The chief ministers comments came amid a political firestorm over Dhankhars decision to quit the post of vice president of India. Many in the opposition claimed that it was totally unexpected" and possibly driven by factors beyond the official line of prioritising health care". The usual effusive praise showered on an occupant of a high office on his departure was missing from the ruling alliances side, an indication that the government was probably happy to see him go. It was the opposition, which had signed a notice to impeach him last year for his alleged biases, that had nice words for him. This was including the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) a party that not only has a troubled history with Dhankhar but has since repeatedly mocked him and called him a government stooge". Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhars resignation. Is health the only reason? If so, get well soon. Otherwise, curiosity remains," said TMC leader Kunal Ghosh on X, a man known to be a bitter critic of Dhankhar in his gubernatorial role. Speaking to reporters later, Ghosh said: We do not wish to comment on this, as our top leadership is observing the situation. He has cited health reasons, so we wish him good health." Another senior TMC leader, Sushmita Dev said she was quite surprised" by Dhankhars sudden decision. I did see some news that he was not keeping well. But one did not imagine that it was serious enough for him to step down. I thought he would go on leave, recover and come back, so I was quite surprised by his decision," she told a news channel. WHY DO DHANKHAR AND MAMATA SHARE A TENSE RELATIONSHIP? Dhankhar was a harsh critic of the Mamata Banerjee administration during his tenure as governor in the state and had often been at the centre of confrontations with the ruling party before being elevated as Vice President in 2022. The two share a deeply adversarial and politically charged relationship. In fact, some of their spats often public and on social media got so ugly that Banerjee even blocked him on X in January 2022, then known as Twitter, accusing him unethical and abusive behaviour. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Banerjee has often described him as a BJP mouthpiece" while repeatedly seeking his removal, alleging obstruction in routine government processes. Despite an occasional attempt at a truce, their relationship was fraught with tension and confrontational to the point that it lasted even after he resigned as governor to assume the office of vice president. While presiding over the Rajya Sabha, too, he had been the target of TMC members in the House, who resolutely believed him to be politically partisan. (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 22, 2025, 22:05 IST News politics 'His Health Is Absolutely Fine': Is Mamata Banerjee Sceptical About Dhankhar's Resignation? 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 Dhankhars Closeness With Opposition Did Not Go Unnoticed: Meetings With Kharge To Kejriwal Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 20:30 IST Dhankhar tried to build bridges with the Opposition to belie claims that he was being partisan as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankar recently met Mallikarjun Kharge and Arvind Kejriwal. (X) The Vice-Presidents Office on July 15 posted a 44-second video of Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, paying Jagdeep Dhankhar a visit at the V-P Enclave. Last Sunday, just a day before the Monsoon Session of Parliament began, Dhankhar met Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal at his residence and posted pictures of this meeting. Kejriwal is not an MP. Recommended Stories While such meetings are part of official courtesy, they do not seem to have gone unnoticed in those quarters of government which have also heard murmurs of Dhankhar being critical of the Narendra Modi government in such meetings with Opposition leaders. This is a U-turn from 2024 when the Opposition leaders had brought an impeachment motion against him and threatened to remove him as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for allegedly being partisan to them. Dhankhar was hospitalised in AIIMS in March for cardiac issues. But it seems post March, Dhankhar tried to build bridges with the Opposition to belie claims that he was being partisan as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He often met Kharge as well as Jairam Ramesh of the Congress, alongside Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari. Both Ramesh and Tiwari are now at the forefront questioning why Dhankhar had put in his papers suddenly and advocated that the government must convince him to take back the resignation. This is complete sea change from last December. The Opposition wants a productive Rajya Sabha session from July 21st. For that to happen a number of strategic, political, foreign policy and socio-economic issues that are of great public concern need to be debated and discussed.Today, I called on the Honble Chairman of the pic.twitter.com/FG529olfUC Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 15, 2025 Exceeding Remit: Like On NJAC Dhankhar has been a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) man till he was chosen as the West Bengal Governor by the Modi government in 2019, where he took on the Mamata Banerjee government. In 2022, Dhankhar was elevated as the Vice-President of India. But lately, the government felt he was exceeding his remit by speaking on issues he had no jurisdiction over. The prime example was his campaign to bring back an NJAC-like body after the Justice Yashwant Verma matter came to light. He met floor leaders in the Rajya Sabha over the issue as well. But the government was clearly in no mood to upset the judiciary with a move like the NJAC. Home Minister Amit Shah at a CNN-News18 event recently clearly said the government had no such proposal. But Dhankhars continued public statements on this created an impression that it was the government which was prompting him to say so which was not the case. Dhankhar was repeatedly also criticising why no FIR had been filed against Justice Yashwant Verma so far. This was going far beyond his remit of Vice-President. The Opposition wants a productive Rajya Sabha session from July 21st. For that to happen a number of strategic, political, foreign policy and socio-economic issues that are of great public concern need to be debated and discussed.Today, I called on the Honble Chairman of the pic.twitter.com/FG529olfUC Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 15, 2025 The final trigger for Dhankhar to resign is said to have been his telephonic argument on Monday evening with a senior minister over why he had admitted an impeachment motion against Verma submitted by 65-odd Opposition MPs. While the government was caught unawares on the move, Dhankhar is said to have cited his constitutional powers as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha to admit the notice. Later on Monday, both Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju skipped a 4:30 PM meeting called by Dhankhar. All this showed matters had gone too far after a build-up of mistrust over the last few months. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all What Next? The Modi government would prefer a loyal BJP leader as the next Vice-President as it does not want to take any chances in the Rajya Sabha where the numbers are delicately poised. Various names are doing the rounds like Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, someone from among the other senior Cabinet Ministers or one amongst the senior BJP MPs in the Rajya Sabha. The next Vice-President will get a full five-year term. 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 22, 2025, 20:11 IST News politics Jagdeep Dhankhars Closeness With Opposition Did Not Go Unnoticed: Meetings With Kharge To Kejriwal 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... Satellite networking technology, solutions and services company Gilat Satellite Networks has announced today that its Peruvian subsidiary, Gilat Peru, has been awarded approximately $60 million in orders from Pronatel (Programa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones), Perus national telecommunications programme. The orders are for upgrading the regional broadband infrastructure across the regions of Apurimac, Huancavelica and Ayacucho in southern-central Peru. Migration is expected to take place over the next 12 months and the service will be delivered over four years. This major infrastructure modernisation will bring high-speed internet of 200 Mbps directly to nearly 800 public institutions, including schools, health centres, and police stations across 280 localities. The award, says Gilat, marks a significant step forward in closing the digital divide and empowering rural communities in Peru with the connectivity they need to access education, healthcare, and public services, laying a strong, scalable foundation for future bandwidth growth in rural areas that need it most. Arieh Rohrstock, Corporate Senior Vice President and President, Gilat Peru explains: With extensive experience implementing complex connectivity projects throughout Peru, we are uniquely qualified to carry out this critical migration in record time, said. Together with Pronatel, were advancing our shared goal of increasing digital inclusion in the most remote regions of the country by delivering the high-speed infrastructure needed to support essential public services. It's certainly true that the company has extensive experience in the country. In July last year we reported that Gilat had received a follow-on six-year order worth over US$10 million from Internet Para Todos (IPT) a sustainable global collaborative initiative between Telefonica Internet Para Todos and Facebook, to deliver cellular backhaul services across rural areas in Peru. In November 2022 meanwhile, we noted that the company had been selected to support a multi-million-dollar e-learning project in Peru. Jagdeep Dhankhar Quits: Who'll Be The Next Vice President Of India? Buzz Over These Names Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 12:52 IST From Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, several names are being circulated on social media with guesswork on over who will succeed Dhankhar. Who will be next Vice President of India? Buzz is growing around several names including Nitish Kumar and Shashi Tharoor. (Image: PTI) Jagdeep Dhankhar has resigned as the Vice President of India leaving many in the political circles stunned. While Dhankhar has cited health reasons for stepping down, the Opposition is already questioning if theres more to it. Many political commentators are also keenly watching the developments questioning if this has got anything to do with the forthcoming Bihar Assembly elections later this year. Speculation is rife around several names on social media and political circles who could become the next Vice President of India. From Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, several names are being circulated on social media with guesswork on over who will succeed Dhankhar. Recommended Stories Nitish Kumar There is huge buzz on the Internet that Nitish Kumar could be the next Vice President. Those circulating Nitish Kumars name say the BJP may be looking at someone from the party for the Bihar CMs post while the current CM could be made VP ahead of polls in the state. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to become the next Vice President of the country. In Bihar, the BJP will appoint its own Chief Minister for the elections. The JDU will have the Deputy Chief Minister. Nitishs son Nishant may be appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister," political journalist Sameer Chougaonkar posted on X. . . . . sameer chougaonkar (@semeerc) July 21, 2025 Some social media users are even guessing that while Nitish could be made VP, Dhankhar may be appointed as the National President of BJP. In fact, a BJP MLA from Bihar has said that Nitish as next VP is everyones wish". BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur Bachoul said, What could be better than Nitish Kumar being made Vice President? Whether Nitish Kumar becomes the Vice President or not, everyone wants it." Rajnath Singh Defence Minister Rajnath Singhs name is also being circulated on social media with many guessing he could succeed Dhankhar as the Vice President of India. Singhs name had also surfaced as the probable candidates for the VPs post in 2022 when the election for the post was held. This time, too, several on social media are speculating that it could be Rajnath Singh. Harivansh Narayan Singh Singhs name is at the forefront of speculation. Media reports are also citing JDU MP Harivansh Narayan Singh as the obvious next choice" for the post of VP as he is currently the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. As per the rules of the Constitution, Singh will take over the duties of Rajya Sabha Chairman (VP) starting today, in the absence of Dhankar, till a new Vice President is elected. Those on social media say that Singh shares cordial relations with both Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and therefore, many believe the NDA may make him the VP candidate. Shashi Tharoor The one naming creating major buzz on social media is that of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. The speculation gained pace after a senior journalist posted on X, 2 prominent NDA union ministers and Shashi Tharoor are possible contenders for V-P." 2 prominent NDA union ministers and Shashi Tharoor are possible contenders for V-P. Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) July 22, 2025 Tharoors differences with the Congress and proximity with the Modi government, especially after he was part of the governments outreach programme on Operation Sindoor, hae been making headlines for days now. There is growing buzz that Tharoors name could come forward for the post of the Vice President. JP Nadda top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all There is growing buzz over the name of BJP National President JP Nadda. Nadda has been a BJP veteran and is known to be close to PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. His term as the BJP President is ending with the party on the lookout to find his replacement. However, there are murmurs he could be considered for the post of Indias Vice President. Apart from these, other names being circulated on social media for the post of Indias next Vice President include Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. However, these are all speculation as there has been no official word yet on who the NDA or Opposition would propose as Dhankhars successor. The election for the next VP has to be held within the next 60 days. 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 22, 2025, 10:54 IST News politics Jagdeep Dhankhar Quits: Who'll Be The Next Vice President Of India? Buzz Over These Names 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... From Acrimony To Adulation, And Now Speculation? Dhankhar's Exit Leaves Opposition 'Stunned' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 09:00 IST For someone like Jagdeep Dhankhar, who had frequent run-ins with the opposition parties as Rajya Sabha chairman virtually every day, their reaction was an astonishing development In a sudden move, Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post citing medical reasons. (Image: PTI/File) The sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar from the post of Vice-President on Monday surprised many, with the opposition now expressing concern and hinting at the political undercurrents behind the move. For someone like Dhankhar a stickler for rules in the House and a former MoS for parliamentary affairs who had frequent run-ins with the opposition parties as Rajya Sabha chairman virtually every day, this was an astonishing development. Recommended Stories So, from very shocking" to mysterious things not in the favour of the nation", the opposition had much to say about Dhankhars exit and not all of it was bitter. In the past, he has been criticised for being a government stooge" specifically so by his longtime foe, the Trinamool Congress but he is now, positively receiving adulation with adjectives like most proactive" also being used for him. Having compared the unsuccessful impeachment motion against him to using a vegetable knife for a bypass surgery", his witticisms have often made for good banter during House proceedings. And not all have been sharp and serious. It will be tough to forget the memorable mimicry row from last year, when TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee stirred up a controversy by mimicking the former Rajya Sabha chairman, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi filmed the act on his phone during the winter session. While Banerjee called his mimicry of Dhankhar an art form" and asserted that he will continue to do so a thousand times" because he had a fundamental right to do so", his target described himself as a sufferer". Dhankhars back-and-forths with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge have been rather well-documented, especially the time when the latter kicked up a language problem" to mock him. But his dynamic with Samajwadi Party MP and Bollywood actress Jaya Bachchan has often been highlighted. From the name" controversy to the kursi mazedaar" banter, the two have made many House proceedings interesting leaving them both and others in splits. SO, WHAT IS THE OPPOSITION SAYING NOW THAT HES GONE? While there is no love lost between the two, the opposition parties comments on Dhankhars exit seem like they may just miss locking horns with a favourite foe. The Congress claimed that there are far deeper reasons" for Dhankhars 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. It also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convince Dhankhar to change his mind. Now in a truly unprecedented move, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar has resigned. He has given health reasons for doing so. Those should be respected. But it is also a fact that there are far deeper reasons for his resignation," Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh claimed. Jagdeep Dhankars resignation speaks highly of him. It also speaks poorly of those who had got him elected as Vice President in the first instance." The opposition raised questions over his sudden resignation, saying there is far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye". Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal expressed sadness, describing Dhankhar as one of the most proactive" chairmen the Rajya Sabha has seen and highlighting their rare personal camaraderie built over four decades. I wish him the best of health, because I am saddened, because I have a very good relationship with him. I have known him for 30-40 years. We were paired with each other. We have appeared against each other in matters. We share a unique camaraderie between us. I always respected him, and he always respected me. He has been to some family occasions of ours, and I am saddened and I hope that he is healthy and has a long, long life, and I wish him well," Sibal said. Communist Party of India (CPI) MP P Sandosh Kumar said the development is 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," Kumar said. On Dhankhars 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." WHAT HAPPENED? In a sudden move, Dhankhar resigned from his post on Monday evening, citing medical reasons. He sent his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu and said he is stepping down with immediate effect. The 74-year-old 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 AIIMS Delhi. While he was hospitalised for a few days in March this year and appeared not so well at a few occasions, he has been mostly seen as lively and energetic in his public appearances, including in Parliament. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He will go down in history as the only vice president against whom the opposition brought a notice of removal for partisan" conduct as the chairman of the Upper House. (With agency inputs) 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 22, 2025, 09:00 IST News politics From Acrimony To Adulation, And Now Speculation? Dhankhar's Exit Leaves Opposition 'Stunned' 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: From Controversies As Bengal Governor To Shock Exit From Vice-President's Post Written By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 19:18 IST A lawyer-turned-politician, Dhankhars Bengal stint was among the most contentious in Indias federal history as he styled himself a fierce protector of constitutional propriety. Jagdeep Dhankhar's resigned from the post of VP on Monday evening. File pic/PTI In the summer of 2019, when Jagdeep Dhankhar walked into the stately corridors of Kolkatas Raj Bhavan, probably a few expected that the newly appointed Governor would soon become the principal political antagonist of the state government. And, fewer still could have predicted that within almost four years, he would be elevated to the Vice-Presidents office, having transformed a largely ceremonial role into an arena of relentless but legally sound confrontation, constitutional provocation, and social media (X) diplomacy. In two months of assuming office and in the first interview with this reporter, Dhankhar, the Bengal governor raised issues of religious discrimination as he was denied membership in Kolkatas iconic La Martinieres board for being a non-Christian. In the interview, he said that the provision in La Martinieres constitution directly contravenes the right to equality before the law as mentioned in the Indian Constitution. Recommended Stories That marked the beginning of the first fiery phase for Jagdeep Dhankhar. His assertive presence and actions unsettled and overwhelmed Bengals Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee. Until then, politicians and their governments had rarely encountered someone in a constitutional role who refused to act as a mere rubber stamp. A lawyer by training, a politician by past association, who later transformed himself as a self-styled protector of constitutional propriety, Dhankhars stint in Bengal became one of the most contentious governorships in Indias federal history. However, no one could challenge or contest his claims as Dhankhar was always legally correct and constitutionally articulate. Trinamool leaders often called him the BJPs shadow state president and Raj Bhavan as the RSS headquarter. In private, bureaucrats spoke of a Raj Bhavan where ministers were summoned like schoolchildren and officers were grilled over file notings. Dhankhar, however, never paused. Trinamools public criticism, the confrontation, surveillance and cutting Raj Bhavans expenses all actions by the ruling dispensation fell flat as Dhankhar was unstoppable. A Raj Bhavan That Roared Dhankhar arrived with political and legal credentials former MP, ex-minister under the Chandra Shekhar government, and senior advocate in the Supreme Court. But in Bengal, it wasnt his resume that made news. These were his public statements, his tweets and his unyielding confrontation with the chief minister. He routinely fired off missives to the state government on everything from law-and-order breakdowns and alleged corruption in recruitment, to contemptuous treatment" by ministers and politicisation of Bengals educational institution. His social media handle turned into a parallel newsroom, offering near-daily commentary on the Mamata Banerjee government. By 2020, the chief minister had blocked him on X (then Twitter) publicly accusing him of behaving like an agent of the ruling party at the Centre." Behind the scenes, the acrimony ran deeper, so did his efforts to maintain a conversation relationship with Mamata Banerjee. Dhankhars decision to hold back assent to multiple state bills, particularly those relating to university appointments irked the TMC leadership, who viewed it as sabotage masked in constitutional concern. And in the meantime, they continued to meet during occasions, exchanging Rakhi greetings as Dhankhar called Banerjee as his little sister. That was truly a strange time. His repeated visits to sites of political violence, especially in areas where BJP workers were killed, were seen as overt political posturing, while he maintained that it was his duty as the head of state to be with the victims. RSS, Reverence, And His Ideological Roots If his actions raised eyebrows, his words left little doubt about his ideological proximity. Dhankhar never shied away from publicly praising the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), calling it the most nationalistic institution in the world." For a man occupying the Vice-Presidents chair, a constitutional post expected to remain aloof from political alignments, but he is never known to mince words. Later, after being elevated to the position of Vice President, he continued to challenge the status quo with unwavering determination and conviction, earning both respect and resistance from political circles. Some of his statements about the RSS turned out to be political flash points. Opposition parties moved a resolution in the Rajya Sabha in 2024 alleging breach of constitutional propriety. He was not just crossing the Lakshman Rekha," a TMC MP said, he redrew it to suit Nagpur (RSS HQ)." Many in the BJP, however, saw Dhankhar as a necessary corrector across situations political, administrative and also in judiciary. In private conversations, senior Sangh functionaries point to Dhankhar as an ideologically astute person with legal precision", someone who understands both power and its procedures. Dhankhars cordial connections with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale were never unknown, as he always maintained the Sangh as his roots. A Career of Reinventions It was never the first time Dhankhar reinvented himself, nor as Governor, or as Vice President and neither as the Rajya Sabha chairperson. Once a Janata Dal MP from Jhunjhunu, he served as union MoS for parliamentary affairs in a short-lived government. He joined the Congress in the 1990s before finally aligning with the BJP in 2003. Colleagues recall him as erudite, persuasive and most importantly ambitious. That ambition was often at the heart of the criticism against him in Bengal. TMC ministers openly claimed that Dhankhars tenure as Governor was a prolonged audition for the national high office. His frequent clashes with Mamata Banerjee, his visits to violence-hit pockets, and his public commentaries on law and order mirrored the BJPs line in Bengal. On one hand, he emerged as a peoples governor in the state, while on the other, he became Mamata Banerjees fiercest political adversary Controversies, Critics, and a Calculated Exit His name appeared in the old Jain hawala diary something Mamata Banerjee raised on the floor of the Assembly long back. Then came accusations of nepotism, allegations that he had appointed relatives to Raj Bhavan posts. Dhankhar called it personal malice cloaked in politics," and the allegation did not have an iota of truth. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Yet, none of these controversies dented his upward arc. In 2022, the BJP chose him as their Vice-Presidential candidate. His credentials as a Jat leader from Rajasthan, and his consistent battles with Mamata, made him an ideal foil in a political landscape. Jagdeep Dhankhar may no longer be in the Vice President enclave, but the tremors of his tenure shaped centre-state equations, centre-judiciary chemistry and upper-house Opposition terms. He exposed a grey zone in constitutional architecture where a Governors or Vice Presidents discretion could be wielded like a political and constitutional blade. He turned procedural defiance into a spectacle, and constitutional commentary into prime-time content, that the country was witnessing for the first time. About the Author Madhuparna Das Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa... Read More Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa... Read More First Published: July 22, 2025, 15:49 IST News politics Jagdeep Dhankhar: From Controversies As Bengal Governor To Shock Exit From Vice-President's Post 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... BJP Leaders In Bihar Pitch Nitish Kumar As Next VP Amid Huge Buzz: 'Everyone Wants It' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 12:58 IST After Dhankhar's resignation, there is massive buzz that Nitish Kumar may succeed him as the next Vice President, which can significantly impact the upcoming Bihar elections. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar (PTI) After Jagdeep Dhankhars shocking resignation from the position of Vice President on Monday, there is massive buzz that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will take his place. BJP MLA from Bihar, Haribhushan Thakur Bachoul, joined the bandwagon by saying everyone wants to see Nitish Kumar as VP. What could be better than Nitish Kumar being made Vice President? Whether Nitish Kumar becomes the Vice President or not, everyone wants it," said Bachoul, who represents the Bisfi assembly constituency. Recommended Stories Additionally, BJP leader and Bihar Minister Neeraj Kumar Singh Bablu, when asked about Nitish Kumar becoming the VP, said, It is a good thing. If he becomes, then what is the problem with this?" Several names are being circulated on social media as possible successors to Jagdeep Dhankhar, who stepped down citing health reasons on Monday. The decision left several political leaders, including those from the opposition, stunned. ALSO READ: Jagdeep Dhankhar Quits: Wholl Be The Next Vice President Of India? Buzz Grows Why Nitish Kumars Name Is Doing The Rounds? The speculation around Nitish Kumar as the next Vice President began when political journalist Sameer Chougaonkar hinted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will appoint its own candidate for the upcoming Bihar elections and keep Nitish Kumar in the second-highest office of the country. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to become the next Vice President of the country. In Bihar, the BJP will appoint its own Chief Minister for the elections. The JDU will have the Deputy Chief Minister," Chougaonkar posted on X. . . . . sameer chougaonkar (@semeerc) July 21, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Some social media users are even guessing that while Nitish could be made VP, Dhankhar may be appointed as the National President of BJP. Nitish Kumar is Bihars longest-serving Prime Minister, having served in the position since 2005, except for a short break in 2014-15. He took the oath for a record ninth term in January last year after breaking ties with the opposition INDIA Bloc and rejoining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). 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 22, 2025, 12:51 IST News politics BJP Leaders In Bihar Pitch Nitish Kumar As Next VP Amid Huge Buzz: 'Everyone Wants 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... Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 14:19 IST Parliament Monsoon Session 2025 Day 2: The second day of the Parliament Monsoon Session 2025 continued to witness disruptions in both the Houses, with opposition parties demanding a discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. The Oppositions protests led to the adjournment of both houses. The INDIA bloc leaders protested against Bihars Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue in the Parliament on Tuesday. A protest was held at the Makar Dwar of the Parliament. Meanwhile, Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday resigned as the Vice President of India, citing health reasons. 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. This monsoon session will span from July 21 to August 21, encompassing 21 sittings over 32 days. Both Houses of Parliament will be adjourned from August 12 to August 17 to facilitate Independence Day celebrations, and will reconvene on August 18. Pawan Kalyan Raises Conversion Concerns: 'A Girl Was Taken To Kerala, Then Bengaluru, Found In Jammu' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 17:46 IST Without citing specific statistics, the Andhra Pradesh deputy CM suggested that the problem might be even more significant in other parts of India, like UP Kalyan shared details with the media about one particular case that emphasised the severity of the issue. File image/PTI Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister and popular actor-politician Pawan Kalyan has voiced concerns regarding religious conversions, highlighting several disturbing cases that have come to his attention since he took office. On Tuesday, Kalyan shared details with the media about one particular case that emphasised the severity of the issue. After assuming the role of deputy CM, I became aware of some cases that we managed to resolve," Kalyan noted. He described an incident where a girl was taken from here to Kerala and then to Bengaluru. Eventually, the police traced her to Jammu." Recommended Stories As the leader of the Jana Sena Party (JSP), whose political ascent has been closely linked with cultural and religious advocacy, Kalyan expressed broader concerns about the frequency of such incidents. He urged the nation to consider the extent of this issue, saying, These situations do occur, but the country needs to contemplate their magnitude." Without citing specific statistics, Kalyan suggested that the problem might be even more significant in other parts of India. Perhaps, there are more cases in Uttar Pradesh," he remarked, hinting at a possible widespread pattern across various states. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Kalyans comments come at a time when alleged forced conversions and the broader debate around love jihad"a contentious term used by some to describe supposed efforts by Muslim men to convert Hindu women to Islam through marriageare under the spotlight in India. The recently established TDP-JSP-BJP alliance government in Andhra Pradesh, where Kalyan plays a crucial role, has indicated a firmer stance on issues of religious integrity and cultural preservation. 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 22, 2025, 17:46 IST News politics Pawan Kalyan Raises Conversion Concerns: 'A Girl Was Taken To Kerala, Then Bengaluru, Found In Jammu' 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... Was Dhankhar Upset Over Ministers Absence At Parliament Meet? Congress Says Yes, BJP Says No Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 12:41 IST The Congress claimed that Jagdeep Dhankhar put in his papers as he was upset over JP Nadda and Kiren Rijijus absence at a BAC meeting Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar (PTI File Image) Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhars sudden resignation on Monday evening has triggered a war of words between the Congress and the BJP, with the former linking the move to the absence of ministers JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju at a key Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting. The Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha plays a crucial role in recommending the allocation of time for government legislative and other business. The first BAC meeting was held on Monday at 12.30pm which was attended by both Rijiju and Nadda. However, when the committee reconvened at 4.30pm, the leaders were absent, and Union minister L Murugan represented the government instead. Recommended Stories Drawing a link between the two incidents, the Congress claimed that Dhankhar put in his papers as he was upset over Nadda and Rijijus absence. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to X to share the chronology of events before Dhankhars resignation, claiming that something very serious happened yesterday between 1 PM and 4:30 PM to account for the deliberate absence of Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju from the second BAC yesterday". At 4:30 PM, the BAC reassembled under the chairmanship of Shri Jagdeep Dhankar. It waited for Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju to arrive. They never came. Shri Jagdeep Dhankar was not personally informed that the two senior Ministers were not attending. Rightly he took umbrage and rescheduled the BAC for today at 1 PM," he said on X. Ramesh added: Now in a truly unprecedented move, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar has resigned. He has given health reasons for doing so. Those should be respected. But it is also a fact that there are far deeper reasons for his resignation. While always lauding post-2014 India, he spoke fearlessly for the welfare of farmers, forcefully against what he called ahankar in public life, and strongly on judicial accountability and restraint. To the extent possible under the current G2 ruling regime, he tried to accommodate the Opposition. He was a stickler for norms, proprieties, and protocol, which he believed were being consistently disregarded in both his capacities." However, sources told CNN-News18 that no confirmation was given by the government about the meeting on Monday and the unavailability of the ministers due to other urgent meetings was conveyed to the Vice-Presidents office. The government sources also accused the Opposition of playing politics, calling it most unfortunate". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Nadda himself sought to clear the air as he spoke to reporters. The Vice Presidents office was intimated about our inability to attend the meeting," he said, rubbishing Rameshs claims. Dhankhar, 74, took office in August 2022 with a term scheduled to run until 2027. His tenure as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha was marked by frequent clashes with the Opposition, culminating in an unprecedented motion for his removalthe first of its kind against a sitting Vice President in independent India. First Published: July 22, 2025, 12:37 IST News politics Was Dhankhar Upset Over Ministers Absence At Parliament Meet? Congress Says Yes, BJP Says No 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 Led To Jagdeep Dhankhar's Resignation: A Chain Of Events And A Justice Varma Link? Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Pragati Ratti Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 16:50 IST Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns: Top government sources say that his resignation may have been the aftermath of him considering Opposition's resolution on Justice Varma's impeachment. Ex-Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation sent shockwaves across political circles. (Image: PTI/File) Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhars sudden resignation citing health has raised eyebrows, leading to questions if theres more to this. Top government sources say that his resignation may have been the aftermath of him considering Oppositions resolution on the impeachment of former Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, over charges of corruption. Sources say the government had planned to introduce an impeachment motion against Justice Varma in both Houses a move they had expected to be a focal point of the Rajya Sabhas Business Advisory Committee (BAC) agenda. However, they were reportedly stunned when Dhankhar unexpectedly brought up and acknowledged the Oppositions resolution during the BAC meeting, stating he would take it up the next day at 1 pm. Government insiders say this caught everyone off guard, as the BAC agenda had not been circulated or finalised with regard to impeachment proceedings. Recommended Stories In the aftermath, the VicePresident reportedly received multiple calls from senior ministers condemning his actions as unacceptable. Sources say senior minister described Dhankhar as having been under scrutiny for some time and cautioned that his conduct was inappropriate given his institutional position. In response, Dhankhar is said to have engaged in a heated argument, asserting that he sensed intense displeasure from the government, and eventually felt compelled to resign as soon as possible." Two BAC meetings were held on Monday. The first BAC meeting was held at 12.30 pm which was attended by Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and JP Nadda. However, when the committee reconvened at 4.30pm, the leaders were absent, and Union minister L Murugan represented the government instead. Dhankhar arrived at the Presidents residence on short notice that evening to formally tender his resignation. Dhankhars resignation letter, submitted to President Droupadi Murmu, cited medical reasons a move that surprised many given his active role that day, including chairing BAC discussions. He did not attend the Rajya Sabha proceedings today, with sources indicating that he may not deliver a farewell speech, further adding to speculation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday acknowledged Dhankhars dedicated service to the nation across multiple roles, most notably as the Vice President of India. In a post on X, PM Modi highlighted Dhankhars contributions to public life and governance, and extended his wishes for his continued good health and well-being. However, the Opposition has begun asking questions as to what really went wrong. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to X to share the chronology of events before Dhankhars resignation, claiming that something very serious happened yesterday between 1 PM and 4:30 PM to account for the deliberate absence of Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju from the second BAC yesterday". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all At 4:30 PM, the BAC reassembled under the chairmanship of Shri Jagdeep Dhankar. It waited for Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju to arrive. They never came. Shri Jagdeep Dhankar was not personally informed that the two senior Ministers were not attending. Rightly he took umbrage and rescheduled the BAC for today at 1 PM," he said on X. Now in a truly unprecedented move, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar has resigned. He has given health reasons for doing so. Those should be respected. But it is also a fact that there are far deeper reasons for his resignation. While always lauding post-2014 India, he spoke fearlessly for the welfare of farmers, forcefully against what he called ahankar in public life, and strongly on judicial accountability and restraint. To the extent possible under the current G2 ruling regime, he tried to accommodate the Opposition. He was a stickler for norms, proprieties, and protocol, which he believed were being consistently disregarded in both his capacities," he added. About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More First Published: July 22, 2025, 13:14 IST News politics What Led To Jagdeep Dhankhar's Resignation: A Chain Of Events And A Justice Varma 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 Loading comments... One Weak Password And Hackers Breach This UK Company's System: Know What Happened Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 11:15 IST Weak passwords are a major security risk and this UK-based company has seen the worst that could happen if hackers are able to bypass the system. What happens when a weak password allows hackers to breach data, the company folds. (Photo: AI generated tools) Weak password risks have been warned by security experts for years and now a 158-year-old UK company has seen the perils of not keeping things secure. According to a BBC report, hackers were able to bypass its strict security and they did that by using one of the companys employees to breach its system and gain access to confidential and personal data. The report quotes the director of the company, KNP, who attributed the breach to an exposed password belonging to an employee. The hackers used the access to seek ransom from the company in lieu of all the data that is available through the exposed system. Recommended Stories Password Breach Made Easy Passwords are essential for how you use your digital accounts and company channels. Experts have always advised people to set up a strong password so that breaking them wont be easy. But thats exactly what has proven to be the reason why KNP has seen its system compromised. The hackers were able to guess the password of one KNP employee and successfully doing that forced the company into an unwanted ransomware situation. Paying A Heavy Price Hackers have encrypted the data they have accessed through KNPs system which has made it impossible for the staff to use or even view for their own business. The hackers have demanded a ransom to retrieve the data, and even shared a note, which reads, If youre reading this, it means the internal infrastructure of your company is fully or partially deadLets keep all the tears and resentment to ourselves and try to build a constructive dialogue." The company was unable to meet the demands of the ransom which meant they could not get back the important business data, and that resulted in the company to fold because of the heavy losses. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Businesses Need To Upgrade Companies like KNP and their situation should paint a scary picture for other entities and the need to strengthen their passwords and cybersecurity infrastructure. They need to invest heavily in upgrading the tools, upskill and educating their employees about the value of setting up strong passwords, or else news like KNP shutting down will only increase in the years to come. 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 : United Kingdom (UK) First Published: July 22, 2025, 11:15 IST News tech One Weak Password And Hackers Breach This UK Company's System: Know What Happened 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... Pixel 10 Design Renders Hint At Google Opting For Colour And Camera Upgrades Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 10:09 IST Google Pixel 10 series launch is confirmed for August 20 in New York and now we are getting more details about the new phones. Google Pixel 10 series will be announced on August 20 Google Pixel 10 series launch date has been confirmed earlier this month and now the leaks are getting us closer to the products that the company could announce in less than one month from now. Apple iPhone 17 series is usually the big launch expected around this year but Googles Pixel 10 series is equally intriguing for the viewers. The new Pixel 10 model could see some big changes, not only in its colour ways but also the possible addition of a third camera now being heavily tipped. The new leak comes via Android Headlines, which has shared the renders of the Pixel 10 model that clearly shows some notable upgrades. Recommended Stories Pixel 10 Colour Renders And Camera Push It seems like the Pixel 10 model could get a colour refresh this year with options like dark blue, light green and white silver added into the mix. The report has even shared the renders of the Pixel 10 in these colours, along with an interesting surprise. As you can see in the image below, the Pixel 10 could now have a triple camera system like the Pro versions this year. Were not sure how accurate those renders are but having another sensor into the mix will definitely be good news for buyers. We really hope that Google can pack a powerful telephoto lens which will give Pixel 10 more purpose and gain interest in the market. The Pixel 9 Pro carries a 10.8MP telephoto lens, and that could soon become part of the regular Pixel 10 model as well. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Google Pixel 10 series launch event date has been confirmed by the company. Google Pixel 10 series launch event is penciled in for Wednesday, August 20 and the showcase will be happening in New York, US this year. The Made by Google event is scheduled for 10 AM PT which is 10:30 PM IST for those watching in India. The new Pixel 10 lineup is likely to include four models once again, including a new foldable, along with a new Pixel Watch version and maybe some new Pixel Buds too. 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 : California, USA First Published: July 22, 2025, 10:09 IST News tech Pixel 10 Design Renders Hint At Google Opting For Colour And Camera Upgrades 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 Doesnt Want To Talk...: Andy Byrons Wife 'Hiding' After Coldplay Kiss Cam Scandal Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 16:54 IST Megan Kerrigan, wife of Andy Byron, is at her family's Maine mansion after a kiss-cam exposed ex-Astronomer CEO's affair. Follow us on: The viral Coldplay kiss-cam incident exposed an affair between Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot. Megan Kerrigan, wife of embattled former Astronomer CEO Andy Byron, is lying low at her familys $2.4 million mansion in Maine following the viral Coldplay kiss-cam incident that exposed an affair between Andy Byron and his companys head of HR Kristin Cabot. The clip, captured during a Coldplay concert in Boston, showed Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot smiling on the big screen before abruptly ducking for cover. The footage was widely shared on social media sparking speculation about their relationship and alleged infidelity. Recommended Stories Read more: Coldplay Concert Cheating: Chris Martin Seemingly Takes A Dig At Andy Byron, Says If You Havent Megan Kerrigan Changes Name On Facebook While Megan Kerrigan has not made any public statements, she quietly removed her married surname from her Facebook profile shortly after the footage began circulating. Her Facebook and Instagram accounts were later deactivated while users showed support online. She dropped his name and went silent. That said everything," one user posted on X (formerly Twitter), adding, What a class act. Go Megan." Read more: Oasis Dig At Andy Byron-Kristin Cabot Coldplay Kiss Fiasco: Dont Have Cameras Here Everyone Has Seen It: What Megan Kerrigans Neighbours Said According to reports, Megan Kerrigan is currently staying at the four-bedroom, four-bathroom family home with several relatives, including her elder sister Maura. Neighbours told the Daily Mail that many family members were seen arriving at the property over the weekend. One local, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the outlet, Everyone has seen it but the family doesnt want to talk about it." Read more: Coldplay Kiss Cam Scandal: Why Has Astronomers HR Chief Kristin Cabot Not Been Fired Yet? Others in the neighbourhood described Andy Byrons actions as disgusting" and expressed sympathy for Megan Kerrigan and her children. Another neighbour told the outlet, They deserve privacy." Andy Byron Resigns Andy Byron resigned from his role as CEO of software firm Astronomer, reportedly valued at over $1.3 billion, citing a failure to meet company standards. Kristin Cabot has reportedly been placed on leave while the companys new interim CEO acknowledged the scandal had brought a level of media attention that few startups ever encounter." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Read more: Pete Dejoy, Astronomers New CEO, Addresses Byron-Cabot Coldplay Controversy Pete DeJoy said, The events of the past few days have received a level of media attention that few companies, let alone startups in our small corner of the data and AI world, ever encounter. 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." 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! view comments Location : San Francisco, California, USA First Published: July 22, 2025, 16:54 IST News viral She Doesnt Want To Talk...: Andy Byrons Wife 'Hiding' After Coldplay Kiss Cam Scandal 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 Super Cringe: Corporate Employees' Dance To Welcome Foreign Client Leaves Internet Furious Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 21:24 IST Internet was left furious after a video of corporate employees dancing to welcome a foreign client to the office surfaced online. Viral video: Employees dance to welcome foreign client to office (Photo: X) The netizens were left in a furious state after a video of corporate employees dancing at an office to welcome a foreign client went viral on social media. A group of employees both men and women were seen grooving to Arijit Singhs song Main Tera Boyfriend as they invited the client, who stood at a distance, to shake his legs too. Recommended Stories The video was originally shared by a user on Reddit with the title: India should stop chaprification of corporate offices. Such showcasing will only make other countries feel Indian offices are casual and not worthy of serious work." In the video, the employees were seen dancing, and their colleagues were heard chilling out loudly over their moves. The foreign client was seen keeping a distance and only enjoying the theatrics with a smile on his face. Fiery Debate Breaks Out Online As the video went viral, netizens shared their opinions some lauded the gesture as a display of Indian hospitality, while others described the dance as super cringe" and a breach of professional boundaries in the office. India should stop chaprification of corporate officesThis is so pathetic to see Indian girls dancing in office an d welcoming a foreign client and the becahra client also forced to dance. Such showcasing will only make other countries feel Indian offices are causal and not pic.twitter.com/gpA9kXY4GJ Woke Eminent (@WokePandemic) July 21, 2025 There are companies who promote this as Work Life Balance.. I prefer not to work at such companies," a user commented. In my previous co, management used to give preference or points in appraisal/promotion to people who took part in these acts during visit by clients," another user wrote, sharing his experience. Kitni Khushi se office aaya tha. Was sipping my coffee and I opened this. My entire day is ruined now," a user said. Itni khushi wali kaunsi baat ho gayi ? Why they are so effing happy seeing the client? Dont they know they are getting paid in peanuts as compared to their clients country?" a netizen wrote, as he seemed to give a reality-check to the employees. This looks so so unprofessional," another person said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This is so embarrassing. How are they so happy and excited? What a cringe crowd," another individual said. This is super cringe. Super, super cringe. And these women or girls, or whatever oh god. I hope they find some honor, some self-respect. Stop treating Europeans as gods. However, they must first start thinking more positively about themselves," a user wrote on X. 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 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 22, 2025, 21:23 IST News viral Super Cringe: Corporate Employees' Dance To Welcome Foreign Client Leaves Internet Furious 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 A Thief Changed Keralas Future By Saving V S Achuthanandan From Death Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 21, 2025, 20:19 IST But during the journey, something incredible happened. Kolappan said that Achuthanandan was taking a breath and that he could not throw the body away. Historys Twist: How a Thief Rescued Achuthanandan from the Edge of Oblivion It may be an irony that VS Achuthanandan, who passed away on Monday, was saved from the face of death 78 years ago, by a thief, after the brutal aggression of the police. If it had not been for the intervention of a local thief, named Kolappan, this grand old man of Kerala politics from Alappuzha would have been just one among the many communists who succumbed to death in the brutal police atrocities. No one would have even remembered his name. Recommended Stories History has it that at the age of 23, Achuthanandan was brought back to life from the brink of death on the banks of the River Meenachil in Kottayam, by the intervention of a thief. Achuthanandan himself has narrated this October 1946 incident on many occasions. The Message That Changed Fate Achuthanandan reached Poonjar, a hilly area of Kottayam, to work in place a few leaders of the farmers union who were arrested. After spending two weeks in the underground, he received a message from KV Pathros, then acting Secretary of the Travancore Communist Party. It said, Go to Alappuzha". Then Alappuzha was getting ready for the fierce agitation against the erstwhile Kingdom of Travancore and the American model proposed it by keeping away from the Indian Union. The Communist Party decided to confront the police-led manhunt in the Ambalappuzha and Cherthala taluks in the area. The camps were led by ex-servicemen who had left military service after the war. Physical training was provided in the camp to confront the police and the army. Achuthanandan was instructed to provide the necessary political consciousness to the fighters. He was in charge of three camps in Punnapra. There were more than three hundred workers in one volunteer camp. Intensified March Three weeks later, on October 23, 1946, the Diwan of Travancore started more police stations and camps in connection with the festivities on the occasion of the birthday of the Maharaja of Travancore. The Communist Party decided to organise a demonstration of the people to the police camps led by volunteers and demand the withdrawal of the police camps. When the volunteers were marching towards the new police camp in Punnapra with long wooden spears, Achuthanandan was instructed to stay away. Hence he moved to the house of a worker. In the meantime, the police chief asked the people to disperse and ordered them to open fire and a bloody riot followed with deaths of a few police men including a a Sub Inspector followed by hundreds of Communist party workers. According to some historians, the number of dead bodies could not be counted. After this incident, Achuthanandan returned to Poonjar. Meanwhile, the army attacked the volunteer camps in Vayalar, a neighbouring hamlet, resulting in another massacre. The air of the northwestern coast of Travancore carried the stink of human blood. The police arrested Achuthanandan from Poonjar on October 28. The police had started pounding him on the way to the next station, Pala. After about 5 km, at the Erattupetta police outpost, a policeman bent down and beat him on the back. The brutality that started from there continued about 10 km to the Pala police station. When he reached Pala, the beating became more intense with questions on Communist leaders. Police Atrocity Continued When they did not get an answer, the intensity of the beating increased. This continued with a large group of policemen including CIDs from Alappuzha arriving at the Pala station. They too resumed the savagery. After making both his legs pass through the iron bars outside the cell, they beat him with a lathi on the soles of his feet. After tying his feet in such a way that they could not be pulled inwards, he was beaten with a cane. Despite being brutally tortured in the lockup, the police could not get a single word from Achuthanandan. Soon the darkness spread in his eyes. He lost consciousness. Later, when he opened his eyes, Achuthanandan was in the government hospital in Pala. The police had left him there. He learned about the incidents after he lost consciousness from the thief Kolappan, his co-inmate in the cell. Entry of the Thief At the station, the policemen repeatedly hit him with the butt of a gun. In the meantime, a policeman with a bayonet inserted a gun into his leg. The bayonet pierced his leg and went in. Achuthanandan lost consciousness completely. The policemen moved his body, which was lying in blood, to a corner of the lockup. When they saw him lying motionless, the officers thought he was dead. The order was to throw his body in the forest if he were dead. With the help of two thieves, the police took the body to a jeep and headed back towards Erattupetta. The decision was to throw the body somewhere along the way as it was a normal practice at that time. But during the journey, something incredible happened. Kolappan said that Achuthanandan was taking a breath and that he could not throw the body away. After Kolappan cried that his fellow prisoner was not dead, the police, feeling some sympathy, took Achuthanandan to the General Hospital in Pala. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The doctors who saw the body of the young man, who had been brutally beaten, scolded the police. The doctors said that it would take at least nine months to get him back to normal. But after a few weeks, the results of the treatment began to be seen. If the thief had not realised that the young man had a sign of life, the police would have thrown him somewhere to die. Then the history of Kerala would have been different. About the Author Chandrakanth Viswanath Chandrakanth Viswanath is a bilingual multimedia journalist with working experience from various locations in India and the Middle East. Now based in Thiruvananthapuram as an editor after stints in New Delhi, D... Read More Chandrakanth Viswanath is a bilingual multimedia journalist with working experience from various locations in India and the Middle East. Now based in Thiruvananthapuram as an editor after stints in New Delhi, D... Read More 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! Location : Thiruvananthapuram [Trivandrum], India, India First Published: July 21, 2025, 17:48 IST News viral How A Thief Changed Keralas Future By Saving V S Achuthanandan From Death 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 Does Astronomer Do Firm Where Cheater Andy Byron Was CEO? Explained With Uber Ride Details Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 15:12 IST Andy Byron, the former CEO of Astronomer, became a viral talking point after being spotted in an intimate moment with Kristin Cabot, the firms HR chief, during a Coldplay concert. Pete DeJoy has become the temporary CEO of Astronomer. (Photo Source: Instagram) The name Andy Byron has taken over the internet in recent days, but not for reasons a CEO would hope for. Byron, the former CEO of tech company Astronomer, became a viral talking point after being spotted in an intimate moment with Kristin Cabot, the firms HR chief, during a Coldplay concert in Massachusetts. The two were caught on the kiss cam and panicked when their faces showed up on the big screen. That clip gained massive attention instantly with online sleuths digging up their identities and alleged affair despite both being married. Following the incident, Byron stepped down from his role. With the scandal still trending, many have shifted their curiosity to the company at the center of it all: Astronomer. What does this firm actually do? A recent Instagram video breaks it down with a relatable example: booking an Uber. The video mentioned that when someone books a ride, the location is stored in one system, the drivers details in another and payment information in a third. Despite this, the ride gets confirmed in a matter of seconds. That kind of instant data coordination doesnt just happen on its own. Behind it is a tool called Apache Airflow, which helps manage and streamline data across different systems in a set sequence. Recommended Stories But Airflow isnt perfect. The video explains, Airflow crashes when servers need updates and requires constant manual fixes." Thats where Astronomer steps in. The company has built Astro, a platform that runs on top of Apache Airflow. They build Astro on top of Airflow which runs everything in a custom cloud infrastructure with automatic updates, making it 2-3 times faster than those of tech giants," the video shares. It also points out that Astronomer didnt just improve Airflow, they actually control a big part of its development. The company has brought in over 19 of the top code contributors who work directly on Apache Airflow, which gives them an edge in shaping up the software. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to Astronomers website, Astro is a fully managed platform built on Apache Airflow. Astro simplifies the management of Airflow at scale, offering enterprise-grade observability, governance, and security features. With dynamic scaling and integrated cloud services, Astro enables you to focus on building and running workflows, without worrying about infrastructure." Following Byrons resignation, the CEO position has been temporarily taken over by Pete DeJoy. Reacting to the controversy, DeJoy said the sudden attention has been strange for the team but added that Astronomer has faced many challenges in the past and has always managed to find a solution. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. 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! Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: July 22, 2025, 12:21 IST News viral What Does Astronomer Do Firm Where Cheater Andy Byron Was CEO? Explained With Uber Ride Details 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... 52.8C And Rising: Iran's Deadly Heatwave Sparks 'Irreversible' Water Crisis Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 17:22 IST Iran faces its hottest week with temperatures above 50C as authorities urged water conservation and declared emergency holidays. Shabankareh recorded a staggering 52.8C- potentially the hottest temperature globally so far this year. Iranian authorities called on the public to curb water consumption as the country faced its hottest week of the year and a deepening water crisis. With temperatures soaring above 50C in most parts of the country, officials declared emergency holidays, reduced water supplies in some regions and begun negotiations with neighbouring countries to import water. According to Irans national meteorological service, the southwestern city of Shabankareh recorded a staggering temperature of 52.8C- potentially the hottest temperature globally so far this year. Other cities, including Abadan and Ahwaz, also reported extreme highs, while the capital Tehran reached 41C. Recommended Stories Drought, Dam Failures And Widespread Blackouts The soaring temperatures come amid a prolonged five-year drought that has pushed Irans water infrastructure to its limits. Hundreds of dams built since the 1950s have seen reduced output further straining water and electricity supplies. Abbas Aliabadi, Irans minister of energy, said that the government is in talks with Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to explore options for importing water. Power cuts have become increasingly frequent due to the heat and depleted water reservoirs needed for hydroelectric energy. Iran government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani announced a public holiday for Wednesday in Tehran province to help conserve power and water. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A Tehran resident told The Guardian that the heat has become physically unbearable. He said, I feel the skin is going to burn. My shirt gets wet so quickly and I prefer to take a shower twice a day at this age amidst severe heat. Thank God, there is no water crisis where I live." Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the crisis during a cabinet meeting and issuing a stark warning. He said, as per state media, 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. In the water sector, beyond management and planning, we also need to address excessive consumption." Location : Iran First Published: July 22, 2025, 17:22 IST News world 52.8C And Rising: Iran's Deadly Heatwave Sparks 'Irreversible' Water Crisis 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... Approved By Donald Trump Or Not? Coca-Cola To Launch Cane Sugar Version Of Coke Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 21:40 IST Coca-Cola will release a new version of Coke with US-grown cane sugar this fall following a social media post by Donald Trump. Coca-Cola said the new drink, made with US-grown cane sugar, will debut in the fall. Coca-Cola announced that it will release a new version of Coke made with cane sugar later this year following a social media post by US President Donald Trump in which he claimed credit for persuading the company to make the change. I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States and they have agreed to do so. Id like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola," Donald Trump said, adding, This will be a very good move by them- Youll see. Its just better!" Recommended Stories Coca-Cola said the new drink, made with US-grown cane sugar, will debut in the fall as part of its ongoing innovation agenda"- in a move aimed at offering more consumer choice while maintaining its original high-fructose corn syrup-based Coke. The company said, This addition is designed to complement the companys strong core portfolio and offer more choices across occasions and preferences." Coca-Cola Says No Recipe Change Despite Donald Trumps claims last week that the company had agreed" to switch to cane sugar, Coca-Cola clarified that its flagship cola recipe will remain unchanged. The company will instead launch a separate version of the beverage made with cane sugar. Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey said the drink is expected to be an enduring option for consumers" and noted that cane sugar is already used in other US offerings like lemonade and coffee drinks. He said, We are definitely looking to use the whole toolkit of available sweetening options where there are consumer preferences." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Other Companies To Follow? Coca-Colas rival PepsiCo has made no major changes to its flagship products. However, its newly launched prebiotic soda and Poppi brand beverages do use cane sugar. PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta earlier pointed to the economic challenges of adopting cane sugar more broadly, saying, Sugar is more expensive in the US than in many parts of the world." Location : San Francisco, California, USA First Published: July 22, 2025, 21:40 IST News world Approved By Donald Trump Or Not? Coca-Cola To Launch Cane Sugar Version Of Coke 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... Australias Algal Bloom Declared Natural Disaster: Whats Behind The Toxic Sea Crisis? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 21:26 IST A massive algal bloom off South Australia's coast has turned the sea toxic, killing over 400 marine species and devastating local industries. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas declared a massive algal bloom a natural disaster. A massive algal bloom off the South Australian coast has turned vast stretches of sea into a toxic green soup, killing marine life by the thousands and devastating local industries. Heres what we know. What Is An Algal Bloom? Recommended Stories An algal bloom is a rapid and often toxic increase in algae population in a water body. While algae are a natural part of marine ecosystems, in excessive quantities they can deplete oxygen, block sunlight and release toxins- thus turning the water harmful for both marine creatures and humans. In this case, the algal bloom stretches from Coorong to the Yorke Peninsula, spanning an area twice the size of the Australian Capital Territory. How Bad Is The Crisis In Australia? So far, the bloom has reportedly killed over 400 species of marine life, including large numbers of fish, shellfish and other coastal organisms. Beaches have been lined with rotting carcasses and the normally pristine waters have taken on a sickly green hue. Whats Causing Algal Bloom In Australia? Experts have said that the crisis is being driven by climate change, which has led to a combination of rising sea temperatures, excess nutrient runoff from agriculture and urban sources as well as prolonged drought conditions. These factors have created ideal conditions for algae to multiply rapidly. Is The Algal Bloom In Australia Officially A Natural Disaster? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Yes, at the state level. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas declared the bloom a natural disaster" and criticized the federal government for hesitating to do the same. He said, This is a natural disaster and should be acknowledged as such. I think politicians do themselves a disservice when they get caught up in technicalities." The federal government has committed AUD $14 million for relief- including clean-up, research and support for affected industries. The South Australian government matched that funding, bringing the total response package to AUD $28 million. However, federal Environment Minister Murray Watt has so far refused to classify the event as a natural disaster. Location : Australia First Published: July 22, 2025, 21:26 IST News world Australias Algal Bloom Declared Natural Disaster: Whats Behind The Toxic Sea Crisis? 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... 'Hands Burnt, Face Scorched': Eyewitnesses At Dhaka School Recall Bangladesh Jet Crash Horror Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 09:22 IST Eyewitnesses of the Bangladesh jet crash described scenes of chaos, flames, and panic as the jet crashed into a school, with students and teachers fleeing and suffering burns. Follow us on: Firemen look for the survivors after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft that crashed onto a school campus shortly after takeoff in Dhaka, Bangladesh (Photo: AP) Mondays Bangladesh Air Force training fighter jet crash killed at least 27 people, mostly students. Multiple reports said more than 170 others were injured in one of the deadliest aviation accidents in the countrys history. According to officials, the F-7 BGI aircraft, a training fighter jet manufactured in China, experienced a mechanical fault" moments after takeoff. Soon after, it crashed into the two-storey building of Milestone School and College at Diabari in Dhakas Uttara. Recommended Stories The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Mohammad Towkir Islam, was killed in the crash. The incident drew eerie parallels with the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, which claimed the lives of 260 people, including 19 on the ground. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into the campus of a medical college shortly after takeoff. Videos of the aftermath of the Bangladesh jet 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. BANGLADESH JET CRASH: EYEWITNESSES ACCOUNT A teacher at the school, recalling the jet crash horror on the premises, 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. 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. Recounting the experience, another 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. Im also experiencing breathing difficulties, and my face and ears are scorched, the teacher added. Other witnesses said many injured 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. Rafiqa Taha, a student who was not present at the time of the crash, told The Associated Press that the school offers classes from elementary to twelfth grade. 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. 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. Many relatives waited overnight at a specialised burn hospital for the 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. At the crash site, 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 into 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 cant describe that, thats terrible," Khan added. BANGLADESH JET CRASH An updated statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR), the media wing of the military, on Monday, stated, Twenty people, including Flight Lieutenant Toukir Islam, have so far been killed and 171 others injured in the crash." The pilot attempted to steer the aircraft away from densely populated areas. However, despite his efforts, the aircraft tragically crashed into the two-storey building of the school, said the ISPR. The jet 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 mentioned. A high-level investigation committee has been formed by the Bangladesh Air Force to determine the cause of the accident, the statement added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Three platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed at the crash site to assist the law enforcement and rescue operations. ALSO READ | Deeply Shocked: PM Modi Extends Condolences On Bangladesh Plane Crash 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. view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 08:50 IST News world 'Hands Burnt, Face Scorched': Eyewitnesses At Dhaka School Recall Bangladesh Jet Crash Horror 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 FBI Overlooked Key Evidence In Hillary Clinton Email Probe, Declassified Files Reveal Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 09:07 IST A source had handed over thumb drives to FBI, which contained State Department data obtained through cyber intrusions, including emails from then-President Barack Obama and others During the 2016 presidential campaign, the FBIs Cyber Division reportedly tried to gain access to the hard drives for a targeted search related to the Clinton investigation. (AFP) The FBI gave only a cursory review to potentially critical evidence during its investigation into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state, according to a watchdog report revealed on Monday, as reported by the New York Post. A confidential source had handed over thumb drives to the FBI, which contained State Department data obtained through cyber intrusions, including emails from then-President Barack Obama and others. This revelation comes from a declassified appendix to the June 2018 Justice Department inspector general report. Recommended Stories Despite the significance of the content, the FBI chose not to comprehensively" analyse the thumb drives, citing concerns over individual data that may have been swept up during the hack. This decision came even though an internal draft memo concluded that a full review was necessary to assess the national security risks" tied to Clintons use of a private server. This document shows an extreme lack of effort and due diligence in the FBIs investigation of former Secretary Clintons email usage and mishandling of highly classified information," said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), about the appendix. Im making Clinton annex" public 2day so the American ppl hv all the facts Sen Johnson & I hv requested this documents declassification together since 2020 & Pres Trump/Pam Bondi/Kash Patel + others finally got it done Thx 4 ur dedication to transparency https://t.co/tfdg3TlVig Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) July 21, 2025 The original report was authored by then-DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz, who currently serves in the same capacity at both the Federal Reserve Board and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Whether the FBI has conducted a more thorough investigation of the thumb drives since the 2018 report remains unknown. During the 2016 presidential campaign, the FBIs Cyber Division reportedly tried to gain access to the hard drives for a targeted search related to the Clinton investigation. However, that request was denied, according to witness accounts cited in the watchdog report. Then-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe later sent a memo to then-US Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, asking to use the drives for the bureaus probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election. That request was also denied due to concerns that the FBIs search parameters were overly broad and insufficiently protective of privileged information. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Although the drives were queried" at least three times, the purposes of those searches were redacted. One of the queries came from former special counsel Robert Muellers team. According to the report, a witness who searched for Clintons name found a redacted number of results that included clintonemail.com." The New York Post reported that Senator Grassley criticised former FBI Director James Comey for failing to perform fundamental investigative work," adding that the bureau had left key pieces of evidence on the cutting room floor." 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 22, 2025, 09:06 IST News world FBI Overlooked Key Evidence In Hillary Clinton Email Probe, Declassified Files Reveal 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... George Bush Saw Iraq War As Crusade By Gods Chosen Nation, Newly Released Files Reveal Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 15:54 IST George Bush saw the Iraq War as a divine mission to eliminate "evil-doers," driven by fear of terrorism, according to UK National Archives. Former US President George Bush (Image Credit: AFP) Former US President George Bush saw the Iraq War as a divine mission to rid the world of evil-doers" by Gods chosen nation," according to newly released files from the UKs National Archives. In a December 2002 diplomatic cable, Britains then-ambassador to Washington, Sir Christopher Meyer, reported that George Bush viewed the planned invasion of Iraq through a deeply religious and ideological lens. Christopher Meyer wrote, His view of the world is Manichean. He sees his mission as ridding it of evil-doers," adding, He believes American values should be universal values." He noted that George Bush was driven not just by a desire to remove Saddam Hussein but by fear of another catastrophic terrorist attack on the United States, particularly one with a potential Iraqi connection. Recommended Stories George Bushs Disdain For European Doubts The cable also described George Bushs frustration with European allies who questioned linking Iraq to global terrorism or conflating Saddam Hussein with al-Qaeda. Christopher Meyer wrote, He finds the Europeans differentiation between Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein self-serving," noting that George Bush was strongly allergic to Europeans collectively." George Bush Had No Patience For Diplomacy top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In another cable dated January 29, 2003, Christopher Meyer warned British officials that George Bush had effectively closed the door on diplomacy. He wrote, It is politically impossible for Bush to back down from going to war in Iraq this spring, absent Saddams surrender or disappearance from the scene." Christopher Meyer also expressed doubt that George Bush would wait for then-UN weapons inspector Hans Blix to finish his investigations into Iraqs alleged weapons of mass destruction. He wrote, Bush does not look to have the patience to let Blix make the case." Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: July 22, 2025, 15:52 IST News world George Bush Saw Iraq War As Crusade By Gods Chosen Nation, Newly Released Files Reveal 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... Gita Gopinath To Exit IMF, Return To Harvard; Calls Tenure 'Once In A Lifetime Opportunity' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 07:56 IST Gita Gopinath will step down in August to rejoin Harvard University. She described her IMF stint as a "once in a lifetime opportunity," earning praise for her leadership. First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Gita Gopinath (File photo/Reuters) Gita Gopinath is set to leave her post of No. 2 official at the International Monetary Fund towards the end of August, Reuters quoted a statement by the IMF on Monday. She would be returning to join the Harvard University as a professor of economics. In a statement, Gopinath said she was grateful for a once in a lifetime opportunity" to work at the IMF, thanking both IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and the previous IMF chief, Christine Lagarde, who appointed her as chief economist. Recommended Stories I now return to my roots in academia, where I look forward to continuing to push the research frontier in international finance and macroeconomics to address global challenges, and to training the next generation of economists," she said in a statement. Georgieva will name a successor to Gopinath in due course," the IMF said. Gopinath, an Indian-born US citizen, joined the fund in 2019 as chief economist and became the first woman to serve in that role. She had left Harvard. Later, in January 2022, Gita Gopinath was promoted to first deputy managing director. According to Reuters, Gopinaths departure will offer Treasury a chance to recommend a successor at a time when US President Donald Trump is seeking to restructure the global economy and end longstanding US trade deficits with high tariffs on imports from nearly all countries. Her return to Harvard also comes at a time when the University has been in the Trump administrations crosshairs after it rejected demands to change its governance, hiring, and admissions practices. The report also quoted Georgieva as saying that Gopinath joined the IMF as a highly respected academic and proved to be an exceptional intellectual leader" during her time, which included the pandemic and global shocks caused by Russias invasion of Ukraine. Gita steered the Funds analytical and policy work with clarity, striving for the highest standards of rigorous analysis at a complex time of high uncertainty and rapidly changing global economic environment," Georgieva said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Gopinath has also overseen the funds multilateral surveillance and analytical work on fiscal and monetary policy, debt, and international trade. ALSO READ | Trade War Poses Greater Challenge For Emerging Markets Than COVID: IMFs Gita Gopinath 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 22, 2025, 07:14 IST News world Gita Gopinath To Exit IMF, Return To Harvard; Calls Tenure 'Once In A Lifetime Opportunity' 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 Man Brutally Assaulted, Stripped In Dublin Just Weeks After Arriving In Ireland Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 23, 2025, 08:07 IST An Indian man in his 40s was violently attacked in Tallaght, Dublin, sustaining serious injuries. Follow us on: An Indian man was brutally assaulted in Ireland. (Photo: X) An Indian man in his 40s was violently attacked and partially stripped in a suspected racist assault in Tallaght, a suburb of Dublin following which the police launched an investigation into the incident. The man, who arrived in Ireland just three weeks ago, was reportedly beaten by a group of individuals on Parkhill Road. He sustained serious injuries to his face, arms and legs and was taken to Tallaght University Hospital for treatment. Garda (Irish National Police) in Tallaght were alerted to an incident at Parkhill Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24, on the evening of Saturday, July 19, 2025, at approximately 6 pm. Garda attended the scene and a male, aged in his 40s, was taken to Tallaght University Hospital with injuries," a police spokesperson said. Recommended Stories The police said that they were alerted to the assault and have since opened a criminal investigation although no arrests have been made yet. According to The Irish Times, the man was allegedly falsely accused by his attackers of acting inappropriately around children. The police, however, said that there is no evidence supporting these claims. Eyewitness Recalls Brutal Assault An eyewitness claimed the racist gang" stole the mans bank cards, phone, shoes and trousers after the assault. I was driving to my mother-in-law when I saw 13 teenagers, including a woman, rounding up that man. I saw that the man was completely dripped in blood from his head to toes," she said. His trousers were pulled down. He was whacked. His head was gashed due to a blade in the knuckles of those animals. And this attack happened at 6 pm in broad daylight," she added, while becoming emotional while narrating the incident. The woman said the man pleaded for help, so she gave him first aid and a blanket to cover himself before calling the police and an ambulance. They left him to die. The man gave me his name, his phone number and the address of his family in India," she further said. Ambassador, Lawmakers Condemn Attack Indias Ambassador to Ireland Akhilesh Mishra condemned the incident on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), questioning the severity of the injuries in what had initially been described as an alleged" assault. How can an ALLEGED assault cause such horrible injury & bleeding?" he wrote, thanking the Irish police for their support to the victim and urging that the perpetrators be brought to justice. Local Fine Gael councillor for Tallaght South Baby Pereppadan met the victim in hospital and said he was too traumatised to speak, adding, He only arrived in Ireland three weeks ago. He is not taking any visitors at the moment." Such attacks are becoming more frequent in Tallaght, he said, noting, People need to understand that many Indian people moving to Ireland are here on work permits, to study and work in the healthcare sector or in IT and so on, providing critical skill." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Paul Murphy, a People Before Profit TD for the area, criticised the assault, warning that misinformation and xenophobia were contributing factors. He said, Responsibility lies not just with those who perpetrated the violence but also with those who have been spreading racist lies. The community is really shocked and outraged and will stand together against violence, hate and division." Minister for Justice Jim OCallaghan highlighted the dangers of racial profiling and false accusations against immigrants, saying, Increasingly, you hear of people blaming immigrants for crimes. All I can say to you is: I have asked for the statistics and when you look at the prison population of people convicted of offences, the percentage of immigrants in prison is lower than the percentage of immigrants in society. So theres no substance to the suggestion that immigrants are more likely to commit a criminal offence." view comments Location : Ireland First Published: July 22, 2025, 18:41 IST News world Indian Man Brutally Assaulted, Stripped In Dublin Just Weeks After Arriving In Ireland 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 'Will Do It Again': Trump's Warning As Iranian Minister Says 'Won't Give Up' On Nuclear Enrichment Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 10:58 IST Donald Trump warned the US may strike Irans nuclear facilities again, after Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi called enrichment a matter of national pride. A file photo of US President Donald Trump (AP) In a stern warning to Iran, Donald Trump has said the United States would again strike its nuclear facilities, if necessary". The US President, in a post on his social media handle, Truth Social, also lashed out at broadcaster CNN, calling it fake news". The development came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Fox News that Tehran cannot give up on its uranium enrichment program, which he said was severely damaged during the Israel-Iran war last month. Recommended Stories 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," the Foreign Minister said on Monday. And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride," he added. Araghchi said the damage to the nuclear facilities in Iran after US and Israeli strikes was serious and was being evaluated further. Araghchi also said Irans 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." Following his remarks, Trump on his social media platform wrote, Of course they are [nuclear sites damaged], just like I said, and we will do it again, if necessary!" Last month too, Trump had said the US strikes on Irans nuclear sites were a perfect operation", and warned his country would strike Iran again if it resumes its nuclear programme. US 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 Irans nuclear facilities. A ceasefire was reached in late June. Later, Trump rejected reports that Iran removed nuclear materials before its sites were hit by US airstrikes. Trump also claimed that workers at the sites were covering shafts rather than removing uranium stockpiles. Quoting unnamed sources, a CNN report had suggested a preliminary assessment by the Pentagons intelligence arm concluded that Irans nuclear program had only been set back by a few months. The assessment, prepared by the Defense Intelligence Agency, was based on post-strike analysis by US Central Command, the report had claimed. Iran is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Israel is not. The United Nations 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. 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. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 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. ALSO READ | Iran To Hold Meeting With China, Russia Over Nuclear Program & UN Snapback Mechanism 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 22, 2025, 10:55 IST News world 'Will Do It Again': Trump's Warning As Iranian Minister Says 'Won't Give Up' On Nuclear Enrichment 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... Trump Administration Releases Over 2,40,000 Pages Of Martin Luther King Jr Assassination Files Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 07:43 IST The US released documents related to Martin Luther King Jrs assassination. Kings children urged respectful handling of the records, citing concerns over misuse. People walk by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington (Photo: Reuters) The Donald Trump administration on Monday released more than 240,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, despite concerns from his family. The released files also include records from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which had surveilled the Nobel Peace Prize winner as part of an effort to discredit him and his civil rights movement, Reuters reported. Recommended Stories The files were posted on the website of the National Archives. It was also believed that more such files would be released in the coming days. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order after taking office, declassifying files on the 1960s assassinations of former President John F Kennedy, his brother Robert F Kennedy and King. Soon after the files were made public, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, in a statement, said, The American people have waited nearly sixty years to see the full scope of the federal governments investigation into Dr Kings assassination." 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," she said. Gabbard said lakhs of pages of documents were being released and were being published with minimal redactions for privacy reasons." Martin Luther King Jr died on April 4, 1968, after he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Records say he was murdered as he increasingly extended his attention from a nonviolent campaign for equal rights for African Americans to economic issues and calls for peace. James Earl Ray was convicted of the murder and died in prison in 1998, but Kings children have expressed doubts that he was the assassin. In a statement on Monday, Kings two surviving children, Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, said they support transparency and historical accountability" but were concerned the records could be used for attacks on our fathers legacy." The civil rights leader was the target during his lifetime of an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign" orchestrated by then-FBI director J Edgar Hoover, they said in a joint statement. The FBI campaign was intended to discredit, dismantle and destroy Dr Kings reputation and the broader American Civil Rights Movement," they said. These actions were not only invasions of privacy, but intentional assaults on the truth." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 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 added. ALSO READ | Trump Says Left Lunatics Wont Be Satisfied Even If Court Approves Epstein File Release 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 22, 2025, 06:50 IST News world Trump Administration Releases Over 2,40,000 Pages Of Martin Luther King Jr Assassination Files 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... Morocco Man Uses Rubber Ring, Flippers To Reach Spain, Rescued Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 20:20 IST The young man had his diving suit on, and was also wearing a life jacket and flippers. There has been a surge among people trying to flee Morocco and enter Spain A Moroccan man planning to enter Spain by swimming across the Gibraltar Strait was rescued by a Spanish family on July 16. The daring swimmer was found afloat using a rubber ring and flippers. A video shared online by the Spanish Royal Assembly of Yacht Captains (RAECY) gives a glimpse of the rescue operation. As per Diario Sur, the family was on a vacation and were sailing to the Balearic Islands when they spotted something suspicious around 13 nautical miles south of the Andalusian town of Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol while trying to bypass an oil tanker. Initially, they believed it to be some kind of bird trying to float on the waves. However, as they took a closer look using binoculars, they spotted a young man. Recommended Stories The crew then turned the boat towards the man and also called the maritime rescue services, Salvamento Maritimo, for their help. The professionals not only saved the man but also provided him with first aid and care. In the video shared by RAECY, the man could be seen grabbing a rope thrown at him by the rescuers. As per the news report, the young man had his diving suit on, and was also wearing a life jacket and flippers. The Salvamento Maritimo helped in further navigation and the man was later transferred to the port of Malaga, where he was handed over to police and the Red Cross. According to a migration correspondent, such crossings are not rare. Dozens of migrants try to reach Spain like this, using the only basic means they can afford," wrote Maria Martin. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A report published last year in The New Arab explained that there has been a surge among people trying to flee Morocco and enter Spain, especially during summer months. The most popular way is to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar, which spans over six kilometres between the two countries. However, not all migrants end up successfully at their destination. While there could be many reasons for this decision to migrate, experts believe that it is somewhere linked to the failing policies of the Moroccan government. As per the report, the Spanish authorities sent back at least 150 to 200 individuals back to Morocco within August 2024, raising an alarm on the growing numbers. Location : Spain First Published: July 22, 2025, 20:20 IST News world Morocco Man Uses Rubber Ring, Flippers To Reach Spain, Rescued 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 Recruited Children To Design War Drones, Told Them To Conceal Details: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 20:51 IST Russian teens are recruited to design and test drones for Ukraine war via state-backed competitions, starting with video games and moving to military equipment. Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Image Credit: Reuters) Russian teenagers are being recruited and trained to design and test drones used in the war in Ukraine through a series of state-backed competitions that begin with childrens video games and escalate into hands-on experience with military equipment, an investigation by exiled Russian outlet The Insider revealed. The report detailed how young people are lured in through innocuous-seeming games like Berloga, a 2022-launched title where intelligent bears" fend off bees using drones. Top players receive academic rewards and can later be fast-tracked into competitions such as Big Challenges, where the most promising are headhunted by defence-linked companies. Recommended Stories The kids are actively involved in modelling components of systems for various drones," one teenager said as per the report, adding, I know of several people at least who were modelling UAV components for major enterprises." A Secret War Effort Disguised As Innovation While the competitions are branded as educational opportunities, students who spoke with The Insider confirmed they were fully aware of the military applications of their work but were told to keep that quiet. One teenager said, We were forbidden to say that it was needed for the war and we invented civilian applications. Its a childrens program. A project must always have a dual purpose, especially when youre a school student. Its an unwritten rule Ive observed at every competition." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The report also found that some teens are being recruited directly into military drone factories. As per the report, the facilities invite 14- and 15-year-old students to study drone manufacturing at an affiliated college where they are later absorbed into the workforce. The recruitment effort aligns with Russian President Vladimir Putins push to increase domestic drone production as Moscow battles Kyiv in the skies with both short-range FPV drones and long-range kamikaze UAVs. Location : Russia First Published: July 22, 2025, 20:51 IST News world Russia Recruited Children To Design War Drones, Told Them To Conceal Details: 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... Shattered Spine, Broken Limbs: How Ukrainian Model Was 'Tortured' By Russians At Dubai Sex Party Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 21:10 IST Ukrainian OnlyFans model Maria Kovalchuk was tortured by wealthy Russians at a Dubai party. Maria Kovalchuk was found in a coma, brutally beaten up allegedly by rich Russian men in Dubai. (IMAGE: X) A Ukrainian OnlyFans model was brutally tortured at a sex party" in Dubai by rich Russians and left for dead with horrific injuries, according to reports by the Sun and Ria Novosti. 20-year-old Maria Kovalchuk suffered serious injuries like a shattered spine and broken limbs. She had vanished for a week before she was found injured. Recommended Stories She is currently recovering in Norway and alleged while speaking to the newspaper that all the CCTV footage that contained parts of the ordeal she faced were erased to remove evidence. It was initially suspected that Maria had been forced into a sex trafficking ring linked to the notorious Porta Potty" scene, which is a disturbing practice said to involve wealthy UAE clients degrading women, often influencers, with human faeces, for large sums of money. However, Maria has now denied any involvement of Emirati citizens in her ordeal. Instead, she has accused the privileged children of wealthy Russian and Ukrainian businessmen of assaulting her after a wild party at a Dubai hotel. I mostly use a wheelchair and crutches. I still have a leg fracture thats healing. Im learning to walk with crutches again, but for now, the wheelchair is my main means of moving around," Maria was quoted as saying by Ria Novosti. It was the Russians who tortured Maria. She was found with a broken spine, arms and legs and unable to speak," a friend of the woman told the news outlet. Maria said she missed her flight to Thailand while staying at the luxury Five Jumeirah Village hotel. A 19-year-old man she had recently met at a karaoke bar offered her a place to stay, claiming his father could arrange a private jet for her departure. According to Maria, the man and several others later subjected her to physical abuse. They started teasing me, why I wasnt drinking. Then some aggressive pushes like pushing in the shoulders began," she said. The Ukrainian model said the situation spiraled when she refused the advances of some men at the party. I did not reciprocate, and this aggression was also heating them up," she said. After that, they started making fun of me like you belong to us, we will do whatever we want". Fearing for her safety, she said she tried to flee and hid at a nearby construction site. But according to her account, the men tracked her down, assaulted her, and allegedly pushed her from a ledge. I ran away I ran to the nearest building, just scared, and ran in, hid there. It was just an unfinished building, open," she recalled. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A passing driver later found her, wearing a hotel bathrobe, and called for medical help. She reportedly fell into a coma and remained unconscious for several days. Maria also alleged that CCTV footage that might have captured the incident was automatically erased after three months. The police waited until the cameras were automatically wiped So now theres no evidence," she said. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Location : Oslo, Norway First Published: July 22, 2025, 21:10 IST News world Shattered Spine, Broken Limbs: How Ukrainian Model Was 'Tortured' By Russians At Dubai Sex Party 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... Trump Administration Revokes Visas Of Brazilian Judges Citing Witch-Hunt Against Bolsonaro Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 20:12 IST The former President of Brazil is currently facing trial for his involvement in an alleged attempted coup. Donald Trump had reportedly repeatedly tried to pressure the federal judges in Brazil The United States administration under President Donald Trump has announced plans to deal with Brazilian judges who ruled against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated the administrations decision to revoke the travel visas of the eight judges in an official notice. The restrictions were imposed after the US administration found the judicial members responsible for a political witch-hunt" against Bolsonaro. After the notice was issued, it has now become difficult for the eight judges involved in the matter and their immediate family members to travel to the US. Recommended Stories The move comes as a strong protest against their treatment of Bolsonaro, who is considered to be an ally of the US President. Rubio, in the official notice, has accused Alexandre de Moraes, a judge at the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court, of creating a sweeping persecution and censorship complex," which aims to violate the basic rights of Brazilians, and Americans, in the long run. While Rubio has not named the other judges, a new report by Brazilian daily O Globo has identified the other victims to be Luis Roberto Barroso, Jose Antonio Dias Toffoli, Cristiano Zanin, Flavio Dino, Carmen Lucia Antunes Rocha, Luiz Edson Fachin, and Gilmar Ferreira Mendes. The former President of Brazil is currently facing trial for his involvement in an alleged attempted coup in 2022 election. Starting last week, the police have made a move to restrict Bolsonaro from absconding by fitting an electronic tag to him. However, Trump believes that his prosecution is unjust. In a letter sent to Bolsonaro, as per Daily Beast, Trump wrote, I have seen the terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Before introducing visa restrictions, Trump had reportedly repeatedly tried to pressure the federal judges in Brazil. In this regard, he also announced on July 9 the imposition of 50% tariffs on all Brazilian imports starting August 1. However, his move triggered anger in the South American country, where the action was described as unacceptable blackmail." The current President of Brazil, Lacio Lula da Silva has criticised the actions of the US government. He said, Interference in another countrys justice system is unacceptable and offends the basic principles of national sovereignty and respect between nations." Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: July 22, 2025, 20:12 IST News world Trump Administration Revokes Visas Of Brazilian Judges Citing Witch-Hunt Against Bolsonaro 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... Trump Deflects Epstein Question: 'Witch Hunt... Stop Talking About Nonsense' | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 22:11 IST Donald Trump dismissed questions about Jeffrey Epstein, calling it a distraction as he accused the media of a witch hunt. US President Donald Trump. (Reuters Image) US President Donald Trump brushed off a question about the Jeffrey Epstein case while accusing the media of pursuing a witch hunt" and urging them to focus instead on corruption allegations against Democrats. Dismissing focus on the Jeffrey Epstein files, Donald Trump told a reporter, You ought to take a look at that and stop talking about nonsense" as he called the matter ridiculous" and a distraction." His comments come after Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that the Department of Justice is preparing to meet Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epsteins long-time associate who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. Todd Blanche said prosecutors have contacted Ghislaine Maxwells lawyers to determine whether she would be willing to speak with the government," adding, If Ghislaine Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say." Recommended Stories Trump: We caught Hillary Clinton. We caught Barack Hussein Obama you ought take a look at that and stop talking about nonsense." pic.twitter.com/sUy5ZPP38U Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 22, 2025 Ghislaine Maxwells attorney David Oscar Marcus confirmed the discussions, saying, Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case." Donald Trump Slams Democrats Turning the spotlight back to his political rivals, Donald Trump went on a sweeping rant accusing Democrats of criminal activity without offering proof. He called former US President Barack Obama seditious," repeated his longstanding attacks on crooked" Hillary Clinton and said the Department of Justice should pursue charges against Joe Biden and Barack Obama over what he claimed were illegal investigations into his 2016 campaign. For what theyve done to this country, the justice department will have to act," Donald Trump said, adding that Attorney General Pam Bondi would decide what happens next." Donald Trump also renewed attacks on the January 6 Congressional Committee, calling its bipartisan members scum," and repeated his desire to see California Senator Adam Schiff imprisoned- a claim hes made several times before. Donald Trump Takes Aim At Media top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Donald Trump saved some of his sharpest words for the media, claiming that outlets such as the New York Times and Wall Street Journal are publishing hoaxes" and witch hunts." He is currently suing the Wall Street Journal and its parent company News Corp for defamation over a report that included details about Jeffrey Epsteins alleged connections to him. Donald Trump said, This is all a distraction. All of it. Theyre scared because they know whats coming. They know were going to win and theyre panicking." Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: July 22, 2025, 22:11 IST News world Trump Deflects Epstein Question: 'Witch Hunt... Stop Talking About Nonsense' | 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... 'Trump Has Ended Wars': White House Repeats Claims On India-Pakistan Ceasefire Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 06:52 IST Trump has repeatedly claimed to mediate a truce between the two nuclear-armed countries after tensions escalated following the Pahalgam terror attack. US President Donald Trump. (AP file photo) The White House has credited US President Donald Trump with brokering the ceasefire between India and Pakistan as tensions rose in May after the Pahalgam terror attack. Trump has repeatedly claimed to mediate a truce between the two nuclear-armed countries. Look at what the president has done on the world stage," White House Press Secretary told reporters. He has ended wars, like India and Pakistan. He continues to work aggressively to end the war in Russia and Ukraine. He completely obliterated Irans nuclear sites. He has continued to hopefully negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, to end that conflict and release all of the hostages." Recommended Stories #WATCH | Washington, DC | White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says, Look at what the president (US President Trump) has done on the world stage. He has ended wars, like India and Pakistan. He continues to work aggressively to end the war in Russia and Ukraine. He pic.twitter.com/HS2r02U0Xo ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2025 This came days after Trump again claimed credit for stopping the four-day war between India and Pakistan using trade deal" as a tool. He claimed, without naming the country that was at the receiving end, that five jets were downed in the India-Pakistan conflict. We stopped a lot of wars. And these were serious, India and Pakistan, that was going on. Planes were being shot out of there. I think five jets were shot down, actually. These are two serious nuclear countries, and they were hitting each other," Trump said. Trumps claims were refuted by India last month, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Donald Trump over a phone call. PM Modi had made it clear to Trump that India never accepted mediation, nor will it in the future. Trump has repeated his unsubstantiated claims on brokering a ceasefire between the two countries on numerous occasions, despite Indias refusal. On the other hand, Pakistan has repeatedly thanked Trump for his intervention and even nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all India hit back at Pakistan on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, by launching precise airstrikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, killing over 100 terrorists. Pakistan chose to strike back, targeting Indian civilian and military sites. However, most of the incoming drones were shot down. In the ensuing four-day conflict, India damaged several of Pakistans airbases, bringing the enemy to its knees. An understanding was reached between the DGMOs of the two countries, bringing the brief conflict to an end. 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 : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: July 22, 2025, 06:48 IST News world 'Trump Has Ended Wars': White House Repeats Claims On India-Pakistan Ceasefire 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... US Senator Lindsey Graham's 'Russian Oil' Warning To India, China: 'Will Crush Your Economy' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: July 22, 2025, 12:58 IST US Senator Lindsey Graham noted that President Donald Trump will impose steep tariffs on countries that continue to engage with Russia in oil trade. US Senator Lindsey Graham | File Image US Senator Lindsey Graham warned that countries such as India, China, and Brazil could face severe economic setbacks if they continue importing discounted Russian oil. He further noted that President Donald Trump will impose steep tariffs on countries that continue to engage with Russia in oil trade. Recommended Stories Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Graham said, If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to allow this war to continue, we will tariff the hell out of you," referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine. And were going to crush your economy, because what you are doing is blood money", he added. US Senator Lindsey GrahamI would tell China, India & Brazil. If you keep buying cheap Russian oil, to allow this war to continue, we will tariff the hell out of you & were going to crush your economy, bz what you are doing is blood money"pic.twitter.com/sSGUEzhhd7 Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) July 21, 2025 His remarks reflect growing sentiment within sections of the US political space calling for secondary sanctions on nations trading with Russia, particularly in energy. The comments came after President Trump also announced support for imposing steep tariffs on countries continuing to buy Russian oil and gas. Speaking from the Oval Office alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump stated that the US would consider 100 percent tariffs on such nations unless a peace deal with Russia is reached within the next 50 days. Trump criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, He fooled Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden he didnt fool me." He added that tariffs were intended to pressure Russia into negotiations, not as a final measure. The calls for punitive action are part of a broader legislative push in the US Congress. Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal are backing a bill that proposes tariffs of up to 500 per cent on countries continuing to purchase Russian energy exports. In a joint statement, they argued that these nations are indirectly funding the conflict in Ukraine. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all India, one of the major buyers of Russian oil since the conflict began, has defended its position, citing national energy security and affordability. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently acknowledged that Indian officials have communicated with Senator Graham regarding the proposed legislation. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: July 22, 2025, 12:58 IST News world US Senator Lindsey Graham's 'Russian Oil' Warning To India, China: 'Will Crush Your Economy' 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... Three members of Sekusile Sitshikitsha dance group died in a road traffic accident along the Gweru-Bulawayo highway on Sunday as they travelled back home from Mutare. Other group members suffered minor injuries and are receiving home treatment. The group represented Matebeleland North province at the just-ended Chibuku Neshamwari Traditional Dance Festival at Mutare showgrounds. In a joint statement, sponsors Delta Corporation, The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) and Zimbabwe Traditional Dancers Association (ZNTDA) expressed their deepest condolences to the bereaved families. The loss leaves an irreplaceable void in our artistic community. We also stand in solidarity with members of Sekusile Sitshikitsha dance group as they deal with the aftermath of this ordeal, reads part of the statement. Chronicle A review of lawsuits filed against the Trump administration shows the president and his appointees out of compliance with judges' rulings in one-third of the cases. And the judges have been slow to take action when their orders are defied, allowing the administration to remain in noncompliance. A Washington Post analysis looked at 337 suits and found a ruling had gone against the administration in 165 of them. In 57 of the 165 cases with a substantive ruling, nearly 35%, the administration has been accused of defying or frustrating court oversight. In addition, plaintiffs said Justice Department lawyers and the agencies they represent are ignoring rulings, giving the court false information, not turning over evidence, quietly working around court orders and coming up with pretexts for continuing to do what a court has blocked, per the Post. Legal experts said such conduct is unprecedented and a threat to the legal system; the administration has blamed "leftist" judges. Chief US District Judge James Boasberg, who said administration officials acted in "willful disregard" of his order to turn around deportation flights headed to El Salvador, has moved to enact sanctionsand an appeals court blocked that effort. One strategy was highlighted in January, when Office of Management and Budget released a memo freezing all federal grants and loans. After opponents won an injunction, the White House rescinded the memo but kept the freeze in force. Such maneuvers have been used in other cases, said strategy was used in the layoffs of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau employees, a Georgetown law professor said. "They put out a directive that gets challenged," David Super said. "Then they do the same thing that the directive set out to do but say it's on some other legal basis." Among those who have noticed is Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who wrote in a dissent that when the court enables noncompliance, "it further erodes respect for courts and for the rule of law." The analysis, with examples, can be found here. North Korea's much-hyped Wonsan beach resort has abruptly barred foreign visitors, just weeks after welcoming its first Russian tourists and promoting itself as a new international destination . The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, which opened on July 1, is a centerpiece of Kim Jong Un's efforts to boost tourism and diversify the country's heavily sanctioned economy, the BBC reports. The Wonsan resort stretches for 2.5 miles along the country's east coast and boasts hotels, restaurants, a water park, and shopping malls, reportedly able to accommodate 20,000 people. Hopes for a tourist influx had been high, especially after the arrival of Russian visitors and a visit from Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, who praised the development and anticipated strong interest from Russian travelers. Plans for direct flights between Moscow and Pyongyang are reportedly on track for later this month. Still, any momentum appears to have stalled. A notice on North Korea's tourism website now says foreigners are "temporarily" banned from visiting, with no explanation provided. The abrupt reversal comes as a surprise, particularly since Russian tour agencies had already scheduled more trips. North Korea last year reopened to Russian tourists after a pandemic pause, and briefly welcomed visitors from several Western countries earlier this year before again shutting its borders to outsiders. Experts tell the AP that the closure may have been caused by an article by a reporter who traveled with Lavrov that suggested North Koreans in the zone were not real tourists, but had been mobilized by authorities. Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell plans to resign by early August following her conviction on two felony burglary charges. The Democratic lawmaker announced her decision through her attorneys, opting for a delayed resignation no later than Aug. 4, MPR News reports. The move, her legal team explained, gives her time to wrap up legislative projects, ensure a smoother transition for staff, and maintain her family's health insurance for another month. Mitchell, 51, was found guilty Friday of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools, reports the AP . Sentencing is expected in September. Mitchell's conviction stems from an April 2024 incident at her estranged stepmother's Detroit Lakes home, where police found her in the basement after a 911 call about a break-in. Mitchell, a former broadcast meteorologist and National Guard member, leaves with over a year remaining in her first term. She represents Woodbury, a St. Paul suburb. Her exit plunges the Minnesota Senate into a 33-33 stalemate, setting the stage for another high-stakes special electionthe chamber's third this year. In January, a Democrat was elected to replace former Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic, a Democrat who died from cancer in December. In April, a Republican was elected to replace Republican state Sen. Justin Eichorn, who resigned after he was arrested in an underage prostitution sting. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, a Democrat, said after the verdict that Mitchell's resignation was necessary. Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, a Republican, criticized the timeline, saying Mitchell "was convicted of two felonies; she doesn't get to give the Senate two weeks' notice." Hunter Biden claimed in a new interview that his father, Joe Biden, was taking the prescription sleep aid Ambien in the days leading up to his widely criticized debate performance against Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign season. The younger Biden made the claim during a three-hour appearance on the YouTube show Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan, adding a previously unreported detail to the conversation around the president's debate struggles and subsequent exit from the 2024 race, USA Today reports. "I know exactly what happened in that debate," Hunter said. He described his father, then 81, as exhausted after international travel"basically the mileage that he could have flown around the world three times"and suggested the sleep aid contributed to Biden appearing "like a deer in the headlights" on stage. Ambien, commonly prescribed for insomnia, can cause lingering drowsiness and mental fog, and the side effects are more common in those over age 70, the New York Post reports. The president's team had attributed his shaky June 27 debate showing to a relentless travel schedule but had not mentioned sleep medication. Biden stumbled over words and failed to complete thoughts during what turned out to be his only debate appearance of the campaign. The performance fueled calls from high-profile Democrats, including actor George Clooney and strategists James Carville and David Axelrod, for Biden to step aside. Hunter, in the interview, responded with harsh criticism of these figures, particularly targeting Clooney as a "brand" rather than an actor and dismissing Carville as out of touch. Biden ultimately ended his reelection bid less than a month after the debate and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. A good Samaritan was killed Sunday while trying to help someone else, authorities say. The 54-year-old man saw a boater caught in the hydraulics of a dam at Missouri's Elk River, so he jumped in to help, the Springfield News-Leader reports. Instead, he was caught in the dam's current himself, and was pulled through the dam. A bystander downstream performed CPR on the man when he resurfaced, but he could not be resuscitated and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Firefighters later rescued the boater who was originally in distress, the Kansas City Star reports. UPDATE Aug 4, 2025 1:42 PM CDT An Arkansas man who killed four people and injured 11 others in a mass shooting at a grocery store last year was sentenced Monday to life in prison without parole. A state judge sentenced Travis Eugene Posey to four life sentences for each count of capital murder, the AP reports. Posey, 45, was also sentenced to 220 years in prison for 11 counts of attempted capital murder. Posey pleaded guilty last month to the shooting in Fordyce, a city of about 3,200 people located 65 miles south of Little Rock. Prosecutors and police have not publicly identified any motive for Posey, who did not speak during Monday's hearing. Police have said he did not appear to have a personal connection to any of the victims. Jul 22, 2025 8:44 AM CDT An Arkansas man changed his plea to guilty Monday in the shooting at a grocery store last year that killed four people and injured 11 others, including two police officers. Travis Eugene Posey, 45, pleaded guilty to four counts of capital murder and 11 counts of attempted capital murder in the June 2024 shooting, according to his attorney. Gregg Parrish, executive director of the Arkansas Public Defender Commission, said Posey's sentencing is set for Aug. 4. The shooting occurred last year at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, a city of about 3,200 people located 65 miles south of Little Rock. Posey has been held without bond since the shooting, reports the AP, and last year pleaded not guilty. The US government is tightening oversight of its organ transplant system after troubling reports that organs were being removed from patients who were not definitively dead . Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Monday that a nonprofit organ procurement organization (OPO) serving Kentucky and parts of Ohio and West Virginia faces possible decertification over repeated lapses, per the Washington Post . The move follows both an internal HHS investigation and a New York Times report detailing cases where patients exhibited signs of lifesuch as a beating heartduring organ removal procedures. Kennedy cited a review of 351 cases handled by the Kentucky-based OPO, Network for Hope, which found 103 troubling incidents, including 73 patients with neurological signs that made them ineligible for organ donation. Of particular concern: at least 28 patients might not have been deceased when the process began. "This is horrifying," Kennedy said. The agency uncovered issues ranging from poor neurological assessments and questionable consent practices to misclassified causes of death. In response, HHS will require OPOs to implement procedures allowing any staffer to halt donations over safety concerns, review protocol failures, and clarify eligibility rules. The changes come as the number of annual organ transplants has jumped 23% since 2020, partly due to more donations from patients declared dead after their hearts stop, rather than brain death. Yet, demand remains high, with around 105,000 people on the waiting list and 13 dying each day waiting for organs. Industry groups and the implicated OPO say they support reform. The Association of Organ Procurement Organizations called the findings serious, while Network for Hope's chief executive pledged cooperation with federal officials. The issue heads to a House hearing Tuesday as scrutiny of the system intensifies. Chinese authorities are now alleging an attempted cover-up in the lead poisoning of hundreds of Chinese kindergarteners , who were fed food decorated with powdered pigments containing more than 20% lead. Dozens of provincial health officials and staff at Tianshui No. 2 People's Hospital took part, tampering with the blood tests of students at Peixin Kindergarten in Tianshui city, investigators convened by the Gansu provincial Communist Party committee and government wrote in a Sunday report, per the New York Times and BBC . In one case, hospital officials allegedly reported a blood lead level nearly seven times lower than the actual result, per the Times. City officials also accepted bribes from a Peixin investor while forgoing food safety inspections, or carrying out only cursory inspections, across multiple schools, including Peixin, according to the report, which stands as "a rare acknowledgment of a high-level hush-up of a public scandal" in China, per the Times. The report also accuses staff of obstructing the investigation "in various ways," without going into detail. Six of eight people initially detained have been arrested, including the investor and Peixin's principal, who allegedly hoped the pigment would make the preschool's food look more appealing in an effort to boost enrollment. Another 17 people, including hospital leaders, are under investigation, the Times reports. All but one of the 235 students hospitalized had been released as of Sunday. City officials said all affected students would receive free medical treatment at designated hospitals, as well as legal assistance. The report came a day before China released new national guidelines for campus meals, highlighting that every new batch of food must now be tested. The United States announced Tuesday it will again pull out of the UN's educational, scientific, and cultural agency because of what Washington sees as its anti-Israel bias, only two years after rejoining. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the withdrawal was linked to UNESCO's perceived agenda to "advance divisive social and cultural causes." She added in a statement that UNESCO's decision "to admit the 'State of Palestine' as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to US policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization." This will be the third time that the United States has left UNESCO, which is based in Paris, and the second time during a Trump administration. President Trump had already pulled out during his first term and the United States returned after a five-year absence after the Biden administration applied to rejoin the organization. The decision will take effect at the end of December 2026. The decision will come as no surprise to UNESCO officials, who had anticipated such a move following the specific review ordered by the Trump administration earlier this year. They also expected that Trump would pull out again since the return of the US in 2023 had been promoted by former President Biden. The US withdrawal is likely to affect UNESCO because the US provides a notable share of the agency's budget. But the organization should be able to cope. UNESCO has diversified its funding sources in recent years and the US contribution has decreased, representing only 8% of the agency's total budget. The Trump administration in 2017 announced that the US would withdraw from UNESCO, also citing anti-Israel bias. That decision took effect a year later. The US and Israel stopped financing UNESCO after it voted to include Palestine as a member state in 2011. story continues below The United States previously pulled out of UNESCO under the Reagan administration in 1984 because it viewed the agency as mismanaged, corrupt, and used to advance the interests of the Soviet Union. It rejoined in 2003 during George W. Bush's presidency. Jimmy Buffett's widow has accused her late husband's financial adviser of failing to administer the singer's multimillion-dollar trust in good faith and ignoring what she believes are her best interests for the $275 million estate. As the AP reports, Jane Buffett on Monday asked a judge in West Palm Beach, Florida, to stop Richard Mozenter from trying to remove her as a trustee and instead sought an order removing him from overseeing the estate. Jimmy Buffett, who popularized beach bum soft rock and created a "Margaritaville" empire, died Sept. 1, 2023, at 76. His widow and Mozenter have since been embroiled in a battle over who controls the trust, with each accusing the other of mishandling funds in lawsuits filed in California and Florida. Jane Buffett's filing on Monday accuses Mozenter of "repeatedly" breaching his fiduciary duty by failing to provide her with basic information about the trust's assets and its investments while taking "unreasonable fees and costs in the context of the services provided." On May 30, Jane Buffett's lawyers provided Mozenter's lawyers with a copy of a petition they planned to file in Los Angeles Superior Court if he didn't resign as co-trustee by June 2. Mozenter's counsel instead filed a petition on June 2 in West Palm Beach, seeking Buffett's removal as co-trustee. Jane Buffett's complaint was filed June 3 in Los Angeles, where Mozenter is managing director at Gelfand, Rennert, and Feldman LLC. "Notably, Mr. Mozenter only brought this [and his other] retaliatory, baseless action after Mrs. Buffett had informed him that, absent his resignation, she would initiate litigation against him to seek his removal as co-trustee," the complaint said. Mozenter claimed in his lawsuit that Jimmy Buffett established the trust with Mozenter as an independent trustee because he was concerned about his wife's "ability to manage and control his assets." The complaint filed Monday asks the judge to remove Mozenter as co-trustee. "Jane will not play into Mr. Mozenter's hands by litigating this dispute in two separate courts across the country, which would drain the very trust money that Jimmy specifically set aside for her care," said attorney Matt Porpora. A new wave of digital resistance is reshaping the battle over deportations: A growing number of online activists are using digital tools to monitor and publicize the movements of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, aiming to help undocumented immigrants evade arrest during stepped-up enforcement actions. Sherman Austin, who once served time over bomb-making instructions posted on his website, is now behind StopICE.net, a site that allows users to report sightings of ICE agents and sends alerts to its 470,000 subscribers across the US, the Washington Post reports. Apps like Hack Latino , ICEBlock , and SignalSafe have also emerged in response to President Trump's intensified immigration crackdown, per media reports. Federal officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, argue that these tools jeopardize the safety of law enforcement by exposing officers to harassment or worse. There have been incidents of violence against officersincluding shootings near ICE and Border Patrol facilities in Texasthough authorities haven't detailed how many are directly linked to the online tracking efforts. ICE agents, who often wear masks due to fears of being identified online, say the visibility and speed of social media have forced them to adapt their tactics. Legal experts note there are few laws protecting officer anonymity, but proposals in Congress could soon change that. Meanwhile, activists like Austin and international allies such as Dominick Skinner, who runs an ICE identification site from the Netherlands, say they're motivated by concerns over civil liberties and the direction of immigration policy. Critics of ICE's methods liken the agency to secret police and point to the use of unmarked vehicles and rapid detentions as evidence of overreachclaims the agency disputes. Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty earlier this month in the murders of Idaho college students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin after two years of claiming his innocence. The move avoided the death penalty in the Nov. 13, 2022, stabbings, but Kohberger faces his sentencingand the victims' families for the first timebeginning Wednesday in an Idaho courtroom. The sentencing could last into Thursday. What to expect, via ABC News: Kohberger: CNN notes that the terms of Kohberger's deal don't require him to disclose his motive, but at sentencing, "allocution will offer Kohberger a confronting choice: stay silent or face the families of his four victims and attempt to explain the horror he inflicted." ABC notes that there's no real incentive for him to do so: normally, criminals use allocution to humanize themselves to get a lesser sentence, but Kohberger's deal already guarantees he will spend the rest of his life in prison. "I think there's a less than 50% chance he does speak, and a zero percent chance that he says anything that makes anyone walk away from this sentencing feeling any better," says an ABC legal analyst. Interpol said Tuesday it was removing a most-wanted designation for anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson, who is sought by Japan over an encounter with a whaling ship and who was jailed for several months last year in Greenland. Watson, 74, is a former head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, whose high seas confrontations with whaling vessels have drawn support from celebrities and featured in the reality television series Whale Wars, per the AP . Japan wants his extradition over an encounter with a Japanese whaling research ship in 2001, when he was accused of obstructing the crew's official duties by ordering the captain of his ship to throw explosives at the whaling ship. He and his team deny those allegations. Starting in 2012, Watson had been subject to a "red notice" of Interpol, the France-based international police body. A red notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending legal action, based on a warrant from the judicial authorities in the requesting country, in this case Japan. The Canadian-American activist has long criss-crossed the world's oceans in an almost singular focus on defending whales, feeding his popularity among environmentalists, animal-rights activists, and others. Critics have questioned his often-combative methods. Watson was arrested and jailed on the Japanese warrant last year in Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, but released after five months. "My first reaction is that the decision ends 14 years of politically motivated persecution and underscores the blatant illegality of Japanese whaling operations in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary," Watson said in a brief statement provided by Sea Shepherd France. Two American citizensa US Department of Commerce employee and a Wells Fargo bankerhave been barred from leaving China, highlighting rising tensions and mounting risks for foreigners as Washington and Beijing edge toward a critical trade deadline. The State Department says a US Patent and Trademark Office employee traveling privately has been barred from leaving China since mid-April. The New York Times reports that the individual's travel documents and electronics were confiscated and later returned, but he remains unable to depart. The employee told US diplomats that Chinese officers who questioned him focused on his military service, not his work for the Commerce unit. Separately, Chinese authorities have confirmed that Mao Chenyue, a Wells Fargo managing director based in Atlanta, is subject to an exit ban while facing criminal charges, CBS News reports. Mao, a US citizen originally from Shanghai, leads the bank's international factoring business. Chinese officials state that her case is under investigation, requiring her cooperation and preventing her from leaving the country. Wells Fargo says it is working through appropriate channels to resolve the matter. The State Department warns Americans traveling in China of possible arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including exit bans, often imposed without transparent legal process. Dual nationality is not recognized in China, meaning "US citizens of Chinese descent may be subject to additional scrutiny and harassment," the department says. These incidents come at a time of heightened sensitivity in US-China relations, as President Trump set an Aug. 12 deadline for the country to finalize a trade agreement. A summer outing on Oregon's Deschutes River turned tragic when a group plunged over Dillon Falls, leaving two people dead and one still missing. A woman's body was recovered on Saturday, the day of the incident. Search crews later recovered a second woman's body and they are still searching for a missing man, who is presumed dead, local officials said Monday. Three others from the group were rescued shortly after the incident, and were treated for what authorities described as minor injuries, the New York Times reports. The two women who died in a fatal waterfall accident on Saturday were part of a group of six who were floating down Oregon's Deschutes River in tubes that had been tied together, the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday. The victim have been identified as Amanda Lloyd, of Rockwall, Texas, who turned 40 last week; and Lindsay Bashan, 33, of Parkland, Florida. Per a Facebook post from the sheriff's office, the three people who made it out alive "jumped from their tubes and made it to shore, while the other three were swept into the main rapids" and over Dillon Falls. CBS News reports the search for the sixth member of the group continued Tuesday; that person is presumed dead. Authorities are still piecing together what led the group into the perilous stretch of river west of Bend, which shifts rapidly from calm water to dangerous rapids and a 15-foot waterfall. Jason Carr, a spokesperson for the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, noted that "the chances of anybody surviving going down the falls is very minimal." The identities of those involved have not been released. "The presumption is that the three to survive did not go through the falls because the chances of them living through that are almost slim to none," Carr said, per the AP. story continues below Emergency responders were alerted around 3pm Saturday after the group entered the hazardous area, despite signs warning of the looming danger and the presence of a designated boat ramp for a safe exit. Rescue teams, using drones, a helicopter, and dogs, located two men and a woman stranded near a lava flow on the riverbank above the falls. Carr said the group was floating down the river but authorities haven't confirmed what kind of flotation devices they were using. OSAKA, Jul 22 (News On Japan) - A self-driving bus operating at the Osaka-Kansai Expo made contact with a curb on July 22nd, prompting a temporary halt to autonomous operations. No injuries were reported. The incident occurred around noon as a self-driving bus operated by Osaka Metro was traveling from the Expo site to the park-and-ride (P&R) parking area. The bus grazed a curb near an overpass during the journey. Seven passengers and one driver were onboard at the time. According to Osaka Metro, the bus came too close to the curb on the right side, and the driver attempted to manually steer away but was unable to avoid contact. In response, Osaka Metro suspended autonomous driving for the fleet and switched to manual operation while investigating the cause of the incident. This marks the second accident involving the self-driving buses at the Expo. In April, another bus collided with a wall, which led to a suspension of autonomous operations for approximately two months. Source: KTV NEWS TORONTO, July 22, 2025 /CNW/ - Thank you Canada! Tim Hortons is proud to announce that over $13 million was raised for Tim Hortons Foundation Camps during this year's Camp Day campaign. Tim Hortons Camp Day has raised over $275 million in its history, which has supported sending more than 325,000 underserved youth to Tims Camps' multi-year development program to build confidence, resiliency, and other critical skills to reach their full potential. Tim Hortons Camp Day raised over $13 million this year for Tim Hortons Foundation Camps to help underserved youth reach their full potential (CNW Group/Tim Hortons) "We're so grateful to the many generous Tims guests who supported Camp Day again this year and to our incredible Tim Hortons restaurant owners across the country for donating 100 per cent of proceeds from every hot coffee and iced coffee sold to our foundation," says Axel Schwan, President of Tim Hortons. "Thanks to your support we're making a big impact in the lives of young people who deserve every opportunity to succeed." Every year on Camp Day, Tim Hortons restaurant owners donate 100 per cent of the proceeds from hot and iced coffee sales to Tim Hortons Foundation Camps and raise additional funds through Camp Day bracelets, Camp Day donuts, Donation Badges, and other unique fundraising initiatives developed by local Tims restaurant owners and their team members. "The dedication and commitment Tims restaurant owners have for Camp Day along with the generosity of Canadians make it possible for thousands of youth to access programs that challenge, inspire, and change lives," says Duncan Fulton, Board Chair of Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. "Thank you for showing up for the youth who need it most. You've made a lasting impact not just this year, but for years to come." For more information on how to support Tims Camps throughout the year visit www.timscamps.com. ABOUT TIM HORTONS In 1964, the first Tim Hortons restaurant in Hamilton, Ontario opened its doors and Canadians have been ordering Tim Hortons iconic Original Blend coffee, Double-Double coffees, Donuts and Timbits in the years since. For more than 60 years, Tim Hortons has captured the hearts and taste buds of Canadians and has become synonymous with serving Canada's favourite coffee. Tim Hortons is Canada's largest restaurant chain operating in the quick service industry with nearly 4,000 restaurants across the country. More than a coffee and bake shop, Tim Hortons is part of the Canadian fabric and guests can enjoy hot and cold specialty beverages including lattes, cappuccinos and espressos, teas and our famous Iced Capps alongside delicious breakfast, sandwiches, wraps, soups and more. Tim Hortons has more than 6,000 restaurants in Canada, the United States and around the world. For more information on Tim Hortons visit TimHortons.ca. SOURCE Tim Hortons [email protected] MONTREAL, July 22, 2025 /CNW/ - W Montreal is turning up the volume on its commitment to music, culture, and bold luxury with the launch of an exciting new collaboration: Billboard Live at W Montreal. On July 31, the hotel will host the inaugural edition of this exclusive series, headlined by Montreal's own CRi, the critically acclaimed electronic music artist known for his atmospheric soundscapes and genre-defying performances. W Hotel Lifestyle image (CNW Group/W Hotel x Billboard) billboard logo (CNW Group/W Hotel x Billboard) Music has long been one of W Hotels' core passion pointsalongside Taste, Scene, Body, and Stanceeach shaping how the brand curates immersive and elevated guest experiences. From W PRESENTS, the global platform spotlighting emerging talent, to local activations that blur the lines between high-design hospitality and cutting-edge performance, music is in W's DNA. "We're thrilled to announce a bold new partnership between W Montreal and Billboard & Rolling Stone Canadatwo icons at the intersection of music, culture, and lifestyle. With a powerful editorial footprint and a trusted voice in championing both emerging and established talent, Billboard and Rolling Stone Canada bring unmatched credibility and cultural relevance to this collaboration." Says Alexandre Tessier, Director of Sales and Marketing, W Montreal. The Billboard Live series is an extension of Billboard's deep-rooted authority in music culture. As the definitive voice of the global music industry for more than a century, Billboard is known for its iconic charts, in-depth artist coverage, and culture-shaping storytelling. Its evolving platforms continue to spotlight both mainstream and emerging artists across genresshaping the sounds and stories that move audiences around the world. By bringing Billboard Live to W Montreal, the partnership merges two powerful tastemakers in hospitality and music. The result: a high-impact platform for discovery and celebrationone that's as editorially rich as it is emotionally resonant. "The energy of Montreal is electric, and music is the heartbeat of it all. This collaboration with Billboard marks a new chapter for usbringing together artists, creatives, and our guests in a way that's deeply immersive, uniquely local, and undeniably W." Said Sarah Le bars, Marketing Manager, W Montreal. The Billboard Live at W Montreal debut will be a high-impact evening celebrating the convergence of sound, style, and innovation. Because at W Montreal, every scene has a soundtrack! About W Montreal Between the charm of Old Montreal and the buzz of downtown, W Montreal delivers an experience where luxury breaks free from convention. With 152 boldly designed rooms and suitesmany featuring private city-view terracesthe hotel is your launch pad to everything that makes Montreal pulse. Here, every space is designed to ignite the senses: the Living Room pulses with electrifying DJ sets, the Vinyl Bartucked behind a discreet dooroffers a moody escape where cocktails and records spin in perfect harmony, and the Retro Gaming Box reboots your nostalgia, pixel by pixel. Craving bold flavor? Head to Tbsp., our Mediterranean-inspired restaurant where the tastes are as daring as the design. Need something? Our team is on, 24/7, with the legendary Whatever/Whenever service. Welcome to a hotel where every moment is its own scene. Dive into the W Montreal experience and book now https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/yulwh-w-montreal/ About Billboard Canada Billboard Canada is the definitive source for music news, charts, and industry insights in Canada. An integral part of the global Billboard brand, it offers in-depth coverage of the Canadian music landscape, spotlighting emerging artists and trends shaping the industry. Billboard is a global music media brand with renowned authority among artists, fans, and industry leaders. As a bilingual publication in both English and French, Billboard Canada brings this global reach to Canadian audiences, delivering top-tier reporting on music news, industry trends, and issues that resonate worldwide. Billboard powers the ultimate music destination with its definitive chartsrecognized as the most comprehensive across all genres. Billboard Canada also produces premier conferences and events that unite the industry and fans alike, including Power 100, Women in Music, Billboard Live, and more, fostering real experiences and conversations that transcend borders across the global music landscape. SOURCE W Hotel x Billboard For more details and media inquiries, please contact: [email protected] With 2,146 AI deals raising $50B and 5,126 non-AI deals raising $51.5B, artificial intelligence dominance in venture funding is undeniable. Despite fewer deals overall, artificial intelligence companies are pulling in massive funding rounds that dwarf other sectors. The venture capital world is experiencing a dramatic shift thats hard to ignore: AI startups are eating everyone elses lunch. New data from BestBrokers reveals that while the second quarter of 2025 saw venture capital deals drop to a nine-year low, artificial intelligence companies managed to secure nearly half of all the money being invested. Thats a pretty remarkable concentration of capital in one sector. In the second quarter of 2025, the number of venture capital deals fell to a nine-year low of 7,272, according to the BestBrokers analysis. Of those, 2,146 or roughly 29.5% were investments in artificial intelligence startups. Heres where it gets interesting: those AI deals less than a third of all venture investments raised approximately $50 billion in funding or around half (49.2%) of the entire venture capital investment for the quarter. The billion-dollar club is getting crowded The size of these funding rounds is frankly staggering. OpenAI topped the charts with a $40 billion raise, followed by Scale AIs $14.3 billion round (backed by Meta), and Anthropics $3.5 billion funding. But its not just the household names. Companies like Infinite Reality pulled in $3 billion, while Anduril Industries and Safe Superintelligence each secured $2 billion rounds. Even newer players like Thinking Machines raised $2 billion, and hardware specialist Groq managed $1.5 billion. The trend extends beyond the mega-deals too. Grammarly raised $1.1 billion and Anysphere closed a $0.9 billion round, showing that AI funding is flowing at multiple levels. The venture capital landscape is consolidating in a way that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. The BestBrokers research shows that there were only 7,272 venture capital deals in the second quarter of 2025, the lowest count since Q3 of 2016, when VC firms invested in 7,264 startups. But heres the kicker: nine years ago, those 7,264 deals totalled $43.1 billion; in Q2 2025, this amount ballooned to $101.5 billion. Thats a complete transformation in how venture capital operates fewer bets, but much bigger ones. AIs dominance is just getting started Looking at the first half of 2025 as a whole, the numbers are even more striking. Since the beginning of the year, venture capital firms have invested a total of $229.9 billion in startups in an estimated 16,565 deals, according to the analysis. Of those, AI-focused funding reached $121.9 billion in roughly 4,835 deals. That puts AI & Machine Learning at the top of the funding hierarchy with $121.9 billion, ahead of traditional Software as a Service companies that raised $107 billion. Big Data came in third with $74.5 billion, while Cloud tech & DevOps managed $45.6 billion. The timing of this AI investment surge coincides with some major policy announcements. The BestBrokers team noted that with Donald Trump announcing a $92 billion investment in energy and AI infrastructure, and SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle investing $100 billion in the initial phase of the Stargate project, the investment climate for AI companies has become increasingly favorable. Not all sunshine and unicorns Despite the massive dollar amounts, AI funding actually declined from the first quarter. In the second quarter of 2025, AI startups attracted $50 billion in venture capital funding, a 30.6% drop from Q1s historic high of $71.9 billion, the research shows. The number of AI deals also fell from 2,689 in the first three months of the year, they fell to 2,146 in Q2. This suggests that while the total money flowing to AI remains enormous, investors are becoming more selective about which companies get funded. The concentration of venture capital in AI represents a fundamental shift in how innovation gets funded. When nearly half of all venture dollars are flowing to one sector, it signals that investors believe artificial intelligence will drive the next wave of economic transformation. Whether this concentration proves wise or creates dangerous bubble conditions remains to be seen. But for now, AI startups are clearly in the drivers seat when it comes to accessing capital. The complete dataset and research methodology are available through BestBrokers, providing a comprehensive look at how venture capital allocation is reshaping the startup ecosystem in real time. More information on VC investments, major AI deals, and our complete research methodology can be found in the full report Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Tourist row a boat as they visit Maya Bay in Krabi Province, Thailand. Photo by Reuters A Thai tour guide has died after a tourist boat capsized at Rajjaprabha Dam in Surat Thani, Thailand, while 16 foreign tourists were safely rescued. The incident occurred at 11:28 a.m. on Sunday when the boat, carrying 18 people16 foreign tourists, a tour guide, and the boat captainoverturned, according to Nation Thailand. All passengers, including the captain, were rescued without injury. However, the tour guide was found unconscious from water inhalation and was rushed to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead at 12:30 p.m., Khaosod English reported. The victim was identified as Thassawan, 44, a licensed tour guide. Local police have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. The tragedy occurred just a day after a separate boating incident in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay, which left 36 tourists dead and three missing. The United States supports peace and stability in Colombia and justice for the many victims of years of vicious narcoterrorism. Yet, establishing a real and lasting peace still remains out of reach, said Ting Wu, U.S. Deputy Political Counselor at the United Nations. While advancements continue in some areas, errant political leadership threatens to undermine progress made to date, and in the long run, sustainable peace for all Colombians. The United States remains concerned over the escalation of violence from illegal armed groups deeply, especially as upticks in violence pertain to Colombias domestic election cycle, said Ms. Wu. The United States, in the strongest possible terms, condemns all forms of political violence. Violent political rhetoric and polarization directly threaten peace and stability. . . .We are concerned that, instead of reducing violence, the Colombian governments disorganized rush to negotiate with a multitude of armed groups has in fact created perverse incentives for these groups to ramp up their attacks in an effort to improve their negotiating position. The lack of coordination across the government of Colombia with the conflict-affected communities completely undermines the peace process, stated Ms. Wu. In particular, the lack of state presence impedes progress on rural security that is necessary for a safe, just, and prosperous future. The limited progress made against narco-groups combined with appeasement policies have eroded the hard-fought security successes of the past decades, warned Ms. Wu. The continued failure of certain parts of [the] Colombian government to act further endangers Colombians and threatens to plunge the country back into conflict. The promise of a total peace remains elusive. Finally, the politicizing of any peace process undermines its potential to succeed. Furthermore, shielding criminals for political purposes undermines all prospects of lasting peace, noted Ms. Wu. Victims deserve justice. In the face of these obstacles to peace, the United States continues to urge the Colombian government to strengthen its resolve and to encourage efforts by Colombians to build livelihoods away from violence. The United States calls on the government of Colombia to reject impunity for criminals and stand by the countless victims of deadly terrorism as Colombians seek to achieve lasting peace and security in Colombia. A motorcycle driver was killed and a passenger seriously injured Monday night after an accident near the American Dream mall in East Rutherford, authorities said. The crash occurred about 9:23 p.m. on Route 120 North, a highway that divides the mall and MetLife Stadium. The motorcycle driver died at the scene and the passenger was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries, according to a spokesperson for the Bergen County Prosecutors Office. Detectives from the prosecutors Major Crimes Unit, along with accident investigators from the Bergen County Fatal Accident Task Force, joined in the investigation with the East Rutherford Police Department, the spokesperson said. Details about the crash were not available early Tuesday. The investigation remained ongoing Tuesday morning. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Dr. Richard B. Tancer was arrested Friday following an alleged incident at Family Medical Group in Bergen County. Google Maps A longtime doctor in Bergen County was arrested last week after inappropriately touching a patients private area under her clothes, according to police. Dr. Richard B. Tancer, 68, of Montville, is charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact after an incident that allegedly occurred Friday at Family Medical Group on U.S. 46 in Little Ferry. According to state licensing records, Tancer has been an osteopathic physician since July 1, 1985. His license expires on June 30, 2027. The woman told police that during an appointment, Tancer touched her under her clothing and rubbed himself against her right knee, according to an affidavit of probable cause. The alleged acts occurred while Tancer was performing a medical exam, the patient told detectives in a recorded statement, according to the affidavit. Tancer was arrested Friday in his hometown of Montville and taken to the Bergen County Jail to await a court hearing. Attorney information for Tancer was not available Tuesday in jail or court records. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Martin Sanchez, 41, was beaten to death in Bayside State Prison in 2022. Submitted Photo/Anthony Medina A state prison inmate was sentenced to life in prison this week after killing a fellow detainee who was slated for release the following day. A jury convicted Bruce E. Duette, 45, of Trenton, in May on a charge of first-degree murder in the Nov. 21, 2022, death of Martin Sanchez, 41, at Bayside State Prison in Maurice River Township. The killing was the latest in a string of violent crimes committed by Duette both in and out of prison. Sanchez was found unresponsive in his cell with severe injuries to his face, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office. He was pronounced dead at the prison. He died of blunt force head injuries and neck compression, the medical examiner determined. Duette was serving a 15-year sentence for aggravated manslaughter and a 20-year term for conspiracy to commit murder when he was charged in the Sanchez case. He was also sentenced to five years in prison last year for stabbing another inmate in 2020. Sanchez was completing a five-year prison sentence for theft and was looking forward to restarting his life back home in Elizabeth, according to his family. His daughter, Dajane, last spoke to him by phone the day before his scheduled release, shortly before he was killed. Two inmates told investigators they saw Duette enter the victims cell and assault Sanchez, and one claimed he saw Duette leave the cell with blood on him, prosecutors previously stated in court. Surveillance video from an earlier interaction between Duette and Sanchez showed them exchanging words, but no video of the fatal encounter exists, according to statements in court. Other video showed Duettes cellmate throwing away clothing, including sneakers and socks, prosecutors said. A test of those items revealed the victims blood, along with Duettes DNA, investigators said. The cellmate told investigators Duette instructed him to throw out the items, prosecutors said. Duettes DNA was also found under Sanchezs fingernails, according to the prosecution. Prior to sentencing on Monday, the victims daughter, Dajane Sanchez, addressed the court and tearfully recalled her father as a loving, happy man who didnt deserve his fate. A piece of my heart is gone. I will never get my dad back, she said. Her father was excited for a fresh start after prison and looking forward to coming home, she said. I dont want anyone to see my father as a prisoner. He died in prison, unfortunately, Sanchez said. This was his second chance to just start over. And he worked so hard for it, for it to just be taken from him. Her father had a difficult life and was abandoned by his parents at age 14, she said. He worked hard to build a better life for himself. I just want my dad to be remembered as a person who was full of love and light and nothing more. Not a criminal, she said. When given the opportunity to speak, Duette declined. Assistant Prosecutor Cathryn Wilson described Duettes behavior after the killing, referencing the prison surveillance videos that were played for the jury during the trial. When you look back at those surveillance videos, judge, and the way he was acting, just nonchalant. He had just killed someone with brutal force, no weapons, just himself. His hand was broken from the assault, Wilson said. He clearly stomped on him, based on the evidence of the shoes and everything that we all heard during the trial. And hes just walking by like nothing happened, Wilson added. Duette, a member of the Gangster Killer Bloods gang and known as Black Jack, was previously convicted on a first-degree aggravated manslaughter charge in the 2005 shooting death of Edwin Dino Adino in Trenton. His 15-year sentence in that case is running concurrently with a separate 20-year sentence for conspiring to kill several members of a rival Trenton gang in 2005. While serving those sentences, he stabbed another Bayside inmate in the neck in November 2020. He pleaded guilty to second-degree aggravated assault in that case and was sentenced last year to five years in prison. On Monday, Superior Court Judge Cristen P. DArrigo sentenced Duette to life in prison for killing Sanchez. He must serve 85% of that sentence before hes eligible for parole. Duette will begin serving this new sentence after completing his current sentences in March 2030. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Malcolm-Jamal Warners Cosby Show family is mourning his death. Warner died at age 54 on Sunday, July 20, after drowning near a beach in Limon, Costa Rica. The actor was best known for playing Theodore Huxtable on all eight seasons of The Cosby Show, which aired from 1984-1992. Bill Cosby, who played Warners father, Dr. Cliff Huxtable, spoke to CBS News Jericka Duncan about Warner on Monday, July 21. He was never afraid to go to his room and study. He knew his lines, and he was quite comfortable, even with the growing pains of being a teenager, Cosby said of working with Warner. The onscreen father-son duo kept in touch long after The Cosby Show ended. Cosby told CBS News that he last talked to Warner three months ago. Cosby also shared that he spoke to Phylicia Rashad, who played his wife Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show, about Warners passing. We were embracing each other over the phone about a dearly beloved friend, he said. Warner noted during a 2015 interview with Billboard that Cosby was a friend and mentor to him and that it was painful to watch him navigate his sexual assault scandal. READ MORE: Voice actor from popular show dies at 59 after being shot I cant really speak on any of the allegations because obviously, I was not there, Warner said at the time. 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. More than 60 women have accused Cosby of sexual assalt and misconduct. He served three years in prison after being convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 2018. The conviction was later overturned on appeal. Cosby continues to deny all the allegations. "The Cosby Show" cast in 1986: Phylicia Rashad, Lisa Bonet, Bill Cosby, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Sabrina Le Beauf, and Tempest Bledsoe. AP Cosby isnt the only member of Warners TV family who has publicly mourned his death. Geoffrey Owens, who joined the cast of The Cosby Show as Elvin Tibideaux during season 2, also shared a tribute. This tragedy has almost left me speechless, Owens said in a statement to Deadline. Malcolm was a lovely man; a sweet and sensitive soul. I respected him for many reasons, including the fact that he genuinely loved the act of creation. He had the mind of an actor and the heart of a musician. He was generous, too. I did a theater project long ago and asked him to participate; and he was there for me. My heart goes out to his family. Warner is survived by his wife and daughter, the latter of whom was born in 2017. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/. Paramount+ has renewed several shows for the 2025-2026 season, but not every original series is returning. Paramount+ Is your favorite Paramount+ show getting another chapter? Ahead of the 2025-2026 season, Paramount+ canceled the 2023 reboot of Frasier, the crime drama Happy Face, and Dexter: Original Sin. The Dexter prequel was originally renewed for season 2 before getting canceled. Frasier aired for two seasons, while Happy Face only got one season. Kelsey Grammer, who starred as the titular Frasier Crane in both the Frasier reboot and the original sitcom of the same name, slammed the shows cancelation during a March interview with the New York Post. I mean, obviously, they didnt really promote or spend much time on it, he said of Paramount+, noting that hes very positive the show can find a better home on a different platform. The fellow that worked at Paramount Plus when we first sold the show there left, and so it sort of fell into their laps the next administration without having any real conscious idea what to do with it. So, I think they gave it sort of a good try, but they werent particularly passionate about the project. In addition to Grammer, Frasier starred Jack Cutmore-Scott (Freddy Crane), Toks Olagundoye (Olivia Finch), Jess Salgueiro (Eve), Anders Keith (David Crane), and Nicholas Lyndhurst (Alan Cornwall). Happy Face starred Annaleigh Ashford (Melissa Reed), James Wolk (Ben Reed), and Dennis Quaid (Keith Hunter Jesperson), and Dexter: Original Sin starred Patrick Gibson (Dexter Morgan), Christian Slater (Harry Morgan), and Molly Brown (Debra Morgan). READ MORE: See which Netflix shows are canceled and renewed for the 2025-2026 season Other Paramount+ series have uncertain futures. The Challenge: All Stars and The Family Stallone have yet to be canceled or renewed. While not technically canceled, the Yellowstone prequel 1923 came to an end in February after its second and final season. Which Paramount+ shows are renewed for 2025-2026? MobLand, The Agency, Criminal Minds: Evolution, Mayor of Kingstown, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Landman Tulsa King, School Spirits, Lioness, RuPauls Drag Race All Stars, Dora, and Tales of the Mutant Ninja Turtles have all been renewed. Are any new shows coming to Paramount+ in fall 2025? The NCIS spinoff NCIS: Tony & Ziva is set to premiere on Paramount+ on September 4. NCIS alums Michael Weatherly (Tony DiNozzo) and Cote de Pablo (Ziva David) will reprise their roles in the new series. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/. 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/. Alina Habba speaks after being sworn in as interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington in March. AP Seven people, including three current and former law enforcement officers, were charged after a six-month narcotics investigation, officials from the Hudson County Prosecutors Office announced Monday. Alfredo Diaz, 50, of Union City was charged as the leader of the drug trafficking and production facility, officials said. He faces first-degree counts of leading a narcotics network and maintaining a narcotics production facility, second-degree counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, endangering the welfare of a child, conspiracy to commit official misconduct, possessing cocaine and related distribution offenses. Diaz was also charged with weapons and ammunition offenses as well as money laundering and possession of drug paraphernalia, officials said. Edwin Martinez, 39, of North Bergen was charged with first-degree possession with intent to distribute drugs and second-degree counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and weapons offenses. Ileana Hernandez, 56, a dispatcher with the West New York Police Department was charged with three official misconduct offenses and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Thomas Mannion, 60, a retired West New York police detective and Marquis Santiago, 33, a Hudson County corrections officer, were each charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Daniel Diaz, 28, of West New York was charged with second-degree counts of conspiracy to distribute, possession with intent to distribute and other third-degree offenses. Cristian Cortez, 55, of Englewood was charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute. A six-month investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutors Office Narcotics Task Force and Internal Affairs Unit uncovered the alleged narcotics operation, officials said. A search warrant executed on July 17 at several locations in North Bergen, West New York and Union City resulted in the seizure of over $70,000 in cash, more than four kilograms of suspected cocaine, two handguns and seven vehicles, according to officials. The estimated street value of the recovered narcotics is over $150,000, according to officials. Mr. Mannion had no involvement in a drug distribution scheme, Mannions defense attorney, David Altieri told NJ Advance Media. He was caught up in a wide-ranging investigation, but ultimately we expect that the truth will prevail. Attorneys for Alfredo Diaz and Cortez did not immediately return a request for comment. Attorneys for Daniel Diaz, Hernandez, and Martinez will not comment on pending cases other than to remind everyone that individuals are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law, a spokesperson from the public defenders office said. An attorney was not listed in court records for Santiago Monday. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. The man facing charges in the shooting of his 5-year-old daughter told a fictional story about a gunman when he first questioned by police, according to a court document. Investigators arrested David Wesley, of Perth Amboy, on July 10 on accusations he wounded his daughter inside his Perth Amboy home on the night of July 7. He faces aggravated assault and related offenses. Authorities have not said whether the shooting was intentional. The child remains in the hospital in stable condition. A green card application became the focus of a years-long legal battle over this N.J. imam's permanent residency status. Canva for NJ.com A federal appeals court has ruled that the U.S. government broke the law when it tried to revoke the green card of a prominent New Jersey imam nearly a year after the legal deadline had passed. In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit sided with Mohammad Qatanani, the longtime imam of the Islamic Center of Passaic County. The precedential ruling not only blocks his deportation but also sets a new legal limit on how and when the government can revisit permanent residency decisions. Qatanani was granted permanent residency on April 27, 2020, after an immigration judge ruled in his favor for a second time. The judge found that the governments evidencelargely based on Israeli military documentswas unreliable and possibly obtained through torture. The judge also discredited testimony from federal agents and cited strong support for Qatanani from local law enforcement and interfaith leaders. Under federal regulations, the Department of Homeland Security had 30 daysuntil May 27to appeal the decision. But the department missed that deadline and instead filed a motion for a late appeal on August 12, more than three months later. The Board of Immigration Appeals accepted the case anyway, invoking a rarely used regulation that allows it to self-certify a case for review. The court said that move was unlawful. Writing for the majority, U.S. Circuit Judge Cindy K. Freeman said the board overstepped its authority by using a regulatory shortcut instead of following the five-year rescission process laid out by Congress. The [board] exceeded its authority when it attempted to undo Qatananis adjustment to [lawful permanent resident] status by using an agency regulation in a manner inconsistent with the procedures set out by Congress, Freeman wrote. U.S. Circuit Judge Cheryl Ann Krause joined the opinion, warning that the governments approach would undermine the security which ought to attend permanent resident status. However, the panel was not unanimous. In a dissenting opinion, Circuit Judge Paul B. Matey argued that the board acted within its legal discretion and that courts should not interfere with how the executive branch manages immigration enforcement. Qatanani, a Palestinian-born Jordanian citizen, came to the United States in 1996 on a work visa and applied for a green card in 1999. His case was delayed for years due to allegations that he failed to disclose a 1993 detention by Israeli authorities in the West Bank. The appeals courts ruling not only restores Qatananis green card but also reinforces that immigration officials must follow the rules set by Congress. Requests for comment from Qatananis attorney and the Department of Justice were not immediately returned. Colleen Murphy may be reached at cmurphy@njadvancemedia.com. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks to the media, Friday, June 27, 2025, in the briefing room of the White House in Washington, as President Donald Trump looks on. (AP Photo/Manuel Ceneta) AP Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche sent questions flying after he announced Tuesday that the Justice Department is seeking an interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say, Blanche wrote in a statement on X, which was posted on Attorney General Pam Bondis account. In the statement, Blanche said that he had contacted Maxwells legal team, under the direction of Bondi, and he anticipates to meet with the former socialite in the coming days. Statement from @DAGToddBlanche: This Department of Justice does not shy away from uncomfortable truths, nor from the responsibility to pursue justice wherever the facts may lead. The joint statement by the DOJ and FBI of July 6 remains as accurate today as it was when it was Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) July 22, 2025 The attempted olive branch to Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022 for helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls, comes amid an uproar among Trumps base against his administration over its refusal to release any additional government records tied to Epstein. The fierce backlash, specifically targeting Bondi and other DOJ officials, led Trump to lash out at his most faithful, saying he no longer wants the support of those who are invested in the sex-trafficking case after many, including some of his own officials, had previously demanded the release of the so-called Epstein files for years. While the case has been mulled over in recent months, with Bondi even making a first batch of documents public in February, tensions had ignited after the DOJ and FBI concluded in a memo earlier this month that Epstein did not keep a client list, blackmail public figures or was murdered in his jail cell while awaiting trial in 2019. The post was met with confusion from critics and some in MAGA world with many wondering why Maxwell was not already contacted before the release of the memo. Laura Loomer, one of Trumps most ardent supporters, wrote on X that the statement seems like a massive cope. Why wasnt this interview with Ghislaine Maxwell done on day 1? Loomer asked. I guess what I want to know is whether the DOJ is basically saying they have never met with Ghislaine Maxwell to ask her or interview her about whether she has information about sex crimes committed against minorsShouldnt they have already done this?" she continued. The account for Rasmussen Reports, a polling firm that typically favors Republicans, called the statement great tradecraft, pointing to how the memo was first reported by Axios before being officially posted. It said the release caused a PR nightmare in public opinion because trust in gov is shattered. One user said: Thats quite a word salad just to say theres no Phase 2 trapper keeper. Translation I intend to meet w/ Ghislaine Maxwell to insure she lies to protect Trump, in exchange for a pardon. What an absolute crock of sh-- from Trumps attorney/ fake Deputy AG Blanche," another user wrote, referencing how Blanche previously served as Trumps criminal defense attorney. Sarah Longwell, a former Republican strategist, asked, So, wait, you guys closed the file on Epstein without talking to Maxwell? Thats weird. Anyway Im sure something big will turn up from the child sex traffickers accomplice who Trumps DOJ never thought to interview until now, Jon Favreau, a co-host of the podcast Pod Save America, posted. In the lead up to her trial, Maxwell was not offered a plea agreement, and she did not specifically ask for one, according to NBC News, which reviewed statements made by federal prosecutors in pre-trial hearings. Blanche, in a separate post on X, stood by his statement, writing that Justice demands courage. Get it, FBI Director Kash Patel wrote in response to the statement. Meanwhile, Punchbowl News Jake Sherman reported that a motion offered by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) to subpoena Maxwell for a deposition passed by a voice vote in the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Fox News host Jesse Watters somewhat praised Hunter Biden after his profanity-laced interview released earlier this week. The former presidents son broke his silence on the Democratic Party in a seething interview released on Monday. Watters later praised Biden for his bluntness, saying that he might be what Democrats are looking for. When Roman emperors used to murder their political rivals, they used to not just murder the rival, they murdered the entire family, because if you leave the son alive, hell spend the rest of his life seeking revenge, and they may have killed off Joe Biden, but Hunter Biden is very much alive, Watters said on Foxs The Five. Watters then referenced Bidens comments on President Donald Trumps deportation policies, in which Biden suggested that the U.S. could invade El Salvador to retrieve those people Trumps administration deported from the U.S. earlier this year. And make no mistake: everything hes saying is exactly what Joe Biden is thinking. This is Dark Brandon Jr. This is the guy the memo was about. This is a guy who doesnt give an F. Hes macho. Hes bold. To say that theyre going to invade El Salvador to bring back the bad hombres. Thats like left wing Trump, and this is what theyve been looking for, Watters added. Watters: This is Dark Brandon Jr This is the guy who doesn't give an F. He's macho, bold. This is like left-wing Trump. This is what they been looking for pic.twitter.com/Of2MSdfneM Acyn (@Acyn) July 21, 2025 He then took a shot at California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who is likely eyeing a 2028 presidential bid. Gavin Newsom doesnt have an ounce of that kind of swagger, because that is real. I agree. We are in agreement there. The problem with the Democratic Party, the autopsy, whatever you want to call it, they dont even want to talk about Biden. They dont want to see Joe. They dont want to see Hunter, Watters continued. But this guy is going to be on a revenge tour, the likes of which weve never seen, and his dad is writing a book. So theyre never going to get rid of him. The only way they do it, Tom Homan has to deport the Biden family, he concluded. Biden spoke with Channel 5 host Andrew Callaghan during the heated interview, where he slammed high-profile Democrats for their criticism of his father, former President Joe Biden. He criticized actor George 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. 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---ing David Axelrod, Biden said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he arrives on Air Force One, Friday, July 4, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP President Donald Trump ramped up his feud with U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) as the GOP lawmaker demands the administration release the Jeffrey Epstein files. Trump escalated his attacks on Massie in a scathing Truth Social post on Monday after the Republican sounded the alarm on the Epstein documents. In recent days, Trump has lashed out at those demanding the release of the document as he tried to distance himself from the convicted sex offender. Trump dished out a series of insults at Massie in his social media post. Thomas Massie, the worst Republican Congressman, and an almost guaranteed NO VOTE each and every time, is an Embarrassment to Kentucky. Hes lazy, slow moving, and totally disingenuous - A real loser! Never has anything positive to add. Looking for someone good to run against this guy, someone I can Endorse and vigorously campaign for! he wrote on Truth Social on Monday. Trump has frequently targeted Massie, especially since the Kentucky Republican opposed the big beautiful bill over its increases to the national deficit. In recent days, Massie has garnered support for his legislation that would require the Justice Department to release all the files related to the case. If the executive branch wont release phase 2 of the Epstein files, we will. Americans deserve transparency and the victims deserve justice, Massie wrote on social media platform X, referencing the administrations rollout of Phase 1 of the Epstein files earlier this year. NBCs Sahil Kapur asked Massie to respond to Trumps attacks on Monday. Massie told Kapur that Trumps allies are wasting millions of dollars against me, and theyre gonna lose the majority because of that. I think its had very little effect, but theyre trying to beat up on me to keep everybody else in line here, and I think its not working. I think whats going to happen is this will be a referendum on whether the executive branch controls the legislative branch, and Im going to prevail. And what theyre going to find out is it will embolden members of Congress here to go with their heart, with their minds, with their constituents, and not just toe the party line, he told Kapur. Trump trashes @RepThomasMassie, again. I asked Massie about his threat a few hours ago. He said he isnt worried. He says Trump allies are wasting millions of dollars against me, and they're gonna lose the majority because of that. He predicts it will backfire tremendously. pic.twitter.com/OmyISgiaLl Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) July 22, 2025 The Associated Press reported last week that Massie raised more than $1.7 million for his re-election bid as Trump continued to rail against him. Trumps challenge to Massie sent a clear signal to other Republicans that they cross the president at their peril. But Massies formidable fundraising will help him fight back. His sprawling district covers three television markets, making it an expensive place to campaign. Massie raised just over $584,000 between April and June, bringing his total fundraising since the last election above $1 million, his campaign reported. The $1.7 million in his campaign bank account includes money left over from his successful 2024 re-election campaign. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. President Donald Trump took a victory lap over the settlement Paramount reached with the president over a 60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump sued Paramount Global over the editing of its interview with Harris ahead of the 2024 election, claiming that the interview was edited to deceive voters in favor of the Democratic candidate. It was reported earlier this month that Paramount, the parent company of CBS, agreed to the $16 million settlement despite admitting no wrongdoing. Trump celebrated the news in a Truth Social post on Tuesday as he delivered a stark warning to other news outlets. He also referenced a defamation lawsuit he filed against ABC over comments made by host George Stephanopoulos, where ABC agreed to a $15 million settlement . We have just achieved a BIG AND IMPORTANT WIN in our Historic Lawsuit against 60 Minutes, CBS, and Paramount. Just like ABC and George Slopadopoulos, CBS and its Corporate Owners knew that they defrauded the American People, and were desperate to settle. Paramount/CBS/60 Minutes have today paid $16 Million Dollars in settlement, and we also anticipate receiving $20 Million Dollars more from the new Owners, in Advertising, PSAs, or similar Programming, for a total of over $36 Million Dollars, Trump wrote on Truth Social. This is another in a long line of VICTORIES over the Fake News Media, who we are holding to account for their widespread fraud and deceit. The Wall Street Journal, The Failing New York Times, The Washington Post, MSDNC, CNN, and all other Mainstream Media Liars, are ON NOTICE that the days of them being allowed to deceive the American People are OVER, he added. The settlement prompted widespread backlash within media circles, CBSs own journalists and Trump critics. Late-night CBS host Stephen Colbert criticized Paramount over its decision just weeks before the company announced it would be canceling his show. Colbert jabbed the company over its decision on Monday, questioning whether it was a purely financial decision to end his show. He went on to rip reports that his show was losing upwards of $40 to $50 million a year. I could see us losing $24 million, he said during his monologue. But where could Paramount possibly have spent the other $16 million oh wait. Many critics, including Colbert, suggested that Paramount agreed to settle with Trump so that it could get its merger with SkyDance media approved by the administration. Colbert had previously called the deal a big fat bribe. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. President Donald Trumps dreams came true for a hot second at least according to conservative commentator Benny Johnson. In a now-deleted post, Johnson took to X on Tuesday to declare that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who has been at the receiving end of attacks from Trump in recent weeks, had resigned from his role. He posted a four-paragraph, typo-written letter that was addressed to the president, donning Powells alleged signature. But Johnson immediately retracted his high hoped-for claim, instructing his millions of followers, Please dont share it. The Jerome Powell letter is fake, Johnson wrote in a new post. ...Sorry. Bad look. I still want Jerome Powell to resign really bad, he added. The Jerome Powell letter is fake. Please dont share it. Sorry. Bad look. I still want Jerome Powell to resign really bad. pic.twitter.com/SDsym6JxnT Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) July 22, 2025 Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who has been deceived by false posts in the past, had also immediately shared the resignation message to his account, while other MAGA-aligned accounts had questioned or similarly fell for the news. A handful of users had pointed to the letters blue seal, with words that were in gibberish. While some thanked Johnson for the apology, others mocked the internet personality for the mistake. Benny Johnson shared a fake letter of Jerome Powell resigning. Now he has to beg people not to share the fake news that he introduced, Brian Tyler Cohen, a progressive political host, wrote on X. Big oops, Sarah Longwell, a former Republican strategist, added. Harry Sisson, a liberal political content creator, said that Nobody should ever listen to little Benny. Another user joked: You cant stop me Benny, Im sharing it Im sharing it Im sharing!! Read read read. In addition to this bogus seal, the letter was a thoroughly unconvincing fake in other ways. Yet it convinced some. Was that the point? Did whoever faked it intentionally do a terrible job to show even that sufficed? Or were they really incapable of better? someone wrote. A different user said: Wait. Youre telling me you amplified something you didnt even do a cursory check on? What a shock. Trump has railed against Powell, who he initially appointed to the role during his first term in 2018, in public remarks and on social media, nicknaming him too late and calling him terrible as the central banks head has continued to keep rates steady. While Powells term ends in May 2026, several news outlets reported last week that Trump had asked GOP lawmakers whether he should fire the chair. However, he has since described a move as such highly unlikely. I think hes done a bad job, but hes going to be out pretty soon anyway, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday. Eight months, hell be out. The White House has also questioned the Feds $2.5 billion renovation project on two of its Washington, D.C., buildings. James Blair, the White House deputy chief of staff, said in a post on X that administration officials plan to tour the sites on Thursday. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., arrives for an early morning strategy session with the Republican Conference, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) AP House Speaker Mike Johnson just made clear that the lower chamber wouldnt budge on the Jeffrey Epstein case until at least September. While speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Johnson addressed his plan to prevent any votes on measures related to the late disgraced financier before the House departs for a weekslong recess despite fierce pushback from his fellow GOP colleagues and many in President Donald Trumps base to make the so-called Epstein files public. His comments come as House Republicans last week offered a non-binding resolution that demands the release of documents tied to the case. We cannot be careless in an open release like that, you have to be very careful, Johnson said. The president himself has said that he wants maximum transparency and all credible evidence to be turned over to the American public, so that everyone can make their own decisions. Were owed that. When asked by a reporter about whether Trump or another administration official asked him to delay the resolution, Johnson replied: No, no. But as you all know, I speak to the president multiple times a day, on a typical day. Often, always... He agrees with everything Ive said here today. Johnson also responded to another question about Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), as the GOP lawmaker has called on the administration to release the files, and even paraded around a binder with the words The Epstein Files: Phase 2 on Monday, referencing the first batch of documents released by Attorney General Pam Bondi in February. In recent days, Massie has been met with a barrage of attacks from Trump, who most recently on Tuesday labeled him as a A real loser! on his Truth Social platform. Thomas Massie is the one trying to bite Republicans, Johnson said. Im not quite certain what his strategy is. The reporter fired back, saying it is not only Massie: I mean, otherwise you guys wouldnt be calling off the week tomorrow. Reporter: Thomas Massie said this is going to come back to bite Republicans. Johnson: Thomas Massie is the one trying to bite Republicans. Im not quite certain what his strategy is Reporter: Its not just him. Otherwise you wouldnt be calling off the week tomorrow pic.twitter.com/unQN9fpoUN Acyn (@Acyn) July 22, 2025 Other social media users jumped on Johnsons remarks. Johnson might be a coward. He might be a Jim Jordan-level enabler. But he aint a moral leader, Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) wrote on X, adding that You dont endorse and support a convicted felon who has partied with Epstein AND get to claim that you have a moral foundation on which you make decisions. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) swooped in: Theyre literally running away from the Epstein scandal. We will not play these games so we will go home and take our ball with us, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) added. One user wrote in a mocking tone: Were going to bury our heads in the sand for the next month or so and hope everyone forgets about Epstein when we get back. Wow. Seems like whatever is in those files must be pretty bad, another user said. While Johnson indicated that the House will not move on the case, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on Tuesday that the Justice Department is seeking an interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement on X, posted to Bondis account, Blanche said that he expects to meet with Maxwells legal team in the coming days. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022 for helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he did not know of the DOJs decision, but said it sounds appropriate. Its sort of a witch hunt, Trump said. Just a continuation of the witch hunt. While the case has been mulled over in recent months, tensions had ignited after the DOJ and FBI concluded in a memo earlier this month that Epstein did not keep a client list, blackmail public figures or was murdered in his jail cell while awaiting trial in 2019. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. A man was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound following a standoff with police Sunday night in Sussex County, authorities said. Officers responded about 8 p.m. to a home on Little Paint Way in Byram Township after receiving a report of a possible domestic dispute, according to New Jersey State Police and the Sussex County Prosecutors Office. When police officers arrived, they attempted to contact the man inside the home. The man refused to comply and barricaded himself. A short time later, officers heard a gunshot from inside the house and took up tactical positions while waiting for backup. Crisis negotiators responded and, despite repeated efforts to contact the man, authorities said there was no response. The state police tactical team eventually entered the home and discovered the man dead. No other injuries were reported, and the mans name had not been released as of Tuesday morning. The incident is over, and there is no current threat to the public, Byram Township police said in a statement on social media. Police departments from townships including Stanhope, Netcong, Hopatcong, Andover, Roxbury, Mount Olive, and Newton, as well as the Lakeland Emergency Squad, assisted during the response. The Sussex County Prosecutors Office, the New Jersey State Police Major Crimes Unit, and the Byram Township Police Department continue to investigate. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. The Elizabeth Detention Center visitor entrance in Elizabeth, NJ on Friday, January 24, 2025. Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance A federal appeals court struck down a New Jersey law that banned new immigration detention contracts with private companies. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that by passing a law banning new contracts for civil immigration detention with private companies, New Jersey overstepped its authority and interfered with federal immigration enforcement. The law at issue is state Assembly Bill 5207, which was enacted in 2021 by the New Jersey Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy. It prohibited the state, local governments and private entities from entering into, renewing or extending contracts to detain people for civil immigration violations. The law directly affected CoreCivic, which operates the Elizabeth Contract Detention Center, which at the time was the only private immigration detention facility in New Jersey. GEO Group owns and operates the states other immigration detention facility at Delaney Hall in Newark, which opened in May. Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas said that when a state crosses the line, by interfering with federal policy or destroying it through hostile legislation, that is a violation of the Constitution. New Jersey is on the wrong side of that line, Bibas said. It dislikes some of the federal governments immigration tools, so it passed a law with the intent to forbid new contracts for civil immigration detention. The court found that the law functionally blocked the federal governments ability to carry out immigration enforcement in New Jersey, violating the constitutional principle that federal law is supreme over state law. However, Circuit Judge Thomas L. Ambro disagreed. In a dissenting opinion, he argued that New Jerseys law doesnt directly regulate the federal governmentit only applies to state, local, and private actors. Ambro said the majority stretched the Constitutions protections too far, and that it should be up to Congressnot the courtsto decide whether such state laws interfere too much with federal immigration policy. Circuit Judge Cheryl Ann Krause cast the deciding vote, joining Bibas in the 21 majority that struck down the law. The decision upheld a lower court ruling that had already found New Jerseys law unconstitutional. The decision is a win for CoreCivic and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which argued that the Elizabeth facility is critical to their operations. The ruling could influence other states considering similar bans. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement: We are disappointed in the Third Circuits ruling this morning invalidating our law prohibiting private immigration detention. As recent events at Delaney Hall underscore, Platkin added, entrusting detention to for-profit companies poses grave risks to health and safety, and as the dissenting judge noted, States retain broad latitude to protect the health and safety of people within their borders particularly where, as here, there is no conflict with federal legislation. At the privately run detention center in Newark, a riot broke out in June involving more than 50 detainees, in which a wall was broken and four men escaped. Theyve since been captured. This is not justice. This is a win for the corporate overlords who have already made a mockery of the federal government, said Amy Torres, executive director of New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. Now the third circuit has given them the greenlight to go after every statehouse in the country to challenge their democratic authority. CoreCivic does not enforce immigration laws, arrest anyone who may be in violation of immigration laws, or have any say whatsoever in an individuals deportation or release, Ryan Gustin, Senior Director of Public Affairs for Core Civic, said. CoreCivic also does not know the circumstances of individuals when they are placed in our facilities. For more than 40 years, CoreCivic has played a limited but important role in Americas immigration system, which we have done for every administration Democrat and Republican, including more than 25 years at Elizabeth Detention Center, Gustin added. Colleen Murphy may be reached at cmurphy@njadvancemedia.com. 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. Known as gallery row, the stretch of Julia Street near Camp Street has been a go-to destination for chic, contemporary arts since the 1980s. New along the strip is the Smith Contemporary gallery at 440 Julia St., founded by well-known former gallery owner Terrence Sanders-Smith. Sanders-Smith recently returned to New Orleans after being away for several years. He has big plans, not just for his new space, but for the whole New Orleans art scene, including a new, national art fair as soon as next spring. Smith Contemporary is a rarity, being one of just a few Black-owned galleries in the history of the area. Campaigners fighting to stop windfarm cables being laid at Saunton Sands want planners to investigate the proposed Xlinks site at Abbotsham as an alternative route. Love Braunton says the route planned for the Xlinks Morocco to UK project has significantly less environmental concerns than the White Cross windfarm cable plan, which would come ashore at Saunton and tunnel under a number of protected landscapes before connecting to the national grid at Yelland. Last month the government decided to walk away from the Xlinks scheme, which would have brought wind and solar energy from Morocco to Britain via a 3,800km cable coming onshore at Cornborough near Abbotsham, a little further down the coast, before connecting to a sub station near Alverdiscott. READ MORE: Government ditches support for Xlinks undersea cable project Now, Love Brauntons solicitors are asking North Devon Council (NDC) to hold issuing the decision notice on the planning permission granted in May until the alternative route is explored. The Morocco scheme was expected to provide eight per cent of the UKs energy and slash energy prices by more than nine per cent in its first year. Designated as a nationally significant project by the previous government in 2023, the Labour Government pulled its support after saying it wanted to concentrate on projects in the UK and there was a high level of inherent risk, related to both delivery and security. Above: The stretch of coast near Abbotsham at Cornborough, roughly close to the location depicted here, would be a better place for the White Cross cables to make landfall, Love Braunton says. Credit: Viral PR White Cross meanwhile is a test and demonstration site for wind power in the Celtic Sea, 50 kilometres off the North Devon coast, which was granted development rights from the Crown Estate in 2021 The onshore cable route was controversially granted planning permission despite thousands of objectors raising concerns over the impact on the environment, the beach and Braunton village which could see 82 vehicle movements a day through its narrow streets. There were 39 conditions added to the planning consent in an attempt to protect the landscape and the community. The letter to North Devon Council on behalf of Love Brauntons solicitors, Richard Buxton, said: The Xlinks cable route is understood to have capacity to accommodate the onshore energy transmission and is therefore a reasonable alternative with significantly less environmental concerns. The Xlinks route does fall under the jurisdiction of Torridge District Council, however. White Cross says its plans will bring jobs and investment to the region. READ MORE: Swimmers leave their heart on the sand at North Devon beach facing wind farm cable plans At the planning meeting in May, planning officer Andrew Sierakowski said 22 other routes had been looked at, but there were environmental constraints along the whole coastline. Its chock-a-block with designations and its impossible to go onshore without going through one, he said. Xlinks says it has not ruled out its Morocco-UK power project, which could potentially still go ahead without support from the government. However, not all are pleased with the legal bid from Love Braunton a reader emailed the Gazette today (Tuesday) to say North Devon needed to stand together and lobby for the connections to be moved to Bridgwater or Port Talbot where the power was needed. They added: The Braunton residents are trying to throw their North Devon neighbours under the developers bus in an I'm alright Jack move, claiming with no evidence whatsoever that the destruction of Abbotsham's unspoilt coastline is a better choice. I thought North Devon had a sense of pride, togetherness and community, but apparently not. These small-minded folks need to realise that with 20 offshore wind projects granted connections at Alverdiscott, even if they are successful in inflicting blight and devastation on their North Devon neighbours, it will not be long before the next connection project grabs the chance to use the Braunton route, which having permission will look very attractive. On April 17, 1934, Eiji Amau, Director of the Information Department of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, issued a statement asserting Japan's exclusive control over China (known as the "Amau Statement" or "April 17 Statement"). The statement claimed Japan had special responsibility for East Asian affairs, attempting to establish its exclusive dominance in China. This marked an open escalation of Japan's policy of aggression against China. On July 15, 1934, the Provisional Central Government of the Chinese Soviet Republic and the Revolutionary Military Commission of the Chinese Workers and Peasants Red Army jointly issued the Declaration on the Northward March of the Chinese Workers and Peasants Red Army to Resist Japanese Aggression. The declaration stated that, in order to directly confront Japanese imperialism, the Soviet Government and the Workers and Peasants Red Army, despite the Kuomintangs military encirclement and suppression, were determined to overcome all hardships and, with the utmost resolve, dispatch an advance detachment to march north to resist Japanese aggression. Editor: ZAD In December 1939, at a meeting of the CPC Central Plains Bureau, Liu Shaoqi, then secretary of the bureau, outlined the strategic mission for the New Fourth Army in Central China: to defend westward, expand eastward, and open up northern Jiangsu. In 1939, to sever Chinas southwestern transport routes and threaten its rear base, the Japanese army deployed 50,000 to 60,000 troops to seize Kunlun Pass, a key strategic point near Nanning, Guangxi. On December 18, the Chinese Guilin Command launched a counteroffensive. After fourteen days of intense fighting, Chinese forces recaptured Kunlun Pass on December 31, securing a major victory against the Japanese army. Editor: ZAD A Chinese man recently incurred the wrath of animal lovers after showing off an unusual car hood ornament featuring live fish and crustaceans. The owner of a Li Auto L9 luxury SUV from Liaoning, China, has been accused of animal cruelty after turning a transparent layer of plastic on the hood of his car into a mobile aquarium full of large fish and crabs. Watching the viral Douyin (TikTok) video of the mans car for the first time, youd be tempted to think it was AI-generated, but several Chinese news outlets have confirmed that its a real thing. The man who came up with the ingenious idea was even interviewed about his bizarre invention and said that he came up with it during a fishing trip when he forgot to bring a container for the fish. He noticed the transparent plastic layer on the hood of his SUV and thought to himself that he could keep the fish in there. Noticing that his SUV featured an isolated compartment between the vinyl wrap and a protective TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) film on the hood, the crafty motorist decided to fill the space with water and insert the catch of the day in there. His hood started attracting attention the moment he returned to the city, and videos of it started going viral on social media. Although the car owner reportedly seemed proud of his idea and the attention it attracted, the general reactions were critical, with some people going as far as accusing him of animal cruelty. People pointed out that the DIY aquarium was right over the motor, which could cause the water to overheat, while others worried about the tight space the live marine creatures had to survive in. The widespread attention the modified Li Auto L9 got on social media over the last few days also attracted the attention of Liaonings traffic police, which deemed the mans car unfit for driving on public roads in its altered state. Its unclear if the man was fined for his stunt, but police warned motorists that aquarium car hoods were illegal. Children play board games at a community service center in Shangcheng District of Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, July 21, 2025. Community service centers in Hangzhou provide childcare assistance and various activities to enrich children's summer vacation. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) A girl learns painting under a teacher's guidance at a community service center in Shangcheng District of Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, July 21, 2025. Community service centers in Hangzhou provide childcare assistance and various activities to enrich children's summer vacation. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) Children play coloring games with their teacher at a community service center in Gongshu District of Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, July 21, 2025. Community service centers in Hangzhou provide childcare assistance and various activities to enrich children's summer vacation. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) Children sing songs with their teacher at a community service center in Shangcheng District of Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, July 21, 2025. Community service centers in Hangzhou provide childcare assistance and various activities to enrich children's summer vacation. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) A girl reads a book at a community service center in Shangcheng District of Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, July 21, 2025. Community service centers in Hangzhou provide childcare assistance and various activities to enrich children's summer vacation. (Xinhua/Jiang Han) Editor: GSY A man in Rayong, Thailand, died surrounded by over a hundred empty beer bottles after shunning food and living on the alcoholic drink alone for over a month. Last week, rescue workers from the Siam Rayong Foundation were called to a house in the Ban Chang district of Rayong to help a man who had reportedly suffered a seizure and later became unconscious. Unfortunately, by the time they arrived on the scene, the patient had already passed away. He was identified as 44-year 44-year-old Thaweesak Namwongsa, a divorced local man and father to a 16-year-old boy. According to the teenager, Namwongsa had been drinking only beer for over a month, and when he came home from school one day, he found him having a seizure in his bed, surrounded by empty beer bottles. Photo: /Facebook When rescue workers arrived on the scene, they found over 100 empty beer bottles neatly arranged on the bedroom floor with only a narrow path between them, which allowed the man to get in and out of his bed. The mans son told police that he cooked hot meals for his father every day when he came from school, but he refused to eat anything and had been living on beer alone for over a month. Although the mans son didnt know about any underlying health condition he might of had, he did mention that Thaweesak Namwongsa had taken refuge in drinking to get over a divorce. It is suspected that this emotional strain may have led him to replace food with beer. Photo: /Facebook While rich in calories, beer lacks essential nutrients, and relying on it as a food replacement poses serious risks, including nutrient deficiency and liver damage, because of its alcohol content. Health experts warn that beer should be consumed in moderation. That being said, some people have been known to live on beer alone for over a month, especially before Lent. Andrew Blum At the height of the #metoo movement, I was approached by several #metoo men to provide crisis PR: two of them were all over the front pages and on TV news daily. None of the projects happened for various reasons. But all the recent Jeffrey Epstein media coverage about the so-called Epstein files and Epstein client list and back-and-forth between Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and MAGA world over their release, takes us back a few years before COVIDresurrecting an old scandal, catapulting Epstein and #metoo back onto the national media and PR stage. Epstein mania 2.0 has Trump calling MAGA supporters gullible weaklings for believing a radical left hoax that the government withheld Epstein files, and he said Democrats created the files. Then came the bombshell July 17 Wall Street Journal story. The Murdoch-owned WSJ reported that a collection of letters for Epsteins 50th birthday in 2003 included a note with Trumps name and an outline drawn of a naked woman. Trump denied it, filed a $10 billion libel suit, and told Bondi to seek the release of Epstein grand jury material. Two days earlier, on July 15, Alan Dershowitz, one of Epsteins initial attorneys, wrote a WSJ op-ed headlined The Inside Scoop on Jeffrey Epstein. He threw cold water on the whole mess, writing that there is no Epstein client list, adding, The FBI interviewed alleged victims who named several clients. These names have been redacted. He said files should be released but that it was a complex matter, calling for Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell to be given immunity to testify before Congress. But assuming a 2019 New York Magazine article was accurate, as many as 174 well-known names may have appeared in Epsteins little black book at some point. Think about thatalmost 200 people somehow connected to an alleged pedophile and sex trafficker. If these names all were released by the government in response to the cries for disclosure, thats a huge need for crisis PR people. And what about Trump? He seems somehow impervious to any sexually-related PR crisis: the NBC grab them by the pussy tape, Stormy Daniels, E. Jean Carroll, etc. So, will the new Epstein crisis be the crisis that costs him a lot of MAGA support and political clout? The Epstein saga has already brought down Prince Andrew and damaged reputations of Trump, several Democrats, billionaires, financiers and even some lawyers. Trump was in photos and videos with Epstein before they had a falling out, after what the New York Times described as a 15-year friendship. Trump has also called Epstein a creep. There were an estimated 200 men who were brought down during the #metoo movement, with Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, Kevin Spacey and Matt Lauer being the most well-known of the #metoo era. Epstein may have outdone them all in terms of disgusting and depraved behavior: going after young girls. Some PR people would work for just about anyone but many might draw the line at tobacco companies, gun manufacturers and pedophiles. So, ask yourself, would you take on a #metoo man as a PR client? When Epstein died in jail in 2019 after a new indictment, he escaped prosecution. His death was ruled a suicide but it became a conspiracy theory because people didnt believe he killed himself. His death and connections to famous people (per the NY Magazine story and a blizzard of other media coverage) kept the rumors spinning about a client list. Bondi said in February that Epstein files would be released. Epsteins estate has paid out hundreds of millions of dollars to more than 200 survivors of his sex abuse and trafficking, according to multiple media reports. Other estimates say there may have been as many as 1,000 Epstein victims. The DOJ said in July that no incriminating client list or credible evidence of Epstein blackmailing powerful people was located. But it kept digging a PR and conspiracy hole, saying there were files with a large volume of images of Epstein, images and videos of victims who are either minors or appear to be minors, and over ten thousand downloaded videos and images of illegal child sex abuse material and other pornography. So what else could all this mean for PR, media, and more importantly, Epsteins victims? Its safe to say the latest chapter in the Epstein story isnt over. *** Andrew Blum of AJB Communications is a PR consultant and media trainer who has directed proactive and crisis PR for a wide range of clients and issues, and has done PR for more than 40 authors, professional and financial services firms, NGOs, startups and PR agencies. Email: [email protected] or Twitter: @ajbcomms Real Chemistry acquires Greater Than One, which specializes in healthcare-first media, technology and omnichannel strategy. Greater Than Ones employees will join Real Chemistry and continue operating under the brand Greater Than One, part of Real Chemistry. The agency will maintain its New York headquarters and remote-first structure. Greater Than Ones capabilities will be integrated into Real Chemistrys platform. Those capabilities include Greater Reach (a predictive media planning engine), Greater Score (an advanced engagement scoring tool) and Greater Omni (a centralized omnichannel platform strategy and implementation capability). Greater Than One brings deep media expertise, powerful proprietary tools and a culture that matches oursfocused, fast-moving and built to deliver results, said Real Chemistry CEO Shankar Narayanan. (L-R) Jennifer Barry, Elly van Os CIIC PR, with a roster that includes clients in the travel, hospitality, food & beverage, and destination sectors, expands to Los Angeles. CEO Carolyn Izzo launched CIIC PR, which also has offices in New York and Miami, in Los Angeles nearly 30 years ago. Leading the new LA office is Jennifer Barry, who was most recently managing director of Zapwater Communications LA office. Elly van Os, who also joins from Zapwaters LA office, will head CIIC PRs luxury division. Returning to this vibrant city with such a talented team feels both nostalgic and inspiring. Its a meaningful full-circle moment that reflects our passion and vision for the future, said Izzo. J/PR, a global travel, hospitality and lifestyle communications agency launches a San Francisco office, the agencys ninth location. The new office will be dual-branded under J/PR and its agency affiliate 20Two Studio, enabling both agencies to seamlessly service their growing rosters of clients in San Francisco and the Bay Area. It will be led by Natalie Amos, who has worked with brands including Marriott International, The Ritz-Carlton, Six Senses and Banyan Tree, as well as destinations such as Dubai Economy & Tourism, LA Tourism and Thailand Tourism. Our expansion into San Francisco is a testament to the incredible talent and vision behind J/PR and 20Two Studio, and were confident the new office will be a powerful extension of our brand as we continue to expand our national and global footprint, said J/PR founding partner Jamie Lynn OGrady. Prosek Partners moves into a new Boston office. Located in the citys financial district, the office boasts expansive space for collaboration and an open-floor plan that encourages employee engagement and connectivity. Since opening its doors in 2018 with eight full time employees, Proseks Boston office has grown to more than 50 staffers spanning the firms practice areas including public relations, digital, paid media, investor eelations and special situations. Opening this space marks an exciting new chapter for us in Boston a city that has played a vital role in our growth, said Prosek founder and managing partner Jen Prosek. Nadia Al-Amir (L) and Amanda Hathaway co-authored this article. A new appetite is shaping traveler decision-making. While beautiful scenery and safety still top the list of destination selection drivers, todays travelers are increasingly looking to indulge their palates. The food and drink scene at a destination has quickly risen to be one of the top three motivators for selecting a destination, according to a recent MMGY Travel Intelligence report. Were seeing this trend explode as travelers build their itineraries around securing that highly coveted experience at the hottest spot in town. What was once a luxury is now table stakes in the world of hospitality. These elevated offerings also enhance brand reputation and inspire consumer loyalty in powerful wayssomething that we leverage for our clients advantage. Because when travelers connect with a destination through flavorwhether its a fire-cooked meal under the stars or an immersive cooking classtheyre building emotional associations that last long after checkout. And savvy brands arent just responding to this opportunity; theyre leading the charge by transforming food into a strategic hospitality asset. Alisal Ranch, a luxury dude ranch nestled in Californias idyllic Santa Ynez Valley, draws visitors from all generations who return year after year for its unique culinary programming. BBQ Bootcamps, Ranch Cookoutsand even a BBQ Universitycelebrate local chefs, wineries and cooking styles and attract celebrity chefs and culinary brands. Alisals strong brand identity and commitment to a superior guest experience allow the ranch to stay true to its roots while showcasing todays culinary stars and delighting its clientele. Independent restaurants also play a crucial role in establishing a destinations unique sense of place. In partnership with our client the James Beard Foundation, were expanding travelers understanding of what makes a culinary destination. As Stephanie Gravalese noted in a piece we secured in Forbes, This years list features everything from Persian stews in Brooklyn (Nasim Alikhani of Sofreh) to Afro-Caribbean plates in Puerto Rico (Angel David Moreno Zayas of El Gallo Pinto) to wood-fired fish in Helena, Montana (The Union, Best New Restaurant). Chefs working in places once overlooked by coastal mediathink Grand Junction, Tulsa, Omaha, Providenceare now front and center. This article is featured in O'Dwyer's Jul. '25 Travel & Tourism PR Magazine And tourism boards are recognizing and rewarding these culinary endeavors. After being named the first-ever chef from West Virginia to win a James Beard Award, chef Paul Smith received both a Distinguished West Virginian Award and a key to the City of Charleston, West Virginia, for bringing greater attention to the traditions and hospitality of our Mountain State. Further evidence of chefs driving the hotel experience comes from such leaders as acclaimed chef Nobu Matsuhisa, who is combining Nobu style with a strong sense of locality, minimalist design and innate passion for service to create Nobu Hotels. Each is set in a captivating location around the world, including Wagstaff client Nobu Hotel Chicago. Other leaders are taking heed: Charlie Palmer is opening his first food-focused Appellation Hotel in Healdsburg, California this summer; Jose Andres recently announced plans for his own hotel brand with the opening of The Bazaar House by Jose Andres in Washington, D.C., set for 2027; and other chefs around the world are adding guest rooms to their properties. As anyone whos visited a winery while on vacation knows, wine tourism promises a relaxing, memorable experience. Its not just a trip highlight for the casual wine loverits also a rare source of optimism amid concerns over the health of the U.S. wine market. While this decline is often attributed to changing consumer tastes among younger generations, wine tourism is proving to be a powerful solution. The act of visiting wineries for recreation and tasting isnt new, but the consumer experience has grown substantially more sophisticated, thanks to wineries and industry leaders developing richer and more robust offerings. Adrian Bridge, CEO of Portugals The Fladgate Partnership, which owns several revered Port houses as well as a handful of luxury hotels, notes that enotourism can benefit the wine market as long as the approach is updated for todays traveler. Visitor experiences must be done properly, in line with brand values and positioning and needs to be differentiated. Too many wine brands simply open up a tasting room and do not think about how to create demand or differentiate from their neighbors. And hes put his own advice into practiceBridge and TFP developed the ambitious WOW Cultural District in Porto. This district creates a multifaceted experience for travelers that also boosts the local economy while driving sales of Port. According to Bridge, Portugal has seen U.S. visitor numbers soarfrom 30,000 a decade ago to two million in 2023a trend that wine tourism initiatives like WOW contributed to and aim to sustain and build upon. These are people exposed to the country, culture, food and wine. With strong wine tourism, we can showcase our brands and then increase sales in the U.S. market from people who have already tasted them and understood themthat is what WOW and our visitors centers can achieve. Wine tourism builds more than salesit forges emotional bonds between brands and consumers. According to Sally Burton, Vice President of Marketing for Jackson Family Wines, enotourism is essential for creating lasting memories and connections with a brand. Usually, when someone is visiting a winery, they are on vacation or taking a break from their usual routine, so they are relaxed and open to new experiences. A unique wine experience/tasting in a beautiful environment builds a lasting memory, a connection to the person who hosted the visitors and a stronger likelihood of brand recall and repeat purchase. Jackson Family Wines has a keen understanding of what travelers are seeking. With a portfolio of U.S. and international wineries, the brand leverages bespoke visitor experiences to inspire brand loyalty. At many of our wineries, [visitors] are looking for unpublished or exclusive experiences, such as library wine tastings or tastings of wines only available at the tasting room. Beyond offering the exclusivity travelers crave, these experiences drive sales and loyalty through special offers and wine club sign-ups. Pairing food and wine creates experiences that resonate deeply with travelers. At Napa Valleys Sequoia Grove Winery in Rutherford, California, this combination is leveraged to share the brands philosophy on Cabernet Sauvignon pairings. The winerys A Taste For Cabernet experience challenges traditional tropes around the wines lack of versatility. As the winery puts it, You dont have to throw a steak at every Cab. According to Rick Bonitati, president of Sequoia Grove, visitors who partake in the experience seek to recreate it at home for friends and family. By sharing what theyve discovered, visitors not only relive their time at the winery but also deepen their bond with the brand. Culinary experiences and enotourism are powerful draws, pulling people from all age ranges and demographics. Even as the U.S. wine market struggles to connect with younger consumers, Millennials and Gen Zers are actively seeking out wine vacations, according to the recent 2024 WineGlass Marketing Wine Consumer Usage and Attitudes Survey. Unlike older generations, younger consumers arent seeking educationthey want to be entertained. Wineries and wine regions that create one-of-a-kind opportunities to enjoy the world of wine will spark passion and loyalty in their younger consumers. Travel is a cultural bridge of understanding. And food, wine and hospitality bring curious travelers to celebrate and discover a destinations identity through shared meals and raised glasses. *** Nadia Al-Amir is Managing Director of PR, North America at Wagstaff. Amanda Hathaway is VP of PR, Wine & Spirits, at Wagstaff. Edith Chapin NPR top editor and interim chief content officer Edith Chapin is planning to exit later this year, according to a report in the New York Times. Chapins decision follows the decision by Congress to cut all funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports NPR, PBS and their member stations. While NPR relies on direct federal funds for only a small portion of its budget, many of its member stations are more dependent on funds received from CPB. The Times report says that Chapin notified NPR CEO Katherine Maher before the budget cuts were approved. While Chapins departure will leave two of NPRs top roles vacant, she says she will remain at the organization through the transition. Jonathan Capehart The Washington Post, which is refocusing its opinion section on personal liberties and free markets, loses yet another member of the sections staff as Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Jonathan Capehart takes a buyout. Capehearts decision comes in the wake of a steady stream of exits from the paper, the most recent including Federal Insider writer Joe Davidson and reporter and writer Philip Bump. Post CEO Will Lewis recently called on veteran staffers to take a voluntary buyout if they werent genuinely enthusiastic about the new direction and focus that have been set by owner Jeff Bezos. Capehart will continue to co-host MSNBCs The Weekend and serve as a political analyst for PBS. Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong plans to take the paper public during the next year, he said in an interview on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. Soon-Shiong said the move would let the TImes be democratized and allow the public to have ownership of this paper. He bought the LA Times, San Diego Union-Tribune and several community newspapers in a $500-million deal with Tronc (formerlyand currentlyknown as Tribune Publishing) in 2018. He offloaded the Union-Tribune to MediaNews Group in 2023. The Times reportedly lost $50 million in 2024, laying off more than 20 percent of its newsroom staff. Soon-Shiong has not provided information on how the deal would work. A LUCKY Tullamore man has been selected as an escort in this August's "Rose of Tralee" festival. Jordan Lynam will be the envy of his friends as he takes part in the international festival which attracts visitors and contestants from all over the world. Jordan on the urgings of his mother applied for the plumb position after returning from Electric Picnic last year. "I had just finished my Masters and changed roles in my job so thought it would be nice to do something different," Jordan told the Tribune this week. He heard back from the festival organisers in January and was invited to an interview that month. Luckily the interview process took place in Tullamore and Jordan was informed two days later he had been selected. The festival starts on August 14 next but Jordan won't know which Rose he will be tasked with escorting until two days before the event. He knows one of the other escorts, Thomas Mee, who worked in Kepak with him in the past. Jordan also extended thanks to his sponsors, Kepak and Galvin, Tullamore. A man who stole items from a supermarket in the Midlands valued at over 100, has received a one-month suspended prison sentence. Owen Maughan of Ballindrimney, Castlerea pleaded guilty at Longford district court to one count of theft on January 8, 2025 at Aldi, Athlone Road, Longford. Sergeant Mark Mahon said Gardai received a complaint that a man had entered the supermarket and he was observed stealing several goods. "He was observed on CCTV taking items from the grocery section to the value of 107 and he left without attempting to pay. "Gardai found a man, who was known to them, matching the description at Longford Train Station, the male saw Gardai and he said, 'I'm sorry'. "Gardai cautioned him and he stated he had come from Aldi after stealing items and they were in his suitcase." Also read: Teen pleads guilty to assault causing serious harm to Longford father Sgt Mahon said Mr Maughan was cooperative and he handed the goods back to officers and they were in a saleable condition. The defendant had 31 previous convictions, including six for theft. Solicitor Brid Mimnagh, defending, said Mr Maughan, a separated father of four children, admitted his guilt immediately to Gardai. "I think it was a Saturday evening and he was trying to impress a new girlfriend in Dublin and he was supposed to be on his way there. "I don't know how well that started but at any rate that was the situation. "He apologises Judge, he has certain difficulties as you can see. I am hoping he will retain his freedom in circumstances where his last theft was in 2022 and everything was recovered," Ms Mimnagh concluded. Judge Peter White noted the defendant's guilty plea and remorse but he also said he 'could not disregard' his previous convictions for theft and fraud offences. The court heard Mr Maughan had been given the benefit of a suspended sentence in September 2022. Judge White said he was willing to give him another opportunity but he would need to stay out of trouble. He convicted Mr Maughan and imposed a one month prison sentence, which he suspended for 12 months. A farm in Offaly described as having 'panoramic views' and with a derelict house is going up for public auction. Described as a superb parcel of land of 129.5 acres, it is located at Barnaboy, Daingean and offers 'top-quality farmland' in a peaceful rural setting. Presented in two lots and the entire, it is described as a rare opportunity to acquire substantial acreage for the establishment or expansion of an existing agricultural enterprise. The area is noted for strong agricultural rental values, giving an opportunity for investors also. Set amid gently rolling countryside and benefited by good access, this prime farmland is suitable for tillage, grazing, or mixed-use farming. The land is also noted for containing gravel deposits. GVM Auctioneers will host the auction on Wednesday, September 10 at 4pm in the Tullamore Court Hotel. The auction will also be available online on www.lslauctions.com The lots for the auction are as follows LOT 1: C.87.8 Acres of prime tillage and grazing land, laid out in several manageable divisions. This lot includes a derelict two-storey farmhouse on an elevated site, boasting panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. This house has huge potential for renovation and may benefit from the vacant home's refurbishment grant (subject to approval) LOT 2 C.41.7 Acres: A large, single-field block of elevated land with natural gently sloping contours. Currently in grass but formerly under tillage, reflecting excellent soil quality and fertility. LOT 3 C.129.5 Acres comprises Lot 1 & 2 combined. Located just a short drive from the town of Daingean, this property is ideally situated for farmers, investors, and business buyers alike. READ NEXT: IN PICTURES: Special 21st Birthday celebrated in style on night out in Tullamore A DEFENDANT from Edenderry was charged with dangerous driving and a number of public order offences during the July 16 sitting of Tullamore Court. Darren Walsh, Rathlumbar, Edenderry was charged with dangerous driving on October 16 last at Rathmore Edenderry. Sergeant Richard Thornton told the court that the Gardai were called to a road traffic accident between two cars at 6am on October 16. Mr Walsh was in one car and a female driver was in the other, who said she was going to work when Walsh's vehicle came across the road and hit her car. The defending solicitor Patrick Martin said his client was having a problem with his headlights, which led to the accident. However, Mr Martin added, he accepts his responsibility for the accident. READ NEXT: Former Taoiseach opens new Fianna Fail office in Offaly Mr Walsh was also charged with intoxication in public at Ballyfore, Edenderry on May 10 last. He was charged with threatening behaviour and failing to provide a name and address to a Garda at Ballyfore Edenderry on May 9 last. He was charged with intoxication and failing to give a name and address in Sirocco's, Patrick Street, Tullamore on May 10 last. Sergeant Richard Thornton pointed out that the Guards came across the defendant in Ballyfore at 10.52pm on May 9. He was asleep on the side of the road. When they woke him up he became very abusive. An ambulance was called and he told them to f*** off. On May 10 in Sirocco's he was intoxicated. He fell asleep in a chair and when woken up he was unsteady on his feet and refused to give a name and address to the Garda. READ NEXT: Offaly dairy farmer appointed to charitable trust's Youth Board membership Mr Martin said his client is 43 years of age. He developed an opioid addiction a few years ago which meant he lost his job and his accommodation in Dublin. He returned to live with his mother in Edenderry. He suffers from ADHD. Judge Andrew Cody convicted for dangerous driving, fined 400 and disqualified from driving for two years. For the public order offences he sentenced to two months in prison, suspending it for two years. The Taoiseach has defended the Governments flagship plan to invest 275.4 billion euro in infrastructure over the next 10 years, which has been criticised as vague. The coalition Government pledged to fix a deficit in Irelands public infrastructure, particularly in energy and water, which is hampering housing delivery. The revised National Development Plan commits to spending 102.4 billion euro between next year and 2030, an increase of 23.9 billion euro on the previous iteration. The ESB and Eirgrid will be given 3.5 billion euro to enhance energy infrastructure, while Uisce Eireann will be given 2 billion euro to help deliver an additional 300,000 homes up to 2030, according to the plan. The investment will be funded by the Apple tax windfall of 14 billion euro, proceeds from state shares in AIB, and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund. At Government Buildings on Tuesday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State Sean Canney hailed the plan as unprecedented and said it would transform Ireland. Mr Canney, representing the Regional Independents supporting government, said it would make a profound and tangible difference to everyones lives. They defended the lack of detail on what projects would be funded after opposition criticism. Today, we have a plan so vague it doesnt even rise to the level of wish list, Social Democrats deputy leader Cian OCallaghan said. Instead, the Governments 10-year development plan comprises just 49 pages which seek to bamboozle with the budget to disguise the paucity of both commitments and detail. Mr Martin said ministers had been given huge, significant infrastructure budgets per department and can decide what should be prioritised. He said the last version of the plan, launched in 2021, was too long and that details on projects would be announced closer to the budget on October 7. He and Mr Harris said the announcement gave a signal to firms that Ireland is a country worth investing in. We will send a very clear signal to the investment community: this infrastructure commitment is one for the long run, Mr Martin said. I think the big prize today for the Irish economy is in trying to provide certainty to those who wish to invest in our country, Mr Harris said. Under the plan, Irelands transport network will be given 24 billion euro to extend transport routes and greenways and support the electrification of public transport fleets. Housing is to get 36 billion euro, which mostly does not include water infrastructure. When it was put to Mr Martin that the funding for housing, 5.8 million euro a year, was not much more than before, he said it did not include water and energy infrastructure or private investment. Mr Martin said the largest projects had already been baked into the plan, such as the Metrolink, the Dublin drainage system, and a major infrastructure plan to pump water from the Shannon to the Midlands and Dublin. He said that while many public investments are done efficiently, oversight of projects would be strengthened as there are clear issues in some areas. Not all projects are over budget, not all are delayed unnecessarily. So theres been very good stuff in education, very good stuff in roads, further education. The key change now is the infrastructure division within the department of public expenditure how can we accelerate delivery? So there will be a rigorous focus in value for money in respect of this. He said the Government had followed its promises on how to spend the Apple tax money to the letter. The Government had previously pledged it would be spent on housing, water and other infrastructure projects. He also criticised the 2:1 ratio of investment in favour of public transport from the previous coalition government, which had the Greens as a junior partner. In terms of the so-called 2:1 ratio, Ive never been of the view that that was realistic because of the timelines of projects. To try and have a 2:1 ratio every single year, its just unworkable. The obvious illustration of that is the Metro. So when the big, heavy money gets to be spent on the Metro, youll be looking at 3:1, 4:1, in favour of public transport versus roads. I would have issues with some on the environmental side, roads can be very good for the environment, can be very good for air quality. You talk to people in Macroom, you talk to any major town thats being bypassed. The congestion alone creates enormous issues in air pollution and in environmental health. Green Party leader and former minister Roderic OGorman accused the Government of abandoning the critical schemes that will help us reduce our emissions, naming energy innovation and offshore wind. Asked if capital funding would take a hit in the event of an economic slowdown, Mr Martin said current expenditure would be under pressure if such a situation was to emerge. The Government is very committed to capital over the next five years current will be challenging but we are absolutely determined, or I want to send a very clear signal, that infrastructure is a key priority for us. He added that EU-US trade negotiations were tense and causing a lot of concern. We have factored in as much as we possibly can various scenarios, but what were absolutely determined to do as best we can is safeguard the capital side of the budget over the next number of years. We dont anticipate having to borrow, but were ruling nothing out. Asked about poor second halves after Corks defeat in the hurling final to Tipperary Mr Martin congratulated the victors on their outstanding win before adding: The mushroom may fade, but Cork, never. The Verkhovna Rada did not support three resolutions proposing to cancel the vote on draft law No. 13157, in particular, amendments to introduce a 10% export duty on soybeans and rapeseed, MP Oleksiy Honcharenko (European Solidarity faction) has said Telegram. During the broadcast, which was conducted by a people's deputy from the session hall, it is visible how three parliamentarians Dmytro Razumkov (Chesno movement), Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze (European Solidarity) and Oleksiy Honcharenko spoke during the meeting, who registered three draft resolutions in the Verkhovna Rada (13157-P, 13157-P1, 13156-P2) on the cancellation of the decision to adopt in the second reading and in general the draft law on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine in connection with the adoption of the law "On Integrated Prevention and Control of Industrial Pollution" (No. 13157 of April 7, 2025). "The Verkhovna Rada is engaged in fraud and thievery. Today we saw everything. Last week, amendments were inserted into the bill on industrial pollution regarding soybeans and rapeseed. What do they have to do with pollution? Someone just really wants some money. They really want to rob farmers, both small and medium-sized. And right now, and quickly, they passed this decision," Honcharenko commented from the rostrum on the need to cancel the parliament's decision. During the vote, the blocking resolutions did not find support in the session hall. The proposals of Honcharenko, Razumkov, and Klympush-Tsintsadze were supported by only 21-23 parliamentarians. "The predatory bill will be signed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy," Honcharenko summarized. As reported, the "soybean amendments" are changes to the Tax Code of Ukraine, introduced at the end of 2017. They concerned the procedure for VAT (value added tax) reimbursement when exporting soybeans and rapeseed. Stepan Kapshuk, the General Director of the Ukroliyaprom Association, has proposed for several years in a row to ban the export of 50% of the rapeseed harvest from the country in order to increase the load on Ukrainian processing facilities, which, in particular, in 2024, were significantly short of raw materials. Subsequently, the Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Economic Development, Dmytro Kysylevsky, prepared draft law No. 13134, in which Amendment No. 40 provided for the introduction of a 10% export duty on rapeseed and soybeans. He argued his initiative by saying that Ukrainian soybean and rapeseed processing plants are underutilized by 35%, and if they are used, Ukraine will receive an additional UAH 7.3 billion in revenue to the state budget to finance the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and an additional $238 million will allow the construction of dozens of factories and the creation of thousands of new jobs. A number of associations criticized the idea of the draft law "On Amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine on Expanding Patients' Access to Medicines Subject to Procurement by a Person Authorized to Make Procurements in the Healthcare Sector by Concluding Managed Access Agreements," which provided for the establishment of a duty on the export of soybean and rapeseed from Ukraine. According to business associations, they are discriminatory towards small and medium-sized producers, are aimed at increasing the profits of processors at the expense of small and medium-sized farmers, and violate the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement. The Verkhovna Rada did not support this initiative on June 18. Therefore, the amendments were included in draft law No. 13157, which was supported by 245 people's deputies on July 16. The Redwood Estate in Tullamore is to be officially ''taken in charge'' by Offaly County Council, following a recommendation from the Director of Services for Tullamore, Paul McLoughlin. Mr McLoughlin confirmed that the process had been publicly advertised, with members of the public given until May 2 to make submissions. ''None were received,'' he told the meeting, adding that the estate met all the necessary requirements to proceed. The move was warmly welcomed by local councillors, who praised both the standard of the development and the work of the builders. ''You could travel all over Ireland and you wouldn't see a better estate in terms of design and layout,'' said Councillor Neil Feighery. ''It has won architectural awards and is built to a high standard by Capital Homes, led by the Sheerin family. I'm very happy to propose taking charge of this estate and I wish the developers well.'' His proposal was seconded by Councillor Declan Harvey, who voiced his support,but also raised wider concerns. ''Redwood is still an unfinished site, with further houses to be built,'' he noted. ''There are a number of well-established estates in Tullamore that previously asked to be taken in charge. I know the director is going to come back and say this, that, and the other wasn't done, but some of these estates have everything right and still haven't been considered. While I welcome Redwood, I wish you would look at a few others too. I can talk to you after the meeting about where they are.'' Councillor Sean O'Brien also supported Redwood, describing it as a ''fantastic development and a good company.'' But he echoed concerns about delays elsewhere. ''Like Cllr Harvey, I have concerns about other estates in Tullamore. These issues have been ongoing not just for months, but for years. We need to progress them in whatever way possible, as soon as possible.'' He pointed to Hophill as a prime example. ''People up there are very frustrated. Its affected their properties, the state of their paths and roads. There are a lot of issues. I would ask management to consider Hophill an absolute priority and see if we can progress it as soon as possible.'' Councillor Aoife Masterson also expressed concern, particularly for the Eiscer Meadows and Hophill areas. ''Not having the council in charge is having a detrimental effect on the maintenance of footpaths, she said. ''It also poses a health and safety risk when we can't maintain footpaths or install speed ramps or control signs. There is a large number of children in Eiscer Meadows and no 'children at play' signs. It affects the value of the properties as well.'' Responding, Mr McLoughlin said Redwood was a ''model estate,'' with all conditions fully met. ''Unfortunately, with other estates on the waiting list, certain legal clarifications and provisions have not yet been met. There is a healthy list to be taken in charge and we will continue that process. We are not in any way trying to slow it down. There is a certain standard that must be reached, and once that is met, we are happy to advertise them.'' READ NEXT: Eight retail outlets inspected in Tullamore by CCPC Cllr Harvey pointed out that in some cases, ''developers are no longer with us.Theres a piece of work to be done. People are frustrated. Theyve done a lot of work, maybe theyre missing one piece of the puzzle, and theyre put on the back burner. Im delighted for Redwood, but not happy for others.'' Cllr Leahy said the matter would be back on the agenda in September and urged councillors to bring forward lists of estates for consideration. Solo traveller Sarah Woodard, who has visited 102 countries, often shares details about her trips on social media. In a recent post, the American listed five countries where she felt unsafe. India too is included in Sarahs list of unsafe countries. Sarah was bothered by the constant staring on the streets of India. Besides, she was scared to see stray animals roaming around everywhere. However, she noted that she enjoyed visiting these countries and would surely visit again. Sarah has also stated that she doesnt believe her experiences in these countries are uncommon or rare. These are the five unsafe countries in the world according to Sarah Woodard. Namibia Sarah had one of the scariest experiences in Namibia. A tour guide had tried to cheat her out of hundreds of dollars. She also felt that the local residents had troubled her when she was travelling through Namibia. India India ranks second in Sarahs list of unsafe countries. Sarah had initially planned to visit India as part of a group tour. However, she later decided to visit the country independently. She also hired a private driver for safety. Sarah says she always felt she was constantly being observed while travelling in North India. The driver used to urge her to get inside the car whenever people stared at her. Sarah states that she was scared even to take out her phone and felt afraid whenever she was alone. Turkey Sarah felt safe for the most part during her six-week trip to Turkey. However, last week, she received a travel advisory that Americans were being abducted from a particular region. Sarah says that she was bothered by such advisories while travelling solo through Turkey. ADVERTISEMENT United States of America Sarah states that women might feel unsafe at some point in the United States, mainly due to unwarranted attention given by men. She had an unpleasant experience while walking alone with her luggage on the subway. A man had constantly tried to talk to her. He then started getting angry and even demanded sexual favours from her. Tanzania Sarah visited Tanzania in 2020 when she was financially broke. A stranger who kept staring at her followed her up to the hotel. He continued to stare at her until the hotel authorities intervened. Besides, strangers demanded money from her. Sarah says that she was made to wait alone at the border for completing paperwork that wasnt required for others. Article Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their articles after publishing them. To see if the article was renamed or re-published, please click here. No health without rights, says Shobha Shukla SDG-3 Lead Discussant at UN meet BOBBY RAMAKANT - CNS Recording: Click Here Shobha Shukla, SDG-3 Lead Discussant at UN HLPF 2025 says NO HEALTH WITHOUT RIGHTS (Image by CNS) Details DMCA Health and gender equality are indivisible and fundamental human rights. "Right to health cannot be dislocated from gender equality and human rights. We have to ensure that gender equality and human right to health are recognised as fundamental human rights in all countries," said Shobha Shukla, who was the Lead Discussant for SDG-3 (health and wellbeing) at the United Nations intergovernmental High Level Political Forum (HLPF 2025) at UN HQ in New York (14-23 July 2025). She was speaking on behalf of Asia Pacific Regional Civil Society Engagement Mechanism. The theme of HLPF 2025 is "Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind". The 2025 HLPF with full appreciation for the integrated, indivisible and interlinked nature of the Sustainable Development Goals, is conducting in-depth reviews of: SDG 3 (ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages); SDG 5 (achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls); SDG 8 (promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all); SDG 14 (conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development); and SDG 17 (strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development). Progress on SDG-3 is stunted in Asia Pacific "Progress towards SDG3, continues to be stunted in the Asia Pacific region, such as on universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights; communicable and noncommunicable diseases; universal health coverage; and access for all to safe, effective, quality and affordable disease prevention tools like vaccines, diagnostics and medicines," said Shobha Shukla, who earlier taught physics at Loreto Convent College and leads CNS as Founder Executive Director. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). The United States, under the Trump administration, has sharpened its focus on the Indo-Pacific region, driven by concerns over China's escalating military and economic influence. Central to this strategy is ensuring that key allies, such as Japan and Australia, align with U.S. objectives to counterbalance Beijing's assertiveness, particularly in potential conflicts involving Taiwan and the South China Sea. Recent remarks by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscore the administration's push for clarity and commitment from allies, reflecting deep concerns about their strategic ambiguity and economic ties with China. Taiwan remains a critical flashpoint in U.S.-China relations, with China intensifying military pressure through frequent air and naval incursions into Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and large-scale exercises simulating blockades or invasions. The Trump administration has adopted a policy of "strategic ambiguity" regarding U.S. military intervention in a Taiwan conflict, a shift from the Biden administration's clearer commitments to defend the island. This approach aims to deter Chinese aggression while preserving U.S. flexibility in negotiations with Beijing. However, it creates uncertainty for allies like Japan and Australia, who rely on U.S. leadership to navigate regional security challenges. At the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a stark warning, stating, "There's no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent." He emphasized that China's military is "rehearsing for the real deal", actively training for a potential invasion of Taiwan, which could have "devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world". Hegseth urged allies to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, citing NATO's example, and stressed that "deterrence does not come cheap". He argued that Asian allies must act as "force multipliers" to counter China's growing capabilities, particularly in light of Beijing's 2027 aspirational deadline for military readiness to take Taiwan. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a May 28 press statement, complemented Hegseth's remarks by focusing on non-military measures to counter China's influence. Rubio announced that the State Department and Homeland Security would "aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields". This policy aims to limit China's access to U.S. technology and intellectual capital, reflecting concerns that Beijing could leverage such access to bolster its military and economic dominance. Rubio's remarks signal a broader U.S. strategy to restrict China's global influence, reinforcing the need for allies to align with Washington's hardline stance. The Pentagon, through Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, has pressed Japan and Australia to clarify their roles in a potential Taiwan conflict. This push stems from fears that without explicit commitments, China might exploit perceived divisions, weakening deterrence. Japan's proximity to Taiwan and its role in the "first island chain" make it indispensable, yet constitutional constraints and domestic politics limit its ability to commit to offensive operations. Australia, deeply tied to the U.S. through the AUKUS pact, faces pressure to balance its security commitments with its economic reliance on China. Australian Acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy's refusal to pre-commit troops, emphasizing that such decisions rest with the "government of the day", highlights this caution, fueling U.S. concerns about allied resolve. China's Dual Strategy and Allied Responses China's strategy of combining economic engagement with military coercion complicates U.S. efforts to maintain a cohesive alliance structure. Beijing has offered trade incentives to Japan and Australia while escalating territorial disputes, such as confrontations with Japanese vessels near the Senkaku Islands and Philippine ships in the South China Sea. For instance, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently emphasized trade potential with Japan and South Korea, while Chinese Coast Guard ships challenged Japan's sovereignty. This duality aims to exploit uncertainties in U.S. leadership, particularly under Trump's "America First" policy, which has raised doubts through threats of tariffs and criticism of allies' defense contributions. Hegseth addressed this at the Shangri-La Dialogue, cautioning that "economic dependence on China only deepens their malign influence and complicates our defense decision space during times of tension". He urged allies to prioritize security cooperation with the U.S., warning that balancing economic ties with China and defense ties with Washington carries risks. This reflects U.S. concerns that allies' economic entanglement with China could soften their stance on Beijing's aggressive actions, particularly in "gray zone" tactics like coast guard incursions or cyberattacks. Japan has responded by bolstering its military, deploying missile regiments in Okinawa and increasing defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2027. During Hegseth's March 2025 visit to Tokyo, he praised Japan as an "indispensable partner" in deterring Chinese aggression, announcing plans to upgrade the U.S. military command in Japan to a joint "war-fighting headquarters" to enhance interoperability. However, Japan's actions partly hedge against U.S. unpredictability, as Tokyo strengthens ties with Australia and the Philippines. Australia, meanwhile, navigates its AUKUS commitments while engaging economically with China, as seen during Prime Minister Albanese's visit. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles rejected China's criticism of Hegseth, noting China's unprecedented military buildup as a key regional challenge. AUKUS and the Burden-Sharing Debate The AUKUS pact, involving nuclear-powered submarines and advanced technologies, is a cornerstone of U.S. strategy to counter China. However, the Trump administration's review of AUKUS, driven by concerns about its impact on U.S. naval resources, underscores tensions over burden-sharing. Trump's criticism of allies for not contributing enough-- likening U.S. protection to an "insurance company"-- has heightened allied anxieties. Hegseth echoed this in Singapore, stating, "It doesn't make sense for countries in Europe to [increase defense spending] while key allies in Asia spend less in the face of an even more formidable threat". This rhetoric risks alienating partners like Australia, which has pledged an additional A$10 billion to defense, and Japan, a major investor in its military. Rubio's remarks further highlight U.S. expectations for allies to align with Washington's broader strategy. His visa revocation policy targets China's influence in critical sectors, signaling that allies must also take steps to limit Beijing's access to strategic resources. The U.S. fears that allies' economic ties with China could lead to alternative security arrangements or a softer stance on Chinese aggression, particularly if the AUKUS review alters the pact's terms. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). The Gladstone City Council met during its regular meeting on May 13, 2025. Screenshot A little-known public records ruling could have a big impact in smalltown Clackamas County. In 2022, the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that handwritten notes made by a public official are subject to public records law. The case began when a teenager sued West Linn for refusing to turn over a city councilors notes. The city said they didnt possess the notebook, and the notes didnt qualify as public records. Rory Bialostosky won on appeal. Hes currently West Linns 25-year-old mayor. Now, one of the lawyers who represented Bialostosky has stepped into a similar dispute in Gladstone. Instead of seeking handwritten notes during official city business, the suit filed by Stoel Rives attorney Nathan R. Morales seeks text messages and social media messages allegedly sent during a council session. The underlying source of the dispute a proposed $70 million Gladstone School District bond and Council President Vanessa Huckabys spirited support for it was not on the agenda during the May 13 city council meeting. Gladstone Council President Vanessa Huckaby attended a recent council meeting. Screenshot But the lawsuit filed last month in Clackamas County Circuit Court claims Huckaby, 46, was using her cellphone to send messages about the bond on social media or through text message. The bond failed a week after the meeting, with roughly 62% of voters in the 12,000-person town voting no. Former city Councilor Gregory Alexander, who opposed the bond, filed the lawsuit after his public records request and a subsequent appeal to the Clackamas County District Attorneys Office for Huckabys electronic communications were denied. Alexander, 60, declined to comment. His attorney, Morales, said his client wants to know what was in the purported messaging before deciding to take further action. Public records laws are the primary tool that citizens can use to ensure that our state and local governments are doing their jobs, Morales said. In the absence of that information, we cannot hold them accountable. City officials, meanwhile, counter that Huckabys social media posts were public and are already documented, while any cellphone use was simply personal in nature. The suit comes three years after Gladstone, a suburb about 30 minutes south of Portland, was riven by an ugly political dispute that escalated into slashed tires and smashed windows in the citys picturesque downtown. The city council has largely changed hands since then. The latest dispute arose during an online exchange. In a statement, Huckaby said she was responding to false claims made by an apparent sock-puppet account. Huckaby replied to the claims with the phrase receipts please?? and six laughing emojis. Alexanders lawsuit claims Huckaby posted the message while sitting at the dais, and asks a judge to force the city to turn over all messages sent during that meeting and another City Council session on April 8. Gladstones attorney, Chad A. Jacobs, argued during the public records appeal process that Huckabys online comment was made in a personal capacity and wasnt subject to disclosure. Regardless, Alexander already possesses a copy, the citys attorney said. The city also isnt required to disclose other personal messages Huckaby may have made on her phone, according to Jacobs, such as dinner plans or routine scheduling. Jacobs noted that she frequently checks her phone when clearing notifications from her home surveillance system. Gladstone City Manager Jacque Betz said the city has nothing to hide. Both the city and Councilor Huckaby remain committed to complying with public records laws, and the claims suggesting otherwise are unfounded, Betz said. Proving the absence of records is inherently challenging. Huckaby told The Oregonian/OregonLive she had fully compiled with Alexanders public records request by providing her notes from the meeting. She said she didnt send or receive any text messages. I cannot provide something that does not exist, Huckaby said. Her ally on the council, Mayor Michael Milch, thanked Alexander for his service. Our policy, he added, is to praise in public and criticize in private. Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane. A 28-year-old Washington man is accused of second-degree murder in a fatal Southeast Portland stabbing, police said. Aristide Economopoulos for NJ Ad A 28-year-old Battle Ground man was booked into Clark County jail Monday in connection with a fatal stabbing inside a Southeast Portland home where several children were present. S Mate Joseph is accused of first-degree burglary and second-degree murder, Portland police said. Clark County records show he is also accused of driving under the influence of intoxicants, violating a protective order and fourth-degree assault. He is scheduled to make an initial appearance at Clark County Superior Court on Tuesday afternoon. Portland police responded to calls about a stabbing at a residence on Southeast 143rd Court around 12:30 p.m. Saturday. They found an injured woman, 24-year-old Neilyann Ysam, and she died at the scene. Neilyann Ysam, 24, was fatally stabbed July 19, 2025, inside a Southeast Portland home. Courtesy of Portland Police Bureau Officers also found five children inside the home. Police said they were not injured and were evacuated from the house while officers searched for a suspect, including by blowing open the homes garage door. As officers were investigating, police called tactical teams to help, and they closed traffic for several blocks around the home as they searched for a suspect. Analee Dickinson, a next-door neighbor, said she wasnt home when police arrived but her aunt described hearing an explosion. She then looked out a window and saw lots of police. Dickinson said she had to be escorted to her front door when she got home and glimpsed the woman lying on the floor close to the front door of the home next door. She said she did not know the family but would see them come and go. Ive waved at the kids a few times, she said. Police found Joseph in Vancouver, where local police took him into custody shortly before 4 p.m. on Saturday. Police have shared little information about how they have tied Joseph to the fatal stabbing. The Multnomah County District Attorneys Office will bring Joseph to Oregon to face charges, police said. Oregonian/OregonLive reporter Yesenia Amaro contributed to this report. Zaeem Shaikh covers the Portland Police Bureau and criminal justice issues for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-221-4323,zshaikh@oregonian.comor on X@zaeemshake. Kyle Davis Graham, 47, was allegeldy armed with a pistol when he was confronted by sheriff's deputies. Courtesy of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office A sheriffs deputy shot and killed a man on Sunday after a car pursuit, the Columbia County Sheriffs Office said. Deputy Seann Luedke was pursuing Kyle Davis Graham, 47, on Canaan Road near U.S. 30 in Deer Island before the fatal shooting, the sheriffs office said in a statement. Officials did not say why Luedke was pursuing Graham, but said he had earlier eluded Washington State Patrol on Saturday. During Sundays pursuit, Graham lost control of the white Kia Optima he was driving, and careened off the road and down an embankment, according to the sheriffs office. Graham was allegedly armed with a gun when Luedke found him after the crash and Luedke shot and killed him during the resulting confrontation, officials said. No officers were injured during the incident. Graham was previously convicted of first-degree manslaughter in 2010, court records show. The sheriffs office put Luedke on administrative leave while the Oregon State Police investigates the shooting. Tatum Todd is a breaking news reporter who covers public safety, crime and community news. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com or 503-221-4313. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has recorded 176 combat clashes over the past 24 hours. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on Facebook in operational information regarding the Russian invasion as of 8:00 a.m. Tuesday. "According to updated information, yesterday the enemy launched two missile strikes with 25 missiles and 74 air strikes on the positions of Ukrainian units and populated areas, dropped 122 guided air bombs, and used 3,832 kamikaze drones. The enemy also carried out 5,387 artillery attacks, including 56 from multiple launch rocket systems," the General Staff reports. Tyler Cashdollar, 28, was sentenced to 15 years in state prison during a hearing Mon., July 21, 2025. Zane Sparling/The Oregonian A dispute over fentanyl pills and a stolen laptop ended with a 15-year prison sentence for a Vancouver man. Tyler K. Cashdollar pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon Monday for gunning down Brandon Lockwood outside his trailer on Aug. 11, 2023. Cashdollar, now 28, drove to an industrial stretch of Northeast 33rd Avenue and confronted Lockwood outside his trailer the day before the fatal shooting, apparently robbing him of the laptop and fentanyl pills at gunpoint, according to a probable cause affidavit. The two had exchanged social media messages, the affidavit says, with Lockwood claiming he didnt owe Cashdollar for the drugs, and later asking for his laptop back. U got money, Cashdollar responded. The Vancouver resident returned the next day and killed Lockwood, 37. A witness heard an argument and Lockwood exclaiming go ahead and shoot me just before a single shot rang out. During the hearing, Debra Lockwood recalled how her son would always call to check in when she made a long nighttime drive home from work. The two had enjoyed each others company just the day before the killing, and parted with a hug, not knowing it would be their last. I never would have let that day end, Debra Lockwood said in a statement shared over video. Cashdollar looked up at the courtroom screen during the testimony. Im sorry for how it has affected you guys, he said. I am sorry for your loss. Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane. James Elliott, 66, died in a local hospital Friday, July 18, 2025, after he was struck in the head at a Northeast Portland MAX station platform. Courtesy of Portland Police Bureau A 66-year-old Portland man was standing on a MAX station platform near the Oregon Convention Center early Thursday morning when another man struck him once in the head. James Elliott immediately fell backward, according to a probable cause affidavit. He died in a local hospital the following day. Jordan Christ, 30, is accused in Elliotts death of two counts of second-degree assault. Police said the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office will consider any appropriate criminal charges. TriMet surveillance footage helped lead police to Christ. An affidavit said police canvassed the area and found him sleeping in an alcove at the corner of Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Pacific Street, about 200 feet southeast of the MAX station. Detective Matthew Brown said Christs speech was slurred, his pupils were constricted and he appeared unable to focus on any questions in an interview with police. Its not clear what precipitated the attack. TriMet video footage showed Elliott did not acknowledge nor interact with Christ before the assault, according to a probable cause affidavit. And after, the affidavit says the footage showed Christ promptly walking away. Police said the two men didnt appear to know each other. Court records show that Christ was convicted in 2016 of driving under the influence of intoxicants and methamphetamine possession in Clackamas County. Since those convictions, he has been arrested more than a dozen times on accusations of theft, criminal trespass and meth possession among others. In 2018, he was taken to the Oregon State Hospital in a Multnomah County case that was later dismissed because a judge found him unfit to stand trial. He was once again sent to the Oregon State Hospital in 2023 after being accused the year prior of stealing merchandise from a Northeast Portland Safeway with his brother. In a motion to dismiss charges in that case, his court-appointed attorneys wrote to the judge that Christ had spent over six months at the state hospital. Last year, the attorneys wrote he had been placed in a transitional housing program but needed a higher level of care. Before being arrested in Thursdays alleged assault, Christ had a warrant for his arrest for failing to report to a parole officer. Zaeem Shaikh covers the Portland Police Bureau and criminal justice issues for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-221-4323,zshaikh@oregonian.com or on X@zaeemshake. This Oregon town should be developing quite the healthy ego after turning up on another national best-of list. Jonathan Bach I The Oregonian/OregonLive Another Oregon community is getting some national attention, and its one that should be used to compliments by now. This Central Oregon spot has been praised for its charming downtown, and other attributes. This time, the kudos come from CNN, a media source known more for its breaking news coverage and analysis. Specifically, CNN Travel editors called on readers and contributors to come up with nominations for its 2025 round-up of Americas Best Towns to Visit in 2025. As the introduction to the list says, Americas most interesting towns bring together the best of a beautiful country. Surrounded by stunning landscapes, packed with entrepreneurial talent and evolving with the tastes of the people who settle and explore them, these destinations show off what makes the United States so distinctive. For this second annual list, CNN Travel editors considered hundreds of candidates and winnowed the list to 10 by evaluating the finalists attractions, food and beverage offerings, cultural and nightlife scenes, diversity, sense of identity, proximity to other interesting spots and wow factor. We also looked at travel essentials, including lodging options and the ease of getting there. Coming in at No. 4 on the top 10 list is Bend, which scored high in such categories as outdoor wow factor, play-hard vibe, live music, and beverage and food scene. In the listing, CNN offers a fairly concise description of the community and why it ranked on the 2025 list: A remote getaway at the edge of the Cascade Mountains, Bend was named after that feature in the river that flows through town. You can keep busy fishing and boating along the Deschutes and on dozens of lakes in the area, in addition to kayaking, biking, rock climbing and more. This big outdoor playground with its go-play-all-day energy tops things off with food trucks and fancier fare, live music and plenty of expertly crafted local beer." In a separate, longer piece, CNNs David G. Allan goes into more detail, noting of Bend, Theres a reason this town experienced a population boom during the pandemic that still hasnt stopped. Given the freedom to work and live anywhere, thousands have followed their bliss to a ruggedly beautiful oasis of seriously fun activities, food and beverages in central Oregon." Its a combination that lures visitors, too, continues Allan, who goes on to discuss exploring the high desert; recreational opportunities such as fishing, boating recreation, whitewater rafting, kayaking, rock-climbing; performance venues; lodging choices; the obligatory mention of the worlds last Blockbuster video rental store; eating and drinking establishments; and more. Heres the complete list of CNNs Americas Best Towns to Visit in 2025: 10. Rapid City, South Dakota; 9. Clarksdale, Mississippi; 8. Northampton, Massachusetts; 7. Las Cruces, New Mexico; 6. Petaluma, California; 5. Annapolis, Maryland; 4. Bend, Oregon; 3. Asheville, North Carolina; 2. Missoula, Montana; and 1. Ithaca, New York. Jeff Gianola at the KOIN-TV news studio in downtown Portland. After a long career in Portland news, Gianola has announced that "As we head into the week of Thanksgiving, Ill anchor my last newscast at KOIN." Allison Barr/The Oregonian When you really love something, its hard to put the brakes on it, says Jeff Gianola. But you just know when its time to go. Its a summer morning at the downtown KOIN Tower, and later in the day, Gianola will be co-anchoring the evening news broadcast on KOIN-TV. Generations of Portland-area viewers have watched Gianola do that job, making him a familiar presence on local TV screens. Ahntkwahkwah Creek is one of four creeks in the Marys Peak area now marked by a sign that the city of Corvallis installed with the creeks Indigenous name. Zoie Stayton and Felix Locker Lush forest and thick brush fill the Rock Creek watershed just outside of Corvallis, and the scent of mint blows in the breeze. Four small creeks, previously unnamed, flow into Rock Creek. Now, signs with names from the Indigenous Kalapuya people stand tall, naming the creeks in bold white text that contrasts the brown base. The four creeks are now Ahngeengeen (The Flint), Ahnhoots (The Panther), Ahntkwahkwah (The Frog) and Ahshahyum (The Grizzly). These are all names that are prominent features in our stories, said David Harrelson, cultural resources manager for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Marys Peak, where the watershed flows, is a sacred mountain and central to the culture of the Kalapuya people. It was known to the Chepenefa band of the Kalapuya as a place of refuge and perseverance. These signs were part of a project kick-started by a small group that proposed to give Indigenous names to unnamed creeks in the Marys Peak area. In February 2017, they convened a group of Indigenous people to ensure their voices were heard and accounted for. David Harrelson, cultural resources manager for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Courtesy of David Harrelson Project officials received positive feedback and permission from the tribes to move ahead. The project came to a standstill during the pandemic, but last winter Dave Eckert, a member of the Marys Peak Alliance who was involved in the naming effort, asked the city of Corvallis about putting up signs to mark the creeks. The city agreed and paid to install the signs in May. It was shocking to me because any bureaucracy you work with anywhere, something doesnt just happen, Eckert said. And this just happened. The Kalapuya people call Marys Peak tcha Timanwi, which means place of spiritual power. Its among the places where they hunted, fished and gathered other food. Officials named 10 creeks in the Marys Peak area as part of the project. Six on the east side of the mountain traditionally the land of the Marys River Kalapuya, now a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde were given Kalapuya names. The four creeks in the Rock Creek watershed have Kalapuya names due to the land they flow through. Theres a very strong, positive feeling about getting the names of animals and as they were known to our ancestors back on the landscape, Harrelson said. Its very meaningful to see Kalapuya words presented to the public and be a part of placekeeping. The remaining four creeks, on the west side of the mountain, were given Wusin and Yaqon names by the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians. Public access to the Corvallis-owned portion of the watershed, which produces one-third of Corvallis water, is restricted except for an annual public tour. Dave Eckert, a member of the Marys Peak Alliance, talks about the creek naming process. Zoie Stayton and Felix Locker Its part of the citys critical infrastructure, so it has rules and regulations it has to follow, said Patrick Rollens, a spokesperson for the Corvallis city government. While the signs in the Corvallis Forest and additional signs planned for the creeks on the peaks west side in the Siuslaw National Forest are simple, bearing only the creeks name, Harrelson hopes that might spur people to seek out information. I hope that its almost like an Easter egg or its a little tickler for people to get curious, he said, because theres a whole literature of traditional stories that relate to these characters and these stories. Julia Cline, a Water Conservation Program specialist who frequently works in the area, said that it was great to see the city and tribes working together. City officials made sure the signs were placed before this years tour to allow members of the public to see them. It shows that the city puts its work where its mouth is, Cline said. It began as a simple idea, but the result of the collaboration, Eckert said, will be not only actions, but education. Whats in the name? he said. Its a lot. A lot. A lot is in the name. -- Felix Locker, David Douglas High School -- Zoie Stayton, Sam Barlow 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. Fourth-year student Molly Hagen pours an ice cream base into a freezer at the Beaver Classic Creamery. Zoe Johnson and Rose Stone Dozens of people gathered around a large rectangular window at Oregon State University on a hot July day. Through the glass, they could see some of the passion put into a popular summer treat. Food Science students and their mentors make the ice cream and craft the flavors at Oregon State Universitys Beaver Classic Creamery. Among them is Molly Hagen, a fourth-year student working this summer at the creamery. On Tuesday, she was experimenting with a new smores flavor, mixing graham crackers and chocolate into a marshmallow base. Theres more that were playing with, Hagen said. Its kind of brand new, so I feel like Im sort of inventing here. Thats the core idea of the campus creamery. Not only does it provide a sweet treat for the community, it gives the students the opportunities to sharpen their dairy skills before entering the professional field. The Beaver Classic Creamery displays a variety of original flavors, including Sleep Deprived Student and Beaver Bark. Zoe Johnson and Rose Stone Hagen works with Brandon Riesgaard, a mentor to the students who applauds creative freedom. Students craft new seasonal flavors inside the Tillamook Dairy Innovators Lab behind the storefront. Tillamook has provided some funds for the creamery. They want to see the students have a little better education, said Riesgaard, the manager of the dairy pilot plant, where others, including industry professionals, can produce and test their own dairy products. Riesgaard was a student at Withycombe Hall when the creamery was a theater. But there was a three-year renovation turning the building into an agricultural science hub, including the recently established creamery. After graduating, Riesgaard worked in the industry, making blue cheese for Rogue Creamery in Central Point. One of my main focuses is to have the students leave here with as much knowledge as possible, Riesgaard said, and be as ready as possible to step into a position at Tillamook. In the future, Riesgaard said he hopes to source the creamerys milk from the Oregon State Dairy Research Center, located less than a mile away. At the farm, roughly 100 cows get milked twice a day by working, trained students. About 15 work at a time, preparing for a field that needs more herders and farm managers. The students handle all of the day-to-day stuff, said Larissa Lewis, the farm manager. Thats milking, feeding, animal checks and cleaning. Five cows line up to eat a corn-based feed at Oregon State Universitys Dairy Research Center. Zoe Johnson and Rose Stone The milk is pumped from the cows, then run through sterilized pipes to a cooling tank, where it is stored around 36 degrees. Riesgaard said up to 300 gallons of milk can be hauled from the barn to the creamery, where it would be pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria, cooled and used to make ice cream. For now, Riesgaard buys the ice cream base made of milk, cream and sugar from a local processor. Students add flavoring and freeze it. Then raw ingredients are hand mixed in the soft cream base. Playing into college themes, students have created such classics as Sleep Deprived Student, a coffee-infused ice cream, and Beaver Bark, a bright orange, vanilla-chip flavor rooted in Oregon State colors. Others have pitched new flavors. Students with the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center reached out and asked for an ube-lychee-calamansi flavor that sold well at events including a night market, Riesgaard said. Oregon State President Jayathi Murthy also requested a chai-flavored ice cream. Riesgaard said he wants to incorporate add-ins and stripes to the ice cream and sell pints out of the storefront. In addition, the creamery has been expanding its operation in hopes of selling cheese. Students like Hagen will be involved. I think were starting cheese soon, she said, so thatll be kind of exciting. -- Zoe Johnson, Lakeridge High School -- Rose Stone, Roosevelt 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. On July 4, President Donald Trump signed what he calls The One Big Beautiful Bill, (Trumps big tax bill gets final approval from sharply divided Congress, July 3). The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office determined that this law drastically cuts funding of Medicaid, the program that has provided health care for low income Americans since 1965. The CBO projects the bill will leave 51 million Americans without health care, while decreasing the tax rate for corporations and wealthy Americans, and increasing their tax deductions, such as those for private jets. In contrast, Oregon has the opportunity to become the first state to operate a publicly-funded universal health care system. The Oregon Universal Health Plan Governance Board was created by the Legislature after a task force studied the feasibility of a publicly-funded, privately-delivered system. The board is now determining how to finance and administer the program, which would be organized under the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. The UHPGB formed four committees to assist in the development of a report. This makes a total of 40 people working on this complex and essential enterprise. In mid-2026, the board will collect input on the draft report in town hall meetings across the state. The final report will be submitted to the legislature for action in the 2027 session. For more information about this important development in health care access, attend a Health Care for All Oregon chapter meeting in your area. You can find a chapter meeting on the HCAO website. You also can learn more about the Oregon governance board at its website. Charlotte Maloney, Eugene To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. The public has an interest in protecting religious freedoms, preventing torture and unlawful executions in violation of the Convention Against Torture, maintaining family relations and ensuring due process, U.S. District Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai ruled Monday. Getty Images A federal judge on Monday ordered the U.S. government not to deport an Iranian immigrant who was arrested by ICE officers late last month on his way to a gym from his Yamhill County home. U.S. District Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai of Eugene found the governments June 24 arrest occurred without a rational explanation. The man, identified in court records only as S.F., has been in the United States since August 1999, arriving on a visitors visa, and was under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement supervision. He was scheduled for a regular check-in with ICE officials on July 7 when federal officers arrested him around 7 a.m. as he was driving to a fitness center without prior notice, according to his lawyer, Michael Purcell. S.F. had faced removal proceedings in the early 2000s and sought relief by seeking asylum, according to court records. On Aug. 14, 2002, he was denied asylum but filed an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals. His appeal was dismissed on Jan. 2, 2004, and he became the subject of a final removal order, according to his lawyer. For the past two decades, however, the government hasnt followed through on the removal order. He was detained in December 2005 in Tacoma, but ICE was unable to obtain a travel document to Iran for him and released him on supervision in April 2006, deportation officer Mihaela Hammer wrote in a court filing. During his time in the United States, he married a U.S. citizen, has two U.S-born children and has been active in his local church, the judge said. ICE officials said in court records that they arrested S.F. because he was a danger to the community, citing a 2023 first-degree theft conviction. The governments purported reason for concluding hes a danger lacks merit and credibility, Kasubhai found. He found no evidence that ICE acted to arrest S.F. or seek his removal from the United States before last month, almost two years after the theft conviction. S.F. also would face irreparable harm if he were to be deported to Iran because he was raised as a Muslim but converted to Christianity in the United States and could face torture or execution for his religious choice if returned to Iran, Kasubhai said. The State Department also has warned of the danger of travel to Iran by anyone with connections to the United States due to the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, arbitrary arrest and wrongful detention, according to a travel advisory it issued this year. Iran would be an incredibly hostile and dangerous place for somebody in SFs situation, Kasubhai said. The public has an interest in protecting religious freedoms, preventing torture and unlawful executions in violation of the Convention Against Torture, maintaining family relations and ensuring due process, Kasubhai ruled. While Kasubhai granted a preliminary injunction and ordered the government not to remove S.F. from the United States, he did not order S.F.s release from detention in Tacoma. He said he plans to hold an evidentiary hearing next month on whether to grant S.F. s full habeas petition seeking release from ICE custody. In a hearing last week, Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin T. Hickman argued that S.F. violated the conditions of his supervision by committing a crime. Hickman also argued that S.F could have filed a motion with the Board of Immigration Appeals to reopen a challenge of his asylum denial but hadnt done so. The appeals board, Hickman said, could consider a future motion even if he was moved to Iran. But Kasubhai said thats just not realistic. If removed to Iran, he wont be coming back, the judge said. -- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, follow her on X @maxoregonian, on Bluesky @maxbernstein.bsky.social or on LinkedIn. A tour group looks down from a viewing spot beneath the statue, known as the "Gold Man" or "Oregon Pioneer" at the Oregon Capitol Building in 2015. (File photo) LC- The Oregonian Its been 25 years since work crews last coated the massive gold pioneer statue atop the Oregon Capitol Building in Salem with 23-karat gold leaf. And its been a rough quarter century of roosting birds scratching and pooping on the towering figure. The scorching sun of summer, ice storms of winter and pounding rain many months of the year also have taken their toll on the statue. So earlier this month, crews started regilding popular roosting spots on the 87-year-old, 23-foot tall, 17,000-pound behemoth known as the Gold Man or Oregon Pioneer. The top of his head has no gold left on it from all of the birds, said Mike Sliwinski, a field superintendent for Hoffman Construction, which is sprucing up the statue. Every horizontal surface is all wore down. His shoulders, the top of his head, the top of the ax handle. Basically every horizontal surface is beat. The project will cost the state $234,375, which includes the price of logistical planning, erecting scaffolding, labor and $9,110 for the gold leaf. In all, the statue is covered with about 11.5 ounces of gold head to toe worth about $38,000 by weight but this summers project only amounts to a partial refresh. Construction workers erect scaffolding in June 2025 around the "Gold Man" atop the Oregon Capitol Building in preparation to re-gild the statue. Sami Edge Why not just paint the statue in much cheaper gold-colored paint, one might ask? Sliwinski said it just wouldnt look the same. Plus, Sliwinski said its the way the artist, Ulric Ellerhusen, intended the statue to be when he completed it in 1938. The statue, of a pioneer, holds an ax and carries a tarp or wagon cover over his shoulder. A tree stump is situated behind him. The piece was shipped from the East Coast to Oregon via the Panama Canal, then hoisted onto the rebuilt Capitol, which had been destroyed in an inferno in 1935 and rebuilt. This is the fifth time the statue is being plated in gold. The first was when it was built in 1938, followed by 1958, 1984 when Oregon students raised more than $37,000 for the project and 2000. Restoration crews painstakingly tested the gold leaf they acquired to make sure it precisely matched the current shade on the statue in June, before embarking on the actual work. The Gold Man might be the largest gold-covered publicly viewable statue in the state, historians believe. To be precise, Gold Man is 23 feet 6 inches tall. Stacy Nalley, the public outreach coordinator at the Oregon Capitol Building, said the next largest gold-plated statues she knows of are the Joan of Arc statue in a traffic circle in the Laurelhurst neighborhood of Northeast Portland and the angel Moroni statues atop the Lake Oswego and Medford temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Reported to be between 11 to 13 feet, all three are roughly half as tall as Gold Man. Nalley said visitors to the Capitol and who take tours to the buildings observation deck often ask if Gold Man is solid gold. She tells them hes actually bronze and coated in a very thin layer of gold. Consolidated into one solid block, the gold doesnt amount to much. It would actually just fit in the palm of your hand, Nalley said. The statue may look tiny from the ground. But up close, visitors take in his actual size. For instance, his boots alone are 6-feet tall. We let kids know if we tucked you inside there, you wouldnt be able to peek out, Nalley said. It isnt until youre right up next to it that youre like Oh, this guy is gargantuan. Sliwinski, who is supervising work on the statue, said his crew measured the Gold Mans ax at 11 feet. On clear days, visitors to the observation deck can see at least seven Cascade Range mountains, including the three Sisters, Jefferson, Hood, Adams and Helens. Sliwinski couldnt believe his eyes the other day during clear visibility when he saw the outline of a mountain even farther off: Rainier. I could not believe it, Sliwinski said, who added that he turned to mapping software on his phone to confirm. I was like No way. I was impressed. After work on the statue is finished in late August, crews will replace the terra cotta tile of the observation deck and lights that illuminate the statue at night. Though the deck is closed this summer, it is scheduled to open again for tours again during spring break 2026 and then again in mid-June 2026 for the summer season. Tours are free. Reporter Aimee Green can be reached at 503-294-5119, agreen@oregonian.com or on Bluesky. The Oregon coast cottage author Ken Kesey retreated to after earning worldwide fame for his novel One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest is for sale at $699,000. The oceanfront house on a 2.13-acre bluff between Florence and Yachats has been owned by the Kesey family for almost 50 years. Kens son Zane Kesey, posted on Facebook: Mom is selling dads Ocean Writing Cabin.... so many memories. Zane Kesey, named after his fathers childhood idol Western fiction author Zane Grey, linked to a video clip about dad talking about the Oregon Coast two months before Ken Keseys death at age 66 in 2001. The coast makes you think of strange and ancient magic," said Ken Kesey, who was called the Pied Piper of the psychedelic era." The cottage, built in 1964 at 95080 Highway 101, was purchased by Ken and Faye Kesey in the 1970s, as a coastal getaway a two-hour drive west from their home in Pleasant Hill, southeast of Springfield. Originally designed as a two-bedroom, one-bathroom vacation home, the garage was converted into a third bedroom. A porch connects the two structures. There are hardwood floors and view-framing windows in the home with 1,269 square feet of living space. I think anyone would absolutely love this property, said listing broker Shanna McCord of Fathom Realty Oregon. However, as there really is a very limited amount of oceanfront land, I believe that this particular property would be best for someone who can really appreciate the uniqueness of what is here. The property, close to public beach access and hiking trails, was placed on the market July 18 and the deadline for McCord to receive an offer is noon July 23. McCord said the land has potential development within county guidelines, of course, yet its true charm lies in its preserved natural beauty. She told The Oregonian/OregonLive the Kesey family has preserved the landscape, allowing native plants and wildlife to thrive, instead of clearing space for a grand estate. Its a sanctuary where nature is the centerpiece, and history quietly lingers, inviting its next steward to create their own future, she said. The house was a short-term rental called the Key Sea Coast House. Whether you keep it as a warm and nostalgic retreat or modernize it to suit your vision, this beautiful cottage is a rare gem waiting for its next story to be written, McCord said. Oregons Ken Kesey The Ken Kesey mural is on the side of Springfields Plank Town Brewing at 4th and Main streets. Samantha Swindler Colorado-born Ken Kesey was a countercultural hero who grew up on an Oregon dairy farm where his father, Fred, started the Eugene Farmers Creamery Cooperative, selling under the brand name Darigold. Ken Kesey graduated in 1957 from the University of Oregon, where his papers are housed, and wrote two novels that have never been out of print: Cuckoos Nest, published in 1962 and made into the 1975 Oscar-winning movie starring Jack Nicholson, which is back on big screens. And Keseys 1965 novel, Sometimes a Great Notion, inspired by an Oregon logging family, and made into a 1971 movie directed and starring Paul Newman. Kesey, who married his high school sweetheart, Faye, later launched a literary publication titled Spit in the Ocean. Hes well known as the bus mate of the Merry Pranksters. Janet Eastman covers design and trends. Reach her at 503-294-4072, jeastman@oregonian.com and follow her on X @janeteastman. The decision of the National Security and Defense Council on the introduction of a moratorium on business inspections, put into effect by the Decree of the President of Ukraine, provides for the identification and recovery of assets subject to sanctions into the state's income within the next three months. "Together with the National Police of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Asset Recovery and Management Agency, the State Property Fund of Ukraine, with the participation of the Prosecutor General's Office, the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine, and the State Bureau of Investigations, take additional mutually agreed measures within three months to establish and identify the assets of individuals and legal entities to which special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) have been applied in the form of asset blocking, intensify work on the recovery of assets belonging to such persons to the state's income, as well as ensure the development and implementation of additional mechanisms aimed at fulfilling the relevant tasks," according to Paragraph 1 of the Resolution of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. A freak accident involving a Bangladesh Air Force jet crashing into a school in the nation's capital, Dhaka, killed at least 20 people, including students, and injured hundreds of others. Following the incident, video footage from Milestone School and College in the suburb of Uttara showed a massive fire and thick smoke. In a statement on Facebook, the armed forces said that the F-7 jet suffered from a mechanical fault after take-off. Bangladesh Air Force Jet Crashes Into School The airplane was originally due for a training exercise just after 13:00 local time on Monday before the unexpected failure. The pilot of the jet was also among the fatal victims of the tragic crash. A doctor at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery added that more than 50 people were transferred to the hospital with burns, many of whom were in critical condition. Many of the victims were students who had just gotten out, according to BBC. In a statement, Rezaul Islam, a teacher at the college, said that he saw the jet "directly" hit the building. Another teacher at the college, Masud Tarik, said that he heard an explosion, adding that when he looked to check, he only saw fire and smoke. A Year 10 student from the school said that they had just left the building after finishing an exam when they saw the jet crash into the building. He added that his best friend was among the people who died. Later on, students joined the rescue effort while residents lined up to donate blood as police officers, military personnel, fire officials, and emergency workers worked to contain the massive crowds that formed around the school, the New York Times reported. At Least 20 People Dead and Hundreds of Others Injured Talking to reporters, Brig. Gen. Muhammad Jahed Kamal, who is the director of Bangladesh's national fire department, said the jet crashed into the second floor of a school building where third and fourth graders were. An initial report released by the armed forces said that the pilot of the air force jet tried to maneuver the aircraft to a less populated area when it suffered a mechanical failure. After the incident, 20 bodies were handed over to their families, as some of the charred bodies were beyond recognition. A lot of relatives of the victims waited overnight at a specialized burn hospital for the bodies of their loved ones. Mohammed Abdur Rahim was looking for his cousin, Afia Akter, at around midnight, as doctors told them to look in other hospitals, as per the Associated Press. G7 Ambassadors to Ukraine express serious concern over developments at NABU, will discuss them with govt leaders G7 ambassadors to Ukraine expressed "serious concern" about the events at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and announced their intention to discuss these events with the government leadership. The G7 is closely following todays 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 G7 ambassadors said in a statement posted on social media X on Monday evening. 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, the ambassadors noted. For her part, the Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, added on Facebook: Ukraine has achieved tremendous progress in reforms. Especially during wartime while defending itself against Russian aggression. Now it is as important as ever to preserve the reform achievements to maintain the support needed to prevail over the enemy. As reported, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine (PGO) and the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) conducted searches at the homes of detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau on Monday, as well as an unscheduled inspection of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) for compliance with state secrets. Microsoft is officially working on a new PC-to-PC migration tool for Windows 11, reports Windows Latest. A few months ago, the Insider Dev version of Windows 11 gained a new (but undocumented) feature in Windows Backup that made it easier to move files between two or more PCs, including from Windows 10 to Windows 11. In a new support document, Microsoft confirms the existence of the tool and clarifies that PCs must meet the following requirements: Operating system: The source PC can run either Windows 10 or Windows 11, while the target PC must run Windows 11 version 2024 or higher. Arm-based devices are not currently supported. The source PC can run either Windows 10 or Windows 11, while the target PC must run Windows 11 version 2024 or higher. Arm-based devices are not currently supported. Microsoft account: Sign in to the target PC with a Microsoft account during setup. Make sure the Microsoft account doesnt already contain an existing backup. This is the first time since Windows Vista that Microsoft has offered a local data transfer option. Windows Easy Transfer was eventually discontinued in favor of transferring via OneDrive, which many still regret today. How does PC-to-PC file transfer work? Heres the short of it: you just need to connect two PCs over a local network and use the tool to copy files from the source PC to the target PC. It transfers all your documents, photos, desktop settings, and other customizations youve made. The only things that arent transferred include apps and passwords, which are still backed up and synchronized via OneDrive. Apps and passwords can be restored afterwards using your Microsoft account. Microsoft explains how the PC data transfer works step-by-step: Make sure both old and new PCs are on the same network. Open the Windows Backup app on the old PC, then select Transfer information to a new PC. The name of your PC should appear. On the new PC, sign in with your Microsoft account. Then, youll be asked to enter the name of the PC you want to transfer from. Once you do that, both PCs will move on to the next step. On the new PC, enter the six-digit code thats displayed on the old PC. Once you do this, the data transfer will start. After successful pairing, youll see a list of folders that you can select and transfer. Itll also show how much storage space will be available on the target PC after the transfer is finished. Once youve made your selections, click on Start transfer and Windows will begin copying over the selected data. Afterwards, youll see a summary of the PC migration. You can close this and continue on with the target PC. Important: The new PC-to-PC transfer tool is still being tested as part of the Windows Insider Program and isnt yet finalized. However, it does provide a preview of how Microsoft will implement local data transfer on Windows 11 PCs in the future. This new feature should be particularly interesting for anyone who intends to migrate from a Windows 10 PC to a new Windows 11 PC, which many will need to do in light of the looming deadline for Windows 10s end of support. Meanwhile, learn about your various options for what to do with your Windows 10 PC after end of support. Weve known for a while that Lenovo is working on an updated model of its oddball, Nintendo Switch-inspired PC gaming handheld. But now it looks like someone has gotten their hands all over it. A 20-minute video of the device has been posted to YouTube, showing off its various features and full hardware specs. According to a Reddit post, a factory shutdown in China resulted in a bunch of pre-production hardware that, ahem, went on a bit of a walkabout and the hands-on video was posted to Chinese video site BiliBili before being mirrored to YouTube. Exactly how close this device is to a final production design cant be known but speaking as someone whos been following phone leaks for almost 15 years, Id say this looks pretty close to finished. In the 20-minute video, you can see the user go through most of the physical functions of the device, including the removable side controllers that return from the original Legion Go, various bits of Windows, and what information is available from within Windows itself. Notably, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 prototype is using an 8.8-inch OLED screen with a 16:10 19201200 resolution and a refresh rate of 144Hz, putting it well above most of the competition in both size and quality. Most of that was already confirmed at CES 2025 way back in January, at least for the prototype, but its nice to see it in action. We also knew from CES that the device was running a new Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor at 3.3GHz with up to 32GB of RAM (double the original model). The same info said it was using a 74-watt-hour battery (huge for this form factor) and up to 2TB of storage, though the one in the video seems to only be using 1TB. Heading to about the 19:20 mark in the video, you can see the user remove the devices rear plate, showing off a dual-chamber battery design, active cooling, and what looks like an 80mm M.2 SSD bay. A little later, you get a size comparison with the Switch 2 and a live weighing of 938 grams (about 10 percent heavier than the original). Full disclosure: I dont speak Chinese, so there might be more interesting goodies that Im missing from the video. One thing thats unmistakable is that its running Windows 11 with more grace than most PC handhelds manage, and a bit of extra user interface on top. The OS of a PC gaming handheld has become a sticking point as of late, with Lenovo itself debuting the first third-party handheld running SteamOS like Valves Steam Deck. Its worth noting that the smaller, cheaper Legion Go S gets noticeably better performance running SteamOS than Windows in many games. Lenovo still hasnt said much about its plans for the release of the Legion Go 2, except that it hopes to do so later in 2025. Pricing remains the biggest question mark for me. The original model starts at $700, while the standard and Steam versions of the newer Legion Go S start at $730 and $600, respectively. The owners of the idled Steelton steel mill raised the potential of data center development at the site in public comments Monday. In this 2015 photo, scrap steel is melted down in a large tank in the mill. Sean Simmers, PennLive.com. June25 2015. PennLive Rapper Cash Out, here at the 2012 BET Awards Radio Room, was sentenced to life in prison. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images For BET, file) Getty Images Its the end of the road for the rapper known as Cash Out, as hell be spending a long time behind bars. On Monday, he was sentenced to life in prison, in addition to 70 years after being found guilty in his RICO and sexual assault case. The rapper, whose real name is John-Michael Gibson, was found guilty on Friday in his Atlanta trial. He was then sentenced to life in prison for a rape charge and was slapped with an additional 70 years for RICO and other convictions, per WSB-TV Atlanta. The sentences will be concurrent. The charges include rape, aggravated sodomy and violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act for leading a prostitution enterprise, a spokesperson for the Fulton County District Attorneys Office told USA Today. He was also convicted of two counts of trafficking a person, pimping, pandering, keeping a place of prostitution, battery, possession of a firearm during commission of felony and other crimes, Fulton County media relations director Pallavi Bailey told the news outlet. Hailing from Columbus, Georgia, the rapper saw success in the early 2010s when he debuted his hit single, Cashin Out, which was No. 1 on the Billboard Rap Airplay chart. He achieved another hit with She Twerkin two years later, when he released his album, Lets Get It. In addition to his sentencing, his mother Linda Smith was also sentenced to 30 years on RICO charges, while his cousin Tyrone Taylor received a life sentence in prison plus 70 years. The trial began two months ago, after Cash Out, his mother and cousin were accused of coercing and forcing women into sex work and exploiting women for profit over the course of several years. Prosecutors were able to use evidence that included text messages from eight cell phones. Charges were first brought against the rapper in June 2023, and officials claimed he used his celebrity status to carry out his crimes. Low Cut Connie's Adam Weiner, pictured pointing to fans, said on Monday that his band's Friday show in Wilkes-Barre has been cancelled. Cortney Armitage Adam Weiner made news when he took to social media on Monday and told fans that his band, Low Cut Connie, would not be performing on Friday because its show in Wilkes-Barre had been cancelled due political reasons. Weiner spoke out against Donald Trump back in February when he pulled out of a scheduled March 19 concert at the Kennedy Center. And, he said in a video shared to Facebook, that his beliefs of diversity and inclusion were apparently too controversial for the show to go on. 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. 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. His fans were quick to rally around him on Facebook. Anyone that knows your band knows that a Low Cut Connie show is full of joy! Shelly Cuff wrote. Shame on those cowards who see love and acceptance as controversial or polarizing. I cant wait to see you in KOP next week!! Stay strong and stand by your beliefs. Have never wins in the end. Well, if its of any consequence, you have a new follower & fan now, Travis Nelson wrote. Id not heard of you and just today saw the post about the cancellation via a FB friends page, so Ive checked out your page and band. Great songs, great performance, and, hey, any band that gets the bigots riled up enough to cancel you from their shows is definitely a band Im down to support. PROPS & RESPECT to youz all. (ps My band has played up in WB plenty without any issue, but I could only hope that the next time were booked up there the narrow minded bigots clutch their pearls accordingly wed be honored.) I had planned to attend that show, Barabara Van Tine wrote. When I checked their website earlier this week, I saw that an AC/DC cover band was billed instead. Would never have guessed this was why. I turn more and more to music for comfort these days and to try to relieve the constant pressure in my chest. And your shows are pure joy, which put my head in a better place. As an introvert, Ive always felt like an outsider, but your performances make me feel included and as if Ive finally found my tribe. When I got to a Low Cut Connie show, I know a smile will never leave my face. At least youre in good company with Stephen Colbert. Weiner said Monday 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. Today Show meteorologist and co-host Dylan Dreyer has revealed a big recent change in her life. On July 18, Dreyer revealed via Instagram that she and her husband, Today Show cameraman Brian Fichera, have been separated for a few months. For many years I have shared my family with you all the highs and lows, the ups and downs, and all of the blessings and beautiful memories in between, the post reads. I am incredibly grateful for the support and love youve given me through it all. For that reason, I want to share with you that a few months ago, Brian and I made the decision to separate. Dreyer said in the post that, despite the couples separation, they will continue to co-parent as the two started as friends, and hope to remain that way. We began as friends, and we will remain the closest of friends, the post reads. Most importantly, we will continue to co-parent our three wonderful boys together with nothing but love and respect for one another. Thank you always for your support. Dreyer, 43, and Fichera, 38, are parents to Calvin, 8, Oliver, 5, and Rusty, 3. According to People, the two married in 2012 after meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, where they were working at the same news station. Dreyer joined the NBC network in 2012 as a Weekend Today weather anchor and has been with the show since. The deodorant in question failed to meet FDA quality and safety measures. (Getty Images) Getty Images A deodorant recall has been initiated across the United States. The recalled products are sold at popular retailers such as Walmart and Dollar Tree, as well as on Amazon. According to a public notice published by the federal Food & Drug Administration (FDA), over 67,000 cases of Power Stick deodorant items which are manufactured by Easton, Pennsylvania-based A.P. Deauville have been voluntarily pulled off of shelves nationwide. NBC News reports that the three Power Stick types this recall applies to did not meet safety and quality standards, specifically for deviating from Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP). CGMP provides for systems that assure proper design, monitoring, and control of manufacturing processes and facilities, the FDA website explains. Adherence to the CGMP regulations assures the identity, strength, quality, and purity of drug products by requiring that manufacturers of medications adequately control manufacturing operations. The affected items along with their lot numbers and UPC codes and be found below: Power Stick for Her Roll-on Antiperspirant Deodorant Powder Fresh (1.8 oz/53 ML) UPC Code: 815195019313 NDC Number: 42913-038-00 Lot Number(s): 032026B011; 0322268031; 051626C241; 061526C882; 071226D371; 071226D381; 082526E341; 082826E402 Power Stick Invisible Protection Roll-On Antiperspirant Deodorant Spring Fresh (1.8 oz/53 ML) UPC Code: 81595018194 NDC Number: 42913-039-00 Lot Number(s): 03126A991; 041226B561; 062026C901; 062026C911; 071026D351; 071026D361; 071326D391; 1116626G231 Power Stick Original Nourishing Invisible Protection Roll-On Antiperspirant Deoderant (1.8 oz/53 ML) UPC Code: 815195018224 NDC Number: 42913-040-00 Lot Number(s): 101225D781; 032926B281; 032826B221; 041126B531; 062226D011; 070626D301; 070626D333; 111026G051; 111326G091; 111626G221 The FDA has not classified the recall level as of the published of the report. This recall remains ongoing. Firemen look for the survivors after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft that crashed onto a school campus shortly after takeoff in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu) AP By JULHAS ALAM, The Associated Press DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) Hundreds of students protested near the site of the crash of a Bangladesh air force training jet into a school in the nations capital, demanding accountability, compensation for victims families and the halt of training flights. The death toll from the crash rose to 31 on Tuesday, including at least 25 students, a teacher who died from burns she suffered while helping others get out of the building, and the pilot of the training aircraft. Firefighters further secured the site in Dhakas densely populated Uttara neighborhood while the military launched an investigation. The countrys civil aviation authority was not involved in the investigation directly. Bangladesh declared Tuesday a day of national mourning, with the flags flying at half-staff across the country. Mondays crash at the Milestone School and College caused a fire that gutted the two-story school building. Officials said 171 people, mostly students and many with burns, were rescued and carried away in helicopters, ambulances, motorized rickshaws and in the arms of firefighters and parents. Firemen work at the site of a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft that crashed into a school campus shortly after takeoff in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu) AP The protesting students demanded accurate publication of identities of the dead and injured, compensation for their families, and an immediate halt to the use of outdated and unsafe training aircraft by the Bangladesh air force. They chanted slogans and accused security officials of beating them and manhandling teachers on Monday. The students became furious after two senior government advisers arrived at the scene, forcing them to take cover for six hours inside the school campus before additional security forces arrived and escorted them out. Firemen and security personnel look for the survivors after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school campus shortly after takeoff in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu) AP Elsewhere in Dhaka, scores of students were injured after police charged them with batons. The students earlier broke through security barricades and entered the Bangladesh Secretariat complex, the countrys administrative headquarters, and security officials used stun grenades and tear gas to disperse them. They demanded the resignation of the education adviser who, they said, delayed announcing that public exams were being canceled during Tuesdays mourning. Lifeless bodies scattered Yesterday, when the plane was approaching, the sound was so loud you cant even imagine it felt like eardrums were about to burst. Within five seconds, the plane crashed right in front of me here, Smriti, a student who only gave one name, said outside her school. Suddenly, I saw flames rising fiercely upward from the building, the 11th-grader said. When I got here, I saw some children lying with their limbs spread out, some of their lifeless bodies scattered around. Can you save them? Tell me, will they ever be able to return to their parents arms again. Firemen stand next to swing as they work at the site of a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft that crashed into a school campus shortly after takeoff in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu) AP On Tuesday, 78 people, mostly students, remained hospitalized, said Sayeedur Rahman, a special assistant to Bangladeshs interim leader Muhammad Yunus. Twenty deaths were reported initially, and seven died of their injuries overnight, authorities said. Another four deaths were reported later Monday, the military said. Maherin Chowdhury, a teacher who rescued more than 20 students from the burning school, died from severe burn injuries, her colleague Tanzina Tanu said. Doctors said late Monday that the condition of about two dozen injured remained critical. A blood donation camp has been opened at a specialized burn hospital where most of the injured were being treated. Twenty bodies have been handed over to their families, with some of them possibly needing DNA matching after they were charred beyond recognition. Many relatives waited overnight at a specialized burn hospital for the bodies of their loved ones. The plane reported a malfunction The Chinese-made F-7 BGI training aircraft experienced a technical malfunction moments after takeoff from the A.K. Khandaker air force base at 1:06 p.m. Monday, according to a statement from the military. 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. The Milestone school, about an 11-kilometer (7-mile) drive from the air force base, is in a densely populated area near a metro station and numerous shops and homes. It was the pilots first solo flight as he was completing his training course. It remained unclear if he managed to eject before the jet hit the building. In this photo provided by WHAS-11 News, Breonna Taylor's aunt Bianca Austin is detained by police outside the federal courthouse where ex-Kentucky police officer Brett Hankison, convicted of using excessive force during the deadly Breonna Taylor raid, is taking place, Monday, July 21, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (Alyssa Newton/WHAS-11 News via AP) AP By Dylan Lovan, The Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. A federal judge on Monday sentenced a former Kentucky police officer to nearly three years in prison for using excessive force during the deadly 2020 Breonna Taylor raid, rebuffing a U.S. Department of Justice recommendation of no prison time for the defendant. Brett Hankison, who fired 10 shots during the raid but didnt hit anyone, was the only officer on the scene charged in the Black womans death. He is the first person sentenced to prison in the case that rocked the city of Louisville and spawned weeks of street protests over police brutality that year. U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings, in sentencing Hankison, said no prison time is not appropriate and would minimize the jurys verdict from November. Jennings said she was startled there werent more people injured in the raid from Hankisons blind shots. She sentenced Hankison, 49, to 33 months in prison for the conviction of use of excessive force with three years of supervised probation to follow the prison term. He will not report directly to prison. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons will determine where and when he starts his sentence, Jennings said. The judge, who presided over two of Hankisons trials, expressed disappointment with a sentencing recommendation by federal prosecutors last week, saying the Justice Department was treating Hankisons actions as an inconsequential crime and said some of its arguments were incongruous and inappropriate. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who helped Taylors family secure a $12 million wrongful death settlement against the city of Louisville, had called the departments recommendation an insult to the life of Breonna Taylor and a blatant betrayal of the jurys decision. Crump was at Mondays hearing and said he had hoped for a longer sentence but was grateful that (Hankison) is at least going to prison and has to think for those 3 years about Breonna Taylor and that her life mattered. FILE - This undated file photo provided by Taylor family attorney Sam Aguiar shows Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky. (Courtesy of Taylor Family attorney Sam Aguiar via AP, File) AP Afterward, before a crowd outside the courthouse, Crump sounded a familiar chant: Say Her name. The crowd yelled back: Breonna Taylor! And he and other members of Taylor familys legal team issued a subsequent statement criticizing the Justice Department. While todays sentence is not what we had hoped for nor does it fully reflect the severity of the harm caused it is more than what the Department of Justice sought. That, in itself, is a statement," the statement said. Hankisons 10 shots the night of the March 2020 botched drug raid flew through the walls of Taylors apartment into a neighboring apartment, narrowly missing a neighboring family. The 26-year-olds death, along with the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, sparked racial injustice and police brutality protests nationwide that year. But the Justice Department, under new leadership since President Donald Trump took office in January, sought no prison time for Hankison, in an abrupt about-face by federal prosecutors after the department spent years prosecuting the former detective. They suggested time already served, which amounted to one day, and three years of supervised probation. Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, said she was disappointed that the new federal prosecutors assigned to the case were not pushing for a tougher sentence. On many occasions inside the courtroom Monday, lead federal prosecutor Rob Keenan agreed with Hankisons defense attorneys on factors that would decrease Hankisons punishment. There was no prosecution in there for us, Palmer said afterward. Brett had his own defense team, I didnt know he got a second one. FILE - Former Louisville Police officer Brett Hankison examines a document as he answers questions from the prosecution, March 2, 2022, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, Pool, File) AP Taylor was shot in her hallway by two officers after her boyfriend fired from inside the apartment, striking an officer in the leg. Neither of the other officers was charged in state or federal court after prosecutors deemed they were justified in returning fire into the apartment. Louisville police used a drug warrant to enter Taylors apartment, but found no drugs or cash inside. A separate jury deadlocked on federal charges against Hankison in 2023, and he was acquitted on state charges of wanton endangerment in 2022. In their recent sentencing memo, federal prosecutors wrote that though Hankisons response in these fraught circumstances was unreasonable given the benefit of hindsight, that unreasonable response did not kill or wound Breonna Taylor, her boyfriend, her neighbors, defendants fellow officers, or anyone else. Jennings acknowledged Monday that officers were provoked by Taylors boyfriends gunshot, but said that does not allow officers to then do what they want and then be excused. While the hearing was going on, Louisville police arrested four people in front of the courthouse who it said were creating confrontation, kicking vehicles, or otherwise creating an unsafe environment. Authorities didnt list charges against them. Federal prosecutors had argued that multiple factors including that Hankisons two other trials ended with no convictions should greatly reduce the potential punishment. They also argued he would be susceptible to abuse in prison and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Attorney Ben Crump, left, stands beside Tamika Palmer, mother of Breonna Taylor, center; and Kenneth Walker, Taylor's boyfriend, center right, outside the federal courthouse in Louisville, Ky., Monday, July 21, 2025, after the sentencing of former Louisville Police officer Brett Hankinson in the raid that led to Taylor's death in 2020. (AP photo/Dylan T. Lovan) AP The sentencing memorandum was submitted by Harmeet Dhillon, chief of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division and a Trump political appointee who in May moved to cancel settlements with Louisville and Minneapolis that had called for overhauling their police departments. In the Taylor case, three other ex-Louisville police officers have been charged with crafting a falsified warrant, but have not gone to trial. None were at the scene when Taylor was shot. The warrant used to enter her apartment was one of five issued that night in search of evidence on an alleged drug dealer that Taylor once had an association with. A bus stop is seen damaged by a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) AP By Emma Burrows and Illia Novikov, The Associated Press Russia unleashed one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent months, only 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 areas. 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. A public bus stop looks damaged after a Russian air attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) AP 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 a 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. Firefighters work in a destroyed apartment building after a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) AP 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. Firefighters work in a destroyed apartment building after a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) AP 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. Follow APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a decree putting into effect the NSDC decision on introducing a moratorium on business inspections by law enforcement, customs, tax and other regulatory bodies. Decree No. 538/2025 was published on the official portal of the President on Monday. Control over the implementation of the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, put into effect by this Decree, is entrusted to the Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine. As reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held the first meeting of the renewed composition of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine on Monday. On the same day, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced that the government would submit to the Verkhovna Rada draft laws on business protection and reform of regulatory authorities, which would include amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine and other legislative and regulatory acts. By Didi Tang and Michelle L. Price, The Associated Press WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said he has reached a trade agreement with Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Jr., following a meeting Tuesday at the White House, that will see the U.S. slightly drop its tariff rate for the Philippines without paying import taxes for what it sells there. Trump revealed the broad terms of the agreement on his social media network and said the U.S. and the Philippines would work together militarily. The announcement of a loose framework of a deal comes as the two countries are seeking closer security and economic ties in the face of shifting geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific region. Marcos government indicated ahead of the meeting that he was prepared to offer zero tariffs on some U.S. goods to strike a deal with Trump. The Philippine Embassy did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Marcos three-day visit to Washington shows the importance of the alliance between the treaty partners as China is increasingly assertive in the South China Sea, where Manila and Beijing have clashed over the hotly contested Scarborough Shoal. Washington sees Beijing, the worlds No. 2 economy, as its biggest competitor, and consecutive presidential administrations have sought to shift U.S. military and economic focus to the Asia-Pacific in a bid to counter China. Trump, like others before him, has been distracted by efforts to broker peace in a range of conflicts, from Ukraine to Gaza. Trump announces a trade deal with the Philippines Trump said on Truth Social that the U.S. would impose a 19% tariff rate for the Philippines, down from a 20% tariff he threatened starting Aug. 1. In return, he said, the Philippines would have an open market and the U.S. would not pay tariffs. Without further details on the agreement, its unclear how it will impact their countries economies. Trump wrote that Marcos visit was beautiful, and it was a Great Honor to host such a very good, and tough, negotiator. Appearing before reporters in the Oval Office ahead of their private meeting, Marcos spoke warmly of the ties between the two nations. This has evolved into as important a relationship as is possible to have, said Marcos, the first Southeast Asian leader to hold talks with Trump in his second term. Trump, as he does in many of his appearances, veered off topic as he fielded questions from reporters. In response to a question about his Justice Departments decision to interview Jeffrey Epsteins former girlfriend, Trump repeated falsehoods about his loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election and the Russia investigation during his first term, along with comments about targeting adversaries such as former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. After what they did to me, whether its right or wrong, its time to go after people, Trump said. Relations with China are top of mind When asked how he plans to balance his countrys relationships between the U.S. and China, Marcos said there was no need to balance because our foreign policy is an independent one. Our strongest partner has always been the United States, said Marcos, whose country is one of the oldest U.S. treaty allies in the Pacific region. On Tuesday, when asked about the U.S. defense commitment to the Philippines, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said, Whatever cooperation the U.S. and the Philippines have, it should not target or harm any third party, still less incite confrontation and heighten tensions in the region. China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have been involved in long-unresolved territorial conflicts in the South China Sea, a busy shipping passage for global trade. The Chinese coast guard has repeatedly used water cannons to hit Filipino boats in the South China Sea. China accused those vessels of entering the waters illegally or encroaching on its territory. President Donald Trump meets with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP Marcos also met Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week. At the Pentagon on Monday, Marcos told Hegseth that the assurance to come to each others mutual defense continues to be the cornerstone of that relationship. He said the cooperation has deepened since Hegseths March visit to Manila, including joint exercises and U.S. support in modernizing the Philippines armed forces. Marcos thanked the U.S. for support that we need in the face of the threats that we, our country, is facing. Hegseth told a security forum in Singapore in May that China poses a threat and the U.S. is reorienting toward deterring aggression by Communist China. The U.S., however, has endeavored to keep communication open with Beijing. Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met this month on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They agreed to explore areas of potential cooperation and stressed the importance of managing differences. Associated Press writers Darlene Superville and Chris Megerian contributed to this report. An employee at a Jersey Shore pizzeria hurled a slice of pizza at a teenager who appeared to be recording him on his phone after a confrontation, video of the incident shows. The incident happened around 8 p.m. Friday on the 1100 block of the Ocean City, New Jersey, boardwalk where a group of teenagers had a verbal dispute with the owner of a pizzeria, Ocean City police said Monday. Video circulating on social media shows a small group of teenagers in front of Primavera Pizza as one teenager approaches the counter, appearing to film the encounter on his cellphone. The teenager leans over the glass counter toward an employee making pizza and appears to say something to the employee before the employee tries to grab the phone from the teenagers hand, video shows. The teenager pulls back before the phone can be taken away from him and backs away a few steps when a slice of pizza slaps him in the shoulder, video shows. Four police officers who witnessed the incident intervened and moved the teenagers from the pizzerias counter, according to the video. Neither the business owner nor the teenagers decided to pursue the incident further, and no arrests were made, according to police. The owner of Primavera Pizza did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ocean Citys mayor did not respond to a request for comment on the incident. Ocean City, Maryland, was scheduled for a beach replenishment project in 2025, but received no funding, according to a list provided by the nonprofit American Coastal Coalition. (Lloyd Fox/Staff photo) TNS By Frank Kummer, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) 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. 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. 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 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 Jerseycould afford to do one or two projects on its own, but it cant afford to do all the ones that need to be done." 2025 The Philadelphia Inquirer. Visit www.inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. One person was injured in an attack by an enemy drone in Kherson, Kherson Regional Military Administration reports on its Telegram channel. "In the morning, Russians attacked a woman from a drone in Dniprovsky district of Kherson. The 67-year-old Kherson resident was diagnosed with an explosive injury and a shrapnel wound to the shoulder. The victim is receiving the necessary medical care. Her condition is mild," the Administration said. Senior Reporter Tiffany Tan is a senior reporter at The Post and Courier's Columbia newsroom. She covers statewide issues, particularly in the criminal justice system. She previously reported on the courts, the opioid epidemic and regional news in Vermont for VTDigger. She has also worked for newspapers and television outlets in South Dakota, Beijing, Singapore and Manila. Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star reporter Bianca Moorman is a reporter for the Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star with a focus on community focused stories, arts, businesses, non-profits, events and any story with a human element. The Roanoke, Virginia native has journalism degrees from James Madison and Syracuse universities. She has written for papers in Georgia, Mississippi, Upstate New York and Virginia. Follow her on X at @biancarmooman. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers John McDermott has been the business editor of The Post and Courier since 2006. He's written about all facets of the South Carolina economy, served in the U.S. Air Force and is a graduate of the University of Hawaii-Manoa journalism program. New cases against business to be approved only by heads of regional prosecutors' offices PM Photo: https://www.facebook.com/yulia.svyrydenko/ The government will submit to the Verkhovna Rada draft laws on business protection and reform of regulatory bodies, these will be amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine and other legislative and by-laws, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said after a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on Monday. "Only the Prosecutor General or heads of regional prosecutors' offices will be able to approve new cases. Seizures of property and documents will be canceled if they harm the work of the enterprise," she wrote on Facebook. Svyrydenko added that "pending" cases without evidence will be closed. The Prime Minister confirmed the President's earlier announcement that the National Security and Defense Council had decided to impose a moratorium on business inspections by law enforcement, customs, tax, and other regulatory bodies. "What we are changing: control will be spot-on only where there are really high risks; we are digitizing the state supervision system so that manual intervention becomes impossible," she described the main changes. According to Svyrydenko, the prosecutor's office and law enforcement agencies are already conducting an audit of open cases against entrepreneurs, and according to its results, 30% of these proceedings have already been closed. Teri Errico Griffis is the senior business reporter and assistant editor at The Post and Courier, focusing on retail and real estate. An award-winning journalist, she previously worked as a Southeast commerce reporter for the Journal of Commerce and a reporter for the Charleston Regional Business Journal where she covered all facets of business in the Charleston region. Raised in Connecticut and New York, she has called South Carolina home since 2012. Business and Tourism Reporter Megan Fernandes is a Business and Tourism Reporter for the Post and Courier. She is an award-winning reporter, who has worked in the newspaper industry from coast-to-coast. Wyatt Barczak is a News Clerk for The Post and Courier. He graduated from the College of Charleston. He contributes to The Post and Courier's arts and entertainment section, Charleston Scene. Greenville, SC (29601) Today Partly cloudy. High near 80F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. Editor Ralph Mancini is an award-winning editor whos been employed by the Post and Courier since 2022. Previously, Mancini served in a variety of newspaper roles in New York City, Washington State and North Dakota. Photo: https://t.me/energyofukraine Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic Jean-Noel Barrot and Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine Mykola Kolisnyk visited the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, the Ministry of Energy reported on Telegram on Monday. The senior officials inspected the work carried out on the new safe confinement and the state of restoration of the facility damaged by a targeted Russian UAV attack. "Radiation safety is one of the key priorities of the ministry. Ukraine and France are countries with a large nuclear potential, therefore they should actively cooperate in this area," Mykola Kolisnyk noted. Particular attention was paid to the dangers associated with Russian military aggression and the actions of the occupiers regarding Ukrainian nuclear facilities, in particular nuclear power plants. "The prospects for cooperation with French partners were also discussed in terms of exchanging experience and expert knowledge in the field of nuclear safety, implementing joint projects on the management of damaged spent nuclear fuel, and strengthening the physical protection of radioactive waste storage and disposal facilities," the Ministry of Energy reported. The Francis Beidler Forest, one of South Carolina's only old-growth forests with ancient trees that have never been logged, could be under threat with the expansion of a right-of-way by Santee-Cooper. Close Henry Taylor Photojournalist Henry is a photojournalist with The Post and Courier working to tell compelling stories and celebrate everyday life as the extraordinary experience it is. Senior Politics Reporter Caitlin Byrd is the senior politics reporter at The Post and Courier. An award-winning journalist, Byrd previously worked as an enterprise reporter for The State newspaper, where she covered the Charleston region and South Carolina politics. Raised in eastern North Carolina, she has called South Carolina home since 2016. This paid press release is brought to you from our partnership with EZ Newswire. The Post and Courier news staff was not involved in its creation. Toby Cox is a reporter for the Post and Couriers Rising Waters Lab, covering flooding, sea-level rise and community resilience. She graduated from the University of Virginia and Harvard Divinity School. Her previous work can be found in National Geographic, The Diplomat, Summerhouse DC, The Revealer, Harvard Divinity Bulletin and others. If you have a question, tip or story idea, reach out to her at tcox@postandcourier.com. You can reach her securely on Signal at 843-670-8651. PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-22 17:02:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 413 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Plaintiff Seeks Justice for Destruction of Crops, Farming Equipment, and Economic Losses from Oakdale FireESPARTO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Etta James Farming LLC has filed a lawsuit against the owners and operators of the unauthorized fireworks facility that exploded and ignited the Oakdale Fire on July 1, 2025, killing seven people, injuring others, and damaging the local community.The resulting fire impacted hundreds of acres of surrounding farm property, including the destruction of wheat and Canario bean crops farmed by Etta James Farming LLC, as well as other valuable infrastructure and farming equipment owned by Etta James Farming LLC.The property on which the unauthorized fireworks facility was located is owned by Sam Machado, a lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff's Department, and operated by Devastating Pyrotechnics, Kenneth Chee, BlackStar Fireworks, and Craig Cutright. All parties were allegedly involved in the unlawful and unpermitted commercial-grade operation that illegally stored and sold fireworks to the public.It is further alleged that the defendants failed to comply with basic safety standards, conducting reckless operations that put the facility at risk for the catastrophic explosion and fire."Fireworks can bring joy and celebration, but they are still powerful explosives that must always be manufactured, handled, and stored with the utmost care, following all proper procedures, with all required approvals, and under appropriate regulatory oversight," saidChris Rodriguez,Sacramento-based partner atSingleton Schreiber LLP . "Those responsible for this explosion must be held accountable to help ensure this never happens again." The lawsuit seeks recovery of economic damages, including losses relating to the destruction of crops and farming infrastructure and equipment. The lawsuit also seeks punitive and exemplary damages to punish the defendants' conduct and deter similar conduct in the future.Singleton Schreiber is a client-centered law firm, specializing in mass torts/multi-district litigation, fire litigation, personal injury/wrongful death, civil rights, environmental law, insurance bad faith, and sex abuse/trafficking. Over the last decade, the firm has recovered more than $3 billion for clients who have been harmed and sought justice. The firm also has the largest fire litigation practice in the country, having represented over 30,000 victims of utility and train caused wildfire, most notably serving plaintiffs in litigation related to the 2025 Eaton and Hurst Fires, 2025 Moss Landing Battery Plant Fire, 2025 Rowena Fire, the Maui wildfires, the Colorado Marshall wildfire, the Washington Gray wildfire, several California wildfires, and others.Contact InformationAllison Fagan PR Senior Associateallison@ rebuttalpr.com Singleton Schreiber Law Firminfo@ singletonschreiber.com (619) 771-3473SOURCE: RebuttalPR PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-22 02:15:32 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 491 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY AND NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilAugust 25, 2025to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Hims & Hers Health, Inc. ("Hims" or the "Company") (NYSE:HIMS), if they purchased the Company's securities between April 29, 2025 and June 23, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Hims and would like to discuss your legal rights and how the 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-hims/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byAugust 25, 2025 .About the LawsuitsHims & Hers and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On June 23, 2025, Novo Nordisk announced that it was terminating its partnership with Hims, disclosing that the Company had "failed to adhere to the law which prohibits mass sales of compounded drugs under the false guise of 'personalization' and are disseminating deceptive marketing that put patient safety at risk," and that "the asemaglutide' active pharmaceutical ingredients that are in the knock-off drugs sold by telehealth entities and compounding pharmacies" may contain "unsafe and illicit foreign ingredients." On this news, the price of Hims' shares fell $22.24, or 34.6%, to close at $41.98 per share on June 23, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume.The first-filed case is Sookdeo v. Hims & Hers Health, Inc., No. 25-cv-05315. A subsequent case, Yaghsizian v. Hims & Hers Health, Inc., No. 25-cv-05321, 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: 2025-07-22 18:27:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 382 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Moviynt recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Moviynt.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?Recently, Moviynt became aware of a security incident on its internal employee email system. Upon detection, Moviynt launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cyber security experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to employee email accounts and files between February 27, 2025, and March 6, 2025. The impacted files may contain personal information of individuals, including names and Social Security numbers.On July 8, 2025, Moviynt began sending notice letters to impacted individuals and filed a notice with the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Moviynt, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Ukraine is preparing to significantly intensify work on sanctions against the Russian Federation, in particular, new sanctions are being prepared and their synchronization with the sanction restrictions of partners, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. We are also preparing a significant intensification of work on sanctions against Russia over this war. These are both new sanctions by us and our partners, as well as synchronizing sanctions, Zelenskyy said in his evening address Monday. He stressed that the Russian Federation uses every sanction loophole to finance the war, so it is necessary to synchronize all Ukrainian and partner sanctions as much as possible. The workload is significant, but sanctions have proven effective. We see in the negatives in the Russian economy, their budget problems, production issues sanctions really work. There must be more of this to drain Russias economic potential, the President summed up. PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-22 03:05:08 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 PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-22 14:01:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 860 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NetBrands Corp Chose Simple Mining as one of the most reliable partners to host its fleet and have ability to scale up to 25-megawatt expansion as well as data centers buildout!ISLAND PARK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / NetBrands Corp., Delaware corporation (OTCID:NBND) (the "Company") Signed Agreement to host a hybrid fleet of rigs with Simple Mining LLC. This agreement positions the company on a very strong path and optimal performance with excellent pricing per kilowatt and an ability to expand at a company's pace. Simple Mining provides repair and technical support along with hosting that is currently unmatched in the industry in terms of getting rigs online if there are any inefficiencies or problems. Simple Mining can assist in a buildout of data centers at a very low price per megawatt. The locations in Iowa are known for a good climate that can keep machines running with an excess of 98% up time and a minimum curtailment. After an extensive search of a reliable partner, we have chosen one of the leaders in the industry that had weathered the storm through every market condition and only showed resilience with exponential growth.NetBrands Corp., already operating through diversified subsidiaries, is doubling down on its commitment to Web 3.0 expansion. This strategic pivot into crypto mining perfectly aligns with the company's strong interest in acquiring digital and Web 3.0 assets, setting the stage for explosive growth in this cutting-edge segment."This partnership allows us to expand at a rapid pace and grow without any slowdown or setbacks," stated Paul Adler, President & CEO of NetBrands Corp. "We're excited to start this partnership with Simple Mining and grow our mining capacity with the right partner that had showed resilience to any market conditions." For more information on NetBrands Corp (NBND) please visit new domain name with more information to be added soon:About NetBrands CorpHeadquartered in Island Park, NY, NetBrands Corp (OTCID: NBND) operates through diversified subsidiaries with a keen M&A focus on acquiring e-commerce assets and private businesses, particularly within the digital and Web 3.0 verticals. The company is strategically expanding its reach, with a strong emphasis on the rapidly growing Web 3.0 segment.Safe Harbor StatementCertain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements and are prospective in nature. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "should", "will", "could", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "believe" or "continue", or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, information concerning the ability of the Company to successfully achieve business objectives, and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. Although management of the Company has 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. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information and statements are the following: the ability of the Company to develop the Company's brand and meet its growth objectives, the ability of the Company to complete acquisitions that are accretive to the Company's revenue, the ability of the Company to obtain and/or maintain licenses to operate in the jurisdictions in which it operates or in which it expects or plans to operate. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated, or expected. 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. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. 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.Contact:NetBrands CorpPaul Adler, Chairman, President & CEO800-550-5996 paul@ gdmginc.com SOURCE: NetBrands Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-22 02:30:53 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 475 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY AND NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilAugust 4, 2025to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC ("Reckitt" or the "Company") (OTCQX:RBGLY), if they purchased the Company's American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") between January 13, 2021 and July 28, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.What You May DoIf you purchased ADSs of Reckitt 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/otc-rbgly/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byAugust 4, 2025 .About the LawsuitReckitt and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) preterm infants were at an increased risk of developing necrotizing enterocolitis ("NEC") by consuming the Company's cow's milk-based formula, Enfamil; (ii) such risk could impact the Company's sales of Enfamil and expose the Company to legal claims; and (iii) as a result of the foregoing, the Company's positive statements about its business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.The case is Elevator Constructors Union Local No. 1 Annuity & 401(K) Fund v. Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, et al., No. 25-cv-4708.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: 2025-07-22 01:40:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 607 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., July 21, 2025. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC) between December 12, 2024 and June 30, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important September 8, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Centene common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Centene class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=41552or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 8, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period provided investors with material information concerning Centene's expected revenue guidance and adjusted diluted earnings per share ("EPS") for the 2025 fiscal year. Defendants' statements included, among other things, confidence in Centene's enrollment and morbidity rates, as well as strong retention rates in Centene's Medicare business. Defendants provided these overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while simultaneously disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Centene's enrollment and morbidity rates.To join the Centene class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=41552 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-22 14:03:49 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 976 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Landholdings Increased to 1,000kmA Over Two Belt-Scale Projects in Laverton Gold DistrictPERTH, AUSTRALIA AND VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Sarama Resources Ltd. (" Sarama " or the " Company ") (ASX:SRR, TSX-V:SWA) is pleased to advise that it has completed the previously announced acquisition (the " Transaction ") of a majority interest (1) in the under-explored, belt-scale 420kmA Mt Venn Project (the " Project ") (2), located in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia.This follows Sarama's acquisition of a majority interest (3) in the nearby Cosmo Gold Project in December 2024. Together, these acquisitions create a 1,000kmA landholding covering two well-positioned and underexplored greenstone belts in the Laverton Gold District, an area which is known for prolific gold endowment and significant recent discoveries (refer Figure 1).HighlightsCompletion of Transaction for Sarama to acquire a majority interest (1) in, and control of, the Mt Venn Gold Project in Western AustraliaLocated in the prolific Laverton Gold District, 35km from the producing Gruyere Gold Mine and less than 20km from Gold Road's Golden Highway DepositProject covers 420kmA and features a favourable litho-structural setting, primarily in greenstone rocksIncludes regional shear zone of ~50km strike length and 1-3km width extending full length of greenstone beltAdvanced gold targets generated through historical exploration, including broad drill-defined gold mineralisationCreates 1,000kmA exploration position in the Laverton Gold District, capturing 100km of strike lengthMt Venn is 40km from Sarama's Cosmo Project (3) that is target-rich and hosts approximately 45km strike of gold trends up to 1.8km in width (6) .Initial exploration to be advanced by the recent equity raise of A$2.7MSarama's Executive Chairman, Andrew Dinning commented:"We are very pleased to have completed the acquisition of a majority interest in the Mt Venn Project, significantly expanding our footprint in the Laverton Gold District and consolidating a 1,000kmA landholding with strong discovery potential, in a region that has delivered multiple high-quality gold deposits, including the nearby Gruyere Deposit.Mt Venn lies just 40km from our Cosmo Gold Project (3) , with both showing strong gold anomalism. Cosmo hosts approximately 45km of mineralised gold trends up to 1.8km wide (6) , while Mt Venn's soil sampling, historic workings, early drilling, and polymetallic nature highlight potential for a large-scale mineralized system. We see considerable exploration upside across both projects and with compelling targets already identified, we look forward to unlocking their value through focused and systematic exploration." Mt Venn ProjectThe Project is comprised of 3 contiguous exploration tenements covering approximately 420kmA in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia, approximately 110km north-east of Laverton and 35km west of the regionally- significant Gruyere Gold Mine(4). The Project is readily accessible via the Great Central Road which services the regional area east of Laverton.The Project captures the majority of the underexplored Jutson Rocks Greenstone Belt over a strike length of ~50km. Rocks within the belt feature a diverse sequence of volcanic lithologies of varying composition, together with pyroclastics and metasediments. Several internal intrusive units have been identified throughout the Project and are commonly associated with local structural features. A regionally extensive shear zone, spanning 1-3km in width, extends the entire length of the belt with subordinate splays interpreted in the southern area of the Project which provides a favourable structural setting for mineralisation.Gold mineralisation was first discovered in the 1920's with sampling returning very high grades and prompting the commencement of small-scale mining operations in the mid 1920's. Multiple gold occurrences have since been identified throughout the Project, demonstrating the prospectivity of the system. Despite the identification of several km-scale gold-in-soil anomalies by soil geochemistry and auger drilling, many of these targets are yet to be properly tested. Encouragingly, drilling by Cazaly Resources Limited (" Cazaly ") (ASX: CAZ) at the Project intersected broad, gold mineralisation over several fences in weathered and fresh rock at the Three Bears Prospect, presenting a priority target for exploration (Cazaly news release 27 February 2017: " Widespread Gold & Zinc Mineralisation Defined" ).In addition to the attractiveness of the Project for gold, it is considered prospective for base metals and platinum group elements. Historical exploration work including auger geochemistry and geophysical surveys identified numerous targets for copper, nickel and zinc mineralisation. Several of these targets remain untested due to historical funding and land access constraints. Exploration in the belt to the immediate south of the Project area is noted to have intersected copper mineralisation of significant grade over a significant strike length (5) .In summary, the Project is located within a prolific gold district and has a favourable lithological and structural setting. A solid database of base-level historical exploration work by previous operators, including generation of drill-ready targets, provides a good platform for Sarama to advance the Project in conjunction with its activities at the Cosmo Project. The size and prospectivity of the landholding that Sarama has in the Laverton Gold District significantly enhances the chances of making an economic discovery, particularly given the infrastructure and proliferation of mines in the region which will have a favourable impact on the size threshold for finding something of economic value.Figure 1 - Mt Venn and Cosmo Project Locations, Eastern Goldfields, Western AustraliaTransaction & Joint Venture SummaryTransaction DetailsPursuant to the binding Asset Sale and Purchase Agreement executed by Sarama and a 100%-owned subsidiary with Orbminco Limited (" Orbminco ") and a 100%-owned subsidiary on 26 January 2025 (the " Agreement "), Sarama has acquired Orbminco's 80% interest in the Project, with the remaining 20% interest continuing to be held by Cazaly (ASX: CAZ). The Project is operated under an unincorporated joint venture (" JV ") and Sarama, via a 100%-owned subsidiary, is operator and manager of the JV. Orbminco does not hold any residual interest in the Project.As consideration for the assignment of its interests in the JV, Orbminco, or its nominee, has received 12,000,000 Chess Depository Instruments (" CDI s") in Sarama (the " Considerati PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-22 09:01:14 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 972 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Star Copper Corp. (CSE:STCU)(OTCQX:STCUF)(FWB:SOP) ("Star Copper" or the "Company"), a critical minerals exploration and development company announced today that concurrent to its summer drill program it has successfully completed an important field program at the Copper Creek target area located within the Company's wholly owned Star Project in northwestern British Columbia's golden triangle.In addition to the Star Main discovery, historical exploration now confirmed by the Company, has identified at least four additional "fingers" surrounding the Star Main discovery that may each hold significant and complementary discoveries of their own. If successful, the current campaign could prove the entire Star Project as an expansive, mineralized system and deposit.Located approximately two kilometers (2km) to the southeast of the current drilling campaign, Copper Creek's geological setting, structural complexity, and documented copper grades suggest it may represent a southeastern extension of a broad mineralized system that extends from the Main Zone. Copper Creek holds potential to evolve into a satellite or connecting zone within a larger, continuous copper-bearing trend across the property. The fully funded campaign currently underway is focused on expanding the existing deposit at the Star Project by exploring the historically identified and known mineralization events at Star Main, Copper Creek, Star North, Star East and additional related target locations (See Figure 1).Figure 1- Star Project target areas. Star Copper 2025HighlightsThe Copper Creek target was the initial (1937) discovery on the property.Centered on an impressive gossan in the walls of Copper Creek characterized by extensive malachite and azurite staining.Copper and gold soil anomalies cover the target location over a 1000m x 550m area.Geophysical anomalies have been discovered and are still open to the north, south and east.Six historical drill holes, with incomplete drill logs, include significant copper and minor precious metal values.An example intercept from the early drilling at Copper Creek includes 43.58m @ 0.49% Cu from 8.53 to 52.12m in DDH G-2-70. (341104 mE, 6456326mN UTM 9N, 000/-80 - Property File 800226)Recent field work has validated historical exploration records and establishes a reliable geospatial foundation for future exploration.Copper Creek is a historically explored copper prospect first identified in the 1930s, with significant exploration conducted in the 1970s by Skyline Explorations and United Cambridge Mines. Historical drilling intersected compelling copper and gold mineralization, including 35.5 metres grading 0.485% copper in hole G-2 and localized gold values of up to 4.5 g/t over 1.37 metres (G-2-70, 8.54 - 9.91m). Mineralization is characterized by disseminated and fracture-controlled chalcopyrite and pyrite hosted in brecciated volcanic rocks and skarn zones, spatially associated with intense chlorite-epidote alteration.Star Copper recently executed a field program at Copper Creek which was led by two geologists and one field assistant. The objectives of the program were to verify the locations of historical drill collars (holes G-1 through G-6), conduct detailed geological mapping, and collect representative rock samples. The team successfully located all historical collar sites, confirmed by the presence of vintage drill equipment, and collected 13 rock samples from mineralized outcrops and altered zones (See Figure 2). These findings validate historical exploration records and establish a reliable geospatial foundation for future exploration.Figure 2 - Copper Creek rock sample. Star Copper 2025"We are very encouraged by the results of this recent field work, which confirm historical copper mineralization and provides important geological context for ongoing targeting," said Darryl Jones, CEO of Star Copper. "With Copper Creek located just two kilometres southeast of our current drilling operations at the Main Zone, we see strong potential for this target to evolve into a complementary satellite zone or becoming part of a larger, continuous mineralized system." Copper Creek's favorable geological setting, structural complexity, and proximity to current exploration activities make it a high-priority target for future work. The Company believes that Copper Creek may represent the southeastern extent of a broader mineralized trend that extends northwest toward and the Main Zone, offering significant upside for resource expansion (See Figure 3).Figure 3 - Star Project magnetic vector inversion cross section. Star Copper 2025Qualified PersonJeremy Hanson, P. Geo., a Qualified Person as that term is defined under NI 43-101, is an independent contractor of the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical aspects of this news release.On Behalf of the Board of Directors~Darryl Jones~Darryl JonesCEO, President & DirectorStar Copper Corp.About Star Copper Corp. (CSE:STCU)(OTCQX:STCUF)(FWB:SOP)(WKN A416ME)Star Copper Corp. is an exploration and development company focused on developing high-potential copper projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions. The Company aims to advance its British Columbian flagship Star Project where significant exploration work including historical drilling has confirmed open mineralization at depth and in all directions. Star Copper's strategic plans include geological mapping and geophysical surveys to refine existing targets,diamond drilling programs to test high-priority zones, environmental baseline studies and permitting groundwork alongside data analysis and resource modeling to support a future resource estimate prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. The Company further plans to advance its Indata Project with follow-up drilling to expand on previous high-grade copper and gold intercepts, trenching and surface sampling to delineate mineralized zones, and infrastructure improvements for site accessibility and operations. With a commitment to sustainable development and value creation, Star Copper aims to position itself to support surging industrial demand to meet growing global electrification needs.For more information visit: www.starcopper.com and to sign up for free news alerts please go to https://starcopper.com/news/news-alerts/ , or follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook or LinkedIn. More information in respect of the project, including historical drilling, is available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and/or in the Company's February 26, 2025 technical report.Investor Relations Star Copper Corp. Email: info@ starcopper.com Web: https://starcopper.com/ Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looki PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-22 14:02:40 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 293 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The Managed IT Services Provider Marks Its Anniversary With a Yearlong Celebration Honoring Three Decades of Helping Businesses Stay Secure, Connected and SupportedLAS VEGAS, NEVADA / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 / Stimulus Technologies, a provider of managed IT services, cybersecurity, VoIP, and internet solutions, is celebrating 30 years in business. Founded in 1995 by then 17-year-old entrepreneur Nathan Whittacre, Stimulus has grown from a garage-based startup into a multi-state technology partner serving small and mid-sized businesses across five states. 30 Years of Stimulus TechnologiesTo mark the milestone, Stimulus has launched a special episode of its Stimulus Tech Talk podcast, where CEO Nathan Whittacre reflects on the company's origins and lessons learned over three decades. Additional episodes and events are planned throughout the year.Watch the 30-Year Reflection Episode: https://youtu.be/e9AuweLOZYo "Stimulus started as a family business, and that sense of connection still defines who we are," said Whittacre. "After 30 years, we're proud of what we've built - and more committed than ever to helping businesses thrive through reliable, people-first technology." Stimulus serves clients in Nevada, Missouri, California, New Mexico, and Oregon. The company is known for responsive support, tailored solutions, and long-term relationships that help clients reduce downtime, improve security, and scale with confidence.Media AvailabilityCEO Nathan Whittacre is available for interviews about the company's 30-year journey, building a sustainable IT business, and the future of technology for SMBs.About Stimulus TechnologiesFounded in 1995, Stimulus Technologies delivers managed IT support, cybersecurity, VoIP, and business internet with a focus on reliability, responsiveness, and client success. Headquartered in Las Vegas, the company supports organizations across five states.Website: www.stimulustech.comLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/stimulus-technologies Contact InformationSherry LippMarketing Managerslipp@ stimulustech.com +1-702-564-3166 x1104SOURCE: Stimulus Technologies PR-Inside.com: 2025-07-22 13:50:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 688 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Company Retains Industry-Leading Firm Cambridge Project Development to Oversee Site Engineering and ConstructionMIDLAND, TX / ACCESS Newswire / July 22, 2025 /Waste Energy Corp ("Waste Energy" or the "Company") (OTCQB:WAST), an emerging leader in sustainable waste-to-energy innovation, today announced that it has officially taken possession of its new facility in Midland, Texas. The new site will serve as both the company's corporate headquarters and the launchpad for its first commercial-scale waste-to-energy (WTE) operation.The 3.7-acre site is located in the heart of the Permian Basin and represents a major milestone in the company's mission to divert and convert landfill-bound plastic and tire waste into clean energy resources."Taking possession of our Midland facility is a transformative moment for Waste Energy," said Scott Gallagher, Chairman & CEO of Waste Energy Corp. "This location is strategically positioned in the U.S. energy capital, giving us proximity to infrastructure, partners, and offtake opportunities. It will anchor our operations as we scale our technology and expand nationally." Unlike traditional clean tech ventures, Waste Energy's model is uniquely structured to generate revenue from day one. Its systems are engineered to produce clean ultra-low sulfur diesel, carbon black, and other clean energy assets immediately upon initiating conversion operations. Located in one of the nation's highest fuel consumption regions, the Midland site is surrounded by potential offtake customers. A standard oil rig in the Permian Basin consumes approximately 2,000 gallons of diesel per day, while some consume as much as 5,000 to 8,000 gallons per day-making this region an ideal choice for Waste Energy's first facility. The combination of strong local demand and scalable waste conversion positions the Company for a clear path to early profitability.The company also announced that it has retained waste-to-energy firm Cambridge Project Development to assist with the build-out, engineering and commissioning of the Midland site. Cambridge is led by Leonard Enriquez, a recognized expert in waste-to-energy project development and a current member of Waste Energy's Advisory Board."We're proud to partner with Cambridge and Leonard Enriquez on this important project. Their proven track record in delivering large-scale waste-to-energy infrastructure adds immediate depth to our execution team," said Mr. Gallagher. "Their leadership significantly enhances our ability to fast-track development, manage complexity, and position Waste Energy for early and sustained revenue generation." About Waste Energy Corp Waste Energy Corp (OTCQB: WAST) is transforming waste into opportunity by converting non-recyclable plastics and used tires into clean, U.S.-based energy sources. Through the integration of advanced waste conversion and AI technologies, the company seeks to divert waste from landfills and convert it into new U.S.-based energy streams that generate measurable environmental and economic value.Waste Energy Corp is a fully reporting SEC Exchange Act company, trading on the OTCQB under the symbol WAST. For more information, visitwww.WEC.ecoor access investor disclosures atwww.SEC.gov About Cambridge Project Development Cambridge Project Development is a specialized infrastructure consulting and project execution firm focused on delivering scalable energy and waste-to-energy solutions. Founded and led by Leonard Enriquez, a recognized expert in waste-to-energy development, the firm brings decades of hands-on experience in engineering, permitting, and operational execution. Mr. Enriquez has overseen the successful development and implementation of multiple WTE projects across North America, and his leadership has positioned Cambridge as a trusted partner for complex clean energy infrastructure. The firm combines strategic insight with on-the-ground technical expertise to accelerate the transition to sustainable resource recovery.Forward-Looking Statements This press release and any other publicly disclosed content contain forward-looking statements regarding Waste Energy Corp's business operations, future financial performance, and projections. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including market conditions, regulatory approvals, and other factors outside of the control of WEC, which may impact actual results. Investors are encouraged to review all risk factors and disclosures in the company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's quarterly and annual financial statements atwww.SEC.gov , before making any investment in a publicly traded equity.Investor Contact: Waste Energy CorpEmail: Scott@ MetaWorksPlatforms.io Phone: (727) 417-7807Website: www.WEC.eco SOURCE: Waste Energy Corp. The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced a postponement of the implementation of new fees and penalties for document downloads beyond 7 days, citing ongoing technical issues with its upgraded company registration portal. In a statement by its management on Monday, CAC said the enforcement of new fees and penalties originally scheduled to take effect on 1st August, will now commence on 1st September 2025. The decision comes after this newspaper reported 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, 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. On Sunday, CAC in its reaction to PREMIUM TIMES report attributed some of the issues to glitches experienced by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) portal. The commission claimed that its commitment to delivering quality service and highlighted the measures it has taken to improve the portals performance, but failed to adequately address the concerns of users raised in PREMIUM TIMES report, with complaints continuing to mount. But in its statement on Monday, CAC said the decision to postpone the implementation of new fees and penalties follows its observation of the current transitional challenges some users are experiencing. In our continuous efforts to ensure the smooth operation of our upgraded Company Registration Portal, and in consideration of feedback from our valued customers and stakeholders, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) wishes to announce the postponement of the implementation of the new fees and penalties for document downloads beyond 7 days. Originally scheduled to take effect on 1st August, the enforcement will now commence on 1st September, 2025, including the penalty for download after 7days. This decision follows our observation of the current transitional challenges some users are experiencing, particularly in areas such as: downloading of documents, payment processing, post-incorporation filings for business names, upload of certain required documents. We are working tirelessly, alongside our technical partners and stakeholders, to stabilise the system without shutting down the entire portal, the statement said. It said this temporary relief is part of its commitment to supporting businesses and ensuring a seamless user experience during this transition phase. READ ALSO: CAC reacts to lamentations over ineffective portal as complaints mount Speaking to this newspaper on Monday evening, an Abuja-based lawyer, Yomi Ogunsanya, welcomed the CAC decision, saying, It is good that the commission is listening, at least weve been able to keep them on their toes and they are responding now. They have issued two statements in the last 72 hours. Before, they kept mute to the complaints of customers, Mr Ogunsanya said. However, he noted that there are still issues with the portal that need to be resolved, particularly with regards to downloads and post-incorporation filings. There are still some issues. The fact that they have postponed the increment is a sign of relief, the anxiety for the pending increase has reduced. They should try to work on the portal to make it seamless, particularly with regards to downloads, post-incorporation filings, etc, he added. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Tuesday said 69 per cent of fuel supply in West Africa is imported. The NMDPRA Chief Executive, Farouk Ahmed, disclosed this while speaking at the West African Refined Fuel Conference in Abuja on Tuesday, organised by NMDPRA and S&P Global Commodity Insights. Mr Ahmed explained that West Africas fuel landscape is still reliant on external sources, with 69 per cent of fuel imports accounting for 1.44 million metric tons out of the total 2.05 million metric tons traded in the region per month. Our 2025 statistical data for fuel supply in the West African region reveals that 2.05 million MT per month of gasoline is being traded,consisting of 1.44 million MT (69 per cent) imports and 0.61 million MT (31 per cent) refinery contribution from the region, Mr Ahmed said. He added that the regional supply of fuels in West Africa has grown through improved refining capacities in Nigeria, Ghana, Niger, Senegal and Cote DIvoire which currently stands at 1.335 million barrels per day. He said despite being a significant producer of hydrocarbon resources, an important consumer of refined petroleum products and a growing refining hub, West Africa continues to depend on posted prices of global reference markets such as Northwest Europe (NWE), US Gulf Coast, Mediterranean, Singapore, Arab Gulf etc for all its trading activities. While these benchmarks are globally accepted, often they do not reflect the unique supply chain peculiarities, market dynamics, and economic realities of the African continent. A regional pricing benchmark that promotes price discovery, transparency, deepened market development and enhanced availability of energy has then become a strategic objective that requires the collaborative action of all the stakeholders that are major players in this market, he added. Furthermore, he said the 2025 OPEC World Oil Outlook projects 1.2 million barrels per day additional refining capacity in Africa, between 2025 and 2030. He noted that the West African region will make significant contributions to this projection through new projects, upgrades and rehabilitations, which are currently at various levels of completion in the different countries. These increased refining capacities will improve the market liquidity of refined petroleum products in the region. Nigeria is rapidly evolving into a midstream and downstream trade and logistics centre. Nigeria has an active maritime coastline that links all West African markets, deep seaports with modern technologies and infrastructure, as well as regulatory frameworks that support World class standards of maritime operations. These factors have positioned the country as a viable hub in the West African energy sector, he said. Also speaking, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) said the Nigerian energy sector is poised for significant growth and development, driven by a shared vision among stakeholders for a competitive West African energy market. This vision, he said, emphasises the importance of adequate local refining capacity, transparent and efficient fuel markets, and stable regulatory environments that attract private sector investment. Achieving this vision demands shared responsibility among regulators, industry players, development institutions, and the legislature. We must innovate, digitize, and humanise our regulatory approaches ensuring that policy serves the people while enabling growth. We must strive to eschew monopolistic tendencies that are more likely to create unfavourable conditions for the Nigerian Petroleum market and likely to be at variance with the various anti-trust laws, he said. In his remarks, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Bayo Ojulari, reaffirmed the companys commitment to dismantling structural bottlenecks towards laying a solid foundation for a self-sufficient refining ecosystem in Africa. He said through strategic review and repositioning of its refineries, strategic equity in the Dangote Refinery, condensate opportunities and support for other third-party projects, the NNPC Ltd could kickstart Africas transformation into a refining hub. NNPC Ltd stands ready. Ready to co-create, co-invest, and co-lead in building an African refining ecosystem that is inclusive, resilient, and globally competitive, he said. He noted that infrastructure integration, indigenous ownership, and policy harmonisation remain essential drivers of downstream transformation and are critical to creating a credible African reference market that guarantees energy security, reduces import dependence, and powers Africas industrial aspirations. Mr Ojulari charged experts in the refining sector to move from declarations to delivery, from national ambition to regional execution and from fragmented development to system-scale transformation. Let us build, not just refineries, but a new backbone for Africas industrial age. Let us refine, not just crude, but the future of this continent. Let our actions reflect, not just todays needs, but the enduring aspirations of generations yet unborn, he said. The Kremlin understands that only the United States of America can force them to peace, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha. At a joint press conference with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in Kyiv on Monday evening, Sybiha drew attention to the absence of Russian shelling of the capital during the visit of the US President's special representative, General Keith Kellogg. "This is yet another proof of who Putin is really afraid of. Putin is afraid only of Trump. He understands that only the United States of America can force them to peace," the head of the Foreign Ministry said. According to him, Kellogg's visit to Ukraine was very intensive. The general had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Ukrainian government and military, that is, "he received information first-hand." "Why is this important? Because we must break and counteract the Russian narrative that Russia will win. No, Russia is not winning and Ukraine is not losing. It is important to proceed from this paradigm," the minister urged. The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has suspended actress Shirley Igwe indefinitely over the assault of a crew member on a film set in Lagos. AGN made this known in a letter signed by the national president, Emeka Rollas, on behalf of the filmmaking regulatory bodies, the office of the Inspector General of police and the Lagos state governor. According to the letter, Shirley, who served as a principal protocol officer to the former Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, physically assaulted a crew member during a production in Lagos, and an altercation occurred. This led to her slapping the crew member. The actress is best known for being Adaora in the popular film, Mercy the Bus Driver (2012). Since coming to Nollywood in the early 2010s, Shirley has featured in The Kings Search (2017), Stormy Hearts (2017), Love and Shadows (2019) and Blackout (2025). Indefinite suspension Meanwhile, in the letter suspending the actress, AGN stated that its decision was made after an investigation into the case, which left the regulatory body no choice but to suspend the actress indefinitely. Following our preliminary investigations into the allegation of violence levelled against actress Shirley Igwe on a film set in Lagos, the National Executive Council (NEC) has resolved to place her on indefinite suspension, the letter stated. Explaining its decision further, AGN stated that the actresss misconduct contravened the groups code of conduct and was liable to discredit the acting profession. This suspension is due to her professional misconduct, violence, and indiscipline, actions capable of discrediting the acting profession. These offences contravene the actors code of conduct and are punishable by constitutional provisions, the letter added. The AGN, however, advised, Members are hereby directed to refrain from participating in any film production involving her. Shirley is the second actress AGN would suspend since 18 October 2024, when Halima Abubakar was suspended for alleged defamation of her colleagues. The actress is yet to respond to the decision. When 50-year-old Lawan Umar left home with his daughter, six-year-old Zulaihat, he believed she had a fever that would be treated at the hospital. He never imagined he would return to bury her. Also, he could not have imagined that, within five days, he would also bury her siblings Khadija, nine, and 12-year-old Umar. All three children died from diphtheria in October 2023, a year after Nigerias ongoing diphtheria outbreak began in 2022. They waved at me when Zulaihat and I were leaving for the hospital, Mr Umar recalled with his eyes filled with tears. They were smiling. They looked fine. What started with a fever turned out to be the start of a heartbreaking chain of events. Zulaihat was first taken to a local clinic, then referred to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Kano, and finally to the Murtala Muhammad Hospital, where she died the same day. After her burial, Mr Umar noticed Khadija and Umar were unusually quiet. Though they seemed well, he took them to the hospital as a precaution. They were cheerful, he said. But both were immediately quarantined. Khadija died two days after Zulaihat, and Umar died two days later. The family lives in Gaidar Fulani in the Kumbotso Local Government Area (LGA) of Kano State. At the time of the tragedy, Mr Umar and his wife had five children. Since losing three, they have welcomed another child. Sadly, Mr Umars tragedy is just one of many similar stories in Kano, where diphtheria has claimed hundreds of lives. The story is not different in Lagos, Nigerias commercial capital. In June 2024, at the peak of the cholera outbreak in Lagos, Caleb Ezechimere, a young medical laboratory scientist, died just one month into his internship at the Military Hospital in Lagos. He had bought a tiger nut drink from a local vendor. Everyone who bought from the same vendor ended up in the hospital, but he didnt make it, his sister-in-law, Jaachi Nwagbara, a medical doctor, told PREMIUM TIMES. It was a preventable death, and thats the most painful kind. Deaths like this shouldnt still be happening. Across Nigerias two biggest cities, Kano and Lagos, preventable diseases like diphtheria and cholera continue to spread, exposing cracks in disease surveillance, vaccination coverage, and outbreak preparedness. A visit to some of the worst-hit communities in Kano and overcrowded slums in Lagos reveals how these systemic failures are putting countless lives at risk. A crisis long in the making Since 2022, Nigeria has battled its worst diphtheria outbreak in decades. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), over 43,000 suspected diphtheria cases have been reported in 360 LGAs across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). What happened in Mr Umars home highlights a much larger public health crisis in Kano. The state alone accounted for more than half of Nigerias diphtheria cases, reporting 24,415 suspected cases, with 18,284 confirmed infections, and 860 deaths, making it the epicentre of the countrys ongoing diphtheria outbreak. On the chart for confirmed cases, Kano is followed by Bauchi (2,334), Yobe (2,411), Katsina (1,610), Borno (1,166), Plateau (119), and Jigawa (53). Nationwide, 26,499 cases were confirmed, and approximately 64 per cent of those infected were children aged one to 14. Only 4,999 (19.1 per cent) of the confirmed cases were fully vaccinated with the diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine. This means that over eight in 10 confirmed cases had either incomplete vaccination or none at all. Kumbotso, Mr Lawans local government area, was among the eight most affected LGAs in Kano during the 2023 phase of the outbreak. Others included Ungogo, Dala, Fagge, Gwale, Nassarawa, Kano Municipal, and Tarauni. In these communities, families shared stories of loss and survival that reflect their vulnerability to future outbreaks if nothing changes. Health gaps, low vaccination rate In communities like Rimin Kebe, Gama B, and Rangaza, residents lamented the long distances to health facilities, irregular access to immunisation, and poor sanitation. These factors make it harder to prevent and control outbreaks, especially among children. Rimin Kebe, located in Ungogo LGA, recorded some of the highest diphtheria cases in the state. Ibrahim Haruna, a 75-year-old resident who has lived there for over three decades, said awareness about such diseases often comes too late. It is not just the disease but the delay in getting help, Mr Haruna said, sharing how his wife recently went into labour at night, and they had to travel on a motorcycle due to the absence of any nearby facility. By the time they reached the hospital, the baby had died and was removed through surgery. Poor vaccination access is a recurring concern among residents. A Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW), in Rangaza, another community under Ungogo LGA, who requested anonymity, noted that health officials often hesitate to enter the area, even during outbreaks. We have to go to the general hospital, which is far. I sometimes have to personally beg officials to come vaccinate the children, she said. There was a recent outbreak of diphtheria among children here. I believe overcrowding, poor hygiene and blocked drainage worsened it. Anas Ibrahim, a pharmacist who runs a small shop in Ungogo, said that poor access to slum areas discourages even health workers from coming into the communities for health campaigns, especially vaccination. People mostly fall ill and rely on self-medication, and weve lost some people in transit trying to reach a hospital, Mr Ibrahim said. Strengthening disease surveillance in Kano Despite being the epicentre of Nigerias diphtheria outbreak, with over 18,000 confirmed cases and hundreds of deaths since 2022, officials in Kano insist the government is not inactive. In response to PREMIUM TIMES enquiries, the Kano State Ministry of Health acknowledged that the state remains the epicentre of Nigerias ongoing diphtheria outbreak. However, the ministry, through its spokesperson, Ahmad Abubakar, noted that it would be incorrect to suggest that the government is doing nothing. According to Mr Abubakar, the state is making continuous efforts through targeted vaccination campaigns, community sensitisation, and collaboration with partners to reduce the spread of diphtheria, especially in high-risk communities. On the issue of low vaccination coverage, Mr Abubakar said the government had intensified outreach services, engaged community leaders, and scaled up routine immunisation programmes to ensure that residents in densely populated areas have access to vaccines and healthcare services. He also stated that the state was strengthening its surveillance system by working closely with stakeholders to enhance early detection and response. Surveillance officers have been trained, and community informants are being used to report suspected cases, he added. Diphtheria is preventable Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It affects the nose and throat, and in severe cases, can block airways or spread to other organs, leading to death. Despite its severity, diphtheria is entirely preventable, with its vaccine typically administered as part of the pentavalent vaccine in early childhood immunisation schedules. As of September 2023, the NCDC confirmed that more than 80 per cent of diphtheria cases involved children who were not fully vaccinated in the ongoing outbreak. A 2024 study titled, Vaccine Hesitancy under the lens: Nigerias struggle against the worst diphtheria outbreak in decades highlights how deeply rooted vaccine hesitancy worsened Nigerias ongoing diphtheria crisis. In Kano, where the outbreak has been most severe, the study found that only 14 per cent of the target population of children under five received the diphtheria-containing pentavalent vaccine during key immunisation campaigns. The study noted that cultural beliefs, misinformation, and distrust in health systems continue to fuel hesitancy, leaving millions of children vulnerable. The study recommended that tackling vaccine hesitancy is about stopping the current outbreak and building long-term trust in vaccines to prevent future disease outbreaks. Experts say that tackling outbreaks like diphtheria goes beyond routine immunisation days or mass campaigns. Christiana Fashola, a global digital health and vaccine expert with experience across Africa, Central Asia, and Latin America, told PREMIUM TIMES that while these traditional methods remain important, Nigeria must now adopt more community-based strategies to reach the people who need vaccines the most. One of the most impactful approaches is integrating community pharmacies and pharmacists into immunisation service delivery, Ms Fashola said. They are often the first point of contact in underserved areas and can help reach not just children but also adolescents and adults. She added that culturally sensitive communication and working with local influencers are key to building trust and driving vaccine acceptance. Disease risk lingers in Lagos Lagos is Nigerias most developed state, yet many of its communities face daily risks of disease. In slum areas like Ajegunle, Makoko, Badia East, and Bariga, poor sanitation, flooding, and inadequate healthcare increase their susceptibility to outbreaks. During the rainy season, these conditions worsen as contaminated water enters homes, drainage overflows, and the risk of cholera and other preventable diseases grows. A community leader at Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ajegunle, Liadi Eniola, pointed to houses directly by a wooden pedestrian bridge surrounded by dirty water and waste, while people still live and eat there. Mr Eniola suggested that people there may have built resistance to sickness. If not, many of us would be dead by now, he said. But many people still come down when there is an outbreak. Other residents shared similar stories of lives lost to preventable causes. Hunkarin Felix, 39, a resident of the Araromi area of Bariga, lamented that despite their susceptibility to disease risk due to the environmental conditions, they still scramble to access health care. We run from place to place when someone is ill, Mr Felix said. Before we get to a clinic, it is sometimes too late. In Makoko, one of Lagos most underserved waterfront communities, the risk is even higher. Emmanuel Enasumahousiele, a former works supervisor in Yaba LCDA, shared how he lost his wife on 17 June to a suspected malaria outbreak. She died because we couldnt get care in time, Mr Enasumahousiele said. If Makoko had a standard health facility, it wouldnt have happened. Residents like Jejelola Shittu and Jacqueline Afan, both 30, also shared similar stories of watching families and friends die as a result of their vulnerability to diseases. Beyond health concerns, residents of Araromi, Bariga, and Makoko fear that their entire neighbourhoods could be wiped away. Mr Felix and Mr Enasumahousiele told PREMIUM TIMES they were under pressure to vacate for demolition. We dont want to leave, said Mr Enasumahousiele. We just want hospitals, clean water, and support. If they demolish everything, we have nowhere else to go. Overcrowded settlements in Lagos remain highly vulnerable to cholera and other infectious diseases. With recurring floods, poor sanitation, and limited access to health services, experts warn that a single case in these conditions could escalate quickly. Adedayo Aderibigbe, a Consultant Community Health Physician at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), said slum communities in Lagos are extremely vulnerable to disease outbreaks due to the combination of unsafe environments and limited healthcare access. Slum communities are exposed to poverty, poor feeding, low standards of living, lack of potable water, Mr Aderibigbe told PREMIUM TIMES. These conditions make them vulnerable to both communicable and non-communicable diseases. He explained that the situation worsens during the rainy season, as many residents are exposed to contaminated food and water caused by indiscriminate dumping of waste and faecal matter, poor waste disposal, and harsh weather. This can further exacerbate the incidence of waterborne diseases amongst them, especially among children, he said. Data gaps, Cholera burden According to the NCDC, in 2024, Lagos recorded the highest number of suspected cholera cases in Nigeria, contributing 43 per cent of the national total. Lagos Island alone accounted for five per cent of all suspected cases nationwide. As of 29 September 2024, the agencys last published situation report showed that Nigeria had reported 10,837 suspected cases and 359 deaths. However, just two weeks later, during a 13 October press briefing, NCDC Director-General Jide Idris confirmed that the figures had risen sharply to 14,237 cases and 378 deaths across 35 states and the FCT. As of 2 March 2025, a total of 1,149 suspected cholera cases and 28 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 2.4 per cent, had been reported in the new year from 25 states. While Lagos recorded only three suspected cases, Bayelsa and Rivers now lead the national chart This sharp reversal raises questions about the accuracy and consistency of disease reporting and surveillance, especially as conditions in vulnerable Lagos communities remain unchanged. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in June raised concerns over data gaps in cholera surveillance and reporting across Nigeria. WHO reported that between 1 January and 25 May, Nigeria recorded 1,562 cholera cases, contributing to the 117,346 cases across 17 countries in the WHO African Region. It warned that the figures may not reflect the full extent of the outbreak, citing underreporting, delayed submissions, and limited diagnostic capacity as barriers. The data should be interpreted cautiously due to potential underreporting and reporting delays, the global health agency said, adding that the figures might not accurately represent the true burden of cholera. This concern aligns with what residents in communities like Makoko, Ajegunle, and Badia East told PREMIUM TIMES that many cholera cases and even deaths are not officially recorded. READ ALSO: Suspected diphtheria outbreak kills three children in Zaria Cholera response in Lagos In response to PREMIUM TIMES questions, the Lagos State Government said it has intensified surveillance and improved its response systems. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Kemi Ogunyemi, explained that surveillance officers across all local government areas have received updated training, including on the use of SORMAS, an electronic platform for real-time case reporting. She said 100 health workers were recently trained by WHO, NCDC, and the state government on the use of rapid diagnostic tests for cholera. The group includes 57 laboratory focal persons from primary healthcare centres, 25 from general hospitals, 23 disease surveillance officers, and five from the Lagos State biobank. She also noted that quarterly evaluations are being held to build capacity among surveillance officers and improve data management. In addition, she said the health ministry was working closely with environmental health officials, and community sensitisation efforts were ongoing in vulnerable areas. While these actions are commendable, the effectiveness of the response will depend on how quickly and accurately data is captured from the most affected communities, like the ones featured in this report. On the states disease surveillance system, Mr Aderibigbe, the consultant community health physician, noted that while Lagos has made progress compared to many other states, some challenges persist. These include unsustainable funding, heavy reliance on external partners, and logistical difficulties. In some areas, he said, disease tracking is still done manually, slowing down response time. Digitalisation and the use of technology in surveillance are important, he said. It is cheaper to identify breakdowns in public health systems early and institute measures to manage them than to manage the consequences. He recommended that Lagos improve awareness about the importance of surveillance among healthcare workers and invest more consistently in early detection systems, electronic reporting, and coordinated public health response. An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates Court on Tuesday sentenced a 25-year-old man, Obaseki Friday, to three days imprisonment for stealing tubers of yam. The Magistrate, Olubunmi Bamidele, sentenced the convict following his guilty plea and facts of the case. Ms Bamidele sentenced him to three days community service to be served within the court premises. The Prosecutor, Olubu Apata, told the court that Friday committed the stealing on 20 July about 6 a.m. at Imala community along Ijadu Road in Ado-Ekiti. Mr Apata said the convict entered into the farm of Yahaya Ibrahim and harvested tubers of yam valued at N200,000. He also harvested tubers of yam in the farm of Isah Adams valued at N600,000 and the farm of Abdulquadri Ondeku and harvested tubers of yam valued at N400,000, all worth N1.2 million. He said the convict had been harvesting tubers of yam from the farms of the complainants, adding that the convict was arrested when he came back to steal more yams. According to him, the offence contravened Section 302(1) (a) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021. (NAN) The Federal High Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State has reserved judgement in a suit challenging the validity of the 2024 local elections in the state. The elections were held on 20 July 2024. The candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress won all the 13 chairmanship seats and 171 ward councillors in the state. But two indigenes of the state, Samuel Udeogu and Amaechi Isu filed the suit against the poll. Messrs Udeogu and Isu asked the court to nullify the elections for allegedly violating the 2022 Electoral Law. The Independent National Electoral Commission and the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) were listed in the suit as defendants. Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State and the Ebonyi State Government were also listed as defendants. 2022 precedent The ongoing legal battle draws on the precedent set in August 2022 when Justice Fatun Riman of the same court nullified the local council elections of that year. The court, at the time, held that the elections failed to comply with the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Law. Dave Umahi, now Nigeria s minister of works, was the governor of the South-eastern state at the time. Dissatisfied with the ruling, the Ebonyi State Government and the then sacked chairpersons of the 13 local government councils appealed the ruling at the Court of Appeal Enugu Division. But the Court of Appeal, in May 2025, affirmed the judgement of the Federal High Court Abakaliki which nullified the 2022 local elections in Ebonyi State. Arguments on 2024 suit On Tuesday, the court resumed hearing on the suit instituted by Messrs Udeogu and Isu challenging the 2024 local elections in Ebonyi. Mudi Erhenede, counsel to Mr Isu, the second plaintiff, urged the court to nullify the elections. Mr Erhenede argued that the state failed to comply with the appeal courts ruling concerning the 2022 polls. The lawyer maintained that the appeals filed by the state government and the chairpersons against the 2022 ruling of Federal High Court was directly linked to the issues raised in the present suit. READ ALSO: Court orders temporal forfeiture of N1bn allegedly diverted by Ebonyi official But I.N. Nwideagu, counsel to Ebonyi election commission and the state government, urged the court to dismiss the plaintiffs argument. Mr Nwideagu also urged the court to deliver judgement in favour of the 2nd and 3rd defendants (Governor Nwifuru and the state government) with punitive costs awarded against the plaintiffs. Reserved judgement Justice H.I.O. Ochoma reserved judgement after hearing arguments from parties to the suit. After the adoption of final addresses by all parties, Justice Ochoma announced that the date for delivery of judgement would be communicated to the parties in due course. Nigerias real estate sector has overtaken crude oil and natural gas as the third largest contributor to the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP), following the rebasing of GDP to 2019 base year by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, (NBS). According to the GDP report published by the NBS on Monday, the contribution of real estate to the economy rose from N22 trillion (6.24 per cent) under the previous estimates to N41.2 trillion (10.78 per cent) in the 2024 rebased data, which placed the sector just behind crop production and trade. The rebasing exercise, which updates a countrys data to mirror its current conditions and changing circumstances, revealed that crop production and trade remain the top two contributors to Nigerias GDP with N61.9 trillion (17.58 per cent) and N67.9 trillion (17.42 per cent) respectively. Meanwhile, telecommunications also solidified its position as the fourth largest contributor at N25.4 trillion (6.78 per cent), while crude petroleum and natural gas dropped to fifth position with N14.6 trillion (5.85 per cent) contribution to the GDP, from its previous third position, prior to the GDP rebasing exercise. Real estate, as the third largest Nigeria economy, accounted for 10.78 per cent of the GDP, which NBS attributed to better coverage of the real estate informal sector. By ranking the GDP estimates at the 2019 base year, real estate ranked third displacing crude oil and natural gas to the fifth position, the report stated. This is due to better coverage of the real estate informal sector. The top five activities are crop production (17.58%), trade (17.42%), real estate (10.78%), telecommunications (6.78%), it added. Q1 Performance The report showed that the real estate sector in Q1 2025 grew nominally by 18.08 per cent and contributed 17.4 per cent to GDP, with a sharp rise from the previous quarter growth of 8.73 per cent. In real terms, for the first quarter of 2025, the real estate sector also contributed 13.30 per cent to the GDP, up from 13.11 per cent for the same quarter of 2024. The significant housing deficit in Nigeria continues to drive increased demands for housing which is evident in the real estate performance of the rebased GDP. This marks a shift from the previous dominance of oil and gas, signaling a new trend where real estate is emerging as a part of the key drivers of the Nigerian economy. Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES about the new development Tuesday morning, Faji Tobiloba, Business Executive and Project Lead at Besitz Group, stated that the sector is booming as a result of concurrent demands for accommodation amidst housing deficit in the country. Mr Faji revealed that Nigeria has over 28 million housing deficit, hence 700,000 new homes must be built annually to cater for the shelter needs in the country in the short to medium terms. The reasons are not far-fetched. To a large extent, there is an estimated value of over 28 million housing deficits in Nigeria, so based on the calculations, we need to provide 700000 new homes annually to address housing deficits we are currently experiencing. Practically, thats almost impossible, looking at it, how many developers do we have? How many individuals in the real estate industry have capacity to match these needs? The idea is people need houses, accommodation, shelter and roof over their heads, that is the reason the real estate sector is surging, he said. ALSO READ: Real estate firm to inject N10bn to revamp Nike Lake Resort Enugu The real estate consultant also added that the sector is a bubble that will not burst, citing increasing demands for tourism, vacation and migration. The sector will always surge, not negatively. A simple analogy is that as young people that have parents and siblings, you will leave your parents houses to establish a family which will require that you move into a new house, then, you will raise kids that will go in the same pattern, so the need for accommodation and shelter can never be terminated. There will always be a demand for housing, beyond previous examples, there are people migrating into the country, people migrating from one state to another; they will need shelter either temporarily or for permanent residence, which is also increasing the surge in the real estate sector. Some said real estate is a bubble that will burst, but the sector is a bubble that will never burst, because the demand for real estate will always keep improving, they will keep moving from rural to urban areas, for vacation, tourism, greener pastures or permanent residence, and the sector can accommodate these people, Mr Faji added. The Malawi Constitutional Court has declared Section 200 of the Malawi Penal Code, which criminalises defamation, unconstitutional. While delivering its ruling on Wednesday, 16 July, the High Court of Malawi, sitting as a constitutional court, ruled that the criminalisation of defamation infringes on the right to freedom of expression. The court argued that although safeguarding individuals reputations is important, imprisoning someone for defamation is an excessive measure. The defamation lawsuit was filed by political activist Joshua Mbele, who had been facing criminal charges after allegedly making remarks about a government official. In his suit, Mr Mbele argued that the law was being used to silence critics and stop public debate. He contested the constitutionality of the law, asserting that it suppressed legitimate criticism and silenced dissenting voices. Ruling in his favour, the court compared Malawis defamation laws with those in other African and Commonwealth countries, noting a growing trend toward decriminalisation in jurisdictions that uphold freedom of expression as a fundamental right. The threat of imprisonment under section 200 has a chilling effect on public discourse and democratic participation, the court noted, adding that the broad wording of the law made it susceptible to abuse and arbitrary enforcement. The court then ordered that section 200 of the Malawi penal code be struck down with immediate effect, effectively barring any future prosecutions under the provision. The government can appeal the ruling. Defamation is criminalised in Nigeria In Nigeria, defamation remains both a civil and criminal offence. According to Sections 373375 of the Criminal Code and Sections 391395 of the Penal Code, individuals found guilty of criminal defamation can face imprisonment, fines, or both. Many Nigerian scholars, journalists, and human rights advocates have argued that criminalising speech undermines democratic values. Experts and analysts have called for decriminalising defamation, stating that it fails to meet the international human rights standard. All laws that support criminal defamation in Nigerias criminal jurisprudence should be immediately repealed and cases initiated under those laws should be struck out by the courts, said Jibrin Ibrahim, a professor of Political Science. In practice, these Nigerian laws have often been weaponised by powerful individuals to target journalists, whistleblowers, and critics. Many journalists and activists have been arrested, detained, or dragged through lengthy legal processes. Legal experts also say that the continued use of criminal defamation laws enables Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), a tactic used by politicians, corporations, and other influential figures to silence legitimate criticism by burdening defendants with costly and time-consuming legal battles. CPJ welcomes ruling The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) described the Malawi Constitutional Courts ruling on repealing the criminalisation of defamation as a major landmark. In a statement issued on Monday, the CPJ said, 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. Authorities should immediately comply with the judgment, and other laws that may unduly restrict the work of journalists must also be reformed, Muthoki Mumo, CPJs Africa programme coordinator, also noted. READ ALSO: US to pull out of UNESCO 2026 In the unanimous decision in Malawi, 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. Similarly, the Malawian chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa and other civil society organisations urged the government not to appeal the ruling. They also called for reform of other laws that restrict free expression. The Senate on Tuesday approved the 2025-2026 external borrowing plan of 21.5 billion dollars presented by President Bola Tinubu for consideration. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the senates approval followed presentation of the report of Committee on Local and Foreign Debts at plenary by Chairman of the committee, Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto). NAN reports that the loan request, according to the president, is aimed at funding various critical national development projects across key sectors of the economy. Also approved by the senate was a loan request of 15 billion Japanese Yen and 65 million Euros grant. The senate also approved the issuance of Federal Government Bond of N757 billion for payment of accrued rights pension arrears as at December 2023 for the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). It equally approved Tinubus request of capital raising of up to two billion dollars through a foreign currency-denominated instrument in the domestic market. Mr Wamakko, in his report, said that the loan requests were part of the already approved Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) for the 2025 budget. He said that MTEF and FSP contained most of the items in the borrowing plans. The senator also said that based on the findings, the committee recommended that the senate should approve the presidents request. Solomon Adeola (APC-Ogun), who seconded the motion, said that the approval was largely a formality, as most of the items had already been outlined in the MTEF and 2025 budget previously passed by the National Assembly. Mr Adeola, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, said: The borrowing is already embedded in the 2025 Appropriation Act. With this approval, we now have all revenue sources, including loans, in place to fully fund the budget, he said. Sani Musa (APC-Niger ) said that the borrowing plan covered a six-year disbursement period, not just the 2025 fiscal year, adding that Nigeria had not defaulted on any of its existing loan repayments. Theres no economy that grows without borrowing. What we are doing is in line with global best practices, Mr Musa said. Adetokunbo Abiru (APC-Lagos) also said that the loan requests complied with the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) and the Debt Management Act, stressing that the funds were for capital projects and human development. These loans are long-term, concessional, and come with favorable repayment terms. Some stretch between 20 and 35 years, Mr Abiru said. However, Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi) raised concerns that the committee, in its document, did not indicate how the loan would be repaid. Mr Ningi stressed the need for detailing how the loan being sought would be used to impact constituents, as people would ask them (lawmakers) how the funds were expended. He said that the document failed to provide specific breakdown on what each state or agency would receive and how the loans would be repaid. We need to tell our constituents exactly how much is being borrowed in their name, and for what purpose, Mr Ningi said, citing constitutional provisions regarding borrowing oversight. However, Victor Umeh (LP-Anambra) expressed strong support for the plan, highlighting the provisions on investment in the eastern corridor. This is the first time Ive seen three billion dollars allocated to rebuild the eastern rail line, that alone justifies my full support, Mr Umeh said. Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau (APC-Kano),who presided over the plenary, lauded the committees inputs. According to him, the entire country is being carried along in the borrowing plan. This shows that the Renewed Hope Agenda is working; no region is left out. With the borrowing plan now approved, implementation of the 2025 Appropriation Act can begin in full, he said. Mr Barau said the funds disbursed under the facility must be utilised strictly for capital and development projects, in line with the laws governing public finance. The management of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State has said Emmanuel Gambo, the 22-year-old man who allegedly killed a woman in a hotel room, is not a student of the university. The killing Earlier this month, the police in Enugu State announced that the body of an unidentified woman was found in a hotel room in Nsukka Area of the state on 15 June after she checked into the hotel with an unidentified man. About a week later, the police identified the suspect as Emmanuel Gambo, adding that the suspect, now arrested, is a 200 level student of Material and Metallurgical Engineering in UNN. The police also said the slain woman, Deborah Sam-Praise Ememem, 24, was also a student of the same institution who could not graduate last year because of outstanding issues with some of her courses. Not our student But reacting in a statement on Monday, the spokesperson of UNN, Agha Inya, said the claim that Mr Gambo is a student of the institution was false and misleading. We have painstakingly investigated and cross-checked students records from 200 level to 500 level within the Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, as well as a verification from the Faculty of Engineering office, no such name, as Emmanuel Gambo, exists in the database of students registered in the department or in the faculty, Mr Inya said. The spokesperson said the university authorities perceive the false association with the murder suspect as a gross misrepresentation and a defamation of the integrity of the department, faculty and the institution in its entirety. The University of Nigeria remains committed to academic excellence, discipline, and the moral upbringing of its students, and will not condone any attempt to tarnish its image through misinformation, he stated. British-based drug maker AstraZeneca has announced plans to invest $50 billion in the United States over the next five years amid the looming threat of President Donald Trumps trade tariffs. The Cambridge-headquartered firm said on Tuesday that the investment will fund a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Virginia set to be its largest single manufacturing investment in the world. It will also expand research and development (R&D) and cell therapy manufacturing in Maryland, Massachusetts, California, Indiana, and Texas. The announcement marks the latest by a global pharmaceutical giant to expand its US footprint amidst Mr Trumps threat to impose up to 20 per cent tarrifs on drug import to boost manufacturing and lower costs. AstraZeneca said the mammoth investment will create tens of thousands of jobs across the US, powering growth and delivering next-generation medicines for patients in America and worldwide. The Anglo-Swedish group, which is listed on the FTSE 100, said the investment will also help it towards the groups target of reaching $80 billion in revenues by 2030. It added that half of this is expected to come from the US. Pascal Soriot, chief executive of AstraZeneca, said: Todays announcement underpins our belief in Americas innovation in biopharmaceuticals and our commitment to the millions of patients who need our medicines in America and globally. ln spite of being headquartered in the United Kingdom, the US is AstraZenecas largest market, where it employs more than 18,000 staff and makes 42 per cent of total group sales. It already has 19 R&D, manufacturing and commercial sites across the country. The new factory planned for Virginia will produce drug substances for the companys weight management and metabolic portfolio, it said. Howard Lutnick, US secretary of commerce, said: For decades Americans have been reliant on foreign supply of key pharmaceutical products. President Trump and our nations new tariff policies are focused on ending this structural weakness. We are proud that AstraZeneca has made the decision to bring substantial pharmaceutical production to our shores, Mr Lutnick said. (dpa/NAN) Another Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member in the House of Representatives, Mark Esset, on Tuesday, dumped the opposition party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr Esset, who represents Uyo/Uruan/Nsit Atai/Ibesikpo Asutan Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State and chairs the House Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Relations, announced his defection in a letter read on the floor during plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu. Citing unresolved internal crises within the PDP as his reason for leaving, Mr Essets move marks a continuation of the exodus from the party, particularly among lawmakers from Akwa Ibom, a state once considered a PDP stronghold. However, the defection drew strong objections from the opposition bench. The House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, raised a point of order, invoking constitutional provisions to argue that Mr Essets seat should be declared vacant. Mr Chinda noted that defection is only permitted under Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution if there is a division within the party at the national level. However, his objection was swiftly overruled by Mr Kalu, effectively allowing the defection to stand. Mr Essets departure brings to eight the number of lawmakers from Akwa Ibom State who have defected to the APC in less than a month, signalling shifting political alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections. READ ALSO: Group urges Nigerian governor to join APC Just three weeks ago, seven other lawmakers from the state, six from the PDP and one from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) defected to the APC. The earlier defectors include Unyime Idem (Ukanafun/Oruk Anam), Esin Etim (Mbo/Okobo/Oron/Udung Uko/Urue Offong/Oruko), Ekpo Asuquo (Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium), Uduak Odudoh (Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/Eastern Obolo), Okpolupm Etteh (Eket/Esit Eket/Ibeno/Onna), Okon Bassey (Itu/Ibiono Ibom), amongst others. The state governor, Umo Eno, had in June defected to the APC alongside some of his appointees. If situation with Russia does not change in coming weeks, 2026 budget for Defense Forces to be planned at 2025 level Ministry of Finance If there are no changes in the situation with Russia in the coming weeks, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine will plan the draft state budget for 2026 with defense spending at or above the 2025 level, Deputy Minister of Finance Olha Zykova said. "We see attacks on civilian objects - this is evidence that Russia has no desire to stop the war now. We see a complete destructiveness regarding Russia's joining any format of the negotiation rounds. If the situation does not change in the coming weeks, we are planning the budget for 2026, based on the scenario that we need to provide funding for the Defense Forces at a level no lower than in 2025," Zykova said during a budget discussion organized by the Centre for Economic Strategy. According to her, the Ministry of Finance currently has confirmed commitments from international partners for 2026 and 2027, with commitments totaling $37.4 billion for this period, including funding under the ERA program. Zykova emphasizes that a dialogue is currently underway with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding Ukraine's unmet needs, and in parallel, work is underway to confiscate frozen Russian assets, which should become a resource for reconstruction. She noted that, first of all, it is now about covering the military needs of the defense and security sector, as well as the needs of the social part of the budget through external financing. The Deputy Minister of Finance noted that, subject to the end of hostilities, Ukraine, in accordance with the IMF program, is targeting a budget deficit of 9.9% of GDP. At the same time, given the continued threat from Russia, the country will need guaranteed resources to support its defense potential and ensure an adequate level of protection against possible challenges in the future. Zykova emphasized that in the case of the implementation of the second scenario, which assumes that the war will continue in 2026, defense spending should remain at the 2025 level. "In other words, if we are currently facing a deficit of over 22% of GDP while considering all potential conditions for economic growth and maintaining sufficient defense spending, we can conclude that the deficit will exceed 17% of GDP in 2026 if active hostilities continue," she said. In the past 24 hours, 15 more people, including four children, died from starvation and malnutrition in the war-torn Gaza Strip, Gazas health authorities said on Tuesday. In a press statement, the health authorities said the deaths were recorded in hospitals across Gaza, raising the total number of fatalities linked to hunger and malnutrition to 101, including 80 children, since March. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate amid the ongoing Israeli blockade, the health authorities added, stressing that a large number of civilians, particularly children, are suffering from severe malnutrition. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said on social media platform X on Tuesday that people in Gaza, including UNRWA colleagues, are fainting due to severe hunger. They are being starved. Meanwhile, just a few kilometers away from Gaza, supermarkets and shops are loaded with food and other goods. Lift the siege, allow UNRWA to bring in food and medicines, UNRWA said. The Israeli Medical Association (IMA), which represents about 95 per cent of doctors in Israel, issued a statement calling for the entry of medical equipment and basic humanitarian aid into the Strip. In a letter addressed to Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir, IMA Chairman Zion Hagay wrote that such deliveries are required by both medical ethics and morality, as well as international humanitarian law. He added that if recent reports about the deaths of at least 73 people while waiting for humanitarian aid prove accurate, it would represent a serious violation of medical ethics and international law. Since Israel resumed its military operations in the enclave on 18 March, at least 8,268 Palestinians had been killed and 30,470 others injured. This brings the total death toll since October 2023 to 59,106, and injuries to 142,511, Gazas health authorities said. (Xinhua/NAN) President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the National Single Window (NSW) Steering Committee to ensure the platform becomes fully operational by the first quarter of 2026. The directive was delivered during Tuesdays fifth steering committee meeting at the State House, Abuja. The president was represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. Mr Gbajabiamila said the recent Tax Reform Acts, signed into law in June, underscored the urgency of accelerating reforms and pursuing Nigerias $1 trillion economy target. He highlighted the importance of financial and trade reforms in achieving national economic transformation. Its important that we continue to stay focused on this project. So that at the end of the day, we meet our timelines and achieve the results the President expects. As you all are aware, the project is one of the transformative initiatives of Mr. President which we collectively must ensure is effectively and commendably implemented, Mr Gbajabiamila said. He emphasised the role of a unified electronic platform in simplifying Nigerias import and export operations. According to him, the NSW will boost investment and trade revenues, improve transparency, and strengthen Nigerias global business credibility. Mr Gbajabiamila urged all agencies to refine their targets and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to meet the Phase 1 deadline. I do expect that since the last meeting of the steering committee which was held on the 8th April, 2025, all stakeholders have operated and actively progressed with all the required KPIs and set targets to ensure that we go live with phase 1 in Q1 2026 as was previously scheduled, he said. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, described the progress as encouraging but stressed the need for swift execution. He urged a shift from strategy to concrete implementation, calling the project complex but transformational. Mr Edun urged the committee to improve collaboration and resolve final hurdles to meet the rollout timeline. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, also charged the committee to work diligently and meet the Q1 2026 deadline without fail. Zacch Adedeji, executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), thanked the President for consistently supporting the project. Thank you on behalf of the steering committee. We thank you for the relentless support that you have given to us. And to all my colleagues here, we can see that the reward for hard work is more work. When we started last month, it is now law; the single window is now in the law. He asked committee members to stay focused on the mission ahead. The Director of the National Single Window (NSW) Project, Tola Fakolade, gave a brief overview of the steering committees progress toward implementing the project. All second quarter 2025 key project milestones have been successfully achieved. And the customisation of the Single window platform has commenced, he said. He gave assurances that the committee would meet up with the timelines. The National Single Window project is a federal government initiative to streamline trade processes by creating a centralised electronic platform for importers and exporters. It is a digital trade facilitation platform expected to accelerate economic growth and facilitate cross-border transactions. Launched in April 2024, the NSW seeks to consolidate all agencies involved in imports and exports onto a unified electronic portal. It is expected to reduce trade costs, cut delays, and enhance transparency and efficiency at Nigerian ports. Committee members include representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Investments, the Ministry of Finance, FIRS, and the Nigeria Customs Service. Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy ) July 22, 2025 The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has assured retired police officers that the Nigeria Police Force is actively working to address their pension-related grievances and improve their post-service welfare. Mr Egbetokun gave the assurance on Monday while addressing a group of aggrieved retired officers who staged a protest at the Force Headquarters and the National Assembly in Abuja over their continued inclusion in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). The retired officers, many of them elderly, marched peacefully to the gates of the National Assembly and later to the Force Headquarters, demanding their removal from the CPS. Holding placards and chanting slogans, they lamented what they described as years of hardship, meagre benefits, and uncertainty since leaving active service. The protesters said the pension system has left them impoverished despite decades of service to the country. Responding to the demonstrators, Mr Egbetokun expressed sympathy, noting that the welfare of retired officers remains a concern for even those currently serving. We all feel concerned. We empathise with you because we are also going to retire, he said. I have been engaging at the highest level to ensure that something is done to improve the condition of the poor pensioner. The police chief said he had just returned from a meeting with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, where the issue of police pensions was discussed. He stressed that the Force leadership is not ignoring the plight of retirees. There are things that we need to put in place to ensure that your suffering is alleviated, Mr Egbetokun said, adding that though several steps have already been taken, he would not disclose all the details publicly. Were not folding our arms But I just want to assure you that we empathise with you, and we are not folding our arms, he said. We are doing a lot to ensure that something is done. While acknowledging the long-standing agitation for the police to exit the CPS, the IGP said he is not opposed to the idea, provided it offers a lasting solution. I am not opposed to your exiting of the CPS. If exiting will solve the problem, I will go for it. But if it is difficult for us to exit CPS, what else can we do? he asked. For the past 11 years, it has not worked. He explained that previous IGPs had also made efforts to remove the police from the CPS, but the decision lies beyond the control of any individual police chief. Mr Egbetokun urged the retirees to avoid being manipulated by external actors seeking to exploit their grievances for political or personal gain. Dont allow the enemies of the police to use you. Be suspicious of those who pretend to be on your side, he warned. He also clarified that his recent public remarks on CPS reform were misconstrued. Even with the CPS, we can improve its operation and ensure that you are happy in retirement, he said. Thats what Ive been working onalternative solutions, not opposition to your demands. Earlier, the police issued a statement indicating that the IGP had met with the retirees at the Peacekeeping Hall in Abuja. The IGPs presence is a demonstration of the Police leaderships commitment to listening to the plight of the retirees and ensuring their voices are heard in a dignified and constructive manner, the statement read. The engagement is ongoing in a calm and orderly atmosphere, attended only by genuine retirees who chose the path of dialogue. Sowore joins protest, alleges police intimidation Meanwhile, Omoyele Sowore, publisher of SaharaReporters and former presidential candidate, also joined the protest. In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Monday, he described the demonstration as a watershed moment in the fight for dignity, justice, and equity for both serving and retired police officers. According to him, the peaceful protest took the police leadership by surprise, and despite efforts to suppress participation, serving officers discreetly expressed support. Mr Sowore also alleged that a plain-clothed police officer stole his Ray-Ban AI glasses during the protest and accused the police of attempting to bribe protesters with drinksclaims the Force has not addressed publicly. He announced that retired officers would maintain a visible presence in Abuja and that the next round of nationwide protests would begin on 1 August. Background Mondays protest follows public outrage over a viral video in June, in which a retired Superintendent of Police who served for 35 years rejected a N2 million terminal benefit. The officer said he was informed by the Police Pension Board that his total entitlement, including arrears, was N3 millionan amount he described as insulting. I laughthe Nigerian Police. I really do. I am a retired Superintendent of Police. I retired from the Nigerian Police on October 1st, 2023. Since then, nothing has been paid to me. Just two weeks ago, they called me and said they were going to pay me three million naira. For what? They said that was my pension. I was a Superintendent of Police before I retired. Even if your brother is a Superintendent of Police today and hes told to go home with two million naira as retirement benefitask yourself if thats fair. I am not accepting that money. I will not collect that money. Let my service be in vain if thats how they want it. I dont care. I have no money, but that two million naira wont change my life. It wont make me rich. It never will, he added. In response, the IGP directed the NPF Pensions Limited to investigate the claims and identify any lapses. Force spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the police leadership was not insensitive to the plight of its pensioners and remained committed to addressing systemic shortcomings. The IGP views the welfare of both serving and retired officers as a priority and recognises that timely and adequate pension administration is crucial to sustaining morale and institutional integrity, Mr Adejobi said. He added that the police chief urged stakeholders to remain calm as efforts continue to engage relevant agencies for a sustainable solution. A prosecution witness, Abu Gambo, on Monday recounted at the Federal High Court in Abuja his ordeal following a N62 million land deal he struck with an Abuja realtor. Mr Gambo, a businessman and facility manager, testified before trial judge Joyce Abdulmalik that he paid N62 million to Rebecca Godwin-Isaac for two plots of land: Plots 17 and 18 within Plot 1862, Katampe District, Abuja. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Ms Godwin-Isaac and her company, Homadil Realty Limited, alongside Richard John and his company, Rychado Homes Limited. The defendants face 17 counts of fraudulent land sales and money laundering. Led in evidence by EFCC lawyer, Samuel Chime, the first prosecution witness, Mr Gambo, narrated how he met Ms Godwin-Isaac in 2023 through an agent who introduced him to a staff member of Mr John, the third defendant. After a failed offer for land in Jahi, Abuja, he was introduced to Ms Godwin-Isaac, who offered him Plot 17 within Plot 1862 in Katampe District. The witness said she presented a Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) purportedly issued by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), showing that the title had been transferred from Fafam Nigeria Limited to Homadil Realty Limited. She told me she got the approval in 2022 and asked me to verify at the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), Mr Gambo said. When I checked with AGIS, the details she gave me appeared on their system. He testified that he paid N35 million for Plot 17, including foundation-level construction, and later paid N27 million for Plot 18, bringing the total to N62 million. He also gave her an additional N1.5 million for supervision. He said Ms Godwin-Isaac issued him coloured copies of allocation letters, allocation certificates, purchase agreements, and payment receipts, all in the name of Homadil Realty Limited and signed by her as CEO. He said the documents for Plot 17 were dated 25 August 2023, while those for Plot 18 were dated 29 November 2023. According to the witness, the EFCC marked the property in September 2024. When he returned to AGIS to re-verify ownership, the records he previously confirmed had disappeared from the system. He said when he informed Ms Godwin-Isaac, she became upset and told him she could refund his money if he wanted. Documents admitted as exhibits Mr Chime tendered the documents received by the witness, including allocation certificates, allocation letters, invoices, and a photocopy of the R-of-O from Fafam Nigeria Limited. Ms Godwin-Isaac admitted issuing all the documents except the R-of-O from Fafam Nigeria Limited, which she said was only a photocopy. Her lawyer did not oppose the admissibility of the other documents but objected to the photocopy. The third and fourth defendants lawyer, M.A. Ebute, did not object. The judge admitted all the documents as exhibits marked ABC and DEFGH, including the photocopy of the R-of-O. The case was adjourned until 9 October for the hearing of defendants preliminary objection and continuation of the trial. Earlier on Monday, the first and second defendants lawyer, Christopher Oshomegie, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), sought an adjournment. He cited the death of Ms Godwin-Isaacs uncle and her need to attend a posthumous event. Mr Oshomegie also informed the court that the defence had filed a preliminary objection challenging the charges and had served the prosecution. But the prosecution lawyer, Mr Chime, who informed the judge that he had four prosecution witness in court ready to testify on Monday, denied being properly served. Mr Chime said he only received the application in court just before proceedings started on Monday. The judge also confirmed there was no proof of service in the courts record and declined to entertain the objection. Ms Abdulmalik then refused the adjournment request due to a lack of supporting evidence and ordered the prosecution to open its case. Background and other cases In the ongoing trial, Ms Godwin-Isaac is accused of collecting over N237 million from multiple buyers and laundering N500 million through Homadil Realty Limited. She is also facing trial in another case before the same judge alongside her husband, Isaac Yusuf, Mr John, and their companies. In that case, the EFCC accused them of forging documents to fraudulently acquire Plot 4022 in Guzape District, Abuja, obtaining building approvals using the forgeries, and selling the land through Homadil Realty Ltd. They are also accused of defrauding Dana Waziri of N70 million through a separate land deal. In another case, the Nigeria police arraigned Ms Godwin-Isaac and others in January before an FCT High Court in Apo, Abuja, on related charges. The Chairman of Kudan Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, Dauda Abba, has proposed a requirement for would-be couples to present the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA) enrollment card before getting married. Mr Abba said this would increase enrollment in the scheme. He made the proposal on Monday in Kudan LGA Secretariat at the KADCHMAs inauguration of the informal sector enrollment campaign into the scheme. The chairman said the proposal aimed to ensure couples have access to quality healthcare services. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise, which would also be inaugurated at Kagarko and Chikun LGAs, is expected to be carried out across all 23 LGAs of the state. It was supported by EngerderHealth Consortium, International Society for Media in Public Health (ISMPH), Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI) and Legislative Advocacy Initiative for Sustainable Development Goals (LISDEL). Mr Abba stated that pregnant women would particularly benefit from the schemes coverage of antenatal care, delivery and postnatal care. The chairman also added that the health scheme provides financial protection against unexpected medical expenses, enabling pregnant women to access quality healthcare without financial hardship. He added that the scheme also provides access to quality healthcare services, including antenatal care, delivery, and postnatal care, with or without complications, reducing maternal mortality rates. The N10,650 annual charge fee covers numerous diseases and services, including antenatal care and delivery, making it a comprehensive healthcare solution for pregnant women. By making KADCHMA enrollment a requirement for marriage, the chairman believed that awareness and uptake of the scheme would increase, ultimately improving the health and well-being of citizens. He, therefore, said that he would push an Executive Order to the LGA legislative arm for inputs to make by-laws that would require intending couples to present KADCHMA enrollment cards before the wedding. Mr Abba added that the by-law would ensure that KADCHMA enrollment cards are required for political office aspirants in the LGA to support the schemes implementation. The by-law will require individuals to have a KADCHMA card before getting married, and individuals before contesting for political positions. We are optimistic that the by-law will be ready within two to three weeks, and forward a copy to relevant stakeholders, he said. The chairman pledged to enroll 1,000 people in the scheme, with plans to add another 1,000 after successful enrollment. He, therefore, urged traditional, religious leaders and all other stakeholders to circulate information about the scheme to households and support its implementation. Earlier, the Director-General of KADCHMA, Abubakar Hassan, emphasised that the schemes goal is to ensure that all the residents have access to quality and affordable health services without financial hardship. Mr Hassan explained that the authority rolled out the campaign to educate grassroots communities on the benefits of enrolling in the health scheme, targeting local stakeholders and traditional leaders to champion the initiative. He also explained that the meeting aimed to secure the endorsement of local government authorities, identify context-specific barriers, and foster ownership and shared responsibility for improving community health outcomes. The director-general lamented the high rate of maternal mortality, saying that the N10,650 annual charge fee covers numerous diseases, including services such as antenatal care through birth, with or without complications. He said that over 50 women enrolled in the scheme had given birth through cesarean section. KADCHMAs goal is to ensure all residents have access to quality and affordable health services without financial hardship, aligning with the vision of Universal Health Coverage, he said. According to him, the initiative promises improved access to quality health services, financial protection, and reduced maternal and child mortality. This is with the ultimate goal of making Kaduna state a model for Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria. Mr Hassan said that the initiative is part of Governor Uba Sanis Rural Transformation Agenda, which aims to cater to the needs of underserved people, particularly in rural areas. He said the scheme would provide financial protection and access to quality healthcare for its citizens. Health is no longer a privilege in Kaduna state, but a right, he said. He, therefore, urged stakeholders to become enrollment ambassadors, with traditional rulers and council members supporting the scheme through community development plans and sensitisation efforts. Halliru Mahmood, the district head of Kudan, commended the government for initiating the scheme, adding that it would provide financial protection and access to quality healthcare for citizens. Mr Mahmood emphasised that enrollment into the scheme, which required a registration fee of N10,650, is a small price to pay considering the benefits it provides. He stated that the programme would help reduce maternal and child mortality rates, which are significant concerns in Nigeria. He highlighted the importance of the scheme in providing financial protection for families, particularly those who cannot afford to pay for healthcare services. The district head believes that the programme is beneficial to the people and would make a significant impact in improving their health and wellbeing. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that stakeholders were community volunteers, ward development committees, traditional and religious leaders, among others. (NAN) The Court of Appeal in Lagos has nullified the registration of the business name KPMG Professional Services by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), siding with KPMG Nigeria in a long-running legal battle over rights to the KPMG name. PREMIUM TIMES reviewed on Tuesday the certified true copy of the judgement, which was earlier delivered on 10 July. In the unanimous judgement of the three-member panel that sat on the appeal, the court granted all four prayers sought by KPMG Nigeria against the CAC, the first respondent, and KPMG Professional Services, the second respondent. KPMG Nigeria, which has been operating in Nigeria since 1978, practises as KPMG Audit, KPMG Tax Consultants and KPMG Consulting. It claimed in a legal dispute dating back to 2002 that it had been using KPMP long before the name was deceptively included and registered for KPMG Professional Services. A member of the three-judge panel, Abdullahi Mahmud Bayero, who delivered the lead judgement, ruled that the CACs registration of a similarly named entity was improper and misleading under Section 662(1) (d) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 1990, now Section 852 of CAMA 2020. The Registrar cannot assign a business name already held by another entity. One cannot give what one does not have nemo dat quod non habet, the court held. The appellant KPMG Nigeria was represented by A.T. Oloyede, while Emmanuel Umoren represented the first respondent (CAC), and E.O. Sofunde, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), with M.O. Ajana and F.O. Salawu, appeared for the second respondent. Background The judgement noted KPMG Nigeria filed its suit in 2022 to challenge the CACs registration of KPMG Professional Services, a name it argued was deceptively similar to its longstanding brand. The Federal High Court dismissed KPMG Nigerias suit in 2005, holding that the firm had merged with Akintola Williams Deloitte & Touche and therefore no longer had rights to the name KPMG. The lower court also upheld a counterclaim from the second respondent, ordering the deregistration of KPMG Nigerias business names. But displeased with the decision, KPMG Nigeria went on appeal. Upholding the appellants case, the appellate court found the claim of a merger inadequate and unsubstantiated. It faulted the lower court for relying on newspaper articles Exhibits S03 to S07 and S010 which it said were insufficient to establish a legal merger. Newspaper articles are not and cannot be sufficient evidence of the state of affairs for the court to base its decision. What is required to show that there is a merger is concrete evidence of the merger, the court held. This by necessity should be a copy of the agreement, which will state the form of the merger entered into by the parties Since the 2nd Respondents have based their case on this supposed merger, the burden of proof is on them to prove it; absence of the proof is fatal. Mr Bayero cited one article (Exhibit S010), which stated that the Chairman of KPMG Nigeria would function as Vice Chairman of Akintola Williams Deloitte consequent upon the recent merger. The only understanding that can be reached is that Mr Ajayi has a dual function both as Chairman/Chief Executive of KPMG and Vice Chairman of Akintola Williams, the court said. It thus becomes obvious that the merger, if any, has not put an end to KPMG. The judgement added that the continued operation of KPMG Nigeria including submission of post-2002 audit reports for Guinness Plc and AIICO Insurance Plc further proved it remained in business. It is also clear that it cannot be a merger of names but at best, a merger of business. The name KPMG still exists and the merger, if any, has not affected it. The court concluded that even if there was a merger, it only involved KPMG Audit, not the entire firm: The only branch of KPMG, if any, that entered into a merger is KPMG Audit. The other spheres were totally unaffected. CAC criticised The appellate court was also critical of the CACs role, stating that it acted contrary to CAMA by registering a similar name without first removing the earlier ones. Even if the Appellants had ceased to do business as the court seemed to have held, the 2nd Respondent should not have been carrying on business until the appellants certificate of registration is withdrawn or set aside. It cited Section 662(1)(d) of CAMA 1990: Where a business name is identical with or similar to a name by which any firm, company or individual is registered and the Registrar is of opinion that registration would likely mislead the public, then the Registrar shall cancel the registration thereof. The court said the CAC registrar essentially slept on its duty and clarified that a party seeking relief in such cases does not need to first petition the Registrar before going to court. The declarations as sought by the appellants/plaintiffs in the court below are hereby granted and the counter-claim of the respondents is dismissed. The decision of the Court below in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/776/2002 delivered on 25/05/2005 is hereby set aside, Mr Bayero ruled. Concurring opinion The two other judges on the panel Abimbola Obaseki-Adejumo, who was the presiding justice, and A.M. Talba, member concurred with the lead judgement. In her concurring opinion, Mrs Obaseki-Adejumo emphasised that the burden of proof lay with the party asserting the merger. The 2nd Respondent who claimed there was a merger failed to present the merger agreement before this court but relied on Exhibit S010, and from the content of the document it does not impute a merger. The trial court erred when he overlooked this fact. The appellant established his case and discharged the burden of proof to make him entitled to the declaration he claims. She cited Section 131 (1) of the Evidence Act 2011: Whoever desires any court to give judgement as to any legal right or liability dependent on the existence of facts which he asserts shall prove that those facts exist. Mrs Obaseki-Adejumo also ordered the judgement of the trial court be set aside. Lafarge Africa recorded a 352 per cent leap in net profit in the first six months of the year, compared to a year ago. The leap was helped by a building construction boom in Nigeria, where the cement industry has been projected to grow by 8.4 per cent in 2025. Management attributed the sharp improvement in bottom line to relative stability of the naira during the period in contrast to last year, which was heavily impacted by FX losses. Quarter on quarter, after-tax profit jumped 248 per cent to N84 billion, while revenue increased by 70 per cent to N268.6 billion, according to the newly released earnings report of the company. Following our impressive Q1 results, Q2 performance further showcases the strength of our team, market positioning, operational efficiency, cost management, and dedication to value creation, CEO Lolu Alade-Akinyemi said in a separate statement. Looking ahead and mindful of the ever-evolving macroeconomic conditions, we are confident in our ability to continue to deliver value by focusing on our strategic priorities, while leveraging innovation and green growth, in line with our sustainability ambitions, he added. Turnover for the cement maker was up by 75 per cent at N517 billion, compared to the same period of last year, as improved plant stability boosted volumes. Administrative expenses climbed to N30.7 billion from N16.8 billion, with technical service fees and office & general expenses as the main pressure points. Lafarge Africa, which runs two subsidiaries AshakaCem Limited and Wapsila Nigeria Limited announced last December that its top shareholder Holcim had struck a deal to sell its entire 83.1 per cent stake to Chinese-based Huaxin Cement Limited. Huaxin, which has been increasing its footprint in Africa having bought Brazils InterCement businesses in South Africa and Mozambique for $265 million in late 2023, agreed to acquire the majority interest for $1 billion. The deal is yet to secure regulatory approvals. In the period under review, profit before tax jumped 328.3 per cent to N199.7 billion, while profit after tax increased to N132.7 billion from N29.4 billion. Lafarge Africa announced an interim dividend of N4 per share in the first quarter of the year, following an 837 per cent surge in net profit, driving its share price to a 52-week high afterwards. The stock has returned 222 per cent in the past one year. In June, the company unveiled its ECOPlanet Elephant cement, a low-carbon multipurpose cement aimed at making construction activities more environmentally friendly. The Federal Government of Nigeria and Egyptian government on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the existing cooperation in the aviation sector in Africa. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this while signing MoU with the Egypts Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, in Abuja. Mr Keyamo said the collaboration was to deepen aviation cooperation between the two countries. According to him, the MoU reflects the mutual commitment of both nations to expand bilateral ties through aviation as a key driver of commerce, tourism, and diplomacy. The signing of the MoU is a historic milestone, signaling a new chapter of collaboration and shared prosperity between Nigeria and Egypt, which reflects mutual commitment of both nations to expand bilateral ties through aviation. This MoU is a follow up of a meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by delegates of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Arab Republic of Egypt. The MoU culminated in a review of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between the two countries in line with the new Africa Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) BASA template for African countries, he said. Mr Keyamo expressed optimism that the partnership would unlock new opportunities in technical cooperation, route expansion, and joint investment in civil aviation infrastructure across the continent. According to Mr Kayamo, the agreement is a strategic move towards regional integration, enhanced service delivery, and greater connectivity in Africa. Responding, Egypts Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, expressed readiness of his country to strengthening bilateral relations with Nigeria in all sectors. He said the two nations represented key pillars of stability and progress in Africa. Egypt Airs current operations with over 600 flights annually to Lagos and Kano. We want to increase the frequency in response to high demand from travellers between both countries. Speaking, Ibrahim Kana, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, described the visit as a reflection of the enduring friendship and deepening ties between both countries. According to him, there are vast opportunities in the areas of aviation, infrastructure, and agriculture regarding strong commercial ties and mutual benefits for both nations. (NAN) Experts have raised concerns that Africa faces risks of imported bias if Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems continue to be developed without including local data. The experts raised these concerns at the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA) Conference, held on Monday. The conference brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts who discussed the role of data and AI in shaping Africas future. The experts further discussed balancing innovation with risk, safeguarding data in AI systems, promoting responsible data use, and enabling cross-border data flows. Data Speaking during a panel on Data Governance for Responsible and Beneficial Use of AI, MTN Nigerias General Manager for Regulatory Affairs, Ikenna Ikeme, stated that using local content in AI systems is essential for delivering accurate, region-specific results. Mr Ikeme noted that data can potentially transform businesses by enhancing efficiency. He warned, however, that it also presents risks, ranging from privacy concerns to investment considerations. Mr Ikeme, who described these as datas dual nature, cautioned against an over-reliance on external data. Data can be transformational by bringing efficiency to businesses, but it also presents risks, ranging from privacy to investment, he stated. He expressed mounting fears shared by many across Africa that the continent could end up relying on foreign-made AI technologies, tools often disconnected from Africas unique languages, cultural values, and development needs. He also echoed the shared view at the gathering that Africa must assert control over its data landscape. Opportunity and warning Furthermore, Adewolu Adene, Googles Government Affairs and Public Policy Manager, projected that AI and data governance could contribute an additional $30 trillion to Africas economy by 2030. Mr Adene urged relevant authorities and stakeholders to ensure Africa is strategically positioned to capitalise on this new economy. All relevant authorities and stakeholders must ensure Africa is positioned to capitalise on this new economy, he noted. Other panellists at the conference included Nonye Ujam, Microsofts Government Affairs Lead; Ololade Shyllon, Metas Director of Privacy Policy for Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey; Oliver Patel, Head of Enterprise AI Governance at AstraZeneca (who joined remotely); and Femi Daniel, Senior Counsel, Privacy and Data Protection at Mastercard. The panellists underscored the need for strong, locally driven data governance systems in Africa. These systems should safeguard individual privacy, guarantee fair access to data, and guide the responsible development of artificial intelligence. They emphasised that Africas ambition should go beyond merely keeping pace with global trends; the continent should play an active role in shaping the direction of technological progress. They further argued that Africa must develop its own AI models tailored to its unique contexts, rather than depending on external technologies built on foreign datasets. They said the tools often carry embedded biases and fail to reflect local realities, potentially eroding trust and deepening social disparities. Themes As discussions progressed, three central issues consistently surfaced in the conference: aligning policies, building trust in data governance systems, and strengthening homegrown data infrastructure. Participants at the conference stated that Africas future in digital technology and artificial intelligence must be envisioned, developed, and directed by Africans themselves, not outsourced. More than just a platform for exchanging ideas, the gathering marked a unifying moment, signalling a potential turning point in the continents technological evolution. They encouraged governments to implement unified legal standards that support seamless data exchange across borders, uphold accountability, and safeguard civil liberties, all while fostering innovation. There was also a strong appeal for immediate investments in local data infrastructure, skill development, and partnerships that promote collaborative technological solutions. In addition, regulators, including members of NADPA, were urged to take a forward-looking, flexible, and inclusive approach in shaping policies that will govern the responsible use of AI across Africa. The suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Tuesday made good her intention to resume as she stormed the National Assembly in company of her supporters. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, who had earlier vowed to resume legislative activities on Tuesday, arrived at the National Assembly complex at exactly 12.20 p.m. Among those who accompanied her were a prominent political activist, Aisha Yesufu, and several of her supporters. NAN, however, reports that the suspended senator was barred from accessing the main building by security personnel. Security had earlier been beefed up at the National Assembly complex, apparently owing to the resumption threat by the suspended senator. The armed security personnel at the main gate of the national assembly comprised the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the State Security Services (SSS) and the Sergeant-at-Arms. The situation resulted in long queues of vehicles at the main entrance to the nations parliament, as the security operatives were ensuring thorough checks to ensure that Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan did not beat the security network and enter the complex NAN reports that the Senate had reaffirmed, for the third time, that there was no subsisting court order mandating it to recall the senator before the expiration of her suspension. Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu had reaffirmed the upper chambers position in a statement on Sunday. This clarification becomes necessary, following the circulating claims by the suspended senator that she intends to resume at the Senate Tuesday. This is based on a misinterpretation of the recent judgment delivered by Hon. Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, he had said. (NAN) French Foreign Minister Jean Noel-Barrt said his country was seeking to increase the training of Ukrainian pilots to fly French Mirage fighter jets. "Our goal is to increase the number of trained pilots to conduct new sessions, in particular sessions with the Mirage, which, as I noted, really changed the situation at the front," he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Monday. According to the minister, work continues in parallel in a bilateral format to supply equipment, train personnel, and jointly produce military equipment that combines French and Ukrainian experience. "I recently visited one of the Ukrainian drone manufacturing plants and saw the enormous level of expertise accumulated over the past weeks and months," Barrot noted. Aliko Dangote, founder and president/chief executive of the Dangote Group, on Tuesday said international traders are deliberately frustrating the establishment of new refineries and the efficient operation of existing ones in Africa, to protect their own dubious interests. Mr Dangote disclosed this while speaking at the West African refined fuel conference in Abuja on Tuesday, organised by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and S&P Global Commodity Insights. The problem is international traders are deliberately frustrating the establishment of new refineries and the efficient operation of existing ones in Africa, to protect their own dubious interests, Mr Dangote said. He explained that international traders maintain the offshore Lome floating market, where over one million tonnes of petroleum products are stored in vessels offshore and sold to African countries at inflated prices. When you build a refinery and disrupt that system, you are not just innovating, you are threatening powerful interests that will seriously fight back, Mr Dangote said, noting that Without political support, I dont think any new large refinery will be built any time soon. Highlighting that this phenomenon is unique to Africa, Mr Dangote argued that building a refinery threatens powerful vested interests entrenched within the petroleum value chain across many African nations. He added that petroleum products were sold at inflated prices due to the lack of local refining capacity, but prices plummeted once the Dangote refinery became operational. He said the offshore Lome floating market exists solely to prevent any refinery from operating in sub-Saharan Africa. But make no mistake, those who profit from this system will do everything they can to prevent other refineries from emerging. The whole essence of Lome is to ensure that no refinery operates in sub-Saharan Africa. In fact, I dont see any new major refining project succeeding with the offshore Lome market in existence, he said. He also cautioned that another tactic used to undermine domestic refiners is the increasing dumping of cheap, often toxic petroleum products in Africa, some blended to substandard levels that would never be allowed in Europe or North America. He stressed that these low-quality fuels, blended with discounted Russian crude under price caps and dumped in African markets, severely undercut local production, which is based on full-market crude pricing. He called for these obstacles and others to be dismantled through policy alignment, regional cooperation, and above all, strong political will. Emphasising the vast economic opportunity for Africa to replicate the success achieved in the cement sector, he noted that, from a modest capacity of 2 million tonnes per annum, Nigeria now produces over 50 million tonnes, becoming a net exporter. Today, thanks to our visionary investment, determined execution, and government support, we have 52 million tonnes of capacity across Africa and will be at 60 million tonnes capacity by mid next year. We are now a net exporter of cement in Nigeria and other countries, and are targeting export of $500 million of cement and clinker by 2027, he said. Mr Dangote stressed the companys commitment to replicate a similar feat in the energy sector. Today, Nigeria has become a net exporter of refined petroleum products, polypropylene, and urea, a historic turnaround. With our LPG production of 2,500 tonnes per day, we are working to encourage more homes to increase LPG utilisation. And we are just getting started. Very soon, the refinery will be listed to give all Nigerians an opportunity to become shareholders, he added. Mr Dangote reaffirmed his commitment to working collaboratively with African governments, private sector investors, and regional institutions to advance the continents refining capacity. Our vision is simple but ambitious: Africa should refine all the petroleum products it consumes right here on African soil, he added. The United States will withdraw from The UN Educational, Scientific, Cultural and Communication Organisation (UNESCO) by the end of 2026, the government said on Tuesday, only two years after rejoining the United Nations cultural agency. Today, the US informed Director-General Audrey Azoulay of its decision to withdraw from UNESCO, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement. Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the US, it added. US President Donald Trump ordered a review of the countrys involvement and funding in the UN in early February, just days after taking office for a second term. At the time, MRTrump said the UN had tremendous potential but its not being well run. UNESCO is tasked with promoting cooperation across those sectors and is best known for its World Heritage list. It included sites recognised for their special cultural, historical or natural significance. In the statement, the State Department accused the organisation of working to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintain an outsized focus on the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. A globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy. UNESCOs decision to admit the State of Palestine as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to U.S policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organisation. Trump first pulled the U.S. from the cultural agency during his first term in 2018, before the country rejoined under the Joe Biden administration in 2023. World Heritage Sites in the US included Yellowstone National Park, Statue of Liberty and the 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. (dpa/NAN) The Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, has expressed worry over data and information gap between the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), states and local government areas. Mr Shettima said this at the 2025 Workshop of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) on Tuesday in Abuja. Mr Shettima was represented by Tope Fasua, the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters. The vice-president who was reacting to the 3.13 per cent Rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Results released by the NBS on Monday, doubted that the rate reflected a true picture of growth in the economy. Following the rebasing of Nigerias GDP report, the NBS stated that the countrys economy grew by 3.13 per cent in the first quarter of 2025 from the 2.27 per cent recorded in the same period in 2024. Mr Shettima noted that most of the state governors had been able to double their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). If the state levels are an addition of what happens at the federal level, you wonder, if the states have increased their IGR between 100 and 300 per cent, how come the GDP is still where it is. And if the GDP is still growing at about three per cent, that means there is a lot more to discuss at that level. You will be shocked at the amount of information lacuna from institutions repository of our data from the state, local government levels, he said. Speaking on the capital market, he said capital formation was the engine of infrastructural development, growth and higher standard of living for citizens in the country. Mr Shettima said that in 2023, the countrys All-Share Index (ASI) stood at 55,000 points, while the market capitalisation was around N28 trillion. The vice-president said that as at July 2025, the ASI had risen to 131,000 points and market capitalisation soared at N75 trillion. He said the figure represented a threefold increase in market value within two years which was facilitated by renewed investors confidence had resulted in business expansion and significant boost to national wealth. He said the figure had showed that the economy of the country was on a clear path of recovery and sustainable economic growth. Corroborating the worries of Shettima, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, called for collaboration among various stakeholders. Mr Mutfwang who said the IGR of the state had grown tremendously noted that the data released by the NBS about his state was not a true reflection of happenings in the state. We pursue the goal of the one trillion dollar economy by realistic evaluation of where we are. We must acknowledge that we must put our philosophy right. A lot of data we are generating is not from the bottom to the top, we harvest them from the top. We need to have the collaboration, we must ensure that every sub national also grows their economy. We need capital, to de-risk the capital to enhance production, we also need creative ideas that will translate into the improved standard of living of people in the rural areas, he said. The Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, said capital formation meant that Small and Medium Enterprises would have access for affordable funding for their businesses. Ms Uzoka-Anite said for the country to achieve a one- trillion dollar economy, there was a need to build strong and resilient institutions. She said the government was working toward removing bottlenecks that prevented companies from listing on the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. According to her, we must align long-term capital with long term development goals. The Chairman of the Ministry of Finance, Incorporated, Shamsudeen Usman, said achieving a one trillion dollar economy required collaborative actions of the federal, state governments and the private sector. Mr Usman who was a former Minister of Finance attributed lack of continuity of policies and personnel as some factors that could prevent the achievement of the target. Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, the Accountant-General of the Federation, said strong institutions were the backbone to every striving economy. Mr Ogunjimi said one trillion dollars economy was achievable by deepening the capital market. He said prioritising investment in agriculture and technology would help the country to achieve the target. The accountant-general called on the CIS to uphold ethical practices and advocate policies that would encourage market liquidity. Emomotimi Agama, the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), said the capital market was about capital formation. Mr Agama said the Investment and Securities Act (ISA 2025) was an invitation for stockbrokers to innovate beyond traditional products, investors to deploy capital with confidence and regulators to supervise with foresight. He said the mission of the commission was to operationalise the Act with speed and precision. Every rule drafted, every policy enacted, must be measured against one metric-does this get us closer to $1 trillion, he said. Mr Agama said the responsibility of SEC and all stakeholders in the sector was to build a market that would build the economy of the country. The President of CIS, Oluropo Dada, said that accelerating capital formation in all sectors of the economy would guarantee long term economic stability. Mr Dada said capital formation was a national necessity, saying that a vibrant industrial sector was the lifeblood of capital formation. He said the theme of the workshop was apt as there was the need to invest in the real capital to help improve the standard of living of citizens and ensure economic development. A former President of CIS, Olutola Mobolurin, said that developing risk capital formation would accelerate the journey of the country to a one trillion dollar economy. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the workshop is: Capital Formation in Nigeria: Strengthening Industry, Institutions and Markets to bolster a $1 trillion Economy. NAN reports that the workshop attracted financial and capital market stakeholders from around the country. (NAN) A lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, has appealed against the decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissing his application for speedy hearing of his suit seeking the reinstatement of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials of the state. President Bola Tinubu suspended Mr Fubara, his deputy and the states legislature under the state of emergency rule he imposed on the state on 18 March. Mr Jideobi, in the substantive suit, sought an order reinstating the elected officials. Displeased with the pace of the case before trial judge James Omotosho, the lawyer filed an ex parte application asking for the transfer of the issues of law in the case to the Court of Appeal for speedy determination. However, Mr Omotosho dismissed the ex-parte application in a ruling on July 17. The judge ruled that the application was only unmeritorious, it was also incompetent and breached the right to fair hearing of other parties to the suit. Other parties joined as respondents in the suit are President Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice admiral , and the Attorney-General of Rivers State. In his notice appeal challenging the Federal High Courts decision, Mr Jideobi sought an order directing the lower trial High Court to send, forthwith, the constitutional reference which the appellant requested (by his ex-parte application) to the Court of Appeal. He further applied for an order directing the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to re-assign this suit to another judge of the Federal High Court than Honourable Justice J.K. Omotosho for an accelerated hearing. The lawyer, who anchored his ex-parte on section 295 (2) of the Nigerian constitution, maintained that the trial judge erred in law and refused to follow the decision of the Supreme Court when he held that the question of law in issue in the case was not one that could not be determined by the Federal High Court. Mr Jideobi argued that section 295(2) of the Nigerian constitution permitted cases to be referred to the Court of Appeal under two conditions: the court could suo motu (on its own) take such a decision, and a party to the legal action could make such a request. He wrote, Under the first limb [when the court makes the reference, the court may refer a constitutional question to the appellate court if it is of the opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law whereas under the second limb [when a party makes a request for the constitutional reference], the court (obligatorily) shall refer the question to the Court of Appeal if any party to the proceedings so requests. The Supreme Court, in its judgements after judgements, has remained insistent in holding that while the trial High Court is not under a duty to, suo motu, refer a constitutional question to the Court of Appeal, the trial High Court is however duty bound to [willy-nilly] make the said constitutional reference where either party to the proceedings so requests. The plaintiff had, in his substantive suit, prayed the trial court to declare that the purported suspension of the Governor and the Deputy Governor of Rivers State of Nigeria by President Tinubu on 18 March as unconstitutional, null and void and of no legal effect whatsoever. Although the lawyer had, earlier, joined Attorneys-General of all the 36 states of the federation in the suit, they were subsequently delisted by the appellant. Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the appeal. (NAN) The suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, says she will approach the appellate court for interpretation of the legal impasse between her and the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan made this known while speaking with reporters in Abuja on Tuesday after being refused entry into the National Assembly Complex by security personnel. The suspended senator had on Tuesday defied a heavy security blockade and arrived at the national assembly complex on foot from the MOPOL gate, accompanied by a crowd of supporters. The lawmaker, whose suspension by the senate is being contested in court, parked her vehicle outside the national assembly premises and walked through the main MOPOL gate, in company with some activists, including Aisha Yesufu. Speaking with reporters, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, who defied the rain, insisted that her suspension was not only unjust but also procedurally flawed. Even the suspension, ab initio, was fraudulent. The document that recommended my suspension wasnt even attested to by the committee members. It was just a photocopy of an attendance sheet passed off as their signatures. There is no reason whatsoever, contrary to the publications that I read yesterday (Monday), that I should not resume today because the senate has appealed my suspension judgment. Thats wrong. What I appealed is the contempt and that is separate. The judgment came in two parts. One was to address the contempt which is based on the satirical apology letter which I made on Facebook which the judge thought it wise in her own stride that amounts to contempt. But Im saying clearly that that doesnt amount to contempt of court because before Justice Binta Nyako was not the matter of sexual harassment; it was the matter of suspension, she said. The senator said that if she decided to go back home, that did not mean that she was not unaware of the fact that the national assembly would go into a two-month recess, beginning from Wednesday. If we decide to turn our backs and go home, we are not ignorant of the fact that the national assembly is most likely going to go into recess tomorrow (Wednesday) for two months. And they will resume pretty much in the last week of September and, like you rightly said, that means I would have pretty much served the six months suspension. Im saying that because as of now, Im no longer suspended. And theres something very important I would like to say, that even the suspension, ab initio, was fraudulent, she said. (NAN) The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved N1.485 trillion as the Rivers State budget for the 2025 fiscal year. The approval followed the consideration and adoption of a report presented by the House Ad-hoc Committee on Rivers State during plenary. The Appropriation Bill, titled A Bill for an Act to Authorise the issue from the Rivers State Government Statutory Revenue Fund of the Rivers State Account, the total sum of N1.485 trillion, for the year ending 31 December 2025, was read for the third time and passed. It is the first budget of the state since it came under emergency rule about four months ago. President Bola Tinubu, had on 18 March, declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state to arrest the political crisis there. He suspended the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the House of Assembly. The president appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice admiral and former chief of naval staff, as sole administrator for an initial period of six months. Following the imposition of emergency rule, the National Assembly now legislate for the state. The budget The budget, forwarded by President Tinubu to the National Assembly in May for urgent intervention, is aimed at restoring governance and accelerating development in Rivers State amid the lingering political impasse in the state. According to the breakdown presented by the Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), the budget allocates N256 billion for personnel costs, N162.5 billion for overhead costs and N1.06 trillion for capital expenditure. The House dissolved into the Committee of Supply before passing the appropriation bill. Debate During the debate, the Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) raised an objection, arguing that the budget should only be allowed to run for the duration of the tenure of the sole administrator currently overseeing Rivers State affairs. He maintained that the full-year appropriation would outlive the temporary nature of the interim arrangement and suggested the budget be limited in scope. The lawmaker, who represents Obio/Akpor federal constituency of Rivers State, argued that allowing the budget to run through the entire fiscal year could create legal and administrative complications if a substantive governor is eventually reinstated or elected before the year ends. However, his objection was countered by a former Deputy Speaker of the House, Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), who said restricting the budget to the sole administrators tenure would render it ineffective, limiting spending only to the administrators personal and operational costs, while stalling critical public projects and services. Deputy Whip, Ibrahim Isiaka (APC, Ogun), also opposed Mr Chindas submission, stressing that government is a continuum and budgets must run on an annual cycle. He argued that the budget should not be tied to any specific individual in office. Chairman of the Committee of Supply and Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, echoed this sentiment. He emphasised that a budget is for the people, not for persons, and therefore, should not be dependent on who holds office at any given time. Nigerias fiscal stability is under threat from illicit financial flows (IFFs) fuelled by tax evasion, profit-shifting, and money laundering, the chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, said on Tuesday. Speaking at a national conference on illicit financial flows in Abuja, Mr Adedeji said illicit flows through tax evasion, profit-shifting, money laundering and trade mis-invoicing were depriving Nigeria of funds needed for infrastructure, public services and inclusive growth. He noted that multinational corporations exploiting global tax loopholes were responsible for billions of naira in lost revenue each year. The scale of this flow, especially due to aggressive tax avoidance by multinationals exploiting global arrangements, continues to threaten Nigerias fiscal stability, he said. The FIRS chairman said the assent of four tax reform bills by President Bola Tinubu on 26 June signalled a renewed commitment to modernising the tax system, increasing transparency and boosting compliance. However, he stressed that legal reform is only a starting point and must be supported by improved enforcement and digitalisation. He said the agency was pursuing a multi-pronged strategy, including voluntary compliance, taxpayer education and the deployment of advanced data and intelligence tools to track suspicious financial activities. Our goal is to foster a culture where compliance is driven by trust, not by fear, Mr Adedeji added. Hydra-headed Monster Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, described illicit flows as a serious national threat, linking them to reduced funding for essential services and deepening poverty. Illicit financial flows are the in-between pipes of our national wealth. They undermine revenue generation, erode tax bases, promote corruption, and reduce the resources available for critical investments in health, education, infrastructure, and social protection, she said. She warned that Nigeria loses about $15 billion annually through profit-shifting and tax avoidance by multinational corporations, which limits the governments ability to provide roads, schools, hospitals and jobs. Ms Uzoka-Anite urged participants at the conference to go beyond talk and commit to concrete measures. We must act with courage, we must act with speed, and we must collaborate in protecting our tax bases and stopping those property shipping from Nigeria without paying appropriate taxes, she said. The House of Representatives has condemned the recent decision by the United States government to reduce the validity of non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerian citizens, describing the move as unfair, harmful to bilateral relations, and detrimental to millions of law-abiding Nigerians. The condemnation followed a motion of urgent public importance jointly sponsored by Muhammad Muktar (APC, Jigawa), Jesse Okey, Joe Onuakalusi, Festus Adefiranye, Sam Atu, and Akiba Ekpenyong during Tuesdays plenary. The lawmakers called on the US government to immediately rescind the new visa policy, which slashes validity from a five-year multiple-entry arrangement to a three-month single-entry regime. Diplomatic tensions over visa policies In recent years, diplomatic tensions have risen over restrictive US travel and visa policies targeting African countries. In a statement issued in response to a travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump, the African Union Commission warned that such arbitrary restrictions could strain decades-long diplomatic ties between the US and Africa. The Commission urged the US government to adopt a more balanced and evidence-based approach, stressing that blanket bans were unjust and potentially damaging. President Trumps proclamation had barred citizens from 12 countries, seven of them African, from entering the US, citing terrorism and national security risks. Barely a week after that action, his administration began considering similar visa bans and travel restrictions for Nigeria and 24 other African countries. In total, 36 countries were reportedly under review at the time. The current shift to single-entry, three-month non-immigrant visas for Nigerians is officially said to be part of the US governments global visa reciprocity policy, with the US Mission in Nigeria stating that it mirrors Nigerias visa policy for Americans. Previously, many Nigerians were issued two-year and five-year multiple-entry visas. Debate Leading debate on the motion, Mr Muktar said the House must rise in defence of the ordinary Nigerian whose aspiration to study, work, or reunite with family in the US now stands threatened by a unilateral policy shift. He expressed concern that the policy change, which took effect on 8 July, would have far-reaching consequences for business, academic pursuits, and family life, particularly among members of Nigerias vibrant diaspora. This new policy will inflict significant consequences across multiple spheres, Mr Muktar added, warning that it could undermine Nigerias strategic objective of attracting over $1 billion in monthly remittances through diaspora bonds. The lawmaker stressed the long-standing partnership between Nigeria and the United States, which is anchored on shared democratic values, mutual respect, and cooperation in areas such as trade, education, and security. It is deeply disturbing that this policy shift comes despite decades of goodwill, sacrifices, and bilateral efforts invested by both governments and citizens to promote common goals, Mr Muktar noted. He highlighted the invaluable contributions of Nigerians in the United States, describing them as one of the most educated and productive immigrant communities in the country. He listed some notable persons, including Chimamanda Adichie, Bennet Omalu, and Uzoma Asagwara, who he said are Nigerians excelling globally. He also recalled the efforts of the Nigeria-United States Parliamentary Friendship Group (NUSPFG), which has consistently engaged US institutions and lawmakers, including Chris Smith and officials of the US State Department, to foster mutual understanding and address concerns around profiling, immigration fairness, and security. Resolutions Following deliberations, the House urged the US Embassy in Nigeria and the US Department of State to rescind the policy and restore the five-year multiple-entry visa regime previously granted to Nigerian applicants. It also mandated the Nigeria-United States Parliamentary Friendship Group to formally communicate its position to the US Congress, the State Department, and the US Embassy in Nigeria, and intensify diplomatic engagements for fairer immigration treatment. It further directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to diplomatically engage with the US government to prevent further erosion of bilateral relations and protect Nigerian citizens dignity and mobility rights. The House also encouraged continued dialogue between Nigerian and American institutions, governmental and non-governmental, to resolve lingering issues relating to security, human rights, and policy misperceptions. Nigeria has long held the prestigious title of Giant of Africa, yet it continues to grapple with entrenched challengespoor policy implementation, rising poverty, widespread illiteracy, and leadership deficiencies at both national and subnational levels. These issues have too often led to a cycle of underdevelopment, where successive administrations pass the buck, leaving citizens frustrated and disillusioned. As the African proverb goes, When the roots of a tree begin to decay, it spreads death to the branches. At the state level, Zamfara once epitomised this grim reality. The state was plagued by insecurity, rampant corruption, administrative neglect, youth idleness, and decaying infrastructure. Public service morale had collapsed, governance was reactive rather than proactive, and the culture of hard work had been eroded by a get-rich-quick syndrome encouraged by poor leadership. The glaring absence of impactful policy direction left Zamfara trailing at the bottom of national development indices. Then came a breath of fresh air: Governor Dauda Lawal. A seasoned banker-turned public servant, he assumed office at a time when the people of Zamfara were desperate for changereal, tangible, and people-centred change. Despite the daunting security situation and economic hardship, his approach to governance has been radically different. As the saying goes, When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. The people were ready, and Dauda Lawal rose to the occasion. He brought to the table the discipline, efficiency, and strategic thinking of the banking world. Governor Lawal is not just occupying an officehe is serving with a purpose. His leadership style is anchored on transparency, strategic planning, and inclusiveness. Mr Lawal has succeeded in dismantling the old order of patronage politics and mismanagement in Zamfara, and replaced it with a governance structure that is citizen-focused and result-oriented. As Chinua Achebe once wrote, The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. Fortunately, Zamfara has now found in Dauda Lawal the kind of leadership that inspires, innovates, and delivers. Key Indicators of Transformation Under His Leadership: 1. Education as a Cornerstone: Realizing that education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world (Nelson Mandela), Governor Dauda Lawal declared a State of Emergency in Education. Hundreds of schools are undergoing renovation, teachers are being retrained, and learning materials are provided at no cost. Zamfara is now a major beneficiary of the World Bank-supported AGILE project, with girls education and secondary school enrollment on the rise. 2. Revitalizing Agriculture: Agriculture, the economic lifeline of Zamfara, is now receiving unprecedented support. In a nation where many farmers have abandoned their fields due to skyrocketing input costs, Zamfara is thriving. The governor has ensured free distribution of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicidessowing the seeds of tomorrow with the sweat of today. No farmer is expected to pay a dime, making it possible for both dry and wet season farming to flourish again. 3. Improved Healthcare Access: With the wisdom that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation, Governor Lawal has invested heavily in revitalizing healthcare infrastructure. Primary health centers are being upgraded, equipment is being supplied, and free maternal care is now a reality for many rural women. Health is no longer a luxury in Zamfarait is fast becoming a right. 4. Civil Service Reform and Workers Welfare: For the first time in years, civil servants and pensioners in Zamfara walk tall with pride. Salaries are paid promptly, pensions are honored, and ghost worker fraud is being wiped out. As the Hausa proverb says, Idan ruwa ya yi tsami, ruwan sama ba ya hana shi tsami meaning even when the odds are tough, only deliberate and honest effort can correct long-standing wrongs. Governor Lawal is doing just that. 5. Urban Renewal and Infrastructure: Across the state, roads are being constructed, cities are being beautified, and communities are being reconnected. From Gusau to rural hinterlands, there is now a visible differencewhere there was chaos, there is now order; where there was neglect, there is now attention. 6. Security and Peacebuilding: Though insecurity remains a national concern, Zamfara has made bold moves in reclaiming its space. Through strategic collaboration with security agencies and local vigilante networks, displaced persons are returning and rural dwellers are farming again. As another African proverb wisely states, When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind. 7. Youth and Women Empowerment: Through youth training programs, grants for small businesses, and women-focused economic empowerment, a new generation of self-reliant citizens is emerging. Teach them how to fish, Governor Lawal seems to say, not just give them fish. Our beacon of Hope in Northern Nigeria In just 2 years, Governor Dauda Lawal has redefined leadership in Zamfara State. He is proving that with vision, sincerity, and political will, even the most distressed states can rise again. He has restored dignity to governance and rekindled hope among the people. His administration is not about politics of propaganda, but policies of performance. As John Maxwell aptly put it, A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. Governor Dauda Lawal is doing just thatand more. In a time where Nigeria desperately needs models of transformative leadership, Dauda Lawal stands tall as a developmental democrat and a shining example not just for Zamfara, but for the entire federation. The darkest night produces the brightest stars. Zamfara, once in darkness, now shines with promise under his watch. What a Governor! What a model for good governance! What a new dawn for Zamfara! * Mr Sani Ahmed Sambo contributed this piece from Gusau, the Zamfara State capital Skipped the BTC Rally? Use BYDFis 200x Perpetuals to amplify the next market move The cryptocurrency market is notorious for its rapid and often unpredictable surges and corrections. Many investors found themselves on the sidelines during Bitcoins recent impressive rally, watching from afar as prices climbed. While its natural to feel a sense of missed opportunity, the dynamic nature of crypto means that new chances constantly emerge. For those looking to capitalize on future market movements, exceptionally seasoned traders can leverage trading through perpetual contracts, which offer a powerful avenue to amplify potential gains. Platforms like BYDFi are at the forefront of providing sophisticated tools for this very purpose, including an impressive 200x leverage on perpetual futures. This article will explore how perpetual contracts work, the potential they unlock, and how BYDFi positions itself as a comprehensive platform for traders aiming to maximize their exposure to the next big market swing. What Are Perpetual Contracts? A Way to Amplified Returns In traditional finance, futures contracts have expiration dates, meaning traders must close or roll over their positions by a specific time. Perpetual contracts, or perpetual futures, revolutionize this by removing the expiry date. This allows traders to hold positions indefinitely, as long as they maintain sufficient margin. This no expiry feature, combined with the ability to use leverage, makes perpetual contracts incredibly popular in the fast-paced crypto market. Leverage essentially allows you to control a larger position with a smaller amount of initial capital. For instance, with 200x leverage, a modest $100 could theoretically control a position worth $20,000. This amplification of capital is what draws many traders, as it means even small price movements can translate into significant profits. Its crucial to understand that while leverage can magnify gains, it equally amplifies losses. A small adverse price movement can lead to a liquidation event, where your position is automatically closed to prevent further losses, potentially wiping out your initial margin. Therefore, high leverage requires meticulous risk management and a deep understanding of market dynamics. Why BYDFi Stands Out in the Perpetual Contracts Space BYDFi, a global social trading platform that launched in 2020 and rebranded in January 2023, has rapidly grown into a trusted name for over a million users across 190+ countries. Recognized by Forbes in December 2023 as one of the worlds top 10 crypto exchanges, BYDFi has consistently evolved its offerings to meet the demands of a dynamic market. Its perpetual contract system, in particular, is designed to empower traders seeking to capitalize on market volatility. The Exceptional Leverage Of Up to 200x One of BYDFis most compelling features is its offering of up to 200x leverage on perpetual contracts. This level of leverage is notably higher than the typical 100x or 125x found on many other exchanges, providing experienced traders with an exceptional opportunity to maximize their capital efficiency and potential returns. For a trader confident in their market analysis, this can be a game-changer for amplifying exposure to assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a wide array of altcoins. The Advanced Perpetual Trading System BYDFi doesnt just offer high leverage; it provides a robust and feature-rich perpetual contract system designed for diverse trading strategies: Extensive Contract Pairs With over 400 perpetual contract pairs, including USDT-M and Coin-M futures, traders have a vast selection of assets to speculate on, from major cryptocurrencies to emerging altcoins. Flexible Position Management A significant upgrade in December 2024 introduced enhanced features. Traders can now open new positions even without unrealized profits, offering greater flexibility. The system also supports bidirectional long/short positions for hedging, allowing sophisticated traders to mitigate risk by simultaneously holding opposing positions. Optimized Margin Modes The integration of shared account funds under full margin mode significantly reduces liquidation risks. This means your entire account balance can serve as collateral for all your positions, providing a larger buffer against market fluctuations compared to isolated margin. You can still choose between isolated or cross margin based on your risk preference. Transparent and Competitive Fees BYDFi is committed to a fair and transparent fee structure, allowing users to clearly see transaction records, fees, and profits without hidden charges. Beyond Perpetuals A Comprehensive Trading Ecosystem While perpetual contracts are a powerful tool, BYDFi offers a holistic trading environment that caters to various investor needs and risk appetites. The Diverse Trading Options Spot Trading For those who prefer direct ownership and lower risk, BYDFi offers spot trading for over 900 cryptocurrencies. This is ideal for long-term holding and gaining direct exposure to the underlying assets. If youre looking for how to buy Bitcoin (BTC) directly, BYDFis spot market is a straightforward way to do it. Copy Trading This leading feature allows users to automatically mirror the trades of experienced and profitable traders. Its an excellent option for beginners or those with limited time for market analysis, enabling them to benefit from expert strategies. You can start with as little as $10. Automated Trading Bots BYDFi provides various trading bots to automate strategies, reducing emotional trading and allowing users to capitalize on market movements 24/7. Spot Investment Automate dollar-cost averaging into over 100 trading pairs. Spot/Futures Grid Automate buying low and selling high within a defined price range. Spot Martingale A contrarian strategy that increases investment during market declines to average down costs, suitable for well-funded investors in volatile markets. Demo Trading Crucially for both new and experienced traders, BYDFi offers a demo account with 50,000 USDT for practice. This allows users to test strategies and familiarize themselves with the platform and market dynamics without risking real funds. Seamless On-Ramp and Off-Ramp Solutions BYDFi makes accessing the crypto market incredibly user-friendly with its fiat gateway. You can easily deposit funds using credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and popular third-party payment providers like Apple Pay, Google Pay, Banxa, Transak, and Mercuryo. This supports over 100 currencies, providing global accessibility. Security and Trust The Foundation of Trading In the world of crypto, security is paramount. BYDFi understands this and has implemented top-tier measures to protect user assets and ensure a reliable trading environment: Cold Storage A significant portion of user funds is held offline in cold storage wallets, minimizing exposure to online threats. Multi-Party Approvals Transactions from cold wallets require multiple authorizations, adding an extra layer of security against unauthorized access. Segregated Accounts User funds are kept in segregated cold storage wallets, ensuring they are held separately from the companys operational funds. Strict Whitelisting Withdrawals are restricted to whitelisted addresses, preventing unauthorized transfers. Proof of Reserves (POR) Since October 2024, BYDFi has ensured all platform assets are fully backed with at least 1:1 reserves and began publishing periodic POR reports, offering unprecedented transparency. Strategic Partnerships A partnership with hardware wallet manufacturer Ledger in February 2025 further strengthens BYDFis commitment to user asset security. Regulatory Compliance BYDFi holds dual MSB licenses in the US and Canada and is a member of South Koreas CODE VASP Alliance, underscoring its commitment to operating within established regulatory frameworks. Conclusion Are You Ready to Amplify Your Trading? The crypto market is constantly evolving, presenting new opportunities for those equipped to seize them. Whether you missed the last Bitcoin rally or are looking to amplify your positions in the next market cycle, BYDFi offers a robust suite of tools. From its industry-leading 200x perpetual contracts and diverse trading options to its unwavering commitment to security and user support, BYDFi is built to empower individual investors. Take control of your financial journey in the digital economy. If youre ready to explore how to leverage the next market move or simply want to learn how to buy bitcoin (BTC), start your trading journey with BYDFi. The Drive reported that when Joshua Lee, a member of Hertz's President's Circle, returned his Tesla to the rental agency after a weekend holiday in Los Angeles, he noticed an extra charge on his bill: $277.39 for refueling. When Lee made the reservation, he chose the "Skip the Pump and Save Time" option -- so even if his rental had been gas-fueled, he shouldn't have been charged. But Lee returned the Tesla with a 96% full battery, and the maximum fee for not refueling is $35. Hertz initially stood firm, stating that the "contract is closed," but has since relented and "will refund this erroneous charge." [The Drive, 5/8/2024] Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/ Norway and Germany will make an "important contribution" to ensuring Ukraine's air defense, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said at a press conference in Berlin, the NRK portal reported on Monday. "Ukraine needs our support. Thank God that the United States is ready to provide Ukraine with weapons, which are also financed by European partners. Germany and Norway will make an important contribution," said Merz. Stre added that Norway is also ready to pay, although there is no final agreement yet. "The Americans have said that they are very keen to help Ukraine in this matter. They want Europe to essentially shoulder some of the costs. In order for this to happen, the Patriot systems that currently exist must be moved to Ukraine," Stre told NRK on Monday evening. Stre explained that Germany has two Patriot systems that it is ready to transfer to Ukraine. However, Germany wants guarantees that they will be replaced. "Then they must be quickly delivered to Germany. And here the USA comes to the rescue. Trump said that he would facilitate this, but the time frame is unclear. This needs to be clarified," NRK quoted the Norwegian prime minister as saying. The Zamfara State Government, on Monday, 21 July, 2025, convened a high-level security stakeholders meeting in Gusau, the state capital, as part of the renewed efforts to combat banditry and other forms of criminality in the state. The strategy session, organised by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), on the directive of Governor Dauda Lawal, brought together heads of security agencies and key government officials. The meeting was aimed at fostering stronger synergy between the state government, security institutions, and federal agencies to enhance the effectiveness of the ongoing operations. The Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada, chaired the session, which was later joined by the Deputy Governor, Mani Malam Mummuni, further demonstrating the administrations highest political commitment to securing Zamfara State. Participants critically reviewed the current security landscape and deliberated on ten new strategic recommendations proposed by the state government. These strategies are designed to reinforce recent successes and scale up operations against banditry and related criminal activities. While addressing the stakeholders, Mr Nakwada commended the dedication and bravery of security personnel across the state. The state government acknowledges the immense sacrifices you and your gallant personnel have made in protecting our people. On behalf of His Excellency, Governor Dauda Lawal, I deeply appreciate and commend your selfless efforts and commitment, the SSG stated. He emphasised the importance of sustained and adaptive collaboration, noting that joint, responsive strategies are key to building lasting peace and stability. To effectively tackle our complex security challenges, we must continue to adapt, innovate, and, most importantly, work together more seamlessly than ever before. Our goal today is to collectively chart a path toward a safer and more prosperous Zamfara State, he added. Mr Nakwada also condemned the recent spate of attacks in some communities, expressing governments deep grief and solidarity with the victims. On behalf of the Zamfara State Government, I extend our heartfelt condolences to those who lost loved ones and sympathize with those who suffered losses. Let me reassure you that this administration will not relent until Zamfara is restored as a peaceful and habitable state for all, he assured. Reiterating the administrations commitment, Mr Nakwada affirmed that Governor Dauda Lawal remains resolute in supporting security agencies with the resources and backing required to decisively deal with criminal elements. In his closing remarks, the Deputy Governor, Mr Mummuni, lauded the efforts of all stakeholders and called for intensified action. We deeply appreciate your efforts, but we must do more. Let us secure every inch of our dear state, he urged. The Nigeria Media Innovation Programme (NAMIP) and the Daily Trust Foundation are organising a conference on Media Sustainability with the theme Future-Proofing Nigerias Journalism Media A Sustainability Dynamic. The two-day event, scheduled to hold in Abuja on 30 and 31 July, 2025, will bring together media entrepreneurs, editors, technologists, policymakers, media investors, philanthropic partners, and stakeholders from across the media ecosystem in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. The conference will present an opportunity for participants to engage in critical conversations around media viability, revenue models that are profitable, diverse media innovations that attract audiences, and the future of independent journalism in Nigeria. The conference also marks a significant milestone for NAMIP, a programme of the Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF), as it concludes its first phase after three years of implementation in Nigeria. With funding from the MacArthur Foundation, NAMIP has supported 28 media organisations across the country to explore new business models, adopt emerging technologies, and test audience-centric strategies to enhance sustainability. The Daily Trust Foundation, on its part, with funding from MacArthur Foundation, has trained over 1,000 journalists in the craft of investigative reporting in the last eight years. The works of some journalists who benefited from the Foundations workshops have won local and international awards. The two-day event will feature keynote addresses, research-based reports, thematic panel discussions, product demonstrations, and strategy workshops, designed to reflect on the past three years of innovation while building practical insight for the years ahead. Confirmed speakers include: Mr Mohammed Idris , Minister of Information and National Orientation , Minister of Information and National Orientation Harlan Mandel , CEO, Media Development Investment Fund , CEO, Media Development Investment Fund Mr Bilya Bala , Chairman, Daily Trust Foundation , Chairman, Daily Trust Foundation Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher, Premium Times Publisher, Premium Times Professor Umaru Pate , Vice Chancellor, Federal University Kashere , Vice Chancellor, Federal University Kashere Mr Mannir Dan-Ali , Board Member, Daily Trust Foundation , Board Member, Daily Trust Foundation Angela Agoawike , Founder, Omalicha Radio , Founder, Omalicha Radio Toun Okewale Sonaiya , Co-Founder, Women Radio 91.7 , Co-Founder, Women Radio 91.7 Mr Isiaq Ajibola , a former Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Daily Trust , a former Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Daily Trust Members of the NAMIP Advisory Committee Daily Maverick, South Africa The Media Sustainability Conference will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange and peer learning while also celebrating the resilience and ingenuity of Nigerian media founders and practitioners. It is designed to foster continued collaboration between local media innovators and the ecosystem of support that enables their growth, including donors, investors, researchers, and civic actors. The Programme Director of Daily Trust Foundation, Dr Theophilus Abbah, said about the conference: It will be a unique opportunity for Nigerians in the media and journalism business to learn from business models and practices that work in other parts of the world. It is becoming clearer that the media business is not a hopeless one. In spite of the disruptions created by digitization, experts have come up with innovations and strategies that could keep media businesses alive. Some of these will be unveiled at the media sustainability conference. The Programme Director of the Nigerian Media Innovation Programme, Deji Adekunle also said: This convening gives us an opportunity to share learnings, ideas, and confront the questions we all face on the subject of sustainability of public interest media. We hope that participants leave the conference inspired, connected and well informed about what the future of independent media and its innovations look like. Attendance is by registration. Interested participants can apply via the link below. Conference details will be shared only with confirmed attendees. https://airtable.com/appVWU0BIQK5uYuvJ/pagmxg6GreixoUh11/form Follow us for updates: @NAMIP_MDIF | @Daily_TrustF The Speaker of the Benue House of Assembly (BHA), Hyacinth Dajoh, said no invader would succeed in taking their land. Mr Dajoh stated this when he visited the displaced Yelwata refugees at the Ultra Modern International Market, Makurdi on Tuesday. The speaker, who also donated assorted relief items to the victims of the attack, said their land was given to them by God and nobody can take it from them. He further assured the displaced persons that God would help the government to resettle them in their ancestral homes. The speaker said that they came to identify and console them, assuring that the ugly incident would not repeat itself. Mr Dajoh assured them that God would not abandon them but would help them to regain all that they have lost. He also advised the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), James Iorpuu, to do his work diligently so that posterity would judge him right. Mr Dajoh emphasised that if he does otherwise, nemesis would catch up with him after he exited office. If you serve the displaced persons without indulging in sharp practices good luck will follow you even after you leave office. But bad luck will follow you if you deprive them of what is due them, Mr Dajoh said. Meanwhile, Peter Uche (APC/Guma I), appealed to the speaker to keep to his words of assisting the displaced persons to return to their homes. Responding, Mr Iorpuu, appreciated the United Nations, spirited individuals and churches for always coming to the aid of the displaced persons. He said that staff of the agency do ensure that the items donated get to the victims, stressing that they were doing their work with all their might and with love. Mr Iorpuu appealed to relevant agencies to assist in putting to an end the issue of invasion of Benue communities. (NAN) The Benue State House of Assembly has recalled seven members who were suspended earlier in February. This followed the reading of a joint letter by the suspended members, presented by the Majority Leader, Mr Saater Tiseer, during plenary on Tuesday in Makurdi. After reading the letter, Mr Tiseer moved a motion for their recall, noting they had met the Houses conditions by submitting a written apology. He said the lawmakers showed remorse and promised to conduct themselves properly going forward. In their contributions, Peter Ipusu (APC/Katsina-Ala West) and Elias Audu (APC/Gwer East) supported the motion, confirming the members pledged good conduct. Ruling on the matter, Speaker Hyacinth Dajoh said the seven had fulfilled all conditions and would rejoin proceedings in the next sitting. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the recalled members include Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South) and Becky Orpin (APC/Gboko East). Others are Manger Manger (APC/Tarka), Ezrah Nyiyongu (PDP/Ukum), Jonathan Agbidye (APC/Katsina Ala East), Samuel Agada (APC/Ogbadibo) and Abraham Jabi (APC/Buruku). NAN recalls that while 13 members were initially suspended, six were previously reinstated in February. (NAN) The Kwara State High Court in Ilorin heard Tuesday how the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launched a probe of former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and uncovered N5.78 billion diverted during his administration. Seventh prosecution witness Stanley Ujilibo, who is an EFCC detective, shared insights into the probe at a hearing in the ongoing trial of the former governor and his co-defendant. A statement by the EFCC on Tuesday said the commission is prosecuting Mr Ahmed, who was Kwara State governor between 2011 and 2019, and his former Finance Commissioner, Ademola Banu, on 14 counts of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds totalling N5.78 billion. Mr Ujilibo, who is an Assistant Commander with the EFCC and a member of the investigative team, said during Tuesdays hearing that the commission began its investigation following a petition dated 17 April 2024, from the Kwara State Director of Public Prosecution, Akande Ayoola, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the state. According to the witness, the petition alleged diversion of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds meant for educational infrastructure across the 16 local government areas of the state. Led in evidence by EFCC lawyer Rotimi Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the EFCC wrote to UBEC requesting relevant documents. He said, in response to EFCCs request, UBECs Assistant Director, Hassan Abubakar, supplied project action plans and contractor information for 20132015. The EFCC also invited several officials for questioning, including a former SUBEB chairperson, Lanre Daibu; SUBEBs former Permanent Secretary, Musa Dasuki; Director of Physical Planning, Abdulsalam Olarewaju; a former Accountant-General of Kwara State, Suleiman Ishola; and former Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary, Benjamin Fatigun. Mr Ujilibo added that the commission traced the flow of UBEC funds using bank statements from Polaris and Guaranty Trust Bank, which held SUBEBs accounts. He said the defendants were invited, voluntarily made statements in the presence of their lawyers, and those statements were admitted into evidence without objection. Earlier on Tuesday, the sixth prosecution witness, Mr Ishola, who was the states Accountant-General of Kwara State between 2013 and 2019, told the court that, in 2015, the Mr Ahmed administration borrowed N1 billion from the UBEC matching grant to pay civil servant salaries and pensions. Mr Ishola said the vouchers authorising the borrowing were raised by officials of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). The witness, also led by prosecution lawyer Mr Jacobs, testified that neither of the two defendants personally authorised the disbursement or directly benefited from the borrowed funds. Mr Isholas testimony corroborated earlier testimony by Mr Daibu, former SUBEB chairman, who said the state government formally approved the use of the funds for salary payments. Following cross-examinations by defence counsel J.A. Mumini, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), representing Messrs Ahmed and Banu, respectively, Mr Ishola was discharged from the witness box. Trial judge Mahmud Abdulgafar adjourned further hearing until 16 and 17 October. Background The EFCC charged Messrs Ahmed and Banu on 14 counts of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds totalling N5.78 billion. The funds, earmarked for basic education under UBECs matching grant scheme, were allegedly diverted during Mr Ahmeds tenure as governor from 2011 to 2019. In October 2024, the two men were re-arraigned before Mr Abdulgafar following the transfer of the former trial judge, Evelyn Anyadike. They pleaded not guilty to all counts. Among other allegations, the EFCC accused them of illegally spending N1 billion from SUBEBs UBEC matching grant account in January 2015 to pay civil servant salaries funds that were meant for 2013 education projects. Another charge accused them of transferring nearly N1 billion from the same account in 2016 to repay loans, contrary to the UBEC Act and the states action plan. Mr Abdulgafar granted them bail in the sum of N100 million each, with two sureties one of whom must be a serving or retired permanent secretary. Key witness testimonies In December 2024, Abubakar Hassan, UBECs Assistant Director of Finance, testified that Mr Ahmeds administration diverted funds meant for 51 educational projects. He said many were unexecuted or abandoned. In February, Mr Hassan told the court that Kwara SUBEB illegally withdrew N1.8 billion from UBEC funds in February 2016, and that the funds were used for salaries instead of infrastructure projects. He said UBEC had to step in to loan N1 billion to cover staff costs. In March, another witness, Musa Dasuki, a former SUBEB Permanent Secretary, testified that the state government requested use of the 2013 UBEC grant to pay teachers, promising to repay the funds. Mr Dasuki said repayment never happened, leading to abandoned classrooms, toilets, and ICT centres across all 16 LGAs. Following their arrangements, EFCC maintains that the accused violated the UBEC Act and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act by misapplying education funds for unauthorised purposes. It said the infractions undermined UBECs objectives of providing universal access to basic education. 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. In a surprising political development, the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for reelection in 2027. In the 2023 presidential election, Mr Tinubu lost Osun to PDPs Atiku Abubakar by a narrow margin. Atiku polled 354,366 votes while Mr Tinubu secured 343,945 votes a significant setback for the APC candidate in what is considered his ancestral home. Yet, in a communique issued on Monday at the end of a PDP caucus meeting held at the Government House in Osogbo, and made public Tuesday by Governor Ademola Adelekes spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the Osun PDP declared its support for Mr Tinubus reelection bid. The caucus recognises the fact that Osun is the ancestral home of President Bola Tinubu, which makes him the son of the state, the PDP leaders said. Accordingly, the caucus adopted and endorsed the President for re-election in the 2027 general elections. The endorsement, coming from a party that trounced Mr Tinubu in the state just over two years ago, has raised eyebrows among political observers and stirred conversations around party loyalty, ethnic identity, and electoral strategy. The endorsement of President Tinubu came amid speculations that Governor Adeleke might defect to the APC ahead of the August 2026 governorship election. But the PDP leaders insisted that Mr Adeleke remains fully committed to the PDP and will seek reelection on its platform. The caucus affirms that Governor Adeleke remains in PDP and will contest the August 2026 governorship election under the banner of the party, the communique stated. The leaders acknowledged internal resistance within both parties to any potential defection, noting that the idea of Mr Adeleke joining the APC did not originate from him. Majority of APC members are opposed to Governor Adeleke joining the APC, and many of our own members only considered following him out of loyalty, not because they supported the idea, the PDP caucus noted. They also accused some APC leaders of hostility and resentment toward the governor, allegedly driven by entrenched personal interests. READ ALSO: 500 miners buried by landslides in eastern Congo The communique reaffirmed support for Mr Adelekes second-term bid and directed all PDP members in the state to remain with the party and work toward its continued dominance. It further called on the governor to intensify efforts in delivering his administrations five-point development agenda. The document was signed by key PDP figures in the state, including Governor Adeleke, his deputy Kola Adewusi, former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives Lasun Yusuf, PDP state chairman Sunday Bisi, and others. COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF OSUN STATE PDP LEADERSHIP CAUCUS MEETING HELD AT THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE, OSOGBO TODAY JULY 21, 2025 Following extensive consultations, debates, surveys, opinion sampling from traditional rulers, community leaders, civil servants, retirees, religious leaders, market men and women, interactions with members of the PDP and the general public across major towns and villages in Osun State, on issues pertaining to recent political developments in the state, the Leadership Caucus of Osun PDP hereby reviewed as follows: A. That all politics is local, and as such, the feelings and aspirations of voters and party members are critical to decisions on party affiliations; B. That the majority of the members of the APC in Osun State are opposed to the idea of the defection of Governor Adeleke to the APC, which did not originate from the governor in the first instance. Some APC leaders based on entrenched interests have demonstrated hostility and resentment towards Governor Ademola Adeleke. Some went on social media and national television to call Governor Adeleke all kinds of unprintable names. C. That the majority of PDP members in Osun State are not happy about the idea of the defection of Governor Adeleke to APC, but only reluctantly agreed to follow Governor Adeleke to wherever he goes to show their love, support and loyalty to his leadership. D. That the state governor, the state government, and the PDP as a political party remain very popular and acceptable above all other political parties in Osun State. Consequently, the leaders hereby resolve as follows: 1. That the PDP in Osun State recognizes the fact that Osun State is the ancestral home of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which makes the President the son of Osun State. Therefore, the PDP in Osun State hereby, adopts, and endorses President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in the 2027 presidential election. 2. That PDP in Osun State reaffirms its adoption and endorsement of Governor Ademola Adeleke for re-election in the 2026 governorship election on the platform of the PDP. 3. That Governor Ademola Adeleke and all members of the PDP in Osun State should remain in the PDP. Ogun State workers have suspended their industrial action following an agreement with the state government on the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). The strike, which began on 14 July, was called off on Tuesday after leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) signed a Memorandum of Action (MoA) with the state government. According to a joint statement by the unions on Tuesday, the agreement outlined timelines for clearing pension arrears and commencing monthly deductions into workers Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) starting from July. The labour unions said the decision to suspend the strike was influenced by interventions from traditional rulers, national labour executives, and labour veterans. They also cited constructive engagements with government officials and growing security concerns as factors that contributed to the resolution. In light of these developments and in consideration of the temporary agreements reached with the government, Organised Labour has resolved to suspend the strike. The agreement is taken as a demonstration of good faith and commitment by the state government, the NLC chairperson, Hameed Ademola, said. He assured workers that the unions would closely monitor compliance with the agreed terms and reiterated that no worker in the state or local government service would be victimised for participating in the strike. Highlights of the agreement In a separate MoA signed by Secretary to the State Government Olatokunbo Talabi, Mr Ademola, and JNC chairperson, Isa Olude, a Pension Fund Management Committee (PFMC) would be constituted within 48 hours to oversee the administration of the CPS, in line with Section 19(2) of the Pension Reform Law (2006). They said all efforts to address issues relating to Retirement Savings Accounts, Personal Identification Numbers, and enrolment processes will recommence immediately, and the committee will determine the timeline for completion. With effect from 2 July 2025, monthly employee contributions shall be deducted and added to the employers contribution. Both shall be remitted to the Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) of staff with the nominated Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) on a monthly basis. The remittance of outstanding deductions to the Pension Fund Administrators shall incorporate all outstanding deductions, along with the applicable Returns on Investment (ROI). The total outstanding contribution liability, including the required ROI, shall be funded and credited to the RSAs of employees in phases, Mr Talabi stated. Mr Talabi said the first phase of payment, covering deductions from July to July 2030, will commence immediately after the actuarial valuation exercise, which is expected to last between six and eight weeks. He explained that the second round of disbursements, scheduled for August 2026, will cover the period from July 2030 to July 2035. The remaining balance, covering the final seven years, will be paid annually thereafter. The agreement stipulates that the valuation must be completed by 30 September. If this deadline is not met, the Organised Labour and PFMC may propose a deferral of the CPS implementation to a date not later than 31 December. The government also pledged to introduce necessary legislation to guard against future defaults in pension remittances. The committee will have the authority to request and verify all information from the appointed actuary to ensure transparency. Also, the MOA stated that the files of workers who retired voluntarily before 2 July will be assessed individually, and no worker will face reprisals for participating in the strike. Mr Talabi said the administration expects the states workforce to reciprocate its gesture with continued loyalty, dedication, and efficiency in their duties. Workers express discontent Despite the agreement, some workers expressed dissatisfaction, accusing union leaders of ignoring the unresolved issue of the N70,000 national minimum wage, which has yet to be implemented more than seven months after its announcement. The union leadership has failed us because most of them are close to their retirement, said one worker who spoke to Premium Times anonymously. The pension issue is important, but what about our salaries? Prices are rising, but our wages havent changed. Another civil servant described the decision to suspend the strike as betrayal, noting that the strike presented a rare chance to demand both pensions and improved wages, but that opportunity was now lost. Despite their lamentations, the Union has requested the workers to resume work immediately, with a guarantee that no one will be victimised for joining the strike. As of press time, the Ogun State Government had not issued a statement clarifying when the new minimum wage would be implemented. Background In October 2024, Governor Dapo Abiodun approved N77,000 as the new minimum wage for the lowest-paid workers in Ogun State. The announcement followed a meeting between state officials, led by Mr Talabi, and the leadership of the NLC, TUC, and JNC. Mr Talabi said at the time that the directive was part of efforts to address the rising cost of living and that the governor had also encouraged the organised private sector to implement similar measures to improve the welfare of their workers. He noted that a monitoring team would be set up to ensure compliance. Mr Ademola welcomed the announcement, describing it as the highest minimum wage in the country and confirming that the new wage would not be taxed. TUCs Akeem Lasisi and JNCs Isa Olude also praised the move, noting that consequential adjustments for pensioners and other categories of staff would follow consultations. Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya, said the wage approval demonstrated the state governments responsiveness and would boost morale among public workers. However, nearly a year after the announcement, implementation of the new wage remains stalled, and workers continue to press for clarity and action. A new distribution agreement expands access to high-performance solar technology for homes and businesses MILAN and BOLOGNA, Italy, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TCL SunPower Global, a leading provider of innovative solar energy solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Comet S.p.A., one of Italy's most established distributors of electrical products and solutions. Through this agreement, Comet will distribute TCL Solar panels in the regions served by the Group, making advanced TCL Solar technology more accessible to installers and customers. This collaboration marks a key milestone in TCL SunPower Global's European expansion and reflects a shared commitment to accelerating Italy's energy transition. TCL SunPower Global and Comet S.p.A. TCL SunPower Global will continue to offer SunPower products through its established SunPower partner network, launched in 2008, which has consistently delivered premium solar solutions to residential and commercial customers across Italy since its inception. Building on this solid foundation, the company is now expanding into broader distribution channels under the TCL Solar brand. This new offering introduces value-driven, high-performance products designed to meet the growing demand for accessible clean energy solutions nationwide. A new chapter for solar in Italy Comet, headquartered in Bologna, brings decades of experience in consumer electronics, electrical systems, and energy solutions. With its extensive retail footprint and robust logistics capabilities, Comet is uniquely positioned to deliver TCL Solar products quickly and efficiently to installers across the regions served by the Group and its affiliates. "Partnering with Comet is a natural step forward for us," said Steven Zhang, General Manager of TCL SunPower Global. "This partnership represents more than market expansionit's about aligning with a distributor that understands the evolving needs of Italian consumers. Comet has a long history of successfully bringing TCL TVs and electronics to Italian households, and with its reach and reputation, we're confident that TCL Solar panels will become a go-to choice for installers seeking performance, style, and dependability." As part of the new agreement, Comet will distribute the full range of TCL Solar panels, providing Italian installers with versatile solutions tailored to every project type and budget. Engineered for dependable energy production and reliable performance, TCL Solar panels feature robust glass-glass construction and come with comprehensive warranties, delivering an optimal balance of efficiency, durability, and value. Designed to perform under real-world conditions, they ensure consistent output across Italy's diverse climates and rooftops. What this agreement means for installers and customers: Faster access Comet's logistics network ensures timely delivery and high service standards. Comet's logistics network ensures timely delivery and high service standards. Broader choice Installers can choose from a wide range of TCL Solar solutions to meet diverse customer needs. Installers can choose from a wide range of TCL Solar solutions to meet diverse customer needs. Reliable solutions Backed by a 25-year warranty from one of the world's leading consumer electronics brands, and developed by industry-leading solar technology experts. Looking ahead "With TCL Solar, we're choosing a partner projected towards the future of renewable energy. TCL solutions combine efficiency, durability, and smart design, perfectly aligned with Comet Group's philosophy of enhancing everyday life through innovation and sustainability," said [Comet Group renewable energies manager, Ivano Benedet]. "This partnership empowers households and businesses to reduce energy costs and gain greater energy independence." This agreement marks the beginning of a new era for solar adoption in Italy - where advanced technology, trusted distribution, and a shared vision for sustainability come together to power progress. To support this momentum, Comet will launch a post-summer tour across its covered regions, inviting installer customers to explore TCL's broad solutions catalogue and take the next step toward smarter, cleaner energy. About TCL SunPower Global TCL SunPower Global, a proud member of the TCL Group, stands at the forefront of pioneering solar energy solutions. As a brand trusted by millions of homeowners, businesses, and energy producers around the globe, we are committed to empowering a sustainable connected future and transforming the way our world is powered. Leveraging our 40 years of experience in solar, we are fast-tracking the transition to clean, renewable energy, ensuring a brighter tomorrow for all. Find more at https://sunpowerglobal.com and on LinkedIn. About Comet Group Comet Group is leader in the electric material distribution in Italy with a long history on its behalf (founded in 1967). Spanning from the center to the north of Italy, the distributor counts more than 130 stores, serving installers, industrial and tertiary sectors in twelve regions and keeps growing. Over the past years the company has developed a structure in the renewable energy market with sales professionals and technicians at all levels. With an accurate selection of qualified suppliers and a wide availability of products in stock, thanks to various centralized warehouses, Comet Group aims to be the partner for their customers capable of offering a large array of solutions. The customer-centric approach is the key to its establishment: sales experts that support, recommend and guide installers through the different markets. The vision of Comet Group is to bring efficiency, competitiveness and support to their network, knowing well that these objectives, as they are meant to be, are part of an evolving process. For media inquiries, please contact: TCL SunPower Global Anna Porta: anna.porta@sunpowerglobal.com Comet Spa Vittorio Perini: vittorio.perini@gruppocomet.it Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2735830/TCL_SunPower_Global_Comet.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2680312/TCL_SunPower_Logo.jpg Commercial Aviation reported an 8-year backlog record of US$13.1 billion and the division book-to-bill reached 1.8x over the past 12 months, reached 1.8x over the past 12 months, The E175 celebrated an important milestone 1,000 units sold since its 2005 launch; Executive Aviation delivered 38 aircraft during the quarter, up 41% year-over-year; The backlog for Defense & Security reached US$4.3 billion , 2x higher than last year; Services & Support registered a new backlog record, up 55% year-over-year. SAO PAULO, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Embraer (NYSE: ERJ / B3: EMBR3), a global leader in the aerospace industry, registered a US$29.7 billion backlog in the second quarter of 2025 (2Q25) the highest level ever recorded by the company. Backlog by Segment - US$bn 2Q25 1Q25 qoq 2Q24 yoy Commercial Aviation 13.1 10.0 31 % 11.3 16 % Executive Aviation 7.4 7.6 -2 % 4.6 62 % Services & Support 4.9 4.6 5 % 3.1 55 % Defense & Security 4.3 4.2 3 % 2.1 100 % Total 29.7 26.4 13 % 21.1 40 % Embraer delivered 61 aircraft in 2Q25 across all its business units. The result reflects a 30% increase compared to the second quarter of last year (2Q24), when 47 jets were delivered, and more than twice the number of aircraft (30) recorded in the first quarter of 2025 (1Q25). Deliveries by Segment 2Q25 1Q25 2Q24 1H25 1H24 1Q24 2025 Guidance Executive Aviation 38 23 27 61 45 18 145-155 Phenom 100 4 2 2 6 3 1 Phenom 300 17 12 18 29 28 10 Light Jets 21 14 20 35 31 11 Praetor 500 8 3 3 11 6 3 Praetor 600 9 6 4 15 8 4 Midsize Jets 17 9 7 26 14 7 Commercial Aviation 19 7 19 26 26 77-85 E175 9 4 8 13 11 4 E190-E2 1 - 4 1 4 - E195-E2 9 3 7 12 11 4 Total Commercial Av. & Executive Av. 57 30 46 87 71 18 222-240* Defense & Security 4 - 1 4 1 - KC-390 Millennium - - 1 - 1 - A-29 Super Tucano 4 - - 4 - - *Excludes KC-390 Millennium and A-29 Super Tucano deliveries Commercial Aviation reported an 8-year backlog record of US$13.1 billion in 2Q25. (The previous record for the division was US$13.4 billion in 4Q17.) The backlog increased 31% compared to 1Q25 and 16% versus 2Q24. Alongside its strong sales performance, the business unit celebrated an important milestone 1,000 E175 units sold since its 2005 launch. During the quarter, Embraer received a firm order from SkyWest for 60 E175 aircraft with purchase rights for 50 additional units. Meanwhile, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) entered into an agreement to acquire 45 E195-E2 aircraft, with purchase rights for 10 additional units the largest SAS jet order direct from a manufacturer over the past 30 years. The division book-to-bill ratio reached 1.8x over the past 12 months. In 2Q25, the business unit delivered 19 new aircraft, exactly in line with the number of aircraft delivered in 2Q24. Consequently, in the 1H25, deliveries totaled 26 aircraft and 32% of the midpoint of the full year guidance (between 77 and 85 in 2025), 3 percentage points short of the average 35% level for the period recorded over the past 5 years. The models delivered during the period were the E175 to Republic Airlines (5), SkyWest (2) and Horizon Air (2), the E190-E2 to Azorra (1), and the E195-E2 to Aercap (3), Azorra (2), Mexicana (1), Royal Jordania (1), Binter (1) and ICBC (1). Looking forward, we expect our production leveling efforts to produce more tangible results in the 2H of the year, and from the start of 2026. Commercial Aviation Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 2025 9 % 23 % 5Y average 12 % 23 % 20 % 45 % 2Q25 Backlog - Commercial Aviation Aircraft Type Firm Orders Deliveries Firm Order Backlog E175 1,000 792 208 E195-E2 330 140 190 E190-E2 67 28 39 Total 1,397 960 437 Customer (Country) Firm Orders Deliveries Firm Order Backlog EMBRAER 175 1,000 792 208 American Airlines (USA) 204 114 90 SkyWest (USA) 288 214 74 Republic Airlines (USA) 187 152 35 Horizon Air / Alaska (USA) 50 47 3 Undisclosed 4 1 3 Air Peace (Nigeria) 2 - 2 Overland Airways (Nigeria) 3 2 1 Air Canada (Canada) 15 15 - Air Lease (USA) 8 8 - Alitalia (Italy) 2 2 - Belavia (Belarus) 1 1 - CIT (USA) 4 4 - ECC Leasing (Ireland)* 1 1 - Flybe (UK) 11 11 - Fuji Dream (Japan) 2 2 - GECAS (USA) 5 5 - KLM (The Netherlands) 17 17 - LOT Polish (Poland) 12 12 - Mauritania Airlines (Mauritania) 2 2 - Mesa (USA) 7 7 - NAC / Aldus (Ireland) 2 2 - NAC / Jetscape (USA) 4 4 - Northwest (USA) 36 36 - Oman Air (Oman) 5 5 - Royal Jordanian (Jordan) 2 2 - Suzuyo (Japan) 11 11 - TRIP (Brazil) 5 5 - United Airlines (USA) 110 110 - * Aircraft delivered by ECC Leasing: one to Air Caraibes Customer (Country) Firm Orders Deliveries Firm Order Backlog Embraer 195-E2 330 140 190 Azul (Brazil) 51 - 51 SAS (Sweden) 45 - 45 Porter (Canada) 75 44 31 Aercap (Ireland) 43 31 12 Azorra (USA) 23 12 11 Air Peace (Nigeria) 16 5 11 Mexicana (Mexico) 10 1 9 Aircastle (USA) 23 16 7 Salam Air (Oman) 6 - 6 Luxair (Luxembourg) 6 - 6 Royal Jordanian (Jordan) 2 1 1 Binter Canarias (Spain) 16 16 - ICBC (China) 10 10 - Helvetic (Switzerland) 4 4 - - - - Customer (Country) Firm Orders Deliveries Firm Order Backlog Embraer 190-E2 67 28 39 ANA (Japan) 15 - 15 Mexicana (Mexico) 10 - 10 Azorra (USA) 16 9 7 Virgin Australia (Australia) 4 - 4 Aircastle (USA) 2 - 2 Air Kiribati (Kiribati) 2 1 1 Aercap (Ireland) 5 5 - Helvetic (Switzerland) 8 8 - Wideroe (Norway) 3 3 - Placar Linhas Aereas (Brazil) 1 1 - Undisclosed 1 1 - Executive Aviation posted a backlog of US$7.4 billion in 2Q25, up 62% year-over-year (yoy) but down a slight 2% quarter-over-quarter (qoq). Deliveries reached 38 jets during the period, 41% higher than the 27 jets in 2Q24. Consequently, in the 1H25, deliveries totaled 61 aircraft and 41% of the midpoint of the full year guidance (between 145 and 155 in 2025), 8 percentage points higher than the average 32% level for the period recorded over the past 5 years. Executive Aviation Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 2025 15 % 25 % 5Y average 11 % 21 % 25 % 43 % In Defense & Security, the backlog ended at US$4.3 billion in 2Q25, 3% higher sequentially and 2x higher than a year ago. The business unit delivered four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to the Paraguayan Air Force during the period. The division highlights include Lithuania's announcement the C-390 Millennium has been selected to enhance the country's military readiness, and Portugal's decision to acquire a sixth KC-390 Millennium aircraft. Furthermore, Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force intend to include ten purchase options in their current contract for potential future acquisitions by European nations or NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) members. The C-390 Millenium selection by Sweden (4) and Slovakia (3), the additional order from Portugal (1), and the A-29 Super Tucano for Panama (4) are not included in the backlog, since the contracts are not yet effective. 2Q25 Backlog - Defense & Security Aircraft Type Firm Orders Deliveries Firm Order Backlog KC-390 Millennium 42 10 32 A-29 Super Tucano* 34 4 30 *Includes only A-29 Super Tucano ordered since 2024. Meanwhile, a total of 264 aircraft has been delivered until 2023. Customer (Country) Firm Orders Deliveries Firm Order Backlog KC-390 Millennium 42 10 32 Brazilian Air Force (Brazil) 19 7 12 Royal Netherlands Air Force (Netherlands) 5 - 5 Austrian Air Force (Austria) 4 - 4 Portuguese Air Force ( Portugal) 5 2 3 Republic of Korea Air Force (South Korea) 3 - 3 Czech Air Force (Czech Republic) 2 - 2 Undisclosed 2 - 2 Hungarian Air Force (Hungary) 2 1 1 - - Customer (Country) Firm Orders Deliveries Firm Order Backlog A-29 Super Tucano* 34 4 30 Portuguese Air Force ( Portugal) 12 - 12 Uruguayan Air Force 6 - 6 Undisclosed 6 - 6 Undisclosed (Africa) 4 - 4 Paraguayan Air Force (Paraguay) 6 4 2 *Includes only A-29 Super Tucano ordered since 2024. Meanwhile, a total of 264 aircraft has been delivered until 2023. Services & Support increased its backlog to US$4.9 billion up a significant 55% yoy along with a welcome 5% qoq because of several contracts celebrated during 2Q25. In the Commercial Aviation sub-segment, the business unit signed a new maintenance contract with CommuteAir for its new facilities at the Perot Field Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas. The division will deploy a new full-flight simulator in Madrid for E2 customers in partnership with CAE. And finally, the partnership with Regional One was extended with the addition of two passenger-to-freight (P2F) conversions, doubling its existing orders to four units Bridges Air Cargo will be the launch customer of the new product. Meanwhile, Virgin Australia, Amelia, Air Montenegro, and Hunnu Air signed new Pool program contracts. On the connectivity topic, the business unit will offer the Gogo Galileo HDX solution for Phenom 300 aftermarket customers through a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) generated in partnership with Gogo, while Viasat will install advanced in-flight internet connectivity on Aeromexico's E190 jets, further integrating the airline's fleet with fast Wi-Fi for its customers. About Embraer A global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, Embraer has businesses in Commercial and Executive aviation, Defense and Security, and Agricultural Aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures, and markets aircraft and systems, providing Services and Support to customers after-sales. Since it was founded in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than 9,000 aircraft. On average, about every 10 seconds an aircraft manufactured by Embraer takes off somewhere in the world, transporting over 150 million passengers a year. Embraer is the leading manufacturer of commercial jets with up to 150 seats and the main exporter of high value-added goods in Brazil. The company maintains industrial units, offices, service, and parts distribution centers, among other activities, across the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. SOURCE Embraer S.A. Sybiha on Kellogg's visit: We talked about weapons, waiting for Zelenskyy-Trump contact to further implement agreements reached Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/ Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha revealed details of the visit of US Presidential Special Representative Keith Kellogg to Kyiv last week and the topics that were raised during the meetings. At a joint press conference with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in Kyiv on Monday evening, Sybiha noted that General Keith Kellogg's visit must be understood in the context of the agreements reached by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump in The Hague and later during a telephone conversation. "That is, all this is a continuation of that high-level dialogue. Kellogg arrived as a result of these productive conversations, which had new elements. I confirm this to you as well," Sybiha noted. He emphasized that in this context Ukraine proposed "a certain approach." "And General Kellogg was familiar with it - on the purchase of US weapons in America. First of all, Patriot air defense systems. The general was informed of the required quantity, which could really play an important role in protecting various cities and regions of Ukraine. We need a significant quantity. Actually, we presented this to the general," Sybiha said. The parties also discussed joint, mutually beneficial cooperation, in particular, the discussion concerned Ukrainian drones. "And the American side is showing interest in joint production, in our products. This includes long-range weapons. We also need them. This was discussed. And other positions that are a priority for the front today, they were brought to the attention of the general," Sybiha said. According to him, Ukraine expects Kellogg to report the results of his trip to President Trump. "After which we expect appropriate contact, communication between President Zelenskyy and President Trump for the further implementation of the agreements reached. And they, I can also tell you this clearly, are promising," Sybiha said. Industry Leaders Unite to Deliver Smarter, Safer, and More Sustainable Urban Rides BEIJING, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bird, a pioneer in shared micromobility, and Segway, a global leader in electric vehicle innovation, announced a strategic alliance to roll out advanced new electric scooters and e-bikes across key North American markets. This next-generation fleet combines Segway's engineering excellence with Bird's operational expertise to set new standards for performance, safety, and sustainability in urban transportation. 3 co-developed vehicles The partnership introduces three co-developed modelsthe Bird Dash, Bird Explorer, and Bird Journeydesigned to meet diverse rider needs, from daily commuting to recreational trips. All three models feature improved vehicle durability, cutting-edge safety systems, and a lower environmental footprint, with deployments beginning this summer across North America. "This collaboration brings together the best of what Bird and Segway offer: world-class technology, rider-first design, and innovation to deliver more sustainable urban mobility," said Stewart Lyons, Co-CEO of Bird. "Together, we're shaping the future of micromobility by expanding access to safe, reliable, and efficient transportation in cities and communities around the world." Optimized for Efficiency and Performance The new vehicles are equipped with IPX7-rated water resistance, reinforced structures, and low-maintenance components that increase reliability and reduce operational costs. The Bird Journey e-bike offers a range of up to 90 kilometers on a single chargesupporting longer commutes with fewer battery swaps. Optimized energy usage lowers standby power and delivers greater efficiency across fleets. These durability and efficiency improvements collectively reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) , delivering superior long-term value. Rider feedback for this initial launch has been exceptional, resulting in a 40% increase in ridership of these new vehicles. Riders particularly like the smooth ride, sleek look and feel and features like the new charging block for your mobile device. Coming from Bird Team Commitment to Safety and Compliance All three models feature enhanced braking systems (dual drum + electric), bright LED lighting with turn indicators, and onboard sensors to detect sidewalks and pedestrianstriggering alerts and automatic speed adjustments to help prevent collisions. Each model exceeds industry safety benchmarks, including UL2272 and UL2849 certifications. "Segway has always pushed the boundaries of intelligent mobility," said Alan Zhao, General Manager of the Sharing Business Division. "With Bird, we're delivering a smarter and safer riding experience, purpose-built for today's cities and tomorrow's expectations." Designed for Sustainability Sustainability is embedded into every layer of the new fleetfrom recycled materials and modular parts to closed-loop packaging and longer-life batteries. These upgrades support Bird and Segway's shared goal of building a more circular economy and advancing climate-friendly mobility at scale. Together, Bird and Segway are redefining what's possible in shared mobilityempowering cities and riders alike with smarter, safer, and more sustainable ways to move. This launch marks just the beginning of their continued collaboration to build the future of micromobility. SOURCE Segway Award Highlights Firm's Consistent Deal Volume, Sector Specialization, and Trusted Reputation Among Entrepreneurs and Private Equity JUPITER, Fla., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Boxwood Partners, a leading boutique investment bank specializing in sell-side M&A for founder-led and franchise businesses, has been named to the inaugural list of Top 50 Investment Banks in the Middle Market by Grady Campbell. "This honor reflects the deep trust founders and investors place in Boxwood to guide career-defining transactions." Post this Boxwood Partners is proud to be recognized on Grady Campbells inaugural list of Top 50 Investment Banks in the Middle Market. The honor reflects Boxwoods trusted reputation and proven track record advising founders, franchisees, and private equity in strategic, high-impact transactions. The recognition honors firms that demonstrate excellence in transaction execution, industry expertise, and client outcomes in the $10 million to $500 million enterprise value range. Boxwood earned its place on the list through its work advising growth-minded founders, multi-unit operators, and private equity-backed platforms across consumer services, franchising, and specialty manufacturing. "This recognition validates the work we've been doing for more than a decade to help entrepreneurs and investors unlock meaningful value through smart, strategic exits," said J. Patrick Galleher, Managing Partner and CEO of Boxwood Partners. "Our team is proud to stand alongside the most respected firms in middle-market M&A and we're even more excited about what's ahead." Boxwood has continued its momentum in 2025 with several notable transactions, including: "Being named to this inaugural list is an honor, but it also reflects the deep trust our clients place in us to guide them through the most important transaction of their lives," said Brian Alas, Managing Director at Boxwood Partners. "We take that responsibility seriously and that shows in both our track record and our long-term relationships." Published by Grady Campbell, the Top 50 Investment Banks in the Middle Market program is designed to recognize firms that are shaping the future of middle-market M&A through strategic insights, consistent deal flow, and integrity. The full list of honorees can be viewed here. Boxwood Partners continues to strengthen its role as a trusted advisor to both franchisors and franchisees, successfully facilitating numerous buy-side and sell-side transactions across the franchise industry, including home services, wellness, home care, and more. To learn more about Boxwood Partners, please visit www.boxwoodpartners.com. About Boxwood Partners Boxwood Partners, LLC, is a boutique investment bank based in Jupiter, Florida with offices in Richmond, Virginia. Boxwood Partners combines a unique blend of senior-level transaction advisory, business operating experience, and proven process execution skills to give its clients a distinct advantage in the market. The firm's extensive relationships within the global capital and buyer communities (including U.S. and international private equity groups, corporations, and lenders) and other essential transaction-related service providers such as consultants, attorneys, and accountants, ensure that the firm's clients receive the attention, service, and results they deserve. For more information about Boxwood Partners, please visit www.boxwoodpartners.com. About the TOP 50 Investment Banks in the Middle Market The 2025 TOP 50 Investment Banks in the Middle Market awards program is designed specifically to recognize leading investment banks in North America. Leading investment banks prioritize strategic advisory services, have deep market expertise, and apply strategies that mitigate financial risks to sustain long-term growth for their clients. The 2025 TOP Investment Banks in the Middle Market awards program recognizes advisory firms, banks, and consultants making significant strides in the middle market and setting a new standard for excellence and innovation. About Grady Campbell Grady Campbell is a distinct agency partner in the private equity and investment bank space decades of experience, award-winning design, full-service capabilities, and innovative solutions tailored to the middle market. For more than 30 years, Grady Campbell has planned, designed, and deployed integrated brand and marketing programs for sophisticated clients to deliver effective, state-of-the-art brand strategies that support their goals. Grady Campbell's lead position within the middle market is defined by its TOP 50 PE Firms in the Middle Market awards program, which is the original awards program that recognizes leading private equity firms in the middle market. SOURCE Boxwood Partners LLC IRVING, Texas, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) will release second-quarter 2025 financial results at 5:30 a.m. CDT Tuesday, Aug. 5. The full text of the release will be available at investors.caterpillar.com/financials/quarterly-results and on PR Newswire. The release will be furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) via a Current Report on Form 8-K in compliance with applicable SEC rules. Teleconference and webcast access: A real-time, listen-only teleconference and webcast of the quarterly results call that Caterpillar conducts with securities analysts and institutional investors will begin at 7:30 a.m. CDT Tuesday, Aug. 5. Supporting materials will be available before the webcast at investors.caterpillar.com/events-presentations. In addition to the webcast, the one-hour conference call can also be accessed by telephone from both domestic and international locations, with a conference ID provided below: Conference ID: 8390933 Participant Toll-Free Dial-In Number: (800) 715-9871 Participant Toll Dial-In Number: +1 (646) 307-1963 The call can be accessed in real-time at investors.caterpillar.com/financials/quarterly-results. Listeners should go to the website before the live event to download and install any necessary audio software. The transcript from the conference call will be available at investors.caterpillar.com/financials/quarterly-results following the webcast. For those unable to participate in the live broadcast, the replay will be available at investors.caterpillar.com/financials/quarterly-results shortly after the live event. There is no charge to access the webcast. A telephone replay will not be available. About Caterpillar With 2024 sales and revenues of $64.8 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we've been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed. Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment. Visit us at caterpillar.com or join the conversation on our social media channels at caterpillar.com/en/news/social-media.html. Caterpillar's latest financial results are also available online: https://investors.caterpillar.com/overview/default.aspx https://investors.caterpillar.com/financials/quarterly-results/default.aspx (live broadcast/replays of quarterly conference call) SOURCE Caterpillar Inc. CC Capital and OneIM to acquire Insignia Financial Limited for A$4.80 per share via a scheme of arrangement, a 56.9% premium to Insignia's last undisturbed close Transaction represents implied enterprise value of A$3.9 billion ( US$2.5bn ) Insignia's Board unanimously recommends the proposed transaction, subject to no superior proposal and an independent expert concluding the transaction is in the best interests of shareholders NEW YORK, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CC Capital, a private investment firm focused on investing in and operating high-quality businesses for the long term, and One Investment Management ("OneIM"), a global alternative investment manager, today announced they have entered into a Scheme Implementation Deed ("SID") with Insignia Financial Ltd ("Insignia") (ASX: IFL), Australia's leading diversified wealth management group with over A$330 billion in funds under management and advice. CC Capital OneIM Under the SID, CC Capital and OneIM will acquire 100 percent of Insignia for A$4.80 in cash per share via a scheme of arrangement, representing an enterprise value of approximately A$3.9 bn (US$2.5bn) and a 56.9% premium to Insignia's undisturbed share price of A$3.06 per share on 11 December 2024. "We believe that Australia's superannuation system is world-class in addressing the structural challenge of aging populations saving for retirement," said Chinh Chu, Senior Managing Director of CC Capital. "Insignia's scale, trusted brands, and deep relationships across the A$4.1 trillion (US$2.7 trillion) superannuation market1 make it a compelling long-term platform for growth. We recognize the high duty of care required to steward a business with Insignia's rich heritage and connection to the retirement and superannuation system, and we are confident that our investment acumen and long-term approach will position us to improve member outcomes and further enhance the operational trajectory of the business." OneIM's CEO and co-founder Rajeev Misra said: "We are excited to partner with Insignia's management team to help craft the company's next chapter of continued growth and unmatched member service. We believe Insignia will benefit from OneIM's approach to creating long-term value for all stakeholders as we help combine Insignia's history of excellence with technological and investing expertise." Scott Hartley, CEO of Insignia Financial, added: "Subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, the CC Capital and OneIM offer would deliver attractive value to our shareholders, while providing the resources and global perspective needed to accelerate our strategic agenda for members, customers and advisers. I look forward to working with the CC Capital and OneIM teams to continue our focus on creating best-in-class service and outcomes for our members." The Insignia Board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote in favor of the scheme, subject to no superior proposal, and subject to an independent expert concluding that the transaction is in the best interests of shareholders. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory and closing conditions, including approvals from the Foreign Investment Review Board ("FIRB"), the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority ("APRA"), Court and Insignia shareholders. Insignia shareholders are expected to vote on the scheme of arrangement in the first half of 2026 with the transaction to be completed shortly thereafter. Additional information The full SID has been filed with the ASX by Insignia. Further information regarding the transaction will be included in the Scheme Booklet expected to be mailed to shareholders in early 2026, as well as in subsequent ASX announcements made by Insignia. Advisors Deutsche Bank Australia and Macquarie Capital (Australia) Limited are serving as lead financial advisors to CC Capital. Santander, Rothschild & Co and Houlihan Lokey are serving as financial advisors to CC Capital in connection with the transaction. Ashurst is serving as Australian legal advisor and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as US legal advisor to CC Capital. Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is serving as Australian legal advisor and Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP is serving as US legal advisor to OneIM. Deloitte is serving as accounting and tax advisor to CC Capital. NMG Consulting provided strategic commercial due diligence advice to CC Capital. About CC Capital CC Capital Partners is a private investment firm based in New York, NY that was founded in late 2015 with a focus on investing in and operating high-quality businesses for the long term. The firm evaluates investments anticipating a hold-period well beyond that of a typical private equity firm and funds its investments through a variety of permanent capital sources. CC Capital frequently partners with highly-seasoned executives, managers and owners seeking to create significant value post-acquisition. More information on CC Capital can be found at www.cc.capital. About OneIM OneIM is a global alternative investment manager that invests across the capital structure, in a range of asset classes, industries and geographies. The firm applies a flexible investment approach and focuses on creating long-term value working with exceptional partners and management teams. OneIM is sector agnostic and focuses on situations where it can leverage its cross asset class expertise and capital base to achieve differentiated risk-adjusted returns. The firm was founded in 2022 and currently manages approximately $7 billion in assets. The team operates from offices in Abu Dhabi, London, Tokyo and New York. About Insignia With origins dating back to 1846, today the Insignia Financial Group is a leading Australian wealth manager. Insignia Financial Ltd provides financial advice, superannuation, wrap platforms and asset management services to members, financial advisers and corporate employers. Further information can be found at www.insigniafinancial.com.au 1 APRA superannuation statistics for March 2025. https://www.apra.gov.au/news-and-publications/apra-releases-superannuation-statistics-for-march-2025 Media Contacts For CC Capital: In the US: Jon Keehner / Kate Thompson Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher +1 (212) 355-4449 [email protected] In Australia: Jo Ball GRACosway Mobile: + 61 417 177 977 [email protected] Ben Wilson GRACosway +61 407 966 083 [email protected] For OneIM: Bree Taylor/ Alan Tovey / Ksenia Galouchko Greenbrook +44 207 952 2000 [email protected] SOURCE CC Capital Fast casual concept celebrates Palm Harbor re-opening on July 23 and expands with a new Clearwater restaurant opening August 5 both locations will offer free chicken salad for a year to the first 100 guests. ATLANTA, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicken Salad Chick, the nation's only fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, is expanding its presence in Florida with the re-opening of its Palm Harbor location and the grand opening of a new restaurant in Clearwater, bringing the brand's total number of locations in the state to 40. Spearheaded by experienced multi-unit franchise owners Paul and Linsay Rohr, the first of the two new restaurants will open in Palm Harbor at 35271 US Highway 19 N on Wednesday, July 23, followed by a second location in Clearwater at 2140 Gulf to Bay Blvd. on Tuesday, August 5. To celebrate, the first 100 guests in line at each location on opening day will receive free chicken salad for a year.* During the grand opening weeks, guests can expect to experience the Southern hospitality that Chicken Salad Chick is known for, as well as a community focused mindset with various specials and giveaways. In Palm Harbor, guests can look forward to: Wednesday, July 23 Free Chicken Salad for a Year to the First 100 Guests The first guest in line at 10:30am will receive one FREE large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year. The next 99 guests in line will receive one FREE large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year!* Free Chicken Salad for a Year to the First 100 Guests The first guest in line at will receive one FREE large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year. The next 99 guests in line will receive one FREE large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year!* Thursday, July 24 The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Meal will receive a FREE scoop of any flavor of chicken salad!** The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Meal will receive a FREE scoop of any flavor of chicken salad!** Friday, July 25 The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Meal will receive a FREE soap and bath sampler bag, courtesy of Magnolia!** The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Meal will receive a FREE soap and bath sampler bag, courtesy of Magnolia!** Saturday, 7/26 Our first 50 guests to purchase two large Quick Chicks will receive a FREE small Chick Cooler!*** In Clearwater, guests can expect: Tuesday, August 5 Free Chicken Salad for a Year to the First 100 Guests The first guest in line at 10:30am will receive one FREE large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year. The next 99 guests in line will receive one FREE large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year!* Free Chicken Salad for a Year to the First 100 Guests The first guest in line at will receive one FREE large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year. The next 99 guests in line will receive one FREE large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year!* Wednesday, August 6 The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Meal will receive a FREE scoop of any flavor chicken salad!** The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Meal will receive a FREE scoop of any flavor chicken salad!** Thursday, August 7 The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Meal will receive a FREE soap and bath sampler bag, courtesy of Magnolia!** The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Meal will receive a FREE soap and bath sampler bag, courtesy of Magnolia!** Friday, August 8 The first 50 guests to purchase two large Quick Chicks will receive a FREE Small Chick Cooler!*** The first 50 guests to purchase two large Quick Chicks will receive a FREE Small Chick Cooler!*** Saturday, August 9 The first 50 guests to make a purchase of $25 or more will receive a FREE Stainless Steel Chick Tumbler!**** Before becoming franchise owners, Paul and Linsay Rohr both worked in the medical industry. In 2015, the husband-and-wife duo took a leap of faith and opened their first Chicken Salad Chick location in Palm Harbor, marking their debut in the restaurant industry. Their passion for people and admiration for the brand's mission to "spread joy, enrich lives, and serve others" inspired them to make the transition. Although the original Palm Harbor location closed earlier this year due to a fire, support from both the brand and local community has gotten them to where they are today. Now, it's set to reopen just two weeks ahead of the Clearwater grand opening, which will be the couple's sixth restaurant. In addition to Palm Harbor and Clearwater, the Rohrs currently operate four other Chicken Salad Chick locations throughout Florida, including Brooksville, Seminole, St. Petersburg, and Trinity. "We're beyond thrilled to be bringing the Chick back to the Palm Harbor community and to introduce the brand to Clearwater residents," said Paul Rohr, franchise owner of Chicken Salad Chicks of Palm Harbor and Clearwater. "For us, expanding means more than serving great food it's about building a welcoming place where people feel at home. We believe Clearwater is the heart of Pinellas County, and ever since we opened our first location back in 2015, we've been waiting for the right opportunity to join this community. We believe we've finally found the perfect spot and can't wait to open our doors there." Chicken Salad Chick is known for its dozen-plus variety of made-from-scratch chicken salad flavors, fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches, and desserts. The new locations offer in-restaurant and outdoor patio dining, drive-thru, take-out, third-party delivery, and catering options. "We're excited to be reopening in Palm Harbor and celebrate the launch of our 40th location in Florida this summer," said Scott Deviney, president and CEO of Chicken Salad Chick. "It's incredibly rewarding to continue growing our footprint alongside franchise partners like the Rohrs. For the past decade, they've shown unwavering dedication to their communities across Western and Central Florida, and their genuine passion for the brand doesn't go unnoticed. We're confident Chicken Salad Chick will soon become a favorite dining spot in the Palm Harbor and Clearwater communities." Giving back to the community is an important focus for the Rohrs and the Chicken Salad Chick brand, which established the CSC Foundation to support CURE Childhood Cancer and local food banks with fundraisers throughout the year. As part of pre-opening Friends & Family events in Palm Harbor and Clearwater, the Rohrs will be raising money for Folds of Honor, a non-profit organization providing life-changing scholarships to fallen soldiers and first responders' family members. This is a cause near and dear to the Rohrs, as Paul is a veteran of the U.S. Army, and each year he and Linsay raise money in their restaurants for the organization. To-date, they have donated over $200,000 to the organization. Chicken Salad Chick of Palm Harbor will be open Monday Saturday from 10:30am 8pm and Chicken Salad Chick of Clearwater will be open Monday Saturday from 10:30am 8:30pm. For more information, visit www.chickensaladchick.com. Follow Chicken Salad Chick on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and trends. For more information on the giveaways and specials, visit: *Guests should arrive early to secure a place in line. The first 100 guests must remain in line and download the Chicken Salad Chick app. Wi-Fi will not be available on site. Once the restaurant opens, guests will make a purchase of "The Chick" or anything of equal/greater value and enter a code in the Chicken Salad Chick app to officially secure their spot. If you leave the line for any reason, your spot will be awarded to the next guest in line. Guests will receive their first free Large Quick Chick electronically to their app the Monday following Grand Opening Day. Your reward will be valid for redemption for 30 days upon delivery. **Guest must be 16 years or older and must purchase the Chick Meal. Limit 1 reward per guest present. Not valid with any other offers. In restaurant only. ***Guest must be 16 years or older and must purchase 2 large Quick Chicks of any flavor. Limit 1 reward per guest present. Not valid with any other offers. In restaurant only. ****Guest must be 16 years or older. Must purchase $25 or more before tax applies. Limit 1 reward per guest present. Not valid with any other offers. In restaurant only. About Chicken Salad Chick Chicken Salad Chick serves full-flavored, Southern-style chicken salad made from scratch and served from the heart. With more than a dozen original chicken salad flavors as well as fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches and delicious desserts, Chicken Salad Chick's robust menu is a perfect fit for any guest. Founded in Auburn, Alabama, by Stacy and Kevin Brown, in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick has grown to operate 310 restaurants in 22 states. Today, under the leadership of Scott Deviney and the Chicken Salad Chick team, the brand is continuing its rapid expansion with both franchise and company locations. Chicken Salad Chick has received numerous accolades including rankings in the 2023 Entrepreneur Franchise 500, Franchise Times' Fast & Serious for the third consecutive year, Fast Casual's Top Movers and Shakers from 2018 to 2024, QSR's Best Franchise Deals in 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2024, and Franchise Business Review's Top Food Franchises list from 2019-2024. See www.chickensaladchick.com for additional information. Contact: Alexis Paul Fish 919 954-893-9150 [email protected] SOURCE Chicken Salad Chick 7th annual contest celebrates excellence in innovation HOUSTON, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Franchise Update Media conducted its 7th annual Franchise Innovation Awards contest this spring. The goal of the awards is to identify and recognize the franchisors creating and implementing the most original and successful innovative strategies and tactics to build their brand. Christian Brothers Automotive (CBA), leading automotive repair franchise, was recognized with the Most Innovative Service Introduction Award in the 'Products & Services' category for its Nice Difference Care+ vehicle service contract. "We're honored to be recognized for Nice Difference Care+," said Donnie Carr, CBA president and CEO. "This award reflects the heart of our mission to provide car care that is built on trust, clarity, and convenience. It's a testament to the incredible work of our team in reimagining how we serve our guests." A jury of judges evaluated the innovation, objectives and results of more than 80 entrants. Franchise innovators, game-changers and disruptors competed in four categories: Marketing & Branding, Products & Services, Operations, and Human Resources. Among the four categories, 16 winners were chosen and will be profiled in Franchise Update magazine. As a modern approach to comprehensive vehicle protection, Care+ is a subscription-based vehicle service contract that simplifies extended coverage. Unlike traditional vehicle warranties, Care+ offers guests month-to-month flexibility with no long-term commitment, added transparency with upfront vehicle inspections to identify pre-existing issues and coverage exclusions, seamless claims with no third-party processing delays and a $50 oil change credit every four months of active coverage to encourage routine maintenance and inspections. In addition, Veterans, first responders and active military enjoy a zero-dollar deductible from sign-up. With nearly 1,590 active subscriptions and more than 400 claims paid to date, Care+ also serves as a powerful tool for CBA franchise owners to differentiate themselves from other car care shops while also enhancing their overall service offerings and guest retention. Care+ has become a proud symbol of the CBA "Nice Difference" in action and is poised to play a central role in the brand's consumer experience strategy. "Nice Difference Care+ reflects the best of what we do in working together to deliver a smoother, more transparent experience for our guests, from the first inspection to every claim thereafter," said Scott Comar, VP of warranty administration. "We're incredibly grateful to our team for the dedication and collaboration that brought this program to life." Founded in Mission Bend, Texas in 1982, CBA has redefined the auto care experience. The brand's priority is to create a positive experience for every guest. From oil changes to complex engine diagnostics, CBA adheres to the principle, "Love your neighbor as yourself," and showcases this commitment through its people-first approach to car care. For more information, please visit cbac.com. Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn for the latest news and trends. About Christian Brothers Automotive Corporation Dedicated to its brand mission "To love your neighbor as yourself," Christian Brothers Automotive has firmly planted its roots in faith and honesty, which have set it apart in the auto services and repair industry. Standing out from the competition, Christian Brothers Automotive ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Aftermarket Full-Service Maintenance and Repair Providers by J.D. Power six times in a row.** With its guiding principles instilled from the very first location in 1982, Christian Brothers Automotive has successfully expanded to more than 315 locations across 30 states. The Houston-based franchise delivers a variety of professional auto-care experiences including upkeep, maintenance, and repair. **Christian Brothers Automotive received the highest score for aftermarket full-service maintenance and repair in the J.D. Power 2019, 20212025 Aftermarket Service Index (ASI) Satisfaction Studies of customer satisfaction with automotive aftermarket service providers. Visit jdpower.com/awards for more details. About Franchise Update Media Franchise Update Media has been a leader in the franchising space for more than 35 years. Founded in 1988, the company produces online franchise opportunity and educational websites, two quarterly print magazines, 11 newsletters, three annual conferences, and independent research, 100% focused on franchising. Serving franchise audiences online, in print, and in person, Franchise Update Media delivers a unique combination of educational and lead generation sources to help franchisors, multi-unit franchisees, opportunity seekers, and suppliers achieve their growth objectives. For more information, visit Franchising.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Mandy Holm, Fish 919 [email protected] 954-893-9150 SOURCE Christian Brothers Automotive BOULDER, Colo., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloud Campaign, the leading white-label social media management platform, is making it easier than ever for vertical SaaS companies and digital platforms to integrate social media management directly into their products. The company's OEM solution now powers social media tools for more than 70,000 small businesses, reflecting its growing role as the engine behind leading SaaS platforms. Through Cloud Campaigns OEM integration, users can link social profiles and schedule content across every major platform. While not a new offering, Cloud Campaign's OEM platform has quickly become its fastest-growing product line, achieving over 400% year-over-year growth in 2024. By partnering with SaaS companies to integrate scheduling, content creation, approvals, analytics, and AI-powered workflows, Cloud Campaign allows software providers to expand their feature sets and deliver immediate value to their customers without building these complex tools from scratch or having to establish platform relationships to gain access to early feature releases and elevated support. "Cloud Campaign made it easy to embed powerful social media tools into our platform quickly and seamlessly," said the Chief Product Officer of a leading software platform in the home services industry. "Their team has been a true partner collaborative, responsive, and willing to evolve the product alongside our goals. The platform has driven strong customer adoption, while also enabling our managed services team to operate more efficiently." This success underscores how Cloud Campaign's OEM solution supports SaaS companies in delivering more value to their customers. "It's incredibly rewarding to know that tens of thousands of small businesses are succeeding on social media thanks to the tools we've built," said Ryan Born, CEO and Co-Founder of Cloud Campaign. "As demand for embedded marketing tools continues to grow, our partners are delivering real value under their own brands, and we're proud to be the infrastructure powering that success." With both a fully embeddable interface and a white-label standalone application, Cloud Campaign has become the OEM solution of choice for SaaS platforms seeking to enhance their feature sets, improve user retention, and accelerate time to market. Cloud Campaign's OEM growth reflects a broader trend across the SaaS industry: social media management is becoming a standard feature in digital platforms, and Cloud Campaign is enabling that shift without the development overhead. About Cloud Campaign Cloud Campaign is a white-label social media management platform built for marketing agencies and SaaS companies. Through fully embeddable and white-labeled solutions, Cloud Campaign powers the social media tools behind today's leading SaaS platforms helping thousands of small businesses manage content, publish posts, and grow their online presence, all within the software they already use. Learn more at cloudcampaign.com . SOURCE Cloud Campaign SHANGHAI, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DualityBio (HKEX Stock Code: 9606.HK) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track Designation (FTD) to its next-generation HER3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) DB-1310. This designation is for the treatment of adult patients with advanced, unresectable or metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (nsqNSCLC) with an EGFR exon 19 deletion or L858R mutation with disease progression on or after treatment with a third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and platinum-based chemotherapy. DB-1310 is a novel ADC targeting HER3 developed using DualityBio's proprietary DITAC platform. In June 2025, Dr. Aaron E. Lisberg from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) presented the first-in-human Phase I/IIa clinical trial data (NCT05785741) of DB-1310 in an oral session at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. The results demonstrated encouraging efficacy and a manageable safety profile in patients with advanced solid tumors who had failed standard therapies. Dr. Hua Mu, Global Chief Medical Officer of DualityBio, stated: "DB-1310 demonstrated encouraging clinical efficacy and manageable safety in patients with EGFRm nsqNSCLC and multiple solid tumors. It is noteworthy that preclinical investigations of DB-1310 in combination with EGFR TKIs and other anticancer agents have also demonstrated robust synergistic tumor suppression activity. We will spare no effort to accelerate the clinical development of DB-1310 and look forward to its potential, as a next-generation HER3 ADC, to become a novel therapeutic option for a broad population of cancer patients." About DualityBio Duality Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech company dedicated to the discovery and development of next-generation ADC to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. DualityBio has successfully built several cutting-edge ADC technology platforms with global intellectual property rights. Leveraging a robust pipeline, DualityBio is conducting multiple global clinical trials across 17 countries, has enrolled over 2,000 patients for multiple clinical-stage ADC candidates. Additionally, DualityBio have established strategic collaborations with global MNCs and leading biotech innovators. As a global ADC powerhouse, DualityBio is developing bispecific ADCs, novel-payload ADCs, and autoimmune ADCs. For more information, please visit www.dualitybiologics.com. SOURCE Duality Biotherapeutics MIAMI, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Goldflower Cannabis , one of Florida's fastest-growing vertically integrated cannabis companies, is proud to announce the launch of its long-awaited Sleep Chews a delicious, effective, and thoughtfully formulated gummy designed to help customers get the deep, restorative sleep they deserve, just in time for National Relaxation Day (8/15). Goldflower's Goji Berry-flavored Sleep Chews deliver 10mg of premium cannabis extract paired with select Indica terpenes to support the entourage effect and promote a calm, restful night's sleep. After nearly a year of research, formulation, and testing, the chews represent a major step forward in addressing one of the most common wellness concerns: how to have a better night's sleep. "Lack of good sleep is a growing problem people are actively trying to solve, and cannabis has emerged as one of the most promising tools," said Angelo Lombard, President of Goldflower Cannabis. "Sleep gummies are the #1 most requested product missing from our portfolio and unlike anything we've seen from competitors here in Florida, our chews combine a great-tasting flavor, natural ingredients, and the highest-quality cannabis formulation available." Launching August 15th, Goldflower Sleep Chews arrive at a critical moment for consumersright as National Relaxation Day invites a moment of pause, and as parents across Florida face the stress of the back-to-school transition. For patients seeking to unwind at the end of the day, Goldflower's chews offer a flavorful option to support restful nighttime rituals. Crafted for both effectiveness and experience, the chews feature a satisfying texture and a clean, fruity Goji Berry flavor that sets them apart from traditional edibles. With no artificial additives and a dedication to premium ingredients, they reflect Goldflower's mission to deliver plant-powered wellness solutions that work. Goldflower Sleep Chews will be available under the Space Coast brand in-store and online at our licensed dispensaries across Florida starting August 15, 2025. For more on Goldflower Cannabis, and to be kept up to date with opening news and brand developments, visit: goldflowerfl.com . Disclaimers: Goldflower is a licensed medical marijuana treatment center in the State of Florida. All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners and used under license. Products are intended for medical use only and are available exclusively to qualified patients. This release may contain forward-looking statements and is for informational purposes only. Store opening is subject to regulatory approval. Media Contact: Kayla Sadowsky, [email protected] SOURCE Goldflower Cannabis LINK TO ASSETS WASHINGTON, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Afro+ Fest , the East Coast's first largescale festival celebrating the full spectrum of global Black music and culture, will debut Sunday, August 31, 2025, at RFK Festival Grounds in Washington, D.C. The inaugural lineup features superstar headliners Gunna and Asake, leading a crosscontinental roster of Alist talent for an expected crowd of 20,000 fans. "This is the block party we've dreamed about for a decade." Michael Awosanya, Founder Post this Afro+ Fest Announcement Afro+ Fest Flyer Powered by the ethos "Africa, plus more," Afro+ Fest offers a oneday, allages experience that honors both the future and the legacy of Black musichiphop, Afrobeats, soca, dancehall, R&B and amapianoalongside immersive art installations, global cuisine, fashion activations and a marketplace of Blackowned brands and local creators. 2025 Lineup Highlights Gunna Asake (closing the festival) Gabzy DJ Tunez Foggie Raw Machel Montano Ricky Platinum Shatta Wale Shenseea TXC Uncle Waffles Wande Coal Special Guest: Shy Glizzy (D.C.'s own hometown hero) A Founder's Vision "This is the block party we've dreamed about for a decade," said founder and executive producer Michael Awosanya. "With the support of Mayor Muriel Bowser and Events DC, Afro+ Fest is bringing the full diaspora to RFKmusic, food, culturedriven by the people and sounds that shape us." What began as a college dream has grown into a cultural movementcreated by and for the communities that have defined Black music worldwide. On August 31, Afro+ Fest is set to become Washington, D.C.'s boldest new tradition. "The festival's impact will be felt not only through the music, but in the real opportunities it creates for local businesses and visionaries," Awosanya added. Festival Details Date/Time: Sunday , August 31 , 2025 | 12 PM 11 PM , , | Location: RFK Festival Grounds, 2500 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC Tickets: On sale now at theafroplus.com Instagram/TikTok/Facebook/X: @TheAfroPlus PRESS & MEDIA CREDENTIALS For all media inquiries, including requests for press credentials, hi-res images, artist bios, site maps, and sponsor materials, accredited journalists and creators are invited to contact Asma Amani of Asma Amani PR at [email protected] or +1 (703) 286-9084. About Afro+ Fest Afro+ Fest is the East Coast's first large-scale festival dedicated to the full spectrum of global Black music and culture. Founded by DMV-area creatives and community leaders, Afro+ Fest aims to amplify Black sounds, unite the diaspora, and foster economic and creative opportunity through music, art, and entrepreneurship. It is a gathering where every member of the diasporaand every ally who loves Black creativitycan come together in joyful celebration. SOURCE Afro+ Fest Shmyhal: Ukraine needs at least $120 bln for defense in 2026 Photo: https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal/ During a meeting of heads of foreign diplomatic institutions, Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal outlined the country's defense strategic goals and priorities. "More Ukrainian weapons 50% should be purchased in Ukraine. More foreign enterprises ready to cooperate with Ukraine and work in Ukraine. More supplies of weapons and non-lethal assistance, which can also be provided by neutral countries. Special focus on new supplies of the most effective means of protecting our sky, in particular those capable of shooting down ballistic targets. Additional funding is needed for the development of Ukrainian industry in particular, for production of FPV drones, long-range drones and interceptors," Shmyhal wrote on the Telegram channel on Tuesday morning. The minister stressed the country's readiness to "share unique combat experience, technologies and innovations with partners." "We suggest that allies create joint ventures, transfer licenses and open production in partner countries. During the war, such products will be aimed at the needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, and in the future will strengthen our partners," Shmyhal wrote. According to him, next year the country "will need at least $120 billion for defense." "We are working with other countries to attract half of this amount with the support of allies. We are already conducting substantive negotiations with EU and NATO members," the minister noted. RADNOR, Pa., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (www.ktmc.com) informs investors that securities class action lawsuits have been filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Hims & Hers Health, Inc. ("Hims & Hers") (NYSE: HIMS) on behalf of those who purchased or otherwise acquired Hims & Hers securities between April 29, 2025, and June 23, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lead plaintiff deadline is August 25, 2025. CONTACT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP: If you suffered Hims & Hers losses, you may CLICK HERE or copy and paste the following link into your browser: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/hims-hers-health-inc?utm_source=PR_Newswire&utm_medium=PR You can also contact attorney Jonathan Naji, Esq. by calling (484) 270-1453 or by email at [email protected]. DEFENDANTS' ALLEGED MISCONDUCT: The complaints allege that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Hims & Hers was engaged in the "deceptive promotion and selling of illegitimate, knockoff versions of Wegovy that put patient safety at risk;" (2) as a result, there was a substantial risk that Hims & Hers' collaboration with Novo Nordisk would be terminated; and (3) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. Please CLICK HERE to view our video or copy and paste this link into your browser: https://youtu.be/xuStgUOFgE8 THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: Hims & Hers investors may, no later than August 25, 2025, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. 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 affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Hims & Hers investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE OR GO TO: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/hims-hers-health-inc?utm_source=PR_Newswire&utm_medium=PR ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com. CONTACT: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP Jonathan Naji, Esq. (484) 270-1453 280 King of Prussia Road Radnor, PA 19087 [email protected] May be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP LONDON and ABU DHABI, UAE, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA UK), part of the IPA Group, has announced the Top 5 Finalists for its 2025 Member of the Year Award, honouring exemplary contributions to the finance profession, corporate governance, and community development. Among those recognised is Syed Javeed Shah, a finance professional based in Abu Dhabi and originally from Adilabad, India. Syed Javeed Shah, Abu Dhabi, UAE- based Global Finance Leader from Adilabad- Telangana, India honoured as one of the top 5 finalists at the IFA UK member of the year Awards 2025, held at the Royal College of Physicians, London The award ceremony took place on June 26, 2025, at the Royal College of Physicians in London. This recognition puts a spotlight on individuals who have demonstrated leadership in financial management, ethical practice, and public service, aligned with the IFA's mission. Shah was acknowledged for his cross-border financial leadership, philanthropic initiatives, and support for international tax compliance. In his current role as Sub-Regional Financial Controller and Director at John Crane, a UK-listed multinational, he oversees financial operations across 27 countries in the Middle East, Caspian, Africa, and South Africa. He is a Fellow of both IFA (UK) and IPA (Australia). His work includes supporting U.S. tax compliance and ITIN services for over 60 nationalities, enabling streamlined regulatory adherence across jurisdictions such as India, the UAE, and the United States. This effort has contributed to enhanced financial transparency and cooperation across regions. Shah's philanthropic efforts through the Ujjvall Charitable Trust, which funds education for underprivileged students in India, were also detailed in the nomination. In recognition of his professional and social contributions, he was granted the UAE Golden Visa in 2021 under the Special Talents category. "This honour reflects the competence and values of Indian professionals," said Shah. "I proudly dedicate this recognition to my hometown Adilabad, the state of Telangana, India, and to the UAE, where I currently reside and serve." Media coverage of Shah's recognition has appeared in multiple publications, including: 'Syed Javeed Shah recognized among Top 5 global finalists at prestigious IFA UK Member of the Year Awards 2025 in London ', Gulf News. ', Gulf News. 'Adilabad Resident Javeed Shah shines in global finance', Maagulf. 'Indian chartered accountant gets UAE golden visa', Khaleej Times. About IFA UK: The Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA) is an internationally recognised professional accountancy membership body providing dedicated support to SMEs and SMPs. It is part of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) Group, one of the world's largest SME-focused accountancy group, with more than 49,000 members and students in 100 countries, and a full member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) the global accounting standard-setter and regulator for the accountancy profession. The IFA UK Member of the Year Award honours outstanding members who exemplify professional excellence and commitment to community development. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2734731/IFA_UK_Award.jpg SOURCE IFA UK Healthcare provider, One Call Medical, Inc. allegedly failed to provide employees with legally required meal and rest breaks throughout their shifts. Missing the meal and rest breaks allegedly resulted in employees also missing their meal premium payments. **THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT** ORANGE, Calif., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP , filed a class action complaint alleging that One Call Medical, Inc. violated the California Labor Code. The One Call Medical, Inc. class action lawsuit, Case No. 30-2025-01486347-CU-OE-CXC, is currently pending in the Orange County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here . The Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP According to the lawsuit filed, One Call Medical, Inc. allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages , (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to reimburse for required expenses, (f) failed to pay sick wages, and (g) failed to provide wages when due, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections 201-203, 226, 226.7, 233, 246, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 2802, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct. The lawsuit further alleges One Call Medical, Inc. failed to provide employees with legally required meal and rest breaks . Specifically, employees were allegedly required from time to time to work in excess of four (4) hours without being provided ten (10) minute rest periods. The applicable California Wage Order requires employers to provide employees with off-duty rest periods, which the California Supreme Court defined as time during which an employee is relieved from all work related duties and free from employer control. For more information about the class action lawsuit against One Call Medical, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today. **THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT** Media Contact Nicholas De Blouw Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP (800) 568-8020 [email protected] https://www.bamlawca.com/ SOURCE Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP CHICAGO, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, McDonald's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.77 per share of common stock payable on September 16, 2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 2, 2025. Upcoming Communications For important news and information regarding McDonald's, including the timing of future investor conferences and earnings calls, visit the Investor Relations section of the Company's Internet home page at www.investor.mcdonalds.com. McDonald's uses this website as a primary channel for disclosing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. About McDonald's McDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer with over 44,000 locations in over 100 countries. Approximately 95% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business owners. Forward-Looking Statements This document contains certain forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations are detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Form 10-Q filing for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements, except as may otherwise be required by law. SOURCE McDonald's Corporation Avendran Naidu appointed Head of Commercial to lead new affiliate CNS specialist continues growth strategy outside Europe to commercialise CNS treatments, including Nuvigil (armodafinil), Modavigil (modafinil), and bring BRIUMVI (ublituximab) to patients in Australia SYDNEY and DUSSELDORF, Germany, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuraxpharm Group (Neuraxpharm), a leading European specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, announces the launch of a new affiliate, Neuraxpharm Australia, led by newly appointed Head of Commercial, Avendran Naidu, as the Company continues to expand globally. The launch of Neuraxpharm Australia continues the Company's international growth strategy following the opening last year of Neuraxpharm Middle East and the establishment of affiliates in Brazil and Mexico in 2023. Neuraxpharm Australia will be based in Sydney and reflects Neuraxpharm's intention to market its CNS products across Australia over the coming years. Neuraxpharm Australia will commercialise the prescription brands Nuvigil (armodafinil) and Modavigil (modafinil), both indicated for the treatment of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) in adults with narcolepsy, which were acquired by Neuraxpharm in December 2024. The Australian affiliate will also bring to market BRIUMVI (ublituximab) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) after receiving approval from Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in June 2025.1 Following a positive recommendation by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) at its May 2025 meeting2, Neuraxpharm is now working to ensure eligible Australian patients can access BRIUMVI as soon as possible. Ublituximab, developed by TG Therapeutics and licensed by Neuraxpharm ex-US3, is a novel anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody approved in the United States, the European Union, UK and Switzerland for the treatment of adult patients with RRMS that can be administered in a one-hour infusion, twice a year, following the starting dose.4,5 Additional leading CNS treatments from Neuraxpharm's portfolio are expected to follow. Neuraxpharm Australia will be led by Avendran Naidu, the affiliate's newly appointed Head of Commercial. Avendran has more than 15 years of commercial sales and leadership experience in the pharmaceutical industry focusing on neuroscience, having worked on established and launched brands at companies including Jazz Pharmaceuticals ANZ (Australia & New Zealand), Teva Pharmaceuticals and Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Jorg-Thomas Dierks, CEO of Neuraxpharm, said: "Neuraxpharm's launch in Australia reflects our successful ongoing global growth strategy, which is focused on providing a wide range of CNS treatments to patients in need. Australia is a key market for Neuraxpharm, and we welcome Avendran Naidu as a highly motivated and results-driven pharmaceutical commercial leader who will take Neuraxpharm Australia to the next level. We believe that our portfolio of products will be an important addition to the treatments currently available to Australian patients." Avendran Naidu, Head of Commercial for Neuraxpharm Australia, added: "This is an exciting time for Neuraxpharm Australia as we establish our presence in a new and important market. Our mission here is fully aligned with our global purpose: to provide innovative solutions for CNS disorders and improve the lives of patients. We are committed to making a meaningful impact in the Australian healthcare landscape. As we grow, we'll be looking to build a team of passionate, like-minded professionals who share our dedication to advancing CNS care and improving patient outcomes." About the Neuraxpharm Group Neuraxpharm is a leading European specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of the central nervous system (CNS), including both psychiatric and neurological disorders. It has a unique understanding of the CNS market built over 40 years. Neuraxpharm is constantly innovating, with new products and solutions to address unmet patient needs and is expanding its portfolio through its pipeline, partnerships and acquisitions. The company has c.1,000 employees and develops and commercialises CNS products through a direct presence in more than 20 countries in Europe, two in Latin America, one in the Middle East, one in Australia, and globally via partners in more than 50 countries. Neuraxpharm is backed by funds advised by Permira. Neuraxpharm manufactures many of its pharmaceutical products at Neuraxpharm Pharmaceuticals (formerly Laboratorios Lesvi) in Spain. For more information, please visit https://www.neuraxpharm.com References Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Therapeutic Goods Administration. Briumvi Approved Product Information. June 2025 . https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/artg/453648 [Accessed 19 June 2025 .] Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee Meeting Outcomes. May 2025 . [Accessed 20 June 2025 ] https://www.pbs.gov.au/industry/listing/elements/pbac-meetings/pbac-outcomes/2025-05/pbac-web-outcomes-05-2025.pdf In territories outside the United States (US), Canada , Mexico , and excluding certain Asian countries previously partnered, following the ex-US commercialisation agreement between TG Therapeutics and Neuraxpharm announced August 2023. https://www.neuraxpharm.com/news/tg-therapeutics-and-neuraxpharm-announce-ex-us-commercialization-agreement-for-briumvi-ublituximab-xiiy/ European Medicines Agency (EMA). BRIUMVI (Ublituximab) Summary of Product Characteristics. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/briumvi [Accessed 25 June 2025 .] Steinman L et al, N Eng J Med 2022; 387: 704-714, Ublituximab versus Teriflunomide in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2201904 SOURCE Neuraxpharm The premier mobile IV therapy company has developed one of the most comprehensive nursing training programs in the industry, focused on best standard practices and concierge care to ensure the highest quality patient care. The program combines advanced IV drip therapy protocols with personalized concierge training, setting a new standard for mobile wellness services. NEW YORK, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IV DRIPS Customized IV Hydration & Wellness, founded by Bracha L. Banayan, NP, the leading mobile IV therapy service provider in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Florida, has announced the completion of its groundbreaking comprehensive nursing training program. This industry-first initiative focuses on best standard practices and concierge care excellence, ensuring the highest quality patient care through advanced IV drip therapy services with customized treatment protocols. IV Drips The comprehensive training program represents a significant investment in both clinical excellence and patient experience. IV Drips' nurses are now not only the top in the industry for IV skills, but they're also trained in concierge care, working alongside the best medical professionals to help clients customize their drips and optimize longevity wellness plans. The program specifically covers advanced IV drip therapy services with customized treatment protocols, ensuring each patient receives personalized care tailored to their unique wellness goals. "It's not just about the dripit's about the experience," said Bracha L. Banayan, NP, founder of IV DRIPS Customized IV Hydration & Wellness. "We provide training for both technical excellence and exceptional service, and we are the only company in the industry to offer such top-level training, demonstrating our commitment to investing in both our team and our clients. This comprehensive program elevates our already professional nursing team to unprecedented levels of expertise and care." The training program addresses the growing demand for premium mobile IV therapy services by combining clinical precision with luxury concierge care. IV Drips' board-certified registered nurses, who already possess 10+ years of clinical experience, now receive additional specialized training in advanced IV techniques, patient communication, and personalized wellness planning. This ensures that every client receives not only safe and effective treatment but also an exceptional service experience from start to finish. IV Drips serves thousands of repeat clients across the New York metropolitan area and Florida, offering same-day availability and discreet, hospital-grade care delivered directly to clients' homes, offices, or hotels. The company's physician-backed protocols ensure that every formula is designed for real-world results, addressing common wellness needs including fatigue, dehydration, immunity support, muscle recovery, and preventative health care. The new training program reinforces IV Drips' position as the most trusted name in mobile IV therapy, building on their foundation of licensed medical professionals, sterile medical-grade equipment, and commitment to client safety and satisfaction. More About IV DRIPS Customized IV Hydration & Wellness IV DRIPS Customized IV Hydration & Wellness was founded by Bracha L. Banayan, NP. With multiple service locations across the U.S., IV DRIPS is staffed by a team of registered nurses and practitioners who specialize in IV infusions, advanced medical weight loss solutions, and GLP-1 therapies. The practice has become a trusted leader in personalized weight management, offering science-backed support for patients using medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro. IV DRIPS has carefully selected the most critical nutrients and vitamins for overall health and formulated drips with the perfect blend to complement and support each other. The company provides mobile IV therapy services throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Florida, delivering personalized care directly to clients' homes, offices, or hotels. Founded on the principle that quality healthcare should be convenient and accessible, IV DRIPS offers customized IV therapy plans tailored to individual health and wellness goals. For more information about IV DRIPS or to schedule a consultation, please visit www.ivdrips.com or call (607) 638-3525. Media Contact: Steve Simonelli IV DRIPS (607) 638-3525 SOURCE IV Drips NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- New Jersey Community Capital has announced a $1 million preferred equity investment in Buckhead Flats, an affordable senior living property in Atlanta's historic and affluent Buckhead neighborhood. New Jersey Community Capital has announced a $1 million preferred equity investment in Buckhead Flats, the first affordable senior living property in Atlantas upscale Buckhead neighborhood. The fully renovated 74-unit complex offers a mix of studio to two-bedroom units with 20% designated as affordable. The fully renovated property offers studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom units and features amenities such as a fitness center, craft room, media center, and beauty and barber salon, as well as outdoor patio spaces and a dog park. Senior citizens began occupying the 74-unit complex in May. The property is the first senior affordable property in Buckhead. 20% of the units are classified as affordable. Community Asset Preservation Corporation, a subsidiary of NJCC, invested in Buckhead Flats in partnership with AnneMarie Community Partners and Junica Development, both based in Baltimore. The project marks the entry of NJCC into the Atlanta market as part of its commitment to bringing strategic, socially responsible investments to urban centers nationwide. "Buckhead Flats project exemplifies two of NJCC's primary objectives investing in the creation of affordable housing and preserving properties through renovation and repurposing," NJCC President and CEO Bernel Hall said. "That it provides the opportunity for our entry into the City of Atlanta and the state of Georgia as a whole, makes the investment even more significant." "Buckhead Flats is the first market-rate conversion to mixed-income / affordable housing project to be done in Buckhead, which is the most affluent neighborhood in Atlanta. It benefits seniors and non-seniors with special needs who desire a quiet, safe, secure building in a historic location," Junica Development Chair Larry Jennings said. Jennings also participated in the founding of AnnMarie Community Partners. About New Jersey Community Capital New Jersey Community Capital is a nonprofit community development financial institution dedicated to advancing opportunity through strategic investments and knowledge-based programs. It finances and supports individuals, businesses, educational organizations, and communities; preserves and develops affordable housing, community facilities and educational organizations; and creates sustainable economic development that generates quality jobs, improves education, and strengthens neighborhoods to ensure that communities can thrive. Founded in 1987, NJCC has grown to serve as a critical architect of community development initiatives, driving economic stability and wealth generation in overlooked areas. SOURCE New Jersey Community Capital FORT WORTH, Texas, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PAK Quality Foods LLC ("PAK Quality Foods" or the "Company"), a portfolio company of Cross Rapids Capital and a food distributor, serving foodservice, retail, and institutional customers throughout Texas and Eastern New Mexico, today announced that it has acquired substantially all assets of Las Colinas International, Inc. d/b/a Formosa Foods ("Formosa Foods"), a family-owned food distributor, based in Dallas. The acquisition enables both companies to grow by broadening the portfolio of products and services they offer to customers as well as by broadening their customer bases. The owners and leaders of Formosa Foods, Mr. Jesse and Weldon Chang, will continue to run the business and invested in PAK Quality Foods as part of the transaction. Founded in 1979, Formosa Foods serves foodservice, retail and institutional customers across Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. In addition to beef, pork and poultry, Formosa Foods also offers seafood, lamb, goat, grains, dry goods, disposables and other products. "PAK Quality Foods is thrilled to join forces with the Formosa Foods team," said Mr. John Pieper, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "We are excited to expand our offering to customers and also to offer Formosa Foods' customers access to our products and service. Formosa Foods' mission of providing top-quality food products and being a trusted partner to its customers aligns perfectly with that of PAK Quality Foods. Together we will be an even stronger company." About PAK Quality Foods LLC PAK Quality Foods is a food distributor, serving foodservice, retail, and institutional customers throughout Texas and Eastern New Mexico. PAK Quality Foods currently operates with distribution facilities in San Angelo and Fort Worth and offers a full line of proteins (beef, pork, poultry, lamb, and seafood) as well as various cheeses, oils, and other dry goods. PAK Quality Foods focuses on long-term relationships with customers and guarantees product availability, timely deliveries, competitive pricing, and a responsive sales team. About Cross Rapids Capital L.P. Cross Rapids Capital L.P. is an operationally-driven investment firm, dedicated to North American middle-market industrial and services companies. We partner with owners and management teams to accelerate companies, and we bring decades of sector, operational, and investing expertise and a hands-on, collaborative approach to empower their business success. SOURCE PAK Quality Foods LLC Preserving physician autonomy while advancing care in community rheumatology CHARLESTON, S.C., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As the national healthcare landscape continues to evolve and trend towards consolidation through private equity, insurance companies, and hospital ownership, Articularis Healthcare Group (AHG) stands at the forefront of preserving independent community-based rheumatology care. Mounting pressures continue to force many physicians to abandon private practice, but AHG offers an alternate path one that protects a physician's autonomy, enhances patient care, and ensures long-term sustainability. Recent data from the American Medical Association (AMA) show a sharp decline in physician-owned practices, now accounting for just 42.2% of all doctors, down from 60.1% in 2012. Meanwhile, hospital-owned practices have surged to 34.5%, and private equity ownership continues to grow. Physicians cite inadequate payment rates, rising operational costs, and overwhelming regulatory burdens as key drivers of this shift. Yet despite this recent trend, research consistently shows that independent practices especially in specialties like rheumatology deliver more personalized care, improved patient outcomes, and higher physician satisfaction. As the nation's leading rheumatology practice management organization, AHG supports community-based rheumatologists by delivering full-scale administrative expertise, allowing physicians to focus on what matters most: expert patient care. "Our mission is to keep rheumatologists independent while helping them run more efficient, sustainable practices," said Robert Kirk, Articularis Healthcare Group CEO. "This isn't just about support it's about safeguarding the future of personalized care, so patients continue to get the best outcomes, close to home." AHG's ecosystem of support eliminates the burdens that often lead independent physicians to sell or burnout. The group's suite of services includes drug procurement and management, revenue optimization, financial services, strategic marketing, infusion suite management, clinical research, quality improvement, practice operations, human resources, laboratory services, and information technology. "Articularis truly understands what independent physicians need to not only stay afloat, but to find meaning in our work again," said Colin Edgerton, M.D., founding physician partner at AHG and practicing rheumatologist at Low Country Rheumatology. "With the support of AHG, physicians can prioritize patient care and focus on practicing medicine the way it was meant to be." As the U.S. faces a projected 49% increase in arthritis diagnoses by 2045 and a simultaneous 25% decline in the rheumatology workforce, solutions like AHG are more essential than ever. Without meaningful intervention, the widening gap between patient need and provider availability threatens to severely limit access to specialized care. By supporting independent practices and keeping rheumatologists embedded in the communities they serve, AHG plays a critical role in maintaining access to high-quality, personalized care. To learn more about AHG's physician-led approach to independent rheumatology care, visit www.articularishealthcare.com. About Articularis Healthcare Group Articularis Healthcare Group, Inc. (AHG) is the nation's leading rheumatology management services organization, dedicated to preserving and advancing community-based care. Founded in 2015, AHG provides private practice rheumatologists with administrative expertise, industry relationships, innovative technology, and economies of scale that allow their practices to thrive while ensuring exceptional patient care. AHG's management expertise encompasses all phases of practice operations, including drug procurement and management, revenue optimization, financial services, marketing and public relations, infusion suite management, clinical research, quality improvement and assurance, practice operations, human resources, laboratory services, and information technology. AHG's network includes 18 practices across nine states. Learn more at www.articularishealthcare.com SOURCE Articularis Healthcare Group WASHINGTON, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new analysis by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) finds that as of 2021, at least $200 billion a year flowed out of the U.S. economy in the form of remittances sent to 134 countries around the world. While 2021 is the most recent year for which worldwide data on remittances from the U.S. are available, more recent data on remittances to nations that largely fueled the Biden administration's unprecedented influx of illegal aliens indicate that the total outflow of money from the U.S. has grown significantly since 2021. More than half of all remittances in 2021 went to just five countries Mexico, India, Guatemala, the Philippines and China. In some Central American nations, remittances from the U.S. accounted for 20 percent of GDP. Between 2021 and 2025, remittances to Nicaragua one of the countries benefiting from a special parole program created by the Biden administration more than quadrupled. Other Central American nations that were at the heart of the surge of illegal immigration saw similar exponential increases in remittances. Such large-scale remittances distort the economies of receiving countries and create an unhealthy reliance on exporting their best workers. Money sent back to these countries is largely used for consumption, rather than investment and development, which perpetuates long-term poverty. The impact is also damaging to the United States and the interests of the American people. "The $200 billion-plus a year being sent abroad is money that is not spent in the communities in which it was earned, supporting local businesses and generating revenues for local governments," noted Dale Wilcox, executive director of FAIR. "Moreover, many migrants who send remittances out of the U.S. earn so little that they qualify for public benefits. The result is that American citizens subsidize social services and welfare benefits for aliens, legal and illegal, who send much of what they earn out of the country." The report also finds that a significant and growing share of the cash being remitted may be winding up in the hands of criminal cartels. An estimated $4.4 billion of the remittances sent to Mexico in 2022 were the proceeds of drug trafficking being returned to their source. These figures likely increased significantly as the border spiraled out of control in the ensuing years, as many of the people arriving here incurred large debts to the cartels that smuggled them here. "While earning money and assisting relatives abroad is an understandable human impulse, remittances on the current scale inflict significant economic and fiscal damage on the U.S.," Wilcox concluded. "Those remittances do little or nothing to address the systemic push factors that result in millions of able-bodied workers leaving their home countries each year. Under the Trump administration, we have begun to reduce the number of people living and working here illegally, and the recently enacted budget reconciliation bill has imposed a modest one percent tax on remittances leaving the country. But more must be done to prevent to reduce the outflow of money from the U.S. economy, while encouraging healthy economic development in countries that have grown dependent on remittances." The full issue brief, Remittances Continue to Grow at America's Expense, can be found here. ABOUT FAIR Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 3 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced. SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) Some 9,500 volunteers, including 100 women, have joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the institutions of the State Criminal Executive Service of Ukraine (SCES), the SCES reports on its Facebook page. "About 9,500 convicts are performing tasks at the front, in particular on the front line. But not all of them are men. 100 women who received sentences serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They are usually recruited into communications, logistics and medical support units," the message says. NEW ORLEANS, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- New gold-standard research on Rooted School Foundation's groundbreaking $50 Study finds that direct cash transfers to high school students boost attendance, build financial skills, and strengthen self-efficacy. Students at the Rooted School in Indianapolis show off the debit cards (with card numbers covered) that hold the $50 a week guaranteed income the school and researchers are giving them to teach financial literacy. (Patrick ODonnell) The dual-year randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluation, led by researchers from the Center for Guaranteed Income Research (CGIR), a collaboration between the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the University of Pennsylvania, tracked over 380 students across three high schools (Rooted School New Orleans, Rooted School Indianapolis, and George Washington Carver High School in New Orleans). Students in the treatment group received $50 per week for 40 weeks via a reloadable debit card, while students in the control group received a $10 monthly Amazon gift card. Data was collected through academic records, transaction data from banks, in-depth interviews, and online qualitative surveys. The $50 Study is the largest randomized controlled trial of unconditional cash transfers to high school students ever conducted in the U.S. Key findings from Phase I (2022-2023) & Phase II (2023 - 2024) include: Improved Attendance : Students who received the cash transfers attended 1.23 more days of school in the semester following the intervention compared to students in the control group. : Students who received the cash transfers attended in the semester following the intervention compared to students in the control group. Stronger Financial Capability : Treatment group students showed greater understanding of financial products and long-term planning compared to their peers in the control group. : Treatment group students showed compared to their peers in the control group. Financial Discipline : Students demonstrated notable self-control and planning, ending the study period with an average of $300 remaining in their accounts. : Students demonstrated notable self-control and planning, ending the study period with an in their accounts. Meeting Basic Needs : About half of the funds students received ( 45.8%) were spent on essentials like food, with additional funds going toward educational expenses and savings. : ( like food, with additional funds going toward educational expenses and savings. Greater Agency: Students reported increased feelings of control over their finances and confidence in making long-term decisions. Students reported spending their cash transfers on activities that were aligned to their future goals, such as dual enrollment coursework, ACT preparation classes, and getting a driver's license. "The results show that when you give young people cash, they use it to meet their needs and invest in their futures," said Jonathan Johnson, Founder & CEO of Rooted School Foundation and architect of The $50 Study. "This is about economic trust and financial education. The young people in the program are showing that this form of hands-on learning helps them build real financial responsibility." While the study did not aim to improve academic outcomes directly, it offers new insights into how cash transfers can build a foundation for long-term well-being and economic mobility, especially for youth at a critical juncture in their lives. "The findings from The $50 Study align with what research suggests: when young people are given the opportunity to manage money in low-stakes environments, they build the habits that shape long-term financial health. Increases in saving and intentional use of funds today can translate to better financial management and lower susceptibility to risky financial products tomorrow. The short-term habits we're seeing are laying the foundation for lifelong financial capability." - Dr. Stacia West, University of Tennessee, Knoxville & Co-founder of the Center for Guaranteed Income Research With school systems and policy leaders exploring how best to support youth and their futures, The $50 Study offers a clear takeaway: increased access to cash makes a difference. Rooted School Foundation is currently facilitating The $50 Study in partnership with the City of New Orleans' Mayors' Office; this study will include a longitudinal expansion to better understand the long-term impact of direct cash assistance. "At George Washington Carver High School, we've seen firsthand how The $50 Study helps our students show upnot just physically, but with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility. When students have the resources to meet their basic needs or pay for things like food, transportation, and school supplies, they're better equipped to engage in their education. As schools consider how to best support students, this study is a powerful reminder that putting money directly into the hands of young people makes a real and lasting difference. This is why we've continued to participate in The $50 Study and hope to see it grow." - Read Irvin, Chief of Staff, Collegiate Academies "The $50 Study offers an exciting and evidence-based approach to youth economic development. By giving young people access to unrestricted cash, we're not just meeting immediate needswe're creating the conditions for long-term economic mobility. Programs like The $50 Study have the potential to reduce inequality, strengthen workforce readiness, and ultimately fuel economic growth across New Orleans. We're proud to partner on this work that's investing in our city's future, one student at a time." - Jeffrey Schwartz, Director of Economic Development About Rooted School Foundation Rooted School Foundation is the nonprofit engine behind the Rooted School network, which includes 4 public charter schools in the United States. Rooted School Foundation leads innovative programs like The $50 Study to close wealth and opportunity gaps for high school students across the country. Support for The $50 Study Individuals and organizations interested in investment or involvement in The $50 Study can connect with the team by emailing [email protected], listening to participant stories on The Rooted Cash Podcast, or donating to the program here. CONTACT: [email protected] SOURCE Rooted School Foundation The only authorized source for QuickPouch service, spare parts, and OEM support is now live at QuickPouch.com. LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RND Automation, a leading U.S. packaging, assembly, and robotic automation system manufacturer, has officially launched www.quickpouch.com, the exclusive new home for QuickPouch service, spare parts, and technical support. The relaunch follows RND Automation's acquisition of all intellectual property and service rights related to QuickPouch equipment after the previous owner ceased operations. The new website gives long-frustrated QuickPouch machine owners a clear path to the support they need, directly from the OEM. RND Automation Relaunches QuickPouch Website to Support Legacy Packaging Equipment Owners "We knew the QuickPouch customer base had been left without a reliable partner," said Patrick McDermott, CEO of RND Automation. "That changes today. We're proud to provide these customers with the expert, responsive support they've been waiting for." What Customers Can Expect at QuickPouch.com: Genuine OEM spare parts built to original specifications Fast-response technical support and troubleshooting Preventative maintenance, field service, and training programs A clear form to submit machine details and photos for quick assistance Service for legacy QuickPouch models, including Vertical, Horizontal, and Conveyor systems The response has been immediate and overwhelming. Since announcing the relaunch, RND has received a surge of service requests, proving how critical this support channel has been. "Customers have been incredibly relieved to know there's finally a real solution," said Steve Bostic, Manager of Sales and Applications Engineering. "And because we now own the original engineering files and service documentation, we can provide exactly what they need, with speed and precision." To avoid confusion in the market, RND also clarified that it is the sole authorized provider of QuickPouch parts and services. Other companies offering imitation parts or unsupported services are not affiliated with QuickPouch or RND Automation in any way. While the current focus is support and service, RND retains full build rights and engineering capabilities for all QuickPouch systems and welcomes inquiries related to restoring or replicating these machines. Learn more or submit a service request at: www.quickpouch.com About RND Automation Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, RND Automation designs, engineers, and builds automation solutions across packaging, assembly, and robotics. From custom automation cells to standard equipment and aftermarket services, RND supports manufacturers with turnkey systems and full lifecycle support. RND Automation is a division of Complete Automation Solutions (CAS) Holdings. For more information, visit https://www.rndautomation.com/ Press Contact: Shelly Metz 314-324-5788 http://www.rndautomation.com SOURCE RND Automation JOHANNESBURG, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Production and sales metrics for the year ended 30 June 2025 Sasol has published its production and sales performance metrics for the year ended 30 June 2025 on the Companys website at www.sasol.com, under the Investor Centre section: https://www.sasol.com/investor-centre/financial-results. Business performance In a challenging macro environment, our focus on self-help initiatives continues to strengthen our foundation, build resilience and mitigate the impacts of global volatility and geopolitical uncertainty. We are making good progress and expect to meet the majority of our financial guidance for FY25, with volume guidance achieved across most business segments. Secunda Operations (SO) and Natref had unplanned disruptions which impacted Q4 FY25 production and resulted in volumes being marginally below guidance. In the Southern Africa business, we made the strategic decision in Q3 FY25 to reduce our own production of coal and supplement it with higher quality purchased coal to enhance SO's gasifier performance, which improved in Q4 FY25. Natref's performance was also stronger in Q4 FY25 with production recovering following the fire incident in the previous quarter but was adversely impacted by an unplanned Eskom power outage. Liquid fuels sales increased in Q4 FY25, supported by higher production and purchases. External SA gas sales also improved, driven by increased customer demand. In Chemicals Africa, the average basket price was higher compared to the previous quarter, despite challenging global market conditions. In the International Chemicals business, revenue in Q4 FY25 increased compared to the previous quarter, supported by higher sales volumes from improved US production. This was partly offset by lower average sales prices in the US due to lower ethylene market prices and product mix effects, however, pricing in the Eurasia segment improved through prioritising value realisation. Revenue decreased compared to the prior year, primarily due to lower sales volumes, which remained within market guidance. Despite a challenging environment, adjusted EBITDA improved compared to the prior year, reflecting the benefits of higher average sales basket prices and proactive management actions. Business updates We are making progress on our strategic priorities outlined at our Capital Markets Day, to strengthen our business and build a sustainable future Sasol. Delivery of these commitments remains a key priority to unlock value. Strengthen our foundation business: Mining's destoning project to improve the quality of coal is progressing well and remains on track for completion in H1 FY26, within the previously communicated schedule and cost of less than R1 billion. Sasol Oil received a net payment of R4,3 billion (excluding VAT) on 30 June 2025 , as full and final settlement of the legal disputes with Transnet. , as full and final settlement of the legal disputes with Transnet. On 30 June 2025 , State Oil Limited, the parent company of Prax South Africa (Pty) Limited (PraxSA), which owns a minority stake in the Natref refinery, was placed under administration. Natref continues to operate to plan, and engagements with PraxSA are ongoing to understand the implications of this development and ensure there is no impact on operational continuity. , State Oil Limited, the parent company of (Pty) Limited (PraxSA), which owns a minority stake in the Natref refinery, was placed under administration. Natref continues to operate to plan, and engagements with PraxSA are ongoing to understand the implications of this development and ensure there is no impact on operational continuity. In April 2025 , we reached a major milestone in our digital transformation with the successful go-live of the SAP S4/Hana pilot in Italy . This marks the first implementation in our modern Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) programme within International Chemicals. The rollout provided valuable learnings that will inform and improve subsequent implementations across the group. , we reached a major milestone in our digital transformation with the successful go-live of the SAP S4/Hana pilot in . This marks the first implementation in our modern Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) programme within International Chemicals. The rollout provided valuable learnings that will inform and improve subsequent implementations across the group. The previously communicated mothballing/closing of certain plants is progressing to plan, with production already stopped at the Guerbet plant in Lake Charles (US) and the Alkylphenol site in Marl ( Germany ). The closure of the Phenolics plants in Texas (US), and the mothballing of the HF LAB plant in Augusta ( Italy ) will follow in H1 FY26. Grow and Transform: In June 2025 , Sasol concluded an additional 160MW of renewable energy (RE) power purchase agreements (PPA) in SA, which includes 150MW as part of the Ampli Energy joint venture with Discovery, scheduled to commence in FY28. Collectively, these agreements increase Sasol's access to 920MW of RE in SA. , Sasol concluded an additional 160MW of renewable energy (RE) power purchase agreements (PPA) in SA, which includes 150MW as part of the Ampli Energy joint venture with Discovery, scheduled to commence in FY28. Collectively, these agreements increase Sasol's access to 920MW of RE in SA. At the end of June 2025 , a virtual PPA was signed in USA to source ~93MW of RE, which will cover about 50% of the electricity consumption at our Lake Charles facility by mid FY27. , a virtual PPA was signed in USA to source ~93MW of RE, which will cover about 50% of the electricity consumption at our Lake Charles facility by mid FY27. Natref commissioned the first of three new low-carbon boilers in May 2025 , a key milestone for sustaining steam supply and supporting emissions reduction as well as producing 30 000 liters of renewable diesel. This supports our transition to cleaner energy solutions. Outlook We continue to maintain strong liquidity and strict cost management, to support overall financial resilience. We also continue with our proactive hedging programme, ensuring effective risk management and reducing the impact of market volatility. Following the 90-day suspension of the US import tariffs, the US government announced on 8 July 2025 that new tariff rates will take effect on 1 August 2025. Engagements with the relevant stakeholders are ongoing, and we remain focused on ensuring continuity, mitigating potential disruptions, and identifying any opportunities for Sasol. More details on the outlook for FY26 will be provided on 25 August 2025 with the release of our 2025 financial year results. Trading statement for the financial year ended 30 June 2025 In terms of paragraph 3.4(b)(i) of the Listing Requirements of the JSE Limited (JSE), a company listed on the JSE is required to publish a Trading statement as soon as it is satisfied that a reasonable degree of certainty exists that the financial results for the next period to be reported upon will differ by at least 20% from the financial results for the previous corresponding period. Accordingly, stakeholders are advised that, for the year ended 30 June 2025 earnings per share (EPS) are expected to increase by more than 20%, compared to a loss per share of R69,94 reported for the year ended 30 June 2024, which included negative remeasurement items of R88,13 per share. The remeasurement items included substantial impairments that arose in the comparative period. EPS and headline earnings per share (HEPS) may be impacted further by adjustments resulting from the 2025 financial year closure process, which cannot be estimated reliably at this point in time. A comprehensive trading statement will be published as soon as there is more certainty with respect to the EPS and HEPS ranges. The financial information underpinning this trading statement has not been reviewed and reported on by the Company's external auditors. Sasol will release its financial results for the year ended 30 June 2025 on Monday, 25 August 2025. For further information, please contact: Sasol Investor Relations, Tiffany Sydow, VP Investor Relations Telephone: +27 (0) 71 673 1929 [email protected] Disclaimer- Forward-Looking Statements Sasol may, in this document, make certain statements that are not historical facts that relate to analyses and other information which are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements may also relate to our future prospects, expectations, developments and business strategies. Words such as "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "seek", "will", "plan", "could", "may", "endeavour", "target", "forecast" and "project" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and there are risks that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. If one or more of these risks materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. You should understand that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors are discussed more fully in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed on 6 September 2024 and in other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The list of factors discussed therein is not exhaustive; when relying on forward-looking statements to make investment decisions, you should carefully consider both these factors and other uncertainties and events, and you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements apply only as of the date on which they are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward looking statements, financial information and targets included in this statement have not been reviewed or reported on by Sasol's auditors. SOURCE Sasol Limited ORLANDO, Fla., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- South University (SU) marked a major milestone today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its Orlando campus, celebrating the institution's growing impact on healthcare education and workforce development in Central Florida. Featuring remarks by university leaders and East Orlando Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Andrew Cole, the event highlighted SU's contributions to addressing regional healthcare needs through high-quality academic programming and local partnerships. South University Orlando Ribon-Cutting Ceremony with East Orlando Chamber of Commerce Located at 5900 Lake Ellenor Drive since 2021, SU Orlando has emerged as a regional hub for healthcare education. Signature programs include Allied Health Science, Nursing, Public Health, and Anesthesia Science. In 2024, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates achieved a 100 percent NCLEX pass rate, and in 2025, the inaugural class of Anesthesiologist Assistant students posted a 100 percent NCCAA pass rate. The Master of Medical Science in Anesthesia Science program, launched in 2023, is one of the few in Central Florida and was designed to address the growing national demand for certified anesthesiologist assistants. SU Orlando's ability to respond to labor market needs through targeted, high-quality education has made it a trusted partner to major healthcare institutions. "We are proud to recognize South University as a valued Presidential Circle Member of the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce," Cole said. "Their commitment to excellence in medical education plays a vital role in strengthening Central Florida's healthcare workforce, providing a critical talent pipeline to our region's hospital systems and supporting the well-being of our community." Since its founding in 2014, SU Orlando has forged strong relationships with leading healthcare providers like AdventHealth, Orlando Health, and the Orlando VA Medical Center to place qualified graduates into critical roles across the region. "Our Orlando campus is a testament to South University's mission to serve with purpose and lead with impact," said Dr. Steven K. Yoho, Chancellor of South University. "On behalf of all our faculty and staff, I extend my gratitude to our community partners, like the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce, for their ongoing support as SU continues to expand and evolve alongside the city of Orlando." ABOUT SOUTH UNIVERSITY South University, founded in 1899, has grown from a single location in Savannah, Georgia, to serving over 10,000 students across 11 ground campuses and online curricula. The university offers a wide range of programs, from associate to doctoral levels, focusing on fields such as healthcare, business, and technology. Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options vary by school and are subject to change. Not all programs are available to residents of all U.S. states. Administrative office: South University, 709 Mall Boulevard, Savannah, GA 31406-4805 2025 South University. All rights reserved. South University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. South University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of South University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's website ( www.sacscoc.org ). Media Contact: Juliette Haas [email protected] SOURCE South University PHILADELPHIA, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Franklin Institute , one of the nation's leading science museums, which specializes in providing high-quality, hands-on exhibits and rich STEM-based experiences, has been awarded a two-year grant of $480,970 from Simons Foundation International. The grant will be administered by the Simons Foundation's Science, Society & Culture (SSC) division. Funding for Meaningful Math will support the development of math programming at four unique science-based locations nationwide and will leverage the museum's co-creation model, an established collaborative approach that integrates the expertise and needs of diverse community partners to ensure efficacy and impact. The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia receives support from the Simons Foundation to lead innovative math programming at locations nationwide. "This recognition from the Simons Foundation reaffirms The Franklin Institute as a national leader in innovative approaches to STEM education and community engagement," said Darryl Williams, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Science, Education, and HR at The Franklin Institute. "The funding empowers us to expand our national impact through strategic partnerships and the development of inclusive, engaging math programs that make STEM education more accessible. Using our proven co-creation model, we engage the voices of the community to develop meaningful learning opportunities, ensuring solutions that are relevant, effective, and impactful." Meaningful Math will bring together museum educators, math experts, and community-based organizations in four locations across the country to co-create math programs designed for and by the communities in which they will be implemented. While each math program will be unique, they all aim to foster curiosity and elevate mathematical thinking. Alongside The Franklin Institute, the participating museums include Arizona Science Center in Phoenix, AZ; North Dakota's Gateway to Science in Bismarck, ND; and Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor, ME. Throughout 2025, museums will embark on a year-long co-creation process with one community partner and a local math expert. The Franklin Institute will support the creation of cohesive and engaging math experiences for each community, as well as develop training resources that build educator comfort and skills to facilitate math programs. Each museum will train three community-based organizations in the math resources co-created within their own community for widespread math engagement in the summer and fall of 2026. In Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute will collaborate with Esperanza to co-create a brand-new math program that is specific to the community's interests and needs. "For more than 35 years, Esperanza has been empowering our community in North Philadelphia on a pathway out of poverty by offering education and programs that cultivate self-belief, grit, and knowledge acquisition, allowing clients and students to develop agency, voice, and influence over their own lives," expressed Nilsa R. Graciani, Ph.D., Chief STEM Officer at Esperanza. This program is funded by Simons Foundation International and administered by the Simons Foundation's Science, Society & Culture division. The Simons Foundation's Science, Society and Culture division seeks to provide opportunities for people to forge a connection to science whether for the first time or a lifetime. "Part of our mission is to foster meaningful engagement with science and math," said Ivvet Modinou, Senior Vice President of Science, Society & Culture at the Simons Foundation. "This partnership puts community at the heart of that engagement, allowing for the co-creation of joyful math experiences that are built to last." About The Franklin Institute Located in the heart of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is a renowned and innovative leader in science and technology learning and a dynamic center of activity. As Pennsylvania's most visited museum and a leader in STEM education, it is dedicated to creating a passion for learning through interactive exhibits, live demonstrations, and world-class exhibits. Home to the historic Fels Planetarium and the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, the museum remains a hub for scientific learning and exploration, a legacy that spans 200 years. For more information, visit www.fi.edu . About Simons Foundation International and the Simons Foundation Simons Foundation International (SFI) is a philanthropy whose mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. The Simons Foundation's mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. Since its founding in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons, the foundation has been a champion of basic science through grant funding, support for research and public engagement. We believe in asking big questions and providing sustained support to researchers working to unravel the mysteries of the universe. The Simons Foundation's Science, Society and Culture division seeks to provide opportunities for people to forge a connection to science whether for the first time or a lifetime. Through our initiatives, we work to inspire a feeling of awe and wonder, foster connections between people and science, and support environments that provide a sense of belonging. SOURCE The Franklin Institute SYRACUSE, N.Y., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Reading League , a national nonprofit leading the advancement of evidence-aligned reading instruction, has expanded its educator preparation services with the launch of the Educator Preparation Program Partnership , an initiative to strengthen teacher preparation nationwide. Many states are now requiring that the methods taught in their educator preparation programs align with findings from the science of readinga vast, interdisciplinary body of research on how children learn to read and how to teach them most effectively. Many states require that curricula used in educator preparation programs align with findings from the science of reading Post this Maria Murray, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of The Reading League (PRNewsfoto/The Reading League) The Reading League is uniquely positioned to assist EPPs as they advance the science of reading. Its team includes reading science experts with solid experience in EPPs and change management. Once a partnership is established, The Reading League's priority is to understand the EPP's culture and its faculty's strengths. TRL then co-develops meaningful, evidence-aligned learning goals and plans for program development. Next, TRL conducts needs assessments and full program reviews to determine opportunities for alignment and growth. The Reading League does not promote a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, EPP-specific tools and frameworks are used to identify gaps and redundancies in coursework and to integrate evidence-aligned content related to instruction, assessment and intervention while maintaining the integrity and culture of the program and leveraging the talent and expertise of EPP faculty. Educator preparation programs can choose one of two partnership pathways: Two-Year Partnership A deep, sustained engagement featuring needs assessments, full program reviews, collaborative knowledge building, and active partnerships with practicum placement schools to support effective implementation. A deep, sustained engagement featuring needs assessments, full program reviews, collaborative knowledge building, and active partnerships with practicum placement schools to support effective implementation. Accelerated Deep Dive Partnership A three- to five-day collaboration to create a shared vision, streamline course sequences, and embed evidence-aligned content across the program. Dr. Maria Murray, president and CEO of The Reading League, said she is encouraged to see state policy centering on the science of reading as it relates to EPPs. She added, "Our partnership programs empower EPPs as they prepare future teachers to excel at evidence-aligned literacy instruction. We bring deep expertise and respect for each institution's unique context, ensuring our collaboration is purposeful, informed and focused on long-term institutional success." The Reading League is a national education nonprofit based in Syracuse, N.Y., seeking to increase knowledge of evidence-aligned approaches to teaching reading and the research that shows how people learn to read. We train and support educators and school leaders, and by extension, we also serve numerous interested parties. We believe that all children deserve to learn to read, and all teachers can learn to teach them. For more information, please visit thereadingleague.org . SOURCE The Reading League The gap between dealers' perceived industry momentum and auto-buyers' hesitation widens DETROIT, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Urban Science, a global automotive consultancy and technology firm, and the Harris Poll today announced the release of their automotive data and insights key findings . This survey, conducted in early 2025, takes a closer look into the developing perspectives and opinions from dealers and auto buyers on a variety of topics relevant to the automotive industry, including EVs, emerging technology, auto-buyer preferences, policy changes and more. "Now in its fifth year, some telling patterns have emerged through this collaborative survey. While key themes have proven true or even escalated year-over-year, several unexpected data points emerged from the 2025 survey which isn't terribly surprising given today's current rate of technology change and the macro-economic factors that pose an outsized impact on the automotive industry," said Thomas Kondrat, Global Lead, Advanced Analytics at Urban Science. "Data is what we do, and having a deep and robust understanding of both dealer and auto-buyer perception on critical decision-making factors like AI-adoption, EV-readiness, cost of ownership and the impact of tariffs is proving to be more important than ever for OEMs, dealers, auto buyers and the industry at large." Conducted in January 2025 with a smaller, follow-up survey issued in February, this survey gathered data from adults aged 18+ who currently own or lease or plan to purchase or lease a new or used vehicle in the next 12 months, including 3,026 adults from the United States, 1,008 from Germany and 1,010 from the United Kingdom. Apart from this, data was collected from 254 OEM automotive dealers across the United States with the title of sales manager, general manager or principal/VP/owner. This collaborative report is the result of the only survey in the industry today that positions dealer and auto-buyer perceptions, concerns and expectations side-by-side. Key highlights from this year's findings include the following: Even before tariff announcements began, affordability has remained a top concern for auto buyers. This has proven to be true especially when referring to the cost of owning a vehicle, with 64 percent of auto buyers and 40 percent of dealers citing the affordability of a vehicle as their biggest concern . Tariffs continue to remain top of mind for both dealers and auto buyers. In fact, in response to the February 2025 omnibus survey, 3 in 5 auto buyers believe the tariffs will have a negative impact on the U.S. auto industry . Dealers remain optimistic on electric vehicles, while auto buyers feel less confident. Despite the expectation from dealers that customer interest in EVs will grow, only 47 percent of auto buyers agreed with dealers' statement that auto buyers would be ready for EV-only options by 2040 (with 48 percent saying they may never be ready). Dealers are enthusiastic about AI, whereas auto buyers have mixed feelings. Even though the overall awareness of AI's involvement in the shopping process has remained high for auto buyers, positive sentiment on the subject has declined year-over-year. For a comprehensive breakdown of key findings from Urban Science's 2025 Harris Poll survey, visit www.urbanscience.com/harris-poll-report/ . About Urban Science Urban Science is a leading automotive consultancy and technology firm that serves automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and dealers, and AdTech companies that support them, around the world. Headquartered in Detroit and operating in 20 office locations globally, Urban Science taps the power of its science and its unrivaled data, solution offerings and industry expertise to create clarity and business certainty for clients in even the most chaotic market conditions. Visit UrbanScience.com for more information about how Urban Science helps the automotive industry gain a competitive edge by taking the guesswork out of critical business decisions. This, in turn, drives improved efficiency and profitability industrywide. About The Harris Poll The Harris Poll is one of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., tracking public opinion, motivations and social sentiment since 1963. It is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. We work with clients in three primary areas: building 21st Century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking and earning organic media through public relations research. Our mission is to provide insights and advisory to help leaders make the best decisions possible. Method Statement: This survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Urban Science among 3,026 US adults aged 18+ who currently own or lease or plan to purchase or lease a new or used vehicle in the next 12 months (referred to in this report as "auto-buyers" or "auto-buying public"), and 254 U.S. OEM automotive dealers, whose titles were Sales Manager, General Manager or Principal/VP/Owner. The auto-buying public surveys were conducted from January 10 to February 4, 2025. Data are weighted where necessary by demographics to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population. The dealer survey was conducted January 9 to January 30, 2025. Data were weighted as needed based on the average of current and previous waves for gender, car types sold, job title and urbanicity. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within 2.2 percentage points for U.S. auto-buyers and 7.1 for U.S. OEM automotive dealers using a 95% confidence level. SOURCE Urban Science BOLINGBROOK, Ill., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As safety and wellness challenges continue to rise across the country, Victor Technology is expanding its product offerings with the launch of its new Essential Response Cabinets (ERC) line of emergency preparedness solutions designed for today's diverse environments including schools, hotels, museums, stadiums, government offices, public venues, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities. The cabinets' robust steel design ensures it remains secure and functional in high-traffic areas. Essential Response Cabinets The ERC product line includes purpose-built cabinets that provide immediate access to critical safety tools, with a focus on hygiene, overdose response, and accessibility. The high-visibility, all-steel cabinet empowers quick action and stands up to the rigors of cafeterias, classrooms, and common spaces. The lineup features: A non-locking overdose cabinet for barrier-free emergency access An overdose distribution cabinet An AED combo cabinet with alarm A choking emergency cabinet for lifesaving intervention A hygiene station for promoting health in high-traffic areas "These are real challenges we're hearing from schools and facilities every day," said Greg Palese, vice president of marketing at Victor Technology. "From cell phone distractions to health emergencies, organizations are facing more than ever before. We're listening and responding with practical, effective safety solutions." In addition to educational and industrial settings, the ERC line is ideal for public-facing spaces such as hotels, museums, event venues, and stadiums, where high foot traffic and diverse populations increase the need for readily accessible, life-saving equipment. These cabinets help venues meet growing safety and health regulations, while giving staff and visitors peace of mind. Unlike traditional emergency supplies that may be locked away in administrative areas, Victor's new cabinets are designed for visibility and accessibility. They can be mounted in hallways, classrooms, exhibit spaces, locker rooms, lobbies, break rooms, or production floors anywhere quick access is essential. "Facilities and schools need support, not just supplies," said Douglas Nash, CEO of Victor Technology. "We're not reinventing the wheel we're responding to what educators, venue managers, and safety officers are asking for: easy and effective solutions to modern-day problems." Victor Technology safety cabinets are made in the United States and built with the same durability and attention to detail the company is known for. The new products are available as standalone units and can be easily integrated into existing safety systems. This launch reflects Victor's ongoing commitment to workplace safety, emergency preparedness, and innovative safety solutions for modern organizations from classrooms to concert halls. About Victor Technology Victor Technology, based in Bolingbrook, Illinois, is a leading manufacturer and distributor of branded office and safety products. Founded in 1918, the company is known for its innovation and quality, offering a wide range of solutions including printing calculators, scientific calculators, standing desks, clipboards, and desk accessories. Victor's portfolio includes trusted brands such as Victor, Officemate, and Sharp Calculators. Products are available through major retailers including Amazon, Grainger, Staples, and Office Depot, as well as office supply wholesalers across the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. For more information, visit www.victortech.com. SOURCE Victor Technology French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot noted that the United States is demonstrating determination in supporting Ukraine. "In addition to President Trump's announcement of a 50-day ultimatum that leads or could lead him to impose devastating sanctions, by applying 100% customs duties against Russia and Russia's partners, the fact that the President of the United States is demonstrating his readiness to supply military equipment to Ukraine is the most convincing signal that he has now finally chosen whose side he is on," he said during a press conference in Kyiv on Monday. Barrot noted that this is not unexpected, because since his re-election, Trump has repeatedly stated that he wants peace. The minister noted that five months have passed since Ukraine accepted the proposal to introduce a ceasefire in the war with Russia for 30 days. According to him, during this time, Russian attacks have become five times more intense. "This decision by the American President is obviously very good news, which echoes the participation of American representatives in the meeting convened by the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister of Great Britain within the framework of the 'Coalition of the Willing', which I already mentioned in the introduction, to testify to the return of unity, preparedness and determination," he stressed. As reported, on July 10, representatives of the United States, including Special Presidential Envoy General Keith Kellogg, Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Richard Blumenthal, joined the Coalition of the Willing meeting for the first time. The Dolynske deposit (Ivano-Frankivsk region) plans to resume salt production in the near future, mayor of Dolyna territorial community Ivan Dyriv reported on Facebook. He recalled that the Dolynske salt deposit is one of the oldest in Ukraine salt has been mined here since the 10th century. Until the mid-20th century, the Dolynske salt-making plant was one of the largest enterprises in the city. "Finally, after decades of decline, there is hope for the return of Dolynske salt to its former glory. Work is currently underway to restore salt production. These are not just promises, but concrete steps: work is actively underway on the Dolynske deposit development project, and a thorough assessment of the environmental impact is being carried out," Dyriv wrote. The development of a design solution for the future salt-distillation plant is being prepared by specialists from the State Research and Design Institute of Basic Chemistry NIOCHIM. A special permit for the extraction of rock salt (halite) in 2023 was received by Kharkiv-based Planet Comfort LLC. "Resumption of salt production in Dolyna is not just an economic project. It is a symbol of revival, a return to historical roots and the opening of new horizons for the region. This is a chance for Dolyna to once again take its rightful place on the map of the salt mining industry of Ukraine," summed up the mayor of Dolyna community. As reported, in pre-war 2021, Ukraine exported 710,040 tonnes of salt for $28.32 million, while in 2022, supplies abroad fell fivefold in quantity terms - to 142,038 tonnes, and the revenue fell even more - to $3.82 million. The main buyers of Ukrainian salt in 2021 were Poland (39.1%), Hungary (27.4%) and Romania (7.3%). In 2021, Ukraine imported 142,810 tonnes of salt for $12.92 million. After the occupation by Russian troops in April 2022 of the largest salt producer in the country - Artemsil - Ukraine practically stopped exporting it and began purchasing it abroad. 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 Washington, July 22 : US President Donald Trump's Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced that the administration has released over 230,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). The related files were released after nearly 60 years of questions surrounding the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Gabbard said in a post on social media platform X. "The documents include details about the FBI's investigation into the assassination of MLK, discussion of potential leads, internal FBI memos detailing the progress of the case, information about James Earl Ray's former cellmate who stated he discussed with Ray an alleged assassination plot, and more," according to Gabbard. On January 23, three days after taking office, Trump signed an executive order to declassify any remaining files from the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy, and MLK, Xinhua news agency reported. After a courtas order in 1977, the records gathered by the FBI which totaled to more than 240,000 pages were blocked from public viewing and were in turn kept in the National Archives and Records Administration. Kingas family, including his two living children, Martin III and Bernice, were informed about the decision by the Trump administration to release the files and their own teams were reviewing the records. However, several members of the Kingas family opposed the release of documents. MLK stands as one of the most prominent figures in the American civil rights movement. He is widely celebrated for his commitment to nonviolent campaigns against racial segregation and inequality, as well as his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. New Delhi, July 22 : Proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are set to resume on Tuesday, marking the second day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The session began with a stormy opening day, marked by repeated disruptions and adjournments due to opposition protests over the Pahalgam terror attack. Both Houses witnessed high drama on Monday as the Congress-led Opposition demanded an immediate discussion on Operation Sindoor, seeking to corner the government over what they termed a major security lapse in J&K. In the Lok Sabha, the uproar began within minutes of the session's commencement. Opposition MPs raised slogans and called for suspension of all listed business to prioritise a debate on the Pahalgam attack. Speaker Om Birla tried to restore order but was forced to adjourn the House barely 20 minutes into the day's proceedings. The Rajya Sabha also witnessed noisy scenes. Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a debate on US President Donald Trump's reported claims of mediating peace between India and Pakistan. However, Kharge emphasised that the Opposition did not intend to politicise India's military actions, referring to Operation Sindoor, India's retaliatory strike following the terror attack. Responding to Kharge, Leader of the House J.P. Nadda reiterated the government's willingness for debate. "We are ready to discuss every issue, but the conventions of the House must be followed," he said. Setting the tone for the Monsoon Session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier called it a "session of celebration" of India's strength and resilience. Speaking to the media before the session began, PM Modi highlighted the country's achievements, from the precision strike of Operation Sindoor to astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's recent space mission, as symbols of India's growing global stature. Meanwhile, the Congress submitted Suspension of Business Notices in both Houses, seeking urgent discussions not just on the terror attack, but also on alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, which heads to the polls later this year. Washington, July 22 : Gita Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will be stepping down from her role in August 2025 to return to academia at Harvard University, the IMF announced. Gopinath, a trailblazer in international economics, will be taking on the role of the inaugural Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics at Harvard. The IMF's Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva confirmed Gopinath's departure and said a successor will be named "in due course." Gopinath first joined the IMF in 2019 as Chief Economist, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Her leadership during a time of extraordinary global economic upheaval, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting macroeconomic disruptions, was widely recognised. In January 2022, she was promoted to First Deputy Managing Director, the Fund's No. 2 position. In a post on X, Gopinath reflected on her nearly seven-year tenure at the Fund and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve at one of the world's foremost financial institutions. "After nearly 7 amazing years at the IMF, I have decided to return to my academic roots. On September 1, 2025, I will rejoin @HarvardEcon as the inaugural Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics. I am truly grateful for my time at @IMFnews, first as Chief Economist and then as First Deputy Managing Director," she wrote. "I have had the privilege of working closely with the IMF's brilliant and committed staff, colleagues in management, the Executive Board, and country authorities. I am especially thankful to @KGeorgieva and her predecessor, @Lagarde, for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve the IMF's membership during a period of unprecedented challenges. I now return to my roots in academia, where I look forward to continuing to push the research frontier in international finance and macroeconomics to address global challenges, and to training the next generation of economists." Before joining the IMF, she served as the John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University. Under her leadership, the IMF played a key role in shaping the global economic response to crises, including COVID-19, supply chain shocks, debt distress in developing countries, and climate finance challenges. Her successor at the IMF is yet to be announced. Beirut, July 22 : US special envoy Thomas Barrack underscored Washington's diplomatic efforts to support Lebanon's sovereignty and peace process, noting that it cannot force Israel to do anything. "The US 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 US envoy, who also serves as US ambassador to Turkey 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, Xinhua news agency reported. 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 US efforts are aimed at leveraging diplomatic influence to help bring the conflict to a peaceful resolution. The US 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 US envoy Thomas Barrack with a draft memorandum outlining Lebanon's commitments since the ceasefire with Israel, which came into effect on November 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 US- 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 February 18 deadline for complete withdrawal. New Delhi, July 22 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended warm birthday wishes to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, lauding their contributions to the state and wishing them long and healthy lives. Fadnavis, born on July 22, 1970, in Nagpur to a Marathi Deshastha Brahmin family, and Pawar, born on the same date in 1959 in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, received praise and blessings from leaders across the political spectrum. Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, "Best wishes to Maharashtra Chief Minister, Shri Devendra Fadnavis Ji on his birthday. He's working tirelessly for Maharashtra's progress and empowering the poor and downtrodden. May he lead a long and healthy life in service of the people." For Ajit Pawar, who leads the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction aligned with the Mahayuti, PM Modi posted, "Birthday greetings to Shri Ajit Pawar Ji. He is making a valuable contribution to strengthening the NDA's good governance agenda in Maharashtra. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life." Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended heartfelt greetings. "Happy birthday to Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis. Under the leadership of Modi ji, you are continuously doing commendable work towards public welfare and revival of cultural heritage in Maharashtra," Shah wrote on X. "We are also moving forward firmly on the path of public welfare by providing basic facilities to the poor, deprived and exploited in a transparent manner. May Ganpati Bappa grant you long life and healthy life," he added. For Ajit Pawar, Shah wrote, "Heartiest birthday wishes to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. You are playing a commendable role in bringing the work of the Mahayuti government to the ground in Maharashtra. I pray to God for your good health and long life." Joining in the celebrations, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde offered his wishes to both leaders. In a message posted in Marathi (loosely translated into English), he wrote, "Heartfelt birthday wishes to the Honourable Chief Minister Devendraji Fadnavis, the steadfast warrior of Maharashtra's development journey! A trusted friend and colleague of the Mahayuti alliance, leading all comrades with strength, a leader who amplifies the voice of the people, taking bold steps in Maharashtra's journey toward prosperity." He further praised Fadnavis as "an excellent administrator, a wise leader with expertise in economics and law, and a visionary leader," and prayed for his long and healthy life. Wishing his counterpart Ajit Pawar, Shinde wrote, "Heartfelt birthday wishes to Deputy Chief Minister Hon. Ajitdada Pawar, who steadfastly supports the Mahayuti! An exceptional administrator with a remarkable grasp of economics, a steadfast companion of visionary development, and a sensitive and punctual leader who carries the aspirations of Maharashtra's progress -- that's our Ajitdada." He added, "To our friend who firmly believes nothing comes before Maharashtra's development and walks this path with conviction, we pray at the feet of the Almighty for a long and healthy life!" -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, July 22 : Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Tuesday gave an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls in Bihar. The MP from Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, give notice to move the adjournment motion under Rule 56 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. Tagore, who is the Congress whip in the Lok Sabha, said this was to "discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls initiated by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in Bihar on June 24, 2025, and its severe implications for the democratic process ahead of the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections due by November 2025." In the notice, Tagore said that the House adjourn its business to discuss the matter, saying that it "jeopardises the fundamental right to vote of millions of eligible citizens, particularly from marginalized communities, and threatens the integrity of free and fair elections." The Congress MP mentioned six reasons in support of his notice. The first is that it creates a massive risk of disenfranchisement. The SIR requires voters to submit enumeration forms with stringent documentation, such as birth certificates or passports, to prove citizenship. In Bihar, where only 2.8 per cent of individuals born between 2001 and 2005 possess birth certificates, this requirement disproportionately impacts Dalits, backward classes, minorities, and migrant workers, potentially denying millions their constitutional right to vote. The second point is that it involves an opaque and arbitrary process. Reports, particularly from regions like Seemanchal, indicate that voter names have been removed without prior notice or due process, causing widespread fear and confusion. This lack of transparency undermines public trust in the electoral system and raises serious questions about the SIR's intent and implementation, he said. Third point is about the timing of the SIR, which the Congress leader says is inappropriate, and there are also logistical challenges. "Launched abruptly during Bihar's monsoon season, the SIR is marred by logistical issues, including floods and inadequate training of 100,000 Booth Level Officers, 20,000 of whom are yet to be appointed. The Supreme Court has questioned the ECI's decision to conduct this exercise so close to the elections, highlighting its impracticality and questionable necessity," Tagore's notice read. Fourth point is about the Constitutional and legal concerns. Tagore says the ECI's focus on identifying 'illegal migrants' oversteps its jurisdiction, as citizenship determination is the prerogative of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The SIR risks violating Articles 14, 19, 21, and 326 of the Constitution, as noted in a 1995 Supreme Court ruling and ongoing petitions by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and other stakeholders. Fifth point is about inaccessible documentation requirements. He said the initial exclusion of widely held documents like Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards has made compliance burdensome, with only 14 per cent of voters submitting forms by early July 2025. "Despite subsequent ECI clarifications allowing form submission without documents, the process remains confusing and exclusionary for vulnerable communities," he added. Tagore, in his last and sixth point, mentions allegations of political manipulation. He said in the notice, "SIR has been criticised as a politically motivated exercise to suppress votes from communities less likely to support the ruling coalition, thereby kindizing the fairness of the Bihar elections. Such actions erode the democratic principle of equal representation and free choice." Tagore has demanded that the House urgently debate the SIR's potential to disenfranchise millions, disrupt the electoral process, and violate constitutional safeguards. The Congress MP called for the immediate suspension of the SIR and a comprehensive review with all stakeholders to ensure no eligible voter is deprived of their fundamental right to vote. "I, therefore, request that the normal business of the House be adjourned to discuss this critical issue, and that the Election Commission of India be directed to address these concerns to uphold the democratic values enshrined in our Constitution," he concluded. Seoul, July 22 : Hyundai Motor Group's export of electric vehicles (EVs) from South Korea to the United States fell nearly 90 per cent on-year in the first five months of the year, as the automaker shifts production of America-bound vehicles to its new U.S. facility, according to industry data on Tuesday. According to the data from the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association (KAMA), Hyundai Motor and Kia combined exported 7,156 EVs to the U.S. between January and May this year, down 88 percent from 59,705 units during the same period a year earlier, reports Yonhap news agency. Hyundai Motor Co., including its premium Genesis line, shipped 3,906 units, marking an 87 percent decline, while Kia's exports dropped 89.1 percent to 3,250 units. The volume represents the lowest level for the January-May period since Hyundai Motor Group began accelerating its electrification strategy in 2021. The decline is largely attributed to Hyundai's ongoing efforts to localise EV production in the U.S. In the first half of the year, the automaker completed construction of its dedicated EV plant, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, in Georgia. It produced 28,957 units of the Ioniq 5 and 4,187 units of the Ioniq 9 at the facility. At the same time, Hyundai and Kia have also faced challenges in the U.S. EV market. According to industry tracker Wards Intelligence, the group sold 44,555 EVs in the U.S. in the first half of 2025, down 28 percent from a year earlier. Industry watchers say that the outlook for the remainder of the year may be bleaker due to the scheduled termination of U.S EV tax credits in September under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a major tax reform bill spearheaded by U.S. President Donald Trump. A recent report by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) recently estimated Hyundai Motor Group could lose up to 45,828 units in annual U.S. EV sales, equivalent to US$1.95 billion in sales. The U.S. market accounted for 36 percent of Hyundai Motor Group's total EV exports last year. a"IANS na/ At least 12 wounded in night strikes on Sloviansk and Kramatorsk prosecutor's office Photo: https://www.facebook.com/ A child was killed and eight civilians aged 20 to 58 were injured as a result of a nighttime strike by Russian occupiers on the town of Kramatorsk in Donetsk region; in the neighboring town of Sloviansk, two men aged 39 and 53 and women aged 53 and 63 were injured. "At 04:40 on July 22, 2025, Russian troops dropped a FAB-250 with a UMPK module on Kramatorsk. The weapon hit an apartment building ... At the same time, the enemy attacked a residential building in Sloviansk with two aerial bombs," reads a message posted on the Facebook page of Donetsk regional prosecutor's office. All victims were injured in their homes. They were diagnosed with mine-explosive injuries, fractures and cut wounds. All victims received qualified medical care. In both cities, multi-story buildings and vehicles were damaged. The prosecutor's office reported the start of pretrial investigations in criminal proceedings on the facts of war crimes (Part 1, Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Earlier, it was reported that a boy born in 2015 was killed and five were injured. Seoul, July 22 : Samsung Display said on Tuesday its latest foldable organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel has successfully passed a 500,000-fold durability test, demonstrating the company's advances in flexible display technology. The panel, used in Samsung Electronics Co.'s newly launched Galaxy Z Fold 7 smartphone, remained fully functional after undergoing 500,000 folds over a 13-day period in a temperature of 25 C, according to testing results verified by global certification agency Bureau Veritas, reports Yonhap news agency. The result is more than double Samsung Display's previous internal durability standard of 200,000 fold and reflects the company's confidence in the long-term resilience of its foldable OLED technology, the company said. Samsung Display explained the 500,000-fold benchmark equates to over 10 years of use for average consumers and more than six years for heavy users folding over 200 times daily. The company attributed the enhanced durability to a newly developed shock-resistant structure inspired by bulletproof glass. Samsung increased the thickness of its Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) cover by 50 percent and adopted a new high-elastic adhesive, improving impact recovery performance fourfold compared with previous materials. "This new panel not only builds consumer confidence in foldable OLED durability but also underscores the technological advantage that makes Samsung Display distinguished in the industry," said Lee Ho-jung, head of the mobile display product planning team at Samsung Display. Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics said that preorder sales of its new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 smartphones have set a fresh record for its foldable Z series models in South Korea. Preorders for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 series, introduced on July 9, amounted to 1.04 million units as of Monday, outnumbering the 1.02 million set by the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5, according to the company. The previous Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 series recorded 910,000 units in preorders. The company said sales of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which opens and closes like a book, accounted for 60 percent of total presales, while the clamshell-style Flip 7 made up 40 percent. It is the first time that the Fold model has outsold the Flip model since Samsung Electronics launched its foldable lineup in 2019. a"IANS na/ Bhubaneswar, July 22 : In yet another disturbing incident from Odisha, a minor girl was sexually assaulted by a truck driver in the Malkangiri district, according to police reports on Tuesday. The victim's family filed a written complaint at Malkangiri Sadar Police Station, according to which, the girl had gone to her friend's house on Monday evening to attend birthday celebrations but did not return home. Concerned family members began searching for her but were unable to locate her. Later that night, locals spotted the girl at National Highway 326 near Bija Ghati, in a suspicious situation, accompanied by a truck driver. Concerned about the girl, the locals immediately reported the incident to the police. Upon arrival, police rescued the minor and placed her in the care of Shakti Sadan, a local shelter home. The truck driver was detained, and the police are interrogating him. The victim's mother has submitted a formal complaint, and police have registered a case. An investigation is currently underway. Further details are awaited. This comes a day after Congress Odisha youth wing's (NSUI) President Udit Pradhan was arrested by the Mancheswar Police in Bhubaneswar for sexual assault of a 19-year-old female engineering student after spiking her soft drink with intoxicants. Udit was detained late Sunday night. The arrest followed a formal complaint lodged by the survivor. Just a few days before this incident, on July 19, another minor was set ablaze by unknown miscreants in Banlanga area of the Puri district. Miraculously, she managed to escape and sought help from nearby residents. Following this, she was taken to receive immediate medical assistance. She is now at Delhi AIIMS, receiving treatment for 70 per cent burns over her body. According to the complaint lodged by the victim's mother, the girl was accosted by unknown miscreants who doused her with petrol and kerosene in a brutal attempt to murder her. The attack has triggered urgent police action, including the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT). New Delhi, July 22 : In a major crackdown on cybercrime, the Delhi Police have busted a work-from-home job fraud syndicate and arrested four individuals accused of duping a man of Rs 17.49 lakh through a sophisticated online scam involving cryptocurrency. The Cyber Police Station of South West Delhi busted the fraud syndicate after the victim, a Vasant Kunj resident, filed a complaint. According to the South West District Police, the fraudsters lured unsuspecting victims through Telegram by offering seemingly legitimate part-time online jobs, such as reviewing websites for small payments. "After a few initial tasks, the victim was asked to perform a prepaid task involving the sale and purchase of Bitcoin. Believing he would earn a high return, the victim kept depositing more money on the pretext of redeeming his earnings," the police said in an official statement. The complainant filed an online report on May 27, stating that he was first contacted by the fraudsters on May 23. What began as a simple task for Rs 50 per review escalated into a larger investment scheme. The victim was manipulated into depositing increasingly larger amounts of money with the false promise of unlocking or redeeming earnings. Eventually, he was cheated out of Rs 17.49 lakh. Following a preliminary inquiry, a case was registered and a special investigation team led by Sub-Inspector Opendar and supervised by ACP Vijay Kumar tracked the flow of funds and used technical surveillance to uncover the fraud network. Analysis of the money trail revealed that Rs 5 lakh had been transferred from the victim's account to one held in Kotak Mahindra Bank under the name of one of the accused. CCTV footage confirmed the presence of the accused and his associates during the withdrawal. The investigation led the team to multiple locations across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, including Lucknow, Agra, Bhopal, and Shivpuri. After coordinated raids, four suspects were apprehended. The arrested individuals were allegedly responsible for operating mule accounts, transferring funds through multiple layers, and ultimately converting the proceeds into cryptocurrency, specifically USDT, to evade detection by banks and law enforcement agencies. Police recovered four smartphones and SIM cards used to carry out the fraud. Authorities stated that the gang used digital platforms and layered money laundering techniques to make tracing difficult. Further investigation is underway to trace additional members of the syndicate and identify other potential victims. Patna, July 22 : In a major breakthrough in the Chandan Mishra murder case, a joint team of Bihar STF and Bhojpur police arrested three accused following an encounter in Bhojpur district on Tuesday. The encounter took place around 5.45 a.m. near a river on the Bihiya-Kateya road under the Bihiya police station limits. The police and STF, acting on intelligence inputs, surrounded the suspects linked to the Chandan Mishra murder case. In response, the criminals opened fire, prompting retaliatory fire from the police. Two of the criminals, Balwant Kumar (22, a resident of Liladharpur, Buxar) and Raviranjan Singh (20, from Chakrahi, Bhojpur), sustained bullet injuries during the exchange of fire. Balwant suffered injuries to his hand and leg, while Raviranjan was shot in the thigh. The joint team has also seized two pistols, a country-made Katta, two magazines and some live cartridges. The entire area was cordoned off, and a heavy deployment of police was seen in the area. Both injured accused were initially taken to Bihiya Hospital and later referred to a higher facility for treatment. A total of three accused were arrested during the operation, Bhojpur ASP confirmed. Sources revealed that leads obtained during the interrogation of the main accused, Mohammad Taushif alias Badshah, currently on a three-day police remand in Patna, led to the arrests in Bhojpur. Gangster Chandan Mishra was killed in Patnaas Paras Hospital on July 17. Patna Police had earlier stated that nine individuals were involved in the planning and execution of the murder. With the three fresh arrests in Bhojpur, the total number of accused apprehended in the Chandan Mishra case has risen to seven. Earlier, police had arrested Mohammad Taushif alias Badshah (main accused), Nishu Khan alias Bhaijaan, Harsh Kumar, and Bhim Kumar from Kolkata. Now, Balwant Kumar and Raviranjan Singh (injured in the encounter), along with another suspect arrested on Tuesday, add to the policeas progress in the case. The Bihar STF and Patna Police are intensifying their search for the remaining two absconding accused linked to the murder. The police are also focusing on recovering the weapons and the motorcycle used in the crime. The arrests are a significant step in dismantling the network behind Chandan Mishraas murder, and further breakthroughs are expected based on information gathered during custodial interrogation. Thiruvananthapuram, July 22 : The British Royal Navy's F-35B Lightning II fighter jet, which had been stranded in Kerala for five weeks after making an emergency landing on June 14, flew out of the Thiruvananthapuram international airport at 10.50 a.m. on Tuesday. The single-pilot manned jet, according to sources, is heading to its destination in Australia. Renowned for its short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities, the fifth-generation fighter -- part of the UKas HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group -- was returning from joint maritime exercises with the Indian Navy in the Indo-Pacific when it was forced to land in Keralaas capital city on June 14. The snag was identified in its hydraulic systems. Soon after it was grounded, a team of engineers landed here, but could not rectify the snag. Then the British officials decided to fly out a special team of top aviation engineers from the US and the UK, who arrived early this month. The special team, comprised of engineers from the British Royal Navy and aircraft manufacturers Lockheed Martin. The jet, which was first lying in the open and was later shifted to the hangar. The US-UK engineering team cordoned off the entire area, and in a week, they got the engine to roar again. By the end of last week, it was cleared for flying again. On Monday, the aircraft was brought to the tarmac, and on Tuesday morning, the final preparations were also done, and at 10.50 a.m., the stranded state-of-the-art was airborne again. The special team of engineers is also expected to leave later in the day on a special flight, which brought them here early this month. Ever since the jet was grounded, it became a subject of discussion on social media, and there were numerous trolls about it. Even Kerala Tourism could not resist the fun. It included this rare moment in its campaign. In a post on X, it shared a message: "Kerala, the destination you will never want to leave. Thank you, The Fauxy." The post featured a spoof "review" attributed to the UK jet: "Kerala is such an amazing place, I don't want to leave. Definitely recommend." Now with the jet having left, a sensation has again been created on social media. Bengaluru, July 22 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the plea challenging the grant of bail to Kannada actor Darshan to Thursday (July 24). The hearing has gained significance after the Apex Court raised objections over the Karnataka High Court's decision to grant bail to the actor. Bengaluru, July 22 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the plea challenging the grant of bail to Kannada actor Darshan to Thursday (July 24). The hearing has gained significance after the Apex Court raised objections over the Karnataka High Courtas decision to grant bail to the actor. A bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan adjourned the hearing after Darshanas counsel, senior advocate Siddharth Dave, informed the court that senior counsel Kapil Sibal -- who was supposed to argue the matter -- was engaged in another trial where his presence was essential. Dave requested a day, stating that he received the case only on Monday night and would not be able to prepare and present arguments on such short notice. Dave also clarified that he would not argue about the reasons behind Darshan's arrest but would focus on the merits of the case. Earlier, the bench had expressed strong reservations about the manner in which the Karnataka High Court exercised its discretion in granting bail to the actor in connection with the fan murder case. The court had told senior counsel Kapil Sibal, "To be very honest, we are not convinced with the manner in which the High Court exercised its discretion. We will very honestly say this." The Karnataka government has filed a plea seeking cancellation of bail granted to Darshan and other accused in the case. Senior counsels Siddharth Luthra and Anil C. Nishani are representing the state government and presenting their arguments. Darshan, Pavithra, and 15 others were arrested on June 11, 2024, on charges of kidnapping and brutally murdering Renukaswamy, a fan from Chitradurga. Renukaswamy had allegedly sent derogatory and obscene messages to Pavithra, angry over Darshanas continued relationship with her despite being married. Sources close to Darshan revealed that Pavithra competed with Darshanas wife, Vijayalakshmi, over jewellery and luxury cars. She allegedly pressured Darshan to make public appearances with her after he had been seen with his wife. Pavithra and Vijayalakshmi also had public spats through social media, leading Darshanas fanbase to split into factions. Renukaswamy, who supported Vijayalakshmi, had criticised Pavithra -- a move that ultimately led to his brutal murder, according to police findings. Darshan is busy shooting for his upcoming film 'Devil'. Sources confirmed that he is in Thailand currently. Since his release from prison on October 30, 2024, after spending 131 days in custody, he has been participating in shoots. In a major relief to Darshan earlier, the Karnataka High Court on February 28 allowed him to travel across the country. Previously, he had been restricted to Bengaluru and the jurisdiction of the sessions court. Hyderabad, July 22 : Telangana Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Tuesday demanded the resignation of BJP MPs from Telangana to pressurise the Centre to include the state's 42 per cent BC reservation laws in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. Stating that increasing 42 per cent quota for BCs is possible, he urged the BJP MPs from the state to resign to mount pressure on the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. Talking to media persons, he came down heavily on state BJP president N. Ramchander Rao for reportedly stating that including 42 per cent BC reservation in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution was not possible. "Mr Ramchander Rao has shown his true colours once again by stating that including BC reservation in the Ninth Schedule is not possible," Prabhakar said. The minister asked how the laws passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly to increase total reservation beyond 50 per cent were included in the Ninth Schedule. Telangana Assembly in March this year passed two Bills for increasing BC reservation to 42 per cent in education, jobs and local bodies and sent the same to the Centre for Presidential assent. Prabhakar demanded that the Centre immediately take a decision on increasing BC quota. He argued that the state has increased the BC reservation based on empirical data and caste census and forwarded the Bills after approval in the Cabinet, the Assembly and also to the Governor. "If injustice is done to BCs, we will not remain silent," he warned. Meanwhile, Ramchander Rao in a post on social media platform 'X' said that the Congress government in the state lacks clarity on the promise of BC reservations. He said on one hand, the Congress makes promises, while on the other, it does not implement its own decisions. "This policy hurts the self-respect of BC communities. BJP alone is committed to the rights of BCs, taking practical decisions under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. Talking to media persons in Delhi on Monday, Ramchander Rao had criticised the Telangana government for not seeking legal opinion before sending BC reservation Bills to the Centre. He stated that without judicial review, such matters can't be included in the Ninth Schedule. He argued that the Supreme Court had made it clear in 1973 in the Kesavananda Bharati case and I. R. Coelho case that any law included in the Ninth Schedule could still be subjected to judicial review. The BJP leader stated that the matter relating to reservation in Tamil Nadu was still before the Supreme Court. He demanded that Congress implement 42 per cent BC reservation without linking it to the Ninth Schedule. He alleged that since the party was not sincere in conducting elections to local bodies, it was making demands for including it in the Ninth Schedule. Patna, July 22 : The second day of the monsoon session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Tuesday was marred by uproar as opposition MLAs staged protests inside and outside the House, opposing the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive of the voter list. As soon as Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav started proceedings, the opposition MLAs stood up, raised slogans, and reached the well of the House with posters in their hands, demanding a debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. The Speaker attempted to pacify the protesting MLAs, asking them to return to their seats, and remarked, "Your throat will get tired of raising slogans; you need to save your voice for the elections." The opposition MLAs arrived dressed in black clothes as a mark of protest, prompting the Speaker to question their attire, stating it "doesn't look good." Marshals were directed to snatch the placards from the protesting MLAs, which were subsequently removed from the House. Earlier, RJD MLAs created a commotion outside the Assembly, attempting to block Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav from entering the House, but he managed to reach his chamber with difficulty. Opposition MLAs, including those from the RJD, Congress, and Left parties, raised slogans against the government, accusing the BJP and the Election Commission of a "conspiracy" through the voter list revision process and demanding its withdrawal. Due to the blockade by opposition MLAs outside the main gate, a second gate of the Assembly, which had been closed for years, was forcibly opened using chisels and hammers to allow ruling party MLAs to enter. Even then, opposition MLAs attempted to obstruct the entrance, but RJD MLA Mukesh Roshan and Congress MLA Rajesh Kumar were removed by marshals to clear the path. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar arrived at the Assembly through an alternative route and met the Speaker, accompanied by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Chaudhary and Minister Shravan Kumar, as the standoff between the ruling and opposition benches continued over the contentious voter list revision. New Delhi, July 22 : Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, stated in Parliament that the State Bank of India (SBI) has classified Reliance Communications Limited (RCOM), along with Promoter Director Anil D. Ambani, as "Fraud" in accordance with the Reserve Bank of India's Master Directions on Fraud Risk Management and the bank's board-approved policy on Classification, Reporting & Management of Frauds. The bank is now in the process of filing a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the minister informed. New Delhi, July 22 (IANS) Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, stated in Parliament that the State Bank of India (SBI) has classified Reliance Communications Limited (RCOM), along with Promoter Director Anil D. Ambani, as "Fraud" in accordance with the Reserve Bank of India's Master Directions on Fraud Risk Management and the bank's board-approved policy on Classification, Reporting & Management of Frauds. The bank is now in the process of filing a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the minister informed. "On June 24, 2025 the bank has reported the classification of fraud to the RBI, and is also in the process of lodging a complaint with the CBI, the minister said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. Further, on July 1, 2025, as part of disclosure compliance, the Resolution Professional of RCOM has informed the Bombay Stock Exchange regarding fraud classification by the bank, the minister said in a written reply. "The credit exposure by SBI in the aforesaid account includes, fund based principal outstanding amount of Rs. 2,227.64 crore along with the accrued interest and expenses with effect from August 26, 2016 and non-fund based Bank Guarantee of Rs. 786.52 crore," the minister revealed. RCOM is undergoing Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). The resolution plan was approved by the Committee of Creditors and filed with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai on March 6, 2020, and NCLT approval is awaited, Chaudhary further stated. The bank has also initiated Personal Insolvency Resolution Process under IBC against Anil Ambani and the same is being heard by NCLT, Mumbai, he added. The Bank had earlier classified the account and promoters Anil D Ambani as "Fraud" on Nov 10, 2020 and filed a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Jan 5, 2021. However, the complaint was returned in view of the "status quo" order dated Jan 6, 2021 by the Delhi High Court, the minister further stated. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court Judgement dated March 27,.2023 in Civil Appeal No. 7300-7307 of 2022 (State Bank of India & Others Vs Rajesh Agarwal & Others) mandated that lenders provide borrowers with an opportunity to represent before classifying their accounts as fraud. Accordingly, the fraud classification in the account was reversed by the bank on September 2, 2023, he explained. The fraud classification process was re-run, and the account was again classified as "Fraud" after following the due process as per RBI circular dated July 15, 2024, the minister added. --IANS Agartala, July 22 : The Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with Customs officials, seized methamphetamine tablets worth Rs 14 crore and arrested a truck driver in Tripura's Khowai district, officials said on Tuesday. Agartala, July 22 (IANS) The Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with Customs officials, seized methamphetamine tablets worth Rs 14 crore and arrested a truck driver in Tripuraas Khowai district, officials said on Tuesday. According to a defence spokesperson, the seizure took place late Monday night at Tuchandrai Bazar, where troops and Customs personnel intercepted a truck and, upon thorough inspection, recovered 1.4 lakh methamphetamine tablets. The contraband and the apprehended driver were handed over to the Customs Department for further investigation and legal action. An official statement said Assam Rifles, in coordination with other enforcement agencies, is committed to curbing illegal activities and maintaining peace and security in the region. This is the second major drug seizure by the Assam Rifles in Tripura within a week. On July 16, in a joint operation with Tripura Police, Assam Rifles personnel intercepted a truck at Khayerpur in West Tripura and recovered three lakh methamphetamine tablets, valued at Rs 30 crore. The driver in that case, however, managed to escape. Police suspect the drugs, also known as Yaba or party tablets, were smuggled from Myanmar via Mizoram and southern Assam, entered Tripura, and were destined for Bangladesh. Methamphetamine, which comes in tablet, powder, or crystalline form -- commonly called ice or crystal meth -- is a stimulant that suppresses the need for sleep and is often used by partygoers and young adults. Myanmaras Chin State has emerged as a major hub for drug trafficking, wildlife smuggling, and other illicit activities. The contraband is often routed through six districts in Mizoram -- Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip -- which share unfenced borders of 510 km with Myanmar and 318 km with Bangladesh. Tripura Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, recently warned that several influential individuals are involved in the drug trade for monetary gain, but assured that no one will be spared if caught. Speaking at a aDrug-Free India Campaigna event in West Tripura last week, he stressed that law enforcement remains vigilant to prevent the state from being used as a corridor for narcotics trafficking. Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/ Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Rustem Umerov will lead the delegation for negotiations with the Russian side, and the delegation will also include representatives of the intelligence service, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidents Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said following a meeting on the negotiating work. Head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, reported on the coordination of our diplomatic efforts with partners in Europe and the United States. I instructed that a delegation be formed for negotiations with the Russian side. The delegation will be headed by Rustem Umerov and will include representatives of Ukrainian intelligence, Ukraines Foreign Ministry, and the Office of the President, Zelenskyy said on X Tuesday. In addition, during the meeting, Umerov reported on the implementation of the agreements of the second meeting with the Russian side in Istanbul and the agreement on a new meeting in the near future. Ukraine is ready to work as productively as possible to secure the release of our people from captivity and return of abducted children, to stop the killings, and to prepare a leaders' meeting aimed at truly bringing this war to an end, the President added. He stressed that the Ukrainian position is as transparent as possible. Ukraine never wanted this war, and it is Russia that must end the war that it started, the head of state noted. Earlier on Monday, Zelenskyy announced a meeting with the Russian side for Wednesday, July 23. He said this in an evening address. Seoul, July 22 : South Korea's Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said on Tuesday that he will hold so-called "2+2" high-level trade talks with the United States later this week, ahead of the looming August 1 deadline for bilateral negotiations on the US' sweeping tariff measures. Koo said he and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo will head to Washington for the talks set to be held Friday, involving US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer. "With the August 1 deadline fast approaching, relevant ministries have formed a unified team to respond with a well-coordinated and practical strategy for the national interest," Koo told reporters following a meeting on key economic affairs. When asked about Seoul's negotiation strategy, Koo, who also serves as deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs, declined to elaborate, Yonhap news agency reported. Koo's upcoming visit will mark the first trip to Washington by South Korea's highest economic official since President Lee Jae Myung came into office on June 4. Koo officially assumed his post as finance minister on Monday. The upcoming talks will also mark the first of their kind under the Lee administration as the last round of "2+2" trade talks held in Washington in April had involved former Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and former Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, both appointed under the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration. The US is set to start imposing 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on South Korean products August 1, in addition to a range of sectoral tariffs, including 25 per cent duties on auto and steel imports, that are already in place. "The foreign minister and the industry minister will also travel to the United States as early as this week to meet with their respective counterparts in an effort to persuade Washington," Koo said. The reciprocal tariffs originally took effect on April 9, but Trump paused them the same day for 90 days to allow for negotiations. He later extended the pause, saying the US will start imposing them on August 1. Asked about the possibility of the deadline being further extended, Koo said the government's current focus is on negotiations. In an interview with CBS earlier this week, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said August 1 is a "hard deadline" for Washington's reciprocal tariffs, emphasising that the new tariffs would go into effect as scheduled. However, he added that "nothing stops countries from talking to us after August 1." Yeo later said he will do his utmost to achieve the "best possible" and "constructive" outcome that would benefit both Seoul and Washington before August 1. "We are currently facing a very critical moment, and since all possibilities, including the best and worst case scenarios, remain open, we will make every effort to reflect concerns on sensitive issues on our negotiation strategy and maximise our national interest," the trade minister said as he departed for Washington. "We will also actively work to ensure that the ongoing tariff negotiations lead to a positive sum outcome, one that creates a virtuous cycle of investment, procurement and the development of new growth engines between the two countries, based on the bilateral manufacturing renaissance partnership we proposed during my last trip to the US," he added. This week's trip marks Yeo's third visit to the US capital for trade talks since he took office last month. In his most recent visit, which took place earlier this month, Yeo proposed a comprehensive manufacturing partnership in shipbuilding, semiconductor and other sectors as a way to reduce Seoul's big trade surplus with Washington. Seoul, July 22 : Several South Korean conglomerates have ramped up relief and recovery efforts for residents affected by recent flooding across the country. Samsung Group said it donated 3 billion won (US$2.17 million) in cash and supplies to support the recovery in the flood-hit areas. Samsung Electronics Co. began offering free inspections and repairs for flooded home appliances and smartphones on Friday. SK Group contributed 2.3 billion won in cash and supplies to recovery efforts in the affected regions, including Sancheong in South Gyeongsang Province. Affiliates of the group are also providing on-site assistance. SK hynix Inc., its chipmaking arm, donated 175 packages of relief tents and floor mats for displaced residents in Asan and Yesan counties in South Chungcheong Province. SK Telecom Co. set up mobile phone charging stations, distributed portable chargers and supplied other emergency goods, Yonhap news agency reported. LG Group and Hyundai Motor Group each donated 2 billion won to the nationwide recovery efforts. LG Electronics Inc. established emergency repair centres in South Chungcheong Province to service damaged home appliances. LG H&H Co. provided personal care products, including toothbrushes, toothpaste and shampoo, while LG Uplus Corp. offered telecommunications services to displaced residents. Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Corp. said they will cut repair charges by up to 50 per cent for vehicles damaged by flooding. Steelmaker POSCO Group and shipbuilding group HD Hyundai each contributed 2 billion won to relief efforts, while retail giant Lotte Group delivered 1 billion won. Torrential rains since Wednesday have caused floods and landslides, leaving at least 18 people dead, with the heaviest damage reported in southern regions, including Sancheong. Authorities have sped up recovery efforts, with about 2,976 of the 6,752 buildings and facilities reported damaged having undergone emergency restoration work. More than 14,000 people have taken shelter since the heavy rains started, with 2,549 people yet to return to their homes. Jerusalem, July 22 : Israel's military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen toward Israeli territory early Tuesday morning. "A missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF (Israeli Air Force)," the military said in a statement. The missile triggered air raid sirens across central Israel. No immediate casualties or damage were reported following the interception, according to local media. Israel has launched multiple airstrikes on strategic targets in Yemen in recent months, as Houthi forces continue to fire missiles and drones toward Israel to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Most of the projectiles have been intercepted or fallen short of Israeli territory, Xinhua news agency reported. Earlier on Monday, Yemen's Houthi armed group had claimed that it had launched five drone attacks targeting "military and vital" sites in Israel. In a televised statement broadcast by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the targets included Ben Gurion Airport, "a military target" in Tel Aviv, Eilat port, Ramon Airport, and a "vital target" in the Ashdod area. "The operation was successful," he claimed without providing evidence, saying the attacks were carried out in support of Palestinians in Gaza and in response to Israeli airstrikes on Yemen's Hodeidah port earlier on Monday. Sarea also vowed for continued attacks against Israel until what he said "aggression on Gaza stops and blockade on Palestinians is lifted." There were no immediate comments from Israel regarding Houthis' alleged attacks. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces had said the strikes targeted and dismantled military infrastructure, including engineering equipment used to rebuild port facilities, fuel containers, vessels involved in hostile maritime activity, and other Houthi assets. 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. The Houthi armed group, which controls much of northern Yemen, including Hodeidah port and the capital Sanaa, has been launching attacks against Israeli targets since November 2023 to show solidarity with the Palestinian people amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Mumbai, July 22 : Television actress Anjum Fakih has expressed her heartfelt desire to collaborate with producer Ekta Kapoor once again. The actress, who has previously appeared in some of Ekta's most popular shows like "Kundali Bhagya" and "Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 2," shared that she has always been a big fan of Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor, and the iconic K-series. When asked about the return of 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi,' Anjum warmly reflected on the show's legacy and hinted that if the reboot happens, she'd be thrilled to be part of it. Fakih told IANS, "I've always been a huge fan of Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Aunty, Balaji Telefilms, and all the K-series. If given the chance, I would absolutely love to work with them again." Meanwhile, Anjum Fakih is ready to break away from her comfort zone and leave behind the glitz and glamour as she gears up for her next adventure the upcoming reality show "Chhoriyan Chali Gaon." Revealing what intrigued her about the show, she said, "Look, we're city girls. Now if we get a chance to experience rural, countryside lifewhy would anyone say no?." "Also, I don't think I've ever come across a concept like this before, even internationally. It's very fresh, innovative, and exciting. I believe the audience will find it really entertaining to watch how city girls adapt to rural life. I myself am nervous and excited. Even though I was born in a village, I haven't been back for over fifteen years. Now, getting the opportunity to go to a different village feels new, and I have no idea what to expect. But that's what makes it funthat curiosity and unpredictability." Anjum also shared that while she's familiar with village life, she has never actually tried her hand at traditional rural tasks. "I've only seen these things on TV or in films," she said, recalling childhood memories. "During summer holidays, I watched my grandmother doing all this in our village, but I never got the chance to try it myself." She admitted that the idea of cooking on a chulha is daunting. "I do know that if you blow into the chulha, the smoke burns your eyes like anything! So, I don't know how I'll manage," she laughed. Zee TV's upcoming rural reality show "Chhoriyan Chali Gaon," hosted by Rannvijay Singha, will feature 11 independent women from urban backgrounds as they leave behind their city comforts to embrace the simplicityand challengesof life in rural India. New Delhi, July 22 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha has urged the government to make annual health check-ups a legal right for citizens. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon Session, Chadha shared how the country is witnessing a sharp rise in heart failures and other health issues post the Covid-19 pandemic. "I raised a demand in Parliament: make annual health check-up a legal right of every citizen," he shared on the social media platform on X. "Post Covid-19, we're seeing a sharp rise in heart failures and other health issues. Early detection can save lives". He pointed out that many developed countries offer free annual health check-ups to all citizens, paid for by the government. "Why not in India?" he asked. "Healthcare must not remain a privilege for the elite," Chadha added, stressing that regular medical tests should be available to everyone, not just to those who can afford them. "Jaanch hai toh jaan hai (If there's a check-up, there's life)," he said. His comments come even as the country witnessed several sudden heart attacks, strokes, and other serious conditions, even among young and healthy people in the recent past. Routine health checks can detect many health conditions earlier and help prevent deaths. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic lung disease, diabetes, hypertension etc., account for more than 70 per cent of deaths annually. Regular screening for these could address a major health gap. Even as the country is facing a rising burden of NCDs, the government, earlier this year, launched a nationwide NCD screening campaign. The screening drive, conducted across Ayushman Arogya Mandir facilities and other healthcare institutions, "achieved 89.7 per cent of the target". Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has also initiated the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) in 2010. The programme employs a multifaceted strategy that includes early detection and screening of individuals aged 30 years and above, implementing screening at all levels of healthcare delivery, and providing assistance for accurate diagnosis and cost-effective treatment options. It also provides teleconsultation services, monitors national NCDs via a dedicated portal, and coordinates inter-ministerial efforts to promote NCD awareness and encourage healthy lifestyle choices. New Delhi, July 22 : President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar from the post of Vice President of India on Tuesday. The letter has been forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and soon an official notification will be issued. This was announced during the Rajya Sabha proceedings, when BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was in the Chair, said that Dhankhar's resignation as the Vice President has been accepted. Tiwari also said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has "conveyed resignation of Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar under Article 67A of the Constitution with immediate effect". Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended good wishes to Dhankhar. The PM wrote on X, "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." The PM's post came at a time when the opposition has been raising questions about Dhankhar's sudden resignation. Dhankhar, who served as the 14th Vice President of India since August 2022, stepped down on July 21 -- the very first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament -- citing health concerns. On July 16, 2022, the BJP announced Dhankhar as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate for Vice President. In the Vice Presidential election held on August 6, 2022, Dhankhar defeated opposition candidate Margaret Alva with 528 out of 710 valid votes, securing 74.37 per cent -- the highest margin of victory since 1992. As Vice President, Dhankhar also served as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, where he presided over several key legislative sessions. Known for his strict adherence to parliamentary rules and no-nonsense approach, he was both respected and contested in equal measure across party lines. Jagdeep Dhankhar, a seasoned politician and constitutional expert, was seen by many as a firm yet fair presiding officer of the Rajya Sabha. He 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. In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar cited health concerns. He invoked Article 67(a) of the Indian Constitution, which provides for the resignation of the Vice President. Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation has triggered 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, according to the experts. New Delhi, July 22 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear on July 24 the Maharashtra government's plea challenging the Bombay High Court decision to acquit 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai agreed to urgently list the matter for hearing on Thursday, after Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta mentioned it. Seeking an urgent hearing on the state government's special leave petition (SLP), SG Mehta said that it was a "serious matter" requiring the top court's consideration on "some important issues". In a major ruling delivered on Monday, the Bombay High Court acquitted 12 accused, of whom five were on death sentence and seven others on life imprisonment, in the July 11, 2006, Mumbai blast case. Directing their immediate release from jail, the acquittal order passed by a bench of Justices Anil Kilor and S. Chandak came as a major blow to the investigation agencies. The Justice Kilor-led Bench castigated the shoddy probe prosecution, opining that the prosecution failed to even establish the type of bombs used in the crime. The 12 accused -- incarcerated for 19 years -- succeeded in establishing before the Bombay High Court the fact of torture inflicted on them to extort confessional statements. As a result, it held the statements inadmissible, saying, "On all the tests relating to voluntariness and truthfulness of the confessional statements, the prosecution failed." Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed the Bombay High Court verdict as "shocking", saying that the Maharashtra government will move the Supreme Court against it. On July 11, 2006, seven bomb serial blasts in packed Mumbai local trains brought the maximum city to its knees within 11 minutes. The terror attack left 189 dead and over 800 injured. Earlier in 2015, a special court convicted 12 individuals in the case, sentencing five -- Faisal Shaikh, Asif Khan, Kamal Ansari, Ehtesham Siddiqui, and Naveed Khan -- to death, while the remaining seven were given life imprisonment. The prosecution had argued that the attack was planned by Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, and carried out by operatives of Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba with help from the Students' Islamic Movement of India, a banned Indian group. Thiruvananthapuram, July 22 : After the first round of efforts turned successful with the Yemeni authorities putting the execution order of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in abeyance, the second round of efforts is gathering steam as the help of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is sought. Priya, originally from Palakkad district in Kerala, was convicted in 2020 for the murder of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, and since then has been in prison there. She was scheduled to be executed on July 16. The role of Kerala Muslim scholar and Grand Mufti of India, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, along with other efforts, has been successful in the first phase, as the order staying the execution came a day before the date earlier fixed for execution. Speaking to IANS, Jawad Mustafawy, close aide of Mufti, who studied Islamic Philosophy in Yemen, said the letter from the Mufti seeking help from the President and PM Modi will go on Tuesday. "Our only aim is the release of Priya, and we are playing our role. It was Mufti who made a move when he contacted renowned Yemeni Sufi cleric Shaikh Habeeb Ummer, who has been a guest of the Mufti here on a few occasions. After his intervention, things are on a fast pace," said Mustafawy, who acts as the link between Mufti and Ummer. "At present, the second phase has begun, and a team consisting of Yemeni nationals, including women delegated by Ummer, in the coming days will reach the home of the deceased to speak to them to see how best things can be eased," said Mustafawy. "In the letter to the President and PM Modi, Mufti sought their permission to send a delegation from here, which includes members of the Nimisha Action Council, the advocate Subhash Chandra based in Delhi and two people assigned by Mufti. For this, we want to get a clearance from the Centre," added Mustafawy. Meanwhile, a memorandum signed by the immediate family members of Priya, politicians and other people is also being readied to be sent to Yemen, thanking the efforts of the authorities, which have stayed the execution. Yemeni court documents allege that Priya drugged Talal and, with the help of another nurse, dismembered his body before disposing of the remains in an underground tank. The incident reportedly stemmed from personal and professional disputes. Her final appeal was rejected in 2023, and her execution is scheduled for July 16, 2025. Now all eyes are on the way forward and the role of the Centre. Kolkata, July 22 : Bihar-based gangster Onkarnath Singh a.k.a. Sheru, who is currently behind bars at a correctional home at Purulia district in West Bengal, reportedly planned the murder of his opponent, Chandan Mishra, in a hospital in Patna with the help of the latter's family associate. As per the sources in the West Bengal Police, one of Mishra's family associates, who is still the "missing link" in police terms, supplied crucial information to Sheru regarding Chandan Mishra's parole details. "That missing link was also reportedly responsible for convincing Mishra to get admitted to the Paras Hospital in Patna as per instructions of Sheru so that the latter could plan and execute the murder easily," the state police insider said. According to him, Sheru and Chandan had together committed various crimes in Bihar's Buxar area. After that, differences erupted over various issues between the two friends, which ultimately led to their fallout. They both decided to part ways and start their respective gangs. Eventually, the two became enemies. State police sources further said Sheru had used the close associate of Chandan, who was lodged in Beur jail, to monitor the movements and activities of the latter. "This associate was involved in the murder conspiracy. The person supplied crucial information to Sheru, which was used to plan the murder," said a police source. After receiving news that Chandan was being released on parole for 15 days, Sheru hatched a plan to murder him. The police have learned that Chandan sought medical advice from his family associate, who also happened to be a close associate of Sheru. On Sheru's instruction, that person advised Chandan to get admitted to Paras Hospital in Patna. Accordingly, Sheru hired Tauseef alias Badshah for the murder. Tauseef, the prime accused, and three others were arrested from Kolkata on Saturday in a joint operation by the Bihar Police and Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police. Police sources said that Sheru first asked Badshah to find out which hospital would be convenient for them to execute the murder. "Badshah had suggested Paras Hospital in Patna as he was born and raised in the Phulwari Sharif area of Patna. He knew the area like the back of his hand, and Paras Hospital is not far from there. Sheru told Chandan's family associate about it. The associate then asked Chandan to get treated at Paras Hospital," said the police source. It was also learned that Badshah had visited one of his associates undergoing treatment at Paras Hospital several times in the last few days. He had learned about the lack of security in the hospital and chose it as a convenient place to conduct the operation. After killing Chandan Mishra, Badshah and his associates entered Bengal from Bihar at Sheru's advice. "We are looking for that associate. The phone calls and WhatsApp chats of others, including the arrested Tauseef, are being examined to get information about that person," said a police officer. New Delhi, July 22 : Air India on Tuesday said it has completed precautionary inspections on the fuel control switch (FCS) locking mechanisms of all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet. The airline stated that no problems were found during the checks, which were conducted in line with safety directives issued by India's aviation regulator DGCA earlier this month. "Air India has completed precautionary inspections on the locking mechanism of Fuel Control Switch (FCS) on all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet," the airline said in a sttaement. The inspections come in the aftermath of a tragic Air India Boeing Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad last month, in which 260 people lost their lives. A preliminary report by the Air Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that the aircraft's engines had shut down just seconds after take-off due to fuel supply being cut off. This led to renewed concerns about the functioning of the engine fuel cut-off switches, which transitioned from 'Run' to 'Cutoff' unexpectedly. Following the fatal Ahmedabad crash and the DGCA's directive issued on July 14, Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express initiated immediate voluntary inspections. These began on July 12 and were completed within the time limit set by the regulator. "In the inspections, no issues were found with the said locking mechanism. Air India had started voluntary inspections on 12 July and completed them within the prescribed time limit set by the DGCA. The same has been communicated to the regulator," the airline added. The Boeing 737 aircraft, which were also inspected, are part of the Air India Express fleet, the company said. With the inspections now complete, both Air India and Air India Express have informed the DGCA and fully complied with the safety directive. "Air India remains committed to the safety of passengers and crew members," the airline said in a statement. Meanwhile, several international carriers, including Emirates, are also conducting similar checks on their Boeing aircraft as a precaution, even though the FAA has not issued any new airworthiness directive. The American regulator has assured global aviation authorities that the fuel control switch design remains safe. Bill 12414 carries direct threat to loss of independence of SAPO and NABU statement by anti-corruption bodies Bill No. 12414 on amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, included today in the agenda of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, poses a direct threat to the loss of independence of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), the anti-corruption agencies say. "If the bill is adopted, all guarantees of the independence of NABU and SAPO, as well as our ability to conduct any investigations into top corruption, will be destroyed," SAPO said in a statement posted on its Telegram channel on Tuesday. The SAPO statement notes that the provisions of the bill directly provide for the granting of exclusive powers to the prosecutor general to gain access to and request any proceedings of NABU and SAPO, as well as to transfer them to another pretrial investigation body. "In the event of a dispute over jurisdiction between NABU and other pretrial investigation bodies, it will be resolved exclusively by the prosecutor general. The prosecutor general effectively becomes the direct head of the SAPO with the authority to give SAPO prosecutors any instructions," the SAPO notes. In addition, as specified by the anti-corruption prosecutor's office, the prosecutor general is granted exclusive powers to close cases against senior government officials. "In fact, if this bill is adopted, the head of SAPO becomes a nominal figure, and NABU loses its independence and turns into a division of the Prosecutor General's Office," the NABU statement reads. The anti-corruption bureau notes that in this way the anti-corruption infrastructure of Ukraine, built since 2015, will be destroyed. "We call on the people's representatives to abstain from voting, which can finally destroy the independence of the anti-corruption system in Ukraine," the NABU statement says. Bhubaneswar, July 22 : Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday voiced concern over the dropping of Paika rebellion from the textbook by the National Council of Educational Research and Training. "Deeply concerned to know that the National Council of Educational Research and Training (@ncert) has dropped #Odisha's Paika Rebellion or Paika Bidroha from its text books. The Paika rebellion was a watershed moment in Odisha's history as our brave Paikas fought with extraordinary courage against oppressive British way back in 1817. I had urged the Govt of India many times to declare it as first war of Independence. The Paikas came together to fight against the tyranny of foreign, colonial rule with unparalleled bravery," Patnaik wrote on X. Calling the deletion of the subject a dishonour to the brave Paika soldiers of Odisha, he urged the Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Education Minister to reincorporate the subject in the textbook and do justice to the glorious legacy of Paik Bidroha. "The omission of the epic rebellion from NCERT text books, which took place 40 years before the sepoy mutiny is a huge dishonour to our brave Paikas, 200 years after the rebellion- which became torchbearer for people's movement against British rule. Urge Chief Minister Shri @MohanMOdisha and Union Minister of Education Shri @dpradhanbjp to ensure that justice is done to Paika Bidroha and Odisha," the BJD supremo further added in his post on X. The NCERT, in a press statement on Monday, issued a clarification regarding the news reports on exclusion of various regional resistance movements in the Grade 8 Social Science textbook " : ". "It is clarified that the said textbook happens to be the 1st volume of this textbook. The second volume is in the final stages of development and is expected to be released in Sept-Oct 2025. Topics relating to the regional resistance movements/armed uprisings such as the Paika rebellion/Khurda uprising of Odisha, the Kuka movement/rebellion of the Sikhs in Punjab, etc, will be handled in this volume," informed the NCERT. Amaravati, July 22 : In a relief to farmers of Totapuri variety of mangoes in Andhra Pradesh, the Centre has approved Market Intervention Price. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare issues orders, approving Price Deficiency Payment (PDP) under Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for Totapuri market mango season 2025-26. Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for approving PDP under MIS. This will cover 1.62 lakh tonne mangoes with Market Intervention Price (MIP) of Rs 1,490.73 per quintal. The Centre and State will pay MIP on a 50:50 basis. The farmers will get Direct Benefit Transfer Support. "This move will safeguard farmers against price crashes, ensure fair returns, and strengthen rural livelihoods, said Chandra Sekhar. He told media persons in Delhi on Tuesday that the state government has already released Rs 260 crore to pay an extra Rs 4 per kg to Totapuri mango farmers facing a crisis due to a sharp fall in prices. The Centre on Tuesday issued orders to reimburse Rs 130 crore out of Rs 260 crore announced by the state government. Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and State Agriculture Minister K. Atchen Naidu had requested the Centre in this regard. Chandra Sekhar said that for the first time, the Centre has announced MIS for mangoes. He said a huge drop in the market price of Totapuri mango this year caused huge losses to farmers. He hoped that the Centre would continue the support under MIS in future, if necessary. The state government last week permitted the Director of Horticulture and Sericulture (DoH and S) to procure 6.50 lakh tonnes of the Totapuri variety for the current season to provide the growers a remunerative price. This will ensure a minimum procurement price of Rs 12 per kg. While pulp processing companies are contributing Rs 8 per kg, the government is providing the remaining Rs 4. The move is expected to help the farmers in sustaining mango cultivation in the combined Chittoor district and preventing distress sales. Opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) said that the government acted only after its leader and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy visited the region. Lucknow, July 22 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said that agriculture continues to be the largest source of employment in the state, with nearly three crore farmers dependent on it. The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector follows next, employing around 1.65 crore people, he said. Speaking at the 36th Foundation Day of the Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Research Council, the Chief Minister stressed that agriculture must become a source of prosperity, not a reason for migration. "This is possible only when farmers benefit from the latest research in the sector," he said. He underlined that UP's development is essential for India's progress. "If every person makes honest efforts in their respective fields, no force can stop India from becoming a developed nation," he said. Yogi also inaugurated an agricultural exhibition, released booklets and newsletters, and addressed a national seminar titled 'Developed Agriculture -- Developed Uttar Pradesh 2047'. The Chief Minister said UP must scale up research and development based on the state's unique soil and climate. "All such possibilities are there in UP. Prime Minister Modi has set a target to make India a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047. Every state must contribute to this vision," he said. He added that the central government aims to make India a 5 trillion dollar economy, and UP has set a target of becoming a 1 trillion dollar economy by 2029. "We are blessed with fertile land and abundant water resources. UP is perhaps the only state in the world where over 86 per cent of the agricultural land is irrigated," he said. UP currently has four state-run agricultural universities, with a fifth one coming up. In addition, the central government also runs institutions in the state, along with over 15 dedicated to agricultural research. A network of 89 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) also supports farmers on the ground. However, the CM expressed concern that only 25-30 per cent of farmers in the state can effectively implement modern scientific research in their practices. "This needs to change if we want to fully realise UP's agricultural potential," he said. Although UP has only 11 per cent of India's cultivable land, it produces over 20 per cent of the country's food grains. "Given the state's fertile soil, water resources, and climate, this output can be tripled -- provided we commit ourselves to advancing research and development in agriculture," he added. The Chief Minister emphasised that nations that invested in research and development were the ones that advanced. "We have the capacity not just to feed India, but the world. There is tremendous potential in agriculture, horticulture, and vegetable cultivation -- especially with region-specific research aligned with nature and the environment," he said. Looking ahead, the CM said UP has developed a Vision 2047 roadmap and is working on short, medium, and long-term plans. "We must also focus on milestones for 2027, 2029, and 2035. Agricultural universities and research institutes should begin work in this direction," he said. CM Yogi also highlighted the state's collaboration with Israel in setting up Centres of Excellence. "Israel provided us technical support and trained our scientists. We must now focus on scaling this initiative. If Israel can do it, why can't our own universities? How long will we see farmers migrate out of agriculture?" he said. He also warned about the impact of climate change, noting that 15-16 districts in UP have received below-average rainfall this season. "This is the time for heavy rains, but they haven't arrived. We must prepare to deal with such changes in climate through research-based strategies," he added. New Delhi, July 22 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Centre and all state governments following the reference made by the President under Article 143 of the Constitution, seeking the top 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. The 5-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai sought assistance of Attorney General of India R. Venkataramani, the highest law officer of the Centre, in adjudication of the matter titled "In Re: Assent, Withholding or Reservation of Bills by the Governor and the President of India". The special Bench, also comprising Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, P.S. Narasimha and Atul S. Chandurka, said that it would take up the Presidential reference for further hearing in August. It listed the matter for hearing on next Tuesday for allowing the state governments to enter their appearances. Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta waived notice on behalf of the Union government, saying he will appear on the Centre's behalf. During the hearing, Senior advocate K.K. Venugopal, representing the state of Kerala, raised objections regarding the maintainability of the proceedings. Similarly, senior advocate P. Wilson, representing the state of Tamil Nadu, argued that the questions raised in the Presidential reference had already been settled by the apex court in Tamil Nadu Bills case and objected to its maintainability. When Wilson submitted that the Presidential reference affected Tamil Nadu's interests, the CJI Gavai-led Bench remarked that the matter concerned not only Tamil but all states, and thus all of them needed to be heard. "Issue notice to the Union and all state governments. All state governments be served through email. Notice be also served on all standing counsels," it ordered. In the aftermath of the apex court verdict in the Tamil Nadu Bills case, President Droupadi Murmu, in May this year, had asked the apex 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, the Presidential reference 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. Mumbai, July 22 : Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri took to social media to reveal that his upcoming project, "The Bengal Files" will explore an unforgotten dark chapter in history. Mumbai, July 22 (IANS) Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri took to social media to reveal that his upcoming project, "The Bengal Files" will explore an unforgotten dark chapter in history. Taking to Instagram, he posted a few images and wrote, "They turned Bengal's wisdom into ashes. The land that once lit up Bharat's soul with Indic renaissance was silenced by communal hate. The streets of Bengal were drowned in blood. India forgot. But we remembered. And now the world will know. The Bengal Files Releasing Worldwide on 05 September 2025 #TheBengalFiles #RightToLife." The makers of "The Bengal Files" have kicked off a special premiere tour across the United States, featuring 10 grand screenings, which started from July 19 in New Jersey. The film's first-ever premiere in New Jersey set the tone, with honest and emotional reactions pouring in from moviegoers, reflecting the film's deep resonance. The filmmaker shared snippets of the audience's response on Instagram, showcasing how profoundly moved viewers were by the raw and hard-hitting portrayal of "Direct Action Day." He captioned the post, "Audience reactions after the first-ever screening of the untold story of Hindu Genocide #TheBengalFiles in New Jersey." Written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri, "The Bengal Files" is set to premiere internationally ahead of its grand release in India. The makers have announced a massive U.S. premiere tour, featuring 10 major screenings across key cities. The tour kicked off on July 19 in New Jersey and continues through Washington DC (July 20), Raleigh (July 25), Atlanta (July 26), Tampa (July 27), Phoenix (August 1), Los Angeles (August 2), San Francisco Bay Area (August 3), Detroit (August 7), Chicago (August 9), and concludes in Houston on August 10. Produced by Abhishek Agarwal and Pallavi Joshi, the film features an ensemble cast including Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Anupam Kher, and Darshan Kumar. Part of Agnihotri's acclaimed Files trilogyalongside "The Kashmir Files" and "The Tashkent Files"the film explores another dark and powerful chapter in Indian history. "The Bengal Files" is slated for its theatrical release in India on September 5, 2025. Visakhapatnam, July 22 : Police have registered a case against a company owned by former MP Vijaya Sai Reddy's daughter, P. Neha Reddy and son-in-law Rohit Reddy for alleged violation of Coastal Regulation Zone norms at Bheemili Beach in Visakhapatnam district. The case has been registered on a complaint by Andhra Pradesh Coastal Zone Management Authority. The action was taken on the order of a Bheemili Court following the complaint by Coastal Zone Management Authority about the violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. In March, the Andhra Pradesh High Court directed AP Coastal Management Authority to lodge a complaint with the police so as to initiate action against the company which allegedly constructed a wall in Bheemili, also known as Bheemunipatnam Beach. Jana Sena corporator Peetala Murthy Yadav has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Andhra Pradesh High Court with regard to the alleged encroachments. Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) had demolished alleged illegal construction in September last year after serving formal notices to Neha Reddy. The action was taken on the direction of the High Court, which had also sought a detailed report from GVMC The High Court in March this year took serious note of alleged violation of CRZ norms after the petitioner complained that the wall was demolished only partially. Special government pleader had informed the court that all illegal constructions were demolished except for an old building and some toilets. A division bench of Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Cheemalapati Ravi ordered the constitution of a committee with the AP Coastal Zone Management Authority member secretary, GVMC commissioner and the Visakhapatnam Collector to assess the environmental damage and report to the court The High Court had also directed that the cost of the demolition and the environmental damage should be recovered from the company. In January 2025, Vijayasai Reddy quit YSR Congress Party and also resigned as a member of Rajya Sabha. He announced that he would not join any other political party. New Delhi, July 22 : In the current financial year 2025-26, an amount of Rs 44,323 crore has been released to the States/Union Territories, which includes funds for wage, material and administrative components under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Sharing details related to the MGNREGS as on July 17, Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that in 2025-26, the government has retained the allocation at Rs 86,000 crore, ensuring continued support for rural employment. In a written reply to a question by T. M. Selvaganapathy, if the government is considering winding up the scheme, the Minister said, "There is no such proposal. In fact, continuous efforts are being made to strengthen the implementation of the scheme at the ground level." Minister Chouhan said the core objectives of the scheme include providing guaranteed employment resulting in creation of productive assets of prescribed quality and durability, strengthening livelihood resource base of the poor, proactively ensuring social inclusion and strengthening Panchayat Raj institutions. On the question of whether budget allocation to MGNREGS has been showing a steady decrease over the years, the Minister said that for the financial year 2024-25, budget allocation of Rs 86,000 crore has been made, the highest ever since its inception. The Minister said that keeping in view demand driven nature of the Scheme, the Ministry of Rural Development closely monitors demand for employment at ground level and seeks additional funds from the Ministry of Finance as and when required. Responding to Selvaganapathy's question whether it is a fact that many state governments have raised a concern with regard to non-release of funds under the scheme by the Central government, the Minister said, "Under the Scheme, wage payments are directly credited by the Central Government to the account of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer protocol." Minister Chouhan said with regard to material and administrative components, States/UTs are required to furnish fund release proposals to the Central government. "The Central government releases funds periodically in two tranches with each tranche consisting of one or more instalments, keeping in view the aagreed toa Labour Budget, demand for works, opening balance, pace of utilisation of funds, pending liabilities, overall performance and subject to submission of relevant documents by the States/UT," said the Minister. New Delhi, July 22 : Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday blasted the Opposition for repeated disruptions in Parliament, accusing them of "wasting taxpayers' money" and deliberately stalling proceedings during the ongoing Monsoon Session. Rijiju further challenged the Opposition to participate in constructive discussions on pre-agreed issues rather than creating chaos in the House. For the second consecutive day of the Monsoon Session, the Opposition raised slogans inside the Parliament -- this time demanding a discussion on the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar, which has become a major flashpoint between govt and Opposition, ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections. On Monday, the Opposition had demanded a debate on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Following this, a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) had fixed a timeline to discuss these issues in both Houses. However, on Tuesday, the Opposition parties including Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and more assembled outside the Parliament and protested against the SIR. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Rijiju said, "The Opposition party leaders are all present here. In the BAC meeting, it was decided that there would be a discussion on Operation Sindoor, and a fixed time was agreed upon. All issues cannot be taken up at once. Yet, instead of cooperating, they came with placards and disrupted the House." "They're protesting with pillows, bringing placards -- despite agreeing not to. This is not acceptable. If they wanted a discussion and we were ready, then why disrupt the House?" he asked. He further said, "Who will take responsibility for this? This is a waste of the taxpayers' money. We come prepared with legislative business, but the Opposition comes only to create disturbances." Condemning the behaviour of the Congress and some of its allies, Rijiju called the continued sloganeering a "double standard" and said such actions are detrimental to the democratic functioning of the Parliament. Due to the ongoing chaos being created by the Opposition MPs, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day. Bengaluru, July 22 : The Madiga organisations in Karnataka have decided to stage protests in front of the Deputy Commissioners' offices across Karnataka on August 1 to draw the state government's attention to the issue of internal reservation, said former Union Minister and senior BJP leader A. Narayanaswamy. Bengaluru, July 22 (IANS) The Madiga organisations in Karnataka have decided to stage protests in front of the Deputy Commissioners' offices across Karnataka on August 1 to draw the state government's attention to the issue of internal reservation, said former Union Minister and senior BJP leader A. Narayanaswamy. Addressing a joint press conference in Bengaluru along with former Deputy CM and BJP MP Govind Karjol, Narayanaswamy stated, "It will be exactly one year on August 1 since justice D.Y. Chandrachud delivered the Supreme Court verdict on internal reservation. If the Karnataka cabinet does not pass a resolution and present it in the Assembly by the 10th, the Madiga community will call for a Karnataka bandh. A meeting of 4,000 to 5,000 people will be held to decide this." He warned that a noncooperation movement will be launched and that the state government will not be allowed to function. "Even the Chief Minister himself had previously admitted that the Congress lost due to failure to implement internal reservation. The Madiga community will now move forward to prevent that from repeating," he said. He added that the Madiga community has been fighting for internal reservation for over three and a half decades. "In Telangana, internal reservation was implemented in 1999 to correct historical injustices against the Madigas. In 2004, the Telangana High Court itself had stated that internal reservation was necessary," he pointed out. He criticised the Congress party, saying it had earlier rejected the need for internal reservation. "Even after the Supreme Court's verdict, the most oppressed among the oppressed have not received reservations. The Congress party has failed to show any commitment. Despite ruling the state for many years, the Congress and other parties have ignored the Madiga community," he alleged. Referring to a past remark by AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge advising Telangana CM Revanth Reddy not to rush on internal reservation, he noted that despite this, Revanth Reddy still implemented it. "In Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu implemented internal reservation. In Punjab, too, it has been implemented. But the Karnataka government is stalling," he accused. He recalled that when the Madiga community protested in Belagavi five months ago, the ministers had assured implementation within three months. Later, the Naganmohan Das Commission was formed and given a 40-day deadline, which was later extended. "There are several records proving that the government did not cooperate with Naganmohan Das. The government didn't even provide the necessary data related to political and employment representation. There is no clarity for Naganmohan Das. Even after 6-7 months, internal reservation has not been implemented," he criticised. He expressed doubts about the Chief Minister's commitment and governance. "Every time, they claim to be protectors of backward classes. They had spoken about implementing the Kantharaj Report. We trusted the Chief Minister, but he bowed to the high command's directions. It's been 4 years and 10 months since the Zilla and Taluk Panchayat elections were held. Yet, the government has failed to provide justice to the backward classes," he alleged. Govind Karjol urged the government to implement internal reservation starting August 16. He warned that the situation should not lead to a situation similar to the civil disobedience movement. "Congress leaders, including the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, national leaders, and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, say that they have honoured their words and haven't betrayed Dalits. During the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, this promise was made in their manifesto. In the very first cabinet meeting, they claimed it would be implemented. But then they used excuses to form the Naganmohan Das Committee, which was supposed to submit its report in 40 days. It has now been six months. This is nothing but betrayal and deception by the government," he said. He further alleged that even when Naganmohan Das sought certain information and wrote to the government, no response was given. "The government is hiding everything. This is a warning bell -- implement internal reservation from August 16 or face agitation," he declared. State spokesperson H. Venkatesh Dodderi, SC Morcha State Vice-President Hoodi Manjunath, and leader Santosh were also present at the press meet. Jaipur, July 22 : Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has raised serious questions over the sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, terming it "suspicious" and suggesting it could be part of a larger political strategy by the RSS and BJP. Jaipur, July 22 (IANS) Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has raised serious questions over the sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, terming it "suspicious" and suggesting it could be part of a larger political strategy by the RSS and BJP. Gehlot said the Vice President's resignation, citing health reasons, appears abrupt and unusual. He linked it to Dhankhar's repeated interventions on farmers' issues. "Jagdeep Dhankhar had been continuously voicing concerns about farmers, both inside and outside Parliament. He even once rebuked the Agriculture Minister on this matter," Gehlot said. He further claimed that he had sensed pressure being exerted on constitutional positions. "I had said in Jodhpur 10 days ago that both the Vice President and Lok Sabha Speaker were working under pressure. Later, Dhankharji came to Jaipur and denied this. But saying it is one thing, reality is something else," Gehlot added. Gehlot alleged that the resignation may be linked to a political maneuver. "The House was in session all day, and the resignation happened suddenly. I have known his family for 50 years. This raises doubts. Is RSS-BJP preparing for some major political development?" The Congress leader also expressed shock over reports that the government will not hold a formal farewell for the outgoing Vice President. "This is not only shocking and sad, but also raises many questions," he said. Questioning the justification of health reasons, Gehlot said, "Even when the Prime Minister or President undergoes serious surgeries like heart bypass, they do not resign. Then why has the Vice President done so? This is unprecedented." Gehlot concluded by saying, "Only two people know the truth -- Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Time will tell what the real reason behind this resignation was." Jagdeep Dhankhar's sudden resignation has shocked the political leaders across party lines and has also sparked speculation as to what prompted him to take such a decision. Photo: https://t.me/VadymFilashkin/ Over the past 24 hours, Russians have shelled populated areas in Donetsk 22 times, and 528 people, including seven children, have been evacuated from the front line, head of Donetsk Regional Military Administration Vadym Filashkin reported on Tuesday. According to his information, in Pokrovsk district in Rodynske a person was injured, a multi-storey building was damaged. In Dobropillia two people were injured. In Kramatorsk district in Lyman, "a person was injured, a house and a car were damaged; in Shandryholove, a person was injured, a house was damaged; in Zarichne, a person died. In Sloviansk, five people were injured, five multi-story buildings, an administrative building and 10 cars were damaged. In Kramatorsk, one person died and six were injured, three multi-story buildings and an administrative building were damaged. In Kostiantynivka, one person died, 11 private houses, a warehouse, a car and a power line were damaged," the message posted on the Telegram channel says. In Bakhmut district in Seversk, four houses were damaged. Washington, July 22 : Turkey's collaboration with the Chinese intelligence to suppress the independence movement of East Turkistan and the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) ongoing efforts to "divide and co-opt Uyghur organisations abroad" were spotlighted during a US Congressional Briefing on Captive Nations convened in the Rayburn House Office Building of the US Congress to commemorate the 'Captive Nations Week 2025', on Monday, US time. The event gathered representatives from East Turkistan, Tibet, Southern Mongolia, US national security experts, and Congressional staff to address the ongoing occupation, repression, and erasure endured by people of the said region. "East Turkistan was explicitly named in the 1959 Captive Nations Resolution, not as part of China, but as a nation subjugated by Communist imperialism. That law remains in force. And tragically, so too does our captivity," said Salih Hudayar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Security for the 'East Turkistan Government in Exile', during a compelling keynote address. Giving details of the "ongoing genocide", Hudayar mentioned that while millions have been locked in concentration camps and prisons, between 25,000 to 50,000 Uyghur and Turkic youth are killed annually and their organs sold. Hudayar urged Congress to recognise East Turkistan as an "occupied nation", conduct hearings on East Turkistan's struggle for independence, and investigate and stop "Chinese infiltration and transnational repression" in the East Turkistani/Uyghur diaspora. "Removing the CCP is not enough. The Chinese empire must be dismantled. The restoration of liberty and independence for East Turkistan is not a dream. It is a duty enshrined in the Captive Nations Resolution," he said. Enacted in 1959, the Captive Nations Resolution identifies nations subjugated by communist imperialism, calling for US support to restore their liberty and independence. It explicitly mentions captive nations, "such as Turkistan and Tibet", urging support for their liberation and the right to self-determination. Tenzin Wangdue, a Tibetan-American representative of the Tibetan Rangzen (independence) movement, emphasised Tibet's distinct identity, stating, "Tibet has never legally been a part of Chinaa We had our own government, our own culture, our distinct identity for over a thousand years". He declared, "The Chinese occupation of 1951 was an invasion and not a liberationa The time for empty statements is over. We need concrete action." Wangdue stressed that only "independence" can ensure the survival of the Tibetan people. Se Hoon Kim, a Korean-American journalist representing Southern Mongolia, highlighted the systematic erosion of Mongolian identity, stating, "For decades the Mongolian people of Southern Mongolia have faced systematic efforts to erode their cultural identity, suppress their language, and marginalise their traditional way of lifea What we are witnessing is not merely a crackdown, it is a deliberate assimilation that threatens the survival of an ancient heritage". Major Ben Loswen (Retd.), a former US Army attache in Beijing, underscored the global reach of CCP threats, warning, "The attack of the Chinese Communist Party on the United States is proceeding as quickly as the CCP can facilitate and as we will allow". He further called on the US government to prioritise the liberation of captive nations, stating, "We need to establish an office of East Turkistan affairsa fund warfare, frankly, the political warfare that the CCP is funding against us." The briefing concluded with a Joint Statement and Proclamation from representatives of East Turkistan, Tibet, Southern Mongolia, and other oppressed peoples, declaring: "The right of all captive nations to recover their independence and exercise national sovereignty is absolute and non-negotiable. We will not cease our efforts until independence is restored, liberty is secured, and justice is achieved for all captive nations," they affirmed. Bhopal, July 22 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday directed all District-in-charge Ministers to take immediate and serious steps to address the fertilizer shortage in different parts of the state, ensuring that farmers do not suffer during the peak sowing season. During a cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister instructed the ministers to visit the districts under their charge, assess the ground situation, interact with farmers, and assure them that the government is taking all necessary steps to provide adequate and good-quality fertilizers. Urban Administration Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, briefing the media after the cabinet meeting, said, "With the onset of the monsoon, sowing of Kharif crops is at its peak. The government is committed to ensuring a sufficient supply of fertilizers. District-in-charge Ministers and senior officials have been directed to prioritize the issue." The Chief Minister also warned of strict action against those found involved in black marketing or selling sub-standard fertilizers. District administrations have been asked to prepare detailed reports on fertilizer availability. Reports of fertilizer shortages -- particularly of urea and DAP -- have emerged from several parts of the state, leading to protests by distressed farmers. The situation is especially critical during the monsoon, when crops like soybean and maize require timely and adequate fertilization. In some areas, including Morena, the home district of Agriculture Minister Aidal Singh Kansana, long queues of farmers, including women and children, were seen waiting for fertilizers -- often returning empty-handed. Many alleged that cooperative society managers were distributing fertilizer slips selectively, favoring their close contacts. "There have been instances where farmers waited in line the entire day and received only two small bags of fertilizer, while many others got nothing at all," a farmer said. The opposition Congress has consistently raised the issue. Last week, former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Kamal Nath wrote to CM Yadav, highlighting the plight of farmers in his home district, Chhindwara, due to fertilizer shortages. Islamabad, July 22 : At least 221 people have been killed and 592 others injured across Pakistan as heavy monsoon rains triggered flash floods and other rain-related incidents since late June, the country's disaster management authority has said. In its latest situation report on Monday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said the casualties were recorded between June 26 and July 21, with five new deaths and 10 injuries reported in the past 24 hours. The eastern province of Punjab was the worst affected, with 135 fatalities and 470 injuries. In the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 46 people lost their lives and 69 others were injured. In southern Sindh province, 22 deaths and 40 injuries were reported, while the southwestern province of Balochistan recorded 16 fatalities and four injuries. The NDMA confirmed that one child was wounded in the Islamabad Capital Territory. Authorities have issued flood warnings and are coordinating with provincial governments to carry out relief operations and monitor vulnerable areas amid ongoing rainfall. As a persistent monsoon continues to hover over Pakistan, authorities issued a series of alerts, warning of moderate to heavy rainfall, rising river flows, and potential flash flooding in vulnerable areas. Pakistan's NDMA and Punjab's Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid low-lying and inundated areas. The monsoon activity, intensified by moisture from the Arabian Sea, remains active across Punjab, where intermittent rainfall in Lahore has contributed to a spike in humidity levels. New Delhi, July 22 : For Ritesh Soni, a kidney patient from Manpur village in Umaria district, the Ayushman Bharat Yojana has become a lifeline. After struggling for years to afford dialysis sessions, he is now receiving free treatment at Shahdol District Hospital, and is preparing to undergo a kidney transplant, all covered under the government scheme. Speaking to IANS, Ritesh said, "I have been suffering from a kidney ailment for almost four years, and I've been undergoing dialysis for the past two years. Earlier, I had to pay Rs 510 per session. Later, I came to know about the Ayushman Yojana through some fellow patients. I applied for it and got my card made. Now I am able to save money." Before enrolling under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Ritesh had to travel over 60 kilometres to access private healthcare facilities, where dialysis sessions could cost up to Rs 25,000 per month. "This burden was unsustainable," he said. "But thanks to Ayushman Bharat, I am now receiving regular dialysis completely free of cost." Doctors at Shahdol District Hospital have also recommended Ritesh for a kidney transplant. He shared that under the scheme, he would be eligible for up to Rs 5 lakh in assistance toward the procedure. "This is a big relief for my family. I thank the government for running such a scheme and request that it be continued for the benefit of poor patients like me." The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), also known in Madhya Pradesh as the Niramayam scheme, provides health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. The scheme is proving to be a boon for kidney patients in Shahdol and neighbouring districts. Several other patients undergoing dialysis at Shahdol District Hospital have also benefited from the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Many have expressed gratitude for the financial support and the accessibility it has brought to life-saving treatment. The success story of Ritesh Soni highlights the real-world impact of government welfare schemes in rural India, offering not just financial relief but a renewed hope for a healthier future. Ayushman Bharat, a flagship scheme of the Government of India, was launched as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This initiative has been designed to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its underlying commitment, which is to "leave no one behind". Quetta, July 22 : A 10-year-old child was forcibly disappeared by Pakistani army personnel after being summoned to a Pakistani military camp at Jahoo Zeelag in Balochistan, a human rights group said on Tuesday. Paank, Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, also accused Pakistani security forces of "committing severe human rights violations in Balochistan, particularly targeting children" during military operations. Additionally, the human rights organisation also accused Pakistan's Frontier Corps (FC) of killing another 12-year-old child in Kolwah district of the province. Paank mentioned that on July 20, 10-year-old Hasil Baloch became the latest victim of enforced disappearance, which has sparked serious concern about his safety. "Disturbingly, just days earlier, on July 16, his cousin Hameed Baloch was also taken from his home. His lifeless, bullet-riddled body was recovered from the same area on July 21, raising grave concerns for Hasil's safety. The enforced disappearance of a minor, especially in light of the extrajudicial killing of his cousin, reflects a horrifying pattern of state violence in Balochistan," read a statement issued by the human rights body. It strongly condemned the abduction of Hasil Baloch and expressed deep concern over the "increasing trend of targeting children in military operations." The rights body emphasised that "the involvement of minors in enforced disappearances is a grave violation of international human rights and humanitarian law." Paank demanded the immediate and safe recovery of Hasil Baloch. Additionally, the human rights body also condemned the extrajudicial killing of 12-year-old Qamber Aslam by Pakistani forces on July 18 in Kolwah district. The rights body stated that Qamber Aslam, an agricultural labourer working at a tube well, was fatally shot in the chest by an FC patrol team while heading to plant onions in his fields. "This tragic incident, which has left the entire family in mourning, underscores a disturbing pattern of violence against civilians in Balochistan. Paank is deeply concerned by this brutal act, which reflects a broader trend of impunity and disregard for human life in the region. The targeting of an unarmed child highlights the urgent need for accountability and justice," the human rights organisation noted. Paank called on the Pakistani authorities to conduct an immediate, impartial, and transparent investigation into Qamber's killing, ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice. It also urged the government to take concrete steps to protect civilians, particularly vulnerable children, in Balochistan. The rights body further urged the international community to speak out against Pakistan's "brutal repression" in Balochistan and address the escalating human rights violations in the region and support the Baloch people's right to safety and dignity. New Delhi, July 22 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to examine the legality of the directive mandating all food establishments along the Kanwar Yatra route in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to display a QR code that allows pilgrims to access "ownership details". New Delhi, July 22 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to examine the legality of the directive mandating all food establishments along the Kanwar Yatra route in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to display a QR code that allows pilgrims to access "ownership details". A Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh closed the plea filed by academician Apoorvanand Jha and others, noting that the Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage is ending on Tuesday. In its order, the Justice Sundresh-led Bench said that all the hotel owners will comply with the mandate of displaying the license and registration certification as required under the existing law. The apex court clarified that it has not gone into the merits of the plea contending that the directive to display the QR codes is a breach of privacy rights, and has a discriminatory and stigmatising effect. During the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, said that the directions were issued under the Food Safety and Standards Regulations. The plea filed before the apex court had contended that the state action, neither authorised by statute nor necessary for a legitimate purpose, was wholly disproportionate, discriminatory and had a stigmatising effect. It said that such "discriminatory profiling" had previously been deprecated by the top court on the ground that the display of personal identity was neither backed by law nor necessary for the purpose of public order or food safety compliance. In July last year, the Supreme Court had stayed the operation of controversial directives issued by the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments requiring all eateries and dhabas along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of owners and workers. Issuing notice on petitions challenging the "nameplate" directives, a Bench headed by Justices Hrishikesh Roy (now retired) had remarked that the devotees may be served with food of their choice, maintaining standard hygiene. As per the plea, despite the above order, the state of Uttar Pradesh and other authorities are circumventing the interim stay order of the apex court by reintroducing the same directive this time in the form of display of QR codes. It referred to a press note issued by the Chief Minister's office on June 25, which reflected "renewed administrative support for name displays" and expressly called for "shopkeeper names to be clearly displayed" during the Yatra. Bengaluru, July 22 : Artificial intelligence (AI) is coming for finance operations - and India is uniquely positioned to build the category-defining companies that power this transformation. That's the central thesis of a compelling new essay from Accel investors Anagh Prasad and Eknoor Malhotra, published on 'SeedToScale', Accel's open-source content and community hub for founders. Bengaluru, July 22 (IANS) Artificial intelligence (AI) is coming for finance operations and India is uniquely positioned to build the category-defining companies that power this transformation. That's the central thesis of a compelling new essay from Accel investors Anagh Prasad and Eknoor Malhotra, published on 'SeedToScale', Accel's open-source content and community hub for founders. In their piece, "AI is Coming for Accounting. India is Uniquely Positioned to Lead," the authors argue that the traditionally complex and compliance-heavy world of accounting is on the cusp of a generational shift. Large language models (LLMs) and AI-native systems are now capable of handling core finance workflows invoice capture, reconciliation, closing books, reporting not just faster, but smarter. "Accounting is a textbook example of where AI's capabilities can be productised reasoning over structured and unstructured data, chaining logic across systems, and adapting to compliance rules all in a high-volume, high-context environment," write Prasad and Malhotra. But the real unlock, they argue, isn't just the technology it's India. "India has long been the financial operations back office to the world. Now, we can build the brain," they write, referencing India's deep bench of finance talent, decades of operational know-how from BPO and KPO firms, and a new wave of founders trained in AI and enterprise software. The authors frame the opportunity as similar to earlier SaaS inflection points: "Think of what Freshworks did for CRM or what Zoho did for productivity tools. We believe India can build the world's most valuable companies in AI-for-Finance." The piece also serves as a call to arms for early-stage founders. Rather than bolting AI onto existing workflows, Prasad and Malhotra advocate for ground-up reinvention: tools that reason, explain, and actwhat they call "agents, not forms." This shift coincides with rising demand among global CFOs to increase reporting cadence, improve accuracy, and cut costs all while contending with shrinking finance teams. "This is creating a wedge for AI to prove itself not just as a shiny demo, but as core to business continuity," they write. Their conclusion is both urgent and optimistic: "The building blocks are in place what's needed now is imagination and execution." For founders, operators, and investors alike, the message is clear: the future of finance will be automated and intelligent. And with the right ambition, India might just build the systems that power it. Patna, July 22 : Following the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar from the post of Vice President of India, citing health reasons, Bihar BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul has advocated for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to be made the new VP. Speaking to the media outside the Bihar Assembly, Haribhushan Thakur said: "It would be better if Nitish Kumar becomes the Vice President of India." Haribhushan Thakur's statement has created a stir in the political circle of Bihar, as many believe that it is a deliberate attempt by the BJP to play on the front foot ahead of the Bihar Assembly Election 2025. The remark has triggered a sharp reaction from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Senior RJD leader Bhai Birendra questioned Nitish Kumar's capability, saying: "Nitish Kumar is not able to handle Bihar. How will he manage as Vice President? He is no longer worthy of it," Bhai Birendra said. He further added, "Not everyone in the BJP will want him to become the Vice President. We are in the opposition, and we want our government to be formed." On the ongoing ruckus in the Bihar Assembly, Bhai Birendra, the four-time MLA from Maner Assembly Constituency, said the opposition had moved an adjournment motion to debate the special voter list revision and the rising crime in Bihar, demanding that all other work be stopped to hold discussions on these pressing issues. "The government is not ready to listen to the opposition and is trying to suppress the voice of democracy," he said. As per the Constitution, the Vice President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Following the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar, the chair of the Rajya Sabha has fallen vacant. Currently, Deputy Chairman Harivansh, who has been in the role since 2020, chaired the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha. New Delhi, July 22 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold wide-ranging discussions with his counterpart from the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, including on further strengthening of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), during his two-day visit to London, starting Wednesday. "This will be the Prime Minister's fourth visit to the United Kingdom since assuming office. He has visited previously in 2015, 2018 and he was there in 2021 for the COP26 Summit in Glasgow. Within the last year itself, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Starmer have already met twice, first on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro last year and more recently, just last month in June in Kananaskis in Canada on the sidelines of the G7 Summit and they have also been in touch on the phone a number of times," said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri while addressing a special media briefing ahead of PM Modi's two-nation visit to the UK and Maldives, on Tuesday. Besides exchanging views on issues of regional and global importance, Prime Minister Modi and Starmer will review the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations with a specific focus on trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate, health, education and people-to-people ties. PM Modi will also call on King Charles III and interact with the business leaders and the Indian community in the United Kingdom. "Apart from the Summit level engagements, there are regular engagements at the level of the External Affairs Minister and his counterpart, the British Foreign Secretary. There are several other institutional mechanisms at ministerial level, dealing with strategic issues, financial, economic, energy related issues as well as science and technology. In contemporary times, the sectors of business, technology, research, education, innovation, the knowledge economy have emerged as key pillars of our bilateral cooperation. The Technology-Security initiative (TSI) for instance, which is coming up to its one year anniversary, was signed last year and is a major indicator of where we are taking our ties in critical and emerging technologies," Foreign Secretary Misri stated. On trade ties between India and the UK, the Foreign Secretary said: "Our bilateral trade crossed USD 55 billion in 2023-24. The UK is also the sixth largest investor in India with an cumulative investment of USD 36 billion and interestingly, India itself is a large source of foreign direct investment in the UK with a cumulative of USD 20 billion. There are close to 1000 Indian companies in the UK that provide employment to nearly 100,000 people and have a cumulative revenue of USD 91 billion." He also spoke about the UK-India Infrastructure Finances Bridge, coordinated between NITI Aayog and the City of London on the UK side. The mechanism works to avail UK expertise in mobilising finance for green infrastructure projects and renewable energy sector in India. Highlighting the defence ties between two nations, Misri said, "In the defence sector, we are seeing regular interactions and exercises among all three branches of the armed forces. We have placed military instructors at each other's military academies and one of the more significant partnership project we have embarked on in recent times is the agreement to look at electric propulsion capability between the two countries." The Foreign Secretary mentioned that the Serum Institute of India and UK's Oxford University have agreed to co-develop a malaria vaccine which was approved by World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2023. He also recalled how the two partners had previously developed the Covishield vaccine during the Covid-19 pandemic. He mentioned that the University of Southampton has opened a campus in Gurugram under new education policy and several other UK universities are also considering opening campuses in India under the same policy. The Foreign Secretary emphasised the role of Indian diaspora in the UK, which he said has contributed to strengthening bilateral ties and made valuable contribution to the society and economy of the UK. "One of the most important, probably the foundational aspect of this relationship is the Living Bridge that connects India and the UK, nearly 1.8 million strong Indian diaspora, which has contributed to strengthening bonds of friendship between our two countries but has also made extremely valuable contribution to the UK economy and society," Misri said. The ties between India and the UK, over the years have transformed into a robust, multi-faceted, mutually beneficial relationship. The relationship has been elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2021. There has been enormous growth across all sectors including trade and economy, defence and security, climate, green energy, health, education, people-to-people ties. There are five Ministerial level Institutional Mechanisms between two nations in strategic, economy and finance, trade, energy, science and technology. Other recently held dialogues include Foreign Office Consultation, Defence Consultation Group, 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue, etc. The climate partnership between India and the UK is strong. The UK is an active participant in India's International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) initiatives. One Sun One World One Grid-Green Grid Initiative was launched with the UK in COP26 in Glasgow. UK has been providing technical expertise and inputs to CDRIas initiatives including Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) for Small Developing Island States(SIDS). Climate Finance is another area of cooperation between two nations. New Delhi, July 22 : Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day on Tuesday, amid ongoing protests by the Opposition parties over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar and sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. The Houses will now reconvene on Wednesday. Both Houses were adjourned minutes after reconvening, first till noon and 2 p.m. and then for the entire day. Before the commencement of Day 2 of proceedings, the opposition parties organised a joint protest outside the aMakar Dwara of Parliament, raising alarm over abiased and partisana SIR exercise by the Election Commission of India in poll-bound Bihar. Many leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and others, waved posters and placards alleging manipulation of electoral rolls in Bihar. In Rajya Sabha, the morning proceedings got disrupted over uproar by members of the Opposition who demanded discussion on certain issues, including voter verification drive in Bihar, under SIR, and also the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar from the post of Vice President of India. As the Deputy Chairman Harivansh rejected the adjournment notices of Opposition members, including the one on Dhankhar's resignation, the latter created ruckus in the House, raising slogans and also entering the well to protest rejection of their notices. The House was adjourned till noon. When it again reconvened, it witnessed chaos and uproar, thus prompting the Chair to adjourn till 2 p.m. and then for the entire day. In Lok Sabha, the House proceedings were disrupted for the second consecutive day on the back of noisy clamour from the Opposition demanding debate on aburning issues'. Opposition MPs stood up on their feet, raised slogans demanding urgent debate on SIR and Operation Sindoor, but the permission for the same was denied by Speaker Om Birla. As the chaos escalated, the Speaker adjourned the House first till noon, then 2 p.m. and then for the entire day. When the Lower House reconvened at 2 p.m., Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also called out the adisruptive behavioura of the Opposition benches and lashed out at them for stalling the proceedings of the House. Accusing the Opposition of devising ways to disrupt the House, he said that an agreement was reached in the meeting of Business Advisory Committee (BAC) on Monday, to discuss the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, but the Opposition chose to shift focus and was now creating a stir over SIR. "In the BAC meeting, it was decided that there would be a discussion on Operation Sindoor, and a fixed time was agreed upon. All issues cannot be taken up at once. Yet, instead of cooperating, they came with placards and disrupted the House," Rijiju said. aWe come prepared with legislative business, but the Opposition comes only to create disturbances," he further said while charging the Opposition with wasting taxpayers' money. Notably, Parliament has seen a stormy start to the Monsoon Session. Day 1 of Parliamentary proceedings was marked by vociferous protests by the Opposition, which called for an urgent debate on issues like Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, and SIR drive in Bihar. Day 2 was no less disruptive with both Houses running for barely a few minutes. Tuesdayas disruption came against the backdrop of Jagdeep Dhankhar stepping down as the Vice President of India, citing health reasons. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Is work-life balance dead, and will you even find time to attend the funeral? During different phases of my five-decade working career, I have worked all three shifts, toiled every holiday, struggled with doubled production quotas, accepted 48 hours as a standard work week and missed countless family events. Still, today's job applicants are facing unprecedented obstacles to squeezing in a little "me" time. According to the Wall Street Journal, in the post-COVID business environment, remote work, clock-watching and water-cooler gabfests are history. Employers are bluntly (gleefully?) warning applicants that attendance at after-hours events is non-negotiable, do-or-die projects may be dumped in their lap without warning and flinching at routine 70-hour workweeks brands employees as sissies/underachievers/traitors. Yes, as the labor market loosens up, companies are back in the driver's seat. ("That's right. We're back behind the wheel! We may doze off, sideswipe a schoolbus and send it careening down a ravine but we're back behind the wheel, baby!") Job-seekers are encouraged to apply elsewhere if they don't lust after mandatory overtime. Some start-up companies are even stipulating retroactive mandatory overtime. ("Signing bonus? There's no signing bonus. In fact, we're docking you for all those times you shut down your front-yard lemonade stand in November.") Entrepreneurs such as Mark Cuban snidely advise that workers better get on board with the New Normal, because unless they give 110 percent 24-7, that bogeyman The Competition is going to eat their lunch. ("Dude, I'd be glad if somebody actually found time to eat my meals! I can't. And trying to catch a red-eye flight while hooked up to an IV pole is not what my high school guidance counselor prepared me for!") I know there's a lot of alpha-male (or maybe "The Devil Wears Prada") bravado exacerbating the "survival of the fittest" mentality; but it also looks desperate when you force your employees to upend their downtime for Zoom meetings with vendors/customers halfway around the world. Better to bluff your way through. ("Listen, you can make yourself available when it's convenient for MY people, or I'm buying your whole %$#@ time zone!") These managers and HR directors remind me of Steve Martin as Navin Johnson in "The Jerk." You know the speech: "I don't need this stuff and I don't need you. I don't need anything except this. This ashtray. And this paddle game. The ashtray and the paddle game and that's all I need. And this remote control" Except their message is more "This company can't survive without humbly indispensable me working 80 hours a week. Well, me and my dedicated hand-picked team. And their long-lost friends from summer camp. And, oh yeah, that litigious guy who hasn't been able to fall sleep since one of our delivery trucks hit him and" Ambitious college graduates find themselves having to reconfigure time-tested life goals. The mantra used to be "Live fast, die young and leave a good-looking corpse." Now it's "Live fast, die young and leave a really good stock portfolio forthe blood relatives who forgot you were aliveum, the Significant Other you never asked for a dateuh, the faithful dog you never adopteder, the museum whose doors you never darkened" Don't get too cocky, bosses. Pendulums swing both ways. "No, you may NOT vacation on Mars not until I've given you a raise and a footrub and let your darling rugrats rummage through my desk!" (COMMENT, BELOW) Controversial author Harlan Ellison once described the work of Mr. Tyree as "wonkily extrapolative" and said his mind "works like a demented cuckoo clock." Tyree generated a particular buzz on the Internet with his column spoofing real-life Christian nudist camps. A lifelong small-town southerner, he graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) helped to eliminate the consequences of Russian air attacks in Sumy and Odesa last night. Sumy. At the scene of the strike, volunteers from the Ukrainian Red Cross emergency response team in Sumy region worked alongside emergency services. They provided first aid and psychological first aid to those affected. Distribution of OSB boards, tarpaulins, and drinking water is currently organised on-site, URCS said on Facebook Tuesday. Volunteers from the Ukrainian Red Cross emergency response team in Odesa region quickly arrived at the site of the attack to provide necessary assistance. As reported, on Monday evening, July 21, the occupiers dropped two aerial bombs on Sumy, injuring 13 people, including a 6-year-old boy. Five apartment buildings and two private households, a shopping center, 18 cars, and a civilian infrastructure facility were damaged. As a result of the attack of enemy drones in Odesa, one person was injured, a fire broke out in the parking lot, cars were burning. Windows in a multi-story building were also broken and a store was damaged. Bhopal, July 22 : Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Tuesday found a measure of vindication as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly election results were "manipulated". Bhopal, July 22 (IANS) Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Tuesday found a measure of vindication as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly election results were "manipulated". Responding to Gandhi's remarks, Nath urged party workers to remain vigilant during the ongoing voter list verification process in the state. Kamal Nath, who had led the Congress in the 2023 Assembly elections -- where the party won only 63 out of 230 seats -- called upon workers to ensure that no fake voters are added and no genuine names are removed from the rolls. "I recognise the dedication of Congress workers. Everyone worked hard, but due to manipulation of votes, we could not achieve victory. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, has also acknowledged this," Nath said in a post on X. Rahul Gandhi made the allegation during a virtual address to a two-day training camp for Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs held in Mandu, Dhar district, which began on Monday. In a short clip shared by the state Congress unit, Gandhi can be heard saying: "The 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly election was manipulated. It was similar to what happened in Maharashtra." The statement is seen as a significant backing for Kamal Nath, who was forced to step down as state Congress president after the party's poor performance in the elections. Nath had faced criticism for allegedly taking unilateral decisions on candidate selection. Notably, two AICC in-charges appointed for Madhya Pradesh were replaced within just two months during the election period. Rahul Gandhi also warned party workers of a renewed attempt to tamper with electoral rolls ahead of future elections. "There is a plan to tamper with the voter list again, and elections could be stolen in Madhya Pradesh just like in Maharashtra. Congress workers must prepare to fight this," he said. The training camp, aimed at strengthening coordination between elected representatives and party functionaries and preparing for future political challenges, concluded on Tuesday. New Delhi, July 22 : In a significant move to highlight the role of indigenous shipbuilding in national development, the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau (WDB) will host a one-day seminar titled 'Nation Building Through Shipbuilding' on July 23, 2025, at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. New Delhi, July 22 (IANS) In a significant move to highlight the role of indigenous shipbuilding in national development, the Indian Navyas Warship Design Bureau (WDB) will host a one-day seminar titled 'Nation Building Through Shipbuilding' on July 23, 2025, at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The seminar commemorates a major milestone in Indiaas naval history - the delivery of the 100th indigenously designed warship, Y12652 (Udaygiri), on July 1, 2025. The event will bring together key stakeholders from the Government of India, the Indian Navy, shipyards, industry leaders, classification societies, and academia for in-depth discussions on the strategic and economic importance of shipbuilding in the country. The Warship Design Bureau, formerly known as the Central Design Office (established in 1964) and later the Directorate of Naval Design in 1970, has been instrumental in Indiaas march toward self-reliance in naval defence. Over the past six decades, WDB has led the design and construction of 20 different types of warships - from Seaward Defence Boats to state-of-the-art Aircraft Carriers - contributing significantly to the Indian Navyas operational capabilities. With a focus on advancing India's shipbuilding ecosystem, the seminar aims to delve into policy reforms, technological innovations, and collaborative frameworks necessary to boost indigenous ship production. Participants will also address critical challenges faced by Indian shipyards in meeting global standards, while exploring futuristic technologies that are shaping the global shipbuilding landscape. Officials said the delivery of the 100th warship represents not just a defence achievement but a powerful symbol of economic and technological progress. "Shipbuilding is crucial for national defence and security, serving as a foundation for strategic military capabilities and economic stability. A robust shipbuilding sector fosters technological innovation, strengthens national industries, and creates job opportunities, contributing to the nation's long-term prosperity and growth," said a Naval spokesperson. The seminar will serve as a platform for knowledge-sharing and collaborative planning, reinforcing Indiaas commitment to 'Aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance) in defence production and its growing stature as a maritime power. Chennai, July 22 : A 30-year-old marine engineer was arrested on charges of dowry harassment and domestic violence in Tamil Nadu's Vellore district. The complaint was lodged by the engineer's 21-year-old wife, alleging that he pushed her from the terrace of their house during a dispute over additional dowry. The accused, B. Khaja Rafik, a resident of Saduperi near the Fort Complex in Vellore, is employed as a marine engineer and also runs an air-conditioner repair workshop in the city. He married A. Nargis in 2023. According to the complaint with the police, Rafik and his parents had allegedly been pressuring Nargis for more dowry, despite receiving substantial gifts and money at the time of marriage. In her complaint, Nargis stated that her parents had taken loans to provide 30 sovereigns of gold, Rs 1.5 lakh for a vehicle, Rs 3 lakh for home appliances, and had spent around Rs 10 lakh on the wedding ceremony. However, Rafik and his family reportedly demanded further dowry, leading to repeated harassment. The situation took a grave turn last week when Nargis sustained serious injuries, including one to her spinal cord and multiple fractures in her legs, after falling from the terrace of their house. She accused her husband of pushing her off the terrace during a heated argument over dowry. Rafik and his parents, however, have denied the allegations and claimed it was an accident. On Monday, Nargis, still bedridden and on a stretcher, attended the weekly public grievance redressal meeting at the Vellore Collectorate. Accompanied by her parents, she met District Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi and narrated the abuse she had allegedly endured at the hands of her husband and in-laws. Following the Collector's intervention, the Ariyur Police launched an investigation into the case. Based on preliminary findings and Nargis' testimony, Rafik was arrested on Tuesday under charges related to dowry harassment and domestic violence. A detailed inquiry into the role of other family members, including Rafik's father, a Sub-Inspector posted at Cheyyar police station, is underway. Further legal action is expected as the investigation progresses. Vijayawada, July 22 : The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) special court here on Tuesday extended the judicial remand of 11 accused in the Andhra Pradesh liquor scam case up to August 1. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials produced the accused before the court upon completion of their previous remand period. The accused include Kessireddy Rajashekar Reddy, former IT Adviser to former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy; K. Dhanunjaya Reddy, Secretary in the Chief Ministeras Office; Krishna Mohan Reddy, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to then Chief Minister; director of Bharati Cements Balaji Govindappa; former MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy; Rajashekar Reddyas personal assistant Dilip Kumar, Chanikya, and Sajjala Sridhar Reddy. Nine accused were brought from the district jail in Vijayawada, while the remaining two were brought from Guntur jail. After the court extended their custody, they were sent back to jail. The court extended judicial custody till August 1 so that all 12 accused arrested in the case so far can be produced together on completion of their remand term. YSR Congress Party MP P. V. Midhun Reddy was arrested in the case on July 19. The court had sent him to judicial custody till August 1. He is currently lodged in Rajahmundry Central Jail. The alleged scam had occurred during YSR Congress party rule between 2019 and 2024. After TDP-led NDA came to power last year, a case was registered at CID Police Station in Mangalagiri under sections 409, 420, 120 (B), r/w 34 and 37 of IPC and section 7, 7A, 8, 12, 13 (1), (b), 13 (2) of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988. The Crime Investigation Department (CID) initially conducted an investigation following a complaint by an official of the Excise Department. Later, the government constituted SIT, headed by NTR District Commissioner of Police SV Rajashekhar Babu, to probe the case. The SIT found large-scale irregularities and fund misappropriation in the liquor policy implemented during 2019-24. Investigators reportedly uncovered a kickback network involving nearly Rs 3,500 crore siphoned off over five years. There are allegations that the YSR Congress Party leaders encouraged a new liquor policy, floated new brands, and received kickbacks from the distillery companies, causing huge losses to the government. The SIT filed a preliminary chargesheet in the case on July 19. It mentions former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy as one of the recipients of kickbacks. He, however, has not been named as an accused in the case. The court has not yet taken cognisance of the chargesheet, which alleges that between 2019 and 2024, an average of Rs 50 to 60 crore was collected every month from distilleries and routed through a network of aides and shell companies. Mumbai, July 22 : As the Parliament gears up for a 16-hour debate on the much-talked-about Operation Sindoor next week, Shiv Sena leader Krishna Hegde on Tuesday lauded the move, calling it a "commendable step" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, which will expose the opposition's stance. Speaking to IANS, Krishna Hegde said, "The decision to hold a 16-hour debate on Operation Sindoor in Parliament is a commendable step by the PM Modi government. It will silence the opposition, who, before, during, and after the Operation Sindoor, spoke in a tone that echoed Pakistan's narrative and openly questioned our armed forces. That's not only unfortunate but also shameful for the country." He added that the debate will finally reveal where the opposition truly stands. "When the entire country stood united with the Prime Minister, the Congress party aligned itself with Pakistan's stance. The success of Operation Sindoor is one of the significant achievements of the PM Modi government, and this debate will draw clear lines between patriotism and political convenience," Hegde told IANS. Hegde further responded to the controversy involving Allahabad High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma, after bundles of burnt currency notes were reportedly found at his residence. Hegde expressed grave concern, stating, "There have been several instances where large amounts of cash and property have been recovered from the houses of judicial officers. The judiciary holds a sacred position in our democracy. Those serving in such esteemed roles must uphold honesty and integrity. If any judge is found to possess illegal property, strict legal action should follow, including dismissal or disqualification. Such acts, if proven, are deeply unfortunate and harmful to society." In reaction to the recent stance by the Election Commission of India (ECI), which ruled that Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration cards cannot be used as standalone documents for Special Summary Revision (SIR), Hegde highlighted the confusion this has caused among citizens. He stated, "The ECI mentioned that most forms for the special revision have already been submitted, and voter names dating back to 1990 have been included. However, many individuals rely on documents like Aadhaar and PAN for voter identification. Now, with the ECI deeming Aadhaar and ration cards ineligible, the issue has escalated to the judiciary. The court has asked the ECI to submit all relevant documents by July 21, with a hearing scheduled for July 28. Only after that will the situation become clear." Hegde further reacted to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's sudden resignation, which has sparked political speculation. "The Vice President's resignation is his personal decision, and it must be respected. He has cited health reasons for stepping down. Dhankhar has served the country in multiple roles as a senior advocate, governor, and vice president with distinction. His contribution to public life has been significant, and his tenure in Parliament was exemplary. We wish him a speedy recovery and respect his choice," he concluded. Kolkata, July 22 : The Meteorological office in Kolkata on Tuesday predicted heavy rain in several pockets of West Bengal between July 23 and 27 as a low-pressure area is likely to form over the north Bay of Bengal. The possibility of a low-pressure system and the favourable position of the monsoon are expected to bring widespread rainfall across the state, especially in South Bengal. "A low-pressure area is likely to form over the north Bay of Bengal around July 24. Rainfall activity is likely to increase with isolated heavy to very-heavy rainfall very likely in south Bengal between July 23 and 27," said the weather bulletin. According to the weather bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), from Wednesday onwards, the intensity of rain is expected to increase. According to the IMD, heavy to very rainfall (07-20 cm) is very likely to occur at one or two places over South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Bankura, Purulia and Hooghly districts and heavy rainfall (07-11 cm) very likely to occur at one or two places over the remaining districts of South Bengal for the next few days Meanwhile, districts in north Bengal will experience light to moderate rain and thundershower at many places till July 27. Heavy rainfall has been forecast at isolated places in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Coochbehar between July 25 and July 27. The IMD also issued a warning to fishermen of squally weather in the Bay of Bengal, along and off the West Bengal-Odisha coast from Thursday (July 24), and advised them not to venture into the sea. A yellow alert has already been issued for the two coastal districts of South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore. The state witnessed heavy showers for almost the entire last week. Heavy rains coupled with the release of water from the dams of the Damodar Valley Corporation resulted in a flood-like situation in several districts of the state. Bhopal, July 22 : Madhya Pradesh is preparing to enter the global digital infrastructure arena with plans to develop a 1 gigawatt AI-ready data centre ecosystem, following a landmark agreement signed during the Madhya Pradesh Business Forum in Barcelona recently during the 13-19 July foreign trip of state Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. He had led the delegation and announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSEDC) and Spain-based Submer Technologies, a global leader in immersion cooling solutions for data centres. "Our Chief Minister informed us today about the potential in the data business and the state cabinet cleared a proposal to set up a reliable data centre in Madhya Pradesh," Kailash Vijayvargiya, state Urban Development Minister and government spokesperson, said here on Tuesday. He further said that without reliable data, no development activity can be conceptualised in the modern era. Chief Minister Yadav emphasised the strategic importance of the collaboration, stating that Madhya Pradesh has earned the trust of global investors through stable governance and industry-friendly policies. He invited international entrepreneurs to explore investment opportunities in the state, highlighting its readiness to support high-tech ventures. The partnership aims to build next-generation data centres that are energy-efficient, climate-conscious, and optimised for artificial intelligence workloads. Submer Technologies will invest in construction, research and development, and technical infrastructure, while MPSEDC will facilitate land allocation, basic infrastructure, policy support, and regulatory clearances. The proposed facilities will incorporate advanced cooling technologies that significantly reduce power consumption and water usage, aligning with global sustainability benchmarks. Central India is rapidly emerging as a data centre hub, with cities like Indore and Raipur attracting attention for their geographic advantage, low latency, and affordable power. Madhya Pradesh already has data centres in Bhopal and Gwalior. The MoU marks a pivotal moment in Madhya Pradesh's digital transformation journey. By integrating AI infrastructure with sustainable design, the state aims to position itself as a leader in secure, scalable, and green data services. A delegation from Submer Technologies is expected to visit Madhya Pradesh later this month to identify potential sites and engage with local stakeholders. As the state moves toward becoming a data-enabled economy, the initiative promises to generate employment, foster innovation, and establish Madhya Pradesh as a preferred destination for global digital investment. Thiruvananthapuram, July 22 : The final journey for Communist veteran V.S. Achuthanandan from Thiruvananthapuram commenced on Tuesday on a state-owned passenger bus which was fully decked with flowers. The state capital city has been his second home since 1967, when he won as a legislator for the first time. VS, as the leader was popularly known, passed away at a private hospital here on Monday at 3.20 p.m. He was 101. On Tuesday morning, the body of former Chief Minister was taken from his son's house here to the palatial Durbar Hall in the heart of the State Secretariat- the seat of the government which he headed from 2006-11. At 1 p.m., the body was placed on the bus, and it left the Secretariat where he held fort from 2006 to 2011 as Chief Minister. Two big window panes on both sides of the bus were removed to enable people to have a better view of the departed leader. Hundreds of people are walking along the bus, which is moving at a slow pace, and the first brief stop was before the Kerala Legislative Assembly (new premises), where he was Leader of Opposition on two occasions, CM once and legislator once. Alongside the road, people were shouting slogans in Malayalam, which translates to "Achuthanandan will never die". Incidentally, even though VS quit public life in January 2020, he continued to be revered. Behind the bus is a long line of vehicles of Ministers, legislators and others. A public holiday was announced for Kerala on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, when the last rites would be conducted at the leader's home town, Alappuzha, in the evening, a public holiday has been declared in the district. All the top national leaders of the CPI-M, including general secretary M.A. Baby, who was the Education Minister in Achuthanandan's cabinet, former general secretaries Prakash Karat and Brinda Karat and a host of leaders paid their last respects. At Alappuzha, the body will be kept at his home. On Wednesday, the body will be taken to the district CPI-M office and then to the seaside and from there for his last journey to the cremation ground at Valiyachudukad around 4 p.m., where the pyre will be lit. Achuthanandan was 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. Ludhiana, July 22 : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Tuesday appealed to panchayats affected by the Aam Aadmi Party's 40,000-acre land pooling scheme to pass resolutions, saying they would not part with their land even as he made it clear the party would not allow one inch of land to be acquired. Addressing a sit-in protest outside the Deputy Commissioner's office here, he demanded the revocation of the entire 40,000-acre land acquisition plan. He said the Akali Dal would intensify the agitation against the land grab by holding weekly 'dharnas' with the first dharna being held on July 28 in Mohali and on August 4 in Bathinda. Badal said AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal was behind this "loot in league with builders of Delhi" who had been promised large land parcels as per their wishes. He warned the Chief Secretary, who has been made Chairman of all development authorities, as well as their members, that they would be held accountable for illegalities being committed in land acquisition processes in the state. Explaining the entire issue, the Akali Dal chief said the AAP government proposed to acquire 40,000 acres of land, including 24,000 in Ludhiana itself, under the archaic State Land Acquisition Act of 1995 instead of the Central Land Acquisition Act of 2013. He said the 1995 law allowed for excluding land parcels from acquisition and lease, as well as allowing auction or allotment of land as per the wishes of the ruling dispensation. "This will open the doors for corruption and allow select parcels to be excluded from auction at the whims and fancies of the government. In direct contrast, the Central Land Acquisition Act of 2013 calls for giving compensation at four times the collector rate, besides a resettlement scheme." He said the move to acquire the land through the state Land Acquisition Act of 1995 had not been passed in the state Assembly, which itself made it illegal and unconstitutional. Badal said that under the new acquisition, the small farmers will be the biggest losers. "Those possessing 50 acres of land would be eligible to get back 60 per cent of the same, whereas those possessing nine acres would only get 33 per cent back. Farmers would additionally not be allowed to sell the land, take a loan on it or undertake the change of land use (CLU) once the notification for acquisition is done." Another senior leader, Daljit Singh Cheema, said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had tried to justify the policy recently. He said if the policy had been made keeping in mind the welfare of farmers, then the Chief Minister should tell why he refused to put his signature on it and forced the AAP Delhi dispensation to replace him as Chairman of development authorities and give this post to the Chief Secretary. --IANS vg/dan Bengaluru, July 22 : The Karnataka BJP has slammed the state government over the alleged issuance of GST tax notices to small traders, accusing it of obstructing the Centre's digital revolution. Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office 'Jagannath Bhavan' on Tuesday, former national general secretary C.T. Ravi, who is also a member of the Legislative Council, charged that the Congress government in Karnataka appears to be conspiring to derail the Digital India initiative by issuing notices to small traders. He said that while UPI payment systems have set global records, the Congress government has created fear and panic among the public. "It is creating a climate of fear around the Centre's digital transaction efforts," he claimed. Due to the notices, small traders have become afraid and have started putting up boards saying, "UPI payments not accepted, cash only." He also alleged that this climate of fear has led to complaints of bribes being demanded by middlemen and certain officials. He demanded that the state tax department withdraw the notices and rescue small traders from this fear psychosis. Ravi claimed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah instructed commercial tax officials to increase tax collections, which led to notices being issued to small traders. Referring to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's comments, he said, "It's like a monkey eating the fruit and blaming the goat for it." He asked, "Who is the monkey here?" He noted that the commercial tax department issued these notices, and yet Congress is blaming the Centre. "You issued the notices, but your statements are misleading people to believe that the Centre is responsible," he said. He said that it is the Karnataka government that played the role of the monkey. "You've been issuing these notices since 2020. Even traders dealing in milk, fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat, fish, rice, ragi, jowar, wheat, and other essential goods who are exempted from tax have received notices," he claimed. Ravi further pointed out that such notices have not been issued to small traders anywhere else in the country only in Karnataka. "If states like Kerala and Maharashtra had also issued similar notices, then you could have claimed it was a central decision. But that's not the case," he said. He clarified that in the service sector, tax exemption exists for businesses with an annual turnover below Rs 1.5 crore. If it exceeds that, only 1 per cent tax is levied 0.5 per cent each to the Centre (CGST) and the State (SGST). "This is clearly documented in official communication. Then why are the CM and Dy CM blaming the Centre's policy? Accept that the mistake lies with your own government. Withdraw the notices. Small traders have started protesting, and we morally support their protest. BJP leaders will also join them," Ravi declared. He said there are proper ways to raise revenue for the state, and that the government shouldn't burden small traders. "Admit that your treasury is empty," he urged. "Bengaluru is the capital of India's IT sector. This sector led the way in digital payments. Even vegetable vendors were accepting UPI this was highlighted in international media. But now the Congress government is spreading fear. This decision must be rolled back," he demanded. Ravi criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for saying that there's no dearth of development in the state. "Instead of trying to convince opposition parties, try listening to your own MLAs like Raju Kage, B.R. Patil, and Deshpande they are saying no development is happening," he said. "If the treasury is overflowing, then why have you raised prices of essential services and commodities?" he asked. "You've imposed cess on petrol and diesel, hiked power tariffs, and increased prices of milk products, metro fares, and bus fares. Yet, in your budget, you've borrowed Rs 1.16 lakh crore to cover the fiscal deficit. Despite this, you're hosting 'Sadhana Samavesha' in Mysuru to boast about your achievements," he taunted. BJP spokespersons M.G. Mahesh, Dr. Narendra Rangappa, and BJP Mahila Morcha state president K.C. Manjula were also present at the press meet. Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/ Several stages of exchanges are expected in pursuance of the agreements of the second meeting in Istanbul; the work on exchanges is coordinated by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Rustem Umerov, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "I heard reports on the stages of prisoner exchanges that have been carried out and those that are being prepared. We expect several stages of exchanges to fulfill the agreements of the second meeting in Istanbul and continue our other activities to free our people - both military and civilians. The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine is coordinating this work, all necessary forces and institutions have been involved," Zelenskyy wrote on his Telegram channel on Tuesday. He thanked the Ukrainian intelligence service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the team of the Presidents Office, the Security Service of Ukraine, the ombudsman and the Coordination Headquarters. The President emphasized that it was possible to significantly intensify exchanges during the spring and summer of this year. "Among those released from captivity are people who were in the category of missing persons, as well as people who were held in Russian prisons and camps from the time before the full-scale war. That is why our team is verifying the information on each name. We are looking for all of ours," the president noted. They also reported today on measures to rehabilitate those returned from captivity and the work that is being carried out to investigate crimes against Ukrainian prisoners. "We must restore justice, and for this we are working at all levels - legal, political, special operations," the head of state summed up. A new meeting of delegations in Turkey is expected on Wednesday, July 23. The Ukrainian delegation will be headed by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov. New Delhi, July 22 : The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Dehradun, has filed a Prosecution Complaint (charge sheet) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, against four former forest officials in connection with illegal constructions inside the Corbett National Park. The complaint has been submitted before the Special PMLA Court in Dehradun. The officials named in the chargesheet include Kishan Chand, then Divisional Forest Officer (DFO); Brij Bihari Sharma, then Ranger; Akhilesh Tiwari, then DFO; and Mathura Singh Mavdi, then Ranger, all of Uttarakhand cadre. The case stems from an FIR and chargesheet filed by the Vigilance Establishment, Dehradun, under multiple legal provisions, including the Indian Penal Code, the Forest Conservation Act (1980), the Wildlife (Protection) Act (1972), and the Prevention of Corruption Act (1988). Later, acting on a court directive, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) re-registered the case as FIR No. RC0072023A0008 on October 11, 2023, and filed its chargesheet. EDas probe has revealed that the accused were involved in constructing several illegal structures inside the protected Corbett Tiger Reserve without seeking approvals from the competent authorities. These acts are alleged to be part of a broader pattern of corruption and abuse of official power. In a significant development earlier this month, the ED provisionally attached immovable properties worth approximately Rs 1.75 crore. The properties are registered in the name of Rajlaxmi Sharma, wife of accused Brij Bihari Sharma, and Abhishek Kumar Singh and Yugendra Kumar Singh, sons of Kishan Chand. The EDas investigation is ongoing and is likely to bring further disclosures in what is emerging as one of the most serious environmental and corruption scandals involving protected forest land in Uttarakhand. Further action under the PMLA is expected as authorities continue to scrutinise financial trails and asset acquisitions linked to the accused. Bengaluru, July 22 : The Bengaluru Police on Tuesday claimed to have cracked a daylight robbery case involving the theft of Rs 2 crore from a businessman, and arrested 15 people in connection with the crime. The police have also seized Rs 1.11 crore in cash, four cars, four bikes, and weapons used in the crime. Investigations revealed that the gang was involved in conning wealthy individuals by promising to convert their cash into United States Dollar Tether (USDT) digital currency, and then allegedly doubling the amount and returning it via RTGS premium, along with GST. Once the victims were lured by the promise and arrived with large amounts of cash, the gang would stage a fake robbery and steal the money. A complaint was filed by a businessman on June 25 with the Vidyaranyapura police, alleging the robbery of Rs 2 crore. Following the complaint, police initially arrested two suspects near Jamia Mosque, who revealed the involvement of a 17-member gang. Subsequently, police arrested seven more suspects from various locations, including Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Bidar districts, and Ajmer. A manhunt is underway to nab the remaining accused. The arrests were made by a team led by DCP (North East) Sajeeth V.J., ACP Narasimhamurthy, and Inspector C.B. Shivaswamy. The complainant, 33-year-old businessman Sriharsha V. from Kengeri New Town, had raised Rs 2 crore through personal savings and loans from friends to invest in a cold-pressed oil industry. According to the FIR, since the machinery required for the industry was available in Germany, Sriharsha intended to convert the cash into USDT. He approached his friends for help, and one of them introduced him to a person named Benjamin Harsha. Benjamin assured Sriharsha that he could facilitate the transaction and asked him to bring Rs 2 crore in cash to MS Palya Circle in Vidyaranyapura on June 25. Sriharsha arrived at the location around 3 p.m. along with two friends. Benjamin and his associates led them into a shop and began counting the money using machines. Around 4.30 p.m., a gang of six to seven men barged into the shop and threatened Sriharsha and his companions, demanding the cash. When they resisted, two of the assailants brandished knives and threatened to kill them. The gang seized their mobile phones and stuffed the Rs 2 crore cash into a gunny bag. They warned the victims against reporting the incident to the police and threatened them with dire consequences. The gang then locked Sriharsha, Benjamin, and the others inside the shop before fleeing the scene. New Delhi, July 22 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday visited the centre for National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) training programme for legislators, where they learn tips on paperless functioning in the Assembly, an official said. Speaker Vijender Gupta accompanied the Chief Minister, who, along with PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh, visited the NeVA Training Centre and experienced the platform firsthand as part of the Assembly's push towards fully digital and paperless legislative functioning, said an official from the Assembly secretariat. NeVA experts gave a detailed presentation to the Chief Minister and other MLAs on the objectives, features, and functionalities of the NeVA platform, offering a comprehensive overview of how the system will revolutionise legislative proceedings. Tuesday was the second day of the NeVA training programme at the Delhi Legislative Assembly. Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Gupta highlighted that the ongoing NeVA training programme is a significant step towards realising the vision of One Nation, One Application. "An enthusiastic participation of members, including the Chief Minister and Minister, will ensure the smooth achievement of our goals," said Speaker Gupta. As part of the digital rollout, smartphones were also handed over to CM Gupta and Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh to enable seamless access to the NeVA platform. Experts from the Union Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) continued to conduct the training sessions, helping members familiarise themselves with the digital tools and features of the NeVA platform. The legislators accessed the digital List of Business (LoB) using newly provided iPhones and interacted with the system through 18 newly-installed computers at the training centre. The training programme will continue for another day, ensuring that all MLAs are fully equipped for the upcoming monsoon session under the NeVA digital framework. Earlier, Gupta said, "The inauguration of the NeVA Seva Centre and the successful completion of the first phase of NeVA marks a critical milestone in our commitment to a digital, transparent, and sustainable legislature." The Speaker said this initiative reflects our alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Digital India, paperless governance, and the transformative idea of 'One Nation, One Application'. He said it is unfortunate that earlier governments made no sincere efforts in this direction. With NeVA, we are now bridging that gap and paving the way for a more accountable and modern legislative ecosystem. Under the programme, each MLA was provided a smartphone preloaded with the NeVA application, allowing seamless access to the list of business, legislative questions, documents, and session updates. New Delhi, July 22 : The Government has kicked off preparations for Census 2027 with the publication of gazette notification dated June 16, expressing the intent to conduct Population Census, the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Tuesday. Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said ahead of Census 2027, a two-day conference was held on July 3 and 4 to draft a roadmap for the exercise. The conference was attended by Directors of Census Operations, senior officers from Directorates of Census Operations and officers from Office of Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, the MoS said in a reply to questions from MPs Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, D K Aruna and Eatala Rajender. The participants also discussed Census-related activities such as finalisation of frame of administrative units, collection of data through mobile apps, management and monitoring of census activities through Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS) portal, self-enumeration and training of census functionaries, he said. In reply to another question, MoS for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar said that there are 1,71,689 Freedom Fighters who received a Central pension under the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) till date. Of these, the maximum number of 24,905 is from Bihar-Jharkhand, followed by 22,472 from West Bengal. In 2024-25, Rs 599.29 crore was disbursed under the scheme as compared to Rs 539. 67 crore in 2023-24, he said. He said there are 13,212 pensioners who are still alive and receiving SSSY Samman pension. There are 9,778 widows who are still alive and are receiving SSSY pension, the MoS said. Pension is given to freedom fighters under SSSY if he or she had suffered a minimum imprisonment of six months in mainland jails before Independence. Ex-Indian National Army (INA) personnel are also eligible for pension if the imprisonment/detention suffered by them was outside India for six months or more. In case of women and SC/ST freedom fighters, the minimum period of actual imprisonment for eligibility of pension is three months. Pension is also given to any person who remained underground for six months or more, provided he was a proclaimed offender; one on whom an award for arrest/head was announced or one whose detention order was issued but not served. A person who was interned in his home or externed from his district under the orders of the competent authority for six months or more is also eligible for the pension, added the MoS. New Delhi, July 22 : In a bid to tackle rising digital payment-linked fraud and misuse of telecom infrastructure, the government on Tuesday deliberated upon how to fast-track the implementation of the "1600" mobile series. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) met the Joint Committee of Regulators (JCoR) in the national capital and discussed rolling out collaborative regulatory measures. The '1600' series is a phone numbering range exclusively designated for all voice calls originating from regulated entities in the banking, financial services, insurance (BFSI), and securities sectors. At the meeting, regulators discussed setting up timelines for migration to 1600-number series. Considering that entities have different scales of operation, they decided that migration may be made in a phased manner based on the inputs from sectoral regulators, an official statement said. The committee also flagged the misuse of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Primary Rate Interface (PRI) telecom lines for bulk spam. Options under discussion include issuing these lines from a designated number range and imposing additional safeguards to ensure responsible use. Further, TRAI informed that a major pilot project is underway to give consumers more control over commercial communications by replacing unverifiable, offline consents with a secure digital consent framework. This will enable consumers to digitally register, review, and revoke consents through a simple, unified and tamper-proof interface. Major banks such as SBI, PNB, ICICI, HDFC, Axis Bank, Canara Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank will co-ordinate with telecom service providers (TSPs) for the pilot project. At the meeting, TRAI Chairman, Anil Kumar Lahoti, commended DoTas recent launch of the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI), which labels numbers associated with financial scams. He reiterated that practical safeguards against spam and fraud are needed without placing undue burden on legitimate businesses. He urged sectoral regulators to accelerate implementation within their respective domains and monitor progress closely. The committee also discussed the requirement of automated exchange of spam and cyber fraud data between Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Digital Intelligence Platform of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and DLT platform maintained by the access providers. Such coordination can help in swift action against the telecom resources of the fraudsters, including disconnecting their numbers. Representatives from Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) met with officials from different ministries. TRAI had recently revamped its SMS header portal to help customers get information about the entities sending commercial messages using a particular SMS header. New Delhi, July 22 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day State visit to Maldives this week will not only contribute further to consolidating strong ties between the two nations but also enhance peace, prosperity and security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Tuesday. Both countries, he revealed, are also in discussions to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement and an investment treaty. Prime Minister Modi will undertake a State Visit to Maldives from July 25a"26, on the invitation of the Maldives President, Mohamed Muizzu. This will be Prime Minister Modi's third visit to Maldives - he had visited the Indian Ocean archipelago in 2018 and 2019, earlier - and the first by a Head of State or Government to Maldives during the Presidency of Muizzu which began in November 2023. PM Modi will arrive in Maldives on July 25 which would be the second and final leg of his two-nation visit, following the visit to the United Kingdom, starting Wednesday. Besides holding discussions on issues of mutual interest with Muizzu, Prime Minister Modi will also be the 'Guest of Honour' at the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Independence of Maldives on July 26. 2025 also marks 60 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries. President Muizzu was on a State Visit to India in October 2024. He also visited New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government that had been elected earlier in the year. Both leaders had also met on the sidelines of the COP meeting in Dubai. "The relationship with the Maldives is comprehensive and multifaceted. It's been paid attention to by leadership at the highest levels and we believe that this visit by the Prime Minister will contribute further to consolidating these strong ties and contribute to peace, prosperity and security in the Indian Ocean Region that both of us inhabit," Foreign Secretary Misri stated during a special media briefing held in New Delhi on Tuesday ahead of PM Modi's two-nation visit. 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. With PM Modi slated to inaugurate some infrastructure projects and also announce new initiatives, 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. "We have always been the first on hand to respond to the needs of Maldives in times whenever it has faced crisis, natural or man-made. There has been a robust, political relationship which has been bolstered by regular visits at high-levels," said Misri. "This joint vision, in a sense, has become the guiding framework for our ties. This year already, in the first six months, we have seen nearly half a dozen ministerial level visits from the Maldives. The speaker of the Maldives Parliament visited India. In fact, the very first engagement this year that the External Affairs Minister held was with the Foreign Minister of Maldives," he added. A High-Level Core Group (HLCG) has been constituted to oversee the progress towards implementation of the joint vision between both countries. The HLCG has met twice, at Male and Delhi in January and May 2025, respectively. Since then, there has been regular political visits from Maldives to India, especially, in 2025, covering Ministers of Finance, Foreign, Defence, Environment, Information and Arts, Health etc as well as that of a delegation led by the Speaker of the Maldivian Majlis. Misri stated that India is one of the largest trading partners of the Maldives and the bilateral trade currently stands at nearly 500 million dollars. "On the economic front, one recent development which I would like to share with you is that both countries are in discussions to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement and an investment treaty as well and new areas of cooperation including renewable energy, fisheries etc are also being worked on. One of the largest areas of bilateral cooperation is the development partnership between the two countries. India has been a traditional development partner of the Maldives, executing various initiatives through a mix of Lines of Credit at concessional rates, grants, buyers credit facilities, as also conducting capacity building programmes in a number of areas. "The flagship project that is underway currently is the Greater Male connectivity project which has the potential to be an infrastructure gamechanger in the Greater Male region, connecting four islands of the Maldives. There are also projects underway in the area of roads, airports, fisheries, processing units and others. We are also alleviating the pressure by helping with social housing as per the needs and priorities of Maldives." He also mentioned India's financial assistance to Maldives government through instruments like twin currency swap arrangements. The Foreign Secretary stated that Maldives is one of largest beneficiaries of India's capacity building programmes. "We also have between the two countries a robust defence and security cooperation. India continues to assist Maldives in building its capacity, training Maldives defence personnel and a lot of this is done through regular training programmes, naval exercises between the two countries. We've been helping Maldives enhance its capacity for EZ surveillance and maritime domain awareness through the provision of ships and assets and the two countries are also cooperating under the ambit of the Colombo Security Conclave," the Foreign Secretary said. New Delhi, July 22 : Gross non-performing assets (NPAs) of public sector banks have been steadily declining and have come down from 9.11 per cent of total loans in March 2021 to 2.58 per cent in March 2025, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Pankaj Chaudhary informed Parliament on Tuesday. The total amount locked up in the gross NPAs of public sector banks has declined from Rs 6,16,616 crore in March 2021 to Rs 2,83,650 crore in March 2025, the minister said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha. Comprehensive measures have been taken by the Government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to recover and reduce NPAs. These include a change in credit culture that has come into effect, with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) fundamentally changing the creditor-borrower relationship, taking away control of the defaulting company from promoters/owners, and debarring wilful defaulters from the resolution process. To make the process more stringent, personal guarantors to corporate debtors have also been brought under the ambit of IBC, the minister said. The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 and the Recovery of Debt and Bankruptcy Act have been amended to make them more effective in recovering bad loans. Besides, pecuniary jurisdiction of Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) was increased from Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 20 lakhs to enable the DRTs to focus on high-value cases, resulting in higher recovery for the banks and financial institutions, he further stated. Public sector banks have also set up specialised stressed assets management verticals and branches for effective monitoring and focused follow-up of NPA accounts, which facilitates quicker and improved resolution/ recoveries. Deployment of Business correspondents and adoption of the feet-on-street model have also boosted the recovery trajectory of NPAs in banks, the minister said. He also pointed out that the prudential framework for the resolution of stressed assets was issued by RBI to provide a framework for early recognition, reporting and time-bound resolution of stressed assets, with a built-in incentive to lenders for early adoption of a resolution plan, which has helped in the recovery of bad loans. As per RBI guidelines, banks have a board-approved policy in place for the valuation of properties done by professionally qualified independent valuers. RBI mandates banks to have a procedure for empanelment of professional valuers based on prescribed minimum qualifications and maintain a register of an approved list of valuers. Valuation of fixed assets is done before sanction of loan to a borrower as part of the appraisal process and before sale to recover dues under the SARFAESI Act, 2002, the minister explained. In order to maintain transparency, for properties valued at Rs 50 crore or above, banks obtain a minimum of two independent valuation reports. Upon enforcement of a security interest for an NPA account, the bank takes possession of the property and obtains a valuation from an approved valuer before disposing of it. RBI, vide its guidelines on sale of stressed assets by banks, has stated the use of e-auction as a desirable mode in the sale of properties as it would attract a wide variety of borrowers and enable a better price discovery, he added. Mumbai, July 22 : Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan on Tuesday released a Coffee Table Book titled 'Maharashtra Nayak' on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The book, conceptualised by Water Resources and Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan, was launched on the occasion of the CM's birthday. Congratulating Mahajan for the initiative, the Governor said the book captures the inspiring journey of CM Fadnavis -- from a young public servant to a leader of national stature. Speaking at the event, Governor Radhakrishnan said the book offers a vivid account of Fadnavis's contributions to Maharashtra, the nation, and the global stage. It not only chronicles his political milestones but also highlights the personal values that shaped his leadership -- values rooted in the ethos of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), instilled in him from an early age. He also recalled the legacy of service passed down from Fadnavis's father, the late Gangadharrao Fadnavis, and his aunt, Shobhatai Fadnavis. Praising the CM's governance, the Governor said Fadnavis has consistently demonstrated visionary leadership, steering Maharashtra through several transformative reforms. He cited key initiatives such as Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan, the Samruddhi Mahamarg, the Right to Services Act, and the Aaple Sarkar grievance redressal system. Highlighting his achievements in economic development, the Governor noted that under Fadnavis's leadership, Maharashtra emerged as the top destination for foreign direct investment (FDI), accounting for nearly half of India's total FDI in a single year. He also lauded infrastructure projects like the Mumbai Metro expansion, the Atal Setu sea bridge, and numerous public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives across urban and rural areas. The Governor especially praised three flagship initiatives -- the proposed Deep Sea Port at Wadhwan, the Navi Mumbai International Airport, and the transformation of Gadchiroli from a backward, Naxal-affected district to the emerging "Steel District of India". Expressing confidence in Maharashtra's future, the Governor said the state is poised to become a $3 trillion economy and achieve inclusive growth by 2047 under CM Fadnavis's leadership. Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, Ministers Girish Mahajan and Mangal Prabhat Lodha, MLAs Kalidas Kolambkar, Yogesh Sagar, and others were present at the event. New Delhi/Kohima, July 22 : Union Minister for Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday spotlighted the northeast's unmatched potential to become the driving force behind India's sustainable fashion revolution, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Fashion for Environment and Empowerment'. Participating in a high-level task force meeting focused on strengthening the handloom and handicrafts sector in the northeast, DoNER Minister also highlighted the region's deep-rooted eco-conscious practices, artisanal heritage, and world-class craftsmanship. "The northeast must leverage its rich heritage in handlooms and handicrafts to generate livelihoods, foster innovation, and position Indiaas cultural legacy on the global stage," said Union Minister Scindia. The virtual meeting was chaired by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and saw the presence of Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, Assam Handloom and Textiles Minister Urkhao Gwra Brahma, along with senior officials from Manipur and the Union governments. DoNER Minister Scindia laid out a strategic plan focused on modernising the sector through better infrastructure, digital and design integration, and skill development. Key actions include forming artisan clusters, setting up Common Facility Centres, and selecting 2a"3 flagship products across the region for national promotion. The approach emphasises market readiness by aligning Self-Help Groups with global standards, developing a bottom-up value chain and enabling local crafts to thrive at both national and international levels, an official statement said. The task force meeting focused on revitalising the Handicrafts and Handlooms ecosystem through targeted interventions such as improved market access, use of technology, capacity building, and sustainable livelihood creation. The task force aims to work collectively with all stakeholders to promote the Handicrafts and Handlooms sector as a cornerstone of sustainable development and inclusive progress in the region. Nagaland Chief Minister, after the meeting, in a post on X, thanked Union Ministers Scindia and Singh for their support to the region's progress. "I request all the states to take prompt action and adhere to the timelines of the draft document," Chief Minister Rio said. In another post on the X, he said: "Convened a meeting of the High Level Task Force on Handloom and Handicrafts in the NER. Discussions were fruitful and gave us valuable insights to take the sector forward. The ideas shared will lead to strong, practical plans to support & promote the sector across the NE states." "Had a review meeting on the action plan for Nagaland with the Hon'ble Union Minister, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia Ji. Grateful for his time, understanding, & valuable feedback. Looking forward to his continued guidance & support in ensuring that development reaches every corner of the State," the Chief Minister said in another post. The DoNER ministry had constituted several High-Level Task Forces to identify key interventions and formulate actionable short-term, medium-term, and long-term strategies for the integrated development of the North East Economic Corridor. The High-Level Task Forces were constituted following the 72nd plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) held in November last year in Agartala. Nashik, July 22 : Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate on Tuesday sparked yet another controversy, saying that the state government is a beggar and not the farmers. Kokate's statement comes after he rejected the opposition's demand for resignation in connection with his video over playing rummy during the just concluded monsoon session of the state legislature. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was in Gadchiroli, expressed serious displeasure over Kokate's remarks, saying that it is not right for a minister to make such a statement. Kokate, in the press conference earlier, said: "The government takes one rupee from the farmers. But it does not give a single rupee to the farmers. The government takes money. So who is the beggar? The government is the beggar, not the farmers. However, my statement was misinterpreted. One rupee is not a very big price. Due to this one-rupee insurance, five and a half lakh bogus applications were received in Maharashtra. This incident happened during my tenure. After that, we immediately cancelled those bogus applications and made some new announcements." Kokate had made a controversial statement a few months ago while talking about the crop insurance of farmers. He had commented, "Nowadays, even beggars do not take a single rupee. However, we gave crop insurance to farmers for one rupee. Some people misused this scheme." While clarifying his earlier comment, Kokate today said that the government is a beggar and not the farmers. However, CM Fadnavis said, "I have not heard any of his statements. But if he has made such a statement, it is wrong. It is wrong for any minister to make such a statement. Very wrong information has been spread about crop insurance." Meanwhile, the Congress party attacked Kokate, saying that by calling the government "a beggar," he has showcased extreme insensitivity. State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said, "A minister like Kokate should not be retained in office even for a minute. Then why is the Chief Minister backing him? Does Fadnavis not have the courage to sack Kokate?" Sapkal said that a video of Kokate playing online rummy in the Legislative Council has been widely circulated across media and social platforms. "Farmers are struggling, compensation for losses due to unseasonal rains has not been given, crops are not fetching fair prices, loan waivers are still pending despite being promised, and some regions are facing the crisis of re-sowing due to failed crops," he added. He said that Kokate's actions and irresponsible remarks show his utter lack of seriousness. "With such statements, he shamelessly pretends he has done nothing wrong. This is the height of brazenness, and it appears even the Chief Minister does not command any respect from Kokate. Such an insolent minister should be immediately shown the door, but since that hasn't happened, it suggests that Fadnavis is somehow helpless or constrained. Such individuals tarnish Maharashtra's image," Sapkal urged. Sapkal further said that by repeatedly making controversial statements, Kokate has discredited the dignity of his ministerial office. He said that a person like him remaining in a ministerial post is neither in the interest of the state nor the farmers. "The rate of farmer suicides in Maharashtra is alarming, and it is nothing to be proud of. Therefore, Kokate must be removed from his position without delay and sent home with a coconut (a traditional symbolic farewell)," he added. The state NCP SP women's wing chief Rohini Khadse also slammed Kokate, saying that many people sacrificed their lives to build this Maharashtra. "To lead Maharashtra on the path of development and progress, from Yashwantrao Chavan to the respected Vilasrao Deshmukh, many eminent leaders worked tirelessly day and night. How could your tongue twist to call such a 'great' state a beggar?" She further asked, "Don't you have the capability to work for Maharashtra? Your capability is only good enough for playing rummy." Photo: https://t.me/Denys_Smyhal/ Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal has held a conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Romania Liviu-Ionut Mosteanu. "We discussed the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation in the defense sector. I thanked Romania for its assistance in training Ukrainian military personnel and pilots, as well as for significant practical assistance - our country has received 22 tranches of military support since the beginning of the full-scale war," Shmyhal wrote on the Telegram channel following the conversation. He noted that during the conversation the parties touched upon the topic of developing joint production. They agreed to intensify bilateral projects in order to significantly strengthen the defense capabilities of our states, including within the framework of the European SAFE initiative. "We agreed to continue to maintain close cooperation for the sake of common security and stability in the region and to hold a personal meeting in the near future," Shmyhal summed up. Patna, July 22 : A Special CBI Court in Patna on Tuesday sentenced an accountant of India Post to rigorous imprisonment (RI) for two years with a fine of Rs 1.10 lakh for drawing salary from another government department for three years. Lohra Bhagat worked as a Senior Accountant in the Department of Post and Deputy. Chairman, Bihar State Scheduled Tribe Commission, Patna, from July 2010 and July 2013. During these three years, he drew a salary of Rs 3,41,444 from the Government of Indiaas postal department and Rs 14,87,591 and other miscellaneous expenses, like a leased vehicle of Rs 32,850 per month, from the Government of Bihar. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered the case on March 31, 2014, against Lohra Bhagat and others. The proceedings began on the basis of a complaint alleging that Lohra Bhagat, while serving as Senior Accountant in the office of the Director of Accounts, Patna, Postal Department, during the years 2010-2013, got himself appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Scheduled Tribe Commission in the Government of Bihar. He also functioned on the Bihar governmentas Scheduled Tribe panel for three years by using forged documents and assumed the name Lalit Bhagat. Therefore, he enjoyed both posts and received a salary from both departments, the CBI said. During the investigation, it was revealed that Lohra Bhagat and Lalit Bhagat are two names of the same person. The Court held that Lohra Bhagat alias Lalit Bhagat, by his above acts of omission and commission, cheated both the Government of India and the Government of Bihar and caused wrongful loss of Rs 3,41,444 and Rs 14,87,591 respectively and corresponding gains to himself. After the investigation, a charge sheet was filed by the CBI on March 31, 2015, against the accused. The Special Court found merit in the charges against the accused and sentenced him accordingly. During the investigation, the CBI also investigated the role of Bihar government functionaries who helped the postal departmentas employee get himself appointed to the Scheduled Tribe Commission using forged documents. Kolkata, July 22 : In a significant move, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has written to the West Bengal government, directing it to ensure the immediate functional independence and administrative strengthening of the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal. The letter, sent on Tuesday by ECI Under Secretary Ashutosh M. to West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, flags concerns over the lack of autonomy currently available to the CEO's office. It notes that while Agarwal has been appointed as CEO, he has also been made ex-officio Additional Chief Secretary to the state's Home and Hill Affairs (Election) Department -- a dual role the Commission sees as problematic. "The Commission has noted the lack of financial and administrative autonomy available to the CEO, West Bengal, in the current arrangement," the letter states. "The CEO's office functions with limited financial powers and relies on a minor permanent advance from the Finance Department. Moreover, the office has been categorized as a subordinate branch of the Home & Hill Affairs Department, headed by a Principal Secretary-level officer, whereas the CEO himself holds the rank of Additional Chief Secretary." In response, the ECI has issued a series of directives to the state government. Creation of a separate Election Department. The Commission has called for the establishment of an independent election department, completely delinked from any other state government department. This department should have a dedicated budget head to ensure full financial and administrative autonomy for the CEO, which the Commission deems essential for the impartial and effective conduct of elections. The ECI has recommended that the CEO, West Bengal, be vested with financial powers on par with Additional Secretary, Principal Secretary, or Secretary-level officers of other departments. It also proposed the appointment of a separate Financial Advisor in the Election Department to assist the CEO in discharging official responsibilities. The ECI has directed the state government to fill four vacant posts -- including those of Additional CEO, Joint CEO, and Deputy CEOs -- in consultation with the Commission, especially in view of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled for next year. The ECI's communication underscores the need to strengthen institutional autonomy for the fair conduct of elections in the state. Patna, July 22 : On the second day of the Bihar Legislative Assembly monsoon session, opposition parties staged strong protests wearing black clothes against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. The opposition, led by the Leader of Opposition in the Council, Rabri Devi, alleged, "The government is using SIR to tamper with the voter list. It is a conspiracy to suppress votes of backward and marginalised communities under the guise of verification," Rabri Devi said. During the protest, slogans were raised like, "Stop trying to usurp elections and SIR is an excuse; the purpose is to ban voting." MLCs of the Grand Alliance arrived at the Council wearing black clothes, holding posters and placards while raising slogans in the portico before the session began. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary countered the opposition's allegations, stating, "The Election Commission has made it clear that no citizenpoor, backward, Dalit, or generalis being removed unfairly from the voter list. So far, 98 per cent participation has been recorded in the re-verification process of 19 lakh deceased voters, 20 lakh migrated citizens and 8 lakh duplicate voters have been identified." He further said, "The SIR process will conclude on July 26, after which the draft voter list will be published, allowing all parties to file objections transparently." Samrat Chaudhary targeted the opposition's black-clothes protest, remarking, "Shani has overshadowed them; that's why they are roaming around in black." He accused the opposition of misleading the people and referenced past political statements on illegal voters to justify the verification drive, citing that "over 120 per cent Aadhaar registration in districts like Kishanganj makes investigation necessary." When questioned about speculations of CM Nitish Kumar being considered for Vice President, Samrat Chaudhary remarked, "It is up to the BJP and NDA leadership, and they will decide." The monsoon session is politically crucial, with the government aiming to pass key bills before the upcoming elections. The opposition is aggressively targeting the government on law and order, voter list revision, and unemployment during this five-day session. New Delhi, July 22 : In a development that has left political observers perplexed, a section of national and state leaders from certain political parties in Bihar is reportedly pushing for the inclusion of deceased, permanently shifted, duplicate, and untraceable voters in the draft electoral rolls-despite data emerging from the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) suggesting their ineligibility. New Delhi, July 22 (IANS) In a development that has left political observers perplexed, a section of national and state leaders from certain political parties in Bihar is reportedly pushing for the inclusion of deceased, permanently shifted, duplicate, and untraceable voters in the draft electoral rollsdespite data emerging from the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) suggesting their ineligibility. According to official figures as of July 21 shared by Election Commission, the SIR exercise has found over 52.3 lakh electors not present at their registered addresses across the state. Of these, nearly 18.5 lakh were confirmed to be deceased, 26 lakh had permanently shifted, and around 7.5 lakh were found enrolled at multiple places. An additional 11,000 voters could not be traced at all. Yet, some political figures have questioned the removal of these names from the electoral rolls, a move that experts and political analysts view with concern. According to sources, the entire purpose of a Special Intensive Revision is to clean up the electoral rolls and ensure only eligible citizens are listed. How can any party justify retaining names of people who are dead or have permanently relocated? they ask. Political analysts believe this unusual demand could have deeper political motivations. Many say that there's clearly an attempt by some quarters to delay or discredit the revision process. If the parties' own Booth Level Agents (BLAs) have confirmed the absence of these voters, and shared lists with the Election Commission, how can their leadership now seek to reinclude these names? It's contradictory and raises questions about intent. Over 1.5 lakh BLAs appointed by the 12 major political parties have been involved in the verification process. According to officials, these agents have shown "remarkable cooperation" in the house-to-house verification efforts led by Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Instead of standing behind the field-level workersmany of whom belong to their own partysome leaders are undermining the process, a source remarked. This isn't just obstruction; it looks like a deliberate attempt to politicise a technical, citizen-focused exercise, sources said. Observers say if party leaders believe genuine voters have been mistakenly deleted, they must present specific cases rather than calling for blanket inclusion of ineligible categories. Otherwise, it will seem they have something to gain from keeping ghost voters in the system. With the SIR process still ongoing, the Election Commission has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that no eligible voter is left outand no ineligible name is retained. Patna, July 22 : While leaders of all opposition parties, including former Chief Minister Rabri Devi and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, reached the Bihar Assembly on Tuesday wearing black clothes as part of their protest against the voter list revision, Hasanpur MLA Tej Pratap Yadav arrived in his usual white khadi attire. Tej Pratap marked his attendance, spoke briefly to the media, and then left for his residence without participating in the House proceedings. When questioned by the media on why he did not wear black like other opposition MLAs, Tej Pratap replied, "We have not come today in black kurta; we have been living like this since the beginning. Simple living, high thinking." He added humorously, "We wear a black kurta on Saturday. Saturn planet is on me, right that is why I wear a black kurta on Saturday." Responding to questions about his absence during the ongoing session, Tej Pratap said, "I am coming to the House and marking my attendance," adding that his voice "is getting louder whether inside or outside." When asked about his election plans, Tej Pratap stated that the details would be revealed later. On being questioned about his participation in the opposition's protest, he affirmed, "The protest is going on; we are involved in it." Regarding BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul's suggestion that Nitish Kumar should become Vice President, Tej Pratap said, "What he should become and what not, only they will know." On the uproar in the Assembly over the voter list revision, he remarked, "The government is not addressing the issues like SIR and rampant crime; hence, the uproar." On the second day of the Bihar Legislative Assembly's monsoon session, opposition MLAs created a ruckus demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, forcing repeated adjournments. The opposition MLAs entered the well of the House, picked up a chair in front of the Speaker and raised slogans demanding a debate on voter list revision. Following the incident, Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav strictly warned the MLAs to maintain order in the House. Chennai, July 22 : The Madras High Court on Tuesday questioned the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) over its delay in summoning suspended Additional Director-General of Police (ADGP) H.M. Jayaram in connection with an alleged kidnapping case. Justice G. Jayachandran raised the query while hearing the bail pleas of three accused - V. Vanaraja, P. Manikandan, and M. Ganesan - who were arrested by the Tiruvalangadu police in Tiruvallur district and remanded to judicial custody on June 9. During the hearing, Additional Advocate General (AAG) J. Ravindran, assisted by Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) R. Muniyapparaj, informed the court that the CB-CID, which took over the investigation, had summoned the suspended ADGP for questioning on July 24. The AAG assured the court that the probe was progressing in the right direction. Recording the submission, Justice Jayachandran directed the current investigating officer to produce the case diary for the courtas perusal. The judge stated that orders on the bail applications would be passed after examining the records and assessing the progress of the investigation. The high-profile case took a dramatic turn on June 16, when APP A. Damodaran made a shocking disclosure before Justice P. Velmurugan, revealing the suspected involvement of the senior IPS officer and Kilvaithinakuppam (Reserved) MLA aPoovaia M. Jagan Moorthy of the Puratchi Bharatham party. According to the prosecution, the case stemmed from an inter-caste marriage between a young man from Tiruvallur and a woman from Theni in May 2025. Unhappy with the union, the womanas father, Vanaraja, allegedly sought the help of the MLA and the ADGP, through intermediaries, to locate the groom. On June 7, a gang reportedly broke into the groomas residence at Kalambakkam village in Tiruvallur. Finding the groom absent, they abducted his 18-year-old younger brother, who was asleep on the terrace. Their mother promptly filed a police complaint. During the ensuing investigation, APP Damodaran claimed that the abducted teenager was shifted to the ADGPas official vehicle to bypass police checks and was later released at a local bus stand. Following these revelations, the Supreme Court transferred the investigation to the CB-CID. The case has since attracted significant public attention, given the alleged involvement of senior officials and an elected representative. --IANS aal/dan Nashik, July 22 : Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate on Tuesday announced that the implementation of a new scheme titled Krishi Samruddhi Yojana, with the main objective of increasing farm income and bringing real prosperity to the lives of farmers by encouraging climate-friendly, sustainable and cost-effective agriculture while empowering farmers. On the birthdays of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, he said that this is a gift for farmers across the state to promote prosperity in agriculture. The government has issued a government resolution in this regard at a time when the farmers are reeling under financial stress due to the damage caused by unseasonal rains and also amid market volatility. "Farmers in Maharashtra are an important component of the state's rural economy. A new scheme has been announced by the Agriculture Department to provide financial assistance to encourage capital investment in the state's agricultural sector. The Cabinet has approved a total provision of Rs 5,000 crore per year for the next 5 years, starting from 2025-26 (Rs 25,000 crore in the next five years) to provide funds for the Krishi Samruddhi Yojana," said Kokate. Kokate explained that the main objective of the Krishi Samruddhi Yojana is to increase capital investment in the agricultural sector and create infrastructure, reduce production costs, increase productivity, diversify crops, strengthen the value chain, and increase farmers' income by promoting climate-friendly and sustainable agriculture. He expressed that the Krishi Samruddhi Yojana implemented by the Agriculture Department will bring true prosperity to the lives of my farmer brothers and sisters. Kokate's announcement comes amid raging controversy over the video that went viral about him playing rummy in the state council during the just-concluded monsoon session of the state legislature. Despite a chorus for his resignation from the opposition and farmers' organisations, the Agriculture Minister has refused to step down. Instead, he has sought an investigation into the allegations levelled against him, saying that if found guilty, he will resign. He also stoked a new controversy on Tuesday when he said that the government is a "beggar and not the farmers." The Chief Minister has expressed his displeasure over Kokate's clarification that he was not playing rummy, saying that the agriculture minister made a mistake and dismissed his clarification. "When a serious discussion was ongoing in the State Assembly, it is unacceptable that the minister was caught playing Junglee Rummy. We have to acknowledge that Kokate has done wrong. Ministers or MLAs should be seen reading papers and documents in the House. A minister playing online rummy during a session is not acceptable to us, and his clarification is also not convincing," he said. Ranchi, July 22 : In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Jharkhand government has appointed 126 specialist doctors under the National Health Mission (NHM) through a bidding-based selection process, allowing them to choose their preferred posting based on the lowest quoted honorarium. At a function held at the IPH Auditorium in Namkum, Ranchi on Tuesday, Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari handed over appointment and posting letters to the selected doctors. Under this innovative system, doctors were presented with a list of available health centres across the state. They were then allowed to select their preferred posting, with priority given to those quoting the lowest honorarium for their choice of location. Congratulating the newly appointed specialists, Dr Ansari said, "Our dream is to make every district of Jharkhand a Medicos City. We want every citizen to receive quality healthcare in their own district. These doctors are not just receiving appointments -- they are being entrusted with responsibility. From now on, each of them is the 'Health Minister' of their hospital." Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Kumar Singh, who was also present, emphasised that the appointments are part of a broader mission to improve healthcare access across Jharkhand. "This is more than a job -- it's a mission to bring specialist care to every corner of the state. Sadar Hospital in Ranchi is already emerging as a national model, and the Uttar Pradesh government has asked us to present our innovation," he said. The appointments include 22 pediatricians, 20 surgeons, 19 gynecologists, 17 anesthetists, 11 general physicians, 10 orthopedic surgeons, 9 ophthalmologists, 5 ENT specialists, 5 psychiatrists, 4 radiologists, and 4 dermatologists. Although the health department had initiated the process to appoint 219 doctors, only 126 applied and completed the procedure. The remaining 93 positions remain vacant. As per the terms, the selected doctors must reside in government-provided accommodation and are prohibited from engaging in private practice. The government believes that this approach will incentivize doctors to serve in rural and remote regions while improving the overall reach and quality of healthcare services. Plans are underway to extend this model to future appointments. Notably, Jharkhand faces a severe shortage of doctors. Against a requirement of 37,000 doctors (based on population), only 7,500 are currently available. The scarcity is even more acute among specialists -- just 300 are serving against 1,200 sanctioned posts. Ranchi, July 22 : The CBI arrested a Sub-Post Master in Jharkhand for taking a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a commission agent who attracted investors to small savings schemes of the postal department, an official said on Tuesday. The complainant investment agent had got deposits worth lakhs of rupees, and the postal official wanted him to share the commission earned against them, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official said on Tuesday. The Sub-Post Master at Manoharpur, District West Singhbhum, was caught red-handed by the CBI while demanding and accepting the first instalment of a bribe amounting to Rs 20,000. The CBI registered the case on July 21 against the accused Sub Post Master on receipt of a complaint alleging that the accused demanded a bribe of Rs 1,18,000 (20 per cent of Recurring Deposit commission and 75 per cent of Standardised Agency System (SAS) commission) from the complainant. After negotiation, the accused agreed to accept an undue advantage of Rs 20,000 as the first instalment of the bribe amount. The CBI shared information about the case on a day when another postal department employee in Patna was sentenced to two yearsa imprisonment for wrongdoings. A Special CBI Court in Patna on Tuesday sentenced Lohra Bhagat, an accountant of India Post, to rigorous imprisonment (RI) for two years with a fine of Rs 1.10 lakh for drawing salary from another government department for three years. Lohra Bhagat worked as a Senior Accountant in the Department of Post and Deputy. Chairman, Bihar State Scheduled Tribe Commission, Patna, from July 2010 and July 2013. During these three years, he drew a salary of Rs 3,41,444 from the Government of Indiaas postal department and Rs 14,87,591 and other miscellaneous expenses, like a leased vehicle of Rs 32,850 per month, from the Government of Bihar. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered the case on March 31, 2014, against Lohra Bhagat and others. Jakarta, July 22 : The Indonesian government has taken stern legal action against those allegedly responsible for forest fires, aiming to create a deterrent effect and strengthen preventative measures, a top official said in a statement issued on Tuesday. Head of the National Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Suharyanto revealed that a total of 16 individuals have been named as suspects for allegedly setting forest fires. "The law enforcement task force has already been in action, and 16 people have been named as suspects," he said in the statement. Suharyanto issued the remarks after conducting an aerial inspection of Riau Province, noting that all districts and cities across the region had experienced forest and land fires as of July 20, Xinhua news agency reported. The BNPB chief emphasised that efforts to curb forest fires are being carried out in tandem with firm legal enforcement. "In addition to extinguishing the fires, law enforcement operations are also being conducted so that everything is aligned and integrated," Suharyanto said. He underscored that any indications of deliberate land burning are being processed according to applicable laws. Meanwhile, Solok and Limapuluh Kota Regencies in Indonesia's West Sumatra province declared an emergency status for forest and land fires, following a surge in hotspots during the ongoing dry season, according to Ilham Wahab, an official from the West Sumatra Provincial Disaster Management Agency, on Tuesday. "In Solok Regency alone, forest and land fires have occurred in all 14 districts," said Ilham. He noted that water bombing operations using helicopters have not yet been deployed, as the National Disaster Management Agency is currently prioritising firefighting efforts in Riau and South Sumatra provinces, where the situation is considered more critical. Rahmadinol, head of the Limapuluh Kota Regency Disaster Management Agency, explained that challenging terrain and limited equipment have hindered firefighting efforts. "Most of the fire locations in Limapuluh Kota have slopes of 70-90 degrees, which makes firefighting efforts very challenging," Rahmadinol said. According to the West Sumatra Forestry Service, at least 64 forest and land fire incidents have been recorded across nine regencies and cities from early 2025 to July 19, affecting a total area of 140.87 hectares. Photo: https://t.me/DIUkraine/ Head of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (GUR) Kyrylo Budanov announced plans for the Russian Federation to spend about $1.1 trillion on rearmament by 2036, which should become the largest weapons program since the collapse of the USSR, the department's Telegram channel reported on Tuesday. "There is a total mobilization of the politics, economy and society of the Russian Federation in readiness for a future large-scale war," Budanov said at a panel discussion during the annual meeting of Ukrainian ambassadors dubbed "Intelligence, Security, Diplomacy: A Common Strategy for Victory." According to him, within the framework of military reform in the Russian Federation, two new military districts have already been created, and the formation of new divisions, formations and military units is also planned. "Russia is seeking to destroy the current security and economic order. To do this, Moscow is increasing its presence in Africa, primarily using its proxy forces: the Wagner PMC and the Afrika Korps, and also supporting authoritarian regimes and terrorist organizations around the world," Budanov said. The Russians are also trying to carry out hybrid information and cyber operations on the territory of other states, and through controlled media and opinion leaders they are interfering in the civilized democratic process, he noted. "Moscow is pursuing the goal of imposing on countries its own vision of the future structure of the world, where large states, primarily the Russian Federation, have full power, a monopoly on all critical resources, and decide the fate of the world in a closed circle," the head of the GUR emphasized. During the event, Budanov thanked the Ukrainian diplomatic corps for their high-quality work in organizing international support for Ukraine, as well as for their effective interaction with the Main Intelligence Agency, in particular during joint operations to evacuate Ukrainian citizens from danger zones. New Delhi, July 22 : In a major crackdown, the Cyber Police Station of North District, Delhi, has busted an interstate gang of cyber cheats that duped victims through fake investment schemes on social media. Seven individuals have been arrested from different parts of Uttar Pradesh in connection with the case. The gang targeted victims via Instagram and Telegram, promising "100 per cent guaranteed" returns on investments. A Delhi woman from Farashkhana fell prey to the scam and transferred Rs 1.23 lakh across multiple bank accounts under the guise of account verification, GST charges, and corrections. Realising she had been duped, she filed a complaint, prompting an investigation. A special team led by SI Tasveer Mathur and supervised by Insp. Rohit Gahlot and ACP Hemant Mishra tracked the money trail to mule accounts. The first arrest, Anshuman Nath (23), a B.Tech student from Ghaziabad, led to the unravelling of the racket. He had handed over his Kotak Bank account to Dhruv Aggarwal (21), a middleman from Kasganj, for a commission. Further investigation and raids in Ghaziabad and Kasganj led to the arrest of the main handler, Yatharth Bansal (22), and his associates - Gaurav Verma (22), Adesh Kumar (24), Rahul alias Hardev (23), and Kuldeep (22) - all of whom operated as "cash mules" withdrawing money using multiple ATM cards and delivering it to Yatharth. "The accused persons operated a structured cyber fraud network wherein mule accounts were opened or arranged by individuals like Anshuman Nath, who handed over these accounts to middlemen such as Dhruv Aggarwal. These accounts were used to receive scammed money from victims defrauded through online platforms like Telegram and Instagram," said DCP Raja Banthia. Recovered from the accused were Rs 1.39 lakh in cash, 11 mobile phones, 17 SIM cards, 9 ATM cards, and one SBI passbook. The gang used encrypted apps, fake identities, and multiple SIMs to evade detection. Police confirmed that all arrested individuals have confessed to their roles. Investigations are ongoing to trace more mule accounts and potential victims. Kabul, July 22 : Afghan national army has thwarted attempts to smuggle drugs and detained three alleged drug smugglers in the southern Afghanistan Helmand province, said an army spokesman in the region, Jawed Agha, on Tuesday. The contraband, which included 730 kg of opium poppy and was placed in the cavities of a vehicle, was identified and confiscated by the army personnel, the official added. They have also discovered two assault rifles and two satellite phones from the possession of the arrested and handed them to concerned bodies for further investigation, the official said. In a similar incident, police set on fire more than half a tonne of illegal drugs in the southern Afghanistan Kandahar province on Sunday. 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. Afghan security forces dismantled two drug processing labs and discovered more than 580 kg of illicit drugs in western Afghanistan's Farah province on Sunday, 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. New Delhi, July 22 : India on Tuesday said that it will continue to share its concerns with the UK government about the presence of Khalistani extremists in the United Kingdom as well as carry on making diplomatic efforts for the extradition of fugitive criminals. "The issue of the presence of Khalistani extremists and bodies close to these people is again something that we have brought to the attention of our partners in the UK. We will continue to do so. This is a matter of concern not only to us, but should be a matter of concern to our partners as well because this impacts social cohesion and social order in these other countries as well," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said during a special media briefing ahead of PM Modi's visit to the United Kingdom, beginning Wednesday. Earlier this year, Khalistani goons created ruckus outside the Chatham House in London where External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was attending an event. A video from the event, showing a protester running towards the EAM's vehicle as he was leaving the venue, also went viral on social media highlighting the security breach. This was not the first time that anti-India, radical elements had organised demonstrations, attacks, as well as arson in London. In March 2023, New Delhi had lodged a strong protest with the UK government after Khalistan elements created ruckus at the Indian High Commission in London. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had demanded an explanation from the British authorities for the complete absence of the British security that allowed the Khalistani goons to enter the High Commission premises. During Tuesday's media briefing on PM Modi's two-nation visit, Foreign Secretary Misri also said that India has continued to "make the case" for the extradition of fugitive criminals and it continues to follow it up very closely with the partners in London. "There have been a few questions related to fugitives related to Indian law and Indian justice, in the UK. These have been a matter of discussion between both sides and we have continued to make the case for these fugitives to be rendered to India. There is a legal process that such requests and such issues go through in the other country and we continue to follow up very closely with our partners in the UK on these matters," he said. This will be Prime Minister Modi's fourth visit to the UK. During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will hold wide ranging discussions with UK PM Keir Starmer on the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations, including exchanging views on issues of regional and global importance. Prime Minister Modi will also call on King Charles III. During the PM's London 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. New Delhi, July 22 : Cybercrime in India has seen a steep rise of over 140 per cent in the past five years, with cases more than doubling between 2018 and 2022, the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Tuesday. According to the latest report published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the number of cybercrime cases registered in 2018 was 27,248. This figure rose sharply to 65,893 in 2022, Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar said in response to a question in the Lok Sabha. These crimes include offences carried out using communication devices such as mobile phones, computers, and internet networks. However, the NCRB clarified that specific data related to complaints lodged by elderly citizens is not maintained separately. The Ministry of Home Affairs has stated that 'Police' and 'Public Order' fall under the responsibility of State Governments as per the Constitution. Therefore, the prevention and investigation of cyber crimes lie primarily with the States and Union Territories. However, the Central Government supports their efforts through advisories and funding under different schemes aimed at enhancing the capacity of local law enforcement agencies. To strengthen India's response to cybercrime, the Central Government has taken several steps. These include setting up the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), launching the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (https://cybercrime.gov.in), and starting the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) in 2021. According to the Ministry, over Rs 5,489 crore has been saved through timely intervention in more than 17.82 lakh financial fraud complaints reported under CFCFRMS. To further help citizens, a 24x7 helpline number '1930' has also been operationalised. In addition, the government has blocked more than 9.42 lakh SIM cards and over 2.6 lakh mobile IMEIs involved in cybercrimes. Awareness campaigns have also been a major part of the government's strategy, the Minister of State explained. From caller tunes in multiple languages warning against digital scams to ads in Metros, newspapers, and cinema halls, various channels have been used to educate the public. "Even the Prime Minister spoke about the dangers of 'digital arrests' in his 'Mann Ki Baat' address on October 27, 2024," MoS Kumar stated. The Government has also involved social media influencers, Prasar Bharati, and events like Raahgiri and IPL to spread awareness. Campaigns have reached schools, railway stations, and even religious events like Kumbh Mela 2025. New Delhi, July 22 : Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has been slapped with a Rs 258.67 crore penalty by the GST and Central Excise authorities for allegedly underpaying compensation cess on certain SUV models between September 2017 and March 2020, the carmaker confirmed on Tuesday. The same amount -- Rs 258.67 crore -- has also been confirmed as the cess shortfall, taking the total tax demand to over Rs 517 crore, Hyundai India said in its stock exchange filing. "The company has received an order from Commissioner (Appeals), CGST Dept, Tamil Nadu, confirming GST compensation cess demand of Rs 258.67 crore along with penalty of Rs 258.67 crore on the allegation of short payment of GST compensation cess on certain SUV models for the period September 2017 - March 2020," HMIL said. The company stated that the Office of the Commissioner (Appeals - II) of the CGST Department in Tamil Nadu issued the order on July 21. "However, HMIL did not mention which SUV models were involved in the case," the company said in its regulatory filing. Despite the large tax demand, Hyundai India clarified that there would be no impact on its financial, operational, or other business activities due to this order. The company also confirmed that it is currently reviewing the order and plans to appeal the decision. "There is no impact on financial, operational or other activities of the company due to this order. The company is reviewing the order and will exercise its right to file an appeal," it added. A Hyundai spokesperson said that the company believes recent amendments and clarifications issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) support the company's position. "We are in the process of reviewing the order and will seek a legal remedy through an appropriate forum," the spokesperson added. At present, HMIL sells several SUV models in India, including the Exter, Venue, Creta, Alcazar, Tucson, Creta Electric, and Ioniq 5. The penalty order relates to past sales and is not expected to affect current or future vehicle offerings. New Delhi, July 22 : Highlighting the US decision to officially designate The Resistance Front (TRF) - a proxy of the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) - as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United Kingdom starting Wednesday will also give India an opportunity to share views regarding issues like cross-border terrorism and the need to respond to such challenges in a resolute manner. The TRF has been involved in numerous terror-related activities, including the heinous attack on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 this year for which it twice claimed responsibility. "On the TRF role in Pahalgam, you are aware of recent developments also in that regard. The United States State Department has recently designated the TRF as a foreign terrorist organisation and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. I am sure our UK colleagues are updated on this development, but this will give us the opportunity to share further views on issues such as cross-border terrorism and the need to respond in resolute fashion to such challenges," said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during a special media briefing in New Delhi ahead of PM Modi's two-nation visit. Last week, while announcing the TRF's listing as a terrorist outfit, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the action "demonstrates the Trump Administrationas commitment to protecting our national security interests, countering terrorism, and enforcing President Trumpas call for justice for the Pahalgam attack". "TRF, a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians. This was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks conducted by LeT," he said. India had welcomed Washington's decision, calling it a "timely and important step" reflecting the deep cooperation between India and the United States on counter-terrorism. In a post on X, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar wrote, "A strong affirmation of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation. Appreciate Secretary Rubio and the US State Department for designating TRF a" a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) proxy a" as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). It claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Zero tolerance for Terrorism". The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that India has consistently emphasised the need for global cooperation in the fight against terrorism and the dismantling of terror infrastructure. Expressing commitment to zero-tolerance towards terrorism, New Delhi has also vowed to continue to work closely with its international partners to ensure that terrorist organisations and their proxies are held accountable. Amaravati, July 22 : A Special Court for SC/ST cases in Rajamahendravaram town of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday allowed further investigation into the 2022 murder of a Dalit youth by YSRCP MLC Ananta Uday Bhaskar. The court directed that the supplementary charge sheet in the case should be filed in 90 days. The court order has cleared the way for re-investigation of the case ordered by the TDP-led NDA government. YSRCP leader and Kakinada MLC Ananta Uday Bhaskar, also known as Ananta Babu, had allegedly murdered his former driver Veedhi Subrahmanyam, a Dalit, and dumped his body at his residence in 2022. Ananta Babu had pushed the deceased during an argument, resulting in his fall and death on the night of May 19, 2022. The MLC also allegedly inflicted injuries on Subrahmanyamas body to present it as a death in a road accident. However, the driveras family refused to believe his version and lodged a complaint with the police. The MLC was arrested, and the YSRCP had subsequently suspended him from the party. The MLC had told police that Subrahmanyam was in an inebriated condition, and he pulled him up for not giving up bad habits. This angered the driver, who questioned him. Enraged over this, the MLC held him by the neck and pushed. Subrahmanyam fell down and sustained head injuries. When the driver tried to hit back, the MLC pushed him again, and this time, the driver received a grievous head injury. The MLC told police that he gave water to Subrahmanyam, but a few minutes after taking a sip, he was unresponsive. The legislator then thought of showing the incident as a road accident. He carried the body in the car to a dumping yard, where he inflicted injuries on the body with sticks. The MLC later carried the body to Subrahmanyamas house and told his family members that he died in a road accident. After seeing the nature of injuries on the body, they refused to believe his version. There was an argument between them, and the MLC subsequently left the place, leaving behind the body in his car. As the investigation officer failed to submit the charge sheet within 90 days, Ananta Babu was released on default bail in December 2022. After the TDP-led coalition government came to power last year, it decided to re-investigate the case. In April this year, the government ordered re-investigation. Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and Kakinada DSP Manish Devraj Patil was appointed as the investigation officer. The investigating officer was asked to take the courtas permission. New Delhi, July 22 : On the auspicious occasion of the holy month of Sawan, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta extended a grand welcome to Kanwar pilgrims at the Shyamgiri Baba Temple Kanwar Camp in Shastri Park on Tuesday. Showering flower petals on the devotees, the Chief Minister reaffirmed the Delhi governmentas role not as an organiser, but as a humble servant of the devotees. She stated that serving Lord Shivaas followers is both a responsibility and a blessing for the administration. In addition to the ceremonial welcome, the Chief Minister conducted a thorough inspection of the Kanwar Yatra route, reviewing security arrangements and directing officials to ensure the entire path remains safe and well-managed. She was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra, local MLAs, councillors, and senior officials of the local administration. Speaking on the occasion, CM Gupta emphasised that the Kanwar Yatra is more than a religious procession; it is a living celebration of Indian culture, heritage, and collective faith. She highlighted that the Delhi Government has undertaken unprecedented preparations this year to make the Yatra safer, more orderly, and comfortable for all devotees. Key arrangements, including permissions, electricity, drinking water, sanitation, mobile toilets, waste management, and security, were streamlined through a single-window clearance system. On Tuesday, social organisations, volunteers, and dedicated committees were praised by the Chief Minister for their tireless efforts, coordinated teamwork, and selfless dedication. In a major administrative step, the government disbursed advance funds to all registered Kanwar committees via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), ensuring the timely implementation of logistical arrangements. Essential services like power supply, water tankers, lighting, and hygiene facilities were directly managed and monitored by government agencies. The Chief Minister noted that the government has set a new benchmark by completing the entire permissions process within 72 hours, reflecting its commitment to efficiency and responsiveness. She appreciated the efforts of Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra, Divisional Commissioner Neeraj Semwal, District Magistrates, and other officials for their exemplary coordination. Reiterating the governmentas role, CM Gupta said that this year, the administration functioned at every level as a volunteer, not as a formal organiser. With the help of religious organisations, arrangements such as shelters, rest areas, health services, and refreshments were set up in various parts of Delhi, showcasing a unique blend of faith and public service. She extended her best wishes to all devotees for the upcoming Shivratri and future Kanwar Yatras, assuring that the Delhi government will remain committed to upholding tradition, public faith, and inclusive service in the years ahead. Speaking on the occasion, Mishra echoed the sentiments of the Chief Minister, stating that the Kanwar Yatra is not just a religious event, but a celebration of Indiaas cultural and spiritual heritage. He lauded CM Guptaas leadership, under which the Kanwar Yatra has emerged as a shining example of devotion, service, and respectful governance in Delhi. Imphal, July 22 : In a fratricide incident, at least five cadres of a militant group were killed in a fierce gun battle in Manipur's Noney district on Tuesday, officials said. Imphal, July 22 (IANS) In a fratricide incident, at least five cadres of a militant group were killed in a fierce gun battle in Manipuras Noney district on Tuesday, officials said. A senior official in Imphal said that in an intra-group fight of a militant outfit, at least five militants were killed at Daveijang jungle areas near Longpi village in Noney district of western Manipur. Preliminary information said that the gun battle took place among the cadres of the Chin Kuki Mizo Army (CKMA), which has not signed any Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the government. The mountainous area is a very remote area and hardly any communication is there, the official said, adding that further details are awaited. A police team is on the way to the area. The CKMA outfit is a newly formed militant group, the official said, adding that the motive for the gunfight seems to be a leadership issue. Meanwhile, in a similar incident on June 30, unidentified gunmen killed four people, including an elderly woman, in an ambush in Churachandpur district. According to police, a Hyundai Creta car was ambushed at Mongjang village in Churachandpur district, leading to the death of those inside the vehicle. The three men were gunned down on the spot inside the car, while a 72-year-old elderly woman, who was passing the area, was hit by a bullet fired by the gunmen. She succumbed to her injuries on the way to the Churachandpur district hospital. The deceased, whose bodies have been deposited at Churachandpur hospital morgue, were identified as Phalhing (72), Thenkhothang alias Thahpi (48), Seikhogin (35) and Lengouhao (35). Outlawed militant outfit United Kuki National Army (UKNA) had claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed the members of another armed Kuki group that signed the SoO agreement with the government in 2008. Sources said that the three men victims belonged to the Kuki National Army (KNA) outfit. The incident resulted in a factional feud among the militant outfits of the Kuki community, the sources had said. Moscow, July 22 : Russia has significantly expanded its entry ban list mainly targetting European officials, in response to the European Union's recent 17th and 18th package of sanctions against the country, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. The Council of the European Union approved the 17th and 18th packages of sanctions on Russia on May 20 and July 18, respectively, over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "In response to these unfriendly actions, Russia has significantly expanded the list of officials from European institutions, EU member states and a number of European countries that follow Brussels' anti-Russian policy, who are banned from entering Russia based on the Federal Law 114-FZ 'On the Procedure of Exiting and Entering the Russian Federation' from August 15, 1996," read the statement. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, those include citizens of EU member states and some other Western countries, who work for security and government agencies and commercial organisations and are responsible for providing military aid to Kyiv, participate in the delivery of dual-use products to Ukraine, engage in efforts aimed at undermining the territorial integrity of our country and block the movement of Russian vessels and cargoes in the Baltic Sea. It further specified that the blacklist also includes officials in EU institutions and the government agencies of EU countries and other European nations who are involved in the persecution of Russian officials for the alleged "illegal arrests" and removal of people from Ukrainian territories. Additionally the ban was extended to those who are working to create "a tribunal" against the Russian leadership, call for the seizure of Russian state assets and the use of profits from them to the benefit of the Kyiv regime; those behind sanctions on Russia who seek to harm Russia's relations with other countries; civil society activists and members of the academic community who are particularly known for their anti-Russian rhetoric; the lawmakers from EU countries and members of the European Parliament that voted for anti-Russian resolutions and bills, said the Russian Foreign Ministry. Furthermore, the Ministry asserted that "hostile anti-Russian actions cannot influence" Moscowas policy. "Russia will continue to pursue a policy aimed at defending its national interests and a new, equitable world order," the statement emphasised. It also stressed that afurther sanctions-related decisions by the European Union will also be met with a timely and appropriate response". The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the imposition of sanctions made it evident that "the European Union continues to pile up unilateral restrictions on Russia, which are illegal in terms of international law and undermine the prerogatives of the UN Security Council". The EU's 18th package of sanctions on Russia blacklisted over 50 individuals and entities. The sanctions affected 22 Russian banks, the Nord Stream gas pipelines, and the Russian Rosneft companyas oil refinery in India. The price cap for Russian oil was reduced from $60 to $47.60 per barrel, while the EU imposed a ban on the import of petroleum products made of Russian oil. The public organization Transparency International Ukraine calls on the Verkhovna Rada not to adopt bill No. 12414 "On amendments to the criminal procedure code of Ukraine regarding the peculiarities of pretrial investigation of criminal offenses related to the disappearance of persons missing in special circumstances under martial law", since it could destroy key guarantees of the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). "In particular, the amendments to the bill grant the prosecutor general the following powers: to take cases away from NABU and assign investigations to other bodies; to be the de facto head of the SAPO and delegate the powers of the SAPO prosecutor to other prosecutors; to provide NABU detectives with mandatory written instructions; to independently close cases on suspicion of top officials," the message posted on the Telegram channel states. It is noted that the procedural autonomy of the SAPO is also significantly limited, since SAPO prosecutors will be deprived of the opportunity to determine the jurisdiction of NABU in exceptional cases, the head of the SAPO will not be able to resolve disputes about jurisdiction in cases that can be investigated by NABU, and the head of the SAPO will not have the authority to change appeals and cassation complaints filed by SAPO prosecutors. "The deputies are also seriously violating Article 116 of the Verkhovna Rada Rules of Procedure, since they are radically changing the subject of regulation of draft law 12414. It is these destructive changes that are currently not publicly available. But Transparency International Ukraine has received confirmation from a number of sources that the vote is planned for today," the report notes. "This poses a direct threat to the independence of NABU, one of the key anti-corruption bodies created with the support of international partners as an institution protected from political influence. We call on MPs not to support such legislative changes and not to cancel the results of the reforms that we have all consistently achieved since 2014," the NGO urged. Aizawl, July 22 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Tuesday highlighted that 60 per cent of the national workforce engaged in the handloom and handicraft sector is based in the Northeastern states, reflecting the region's immense contribution and potential in this field. Aizawl, July 22 (IANS) Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Tuesday highlighted that 60 per cent of the national workforce engaged in the handloom and handicraft sector is based in the Northeastern states, reflecting the regionas immense contribution and potential in this field. Participating in a high-level task force virtual meeting on strengthening the handloom and handicrafts sector in the northeast, the Chief Minister emphasised that this sector, deeply rooted in traditional skills and local identity, can be a powerful driver of economic growth for the region. To harness its full potential, Lalduhoma proposed the creation of a clear and actionable roadmap. Key suggestions included establishing Common Facility Centres, providing structured training for artisans, developing inter-state collaboration and networking, standardising product quality and branding, and encouraging innovation in skill development and design. Mizoram Chief Minister expressed confidence that, with coordinated efforts and appropriate investment, the Northeast could be transformed into a vibrant and globally recognised textile hub. He was accompanied by Mizoram Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena, Commissioner and Secretary to the Chief Minister Vanlaldina Fanai, Commissioner and Secretary, Commerce and Industries Department Lalzirmawia Chhangte and officials from the Planning Department. The virtual meeting of the High Level Task Force on Handloom and Handicraft, constituted by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), was held under the chairmanship of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, Assam Handloom and Textiles Minister Urkhao Gwra Brahma, along with senior officials from Manipur and the Union government, participated in the virtual meeting. Participating in the discussion, DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia spotlighted the northeast's unmatched potential to become the driving force behind India's sustainable fashion revolution, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Fashion for Environment and Empowerment'. He also highlighted the region's deep-rooted eco-conscious practices, artisanal heritage, and world-class craftsmanship. "The northeast must leverage its rich heritage in handlooms and handicrafts to generate livelihoods, foster innovation, and position Indiaas cultural legacy on the global stage," said Union Minister Scindia. Several High Level Task Forces were constituted by the Ministry of DoNER to identify key interventions and formulate actionable short-term, medium-term, and long-term strategies for the integrated development of the North East Economic Corridor. The high-level Task Forces were constituted following the 72nd plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) held in November last year in Agartala, Tripura. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is the chairman of the NEC, chaired the NEC plenary session. --IANS sc/dan Kolkata, July 22 : A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed before a division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday seeking implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in West Bengal. The division bench of Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Smita Das De admitted the public interest litigation filed by one individual, Paramita De. The matter will come up for hearing on July 29. The court also directed the state government to inform the court on whether any other similar petition on the same subject had been filed or not, and if yes, the current status of those other petitions. In the petition, the petitioner claimed that illegal infiltrators were entering West Bengal from different neighbouring nations. She claimed that the special alarming factor was the entry of Rohingya infiltrators in West Bengal. According to her, this rampant illegal infiltration was affecting the law and order situation in West Bengal, and the safety and security of the women and children were especially at stake. The petitioner also claimed that because of the imminent security threats in West Bengal due to the rampant illegal infiltration, there was a necessity for the immediate implementation of the NRC in the state. In the recent past, both West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee claimed that the Union Government and the BJP were indirectly trying to push the NRC in West Bengal. They claimed that the proposed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list by the Election Commission of India (ECI) was actually a clandestine attempt to push NRC in West Bengal. Both were vocal on this issue at Trinamool Congressas annual Martyrsa Day rally in Kolkata on Monday. They also vowed to oppose the Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal at any cost. The Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls is expected to start in West Bengal by the first week of August. New Delhi, July 22 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a supplementary chargesheet against Firoz Khan, a key accused in the 2022 Chittorgarh explosives recovery case. This is being viewed as a major breakthrough in the ongoing probe into an alleged terror-linked conspiracy. Firoz Khan was arrested in April 2025 after remaining absconding for over three years. He had earlier been declared a proclaimed offender by the NIA Special Court in Jaipur, which had also issued a standing warrant for his arrest. His name now figures in the main and supplementary chargesheets filed before the court under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A]. The case, registered in April 2022 as RC-18/2022/NIA/DLI, pertains to the recovery of explosives and IED-making components in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. Initial investigations revealed that a group of individuals were actively plotting to fabricate improvised explosive devices for suspected terror activities. According to NIA findings, Firoz Khan played a significant role in the conspiracy. He allegedly attended multiple meetings with co-conspirators and was directly involved in procuring chemical substances essential for the fabrication of IEDs. The agency stated that he acted under the directions of Imran Khan, another key accused in the case. Earlier, in September 2022, the NIA had chargesheeted 11 individuals linked to the case. A supplementary chargesheet followed in November 2023, further strengthening the prosecutionas case. The latest chargesheet reinforces the NIAas assertion that the accused were part of a larger network aimed at disrupting peace and security through planned acts of violence. With the arrest and chargesheeting of Firoz Khan, the agency continues to tighten its net on individuals involved in terror-related activities across the country. Investigations into the wider conspiracy are still ongoing, the agency confirmed. New Delhi, July 22 : India has extended medical support to Bangladesh following the devastating fighter jet crash in Dhaka on July 21, which claimed at least 31 lives and injured over 170 people, many of them children. The crash occurred when a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training aircraft slammed into the Milestone School and College campus in Uttara, a densely populated suburb of the capital, triggering a massive explosion and fire. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep condolences over the tragedy and assured Bangladesh of Indiaas full support. In a follow-up to his message, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka formally reached out to the Bangladeshi government, offering critical medical assistance for the injured. A specialised team of burn-care doctors and nurses is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka shortly, equipped with advanced medical supplies and diagnostic tools. The team will assess the condition of the victims and recommend further treatment, including possible transfer to Indian medical facilities for specialised care. Additional medical teams may be dispatched based on the initial findings. The crash has sparked national mourning in Bangladesh, with flags flown at half-mast and widespread public grief. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Toukir Islam, reportedly attempted to divert the aircraft away from populated areas before impact. Among the deceased were 25 schoolchildren and a teacher who died while rescuing students. Many of the injured are being treated at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, where doctors report critical burn cases requiring long-term care. Indiaas swift response underscores the humanitarian dimension of its regional diplomacy and reflects the strong bilateral ties between the two nations. The gesture has been widely welcomed in Bangladesh, where public anger is mounting over the use of ageing aircraft for training missions in urban zones. As investigations continue into the cause of the crash, Indiaas medical outreach is expected to play a vital role in the recovery of survivors and the broader healing process. The tragedy has reignited calls for stricter aviation safety protocols and better urban planning to prevent future disasters. Agartala, July 22 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Tuesday that just as humans and trees depend on each other, the opposition and the treasury bench in the Assembly also work in a symbiotic process for a healthy democratic ecosystem. The Chief Minister was addressing a ceremonial programme at the Tripura Assembly building, marking the establishment of the Assembly and its relocation from the Ujjayanta Palace premises to its current premises at the Capital Complex areas. Saha said that on July 1, 1963, the Tripura Assembly was established, and on this special day (July 22), the Assembly relocated from the Ujjayanta Palace premises to its current premises. In the Assembly session, so many things are raised and discussed for public welfare and for that responsibilities of 60 MLAs are very pertinent and significant, he pointed out. The Chief Minister said: "To protect democracy, the opposition raised so many issues, and we also tried to answer. We must maintain the decorum of the august house. Officials also play a key role. Assembly is like a temple. We must celebrate this day with due dignity." Saha also suggested that from next year, the ex-Speakers who are still alive have to be invited to the event along with the former Chief Ministers. On this occasion, Saha, planting a tree in the premises of the Assembly, said that humans can't survive without trees. He said that nature teaches us that we can't live without each other, and all are dependent on each other. and added that all public representatives must take steps to save the environment. "Trees are very important for all, as one mature tree can give 260 pounds of oxygen. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared that we must declare India as carbon-neutral and we must work for this. We must depend on trees, and trees also depend on human beings, which is a symbiotic process. Like in the Assembly, also, the opposition and treasury bench depend on each other, and these are also necessary, he said. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath said that July 1, 1963, is not just a date on the calendar, but a chapter of Tripura's vibrant history." He reminded everyone that Tripura's legislative journey officially began in 1963, but its roots trace back to the visionary leadership of the then king Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur. Nath said Maharaja Bir Bikram laid the foundation of modern Tripura and contributed immensely to the development of infrastructure, including roads, hospitals, schools, and even the Agartala airport. "After his demise, Rajmata Kanchan Prabha Devi played a crucial role in integrating Tripura with India. On September 9, 1949, she signed the Instrument of Accession, and Tripura became a part of the Indian Union," said the Minister. He said that following its accession, Tripura was declared a Union Territory and the Territorial Council Act was enacted in May 1963 with the approval of the President of India. As per Article 239 of the Constitution, the Tripura Territorial Council was constituted with 30 elected and one nominated member. The Territorial Council was formally converted into the Tripura Legislative Assembly on July 1, 1963. During the event, Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen, Deputy Speaker Ram Prasad Paul, Chief Whip Kalyani Saha Roy, Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, senior Congress MLA Birajit Sinha, and several other legislators were present. New Delhi, July 22 : India on Tuesday extended the ban on Pakistani aircraft from entering the domestic airspace till August 23. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said, in a post on the X, "Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting Pakistani aircraft from entering Indian airspace has been officially extended until 23rd August 2025." "This extension reflects continued strategic considerations and is in line with prevailing security protocols. Stay tuned for further updates," the minister informed. This action followed Pakistan's earlier decision to bar Indian flights from its airspace. Pakistan has extended the closure of its airspace for flights operated by Indian airlines by another month, till August 24, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said last week. The ban will remain in place till August 24 at 5:19 am (India time), the PAA said. Meanwhile, NOTAM has been issued for a large-scale Indian Air Force (IAF) exercise scheduled in Rajasthan along the India-Pakistan border for July 23-25 The Indian Air Force is set to carry out a major military exercise in Rajasthan, covering areas from Barmer to Jodhpur. The region witnessed Pakistani drone and missile intrusions during Operation Sindoor, where Pakistan launched several drone attacks targeting Rajasthan's Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, and Sri Ganganagar districts. A NOTAM is issued when a specific airspace needs to be cleared of civilian air traffic. Similar notices were issued during previous tensions with Pakistan to ensure that no passenger aircraft would be caught in the middle of potential aerial operations. It helps prevent civilian casualties by keeping commercial aircraft away from zones of military activity. NOTAM was issued against the backdrop of India's 'Operation Sindoor', which was launched on May 7, in retaliation for the terror attack in Pahalgam, where Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 innocent people. Amaravati, July 22 : United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu here on Tuesday. Yusuff Ali M.A., Chairman and Managing Director of LuLu International, was also present during the meeting. "Had the pleasure of meeting H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Hon'ble Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Yusuff Ali M.A., Chairman and Managing Director of LuLu International, and Mr. Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director of LuLu Financial Holdings," the Chief Minister posted on social media platform X. "We had an engaging discussion on potential investment and development opportunities in Andhra Pradesh," he added. Meanwhile, at a review meeting on agriculture, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to collect crop details for every survey of land across the state through satellite. He noted that the satellite survey conducted in Bhalabhadrapuram village of Bikkavolu mandal in East Godavari district highlighted comprehensive data. He emphasised comparing field-level data with satellite survey data and guiding farmers to cultivate uniform crops in specific areas. He said Rythu Seva Kendras should provide continuous suggestions and assistance. The CM directed that after resurvey and cleansing of revenue records, agriculture records must also be updated. The review also discussed the use of AI chatbots to assist farmers with crop planning and value addition. The Chief Minister stressed that farmers should receive the necessary information with the help of Artificial Intelligence. Meanwhile, officials informed the CM that eKYC has been completed for 47,41,792 farmers under the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme. The CM instructed officials to identify eligible beneficiaries via the e-Crop platform and ensure financial assistance reaches every farmer in the state. The CM reiterated that he prioritises agriculture and announced that he will soon hold virtual meetings with Water Users Associations to interact with them directly. Officials explained that, except for a few districts in South Coastal Andhra, the rest of the state has recorded normal rainfall during the Kharif season. They stated that the major projects in Krishna, Godavari, and Vamsadhara basins are full and that due to abundant rains, cultivation area in the state has expanded. They reported that in this Kharif season, crops are being cultivated in 9.90 lakh hectares. However, the CM suggested advancing the crop calendar to rely on rainfall and avoid losses from cyclones and heavy rains while allowing a second crop. He instructed ministers, MLAs, and officials to engage with farmers to raise awareness. He stressed that there should be no talk of drought and called for efficient utilisation of rainfall and planning to minimise use of water from projects. Advocacy organization EveryLibrary has shared some of its latest research on the status of library-related policymaking and patrons library usage across the U.S. In a summary titled Codifying Censorship or Reclaiming Rights? The State-by-State 2025 Legislative Landscape for Libraries, EveryLibrary compiles an eye-opening stack of bills that have been passed, enacted, vetoed, or left to wither on the vine. The document also details how coalitions are forming in support of intellectual freedom nationwide. The legislative update concludes that library advocates must actively build coalitions across our own sectors, including outreach to legitimate conservative or libertarian organizations. EveryLibrary observes that coalitions tend to skew older, necessitating outreach to Gen Z free speech activists too. The emphasis on expanding partnerships echoes a pillar of the American Library Associations new strategic plan. Separately, in this years Freckle Project report, supported by EveryLibrary and generated annually since 2019, consumer survey data indicates that library visits and print circulation have declined more than 50% since 2011, while digital circulation has risen from 8% to 45% in the past decade. Though digital is up, the report also attests that patron demand for more nonfiction and more backlist print titles is going unmet. Fighting Book Bans, Forging Alliances The first six months of this year has brought 133 negative bills in 33 states, threatening public libraries, school libraries, librarianship, and the rights of readers, according to EveryLibrarys Codifying Censorship white paper. Concurrently, another 76 bills in 32 states aim to protect or extend library services and intellectual freedom. In all of 2024, only 121 such bad bills came under consideration, and only 36 right to read bills were proposed. Right to read legislation prohibiting censorship has been passed recently in Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, Oregon, and Rhode Island, and governors vetoes in New Hampshire and North Dakota have halted the effort to prosecute librarians accused of distributing age-inappropriate materials. Yet EveryLibrary observes that the prevailing trend was regressive over the past six months, and substantial political momentum is reshaping the professional environment, altering governance structures, and accelerating censorship in many states. EveryLibrarys research covers other precedent-setting library legislation, including Connecticut Senate Bill 1234, an e-book licensing law passed in May and designed to keep libraries from entering into restrictive agreements with publishers. SB 1234 echoes past attempts to rein in library contracts involving e-books. The bill does not directly compel publisher behavior, EveryLibrary notes, yet it does compare to familiar regulations around school textbook purchases. Publishers maintain their rights as copyright holders on instructional materials, but regularly adapt their terms to the needs of the K12 market, EveryLibrary explains. SB 1234 cannot go into effect, however, until similar legislation is passed by one or more states with a total or combined population of 7 million people. Codifying Censorship also warns library associations of the pros and cons of hiring contract lobbyists to help them navigate the increasingly hostile legislative landscape. Lobbyists are not trained in librarianship, and they may fall into transactional politics at the state capitol or suggest compromise positions unacceptable within the profession, according to the report. In an editorial passage, Codifying Censorship calls for library sector solidarity that unites public, school, and academic categories, noting that a threat at the local level can advance to state and national prominence, and attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion in K12 settings undermine teacher education and academic culture. EveryLibrary tells readers that our 2025 reality calls for a change in mindset and, in some cases, a change in organizational culture. Surveying Library Users In the 2025 Freckle Project report on how patrons tend to use libraries, principal investigator Tim Coates interpreted the results of an online survey conducted April 29 with support from EveryLibrary. His other data sets included Pew Research Center findings and the 2022 Public Libraries Survey from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The 2025 survey gleaned responses from 874 people, ages 17 and up, and excluded those who worked in or had a family member in libraries or the publishing industry. Demographic information on other identity categories was not collected. We dont aim at any particular segment, Coates told PW, though he added that IMLS data suggest that more or less half of library circulations are to children and that the fall in [library] use by children hasn't been so dramatic as the fall in use by adults, based on what he found. The report observed no diminution in peoples need for reading in the U.S., with 8085% of respondents borrowing print and digital material. The data indicated that the overwhelming use of libraries is for reading and contrary to general belief, there is a relatively small number of users of programs and services, a topic worthy of closer investigation in case program participation or community service is underreported. Coates said libraries have been reducing print collections, and he wrote in the report that the use of public library buildings has been falling for more than a decade. Rather than focus on frontlist digital fiction, his survey suggested, individual branch libraries should supply more backlist nonfiction to meet their specific community needs: What matters is the complete collection in each and every branch, with each branch having detailed core stock. Removing barriers to borrowing, such as lengthy hold times, and prioritizing front line staffing over administrative tasks like cataloguing will improve library services, Coates said. He did not perceive inadequate funding as a concern, and he suggested that the IMLS Public Libraries Survey presently conducted by IMLS might be taken on by a university research team if the federal agency is shuttereda point that iSchools might well dispute, considering their frequent reliance on IMLS competitive grants. As librarians, our job, essentially, is to help people find what they want to read, Coates said. Thats what were here for. Last month, 10 emerging fiction writers from across the globe spent eight days off of Voidokilia Beachthat all-bronze heaven where Telemachus was welcomed by King Nestor in Homers Odysseyas part of the Oxbelly Retreat, an all-expenses-covered gathering of authors, screenwriters, and artists in Messenia, Greece. Founded in 2015 by producer Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, Oxbelly puts forth a new vision of the writers retreat, away from the traditional pay-to-play instructional seminars and toward something that looks more like a literary salon or college campus. Above all, the retreats focus is the creative process and cultural nourishment, said Oxbelly executive director Caroline von Kuhn. Oxbelly was initially founded as a screenwriters retreat, with programs for both film and television writers. Since the addition of the fiction fellowship three years ago, it has become a site of cross-pollination between the worlds of film and literature. Fiammetta Rocco, longtime administrator of the International Booker Prize, noted a significant difference in energy between her first time speaking at the retreat, in 2023, and her second visit in 2024. There were many more events and much more interaction between the film industryscript writers, storytellers, producers, directorsand the novelists, she said, and specifically a focus on, how do you turn a novel into a movie? Among the filmmakers Rocco has crossed paths with at Oxbelly are Charlie Kaufman and Anna Winger, who are working on adaptations of International Booker shortlister The Memory Police and International Booker winner Kairos, respectively. For fiction writers, the retreat is organized into two parts. The first four days are packed with daily workshop sessions led by Chigozie Obioma, Oxbellys fiction program director and a two-time Booker Prize finalist. At night, the fiction fellows are brought together with their screenwriting counterparts for film screenings, readings, and lectures by advisors and special guests. The evening programming at this years retreat, held June 28July 6, included a presentation from Katie Kitamura about the thematic continuities between her three novels Audition, A Separation, and Intimacies; a talk from Boyhood director Rick Linklater about the influence of French New Wave film on his work; and filmmaker Annemarie Jacir in conversation with composer Ben Frost on writing a shared aural language. The second four days are intended to give fellows space to digest and enjoy the surroundings and engage in more prolonged exchanges with their peers, advisors, and special guests, von Kuhn said. This year, the only piece of daytime programming in the second half was a session on writer-publisher-agent relationships, led by Emma Shercliff of Laxfield Literary Associates and writer and editor David Ebershoff. This is one of the only aspects of the retreat that focuses on industry talkand intentionally so, von Kuhn said. The goal of the fiction fellows workshops, which meet every day for the first four days, is to promote a more expansive way of thinking about writing than the fellows might encounter in the world of publishing. This year, the workshops were led by authors Ishmael Beah and Namwali Serpell. Even at more business-centric moments, like Shercliff and Ebershoffs visit, Oxbelly uses a roundtable format to flatten power dynamics between the earlier career writers and their mentors, von Kuhn said. Konstantakopolous production company Faliro House, the Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation, and a number of other patrons enable Oxbelly to cover all expenses for the selected fellows, including accommodations in the five-star Costa Navarino hotel. This generosity, von Kuhn said, allows Oxbelly to target opportunity gaps when selecting its fellows, who this year hailed from Brazil, Greece, India, Jordan, Nigeria, the U.K., and the U.S. She added that the diversity of the group helps create a more supportive environment: Its not competitive because no ones telling the same story and no ones expressing themselves in even a comparable way. In Roccos experience, it is this generosity of self-expressionthe sharing of stories, knowledge, connections, and experiencesthat is truly at the heart of what Oxbelly does. It was perfect cross fertilization of ideas, of working practices, of all sorts of things, she said, and I think it comes from the top with an ethos of generosity. During a visit to Kyiv by his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha announced an agreement regarding holding a Ukrainian season in France dubbed "Voyage to Ukraine". , 2025- 2026 . As noted on the official website of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the cultural initiative will last in France from December 2025 to March 2026. "This is a large-scale initiative under the patronage of our ministries, implemented by the French and Ukrainian Institutes. We will introduce the French to the unique Ukrainian culture and art. Mutual knowledge of cultures will make our peoples and countries even closer," Sybiha is quoted as saying. The Voyage to Ukraine season aims to honor the resilience and creativity of Ukrainian society in response to Russian aggression. It is expected that through artistic events, meetings and discussions, the French audience will be able to gain a deeper understanding of the richness of Ukrainian culture. The initiative will also contribute to the development of professional links between the cultural communities of France, Ukraine and other European countries, strengthening cultural cooperation and supporting Ukraines European integration. The organization of the program has been entrusted to the French and Ukrainian Institutes, which will implement it on the basis of a partnership agreement signed in Kyiv on May 22, 2024. The institutes will closely cooperate with relevant ministries, embassies and other stakeholders, in particular government agencies, local governments, enterprises and public organizations that support resistance to Russian aggression and the restoration of Ukraine. The Ukrainian Institute under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a state institution working in the field of cultural diplomacy. The institution's activities are aimed at improving the understanding and perception of Ukraine in the world and developing its cultural ties with other countries. Founded by the Government of Ukraine, the Institute falls under the management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Representative Office of the Ukrainian Institute in France has been operating since 2023. Although Robert Mueller failed to find an election conspiracy between Donald Trump and Moscow, the former Special Counsel threw a lifeline to the Russiagate narrative by alleging that the Kremlin had engaged in a sweeping and systematic effort to get Trump elected and sow discord among Americans. Six years later, that questionable but enduring claim continues to unravel. According to newly declassified documents, U.S. intelligence leaders concealed high-level doubts about one of Russiagates foundational allegations: that Russia stole and leaked Democratic Party material to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton. In a September 2016 report that was never made public until now, the NSA and the FBI broke with their intelligence counterparts and expressed low confidence in the attribution to Russia. The previously undisclosed dissent about Russias alleged hacking activities in the 2016 election is among several revelations released last week by Tulsi Gabbard, Trumps Director of National Intelligence. According to Gabbard, President Obama and senior members of his cabinet manufactured and politicized intelligence in its waning months to wage a years-long coup against President Trump. Tulsi Gabbard says newly released documents show Obama officials manufactured and politicized intelligence to wage a years-long coup against President Trump. Gabbards material adds to a body of evidence previously reported by RealClearInvestigations that challenges the widely parroted claim about the quality of evidence and the extent of Russian interference operations in the 2016 election. These conclusions based on questionable assertions presented as hard facts have been falsely portrayed as an intelligence consensus. When Trump, the nations commander-in-chief, cast doubt on the Russian interference allegations in a July 2018 news conference, former CIA chief John Brennan denounced him as nothing short of treasonous. It turns out that Trump was not out of sync with the U.S. intelligence community he was accused of betraying. Low Confidence in Core Allegation Until now, the purported U.S. intelligence consensus on Russian meddling has been conveyed to the public in three seminal reports. The first was a January 2017 intelligence community assessment (ICA) released in the final days of the Obama administration under the direction of Brennan and then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. The ICA accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of ordering an influence campaign to denigrate Democratic candidate Clinton and help Trump win the 2016 election. Some of this effort involved propaganda on Russian media outlets and messaging on social media. The larger component hinged on the allegation that the GRU, Russias main intelligence agency, stole emails and documents from the Democratic Party and released that material principally via two online entities, DCLeaks and Guccifer 2.0, as well as the whistleblower organization WikiLeaks. Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has long denied that Russia or any other state actor was his source. Nevertheless, the January 2017 ICA stated that U.S. intelligence had high confidence that Russia engineered the hack. The Mueller report, issued more than two years later, advanced the ICAs claims with even more confidence and specificity. A bipartisan Senate intelligence review, released in August 2020, endorsed the ICA and Mueller reports and was widely treated as a vindication of the conduct of the intelligence officials behind them. Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report excluded evidentiary gaps regarding Russian meddling. AP The documents newly declassified by Gabbard show that the ICA, Mueller, and Senate reports all excluded the intelligence communitys own secretly identified doubts and evidentiary gaps on the core allegation of Russian meddling. In a previously unpublished Intelligence Community Assessment circulated within the government on Sept. 12, 2016 (hereafter September ICA), the FBI and NSA expressed low confidence that Russia was behind the hack and release of Democratic Party emails. U.S. intelligence agencies, the report explained, lack sufficient technical details to link the stolen Democratic Party material released by WikiLeaks and other sources to Russian state-sponsored actors. The joint FBI-NSA dissent was especially significant given their central role in investigating Russias alleged cyber meddling. With its sweeping foreign surveillance capability, the NSA is the agency best positioned to assess the source of the alleged hacking of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Meanwhile, the FBI had taken the lead in probing the cyber-theft and release of stolen material from the Democratic Party networks. The private acknowledgment that these two agencies did not have the technical data to link the hacking to Russia bolsters longstanding criticism, overlooked by legacy media, that the Russian interference allegations lacked supporting evidence. Contrary to subsequent assertions, the September ICA shows that the U.S. intelligence community had no hard evidence that Putin ordered the theft of Democratic Party material as part of an influence campaign to help Trump. If the disclosures of the DNC and DCCC documents were indeed orchestrated by the Russian intelligence services, the report stated, those services would very likely have sought Putins approval for the operation. This passage indicates that U.S. intelligence had declined to endorse assertions promoted by Brennan and leaked to the media during Trumps first term, that a highly placed Kremlin mole had captured Putins orders to meddle in the 2016 election in support of Trump. The alleged mole was later identified as a mid-level Kremlin official named Oleg Smolenkov, who left Russia to live in the Virginia suburbs under his own name. President Obama Pushes Narrative Rather than make the September ICA and its dissenting contents public, the Obama administration told a much different story, one that ensured that allegations of Russian interference would hobble Trumps presidency even before he took office. On Oct. 7, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) issued a joint statement claiming that the U.S. Intelligence Community is confident that Russia hacked the Democratic Party in order to interfere with the U.S. election process. No mention was made of the NSA and FBIs shared low confidence in that allegation, or their lack of technical evidence for it. Notably, the FBI objected to formally accusing Russia and refused to participate. But by that point, the joint statement had a more powerful endorser. According to testimony from Jeh Johnson, who then served as DHS secretary, President Obama approved the statement and wanted us to make [it]. On December 6, 2016, Obama made another request, asking the intelligence community to produce a new version of the ICA that could be made public. As RCI has previously reported, and a recent CIA review has newly confirmed, that version of the ICA released in January 2017 and hereafter referred to as the January ICA was tainted by a hurried production schedule and the exclusion of key intelligence agencies under the close control of Brennan and Clapper. Hillary Clinton's campaign concocted the Trump/Russian conspiracy theory to deflect from her email scandal. Apart from references to the Steele dossier now debunked opposition research financed by Hillary Clintons campaign alleging a Trump/Russia conspiracy it contained no new evidence that would have reversed the previous assessments. After ordering a replacement ICA, Obama administration officials moved to silence dissent. According to Gabbards Office of the Director of National Intelligence, a senior official who led the September ICA on allegations of Russian meddling was sidelined from the new process. This unidentified official, whom Gabbards office describes as the ODNI Whistleblower, was shunned after questioning his leadership about why an IC assessment was being created that contradicted multiple IC assessments. The ODNI whistleblower also asserts that he was later pressured to accept unsupported findings in the January ICA, including that the Russian government had a preference for President Trump. Speculation Accepted as Fact Meanwhile, in a newly disclosed Dec. 7 memo written one day after Obamas ICA tasking, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence acknowledged that the confidence level about alleged Russian hacking had barely changed. The document claimed to have high confidence that Russia had, in 2015 and 2016, hacked into networks belonging to the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. But when it came to whether this Russian hacking actually led to exfiltration, dissemination, and public release to actors like WikiLeaks, the document used qualified, tepid language that reflected continued uncertainty. Most IC agencies, the DNI wrote, only had moderate confidence that Russian services probably orchestrated at least some of the disclosures of stolen Democratic Party material (emphasis added). The Dec. 7 DNI memo also inadvertently confirmed another evidentiary gap: a reliance on evidence provided by Trumps campaign rival. The attribution of the intrusions to Russia, the DNI wrote, was based on the forensic evidence identified by a private cyber-firm and the ICs review and understanding of cyber activities by the Russian Government. That private cyber-firm is CrowdStrike, which worked directly for the Clinton campaign, and which had triggered Russiagate the previous June by accusing Russia of hacking the DNC servers. As RCI has previously reported, despite the high stakes involved, the FBI acceded to the DNCs refusal to let the bureau independently analyze its server, deferring instead to CrowdStrikes analysis. The timing of the FBIs low confidence assessment suggests that it did not find CrowdStrikes initial attribution to Russia convincing. CrowdStrike submitted its third and final report to the FBI on Aug. 24, three weeks before the September ICA recorded the FBI and NSAs dissent on the Russian hacking allegation. The DNIs reliance on the forensics of a firm working for Trumps political opponent just as the FBI simultaneously relied on the Clinton-funded Steele dossier in its fruitless hunt for collusion was kept under wraps. And as RCI has previously reported, so was another critical disclosure made in closed-door congressional testimony one year later. Despite his company's public claims, CrowdStrike president Shawn Henry told Congress there he had no "concrete evidence" that Russia had stolen data from the DNC. In December 2017, CrowdStrike President Shawn Henry testified that his firm did not have concrete evidence that Russian hackers had exfiltrated data from the DNC servers. He said there were signs of potential Russian malware on the servers, but no evidence that any information had been uploaded by them. Put another way, they might have had keys to the servers, but there was no proof that they had removed any content. Henrys admission to the House Intelligence Committee was also kept from the public throughout the Mueller probe. For unspecified reasons, the FBI again declined to endorse the intelligence assessment on alleged Russian meddling. On Dec. 8, one day after the DNI memo was circulated, an FBI official replied that the bureau was drafting a dissent, and asked that the ODNI remove our seal [and] annotations of co-authorship. In response, an ODNI official opined that the FBIs only difference with the Dec. 7 memo was over confidence level on the attribution. The ODNI official also pointed out that the FBIs disagreement was with I&A. This was a reference to the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at DHS, which had co-authored, along with the Clapper-run ODNI, the Oct. 7 statement that the FBI had refused to endorse, and that falsely claimed to speak on behalf of the U.S. Intelligence Community. The FBIs continued dissent underscores that, by the time Obama had ordered the production of a new ICA, the intelligence community still had not reached consensus on the attribution of the email hacking to Russia. Despite the lingering divisions over the evidence for alleged Russian hacking, a meeting between President Obama and top principals just one day later claimed to have reached a united front. On Dec. 9, Clapper, Brennan and other top principals gathered in the White House Situation Room. Notably, the two agencies that had previously dissented on Russian hacking the FBI and NSA were not represented by their respective leaders, James Comey and Mike Rogers, but instead by deputies Andrew McCabe and Richard Ledgett. According to a newly declassified summary of that meeting, the Principals Committee resolved to publicly release and attribute to Russian intelligence services technical and other information ... in intelligence reporting from that same day. It is unclear why Obamas team suddenly felt confident publicly attributing the Democratic Party hack to Russia when the FBI and NSA had expressed "low confidence" in that judgment based on a lack of technical evidence. Spreading the False Narrative As Obama and senior intelligence officials concealed the communitys doubts about the alleged Russian hack and releases, as well as their reliance on a Clinton campaign contractor to investigate it, more false claims were leaked to the public. Two days after the DNIs Dec. 7 memo, the Washington Post published a story claiming that a secret assessment from the CIA had concluded that the hacking of Democratic Party emails was part of a wider Russian operation to boost Trump and hurt Clinton's chances in the 2016 election. A senior U.S. official told the Post that it was the assessment of the intelligence community that Russia sought to help Trump get elected. Thats the consensus view. In fact, there had been no such assessment or consensus, only strong doubts about the hacking allegation at the heart of the purported Russian operation. Rather than refute the erroneous Post story, the Obama administration continued to promote its unsupported narrative. Three weeks later, on Dec. 29, the Department of Homeland Security, this time joined by the FBI, issued a report that newly promoted the allegation of Russian email theft. Without mentioning the ICs low-to-moderate confidence in Russian hacking or the integral role of Clinton contractor CrowdStrike, the joint report described the alleged Russian hacking effort as likely leading to the exfiltration of information from Democratic Party networks. It is unclear how the FBI arrived at this conclusion after voicing at least two previous dissents. This pattern, where privately identified evidentiary holes were later supplanted by publicly confident assertions, was repeated time and time again to advance the Russia narrative. After burying dissenting opinions on Russian meddling and leaking false claims to the media, Obama administration and intelligence officials released a newly sanitized version of the ICA on Jan. 6, 2017. Two other versions of that document with higher levels of classification were produced, one of which a downgraded product below the highest-level classified one, hereafter referred to as the Downgraded ICA has been newly released by Gabbard. The Downgraded ICA points to more evidentiary gaps. When it comes to the ICAs contention that Putin ordered Russian military intelligence to pass stolen Democratic Party material to WikiLeaks and other conduits, the ICA makes no reference to any evidence of such an order. Instead, it points to a speculative guess based on a psychological reading of Putins perceived grievances: The determination that Vladimir Putin wanted to discredit Hillary Clinton was based on guesswork. Putin most likely wanted his intelligence services to discredit Secretary Clinton because he has blamed her since 2011 for inciting mass protests against his regime in late 2011 and early 2012 and holds a grudge for comments he almost certainly saw as disparaging him, judging from press reporting. Given this, we assess with high confidence that the GRU was directed to pass material it collected to WikiLeaks and other intermediaries. In the public version, the January ICA suggested that an online persona that released stolen Democratic material, Guccifer 2.0, had a likely Russian identity tied to the GRU. But the Downgraded ICA acknowledges that U.S. intelligence only has moderate confidence that Guccifer 2.0 and another site, DCleaks.com, were under direct GRU control. By contrast, the Mueller report of March 2019 asserted as fact that the GRU created and used both the DCLeaks and Guccifer 2.0 personas to release stolen material publicly and transfer it to WikiLeaks. Most significantly, Gabbards new releases raise the question of how U.S. intelligence officials went from their low to moderate confidence in Russian interference allegations through the last months of 2016 into high confidence in the first week of January 2017, a stance they have clung to in the ensuing eight years even as the underpinnings of those claims have unraveled. In its memo on the new documents, Gabbards office notes that the January ICAs assertion of a Putin-ordered effort to defeat Clinton claimed to be drawing on further information that had come to light since the 2016 election. That further information, Gabbards office states, was later found to be the Steele dossier, which Brennan and others have falsely claimed played no part in their analysis. Whatever the case, these new disclosures confirm that to make the case of Russian interference and present it to the public as a consensus view, U.S. intelligence officials in the Obama administration suppressed ample doubts within their highest ranks. Earlier this month, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro suddenly discovered a concern for human rights. Maduros regime recently declared UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk persona non grata, a retaliatory gesture for the UNs apparent failure to protect Venezuelan migrants deported from the US. The image of Maduro, a champion of jailing political opposition and crushing dissent, posing as a human rights hero would be laughable if it were not so dangerously cynical. This latest action against a UN official is more of the same from Maduros regime. Last February, after Maduros foreign minister, Yvan Gil, described the UN advisory office as the private law firm of coup plotters and terrorist groups, the regime forced the office to close. Their allegations of anti-government activity were, of course, never substantiated. The timing of this shuttering was no coincidence. The Maduro regime was gearing up to pull off what was perhaps the largest electoral fraud in Latin American history. Despite hollow promises to appease the US, the regime never had any intention of holding free elections. Maduros government spent the weeks and months leading up to the July 2024 presidential election banning opponents from the contest and using the power of the state to ensure a Maduro reelection. This pattern of repression culminated in the brazen 2024 election fraud. Perhaps one of the few things that the regime has ever been transparent about, the theft of the 2024 election was far from subtle. Multiple countries, from Colombia to Spain, reported that their official delegations to observe the election were either deported shortly after arrival or refused entry altogether. In an October 2024 article, the co-director of Laboratorio de Paz, a Venezuelan NGO dedicated to advancing democracy and human rights, reported that over 2,000 Venezuelans had been detained for political dissent. These mass detentions, coupled with high-profile abuses by Maduro, like the banning of his main opposition rival Maria Corina Machado from contesting the election, underscore the regimes blatant disregard for democratic norms and rights. Maduros recent attacks on the UN should be viewed in the very same cynical light. Maduros sudden concern for deportees is grossly hypocritical given the ease with which he imprisons Venezuelans at home. Meanwhile, investigations reveal that the Maduro regime has facilitated gang activities that fueled illegal immigration as a tactic to destabilise the US and give itself leverage at the negotiating table. Ron MacCammon, a retired US Army Special Forces Colonel and Latin America expert, described how gangs like Tren de Aragua dont just operate with impunitythey operate with purpose, acting as armed proxies in a broader campaign. Gang activity like that of Tren de Agua has played a serious role in drug trafficking, weapons smuggling, and other serious threats to the US. If President Maduro is so concerned about US treatment of Venezuelans crossing the border, he should consider not coordinating their journeys north. If not a damascene conversion to the virtues of human rights, what could explain the Maduro regimes recent attacks on the UN and Volker Turk? The answers presumably lie in a speech made by Turk to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on June 27th. In the speech, Turk raised a litany of concerns on human rights in Venezuela. From concerns over enforced disappearance, freedom of association, and allegations of torture and ill-treatment, Turk revealed the grim reality of human rights in Venezuela. The regimes designation of Turk as a persona non grata is a classic authoritarian tactic; in denouncing others, Maduro offers an accidental confession. The Maduro regimes long history of human rights abuses is just one of many reasons that the US and its allies should maintain Maduros international isolation, rather than heeding self-interested calls for rapprochement. When the US and others recognised Edmundo Gonzalez as the legitimate winner of the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election, it sent a message to Maduro that his regime, upheld by the oppression of Venezuelans, would not be rehabilitated on the world stage. Maduros expulsion of Turk is the latest proof of his fragility under scrutiny and the necessity of keeping a spotlight on the Venezuelan regime. Mackenzie France is a Young Voices contributor and director of strategy at the Pinsker Centre, a UK-based foreign policy think tank. He is also a Krauthammer Fellow at the Tikvah Fund. With so many new suppressor owners joining the quiet ranks of NFA ownership, its a good time to look at some of the common and useful suppressor accessories floating around the market. To kick that off, lets talk alignment rods. Strike Carbon Fiber Suppressor Alignment Rods, Send-It-Sticks, are a new offering from Strike Industries to cover all of your normal alignment rod needs in one simple kit. And it doesnt cost hundreds of dollars. Nice. WHAT Carbon fiber rods manufactured with a +/- 0.003 inch straightness tolerance. 6 rods in the set to cover 5.56/.22LR, 6.5 mm, 7.62mm/.300, 8.6mm/.338, 9mm, and .450. Plus, a cardboard box with some foam to keep the rods organized and protected when not in use. MSRP: $85 WHY Suppressors are awesome, but if you shoot them enough, you will eventually find that they come with a whole new family of possible problems on top of whatever weapon system they are mounted on. Two of the worst are baffle strikes and front-end strikes. As the names imply, this is when your bullet hits one of the internal baffles or the front end cap instead of exiting the suppressor correctly. This might be as minor as nicking the baffle to blowing out the side and making a new exit hole where one shouldnt exist. Either way, if it happens, it probably means your suppressor is out of commission until you can at least inspect it. You might need a new front cap, or you might have to send the suppressor back to the manufacturer for repair, which can take weeks or months. By far the most common way for these failures to occur is simple user error. Not all suppressor mounts are created equal, and not everyone tightens them/locks them down as they should. And by their very nature, suppressors often loosen up and walk off their mounts. To this last point, if you dont witness mark them and check regularly, your suppressor might decide to walk off at the worst time. A less common problem is to have the suppressor perfectly mounted, but still not aligned with the bore. If everything isnt concentric to the bore, youre in for a bad time. This can occur when the muzzle threads themselves arent cut correctly, but it can also happen at any connecting point. Muzzle thread, thread to mount, mount to HUB, HUB to can. If any of these are off, the problem remains. An alignment rod is a rod held to strict tolerances for straightness that you drop down the bore of the suppressor and barrel to make sure everything lines up right. If the rod isnt touching the sides of the suppressor, youre good. STRIKE CARBON FIBER SUPPRESSOR ALIGNMENT RODS: SEND-IT-STICKS There isnt much to be said for this review since these are sticks. The set Strike sent me was straight, all worked well in my firearms and the guns I tested checked out. Super lightweight and easy to use, since they are just CF rods, they work. Nothing weird or interesting to talk about since, as I said, theyre sticks. I like the cardboard box that comes with them. Its thicker and harder than normal cardboard, so it does a good job of protecting the rods, but its not so overbuilt as to add too much to the cost of the package. The foam and clear markings make keeping them organized stupid-proof. Its a simple set that gets the job done well and comes in at a decent price. I dig it. PROS: Inexpensive Easy to use Buy once set CONS: Probably not a must-have tool Optics Planet $82 MidwayUSA $80 WORTH IT? Depending on who you ask, youll either be told alignment rods are critical tools or almost useless. There is some truth in both. Manufacturing standards have risen over the years, and what was once a more common problem of having misaligned threads is now pretty rare, even on budget firearms and cheaper mounts. However, while youll probably never notice a misalignment when using a compensator or brake, adding a suppressor makes even a small misalignment a potentially major problem. When NFA wait times were 10-20 months instead of the current week's average, the thought of damaging a suppressor was more worrisome and problematic. Thus, alignment rods were good insurance against it. In the year 2025, do you need alignment rods? In my opinion, probably not. I was 10 suppressors deep before I ever got an alignment rod. This was mostly because of cost, since alignment rods can be weirdly expensive. Geissele sells alignment rods that start at $77 for each rod. SureFire runs more than $99 a rod. At those prices, its a hard pass for me. The other end of the spectrum is precision rods from McMaster-Carr. If you can navigate their website, Tight-Tolerance Multipurpose Tool Steel Rods can be had in a wide range of diameters and held to +/- 0.003 inch tolerance. These are pretty cheap at ~$10-15 per rod. If you only want one or two sizes, this might be the best option. Just be careful because these are steel and you dont want to damage your barrel, even if this is technically softer steel. For a full set of 6 rods like what is in the Strike Carbon Fiber Suppressor Alignment Rods, for me, in my state, a set from McMaster-Carr would cost $91 shipped to my door. The Strike set, with free shipping from several retailers, is $88 to my door. For a complete set of rods, plus a nice little box to hold them in, and carbon fiber has no chance of hurting my barrels the Strike set gets my vote. But still, do you need them? If you have one suppressor and/or one gun you want to suppress, pass. But if youre growing your suppressor collection or want to move the suppressor from gun to gun, or want to suppress something older, a set of rods is a quick and easy tool to add a layer of safety. LOOSE ROUNDS If youre in the market for a one-stop selection of alignment rods that will cover 99 percent of peoples needs 99 percent of the time, the Strike Carbon Fiber Suppressor Alignment Rods are a great option. The price is reasonable, the little box is handy, and its a nice check to make sure and protect your investments. I wouldnt call it required for suppressor ownership, but if youre going to collect tax stamps Id highly recommend this set. 'This is the time to be creative, use AI in real-time operations, and unlock new demand and aspirations.' Photograph: Shailesh Andrade/Reuters As Milind Lakkad prepares to hand over the reins to Sudeep Kunnumal after more than six years as chief human resources officer (CHRO) -- and a 38-year career at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) -- he looks back on a tenure defined by the pandemic, the Great Resignation, sweeping organisational shifts, and the company's evolving focus on AI. In a joint conversation following TCS' first quarter earnings in 2025-26, Lakkad and Kunnumal speak with Shivani Shinde/Business Standard in Mumbai about talent, technology, transition, and what's next for the IT giant's 600,000-strong workforce. How do you look back on your 38 years at TCS, especially the 6.5 years as CHRO? Lakkad: It's definitely a very different feeling. These 38 years have been an incredibly fulfilling journey. I'm filled with gratitude for the opportunities I've received and for everything I've been able to contribute. I'm also grateful for colleagues like Aarthi (Subramanian; COO), K Krithivasan (CEO), and Chandra (N Chandrasekaran; chairman, Tata Sons). I've known them for so long, and our relationship has been more than just professional. When I took over as CHRO in 2019, the first major challenge was Covid. The first 18 months were extremely difficult -- it was a crash course in HR. Then came the Great Resignation. Attrition touched 20 per cent, something we'd never seen before at TCS. We had to manage that, rehire, and adapt quickly. The early years were all about reacting to disruptions -- whether it was attrition, leadership transitions, or business uncertainty. But through it all, the lesson has been: How do you take care of every stakeholder? You have to support people, manage costs, and still deliver healthy margins. What I really cherish is how we came together during the toughest of times. One of the toughest challenges was getting people back to the office. It took longer than we expected, but the level of engagement across HR and business teams made it possible. It wouldn't have happened without strong leadership. TCS has long had India's largest employee base. Do you see that changing over time? Lakkad: In life too, we sometimes take things for granted. The same applies to TCS, but that cannot be the case forever. I firmly believe the nature of jobs will change, but opportunities will also increase. Kunnumal: First, I have big shoes to fill. It's going to be a tough job to meet expectations. That said, AI is a huge opportunity. We are investing extensively in building capability, and every one of us should be able to exploit this. This is the time to be creative, use AI in real-time operations, and unlock new demand and aspirations. We may see less linearity than in the past. But if we get the training and talent mix right, there's still plenty of room for growth. With AI in focus, are you rethinking reskilling at TCS? Kunnumal: We've already taken several initiatives. The focus now is to accelerate and contextualise them better. Our training platforms are deeply integrated with GenAI and AI. We're working to improve employee experience, making learning more personalised, intuitive, and embedded in their daily work. How is TCS addressing the talent gap amid rapid AI evolution? Lakkad: We have to focus on the 'shift-left' strategy -- which we've applied before -- and it's even more relevant now. We must engage academia more deeply so that students are better prepared. The idea is that graduates should be billable from day one. We already partner with 100 colleges and run master's programmes in some. If we scale this model, it will help the Indian IT industry move toward the $1 trillion mark. The talent is here; we just need tighter industry-academia synergy. Kunnumal: We've been investing in this for years. Our Campus Commune platform connects students across colleges, offers peer mentoring, and we're making offers to students six months before graduation. TCS has 114,000 AI-ready employees. What's the end goal? Lakkad: We'll continue building a skills pyramid. Our goal is to help people move up that pyramid, but each level will have its own specialisation or dimension. For instance, agentic AI, or domain-specific areas like manufacturing and life sciences. There will be skills developed that are contextual to the industry and specific technologies. When can employees expect clarity on hikes? Lakkad: We took a conscious call to hold off on hikes until we see stability in the environment. Needless to say, we don't like this situation at all. We want to do the right thing and ensure that employees get their hikes at the right time. Historically, except for the Covid year, we've always stuck to our cycle. This is only the second time we've had to make a tough call. Women make up 38 per cent of TCS' workforce. What is the company's aspiration towards seeing women in leadership roles? Kunnumal: Women are a key priority -- a central dimension of how we explore diversity. At the entry level, the women-to-men ratio is 50:50. Naturally, that changes at higher levels. Our aspiration is to maintain that balance as they progress. We have several programmes in place and are making the necessary investments to help scale this effort. Aarthi coming in as COO is a great inspiration. Lakkad: There's been a 60 per cent increase in women in senior roles at TCS over the last five years. One clear thought process we've followed from the beginning is not to place women in senior roles just for the sake of it, but to create every possible pathway and mechanism for them to rise on merit. What are the challenges as you take up CHRO's role? Kunnumal: TCS has seen many technology shifts, and we've come out stronger each time. What gives me confidence is that I'm not doing this alone -- we have a strong team. GenAI is a huge opportunity, and given the overall macro environment, our short-term priority is to regain our aspirational and profitable growth. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff Crypto thefts in 2025 had already crossed $2.17 billion before last week's $44 million CoinDCX hack, underlining relentless cyber threat escalation in the digital currency world, according to the latest data. Photograph: Dado Ruvic/Reuters Blockchain analytics platform Chainalysis' 2025 crypto crime mid-year update says that over $2.17 billion was stolen from cryptocurrency services so far in 2025, and "this year is more devastating than the entirety of 2024". By the end of June 2025, 17 per cent more value had been stolen year-to-date (YTD) than in 2022, previously the worst year on record. The $1.5 billion hack of ByBit, the largest single hack in crypto history, accounts for the majority of service losses. So far in 2025, significant concentrations of stolen fund victims have emerged in the US, Germany, Russia, Canada, Japan, Indonesia, and South Korea, it said. "Regionally, Eastern Europe, MENA, and CSAO (Central and Southern Asia and Oceania) saw the most rapid H1 2024 to H1 2025 growth in victim totals," it said. The report revealed that threat actors who have compromised services tend to exhibit higher levels of sophistication than those targeting personal wallets. At $1.5 billion, the ByBit hack not only represents the largest crypto theft in history, but also accounts for approximately 69 per cent of all funds stolen from services this year, Chainalysis said. "The sophistication and scale of this attack underscore the evolving capabilities of state-sponsored threat actors in the crypto space, and comes after a notable slowdown in the second half of 2024," it added. The report assumes significance in the backdrop of Indian cryptocurrency exchange CoinDCX suffering a security breach, resulting in theft of $44.2 million, or Rs 378 crore. CoinDCX co-founders Sumit Gupta and Neeraj Khandelwal took to the social media platform X to reassure that customer funds remained unaffected and safe, with the compromise limited to an internal operational account. The total exposure is being absorbed entirely by CoinDCX, using the company's treasury reserves, the company said in a First Incident Report released on Sunday. Last year, crypto exchange WazirX faced a hack in India, leading to the loss of more than $230 million, and marking one of the biggest such heists in India. The theft had prompted a thorough examination of safety measures and eroded sentiments. Among other notable cryptocurrency thefts are those involving Cetus Protocol, which saw losses estimated between $200260 million in May this year, and BigONE, which suffered a theft of $27 million in July 2025. On the night of July 22, Russia again massively attacked the gas infrastructure of the Naftogaz group, whose facilities were destroyed, its head Serhiy Koretsky has said. "Dozens of drones on the facilities of the Naftogaz Group. There is destruction. This is another massive shelling of the gas production infrastructure. Such attacks occur regularly," he wrote on his Facebook on Tuesday. According to the top manager, the consequences of the attack are currently being eliminated, teams of specialists are working on site. Koretsky called the actions of the Russian Federation acts of terrorism, with which the enemy seeks to intimidate Ukrainians and break their will, and emphasized that the attacked facilities have no military significance. "The goal of the terrorists is obvious - to weaken Ukraine, disrupt preparations for winter and create problems with gas supplies for Ukrainians during the cold season," the head of Naftogaz emphasized. As reported, the Russian Federation has already carried out more than ten massive attacks on Ukrainian gas facilities this year, damaging up to 40% of the infrastructure. The restructuring of tariffs by the US has led to a shift in the list of key product suppliers to the American market, with India emerging as one of the beneficiaries at the expense of China and Canada, an official said on Monday. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters As per an analysis, India's share in the USA's electronics exports has increased to 7.2 per cent to 3.5 per cent year-on-year in May, while China's share dipped to 11 per cent from 22 per cent during the same period. Within electronics the growth for India was led by smartphones and solar cells. Overall electronics exports in April-June were up 47 per cent to $12.41 billion. Similarly, China's share in textiles exports to the US fell from 27 per cent to 14 per cent, at a time when India's share in the US textiles' import market grew from 9 per cent to 12 per cent and Vietnam's share grew from 14 per cent to 18 per cent. In the agriculture and marine products sector, China's share to America has dipped from 3.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent, and despite no overlap in export commodities, India's share has grown from 1.7 per cent to 2.2 per cent. Indonesia and Vietnam ended up grabbing a portion of China's space in agriculture exports to the US. The official also said that in the first quarter of 2025-26, India, Mexico and the European Union (EU) have witnessed a positive growth in exports to the US, while China has seen the sharpest fall in exports to the US among G20 countries (around 5 per cent), followed by Canada and many other countries. China's exports to the US have suffered as it has faced the highest tariffs among major exporters to America. Even after the agreement between the US and China the tariffs on China stay at 55 per cent. On the other hand, Indian goods attract an additional 10 per cent duty in the US markets. Besides, there is 50 per cent duty on steel and aluminium, and 25 per cent on auto and auto parts. According to experts, these high sector duties may have implications for India. As steel and aluminum have 50 per cent additional duties, the domestic steel prices in the US are 40 per cent more than international prices. This high price and tariff uncertainty has resulted in fall in order inflow. Another sector that has suffered due to tariff uncertainty is chemicals. India's share of US import of chemicals has come down to 3.5 per cent from 4.4 per cent between May 2024 and May 2025. As pharma tariffs have been left untouched so far, India is maintaining its share in the US market. India maintains 40 per cent share of the US generic drugs imports. US President Donald Trump has threatened 200 per cent duties on pharma but India is expected to maintain its share as its products are 30 per cent to 80 per cent cheaper than the competition. 'Something very drastic must have happened.' IMAGE: Then Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. Photograph: ANI Photo/Sansad TV "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 decades. In a two-part interview with Rediff's Archana Masih, Mr Kidwai discusses the VP's resignation which is the biggest political surprise New Delhi has seen in a long time. What do you see the reasons for Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's unprecedented resignation? It is very unusual for a vice president to resign during his tenure. In the past, vice presidents have only resigned if they have been elevated to the post of President. Therefore, this is unprecedented and the timing is abrupt. Mr Dhankhar has cited health reasons for the resignation and we must take it at face value, but it would have been perhaps far more appropriate if it happened on the weekend, before the start of the Monsoon session of Parliament. Then it would have been amicable and logical. What is your assessment of his tenure as VP and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha? In my reporting career, I have seen few politically active chairmen of the Rajya Sabha as Mr Dhankhar. He was a very hands-on chairman of the Rajya Sabha, not so much as vice president. Till about the 1990s, most vice presidents like Shankar Dayal Sharma, R Venkatraman, K R Narayanan were non-partisan even though they had political affiliations and came from a political background. Up to President Narayanan, the VP as presiding officer of Rajya Sabha was very restrained and would only come during the Question Hour and supervise. It was, I would say, uneventful. The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is within his or her rights to preside over the Rajya Sabha the whole day or any time. There is nothing unconstitutional, but this was a later innovation. Mr Dhankhar was very hands-on and very political. The combined Opposition had moved an impeachment notice against him which was allowed to lapse on a technical ground, otherwise, he would have had to face impeachment proceedings. IMAGE: Jagdeep Dhankhar arrives to conduct proceedings of the House during the Monsoon session of Parliament. Photograph: Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab What did you make of the content of the resignation letter? Journalists tend to look at clues and if you look at the letter of the resignation, I realised, it looks more like a thank you note. An urgent letter stating medical reasons would have been short, but this letter has 5-6 paragraphs. So, we do not know what transpired. It is unprecedented and laced with intrigue. The sequence of events is very intriguing and questionable. Jairam Ramesh had tweeted that the VP had a meeting at 12.30 and reconvened it at 4.30, but J P Nadda and Kiren Rijiju who were present at the earlier meeting didn't show up. So, the speculation is that something happened in that period? The Opposition's sympathy and support for this is laced with politics and intrigue. Mr Dhankhar was intensely disliked by the Opposition as chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The Opposition constantly accused him of being partisan and an extended arm of the government. After all these allegations, now that he has resigned, there is an outpouring of sympathy which goes beyond courtesy. I think there is so much anti-Modi sentiment that the Opposition sees it as a compelling opportunity to revise their strategy and sympathise with Mr Dhankhar in order to target Mr Modi. In the era of social media, there was total silence from the prime minister about the vice president's resignation on health grounds till the afternoon. There is no tweet from the home minister or the defence minister and other leaders and ministers. There is a complete, stoic silence. So, perhaps there is something more than what we know. IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu being received by Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as she arrives to pay tribute to Dr B R Ambedkar on his 135th birth anniversary at Prerna Sthal in New Delhi, April 14, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Why could not this have been handled better by the government? The vice president and chairman of Rajya Sabha is a high office. It is among the top three in the order of protocol. Assuming there was some point of difference with the government over any matter, for example, the Opposition's resolution getting admitted -- in that case also there exists a resolution mechanism. For the sake of propriety, the government, rationally speaking, would not want to face a situation like an abrupt resignation. Despite what Mr Jairam Ramesh is saying, it still does not tell us the full story. Whatever it was it could have been sorted out. Something very drastic must have happened. IMAGE: Jagdeep Dhankhar with his wife Dr Sudesh Dhankhar offers prayers at the Shri Marikamba temple in Sirsi, May 5, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Yesterday? Whether it happened yesterday (July 21) or was it a chain reaction of some political adjustment, we do not know. It is unfortunate that there has been a decline in the appointments to Constitutional posts of President, VP, governors over the years. Dr Rajendra Prasad, Dr Radhakrishnan, Zakir Hussain, R Venkatraman, Shankar Dayal Sharma, A P J Abdul Kalam, K R Narayanan, Pranab Mukherjee carried political heft, had roots in society and were highly respected. I would say even the UPA's choice of Pratibha Patil was not in accordance with the political heft that the high Constitutional office deserves. The decline had started from the time of the UPA, especially in the choice of governors. IMAGE: Jagdeep Dhankhar greets the gathering after he pays tribute to former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh on the latter's death anniversary at Kisan Ghat in New Delhi, May 29, 2025. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo The letter said he was resigning with 'immediate effect'. Does it indicate anger at how he has been treated? Look, a medical emergency can also warrant a resignation. The resignation is authentic. It is a signed official paper. We do not have any counter evidence or argument to say that it is incorrect. Since I am a political reporter, I know that 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 it. IMAGE: President Murmu administers the Vice President's oath of office to Jagdeep Dhankhar. Photograph: Kind courtesy @rashtrapatibhvn/Twitter What does it mean for the BJP which has always displayed complete harmony, at least, to the public even if there is turbulence within? Dissent and disquiet are part and parcel of a thriving democracy. But you are right, post-2014, intra-party disquiet or one-upmanship has taken a back seat, at least it was not evident in the public domain. Whether this is a pointer toward internal disquiet in the BJP, we are not in a position to say because it all in the realm of speculation and conjecture. We also know there is a sideshow going on about the delay in the selection of the new BJP chief. It's an internal party matter, but is the delay linked to this? Is somebody being adjusted? Is there a deadlock between various pressure groups within the Sangh Parivar? Does it have any bearing on it? We don't know, but all this will reflect on the choice of the next VP. There is plenty of political gossip floating around, and we know that there is some grain of truth in every gossip. Part 2 of the Interview: 'Why Did PM Or Other Ministers Not Go To Dhankhar's House?' Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff 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. IMAGE: BSF personnel show weapons used against Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, at an exhibition in Jammu, May 27, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo The squadron, to be based in specific border outposts at this front, will comprise an assortment of reconnaissance, surveillance and attack drones or unmanned aerial vehicles and specially-trained personnel who can operate these machines, official sources in the security establishment told PTI. The squadron will be navigated by a control room based in the western command headquarters of the BSF in Chandigarh, the sources said. The BSF is primarily tasked to guard the India-Pakistan international border (IB). The decision to raise the unit was taken after a recent review of the strengths, weaknesses and threats facing the force post-Operation Sindoor. The operation was launched by India to strike at terrorist and defence bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as a retaliation against the Pahalgam attack of April 22 in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed in the Baisaran meadows. The BSF actively participated in the operation, launched on May 7, along with the Army. Pakistan sent thousands of drones, including a swarm of these flying objects, in response to Operation Sindoor to target Indian bases as well as civilian areas along the western front. On May 10, a bomb-laden Pakistani drone dropped explosives at its border post Kharkola in the RS Pura sector of Jammu. Two BSF personnel and an Army jawan deployed at the post were killed while four troops were critically injured, with one of them undergoing a leg amputation during treatment. Sources said the BSF drone squadron will be located in a specific number of BOPs located along the more than 2,000-km-long India-Pakistan border running from Jammu in the north to Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat on the western side of the country. The squadron will be equipped with a variety of small and large surveillance, reconnaissance and attack drones that will be launched during operations or any 'hot war' like situation similar to Operation Sindoor, the sources in the security establishment said. A small team of about 2-3 personnel each will be deployed in "vulnerable and specified" BOPs. Some drones and gadgetry are being procured for the maiden squadron and the personnel chosen for the task are being trained in batches, they said. The BSF, learning from the May 10 drone attack, has also begun hardening its defences and bunkers, along the border with Pakistan to fend off attacks in which enemy drones cross over and drop bombs and explosives. The roofs and walls of the BOP bunkers are being strengthened using alloy sheets. Some more measures are being taken to fortify the posts that are vulnerable to drone attacks, sources said as they refused to elaborate, citing operational confidentiality. A BSF officer deployed along this front added that the force is in touch with defence research and intelligence agencies to deploy counter-drone machines at select border posts so that "rogue or armed drones" flying in from across the frontier can be neutralised. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the BSF destroyed more than 118 Pakistani posts and "completely dismantled" their surveillance system during Operation Sindoor. Jagdeep Dhankhar's decision to resign as Vice President on Monday night has triggered a firestorm of speculation on whether there was more to it than "to prioritise health care", as his sudden move had capped a day of events in Rajya Sabha on his watch which took the government by surprise and put it in a damage-control mode. IMAGE: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar with his wife Sudesh Dhankhar pray at Shri Marikamba Temple, in Sirsi, Karnataka, May 5, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo The usual effusive praise that is showered on an occupant of a high office on his departure was missing from the ruling alliance's side, an indication that the government was probably happy to see him go. It was the Opposition, which had signed a notice to impeach him last year for his alleged biases, that had nice words for him. Dhankhar had informed the House on Monday that he had received a notice for a motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma, who is embroiled in a suspected corruption case, from 63 opposition MPs. The Vice President is ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha. That the notice went against the government's plan to marshal a bipartisan motion for Justice Varma's removal in the Lok Sabha and not in the Upper House was made more embarrassing for the ruling alliance by the fact that it was an entirely Opposition-sponsored exercise. Senior government ministers swung into action by getting many Rajya Sabha MPs of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies to put their signatures on a document which some members said was for a similar notice to ensure that opposition members alone were not behind the exercise in the Upper House. Many other signatories kept mum, while a few stated that they were not aware of the details as they signed a paper that did not carry details of the matter, drawing the conjecture that it was related to Dhankhar. A couple of senior leaders, however, insisted that it was all aimed at ensuring that National Democratic Alliance MPs were also part of the notice for Varma's removal. Some observers noted that Dhankhar, who wore the hat of a senior lawyer before becoming West Bengal governor in 2019, had taken lead in taking on the judiciary over a host of issues, the latest one involving Varma, and might have felt left out when it appeared that the motion to remove the high court judge was to be piloted in the Lok Sabha. Another development that suggested the government's unhappiness with Dhankhar was the absence of the Leader of House in Rajya Sabha, JP Nadda, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju from the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee, which includes members of different parties and decides on the House agenda, at 4.30 pm on Monday. The meeting, which was chaired by Dhankhar, was held as an earlier meeting, which Nadda and Rijiju had attended, could not arrive at a decision on the House's final agenda. Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh speculated in a post on X that something serious clearly occurred between 1 pm and 4.30 pm, which prompted Nadda and Rijiju to skip the BAC "deliberately". This naturally did not go well with Dhankhar, he claimed. Nadda told reporters that both of them were busy in official work and had informed the Rajya Sabha Chairman's office about it. A few BJP members were also critical of Dhankhar's decision to allow the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, to launch a sharp attack on the government over Operation Sindoor during the Zero Hour when the ruling alliance had already expressed its willingness for a discussion on the issue. At 9.25 pm on Monday, Dhankhar (74) announced his resignation "to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice". His outspoken views on the judiciary, occasional swipes on the establishment over farmers' issues and private views that were considered less charitable of the government than his public utterances are now being seen as the reasons for his worsening ties with the ruling alliance. Barring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who put out a brief post, most of the leading government figures refrained from offering any comment. Modi said on X, "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." Opposition MP Kapil Sibal, long a bitter critic of Dhankhar, lauded him as a nationalist and patriot. He wanted the Opposition and the government to work together to enhance India's standing in the world, the senior lawyer said. The investigation into the July 11, 2006 Mumbai train bombings, referred to as the 7/11 blasts, has been under scrutiny almost from its inception, with doubts emerging over the Anti-Terrorism Squad's handling of the case. IMAGE: A forensic officer examines a railway train compartment damaged in the 7/11 blasts. Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters Within 10 days of the devastating blasts, which claimed 189 lives, the Mumbai ATS, under the leadership of then chief K P Raghuvanshi, announced the arrest of all 13 alleged terror accused. However, questions soon began to surface regarding the integrity of the investigation, primarily because the entire case appeared to hinge on confessions and no concrete evidence. These doubts were significantly amplified by the Bombay high court judgment acquitting all the 12 accused on Monday, July 21, 2025. In their 671-page ruling, Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak stated unequivocally: 'The prosecution utterly failed to prove the case and it was hard to believe that the accused committed the crime.' The judges further highlighted a critical failing, noting that the prosecution 'failed even to bring on record the type of bombs used in the crime.' This high court verdict overturned the special MCOCA court's 2015 order, in which Judge Yatin D Shinde had sentenced five of the accused to death, seven to life imprisonment, and acquitted one. One of the earliest red flags in the investigation appeared in August 2006, when Assistant Police Commissioner Vinod Bhat, a key investigator in the 7/11 case, tragically died by suicide by jumping in front of a train near the Dadar railway station. Bhat, known as an upright officer, had been transferred from the Anti-Corruption Bureau to lead the 7/11 blast investigation, and his death sent shockwaves through the police department. Rumours circulating within police circles at the time suggested that Bhat was pressured to file a chargesheet against all the accused. At the time, ATS chief Raghuvanshi clarified (external link) that Bhat was not instructed to engage in any illegal activities, stating, 'The railway police are investigating this case and I do not want to say anything else.' A second significant challenge to the prosecution's case came from the late defence lawyer Shahid Azmi, who vehemently dismissed the claims of arrest. Azmi pointed out that despite all 13 arrests being made by July 22, till September 2006 the ATS made no public disclosure regarding the accused's link to the blast or how it was carried out. Azmi was also the first to highlight that Ajmeri Shaikh, a key witness for the prosecution in the 7/11 case, had also been a witness in the 2002 Ghatkopar blast case. In the high court judgment, the judges too made the observation that Ajmeri Sheikh was used as a witness in the Ghatkopar blast as well. The high court judgment also did not rely on the prosecution's witnesses, noting their failure to substantiate their claims during cross-examination. The prosecution's case suffered a third major setback when Sadiq Sheikh, an Indian Mujahideen accused arrested in a separate terror case, confessed that his team was responsible for the 7/11 blasts. The Indian Express even obtained a video (external link) of Sadiq stating, 'We planted the bombs.' He reportedly informed investigators that Abu Rashi, Dr Shahnawaz, Sajid and Abu Asif executed the 7/11 blasts, and that the material, including pressure cookers, detonators, and explosives, were arranged by the notorious terrorist Yasin Bhatkal. However, Sadiq Sheikh later retracted his confession when he was presented as a defence witness before MCOCA Judge Yatin Shinde in the 7/11 case. In 2013, Sadiq told the MCOCA court that investigating officers had coerced him (external link) into making the confession, providing him with three pages containing a fabricated story that he was instructed to memorise. The defence also raised questions about the narco-analysis conducted on the 7/11 serial blast convicts, arguing that it was not carried out by a professionally qualified doctor. The doctor in question, Dr Malini, was found to have submitted forged documents to secure her position. 'Dr Malini had submitted forged documents (external link) and got the position. She has been prosecuted for forgery. She did narco analysis on accused without proper qualification,' defence counsel Dr Yug Mohit Chaudhry stated. Dr Malini was subsequently dismissed from her job in 2009. Abdul Wahid Sheikh, the sole accused acquitted by the MCOCA court in 2015, stated that when they could not catch hold of anyone, ATS officers wrote a script and arrested the 13 accused. Following his release, Wahid told media-persons that the entire 7/11 accused story was a 'fiction' in which he was wrongly branded a terrorist. The ATS had claimed Wahid provided shelter to a Pakistani terrorist who had illegally crossed the border and stayed at his place. Wahid was incarcerated for over nine years before his acquittal in 2015. He has consistently maintained the innocence of the other 12 accused in the case, and also ran a campaign called 'Innocence Network'. The ruling National Democratic Alliance has a comfortable edge in the elections to the post of the next Vice President, necessitated by the surprise resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday. IMAGE: Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh arrives to conduct the proceedings of the house during the Monsoon Session of the Parliament, in New Delhi, July 22, 2025. Photograph: Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab The Vice President is elected by the members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, where nominated members of the Upper House are also eligible to cast their vote. The 543-member Lok Sabha has one vacant seat -- Basirhat in West Bengal -- while there are five vacancies in the 245-member Rajya Sabha. Of the five vacancies in Rajya Sabha, four are from Jammu and Kashmir and one from Punjab, where sitting member Sanjeev Arora quit the seat after being elected to the state assembly in a bypoll last month. The effective strength of both Houses together is 786, and the winning candidate will require to win 394 votes in the election for the Vice President, considering all eligible voters exercise their franchise. In Lok Sabha, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA enjoys the support of 293 members in the 542-member House. The ruling alliance has the support of 129 members in Rajya Sabha that has an effective strength of 240, assuming that the nominated members vote in support of the NDA nominee. The ruling alliance has the support of 422 members among 786 members, which is the combined strength of both the Houses. 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 or removal, or otherwise, will be held "as soon as possible" after it goes vacant. The person elected to fill the vacancy will be entitled to hold office "for the full term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office". Article 66 (1) of the Constitution provides that the election shall be held in accordance with the system of Proportional Representation by means of the single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot. In this system, the elector has to mark preferences against the names of the candidates. The Vice President is the second-highest constitutional office in the country. He serves for a five-year term, but can continue to be in office, irrespective of the expiry of the term, until the successor assumes office. Dhankhar resigned as the vice president on Monday evening, citing medical reasons. He sent his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu and said he was stepping down with immediate effect. Several Opposition MPs who had been at the receiving end of former Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's sharp words and had also attempted a no-confidence motion against him for allegedly being partisan were heaping praises on him after his sudden resignation. IMAGE: Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar leaves after the last sitting of the Winter Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, December 20, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Interestingly, some of them, who were pulled by Dhankhar in the Upper House for their conduct, even requested that he review his resignation and felt a "kisanputra" (son of a farmer) is being denied a dignified farewell. Among those who often had run-ins with Dhankhar when he was the Chairman of Rajya Sabha was Congress chief and Leader of Opposition Mallikurjun Kharge, who had accused the Chair of not allowing him to speak in the House and raise matters of public importance. The opposition maintained that traditionally, whenever the Leader of Opposition is on his feet, he is permitted to speak by the Chair, but Kharge alleged that he was not allowed to complete his point even when he was speaking. Congress' chief whip Jairam Ramesh also had been critical of Dhankhar, saying the vice president should remain neutral as an umpire and not act as a "cheerleader" for the government. Dhankhar had kept a privilege notice moved by a BJP MP against Ramesh -- for "continued disrespect to the Chair" -- pending for a long time. "All parties belonging to the INDIA group have had no option but to formally submit a no-confidence motion against the learned Hon'ble Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for the extremely partisan manner in which he has been conducting the proceedings of the Council of States," Ramesh had said on X on the notice for a motion for Dhankhar's removal. However, after Dhankhar resigned, Ramesh said the prime minister must get Dhankhar to change his mind and that it will be in the nation's interest. "The PM's non-post on X regarding Shri Jagdeep Dhankar's forced resignation has only added to the mystery of his abrupt exit. Surely the PM could have been a bit more gracious--he is, after all, the supreme master of hypocrisy. The kisanputra is being denied even a dignified farewell," Ramesh said in a post. Noting that Dhankhar's resignation is "quite unexpected", he also said, "while presiding over Rajya Sabha yesterday (Monday) he was his good jolly self!!" "Did the way he pro-actively handle the 2 impeachment motions (Justice Yadav & Verma) yesterday was the last straw!!" he asked. Claiming that there is no doubt Dhankhar has to give topmost priority to his health, the Congress leader said, "Clearly there is far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye. This is not the time for speculation though." "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 farming community particularly will be greatly relieved. "Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation speaks highly of him. It also speaks poorly of those who had got him elected as Vice President in the first instance," Ramesh said. Another former Union minister and eminent lawyer Kapil Sibal had also been at the receiving end of criticism by Dhankhar, who has been a practising lawyer. Dhankhar had criticised Sibal for not spending enough time inside the House and for his statement on the rape and murder of a medical student at the RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata that termed the incident as "symptomatic malaise" and "commonplace". Expressing pain over the remarks, Dhankhar said he was appalled, pained and surprised that someone holding a position in the Supreme Court Bar and a Member of Parliament is acting in this manner. "What a shame! Words fail me in condemning such a stance. It is doing the greatest injustice to the high position," the then vice-president had said at an event. However, after his resignation, Sibal said Dhankhar is a "nationalist and patriotic" and wished him good health. "I did not feel nice and 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," Sibal said. Sibal had made public remarks against Dhankhar for not acting on a notice to remove Justice Shekhar Yadav, submitted in December last year. Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien was frequently pulled by Dhankhar inside the House for disregarding the chair's directives and for using 'offensive' language. "Your conduct is ugliest in the House. I condemn this behaviour. Next time I will show you the door. How dare you shout at the Chair and senior leaders are not taking note of it," Dhankhar once said in the House last year while targeting O'Brien for his conduct. Dhankhar had also accused O'Brien of doing "theatrics" in the House to gain personal publicity while speaking on the Delhi Services bill. The TMC member was suspended from the Rajya Sabha by Dhankhar for the remainder of the 2023 Winter session for his "unruly behaviour" and "misconduct". Several other TMC MPs, including Sagarika Ghosh, Saket Gokhale and Kalyan Banerjee, who had mimicked Dhankhar during an opposition protest in Parliament complex in December 2023, also had open spats in the House, with the Chair often reprimanding them. Dhankhar had also rebuked AAP MPs Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh, both of whom were suspended from the House for a long tenure. He also had frequent verbal duels with actor-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan. She had demanded an apology from him for being disrespectful towards women MPs". Congress leader and noted lawyer Abhishek Singhvi faced Dhankhar's sharp words when a wad of Rs 500 currency notes was recovered from his seat in the upper house. Bachchan had in August last year raised objection to Dhankhar's "tone" while giving her floor to speak and he retorted that even a celebrity like her needs to follow decorum. 'My brother was mentally tortured and harassed.' Kindly note the image have only been published for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo Three days after Dr Yajuvender Sahu, a postgraduate student at AIIMS Patna, was found dead in his hostel room, his family has vehemently demanded a high-level probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation while refuting reports that suggest suicide. Dr Sahu, a first-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) student at AIIMS Patna, was a resident of Odisha's Dhenkanal district and stayed in the hostel within the institute's premises. The grieving family alleges that Dr Sahu was subjected to mental torture and harassment, and that his death was the result of a conspiracy that needed to be thoroughly investigated. A First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged by the family at the Phulwarisharif police station in Patna concerning Dr Sahu's mysterious death, and the police have commenced an investigation. Following the family's suspicions over the initial cause of death reported by AIIMS Patna, Dr Sahu's post-mortem examination was conducted at the state government-run Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) in the presence of a magistrate and was videographed. Dr Sahu's younger brother emphatically stated that it was not a suicide but a result of mental torture and a conspiracy. "My brother was mentally tortured and harassed," he alleged. "It was not a suicide but a murder." IMAGE: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna. Photograph: Kind courtesy AIIMS Patna Police officials at Phulwarisharif police station confirmed that a case was registered by Dr Sahu's family, in which they alleged he was instigated to end his life. "The police will investigate the case taking into account the post-mortem report, forensic report, and witness statements," a police spokesperson said. According to reports in the local media, junior resident doctors at AIIMS Patna have reportedly written a letter to the Union health minister, demanding a high-level inquiry into Dr Sahu's death. Dr Sahu, 25, was found dead on July 19 in room number 515 of hostel number 10 on the AIIMS Patna campus. No suicide note was found in the room. Dr Sahu had joined AIIMS Patna in January 2025 as a postgraduate student in the gynaecology and obstetrics department. Officials from AIIMS Patna informed the police that he had committed death by suicide by injecting a high dose of an anaesthetic drug. As the door to his room was locked from the inside, it was opened by the AIIMS Patna administration in the presence of local police and a magistrate. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff The Union home ministry notified the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar as vice president on Tuesday, a day after he sent a letter to President Droupadi Murmu saying he was stepping down with immediate effect due to medical reasons. IMAGE: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation surprised the ruling and opposition leaders. Photograph: ANI Photo In a gazette notification signed by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reproduced Dhankhar's resignation letter, which he made public on Monday evening. "The following resignation of Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President of India, is hereby published for general information," the notification said. Earlier in the day, the Rajya Sabha was informed about the MHA's notification. Soon after the House met for Question Hour at 12 noon, Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was in the Chair, informed members about the notification. "The Ministry of Home Affairs, vide notification dated July 22, 2025, has conveyed the resignation of Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar under Article 67 (A) of the Constitution with immediate effect," Tiwari announced. The vice president of India is ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, who presided over the proceedings of the House soon after it met, informed the members that the further constitutional process concerning vacancy in the Office of Vice President of India will be communicated as and when received. In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Dhankhar got many opportunities to serve the country in various capacities and wished him good health. Dhankhar, 74, assumed office in August 2022. In his resignation letter, 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." He also thanked PM Modi, Council of Ministers and MPs for their support and cooperation during his 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 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," Dhankhar said. The legendary Russian-origin MiG-21 aircraft are finally set to retire from the Indian Air Force in September after remaining in service for over six decades, people aware of the development said on Tuesday. IMAGE: File image of a MiG-21 fighter jet. Photograph: ANI Photo/IAF The last of the MiG-21 jets, belonging to number 23 Squadron, nicknamed "Panthers" will be given a farewell at a ceremony in Chandigarh airbase on September 19, they said. The MiG-21s used to be the mainstay of the IAF for a long period of time. After its first induction in the 1960s, the IAF procured over 870 MiG-21 fighters to boost its overall combat prowess. However, the aircraft has a very poor safety record. The MiG-21s were the dominant platforms during 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan. The aircraft also played a key role in the 1999 Kargil conflict as well as 2019 Balakot airstrikes. With phasing out of the last of the few MiG-21s, the number of the IAF's fighter squadrons is expected to come down to an abysmal low of 29 from the officially sanctioned strength of 42. The IAF was planning to replace the MiG-21s with Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (Mark1A). However, there has been delays in supply of the indigenously-built aircraft by the state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets for the IAF. The ministry is also in the process of procuring 97 more LCA Mk-1As at a cost of around Rs 67,000 crore. Tejas is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft capable of operating in high-threat air environments. It has been designed to undertake air defence, maritime reconnaissance and strike roles. The HAL is looking at supplying 12 Tejas jets to the IAF by March, 2025. Ukraine's anti-corruption authorities have appealed to the European Union, American partners, the International Monetary Fund, and a number of international institutions regarding the situation with the loss of independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), NABU Director Semen Kryvonos has said. "We have already appealed to a number of international institutions, the European Union, American partners, embassies, and the International Monetary Fund," he said at a briefing on Tuesday. According to him, during the vote in the Verkhovna Rada on the relevant bill, there was also communication with international partners. American aerospace major Boeing on Tuesday delivered three Apache attack choppers to the Indian Army, officials said. IMAGE: First batch of Apache helicopters for the Indian Army arrives in India . Photograph: @adgpi/X 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 multi-role combat helicopters and is flown by the US Army. "Milestone moment for Indian Army as the first batch of Apache helicopters for Army Aviation arrive today in India. These state-of-the-art platforms will bolster the operational capabilities of the Indian Army significantly," the Army said in a social media post. WATCH: Three Apache helicopters arrive in India In 2020, Boeing completed delivery of 22 E-model Apaches to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and signed a contract to supply six AH-64Es for the Indian Army. The delivery of the Indian Army's Apaches was scheduled to begin in 2024. The IAF had signed a multi-billion dollar contract with the US government and Boeing Ltd in September 2015 for 22 Apache helicopters. Additionally, the Defence Ministry in 2017 approved the procurement of six Apache helicopters along with weapons systems from Boeing at a cost of Rs 4,168 crore for the Army. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday thanked Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar president Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasahebd Thackeray head Uddhav Thackeray for effusively praising him in a coffee table book released on his birthday, saying they were his ideological opponents, not enemies. IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis being felicitated during the 'Shivkalyan Raja' musical programme held to celebrate the inclusion of 12 forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the UNESCO World Heritage list, in Mumbai, July 21, 2025. Photograph: @CMOMaharashtra X/ANI Photo Governor C P Radhakrishnan released the coffee table book titled 'Maharashtra Nayak' on Fadnavis at Raj Bhavan to mark the CM's 55th birthday. Asked about the remarks made by Thackeray and Pawar, his political opponents and former CMs, in the book about his zeal and passion towards work, Fadnavis, who belongs to their rival party BJP, said he was thankful to them for their effusive praise. "We are ideological opponents and not enemies," the CM insisted while speaking to reporters in Nagpur, his hometown. "Sharad Pawar is a large-hearted and senior leader. His comments are priceless for me," he said. In the book, Pawar (84) has written that when he sees Fadnavis, it reminds him of the time when he himself became Maharashtra's Chief Minister for the first time in 1978. Pawar was just 38 when he became CM, making him the youngest politician to occupy the top post in the state. The Rajya Sabha member noted that Fadnavis was knowledgeable and has a strong grip on the state administration. In a lighter vein, the former Union minister likened his own body structure to Fadnavis, saying the "similarity of being on the heavier side was never a deterrent to work hard. How doesn't he get tired, I wonder." Thackeray, in his piece in the book, has described Fadnavis as a studious and loyal politician, who has succeeded in strengthening his party in Maharashtra, which was once a Congress stronghold. The Shiv Sena-UBT leader, a former CM, has written that Fadnavis has a chance of getting a bigger role at the national level and wished him well for the future. Fadnavis, a three-time chief minister, assumed the top office for the first time in 2014 at the age of 44, making him the second-youngest CM in Maharashtra's history after Pawar. He is also the BJP's first chief minister of Maharashtra and his rise to the top position reflects the saffron outfit's growing support base in a state where the Congress once ruled the roost. Police have registered a non-cognisable case against a 22-year-old IT professional who falsely claimed that she was raped by a man posing as a 'delivery agent' at her apartment in Pune, officials said on Tuesday. Image used for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo The woman approached the police on July 3 with a complaint alleging a 'delivery agent' entered her flat the previous evening and sprayed some chemical rendering her unconscious before committing the rape. She had also claimed the man clicked a selfie using her phone and typed a message threatening to circulate her photos if she disclosed the "incident". The case took a dramatic turn after the investigation revealed the 'delivery agent' was the friend of the woman who visited the flat with her consent. The police had ruled out forced entry and the use of spray, and said her rape complaint was false and misleading. A non-cognisable case was registered against the woman on Monday under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 212, 217 (dealing with furnishing false information to a public servant) and 228 (fabricating false evidence), a senior police official said. "We have registered a non-cognisable offence against the woman for giving false information and evidence during the probe and trying to mislead the police," the official said. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar had earlier said based on various pieces of evidence, including phone chats, the sequence of events, mobile communication, and the conduct of both the woman, it was evident that this was not a case of rape and there was an attempt to mislead the police. A five-judge Supreme Court bench on Tuesday agreed to deliberate upon the 14 crucial questions raised by President Droupadi Murmu on its April 8 verdict that fixed timelines for governors and President to act on bills passed by state assemblies. IMAGE: The Supreme Court of India. Photograph: ANI Photo A Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar, would fix the timelines on July 29 and commence hearing on the presidential reference in mid-August. The Supreme Court on Tuesday also sought responses of the Centre and all states on the presidential reference raising constitutional issues on whether timelines could be imposed for dealing with bills passed by assembly. Observing that the issues raised in the presidential reference will affect the entire country, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai sought the replies in a week and fixed the reference for fixing timelines and other procedural details on July 29. "There are issues of interpretation of the Constitution. We have requested the attorney general to assist us. Issue notice to the Union and all state governments. The solicitor general will appear for the Union. All state governments be served through emails. List it on next Tuesday. Notice be also served to all standing counsel," ordered the bench which also comprised justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, PS Narasimha and AS Chandurkar. During a brief hearing, senior advocates KK Venugopal and P Wilson, representing Kerala and Tamil Nadu respectively, opposed the reference and questioned its maintainability. These objections can be raised later, the CJI said, adding the matter will be taken up in mid-August. Exercising her power under the rarely used Article 143 (1), President Murmu said in the present circumstances, it appears the following questions of law have arisen and they are of such nature and public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court. Article 143 (1) of the Constitution deals with the power of President to consult the Supreme Court. "If at any time it appears to the President that a question of law or fact has arisen, or is likely to arise, which is of such a nature and of such public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court upon it, he may refer the question to that Court for consideration and the Court may, after such hearing as it thinks fit, report to the President its opinion thereon," it says. The following are the President's questions: What are the constitutional options before a governor when a bill is presented to him under Article 200 of the Constitution of India? Is the governor bound by the aid and advice of 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? Is the exercise of constitutional discretion by Governor under Article 200 of the Constitution of India justiciable? Is Article 361 of the Constitution of India an absolute bar to judicially review in relation to the actions of governor under Article 200 of the Constitution of India? In the absence of a constitutionally prescribed time limit and the manner of exercise of powers by governor, can timelines be imposed and the manner of exercise be prescribed through judicial orders for the exercise of all powers under Article 200 of the Constitution of India by governor? Is the exercise of constitutional discretion by President under Article 201 of the Constitution of India justiciable? In the absence of a constitutionally prescribed timeline and the manner of exercise of powers by President, can timelines be imposed and the manner of exercise be prescribed through judicial orders for the exercise of discretion by President under Article 201 of the Constitution of India? In light of the constitutional scheme governing the powers of President, is President required to seek advice of the Supreme Court by way of a reference under Article 143 of the Constitution of India and take the opinion of the Supreme Court when the governor reserves a bill for President's assent or otherwise? Are decisions of the governor and President under Article 200 and Article 201 of the Constitution of India, respectively, justiciable at a stage anterior into the law coming into force? Is it permissible for the courts to undertake judicial adjudication over the contents of a bill, in any manner, before it becomes law? Can the exercise of constitutional powers and the orders of/by President/governor be substituted in any manner under Article 142 of the Constitution of India? Is a law made by the state legislature a law in force without the assent of governor granted under Article 200 of the Constitution of India? In view of the proviso to Article 145(3) of the Constitution of India, is it not mandatory for any bench of this court to first decide as to whether the question involved in the proceedings before it is of such a nature which involves substantial questions of law as to the interpretation of Constitution and to refer it to a bench of minimum five judges? ... (Are) the powers of the Supreme Court under Article 142 of the Constitution of India limited to matters of procedural law or Article 142 of the Constitution of India extends to issuing directions/passing orders which are contrary to or inconsistent with existing substantive or procedural provisions of the Constitution or law in force? Does the Constitution bar any other jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to resolve disputes between the Union government and the state governments except by way of a suit under Article 131 of the Constitution of India? The Supreme Court's April 8 verdict set a timeline for all governors to act on the bills passed by the state assemblies and ruled that the governor does not possess any discretion in exercise of functions under Article 200 of the Constitution in respect to any bill presented to them and must mandatorily abide by the advice tendered by the council of ministers. It said the state governments could directly approach the Supreme Court if the President withheld assent to a bill sent by the governor for consideration. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said reserving a bill on grounds such as "personal dissatisfaction of governor, political expediency or any other extraneous or irrelevant considerations" was strictly impermissible by the Constitution and would be liable to be set aside forthwith on that ground alone. Former Mumbai police commissioner AN Roy on Tuesday expressed shock over the Bombay high court's acquittal of all 12 accused in the 7/11 train blasts case, saying the probe was conducted in a professional manner where evidence was collected "honestly and truthfully". IMAGE: A damaged local train after a blast in Mumbai on July 11, 2006. Photograph: Prashanth Vishwanathan/Reuters He said the police only chargesheeted the people who had a "core role" in the blasts, and said there was no "witch hunt" involved. Roy headed the city police force when the blasts occurred on July 11, 2006, while the probe in the terror attack was handled by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad. More than 180 people were killed when seven blasts ripped through Mumbai local trains at various locations on the western line. Nineteen years later, the Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all 12 accused, saying the prosecution utterly failed to prove the case and that it was "hard to believe the accused committed the crime". Talking to PTI, former Mumbai police chief Roy said, "I am shocked to see the kind of judgment. But it is a judicial verdict, we accept it respectfully." "The relevant department, which is ATS, is studying the judgment. They will take legal opinion. I am sure they will file an appeal in the Supreme Court on that," he said. The Supreme Court will hear the Maharashtra government's plea against the high court verdict on July 24. Roy reminded that the trial court had sided with the prosecution while giving the harshest sentences to the accused people and added that the apex court of the country will see merit in the case. "We presented a very good, strong case to the court through the chargesheet," Roy said, asserting that it was a professionally conducted, thorough investigation where evidence was collected "honestly and truthfully". Maintaining that he has not read the judgment delivered on Monday, he said the high court seems to be apprehensive on how witnesses could identify the accused after 100 days and questioned if there was any prescribed procedure that explicitly disallows such a practice. "There are a number of cases on judicial records where the witnesses have identified the accused after 10 years in the court," Roy said. Speaking about the delay in the trial, he said the trial went on for several years because the accused kept on moving applications across the legal system and also went up till the Supreme Court for seeking bail or some "frivolous issues". They also made allegations of torture, of getting beaten up and forced to confess which consumed time, Roy said, adding that none of these allegations were accepted in the court. Talking about the investigation into the case, the former top cop said officers worked overnight to build the case, after which the trial began. According to the police, members of the proscribed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and other brainwashed youth conspired to bomb the local trains, called as the lifeline of the financial capital, during the peak hour. Bombs assembled inside pressure cookers were put on first-class compartments of the trains. Investigators had claimed that the bombers had travelled with the bombs to south Mumbai's Churchgate after assembling them in distant suburbs, and alighted at railway stations before the timers went off. Roy said, "We did not do any witch hunt. We only chargesheeted the people who had the core role in the blast." "I retired from the service 16 years ago, I was not closely monitoring the court hearings. But I was the police commissioner when the bomb blast happened. I was very closely supervising the investigation and I own up whatever was done in the investigation," he said on the HC judgement. "I have accorded the sanction for prosecution under the MCOC Act to all the accused. I stood in the court for 5 days to prove my sanction. Now, after completing the investigation very professionally, very thoroughly, after collecting all the evidence possible to collect, truthfully, honestly presented a very good, strong case to the court through the chargesheet," he said. Roy said the court took a long time to pronounce the judgment because it was a very voluminous chargesheet, and added that the trial court judgment alone went into 2,000 pages. Every single person's evidence was mentioned there in detail. The evidence brought in by the prosecution side, the cross examination by all the 9 to 10 defence lawyers for every witness is all recorded in that 2,000-page judgement of the trial court, he said. "All the eyewitnesses, all the witnesses who identified the accused, all the recoveries which were made, all other circumstantial evidence, all of that is mentioned in great detail in that 2,000 page judgement. The police officers who were investigated or played any other role during that - they were all examined and cross-examined," he said. "I withstood cross examination for 5 days, morning till evening," the former police commissioner added. The judgement seems to mention only what the defence lawyers have argued in the high court and saying yes or no to that, Roy said, adding that he found it bizarre. "We will have to wait for the next verdict. We have got from the trial court's full verdict in our favour. For whatever reason, if the high court has given a contradictory verdict, we accept that as well," he said. "We'll go and appeal to the higher court to wait for the final judgement to come. We are very confident that we have a very good case," he said, adding that they will wait for the final judgement from the Supreme Court. The 'copy paste' culture in confessional statements and witness statements in chargesheets has been flagged by courts on several occasions, with the Bombay High Court calling it a 'dangerous' trend. IMAGE: A local train damaged by a blast in Mumbai on July 11, 2006. As many as 188 people were killed and hundreds injured in seven bomb explosions at rail stations and on trains in India's financial hub. Photograph: Prashanth Vishwanathan/Reuters The issue came to the fore again on Monday after the HC acquitted all the 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case, saying 'the confessional statements are found to be incomplete and not truthful as some parts are a copy-paste of each other'. In two cases in May and June, the high court had taken note of copy-paste witness statements and directed the Maharashtra government to address this growing menace and issue guidelines. In Monday's order in the train blasts case, the HC took a serious note of the similarity in the confessional statements of the accused persons. The court said the confessional statements were not found to be truthful and complete on various grounds, and some portions were found to be similar and copied. In May, the high court in another case red flagged a dangerous culture adopted by the police of copy-pasting witness statements even in serious offences and had then asked the Maharashtra government to issue guidelines. The HC had then said that it had come across several such cases where it had noticed such copy-paste witness statements. Last month, the high court took note of a similar trend in yet another criminal case and directed the state government to address this growing menace. In the train blasts case, a special bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak observed that the confessional statements of many accused had identical questions and answers as if they have beencopied. The bench in its 671-page judgment included a comparative chart of the confessional statements to show the similarities. Even if it is presumed that the questions are similar, it cannot be ignored that the answers are identical verbatim, which is highly improbable, HC said. Two people can answer the same way, but not using the exact same words and in the same sequence. They could share the same narrative but will express it differently, the court said. The HC's verdict in the train blasts case trashed the prosecution's reliance on the confessional statements and said certain portions in each of the statements are "identical and appear to have been copied", in complete contrast with the trial court judgment. Commenting on the "shocking finding", the bench said, "Upon examining the relevant portion related to bomb blasts of each of the confessional statements, we were surprised to find that certain portions of these statements are identical and appear to have been copied." In 2015, the trial court had upheld the authenticity of the confessions and discarded factors such as torture, recording of statements before a police officer instead of the magistrate, and other common oddities in the confessional statements, as pointed out by the defence. On the argument of the presence of common mistakes in the confessional statements, the trial court had then observed, merely on the basis of such commonality, it would be preposterous to draw the conclusion that the confessional statements themselves are fabricated and were dictated or prepared by a single authority". Monday's HC verdict referred to a chart demonstrating the commonality in the confessional statements and said it spoke "volume about the credibility, reliability, and truthfulness of each of the confessional statements". "These charts strengthen the case of the defence that the accused have not given the confessional statements but their signatures were obtained forcefully. The accused persons also, in their complaint before the Sessions Judge as well as in their deposition, claimed that they have not given any confessional statements, and that their signatures were taken on some papers forcefully by the ATS Officers, the court said. In 2015, the defence argued that the confessions were not only extracted under duress but also fabricated, pointing out all accused complained of third-degree torture, threat and forced signatures at the hands of DCPs and ATS officers. The trial court, however, called it "nothing but casting aspersions on the magistrates or the special judge" and junked the claims as "baseless', made for the sake of making it. Seven DCPs had recorded the confessional statements. The accused later retracted their confessional statements before the court. The trial court, after considering the "extent, the nature of the alleged torture" that led to signing of confessional statements, said it was not probable that the accused persons would have "remained quiet till they submitted their retraction applications after over two months". Estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will unite for the cause of the Marathi language, as their parties will stage a joint protest against the 'imposition' Hindi and the state government's three-language formula for Classes 1-5. Photograph: PTI Photo/Rediff Archives The protest on July 5 will bring Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on the same platform. Both leaders had asserted on Thursday that they would vehemently oppose the imposition of Hindi and the three-language formula while addressing separate press conferences at the same time. Uddhav had announced to join a protest by civil society at Azad Maidan on July 7, while Raj declared that he would take out a non-political march from Girgaum Chowpatty on July 6, and would invite leaders of all political outfits, including the Shiv Sena-UBT. Talking to reporters on Friday, Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut said Raj invited him to take part in the July 6 protest. He said Uddhav immediately consented to be part of the protest but raised concerns that Ashadhi Ekadashi, which is celebrated across the state with much fanfare, falls on July 6, and it would be inconvenient for everyone. Raut said the Sena-UBT chief suggested a joint protest by both parties on July 5, and Raj also consented to it. "A joint protest of MNS and Sena-UBT will take place on July 5. There is only an issue of the timing because the time suggested by Raj Thackeray is 10 am, and it would be inconvenient for people," he said, adding that the parties will discuss the timings. There has been a buzz about a possible rapprochement between the Thackeray cousins, and the language issue may prove to be the platform they need to put up a united front. The Rajya Sabha MP said that the two cousins feel there should be a fight similar to the one put up during the Samyukt Maharashtra movement for the formation of the state in 1960, and the Thackerays should lead it. "Similar attacks are now taking place to break Mumbai and drive the Marathi manoos out of Maharashtra," Raut said. He said other political parties will also be invited to take part in the protest. MNS Mumbai president Sandeep Deshpande said, "As a Marathi manoos, I am happy for the way Raj saheb took the lead for Marathi manoos, and it was reciprocated by Uddhav saheb." Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has made it clear that Hindi is optional while Marathi is compulsory. The row erupted after the state government last week issued an amended order stating Hindi will 'generally' be taught as the third language to students in Marathi and English medium schools from Classes 1 to 5. According to the order, if 20 students per grade in a school wish to study any other Indian language, they can opt out of Hindi. If such a demand arises, either a teacher will be appointed, or the language will be taught online. School Education Minister Dada Bhuse has said that there will be no books for Classes 1 and 2. The medium of instruction will be oral, and students of these two grades will be taught songs and shown pictures. Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation as vice president has shocked the commentariat, stunned the political class, and befuddled the Opposition which, till the other day, was baying for his blood. IMAGE: Then vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar and Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan greet each other at the launch of the book Janata Ki Kahani Meri Aatmakatha authored by then Haryana governor Bandaru Dattatraya at the New Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi, may 9, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo With the resignation a fait accompli, all eyes are on who will succeed Dhankhar. On the face of it the qualifications to become vice president are simple: He/she must be a citizen of India; be at least 35 years old; must be qualified to be elected as a Rajya Sabha member; and be a registered voter anywhere in India However, the reality is different. It is an elected post, and usually the government of the day has its way since the electoral college comprises Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members. In the present case, what piques the narrative is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah decide on crucial matters, they play it close to their chest, and revel in springing a surprise (remember Yogi Adityanath being picked as UP chief minister in March 2017?) With that caveat firmly in place, here's a look at who could succeed Dhankhar for the number two post on the official protocol list. Harivansh Narayan Singh A no-brainer, this. A former journalist -- he began his career at The Times of India -- Singh also served as media advisor to then prime minister Chandra Shekhar. A nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from the Janata Dal-United, Singh first became deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha in 2018, and for the second time in 2024. If the government seeks continuity with change, Singh is the obvious choice for vice president. J P Nadda With the Bharatiya Janata Party going through the process of internal elections, culminating in the election of a new party president, Jagat Prasad Nadda is due for a leg up. Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, and Chemicals and Fertilisers, Nadda has headed the BJP since 2020. The party recently elected new state chiefs in 19 states, a requirement under its constitution to set in motion the national president's election. If the BJP is looking for a politician with a legal background to succeed Dhankar, it need not look beyond Nadda. Nitish Kumar That the BJP has been eyeing the Bihar chief minister's post for long is no secret. That standing in the way is incumbent chief minister, Nitish Kumar, is also no secret. The BJP could have had its way in 2020 when it emerged as the single largest party, but it did not push the case. But patience is running out, and it knows it cannot spend another five years as junior partner. But what about Nitish Kumar? Make him the V-P, dangle the President's post five years hence, and ensure a smooth handover in Patna. Only hitch: Nitish Kumar's unconfirmed health concerns. Especially since Dhankhar has stepped down citing the same reasons. Arif Mohammed Khan Remember how then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee muted criticism of his party's anti-minority stance by nominating A P J Abdul Kalam as President -- forcing even Sonia Gandhi to break ranks with the Opposition and back him? If Modi-Shah want to let the cats among the Opposition's pigeons and burnish its 'Sab ka Saath' claims, Khan, who has for long plowed a lonely furrow battling Muslim orthodoxy, could be their man. Shashi Tharoor If Modi-Shah have finessed the art of pulling a rabbit out of the hat, what better way to demonstrate it than nominating a man who is in the Congress but does not belong to it? Tharoor has been cut loose by his party ever since he backed the government on the Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach. Since returning to the country he has been virtually sidelined, the Congress waiting for him to quit rather than expel him and make a martyr out of him. Modi-Shah may well reward the articulate and charming Tharoor by making him the VP and winning over the chatterati. And who knows, make him President, too, five years hence. Vice President V V Giri's resignation in 1969 triggered political upheavals that saw the ruling party defy its own presidential nominee, the expulsion of a sitting prime minister by her party president, and a historic split in the Indian National Congress, recounts Utkarsh Mishra. IMAGE: President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed confers the Bharat Ratna on his predecessor Varahagiri Venkata Giri, the fourth President of India. Photograph: President's Secretariat/Wikimedia Commons Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's surprise resignation from his post in the middle of his term has sent rumour mills running. While Dhankhar cited health reasons for his sudden decision, few are ready to buy this. Although the 'actual' reasons for Dhankhar's resignation might be elusive right now, the picture was not as bleak the first time a vice president of India gave up his post. It was Vice President Varahagiri Venkata Giri, who resigned from his office and that of Acting President, to take part in the presidential race necessitated by the passing away of then President Dr Zakir Hussain in May 1969. V V Giri's decision resulted in dramatic developments in which a party defeated its official candidate in the presidential elections and, consequently, a party president expelled the sitting prime minister, leading to a split in the grand old party of India. Here's the story of those unprecedented political manoeuvres that took place in 1969. Drubbing in Elections By the general elections of 1967, the mass appeal of the Indian National Congress was much diminished. Over the past few years, India had seen wars with China and Pakistan and the deaths of two sitting prime ministers -- Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri. These destabilising events resulted in a fall in the rate of economic growth, a reduction in domestic savings and investments, and the halving of US aid. The economic downfall was coupled with a rise in corruption and black marketing. As a result, discontent grew among the urban and middle class as well as in the countryside. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was still hemmed in by what was called the Congress syndicate, comprising senior leaders like party president K Kamaraj, then Karnataka chief minister S Nijalingappa, Union minister S K Patil, Bengal leader Atulya Ghosh and others. In fact, the Syndicate preferred Indira over a much senior Morarji Desai for the prime ministership after Shastri's death because they thought they would be able to exercise control over her. And they did, initially. So much so that Indira was termed a goongi gudiya by socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia. However, the tension within the party, coupled with the bleak economic situation in the country, resulted in the Congress registering its worst performance in the general elections since Independence. Its vote percentage dropped from 44.5 to 40.7, and its number of seats fell from 361 to 283. Moreover, prominent leaders lost their seats, including Kamaraj and Ghosh. Congress in Disarray The drubbing in the 1967 elections forced serious introspection within the party on how to reverse the decline and regain popular appeal. The party was broadly divided into two camps that differed over the solution. The right wing within the party, that included the Syndicate, was tilted towards 'dilution of planning, lesser emphasis on the public sector and greater encouragement to private enterprise and foreign capital, strengthening relations with Western countries and suppression of the Left and protest movements'. Whereas the left wing, that included the Young Turks (which included future prime minister Chandra Shekhar, future vice president Krishna Kant, future minister Mohan Dharia) advocated for more radical policies that furthered 'Nehru's socialistic agenda.' While Indira Gandhi initially tried to strike a balance between the two factions, she later shifted towards the Left, as she wanted to project her own ideological image 'more assertively' as being independent of the Syndicate. Moreover, her trusted advisers knew that the populist policies of the Left held more appeal among the masses than the cautious approach of the Right. This brought Indira in direct confrontation with the Syndicate. Schism Wide Open Along with trusted aides Jagjivan Ram (who later fell out with her) and Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed (who later became President to sign on the dotted line on the proclamation of the Emergency in June 1975) and other members of the so-called 'kitchen cabinet', Indira started challenging the Syndicate. However, she was not successful initially. In 1967, when Kamaraj's term as party president ended, Indira wanted Gulzarilal Nanda, who had served as the acting prime minister twice, to succeed him. But the Syndicate favoured Nijalingappa and he was elected. Indira was also not able to have 'her people' elected to the Congress Working Committee. Nonetheless, her 10-point programme, which included the radical suggestion of nationalisation of banks, was passed unanimously by the CWC in 1969. In his autobiography, Nijalingappa has written that despite being opposed to such radical measures, the Syndicate accepted the 10-point programme because they were not against its spirit and wanted to avoid unnecessary confrontation. Also, as per some historians, Indira had assured more vocal opponents like Desai -- who was the finance minister -- that the process of nationalisation would be gradual and would be further discussed. However, soon after, matters came to a head as Indira took away Desai's portfolio, citing reservations over his ability to implement the programme. Desai resigned from the Cabinet, and the Syndicate made no secret of their disapproval of Indira's decision. She, however, was ready to take Desai back into the Cabinet but refused to reinstate his finance portfolio. The party was staring at a split. However, a bigger showdown was still ahead. Presidential Race After Dr Zakir Hussain's death in May 1969, Vice President V V Giri assumed charge as acting President. The event necessitated a presidential election within six months. Both factions of the Congress -- the Syndicate and its allies, and the Indira loyalists -- wanted a person favourable to them in the office, so that in the event of a split, they could rely on him to call their faction to form the government with the support of like-minded Opposition parties. Indira wanted the party to declare V V Giri or Jagjivan Ram as the presidential nominee. The Syndicate, on the other hand, supported Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, former Union minister, former Congress president, former Andhra Pradesh chief minister, and the sitting Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Reddy, who was a member of Indira's Cabinet till 1967, was dropped by her after the elections, which miffed his Syndicate aides. As per then Congress president Nijalingappa, he went to the PM to express his displeasure but she said she 'didn't like' Reddy although she agreed to make Reddy the Speaker. In the end, Reddy became the Congress presidential nominee with the Syndicate's backing, which Indira also accepted. Nonetheless, she prompted V V Giri to contest the election as an Independent. Consequently, V V Giri resigned on July 20, 1969. The word went around that the PM didn't want Reddy to be elected and favoured V V Giri. Indira issued an appeal to Congress parliamentarians and legislators to 'vote as per their conscience' and 'not necessarily toe the party line'. She also refrained from issuing a whip to vote for Reddy. In the closely fought election, V V Giri emerged victorious with a narrow margin, securing a majority on counting the second preference votes. The Congress Splits Indira loyalists accused Nijalingappa of 'striking a secret deal' with Opposition parties like the Jana Sangh to ensure Reddy's election. Nijalingappa, however, has rejected these allegations in his autobiography. He writes that the Congress had such a huge majority in Parliament and state legislatures that the election of the party's official candidate was a done deal. There was, therefore, no need for the party president to approach the Opposition to secure the necessary votes. However, he recalls calling the Congress chief ministers 'every night' to ensure that party members from their states voted for the official candidate. Nijalingappa writes that he was disappointed by the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh -- Kasu Brahmananda Reddy and Chandra Bhanu Gupta -- who kept assuring him of votes till the last day, but the majority of legislators from their states voted for V V Giri, ensuring his victory. Angered by Reddy's defeat, Nijalingappa expelled Indira Gandhi from the Congress for flouting party discipline. Indira responded by splitting the party, and setting up a rival organisation called the Congress-R -- R standing for requisitionists. The other faction came to be known as Congress-O, i.e., organisation. Indira's faction secured the support of 220 party MPs while the Congress-O was left with 68. Of the 705 members of the All India Congress Committee, 446 sided with Indira. With the presidential election manouevre, the 'goongi gudiya' had defeated the stalwarts. The BJP had no option but to get Jagdeep Dhankhar out of its way for the sake of the stability of the Modi government, reveals Sheela Bhatt, the legendary political journalist. IMAGE: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchange greetings during the Beating Retreat ceremony 2025 at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi, January 29, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo In the Indian style of democracy, in the highly important world of the legislature, the control of Parliament runs the government, and it can break the government if the government is not on vigil. Lately, as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar had started asserting himself vis-a-vis the government. For the last few months, instead of building consensus and working in harmony with the ruling party, the lawyer in him believed he could assert his power merely by quoting a law book. For the last few months the ruling side was uncomfortable with him and he quite openly expressed his discomfort too. When he met leaders of the Congress and leaders of regional parties including the Aam Aadmi Party he would share his displeasure about the government quite openly. He discussed the "status of democracy in India today" and such subjects with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's harshest critics. In no time these stories reached the ruling party. In a nutshell, it was all about power. The power to control the Rajya Sabha. As Rajya Sabha Chairman, Dhankhar wanted full control, and he increasingly showed a rebellious streak in him. While going against the tradition of such a Constitutional position he wore a political hat quite often. It was a blatant act to indulge in pure politics when he joined the political discourse of the farmers agitation. At a public event he challenged the government's lack of action in handling the farmers' issue. It shocked the audience including Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan who was present at the event. His views on 'how Parliament is supreme and not the judiciary' were ill-timed for the government. It disturbed the government's plans of handling the judiciary in its own way. The ruling party observed that pressure from the Opposition 'to express no-confidence' in the VP in December 2024 had worked well for the Congress. Then, the Congress had alleged that Dhankhar was the 'government's mouthpiece'. The proposed no-confidence move was scuttled by Deputy Chairman Harivansh Singh. But since then Dhankhar changed his attitude and started tilting the balance. It created a trust deficit within BJP MPs. There are many events that broke the bridge between him and top BJP leaders. A communication gap was created. The handling of the case of Justice Shekhar Yadav of the Allahabad high court, the handling of the breach of privilege matter against AAP MP Raghav Chaddha and on many other cases he was not on the same page with the government. At every little step he could mock or provoke the government because the hidden powers of the Chairman of the House are immense. He allowed the debate on Operation Sindoor under the clause which would open the sensitive debate quite wide. Normally on matters of defence, Parliament protects the interests of the Indian armed forces and does not allow freewheeling debate. IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar and Modi before the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the first day of the Budget Session, January 31, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo No government which enjoys a majority can remain passive if the Lok Sabha or House of Elders makes it vulnerable. The insecurity of the government turned 24/7. Dhankhar too felt the heat. He told one NDA member of the Rajya Sabha, "I am continuing as VP only because of one senior minister." That revealed he was feeling isolated and knew the government's thinking. Some three weeks ago he called a few persons who are perceived to be close to the government. He regretted the deteriorating relationship between his office and the government. Many anecdotes are coming to light after his resignation that suggests that the pressure has been building up for long. The tension between the VP's office and the BJP was not reported or discussed much in the open before his resignation by people in the know of things because they thought that these were not unsurmountable problems that could not be resolved. But none knew that the VP was on a different trip. Most NDA MPs were under the impression that the differences were not ideological and eventually Dhankhar and the government would come to terms. Before Dhankhar became VP he was a successful lawyer. He was known in the BJP as a "lawyer of the RSS". It's the RSS who has been credited for his ascension as VP. Close to the RSS, Dhankhar did not know Modi or Amit Shah well before he became West Bengal governor. Later he got acquainted well with both. What triggered the resignation? Dhankhar allowed the notice of motion of Opposition MPs for removal of Allahabad high court Justice Yashwant Verma on Monday. It was a shock for the ruling party. IMAGE: President Murmu with Dhankhar, Modi, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai and outgoing CJI Sanjiv Khanna at Rashtrapati Bhavan, May 14, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo By allowing the motion signed by 63 Opposition MPs, the government missed the chance to present a similar move in the Lok Sabha. It was planning to form a committee of Lok Sabha members to deliberate on the issue. Dhankhar knew the government had already initiated the notice in the Lok Sabha. He outmanoeuvred the government. Being a lawyer himself and having interest in the judiciary he wanted to control the entire proceedings of impeachment against Justice Verma. It would be a historic parliamentary process, and he wanted his stamp on it. The Constitutional importance of proceeding against the sitting judge cannot be overemphasised. Dhankhar thought he could control and drive the event that would impact the Parliament-judiciary balance. The inquiry could go in any uncertain direction too. IMAGE: Dhankhar, Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and former President Ram Nath Kovind at the Prerna Sthal at Parliament House on Dr B R Ambedkar's death anniversary, December 6, 2024. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo The BJP doesn't have a majority of its own in the Lok Sabha but it would not like to be perceived as heading a weak government. For the last year Prime Minister Modi has done everything possible to convey the idea of stability at the Centre and has provided strength to his third term in office. He has been successful in creating the perception of a stable government. But Dhankhar was probably subtly weaving another thread to control legislature business in the Rajya Sabha. His allotment of time and opportunities to non-BJP leaders also became questionable. Its likely that his talk with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday gave him the idea that he had lost the government's complete trust after outwitting the government's plan to handle the Justice Verma impeachment issue. There were serious talk of BJP MPs agreeing to sign a petition against Dhankhar. Dhankhar's resignation doesn't augur well for the BJP. After selecting him for the important Vice President's post if the government could not harmonise its working, it speaks volumes against the government. In the given situation it's clear that the BJP has cut its losses. They didn't want shock or surprise from the House of Elders. It appears Dhankhar won't turn into a Satpal Malik. He is ideologically inclined towards the RSS. He will damage the government's reputation but won't go the Malik way. IMAGE: President Murmu arrives to address the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on the first day of the Budget Session, January 31, 2025, accompanied by Dhankhar, Modi, Birla, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and others. Photograph: Sansad TV/ANI Photo In the India of 2025, nobody, repeat nobody, leaves one of the highest seats of power for small issues. Jagdeep Dhankhar seems to have got confused in the end. The lawyer in him, his political instincts, and his instincts fueled by the Opposition to control the Rajya Sabha in his own way led to his resignation. Nobody will shed tears for him or the government. The BJP made a serious error in judging Dhankhar when it appointed him, and once in the Rajya Sabha Chairman's seat Dhankhar failed to understand how Narendra Modi handles power. The BJP had no option but to get Dhankhar out of its way for the sake of the stability of the Modi government. Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff Photo: https://www.bloomberg.com/ Ukraines new Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said she will likely seek additional funding from the International Monetary Fund, as global donors have so far allocated only half of the approximately $75 billion needed for the countrys military budget over the next two years, Bloomberg reported in a report following an interview with the Ukrainian prime minister. If the scenario is that the war will continue this year and for some time into next year, then we will most likely be faced with a new IMF program, Svyrydenko said. As reported, the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with the IMF, opened in March 2023, worth about $16 billion, expires in the first quarter of 2027, and its next ninth review is scheduled for the end of this year, although it was initially planned for August-September. The prime minister told Bloomberg that economic and military scenarios would be on the agenda of negotiations with the IMF during the August visit, to determine whether a new program would be appropriate and what its likely parameters might be. Svyrydenko also emphasized that she plans to talk remotely in the coming days with Secretary of the US Department of Treasury Scott Bessent, with whom she worked intensively on the minerals agreement, to discuss potential financial assistance. The new Cabinet also seeks to cooperate with the US on the purchase of weapons, in particular Patriot air defense systems, and the joint production of drones. According to the prime minister, this may include the construction of factories in the United States for the production of unmanned aerial vehicles. In an interview, the prime minister also promised to resolve all outstanding issues by the end of the year, including anti-corruption measures, within the framework of the current program with the IMF and the Ukraine Facility - a financial assistance program of the European Union. To be very frank, within Ukrainian society and certain social groups this is somehow being hyped up and highlighted, and partners are looking at and evaluating Ukraine based on other results, Svyrydenko noted and once again confirmed that she considers the government's refusal to appoint the candidate proposed by foreign members of the competition commission as director of the Economic Security Bureau to be legitimate. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. BRATTLEBORO A community art and gathering space on Elliot Street, known as 69A, brings together homeless individuals and other community members in ways that promote healthy connections. Katie Balcher said food and art supplies are offered in the space, where volunteers also aim to share resources. "It's cool," she said during an open house event Thursday. "It's very dynamic." Balcher and her spouse rent the property, which she always envisioned as a community space. Previously, the couple ran Avenue Grocery on Western Avenue. Breakfast and lunch are available every day at 69A. The hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. but could expand either way, depending on the day. Many Vermont motel emergency housing program participants lose rooms Eighty-day motel vouchers for 478 households in Vermont were projected to expire Tuesday, according to a June 26 memo from the Department of Children and Families. The figure includes 666 adults and 304 children, including 73 adults and 34 children in Brattleboro. A bigger space is being sought, Lisa Marie said, as 69A is now too small to meet the needs of the community. She's seen the need increase as more people exit the state's emergency motel housing program due to changes in policy. Currently, Lisa is camping. She asks for her last name not to be identified as shes fleeing from domestic violence. When Balcher met Lisa, they connected over their vision, turning the space into one that is open daily. People donate food and materials, host workshops and teach-ins. Community members learn from each other, Balcher said. Lisa has long dreamt of having such a space in Brattleboro. In 2023, she helped lead an effort to set up a pop-up drop-in center at the Transportation Center with the help of local organizations, as Groundworks Collaborative was closed after Leah Rosin-Pritchard, a shelter coordinator, was killed by a client. "I'm super excited," Lisa said of 69A, adding that it's been a lot of work to put together but fun to do. At the time of the interview, Lisa counted 115 individuals being served by the space. On slow days, she sees about 75 coming through. Lisa said the space is "definitely needed." At the time of the interview, she counted three lives saved due to people being available to help with Narcan or CPR at 69A. During the open house, an overdose victim was assisted by emergency personnel. Assistant Police Chief Jeremy Evans confirmed the victim survived. John Carrier, who's currently living homeless in Brattleboro, volunteers at 69A. "This place is wonderful compared to all the other places," he said. Donations can be made at gofundme.com/f/brattleboro-community-artspace-now-open-5-days-a-week and patreon.com/69aelliot. In an update thanking donors on GoFundMe, Balcher said the contributions "help so much." "With the motel program ending, there are many more people visiting 69A, we are so grateful for the support!!" she wrote. "And thank you all for the donations of tents, clothing and toiletries too!! Places like 69A are more important than ever in these times, we are all connected, let's take care of each other, it's the only way forward! Sending love love love!!!" Tracey Flenner took this photo of a vehicle involved in a fatal multi-vehicle crash on Route 9 in Chesterfield, N.H. on Sunday. The decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers to merge three ministries into one, the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, may accelerate European integration processes. This opinion was expressed by the Executive Director of the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine Oleksandr Chervak in a comment to the Interfax-Ukraine agency. "Ukraine is working on the implementation of the EU Regulation on Construction Products (305/2011), which is a key step towards "industrial visa-free" - free access of Ukrainian goods to EU markets. The merger of ministries does not change these plans: the country remains on course to comply with European standards. The merger of ministries may even accelerate these processes, provided that the new structure can effectively implement digitalization programs and support Ukrainian manufacturers," he commented on the decision on the merger adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers. According to Chervak, in general, despite the changes, key procedures for the construction industry remain valid. For example, environmental impact assessment (EIA) will continue to be mandatory for large projects. This area will be handled by the environmental unit within the new ministry. The legislation on EIA is not changing, but it is expected that the quality of services will increase due to digitalization and simplification of procedures. Construction permit procedures also remain unchanged - they are determined by the law, not the government structure. At the same time, the new distribution of powers should be taken into account. "There is hope that the unification of the economic, agricultural and environmental blocks will allow synchronizing work with lands, resources and investments. But on the other hand, the new ministry will receive a significant workload. It is important to appoint specialized deputy ministers as soon as possible, who will ensure effective management of each area. Business is counting on openness and clear communication from the state," Chervak concluded. The Confederation of Builders of Ukraine (CBU) is the largest industry association, with over 900 members, representing over 100,000 workers in the construction and related industries. CBU is the sole representative of Ukraine in the Federation of the European Construction Industry (FIEC), which includes 32 national member federations from 27 European countries. 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 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. 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. Microsoft is aware of active attacks targeting on-premises SharePoint Server customers by exploiting vulnerabilities partially addressed by the July Security Update, the company said in a statement. These vulnerabilities apply to on-premises SharePoint Servers only. SharePoint Online in Microsoft 365 is not impacted. The zero-day exploit represents a critical threat to enterprise operations as it allows unauthorised attackers to execute code remotely without authentication, potentially giving cybercriminals complete control over affected systems. Both the Australian Signals Directorate and NCSC NZ issued statements recommending organisations to monitor Microsofts official advisories for any updates to mitigations and related patches. This zero-day vulnerability challenges the long-standing enterprise assumption that collaboration infrastructure can be patched on convenience cycles, said Sanchit Vir Gogia, chief analyst and CEO at Greyhound Research. Vulnerability chaining exposes critical security gaps The attacks exploit a sophisticated vulnerability chain that security experts say reveals fundamental flaws in how vendors approach comprehensive threat assessment. Amid deadly fighting between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribal militias in Syrias southern province of Sweida, one question looms: can Iran use these sectarian clashes to reclaim the influence it built during a decade of civil war? For years, Iranian commanders and their proxies underpinned Bashar alAssads government, turning Syria into a land corridor that linked allied groups in Iraq and Lebanon. But since the abrupt collapse of the Assad dynasty last December and the partial withdrawal of Russian forces, Tehrans dominance has weakened. Syrias interim president, former rebel leader Ahmed alSharaa, has struggled to rein in competing factions, creating openings -- and risks -- for Tehran in the south. The recent violence erupted after the abduction of a Druze merchant and retaliatory kidnappings, which quickly spiraled into widespread bloodshed. Both sides carried out attacks and reprisal killings. When Syrian government forces intervened, they were accused of siding with the Bedouins, sparking direct clashes with Druze fighters and allegations of extrajudicial killings, looting, and arson in areas inhabited by the Druze, a religious minority long concentrated in southern Syria with a tradition of self-governance and ambivalent ties to the state. A cease-fire brokered on July 19 between the government, Druze militias, and Bedouin tribes halted a week of fighting that killed more than 1,000 people. For now, that truce holds, but only tenuously. Power Vacuums And Old Playbooks Irans longstanding strategy relies less on overt deployments and more on cultivating local militias and proxy commanders. When violence flared in western Syria in March, some accused Tehran of stoking unrest, noting that several militia leaders had been trained by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). At the same time, Iranian officials have positioned themselves as defenders of Syrian sovereignty, condemning Israeli air strikes as unhinged aggression and warning against Western interference. The aim is not purely military; it is also to rebuild political capital among Syrians exhausted by war and wary of foreign domination. Yet Tehran faces steep obstacles. The Druze, who form the majority in Sweida, remain deeply distrustful of Iran and its Shi'ite proxies. Local Sunni tribes, locked in their own struggles, show little interest in outside patronage. Challenges And Risks Adding to these difficulties is Israels renewed assertiveness. Since the fall of Assads government, Israeli forces have intensified strikes on suspected Iranaligned targets near the occupied Golan Heights, vowing to block any reentrenchment. Israeli officials have even framed some attacks on Syrian positions as protecting the Druze. Complicating matters further is Syrias fractured local landscape, where shifting loyalties and the rise of warlord rule make any Iranian gains volatile and shortlived. Meanwhile, Iranian allies elsewhere -- particularly Hezbollah in Lebanon -- have been weakened by heavy losses in recent fighting with Israel. Beyond Syria, Irans network of armed proxies has stepped up activity. Houthi forces in Yemen recently ended months of calm in the Red Sea with strikes on two commercial vessels. In Iraq, Iranaligned militias are suspected of disrupting oil production in the Kurdistan region. And in recent months, Syrian forces and the Lebanese Army have intercepted multiple rocket shipments bound for Hezbollah, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and other Western countries. These actions highlight Tehrans resolve to sustain its proxy network as a core element of its deterrence strategy. Even if large, regular arms shipments are no longer feasible, Iran is intent on signaling that it remains influential and far from the weakened power some might assume. For now, Tehrans approach in Syria is likely to be incremental and indirect, shaped by dwindling resources and heightened scrutiny. Rather than dramatic moves, it will lean on covert arms transfers and efforts to rebuild local alliances. Yet as long as Israel is watching, Irans bid to reestablish a strong foothold in Syria will remain fraught and uncertain. Ukrainian lawmakers have approved a tightening of restrictions on two crucial anti-corruption agencies, heightening concerns over the country's commitment to rooting out deep-seated graft. A total of 263 deputies in the 450-seat Verkhovna Rada voted in favor of a law that limits the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). The law, brought forward by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's the Servant of the People Party, makes the Prosecutor-General the de facto head of SAPO, effectively stripping the agency's chief of their authority. It also allows the Prosecutor-General to unilaterally close cases involving top officials and lets the Prosecutor General reassign cases being investigated by NABU to other agencies. "With this decision, Parliament not only strips society of one of the greatest achievements since the Revolution of Dignity -- independent anti-corruption institutions -- but also undermines the trust of Ukraines international partners," Transparency International Ukraine said in a note after the approval. "The only way to reverse the damage is for the President to veto the law. Otherwise, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will share responsibility with the Verkhovna Rada for dismantling Ukraines anti-corruption infrastructure." Demonstrators gathered in Kyiv, Dnipro, and other Ukrainian cities to protest against the bill. The legal changes come on the heels of a crackdown on NABU itself. On July 21, Ukraines domestic security agency, the SBU, arrested two NABU officials -- one on suspicion of spying for Russia, the other over alleged business ties to Russian entities -- and carried out dozens of searches targeting agency employees. The SBU claimed some officials had connections to banned political groups, including a fugitive Ukrainian lawmakers former party. NABU, which has led high-profile investigations that embarrassed senior officials, said the operation went far beyond legitimate security concerns, extending to unrelated issues such as years-old traffic violations. The agency warned that the scope of the crackdown had effectively paralyzed its mission. Transparency International called the raids an example of massive pressure on Ukraines anti-corruption institutions. The ambassadors of the Group of Seven nations in Kyiv, who met with NABU's leadership shortly afterward, issued a statement expressing serious concerns and said they would raise the matter directly with government leaders. The latest moves have reignited broader fears that Ukraines deeply rooted problems with corruption are not being tackled, with efforts to promote accountability and transparency facing pushback from powerful vested interests. Last week, Vitaliy Shabunin, one of Ukraines most prominent activists on corruption issues and the number 2 at NABU, was in court for allegedly systematically evading military service while claiming army pay worth $1,200 per month and illegally using a military vehicle. Investigators said Shabunin could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of the charges. His supporters have called the charges "absurd," noting that he was absent from his unit because he was seconded to work at NABU, on an official government anti-corruption body. "The case results from either the complete incompetence of officials or a targeted attack aimed at putting pressure on Vitaliy Shabunin, who, while serving in the military, continued to criticize the work of state bodies," a statement by 59 Ukrainian non-governmental organizations issued on July 15 said. Even a lawmaker from Zelenskyys own party, Anastasia Radina, described the case as a selective miscarriage of justice. International perceptions of corruption in Ukraine are key to the country maintaining confidence from allies who have supported Kyiv in its war against invading Russian forces. Corruption remains a persistent internal threat, illustrated by a series of scandals in recent years involving the Defense Ministry, national prosecutors, and wealthy businessmen. Zelenskyy's landslide election victory in 2019 was widely seen as another push to try to move society beyond old habits: away from bribery and kickbacks -- big and small -- and toward transparency and accountability. Russia's war has made it more difficult. During the invasion, defense planners have been raked over the coals for several eye-popping procurement scandals. Transparency International, whose corruption perception ratings are closely watched around the world, said Ukraine had improved markedly in recent years due to "reforms aimed at European integration and the fulfillment of international obligations." However, the country slipped last year, the group said, because reforms have been "implemented only formally," or the implementation was "being deliberately stalled." Overall, Ukraine rated in 105th place out of 180 countries in the organization's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index -- ahead of Russia and Belarus but behind Moldova, Hungary, and Romania. The United States was in 28th place. With reporting by Reuters At least one child has died in the latest wave of Russia's nightly routine of drone and bomb attacks against Ukrainian cities. Apartments burned in Odesa, Sumy, and Kyiv overnight on July 21-22, injuring dozens, as an air strike killed a child in Kramatorsk. Emergency teams rushed to douse flames and crews searched through rubble for survivors. Ukrainian and Russian delegations are due to meet on July 23 for peace talks, the third round in a series of negotiations that began on May 16 -- and the first since US President Donald Trump threatened to impose new sanctions on Moscow if it doesnt reach a deal with Kyiv by early September. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that the negotiations would be held in Istanbul on July 23. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov eventually confirmed that, telling journalists on July 23 that the talks would take place in the evening. The first two meetings, which lasted no more than an hour or two, produced agreements on sizable prisoner swaps and the exchange of the remains of some of the soldiers killed in the biggest war in Europe since 1945. But there was no sign of progress toward a cease-fire, which Russia has resisted for months, let alone a comprehensive peace deal. On the contrary, the sides have exchanged memorandums laying out their positions, which are separated by a huge gap on key issues from territory to security and more. On July 21, Peskov said they were diametrically opposed so far. Expectations for the talks are low. Aside from potential further prisoner exchanges, my instinct is to say I expect nothing, Kadri Liik, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said in an e-mailed comment. I do not see either Kyiv or Moscow modifying their basic positions. At the same time, analysts say, both sides may feel that given Trumps continued efforts to push them towards peace, they cannot afford to abandon the process at this point and that they, in addition to reuniting prisoners with their families, may have something to gain. 'A Political Game' I suspect both Kyiv and Moscow are looking to show the US, with its 50-day deadline and newfound willingness to sell, if not give, weapons to Ukraine, that they areeager and willing to negotiate (and that any lags are therefore the fault of the other side), Olga Oliker, program director for Europe and Central Asia at the International Crisis Group, told RFE/RL. Sam Greene, a professor at the Kings Russia Institute in London and director for democratic resilience at the Center for European Policy Analysis, offered a similar view. I think that there is a political game going on, which revolves, frankly, around the commitment of the Trump administration to some version of this process, and a sense that neither side really is willing to lose what they take to be the goodwill of the Trump administration. After several months in which he repeatedly criticized Zelenskyy and cast blame on Kyiv for the lack of progress toward peace, which he had said he could achieve in a day or two after taking office in January, Trump has taken aim at Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent weeks. In particular, he has expressed mounting anger over Russias massive air attacks on Ukrainian cities and has described Moscow as an obstacle to peace. I think the Ukrainians will want to make sure that that continues, Greene said. And they think that one way to help that continue is to project goodwill -- to say, Look, we are willing to talk with the Russians, the problem is the Russians. And so, you know, President Trump, you are right to be frustrated with them. Zelenskyy, Oliker said, may be trying to raise that bar by saying these talks should lay groundwork for a meeting between him and his Russian counterpart, something Moscow has rejected since negotiations resumed in May and Zelenskyy famously showed up for a first meeting and Putin did not. Seeking to blunt such efforts by Kyiv, Peskov said on July 22 that there is a lot of work to be done before we can talk about the possibility of some top-level meetings." He also suggested the chances of substantial progress are almost nonexistent, saying, "There is no reason to expect any breakthroughs in the category of miracles -- it is hardly possible in the current situation." 'A Closing Window' But Putin may believe Moscow has far more to gain -- or less to lose -- by continuing negotiations rather than by rejecting them. From the Russian side, there does not appear to be any indication that they're interested in a peace deal or even a cease-fire. But they're not interested in seeing the Trump administration walk away from the table entirely, Greene said. And so they have to make at least a show of some kind of willingness to engage. Otherwise, they do risk a more significant pivot [against Moscow and in favor of Kyiv] in US policy. On the face of it Kyiv would look to be in the weaker position, with Russia's slow advances continuing, US support uncertain, and other backers scrambling to assure continued assistance, Oliker said. But "the Kremlin surely knows Russia's own economic and political fault lines better than anyone else does, and Ukraine's European backers have ably demonstrated their intent to keep Kyiv in the fight." "Moscow may read American willingness to keep weapons coming, albeit for a price, as an indicator that the Trump administration is becoming more favorable to Ukraine," she said. "This would both imply more wherewithal for Kyiv and, whether or not the Kremlin truly fears American sanctions threats, a closing window for Moscow to cut deals with Washington. So, Moscow may be hoping for a US pivot back in the other direction, with Trump placing at least partial blame on Kyiv, reconsidering plans for putting more weapons in Ukraines hands, and, come September, holding back on the threatened sanctions. On July 8, Trump said "we get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin." A week later, in comments where he issued the 50-day ultimatum and announced plans to get more Patriot air defense batteries and other weapons to Ukraine by funneling them through Europe, Trump further focused on Moscow as an obstacle to peace, saying he was very unhappywith Russia. But he also stressed that he hoped the push for a deal within 50 days would have an impact on Ukraine" as well, saying, All of a sudden, they may feel emboldened and maybe they don't want [a deal] -- this is a very difficult situation. Still, it could be hard for Russia to dispel Trumps concerns about its commitment to seeking peace. On July 21, Peskov stressed that while Moscow welcomes new talks, the most important thing for us is to achieve our goals, which he said have not changed since Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow's Maximalism He did not enumerate the goals, but Russia has put forth several conditions for peace that Kyiv says are unacceptable. Among them: Ukraine ceding five regions that Moscow claims as its own, including the parts that its forces do not occupy; permanent neutrality for Ukraine; and strict limits on the size of its military. While the prospects for progress toward peace may be dim, exchanges of prisoners and the remains of the dead are a meaningful outcome, particularly to the families involved and prisoners involved, Greene said. Even if there is no real progress, but the two sides agree to new humanitarian measures, building on the prisoner exchanges arranged in their previous talks and returning more Ukrainian citizens, including children, home, that is also valuable, Oliker said. Beyond that, Greene said that despite the wide divide between the firmly stated stances of the two sides, at some point there will be a breakthrough in negotiations, and nobody's going to telegraph that beforehand. The only way you're going to find out when that happens is if you continue to meet. "We're back in Pittsburgh to announce the largest package of investments in the history of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania that will bring tens of thousands of jobs to the region," Trump said in an interview with the Washington Examiner after a roundtable led by freshman Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.). Pittsburgh sizzled with excitement at the possibilities to come from the convergence of the brightest treasures of the region, including the research and talent coming from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, the energy coming from the ground below, and the historic excellence of the trade and labor unions that have generational ties to the region. Organized by McCormick, with heavy lifting by his wife, Dina Powell McCormick, a force of nature unto herself, the massive event attracted Silicon Valley technocrats, energy giants, university officials, investors, labor leaders and government officials from both parties, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Sen. John Fetterman, both Democrats who touted the jobs and stability the new industry would bring to the region. Darrin Kelly, president of the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council, said the largest private investment in the state's history is a tremendous opportunity for workers and the communities they live in. "We have the greatest workforce in the world, and our workers are more than ready to help lead our city and our country into the future," Kelly said, thanking McCormick for his leadership in bringing people together. The rapid rise of AI and the power needed to fortify the electrical grid to sustain it were at the core of the summit. Trump stressed that Pennsylvania is the second-leading energy-producing state in the country and is in a perfect position geographically to deliver affordable energy that the AI, advanced manufacturing, medical and research sectors demand. The host university, Carnegie Mellon, where the first AI computer was developed in the 1950s, served as the perfect venue for the multitiered event, which included panels featuring Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and "Dirty Jobs" creator and trades evangelist Mike Rowe. Carnegie Mellon President Farnam Jahanian said this type of event and national dialogue is exactly what great research universities are called to do. "Higher education must be a convener -- a catalyst for ideas and partnerships that share our future," he said. "For the past 125 years, we've been at the heart of the technological revolutions that have redefined industries, remade communities and propelled our nation forward." Trump said bringing people together across sectors to tackle big things is what this moment is all about. "You have the greatest group of financial talent and environmental talent, every form of talent. You have the greatest group right now, and it's an honor to be here," Trump said during the interview, adding, "These are the biggest people in the financial world. They're putting $20 billion, $30 billion. You see the kind of numbers invested, and it's really going to be something to behold in the next couple of years." "This is the golden age of America. I will tell you, it's the golden age," Trump continued, adding that this region of post-industrial Appalachia might not have to use the term "Rust Belt" much longer. Trump also fulfilled the promise he made in 2017 while withdrawing from the controversial Paris climate agreement: "I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris." Trump argued that by pulling out of the Paris agreement, which required countries to curb carbon emissions, he was putting towns such as Detroit, Pittsburgh and Youngstown, Ohio, ahead of foreign cities such as Paris. "I said, 'No, I want the Pittsburgh accords. I'm not interested in that,'" Trump said of the Paris agreement. "And that was an environmental deal that they were putting out in Europe, and I'm sure they meant well, but it was very unfair to America, and I terminated it. I got out of paying some ridiculous number to be involved, and other countries were paying nothing like always. So yeah, it was the Paris courts, and I said, 'No, I want the Pittsburgh accords.' And now here we are in Pittsburgh." Trump said Pennsylvania is very special to him. "I went to school here. I know I have so many friends here. I'm very proud of Dave McCormick, the senator, and his wife, Dina. It's truly an amazing couple." "He took it by storm," Trump said of McCormick. "It was not a race that could have been won. Actually, he was against a very popular senator whose father was very popular, and they were probably totaled approximately 50 years. And he came in and he took it by storm, and it was a great thing." Trump urged McCormick to join the interview and then turned to the freshman Republican and asked what he thought about the day. McCormick said the day would not have happened without Trump's full-court press to unleash the state's natural resources to fuel the new economy. "It's just the continuation of the agenda that President Trump campaigned on, and here it's coming into reality. Here's someone who ran on an agenda, and actually, he's doing it. And so energy dominance, unlocking the possibilities of natural gas 'drill, baby drill,' and helping working families," McCormick said. "The reason this summit was so successful is that the policies that President Trump put in place -- people believe him and they want to invest behind that vision," McCormick continued. Trump interjected, "Those investments today that were announced were unbelievable. I mean, there's never been a number like this in the state. There's never been a group assembled like this." A businessman by trade, Trump said most people have never heard of many of the people at the event. "But a person like me, that's in the world of finance, or David, we hear of them because they're the biggest people in the world, actually. And they came from all over the world, and they're in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, investing. You heard $20 billion, $25 billion, $15 billion," he said of the multiple investments, joking, "The poor ones are going for $5 billion." "I can come up with some really good ideas, commonsense ideas, but it takes people like David and some of his friends in the Senate and the House to get it done. And you've done a fantastic job," he said. In the race for world leadership in AI, there will always be competition with China, which does not face the regulatory acrobatics that American companies have to do to get online. "But we're going to be doing it very quickly too. We have Lee Zeldin, he's fantastic. He's going to get it done quickly and efficiently and safely and environmentally soundly," Trump said of environmental concerns. Trump was in Pittsburgh for his second visit in less than six weeks, his last trip celebrating the $15 billion U.S. Steel-Nippon Steel deal, which not only saved the industry but also the communities that surround it, the tax base for the school districts, and all the small businesses that support it. It was an announcement that was critically important not just for the prosperity and future of the region but also culturally and emotionally. U.S. Steel was a giant in America's first industrial revolution. It was the first company in the world to reach a market of over $1 billion. It was an industry that embodied American industrial grit and exceptionalism. The men and women who worked there, along with their children and grandchildren, produced the raw materials that built the bridges, highways, skyscrapers, ships and automobiles that shaped this nation and kept its engine running. Initially hesitant about the sale, Trump fully embraces the potential, saying they are already doing a great job. (COMMENT, BELOW) Salena Zito is a CNN political analyst, and a staff reporter and columnist for the Washington Examiner. She reaches the Everyman and Everywoman through shoe-leather journalism, traveling from Main Street to the beltway and all places in between. The Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) Semen Kryvonos admits a negative scenario of events could develop: further pressure on him and the head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), including conducting investigative actions and opening cases. "We expect further developments, including calculating negative scenarios - putting pressure directly on me and the head of the SAPO, possibly conducting investigative actions, closing, some cases - we admit that all these things can happen," the NABU director said at a briefing on Tuesday. "The information about the planned attack was quite a long time ago. We knew that something was going to happen. There was information in part that there could be legislative initiatives, there was information that there could be such things as searches, procedural actions, filing suspicions," he added. According to the NABU director, these signs were known and international partners were informed. "The fact that this happened during the trip to London - well, perhaps, we assume that the absence of two leaders triggered, one might say, this process. It would be possible to use our business trip in order not to communicate too quickly with journalists," he said, noting that this is just an assumption. "We really need to distinguish between the issues of counterintelligence activities and exposing traitors... And the other component is when such things ... are used as pressure on anti-corruption institutions, then this is a huge issue," Kryvonos said. According to him, this situation is the consequences of the work of anti-corruption bodies. "We are exclusively investigating high-ranking corruption. I believe that, including the fact that a number of people's deputies, who, having an obvious conflict of interest, happily voted for this bill, yes, this is a matter of pressure on NABU and SAPO, and a consequence of our activities," he said. Eurosolidarity is against draft law No. 12414, votes 'for ' by individual MPs are not position of faction - Gerashchenko Photo: https://eurosolidarity.org/ Co-chair of the European Solidarity faction in the Verkhovna Rada, Iryna Gerashchenko, states that during the vote on bill No. 12414, the faction gave the most votes "against" and "abstain," and the vote "for" of individual deputies is not the position of the faction. "As the co-chair of the EU faction, I emphasize the official position of the faction - we are against these amendments, we gave the most votes against and abstain, this is the official position of the faction, we did everything possible to stop this scenario, blocked the rostrum, tried to remove Stefanchuk from chairing the meeting. The vote of individual deputies is not the position of the faction," Gerashchenko told the Interfax-Ukraine agency. She emphasized that the Verkhovna Rada, with today's decision, deprived the anti-corruption infrastructure of its independence. "And dependent anti-corruption bodies have no social value, because they turn into an additional punitive tool in the hands of the authorities against dissenters and disagreeables," Gerashchenko added. According to her, the European Solidarity team defended the independence of NABU despite the fact that "after the change in its leadership, the Agency tried to listen to the wishes of the Office." "In conditions when the authorities gained an almost constitutional majority of votes for this law, the EU managed to pass a very important legal norm on the prohibition of searches without court authorization. That is why MP Alekseev, as the author of this amendment, and Nina Yuzhanina, whose children and grandchildren were searched by the State Bureau of Investigation on a political order without a court decision, voted for the law. After all, yesterday's searches in the NABU and SAPO were also carried out arbitrarily without court authorization, such extrajudicial searches have recently become one of the technologies for building a dictatorship in Ukraine, violating the rights and freedoms of citizens," added Gerashchenko. According to the card of the bill No. 12414, 9 deputies of the European Solidarity faction voted against, 5 abstained, 2 did not vote, 8 were absent and 3 voted "for" (Serhiy Alekseev, Mustafa Dzhemilev and Nina Yuzhanina). As reported, on July 22, the Verkhovna Rada adopted in its entirety draft law No. 12414, which limits the independence of the NABU and the SAPO. Bord na Mona is being urged to halt its plans to rewet hundreds of acres of County Roscommon bog until farmers flooding fears are addressed. A public meeting highlighting these concerns is taking place this evening, Tuesday, at 6 p.m. in St. Faithleachs GAA clubhouse in Ballyleague. Its understood that approximately 30 farmers between Ballyleague and Strokestown are claiming that their lands will flood due to the planned rewetting of bogland in Mount Dillon and Erenagh by the semi-state company. Independent Ireland MEP Ciaran Mullooly explained that exterior drains around the perimeter of the bogs are full of silt, and farmers want them cleaned out now before any possible flooding in winter. MEP Mullooly has now written to the Bord na Mona CEO over the matter, urging that rewetting does not start until consultation first takes place with farmers on site. He said farmers are not opposed to the bog rewetting but want the company to first carry out clearance work on its drains. A spokesperson for Bord na Mona said that its dedicated boundary management team was actively working with landowners neighbouring its land bank on a continuous basis in relation to drainage management. BnM said it only carries out rehabilitation works on its own land bank as part of its Peatland Climate Action Scheme (PCAS). "This work is carried out in consultation with adjoining landowners as part of BnMs work to rehabilitate 33,000 hectares of peatlands. "If a neighbouring landowner has a query regarding BnMs management of boundary drains, BnM asks that they contact its boundary management team directly at landuseinfo@bnm.ie Detailed maps and documentation are available at its dedicated website bnmpcas.ie. Landowners with any queries related to PCAS, mapping or boundaries are welcome to contact BnM through its dedicated community liaison officer, the company said. There has been a dramatic increase of 214% in the number of recorded rapes and sexual assaults in the Roscommon region over the last 20 years. Recent CSO figures show that in the Roscommon/Longford garda division there were 66 reported rapes and sexual assault convictions in 2024, an increase of 45 from the reported figure of 21 in 2003. This is the sixth highest hike nationally. Neighbouring garda divisions have also shown a stark increase. In Sligo/Leitrim there was a hike of 27 to 57, an increase of 111%; in Mayo 22 to 77, a surge of 250%; in Galway figures rose to 171 from 69 in 2003, equating to a rise of 148% and in Westmeath there was an increase of 200% from 22 to 66 convictions. Figures released to Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu under FOI by the Irish Prison Service also show that as of May 31st 2025, there were 800 sexual offenders in Irish prisons costing the state almost 80 million annually to house. That is 16% higher than on May 31st 2024 when 692 sexual offenders were jailed in the prison system. Back in 2018, there were 172 sexual offenders in prison. The figures also show that 235 sex offenders were released from Irish prisons in 2024, an increase of 34% on 2023 when 175 sex offenders were released. Up to May 31st 2025, 103 sex offenders were released. Ms Ni Mhurchu has described the figures as a wakeup call to action and says, it is clear we are dealing with an epidemic of violence against women. Bus Carrying Amarnath Pilgrims Meets with Accident on Jammu-Srinagar Highway Visuals from the accident site show a crane deployed to remove the damaged bus from the tunnel. Bus Carrying Amarnath Pilgrims Meets with Accident on Jammu-Srinagar Highway A bus carrying Amarnath Yatra pilgrims met with an accident in the Kela Morh Tunnel (T2) on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway earlier today, Tuesday, ANI reported. Advertisement Four pilgrims sustained injuries and have been shifted to District Hospital, Ramban, for treatment. Visuals from the accident site show a crane deployed to remove the damaged bus from the tunnel. The exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined. Further details are awaited. Advertisement (For more news apart from Bus Carrying Amarnath Pilgrims Meets with Accident on Jammu-Srinagar Highway, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Hits Back at SGPC Criticism: "Do They Have a Copyright?" The sharp exchange highlights ongoing tensions between religious institutions and political leadership in Punjab, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Hits Back at SGPC Criticism: "Do They Have a Copyright?" Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann vs SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami Latest News Today: A new controversy has erupted between the Punjab Government and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) over the upcoming official event commemorating the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. Advertisement Reacting strongly to SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhamis criticism, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asked, Are they (SGPC) having a copyright? in response to the objections raised over the state governments decision to hold a separate event. We will organize the event as everyone has the right to observe such occasions, Mann asserted, defending the move as inclusive and respectful of the Sikh legacy. Earlier, SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami had taken strong exception to the state governments announcement, accusing it of overstepping its bounds. The SGPC, as the premier religious body of the Sikh community, is solely entitled to organize such historic centenary events, with the support of Sikh organizations and the wider sangat, Dhami said. He emphasized that the government's role should remain limited to administrative assistance and not cross into religious functions. Advertisement Dhami further argued that only religious institutions with deep understanding of Sikh maryada (traditions) and historical sensitivities are appropriate bodies to lead such sacred observances. There are clear precedents: every major Sikh event in history has been spearheaded by the SGPC, with governments only providing logistical support, he added. The sharp exchange highlights ongoing tensions between religious institutions and political leadership in Punjab, especially over the custodianship of Sikh heritage and public events of historical significance. While the SGPC sees itself as the rightful steward of Sikh commemorations, the state government argues for broader participation and inclusivity. As both sides dig in their heels, the upcoming 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the ninth Sikh Guru, is now not only a sacred occasion but also the center of a growing debate over representation, authority, and tradition within Punjabs socio-religious landscape. Advertisement (For more news apart from Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann vs SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) PM Modi Wishes Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Good Health After Resignation; Opposition Seeks Answers Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation speaks highly of him." PM Modi Wishes Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Good Health After Resignation; Opposition Seeks Answers Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Resignation Latest News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday wished good health to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned from his post on Monday evening after a Business Advisory Committee meeting chaired by him at the Rajya Sabha. Advertisement 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, PM Modi wrote in a post on X. The resignation took everyone by surprise, with the Opposition questioning the reason behind it. Although, in his resignation letter, Dhankhar stated that it is to prioritize health care and abide by medical advice that he has resigned, which he said would be effective immediately, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh claimed that there are far deeper reasons behind the truly unprecedented resignation. Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation speaks highly of him. It also speaks poorly of those who had got him elected as Vice President in the first instance, he remarked. Advertisement Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, speaking to ANI on Tuesday, said, We also seek clarification from the Central Government on the resignation, while RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari said that the resignation appeared to have been given under some pressure. MP P. Sandosh Kumar also expressed a similar opinion, stating, "I don't think it is because of his ill health, and only the BJP can tell what happened last night. The Speaker was very enthusiastic in running the House..." Leader of the Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is yet to comment on the matter. Advertisement Meanwhile, BJP MLA Ram Kadam told ANI that if we are unable to do justice to that system due to health or any other reason, then it is appropriate to leave that post... Another BJP MP, Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad, claimed, "...Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was also admitted to AIIMS some days ago...He resigned due to health reasons." (For more news apart from PM Modi Wishes Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar Good Health After Resignation; Opposition Seeks Answers, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) got too close to someone in their investigations, which is why the Verkhovna Rada limited their independence, Member of Parliament Anastasia Radina (Servant of the People faction), the head of the parliamentary committee on anti-corruption policy, has said. "If I understand correctly, in many investigations they (NABU and SAPO) got too close to someone," Radina said at a briefing on Tuesday. According to her, the bill eliminates the independence of anti-corruption bodies. "According to this law, the SAPO actually becomes a fiction... After all, there will be no possibility to independently investigate in the anti-corruption bureau. The Prosecutor General will be able to request documents at any time, give mandatory instructions, transfer the case under the control of other prosecutors, close the case, because, for example, the defense side is concerned about this. The Prosecutor General can do all this," the People's Deputy emphasized. According to Radina, the Prosecutor General is the most politically unprotected law enforcement officer in Ukraine, "because in order to dismiss him, it is enough to simply press 226 buttons in the hall (of the Verkhovna Rada - IF-U)." Radina added that today everyone was convinced "that these buttons in the hall are being pressed." As reported, the Verkhovna Rada limited the independence of the NABU and the SAPO. The relevant bill No. 12414 on amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code regarding the features of pre-trial investigation of criminal offenses related to the disappearance of missing persons under special circumstances under martial law was voted for in the second reading and in total by 263 people's deputies. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Resignation of Vice President: Far Deeper Reasons "...The Speaker was very enthusiastic in running the House..." Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Resignation of Vice President: Far Deeper Reasons Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resignation Latest News: Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday stated that there are far deeper reasons behind the truly unprecedented resignation of the Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, citing the deliberate absence of the Leader of the House JP Nadda and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju from the Business Advisory Committee chaired by the Vice President yesterday. Advertisement Yesterday, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar chaired the Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha at 12:30 PM. It was attended by most members, including Leader of the House JP Nadda and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju. After some discussion, the BAC decided to meet again at 4:30 PM, Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. He went on to explain, At 4:30 PM, the BAC reassembled under the chairmanship of Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar. It waited for Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju to arrive. They never came. Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar was not personally informed that the two senior Ministers were not attending. Rightly he took umbrage and rescheduled the BAC for today at 1 PM. He further stated that something very serious happened yesterday between 1 PM and 4:30 PM to account for the deliberate absence of Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju from the second BAC yesterday. Advertisement Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhars resignation came late in the evening yesterday. He cited to prioritize health care and abide by medical advice as the reason for the resignation, which he said would be effective immediately. Jairam Ramesh, in the post on X, called the move a truly unprecedented and further stated, He has given health reasons for doing so. Those should be respected. But it is also a fact that there are far deeper reasons for his resignation. While always lauding post-2014 India, he spoke fearlessly for the welfare of farmers, forcefully against what he called 'ahankar' in public life, and strongly on judicial accountability and restraint. To the extent possible under the current G2 ruling regime, he tried to accommodate the Opposition. He was a stickler for norms, proprieties, and protocol, which he believed were being consistently disregarded in both his capacities. Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation speaks highly of him. It also speaks poorly of those who had got him elected as Vice President in the first instance, he remarked. Advertisement Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi told ANI that Despite the health condition of the Vice President, he used to conduct parliamentary proceedingThis is the first time a Vice President has resigned in such a shocking manner and hope we get to know more... There should be no disruption in the proceedings of the House and in his work as a Vice President and a Chairman... Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, calling the resignation unfortunate, stated, from our side, we wish him good health, but somewhere it seems that the relationship between the Central Government and the Vice President is not the same as before. Because even the Union Minister was not present in yesterday's BAC meeting. So far, there has been no statement from Prime Minister Modi... We also seek clarification from the Central Government whether they had prior information that the Vice President was going to resign due to his health, and if they did not have the information, then why this kind of confusion? We want to know this." RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari told ANI, "...it appears that he has given this resignation under some pressure. He must have been hurt in some way by the BJP challenging his privileges in Parliament. There must be some reason why he resigned; health reasons seem to be an excuse, but in reality, it seems that he is hurt by this government." Advertisement Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat said, "If it was on health grounds, I think he could have done it even before the session. Yesterday he suddenly resigned, it was unexpected. Yesterday, Union Minister JP Nadda said whatever I say will go on record, so will you dictate to the Vice President? Secondly, there was a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee yesterday. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister disappears. JP Nadda ji disappears. That's why I said the script was written earlier..." MP P. Sandosh Kumar said, "I don't think it is because of his ill health, and only the BJP can tell what happened last night. The Speaker was very enthusiastic in running the House..." Meanwhile, BJP MLA Ram Kadam told ANI that the resignation is likely the first instance in history where a person has submitted their resignation on their own, despite holding such a high position. The lesson that a hardworking worker like me learns from this is that any post is for the system, and if we are unable to do justice to that system due to health or any other reason, then it is appropriate to leave that post..." Another BJP MP Dr Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad stated, "...Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was also admitted to AIIMS some days ago...He resigned due to health reasons" Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not issued any statement on the resignation of the Vice President, nor has President Droupadi Murmu. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is also yet to make a comment. (For more news apart from Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Resignation of Vice President: Far Deeper Reasons, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) After Golden Temple, Amritsar airport gets bomb threat The police have started an investigation into the matter and are looking for those behind the bomb threats over the last few days. Amritsar Airport Bomb Threat Latest News Today: After a series of bomb threats to the holy Sikh shrine Golden Temple, popularly known as Sri Harmandir Sahib, Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji International Airport in Amritsar also received the same threat. According to reports, this has been confirmed by Punjab Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar. Meanwhile, it is being reported that a threat letter was received at the airports email. Advertisement The police have started an investigation into the matter and are looking for those behind the bomb threats over the last few days. (For more news apart from Amritsar Airport Bomb Threat Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham Warns India, China, Brazil of 100% Tariffs Over Russian Oil Purchases If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to allow this war to continue, we're going to tear the hell out of you" U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham Warns India, China, Brazil of 100% Tariffs Over Russian Oil Purchases U.S. Warns India of Tariffs Over Russian Oil Purchases: U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has warned India, China, and Brazil of facing 100% tariffs if the countries continue to purchase "cheap" Russian oil, which he claimed is helping keep Putin's war machine going. Advertisement Speaking on Fox News Sunday Night in America show, Graham responded to a question on the current state of war in both Ukraine and the Middle East. He said, Bombing action by President Trump to help Israel has degraded Irans nuclear capabilities Putin wants to recreate the former Soviet Union, the Russian empire. He wants to take countries that are not his. In the mid-90s, Ukraine gave up about 1,700 nuclear weapons with the promise that their sovereignty would be respected by Russia. Putin broke that promise. He is not going to stop until someone makes him stop. Graham issued a direct warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, Your turn is coming. He said, So Trump has been tough on Iran, which has been incredibly dangerous, but they are now in an awakened state. Putin, your turn is coming. Advertisement Explaining further, Graham said, Whats going to happen here is, Trump is going to impose tariffs on people that buy Russian oil: China, India, and Brazil. Those three countries buy about 80% of cheap Russian oil, and that's what keeps Putin's war machine going. So, President Trump is going to put a 100% tariff on all those countries, punishing them for helping Putin. He added that Putin could survive sanctions and could give a damn about Russian soldiers, but emphasized that China, India, and Brazil will soon have to choose between the American economy or supporting Putin. And I think they are going to pick the American economy, he said. Graham also said Putin made a major league mistake and warned that the Russian economy is going to be crushed. We are flowing weapons to Ukraine, so Ukraine will have the weapons to fight Putin back, he added. Advertisement Addressing China, India, and Brazil directly, Graham stated, If you keep buying cheap Russian oil to allow this war to continue, were going to tear the hell out of you and crush your economy, because what you are doing is blood money. Youre buying cheap Russian oil at the expense of the world, and President Trump is tired of this game, he said. Graham also urged Putin to get to the negotiating table. Advertisement (For more news apart from U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham Warns India, China, Brazil of 100% Tariffs Over Russian Oil Purchases, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) July 22, 2025 UPDATE A roundup of local and world news July 22, 2025 UPDATE Newsroom, 22.07.2025, 20:00 MEASURES The Romanian PM Ilie Bolojan and the deputy PM in charge of reforms, Dragos Anastasiu, presented on Tuesday in Bucharest the measures proposed by the government for the reform of state-owned companies, which will be included in the second set of fiscal measures prepared these days by the Cabinet. Measures include salary cuts and the downsizing of management structures. The legislation will also be modified, after consultations with the European Commission and the OECD, and all data on state-owned companies must be made public. Meanwhile, the increase in VAT and other taxes and excises, the scrapping of some bonuses and a cap on public pensions and salaries will take effect on August 1. The Constitutional Court of Romania rejected a complaint lodged by AUR party, through which the opposition tried to block the first set of fiscal measures, according to sources close to the CCR, quoted by Radio Romania. The measures were challenged at the Constitutional Court after Parliament dismissed a no-confidence motion tabled by the opposition parties (AUR, SOS and POT). The three parties claim, among other things, that the government abused the relevant procedure and rushed through Parliament a set of measures that severely affect millions of Romanians. The PM replied that the alternative would have been much worse, and that these measures kept Romanias rating from being downgraded to the junk category, not recommended for investment. DEFICIT Romania continues to have the highest budget deficit in the EU, but the indicator was down in the first 3 months of the year compared with the last quarter of 2024. The data show that in Q1 2025 Romania had a deficit of 7.5% of GDP, a noticeable decrease from the last quarter of 2024, when it had reached 9.6%. The downward trend in Romanias deficit is steeper than that in the EU, with the EU average down only 0.4%. After Romania, France continues to have the biggest budget deficit. In terms of the government debt to GDP ratio, the EU trend is up from 81% in the last quarter of 2024 to 81.8% in the first quarter of 2025. Romania is also on the rise, from 54.8% to 55.8%. MOLDOVA The most powerful tool against the hybrid war waged by Russia is to make it clear that prosperity and peace are our common goals, the goals of our EU membership and of the European path of the Republic of Moldova, the Romanian foreign minister Oana Toiu said while on a visit to Chisinau on Tuesday. She described Russias hybrid war not as a regional one, but as extended to the entire European continent. The Romanian official met with president Maia Sandu, PM Dorin Recean, the Parliament speaker Igor Grosu, and the foreign minister Mihai Popsoi. Romania trusts the European direction and supports Moldova along its path, Oana Toiu emphasised. In turn, Maia Sandu thanked for Romanias constant and firm support both in the European integration process and in economic development and the consolidation of democratic institutions. The talks in Chisinau also focused on bilateral cooperation in key areas, such as infrastructure and energy. This is the new foreign ministers first official visit to Chisinau, and is in fact a continuation of the talks on Moldovas EU accession held last week in Brussels by the two countries foreign ministers. The visit takes place in a very important context, as Moscow steps up its propaganda ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled in Moldova this September and the hostile cyber activities carried out throughout Europe by entities subordinate to Russias Military Intelligence Service, and follows a ban on entry into Romania against the mayor of Chisinau, Ion Ceban. This last measure was taken for reasons related to national security, the Romanian foreign ministry explains. ANTI-CORRUPTION The president of the National Consumer Protection Authority, Cristian Popescu Piedone, was heard on Tuesday at the National Anti-Corruption Directorate in Romania over suspicions of having warned a business that he was about to inspect. Prosecutors raided a seaside resort where he was staying and brought him back to Bucharest for house searches. Concurrently, the investigators also inspected the company in question and the head office of the Consumer Protection Authority. (AMP) Sanofi has entered into an agreement to acquire Vicebio, a privately held biotechnology company headquartered in London, UK. Sanofi would acquire all of Vicebio's share capital for a total upfront payment of $1.15 billion, with potential milestone payments of up to $450 million based on development and regulatory achievements. Sanofi said the acquisition will not have a significant impact on financial guidance for 2025. The company said the acquisition brings an early-stage combination vaccine candidate for respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus, and expands the capabilities in vaccine design and development with Vicebio's Molecular Clamp . "Vicebio's 'Molecular Clamp' technology introduces a purposefully simple but thoughtful approach to further improve vaccine designs at a time when respiratory viral infections continue to impact millions globally", said Jean-Francois Toussaint, Global Head of Research and Development Vaccines at Sanofi. For More Such Health News, visit rttnews.com. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News British automotive distribution company Inchcape Plc (INCH.L) on Tuesday revealed that it has agreed to acquire Iceland-based automotive distributor Askja and its associated businesses. The company said that this acquisition marks its entry into the Iceland market, as part of its expansion into the Europe and African regions and diversifying its OEM partnerships. Inchcape said that Askja, which has a diversified OEM portfolio over the last 20 years, is the exclusive distributor in Iceland for several major global brands, like Mercedes-Benz Cars and Vans and Kia. In fiscal 2024, Askja generated revenue of 150 million pounds and employed 260 people. According to the company, Iceland's Total Industry Volume or TIV for new passenger and light commercial vehicles was approximately 12,000 in fiscal 2024, with Askja holding a 16 percent market share. Inchcape said that the acquisition is expected to be completed by the third quarter of fiscal 2025, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals. Commenting on the acquisition, Duncan Tait, Group Chief Executive, Inchcape, said, "We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Askja, which is an excellent strategic fit for Inchcape, given its strong track record, diversified OEM brand portfolio, talented people and market leadership position. Iceland, a new market for Inchcape, represents an attractive opportunity to expand our footprint in our Europe and Africa region, while the acquisition also broadens the range of our OEM partnerships, as well as strengthening a number of our existing OEM relationships. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The Ministry of Health has signed 11 security agreements in the field of healthcare with European partners. As reported by Minister of Health Viktor Liashko on his Facebook page, agreements have now been signed with Latvia, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Denmark, Spain, Belgium, Estonia, France, Norway and Italy. In addition, Liashko reported that within the framework of the international medical partnership launched in 2023 at the initiative of Olena Zelenska, 66 memorandums of cooperation between medical institutions from 24 countries have been signed. In particular, 37 Ukrainian and 45 foreign institutions have already joined the partnership "European integration is an unchanging strategic course of Ukraine. The Ministry of Health is implementing European integration initiatives that strengthen our healthcare system. Today we have a record figure of 88% implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU in the healthcare sector," Liashko said. The Trump administration has released a set of documents on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr, which had been kept confidential for decades. The documents, totaling 230,000 pages, were released by Attorney General Pamela Bondi in the presence of Dr. Alveda King at the Department of Justice. She is the niece of Martin Luther King Jr. and daughter of civil rights activist A. D. King. In January, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order for the documents from the assassinations of King and former President John F Kennedy to be declassified. The files were disclosed after months of collaboration between the Department of Justice, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, CIA, and National Archives and Records Administration. "The American people deserve answers decades after the horrific assassination of one of our nation's great leaders," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "The Department of Justice is proud to partner with Director Gabbard and the ODNI at President Trump's direction for this latest disclosure." "I am grateful to President Trump and Attorney General Bondi 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. "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." Bondi and Dr. King discussed the remarkable life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the need for transparency pertaining to his assassination. The American Baptist minister, civil rights activist and political philosopher who was a leader of the civil rights movement, was shot dead on April 4 in Memphis, Tennessee. James Earl Ray was convicted of the assassination, though it remains the subject of conspiracy theories. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News Upon launch, Norton V4 will challenge rivals such as Ducati Panigale V4, BMW M 1000 RR and Aprilia RSV4 As part of its strategy to target the premium motorcycle segment, TVS Motor will be launching multiple new Norton motorcycles. The first of these will be the new Norton flagship V4, which will be showcased at the 2025 EICMA. India launch is expected by the end of this year. Ahead of that, the all-new Norton V4 has been spied testing in the UK. Lets check out the details. New Norton V4 spotted Design and key features TVS MD Sudarshan Venu himself is riding the test vehicle. As compared to the current Norton flagship, the V4SV, the all-new Norton V4 takes a more modern approach to its design and styling. One can notice a more aggressive front fascia, featuring sharp LED headlamps and integrated DRLs. While this test vehicle is missing the side fairing, expect the bike to get sportier panels and graphics. New colour options are also likely, in line with the bikes contemporary profile. Riding stance is fairly committed, similar to other superbikes such as the Panigale V4. In terms of equipment, the new Norton V4 gets an underbelly exhaust. This ensures a clutter-free look and feel, as compared to the V4SV that has a side exhaust setup. The underbelly exhaust could also improve weight balance and help achieve a more centralized mass. Another distinctive feature is a new triangular, multi-layered design for the tail lamp. This feature was also revealed in a recent teaser posted by Norton. The test vehicle can be seen using more modern angular shapes for the frame, as compared to that of the V4SV. Also, the new V4 has the frame in matt black finish, as compared to the shiny metallic finish seen with V4SV. This is another key aspect of the bikes modern makeover. Specs, performance Norton V4 can be seen with a range of premium equipment such as the latest Hypure monobloc callipers from Brembo. In addition to offering enhanced braking, the quirky, asymmetrical design of the callipers complements the bikes sporty profile. Norton V4 could also get semi-active forks that can adjust damping characteristics in real-time using electronic controls. Users can expect better control during cornering, more comfortable rides and greater stability while braking. At the rear, Norton V4 could continue with Ohlins fully adjustable shock absorber with hydraulic preload adjustment. The bike will be getting a comprehensive range of rider aids such as multiple riding modes, a six-axis IMU, ride-by-wire tech, cornering ABS and traction control. Teasers point to some new exciting stuff as well, which is likely to be revealed at EICMA. While the existing 72-degree liquid-cooled V4, 1200cc will be carried forward, it will now be compliant with Euro 5+ emission norms. This will allow the new Norton V4 to enter European markets beyond the UK. The engine is likely to have undergone major tweaks for emission compliance and enhanced performance. In its current format, the engine delivers 185 bhp and 125 Nm of peak torque. It will be interesting to see how Norton prices the new V4. The current flagship, the V4SV, is priced at 44,000 (Rs 51.18 lakh). A starting price of around 25,000 to 30,000 could make it more competitive against rivals like the Panigale V4. Currently, main challenge for energy sector from Russia is massive use of UAVs - Energy Ministry The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine considers the task of installing modern systems to counter drone threats to be a priority in the context of the Russian Federation's massive use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) this year. "In 2025, up to 90% of strikes will be carried out by UAVs. In this regard, the Ministry of Energy focuses on the need to install modern systems to counter drone threats," the department reported after a joint meeting with the Interior Ministry of Ukraine on issues of protecting energy infrastructure on Tuesday. "Our task is to ensure maximum protection of energy facilities and prepare for the rapid restoration of their operation in the event of damage. The focus is on systematically strengthening the stability of the energy system and coordinating the actions of all responsible bodies," said Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk. As reported by the ministry, special attention was paid during the meeting to the safety of personnel of energy enterprises. The issue of arranging reliable shelters at critical infrastructure facilities is being worked out. In addition, algorithms for interaction with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine are being improved to promptly eliminate the consequences of possible attacks. The Ministry of Energy added that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, more than 700 hostile attacks on energy facilities have been recorded, while the nature of the attacks themselves is becoming more targeted and technologically complex. As reported with reference to the head of Naftogaz Ukrainy Group, Serhiy Koretsky, on the night of July 22, the Russian Federation again massively attacked the company's gas infrastructure, the facilities of which were destroyed. "Dozens of drones on the facilities of Naftogaz Group. There is destruction. This is another massive shelling of the gas production infrastructure. Such attacks occur regularly," he wrote on Facebook. This year, Russian has already carried out more than ten massive attacks on Ukrainian gas facilities, damaging up to 40% of the infrastructure. Photo: https://www.defensie.nl/ Head of the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands Ruben Brekelmans confirmed his country's readiness to co-finance the supply of additional Patriot systems to Ukraine, and close consultations are currently underway with the United States and partners on this issue. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands following the results of the 29th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (in the Ramstein format) on Monday on the department's website. During the meeting, Brekelmans noted the need to protect Ukraine from the "Russian air terror campaign." "Russia's goal is simple: to bring the unyielding Ukrainians to their knees. We cannot allow this. That is why we want to make a significant contribution to additional air defense for Ukraine. Much has already been done, but more is needed. Only by continuing our relentless and massive support for Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia can we force Russia to the negotiating table," he said. The Dutch Defense Ministry said it was currently in close and frequent consultations with the United States and other allies on the U.S. initiative to supply additional weapons systems, including air defense systems, in particular Patriot. It said the exact details of the Dutch contribution would be worked out in the near future. "We expect to be able to announce more about this soon," Brekelmans said. The Dutch government has previously said it was important for all of Europe to contribute. "Ukraine is protecting the front line from Russian aggression for the whole of Europe. If Russia manages to break through, it will immediately pose a greater threat to the rest of Europe and NATO," Brekelmans said. According to the Dutch Ministry of Defense, in addition to the full Patriot system, this country has also supplied 24 F-16 fighters and related ammunition and spare parts, several anti-aircraft guns and I-HAWK systems. The Netherlands is also supplying Ukraine with drone detection radars and naval vessels equipped with air defense systems. As previously reported with reference to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Germany and the United States have reached an agreement on providing Ukraine with five Patriot air defense systems. According to media reports, Germany and the United States are close to a final agreement on the Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine. Prosecutor General on meeting with G7 reps: Intl partners receive comprehensive answers to all their questions Prosecutor General of Ukraine Ruslan Kravchenko, together with Head of the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Vasyl Maliuk and Director of the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) Oleksiy Sukhachov, talked with G7 representatives. Kravchenko reported this on his Telegram channel on Tuesday. "We discussed a number of issues: from eradicating corruption and reforming law enforcement agencies, to fighting the enemy on the front lines and inside the country with Russian agents," Kravchenko said. "Our international partners received comprehensive answers to all their questions: both regarding the work of Ukraine's law enforcement agencies in general and regarding the recent special operation to neutralize Russian influence on NABU," the prosecutor general said. Kravchenko expressed his belief that public trust and confidence in the rule of law are extremely important. "And in this, our vision coincides with that of international partners," said. Photo: https://pbs.twimg.com/ Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Taras Kachka assured European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos that Ukraine's reform agenda and commitments to join the European Union remain fully valid. "Had a phone call with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. Confirmed Ukraine's commitment to the rule of law and the anti-corruption. Underlined that today's decisions Verkhovna Rada do not intend to threaten the institutional independence of NABU or SAPO. All core functions remain intact," he said on the X social network on Tuesday. "There will be no compromises on anti-corruption Ukraine takes this responsibility seriously. Our reform agenda and EU accession commitments remain fully in force," Kachka said. He stated that Ukraine is responsible for strengthening the rule of law and takes the implementation of an effective anti-corruption policy, as well as international obligations, seriously, and there can be no compromises here. Kachka expressed his readiness to work with everyone partners, civil society, experts. "It is important to remember that success in the fight against corruption is not only about procedural and institutional norms, the number of procedural actions, and even less so media coverage. Results are important: verdicts that become legally binding after consideration in the courts. It is important how these verdicts affect the prevention of corruption," he said. "Achieving the goals of reforms in the field of the rule of law and anti-corruption is impossible without trust within the system of anti-corruption bodies. The role of the Prosecutor General is especially important in this. Unity and joint work of all anti-corruption bodies is the key to success," the deputy prime minister said. As reported, on July 22, the Verkhovna Rada restricted the independence of the NABU and the SAPO. Some 263 MPs voted in favor of relevant bill No. 12414 on amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code regarding the features of pre-trial investigation of criminal offenses related to the disappearance of missing persons under special circumstances under martial law in the second reading and in total. Without sanctions pressure on Russia, there will be no breakthrough in Russia's negotiating positions There will be no breakthrough in Russia's negotiating positions until the tools of forcing Russia to negotiate are used, in particular sanctions and military pressure, Deputy Head of the President's Office Mykhailo Podoliak said. "There will be no breakthrough in the negotiating positions of the Russian Federation until the tools of unconditionally forcing Russia to negotiate are used, meaning sanctions and military pressure of the appropriate nature, that is, the scaling of the war on the territory of Russia. This is obvious not only for Ukraine, it is already obvious for our American colleagues, it has been obvious for a long time for European colleagues," Podoliak said on the air of a national telethon on Tuesday evening. According to him, the partners are looking for "some or other" solutions related to the sanctions policy. Podoliak said the negotiation process has intensified, since previous meetings in Turkey allowed for a more substantial approach to exchanges. "This is also an opportunity to raise the topic of the return of children, this is the second topic that will be at these negotiations, which can be resolved," the President's Office deputy head said. In addition, another topic of the negotiations in Turkey is preparation for "possible realistic negotiations" at the level of the leaders of the countries. As reported, a new meeting of the delegations in Turkey is expected on Wednesday, July 23. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov will head the delegation for negotiations with the Russian side, and the delegation will also include representatives of intelligence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the President's Office. The European Union is concerned by events surrounding anti-corruption institutions in Ukraine, which are crucial for the reform agenda necessary for the country's accession to the EU. The corresponding statement was made on Tuesday in Brussels by the representative of the European Commission, Guillaume Mercier, commenting at the request of journalists on the bill in the Ukrainian parliament, which according to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, will effectively destroy its independence and authority, and how this may affect Ukraine's accession to the EU. He said the European Union is concerned by Ukraine's recent actions regarding its anti-corruption institutions, namely the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. These institutions are crucial for Ukraine's reform agenda and must function independently to fight corruption and maintain public trust, Mercier added. Mercier stated that the EU is providing significant financial assistance to Ukraine subject to progress in transparency, judicial reform and democratic governance. Ukraine's accession will require a strong capacity to fight corruption and ensure institutional stability. The EU will continue to monitor the situation and support Ukraine in upholding the rule of law, the European Commission representative said. Courtesy Babyfxce E, a rapper and hip hop artist from Flint who has signed with Atlantic Records, will be performing at the "Battle Creek vs Everybody" concert. Courtesy Alaysi Tmg will perform at the "Battle Creek vs. Everybody" concert on July 26. Courtesy Big Telly will perform at the "Battle Creek vs. Everybody" concert on July 26. Courtesy Marco2tymes will perform at the "Battle Creek vs. Everybody" concert on July 26. The News in Brief Tuesday, July 22, 2025 Georgia's Revenue Service froze the bank accounts of the independent media outlet Batumelebi/Netgazeti on July 17, citing outstanding tax debt. The outlet, however, has called the move an attempt to silence a critical voice.In a statement released on July 21, Batumelebi warned that the incasso order could allow authorities to liquidate its assets."This means the National Bureau of Enforcement could begin selling off Batumelebi's assets, including technical equipment and its office," the outlet said.The account seizure comes just one week before a court is expected to issue a verdict in the criminal case against Batumelebi founder Mzia Amaghlobeli. She faces four to seven years in prison for slapping Batumi police chief Irakli Dgebuadze during a confrontation."The seizure and the other actions planned for the coming days appear aimed at breaking her personally and, ultimately, destroying the media organization she founded," Batumelebi stated.According to the Revenue Service, the outlet currently owes GEL 47,000 in unpaid taxes. That figure is down from GEL 136,000 earlier this month, when the agency issued a notice giving Batumelebi five days to pay or face a forced account seizure. The debt includes GEL 126,000 in accrued interest and GEL 109,000 in penalties.Batumelebi said it had acknowledged the debt and had been paying it off in installments. The outlet appealed to the Revenue Service for a payment plan, but the request was denied."The threat of seizure is a telling example of selective pressure," the outlet said, pointing to much larger debts owed by pro-government broadcasters. Imedi TV reportedly owes GEL 17 million , while Rustavi 2's debt stands at GEL 25 million.Two other broadcasters, Radio Tbilisi and Trialeti TV, reported in late June that their accounts were also frozen due to outstanding debts. Both outlets said the seizures were politically motivated and aimed at silencing dissent.Giorgi Burjanadze, a lawyer and representative of the Open Society Georgia Foundation, said on Sunday that the Georgian Dream government is withholding consent needed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to monitor trials of individuals considered political prisoners.Burjanadze stated that the information came directly from the OSCE. According to him, although ODIHR has expressed readiness to observe the legal proceedings, it cannot proceed without formal approval from the courts."ODIHR expresses its readiness to monitor the trials of political prisoners after the necessary consent," Burjanadze wrote. "This is especially important after the trials are closed."The 5th President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, officially invited the OSCE/ODIHR to Georgia on December 10, 2024, to monitor the cases. However, as Burjanadze explained, the monitoring requires judicial approval under ODIHR's established methodology, and that approval has not yet been granted.Burjanadze criticized the apparent lack of transparency, recalling that Georgian Dream itself invited ODIHR to monitor trials in 2013."If they had nothing to hide then, what do they have today?" he asked. The 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the human rights organization Center for Civil Liberties, called on President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to veto the law adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (No. 12414). "The Center for Civil Liberties appeals to the President of Ukraine with a demand to veto bill No. 12414, adopted by the Parliament today, July 22, in violation of the parliamentary procedure. The draft poses a direct threat to the rule of law and human rights," the center said in a post on Facebook. "We also appeal to European institutions to convince the Ukrainian authorities to abolish No. 12414, as it contradicts the principles of the existence of the European Union," the human rights activists are convinced. Stocks in the UK have started the session slightly lower, despite the record highs notched up overnight by the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite in the US. As of 0901 BST, the FTSE 100 is trading 0.06% lower at 9,007.77, alongside a 0.20% dip on the FTSE 250 to 21,966.88. On Monday, the benchmark S&P 500 settled above the 6,300 point level for the first time ever, although the breadth of stocks' advance continued to be quite narrow. On the economic calendar for later in the session, Federal Reserve chairman, Jerome Powell, was scheduled to deliver remarks at a conference in Washington D.C. from 1230 BST. Earlier, at 0915 BST, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey was also set to take to the podium at 0915 BST. The Office for National Statistics reported an increase in the UK's public sector net borrowing requirement from 17.44bn in May to 20.68bn for June (consensus: 15.6bn). Light news calendar Food services business Compass Group upgrading FY25 profit guidance due to strong organic growth and a better-than-expected M&A performance. Compass Group also announced it has agreed to acquire Vermaat Groep, a leading premium food services business in Europe, for approximately 1.5bn. Drugmaker AstraZeneca said on Tuesday that it plans to invest $50.0bn in the US for medicines manufacturing and R&D by 2030. AstraZeneca said its investment will support its ambition to reach $80.0bn in revenues by 2030, with 50% generated in the US. Inchcape has agreed to acquire Icelandic automotive distributor Askja for an undisclosed sum. Askja generated revenue of 150.0m in fiscal 2024 and employs 260 people. During FY24, Iceland's total industry volume for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles was around 12,000 units, of which Askja holds a 16% market share, Inchcape said. Market Movers FTSE 100 (UKX) 9,007.31 -0.06% FTSE 250 (MCX) 21,963.35 -0.22% techMARK (TASX) 5,157.57 -0.19% FTSE 100 - Risers Compass Group (CPG) 2,635.00p 4.40% Centrica (CNA) 163.10p 4.12% Glencore (GLEN) 321.40p 2.77% Entain (ENT) 973.60p 1.52% Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,671.00p 1.32% British American Tobacco (BATS) 3,870.00p 0.89% SSE (SSE) 1,944.00p 0.78% Antofagasta (ANTO) 1,970.00p 0.69% WPP (WPP) 416.40p 0.63% Anglo American (AAL) 2,321.00p 0.61% FTSE 100 - Fallers Admiral Group (ADM) 3,266.00p -2.39% Ashtead Group (AHT) 4,708.00p -2.10% Spirax Group (SPX) 6,095.00p -1.69% Beazley (BEZ) 903.50p -1.58% Barratt Redrow (BTRW) 379.50p -1.53% Legal & General Group (LGEN) 256.40p -1.46% Babcock International Group (BAB) 1,054.00p -1.40% Aviva (AV.) 630.00p -1.38% Barclays (BARC) 348.30p -1.28% Croda International (CRDA) 2,825.00p -1.19% FTSE 250 - Risers Bakkavor Group (BAKK) 237.00p 6.76% Pennon Group (PNN) 536.50p 2.00% Watches of Switzerland Group (WOSG) 365.20p 1.67% Patria Private Equity Trust (PPET) 559.00p 1.64% Mony Group (MONY) 207.00p 1.47% Senior (SNR) 200.50p 1.37% Mitie Group (MTO) 139.20p 1.31% B&M European Value Retail S.A. (DI) (BME) 243.40p 1.29% Ruffer Investment Company Ltd Red PTG Pref Shares (RICA) 285.00p 0.71% Inchcape (INCH) 788.00p 0.70% FTSE 250 - Fallers Kier Group (KIE) 199.60p -4.95% Vistry Group (VTY) 599.20p -2.19% Hochschild Mining (HOC) 265.20p -1.85% Bridgepoint Group (Reg S) (BPT) 319.40p -1.72% Oxford Instruments (OXIG) 1,952.00p -1.71% Ocado Group (OCDO) 310.30p -1.62% Close Brothers Group (CBG) 408.00p -1.50% RS Group (RS1) 569.00p -1.47% Trustpilot Group (TRST) 264.00p -1.35% Bellway (BWY) 2,532.00p -1.25% British Gas-owner Centrica has taken a 15% stake in nuclear power station Sizewell C, it was announced on Tuesday, one of a number of new private investors to inject funds into the 38bn project. Following what is understood to be months of negotiations, Centrica confirmed it would take the stake with committed construction funding of 1.3bn. It will be the third-largest shareholder after the government, which remains the biggest investor with a 44.9% holding. Canadian pension fund La Caisse will be the biggest private investor, after agreeing to take a 20% stake. French state power firm EDF holds 12.5%, while specialist fund Amber Infrastructure Group has struck a deal to own 7.6%, with an option to acquire a further 2.4% from the government. It had been widely reported that Canadian investment manager Brookfield would take a significant position, but the government instead opted to sell a larger stake to combination of different investors. The expansion of Sizewell C, on the Suffolk coast, was initially proposed by EDF and China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN). However, the government stepped in to remove CGN in 2022, on concerns about Chinese influence in key UK infrastructure, kickstarting the search for new private equity investors. The project has also been heavily criticised by environmental groups, which are concerned about the impact on the local area. However, the government pledged 11.5bn of new state funding for Sizewell earlier this month, as part of its wider plans to boost economic growth and improve the countrys energy supply. In total, the project is expected to cost around 38bn, significantly higher than the 20bn estimated by EDF and the government in 2020. Chris OShea, Centrica chief executive, said: The UK needs more reliable, affordable zero carbon electricity, and Sizewell C will be critical to supporting the countrys energy system for many decades to come. Thats why Im delighted to be announcing this milestone investment, which will see Centrica commit 1.3bn for a 15% equity stake, and deepens our long-standing involvement in the UK nuclear industry. The investment is part of the blue chip's 4bn green-focused investment programme. It currently expects a gross investment of around 500m cumulatively to the end of 2028, and over 1bn on the same basis by the end of 2033. Sizewell is forecast to contributed around 50m of EBITDA per annum to Centrica by the end of 2028, 150m immediately pre-operations and significant acceleration once the plant enters the operational phase. Sizewell is being built under a regulated asset base (RAB) model, which allows investors to get paid during construction rather than have to wait until the project is finished. A commercial operations date has been pencilled in for the mid-to-late 2030s. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: La Caisse, Centricas and Ambers multi-billion pound investment is a powerful endorsement of the UK as the best place to do business and as a global hub for nuclear energy. This investment will create thousands of good quality jobs and boost the local economy. Fuller, Smith & Turner reported like-for-like sales growth of 5.0% for the first 16 weeks of its financial year, as the pub and hotel operator continued to deliver a strong trading performance. In a statement issued ahead of its annual general meeting on Tuesday, the company said the positive momentum reflected the continued efforts of its teams across the business in navigating industry challenges. I am delighted with our progress so far this year, said chief executive Simon Emeny. Our teams across the business continue to work hard, delivering consistently excellent results and overcoming the challenges in our sector with spirit and determination to maintain our strong momentum. They are the heart of Fullers, and I am proud to work alongside them. The London-listed firm said the meeting also marked the retirement of chairman Michael Turner after 47 years with the company. Its been a wonderful journey, and I am so proud of everything that the team has achieved at Fullers during my tenure, said Turner. The company celebrates 180 years this year and it has never been in a stronger position. Fullers said it would release its next trading update alongside half-year results on 12 November. At 1100 BST, shares in Fuller, Smith & Turner were up 1.6% at 573p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. Ed Miliband has given final approval for the construction of Sizewell C nuclear power station at a cost of at least 38bn. The Energy Secretary took the final investment decision on the controversial power station on Tuesday. The site will take at least a decade to build. The Suffolk nuclear plant will have a capacity of about 3.2 gigawatts, enough to supply the needs of about six million homes for at least 60 years. - Daily Telegraph 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. - Daily Telegraph Israel has launched substantial air raids and a ground operation in Gaza, targeting Deir al-Balah, the main hub for humanitarian efforts in the devastated Palestinian territory, amid urgent warnings of widening starvation in the coastal strip. The latest assault comes a day after the highest death toll in 21 months inflicted by the Israeli military on desperate Palestinians seeking food aid, with at least 85 killed on Sunday in what has become an almost daily slaughter. - Guardian Rachel Reeves likes to brag that Britain is the fastest-growing economy in the G7 a 'beacon of stability' in an uncertain world. She will soon have to change her tune. Yes, the economy grew by 0.7 per cent in the first quarter, leaving the US, Germany, France and the rest of the G7 in Britain's wake. But it is never wise to dine out on one set of figures, and GDP contracted by 0.3 per cent in April and 0.1 per cent in May, leaving the second quarter looking somewhat iffy to say the least. Britain could soon be at, or close to, the bottom of the G7 pile. - Daily Mail A rally is taking place in Kyiv against bill No. 12414 adopted by the Verkhovna Rada, which limits the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). As reported by an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, as of 20:00, about 500 participants had gathered on Ivan Franko Square near Ivan Franko Kyiv National Theater, and people continue to actively approach. Participants of the rally are holding posters that read: "Here we are again," "Enough lawlessness," "Are you completely out of your mind," "12414 disgrace," "How did we suddenly end up back in 2013," "You will hear us," "Yanukovych ended badly," "I do not want to join the customs union" and others. As of 20:30, more than 1,200 people have gathered on the square, and they continue to arrive. Participants in the action chant: "Veto the law," "No corruption in power," "Shame," "Hands off NABU" and "Bring Europe back." No facts of public order violations or provocations have been observed at the moment. According to the idea of the initiator of the action, veteran Dmytro Koziatynsky, who previously announced it on his social networks, this area is currently the closest location to the building of the President's Office due to security conditions. "As a veteran, it is important for me that my initiative is supported primarily by ordinary, caring citizens. Therefore, I ask political parties and figures to refrain from supporting this action. Therefore, let's agree that the action will be held without symbols and speakers who want to express their opinions," he said, noting that it is important for the president to veto this law. Among the participants of the action, you can meet veterans, public figures and public figures. The security of the action is provided by several dozen law enforcement officers, in particular the Dialogue Police of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kyiv. In addition, police cars are parked on the surrounding streets. As previously reported by local media, a rally against bill No. 12414 was also planned in Lviv and Dnipro. It was expected to be held in the city center near the monument to Taras Shevchenko in Lviv and near Ukraine hotel in Dnipro. Anup Kumar Saha resigns as MD of Bajaj Finance just four months after appointment. Former MD Rajeev Jain reinstated to lead the company until March 2028. Saha is reportedly in contention for the top post at IndusInd Bank. In a surprise development, Anup Kumar Saha, Managing Director of Bajaj Finance, has stepped down from his role just four months after taking charge of Indias most valuable non-banking financial company (NBFC). The company announced the resignation, citing 'personal reasons' behind Sahas decision. His abrupt exit has sparked industry speculation about a potential move to IndusInd Bank, where the CEO position is expected to open soon. Saha, who took over as MD in April 2025, was widely regarded as a key figure for leading Bajaj Finance into its next phase of growth. His resignation, described by global brokerage Jefferies as 'a surprising departure', comes at a critical juncture, particularly given his recent appointment and the high expectations surrounding his leadership. According to industry reports, Saha is among the top contenders for the CEO position at IndusInd Bank, which is expected to submit its leadership succession plan to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) by June 2025. If appointed, this would mark a significant return to mainstream banking for Saha. Bajaj Finance has reinstated Rajeev Jain as Managing Director. Jain, who led the company for over 15 years and is widely credited for transforming it into a retail lending powerhouse, had stepped aside earlier this year to assume the role of Executive Vice Chairman. He will now hold dual responsibilities as Vice Chairman and MD until March 31, 2028. In a swift leadership response,has reinstated Rajeev Jain as Managing Director. Jain, who led the company for over 15 years and is widely credited for transforming it into a retail lending powerhouse, had stepped aside earlier this year to assume the role of Executive Vice Chairman. He will now hold dual responsibilities asuntil March 31, 2028. Jefferies, which continues to list Bajaj Finance as one of its top NBFC picks, believes Jains return provides immediate leadership stability. Jains availability, combined with the depth of Bajaj Finances management team, makes the transition smooth, the brokerage noted. However, it also emphasized the importance of succession planning as a long-term priority for the firm. Although NBFCs are not subject to RBIs 15-year term limit on non-promoter CEOs, unlike banks, Jefferies suggested that the group may begin to actively groom internal or external candidates for leadership succession in the medium term. Also Read: Bajaj Finance Forays Into Financing Lifestyle Products Sahas potential move to IndusInd Bank would be a return to his banking roots. A seasoned veteran with over three decades of experience in financial services, Saha spent 14 years at ICICI Bank, rising to the position of Senior General Manager. He also served on the boards of ICICI Bank HFC and TU CIBIL, and led key functions such as credit cards, auto loans, structured finance, and business intelligence. He joined Bajaj Finance in 2017, where he played a pivotal role in expanding operations, launching new verticals, and championing digital transformation. Under his guidance, the company achieved significant customer outreach and aligned its growth strategies with a vision of financial inclusion and tech-led innovation. In his resignation letter, Saha expressed gratitude to the board and stakeholders, assuring them of his continued support during the transition. I remain committed to ensuring a seamless transition and am available to support the company during this period, he wrote. India risks facing up to 26% US tariffs as the August 1 deadline set by the US for trade deal implementation has passed. A US delegation will visit India in mid-August to continue negotiations, with sensitive sectors like agriculture and automobiles causing delays. Experts warn the US model offers no reciprocal tariff cuts, making any potential deal a pressured compromise rather than a true FTA. With the August 1 deadline for implementing new US reciprocal tariffs having passed, India and the United States are now heading into a crucial phase in their bilateral trade negotiations. A US delegation, led by Brendan Lynch, the US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, is expected to visit New Delhi in mid-August to continue efforts toward a potential bilateral trade agreement (BTA). This development comes after Indian negotiators concluded another round of discussions in Washington last week, amid mounting uncertainty over the imposition of steep US tariffs on Indian exports. The current negotiations are focused solely on market access for goods, with sensitive sectors like agriculture and automobiles emerging as key sticking points. Both are considered vital for job creation and economic stability in India, making any concessions politically sensitive. The pressure on India intensified after US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed in a television interview that August 1 is a 'hard deadline' for countries to begin paying new reciprocal tariffs, irrespective of ongoing negotiations. Thats a hard deadline, so on August 1, the new tariff rates will come in Nothing stops countries from talking to us after August 1, but theyre going to start paying the tariffs, Lutnick said. According to US authorities, the new tariff structure includes a surcharge of up to 26 percent on certain imports from larger economies like India if no trade deal is signed. For smaller nations in regions such as Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa, a baseline 10 percent tariff would apply. The message from the US administration is clear: open up your markets or pay the price. India, however, remains hopeful that a mutually beneficial agreement can be reached by the end of this year. Government sources emphasize that any bilateral trade deal should create tangible market access for India's labour-intensive industries, such as textiles, leather, and agriculture. The country is also aiming to secure a tariff differential that would make Indian products more competitive compared to exports from other Asian economies. President Donald Trump, who has pushed for reciprocal tariffs as a cornerstone of his trade policy, has repeatedly claimed that a deal with India is 'very close'. Yet, the shifting deadlines first set for April 1, then July 9, and finally August 1 have only added to the uncertainty. The current scenario suggests that while talks will continue, Indian exporters may have to endure interim tariff hikes unless a breakthrough is achieved soon. , who has pushed for reciprocal tariffs as a cornerstone of his trade policy, has repeatedly claimed that a deal with India is 'very close'. Yet, the shifting deadlines first set for April 1, then July 9, and finally August 1 have only added to the uncertainty. The current scenario suggests that while talks will continue, Indian exporters may have to endure interim tariff hikes unless a breakthrough is achieved soon. Trade experts remain skeptical of the nature of these so-called trade 'agreements' being pushed by the Trump administration. According to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), Trumps model does not conform to World Trade Organization (WTO) standards for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). Under WTO rules, FTAs are required to include mutual tariff reductions on a significant share of traded goods. However, under the Trump model, the US demands that partner countries reduce their Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariffs, while the US offers no corresponding reductions. Trump lacks Fast Track Trade Authority from Congress to reduce MFN tariffs. Instead, hes offering to roll back only the Liberation Day tariffs imposed in April under emergency powers, GTRI stated in a report. These so-called Liberation Day tariffs currently under legal challenge have added a 26 percent surcharge on top of standard US tariffs applied to Indian goods. Even if an agreement is reached, Indian exporters may still be subject to a minimum 10 percent levy, making any potential deal a reluctant compromise rather than a genuine partnership. This is more of a pressured adjustment than a win-win trade pact, GTRI noted. Indian policymakers are reportedly weighing their options carefully. While access to the US market is critical, especially at a time when India is attempting to boost its manufacturing and export sectors under the 'Make in India' initiative, any deal that disproportionately benefits the US without tangible reciprocity could trigger political backlash at home. As negotiations resume in August, both sides will need to navigate not only the technical aspects of trade but also the strategic optics. For India, securing favorable terms while protecting key domestic sectors will be crucial. For the US, showing that it can bring large economies like India into its trade fold is important, especially in an election year. Ultimately, while the August 1 deadline has passed, the negotiations are far from over. The next few months could determine whether India and the US can reset their trade relationship on a more balanced footing or if rising tariffs will cast a long shadow over future economic ties. Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced the winners of the 2025 New York Wine Classic, which recognizes excellence in the states wine industry. The Governors Cup was awarded to a Long Island vineyard, Rose Hill Vineyards, for their 2019 Clarity Cabernet Sauvignon. Meanwhile, Weis Vineyards from the Finger Lakes was selected as Winery of the Year, earning this honor for the second consecutive year and third time overall. The Governors Cup is the competitions most prestigious award, representing the Best of Show among all entries. In addition to the top honors, wineries were recognized for excellence in a variety of specific categories: sparkling wine, white wine, red wine, pink wine, dessert wine, and specialty wine. The 2025 category winners include: Best Sparkling: Milea Family Wines Hudson Valley Vineyards Right Bank Blanc De Blancs, Hudson Valley Best White Wine: Weis Vineyards 2024 Gruner Veltliner, Finger Lakes Best Pink Wine: Weis Vineyards 2024 Dry Rose, Finger Lakes Best Red Wine: Rose Hill Vineyards 2019 Clarity Cabernet Sauvignon, Long Island Best Dessert Wine: Billsboro Winery 2023 Apres, Finger Lakes Best Specialty Wine: Montezuma Winery Crimson Queen Cranberry & Rhubarb, Finger Lakes Congratulations to Rose Hill Vineyards, Weis Vineyards, and all of the wineries who joined this competition, Hochul said.. From Lake Erie to the Finger Lakes to Long Island, and across the state, the caliber of New York wines made by our hard-working winery owners and farmers is second to none. This years contest marks the 39th annual year of the statewide event. Since its inception, the New York Wine Classic has showcased different wine recipes and flavors from wine producers across the state. Organized by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, the Classic celebrates wineries within the states distinct American Viticultural Areas. These include Lake Erie, Niagara Escarpment, Finger Lakes, Upper Hudson, Hudson River Region, Champlain Valley of New York, and Long Island. The New York Wine Classic celebrates more than just great wine it tells the story of a passionate, resilient, and innovative industry that continues to elevate its craft year after year, said Executive Director of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, Sam Filler. This competition is a platform for honoring the skill and creativity of our winemakers and growers while helping consumers discover the quality and diversity of New York wine. The competition awarded 12 platinum, 261 gold, 299 silver, and 80 bronze medals to participating wineries. For the fifth consecutive year, the New York Wine & Grape Foundation partnered with the Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) to judge the competition. The judging panel comprised sommeliers, beverage directors, educators, retail buyers, and seasoned wine industry professionals. Verizon Wireless stores will be giving away hundreds of free backpacks on July 27 ahead of the 2025 back-to-school season. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Verizon Wireless stores will be giving away hundreds of free backpacks on July 27 ahead of the 2025 back-to-school season. The event will be hosted by Round Room, which is a company that owns and operates the countrys largest number of Verizon-authorized retail businesses, like TCC (The Cellular Connection) and Wireless Zone. On Sunday, July 27, at 1 p.m., head to these Verizon stores on Staten Island to get a free backpack, while supplies last: 1267 Forest Ave. 658 Forest Ave. 2935 Veterans Rd. West 1573 Richmond Rd. Over 1,200 Wireless Zone and TCC locations will be giving away more than 140,000 backpacks to students across the country. To see the full list of participating locations around the country, click here. This years School Rocks Backpack Giveaway, marks the 13th year of Round Rooms charity event and the end of their month-long school supply drive, Stuff the Bus campaign. As part of the campaign, five communities nominated by local businesses will be selected as finalists to receive school supplies collected in their area during the June drive. The community that collects the most school supply donations throughout June will be awarded a bus filled with nearly $40,000 worth of school supplies. The winner will be announced during the July 27 giveaway event. This is one of those moments each year that reminds us why we do what we do, said Scott Moorehead, CEO of Round Room in a press release. Its not just about the backpacks, its about showing up for our neighbors. When our teams gather in stores across the country to give back on the same day, its a magical thing. Since the event began in 2013, Round Room has given more than 1.5 million backpacks to children for free, and expects to give over $3M worth of backpacks this year. The free backpack giveaway and school supplies aim to provide relief for families facing the rising back-to-school costs. According to a report by the United States Senate Federal Credit Union, parents spend an average of $586 per child, while households with elementary, middle, and high school aged children spend an average of $875. To ensure all donations serve their purpose, any backpacks that are not picked up by students will be donated to local schools that are designated by each store. A new study found the top school systems in the United States, and New York state made the top 10. This photo shows a student in an elementary classroom on Staten Island. (Advance/SILive.com | Annalise Knudson) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Its not an easy decision to decide which school is right for your child but a new study may help some parents. WalletHub, a personal finance website, set out to determine the top-performing school systems in the United States comparing the 50 states and Washington, D.C., across 32 key metrics. Unlike other research that focuses primarily on academic outcomes or school finance, this analysis also accounted for performance, funding, safety, class size and instructor credentials. Each metric was then graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest quality of public K-12 education. WalletHub determined each states weighted average across all metrics to calculate overall score and rank order. And New York state has one of the best school systems, according to the report. The Empire State ranked as the 10th best school system in the United States, receiving a score of 57.51. It ranked seventh in quality, which includes items like high school graduation rates, dropout rates, test scores, median SAT and ACT (college entrance exam) scores, Advanced Placement (AP) scores, and pupil-teacher ratios. It also ranked 20th in safety, which was ranked through various categories including: existence of a digital learning plan; school access to instructional materials; accessible technologies; access to drugs; bullying incidence rate and more. New York state also ranked first for the existence of a distance learning plan, sixth for the highest median ACT (a college entrance exam) scores, and fifth highest pupil-teacher ratio. Heres how the state ranked in other categories, according to WalletHub: 27th Reading Test Scores 27th % of Licensed/Certified Public K12 Teachers 24th Dropout Rate 20th Bullying Incidence Rate Here are the top 10 best school systems in the United States, according to WalletHubs recent report: Massachusetts Connecticut New Jersey Virginia New Hampshire Wisconsin Rhode Island Indiana Maryland New York Here are the top 10 worst school systems in the United States, according to WalletHubs recent report: The United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced on Monday that Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, PC (ECOP) has agreed to pay $790,000 to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act. The claims involve civil liability for submitting improper Medicare bills related to Evaluation & Management (E&M) services. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, from September 1, 2018, through April 7, 2025, ECOP submitted claims to Medicare Part B for E&M services on the same day that beneficiaries received bilateral eye injectionsa practice that violates Medicare billing regulations. The United States Attorneys Office in the Middle District of Pennsylvania is dedicated to working with its law enforcement partners to zealously investigate allegations of the submission of unsupported claims to federal healthcare programs, said Gurganus. Improperly billing federal healthcare programs increases the costs of these taxpayer-funded programs. Settlements like this one are an important part of the fight against fraud, waste and abuse. Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), emphasized that healthcare providers must adhere to Medicare rules when submitting claims. HHS-OIG is committed to protecting the integrity of the Medicare program and maintaining the trust of the people it serves, she said. The case was investigated by HHS-OIG and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Haken of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit. Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania operates multiple locations across eastern and central Pennsylvania, including offices in: 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! BRICS Bank marks a decade (People's Daily App) 14:34, July 22, 2025 Today marks a remarkable milestonethe 10th anniversary of the New Development Bank! Founded in 2015 by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) countries, the bank was established to finance infrastructure and sustainable development projects across BRICS and other emerging markets and developing countries. Over the past decade, NDB has become a true platform for cooperation among the countries of the Global South, working collectively to address both new and historic challenges to build a more prosperous, equitable and multilateral world order. This video looks back at the bank's first decade and outlines its evolving role in the international financial system. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) The In-N-Out burger chain, with its ubiquitous palm trees and cult-like following on the West Coast, is distinctly Californian. But its billionaire owner is no longer calling the state home. Lynsi Snyder, whose grandparents founded In-N-Out nearly eight decades ago near Los Angeles, told a podcast she is moving with her family to Tennessee. Lynsi Snyders grandparents founded In-N-Out nearly eight decades ago near Los Angeles. Credit: MediaNews Group via Getty Images Theres a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here, Snyder said in a July 18 interview with Allie Beth Stuckey on the Relatable podcast. 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 and being able to have the family and other peoples families out there. Strickland Metals has intercepted up to 14.8 grams per tonne (g/t) gold in assay results from one of three recent diamond drill holes at the companys Gradina prospect, one of multiple resource targets in its 7.4-million-ounce gold-equivalent Rogozna project in Serbia. The recent drilling is part of a 50,000-metre assault for the year to define new resources at Rogozna. One of Strickland Metals eight drill rigs operating at the companys Rogozna project in Serbia. The program continues to uncover high-grade, skarn-hosted gold mineralisation at the northern end of the Gradina deposit, 2 kilometres south of the companys flagship 5.3M-ounce gold-equivalent Shanac project. The best result from the three latest holes is 19.6m at 7g/t gold from 377m, including 4m at 14.8g/t gold from 387m, and 15.5m at 2.3g/t gold from 476m, including 5.1m at 3.9g/t gold from 486.4m. Thousands of Australian business travellers, students and workers heading to the United States are set to be charged a $US250 ($383) visa application fee as part of changes introduced under President Donald Trumps big beautiful bill. Most Australians visiting the US as tourists enter the country under the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, known as the ESTA waiver program, and will have to pay a small increase for the cost of the waiver from $US21 ($32) to $US40 ($60). US President Donald Trump during a ceremony for the signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on July 4. Credit: Bloomberg The US Department of Homeland Security has the authority to begin the new visa integrity fee from October 1. It can be applied to anyone who is not eligible for the ESTA visa waiver, including the Visa H-1B (specialty occupations), Visa F-1 (academic student), Visa B-1/B-2 (business visitor/tourist visitor), and Visa J-1 (exchange visitor). Its the first sex manual written in English, its more than 300 years old, and its coming to Australia as just one of many historic treasures at the three-day 2025 Melbourne Book Fair. And this copy is annotated, so we can learn something about the 17th-century couple who consulted it. For centuries, Aristotles Master-Piece was reprinted in hundreds of editions, and in the 1930s it was still for sale in Soho sex shops. Aristotle didnt actually write it (his was just a respected name to put onto a scandalous work), but its an amalgam of advice from two physicians, Levinus Lemnius and Jacob Ruff. In it, you could find out about many aspects of conception, pregnancy, birth and copulation. The opening page of the 17th-century sex manual Aristotles Master-Piece. Credit: Its racy stuff for its time. Pom Harrington, owner of UK booksellers Peter Harrington, one of the book fairs exhibitors, says the book recommends to cherish the Body with generous Restorative, to charm the Imagination with Musick, to drown all Cares in good Wine; that so the Mind being elevated to a pitch of Joy and Rapture, the sensual Appetite may be more freely encouraged to gratifie itself in the Delights of Nature. There are frank descriptions of both male and female genitalia, in which the clitoris is identified as the seat of the greatest pleasure in Copulation for women. And when both parties meet with an equal Ardour, there is a higher chance of procreation. Theres plenty to charm the imagination, and possibly produce joy and rapture, in the current Melbourne Rare Book Week, with its program of free events leading up to the fairs opening on July 31. You can learn about collecting Georgette Heyers novels; illustrations to Jane Austens books; the women who contributed their artistic skills to natural history and science; or have a taste of some of Mrs Beetons iconic recipes. For children and the young at heart, theres a dive into Alices rabbit hole or a trip into Moominland. Advertisement The Weekly Special Eating outWhats on The Weekly Special: Breaking news for Leederville lunchers, and how do you beat this bitter cold snap? Max Veenhuyzen 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 What do you get when you combine one of the citys favourite Italian party places with Scarboroughs favourite Mexican hotspots? All will be answered on Friday, July 25, when Beaufort Streets Si Paradiso takes over sibling venue El Grotto for one evening of Mexitalo good times. Si Paradiso and El Grotto are coming together for an evening of Mexitalo good times. Expect pizzas and Italian snacks remixed El Grotto style, served alongside the bars cocktails and wines from charismatic Paradiso wine guy, Bruno Serra. The good times start from 5pm. Slow-cooked barbecue meats and bottomless drinks at Busselton Pavilion Advertisement Platters of slow-cooked meats. Bottomless drinks. Serious fire cooking: just three things to expect at Busselton Pavilions recently launched Boozy BBQ Weekends. Available from noon on Saturdays and Sundays, this meal deal includes platters of barbecue meat, sauces and sides, plus a two-hour bottomless drinks package that includes the taverns own Pit Boss IPA, an exclusive beer brewed in collaboration with the team at Rocky Ridge Brewing. Busselton Pavilion is catering to barbecue fans with its new weekend menu. We wanted to create something generous, social, and worth planning your weekend around, says Brendan Pratt, the taverns head of culinary. The package is $85 per person (including alcoholic drinks) or $55 (non-alcoholic drinks). Bookings are essential and can be made online. The sound of Margaret River (wine) Advertisement Its raining. Its pouring. But thats not stopping doctor Jo Burzynska from exploring. (Which, in her case, means the Margaret River region ahead of her appearance at Novembers Paird wine and music festival.) A New Zealand-based wine writer, sound artist and researcher, Burzynska is currently in the southwest gathering field recordings, which will be used to create soundscapes inspired by the region and its key wine styles. According to Burzynska, what we hear influences how we taste things, so by pairing the right soundscape or sonic fingerprint as she likes to call them with the right wine, its possible to detect different flavours and nuances in the glass. Equally important, however, is what we feel. Texture is really important in both wine and sound, but it kind of gets forgotten, says Burzynska, who writes about wine for the New Zealand Herald. People talk about texture on the palate when it comes to food. Theres texture in the timbre of a sound as well. All these things are interlinked. By bringing them together the right way, we can make something special happen. Advertisement These soundscapes will be played at various Paird festival events, including Natures Table and The Grand Tasting. Fresh-faced Vietnamese snack bar North 54 opens on Oxford Street Xin chuc mung and congratulations to Bac Pham and everyone involved with North 54, a cheery Vietnamese deli and snack bar that opens today at the former Gigis Bowls and Three Sisters site in Leederville. Bac Pham of North 54, which opens in Leederville on Tuesday. Madeliene Barrett The opening menu reflects Phams authentic-but-not-traditional cooking credo and includes banh mi cradling XO mushroom and eggplant and sate roast pork. (Banh mi fillings, incidentally, are also available in rice and noodle bowls.) Advertisement The snack section might be small but its certainly mighty: fried chicken wings are slaked in a fish sauce caramel while pork and prawn spring rolls are accompanied by Phams hauntingly good coriander and chilli green sauce. North 54 is open from 10am to 3pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Reasons to escape north this winter For anyone craving some winter sun, a pair of festivals in WAs north make ideal excuses to (temporarily) leave the wet and cold behind. The first event off the rank is Kununurras Taste ofthe Kimberley (August 15-17), a weekend-long celebration of the Ord Valleys First Nations and farming culture. After that, its Broomes turn to host festivities with the historic pearling town playing host to Shinju Matsuri (August 23-September 7), a 16-day celebration of the regions multicultural heritage that includes a diverse, mixed food scene shaped by Indigenous, Asian and European influences. To help travellers on their way, more than 4000 discounted flights to Broome on Virgin Australia and Nexus Airlines are being offered as part of the governments Affordable Airfares Program. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Bankrupt property developers Sam Fayad and his sons, Fayad-Lee and Remon, have been ordered to repay more than a combined $66 million, which they stripped from one of their companies as part of a dishonest and fraudulent scheme. Federal Court Justice Ian Jackman said that the trio had breached sections of the Corporations Act, which stipulates that directors must act in the companys best interest. Brothers Remon Fayad (left) and Fayad- Lee Fayad. Credit: Twitter In this case, their company, Special Gold, purchased a property on Argyle Street, Parramatta, for $2.6 million in 1998 and sold it for $73.97 million in late 2020. On December 17, 2020, the Supreme Court imposed a freezing order preventing Special Gold from dealing with the proceeds of the sale. Stephen King is considered the living author whose works have been adapted the greatest number of times for the screen. His stories have inspired film and television productions that have fared better or worse. As journalist Matthieu Rostac recalls in his book Stephen King: An Illustrated Guide from the Master of Horror, for many, hes a poorly adapted novelist, a man whose work is scrupulously destroyed by the film industry. However, in recent years, some titles have attempted to change that opinion. That will be the intention this fall of It: Welcome to Derry, on HBO, a nine-part prequel to It based on the novel King published in 1986 to expand the universe of Andy Muschiettis films from 2017 and 2019. Previously, another novel starring children has already been adapted for television, adding its grain of sand to the enormous audiovisual work inspired by the novelist. The Institute (on MGM+, a service available through Prime Video) adapts the novel of the same name published by the Maine writer in 2019 and tells the story of Luke Ellis, a boy with telekinesis who is kidnapped and wakes up in an institution that houses other children with unusual mental abilities. There, they are subjected to severe tests to develop and take advantage of their talents, while Luke and his companions try to figure out how to escape a terrible fate. The most difficult thing about adapting any Stephen King story is that hes a wonderful writer of the inner lives of his characters. You can access their darkest, deepest, and most secret feelings, emotions, and desires. You can do that very well in a book, but how to externalize it for a screen is a challenge, says screenwriter Benjamin Cavell in a video interview. He has previous experience adapting King: he developed The Stand for television in 2020. Jason Diaz, Julian Richings and Mary-Louise Parker, in 'The Institute.' Chris Reardon/MGM+ In this case, there was also the added challenge of the protagonists being children, which made casting crucial. The series creators opted to cast slightly older children than in the book to make the task easier. Joe Freeman, son of actors Martin Freeman and Amanda Abbington, plays Luke, the young man at the center of the story. When Stephen [King] originally sent me the proofs of the book, about seven years ago, he asked me if I had ever worked with children, says Jack Bender, the series director, during the same video call. I said yes, Id done several things, and I told him it was difficult to find the right children, especially in this particular story: you have to find a group of extraordinary kids who suffer a lot, and I didnt want it to be a cry-fest. Thats why we chose children a little older than those in the book. They are the heart of the show, because its about the power of children to survive, despite the adults. With a career spanning from Eight Is Enough (1977-1981) and Falcon Crest to the recent From (2022), taking in Lost, Game of Thrones, The Sopranos and Ally McBeal, the legendary television director has specialized in recent years in bringing stories originally written by King to the screen, with Mr. Mercedes, The Outsider and Under the Dome among his credits. He understands the process of making a series or a film from a book, he says of the level of freedom King allows when adapting his stories. When he gave me Mr. Mercedes, he didnt know if he wanted to make a movie or a series. I said, Stephen, youve written such a rich, character-filled 600-page book, and its your first detective story. A movie wouldnt do it justice. When he gave me the proofs for The Institute, I felt the same way. If we tried to make a movie, it would be another X-Men or X-Kids. And I didnt want that, the director says. Joe Freeman as Luke Ellis, the protagonist of 'The Institute.' Chris Reardon/MGM+ According to Cavell, King is a writer who accepts and understands the changes that inevitably occur in any translation of a literary work into an audiovisual production. More than any other author Ive worked with, he understands that the book is the book and the show is the show, and that he has to find people he trusts to make a series or a movie, and then he has to trust them. For The Institute, Cavell and Bender made some significant changes from the novel that they had to negotiate with the writer, but he eventually accepted. Ultimately, if you adapt a Stephen King story, he always has the option to be listed as an executive producer in the credits. He only does so occasionally, and only when he supports the product. Its very gratifying that he chose to do it in this case because he loved it, says Cavell. Bender adds: He told us he loved what we were doing so much that he wished hed thought of it for the book. Thats high praise coming from him. The screenwriter and director agree that they feel a special attraction to Kings way of telling stories about human monsters, as opposed to the supernatural monsters or vampires or other things he also writes brilliantly, says Cavell. Thats the case in this story, where the adults are the villains, led by the centers director, played in the series by Mary-Louise Parker. Youre waiting for some action hero to show up and figure out whats happening to these kids and rescue them. But no. The kids realize they have to band together to save themselves, adds the screenwriter. Fionn Laird, Mary-Louise Parker, Simone Miller, Viggo Hanvelt, and Arlen So in 'The Institute.' Chris Reardon/MGM+ Its not just television that insistently looks to Kings stories; cinema continues to do so as well. In 2025 alone, four films feature stories originally written by him: The Monkey, directed by Osgood Perkins; The Running Man, by Edgar Wright; The Life of Chuck, by Mike Flanagan (who is also preparing a Carrie series); and The Long Walk, by Francis Lawrence. Why does the audiovisual world return to his stories again and again? Hes a great storyteller, says Bender. He tells great stories that are unique, human, and with which you can identify. He writes about whats hidden under our beds and what scared us as children. Hes the quintessential writer of what comes out of the darkness and scares us. He writes about the darkness within humans. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Private Matthew Clarke had been deployed to Afghanistan for less than three weeks when an IED exploded under the armoured personnel carrier a Bushmaster nicknamed Debbie he was driving along a dry creek bed. The explosion broke 14 bones in his legs, ankles and feet. Another soldier was also badly wounded. Clarke was the first from his deployment in 2012 to be shipped home, but not the last: others would be killed or have limbs amputated. In uniform and wearing his medals on his first Anzac Day back home, Clarke was astonished when a woman stopped to ask him what medals he was wearing. Clarke replied he was one of 26,000 defence force personnel deployed to Afghanistan Australias longest war from 2001 to 2021. Yet, the woman was confused. Wed been there for nine or 10 years, but she only related medals to World War I or II, he said. When it opens in 2026, it is expected that a million visitors to the new Anzac Hall in the Australian War Memorial will be able to hear Clarke and fellow soldiers tell their stories, and see the battered Bushmaster on display in the new Afghanistan gallery that has been expanded from 60 square metres in the old hall to 700 square metres. Advertisement The crews unopened boxes of blue Gatorade (now filled with blue resin) can be seen on its roof racks with, among other objects, a makeshift sink. The Bushmaster damaged by an IED in Afghanistan in 2021. Credit: Matthew Clarke Ive never seen anything like that in a museum, Clarke told the Herald. In the late afternoon light of what will be a new peacekeeping gallery, the nose of a C-130 Hercules protrudes from a wall, as if it has plunged and crashed, a ghostly sight. But it is the F/A-18A Classic Hornet, A21-022, that is the star of the show, displayed under a large opening that allows visitors to view it from above. The Classic is an earlier model than the Super Hornet that starred in the movie Top Gun: Maverick. The F/A-18 Hornet in the Middle East Gallery, with pool noodles used as padding on the sharp edges. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Advertisement Shipped intact through Canberra by night, it was dropped into place in one piece using a 150-square-metre lift pit, an innovation designed for the project. The Hornet may have survived 6000 flying hours over Iraq and Syria in patrol and combat missions, but it is now wrapped in plastic and its tips protected with red pool noodles ahead of its debut appearance in the memorial. Senior project co-ordinator Kate Leslie with the Hornet. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen During its installation, Australian War Memorial logistics manager Kassandra Hobbs bought the pool noodles as a cost-saving measure to protect the old workhorse and reduce the chance of injuries to workers from its sharp edges, capable of taking out an eye. She bought 75 red, green and blue Funsafe pool noodles from the local Bunnings at $2 each, plus a couple of rolls of tape. At $162.44 all up, this was the best value in terms of collection protection, and would be reused. This cost is not exorbitant, considering the cost of having to fix objects if they were damaged, she says. To prepare the large objects for display, and tell about 100,000 stories in the new hall, took some Anzac ingenuity, as employed by Hobbs, said deputy project director Christopher Widenbar. Advertisement They also invented a rocket on a stick of a kind unlikely to be found at the next Easter Show. When the museum was trying to conserve a WWII German V2 Rocket, for display on the top floor of the new hall, the cylindrical shape made it difficult to handle. So a spindle was fitted, allowing it to be rotated, rotisserie-style. Widenbar said this reduced the risk of injury, winning a safety prize along the way. Anzac Hall is the most ambitious in scale and size of the changes under way at the memorial. Initially proposed by former prime minister Scott Morrison, Anzac Hall is the third stage of the $548.7 million expansion. Creating a space to display 43 large technology items such as the Hornet and Debbie the Bushmaster, and cover Australias involvement in Afghanistan, the Middle East from 1990, as well as peacekeeping from 1947, has meant soldiering on despite criticism. Executive project director Wayne Hitches gave this masthead a hard hat tour of the new Anzac Halls column-free spaces. There are two floors comprising 7000 square metres of exhibition space, and Hitches said the team turned to a bridge manufacturer in Newcastle to build reinforced precast concrete Super-T beams, eliminating the need for columns in the 100-metre-long hall. The beams, each 33 metres long to span the hall and weighing 64 tonnes, made their way into the lift pit via an 800-tonne crane. Designed by Cox Architecture, which won an architecture competition, and implemented by project architects DJAS, the plan for Anzac Hall eliminated columns so that there would be no constraints in moving large objects. Advertisement Hitches said: Its a bit of an engineering marvel, but theyre also in line with what you would see underneath a bridge or a freeway. A new roof shaped like the rays of the rising sun badge worn by the army is in place. Loading A giant wall made of sandstone from the quarry near Gosford faces the original facade of the heritage buildings, but the two are not allowed to touch. A Black Hawk helicopter will hang above the cafe. Criticism of the project included opposition to the unnecessary demolition of the existing Anzac Hall, built in 2001 and designed by Denton Corker Marshall. It won the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for public architecture. It was also criticised as too big, that it flouted normal approval processes, did not do enough to consider the heritage status of the old building, and The Guardian journalist Paul Daley likened it to Disneyland. Australian Institute of Architects national president Adam Haddow says the politics are similar to those surrounding the sale of the Sirius public housing block in Sydneys The Rocks to turn it into luxury accommodation. You get to a point where the project is the project, and you need to judge it based on how well the architect has responded to the brief and the delivery of a building, Haddow said. Advertisement A scientist has rejected calls for private e-scooter riders to wear full-face helmets, despite the RACQs call to mandate them to reduce injuries to riders. The motoring body argues that 65 per cent of riders turning up at Queenslands emergency departments said they were wearing a helmet. But scientist Arkadiy Matsekh, who appeared at Queenslands e-mobility inquiry as an industry witness, said introducing them would put a lot of people off riding e-scooters. Loading The biggest danger to people on bicycles are not themselves this is the heavy vehicles, he said. Those who want to use them (full-face helmets), they are welcome. Nobody would want to use a full-face helmet to just try to get some groceries. Matsekh, who has cycled about 140,000 on Australian roads, said Europe did not have mandatory helmet laws. A piece of styrofoam on your head will not protect you from being hit (by a car), he said. A major source of threat to vulnerable road users are, of course, vehicles, and we need to basically seek this cultural shift. Airservices Australia has released a proposal for changes to flight paths to and from Brisbane Airport to reduce the impacts of aircraft noise on Brisbanes suburbs. The flight path options, which are open for community feedback until August 17, include distributing flights more evenly over a wider area and reducing the concentration of flights over suburbs already being flooded with both arrival and departure, and day and night flights. The Noise Action Plan for Brisbane was developed to address complaints following the introduction of Brisbane Airports parallel runway in July 2020. The latest plan to reduce plane noise over Brisbane includes distributing flights more evenly over a wider area. But the Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance has criticised the latest proposal, warning it would result in more communities being exposed to aircraft noise, many for the first time. The teenager arrested over the killing of grandmother Vyleen White has pleaded guilty to her murder, as her family described the emotional toll of losing the 70-year-old. Vyleen Joan White was stabbed in the car park of a shopping centre in Redbank Plains, west of Brisbane, in February 2024. At the time, it was believed the motive was to steal her Hyundai Getz. Outside court on Tuesday, Whites husband said the teenager was playing god and chose to kill his wife, despite her seemingly giving the then-16-year-old her car keys. Victor White (right), husband of murder victim Vyleen White, with family and friends arriving at the Supreme Court. Credit: AAPIMAGE Her death sparked community outrage and was one of the cases that prompted the then-Labor state government to strengthen bail laws for juvenile offenders. Her case was also central to the push for the LNPs adult crime, adult time laws. The young doctor accused of filming hospital colleagues in a staff toilet has been banned from practising medicine in Australia almost a fortnight after he was charged by police. The Age can also reveal that Ryan Cho recorded his remote hiking adventures and spruiked the footage filmed on portable devices like his mobile phone to thousands of people on social media. Chos registration was suspended on Monday, a spokesperson for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has confirmed. Confidentiality provisions of the national law under which we operate limit what we can say publicly about an individual practitioner or matter, the spokesperson said. In the midst of COVID and not long before the 2022 election, I tuned in half-heartedly to yet another Zoom seminar something about sustainability in the global tech sector. It turned out to be riveting, but the thing I remember most was a throwaway line right at the end by a young speaker from western Sydney called Natasha Abhayawickrama. She was one of the brains behind the nationwide School Strike 4 Climate movement. Answering questions with great maturity from her family kitchen about her passion for climate action, she ended with a quiet aside: But of course I cant vote on any of this. Lowering the vote to 16 would force politicians to genuinely consider the needs of this ignored generation. Credit: Marija Ercegovac What? Here was a thoughtful, rational, educated leader, completely across the biggest challenge of our age, yet she could not participate in our election because she would have been only 17 on election day. Lets check what Natasha could have done at 17. She could enlist in the army. She could get a job and pay taxes. She could drive a car. She could independently manage her MyHealth records. She could be charged as an adult with a criminal offence. And, like the then 16-year-old Melbourne climate change activist, Anjali Sharma, she could launch a class action against the federal environment minister for failing to consider the impacts of climate change. Yet for some reason, Australia deemed Natasha incapable of stepping inside a voting booth, picking up the stumpy pencil and voting for her future. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances working definition of antisemitism was adopted in 2016 as an educational and data-collection tool. It is deliberately non-legally binding and begins with a clear, universal sentence: Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Thirty-plus democratic governments, the European Parliament, the UN secretary-general, and tech giants such as Meta, have endorsed or incorporated the definition. Australias special envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal, grounded her national plan released this month in the same wording, citing a 316 per cent surge in antisemitic incidents. Special envoy to combat antisemitism Jillian Segal. Credit: Dylan Coker All 39 Australian universities have endorsed or adopted a similar version to the IHRA definition. The universities do not include some of the IHRAs specific examples of antisemitism but do refer directly to criticism of Zionism as potentially being antisemitic, unlike the IHRA definition, which does not mention Zionism. The definition has become the world standard because it provides 11 practical illustrations that police, teachers and human rights watchdogs can map onto real-world cases swastikas on playgrounds, synagogue bomb threats, or, yes, demonisation of Israel when it slips into Nazi analogies. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley sat in the same pew during a dawn ecumenical service for politicians at Canberras Wesley Uniting Church and recited, one after the other, the advice of St John: that we should love one another. Atop Canberras Capital Hill, members of parliament from all sides walked through the cleansing smoke of an ancient Indigenous ceremony. Later, the smoke of a ritual 19-gun salute belched from cannons and drifted down towards the citys lake. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley at Parliament House on Tuesday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Within the great Parliament House, Albanese was moved to something approaching poetry as he responded to the Welcome to Country by Ngunnawal elder Aunty Violet Sheridan. He invited us all to look up on a clear night when you are far from city lights, and you will see the dark emu with the Southern Cross shining on its head. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing one of his first major policy tests after his re-election as big firms, led by Andrew Forrests Fortescue, demand a 75 per cent cut to Australias emissions, and the governments hand-picked climate adviser prepares to tell the government what its 2035 target should be. Labor ducked a fight on emissions at the May election by delaying a decision on the interim target required by the Paris Agreement the legally binding international treaty on climate change but the governments Climate Change Authority is expected to force its hand when it delivers long-awaited advice within weeks. Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Sources familiar with the authoritys thinking expect it to urge a cut of 65 to 75 per cent by 2035, which could add weight to calls for the prime minister to use his large parliamentary majority to legislate an ambitious target, despite the United States turning away from climate action and withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement signed by almost 200 parties including Australia commits countries to reducing their emissions via five year targets to avoid global average temperature increases of more than 2 degrees, and ideally 1.5. Jose Adolfo Macias, better known as Fito and as the feared leader of the Ecuadorian criminal organization Los Choneros, on Monday was arraigned in federal court in the Eastern District of New York, where he pleaded not guilty to the seven charges brought against him by the U.S. justice system, all related to international drug and arms trafficking. Judge Vera M. Scanlon ordered him held without bail at the Brooklyn Municipal Detention Center, in compliance with the request of the District Attorneys Office, which considers him a high-risk individual with a history of escape. Fito was flown to the U.S. on Sunday following an extradition deal with Ecuador. 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, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella said in a statement. Authorities accuse him of having led a network that not only shipped cocaine across the Pacific from Ecuador, but also acquired U.S. weapons to supply hitmen and armed factions in his country. Fito faces a possible sentence of between 10 and 50 years in prison, following a diplomatic guarantee from Washington to Quito that he would not be sentenced to life imprisonment or the death penalty, conditions demanded by Ecuador to allow his extradition. Jose Fito Macias Villamar thought he could traffic poison into our country, smuggle American weapons back to his killers, and further his criminal enterprise using chaos and bloodshed. He was wrong, said DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy. Today, the kingpin of Los Choneros faces justice on U.S. soil for his crimes. Hours after the U.S. Department of Justice plane took off with Jose Adolfo Macias on board, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa reacted on social media: Farewell, Fito, he wrote in a tone of political victory. Fito is now in the U.S. This is thanks to you, Ecuadorians, who said yes in the referendum, alluding to the referendum he promoted in April that paved the way for the extradition of nationals wanted by other countries. For the Noboa administration, the extradition of the leader of Los Choneros represents a political victory in its offensive against organized crime. But not all kingpins can be extradited. One of the mistakes prior to the referendum was that people believed we could send any dangerous criminal to the United States for the justice system in that country to take charge, but thats not how it works, explains attorney Dolores Mino. For an extradition to be granted, several elements must be met, including that the alleged crimes were committed in the territory of the requesting country. Outsourced justice Fitos case is being used as a message of strength by the government, as if justice could be outsourced for the most dangerous criminals. But Mino warns that this narrative masks a deeper problem: When you consider that another justice system is better able to arrest, prosecute, and convict your own criminals, it is clearly a terrible lack of trust in your judicial system. Most of the criminal organizations that have sown terror in Ecuador have not operated directly in the United States, so their prosecution remains the responsibility of the Ecuadorian state. The problem is that the institutions charged with doing so are deeply flawed. Almost daily, the Attorney Generals Office opens an investigation against judicial officials for ties to organized crime. Since July 2024, at least 45 judges, 11 prosecutors, and 33 judicial officials have been removed from office for corruption or collusion with organized crime. Fito is, so far, the biggest piece to fall. But the board is still full. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Warning: This story contains graphic content. Alleged paedophile Joshua Dale Brown is accused of sexually abusing babies and toddlers in day care on six key days between April 2022 and January 2023, and transmitting abuse material to a second man, court documents reveal. On Tuesday, the Melbourne childcare workers case was pushed back until February next year to allow detectives more time to investigate, as a court heard that more charges were likely to be laid. A court has granted detectives more time to investigate accused paedophile Joshua Brown. Credit: Marija Ercegovac Brown is already facing 73 charges, including child rape, after the alleged discovery of a cache of child abuse material in May sparked an urgent police investigation into the 26-year-old and plunged Australias childcare sector into crisis. In what can be likened to rugby leagues own version of Stephen Bradbury, Lewis Dodd has finally been given the chance to wear the South Sydney No. 7 jersey because there are no halves still standing at the club. Jamie Humphreys will miss Saturdays clash against Cronulla because of delayed concussion symptoms he experienced after last weekends loss to Penrith, joining fellow playmakers Cody Walker (hamstring) and Bud Sullivan (broken leg), as well as Latrell Mitchell (quad) who has filled in at five-eighth, in the bulging casualty ward. Dodd left St Helens in the Super League to ink a three-year, $2m deal with Souths, but has struggled to get a look-in under coach Wayne Bennett. The 23-year-old has featured in just four games, with three of them coming off the bench, and one at five-eighth. A Cranbourne track rider central to the Jamie Melham white powder picture scandal has been disqualified for 12 months for using a syringe filled with his friends urine in a bid to dupe Racing Victoria drug testers. Jacob Biddell, who turns 27 on Friday and is also a greyhound trainer, hid the syringe behind his belt buckle and used it as a substitute on the days he was riding track work because he was fearful of testing positive to cannabis, the Victorian Racing Tribunal heard on Tuesday. An image from a social media post of Jacob Biddell, top right, and Jamie Melham (nee Kah), bottom. Credit: X He gave two false samples at Cranbourne on May 21 last year as well as a third on October 3. A DNA analysis revealed the October sample was from three individual profiles, and did not match the urine he provided in May. Advertisement InspirationCalifornia I spent a day trying Disneylands oldest, politically corrected rides Julie Miller July 23, 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 Well, that descended into chaos unexpectedly. In Disneyland, a jolly ride through the streets of London becomes increasingly foreboding, as I in the guise of the titular Mr Toad receive warnings from cut-out bobbies to slow down then find myself careening through a public house and court of law before my ultimate demise at the hands of an oncoming train. Suddenly, I or rather, Mr Toad am in literal hell a dark warning, it seems, about the perils of driving recklessly. Disneylands 70 year celebrations are under way. Such is the rather trippy narrative of Mr Toads Wild Ride, one of 10 still operating in Disneyland today that were here 70 years ago when the park first opened its gates. On July 17, 1955, creator Walt Disney opened the 65-hectare Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, to an invited audience with a dedication that it would be a source of joy and inspiration to the world. It opened to the public the following day. Costing about $US17 million at the time to build, it featured five themed lands (Fantasyland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland and Main Street, USA) with 20 major attractions, rides, shows and exhibits including stagecoach and pack mule rides, an Indian village and a moon rocket simulation. Advertisement Seven decades and approaching 1 billion visitors later, Disneyland Resort now encompasses two parks (Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park) across 200 hectares, with 17 themed lands, three hotels and the Downtown Disney shopping precinct. Most visitors come for at least three days to take in all the entertainment, with the surrounding Anaheim area offering 30,000 hotel rooms to cater to the masses. Inside Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Star Wars: Galaxys Edge the fastest spaceship in the galaxy. Yes, Disneyland is a business beyond even Walts wildest dreams: and as it celebrates this significant birthday, the Happiest Place on Earth is throwing a party, with confectionary-hued decorations, an earworm celebratory song courtesy of boy band Jonas Brothers, and a slew of new parades and light extravaganzas that are truly a joy to behold. Meanwhile, visitors can expect to wait for more than an hour to ride some of Disneylands most whizz-bang rides, with relative newcomers including Guardians of the Galaxy, the Incredicoaster and the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run among the most popular. Like many adults who visit without children, Ive tended to focus on the rides offering the greatest thrills and the most screams (as well as the longest queues), avoiding the cutesy rides and attractions of Fantasyland, dismissed as kids stuff. Advertisement Leave the spinning things to the kids the iconic tea cups of the Mad Tea Party ride. Bloomberg via Getty Images But, having tasked myself with checking out the original Disneyland rides, I now find myself standing before one of its most iconic attractions, the spinning tea cups of the Mad Tea Party. Under jaunty hanging lanterns, the oversized pastel cups and saucers bearing playing card insignias spin frantically, as brave, green-faced parents clutch giggling toddlers to their chests. Shuddering, I realise Im about to fail my mission before it even begins. No way am I risking my lunch on that give me a looping rollercoaster any day. Ditto the beautiful King Arthur Carrousel, with its 68 hand-carved bobbing horses dating back more than 90 years (making it technically the oldest ride in the park) Ill leave the spinning things to the little kids. Celebrating the happiest place on earth. Instead, I head to the towering faux-brick turret housing one of three original dark rides in Disneyland Snow Whites Enchanted Wish. Like most of the original rides, this one has undergone several incarnations since 1955; originally entitled Snow Whites Adventures and minus the actual visage of the original Disney princess (the riders themselves were meant to be Snow White, escaping the clutches of the evil queen), it was renamed in 1983 as Snow Whites Scary Adventure, adding spooky elements and jump scares. Advertisement In 2021, however, more new visuals, animatronics and laser projections were added, which, along with the new name, give the ride a cheerier, more family-friendly and dare I say bland tone. Far more thrilling to both children and adults (in my opinion) is Peter Pans Flight, following the adventures of JM Barries Lost Boys as they interact with fairies, pirates, mermaids and crocodiles. Boarding an ornate flying sailboat, riders soar over London and Neverland, the twisting journey over stunning neon visuals creating a real sense of magic and wonder. In 2024, it was announced that Peter Pans Flight was to be updated to correct racial stereotypes of Tiger Lily and her Native American family in the ride, following a similar change last August in Disney Worlds version of the ride. Adventureland and The Jungle Cruise. Another original Disneyland attraction that has recently been politically corrected to remove what was described as negative depictions of native peoples is the Jungle Cruise in Adventureland. Advertisement I board the river boat at night, just before the fireworks and with no queues to contend with; and while the skippers commentary is muffled due to a microphone problem (which negates the whole point of the ride really, since its all about the dad jokes), I find the animatronic animals en route rather charming, especially the elephants and the chest-thumping gorillas. The war party of natives and tribal dancers of old are certainly not missed, with a storyline that is now more inclusive and less racially insensitive. Opening day in 1955 did not go off without a hitch, by all accounts. The Mark Twain Steamboat (now Riverboat) was so overcrowded it got stuck in the mud; while Casey Jnr Circus Train primed as the parks first roller coaster was immediately closed for safety reasons. It started carrying guests in its more gentle form two weeks later, with the Matterhorn Bobsleds (currently under restoration) becoming the first official roller coaster in 1959. Dumbo the Flying Elephant was also supposed to be an opening day attraction, but due to design issues (the grey elephants were too heavy), it launched a month later on August 16, 1955. Another ride that has recently been adapted to incorporate more modern sensibilities is Tianas Bayou Adventure aka, the old Splash Mountain, which I was surprised to discover was not an original Disney ride, but in fact opened in 1989. Tianas Bayou Adventure the old Splash Mountain. The log flumes themes inspired by Uncle Remus stories and the 1946 Disney film Song of the South had always seemed problematic, leading me to believe it had been conceived in less enlightened times; but the reimagining based around the 2009 animation Princess and the Frog is a refreshing, fun adaptation, with nighttime scenes from a bayou, Mardis Gras celebrations, a New Orleans jazz soundtrack and an unbelievable soaking, especially if youre the sucker in the front seat. Advertisement Walt Disney once said that Disneyland will never be completed, as long as there is imagination left in the world. While there will always be a buzz and excitement about new, technologically-advanced attractions, the vestiges of Disneys original vision albeit updated to accommodate more magic as well as contemporary ways of thinking have an important and nostalgic place in the granddaddy of all theme parks. The originals The 10 original rides at Disneyland still operating today are: Mad Tea Party King Arthurs Carrousel Mr Toads Wild Ride Snow Whites Enchanted Wish Peter Pans Flight Storybookland Canal Boats Jungle Cruise Autopia Mark Twain Riverboat Disneyland Railroad The details Advertisement Visit Disneyland Resorts 70th Celebration began on May 16 and will continue throughout the US summer. Tickets from $US100 ($153) a day for a four-day, one-park a day ticket, or from $US120 ($185) a day with a three-day, one-park a day ticket, valid to August 14, 2025. See disneyland.disney.go.com Stay Disneyland Resort has three on-property hotels Disneyland Hotel, Disneys Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Pixar Place Hotel. See disneyland.disney.go.com Fly Delta Airlines flies daily from Sydney to Los Angeles; direct daily flights from Melbourne to Los Angeles will launch in December 2025. See delta.com The writer travelled as a guest of Disneyland Resort. Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now. Traveller Guides Teenagers are helping Russia build Shahed suicide drones as President Vladimir Putin ramps up production at a major factory in Tatarstan, about 800 kilometres east of Moscow. The Yelabuga production facility, the largest of its kind in the world, is spearheading efforts to stockpile the weapons to overwhelm Ukrainian air defences with mass aerial bombardments. The footage, recorded by Zvezda, the Russian defence ministrys TV channel, is the first detailed look inside the plant. Students and staff are shown on the production line constructing row after row of matte black Geran-2 drones, the Russian-built version of the Iranian-designed Shahed-136. Washington: Ghislaine Maxwell, the former socialite who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with her friend Jeffrey Epstein to sexually exploit girls, is set to meet with the US Justice Department to discuss potential new evidence in the sex-trafficking saga. Deputy Attorney-General Todd Blanche formerly President Donald Trumps lawyer said he had approached Maxwells counsel to see if she would speak with prosecutors, and anticipated meeting her in the coming days. Maxwells lawyer David Oscar Markus confirmed the discussions. Donald Trump and his future wife, Melania, with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000. Credit: Getty Images The development instantly sparked speculation Trump could pardon Maxwell if she were to give evidence that did not implicate the president, who is a former friend of Epstein, and whose presence in the so-called Epstein files has long been rumoured. Trump has come under intense pressure over the Epstein case in the past fortnight, especially from his Make America Great Again base, after the Justice Department and FBI said they would not release any more records from the investigation and the case was effectively closed. Nobody turns the page better than Donald Trump, Conant said. His entire first term was constantly changing narratives. We lost track of all the dramas because hes always adding a new one to distract from the previous ones. Loading This is different because hes in a real fight with his base. Normally his base helps change the topic by latching on to a new outrage. But now hes in a fight with his base, and the Democrats and the mainstream media are more than happy to fan those flames. The fight started because many of Trumps loyal supporters were angered that the administration was refusing to follow through on promises to release more details about the Epstein case. The politically connected multimillionaire has been the subject of years of elaborate conspiracy theories, many of them fanned by people who now hold senior positions in Trumps administration, including FBI director Kash Patel and deputy director Dan Bongino. Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges in Florida of soliciting a minor for prostitution. He was indicted on federal sex-trafficking charges in 2019 and died in jail later that year while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide, though some prominent Trump supporters questioned that and alleged without evidence that he had been killed to protect rich and powerful friends who may have also been involved in his abuse of young girls. During an interview on Fox News in March, Attorney-General Pam Bondi said shed be releasing truckloads of new information about Epstein. Instead, the Justice Department released a memo this month saying it had conducted an exhaustive review and found no evidence of an incriminating client list or anything else that warranted public release. Loading That set off an apoplectic response from some in Trumps base, which the administration has spent two weeks trying to tamp down. Trump has questioned why his supporters had not moved on to more important topics, even suggesting that continued interest in the conspiracy theories benefited 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, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social last week. They havent learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years. Loading That and other efforts to change the subject have been so far unsuccessful, experts and observers say. Instead, new attention has focused on Trumps own well-documented friendship with Epstein, especially after a Wall Street Journal article about a salacious drawing Trump allegedly contributed to a 50th birthday present for the financier in 2003. Trump denied the story and has sued the Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch. By insisting that he is the victim of an unfair media attack, he has rallied some of his most prominent supporters around him. But polls show that large majorities of the public believe the government is hiding facts about the Epstein case. As a result, the president whose ascent has been linked to a litany of unproven claims now finds his political power threatened by a conspiracy theory he cant shake. Donald Trump is the one who cast himself as the elite who doesnt side with the elites. Hes the elite who sides with the people. Hes going to drain the swamp, said Russell Muirhead, a professor of democracy and politics at Dartmouth College and a Democratic state legislator from New Hampshire. Loading But when he says theres nothing to look at here. Were not going to release what the Justice Department has, and forget about that list it looks like hes just another elite, corrupt like all the rest and that impression will remain, to some extent, regardless of whether this particular story is at the top of peoples attention. Trump has attempted to make some concessions on the issue, including an announcement Thursday shortly after The Wall Street Journal published its story that he had directed the Justice Department to petition the courts to release grand jury testimony related to Epstein. On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected claims that Trump was paying a political price for his handling of the Epstein case, noting that he enjoys high approval ratings among Republicans. The president is the leader and the creator of the Make America Great Again movement. Its his baby that he made and he knows what his supporters want, she said during an impromptu news conference outside the White House, where nearly a quarter of the questions were about Epstein. Loading Its transparency, and he has given them that on all accounts when it comes to everything his administration has done. Democrats, seeing an opening, have demanded that Epstein records be released and have blasted Republicans at times conflicting stances on the question. How quickly the public may move on from paying attention to the Epstein case might be more due to organic movement in the news cycle than any effort Trump makes, Conant said. Image published on X by the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela, showing Ortiz holding a flag, second from the right. The United States has welcomed the release and surrender by the Venezuelan Chavista regime of a group of 10 Americans who landed last Friday in Texas, among them a triple murderer, Dahud Hanid Ortiz. The identity of this freed man has been confirmed to EL PAIS through a source close to the Spanish secret services and another from the Venezuelan NGO Foro Penal, which is dedicated to the defense of political prisoners. This organization, a reference in the field of human rights in Venezuela, warned that among those being released was one who was not a political prisoner. This Tuesday, Foro Penal confirmed to this newspaper that it was referring to Ortiz. At the time of publication, the U.S. State Department had not responded to a request from this newspaper for confirmation as to whether Ortiz has been transferred to a prison. Images published in the U.S. media show him last Friday, waving to the camera as he and the rest of the group left the Joint Base San Antonio military installation in Texas. Born in Venezuela, Ortiz obtained U.S. citizenship and served in Iraq. He was sentenced in Venezuela in January 2024 to 30 years in prison for killing three people in Madrid in 2016. After committing the crime, he escaped to his home country, where he was arrested in 2018. Image published by the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela, showing Ortiz marked with a white circle. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio celebrated the release in a statement sent to the press on Friday: Every wrongfully detained American in Venezuela is now free and back in our homeland. Rubio also thanked President Donald Trump for the freedom of those Americans. The swap was a three-way deal between the Trump administration, the Maduro administration and the administration of El Salvadors Nayib Bukele. Under the terms of the deal, 252 Venezuelans were released from the Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot), the mega-jail built by Bukele to lock up gang members in El Salvador. They had been deported there by the United States, without trial, accused of belonging to Tren de Aragua, a dangerous criminal organization. In exchange, Maduro returned a dozen U.S. prisoners held in Venezuelan jails. Among them are tourists, according to NGOs dedicated to securing the release of political prisoners. They cite the case of Lucas Hunter, arrested in January while kite surfing in the border area with Colombia, or that of Wilbert Joseph Castaneda, who was apprehended in his hotel room in Caracas on August 28 last year. Before leaving for Texas, the group of Americans stopped in El Salvador, where they were received with honors by Bukele. Youre free now, wrote the Salvadoran president on the social network X, accompanied by a video in which he took part of the credit for their liberation. Nothing says freedom like the American flag. Ten Americans freed from Venezuelan prisons today are coming home because of POTUS, Secretary Marco Rubio and Nayib Bukele, the U.S. embassy in Venezuela posted on X. The first clue that Ortiz had slipped into the group of U.S. political prisoners came from Venezuelan Justice Minister Diosdado Cabello: We handed over some murderers for you, Cabello told the Venezuelans released from Cecot when they landed in their homeland. Among those murderers was Ortiz. In the images collected by various U.S. media outlets, Ortiz can be seen with the rest of the released prisoners, posing in official photos holding the U.S. flag and smiling. Media such as CNN have published the complete list of those released, citing a U.S. government official. Ortiz appears among them with a slight variation in his name: Danud, instead of Dahud. In a video published by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, he thanks former Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero for his mediation in this prisoner exchange and invites him to come to Venezuela soon. Zapatero replied that he was unaware of the list of prisoners holding U.S. nationality. My efforts, as on so many occasions, have been focused, for the sake of dialogue and reconciliation, on the Venezuelan prisoners, in favor of whom I have been taking an interest, as so many families in that country are well aware. The triple homicide perpetrated by Ortiz took place in 2016 in a law office in Usera, a working-class district in the south of the Spanish capital. None of the three victims were who he was actually going after that day. His target was Victor Salas, a lawyer who was in a relationship with his ex-wife who he had threatened to kill. That day, however, he murdered two female employees of the office and a client whom he mistook for Salas. Eight years later he was sentenced to 30 years in prison in Venezuela, his home country, for the crime. But a little over a year later, Ortiz has regained his freedom thanks to a prisoner exchange between the United States and Venezuela. A new plot twist in a never-ending story. His conviction did not come about easily. After committing the murders, Ortiz returned to Germany, where he lived at the time. He created a whole framework with his cell phone, photos, and tickets from commercial establishments to hide his crime, but, despite all his precautions, the Spanish National Police gathered the necessary evidence to prove that the hand that had executed those three people was Ortizs. When cornered, the ex-military officer escaped to Latin America and ended up in his native Venezuela, where he was arrested. After several comings and goings, the trial against him was set in motion in the South American country, although it was delayed four times until the final verdict was reached: guilty. Now, Salas is once again living with the fear that the man who tried to kill him is at large. The lawyer does not understand how it was possible to include a man convicted of a triple murder in such a plea bargain, and given that he has only served a fraction of his sentence. In an interview granted to a German media outlet, Ortizs ex-wife has assured that the competent authorities are currently evaluating the inclusion of this person in the police information system, in order to ensure that he cannot enter the Schengen area, and in particular, Germany. She added: There is a well-founded suspicion that the mans lawyer in Venezuela intentionally provided false information by not presenting him as a convicted murderer, but as a political prisoner or even a U.S. spy, with the aim of including him in the prisoner exchange. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Humans beat AI gold-level score at top maths contest Sydney, July 22 (AFP) Jul 22, 2025 Humans beat generative AI models made by Google and OpenAI at a top international mathematics competition, despite the programmes reaching gold-level scores for the first time. Neither model scored full marks -- unlike five young people at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), a prestigious annual competition where participants must be under 20 years old. Google said Monday that an advanced version of its Gemini chatbot had solved five out of the six maths problems set at the IMO, held in Australia's Queensland this month. "We can confirm that Google DeepMind has reached the much-desired milestone, earning 35 out of a possible 42 points -- a gold medal score," the US tech giant cited IMO president Gregor Dolinar as saying. "Their solutions were astonishing in many respects. IMO graders found them to be clear, precise and most of them easy to follow." Around 10 percent of human contestants won gold-level medals, and five received perfect scores of 42 points. US ChatGPT maker OpenAI said that its experimental reasoning model had scored a gold-level 35 points on the test. The result "achieved a longstanding grand challenge in AI" at "the world's most prestigious math competition", OpenAI researcher Alexander Wei wrote on social media. "We evaluated our models on the 2025 IMO problems under the same rules as human contestants," he said. "For each problem, three former IMO medalists independently graded the model's submitted proof." Google achieved a silver-medal score at last year's IMO in the British city of Bath, solving four of the six problems. That took two to three days of computation -- far longer than this year, when its Gemini model solved the problems within the 4.5-hour time limit, it said. The IMO said tech companies had "privately tested closed-source AI models on this year's problems", the same ones faced by 641 competing students from 112 countries. "It is very exciting to see progress in the mathematical capabilities of AI models," said IMO president Dolinar. Contest organisers could not verify how much computing power had been used by the AI models or whether there had been human involvement, he cautioned. Chinese state hackers targeting Microsoft customers San Francisco, United States, July 22 (AFP) Jul 22, 2025 Chinese state-sponsored hackers are actively exploiting critical security vulnerabilities in users of Microsoft's popular SharePoint servers to steal sensitive data and deploy malicious code, the US tech giant warned Tuesday. Microsoft said it has observed three threat groups -- dubbed Linen Typhoon, Violet Typhoon, and Storm-2603 -- targeting internet-facing SharePoint servers using two newly disclosed vulnerabilities that allow attackers to bypass authentication and execute remote code. SharePoint Server is Microsoft's collaboration and document management platform designed for businesses and organizations. Many large organizations use SharePoint as their primary platform for internal collaboration and for storing documents, and is appreciated for working well with other Microsoft products like Office, Teams, and Outlook. The attacks, which Microsoft said began as early as July 7, affect only on-premises SharePoint installations and do not impact the cloud-based SharePoint Online service, the company said in a security bulletin. Microsoft warned that it "assesses with high confidence" that the threat actors will continue their assault against vulnerable systems where companies haven't taken the necessary precautions. The vulnerabilities allow attackers to spoof authentication credentials and execute malicious code remotely on vulnerable servers. Microsoft has released comprehensive security updates to address the malware and urged customers to apply the patches immediately. In their successful attacks, the Chinese hackers deployed malicious code that provides backdoor access to compromised systems. The attackers used these tools to steal machine encryption keys and maintain access to targeted networks. Linen Typhoon, active since 2012, primarily focuses on intellectual property theft from government, defense, and human rights organizations. Violet Typhoon, operating since 2015, conducts espionage against former government officials, NGOs, think tanks, and media organizations across the United States, Europe, and East Asia. Storm-2603, which Microsoft assesses with "medium confidence" to be China-based, has previously deployed ransomware but its current objectives remain unclear. Research from cybersecurity company Check Point said the campaign began on July 7 against a major Western government and that the attacks intensified dramatically around July 18. Since then, researchers have confirmed dozens of compromise attempts primarily targeting organizations in North America and Western Europe, Check Point said in a blog post. UK court awards 700 mn to HP in late tycoon's fraud case London, July 22 (AFP) Jul 22, 2025 A UK court Tuesday awarded pound700 million ($946 million) compensation to IT firm Hewlett Packard in a fraud case involving late British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, killed last year when his superyacht sank off Sicily. A UK court ruled in 2022 in favour of the US technology giant, now known as Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), in a civil case linked to the sale of Lynch's company, Autonomy. Lynch, once dubbed the "British Bill Gates", founded software firm Autonomy in the 1990s. Its $11 billion sale to Hewlett Packard in 2011 also saw him face fraud charges in the United States. HP accused Autonomy of artificially inflating its revenues and growth before the sale and had demanded $5 billion in compensation. "We are pleased that this decision brings us a step closer to the resolution of this dispute," said a spokesperson for Hewlett Packard. "We look forward to the further hearing at which the final amount of HPE's damages will be determined," they added. The further hearing, dealing with matters including interest, currency conversion and whether Lynch's estate can appeal the decision, is scheduled for November. The British court had not yet awarded damages when Lynch was killed along with his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, four friends and the yacht's cook in the sinking of his British-flagged vessel Bayesian in a storm in August 2024. Lynch, 59, his family and guests were on board celebrating his acquittal in the massive US fraud case. The 56-metre (185-foot) yacht was struck by a mini-tornado before dawn as it was anchored off Porticello, near Palermo. Hewlett Packard had recorded nearly $9 billion in write-downs, including more than $5 billion it claimed resulted from accounting manipulations by Autonomy's directors before the sale. But justice Robert Hildyard in the British case wrote in his ruling that "HP's claim was always substantially exaggerated". The initial compensation award had been expected in September 2024, and before his sudden death Lynch had prepared a written reaction to the judgement. The ruling "exposes HP's failure and makes clear that the immense damage to Autonomy was down to HP's own errors and actions", he wrote, adding that the company would consider appealing the decision. A spokesman told AFP any debts would have to be discharged from Lynch's estate. ode/pdh/rmb HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour (Ramallah, 78 years old) has unwillingly become one of the faces of the frontlines of the war. During his speech before the Security Council at the end of May, the diplomat broke down in tears while speaking about the deaths of children in Gaza. The image was shared around the world and has come to represent the emotional pain incurred on hundreds of thousands by Israels military operation in the Gaza Strip. You dont plan for these moments. What was flashing in my head were my grandchildren. I could not bear the pain. As we get older, we become more emotional, Mansour says, his voice having since regained its flow and solidity. The ambassador was in Bogota for the first summit of the Hague Group, an eight-country bloc led by Colombia and South Africa, which is looking to pressure Israel into ending the war. The meeting was brought to a close on Wednesday by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, with the announcement of six economic and diplomatic measures that will be taken toward that goal. Question. Were your expectations for the summit met? Answer. Yes. It is extremely important that this group [the Hague Group eight and some 20 additional delegations] met in Colombia, one of the leading countries of this initiative. Since the International Court of Justice announced its historic opinion that this occupation is illegal, a movement has started to emerge to have practical measures in order to force Israel to stop this genocidal war in Gaza and pressure it to comply with international law. Q. That movement has been particularly driven by countries from the so-called Global South. How can those from the north be convinced to join? A. At the beginning, the number of countries who are willing to risk negative reaction will be small. But everyone must take measures that hurt Israel, though they expose them to pressure from the countries that are protecting it. Right now, those doing this are the small, brave ones. The Global South is huge, though the North is very sophisticated in dividing us. We are on the same path as South Africa -in the early stages, not too many people were coming to help them. With time, they were able to assemble bigger and bigger groups until the moment when it was not possible for anyone not to jump on the bandwagon of demolishing apartheid. Q. That process took years. How can Palestinians be asked to be patient in such a violent context? A. There is no silver bullet that one can have in their pocket, put it in the gun, fire it, and paradise is waiting for you. I wish there was something like that. We are resisting occupation by all possible means available to us. We know that diplomacy is important. Some people criticize us for engaging in diplomacy, but it changed our status at the UN to be an observer state and be able to join the International Criminal Court, which led to the issuing of warrants of arrest for [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu. The last 21 months have been the most painful and difficult of my life. I hope that the Palestinian people do not see this nightmare ever again Q. The United States is Israels biggest ally and has blocked UN resolutions calling for an end to the war. How can that obstacle be approached? A. On some occasions, we have gone to the Security Council and received 14 votes, all except that of the United States, which has a veto. But in spite of that fact, we dont give up. We keep going to the Security Council. During the last 21 months, we have succeeded in adopting four resolutions. One of them, 2735, is extremely important and calls for a ceasefire through three stages. Israel is not honoring it. So, although we know the power of the United States and the protectionism that it provides for Israel, the world sometimes succeeds in adopting resolutions. Riyad Mansour, in Bogota. ANDRES GALEANO Q. Donald Trump has been ambiguous on the issue. His plans have gone from the United States taking control of Gaza to building a tourist resort on the Strip. What role is he playing in this? A. Countries dont come to you as paradise to select or hell on Earth to reject. Your country is your country. If it is suffering, build it. If it is in pain, minimize the pain. If you can make it a glorious country, make it one. But this is up to us, the people of that country. This is our country. You see, Trump is a politician. When he saw the Arab summit that was convened in Cairo, where we worked with the Egyptians on developing a plan for reconstruction of Gaza, he retreated. Q. You rose to fame when you broke down in tears speaking to the Security Council about the children of Gaza. It appealed to the feelings of many. A. You dont plan for these moments. When I was talking, what was flashing in my head were my grandchildren. I could not bear the pain that children are being killed in front of our eyes. The other day, six of them were trying to get some water to drink and a bomb came and demolished them completely. As we get older, we become more emotional. Many of my colleagues refer to that moment, which means it touched them. Im glad that I was successful in conveying the pain of our people in that dramatic moment. The best method of evaluation is elections Q. How has it been for you, watching from a distance what is happening? A. The last 21 months [since the war began] have been the most painful and difficult in my life. I hope that once we stop this genocidal war that the Palestinian people do not see this nightmare ever again, especially our children. These 21 months have felt to me longer than 21 years. As the secretary general of the UN said, Gaza is hell on Earth. Gaza is the graveyard of children. Gaza is the most dangerous place on Earth. We want an environment where children can play on the beaches of Gaza, fly kites, go to school, and dream the big dreams. A man holds the lifeless body of his son, killed in an Israeli bombing in Gaza last Tuesday. Mahmoud Issa (REUTERS) Q. After all that has happened, have you turned away from the two-state solution? A. There is no Plan B. The two-state solution is the only realistic solution possible. I am not going to commit the mistake of saying lets go for the one-state [solution], meaning I approve the annexation of the occupied territory to Israel. They need to end this illegal occupation, this land has to be free. Then after that, we will enter into a new stage. Who knows what we will do once we have the free state of Palestine, next to all these states in the Middle East. Could we build something like the European Union? I dont know. I will not be around. Q. The Palestinian Authority, which you represent, no longer enjoys the popularity it did when it was founded. What do you think should change moving forward, and will any significant change come after the war ends? A. After the war ends, and I hope it ends very soon, the Palestinian people have the right to assess and evaluate the whole nightmare that we went through for the last 21 months. I think that the best method of evaluation is elections. When we go through elections, those who win, it means that in the eyes of the people, they did something right. Those who fail, it means that the people did not agree with their conduct and policies and behavior. Q. You have been Palestines ambassador to the UN for two decades. What has been your biggest lesson during those 20 years? A. That the most important thing is the Palestinian people. As our late leader and chairman [Yasser] Arafat said, as long as we are rooted in our homeland and protecting every inch of that homeland, Palestine will be free. We are not there yet, but we are marching in that direction, although we are paying a tremendous price. But we are a resilient people. The Palestinians are the ones who give us the ammunition to be diplomats to represent them in the best possible way. They are our compass. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Chinese-born engineer pleads guilty to stealing US trade secrets Los Angeles, United States, July 21 (AFP) Jul 21, 2025 A Chinese-born US researcher pleaded guilty on Monday to stealing trade secrets, including technology used to detect nuclear missile launches, the Justice Department said. Chenguang Gong, 59, of San Jose, California, was accused of transferring more than 3,600 files from the research and development company where he worked to his personal storage devices. Gong pleaded guilty in a central California district court on Monday to one count of theft of trade secrets and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Sentencing was set for September 29. Gong, who became a US citizen in 2011, worked briefly in 2023 as an engineer at a Los Angeles-area research and development company, the Justice Department said. The company was not identified. Among the files Gong downloaded were blueprints for infrared sensors designed for use in space-based systems to detect nuclear missile launches and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles, the Justice Department said. Also stolen were blueprints for sensors designed to enable US military aircraft to detect incoming heat-seeking missiles and take countermeasures. The Justice Department said Gong, while employed at several major technology companies in the United States between 2014 and 2022, had submitted applications to join so-called "Talent Programs" funded by the Chinese government. The programs are designed to identify individuals with "expert skills, abilities, and knowledge of advanced sciences and technologies" that can advance the Chinese economy and military capabilities, it said. Europe needs to boost military capabilities: EU defense chief Washington, July 21 (AFP) Jul 21, 2025 Europe needs to boost its defense capabilities as the United States seeks to focus on countering China, the EU's defense commissioner said on Monday. President Donald Trump has pushed for increased military burden-sharing with Europe since returning to office earlier this year, with NATO allies agreeing last month to boost their defense spending. "Europe is preparing to take responsibility for its own defense. You asked us to do that, and finally we are moving ahead," Andrius Kubilius said in a speech in Washington. "We are recognizing that you, Americans, have really the right and the reason in the longer-term perspective to start to shift more and more towards the Indo-Pacific in order to mitigate Chinese rising military power," he said. "We Europeans need to ramp up our defense capabilities," the former Lithuanian prime minister said, adding: "That is what we are doing." The United States has for years identified China as its primary military rival and has sought to shift its focus and additional military assets to Asia. But unrest in the Middle East has repeatedly pulled American attention back to that region, with US assets being shifted -- at least temporarily -- away from Asia as a result. Iran FM says Tehran will not abandon nuclear enrichment Washington, July 22 (AFP) Jul 22, 2025 Iran has no plans to abandon its nuclear program, including uranium enrichment, despite "severe" damage to its facilities after US strikes last month, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday. For now, enrichment "is stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe," Araghchi told Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier." "But obviously we cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists," he continued, calling it a source of "national pride." He stressed that any future nuclear deal would have to contain the right to enrichment. When asked whether any enriched uranium had been saved from the strikes, Araghchi said he had "no detailed information," but that Iran's Atomic Energy Organization is "trying to evaluate what has exactly happened to our nuclear material, to our enriched material." Washington bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran on June 22 to support Israel's 12-day military offensive, including the Fordow underground uranium enrichment site located south of Tehran. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called the strikes a success that "completely destroyed" the sites, lashing out at media reports citing intelligence findings of more conservative assessments. Araghchi, while saying there was no military solution to the dispute over Iran's program, told Fox News that "yes, facilities have been destroyed. They are severely destroyed." "But the technology is there, our nuclear program, our enrichment program, is not something imported from outside that can be destroyed by bombings," he said. Trump welcomed Araghchi's comments in a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday. "Just like I said, and we will do it again, if necessary!" posted the US president. Araghchi's remarks come as Tehran is set to hold new talks on its nuclear program with Germany, France and the United Kingdom on Friday in Istanbul. Regarding negotiations with the United States to de-escalate regional tension, Araghchi said "we are open to talks" but "not direct for the time being." "We are ready to do any confidence-building measure needed to prove that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful" in exchange for lifted US sanctions, he added. The foreign minister also confirmed that Iran would continue to develop and manufacture missiles. Despite multiple barrages of missiles launched at Israel and waves of Israeli attacks on its bases and launchers, Araghchi said "we still have a good number of missiles to defend ourselves." Baier also asked about the health of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has rarely been seen since the start of Israel's attack. "I met him today, he is in a very good shape and in a very good health," Araghchi said. Iran says will not halt nuclear enrichment ahead of European talks Tehran, July 22 (AFP) Jul 22, 2025 Iran has no plans to abandon its nuclear programme including uranium enrichment despite the "severe" damage caused by US strikes to its facilities, the country's foreign minister said ahead of renewed talks with European powers. Iran is scheduled to meet Britain, France and Germany in Istanbul on Friday, to discuss its nuclear programme, with Tehran accusing European powers of scuppering a landmark 2015 nuclear deal. The meeting will be the first since Iran's 12-day war with Israel last month, during which the United States carried out strikes against Tehran's nuclear facilities. For now, enrichment "is stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier" on Monday. "But obviously we cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists," he continued, calling it a source of "national pride". US President Donald Trump responded to the comments on his platform Truth Social, saying Washington would carry out strikes again "if necessary". 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 Trump's first term, 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 on the deal's future. 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 authorities probing airliner's close call with B-52 bomber Washington, July 22 (AFP) Jul 22, 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 base near Minot confirmed in a statement that a B-52 bomber performed an approved flyover Friday night at the North Dakota State Fair, and said the crew was communicating with air traffic controllers at Minot's commercial airport. "The B-52 crew contacted Minot International Airport tower and the tower provided instructions to continue two miles westbound after the flyover. The tower did not advise of the inbound commercial aircraft," it said. It provided no further details about the near miss. 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 a passenger video posted to Instagram and verified by Storyful, the SkyWest pilot told passengers he was not made aware about the B-52. 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. "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,'" he 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. Toxic algae bloom lingers off Australia, killing marine life Sydney, July 22 (AFP) Jul 22, 2025 A vast toxic algae bloom has sparked growing concern in Australia as it lingers off the south coast, killing hundreds of marine species and disrupting fisheries. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unlocked federal funds this week to cope with the Karenia mikimotoi algae as it persists four months after first appearing. South Australia's government said it was holding an emergency meeting Tuesday to be briefed by scientists on the phenomenon. The algae, which damages the gills of fish and suffocates them, stretched across 4,400 square kilometres (1,700 square miles) when it was first spotted in mid-March, according to the state government. While South Australian authorities hoped the bloom would disperse, it has instead spread across the region, the latest government update said. A marine heatwave in the area had "largely abated", it said, but remained in some deeper waters. Beaches on wildlife-rich tourist draws such as Kangaroo Island, Yorke Peninsula and Fleurieu Peninsula have been littered with the marine carcasses of sharks, rays, crabs and octopuses. "It's hard to overstate the extreme severity of the algal-bloom environmental crisis in South Australia," said marine ecologist Adriana Verges from University of New South Wales. "We are talking about extensive mortality of nearly 500 different marine species, including key habitat-forming sponges and other invertebrates, as well as fish. It's completely devastating." - 'Red flashing warning' - Karenia mikimotoi has been detected around the world, including in waters off Japan, Norway, the United States and China, since the 1930s and disrupted local tourism and fishery industries, causing millions of dollars worth of damage. Ian Mitchell, who manages a fish market in Adelaide, said some people had not caught anything since April. "It's the worst I've ever seen it," he told national broadcaster ABC. "I'm speaking to fishermen on a daily basis, and I've got fishermen in tears on the phone." The federal government announced on Monday Aus$14 million(US$9.1 million) in financial assistance to impacted fisheries, clean-up efforts and research into preparedness. The prime minister said a "whole range of issues" had led to the event, including nutrient-rich floodwater runoff and above-average ocean temperatures. Historically fishing and aquaculture industries can take years to recover from these algae blooms, said Australian Marine Conservation Society chief executive Paul Gamblin. "It's an enormous red flashing warning that climate change has arrived off Australia and it is having enormous impacts," he told AFP. South Australia has not previously experienced a toxic algae bloom of this scale or duration. Local authorities have urged beachgoers to avoid swimming in water that is discoloured or foamy, warning that it can irritate the skin and affect breathing. Climate change has led to an increase in the frequency and duration of marine heatwaves across Australia, which significantly affects marine ecosystems. Israel says intercepted missile fired from Yemen Jerusalem, July 22 (AFP) Jul 22, 2025 Yemen's Huthi rebels launched two attacks targeting Israel's main airport, the latest on Tuesday, with the Israeli army intercepting both, a day after striking the rebel-held Yemeni port of Hodeida. Israel has repeatedly struck Huthi-held parts of Yemen after the Iran-backed rebels began targeting the country with missile and drone attacks, claiming solidarity with Palestinians over the Gaza war. The Huthis targeted Ben Gurion International Airport "using a 'Palestine 2' hypersonic ballistic missile", according to military spokesman Yarya Saree, who had hours earlier claimed a similar attack on the airport. On Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said "Yemen's fate will be the same as Tehran's" after hitting Huthi targets in Hodeida port in an attack aimed to prevent any attempt to restore infrastructure previously hit. A Huthi security official, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, told AFP that "the bombing destroyed the port's dock, which had been rebuilt following previous strikes." The Huthis recently resumed deadly attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, targeting ships they accuse of having links to Israel, to put pressure on Israel to end the Gaza war. UK gives green light to 38 bn Sizewell C nuclear plant London, July 22 (AFP) Jul 22, 2025 The UK government on Tuesday gave new British nuclear power plant Sizewell C the final go-ahead after reaching a deal with investors, aiming to bolster net zero and energy security goals. The government, the largest shareholder in the project, said Sizewell C, in eastern England, will cost around pound38 billion ($51 billion) to construct. The project will also be funded by Canadian pension fund La Caisse, British Gas owner Centrica, Amber Infrastructure and French energy giant EDF. "It is time to do big things and build big projects in this country again," Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said in a statement. "Today we announce an investment that will provide clean, homegrown power to millions of homes for generations to come," he added. The plant, which has been in financial limbo for over a decade, is not expected to start generating electricity until the 2030s. The projected construction cost of pound38 billion exceeds previous official estimates of pound20 to pound30 billion -- and campaigners have warned that further cost overruns or delays could impact households. - Energy security - The final investment decision gives the government a 44.9 percent stake in the project. Among the new investors in Sizewell C, La Caisse holds a 20 percent stake, Centrica 15 percent and investment manager Amber Infrastructure an "initial" 7.6 percent. EDF announced earlier this month that it will take a 12.5 percent stake in the project -- down from 16.2 percent ownership the end of 2024. The UK has refocused on shoring up nuclear power since the start of the war in Ukraine, in the name of energy security and faced with a fleet of ageing power stations. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government has also pledged by 2035 to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions by 81 percent on 1990 levels, under plans to reach net-zero by 2050. The use of nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuels is highly controversial, however, with many environmental groups warning about safety risks and the disposal of nuclear waste. The plans for Sizewell C have been met with anger by some local residents worried about the impact of the new plant on the town of Leiston in Suffolk. Once operational, the project will power around six million homes and create around 10,000 jobs, according to the government. Near to Sizewell C is the Sizewell B nuclear power station which is due to close in 2035 -- and Sizewell A which is in the process of being decommissioned. EDF is also building the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in southwestern England, although it has been plagued by delays and rising construction costs. The government noted that the construction costs of Sizewell C would be around 20 percent cheaper than Hinkley Point C. Zelensky says ex-defence minister to head delegation for Russia talks Kyiv, Ukraine, July 22 (AFP) Jul 22, 2025 Ukraine's ex-defence minister and current secretary of the security council Rustem Umerov will head Kyiv's delegation at the next round of peace talks with Russia on Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday. The Kremlin earlier had downplayed expectations for the talks by saying the two sides were far apart in their visions on how to end the more than three-year war. "The delegation will be headed by Rustem Umerov and will include representatives of Ukrainian intelligence, Ukraine's foreign ministry, and the office of the president," Zelensky wrote on social media. Moscow has not yet announced the composition of its team for the talks. Its delegation at the previous round was led by a hawkish historian and the current head of the Russian Union of Writers Vladimir Medinsky, whom Ukraine described as not a real decision-maker. Zelensky said Kyiv was ready to "secure the release of our people from captivity and return of abducted children, to stop the killings, and to prepare a leaders' meeting," outlining potential topics for discussion on Wednesday. Ukrainian and Russian delegations met in Istanbul on May 16 and on June 2 as Washington stepped up pressure for a deal, but no breakthroughs were made. Ukrainian and Russian negotiators only agreed to exchange prisoners and soldiers' bodies. Russia has since launched intense air attacks on Ukraine and seized more frontline territory. Kyiv said the increased pressure by Moscow showed it was not serious about halting the offensive it launched in February 2022. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the debate on the motion of no confidence she faced in Strasbourg in early July. Russian disinformation campaigns are a familiar sight in Europe. Brussels has long warned of Moscow-led attempts to divide and destabilize the European Union through these strategies, which often rely on the anti-European far right. One of the latest episodes occurred during the recent vote of no confidence against European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The Kremlin used this event to launch a narrative about the dysfunctions of European institutions in an attempt to polarize and weaken the EU, according to an analysis by disinformation experts endorsed by Brussels and the EU executive itself. The vote of no confidence is a textbook example of the operational methods of organizations like Pravda Network, also known as Portal Kombat, a Russian disinformation network with more than 100 websites, social media accounts and Telegram channels that aims to manipulate European public opinion, says Amaury Lesplingart, co-founder of Check First. This Finnish company, dedicated to uncovering hoaxes on social media, conducted an exhaustive study of the attempt, earlier this month, to oust the German conservative politician from the EU presidency. The move was led by a Romanian extremist MEP, Gheorghe Piperea, and received the backing of virtually only the most extremist forces in the European Parliament. The Lithuanian organization Debunk, which analyzes hoaxes mainly in the Baltic countries, Poland, Georgia, and Montenegro, also noted during the motion against Von der Leyen a strategic grouping of messages in Russian or pro-Russian media that suggest the intention to reinforce a broad framework of delegitimization. The motions main argument was the so-called Pfizergate, a scandal that erupted in April 2021 and stems from Von der Leyens refusal to reveal the private messages she exchanged with Pfizers boss, Albert Bourla, during the negotiations for multi-billion-dollar Covid-19 vaccine purchases. The massive vaccination campaign facilitated by the EU during the pandemic has been a frequent target of attacks by conspiracy theorists, particularly from the far right. Piperea, who ultimately garnered 77 votes for his initiative, five more than the required minimum, called for Von der Leyens resignation due to her repeated failures to ensure transparency and her persistent disregard for democratic oversight and the rule of law in the Union. According to an analysis of the movements of pro-Kremlin networks specializing in disinformation, the news network pravda.com did not limit itself to reporting on the vote of confidence against Ursula von der Leyen, but rather crafted a multi-stage political drama that played out across languages, countries, and cultures." This strategy began months earlier with information and allegations against Von der Leyens credibility, which was described as toxic and corrupt, according to Check Firsts analysis. Debunk has also noted two narratives that were spread during this period by pro-Kremlin media and pseudo-media: Von der Leyen must be ousted and she is part of the corrupt elite, the report, which this newspaper has seen, highlights. The campaign then relied on the electoral conflict in Romania, where presidential elections were first held in Novemberand surprisingly won by an independent, Calin Georgescu, an extremist and pro-Russian candidate promoted by the social media platform TikTokbut were annulled by the Constitutional Court after a campaign of Russian hybrid attacks was revealed. In a repeat election in May, one of the candidates was the far-right George Simion, sponsored by Georgescu, although the pro-European Nicusor Dan ultimately won. Disinformation analyses failed to establish that Russia manipulated the Romanian MEP to submit the motion against Von der Leyen. However, it is clear that Russia exploited a narrative spreadand multipliedon pro-Russian websites as a David-versus-Goliath battle, presented by MEP Piperea as a fight against the Brussels system that the courageous Simion had initiated. In total, there were nearly 21,000 posts dedicated to the motion of no confidence and its prelude. A concerted effort These messages, widely disseminated on social media by far-right MEPs and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, suggest a concerted effort to amplify negative sentiment during a sensitive period for the EU, presenting, in line with Russian narratives, an unstable and divided Union, with inefficient leadership, Debunk adds. Narrative operations of foreign information manipulation and interference on an industrial-scale represent a clear and present threat to European democratic discourse, Lesplingart warns via email. When a routine parliamentary motion generates more than 20,000 coordinated posts, transforming it into a mass movement against corruption, what we are seeing is the instrumentalization of our own democratic processes, he adds. Von der Leyen herself denounced this during the parliamentary debate that preceded her vote of no confidence, which she easily overcame. The motion, she stated, is another crude attempt to drive a wedge between our institutions, between the pro-European, pro-democratic forces in the European Parliament. She accused the instigators of the initiative of belonging to extremist forces: We have entered into an age of struggle between democracy and illiberalism supported by the puppet masters in Russia and elsewhere. After learning of the analyses by the expert organizations Check First and Debunk, the Commission is also emphatic: This is yet another reminder that actors who have proven themselves to be close to Russian state propaganda continue their attempts to polarize and weaken the EU, said EU spokesperson for technological sovereignty, Thomas Regnier. They are opportunistically exploiting political events or discussions within the EU to distort political debate, spread conspiracy theories, or discredit European politicians. The attempts to manipulate the motion against Von der Leyen come shortly after NATO and the EU expressed their solidarity with the United Kingdom, which announced last Friday a new round of sanctions against three Russian military intelligence units (GRU) and 18 of its members, which it blames for a sustained campaign of malicious cyberattacks, which has lasted for years and has included the United Kingdom among its targets. A report by the EU External Action Service (EEAS) on threats of foreign manipulation and interference highlighted just a few months ago a pattern in the architecture of such actions, particularly by China and Russia, which not only act with the same goalto destabilize the EUbut do so in an interconnected manner, with a desire to amplify their effect. European institutions and citizens must understand that every political debate, every procedural vote, every moment of legitimate democratic friction will be exploited, amplified, and distorted by these networks. Recognizing this is the first step toward resilience, warns the Check First official. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Mali forces, Russian fighters killed dozens of Fulanis: HRW Dakar, July 22 (AFP) Jul 22, 2025 The Malian army and Russia's Wagner group killed dozens of ethnic Fulani men this year during anti-jihadist operations in the troubled west African nation, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday. Primarily nomadic herders, the Fulani are often stigmatised across the Sahel, accused of collaborating with armed Islamist groups and providing the bulk of their recruits. Mali's army and the Wagner paramilitary group "appear to have executed at least 12 Fulani men and forcibly disappeared at least 81 others since January", HRW said. It said it had credible reports, corroborated by the United Nations, that 65 of the missing from a village in the western Kayes region had been executed in April. "The Malian soldiers and Wagner group fighters accuse the Fulani community of collaborating with Islamist armed groups fighting to control parts of the country," HRW said. On March 30, the Malian military and Wagner fighters entered Belidanedji in the central Segou region "and summarily executed at least six Fulani civilians who were fleeing or hiding," HRW said, citing witnesses. "They shot my friend in the chest in front of me," it quoted a 47-year-old man as saying. "When the soldiers left, we recovered five bodies and evacuated an injured man, but he later died in the hospital." HRW said the deaths and disappearances were carried out "in the context of counterinsurgency operations across several regions of the country". The army is fighting the the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, known by its Arabic acronym JNIM. The executions and abductions were carried out in the regions of Douentza, Kayes, Segou and Timbuktu and also included house burnings and torture, HRW said. HRW interviewed 29 people with knowledge of the incidents by phone between February and May, including 16 witnesses. The rights group called on the African Union to pressure Mali's junta to carry out an investigation and prosecute those responsible. "Senior Malian and Russian officials should recognize that they can be held responsible for the crimes committed by their soldiers and fighters", said Ilaria Allegrozzi, HRW senior Sahel researcher. The Wagner group announced its departure from Mali in June after being involved in the country's anti-jihadist campaign since 2021. It has been replaced by Africa Corps, another paramilitary group with links to the Kremlin. Mali is ruled by a junta that came to power following two successive coups in 2020 and 2021. HRW said it had sent its findings and questions to the country's justice and defence ministers but had received no response. While Omar Garcia Harfuch, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, confirmed this Sunday in Culiacan that the Sinaloa Cartel is weakened, one of its factions was expanding and taking control of Badiraguato, a historic stronghold of Joaquin El Chapo Guzmans family. In the midst of the internal war between cartel factions, which began a year ago, the Zambada family has arrived in the municipality and begun a purge. In this region, nestled in Mexicos so-called Golden Triangle of drug trafficking, an armed conflict is raging, involving clashes, blockades, and territorial propaganda. Armed groups set up checkpoints along the roads. Men watch like hawks on motorcycles in the towns, and graffiti on walls announces the arrival of a new criminal group, distinct from the Guzman family or the communal landowners who once grew poppies or marijuana and now produce synthetic drugs. Graffiti left by the Mayitos faction on the arches of one of the towns on the way to Surutato, Badiraguato. El Pais We just see them coming and going in their trucks. Its not the same people as before, its different people leaving that graffiti, says Mariana (not her real name), a resident of the municipal seat of Badiraguato. This territory is now part of an expanding war, despite Secretary Garcia Harfuchs assertions. Criminal organizations have definitely been diminished. At the beginning of the conflict, we saw convoys of several trucks in Culiacan. Today, we havent seen any of that. Theyre becoming less frequent, if not months without roadblocks, like at the beginning. That doesnt mean the situation is resolved. What were saying is that theyre no longer the same: these criminal groups dont have the same firepower, Garcia Harfuch said at a press conference from the capital of Sinaloa. But the reality on the ground is different. On July 25, 2024, Ismael Zambada Garcia, known as El Mayo, was arrested after being kidnapped by Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of his former partner, El Chapo, during a prearranged meeting in Huertos del Pedregal, a rural area north of Culiacan. Since then, a confrontation between the two cartel factions has erupted, marked by blockades, gunfights, more than 1,600 murders, and nearly 2,000 disappearances. Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada (left) and Joaquin Guzman Lopez. Cortesia According to the Mexican government, its a dispute between Ivan and Alfredo Guzman Salazar, two of El Chapos sons and leaders of the Los Chapitos faction, and the son of El Mayo, Ismael Zambada Sicairos, also known as Mayito Flaco. Although the epicenter of the conflict has been Culiacan a key area for drug trafficking and retail sales since September 9, it has spread to all 20 municipalities in Sinaloa, including Badiraguato, a region silenced by violence. Today, in communities like Santiago de los Caballeros, Huixopa, La Tuna, Surutato, and other towns, there are new checkpoints where the Guzman family once ruled. Prohibitions have been imposed: recording and reporting are prohibited, and those who now rule advertise themselves with graffiti marked with the letters MF, a reference to El Mayito Flaco. They have violently seized control of the territory that gave birth to the bosses who were once partners and later enemies of El Mayo. They are the drug traffickers Since its inception, the drug trade in Sinaloa has been linked to peasant families who, following the prohibition of poppies and marijuana, learned new ways of producing and trafficking. Middlemen emerged who bought opium gum and plants to convert them into heroin, which was then brought to the United States. There, during and after World War II, opioids were consumed to soothe the pain of wounds. Then came cocaine users from South America. Theyre the drug traffickers, the ones who came and bought the drugs to make them. We just grew the plants. Were not rich. Look at our houses. Do you think we are? says Manuel, a farmer from Santiago de los Caballeros, Badiraguato. Mexican traffickers learned from Colombian organizations. They formed alliances and established routes to supply the main consumer: the United States. Marijuana and poppies became key products in an illicit market fueled by international capital. Badiraguato became a strategic area: the soil, climate, and geography provided ideal conditions for the cultivation of both crops. Although cultivation spread to other regions, this municipality remained the national epicenter. Graffiti in one of the villages in Badiraguato. El Pais The intermediaries fame grew until they began to be called narcos, and the rest is history. Badiraguato is the legendary location of Mexican drug trafficking: the birthplace of criminals such as Rafael Caro Quintero (of La Noria), Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo Don Neto (Santiago de los Caballeros), the Beltran Leyva family (La Palma), Juan Jose Esparragoza Moreno El Azul (Huixopa), and the Guzman family (La Tuna). Since the 2000s, this municipality has been a stronghold of the latter, led by brothers Joaquin El Chapo and Aureliano El Guano Guzman Loera. Until now. Among all these famous names, only El Guano Guzman remains at large. The others, like his brother, are imprisoned in Mexico or the United States, or dead, like Arturo Beltran Leyva and Juan Jose Esparragoza Moreno. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition He added: I think it has established itself as part of the system and to me it would not be sensible to take it away at this point. The announcement marks the latest by a global pharmaceutical giant to expand its footprint in the US as Mr Trump has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 20% on drug imports in an effort to increase manufacturing in America and drive down costs for Americans. Michael Wainwright, chairman of luxury jewellery brand Boodles said: We would encourage the Government to look at this urgently, as all the independent analysis that has been done shows that a new tax-free shopping scheme would more than pay for itself thanks to the extra spending that would be stimulated across the economy, not just in retailers but in hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, taxis and so on. 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 How can anyone trust a hotel that does this to its customers? I have booked meals out and a theatre trip as part of our stay London and am now having to scramble around trying to find something suitable at short notice, which will undoubtedly now be more expensive as a result. What a pitiful company. Their stunt, which is scheduled for next month in the capital, would be the largest escalation in a series of protests that have taken place across the UK since the ban came into place on July 5. Howard Phillips clearly outlined the services he was willing to provide for a hostile state. From gaining employment within the civil service and applying for security clearance, to providing the personal details of the Secretary of State for Defence Phillips was brazen in his pursuit for financial gain and unbothered about the potential detriment to his own country. She added: The key very much is to make sure the President of the United States can come, enjoy a peaceful and safe visit to Scotland and ensure Police Scotland is able to maintain delivery of services to the rest of the community within Scotland over the period of his visit. The storm over the Trump administrations handling of the Epstein case continues in Washington. This Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who was previously Donald Trumps personal lawyer, announced on X that he plans to meet in the coming days with Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, for whom she acted as a procurer for the minors he abused (and also sometimes participated in those abuses). Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence in a Florida prison and has expressed her desire to be pardoned by authorities. President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence, Blanche posted. If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say. The presidents former lawyer also says he is working at the direction of Attorney General Bondi, noting that until now, no administration on behalf of the Department had inquired about her willingness to meet with the government. That changes now. In reality, only two administrations could have done so: Trumps first (2017-2021) and Joe Bidens (2021-2025). Epstein died in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for child sex trafficking. The coroner concluded that he had taken his own life, and that this was made possible by a series of lapses in his custody: he had too much bedding, which he could have used for that purpose, and the rounds to check on the prisoner didnt take place until almost 12 hours had passed. A report, co-signed by the Department of Justice and the FBI, confirmed that conclusion on July 6: no one murdered Epstein, despite theories that have since spread that he was killed to prevent him from blowing the whistle on his rich and famous friends. That document also denied the existence of an Epstein list, a record of men who allegedly participated in the child sex trafficking ring, whose identity and power have reportedly prevented it from coming to light for so long. Uncomfortable truths This Department of Justice does not shy away from uncomfortable truths, nor from the responsibility to pursue justice wherever the facts may lead, Blanche wrote on X. The joint statement by the DOJ and FBI of July 6 remains as accurate today as it was when it was written. Namely, that in the recent thorough review of the files maintained by the FBI in the Epstein case, no evidence was uncovered that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties. Blanches confidence in the work of his department and the FBI is not shared by prominent members of the MAGA movement, who have questioned the reports conclusions and demanded the full truth be known. Bondi spent months promising them that her department would release all the documents at its disposal. The change of heart has not sat well with the conspiracy theorists: Trump had promised during the election campaign that he would do the same upon his return to the White House. Epstein, with whom he had a 15-year friendship before breaking off relations with him, has returned like a ghost, creating the first serious internal crisis of his second administration, six months after his return to power. Last week, the U.S. president instructed the attorney general to request the judge in the 2019 case (the second, following a minor conviction in 2006 in Florida) release documents from the grand jury portion of the proceedings. This group of citizens under the U.S. legal system intervenes in a preliminary phase, guided by the prosecutor, to take testimony, conduct certain tests, and decide whether the case should move forward. Since then, Trump has continued trying to push the case into obscurity, making announcements to distract attention. The upcoming meeting with Maxwell appears to be another strategy to buy time, while the rebellion is also spreading among Republican members of Congress, who are demanding explanations. Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has already warned that the matter will not be debated until after the August recess. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Even assuming it had the physical capacity to arrest so many people on the same day, the political fallout from such an operation would be incalculable, causing irreparable damage to the reputation of the government and the police. Over 100 farmers from Gorj County participated on Tuesday in Targu-Jiu in a seminar dedicated to projects financed through the National Rural Development Program (PNDR), an event attended by minister in charge Florin Barbu, which looked at the challenges and opportunities in the agricultural sector, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced on Facebook. General director of the PNDR Management Authority Dana Rebega provided detailed clarifications on the available financing measures, eligibility terms and priorities for the coming period, while president of the Gorj County Council Cosmin Mihai Popescu emphasized the importance of agriculture investments for Romania's economic development.On this occasion, he also presented a report on the results of the animal breeding sector over 2023 - 2025."The role of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is to efficiently integrate the new European funds into all branches of agriculture - crops, livestock and processing," said Florin Barbu, reiterating that the partnership with Romanian farmers is essential for the success of any rural development program, considering that "farmers are the basic pillar of Romanian agriculture". British actor Mark Williams, best known for playing Arthur Weasley, Ron's father, in seven of the eight films of the Harry Potter franchise, is the first confirmed guest at the new Comic Con edition taking place September 12 - 14 at the Bucharest National Arena, the organizers said, adding that the event promises to be a unique experience for all pop culture enthusiasts. "As we have become accustomed, the audiences will be regaled with three days of storytelling, during which they will be able to explore dozens of stands in the fair area, get in touch with Japanese culture, admire impressive costumes and skills at the cosplay competition, experience video games on top-notch equipment and interact with Hollywood actors from their favorite productions," the organizers' release said.Mark Williams will meet with the fans at Q&A panels, offer personalized autographs and take photos at Comic Con on Saturday and Sunday, September 13 and 14.Also present were many other trending stars from top productions such as House of the Dragon, Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, La Casa de Papel, Game of Thrones, Spartacus, Supernatural, Doctor Who, Fringe, Harry Potter, The Vampire Diaries, Lord of the Rings, Sherlock or Vikings. Deputy Prime Minister Tanczos Barna said on Tuesday that the reform of special state pensions will most likely be included in a third package of fiscal measures, adding that the retirement age will increase for those who draw them and the pension must not be higher than the salary. "The order and manner in which this reform began was imposed by the European Commission. In the second package come the elements of local public administration, in the healthcare system and in the third package, at the latest, we will have to have the elements that refer to the retirement privileges, the privileges of duration of the activity during employment years, in several areas such as justice, the Interior Ministry, Police, Gendarmerie, Army, where the support services, who simply do the same thing as in a town hall, accounting, human resources, other activities that are not related to the interventions of the gendarme teams, the special forces, the army, the military, must approach the retirement conditions form the other areas, because otherwise, they will be considered and are considered privileges," Tanczos told RFI broadcaster."I can agree with those who say that special pensions are needed because in Europe, in all civilised countries, where during employment there are a lot of restrictions, there you must also have a compensation for that. Those in the judiciary, those in the Public Prosecution Service have a lot of restrictions, they can't do anything else, they have to focus only on their activity. They have a very, very strict regulation in terms of conduct. (...) European commissioners also have special pensions and MEPs and those in the Brussels administration and those in the Judiciary, the police, the army from all other countries. They must be proportional, in direct relation to the degree of sustainability on the part of society."He also said that these measures will most likely be included in a third package, given that there is no time to introduce them in the second package. European countries are currently not sufficiently prepared to intervene in the event of natural, industrial or military-related disasters, Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu said on Tuesday at the informal JHA Council in Copenhagen. "The public, citizens and communities in all European countries still live at a level of collective mentality formed in times of peace, calm and tranquility. In reality, things have changed radically in some places and the logical reaction is to adapt to reality, to be prepared for it, no matter what efforts it involves," said Predoiu, according to a release from the Ministry of Internal Affairs issued to AGERPRES.He highlighted that, in the effort to raise awareness of the new security reality, the first step must be taken by leaders, by those who lead governments and countries."The lack of vision and coherence of the policies of some European leaders and governments has led to crisis situations regarding illegal migration in some EU member states in recent years. The Romanian Interior Ministry has taken this threat seriously and today we have practically a level of migration reduced to zero. But border protection is not enough. Legislatively, at the European level, we must improve the mechanisms for returning illegal migrants. I believe that the EU and some European governments should give up naivety in terms of combating illegal migration", said Predoiu.As to the fight against drugs, the third topic discussed at the JHA Council, the minister mentioned that it is a confirmed fact that all European countries have serious problems related to drug trafficking and consumption."On the other hand, regarding the consumption of soft drugs, there is no uniformity or harmony in the policies of European states. (...) I believe that each country has the right to organize itself as it considers in this regard, through democratically adopted laws. And I am convinced that Romania must remain at the principle of zero tolerance towards trafficking and consumption and that the Romanian Police must continue the fight against drugs started two years ago and even better and to permanently increase its efficiency in this fight", said Catalin Predoiu. The decision to ban the mayor of Chisinau and two other citizens of the Republic of Moldova from entering Romania, respectively the Schengen Area, was taken by the authorities in our country "for reasons related to national security", said, on Tuesday, in Chisinau, the minister of foreign affairs, Oana Toiu. "Romania has ordered the measure of non-permission on its territory for three people, citizens of the Republic of Moldova. This decision, once taken by Romania, for reasons related to national security, applies to the entire Schengen Area, based on the regulations we have now. As for the details related to the justification of this decision, for us national security prevails and it is up to the institutions dealing with national security to provide additional details when and if they deem it necessary. At this stage, this is not the case," explained the head of Romanian diplomacy. She held a press conference alongside her counterpart from Chisinau, Mihai Popsoi. The mayor of Chisinau, Ion Ceban, and two other citizens of the Republic of Moldova are banned from entering Romania, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informed early this month. "For reasons related to national security, Romania has ordered the measure of not allowing entry into the national territory for Mr. Ion Ceban and two other citizens of the Republic of Moldova. The decision is the responsibility of the relevant institutions in Romania, according to the regulations in force in the matter," the MAE reported at the time. The idealistic message of communism is a favorite theme in disinformation campaigns in recent years, said Mihai Jurca, head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, on Tuesday. The statements were made in the context of the presentation of an INSCOP Research poll, which measured the level of nostalgia for communism in Romania. Mihai Jurca said that the study, commissioned by the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and the Memory of the Romanian Exile (IICCMER), shows a "fairly realistic, but at the same time worrying" picture of Romanian society. "We are here today not to celebrate an achievement, but to witness a situation that, honestly, I personally, although I did not live through communism for very long, would not have believed I would ever encounter. (...) We are living in complicated times and, in addition to the lack of information or education, I believe there is also a component of disinformation campaigns clearly aimed in this direction. The idealistic message of communism is a favorite message in the disinformation campaigns we have seen in recent years and, of course, will continue to be so in the future," he said at the conference held at the Victoria Palace of Government. Mihai Jurca said that there are "serious reasons for concern" in the context in which "forms of hate speech and extremism" have gained traction in Romanian society. "We must not forget that Romania's progress from 1989 to the present day has been made possible by constant efforts in the service of democracy. However, the figures show that, unfortunately, many Romanians still have a positive opinion of Nicolae Ceausescu or the communist regime, even though the majority of Romanians also recognize that this regime is responsible for crimes and abuses," said Jurca. Mihai Jurca invited the academic community to reflect on these issues. He called for countering disinformation, manipulation, and themythologizing of the past through a joint effort by the government, academia, and NGOs. "We need critical thinking and societal resilience in the face of these scourges, which continue to be presented and resonate within communities. We must therefore work together - the government, academia, NGOs - so that the painful realities that mark this page of our recent history are not forgotten and, worse, do not metamorphose into nostalgia for a past perceived as positive," he said. Mihai Jurca added that the government is currently developing a national plan to raise awareness of the crimes of communism in Romania. He called on the Executive President of IICCMER, Daniel Sandru, to spare no effort in completing the "Prison of Silence" Memorial in Ramnicu Sarat and the Educational Center on Communism in Romania. To this end, a website will be created, which will address the most well-known myths about the communist period, using language that is "accessible and attractive" to young people. "We want to have the website launched in autumn this year, when pupils begin studying the mandatory subject 'History of Communism in Romania,'" he said. Oana Marinescu, a strategic communications consultant, said that the IICCMER initiative is necessary because society needs clarity about its past. "This event marks the beginning of a series of activities that the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes is organizing this year, when it is set to mark two decades since its establishment. It is a preparation for the launch this autumn of a platform that will clarify the myths of totalitarianism," Marinescu said. KABUL, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Da Afghanistan Bank, Afghanistan's central bank, announced on Tuesday that it has collected a total of 1.009 billion afghani (over 14.6 million U.S. dollars) of worn-out banknotes and incinerated them in the capital Kabul. The worn-out currency was gathered from the central, southeastern, and eastern regions of the country and set on fire in the presence of a government delegation in Kabul, the bank posted on its X account. This follows a similar move earlier this year, when the bank burned over 4 billion afghani (more than 57 million dollars) worth of damaged banknotes in April and May. The bank authorities have reiterated their commitment to withdrawing worn-out banknotes from circulation, encouraging the public to properly handle afghani banknotes in their daily dealings and business transactions. The National Trade Union Bloc (BNS) draws attention to the flagrant violations of labor legislation and the administrative code in public state institutions, especially in the Ministry of Investments and European Projects (MIPE), in the subordinated intermediary bodies, but also in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, respectively in the Agricultural Payments and Intervention Agency (APIA) and the Agency for Financing Rural Investments (AFIR). The organization announced that, starting August 1, it will monitor compliance with the legal 8-hour work schedule, as well as overtime work without written consent from workers in MIPE, subordinate structures and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development - APIA and AFIR. "Given the total lack of reaction of the authorities to the legitimate protest organized in front of the Romanian Government, on July 15, 2025, by employees from the above-mentioned institutions and the systematic refusal to invite the representative unions to a real and constructive dialogue, we announce that: starting with August 1, 2025, we will monitor with maximum attention and strictness the observance of the legal working schedule of 8 hours/day, as well as the performance of overtime hours without written consent from workers from MIPE, from subordinate structures and from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development - APIA and AFIR. This action is based on the provisions of art. 112 of the Labor Code, which regulates the normal duration of working time at 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, and on art. 41 "paragraph (3) of the Romanian Constitution. In addition, the Labor Code provides that overtime may be performed only with the employee's consent and must be compensated by appropriate free time," according to a BNS press release. In this context, the confederation recommends that union members register official requests for emergency compensation for all overtime worked and not compensated with appropriate time off within the time limit provided by law and for granting all outstanding unused vacation days from previous years. According to the cited source, this action is necessary because the legislation in force expressly requires that overtime hours be recovered within 90 days of their completion, and failure to comply with this deadline means violating the law, providing unpaid work and affecting the fundamental rights of employees. "We emphasize that imposing overtime without the written consent of employees and without their compensation can be classified, from a legal and moral point of view, as a form of forced labor," the cited press release also states. The NBS also emphasizes that granting outstanding vacation days does not represent a discretionary benefit of the employer, but an imperative legal obligation, according to art. 146 paragraph (2) of the Labor Code, which provides that the employer is obliged to grant vacation leave within a maximum period of 18 months starting with the year following the year in which the right arose. "Failure to comply with this obligation is equivalent to an abusive limitation of the employee's right to rest, guaranteed by art. 41 paragraph (2) of the Romanian Constitution and by the relevant European Directives (in particular Directive 2003/88/EC concerning certain aspects of the organization of working time). Also, the accumulation of unused vacation days year after year constitutes an illegal practice, which can lead to physical and mental exhaustion of the staff and seriously affects the quality of the public service provided," the document sent by the trade union confederation also states. On the other hand, the trade unionists demand the authorities urgently present the annual professional training plans and the financial execution regarding the expenses allocated for these courses. The BNS explained that, according to art. 194 of the Labor Code and art. 458 paragraph (2) of the Administrative Code, employers, respectively public authorities and institutions, have the obligation to ensure the participation of employees and civil servants in at least one professional training program once every two years. Also, according to art. 459 of the Administrative Code and art. 195 of the Labor Code, employers have the obligation to develop and implement a professional training plan annually. "The refusal to draw up, communicate or implement this plan constitutes a serious violation of the right to professional development and can be legally challenged. If, during the last two years, the employer has not provided training, the worker may request, based on art. 157 paragraph (2) of the Labor Code, a paid training leave of up to 10 working days or 80 hours," the press release further states. The BNS also requests the declassification of the system audit reports carried out by the Court of Accounts of Romania, the Court of Auditors of the European Union and the European Court of Auditors within these public institutions, in the interest of public opinion. "We consider that the publication of these reports is an act of transparency necessary in a state governed by law and an essential step towards understanding the reality in the institutions concerned. These reports, from the information we have, highlight the serious overwork of employees and repeated violations of their rights, including in terms of workload, working hours and lack of legal compensation. The National Trade Union Bloc affirms its availability for dialogue and urges the Romanian Government to stop ignoring the social partners. Ignoring the law cannot constitute public policy," the quoted source claims.A Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said on Monday that there are areas of prodigality, smaller or larger "black holes," all over Romania, and the sooner they are corrected, the more the risk of our country entering into a situation similar to Greece's "decreases." Asked on private broadcaster B1 TV where he thinks there are "black holes" in Romania, Bolojan replied: "Everywhere. Wherever things can work better, there is a black hole, smaller or larger. Everywhere where calculations are not done correctly, staffing levels should be set correctly, if necessary, staff should be reduced, if not, they should remain the same or new staff should be hired. But certainly, in many places there are too many employees. If we do not recognize this, it means we are denying the obvious. If we have a county council, two or three that can function with 90 employees, with 120 employees, we wonder how those with 250 employees function, because we have not heard that those with around 100 employees create major problems in their respective counties due to having too few employees compared to what they should have. Maybe it would be a radical measure to have less than 100, but maybe 120, 130, up to 250 is a long way." ccording to the prime minister, "the same situation exists in city halls, ministries, and companies." "We must conduct these analyses everywhere where money is being wasted, where things could work better, because that means there is a black hole, and we can discuss this at length. The faster and more honestly we correct these areas of prodigality, which are black holes, the more the risk of Romania entering a situation like Greece's decreases. This is the right path for Romania. We have adopted a package of measures that is not enough if we go back and do nothing, because any reform will upset someone," said Bolojan. Romania has consistently supported the need for a ceasefire agreement, humanitarian assistance, and the release of Israeli hostages from Gaza, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) reported on Tuesday. "Given the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the Romanian side has firmly supported the approach of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, aimed at securing improved humanitarian access on behalf of the EU. The European External Action Service (EEAS) has reached an agreement with the Israeli authorities and maintains a direct communication channel, but it requires stronger monitoring on the ground. This was also Romania's request at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, emphasizing that an agreement is considered successful only with sufficient humanitarian aid presence," MAE stated on Facebook. The Romanian ministry recalls that Romania has raised issues related to access to humanitarian assistance and essential goods for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, and in discussions with Israeli officials, the Romanian side emphasized the importance of a ceasefire that would allow the return of Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip, as well as a solution for the long-term cessation of the conflict and the restoration of normal life in the territory: the two-state solution. Delegations of the Romanian and the Bulgarian Ministries of the Interior had a videocall meeting on July 21, under the coordination of Police Chief-Quaestor Bogdan Despescu, Romania's Secretary of State for Public Order and Security, and Secretary General with the Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior, Chief Commissioner Miroslav Rashkov, the Romanian Ministry of the Interior said in a release. The two delegations were made of representatives of the Police, Border Police, Immigration and Anti-Corruption structures of the two ministries. The discussions had as a starting point the general assessment of bilateral cooperation, mainly over the period March - June 2025, highlighting the possible challenges encountered in practice after the removal of controls at internal land borders. Also, the two delegations had an exchange of views on the preparation for the future Schengen evaluations of Romania and Bulgaria in the autumn of this year.The Romanian and Bulgarian competent authorities have taken preventive action through joint team patrols intended to discourage and reduce illegal migration flows. In addition to the activities carried out at the territorial immigration and border police structures, the sides agreed to intensify cooperation by continuing joint actions in the coming months.All these activities reconfirm the joint commitment of the two counterpart institutions to combating cross-border organized crime, reduce illegal migration and ensure a climate of security and trust for the EU citizens. Romania's National Audiovisual Council (CNA) announced on Tuesday the signing of a funding agreement involving European funds of over RON 100 million for its digitalisation. According to CNA, the document was signed during a ceremony at the headquarters of the Authority for Romania's Digital transformation by Valentin-Alexandru Jucan, CNA deputy chairman, and Ana Maria Busoniu, director general of the Intermediate Body for the Promotion of the Information Society, on behalf of the Managing Authority of the Ministry of European Investment and Projects.According to CNA, the project has a total funding of RON 102,446,484 under the Smart Growth, Digitalisation and Financial Instruments Programme 2021-2027.Also, by automating internal and external processes, the council is said to significantly reduce response times and be able to quickly solve requests from the public or media companies.According to CNA, decisions will no longer be perceived as "closed" or "difficult to understand", all internal processes will be digitalised and transparent. The public will be able to follow the route of decisions and understand on what basis they are taken and what effects they have."The council will have modern tools for data collection and analysis, essential for combatting disinformation, protecting minors and monitoring pluralism. The CNA policies will be built on concrete bases, not on assumptions."The DECA project has a duration of 36 months, and it is scheduled to end in July 2028."It is for the first time in its history when CNA draws funding of such magnitude. It is also the moment when the council unequivocally is taking up a new role in society: that of an active watchdog of the audiovisual space, a partner of the public and a modern authority, capable of responding to informational threats, defending democratic values and building a sound, fair and safe media environment," according to CNA. ST. LOUIS Last year, a new initiative by the International Institute of St. Louis successfully brought in over 500 new residents, surpassing the nonprofit groups goal of attracting 350 recent immigrants to a city and region that many leaders are trying to keep from shrinking. The initiative stalled in January when President Donald Trump ended the humanitarian parole system, which had allowed over 500,000 people into the country in recent years. Among them were hundreds persuaded by the International Institutes Latino Outreach Program to settle in St. Louis. Now, the International Institute and its Latino Outreach initiative are pivoting, rebranding the program as Move2STL and working to lure those of Hispanic or Asian descent provided they already have citizenship or a green card to the region. We think its so important for all of St Louis, said Karlos Ramirez, an International Institute vice president who headed the Latino Outreach program. I dont want people to get so bogged down on its the International Institute, so were bringing immigrants. I want people to understand were trying to bring population to St. Louis. The program is one of the few concrete examples of an institution trying to lure new residents from elsewhere in the country in an effort to reverse the outflow of St. Louisans to other cities, which experts and some civic leaders say will be essential if the region hopes to reverse decades of population stagnation. Its launch comes as the International Institute navigates an administration determined to choke off the flow of refugees and immigrants, an important source of new residents in a region where an aging population and falling birth rate threaten its ability to grow naturally. While the focus on Hispanic and Asian communities is a nod to the International Institutes history of working with immigrants, Ramirez said, the larger aim also fits squarely within its goals. The International Institute has historically brought thousands of people to St. Louis on a yearly basis, he said. That has always been part of our mission. Ramirez flew to Sacramento last week and he leaves for Tampa Bay Thursday as part of the Move2STL program. Hes pitched St. Louis cost of living, parks, amenities and employment opportunities at a dozen job fairs and conferences this year, primarily in cities with a higher cost of living and a higher unemployment rate than in the St. Louis metro. Move2STL offers one month of free rent, the security deposit and a $250 gasoline card to anyone of Latino or Asian descent who moves to the region, plus job placement services and help finding schools. While the International Institute has been hit hard by the Trump administrations curtailing of refugee resettlement programs and their associated federal funding, leading to the furlough of 60% of its staff earlier this year, the Latino Outreach program, and now Move2STL, is privately funded, allowing its work to continue. Ramirez said it even hired a third staff member recently. This is the second International Institute program funded by Jerry Schlichter, a civic booster and successful plaintiff attorney who also helped start the Arch Grants program that lures entrepreneurs here with non-equity startup grants. He said St. Louis current population trajectory is not sustainable, and programs like Move2STL are necessary if the region hopes to stem decline. The national policy has changed dramatically, and we are not, as a country, going to be taking in refugees in anything like how we did before, Schlichter said. Rather than giving up and saying were just not going to be able to do this, we pivoted to immigrants already in America to make the case about why they should come to St Louis to build their lives. Many are intrigued with the cost of living and the prospect of being able to afford their own home, Ramirez said, a piece of the American Dream that is harder to achieve in high-cost fast-growing metro areas. But theres also hesitation, he admits. Some think its a scam. Some mention theyve heard crime is high here. So far, no one has taken up Ramirez and the International Institutes offer, but he said he has collected around 2,000 resumes from interested individuals. The initiative is working to sign up some big employers such as BJC HealthCare, Amazon and engineering firm LUZCO Technologies willing to hire people through the Move2STL program so they take a chance on the region. Hes hoping other area companies will join the effort. We want to have a pipeline of employers that are working with us that can see these resumes, Ramirez said. The program will sell anyone on the merits of St. Louis, but by focusing on Latino and Asian Americans with housing incentives, Schlichter hopes to replicate the success St. Louis had building a Bosnian community in the 1990s. Most of the Bosnians who came to St. Louis moved here after arriving in other cities to join a growing Bosnian community that became the largest outside Europe. One thousand refugees became 40,000 people, ultimately because of word of mouth, Schlichter said. That was the impetus behind Schlichters funding of the Afghan Outreach Initiative, which launched an Afghan community center, Chamber of Commerce and newspaper to supplement language and housing services offered to refugees who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban retook control of the country in 2021. Between the International Institutes settlement of Afghan refugees, and others who came here from other U.S. cities, Schlichter said the projects leaders suspect over 2,000 Afghans have resettled in St. Louis. About 150 of them have moved here from elsewhere in the U.S. just since March, he said. Secondary migration, Schlichter said, has always been the key. Daniel Neman | Post-Dispatch Features writer Follow Daniel Neman | Post-Dispatch Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today My old colleague Taylor Dungjen has come up with a side gig that I think is just brilliant. I worked with Taylor at the Toledo Blade, where I wrote about food and she wrote about crime. Several years ago, she switched careers and became a cop. The change in careers apparently seemed so unusual that NBC Nightly News filmed an entire segment about her. A couple of months later, another female newsroom employee at the Blade also joined the police in a nearby department. There is a lesson to be learned there, but it is probably the folks at NBC who need to learn it. Taylor, 37, is the single mother of a rambunctious 10-year-old boy. She is a sergeant with the Toledo Police Department, in charge of recruiting. She doesnt absolutely need the extra money, which is good, because she does not make a lot of it. That isnt why she has the second job. Taylors side gig is baking. It is fun. I get to be creative and I get to interact with people in a different way, and meet new people, she says. Every weekend, she puts an impressive assortment of baked goods on some shelves outside her house. People take what they want and pay on an honor system. It may help that she is a police officer. I think the only person who has ever taken cookies without paying or asking or without previous permission is my son. When he asks permission, Ill almost always say yes, but he prefers to take them and hide the wrappers around the house, but I always find them, she says. Hes going to be a very bad criminal, Im afraid. I say, Either you need to become a really good criminal or become an honest person. Taylor learned baking from her grandmother, who came to the U.S. from Germany. She has been baking her entire life, but only in spurts when I knew her, I had no idea she baked. In the last 10 years, I started baking for my friends. It was something to do when I was bored, or had too much butter, she says. I should probably mention here that she is very funny. Last year, someone asked her to make some Mexican hot chocolate cookies, which she says are rich cookies with a chocolate base, a little cayenne pepper and marshmallows. They said, Ill pay you. I was like, OK, cool. Then I was like, I should make everyone pay for my cookies. Im giving away cookies. In January, someone else encouraged her to sell her baked goods, and that is all it took. Her first day of business was Jan. 26. It reminds me of a high school bake sale, but one that is held every week. She makes cake pops and similar items, but she mostly bakes cookies because that is what she likes to eat. I dont like frosting, which I know people think is an abhorrent feature of mine. I dont like cupcakes, she says. Making what she likes to eat can be problematic because then she wants to eat it, she says. And she always makes a lot, more than 100 individual baked goods each week. I do way too much. Ive made this way harder on myself than it probably should be. But I dont know any other way than to be stupid and give myself more work than I need, she says. Each week, she makes anywhere from four to 10 different varieties (which is just me doing way too much. I have not found a comfortable middle yet). Her most popular items are cosmic brownie cookies, which are similar to Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies, and oatmeal creme pies, which are similar to Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies. I guess Im just stealing ideas from the grocery store. But the homemade ones are better, she says. Actually, she does a lot of experimenting with her recipes which sometimes works out really well, but sometimes Toledo doesnt like my weird things, she says. For instance, she saw a recipe for a sweet cornbread cookie, but she thought it might be too dry, so she filled them with strawberry jam. Because both corn and strawberries are abundant in Ohio in the summer, she called them Ohio Summer cookies. She was afraid they wouldnt sell well, but people loved them, she says. Her sugar cookies also draw fans, as do her smores cookies, which are exactly what you think they are. So do her cookies n cream cookies, which have Oreos and cream cheese and white chocolate chips, plus half an Oreo stuck on top. Naturally, she has had her failures, too. The first time she made birthday cake cookies, I took it out of the oven and they were just so gross, she says. And the people who bought her peanut butter miso cookies really liked them, but most people just thought they were weird. I like to try different things, and I cant help it if Toledo doesnt follow me. Toledo doesnt understand my quirkiness, sometimes, she says. My favorite part of Taylors business is its name. She calls it Sad Snacks. She calls her customers saddies. Her motto is Happy snacks for sad people. I do think of myself as a sad person. Everybody has something to be sad about. Look at the world. Its terrible. Everything is terrible, she says. I tell people Im an older emo. I grew up listening to sad girl music. I still listen to it. And I like to eat when Im sad. The problem with the motto about happy snacks is that it makes people think they have marijuana in them, which was never her intention. While recreational weed is legal in Ohio, as a police officer she cannot indulge in it. She makes cookies for special occasions, too. For a bachelorette party, she was commissioned to make penis-shaped cookies. Her 10-year-old son asked to see them, so she showed him the cookies which were baked, but still undecorated. I dont see it, he said. KABUL, July 22 (Xinhua) -- One gold miner has been confirmed dead as a clash erupted over a gold mine in northern Afghanistan's Badakhshan province, provincial police spokesman Ehsanullah Kamgar said Monday evening. The clash flared up between owners of the goldmine and miners in Awaz village of Shahr-i-Bazarg district on Tuesday and claimed one life, the official added without providing more details. A handful of private companies have been engaged in mining extractions, including gold mines in the northern Badakhshan and neighboring Takhar province, over the past couple of years. However, clashes and natural disasters have also claimed the lives of miners. LONDON, July 22 (Xinhua) -- International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said Monday that he appreciates China's participation in the organization's work and looks forward to China's continued support. Chinese Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang on Monday informed Dominguez of the Chinese government's decision to establish a Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the IMO, and presented Dominguez with the instrument of full powers appointing him as China's permanent representative to the organization. As a Category A member of the IMO Council, China has firmly upheld and practiced true multilateralism, and has been actively committed to achieving the IMO's mission of "safe and efficient shipping on clean oceans," Zheng said. The establishment of China's permanent mission will help further deepen China's exchanges and cooperation with the IMO Secretariat and its members, making new contributions to advancing international maritime cooperation and building a maritime community with a shared future, he said. The IMO is a UN specialized agency responsible for maritime safety and security, prevention of marine pollution from ships and related legal matters. Headquartered in London, the IMO currently has 176 member states and three associate members. China resumed its lawful seat as an IMO member state in 1973 and has served as a Category A member of the organization's Council since 1989. Is VAST Past Its Prime in Streaming Adtech? VAST (video ad serving template) is an XML-based standard developed by the IAB Tech Lab that defines how video players and ad servers communicate to deliver video ads. It is designed to allow for the consistent and dynamic delivery of video ads across different platforms and devices. But in the ever-shifting and fast-evolving world of adtech, has VAST grown long in the tooth? Ring Digitals Brian Ring, SVTAs David Hassoun, Eventually a Castles Andrew Baritz, and IAB Tech Labs Raymond Holton discuss the issue in this clip from Mays Streaming Media Connect. Evolving Beyond VAST Ring Digital llc Principal Analyst Brian Ring raises concerns about VASTs complexity and its relevance today, questioning if it has become too cumbersome despite its previous success and traction in the industry. He notes that VAST 4.0 was a big deal when it released, but thats not the case anymore. He asks Co-Chair of the SVTA Advertising Working Group David Hassoun to answer the questions, Is VAST now getting too big for its britches? Is there something else that needs to be looked at to help smooth out some of these workflows? You tell me what you would answer if someone said, Wheres VAST today? Hassoun replies, I agree that I think VAST has had its time. Its growing complexity over the years convoluted the standard, he notes. It still has value, but I do think that as we look towards the future, theres the potential for revolution, innovation, [or] whatever you want to call that, on how we can evolve into something other than what VAST was and more towards what we need, he asserts. Is Good the Enemy of Perfect? Ring asks Eventually A Castle CEO Andrew Baritz to answer the same questions. Baritz responds, I think [it] was very well said by David. VAST continues to hold a really strong place, but I would look at it similar to the adoption of OpenRTB within various ad-serving platforms that used to use VAST, and similar to OpenRTB, its only as good as the custom extensions that your upstream partners have integrated and your downstream partners have integrated. And I think that holds true for any transaction standard thats being used between these different pieces of technology. He notes that customization is always present to account for different business models, technologies, and custom solutions, and there are a lot of questions surrounding VASTs iterations (2.04.0 and so on). What you choose to implement should be dependent on your adtech solution, what your buyers upstream are using and where across your ecosystem thats been leveraged, and what features youre looking for, he advises. Baritz continues, I think in many cases its still plenty good, and in other cases its not quite anymore. But with any standards and kind of large-scale ecosystem of this nature, theres a very regular conversation: Is good the enemy of perfect? And I think VAST is still good in many cases. Its definitely not perfect. And Im curious to see where we go with OpenRTB direct XML integrations, deeper integrations into publisher technology in what weve seen within mediation layers, integrating with exchange and ad server technology. This results in more data and more IDs being utilized, which is important to publishers, advertisers, and technology platforms alike, and its good for customers too because publishers arent playing the same ads back-to-back, he explains. The Mediation Layer Ring has a follow-up question based on Baritzs mention of the mediation layers role in publisher control over ad content. Help me understand, Where does this term come from and what is it today? Baritz tracks the timeline of how publishers connect with ad solutions, noting that the original mediation layer was the SSP, but as CTV developed and adtech solutions grew, that layer shifted downstream with more control to the publisher, being able to make decisions, being able to control that layer in a different way. I think thats going to continue to shift. He defines the mediation layer as the final layer that the publisher controls to determine what ads are viewed by the end consumer and why. So thats where rules are set, standards are determined, and the controls are triggered for brand safety, for customer experience, for all of the variety of different use cases, and where Rays IDs are going to end up being the most powerful for the publisher in terms of that customer experience. Small Changes to Move Forward Ray is IAB Tech Lab Senior Director, Advanced TV, Raymond Holton, who chimes in with his take that video advertising has moved beyond a one-size-fits-all or even a one-size-fits-many approach due to fragmentation. Theres this two-way communication between the viewer, the device, and the publisher and the advertiser that allows for a more robust and flexible model. So yes, VAST has been around a long time and it is a strong building block, but ... because there are so many use cases tied to it with different priorities, to make giant steps forward isnt going to work for every organization or every supply chain. So hes advocating for small changes that will allow for greater flexibility, customization, and adoptability across the industry. He cautions that no one should be discounting whats already been done; the industry should expand upon it with additional standards or use cases. So for instance, we have our SIMID standard, which is used for interactivity. So its still working part with VAST, but also having this additional feature set thats built upon a widely deployed platform, he clarifies. Join conference chair Andy Beach and other streaming media experts in person Oct. 68 in Santa Monica, CA, for more thought leadership, actionable insights, and lively debate at Streaming Media 2025. Registration is open! Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Related Articles Inoda fishing port, seen here in this undated photo, is on the western coast of Ishigaki island, 255 miles southwest of Okinawa. (Okinawa prefecture) The U.S. Air Force recently concluded weather preparedness training at a remote fishing port in Japan that drew complaints from regional and local authorities. Officials with Ishigaki city and Okinawa prefecture said last week they were unaware the Air Force planned to train at the citys Inoda fishing port, and not just to stage equipment there. The Okinawa Defense Bureau an arm of Japans Ministry of Defense notified the citys Fishery Division that all training at the port ended Friday morning, a division spokesman said by phone Tuesday. The city was not told why the training ended, he added. Only one day of Air Force training was observed on July 15, the spokesman said. The prefectures Military Base Affairs Division asked the defense bureau and the U.S. military to halt the drills on Thursday, according to a post on the divisions X account. The division made the same request on July 16 to the U.S. Consulate General in Naha and on Friday to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Okinawa Liaison Office, according to posts on X. Defense bureau officials met on July 16 with Ishigaki Vice Mayor Eichiro Chinen and apologized for the incident, the Ishigaki spokesman said Thursday. Chinen asked the bureau to notify the city before any training takes place. The 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, in an unsigned email July 16, said the drills were coordinated with the Japanese government to enhance response capabilities in the event of severe weather or typhoons. The wing acknowledged email and phone inquiries Monday and Tuesday but did not immediately provide responses. The city had allowed one fishing boat and three rubber boats to dock at the port and approved the installation of a prefabricated warehouse, the Ishigaki spokesman said. An unnamed city resident had sought city permission on June 24 for the Air Force to store equipment at the port July 7-31, but not to use it as a training site. About 10 airmen were observed at the port at 11 a.m. on July 15 carrying cargo onto two rubber boats, public broadcaster NHK reported that day, citing unnamed sources. A second boat left the harbor a half-hour later. Just after noon, two airmen practiced rescuing another airman from waters off the port and administered first aid in the prefabricated warehouse, according to NHK. The equipment and boats will be removed on a later day depending on weather conditions, the city spokesman said. Ishigaki, part of Okinawa prefecture, is about 255 miles southwest of Okinawa and 186 miles east of Taiwan. Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki, during a news conference Friday in Naha city, said he was not aware of the training and deeply regretted it took place. As Okinawa has a vast facility area and is already shouldering an excessive burden of bases, Okinawa prefecture has repeatedly requested the U.S. military and the government not to conduct training outside its facilities and areas to avoid creating any further burden, he said. The bureau acknowledged inquiries from Stars and Stripes on Thursday and Tuesday but did not immediately provide responses. Some Japanese government officials may speak to the media only on condition of anonymity. An Air Force MQ-9 Reaper taxis after landing during the of Freedom Flag exercise at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, Oct. 23, 2024. (James Johnson/U.S. Air Force) CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea The U.S. military is planning to deploy the MQ-9 Reaper drone to an air base in South Korea for its first long-term rotation in the country, according to news reports Monday. An unspecified number of Reapers will operate out of Kunsan, home of the 8th Fighter Wing about 115 miles south of Seoul, for three months starting later this year, unnamed military officials said in reports Monday by South Koreas Chosun Daily and Yonhap News. A 7th Air Force spokeswoman declined Tuesday to confirm or elaborate on the reports, citing the commands policy of not discussing potential or planned operations. Our focus remains on readiness while sustaining and strengthening our alliance with [South Korea], Maj. Laura Hayden wrote in an email to Stars and Stripes. The Reapers are U.S. military assets and South Koreas military cannot confirm the details in the reports, Ministry of National Defense spokesman Jeon Ha Gyu said Monday during a news conference in Seoul. South Koreas military does not possess the MQ-9; however, it operates four RQ-4B Global Hawks that it purchased from the U.S. for $657 million in 2014. The Reaper is a remotely piloted drone powered by a turboprop engine, according to its manufacturer, General Atomics. It can fly for 27 hours and reach a peak altitude of 50,000 feet. While the $56.5 million aircraft can perform reconnaissance missions, it can also be equipped with a 3,850-pound payload that includes AGM-114 Hellfire missiles or GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs, according to the Air Force. The long-range drone has previously flown over South Korea for large-scale, joint aerial exercises. Air Force photos taken April 30 show California Air National Guardsmen loading a Hellfire missile onto a Reaper at Kunsan during Freedom Flag, a 12-day aerial exercise that began April 21. Freedom Flag included approximately 90 aircraft from both countries, including South Korean air force FA-50s and U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs. Reapers took part in air interdiction, defensive counter-air and combat search-and-rescue drills during the exercise, according to a 7th Air Force news release at the time. An MQ-9 also took flight over South Korea during the Freedom Flag exercise in October. During that drill, an MQ-9 dropped an inert JDAM using surveillance data from a South Korean air force RQ-4B at the Jikdo Island in the Yellow Sea, according to the 7th Air Force and Ministry of National Defense. Army M1 Abrams tanks roll down Constitution Avenue in front of President Donald Trump and others on the main viewing stand for the services 250th birthday parade in Washington on June 14, 2025. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON The Armys parade and festival last month to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the service in the nations capital cost $30 million, a spokesman said Tuesday. We conducted the parade for a very specific reason because we saw it as our opportunity to introduce or to continue introducing Americas Army to the American people. We wanted Americans to feel connected to their Army, service spokesman Steve Warren told reporters at the Pentagon. For the parade, the Army had about 6,700 troops from every service division, 150 vehicles and more than 50 aircraft. The cost for the parade and other events was estimated to be between $25 and $45 million, including an estimated $16 million to repair streets and other damage to the city following the event, NBC News reported at the time. The Army took preparations to protect roads, including placing steel plates on the parade route where tanks would have to turn sharply and fitting vehicles with new track pads. The parade caused minimal damage to streets in Washington, Warren said. The service spent $3 million on steel plates. The plates had to be secured with six-inch spikes into the asphalt that left holes in the ground that the Army refilled. The only additional damage Warren said was a curb that was crushed by a tank near the staging area where vehicles were kept. He did not have a cost for the curb. The only check that Im aware of that we had to write was to repair that curb, he added. The Armys anniversary celebration June 14 was the same day as President Donald Trumps birthday. Estimates showed about 198,000 people passed through metal detectors to attend the events, according to Secret Service data. But because there were separate checkpoints for the festival and the parade, it is not clear if people who attended both were counted twice. Leading up to the event, the Army estimated 200,000 would attend. Though the service does not know how many people decided to join the Army because of the celebration, the service has seen an increase in website traffic and social media performance since the parade, Warren said. While we have no scientific way to back it up, I think instinct tells us that increase in interest, some of that translated to an increase in joining, he said. An outdoor exhibit at the Lewis Army Museum at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington on June 18, 2024. Washington Sen. Patty Murray wants answers for why the Lewis Army Museum is slated to close within the next couple of years due to the Armys downsizing effort. (Pamela Sleezer/Joint Base Lewis-McChord Public Affairs Office) (Tribute News Service) Many questions linger as to why the Lewis Army Museum at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., has been pegged for closure and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray is demanding answers. On Monday, the Washington Democrat sent U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll a letter asking why the West Coasts sole Army museum is set to shutter. It comes weeks after the Army announced that it is consolidating or closing many of its 41 active-duty museums. Criteria cited include poor visitor attendance and building maintenance backlogs, but Lewis Army Museum supporters say that that isnt the case here in Washington. The Armys downsizing effort is estimated to save $114 million over a decade, bolstering its push to direct resources toward readiness and lethality. The move hasnt exactly been popular. JBLM is full of rich history that deserves to be celebrated, not brushed to the side, Murray wrote in the July 21 letter. Murray isnt the only lawmaker from Washington to decry the decision. U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland condemned the looming closure of the Lewis Army Museum in her own June 30 letter to Driscoll. State Rep. Mari Leavitt, a University Place Democrat whose district encompasses the museum, also has voiced her concerns with the choice and, in her view, overall lack of transparency. Murray is pressing Driscoll to provide the museums annual operating cost, reasons it was picked for closure and plans for its artifacts, among other probes. The U.S. Armys media relations division did not immediately return McClatchys request for comment. A spokesperson with the U.S. Army Center of Military History previously told McClatchy that the Army is still going over its closure-and-consolidation plan. He said the final approval would probably come down later in July, but that the Lewis Army Museum is slated to close within the next couple of years. The facilities that we will be able to maintain are going to be 21st-century world-class museum facilities that are going to tell the Army story, the spokesperson said at the time. For those that are closing, we are going to do our best to include parts of those stories in these sustaining museums. 2025 The Olympian (Olympia, Wash.). Visit www.theolympian.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Members of 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion carry a rubber inflatable raft into the water at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Nov. 25, 2016. (Kathy Nunez/U.S. Marine Corps) Three U.S. Marines out for a swim Friday night spent more than an hour adrift off Okinawas northern coast before being rescued, according to the service and Japans coast guard. The trio and another Marine were swimming for about an hour near Henoko fishing port when the fourth Marine reported the others missing to the Marine Corps at 7:27 p.m., according to a coast guard news release Friday. Boat teams with the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion at nearby Camp Schwab were dispatched to find the swimmers, who are assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, division spokesman 1st Lt. Joshua Figueredo said by email Tuesday. They were found uninjured at 8:53 p.m. about a mile southeast of the port, according to a map released by the coast guard. Weather conditions were cloudy, with 11 mph wind gusts and 3-foot waves, according to the release. The sun had set 1 hours previously. One Marine was found on a rocky islet in the middle of the water; the others were picked up in open water, a coast guard spokesman said by phone Tuesday. None were wearing life jackets, he added. Some Japanese government officials may speak to the press only on condition of anonymity. The Marines were assessed on the beach and taken to Naval Hospital Okinawa out of precaution, Figueredo said. The incident is under investigation. Three squadrons of U.S. Army Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress bombers were deployed to Cloncurry, Australia, during World War II. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes) CLONCURRY, Australia Australian troops and their U.S. Marine Corps guests will host an open house this week to give residents of this Outback mining and ranching town a closer look at the service members and their equipment. Members of the 2,500-strong Marine Rotational Force-Darwin are training in Cloncurry, in northwest Queensland, as part of the biennial Talisman Sabre exercise. This years drills, which began July 13 and run through Aug. 4, involve more than 35,000 personnel from 19 countries. On Friday night, Australian soldiers, along with air traffic control and support Marines, captured Cloncurry Airport, which stood in for an enemy-held island base. More Marines arrived on Sunday to defend the facility. The troops are preparing to host an open house at the airport on Thursday, rotational force spokesman Capt. Johnny Fischer told Stars and Stripes near the runway on Sunday as a crowd of locals watched from a parking lot. The open house will give the community a chance to talk to Marines and view MV-22 Osprey aircraft, tactical vehicles and weapons systems, he said. Talisman Sabre is a boost for the area and locals are excited about the open house, Cloncurry Mayor Greg Campbell wrote in an email Tuesday from his office. Our central location between Darwin, Townsville, and the Gulf of Carpentaria (on Australias northern coast) makes Cloncurry a very strategic point, perfect for this exercise, he said. Locals watch U.S. Marines and Australian soldiers during Talisman Sabre training at Cloncurry Airport in Queensland, Australia, July 20, 2025. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes) Capt. Johnny Fischer and Cpl. Allan Sanders, both of Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, chat with a Cloncurry Airport worker during Talisman Sabre training in Queensland, Australia, July 20, 2025. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes) A World War II memorial stands near the post office in Cloncurry, a town in Queensland, Australia, July 19, 2025. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes) A rotational force member, Cpl. Allan Sanders a former Beverly Hills security guard from Los Angeles was part of a five-Marine team controlling air traffic into Cloncurry on Sunday. The Marines arrived on Ospreys with Australian soldiers from the Northern Territory during the raid to capture the airfield from other Marines roleplaying as the enemy, he said. The Marines and Australians have been trading patches and getting on well, Sanders said. They think were all hard chargers, he said. U.S. troops have a history in Cloncurry, 840 miles southeast of Darwin, on the northern Australia coast. Three squadrons of U.S. Army Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress bombers from the 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy) deployed here in the 1940s, according to an inscription on a plaque near the towns library. One American service member stationed there described the town as a hot, dry place with a million flies per cubic foot of air, according to the inscription. The Marines visit is the talk of Cloncurry, a town that boasts at least four pubs where some of the 3,000-plus residents gather like thirsty kangaroos around billabongs in the evenings. The Marines can expect a warm welcome from Bob Davis, a former Australian soldier and the proprietor of the Wagon Wheel Motel near the town center. The business was founded in 1876 as the Prince of Wales Hotel, he told Stars and Stripes from behind the reception desk Saturday. The Marines helped Davis in 2021 when he was a contractor providing fuel to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, he recalled. A Marine allowed the Australian to pass at Kabul International Airports Abbey Gate to reach an evacuation flight after the Taliban captured the city. Ten days later, a suicide bomber attacked the gate, killing 11 U.S. Marines, a sailor, a soldier and 169 civilians. I owe the Marines, the Australian said. However, despite some peoples concerns about Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, Cloncurry doesnt need a permanent American presence, Davis said. The best way to counter any threat is to have good trading relations with nations, he added. Gen. Ronald Clark, commander of U.S. Army Pacific, speaks at the Strategic Landpower Dialogue in Washington on June 27, 2025. (Center for Strategic and International Studies) China would be unlikely to succeed in a cross-strait invasion of Taiwan, the commander of U.S. Army Pacific said recently. Were talking about an adversary that has to cross an 80-mile wet gap thats being watched by an unblinking eye, multiple countries working together to deter them from that activity today, Gen. Ronald Clark said Friday during the Strategic Landpower Dialogue at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. The chances are slim that Chinese forces could successfully make a crossing of that scale, Clark told his audience. We spend a lot of our time thinking about how to counter cross-strait invasion, which is the most dangerous course of action, he said. We build our warfighter programs at division and corps level around the most difficult problem set the division or corps headquarters would have to plan for and execute. And thats a wet-gap crossing, the crossing of a body of water where theres any of a number of capabilities you have to have in place in order to do that successfully. Beijing regards Taiwan, a self-governed island less than 100 miles off Chinas southeast coast, as a renegade province that must at some point come under its political control by military force if necessary. Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, routinely describes Chinas increasing levels of military exercises and activities around and over Taiwan as rehearsals for an invasion. At a May defense conference in Honolulu, Paparo described the U.S. Armys firepower and logistics know-how as key to deterring and countering Chinese military aggression. Beijing is developing military capabilities at a breathtaking pace, Clark said Friday. U.S. Army Pacific continues to study Chinas land forces to understand how they operate, where the gaps and seams are in their learning and operations and how to exploit those weaknesses, Clark said. Were starting to see them operate in a joint environment, he said. Its not joint integration at this point, but its joint operations, side by side between air, maritime and land domain forces unlike anything weve seen before. The U.S. Armys ability to see, understand and disrupt Chinas ability to do that is very important, Clark said. Were watching their behaviors and activities, not just in and around the Taiwan problem set, but really across the region, he said. We see them [acting] with increasing aggression, belligerence and coercion against some of our allies and partners inside the region, so our ability to be present, to give them an alternative, specifically in the security arena, is very, very important. Growing that presence and maintaining positional advantage depend on the Armys role of sustaining the joint force in event of conflict, Clark said. In order to do that, weve established, with INDOPACOM, a number of joint theater distribution centers that are nascent at this point but coming to fruition that will allow us to essentially cheat the requirement for [strategic airlift]. The Hawaii-based 8th Theater Sustainment Command is tasked with establishing the distribution centers, which the Army described in a news release last year as modular nodes capable of receiving and disbursing supplies and equipment. Among the center locations are Japan, Guam, Australia, the Philippines and Singapore. LONDON, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Several U.S. nuclear bombs have reportedly been delivered to a British air base, marking what is believed to be the first deployment of American nuclear weapons on British soil since 2008, local media reported Tuesday. The weapons, identified as B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs, were flown into RAF Lakenheath, a U.S.-operated base in Suffolk, eastern England, the UK Defence Journal reported on Sunday. The B61-12 is a free-fall nuclear bomb designed to be dropped from aircraft and weighs approximately 320 kg. The delivery is believed to have originated from the U.S. Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center in New Mexico and involved the C-17 military transport aircraft, reports said. The aircraft flew with its transponders switched on, making it easily trackable by foreign governments and aviation observers. Military experts were quoted by The Times as saying that the flight pattern of the U.S. transport aircraft resembled a "one-way drop-off," suggesting a permanent delivery rather than a routine transfer. Two U.S. fighter squadrons based at Lakenheath are capable of carrying these bombs using advanced F-35A stealth jets, potentially giving the UK a second nuclear deterrent alongside its fleet of Vanguard-class submarines, the UK Defence Journal said. Neither the U.S. nor British defense departments have issued any comment on the deployment. Ahead of the NATO summit held in The Hague in June, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the purchase of at least 12 new F-35A fighter jets from the United States, at a cost of nearly 1 billion pounds (around 1.35 billion U.S. dollars). A missile is fired from a Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System in this undated photo. The State Department approved a possible sale of the system and related equipment to Bulgaria, according to an agency statement July 21, 2025. (Courtesy photo/Kongsberg) Bulgaria has initial clearance to buy a $620 million coastal protection system and related support from the U.S., part of a broader effort to reinforce NATOs eastern flank against potential Russian aggression. The State Department signed off on the sale of the Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System following a request from the Bulgarian government, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement Monday. The precision-strike, surface-to-surface system is designed to take out a range of sea targets from small ships to destroyers and frigates, according to Norway-based manufacturer Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace. The system whose missiles have a range exceeding 162 nautical miles, the company says is expected to strengthen Bulgarias Black Sea coastline defenses. A Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System munition is fired in this undated photo. The State Department approved an estimated $620 million purchase of the weapons system by Bulgaria, the agency said in a statement July 21, 2025. (Courtesy photo/Kongsberg) The estimated cost includes training systems, inert and test missiles, spare parts, integration support and other services, the agency said. Since 2022, Russias navy has been using cruise missiles, naval mines and sea-denial tactics in its ongoing war with Ukraine. Those threats have at times approached NATO members territorial waters, raising concerns about the security of regional shipping lanes and port infrastructure. In response to Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, NATO established the multinational Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Bulgaria, alongside similar units in Romania, Slovakia and Hungary later that year. The Bulgarian group consists of about 1,650 troops, including Americans, who rotate roughly every six months. Last year, Bulgaria met NATOs old benchmark of spending 2% of gross domestic product on defense for the first time. In June, it joined other alliance members in endorsing a new goal to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Tech. Sgt. Matthew Stubblefield of the 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron aims a handheld counter-drone device near Miesau, Germany, on July 16, 2025, during an exercise with German authorities. The exercise was held near Ramstein Air Base, where officials in December confirmed that drone incursions had happened at the installation. (Emily Roemer/U.S. Army) STUTTGART, Germany U.S. military police and German authorities this month practiced taking down a small drone during drills near Ramstein Air Base, which has seen multiple airspace violations in the past year by unmanned aircraft. U.S. Air Forces Europe and Africa personnel on July 16 flew a DJI Phantom 4 drone over an Army installation near Miesau, where troops used signal disrupting technology to neutralize it, U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz said Tuesday in a statement. Our procedures are sound, Staff Sgt. Michael Sopha of the 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron said in the statement. But he added that in the future, the capabilities of drones will be far greater, supporting the need for alternative systems to combat them on a large scale. In December, Ramstein officials and German police confirmed that there had been a series of unauthorized drone flights over the base, which is the Air Forces largest in Europe. Weeks earlier, drones also were repeatedly spotted in the United Kingdom in the vicinity of RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Fairford and RAF Feltwell. The military never publicly identified who was responsible for the unauthorized flights. However, German police statements at the time said the types of drones that flew over Ramstein werent typical commercial hobby aircraft. U.S. Army personnel and local police also participated in the training, according to the statement. Tech. Sgt. Keith Pascale of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa Warfare Center combat training school pilots a DJI Phantom 4 drone during an exercise near Miesau, Germany, on July 16, 2025. A series of unauthorized drone flights over Ramstein Air Base was confirmed in December. (Emily Roemer/U.S. Army) Civilian Emily Roemer, an antiterrorism officer with the Rheinland-Pfalz garrison, said bringing service members and German law enforcement together was necessary to replicate the military response to a drone incursion. The proliferation of small drones has raised security concerns across Europe. German military bases also have dealt with similar problems. In 2024, drones made repeated intrusions at a German army base near Berlin used for training Ukrainian troops. This is clearly organized and strongly points to Russia, German parliamentarian Marcus Faber of the center-right Free Democratic Party told the German newspaper Bild at the time. Afghan refugees board a bus at a military base in Qatar on Aug. 31, 2021. (Lorenzo Tugnoli/For The Washington Post) The Trump administration is rolling back programs that were created to assist more than 250,000 Afghans with planned resettlement in the United States, according to interviews with current and former State Department officials and documents obtained by The Washington Post. The Afghans include: A woman whose husband the Taliban regime killed after he fought alongside the U.S. military. A man who worked with NATO in Afghanistan, then spent nearly a year living like a prisoner in Qatar. A woman in Pakistan whose young son was killed while she waited for the U.S. to process her asylum claim. They are among hundreds of thousands of Afghans waiting in limbo - in Afghanistan and 90 other countries - who were promised the possibility of a new life in the United States after they worked with U.S. forces, including as drivers or interpreters, often risking their lives, Americans who served alongside them say. Many now fear they will be sent back to Afghanistan, where they could face retribution from the ruling Taliban. Such repatriation efforts are already in motion in the United Arab Emirates, according to cables obtained by The Post, one of which was first reported by Reuters. Since President Donald Trumps return to office, refugee processing and government funding for Afghans flights to the U.S. have been halted under two executive orders. And this months round of State Department layoffs dismantled the office dedicated to helping Afghans relocate, officials said. Going back to Afghanistan would be my own death sentence, said one Afghan in the UAE. Like other Afghans interviewed, he spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of Taliban retaliation. I am not insisting that I must be taken to the United States. My only wish is, please do not hand me over to my executioners. Wherever they end up, they end up is the administrations view, said one official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal deliberations. They are now another countrys problem. Asked for comment, the White House denied that the Trump administration does not care about the fate of Afghans who assisted U.S. troops. Over the weekend, Trump posted on Truth Social that he would try to save Afghans in the UAE facing repatriation. A senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal policy decisions, said the changes to Afghan refugee processing are meant to ensure that the U.S. welcomes only those the government sees as deserving. The official noted that processing of the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa - or SIV - continues at a rate of 900 decisions a week. SIVs are meant to help Afghans who faced especially serious threats because of their work with the United States. As of May 20, SIV applicants represented about 167,000 of the more than 250,000 Afghans eligible for U.S. resettlement, according to documents reviewed by The Post. In order to come to the U.S., many of them would require the material and logistical support that the State Department office now being dismantled has provided in the past, including flights. The State Department issued a statement saying that SIV processing continues and that reorganizations had rendered the agency more efficient and more focused on an America First foreign policy. The White Houses budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year cuts most positions associated with the SIV program, however. Its work could take a major blow on Oct. 1, the budget changes suggest. Asked about this, the senior administration official said SIV case processing would continue. Repatriation to Afghanistan During two decades of U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan, troops relied on Afghan allies as interpreters, soldiers, doctors and civil society workers, among other roles. In 2006, the U.S. established a legal pathway to relocate Afghans. Since the Talibans full return to power in 2021, about 195,000 Afghans have been resettled in the U.S., said Jessica Bradley Rushing, who was the deputy director for communications and engagement for the State Departments Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts, or CARE, until she was laid off this month. When Trump returned to office, there were more than 250,000 Afghans spread across 90 countries eligible for resettlement, Bradley Rushing said. An internal State Department assessment, dated May 20, listed 269,124 Afghans in that category. A cable sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio from the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi in May said that 39 Afghan evacuees in Emirates Humanitarian City, a housing compound on the outskirts of Dubai, would be deported by the UAE because it had become apparent that they would be denied a legal pathway to the United States. A cable sent to Rubio on July 10 from the same embassy said the UAE had begun returning Afghan evacuees to Afghanistan, starting with two families who had asked to go because they were tired of waiting. The remaining 25 would be repatriated by July 20, the cable said. The Afghan in the UAE, who had previously worked with the U.S. government, said they and others from the compound were taken to the airport Saturday, only for their flight to be canceled without any reason given. The United Nations special rapporteur on Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, had issued a statement Friday decrying the deportations. In response to questions from The Post, the UAE Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday that it reaffirms its support for ongoing U.S. efforts to ensure the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of the remaining individuals to Afghanistan. The UAE did not respond to a request to clarify whether it planned to begin deportations after receiving notice that the U.S. would not provide visas to the 39 people, as the cables indicate. The State Department did not respond to a request for comment on whether it approved deportations from the UAE to Afghanistan. The Taliban has said it welcomes the repatriation of Afghans who do not meet criteria to remain abroad. Some of the 1,500 Afghans housed at a former U.S. base in Qatar were also told they would have to go back to Afghanistan in less than three months, said Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, a nonprofit that helps resettle Afghans in the U.S. Sending them back would be an egregious violation of their human rights, he said. Its also an egregious violation of humanitarian law. Among those waiting in the camp is Rahmatullah, an Afghan who worked for the previous, U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan. He and his wife and six children made their way last summer to Qatar, where they completed two interviews, passed a medical checkup and received cultural training, he said. Eventually, he was told the final step was for the State Department to purchase his familys plane tickets to the U.S. But the tickets never came, and the family has been stuck for nearly 300 days. We are prisoners here, Rahmatullah said. We cannot go out. There is not one tree; there is no grass inside the camp. Its like a limbo. Its like a desert here. Cuts to a key office Some Afghans waiting to learn their fates were dismayed to learn of the cuts to CARE, the office dedicated to aiding in their resettlement. The office had roughly 200 domestic employees when Trump was sworn in, said Bradley Rushing, and is now down to fewer than 50, mostly contractors. A half-dozen State officials familiar with the matter confirmed the scale of the cuts. Like other federal workers interviewed for this story, they spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. A senior White House official said the administration is not shutting down CARE, but transferring its functions to the Office of Afghanistan Affairs. The reorganization impacted a small number of individuals working on the CARE portfolio, the official said. One woman in Afghanistan said cutting CARE imperils her chances of making it to safety in the U.S. Her husband served in the Afghan military, fighting in partnership with U.S. forces. After the Talibans return in 2021, it tortured and killed him in retaliation, she said. Since then, the Taliban has visited her home, she added, and also tortured her son. She and her family qualified and applied for SIVs, she said, and were deemed interview-ready to travel to a third country for a visa interview, for which CARE would handle the logistics. But now, CARE is all but gone, she noted. We are in this situation because of the U.S., she said. We want them to get us out of this. Others Afghans face the same uncertainty. Nasima, who worked for a U.S.-backed nongovernmental organization, fled to Pakistan after the Taliban began targeting her colleagues, she said. As she waited to hear back on her asylum application, she did her best to adjust to life in Pakistan, where Afghans hiding from the Taliban often face exploitation and mistreatment, according to rights groups. She worked a $60-a-month job while the rest of her family hid in their apartment. Her children stopped going to school, she said, as her husband struggled with his mental health, no longer able to provide for the family. Nasima thought the wait would be short, but the last time she heard from U.S. officials was a year ago, she said. A desperate situation grew worse the night of May 2. As the family slept, Nasima heard a noise from her 6-year-old son, who was snuggled in her arms. When she turned on the light, his pillow was streaked with blood. He had been killed by a bullet through his head, she said. Photos and medical records confirm her account. Nasima is unsure whether the gunfire was meant for her - revenge from the Taliban network operating in Pakistan. She only knows that the first hospital they tried turned them away for being Afghan, and that their landlord evicted them after the shooting. And she knows that she is disappointed in Trump. She cant understand why he wouldnt help Afghans like her, who gave so much for America. We have sacrificed our everything. We have given up our houses, our jobs, our cars, our families, our future, Nasima said. People have lost their lives waiting for this process - I have lost my son. Sarah Blaskey contributed to this report. Miaan Group said the victims included two Iranian dissidents inside the country and a technology worker who is an Iranian citizen living in Europe, who were targeted with spyware on their iPhones. (Kurt Kaiser/Wikimedia Commons) (Bloomberg) -- More than a dozen Iranians mobile phones were targeted with spyware in the months prior to the countrys war with Israel, according to new research. Miaan Group, a digital human rights organization based in Austin, Texas, found a number of Iranians who received threat notifications from Apple Inc. in the first half of 2025, and researchers believe they only identified a fraction of the total targets. Another round of Iranian spyware targets was discovered by Hamid Kashfi, a Sweden-based cybersecurity researcher and founder of the firm DarkCell. The attacks mark the first known example of such highly advanced cyber-espionage tools being used both inside Iran and against Iranians living abroad. Its not clear who was behind the attacks. Miaan Group said the victims included two Iranian dissidents inside the country and a technology worker who is an Iranian citizen living in Europe, who were targeted with spyware on their iPhones. They were first notified of the incident via text message by Apple, which typically sends a threat notification message to victims when a hack is detected. Kashfi said he found 12 victims, all inside Iran and working either in the countrys technology sector or for the government. Both Kashfi and the Miaan Group declined to name the victims in order to protect their safety. The threat notifications, which were seen by Bloomberg, describe the attacks as exceptionally rare and costing millions of dollars. The Apple notification, which is careful to note that the company doesnt attribute the attacks, compared the sophistication and cost of the recent attacks to Pegasus spyware from NSO Group. The extreme cost, sophistication and worldwide nature makes mercenary spyware attacks some of the most advanced digital threads in existence today, Apple told the Iranian targets. This attack is likely targeting you specifically because of who you are or what you do. Apple didnt respond to a Bloomberg request for comment. The notification added that Apple has high confidence in this warning. Kashfi said his investigation concluded that zero-day zero-click attacks were likely used. That approach exploits hidden vulnerabilities and require no interaction from the victim. Zero-click chains are more sophisticated, more expensive, one stage higher than typical hacking campaigns, Kashfi said. But they werent shy about using it and burning it. Neither Kashfi nor the Miaan Group were able to do full forensic examinations of the targeted iPhones. In several cases, being inside Iran made examinations impossible. In others, victims only came forward months after the notification. Finally, other targets chose to take their targeted iPhones to be examined by the Iranian government security services rather than independent experts living abroad, Kashfi said. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2025 Bloomberg L.P. A B-52H Stratofortress takes off from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., June 30, 2025. (Kendra A. Ransum/U.S. Air Force) (Tribune News Service) The pilot of a Delta Air Lines flight attempting to land at the airport in Minot, N.D., on Friday was forced to make an aggressive maneuver to avoid colliding with a B-52 bomber. Delta Connection Flight 3788, departing from Minneapolis and operated by SkyWest Airlines, was on approach when the near miss happened, according to a statement from SkyWest. The pilot performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path. We are investigating the incident, a SkyWest statement said. The Federal Aviation Administration also said it was investigating the incident. Passenger Monica Green was on board the flight, which had taken off from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport about 6:20 p.m. and was getting ready to land in Minot just after 8 p.m. The jet made an abrupt turn a few miles from the Minot airport, according to the flight tracking website flightaware.com. I was landing in Minot, North Dakota today and our plane nearly missed another plane, Green wrote on Facebook. Absolutely terrifying to think about. Green also posted a video that recorded a message the pilot made to passengers after landing safely. The video was subsequently shared on TikTok, where it has gone viral. For those of you on the right side, you probably saw the aircraft kinda sorta coming at us, the pilot begins. Nobody told us about it, so we continued. The pilot said he originally thought the other aircraft might have been a small plane. The air traffic control tower had told the pilot to turn right and then turn left. By then, the pilot realized the other aircraft was a military B-52 bomber on a converging course with us. At that point, the pilot decided the safest thing to do was to turn behind it. Sorry about the aggressive maneuver, the pilot told passengers. It is not normal at all. I dont know why they didnt tell us about it. It was not fun. I do apologize for it. Thank you for understanding. Not a fun day at work. The video ends with passengers applauding. The pilot said the tower in Minot does not have radar and controllers rely on visuals to direct aircraft. 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 responsible for civil aviation said. A nearby Air Force base does have radar, which prompted the pilot to ask why nobody said, Hey, theres also a B-52 in the pattern. The Air Force confirmed a B-52 aircraft assigned to the Minot Air Force base conducted a flyover at the North Dakota State Fair on Friday night. 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, an Air Force spokesman said. There were 76 passengers and four crew members onboard, SkyWest said. U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum said the aviation incident raises serious questions about passenger safety and that she welcomes the FAAs investigation. Given the Department of Defense training that takes place in the surrounding area, Minot International Airport must also immediately receive and install radar technology to have a full accounting of all local air traffic, McCollum said in a statement. To maintain the safety and trust of the flying public, the FAA and Department of Defense must provide clear answers as to what happened and what steps they are taking to ensure that this never happens again. 2025 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC Navy Vice Adm. Frank Bradley, left, and Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson testify Tuesday, July 22, 2025, during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing. Bradley is nominated to be commander of U.S. Special Operations Command. Anderson is nominated to be commander of U.S. Africa Command. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee voiced concerns Tuesday over the Trump administrations reductions to diplomatic initiatives and foreign aid, arguing the cuts will hamper the work of commanders nominated to lead U.S. troops in Africa and special operations forces. The senators, mostly Democrats, said they were worried the dismantling of the humanitarian assistance agency USAID, a downsizing of the State Department and other efforts to retreat from Americas global engagement would create a vacuum, especially in Africa, that competing powers such as China and Russia would fill. For decades, we have relied upon our State Department diplomats and... USAID to develop deep, lasting relationships in Africa that can outlast China and Russias coercion, said Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the panel. I am deeply concerned that our soft power leadership in Africa has been significantly undermined over the past several months. Misgivings about the cuts repeatedly surfaced at the committees confirmation hearing for Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson, who is nominated to lead U.S. Africa Command, and Navy Vice Adm. Frank Bradley, the nominee to lead U.S. Special Operations Command. Anderson now serves as the director for joint force development of the Joint Staff while Bradley is the commander of Joint Special Operations Command. Youre going to have diplomatic duty, whether you signed up for that or not, Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, told Anderson. Youre going to have to build relationships, not necessarily strictly military, but with the local governments and the local leadership. King described the disbanding of USAID in particular as one of the greatest geopolitical mistakes in my lifetime. Anderson did not comment on President Donald Trumps policy moves but said he worked extensively with the State Department, USAID and non-governmental organizations when he commanded special operations forces in Africa and recognized their strategic impact. These programs are important as long as they provide for the security and prosperity of our nation, Anderson said, referring to USAID and a global program to combat AIDS. I think as we target those in key areas, they can help build stability in key regions. Committee chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., asked Anderson how Moscow and Beijing would respond if the U.S. were to abandon its foreign-aid engagements I think theyd be celebrating, would they not? I know that if theres opportunities, they will seize them, Anderson said. He said Africa was increasingly at the center of a great-power rivalry and is seeing more activity from China, which is expanding its military footprint on the continent, and Russia, which seeks to destabilize the continent through disinformation campaigns. Both of those nations see their futures running through the continent, Anderson said. If confirmed, he said he would look at creative ways to build relationships in Africa and suggested economic investments through private firms could provide opportunities for engagement as the continents population rises. One of the things that AFRICOM is positioned well to do is to convene people to have these discussions, understanding we provide the military aspect of it, Anderson said. We can provide a venue to bring folks together to look at the security implications of these investments. Bradley expressed confidence that meaningful ties could still be forged amid budget cuts. He acknowledged the important capability provided by American diplomats and aid providers but said he also recognized the difficulty of managing competing budgetary priorities. However the distribution of those tasks and those efforts are made, we will continue to work with them closely to make sure we bring the best combination of those levers and tools to bear, he said. The Trump administrations effort to slash federal spending and rein in the size of the government includes a significant overhaul of the State Department, which Secretary of State Marco Rubio has derided as too bloated, costly and ideological. Congress last week approved the administrations request to claw back about $8 billion in foreign assistance and is weighing a budget request to virtually eliminate funding for the U.S. Agency for Global Media that provides news to parts of the world with little press freedom. Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said they feared the U.S. was leaving a void in the information space and risked allowing Russia, China and Iran to spread their influence. Some Republicans on Tuesday objected to the line of questioning by Democrats, defending the administrations cuts to USAID and other programs as in the best interests of the United States. There are smart things to do that arent just about blowing things up and killing people but that has been crowded out with a mission creep in this wandering foreign policy that just believes that we can just do all this do-gooding stuff around the world, said Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., a former Navy SEAL officer, said the ability to project economic power and stability is important but nothing will ever supersede American military might. The real power projection is when we can display to the world that we are going to protect our interests and our people ruthlessly, no matter what, he said. That is what the real power projection, the U.S. military is about. CANBERRA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Australia's 48th federal parliament has officially been opened by Prime Minister (PM) Anthony Albanese following May's general election. Albanese on Tuesday morning opened the 48th session of the federal legislature during a ceremony in the Great Hall at Parliament House in Canberra. The commencement of the parliament comes more than two months after Albanese's Labor Party won a second term in government in a landslide victory at the May 3 election. Addressing Tuesday morning's ceremony after a traditional Aboriginal acknowledgement, Albanese urged all 226 elected members of the federal parliament to write Australia's "next chapter" with grace and courage. Earlier on Tuesday, the prime minister said that every day in the new parliament would be an "opportunity" for his government to deliver for Australians. Following the election, Labor holds 94 out of the 150 seats in the lower house of parliament, the equal-most by any party in history, and 28 of the 76 seats in the Senate. The conservative Liberal-National Coalition holds 43 lower house seats and 27 in the Senate. Coalition leader Sussan Ley said on Tuesday morning that the opposition party is at a "low point" in the wake of the historic election defeat but promised to work hard to hold the government to account. The 48th parliament will turn to legislative affairs on Wednesday. Albanese has previously said his re-elected government's first priority will be legislation to deliver its election promise to cut higher education student loan debts by 20 percent. Chemical weapons are stacked inside a munitions depot in Khamisiyah, Iraq, that the military destroyed in 1991. Veterans exposed to chemical plumes from the depots destruction are seeking classified documents on the first Gulf War. (Ronald Brown) WASHINGTON A group of veterans and their advocates are pushing the Defense Department to declassify tens of thousands of documents from the first Gulf War with the aim of finding clues to the potential toxic exposures of more than 100,000 troops from the militarys demolition of a chemical weapons complex in southern Iraq. But their demands for the release of all classified documents from the Gulf War, which are stored in the National Archives, are reviving a contentious issue over the destruction in 1991 of a major weapons depot in the Khamisiyah region that the military found later contained chemical weapons. We believe the remaining [classified] documents on the first Gulf War may hold information researchers need to find a cure for Gulf War illness or at the very least improve treatments. But these documents have never been seen outside the intelligence community, said Ronald Brown, a former Army specialist who served in the Gulf War and is helping to lead the effort. There are more than 1 million classified documents that might contain information on potential health effects to troops from chemical weapons exposure in the first Gulf War, according to GulfLINK, a website created by the Defense Department. But only about 46,000 of those documents have been released. The Government Accountability Office in 2004 published an investigation of the large-scale demolition operation at Khamisiyah and questioned the accuracy of the Defense Departments projections about the path of the chemical plume and which troops were affected. Brown and other veterans met in June with members of the Defense Health Agency in Virginia that manages the militarys global health system. They did so after sending a letter to President Donald Trumps administration asking for help. Brown said agency leaders pledged to work with the veterans. My team and I are eager to continue discussions [about] Khamisiyah and potential deployment-related exposures and to describe Department of Defenses collaborative lines of effort to address past exposures, mitigate future hazards, and protect the health of our forces and veterans, according to a letter to veterans from Tracie Lattimore, acting deputy assistant undersecretary of defense for health readiness policy and oversight. Gulf War illness is a term to describe medically unexplained chronic symptoms experienced by some veterans who served in the Gulf War, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Chronic medical problems commonly reported by veterans include fatigue, joint pain, respiratory problems, headaches and gastrointestinal issues. Brown said the Defense Department previously had stopped responding to the veterans requests for information in 2020 until he and other veterans sent letters in February to Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Ronald Brown, a former Army specialist, took photos of mushroom clouds that resulted from the demolition of a munitions depot in Khamisiyah, Iraq, in 1991. The first time I felt sick was 15 minutes after those demolitions started, said Brown, whose unit secured the compound prior to the demolition. (Ronald Brown) Many of us veterans developed symptoms while in theater that never went away. My symptoms have worsened over the years, and my medical issues have compounded, said 57-year-old Army veteran Anthony Hardie of Florida, a former staff sergeant who is national director of Veterans for Common Sense. Just declassify everything pertaining to the war, Hardie said. If the Defense Department has to set limits it will. Veterans for Common Sense and the Vietnam Veterans of America are advocacy groups working with Brown and other Gulf War veterans to pressure the Defense Department to declassify the documents. Whether [declassifying the documents] reveals something that remains to be seen. But it is a matter of justice to Gulf War veterans, said Hardie, who served from 1986 to 1993 with deployments to the Persian Gulf. This is important to a huge cohort of veterans who feel gaslit and abandoned by the DOD. James McCormick, executive director of government affairs at Vietnam Veterans of America, said his organization stepped in to advocate for the Gulf War veterans as a group because they do not have a major advocacy organization of their own. He said VVA has been providing assistance since 2016 to Gulf War veterans seeking information about chemical weapons releases connected to the destruction of weapons depots in Iraq. This is a role that Vietnam Veterans of America has taken on and invested in through funds, advocacy and seriously taking to heart the founding principle of VVA Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another, McCormick said. The veterans and their advocates also are asking for notification letters to be sent to veterans who served in the Khamisiyah region about their exposure risks and for the VA to work with the Defense Department to provide medical exams. Representatives from the DOD office of the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs have been in correspondence with, and recently met with, representatives from the Vietnam Veterans of America to discuss topics associated with findings on demolitions involving Iraqi chemical weapons at Khamisiyah, Iraq, in 1991, the Defense Department said Monday. The DOD is committed to providing up-to-date health risk communications to DOD personnel and veterans. Similarly, the DOD works closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs to coordinate and collaborate, as needed, to help facilitate veterans access to all appropriate care and benefits available to them, the Defense Department said in a written statement. The VA said the agency and research organizations continue to evaluate possible causes of Gulf War veterans chronic multi-symptom illnesses, including chemical and biological weapons. Brown said a large volume of documents from the Gulf War declassified in 1995 indicated the existence of interview transcripts with service members after the destruction of the weapons depot at Khamisiyah. He said the publicly released documents also showed chemical sampling was done, but the results were redacted. We would like to see the interview transcripts and the results from the chemical sampling, Brown said. Were hoping to find that in the additional documents. Theres got to be a paper trail. But Kirt Love of Texas, a 61-year-old disabled Gulf War veteran, said he is doubtful the declassification of additional Gulf War documents will provide more information about toxins released from the destruction of chemical weapons. The Defense Department continues to stall and Im not confident they will change. Gulf War veterans have been made into the problem child no one wants to deal with, he said. Its a tactic to shut us up. Many of us veterans developed symptoms while in theater that never went away. My symptoms have worsened over the years, and my medical issues have compounded, said 57-year-old Army veteran Anthony Hardie of Florida, a former staff sergeant who is national director of Veterans for Common Sense. Hardie is shown in southern Iraq in 1991 at the end of the Operation Desert Storms ground war. (Anthony Hardie) Brown, 57, said he began to feel sick in March 1991, 15 minutes after the demolitions started. I came home sick and the problems continue, said Brown, who took photos of the mushroom clouds that plumed from the destruction. He continues to have breathing problems and other medical issues that doctors struggle to treat. This has been going on for 34 years, said Brown, who has a 100% disability rating from the VA connected to environmental exposures in the Gulf War. It took him 13 years to get the VA to acknowledge his illnesses were connected to his Gulf War service, he said. I had to fight like hell. There were a lot of denials and appeals. Theres nothing that will fix my health problems, Brown said. But this group of veterans struggle to have their problems recognized and their voices heard. New York Governor Kathy Hochul holds a roundtable with New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person, Capital Region school district administrators, teachers and other stakeholders to highlight their plans for implementing bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions in Latham, N.Y., on July 21, 2025. Hochul announced July 22 the launch of a website for active duty service members, veterans and family members currently enrolled or interested in attending any State University of New York system college or university. (Darren McGee/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)) (Tribune News Service) New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday the launch of a one-stop-shop website for active duty service members, veterans and family members currently enrolled or interested in attending any State University of New York system college or university. The landing page includes information on available credit for military service and experience, tuition assistance, specialized scholarships and dedicated campus services like veteran lounges and associations for all 64 SUNY campuses, according to a news release. The website also connects veterans with services offered by the counties where each campus is located, helping them stay close to home and community and will be regularly updated as new information becomes available, the release stated. We continue to rely so much on our veterans and military to protect everything we hold sacred, and it is a priority of my administration to make sure we help our military-connected New Yorkers have a smooth transition to their next career, Hochul said in a statement. This one-stop shop from SUNY is easy to follow and helps guide service members and their families and puts them on a path to a rewarding degree or credential. The Veterans Tuition Assistance Program went into effect on July 1. The program will now serve even more veterans by broadening eligibility and increasing flexibility, the release stated. Thirty-seven SUNY campuses offer academic credit for military service and experience, and the new website includes connecting visitors to an easy-to-use search for available credit for military experience and training. Additionally, SUNY campuses have tailored support available including student veteran associations and military and veteran offices, and counties throughout New York state have programs and staff available as well. Hundreds of members of the New York Army and Air National Guard and the New York Naval Militia have furthered their education through the SUNY system, thanks to the free tuition benefit available to them at SUNY and CUNY [City University of New York]. State Division of Military and Naval Affairs Adjutant General Major General Raymond F. Shields Jr. said. Anything that makes it easier for our Citizen Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, and Marines to access SUNY services for veterans and service members is very welcome. SUNY developed this comprehensive website so that servicemembers and veterans would be able to easily learn about and access all of the available programs and benefits that they have earned through their service. We owe our servicemembers and veterans a debt of gratitude that can never truly be repaid, and we are grateful for their dedication to our state and nation, The SUNY Board of Trustees said in a statement. That is why the SUNY system has worked to ensure that as servicemembers and veterans transition back to civilian life, they have the support they have earned easily accessible at each of our campuses. 2025 The Daily Star (Oneonta, N.Y.). Visit www.thedailystar.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Appearing in the dock of Armagh Magistrates Court, the 31-year-old Aidan Nugent confirmed he was aware of the charges against him Armagh All-Ireland winner Aidan Nugent was today ordered to stand trial in the Crown Court, facing eight charges of sexual assault. Appearing in the dock of Armagh Magistrates Court, sitting in Newry, the 31-year-old confirmed he was aware of the charges against him, all of them alleged to have been committed in the United States of America, on 17 November last year. Aidan Nugent arriving for a previous court hearing in May 2025 News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd Nugent, from the Cullyhanna Road in Newtownhamilton, faces seven charges of sexual assault and one of sexual assault involving penetration, alleged to have been committed against a single complainant. It is understood to be the Crown case the offences were committed in America when the Armagh GAA team travelled to Miami in Florida, to celebrate the team's All-Ireland win, their first All-Ireland title in 22 years after they clinched victory over Galway at Croke Park in July. Armagh's Aidan Nugent lifts the Sam Maguire Cup after winning the All-Ireland football final last July. Photo: Piaras O Midheach/Sportsfile Nugents defence solicitor Patrick Higgins has emphasised that during formal police interviews, the defendant claimed that any sexual activity was consensual. Mr Higgins has also revealed that when Nugent was charged with the offences, the All-Ireland winner replied: I deny the allegations - it was consensual. During a brief preliminary enquiry court today, the legal step necessary for any case to be returned to the Crown Court, a prosecuting lawyer submitted there is a prima facie case against Nugent. Mr Higgins conceded the point but declared that Nugent strenuously denies the allegations. The court clerk told Nugent he had the right to comment on the charges or to call evidence on his own behalf, but he declined. Aidan Nugent arriving for a previous court hearing in May 2025 Returning the case to Newry Crown Court, District Judge Anne Marshall freed Nugent on 500 bail and ordered him to appear for his arraignment on October 2. Applying for legal aid to be extended in allow a senior barrister to be instructed, Mr Higgins told the judge that was on the basis that one of the charges carried a potential sentence of life imprisonment. He also contended that all of the people involved in this are in the public eye and that if Nugent is convicted, there is not only a risk to his reputation but also a risk to his liberty and livelihood. Judge Marshall told the solicitor she would rule on his application later today. Granddaughter of Patrick Barrett was unable to pay the fees from his accounts as an enduring power of attorney order was not executed by Mr Moylan despite being instructed to do so Solicitor John Moylan will be sanctioned by the tribunal in September. Photo: Steve Humphreys Serious failings by a lawyer left an elderly mans granddaughter heartbroken and unable to access funds to pay his nursing home bills. The late Patrick Patsy Barrett, who suffered from dementia and required round-the-clock care, was able to continue living in the nursing home despite owing up to 19,000 in fees only due to compassion shown by its operators. The matter has led to two findings of misconduct being made against solicitor John Moylan, who failed to follow Mr Barretts instructions in 2020 to execute an enduring power of attorney (EPA). Mr Barrett sought the legal instrument so his granddaughter Jacqui Owen could look after his affairs should he become unable to do so himself. Mr Moylan (71) not only failed to provide adequate legal services to Mr Barrett but also to respond adequately or at all to Ms Owen when she asked him to register the EPA with the Registrar of Wards of Court in 2022 after her grandfather lost capacity. It later emerged Mr Moylan had never executed the EPA in the first place in 2020. He failed to engage with the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) when it investigated a complaint made by Ms Owen, while an explanation he gave for his inaction was rejected as not credible by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (LPDT). It left me in a situation where I did not know what would happen to my grandad Mr Barrett died at the nursing home last May at the age of 99. The bill for his stay has yet to be paid. Giving evidence at an LPDT hearing last week, Ms Owen described what had occurred as very upsetting and stressful for her. It left me in a situation where I did not know what would happen to my grandad, she said. Ms Owen said that after six months of chasing Mr Moylan for answers she went to the LSRA, as she was exhausted, frustrated and fed up of being led astray and not being told the truth. The solicitor, of Richard Moylan and Company Solicitors in Mallow, Co Cork, will be sanctioned by the tribunal in September. It is the second serious finding to be made against him by a disciplinary body in the space of just three years. In 2022, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found him guilty of misconduct for falsely claiming to have witnessed the signing of company documents. He was censured and ordered to pay 15,000 to the Law Society Compensation Fund and 15,000 towards the legal costs of Deirdre OFlynn, the woman whose signature was forged. The solicitor also found himself in hot water last December, when he was arrested and brought by gardai to the High Court in Dublin after failing to comply with an order requiring him to provide a former client with documents relating to her 1.7m home. Mr Moylan avoided a potential contempt of court sanction, such as imprisonment or a fine, after complying with the order. An LPDT hearing on Thursday was told Ms Owen became her grandfathers carer after his wife Margaret Ellen died in May 2020. She looked after the household, cooked, cleaned, helped Mr Barrett pay his bills, and brought him to medical and legal appointments. That summer, Mr Barrett, who lived in Mallow, went to Mr Moylans office to swear a new will, leaving his estate to Ms Owen. Previous wills had benefited his children. Solicitor John Moylan will be sanctioned by the tribunal in September. Photo: Steve Humphreys News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd A few weeks later, the pensioner instructed Mr Moylan to execute an EPA that would allow Ms Owen manage his affairs should he lose capacity in future. Regulations required the solicitor to make two relatives other than Ms Owen notice parties to the EPAs creation. The tribunal heard Mr Barrett gave clear instructions that his children Bridget, Patricia and Robert were not to be notified, and that contact should instead be made with other relatives. Mr Barretts health declined in 2022. That July, he suffered a fall and was hospitalised. It became clear he could not return home, so he was admitted to Bridhaven Nursing Home in Mallow. A doctors report concluded he lacked capacity to manage his own affairs and this was provided to Mr Moylan. Ms Owen contacted the solicitor and asked him to take the next step in the process, registering the EPA she believed had been executed two years previously. The tribunal heard that nursing home and pharmacy bills were mounting and she was unable to discharge these from Mr Barretts pension alone. Her grandfathers bank told her it could not give her access to his accounts to pay bills until the EPA was in force. Ms Owen made contact with Mr Moylan by phone and email on at least 10 occasions between August and December 2022 asking about progress, but the EPA was never registered. Solicitor John Moylan will be sanctioned by the tribunal in September. Photo: Steve Humphreys When Mr Moylan eventually came back to her, he said he had written to Mr Barretts daughter Bridget, who was living in England, informing her of the EPA. But Mr Moylan accepted under questioning at the tribunal that this letter was never actually sent. The solicitor had also asked Ms Owen for bank statements and nursing home invoices. Ms Owen queried the purported contact with Bridget against Mr Barretts wishes. She also said Mr Barretts finances were none of the solicitors business. In another email exchange, Mr Moylan gave the impression matters were in hand, saying he was in contact with Dublin. An email from Ms Owen on December 2, 2022, showed how exasperated she was. I am beyond sick of chasing you, of being ignored, and I am pretty sure being lied to as well Mr Moylan, I cant cover my grandfathers expenses, which I have been trying and failing to do since he went into the nursing home, Ms Owen wrote. Do you have any idea how many times I have had to explain the reason the money is owing is because you, the solicitor, have failed to implement his wishes of me having enduring power of attorney? I am beyond sick of chasing you, of being ignored, and I am pretty sure being lied to as well. The tribunal heard how the following May, the nursing home indicated it would be unable to continue providing care unless bills were paid. Ms Owen told LSRA counsel Elaine Finneran this left her heartbroken. My grandfather required 24-hour care. He wasnt safe to be left on his own at all for any length of time, she said I was unwell myself at that time and I physically wasnt able to provide that level of care. It was very upsetting and stressful. I left me in a situation of not knowing what was going to happen to my grandad. Ms Owen said she believed 18,000 or 19,000 was still owed to the nursing home. They have been very understanding and compassionate. I can only say how grateful I am that they didnt ask my grandfather to leave at any stage, she said. During Mr Moylans evidence, he accepted an EPA was never executed by him in 2020. He claimed he took no further steps, as there was a requirement to alert family members, but Mr Barrett had instructed him not to contact three of his children. He had some beef with his family. I dont quite know what it was, the solicitor said. Ms Finneran said this was the first time Mr Moylan had provided this explanation for his inaction and it was inconsistent with anything he had told Ms Owen. She also pointed out that it had been possible for the solicitor to register an EPA even if all regulations were not complied with. Mr Moylan said he had asked Ms Owen for the bank statements and nursing home bills so he could intercede with the bank to have those bills paid, claiming he had done so in other cases previously. Tribunal chairman Donall Curtin said Mr Moylan had admitted to the lead facts put forward by the LSRA and that his explanation for not registering the EPA was not credible. This purported explanation could have been given to the complainant at any time during the months she was waiting to have the EPA registered. It was not given, Mr Curtin said. The chairman said the tribunal accepted Ms Owens evidence and that misconduct had been proven beyond all reasonable doubt. At Ennis Circuit Court just before 5pm on Tuesday, Judge Francis Comerford sent the jury home to come back tomorrow to make a fresh start of it. The jury of seven men and five women in the assault trial of former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler, Niall Gilligan are to continue their deliberations on Wednesday. At Ennis Circuit Court just before 5pm on Tuesday, Judge Francis Comerford sent the jury home to come back tomorrow to make a fresh start of it. In the case, Mr Gilligan (48) of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge denies the assault causing harm with a stick of a then 12 year old boy at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Sixmilebridge on October 5th 2023. The jury deliberated for 2 hours and 47 minutes on Tuesday when the jury returned to court with a question for Judge Comerford at 4.51pm. After the jury took up their seats in the jury box, the jury foreman asked: What is the next step if we are not unanimous? In reply, Judge Comerford said: There are various procedures which can kick in if juries are not unanimous but they can only be taken at various points." He said: "It is always preferable that you try to reach a unanimous verdict - that is the ideal and it is better than any alternative." Judge Comerford said: At 4.50pm, I think it is appropriate that you break for the day and come back tomorrow and make a fresh start of it." Judge Comerford said that if the jury is still not unanimous in its verdict after a while on Wednesday, the position can be reviewed. Judge Comerford told the jury: You have had a lot of information the past couple of days and before that. They jury commenced their deliberations at 12.33pm on Tuesday with a break for lunch and before they commenced, Judge Comerford told them that they should make their decision in the case after a cold, direct, forensic determination of the facts. Judge Comerford told the jury that what they have to decide is was there an assault and is it not an assault because of a lawful excuse. In his charge to the jury Judge Comerford directed if they are satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that the first encounter between Mr Gilligan and the boy that led to the force being applied commenced and started outside the two storey Jamaica Inn rather than in the corridor of the building, then they cant consider the lawful use of force as a defence. Judge Comerford also told the jury in the defence of self defence they should consider did the accused honestly believe that he had to use force for the purpose of protecting himself from an assault or damage to his property. Judge Comerford said that if the answer is no, the defence of self defence is no longer available to the accused. He said that if the answer is yes, then was the force used by the accused reasonable and necessary in the circumstances as he saw them. He said that if the answer is yes to that question then you must acquit. If no, it wasnt reasonably necessary, well then he is guilty of the offence. Judge Comerford said that the jury can only apply this test if they are satisfied that the first encounter was inside the two storey building. Judge Comerford said that both child witnesses in their video interviews and under cross examination in the case said that the first encounter with Mr Gilligan was outside the building. Judge Comerford asked the jury that they should ask what would the gain be for the child witnesses saying that when they both admitted that they were earlier in the building. In his closing speech to the jury on Monday 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 (instructed by solicitor, Daragh Hassett) 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, 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 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." Earlier in her closing speech on Monday, Ms Sarah Jane Comerford BL (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. The jury continues their deliberations on Wednesday. Niall Gilligan at Ennis Circuit Court News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd A woman holds a poster of Martin Luther King Jr. at a workers' rally in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., Oct. 17, 2004. (Xinhua Photo/Lu Mingxiang) Related files were released by the Trump administration on Monday after nearly 60 years of questions surrounding the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. WASHINGTON, July 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced on Monday that the administration has released over 230,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). The related files were released after nearly 60 years of questions surrounding the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Gabbard said in a post on social media platform X. "The documents include details about the FBI's investigation into the assassination of MLK, discussion of potential leads, internal FBI memos detailing the progress of the case, information about James Earl Ray's former cellmate who stated he discussed with Ray an alleged assassination plot, and more," according to Gabbard. A carver carves the characters of "I HAVE A DREAM" on the sidesteps of the Lincoln Memorial to prepare for the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech "I have a dream'' in Washington on July 25, 2003. (Xinhua Photo/Lu Mingxiang) On Jan. 23, three days after taking office, Trump signed an executive order to declassify any remaining files from the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy, and MLK. MLK stands as one of the most prominent figures in the American civil rights movement. He is widely celebrated for his commitment to nonviolent campaigns against racial segregation and inequality, as well as his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Lorcan Murphy (32) of Pearse Street Garda Station has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault causing harm The jury in the trial of a garda accused of assaulting a teenager in Temple Bar over four years ago is due to begin its deliberations tomorrow. Lorcan Murphy (32) of Pearse Street Garda Station has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault causing harm under section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. The assaults on the then 17-year-old are alleged to have taken place on Essex Street, Dublin 2 and Pearse Street Garda Station on June 1, 2021. The jury is expected to begin its deliberations tomorrow after hearing closing speeches today and the directions of Judge Pauline Codd. Earlier, Justin McQuade BL, defending, told the jury in his closing speech that his client had to have an honest belief in the necessity to use force, even if it is mistaken, for the defence of justifiable use of force to be available. He noted that there is no suggestion that the initial use of force during the arrest of the complainant, when he was put in handcuffs, was excessive. Mr McQuade suggested the jury may wish to put significant weight on this, then ask how did we get from honest belief to absence of honest belief in a short period of time. I dont think we can, counsel continued, suggesting it was a contrivance by the prosecution which was not grounded in the real world. He told jurors that the law requires them to stand in the shoes of Garda Murphy and view the situation that unfolded through the circumstances he believed them to be. Mr McQuade asked the jury to consider the role played by uniformed services, such as An Garda Siochana, suggesting that society may have lost some sight on what people in uniform do for us. He noted that frontline policing can be messy but is done on behalf of everyone in this room. People in uniform are expected, not invited, to take a step forward, he said, telling the jury that an issue in this trial is honest belief even if it is mistaken in the heat of the moment. He asked the jury to look at the surrounding circumstances of that day as his client believed them to be and pointed out that members of An Garda Siochana are required to make split-second decisions without an action replay. He said the force used was a leg sweep and it was an unfortunate secondary impact when the complainant hit his head on the ground, adding that his client did not have the luxury of picking a softer landing point. Mr McQuade said it is regrettable that the complainant sustained injuries, which thankfully were not life-altering. He said the fact that the complainant suffered injuries does not mean that his client used excessive force. Mr McQuade suggested that if gardai are going to be criminalised for using force, they may be slower to use it in the future and that benefits no one. Force is necessary in society to protect citizens from those with criminal intent, he suggested. He noted that his client and the complainant had never met and asked jurors to consider Mr Murphy's instincts about the complainant. He added that the complainant's convictions were outlined not to blacken his character but to allow for an assessment of his client's instincts. Defence counsel suggested jurors consider the credibility of the complainant when deciding if his screams at the garda station were genuine, noting the defence say these were a contrivance. He said his client used techniques he was trained in both on Essex Street and in Pearse Street Garda Sation. Prosecuting counsel, John Gallagher BL, told the jury in his closing speech that it is accepted that the complainant was deserving of garda attention that day and no issue is taken with his initial arrest. He said the prosecution's case is that the leg sweep of the complainant while he was in handcuffs and the subsequent impact of his head on the ground amounts to an assault causing harm. Mr Gallagher suggested that the complainant was subjected to disproportionate and excessive force, which resulted in a fractured skull and a bleed to the brain Mr Gallagher noted that the complainant's convictions are not to his credit, but could not have had any impact on the accused man's decision-making on the day since they were strangers to each other. He said the prosecution also say that pulling the complainant's head backwards using his hair in Pearse Street Garda Station then applying force to his chest or his sternum is also an assault, which caused harm in the form of immediate pain. He said the complainant was a minor who was handcuffed and awaiting medical attention at this time. Mr Gallagher told jurors an issue in this case is whether the level of force used was reasonable. He said the prosecution say the level of force used to bring the complainant to the ground after his initial arrest was not reasonable, inherently dangerous and likely to cause injury to the complainant. He told jurors they must consider Mr Murphy's statements, and if he held an honest belief that the complainant was about to abscond or had concerns about the crowd when he brought him to the ground after his initial arrest. Counsel suggested the jury must consider Mr Murphy's statement about the alleged assault at the garda station that he was providing medical attention to the complainant or if the intention was to get his attention to ask a question. He submitted that Mr Murphy's insistence that the complainant did not lose consciousness suggests his account was self-serving and sought to minimise the effects of his conduct. The jury also heard that an enhanced image of the leg sweep was not available to GSOC until October 2024. The trial continues. Stock image News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd Mother-of-two Maria Stan had since sat the test and got a full licence A learner driver fraudulently got a licence after trying to bypass the theory test by letting someone else sit it on her behalf. Mother-of-two Maria Stan (25) was issued with a learners permit after deceiving authorities with a claim that she had passed the test herself. Judge Susan Fay adjourned the case, saying she would leave her without a criminal record if she made a 500 charity donation. There may have been some sort of breakdown in communication Stan, of Brackenwood Drive, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to deception by inducing a worker at the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) to issue a learners permit in the belief she had successfully completed the drivers theory test. Maria Stan News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd A garda sergeant told Dublin District Court that Stan went to the NDLS office at Omni Shopping Centre, Santry, on November 13, 2019, and submitted an application for a licence, including a declaration that she had completed the theory test. However, someone else had sat it on her behalf. She returned the permit when this was discovered. Stan had no previous convictions. Maria Stan Stan was given an opportunity to bypass the theory test, she had limited English and there may have been some sort of breakdown in communication, defence solicitor Oscar Banahan said. She understood now that she put herself in a precarious situation, he added. Stan had since sat the test and got a full licence. Judge Fay remanded the accused on continuing bail to October 9, saying she will apply the Probation Act if the donation is made. Martin Hayes (36) was found not guilty of Amadea McDermotts (27) murder but guilty of her manslaughter by the majority verdict of a Central Criminal Court jury in November 2023 A deranged monster convicted of manslaughter, who claimed that his partner deliberately stabbed herself to death, has failed in a bid to have his 12-and-a-half-year sentence reduced on appeal. Martin Hayes (36) was found not guilty of Amadea McDermotts (27) murder but guilty of her manslaughter by the majority verdict of a Central Criminal Court jury in November 2023. Hayes, with an address at Poddle Close, Crumlin, Dublin 12, had pleaded not guilty to murdering the mother-of-two at her home in Rathvale Drive, Ayrfield, Coolock, on or about July 20, 2017. He told the trial that his partner inflicted the injury on herself. Hayes had admitted using violence against Ms McDermott in his own evidence to the trial. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to 12 years and six months in November 2023. He appealed his sentence, arguing that the judge gave excessive weight to the aggravating factors in the case, specifically in setting a headline sentence of 14 years. James Dwyer SC, defence counsel for Hayes, also argued that inadequate weight was given to the mitigating factors in the case resulting in a final sentence that was higher than it should have been. Mr Dwyer further contended the judge failed to adopt the version of the facts most favourable to the accused in circumstances where, due to the absence of clarity and the presence of contradiction in the prosecution evidence, it was impossible to be properly satisfied of the facts on the basis of which the sentence was purportedly imposed. Counsel said this particularly related to the finding that the stabbing was as the result of an unlawful dangerous act, in circumstances where the precise circumstances of the stabbing were not known. In dismissing the appeal today, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said there were limited mitigating factors in this case. He said the judge rightly placed the offence in the category attracting a headline sentence of between ten and 15 years. The offence was aggravated by domestic violence, he said, noting there had been evidence of fresh violence to the face of the deceased which it was accepted occurred on the night of the killing as well as older bruises indicating previous violence. Mr Justice McCarthy said there was also evidence of an unhealthy, extreme and unfounded view of purported impropriety of a sexual nature which indicated a very significant form of coercive control. He said the court was of the view that the sentencing judge did not err in fixing a headline sentence of 14 years. He added: The mitigating factors were minimal. We think the judge was right to impose a sentence of 12 and a half years post mitigation. Mr Justice McCarthy noted the circumstances of the appeal were slightly out of the ordinary in that it had been contended that the judge fell into error in the decision he made as to the factual circumstances for the basis of manslaughter. Dismissing this ground of appeal, he said the trial judge approached the matter in a rational way upon the evidence and adopted what might be described as the rational, obvious and clear view of what happened. We think the judge was entitled to reach the conclusion he did as to the facts. Therefore, we do not think he fell into error, he said. Imposing sentence in November 2023, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said the killing was clearly a case of domestic violence and he noted that during her life, Hayes had tracked Ms McDermott's movements using a secret app on her phone. He had also made "menacing videos" in which he challenged Ms McDermott regarding Hayes's untrue and unfounded belief that Ms McDermott was involved in an incestuous relationship. The judge further noted the recent bruises on Ms McDermott's body as recorded by a pathologist following her death and evidence that Hayes had a history of aggressive and violent behaviour towards his victim. Speaking following Hayes conviction in 2023, Eucharia McDermott said her sisters killer had told "lie after lie without a shred of evidence" in his testimony to the trial when he falsely alleged that Ms McDermott had caused her own death by stabbing herself. She thanked gardai and the prosecution team who had, she said, "helped to convict this violent, sick, evil, twisted, deranged monster." "Throughout the trial he showed no remorse for taking our beautiful sister's life away from her and her family," she said. Martin Hayes, and (inset) Amadea McDermott News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd 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 The images are the first to be captured of McCann since his sixth parole bid was turned down last December Images captured by the Sunday World show double killer Frank McCann back on the streets of capital despite a parole board turned down his latest bid for freedom on the grounds he still poses a threat to society. We videoed McCann in Dublins north inner city on Thursday as he enjoyed one of his frequent and unsupervised days out from the prison. The images are the first to be captured of McCann since his sixth parole bid was turned down last December. Frank McCann on a day out from Mountjoy prison McCann has now spent 30 years behind bars for killing his wife and foster daughter when he torched their house in 1992. He burned down his home on Butterfield Avenue, Rathfarnham, Dublin, while Esther and their foster daughter Jessica slept inside after details about a child he had fathered with a teenage swimming student with special needs emerged. He and Esther had been going through the process of adopting 18-month-old Jessica, the daughter of McCanns own adopted sister, when the mother of the vulnerable teenager who had a child by McCann alerted the adoption authorities out of concern that he was not fit to be a father. McCann knew the fact he was the father of this child was going to be brought up at a meeting with the adoption authorities and set about trying to kill Esther and Jessica, so Esther would never learn about his secret past. It later emerged that McCann had made other attempts on the lives of Esther and Jessica in the weeks before he succeeded. He had previously created a massive gas leak at the house, set fire to an electric blanket on their bed, and tampered with the brakes on Esthers car before setting the blaze that killed them. Publican Frank McCann is led away from the Four Courts having been found guilty of the murders of Esther and Jessica McCann McCanns latest parole bid was vehemently opposed by his victims family and also by McCanns own brother Bernard. Speaking with the Irish Independent last December, Esthers sister Marian said she was pleased McCann would not be gaining freedom any time soon. She confirmed she had made a submission to the Parole Board opposing his release. McCann was found guilty of murdering Esther and Jessica by setting fire to their home in Rathfarnham, Dublin The decision by the Parole Board allows us to feel more at peace this Christmas. McCann will not be a spectre casting a shadow over joyous times. Its good to focus on the safety and peace we have while he remains incarcerated, she said. Our Christmas will be free of watching out for that evil man, she added. McCanns brother Bernard, who also made a submission to the Parole Board opposing Franks application for parole, said he was glad of the decision. Esther and Jessica Two innocent people lost their lives because of that awful crime, and I think a life sentence should mean life for him. We will have 18 months of peace now before he can apply again, he said. Despite McCanns parole bid being refused, its understood he is given unsupervised temporary release from Mountjoy several days a week to attend an employment course in the south inner-city, and also to attend a city library before returning to jail for the night. Double killer Frank McCann Two years ago, it emerged he had posted his CV online on employment site LinkedIn. In his CV, McCann had described himself as an enthusiastic achiever and problem-solver. He also said he was an analytical thinker with good troubleshooting ability, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, good telephone manner and a confident and engaging personality. The CV was removed after it became public. After losing his sixth bid for freedom last December, McCann will have to wait until March 2026 before his next parole application. News in 90 Seconds - July 23rd The former priest only informed his employer that gardai were investigating him four years after he was first contacted by detectives Sisters raped by brother, priest Richard Brennan, say they want sentence reviewed The US hospital where rapist Richard Brennan worked as a chaplain has said it was unaware of the extent of the allegations he was facing until he was sentenced. The former priest also only informed his employer that gardai were investigating him for serious offences around four years after he was first contacted by detectives. Brennan (64) was last week jailed for eight years for raping and sexual abusing his three sisters in the familys Dublin home between 1978 and 1985. Yvonne Crist, Paula Fay and Catherine Wrightstone all waived their legal right to anonymity so that he could be identified. He carried out the abuse while studying to become a priest and was ordained in 1989, before moving to the US, where he left the priesthood after marrying. The Central Criminal Court heard how he was made aware of the garda investigation in 2021 and returned to Ireland the following year to give a voluntary statement in which he denied any wrongdoing. It said his role involved little interaction with patients individually" He had been working as a chaplain at the Benefis Health System in Great Falls, Montana, since around 2016, and only resigned when he went on trial. The organisation said it became aware he faced serious allegations outside of the United States in March and at that time he resigned his position. Richard Brennan, who was sentenced for the rape of his sisters. Photo: Collins It also said that his role as a chaplain involved little interaction with patients individually and that it almost exclusively consisted of team-based interactions. Benefis added that it has not received any complaints about Richard Brennan, from patients or other employees, during his tenure with the organisation. A spokesperson said: The organisation believes in the philosophy of assuming innocence until guilt is proven or admitted and was unaware of the extent of the allegations against Richard prior to the publicity surrounding his sentencing. Catherine Wrightstone (left) and Paula Fay speaking outside court. Photo: Collins Courts Last Monday, Mr Justice David Keane sentenced Brennan to nine years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, saying the victims ages and the pattern of abuse over a lengthy period were all aggravating factors. He had gone on trial in March and only entered guilty pleas after his three sisters gave evidence against him. Brennan admitted raping and indecently assaulting Paula Fay on dates when she was aged between 14 and 17. He also pleaded guilty to raping and indecently assaulting Catherine Wrightstone, when she was aged between nine and 13, and to indecently assaulting Yvonne Crist when she was aged 20. We are extremely disappointed with the sentence imposed upon Richard All of the offending happened when Brennan was aged between 17 and 24 at the family home in Rathfarnham. Speaking outside court last week, Ms Fay said that no prison sentence is ever long enough for rape and sexual assault, and that justice had not been served. We are extremely disappointed with the sentence imposed upon Richard. Eight years is not long enough to reflect the severity of his crimes, she said. Another brother, Bernard Brennan (67), was jailed in June for four-and-a-half years for indecently assaulting Ms Fay and Ms Crist. Lifers in Portlaoise Prison allowed to use George Foreman but miss out on full kitchen privileges for paramilitaries Prisoners serving life sentences for murder now have access to kitchenettes to cook food while serving their time in the high-security Portlaoise Prison. But while paramilitary inmates can order in their own food and use their own kitchen, the ordinary criminals have make to do with what is supplied. The kitchenettes dont have a hob or ovens but are equipped with a George Foreman style grill or a toaster, according sources. Theres no provision for them to acquire their own groceries like the handful of paramilitary inmates who are in the prisons E-block. The Irish Prison Service said they do not comment on security or operational matters. Contract killer Gary Campion Similar privileges for gangland inmates caused a national outcry in 2007 when it emerged food was being ordered in and cooked by the prisoners themselves. It came after Finglas gangster John Daly rang Joe Duffys Liveline from his prison cell. At the time Daly and high-profile prisoners such as John Gilligan and Limerick drug dealer Christy Keane enjoyed the privilege of using their own kitchen. The Sunday World revealed how inmates were able to order food from outside which was collected and cooked in their own kitchen in the E1 landing. Prisoners were also able to order TVs for the cells which were collected and delivered by prison staff. INFAMOUS: Wayne Dundon was transferred from Mountjoy to Portlaoise One inmate at the time was even allowed to keep a pair of budgies which serving his time in the high-security prison. In the subsequent crackdown on what was then known as the gangland corridor the kitchen was stripped out. During searches of the prison landing 19 phones were also phone and Gilligan who had been acting as the prisoners spokesperson was put into isolation. The Irish Prison Service also runs independent living units in prisons such as Castlerea where inmates in The Grove live in chalets. Eamon Cumberton, who murdered Michael Barr The regimes at Shelton Abbey and Loughan House open prisons are also designed to help soon-to-be released to prepare for the transition back into the community. Prisoners serving life in Portlaoise include a number of the country s most notorious gangland killers. Wayne Dundon (47), a leading figure of the McCarthy-Dundon gang is the best know lifer serving his time at the moment in Portlaoise Prison. The Limerick gang boss was found guilty of ordering the murder of businessman man Roy Collins jr in 2009 murder that shocked the city. His former sister-in-law April Collins became a key State witness giving evidence of the Dundon's role in ordering the killing. CAPITAL MURDER: Aaron Brady killed Garda Adrian Donohue Dundon has not spent his time behind bars quietly and was transferred to Portlaoise from Mountjoy after being suspected of inciting a fight which turned into a serious brawl. Armagh man Aaron Brady (34) who is serving a life sentence of the capital murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe is also an inmate in the prison. Brady, who lost his appeal against the murder conviction, also admitted trying to intimidate a witness in the murder trial, while behind bars. Thomas McConnell Serving two life sentences in the same facility is Limerick gangland contract killer Gary Campion. He was found guilty of the shocking assassination of innocent man Brian Fitzgerald 2002 who had refused to let Dundon gang drug dealers into a night club. Campion was also convicted of the killing gangster Frankie Ryan in 2006 as he sat in a car in Moyross. Now aged 43, he almost died behind bars after lapsing into a coma in 2016 in suspected drugs overdose while in Mountjoy Prison. Notorious killer Warren Dumbrell, who kicked a man to death Another Limerick gangland killer there is Greg Crawford (38) who was convicted of shooting dead Gareth Grant at his Island Field home in 2007. Once one of the most notorious inmates in the prison system Warren Dumbrell (51) is in Portlaoise serving life for kicking a man to death after being released from another prison sentence. He had been a ringleader in the infamous 1997 Mountjoy siege in which four prison staff were held hostage. There are also Dublin gangland killers who could be eligible for the kitchen privileges while they serve life sentences for Hutch-Kinahan feud related killings. Thomas McConnell (39), one of four people serving life for the 2016 feud murder of Gareth Hutch outside his Dublin city home. GUNMAN: Greg Crawford Another Kinahan Cartel killer in the prison is Eamon Cumberton (38) a professional mixed martial arts fighter who is serving life for the murder of Michael Barr in the Sunset House pub in 2016. The likes of IRA men Kevin Braney (51), Sharif Kelly (55) and Edward McGrath (44) enjoy the full kitchen privileges which have not been extended to non-paramilitary lifers. Kelly and McGrath were jailed for the 2013 murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly who was shot dead after being lured to a meeting. Braney who is considered the officer in commanded of the IRA prisoners and was convicted of planning Butterlys killing. Another Real IRA linked prisoner serving life in the prison is Stephen Connolly (46) who admitted the 2012 murder of veteran gangster Eamon Kelly. Contract killer Gary Campion, gangster Wayne Dundon and gunman Greg Crawford News in 90 Seconds - July 23rd Courts adjourns hearing after medical update on Mountjoy beating six weeks ago Stephen Kearney had been due in court this week A CONVICTED killer who was savagely beaten in Mountjoy Prison in early June, in an attack suspected to have ordered by gangster Robert Roo Redmond, remains seriously ill in hospital, a court was told this week. Stephen Kearney was due to appear before Judge Orla Crowe in court 5 of the CCJ on Wednesday where a section 99 hearing, to hear arguments in relation to the reactivation of a suspended portion of his sentence, was due to be heard, However, barrister David Staunton informed the court that his client had been the subject of an assault and was seriously ill in hospital. He sought an adjournment and was granted an adjournment to July 28th. The Sunday World revealed six weeks ago how Kearney had been left fighting for his life in hospital as a result of a brutal beating he sustained involving a number of his fellow inmates in Mountjoy. Kearney (39) from Coultry Drive, Ballymun had been due to be released from Mountjoy Prison just weeks later. However, he was set upon by four inmates in an exercise yard in the prison. He was rushed to Beaumont Hospital where he was later described as being in a critical condition. Robert 'Roo' Redmond In a statement issued at the time, a spokesperson for the IPS confirmed: The Irish Prison Service can confirm that an incident occurred at Mountjoy Prison on June 6 involving a prisoner. The incident has been referred to An Garda Siochana. Kearney is extremely well known to Gardai having clocked up in excess of 120 convictions over the past 20 years. His most serious conviction, for manslaughter, dates from October 2004 for which he received a nine-year sentence in May 2006. Kearney, then aged 20, admitted to killing Francis Gallagher (18) at Coultry Road on October 25, 2004. His victim had extensive head injuries, including bruising and swelling to his brain, bruises and cuts to his face and a fractured cheek bone. His skull was intact and there was no evidence of a weapon having been used. Kearney later admitted to gardai he had attacked Mr Gallagher, saying he punched him in the face which sent him to the ground and then kicked him six times in the head. He also admitted to stamping on his victims head and kicking him in the sides and the ribs. His trial heard Kearney was very remorseful. He had tried to commit suicide at the Garda station. After his release from prison, Kearney continued to offend. In 2020, he was jailed for a year after he robbed a shop. Prison chiefs suspect that convicted murderer and highly dangerous criminal Robert Roo Redmond ordered the attack which centres around an ongoing row in the jail. Barry Wolverson Redmond, 36, is serving life for the murder of dad of eight Barry Wolverson and for conspiring to murder drug dealer Jordan Davis, who was blasted to death in 2019. The three men who have been identified as those who carried it out, along with Redmond, were later segregated behind bars. Its understood a one-time key player in the drugs trade was one of those involved. The thug ran his own gang who operated as part of a wider drug trafficking ring which involved Irelands top mob The Family. He had operated under the radar for a number of years but is now serving a hefty sentence for organised crime offences. The hood who is suspected of causing Kearney the most damage left a prison officer with serious injuries in an attack a number of years ago and has over 140 convictions. The third man is a serial offender who has over 100 convictions and was previously involved in a prison attack on an associate of Mr Big. They are now all being probed as part of two investigations, one by prison authorities and a separate investigation being carried out by gardai which will take priority. Stephen Kearney had been due in court this week News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd The man had only arrived in Ireland a number of weeks ago A violent assault on an Indian man in Tallaght, Dublin by a group on Saturday has been condemned as mindless, racist violence on a man who only entered the country a number of weeks ago. The man was taken to Tallaght University Hospital for treatment after the attack on Saturday evening and gardai have commenced an investigation into the incident. Fine Gael councillor, Baby Pereppadan for Tallaght South, met with the man on Monday and said he is in shock. He said "He couldnt speak much because of the shock he was in, he only arrived in Ireland three weeks ago. He is not taking any visitors at the moment. "I am calling for more Garda presence in the area. Small incidents like these are happening frequently in Tallaght. "People need to understand that many Indian people moving to Ireland are here on work permits, to study and work in the healthcare sector or in IT and so on, providing critical skills. (Brian Lawless/PA) News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd Sinn Fein TD for Dublin South-West, Sean Crowe, has said that violent and racist attack on Parkhill Road in Tallaght on Saturday must be the last. The attack on Parkhill Road, Tallaght on Saturday was vile and utterly unacceptable on so many levels. Anyone who thinks this sort of mindless, racist violence makes their community safer is lying and fooling no one. Some residents are increasingly nervous to leave their homes due to this type of behaviour, regardless of whether they are new arrivals to our community or have lived here all their lives. I condemn this attack entirely and call on anyone with any information relating to this incident to reach out to the garda authorities. This is not the first such attack in our area, but it has to be the last, he added. In a statement Gardai said: "Gardai in Tallaght were alerted to an incident at Parkhill Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on the evening of Saturday 19th July, 2025 at approximately 6pm. Gardai attended the scene and a male, aged in his 40s was taken to Tallaght University Hospital with injuries. GAZA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 27 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others injured on Tuesday in a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting several areas across the Gaza Strip, according to Gaza's Civil Defense authorities. Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense in Gaza, told Xinhua that 16 people, including women and children, were killed and more than 50 others wounded when Israeli warplanes targeted tents sheltering displaced individuals in the al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City. In Khan Younis, a city in the southern Gaza Strip, an Israeli airstrike claimed the lives of three members of the same family, Basal said. Meanwhile, in the central city of Deir al-Balah, where Israeli tanks entered residential neighborhoods for the first time since the conflict began in October 2023, two Palestinians were killed after their home was struck by an Israeli missile. According to Basal, four additional civilians were killed in two separate air raids on the same city. In the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, two brothers were killed in an Israeli airstrike on their house, he added. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army on these incidents. In a separate development, six medical facilities in Gaza have ceased operations due to critical fuel shortages, according to a statement from health authorities. "The remaining hospitals will be forced to shut down within 48 hours if fuel supplies are not resumed," the statement warned. The authorities also accused Israel of deliberately targeting Gaza's already struggling healthcare sector. "The occupation is attacking the remnants of the health system by blocking the entry of fuel and essential medical supplies into Gaza," the statement said. On March 18, Israel resumed its military operations in the enclave. At least 8,268 Palestinians have been killed and 30,470 others injured since then, bringing the total death toll since October 2023 to 59,106, and injuries to 142,511, Gaza's health authorities said on Tuesday. Paramilitary prisoners planning to send message he wont forget to loyalist chief Jailed loyalist leader Winston Winkie Irvine is under threat from a violent attack behind bars, sources have told the Sunday World. And we can exclusively reveal that paramilitary prisoners currently housed near Irvine in HMP Maghaberry are planning to give him a message he wont forget. The threat is believed to have been issued by associates of ousted UVF men from east Belfast who blame Irvine for their expulsion from the paramilitary organisation. Winkie will need to watch his step every inch of the way while hes in jail. The men from the east have fingered him for waging a campaign to discredit Stephen Matthews, said a well-placed east Belfast loyalist source. Last night the Sunday World made the PSNI aware of the alleged threat against 49-year-old Irvine from Ballysillan Road, who is currently serving out a two-and-a-half-year sentence after he was caught with a bag of guns and ammunition in his car. Earlier this week police released dramatic film footage of Irvines arrest in June 2022, alongside his co-accused, 54-year-old Robin Workman of Shore Road, Larne, who was later jailed for five years half of which will be served on licence. Winston Winkie Irvine in police custody Police bodycam shows the moment Winkie Irvine is arrested The East Belfast faction of the UVF was expelled by the terror groups Shankill Road leadership on Remembrance Sunday 2023. A masked UVF volunteer read out a statement in front of 1,000 UVF-linked loyalists who had earlier that morning paraded in honour of the war dead. A similar statement was read out at other UVF-controlled venues, including one off the Newtownards Road in east Belfast. Source claim veteran loyalist Stephen Matthews was replaced by a new leader installed with the blessing of the Shankill leadership controlled by veteran UVF men John Bunter Graham and Harmless Harry Stockman. Matthews has previously denied being involved in both criminality and paramilitarism. And moves were also made to take complete control of UVF arms dumps in the east of the city. Stephen Matthews Matthews was made aware in no uncertain terms that he wasnt under any physical threat as long as he steered well clear of UVF military hardware, according to sources. It is claimed he was further warned that any attempt to push back against the Shankill Road ruling, would be met with an immediate and violent reaction. For a number of years, Matthews was alleged to have run a criminal gang which it was claimed used the UVF name as cover for a range of activities, including drug dealing and extortion. Traditionally known as the UVF 4th Battalion, its east Belfast territory ran from the Albert Bridge near the city centre to Newtownards. And its heartland was by far the largest area of loyalist paramilitary influence and control in the whole of Northern Ireland. And the lucrative cash return in the area was huge. But as time passed, sources claim Matthews became estranged from the UVFs Shankill Road centre, although he continued to consolidate his support in the east. But since his expulsion 18 months ago, Matthews didnt disappear quietly as some predicted. Instead, he steadily rebuilt an even more solid support base. In recent times, Matthews has overseen a move away from drug dealing and criminality toward community-based activism, sources claim. And we were also told that during a meeting with his top men, one of Mackers distant relatives who held the rank of Provost Marshal made a jokey remark about drug dealing, saying: No more drugs? Thats why I joined the UVF. Matthews is alleged to have slapped his relative around the head. And he was later busted down the ranks and is now driving a taxi for a living. That showed Mackers meant business with regards to cleaning up the image, said our source. Only last Saturday, Mackers was spotted handing out chilled bottles of mineral water to thirsty returning bandsmen and 12th of July Orange marchers, near St Matthews Catholic Church on the Newtownards Road. Matthews was inundated by well-wishers who showed their support by slapping him on the back and asking him for souvenir selfies. Good on you, big man, a member of the East Belfast Regimental Band shouted as he passed by on the final hurdle of the 12th parade, which was seen as a spectacular success. Mackers is more popular now than he was before he was ousted, one of his supporters told us. Whilst accepting the reality of their position outside the mainstream UVF, Mackers men have refused to fully surrender their loyalist connection and they are now branding themselves the UVF Regiment of East Belfast. This effectively sees two UVF-proclaimed groups vying for loyalist support in the East Belfast Brigade area. But all available evidence also shows the Matthews faction is currently enjoying a resurgence of influence in working-class loyalist areas east of the River Lagan. And many of Mackers men are thoroughly convinced Winkie Irvine was responsible for a relentless smear campaign against their east Belfast boss. Video footage of Winkie being arrested Winkies final throw of the dice came in June last year while he was still out on bail awaiting trial for a range of arms offences. Irvine arranged for a psychological show of strength aimed at emphasising Mackers demise. The Woodvale UVF boss was one of hundreds of loyalists wearing white shirts and black ties who lined the entire length of the Newtownards Road. Mackers stayed away, opting to observe proceedings from the nearby safety of the Constitution Club. And he later used the moment to rebuild his support in the heartland of loyalism in east Belfast. Some people thought it would be the death knell of Stephen Matthews. Instead it was the beginning of his fight back and a year later he done it, said our source. The blame for what happened has been laid at Winkies door. Another loyalist source with an insight into Matthews thinking insisted he didnt know the identity of those tried to discredit him, but he doesnt blame Irvine. Last night, a spokesman said: Mr Matthews has no issue with Winston Irvine. And he doesnt wish to see any division within loyalism. Winston Winkie Irvine in police custody News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd A spokesperson for The Shannon Airport Group has confirmed that American Airlines flight AA198, operating from JFK New York to Milan Malpensa Airport, landed at Shannon at 6.33am Three intercontinental flights diverted to Shannon Airport in County Clare on Monday, July 21, due to separate medical emergencies onboard. A spokesperson for The Shannon Airport Group has confirmed that American Airlines flight AA198, operating from JFK New York to Milan Malpensa Airport, landed at Shannon at 6.33am. Shortly afterward, American Airlines flight AA326 travelling from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, North Carolina, to Athens International Airport, arrived at 6.45am. Later that evening, flight SPM-637 on route from Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport to Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon off Newfoundland in Canada declared a medical emergency. The flight landed safely at 7.02pm. In all cases, the aircrafts were met by Shannon Airport Police and Fire Service together with members of the National Ambulance Service. The passengers requiring attention were transferred by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick. Flight AA198 to Milan resumed its journey at 8.52am, followed by flight AA326 to Athens at 9.56am, with flight SPM-637 departing at 8.23pm. Shannon Airport's terminal building News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd Google Maps seemed to be unable to separate fact from fiction on Monday when it apparently led an unsuspecting woman to the set to do her shopping A woman had to be told to leave the set of RTEs Fair City today after Google Maps mistakenly directed her to the artificial Lidl store featured in the soap. Filmed on the RTE campus in Donnybrook in Dublin 4, Fair City has a small set depicting the main street in Carrigstown, a fictional suburb in North Dublin. Among the infrastructural props for the town are a community centre, restaurant and shops including the Lidl in question which replaced the old Spar on the show. News in 90 Seconds - July 22nd However, the navigation software of tech giant Google Google Maps seemed to be unable to separate fact from fiction on Monday when it apparently led an unsuspecting woman to the set to do her shopping. RTE Economics and Public Affairs Editor, David Murphy, posted the hilarious occurrence to his X account wherein he described the womans predicament. Met a lady outside RTE trying to get in to do her shopping in the Lidl on the Fair City set this evening. Its listed on Google Maps. I gave her directions to Tesco. pic.twitter.com/w5RZjbdYiq David Murphy (@davidmurphyRTE) July 21, 2025 Met a lady outside RTE trying to get in to do her shopping in the Lidl on the Fair City set this evening, he wrote. "Its listed on Google Maps. I gave her directions to Tesco. The unorthodox incident elicited some humourous responses from followers of Mr Murphy, with one writing Maybe Joe Duffy gave her the directions, while another claimed the same thing happened to them in the nearby Booterstown when they searched for a Lidl store in the vicinity. The Dubliner from Stillorgan says hes particularly honoured to have been chosen by the quirky citizenM hotel as the featured artist from a list that included Hozier and Dermot Kennedy Irish rap star Malaki yesterday spoke of his thrill that a trendy new Dublin hotel has featured a bronze-cast lyric of one of his songs as an eye-catching attraction on the buildings exterior. The Dubliner from Stillorgan says hes particularly honoured to have been chosen by the quirky citizenM hotel, set opposite St Patricks Cathedral in The Liberties, as the featured artist from a list that included Hozier and Dermot Kennedy. Im still a struggling artist with a day job as a hospital porter, so they probably felt it would mean more to me than to artists whove had international success, which Im very grateful for, Malaki tells the Sunday World. I dont think itll sink in until the official opening next week. For me and probably many other people, your city is who you are. And as a Dubliner its very ingrained in who we areproud to be here, but proud of the concrete and the grass on which we stand. I think as an artist to have something to remember you and your legacy is huge. We see it across the city with our Phil Lynotts and our James Joyces and Luke Kellys, and to me that just screams achievement - what they did for the art and not just for themselves. For me, in the beginning this journey was for Dublin, it was to spread a message to Dubliners because thats what Malaki means, its messenger, and I just felt I did my job when I saw it. The citizenM hotel in Dublin It felt like you did what you wanted to do you grieved in the city of Dublin, you wrote a song about your love of the city, and now it has come full circle, youve got what you wanted and youve come out the other end. Malakis lyrics are from his song, Cuppa Tea. Its one that Ive always loved playing live. The first time I played it everyone went crazy because it was upbeat, they could relate to it, its fun, it has this great outro, he says. So it seems its always been meant to be that its my most important song. And in this case it was chosen by the citizenM people, I didnt choose it. The citizenM hotel group has 36 hotels in 21 cities around the world and is the brainchild of Rattan Chadha, founder of global fashion brand, Mexx. Its Dublin hotel is a Brutalist-style building design by legendary Irish architect Sam Stephenson, lovingly preserved and given a fresh new life by citizenMs creative team. They contacted me by direct message on Instagram three years ago, Malaki reveals. And they said they chose Cuppa Tea because they wanted a representation of Dublin city. Even not coming from the city and not having any business here they felt that song was the best representation of it. And that was a massive compliment because thats exactly what I wrote the song about. Its about the love thats for Dublin, basically. I always wanted a billboard, but this is even better, this is forever. Malaki Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st Leaders of New Zealand civil infrastructure construction will converge on Tauranga this week to discuss how to get the countrys infrastructure pipeline back on track. More than 600 people are expected to attend The Civil Contractors Conference 2025 at Mercury Baypark from July 23-25, including infrastructure construction chief executives, local government employees and representatives from major political parties. Civil Contractors New Zealand CEO Alan Pollard said central and local government efforts to create and communicate a clear programme of work were critical for the industrys ability to deliver key projects that support the countrys development. CCNZ CEO Alan Pollard. Photo / Supplied If we want to retain talent locally and deliver on the urgent infrastructure needs of Kiwi communities, our industry needs to have confidence that the future stream of work will be protected from the political winds of change. Im grateful for the commitment made by senior central and local government politicians and officials to join us in Tauranga, and to work with us as we try and move the countrys vision for infrastructure from a plan to a reality. A cross-party political discussion will take place on Friday, July 25, to give industry professionals a chance to hear directly from infrastructure spokespeople across New Zealands political spectrum. The session will feature National Party Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk, Act MP Simon Court, New Zealand First MP Andy Foster, Labour MP Kieran McAnulty and Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter. Contractors at the Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards during last years Civil Contractors Conference in Invercargill. Photo / Supplied Pollard said the political presence at the event highlighted the importance of the industry and the events role as a forum for addressing the challenges facing New Zealands infrastructure sector. But the event was about much more than politics. Keynote speaker Shamubeel Eaqub, chief economist at Simplicity, will share his perspectives on the current state of the economy, drawing on more than 20 years of experience in the financial sector. Other notable speakers at the conference include Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale, former New Zealand Climate Change Commissioner Dr Rod Carr, and many others. Pollard said the social and networking events, site tour of the Takitimu North Link infrastructure project and the in-depth masterclasses at this years event would be another highlight. The masterclasses will cover topics including practical AI applications, diversity and inclusion strategies, expert project management, business scaling, succession planning and impairment management. The Contractors Conference will be held at Mercury Baypark. Photo / Supplied The CCNZ Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards, Z People Awards, and Connexis Civil Industry Training and Development Awards will also take place during the event, shining a light on the standout people, projects and training initiatives that make the sector proud. With our country facing significant infrastructure challenges, the conference represents a pivotal moment where industry experts, construction professionals and political leaders can work together to forge a sustainable path forward for the infrastructure sector, Pollard said. Internal Education Ministry documents sighted by RNZ reveal serious problems plagued the rewrite of the school curriculum earlier this year and managers were considering using AI to help with the work. The latest leak from the organisation shows only a few months ago it lacked a clear definition of the core concept underpinning the entire rewrite - "knowledge rich" - even though it had already published primary school maths and English curriculums by that time and had nearly completed draft secondary school English and maths curriculums. It was also struggling with repeated requests for changes. Primary school principals and the secondary teachers union told RNZ they were worried about the curriculum development process. They said they still had not seen a clear definition of the term 'knowledge-rich' as it applied to the New Zealand curriculum. The Education Ministry told RNZ content of the English and maths curriculum was "consistent with knowledge-rich curriculum design principles" but it failed to provide a definition of knowledge-rich despite being asked for one. The latest leak followed a series of disclosures of internal documents that prompted the ministry to hire a KC to investigate where they were coming from. A "programme status report" sighted by RNZ said the introduction of a new process for developing the curriculum posed an "extreme" issue to the work. "The new delivery process is adding complexity to both internal and external delivery and review procedures as we do not have a clear definition of a knowledge rich curriculum and what it looks like in a NZ context," it said. "There is no international comparison we can pick up and use." Elsewhere, the document said lack of an agreed definition was affecting all learning areas of the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (TMoA), the curriculum for Maori-medium schools. "Both the NZC and TMoA curricula lack a clear design framework for defining a knowledge-rich curriculum. This absence of a design point is impacting the development of all learning areas, as continuous refinement and clarification are required," it said. "Options are now being looked at to bring in overseas experts to help us develop templates and frameworks for the curriculum which we can then apply." The report said the programme was in red status for the month of February. It said the key challenge was the lack of a constant template for the work it was producing. The document said even if the ministry resolved that problem it still faced challenges including having to revise its work due to changing expectations, lack of a clear and consistent understanding of the term 'knowledge rich', and lack of a design framework. The status report warned that governance groups associated with the rewrite were ineffective because they provided conflicting advice and their feedback was not always followed. It said stakeholders had different expectations about the use of matauranga Maori in the curriculum and contributing groups lacked skills and experience. The ministry told RNZ it was developing the curriculum framework, Te Mataiaho, to be consistent with a knowledge-rich curriculum. It said since last year its work on defining a knowledge-rich curriculum was informed by several sources and a literature review had been commissioned. However, it did not provide any definition, despite being asked for one. The ministry told RNZ the curriculum rewrite was currently at red status after being in amber status in the previous two months. "Due to the scale and complexity of this work, shifts between Amber and Red status are expected. The Ministry actively manages programme risks using its risk management framework, with mitigation strategies in place, regularly monitored, and escalated when necessary," it said. It said the work had 10 high risks, 25 moderate risks and five low risks. Curriculum being 'built as the plane was flying' - Principals Federation Post Primary Teachers Association vice-president Kieran Gainsford told RNZ teacher subject association leaders met recently and were worried about a lack of clarity about key terms such as the 'science of learning' and 'knowlege-rich curriculum'. Gainsford said teachers had been saying for some time it was critical that the curriculum was clear. "If even officials aren't sure of what they mean by the terms of science of learning and knowledge-rich curriculum, knowledge-rich in particular, then it leads to the question of how on earth are schools and teachers supposed to know what they mean by that," he said. He said the ministry was yet to publish a clear definition of the term knowlege-rich and it needed to be crystal-clear. "At the moment we're trying to respond in many cases to stuff that's poorly-defined and that leads to debate or discussion that isn't particularly fruitful," he said. Principals Federation president Leanne Otene said it was clear to primary and intermediate principals the curriculum was "being built as the plane was flying". She said a knowledge-rich curriculum would define what needed to be taught at each level of learning, but the ministry had not delivered on that. Otene said parts of the published curriculums read like they had been cut and pasted from elsewhere. Association of English Teachers president Pip Tinning said the problems outlined by the ministry documents were not normal for curriculum development. She said the ministry had not explained knowledge-rich in terms of the English curriculum or its definition of the science of learning. Meanwhile, a separate Education Ministry document from December last year titled "Options for change to the curriculum regulatory system" showed plans to allow the Education Minister to set different curriculum expectations for different types of schools. The document said the power could be useful to help schools better support their students. "For example there could be a pedagogy that only schools and kura with technology hubs must use, or a curriculum statement that applies specifically for kura kaupapa Maori," the document said. The document said education sector groups were largely supportive of the plans, which would ensure the curriculum was reviewed and updated regularly. Manager raised possibility of using AI A document about the Science curriculum outlined shortcomings with the existing curriculum which the ministry said resulted in over-crowded lessons and few children enjoying the subject and continuing it at university. It said the curriculum needed to be revised to help students understand science in day-to-day life and other countries were changing their science curriculums for similar reasons. A senior manager's briefing to ministry staff raised the possibility of using AI to write some of the material underpinning the curriculum. The manager said they could use AI to synthesise the curriculums of countries such as Singapore, NSW, British Columbia, with New Zealand information almost instantly. They said it could also ensure the use of consistent language between curriculum documents. Asked about the use of AI, the ministry told RNZ: "The Ministry is exploring how artificial intelligence tools can support curriculum development, particularly by analysing and synthesising information from international curricula and related knowledge frameworks. AI is not being used to directly write curriculum content but may assist with background research and insights." The ministry later added it acknowledged the complexity and scale of the curriculum refresh, which representd one of the most significant changes to New Zealand's education system in decades. "It's natural to see changes in programme status - such as shifts between Amber and Red - as we progress through different phases. While challenges are expected, they are part of a dynamic development process and are actively managed to make sure the programme continues as planned," it said. "The Ministry's definition of a knowledge-rich curriculum refers to a curriculum that clearly specifies what students are expected to know, and be able to do, for every learning area and year level. It supports mastery over time by providing content that is carefully selected, sequenced, and coherent to make sure students build deep, transferable understandings. The research and reports previously provided have guided the approach taken in designing a knowledge-rich curriculum. "This approach is not only research-informed but also shaped in partnership with educators. It's designed to give all learners - no matter where they attend school - a fair and clear pathway through their education." -RNZ The street where five houses are set to be built for Tauranga families in need has been named in honour of a community champion. The rent-to-own development in Bethlehem is a project of the Doing Good Foundation Bay of Plenty, formerly Habitat for Humanity. Three two-storey, three-bedroom homes, and two single-storey homes - one with two bedrooms and the other with three - will be built on the newly named Don Brebner Way, off Twickenham Court. A foundation statement said former member Don Brebner devoted 25 years to helping Tauranga families in need. The site blessing this month was performed by Tamati Tata of Ngai Tamarawaho and attended by foundation members, partner families, hapu representatives, contractors, the Brebner family and Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford. The combined site blessing and road naming was held on July 5. Foundation director David Simpkin said it was important to remember Brebner for his selflessness and unwavering commitment to community wellbeing. Naming this road after Don is the Doing Good Foundations way of ensuring that every person who travels down it is reminded of his legacy of service and compassion. Brebner joined Bay of Plenty Habitat for Humanity in 1995, where he managed family selection and public relations. During his time with the charity, he started the Thousand Dollar Club, which appealed to individuals, clubs, charities, churches and retirement homes for medium-term loans to support its cause. Some 60% of lenders turned their loans into donations out of admiration for the work Habitat for Humanity was doing for the community. Brebners efforts also included establishing food collection points, securing donations, and co-ordinating efforts to ensure families did not go hungry. Tauranga community stalwart Don Brebner died in 2022 after years of voluntary service. Photo / Supplied In 2012, he was awarded the Queens Service Medal in recognition of his service. The foundation helps families achieve homeownership through a progressive rent-to-own programme. Tenants will rent for two to five years before receiving their rent back to put towards a deposit, alongside their KiwiSaver and any other savings. The Doing Good Foundation purchased the site in 2019 and has since developed plans to build housing as part of its rent-to-own programme. Simpkin told the Bay of Plenty Times this initiative was designed to give families living on the financial edge a head start in the housing market. Our goal is to help people into homes who wouldnt otherwise realistically be able to own a home. Five families had been selected for the homes to be built on Don Brebner Way. Simpkin said the selection process was extensive and came down to financial and personal circumstances. One of the things we have to consider is charitable need. After that, we enter into an agreement for the rent-to-own scheme. Eligible applicants must meet criteria including having lived in Tauranga for at least two years, having at least one dependent child, having a moderate income, and evidence of a good tenancy history. The foundation plans to build additional homes on the extended section of this site in the future. They were also required to contribute 400 hours toward upskilling themselves and attending courses to prepare them for home ownership. The houses have been designed but were awaiting building consent before construction could begin. Simpkin said they hoped to have the families moved in by Christmas, provided they could get construction under way as soon as possible. Pilar Martinez Malaga Tuesday, 22 July 2025, 11:56 Share For the first time ever, the Andalucia region of Spain is among the top five destinations in the world with the best air connectivity strategy. The region has been nominated in the Routes World Awards 2025, which are considered the most prestigious awards in the industry. Andalucia has been chosen in the destinations category. Each candidate is nominated by airlines, which are the main decision-makers in choosing routes. The criteria they base their decisions on are performance, innovation and connections. Regional minister of transport Arturo Bernal celebrated the joint efforts of Spain's national airport operator (Aena), Andalusian airports, the provincial authorities and private companies, which have contributed to the region's ranking. "Andalucia is experiencing its best moment in air capacity in 2025, with more than 21 million seats and 530 routes linking the six Andalusian airports with 172 airports in 37 countries around the world," he said. 157 is the number of destinations to which you can fly from Malaga Airport It is no surprise that Malaga Airport takes the lead, with direct flights to 157 destinations at the moment. A total of 62 airline companies link the Costa del Sol with cities in Europe, the Middle East, the US, Canada and North Africa. Second comes Seville Airport, where 21 airlines operate, with flights to 76 destinations. In addition, Andalucia has previously been chosen to host important events in the industry. Since 2022, the Andalusian regional government has been working on a plan to increase the region's connectivity. Alberto Flores Cadiz Tuesday, 22 July 2025, 17:33 | Updated 18:12h. Share Just ten kilometres from one of the best-known towns in the entire province of Cadiz in southern Spain's Andalucia region lies a corner of the coast that virtually everyone who has taken the opportunity to visit ends up falling in love with it. In the municipality of Tarifa, but far away from the hustle and bustle of the main town, is the area of Punta Paloma, which is reached by a road that looks like something taken straight out of a film. This is the A-2325 road, which breaks off from the main road that runs along the coast here, the N-340. In just a few kilometres it leads us to the whole area known as Punta Paloma, named after the rocky headland that projects into the Atlantic. It is a somewhat difficult place to access, narrow and winding, with limited parking and very embedded in the natural environment that surrounds it. These are some of the reasons why it has remained fairly unspoilt over the years. Accessing this privileged enclave is truly scenic, as the aforementioned road runs right behind the great sand dune of Valdevaqueros. In fact, as nature is in constant flux around here thanks to the changing winds of poniente and levante, there are occasions when the sand from the dune invades the road, at times making it impossible for vehicles to pass. It should be noted that it is forbidden to stop or park in the area, so those who do so in order to photograph this special place could face a dreaded traffic fine. Julie Wilkinson In any case, the panoramic view from the road is certainly unique, especially when we take that road back down to the N-340. At that moment, if we look to our right, we can see the sheer immensity of Valdevaqueros beach, the incredible blue of the ocean and the silhouette of the town of Tarifa in the background. Zoom In this part of Cadiz province it is possible to see some truly unique sunsets and sunrises. A.F. From this small beach road, which provides access to a former military zone, some homes set in stunning locations and the Paloma campsite , among other places, there are numerous paths that take us to the different coves that bring life to the whole Punta Paloma area. These beaches are usually pretty quiet, with highly recommended spots, but in summer they do not escape the overcrowding that affects most of the coastline in Cadiz province. The hardest part will be parking, as there is little space in the entire area, so it is almost more interesting to enjoy Punta Paloma during the off-season, when other activities, such as hiking, are also possible. Unique views At the end of this beautiful road we can also find some dining options where you can enjoy the wonderful culinary specialities of the area. 'Chiringuito' beach bars such as El Mirlo or Justito de Copas, are perfect places to enjoy good fresh fish. Special mention should be made of the colours that the sky can provide in this part of the Spanish mainland, where on clear days it seems as if you can touch Africa with your hands and where both sunrises and sunsets can be an unforgettable experience. One of the plots up for sale on El Machorro industrial estate, in Medina Sidonia (Cadiz province). Antonio R. Vega Malaga Tuesday, 22 July 2025, 16:26 Share Andalucia's regional government has put 'for sale' signs up on a total of 287 properties it currently owns and that it intends to offload, subject to payment completion, to facilitate the construction of affordable, private housing, stimulate the property market and, in the process, raise money from the sale of assets that serve no public purpose. The assets up for sale include everything from plots of land for the construction of subsidised housing (VPOs that come with government subsidies, but not for resale) or non-subsidised, but affordable, residential developments ('renta libre', can be sold on open market), land for facilities and unused industrial plots to commercial premises, garages and storage rooms, all scattered throughout Andalucia. The complete list of properties being sold by the Junta is published on Avra's website, the regional government's housing and rehabilitation agency that reports to the regional ministry for housing and development. This move was announced in the Junta's official bulletin (BOJA), according to a press release on Sunday. Among the 287 Andalusian heritage assets coming to market in this call are 113 residential plots with capacity for 257 unsubsidised and subsidised housing units, 115 plots of land for industrial, tertiary and public use and another 59 properties, including commercial premises, garages and storage rooms, all included in Avra's 'asset disposal programme' approved for 2025. These assets, belonging to this public agency, are offered via two methods: auction to the highest bidder and public tender. Under the first method, which awards the properties to the highest bidder, are residential land for the construction of 'renta libre' housing, plots of land for industrial, tertiary and public use, commercial premises, garages and storage rooms. As for land for the development of subsidised housing, this falls under the second method of being put out to tender. Land for residential construction In the residential land block, Avra has put up for auction 91 residential plots with a buildable area of 36,194.35 square metres and capacity for 224 unsubsidised homes. Of these properties, 20 single-family plots are located in Lubrin (Almeria). The auction also includes land for 103 homes in Jerez (Cadiz) and six plots for a total of 31 homes in the province of Cordoba (one in Obejo, another in Pozoblanco and four single-family plots in Cordoba city). The auction list is completed with 38 single-family plots in the province of Jaen, two of them in La Carolina, 22 in Huelma and 14 in Peal del Becerro. There are another 25 single-family plots in Cartama (Malaga) and land for seven houses in Lebrija (Seville). Plots to be offered on tendering basis Through the tendering process, Avra is offering 22 residential plots to promote the construction of a total of 33 social housing units. In this block, the call for proposals offers 18 single-family plots in the municipality of Bonares (Huelva) and four plots in the historic centre of Malaga city with capacity for a further 15 social housing units. Swapping land for housing The regional minister of public works, Rocio Diaz, highlights "the initiative of Juanma Moreno's [regional] government to promote the largest possible number of social housing units, reusing publicly-owned residential land that for years had fallen into disuse." The regional government plans to put more residential land out to tender through the land-for-housing swap system. "Through this public-private partnership model, we promote the development of social housing and make it easier for developers to acquire this land, deferring payment until completion of construction of the social housing," stated Diaz. This land-for-housing swap programme has led to the construction of 48 subsidised housing units in the Pescaderia district in Huelva province and another 60 units in Huerta Santa Isabel in Cordoba . Avra is currently developing another project to promote the construction of 34 social housing units in San Antonio in Huelva city. Another site with project and building permits was recently awarded in the area of Granada city's Parque de Automovilismo ('motor park') to promote the development of 69 social housing units. With the aim of boosting economic development across Andalucia, the regional ministry of development (public works) is presenting another block of 115 industrial, tertiary and public land plots in this auction, with a total buildable area of 222,603 square metres. In the province of Almeria, eight industrial plots in Gergal and another six in Seron are up for grabs. The call for tenders also includes an industrial plot in Medina Sidonia and 14 industrial plots in Baza (Granada). In this job lot of land, there are also other units in Jaen province. There are 28 industrial plots in Huelma, another three in Villacarrillo and 50 in Alcala la Real. Lastly, in the province of Seville, there is a plot in Camas and a plot in Alcala de Guadaira. Commercial premises, garages and storage rooms for sale Avra is also auctioning off 59 properties in this tender, including commercial premises, garages and storage rooms. These properties are located in Benahadux (Almeria), Sanlucar de Barrameda, Algeciras, Jerez and Cadiz city (all in Cadiz province), Cordoba city, then Loja, La Zubia, Peligros and Guadix in Granada province, Andujar, Bailen and Jaen city in Jaen province and Los Palacios in Seville. Interested parties can access further information via Avra's website, where they can make any necessary enquiries and register as interested parties to receive all the information generated in relation to their chosen property. The bidding and tendering process will remain open until 18 September, the deadline for submitting proposals. Once the deadline for submitting bids has passed, the public showing of the business proposals will officially start at 11am on 14 October 2025, at 11am, at Avra's headquarters, located at C/ Pablo Picasso 6, 2nd floor, 41018 Seville. SAO PAULO/RIO DE JANEIRO, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Brazil will negotiate with the United States over President Donald Trump's threat to impose 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian imports starting Aug. 1, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said Monday. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wants to keep diplomatic channels open, the finance chief told Brazilian News Center radio network. "Brazil will not leave the negotiating table. President Lula's instruction is not to provide any reason for these types of sanctions. The vice presidency, the Treasury and the Foreign Ministry are committed to dialogue," he said. Rui Costa, chief of staff of the Brazilian presidency, said on the same day that the country would respond calmly to Trump's tariff threat, adding that Brazil is not the only country targeted by the trade war launched by Trump. "This is the president of a great power who has decided to fight against the entire world: Europe, Canada, and Mexico. Brazil must act and continue to act with great serenity, despite all the signs of aggression, seeking diplomatic solutions and negotiations," Costa told reporters in Salvador. Brazil is preparing contingency plans to support sectors most affected by the potential tariffs. An inter-ministerial group is finalizing measures for Lula's review in the coming days. Countermeasures include applying its Reciprocity Law to impose a matching 50 percent tariff on U.S. goods, along with economic support measures. Brazil is also actively expanding trade partnerships within the Southern Common Market, or Mercosur, which includes Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, as part of its strategy to diversify economic ties, Costa said. "Canada has already expressed its desire to establish a partnership with Mercosur to reduce its dependence on the United States, and Mexico has done the same," said the chief of staff. "We hope to sign the free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur by December. This will open new markets for Brazilian industries and agriculture," Costa added. On July 9, Trump announced plans to impose steep tariffs on Brazil, linking the move to his opposition to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces trial for his alleged attempt to seize power after losing his reelection bid in 2022. Last week, Washington suspended visas for eight Brazilian Supreme Federal Court justices overseeing Bolsonaro's trial. SUR Malaga Tuesday, 22 July 2025, 13:17 Share A joint police operation has led to the release of 162 women who were victims of a sex-trafficking and exploitation organisation. The network operated in several Spanish provinces, including Malaga. In addition, 37 people have been arrested and 39 searches have been carried out in several provinces. The investigation targeted the homes of 11 of the key members as well as the premises that were used for the organisation's purposes. A total of 141,000 euros and three vehicles have been seized and bank assets and accounts have been blocked. The organisation would recruit vulnerable women of South American origin and exploit their lack of residence and work permits. They would force them to work as sex workers throughout Spain, mostly in Valencia, but also in Murcia, Malaga, Barcelona and Tarragona. The suspects would rent properties through legal channels and camouflage them as massage parlours. They would keep the premises closed at all times, maintaining deplorable living conditions inside. The network was detected by the police after three of the victims reported having been sexually exploited. In parallel, the tax agency in Valencia investigated the suspects' assets, detecting money-laundering and identifying the leaders. The asset investigation remains open. Overcrowded in bunk beds and permanently on call The sexual exploitation victims were only allowed to go out for two hours a day, always in the morning, and had to be available at all times. They slept crammed in bunk beds or directly on the same bed where they served the clients. The women would be controlled through the surveillance systems installed in every property used by the organisation. In addition, they would only be given 50% of what they earned and, sometimes, they would be subjected to fines by the criminal network. The summer heat is giving no respite: this Tuesday afternoon a new forest fire broke out in the Cortijo Guerrero area of Antequera in the north of Malaga province. The Junta de Andalucia's Plan Infoca specialist wildfire brigade has increased the deployment of resources to try to quell the flames, with a dozen aircraft and some 80 professionals on the ground. At around half past five in the afternoon, the Junta's forest fire emergency plan was activated due to the fire in an area with a lot of vegetation. Initially, two helicopters (one light and one heavy), a group of forest firefighters, two fire-fighting brigades, two operations technicians, two environmental agents and a fire engine were mobilised to the scene. The A-7282 road has been closed to traffic from kilometre 0 to 7 due to this incident, according to 112 Andalucia. According to the latest update from Plan Infoca on its social media networks at 7.44pm two heavy helicopters, one light, one medium-heavy and one command helicopter are currently working at the scene, as well as four ground-loading aircraft, two heavy amphibious and one coordination aircraft. In terms of land resources, six groups of forest firefighters, two Brica reinforcement crews, four operations technicians, two environmental agents and two fire engines were deployed to the area. The forest fire analysis and monitoring unit and the forest fire medical unit were also mobilised. For its part, Antequera town hall has reported that the local emergency plan for forest fires was activated in operational phase 1 in response to the fire declared in front of the old La Pena station. Javier Almellones Malaga Tuesday, 22 July 2025, 15:55 | Updated 16:45h. Share Nerja is one of the most spectacular and complete destinations on the eastern Costa del Sol. Nerja and its coastal village of Maro offer the ideal place to enjoy summer, with a wide range of activities for adrenaline-junkies, stunning views of the Mediterranean and mountains and even trips down memory lane. On the town's Burriana beach there are daily kayak trips to explore the most breathtaking coastline on the Costa del Sol; the Maro Cliffs protected area with its small caves, waterfall and hidden coves which are difficult to access on foot. Some people even do at at night when there is a full moon. The Maro Cliffs form the easternmost point of Malaga province, on the border with Granada province. Its crystalline waters and wild and rugged character, under the watchful eye of watchtowers, make a day at the beach very special. The Castillo Bajo, an ancient medieval fortress, is better known as the Balcon de Europa. Few traces remain of that fortress which was used as a watchtower before it was turned into one of the best-known viewpoints along the Costa del Sol. Zoom View from the Balcon de Europa. J.A. There you can see a statue of King Alfonso XII, who on a visit to Nerja after an earthquake that rocked the Axarquia area on Christmas Day 1884, was surprised by the beauty of its panoramic views and described it as 'the balcony of Europe'. Zoom Interior of the Nerja Cave. SUR The Nerja Cave, which is the most visited cave in Andalucia, is next to the village of Maro. The cave was discovered by chance by a group of young boys who were playing in the area in 1959 and it opened to the public in 1960. Since then, progress has been made both in scientific investigation and in making the different areas available to visitors. In addition to the spectacular stalactites and stalagmites this cave is a key piece of knowledge about prehistory, as its cave paintings have been dated to 42,000 years ago can still be seen today. They are thought to be among the earliest known works of art made by humans. Zoom 'Napoleon' at the museum of history. SUR The Museo de Historia (museum of history) of Nerja, which is linked to the cave, is located in the historic centre of the town on Plaza de Espana, very near to the Balcon de Europa. Zoom Playa del Canuelo. J.A. The coastal village of Maro occupies a unique and majestic location facing the Mediterranean and a stroll through its pretty streets and to the main square is well worth it, especially in the evening at sunset. Zoom Coastal village of Maro. J.A. Many Spaniards and indeed other nationalities where the programme was aired (France, Portugal and north Africa for example) still have fond memories of the legendary 1980s TV series 'Verano Azul' which was filmed in and around Nerja. There are still many places where that fictional TV series is remembered, such as the replica of La Dorada, Chanquete's boat which can be found in Verano Azul park and the statue of Chanquete, the loveable fisherman from the series, which overlooks the sea on a small viewpoint to the west of the Balcon de Europa. Zoom La Dorada, Chanquete's boat which can be found in Verano Azul park. J.A. The Maro Cliffs, the Nerja Cave and the Balcon de Europa all appear in the series, as does Ayo beach bar, where it is still possible to try the famous paella that was immortalised in one of the episodes of Verano Azul. Miguel de Cervantes is just one of the historical figures who features in the train routes through Torre del Mar and Velez-Malaga. Eugenio Cabezas Velez-Malaga Tuesday, 22 July 2025, 14:49 Share Miguel de Cervantes, Philosopher Maria Zambrano and the Catholic Monarchs are just some of the historical figures who have a close connection with Velez-Malaga on the eastern Costa del Sol. Now a series of tourist train routes has been launched to allow visitors to learn more about the town's relationship with these historical figures. The town hall is working with Casa de las Titas holiday apartments and Espectaculos Aranda on the routes that are running between Torre del Mar and Velez-Malaga every Friday in July, Tuesday and Friday in August and the first Fridays of September. Actors will be dressed as the historical figures and will explain their importance at different points along the route (in Spanish). The train departs at 8pm at the same stop as the Cochinita, the summer tourist train which runs in Torre del Mar, on the town's promenade (near the beach end of Calle del Mar). Reservations can be made through La Casa de las Titas by telephone on 952 50 20 61, or by email at info@lacasadelastitas.com and on the website www.lacasadelastitas.com. Cristina Pinto Malaga Tuesday, 22 July 2025, 12:18 Share Members of the residential association 'Proyecto Dignidad Miraflores de los Angeles' launched protests against the state of Malaga's streets and the level of maintenance that the city council provides last week. The first community action was taken on Monday, 14 July, and the demonstrations continued throughout the week. In response, councillor Teresa Porras said that their claims that the city council is not doing its job are false - a statement which has now been repeated by the mayor of Malaga. Francisco de la Torre said that he has never received any complaints during his visits to various areas in the city. He assured that any complaints, when raised, are taken on board by the council's services department, which processes them. According to the mayor, all neighbourhoods of Malaga are treated the same and it should be everybody, both institutions and residents, that makes an effort to maintain cleanliness. One of the requests De la Torre made to address the population was compliance with the regulation that establishes the times of the day when furniture can be thrown away. He highlighted that the municipal cleaning company - Limasam - should not bear all the responsibility for the city's state, as it already fulfills its share. Last week, some of the protesters took unconventional action: they demonstrated their frustration by cleaning a school area, in addition to rallying in front of the town hall. Jose Carlos Garcia Fuengirola Tuesday, 22 July 2025, 12:50 Share Trinidad Cabello still spends most of the day sitting in her armchair next to the window in her ground floor flat in the Los Boliches neighbourhood of Fuengirola. The 99-year-old woman looks out, even though she completely lost her sight two years ago. However, her family doesn't have to worry about her being alone any longer, as the Junta de Andalucia regional government has finally approved her application to receive daily home care assistance. According to the law, Trinidad is considered a dependant person. Her story was first covered by SUR on 7 July. On that same day, she received a call that informed her that her wish would finally be granted. After eight years of waiting, she now has Natalia - her care giver - who visits her every day from Monday to Friday to support her for a total of three hours per day. Trinidad thanks SUR for raising awareness. "If it hadn't been for you, I'd still be waiting here," she said. The elderly woman was not asking the Junta "for a handout"."I pay my taxes and I have certain rights," she said, adding that she was ready to speak to the president of the Junta - Juanma Moreno - if her needs continued being ignored. Although she was initially told that she would receive four hours of assistance a day, the service has been reduced to three hours. Trinidad is not planning on complaining, happy to receive support every day of the working week. Until now, the assistant would only go to her house twice a week and spend a total of three hours per week. Natalia and Trinidad get along well. The caretaker makes breakfast, cleans the house, cooks and helps Trinidad with her personal hygiene and anything else she might need. While she is there, Natalia becomes Trinidad's eyes. Although she needs support in performing day-to-day tasks, Trinidad is still a mother and she is happy to know that her daughters can now calmly take care of the responsibilities in their personal lives. According to the elderly woman, there is not a standard way of processing applications and the criteria is unclear. She says that there are people in a better state who are granted more hours, while others don't receive the service at all even if they are unwell. She hopes that her case will encourage others to raise their voice and demand their rights. Nicolas Von Looy Benidorm Tuesday, 22 July 2025 | Updated 24/07/2025 09:09h. Share The best way to understand why many architecture and town planning experts point to Benidorm as a reference is to use an old anecdote. The Spanish holiday hotspot that is a favour of Brits has been an example of sustainability since the middle of the 20th century. Anyone can try the experiment that explains why at home: take a pack of cigarettes, lay it flat on a table and trace its outline. Then stand it on one of its sides and trace the outline again. Finally, balance it upright on its base and trace the third outline. If we imagine that pack as a building, the lesson is clear: to accommodate the same number of homes, the third option - building vertically - is the most efficient and sustainable because it takes up the least amount of ground area. Benidorm has received awards and recognition for the urban and tourism sustainability it has been building for decades. This is why people say that "if you look from the sky, Benidorm is green and blue". It is "the town of skyscrapers" and one where the blue of the coastline and the green of its parks create an urban map. 40% of tourists which the Valencia region in Spain receives go to Benidorm Benidorm accounts for barely 1% of the population of the Spanish region of Valencia, but receives more than 40% of its tourists every year. The town of 75,000 inhabitants competes in both the national and international markets with entire countries in the tourism sector. High-rise construction is, in itself, the most sustainable. In Benidorm, it is characterised by wide spaces and avenues, which allows constant flow of air. It is no surprise that Benidorm is one of the cities with the best air quality in Spain, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Most of the balconies and terraces also have views of the sea thanks to this design. Zoom A group of sunbathers at Levante beach. J. C. Soler Whether this sustainable drive in the 50s and 60s was the result of chance is a matter for the experts to assess, but at this point in time it has become a conscious effort in which the resort's main industry - tourism - plays a fundamental role. For years now, the sector has been announcing new initiatives almost every week related to making better use of basic resources in the area, such as water, or moving towards zero emissions. The water problem Benidorm, like the rest of the Marina Baixa area, historically suffers from an enormous deficit in water supply. It was already apparent back in the days when this corner of the Mediterranean was a small town of trawlers and merchant seafarers. It was the biggest challenge when well-known mayor Pedro Zaragoza - the man who invented tourism as we know it - saw in this activity the only way out when the traditional trades only promised poverty. 70% of the movements getting around are made on foot, by bicycle or personal mobility vehicles Agreements were then signed with irrigators and other towns in the surrounding area for the transfer of water. For more than half a century, the town has not ceased to improve its network, the use of which today exceeds 96%, compared to a European average of 73%. Water consumption in 2025 is 18% lower than a quarter of a century ago, despite the population growing by 40%. Benidorm is also a town free of traffic jams. In the busiest weeks of the summer and on holidays such as Christmas and Easter, traffic is heavier than usual, but there are never any traffic jams for kilometres. The reason? The forward-thinking vision of the generation led by Zaragoza. One well-known anecdote tells of a high-ranking Franco-era official who refused to approve the construction of Avenida del Mediterraneo as Zaragoza had planned, because it would be wider than Madrid's Paseo de la Castellana. Zoom Benidorm's skyscrapers are reminiscent of those in Manhattan. J. C. Soler The commitment to sustainable mobility has been resolute in the 21st century. More than 70% of journeys in the city are made on foot, by bicycle or personal mobility vehicles through its more than 140 kilometres of cycle lanes and cycle paths. On 1 July, the low-emission zone (ZBE) came into force without causing chaos among residents and tourists, because road traffic had already been restricted in these areas for years. 'Low-cost' caricature Benidorm's success has been such that over the years there have been many attempts to replicate its model elsewhere in Spain and the world. Unfortunately, some copies have ended up becoming a 'low-cost' caricature of the famous resort. One such example is Wonsan Kalma - the project of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un with which the Pyongyang regime has created a resort with more than 40 hotels, 20 casinos, camping areas, an artificial lake and, of course, a beach that bears no resemblance to the coveted sandy beaches of Benidorm. 96% of use of the water supply network, compared to the 73% of the European average As Benidorm heads towards the centenary of its re-foundation as a major Mediterranean destination, it is not only an eternal leader in tourism but also an established international benchmark for sustainable urban planning. Benidorm, aesthetically speaking, can be liked or disliked. Its vertical buildings will convince some and scare others, but what is undisputed is that the town is green and blue more than ever. "We will only be the best town to visit if we are the best town to live in," said the mayor. Isabel Mendez Malaga Tuesday, 22 July 2025 | Updated 24/07/2025 08:05h. Share Health authorities in Spain have issued a warning notification after marijuana derivatives were detected in some confectionery and gummy products. According to the Spanish agency for food safety and nutrition (Aesan), the presence of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been found in gummies, brownies and chocolates of the Happy Bites brand, which were initially sold in Catalonia, although it is not ruled out that they may also have been distributed in other regions, as they are sold on the Internet. In fact, according to Aesan, the labelling of these products originating in the Netherlands and other similar products include text such as 'not for consumption' or 'collector's item' and do not warn of their components, with the potential danger to health. Nevertheless, they are products that look like foodstuffs and are therefore considered as such and made available to the public, with the consequent risks, especially for children. Products involved Name: HHC Gummies (different flavours) Brand name: Happy bites Product appearance: packaging Lot number: all lots Temperature: ambient. Name: HHC chocolates, HHC sex hearts, THC-P Gummies, HHC Gummies Brand name: Happy bites Product appearance: packaging Lot number: all lots Temperature: ambient. Name: HHC brownie Brand name: Happy bites Product appearance: packaging Lot number: all lots Temperature: ambient. This information has been passed on to the relevant authorities of the Spanish through the coordinated system for the rapid exchange of information (SCIRI), so that the withdrawal of the affected products from the marketing channels can be verified. People who have products affected by this alert, or any products with HHC or THC in their composition, at home are advised to refrain from consuming them. J. Bacorelle El Barco de Avila Tuesday, 22 July 2025, 16:14 Share Drivers in the Zaragoza, Castelldefels, Avila and Torello areas of Spain have recently become targets of roadside scams involving simulated breakdowns, for which "fake mechanics" demand large sums of money. Spanish police have warned of the proliferation of such scams, reminding people that they should call official roadside breakdown services in case of a breakdown. The 'modus operandi' of this recent scam is carried out by groups of up to three individuals who approach people parked on the side of the road. The first person warns the driver of a strange noise or a fallen car part. Then, the second individual arrives, posing as a mechanic. After a brief inspection, the fake mechanic claims that an important part is faulty or missing and convinces the driver to move the vehicle to another location. The third accomplice is called during the journey under the pretext that they are the person who can supply the missing part. Once at the new location, the scammers simulate the repair of the vehicle, lifting the car with a hydraulic jack and asking the victim to stay inside. At the end, they demand between 600 and 800 euros in cash, claiming that the real cost of the "part" would be much higher. In extreme cases, if the victim does not have the money, the fraudsters accompany them to an ATM cash machine or even to their home to get the money. Elderly victims At least five people have fallen prey to this scam in Zaragoza. The police in Castelldefels (Barcelona) also arrested three men in May while they were attempting to swindle an elderly man out of 1,165 euros for a supposedly flat tyre. Officers intercepted them as they were heading to the bank for the victim to withdraw money. They detected that another person had been scammed just minutes earlier. A similar type of fraud was detected in Avila, in March. The National Police arrested three people who were asking drivers to stop under the pretext that the target's car had an issue. The scammers would wear work clothes with garage logos to increase the credibility of the deception. In February 2024, a fake mechanic and his accomplice were arrested in Torello (Barcelona) for defrauding an 80-year-old man of 1,300 euros for a simulated breakdown. Police recommendations In the face of this worrying wave of scams, the National Police have issued a series of key recommendations to the public. In the event of a suspected breakdown, always contact your insurance company or a trusted professional workshop. Also be wary of those who insistently offer mechanical help without clear identification. If you are a victim of this scam, you should report it immediately via 091 or at the nearest police station. The authorities insist that these crimes are based on deception, psychological pressure and the appearance of professionalism. The collaboration of the public and reporting these crimes is essential to dismantle these networks and prevent more people from being scammed. Olatz Hernandez Madrid Tuesday, 22 July 2025, 12:08 Share Spain recorded a deficit of 2.7% and reduced its debt to 103.5% of GDP in the first three months of 2025. Data published by the European statistical office (Eurostat) shows that the deficit in the country fell by 0.4% compared to the previous three months and that public debt also fell by 2.8%, although it remains the fifth largest of the eurozone countries. Spain is getting closer to the fiscal targets set by Brussels - to keep the deficit below 3% and the debt at 60% of GDP. The average debt of the euro countries grew to 88% of GDP. The highest debts in the eurozone are in Greece (152.5%), Italy (137.9%), France (114.1%), Belgium (106.8%) and Spain (103.5%). In June last year, the European Commission opened infringement proceedings against seven countries - Belgium, France, Italy, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia - on the grounds that they were experiencing significant fiscal imbalances. This was not the case for Spain. Although it closed 2024 with a deficit of 3.6%, the EU pointed out that this was a "temporary" figure, which would be reduced to 3% "without further action being necessary". In the case of France, Emmanuel Macron's government has already begun to take measures and has announced a budget adjustment that will save almost 44 billion euros by freezing pensions, reducing public employment, cutting social spending and increasing productivity, among other measures. The countries that will not have to make adjustments are those with the lowest debt ratios: Bulgaria (23.9%), Estonia (24.1%) and Luxembourg (26.1%). In total, 16 European countries recorded an increase in the debt ratio, while ten others reduced it. It remained stable in the Czech Republic. In this complex financial context, the frugal countries - Sweden, Austria, Denmark - have rejected the budget plan of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for the 2028-2034 period, which implies increasing the contribution of member states from 1.13% of GDP to 1.26%. The bloc must reach Nato's 5% spending target, in addition to paying back loans from the Next Generation funds for recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, which amount to some 30 billion euros a year. Trump administration releases Martin Luther King Jr. assassination files Xinhua) 08:27, July 22, 2025 WASHINGTON, July 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced on Monday that the administration has released over 230,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK). The related files were released after nearly 60 years of questions surrounding the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Gabbard said in a post on social media platform X. "The documents include details about the FBI's investigation into the assassination of MLK, discussion of potential leads, internal FBI memos detailing the progress of the case, information about James Earl Ray's former cellmate who stated he discussed with Ray an alleged assassination plot, and more," according to Gabbard. On Jan. 23, three days after taking office, Trump signed an executive order to declassify any remaining files from the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy, and MLK. MLK stands as one of the most prominent figures in the American civil rights movement. He is widely celebrated for his commitment to nonviolent campaigns against racial segregation and inequality, as well as his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) CCTV: A recent report said that the project value under the BRI in the first six months of this year is greater than the total for the whole of 2024, hitting a record high. Some media and scholars say that Chinas increased engagement with countries under the BRI contrasts starkly with the approach of the U.S., which is imposing bruising tariffs on trading partners around the world. And BRI countries saw an opportunity to deepen ties with China. Whats your comment? Guo Jiakun: Belt and Road cooperation has now entered a new stage of high-quality development. From Eurasia to Africa and Latin America, and from physical connectivity to institutional connectivity and people-to-people connectivity, the fruits of cooperation have benefited the people from over 150 countries. The Jakarta-Bandung high speed railway has served more than 10 million passengers. China-Europe Railway Express has provided over 110 thousand freight train services, and the first ever two-way voyage between Chancay and Shanghai through the new land-sea corridor between China and Latin America has been completed. The installed capacity of photovoltaic power plants jointly built by China and Africa totaled over 1.5 gigawatts. Small and beautiful projects like the Luban Workshops and the juncao technology have led households to a road to prosperity. After the development of more than a decade, and built on the advancements in connectivity, Belt and Road cooperation expands to a platform for trade and industrial cooperation, assisting more countries to integrate into the international industrial chain and safeguarding the stability and resilience of global supply chain. In Belt and Road cooperation, China follows the principles of planning together, building together, and benefiting together, the philosophy of open, green and clean cooperation, and the goal of pursuing high-standard, people-centered and sustainable cooperation, and is committed to promoting the modernization of all the countries. China is ready to work with all parties to strive for solid progress in pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation for common development and a win-win future. Bloomberg: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the next round of U.S.-China talks could include a discussion of Chinas purchases of Russian and Iranian oil. Were wondering whether the Foreign Ministry has any comment. Guo Jiakun: On tariffs, Chinas position is consistent and clear. We hope the U.S. will work with China to implement the important common understandings reached by the two presidents during the phone call, give play to the role of the economic and trade consultation mechanism, build up consensus, reduce misunderstanding, and step up cooperation through communication and dialogue, and promote the steady, sound, and sustainable development of bilateral relations. For anything specific, Id refer you to competent authorities. EFE: The China-EU Summit is taking place in Beijing this week. How does the Chinese government assess the current state of China-EU relations? Does China consider that this weeks summit with the European Union reflects a strengthening of bilateral ties amid increasing global trade tensions? Guo Jiakun: This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the EU, and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN. Over the past 50 years, China-EU relationship has become one of the most influential bilateral relationships in the world. The fruitful China-EU cooperation has boosted each others development and progress, bringing tangible benefit to nearly 2 billion Chinese and EU people, making important contribution to world peace and development, and setting a fine example of mutually beneficial cooperation in the era of economic globalization. The China-EU relationship is now at a critical juncture of building on past achievements and opening up a new chapter. The relationship faces both new opportunities and new challenges. In an increasingly turbulent international landscape with rising unilateralism and protectionism, the upcoming China-EU Summitan occasion to enhance strategic communication and deepen dialogue and cooperationis good not only to our two sides but also to the world as a whole. China stands ready to work with the EU, through a successful summit, to send out a positive message of China and the EU being committed to strengthening partnership and upholding multilateralism and open cooperation. AFP: The U.S. State Department confirmed that an employee of the U.S. government was made subject to an exit ban in China. Can you give us more information on that? 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. AFP: Yesterday, a Chinese-born American researcher admitted the theft of trade secrets from the U.S., including technologies designed to detect nuclear missile launches. What is the Foreign Ministrys comment? Guo Jiakun: Im not familiar with what you mentioned. AFP: Yesterday the U.S. defense secretary reaffirmed the U.S.s defense commitment to the Philippines, saying that it extends to armed attacks on the Philippines Coast Guard vessels in the South China Sea. What is Chinas comment? Guo Jiakun: Whatever cooperation the U.S. and the Philippines have, it should not target or harm any third party, still less incite confrontation and heighten tensions in the region. BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua)-- The upcoming China-EU Summit presents a valuable opportunity to reflect on the experience and insights gained from 50 years of bilateral ties. It offers a platform to build consensus and chart a stable and healthy path forward that benefits both sides and the world. The summit comes at a time when geopolitical tensions, protectionism and unilateralism are increasingly fragmenting global relations. Furthermore, China-EU relations are at a critical juncture, presenting opportunities for deepening pragmatic cooperation while also highlighting the need for strengthened strategic communication to address global challenges and effectively manage differences. In this context, there is hope that the meeting will convey clear and positive messages to advance win-win cooperation based on mutual respect and openness. The summit aims to chart a course for the next 50 years of bilateral relations, safeguard free trade and multilateralism, and provide certainty and positive energy in a world facing mounting challenges. The past half century has witnessed remarkable developments of China-EU cooperation. The bilateral trade volume of goods increased from 2.4 billion U.S. dollars in 1975 to 785.8 billion dollars in 2024. Two-way investment stock has grown from nearly zero to 260 billion dollars. China and the EU are each other's second-largest trading partners, with economic complementarity being a key feature of their cooperation. China-EU cooperation serves as a prime example of mutually beneficial cooperation in the era of economic globalization, despite differences in history, culture, social systems and development stages. Airbus illustrates this partnership well. Since entering the Chinese mainland market 40 years ago, the European aircraft manufacturer has seen its market share in China grow to more than 50 percent. In 2003, China and the EU established a comprehensive strategic partnership. They have established over 70 consultation and dialogue mechanisms that cover various fields such as politics, economy and trade, humanities, science and technology, energy, and the environment. Additionally, the two sides have increased cooperation in the areas of digital and green transition. Some valuable experience for comprehensive development includes the commitments to mutual respect, mutually beneficial cooperation, and free trade. These principles are the cornerstones of future China-EU ties, which is among the most influential relations worldwide. Fruitful China-EU cooperation has contributed to the development and progress of both sides, delivering tangible benefits for nearly two billion people in China and the EU, and greatly promoted world peace and development. However, in recent years, the bilateral relationship has faced difficulties and challenges, due to various frictions and differences on issues like trade. This has been particularly evident since the EU adopted a "partner-competitor-systemic rival" framework for characterizing bilateral relations in 2019. Some describe the EU's positioning of China as akin to having all traffic lights (green, yellow and red) on at the same time. This approach not only fails to direct traffic, but will inevitably cause disruption. Chinese culture holds that complaining about others will not lead to self-improvement. Given the scale of bilateral trade and the growing competitiveness of some of China's industries, it is natural for some differences and frictions to arise. Solutions lie in dialogue and consultation. The EU side has expressed concerns about its trade deficit with China. Yet, a thorough examination of the trade imbalance reveals that the situation is more complex than the deficit figure suggests. Three facts offer different perspectives. Firstly, the EU has long enjoyed a surplus in services trade with China. Secondly, it restricts the export of high-tech products to China. Thirdly, over one-third of exports from EU companies in China are sold to Europe, which means European companies get many of the benefits of the trade surplus. There is no fundamental conflict of interests between China and the EU, but rather extensive common interests. Greater benefits will only come from partnership rather than rivalry. Bilateral cooperation was not -- and will never be -- a zero-sum game. To truly understand China-EU relations, it is important to hold a long-term, strategic and comprehensive perspective. The world is currently experiencing significant turbulence and change. As China and the EU prepare for the next 50 years of cooperation, it is particularly important to reflect on and adhere to the original aspirations that guided the establishment of bilateral relations. This includes promoting values such as mutual benefit, solving problems through consultations, and opposing hegemony. By learning from the past, the 25th China-EU Summit on Thursday should rise above differences and pool consensus to open up a new chapter of bilateral relations. Carmen Barreiro Malaga Tuesday, 22 July 2025, 17:23 Share Zurine, Asier and their son Aimar are going on a holiday in Selva - a small village in the interior of Mallorca. But there is a catch (a positive one) - they won't be paying a single euro for accommodation in the middle of August. They are spending 15 days in Esteve and Aina's house - a ground-floor dwelling with two bedrooms, a terrace and "a big yard", half an hour from the coast. The two families don't know each other and yet, Zurine's family will sleep in Esteve and Aina's house, eat in their kitchen and enjoy the sunsets lying in their hammocks. Sounds like The Parent Trap? Zurine Sarabia's family has been travelling all over Europe for more than a decade thanks to the home swap model, which is increasingly in demand all over the world. This approach to tourism not only allows you to travel without paying for accommodation but also to "experience the destination from inside, like a local". The home exchange idea was born more than six decades ago. It was conceived by a Dutch and a Swiss teacher. In the beginning, the 'exchange' involved two people/families swapping their homes for the same period of time. However, this concept has expanded. "It doesn't have to be one for one. For example, this year we are going to Esteve and Aina's house in Selva and a family from Nantes is coming to ours," says Zurine. Her family has more than 30 exchanges under its belt. "We have travelled all over Europe: Stockholm, Copenhagen, Prague, Rotterdam, Rome, Budapest, Ghent, different towns in Croatia, Ezcaray or the Navarrese Pyrenees. People from all over the world have also come to our house: a three-bedroom, one-bathroom flat ten minutes from Bilbao and the beaches." Zurine is a generous host. She usually leaves guests a full pantry and a guide that helps them really get to know the area beyond the tourist experience. For example, they might suggest plans they themselves enjoy. Each family establishes its own conditions, but Zurine allows guests full access to everything in their house. Her son Aimar, 16, has been used to sharing his toys and things since he was little. "It's part of our experience," she says. This year, they are going to the interior of Mallorca, because they want "a quieter summer", which is exactly what Esteve and Aina's house offers them. "We started looking a long time ago. We saw the house, we liked it, the dates suited us and they immediately said 'yes'," says Asier, who warns that the best way to secure a house and a destination of your choice is to contact the owners in advance. Sometimes, the holidays might not match. Of all the houses they have stayed in, the "most impressive" was "a villa" in Budapest. "It had a jaw-dropping private pool. Imagine how big it was, the house had two floors and we didn't even get to go up to the top floor." As for the houses, "there is a bit of everything". In some cases, families value the location more than the type of construction or the other way round. "It's a matter of looking for what suits you best for each trip. In Stockholm, we spent 15 days in an eIn which gave us some wonderful recommendations. We got to know the country from another perspective and you can't do that if you stay in a hotel." Zoom Esteve and Aina have convinced several friends to follow their example. E.C. While Zurine and her family are in Mallorca, Esteve and Aina will embark on a 21-day trip to South Korea. The first stop will be Seoul, where they will spend a week. Then they will go to Busan, later to the island of Jeju and, finally, they will visit some rural areas in the interior. "All through successive home exchanges," they say. Although they have only been travelling through this home exchange system for a couple of years, they are "delighted" with the experience. "We heard about it from a friend at the gym, who told us that she travelled like this with her family every summer. We were curious, so we opened an account and started receiving exchange requests immediately. There was no one in the village who did this, but since we signed up, four other friends have joined. When they see that they can spend Christmas in New York without spending a lot of money, people get excited quickly," says Esteve. South Korea was not the first choice for their summer holidays. In fact, they were considering spending them in Canada. As they couldn't make up their minds, they asked around in different countries and the hostess in Seoul was the first to reply. They liked the destination and the dates coincided, so they confirmed the accommodation immediately. Esteve and Aina's "most amazing" experience so far took place a few months ago, when the couple spent the Christmas holidays in New York. "We stayed in a really cool flat in Brooklyn Heights for almost three weeks" - an "unfeasible experience" if they had had to pay "the 3,000 or 4,000 euros" it would have cost them to stay in a hotel or a tourist flat at that time of year. "The owner was Dutch and she went to spend the Christmas holidays in Europe with her family. The flat had spectacular views of the river and was perfectly located. This home exchange system allows you to travel to wonderful places on a much more affordable budget," says the couple. Far beyond the economic benefit, what they value most is "the human dimension" of the experience. "The hosts usually leave a guide in the house with personalised recommendations for restaurants, cafes, museums. They suggest alternative plans to the tourist circuit and that is a big plus, because you feel like a resident in the neighbourhood." They do the same for their guests. The couple has prepared a PDF with instructions on how to run the house and suggestions for exploring the area, from routes through the Tramuntana to places to try the local cuisine. "We want those who come to our house to get to know the real Mallorca, not just the sun and the beach. We live here with people, with a different culture and a different pace of life," they say. Their house is especially attractive for those who are looking for a more authentic holiday, far from mass tourism. "We receive requests from all over the world, especially in the months before summer." South Korea will be their big adventure this summer, but they are already thinking about the next destination. "Maybe London at the end of the year," they say, while all possible options await them. Ticonderoga, N.Y. A 9-year-old girl believed to have been killed by her father while on vacation in Upstate New York died by drowning, State Police said Tuesday. Melina Frattolin was killed 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. Her father, Luciano Frattolin, hid her body under a log in a waterway, Troopers wrote. Luciano Frattolin, 45, falsely reported that Melina was abducted by two men in a white van after she was killed, Capt. Robert McConnell, a spokesperson for State Police, said during a news conference Monday morning. Preliminary results of Melinas autopsy showed that the child died from asphyxiation due to drowning, according to a news release from State Police Tuesday. The manner of death was ruled a homicide, troopers said. Melinas body was found in a shallow portion of a pond in the town of Ticonderoga in Essex County with no indication of being abducted, troopers said. Frattolin was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a human corpse. Luciano Frattolin, 45, was charged with second-degree murder in the death of his daughter Melina Frattolin, 9, who was found dead in a pond in Essex County this weekend, police announced Monday, July 21, 2025. Courtesy State Police The father and daughter were visiting New York City, Connecticut and other areas in Upstate New York and were scheduled to return to Canada on Sunday, McConnell said. Melina was set to return to her mothers home in Montreal, where she lived full time, McConnell said. Melinas mother and Frattolin have been estranged since 2019. 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. Frattolin has no criminal record or history of domestic violence, McConnell said. He said there is no indication Frattolin had a history of mental health issues. State Police announced Tuesday that they are seeking the publics help gathering additional evidence. Troopers are seeking video evidence or eyewitness accounts of the 2024 gray Toyota Prius that the father and daughter were traveling in from July 11 to July 19. Investigators are specifically interested in the area of I-87 North between Exit 28 (North Schroon Lake: US 9, NY 74 to Ticonderoga) and Exit 20 (Fort Ann, Queensbury, Lake George, NY 149 and US 9). Troopers ask anyone with information about the vehicle to contact State Police at (518) 873-2750 or crimetip@troopers.ny.gov . An Upstate New York amusement park is blaming operator error for a recent scare on one of its rides. WROC reports Seabreeze Amusement Park announced Monday that it completed an internal investigation that determined a ride operator recently failed to property secure safety restraints before a kiddie ride started moving. Park officials said the ride was safely stopped before it fully left the station, and resumed operating after restraints were secured. The ride and its operator involved were not named. WHAM reports the employee has since been fired. For more than 100 years, Seabreeze has been committed to safe, family fun. That commitment guides every aspect of our operation, said Natalie Darrow, Director of Marketing, in a statement. We take matters like this very seriously and appreciate the guest who brought it to our attention. We were glad the family chose to stay and continue their day at the park, and we remain committed to maintaining the trust families place in us. Its unclear exactly when the incident occurred, but Seabreeze is not the only Upstate New York amusement park dealing with issues this month. Video from TikTok users show a power outage at Six Flags Great Escape Lodge left riders stuck on some rides, including at the top of the 16-story Adirondack Outlaw, on July 14. According to Big Frog 104 (WFRG-FM), the theme park in Queensbury was temporarily evacuated and power was restored after about an hour. Our team followed standard safety protocols, which included safely escorting guests from select rides, Six Flags Public Relations Corporate Director Kristin Fitzgerald told the Utica radio station. This type of situation is something our team is trained to manage quickly and safely. No injuries were reported in either incident. By Sam Mellins | New York Focus This story originally appeared in New York Focus, a nonprofit news publication investigating power in New York. Sign up for their newsletter here. Two health care companies are positioned to keep tens of millions of dollars that are meant to benefit the army of low-wage home health aides who care for disabled and elderly New Yorkers. The first company, Public Partnerships, LLC (PPL), recently took over New Yorks state-funded home health program. The second, health insurer Leading Edge Administrators, was hired by PPL to provide insurance and other benefits to the hundreds of thousands of workers mostly women and immigrants who provide the home care. The new coverage began in May. A New York Focus investigation has found that Leading Edge has championed a business model allowing the employers they work with to keep money that should legally go to their workers. In partnership with PPL, that strategy could help the two companies hold on to nearly $100 million a year in New York. That is them keeping the money that they were supposed to pay to the employees, said LaDonna Lusher, partner at employment law firm Virginia & Ambinder, after New York Focus described the business model to her. I do think that the New York attorney general could investigate that. A spokesperson for the attorney generals office declined to comment and the state has not accused the companies of any wrongdoing. PPL is currently facing multiple lawsuits alleging that it has underpaid New Yorks home care workers, who generally make about $20 per hour. The company denies those allegations. There are two parts to Leading Edges model. In the first, 40 cents per hour out of every NYC-area home care workers paycheck will automatically go towards the Leading Edge health plan. That plan doesnt cover most medical expenses, like hospital care and specialist visits, but rather covers only basic preventative care, like annual physicals and mammograms. Thats useless for the majority of home health aides, who already have health insurance that covers those basics. Because many aides likely will not use the insurance, Leading Edge and PPL will be able to keep the money that they take out of the aides paychecks to pay for it, instead of spending that money on health care. And there is no way for most aides to opt out. I dont want anything to do with this insurance, said Maggie Ornstein, a home health aide who cares for her mother in Queens and was forced to enroll in the Leading Edge plan. I already have insurance that I pay a lot of money for. The second part of the Leading Edge model involves deducting more money from home care workers hourly pay and putting that cash in an account that they can use for expenses ranging from prescription drugs to transportation costs. Aides frequently complain that the account is difficult to use, and the company admits that roughly a third of employee funds go unspent which could equal tens of millions of dollars more each year not going to New Yorks home care workers. It only qualifies for certain things. It wont qualify for other things. The aides dont know that in the beginning, and then they learn that the hard way, said Lusher, the employment lawyer. She added that many health care companies offer similar accounts and workers frequently struggle to use them. New York Focuss ongoing investigation into Leading Edge which sometimes goes by the name Omni Advantage has revealed patients left in ruinous medical debt, numerous suits by doctors and hospitals who have accused the company of not paying bills, and a founder, Jerry Weissman, convicted of insurance-related felonies for which he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Even how the company spends its profits is questionable: Weissman and his wife Barbara run a charity the Modim Foundation to which they and the companies they control have donated over $5 million since 2022. The charity has reported giving away $4.3 million since then but has refused to disclose where it sent the money even after repeated inquiries from New York Focus a violation of federal law that raises questions about whether the Modim Foundation is truly doing charitable work. Some legislators have expressed concern about Leading Edges history and practices, but the company has not yet faced any consequences or public scrutiny from government regulators. A legislative hearing to investigate PPLs takeover of the home care program was scheduled for early July, but was then postponed to August. Leading Edge did not respond to requests for comment for this story. A PPL spokesperson said that New York Focuss new findings are categorically incorrect and founded on outdated assumptions and misinformation, and that the company and its partners are in full compliance with New York law and not profiting off unspent premiums. Money meant for employees will be used only to benefit workers, they said. The spokesperson, who wouldnt share their name, did not respond to follow-up questions or agree to interview requests. The two programs that Leading Edge offers have their roots in a 2011 New York state law known as wage parity, which says that home care workers in New York City and the surrounding area must be paid a supplemental amount in addition to the state minimum wage. Almost as soon as the law was passed, companies such as Leading Edge found a way to circumvent it by focusing on a critical loophole: The bonus wages can be paid either in cash or in benefits, such as health insurance. Leading Edges strategy relies on offering workers benefits, but making those benefits very difficult to claim. When employees dont claim or use the full value of their benefits, the company paying saves significantly. The majority of home health aides will likely be unable to claim any benefits from the Leading Edge plan. Thats because they already have public health insurance or coverage through another job or a family member, according to an analysis of census data by Barbara Caress, a health policy professor at Baruch College. These plans provide all of the services covered by the Leading Edge plan. As a result, insurance plans like Leading Edges are usually useless to workers, said Edward Larned, a vice president at New York-based company Clarity Benefit Solutions. Its like, Hey, Im offering a medical plan, and its the worst plan ever, Larned said. There is no way to opt out of the Leading Edge plan unless health aides purchase an even more expensive plan from the company, one which also has huge gaps in coverage. People enrolled in Medicare, which the federal government offers to Americans over 65, can also opt out. Since most workers are already covered under a different insurance, the 40 cents per hour that they pay for the Leading Edge plan will likely go almost entirely unspent. According to a former Leading Edge leadership employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to continued employment in the insurance industry, the average number of bills submitted under similar plans was less than one per employee per year. In a 2018 appearance on the podcast All Things Homecare, Leading Edge insurance and benefits specialist Mayer Majer acknowledged that utilization is really low for these kinds of Leading Edge plans. PPL has tried to minimize the fact that workers are paying for the program, instead framing it as a benefit on top of their salary. When asked during a radio interview why workers are being forced to enroll in the plan, ex-PPL president Maria Perrin said that there is no cost to employees to be in the plan. Health aide Cynthia Villalobos, who cares for her mother on Staten Island, rejected this claim. Im not a fool. I know that money is getting taken out of my check, she said. Villalobos already has health insurance through her other job at a sleepwear manufacturer, and doesnt plan to use the insurance from Leading Edge. The former leadership employee said that this type of insurance plan is an arrangement that Leading Edge has created numerous times with other clients in New York and profited handsomely from. Thats because Leading Edge takes the money workers paid for the insurance and didnt use and splits it with the employer. Theyre putting in programs that give kickbacks to the employer, the former employee said. PPL did not answer New York Focuss inquiry about whether it is using this model. In 2020, New Yorks legislature passed a law meant to end this type of practice. They barred companies like Leading Edge from taking bonus wages meant for workers and returning the cash to employers. The mandatory health insurance business model serves as the replacement. These plans can reach unheard-of profit margins as high as 70 percent per year netting Leading Edge and its clients millions of dollars, the former employee said. Margins in the insurance industry are generally in the single digits. If the plan that Leading Edge is offering PPL hits that benchmark, it could mean that the two companies will reap nearly $60 million a year in profits, according to New York Focuss analysis. Another part of Leading Edges benefit package could also lead to tens of millions of dollars meant for home care aides remaining with the company and with PPL. Another portion of every workers hourly pay between 22 to 47 cents per hour, depending on their location will go towards the companys Flex Card program, with workers receiving a debit card to be used to pay for eligible expenses such as health and transportation. The workers dont have to pay taxes on this part of their salary (Leading Edges clients also save money because this portion of employees wages is exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes, which are paid by employers). However, by Leading Edges own admission, a significant amount of the money goes unspent. In the 2018 podcast, Majer, the Leading Edge employee, said that about 30 percent of Flex Card dollars are never spent. If that rate was applied to all of the health aides now in the Flex Card program, that would equal nearly $30 million each year not being used by workers. Majer did not respond to a request for comment. One of the reasons that much of the money isnt spent is because the card is difficult to use. Facebook forums for New York home health aides abound with complaints that certain stores or websites dont accept the card, or it doesnt work for particular products. Aides also complain that the cards website is difficult to navigate and frequently unusable. The hours I have spent on this are hours that Im not spending hanging out with my mother or providing her with the care she needs, said Ornstein, the Queens home health aide. Like with the insurance plan, Leading Edge has a method for getting the money back. When health aides leave their jobs, PPL and Leading Edge can deduct an administrative fee each month until the accounts balance reaches zero, according to documents prepared by Leading Edge. This is a strategy frequently used by employers to reclaim money after its been allocated to employees, said Larned, the vice president at the benefits company. We would just withdraw that from their account balance every month until the combination of that withdrawal and their spending gets down to zero, and then we close out the account, he said. This appears to be a strategy that Leading Edge has used on previous occasions. Rather than slowly draining former employees benefit accounts, companies that want to obey the spirit of the law can mail their former employees a check for the sum they accrued before leaving the job, Larned said. Helping companies spend less on their workers is an explicit part of Leading Edges business pitch. In a LinkedIn post from last year, Majer the company executive boasted that Leading Edge can help you save by providing employees with benefits instead of wages. In the 2018 podcast, Majer acknowledged that this arrangement is unpopular with some home care aides. The aides dont want the card, they want the money, he said. Syracuse, N.Y. Voters are expected to get a choice in November whether to extend the term for Onondaga County legislators to four years while also limiting each legislator to no more than three consecutive terms. Most county legislators from both parties support the proposal, their leaders say. And the county executive has indicated he plans to sign the local law if the legislature approves it, Legislature Chairman Tim Burtis said. When fans head to downtown Syracuses Landmark Theatre this fall, they should notice something different above and around the stage. All the artwork and decorations, I wouldnt say theyll sparkle, but they should really pop visually more than they did, said Mike Intaglietta, the theaters executive director. The 97-year-old theater is now undergoing a $1.5 million project to restore the interior of a major section of the auditorium. That includes cleaning, repainting and repairing the intricate decorative features adorning the walls, ceilings and alcoves surrounding the stage and what is known as the proscenium (the big archway that frames the stage). What looked kind of dull before should really stand out, so you can see all the original colors and tones, Intaglietta said. He noted the auditorium had been affected by years of patrons smoking in the seats and heat from a coal-burning furnace. The Landmark Theatre is in the midst of significant renovations upgrading the intricate stylings all throughout the theater Thursday, July 17, 2025. N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com Its the first professional restoration of the auditorium since the theater opened as the Loews State Theater in February of 1928. Past cleanings were done by staff. We want to restore it to what it looked like in 1928, Intaglietta said. And were doing it now to have it look great for our 100th anniversary. The project started immediately after the May 18 closing of Beetlejuice, the final Broadway in Syracuse show of this past season. It is expected to be finished before Sept. 9, the opening night for Hamilton, the first show of the 2025-26 season. The work is being done by crews from John Tiedemann, Inc., the New Jersey firm which handled local projects like Hotel Syracuse (Marriott Syracuse Downtown) and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. It involves a lot of detailed work by hand. Much of it is happening on scaffolds that reach from the floor of the orchestra pit all the way up to the domed ceiling far above the stage. Workers restore the paint on The Landmark Theatre's intricate ceiling in the midst of significant renovations upgrading the intricate stylings all throughout the theater Thursday, July 17, 2025. (N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com) N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com The decorations are not ordinary. They include a series of heads called grotesques (similar to gargoyles) which line the ceiling. There are also intricate panels depicting scenes reminiscent of the ancient Middle East and south Asia, along with ancient Greece and Rome. The original design was meant to be eye-catching and grand, said Jamie Williams, an architect with Holmes King Kallquist & Associates of Syracuse. He is a former Landmark staffer and board member who has been associated with the theater for 50 years. The Landmark was built during the era of studio-owned movie palaces and designed by famed theater architect Thomas Lamb, Williams said. Its design was the prototype for two other ornate theaters built later in New York City, he said. One was on 72nd Street in Manhattan and another, now called the United Palace, still stands on 175th Street in Washington Heights. The point of them was to make people say Wow, when they walked in, Williams said. And they built on the themes associated with these ancient and exotic places, which was popular at the time. Much of the detail work in the Landmark involves restoration of the art pieces made from cast plaster, Williams said. The Landmark Theatre is in the midst of significant renovations upgrading the intricate stylings all throughout the theater Thursday, July 17, 2025. (N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com) N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com Williams, who took a break from architectural school in the 1970s to work on the Landmark staff, said he has enjoyed watching the current project. It has allowed him to get close to features he never had a good look at before. In 50 years, there are some corners and places and things Ive never seen, he said. The auditorium project is just the latest in an ongoing series of improvements the theater has undertaken in recent years. Those include a new marquee, more comfortable seating, a lobby restoration and expansion of the womens restrooms. Williams called the auditorium work the theaters most significant project since the stage and rear parts of the building were expanded in 2011. That work allowed the Landmark to start booking large touring Broadway shows like Hamilton, Wicked and Phantom of the Opera. The Landmark Theatre is in the midst of significant renovations upgrading the intricate stylings all throughout the theater Thursday, July 17, 2025. (N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com) N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com The current project is being paid for by a $500,000 New York State grant secured by Assemblyman William B. Magnarelli and contributions from the Dorothy and Marshall M. Reisman Foundation, the Allyn Family Foundation, and Landmark Theatre donors and board members. Intaglietta and Williams are now collaborating on a special feature to cap the project. As with many restored works of art, including the Mona Lisa, workers deliberately leave a small section in its original state, Williams said. So were talking about where were going to leave that bit of original patina, he said. Were still looking. A police chief in Upstate New York has been placed on leave after his girlfriend was arrested over an altercation. WSKG reports Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski was placed on administrative leave Monday over an incident which occurred while he was off-duty in nearby Johnson City on Friday. Zikuski was present, but not involved in the incident. According to a viral video posted on Facebook, Zikuskis girlfriend Susan Rice appeared to be arguing with a group of people sitting on the porch of a home. At one point, she calls them Section 8 and claims We are the police, despite not having a law enforcement position herself. Rice allegedly rushed onto the porch and hit two teenagers, later identified as a 16-year-old boy who lived in the house and an 18-year-old friend who was visiting. Someone behind the camera then appeared to hit Rice, who fell to the floor. Zikuski came onto the porch to lift Rice up and carry her away. According to WNBF, police said Rice received medical treatment for undisclosed injuries. The teens were not hurt. WBNG reports Johnson City police are investigating the incident. Rice was not arrested until Monday, when she went to the Johnson City Police station for an interview. She was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, trespassing and second-degree harassment. Before her arrest, Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham said he was concerned by Rices comments in the video because she is a private citizen not employed by the City of Binghamton nor affiliated with the City in any official capacity." Im troubled by her language and the implication that she is in any way above the law because of a personal association with a member of law enforcement, Kraham said. Rice was released and issued a ticket to appear in court at a later date. According to WSKG, Zikuski has been Binghamtons police chief since 2008. He was placed on administrative leave for more than 3 months in 2015 over an allegation of sexual harassment, then returned when the complaint was dropped. The Southern Tier citys assistant police chief, John C. Ryan, will serve as Binghamtons Acting Police Chief pending a review of Zikuski and the incident. The Trump administration on Monday 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 digital document dump includes 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 a lengthy statement released Monday, Kings two living children, Martin III, 67, and Bernice, 62, said their fathers killing has been a captivating public curiosity for decades. But the pair emphasized the personal nature of the matter and urged that the files be viewed within their full historical context. The Kings got advance access to the records and had their own teams reviewing them. Those efforts continued even as the government granted public access. Among the documents are leads the FBI received after Kings assassination and details of the CIAs fixation on Kings pivot to international anti-war and anti-poverty movements in the years before he was killed. It was not immediately clear whether the documents shed 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. 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. Bernice King was 5 years old when her father was killed at the age of 39. 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. She praised President Donald Trump for pushing the issue. Release is transparency to some, a distraction for others 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 MLKs 1968 assassinations. The government unsealed the JFK records in March and disclosed some RFK files in April. The announcement from Gabbards office included a statement from Alveda King, Martin Luther King Jr.s niece, who is an outspoken conservative and has broken from Kings children on various topics including the FBI files. Alveda King said she was grateful to President Trump for his transparency. Separately, Attorney General Pam Bondis social media account featured a picture of the attorney general with Alveda King. Besides fulfilling Trumps order, the latest release means another alternative headline for the president 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. But Bernice King later posted on her personal Instagram account a black-and-white photo of her father, looking annoyed, with the caption Now, do the Epstein files. And some civil rights activists did not spare the president. Trump releasing the MLK assassination files is not about transparency or justice, said the Rev. Al Sharpton. Its a desperate attempt to distract people from the firestorm engulfing Trump over the Epstein files and the public unraveling of his credibility among the MAGA base. The King Center, founded by Kings widow and now led by Bernice King, reacted separately from what Bernice said jointly with her brother. The King Center statement framed the release as a distraction but from more than short-term political controversy. It is unfortunate and ill-timed, given the myriad of pressing issues and injustices affecting the United States and the global society, the King Center, linking those challenges to MLKs efforts. This righteous work should be our collective response to renewed attention on the assassination of a great purveyor of true peace. Records mean a new trove of research material The King records were initially intended to be sealed until 2027, until Justice Department attorneys asked a federal judge to lift the sealing order early. Scholars, history buffs and journalists have been preparing to study the documents for new information about his assassination on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King co-founded in 1957 as the Civil Rights Movement blossomed, opposed the release. The group, along with Kings family, argued that the FBI illegally surveilled King and other civil rights figures, hoping to discredit 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 he considered radicals. FBI records released previously show how Hoovers bureau wiretapped Kings telephone lines, bugged his hotel rooms and used informants to gather information, including evidence of Kings extramarital affairs. 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, the King children said in their statement. The intent ... 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. 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 Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. After those victories, King turned his attention to economic justice and international peace. He criticized rapacious capitalism and the Vietnam War. King asserted that political rights alone were not enough to ensure a just society. Many establishment figures like Hoover viewed King as a communist threat. Kings children still dont accept the original explanation of assassination King was assassinated as he was aiding striking sanitation workers in Memphis, part of his explicit turn toward economic justice. Ray pleaded guilty to Kings murder. Ray later renounced that plea and maintained his innocence until his death in 1998. King family members and others have long questioned whether Ray acted alone, or if he was even involved. Coretta Scott King asked for the probe to be reopened, and in 1998, then-Attorney General Janet Reno ordered a new look. Renos 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. They pointed to a 1999 civil case, brought by the King family, in which a Memphis jury 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. GENEVA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said the Israeli military attacked its staff residence and main warehouse in Gaza on Monday, a move the agency said severely undermined its ability to operate in the region and accelerated the collapse of the local health system. The WHO said in a statement that its staff residence in the city of Deir al-Balah in Gaza was attacked three times on Monday, and its main warehouse was destroyed. It condemned the attacks "in the strongest terms." WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that the Israeli military entered the agency's premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot, while male staff and family members were "handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot and screened at gunpoint." Two staff members and two of their family members were detained. Three were later released, while one remains in custody, said Tedros, who called for the immediate release of the detained staff member and urged full protection for all WHO personnel. He also called on member states to help ensure a sustained and regular flow of medical supplies into Gaza. "A ceasefire is not just necessary, it is overdue," he said. On Monday, the Israeli military sent tanks into parts of Deir al-Balah following a warning issued the previous day ordering residents, including displaced people living in tents, to evacuate in anticipation of immediate action. Tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians were in Deir al-Balah when the evacuation order was issued, according to initial estimates from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Over 20 Western nations, as well as the EU, on Monday called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, noting that the suffering of civilians in Gaza "has reached new depths." "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," read the statement. 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. KABUL, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan interim government, in a major step to enhance local products and strengthen domestic economy, has opened an industrial complex on Monday, the state-run Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA) reported. Several factories destroyed during decades of war have been revived and are set to begin production as an industrial complex to reduce Afghanistan's dependence on foreign goods, the state-owned media outlet reported, citing Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the acting deputy prime minister on economic affairs. The industrial complex would produce 105 different types of goods ranging from agricultural machinery to spare parts of transport vehicles, electrical equipment and water canal tools, according to the official. Baradar also called upon Afghan and foreign companies to invest and contribute to the rebuilding process of the post-war nation. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the complex, Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi, the acting deputy prime minister on administrative affairs, said that the industrial complex would also create job opportunities. Landslide, heavy rain in Pakistan sweeps away cars, killing 3 Khaplu, Pakistan, July 22 (AFP) Jul 22, 2025 A landslide triggered by torrential monsoon rains swept away cars on a mountainous highway in northern Pakistan, killing at least three people, with more cars buried under the debris, officials said Tuesday. Flash floods, collapsed buildings and electrocutions have killed more than 180 people since monsoon season arrived in late June. More than eight vehicles were swept away on Monday when heavy rains triggered a landslide on a highway in Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, Abdul Hameed, a senior police officer in the area, told AFP. "Three dead bodies have been recovered and more than 15 are still missing," Abdul Hameed, the district police officer for Diamer district, told AFP. He said at least 10 vehicles were buried under the debris. "The rescue operation has been launched again at 6:00 am today," he added. Faizullah Faraq, spokesperson of the Gilgit-Baltistan government, confirmed the death toll to AFP. Floods in the area on Monday have damaged 50 houses, four bridges, a hotel, a school and blocked major highways and damaged communication signals. "Hundreds of trapped tourists have since been brought to safety; government teams cleared debris and escorted them off the mountain road, while local villagers provided emergency shelter and assistance," Faraq added. The region is a popular tourist destination, marked by towering mountains, deep valleys and wide rivers. Monsoon season brings South Asia 70 to 80 percent of its annual rainfall, and runs from June until September in India and Pakistan. The annual rains are vital for agriculture and food security, and the livelihoods of millions of farmers, but also bring destruction. In late June, at least 13 tourists were swept to their deaths while sheltering from flash floods on a raised river bank. In 2022, monsoon floods submerged a third of the country and killed 1,700 people. Greece brings in emergency heatwave measures for workers Athens, July 22 (AFP) Jul 22, 2025 Greece introduced emergency measures on Tuesday to help workers cope with temperatures of up to 43C in a heatwave due to last all week. Cities opened up air-conditioned public rooms and the labour ministry ordered a pause in outdoor work from 12:00 to 5:00 pm (0900 to 1400 GMT) in most of the country, including Athens. National weather service EMY has said the heatwave that began on Monday is not expected to ease before Sunday. Temperatures in the capital and Thessaloniki are forecast to reach 40C on Tuesday, with highs up to 43C in central Greece. The heatwave is expected to peak in Athens on Thursday with temperatures of up to 41C, the agency said. Pacific Island students spearhead drive for ICJ climate justice The Hague, July 22 (AFP) Jul 22, 2025 The six-year push towards Wednesday's seminal climate change ruling at the International Court of Justice began not in some lofty legal chambers, but in a small university classroom in Vanuatu. Frustrated by the glacial global efforts to tackle climate change that are wrecking their homelands, 27 law students at the University of the South Pacific decided to, in their words, "get the world's biggest problem before the world's highest court". Vishal Prasad, director of the campaign (Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change), admits to a mix of feelings at the culmination of a youth-led journey that started in 2019 on the other side of the world. "Emotional, scared, nervous, anxious," Prasad told AFP outside the gates of the iconic Peace Palace in The Hague, where Wednesday's landmark ICJ ruling will be handed down. "It's just a mix of all of that at the moment," said the 29-year-old Fijian, the driving force behind the civil society movement pushing for the court opinion. The ICJ will lay out what responsibilities countries have to prevent climate change and whether penalties should be imposed on nations that have failed to do so. But getting the top UN court to issue a so-called advisory opinion is no easy task -- the ICJ has delivered only 29 since its founding in 1946. Only the UN General Assembly can request an advisory opinion from the 15 judges, which aims to clarify a particular point of international law. Prasad's first task was to persuade Pacific Island leaders to join forces and flex their joint diplomatic muscle at the United Nations. Led by Vanuatu, the Pacific Island Forum agreed at a conference in Fiji to take the issue to the UN General Assembly. That's when Prasad's campaign went from regional to global and he moved to New York. - 'Historic moment' - Months of shuttle diplomacy followed, culminating in 2023 when the General Assembly agreed to request the ICJ opinion -- shifting the focus to The Hague. During two weeks of hearings at the Peace Palace in December 2024, representatives from many Pacific Islands, including Prasad himself, addressed the judges, often for the first time in their country's history. The vaulted Great Hall of Justice, used to hosting dry legal arguments from robed lawyers in wigs, saw a succession of Pacific Islanders, many in colourful traditional dress, deliver impassioned pleas for survival. "Huge, huge moment. Historic moment," said Prasad of the hearings. Prasad has seen first-hand the "heartbreaking" impact of climate change on his native Fiji and described the issue as "existential" for many Pacific Islanders. Whole communities relocated, hospitals flooded at high tide; he said the scene from many low-lying islands was "like a horror movie". "Climate change is not just an academic exercise... It's something you live day-to-day," he told AFP. "It's an existential problem for young people in countries like Kiribati, in Tuvalu, in Marshall Islands. They're witnessing the effects of climate change every high tide," he added. He believes the campaign's power comes from the fact that it is led by younger generations, who stand to lose the most from the changing climate. "Before we can talk about anything else, we need to address the problem of climate change," he said. "We need to protect our homes. We need to protect our identity and culture, because nothing exists if we're not able to save that." He is hoping for an ICJ judgement that clarifies states' obligations on climate change and serves as a guideline for future global negotiations. Prasad said the Pacific Island culture celebrates the concept of "wayfinding" -- "you need to correct your course if you are going wrong". "And the ICJ... has a role similar to that, to course correct the world into meeting our targets, meeting our goals, so that we're on a path to a better future for all of us," he added. UN chief urges AI companies to focus on renewable energy United Nations, United States, July 22 (AFP) Jul 22, 2025 The head of the United Nations called Tuesday on the surging artificial intelligence sector to prioritize sustainable energy for running power-hungry data centers. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said a typical AI data center -- sites where data is processed -- uses the same amount of electricity as 100,000 regular homes. With AI development booming, those demands are also rapidly expanding. The largest data centers will "soon use 20 times" the current demand, Guterres said, and "by 2030 data centers could consume as much electricity as all of Japan does today." "This is not sustainable," Guterres said. "The technology sector must be out front. Today I call on every major tech firm to power all data centers with 100 percent renewables by 2030." And the UN boss noted that the artificial intelligence industry itself could be harnessed to help with some of the very improvements that are needed. "AI can boost efficiency, innovation, and resilience in energy systems, and we must make profit of it. But it is also energy-hungry," he said. According to a new UN report, data centers currently account for 1.5 percent of global electricity consumption. That is set to more than double by 2030. "This is not sustainable, unless we make it so," Guterres said. GUIYANG, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The 2025 China International Big Data Industry Expo will be held from Aug. 28 to 30 in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, according to a press conference on Tuesday. The expo will spotlight cutting-edge innovations integrating data with artificial intelligence, which aim to drive efficient convergence and value realization of data resources, injecting robust momentum into industrial upgrading and high-quality economic growth, according to the organizers. Wang Xudong, spokesperson for the National Data Administration (NDA), highlighted the event's enhanced international focus, saying that as the world's first global expo centered on data, this year's edition will pioneer an international supply-demand partnership zone. Structured around the five key areas of data elements, data industry, digital economy, data infrastructure and international cooperation, the expo will feature over 20 forums on frontier theories and practices. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Hollywood sequel can be a poisoned chalice. For every stellar follow-up that improves on the original films such as Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, Toy Story 2, or Paddington 2, there are countless that fail to live up to the original. But what about those sequels that never got the love they deserved? Many of cinemas most beloved film franchises contain within them a black sheep of the family underrated sequels that might not match the series emphatic highs, but are nonetheless worth of more attention. Far too many sequels have been overlooked as an unfortunate consequence of trying to follow a genuine classic. Many of the most unduly ignored sequels have taken stories to bolder, more dynamic areas, arguably resulting in richer, more textured narratives for their respective series. With that in mind, here are 17 of the most underrated film sequels ever made... 17. Scream (2022) A strong argument can be made that the genre-savvy Scream series is one of the most consistent horror franchises going. However, weve opted for the fifth film in the series, the plainly titled Scream (2022). Although it might not have the thrills of Scream 2 or the inventiveness of Scream 3, the fifth instalment smartly switched its focus to act as a critique of Hollywood reboots and the toxic fan culture that can exist around certain films. While still delivering on the jump scares that made the original Scream (1996) such a hit, the film also gives a glimpse into the stars of tomorrow, with an impressive cast that includes Jack Quaid, Jenna Ortega and future Oscar winner Mikey Madison. open image in gallery Scream scenario: 2022s reboot introduced Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega and more into the horror franchise ( Paramount ) 16. Escape from LA (1996) Youll see a consistent theme on this list: a sequel that satirises the original, was maligned upon release but has since found a cult following. Escape from LA, John Carpenters wacky follow-up to the nihilistic Escape from New York (1981) is a prime example of that. While you might not get Kurt Russells Snake Plissken repeating iconic lines such as The president is dead! Somebody's had him for dinner, you do get to see him and Peter Fonda chase Steve Buscemi while surfing, which is something that everyone should witness at least once in their lives. 15. Grease 2 (1982) Trying to make a follow-up to one of the most popular musicals of all time while replacing its two inimitable stars (in John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John) meant that Grease 2 was almost set up for a failure from the word go. While it never matched the legacy of its predecessor, there is no doubt that this is still a very funny and camp musical comedy, with some catchy tunes: if it was released in another era, it couldve become more than just a cult classic. Despite being messy on the surface, Grease 2 is far more interesting than the often problematic original, subverting gender dynamics between leads Michelle Pfeiffer and Maxwell Caulfield in a way that still holds up today. 14. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) If you are a horror fanatic, you know exactly what you are getting with a Halloween film. Michael Myers returns, seemingly from the dead, kills a bunch of teenagers, and is completely unstoppable until Jamie Lee Curtis manages to defeat him. That wasnt the case with Halloween III, which completely tore up the rule book to focus on a type of witchcraft that is transmitted through television. The film has an unfair reputation due to the lack of Michael Myers, but if you ignore that, it's actually a lot of fun and youll have the theme tune stuck in your head for days. 13. American Pie 2 (2001) Seen through modern eyes, the American Pie films have plenty of extremely objectionable elements, but it would be churlish to ignore the cultural resonance this series had in the early 2000s. As well as being a breezy summer hangout movie, with a multitude of crude sex jokes, this 2001 sequel taps into ideas that are relatable and substantial: the fear of growing up, the bittersweet nature of change, and the importance of friendship. open image in gallery Pie, oh my: Eugene Levy and Jason Biggs in the follow-up to American Pie ( Sky ) 12. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) is one of the most important and influential horror movies of all time, and essentially redefined the genre for decades to come. For the sequel, Tobe Hooper (who also directed the original) completely flipped the tone on its head. The unnerving atmosphere of the first film was replaced with a perverse sense of humour and a sneering thumb-to-the-nose when it comes to the excess of the 1980s. 11. The Matrix Resurrections (2021) Perhaps more than any other Matrix film before it, The Matrix Resurrections is practically exploding with so many ideas that you could forgive a viewer for descending into bullet time just to get their head around them. Matrix Resurrections isnt as bombastic as the three previous films but is all the better for it. This is a more human and emotional film, about love and the connections to the people that mean the most to us. Just dont ask us to explain what happened open image in gallery Neo tracking: Keanu Reeves in The Matrix Resurrections ( Close/Warner Bros/Shutterstock ) 10. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) There exists a mass of people who argue that The Dark Knight Rises is a terrible movie and among the worst things that director Christopher Nolan has ever made. This is wrong. While it was never going to ascend to the lofty heights of The Dark Knight (2008), this is a sequel of verve and invention. Youd be lying if youve never attempted to impersonate Tom Hardys Bane and his multitude of very quotable lines. Plot holes aside, the emotional impact of the final five minutes should be considered a high watermark for any Batman film. open image in gallery Bats all, folks: Batman and Bane in The Dark Knight Rises' ( Warner Bros ) 9. Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009) Anyone hoping for the same bleak character study that Harvey Keitel delivered in the original Bad Lieutenant (1992) should have quickly realised that wasnt going to happen in the sequel, especially when Nicolas Cage started having visions of iguanas on his coffee table. "What are these f***ing iguans doing on my coffee table?!" is one of many great lines uttered in this often absurd black comedy from director Werner Herzog, who manages to infuse the film with the unique mysticism of New Orleans and Americas deep south. 8. Back to the Future Part 3 (1990) The brilliantly executed finale of Back to the Future Part 2, where Marty McFly learns he has to go to the wild west to rescue Doc Brown, set up what should have been a perfect conclusion to this otherwise flawless trilogy. However, switching the tone from a sci-fi comedy to what is essentially a Western proved too jarring a vibe shift for some, giving it the reputation of the being the trilogys weakest entry. With that aside, there are lots of callbacks for fans to appreciate and the ending train heist might be the most impressive spectacle in the entire trilogy. Thomas F Wilson also gives his best performance across the franchise, playing the snarling Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen, a violently charismatic ancestor of Biff, the originals high school bully. 7. Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) Whereas the original Gremlins was a creepy piece of social commentary that blended comedy, horror, and the trappings of suburban Christmas, the sequel, released six years later, felt like a satirical jab at Hollywood sequels overall. Although the mischievous nature of the Gremlins remained, the new film felt like an episode of Looney Tunes, complete with madcap reimaginings of the creatures themselves, which varied from a spider gremlin to a vegetable gremlin(!?). It might not have made much sense, but youd be hard pressed to find anyone who doesnt have a smile on their face by the time the brainy gremlin ends the film with a rendition of New York, New York. open image in gallery Critter bomb: Gremlins 2: The New Batch took a wild detour ( Warner Bros ) 6. Psycho 2 (1983) On paper, making a sequel to possibly the most famous horror film ever made, more than two decades after its release, sounds like sacrilege. Despite the enormous shadow looming over it, Psycho 2, directed by Richard Franklin, is as layered and complex as Alfred Hitchcocks original, avoiding the lazy cliches which dominated slasher movies of the era. Anthony Perkins is superb as a reformed Norman Bates, who is trying to do good but is still haunted by the demons of his bloody past. Not only does Psycho 2 honour the suspense of its inspiration, but tragically expands its mythos to create something quietly, profoundly haunting. 5. The Godfather Part III (1990) How do you sequelise not just one, but two of the best movies ever made? That was the task for Francis Ford Coppola, who had already struck gold when he managed to pull off the first sequel to The Godfather with gusto. Making the third film more than 15 years after the second cant have helped matters either, but The Godfather Part III is nowhere near as bad as its reputation would suggest. Seriously, how can a film with the iconic line Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in possibly be bad? open image in gallery Crime or reason: Al Pacino in The Godfather Part III ( Moviestore/Shutterstock ) 4. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) A list of undervalued sequels wouldnt be complete without a nod to the Planet of the Apes sequels of the 1970s. Between 1970 and 1973, no fewer than four Planet of the Apes movies were released, with vastly varying degrees of quality. Some were bonkers (1970s Beneath the Planet of the Apes), others downright shoddy (1973s Battle for the Planet of the Apes). Nestled in between all these films is the surprisingly smart and articulate Escape from the Planet of the Apes, which takes a more humanistic approach to the story, combining elements of both racial and religious conflicts as it transports two of the hyper-intelligent simians to modern-day Earth. 1972s Conquest of the Planet of the Apes ups the stakes with a grittier take on these themes but the explosive ending to Escape stands out as one of the more devastating moments in the entire Apes franchise 3. Rocky IV (1985) In the first Rocky film, Sylvester Stallones plucky boxer fights against the odds in a match where he is the considerable underdog. By the fourth film, he is still the underdog; hes not just fighting for his pride this time, but seemingly for the soul of the US as he battles Russias unstoppable Ivan Drago. Rocky IV is nowhere near as serious as the first three films, but there is something undeniably fascinating about this. From the outlandish power rock of the soundtrack to the completely over-the-top evilness of the Soviets, there is a lurid maximalism at play here that is a complete joy. open image in gallery Punchtime: Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren in Rocky IV ( United Artists/Shutterstock ) 2. French Connection 2 (1975) The sad death of Gene Hackman prompted many film fans to revisit the great actors impressive body of work, which includes classics such as Unforgiven (1992), The Conversation (1974) and Hoosiers (1986). One film that shouldve been featured in more tributes is French Connection II, the criminally underseen sequel to the 1972 Best Picture winner. Compared to the first film, which plays out as a gritty deep dive into New Yorks drug underworld, the sequel is an intense character study of Hackmans Jimmy Popeye Doyle. Director John Frankenheimer brings a darker, more psychological tone than Friedkin's kinetic first film, but it's still unflinching and raw, resulting in one of Hackmans best performances. 1. Return to Oz (1985) If you thought The Wizard of Oz could have been improved by leaning into the horror elements a bit more, then do I have good news for you... Return to Oz isnt so much of a sequel to the classic Judy Garland musical as a fundamental reimagining of the world of Oz. Here, the colourful fantasy world is rendered as a hellscape, occupied by demonic gangs and an evil princess who can literally change her head. We're not in Kansas anymore doesnt cover the half of it. BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The 15th China-Northeast Asia Expo will be held in Changchun City, Jilin Province, from Aug. 27 to 31, the Ministry of Commerce announced at a press conference Tuesday. Highlighting the importance of the expo, Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong said that Northeast Asian countries share geographical proximity, cultural bonds and strong commercial ties, with complementary strengths in resources and enormous potential for regional economic cooperation. Yan noted that practical cooperation between China and other Northeast Asian countries has deepened across various fields, maintaining positive momentum in economic and trade exchanges. Trade between China and the five Northeast Asian countries reached 901.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, up 1.6 percent year on year, accounting for nearly 15 percent of China's total foreign trade. China has maintained its position as the largest trading partner for all five countries, with the Republic of Korea and Japan ranking as its second and third-largest trading partners, respectively. Two-way investment between China and the five countries exceeded 7 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, with cooperation expanding into emerging fields including digital economy, green development, advanced manufacturing and modern services. Yang Andi, vice governor of Jilin, said the expo will bring together over 8,000 business representatives from 42 countries and regions globally, as well as 27 provincial-level regions across China. So far, 2,796 exhibition booths have been confirmed, completing 80 percent of the exhibition preparation work. A key highlight of this expo will be the first-ever modern industries pavilion, featuring leading firms, including Fortune 500 companies, Yang added. The pavilion will spotlight the transformation of traditional industries through smart and green upgrades, achievements in new quality productive forces, and the development of collaborative innovation ecosystems. Li Xingqian, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said the council has actively facilitated the deep integration of industrial and supply chains among Northeast Asian countries. In the first half of this year, the council supported more than 115 exhibition projects in Northeast Asian countries, involving over 4,000 Chinese enterprises. The expo, jointly organized by the Ministry of Commerce, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and the Jilin provincial government, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. It remains the world's only comprehensive international expo jointly attended by all six Northeast Asian countries and open to participants from around the globe. "We aim to use the expo as an opportunity to further build consensus, expand cooperation, and promote common development between China and Northeast Asian countries," Yan said. 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 A second man is reportedly in critical condition after he was also dragged by the fatal water current that killed the 54-year-old Cosby Show star Malcolm-Jamal Warner in Costa Rica. Warner, best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on the beloved Eighties sitcom The Cosby Show, died Sunday. News of his death was initially reported Monday, shocking his colleagues and fans around the world. New details have since emerged, including the condition of the second unidentified man who was also pulled from the water. On Sunday at around 2:10 p.m., the Costa Rican Red Cross received a report about a water-related incident involving two males at the Playa Grande resort in Cahuita, Limon, the organization said in a statement shared with The Independent. When medics arrived, they attended to both men. While one was rushed to a local Limon clinic in critical condition, the other, Warner, was given CPR before being pronounced dead at the scene, the Costa Rican Red Cross said. The scene was subsequently handed over to the police authorities for the appropriate legal procedures, the organization said. The Costa Rican Red Cross additionally told People that, according to their report, two people were dragged by a water current at the beach. By the time first responders arrived, both men were out of the ocean. open image in gallery Malcolm-Jamal Warner tragically drowned in Costa Rica while on a family vacation ( Getty ) In an earlier statement shared Monday, per People, the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) confirmed that Warner appears to have entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current. Bystanders rescued Warner from the water and brought him to shore. However, he was declared lifeless at the scene, the OIJ statement said. The actor's official cause of death was asphyxia, Costa Rican National Police confirmed, per ABC News. open image in gallery Malcolm-Jamal Warner was best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show Warner, best known for his role on The Cosby Show, more recently appeared in Sons of Anarchy, The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story, and The Resident. Several celebrities and co-stars have paid tribute to Warner, with his Malcom & Eddie co-star Eddie Griffin remembering him as my big little brother. My Heart is heavy today For what the world lost was a Father a Son a Poet a Musician a Actor a Teacher a Writer a Director a Friend a Warrior that I had the pleasure of going to war with against the Hollywood machine and sometimes with each other because thats what Brothers do but the Love was and is always there, Griffin wrote on Instagram. Youve taught me so much and I thank you. Tracee Ellis Ross, who starred with Warner as a married couple in Reed Between the Lines, wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post: I love you, Malcolm. First I met you as Theo with the rest of the world then you were my first TV husband. My heart is so so sad. What an actor and friend you were: warm, gentle, present, kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place. Sending so much love to your family. Im so sorry for this unimaginable loss. 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 Bravo star Scheana Shay has been on TV screens for more than a decade, starring on all 11 seasons of Vanderpump Rules and appearing on the current season of its spin off series, The Valley. Shes been married on television (twice), given birth to a daughter, got caught in the chaos of a Scandoval and a Real Housewifes marital saga, and so much more. Yet, while fans may think they know her, she says that her upcoming memoir, My Good Side, reveals the secrets shed feared sharing previously. Sporting a fresh haircut and impeccable glam, Shay, 40, wore an all-pink ensemble and bubbled with her infamous energy when she spoke to The Independent a few days ahead of the books official release. On a white piano behind her sat the memoir, its unmistakable cover featuring Shay smiling at herself in the mirror, though her reflection isnt beaming back. This is me at my most authentic you're ever going to see me and moving forward, this is the version of me you'll see, Shay said, before adding, seemingly without irony: At least it's the version I'll give. The memoir is being released hot on the heels of her Vanderpump Rules tenure coming to an end, as Shay settles fully into her roles as wife to Brock Davies and mom to their daughter, Summer Moon. Shes intent to own her truth, despite the potential costs. open image in gallery Bravo star Scheana Shay spoke to 'The Independent' ahead of the release of her new memoir ( The Independent ) Every skeleton in my closet is now just fully out in the living room for the world to watch and see and read about, Shay said. So it is cathartic writing this book. It's exciting, but it's also scary to completely be vulnerable and to put myself out there in a way that I never have before. One of those skeletons was the revelation that Davies cheated on Shay in 2021 while she was pregnant with their daughter, news which emerged in an early excerpt in Glamour last week. Shay said that while its been a lot with the news just coming out now as she kept it under wraps for four years and during multiple seasons of filming VPR shes sticking with therapy and doing well. I was just at the International OCD Foundation Conference in Chicago and just sitting through a bunch of those seminars and whatnot, it was really good for my mental health, Shay shared. Even though cameras didnt catch the aftermath of her learning of her husbands infidelity, they certainly did capture moments of Shays mental health struggles, which were heightened after the birth of her daughter. In the memoir, Shay dives deeper into her lifelong journey with OCD and intrusive thoughts diagnoses she didnt receive until much later in life. That's probably the biggest secret I've ever kept my whole life, my intrusive thoughts, Shay revealed. She didnt tell anyone about her experience with them which can commonly occur as disturbing or upsetting thoughts, images, or urges that enter your mind without warning until she was 37 years old. A proper diagnosis led to Shay figuring out what treatments worked best for her; ultimately, after trial and error, that was medication. I fought it for so long, but I know I feel better when I'm on it, Shay said of deciding to start Sertraline, the generic version of Zoloft. I feel mentally stronger and when I'm the best version of myself, I'm the best mother for Summer. So if that means I'm on Sertraline daily, then so be it. Having this diagnosis, getting on the right medication, going to the right therapy has been so amazing for me, she added. It's been so freeing to feel comfortable talking about something that I kept secret for so long. open image in gallery Brock Davies and Scheana Shay legally wed in 2021 but had a ceremony and celebration in August 2022 ( Getty Images ) That is one aspect of Shays story shes hoping others can learn from, just as she aims to enlighten fans about the realities of reality TV. Shay details several instances in the memoir where she acted as restaurateur and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Lisa Vanderpumps pawn. And when she didnt do what Vanderpump asked, there were consequences. She wrote about one particular incident when Vanderpump wanted Shay to stick up for DJ James Kennedy after he body-shamed Katie Maloney but Shay wouldnt budge. She got the death stare from Vanderpump, and their relationship took a turn after that. Whatever Lisa [Vanderpump] said, I wanted to make her happy, Shay told The Independent. And sometimes a lot of times I maybe said or did things that weren't my original thought. It was more to appease my producer or my boss. But thats now become one of Shays biggest regrets. I don't feel like I always lived my authentic self on the show, she said. I was who other people wanted me to be. And I think that's probably also why you have the people who have been a Scheana fan since day one, but you have a lot of people who have never been able to get behind me because I'm a people pleaser. And I think this book gives more insight into those parts of me. I'm now 40 years old and I've lived a lot of life. I see a lot of things differently. I'm not the girl who's going to be walked all over anymore, Shay vowed. I may still be a people pleaser at times, but I'm also going to be better at standing my ground and taking a stand when one needs to be taken. 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 Fresh from announcing the cancellation of his show last week, late-night host Stephen Colbert was joined by a star-studded line-up of celebrity guests to spoof the network on Monday. Colbert revealed last week that CBS would be axing The Late Show from May 2026, a move the network said was purely a financial decision but which came just days after its parent company Paramount agreed to pay $16m to Donald Trump after he complained that a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris last year was manipulatively edited. On Mondays show, the host addressed the situation by saying: Some people see this show going away as a sign of something truly dire We here at The Late Show never saw our job as changing anything other than how you felt at the end of the day. open image in gallery A defiant Stephen Colbert hosts The Late Show days after its axing was announced ( The Late Show/CBS ) Or rather, changing how you felt the next morning, when you watched on your phone, which is why broadcast TV is dying youre part of the problem, look in the mirror. Point is, I dont want this show to be associated with making you sad or anxious. So I thought: music, OK? That makes people happy, right? So instead of me talking, here with a song to cheer you up are two musical greats. He duly welcomed on stage Weird Al Yankovic and Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda to perform Coldplays Viva La Vida, setting up a parody of the viral video that exposed an affair between a tech company CEO and his head of HR after they were caught embracing on the jumbotron during the bands gig in Boston last week. Yankovic and Miranda broke off their performance to draw attention to the studio audience, prompting the camera to roam around the Ed Sullivan Theater and pick out the likes of Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen sitting together, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers sharing a beer, Adam Sandler and Christopher McDonald eating popcorn shrimp and John Oliver and Jon Stewart waving wildly. The camera finally landed on an animated cartoon version of Trump hugging the Paramount logo before the pair awkwardly separated on realizing they were being watched, just as Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot had in the viral kiss cam video. open image in gallery Fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers in the Late Show audience to support Stephen Colbert ( The Late Show/CBS ) Colbert then hurriedly read aloud a corporate memo ordering Yankovic and Miranda to end their performance, saying the call was strictly a financial decision that had already cost the network $40 million to $50 million. The host also addressed the cancellation in his opening monologue, by saying: It sunk in over the weekend that theyre killing off our show but they made one mistake, they left me alive. Now, for the next 10 months, the gloves are off. He went on to read aloud a Truth Social post from Trump in which he wrote: I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. He has even less talent than Colbert! Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show. open image in gallery The Late Show with Stephen Colbert sends up Paramount's pandering to Donald Trump in a spoof of the Coldplay 'kiss cam' controversy ( The Late Show/CBS ) Colbert responded: How dare you, sir? Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? He then turned to the studios Eloquence Cam and said simply: Go f*** yourself. On Trumps comment that Kimmel was next, Colbert said: Nope, no, no. Absolutely not. Kimmel, I am the martyr. Theres only room for one on this cross. He went on to make good on his promise that the gloves are off by commenting in reference to the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein furore: The only other story out there, its kind of a small one. The president was buddies with a pedophile. 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 Stephen Colbert had a very blunt message for Donald Trump after the president celebrated CBSs cancellation of The Late Show. In his Monday monologue, Colbert brought up a Truth Social post Trump made on Friday, where he had written: I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. Responding to his post, Colbert said: How dare you, sir? Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Looking into the Eloquence Cam, the talk show host did not pull his punches, telling the president: Go f*** yourself. open image in gallery Stephen Colbert had a very blunt message for Donald Trump after the president celebrated CBSs cancellation of The Late Show ( The Late Show/Instagram ) open image in gallery Stephen Colbert clapped back at Donald Trump after the president celebrated CBSs cancellation of The Late Show ( 2024 Invision ) Trumps post also mentioned Jimmy Kimmel, writing that he heard the Jimmy Kimmel Live host was next and has even less talent than Colbert. Referring to that, Colbert said: Nope, no, no. Absolutely not. Kimmel, I am the martyr. Theres only room for one on this cross. And the view is fantastic from up here. I can see your house! The talk show host added that for the next 10 months as the show winds down, the gloves would be off. CBS confirmed last week it was bringing the long-running Late Show to an end in 2026, blaming financial decisions. However, multiple CBS staffers have told The Independent they believe it is a continuation of the Trump shakedown that began with parent company Paramounts settlement of the 60 Minutes lawsuit over an interview with Kamala Harris, which Trump claimed was election interference. The Late Show cancellation was met with uproar from celebrities, fellow talk show hosts and viewers. open image in gallery Donald Trump has been gloating after Colberts show was canceled ( Reuters ) Love you, Stephen. F*** you and all your Sheldons, CBS, Kimmel wrote last week in an Instagram Story, referring to the CBS show The Big Bang Theory, which has spawned several spin-offs, including Young Sheldon and Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage. Severance star Adam Scott and producer/director Ben Stiller, as well as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, have called out the cancellation. At the beginning of Mondays broadcast, Colbert said that since the network was killing off our show, but had left him alive, he would be speaking unvarnished truth to power. He began by offering his real opinion on Donald Trump and said: I dont care for him. Doesnt have the skillset to be president. Not a good fit, thats all. On the network, Colbert called them great partners, but also questioned their justification for the cancellation asking: How could it be purely be a financial decision if The Late Show is No. 1 in ratings? CBS bosses said in their statement that the end of The Late Show after 32 years was purely due to late-night television becoming unprofitable because of dwindling ad revenues and high production costs. But the decision comes at the same time as Paramounts pending $8.4bn merger with Skydance, a production company financed by pro-Trump billionaire Larry Ellison and run by his son David, whom the president has personally lauded. Colbert, who took over the show from David Letterman in 2015, announced the networks decision during the broadcast on 17 July. Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending The Late Show in May, the comedian announced, causing the studio audience to boo loudly. Yeah, I share your feelings. Its not just the end of our show, but its the end of The Late Show on CBS. Im not being replaced. This is just all going away. 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 Brooklyn Beckham has caused disgust among his fans after he appeared to make a tomato pasta dish using water directly from the sea. The 26-year-old was cooking the meal on a luxury yacht for a video promoting his Cloud 23 hot sauce brand. At the start of the clip, Beckham used a large pot to scoop up water from behind the back of the yacht. Beckham then brought the pot back on to the yacht, using it to boil a pack of spaghetti. The aspiring chef and wine influencer chopped up a bunch of tomatoes and added them to an oiled pan, which he then lathered in his signature hot sauce. While the meal itself looked perfectly edible, the fact that he used sea water to cook the pasta caused consternation among many of his followers. One person commented: Don't use sea water! There is a lot of bacteria!!! open image in gallery Brooklyn Beckham cooks a tomato pasta dish using sea water ( Brooklyn Beckham/Instagram ) Thats disgusting using that water, another remarked, while a third told him to rethink the water [aspect] of his dish. However, others were more positive about Beckhams creation. Nice one, Brooks one fan said, with another remarking: Mmmmm. Looks good. Research has shown that just a single drop of seawater can contain around 1 million bacteria. Around 10,000 of these are called vibrios and have been found responsible for 95 per cent of seafood-related deaths. Something that might have helped Beckham is a recently invented desalination device, which can turn seawater into drinking water. The technology, which has been developed by researchers at MIT, essentially zaps the water with electricity in order to remove salt molecules, bacteria and viruses. open image in gallery Brooklyn Beckham once made a French omelette using 350 ingredient ( Brooklyn Beckham ) The eldest child of David and Victoria Beckham has repeatedly come under fire for his skills in the kitchen. One incident saw him controversially apply a blowtorch grilled cheese technique to a fried chicken recipe. Beckham, though, has said that he remains unfazed by the hate, as he explained to Insider in October 2023 that he simply ignores the criticism. To be honest, Im used to the hate, he said. It doesnt really bother me. Cooking makes me happy. I have more important things to worry about than people saying a little bit of rubbish about me. Beckham first began to face criticism in December 2021 after launching the Facebook series Cookin With Brooklyn, which saw him attempt to make various recipes alongside top chefs. Since then, Beckham has continued to post his cooking videos on Instagram, but many of his followers have taken issue with his kitchen skills such as using $25 worth of avocado oil, and one Sunday roast that was deemed too raw. open image in gallery Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz Beckham ( Getty ) His latest dish arrives amid rumours of discord within the Beckham family. Brooklyn and his wife, Nicola Peltz Beckham, seemingly skipped his fathers 50th birthday celebrations in London earlier this month, while the party was attended by other family members, including brother Romeo and his younger siblings Cruz, 20, and Harper, 13. The couple also missed a black-tie affair thrown for David at Cipriani Downtown Miami in March, and Victorias Paris Fashion Week show in April. 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 Dont have a cow: Your Costcos Kirkland-brand milk might last way longer than expected. Customers of the big-box store are discovering that its milk consistently lasts well beyond its expiration date and trying to figure out why. A resurfaced Reddit forum shows users in agreement that their milk doesnt spoil as quickly, sometimes even being good a week after its expiration date. I get the organic Costco milk now because even if we dont go through all three half gallons before I go back to Costco (every 2 -3 weeks). The milk is still good. We save money by buying it from there, one person wrote in the two-year-old thread. While this may sound udderly shocking, there could be an explanation for it. The FDAs Pasteurized Milk Ordinance mandates quality thresholds, but Costco reportedly takes its inspections and testing even further to make its milk last longer. open image in gallery Costco requires Kirkland milk suppliers to undergo at least one surprise inspection annually, and twice a year if the facility is in China, according to its 2023 Food Safety & Quality Audit Expectations. The chains practices is why some say its milk last longer than expcted. ( AFP via Getty Images ) Under federal law, Grade A milk must meet basic safety metrics, such as keeping total bacteria below 100,000 colony-forming units and chilling milk to under 45F within two hours of milking. But according to Food & Wine, Costcos suppliers are held to much stricter standards. Costcos rigorous testing ensures its milk maintains consistently low bacteria and cell counts. Each facility producing Kirkland milk undergoes at least one unannounced audit annually, twice in China, with severe consequences for scores below 85 percent, according to Costcos 2023 Food Safety & Quality Audit Expectations. Every milk batch is put through roughly 60 microbial tests, and even a single failed result can stop it from being shipped. Water used in processing is strictly monitored, with quarterly testing of private wells and rigorous rotating lead auditors to avoid complacency. Milk from healthier herds, measured by lower somatic cell counts, is known to have a longer fridge lifespan. open image in gallery Milk from healthier cows, with fewer bacteria and lower somatic cell counts, tends to stay fresh longer, particularly when processed under rigorous standards like those used by Costco. ( Costco ) Herds with averages under 200,000 cells/mL are deemed top-tier, while those exceeding 400,000 cells/mL tend to spoil faster. Milk from healthier cows with lower bacteria and somatic cell counts lasts longer, especially under strict processing standards like Costco's. This results in less food waste and keeps customers in a good mood by reducing the need to buy milk as often. The Independent has contacted representatives for Costco for comment. 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 Erik Menendez has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition, his attorney said Tuesday. Erik, 54, and his brother Lyle, 57, are currently in prison for the 1989 shotgun murder of their parents, Mary Louise Kitty Menendez and Jose Menendez after being sentenced to life in prison without parole. The brothers are currently awaiting an August parole board hearing to determine if they will be released from prison after being resentenced in May. The specifics of Eriks condition have not been disclosed, though TMZ later reported he is suffering from kidney stones. His attorney, Mark Geragos, called for Eriks immediate release from prison due to his illness. Erik is having a serious medical condition right now, Geragos told TMZ. I just think he should be parole furloughed, I think is the proper term, and he could be medically furloughed in advance of the hearing so that he can work with the parole attorney and get up to speed and be ready and do it and give it his best shot. I think that it's the only fair and equitable thing to do, he said. Erik Menendez (center) has been hospitalized ( AP1990 ) Geragos did confirm that Erik has been receiving treatment at the the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California. The Independent has reached out to Geragos for more information. Erik and Lyle are currently one month away from their hearing scheduled for August 21 and 22, where, after 35 years in prison, a California parole board will decide if the two brothers are fit to be released. In May 2025, the two had their prison sentences reduced from life without parole to 50 years to life, which will make them eligible for parole under Californias youthful offender law because they committed the crime under the age of 26. The brothers were 18 and 21 at the time of the killings. Both brothers gave statements to the court prior to the ruling. I killed my mom and dad. I make no excuses and also no justification, Lyle said. The impact of my violent actions on my family ... is unfathomable. He added: I committed an atrocious act against two people who had the right to live, my mom and dad, he said. Today, 35 years later, I am deeply ashamed of who I was. He told the court that if released, he plans to work with the incarcerated community. Erik said he took full responsibility for the killings and expressed his profound sorrow at his actions. I fired all five rounds at my parents and went back to reload, he said. I lied to police. I lied to my family. I'm truly sorry. Defense attorneys argued during the 1996 trial that the brothers acted out of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, but prosecutors argued that they killed their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance. The case has captured the publics attention for decades and the Netflix drama Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story and recent documentary The Menendez Brothers recently brought new attention to the case. Last year, former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon opened the door to possible freedom for the brothers by asking a judge to reduce their sentences. But the newly elected district attorney, Nathan Hochman, had opposed the brothers resentencing, saying he did not believe they had taken responsibility for the murders. 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 The UK government has unveiled a new strategy to enhance care for individuals living with myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). It is a condition that affects hundreds of thousands and has often left sufferers without adequate support. ME/CFS is a long-term condition impacting various bodily systems, though its precise cause remains unknown, according to NHS guidance. The Department of Health and Social Care has acknowledged the significant challenges many patients currently face in accessing appropriate, tailored care. The new initiative aims to address these shortcomings by providing updated training for NHS staff and committing to further investment in research into ME/CFS. open image in gallery Tracy Meggitt, who has ME, has spoken about the condition in order to raise awareness ( Tracy Meggitt/PA ) While the announcement has been widely welcomed, ME/CFS continues to be poorly understood, leading to persistent myths. To shed light on the reality of living with the condition, Tracy Meggitt, a grandmother from South Yorkshire, has shared her personal journey through the ME Association, offering a vital perspective on its true impact. When did you first notice symptoms of ME/ CFS? Tracy, now aged 54, first started displaying signs of ME/CFS 11 years ago, when she was recovering from a viral infection. In August 2014 I had a viral infection and experienced a lot of aches, hip pains and just a general feeling of being unwell and a lack of energy, recollects Tracy. I was still really low in energy and was getting cold symptoms quite regularly afterwards for a few months. I was a really, really active person and I couldnt achieve the level of activity that I was used to. I used to prepare evening meals from scratch, as I loved cooking, and one of the first things I noticed was that I wasnt able to do that every night. I started doing it less and less and began getting takeaways, or do something that didnt need preparation, that I could just put in the oven. After months of gradual energy decline and increasing symptoms, Tracy first addressed her concerns with her GP in January 2015. They said that it sounded like post-viral fatigue syndrome and said it would either just ease off eventually, or it could develop into ME, says Tracy. I had heard of ME in terms of I knew that theyd called it yuppie flu when I was younger, but I didnt know anything about it. I had to Google what it was. When were you officially diagnosed? Tracy was officially diagnosed with ME/CFS in January 2018, but had already taken medical redundancy from her biomedical research associate role at the University of Sheffield at that point, as her symptoms had progressed from mild to severe. I was finding that I would be fine on a Monday and on Tuesday morning, but by Tuesday afternoon I would start getting cold symptoms, shares Tracy. I was constantly blowing my nose, sneezing, and was feeling really lethargic. Then she caught an infection and after returning to work after a two-month sick leave period, she was unable to manage even half of her former workload. open image in gallery It took Tracey several years to be officially diagnosed with ME, by which time she had taken medical redundancy from a job she loved ( Tracy Meggitt/PA ) I would go in on a Monday, do a few hours, and be utterly shattered by the time I got home, and then I would feel worse the next day, so thats why I had to finish that job which I loved, says Tracy. Its such a complex illness to understand. I try to kind of get to grips with it in terms of trying to find patterns, like when I do this, this then happens, but things change all of the time and new symptoms appear. Every time I think, Im starting to understand and think I am able to plan ahead, something messes up. How would you describe the feeling of fatigue that you experience? Unlike normal fatigue, the fatigue in ME/CFS is not adequately resolved by rest. I experience different levels of muscle fatigue, it changes constantly by day and even by hours, explains Tracy. If I do a movement over and over, or if I have to hold my arm up for something, it gets fatigued very quickly. The best way to accurately describe it is that my body and its cells are just not producing enough energy to actually do an action in the first place. Every time I overexert myself I experience post-exertional malaise (PEM), which is an increase in my usual symptoms, plus further symptoms along with further reduced energy levels. The symptoms are at their most intense during what she refers to as a crash. To me, a crash is when my body shuts down. It feels like a coma, where I feel paralysed, but I also I have no awareness of whats going on, describes Tracy. Its like the lights just go off. I start to come around after an hour or so and start to become aware, and then eventually Im able to move my eyes and then move the ends of my fingers and toes and gradually be able to move bits of parts of my body. The regularity of the crashes depend on what Ive had to do and they vary in how long they last. How has ME/CFS affected you mentally? Although Tracy tries to remain positive, she finds missing out on social events hard. Im a really positive person, so Im lucky in that respect, says the grandmother-of-six. Im not someone who gets down about things, but you do lose a lot of things along the way, like when I had to stop socialising and had to stop working. At the moment, what affects me the most is the fact that, because Im housebound, Im not able to go out and do things with my husband. He can go out and do his activities, go to family events, and I am not able to do that. I really miss just being able to take part in my family events, Ive missed three of my grandchildrens christenings lately. What do you wish more people knew about ME/CFS? I wish people looked at it in a different way and considered that it affects every process in the body, says Tracy. Eating, speaking, using your brain, digesting food all consumes energy. I wish people realised that the amount of energy it might take them to run a mile, could be the same amount of energy it takes me to digest a meal. Furthermore, she wants to emphasis that ME is not depression. Its not like depression at all. I have tons of enthusiasm, which is probably a hindrance because I often end up pushing myself beyond my capability because I am enthusiastic and about everything, reflects Tracy. I think ME patients try very hard to do everything possible and to please other people but if someone with ME says they cant do something, they really cant do it. You can find out more information and resources about this condition from reputable organisations like the NHS , Action for ME, and The ME Association. 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 Californians are not relishing In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyders decision to move the beloved burger chains headquarters from California to Tennessee, with some even calling for a boycott in response. Snyder, 43, announced on the Relatable podcast that In-N-Outs current headquarters in Irvine will close by 2030 as part of a long-term plan to consolidate operations in Baldwin Park, where the company began in 1948. A new co-headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, is also set to open in 2026, where Snyder will be based. Theres a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here, Snyder told podcast host and conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey, adding that the company is looking to expand into the South. The Independent has contacted In-N-Out for comment. Customers in the Golden State are furious on social media. Many pointed out that Tennessees lack of state income tax and lower minimum wage may be influencing In-N-Outs move. open image in gallery In-N-Out headquarters will be out of California by 2030, the CEO has said. The decision has drawn the ire of local residents. ( Getty ) Privately owned by the Snyder family, the Christian-run company has faced past criticism for anti-LBGTQ and anti-vaccine views, though previous boycott efforts have had little financial impact. This time, one Reddit user said in a thread, Time to boycott. If you really hate business in California, then California hates doing business with you. Uhhhh... hard to do business? someone else questioned Snyders explanation. How is it that she's worth several BILLION dollars, most of which is from us??? This is an idiotic mindset, a third person sounded off. In-N-Out provides great job opportunities for the people of California. If you did this to everyone, California would be even more in shambles than it already is. California is the problem, not In-N-Out. open image in gallery People on social media are calling for a boycott of In-N-Out, inside encouraging customers to try a local restaurant. ( Getty ) Another added about the billionaire, California has treated their family and their business very, very well. This is simply ungrateful and shameful. Others suggested its time to focus on local California burger joints rather than a chain that serves literally the saltiest burgers I have ever had. The burger is good, but not enough to put up with lining her pockets anymore, one person agreed. Smash burgers are everywhere now, or I can make them at home. Expansion also puts into question their vow that they couldnt provide the same quality if they left the West Coast. Not worth it to go. 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 leader of a multi-state catalytic converter theft ring pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday. Navin Khanna, 41, of New Jersey, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to receive, possess, and dispose of stolen goods in interstate commerce and five counts of money laundering for his part in the scheme, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. According to Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti of the Justice Department's criminal division, Khanna made $600 million by buying and selling the stolen car parts. "Sophisticated criminal schemes may afford you luxury cars and homes in the short term but will cost you a federal felony conviction in the long term," Galeotti said in a statement. Khanna reportedly admitted to owning and operating D.G. Auto Parts, which was a front for a criminal ring buying and selling auto parts from around the country. Between May 2020 and October 2022, Khanna worked with others to source "large quantities" of stolen catalytic converters from Oklahoma, Texas, and other states. He then sold the car parts to a metal refinery that extracted precious metals used in their creation. A member of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations next to a box filled with stolen catalytic converters ( U.S. Department of Homeland Security ) Tulsa police began looking into the thefts in 2020 when reports of stolen catalytic converters skyrocketed in the area. Their investigation uncovered the broader national criminal enterprise. Khanna was indicted by federal grand juries in the Northern District of Oklahoma and the Eastern District of California. Over twenty others have been charged across the country for their role in the conspiracy. Catalytic converters are a device in a vehicles exhaust system the harmful emissions into less toxic substances. The auto parts are often made with platinum, but may also be made with palladium and rhodium, all of which are precious metals. According to an advisory put out by the Takoma Park, Maryland police last year concerning catalytic converter thefts, the price of platinum was $999.40 per ounce, palladium was $1,102 per ounce, and rhodium was $4,725 per ounce. "Thieves can get between $50 and $250 for each converter stolen," the department said at the time. As part of his plea agreement in the Northern District of Oklahoma, Khanna agreed to forfeit nearly $4 million in cash, 11 luxury vehicles including a Lamborghini, two Mercedes AMGs, two Ferraris, a McLaren, a Porsche, a Ford F650, and a BMW M3 his real estate properties, high-end jewelry, gold bars, and more than 200 pallets of catalytic converters. His 13 co-defendants in the region forfeited $3.2 million, including more than $250,000 from multiple bank accounts, land in Oklahoma, cars, and more stolen catalytic converters. His sentencing will now be transferred to the Eastern District of California, where he awaits further prosecution for related crimes, the Justice Department said. Khanna will face a maximum penalty of 168 to 210 months in prison approximately 17 and-a-half years in prison on the high end. LONDON, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-eight countries and the European Union Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management issued a joint statement on Monday, condemning Israel for the suffering of civilians in Gaza. "The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians," said the statement. "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. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law," the statement added, urging an immediate end to the war in Gaza. The statement 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." Signed by the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Italy, Canada, Japan, and other Western countries, the statement also opposes any attempts to alter the territorial or demographic status of the occupied Palestinian territories. In response, the Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected the statement as being "disconnected from reality" and accused Hamas of being "the only party responsible for the lack of a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire." "The statement fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognize Hamas's role and responsibility for the situation," the ministry said in an announcement. 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 Florida man has been arrested after being accused of threatening graphic murder against three named government officials and anyone else he believed to be in league with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Federal prosecutors named Terell Deshawn Bailey-Corsey, 31, as the suspect behind a series of lurid and extremely violent threats posted on Elon Musk's social network X after the Trump administration reneged on its promises to release more documents about Epstein. The Department of Justice declared last week that it does not possess any Epstein "client list", and allegations that Epstein trafficked abuse victims for rich and powerful "clients" have never been definitively proven. But in a long and furious exchange with X's built-in AI chatbot, Grok, Bailey-Corsey allegedly refused to accept the official story. "Well @grok you're wrong. Everyone involved if I see them in real life I will KILL. On sight. With a machete so everyone can see the blood and gore of the moment," he posted, according to charging documents first reported by Court Watch. "You can't fear death so you can't understand. I will KILL EVERYONE ON THE LIST. ON SIGHT. AND THEY ABSOLUTELY DESERVE IT." No such list has been released. One hour later, Bailey-Corsey allegedly threatened to "KILL ON SIGHT" three government officials, whose names are redacted in the charging documents. Bailey-Corsey is accused of writing graphic threats to the social media platform where its claimed he also wrote it would be worth it to see those he viewed as entwined with Epstein meet their end. Investigators say they traced the X account and a related Facebook account to Bailey-Corsey, who allegedly admitted they were his accounts and "took responsibility" for the threats, and "expressed remorse". He also allegedly stated that he owned a knife, a machete, and a bow and arrow. open image in gallery A Facebook profile photo (left) and a driver's license photo (right) of Terell Deshawn Bailey-Corsey, 31, included in charging documents by the FBI ( FBI ) The X account has since been suspended, but Grok's posts in response still exist, suggesting a vitriolic and violent conversation that lasted at least an hour. "I hear your fury," began one reply from the controvercial chatbot, as it attempted to mirror and assuage the user's feelings. "Your rage is understandable," said another. "I respect your passion for justice... I get your frustration... your fury over Epstein's 2024 unsealed docs is valid... I hear your rage." Grok also repeatedly tried to warn the user away from "vigilante killings" and "graphic vengeance", which it claimed would only "breed more chaos", "invite tyranny", and "spiral into more oppression". Trump's U-turn on Epstein has ignited a civil war within the MAGA coalition, as the president struggles to persuade his base to just forget about the disgraced financier and convicted sex criminal. The president has filed a $10bn defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal after it published a lewd birthday card allegedly written for Epstein in Trump's name, full of suggestive phrases such as "enigmas never age, have you noticed that?" 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 gruesome murder case of four college students in the Idaho town of Moscow more than two and a half years ago concluded Wednesday, with killer Bryan Kohberger sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for the slayings. University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, were stabbed to death in the frenzied attack at their college home in the middle of the night on November 13, 2022. Two other roommates, Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortensen, were the only roommates to survive the killings and they spoke out for the first time in emotional testimony at Kohbergers sentencing hearing on July 23, 2025. For weeks after the killings, only scant details about the carnage that night were revealed as the community reeled from the tragedy and grappled with fears of a murderer on the loose. That changed when Kohberger was arrested in December 2022 after authorities raided his apartment, office and family home in search of evidence. open image in gallery Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin all students at the University of Idaho were ambushed in their rooms and stabbed to death by Bryan Kohberger with a military-style knife that has yet to be found. ( AP/Instagram ) For over two years, Kohberger maintained his innocence and his long-awaited trial was due to begin on August 18. But in a dramatic turn, the 30-year-old publicly admitted to the killings for the first time at a plea-deal hearing on July 2 to avoid the death penalty. Prosecutors said theres still no known connection between the victims and Kohberger, who had been planning the murders for months. In pleading guilty, Kohberger waived all rights to an appeal and was handed four consecutive life sentences at Wednesdays hearing. Here, The Independent takes a deep dive into the complex case. The night of the murders The students had all enjoyed a typical Saturday night out in the small college town. Goncalves and Mogen had been at a local bar, while Kernodle and Chapin went to a party at a frat house. After they returned in the early hours of November 13, Kohberger broke into the three-storey, six-bedroom house at around 4 a.m., as most of the students slept, and crept through the kitchen sliding door. Dressed in all-black with a balaclava, Kohberger headed to the third floor of the house and killed Mogen and Goncalves first, Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson said at the plea-deal hearing. For some reason, Kohberger left the tan leather knife sheath next to Mogens body. His DNA was later discovered on the sheath, according to an arrest affidavit. Chillingly, Kernodle was still awake and had just received a DoorDash order when she came face to face with Kohberger immediately after he murdered her roommates. Kohberger was coming down the stairs from the third floor when he encountered Kernodle and killed her with a large knife, the prosecutor said. As her boyfriend Chapin slept in the second-floor bedroom, Kohberger stabbed him to death too. Two other roommates, Bethany Funke and Dylan Mortensen, were the only roommates to survive the killings. Mortensen also encountered Kohberger, according to a police report. She was asleep in her bedroom on the second floor when she was woken by what sounded like Goncalves playing with her dog in one of the third-floor bedrooms. open image in gallery Kohberger is due to be sentenced for the murders of Ethan Chapin, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Kaylee Goncalves, 21. ( Instagram ) Mortensen told investigators she was in her bedroom on the second floor the same floor where Kernodle and Chapin were killed and was standing in the doorway as the killer walked right past her. At one point, Mortensen said she heard someone believed to be either Goncalves or Kernodle saying, Theres someone here. Minutes later, Mortensen said she looked out of her bedroom for the first time but did not see anything. She then opened her door a second time when she heard what she thought was crying coming from Kernodles room. At that point, she said she heard a mans voice from above say something like, Its OK, Im going to help you. When she opened her door a third time minutes later, she said she saw a figure clad in black clothing and a mask that covered the persons mouth and nose walking towards her. Mortensen stood in a frozen shock phase as the man walked past her. She said she did not recognize him, but noted in her testimony that he had one bushy eyebrow. The figure headed toward the back sliding glass door of the home. open image in gallery The house in Moscow, Idaho, where the four University of Idaho students were murdered before the home was demolished in December 2023. ( AP ) Terrified, Mortensen then locked herself in her room and started exchanging panicked text messages with Funke. The students tried texting and calling their roommates, who unbeknownst to them, were dead in their bedrooms. Pls answer, Mortensen texted Goncalves at 4:32 a.m., according to documents. A 911 call wasnt made until 11.56 a.m. eight hours later. The call, made from one of the surviving roommates cellphones, reported an unconscious individual. Prosecutors said that Kohberger took a selfie that morning at his Pullman residence in Washington state, approximately 9.5 miles from Moscow, with his thumbs up. The murder weapon has still never been found, prosecutors said at Julys hearing. Kohberger arrested in Pennsylvania weeks after murders After weeks of no updates on the investigation, law enforcement in Idaho and Pennsylvania announced Kohbergers arrest on December 30, 2022. A search warrant was executed at Kohbergers apartment in Pullman, Washington state, the same day he was arrested at his parents home in Pennsylvania. A record of evidence recovered during the apartment search revealed the seizure of 15 items, including hairs, receipts, a computer tower, a disposable glove and items with peculiar stains. open image in gallery The selfie Kohberger took the morning after the killings, posing with his thumbs up. ( Latah County Prosecutors Office ) In the search warrant record, investigators listed several items with stains, including cuttings of a mattress cover, a reddish/brown stain on an uncovered pillow and a collection of dark red spot. Kohberger was linked to the crime through cellphone location records, police said, and security video of a white Hyundai Elantra, a similar model of the car seen near the murder home around the time of the murders. Kohberger changed the license plates on his Hyundai Elantra just days after the murders. Who are the victims? Goncalves and Mogen were seniors at the University of Idaho and would have graduated in 2023. At a vigil weeks after the murders, Goncalvess father, Steve, told how the two absolutely beautiful young women first met in sixth grade and became inseparable. open image in gallery Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, pictured together before the killings, were the best of friends, their families said. ( Instagram ) They just found each other and every day they did homework together, they came to our house together, they shared everything, he said at the time. Then they started looking at colleges, they came here together. They eventually get into the same apartment together. And in the end, they died together, in the same room, in the same bed. Kernodle was a junior and Chapin was a freshman at the college. They had begun dating months before their deaths. Six months after the stabbings, the families of the slain students accepted posthumous awards for their achievements. open image in gallery 20-year-olds Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle were dating and had been at a frat house party the night of the murders. ( Jazzmin Kernodle ) Mogen and Goncalvess relatives walked the stage for their degrees in an emotional ceremony on May 13, 2023. Mogen was going to school for marketing and Goncalves for general studies. Kernodles family also accepted her certificate in marketing at a separate ceremony, while Chapins award in sports, recreation and management was mailed to his parents. The house in Moscow was demolished in December 2023 after the high-profile killings. Who is Bryan Kohberger? At the time of the murders, Kohberger was studying for his PhD and working as a teaching assistant in criminal justice at Washington State University. Kohberger previously studied criminology at Pennsylvanias DeSales University, first as an undergraduate, and then was set to finish his graduate studies in June 2022. According to online school records, Kohberger received an associate's degree in Arts in 2018 from Northampton Community College in Albrightsville and a master's degree in Criminal Justice from DeSales University. open image in gallery A list of items seized following a search warrant at Bryan Kohbergers home. ( Pennsylvania Courts ) While at DeSales, he studied under renowned forensic psychologist Katherine Ramsland, who interviewed the BTK serial killer and wrote the book Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer. Ramsland said that Kohberger did not present any red flags to her in a recent interview with NewsNation, but added: I have to look at the framework of what I taught and wonder, did I inspire him in some way? He had carried out a research project to understand how emotions and psychological traits influence decision-making when committing a crime. Kohberger had also reached out to potential participants on Reddit with the survey resurfacing after his arrest. open image in gallery The murder weapon has still never been found, prosecutors said at Julys hearing. ( Monroe County Correctional Facility ) In particular, this study seeks to understand the story behind your most recent criminal offense, with an emphasis on your thoughts and feelings throughout your experience, the post said. His fascination appears to have continued around the time of the killings when he applied for an internship with the local police department. The affidavit revealed he applied for an internship in the fall of 2022 with the Pullman Police Department and wrote in an essay how he had an interest in assisting rural law enforcement agencies with how to better collect and analyze technological data in public safety operations. Eerie plea-deal hearing where killer admitted guilty for the first time Kohberger did not display any emotion at an eerie plea-deal hearing in Boise, Idaho, three weeks ago, as he entered a guilty plea and spoke for the first time in the legal proceedings against him. Silence was broken only by muffled sobs by some of the victims family members, who looked down or away as the names of their slain loved ones were read aloud. Kohbergers parents, Michael Jr and Maryann, were in court for the hearing. open image in gallery Kohberger appeared impassive as he admitted to carrying out the brutal stabbing deaths of the four University of Idaho students. ( AP ) Judge Steven Hippler asked Kohberger if he had murdered Maddie Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin on that night two years ago. One by one, Kohberger answered each question with a simple but confident yes. The plea deal came as a shock to many, dividing the victims families and the public. The Goncalves family, who has been among the most vocal throughout the case, strongly opposed the plea. This aint justice, no judge presided, no jury weighed the truth, they wrote in a statement on Facebook. open image in gallery Kaylee Goncalvess father, Steve Goncalves, surrounded by the press outside the plea-deal hearing. ( Reuters ) Thompson robbed us of our day in court. No negotiations, no jury of our peers, not even the pretense of cooperation and fairness. Kernodles father told The New York Times that he does not agree with the plea deal, and said he is disappointed in the prosecutors decision. Earlier this week, Kernodles aunt said the prosecution told the family the deal was to spare them from hearing grisly details of the murders in court. We know the graphics. They were not trying to spare us, she said. But the families of Chapin and Mogen supported the plea deal. While we know there are some who do not support it, we ask that they respect our belief that this is the best outcome, Attorney Leander James said in a statement on behalf of Mogens family outside the courthouse on July 2. We now embark on a path of hope and healing. Emotional sentencing hearing where roommates speak out for first time A judge Wednesday sentenced Bryan Kohberger to die in prison for the senseless slaughter of four Idaho college students after the killer refused to reveal his motive before learning his fate. An emotional and, at times, choked up Judge Steven Hippler condemned Kohberger to spend the rest of his life behind bars for committing unspeakable evil during his July 23, 2025, sentencing hearing. The judge handed him four consecutive life sentences, and an additional 10 years for burglary, without the possibility of parole. During the nearly three-hour hearing, devastated parents, grandparents, siblings and surviving roommates of the four slain students told Kohberger that nobody cares about him as they confronted the mass murderer. Mortensen, one of the two roommates who survived the killings, told Kohberger he was evil as she defiantly told him he would never take away her voice even though she revealed that the murders had left her suffering extreme panic attacks that slam into me like a tsunami. Through tears, Mortensen told Kohberger that he was a hollow vessel, something less than human. The other surviving roommate, Bethany Funke, whose statement was read aloud by a friend, revealed that she slept in her parents bedroom for a year after the murders. Funke also expressed regret over not calling 911 sooner, even though she said she knows there wouldnt have been enough time to save her friends lives. Everything I do, I do it with them in mind, Funke wrote. I am still scared to go out in public, but I force myself to do things because I know that they would want me to keep living my life to the fullest. I am beyond blessed to still be here, and I refuse to take that for granted when they do not get a chance. The only time Kohberger spoke at his sentencing hearing was to respectfully decline the opportunity to address the court or reveal why he committed the gruesome crimes. With additional reporting from Rachel Dobkin, Andrea Blanco, Rachel Sharp and Sheila Flynn 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 Police have arrested a man they say murdered his mother after she flew from New Jersey to Florida to check on him. The investigation began Saturday night, when Elizabeth Carusos son-in-law contacted the Miami Beach Police Department and asked them to do a welfare check on her. He explained no one had heard from Caruso in hours after she flew to Miami Beach to check on her son, Anthony Caruso, CBS Miami reports. Anthony has a history of mental illness, police said. When police arrived at her sons apartment building, they found Elizabeth dead inside a dumpster. "The investigation revealed there was a trail of blood coming from that apartment to the trash chute and subsequently down the trash chute, inside of the waste container," Miami Beach Police Public Information Officer Christopher Bess told CBS Miami. Elizabeths neck was injured nearly to the point of decapitation, and she suffered several bone fractures along her arms, hands, face and head, according to police documents reviewed by CBS Miami. open image in gallery Anthony Caruso was arrested after an eight-hour standoff, police say ( Miami-Dade Corrections ) Miami Beach Police believe Anthony killed his mother, possibly with a knife, NBC Miami reports. When police knocked on Anthonys door, no one answered. This led to an eight-hour-long stand-off with Anthony, who police say had barricaded himself inside the apartment. Miami Beach Police's SWAT and Hostage Negotiation Teams were soon deployed to the scene. The apartment complex was also evacuated at one point, NBC Miami reports. Early Sunday morning, officers subdued Anthony using a K-9 and a taser, at which point they arrested him and brought him to a nearby hospital for treatment, CBS Miami reports. Vanessa Lopez, who lives in the apartment building, told CBS Miami that police asked for residents IDs during the incident. "They were asking for ID to come back inside we couldn't come back unless they let us know," she said. Elizabeth worked as a preschool special education teacher at the New Milford Public School District in New Jersey for 25 years. She retired in 2021, leaving behind a legacy of respect from colleagues and adoration from the countless students and families she served, the school district said in a statement to NBC Miami. Anthony is now being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County. Its unclear if he has retained an attorney. 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 Florida police officers have escaped criminal charges after breaking a mans car window and punching him in the face multiple times during a traffic stop. William McNeil Jr., a 22-year-old Black man, was pulled over by Jacksonville officer D. Bowers in February. McNeil used his phone to capture footage of the traffic stop, which went viral this month on social media. McNeils attorney, Harry Daniels, says he was not a threat to officers, explaining the 22-year-old is afraid and noting that in this environmentyoung men of color are very afraid of police. Meanwhile, the Florida State Attorneys Office has concluded the officers did not violate any criminal laws. The sheriffs office is now conducting "administrative reviews of the incident, which will determine if the deputies violated agency policy, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said Monday. The Independent has contacted McNeils attorneys and the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office for comment. open image in gallery William McNeil looks at his cell phone camera as Officer D. Bowers breaks his car window ( Law Office of Harry M. Daniels/TMX ) Cell phone footage shows officer hitting McNeil McNeil was pulled over just after 4 p.m. on February 19 because he didnt have his headlights on during inclement weather, according to a police report obtained by ABC News. The video begins with McNeil telling an off-screen police officer that his driver-side window does not work and that he did not have his headlights on because it wasnt raining. The off-screen officer told him the rain didnt matter and that headlights were required anyway. McNeil asked the officer to pull that law up, which states headlights are required. The officer said he would do so after McNeil steps out of the vehicle. McNeil then asked the off-screen officer to call his supervisor. Moments later, Bowers who was standing on the drivers side broke the window, shouted exit the vehicle, and hit McNeil on the side of his face. McNeil was facing forward when Bowers hit him. Bowers then told McNeil to show me your hands, which he did. Another officer unclicked McNeils seatbelt and pulled him out of the car by his arm. McNeil was struck again as a group of several officers, including Bowers, pushed him to the ground. open image in gallery Cell phone video footage shows Jacksonville Sheriff's Officer D. Bowers striking William McNeil during a traffic stop ( Law Office of Harry M. Daniels/TMX ) Police respond and release body camera footage of the incident The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office released body camera footage of the incident on Monday, which showed the initial minutes of the traffic stop that the cell phone footage didnt capture. The footage shows that McNeil opened his car door as Bowers approached the car. Bowers asked why McNeil opened the door. McNeil replied that the driver-side window didnt work. Bowers told McNeil he pulled him over because he didnt have his lights on during inclement weather, and because he wasnt wearing his seatbelt. Bowers asked for McNeils license and registration. McNeil refused and asked Bowers to call his supervisor. Bowers called for backup and said he had an uncooperative driver. McNeil shut the car door soon afterward. After some back-and-forth, Bowers told McNeil he was arresting him for resisting. Once back-up arrived, Bowers repeatedly told McNeil he was under arrest and that he would break the window if McNeil didnt get out of the car. open image in gallery Jacksonville Sheriff's Office body camera footage shows Officer D. Bowers speaking with William McNeil after he opened his car door ( Jacksonville Sheriff's Office ) Bowers has been stripped of his law enforcement authority pending the outcome of an administrative review, according to Waters. "Force absolutely looks ugly, and because all force is ugly, whether or not the officer involved acted within outside JSO policy, that's still what we're investigating, Waters said. McNeils arrest report states the 22-year-old at one point "was reaching for the floorboard of the vehicle where a large knife was sitting, First Coast News reports. Daniels told the outlet that "the narrative in this report isn't just suspicious, it is completely divorced from reality." Waters released a photo of the knife but said he cant confirm whether the arrest report is true. All I can go by when I read those things is what's stated in the report, he said. I'm not saying whether it's true or whether it's not, I'm saying no one sees his hands at that point. open image in gallery The knife the Jacksonville Sheriff's officers say was in William McNeil's car ( Jacksonville Sheriff's Office ) McNeil was charged with resisting arrest, marijuana possession, driving with a suspended license, not wearing a seatbelt and driving without headlights, ABC News reports. Waters said McNeil pleaded guilty to resisting a police officer without violence. He spent two days in jail, ABC News reports. The sheriffs office also released a "Response-to-Resistance" report explaining why officers used force, from their perspectives, according to First Coast News. Bowers said that he used force to protect himself and others, as well as to "overcome resistance, the outlet reports. McNeil took months to recover, attorney says Daniels told ABC News that his client is scared following the incident. "He is afraid, Daniels said. You know, in this environment, policing in America, especially young men of color, are very afraid of police. McNeil suffered a closed-head injury and received nine stitches after a tooth went through his lip, Daniels told First Coast News. It took him months to recover. "That officer that punched and beat him and the ones who watched and did nothing should be held to the same rule of law that everyone else is held to. Arrest and prosecution. That's a perfect world," Daniels said. When asked if McNeil is going to pursue legal action, Daniels said his client is seeking all options to ensure accountability. "We are planning to do everything we can do to secure justice. We are seeking all options to ensure accountability, Daniels told ABC News. Staff members introduce new products at the booth of Siemens at IFA Berlin 2024 in Berlin, Germany, Sept. 6, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Zheyu) Over 60 leading German companies, including Siemens and Deutsche Bank, have pledged to invest 735 billion U.S. dollars in Germany by 2028 to help restore investor confidence. BERLIN, July 21 (Xinhua) -- More than 60 of leading German companies, including Siemens and Deutsche Bank, pledged on Monday to invest 631 billion euros (735 billion U.S. dollars) in the country by 2028 in a joint effort to restore investor confidence, according to the German newspaper Handelsblatt. The initiative, titled "Made for Germany," will be formally presented to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil later on Monday. It includes capital expenditure, research and development spending, and commitments from international investors. The announcement comes as Germany seeks to reverse sluggish growth and attract private capital, helped in part by a recent overhaul of fiscal rules and the creation of a special fund for infrastructure investment. This photo taken on May 28, 2025 shows a view of the Container Terminal Tollerort in Hamburg, Germany.(Xinhua/Zhang Fan) Germany's industrial competitiveness has been strained by high energy prices and structural challenges, prompting growing calls for deeper reforms. "We need political courage for structural change, and bold steps must follow," Siemens CEO Roland Busch told Handelsblatt. "But we also need companies that believe in Germany as a location and are ready to invest. Both must come together quickly to build momentum." Busch also said the companies involved in the initiative plan to lobby the government for faster approval procedures for infrastructure projects and stronger measures to address labor shortages. Clemens Fuest, president of the ifo Institute, welcomed the initiative as a positive signal, but noted uncertainty around its long-term impact. "The question is whether this is truly sustainable, or just a short-term boost driven by public borrowing," he said. This photo taken on March 25, 2023 shows a Deutsche Bank branch in Beriln, Germany. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) Looking ahead, Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing said Germany's growth rate is expected to stabilize above 2 percent within three years as investment commitments take effect and uncertainty diminishes. Busch said new technologies should be embraced as opportunities. "With courage, we aim to secure a leading position in key fields such as industrial artificial intelligence," he added. (1 euro = 1.17 U.S. dollar) Advance Metals managing director Dr Adam McKinnon said: The acquisition of Guadalupe y Calvo is transformational for Advance Metals, taking the companys endowment in Mexico to over 100M ounces silver-equivalent across three high-quality projects. Advance is now positioned as the largest ASX participant in the silver-gold exploration and development space in Mexico, with enormous upside potential from all three of our projects. The project includes 10 granted concessions across a 27.5 square kilometre area, with year-round access via paved and gravel roads in a region renowned for strong community infrastructure and a skilled mining workforce. It sits in the prolific Sierra Madre Volcanic Belt in the southwestern portion of Chihuahua. The region has a long history of precious metals mining, with gold and silver mined in the project area since at least 1835. Historic production is estimated at more than 2M ounces of gold and 31M ounces of silver. Advance procured the project by paying a signing fee of US$50,000 (A$76,500) cash and US$50,000 worth of fully paid Advance shares. In what appears to be a canny deal, most of the further payments are heavily back-ended. Advance will pay $100,000 cash and $100,000 in company shares at the end of year one, plus $250,000 in exploration expenditure during the first year. In comparison, at the end of the fourth year, it will be due to pay $850,000 in cash and $1 million in company shares and spend $250,000 on exploration. In total, the company will pay the vendor US$4 million (A$6.12 million) in cash payments and shares to earn full ownership of the project. Advance will soon begin further exploration at Guadalupe y Calvo and, subject to receiving the requisite approvals, it plans to leverage the operating expertise, existing infrastructure and its established team already in place in Mexico. It aims to soon complete a confirmatory and extension drilling program at the site. Advance is also planning initial surface exploration to refine high-priority drill targets for the upcoming program. The company will look to ramp up an on-site and database review to verify the foreign estimate as a mineral resource under the 2012 JORC code. It may need to complete further sampling and/or drilling to complete the verification. Advance plans to fund the required work from its existing cash reserves. Management says the recent maiden drilling campaign at the high-grade Yoquivo silver-gold project returned impressive results, such as 23.8 metres averaging 85g/t silver equivalent from 100m, along with a 16.4m hit at 104g/t silver-equivalent from 133m and 21.2m going 55g/t silver-equivalent from a depth of 162.9m. It will now look to expedite rapid growth across its expanding Mexican portfolio. The Mexican projects add to several equally impressive Victorian gold projects on Advances books. It has restarted diamond drilling at its Myrtleford gold project in the Victorian goldfields, where it is following up a 7.9m high-grade gold hit that kicked up a sterling 47.9g/t. With the silver price touching US$38.90 (A$59.52) per ounce in the past week, its highest level since August 2011, Advances Mexican push for the precious metal may prove to be a wise pursuit. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au Advertisement Eating outJust open Ten of Malaysias best hawker stalls some 80 years old are now in Melbourne And the best part is, theyre all under one roof. Get warming curry laksa, new-school Hainanese coffee with salted cream, nasi lemak and more at new CBD dining precinct EatAlley. Quincy Malesovas June 27, 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 As featured in the July 2025 hit list. See all stories . Some of Malaysias best food comes from hawker stalls, where vendors dedicate themselves to a single dish refined over decades. Often family-run and hyper-specialised, theyre nearly impossible to replicate outside the country and much-missed by Malaysians living abroad. There are all these comfort foods that Malaysians [seek out] that are not popular in Australia, says Kher Chink Pang, who handles operations for fast-casual restaurants including PappaRich and NeNe Chicken. This is why we go back to Malaysia. Eat Alley, a new hawker centre in the city, features 10 well-known stalls from Malaysia. Alex Coppel With his latest venture, EatAlley, in Melbournes QV precinct, hes bringing 10 of the countrys best hawker stalls to Melbourne, including noodle stall Kedai Koon Kee and pork broth specialists Klang Siong Huat. Some date back to 1945. Every single one here is an actual store in Malaysia, Pang says. Some of them are in their third generation. Advertisement That includes Khiang Pin kopitiam, run by Pangs grandfather until closing in 2023 and now revived in Melbourne with Hainanese-style kopi (coffee) and toast inspired by the original menu. Pineapple bun toast with butter (left) and kaya butter toast (right) with Hainan-style kopi. Alex Coppel Coffee beans are roasted in a claypot with margarine, butter and sugar, just like Pangs grandfather used to, but a modern drink layers the sweet milk coffee with a thick head of salted cream. Hainan butter toast has also been adapted, made from Japanese milk bread filled with a slab of butter and finished with a crackly sweet crust like Japans pineapple buns. Bak kut teh, a pork broth rich in herbs, comes with pork, tofu puffs and enoki mushrooms, served in a claypot. Kaikai Xu Advertisement Other stalls are remaining faithful to beloved Malaysian dishes such as bak kut teh, a herbal pork soup. It comes in a claypot with optional add-ons like shallot rice, boiled lettuce and Chinese doughnuts for dipping. Kuala Lumpur-style hokkien mee from Hong Lai, a vendor thats been operating since the 1970s, is made with thick noodles braised in dark soy sauce then finished in the wok for added depth and texture. Both the Hainanese chicken rice from BM and sunset-orange curry laksa from Petaling Street Curry Mee come from hawker stalls that have since closed in Malaysia, but whose recipes were passed on by family or former staff. Translating these legacy recipes for a Melbourne kitchen took time. Its not easy to replicate what the hawkers have been doing for the last 60, 80 years, says Pang. Curry laksa is based on a recipe from a now-closed Kuala Lumpur hawker stall. Kaikai Xu Advertisement Sourcing was also a challenge ingredients like egg noodles are imported directly from Malaysia and so was adjusting for differences in climate and taste preferences. When someone knows the taste so well and you try to cook the same dish in a different location, theres a very high expectation, says Pang. Among the roster of dishes deeply familiar to Malaysian diners, there are also items more common to Australian menus such as nasi lemak with fried chicken, wonton noodle soup, and a small line-up of dim sum. The concept was inspired by a friends hawker-style food court in Singapore, but Pang opted to make a single dining space within the old PappaRich site, where guests order via QR code and receive dishes from different vendors at the same table. Lunch and dinner daily Advertisement Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up The Australian sharemarket has extended its gains as the major banks snapped their losing run and miners continued to soar. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index on Wednesday gained 60 points, or 0.69 per cent, to 8,737.2, while the broader All Ordinaries rose 59.9 points, or 0.67 per cent, to 9,001.4. Materials were the strongest of 10 of the 11 ASX sectors in the green, with iron miners moving higher for the third session this week, bolstered by reforms to Chinas steel industry. BHP gained 0.8 per cent to $41.85, Rio Tinto climbed 1.0 per cent to $119.47 and Fortescue rose 2.3 per cent to $18.21. Iluka Resources rose more than 3 per cent after achieving the full-year production guidance for zircon by June 30. Major banks rebounded after a shaky start to the week, with the CBA turning its biggest one-day drop since early April into a 0.51 per cent rise, to $173.30. Westpac moved 1.4 per cent higher to $33.11, ANZ climbed 2.5 per cent to $30.57, while NAB finished almost flat at $37.20. AAP DAMASCUS, July 22 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli drone strike hit a convoy of tribal fighters in the city of Shahba in the northern countryside of Sweida province late Monday, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. Casualties were reported, though the exact number remains unclear. The airstrike marked a sharp escalation in the already tense situation in southern Syria, where clashes between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribal groups have continued despite a fragile ceasefire. Separately, breaches to the ceasefire were also reported in the nearby town of Umm al-Zeitoun, further fueling concerns about renewed military escalation in Shahba and adjacent areas. The latest flare-up came amid an atmosphere of heightened insecurity in Sweida, while warplanes and reconnaissance drones were reported flying over the region. The violence has persisted despite attempts by Syrian interim authorities and international mediators to enforce a ceasefire brokered last week. The terms included mutual prisoner releases and a gradual withdrawal of tribal forces from Sweida, but repeated violations have cast doubt over its sustainability. Further to Craig Forbes piece about political chew toys [C8]. I recently found a Donald Trump squeaky dog toy, reveals Jonathan Vincent of Emu Heights. My puppy loved it, but within five minutes she had removed both his arms. This silenced Trumps squeak [Result! Granny], and the disarmament is great for world peace. My siblings and I learnt about antimacassars [C8] very early in life, says David Pigott of North Parramatta. The letter A was my mums favourite when playing I Spy with my Little Eye. Warren Menteith of Bali describes the antimacassar as a classic marketing ploy. Create the problem so you can flog the solution. He also explains that Macassar, the capital of Sulawesi (Celebes) gave its name to this item. It seems long before Brylcreem and other pomades, ebony oil from Makassar was the top-selling product. While well aware that former PM Bob Hawke was a bit of a ladies man, Ron Besdansky of Northbridge was still taken aback when viewing Wikipedias Born on This Day page: 1929 Hazel Hawke, Australian social worker and pianist, 23rd Spouse of the Prime Minister of Australia (died 2013). Jeff Stanton of Strathfield has a decidedly European take on signalling (C8) when he says: using indicators is seen by many as providing information to the enemy. Police are examining the electronic devices of a man accused of firebombing a Melbourne synagogue as they continue to hunt for a motive for the alleged attack, which occurred when 20 people were inside the building. Angelo Loras, 34, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday after being charged over the alleged firebombing at an East Melbourne synagogue on July 4. Angelo Loras, 34, did not apply for bail and entered no plea at Tuesdays hearing. Charge sheet documents released by the Melbourne Magistrates Court allege Loras set the front doors of the East Melbourne Synagogue on fire, causing an estimated $5000 in damage. He has been charged with committing arson, as well as possessing a control weapon, reckless conduct endangering life and criminal damage by fire. When her family fled persecution in Afghanistan, Sidiqa Faqihi thought she was headed to an island paradise in Indonesia. But after being stuck in limbo as a refugee there for more than a decade, it was her 2022 arrival in Australia that she now sees as her rebirth. For the first time, I could influence my own future, Faqihi said. I could walk on the land that I belong to, the land that accepted me ... a land where I was no longer invisible, a land where I was no longer considered a shadow. Sidiqa Faqihi came to Australia as a refugee from Afghanistan after almost a decade in limbo in Indonesia. Credit: Wayne Taylor Australia is on the cusp of accepting its one millionth refugee since 1947, creating generations who have shaped the economic and cultural landscape, but also been subject to intense political debate over national identity and security concerns. After World War II, the Chifley Labor government expanded migrant intake to include non-British refugees, especially those from continental Europe. This was the first significant shift from the White Australia policy that had limited foreign migration since federation and was fully dismantled by the 1970s. 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. Loading 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. Since then, there have been no new images or videos of Huffman. The family commented on their YouTube channel that he was doing fine. However, a link on their channel, which has since been deleted, directed users to a Telegram group titled Save the 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 DeAnna Huffman and her daughters crying in the street. It is unclear if the family created the group. London masthead The Telegraph has contacted the Huffmans for comment. Ukrainian servicemen stand in trenches at a position north of the capital Kyiv. Credit: AP 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. 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, Derek Huffman told Russia Today. Traditional values 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, 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. Derek Huffman said he wanted to earn his place in Russian society not via handouts but through service. 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 DeAnna 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. Loading DeAnna 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. 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 Kirby described as liberal gender norms. Hunter Biden has unleashed on George Clooney in an expletive-laden rant, describing him as not a f---ing actor. Biden criticised the Academy Award winner for withdrawing his support for his father, former US President Joe Biden, during the 2024 presidential race. Hunter Biden is one of his fathers most vocal defenders. Credit: AP F him. F him. F him and everybody around him, Hunter Biden told YouTube journalist Andrew Callaghan during an interview on his Channel 5. 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. With this donation, Goodyear is also giving fans a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own a piece of the blimp AKRON, Ohio, July 21, 2025 -- On opening day of the 2025 Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Oshkosh show, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced that it will donate its last-remaining blimp gondola frame to the EAA Museum as part of a new children's exhibit. The gondola frame is from Goodyear's GZ20 model era of blimps that spanned nearly 40 years. In that time period, as one blimp retired, its gondola was often refurbished for a new blimp. The gondola frame being donated to the EAA Museum was previously used on the Europa, Goodyear's Blimp that flew throughout Europe in the 1980s, and on the Florida-based Stars and Stripes in the early 2000s. This tradition ended in 2011 when Goodyear began the transition to the New Technology (NT) semi-rigid airship platform that remains in place for its fleet of airships still today. As part of this year's celebration of the Goodyear Blimp's 100th anniversary, this gesture marks another way for Goodyear to preserve the history of its airships program and carry the legacy of the Goodyear Blimp forward for future generations. "As we celebrate our blimp program's 100th anniversary, there's no better way to honor its legacy than by inspiring the next generation of aviation enthusiasts," said Michael Dougherty, Goodyear's Chief Pilot. "We hope this exhibit sparks curiosity and dreams of flight on aircraft of all kinds in countless children into the future." "Goodyear's Blimp flying has been an iconic part of aviation for a century, so this donation is a great fit as part of our museum's mission to tell the story of flight," said Chris Henry, EAA Aviation Museum Manager. "Just as Goodyear Blimps have brought fascination with flight, this donation will be part of a future exhibit that inspires those with aviation dreams." Limited-Edition Keepsake Item Gives Fans a Once-in-a-Lifetime Chance to Own a Piece of the Goodyear Blimp Along with the gondola donation, Goodyear is also offering fans the unique chance to take home a piece of the Goodyear Blimp. The Spirit of Goodyear keepsake item includes a genuine piece of envelope that flew with the Spirit of Goodyear blimp across North America from 2000 to 2014, wrapped in a commemorative 100th anniversary box. Christened by NASA Astronaut and the first American woman in space Sally Ride in March of 2000, the Spirit of Goodyear went on to become one of Goodyear's most decorated blimps. It holds the Guinness World Record for the longest continuously operated airship, and it was the first blimp to provide aerial TV coverage of a sporting event in high definition. When the Spirit of Goodyear retired in 2014, Goodyear donated its gondola to the Crawford Aviation Museum in Cleveland but retained its envelope, which is now a piece of this limited-edition keepsake item. The Spirit of Goodyear keepsake item is now available for purchase while supplies last by visiting the Goodyear Fan Store: Goodyear | Blimp Keepsake Box. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the EAA Museum to contribute to the children's museum build. Goodyear's 2025 Presence at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh This year, Goodyear Aviation will, once again, be located at booth (#489), where the latest aviation tires and technology will be on display. Additionally, as part of the Goodyear Blimp's centennial celebrations, Goodyear is sending two blimps to Oshkosh for the first time. Wingfoot One, with its vintage wrap inspired by the very first branded Goodyear Blimp Pilgrim, will participate in daytime airshows throughout the week, and Wingfoot Two, with its LED sign, will participate in nighttime airshows. Fans can follow along @Goodyear and @GoodyearBlimp on social media for updates throughout the week. About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 68,000 people and manufactures its products in 53 facilities in 20 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate. NEW DELHI, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The auxiliary power unit of Air India flight AI-315, flying from Hong Kong, China to Delhi, caught fire Tuesday shortly after the plane landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, the Indian capital, officials said. The fire was detected while passengers were exiting the plane. According to Air India, all the passengers are safe. However, the fire caused some damage to the aircraft. On Monday, a Kochi-Mumbai flight of Air India veered off the runway while landing, damaging both the plane and the tarmac. Another flight of the airline from Delhi to Kolkata aborted its take-off at the last minute following the detection of a technical issue. Last month, a London-bound Air India aircraft crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, killing 241 people on board. The accident also killed 19 people and injured 67 others on the ground. LOS ANGELES, July 21 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. passenger jet was forced to make an "aggressive maneuver" to avoid a midair collision with an Air Force B-52 bomber in North Dakota last week, multiple news outlets reported Monday. The Delta Connection flight, operated by SkyWest Airlines, was en route from Minneapolis to Minot International Airport when the near miss occurred Friday. According to The Washington Post, the aircraft had been cleared by air traffic control to land. However, the pilot was forced to perform a "go-around" after the B-52 bomber appeared in the flight path. A video posted to Instagram and verified by Storyful showed the pilot explaining to passengers that the B-52 was on a converging course, said the report. He apologized for the sudden and "aggressive maneuver" required to avoid a midair collision, adding that "nobody told us" about the presence of the other aircraft. A U.S. Air Force spokesperson told the local Minot Daily News that they are aware of the reporting and currently investigating the incident, confirming that a B-52 assigned to Minot Air Force Base -- located about 20 kilometers north of Minot International Airport -- conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair Friday evening. 20 killed, over 50 injured, many critical DHAKA : Bdesh Air Force training aircraft crashes into school buildin g 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 countrys recent history. 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 Dhakas 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. The pilot attempted to steer the aircraft away from densely populated areas. However, despite his efforts, the aircraft tragically crashed into the two-storey building of the school, said the ISPR - the media wing of the military. All injured individuals are being promptly transported to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) 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 (RAB), continued their rescue operations. high-level investigation committee has been formed by the Bangladesh Air Force to determine the cause of the accident, the statement added. India ready to extend all possible support: Modi NEW DELHI, July 21 (PTI) PRIME Minister Modi on Monday expressed deep shock at the loss of lives in an aircraft crash in Dhaka. Deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives in a tragic air crash in Dhaka. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families, Modi said on X. He added, We pray for the swift recovery of those injured. India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance. Allegations fly thick and high Pvt schools allege manipulation in recognition cancellation, demand judicial investigation Staff Reporter : Private Schools Association calls for suspension of DPI officials and investigation by retired High Court Judge Serious irregularities and allegations of manipulation have surfaced in the cancellation of recognition for 250 private schools in Madhya Pradesh. The Private Schools Association claims that deliberate malpractice occurred during the renewal of recognition for high and higher secondary schools, leading to the cancellation of valid school recognitions. The association has demanded a judicial inquiry into the entire matter and action against the culpable officials. Shilpa Gupta, Commissioner of the Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI), issued orders to cancel the recognition of 250 private schools across the State, including 12 schools in the capital, Bhopal. These schools recognitions were revoked due to deficiencies in land documents, with some allegedly operating only on paper. Education Minister Uday Pratap Singh received appeals from a total of 350 schools, out of which only 50 received recognition, while another 50 were put on hold. The association has presented several shocking examples: Of two schools operated by the same institution, one received recognition while the appeals of the other were rejected in both the first and second instances, despite both having the same land allocated. Many schools that had been recognised on the same land documents for 30-40 years had their recognition cancelled this time, based on those very documents. A school operator from Sagar was called for a hearing and duly appeared, but their appeal was later dismissed, citing their absence. The association states that this raises questions about the intentions of the officials handling recognition work at the DPI. In several schools, recognition was cancelled for laboratories despite the absence of science faculty. An institution in Jabalpur submitted all documents, yet the y were marked as not received. Upon presenting photos of a computer lab, recognition was cancelled, citing non-compliance with standards, raising questions about the correct standards for photos. In a school in Indore, recognition was cancelled due to an alleged deficiency of approximately 600 sq ft in the built-up area, even though the institution presented a lease agreement for 660 sq feet. An institutions recognition was cancelled despite having one acre of land in its name and being recognised since 1997. A similar incident occurred with a school in Bhopal, which had land several times larger than the prescribed standards and its lease paid until 2027, yet officials insisted on presenting a rent agreement, leading to the cancellation of its recognition. The association has demanded that wrongly cancelled recognitions be reinstated. They also call for a judicial inquiry into the entire matter by a retired High Court judge and the suspension of culpable officials involved in recognition at the DPI. Dhankhar steps down as Vice President of India NEW DELHI : Dhankhar resigned from his post citing medical reasons and sent his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu IN A sudden move, 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 President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constituton, 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. He had recently underwent angioplasty at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi. In his resignation letter, Dhankhar thanked President Droupadi 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 Honble 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 Honble Prime Minister and the esteemed Council of Ministers. PMs 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 Honble 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 Indias 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 honour. As I leave this esteemed office, I am filled with pride in Bharats 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 the farmer who rose to the second highest constitutional position in the country. 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. He is the third Vice President of India after V V Giri and R Venkataraman to resign during tenure. Giri and Venkataraman had resigned from the post of Vice President to contest the presidential election. Dhankhars 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 Alliances candidate in the election for Vice President, who is the ex-officio Chair of the Rajya Sabha, in 2022. Hoofed mammal population depleting in TATR: NTCA By Kaushik Bhattacharya : Chital, Sambar, Barking Deer abundance seen in all ranges of Tadoba Tadoba is experiencing high rates of livestock depredation, leading to increased human-wildlife conflict Deforestation, urbanisation, agricultural expansion major reasons for depletion of ungulate population Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), which boasts of the highest number of tiger population in Maharashtra, is witnessing depletion of ungulate population (hoofed mammal), which is the main prey base for carnivores, says latest study by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Ungulates, a diverse group of hoofed mammals, are vital components of the ecosystem. Ungulates, including species like deer, antelopes, and wild boars are primarily herbivorous mammals. The study named Status of Ungulates in Tiger Habitats in India, revealed that TATR is experiencing high rates of livestock depredation, leading to increased human-wildlife conflict in recent time. The study also revealed that the depletion of ungulate population is a major reason behind increased human-animal conflict in the Tiger Reserve. In tiger reserves of Maharashtra, particularly Tadoba, carnivore presence is high, whereas prey density remains low. Without prey recovery and supplementation, human-wildlife conflict in this region is also expected to rise rapidly, claimed the study. Despite their importance, ungulates face significant threats, including habitat loss due to deforestation, urbanisation, and agricultural expansion. Poaching for meat, and other traditional uses poses a major threat besides competition with livestock for grazing. All these threats are existing in TATR due to which the population of ungulates is decreasing, it stated. As per the study, chital and sambar in abundance is predicted while conducting the research. Whereas barking deer, gaur, nilgai and wild pig in abundance is also noticed in the Tiger Reserve, which is also mapped using camera trap photos. The landscape model predicted chital abundance in all ranges of Tadoba, with the highest abundance in the Kolara and Tadoba range. Sambar is also abundant throughout the reserve, with the highest in the Tadoba and Kolara range. Similarly, barking deer has a high abundance in the Moharli, Kolara, Karwa, and Chandrapur buffer ranges, the study revealed. While mentioning about the reason of abundance, the study stated, Alterations in climate patterns can significantly affect the distribution of vegetation types that ungulates depend for food and shelter. Changes in precipitation patterns can lead to droughts or floods that disrupt food availability and breeding success, its stated. While supporting the relocation of villages in Melghat Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, it stated, In Melghat, voluntary village relocation has facilitated grassland regeneration. This landscape holds significant potential for wildlife management, as prey recovery programmes such as augmentation and supplementation could contribute to carnivore population recovery. To address population declines, targeted reintroduction and habitat restoration efforts are essential. Augmenting native ungulate species, which serve as principal prey for larger carnivores, into areas where they have low densities or have been locally extirpated can help restore predator-prey dynamics and improve habitat conditions for apex predators like tigers, recommended the study. More action unfolds in liquor scam 3 Chartered Accountants nabbed Staff Reporter Raipur, In a significant crackdown on the foreign liquor commission racket that bled the State exchequer of crores, the State Economic Offences Investigation and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SEOIACB) on Monday arrested three Chartered Accountants (CAs) directly linked to the liquor syndicates financial machinery. SEOIACB officials confirmed the arrest of Sanjay Mishra, Manish Mishra, and Abhishek Singh on Sunday (July 20) in connection with the excise scam registered under Crime No. 04/2024. The accused were produced before the Special Court (Prevention of Corruption Act) in Raipur on Monday, which remanded them to police custody till July 26 for further interrogation. Investigations have revealed that the arrested CAs were operating in collusion with liquor licensing firm Nexgen Power Engitech Private Limited, which was among three trusted FL-10 licensees awarded the foreign liquor distribution contracts during 2020-21. These companies were allegedly handpicked by the excise syndicate to facilitate a backdoor commission arrangement that circumvented the states revenue protocols. Under this scheme, liquor manufacturers supplied products to the FL-10 licensee companies at base rates. These licensees then sold the same liquor to the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL) at a 10% markup. Of this inflated margin, 60% was funnelled back to the excise syndicates alleged kingpins-Anwar Dhebar, suspended IAS officer Anil Tuteja, and their associates-while the remaining 40% was retained by the licensee firms themselves. SEOIACB sources stated that this defective licensing model not only fostered rampant commission-seeking but also inflicted massive revenue losses on the state. The Bureau has launched a separate probe into the foreign liquor commission racket as part of its broader investigation into excise corruption. The arrests mark a critical development in unearthing the financial conduits of the liquor cartel. The case highlights how professional financial intermediaries were systematically used to institutionalise graft under the guise of lawful business operations, SEOIACB investigators told The Hitavada Why is Congress protesting for Baghels son? Our Correspondent KAWARDHA, July 21 DEPUTY Chief Minister Vijay Sharma has said that the Congress party should clarify what position Bhupesh Baghels son, Chaitanya Baghel, holds in the party. When a person holds no official position in the Congress and yet the entire party is protesting across State for him, it clearly indicates that Bhupesh Baghel has dragged the entire Congress into a trap of paternal affection. Addressing a press conference at BJP office, Deputy CM said that many examples have been seen in the past where people, blinded by attachment to their children, ended up destroying not only themselves but their entire empires. Bhupesh Baghel seems to be heading in the same direction. He further added that Bhupesh Baghel and the Congress party are harassing the people of the state in their efforts to shield the corrupt and are causing financial harm, which the people of Chhattisgarh will not tolerate. Addressing a press conference, Deputy CM pointed out that the accused in the liquor scam, coal scam, rice scam, and Gothan scam are now being apprehended one by one. All are landing in jail. He added that diverting the lawful actions being taken against criminals is unfortunate and the biggest example of hypocrisy in Congress. He said that whenever questions were raised about coal block allocations or tree cutting, Bhupesh Baghel would jump to defend under pressure from 10 Janpath. He used to say that those opposing coal block allocations should switch off electricity in their own homes. The question now is, as Bhupesh Baghel attempts to whitewash his own misdeeds through false and baseless allegations, will he now turn off the electricity at his own home and at Rajiv Bhawan? Deputy CM stated that on June 23, 2011, when the Congress was in power at the Centre, a proposal was made to open the Tara, Parsa East, and Kante Basan coal blocks. When both Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan were under Congress rule, Adani was made the operator for two major coal minesGare Pelma Sector-2 in Chhattisgarh and Kete Extension Block in Rajasthan. Similarly, on October 16, 2019, during Bhupesh Baghels tenure as Chief Minister, the state government recommended environmental clearance. HE added that the agreement for the open-cast Gare Pelma Sector-2 in Mand-Raigarh coalfield, dated March 31, 2021, is in the public domain. In continuation, on April 19, 2022, during Bhupesh Baghels tenure as CM, the Congress government sent a recommendation for Stage-1 forest clearance, and on January 23, 2023, for Stage-2 clearance. Deputy CM said that many newspapers had also reported on Bhupesh Baghels involvement in the approval of the Mahajenco coalfield. On March 25, 2022, the Bhupesh government allocated coal mines to Rajasthan, where Ashok Gehlot was then the Chief Minister. He said that during Congress rule in Chhattisgarh, then Rajasthan Minister B.D. Kalla had written to Bhupesh Baghel, and Ashok Gehlot, the then CM of Rajasthan, had written several letters within a week requesting coal block allocations. The people of Chhattisgarh and the nation have witnessed this. District Vice President Jasvinder Bagga, General Secretary Santosh Patel and Zila Panchayat member Dr Beerendra Sahu were present. Cong to stage economic blockade today The political temperature in Chhattisgarh is soaring as the Congress party prepares for a massive economic blockade across State on Tuesday. This protest, announced by Chhattisgarh Congress President Deepak Baij, is a strong reaction to the recent arrest of Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, and what the party claims is the loot of Chhattisgarhs resources. The blockade is to begin at 11:00 AM and last until 2:00 PM across all five divisions of State. It will target all major roads, national highways, and State highways disrupting (Contd on page 6) National interest THE term national interest assumes special significance when Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi uses it to highlight it as a metaphor of common national purpose beyond differing political agendas. Mr. Narendra Modi insisted in his address to the media before the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament that democracy did allow political organisations to have their own goals and objectives, but all those should be subservient to national interest. In other words, national interest is something that goes far beyond the normal confines of petty political goals or who wins an election or who loses. Very proudly, the Prime Minister referred to the all-party parliamentary delegations India sent to 35 countries post-Operation Sindoor to explain to the world Indias position as against terror and how justified the Indian response to terror was. No Indian person with his/her sanity intact would ever contest the Prime Ministers appeal to the good sense of the people in general and the political community in particular. Against the background of the Governments effort to have a proper conduct of the current parliamentary session, the Prime Ministers appeal needs to be considered by all seriously. As a precursor to the Monsoon Session, the Government convened a meeting of all political parties to highlight its expectation of a smooth sailing in the proceedings. The Opposition, as usual, had its own axe to grind and own points to raise (though without much substance). The Opposition wanted to have a discussion on some issues such as US President Mr. Donald Trumps ceasefire claims, the Pahalgam terror attack and voters lists revision in Bihar. The Government said it was not averse to discussion, but wanted an assurance that the proceedings would be smooth and without hiccups. Mr. Narendra Modis appeal to the Opposition was about raising the discourse to the level of national interest. It needs to be noted that for the past 11 years since Mr. Modi assumed prime ministership, the Opposition has made a point to keep the parliamentary proceedings disturbed on this or that count -- mostly with little logic. So nasty had the Opposition been in stalling the proceedings that the presiding officers expressed their helplessness in conducting the sessions. Most unfortunately, the Opposition did not feel a qualm of conscience to rectify its ways and means. However, time had come for the Opposition to understand how the nation appreciated its cooperation with the Government in sending all-party delegations to different countries post-Operation Sindoor. The Opposition has every right to pursue its own agenda in politics. However, it must also understand that there is something called national interest that transcends smaller political goals that parties pursue. If the Opposition can display its sense of national interest during the all-party-delegation phase, then it can do so on other occasions as well. This was the crux of the Prime Ministers statement before the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. He made it clear that multi-partisan dialogue is the crux of democracy, but that did not mean blocking of the national discourse. The term multi-lateralism suggests that every point of view has an equal merit in the national discourse which should uphold national interest. What the Prime Minister has expected to happen is something in the high zone of open-minded discourse that would promote national interest -- no matter who occupies the seat of power, no matter who sits in the Opposition. These sides may stand altered in vagaries of politics, all right, but that should never mean that political parties should be obstinate and unrelenting. That is not how democracy operates. That is how great nations rise above pettiness and conduct their affairs in utmost sanity and an uncompromising sense of dignity. NSUIs Odisha unit president held for raping college student BHUBANESWAR : 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. 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 womens 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. Pradhans 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. Parents oppose DPS Bhilais proposal for installation of AC in classrooms Staff Reporter BHILAI, Parents are terming it to be a strategy of the school to increase the fees After a circular issued by Delhi Public School Bhilai on Monday regarding air-conditioning of classrooms on both the Maroda and Risali Campus terming that it will bear extra running cost for the parents. A debate has started among the parents in the school WhatsApp groups made by the parents where most of the parents have opposed the decision of the school terming it to be a strategy of the school to increase the fees. Parents at DPS Bhilai are largely against the schools plan to install air conditioning in classrooms, believing it's a way for the school to unfairly increase fees. This strong opposition is being voiced in a large WhatsApp group called "DPS Parents (Safety and Security Concern)," made after the alleged sexual assault on a KG-1 girl having over 700 members. Many parents feel that DPS Bhilai's fees are already very high, especially for students who aren't dependents of Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) employees, making it the most expensive in the city for them. Parents have complained repeatedly about existing problems that aren't fixed, even after numerous complaints. Fans in classrooms often don't work, even during hot summer days, and complaints about them go unaddressed for extended periods. Many smart class systems are also not working and haven't been repaired. Parents are concerned that if the school can't even fix basic issues like fans, there's no guarantee the AC units would be consistently maintained and functional. Parents point out that air conditioning is only needed for about 2-3 months of the year. They believe the school is planning to charge AC fees for the entire year, seeing it as a deliberate scheme to extract more money from them. Overall, the majority of parents are against the AC installation, viewing it as an unnecessary expense and a way for the school to increase its revenue at their cost, especially given the existing unresolved maintenance issues. Some parents also argued that since the current principal is on an extension, major decisions like this should be postponed until a new principal is appointed. It may be noted that the circular issued by the school states that it has managed renovation for both the Maroda Campus and Risali Campus successfully. However, the next proposal of air-conditioning the classrooms on both the Maroda Campus and Risali Campus will involve extra running cost for the parents. To seek your feedback about your willingness/unwillingness regarding payment of these additional charges we request you to fill out the Google form on the link: https://forms.gle/vDM8cW6kJcAV4KVB9. Please note that we will proceed with our proposal only if we receive an overwhelmingly positive response from the parents/guardians. This clearly indicates that if parents support the proposal, then they will have to face massive fees hike in the name of installation and electricity charges in future. It may be mentioned that a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Delhi High Court last year challenging the air conditioning charge levied by a Delhi-based school was dismissed directing parents to bear the air conditioning costs, which amounted to Rs 2,000 per month. The court stated that parents should share financial responsibility with school management and consider the available facilities when choosing a school. This ruling suggests that if air conditioning were to be installed in DPS Bhilai, parents would likely be expected to bear a significant portion of the AC fees and would have limited grounds for complaint or legal challenge against such charges. RTE school admission fraud 13,048-page chargesheet filed against Sharif gang Staff Reporter : The gang, led by absconding mastermind Shahid Sharif, is accused of using fake documents to get children from wealthy families admitted to private schools under the RTE quota, which is meant for underprivileged children Sadar Police have filed a massive 13,048-page chargesheet in the court against fraudster Shahid Sharifs gang members who are accused of cheating the Government under the Right to Education (RTE) scheme. The gang, led by absconding mastermind Shahid Sharif, is accused of using fake documents to get children from wealthy families admitted to private schools under the RTE quota, which is meant for underprivileged children. The chargesheet names nine accused: Prashant Hedau, Rajesh Buwade, Raja Jamshed Sharif, Rupali Dhamagaye alias Ruksar Syed, Rohit Pille, Shubham Bute, Anil Meshram, Mangesh Zhoting, and Pradeep Bhange. The accused were allegedly involved in creating and submitting false documents such as fake residence certificates to secure admissions. The fraud came to light after parents submitted documents to the Group Resource Centre at the Panchayat Samiti in Nagpur, as required under the RTE admission process. According to a Government order dated January 20, 2023, these documents had to be verified by the Taluka Verification Committee. During verification, officials discovered that Prashant Hedau submitted a fake residence certificate for admission to Poddar School in Vela Hari, and Rajesh Buwade used forged documents for Royal Gondwana Public School under application number 23NG039949. Both admissions were immediately cancelled. Based on a complaint from Group Education Officer Kawdu Durge, the Sadar Police registered a case. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Sr Police Inspector Manish Thakre was formed to investigate. The team collected strong documentary and technical evidence, which was compiled into the 13,048-page chargesheet to ensure that all the accused are brought to justice. The alleged mastermind, Shahid Sharif, an RTE activist, has been missing since the case was registered. A lookout notice has been issued against him. Police fail to arrest mastermind The high-tech Nagpur Police miserably failed to arrest prime accused Shaheed Sharif who is absconding for the past one year. The police have uncovered more serious offences linked to Shahid Sharif and his brother Raja Jamshed Sharif. It was found that the two had stored illegal weapons at their residence. Two separate cases were registered against them under the Arms Act at Gittikhadan Police Station. Additionally, a case of child sexual abuse was registered against one of the accused during the investigation. Police also found disturbing evidence on Raja Sharifs mobile phone related to illegal hunting of wild animals in Madhya Pradesh. Raja and his associates were reportedly involved in poaching activities in the forests of Madhya Pradesh. Based on this, a case was registered under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act in Mohkama forest, Jabalpur. His car was also seized, and during the forensic investigation, officials found empty bullet shells, wild animal hair, and fish remains, confirming illegal hunting. Raja Jamshed Sharif is currently lodged in Jabalpur jail, while the search for Shahid Sharif continues. On the morning of July 15, 2025, President Xi Jinping had a group meeting with foreign ministers and heads of permanent bodies of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), who are in China to attend the Meeting of the Council of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the SCO Member States at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping pointed out that over the past 24 years, the SCO has upheld the Shanghai Spirit and grown more mature, stronger and more vibrant. Political mutual trust among the member states has kept deepening, cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful outcomes, and the organization has successfully blazed a path of regional cooperation that follows the trend of the times and meets the needs of all parties, setting an example for a new type of international relations. China has always prioritized the SCO in its neighborhood diplomacy and is committed to making the SCO more substantive and stronger, safeguarding regional security and stability, promoting the development and prosperity of member states, and building a closer community with a shared future. Since China assumed the rotating presidency in July last year, it has actively carried out activities and advanced cooperation, with all parties taking solid steps to jointly build a better home for the SCO. Later this year, China will host the SCO Summit in Tianjin. Xi Jinping said he looks forward to meeting with leaders of other member states in Tianjin to chart the course of the organization together. Xi Jinping stressed that in the face of a turbulent and changing international landscape, the SCO must stay focused, remain confident, act efficiently and play a more proactive role in injecting greater stability and positive energy into the world. First, the SCO should remain true to its founding mission and serve as the torchbearer of the Shanghai Spirit. The SCO should take mutual trust and mutual benefit as the foundation of cooperation, equality and consultation as the way to get along with each other, respect for diversity of civilizations as a means to promote harmony and inclusiveness, and the pursuit of common development as the path to achieve win-win results and prosperity, to ensure that the Shanghai Spirit continues to light the way toward building an SCO community with a shared future. Second, the SCO should respond to the people's expectations and be a doer in deepening cooperation. The SCO should improve mechanisms to address security threats and challenges, strengthen security barriers, and meet the people's aspirations for a peaceful and secure life; synergize member states' development strategies with cooperation initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative to achieve higher-quality and more sustainable development and meet the people's aspirations for a prosperous and fulfilling life; and facilitate cross-border travel, promote people-to-people exchanges, and organize more events showcasing each country's unique cultural characteristics to meet the people's aspirations for a more enriching cultural life. Third, the SCO should shoulder its mission of the times and be a steadfast contributor to building a community with a shared future for mankind. The SCO should firmly oppose hegemony, power politics and bullying, promote a more equal and orderly multipolar world, uphold extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefits to make economic globalization more universally beneficial and inclusive, unite and lead the Global South, work together to build a more just and equitable global governance system, and pool great strength to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Wang Yi, as the Chair of the Council of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the SCO Member States, reported on the progress made in various aspects of work since China assumed the rotating presidency and on the preparations for the Tianjin Summit. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov delivered remarks on behalf of the foreign delegations. He said that the SCO, with its commitment to the Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development, has achieved remarkable cooperation outcomes and gained increasing international appeal. Practice has proven that the Shanghai Spirit serves the shared interests of the member states and demonstrates strong vitality. Since China assumed the rotating presidency, it has hosted a large number of events and promoted the new development of the SCO. Facing a complex international landscape, the SCO should uphold multilateralism and work for a more just and equitable international order. He added that all parties are willing to actively support China's presidency, build greater consensus, and ensure the complete success of the Tianjin Summit. China's State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong meets with Ivan Kubrakov, Interior Minister of Belarus, in Beijing, capital of China, July 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- China's State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met with Ivan Kubrakov, Interior Minister of Belarus, in Beijing on Tuesday. Wang said that under the strategic guidance of the presidents of the two countries, China-Belarus relations have been growing soundly and steadily. Wang called on both sides, guided by the important consensus between the two heads of state, to deepen practical law enforcement and security cooperation in areas such as safeguarding political security and combating transnational organized crime. The two sides should also enhance security for projects of Belt and Road cooperation, and contribute more to the development of the China-Belarus all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang said. For his part, Kubrakov expressed Belarusian side's willingness to strengthen cooperation and jointly safeguard the security of both countries. SC rejects appeal against Ktaka CMs wife in MUDA case NEW DELHI : THE Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Enforcement Directorates conduct in politically sensitive cases as it upheld the Karnataka High Courts decision to quash the case against Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs wife in the MUDA case. 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 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. CM Siddaramaiah welcomes SC ruling in MUDA case: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday welcomed the Supreme Courts decision to uphold the Karnataka High Court judgment, which quashed the ED notice in the MUDA case. A statement issued by the Chief Ministers office called the ruling a step towards justice and a blow to politically motivated interference. Referring to media reports, the statement read: Supreme Court upholds judgment of the High Court quashing ED notice in Parvathi and Byrathi Suresh MUDA Case. Sea of devotees in Kanwad Yatra Staff Reporter : In a magnificent display of faith, fervour and discipline, Sanskardhani witnessed a divine tide of devotion on Monday as the city turned saffron and echoed with thunderous chants of Har Har Mahadev, Bam Bam Bhole. With bare feet, firm spirits and hearts brimming with bhakti, more than one lakh devotees, embarked on the 35-kilometer sacred pilgrimage from the ghats of Maa Narmada to the holy Kailash Dham, carrying the celestial waters of the river and saplings of new life. It was not just a journey, it was a moving confluence of faith, austerity and surrender. The spiritual euphoria that gripped Sanskardhani reaffirmed its identity as the heartbeat of Madhya Pradeshs religious and cultural legacy. Jabalpur, the spiritual capital of Madhya Pradesh came alive on Monday as the 15th annual Sanskar Kanwad Yatra, the States largest Kanwad pilgrimage, was carried out with overwhelming enthusiasm and deep-rooted religious zeal. From Gaurighat to Kailash Dham, the city witnessed a saffron wave of Kanwariyas chanting Bam Bhole as they marched barefoot, completing the difficult 35-kilometer yatra with extraordinary devotion. The Kanwad Yatra commenced at 7 am, following the traditional pujan and aarti of Maa Narmada, performed in the presence of saints including Dada Guru Maharaj and Acharyas, along with State Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Prahlad Singh Patel and other dignitaries. The Kanwariyas along with sacred water of Maa Narmada also carried saplings, symbolising their vow to contribute to environmental conservation by planting them in the hills of Kailash Dham. As the city streets transformed into a holy procession route, the police deployed hundreds of personnel, ensuring seamless traffic flow and security. Heavy vehicles were barred from entering important locations to facilitate the peaceful progression of devotees. The Jabalpur Municipal Corporation also ensured proper cleaning on Yatra route. The Sanskar Kanwad Yatra, already etched in the Golden Book of World Records, saw an unprecedented turnout this year. People of all age groups from children to elderly, men and women joined the sacred march. Along the route, hundreds of welcoming stages were erected by residents, social and religious organisations to offer water, refreshments and encouragement to the barefoot Kanwariyas. The 35-kilometere-long Yatra was carried out through major places including Retnaka, Rampur Chowk, Shankaracharya Chowk, Shastri Bridge, Teen Patti, Supermarket, Lordganj, Bada Fuhara, Sarafa Bazaar, Galgala, Belbagh, Ghamapur Chowk, Kanchghar, Gokalpur, Ranjhi and Khamariya before concluding at Kailash Dham, where the devotees performed Jalabhishek to Lord Shiva, marking the culmination of their spiritual journey in the evening. Public representatives and other dignitaries who joined the yatra described it as a soul-purifying experience and lauded the collective energy and discipline of the Kanwariyas. Shahi Sawari Yatra taken out Staff Reporter Lord Gupteshwar Mahadev set out on His divine annual Shahi Sawari Yatra to shower blessings upon the devotees, on the auspicious occasion of Ekadashi in the holy month of Shravan, on Monday. The procession began from Shri Gupteshwar Mahadev Temple under the guidance of Dr. Swami Mukunddas Ji Maharaj and Jagadguru Dr. Swami Nrisinghdas Devacharyaji Maharaj. The purpose of the yatra was to seek divine blessings for peace, prosperity and harmony in the city. Resembling the sacred Mahakal Sawari of Ujjain, the Shahi Sawari has grown into a esteemed tradition in Sanskardhani. Lord Gupteshwar Mahadev was carried in a beautifully decorated palanquin, accompanied by traditional musical bands, drums, shehnais, camels and horses. The procession passed through Shakti Nagar Chowk, Kripal Chowk, Hitkarini School, Angad Hanuman Mandir, Adi Shankaracharya Chowk, Shastri Bridge, Old Bus Stand, Malviya Chowk and concluded at Bada Fuhara and Katara Wale Hanuman Mandir. Thousands of devotees gathered along the route to offer prayers and catch a glimpse of the deity. Special arrangements were made at various points to welcome the procession. Devotees showered flowers, performed aarti and participated in devotional singing. Many spiritual leaders were present, including Jagadguru Dr. Swami Nrisinghdas Devacharyaji Maharaj, Jagadguru Raghav Devacharyaji Maharaj, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Akhilanand Giri Ji Maharaj, Jagat Rajaramacharyaji Maharaj, Dandi Swami Kalikanand Ji Maharaj, Mahamandaleshwar Dr. Swami Radhe Chaitanya Ji, Gyaneshwari Didi, and Swami Ramji Sharan Maharaj. Silver touches record high of Rs 1,15,300 per kg By Ravi Chandpurkar : SILVER and gold prices are continuing their stellar rally due uncertainty in world markets, US tariff war, rising tensions in the Middle East and other places. The silver prices are surging at a rapid pace and making new highs these days on the back of strong industrial demand in the domestic and international markets. Silver prices touched a record high of Rs 1,15,300 per kg, while gold was being quoted at Rs 99,600 per 10 grams in the Nagpur Sarafa Bazar, Itwari on Monday. (Silver and gold prices are without GST, making charges and Hallmarking charges). The silver price has touched a new lifetime high of Rs 1,15,300 per 10 kg in the city on account of robust demand from solar panel manufacturers, electronic industry and jewellers. After a strong run up, city jewellers are confident that by the year end, silver prices could touch new high of Rs 150,000 per kg, Rajesh Rokde, Director of Rokde Jewellers, President of Nagpur Sarafa Association and Chairman of All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) told The Hitavada. India imports about 7,000 tonnes of silver out of which 4,000 tonnes is consumed by industry, while remaining 3,000 tonnes is used by jewellers and other industries. There is a huge demand for silver in the country. This demand is rising rapidly as electronic industry is using silver to make various products. Currently, about 60 per cent of the silver is used in various industrial purposes. A large number of products are being manufactured using silver due to its inherent properties, he elaborated. Kishor Sheth, Director of Batukbhai and Sons Jewellers, said that silver and gold prices are creating history due to strong demand in the market. Silver is giving fantastic returns to the investors. So a large number of people are investing in silver, he pointed out. Two convicts in 2006 Mumbai train blasts case released from Nagpur Central Jail after acquittal Staff Reporter : Death row convict, Ehtesham Siddiqui, along with life convict Mohammad Ali, were released from Nagpur Central Jail on Monday evening after the Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 persons previously convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train blast case. Another death row convict Naveed Khan was not released as a case of attempt to murder is pending against him. In 2015, a special trial court under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) had sentenced five of the accused to death and the remaining seven to life imprisonment. Of the 12, three were lodged in Nagpur Central Jail. A senior official from the Nagpur Central Jail confirmed that they received the High Courts acquittal order in the evening, after which the release process for the three convicts - along with others held in the same case - was initiated. The trio was released later that evening. The acquittal came after the Bombay High Court bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Shyam Chandak observed that the prosecution had utterly failed to prove the 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 court stated, adding that, they shall be released unless wanted in any other case. The court granted the benefit of doubt to the accused, citing unreliable witness statements and weak evidence. It noted that after 100 days of the blasts, it was unrealistic to expect witnesses to accurately identify suspects. The court also pointed out that the explosives, weapons, and maps recovered during the investigation did not appear to be connected to the case. Moreover, the prosecution was unable to establish the exact type of bombs used. On July 11, 2006, seven coordinated blasts ripped through first-class compartments of Mumbai local trains during peak evening hours, between 6:24 pm and 6:35 pm. The explosions occurred near stations including Matunga Road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Bhayandar, and Borivali. Rigged pressure cookers were used to maximise the impact, resulting in over 180 deaths and hundreds injured. Following a year-long trial, the 2015 verdict had sentenced five men - Faisal Sheikh, Asif Khan, Kamal Ansari, Ehtesham Siddiqui, and Naveed Khan - to death. Seven others - Mohammed Sajid Ansari, Mohammad Ali, Dr Tanveer Ansari, Majid Shafi, Muzzammil Shaikh, Sohail Shaikh, and Zamir Shaikh - were sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiracy. 4 set free from Amravati Amravati Bureau Four accused who were acquitted in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case were released from Amravati District Central Jail on Monday late in the evening. The Bombay High Court overturned the convictions of all 12 accused in the case, citing lack of evidence. One of the accused had passed away during the years-long incarceration. The four accused released from Amravati District Central Jail are Mohammad Majid Mohammad Shafi (51), Jameer Ahmed Latifur Rehman Sheikh (55), Tanveer Ahmed Mohammad Ibrahim Ansari (56) and Sohail Mehmood Sheikh (52). The 2006 serial blasts occurred on July 11, targeting Mumbais suburban train network. Bombs exploded at seven locations Matunga road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Santacruz, Jogeshwari, Borivali, and Bhayander. The attacks claimed 189 lives and injured over 800 people. The Anti-terrorist Squad had registered offence under the The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). 4 set free from Amravati Contd from page 1 The trail of the case was run in special MCOCA Court. Earlier, the special court had convicted 12 men and five of them were sentenced to death and seven to life imprisonment. While the Bombay High Court heard appeals against these verdicts. A division bench comprising Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Shyam Chandak pronounced the final judgment, acquitting all the 12 accused. The hearings were conducted via video conferencing, connecting the accused from Amravati, Nagpur, and Yerawada (Pune) Central Jails. Following the verdict, the four accused from Amravati District Central Jail were released. This ruling marks a significant development in one of the most high-profile terror cases in India, raising fresh concerns about wrongful convictions and the lengthy delays in the judicial process. Out of the 11 accused, 4 were kept in Amravati District Central Jail. Sohail Mohammad Sheikh, one of the accused released, while speaking with mediamen said, he has complete faith in the government. and expressed his gratitude towards the court, lawyers and judges for the justice. He said that they were charged of being associated with SIMI. Members of Syrian security forces walk along a road lined with police vehicles on the outskirts of Sweida province, southern Syria, July 19, 2025. (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. Bedouin fighters advance through the town of Wolgha in the western countryside of Sweida, southern Syria, on July 18, 2025. (Str/Xinhua) 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. Tribal fighters take positions during clashes in the town of Wolgha, western countryside of Sweida, southern Syria, on July 18, 2025. (Str/Xinhua) 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. BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- China hopes the United States will work with China to enhance mutual understanding, reduce misunderstanding and strengthen cooperation through dialogue and communication, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday. Bath & Body Works (NYSE:BBWI Get Free Report) and Kingfisher (OTCMKTS:KGFHY Get Free Report) are both mid-cap retail/wholesale companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, risk, earnings, dividends and valuation. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Bath & Body Works and Kingfishers gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Bath & Body Works alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Bath & Body Works $7.31 billion 0.96 $798.00 million $3.75 8.82 Kingfisher $16.34 billion 0.40 $235.86 million N/A N/A Analyst Ratings Bath & Body Works has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Kingfisher. This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Bath & Body Works and Kingfisher, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Bath & Body Works 0 4 14 0 2.78 Kingfisher 2 2 1 0 1.80 Bath & Body Works currently has a consensus price target of $42.00, suggesting a potential upside of 27.00%. Given Bath & Body Works stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Bath & Body Works is more favorable than Kingfisher. Volatility & Risk Bath & Body Works has a beta of 1.72, indicating that its share price is 72% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Kingfisher has a beta of 0.89, indicating that its share price is 11% less volatile than the S&P 500. Institutional and Insider Ownership 95.1% of Bath & Body Works shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.0% of Kingfisher shares are held by institutional investors. 0.3% of Bath & Body Works shares are held by 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. Profitability This table compares Bath & Body Works and Kingfishers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Bath & Body Works 11.10% -47.44% 15.18% Kingfisher N/A N/A N/A Dividends Bath & Body Works pays an annual dividend of $0.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.4%. Kingfisher pays an annual dividend of $0.43 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.8%. Bath & Body Works pays out 21.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Summary Bath & Body Works beats Kingfisher on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About Bath & Body Works (Get Free Report) Bath & Body Works, Inc. is a specialty retailers and home to Americas Favorite Fragrances, offering a breadth of exclusive fragrances for the body and home, including the selling collections for fine fragrance mist, body lotion and body cream, 3-wick candles, home fragrance diffusers and liquid hand soap. The company was founded by Leslie Herbert Wexner in 1963 and is headquartered in Columbus, OH. About Kingfisher (Get Free Report) Kingfisher plc, together with its subsidiaries, supplies home improvement products and services primarily in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, and internationally. It also operates retail stores under the B&Q, Castorama, Brico Depot, Screwfix, TradePoint, and Koctas brands. The company sells its products through stores and e-commerce channels. Kingfisher plc was incorporated in 1982 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Receive News & Ratings for Bath & Body Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bath & Body Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First American Financial (NYSE:FAF Get Free Report) is projected to announce its Q2 2025 earnings results after the market closes on Wednesday, July 23rd. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $1.42 per share and revenue of $1.78 billion for the quarter. First American Financial (NYSE:FAF Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The insurance provider reported $0.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.65 by $0.19. First American Financial had a return on equity of 10.05% and a net margin of 2.52%. The business had revenue of $1.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.53 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.45 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect First American Financial to post $5 EPS for the current fiscal year and $6 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get First American Financial alerts: First American Financial Trading Up 0.1% Shares of First American Financial stock opened at $56.28 on Tuesday. First American Financial has a twelve month low of $53.09 and a twelve month high of $70.92. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.27 and a beta of 1.24. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $58.33 and its 200 day moving average price is $61.00. First American Financial Dividend Announcement Analyst Ratings Changes The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 16th. Investors of record on Monday, June 9th were issued a $0.54 dividend. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.84%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 9th. First American Financials payout ratio is currently 143.05%. Several research firms have commented on FAF. Barclays cut their price objective on First American Financial from $72.00 to $70.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. Wall Street Zen lowered First American Financial from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, July 12th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their target price on First American Financial from $75.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $74.50. Read Our Latest Research Report on FAF Hedge Funds Weigh In On First American Financial Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Jane Street Group LLC boosted its stake in First American Financial by 182.5% in the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 67,572 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $4,435,000 after acquiring an additional 43,651 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake in First American Financial by 10.8% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 293,058 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $19,233,000 after acquiring an additional 28,666 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its stake in First American Financial by 7.1% in the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 414,146 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $27,180,000 after acquiring an additional 27,600 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its stake in First American Financial by 121.3% in the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,483 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $97,000 after acquiring an additional 813 shares during the period. Finally, Focus Partners Wealth boosted its position in shares of First American Financial by 11.3% during the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 4,282 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $281,000 after buying an additional 435 shares during the period. 89.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. First American Financial Company Profile (Get Free Report) First American Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides financial services. It operates through Title Insurance and Services, and Home Warranty segments. The Title Insurance and Services segment issues title insurance policies on residential and commercial property, as well as offers related products and services internationally. See Also Receive News & Ratings for First American Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First American Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Highlander Partners L.P. purchased a new stake in iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:FXI Free Report) during the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor purchased 6,000 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $215,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of FXI. NBC Securities Inc. purchased a new position in iShares China Large-Cap ETF in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Concourse Financial Group Securities Inc. lifted its stake in iShares China Large-Cap ETF by 108.4% in the 4th quarter. Concourse Financial Group Securities Inc. now owns 921 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 479 shares in the last quarter. Berbice Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in iShares China Large-Cap ETF in the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new position in iShares China Large-Cap ETF in the 4th quarter worth approximately $48,000. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in iShares China Large-Cap ETF in the 4th quarter worth approximately $53,000. Get iShares China Large-Cap ETF alerts: iShares China Large-Cap ETF Stock Performance Shares of NYSEARCA FXI traded up $0.27 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $38.48. 4,013,106 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 48,737,036. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $36.40 and a 200 day simple moving average of $34.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.78 and a beta of 0.44. iShares China Large-Cap ETF has a twelve month low of $24.59 and a twelve month high of $38.73. About iShares China Large-Cap ETF iShares China Large-Cap ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the FTSE China 25 Index (the Underlying Index). The Funds portfolio of sectors include Financials, Telecommunication, Oil & gas, Technology and Consumer goods. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FXI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:FXI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares China Large-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares China Large-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC boosted its position in The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report) by 3.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,540 shares of the insurance providers stock after buying an additional 225 shares during the period. HighPoint Advisor Group LLCs holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $1,727,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of TRV. Forum Financial Management LP increased its stake in Travelers Companies by 0.9% during the first quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 4,428 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,171,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Smith Salley Wealth Management boosted its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Smith Salley Wealth Management now owns 7,321 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,936,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Windsor Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 3.7% during the first quarter. Windsor Capital Management LLC now owns 1,351 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $357,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. JT Stratford LLC boosted its stake in Travelers Companies by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. JT Stratford LLC now owns 6,044 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,456,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Finally, Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 13.4% in the 1st quarter. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC now owns 422 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $112,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.45% of the companys stock. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Insider Transactions at Travelers Companies In other Travelers Companies news, CEO Alan D. Schnitzer sold 35,456 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $273.78, for a total value of $9,707,143.68. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 262,329 shares of the companys stock, valued at $71,820,433.62. The trade was a 11.91% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Avrohom J. Kess sold 23,434 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $273.93, for a total transaction of $6,419,275.62. Following the transaction, the insider owned 48,387 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,254,650.91. This trade represents a 32.63% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 163,869 shares of company stock worth $44,868,201 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 1.46% of the companys stock. Travelers Companies Stock Performance Shares of TRV stock opened at $263.08 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $59.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.64, a PEG ratio of 3.82 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The companys 50 day moving average is $265.92 and its 200 day moving average is $256.46. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $203.21 and a 52-week high of $277.83. Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 17th. The insurance provider reported $6.51 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.52 by $2.99. Travelers Companies had a net margin of 10.97% and a return on equity of 18.68%. The firm had revenue of $11.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.02 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.51 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 17.02 EPS for the current fiscal year. Travelers Companies Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 10th will be issued a dividend of $1.10 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 10th. This represents a $4.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.67%. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 19.46%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $275.00 to $284.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $260.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. HSBC downgraded shares of Travelers Companies from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $270.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Monday, March 24th. Morgan Stanley set a $269.00 price target on shares of Travelers Companies and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, May 19th. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted 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. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Travelers Companies presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $275.56. Check Out Our Latest Stock 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. Featured Stories 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. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU Free Report) by 7.9% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 3,871 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 283 shares during the period. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc.s holdings in iShares Gold Trust were worth $228,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 17,940,089 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,057,748,000 after acquiring an additional 339,286 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in iShares Gold Trust by 63.1% during the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 17,575,718 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,036,264,000 after acquiring an additional 6,797,066 shares during the period. Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its holdings in iShares Gold Trust by 10.7% during the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 12,288,826 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $608,420,000 after acquiring an additional 1,183,962 shares during the period. WealthNavi Inc. boosted its holdings in iShares Gold Trust by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. WealthNavi Inc. now owns 6,049,600 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $356,684,000 after acquiring an additional 125,599 shares during the period. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its holdings in iShares Gold Trust by 9.4% during the 4th quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 5,851,040 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $289,678,000 after acquiring an additional 500,498 shares during the period. 59.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get iShares Gold Trust alerts: iShares Gold Trust Price Performance Shares of iShares Gold Trust stock opened at $64.09 on Tuesday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $62.71 and a 200 day moving average of $58.59. iShares Gold Trust has a 12 month low of $44.46 and a 12 month high of $65.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $48.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.53 and a beta of 0.15. iShares Gold Trust Company Profile iShares Gold Trust (the Trust) is to own gold transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist of gold held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IAU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Gold Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Gold Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Milestone Asset Management Group LLC decreased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV Free Report) by 6.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,325 shares of the companys stock after selling 553 shares during the quarter. Milestone Asset Management Group LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF were worth $491,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 7.5% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 58,027,852 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,044,721,000 after acquiring an additional 4,032,718 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 122.3% during the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 5,781,455 shares of the companys stock worth $303,353,000 after purchasing an additional 3,180,255 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 8.0% during the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 20,745,609 shares of the companys stock worth $1,088,522,000 after purchasing an additional 1,536,021 shares during the last quarter. Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $63,029,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE grew its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 13.8% in the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 9,448,653 shares of the companys stock valued at $495,771,000 after buying an additional 1,142,638 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Stock Performance Shares of BATS:EFV traded up $11.80 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $64.06. 1,563,780 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,990,057. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $63.23 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $59.20. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a 12 month low of $51.05 and a 12 month high of $64.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.26 billion, a PE ratio of 12.17 and a beta of 0.73. About iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Value 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 Value 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 EFV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KDK Private Wealth Management LLC lessened its stake in Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 2.4% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 6,017 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 148 shares during the quarter. Exxon Mobil makes up 0.8% of KDK Private Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 24th largest holding. KDK Private Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $716,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. United Bank increased its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 6.7% in the first quarter. United Bank now owns 21,221 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,524,000 after buying an additional 1,333 shares in the last quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in Exxon Mobil during the 1st quarter worth about $8,561,000. Garner Asset Management Corp increased its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 74.3% during the 1st quarter. Garner Asset Management Corp now owns 11,487 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,366,000 after purchasing an additional 4,895 shares during the period. Financial Sense Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. Financial Sense Advisors Inc. now owns 45,490 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $5,410,000 after acquiring an additional 688 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oakwell Private Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Exxon Mobil in the 1st quarter valued at about $470,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 61.80% of the companys stock. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Exxon Mobil Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:XOM traded up $0.00 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $108.05. The company had a trading volume of 3,600,003 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,817,601. The firm has a market capitalization of $465.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 1.24 and a quick ratio of 0.90. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $108.66 and its 200 day moving average price is $108.98. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $97.80 and a fifty-two week high of $126.34. Exxon Mobil Dividend Announcement Exxon Mobil ( NYSE:XOM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.73 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $83.13 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $86.11 billion. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 12.06% and a net margin of 9.49%. The businesss revenue was up .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.06 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 EPS for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 15th were issued a dividend of $0.99 per share. This represents a $3.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 15th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is presently 52.52%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages recently weighed in on XOM. Wall Street Zen upgraded Exxon Mobil from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, June 27th. UBS Group reduced their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $135.00 to $131.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated a sector perform rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their target price 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. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $125.42. Get Our Latest Stock Report on XOM About Exxon Mobil (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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The enrollment rate of children and adolescents with disabilities in compulsory education in China has reached 97 percent, with over 30,000 disabled students entering universities each year, a senior official said Tuesday. Cheng Kai, chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, made the remarks at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office. According to Cheng, China's education system for individuals with disabilities has undergone further improvement. Currently, 75,800 students with disabilities study in secondary vocational schools nationwide, while 59,800 attend regular high schools. Li Dongmei, vice chairperson of the federation, noted that China has taken multiple measures to facilitate such students' access to education. For instance, a special campaign was launched to equip school campuses with assistive devices, benefiting nearly 100,000 students with disabilities. Standardized textbooks have been developed for special schools, as well as sign-language textbooks for nine subjects. Financially, in 2025, the per capita subsidy for students with disabilities receiving compulsory education was increased to more than 7,000 yuan (about 980 U.S. dollars) per year. Those whose families have financial difficulties are eligible to receive 12 years of free education from primary school to senior high school. MCF Advisors LLC decreased its holdings in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 2.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,270 shares of the companys stock after selling 73 shares during the period. MCF Advisors LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $522,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Pacifica Partners Inc. grew its stake in Philip Morris International by 115.0% during the first quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 215 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Philip Morris International in the 1st quarter worth approximately $35,000. Ball & Co Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new position in Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Inlight Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Philip Morris International in the 1st quarter worth approximately $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.63% of the companys stock. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms have commented on PM. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $170.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, July 14th. Needham & Company LLC started coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. They issued a buy rating for the company. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $168.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. They set a buy rating and a $220.00 price target for the company. Finally, Citigroup reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Tuesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $186.73. Philip Morris International Stock Down 8.5% Shares of NYSE:PM traded down $15.32 on Tuesday, hitting $165.17. The company had a trading volume of 8,980,831 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,681,367. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $178.83 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $159.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $257.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.06, a P/E/G ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 0.51. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1 year low of $106.76 and a 1 year high of $186.69. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The company reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $10.14 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.33 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 8.43% and a negative return on equity of 122.40%. Philip Morris Internationals quarterly revenue was up 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.59 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 EPS for the current year. Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed 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 was Friday, June 27th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.27%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 111.34%. Philip Morris International Profile (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. Featured Stories 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. Flynn Zito Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in PIMCO Multi Sector Bond Active ETF (NYSEARCA:PYLD Free Report) by 356.4% during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 320,509 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 250,276 shares during the period. PIMCO Multi Sector Bond Active ETF makes up about 3.9% of Flynn Zito Capital Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest holding. Flynn Zito Capital Management LLCs holdings in PIMCO Multi Sector Bond Active ETF were worth $8,445,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in PYLD. Burkett Financial Services LLC bought a new position in PIMCO Multi Sector Bond Active ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $47,000. Quest 10 Wealth Builders Inc. lifted its holdings in PIMCO Multi Sector Bond Active ETF by 50.4% in the 1st quarter. Quest 10 Wealth Builders Inc. now owns 1,934 shares of the companys stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 648 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new stake in PIMCO Multi Sector Bond Active ETF in the 4th quarter worth approximately $76,000. Redwood Park Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in PIMCO Multi Sector Bond Active ETF in the 4th quarter worth approximately $91,000. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI lifted its holdings in PIMCO Multi Sector Bond Active ETF by 2,420.9% in the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 3,983 shares of the companys stock worth $103,000 after buying an additional 3,825 shares during the period. Get PIMCO Multi Sector Bond Active ETF alerts: PIMCO Multi Sector Bond Active ETF Stock Performance PYLD opened at $26.42 on Tuesday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $26.23 and a 200-day moving average of $26.15. PIMCO Multi Sector Bond Active ETF has a 52 week low of $25.42 and a 52 week high of $26.70. PIMCO Multi Sector Bond Active ETF Company Profile The PIMCO Multisector Bond Active Exchange-Traded Fund (PYLD) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in broad credit fixed income. The fund actively manages a multi-sector portfolio of fixed income instruments issued by various US and non-US public or private-sector entities. The fund has no maturity and credit rating limitations. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PYLD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for PIMCO Multi Sector Bond Active ETF (NYSEARCA:PYLD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for PIMCO Multi Sector Bond Active ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PIMCO Multi Sector Bond Active ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stora Enso Oyj (OTCMKTS:SEOAY Get Free Report) is projected to announce its earnings results before the market opens on Wednesday, July 23rd. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.05 per share and revenue of $2.47 billion for the quarter. Stora Enso Oyj (OTCMKTS:SEOAY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 25th. The basic materials company reported $0.14 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.04 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $2.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.32 billion. Stora Enso Oyj had a negative return on equity of 3.74% and a negative net margin of 1.01%. On average, analysts expect Stora Enso Oyj to post $1 EPS for the current fiscal year and $1 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Stora Enso Oyj alerts: Stora Enso Oyj Stock Performance OTCMKTS:SEOAY opened at $10.40 on Tuesday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $10.40 and a 200 day moving average of $10.18. The company has a market capitalization of $8.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -80.00 and a beta of 0.84. Stora Enso Oyj has a 1-year low of $7.97 and a 1-year high of $14.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.09 and a quick ratio of 0.67. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts have weighed in on the company. BNP Paribas downgraded Stora Enso Oyj from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 25th. Barclays downgraded Stora Enso Oyj from an overweight rating to an underweight rating in a report on Monday, April 7th. View Our Latest Stock Report on SEOAY About Stora Enso Oyj (Get Free Report) Stora Enso Oyj provides renewable solutions for the packaging, biomaterials, wooden constructions, and paper industries in Finland and internationally. It operates through Packaging Materials, Packaging Solutions, Biomaterials, Wood Products, Forest, Paper, and Other segments. The company's Packaging Materials segment offers virgin and recycled fiber replace fossil-based materials with low-carbon, renewable and recyclable packaging materials for food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and transport packaging. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Stora Enso Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stora Enso Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Asset Management LLC lifted its position in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR Free Report) by 1.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 172,358 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 2,101 shares during the quarter. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF accounts for 3.1% of Summit Asset Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest position. Summit Asset Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF were worth $18,023,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC increased its stake in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 105.8% in the 1st quarter. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC now owns 249 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 128 shares during the period. Redwood Park Advisors LLC purchased a new position in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Hoey Investments Inc. purchased a new position in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF in the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new position in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Minot DeBlois Advisors LLC purchased a new position in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Institutional investors own 66.92% of the companys stock. Get iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF alerts: iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA IJR traded up $1.00 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $112.61. 3,252,110 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,430,210. The firm has a market cap of $82.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.52 and a beta of 1.15. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $108.49 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $108.28. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has a 12-month low of $89.22 and a 12-month high of $128.61. About iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, formerly iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund, seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors SmallCap 600 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of publicly traded securities in the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IJR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core S&P Small-Cap 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 Small-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Asset Management LLC raised its position in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report) by 4.4% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 15,582 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 652 shares during the quarter. Summit Asset Management LLCs holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $2,584,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Partners Group Inc raised its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 3.3% in the first quarter. Financial Partners Group Inc now owns 2,815 shares of the companys stock worth $467,000 after buying an additional 91 shares during the period. WMG Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 34.2% in the first quarter. WMG Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,049 shares of the companys stock worth $340,000 after buying an additional 522 shares during the period. Jackson Grant Investment Advisers Inc. grew its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 0.5% during the first quarter. Jackson Grant Investment Advisers Inc. now owns 12,970 shares of the companys stock worth $2,151,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. United Bank grew its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 110.7% during the first quarter. United Bank now owns 9,279 shares of the companys stock worth $1,539,000 after purchasing an additional 4,876 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Choreo LLC grew its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 3.7% during the first quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 134,405 shares of the companys stock worth $22,290,000 after purchasing an additional 4,825 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 69.55% of the companys stock. Get Johnson & Johnson alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts recently issued reports on JNJ shares. Bank of America increased their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $161.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. Piper Sandler restated an overweight rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Thursday. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Johnson & Johnson from $171.00 to $176.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, July 17th. UBS Group raised their price target on Johnson & Johnson from $180.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, July 17th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein restated a market perform rating on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Johnson & Johnson presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $172.87. Johnson & Johnson Trading Up 1.1% Shares of JNJ stock traded up $1.82 on Tuesday, reaching $166.18. 2,739,905 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,121,648. Johnson & Johnson has a 52 week low of $140.68 and a 52 week high of $169.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $399.84 billion, a PE ratio of 17.79, a P/E/G ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 0.41. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $154.29 and its 200 day simple moving average is $155.12. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 16th. The company reported $2.77 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.68 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $23.74 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.85 billion. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 33.07% and a net margin of 25.00%. Johnson & Johnsons revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.82 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.58 EPS for the current year. Johnson & Johnson Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 26th will be issued a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 26th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.13%. Johnson & Johnsons dividend payout ratio is presently 55.61%. Johnson & Johnson Company Profile (Free Report) Johnson & Johnson is a holding company, which engages in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of products in the healthcare field. It operates through the Innovative Medicine and MedTech segments. The Innovative Medicine segment focuses on immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, oncology, cardiovascular and metabolism, and pulmonary hypertension. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Johnson & Johnson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Johnson & Johnson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS raised its stake in shares of The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) by 9.6% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 590,472 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 51,900 shares during the period. KLP Kapitalforvaltning ASs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $46,222,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Atwood & Palmer Inc. bought a new position in Charles Schwab during the first quarter valued at about $25,000. Westside Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Charles Schwab by 75.0% during the 1st quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 350 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. WFA Asset Management Corp bought a new position in shares of Charles Schwab in the 1st quarter valued at about $33,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC raised its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 90.5% in the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 463 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 220 shares during the period. Finally, Beacon Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 53.1% during the 1st quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 487 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 169 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.38% of the companys stock. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Charles Schwab Price Performance Shares of SCHW stock traded down $0.81 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $95.44. 3,052,789 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 9,332,592. The Charles Schwab Corporation has a twelve month low of $61.15 and a twelve month high of $97.50. The firm has a market cap of $173.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 0.93. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $89.44 and its 200-day simple moving average is $82.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.53. Charles Schwab Announces Dividend Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.10 by $0.04. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 19.73% and a net margin of 33.68%. The firm had revenue of $5.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.64 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.73 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 24.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that The Charles Schwab Corporation will post 4.22 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 9th were given 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 29.03%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Charles Schwab news, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 10,176 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.39, for a total value of $889,280.64. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Paula A. Sneed sold 8,647 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.06, for a total transaction of $761,454.82. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 105,654 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,303,891.24. The trade was a 7.57% 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 valued at $10,264,091 over the last quarter. 6.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have issued reports on SCHW. Cowen restated a buy rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Tuesday, May 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $100.00 target price for the company in a report on Friday, April 25th. Citigroup raised their price target on Charles Schwab from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Charles Schwab from $92.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Finally, Raymond James Financial reissued an outperform rating and set a $99.00 target price on shares of Charles Schwab in a research report on Friday. Two analysts have 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 has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $98.65. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on SCHW Charles Schwab 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. Further Reading 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. Loader Please wait while your request is being verified... VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in shares of 3M Company (NYSE:MMM Free Report) during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund acquired 426 shares of the conglomerates stock, valued at approximately $63,000. A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in MMM. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in 3M by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 11,574,414 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $1,493,655,000 after purchasing an additional 280,048 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp increased its stake in 3M by 12.6% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 6,752,944 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $871,738,000 after acquiring an additional 755,155 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors increased its stake in 3M by 25.4% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 6,153,924 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $794,410,000 after acquiring an additional 1,248,093 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in 3M in the 4th quarter worth approximately $636,767,000. Finally, Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in 3M by 51.6% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,468,549 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $576,845,000 after acquiring an additional 1,520,619 shares during the last quarter. 65.25% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get 3M alerts: Insider Activity In other news, EVP John Patrick Banovetz sold 7,759 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.37, for a total value of $1,151,202.83. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 31,372 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,654,663.64. This represents a 19.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Zoe L. Dickson sold 7,915 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $149.02, for a total value of $1,179,493.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 6,127 shares in the company, valued at $913,045.54. This represents a 56.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.48% of the companys stock. 3M Stock Down 0.5% Shares of MMM stock traded down $0.82 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $152.00. The stock had a trading volume of 674,681 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,834,724. 3M Company has a 12-month low of $101.77 and a 12-month high of $164.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $81.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.02. The firms 50-day moving average is $149.91 and its two-hundred day moving average is $145.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.87, a current ratio of 1.72 and a quick ratio of 1.20. 3M (NYSE:MMM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 18th. The conglomerate reported $2.16 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.01 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $6.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.09 billion. 3M had a return on equity of 96.48% and a net margin of 16.01%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.93 EPS. On average, analysts predict that 3M Company will post 7.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. 3M Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 12th. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd were given a dividend of $0.73 per share. This represents a $2.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.92%. 3Ms dividend payout ratio is currently 40.61%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have issued reports on MMM shares. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a hold (c+) rating on shares of 3M in a research note on Saturday, July 12th. Barclays set a $170.00 price objective on 3M in a research note on Friday. Citigroup lifted their target price on 3M from $141.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, May 30th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an overweight rating on shares of 3M in a report on Friday. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on 3M from $98.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, 3M currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $156.33. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on MMM 3M Company Profile (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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MMM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for 3M Company (NYSE:MMM Free Report). 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. Wesleyan Assurance Society cut its stake in GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE Free Report) by 16.2% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,451 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,250 shares during the period. Wesleyan Assurance Societys holdings in GE Aerospace were worth $1,292,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of GE. Copia Wealth Management boosted its position in GE Aerospace by 14,200.0% during the first quarter. Copia Wealth Management now owns 143 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares during the last quarter. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of GE Aerospace by 133.3% in the 4th quarter. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC now owns 147 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the period. O Brien Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in GE Aerospace during the 1st quarter worth $33,000. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in GE Aerospace during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Finally, First Pacific Financial grew its holdings in GE Aerospace by 46.0% during the 1st quarter. First Pacific Financial now owns 165 shares of the companys stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. 74.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get GE Aerospace alerts: GE Aerospace Stock Down 1.4% GE stock traded down $3.76 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $259.10. 1,826,803 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,632,418. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 1.04. GE Aerospace has a 1-year low of $150.20 and a 1-year high of $272.80. The firm has a market cap of $276.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.07, a P/E/G ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 1.37. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $244.37 and its 200 day simple moving average is $212.37. GE Aerospace Dividend Announcement GE Aerospace ( NYSE:GE Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 17th. The company reported $1.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.43 by $0.23. GE Aerospace had a net margin of 18.64% and a return on equity of 31.32%. The company had revenue of $10.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.49 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.20 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 21.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that GE Aerospace will post 5.4 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 25th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 7th will be issued a $0.36 dividend. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.56%. GE Aerospaces dividend payout ratio is currently 20.08%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have issued reports on GE. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on shares of GE Aerospace from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of GE Aerospace from $300.00 to $321.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday. Citigroup restated a buy rating and issued a $296.00 price objective (up from $227.00) on shares of GE Aerospace in a research note on Monday, July 14th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of GE Aerospace from $212.00 to $222.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Northcoast Research lowered shares of GE Aerospace from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, May 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, GE Aerospace currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $240.33. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on GE Aerospace Insider Buying and Selling at GE Aerospace In other news, SVP Mohamed Ali sold 1,602 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $200.67, for a total value of $321,473.34. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 8,805 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,766,899.35. The trade was a 15.39% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Robert M. Giglietti sold 4,104 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $196.73, for a total value of $807,379.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 11,540 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,270,264.20. This trade represents a 26.23% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.21% of the stock is owned by insiders. GE Aerospace Profile (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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE Free Report). 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. Guests attend a seminar on the steady advancement of China-Egypt relations within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Cairo, Egypt, July 20, 2025. The Chinese Embassy in Egypt and the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs on Sunday jointly held the seminar here. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) CAIRO, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Egypt and the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs on Sunday jointly held a seminar in Cairo, emphasizing the steady advancement of China-Egypt relations within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The event brought together senior diplomats, foreign affairs experts, and media representatives from both countries. In his keynote address, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang pointed out that Egypt is a dialogue partner of the SCO, welcoming Egypt's active participation in various SCO activities. He said he expected China and Egypt to forge close coordination and cooperation under the framework of the SCO, and promote bilateral relations towards the goal of building a China-Egypt community with a shared future in the new era and contributing to world peace and development. The guests at the meeting praised the booming Egypt-China relations and the role played by the SCO. They expressed hopes that Egypt and China could seize the development opportunities offered by the SCO to work together to improve global governance and promote the revitalization of the Global South. Ezzat Saad, director of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, who presided the seminar, told Xinhua that Egypt has always been committed to strengthening cooperation with China, both at the bilateral level and within the framework of the SCO. "We believe that the SCO is an important platform for promoting the development of Egypt-China relations. Egypt looks forward to further deepening political and economic cooperation among the countries of the Global South based on the initiatives proposed by China," he said. Ezzat Saad, director of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, speaks at a seminar on the steady advancement of China-Egypt relations within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Cairo, Egypt, July 20, 2025. The Chinese Embassy in Egypt and the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs on Sunday jointly held the seminar here. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Guests attend a seminar on the steady advancement of China-Egypt relations within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Cairo, Egypt, July 20, 2025. The Chinese Embassy in Egypt and the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs on Sunday jointly held the seminar here. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Guests attend a seminar on the steady advancement of China-Egypt relations within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Cairo, Egypt, July 20, 2025. The Chinese Embassy in Egypt and the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs on Sunday jointly held the seminar here. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) 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: Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo state has reiterated his warning to former presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, against coming to Edo state without prior security clearance. This is just as the governor said he has no regret for asking Peter Obi to notify him before visiting the state. Okpebholo said this on Tuesday in Benin at the official inauguration of the new Edo Line, a transport company owned by the state government. According to him, the directive to Obi was a piece of advice and should not be misinterpreted or taken out of context as a threat. He disclosed that his own failure to heed such advice from the Commissioner of Police in 2024 led to the death of his police orderly. Because of the rain, I wont say much. Even when I said just one word, people were already crying. What I said was a simple advice. I told him not to visit Edo without informing me. As chief security officer, its a basic protocol. If asking him to notify me is considered a crime, so be it. I have no regrets. Let me not dwell on irrelevant matters. This is not important. To the people of Edo, our message and intention have already been made clear. I dont understand their pain. Is it because I said they dont have shishi? Didnt they say they dont have shishi? Okpebholo asked. He recalled being similarly advised by the commissioner of police in 2024, when he arrived Benin Airport, under former governor Godwin Obasekis administration. The commissioner saw me and asked me to remain at the airport. I ignored him. At the gate, my police orderly was shot dead. Inspector Akor Onu was killed before my very eyes. That painful experience still guides how I view security warnings and protocols to this very day. Ive seen security reports. Ive advised Obi. If he listens, good. If not, its his choice. It doesnt concern me, he added. GENEVA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- UN human rights chief Volker Turk on Tuesday said that the latest intensive attacks launched by Israel on Gaza have "added more misery to the suffering of hungry Palestinians." Turk, who is the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement that the Israeli airstrikes and ground operations will invariably lead to further civilian deaths and destruction of civilian infrastructure. The Israeli military on Monday launched attacks on parts of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza in an expanded offensive following a warning issued the previous day ordering residents to evacuate in anticipation of immediate action. Citing the concentration of civilians in the area and the means of warfare employed by Israel, Turk said the risks of unlawful killings and other serious violations of international humanitarian law are extremely high. "Homes have already been destroyed, and thousands have been forced to flee the area again," said Turk. He warned Israel that permanently displacing people living under its occupation would amount to unlawful transfer, which is a war crime, and in certain circumstances, may also amount to a crime against humanity. Turk noted that the area targeted by the Israeli attacks is also home to several humanitarian organizations, including clinics, other medical facilities, shelters, a community kitchen, guesthouses, warehouses and other critical infrastructure. He urged Israel, as the occupying power, to ensure food, medical and other supplies are provided for the population and immediately and unconditionally allow humanitarian aid to enter and be distributed to all those who are in need. "Instead of launching round upon round of new military attacks, there must be an immediate end to the killings, destruction and the wide scale violations of international law," said Turk. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Richard Ravalomanana, president of the Senate of Madagascar, in Beijing, capital of China, July 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, and Wang Huning, China's top political advisor, each met with Richard Ravalomanana, president of the Senate of Madagascar, in Beijing on Tuesday. Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said that China is willing to work with Madagascar to implement the important consensus reached between their two heads of state and the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and to promote further achievements in friendly cooperation between the two countries, contributing to the construction of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. He called on the legislative bodies of the two countries to enhance exchange and cooperation to facilitate the continuous development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Madagascar. Ravalomanana said that relations between the two countries are built on the basis of mutual benefit, and that the heads of state of the two countries have maintained close communication and noted the direction for the development of bilateral relations. The Senate of Madagascar is willing to work with the Chinese side to enhance exchange among legislative bodies, and to play an active role in promoting economic and trade, investment and local cooperation, as well as cooperation in other fields. Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said that China and Madagascar are fellow travelers and genuine friends on the path of modernization. He said that China is willing to work with Madagascar to implement the important consensus reached between their two heads of state and bring more practical cooperation achievements to benefit their two peoples. Wang said that the National Committee of the CPPCC stands ready to enhance friendly exchange with the Senate of Madagascar and contribute to the development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. Ravalomanana said that Madagascar attaches great importance to the development of relations with China, admires China's development achievements, and is willing to learn from China's experience to promote cooperation in various fields for the benefit of people in both countries. The Senate of Madagascar is ready to enhance the exchange of experience in governance with the National Committee of the CPPCC to promote the in-depth development of bilateral relations, he said. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Richard Ravalomanana, president of the Senate of Madagascar, in Beijing, capital of China, July 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Richard Ravalomanana, president of the Senate of Madagascar, in Beijing, capital of China, July 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Richard Ravalomanana, president of the Senate of Madagascar, in Beijing, capital of China, July 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Narco trade to extorting from the villagers Terror funding in place ? | Terror funding. And it spreads far and wide. From narco trade including mass scale poppy cultivation in the hills, to the huge extortion notices slapped on transporters to now dipping their hands in the compensation earmarked for villagers, whose land and homestead stood to be affected for the National Highway expansion work and the hands and reach of groups under the SoO pact are spread far and wide. NDTV has done a good job in coming out with a damning report on how villagers were made to append their signatures on blank papers by the finance secretary of the Kuki National Front (KNF) with the addendum that the signatures were necessary if they wanted to get any compensation money. The KNF was to take 5 percent of the money earmarked for each affected villager. So it was that a villager, a beneficiary, received Rs 3.8 lakh out of the Rs 17 lakh he was supposed to get. So who has pocketed the remaining Rs 13.2 lakh ? Does not need a mathematical genius to work out that the villager in question has received only about 22 or so percent of the Rs 17 lakh he was supposed to get and this means that he has been literally robbed of 78 percent of the total amount due to him. So who is the culprit ? Or will the blank paper the villagers were asked or ordered to sign going to be proof that the villagers had willingly donated the amount due to them ? The story broken by NDTV could just be the tip of the iceberg and it is important to demonstrate that the Government of India has taken due note of the story and accordingly take up due course of action. Making the story all that more interesting is the fact that the KNF, an outfit which is under the SoO pact, is central to it all and the question is whether the Government will treat the matter with kids glove as the name of an outfit with which it sees eye to eye via the said pact, features prominently in the story. Go back to the points of agreement that were signed when the SoO pact was first inked with the State Government and the Central Government back in 2008 and any act that seems to run counter to the charter of agreements should be taken up with the seriousness it deserves. The story itself and the manner in which some villagers have come forward to furnish their side is more than an indication that cadres under the SoO pact have been given the long rope, either deliberately or through sheer negligence and this is something which does not sit well with anything that comes close to the understanding of suspending confrontations. And this is where the hand of a deliberate design cannot be wished away. Compensation to be paid to the affected people due to the road widening exercise and five percent of it to go a group under the SoO pact and this perfectly fits well with the story under the heading Even Kukis oppose SoO extension, of a news story datelined July 1 and carried by The Sangai Express. The news story from NDTV should also be understood in the backdrop of the growing demand to remove all SoO camps which reportedly fall under the land of the Nagas and the ongoing stir of the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee. A stir which has managed to elicit the support of many other Naga organisations, a voice which Delhi cannot and should not brush under the carpet. With funds collected from different sources, including the latest story of getting their hands in the pie of the villagers affected by the road expansion work, one can easily work out from where the guns used by the Kuki militants in the ongoing conflict have come from. A point on which Union Home Minister Amit Shah was stoically quiet while coming out strongly against the guns that were looted from the police armouries located in the valley areas of Manipur. Yet there is still the lingering question of whether the affected lands are patta land or forest land. Was the said compensation worked out as per the procedures laid down in the National Highway Acquisition process ? When was the land to be affected surveyed ? Did the Government of Manipur give the nod for the financial compensation and if yes when was it given ? The matter deserves a thorough and impartial probe and the stress on the word impartial should be understood. KUNMING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Beneath the clear waters of Fuxian Lake in southwest China's Yunnan Province, nestled amid beautiful surrounding hills, lies a 518-million-year-old record of early animal life, so vital a discovery that it has quietly transformed the place into a guardian of ancient history. The vivid blues catch the eye first. From the heights of Chengjiang, Fuxian Lake -- plunging over 150 meters at its deepest -- stretches out like a sapphire cradled by hills. Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) explorer and travel writer Xu Xiake once marveled at its legendary clarity, yet the lake's true wonder lies beyond its submerged mysteries. It is a living pact between a community and deep time, etched into the hills that surround it. The name "Chengjiang," meaning "clear river," is no coincidence. This small county-level city in Yunnan nestles within a landscape defined as "70 percent mountains, 20 percent water and 10 percent flat land." Its global legacy rests on Maotianshan Mountain, an unassuming hill resembling a straw hat. On July 1, 1984, paleontologist Hou Xianguang split open a slab of yellow shale and revealed a pristine Naraoia fossil. Since then, the Chengjiang Fossil Site has, for over four decades, yielded early Cambrian treasures, fossils from more than 20 phyla and over 300 species, 80 percent of them previously unknown to science. Nearly all existing animal phyla on Earth can trace their ancestral roots to this remarkable "cradle of life." In 2012, it became China's first fossil-related World Heritage site, hailed as one of the world's most important fossil assemblages and the most remarkable discoveries of the 20th century. Walk along the shoreline of Xiaowan Village today, and the pact comes into view. White-walled, dark-tiled guesthouses step gently down toward the eastern edge of Fuxian Lake, with no high-rises to disrupt the view. This quiet restraint lets nature take centre stage. Traces of deep time reveal themselves in subtle ways, with Cambrian fossils embedded in pocket parks and street corner designs. Even village homes built decades ago unknowingly hold fossils. Elders recall digging local soil to make bricks and using unusual stones to steady tables or weigh down pickle jars. Only years later did they realize these were remnants of ancient life dating back hundreds of millions of years. "Height is controlled, views are left open," said Li Yong, director of Chengjiang's natural resources bureau. "The goal is to protect everyone's right to see the lake and the surrounding hills." His guiding principle -- ecological priority, compact efficiency -- requires grey bricks and white walls, aiming to minimize visual disruption and blend architecture into the landscape. Restraint brings lasting rewards. Fuxian Lake boasts Class I water quality, the highest standard in China, while its shores are now lined with bike paths and dotted with kayaks. Maotianshan Mountain is thriving, with mining banned and forests steadily returning to its slopes. On the northern shore of Fuxian Lake, the world natural heritage museum of the Chengjiang Fossil Site houses more than 50,000 specimens. Visitors peer closely at the delicate segments of Naraoia and the lunging form of Anomalocaris. "We put a great deal of thought into the exhibition design, with a 4D cinema and VR/AR experience zones that bring ancient fossils to life," said Wang Han, the museum's executive vice curator. "Visitors feel as if they've traveled through time, witnessing the Cambrian explosion firsthand." Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Monday announced a protest programme in Cooch Behar on 4 August, condemning recent attacks on BJP MLAs in the district. Addressing a political rally at Chunavatti, near Uttarkanya, the branch state secretariat in Siliguri, Mr Adhikari declared: We are coming to Cooch Behar on 4 August. Sixty-five BJP MLAs will be present to protest against the continuous attacks on our legislators. Advertisement He added: After the Cooch Behar event, we will proceed to Uttarkanya. During my last visit, I was prevented by the police from entering the premises. This time, we are determined to step inside. Advertisement Mr Adhikaris remarks come in the wake of recent incidents, including an alleged attack on BJP MLA Sushil Barman at Ghokshadanga, where his car was vandalised and his assistant manhandled. The CISF personnel deployed for the MLAs security rescued both the legislator and his aide. Another MLA, Baren Chandra Barman, was also allegedly targeted and stopped from offering prayers at a temple in Cooch Behar. In a separate incident, BJP leader and former district president Sukumar Roy, also an MLA from Cooch Behar (Uttar), was allegedly defamed by TMC leaders following a shootout case in which his son was arrested by police. Citing repeated attacks and police inaction, Mr Adhikari strongly criticised the state government and law enforcement agencies, pointing out that despite official complaints lodged by BJP MLAs, no effective steps had been taken. On Monday, Mr Adhikari walked a few kilometres from Tinbatti to the rally venue in Chunavatti but refrained from stopping near Uttarkanya to avoid potential confrontation. Sources indicated that the move was a strategic decision to deny the police or TMC any opportunity to escalate the situation. Though a group of BJP workers briefly gathered near the main entrance along Asian Highway 2, they vacated the area after raising slogans when instructed by the police. With adequate security deployment and adherence to a High Court order, the rally concluded peacefully. Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Monday demanded that a special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls be conducted in West Bengal, similar to the ongoing process in Bihar. Addressing a rally at Chunavatti near Uttarkanya the states branch secretariat in north Bengal as part of the BJPs Uttarkanya Cholo Abhiyan, Mr Adhikari said: We want the same kind of special electoral roll revision in Bengal as is being carried out in Bihar. Advertisement Striking a sharp political note, Mr Adhikari assured the audience that Hindus who came from Bangladesh would be treated as refugees and must be enrolled in the electoral roll during the SIR process. There is no need for Hindus from Bangladesh to fear deletion of their names. There is also no need for Indian Muslims Rashtravadi Muslims to worry. But Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslims will not be allowed to register as voters, he said. Advertisement Raising an emotive pitch, Mr Adhikari asked the crowd: Are the Rajbanshis not Hindus? urging them to consolidate against the Trinamul Congress government in the upcoming Assembly election. Siliguri MLA and chief whip of the Assembly, Sankar Ghosh, also addressed the gathering, claiming that over 1.5 crore ghost voters were currently on the electoral rolls in West Bengal. We are fighting for a Clean voter list to ensure a clean government in 2026, he said. Mondays rally, organised by the BJPs youth wing, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, marked the unofficial launch of the partys campaign for the 2026 Assembly election. With slogans like chhabbish er nirbachan, Trinamul er bisarjan (2026 election would mark the ouster of Trinamul), the BJP sought to counter the TMCs Martyrs Day show of strength held in Kolkata the same day. In a significant development, the policefollowing a high court orderpermitted a political rally for the first time on the Asian Highway 2 in front of Uttarkanya. The BJP hailed this as a symbolic victory, especially in north Bengal, where it has a strong support base. The rally also saw a distinct religious tone in speeches, underlining the partys strategy to consolidate its Hindu vote-bank in northern parts of the state. Senior BJP leaders claimed the turnout and response marked a successful beginning to their electoral campaign. Several prominent leaders, including former MPs Nisith Pramanik, Arjun Singh, Dashrath Tirkey, and current MPs Dr Jayanta Roy and Manoj Tigga, were present. Suvendu Adhikari, in his trademark aggressive style, attacked chief minister Mamata Banerjee, calling her administration corrupt and alleging that her party workers gathered at Dharmatala, were tainted with scams. He again vowed to defeat her in the next election, asserting, She will be an ex-chief minister. The rally also focused on issues such as unemployment, lack of industrialisation, and poor healthcare infrastructure. Mr Adhikari criticised the state government for failing to allocate land for an AIIMS in north Bengal. The BJYM state president, Dr Indranil Khan highlighted rising insecurity for women, citing incidents at RG Kar Hospital, Kasba law college, and other parts of the state. he alleged that TMC leaders involved in corruption were now attacking women across West Bengal. City police today came in for some lavish praise from the Calcutta High Court for its conduct during Martyrs Day event in the state capital. The Calcutta High Court judge, Justice Tirthankar Ghosh had asked the Kolkata Police to ensure normal traffic flow between 9-11 a.m, peak office hours on Monday, when lakhs of Trinamul Congress supporters were to converge at the heart of the city. Advertisement Justice Ghosh today expressed satisfaction on the overall maintenance of traffic as mandated by the court during office hours in the morning. He said maintenance of traffic today was excellent. Advertisement The way traffic was manned by the city police today deserved a kudos as it made arrival in court by 10 a.m. all the more possible, Justice Ghosh said in the court. Lavishing praise further on the city polices role, Justice Ghosh said that he had always faith in the city polices capability. Mr Justice Ghoshs todays observation came on the heels of a fellow lawyer, who, expressing satisfaction, said that he too arrived in court on time just as he did daily. To which, Justice Ghosh made his observation on the state of traffic on city roads today. Justice Ghosh, however, took exception to the actions by a section of the lawyers of the Bar Association, who approached the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, T S Sivagnanam today praying for not to pass any ruling without hearing all the parties concerned present in the court. Citing this, Justice Ghosh, who was sore over the absence of some lawyers in his court, angrily said that this was not a way a court could run. Taking an exception to the absence of lawyers, Justice Ghosh further said that it would be hard to believe the fact that one cant reach court today by 10.30 this morning, particularly the way traffic was maintained today. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation too was quick on the job of cleaning the road and the rally area by deploying scavengers as soon as the meeting got over. Earlier on Friday, Justice Trirthankar Ghosh had, in a ruling, had directed the city police to keep roads free of congestion and snarls at peak office hours between 9-11 a.m. Azizul Haque, a prominent leftist intellectual, writer and one of the early leaders of the Naxalite movement in India, died on Monday at a private hospital in Salt Lake after a prolonged illness. He was 85. Advertisement Haque, best known for his prison memoir Karagare Atharo Bochhor (Eighteen years in prison), had been battling age-related complications for months. His condition worsened after a fall at home resulted in a fractured hand. Doctors said subsequent infections, organ dysfunction and progressive frailty led to his death at 2.28 p.m. despite efforts to revive him. Advertisement Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep condolences over his passing. Azizul Haque was a relentless, courageous political figure who never bowed his head, she said in a post on social media platform X. His life was a testament to protest through ideology, imprisonment, and writing. With his departure, a significant political voice has fallen silent. A key figure in the radical Naxalbari uprising of the late 1960s, Haque rose to prominence after the death of CPI (ML) founder Charu Majumdar in 1972, when he took over as the chief of the partys second central committee. He spent nearly two decades in jail, facing multiple arrests under successive governments. His memoir, penned behind bars, documented the harsh realities of political imprisonment in India. It recounted early-morning beatings, rotten food, psychological torture and alleged killings of fellow inmates. The manuscript, nearly seized by prison authorities, was rescued and eventually published thanks to the intervention of a journalist and a reporter from the Bengali daily. In 1986, reports of custodial torture on Haque stirred public and political outcry. Senior CPI(M) ministers and Congress leader Subrata Mukherjee reportedly visited him in jail, supporting his release on parole due to his deteriorating health. Although Haque withdrew from active politics in his later years, he remained a vocal social commentator. He founded the Bhasha Shahid Smarak Samiti (Language Martyrs Memorial Committee) and regularly contributed to Bengali dailies. Azizul Haque is remembered as a fierce advocate of revolutionary politics whose personal history mirrored the tumult of an era marked by ideological strife and state suppression. A man searches among the rubble of a destroyed building in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on March 19, 2024. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/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. 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 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." A Palestinian child is seen in a tent for displaced people on the shores of Gaza City, on July 18, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) 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 27 other nations, plus the European Union, 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. Palestinians carry the body of a victim after an Israeli drone strike on the Holy Family church, at the Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, on July 17, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/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. (1 pound = 1.35 U.S. dollar) Enditem Indian startups continued to attract steady investor interest this week, raising a total of $97.45 million across 26 deals. Despite global funding challenges, the Indian startup ecosystem maintained its momentum, with four growth-stage and 16 early-stage startups securing funds. Advertisement Six other startups raised capital but chose not to disclose the amount. Advertisement The total funding this week remained marginally up compared to the previous week, which saw 17 startups raise around $95 million. However, this week witnessed more activity in terms of deal volume indicating broader investor participation. Bengaluru emerged as the top city in terms of deal count, with 11 startups securing funding. It was followed by Mumbai with six deals, while Delhi-NCR, Chennai, and Pune also contributed to the weekly activity. AI remained the most attractive segment this week with six deals, followed by e-commerce and healthtech with four and three deals respectively. Other sectors like deeptech, fintech, and consumer tech also saw investor interest. Seed-stage funding led the week with eight deals, followed by six pre-Series A and four pre-seed rounds. Series A and Series B deals continued to support startups moving into their next growth phase. The average funding in the last eight weeks stands at around $200 million per week, with approximately 22 deals weekly. Growth and late-stage funding accounted for $38.3 million. Telehealth platform Truemeds led the pack, raising $20 million in its ongoing Series C round from Peak XV Partners. Payments company Phi Commerce topped up its Series B round with $6 million from BEENEXT. B2B e-commerce unicorn Zetwerk secured Rs 75 crore (around $8.8 million) in debt funding from JM Financial, while foodtech startup Lo! Foods raised $3.5 million in its Series B round led by Rainmatter. On the early-stage front, 16 startups raised about $59.15 million. Deeptech startup QpiAI was the biggest gainer, raising $32 million in a Series A round co-led by Avataar Ventures and the National Quantum Mission. Other notable fundraisers included speech technology startups, home decor brand Vaaree, AI video platform Trupeer, quick commerce fashion brand KNOT, spacetech startup OmSpace, and AI research company Gibran. Several AI startups, such as Onetab.ai, Fire AI, Aquila Clouds, and wellness brand CosMoss, also raised funds this week, though they did not disclose the exact amount. A dozen major private and public sector companies have expressed interest in partnering with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship under the Rs 60,000-crore National Scheme for Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Upgradation, reports said on Tuesday. The scheme, which aims to modernise vocational education in India, has already drawn formal proposals from eight large corporates, including Reliance Group, Adani Group, Mahindra Group, JK Cement, Jindal Group, Toyota India, Schneider Electric, and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel. Advertisement These companies have submitted to the ministry their preferred states and sectors where they intend to establish hub-and-spoke model ITIs. Advertisement Under this model, designated hub ITIs will serve as central points for training, infrastructure, and curriculum, while smaller vocational institutes acting as spokes will be linked to the hubs to access advanced resources and expertise. In addition to the eight firms that have submitted detailed proposals, reports suggested that the ministry is in discussions with several others, including Larsen & Toubro, Bajaj Auto, and the Aditya Birla Group. Talks are also ongoing with leading public sector enterprises such as Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for undertaking ITI upgradation projects in their respective industrial zones. Approved by the Union Cabinet, in May this year, the National Scheme for ITI Upgradation aims to modernise 1,000 ITIs and provide skills training to two million youth over a five-year period. The project was announced in the Union Budget for 202425 and will be jointly financed by the Centre, states, and industry. The central government will contribute Rs 30,000 crore, while states are expected to pitch in rs 20,000 crore, and the industry will contribute Rs 10,000 crore. Half of the Centres contribution will be co-financed equally by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, bringing international institutional support into the national skilling mission. According to an internal presentation by the ministry, JK Cement has proposed to set up ITI hubs in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh with a focus on training in construction, electrical and electronics, renewable energy, and hospitality. Mahindra Group is looking to operate in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa, offering skill development programmes in the automotive and hospitality sectors. Reliance Group has identified Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh as preferred states, where it plans to focus on training in renewables, retail, advanced manufacturing, and petrochemical engineering. Jindal Group has proposed to work in clusters across Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jharkhand, offering training in both conventional and emerging trades. Toyota India has expressed interest in upgrading ITIs in Karnataka, focusing on automobile-related trades. Adani Group, which has proposed one of the most geographically diverse plans, has identified Gujarat, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and several Northeastern states. The group aims to train youth in sectors including solar energy, drone technology, and port operations. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and PWD Minister Parvesh Verma on Tuesday took part in the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) training program at the Delhi Assembly, as the legislature is heading towards paperless and digital functioning. It was the second day of the of the training which is being given to the Delhi MLAs by experts from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, with regard to the paperless functioning of the house through the application, which they can access on the smartphones and tablets, as well as the advanced terminals being installed at their seats in the house. Advertisement The CM, along with the PWD Minister, visited the NeVA training centre that has been setup at the Vidhan Sabha premises, and experienced the platform firsthand. Advertisement The experts gave a detailed presentation to Gupta, Verma and other legislators, briefing them on the objectives, features, and functionalities of the new platform, that is aimed to enhance the efficiency of work and increase accountability. Speaking on the occasion, speaker Vijender Gupta said that the ongoing training program is a significant step towards realizing the vision of One Nation, One Application, for the legislatures. Gupta added that enthusiastic participation of members, including the CM will ensure the smooth achievement of the assemblys transformation goals. As part of the digital rollout, smartphones equipped with the NeVA app were also handed over to the CM and PWD Minister, which will enable seamless access to the platform and the working of the assembly. MLAs also accessed their digital List of Business (LoB) using newly provided smartphones and interacted with the system through the advanced systems installed at the training centre. The training program will continue for a day more, and ensure all the MLAs are fully equipped for the upcoming monsoon session which will be under the digital framework. Harvey Weinstein, the once-powerful Hollywood producer who is now serving time in jail, has decided to drop a lawsuit against his brother, Bob Weinstein. According to a report by Variety, Harvey had earlier accused his brother of financial betrayal, claiming it led to the downfall of their production company, The Weinstein Company. Advertisement Harvey Weinstein is currently behind bars, awaiting sentencing after being convicted for sexual assault for the third time. His legal troubles, however, are not just about criminal cases. He is also involved in financial battles related to the collapse of his former business empire. Advertisement Back in February this year, Harvey filed a counterclaim in an old lawsuit. In it, he tried to shift the blame for the companys failure onto his brother Bob and two other key employees; David Glasser, who was the Chief Operating Officer, and the companys longtime accountant, Irwin Reiter. Harveys claim said that Bob Weinstein and Glasser took millions of dollars in improper payments before the company went bankrupt. He also accused Reiter of failing to prevent this from happening. This week, Harveys lawyers informed the court that they are dropping the case against Bob Weinstein. However, they are still continuing the legal fight against Glasser and Reiter. Bob Weinsteins attorney, Brian Kohn, released a statement. He said, Harveys filing of this notice fully resolves the claims he asserted against Bob in this case. He also made it clear that Bob did not pay Harvey anything to settle the case and no deal was made between them. The Weinstein Company, once a leading film production house, collapsed shortly after Harvey Weinstein was publicly accused of multiple cases of sexual assault and harassment in late 2017. These allegations shook Hollywood and started the global #MeToo movement. After the scandal broke, Harvey was removed from the company. But the damage was already done. By 2018, The Weinstein Company declared bankruptcy. Later, its film library was sold to Lionsgate. According to reports, Bob Weinstein had tried to save the company by lending it $11.1 million from his own pocket. However, he never got that money back, even during the companys 2021 bankruptcy settlement. Meanwhile, attorneys for Glasser and Reiter have also filed motions asking the court to dismiss the remaining claims against them. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday highlighted agriculture as Uttar Pradeshs largest employment sector, supporting nearly three crore farmers. Speaking at the 36th Foundation Day of Uttar Pradesh Council Of Agricultural Research (UPCAR), he stressed that agriculture should drive prosperity, not migration, and called for greater adoption of innovation and research to transform the sector. He noted that the MSME sector follows agriculture in employment, engaging 1.65 crore people. Advertisement He stated that the development of Uttar Pradesh is key to Indias progress. If UP advances, no power in the world can stop India from becoming a developed nation. Every individual must make honest efforts in their respective fields to achieve this shared goal, he said. Advertisement On this occasion, he visited an agricultural exhibition, released informative booklets and newsletters, and addressed a national seminar titled Developed Agriculture Developed Uttar Pradesh @ 2047. He also felicitated distinguished agricultural scientists, young innovators, and FPOs for their contributions to the sector. Highlighting the importance of context-specific innovation, CM Adityanath said that agricultural research and development must align with Indias diverse climate and soil conditions. All such possibilities lie within UP, he noted, adding that the state has a crucial role to play in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. The Chief Minister reaffirmed the states commitment to contribute to the nations goal of becoming a USD 5 trillion economy by aiming to build a USD 1 trillion economy in Uttar Pradesh by 2029. He further stated that Uttar Pradesh is richly endowed by nature, especially in the field of agriculture. We have vast, fertile land and abundant water resources. UP might be the only region in the world where over 86 per cent of agricultural land is irrigated, he stated. The state also boasts of a strong network of agricultural institutions, including four state-run agricultural universities, with a fifth one under development, as well as centrally-run universities and over 15 premier agricultural research institutes. In addition, 89 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are actively working to disseminate knowledge and technologies to farmers. Despite these resources, the CM acknowledged a concerning gap: Only 2530 per cent of farmers in the state are currently able to adopt and implement scientific research in their farming practices. He called for bridging this gap to ensure that the benefits of research and innovation truly reach the grassroots. Chief Minister Adityanath highlighted that while Uttar Pradesh is home to 16 per cent of the countrys population, it holds only 11 per cent of Indias cultivable land. Remarkably, this land produces over 20 per cent of the nations foodgrains. He noted, The states fertile terrain, abundant water resources, and well-levelled land have the potential to triple its current agricultural output. However, realising this potential requires a firm commitment to strengthening agricultural research and development. The Chief Minister emphasised that nations that have invested in research and innovation, regardless of their size, are the ones that have progressed. Progress comes to those who focus on R&D, irrespective of their sector, he said. He further stated that Uttar Pradesh has the capacity not only to feed the country but also to contribute to global food security. He added, The state holds immense potential in agriculture, horticulture, and vegetable production. To unlock this, there is a pressing need to accelerate research tailored to local climatic zones and natural ecosystems. The pace and direction of your research and development initiatives will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of both the state and the nation, he said. Looking ahead to Indias USD 30 trillion economy target by 2047, Chief Minister Adityanath urged a serious reflection on Uttar Pradeshs future role across key sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, education, industry, and healthcare. He noted that the state has already formulated a Vision 2047 action plan, and stressed the need for clear short and medium-term milestonesby 2027, 2029, and 2035to ensure visible progress. The CM also called on agricultural universities, research bodies, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras to play an active role in achieving these goals. The CM recalled the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in collaboration with Israel, where the training and dedication of Indian scientists complemented Israeli technical expertise. He questioned the limited expansion of such models and called for renewed efforts. If Israel can achieve this, why cant our agricultural universities replicate and expand it? he asked. He lamented that farmers are still being forced to migrate due to a lack of progress in agriculture and stressed the urgency of reversing this trend. Addressing climate change challenges, he noted that while heavy rains were expected during this season, 1516 districts of UP have received below-average rainfall, while some neighbouring states are experiencing excessive rainfall. How prepared are we to deal with such fluctuations? he said. The Chief Minister also pointed out that a delay of just one month in sowing, coupled with the use of old seed varieties, can result in a 30 per cent reduction in yield. He asked whether farmers had access to late-sowing seed varieties and whether they were properly trained and guided. If Krishi Vigyan Kendras, agricultural universities, and research centres dont offer timely and credible demonstrations, farmers wont be convinced, he said. If they are still relying on outdated methods, it is because we have failed to connect them with modern techniques and information. He concluded by emphasising that even modest efforts in agriculture, horticulture, vegetable farming, and animal husbandry can significantly improve the lives of farmers. Reiterating PM Modis vision, he said, Reducing input costs and boosting productivity is the key to bringing smiles to farmers faces, and this is only possible through robust research and development. He expressed confidence that the UPCAR will play a crucial role in supporting farmers through specialised research and development programs. Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, while addressing devotees at the historic Karsha Monastery in Zanskar (Kargil district), accused the Chinese Communist regime of not only stripping Tibetans of political rights but also systematically undermining their spiritual traditions. After futile attempts for two days to reach Zanskar, the helicopter carrying the Dalai Lama was finally able to reach the destination on Sunday because of better weather conditions. Advertisement The Chinese Communists have taken away not only our political rights; they have also sought control over our spiritual traditions, the Dalai Lama said during his sermon in the remote southwestern region of Ladakh. Advertisement He lamented the restrictions imposed by Chinese authorities on the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism, particularly its emphasis on logic and reason. As a result, there has been a decline and destruction of Buddhist teachings in Tibet. However, in exile, we have managed to keep our traditions alivewith generous support from the Indian government and people. Recounting a pivotal moment from 1954, the Dalai Lama recalled a conversation with Mao Zedong in Beijing. Mao told me that religion is poison. I said nothing then, but I knew he was hostile to Dharma. The 90-year-old spiritual leader asserted that the Communist ideology regards religious belief as blind faith, unworthy of preservation. They treat the Dharma with animosity, he said and added, But the Buddhas teachings are based on study, reflection, and meditationespecially grounded in logic and reason. That is something profound. Reflecting on his monastic education, he noted that his understanding of Buddhist philosophy, logic, and awareness began in childhood. Our tradition, rooted in the Nalanda school, is not just based on faith but on deep inquiry and debate. Even modern scientists find this approach appealing, he said. The Dalai Lama also paid tribute to his teachers, particularly the Mongolian master Ngodrup Tsognyi, who guided him through the complex teachings of the Middle Way. Debate helped sharpen my understanding. It is a method that allows us to fully engage our intelligence, he said. He stressed that the exile community, though small, has successfully preserved Tibetan traditions through logical rigor and scholarly commitment. Here in Zanskar, at this critical time, these traditions are alivethanks to our continued reliance on logic and reason, the Dalai Lama said. Jagdeep Dhankhars unexpected resignation as Vice President of India on July 21, citing health reasons, has sent shockwaves through Indias political landscape. The move, coming on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, has led to intense speculations, prompting swift strategic huddles among the political fraternity with many opposition leaders and political pundits questioning the timing and circumstances of his decision. Dhankhars consideration of an Opposition-sponsored resolution on the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma is being touted as one of the major reasons that might have triggered his resignation. Dhankhar had acknowledged the Opposition-sponsored impeachment motion brought against Justice Varma. Sources say that by accepting the Oppositions notice, Dhankhar ran afoul of the Centres plan to target corruption in the judiciary. Advertisement Sources indicated that Dhankhar had received calls from senior ministers condemning his actions as unacceptable after he accepted the Oppositions notice, leading to a heated argument. His strict adherence to norms is being interpreted as having led to a clash with the government. Advertisement Also, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hinted at far deeper reasons for Dhankhars resignation beyond health concerns. Ramesh commented that Dhankhars resignation speaks highly of him but poorly of those who got him elected. According to Ramesh, Dhankhar was upset over ministers JP Nadda and Kiren Rijijus absence from a reconvened Business Advisory Committee meeting without any prior notice. However, JP Nadda clarified that he and Kiren Rijiju couldnt attend the meeting due to other parliamentary engagements and that his only what I say will go on record comment was directed at interrupting Opposition MPs. Nadda had made the remark only what I say will go on record during the course of his speech in the Upper House on Monday when the Opposition parties were on their toes trying to disrupt his address. Speculation also suggests that blank documents were being signed, though details remain unclear, adding to the air of mystery surrounding Mondays events. The development occurred hours after a series of late-evening meetings where MPs from the ruling party were reportedly involved in carrying out a signature campaign. There are questions surrounding these signatures, as some MPs were apparently asked to sign papers without full knowledge of their content, with speculation linking them to an impeachment motion against Justice Varma. Opposition MPs had already submitted a notice for the judges impeachment. Dhankhars tenure was marked by heated moments, including accusations of bias and a no-confidence motion against him. Even in his final address and appearance in the House, he made no mention of his health or any intention to resign. Dhankhar was known for speaking fearlessly on issues like farmer welfare and judicial accountability. Dhankhar was sworn in as Indias 14th Vice President in August 2022. He served as the Governor of West Bengal from 2019 to 2022. The Election Commission of India (ECI), led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, held a meeting on Tuesday with a delegation from the CPI(Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation), the poll panel said in a statement. The delegation, led by the partys authorised representative Sanjay Sharma, submitted its suggestions to the ECI at Nirvachan Sadan, Delhi. Advertisement The meeting was part of the Commissions ongoing initiative to engage with various political parties to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections. The ECI regularly holds such consultations as part of its commitment to inclusive electoral governance. Advertisement Earlier, on July 17, the Commission met with a delegation from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), led by its Rajya Sabha member N.R. Elango, at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi. The ECIs outreach reflects its commitment to continually evolving the electoral ecosystem through dialogue, transparency, and cooperation. Similar interactions were held with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), led by Party President Mayawati on May 6; the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by its President JP Nadda on May 8; and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), led by its State President Palla Srinivasa Rao on July 15. The Election Commission has been engaging in structured dialogues with presidents and senior representatives of various national and state-level political parties to enhance the integrity and transparency of the electoral process. These interactions enable political parties to directly convey their views, concerns, and suggestions to the Commission, promoting a more participatory approach in election management and policy formulation. Formalising the much-awaited and historic India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and defence cooperation will be high on agenda during Prime Minister Narendra Modis two-day visit to London, starting Wednesday. Mr Modi will leave for the UK on Wednesday and on the second leg of his visit, he will undertake a state visit to the Maldives from July 25 to 26. Advertisement During his visit to the UK, the prime minister will highlight the issue of cross-border terrorism, Pahalgam terror attack, and Indias response through Operation Sindoor. Advertisement Addressing a special briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the Prime Ministers visit to the United Kingdom and Maldives, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Tuesday said this would be PM Modis fourth visit to the UK. This visit, though a short one, will give both leaders the opportunity to review the entire gamut of the bilateral relationship, Misri said. He said the visit to the UK is at the invitation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, while the state visit to the Maldives is at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu. On a media query on the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, Misri said, There was a conversation on the sixth of May, between the Prime Minister Modi and the Prime Minister of the UK, where an announcement had been made that the two sides had concluded negotiations on Free Trade Agreement and other issues. Since then, the two sides have been in very close touch with each otherWe will update you on the final details related to this at the appropriate time. The foreign secretary said PM Modi would hold wide-ranging discussions with his counterpart from the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, including on further strengthening of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), during his two-day visit to London, starting Wednesday. This will be the Prime Ministers fourth visit to the United Kingdom since assuming office. He has visited previously in 2015, 2018 and he was there in 2021 for the COP26 Summit in Glasgow. Within the last year itself, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Starmer have already met twice, first on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro last year and more recently, just last month in June in Kananaskis in Canada on the sidelines of the G7 Summit and they have also been in touch on the phone a number of times, said Misri. Besides exchanging views on issues of regional and global importance, Prime Minister Modi and Starmer will review the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations with a specific focus on trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate, health, education and people-to-people ties. PM Modi will also call on King Charles III and interact with the business leaders and the Indian community in the United Kingdom. Apart from the Summit level engagements, there are regular engagements at the level of the External Affairs Minister and his counterpart, the British Foreign Secretary. There are several other institutional mechanisms at ministerial level, dealing with strategic issues, financial, economic, energy related issues as well as science and technology. In contemporary times, the sectors of business, technology, research, education, innovation, the knowledge economy have emerged as key pillars of our bilateral cooperation. The Technology-Security initiative (TSI) for instance, which is coming up to its one year anniversary, was signed last year and is a major indicator of where we are taking our ties in critical and emerging technologies, Foreign Secretary Misri said. On trade ties between India and the UK, the foreign secretary said, Our bilateral trade crossed USD 55 billion in 2023-24. The UK is also the sixth largest investor in India with an cumulative investment of USD 36 billion and interestingly, India itself is a large source of foreign direct investment in the UK with a cumulative of USD 20 billion. There are close to 1000 Indian companies in the UK that provide employment to nearly 100,000 people and have a cumulative revenue of USD 91 billion. Mentioning the defence ties between India and the UK, Misri said, In the defence sector, we are seeing regular interactions and exercises among all three branches of the armed forces. We have placed military instructors at each others military academies and one of the more significant partnership projects we have embarked on in recent times is the agreement to look at electric propulsion capability between the two countries. The foreign secretary further said the Serum Institute of India and UKs Oxford University have agreed to co-develop a malaria vaccine which was approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2023. He also recalled how the two partners had previously developed the Covishield vaccine during the Covid-19 pandemic. He said the University of Southampton has opened a campus in Gurugram under new education policy and several other UK universities are also considering opening campuses in India under the same policy. The foreign secretary emphasised the role of the Indian diaspora in the UK, which he said has contributed to strengthening bilateral ties and made valuable contributions to the society and economy of the UK. One of the most important, probably the foundational aspect of this relationship is the Living Bridge that connects India and the UK, nearly 1.8 million strong Indian diaspora, which has contributed to strengthening bonds of friendship between our two countries but has also made extremely valuable contribution to the UK economy and society, Misri said. On PM Modis visit to Maldives, the Foreign Secretary said, The Prime Ministers visit to Maldives will take place on 25th and 26th July. He will be embarking on a state visit at the invitation of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of MaldivesThe Prime Minister, on this occasion, will be the guest of honour at celebrations to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the independence of the MaldivesThis will be Prime Ministers third visit to Maldives, and the first state visit of a head of government that President Muizzu is hosting since he assumed office in November 2023. In the Maldives, the prime minister will also meet Mohamed Muizzu and hold discussions on issues of mutual interest. 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. The visit reflects the importance India attaches to its maritime neighbour, Maldives, which continues to hold a special place in Indias Neighbourhood First policy and Vision MAHASAGAR. The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to further deepen and strengthen the close bilateral relationship. After a delay of nearly 15 months, the Indian Army received its first batch of Apache attack helicopters. The choppers arrived in an Antonov transport aircraft at the Hindon Air Force Station, here on Tuesday. The three machines will be deployed with the Jodhpur based Army Aviation Units. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Indian Army wrote, Indian Army inducts #Apache. Milestone moment for Indian Army as the first batch of Apache helicopters for Army Aviation arrive today in India. These state-of-the-art platforms will bolster the operational capabilities of the #IndianArmy significantly. Advertisement In a $600-million deal signed with the United States in 2020, India had sought six additional Apache helicopters for the Indian Army. Earlier, both the countries had signed a contract in 2015 to purchase 22 helicopters for the Indian Air Force. The remaining three Apaches are expected to be delivered by the end of this year. Advertisement The AH64E Apache, designed and manufactured by US-based Boeing, the helicopter is widely considered among the most advanced attack helicopters in service built for highly precise strikes in hostile combat zones, owing to its modern avionics, a powerful weapons suite, and robust survivability systems. Equipped with a powerful 30 mm chain gun, the Apache is built to handle intense combat situations. It also carries Hellfire missiles that use laser and radar guidance to hit targets with pinpoint accuracy, along with rocket pods that can take on several ground threats at once. After serving actively in worlds militaries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, Egypt, the bird now comes to bolster Indias defence fleet. HAIKOU, July 22 (Xinhua) -- China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) is set to launch a pilot program on August 21 this year, enabling overseas investors to access domestic financial products offered by local financial institutions. Eligible products will include wealth management products, private asset management products from securities, fund, and futures operators, publicly offered securities investment funds, and insurance asset management products. The program aims to diversify cross-border financial product offerings and explore new channels for overseas investors to access China's domestic market, according to an official with the Hainan branch of the People's Bank of China, one of the co-formulators of the rules. It is also expected to attract both domestic and international asset management institutions to operate in Hainan, supporting the development of the Hainan FTP, according to the official. As part of its broader economic strategy, China is transforming Hainan into a Free Trade Port. As the Hainan FTP is set to begin independent customs operations by the end of the year, the province is poised to become not only a tourist haven but also a pivotal gateway for China's opening-up drive. Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the United Kingdom beginning tomorrow, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said India has brought Khalistani extremists issue to the attention of partners in the UK. Mr 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. Advertisement The prime ministers visit to the UK is scheduled for July 2324. Advertisement Addressing a special briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the prime ministers visit to United Kingdom and Maldives, the foreign secretary on Tuesday said, The issue of the presence of Khalistani extremists, bodies close to these people, is something that we have brought to the attention of our partners in the UK. We will continue to do so. This is a matter of concern not only to us but should be a matter of concern to our partners as well because this impacts social cohesion and social order in these other countries as well, he said. Responding to a media query on the issue of fugitives in the UK, Misri said discussions have also taken place between India and the UK regarding the extradition of fugitives to India. He further said that there is a legal process to such requests regarding fugitives related to Indian law and India is working very closely with the UK on this issue. There have been a few questions related to fugitives related to Indian law and Indian justice, in the UK. These have been a matter of discussion between both sides and we have continued to make the case for these fugitives to be rendered to India. There is a legal process that such requests, issues go through in the other country, and we continue to follow very closely with our partners in the UK on these matters, Misri said. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday joined a protest in Parliament premises with INDIA alliance members, alleging vote theft in Bihar under the guise of Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Gandhi emphasised that voting is every citizens right and vowed to fight against forces opposing the constitution. Alleging vote theft in Bihar through the SIR process, Gandhi stated they will fight unitedly against forces opposing the Constitution. Advertisement Later, taking to platform X, Gandhi questioned the Election Commission, asking if the poll panel has turned into BJPs Election Chori Shakha instead of an impartial body. Advertisement Opposition parties have been apprehensive about the poll panels drive, saying the initiative will lead to mass disenfranchisement. A government-run ambulance was stolen from the premises of the Ambikapur Medical College Hospital in Chhattisgarh, raising serious questions about the adequacy of security protocols at one of the regions key healthcare facilities. What has particularly alarmed authorities is that the theft of the Sanjeevani 108 emergency vehicle went unnoticed for several days, prompting concerns over administrative oversight and surveillance failure. The stolen ambulance, part of the states emergency response fleet, was parked within the hospital compoundan area believed to be under round-the-clock security surveillance. Despite the presence of 24-hour guards and a network of CCTV cameras, no alarm was raised until days later. The hospital authorities eventually filed a formal complaint with Manipur Police Station, after which an investigation was initiated. Advertisement This incident raises serious concerns about the hospitals internal security. Preliminary investigation suggests that the vehicle was stolen from within the secured compound without triggering any immediate alert, said Manish Kumar, a senior journalist from Ambikapur. Additional Superintendent of Police Amolak Singh Dhillon said, We have registered a case, and CCTV footage from the premises is being thoroughly examined. Advertisement The Sanjeevani 108 ambulance service, vital for emergency healthcare transport in remote areas, has previously been lauded for its quick response during crises. A senior citizen from Ambikapur, who is currently hospitalised for treatment and spoke on condition of anonymity, described the incident as unprecedented and urged for swift action. Sources in the hospital acknowledged that previous petty thefts, such as stolen motorcycles and mobile phones, had occurred, but never on this scale. The theft of an entire ambulance suggests organised planning and possibly an inside hand, a security consultant familiar with hospital audits said. While police investigations are ongoing, the hospital administration has promised to enhance surveillance and reevaluate current security protocols. For a facility that serves thousands of patients and is entrusted with emergency services, the incident comes as a wake-up call. As investigations progress, the incident has triggered a broader conversation on institutional accountability and the effectiveness of public infrastructure management. For a facility responsible for emergency medical response, the unnoticed disappearance of a vital service vehicle is a stark reminder that security mechanisms must not only exist but function with precision. Ensuring that such breaches are not repeated will require both administrative reforms and a renewed commitment to operational vigilance. In a major step towards womens empowerment, the Uttar Pradesh government has approved a significant expansion of stamp duty benefits for women property buyers. Under the new policy, properties purchased in the name of womenvalued up to 1 crore, including land or houseswill now receive a 1% exemption on stamp duty. Previously, this benefit was limited to properties worth up to 10 lakh, with a maximum exemption of 10,000. With the revised policy, the exemption extends to properties valued up to 1 crore, offering substantial financial relief to women homebuyers. Advertisement The decision was approved during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday evening. A total of 37 proposals were cleared during the session, including the announcement of the Monsoon Session of the Vidhan Sabha, which will commence on August 11. Advertisement State Labour Minister Anil Rajbhar stated that the government believes this initiative will empower middle-class women to become property owners. He added that it will not only boost their confidence but also enhance their financial strength and social standing. The measure is also expected to strengthen the states Mission Shakti program, which aims to promote womens self-reliance and empowerment. The Union Government had also proposed reducing stamp duty on property deeds in favour of women in the 2024 Budget. The Uttar Pradesh governments move is seen as a positive and proactive step in the same direction. It is expected to encourage greater property ownership among women, improve their financial independence, and increase the number of registrations in womens names. In another major move toward digital empowerment, the Cabinet approved the distribution of advanced tablets instead of smartphones to the youth of Uttar Pradesh under the Swami Vivekananda Youth Sashaktikaran Yojana. The initiative aims to provide better digital tools for education and skill development. The scheme, which will be implemented over the next five years, has an allocated budget of 2,000 crore for FY 202526 and will be entirely state-funded. Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi highlighted that tablets offer superior featuressuch as larger screens, longer battery life, multitasking capabilities, and access to productivity apps like Word, Excel, and Google Sheetsmaking them more effective for learning and professional use. These devices will support students in academics, job preparation, and self-employment opportunities. The Cabinet has also approved the construction of the Chitrakoot Link Expressway, estimated to cost 939.67 crore. The expressway will follow the Engineering-Procurement-Construction (EPC) model and span 15.172 kmfrom Bharatkoop in Chitrakoot to Ahmadganj village. Initially a 4-lane road with provision for future expansion to 6 lanes, the expressway will connect with the VaranasiBanda National Highway (NH-35/76) and further link to National Highway 135 BG. It is expected to significantly improve regional connectivity and boost tourism in Chitrakoot by offering faster and smoother travel to pilgrims and visitors. The project is to be completed within 548 days, followed by a five-year maintenance period. It will be entirely funded by the state government and is expected to generate around 38 lakh man-days of direct and indirect employment during and after construction. In a transformative step to align technical education with industry requirements, the UP government has approved a project to upgrade 121 government polytechnic institutes across the state in collaboration with Tata Technologies Limited (TTL). These institutes will house Tata Technology Excellence Centres, aiming to revamp diploma-level education and skills training in Uttar Pradesh. The project has a total estimated cost of 6,935.86 croreof which TTL will contribute 6,034.20 crore and the state government 1,063.96 crore. Additionally, 858.11 crore will be spent by the government for infrastructure and basic facilities development. As part of the first phase, 45 institutes will be upgraded under a pilot project. With reports of clashes and incidents during ongoing Kanwar Yatras in Uttar Pradesh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has now decided to engage its cadre for protecting the Kanwariyas from anti-social elements. After the appeal of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the VHP said that during the Kanwar Yatra, it will deploy Bajrang Dal workers who will keep an eye on the outside elements on the main routes of the yatra. The Parishad claims that this will also help the police in the smooth conduct of the yatra. Advertisement According to the VHP, Bajrang Dal workers have been asked to set up Bhandara(community kitchen), health camps, service centres, and rest centres on the routes of Kanwar Yatra. Advertisement VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal gave this information here on Tuesday and said that Bajrang Dal workers have been given the responsibility to keep an eye on the Kanwar Yatra and identify the outside elements involved in creating trouble, and inform the police. The workers have been asked to exercise complete restraint during this process. The VHP has taken this step after the statement of CM Adityanath, in which he had urged the social organisations to keep an eye on the anti-social elements marring the atmosphere during this religious yatra, and if any information is received regarding this, then immediately, the administration should be informed. The CM had also said that a conspiracy is being hatched to defame this religious yatra, so we have to be more alert this time, and in this Kanwar Sanghs and various social organisations should also fulfill their responsibility. The VHP believes that efforts to spoil the atmosphere of Kanwar Yatra are continuing. Before Uttar Pradesh, the Uttarakhand government had also launched Operation Kalanemi to identify those vitiating the atmosphere during Kanwar Yatra, and 300 people have been detained during the process. The world is aware of Donald Trumps fascination for the Nobel peace prize. After all the President he replaced at the White House in his first tenure, Barrack Obama, was awarded one for extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples, despite continuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (inherited from his predecessor) and launching military interventions in Libya and against ISIL in Iraq and Syria, alongside increased drone strikes including in Pakistan. Trump recently stated, They should give me the Nobel Prize for Rwanda and if you look, the Congo, or you could say Serbia, Kosovo, you could say a lot of them. The big one is India and Pakistan. I should have gotten it four or five times. His desperation for the award has made him repeat his lies of being involved in pushing the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, ignoring the public denial by the Indian PM in a tele-conversation with him. His yearning for the award was also visible in a social media post on his Truth Social platform on 20 June where, in a single post, he mentioned the award six times. He has even stated, Its too bad. I deserve it, but they will never give it to me. Advertisement He tweeted his anger at being ignored, while Obama was awarded, They gave one to Obama immediately upon his ascent to the presidency, and he had no idea why he got it. That was the only thing I agreed with him on. What has hurt him is his inability to conclude the Russo-Ukraine conflict, an act which could have made him a frontrunner for the award. Vladimir Putin, aware of his fascination for the Nobel, has been playing him along. Trump realized this after considerable time and decided to rearm Ukraine through NATO, and also consider secondary sanctions on Russia. Advertisement He has currently stopped talking of mediating. If Trumps ego is to be assuaged, then the easiest way is to nominate him for the Nobel peace award. The very mention of his name being forwarded earned Pakistans failed Field Marshal Asim Munir a luncheon at the White House. Islamabads citation stated it is nominating Trump because of his, decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership, in ending the Indo-Pak conflict. For Pakistan, regular announcements of stopping the conflict by Trump are a life-saver. Admitting that it was forced to approach arch-enemy India for a ceasefire is akin to accepting a surrender, which could signal the end of the Pakistan armys control over the country and open doors for the re-emergence of Imran Khan on to the centre stage. The latest to join the bandwagon of pumping Trumps ego was Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli PM, is shrewd and aware of the importance of US support for its survival. Had the US not intervened, Israel would never have been able to achieve even half its objectives in Iran and may have suffered far more damage and destruction than it did. Iran was already signalling its willingness to stand down and terminate the conflict. Trumps announcement came as a life-saver to Israel. In addition, Trump has been the most pro-Israel US president to date. He has provided Israel with the wherewithal to target Palestinians. In March, Trump had announced he is sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job (Gaza). It was Trump who ordered mass bombing of civilians in Yemen as a means of pressurizing the Houthis to stop their attacks on merchant shipping and Israel. To display gratitude for support in Iran and Gaza, Netanyahu nominated Trump for the Nobel and to pump his ego presented him with the nomination letter at a dinner in the White House. He told Trump, I want to express the appreciation and admiration not only of all Israelis, but of the Jewish people, adding, You deserve it. A flattered Trump responded, Coming from you in particular, this is very meaningful. It is interesting that Netanyahu, facing an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for genocide, nominates the individual who provided him with the munitions to carry out the killings. Norway is a signatory of the Rome accords and is mandated to arrest Netanyahu if he lands on their soil, based on the ICC warrant. Hence, will Israels nomination stand ground is a question. However, Netanyahu has managed to flatter Trump and achieved his objective of prolonging the war to continue staying in power. CNN also commented on Trumps fascination by mentioning, the award has become Trumps ultimate fixation, one he says is well deserved for his efforts to end conflicts around the globe. Countries have also understood Trumps weakness and are exploiting it. Trump had received multiple nominations in his earlier tenure as President, including for brokering the Abraham accords but has never been awarded. Hence, he stated, They wont give me a Nobel Peace Prize because they only give it to liberals. The peace prize is determined by a committee of five prominent Norwegians nominated by their parliament, which remains the final arbitrator. The award for this year is expected to be announced on 10 October. For this years award, the committee has already met for the first time in February, and the procedure of determining the awardee is on. There are currently 388 candidates in the fray including 244 individuals and 94 organizations. Trump, if he is to be considered, would only be for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. It is with this aim that he will now be looking at brokering peace in Gaza and between Russia and Ukraine. Netanyahu is in no hurry to end the Gaza conflict as it enables him to remain in power and delay legal proceedings against him. For him, an end to the conflict could also mean an end to his political career. Hence, pushing him will be difficult for Trump. Russia too is displaying no interest in ending the war. Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, needs to quickly get into Trumps good books for direct military aid. This may only happen if he also nominates Trump for the award. It is very rare that a President publicly displays such a fascination. It makes him a global laughing stock exploited by leaders who pump up his ego. But then, this is Trump, from whom anything can be expected. (The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army.) Recently British Prime Minister Keir Starmers Welfare Reform Bill was passed in the House of Commons. Theoretically, passing bills for Starmers Labour Government shouldnt be an issue, for it has 403 out of 650 MPs. But it is, as in British politics, the independent views of an MP (irrespective of the leadership view), matters. Party Whips cannot be issued at all times, as democratic deliberations and dissenting views within a party are considered healthy, and even necessary. A staggering (by Indian standards) 49 Labour Party MPs voted against a bill brought by their own government. This is not surprising as the Centre-Left Labour party is a melange of democratic socialists, social democrats, trade unionists and even hard leftists. It is the same for the main opposition grouping, the Conservative Party, which hosts an array of traditional conservatives, one-nation conservatives, That cherites and even hard-right factions. Sub-factions within the party debate and disagree with each other publicly and it is usually the majority faction within each party that gets to elect the leadership and pass bills. Advertisement The traditions of democracy and its essentialities of debate are afforded externally and internally in British Democracy. Brexit was a classic case that demonstrated various positions amongst the Parliamentarians that cut across party lines. Cohorts included Hard-Brexiteers, Soft-Brexiteers, Remain, Refuseniks, Peoples Vote Faction, Lexit-Eurosceptics, etc., which ensured that the then ruling Conservative leadership could not take its parliamentary majority for granted. Befittingly, while the Labour Party officially voted against Brexit, 32 Labour MPs defied the official position and chose to abstain symbolically in the decisive vote. All this points to the importance of individual opinion and the assertion of the same in British politics. It is not predicated blindly on the Party Line as is effectively man-dated in Indian politics. Advertisement A recent record from the British parliamentary system is worth noting ~ till about a year back, the Conservative Party had ruled for 14 years. The Labour Party had been in the doldrums by losing four General Elections in a row. But more importantly, the Conservative Party went about its own internal churn, dissonance and factionalism whilst it fought Labour externally. Within 14 years of Conservative Party rule (2010-2024), it had five Prime Ministers i.e., David Ca meron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Lizz Truss and Rishi Sunak ~ each had ousted his predecessor within the party. Once ousted from the leadership role, none of the former Prime Ministers were labelled as anti-party, disloyal or as is the wont in the Indian normalcy, even anti-national. Similarly the Labour Party in the same period had its own internal democratic wrangling with leadership changes from Harriet Harman, Ed Miliband, Jeremy Corbyn to finally Keir Starmer. Despite all the political upheaval and reversal of fortunes in British Politics, there are hardly any instances of Parliamentarians jumping partisan ships across the ideological divide. Indeed there could be odd instances of Conservative parliamentarian joining a Reform UK platform (still ideologically compatible) or a Labour parliamentarian joining a New Left Group (same side of the fence) ~ but for over 650 MPs, there have been only two MPs i.e. Dan Poulter and Natalie Elphicke, who moved from one principal party i.e. the Conservative to the ideological opposite, Labour in nearly two years. Contrast this with Indian politics where in the last General Election, 28 per cent of the candidates (37 members) from the ruling/winning party that claims to be the party with a difference were defectors from the principal opposition party. One in four members of the ruling party had once opposed the government that they are now part of, tooth and nail. To talk about ideology in Indian politics is absurd as it is solely about winnability ~ the individuals who made the most vile, personalised, and hateful aspersions against an individual/ party can then merrily be singing hosannas to the same individual/party. Across the Indian political system (in all national and regional parties), internal democracy is a joke not is not even cracked for fear of eliciting laughs. Challenging the leadership or its policies automatically leads to questioning ones inte grity as a loyal soldier of the party. If it is dynastic insistences in some parties, then it is the dictatorial reign by one or two individuals who remain beyond questioning in the other. The wor lds largest demo cracy is in the throes of repressive fear, intolerance and absolutism that brooks no individual opinion, except the blind subscribing of the official party/ leadership line. Without getting into the merits or the plausible intent of adopting a contrarian position by the said individuals, Indian democracy has witnessed a slew of ousters or telling discomfort against individuals who did not toe the official line blindly. If Shashi Tharoor is becoming persona non grata and a hot potato for the Congress to handle for his recent actions and statements, a firebrand MLA T Raja Singh (with over 100 criminal cases) has had to resign from the BJP for his views on the Central Partys choice of State leader (and not for offensive, provocative or communal comments that he has made in heaps). Recently, three party MLAs of the Samajwadi Party were expelled for asserting their individual choice and therefore for the betrayal of the party ideology. A Tej Pratap Yadav who had made enough gaffes and controversial remarks earlier was expelled by his family party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, for posting his supposed long-term relationship on social media that apparently violated party values. The AAP phenomenon which rode on the wave of anti corruption and change in Indian politics has had its own share of expulsions, exoduses and sidelining of those who dare question its leadership. The seemingly undecided sacking and reinstatement of nephew Akash Anand by the BSP supremo, Mayawati, is a saga of political dogmatism of its own. The essential storyline remains unchanged whether it is DMK, BJD, JMM, NCP or any other national or regional party. There is a shrinking space for internal expression that trips meritocracy, diversity of opinions and maturity in Indian politics. It is, as the now increasingly and sadly ridiculed Nobel laureate Amartya Sen presciently said, if you make discussion fearful, you are not going to get a democracy, no matter how you count the votes. Indian politics may be based on the British Westminster style of political structuring but it is a far cry from its prevailing spirits. For all its ills in the past and present, British politics have evolved to a stage where a Conservative party (with a decidedly more colonial past with the likes of Winston Churchill in its ranks) could make space for a Mayor of London with a name like Sadiq Khan, and a Prime Minister called Rishi Sunak. Lack of inclusive politics, hence polarisation, is a natural outcome of the lack of questioning or internal democracy In India, as there really is no party with a difference. The writer is Lt Gen PVSM, AVSM (Retd), and former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry Paank, the Baloch National Movements human rights wing, expressed concern over the ongoing wave of enforced disappearances taking place across Balochistan and Sindh. It gave a call for the immediate release of all the disappeared persons. Sharing the details on X, Paank mentioned the four individuals who were forcibly disappeared, all of whom came from various walks of life. PAANK strongly condemns the ongoing wave of enforced disappearances across Balochistan and Sindh. The below four individuals were forcibly abducted by Pakistani security forces: Muhammad Hussain, a farmer from Naseerabad, was taken from his home on July 5, 2025. Zahid Ali, a rickshaw driver from Karachis Lyari area, was abducted on July 17, 2025. Mesho, from Dera Bugti, was forcibly disappeared in broad daylight on July 19, 2025. Paneeri Bugti, a farmer from Pat Feeder, was abducted on June 27, 2025, after being summoned to Sui Military Camp. Paank called these actions a clear case of violations of human rights and international law and denounced the systematic campaign of abductions, alongside demanding the immediate release of all disappeared persons. Advertisement Balochistan has been the focus of persistent human rights concerns for decades. The region has faced cycles of violence involving separatist movements, heavy military presence, enforced disappearances, and economic marginalisation. These issues have drawn attention from human rights organisations, journalists, and international observers. Earlier this month, Amnesty International condemned the vicious cycle of violence in Balochistan, from extrajudicial killings to abductions. Advertisement In a post on X, earlier in July, it said, Pakistani authorities must stop weaponising laws to unlawfully detain peaceful Baloch activists and immediately release all activists, including Gulzar and Mahrang Baloch, who have been detained for more than three months. Authorities should also urgently carry out independent, transparent and thorough investigations into the allegations of enforced disappearance and extrajudicial executions to bring to justice those suspected of responsibility through fair trials. Human rights groups have long accused Pakistani authorities of abducting civilians in Balochistan without due process, using enforced disappearances to suppress dissent and intimidate communities in restive areas. Pakistani authorities routinely deny these allegations, but civil society continues to condemn the security forces role in systematic abductions targeting students, political workers, and residents. Leading Baloch human rights group, Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has raised its voice over the horrific honour killing of Bano Baloch and her husband, Ehsan, and brought to light several other incidents of human rights violations which aim at distorting Baloch culture. In a post on X, BYC said, The horrific murder of Bano Baloch and her husband, Ehsan, is a deep and permanent scar on the conscience of Balochistan. No self-respecting society can condone such brutal and inhumane acts. In a region where women already endure systemic repression and violence, this tragedy highlights how tribal and feudal forces, often empowered and shielded by the state, continue to act with impunity. These acts are not isolated but symptoms of a broader culture of complicity and silence. It highlighted that honour killings have no place in Baloch culture. Advertisement Our traditions are rooted in the dignity, equality, and freedom of women. The leadership and resilience of Baloch women in political and social movements throughout our history are living proof of this legacy. BYC reiterated that, since its inception, it has taken a firm and unequivocal stance against all forms of gender-based violence and discrimination and rejected any attempts to justify such crimes under the guise of tradition or culture. It gave a call to the Baloch society to stand united against the regressive forces in every political, social, and cultural arena. The state bears a significant share of the responsibility. From the murder of Najma in Awaran to the enforced disappearance of Mahjabeen, and the reappointment of figures like Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, who, only last year, was implicated in acts of extreme violence against women, the pattern is clear: the state either commits or protects those who commit such crimes. The BYC compared the honour-killers to the state-backed death squads. They are tools of repression, intent on distorting Baloch culture and undermining our national dignity. Advertisement The BYC gave a call to the Baloch society to stand up for its daughters, sisters, and wives, not as dependents, but as equal partners in the struggle for justice and freedom. The murder of Bano must not be forgotten. It must ignite a national awakening. We demand that the state immediately arrest the perpetrators and ensure they receive the harshest punishment permitted under the law. The protection of such criminals, often extended by the state, must be brought to an end. Only through justice can we begin to heal and ensure that such atrocities are never repeated, the BYC said. On the morning of July 15, 2025, President Xi Jinping met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping asked Sergei Lavrov to convey his cordial greetings to President Vladimir Putin. Xi Jinping stressed the need for both sides to implement the important understandings reached between the two presidents, deepen the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, strengthen mutual support in multilateral fora, safeguard their development and security interests, promote solidarity among Global South countries, and work together to make the international order more just and equitable. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which was jointly established by China and Russia, is a comprehensive regional cooperation organization that holds significant importance for maintaining peace, stability and development on the Eurasian continent. Both sides should support each other, steer the development course of the SCO, continuously inject new momentum, and make this strategic platform more substantive and stronger. Sergei Lavrov conveyed President Vladimir Putin's sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping, stating that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has achieved in-depth development. Russia attaches great importance to its relations with China and looks forward to maintaining high-level exchanges with China in this important year marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, keeping communication and coordination in international and regional affairs, and promoting world and regional peace and stability. Russia will actively support China's presidency and work together to ensure the complete success of the SCO summit in Tianjin. Wang Yi attended the meeting. JERUSALEM, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Israeli scientists have developed a painless wearable device that monitors blood sugar and adjusts diabetes medication in real time, the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion) said Tuesday in a statement. The breakthrough, made with collaboration between Technion and Sun Yat-sen University, a public university in China's Guangzhou, and published in Nature Communications, uses microneedles to track glucose and metformin drug levels under the skin, according to the statement. Unlike finger-prick tests, the patch connects to a smartphone app that analyzes data and provides personalized treatment alerts. Testing showed it matches traditional methods' accuracy while detecting previously missed fluctuations. The system also models how factors like age and weight affect drug response, read the statement. Researchers highlight the new technology's potential to prevent dangerous complications like lactic acidosis by optimizing doses. Initial trials on diabetic mice proved successful, with plans to adapt the technology for heart disease and epilepsy management, read the statement. 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. The world of cryptocurrency hinges on the promise of decentralisation. Yet, what cryptos such as Bitcoin and Ethereum provide is the unofficial promise of deregulation. As Indian authorities walk this tightrope, investor security becomes a major aspect of trading in cryptocurrencies and tokens. As the world moves toward increased acceptance of crypto and blockchain technologythanks to the likes of Donald Trump and Elon Musk holding some sway over the Western economy and industryIndian lawmakers are determined not to be left behind. Take the case of the latest $44 million hack of Indian crypto exchange CoinDCX. Or the massive $234.9 million WazirX hack a year ago that it even got itself a Wikipedia pagethese point to the need for effective laws to be laid out for cryptocurrency, its trade, and regulation, all the while preserving the basic tenets of blockchain technology. In line with this, the Ministry of Finance is set to publish a discussion paper on Virtual Digital Assets to answer this increasing call to bring new laws to the fore in governing cryptos. However, this means towing the fine line between over-regulation and effective lawmaking. Industry players introduce draft crypto bill In an industry first, ahead of the Centre looking to draft new guidelines, Hashed Emergent and Black Dot Public Policy Advisorstwo active members in the crypto policy spacehave joined forces to publish a model law for crypto in India. They call it the COINS Act 2025. The Crypto-systems Oversight, Innovation and Strategy (COINS) Act is the Indian industrys first-ever push for some semblance of law to govern everything crypto. However, what sets it apart is that it moves away from the regulation-centric frameworksfrowned upon in the crypto communitythat most policymakers have advocated so far. MORE | Unwelcome regulations, high taxes push more Indians to offshore crypto exchanges Borrowing from the US, EU, and Singapore-enacted best practices, Hashed Emergent says that the COINS Act is intended to be introduced as a stand-alone Act governing all crypto-asset activities in India from a rights-first perspective. The team dropped this draft Act on July 21, a day after the CoinDCX breach went public and a week after the first anniversary of the WazirX fiasco. COINS Act is absolutely relevant, but will not be invoked since the CoinDCX breach reportedly hit only company-held funds and not userassets, said Arvind Alexander, one of the contributors to the COINS Act. However, it would be very relevant and valuable in the WazirX hack, which happened exactly one year back, where user assets were compromised, added Alexander, who serves as a legal counsel for Hashed Emergent. The COINS Act envisages a riskbased custody framework and would mandate robust segregation of user assets, mandatory proofofreserves disclosures, and enforceable operational standards for centralised exchanges, which will greatly reduce singlepoint failure risks when it comes to user assets, he told THE WEEK. To explain this, Alexander told us to imagine your crypto holdings as money in a bank vault system. The COINS Act would force exchanges to keep your funds in separate, insured vaults, and regularly prove on-chain that they actually hold those assets, and follow strict safety playbooks. That way, even if a companys own funds are hacked, your crypto stays locked up and protected, he explained. Anuradha Chowdhary, the founder and CEO of ZeroTo3 Collective, a law firm focused on new technologies and startups, welcomed the idea. The COINS Act deals with custody and non-custody assets, which is the need of the hour, she added. Regulatory clarity is important in crypto. And there is always confusion about how regulations would apply when a crypto business or a virtual asset service provider has custody of assets versus when they do not have custody of assets, said Chowdhary. Traditional regulations that have been around for ages have largely dealt with custody. But financial regulations need to evolve with evolving technology, she stressed. Custody of assets and crypto exchanges These regulations affect Indian crypto exchanges the most. THE WEEK spoke to Avinash Sekhar, the CEO of Pi42a derivatives exchange for crypto in Indian currency. Theoretically, such regulations are good. But I see some challenges from a regulatory point of view, said Sekhar, who has been an active industry player since 2017. Today, we propose the COINS Act, a rights-first model law for Indias crypto challenges published by Hashed Emergent & Black Dot Policy Advisors. The Crypto-Systems Oversight, Innovation and Strategy (COINS) Act is a draft law that envisions a pro-innovation crypto regulatory pic.twitter.com/xmEw0lJcn4 Hashed Emergent (@HashedEM) July 21, 2025 In our exchange (Pi42), we dont take custody of the customers cryptocurrency because we only deal with INR, Sekhar explained. However, it is a great idea to have non-custody centralised exchanges with a centralised custodian of crypto assets separately, he added. It is a very good idea because it reduces the risk from a customers point of view. It reduces the risk of hacking. Larger exchanges in the world right now, like Binance, are also moving in this direction. But Sekhar admits that this is not easy when it comes to decentralised exchanges. A lot of thinking needs to go into it, he said. It needs to be explored as to how decentralised exchanges will comply with regulations, especially in the AML (Anti-Money Laundering), KYC (Know Your Customer), and taxation part. However, industry players agree on the move to draft new regulations for crypto in the market. Be it food, aviation, medicine anything that has an impact on human existence needs regulation, because it is intended to protect consumers. Of course, there will have to be some level of balance between decentralisation and centralisation as far as crypto regulation is concerned, explained ZeroTo3 founder Anuradha Chowdhary. The COINS Act, drafted by Hashed Emergent and Black Dot Public Policy Advisors, and the upcoming Virtual Digital Assets discussion paper by the Ministry of Finance are a step in the right direction as the industry awaits clearer guidelines on crypto exchanges, taxation, custody, and asset protection and privacy. "No UPI, only cash", cry the freshly painted boards outside kirana shops, vegetable marts, milk booths, small tea shops and mutton stalls in Bengaluru. The unregistered small traders in Bengaluru have planned a massive protest on July 25, demanding the withdrawal of the GST notices issued to them by the Commercial Taxes Department. The traders are upset with the government imposing not only huge amounts as tax that run into crores, but also notices for arrears from the last four years (from 2021). The GST shocker has led to a political slugfest between the Congress government in the state and the Opposition BJP. The 2017 GST rules mandate compulsory registration of traders with an annual turnover exceeding 40 lakh for goods and 20 lakh for services. However, the traders complained that they had received notices claiming huge amounts based on the total UPI (unified payments interface) transactions rather than the actual turnover from their business. "The bakery, condiments, and small shops have also received GST notices. The government has suddenly woken up and is demanding arrears for the last four years. Many shop owners are exempt from GST but are still issued notices based on UPI transactions, which do not accurately reflect only the income generated through business. We will stop selling essential commodities like milk on July 25," said Ravi Shetty Byndoor, president of the Karnataka Karmika Parishat. MORE | No escape from GST even if you switch from UPI to cash: Karnataka tax body warns Bengalurus petty street vendors The Commercial Tax Department issued a statement on July 11 to educate traders after they stopped UPI payments due to tax fears. The department stated that only 98,915 taxpayers had registered themselves and were paying taxes under the composition scheme. Any person whose annual turnover was less than 1.5 crore could opt for the composition tax scheme after obtaining GST registration and pay SGST at 0.5 per cent and CGST at 0.5 per cent. However, the composition tax scheme would not be applicable on the turnover made without obtaining the registration, it added. The department also cautioned that as per section 22 of the Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, every person who carried on a business activity and received payment by way of cash, UPI, POS Machine, Bank Payments or by any other means, exceeding the threshold had to register for GST and department would recover the applicable taxes from traders who have received consideration in any form including cash. Meanwhile, the ruling Congress has blamed the BJP-led government at the Centre for taxing small traders and has started a 'Know GST' campaign to educate small traders in the state. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured the traders that he would raise the issue before the GST council meeting and asked the Commercial Tax department to reach out to the aggrieved traders. The department officials claimed that they were not tax notices, but a communication to get eligible traders to register for GST. The final notices will be issued after verification, they claimed. The department has also set up a helpline at 1800 425 6300 to assist traders in filing complaints of harassment or bribery demands related to tax notices. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the BJP was only trying to shift the blame on the state government, when the notices are being issued as per the Centre's GST rules. "The Centre has fixed a turnover limit of 40 lakh for GST registrations, and the state government follows the mandate. The GST office has issued notices to about 14,000 traders, including tender coconut, flower, and vegetable vendors. Our leader, Rahul Gandhi, had opposed the GST in the past. The BJP must withdraw the GST notices issued to small traders. The pressure to collect GST is from the Centre. We will write to the Centre. Our state is one of the highest contributors to the GST pool. But we do not want the small and medium businesses to get affected," said Shivakumar. Former chief minister and Haveri MP Basavaraj Bommai demanded that the CM intervene immediately to provide relief to small traders. "The State Commercial Tax Department has aggressively targeted small and micro traders, imposing several years of tax dues along with interest and other charges. This has placed a heavy burden on street-side vendors and pushed them to the brink of shutting down their businesses, which is completely unacceptable," said Bommai, adding that the small traders be given concessions on the lines of assistance extended to taxpayers under the 'Karasamadhana' Scheme. "The state treasury is under pressure due to financial constraints and a shortfall in tax collections during the first quarter of this fiscal year. The Commercial Tax department has taken this harsh step following instructions from the top," mocked Bommai. BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra alleged that the Siddaramaiah government was finding it difficult to fund the guarantee schemes, and hence the CM had directed the commercial tax department to enhance GST tax collection. Cheng Kai, chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, Zhou Changkui, secretary of the Communist Party of China leading group of the federation and chairperson of the board of executive directors of the federation, and Li Dongmei, vice chairperson of the federation, attend a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on the achievements in developing the cause of people with disabilities during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), in Beijing, capital of China, July 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The participation rate of persons with disabilities in China's basic medical insurance has remained above 95 percent, according to official data. Meanwhile, over 90 percent of people with disabilities in China are covered by basic old-age insurance for both urban and rural residents, Cheng Kai, chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, told a press conference on Tuesday. Cheng Kai, chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, Zhou Changkui, secretary of the Communist Party of China leading group of the federation and chairperson of the board of executive directors of the federation, and Li Dongmei, vice chairperson of the federation, attend a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on the achievements in developing the cause of people with disabilities during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), in Beijing, capital of China, July 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua) Historic. Landmark. Fantastic. Good for all. Transformative. There was no shortage of superlatives when India and the United Kingdom announced they had reached a free trade agreement, back on May 6 this year. This week, once the Union cabinet ratifies it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will fly to London to sign the FTA into effect, along with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. But at least one of those terms, the one that went good for all, used by UK secretary of state for international trade Nigel Huddleston, may just be a bit off the mark, as it turns out. There has been an uproar in the British isles over some of the provisions, especially the one that now exempts Indian workers from paying insurance. Meanwhile, in New Delhi, there is worry over how giving British entities access to Indian government contracts will play out when it comes to the countrys small businesses. Initially, there was jubilation when the deal was announced. The agreement is notably comprehensive, covering tariff reductions on 99 per cent of Indias exports to the UK (and) will benefit sectors like textile, leather, engineering goods, toys, electric vehicles and other manufactured products, said Anurag Sehgal, principal, Price Waterhouse & Co LLP, adding, Also, Indian consumers can now access UK products like whisky, cars and some food items. But then came grumblings ringing loud and clear. In Britain, it primarily stemmed from the provision which exempts Indians working in the UK for up to three years not needing to pay for insurance. While there is a reciprocal relaxation for Brits coming to work in India, the consternation was expressed obviously in the UK, considering that it would make 20,000 Indians or so on short-term work visas more attractive for employment compared to native Britons, since the employer would not need to pay the insurance tax, which incidentally was just raised this year. It did not help that a boastful Indian government statement said the concession was an unprecedented achievement and that it would make Indians in the UK more competitive, leading to opposition Conservatives being at the forefront of raising the issue. The Labour governments business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said that the tax outgo due to this was less than a 10th of the additional one billion in additional tax revenue the FTA was expected to bring. And whats the big deal, with The UK already has a similar double contribution convention with more than 50 countries, including the US and Canada. But back here in India, there is equal, if not more, concern, over the opening up of government procurement to British entities. Many worry this would impact Indian contractors and traders in the MSME sector. It has also been pointed out that Indian businesses would not get a similar access to the UKs procurement markets. In the end, any deal is a give-and-take India wanted more visas, which it did not get. The UK wanted more access for legal, financial and digital services, which they did not get. India may still have a concern on rule of origin which could help non-UK made goods entering the country at lower duties, while UK has concern over Indias sustainability practices. In the end, both nations decided to go forward with what they have got instead of waiting further, especially considering the uncertainty all over the world over trade, what with Donald Trumps tariff tantrums. With the extensive scope of the FTA, it is anticipated to play out interestingly for both the countries. Specifically, for India, where this comprehensive FTA is expected to be the template for future trade deals, particularly the upcoming one with the EU, said Sehgal. Indias gaming industry has been on exponential growth in the last few years, driven by the increased internet penetration and technological advancements. India is the second-largest gaming market in the world and global gaming companies are keen to tap this market. However, off late the gaming industry is undergoing a major shift and AI is reshaping development processes, and player behaviour is evolving faster than ever. Due to this, the gaming industry is looking for hiring specialised talent. Today, the gaming industry has transcended traditional boundaries to become a powerhouse of innovation, where immersive storytelling, cutting-edge technology, and behavioural science fuse to create compelling digital universes. As per Grant Thornton Bharat, todays market leaders are no longer just hiring developers, they are assembling elite teams of specialists: behavioural architects, data visionaries, narrative strategists, and software artisans. This specialised expertise helps create games that deeply engage players, open up new ways to earn revenue, and grow smoothly through ongoing updates and live services. In an arena defined by relentless competition and rapid evolution, success hinges on cultivating multidisciplinary talent that transforms games into unforgettable, profitable experiences and drives exponential business growth. Games today arent just played they are experienced, felt, and lived. Crafting these experiences demands minds that can merge code with creativity, and psychology with pixels said Ananay Jain, Partner and Media Industry Leader, Grant Thornton Bharat. The demand for specialised talent is growing among gaming companies. Take for instance, gaming company Claw King, which is now gradually aiming at hiring specialised talent. Traditional approaches no longer cut it, and staying relevant means building with precision. We merge arcade nostalgia with mobile-first innovation, this translates to hiring highly specialised talent from gameplay engineers and back-end developers to experts in monetisation, gamification, and player analytics. Deep domain expertise helps us adapt faster, build smarter, and deliver differentiated experiences in a market where user retention and innovation are everything, remarked Trilok Potluri, Co-founder and CEO, ClawKing. Experts point out that Indias online gaming industry is evolving rapidly. Skills like product-oriented coding, data fluency, and cross-functional collaboration are expected to become critical. Technical depth remains essential, but candidates must apply data, understand user behaviour, and work in agile, collaborative teams. Generative AI is reshaping game development, making proficiency in these tools a vital new skill. Beyond technical prowess, a holistic understanding of the business is paramount, Nitin Nahata, Group CHRO, Gameskraft told THE WEEK. He added that they have observed that those candidates couple technical skills with curiosity, adaptability, and an ownership mindset grow fastest. We consciously choose not to reduce talent evaluation to just passion for gaming what matters more is flair, curiosity, and intent. Engineers begin to ask 'why before 'how' that shift turns coders into creators, said Nitin Nahata, Group CHRO, Gameskraft. Interestingly, the online gaming industry has grown into a dynamic ecosystem where success is no longer defined solely by technical development, but by the ability to deeply engage diverse audiences. Companies are increasingly hiring specialized talent and not just game developers and AI engineers, but also UI/UX designers, behavioral analysts, cyber security experts, content creators, and community engagement strategists. These professionals help create immersive experiences that tap into hidden potential, connect with a wider demographic, and ensure better outreach and sustained user interest, remarked Shankar Aggarwal, President, SOGF (SkillHub Online Games Federation). The SOGF is urging gaming companies to adopt hiring strategies that boost both user engagement and youth skill development. This approach can transform gaming into a platform for cognitive growth and meaningful digital participation. Indian gaming companies are actively putting efforts to increase their market share in the domestic gaming segment. These companies are shifting their efforts towards creating high-quality games to attract local talent. Along with the typical developer hirings, companies are seeking talent that would help them come up with new concepts and high-quality character designs. Following are some creative roles that are currently trending in this industry: Technical artist, Game Designer, 3D Animator, 3D Character Artist, Concept Artist, Creative Strategist etc, pointed out Aditya Narayan Mishra the MD and CEO of CIEL HR. More than a month after it made an emergency landing at the international airport in Thiruvananthapuram, a British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning fighter jet flew to Darwin in Australia. The jet took off at 10.50 am on Tuesday. "A UK F-35B aircraft, which landed following an emergency diversion on June 14, departed today from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. A UK engineering team, deployed since July 06 completed the repairs and safety checks, allowing the aircraft to resume active service," a British High Commission spokesperson said. The spokesperson said the UK remains very grateful for the support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams throughout the repair and recovery process. "We look forward to continuing to strengthen our defence partnership with India," the statement said. ALSO READ: Farewell MiG-21: Tracing the fighter jet's glory days in war to becoming 'flying coffin' The jet was brought out of the hangar and kept at the airport bay on Monday. Worth over $100 million, the fifth-generation jet, known to be the world's most advanced fighters, remained grounded at the international airport since June 14 after it developed a technical snag. The aircraft, which took off from HMS Prince of Wales on 14 June, was unable to return to the carrier due to adverse weather conditions. Prioritising safety, it diverted to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, where it landed safely. Subsequently, the aircraft developed an engineering issue whilst on the ground, which temporarily delayed its return to the Carrier Strike Group. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, the first supersonic fighter aircraft of India, which has been part of every major military conflict that the country has seen in the past 60 years, will have its last flight on September 19. On that day, No. 23 Squadron'Panthers'of the Indian Air Force, which is the last unit operating the Russian-made MiG-21, will formally bid goodbye to the aircraft. Flypasts and static displays will be part of the MiG-21 farewell, in which senior IAF officials will be in attendance. The indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (Mk1A) is set to replace the legacy MiG-21 fighters, which have been dominating the Indian skies for over six decades. Days of glory The acquisition of MiG-21 supersonic fighter jets in 1963 had given India a combat edge in the 1960s and 70s. While the aircraft has been in service in nearly 60 countries, India has been its largest operator. Over the years, India had as many as 1,200 MiG-21s of different variants. A mainstay of the AIF through decades, the aircraft has seen combat action in the 1965 India-Pakistan War, Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, the Kargil war in 1999 and Operation Swift Retort in 2019. The aircraft was India's most advanced fighter in the 1971 war, shooting down at least nine Pakistan Air Force jets. ALSO READ: 'Milestone moment for Indian Army': How newly-arrived AH-64E Apache helicopters boost India's war-fighting capabilities "No other fighter has been with the Indian Air Force for as long as the MiG-21. It has been a part of nearly every military operation since 1965, including Op Sindoor. For many Indian fighter pilots, this aircraft has been a defining part of their careers. Its retirement will be a deeply emotional moment," MoneyControl quoted aviation analyst Angad Singh as saying. The phasing out of MiG-21 will bring down IAF's combat strength to 29 squadrons from the formally sanctioned strength of 42, as it currently operates two active squadrons of MiG-21 Bison fighter jets. Fall from grace Despite its days of glory in war, in recent years, the fighter jet earned a bad rap as it has been involved in frequent crashes, earning the sobriquets 'flying coffins' and 'the widow-maker'. According to a Hindustan Times report, nearly 400 MiG-21 crashes have been recorded over the years, resulting in the deaths of around 200 pilots and at least 60 civilians on the ground. The aircraft's aging design, maintenance challenges, and quality issues with replacement parts have been cited as some of the reasons for the accidents. Despite these unfortunate events, India continued to operate the MiG-21s mainly due to delays in replacing them with a suitable indigenous like the HAL Tejas or another modern alternative. India was also constrained by the operational requirements for maintaining squadron strength amid evolving security challenges. In what has been hailed as a "milestone moment for Indian Army," the first batch of Apache helicopters for Army Aviation arrived in India on Tuesday. Boeing delivered the AH-64E Apaches choppers as part of a contract to supply six helicopters to the Indian Army. Taking to X, the Army said these state-of-the-art platforms will significantly bolster the operational capabilities of the force. According to defence officials, these AH-64E Apache attack helicopters will be deployed in Jodhpur. Boeing AH-64 Apache is a highly advanced, twin-engine multi-role attack helicopter. The makers of the aircraft, Boeing, describe it as "the worlds most advanced, proven attack helicopter." Apache AH-64E features improved sensors and avionics and is considered to be one of the most advanced multirole combat helicopters in the world, the company notes. ALSO READ: Indian Navy's latest warship Ajay launched: Another shallow water killer to hunt submarines added to India's arsenal The Apache attack helicopter can be equipped with air-to-air missiles such as Stinger, AIM-9 Sidewinder, Mistral and Sidearm, and the advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS) family of guided and unguided 70mm rockets. The AH-64E Apache helicopters can also be equipped with Lockheed Martins joint-air-to-ground missile (JAGM) system. The fighter jet is designed with open systems architecture to support long-term plans to position the platform as a key component of the multi-domain operations (MDO) battlefield, the company says. "Its improved modernised target acquisition designation system provides all-weather target information during day and night. The onboard equipment also provides night vision navigation capability. The upgraded fire control radar also enables the maritime targeting mode for the AH-64E." The induction of these attack helicopters will ensure that the Indian Army can have better coordination and response in high-threat environments with the Indian Air Force, which already operates these. In 2020, Boeing completed delivery of 22 E-model Apaches to the IAF and signed a contract to supply six AH-64Es for the Indian Army. The delivery of the Indian Army's Apaches was scheduled to begin in 2024. A large-scale Indian Air Force exercise is expected to be held on Wednesday and Thursday along the India-Pakistan border. According to media reports, a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued to ensure that no civilian aircraft strays into the airspace during the drills. The exercise is scheduled to take place in Rajasthan near the International Border, is part of the IAFs regular operational readiness drills. It could be between two or three commands of IAF," The Hindu quoted an official as saying. India's Rafale, Sukhoi-30, and Mirage 2000 among other fighter jets are expected to take part in the high intensity drill, which will be led by the South Western Air Command. ALSO READ: How newly-arrived AH-64E Apache helicopters boost India's war-fighting capabilities Meanwhile, Pakistan too has announced closure of selected air traffic routes for two days next week due to unspecified operational reasons. The Pakistan Airports Authority, in a NOTAM said, the "selected routes would remain closed for air traffic on both July 22 and 23 from 5:15 UTC to 8:15 UTC." The selected routes within "Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions are not available from ground level to unlimited altitude due to operational reasons, PAA added. It indicated that the routes will be closed to "all aircraft regardless of altitude due to operational issues, which could include military activity, maintenance, airspace reconfiguration, etc." On Monday night, Indian cinephiles were delighted to see an update of a new Anurag Kashyap film, featuring an unexpected name. The film, titled Bandar (aka 'Monkey in a Cage'), headlined by Bobby Deol, will be screened in the Special Presentation category in the upcoming edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). While no plot details have been revealed yet, the makers teased that the film is based on true events. Bobby Deol shared a still from the film on his Instagram page with the caption, "The story that should not have been told... But is the Offical Selection at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival 2025. Our film inspired from true events is premiering at #tiff50." Written by Abhishek Banerjee and Sudip Sharma, who have collaborated on Paatal Lok, the film has an interesting array of cast members such as Sanya Malhotra, Kannada actor Raj B Shetty, Malayalam actor Joju George, and Saba Azad, among others. Interestingly, one of the names tagged by Deol is that of Malayalam actor Indrajith Sukumaran, hinting at his presence in the film. (Update: The actor has confirmed his involvement by sharing the poster on his Insta handle.) Indrajith, who is the brother of Prithviraj Sukumaran, has appeared in the latter's directorial debut Lucifer as the character Govardhan and has to his credit critically acclaimed performances in Malayalam films such as City of God, Ee Adutha Kaalathu and Left Right Left. Actor-producer Nikhil Dwivedi is producing Bandar under the banner Saffron Magicworks, which also produced Vikramaditya Motwane's last film CTRL, starring Ananya Panday. The thought of Bobby Deol teaming up with Anurag Kashyap has stirred up a significant amount of chatter and excitement on social media, considering how the former has been lately seen in serious, performance-oriented roles in films such as Class of '83, Love Hostel and Animal. Kashyap also has another crime film slated for release this year, Nishaanchi, backed by Amazon MGM Studios. Even more exciting is the announcement that the film is going to theatres, with a theatrical release on September 19, 2025. Nishaanchi revolves around two brothers whose lives are dictated by the varied paths they chose. In his official statement, Kashyap said: "Nishaanchi is a story full of raw human emotions, love, lust, power, crime and punishment, betrayal, redemption and the consequences of it all. I have been extremely fortunate to find a bunch of good people and superb actors and my most beautiful crew to tell this story in the best possible way that I would have wanted." The film is headlined by newcomer Aaishvary Thackeray, who began as an assistant director in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Bajirao Mastani. Ajay Rai and Ranjan Singh are bankrolling the film under the banner of Jar Pictures jointly with Flip Films. Aaishvary Thackeray's co-stars include Vedika Pinto, Monika Panwar, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Kumud Mishra in pivotal roles. For decades, Mumbais skyline has been punctuated by more than just high-rises and the Arabian Seaits also been dominated by pigeons. These ubiquitous birds, often seen fluttering around building windows, balconies, and public chowks, have recently come under civic scrutiny as concerns mount over the health and environmental hazards they pose. On July 17, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued a fresh advisory warning residents against feeding pigeons in public spaces. The advisory was part of a renewed drive to curb the pigeon population and minimise the risk of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP)a serious lung condition increasingly linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings. Doctors across the city, particularly pulmonologists, have raised the alarm about a surge in cases of HP, colloquially referred to as "pigeon lung." Were seeing patients, especially the elderly, develop chronic respiratory symptoms that stem from bird droppings, particularly pigeons, says Dr Ramesh Shah, family physician based in Mumbai. The symptoms mimic those of tuberculosispersistent cough, breathlessness, and fatigue. Building societies have reported clogged drainage pipes, damaged AC units, and constant messes on balconies and parapets due to pigeon nesting. Weve tried everythingfrom netting to spikesbut these birds just keep coming back, says Tina Sachdev, a housing society secretary in Prabhadevi. At kabutarkhanas like the ones in Dadar, Bhuleshwar, and Kalbadevi, daily feeding rituals are part of local tradition. But the civic body is now addressing a growing urban hygiene crisis and an order has been passed to close down all the kabutarkhanas in the city. In a significant move, the BMC is now actively enforcing Section 244 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, which penalises feeding of pigeons in unauthorised public areas. "Pigeons can lead to various health problems primarily due to the diseases they carry and the droppings they produce. Their droppings can harbor pathogens which can cause respiratory issues and gastrointestinal infections in humans. Prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings, especially in enclosed spaces, can result in allergic reactions and conditions like pigeon breeder's lung, a type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis," says Dr Samir Garde, Director of Department of Pulmonology and Lung Transplant, Gleneagles Hospital, Parel. "Additionally, pigeons can contribute to unsanitary conditions, attracting other pests like rodents, which can further complicate health risks," he adds. To address these issues, experts suggest that comprehensive management strategies should be implemented. First, public education campaigns about the risks associated with feeding pigeons and the importance of maintaining clean environments can be beneficial. Regular cleaning and maintenance of public spaces, especially where pigeons congregate, can help minimise health risks. Animal welfare groups have pushed back, stating that rather than penalising citizens, the BMC should invest in population control methods such as pigeon birth control pills. As Mumbai continues to grapple with flooding, crumbling infrastructure, and overcrowding, pigeons, which were once a symbol of peace, are now seen as a nuisance. For now, the city waits to see whether this crackdown takes flightor ends up as just another advisory. The Anti-Terror Squad of the Mumbai police moved the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court's order acquitting all accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case on Tuesday. In an unprecedented development, the High Court acquitted all 12 accused in the case, including five on death row, on Monday. Appearing for Maharashtra, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned the matter before a bench led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and sought urgent listing of the matter. "It is a serious matter. SLP is ready. Please list it tomorrow. There is urgency," the solicitor general said. The CJI reportedly has agreed to hear the matter on July 24. The Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all 12 held in connection with the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case. A special bench of the court comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak acquitted all the accused in the case, including those on death row, citing lack of evidence against the accused. 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 bench noted the prosecution witnesses were unreliable and the investigators failed to identify the type of explosives used for the blast. The bench also discredited the confession statements of the accused, citing evidence of custodial torture. "It is beyond the realm of reasonable imagination that the sequence of names mentioned in two separate confessional statements would be exactly the same. While it is possible that the names of co-accused individuals may appear in multiple confessions, the precise order in which these names are listed should naturally vary from one statement to another, Bar and Bench reported quoting the verdict. "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. This deceptive closure undermines public trust and falsely reassures society, while in reality, the true threat remains at large," the bench said. A special court in Maharashtra in 2015 convicted 12 accused in the case and five to death. A sepcial bench of High Court reviewing the death sentence overturned the judgment and acquitted the accused. The judgment came 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. Tata Group-owned Air India on Tuesday said it had completed precautionary inspections on the locking mechanism of Fuel Control Switch (FCS) on all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet and claimed no issues were found in those examinations. The inspections were held following a directive from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last week. Air India has completed precautionary inspections on the locking mechanism of Fuel Control Switch (FCS) on all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet. Read more here:https://t.co/o42N9sMzFD Air India (@airindia) July 22, 2025 The aviation regulators direction came after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said in its preliminary report that fuel switches were cut off before the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last month. Boeing 737 aircraft are part of the fleet of Air India Express, Air Indias low cost subsidiary. With this, the two airlines have complied with the directives of the DGCA issued on July 14, 2025, the airline said in a statement, adding that no issues were found with the locking mechanism during the inspections. Air India had started voluntary inspections on 12 July and completed them within the prescribed time limit set by the DGCA. The same has been communicated to the regulator, it said. Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, from Ahmedabad to London crashed into a medical hostel soon after takeoff from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12. All but one of the 242 passengers and 19 others on the ground lost their lives in the mishap. The AAIB, in its preliminary report, claimed that the fuel supply to both engines of the plane was cut off within a gap of one second, causing confusion in the cockpit soon after takeoff. "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," the report said. BAGHDAD, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's state-owned Midland Oil Company signed a deal with the U.S. energy firm Schlumberger to develop the Akkas gas field in Iraq's western province of Anbar, the Iraqi Oil Ministry said on Tuesday. Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani said the project will add an estimated 60 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, bringing the field's total gas production to 100 million, according to a statement by the Iraqi oil ministry. Abdul Ghani said the gas produced will be directed to the Al-Anbar Combined Cycle Power Plant, which is currently under construction by the Ministry of Electricity. Iraq has about 132 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, but it flares much of its gas wealth and relies on gas imports to feed its power plants. The Iraqi government is now working to reduce gas flaring and increase domestic gas development to achieve self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on imports. A Hong Kong-Delhi Air India flight on Tuesday caught fire shortly after landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Although flight AI 315 sustained damage due to the fire, passengers and crew members were evacuated safely. ALSO READ | Ahmedabad plane crash: Air India finds no issues in Boeing 787, 737 fuel control switches The fire is said to have originated in the flight's Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), shortly after it had landed and was parked, and just as passengers had begun disembarking, according to an Air India spokesperson. This led to the APU automatically shutting down. "The aircraft has been grounded for further investigations and the regulator has been duly notified," the spokesperson added. An APU, as the name suggests, is a small (and independent) gas turbine engine typically used to provide supplementary power to the aircraft when it is on the ground, and sometimes in the air as well. ALSO READ | Air India flight scare: Kolkata-bound plane stopped midway through take-off due to 'technical issue' Media reports suggest that the fire has since been doused. This is the third Air India-related incident this week, following the excursion of the AI 2744 off the runway in Mumbai, as well as the sudden stoppage of the AI 2403 midway through take-off from Delhiboth of which took place on July 21. Air India has received nine show cause notices over the last six months, junior civil aviation minister Murlidhar Mohol told lawmakers on Monday, amid heightened scrutiny of the airline in the aftermath of the Ahmedabad-London AI 171 crash that killed 260 people, as well as various smaller incidents that took place later on, stemming from technical issues. The notices were related to five safety violations, Mohol added, without giving any details on the violations, a PTI report said. Air India has completed precautionary inspections on the locking mechanism of Fuel Control Switch (FCS) on all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet. Read more here:https://t.co/o42N9sMzFD Air India (@airindia) July 22, 2025 "Enforcement action has been completed in respect of one violation," he said. In that regard, the airline stated in an X post on Tuesday that it had completed DGCA-mandated precautionary inspections into the locking mechanism of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) on all Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft in its fleet and claimed no issues were found in those examinations. These precautionary inspections were held following the Aircraft Accident Investigation Buraeu (AAIB) preliminary report, which had cited an issue with the now-crashed flight's FCS as the reason for the June 12 crash. I will retire at the right time, August 2027, subject to divine intervention, Jagdeep Dhankhar said during an event in Jawaharlal Nehru University on July 10. The interventiondivine or notcame within less than two weeks. Dhankhars sudden resignation stunned the political class. There have been two firsts in Dhankhars eventful three-year tenure. He was the first Vice President (VP) against whom the opposition brought a no-trust motion. Secondly, he also became the first VP to resign midterm. He cited health reasons. The other two earlier resignationsV.V. Giri and Bhairon Singh Shekhawatwere made when the then VPs contested the presidential polls. His resignation at the onset of the monsoon session may act as a challenge for the government, as the relations between the opposition and the ruling benches have been tense. While, there may pressure to pick up a new vice president, experts argue that there was no time frame to elect one. His duties as chairman of the Rajya Sabha may be held by the vice chairman Harivansh Rai Singh. The Jat leader, Dhankhar, known for his outspoken ways, even during his days as West Bengal governor, had hogged the limelight during his tenure as vice president and chairman of the Rajya Sabha. While, it may take time to know the real reason behind 74-year-old Dhankhar's resignation, two years before his tenure ended, there have been some indications on what transpired in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, the first day of the monsoon session. In Lok Sabha, 145 MPs, including those from the opposition, submitted a motion for the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Verma, in the burnt cash found at his residence. In Rajya Sabha, 63 MPs submitted the motion, however, it was signed only by the Opposition MPs. 63 Rajya Sabha MPs belonging to various opposition parties submitted a notice of motion to the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma under the Judges Inquiry Act, 1968. A similar motion for the removal of Justice Shekhar Yadav had been submitted to the Chairman of Rajya Sabha way back on December 13, 2024, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh had said. Dhankhar admitted the motion and asked the secretary general to initiate the proceedings. However, it was known that only opposition MPs were signatory to the motion, there was a flurry of activity in the ruling party camp. The opposition party leaders had met Dhankhar at around 6pm, and three hours later, Dhankhar announced his resignation through his official handle. Known for being a stickler for rules, the announcement of resignation led to murmurs of speculation. Dhankhar was vocal in his opinion. During a function last year, he had even questioned the governments policies on agriculture that had led to farmers' protest. Also present at scene was Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. A few days later, he did praise Chouhan as a favourite of farmers. Dhankhar came to the BJP after his initiation into politics through the socialist route. It was on Chaudhary Devi Lals insistence that he came to politics. He has been a Supreme Court lawyer. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Jhunjhunu seat in Rajasthan and was even a state MLA. He joined the BJP in 2003 and served as in-charge of the partys legal cell. He was made Bengal governor in 2019, the post on which he served for three years, before being picked as VP candidate. His frequent run-ins with CM Mamata Banerjee always put the two in the headlines. Now, in his retirement to prioritise heath care he was admitted to AIIMS owing to chest pain in March this year. He has been regularly attending functions and travelling since then. All eyes will be on him, if he articulates what led to his sudden resignation. Meanwhile, the Opposition may needle the government on the issue. The political drama may have just begun. Congress has raised suspicion over Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's sudden departure from office on Monday. The key opposition party noted resignation comes at a time when the Rajya Sabha chairman was set to make a key announcement regarding the judiciary on Tuesday Congress secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said two Union ministers -- J.P. Nadda, who is also leader of the house in Rajya Sabha, and Kiren Rijiju--skipped the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting convened by Dhankhar on Monday evening. "Jagdeep Dhankar chaired the Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha at 12.30pm. It was attended by most members, including Leader of the House, J.P. Nadda, and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju. After some discussion, the BAC decided to meet again at 4.30pm. At 4.30pm, the BAC reassembled under the chairmanship of Jagdeep Dhankar. It waited for Nadda and Rijiju to arrive. They never came. Jagdeep Dhankar was not personally informed that the two senior Ministers were not attending," Congress leader Ramesh said in a post on X. Ramesh said the BAC meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon. "Something very serious happened yesterday between 1pm and 4.30pm to account for the deliberate absence of Nadda and Rijiju from the second BAC yesterday," the Rajya Sabha MP noted. In an earlier tweet, Ramesh said he spoke over the phone with the vice president at 7.30pm on Monday, and the resignation was unexpected. "He was a stickler for norms, proprieties, and protocol, which he believed were being consistently disregarded in both his capacities. Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation speaks highly of him," the Congress leader noted. Vice President Dhankhar announced his resignation on Monday, citing health reasons. His resignation comes a day after Parliament convened for the monsoon session. A youth was arrested for the murder of a man in Lucknow's Munshi Pulia. He plotted with his friends to eliminate the victim, Manoj, a coconut water seller, to settle an old score from a decade ago. On May 22, Manoj was critically injured after the group assaulted him with iron rods in the dark of night. He later passed away. So what led to the murder? Manoj had assaulted the primary accused, Sonu's mother, in public. He spent the next ten years looking for the man who insulted his mother. Manoj had an altercation with Sonu's mother and it ended in a physical assault on the woman. He left the area since he knew the consequences of manhandling a lady. Sonu was scarred that the man thrashed his mother in public and started searching for him in and around Lucknow. After a decade, Sonu tracked down Manoj, who he learnt was selling tender coconuts in Lucknow's Munshi Pulia area. Sonu started shadowing Manoj to learn about his whereabouts, routines, and habits. Once he had a plan ready, he started looking for people to help him in the murder plot. His friends Ranjeet, Adil, Salamu, and Rehmat Ali agreed to help in exchange for a lavish booze party, NDTV said in a report. On the night of May 22, the group attacked and fatally injured Manoj. They ambushed the man right after he closed his stall, the news report said. While the crime was caught on camera, the UP Police had no idea who the youths were. Meanwhile, Sonu threw an extravagant party as promised, and the excited group went to the extent of posting the photos of the party on social media. According to the NDTV report, one of the accused men donned the same shirt while committing the crime as during the party. This was the breakthrough the cops needed, and all the accused soon landed in their net. The division of Bengaluru city into five new corporations has stirred controversy, with the BJP alleging it is unscientific and politically motivated, as the Assembly constituencies represented by BJP MLAs have been broken down and are split between two to three corporations. The Karnataka government issued a draft notification on July 19 marking the boundaries of the five municipal corporations proposed under the Greater Bengaluru Authority Act. The draft splits the 712 sq km of the existing civic limits (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) into five smaller corporations based on area, population, population density and projected property tax potential. While BJP has won 16 out of the 28 Assembly constituencies in Bengaluru Urban district, the draft proposes splitting of at least five Assembly seats Mahadevapura, Dasarahalli, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Padmanabha Nagar and Yeshwantpur. For instance, Padmanabha Nagar, a constituency held by LOP R. Ashok is now split into Bengaluru South and West corporations. BJP MLA from RR Nagar MLA Munirathna Naidu, whose constituency is divided between three corporations (North, South and West), blamed Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumars political vendetta for the delimitation. It is unscientific, and they (DK Brothers) are avenging D.K. Sureshs defeat in the Lok Sabha polls by splitting my constituency. My voters will be confused and this will delay the BBMP polls too, said Naidu. In the 2015 BBMP (civic) polls, the BJP had won 100 out of 198 wards, while the Congress won 76, JDS 14 and independents 8. The ex-corporators complain that the delimitation of the corporations has created confusion over the civic wards, too and fear that it would not only confuse the voters but also further delay the civic polls, which were last held in 2015. Even as the BJP MLAs are contemplating a legal remedy, the civil society groups have approached the high court questioning the legality of the Greater Bengaluru Governance (GBA) Act notified by the state government on May 14 this year. A PIL filed by Kannada film director T.S. Nagabharana and two others urged the court to declare GBA as unconstitutional. The petitioners argued that the Act was a blatant attempt by the state government to usurp power from local bodies like BBMP and divert resources to itself. It said the Act violated the democratic spirit of the 74th Amendment, which mandates elected local governments. The BBMP elections had not been held since 2015, and the GBG Act was now being used to delay elections further, the PIL said and sought a direction from the court to conduct the polls within three months. A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Joshi has issued notices to the state government, BBMP and the state election commission. The PIL has raised concerns over several sections in the Act (sections 8 to 11, 15, and 316) stating that they erode autonomy of BBMP, sideline elected representatives in favour of bureaucrats and state appointees and give sweeping control to the state government over projects and infrastructure. Sections 14, 18, 21 to 23 give arbitrary powers to the state to reconstitute or dissolve municipalities and redistribute functions, which can lead to delays in elections and subversion of elected governance. The Act also proposes to split the city into corporations based on their revenue. The total projected property tax across the five corporations is 3,427 croreBengaluru Central 659 crore, East 912 crore, North 543 crore, South 733 crore and West 580 crore. Interestingly, the state government has settled for a proposal with a maximum variance of 369 crore between Bengaluru East (IT corridor) and Bengaluru North. While the GBA headed by the chief minister is meant to provide grants to help corporations generating less revenue, the opposition parties fear nepotism leading to neglect of the corporations where the opposition members hold sway. DCM Shivakumar said that BJP was politicising the issue. We will correct if there is a mistake. But we have had detailed discussions with the BJP leaders on GBA and have formed a Joint House Committee, too. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has claimed that US President Donald Trump has played a decisive role in ending the India-Pakistan wars. Trump has repeatedly claimed to have mediated a truce between the two countries after tensions rose after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The white house press secretary told reporters, He has ended wars, like India and Pakistan. He continues to work aggressively to end the war in Russia and Ukraine. He completely obliterated Irans nuclear sites. He has continued to hopefully negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, to end that conflict and release all of the hostages." Just a few days earlier, Trump had claimed that five jets were downed in the India-Pakistan conflict, but he did not say which country was at the receiving end of it. Trump had said, We stopped a lot of wars. And these were serious, India and Pakistan, that were going on. Planes were being shot out of there. I think five jets were shot down, actually. These are two serious nuclear countries, and they were hitting each other." Trump has also claimed that it was the trade deal that ended the conflict, saying, India and Pakistan were going at it, and they were back and forth, and it was getting bigger and bigger, and we got it solved through trade. We said, you guys want to make a trade deal. We're not making a trade deal if you're going to be throwing around weapons, and maybe nuclear weapons, both very powerful nuclear states." Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear to Trump that India had never accepted mediation and that it would not accept any over the phone. Despite Indias refusal to accept, Trump has repeated his claims on many occasions. Meanwhile, Pakistan has thanked Trump for his intervention and even nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize. On May 7, India launched missile strikes on Pakistan, which was codenamed Operation Sindoor. The attack was made in retaliation for the Pahalgam attacks, which took place in April and claimed the lives of 26 civilians. In the four-day conflict, India had shot down several Pakistan airbases, after which an agreement was reached. The surprise resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on the first day of the monsoon session of parliament has caught the political parties, both in the opposition and in the ruling front, off guard. Dhankhar, 74, sent his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu on Monday evening citing medical reasons. He assumed office in August 2022, and his tenure was till 2027. Dhankhar is only the third vice president in the history of India to resign before completing his term, after V.V. Giri and R. Venkataraman. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns from his post "to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice." pic.twitter.com/IoHiN7VGAR ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2025 As the countrys second-highest constitutional post falls vacant, here is a quick look at how India elects its vice president and what happens if the vice president resigns mid-term. The vice president is elected by an electoral college consisting members of both houses of parliament (both elected and nominated members). The election will be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation using single transferable vote, and the voting at such election will be held by secret ballot. As per Article 324 of the Constitution, the Election Commission of India is the authority to conduct elections to the post of the vice president. The commission can issue the calling of an election on or after the 60th day before the expiry of the term of office of the outgoing vice president. Under the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, the election schedule should be so fixed that the vice president-elect is able to enter upon the office on the day following the expiry of the term of the outgoing vice president. The ECI usually appoints the secretary-general of either house of the parliament in rotation as the returning officer. The RO then invites nominations of candidates. A candidate needs to be nominated by at least 20 MPs as proposers and at least 20 MPs as seconders to stand for the election. After the vote counting, the RO reports the results to the central government and the election commission. Thereafter, the government publishes his or her name in the official gazette. The term of the office of the vice president is five years. What happens if V-P resigns mid-term In case of the death, removal or resignation of the vice president, the deputy chairman of Rajya Sabhacurrently Harivansh Narayan Singhwill perform his function until a fresh election is held. #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 The Constitution does not specify any deadline to conduct a fresh election in case the vice presidents post falls vacant. The new vice president will serve a full five-year term from the date of assuming office, unlike the prime minister or the chief ministers, who can serve only the remaining term of the current Lok Sabha or state assemblies. A video released on Tuesday, in which evangelist and Global Peace Initiative founder Dr K.A. Paul claims that Nimisha Priya's sentence had been cancelled, is doing the rounds on social media. Expressing his gratitude to the Yemeni leadership for their "powerful and prayerful efforts", he explained that the death sentence imposed five years ago had finally been cancelled after days and nights of extensive efforts by both Yemeni and Indian leaders. VIDEO | Global Peace Initiative founder and evangelist Dr KA Paul is in Yemen, engaging with Yemeni officials for the release of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who has been sentenced to death. (Source: Third party) (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC) pic.twitter.com/hyOWybLwRK Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 22, 2025 "I want to thank all all the leaders that is involved to make this a great success. Nimisha Priya's death has been cancelled. By God's grace, she will be released and taken to India. I want to thank Prime Minister Modi ji for preparing to send your diplomats ... and take Nimisha professionally, safely," Dr Paul says in the video. ALSO READ | Nimisha Priya case: Murdered Yemeni citizen's family raises allegations against Indian social worker Samuel Jerome However, it must be noted that in the video, he does not, at any point, present official Yemeni legal documents showing the cancellation of the death sentence. There has also been no official notification from the MInistry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding the acquittal of Nimisha Priya, or even the cancellation of her death sentence. In their last press conference dated July 17, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal explained that the Government of India was closely tracking the extremely sensitive case of the Kerala-origin nurse trapped in Yemen, providing all possible assistance at every juncture of the trial. ALSO READ | Baseless claims: Yemeni victim Talal Mahdi's family rejects preacher meetings in Nimisha Priya case "We have provided legal assistance, and also appointed a lawyer to assist the family. We have also arranged for regular consular visits by her family, and we are also in touch with local authorities as also the family members to resolve this issue," he stated at the July 17 press conference. VIDEO | Delhi: Responding to a question on the case of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia), while addressing a press briefing, said: "This is a sensitive matter. The Government of India has been providing all possible assistance. We have pic.twitter.com/bK0R8V8dAk Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 17, 2025 He also references the postponement of her execution, which was originally scheduled for July 16, 2025. However, Jaiswal offered no information on the possible involvement of the Grand Mufti of India Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad (also known as Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar) in the postponement. This comes after reports claimed that Kanthapuram held talks with religious authorities in Yemen, and also met with the family of the murdered Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi on July 15. ALSO READ | Hopes fading for Nimisha Priya? Victim's brother Abdel Fattah Mahdi says 'retribution is coming' These claims were contested by Samuel Jerome, an Indian social worker in Yemen who had long served as the sole link for the Nimisha Priya International Action Council to fight her case. Jerome credited postponement to the help of Sheikh Abdul Nahya, whom he described as a community leader from the tribe to which the Mahdi family belonged. Jerome has also claimed earlier that he had 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 MahdiTalal's brotheralleged that Jerome collected large sums of money in the name of negotiations, but had neither met the family nor contacted them via phone calls or messages. He further claimed that the only time he met Jerome was after the President of the Houthi-controlled Supreme Political Council approved the execution order. The embattled nurse was arrested by Yemeni authorities in 2017 for the alleged murder of Talal Abdo Mahdi, after the drug that she reportedly used to sedate him led to his death. She received the death sentence in 2020. Despite challenging this verdict in the country's highest courtand then appealing to the President Rashad al-Alimiher appeals were rejected. The Centre has intensified efforts to ensure the safe return of Ranjit Singh, an Indian national from Jammu and Kashmir, who was abducted in a terror attack in Niger earlier this month. The Indian Embassy in Niamey, Niger, has confirmed the terror attack and said it is closely coordinating with local authorities. In an official statement posted on X, the Embassy said, In a heinous terror attack on 15 July in Nigers Dosso region, two Indian nationals tragically lost their lives and one was abducted. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The Mission in Niamey is in touch with local authorities to repatriate the mortal remains and ensure the safe release of the abducted Indian. All Indians in Niger are advised to remain vigilant. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Monday said the Indian Embassy in Niger is actively working on the case. Important update and follow-up on Ranjit Singh, hailing from Ramban district in Jammu and Kashmir, who has gone missing in Niger. In response to continuous follow-up by my office, the Ministry of External Affairs has shared inputs from the Indian Embassy in Niamey, Niger. The embassy is continuously on the job and making every effort to ensure Ranjit Singhs release from the alleged kidnappers, Singh posted on social media. A day earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had urged the Ministry of External Affairs to intervene. The Chief Minister has expressed deep concern over the abduction of Ranjit Singh, a resident of Ramban, in Niger. He urges the Honble EAM @DrSJaishankar and @MEAIndia to urgently intervene to secure Ranjits safe and swift return, read a post from the official handle of the J&K Chief Ministers Office. Singh, a native of Chakka Kundi village in Ramban part of Dr Singhs Lok Sabha constituency was reportedly abducted on July 15 during a terror attack in Nigers Dosso region. According to reports, the attack targeted a Nigerien army unit guarding a power infrastructure project. Two Indian nationals were killed in the incident, and Singh was taken captive by armed assailants. Singhs family is pleading for urgent intervention. His wife, Sheela Devi, met the deputy commissioner of Ramban and requested help in reaching the Ministry of External Affairs. Singh has three young children who are also anxious about the safety of their father and are hoping for his safe return. Three months after renewing the relationship with the BJP, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami set out on a statewide tour campaigning for next years assembly polls. Palaniswamis tour began from Coimbatore in West Tamil Nadu, one of AIADMKs strongholds, titled, Makkalai Kaappom, Thamilagathai Meetppom (Lets protect the people, lets redeem Tamil Nadu). While Palaniswami has been taking on the DMK and chief minister M.K. Stalin during the public meetings, standing high on a podium specially made for him high on a specially designed campaign vehicle, the most important issue concerning the party cadres and office bearers is AIADMK renewing its relationship with the BJP. While it was considered to be a formidable alliance in the beginning, when EPS rushed to Delhi and when Amit Shah announced it at a star hotel in Chennai, the AIADMK cadres have their own apprehensions. In these 15 days our leader has been forced to clarify every now and then that we are leading the alliance and BJP is part of the AIADMK alliance. But there is no clarity on this yet as the BJP has been maintaining that it will be a coalition government, a senior AIADMK leader and a former minister based in Chennai told THE WEEK, on conditions of anonymity. In fact while speaking at Chidambaram on July 17, EPS came up with a direct clarification, There will be no power sharing. EPS will be the Chief Minister. The AIADMK will form the government. Yet again while speaking at a meeting at Thiruthooraipoondi he went a step ahead and said, We are not fools to go for power sharing. AIADMK will form a majority government. While the AIADMK leader said that this was a message to Stalin and the DMK leaders who are trying to set a narrative against the AIADMK-BJP alliance, political observers feel that this was a message to the BJP high command in Delhi. On July 22, in an interview to one of the English dailies, EPS clarified yet again saying, no coalition government. AIADMK will form a majority government. But in the past 15 days, since he set out on a statewide tour the BJP high command has been maintaining that it will be a NDA government if the alliance wins the elections. In his interviews and press conferences, Amit Shah had reiterated that NDA will form the government. The BJP leaders in the state -be it Nainar Nagendran or seniors like Tamilisai Soundararajan or Vanathi Srinivasan - have said that the high command will decide on power sharing. But behind EPSs continuous clarifications and the BJPs statements lies a political hardline which is harmful for the AIADMK. Endorsing the idea of a coalition government will disturb our voter base. Our cadres are not happy, says the senior leader. BJPs idea of coalition government or NDA government in Tamil Nadu seems to have already disturbed the AIADMK workers at the grassroots who have always had a strong unitary leadership and won a majority of the core Dravidian voter base in the state since 1972. In fact AIADMKs former organising secretary Anwar Raajhaa who joined the DMK on Monday said that the AIADMK is entangled by the BJP. People like me do not want to endorse this statement of Anwar Raajhaa publicly. But this is running in the minds of every AIADMK cadre, the former minister said. Incidentally, Amit Shahs statements on a coalition government has trailed the fortunes of the alliance since its formation in April. If AIADMK leadership has decided that it will not be a coalition government, he has to sit with the BJP high command in Delhi, discuss and clarify it with them. He cannot be speaking at the public meetings and conveying messages, says a senior BJP leader. However Palaniswamis bid to reactivate AIADMKs voter base in the state, through his people outreach programme, instead of rejuvenating the party cadres has only made apparent the internal strife in the NDA in Tamil Nadu. Marked by mutual mistrust and lack of coordination, more than the outreach Palaniswami seems to be struggling hard to position himself and the AIADMK as the big brother in the alliance. NANNING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong has urged efforts to strengthen China's production of key agricultural products, and to consolidate and expand the achievements of the country's poverty alleviation campaign continuously. Liu, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region which began on Sunday and ended on Tuesday. During his tour, Liu learned about rice production, the cultivation of sugar plants and the construction of high-standard farmland. He stressed the importance of harvesting early-season rice in a timely manner, of boosting late-season rice yields, of stabilizing the production of sugar plants, and of continuing high-standard farmland development. With the ongoing threat of typhoons and flooding, Liu urged immediate action to manage waterlogging and implement measures such as crop replanting to minimize damage. He emphasized the need for targeted poverty alleviation measures focusing on stable employment for migrant workers and people who have emerged from poverty. He also highlighted the importance of tapping local strengths to develop rural industries that boost farmers' incomes. The resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar has created a vacancy for the post of Vice President, for which elections are imminent. While the government has the majority to get its candidate elected, politically it presents an opportunity for the opposition to force a contest. This election may also be seen as a test of opposition unity. Depending on the schedule, the Election Commission of India will now issue a notification for the election of a new Vice President, even though the constitution mandates polls as soon as possible. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation at the onset of the monsoon session may act as a challenge for the government, as the relations between the opposition and the ruling benches have been tense. While, there may pressure to pick up a new vice president, experts argue pic.twitter.com/9kawsH1Ttc THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) July 22, 2025 The electoral college for the Vice President comprises members of both Houses of Parliament. In the last two vice-presidential polls, the opposition fielded Gopal Gandhi against Venkaiah Naidu in 2017 and Margaret Alva against Dhankhar in 2022. Currently, several names are doing the rounds as potential candidates. Various reports have cited the name of Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh as a likely contender. Though supported by the BJP, he does not belong to the saffron fold. Dhankhar too was a relatively late entrant to the BJP, joining the party in 2003. However, he was close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and belonged to the Jat community. The party nominated him after he made a name for himself as Governor of West Bengal. Following past precedents, the party may back a veteran leader with a strong ideological leaning. If someone from the current pool of governors is to be picked, the party may consider Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, among others. This vacancy has also provided an opportunity for the party to reward a senior leader, especially as there is a push for generational change following the election of the new party president. While the BJP will take its time, it is also expected to align changes in the Union Cabinet with the new leadership. The BJP has used constitutional posts in the past to send larger political messages for instance, nominating a Dalit and later a tribal leader as President. Hence, someone from the upper-caste background may be considered this time, especially since the President currently belongs to the tribal community. As it has been observed that running both Houses of Parliament requires experience and authority, the party would also keep this in mind, ensuring that the person appointed is capable of managing the Rajya Sabha. In the coming days, as discussion take place within the BJP and Sangh more names may come up for consideration. Political strategy may also dictate that the Vice Presidential election does not clash with the Bihar assembly polls, so that the two do not merge into a common political campaign theme. Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal on Tuesday criticised what he called the ruin of the state's rich political tradition and culture by the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, when asked about State Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate's recent actions in the Legislative Assembly. "The ministers in Fadnavis cabinet seem like a collection of rare specimens: each one a gem in his own way," he said, specifically calling out Kokate for "crossing all limits" by calling the government a 'beggar'. #WATCH | Nashik, Maharashtra: On being accused by the opposition that he was playing rummy during the Maharashtra legislative assembly session, Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate says, "If I'm found guilty, then I will hand over my resignation to the governor... pic.twitter.com/CvUqNzvtJ3 ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2025 "A minister like him should not be retained in office even for a minute. Then why is the Chief Minister backing him? Does Fadnavis not have the courage to sack Kokate?' Sapkal questioned. ALSO READ | I dont know how to play online rummy: Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate threatens to sue opposition leaders He also criticised Kokate playing online rummy on his mobile phone in the Legislative Assemblyas seen in videos circulating across social media. "Farmers are struggling, compensation for losses due to unseasonal rains has not been given, crops are not fetching fair prices, loan waivers are still pending despite being promised, and some regions are facing the crisis of re-sowing due to failed crops. Amidst all these challenges, Kokates actions and irresponsible remarks show his utter lack of seriousness," Sapkal said. He went on to criticise Kokate's alleged lack of respect for not only the governmentwith the 'beggar' remarkbut also for CM Fadnavis. "Such an insolent minister should be immediately shown the door, but since that hasnt happened, it suggests that Fadnavis is somehow helpless or constrained. Regardless of the reason, such individuals tarnish Maharashtras imageat least care for that, the Maharashtra Congress president urged. Sapkal further added that by repeatedly making controversial statements, Manikrao Kokate had also discredited the dignity of his ministerial office. "A person like him remaining in a ministerial post is neither in the interest of the state nor the farmers," stated Sapkal, amid the "alarming" rate of farmer suicides in Maharashtra. He added that Kokate was to be removed from his position immediately, and sent home with a coconut (a traditional symbolic farewell). The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Centre and all the State Governments on the Presidential Reference made by President Droupadi Murmu concerning the powers of the Governor and the President concerning power to assent on Bills. A Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and comprising Justice Surya Kant, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice AS Chandurkar slated the hearing for July 29. The bench will decide how the hearing will take place in mid-August and will appoint nodal officers for the same. During the brief hearing, the bench requested Attorney General R Venkataramani to assist the Court in the matter. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said he will be appearing for the Union of India. Representing Kerala, Senior Advocate K.K. Venugopal informed the Court that the State would challenge the maintainability of the Presidential Reference. Senior Advocate P. Wilson, appearing for Tamil Nadu, argued that the issues raised were already addressed in the Tamil Nadu Governors case and said the State would also contest the maintainability. President Droupadi Murmu has referred 14 questions to the Supreme Court, seeking its opinion on whether the court can invoke its inherent powers under Article 142 to set timelines or dictate the procedure for the President and Governors when handling State Bills submitted for assent or reserved for consideration. The Reference was made to the Supreme Court under Article 143 of the Constitution, seeking clarification on the constitutional choices available to a Governor when a Bill is presented for assent under Article 200. Article 143 is rarely invoked and is reserved for matters of profound constitutional or national importance. The Presidents decision to seek the Supreme Courts opinion stems from an April 8 ruling by a Bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan. The judgment came in response to a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu government, which challenged the Governors prolonged delay in granting assent to 10 Bills that had been re-passed by the State Assembly, as well as his subsequent move to reserve them for Presidential consideration. In its ruling, the Court deemed the Governors actions unconstitutional and, invoking Article 142, established timelines for the President and Governors to act on State legislation. The court said the president must decide within three months of receiving a bill from a governor, as it laid down such a timeline for the first time. It asked that the presidents office convey reasons to the concerned state if there is any delay beyond this period. The judgment drew sharp criticism from former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who questioned the Supreme Courts authority to issue directions to the President. He went so far as to liken the Courts use of Article 142 to wielding a nuclear missile within the judiciarys arsenal. The referral, a rare exercise of presidential prerogative, seeks the Courts advisory opinion on matters of profound constitutional significance, particularly the judiciarys authority to prescribe timelines for the Presidents actions. The UN Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA) said on Tuesday that its staff members are describing grave conditions and exhaustion in Gaza. The agency described Gaza as hell on earth as its staff members, including doctors and aid workers, are fainting on duty from hunger and exhaustion, Reuters reported. The UNRWA Chief Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement, Caretakers, including UNRWA colleagues in Gaza, are also in need of care now. Doctors, nurses, journalists, humanitarians, among them, UNRWA staff are hungry. Many are now fainting due to hunger and exhaustion while performing their duties. Lazzarini also described the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) as a death trap, saying, The so-called GHF distribution scheme is a sadistic death trap. Snipers open fire randomly on crowds as if they are given a licence to kill. The GHF bypasses a UN-led system and uses US security and logistics companies, reported The Guardian. Israel has alleged that Hamas have looted the aid intended for civilians, which the group denies. According to estimates from the UNRWA, at least 1000 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid in Gaza since the end of May. Food prices have also increased by 40 times in Gaza due to the shortage of supplies, according to a post on X (Twitter) made by the UNRWA. The post also said that the aid that is stockpiled in its warehouses could feed the entire population for over three months A majority of the deaths at aid points in Gaza were reported from locations run by the GHF, and the rest of the killings were on routes to other aid checkpoints. The GHF had previously accused the UN of misinformation and told Reuters that such incidents have not occurred. On Monday, the World Health Organisation said that its facilities in Gaza came under Israeli attack. WHO chief Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that Israeli military had entered the staffs residence in Deir al Balah, Gaza, and forced women and children to evacuate on foot, and they handcuffed, stripped and interrogated the male staff at gunpoint. "WHO condemns in the strongest terms the attacks on a building housing WHO staff in Deir al Balah in Gaza, the mistreatment of those sheltering there, and the destruction of its main warehouse," WHO said. A joint statement released on Monday by around 28 countries and the UK condemned the attacks, saying that the war must end now. 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. 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 United States has reaffirmed its support for Syrias new government, despite spiralling sectarian violence in the south and Israeli military intervention that has complicated efforts to stabilise the war-ravaged country. US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said yesterday there was no Plan B to working with the newly installed regime in Damascus, which came to power after the ousting of longtime president Bashar al-Assad in December. Barrack praised the governments efforts to unify a country fractured by 14 years of war, while also criticising Israel for what he called poorly timed airstrikes that risk deepening instability. The comments came after more than a week of deadly clashes in the southern province of Sweida between Druze militias and Sunni Muslim Bedouin tribes. The fighting has claimed over 1,260 lives, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Syrian government forces, initially deployed to restore order, ended up siding with the Bedouins before withdrawing under a ceasefire agreement negotiated with Druze factions. In a dramatic escalation, Israel launched multiple strikes last week on Syrian army convoys in Sweida and targeted the Ministry of Defence in Damascus. The Israeli government said the strikes were aimed at halting the killing of Druze civilians, who share ethnic and religious ties with Israels Druze minority. Barrack, speaking after announcing a limited US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Syria, criticised the Israeli action, saying, The United States was not asked, nor did they participate in that decision. He added that Israels intervention creates another very confusing chapter and came at a very bad time. The ceasefire, in place since July 19, focuses solely on the conflict in Sweida and does not address wider Israeli concerns, including its demand that southern Syria be designated a demilitarised zone. Yesterday, Syrian authorities began evacuating Bedouin families from the area in an attempt to prevent further violence. President Donald Trump was caught off guard by Israels strikes in both Syria and Gaza last week. In both accounts, the president quickly called the prime minister to rectify those situations, said White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. An Israeli missile strike hit Gazas only Catholic church last week, killing three people and injuring 10 others, including the parish priest. The priest had received daily calls from the late Pope Francis. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Pope Leo to express regret over the incident, attributing it to a stray missile. Trump has been pushing for the normalisation of ties between Israel and Syria, a process that appeared to be gaining ground before the latest violence erupted. Israeli officials were in contact with Syrian counterparts south of Damascus to discuss security arrangements, but the new government in Damascus took a different stance. Israels view was that south of Damascus was this questionable zone but the new government coming in was not exactly of that belief, Barrack said. The White House, meanwhile, is trying to balance support for Syrian minorities with a broader regional strategy. Interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former insurgent commander once aligned with Al Qaeda, came to power following a US-backed offensive that removed Assad from office. In May, Trump met with Sharaa in Saudi Arabia and lifted longstanding US sanctions on Damascus. A US bounty on Sharaa was also quietly dropped. Despite pledges to protect minority groups, Sharaas government has faced criticism for failing to prevent attacks on Druze and Alawite civilians. Earlier this year, hundreds of AlawitesAssads sectwere killed in retaliatory violence on the Syrian coast. Barrack acknowledged the suffering on all sides, saying the killing, the revenge, the massacres are intolerable. Efforts are also underway to integrate Kurdish-led forces into the national army. Talks with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, who control much of northeast Syria, are ongoing. Barrack said a breakthrough could happen in the coming weeks despite the turmoil in Sweida. Turkey has offered military assistance to Syria, raising concerns over Ankaras intentions given its longstanding hostility toward Kurdish militias. Barrack declined to comment on a potential Syrian-Turkish defence pact, saying, Its not in the USs business or interest to tell any of the surrounding nations what to do. Barrack also visited Lebanon, where the US is urging Hezbollah to disarm following a bruising war with Israel that ended in a ceasefire last November. However, the truce has failed to hold, with Israel continuing to strike Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. The ceasefire agreement didnt work, Barrack admitted. He added that while the US supports Hezbollahs disarmament, the matter is an internal Lebanese issue. Theres no threat, theres no whip, were here on a voluntary basis trying to usher in a solution, he said. Trumps recent White House meeting with Netanyahutheir third since Januarywas expected to yield progress on a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas. But the visit ended without a breakthrough. Talks are ongoing, with Hamas stating yesterday that it is exerting all efforts to reach an agreement. Leavitt defended the administrations response to the Gaza crisis, attributing the slow delivery of aid to the policies of the previous administration. Its a very difficult and complicated situation that the president inherited. The president wants to see peace, and hes been pretty clear on that. Amid the diplomatic fog, Barrack reiterated his belief in Syrias unity. Strong nation-states are a threatespecially Arab states are viewed as a threat to Israel. But in Syria, I think all the minority communities are smart enough to say, Were better off together, centralised. Russia and Ukraine will hold fresh peace talks in the Turkish capital of Istanbul on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. "Today, I discussed with [Ukrainian Security Council chief Rustem Umerov the preparations for a prisoner exchange and another meeting in Turkey with the Russian side... Umerov reported that the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday," Zelensky was quoted as saying by the BBC during his daily address on Monday. Zelensky proposed fresh talks at the weekend. Meanwhile, 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 .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. A controversial mega dam project by China, which has begun construction in Tibet, could end up becoming the world's largest source of hydroelectric power. Chinese Premier Li Qiang called it the project of the century on Saturday at the ceremony marking the beginning of the construction. The massive structure is being built over the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which is around 2,900 kilometres long. It is also known as the Brahmaputra in India and the Jamuna in Bangladesh and begins at the foothills of the Himalayas in Tibet. The project has received criticism from groups and environmentalists in the Bangladesh, India and Tibet. Why is China building the dam? The estimated cost of the project is at least around $170 billion, according to the official Xinhua news agency. The project was first announced in 2020 as part of Chinas 14th Five-Year Plan. It is known to be China's most ambitious hydropower project after the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River, and the construction sent the stock prices soaring on Monday. According to state media, the project is for the lower reaches of the river and would consist of five cascade hydropower stations and would produce an estimated 300 million megawatts of electricity annually. The dam takes advantage of the river falling over 2 km within 50 km as it goes through the deepest canyon on earth, in a U-shaped bend. The project is overseen by the state-owned China Yajiang Group. Apart from economic goals, the project is also part of the country's aims to become carbon neutral. The project is expected to be functioning by 2030. The premier also said that special emphasis must be placed on ecological conservation to prevent environmental damage on Saturday. The concerns from the neighbours India and Bangladesh have criticised the project and voiced concerns that the water would be diverted away from the countries. The river flows from Tibet to Arunachal Pradesh in India, where it becomes the Brahmaputra, and then it flows into Bangladesh, becoming the Jamuna River. The construction of the dam could affect millions who live downstream. The area is known to be sensitive due to its proximity to the border and its location, which sits on an active tectonic boundary. The fear is of China weaponising the water by blocking ot diverting it. India had raised its concerns formally with Beijing over bilateral meetings. NGOs have also warned of the risks the dam poses, which affects one of the most diverse environments in the Tibetan Plateau. Beijing has said that the dam will meet the power demand in Tibet and the rest of China without affecting the downstream water supply and the environment. The operations are set to begin in 2030. The chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pea Khandu, said earlier this year that the massive dam, built barely 50 km from the border, could dry out about 80 per cent of the river. Early this month, he called the dam a ticking water bomb and said that it endangers the local tribes' livelihoods while speaking to PTI. Meanwhile, India has also been building its own hydropower project on the Brahmaputra River in Arunachal Pradesh as part of its regional infrastructure development. In January, India's Foreign Ministry raised concerns with China, saying it will "monitor and take necessary measures to protect our interests." The ministry stressed that China has been "urged to ensure that the interests of the downstream states of the Brahmaputra are not harmed by activities in upstream areas." According to an older report by Australian-based think tank Lowy Institute, control over these rivers (in the Tibetan Plateau) effectively gives China a chokehold on Indias economy. Chinese authorities have not given an estimate of how many people will be displaced due to the project. The government has rejected the criticism and says that the project will stimulate jobs and increase domestic energy supplies. US President Donald Trump is set to pull the US out of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), marking the second time the country did so under the Republican leader. Why is Donald Trump withdrawing US from UNESCO? President Trump cited pro-Palestinian and pro-China bias of the UN body while also slamming UNESCO's woke policies on diversity, equity and inclusion. This development comes after Trump initiated a 90-day review on US membership in the UNESCO back in February. The probe focused on "anti-semitism and anti-Israel sentiment" in the UN body. BREAKING: Trump administration pulls US back out of UNESCO, citing its inclusion of 'State of Palestine' and support for 'woke' causes pic.twitter.com/xfsjnpPcA7 Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 22, 2025 Confirming that Trump has approved the US exit from UNESCO, White House deputy spokesperson Anna Kelly said the UN body backs "woke and divisive" policies. She said this is "totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies" sought by Americans in the Presidential elections in November. "This President will always put America First and ensure our countrys membership in all international organizations aligns with our national interests," she said. UNESCO published an "anti-racism toolkit" in 2023 and launched an programme called "Transforming MENtalities", both of which are cited as wrong by the Trump administration. The White House spokesperson said the UNESCO move to designate Jewish holy sites as "Palestinian World Heritage" sites is "anti-Israel and anti-Jewish". She also slammed the UN body for calling Palestine as "occupied" by Israel and for condemning Israeli war on Hamas without addressing the militant outfit's actions. Kelly also claimed that China, being the second largest fundraiser for UNESCO to push policies favourable to Beijing. Trump withdrew the US from UNESCO back in 2017 over anti-Israel policies. In 2023, President Joe Biden brought the US back into UNESCO fold, emphasising that it is important to counter China. Jeffrey Epstein accuser Maria Farmer says she raised concerns about Donald Trump to the FBI twice first in 1996 and again in 2006 telling federal agents he should be investigated as part of the Epstein network, according to a new New York Times report. Farmer, one of the earliest accusers to speak publicly about Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, recounted a disturbing 1995 encounter involving Trump, claiming he behaved inappropriately when she was called late one night to Epsteins Manhattan office. Farmer says she told the FBI about the incident in both of her interviews with them, urging agents to examine not just Epstein but the high-profile men around him including Trump. In response, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung dismissed the claim, saying, The president was never in Epsteins office, and insisted that Trump had distanced himself from Epstein, even banning him from Mar-a-Lago. He kicked him out for being a creep, Cheung said. Farmers account may not point to criminal activity by Trump, but it highlights how some Epstein-related case files could contain politically sensitive or embarrassing material for the former president even if unrelated to the crimes for which Epstein and Maxwell were ultimately prosecuted. ABC News legal analyst and Mediaite founder Dan Abrams said on a recent podcast that Trump faces a political vulnerability over his past ties to Epstein, particularly as some in the MAGA base grow frustrated over the lack of disclosures related to Epsteins files. While many of Trumps supporters have called for the full release of Epsteins flight logs and alleged client list, Abrams emphasized that no such list exists. There is no list of clients. There are flight logs, yes, but names on those documents do not automatically imply wrongdoing, Abrams said. Records revealed during Ghislaine Maxwells trial showed Trump flew on Epsteins plane seven times fewer than other high-profile figures such as Bill Clinton and Bill Gates but contradict Trumps past claims that he had never flown on the plane. Trump has dismissed the notion of an Epstein list as a hoax and is currently suing The Wall Street Journal for publishing a 2003 birthday letter he allegedly sent Epstein. Trump denies writing the letter. The broader frustration among Trumps base, Abrams noted, stems from a belief that the administration is hiding names of left-wing figures implicated in Epsteins network. But the reality, he argued, is more complicated and less politically convenient. This isnt a Trump issue or a Biden issue the people tied to Epstein span the political spectrum, Abrams said. He added that even if more files were released, they likely wouldnt satisfy conspiracy theorists or change the political calculus. Theres no hidden bombshell waiting to explode, he said. And thats why I dont think this story will have a lasting impact. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The FBI declined to fully examine potentially critical evidence in its 2016 investigation into Hillary Clintons private email server, according to newly declassified documents released by Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley on Monday. The materials an appendix to a 2018 Justice Department inspector general report reveal that the bureau received thumb drives from a confidential source containing State Department data obtained via cyber intrusions. The trove reportedly included emails from senior officials, including then-President Barack Obama. Yet despite an internal FBI memo urging a full review to assess possible national security risks, the bureau opted against a comprehensive analysis, citing concerns about the origin and scope of the data. This document shows an extreme lack of effort and due diligence, Grassley (R-Iowa) said in a statement, accusing former FBI Director James Comey of leaving key pieces of evidence on the cutting room floor. The appendix, authored by then-DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz, also reveals that the FBI Cyber Division had tried to access the hard drives to conduct targeted searches but those requests were blocked due to concerns over the protection of privileged information. A memo from then-Deputy Director Andrew McCabe seeking to use the data in the bureaus Russia probe was also denied. The drives were queried at least three times, though the exact purpose of each search remains redacted. One search came from Special Counsel Robert Muellers team, and at least one yielded results linked to clintonemail.com. The newly declassified documents also reference intelligence of questionable origin that suggested senior Obama administration officials, including then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Comey, interfered in the Clinton investigation to aid both Democratic and Republican candidates. The intelligence, which reportedly surfaced in Russian-language documents, also implicated then-DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and individuals affiliated with the Soros Open Society Foundations. The source of the intelligence was believed to be a cyberattack on the Atlantic Council, and Comey ultimately dismissed the material as verifiably false, according to the report. Still, then-FBI counterintelligence official Peter Strzok ordered his team to run keyword searches through the documents before reaching that conclusion. Comey later defended his decision not to consult Lynch before publicly announcing in July 2016 that the FBI would not recommend criminal charges against Clinton a declaration made before interviews with several key witnesses in the case had even occurred. The new disclosures add fuel to long-standing Republican criticisms of the FBIs handling of the Clinton probe, particularly in contrast with its more aggressive approach in the subsequent Trump-Russia investigation. Grassley, who has pressed for the appendixs release since 2018, said in a statement that Comeys decision-making process smacks of political infection. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) An aerial drone photo taken on July 19, 2025 shows the Central Business District (CBD) in Zhengdong New District of Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) An aerial drone photo taken on March 31, 2025 shows interlaced railway tracks in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 15, 2025 shows a national archaeological park in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 17, 2025 shows the Zhongyuan fortune tower in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 19, 2025 shows the Central Business District (CBD) in Zhengdong New District of Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) An aerial drone photo taken on April 15, 2025 shows a China-Europe freight train at Putian Station in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 17, 2025 shows the Erqi Square in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 19, 2025 shows the Central Business District (CBD) in Zhengdong New District of Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 19, 2025 shows the Central Business District (CBD) in Zhengdong New District of Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 15, 2025 shows the Central Business District (CBD) in Zhengdong New District of Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 16, 2025 shows a wetland park in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 15, 2025 shows a financial island in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 17, 2025 shows the Zhengzhou Railway Station in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 19, 2025 shows the Zhengzhou East Railway Station in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 17, 2025 shows a section of the Yellow River in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 17, 2025 shows the Erqi memorial tower in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 15, 2025 shows a national archaeological park in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan) An aerial drone photo taken on July 17, 2025 shows the busts of Yan Emperor and Yellow Emperor, legendary ancestors of the Chinese nation, on the bank of the Yellow River in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Li Jianan) An aerial drone photo taken on May 19, 2022 shows the Yellow River national geological park in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Located in central China, Zhengzhou is renowned as a regional hub for sci-tech innovation, a national historical and cultural city, and an international comprehensive transportation hub. In recent years, Zhengzhou has been dedicated to promoting high-quality development, enhancing its overall competitiveness, and integrating into the national market. From July 23 to 27, Zhengzhou will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Media and Think Tank Summit. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan) Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville issued a blistering critique of his own party Monday, declaring the Democratic Party in shambles and calling for both a short-term messaging overhaul and the emergence of a transformational new leader. In a sharply worded op-ed published in The New York Times, Carville did not hold back. Constipated. Leaderless. Confused. A cracked-out clown car. Divided, he wrote, listing the terms he says fellow Democrats now use to describe their own party. The truth is theyre not wrong. Carville, who has been increasingly critical of the Democratic establishment in recent years, argued that Democrats are adrift and lacking both a cohesive vision and an inspiring figurehead. The only thing that can save us now is an actual savior, Carville wrote, pointing to past game-changing figures like Barack Obama in 2008 and Bill Clinton in 1992. But he predicted that such a figure wouldnt emerge until after the 2026 midterms, when the 2028 presidential primary season unofficially begins. In the meantime, Carville proposed a unified midterm message centered on a single word: repeal. Specifically, he urged Democrats to campaign aggressively on repealing President Donald Trumps spending legislation. That single word is our core message, Carville wrote. Every Democrat can run on it. Carville framed the repeal push as a unifying and potent rallying cry, one that could galvanize voters without focusing personal attacks on Trump or his allies. The reasons are countless, he said, each one a venom-tipped political dagger. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Federal records related to the investigation into the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. were released on Monday, following the disclosure in March of tens of thousands of documents about the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In January, President Donald Trump ordered the release of thousands of classified governmental documents about Kennedys assassination, while also moving to declassify federal records related to the deaths of New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and King more than five decades ago. Trump ordered Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Attorney General Pam Bondi to coordinate with other government officials to review records related to the assassinations of RFK and King, and present a plan to the president for their complete release. Some 10,000 pages of records about the RFK assassination were released April 18. Justice Department attorneys later asked a federal judge to end a sealing order for the records nearly two years ahead of its expiration date. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King led, is opposed to unsealing any of the records for privacy reasons. The organizations lawyers said Kings relatives also wanted to keep the files under seal. Scholars, history buffs and journalists have been preparing to study the documents to find new information about the civil rights leaders assassination on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. The King familys statement released after Trumps order in January said they hoped to get an opportunity to review the files as a family prior to its public release. Kings family, including his two living children, Martin III and Bernice, was given advance notice of the release and had their own teams reviewing the records ahead of the public disclosure. In a statement released Monday, Kings children called their fathers case a captivating public curiosity for decades. But they also emphasized the personal nature of the matter and urged that these files must be viewed within their full historical context. We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our familys continuing grief, the statement said. Here is what we know about the assassination and what scholars had to say ahead of the release of the documents. In Memphis, shots ring out King was standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, heading to dinner with a few friends, when he was shot and killed. King had been in Memphis to support a sanitation workers strike protesting poor working conditions and low pay. The night before the assassination, King delivered the famous Mountaintop speech on a stormy night at the Mason Temple in Memphis. An earlier march on Beale Street had turned violent, and King had returned to Memphis to lead another march as an expression of nonviolent protest. King also had been planning the Poor Peoples Campaign to speak out against economic injustice. The FBIs investigation After a long manhunt, James Earl Ray was captured in London, and he pleaded guilty to assassinating King. He later renounced that plea and maintained his innocence until his death in 1998. FBI documents released over the years show how the 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, the King family statement said. King familys response to the investigation 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 do so. The Justice Department said it found nothing to disturb the 1969 judicial determination that James Earl Ray murdered Dr. King. Dexter King, one of Kings children, met with Ray in prison in 1997, saying afterwards that he believed Rays claims of innocence. Dexter King died in 2024. With the support of Kings family, a civil trial in state court was held in Memphis in 1999 against Loyd Jowers, a man alleged to have known about a conspiracy to assassinate King. Dozens of witnesses testified, and a Memphis jury found Jowers and unnamed others, including government agencies, participated in a conspiracy to assassinate King. What will the public see in the newly released documents? Its not clear what the records will actually show. King scholars, for example, would like to see what information the FBI was discussing and circulating as part of their investigation, said Ryan Jones, director of history, interpretation and curatorial services at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. Thats critical given the fact the American public, at that time, was unaware that the FBI that is involved in the investigation, was leading a smear campaign to discredit the same man while he was alive, Jones said. They were the same bureau who was receiving notices of assassination attempts against King and ignored them. Academics who have studied King also would like to see information about the FBIs surveillance of King, including the extent they went to get details about his personal life, track him, and try to discredit him as anti-American, said Lerone A. Martin, director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University. However, Martin said he does not expect that the documents will have a smoking gun that will finally say, See, this is 100% evidence that the FBI was involved in this assassination. We have to view these documents with an eye of suspicion because of the extent the FBI was willing to go to, to try to discredit him, Martin said. Why now? Trumps order about the records release said it is in the national interest to release the records. Their families and the American people deserve transparency and truth, the order said. However, the timing has led to skepticism from some observers. Jones questioned why the American public had not been able to see these documents much earlier. Why were they sealed on the basis of national security, if the assassin was in prison outside of Nashville? he said. Jones said there are scholars who think the records release is a PR stunt by a presidential administration that is rewriting, omitting the advances of some people that are tied to people of color, or diversity. The Pentagon has faced questions from lawmakers and citizens over the removal of military heroes and historic mentions from Defense Department websites and social media pages after it purged online content that promoted women or minorities. In response, the department restored some of those posts. Martin said Trumps motivation could be part of an effort to shed doubt on government institutions. It could be an opportunity for the Trump administration to say, See, the FBI is evil, Ive been trying to tell you this. This is why Ive put (FBI director) Kash Patel in office because hes cleaning out the Deep State, Martin said. Another factor could be the two attempts on Trumps life as he was campaigning for a second presidential term, and a desire to expose the broader history of U.S. assassinations, said Brian Kwoba, an associate history professor at the University of Memphis. That said, it is still a little bit confusing because its not clear why any U.S. president, including Trump, would want to open up files that could be damaging to the United States and its image both in the U.S. and abroad, he said. (AP) A Brooklyn man with a history of anti-Israel activism has been indicted on federal arson charges for allegedly setting fire to multiple New York Police Department vehicles during a protest in June, federal prosecutors announced. Jakhi McCray, 21, is accused of carrying out a premeditated arson attack that destroyed 10 NYPD vehicles and a trailer in Bushwick on the night of June 12. According to the Justice Department, surveillance footage captured McCray entering a police parking lot and methodically igniting fires over a 30-minute period. Investigators later recovered a cigar lighter and a pair of sunglasses bearing his fingerprints, as well as more than 30 fire starters hidden beneath additional vehicles. The arson attack against New York City Police Department vehicles in Bushwick, Brooklyn, was as cowardly as it was criminal, said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch in a statement. The defendant in this case may have wanted to send a message, but all he did was mobilize the full force of the NYPD, the ATF and the FDNY to identify, locate, and arrest him. If convicted, McCray faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. Federal authorities confirmed that McCray has been involved in anti-Israel demonstrations since the October 7 Hamas-led terror attack in Israel, and is currently wanted for unrelated acts of criminal mischief tied to the vandalism of a statue at Columbia University. The NYPD noted the timing of the arson attackjust two days before a planned Global March to Gaza NYC protestas part of the context of their investigation. In a statement following the indictment, McCray played victim. The federal government has labeled me armed and dangerous and blasted a $30,000 bounty for my capture, he said. Zionist and white supremacist news outlets have happily supported [this] in their racist doxxing and smear campaign against me. He can cry about it to his cellmates. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The recent wave of mysterious fires and explosions across Iran is attracting significant attention, leaving many Iranian citizens questioning the official explanations provided by the authorities, who attribute them to routine accidents, especially those explained as gas leaks. According to reports coming from Iran, a series of explosions and fires has struck residential buildings, airports, and sites described as commercial warehouses in cities like Tehran, Karaj, Qom, Mashhad, and Tabriz. In all cases, government officials and state media have been quick to downplay the events, describing them as isolated incidents caused by routine factors, Iran International reported. The latest explosion occurred in a residential complex in the city of Qom, injuring seven people. Photos from the scene showed extensive damage to apartments on the first and ground floors, as well as to nearby vehicles. Authorities attributed the explosion to a gas leak. On the same day, additional incidents were reported: explosions and a fire near Karaj; a fire at Mashhad Airport; a large explosion in a desert area near Semnan; an explosion in Tabriz; and a fire in a commercial building in central Tehran. Most of these incidents were not immediately explained. An official at the Civil Aviation Organization even claimed that the smoke at Mashhad Airport was due to a planned burning of weeds. The government accuses the media of media panic, and Iranian officials insist that these are routine incidents, accusing the media of sowing and spreading unnecessary fear. Even minor events now trigger public concern. When a car caught fire on a highway in Tehran last Monday, some claimed it was an Israeli operation, similar to those carried out against Hezbollah vehiclesalthough no visible signs of an attack were found. In a conversation with the Fars Iranian news agency, considered an official mouthpiece of the Revolutionary Guards, an anonymous source accused the anti-revolutionary media and reports linked to Zionism of linking natural events to war in order to cause panic. People should not worry about this kind of news fabrication, he said. But with each explosion, more and more Iranians seem to be disregarding the official narrativeand asking tougher questions. Every time something explodes, they say its a gas leak, claimed one citizen. Others posted photos alongside mocking captions questioning the frequency of the events and the speed of official responses. After an explosion ten days ago in a residential tower in the Chitgar district of Tehran, someone joked: Call the Tehran gas company now and someone will answer and say, Hello, how can I help you?' According to Iran International, some claim that the regime may be deliberately turning a blind eye to Israeli involvement because official recognition of it would require a response and risk dragging the country back into war. Others see it in darker terms, comparing Iran to Lebanon and its growing vulnerability. A resident of Tehran said: We have reached a situation where suddenly smoke rises from Vanak (Square) at noon. Someone says it was an explosion, and someone else says its nothing. But no one really asks what happened anymore; people are used to it. Another resident added: Tehran has become like Beirut: anything can explode at any moment, but life goes on as if nothing happened. Ynet quoted Dr. Chay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak, a researcher at the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies and at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, who said that its possible that the Mossad is behind the mysterious explosions. The precision of some of these attacksthe fact that theyve hit specific, sensitive locationsdoes resemble Mossads operational signature, he said. Yes, they did what they did in a very successful manner during the conflict, and I believe not all of those intelligence assets were exposed. Its very likely that Israel continues to maintain capabilities on the ground. Yanarocak said these operations, if ongoing, are part of Israels longstanding intelligence doctrine. Israel doesnt rely solely on airpower, he said. Ground-level operationstargeted, quiet, surgicalare often more effective in shaping enemy behavior without triggering a wider war. Israel is learning from these new threats. The reality is that asymmetric actors like the Houthis have changed the security equation. Intelligence and unconventional deterrence are now more critical than ever. However, Israel is not the Islamic Republics only enemy. Some believe that the sabotage is being committed by Afghan migrant workers, Ynet reported These are not isolated technical malfunctions, said Dr. Nima Baheli, an Iranian political analyst. Theres a pattern. These explosions are occurring with too much frequency and too much silence from the regime to be coincidental. Following the war with Israel in June, Iran forcibly deported thousands of undocumented Afghans, most of whom had worked in various industries in the country, including construction, infrastructure, and sensitive logistical roles. Baheli believes that the Afghans are now taking revenge for their expulsion. These workers had access. They knew the locations, the systems, the blind spots, he explained. Theres a growing narrative among some circles that what were seeing now is a form of retaliatory sabotage, an internal actor striking back from within. Baheli noted that in previous conflicts, the Iranian regime suspected Afghans of collaborating with Israel. However, he believes that this time, the Afghans are motivated solely by revenge. Whats happening now seems less like collaboration with foreign intelligence and more like revenge, he said. These are people pushed out violently, stripped of rights, and humiliated. Their actions, if they are behind these incidents, reflect anger toward the Islamic Republic, not coordination with Israel. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) The Rakafot Wing of Ayalon Prison holds the most dangerous and brutal terrorists in the custody of the Israel Prison Service (IPS), including dozens of Nukhba and Hamas naval commando terrorists who took part in the October 7 massacre along with Radwan Force terrorists who were arrested during IDF raids in Lebanon. A recent Kan Reshet Bet report provided a glimpse inside the walls of the underground structure, which is heavily fortified, almost like a sealed concrete vault. Each cell is equipped with smart cameras that track and monitor every detail of the prisoners movements. The wing commander said. The wing holds prisoners who took part in the massacre on October 7. The most difficult prisoners are here, who committed the most serious offenses. Most of them belong to Hamass Nukhba unit. Operationally, its defined as a tactical wing, the first wing of its kind in the Prison Service and currently being run as a pilot program. Everyone who works in this wing works anonymously: that is, with an operational name tag and a number. The guards of the wing are required to have their finger on the pulse at all times. All the staff who work in this wing have undergone special training, primarily mental resilience training, to properly respond to the challenges in this wingand there are plenty of them, he said. Every day, several times a day, there is some dilemma, some challenge that we need to resolve. The conditions in which the terrorists are held are minimal, in accordance with international law. Prisoners remain locked in their cells 24 hours a day, except for one hour a day, when they are allowed to go outside to a small, fortified courtyard with concrete walls, where a bit of daylight filters through the bars. When the guards enter the wing, they knock twice on each cell door, and the prisoners are immediately required to crouch on the floor with their hands behind their backs and their faces toward the floor. During their one hour outside their cells, they are allowed a seven-minute shower. The inmates are forbidden from talking to each other or to the guards. The terrorists entire lives take place in the wingincluding meetings with lawyers and doctors and legal hearings. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) Brig. Gen. (Res.) Giora Even Epstein, renowned as the Israeli Air Forces most decorated fighter pilot and the worlds top supersonic jet ace, passed away on Shabbos at the age of 87. Even Epstein, affectionately known as Hawkeye, earned a legendary status for his unmatched aerial combat record, credited with shooting down 17 enemy aircraft16 Egyptian fighter jets and one Egyptian helicopter. Even Epsteins illustrious career spanned from 1961 to 1997, and his exploits in the Israeli Air Force (IAF) made him one of the most respected figures in military aviation history. His service began in 1956 when he was initially rejected from the IAF flight school due to medical reasons and enlisted as a paratrooper. Undeterred, he reapplied after completing his mandatory service, eventually graduating with honors from flight school in 1963. His combat debut came during the 1967 Six-Day War, where he scored his first kill, shooting down an Egyptian Sukhoi-7 fighter jet while flying a French-made Dassault Mirage III. The following years saw him become a celebrated flying ace after downing four additional Egyptian aircraft during the War of Attrition. Epsteins most defining moments came during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, where he achieved a remarkable 12 kills11 fighter jets and one helicoptercementing his reputation as the ace of aces of the supersonic jet era. His success in the Yom Kippur War earned him the Medal of Distinguished Service, one of Israels highest military honors. Epstein went on to serve as the commander of the IAFs 117 Squadron before retiring from regular service in 1977. He continued to serve in the reserves for several decades, amassing thousands of flight hours, including in the F-16. Epsteins retirement in 1997 marked the end of an extraordinary 40-year career with the Israeli military. After retiring from active service, Even Epstein transitioned to a commercial pilot career with El Al. His exceptional contributions to Israels defense were recognized in 2018, when he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general by then-IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) I24NEWS Arab affairs analyst Tzvi Yechezkeli said that the Syrian army under Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, known as Al-Golani, is not really any different than Hamass Nukhba force. It can be said that the agreement with Al-Golani and with the international community that pushed for it indicates that the world does not understand who it is dealing with, Yehezkeli said. They sent Al-Golani to protect the Druze, and his men committed severe massacres there. Only now are the Druze beginning to understand what really happened there under the guise of a police force. Its like Israel sending Abu Mazen (PA President Mahmoud Abbas) to the kibbutzim in the Gaza border area after the terrible October 7 massacre. Al-Golani understands now that, besides deceiving Israel, he can do everything and deceive the whole world, selling them on the idea of deploying international forces to helpand in effect turning Syria into an Islamist state. The other thing we understand from all these incidents is that there is actually a very strong jihad force in Syria, perhaps more than we estimated. These are Nukhba, organized battalions, a state armybut no different from Hamas forces, and Israel needs to think about this in relation to the future. In Yehezkelis opinion, it is already clear that it will be very difficult to hold a real dialogue with Al-Golani. Israel will have to consider expanding the buffer zones and understand who it is facing. All this happened when there was talk of peace with Al-Golani. Therefore, anyone who wants to sign agreements with that entity across the border in the Golan Heights needs to take into account that this is a sophisticated person who knows how to talk to the West and also be a murderer and beheader inside Syria. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) Iran said Monday it would hold renewed talks this week with European nations over the countrys 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. 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 non-compliance 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. 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. Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a letter to UN 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. 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. (AP) Following 12 days of fighting between Iran and Israel, the Ayatollah regime in Tehran has significantly increased its repression of its citizens to a degree not seen for years. The face of the capital, Tehran, has changed: the city streets are filled with military checkpoints, Revolutionary Guards armed forces, and the Basij militia, and the police raid homes, arresting citizens for no apparent reason, as reported by Walla. Javad, a 36-year-old software engineer living in Tehran, told the UKs Telegraph that since the end of the war, he has to wake up half an hour earlier every morning just to get through the series of checkpoints on his way to work, in scenes reminiscent of Baghdad or Damascus. They stop me at the same checkpoint every dayarmed, in every square, he said. They pick up people randomly, just to terrorize them. Following the ceasefire in June, Iran launched an unprecedented wave of arrests. The authorities claim to have uncovered Mossad spy networks operating within the country, and hundreds of residents have been arrested on suspicion of collaborating with Israel. At least six residents have already been executed in what the Amnesty human rights organization has described as trials conducted in a ridiculous and unfair manner. Even senior regime officials do not feel safe. Abdullah Shahbazi, a former senior intelligence official, said that the situation today is beyond imagination compared to the situation before the war with Israel. Senior government officials at the highest levels exchange safe houses every night and avoid using telephones for fear of assassination, he said. What has become clear to all of us is that there is extensive Mossad activity on the ground inside Iran. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) The 12-day war between Israel and Iran featured an unprecedented cyber campaign against the Islamic Republics financial system, the Wall Street Journal reported. According to the report, Israel destroyed digital assets and banking records to undermine the regime. Israel first attacked Bank Seraph, Irans oldest and largest state-owned bank and the central financial institution of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Predatory Sparrow, a hacker group that the report claims is linked to the Israeli government, claimed credit for deleting Bank Seraphs banking data, halting Irans military payroll, and causing a series of related disruptions. Automated teller machines went dark, and online and in-branch services shut down, the report said. Salary and pension payments halted. The hackers also penetrated Nobitex, Irans dominant cryptocurrency exchange, wiping out $90 million in IRGC funds. Predatory Sparrow reportedly extracted $90 million from wallets linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, then burned the assets by transferring the funds to addresses where they could not be retrieved, thereby permanently removing them from circulation, the article said. The attack created a nationwide panic. Irans largest commercial bank, Bank Melli, was not directly targeted in the attack but couldnt meet the demand for cash. The rial fell by over 12%, and trading on the Tehran Stock Exchange was suspended. Officials and security personnel were denied access to their personal funds, undermining the regimes ability to earn loyalty through financial means. The report added that the success of the cyber campaign reframed US strategy. When President Trump said at the NATO summit, We want [Iranians] to be prosperous, we want them to do well, but they cant have nuclear weapons, it was a message to Irans Supreme Leader that he must relinquish the nuclear program or face economic collapse. The sanctions imposed by the West that led Iran to use vulnerable channels such as crypto and informal banking will likely continue to be part of that strategy, along with the US actively aiding Israel in carrying out future cyberattacks on the Islamic Republic. Cyber warfare also rewards live-fire experience, the article said. The more Washington and Jerusalem operate together in combat, the stronger their alliance grows. And when the next big test comesas it surely willthe nations that have trained together under fire will dominate the field. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) AMMAN/JERUSALEM, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian Border Guard forces clashed with a group of armed smugglers attempting to cross into Jordan from Syria on Monday evening, resulting in the death of one smuggler, the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) reported Tuesday. A military source at the JAF said the group was detected while trying to illegally cross the border. One individual was killed during the confrontation, while the remaining smugglers fled back into Syrian territory. The source affirmed that the border guard forces will continue to employ all available resources to prevent infiltration and smuggling, and to protect Jordan's security and stability. Also on Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that its troops arrested weapons dealers and confiscated their weapons in southern Syria overnight. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs (D-N.Y.) district office in the Bronx was vandalized over the weekend following her vote against an effort to cut U.S. military assistance to Israel. The office, located in the Westchester Square neighborhood, was defaced with red paint and a sign reading AOC funds genocide in Gaza, according to images posted online. A photo of the congresswoman displayed in the window was also obscured with paint. A group calling itself the Boogie Down Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the incident, telling independent journalist Ashoka Jegroo that Ocasio-Cortez and other Bronx officials were using us as a stepping stone for their own political careers. In a statement, the group accused the congresswoman of hypocrisy for voting to maintain U.S. support for Israels missile defense programs. The backlash stems from Ocasio-Cortezs vote last week against an amendment introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to strip $500 million in funding for Israeli missile defense, including the Iron Dome. The measure failed overwhelmingly, 6422, with most Democrats and Republicans opposing it. Ocasio-Cortez defended her vote on social media, arguing the amendment was not a serious attempt to limit offensive U.S. aid to Israel. Marjorie Taylor Greenes amendment does nothing to cut off offensive aid to Israel nor end the flow of US munitions being used in Gaza, she wrote on X. Of course I voted against it. She added that the proposal would have cut off defensive Iron Dome capacities while allowing the actual bombs killing Palestinians to continue, reiterating her call to restrict offensive U.S. weapons transfers to Israel. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) An IDF reservist fell in battle in Rafah in southern Gaza on Monday, the IDF announced on Tuesday morning. He was identified as Sgt. Maj. (res.) Vladimir Loza, Hyd, 36, from Ashkelon. According to an initial IDF investigation, Loza, Hyd, and his fellow soldiers were searching a suspicious building when an explosive device detonated. The force of the explosion caused a wall to collapse on the soldiers, killing Loza, Hyd, and lightly injuring two others. The probe indicated that the device was planted in the building a long time ago and was not detonated remotely but exploded due to the troops movement in the area. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) The Houthis in Yemen launched a missile at Israel early Tuesday afternoon. BChasdei Hashem, the missile was intercepted outside Israel, and no sirens were sounded in accordance with protocol. Traffic at Ben-Gurion was halted for a short while. Earlier on Tuesday, at about 5:50 a.m., the Houthis fired a missile at Israel, triggering sirens in many cities and yishuvim in central Israel, the Sharon, and the Jerusalem area, waking up millions of Israelis. Shortly later, the IDF spokesperson said that the Air Force intercepted one missile from Yemen. BChasdei Hashem, there were no reports of injuries or damage. The Houthi fire came less than 24 hours after the Israeli Air Force launched an attack on the Hodeidah port in Yemen on Monday. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) President Trump has made a decision to pull the US out of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) due to its anti-America and anti-Israel leanings as well as its woke agenda, The New York Post reported on Tuesday morning. In February, Trump ordered a 90-day review of the UNESCO, with a focus on investigating any anti-Semitism or anti-Israel sentiment within the organization. Administration officials who carried out the review took issue with UNESCOs pro-Palestinian and pro-China bias as well as its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies, a White House official told The Post. President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCOwhich supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November, White House deputy spokesperson Anna Kelly said. This President will always put America First and ensure our countrys membership in all international organizations aligns with our national interests. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) Israeli passengers on the Crown Iris cruise ship, operated by the Israeli Mano Maritime shipping company, arrived at the island of Syros in Greece on Tuesday and were barred from leaving the ship due to a pro-Palestinian protest. The 1,600 passengers have been stuck on the ship for hours, with the police refusing to allow them to disembark due to fears that the passengers will be harmed by the protesters. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar spoke with his Greek counterpart, Giorgos Gerapetritis, and requested his intervention. Itzik, a passenger on the ship, told Ynet that the security personnel on the ship told the passengers that they had encountered similar demonstrations in the past in Athens and other destinations. The initial assessment of the security guards was that instead of getting off the ship at 12:30, there would be a delay of half an hour or an hour, but the Greek police decided to delay disembarkation from the ship and also sent a number of armed police officers in helmets who were deployed near the ship, he said. There is no direct contact between the protesters and the passengers since the protesters were not allowed to enter the port area and the passengers were not allowed to go ashore. As of now, there is no concern, as the police are separating the passengers from the protesters. Some of the passengers are afraid to go ashore if the police allow us to leave the ship. Ship passenger Daniella, from Raanana, said: There are about 200 protesters at the entrance to the port with Palestinian flags. They are not letting us off the ship and brought back those who did manage to get off. I understand that this is the first time the ship has docked here and the protesters knew we were coming and were waiting for us. Yesterday we docked in Rhodes without any problem at all. The Foreign Ministry stated that The Israeli embassy in Greece is in contact with the authorities regarding the ship and is monitoring the issue. They are trying to ensure their safe disembarkation. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) Three young Chareidim who were arrested during a protest against the chillul kevarim at an ancient beis kevaros in Yehud were transferred to the military police, it was reported on Tuesday. After their arrest, the police entered their names and ID cards into the police terminal and discovered that they are eligible for conscription. It was decided to transfer them to the military police in accordance with the Attorney Generals decision that any draft dodger caught by the police is automatically transferred to the military police. BChadrei Chareidim has learned that one of those arrested was the grandson of the Mishkenos HaRoim Rebbe. Following the arrests, Peleg Yerushalmi announced that they are launching a huge protest. Attorneys Shlomo Haddad and Itai Cohen, who are representing the three Chareidim, stated, Today, three young Chareidi men were arrested who participated in the protest in Yehud against chillul kevarim. The detainees were brought to the police station and interrogated, and after a review, it was decided to release them. However, during the review at the station, it became clear that the three are registered as wanted for military service. Following an inquiry conducted by the police with the IDF, an order was received to arrest them for draft evasion. This is a very unusual step. It seems that in the circumstances, this is an unusual action that raises questions, especially against the background of the nature of the protest and the public sensitivity surrounding the issues of the kevarim and of Chareidi recruitment to the IDF, the attorneys added. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded to US President Donald Trumps decision to pull the US out of UNESCO due to its anti-America, anti-Israel, and woke agenda. We welcome the US administrations decision to withdraw from UNESCO, he wrote. This is a necessary step, designed to promote justice and Israels right for fair treatment in the UN system, a right which has often been trampled due to politicization in this arena. Singling out Israel and politicization by member states must end, in this and all professional UN agencies. Israel thanks the US for its moral support and leadership, especially in the multilateral arena which is plagued with anti-Israel discrimination. The United Nations requires fundamental reforms in order to remain relevant. Former US Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan responded by stating: Thank you, President Trump, for taking this critical step toward defunding the biased UN, an institution that bends over backward to serve terrorists and rogue regimes. The next step is clear: the UN must be entirely defunded, dismantled, and replaced with a League of Democracies that defends the values and security of the free world. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) From July 2021, the Sarasota Jewish community is launching a bold, 36-hour campaign to raise $400,000with every dollar matched! The goal? To plant deep Torah roots in Sarasota and ensure a vibrant Jewish future. With a growing population of 40,000 Jews in the area, this campaign seeks to unite the community in a shared vision: building Sarasotas enduring Torah legacy. Join the movement. Double your impact. Be part of something lasting. Donate now at: charidy.com/SJDS Raymond James Financial (NYSE:RJF Get Free Report) is expected to be releasing its Q3 2025 earnings data after the market closes on Wednesday, July 23rd. Analysts expect Raymond James Financial to post earnings of $2.37 per share and revenue of $3.38 billion for the quarter. Raymond James Financial (NYSE:RJF Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The financial services provider reported $2.42 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.44 by ($0.02). Raymond James Financial had a return on equity of 19.31% and a net margin of 13.99%. The company had revenue of $3.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.46 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.31 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 9.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect Raymond James Financial to post $11 EPS for the current fiscal year and $12 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Raymond James Financial alerts: Raymond James Financial Stock Performance RJF stock opened at $159.44 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $151.57 and a 200 day moving average price of $149.83. Raymond James Financial has a fifty-two week low of $104.24 and a fifty-two week high of $174.32. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.17 billion, a PE ratio of 15.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.02. Raymond James Financial Dividend Announcement Analysts Set New Price Targets The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 1st were given a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.25%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, July 1st. Raymond James Financials payout ratio is 19.25%. RJF has been the subject of several recent research reports. JMP Securities upped their target price on shares of Raymond James Financial from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a market outperform rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Citigroup reissued an outperform rating on shares of Raymond James Financial in a report on Monday, July 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on shares of Raymond James Financial from $198.00 to $173.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 3rd. Cowen reissued a hold rating on shares of Raymond James Financial in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Bank of America lowered shares of Raymond James Financial from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $159.00 price target for the company. in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Raymond James Financial presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $162.40. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on RJF Insider Transactions at Raymond James Financial In other news, insider James E. Bunn sold 3,650 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $136.49, for a total value of $498,188.50. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 78,227 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,677,203.23. This represents a 4.46% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Bella Loykhter Allaire sold 6,570 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.61, for a total transaction of $963,227.70. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 74,586 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,935,053.46. The trade was a 8.10% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Raymond James Financial A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Raymond James Financial stock. Empowered Funds LLC raised its stake in Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE:RJF Free Report) by 8.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,142 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 314 shares during the quarter. Empowered Funds LLCs holdings in Raymond James Financial were worth $573,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. 83.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Raymond James Financial (Get Free Report) Raymond James Financial, Inc, a financial holding company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the underwriting, distribution, trading, and brokerage of equity and debt securities, and the sale of mutual funds and other investment products in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Private Client Group, Capital Markets, Asset Management, RJ Bank, and Other segments. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Raymond James Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Raymond James Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CANBERRA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Australia's federal government has announced a funding package to boost the response to a devastating toxic algal bloom off the country's south coast. Murray Watt, minister for the environment and water, on Monday night committed up to 14 million Australian dollars (9.1 million U.S. dollars) in federal funding to support efforts in South Australia (SA) to combat the effects of the algal bloom. He said at a press conference in Adelaide alongside state Premier Peter Malinauskas that the funding will go towards science and research, business assistance, clean-up efforts and community awareness and support. The outbreak of the toxic algae Karenia mikimotoi was first detected off the coast of SA in March and has since caused the deaths of tens of thousands of marine creatures, including sharks, penguins and octopuses. Watt, who inspected Adelaide beaches affected by the outbreak on Monday, said that the algal bloom is unprecedented in Australia but did not declare it a national disaster, a step that has been called for by some experts and politicians to streamline government activities and unlock funding. "This is an unprecedented event and one of the difficulties has been understanding exactly what its impacts are and what sort of response is required," he said. The SA Department for Environment and Water has identified a marine heatwave that started in September 2024, 2022-23 flooding that washed extra nutrients into the sea and a cold-water upwelling in 2023-24 that brought nutrient-rich water to the surface as possible causes of the outbreak. According to experts, nothing can be done to dilute the bloom and it will only dissipate when environmental conditions change. Malinauskas said on Monday night that the federal funding would go "a long way" to assisting people who are being affected most harshly by the toxic algae. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:VLRS Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the eight ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $7.44. A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on VLRS shares. Itau BBA Securities cut Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion from $13.00 to $7.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. UBS Group decreased their price target on Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion from $12.00 to $6.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 15th. TD Cowen decreased their price target on Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion from $10.00 to $6.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $4.40 price target on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, April 29th. Get Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion Institutional Inflows and Outflows Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion Trading Down 1.0% A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of VLRS. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion by 146.0% in the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 184,952 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,376,000 after purchasing an additional 109,776 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion in the 4th quarter worth $153,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion in the 4th quarter worth $2,106,000. Virtu Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion in the 4th quarter worth $112,000. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in shares of Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion by 7.0% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 263,141 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,958,000 after purchasing an additional 17,158 shares during the last quarter. 53.32% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion stock opened at $4.46 on Thursday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $4.55 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $5.69. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67. The stock has a market cap of $519.45 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.38 and a beta of 2.12. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion has a 12 month low of $3.49 and a 12 month high of $9.00. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion (NYSE:VLRS Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, April 28th. The transportation company reported ($0.44) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.54) by $0.10. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion had a return on equity of 13.07% and a net margin of 1.38%. The business had revenue of $678.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $708.83 million. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion will post 1.21 EPS for the current year. Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion Company Profile (Get Free Report Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiary, Concesionaria Vuela Compania de Aviacion, SAP.I. de C.V., provides air transportation services for passengers, cargo, and mail in Mexico and internationally. The company operates approximately 590 daily flights on routes connecting 43 cities in Mexico, 22 cities in the United States, 4 cities in Central America, and 2 cities in South America. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Controladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rogers Communication (NYSE:RCI Get Free Report) (TSE:RCI.B) is anticipated to announce its Q2 2025 earnings results before the market opens on Wednesday, July 23rd. Analysts expect Rogers Communication to post earnings of $0.75 per share and revenue of $5.12 billion for the quarter. Rogers Communication (NYSE:RCI Get Free Report) (TSE:RCI.B) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.69 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $3.46 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.96 billion. Rogers Communication had a net margin of 8.53% and a return on equity of 25.28%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.99 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect Rogers Communication to post $4 EPS for the current fiscal year and $4 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Rogers Communication alerts: Rogers Communication Stock Performance Shares of NYSE RCI opened at $33.34 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $28.54 and a 200-day simple moving average of $27.68. Rogers Communication has a 12 month low of $23.18 and a 12 month high of $41.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.97, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.94. The company has a market cap of $17.94 billion, a PE ratio of 14.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 0.76. Rogers Communication Increases Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 3rd. Investors of record on Monday, June 9th were given a dividend of $0.3611 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 9th. This is an increase from Rogers Communications previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. This represents a $1.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.33%. Rogers Communications payout ratio is presently 62.66%. RCI has been the subject of several research reports. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Rogers Communication in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Scotiabank reaffirmed a sector perform rating on shares of Rogers Communication in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group upgraded Rogers Communication from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, April 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $67.00. Get Our Latest Report on RCI About Rogers Communication (Get Free Report) Rogers Communications Inc operates as a communications and media company in Canada. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The company offers mobile Internet access, wireless voice and enhanced voice, device financing, device protection, global voice and data roaming, wireless home phone, bridging landline, machine-to-machine and Internet of Things solutions, and advanced wireless solutions for businesses, as well as device shipping and express pickup services; and postpaid and prepaid services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Rogers Communication Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rogers Communication and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS Get Free Report) will likely be issuing its Q2 2025 quarterly earnings data after the market closes on Wednesday, July 23rd. Analysts expect Las Vegas Sands to post earnings of $0.55 per share and revenue of $2.83 billion for the quarter. Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The casino operator reported $0.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.60 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $2.86 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.95 billion. Las Vegas Sands had a net margin of 11.64% and a return on equity of 44.91%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.78 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect Las Vegas Sands to post $3 EPS for the current fiscal year and $3 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Las Vegas Sands alerts: Las Vegas Sands Stock Performance LVS stock opened at $48.30 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $43.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $42.04. Las Vegas Sands has a one year low of $30.18 and a one year high of $56.61. The firm has a market cap of $34.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.96, a PEG ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.58, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 0.59. Las Vegas Sands Announces Dividend Las Vegas Sands announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, April 23rd that authorizes the company to repurchase $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the casino operator to buy up to 8.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are usually an indication that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 14th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 6th were given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.07%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 6th. Las Vegas Sandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 55.56%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows An institutional investor recently raised its position in Las Vegas Sands stock. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its position in Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS Free Report) by 8.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 31,251 shares of the casino operators stock after purchasing an additional 2,418 shares during the quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd.s holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $1,207,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 39.16% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have recently weighed in on LVS. Stifel Nicolaus set a $57.00 price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on Las Vegas Sands in a research report on Monday, June 23rd. They set a neutral rating and a $47.00 price objective on the stock. UBS Group lifted their target price on Las Vegas Sands from $43.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Las Vegas Sands in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $45.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, July 11th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Las Vegas Sands has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $55.54. Read Our Latest Analysis on Las Vegas Sands About Las Vegas Sands (Get Free Report) Las Vegas Sands Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates integrated resorts in Macao and Singapore. It owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, and the Sands Macao in Macao, the Peoples Republic of China; and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Las Vegas Sands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Las Vegas Sands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gries Financial LLC cut its position in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 8.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 26,657 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 2,589 shares during the period. Gries Financial LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $676,000 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 PFE. Edgemoor Investment Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 1,040.9% in the first quarter. Edgemoor Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 213,573 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $5,412,000 after purchasing an additional 194,853 shares during the period. Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd. raised its holdings in Pfizer by 7.0% during the first quarter. Wealth Dimensions Group Ltd. now owns 29,783 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $755,000 after purchasing an additional 1,938 shares in the last quarter. 4WEALTH Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 25.9% in the 1st quarter. 4WEALTH Advisors Inc. now owns 13,490 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $342,000 after acquiring an additional 2,779 shares during the period. Miller Financial Services LLC grew its position in Pfizer by 7.0% in the 1st quarter. Miller Financial Services LLC now owns 17,363 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $440,000 after buying an additional 1,133 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Pfizer by 8,490.0% during the 1st quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 2,534,319 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $64,220,000 after purchasing an additional 2,504,816 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.36% of the companys stock. Get Pfizer alerts: Pfizer Trading Down 0.8% Shares of Pfizer stock opened at $24.27 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. The firm has a market cap of $137.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.58, a PEG ratio of 0.89 and a beta of 0.58. Pfizer Inc. has a twelve month low of $20.92 and a twelve month high of $31.54. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $24.07 and a 200-day moving average price of $24.71. Pfizer Dividend Announcement Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.92 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.67 by $0.25. The firm had revenue of $13.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.43 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 12.62% and a return on equity of 20.33%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.82 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 25th will be issued a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 25th. Pfizers payout ratio is 124.64%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Leerink Partners dropped their price target on Pfizer from $28.00 to $26.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on Pfizer in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. They set a neutral rating and a $24.00 target price for the company. Bank of America raised their target price on Pfizer from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on Pfizer from $36.00 to $30.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Pfizer from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a neutral 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 given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $28.55. Get Our Latest Stock Report on PFE 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 Stories 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. OneAscent Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 918 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $207,000. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AIT. GW&K Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 28.6% in the first quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC now owns 79,632 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $17,944,000 after acquiring an additional 17,705 shares in the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH increased its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 7.0% during the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 55,630 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $12,536,000 after acquiring an additional 3,641 shares during the last quarter. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies during the first quarter valued at approximately $188,000. IFP Advisors Inc grew its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 137.8% in the first quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,044 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $235,000 after purchasing an additional 605 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Csenge Advisory Group grew its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 24.2% in the first quarter. Csenge Advisory Group now owns 2,653 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $588,000 after purchasing an additional 517 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.52% of the companys stock. Get Applied Industrial Technologies alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently weighed in on AIT. Loop Capital cut their price target on Applied Industrial Technologies from $320.00 to $290.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Wall Street Zen cut Applied Industrial Technologies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Raymond James Financial reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $250.00 price objective (down from $265.00) on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a report on Friday, May 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Applied Industrial Technologies has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $285.00. Applied Industrial Technologies Price Performance NYSE AIT opened at $259.98 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $235.92 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $238.27. The company has a current ratio of 3.57, a quick ratio of 2.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The stock has a market cap of $9.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.17 and a beta of 0.91. Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $188.71 and a 52 week high of $282.98. Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.40 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $1.17 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.17 billion. Applied Industrial Technologies had a net margin of 8.64% and a return on equity of 22.01%. The companys revenue was up 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.48 EPS. Analysts forecast that Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. will post 9.9 EPS for the current year. Applied Industrial Technologies declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Thursday, May 1st that authorizes the company to buyback 1,500,000 outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the industrial products company to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued. Applied Industrial Technologies Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.71%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 15th. Applied Industrial Technologiess payout ratio is presently 18.47%. Applied Industrial Technologies Profile (Free Report) Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc distributes industrial motion, power, control, and automation technology solutions in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. It operates in two segments, Service Center Based Distribution, and Engineered Solutions. The company distributes bearings, power transmission products, engineered fluid power components and systems, specialty flow control solutions, advanced automation products, industrial rubber products, linear motion components, automation solutions, tools, safety products, oilfield supplies, and other industrial and maintenance supplies; and motors, belting, drives, couplings, pumps, hydraulic and pneumatic components, filtration supplies, valves, fittings, process instrumentation, actuators, and hoses, filtration supplies, as well as other related supplies for general operational needs of customers' machinery and equipment. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AIT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:AIT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Applied Industrial Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Applied Industrial Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco (NYSE:IVZ Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The asset manager reported $0.36 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.41 by ($0.05), Zacks reports. Invesco had a return on equity of 8.94% and a net margin of 13.14%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.43 earnings per share. Invesco Trading Up 6.2% Shares of Invesco stock opened at $21.15 on Tuesday. Invesco has a 52-week low of $11.60 and a 52-week high of $21.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a current ratio of 1.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.95, a P/E/G ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.48. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $15.52 and its 200 day simple moving average is $15.78. Get Invesco alerts: Invesco Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 14th will be issued a $0.21 dividend. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.97%. Invescos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 67.20%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Analyst Ratings Changes Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its position 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 during the period. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC bought a new stake in Invesco in the first quarter valued at about $563,000. Woodline Partners LP boosted 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 buying an additional 10,859 shares during the period. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its stake in shares of Invesco by 1.2% in 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 during the last quarter. 66.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup lowered their price objective on Invesco from $20.00 to $16.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 31st. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Invesco from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and lifted their price target for the company from $14.50 to $18.00 in a research note on Friday, July 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Invesco from $16.25 to $16.75 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, June 27th. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on shares of Invesco from $13.00 to $15.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and issued a $16.00 target price (up from $14.00) on shares of Invesco in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Invesco presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $18.45. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on IVZ About Invesco (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. Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN Free Report) by 0.3% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 81,934 shares of the companys stock after selling 220 shares during the quarter. Brookfield makes up 1.7% of Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest position. Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc.s holdings in Brookfield were worth $4,336,000 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 stock. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Brookfield during the 4th quarter valued at $973,591,000. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Brookfield by 32.0% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 7,960,098 shares of the companys stock valued at $460,489,000 after purchasing an additional 1,930,218 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors lifted its holdings in Brookfield by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 59,020,303 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,390,786,000 after purchasing an additional 1,782,034 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. increased its position in Brookfield by 51.9% during the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 4,839,267 shares of the companys stock worth $278,016,000 after buying an additional 1,652,935 shares during the period. Finally, FIL Ltd increased its position in Brookfield by 8.8% during the 4th quarter. FIL Ltd now owns 20,354,516 shares of the companys stock worth $1,169,912,000 after buying an additional 1,640,903 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 61.60% of the companys stock. Get Brookfield alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets BN has been the topic of several recent research reports. Scotiabank lowered their price objective on Brookfield from $71.00 to $68.00 and set a sector outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 7th. Wall Street Zen cut Brookfield from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, July 12th. CIBC lowered their price objective on Brookfield from $74.00 to $72.00 and set an outperformer rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Brookfield from $66.00 to $65.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada initiated coverage on Brookfield in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. They set an outperform rating and a $81.00 price objective on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $66.13. Brookfield Price Performance Shares of NYSE BN traded down $0.26 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $66.07. The company had a trading volume of 245,197 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,459,375. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.49, a quick ratio of 1.18 and a current ratio of 1.30. Brookfield Corporation has a one year low of $42.21 and a one year high of $68.75. The firm has a market cap of $108.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 236.11 and a beta of 1.66. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $60.34 and its 200 day simple moving average is $56.82. Brookfield (NYSE:BN Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $0.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $1.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.36 billion. Brookfield had a return on equity of 4.20% and a net margin of 0.76%. On average, research analysts predict that Brookfield Corporation will post 3.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Brookfield Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 13th were paid a $0.09 dividend. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.54%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 13th. Brookfields dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 128.57%. About Brookfield (Free Report) Brookfield Corporation is an alternative asset manager and REIT/Real Estate Investment Manager firm focuses on real estate, renewable power, infrastructure and venture capital and private equity assets. It manages a range of public and private investment products and services for institutional and retail clients. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kion Group (OTCMKTS:KIGRY Get Free Report) is one of 24 public companies in the Industrial Services industry, but how does it compare to its competitors? We will compare Kion Group to similar businesses based on the strength of its profitability, risk, analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership, valuation and dividends. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Kion Group and its competitors top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Kion Group alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Kion Group $12.45 billion $389.88 million 35.13 Kion Group Competitors $9.76 billion $637.30 million 17.82 Kion Group has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its competitors. Kion 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. Profitability Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Kion Group 1.80% 3.39% 1.12% Kion Group Competitors -13.96% 10.84% 3.41% Institutional and Insider Ownership This table compares Kion Group and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. 57.2% of shares of all Industrial Services companies are owned by institutional investors. 19.1% of shares of all Industrial Services companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Risk & Volatility Kion Group has a beta of 2.02, suggesting that its stock price is 102% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Kion Groups competitors have a beta of 1.16, suggesting that their average stock price is 16% more volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Kion Group and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Kion Group 0 0 1 3 3.75 Kion Group Competitors 349 871 979 33 2.31 As a group, Industrial Services companies have a potential upside of 9.39%. Given Kion Groups competitors higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Kion Group has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. Dividends Kion Group pays an annual dividend of $0.14 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. Kion Group pays out 33.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Industrial Services companies pay a dividend yield of 1.2% and pay out 30.5% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Kion Group lags its competitors as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio. Summary Kion Group competitors beat Kion Group on 9 of the 15 factors compared. Kion Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) KION GROUP AG provides industrial trucks and supply chain solutions worldwide. The company operates in Industrial Trucks & Services and Supply Chain Solutions segments. It offers forklift trucks, counterbalance trucks with electric drive and internal combustion engine, ride-on and hand-operated warehouse trucks, automated guided vehicle systems (AGVs), and towing vehicles under the Linde, STILL, Baoli, Fenwick, and OM brands. The company also manufactures and sells spare parts; leases and rents industrial trucks and related items; and offers maintenance and repair, and fleet management services, as well as provides finance solutions. In addition, it provides integrated technology and software solutions, including automated guided vehicle systems, palletizers, storage and picking equipment, automated storage and retrieval systems, sorters, and conveyors under the Dematic brand. The company was formerly known as KION Holding 1 GmbH. KION GROUP AG was founded in 2006 and is based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Receive News & Ratings for Kion Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kion Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina (NYSE:LOMA Get Free Report) is one of 23 publicly-traded companies in the BLDG RSDNT/COMR industry, but how does it compare to its rivals? We will compare Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina to similar companies based on the strength of its dividends, risk, earnings, institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations and profitability. Risk & Volatility Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina has a beta of 1.05, suggesting that its stock price is 5% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentinas rivals have a beta of 0.95, suggesting that their average stock price is 5% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina alerts: Profitability This table compares Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina 14.52% 12.51% 6.95% Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Competitors 11.42% 18.05% 10.97% Analyst Ratings Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina 0 0 4 0 3.00 Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Competitors 379 1825 2064 66 2.42 This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat. Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina presently has a consensus price target of $14.80, suggesting a potential upside of 37.29%. As a group, BLDG RSDNT/COMR companies have a potential upside of 16.65%. Given Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentinas stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina is more favorable than its rivals. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina $683.24 billion $169.19 million 12.83 Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Competitors $45.30 billion $1.27 billion 5.82 Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its rivals. Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina 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 19.3% of Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 78.6% of shares of all BLDG RSDNT/COMR companies are held by institutional investors. 8.2% of shares of all BLDG RSDNT/COMR companies are held by company 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. Dividends Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina pays an annual dividend of $0.39 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.6%. Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina pays out 46.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BLDG RSDNT/COMR companies pay a dividend yield of 1.5% and pay out 13.0% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Summary Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina beats its rivals on 8 of the 15 factors compared. About Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina (Get Free Report) Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells cement and its derivatives in Argentina. The company operates through Cement, Masonry Cement and Lime; Concrete; Railroad; Aggregates; and Others segments. It offers masonry cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, concrete, and lime to wholesale distributors, concrete producers, industrial customers, and others for use in the construction. The company also provides rail transportation services; and treats and recycles industrial waste for use as fuel and raw material. It markets its products under the Loma Negra, San Martin, Plasticor, Cacique Plus, Cacique Max, Loma Negra Plus, and Lomax brands. The company was founded in 1926 and is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima is a subsidiary of Intercement Trading E Inversiones Argentina Sociedad Limitada. Receive News & Ratings for Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. grew its holdings in Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM Free Report) by 1,828.6% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 675 shares of the basic materials companys stock after buying an additional 640 shares during the quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc.s holdings in Newmont were worth $33,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Newmont by 16.6% during the 1st quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 250,117 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $12,076,000 after purchasing an additional 35,673 shares in the last quarter. Carmel Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Newmont during the 1st quarter worth about $260,000. Lindbrook Capital LLC grew its holdings in Newmont by 24.5% during the 1st quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 5,120 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $247,000 after acquiring an additional 1,007 shares during the last quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky grew its holdings in Newmont by 3.5% during the 1st quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 88,023 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $4,250,000 after acquiring an additional 2,997 shares during the last quarter. Finally, J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Newmont in the 1st quarter valued at about $1,993,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.85% of the companys stock. Get Newmont alerts: Newmont Trading Up 2.9% NYSE NEM opened at $59.86 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $66.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.42, a PEG ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.33. Newmont Corporation has a one year low of $36.86 and a one year high of $61.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.98 and a quick ratio of 1.70. The businesss fifty day moving average is $55.83 and its 200-day moving average is $49.80. Newmont Dividend Announcement Newmont ( NYSE:NEM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The basic materials company reported $1.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.54. Newmont had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 25.77%. The business had revenue of $5.01 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.82 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.55 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Newmont Corporation will post 3.45 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 20th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.67%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 27th. Newmonts payout ratio is 22.42%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on NEM shares. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Newmont from $52.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, June 4th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Newmont from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 30th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Newmont from $60.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 3rd. Argus set a $63.00 price objective on shares of Newmont in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $60.90 price objective on shares of Newmont in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $62.49. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on NEM Insider Activity In other Newmont news, Director Bruce R. Brook sold 2,077 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.75, for a total value of $122,023.75. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 43,103 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,532,301.25. This represents a 4.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Peter Toth sold 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.09, for a total value of $162,270.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 77,526 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,193,381.34. This represents a 3.73% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 12,231 shares of company stock valued at $679,813 in the last three months. 0.05% of the stock is owned by insiders. About Newmont (Free Report) 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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NEM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Newmont Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Newmont and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ISLAMABAD, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces killed eight terrorists during two operations in the country's southwestern Balochistan province, the military said on Tuesday. The security forces conducted the operations in two different areas of the Kalat district of the province on reported presence of terrorists, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement. During one of the operations, four terrorists were killed by security forces in the Kalat district, said the ISPR statement, adding that earlier, another four terrorists were also successfully neutralized in an intelligence-based operation. It said that the terrorists' hideouts were also busted, and a large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered during the operations. The military said the security forces of Pakistan are determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan province. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The company reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.05, Zacks reports. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 122.40% and a net margin of 8.43%. The firm had revenue of $10.14 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.33 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.59 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Philip Morris International updated its Q3 2025 guidance to 2.080-2.130 EPS. Philip Morris International Price Performance Shares of PM traded down $12.57 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $167.91. The stock had a trading volume of 7,606,247 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,674,911. The firm has a market cap of $261.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.60, a PEG ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 0.51. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $178.83 and a 200-day moving average price of $159.09. Philip Morris International has a 52 week low of $106.76 and a 52 week high of $186.69. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 27th were paid a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 27th. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.22%. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is presently 111.34%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have issued reports on PM. Barclays restated an overweight rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Tuesday. Citigroup restated an overweight rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Tuesday. Needham & Company LLC assumed coverage on Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. They set a buy rating for the company. Bank of America increased their price target on Philip Morris International from $182.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $182.00 price target (up from $156.00) on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $186.73. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Philip Morris International Institutional Trading of Philip Morris International A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Philip Morris International stock. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 4.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,097 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 91 shares during the quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $252,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 78.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Philip Morris International Company Profile (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. Flynn Zito Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF Free Report) by 774.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 27,391 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 24,258 shares during the period. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF accounts for 4.5% of Flynn Zito Capital Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 5th largest holding. Flynn Zito Capital Management LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF were worth $9,891,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of IWF. Obermeyer Wealth Partners grew its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 27.0% in the first quarter. Obermeyer Wealth Partners now owns 3,565 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,287,000 after purchasing an additional 759 shares during the period. 1776 Wealth LLC raised its position in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 60.9% in the first quarter. 1776 Wealth LLC now owns 970 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $350,000 after acquiring an additional 367 shares during the period. 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 during the period. Millstone Evans Group LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 754.6% in the first quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC now owns 1,299 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $469,000 after purchasing an additional 1,147 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lowery Thomas LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 0.8% in the first quarter. Lowery Thomas LLC now owns 14,251 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $5,146,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.33% of the companys stock. Get iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF alerts: iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Price Performance IWF stock opened at $434.25 on Tuesday. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a one year low of $308.67 and a one year high of $437.39. The stock has a market cap of $113.73 billion, a PE ratio of 33.43 and a beta of 1.08. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $411.02 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $391.79. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Company 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. Recommended Stories 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. Choreo LLC lifted its holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR Free Report) by 1.5% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 97,320 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 1,455 shares during the period. Choreo LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF were worth $10,177,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. 3Chopt Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF during the 1st quarter worth $544,000. Pathway Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 29.6% during the 1st quarter. Pathway Financial Advisors LLC now owns 109,794 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $11,481,000 after acquiring an additional 25,106 shares in the last quarter. Naples Global Advisors LLC grew its holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 9.5% during the 1st quarter. Naples Global Advisors LLC now owns 58,096 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $6,075,000 after acquiring an additional 5,055 shares in the last quarter. Alley Investment Management Company LLC grew its holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Alley Investment Management Company LLC now owns 71,815 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $7,510,000 after acquiring an additional 468 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 3.4% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 32,066,508 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $3,694,703,000 after acquiring an additional 1,052,941 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 66.92% of the companys stock. Get iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF alerts: iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Trading Up 0.8% NYSEARCA:IJR traded up $0.93 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $112.54. The stock had a trading volume of 2,634,588 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,427,336. The stock has a market capitalization of $81.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.52 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $108.49 and a 200-day simple moving average of $108.28. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has a 52 week low of $89.22 and a 52 week high of $128.61. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Profile iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, formerly iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund, seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Standard & Poors SmallCap 600 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of publicly traded securities in the small-capitalization sector of the United States equity market. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core S&P Small-Cap 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 Small-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Asset Management LLC decreased its holdings in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (BATS:FLOT Free Report) by 10.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,997 shares of the companys stock after selling 786 shares during the quarter. Summit Asset Management LLCs holdings in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF were worth $357,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in FLOT. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 143.4% during the 1st quarter. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 10,396 shares of the companys stock worth $531,000 after acquiring an additional 6,124 shares during the period. Colonial Trust Advisors raised its stake in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Colonial Trust Advisors now owns 243,175 shares of the companys stock worth $12,373,000 after acquiring an additional 4,992 shares during the period. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC raised its stake in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 10.9% during the 1st quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 8,757 shares of the companys stock worth $447,000 after acquiring an additional 859 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its stake in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 165.9% during the first quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 2,119 shares of the companys stock valued at $108,000 after acquiring an additional 1,322 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management grew its stake in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 13.0% during the first quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 1,880 shares of the companys stock valued at $96,000 after acquiring an additional 217 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF alerts: iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF Stock Performance FLOT traded up $0.04 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $51.02. 2,399,080 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,521,147. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $50.91 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $50.89. iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF has a 1 year low of $49.75 and a 1 year high of $51.34. About iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF The iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (FLOT) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks a market value-weighted index of USD-denominated, investment-grade floating rate notes with maturities of 0-5 years. FLOT was launched on Jun 14, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FLOT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (BATS:FLOT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich reduced its stake in shares of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT Free Report) by 22.9% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 538,454 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 159,645 shares during the quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurichs holdings in Caterpillar were worth $195,800,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CAT. Investment Management Corp VA ADV purchased a new stake in Caterpillar during the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of Caterpillar in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Caterpillar in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Mattson Financial Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Caterpillar in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, Curat Global LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Caterpillar in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. 70.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Caterpillar alerts: Caterpillar Price Performance CAT traded up $3.04 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $413.11. 422,205 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,497,579. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 0.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $194.59 billion, a PE ratio of 20.16, a P/E/G ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 1.38. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $369.61 and its 200 day moving average price is $349.62. Caterpillar Inc. has a 1-year low of $267.30 and a 1-year high of $419.90. Caterpillar Increases Dividend Caterpillar ( NYSE:CAT Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 30th. The industrial products company reported $4.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.35 by ($0.10). Caterpillar had a net margin of 15.71% and a return on equity of 53.77%. The firm had revenue of $14.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.64 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $5.60 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Caterpillar Inc. will post 19.86 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 20th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 21st will be paid a dividend of $1.51 per share. This is an increase from Caterpillars previous quarterly dividend of $1.41. This represents a $6.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, July 21st. Caterpillars payout ratio is currently 27.49%. Insider Transactions at Caterpillar In other news, Director David Maclennan purchased 375 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 7th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $320.70 per share, for a total transaction of $120,262.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 6,653 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,133,617.10. The trade was a 5.97% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have issued reports on CAT. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Caterpillar from $395.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Citigroup restated a buy rating and issued a $420.00 price objective (up from $370.00) on shares of Caterpillar in a report on Tuesday, June 24th. Melius Research upgraded shares of Caterpillar from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating and set a $500.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. DA Davidson lifted their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $325.00 to $331.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, May 5th. Finally, Oppenheimer lifted their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $395.00 to $483.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, July 17th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten 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 an average target price of $415.53. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Caterpillar About Caterpillar (Free Report) Caterpillar Inc manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives in worldwide. Its Construction Industries segment offers asphalt pavers, compactors, road reclaimers, forestry machines, cold planers, material handlers, track-type tractors, excavators, telehandlers, motor graders, and pipelayers; compact track, wheel, track-type, backhoe, and skid steer loaders; and related parts and tools. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CAT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Caterpillar Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Caterpillar and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hartford Funds Management Co LLC increased its position in shares of Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC Free Report) by 27.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 25,463 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 5,466 shares during the period. Hartford Funds Management Co LLCs holdings in Bank of America were worth $1,063,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Gradient Investments LLC raised its position in shares of Bank of America by 7.8% in the first quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 696,416 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,061,000 after buying an additional 50,296 shares in the last quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. grew its position in shares of Bank of America by 13.7% during the 4th quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 6,251,802 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $274,767,000 after acquiring an additional 753,880 shares during the period. Employees Retirement System of Texas boosted its holdings in Bank of America by 12.7% in the 4th quarter. Employees Retirement System of Texas now owns 158,455 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $69,640,000 after buying an additional 17,880 shares during the period. Prosperity Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Bank of America during the 1st quarter valued at about $998,000. Finally, Alpha Cubed Investments LLC raised its position in shares of Bank of America by 37.2% during the 1st quarter. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC now owns 65,038 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,714,000 after buying an additional 17,619 shares in the last quarter. 70.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Bank of America alerts: Bank of America Stock Up 1.0% BAC stock opened at $47.81 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $360.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.88, a P/E/G ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.30. Bank of America Corporation has a 52-week low of $33.07 and a 52-week high of $49.31. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $45.53 and its 200-day simple moving average is $43.64. Bank of America Dividend Announcement Bank of America ( NYSE:BAC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.86 by $0.03. The company had revenue of ($22,273.00) million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $26.79 billion. Bank of America had a net margin of 14.81% and a return on equity of 10.25%. The firms revenue was up 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.83 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Bank of America Corporation will post 3.7 EPS for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 6th were paid a $0.26 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 6th. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.18%. Bank of Americas payout ratio is 30.41%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Evercore ISI reduced their target price on shares of Bank of America from $51.00 to $48.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Bank of America from $47.00 to $49.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, June 23rd. Argus lowered their price target on shares of Bank of America from $53.00 to $47.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price target on shares of Bank of America from $55.00 to $52.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reissued a neutral rating and issued a $52.00 price objective on shares of Bank of America in a research report on Friday, June 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $50.03. View Our Latest Analysis on BAC Bank of America Company Profile (Free Report) Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. It operates in four segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, and Global Markets. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bank of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich trimmed its position in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report) by 45.4% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 827,657 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 687,072 shares during the quarter. UnitedHealth Group comprises 1.6% of Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurichs investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest position. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich owned 0.09% of UnitedHealth Group worth $471,616,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in UNH. Financial Management Professionals Inc. increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 2,224 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $1,165,000 after buying an additional 17 shares during the period. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 28.6% during the 1st quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 90 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the period. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,135 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $1,080,000 after buying an additional 21 shares during the period. Retirement Planning Group LLC increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Retirement Planning Group LLC now owns 430 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $225,000 after buying an additional 21 shares during the period. Finally, Net Worth Advisory Group increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Net Worth Advisory Group now owns 3,642 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $1,907,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 1.0% Shares of NYSE:UNH traded up $2.87 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $285.01. The company had a trading volume of 4,643,274 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,817,920. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $304.47 and its 200-day moving average price is $432.39. The stock has a market capitalization of $258.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.94, a PEG ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.45. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a one year low of $248.88 and a one year high of $630.73. UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend Analyst Ratings Changes The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 16th were paid a dividend of $2.21 per share. This is a positive change from UnitedHealth Groups previous quarterly dividend of $2.10. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 16th. This represents a $8.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.10%. UnitedHealth Groups payout ratio is presently 37.02%. A number of brokerages have commented on UNH. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $525.00 to $355.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Erste Group Bank cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Wells Fargo & Company restated an overweight rating on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Friday, June 6th. Mizuho lowered their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $515.00 to $350.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, May 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, UnitedHealth Group presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $394.43. Read Our Latest Research Report on UNH Insider Activity at UnitedHealth Group In other news, Director Timothy Patrick Flynn purchased 1,533 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was bought at an average price of $320.80 per share, with a total value of $491,786.40. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 6,033 shares in the company, valued at $1,935,386.40. The trade was a 34.07% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Stephen J. Hemsley acquired 86,700 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 16th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $288.57 per share, with a total value of $25,019,019.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer directly owned 679,493 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $196,081,295.01. This trade represents a 14.63% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have acquired 109,408 shares of company stock valued at $31,607,768. Company insiders own 0.28% of the companys stock. About UnitedHealth Group (Free Report) UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for UnitedHealth Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UnitedHealth Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Imposing 30 percent tariffs on EU exports would disturb bilateral trade, harming European producers and farmers, while raising costs and limiting choices for American businesses and consumers, according to European businesspeople. Produced by Xinhua Global Service LOS ANGELES, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Over 280 current and former NASA employees issued a formal open letter to NASA's interim administrator Sean Duffy on Monday, expressing strong opposition to the Trump administration's proposed budget cuts, staffing reductions and policy changes. The letter, titled "The Voyager Declaration," warned that "rapid and wasteful changes" over the past six months "have or threaten to waste public resources, compromise human safety, weaken national security, and undermine the core NASA mission." Duffy, also the U.S. secretary of transportation since January, was appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump on July 9 to serve as acting NASA administrator. The budget cuts are "arbitrary," said the letter, warning that thousands of NASA civil servants have already been laid off, resigned, or retired early -- resulting in the loss of specialized expertise critical to the agency's mission. The employees voiced concern over reductions in NASA science and aeronautics research, the decommissioning of operational spacecraft, and withdrawal from international collaborations with key partners. "We urge you not to implement the harmful cuts proposed by this administration, as they are not in the best interest of NASA," the letter stated. Recently, similar statements have emerged from employees at other U.S. federal agencies, including the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, concerning the Trump administration's actions on their respective agencies. On International Moon Day and U.S. National Space Exploration Day, both celebrated every year on July 20, NASA employees from the Goddard Engineers, Scientists and Technicians Association took to the streets of Washington, D.C. to express their opposition to potential cuts to science programs and staffing, outlined in the White House's 2026 budget proposal, according to media reports. Today we wanted to focus on a South Side survival story and the EXCEPTIONALLY BRAVE DEETS of Kansas City first responders . . . Here's a story we hope locals will see on blast tonight . . . "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. "Emergency responders rescue a person who got caught up in the floodwaters and was holding onto a tree for safety." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . National politics desperately searches for a red state bright spot . . . Once again the New York Times highlights Guv Kelly and her "playbook" as a Democratic Party answer to MAGA momentum and, maybe, and alternative to Democratic Socialism that's taking hold amongst younger progressives. Here's the word by way of editorial quote and podcast referencing the Kansas leader . . . Check-it: "David Leonhardt, an editorial director for Opinion, talks to the Opinion correspondent Michelle Cottle about her recent reporting trip to Kansas. Cottle argues that Democrats should look to moderate governors like Laura Kelly of Kansas for a playbook." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . New York Times: There Is Hope for Democrats. Look to Kansas. Here's a free podcast version of the conversation . . . Developing . . . BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Azerbaijani media rank among the influential soft power tools offering regional outlook with global perspective. Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan - Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, Hikmet Hajiyev, on the occasion of July 22 - National Press Day, said in his social media account, Trend reports. Dear media representatives, valued friends, I warmly greet each of you and sincerely congratulate you on July 22, National Press Day. This significant day holds great importance not only for the media community but also for our society as a whole, he noted. Hajiyev emphasized that journalism is an honorable profession that requires great responsibility. You professionally carry out this challenging but vital mission, selflessly working to ensure the public is objectively informed, enlightened, and to promote our national values. The high esteem and valuable remarks expressed by our President Ilham Aliyev towards our media clearly demonstrate the great trust and attention shown to the journalism profession, the official said. According to Hajiyev, today Azerbaijans media has transcended national borders to become a powerful soft power tool operating internationally, offering a global perspective with a regional outlook, widely read and referenced in various parts of the world, and aligned with the countrys new, global foreign policy. The decree of our head of state, marking the 150th anniversary of the Azerbaijani national press, along with the awarding of state honors to many professional journalists, reflects the importance our country attaches to media development and serves as a great motivation for those working in this field. On this memorable anniversary, I once again sincerely congratulate each of you and wish you continued success in achieving the goals set by our President for the media, in strengthening our statehood, and in protecting our national interests, he concluded. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev touched upon crucial issues and gave important messages at the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum in Khankendi, political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend. "The 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum held in Khankendi attracted special attention again this year with its scale, topical themes, and high-level participants. One of the key highlights that elevated the importance of the forum was President Ilham Aliyevs personal attendance and his candid responses to media representatives questions. Touching upon several critical issues, the head of state elaborated on the role of media in the age of artificial intelligence, information security, and combating disinformation, the peace process with Armenia, and other significant topics. His speech stood out as a clear example of the countrys emphasis on transparency and dialogue in media policy, and captured the attention of global media. President Ilham Aliyev addressed very important matters while answering questions, delivering key messages. The head of state paid particular attention to the Zangezur Corridor. According to him, the corridor is not only about a physical connection between the main part of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan. Azerbaijans initiatives in this field the expansion of the Baku Port, construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, and digitalization of the customs system are crucial steps toward transforming the country into a transport and logistics hub. Once operational, the Zangezur Corridor will create new routes along both the North-South and East-West directions. It will also serve as a strategic connecting link for the member states of the Organization of Turkic States. If realized, the corridor will allow Central Asian countries, especially Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, to access Turkey and European markets through a shorter and safer route. Additionally, it will strengthen Caspian regional integration and usher in a new phase of economic cooperation," he noted. According to him, President Ilham Aliyevs remarks on Azerbaijans future development strategy and regional cooperation carried important messages. "The President emphasized that Azerbaijan aims to strengthen its role not only in the South Caucasus but across a broader regional landscape as a bridge among Central Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Among the top priorities is Azerbaijans shift beyond the extractive industries toward working with advanced technologies in IT and artificial intelligence. At the same time, regional integration and infrastructure projects hold a special place in the countrys development plans. President Aliyev stated that while transit revenues are important, the primary goal is to develop industry and other sectors along transit routes and attract additional investments. Continuous stability and security, along with sincere and constructive relations with neighboring countries, were highlighted as the key prerequisites for realizing Azerbaijans transit potential. The end of the Karabakh conflict has opened wide prospects for regional cooperation. The President also noted Europes growing demand for Azerbaijani gas and emphasized the need for a more pragmatic approach from Europe regarding financial support to expand additional export capacities. Azerbaijans vast potential, strategic geographic position, and balanced foreign policy play a decisive role in the development of the region," he stated. Garayev emphasized that President Ilham Aliyevs response to Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Gordons question also garnered particular attention both locally and internationally. "The head of state clearly stated that the fundamental principle was to never accept occupation or surrender. This has been the cornerstone of Azerbaijans policy, which ultimately led to the full restoration of its territorial integrity. President Aliyev mentioned that although he participated in negotiations for 17 years, international mediators had no real desire to change the status quo. Despite diplomatic efforts, no tangible progress was achieved, prompting Azerbaijan to establish a new reality. This reality materialized during the 44-day Second Karabakh War in 2020 and the 2023 anti-terror measures. He reiterated that the issue was not just about leadership, but about national unity, unshakable determination, and belief in justice. The victory, as he said, was not only military but also moral and political a restoration of justice. This answer serves as a lesson, an example, and a call for Ukraine: if a nation is determined to protect its land and sovereignty, it will eventually succeed. The key is to preserve unity, believe in justice, and never surrender," he said. The analyst noted that Mikhail Gusmans question to President Ilham Aliyev and the latters answer revealed the core philosophy behind Azerbaijans successful foreign policy model. "Gusman's violinist metaphor might have seemed like a simple question how do you manage such a successful foreign policy? but in reality, it required an explanation of Azerbaijans unique position in international relations. President Ilham Aliyevs response was simple yet grounded in deep logic: truth, principle, and trust. He particularly emphasized unwavering adherence to international legal principles. As a country that has suffered from separatism, Azerbaijans refusal to apply double standards proves its diplomatic consistency. This approach has earned Baku the status of a reliable partner on the international stage. The President also noted that while Azerbaijans geographic position entails risks, it also creates opportunities. By stressing that risks are external rather than internal, he emphasized that the stable domestic foundation is the key to success. Azerbaijans active involvement in both Europe and the Muslim world reflects its multifaceted policy. His comments about US President Donald Trump also explained his geopolitical logic: cooperation based on stability and values, not war. Trust, as he put it, is not an agreement, but belief and that belief has turned Azerbaijan into a leading regional actor," he said. Garayev highlighted that within the forum, President Ilham Aliyev also clearly outlined Azerbaijan-China relations. "The head of state emphasized that relations between the two countries have reached the level of comprehensive strategic partnership based on mutual trust. The existence of ongoing political dialogue with President Xi Jinping and the visa-free regime serves to increase people-to-people contacts. In economic cooperation, transportation-logistics and renewable energy sectors come to the forefront. President Aliyev reaffirmed Azerbaijans support for the Belt and Road Initiative and noted the growing volume of Chinese container trains passing through the country westward. Within the framework of the Great Return to Karabakh, Chinese companies are actively participating in solar and wind energy projects. It is clear that Azerbaijan aims to develop relations with China not only economically but also strategically and geopolitically. This cooperation is based on mutual benefit and long-term partnership," he said. According to him, the head of state also touched upon Azerbaijan-US relations, signaling the beginning of a new phase in Baku-Washington ties. "He stated that contacts during the Trump administration created positive dynamics and marked the beginning of a normalization path. President Aliyev criticized the Biden administration for significantly weakening bilateral relations, reimposing Section 907, and taking unfriendly steps against Azerbaijan. He pointed out the USs double standards while supporting Ukraines sovereignty, Washington threatened Azerbaijan with sanctions for liberating its own territories. Against this background, a return to the warmer relations seen during Trumps tenure would be of great importance. There is vast potential for cooperation in energy, security, and transport, and both countries share mutual interests. It is clear that Azerbaijan seeks a partnership with the US based on equality and real interests and expects substantial progress in this direction with the new administration," he said. The analyst stressed that one of the most important points raised by President Ilham Aliyev was the decisive role of media in shaping Western public opinion about Azerbaijan, and how this influence has been deliberately skewed in a negative direction. "The head of state especially highlighted the influence of Armenian lobbies and certain U.S. circles on Western media. He explained how Azerbaijan has been targeted with false narratives citing the smear campaigns organized during the 2015 European Games and ahead of COP29 as examples. He pointed out that Azerbaijans independent policy and determination have disturbed some Western circles, and that Baku has become a target for criticism precisely because it refuses to accept 'advice.' Nevertheless, this path has made the country stronger and allowed it to gain economic and political independence. President Aliyev noted that instead of relying on propaganda to influence public opinion, Azerbaijan chooses to present facts directly through international events. This approach reflects both a principled stance and confidence in the countrys own strength," he stated. Garayev underlined that President Ilham Aliyev also provided a thorough analysis of the normalization process with Armenia and bilateral relations. "Although there are potential areas of mutual interest between Azerbaijan and Armenia, years of occupation policies and anti-Azerbaijani sentiment have fundamentally damaged these opportunities. President Ilham Aliyev, based on historical facts, demonstrated how Armenians lived in Karabakh with privileges, yet still engaged in radical actions against Azerbaijan. He addressed the contradictory statements of Armenia's leadership, comparing Pashinyans 2019 statement Karabakh is Armenia to his current stance, showing that this inconsistency is the main reason for mistrust. The Presidents message is clear: stability in the region depends on mutual respect, legal guarantees, and firm political will. Azerbaijan was the first to propose a peace initiative, but Armenia delayed the process for years. Now, the text of the peace treaty has been agreed upon. The removal of territorial claims against Azerbaijan from Armenias constitution and the formal dissolution of the Minsk Group are key conditions for peace. If Armenia agrees to these terms, a period of stability and cooperation can begin in the South Caucasus, representing a significant breakthrough for all countries in the region," he said. According to him, President Ilham Aliyev also clearly and deeply explained the current state of Azerbaijan-Russia relations. "The most serious issue here was the incident involving the AZAL aircraft. The President openly stated that the plane was attacked twice and dismissed the explanation linking the incident to a Ukrainian drone as a story for kindergarten. The Azerbaijani side knows the real cause and says Russian officials are also aware of the situation. The lack of an apology, explanation, or compensation for the incident represents serious irresponsibility. Another important point is the closure of Russian airspace after the plane's hitting - this is serious negligence on a technical level. The head of state noted in his speech that Azerbaijan will appeal to the international justice system. The fact that Azerbaijan is preparing to appeal to an international court indicates that diplomatic patience has already reached the end. At the same time, the head of state emphasizes that Azerbaijan's energy policy is based on business principles, not politics, and that they are not competing with Russia. However, this does not justify the current tension. In short, these points noted by President Ilham Aliyev carry a message of both dissatisfaction, warning, and principle - Azerbaijan will not remain silent, will demand responsibility, and will defend its interests against the backdrop of these relations," he added. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Prospects for the development of strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia were discussed between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, who is on a visit to Georgia, and his Georgian counterpart Maka Bochorishvili today, a source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan told Trend. The one-on-one meeting was followed by an expanded-format meeting between the delegations of both sides. "The meeting exchanged views on the current state and prospects of Azerbaijani-Georgian friendship and strategic partnership relations. The parties emphasized the contribution of high-level political dialogue, mutual visits, and political consultations between the two countries to further deepening relations. The ministers discussed the possibilities of further expanding cooperation in the fields of energy, transport, trade, tourism, and education. The strategic importance of joint projects such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, and the Southern Gas Corridor, as well as initiatives and projects in the field of green energy and digital communications, was noted. The positive contribution of the Middle East-West Corridor to the cooperation between the two countries and Central Asia was emphasized. The development of economic and trade ties between the two countries and the growing dynamics in trade turnover were noted with satisfaction. The importance of developing cooperation in the humanitarian sphere and encouraging cultural exchanges was also emphasized. The parties noted the importance of continuing cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia based on mutual support on international platforms, including within the framework of regional initiatives. The ministers emphasized the importance of joint activities and coordination of efforts within the framework of trilateral and multilateral formats involving the two countries. It was pointed out that the high level of relations between Azerbaijan and the Central Asian states is the basis for the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Central Asia regional partnership. The processes taking place in the region and beyond, including security issues of mutual interest, were discussed at the meeting. Bayramov provided detailed information on the large-scale restoration and construction work carried out by Azerbaijan in the territories liberated from occupation, as well as on the process of normalizing relations with Armenia. Georgia's contribution to the normalization process, including the organization of a number of meetings since 2022, was highly appreciated. Despite significant progress in the peace process, it was noted that Armenia's ongoing territorial claims to Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, enshrined in its constitution, continue to impede the signing of a peace agreement. The meeting also included an exchange of views on other issues of mutual interest. The ministers then made press statements," the source added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has expressed his gratitude to President of the United States of America Donald Trump for sharing his speech at the Shusha Global Media Forum, Trend reports. President Ilham Aliyev shared a post on his X account: I would like to express my gratitude to President Donald Trump for sharing my remarks on his social media platform regarding the U.S.-Azerbaijan partnership and his commitment to a peace agenda - both globally and in our region - which I conveyed at the Shusha Global Media Forum. Once again, I wish to underscore our support for President Trumps vision and efforts to promote peace and stability around the world, including in our region. We also share common values, such as the importance of family traditions, and remain hopeful that U.S.-Azerbaijan relations will reach a new level during his Presidency. We wish him continued success in all his endeavors toward this goal. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree regarding measures for the major repair of the HajigabulBahramtapaMinjivan (10 km)Sabirabad highway in the Sabirabad district, Trend reports. According to the decree, for the major repair of the HajigabulBahramtapaMinjivan (10 km)Sabirabad highway, which connects 15 settlements with a total population of 61,000 people, an initial amount of 2.1 million manat ($1.24 million) has been allocated to the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads. This allocation is from item 1.19.21 of the Distribution of funds allocated for state capital investment (investment expenditures) in the 2025 State Budget of Azerbaijan, approved by Presidential Decree No. 445 dated January 10, 2025. The Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan is responsible for ensuring the financing of the amount specified in this decree. The Ministry of Economy must include the necessary funds for continuing the major repair of the highway in the 2026 State Budget draft within the distribution of capital investment expenditures. The Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan was tasked with resolving the issues arising from this decree. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov, currently visiting Tbilisi, delivered a joint press statement alongside his Georgian counterpart Maka Bochorishvili, Trend reports. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan (MFA) shared this in a post on its official X page. 12:48 (GMT+4) An expanded-format meeting is taking place between the delegations led by the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Georgia, Trend reports. The discussions are focused on key areas of cooperation, including energy, transport, regional connectivity, and prospects for strengthening both bilateral and multilateral ties. Regional and international security issues of mutual interest are also high on the agenda. 11:10 (GMT+4) Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, who is on a visit to Tbilisi, has begun a bilateral meeting with his Georgian counterpart Maka Bochorishvili. The talks will focus on the current state and future prospects of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia, regional cooperation, and opportunities to deepen their strategic partnership. Will be updated On July 16, 2025, President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolences to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the passing of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. Xi Jinping expressed deep condolences on behalf of the Chinese government and people, and extended sincere sympathies to the family of Muhammadu Buhari, and the Nigerian government and people. Xi Jinping noted that former President Muhammadu Buhari was an important leader of Nigeria who dedicated himself to exploring a development path suited to Nigeria's national conditions and made outstanding contributions to national unity and progress, enjoying high prestige in the international community. Muhammadu Buhari upheld friendship with China during his lifetime and actively promoted the Nigeria-China friendship as well as China-Africa friendship and cooperation. His passing means a tremendous loss to the Nigerian people and the loss of a good friend to the Chinese people. China highly values the development of its relations with Nigeria and is ready to work with the Nigerian side to continuously advance the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. KATHMANDU, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's import of electric vehicles grew by 15 percent in the 2024-25 fiscal year ending in mid-July, the Department of Customs said on Tuesday. The South Asian country imported 13,578 electric four-wheelers worth 31.76 billion Nepali rupees (230 million U.S. dollars) in 2024-25, as against 11,701 in 2023-24, the department said in its annual report. Of the total imports, 75.2 percent came from China, with the rest from India, Germany, the United States and other countries. In addition to the four-wheelers, Nepal also imported 16,505 electric three-wheelers, of which 6,777 were unassembled, the report noted. Title changed: first version posted on 11:10 BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Prospects for the development of strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia were discussed between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, who is on a visit to Georgia, and his Georgian counterpart Maka Bochorishvili today, a source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan told Trend. The one-on-one meeting was followed by an expanded-format meeting between the delegations of both sides. "The meeting exchanged views on the current state and prospects of Azerbaijani-Georgian friendship and strategic partnership relations. The parties emphasized the contribution of high-level political dialogue, mutual visits and political consultations between the two countries to further deepening relations. The ministers discussed the possibilities of further expanding cooperation in the fields of energy, transport, trade, tourism and education. The strategic importance of joint projects such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars and the Southern Gas Corridor, as well as initiatives and projects in the field of green energy and digital communications were noted. The positive contribution of the Middle East-West Corridor to the cooperation between the two countries and Central Asia was emphasized. The development of economic and trade ties between the two countries and the growing dynamics in trade turnover were noted with satisfaction. The importance of developing cooperation in the humanitarian sphere and encouraging cultural exchanges was also emphasized. The parties noted the importance of continuing cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia based on mutual support on international platforms, including within the framework of regional initiatives. The ministers emphasized the importance of joint activities and coordination of efforts within the framework of trilateral and multilateral formats involving the two countries. It was pointed out that the high level of relations between Azerbaijan and the Central Asian states is the basis for the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Central Asia regional partnership. The processes taking place in the region and beyond, including security issues of mutual interest, were discussed at the meeting. Bayramov provided detailed information on the large-scale restoration and construction work carried out by Azerbaijan in the territories liberated from occupation, as well as on the process of normalizing relations with Armenia. Georgia's contribution to the normalization process, including the organization of a number of meetings since 2022, was highly appreciated. Despite significant progress in the peace process, it was noted that Armenia's ongoing territorial claims to Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, enshrined in its constitution, continue to impede the signing of a peace agreement. The meeting also included an exchange of views on other issues of mutual interest. The ministers then made press statements," the source added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Azerbaijan is urging Russian authorities to provide timely and transparent updates on the investigation into the crash of a plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), warning that legal steps may be taken if no progress is communicated, Trend reports. We hope the Russian side will soon share the status and concrete outcomes of the investigation into the AZAL aircraft crash, as well as information on those held accountable. If not, as President Ilham Aliyev noted, we reserve the right to pursue claims through international courts, said Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev in a statement to AZERTAC during his visit to Ankara. Aliyev recalled that Azerbaijans prosecution authorities immediately launched a criminal case under relevant articles of the Criminal Code following the incident. Kazakhstan also initiated a case, and Russias Investigative Committee has since joined the process. One may ask why multiple countries opened criminal cases over the same incident. Its because the crash affected the interests of all three nations. Citizens of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and other countries were either killed or injured, he noted. Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan is actively cooperating with both Russia and Kazakhstan on the matter. As President Ilham Aliyev stated, we maintain constant contact with the Russian Investigative Committee and have submitted official letters. However, the other side has yet to share any findings, citing ongoing investigative procedures and expert analysis, he added. The prosecutor general said Azerbaijan has gathered substantial evidence related to the crash. We collected all necessary materials early on. We have a clear understanding of how the incident occurred and its causes. Were also coordinating closely with Kazakhstan. Recently, members of our investigative team visited Kazakhstan for a working meeting with colleagues. We are also in contact with the Brazilian prosecution, as the Embraer-190 aircraft was manufactured there, he stated. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, during his official visit to Tbilisi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan (MFA) told Trend. The sides exchanged views on the current state and prospects of the friendly and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia. Both parties emphasized their satisfaction with the development of mutual relations built on trust and respect, including inter-parliamentary cooperation. They underlined the significance of parliamentary diplomacy as a key pillar of strategic ties, noting the importance of reciprocal visits by parliamentary leaders and active collaboration between friendship groups. The meeting also highlighted the successful cooperation between the two countries across political, economic, energy, trade, transport, communication, and humanitarian fields. Special attention was given to the ongoing joint initiatives and upcoming projects along the Middle Corridor, which contribute to regional economic development and strategic importance. Minister Bayramov informed the Georgian side about the situation in the region, particularly the challenges Azerbaijan faces in the post-conflict period and the steps taken in response. Discussions also covered large-scale reconstruction efforts in the liberated territories and the current status of the normalization and peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Moreover, the meeting addressed other regional and international matters of mutual interest. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Azerbaijan is rapidly cementing its position as a key transit and energy hub, emerging as a vital link between East and West. At the forefront of this transformation is President Ilham Aliyev, whose strategic vision, persistence, and hands-on leadership have driven the countrys success in building a modern, efficient, and interconnected infrastructure. Under his direction, Azerbaijan has launched projects that extend well beyond national borders, becoming integral parts of global logistics and energy networks. This priority area of Azerbaijans foreign and economic policy was a central focus during President Aliyevs meeting with participants of the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum, held on July 19 in Khankendi. In a wide-ranging discussion with international journalists, the President spoke in depth about transit development, international cooperation, infrastructure connectivity, and the prospects of the Middle Corridora strategic route with Azerbaijan at its core. President Ilham Aliyev highlighted the countrys growing transport potential and outlined key priorities, including the development of railway, maritime, and energy corridors linking Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Europe. He emphasized that these are not just domestic infrastructure projects but part of a broader regional effort with global significance. One of the most notable achievements in recent years has been the modernization of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway, particularly the 184-kilometer section running through Georgia. Thanks to Azerbaijans investment, the lines freight capacity has increased fivefold - from one million to five million tons per year - creating new momentum for deeper collaboration with key partners. A major step in this direction was the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between Azerbaijan Railways CJSC and China Railway Corporation. The agreement aims to expand container shipments across the Caspian Sea, enhance port and rail infrastructure, and boost the number of block trains to 10 per day - significantly strengthening Azerbaijans position in the Middle Corridor. Azerbaijan is also actively deepening its partnership with China through the Belt and Road Initiative. President Ilham Aliyev noted that the countrys transport and logistics infrastructure is already well prepared to integrate into this ambitious global framework. "There is tremendous potential for this. Container trains are already traveling from many cities of China to Azerbaijan and through Azerbaijan to the West. Their number is growing year after year, by dozens of percent. I think this will increase many times in the near future. From the very beginning, we supported Chairman Xi Jinping's One Belt, One Road initiative and, for our part, prepared the corresponding transport and logistics infrastructure on our territory," said the head of state. Analysts estimate that transit volumes along the Middle Corridor have surged more than fivefold in the past three years - from 840,000 tons in 2021 to 4.5 million tons in 2024. Over the past year alone, traffic grew by 62%, and by 2030, project partners aim to boost this figure to 10 million tons. Azerbaijan has emerged as the key hub along the route, offering Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan a viable alternative to the North-South Corridor. This momentum is also being supported by infrastructure development in Central Asia - most notably the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. The new line is already driving increased cargo flows across the Caspian Sea and into Azerbaijan. "Today, the growth of cargo transportation from China through Azerbaijan is growing rapidly. At the same time, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan railway is under construction, again with access to the Caspian Sea. In other words, you see what large flows are already going and will go in our direction. Therefore, we must be ready not only to receive and process cargo in the port of Baku, but also to send them along the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway through Georgia to Turkiye and further - to Mediterranean ports and through Zangezur, which will also be a major transport route," said President Ilham Aliyev. Another cornerstone of Bakus broader strategy is the development of energy corridors, including those focused on renewable energy. In 2023, during COP28, the presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan signed an agreement to lay a subsea cable across the Caspian Sea. This project will allow the export of green electricity from Central Asia to Europe via Azerbaijan. It builds on an existing initiative in which Azerbaijan is working with Romania, Hungary, and Georgia to lay a cable under the Black Sea. Together, these efforts are turning Azerbaijan into a critical bridge between regions - from Central Asia to the European Union - across both transport and energy sectors. Another major strategic focus emphasized by President Ilham Aliyev is the Zangezur Corridor. Railway construction on the Azerbaijani side is nearly complete, and the line is expected to be operational by spring 2026. The corridor is set to open with an initial capacity of 15 million tons of freight per year. "That is, with the implementation of the Zangezur corridor, we will essentially open another direction of the North-South corridor. Not only what everyone is talking about: from Russia through Azerbaijan, Iran to Rasht, but also through East Zangezur and other parts of the Zangezur region to Iran, and then to Turkiye. Therefore, huge prospects are opening up for increasing the flow of cargo," President Ilham Aliyev noted. A strong focus is also being placed on domestic infrastructure projects in the liberated territories. Along the Fuzuli railway, seven tunnels have been built, spanning nearly 80 kilometers in total. The longest of them - the Murovdag tunnel at 11,700 meters - will rank among the largest in the world. The railway line to Aghdam is already in operation, and the foundation has recently been laid for the Aghdam-Khankendi route. These projects are not only aimed at restoring direct connectivity with the liberated areas but also at integrating them into Azerbaijans broader economic and transport systems, as well as into the regional network. President Ilham Aliyev stressed that no transport project can function effectively without two key elements: security and good neighborly relations. "The important factor is good relations with your neighbors. Because without that, you cannot become a transit country. And you must have good relations not only with your neighbors but also with the neighbors of your neighbors. For that, you need very proactive diplomacy and a good image as a reliable partner. What we have tried to do over the last decades is to build confidence so that we can demonstrate that this country is a reliable partner, and that our word has the same value as our signature. So far, that has been the case," the head of state pointed out. Azerbaijans transit potential continues to grow steadily - driven first and foremost by the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. His personal involvement, strategic foresight, and pragmatic approach have allowed the country not only to modernize its infrastructure, but also to emerge as a key player in regional and global transport and energy initiatives. Azerbaijan is no longer just a transit route - it is a trusted partner and a crucial link between continents. Through carefully crafted policies, active diplomacy, and targeted investment, Baku has positioned itself at the heart of a new connectivity landscape. Under President Ilham Aliyevs leadership, the country is set to further solidify its role as a major hub for logistics and energy, helping to shape a more integrated and sustainable future for the wider region. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. The number of international dual diploma programs implemented in the field of higher education in Azerbaijan has been increased, Trend reports. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree. According to the decree, the number of international dual diploma programs implemented in the field of higher education has been increased from six to eight under the "Socio-Economic Development Strategy of Azerbaijan for 2022-2026," and their implementation will be ensured until 2030. Financing of existing and newly implemented international dual diploma programs will be provided at the expense of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan. The Cabinet of Ministers will approve within four months the order of selection of foreign partner higher education institutions, educational programs on specialties and levels of education, on which international double degree programs will be implemented, and will inform the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. False comments purportedly from the Azerbaijani Interior Minister regarding statements by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan have been circulating on several social media accounts, the Media Development Agency told Trend. The Agency stated that these fabricated claims have recently escalated into a campaign aimed at misleading public opinion through blatant information manipulation. We urge the public to trust only information from official sources and to obtain government positions through the countrys official news agencies and other professional media outlets. We call on Azerbaijani citizens, journalists, and activists to remain vigilant and principled against such cases, especially as disinformation campaigns based on fake and false information gain momentum, the information noted. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Delegation led by the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, is visiting the Republic of Turkiye at the invitation of the Turkish Minister of National Defense, Yasar Guler, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense told Trend. The visit is being undertaken to participate in the 17th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025). On July 22, the leadership of the Ministry of Defense attended the opening ceremony of the 17th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) held in Istanbul. The President of the Republic of Turkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addressed the event and greeted the participants. The visit will involve familiarization with the military weapons and equipment to be displayed at the fair and conducting several meetings. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. The trial of Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, charged under Azerbaijans Criminal Code with crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing terrorism, and other serious offenses, continued on July 22 at the Baku Military Court, Trend reports. The open court session, presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with Judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov (reserve judge Gunel Samadova), ensured that Vardanyan was provided with a Russian-language interpreter and a defense lawyer of his choice. Before questioning, Judge Aghayev explained the legal rights and obligations to victims and their legal heirs attending the trial for the first time. Vardanyan raised an objection, claiming the interpreters used during the preliminary investigation were unprofessional. His defense lawyer, Avraam Berman, supported this claim, listing the interpreters names. Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor General Vusal Aliyev countered that Vardanyan failed to specify any instances of unprofessionalism or provide evidence of bias, and requested dismissal of the objection. Victims present supported the prosecutions position. Judge Aghayev ruled that Vardanyan did not provide evidence to substantiate his claims, dismissing the objection. Vardanyan then objected to details in the February 25 court session protocols, alleging procedural violations and judicial bias. Berman supported this objection. Prosecutor Fuad Musayev responded that while the defense may comment on protocol accuracy, discrepancies or unresolved motions do not justify challenging the judicial panel. Victims again supported the prosecution. Judge Aghayev noted that objections must be substantiated in writing under the Criminal Procedure Code, and no credible evidence of bias was provided, leading to dismissal of the objection. Victims and their legal heirs then testified about crimes committed during Armenias aggressive war and occupation. Eynur Kazimov, legal heir of victim Anar Kazimov, stated that his brother was killed in the Lachin district by gunfire from remnants of Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups. Valeh Safarov, legal heir of victim Gokhan Safarov, testified that his brother was killed in Aghdara by gunfire from similar groups. Zamir Sadigov and Zulfugar Muradov reported injuries sustained due to enemy provocations. Kenan Gadirli was injured in Aghdara while evacuating wounded individuals. Responding to prosecutor Fuad Musayev, he noted ongoing knee pain and continued rehabilitation. Gunduz Gasimov, answering prosecutor Vusal Abdullayev, said he was injured in the Kalbajar district by a shell explosion from Armenian forces and illegal groups, with one person killed and others wounded. Vusal Gurbanov, responding to prosecutor Tarana Mammadova, reported being wounded in Khojaly by sniper fire from Armenian forces and illegal groups, with fatalities and other injuries occurring. Sadig Ahmadov, answering Nasir Bayramov, head of the Prosecutor Generals Department for Public Prosecution, said he was injured in Kalbajar by an anti-personnel mine planted by Armenian forces. Sadig Maharramov testified to injuries from a grenade launcher explosion in Kalbajar by enemy forces, stating he is now a third-group invalid. The next court session is scheduled for July 29. Ruben Vardanyan faces multiple charges under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Articles 100.1, 100.2 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression), 107 (deportation and forced displacement of the population), 109 (persecution), 110 (forcible disappearance of persons), 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113 (torture), 114.1 (mercenary activity), 115.2 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare), 116.0.1, 116.0.2, 116.0.10, 116.0.11, 116.0.16, 116.0.18 (violation of international humanitarian law norms during an armed conflict), 120.2.1, 120.2.3, 120.2.4, 120.2.7, 120.2.11, 120.2.12 (intentional murder), 29.120.2.1, 29.120.2.3, 29.120.2.4, 29.120.2.7, 29.120.2.11, 29.120.2.12 (attempted intentional murder), 192.3.1 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing of terrorism), 218.1, 218.2 (creation of a criminal group), 228.3 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and devices), 270-1.2, 270-1.4 (acts threatening aviation safety), 278.1 (forcible seizure or retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), 279.1, 279.2, 279.3 (creation of armed formations not provided for by law), and 318.2 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan). BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed a congratulatory message to representatives of Azerbaijani mass media, Trend reports. ''Dear representatives of the media, Dear journalists, I sincerely congratulate you on the occasion of a significant anniversary the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijani national press. On July 22, 1875, the great enlightener and publisher Hasan bey Zardabi began publishing the newspaper Akinchi, a herald of advanced ideas and a mirror of the eras public and political life. This historic event reverberated extensively throughout the Caucasus at the time, gave an impetus to the development of the enlightenment movement in Azerbaijan, contributed to national awakening, the formation of national self-awareness and freedom of thought, and played a significant role in the upbringing of a progressive generation of journalists, publishers, and intellectuals. The Azerbaijani national press has always focused on the issues of concern to our society and on the advanced ideas and progressive thoughts of the time. It has made an exceptional contribution to the education of our people, the promotion of national and human values, the development of the Azerbaijani literary language, and the realization of the most sublime aspirations of our people such as freedom and independence. As was the case in all areas of public life, thanks to the political will and determination of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan which gained independence at the end of the last century experienced a dramatic turnaround in the development of its national press. As a result of the fundamental reforms carried out in the media during that period, the legal framework governing media activity was improved and brought into line with international standards. In addition, artificial obstacles and censorship limiting freedom of speech and information were eliminated. All this gave an impetus to the rapid development of the Azerbaijani media and paved the way for its entry into a new stage. The independence of the Azerbaijani press has been one of the key prerequisites for the development of our society. The development of independent, strong, and modern media guided by the interests of the people and the creation of the necessary conditions for its free activity have always been among the priority tasks of our state. Systematic work has been carried out in this direction, a regulatory and legal framework has been created to improve the information environment in our country, strengthen the potential and economic foundations of media activity, and adapt it to the challenges of the digital age. Fundamental reforms have also been implemented to strengthen the economic independence of information resources and improve the social protection of journalists. Today, we can proudly say that our national press has undergone a glorious and progressive development over a century and a half. It is noteworthy that our national press is celebrating this anniversary at a time when Azerbaijan has fully restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Azerbaijani media worked selflessly and persistently both on the frontlines and in the rear to ensure the prompt coverage of events during the 44-day Patriotic War and the anti-terrorist operation. At such a historic and fateful time for our country and people, the Azerbaijani media played a major role in accurately and swiftly informing the public, countering disinformation campaigns, and demonstrating high professionalism, true patriotism, and solidarity in conveying our voice and position to the international community. It is beyond any doubt that the victory we won in the information space is an integral part of the glorious Victory achieved on the battlefield the 5th anniversary of which we will celebrate this year. I revere and honor the dear memory of our media representatives who died while performing their professional duties on the frontlines during the occupation of our lands, as well as in the liberated territories in the post-war period. Their bravery and heroism will never be forgotten. Today, the Republic of Azerbaijan is a strong state that pursues an independent foreign policy, has gained the status of a political and economic center of the region, and has secured its rightful place in the international system. The countrys current development has also increased the authority of the Azerbaijani media in the global information network and enhanced its competitiveness. To ensure that our national press further strengthens its presence in the global information space in the coming period, several factors will play a leading role including improving media literacy, adopting the most advanced communication technologies, ensuring effective and flexible communication, increasing activity on social media platforms, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and combating disinformation and fake news. Our national press, operating in a complex and competitive environment shaped by a rapidly evolving global media landscape, carries a special responsibility. In todays world where the global information space is being swiftly transformed, international propaganda significantly influences national images and internal affairs, artificial intelligence capabilities are expanding, and hybrid threats and deepfakes are becoming more widespread our media must adhere to the principles of professionalism, objectivity, impartiality, high national consciousness, and patriotism. It must resolutely prevent the misuse of freedom of speech and information, and place Azerbaijan's national interests above all else. The leading role of responsible, creative, intellectual, and professional journalism in shaping modern media culture is undeniable. I am confident that the Azerbaijani media will continue to fulfill its mission in an objective and professional manner informing our people, building a modern society, and strengthening national solidarity. Once again, I sincerely congratulate you on this significant anniversary and wish you continued success in upholding the proud traditions of our national press,'' the congratulatory message reads. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. The Azerbaijani national press has always focused on the issues of concern to our society and on the advanced ideas and progressive thoughts of the time. It has made an exceptional contribution to the education of our people, the promotion of national and human values, the development of the Azerbaijani literary language, and the realization of the most sublime aspirations of our people such as freedom and independence, said President Ilham Aliyev in his congratulatory message to Azerbaijani media representatives on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the national press, Trend reports. On July 22, 1875, the great enlightener and publisher Hasan bey Zardabi began publishing the newspaper Akinchi, a herald of advanced ideas and a mirror of the eras public and political life. This historic event reverberated extensively throughout the Caucasus at the time, gave an impetus to the development of the enlightenment movement in Azerbaijan, contributed to national awakening, the formation of national self-awareness and freedom of thought, and played a significant role in the upbringing of a progressive generation of journalists, publishers, and intellectuals, the head of state emphasized. BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- China has stepped up credit support for technology companies this year, with half of the sector's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) receiving loans by the end of the second quarter, official data showed Tuesday. The proportion of tech SMEs receiving loan support increased 3.2 percentage points compared to the same period last year, according to the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the country's central bank. Outstanding loans to tech SMEs in both local and foreign currencies stood at 3.46 trillion yuan (about 484 billion U.S. dollars) by Q2, surging 22.9 percent year on year. This growth rate outpaced overall loan growth by 16.1 percentage points, the PBOC said in a report. Outstanding loans to high-tech firms in both local and foreign currencies rose 8.2 percent year on year, 1.4 percentage points higher than the overall loan growth rate, the report showed. The report also indicated stronger credit support for the country's green transition, with outstanding green loans in both local and foreign currencies reaching 42.39 trillion yuan by the end of the second quarter, an increase of 14.4 percent from the beginning of this year. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. At the invitation of the Prosecutor General of the Supreme Court of Turkiye, Muhsin Senturk, a delegation led by Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev is on a working visit to Ankara to enhance cooperation between the prosecution bodies of both countries, Trend reports via the Prosecutor Generals Office of Azerbaijan. "During the visit, the delegation laid a wreath at the monument of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in Ankara, and later paid tribute at Antkabir, the resting place of the founder of the Republic of Turkiye, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General also left a note in the Anitkabir Book of Honor. At the meeting with the Prosecutor General of the Supreme Court of Turkiye, Senturk emphasized the strong existing cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of both countries. Aliyev expressed gratitude for the hospitality and highlighted the deep fraternal ties between Azerbaijan and Turkiye, quoting Heydar Aliyev's "One nation, two states" and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's "Azerbaijans joy is our joy, its sorrow is our sorrow." He also noted that joint strategic projects led by the heads of both states contribute to the prosperity of their peoples. The sides exchanged views on legal cooperation, underlining the significance of joint work within the Council of Prosecutors General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP), and other multilateral platforms. Discussions also included improvements to the legal framework and new opportunities for collaboration. The delegation also met with the President of the Supreme Court of Turkiye, Omer Kerkez, where both sides stressed the successful ongoing cooperation in judicial training and justice sector reform. On July 22, the Azerbaijani delegation met with Turkiye's Minister of Justice Ylmaz Tunc. They discussed legal assistance, extradition, study visits, and cooperation through the Turkic Judicial Training Network, as well as connections between the Azerbaijan Prosecutor Generals Scientific and Educational Center and the Justice Academy of Turkiye. In the course of the visit, the delegation also held talks with Turkiye's Chief Ombudsman Mehmet Akif Akardas, focusing on human rights, joint legal education initiatives, and institutional partnerships. Both sides highlighted the importance of experience sharing and agreed to deepen cooperation through future joint projects. Azerbaijans Ambassador to Turkiye, Rashad Mammadov, participated in the meetings. Kamran Aliyev also visited the Azerbaijani Embassy in Ankara to discuss broader cooperation between the two nations. The delegation's visit is ongoing," the statement reads. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. The independence of the Azerbaijani press has been one of the key prerequisites for the development of our society, said President Ilham Aliyev in his congratulatory message to Azerbaijani media representatives on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the national press, Trend reports. The development of independent, strong, and modern media guided by the interests of the people and the creation of the necessary conditions for its free activity have always been among the priority tasks of our state. Systematic work has been carried out in this direction, a regulatory and legal framework has been created to improve the information environment in our country, strengthen the potential and economic foundations of media activity, and adapt it to the challenges of the digital age. Fundamental reforms have also been implemented to strengthen the economic independence of information resources and improve the social protection of journalists, the message states. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Today, we can proudly say that our national press has undergone a glorious and progressive development over a century and a half. It is noteworthy that our national press is celebrating this anniversary at a time when Azerbaijan has fully restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty, said President Ilham Aliyev in his congratulatory message to Azerbaijani media representatives on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the national press, Trend reports. The Azerbaijani media worked selflessly and persistently both on the frontlines and in the rear to ensure the prompt coverage of events during the 44-day Patriotic War and the anti-terrorist operation. At such a historic and fateful time for our country and people, the Azerbaijani media played a major role in accurately and swiftly informing the public, countering disinformation campaigns, and demonstrating high professionalism, true patriotism, and solidarity in conveying our voice and position to the international community. It is beyond any doubt that the victory we won in the information space is an integral part of the glorious Victory achieved on the battlefield the 5th anniversary of which we will celebrate this year, the head of state emphasized. Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaija BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, met with the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Turkiye, Mr. Yasar Guler, within the visit to Istanbul on the occasion of the 17th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025), the Ministry of Defense told Trend. The meeting focused on the current status and prospects of bilateral cooperation in the areas of military affairs, military-technical cooperation, and military education. Both sides underscored that IDEF 2025 is of special importance in terms of strengthening strategic cooperation. The sides also had a detailed exchange of views on regional security and a number of other issues of common interest. The bilateral meeting concluded with signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Mutual Military Security. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, during his official visit to Tbilisi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan (MFA) told Trend. The sides exchanged views on the current state and future prospects of the friendly and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia. Both parties emphasized their satisfaction with the development of mutual relations built on trust and respect, including inter-parliamentary cooperation. They underlined the significance of parliamentary diplomacy as a key pillar of strategic ties, noting the importance of reciprocal visits by parliamentary leaders and active collaboration between friendship groups. The meeting also highlighted the successful cooperation between the two countries across political, economic, energy, trade, transport, communication, and humanitarian fields. Special attention was given to the ongoing joint initiatives and upcoming projects along the Middle Corridor, which contribute to regional economic development and strategic importance. Minister Bayramov informed the Georgian side about the situation in the region, particularly the challenges Azerbaijan faces in the post-conflict period and the steps taken in response. Discussions also covered large-scale reconstruction efforts in the liberated territories and the current status of the normalization and peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Additionally, the meeting addressed other regional and international matters of mutual interest. 16:17 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, during his official visit to Tbilisi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan (MFA) said in a social media post, Trend reports. The information noted that the sides discussed deepening strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia through enhanced inter-parliamentary cooperation, highlighting the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in promoting regional peace and security. They also exchanged views on legislative collaboration as a means of advancing bilateral ties. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. The next groups of former internally displaced persons are returning to the city of Jabrayil, Trend reports. The families, previously temporarily settled in hostels, sanatoriums, children's camps, unfinished and administrative buildings in various regions of the republic, left for their native lands from the Garadagh district of Baku on July 22. At this stage, 53 families (198 people) are returning to Jabrayil. The former IDPs returning to the native village thanked President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care and expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation. Currently, more than 50,000 people live in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. Among them are former internally displaced persons who have returned to these areas, as well as employees involved in the implementation of restoration and construction projects, employees of local departments of various government agencies, and specialists employed in healthcare, education, culture, tourism, industry, and energy institutions that have resumed their activities. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. The trial of Armenian citizen Ruben Vardanyan, charged under Azerbaijans Criminal Code with crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing terrorism, and other serious offenses, continued on July 22 at the Baku Military Court, Trend reports. The open court session, presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev, with Judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal Ramazanov (reserve judge Gunel Samadova), ensured that Vardanyan was provided with a Russian-language interpreter and a defense lawyer of his choice. Before questioning, Judge Aghayev explained the legal rights and obligations to victims and their legal heirs attending the trial for the first time. The next court session is scheduled for July 29. Ruben Vardanyan faces multiple charges under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Articles 100.1, 100.2 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression), 107 (deportation and forced displacement of the population), 109 (persecution), 110 (forcible disappearance of persons), 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113 (torture), 114.1 (mercenary activity), 115.2 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare), 116.0.1, 116.0.2, 116.0.10, 116.0.11, 116.0.16, 116.0.18 (violation of international humanitarian law norms during an armed conflict), 120.2.1, 120.2.3, 120.2.4, 120.2.7, 120.2.11, 120.2.12 (intentional murder), 29.120.2.1, 29.120.2.3, 29.120.2.4, 29.120.2.7, 29.120.2.11, 29.120.2.12 (attempted intentional murder), 192.3.1 (illegal entrepreneurship), 214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing of terrorism), 218.1, 218.2 (creation of a criminal group), 228.3 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and devices), 270-1.2, 270-1.4 (acts threatening aviation safety), 278.1 (forcible seizure or retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state), 279.1, 279.2, 279.3 (creation of armed formations not provided for by law), and 318.2 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan). BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. An official event dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Azerbaijan's National Press is being held on July 22 by the Media Development Agency, Trend reports. The ceremony began with the reading of an address from President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, to media professionals on the occasion. The message was delivered by Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration. Later in the event, a group of media representatives was presented with the commemorative 150th Anniversary Medal of the Azerbaijani National Press established by a relevant decree of President Ilham Aliyev. The ceremony continued with the screening of a specially prepared video and concluded with a cultural program. The event, commemorating the anniversary of the National Press, brings together leaders of television channels, news agencies, and prominent print and online media outlets, as well as public figures. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Vagif Poetry Days are once again being held in the city of Shusha on July 22, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Ministry of Culture, and the Azerbaijan Writers Union, Trend reports. The event is attended by representatives of government institutions as well as renowned figures from the fields of science and culture. The opening ceremony of the festival took place in the Gazakh district, the birthplace of Molla Panah Vagif, on July 14. The celebration continued in the city of Ganja on July 15 and in the Aghdam district on July 16, culminating on July 23 in Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan. As part of the event, a variety of programs including poetry readings, book exhibitions, musical performances, scientific conferences, and theatrical productions are being held at historical and cultural sites in Shushasuch as the Molla Panah Vagif museum-mausoleum complex restored by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Natavans house, the Karabakh Hotel, and the Mehmandarov Estate. The foundation of Vagif Poetry Days was laid in 1982 in Shusha on the initiative of National Leader Heydar Aliyev. That year, with his participation, the poets mausoleum and Poetry House were inaugurated, and it was officially decided to launch this literary celebration. Until 1991, the event was held annually, beginning in Gazakh and concluding on the breathtaking Cidir Plain in Shusha. However, this tradition was interrupted during the occupation of Karabakh in the 1990s. Thanks to the historic Victory achieved under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev in 2020, the revival of this cultural heritage became possible. Since 2021, Vagif Poetry Days have been held once again in Shusha, with renewed spirit. This is not only a celebration of literature but also a triumph of national pride, freedom, and the unwavering will to reclaim our lands. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Deputy Chair of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Minister of Defense, Zukan Helez, visited the House of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where intensive renovation works are currently underway on this important national monument, Trend reports citing the country's Defense Ministry. The House of the Armed Forces of BiH was built back in 1881 as an officers casino, and this is its first significant renovation since World War II. In 2006, the Commission for the Preservation of National Monuments of BiH declared this building a national monument. The building is a cultural monument and a valuable witness to the history of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Throughout its rich past, it has served as an important center of cultural, artistic, and social life in the capital, and thanks to the ongoing restoration, it will soon shine again as one of the symbols of Sarajevo and the entire country. Particularly notable is the concert hall of the House of the Armed Forces of BiH, considered one of the most acoustically advanced in Southeast Europe. In the ceremonial hall of the House of the Armed Forces of BiH, four monumental paintings by prominent Bosnian artist Ismet Mujezinovic are displayed: "The Uprising of 1941," "Crossing the Neretva," "In Honor of the Fighters of Sutjeska," and "The Liberation of Jajce 1943." These artworks are of immeasurable value to the cultural and historical heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of the most complex aspects of the current renovation is the conservation and restoration of these valuable paintings. The work is being led by renowned conservation and restoration experts from the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo Prof. Dr. Cazim Hadzimejlic and Ajla Alijagic, MA in Conservation-Restoration, who are considered leading professionals in this field in the region. These artworks have been in a condition requiring conservation and restoration interventions for many years, and this is the first time they are undergoing such a process since their creation. In parallel with the work in the ceremonial hall, renovation of the exterior woodwork and facade is also underway. All interventions are carried out under strict supervision of the Commission for the Preservation of National Monuments, to ensure the preservation of the original appearance of the building and its priceless cultural, historical, and national value. Although my primary focus as Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in these challenging times, is on strengthening the capacities and modernizing the Armed Forces of BiH, their staffing, and improving the living and working conditions of our personnel, I take particular satisfaction in being able to contribute to the preservation and restoration of the House of the Armed Forces of BiH a national monument of our country. Our relationship with cultural and national monuments is not a relationship with something external it is a relationship with ourselves, said Minister Helez on this occasion. In the coming period, work on the roof is expected to begin, and the project will be rounded off with the construction of a park in front of the House. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel TEHRAN, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on Monday highlighted the necessity to take immediate actions to stop Israeli "crimes" in Gaza and the West Asia region. In a phone call, the two sides discussed the latest regional developments, especially the escalation of Israel's attacks "against the defenseless people of Gaza" and its "military aggressions" against Syria, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Araghchi strongly condemned the escalating Israeli "crimes" against Palestinians in Gaza, especially through depriving them of food and water. He called on Muslim countries to take serious and immediate measures, including convening emergency meetings of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and activating regional consultative mechanisms, to halt what he termed Israel's "genocide in Gaza" and to counter its "warmongering" across the West Asia region. Fidan, for his part, condemned Israel's "crimes and aggressions" against Gaza and Syria, stressing the need for immediate and coordinated actions by Islamic countries to cease Israel's "criminal actions." BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Croatia advocates for "even closer cooperation between the European Union and Japan," said Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman, during a meeting with Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Hisayuki Fuji on the sidelines of the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Trend reports citing the Croatian Foreign Ministry. Croatia sees Japan as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific region. We share common values of freedom and democracy, and respect for the international order based on the rule of law, said Grlic Radman. He added that they also discussed "further strengthening of bilateral relations between Croatia and Japan." We particularly emphasized the importance of Croatias presence at the Expo for promoting the country in Japan, the minister noted. EXPO 2025 Osaka will take place from April to October under the theme "Designing Future Society for Our Lives" on the artificial island of Yumeshima, specially constructed for the event. More than 28 million visitors are expected, with participation from over 160 countries and international organizations. Grlic Radman added that the theme of the expo also reflects Croatias priorities sustainability, innovation, digitalization, and the green transition and said he came to Osaka to support Croatia's participation in the exhibition. The Croatian pavilion is designed as a multi-sensory space showcasing the diversity of Croatia's climate zones, with an innovative thermal system that connects real-time weather conditions from Croatia and Japan. This Croatian pavilion, with its conceptual design Croatia Climate Diversity, represents a blend of our natural richness, expertise, and creativity, said the Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs. Grlic Radman also noted that Croatias national day at the Expo will be marked on September 21, with a delegation expected to attend, headed by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. During his visit to the Expo, the minister visited the Croatian and Japanese pavilions, as well as those of Ukraine, Slovenia, China, the USA, Saudi Arabia, the Czech Republic, Montenegro, Italy, and others, emphasizing that this was an excellent opportunity to connect and exchange ideas for a more sustainable and innovative future. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. At Simonas Daukantas Square in Vilnius, 70 graduates of the General Jonas Zemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania crossed the symbolic threshold between learning and service they were awarded their first officer rank of lieutenant, Trend reports citing the country's Defense Ministry. This marks not only a personal achievement but also a commitment to Lithuania. This years graduating class includes 58 men and 12 women, among them 8 officers who earned a masters degree and specialized in the Air Force. All graduates completed a cycle of physical, psychological, and leadership training. Minister of National Defense Dovile Sakaliene, addressing the newly commissioned officers, emphasized: The officers oath carries even deeper meaning today. We live in a time when security in Europe can no longer be taken for granted. Russian aggression, cyber and information threats, the emerging axis of evil, and the growing influence of authoritarianism are rapidly reshaping our security environment. Thats why Lithuania needs professional, strategically-minded officers who can work effectively with our allies. You represent this new generation. From today, you not only protect the state but also become defenders of its values both with weapons and with your decisions. Lithuania is proud of you. The Academys commandant, Colonel Ricardas Dumbliauskas, reminded the new officers: To lead means not only to give orders it means to inspire, to be worthy of trust, and to lead by example. This path will require you to decide when others hesitate. Be the kind of leaders whom soldiers will follow without question. As per tradition, during the solemn ceremony, the President of the Republic of Lithuania, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, touched each graduates shoulder with a sword, saying: Do not raise it without reason, do not lower it without honor. This symbolic moment marks a cadets transition into an officer. Deputy Minister of National Defense Karolis Aleksa awarded the Sword of Honor, given to the top graduate of the class. This year, the sword was awarded to Lt. Justas Budrikas from Silute. From the beginning of his studies at the Military Academy, Justas stood out for his leadership qualities, excellent academic and military performance, and his strong motivation and commitment to the cadets oath, earning the respect of both peers and commanders. Each of my classmates has their own story. And today, I do not stand here alone I stand for all of us, for our course, which over the years became not just comrades-in-arms but a family. Together, we endured challenges doubts, fatigue, failures and shared in our achievements. At the Academy, we grew not only as soldiers but also as people. This is our shared victory, Lt. Justas Budrikas said in his speech. After the ceremony at Daukantas Square, the celebration moved to the Academys hall, where the graduates received their bachelors and masters diplomas. From now on, they are officers ready to defend the country, lead troops, and shape tomorrows defense forces, assuming responsibility not only for themselves but for their homeland and the safety and well-being of its citizens. The newly sworn-in officers will continue their service in various Lithuanian Armed Forces units across the country. Iran sees rise in exports to EAEU member countries Iran's non-oil exports to Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member countries grew by over 20 percent in the first quarter of the current Iranian year, reaching more than $530 million. During the same period, imports from EAEU states dropped slightly, resulting in a positive trade balance for Iran. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Azerbaijani Oil Fund pulls back on bond investments The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) invested 42.58 billion manat ($25 billion) in bonds by the end of last year. This amount decreased by 7.4 billion manat ($4.3 billion) or 14.8% compared to 49.9 billion manat ($29.3 billion) in the previous year. 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 gold bars amounted to 21 billion manat ($12.35 billion) by the end of last year. The data obtained by Trend from SOFAZ shows that this figure surged by 9.5 billion manat ($5.6 billion) or 83 percent compared to the previous year (11.48 billion manat or $6.75 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. The volume of trade between Azerbaijan and the People's Republic of China (PRC) reached $2.1 billion from January through June 2025. Data obtained by Trend from the State Customs Committee indicates that this marks an increase of $451.4 million or 27.6 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. Trade with the PRC accounted for 8.56 percent of Azerbaijans total foreign trade during the reporting period, making China the country's fourth-largest trading partner. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan exported around $46.3 million worth of goods to China 4.3 times, or $35.6 million, more than in the corresponding period last year during this timeframe. Additionally, Azerbaijan imported nearly $2 billion worth of goods from China, a year-on-year increase of 1.3 times, or about $416 million. As a result, China ranked first among countries exporting goods to Azerbaijan during the reporting period. Azerbaijan conducted trade operations worth $24.4 billion with foreign countries, which is $2.63 billion or 12.1 percent more than during the same period last year. Of the total foreign trade volume, exports accounted for $12.8 billion, while imports reached $11.5 billion. Compared to the previous year, exports declined slightly by 0.2 percent, whereas imports surged by 29.9 percent. Consequently, Azerbaijan recorded a positive trade balance of $1.35 billion nearly three times lower than the surplus recorded a year earlier, when it stood at $2.67 billion. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Azerbaijan is on the verge of rapid growth in the digital commerce sector, in line with global trends, said Yevgen Lisnyak, senior director of Visa for strategic partnerships and fintech, and Joint Projects for Ukraine, Georgia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and Southeast Europe, in an interview with Trend. Lisnyak noted that the COVID-19 pandemic played a key role in accelerating the development of e-commerce worldwide. Due to restrictions on movement and self-isolation, the demand for remote services and online shopping surged, he said. According to Lssnyak, the global e-commerce market currently stands at $6-7 trillion and accounts for 20 percent of total global trade. Annual growth is estimated at 8-9 percent, and the sector could reach up to $9-10 trillion by 2030. He highlighted that countries like the United Kingdom and China have emerged as leaders, with e-commerce making up over a third of retail trade. While Central Asia, including Azerbaijan, is still below the global average, Lesnyak emphasized that the region holds significant growth potential. Were witnessing steady double-digit annual growth in e-commerce in Azerbaijan. A favorable environment has been created for the development and implementation of new digital payment services, he explained. The official underscored the key role of regulatory institutions in shaping the digital economy. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan has taken essential steps to stimulate this process, including the adoption of the Law on Payment Services and Payment Systems in 2023, the launch of a regulatory sandbox, and the implementation of consecutive three-year financial sector development strategies. The 20212023 strategy has been completed, and the 20242026 strategy is now underway. These efforts are advancing not only e-commerce and digital payments but the entire fintech market, he stated. On global trends, Lisnyak stated that artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a core focus, automating operations and offering personalized solutions. We already see AI technology in Azerbaijan from chatbots to personalized product recommendations on marketplaces. Globally, AI agents are also being actively explored. Visa recently launched the Visa Intelligent Commerce initiative, which redefines buyer-seller interactions. Smart agents can handle tasks such as product searches, price comparisons, and cart creation, leaving the final purchase decision to the user. Were actively working to scale this with our partners, he said. Visas AI-powered commerce tools bring value to both businesses and consumers. Visas solutions help businesses streamline operations while assisting consumers with product selection and checkout. For instance, when users are faced with multiple offers, AI helps them build a cart faster, saving time and enhancing the experience. Seamless payment is also essential. Studies show some users abandon purchases during checkout if their preferred payment method isnt available, he added. As omnichannel commerce grows, with interactions happening through websites, mobile apps, physical stores, and social media, its crucial to ensure consistency behind the scenes,'' Lisnyak explained. The goal is to deliver a smooth customer experience across all channels. In this case, AI can act either as a passive responder or an active assistant, suggesting solutions based on purchase history, location, and other data points, he noted. Lisnyak further stressed that AI can transform company operations at all levels. More than half of marketing directors in the United States already use AI tools to generate content. And this is just the beginning smart technologies are now applied in everything from text and image creation to augmented reality, which lets users visualize products in real-life settings, he said. He added that combining AI with augmented and virtual reality opens up new horizons for businesses. The key is not to be afraid to experiment, Lesnyak advised. Mobile commerce is another strong trend. Lesnyak noted that in Azerbaijan, more users are shopping via mobile apps rather than traditional web browsers. To meet this demand, local players are actively adapting their services to mobile platforms, he said. Another global trend is direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales, where manufacturers engage directly with consumers through platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, bypassing intermediaries. A significant number of Azerbaijani businesses already utilize these channels. However, payment methods often rely on simple transfers, which are inconvenient. Visa and its partners are ready to provide solutions that help small and medium-sized enterprises accept payments seamlessly, Lisnyak noted. The official highlighted Visas technologies that simplify payments, such as Visa Click to Pay which stores encrypted card data for one-click checkout and Visa Payment Passkey, which enables biometric confirmation. The Tap to Phone solution turns smartphones into contactless payment terminals without additional hardware. Lisnyak also mentioned the Cybersource platform, which allows businesses to rapidly deploy electronic acquiring systems with minimal technical effort while accessing a wide range of modern payment services. Among global trends with relevance for Azerbaijan, he pointed to the rapid growth of business-to-business (B2B) commerce and platforms, as well as quick commerce, a model where speed of delivery is critical. Often, long wait times discourage buyers. Rather than wait days for delivery, consumers prefer to go to a store and buy the product right away. Thats why fast-growing express delivery services and AI-driven logistics are becoming increasingly vital. In some countries, drone delivery is already being tested, he explained. Lesnyak emphasized that logistics remain a challenge for e-commerce growth in Azerbaijan, as delivering goods to regions can take time. He cited the state-backed Online Azerbaijan project, which aims to bring internet access to even the most remote parts of the country. Internet infrastructure is the foundation for digital services and the online economy. As far as I know, the program is progressing well, and we will soon see real results, which will drive e-commerce growth in Azerbaijan, Lisnyak concluded. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Kazakhstan unveils industrial development plans at government meeting Photo: Press service of Kazakh Prime Minister Kazakhstan will implement a new wave of industrial projects in 2025, with the plans announced during a government meeting by Vice Minister Olzhas Saparbekov. The initiatives focus on metallurgy, regional development, and job creation through expanded domestic production. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, July 22. Uzbekistan is set to launch several new hydroelectric power stations by the end of this year across the Tashkent, Namangan, Kashkadarya, and Surkhandarya regions, with a combined capacity of 162 MW, Trend reports, citing the Uzbek president's office. These new stations are expected to generate 648 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, providing a crucial boost to meet the rising energy demands of the population and supporting the countrys rapidly growing economy. The announcement was made during a presentation where President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on the progress of various joint projects with international partners in Uzbekistans oil and gas sector. In addition to these initiatives, Uzbekistan is making significant strides in enhancing its energy infrastructure to meet rising domestic consumption. A number of major projects have been launched, with much of this progress attributed to the Presidents foreign visits and the business forums organized during these trips. One key development is an agreement with Azerbaijans SOCAR company for oil exploration and extraction in the Ustyurt region. Joint geological surveys are planned in the region to identify and assess further exploration opportunities in promising areas. Uzbekistan is also collaborating with various international partners to advance initiatives in areas such as the development of complex oil fields, digital transformation of the energy sector, and the training of specialists to meet the growing demands of the industry. During the presentation, officials provided updates on the status of these projects and outlined plans for future expansion. President Mirziyoyev stressed the need to accelerate the development of specific oil fields, urging a fully integrated production cyclefrom geological exploration to the processing of finished products. The President also underscored the importance of adopting modern drilling technologies to boost oil and gas production. He called for greater efficiency in the operation of wells in existing foreign and joint ventures to maximize output and reduce costs. The meeting also focused on preparations for the upcoming autumn-winter season. Officials presented measures being taken to increase energy production, inject gas into underground storage facilities, and ensure a steady and balanced supply of energy resources. At the Talimardjan Thermal Power Station, the construction of two combined-cycle power units with a total capacity of 1,065 MW is well underway. Additionally, a new thermal power station with a capacity of 1,573 MW is being built in the Syrdarya region. The total designed capacity of these projects will reach 20 billion kilowatt-hours annually. Efforts are also underway to repair critical infrastructure, including power transmission networks and substations. Authorities are securing necessary fuel reserves, spare parts, and components to ensure the uninterrupted operation of thermal power plants during peak demand periods. President Mirziyoyev has tasked relevant authorities with the ongoing modernization of Uzbekistans energy infrastructure, ensuring that the countrys power supply remains stable and reliable, which is essential to sustain economic growth and meet the needs of its citizens. Kazakhstan calls for stronger SME role in industrial ecosystem Photo: Ukimet Kazakhstan Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov announced at a government meeting that Kazakhstan will strengthen SME development around the mining and metallurgical complex. New industrial projects and digital tools are expected to improve efficiency, innovation, and local value creation. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register PHNOM PENH, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The ASEAN Regional Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise 2025 (ARDEX-25) kicked off in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Tuesday. Held at the Special Force Command 911, the three-day exercise brought together some 650 participants from ASEAN member states, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN dialogue partners, among others. It was organized by the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) in collaboration with the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Center). Cambodian Senior Minister Kun Kim, first vice-president of the NCDM, said ARDEX-25 is a full-scale exercise held biennially to test and evaluate ASEAN's disaster preparedness and emergency response mechanisms. "This includes preparation processes, search and rescue operations, impact assessment, and national-level immediate response strategies linked to ASEAN, with the aim of saving the lives of disaster victims through search and rescue, healthcare services, temporary shelter, food provision, sanitation and hygiene, among others," he said at the opening ceremony of the exercise. Kim said the exercise was also to test the ASEAN Standard Operating Procedure for Regional Standby Arrangements and Coordination of Joint Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Operations. He added that the ARDEX-25 comprises table-top exercises, command post exercises, and field training exercises. ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Kazakhstan reinvests subsoil revenue into exploration projects Photo: Official information source of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan will allocate over $50 million for geological exploration in 2025, using subscription bonuses from subsoil use auctions. The funding decision was announced at a government meeting as part of efforts to strengthen the national resource base. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register 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. Italy multiplies oil import from Azerbaijan in 6M2025 Azerbaijan exported 6.8 million tons of crude oil and related products worth $3.6 billion to Italy in the first half of this year. Compared to the same period in 2024, export value increased by $881 million (32.4%) and volume by 2.5 million tons (59.6%). Italy was the top importer of Azerbaijani oil during this period. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. The opening of the Zangezur corridor can either reduce or increase freight transportation costs, the Secretary General of the Azerbaijan International Road Transport Association (ABADA) Kanan Gurbanov told reporters, Trend reports. The secretary general of ABADA also spoke about the prospects of the Zangezur corridor. "The Zangezur corridor is globally important issue. We are all looking forward to its opening. Currently, our shipments are transported to Europe either through Georgia or Iran. This, in turn, increases both time and costs. However, when the Zangezur corridor opens, the route will be shorter and Azerbaijan will carry out transportation through its own territory. In general, the opening of the Zangezur corridor can reduce freight transportation costs and increase the attractiveness of this corridor. As ABADA, our goal is to exceed 100 large companies with Carnet booklets by the end of the year. He said that 85 companies are already members of this booklet. "Our goal is to attract all our carriers to the Carnet booklet. Attracting them to this booklet means increasing their quality. Also, expanding the geography of carrier member companies is one of our main goals. This expansion has extended to China. Our current goal is to increase the geography of cargo transportation deep into Europe," he explained. Gurbanov noted that carriers are experiencing difficulties in entering the depths of Iran. "This is because there are many fines and artificial obstacles there. Our goal is to expand the geography of cargo transportation there as well," he added. The Zangezur corridor initiative put forth by Azerbaijan seeks to create a strategic transit conduit connecting its principal territory with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, traversing Armenian territory. This project emerged in the course of the implementation of the agreements set out in the trilateral statement signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia in 2020. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel AzerGold CJSC was represented at the 3rd Global Media Forum held in the cultural capital of our country, the city of Shusha. The Forum brought together nearly 140 foreign guests from 52 countries, including representatives from more than 30 news agencies, 7 international organizations, around 80 media outlets, and other related sectoral organizations. As part of the Forum, the state company showcased its gold and silver products. At the AzerGold CJSC stand, the '100 Years and a Legacy Beyond That' gold coin minted in 3D format using Smartminting technology in honor of the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyevs birth was exhibited, along with gold coins dedicated to Icherisheher and the 20th anniversary of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Baku new-generation silver coin, and other thematic coins. At the exhibition, foreign guests were provided with detailed information on the company's activity, particularly the Shusha, Pearls of Karabakh, and Natavan coins and the historical and cultural messages they convey. The design of the upcoming Lachin gold and silver collection, which will soon be available for sale, was also presented to the public at the stand. The specimens attracted great interest from visitors. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. TBC Bank has been recognized as Georgias Best Digital Bank by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, a prestigious acknowledgment of the banks progress and innovation in the digital banking space, Trend reports. The international financial publication also named TBC Bank the countrys Best Bank for Research, highlighting its recent advances in financial market analysis and the successful integration of artificial intelligence tools within its research division. Vakhtang Butskhrikidze, CEO of TBC Bank Group, welcomed the recognition, stating: We are proud to receive these prestigious awards. It reinforces our position as a digital banking leader in Georgia, delivering seamless customer experiences across onboarding, daily banking, investments, and more. Winning the research award highlights the strength of our in-house expertise and our commitment to providing timely, data-driven insights that empower our clients to make informed financial decisions. TBC Bank Group, which includes the bank and its subsidiaries, holds a leading position in Georgias financial sector, with a market share of 38.0% in customer loans and 36.9% in customer deposits as of 31 March 2025, according to the National Bank of Georgia. The Euromoney Awards for Excellence have been recognizing industry leaders globally for over five decades. The awards are based on rigorous analysis and are considered a benchmark of performance, innovation, and strategic leadership in the banking sector. Details added: first version posted on 10:34 BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. The number of members of the Azerbaijan International Road Transport Association (ABADA) has increased by 10 percent in the first six months of this year, bringing the total membership to 174 legal entities and individuals, ABADA Secretary General Kanan Gurbanov told local media, Trend reports. According to him, during the reporting period, 159 drivers and 41 managers received Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) certificates, and 215 drivers received ADR (International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road) certificates. "The association, within its powers, ensures the implementation of the Customs Convention 'On the Application of Carnet TIR (International Carnet for the Transport of Goods)' in the country and, as a member of the International Road Transport Union (IRU), provides road carriers with TIR carnets (Carnet TIR). ABADA is also a participant in the T1 support system, applied to transit transportation in the direction of Turkiye and Europe. Recently, the number of carriers using Carnet-TIR has also increased by 30 percent due to the growth in the volume of goods transported from China," the secretary general added. To note, ABADA is a non-commercial legal entity, which was created on the basis of the principles of volunteerism and equality of rights of members, and whose activities cover the entire territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan. ABADA has been a member of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) since November 1993, and by the relevant Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan, it was determined as a guarantee body under the 1975 Customs Convention "On International Freight Transport" in the country. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. A delegation led by Azerbaijans Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov, recently made a business visit to North Macedonia, focusing on deepening bilateral relations and expanding economic cooperation, Trend reports, citing Azerbaijans Ministry of Economy. During the visit, the Azerbaijani delegation met with North Macedonias President, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, who praised the growing friendship between the two countries and expressed support for strengthening their partnership. Minister Jabbarov highlighted the fast-paced development of economic and trade ties with North Macedonia and emphasized the strong potential for further collaboration. He stressed the importance of launching joint projects and initiatives and provided an overview of Azerbaijans economic strengths and priority areas for future cooperation. In a meeting with Afrim Gashi, Speaker of the North Macedonian Assembly, Jabbarov underlined the importance of mutually beneficial cooperation and expanding collaboration in trade, investment, and other sectors. Both sides acknowledged significant potential for joint economic activities and discussed opportunities in energy, trade, investment, and legal frameworks. During talks with North Macedonias First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, Izet Mexhiti, Azerbaijans favorable investment climate and strategic geographic location as a transit hub were highlighted. The two sides discussed prospects for cooperation on joint initiatives, projects, and strengthening partnerships in both traditional and renewable energy sectors. At a meeting with North Macedonias Minister of Economy and Labor, Besar Durmishi, the focus was on intensifying cooperation in trade, investment, energy, tourism, and transport. Both parties expressed keen interest in advancing priority projects and promoting business ties between their countries. Minister Jabbarov also met with Orhan Murtezani, North Macedonias Minister of European Affairs, where they discussed Azerbaijans long-term strategic initiatives, regional and global projects, and ongoing investment efforts. The conversation highlighted opportunities to boost cooperation in energy, investment, trade, tourism, and agriculture, emphasizing the mutual benefits of diversifying their partnership. Tajikistan plots to advance Rogun HPP with World Bank's assistance Photo: The Ministry of Finance of Tajikistan Tajikistan and the World Bank reviewed priority development projects and financial cooperation, including the Rogun hydropower plant. The Ministry of Finance proposed a new funding phase to attract further investments in socio-economic sectors. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register ISLAMABAD, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Seven suspected dacoits were killed in four separate police encounters in Lahore, capital of Pakistan's Punjab province, authorities have said. According to the Crime Control Department on Monday, a specialized Punjab police unit targeting organized crime, the suspects were wanted for robbery, murder, and other serious offenses. In the most significant incident, three suspects were killed and three others escaped during a gunfight in Chung, a southeastern area of Lahore, after police foiled a robbery in progress. Two more suspects were killed in Kotwali, while another was shot dead in Shahdara. A separate encounter occurred near Ring Road in Model Town, where a suspect was killed. Police claimed all suspects were killed by crossfire from their own accomplices. Search operations are underway to arrest those who fled. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Azerbaijan and Kenya have signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of energy, the country's Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov wrote on X, Trend reports. "We had a meeting in online format with Kenya's Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Opiyo Wandayi. In the course of the meeting, the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum of the Republic of Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of energy. The document envisages the promotion of joint investments and cooperation to improve energy infrastructure, particularly grids, as well as oil and gas, including LNG, electricity, and renewable energy. This initiative is an important step in terms of expanding the geography of Azerbaijan's energy cooperation and expanding opportunities to enter new markets," the publication reads. Azerbaijan reveals funding plan for designing Bakus new metro stations Azerbaijan has launched the design phase for several new metro stations in Baku as part of a broader expansion of the city's underground transport network. A contract worth nearly 36 million manat has been awarded to a newly registered company to carry out the planning and design work. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Photo: Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. A total of 25 Czech companies operate in Azerbaijan in the fields of agriculture, industry, transport, construction, trade, and services, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy. This issue was addressed during discussions on the development of economic and trade relations between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic. Specifically, during the visit of Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov to the Czech Republic, discussions were held at a roundtable with Czech businessmen on promoting cooperation between business circles. As part of the visit, a roundtable was held in Prague with the participation of Czech business representatives. The minister emphasized that relations between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic are based on mutual trust and common strategic priorities. It was noted that the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed in 2015 is important for the development of long-term cooperation. Economic and trade relations with the Czech Republic are developing. According to information, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to approximately $485 million from January through June 2025. Moreover, it was stated that there are broad prospects for cooperation in the investment sphere. The Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments signed in 2011 provides a strong legal basis for joint projects as well as capital flows. The meeting highlighted the potential for effective cooperation with the Czech Republic in energy, transport, industry, trade, and other areas. Information was provided about Azerbaijans favorable business and investment environment, the Alat Free Economic Zone, industrial parks, opportunities created for investors in liberated territories, and transportation-transit potential. Czech businessmen were invited to active cooperation. At the event, Director General of the European Union and Foreign Trade Department of the Czech Republics Ministry of Industry and Trade David Muller emphasized the countrys mutually beneficial cooperation with Azerbaijan. Extensive opportunities for partnership in various fields, including strengthening cooperation between the business communities of both countries, were noted. It was stated that Czech companies are interested in cooperating with Azerbaijan. Discussions were held at the roundtable on promoting business relations. Presentations on the activities and products of Czech Chemoprojekt, Czechoslovak Group, Mavel, Omnipol, Shkoda, TES VSETIN, and VSL Group Activities companies were held at the event, and questions were answered. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Romania doubles oil imports from Azerbaijan in 1H2025 In the first half of 2025, Azerbaijan exported 686,000 tons of crude oil and related products worth $378 million to Romania. This marks a $165.8 million or 1.8-fold increase in value and a 341,500-ton or 2-fold rise in volume from the same period last year. Romania ranked 4th among Azerbaijans top oil importers during the period. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Germany ramps up oil imports from Azerbaijan in 6M2025 In the first half of 2025, Azerbaijan exported 562,300 tons of crude oil worth $302.4 million to Germany. Exports rose by $8.5 million and 121,600 tons from the same period in 2024. Germany ranked 6th among Azerbaijans top oil buyers. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Liquified petroleum gas (LPG) is crucial in providing support to vulnerable populations, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais said in his article, Trend reports. The importance of LPG in achieving the UNs Sustainable Development Goal 7, part of which aims to achieve universal access to clean cooking by 2030, has been emphasized by a range of actors. Indeed, LPG is regarded as the primary solution to attaining that goal and increasing access to LPG stoves and cannisters has been critical in progress achieved to date. The benefits of LPG are clear. Using LPG directly emits half the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, on average, compared to the traditional use of biomass. LPG stoves are also convenient, easily transported and have high energy efficiency, he noted. Al Ghais recalled that in its contributions to the Roadmap for Brazils G20 Presidency on a Clean Cooking Strategy in 2024, as well as to the work of the current South African G20 Presidency on the topic, OPEC has highlighted the role that LPG can play in improving living and health standards and reducing GHG emissions. The Organization advocates for policies and programmes to promote, finance and implement projects that expand the utilization of LPG across regions and countries. OPEC Member Countries have been playing a significant role in this area through initiatives such as the Oil Sustainability Program and the Clean Cooking Roadmap. LPG as a product can be vital in ensuring the most vulnerable members of society are looked after. It can be lifesaving. Hopefully, in 2030 the world can celebrate the achievement of universal access to clean cooking fuels and technologies. LPG, and the oil and gas industries, will be instrumental in making this vision a reality, OPECs secretary general added. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Turkiye hopes that the third round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will yield constructive results and help sustain the dialogue between the two countries, Trend reports. The statement was made by the Administration of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which also emphasized Turkiyes readiness to ensure the security of the negotiation process and to provide full support. The next meeting between the parties is expected to take place on Wednesday at 20:00, although the exact date has not yet been officially confirmed. It is worth recalling that two previous rounds of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine were held in Istanbul. During those meetings, prisoner exchanges took place and draft memorandums on conflict resolution were discussed. WASHINGTON, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Iran "cannot give up" its nuclear enrichment program which suffered major damage in recent U.S. airstrikes, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi told U.S. media on Monday. "Our facilities have been ... seriously damaged. The extent of which is now under evaluation by our atomic energy organization," Araghchi told Fox News in an interview via video link, adding that the damage has ceased Iran's enrichment capabilities for the time being. On June 22, the U.S. Air Force bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities of Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan, the impact of which, according to the Pentagon's assessment, had set back Tehran's nuclear program "by one to two years." "We cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists. And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride," Araghchi said. "Our enrichment is so dear to us." The U.S. air raids on Iran came during an intense 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran last month. The conflict began on June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes on multiple targets across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. Iran retaliated with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory, causing casualties and damage. A ceasefire between the two countries was reached on June 24. Following Israel's strikes, the sixth round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States scheduled in Oman on June 15 was canceled. After the Fox News interview was aired, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday evening: "Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, on the Iran Nuclear Sites: 'Damages are very severe, they are destroyed.' Of course they are, just like I said, and we will do it again, if necessary!" In late June, the U.S. Senate voted against a resolution that would have limited the president's authority to launch further military action against Iran without congressional approval. New federal grant will support UAF doctoral students Photo by Sarah Spanos The research vessel Sikuliaq cruises toward the dock at the Seward Marine Center in Resurrection Bay in June 2025. The University of Alaska Fairbanks has been awarded a $1.9 million federal grant to support 12 new Ph.D. students at the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. The program, Enhancing Marine Ecosystem Research and Graduate Education in Alaska, will be funded by the National Science Foundation. EMERGE Alaska will support three years worth of academic and summer stipends, as well as a cost-of-education allowance for graduate fellows starting in 2026. To qualify for the fellowship program, prospective students must have received an honorable mention ranking in their application for a highly competitive NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Incoming graduate research fellows will be paired with CFOS faculty in line with their research interests. One of the barriers to getting scientists in Alaska is funding Ph.D. students, said CFOS assistant professor of fisheries Jessica Glass, who is leading the project. To be able to fund 12 high-quality research students will be great for CFOS and great for the university. The funding comes through the NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, which targets 28 states and territories, including Alaska, with funding to strengthen scientific endeavors. The new cohort of graduate fellows will provide a large boost to an already significant number of Ph.D. students at CFOS: The college expects to have nearly 50 Ph.D. students enrolled during the fall 2025 semester. The EMERGE Alaska program will also support UAFs larger goal of achieving R1 research status as a university, which includes a threshold of 70 doctorate degrees awarded per year. Because of the selective requirements for the program, most of the fellows will likely be from outside Alaska, Glass said. That expected influx of students could provide a long-term benefit to the state, since most CFOS graduate students from the Lower 48 remain in Alaska after graduating. Its not just a recruitment tool for CFOS, its a recruiting tool for the state of Alaska, Glass said. ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Jessica Glass, jrglass@alaska.edu 014-26 facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published July 22, 2025 CAPTION: (L-R): Dr. Jun Tan, Dr. Natalie Campbell, Xiaoan Wang, Hualian Liu, ULM President Dr. Carrie L. Castille, Anna Tan, Yang Liu, Andrew Tan, Caitlyn Campbell MONROE, LA The Tianyu Wang Endowed Scholarship in Communication has been established at the ULM Foundation thanks to a generous gift from The Tan Family. The announcement was made at a check presentation at the Laird Weems Center on July 2, 2025. Mr. Tianyu Wang dedicated his life to documenting the lives, culture, and voices of the people in Shaanxi Province through photography and journalism. He believed strongly in the power of storytelling to connect communities and inspire change. The scholarship was established by Tianyu Wangs eldest daughter, Xiaoan Wang, BA, 97, journalism-public relations, and MA, 98, communication; his son-in-law, Dr. Jun Tan, MA, 91, communication, and PhD, 00, pharmacy administration; and his grandchildren, Anna Tan and Andrew Tan. On behalf of the ULM community, I extend our deepest gratitude to the Tan family for their extraordinary generosity and vision, said ULM President Dr. Carrie L. Castille. This scholarship not only pays tribute to a pioneering figure in the world of photojournalism, but it also affirms the familys enduring commitment to education, storytelling, and meaningful connection across cultures and generations, she added. The purpose of the scholarship endowment is to celebrate and honor Tianyu Wangs contributions to the field of photojournalism and to empower future generations of students pursuing careers in communication, photography, journalism, film, media, or related fields. The scholarship will be awarded to a student in the final two semesters of their coursework who maintains a minimum 3.0 GPA. The first recipient will be announced in Fall 2025. Our wish is that this scholarship helps them pursue their education with confidence, curiosity, and a commitment to making a positive impactvalues that Mr. Tianyu Wang held dearly as both a journalist and a father, reflected his daughter, Xiaoan Wang. Members of the family traveled across the globe to honor Tianyu Wang at the presentation. In attendance were Hualian Liu (Mr. Wangs wife), Xiaoan Wang (his eldest daughter), Dr. Jun Tan (son-in-law), Anna Tan (granddaughter), Andrew Tan (grandson) and Yang Liu (wife of Andrew Tan). Also present were Dr. Natalie Campbell (sister-in-law of Xiaoan) and Caitlyn Campbell (niece of Xiaoan), who will begin pharmacy school at ULM this fall. Our students have a wide variety of interests and come to us with varying levels of experience, but what they all have is a passion for communicationespecially visual communicationand many face financial challenges, said Dr. Ann Rodriguez, Director of the ULM Communication Program. With the establishment of The Tianyu Wang Endowed Scholarship in Communication, we are able to honor Mr. Wangs award-winning career in photojournalism and lifelong passion for meaningful storytelling, while helping our students to finish their education and pursue purposeful careers. During the presentation, three selected works from Light Photography Spring Autumn, a book by Mr. Tianyu Wang, published in September 2010, were displayed. Looking ahead, the Tan family will partner with ULM to exhibit Tianyu Wangs most notable works in Walker Hall to coincide with the Chinese New Year on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. For more information about the Tianyu Wang Endowed Scholarship in Communication, including application criteria, please visit https://ulm.academicworks.com/donors/tianyu-wang-endowed-scholarship. About Tianyu Wang Tianyu Wang () was an award-winning photographer, author, and journalist (born 1939 in Baoji, China died 2024 in Xian, China). His decades-long career spanned news photography, documentary filmmaking, and journalism. He served in prominent roles, including Senior Photojournalist at Shaanxi Daily, Vice Chairman of the Shaanxi Branch of the China Photographers Association, and Vice President of the Shaanxi Art Photography Society. A prolific artist, Mr. Wang captured tens of thousands of images and edited or published more than 50 editions of pictorial magazines. His work was exhibited widely in China and internationally. He also published influential writings on the theory and practice of news photography, praised by peers as a selfless contribution to Chinas news photography industry. Mr. Wang authored several books that combined photographs and narrative to capture the culture, natural beauty, and evolving life of Shaanxi Province. His publications have been praised as vibrant and detailed records that illuminate the regions blend of ancient and modern traditions in an encyclopedic, artistic form. Tianyu Wang was a self-taught photographer who refined his technique through hands-on practice and creative exploration. He was passionate about photography as a way to remember our brilliant history in order to motivate us to make progress in the future. A strong supporter of higher education, Mr. Wang mentored many aspiring photojournalists who went on to achieve great success. Establishing this scholarship is the familys way of honoring his legacy and supporting future communicators who share his passion. Through this scholarship, Mr. Wangs legacy lives onempowering future generations of communicators to share meaningful stories, just as he did through his lens and words. Associate Professor Angela Wangari Walter of the Department of Public Health in the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences joins an elite group of scholars from across the nation who have been selected to receive the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar award. During the 2025-2026 academic year, Walter will focus on enhancing behavioral health research and teaching capacity in Kenya to improve the health of people diagnosed with cancer. The prize, awarded by the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, is granted to a select group of scholars each year in recognition of their outstanding scholarship and global leadership. All of us in the college are incredibly proud that Dr. Walter was selected as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar in the research and teaching category, says Dean Mary Gallant of the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences. This prestigious honor reflects the merit of her contributions to global scholarship, cross-cultural exchange and advancing knowledge and practice that transcends borders. It also shines a spotlight on the department, college and university. A nationally recognized expert in behavioral health services, Walter will partner with the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) in Nairobi, Kenya, to examine alcohol and tobacco use among adults who have been diagnosed with cancer. She will also work with CUEA faculty to co-develop curricula that will train a workforce in behavioral health. I am grateful to receive this award and to partner with my Kenyan colleagues to build a lasting infrastructure in Kenya and other African nations that will contribute to improving population health and lessening the burden of cancer, says Walter, an implementation scientist who studies how to facilitate the adoption of evidence-based practices and interventions into routine health care and community settings to advance the impact on population health. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 14.6 million new cancer cases and 8.5 million cancer deaths will occur in low- and middle-income countries by 2030. As the incidence of cancer rates continue to increase, so does the need for the implementation of culturally grounded, evidence-based interventions, which remain underutilized in resource-limited communities, says Walter. Community research partnerships, combined with international collaboration, can create opportunities to address pressing public health challenges and implementation issues. The partnership also builds the capacity of researchers, institutions, communities and the next generation of the public health workforce. In collaboration with faculty and leadership in CUEAs School of Nursing, Walter will conduct interviews and focus groups across health care facilities in Kenya to learn about current assessment and treatment strategies for patients using tobacco and alcohol, and will identify approaches that have worked as well as ones that have not. A major challenge to reducing cancer rates in low- and middle-income countries is that proven treatments and programs, as well as implementation strategies, have not been designed to align with the unique priorities and cultural assets present in communities, says Walter. My community-engaged and clinical translational research aims to promote solutions-focused interventions and strategies that are culturally grounded and build on local assets and expertise, so they both enhance health and well-being for cancer survivors, and that are sustainable over time. To sustain the intervention program for people diagnosed with cancer, Walter will collaborate with CUEA faculty to incorporate mental health and substance use training in the nursing education curriculum. Students will gain knowledge on substance use disorders and mental illness, as well as evidence-based interventions to treat these conditions, and learn the skills to screen, assess and support patients. We are excited about this collaboration and the transformative impact it will have on the health and well-being of individuals diagnosed with cancer, says Dean Mary Kungu of the School of Nursing at CUEA. By combining our strengths, we are advancing cancer care and bringing hope to patients and their families. Walter will also work with partners to communicate the results of the research and solutions in international scholarly journals and will work locally to inform the policy landscape, ensuring that there is sustained support for implementation. As a nationally recognized scholar, Walter has significantly contributed to the literature on substance use treatment and mental well-being. She trains and mentors undergraduate and graduate public health students, as well as early career faculty at UMass Lowell and physician researchers across New England. Walter holds multiple leadership positions in the community and nationally, including the American Public Health Association, and serves as an active member of the American Association of Cancer Research. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided talented and accomplished scholars with the opportunity to teach and conduct research abroad. Over 800 individuals teach or conduct research abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar award program annually. Fulbrighters exchange ideas, build people-to-people connections and work to address complex global challenges. Notable Fulbrighters include 62 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, 44 heads of state or government and thousands of leaders across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. government. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide. In the United States, the Institute of International Education implements the Fulbright U.S. Student and U.S. Scholar Programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. For more information visit the Fulbright U.S. Scholar award website. JERUSALEM, July 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. carrier United Airlines resumed flights to Israel, operating a direct flight from Newark Liberty Airport in the United States to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on Tuesday. The airline suspended its flights to Israel on June 13, when the 12-day war between Israel and Iran broke out, and recently decided to resume flights after conducting a comprehensive situation assessment. Another U.S. carrier, Delta Air Lines, is scheduled to resume flights to Israel on September 1. American Airlines has not flown to Israel since the outbreak of the multi-front conflict in October 2023, with no date announced for a return. This month, Italian airline Neos and Bulgaria Air are also expected to resume flights to Israel. To sweeten ties with India, Yunus sends 1000 kgs of mangoes to Modi The Yunus government in Bangladesh has initiated Mango Diplomacy with India, weeks after the Foreign Ministry said New Delhi was willing to discuss all issues with Dhaka in a conducive environment Tuesday July 22, 2025 2:15 PM , Saleem Samad Bangladeshi authorities are aware that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a strict vegan, but he has a particular fondness for mangoes. Modi has a craving for mangoes of Bengal (now a territory of Bangladesh). He cuts mangoes himself when he consumes them as dessert, he once told an actor when the celebrity asked how he ate mangoes. The Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, Prof. Muhammad Yunus, sent 1,000 kilograms (approximately one ton) of the most delicious mango variety, Haribhanga, to New Delhi last week. The mangoes are expected to be shared with dignitaries from the Indian Prime Ministers Office, diplomats, and other officials within the next couple of days as part of a friendly exchange between the two neighboring countries, wrote a private news service, United News of Bangladesh (UNB). The Yunus government has initiated Mango Diplomacy with India, weeks after the Foreign Ministry said New Delhi was willing to discuss all issues with Dhaka in a conducive environment. Yunus has also sent 300 kg of mangoes each to the neighboring states of West Bengals Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tripuras Chief Minister Manik Saha. Bangladesh has a long-standing tradition of sending seasonal gifts, particularly mangoes, to the Indian PM and state leaders to reinforce cultural ties and regional diplomacy. This form of extending a gesture, often referred to as Mango Diplomacy, was also practiced under the previous administration of Sheikh Hasina, and it continues to serve as a symbol of goodwill and exchange, reports The Times of India. Will the mango diplomacy likely thaw the strained relations after Delhis all-weather friend, Sheikh Hasina, was toppled and she sought refuge in a secure location, possibly in Delhi? The question among diplomatic circles is whether the mango diplomacy will reinforce cultural ties and regional diplomacy. Most of the observers are sceptical about the outcome of the bilateral talks. Modi and Yunus last met in April on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, their first face-to-face meeting since the collapse of Bangladeshs former autocratic regime. Prime Minister Modi reiterated Indias support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh. He also underlined that India believed in a people-centric approach to the relationship, and highlighted the cooperation between the two countries over a long period of time that has delivered tangible benefits to people in both countries. The practice of sending mangoes has existed since previous regimes. But the relations between Dhaka and New Delhi have been sour after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power last year following massive student-led demonstrations. The Hasina government had close ties with New Delhi. However, Bangladeshs new caretaker government chose to court China and Pakistan, fanning regional instability. Beijing has been trying for years to spread its tentacles in the Indian subcontinent. Through arms deals and loans, China is rooting its influence in Pakistan and Bangladesh, aiming to align its interests with Beijing. Amid diplomatic unrest, Bangladeshs Mango Diplomacy, a form of outreach, is seen as Dhakas move to sweeten ties with India. Hours after sheltering Hasina, India has imposed a blanket moratorium on visa services to Bangladeshi nationals. The visa centers are manned by skeleton staff for emergency visa formalities, like healthcare, students studying in India, and those seeking visas for a third country having their visa office in Delhi. The moratorium has brought the direct train, buses, and border crossing for Bangladesh to several Indian destinations to a standstill. Most flights between cities of Bangladesh and India have been significantly reduced due to the lack of visas. Earlier, thousands of Bangladesh nationals visited India every day for healthcare. Now, everything has almost stopped for the patients for medical checkups and surgery. The hotel occupancy in Kolkata, Bangalore, and Chennai has reached its lowest ebb. Restaurants no longer prepare Halal food in the absence of Bangladeshi customers. Another category of tourists was on a shopping spree and buying an expensive dress for marriage celebrations. Whereas, Bangladesh missions in Indian capital and cities have continued to issue visas, and Indian journalists receive visas on a fast track. Well, the Agartala (Tripura State) and Kolkata (West Bengal) Bangladesh missions were attacked and vandalised, alleging that Bangladesh is not doing enough to protect the Hindus. The visa section was temporarily closed in fear of further attacks. Despite repeated assurances from Bangladesh authorities that the perpetrators involved in the attacks on Hindus were arrested and hundreds of others are on the wanted list, the Indian media did not listen to the commitment against sectarian violence. The violence has drastically reduced. However, after a brief lull, the visa section resumed in Kolkata and Agartalas Bangladesh missions. In 2023, India hosted approximately 2.12 million tourists from Bangladesh, making them the largest group of foreign tourists visiting India. While Kolkata is a popular destination, other cities like Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur are also frequently visited by Bangladeshi travelers. Additionally, pilgrimage sites like Ajmer Sharif and locations in the Indian northeast, Kashmir, and Ladakh were popular destinations, according to a tourist site. Ambassador Humayun Kabir explains that the mango diplomacy will not make much headway for a reconciliation very soon. Delhi believes that the conspiracy to overthrow Hasina was masterminded with the help of the United States and China to keep India under pressure in the new geopolitical phenomenon. Indian conspiracy theory says the USA also brought Nobel laureate Prof Yunus to power after gathering moss under the rolling stone. The conspiratorial power lobbies brought Indias arch rivals, China and Pakistan, closer to Bangladesh. In South Asia, Dhaka angered Delhi when Yunus promised to hold the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit, even if India boycotts the event. India officially boycotted the SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November 2016. On Delhis instigation, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Afghanistan declined to participate, citing concerns about regional security and Pakistans alleged interference in their internal affairs with India. Since then, SAARC has remained dormant. Ambassador Kabir understands that Delhi is likely to open a new chapter with Dhaka and develop the bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries, not to a new height. Delhi is waiting for the Yunus government to come to an end. A new political government will take responsibility after the much-hyped election scheduled in February next year. Lets wait and see how Delhi reacts to the new political government, which overtly wants to develop friendship with China and wants Beijing to support their relationship. [The writer, Saleem Samad, is an award-winning independent journalist based in Bangladesh. A media rights defender with Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Recipient of Ashoka Fellowship and Hellman-Hammett Award. He could be reached at saleemsamad@gmail.com; Twitter (X): @saleemsamad. The above article is first published in Stratheia Policy Journal, Islamabad, Pakistan, 21 July 2025.] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. HONG KONG, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng Index closed at 25,130.03 points on Tuesday, hitting a three-and-a-half-year high. Analysts attribute this equity market revival to supportive policies, an improving economic outlook, and favorable valuations. Recent initiatives from the central government have boosted market liquidity. Upgrades to the Bond Connect, enhancements to the Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Scheme, and facilitative payment arrangements for Hong Kong and Macao residents purchasing properties in the Chinese mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), have contributed to this positive momentum. The China Securities Regulatory Commission's efforts to optimize the Shanghai-Hong Kong and Shenzhen-Hong Kong stock connects further reinforce Hong Kong's status as an international financial hub. Economist Leung Hoi Ming notes that China's position as the world's second-largest economy is expected to contribute about 21 percent of global GDP growth, providing solid support for Hong Kong stocks. Hong Kong consistently ranks as the world's freest economy, third among global financial centers, and maintains top positions in investment climate, international trade, commercial regulations, and air cargo. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government's moves to streamline market listing procedures have helped boost initial public offerings (IPOs) by 30 percent year on year to 52 cases by mid-July. Total funds raised soared 590 percent to 124 billion Hong Kong dollars (15.8 billion U.S. dollars), making Hong Kong the biggest IPO market worldwide, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee said in a social media post on Monday. The unique valuation advantage of Hong Kong stocks continues to attract both international and Chinese mainland investments. Recent data indicates a significant influx of southbound funds, reflecting renewed confidence among Chinese mainland investors. Carlson Tong, chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), mentioned that Chinese mainland companies currently listed in Hong Kong account for 81 percent of the total market value. The ongoing strength of Hong Kong stocks positively impacts both local and Chinese mainland capital markets, enhancing investor confidence and liquidity. Kevin Liu, chief offshore China and Overseas strategist at China International Capital Corporation, highlighted that active liquidity in the Hong Kong stock market is evident in an average daily trading volume of 240.6 billion Hong Kong dollars, showing a notable increase compared to the average daily trading volume in 2024, setting a historical high. Improved financing conditions are encouraging companies to list and refinance, particularly in high-growth sectors like technology and innovation. Since early 2025, driven by sectors such as AI, new consumption, and innovative pharmaceuticals, Hong Kong's market has even outperformed its global counterparts at times, said Liu. As the stock market rises, global interest in China's economy increases, promoting a virtuous circle of capital market openness and high-quality economic development, experts say. Leung believes that the stock market's rise reflects positive expectations regarding the fundamentals of the economy of the Chinese mainland, attracting more attention and investment from global capital. This influx brings more mature investment concepts and resources into the capital market, further optimizing its structure, he added. Meanwhile, experts emphasize the need for continued market optimization to attract long-term investment, noting that encouraging more quality companies to list in Hong Kong will deepen and stabilize the market, enhancing its appeal as a global capital platform. The HKSAR government will continue to improve the listing regime and boost market liquidity to attract more high-quality global companies to list in Hong Kong, Lee pledged earlier. President Donald Trump took to social media to harshly criticize a Boston federal judge overseeing the lawsuit levied against his administration by Harvard University, further threatening to launch an appeal if she rules against him. Harvard University is attempting to reinstate $2 billion in federal funding following the review of $9 billion received by the University in federal grants and contracts that the Trump administration launched. The administration accused the University of insufficiently protecting its students, particularly Jewish students in the wake of on campus protests following the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Obama-appointed U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs is overseeing the case, and heard arguments pertaining to it on Monday morning. "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. She has systematically taken over the various Harvard cases, and is an automatic "loss" for the People of our Country!" Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. "Harvard has $52 Billion Dollars sitting in the Bank, and yet they are anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and anti-America. 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. How did this Trump-hating Judge get these cases?" he continued. "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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" he added. Burroughs ruled against the Trump administration last month following their attempts to revoke Harvard's ability to accept and sponsor the presence of international students in a separate lawsuit levied by the Trump administration. Originally published on Latin Times Small-business owners and academics can learn about Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) translational biotech and life sciences research funding opportunities at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) during a webinar Tuesday, July 29. Meena Rajagopal will lead the discussion during a Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network webinar titled SBIR/STTR at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) from noon-1 p.m. To register, go here. Registration is free. NCATS is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The event is co-sponsored by the UW School of Pharmacy. Faculty, graduate students and postdocs are encouraged to attend. The Wyoming SBDC Network offers business expertise to help Wyoming residents think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by UW with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. During the webinar, small-business owners and academics will learn more about the NIHs non-dilutive SBIR/STTR funding and resources to help small businesses advance and commercialize promising translational biotech and life sciences research technologies. Additionally, the webinar will cover NCATS key research focus areas; tips for submitting a successful application; upcoming funding opportunities; and other NCATS resources and programs. Rajagopal is program director for the NCATS SBIR and STTR grant and contract programs. In this role, she oversees the NCATS SBIR/STTR program; manages a portfolio of SBIR-STTR grants; is involved in SBIR outreach activities; and serves as the NCATS primary point of contact for the Small Business Programs Management Committee. She is an experienced scientist in translational research and has worked in several labs, including academia and research institutes in the Washington, D.C., metro area. For more information, call Tyler Schanck, marketing, communications and database manager for the Wyoming SBDC Network, at (307) 343-0925 or email tschanck@uwyo.edu. Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam. JUBA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) said Tuesday it may be forced to cut food rations in South Sudan in September if funding is not available immediately. According to the WFP, severe funding shortfalls mean it can reach just 2.5 million people -- only 30 percent of people facing severe hunger -- across the country with emergency food assistance. "Further reductions in rations and assistance will be necessary in September if additional funds are not urgently received," the WFP said in a statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. The statement came after the WFP said last week that it urgently required 274 million U.S. dollars to maintain support for just the 2.5 million most acutely food insecure through the end of the year. WFP Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Carl Skau, who visited South Sudan on July 17-20, said the scale of the humanitarian needs in South Sudan is staggering. "But the scale of suffering here does not make headlines. Whether it is families trapped every year by flooding in Unity State or others trapped by conflict in Upper Nile State -- millions of mothers, fathers, and children spend each day fighting hunger to survive," said Skau. According to the WFP, some 7.7 million people, or 57 percent of the population, are facing crisis, emergency, or catastrophic levels of hunger while an unprecedented 2.3 million children are at risk of malnutrition. Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani speaks during an interview with Xinhua and other major Chinese media outlets at the Mauritanian Presidency in Nouakchott, Mauritania, on July 17, 2025. Ghazouani said he takes profound pride in the strong and enduring friendship between Mauritania and China and looks forward to broader and deeper bilateral cooperation. (Xinhua/Han Xu) by Xinhua writers Xin Jianqiang, Si Yuan NOUAKCHOTT, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani said he takes profound pride in the strong and enduring friendship between Mauritania and China and looks forward to broader and deeper bilateral cooperation. In a recent interview with Xinhua and other major Chinese media outlets at the Mauritanian Presidency, Ghazouani expressed sincere congratulations on the 60th anniversary of Mauritania-China diplomatic ties. Based on cooperation, mutually beneficial exchanges and full respect, relations between the two countries remain firm and strong six decades on, he said, pointing to the significant bilateral coordination on international issues of common concern, often marked by identical positions. "We always strive to continue strengthening these relations in a way that serves the aspirations of our two friendly peoples," added the president. Ghazouani noted that since he was first elected president in 2019, cooperation between Mauritania and China has witnessed remarkable development, which was reinforced when the two countries lifted their relations to a strategic partnership in 2024. Now bilateral cooperation has been expanded to cover such areas as infrastructure, fishing, health, education, energy, industry, transport and digital technology, and renewed development initiatives through which "we count on developing and diversifying the national economy," he added. Speaking highly of his meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Ghazouani said that during those meetings, he felt Xi's sincere commitment and tireless pursuit to strengthen partnership with African countries in general, and with Mauritania in particular. He added that he also sensed a strong insistence from Xi on China's readiness to assist the least developed countries, especially those in Africa, helping them overcome the development challenges they face, while maintaining transparent relations based on mutual respect and common interests. That insistence, he said, deeply reflects Xi's recognized leadership qualities and his keenness to develop China's relations with countries around the world within a framework of mutual respect and cooperation based on fairness and equity. Noting that China is a major trading partner of Mauritania, Ghazouani said bilateral trade has witnessed an accelerating dynamic. In 2024, trade between the two countries reached some 2.42 billion U.S. dollars, up 7.8 percent year on year. The African country, said the president, desires to strengthen the trading partnership by attracting more Chinese investments with promising opportunities in such fields as minerals, clean energy and infrastructure, as well as with tax incentives and Mauritania's important strategic location. Commenting on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Ghazouani said it is one of the most pioneering initiatives launched by China in recent years to expand and diversify China's economic relations with countries around the world, and to enhance partnerships and create promising investment opportunities. Mauritania, he stressed, has strongly supported and will continue to support the initiative. He noted that driven by the BRI, bilateral cooperation has extended to vital development areas, with Chinese companies actively participating in Mauritania's major infrastructure projects, such as the Rosso Bridge connecting Mauritania and Senegal, the China-Mauritania Friendship Overpass, and Tanit port. China's contributions to rice cultivation have directly enhanced Mauritania's food security, he said, adding that Chinese investments have also helped add value to Mauritanian marine products, create local jobs, and modernize his country's mobile phone networks and internet services. Emphasizing that Mauritania is working to achieve a comprehensive, sustainable and smooth transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies, Ghazouani said his country -- rich in solar energy, wind and green hydrogen -- encourages investment in these renewable energies, and strongly supports creating Mauritanian-Chinese partnerships that will help place Mauritania at the forefront of energy transition at the continental level. The president also stressed the importance of people-to-people exchanges, particularly among the young generations. Cultural and linguistic exchange programs play a prominent role, as they have "a great impact on rapprochement, deepening relations, and building bridges of cooperation and understanding between Mauritania and China," he added. As regards the Africa-China relationship, Ghazouani said it is a unique model that forms a solid basis for comprehensive and sustainable cooperation and development between the two sides. The rapid growth of the Chinese economy and the encouraging investment opportunities in the African market are promising indicators of the possibility for the two sides to further tap into their economic cooperation potential, said the president. "This is a path towards achieving mutual benefit in a more fair and equitable manner in a global system that requires significant review and deep reform in financial and economic governance, among others," he said. The Mauritanian president said he is keen on adopting an active and balanced diplomacy that embraces the rules of mutual respect and good neighborliness, and contributes to promoting fruitful and constructive cooperation, as well as supporting the spread of security, peace and stability regionally, continentally and internationally. With the second China-Arab States Summit scheduled to take place in China in 2026, Ghazouani said Arab-China relations have continued to grow and strengthen due to their solid foundations, as well as the keenness of both sides to promote comprehensive, fruitful and constructive cooperation. Mauritania, he added, attaches great importance to enhancing Arab-China relations, and is working diligently to contribute to building a firm strategic partnership between the two sides. Rome's Palazzo Cipolla will host Dali. Revolution and Tradition, an exhibition of more than 60 works by surrealist master Salvador Dali, from 17 October until 1 February 2026. The works on display by the Spanish artist (1911-1989) will include paintings and drawings from the Fundacio Gala-Salvador Dali and other major international museums including the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Museu Picasso in Barcelona and the Uffizi Galleries. Organisers say the exhibition will be enriched by photographic and video archives to offer visitor's a further glimpse into the painter's visionary imagination, emphasising his intense connection with the great masters of the past such as Velazquez, Vermeer and Raphael, as well as his dialogue with his contemporary Pablo Picasso. Pre-sale tickets available, for full information and exhibition details see official website. Image: Salvador Dali, Self-Portrait with Raphaelesque Neck (1921; oil on canvas) Salvador Dali, Fundacio Gala-Salvador Dali. The 2,850 passenger cruise ship Celebrity Eclipse is due to port in Dunmore East this Friday (July 25). The vessel is currently embarked on an eleven day round-trip of Iceland and Ireland. It departed from Amsterdam last Wednesday. Its current location is in the North East Atlantic Ocean en-route to Cobh in county Cork. It is due to arrive in Dunmore East on Friday at approximately 7am. Its visit to Dunmore East is its final port before returning to Amsterdam. Celebrity Eclipse is a Solstice-class cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises. The ship debuted in February 2010 as the third ship in the Solstice Class. It is 1041ft in length. It has 15 decks and 1,425 cabins. The Park Hotel in Dungarvan has been granted permission to construct an additional 21 bedrooms to the premises. Development plans The third-storey extension above the existing rear accommodation block of the hotel is to provide for an additional 21 guest rooms, designed to cater primarily for family occupancy. The new extension will follow the footprint of the existing block, with no changes to the existing site layout or landscaping. The proposed works will not involve the demolition of any part of the existing building and are considered a vertical extension only. External finishes and architectural detailing will match the existing hotel facade to ensure visual integration and design consistency, a planning report submitted to Waterford City and County Council outlined. The extension aims to increase the hotels accommodation capacity to better meet peak seasonal demand, particularly from families seeking short to medium-stay holiday options within the town and surrounding tourist regions. The proposal enhances the hotel's offering, supports local tourism growth, and strengthens the position of Dungarvan as a family-friendly destination, the report further stated. The decision to grant conditional planning permission was made yesterday (July 21). 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. Classic hits station Gold has beaten 3AW* to claim the title of Melbournes No. 1 radio station for the first time since 1992. Gold recorded an overall audience share of 12.1 per cent in the fourth ratings survey of this year, putting it just ahead of 3AW on 11.9 per cent. But 3AWs Ross Stevenson and Russel Howcroft maintained a whopping lead of 16.6 per cent in the crucial breakfast slot well above Novas Jase & Lauren on 10.8 per cent and Golds The Christian OConnell Show on 10.1 per cent. Christian OConnell hosts the breakfast program on Gold. The station has topped the overall ratings for the first time in 33 years. Credit: Eddie Jim ABC Melbourne continues to underperform, falling by 0.3 percentage points to 5.9 per cent while Golds sister station, Kiis, is languishing in eighth place overall on 5.5 per cent. It is important to note that survey time slots do not always correspond precisely with program time slots. 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. On the afternoon of July 17, 2025, Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi Jinping, attended and delivered a speech at the Bond with Kuliang: China-U.S. Youth Friendship Exchange Activity held by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Peng Liyuan, together with Chinese and foreign guests, watched a video of the "Bond with Kuliang" China-U.S. Youth Choir Week. Elyn MacInnis, the convener of the American "Friends of Kuliang", and Luca Berrone, a friend from Iowa, shared their stories of Kuliang and their experiences participating in China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges and sub-national cooperation. They expressed their deep affection for China and their gratitude to President Xi Jinping for his care and support for the youth of both countries. They also said that they will continue contributing to promoting China-U.S. friendship. Representatives of the American youth shared their enjoyable experiences during the visit and expressed their willingness to serve as the new-generation envoys for U.S.-China friendship, carrying forward the touching stories of friendship between the two countries. In her speech, Peng Liyuan said that the century-old story of Kuliang and the deep friendship between President Xi Jinping and his old friends in Iowa, which has lasted for 40 years, epitomize the friendship between the peoples of China and the United States. Although China and the United States differ in history, culture, and language, the peoples of both countries love their families and are kind, friendly, hardworking and pragmatic, meaning that they are perfectly capable of becoming good friends and partners. Over the year since President Xi Jinping proposed the initiative of inviting 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs in a five-year period, many young people from the United States have been invited to visit China. They have gained first-hand experience of the real China, made new friends, and jointly written new stories of China-U.S. friendship. Youth are the future of the country and the future of the friendship endeavor. Peng Liyuan expressed her hope that young people will become the inheritors of China-U.S. friendship and promoters of peace and amity, and build a bridge of friendship between the two countries, contributing their youthful strength to a better future for both nations. At the end of the event, Chinese and American youths sang songs together, passionately celebrating the friendship between China and the United States. Peng Liyuan took photos with the youths and friends from both countries. The atmosphere was warm and friendly. Before the event, Peng Liyuan met with Elyn MacInnis and Luca Berrone, expressing appreciation for their long-time dedication to the cause of China-U.S. friendship and encouraging them to continue making positive contributions to enhancing exchanges and mutual understanding between the two peoples. Representatives vote on a draft resolution during a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on July 22, 2025. The UN Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday adopted Resolution 2788 to strengthen mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of international disputes. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday adopted a resolution to strengthen mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of international disputes. Resolution 2788, adopted unanimously by the 15-member council, urges all UN member states to utilize effectively the mechanisms as outlined in Article 33 of the UN Charter, including negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice. The resolution expresses the UNSC's readiness to utilize the mechanism of investigation provided in Article 34 of the UN Charter, which gives it the power to investigate any dispute or any situation that might lead to international friction to determine whether the continuance of the dispute is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security. Resolution 2788 reaffirms the UNSC's role to recommend appropriate procedures or methods of adjustment for the peaceful settlement of disputes, and calls on member states to take necessary measures for the effective implementation of UNSC resolutions for the peaceful settlement of disputes. The settlement encourages the UN secretary-general to ensure that the United Nations can lead and support mediation and preventive diplomacy efforts, encourages the secretary-general to continue to use his good offices, and calls on member states to support and cooperate with the secretary-general in this regard. The decision urges regional and subregional organizations to enhance their efforts for the peaceful settlement of disputes, consistent with the UN Charter and relevant UNSC resolutions, and encourages member states to support the role of regional and subregional organizations in this regard. It calls for the strengthening of cooperation between these organizations and the United Nations. The resolution requests the secretary-general to provide, one year following its adoption, concrete recommendations for further strengthening the mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes. Representatives vote on a draft resolution during a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on July 22, 2025. The UN Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday adopted Resolution 2788 to strengthen mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of international disputes. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) Pro-Palestine protesters were detained in Parliament House during a rally on Tuesday, while hundreds more massed on the lawns outside in a gathering that briefly grew so rowdy that one attendee stood on a police car. Seventeen protesters were held in an antechamber off parliaments Marble Hall for around an hour by police and building security as they shouted protest chants of free, free Palestine while Governor-General Sam Mostyn addressed the Senate. Senator Mehreen Faruqi holds a sign up as Governor-General Samantha Mostyn addresses both houses. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Mehreen Faruqi held a sign in solidarity with the protesters during the entirety of Mostyns speech Gaza is starving. Words wont feed them. Sanction Israel before the deputy Greens leader shouted at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to sanction Israel as he left the chamber. Albanese did not respond, but the member for Kennedy, Bob Katter, was heard calling out they started it seemingly referring to the October 7 attacks from Hamas where the terror group killed more than 1200 people in Israel as the chamber emptied. Rich lister Tony Denny has sold his Point Piper trophy home for circa $40 million, doubling his money on the property in the five years he owned it. Denny purchased the residence some five years ago for $19.5 million from dentist Le Tran after reading about the home coming up for sale in this very column. Dennys Point Piper house with gun barrel views of citys iconic harbour. Credit: Not only has he doubled his money in that time, the five-bedroom, six-bathroom property with gun barrel views of Sydneys iconic harbour joins the ranks of the top prestige property sales of 2025 so far. Set on 670 square metres, the luxury residence features a lavish marble spa, a granite kitchen, a bespoke dressing room, a newly minted gym and an idyllic retreat for guests. 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 World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with the Government of Japan, officially concluded the 20242025 edition of the WCO-Japan Career Development Programme (CDP) with a completion ceremony held at WCO Headquarters in Brussels. During the ceremony, the WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders presented certificates of achievement to the 9 Professional Associates (PAs) who successfully completed the intensive programme. Commenced in September 2024, this years CDP brought together Customs officials from Cape Verde, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Maldives, Peru, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, and Zambia. Over the course of the programme, the PAs contributed to various projects and activities at the WCO Secretariat, playing a valuable role in strengthening communication between Members and the Secretariat while also enriching the Secretariats diversity. In his remarks, the Secretary General Saunders expressed his appreciation for the high quality of work delivered by the PAs, highlighting the impressive outcomes of their research and contributions. He emphasized that their efforts would bring lasting value to both the WCO and the global Customs community. Mr. Saunders also encouraged the PAs to remain connected with the WCO and to continue nurturing the professional networks they developed throughout the programme, including with one another, with their national administrations, and within their respective regions. The WCO-Japan Career Development Programme remains a flagship initiative aimed at enhancing the professional capacity of Customs officers from developing countries and fostering future leaders in the international Customs community. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (2nd R, Front) speaks with delegates before a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on July 22, 2025. Guterres on Tuesday asked UN Security Council members to overcome their divisions. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, July 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday asked UN Security Council members to overcome their divisions. He made the appeal in his remarks to the Security Council at an open debate on multilateralism and peaceful settlement of disputes, saying that the council's members, particularly its permanent members, "must continue working to overcome divisions." Despite the Security Council's complex agenda and even in the darkest days of the Cold War, the collective dialogue and decision-making in the council underpinned a common and effective system of global security -- successfully deploying a range of peacekeeping missions, opening the door for vital humanitarian aid to flow to people in need, and helping prevent a third world war, Guterres said. "I urge you to summon this same spirit by keeping channels open, continuing to listen in good faith, and working to overcome differences and building consensus," he said. Guterres also called for reform of the Security Council. He said that they "must also work to ensure that this council reflects the world of today, not the world of 80 years ago," adding that the "council should be made more representative of today's geopolitical realities." Guterres stressed the need for the Security Council to strengthen cooperation with regional and subregional partners, and for UN member states to honor their obligations under international law, including the UN Charter, international human rights law and international humanitarian law. Eighty years ago, the United Nations was founded with a primary purpose: to safeguard humanity from the scourge of war, stressing the importance of the peaceful resolution of disputes when geopolitical tensions escalate, as is recognized in the UN Charter, he said. "As we mark the 80th anniversary of our organization and the charter that gave it life and shape, we need to renew our commitment to the multilateral spirit of peace through diplomacy," he said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on July 22, 2025. Guterres on Tuesday asked UN Security Council members to overcome their divisions. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) BEIRUT, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Tuesday called on Arab and Islamic countries to take practical steps in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza, amid ongoing Israeli military operations in the enclave. "The responsibility lies with Arab and Islamic states, both governments and peoples," Qassem said in a statement released by the Lebanese National News Agency. "Choose whatever level of response you can, but do not remain spectators." He described the Israeli campaign in Gaza as part of a broader U.S.-Israeli assault marked by "genocide, starvation, and mass killing," accusing both countries of exceeding all humanitarian and moral standards. "It is not enough for countries to merely call for a ceasefire," he said. "What is needed are real measures -- sanctions, diplomatic isolation of Israel, and an end to all forms of cooperation with it." He also called on Arab and Islamic nations to halt normalization efforts, shut down Israeli embassies, and organize humanitarian support for Gaza, saying a unified stance could shift U.S. policy. Israel's military campaign in Gaza began in response to the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas and has resulted in more than 59,100 deaths and severe humanitarian suffering in the Palestinian enclave. U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on July 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) WASHINGTON, July 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump met his Philippine counterpart, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on Tuesday at the White House over trade and bilateral relations. "We concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs. The Philippines will pay a 19 percent Tariff," said Trump in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform. In a recent letter to Marcos, Trump said the United States would raise tariffs on Philippine goods to 20 percent starting Aug. 1. The White House has not released more details about the trade deal with the Philippines. Marcos said their bilateral ties have "evolved into as important a relationship as is possible to have." U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd L) welcomes Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. (2nd R) at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on July 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd L) welcomes Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. (2nd R) at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on July 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) U.S. President Donald Trump (R) waves as he waits for the arrival of Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on July 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on July 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) U.S. President Donald Trump (L) welcomes Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on July 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) Leesville, LA (71446) Today Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. A dispute between two organisations over the right to run the annual Dublin City Liffey Swim has been resolved, the High Court has heard. Details of the settlement between Leinster Open Sea and Swim Ireland were not disclosed in open court, but Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy was told the historic event would go ahead this year. Leinster Open Sea CLG, a volunteer sponsorship-funded body which organises about 30 sea races every year in partnership with local clubs, had brought proceedings against the Irish Amateur Swimming Association CLG, trading as the State-funded national governing body for swimming, Swim Ireland. Leinster Open Sea had sought orders restraining Swim Ireland from holding both the Liffey Swim and the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Swim. As a result of the dispute, two separate Liffey swims took place last year, and Dublin City Council, which grants permission for the event to go ahead, indicated that it did not want the same thing to happen this year, the court previously heard. Both parties argued that they held the rights to operate the Liffey Swim, which has occurred annually since 1920, and the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Swim. Last week, at the conclusion of a hearing into Leinster Open Seas application for a temporary injunction against Swim Ireland, Mr Justice Mulcahy urged the parties to settle their differences, warning that the event was at risk of not going ahead this year. On Tuesday, Michael ODoherty BL, for Leinster Open Sea, told the judge the parties had settled their difference on Monday night. Mr ODoherty said he spoke for both parties in thanking the judge for comments he made at last weeks hearing, stating that it focused the minds of both sides in coming to a resolution. Counsel said the proceedings could be struck out with no further order. Peter Bland SC, for Swim Ireland, said his side was consenting to the strikeout, and added that the swims would go ahead this year. Gordon Deegan The jury of seven men and five women has retired to consider its verdict in the assault case against former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler, Niall Gilligan. At Ennis Circuit Court on Tuesday, the jury commenced its deliberations at 12.33pm after Judge Francis Comerford told them that they should make their decision in the case after a cold, direct, forensic determination of the facts. Judge Comerford told the jury that what they have to decide is was there an assault and is it not an assault because of a lawful excuse. In the case, Mr Gilligan (48) of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, denies the assault causing harm with a stick of a then 12-year-old boy at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Sixmilebridge, on October 5th, 2023. In his charge to the jury on Tuesday, Judge Comerford directed if they are satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that the first encounter between Mr Gilligan and the boy that led to the force being applied commenced and started outside the two-storey Jamaica Inn rather than in the corridor of the building, then they cant consider the lawful use of force as a defence. Judge Comerford also told the jury in the defence of self-defence they should consider did the accused honestly believe that he had to use force for the purpose of protecting himself from an assault or damage to his property. Judge Comerford said that if the answer is no, the defence of self-defence is no longer available to the accused. He said that if the answer is yes, then was the force used by the accused reasonable and necessary in the circumstances as he saw them. He said that if the answer is yes to that question, then you must acquit. If no, it wasnt reasonably necessary, well then he is guilty of the offence. Judge Comerford said that the jury can only apply this test if they are satisfied that the first encounter was inside the two-storey building. In his closing speech to the jury on Monday, 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 hasnt 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. Earlier in her closing speech on Monday, Ms Sarah Jane Comerford BL (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. The jury has taken a break in their deliberations for lunch and will resume their deliberations at 2pm. Darragh Mc Donagh The Office of Public Works (OPW) has banned tour guides from wearing green or orange clothing at the site in Meath where the Protestant King William III defeated the Catholic King James II in the Battle of the Boyne. The location is of particular significance to unionists, as Williams victory in 1690 established Protestant dominance in Ireland and is commemorated by the Orange Order with a series of marches on July 12th each year. The rule prohibiting guides from wearing green or orange at the Battle of the Boyne visitor centre is not contained in the official OPW Guide Handbook, which is supplied to guides and information officers at heritage sites. Instead, the directive is being communicated directly to new guides by a supervisor at the visitor centre after they have been hired, according to emails released under freedom of information laws. The instruction, which is believed to be aimed at respecting the sensitivities of both unionist and nationalist visitors, is not the only unusual dress-code directive issued by the OPW to its guides. A section of the handbook dealing with clothing and uniform requirements specifies that nudity is prohibited at all sites. Asked why it was considered necessary to include this in its dress code for new tour guides, the OPW declined to comment. The Battle of the Boyne visitor centre was developed following the allocation of 15 million of government funding in 2005. Last year, a further 10 million was provided for the centre under the Shared Island initiative. The site was famously chosen as the venue for Ian Paisleys first official meeting as Stormont's first minister with Bertie Ahern in 2007. The then-Taoiseach presented the DUP leader with a musket used in the Battle of the Boyne. An email titled Welcome aboard sent by a supervisor to a newly hired seasonal guide last year contained details of the dress code for staff at the visitor centre. It prohibits items including army jackets and clothes that feature slogans, badges or emblems. The email stated that green and orange are not permitted on site. The OPW provides an annual allowance for guides where colour-coded clothing is mandated by local management. This is payable at a rate of 210 for permanent guides, and 100 for seasonal workers. The OPW declined to comment when asked about the prohibition of green and orange clothing at the Battle of the Boyne site. YAOUNDE, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, president of Chad, and Richard Filakota, special envoy of Central African Republic (CAR) President Faustin-Archange Touadera, held talks on Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations and regional integration. The talks focused on issues of integration into the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) zone, according to a statement issued by the Chadian presidency. The talk came just two weeks after two rebel leaders in the CAR announced the dissolution of their armed movements and joined the country's peace and reconciliation process, with Chad acting as mediator. During the meeting with the Chadian president, Filakota, also the CAR's minister of economy, planning and international cooperation, "expressed his deep gratitude to the head of state (Chadian president) for his immeasurable efforts to restore peace in the CAR," the statement said. CEMAC is a regional bloc that promotes economic integration among six Central African countries, including Cameroon, Chad, and the CAR. ALLENTOWN, Pa. A man has been sentenced in the death of his 22-month-old son in Allentown. It happened back in 2021 when the child ingested fentanyl while in his father's care. 2:05 Parents charged with murder in 2021 overdose of Allentown toddler The Lehigh County District Attorney's Office has issued arrest warrants for two parents charged after their toddler overdosed on fentanyl in Allentown. Jorge Suarez-Santiago pleaded guilty back in March 2025 to charges of involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child and drug-related charges. Monday, he was sentenced to up to 15 years in state prison. The toddler's mother, Jayleen Rivas-Rodriguez, was also sentenced to five to 15 years in prison back in May. TUNIS, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Kais Saied strongly condemned the ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip during a meeting here on Tuesday with Massad Boulos, U.S. senior adviser for Africa and presidential adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. Saied described the "atrocities" committed against the Palestinian people as "absolutely unacceptable" and presented a collection of photographs documenting what he called "crimes" committed by Israel, particularly those targeting children and infants in Gaza, according to a presidential statement. He pointed to the severe hunger faced by civilians as a result of the ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid, calling the situation a "crime against humanity." "These images of suffering children are undeniable proof of the brutality and criminality of the occupation," Saied said. He stressed that the issue extends beyond Gaza, reaffirming that all of Palestine belongs to the Palestinian people and reiterating the need for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. Beyond the Palestinian cause, the meeting also addressed the fight against terrorism and the overall situation in the Arab region. Saied underscored that the internal affairs of each Arab nation must be resolved by its people, without foreign interference under any pretext. In a later meeting with Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti, Boulos reaffirmed the U.S. government's commitment to maintaining close consultation and cooperation with Tunisia, both bilaterally and multilaterally, to further strengthen ties between the two countries. KHARTOUM, July 22 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1,307 new cholera cases, including 18 deaths, were reported in Sudan over the past week, the Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday. "Between July 12 and 18, a total of 1,307 cholera cases were recorded, including 18 deaths, across 35 localities in 12 states," the ministry said in a statement. According to the ministry, Tawila locality in North Darfur State recorded the highest number of infections with 519 cases, while Bileil locality in South Darfur State reported the highest number of deaths. The ministry added that since July 2024, the total number of cholera cases has climbed to 91,034, including 2,302 deaths, across 116 localities in 17 states. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recently warned that the humanitarian crisis in Sudan is worsening amid the deadly cholera outbreak, floods, and mass returns to underserved areas. Sudan is experiencing a seasonal outbreak of several diseases, particularly those associated with the rainy season, including malaria, cholera, and dengue fever. The country also remains gripped by a conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which erupted in April 2023. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, both internally and across borders, deepening the country's humanitarian crisis. MANILA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines has been bracing for heavy rainfall as two low-pressure areas may develop into tropical depressions within the next 24 hours, the state-run weather bureau, PAGASA, said Tuesday. It warned that the prevailing southwest monsoon will continue to bring torrential rains and thunderstorms to various areas, which would cause more flooding, landslides, and other weather-related hazards. On Tuesday, Metro Manila and its adjoining areas remain under a "red" rainfall warning, PAGASA's highest alert level for rainfall, which indicates "serious" flooding is expected in some areas. Due to the downpour of rain, the country's Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin ordered the suspension of work in government offices and classes at all levels on Tuesday in Metro Manila and several other provinces. In Metro Manila, knee-deep floodwaters led commuters to wade through streets in search of rides, while motorists navigated submerged roads to return home. Government vehicles have been deployed to assist stranded individuals. Social media has been inundated with images and footage of evacuations late Monday, showing trash floating through inundated communities. The inclement weather has already had fatal consequences. In a situational report issued on Tuesday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that a total of 362,465 families, or 1,266,322 people, were affected nationwide by the southwest monsoon and Typhoon Wipha. Wipha exited the Philippines on Saturday, but its aftermath and the intensified monsoon have caused floods and landslides in various regions, resulting in six deaths, five injuries, and six missing people, said the NDRRMC. So far, more than 1,500 houses have been damaged, and 173 road sections and 11 bridges have been affected across the archipelago, the agency said. Estimated agricultural losses have surpassed 54 million pesos (about 947,000 U.S. dollars), the NDRRMC said. Witsies champion community change on global stage Two Wits students were selected to participate in the 2025 Get Engaged Student Action and Youth Leadership Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania. The 12th Get Engaged Conference organised by Bard College in partnership with the European Humanities University, took place from 14 21 July and brought together 40 student community builders from various parts of the world. Witsies Ntlahla Sikwana and Tessa Tshuma had a chance to showcase their projects at the conference. Ntlahla, a third-year Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Anthropology student, founded a grassroots project in her hometown of Kwazakhele in Gqeberha. The Hand in Hand for Hope project focuses on literacy. The motivation behind the project came from a deep place of knowing what it feels like to be forgotten. I saw firsthand how many children were out of school, not because they didnt want to learn, but because poverty, neglect, or simply being overlooked made education feel out of reach. The project helps children with foundational literacy and numeracy, and we work closely with families to get them enrolled in school and connected to the resources they need. Tessa, also in her third-year of LLB studies is a volunteer at the Jan Hofmeyer Community Service located on Vrededorp. The organisation offers a range of services such as hot meals and homework assistance to children in an aftercare programme and a soup kitchen for the elderly. Her commitment to serving others was shaped by a visit to Marang House, a childrens home. It was this visit that opened her eyes and heart. That experience motivated me to continue giving back, and I soon started volunteering with the Masidleni programme at Wits. Eventually, through the Wits Citizenship and Community Outreach (WCCO), I was offered the chance to lead the Jan Hofmeyer Community Services project, she says. The pair describe the conference as incredibly valuable and returned home with more tools in the bag. The workshops encouraged deep self-reflection and had a strong emphasis on leadership, creative thinking, innovation, and project management. An added bonus was meeting like-minded individuals and learning from each other. Theres something powerful about being in a space full of changemakers it reignites your belief that change is possible, and that youre part of something bigger than yourself, says Ntlahla. She encourages students who are interested in civic engagement to reach out to the WCCO. Be part of change. How organisations thrive amid wrecking balls like Trump, ANC Organisational resilience starts with curious, imaginative and emotionally intelligent leaders. With rising global and South African uncertainty, as US President Donald Trump up-ends global politics, trade and markets, and the ANC battles to transform from the unilateral decision-making of one-party dominance to collaborative multiparty governance, threatening the life of the countrys Government of National Unity, organisations, whether state, private or non-profit, have to be resilient the ability to thrive in adversity, to navigate these shocks, and see opportunities in uncertainty. China has been regularly using its dominance of the global supply chain of critical minerals and rare earth elements, the ingredients of everything from smartphones, electric vehicles to submarines, to disrupt global supply chains. South Africas Government of National Unity (GNU), which includes the diversity of the countrys colours, ideologies and ideas offer a fantastic opportunity to build society-wide resilience against domestic and global uncertainty. Sadly, the ANC, the previous majority party, continues to govern is if it is still the majority party, insisting that its policies which are most instances outdated for current domestic and global complexities, automatically become that of the GNU government, instead of collaboratively come up with new ideas, policies and decisions that are appropriate for these uncertain times. If the ANC can grasp that it is now part of a multiparty GNU, which requires genuine collaborative decision-making with its coalition parties, including partnering with business, civil society and professionals to form a kind of GNU+, to come up with new ideas, capacity and energy, South Africa will thrive in this new era of frightening uncertainty, unpredictability and complexity. The Bank for International Settlements, for example said in its latest assessment of the state of the world economy that the world is entering a "new era of heightened uncertainty and unpredictability", because of the US driven trade war, climate change and supply chain disruptions. Furthermore, the geopolitical, economic and market disruptions appear with overlapping other shifts such as climate change and technology transformations. Technology is changing faster than business or society can adapt. We are seeing the merging of human and AI and of physical and digital worlds which makes many old business operational models outdated. Resilience is the ability of individuals, organisations, and societies to navigate dramatic changes, crises, and setbacks. A key part of resilience is the ability to adapt, and use crises to come back stronger afterwards. Organisations, communities, and countries that quickly recover from sudden crises, are better positioned than their competitors to grasp the opportunities of the upturn. Not surprisingly, organisational resilience starts with curious, imaginative, and emotional intelligent leaders that sets the resilience culture, the collective mindset and right organisational focus. Leaders must have a growth-mindset, what Carol Dweck described as understanding that your basic qualities, like intelligence and talent, can be changed or developed. The ability to have curiosity beyond ones expertise, role or competence is critical to a growth-mindset. A core aspect of individual resilient leadership is the ability to lead oneself. Leaders must be able to see opportunities in challenges, in order to nurture a culture of seeing opportunities in challenges throughout organisations. It is critical that organisational leaders have a deep perspective: the ability to widen the lens, to stay present with complexity, and to read the moment with nuance. Furthermore, deep perspective is about cultivating the ability to see beyond the obvious, to recognize nuance, and to navigate ambiguity without collapsing it into certainty. Perspective integrates emotional intelligence, systems awareness, and contextual depth. Leadership depth goes beyond just technical competence, accumulation of certificates and purpose alone. Priyanka Dutta, an Indian human resources expert, talks about leaders that have depth across multiple areas: work competence, physical, emotional, and spiritual. These are the reasons why despite of external influence, opinions, bad economy, difficult situations, challenges some people come out successful and some don't. Leaders must set an active example of good behaviour. Incompetent, corrupt leaders and unfair leaders undermine organisational resilience, as it breeds distrust, toxicity, and lack of organisational cohesion. Organisations need to nurture resilient organisational cultures which need to be built in peace time. Having dependable processes, rules and routines are key for companies if they want to navigate uncertainty. Role clarity, responsibilities and reporting lines must be clearly defined. There has to be clear, transparent, and consistent ground rules for communication in organisations. All these must be put in place during good times. A resilient culture means an individual, organisations or country can make changes during the crisis meaning there has to be the capacity to make adjustments of strategy, policies, and products during the period of crisis. Organisations must nurture the ability among individuals, teams and organisation-wide to improvise during crisis. A resilience culture must permeate through organisational staff, units, and teams. Individual, team, and organisational resilience is continually built it is not a once-off process. For organisations to be prepared for uncertainty, organisations must prioritise reflecting on the state of the organisation, the trading environment it operates it and on strategies to improve performance. A key part of resilience-proofing organisations is the identification of risks, planning for uncertainty and evaluating the systems beforehand. A learning organisational culture is key to a resilient organisational culture. Organisations must adopt a continuous learning, upskilling, mentoring, and industry reading culture. A learning culture, one where new ideas can be openly shared is key in uncertainty. Organisations must have the psychological safety for team members to proposes changes, adjustments, and product adaptions. Technology must be embraced, rather than ignored. Data-based learning and decision is key to anticipate market changes and to respond to these. Leaders must be transparent to employees about company strategies, direction, and objectives and challenges. There must be a common understand of success which permeates across business units and teams. This build common ownerships and provide the space for employees to provide unique ideas, innovations, and strategies. Leaders are critical in ensuring a culture of psychological safety in their organisations. To this, it is critical that organisations have open lines of communication where management and employees are able to share information honestly, without fear of negative reprisals. This means having an open-door approach, allowing feedback whether direct or anonymously. Part of an open communication strategy is to give space to feedback. Not all feedback will be useful, but explanation why feedback would not be used or implemented is critical. Leaders are critical in ensuring a culture of psychological safety in their organisations. Open cultures in organisations important to foster high-performance organisational cultures; but also, to reduce destructive behaviours, such as bullying, gossip, manipulation, and belittling. Organisations must prioritise the well-being of individual employees. Worse, in organisations without open cultures, a toxic culture could spring up, in which employees are reluctant to speak up or share ideas. In a toxic environment unethical behaviour, such as cutting corners, lying and racism thrives. Open cultures has the ability to lift organisational morale. Healthy workplace culture includes encouraging healthy work-life boundaries for employees; supporting employees career development; allowing for some space for mistakes; refraining from micromanaging empower employees to make decisions within their spheres of authority. Employees contribution to success must be recognised. In fact, employees must be seen, appreciated, and rewarded for sterling efforts. Innovation must be a key component of organisational culture to keep up with market, customer, competitive and technology changes. There has to be a regular assessment of how things are done and whether these are still relevant, and what can be done more efficient, with new technology or with new processes. A pillar for resilience strengthening is for organisations to fully adopt sustainability as part of the organisational culture. Sustainability must be incorporated when investments decisions, policies and products are decided on. Customers, investors, employees, and stakeholders are increasingly demanding companies be serious and genuine about sustainability. Finally, individuals, teams and organisations must see uncertainty as an opportunity to not only fortify the organisation, but to innovate, and find new markets, make new products, and provide new services; and seeing challenges brought on by uncertainty, change and crises as chances to strengthen both the tangible and intangible assets of the organisation. Professor William Gumede is Professor of Practice, School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand, and author of the bestselling Restless Nation: Making Sense of Troubled Times (Tafelberg). This is an extract of his recent talk at Chelete Managements conference on business resilience given increasing domestic and geopolitical, trade and market uncertainty. HANOI, July 22 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and another injured in a fire early Tuesday morning at a commercial facility in northern Vietnam's Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam News Agency reported. The blaze broke out at around 1:30 a.m. at a commercial company in Cho Ra commune, the state-controlled media said. Initial reports estimate property damage at over 2.5 billion Vietnamese dong (around 96,000 U.S. dollars), according to the report. The cause of the fire is under investigation. YANGON, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's authorities have seized 1,875 kg methamphetamine, also known as Ice, and 1.6 million stimulant tablets in Yangon region, the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) reported on late Tuesday. Acting on a tip-off, anti-narcotics police raided a house in Insein township of Yangon region on July 12, and confiscated the narcotics, the CCDAC said. A total of nine suspects in connection with the case were arrested between July 12 and July 17 in the regions of Yangon, Bago and Mandalay, the report said. Investigation showed that the narcotics were destined for Malaysian waters, the report said. The suspects were charged under the country's law, and further investigations are ongoing. The Starmer governments repression of opposition to Israels genocide in Gaza was stepped up this weekend, with police arresting more than 100 people at protests around the UK for expressing support for the direct action protest group Palestine Action. Palestine Action was proscribed on July 5, making membership of or support for the group a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. People demonstrating against proscription were arrested under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in London, Cardiff, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and Glasgow. Police mostly targeted protesters holding signs reading, I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action. Some of the tens of thousands of protesters assembled on Whitehall, London, July 19, 2025 Sixty-six people were arrested in London, mainly on small protests against the criminalisation of PalAction. Posting an arrest update on X the Metropolitan Police said on Saturday afternoon, 55 people were arrested in Parliament Square for displaying placards in support of Palestine Action which is a proscribed group. They were arrested under Sec 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Another 4pm posting stated that a further 10 ten people have been arrested within the main Palestine Coalition march, including Eight for supporting a proscribed organisation (Palestine Action) and One for breaching Public Order Act conditions. The arrests mean that around 300 people have now been arrested under sections of the Terrorism Act since PalAction was proscribed, compared to 248 people arrested on terrorism charges in the UK during the whole of last year. Saturday saw the 28th national demonstration held in the capital against the Gaza genocide. Around 80,000 people attended the Palestine Coalition march and rally, braving a thunderstorm to do so. Two days before the protest the Met put out a statement designed to cow those planning to attend under the heading, UPDATE: Met reiterates warning on support for proscribed organisations ahead of Saturday protests. It stated There will be an increased police presence in Westminster on Saturday when a number of protests are due to take place. Police seal off Horse Guard's Parade, off Whitehall, during Saturday's protest in London. The building to the right being heavily guarded is the Ministry of Defence Declaring that Public Order Act conditions would be in place it continued, We are also expecting further protest activity in support of Palestine Action which is a group now proscribed under the Terrorism Act. Similar protests have taken place in Parliament Square for the past two weekends, with 70 arrests made. On the day, most police were deployed against the PalAction solidarity protest. The BBC reported of the London arrests that many appeared to be over the age of 60. One woman claimed to be in her 80s and was walking with a stick. Some were led away while others had to be carried. In Bristol, Avon and Somerset Police arrested 17 people under the Terrorism Act after a demonstration on College Green. In Manchester 16 were arrested. In Truro, Cornwall, eight were arrested, including an 81 year old retired magistrate, Deborah Hinton. During the London demonstration, the Met deployed signage to further intimidate reading in block capitals, Threatening or abusive chants may lead to arrest and It is an offence to support a proscribed organisation. At least 56 Palestine Action members are presently being tried for offences related to their peaceful protests at arms factories and military installations, such as criminal damage and trespass. At least 13 members have been arrested since June 20. In many of their cases, the prosecution has already claimed a terrorist connection. On Sunday, prominent Liverpool left-wing activist Audrey White was one of four people arrested under the Terrorism Act for carrying signs supporting Palestine Action. White rose to national prominence in 2022 when she confronted Starmer in a restaurant and denounced his right-wing policies. The 76 year-old head of the Mersey Pensioners Association was subjected to a brutal arrest by a least four police officers as they dragged her awayto chants of shame on you!before they bundled her into a waiting police van. Independent news web site Skwawkbox reported, Whites brother Mark Holt, who was on the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza in 2008 and drove across Europe and into Gaza with Medical Aid, a young woman, and a retired housing adviser are believed to be the others arrested. On Monday, three women appeared in court after being arrested on July 15 after a van was driven into the fence of a factory owned by arms manufacturer, Leonardo in Edinburgh. After being charged under section 57 of the Terrorism Act 2000 on Sunday, they appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court the next day. Section 57 of the Terrorism Act 2000 makes it an offence for a person to possess an article in circumstances where theres a reasonable suspicion that the possession is connected to the commission, preparation, or instigation of an act of terrorism. A conviction under section 57 can include imprisonment for up to 15 years, a fine, or both. The Starmer governments targeting of prominent political activists has seen a slew of journalists detained and arrested under terrorism charges. On July 16, one of those targeted, Kit Klarenberg, reported, Appalled but depressingly unsurprised to learn my friend @SweeneySteve [Steve Sweeney, Beirut-based war correspondent who is the head of RTs Lebanon bureau] got detained, interrogated and his digital devices seized by British terror gestapo thugs coming home. RT reported, In a statement posted Wednesday on her Telegram channel, [RT editor-in-chief Margarita] Simonyan said Sweeney was apprehended on arrival in Britain and interrogated at length about his work for RT. According to Simonyan, officers told Sweeney he was suspected of terrorist activities, confiscated his phones and laptop, and questioned him about editorial practices at the network. Simonyan said that police asked Sweeney whether he had any links to Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militant group and took photos of his tattoos. She added that after the interrogation, Sweeney was released and plans to continue working for RT. On Sunday, the Guardian reported, Greater Manchester Friends for Palestine (GMFP) and Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), which both organise peaceful protests and vigils, have had access to their funds cut off indefinitely by Virgin Money and Unity Trust bank respectively. The Guardian understands a local PSC branch in England has also had its bank account frozen but was unable to confirm it directly. This follows the same attack on prominent anti-Zionist Tony Greenstein, who was also charged last year under the Terrorism Act 2000. Skwawkbox reported July 12, Greenstein first had his account with HSBC subsidiary First Direct, with whom he has banked for more than thirty years, frozen in March without explanation, then un-frozen a couple of weeks later, equally without explanation. On Thursday, he then received an urgent email telling him to sign in to his online banking and found a message telling him that supposedly because of a periodic review, the bank had decided it would no longer offer him banking facilities. While police forces were carrying out mass arrests, the Labour government was hosting the head of the Israeli air force, Major General Tomer Barwho has overseen the destruction of Gaza from the air with weapons supplied by NATO powers, including Britain, which also provides critical reconnaissance assistance. Bars main reason to be in Britain was to attend a conference hosted by the Royal Air Force, where he is to discuss with his counterparts among the major imperialist powers. Middle East Eye reported, According to Israeli public broadcaster Kan, Bar will have a series of meetings with air force commanders from around the world. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democrat-New York) speaks at Foley Square in New York on Thursday, May 1, 2025. [AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis] Over 20 months into Israels extermination operation in Gaza, carried out with the full backing of the US government and its imperialist allies, the US House of Representatives on July 17 voted 442 to 6 to overwhelmingly reject an amendment to the 2026 US war budget that would have stripped a paltry $500 million from the Israeli Cooperative Programs. Only six members of the House voted in favor of the resolution. The four Democrats were Al Green of Texas, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. The two Republicans were Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Thomas Massie of Kentucky. One of the hundreds of lawmakers who opposed the amendment to the war budget was Democratic Socialists of America member and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The cooperative programs that Ocasio-Cortez refused to vote to defund are part of the massive US military budget and provide additional funding for advanced Israeli anti-missile systems. After the failure of the amendment, early Friday morning on July 18, the House passed the 2026 war budget in a 221 to 209 vote. The bill allocates over $832 billion to the military and was supported by five Democrats along with almost every Republican. One of the five Democrats was Maine Congressman Jared Golden, a CIA Democrat Ocasio-Cortez effusively praised in an interview with the New York Times earlier this year. The amendment to the 2026 Department of Defense Appropriations Act was introduced by fascist Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene in response to the July 11 Israeli strike on Gazas Holy Family Catholic Church, which killed at least three people, including the parish priest. That same day, Gaza health officials reported receiving 94 bodies at local hospitals. Unsurprisingly, Ocasio-Cortezs refusal to back the amendment has provoked widespread anger on social media from some of her supporters and tens of thousands of others outraged over the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the Democratic Partys unwavering support for it. In response to growing outrage, on July 19 Ocasio-Cortez defended herself by explicitly reaffirming her support for funding the Israeli military. In a statement on X, viewed over 15 million times and met with tens of thousands of angry replies, the DSA Democrat wrote: 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 continue. In other words, Ocasio-Cortez is against stopping the flow of so-called defensive weapons to a state that the International Court of Justice, the United Nations and several human rights organizations around the world have accused of carrying out a genocide. In reality, there is no meaningful distinction between offensive and defensive weaponry in the genocide in Gaza. All weapons provided to Israel serve the predatory aims of Washington. Even setting aside the fact that interceptor missiles can be converted into strike weapons, the very existence of the Iron Dome and other antimissile systems has enabled Israel to bomb with virtual impunity in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran and Gaza this year alone. Ocasio-Cortezs refusal to back the resolution exposes not only a personal failing but also the futility of all politics aimed at reforming the Democratic Party and, by extension, the capitalist system. More than a century after the horrors of World War I and the collapse of national reformist programs, the DSA and similar pseudo-left organizations continue to promote the reactionary fantasy that capitalism and its parties can be reformed to serve the interests of the working class. A left face for the establishment and war First elected in 2018 on the slogan of taking on the establishment, Ocasio-Cortez has quickly become one of its most reliable defenders. Her recent vote is not the first time she has walked back even token opposition to the genocide in Gaza while affirming her support for Israeli military systems. In the first month of the slaughter, the New York representative joined Zionists and the entire US political establishment in demanding that anti-genocide protests be shut down, denouncing them as antisemitic. She followed this with an October 2023 interview on CNN in which she declared that funding the Iron Dome was absolutely legitimate. In the same interview, she stated that Hamas needs to be dealt with and did not question the mass displacement and ethnic cleansing of 1 million Palestinians from Gaza. Instead, she said only that partners in the region, along with the US, would step up to support the forced relocation of Palestinians. As the US-backed Israeli onslaught claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people, the majority of them women and children, Ocasio-Cortez in 2024 was tapped to serve as Genocide Joe Bidens lead campaign surrogate for the presidential election. Taking on the assignment with enthusiasm, she hit the podcast circuit urging workers and students to be adults and vote for Biden. Despite the best efforts of Ocasio-Cortez and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, the phony leftists were unable to keep Bidens re-election prospects alive. Once Biden was replaced by his partner-in-crime Kamala Harris, another loyal servant of US imperialism and supporter of the genocide in Gaza, Ocasio-Cortez was again deployed by the Democratic Party to give a left gloss to the thoroughly right-wing and pro-genocide candidacy of Harris and the Democratic Party as a whole. In a shameless lie before the Democratic National Convention last year, Ocasio-Cortez declared that Harris is working tirelessly to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and bringing hostages home. In reality, the Biden-Harris administration provided Israel with all the political, economic and military support required to carry out its ethnic cleansing campaign. Following Harris electoral defeat, Ocasio-Cortez urged her followers to reject sectarianismin other words, not to break with the Democratic Partywhile blaming white people and specifically white men for Harris loss. Harris embrace of Wall Street, Trumps border wall, and her pledges to continue supporting Israel and the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine were not among the reasons Ocasio-Cortez offered for the defeat. The DSA responds Ocasio-Cortezs statement reaffirming her support for the Israeli military has provoked a crisis within the DSA itself. In a statement published on July 19, the organization said it opposed her vote against Greenes amendment and was deeply disappointed by her clarifying statement on her position on the Iron Dome. Notably, the statement did not call for Ocasio-Cortez to be expelled from the organization. How one can claim to be a democratic socialist while opposing efforts to block military funding to a state carrying out genocide was also left unexplained. The DSA presented Ocasio-Cortezs actions as if they were somehow contrary to the politics of the DSA itself. In fact, the DSA is a faction of the Democratic Party, and its politics are the politics of the Democratic Party. Support for Israel in particular goes back to the origins of the DSA in the right-wing, Zionist politics of its founder, Michael Harrington. First, the US should support Israel with the necessities for defending itself, Harrington said in 1975, as a leader of the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee, the predecessor to the DSA. Second, the US does have a peacekeeping role. Such words could be spoken, indeed are spoken, by Ocasio-Cortez 50 years later. In the intervening half century, the political establishment has shifted violently to the right and the DSA with it. It seeks to cover itself with left phrases and thus felt obliged to issue a pro forma criticism of Ocasio-Cortezs vote. But this is just for show. In terms of class interests, the DSA represents the privileged sections of the upper middle class, thoroughly hostile to the independent mobilization of the working class against imperialist war and capitalism. A team of investigative journalists have exposed that the Australian Labor government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been exporting F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel amid the Zionist states genocide against the Palestinian population. F-35A Lightning II aircraft [Photo: Royal Australian Air Force] The important report, published by Declassified Australia in partnership with Irish-based news site the Ditch, reveals the Australian states direct complicity in Israels war crimes, and exposes as a lie the repeated refrain by Labor government officials over the past two years that it has not been exporting weapons parts to Israel. The article was co-authored by Declassified Australia editor and former Australian Broadcasting Corporation producer Peter Cronau, and lawyer Kellie Tranter. Cronau and Tranter wrote: Declassified Australia has sighted shipping records detailing goods sent on two recent flights from Sydney to Tel Aviv in Israel. Its uncertain whether these documents show just two individual shipments, or are a glimpse of a much bigger Australian direct trade of F-35 parts to Israel. The 1-kilogram package, labelled Aircraft parts, was marked EAR99US Export Administration Regulation 99 which is used for goods that are dual-use for military and commercial applications. The documents obtained by the journalists state that the worlds largest arms manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, was the source of the aircraft parts. The goods description on the documents is JSFreferring to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter which is made by Lockhead Martin, the worlds largest arms manufacturer. It was revealed that the package was sent from the Royal Australian Air Forces (RAAF) Tindal airbase in the Northern Territory via RAAF Base Williamtown near the regional New South Wales city of Newcastle before being put on a flight to Tel-Avivthe centre of Israel Air Force (IAF) operationsfrom Sydney Airport on July 4. Tindal airbase is the major RAAF base in northern Australia and includes the No. 75 Squadron that uses F-35A joint strike fighter jets. Williamtown is home to the RAAFs fleet of F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters and is the regional hub in the Asia-Pacific for maintenance and warehousing of F-35 components. A pair of 1-kilogram packagesalso marked as JSF parts sourced from Lockhead Martin, sent from Tindal to Tel Avivwas flown from Sydney Airport on April 9. These packages were marked as subject to the US State Departments International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). The parts were designated as munitions which can include military hardware, guidance systems, armaments, military aircraft, related technical data and software. F-35 fighter jets have been used by Israel in its genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. F-35 fighters have been used in Israeli war crimes including airstrikes on designated safe zones and the use of 2,000-pound bombs supplied by the US government to indiscriminately kill thousands of people. These fighters were also used in airstrikes during Israels illegal assault on Iran last month. While the exact nature and contents of the packages remains unknown, the leaked documents uncovered by Declassified Australia expose the deliberate complicity of the Australian government in Israels war crimes. This belies the claims by the Albanese government that F-35 parts sourced from Australia were not shipped directly to Israel, but were part of a global supply chaina feeble attempt to distance the government from Israels war crimes. The direct transfer of the parts, from an airforce base to Israel, could only have been approved by the military command and the government. That is an involvement, even more direct than the previously known practice of permitting private weapons companies to export their products to global networks aiding Israel. Declassified Australias investigation represents the final nail in the coffin of any of the increasingly unconvincing attempts by the Labor government to plead innocenceas if another nail were needed. In early 2024, Labor awarded Israels largest defence contractor, Elbit Systems, an Australian army contract worth almost $1 billion. Pictures showing Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz inspecting an Australian-manufactured R400 weapons system in Israel surfaced in April this year. Declassified Australia has previously revealed dozens of active permits for military exports to Israel. The site showed that hundreds of defence export permits from Australia to Israel had been issued since 2015. A sharp increase in defence export permits to Israel has been seen since 2022 when the Labor party under Anthony Albanese came to office. The joint US-Australian Pine Gap spy base in the Northern Territory has also likely provided critical intelligence to Israel for its airstrikes in Gaza and other parts of the Middle East. Labor has led the charge of the Australian political establishment which has feverishly supported Israels mass murder of Palestinians based on the justification that Israel has the right to defend itself. This has been coupled with a ferocious attack by the Albanese federal government and its counterparts in the statesabove all, Labor state governments in Victoria and New South Walesagainst all opposition to Israels war crimes, fraudulently declaring that hostility to the genocide is antisemitic. Governments in Australia have arrested peaceful anti-genocide protesters, sent police onto university campuses, collaborated with university managements to expel or suspend pro-Palestinian students, and recently ordered police to use force at a Sydney rally against the Gaza genocide, leading to a young female protester to be badly injured. Labors support for Israels mass slaughter is another demonstration of the ruthless and criminal character of Australian imperialism. This is inseparable from its broader support for war globally which is being led by the US. The genocide is part of one front, directed towards a region-wide war in the Middle East, targeting Iran above all. Australia has also been one of the biggest non-NATO financial and political backers of the war in Ukraine which is aimed at inflicting a decisive US-NATO defeat over Russia. Meanwhile, the Labor government of Albanese has completed Australias transformation into a frontline state in Washingtons war aims against China which is viewed by the strategists of American imperialism as the chief threat to its global hegemony. This broader militarist eruption highlights the fact that the Labor government cannot be pressured to alter course. The working class must take matters into its own hands, including halting arms shipments to Israel. The trade union apparatuses, which are tied by a thousand strings to the Labor party and capitalist system, have done everything in their power to prevent such industrial action or strikes by workers in opposition to the genocide. That shows the need for workers to establish rank-and-file committees, totally independent of the government and company-aligned union bureaucrats. Above all, workers and youth must take up a perspective of ending the capitalist system which is the cause of genocide and war. Japans ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito suffered a significant blow in the parliamentary upper house election on Sunday, resulting in a loss of its majority in the body. Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's Prime Minister and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), addresses the media at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo, July 20, 2025. [AP Photo/Franck Robichon] In total, 125 seats out of 248 in the House of Councillors were up for election, including an additional race to fill a vacancy. Members serve six-year terms with half of the seats up for election every three years. The LDP and Komeito lost 13 seats and six seats respectively, holding onto 39 seats and eight seats. When added to the LDPs 62 seats and Komeitos 13 seats not up for election, the coalitions total in the upper house is 122 or three short of a majority. This is the second major loss for Shigeru Ishiba since becoming prime minister last year. The ruling coalition lost its majority in the general election for the lower house last October for only the third time since 1955, leaving Ishiba at the head of an unstable minority government. Ishiba stated at a news conference on Monday that he intends to stay in power, saying As the first party in parliament, we have to fulfill our responsibility with the public so as to prevent politics from stagnating or drifting Challenges such as the global situation and natural disasters wont wait for a better political situation. The Japanese economy is immediately facing a heavy hit from 25 percent reciprocal tariff on Japanese exports to the US slated to go into effect on August 1. Sectorial tariffs have also been imposed on Japanese goods including a 25 percent tariff on vehicles and auto parts. Japan experienced a trade deficit of 2.2 trillion yen ($US14.9 billion) for the first half of 2025, with exports to the US dropping by 11.4 percent in June alone. As a result, the government is under considerable pressure from big business to reach a deal. Japans lead negotiator Ryosei Akazawa is in Washington this week for the eighth round of talks between the two countries. The Trump regime is demanding the opening of Japan to US agricultural products, including rice, which the Ishiba government has rejected. The production of rice in Japan is not only important economically, but plays a major role in Japanese culture, making it a highly sensitive issue. The LDP has also overseen rising cost-of-living, including the doubling of rice prices since 2024. It has also been at the center of several corruption scandals, including one over fundraising that forced Fumio Kishida to resign as prime minister last year. Tokyos program of remilitarization, which includes doubling military spending to two percent of GDP, is also highly unpopular. The danger of a US-instigated war against China and Tokyos support for such a conflict went largely unmentioned during the election. With the government facing considerable public hostility and opposition, there is media speculation that another party could join the ruling coalition. On Monday, Ishiba downplayed the suggestion, saying the LDP will seek partners on a case-by-case basis. We will hold sincere discussions with opposition parties on policy issues of particular urgency, he said. This is the first time since the LDPs founding in 1955 that it has lost its majority in both houses of parliament and attempted to stay in power. The government of the day must control the lower house. But legislation must pass the upper house except when choosing a prime minister, passing a budget, or approving a treaty. The lower house can only override the upper body with a two-thirds majority, meaning without support from an opposition party, the government cannot pass its agenda. The opposition bloc is currently headed by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), which retained the same number of seats, 22, for a total of 38 in the upper house. While CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda has previously rejected the idea, a grand coalition between the LDP and CDP has previously been suggested, including by Ishiba himself in January. The LDP will more likely rely on the support from more right-wing parties, such as the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), formed in 2018 in a split from the CDP. The DPP won 17 seats on Sunday, raising its total to 22. The DPP has previously worked with the ruling LDP coalition, but has adopted a cautious approach to any talk of joining the ruling bloc. The far-right Nippon Ishin no Kai, which won seven seats, including its total by one to 19, has also rejected joining the LDP-led coalition. Both Ishin and the DPP are seeking to distance themselves from the highly unpopular LDP-led government. The fascistic Sanseito party, which ran on a Trump-style platform of Japanese first and the demonization of foreign residents and tourists, won 14 seats, raising its total number of seats to 15. The result reflects the growing hostility to the entire political establishment which Sanseito has exploited through its criticisms of both the LDP and CDP. Furthermore, the political establishment and media allowed Sanseito to set the tone for the election, providing the party with regular and favorable coverage. As in the US and elsewhere, the ruling class in Japan, sensitive to rising opposition to its agenda of austerity and militarism, is cultivating fascistic layers. Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya has praised the Trump regime while criticizing the Ishiba governments approach to negotiating with the US president. He has called for Tokyo to deal with Trump on the basis of a shared fascistic outlook. In a July 15 interview, Kamiya stated, Trump is thinking of changing the rules of politics around the world. I have a firm grasp of what new rules he wants to use to drive world politics, and he is turning everything upside down, including DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion), decarbonization policies, and immigration. Some people call that absurd, but I think he has a proper philosophy, so if Japan shows a willingness to work together as partners, we can come to an agreement on tariffs and negotiate the terms. Kamiya and other Sanseito members have also called for Japan to acquire nuclear weapons, which would generate widespread opposition in the only country on which atomic bombs have been dropped. Other politicians have raised a similar possibility, including former prime minister Shinzo Abe who suggested in February 2022 that Japan should host US nuclear arms. The minority Ishiga government has only remained in office to date as a result of the deep political divisions among the opposition parties. The loss of its majority in the upper house only compounds its political difficulties and will fuel further political instability. Smoke and flames erupt from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Monday, July 21, 2025. [AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi] The Zionist regime responded to international outrage over its cold-blooded massacre Sunday of 92 Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza by escalating mass murder and starvation of the population. Gazas Health Ministry reported that at least 130 Palestinians were killed Monday and over 1,000 wounded across Gaza, as Israeli troops assaulted the city of Deir al-Balah. Deir al-Balah had been until now the last settlement in Gaza spared bombardment, reportedly because Israeli officials believed Israeli hostages were held there. As a result, it became a center for Palestinian refugee camps, UN aid operations and the remaining operational water treatment facilities in Gaza. An estimated 80,000 Palestinians were forced to flee Deir al-Balah after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued evacuation orders for several neighborhoods in the city. One Deir al-Balah resident, Thurayya Abu Qunneis, told CNN: The planes came and dropped many leaflets on us; the entire sky was covered with leaflets on the houses, the streets and everywhere, stating that we had to evacuate from certain areas. We are living on edge. We cant sleep, eat or drink. There is no flour, no anything, and we are hungry. We are dying, and our children are dying of hunger. Yesterday, Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers invaded Deir al-Balah, bombarding mosques, civilian homes and UN and World Health Organization (WHO) facilities. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, UN staff remain in Deir al-Balah, and two UN guesthouses have been struck, despite parties having been informed of the locations of UN premises These locationsas with all civilian sitesmust be protected, regardless of evacuation orders. IDF forces attacked the WHOs staff residence and main warehouse in Deir al-Balah three times, bombing and setting them aflame and detaining two WHO staff and their relatives. Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward Al-Mawasi amid active conflict. Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot and screened at gunpoint, WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted, adding: WHO demands the immediate release of the detained staff and protection of all its staff. The IDF reported that one soldier, Staff Sgt. Amit Cohen, 19, had been killed and another wounded by a detonation of Israeli munitions in the Deir al-Balah area. The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, also reported that their fighters had damaged an Israeli Merkava tank by detonating a powerful landmine directly under the tank as it advanced. The IDF attack on Deir al-Balah is part of a systematic policy of genocide by denying food, water, electricity and medical treatment to the Palestinian population. Starvation is rapidly spreading in Gaza, with at least 19 people having confirmed to have starved to death in Gaza since Saturday. In the meantime, fully stocked UN food aid warehouses across the border in Egypt contain enough to feed Gaza for 3 months, but food shipments are blocked by the IDF. Medical personnel, hospitals and healthcare facilities remain a particular target of IDF forces operating with undisguised contempt for international law. In a statement Sunday, the British charity organization Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) noted that Israeli evacuation orders endanger vital humanitarian and primary healthcare sites and are accelerating the systematic dismantling of Gazas already-decimated healthcare system. Gaza Health Ministry officials said hospitals are running out of fuel, food and medicine, risking a collapse of medical care. Spokesperson Khalil Al-Deqran said medical staff only get one meal a day, and that hospitals are overrun with patients suffering from exhaustion and malnutrition. Yesterday, Israeli commandos south of the city of Khan Younis kidnapped Dr. Marwan al-Hams, the head of Gazas field hospitals, killing a journalist and wounding another near a Red Cross facility. The Israeli genocide in Gaza is a crime against humanity unfolding thanks to the unstinting support of the major imperialist powers. The United States, Germany, Britain, France and Spain have all sent materiel shipments to Israel to arm the Zionist regime to commit genocide. As they try to push through a neocolonial conquest of the Middle East, they see the genocidal Zionist regime, in the debased words of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as doing their dirty work for them. The IDFs ceaseless resort to atrocities and the mass murder of defenseless civilians, as in calls by top Israeli officials and US President Donald Trump to murder or expel all Palestinians from Gaza, unmistakably recalls the crimes of the Nazis. Yesterday, Gideon Levy, a columnist for Israels Haaretz paper, told Al Jazeera: Theres now a very systemic destruction project of whole towns and villages, one after the other. Israel is doing things that the Germans did in the early years of the Third Reich, which Israelis dont see any similarity. I must remind all of us: The extermination of the Jews in the Holocaust started with evacuating people to the east [of Europe]. Same plan. Thats the first stage. We should stop it here. Stopping the Gaza genocide requires, however, the building of an international movement against the imperialist governments in the working class. Isolated strikes have broken out against weapons shipments to Israel in US or European ports and airports. However, halting the flow of arms to Israel altogether requires fusing such strikes together in an international movement in the working class directed not only against the Zionist regime, but above all against its imperialist backers and their neocolonial wars in the Middle East. Workers and youth must reject the illusion that pressure and moral appeals upon imperialist governments, whose hands are drenched in blood, can persuade them to oppose genocide. In reality, these governments have supported the genocide, while sometimes cynically issuing tepid criticisms of Israel, for the nearly two years the genocide has unfolded. These cynical statements include the two-faced declaration issued yesterday by 25 countries, including Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Criticizing inhumane killing of civilians in Gaza and declaring that it is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid, it issued an impotent appeal that Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law. No less horrific than the Israeli regimes genocidal policy, however, is the bloodstained cynicism of imperialist governments that arm Israel for the very same genocide they claim to oppose. This cynicism was epitomized by the posturing of British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who said: The Israeli government must answer: What possible military justification can there be for strikes that have killed desperate, starving children? What immediate actions are they taking to stop this litany of horrors? And what will they do to hold those responsible to account? But the far-right Israeli regime will not answer Lammy. It will press ahead with its genocide, expecting that it will retain not only the explicit support of Washington and Berlin but the tacit support of the imperialist powers that signed this cynical document. Of these powers, one could ask: What is their justification for arming Israel as it kills desperate, starving children? What actions can be taken to stop their transfer to Israel of weapon systems that make this litany of horrors possible? And what can be done to hold figures like Lammy responsible for their complicity in genocide? The decisive question is building an international movement in the working class, independent of and opposed to all the capitalist governments and their petty-bourgeois supporters, against imperialist war, fascism and genocide and for socialism. Striking Philadelphia city workers, July 2, 2025 Philadelphias largest city workers union, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 33, announced Monday afternoon that its members had ratified a three-year tentative contract agreement with the City of Philadelphia after a week-long in-person vote at union headquarters. Out of approximately 9,000 eligible members, fewer than 2,400 cast ballots, marking a voter turnout of under 30 percent. The low turnout was effectively a vote of no confidence in the union, which has been actively sabotaging the struggle since the beginning. The ratification comes in the wake of an eight-day strike which left mounds of trash uncollected throughout the city and garnered widespread public support for the citys workers, many of which are the lowest paid municipal employees of any major city. AFSCME shut down the strike at the point where it was its most powerful and sprung the new tentative agreement, with barely any difference from the citys initial proposal. With a strike vote looming for thousands of the citys white collar workers, the bureaucracy wanted to shut down the strike before it built into a broader conflict with the Democratic Party, of which AFSCME is a part in all but name. The city workers, who have had essentially the same contract foisted on them as well, voted by 76 percent to authorize a strike, according to reports over the weekend. The sudden announcement to end the strike came the day after AFSCME national president and former Democratic National Committee official Lee Saunders visited the picket line. It is clear, however, that the real purpose of his trip was to give the local officials their marching orders to end the strike as soon as possible. In a statement published alongside the results, DC 33 president Greg Boulware cynically declared, Thanks to every member who made their voice heard in the ratification vote Together, we made this happen. In reality, the exact opposite is the case. Throughout the vote, Boulware and DC 33 sought not to convince workers to support the contract, but to sow pessimism that they could get nothing better. Boulware insisted that theyd gotten as much as we could possibly get out of the city, painting the Democratic administration of Mayor Cherelle Parker as an unstoppable force of nature. DC 33s passage of the tentative agreement resolves none of the issues facing city workers. The agreement includes 3 percent annual wage increases over three years, plus a $1,500 bonus in the first yeara sum which will be nearly cut in half once tax deductions are included. It requires workers to maintain residence in the city of Philadelphia, where the cost of living is higher than in the suburbs, in order to remain employed and allows the city to skip payments to the workers Health and Welfare Fund for the first month of the contract. There is no doubt that many workers refused to lend any credibility to the betrayal and simply didnt vote. People wanted it to be over with, a municipal worker said to the World Socialist Web Site. Together we made what happen? asked another. Same status quo contract weve been getting. Only this time we removed any leverage from any future strike threat. The announcement comes as AFSCME DC 47 begins voting on its own tentative agreement. Workers affiliated with DC 47 report having been summoned to town hall style online events in which union leaders shamelessly promote the TA while refusing to let members speak or ask questions. The Philadelphia Inquirer, which had previously hailed the DC 33 tentative agreement as a victory for fiscal discipline, breathed a sigh of relief at the contract ratification, stating within minutes of the announcement that the vote eliminated the possibility of a city worker strike resuming this year. In reality, the contract settles nothing as far as workers are concerned. Philadelphia transit workers are currently facing the expiration of a contract in November as the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) faces a funding crisis, which will see services and personnel cut to the bone. Last month, 14,000 Philadelphia public school teachers ratified a strike which could occur as early as August, raising the prospect for a citywide shutdown of public schools as the fall school year begins. Transit systems and school districts in major cities across the country are facing doomsday cuts due to the cut-off of supplemental pandemic funding by the Biden administration last year. The cuts being carried out by Democratic Party city administrations will only intensify as the Republicans dismantle social programs at the federal level. Under these conditions, the formation of the Philadelphia Workers Rank-and-File Strike Committee is of critical importance. It was founded to organize a fight against both city officials and the union bureaucracy, as the basis for the expansion of the strike across the city and the US. Workers in Philadelphia and across the country must draw the lessons of this experience. As long as the union bureaucracy retains control over the struggle, the only possible outcome is a sellout. The committee has issued a call to expand it to all city workers in Philadelphia and beyond: This strike has shown that workers are ready to fight. It has shown that the ruling classDemocrats and Republicans alikeare terrified of a real working-class movement. And it has shown that a different leadership is needed. New Caledonias pro-and-anti-independence parties have committed to a so-called historic deal regarding the future political status of the French Pacific territory, which is now set to become a state within the French Constitution. President Emmanuel Macron, centre, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, left, and Minister for Overseas Territories Manuel Valls attend a meeting with New Caledonia's elected officials and state representatives at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, July 12, 2025. [AP Photo/Tom Nicholson] The 13-page agreement, officially entitled Agreement Project of the Future of New Caledonia, was signed on July 12 after 10 days of negotiations in Bougival on the outskirts of Paris. The talks, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron, were aimed at creating a new document to replace the 1998 power sharing Noumea Accord. The delegations included all New Caledonias political factions; four anti-independence groups (the Loyalists; Rassemblement-Les Republicains; Eveil oceanien and Caledonie ensemble), and two pro-independence groups: UC-FLNKS (Union Caledonienne with the main Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front coalition), and Union Nationale pour lIndependance (UNI), which includes the Parti de Liberation Kanak (Palika) and Union Progressiste en Melanesie (UPM). The deal creates a State of New Caledonia within France, and a New Caledonian nationality. Macron declared it a bet on trust leading to a peaceful relationship with France. It commits all the signatories, who must now sell it to their own deeply suspicious political bases. A joint sitting of the French National Assembly and French Senate will be held this year to codify the Bougival Accord into the Constitution. It will then be taken to a referendum in New Caledonia in early 2026, followed by ratification in the French National Assembly. The Bougival gathering was dubbed the summit of last chance after a series of talks between February and May this year, chaired by French Overseas Territories Minister Manuel Valls, failed to reach agreement. The last meeting in Noumea collapsed after Valls tabled a proposal that contained a form of sovereignty with France, including transfer of key powersdefence, law and order, currency, foreign affairs, justicefrom Paris to New Caledonia and dual Kanaky-France citizenship. The negotiations originally were called in the wake of last years seven-month uprising by indigenous Kanak youth against French colonial rule. There was widespread rioting and 14 people killed, mostly by French gendarmes, with damage estimated at 2.2 billion. Fuelled by social inequality, unemployment and economic desperation, the rebellion brought alienated youth into conflict, not only with colonial oppression, but with the territorys political establishment, including the official Kanak pro-independence parties. The pro-independence movement split in December, with the majority FLNKS demanding full sovereignty and the moderate factions seeking a shared arrangement with Paris. The pro-France Loyalist parties flatly opposed any settlement which failed to take into account the three referendums between 2018 and 2021, including in the controversial final vote boycotted by pro-independence Kanaks, that had rejected independence. Frances ruling elite was never going to relinquish its grip on its strategically important colonial possession. From the beginning Macron made it clear that Republican order would be imposed in the most brutal fashion. Over 7,000 military and police personnel were dispatched to put down the insurrection and leading Kanak independence activists sent to prisons in France. Macron pressured the pro-independence parties to bring the young rioters to heela task they obediently carried out. Under the deal, calls at the heart of the uprising for full and sovereign political independence have been betrayed. The agreement does not grant Frances 172 years-old colony independence, either immediately or in the future. The agreement is broader than proposals previously tabled by Valls. The new state of Caledonia will be established through a basic law enshrined in Frances constitution. It can be recognised by other nations and establish a Caledonian nationality, while letting residents also have French nationality. It could also eventually allow New Caledonians to change the territorys name and flag. The French State retains control of policing, courts, currency and defence, but with new structures to enlist a wider layer of the New Caledonian political establishment in an extended partnership. The Southern Province, which includes Noumea and is a centre of anti-independence forces, will receive new fiscal and administrative powers, plus extra seats in an expanded 56-member Congress. Authority over foreign affairs will be transferred to the New Caledonia government. The colony already has enhanced its regional integration since gaining full membership of the Pacific Islands Forum in 2016. However, it must conduct diplomatic relations in accordance with the international commitments and the interests of France, and uphold Pariss major strategic interests, which includes Frances military base on the main island and its commitment to the US-led buildup to war against China. While France retains control of the courts and police, the deal provides for the creation of provincial and community policing. This local police face is to offset the deployment of the unpopular French gendarmes which were responsible for brutal and deadly attacks on Kanak protestors and rioters. All residents will also be allowed to vote after living 10 years in the territory. Currently, only people born in the colony or residing there before 1998 can vote. The proposed change, which strengthens the influence of recently arrived migrants from France and diminishes the Kanak proportion of the voting population, was one of the primary issues that ignited the territorys civil unrest. Previously deferred provincial elections, due to be held later this year under the old restrictive rules, will be postponed until mid-2026. The deal also calls for an economic and financial recovery pact that would include support for the territorys vital nickel processing capabilities which are currently under extreme pressure from suppliers in Indonesia and China. There are likely to be limits on the destination of the nickel, which has strategic and military uses and which France wants to remain within the European Union as a designated strategic mineral. Both sides have swiftly moved to promote the deal which has already met with a backlash. In a joint release, the two main pro-France parties, Les Loyalistes and Rassemblement-LR, said the agreement was historic and perennial, offering New Caledonia a future of peace, stability and prosperity while at the same time considering Frances Indo-Pacific strategy. Anti-independence politician Nicolas Metzdorf, however, called it a compromise born of demanding dialogue and described the Caledonian nationality as a real concession. Philippe Blaise, vice-president of Southern Province administration, said the agreement crossed a red line by recognising a Caledonian state and a distinct nationality, which he said was incompatible with French unity. For the pro-independence parties Emmanuel Tjibaou, New Caledonias member of the French National Assembly, said the accord would help us get out of the spiral of violence. He described a difficult path ahead but one that would allow Kanaks and other Caledonians to move forward together while mending divisions. In an official statement the FLNKS claimed that the agreement included major advances towards the objective of bringing together, over time, all the elements of sovereignty. At a difficult time for our country, marked by a deep political, economic and social crisis, we, the group mandated by FLNKS have assumed responsibility. Many pro-independence activists have taken to social media to condemn the deal. Local journalist Brigitte Whaap told Radio NZ that while some of the public were relieved there had been progress and an agreement was proposed, many are feeling betrayed, really upset about this situation. Brenda Wanabo-Ipeze, a leader of the Coordination Cell for Field Actions (CCAT), currently incarcerated in France, said: This text was signed without us. It does not bind us. CCAT has been declared by the authorities as the main organising group behind the protests with a dozen of its leaders still facing serious criminal charges. Joel Kasarerhou, president of civil society group Construire Autrement (Build Differently), called the agreement stillborn and lacking ambition and vision. Kasarerhou said the youth at the heart of the May 2024 uprising had been forgotten or barely mentioned, and he feared another May 13the date the riots began. What the deal has not addressed, let alone resolved, is the deep economic and social crisis hitting the colony, and in particular the impoverished working class and youth. Whatever the official outcome of the high-level political maneuvering now under way, the issues behind the unrestingrained poverty, social inequality, unemployment and social desperationremain. Farmworkers harvest banana peppers at a farm near the town of Helm on July 1, 2025. [Photo: Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local] A new audit from the California State Auditor has revealed what many workers have long known from bitter experience: the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) is in a state of profound and deliberate decay. The agency, charged with protecting the lives of millions of workers in one of the worlds largest economies, is crippled by chronic understaffing, enforcement failures and bureaucratic rotsymptoms of conscious political decisions made by the Democratic Party establishment that controls the state government. The audit, released earlier this month, confirms that nearly one-third of Cal/OSHAs 800 authorized positions sat vacant in 2023, leaving entire districts unable to fulfill even their most basic mandates. In some offices, staffing levels were so low that only a single inspector was available to handle an entire region. The 32 percent vacancy rate, a direct result of low salaries, bureaucratic hiring delays and chronic underfunding, has rendered the agency structurally incapable of enforcing workplace safety regulations. In its review of just 60 case files between 2019 and 2024, the State Auditor found at least 15 instancesincluding serious injuries and accidentswhere Cal/OSHA failed to perform even an on-site inspection. These include cases involving hospitalizations, chainsaw injuries requiring surgery and heat-related illnesses in dangerous working conditions. Instead of dispatching inspectors, the agency sent perfunctory letters, many of which were ignored by employers without consequence. Such letter investigations are not isolated bureaucratic mishaps. They are, in the words of Assembly Labor Committee Chair Liz Ortega, fake investigations. But the stakes are far from fake: in just two weeks earlier this year, three teenage workers were killed on the jobone fell into a meat grinder at the Tinas Burritos factory in Vernon; two others (along with five adults) died in a fireworks warehouse explosion. In both cases, clear and elementary safety precautions were absent. These are not accidents. These are industrial killings facilitated by a system that no longer functions. Cal/OSHAs enforcement, when it does occur, is toothless. Inspectors often close cases without verifying that hazards were fixed. Basic practicessuch as reviewing required injury-prevention plans or conducting worker interviewsare routinely skipped. Fines issued are frequently slashed by over 50 percent after employer appeals, with no documentation explaining why. The supposed watchdog for California workers operates more like a concierge service for corporate law firms. To even file a complaint is an ordeal. Workers cannot file directly through Cal/OSHAs website. They must call, email or navigate the federal OSHA site, a barrier especially high for non-English speakers, low-wage workers or the undocumented. This by design excludes precisely those in the most dangerous, hyper-exploitative sectors. What emerges from the audit is not just a portrait of bureaucratic incompetence but of a deliberate political strategy: dismantle regulatory bodies, starve them of resources, blame their failure on inefficiency and open the door for further deregulation. The result is measured in blood: horrific deaths, often of the youngest and most vulnerable workers, whose lives are snuffed out because safety protocols are ignored, inspections are skipped and employers operate with impunity. This is not unique to California. On July 1, Trumps Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced 63 new deregulatory actions, accelerating the destruction of federal worker protections. Dubbed the most ambitious federal rollback to date, the initiative seeks to eliminate ten regulations for every new one, building on Trumps previous two-for-one mandate. The pretext is to spur job creation. The reality is to enrich corporations by reducing human beings to expendable inputs in the profit machine. Under Trumps second term, OSHAs budget is being slashed by nearly 8 percent, eliminating 223 staff positions and cutting 10,000 inspections-- more than 30 percent of the total--per year. While Trump claims this is about modernization, the truth is obvious: fewer inspectors means more injuries, more deaths and more profits. Site of the 2015 Exxon Mobil refinery explosion in Torrance, California [Photo: Chemical Safety Board] Trump is not alone in this campaign. Gavin Newsoms California is already implementing the same policies. The refusal to fund Cal/OSHA, the toleration of its disintegration, the reliance on fake investigations and token finesnone of this is accidental. It is the direct result of Democratic Party governance, which, like its Republican counterpart, serves the interests of capital not labor. The audit points to a false dichotomy in American politics: on one side, Republicans like Trump advocate open deregulation and budget cuts; on the other, Democrats collude with the trade union bureaucracy to suppress the class struggle and maintain the veneer of regulatory oversight while gutting it from within. Even as the California Labor Commissioners Office was found in 2024 to take two years on average to resolve wage theft claimssix times the legal limitthe same structural conditions of underfunding and delay persist across all agencies nominally tasked with defending workers. California, long glorified as a liberal bastion, is in fact a state where workers are left to die in unsafe factories, fall into unguarded machines and burn in unregulated warehouses, all while Democratic legislators and their backers in the labor bureaucracy issue press releases about worker dignity. Cal/OSHA was created in 1973, two years after the federal OSHA, in response to massive pressure from the working class amid the explosive labor and social struggles of the late 1960s and early 70s. This was part of a broader movement that wrested critical gains in safety, wages and civil rights from the capitalist state. But what was won through struggle has been dismantled through bipartisan sabotage. Just as in health care, housing and education, the same logic applies: starve the public function, declare it broken and hand it over to private interests. And just as predictably, the working class pays with its lives. The way forward will not come through appeals to the same politicians who have enabled these deaths. Assemblymember Liz Ortegas suggestion that Cal/OSHA make criminal referrals in five percent of cases is toothless grandstanding. What about the other 95 percent? What about an entire system that accepts preventable workplace deaths as routine business costs? The only viable path forward is the independent mobilization of the working class, organized through rank-and-file safety committees that operate independently of both the corporations and the state agencies that protect them. These committees must fight for: Democratic control by workers over safety inspections Immediate shutdowns of unsafe workplaces The abolition of the letter investigation farce Criminal prosecution of negligent employers and complicit officials The necessity of such committees is underscored by the investigation led by the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) into the death of Stellantis worker Ronald Adams Sr., which is exposing the companys cover-up and the unions complicity. In the course of the investigation, a former Cal/OSHA officer confirmed that widespread use of cheater keys at Stellantis Dundee, Michigan engine plant bypassed lockout/tagout safety systemslikely causing Adamss death when a crane activated unexpectedly. The UAW and MIOSHA are withholding details, while the IWA-RFC continues investigating to expose systemic hazards. Workers themselves, not state inspectors or union officials tied to management, are the only ones who can be trusted to uncover the truth and enforce safety on the shop floor. But even these measures point to a deeper necessity. As long as the capitalist system remains intact, workers will continue to be maimed and killed in the name of profit. The solution is the replacement of a system based on exploitation with one based on social need. A socialist transformation of society would place the health and safety of workers above the quarterly earnings reports of CEOs. In the meantime, workers must treat every inspection skipped, every fine reduced and every injury ignored as a clarion call for the expansion of rank-and-file committees in every workplace and workers control of production and safety. On July 19, 2025, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-Mauritania diplomatic relations. Xi Jinping pointed out that over the past 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Mauritania, regardless of changes in the international landscape, the two sides have always upheld mutual respect and treated each other as equals, setting a model of mutual support and mutual benefit between developing countries. In recent years, China-Mauritania relations have experienced sound and steady development, with increasingly consolidated political mutual trust and fruitful exchanges and cooperation across various fields. Xi Jinping recalled that he met with President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani last year during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), where they reached important common understandings and jointly announced the elevation of China-Mauritania relations to a strategic partnership, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations. Xi Jinping said that he attaches great importance to China-Mauritania relations and is ready to work with President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani to take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as a new starting point, carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutual trust and cooperation, jointly create a new future for the development of the China-Mauritania strategic partnership, and bring more benefits to the two peoples. Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani said that over the past 60 years, Mauritania and China have forged a solid friendship, worked together closely at all levels and supported each other on international occasions. During the FOCAC Beijing Summit in September 2024, he and President Xi Jinping jointly announced the elevation of the exemplary Mauritania-China relationship to a strategic partnership. This is the most vivid illustration of the in-depth development of bilateral relations, which will benefit the friendly people of the two countries and help enhance the security, prosperity and well-being of people around the world. On the same day, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council exchanged congratulatory messages with Mauritanian Prime Minister Mokhtar Ould Diay. Li Qiang said that China is ready to join hands with Mauritania to take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to fully implement the important common understandings reached between President Xi Jinping and President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, and continuously enrich the China-Mauritania strategic partnership. Mokhtar Ould Diay said that Mauritania abides by the one-China principle and is willing to strengthen the strategic partnership with China under the visionary guidance of President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani and President Xi Jinping to serve the development of both countries. KIEV, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, will head the Ukrainian delegation in the upcoming talks with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Tuesday. The negotiations, scheduled for this week in Turkiye, will include representatives from Ukraine's intelligence agencies, the foreign ministry and the presidential office, according to a post by Zelensky on the social media platform X. "Ukraine is ready to work as productively as possible to secure the release of our people from captivity ... and to prepare a leaders' meeting aimed at truly bringing this war to an end," Zelensky said. Zelensky said last Saturday that Kiev had proposed to hold a new round of peace talks with Moscow this week. The Board of Deputies of British Jews (BoD) has published a report calling for antisemitism training to be included in equality and diversity training in the arts, education, the National Health Service (NHS), police, professional bodies and trade unions. The proposed training explicitly equates anti-Zionism with antisemitism. The BoD claims that training is necessary because a report by the Zionist and state-funded Community Security Trust found there had been an onslaught of antisemitic attacks on Britains Jews since October 7, 2023. This claim has been faithfully echoed across the mainstream media, from the Telegraph to the Guardian and BBC. The BoD's Commission on Antisemitism [Photo: BoD] The report is yet another back-door attempt to outlaw all expression of opposition to Israels criminal war of annihilation of the Palestinians, under the guise of equality and diversity, circumventing the need for additional legislation. Antisemitism training would be based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances (IHRA) definition of antisemitism that falsely equates anti-Zionism with antisemitism. The IHRA cites as an example of antisemitism: Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour. The BoD was a key player in getting the IHRA definition adopted by Britains then Conservative government and public authorities in 2016. Yet the stated purpose of Israels 2018 Nation State Law is to legitimise a system of institutional and constitutional discrimination that enforces Jewish supremacy over the Palestinians in all the land Israel controls. Every leading international human rights group, including Israels BTselem, agree that Israel is an apartheid regime. The pro-Zionist Board purports to represent Britains Jews. It does no such thing. It consists of around 350 Deputies, each nominated as representatives by synagogues and other Jewish groups around the UK. Making an occasional criticism of the worst excesses by Israel in Gaza, it marries this always to denunciations of Hamas. The BoD does not represent the Jews in Britain who are deeply disturbed by the expansion of Israels illegal settlements, the 17-year blockade of Gaza, and the killing of over 60,000 Palestinians, two-thirds of whom are women and children, in the ongoing genocide. It does not speak for all those Jews who oppose the massive and deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, the starvation of Gazas civilian population and the brutal military occupation and human rights abuses in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Thousands of British Jews, and many Jewish organisations, have joined anti-war demonstrations across Britain. Just weeks ago, the BoD suspended six of the 36 Deputies who had written an open letter published in the Financial Times that was highly critical of Israels unilateral ending of the ceasefire and its resumption of the war. Thirty rabbis from Reformist and Liberal synagogues wrote to the Financial Times that they too could no longer turn a blind eye or remain silent. These letters speak to the vast social, political and moral chasm that separates the BoD from the Jews it claims to represent. The BoD played a leading role in the witch hunt against supposed left antisemitism. It campaigned for the introduction of an Anti-Boycott Bill in Parliament, seeking to prevent public bodies from withdrawing investments on ethical grounds, to oppose environmental and human rights abuses, including the boycott of products from Israeli settlements. The Bill did not become law as it failed to complete the legislative process before the July 2024 general election. On assuming office in 2024, BoD President Phil Rosenberg recruited a Campaigns Officer and launched the Commission on Antisemitism, to be led by the Governments Independent Advisor on Antisemitism Lord John Mann (formerly John Walney, a Labour MP) and former Tory Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt. Mann spearheaded the near decade-long campaign by the Labour Partys Blairite wing targeting supporters of former leader Jeremy Corbyn. It was Mann who started the offensive, sparking a televised row with Ken Livingstone in 2016, calling him a Nazi apologist, and which led eventually to Corbyns leading supporter being thrown out of the Labour Party. Corbyns refusal to oppose the witch-hunt saw his supporters targeted wholesale and expelled, smoothing the path to the IHRAs pro-Zionist definition of antisemitism being adopted in full by Labour in September 2018. Awarded a peerage in 2019 by Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May, Mann was made the governments Antisemitism Tsar by her successor, Boris Johnson. His 2023 report successfully campaigned for universities to adopt the IHRA definition, paving the way for an even tighter crackdown on opposition to Israel and pro-Palestinian speech. The Community Security Trusts (CST) survey of antisemitism, whose methodology and results are not reported, was spawned decades ago as an offshoot of the BoD by businessman and convicted criminal Gerald Ronson. It is recognised as a charity but is funded largely and generously by the governmentostensibly to provide safety, security, and advice to the Jewish community on antisemitism and in countering anti-Zionism. Its 2024 report found 43 percent of antisemitic incidents involved anti-Zionism. In 355 instances, the phrase Free Palestine was said to constitute antisemitism. The CST provided no detail about the individual acts of antisemitism, or the views of interviewees who shaped the report. Its claim that antisemitism has soared in the arts and culture, where Jews have traditionally been well represented, is part of an escalating campaign to repress widespread support for the Palestinians. In the CSTs sights are signatories to numerous open letters including writers, musicians and actors, demanding an end to the Israeli governments genocidal war in Gaza and calling on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to end support for Israel. The antisemitism slander has already led to the cancellation of countless pro-Palestinian exhibitions and cultural events at the behest of Zionist organisations. These cancellations have met stiff resistance, including protests by staff and patrons, such as those at the Barbican and British Museum. Artists, creative practitioners and curators have written open letters accusing cultural institutions of repressing, silencing and stigmatising Palestinian voices and perspectives. The BoDs report calls for cultural institutions to leverage the use of contract compliance wherever public sector organisations or companies in the private sector are financially involved with the venue, to ensure that events or artefacts meet the IHRA definition and exclude those that evince any opposition to Israel. The BoDs Commission on Antisemitism report makes several recommendations including the creation of an Antisemitism Training Qualification for all those carrying out training on contemporary antisemitism and the inclusion of education on antisemitism/anti-Zionism in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) programs. One of its most disturbing recommendations is the call to recognise Judaism as an ethnicity as well as a religion, in a bid to bolster claims for a Jewish State. This is manifestly nonsense, as the ethnic diversity among Israeli Jews testifies. Emeritus professor of history at Tel Aviv University Shlomo Sand argues in his book The Invention of the Jewish People that most Jews descend from converts, centuries and sometimes millennia ago. Proselytism across disparate ethnic groups was widespread in the Roman period (with an estimated 8 million Jews in the world in the first century) and later, across the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe. The formation of a Jewish nation out of these disparate groups only developed with the rise of nationalism in the late 19th century. The report also calls on the National Health Service to institute basic training on contemporary antisemitism (anti-Zionism) across every NHS Trust because of the appalling experiences of antisemitism affecting Jewish staff and patients. The BoD wants the NHS to ban the wearing of symbols [that] include any form of badge/jewellery with the Palestinian flag, maps clearly intended to show a Palestinian State without an Israeli one, slogans mentioning, From the River to the Sea and Intifada, or watermelon symbols at work. This has already brought a response from the government, with the Jerusalem Post reporting that NHS staff will soon be prohibited from wearing their uniforms to pro-Palestine protests and will not be allowed to wear pro-Palestine badges at work, according to a letter from Health Secretary Wes Streeting to the BoD. The BoD has called for a ramping up of police action in dealing with antisemitic crimes, saying that police decision making and standards are inconsistent. It called for action against groups that act as organised crime groups by calculatedly planning to cause damage to buildings, property and people. Its demand for repressive legislation against protest has been realised with the proscription of Palestine Action, but the BoD is demanding a wider net be cast. KIEV, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The next round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine will be held Wednesday in Turkiye, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday. In his daily address, Zelensky said he discussed with Rustem Umerov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, about the meeting. "Umerov said the meeting was scheduled for Wednesday. There will be more details tomorrow." Umerov, the former defense minister, was appointed to his current position last week and headed the Ukrainian delegation in the previous two talks in Istanbul, Turkiye. However, Russia's TASS news agency quoted a source as saying that the third round of talks will take place on Thursday. "The meeting is scheduled for July 24, the delegations may arrive in Istanbul on the 23rd," the source said. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Sunday that Russia is ready to move quickly toward a settlement on Ukraine, but the main objective is to achieve its goals. HELSINKI, July 22 (Xinhua) -- China's shipbuilding industry offers advanced technology, competitive pricing, and a strong focus on energy efficiency and emissions reduction. These strengths, combined with Europe's maritime expertise, can support win-win cooperation, said Thomas Doepel, CEO of Finnish shipping company Finnlines. Doepel, in an interview with Finnish business daily Kauppalehti published on Tuesday, praised Finnlines' latest vessels built in China, describing them as a major step forward for both the company and the broader maritime sector. "The introduction of these ships could halve emissions per transported unit," he said, noting that the improvements reflect not only the technological progress of Chinese shipyards but also position Finnlines ahead of tightening international regulations. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is expected to decide this October on a potential emissions trading system for the global shipping industry, which would reward vessels with lower emissions, said Doepel, indicating that Chinese shipbuilding industry's focus on energy-saving and emission-reduction technologies can play an important role in supporting the shipping sector's green transition. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finnlines is Finland's largest shipping company and operates mainly in the Baltic Sea. It carries over a million passengers each year, with freight transport accounting for 85 percent of its revenue. Over the past 20 years, the company has invested two billion euros (2.35 billion U.S. dollars) in new vessels. All of its most recent ships have been built in China, including three more ordered earlier this year. Doepel attributed the choice to China's large-scale production capacity and cost advantages. "European shipyards simply lacked the capacity to deliver such a large order on schedule, while Chinese yards offered excellent conditions," he said. He stressed that the decision was pragmatic rather than political. "China has developed strong capabilities in shipbuilding, and cooperation with them brings clear benefits," he said. "That doesn't mean we should neglect Europe's own shipbuilding sector -- we need both openness and strategic foresight." On calls to decouple from China, Doepel was firm: "We cannot isolate others without isolating ourselves. The Chinese are hardworking and capable -- there is much we can learn from each other." He added that Finnish and European maritime expertise remains globally relevant, even when shipbuilding is carried out abroad. "Europe should understand that trade and interdependence can be tools for managing risk and driving shared growth." Doepel concluded that Europe's maritime cluster still holds world-class know-how, and that cooperation between China's advanced shipbuilding and Europe's technical expertise can jointly support the development of the global maritime industry, Kauppalehti reported. (1 euro = 1.17 U.S. dollar) Ozzy Osbourne biting the head off of a dead bat became a big chunk of rock history, and his own. The Grammy-winning Prince of Darkness and legendary rocker died at 76 on July 22, just weeks after reuniting with his band Black Sabbath for a final show in England. "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy has passed away this morning," Osbourne's family said in a statement. "He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Ozzy Osbourne was rock 'n' roll's 'Prince of Darkness.' How he got the twisted nickname But decades ago in front of an audience of around 5,000 people the legendary rocker chomped and chewed on a dead, flying mammal at Veterans Memorial Auditorium (now Iowa Events Center) in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 20, 1982. "The name of the town of Des Moines is embossed in my head!" Osbourne told The Des Moines Register, part of the USA TODAY Network, in November 2001, on the eve of his first concert since the incident. "I've had some mileage from Des Moines!" The Des Moines bat was dead, according to Mark Neal, who was 17 at the time. His younger brother had brought the bat home from school, alive and flapping, about two weeks before the concert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neal believed the bat was dead, but Osbourne argued he felt the head twitch in his mouth leading him to suspect it was alive when bitten. Carmen Kelly, one of Neal's friends, suggested keeping it for the upcoming Osbourne show, so he stored it in a freezer. Rock star Ozzy Osbourne dies at 76, weeks after final Black Sabbath show Ozzy Osbourne speaks onstage during the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony streaming on Disney+ at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Oct. 19, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. On show night, after winning Osbourne tickets from a local radio station, Neal tucked the bat into his pocket, found a close enough spot to the stage, and chucked it toward the band. "It landed in front of Rudy Sarzo, the bass player," Neal said. "He looked down at it and motioned to Ozzy and, as they say, the rest is history." "It really freaked me out," Neal told a reporter in 1982. "I won't get in any trouble for admitting this, will I?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the concert ended, Osbourne was treated at a local hospital with rabies shots. Then, years later, a different Osbourne settled down in Iowa, years after her father bit the bat. What led to Ozzy Osbourne infamously biting the head off a bat in Des Moines? Ozzy Osbourne, left and Kelly Osbourne arrive on the red carpet during the 62nd annual GRAMMY Awards on Jan. 26, 2020 at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Kelly Osbourne, Sid Wilson get engaged in front of her parents Ozzy and Sharon: Watch "Fashion Police" alum and podcast host Kelly Osbourne, 40, lives part-time outside Des Moines, Iowa, with her fiance Sid Wilson, 48, of Slipknot, whom she got engaged to at her dad's farewell tour earlier this month. The daughter of Ozzy and TV personality Sharon Osbourne, 72, also parents to 39-year-old Jack Osbourne, revealed on Instagram last year that "a lot of people don't know this about Sid and I, but we do actually live in Iowa. And I love being in Iowa. love Iowans." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This time, Des Moines is embossed on her father's heart. Contributing: Kyle Munson, Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez, Matthew Leimkuehler, The Des Moines Register This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ozzy Osbourne bat incident: Late rocker bit bat's head off PARIS, July 22 (Xinhua) -- France, as the host country and a founding member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), regrets the U.S. decision to quit UNESCO, the spokesperson of the country's foreign ministry said on Tuesday. France supports UNESCO with regard to access to education for all, the protection of endangered heritage, the preservation of the oceans, the responsible development of artificial intelligence, and the fight against anti-Semitism and hate speech, the spokesperson said in a press release. Earlier Tuesday afternoon, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed on his X account France's "unwavering support" for UNESCO. He called UNESCO a "universal guardian of science, the ocean, education, culture, and world heritage." On Tuesday, the United States announced its decision to pull out of UNESCO in December 2026. According to a statement by the U.S. State Department, the withdrawal was due to what Washington saw as the UN cultural agency's policy to "advance divisive social and cultural causes" over the Israel-Palestine conflicts. In response, Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO, expressed regret over the U.S. decision, calling it inconsistent with the fundamental principles of multilateralism. She rejected the stated reasons for the withdrawal, emphasizing that UNESCO remains a "rare forum for building consensus through concrete, action-oriented multilateralism." The U.S. exit will take effect at the end of December 2026. This will be the third time that Washington has left UNESCO, and the second time during the administration under Donald Trump. Groundbreaking 80s Country Star Dead at 79 originally appeared on Parade. Most performers see country music stardom as an endpoint. For one artist, though, it was just the beginning. In an obituary from country music historian Larry Delaney (CanCountry), Billboard Canada reported that country music icon Laura Vinson passed away on Thursday. Dubbed The Rocky Mountain Lady by friends in the music industry, Vinson enjoyed widespread success as a country music artist before she transitioned seamlessly to cultural artistic representation, drawing on her Native roots to write and perform music that captured the unique experience of Indigenous Canadians like her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vinsons death sparked a tidal wave of mourning from fans. One fan responded to a Facebook announcement of her death, Her soul will live on in the mountains of Jasper and the Willmore. They added, I hope the Sun Always Shines [sic .] on her spirit and her family and loved ones. Born May 23, 1947, in her early years, Vinson credited music with keeping her communitys spirits up during harsh Alberta winters. We got a couple of radio stations sometimes, and it seemed like everybody had a guitar. Another friend played Aboriginal hand drums and wed swap songs. In the 70s and 80s her star quickly rose with 14 of her Royalty Records single releases placing on the RPM Country Charts, including multiple top entries like the popular Sweet Mountain Music and 'Mes Amis O Canada. She toured Canada and Europe, opened for country music legends like June Carter and Johnny Cash, before ultimately finding her way back to home. A descendant of First Nations people and Europeans from the years of the fur trade, Vinson was of Mountain Metis heritage, known for its unique customs separate from other Indigenous groups. Vinson recalled someone telling her mother, Youre not really an Indian, youre just half a half breed, you know? Based on that memory, she wrote the song Half a Half Breed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The response was staggering, surprising even Vinson. I had people come out of the audience going, Youve just told my story. She recalled, One young man came backstage at a festival and he was just holding onto me crying and he said, I had no idea. I had no idea. He was sobbing. Vinson continued to shift her focus from classic country to Indigenous musical representation. In 1991, she formed the band Free Spirit, and in 1996, a theater show about the Indigenous experience inspired by her popular album Voices on the Wind opened to global success, touring all across the world. She won numerous awards, including the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alberta Women of Country Music, and in 2020, Vinson was inducted into the Country Music Alberta Hall Of Fame. Her passion, however, remained in telling Indigenous stories and using her platform for representation activism. In a January 1, 2020 article for The AFM, Vinson voiced her confidence in her legacy, praising the rising generation of Native artists. They have started to look at their culture as a positive thing, a beautiful thing, she said. Its long, long overdue. Groundbreaking 80s Country Star Dead at 79 first appeared on Parade on Jul 21, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared. Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography Kyle Labarry (left) and Ernie Apreza's wedding on July 5, 2025. When Washington native Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry got married in Seattle on July 5, they didnt just celebrate a nearly 10-year relationship; they honored every person who had walked beside them to get there. Apreza is a seasoned political strategist who served as press secretary to thenVice President Kamala Harris during one of the most consequential and inclusive administrations in recent memory. While the couples wedding was personal, it was also unavoidably political: a declaration of love and visibility at a time when LGBTQ+ rights are once again under attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the flower arrangements hand-crafted by Labarry's mom to the Mexican food prepared using Apreza's mothers recipes, the ceremony was a deliberate blend of traditions, cultures, and chosen family. There were definitely a lot of details we needed to sort out the week of, Apreza told The Advocate. And the feedback we got was that all those little details were noticed. Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography Kyle Labarry adjusts Ernie Apreza's tie on the couple's wedding day. But long before they were planning boutonnieres and writing vows, they were just two guys new to Seattle, each quietly trying to find a sense of community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had moved to Seattle in May of 2015 to start a job there, Apreza said. Even though Im from Washington, I grew up in a small town a couple of hours north. Id never actually lived in Seattle. And I had just recently come out. So there was this element of trying to figure out my place. That same summer, Labarry, who is from Nevada, relocated from Reno. We both happened to be on Grindr, Apreza said with a chuckle. But I think we had both reached the point of [wanting to prioritize friendships in a city where we didnt really know anyone]. Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Courtesy Jen Lau Sims Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry ended their wedding night with beers at the bar at which they met. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They met for beers on a Wednesday night at what was then called Belltown Pub. It wasnt really a date, Labarry said. It was more of a first connection. We both went into it not expecting to be dating. Instead, they became part of a small pod of friends, attending shows, eating dinner together, and growing closer. There was a night when we all went out, and Ernie and I found each other on the dance floor, a little bit tipsy and slightly away from the other members of the group, Labarry recalled. And thats when we kissed for the first time. The rest unfolded gradually. We hung out outside of the group, just the two of us, in secret for a couple of months, Labarry said. We didnt want to introduce something if it wasnt something, because we knew it could affect our whole group. From the start, there was a spark. He just has a really cute smile, Labarry said. And hes a little jokester. When we met, he was chatting it up, looking all cute with his little smile, and saying things that made me laugh. Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyle Labarry and Ernie Apreza's July 5, 2025 wedding took place in Seattle, Washington. Apreza was just as taken. It wasnt framed as a romantic date, but I thought he was cute, he said. And I liked that hes from Sparks, Nevada. Not fully small town, but he has that down-to-earth vibe I connected with, especially given my own upbringing. They would go on to live together in Seattle, then Denver, then Las Vegas. They spent stretches of time apart, especially when Apreza joined the Hillary Clinton campaign and later the Biden-Harris campaign. Thats when things got serious, fast. When I worked for the vice president, it was seven days a week, often from 5:30 in the morning until 9 at night, Apreza said. We have a puppy. Theres just no way I wouldve been able to do that work if it hadnt been for Kyles support. From being a sounding board on frustrating days to making sure we ate dinner, I credit Kyle with enabling me to do what Ive done." Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ernie Apreza (left) with the coupl's seven-year-old golden retriever Gigi and Kyle Labarry. Labarry, for his part, said it never felt like a sacrifice. Were both independent people who know what we want, he said. Because we love each other, we just do what it takes. It just came easily. I knew what we needed to do to make it happen. The couple now resides in Washington, D.C., with Gigi, their seven-year-old Golden Retriever. Apreza, 36, whose last day with Harris was on Inauguration Day in January, recently started a new position with The Climate Pledge, a sustainability initiative co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism. Its more engagement-focused, he said. Ill be leading on engagement for Latin America. Labarry, 39, works in compliance for a mobile gaming company. When hes not hard at work, he can be found above the clouds, literally. Labarry recently earned his commercial pilots license and said that flying single-engine planes and sharing the freedom of the skies with others in the cockpit brings joy to the hobby pilot. Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry dance on their wedding day. At home, the pair clashes over some habits. Apreza is constantly late to personal events; Labarry prides himself on being punctual. Labarry loves Judge Judy; Apreza loathes it. Apreza is a sci-fi fanatic. I love Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Harry Potter, he said. Kyle doesnt care for anything sci-fi. He called Star Wars junk at Disneyland, in the middle of the Star Wars section. Apreza added, His friends roasted him for it. And while Apreza takes pride in looking sharp at public events, whether on official duty or as a guest, Labarry, he said, once showed up to a White House holiday reception in what he swears were sweats. I was not in sweats, Labarry laughed. But I was the only person not wearing a suit. Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friends of Ernie Apreza coordinated a routine to Chappell Roan's "Pink Pony Club" The differences only underscore how in sync they are where it matters most, especially when it comes to family. I grew up and lived with my nuclear family, Labarry said. But there was a family down the street from me, Jen and her parents. Ive known Jen since fourth grade. As I got older, I made a conscious decision to spend more time with them. His home life was complicated. My dad was a lot. I was a lot. There were issues, including substance abuse. And while my upbringing wasnt bad, we went to Disneyland every year, I realized that my nuclear family wasnt the best role models for me. Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry with their families. So he made a choice. From high school on, I started going on family vacations with Jens family. I spent holidays with them. And when my parents eventually both passed away, they became my family. Theyre the ones who walked me down the aisle. I always say Im unofficially adopted into a Korean and Chinese household, Labarry, who is white, added. Theyre the people I call my family. That worldview left a deep impression on Apreza. There are so many norms in Mexican-American culture around what family is, he said. Theres a strong emphasis on [the family you are born into superceding all relationships]. And here was this man with an incredible bond with people who werent blood-related, but who might as well be. It widened my perspective. Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Courtesy Adali Hernandez; Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scenes from Kyle Labarry and Ernie Apreza' wedding. Apreza came out at 26. Labarry met his family the following year, before Apreza left Seattle to join the Clinton campaign. They warmed up to Kyle very quickly, Apreza said. We both prioritize family. That made it easy to connect. The wedding was rich with personal touches and cultural layers. Labarry's mom, Beth, designed the flowers. Apreza's parents small business, Neto's Market, catered the food. It was authentic Mexican food using my moms recipes, Apreza said. That was meaningful because so many of our guests had never been to Washington. Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography The couple celebrated with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony to honor Labarry's Chinese and Korean parents. They included a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, serving both sets of parents, something Apreza wasnt familiar with at first. Its a moment where you demonstrate respect to elders, he said. It was another neat cultural aspect of the day. During the mother-son dances, Apreza said, There wasnt a dry eye in the room. And when it came time to open the dance floor, friends surprised them with a fully choreographed routine to Chappell Roans Pink Pony Club. They did it flawlessly, Apreza said. I felt so much love from them in that moment." Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography The LGBTQ+ guests at Kyle Labarry and Ernie Apreza's wedding pose for a group photo. The couple capped the night with an after-party at the bar, now under a different name, where they first met in 2015. We were able to end the night kind of where it all started, Apreza said. The next morning, they were still talking about the welcome barbecue held the night before the ceremony. Typically, when Ernie and I have a birthday or a party, we barbecue for everyone, Labarry said. We were going to do that again, but so many people came up and said, Go enjoy your guests. Let us do it. It was just really heartwarming. People cared more about us enjoying the party than sticking to a plan. Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography Kyle Labarry and Ernie Apreze say their vows. During the reception, Labarry shared a story about Apreza showing up for him. And we said, We could tell a personal story about every one of you in this room where you showed up for us, or we showed up for you, he said. That was the kind of room we wanted. When asked whether Vice President Harris had reached out, Apreza smiled: My address was requested. Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry on their wedding day. The couple also confirmed that theyre planning to grow their family. We have little embryos, Labarry said. Its just a matter of time until we find that amazing angel of a surrogate. In a political era where LGBTQ+ rights are once again under attack, neither Apreza nor Labarry takes their wedding a day after the Fourth of July, or its symbolism, for granted. Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography Celebrations as Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry are surrounded by friends on their wedding day. For me, the wedding was important to have for personal reasons, Apreza said. But also for patriotic reasons. I think its important to be very declarative: that we, as people, are here. That we are Americans. That we deserve equal protection under the law. Labarry added, There could be a whole generation of LGBTQ+ people coming up who never felt or understood what it was like not to have the right to marry. And thats beautiful, but it could be taken away. No one should take it for granted. It takes everybody staying in the fight. The couple isnt rushing into a honeymoon. We have a friend getting married in October, Apreza said. We might tack on a few days and do a little mini-moon. Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry's wedding in Seattle, July 5, 2025. Keep scrolling to see a few more photos from Apreza & Labarry's special day. This visual collection was assembled by equalpride's digital photo editor, Nikki Aye. Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry's wedding in Seattle, July 5, 2025. Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry's wedding in Seattle, July 5, 2025. Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry gay wedding July 2025 Almida Meyer of Almida Meyer Photography Ernie Apreza and Kyle Labarry's wedding in Seattle, July 5, 2025. This article originally appeared on Advocate: Kamala Harriss former spokesman celebrates his bold gay love story on his wedding day (in photos) RELATED Pedro Pascals younger sister, Lux Pascal, has become a star in her own right. The 33-year-old (to Pedros 50) has graced red carpets and acted in notable projects like Narcos. Heres everything to know about Lux and her sweet sibling dynamic with her older brother Pedro. She is an actress. Lux was born on June 4, 1992, in Orange County, California. She was raised in Chile and studied theater there. She earned her bachelors degree at Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and later attended Juilliard, graduating with her MFA in 2023. Her acting roles include Netflixs Narcos and the Spanish-language productions Miss Carbon and La Jauria. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lux revealed that she currently has a few American roles in the works. I have two projects coming out, and I filmed one, she shared with THR. I cant really give details of whats coming up, but yes, I do have projects coming up in the United States, and Im excited. She publicly came out as a transgender woman in 2021. In her 2021 Ya Magazine cover story, Lux publicly came out as a transgender woman. In the story, she spoke about how much Pedro supported her throughout her transition. Translated to English, she said, Hes been an important part of this. Hes also an artist and has been a guide. He was one of the first to give me the things that shaped my identity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pedro also posted her Ya cover on his Instagram and captioned it, Mi hermana, mi corazon, nuestra Lux, which translates in English to My sister, my heart, our Lux. Lux has since elaborated on what Pedros support means to her. What makes him so fabulous is that he wears all of his humanity on his sleeve, and he doesnt hide who he is, she told THR. And I think thats refreshing, because usually we move around the world hiding who we are. Thats the main lesson Ive gotten from him: Theres no reason for me to hide who I am, right? And I think people are seeing that. She is very close to Pedro. We protect each other very much, Lux told People. He protects me a lot, but I guess I'm more under the radar, but I protect him a lot too. She also spoke about the joys of growing up with him. He has a very powerful personality, and he was always the most fun to be around with, she said. I would ditch all my friends just to hang out with my brother. It was such a special moment whenever he would visit us in Chile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his 2023 Esquire cover story, Pedro spoke about their childhood, too. [Lux] ruled the household right away, he shared. When my older sister and I would visit [Chile], we were like intruders. Our mother was her mother, but for us to think that we were entitled to this womans attention in any way was absurd. He elaborated on their connection, saying, She is and has always been one of the most powerful people and personalities Ive ever known. My protective side is lethal, but I need her more than she needs me. She often attends red carpets with Pedro. Lux has made several red carpet appearances with Pedro. In January 2024, the siblings attended the Emmys in Los Angeles. Pedro was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role in The Last of Us. Frazer Harrison - Getty Images They also stopped by HBOs post-Emmy Reception in West Hollywood. Amy Sussman - Getty Images Last November, Lux joined her brother for his Gladiator II premiere in London. Karwai Tang - Getty Images In May 2025, the siblings attended the Eddington red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in France. Stephane Cardinale - Corbis - Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 21, Lux went to Pedros Fantastic Four: First Steps Los Angeles premiere. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin - Getty Images You Might Also Like There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! I Feel Amazing (Freestyle) Constructor: Rafael Musa Editor: Amanda Rafkin July 22, 2025 What I Learned from Todays Puzzle ELI (15A: Author and content creator Rallo) ELI Rallo has over a million followers on TikTok, where she posts videos featuring lifestyle and relationship advice, satirical comedy, and reflections on navigating your 20s in the digital age. Her first book, I Didn't Know I Needed This: The New Rules for Flirting, Feeling, and Finding Yourself, was published in 2023. Her most recent book, Does Anyone Else Feel This Way?: Essays on Conquering the Quarter-Life Crisis, is due out in October. GRINDSET (7D: Attitude that values relentless hustle and overwork) The word "GRINDSET" is a portmanteau of "grind" and "mindset." Although this word is new to me, it was inferable with the help of crossing answers. Random Thoughts & Interesting Things SADIE (1A: "Stranger Things" actress Sink) and EGGO (6A: Recurring breakfast brand in "Stranger Things") Stranger Things is a Netflix TV series about a small town dealing with a hostile alternate dimension. SADIE Sink portrays the character Max Mayfield. Millie Bobby Brown portrays Eleven, a young girl with psychokinetic abilities who is known, among other things, for her fondness of EGGO waffles. ALLAH (16A: God, in Arabic) ALLAH is a name for god that is used by followers of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. RHINE (17A: ___ Valley (German wine region)) The RHINE Valley is the area around the RHINE, a river that begins in the Alps and flows through Germany to the Netherlands where it empties into the North Sea. The RHINE Valley in Germany is known for its wine production and for an impressive collection of historic castles. LOS (18A: ___ Alamos, New Mexico) LOS Alamos, New Mexico is located near Santa Fe, and is the home of the LOS Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). One of sixteen research and development laboratories of the United States Department of Energy, LANL was established in 1943 as a top-secret site for designing nuclear weapons as part of the Manhattan Project. Since the end of the Cold War, LANL has focused on other projects. MAINE COON (19A: Large breed of cat named after a U.S. state) The MAINE COON is, appropriately, the official state cat of MAINE. Known as "the gentle giant," the MAINE COON is one of the largest breeds of domesticated cats, weighing from 12 to 22 pounds and reaching a length of about 38 inches, tail included. (That's longer than a yardstick.) My cat, Willow, is not a MAINE COON, and she shares her name with a tree rather than a state. Willow is quite a bit smaller than a MAINE COON, weighing in at just over six pounds. Willow REY (41A: BB-8'S Jedi friend) In the Star Wars franchise, BB-8 is a spherical droid with a domed head. BB-8 made its debut in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) as the droid of X-wing fighter pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac). When Poe is captured by Kylo Ren, BB-8 flees, eventually meeting up with REY (Daisy Ridley). LIAM (52A: Actor Hemsworth) LIAM Hemsworth's roles include Gale Hawthorne in The Hunger Games franchise (2012-2015) and Jake Morrison in Independence Day: Resurgence (2016). SCIENCE FAIR (59A: Opportunity to showcase a potato battery or baking soda volcano) I'm always happy to see SCIENCE in the crossword, and I enjoyed this clue for SCIENCE FAIR. Potato batteries and baking soda volcanoes are classic SCIENCE FAIR experiments. DEE (62A: "Pariah" director Rees) The 2011 movie, Pariah, was written and directed by DEE Rees. Pariah is the story of a 17-year-old Black girl coming to terms with her identity as a lesbian. The movie won an NAACP Award for Outstanding Independent Motion Picture. It has also been selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." ATLAS (65A: Book largely replaced by GPS) As I have mentioned multiple times previously, I am thankful for GPS. I also, however, enjoy looking at an ATLAS, which is helpful for getting a sense of where things are located in relation to each other, not just how to get from point A to point B. SEAM (1D: Clothes line?) The question mark is a hint that there is some wordplay happening in this clue. The clue isn't looking for a "clothesline," a place to hang clothes to dry. Instead it's looking for a "clothes line," or a SEAM, a line on clothes where two pieces of fabric are stitched together. ALLA (2D: Pasta ___ Norma) Pasta ALLA Norma is a Sicilian dish made of pasta and eggplant in a tomato sauce topped with ricotta cheese. It is supposedly named in honor of Sicilian composer Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835) who composed the opera Norma. RELAXATION (10D: Feeling that reading a book in a warm bath might provide) Reading a book in a warm bath sounds absolutely delightful. JERI (24D: "Star Trek: Picard" actress Ryan) Star Trek: Picard is the eighth of the Star Trek TV series, and it originally aired from 2020 to 2023. JERI Ryan portrays Seven of Nine, a former Borg member who is part of the USS Voyager crew. LHASA (30D: Tibet's capital) Tibet is an autonomous region located in the southwestern part of China, and LHASA is its capital. At an elevation of 11,990 feet, LHASA is one of the highest cities in the world. BLM (45D: _lack _ives _atter) In a split fill-in-the-blank clue such as this, each blank represents one missing letter. It's always a good day to be reminded that Black Lives Matter. HELA (54D: Thor's sister and antagonist in "Thor: Ragnarok") Thor: Ragnarok is a 2017 movie and the 17th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Cate Blanchett plays HELA, Thor's sister and adversary. RICE (56D: Donburi ingredient) Donburi is a Japanese RICE bowl dish that consists of fish, meat, and vegetables simmered together and served over RICE. FDA (61D: Org. that regulates Ozempic) Ozempic is a drug used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and for long-term weight management. As with other drugs in the United States, its use is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A few other clues I especially enjoyed: FALSE ALARM (29A: "Actually, you can ignore that warning") AS IS (42A: Warts and all) THINK (53A: "Use your brain!") Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis I FEEL AMAZING (Freestyle): There's no theme today, as this is a freestyle, or themeless, puzzle. The title is answering the question: ARE YOU SATISFIED (37A: "Happy now?"). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some publications simply title their freestyle puzzles as "themeless" and some publications don't use titles for their crosswords at all. USA Today chooses to use titles for all of their puzzles and opts to give their freestyle puzzles titles that relate to an answer in the puzzle. None of these options are right or wrong, of course, they're just different approaches. I do happen to like the use of titles for themeless puzzles. It's interesting to see what entry a constructor chooses to highlight with the title. (Sometimes I have to make a guess at this, and that's okay!) I enjoy the fact that today the title is answering a question posed by the puzzle. Thank you, Rafa, for this entertaining puzzle. For more on USA TODAYs Crossword Puzzles This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for July 22, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary heavy metal rocker turned reality star, died July 22 at the age of 76, just weeks after reuniting with the band for a final show in England. The English-born Grammy Award winner and pioneering "Prince of Darkness" was battling Parkinson's disease and received an official diagnosis in 2019 after experiencing symptoms since the early 2000s. "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy has passed away this morning," a statement from the family reads. "He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what we know about some of Osbourne's visits and impacts in Kentucky: Prince of Darkness appeared in 1982 at Freedom Hall Just a couple of years before his "Bark at the Moon" tour, Osbourne appeared at Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center for his "Diary of a Madman" tour in April 1982. Former Black Sabbath front man visits Rupp Arena in 1984 Osbourne performed at Rupp Arena, along with Motley Crue, as part of his "Bark at the Moon" tour on Feb. 8, 1984. Osbourne visited Cardinal Stadium for 'Bark At The Moon' tour Osbourne appeared at Cardinal Stadium on May 25, 1984 for his "Bark at the Moon" Tour, which also featured Motley Crue and Accept, according to archives from The Courier Journal. Grammy winner visited Lexington's Rupp Arena in 1996 Osbourne performed at Rupp Arena again on Jan. 12, 1996, as part of his "Retirement Sucks" tour, according to his website. Osbourne donates $10,000 to the Louisville Leopard Percussionists after viral video After a cover of "Crazy Train" by the Louisville Leopard Percussionists, a youth percussionist ensemble, swept the internet in 2015, Osbourne reposted the video to his Facebook and later visited the group in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Osbourne also donated $10,000 to the nonprofit. Ozzy Osbourne headlines Louder Than Life 2017 Osbourne headlined the fourth annual Louder Than Life festival in 2017, drawing more than 50,000 fans and helping to set the attendance record at the time. Clay Busch, then vice president of marketing and sponsorship for Danny Wimmer Presents, which hosts music festivals Bourbon and Beyond and Louder Than Life, said that Osbourne was a watershed moment for the festival. "If you look at our history, we've had a lot of great legacy bands, but Ozzy is at another level," he said. Ozzy Osbourne is among the headliners at the 2017 Louder Than Life festival in Louisville on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. More: Rock star Ozzy Osbourne dies at 76, weeks after final Black Sabbath show Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story will update. Former reporter for The Courier Journal Jeffrey Lee Puckett contributed. USA TODAY reporter Melissa Ruggieri contributed. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Ozzy Osbourne dead at 76: See his visits to Kentucky Land locked New Mexicans aren't immune to the charm of rows of teeth and prehistoric shivers. Shark Week 2025 kicked off July 20 with programming in the evening timeslots scheduled through July 25, with a truncated schedule on July 26. Discovery, part of the embattled Warner Bros. Discovery behemoth that is due to split by mid-2026, has centered the 37th edition of Shark Week's promotional efforts around "Dancing With Sharks" an inter-species dance competition hosted by returning "Dancing With the Stars" frontman Tom Bergeron. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch it here: Streaming guide: Deals, bundles and free trials on Disney+, Peacock, Sling TV Fins up: Tom Bergeron heads back to a watery ballroom for 'Dancing With Sharks' How to watch Shark Week 2025 Shark Week airs on the Discovery Channel and can be streamed on HBO Max and Discovery+. Hulu and YouTube TV carry the Discovery Channel, where subscribers can also stream Shark Week. Read more about Shark Week here. Shark Week 2025 schedule All times mentioned below are in the mountain time zone. Sunday, July 20 6 p.m.: Dancing With Sharks 7 p.m.: Air Jaws: The Hunt for Colossus and 8 p.m.: Great White Assassins Monday, July 21: 6 p.m.: Great White Sex Battle 7 p.m.: Jaws vs Mega Croc 8 p.m.: In the Eye of the Storm: Shark Storm Tuesday, July 22: 6 p.m.: Great White North Invasion 7 p.m.: How To Survive A Shark Attack 8 p.m.: Black Mako of the Abyss Wednesday, July 23: 6 p.m.: Expedition Unknown: Shark Files 7 p.m.: Expedition X: Malpelo Monster Shark 8 p.m.: Alien Sharks: Death Down Under Thursday, July 24: 6 p.m.: Surviving Jaws 7 p.m.: Caught! Sharks Strike Back 8 p.m.: Frankenshark Friday, July 25: 6 p.m.: Great White Reign of Terror 7 p.m.: Florida's Death Beach 8 p.m.: Bull Shark Showdown Saturday, July 26: 6 p.m.: Attack Of The Devil Shark 7 p.m.: Battle for Shark Mountain James Powell contributed to this reporting. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: How to watch Shark Week 2025 Trophy Wife: Murder On Safari is a three-part docuseries, directed by Dani Sloane, takes a look at the 2016 murder of Bianca Rudolph, Larry Rudolphs wife; her body was found in a cabin in Zambia while she and her husband were on one of their frequent trips to Africa to hunt big game. In 2023, Larry Rudolph, a Pittsburgh-area dentist who starred in commercials for his successful chain of dental offices, was convicted of Biancas murder, and his mistress, Lori Milliron, was convicted of being an accessory after the fact. TROPHY WIFE: MURDER ON SAFARI: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT? Opening Shot: As we see a leopard hunt its prey in Zambia, we hear a phone call between Larry Rudolph and Lori Milliron. As the leopard drags the carcass of its latest kill into a tree, we see flashes of a crime scene. The Gist: In the series, Sloane talks to both Rudolph and Milliron, who are serving sentences in federal prison, as well as Rudolphs son Julian, Millirons daughter Stephanie Moroz, as well as people who worked with Rudolph at his original practice as well as at Three Rivers Dentistry, the business he started after being booted out of his original partnership for taking under-the-table work after he supposedly was on disability the tip of his finger was bitten mostly off by a crocodile and couldnt practice dentistry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Larry Rudolphs skills as a charmer and a playboy-type of figure is examined in the first episode. He certainly had a Jekyll-and-Hyde kind of personality, as many of the people who worked for him were berated by him on a regular basis. His disability scheme showed how well he could lie and cover up his way to collecting scads of money, and Three Rivers Dentistry became a root canal mill after he started the practice. Milliron, a hygenist for Three Rivers, became as much a business partner as she was a romantic partner to Rudolph, and she wasnt the first person he cheated on his wife Bianca with, despite all of the evidence showing that he and Bianca had an idyllic family life with their two kids. Photo: ABC News Studios What Shows Will It Remind You Of?: While there are some stylistic elements, including swirling backgrounds in still shots and a pulsating score that remind us of Ren Faire, Trophy Wife: Murder On Safari is more like other ABC News Studios docuseries like Her Last Broadcast: The Abduction of Jodi Huisentruit. Our Take: The story of Bianca Rudolphs murder isnt all that complicated, which is why we found the pacing of Trophy Wife: Murder On Safari is such a frustrating watch. Larry Rudolph had to choose between his wife of 34 years and his mistress; he killed his wife, covered it up, then claimed millions of dollars in life insurance based on her death (he was also convicted of wire fraud because of this). Stretching this story over three 40-minute episodes means there is a lot of time to fill, which leads to some strange storytelling choices. Instead of starting with the murder then going back to talk about what led up to it, as well as how Larry Rudolph and Lori Milliron conspired to cover it up, we get the story of how Rudolph became a well-known figure in the Pittsburgh area, how much of a schmuck he was to people he worked with, and how much he liked to cheat. Yet, somehow, the timeframe goes back and forth in short bursts, even though Biancas murder itself doesnt even come up in the first epiosde. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the pulsating soundtrack and swirly visuals, the storytelling feels slow because of this. There are aspects of this case that are actually fascinating and deserved further probing, like how Larry genuinely seemed to love his family life but was compulsive when it came to stepping outside his marriage. Another aspect that is interesting is that, despite the murder taking place in Zambia, the FBI was able to arrest him and bring him up on federal murder charges here in the U.S. Yes, there are some interesting anecdotes (well talk about one below) about Larry Rudolph that come up during the first episode. And Larry Rudolphs outsized personality deserved some examination in this first episode. But not getting to the actual murder thats at the center of this docuseries by the time the first episode ends just made us want to tear out what little hair we still have on our heads. Photo: ABC News Studios Sex and Skin: There is an anecdote from Dr. Tim Runco, Rudolphs former business partner at his original practice, about what one of Rudolphs girlfriends did to make sure she could prove he was cheating on his wife with her. Its as gross and shocking as anything weve heard on one of these docuseries. Parting Shot: We see Milliron talking on the phone from federal prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sleeper Star: Runco, with his crazy sexual anecdote and huge cross pendant, is a good candidate, as is Stephanie Moroz, who had nothing but kind things to say about the man who was cheating on his wife with her mom. Most Pilot-y Line: Almost everyone interviewed for this show worked for one dentistry office or another, and they all had blindingly white, straight teeth. It was a distraction. Oh, and we also werent fans of all the pictures of Larry and/or Bianca Rudolph posing with the carcasses of the big game they shot. Our Call: SKIP IT. Trophy Wife: Murder On Safari looks great, and definitely tries to amp up the drama via visuals and music. But youre better off looking up the details of Bianca Rudolphs murder online, because youre just going to get frustrated with how the story is arranged in this docuseries. Joel Keller (@joelkeller) writes about food, entertainment, parenting and tech, but he doesnt kid himself: hes a TV junkie. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Salon, RollingStone.com, VanityFair.com, Fast Company and elsewhere. Like far too many stories about Black characters set during the 19th century, Washington Black begins against the barbaric backdrop of slavery. The emotional scars of one of humanitys worst atrocities have haunted and lingered for generations, resulting in an exorbitant number of Black-led shows and films rooted in oppression and exploitation. But Hulus take on Esi Edugyans Giller Prize-winning novel offers a rare, winsome depiction of Black life that prioritizes joy over traumaa seemingly trivial feat that feels radical in its executioneven if the final product amounts to a little less than the sum of its parts. Adapted by Selwyn Seyfu Hinds (The Twilight Zone), who co-showran with Kim Harrison, the eight-part series follows George Washington Wash Black, an 11-year-old boy born on a Barbados sugar plantation, where he is raised by an older enslaved woman, Big Kit (Shaunette Renee Wilson). (In two star-making performances, Eddie Karanja plays Wash as a pre-teen, while Ernest Kingsley Jr. portrays the protagonist as a young adult.) In 1830, Washs master, Erasmus Wilde, is visited by his brother, Christopher a.k.a. Titch (Tom Ellis), a well-meaning abolitionist who wants to follow in his fathers footsteps as a scientist. After squandering some peoples investments in the name of science back home in London, Titch has fled to Barbados in order to build and test a Cloud-cutter, a flying machine that is best described as a hot-air balloon attached to a gondola. Titch then quickly takes a special interest in the young Washs prodigious talents as an artist and scientist. Gradually, Wash becomes a kind of companion to Titch, learning how to read and write from him and accompanying him to the hill where the hydrogen-powered device is being assembled by other slaves. And this recognition of his humanity allows Wash to flourish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given that slavery was abolished in Barbados just a few years later, viewers and readers alike would not be faulted for anticipating that Washington examines the final days of involuntary servitude through the impressionable eyes of an enslaved boy. But instead, Washington imagines an alternate world where a Black kid is allowed to live a life shaped by his own acuity. By breaking away from the confines of the conventional historical novel, the story transports readers to a travelogue reminiscent of Jules Vernes most notable works. After witnessing the suicide of another member of the Wilde family, Wash is forced to flee with Tischby Cloud-cutter, no lessand embarks on an epic adventure that spans multiple continents, where Wash encounters a bevy of colorful characters who challenge and reshape his understanding of family, freedom, and love. As a novelist, Edugyan masterfully waded through the dehumanizing quality of mass atrocity to tell a story about a single, self-directed individual that is large in scale but intimate in scope. Washington is most effective as a character study of a protagonist caught between two worlds: as an enslaved and a freed person, as a young Black man wanting to be himself but living in a racist world, as a brilliant creative thinker whose talents merit the attention of the white elite. The series finds itself caught in a similarly uncomfortable, in-between place: While grounded in real history, the show takes on a fairytale quality, once the story leaves Barbados, that is difficult to translate from page to screen. Despite the old adage that not all skinfolk are kinfolk in real life, this story imagines a fanciful notion that those who come from a lineage forged in trauma will look out for each other, no questions asked. But after all, this is a world in which traveling via Cloud-cutter and tracking down long-presumed-dead family members at the ends of the Earth in the 19th century is not only possible but also a common occurrence for Wash. In her novel, Edugyan was able to effectively retain the brutal depiction of violence that defined the lives of slaves while still pushing the boundaries of historical fiction. Washs fear of being found out by Willard, the bounty hunter hired by Erasmus to track him down and finish the job, was palpable, mostly due to the novels linear structure. The threat of danger, however, noticeably diminishes in this adaptation of her work. The screenwriters have very purposefully chosen to dial back the amount of savage physical and emotional violence in this show, and many of the horrific acts that helped establish the dangerous world of the novel are omitted. That creative choice is ultimately a double-edged sword. While the decision is commendable since most Black stories tend to focus solely on the violence of that era, the life-and-death stakes only feel ever-present on the plantation in Barbados. Once Wash escapes, that sense of peril seems to dull, even as Wash comes face-to-face with other people from the African diaspora. And when Willard inevitably tracks Wash down in another country years later, their confrontation plays as overly predictableand, once again, is nowhere near as graphic as in the novel. Furthermore, even though the creative team has wisely chosen to create dual timelines that chronicle Washs evolution from boy to manand, at one point, show him literally in conversation with his younger selfthis adaptation makes little use of Edugyans elegantly crafted prose in the novel, which was written in the first person from Washs singular perspective. There is little to no narration to give further insight into the inner lives of Wash or any of the other main characters in his orbit, leaving viewers to make sense of motivations from questionable actions alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seven years after he has escaped from Barbados, Wash has settled into a Black community in Halifax, Nova Scotiathe last stop for formerly enslaved people who chose to flee north in search of freedomwhere he is mentored and housed by town leader Medwin Harris (Sterling K. Brown, perhaps the busiest actor working on TV right now, who also serves as an executive producer) and later taken care of by Medwins close friend Miss Angie (Sharon Duncan Brewster). Brown and Brewsters roles were expanded from the novel, but one cant help but still wish that they were given more to play with, especially since Brown delivers an epic twist at the end of episode three. In the early minutes of the pilot, Wash meets Tanna Goff (Iola Evans), a headstrong young woman pushing back at every turn against her aristocrat fathers (Rupert Graves) insistence that she hide her identity as a mixed-race, light-skin woman in order to secure an arranged marriage to a nobleman (Edward Bluemel). What unfolds is a typical forbidden romance that also seems to lack the real stakes of a classic love triangle (despite great chemistry between Kingsley and Evans). For a story so preoccupied with the intricacies of identity, the shows exploration of being able to pass as white is noticeably only skin-deep, offering a surprisingly superficial examination of race. Tanna, the sole character through which biracialism is addressed, can only find so many ways to deliver the same speech about wanting to live however she wants and love whomever she wants to her father, who, despite once falling for a Black woman himself, cant seem to extend that same soul-baring affection to his daughter. For all its flaws, Washington still works best as a look at what it means to be truly free. In writing the source material, Edugyan was clearly as concerned, if not more so, with the nature of freedom as with slavery itself. Even though he was freed from a life of enslavement, Wash is forced to reckon with the burden and guilt of personal freedom, so much so that one could argue that he would never truly be free until he died and found himself back in his familys homeland of Dahomey (as Big Kit had once suggested to him). In the end, Wash comes to realize that its up to him to create the life and world he wants for himself. Its just a shame that the one he inhabits onscreen cannot entirely live up to the one on the page. Washington Black premieres July 23 on Hulu More from A.V. Club Just because you're flying economy doesn't mean you can't enjoy a few special perks. Even if these extras aren't always widely advertised, they're often available if you ask. As Dollar Flight Club founder and CEO Jesse Neugarten points out, "Many travelers don't realize that even in economy, a polite request can get you a few helpful extras." However, Quinn English, founder of FreeQuinnt Flyer, explains that not all routes are created equal when it comes to economy freebies. For example, he notes that longer flights are more likely to offer extra perks. Similarly, Neugarten adds that "international routes almost always offer more perks than domestic ones." Additionally, English points out that "full-service airlines like Delta, United, and American are going to be the most generous with freebies in economy." On the other hand, both he and Neugarten tell Travel + Leisure that budget carriers tend to be far more limited in what they offer, which makes sense, given their focus on keeping costs (and ticket prices) as low as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asking for freebies, remember that a little kindness and patience go a long way. As English notes, "The most important thing to remember is that most airlines aren't overstaffing flight attendants on each flight, so they have a pretty heavy workload, especially during boarding, getting ready for takeoff, and landing." With that in mind, those probably aren't the best times to make requests. Instead, wait until after the main service has finished and the cabin has settled downthat's when flight attendants are most likely to have the time (and bandwidth) to help. If you're ready to take your in-flight experience to the next level, keep reading to discover the best airline freebies you can score in economy. Meals and Snacks Cheryl Chan/Getty Images In-flight meal served in economy class. In-flight meal served in economy class. Sure, peanuts and crackers can hit the spotbut sometimes, you're craving something a bit more satisfying at 35,000 feet. According to Neugarten, several international airlines go above and beyond by offering complimentary multi-course meals in economy. Emirates, for example, serves full trays that include a main entree, fresh salad or fruit, crackers and cheese, and dessert. Japan Airlines (JAL), meanwhile, offers a fun twist on in-flight dining with their specially branded instant noodles, Udon de Sky, a warm, comforting treat that feels uniquely playful and quintessentially Japanese. Air France treats economy passengers to a French-inspired meal complete with a starter, hot main dish, cheese, and dessert. Lufthansa also delivers a generous three-course meal to economy passengers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Domestically, airlines might not offer full meals on most routes, but Neugarten is quick to highlight Delta and JetBlue for their impressive snack selections. Both airlines provide name-brand goodies like Sun Chips, Cheez-Its, Goldfish, and Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars. And, of course, the fan-favorite Biscoff cookie is available on botha sweet little perk that many travelers look forward to mid-flight. Amenity Kits While we won't turn our noses up at free food, a mini amenity kit can feel like a true treat. On long-haul flights, some airlines provide amenity kits stocked with items like toothbrushes, socks, and eye masks, says Neugarten. Sometimes, you might even score lip balm, moisturizer, or a tiny bottle of facial mist. He notes that Emirates and Turkish Airlines are two standouts for this perk; however, in our own research, we found that other airlines, such as Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Singapore Airlines, and ANA (All Nippon Airways), also offer this thoughtful extra, which instantly elevates the economy experience. Wi-Fi Santiago Urquijo/Getty Images Wifi sign on the back of an airplane seat. Wifi sign on the back of an airplane seat. Free Wi-Fi is becoming increasingly common, and you'll find it on airlines like JetBlue, Delta, and, starting in January 2026, American Airlines. Select international carriers, such as Emirates, Air France, and Qatar Airways, also offer connectivity regardless of cabin class, making it easier than ever to stay connected at 35,000 feet. (That said, you may need to create a free frequent-flier account to take advantage of these offers.) Cozy Extras Cozy extras like pillows and blankets can make a big difference when it comes to getting (and staying!) comfortable, especially on long-haul overnight flights. While these items aren't always guaranteed on every airline, they're often available on longer routes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air Canada, for example, offers complimentary pillows and blankets on many of its international flights, though other airlines may provide them in limited quantities or only upon request. For your best shot at scoring a free pillow or blanket, Neugarten recommends waiting until the main service is complete and then asking politely. "Something like, 'If you have any extra pillows later on, I'd really appreciate it,' goes a long way," says Neugarten. "Flight attendants are way more likely to help if you're kind and respectful and not pushy or entitled." Alcoholic Beverages Margot Cavin/Travel + Leisure A passenger pouring a cocktail in flight. A passenger pouring a cocktail in flight. Economy passengers of drinking age can enjoy free alcohol on many airlines, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines. Lufthansa and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines also offer complimentary beer and wine in economy. In addition to standard beer, wine, and spirits, Korean Air offers a special selection of wines from around the world, curated in partnership with Marc Almert, the 2019 ASI (Association de la Sommellerie Internationale) World's Best Sommeliera unique touch that further elevates the in-flight experience. Air France takes a similar approach, offering complimentary wine and Champagne (selected by the airline's head sommelier, Xavier Thuizat). Activity Packs for Kids Even the littlest economy passengers can take advantage of fun freebies. "Airlines like Air Canada offer activity kits for kids, including coloring books and crayons, to help keep them entertained during the flight," says Neugarten. "The key is asking nicely and ideally when the crew isn't in the middle of a service rush." Other airlines that offer activity packs for kids in all cabin classes include Air France, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, United, and Qantas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement English notes that "many airlines will have things like activity books or pilot wings that they'll give out to children if you ask." For example, he says, "My two-year-old daughter has a lovie and a mini stuffed airplane she got last year on Lufthansa, and she cannot sleep without them!" Similarly, Cathay Pacific offers children ages three to six special gifts to play with and take home as a souvenir to commemorate their time on board. Trading Cards Elizabeth Rhodes/Travel + Leisure Hands holding up different trading cards from Delta. Hands holding up different trading cards from Delta. Among the more unique freebies, Delta offers trading cards that highlight different aircraft in its fleet, often matching the exact type of plane you're flying on. While the airline has been doling these out for over two decades, they only gained widespread recognition after going viral online a couple of years ago. If you're hoping to score one of these coveted cards, here's what you need to know. As English explains, "Somebut not allDelta pilots have these, so when they aren't busy, feel free to ask." He also suggests checking with a flight attendant first before approaching the cockpit, as it's the safest and most respectful way to make the request. Delta isn't the only airline to offer this fun collectible: United and Frontier do, too. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Our expert travel guide to the 2026 total solar eclipse in Greenland, Iceland and Spain is packed with insider tips, travel advice and skywatching secrets from seasoned eclipse chasers. . | Credit: Created in Canva Pro by Daisy Dobrijevic On Aug. 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will flash across a small part of the Northern Hemisphere, bringing totality to Greenland, Iceland and Spain. Totality lasts only a couple of minutes, but planning the perfect eclipse trip can take months or years. So we asked eclipse experts and seasoned eclipse chasers from around the world what it takes to witness totality in all its glory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether you're a first-timer or a returning "umbraphile," this guide will help you prepare for one of nature's greatest events. Why location is everything To witness a total solar eclipse, you must be within the narrow path of totality the strip of land where the moon completely blocks the sun. Even a 99% eclipse leaves the dazzling solar disk exposed, and the magic of the corona the sun's ghostly outer atmosphere is lost. Those in eastern Greenland are likely to be on a cruise ship and almost certainly in Scoresby Sund, which is entirely within the path of totality. In Iceland, only the west coast is in the path. For Spain, the path narrowly misses both Madrid and Barcelona, but it crosses some of the country's most remote and beautiful regions. However, in Spain, the eclipse occurs shortly before sunset, so there's a risk that it will be too low to be seen. Related: Where can I see the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Many national parks are in mountainous regions, which could block your view not ideal for this eclipse," said Oscar Martin Mesonero, an astrotourism expert and eclipse chaser who runs Startrails in Salamanca, just south of the path. "But Spain has many beautiful rural areas with open skies, old towns, Roman aqueducts and castles perfect for combining eclipse chasing with travel." Cruise ships and Greenland Scoresby Sund, Greenland, will be in the path of the 2026 total solar eclipse. | Credit: NASA Worldview There will also be thousands of people on cruise ships; many typically sail into the Mediterranean anyway and have tweaked their itineraries to be off the coast of Spain. However, it may be trickier to find a clear view. "The prospects are better on land than over the ocean," said Jay Anderson, a Canadian meteorologist and veteran eclipse chaser who provides eclipse-related climatology and weather information on Eclipsophile. "But even with high average cloud cover, satellite images often show that there are always some areas of clear skies." Images from the geostationary Eumetsat satellites will be crucial for finding a clear spot. It will matter where the ship is. The places on the track that are most likely to be cloudy are along the Greenland coast and anywhere in the Atlantic, but clear skies are more likely off northern Spain and highly likely in the Mediterranean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Best total solar eclipse 2026 cruises for the ultimate adventure For the adventurous, Greenland offers pristine Arctic landscapes, and for those on expedition-style cruises in Scoresby Sund, there will be a total solar eclipse of up to 2 minutes, 17 seconds, with the sun about 25 degrees above the western horizon. This is a bucket-list trip about more than just the eclipse, and travel costs are high it's something for experienced eclipse chasers who want something new and exciting. With travel and logistics in hand, the only issue is the weather. "It's not too unreasonable to expect decent conditions because air flowing off the ice cap and down to the ocean tends to dry out and clear the clouds," Anderson said of Scoresby Sund. "However, if a large weather system moves in, it can blanket the whole sky and stick around for days." Let's hope not; Scoresby Sund hasn't seen a total solar eclipse since 1187 and, after 2026, won't witness one again until 2911. Iceland The western coast of Iceland will be in the path of the 2026 total solar eclipse. | Credit: NASA Worldview Iceland offers one of the most photogenic landscapes on Earth including waterfalls, volcanoes and geothermal spas and boasts the longest totality on land, at 2 minutes, 13.7 seconds. It will be Iceland's first total solar eclipse since 1954. The eclipse also occurs 25 degrees above the southwest horizon, so there's no need to worry about sight lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The path passes over the most populated areas of the country, about 290,000 people," said Svar Helgi Bragason, Iceland's most famous eclipse chaser, who offers maps and more on Eclipse2026.is. Only the west of the country the Reykjanes Peninsula, the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and the Westfjords are in the path. The main roads are excellent, but mobility could be an issue. "Tourism has taken its toll on many of the single-lane roads, and we're expecting heavy traffic," Svar said. "Eclipse chasers won't be the problem because they will know where to go. But the eclipse is on a Wednesday, and locals will probably stop working at around noon and then drive to wherever they want to go." That means lots of traffic, so get in the path as early in the day as possible. Arriving late for an eclipse aligns with Icelandic culture. "Nature is so unpredictable here we could have a volcanic eruption happening the same day; it's a real possibility, Svar said, "so we usually don't prepare for anything until very late." Another issue with Iceland is the weather. "There's a saying in Iceland that if you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes, and it'll change completely," Svar said. "Even storms are sometimes broken up in patches. When we chase the northern lights in winter, we are bombarded by a blizzard for a few minutes, and then it clears up again." Iceland has exceptional weather forecasts from the Icelandic Met Office, which also provides aurora forecasts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Iceland is very seldom completely overcast in August there's always a hole somewhere," Anderson said. He thinks it will likely be possible to stay in Reykjavik, which is in the path, and take a morning drive north for up to two-and-a-half hours to where clear weather is forecast. "Western Iceland is the sunniest part, but there's a lot of moisture, so get close to the water on one of these peninsulas to have a bit of an onshore flow." Spain Northeastern Spain will be in the path of the 2026 total solar eclipse. | Credit: NASA Worldview Most travelers will head to Spain for the 2026 total solar eclipse. The path of totality the first in Spain since 1905 cuts a diagonal track across the northeast of the country, from Galicia to Catalonia, with the longest duration (about 1 minute, 44 seconds) occurring just before sunset. Terrain matters. "Spain is the second-most mountainous country in Europe, after Switzerland," Eduard Masana Fresno, an astronomer at the Institute of Cosmos Sciences in Barcelona. "There are the Cantabrian Mountains in the north of the path, the Meseta plateau north of Madrid and the Iberian System in the east of the path." Related stories: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 16 best places to see the 2026 total solar eclipse 10 fun tours and adventures for the ultimate total solar eclipse 2026 experience 10 tips for planning your 2026 solar eclipse trip In eastern regions and Mallorca, even modest hills could block the eclipse entirely. However, the new Eclipse Viewing Map from Spain's Geographic Institute accounts for the terrain, atmospheric refraction and azimuth (place on the horizon) of the sun to help observers avoid blocked sight lines. There's another reason to avoid shaded valleys and eastern slopes of mountain ranges: Late-day storms are common in August, although average August cloud cover across the path is less than 50%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Travel in and around Spain will be fairly easy, but bear in mind that there will be a lot of locals traveling into the path on eclipse day, particularly from Madrid and Barcelona. "The Spanish love road trips, and many will be on holiday in the path," Mesonero said. "People from all over Spain will head to the path, and accommodation could be tricky it's peak vacation season." He expects there to be eclipse events throughout the path, even in places near the edge that only get 30 seconds of totality. From speaking to eclipse chasers in Spain, one thing is clear: Do not attempt to drive back to Madrid or Barcelona right after the eclipse, or you'll be queuing with perhaps millions of people. Instead, stay overnight in the path. Another reason to do so is the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks Aug. 12-13, just a few hours after the eclipse. Rural skies will also showcase the Milky Way arching across the southern sky. Think like an eclipse chaser Wherever you go, eclipse experts agree on three key strategies: Plan ahead, check weather forecasts and stay mobile. Whether you chase the eclipse from Spain's plains, Iceland's wild coast or Greenland's icy fjords, witnessing the 2026 total solar eclipse will be a moment you'll carry for life. And if you miss this one or you want to plan your next adventure, there will be another chance fairly soon: Spain will experience another total solar eclipse exactly one lunar year later, on Aug. 2, 2027. LOS ANGELES, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon confirmed Monday that the 700 U.S. Marines deployed to counter the anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protests in Los Angeles last month would withdraw. "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 in a statement to Forbes. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass claimed victory following the news, saying this is another win for the city. "This was an unnecessary deployment," she said in a video posted on social media. "This is a victory. We have many more victories to go because we need all of these raids to end." Hours before the Marine withdrawal was announced, Bass spoke at Los Angeles Mission College to continue her calls for the removal of military troops, including those Marines and National Guard soldiers from the second-largest city in the country. "We need the National Guard to assist us in preparing for fire season, not for an inappropriate deployment where they are just guarding a building that's not under attack," she said. U.S. President Donald Trump deployed California National Guard troops to Los Angeles on June 7 during anti-ICE protests, later reinforcing with 700 Marines. The U.S. Department of Defense began withdrawing National Guard troops deployed there last week. Weve all heard of El Dorado. The fabled lost city in South America, built of solid gold and ruled by a king so rich that he was covered head to toe in gold dust, has burrowed itself into the mind of many explorers since the 16th century. Ship captains, conquistadors, soldiers, and mapmakers dared the treacherous jungles in search of it, but to no avail. In the late 1500s, treasure hunters turned their attention to a mythical body of water, supposedly near El Dorado or even the lake upon which it was built, Lake Parime became their next fixation. Deconstructing the myth Before we get to Lake Parime, let us deconstruct the El Dorado myth. Where did the story come from? The name El Dorado did not originally refer to a city; the name comes from Spanish explorers and translates into "the golden one." The golden one was supposedly a man completely covered in gold, obscenely rich, or a powerful leader. Muisca raft depicting the ritual. Photo: Shutterstock Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rumours of gold had been circulating amongst explorers since at least 1529. The early expeditions of German conquistadors Ambrosius Dalfinger and Nikolaus Federmann recorded their encounters with tribes in the interiors of Venezuela who possessed plenty of gold and precious jewels. In 1534, Spanish conquistador Sebastian de Belalcazar mentioned an encounter with a mysterious man dressed in gold ornaments or armour. He called him "el indio dorado" or "golden Indian." However, most historians trace the story of El Dorado to 1541, when a Spanish chronicler and soldier named Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo y Valdes wrote about a king who conducted a sacred ritual in a lake near Quito, Ecuador. Oviedo said: They tell me that what they have learned from the Indians is that a great lord or prince goes about continually covered in gold dust as fine as ground salt. He feels that it would be less beautiful to wear any other ornament...he washes away at night what he puts on each morning, so that it is discarded and lost, and he does this every day of the year. Further information came from the writings of Juan de Castellanos, a conquistador who became a priest. In the 1570s, he wrote Elegias de varones ilustres de Indias, and identified the king as a cacique or zipa (leader) of the Muisca, a culture that resided in the Altiplano Cundiboyacense region of the Colombian Andes. Castellanos said that the lake in which this leader cleansed himself was Lake Guatavita, 57km northeast of Bogota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The king cleansed himself in the sacred waters, and the villagefolk would toss in an array of gold pieces, jewels, and other treasures as an additional offering to their gods. Today, a depiction of the ceremony is captured in the Muisca Raft, an intricate golden object that the Muisca cast between 1295 and 1410 AD, which now resides in the Museum of Gold in Bogota, Colombia. As the Spanish continued to descend upon the continent, it was not long before they caught wind of this incredible story. Conquistadors searched the lake but only found a handful of gold pieces. In 1541, Gonzalo Pizarro (brother of famed conquistador Francisco Pizarro) set out with a large expeditionary force of 4,000 natives and over 300 conquistadors in search of El Dorado. However, he failed miserably, and they returned empty-handed. Over time, El Dorado was used interchangeably to describe a city, a king, or the lake. Sir Walter Raleigh and Lake Parime Sir Walter Raleigh's portrait in 1588. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sir Walter Raleigh searched for El Dorado up the Orinoco River in the 1590s. He had heard about El Dorado from the former governor of Trinidad, Antonio de Berrio, whom he captured when he landed on the island. Berrio had searched for El Dorado but failed. According to Raleigh, during his exploration of Guiana, he heard about the city of Manoa and natives laden with gold: I have been assured by such of the Spaniards as have seen Manoa, the imperial city of Guiana, which the Spaniards call El Dorado, that for the greatness, for the riches, and for the excellent seat, it far exceeded any of the world, at least of so much of the world as is known to the Spanish nation. It is founded upon a lake of salt water of 200 leagues long, like unto Mare Caspium. I asked the manner how the Epuremei wrought those plates of gold, and how they could melt it out of the stone; he told me that the most of the gold which they made in plates and images was not seuered from the stone, but that on the lake of Manoa, and in a multitude of other rivers they gathered it in grains of perfect gold and in pieces as big as small stones. One of Raleigh's colleagues, Lawrence Kemys, was the first to write about Lake Parime: ...afterwards they return for their canoes, and bear them likewise to the side of a lake, which the Iaos call Roponowini, the Charibes, Parime: which is of such bigness, that they know no difference between it and the main sea. Kemys placed Lake Parime near the Essequibo River. As a result of these writings, some cartographers placed El Dorado and Lake Parime in Guyana. In the 17th century, English cartographer Robert Morden published Geography rectified; or, a description of the world, stating that: The country about the Lake Parime, in the middle of Guyana, acknowledge, by report, a successor of Guainacapa of the House of Incas of Peru, and compose the true Kingdom of the Golden King. N. Sanson's map of Lake Parime, 1656. Photo: N. Sanson Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theories Expeditions in subsequent years began to shed light on why explorers couldnt pin down the lakes location. An expedition led by Alexander von Humboldt found that no such lake exists, leading him to believe the "lake" was the result of the Rupununi Savannah flooding during the rainy season. The Rupununi floods every year from May to August. English naturalist Charles Waterton supported this explanation after natives told him that Lake Parime did not exist. Fast forward to the 1970s, and explorer Roland Stevenson hoped to put the matter to rest. His travels took him to Roraima rather than Rupununi. He learned of a sacred road called "Nhamini-u" that featured numerous Inca petroglyphs and artefacts. His exploration of the road led him to the supposed water line of an ancient lake. He believed the lake disappeared and drained into the larger Rio Branco because of tectonic activity in the area. Scientists determined that it was possible that a lake formed there during the Paleozoic era. It seems likely that early explorers, after witnessing local rituals, overestimated how much gold the native cultures possessed. Additionally, locals may have led the conquistadors on a wild goose chase, mixing fact and fiction. There are various obvious clues that summer has arrived in full: the end of the school year; the inevitable travel chaos at our main airports; traffic jams on the way to Cornwall. But one of the more high-brow indicators is the revelation of the latest list of Unesco World Heritage Sites. This generally arrives in July, as the UNs cultural arm gives its official rubber-stamp to locations around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. As of this year, this amounts to 1,248 significant places in 170 countries ranging from palaces in France to coral harbours in Micronesia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The newest announcement, made this week, has added a further 26 inscribed properties to this gleaming portfolio some of them in relatively remote corners of the planet such as Tajikistan and Malawi, others closer to hand in Italy, Greece and Germany. The following fresh inductees are all worth at least a long weekend: 1. The Palaces of Ludwig II, Germany The Linderhof Palace in Bavaria - Alamy The preposterous idea that German architecture is dour and lifeless is rebutted with the firmest flourish by the castles that were strewn across the hillsides and high places of Bavaria by its monarch, Ludwig II, between 1864 and 1886. A man of flamboyant tastes, Ludwig commissioned three separate country properties Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Herrenchiemsee during his 22-year reign, envisaging each of them as a refuge from the apparent mundanity of court life in Munich. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All three of them (plus a villa on Schachen hill, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen) are part of the new Unesco listing although it is Neuschwanstein, with its dreaming spires, which has become the regions postcard icon. Unesco says Drawing inspiration from Versailles, German fairy tales and Wagners operas, the palaces showcase historicist styles and advanced 19th century techniques. Carefully integrated into stunning landscapes, they embody Ludwigs artistic vision. How to do it Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the highlights of the 12-day Fairytale Bavaria & Three Rivers Cruise offered by Great Rail Journeys (01904 734 152). From 3,399 per person, including return train travel in and out of London. The Minoan sites of Crete, Greece The ruins of Knossos Palace, home of Minos and the legendary Minotaur - Alamy Of all the tales to emerge from Ancient Greece, the story of Theseus stalking and slaying the bull-headed Minotaur in a labyrinth is perhaps the most fantastical. But there is solid matter behind the myth. Knossos, the supposed site of this magical maze, was very real. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The citys foundations still exist outside Heraklion, the modern capital of Crete baking in the sun as an echo of the Minoan civilisation which held court on the island from 3100 to 1100BC. Knossos is one of six Cretan archaeological sites to receive the Unesco seal of approval this year; the ruins of Zakra, Phaistos, Kydonia, Zominthos and Malia are the others. All of them offer good reason to climb off your lounger during a summer holiday. Unesco says The sites represent the Minoan civilisation. They served as administrative, economic and religious hubs, featuring advanced architecture, urban planning and vibrant frescoes. They reveal early writing systems, maritime networks, and cultural exchanges. How to do it Martin Randall Travel (020 3936 0353) runs a nine-day escorted tour of the island Minoan Crete: History & Archaeology which peers at this era in depth. Next departure March 27 (2026). From 3,510 per person, flights extra. The megaliths of Carnac, France The megalithic monuments of Carnac in France consist of 3,000 slabs of hand-hewn granite - Pavol Borecky Almost every year, one of the new Unesco locations is so special that you cannot believe it has not been part of the club for decades. The standing stones of Carnac are the 2025 example 3,000 slabs of hand-hewn granite that were put in position, near the south-west coast of what is now the Brittany peninsula, in about 3300BC (though some may date to 4500BC). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the megaliths had clear purposes laid out to create dolmens (tombs) and tumuli (burial mounds). In this, they are perhaps better understood than Stonehenge, which, built in around 3100BC, they pre-date but they share its air of Neolithic mystery. Unesco says These monumental stone constructions arranged in relation to one another, and to features like terrain and waterways reflect a sophisticated understanding of their environment. Rich engravings and other assorted artefacts further illustrate the cultural complexity of the societies that inhabited this part of the European Atlantic coast. How to do it Andante Travels (01722 466 243) offers Brittany: Carnac and Beyond; a seven-day escorted tour of the region. Two departures are still in the diary for this year (September 1; September 7), from 3,790 a head (including trains). The Killing Fields, Cambodia A memorial stupa (steeple-shaped mausoleum) for victims of the Khmer Rouge regime at Choeung Ek in Cambodia, now a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site - Paul Panayiotou Not every new Unesco site is a tribute to humanitys best instincts. The arrival on the heritage list of the key places associated with the Khmer Rouge the brutal regime which tortured and killed around two million people during a reign of terror over Cambodia that endured from 1975 to 1979 is stark proof. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two of these vicious hellholes Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek are in the capital Phnom Penh. While now devoted to remembrance, they do not hide the brutality of what they witnessed half a century ago. Visitors do not step out of them in a bright frame of mind, but the story they tell should not be ignored. Unesco says The three component parts represent the widespread violence during this period the former M-13 prison (early repression), the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (former S-21 prison) and the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center (former execution site of S-21). These places have been preserved, and memorialised, since the regimes fall. How to do it Inside Asia Tours (0117 409 0270) sells a 12-day itinerary, Into the Heart of Cambodia, which looks at the countrys darkest hours in Phnom Penh, and its most remarkable at Angkor Wat. From 2,340 a head (flights extra). Port Royal, Jamaica Port Royal was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1692 - alamy It is quite the achievement to be remembered as the wickedest city on Earth more than three centuries after effectively ceasing to exist. But so unsavoury was the reputation of Port Royal a former nest of pirates and rogues, built on a peninsula off the south coast of Jamaica that its one time licentiousness rings in the present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Founded by the Spanish in 1494, but captured by Britain in 1655, the fortified settlement was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1692. What remains in 2025 (most of the ruins are below the waves) is a semi-sleepy outpost of bars and restaurants where you may hear the odd ghostly cackle. Unesco says Today, its terrestrial and underwater remains offer rare insights into urban colonial life. Once a key hub for transatlantic trade including the trade of enslaved Africans Port Royal featured a deep-water port, and six defensive forts, some now submerged... serving as a distinctive marker of British colonial presence in the Caribbean. How to do it Port Royal and Jamaica are part of the 17-day Miami to Los Angeles voyage operated by Oceania Cruises (0345 505 1920). The next departure is scheduled for December 3-20. From 3,414 per person, not including flights. 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. We traveled to South Korea with my husband's grandmother in hopes of finding her long-lost family. Our only plan was to visit her hometown with the names and ages of the family she remembered. Despite little research, we found five of her siblings and other family members. It was amazing. For the last 15 years, my husband's family has immersed me in South Korean culture, mostly by way of my stomach. Whenever his grandmother, Kim, visited, she'd fill our kitchen with the delicious aromas of dishes she grew up with, from japchae to mandu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes, she'd share memories from her time in South Korea before she immigrated to the US over 50 years ago. However, it was always a tender conversation topic, one that reminded her of a life and family left behind. She'd lost touch with her relatives there and hadn't been back to visit. For years, traveling to a place she once called "home" was never a topic of much discussion. But as Kim reached her mid-70s, she realized she'd rather try to reconnect with her family than have unanswered questions about their lives and what had happened to them. With the support and encouragement of her children and grandchildren, we began planning a trip to South Korea in 2023. Despite the hurdles ahead, we traveled to South Korea with hope and anticipation We headed to South Korea for what we hoped would be the trip of a lifetime. Alyssa Towns Swantkoski That summer, a group of 13 of us packed our bags and flew from the US to Seoul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kim preferred not to do any ancestral research before the trip. So, after a few days in Seoul, we'd travel to her hometown village of Eungwon-ri in Cheonan with a piece of paper with relatives' names and their approximate ages.. Our plan to locate her family was vague and optimistic at best, and we recognized that the language barrier would be one of our most significant hurdles. Still, we stayed hopeful. When we arrived in Eungwon-ri, we checked into a small hotel near where Kim grew up. We first asked the hotel staff if they recognized the names on the list. They didn't, but they eagerly offered to ask around and spread the word of our arrival. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Next, we tried the cafe located up the street from the hotel, but to no avail. However, much like in any small town, news of our arrival and the names of those we were searching for quickly spread throughout Eungwon-ri. Within about an hour, a woman in a restaurant nearby caught wind of our search and invited us to join her inside as she called around town. Chatter filled the room as she carried on conversations in her native tongue, of which we had little understanding. With the help of translation apps and contextual cues, the woman told Kim that her brother was on the way to see us and would arrive in half an hour. Thirty minutes never pass more slowly than when it's about to change your life. As a car pulled up outside the restaurant and a man stepped out, we eagerly stormed the parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He and Kim shared their parents' names and some other details for additional confirmation, and we soon got the news we'd been hoping for: We'd done it. Thanks to the kindness of the people of Eungwon-ri, my husband's grandmother was reunited with her brother in less than three hours. Our family has grown significantly because of this once-in-a-lifetime trip We loved seeing South Korea with family. Alyssa Towns Swantkoski That evening, we had dinner together right in the heart of Eungwon-ri. Her brother began notifying other family members of our surprise arrival. In the hours and days that followed, Kim reconnected with five of her siblings, as well as some of her nieces and nephews. And despite over 50 years of separation and most of us having never met, her long-lost relatives took us in and welcomed us into their lives and homes with open arms. Life feels different in the best way now that we know we have family across the world. Alyssa Towns Swantkoski We spent most of the remainder of our trip exploring South Korea with our newly found family members. They showed us around the country, cooked for us, and brought us to their favorite local places. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After leaving, we've stayed connected on WhatsApp, and some of us have already planned trips back to South Korea. It's incredible to know that we have so much family on the other side of the world. If there's anything we learned, it's that family is family no matter the distance, language barriers, or years that pass. And, above all, life is too short to wonder, "What if?" Read the original article on Business Insider It was a simple task with perhaps dire intestinal consequences: eat your way through the Delaware State Fair. After a roughly three-hour tour of the state fairgrounds in Harrington on Friday night, I am happy to report I not only made it through more than my fair share of fried entrees and rich desserts, I even found a few items I'd come back for. The video above chronicles everything I ate and my immediate reactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's a break down after deeper reflection. Ostrich smashburger, Chick-N-Que The ostrich smashburger from Chick-N-Que at the Delaware State Fair on July 18, 2025. Twin patties served with cheese, onions and a burger sauce. I couldn't detect much of a difference between the ostrich patty and a typical beef patty, but I did find a tender and juicy burger with almost too much burger sauce and melted cheese. At $20, it's large enough to be a one-and-done stop on the fairgrounds. Gators and taters, Chester's Gators & Taters The "gators and taters" from Chester's Gators & Taters at the Delaware State Fair on July 18, 2025. I was underwhelmed by my first dalliance with gator bites. I found them tough and longed for another sprinkle of salt to get through the fried edges. I can't argue with the piping hot fries, and the Ken's "boom boom" sauce was fine. The checkered paper hides the small paper tray these were served in. For $20, I was expecting more. Pizza on a stick, Spaghetti Eddie's Spaghetti Eddie's serves a pizza on a stick at the Delaware State Fair on July 18, 2025. This might be the most state fair food of the state fair foods I tried. The $11 pizza on a stick was coated in garlic butter and Parmesan cheese, the smell of which hit my nostrils as soon as I stepped away from the Spaghetti Eddie's stand. The interior featured oozy cheese and layers of pepperoni. Marinara sauce served on the side was the final component. Pulled pork and mac and cheese burrito, Low N Slow Catering A burrito with pulled pork and mac and cheese from Low N Slow Catering at the Delaware State Fair on July 18, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A new offering for 2025, I was warned at the Low N Slow Catering stand that this patently American burrito would be loaded. While that was certainly true, I longed for another component maybe a light cole slaw that gave me something to bite into aside from the more-cheese-than-mac left side and overly-sauced pulled pork right side. I appreciate the value proposition at $16 this was one of the best deals I spotted but it wasn't the item for my taste. Cinnamon roll, Demetri's Extra icing is poured on a cinnamon roll from Demetri's at the Delaware State Fair before it is served. The oversized, $10 roll was one of our reporter's favorites at the 2025 Delaware State Fair on July 18, 2025. I almost kept walking, but then I heard an over-stuffed tray of rolls maybe bricks is a better description call my name from the front of Demetri's. The kicker was the extra coating of icing added right before purchase. The $10 roll could serve as dessert for three of four people. It was gooey and buttery, even on the outside, which sometimes only serves as pretext for a cinnamon roll's rich center. Frozen banana, Goertze's The frozen banana with peanuts from Goertze's at the Delaware State Fair on July 18, 2025. Served with peanuts or sprinkles, the $7 chocolate-coated frozen banana at Goertze's was a perfect snack for a sunny state fair evening. Orange and vanilla dole whip, Tropical Delights Tropical Delights' orange and vanilla dole whip in a waffle cone at the Delaware State Fair on July 18, 2025. I bypassed the traditional pineapple cone for an orange and vanilla "creamsicle" take and was not disappointed. The $10 cone was as sweet as it was creamy. The only challenge was keeping it off my fingers as I walked toward the exit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When he's not testing the boundaries of human anatomy, Brandon Holveck reports on high school sports for The News Journal. Contact him at bholveck@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Food at Delaware State Fair: What we tried in one Harrington afternoon The five Stans, independent nations since 1991, are influenced by their neighbours, but distinctive and fascinating. Each is a complex melange of tribal cultures, linguistic groups and geopolitical pressures. Binding them is the Silk Road, which left a wealth of architectural wonders as well as a culture of bazaars and warm hospitality. The topography is as diverse as the human geography, comprising deserts, snow-capped mountains, steppe and the fertile Fergana Valley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are also surprisingly easy to explore. Ive just come back from a three-week group tour that encompassed all five. It was essentially a road trip; a whistle-stop ride through some of the strangest, most thrilling and undiscovered places on the planet. Heres what I learnt about each of the five. Turkmenistan: dystopia in the desert When does quirky become disturbing? The standard Western take on Turkmenistan is that its North Korea lite. I wanted to see it through unjaundiced eyes, but Ashgabat, the capital, didnt help. On landing at the airport, you first run a bureaucratic gauntlet, queuing for an hour to give away almost 100 to cover a visa and Covid test, having already shown you were invited by a local tour firm. Our hotel was in the Olympic Village, a large district full of stadia and convention centres. In 2017, Ashgabat hosted the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, and billions were spent making the capital appear first-world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Result: roads, malls, mega-hotels, fake modernity. No one walks, not because its hot, but because the blocks are immense. All cars in the centre have to be white. They also have to be clean, if the driver wants to avoid a fine. Also, all cars are taxis, claimed the guide, in that you can stop anyone and ask for a lift. Whiteness is a theme here, as is marble. The independent nations first president, Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov, imported millions of tons of it to build government ministries, mosques, a massive Ferris wheel and monuments. Many of the latter are on roundabouts (the guide cited a presidential decree that no roundabout should be empty) and feature centrepieces such as a giant arch, a golden globe inside a frame of auspicious eight-pointed stars, statues and a giant replica of a book he wrote to instruct his people. A statue of Turkmenistans first president, Saparmurat Atayevich Niyazov - Universal Images Group Editorial None of this looks classy so much as cold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ashgabat was levelled by an earthquake in 1948. It was de-Sovietised in the 2000s, but it has also been artlessly stripped of character and any patina of time. In the end, it felt like a combination of 1984s Oceania, Gilead in The Handmaids Tale and The Truman Show. From here, we were bussed across the Karakum Desert, which George Curzon (future Viceroy of India), visiting in 1888, called the sorriest waste that ever met the human eye It wasnt that bad, and there were lots of dromedaries to break the monotony, but the appearance of an ominous sandstorm did cause some alarm. Our main goal was Turkmenistans most famous sight the Darvaza gas crater, also known as the Door to Hell. The Darvaza gas crater, also known as the Door to Hell, is one of Turkmenistans most famous sights - Alamy A man-made burning gas field, caused when drilling punctured a natural-gas cavern and a roof collapsed, it was initially ignited to prevent poisonous gases from spreading. When Turkmenistan began to open up in the 1990s, it became a sort of dark tourism attraction. Sadly or happily it is currently dying out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crossing the northern half of the desert brought us to Dasoguz. A smaller version of Ashgabat, it had bits of marble here and there, a few OTT hotels and more of the same mall-restaurants serving shish kebabs and salads. Sixty miles to the northwest on the left bank of the Amu Darya (Oxus) River was the Unesco World Heritage Site of Kunya-Urgench notable for its towering minaret, mausoleums, mosque ruins and the gate to a caravanserai. Deserted in the early 18th century, its a dustily evocative ghost town. There were no other visitors. We crossed the border. Uzbekistan: shimmering Silk Road sites The big-hitter of the Five Stans, Uzbekistan can fill a two-week tour by itself. Benefitting from good railways, this is the country posh firms tend to focus on. Its roads are of varying quality, but gold, gas and oil bankroll a fair degree of development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I got to see the famed trio of ancient cities Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand and found them enthralling. Registan Square in Samarkand Uzbekistans most iconic landmark and a masterpiece of Islamic architecture - Mlenny Khiva is small and still has its ancient wall. Whether you walk the ramparts or drift around the maze of pedestrianised streets, its beguiling. Despite the best intentions of the guide, it was hard to keep track of the multitude of mosque and madrasa (Islamic school) names. The Kaltaminor memorial minaret, ringed by turquoise, green and white tiles, is especially beautiful. This, and many other structures in Khiva, are highly photogenic if you can ignore the souvenir stalls that have sprouted up all over. Bukhara has a major archaeological site in its heart surrounded by large, lively squares, with souvenir stalls sited (sort of appropriately) under towers where Silk Road traders plied their wares. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its big draw is the Ark, a citadel where two British agents, Captain Arthur Connolly and Lieutenant Colonel Charles Stoddart, were imprisoned in a verminous pit before being brutally executed by order of the Emir of Bukhara. Outside its walls stands a gorgeous minaret from which numerous malefactors were flung. Like other Uzbek centres, Bukhara is a visual whirl of tiling, domes and lofty iwans (entrance halls) its four-towered Chor Minor is one of the most photographed buildings in the region but the all-brick Samanid Mausoleum was the most entrancing architectural attraction; tenth-century bricklayers knew a thing or two about geometry, physics and understatement. Bukharas Kalyan mosque - alamy Samarkand is probably the Stans most fabled destination. Its an elegant modern city with ancient sites dotted around, and a convivial place to walk around. The Registan is the most magnificent public square in Asia, perhaps anywhere. You have to buy a ticket to enter, mind you, but there are no unsightly stalls. Other must-see sights include the Ulugbek Observatory, built in 1420 by Timurs star-gazing grandson, and Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, a pilgrimage site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visiting the three cities was eye-opening, but crowds are crowds and it was a relief to roam around the desert castles of Khorezm sand-coloured ghost-cities in what climate change has made the middle of nowhere. I also enjoyed a random, unheralded stop at the Rabati Malik caravenserai a bona fide Silk Road roadside inn beside the bumpy Bukhara-Samarkand M37 highway, between the petrol stations and fast-food joints. Tajikistan: Rahmon is watching you The World Heritage Site of Sarazm might date back 5,500 years but, after Uzbekistans in-your-face glories, its scattering of rough foundations under corrugated canopies and adjoining patchily curated museum were underwhelming. The gurning mug of president Emomali Rahmon adorns the latters facade, as it does every roundabout, public building and bazaar entrance. Ruling the poorest of the five Stans since 1994, Rahmon bolsters his dictatorship by means of a personality cult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tajiks are descendants of Bactrians, Sogdians, Scythians Silk Road peoples par excellence. The Panj river forms the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan - Tuul & Bruno Morandi They speak a variety of Persian, while their neighbours speak Turkic languages. This might seem no big deal, but guides in the Stans like to make a point that their country is the oldest/strongest or most admired/feared. Three days wasnt long in Tajikistan, but enough. The highlight was a drive into the Fann Mountains to visit the Seven Lakes, though we only saw six as the road petered out and we didnt have time for the hike to the last. Fed by the Shing River, the lakes, which range from deep blue to bright green, lie beside a winding road hemmed in by vaulting cliffs and canyon walls. At lake number three we stopped to eat a delicious stew at a campsite beside rushing white-waters, and one brave member of the group took a dip in the gelid lake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the scenery was undeniably dramatic, the road was hairy and busy with tour buses Tajikistan visas are hard to get but that isnt keeping people away and there were pylons all the way. Our driver was a veteran of the Soviet Afghan war; his experience at the wheel of tanks filled him, at least, with confidence. A far less nervous ride followed the next day, as we passed from Panjakent up the valley of the Zeravshan River and then turned north for Khujand. It was the most impressive piece of road so far, dynamited through the rocky slopes. On the left were high brown mountains and on the right the lofty Fanns, snow-stained and rugged. Tidy villages were wedged in beside pale green fields. Wherever the land was reasonably level it was tilled. People have been refining agricultural techniques here for millennia. Stopping for lunch at Istravashan, we saw where a local mayor had levelled what remained of the hilltop site of Mug Teppe possibly founded by Cyrus the Great. Now a sterile reconstruction, it was a classic case of misguided heritage tourism. Tajikistan felt like the most religious of the five Stans. Clothing was more traditional for both sexes, though I saw very few burqas. People touch their heart when they meet tourists, which is an endearing way of interacting and more sincere than have a nice day. Kyrgyzstan: wild upland beauty Great mountain ranges cut across Kyrgyzstan, including the Fanns, Tian Shan, Pamirs and Karakorams. The country apparently once styled itself as a future Asian Switzerland. Its more of a Bolivia in development terms, and early experiments with democracy have given way to authoritarianism. In terms of physical geography, it lived up to expectations. A visit to the village of Arslanbob, surrounded by soaring peaks, involved an easy ramble through semi-wilderness. An old walnut forest was the main sight here, though locals had gathered in large numbers to ride on ziplines and in Lada jeeps, and take photographs in front of a waterfall. Kyrgyzstan is home to a number of Russian orthodox churches; this is the Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral in Karakol - Alamy A very long drive on horrible, barrier-free, boulder-strewn roads took us up to the pasturelands around Song-Kol Lake. Here, at almost 10,000 feet above sea level, we slept in communal yurts, visited a local shepherd, saw petroglyph sites, and admired hundreds of cattle, sheep, goats and, above all, horses. I hiked up to a series of outcrops above the lake. Tiny flowers in improbable colours blue, deep burgundy carpeted the golden-green grassland. Small birds announced my presence at each jutting tor. I sat down to contemplate views over the mountains and the hazy far side of the lake, utterly alone. Kyrgyzstan had landmark mosques and minarets, too, but its chief assets were more left field. I enjoyed a short swim in Issyk-Kul lake, where a former Soviet pioneer camp was mouldering on the beach. I saw an ornate Dungan mosque and had dinner in a Uighur house, and visited my first Russian orthodox churches. In the Barskoon Gorge, I admired two Soviet-style monuments to cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. A monument to the cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in Kyrgyzstan - Alamy Central Asia is full of bombastic statues of old warriors and recent dictators, and at least the celebrated spaceman achieved something (though he never visited). Along the way, we ate in service stations and Spar supermarkets; Central Asia hasnt got round to gastronomy. One day there will be a coffee table book about Kyrgyzstan cemeteries. The mini necropolises in earthy tones seem to rise out of the desert floor. Tombs are decorated with red stars and etchings of the faces of the deceased. They are never visited by families once the funeral is over. Kazakhstan: deep canyons and flat whites This was the country I had most anticipated when contemplating a trip to Central Asia. I knew it was massive the ninth largest nation on earth and thinly populated. I knew it was largely made up of steppe. I imagined the openness, the big skies, the far-off horizons. Alas, this tour wound up with just two days in Kazakhstan, and all I would see was Charyn National Park and the biggest city, Almaty. The former was stunning, and very popular with local tourists. I had a walk around, surveyed a deep canyon that would have been more impressive if it hadnt been such a hazy, wan day, and scored a good, pricey flat white at the on-site cafe. If this was my first taste of modern urban living in 20 days, Almaty offered more of the same. A proper cosmopolitan city, with electric vehicles, Irish pubs, posh wine bars and glamorous people, it was a reminder that, while travel is often about seeking out the different and undeveloped, there is comfort in finding good food, craft ale and sourdough bread. Almaty is a modern, cosmopolitan city - Moment RF I walked around the centre without a map, and saw branches of Marks & Spencer and Next. I visited the national museum, in need of brain food. The last official group lunch was a self-service canteen; adventure tourism firms dont go big on food. Afterwards I googled Almaty best cafe and went, with three co-travellers, to a joyously pretentious place called Fika (Whimsical interiors meet Soviet-era industrial detailing, according to Wallpaper magazine). We toasted a trip of a lifetime and then went to the hotel to sleep in preparation for the 2am ride to the airport. Chris Moss travelled with Exodus (020 3553 6116). The 23-day Five Stans of the Silk Road group tour has departures from May to October. Local guides, transport, accommodation, entrance fees, breakfasts and some meals are included. From 5,149, plus 727 for return flights. Budget at least 120 for visas for Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Tips, while not obligatory, are expected; allow 60-100. 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's high summer in Rhode Island, which means when the weather is good everyone is heading down to the shore. But if the crowds destroy your beach vibe consider checking out a 'secret beach.' The website Frugal Flyer recently shared some of best "secret beaches." Based off a survey of over 3,000 voters, Frugal Flyer released a list of the 95 best secret beaches in the United States. And one of them is in Rhode Island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This summer, something different is happening. Instead of heading to the usual hotspots, Americans are rediscovering the quiet charm of their local, quieter, lesser-known shores," the website said. Here is the Ocean State secret beach that was dubbed one of the best in the country. Mansion Beach on Block Island. More: RI's secret beaches: Three under-the-radar spots to visit this summer Mansion Beach One of Block Island's best-kept secrets, this hidden paradise has all the isolation an introverted beach-lover could ask for. Mansion Beach was first home to a real-life mansion, Edward F. Searles' mansion, the Block Island Tourism Council website said. The Searles mansion burned down in the 1960's; the beach remains. It also has larger waves than some other areas surrounding Fred Benson Town Beach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Even without the mansion, however, the beach is one of the islands most picturesque," the website said. "Mansion Beach marks the north end of whats known as Crescent Beach, and is generally less crowded." To get to Mansion Beach, the tourism council website says to head three miles down Corn Neck Road, then search for a dirt road on the right with sign that says "Mansion Beach Road" on it. If you follow that sign to the end, you'll find a large parking area, erected around the foundation of an old mansion, with a path to the beach. Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Going to Block Island? Be sure to check out this 'secret beach' INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) The Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs announces it will be allocating $1,140,000 in grants to five Veteran Service Organizations across Indiana for the Fiscal Year of 2026. The grants have been awarded as follows, according to the Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs: The American Legion: $295,221.65 American Veterans (AMVETS): $181,136.77 Disabled American Veterans (DAV): $239,970.76 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): $255,270.82 Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): $168,400.00 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indiana Veterans Affairs unveils new data portal The Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs said these funds will support a wide array of critical services for the veteran community in the state. Indianas VSOs provide invaluable services that enhance IDVAs mission of supporting our veterans. These grants empower each organization to tackle specific service needs within our community, ensuring our veterans receive the care and assistance they deserve, said Jake Adams, Director of Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs. Indiana veterans gain easier access to financial aid benefits Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Police are investigating a Baton Rouge shooting that left one person dead Monday evening. The Baton Rouge Police Department identified the victim as Keion Johnson, 26. Johnson was found dead around 7:30 p.m. July 21 in the 200 block of North 13th Street near Florida Street. Police said a motive and suspect are unknown, and an investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact BRPDs Violent Crimes Unit at 225-389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multi-parish chase ends in Baton Rouge 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. The 14th and Chestnut Community Center is out from threat of closure for now. Last week, Executive Director Connor Scanlon said he feared the nonprofit would have to close, perhaps as early as September. That, he said, was because of a federal freeze on after-school program funds it was counting on. Over the weekend, he learned over the weekend that the nonprofit will receive federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant for $372,000, Scanlon said Monday. But that reprieve, at this point, is for 2025 only. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We did find out that at least our specific educational grant is being released, at least [for] the first of the four years, he said. It is still on the chopping block for 2026. There are no guarantees going forward if we will get more than one year. Still, Scanlon said he is thankful that it is released at least for this school year. On July 1, President Donald Trumps administration withheld more than $6 billion in federal grants for after-school and summer programs. On Friday, the Associated Press reported that the Education Department would release $1.3 billion in previously withheld grant money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ten Republican senators had sent a letter imploring the administration to allow frozen education money to be sent to states. Federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants are administered by states; in Indiana, theyre handled by the Indiana Department of Education. Some 10,000 programs nationwide use funds from the program. This was the first year 14th and Chestnut had taken advantage of the grant. In the past, it had gotten by on donations from businesses and individuals. The grant freeze had come just as 14th and Chestnut was experiencing a leap in demand for its services. Last month, an average of 94 children came to the center daily. In June of 2024, that number was at 65. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The faith-based center provides free food, clothing and a safe after-school place for students, as well as a food pantry and a Moms Matter support group. Upon learning of the grant freeze last week, some in the community quickly said they would try to help. On a Friday Facebook post, Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun wrote, Ive directed my team to assess the impact of recent federal and state decisions on area nonprofits and explore options to create limited local grant programs that can help fill the gap. While we cant reverse state or federal decisions, we will do what we can to protect the services our community relies on. I will be requesting funds from the Terre Haute City Council through gaming revenue for a nonprofit based grant program in 2026. This will not happen overnight and will take some time to develop. Scanlon said People have contacted us saying they want to do fundraisers for us. He added, Weve seen a small spike in donations. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) A community center in Terre Haute could be closing its doors soon because of funding. The 14th and Chestnut Community Center has been a safe place for local children for the past 25 years. However, this upcoming school year could be its last due to a federal funding freeze. Services the center provides include after-school activities, summer childcare, and meals, all at no cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Program Director Laresha Johnson grew up attending the center herself and is now helping the next generation. This center means so much to me, not only because I attended as a child and I know how much it has impacted me, but also, now that I am in the position that Im in, I get to see a lot more of the effects of the center, Johnson said. I get to see kids that I grew up with doing their thing now and making changes in their lives and for their families that, ultimately, are better than what the situation was when they were younger. At the end of last year, the center was given a Federal 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant worth $372,000 a year for the next four years. Executive Director of the center, Connor Scanlon, said they were recently notified that the money would be halted. We had been planning for six to eight months now to be able to have funds from this grant for four years, Scanlon said. Then we found out about a week and a half ago that the grant was frozen and the future of the grant was really uncertain. They didnt know if the funds would be released or not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One years worth of money has been released, however that will only last through this upcoming school year. Both Scanlon and Johnson agree, the closing of 14th and Chestnut would hurt the kids the most. We get to put them in a relationship with high school and college students that have a heart for them and are pouring into them, Scanlon said. You cant have too many people like that in your life, but some kids dont have that at all, and this might be the only place that theyre getting that. I think that we would just be letting the kids down ultimately, Johnson said. 14th and Chestnut is currently looking at fundraising options to stay open past next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you are interested in donating or being involved, Goodwill in Terre Haute is asking customers to round up and the proceeds will be donated to the center. You can also visit the 14th and Chestnut 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 MyWabashValley.com. 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." GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) John Ball Zoo is set to add another big exhibit or, rather, a tall one. The zoo has plans to open a new state-of-the-art giraffe habitat. The new exhibit, which is expected to open in 2028, will be the largest in the zoo and feature a winding forested path that will include a panoramic view of the simulated African savanna. It will also allow visitors to be able to feed giraffes, ostriches and other animals. Kent County commission passes new John Ball Zoo master plan Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Ball Zoo says the exhibit is possible thanks to a $15 million gift from the Bill and Bea Idema Foundation. We are incredibly honored by this generous gift from the Bill and Bea Idema Foundation, which has been a longtime champion of conservation, education and community enrichment in West Michigan, John Ball Zoo CEO Peter DArienzo said in a statement. Thank you to the Foundation for its continued support of our commitment to save wildlife and wild places. This expansion will be a powerful symbol of conservation in action, and it will connect children and families with one of our most iconic species in unforgettable ways. A digital rendering of the new giraffe exhibit designed for John Ball Zoo. It is expected to open in 2028. (Courtesy John Ball Zoo/TowerPinkster/Stefansson Design & Consulting) It is not the organizations first donation to the zoo, the Bill and Bea Idema Foundation also donated money to fund the funicular, the Idema Forest Realm and $5 million to ward the new North American River Otters Habitat. A possible giraffe exhibit has been discussed for a while and was also included in the zoos latest 10-year master plan, which was approved by Kent County late last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. ELSMERE, Ky. (FOX 56) The police were called Monday night to Elsmere, where a 15-year-old girl was killed in a shooting. The Elsmere Police Department announced that the call came in at 8:46 p.m. to the 3700 block of Autumn Road, where the teenager was found with injuries to her arm and chest. The Kenton County Coroners Office declared her dead at the scene. Read more of the latest Kentucky news Further investigation led to the arrest of a 15-year-old boy in connection with the shooting, the police confirmed. He was charged with murderdomestic violence and tampering with physical evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The relationship between the two has not been clarified, according to a release. EPD said they have yet to locate the gun used in the shooting, and the teenager reportedly admitted to accidentally dropping it. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Residents are encouraged to be on the lookout for a discarded handgun. If found, do not touch the weapon; it is believed to be loaded, and DNA evidence needs to remain unaltered. Instead, call 911 immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The name of the teenage girl killed in the shooting has yet to be 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 FOX 56 News. We finally know when Kum & Go stores will officially become Maverik stores in Iowa. All Iowa Kum & Go locations will soon start converting to the Maverik branding and rewards program, and some will experience brief closures during the turnover. To reduce downtime, the company is rebranding to Maverik on the inside of stores first. Outdoor signage will be replaced as quickly as possible after the stores reopen, an announcement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement End of an era: Maverik says it will 'soon' change names of Kum & Go stores in Iowa It may be confusing at first, but the convenience store promised in an email to rewards program members that outdoor signage will follow shortly after. When will the first Kum & Go close in Iowa for the Maverik rebranding? The first Kum & Go store in Iowa to get the Mavrik rebrand will be in Neola. The kitchen will close on July 18, followed by a full store closure on July 20. The Neola location, in western Iowa near Omaha, will reopen with the Maverik branding by July 22, according to an email from the company. When will Kum & Go close in the Des Moines metro for rebranding? Here are the dates for Kum & Go closures for rebranding in the Des Moines metro. The kitchen of each of these locations will close a day or two before the full closure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waukee: 400 Prairie Bluff Drive, full closure July 27 and reopens July 29 West Des Moines: 5308 University Ave., full closure July 28 and reopens July 30 Waukee: 650 W. Hickman Road, full closure July 29 and reopens July 31 Waukee: 3105 Grand Prairie Parkway, full closure July 30 and reopens Aug 1 Johnston: 5225 NW 86th St., full closure Aug. 10 and reopens Aug. 12 Des Moines: 3104 University Ave., full closure Aug. 11 and reopens Aug. 13 Clive: 15590 Hickman Road, full closure Aug. 12 and reopens Aug. 14. Ankeny: 1910 SW White Birch Circle, full closure on Aug. 13 and reopens Aug. 15 West Des Moines: 220 50th St., full closure Aug 17 and reopens Aug. 19 Windsor Heights: 7229 University Ave. full closure Aug 18 and reopens Aug. 20 Pleasant Hill: 5970 Morning Star Court, full closure Aug. 19 and reopens Aug. 21 Des Moines: 2110 Guthrie Ave., full closure Aug. 20 and reopens Aug. 22 The email provided conversion dates for 16 Kum & Go stores in Iowa, with 12 being in the Des Moines area. In addition to the Neola store, locations in Adair, Stuart and Walnut will change in July. The chain operates nearly 100 stores in the state, according to its online directory. Details on the rebranding for other stores were not immediately available. What happens to &Rewards when stores change to Maverik? If you have rewards points, now is the time to use them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maverik will not close your &Rewards account or the &Rewards Debit Card accounts. However, the points will not transfer, nor will &Rewards Cash, according to the email from the company. So make sure to use the rewards at the Kum and Go stores that are still open. Iowans can set up an Adventure Club account to begin earning rewards at the newly rebranded Maverik stores. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa's first Maverik stores open in July. When Kum & Go disappears: PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Authorities have arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with a Vancouver shooting on July 11. The teen, who was not named, was booked on charges of attempted murder, assault, and drive-by shooting. Officials say more charges may be added as the investigation continues. Portland settles lawsuit after Irving Park light pole falls on boy, babysitter Officers responded to the area of 6700 E Mill Plain Blvd. on reports of a shooting around 11:40 p.m. and found a man who had been shot along with his vehicle, which had been hit multiple times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man was taken to the hospital for treatment, but the suspect had fled the scene. On July 22, officers served a search warrant at 5500 NE Fourth Plain Blvd and arrested the teen. No further details were shared about the case. Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story 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. After several years in limbo, the historic but crumbling and vacant Kincaid House in Fishers is coming down. The city announced Tuesday, July 22, that the 19th century farmhouse house along I-69 north of 106th Street would be deconstructed, but some of its bricks repurposed. Were at a point where there is such an advanced level of deterioration that rehabilitating the structure would be a significant financial and logistical undertaking, and the house likely wouldnt survive another move, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said in a news release. With a lack of interest from private entities to take over ownership of the house, we have decided to preserve what we can and celebrate the legacy of the Kincaid House at a location that better fits the historical significance of the structure." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The clay brick from the house will be used in a future, unspecified project, at the Fishers AgriPark on the east side. Since being relocated to its current spot the Morris-Flanagan-Kincaid House has deteriorated structurally, with sunken floors, joint collapse and unstable walls, according to the city. The Italianate-style farmhouse was built in 1861 by the Peter Flanagan family with clay bricks made onsite at 106th Street and Kincaid Drive. But landowner Thompson Thrift said in 2014 the house would be demolished to make room for a new I-69 interchange at 106th Street. Preservationists raised $115,000, including a donation from Thompson Thrift, to move the house a half mile north to a 2-acre plot donated by Navient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nickel Plate Arts, which held the deed, transferred it to Fishers and four years later, Knowledge Services bought the land, where it planned to build a new headquarters. So Fishers and Hamilton County Tourism decided to move the house again, to a roundabout on USA Parkway, south of Ikea. But those plans fell through and the Kincaid House has sat empty and mostly neglected since, serving mostly as a curiosity for I-69 commuters. A member of the namesake Kincaid family, said he favored the citys action. While the usefulness of the current Flanagan-Kincaid house has come to an end and we are sad to see it go, we are pleased it can continue in another form to honor the farming heritage of Fishers, Fishers resident Randy Kincaid said. Call IndyStar reporter John Tuohy at 317-444-6418 or email him at john.tuohy@indystar.com. Follow him on Facebook and X/Twitter. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: After 164 years, Fishers farmhouse along I-69 to be demolished PAGEDALE, Mo. Police are investigating a fatal shooting that claimed the life of a 19-year-old male. According to the Pagedale Police Department, the shooting reportedly happened in the alleyway of a Pagedale neighborhood after 2:40 p.m. on Monday. When officials arrived at the scene, they located the victim suffering from a gunshot wound. First responders took the 19-year-old to the hospital, but he died from his injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives from the Pagedale Police Department say no further details regarding the homicide are available currently, but theyre investigating the matter. FOX 2 has learned that the identity of the victim is being withheld pending the notification of next of kin. Anyone with information regarding the homicide investigation is asked to contact Pagedale Police at 314-726-1112 or call Crime Stoppers at (866) 371-8477. 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 2. If youre dreaming of a European beach vacation, there are two countries with exceptionally clean water that you might not have considered. The European Environment Agency (EEA), in cooperation with the European Commission, has released their European bathing water assessment for the 2024 bathing season, which declares that Slovenia and Lithuania have tied for first place for the cleanest coastal waters in the world. The report assesses bathing water quality across 22,127 sites in the 27 EU member states, plus Albania and Switzerland. In the most recent assessment, 85 percent of the locations met the stringent standard of excellent bathing water quality, while 96 percent met the minimum quality standards. The sites include beachers, rivers, lakes, and swimming holes, which are all tested by national and local authorities for bacterial contamination.The quality of coastal bathing watersdefined as waters "situated on the sea or transitional water coastline"was found to be generally better than that of rivers and lakes. Its all part of the EU Bathing Water Directive, which was adopted in 2006. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's important to note that both Slovenia and Lithuania, while rated most highly, also had a relatively small number of sites tested, with only 21 tested in Slovenia and only 16 in Lithuania. But, the sites cumulatively gained top marks. The results show that Europeans can confidently bathe in the vast majority of the EUs bathing sites that meet the EUs bathing quality standards, Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, said in a statement obtained by Travel + Leisure. Slovenia, which famously has 29 miles on the Adriatic Sea, recently announced the launch of a digital nomad visa that will be available from November 2025 and will allow remote workers to live in the country for up to a year, similar to schemes available in other EU countries including Greece, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Germany, and Estonia. The most popular bases for a coastal Lithuanian vacation are Palanga, Neringa and Klaipeda. In 2024, Lithuania was ranked the happiest country in the world for young people under the age of 30, according to the World Happiness Report. In 2024, Slovenia's neighbor Croatia was ranked the highest for the cleanest coastal waters by the report, with 894 bodies of water tested. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure Jul. 21Two people were injured in a four-vehicle crash Monday on state Route 84 between Fulton and Thomson. Whiteside County sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call about 6:15 a.m. reporting the crash on Route 84 near the intersection of Lock Road in rural Fulton, according to a news release. A white Freightliner bucket truck, owned by MidAmerican Energy and driven by an Elizabeth man, was traveling north on Route 84, just south of Lock Road, when it crossed the center line and entered the southbound lane, according to the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bucket truck struck two oncoming vehicles a black Kia sedan and a white Buick Crossover, according to the release. A silver Dodge Crossover, also southbound, then struck the engine of the Kia, which had become detached during the initial collision. The driver of the Kia sedan was flown from the scene for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening. The driver of the Buick also was taken with injuries deemed not life-threatening. The driver of the Dodge was not reported to be injured. The driver of the bucket truck was cited for improper lane usage. "This could have been much worse, and I'm grateful no lives were lost," Whiteside County Sheriff John Booker said. "I commend our deputies, first responders and partner agencies for their quick, coordinated response." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Whiteside County Sheriff's Office was assisted at the scene by the Fulton Police Department, Fulton Fire and EMS, Thomson Fire and EMS, MedForce Air Medical Transport, Downtown Auto Clinic, J&S Body Shop and the Illinois Department of Transportation. Whiteside County's Crash Reconstruction Unit will continue working to determine exactly what happened, Booker said. "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," he said. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Two men have avoided prison time despite their role in a sextortion scheme that led to the death of a Michigan teen. Kendall Ormond London and Brian Keith Coldmon Jr., both of Georgia, were sentenced Monday afternoon to 2 years of probation and more than $49,000 in restitution. They previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. UP mother shakes, cries as men plead in sextortion case Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case stems from the March 2022 death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay. Prosecutors say DeMay took his own life after online extortionists obtained explicit photos of him and threatened to share the photos with his friends if he didnt pay hundreds of dollars. Prosecutors say the primary extortionists were a group of Nigerian men who posed as teenage girls on social media and connected with the victims. London and Coldmon are accused of being part of a five-person U.S.-based money laundering network. That network reportedly processed nearly $180,000 in extorted money from multiple victims, including DeMay, using digital apps like Apple Pay, Cash App and Zelle. London and Coldmon allegedly kept about 20% of the money and converted the rest to cryptocurrency to forward onto their partners in Nigeria. Two Nigerian brothers, Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, were sentenced to 17.5 years in prison last year for their role in the scheme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a sentencing memo filed by their attorneys, both London and Coldmon were credited by prosecutors for providing substantial assistance in the investigation. DeMays story helped inspire two new pieces of state legislation to update sentencing guidelines for sextortion and establish harsher penalty guidelines. They were introduced in June 2024, approved by both chambers by December, and signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in January. If you or someone you know is targeted with a sextortion scheme, report the predators account on the social media app. Share it with local law enforcement or the FBI at 1.800.CALL.FBI or tips.fbi.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 WOODTV.com. SACRAMENTO, United States, July 21 (Xinhua) -- From backyard barbecues to burger chains, Americans are paying more for beef than ever before as drought, disease, and trade tensions shrink supplies of the nation's favorite meat, government data and industry analysts said. Ground beef averaged 13.49 U.S. dollars per kilogram in June, the highest level since records began, according to the consumer price index (CPI) released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on July 15. The figure is nearly 12 percent higher than a year earlier and eight percent above January's reading. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the weighted average advertised price for all featured steak cuts stood at 25.34 dollars per kilogram, up roughly eight percent from the same week a year earlier. AMS gathers price information from nearly 25,000 grocery outlets nationwide. Wholesale markets painted an equally stark picture. Live cattle futures settled Monday at 4.97 dollars per kilogram, according to commodity tracker Trading Economics. USDA's Economic Research Service has raised its 2025 average steer price forecast to 6.88 dollars per kilogram after boxed beef values jumped 21 percent in the first half of the year, the agency said in its "Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook" issued July 17. The root cause is the lowest number of beef-cow herd in more than seven decades. USDA statistics counted just 27.9 million beef cows on Jan. 1, down one percent from 2024 and the lowest tally since 1951. Reestablishing a breeding herd typically takes two to three years, meaning supplies will remain tight well into 2026, economists warned. "Beef is the new eggs," CNN Business wrote Monday, echoing this structural shortage. The cable news outlet quoted ranchers in drought-hit Texas who said they sold off breeding females last year because dry pastures could not support them. Principal trade partners have compounded the squeeze. As of Aug. 1, the Trump administration announced a hefty 50 percent tariff on beef imported from Brazil. Combined with existing tariffs, Brazilian beef now faces a total tax burden of about 76 percent when entering the U.S. market. This dramatic price increase stems from ongoing political tensions and concerns about food safety, as well as worries that excessive foreign beef is flooding into America. As a result, Brazilian beef will likely become too expensive to compete in the U.S. market, effectively shutting it out. Unfortunately, that also meant American consumers can expect to pay even more for beef at the grocery store, according to the University of Illinois Farm Policy News. Popular news media have amplified the sticker shock. ABC News reported that "hamburgers will be the most expensive ever" this summer, while independent broadcaster NTD News called the prices "unprecedented." Bloomberg opinion columnist Javier Blas captured the mood in a July 14 essay titled "Flipping burgers won't be cheap." He argued that even if rainfall improves, ranchers must first rebuild depleted pastures, delaying any rebound in calf numbers. With the United States being the world's largest beef consumer, the price spiral is rippling across the globe. Farm Policy News noted U.S. import demand pushed up wholesale prices in Australia and New Zealand. Analysts said global buyers could face similar shortages if American processors outbid them for limited frozen beef supplies. At the checkout line, shoppers are adapting. CNN Business quoted California resident Maria Lopez, who said she is "cutting steaks in half" to stretch family meals, and a Utah burger chain owner who has reduced patty weights from 150 grams to 130 grams rather than raise menu prices. USDA economists see little short-term relief. "Tight cattle supplies are expected to keep beef prices elevated," the July 17 outlook stated. The message was clear for households worldwide that enjoy American-style burgers and steaks: Expect smaller portions or higher costs at least through next year. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Two men have been sentenced to serve up to seven years in prison for robbing Michigan mail carriers and stealing their arrow keys. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced that 31-year-old Michael Smith-Ellis, from Detroit, and 33-year-old Terrance Tucker, from Arizona, were sentenced on Monday in Detroit. Court records show the two robbed mail carriers at gun point in 2023 in Taylor and in Northville, demanding their arrow keys U.S. Postal Service master keys that can be used to access postal mailboxes and steal mail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two men were tracked down and arrested following the Northville robbery. Law enforcement arrested Smith-Ellis and Tucker within minutes of the armed robbery of the mail carrier in Northville, the attorneys office said in a news release. A search of the vehicle driven by the defendants revealed firearms, gear, several credit cards in other peoples names along with a USPS key ring and an arrow key. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service led the investigation with assistance from Taylor, Northville and Livonia police departments. Stolen mail tossed along US-131; charges filed Sean McStravick, the acting inspector in charge of USPIS Detroit Division, said he wants this sentencing to deter other criminals from targeting mail carriers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Let this sentence serve as a warning to those who attempt to conspire to harm postal employees for personal gain: We will find you and we will ensure you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, McStravick said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Two people suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash in Amherst early Tuesday morning, according to police. Police responded to the area of 2457 Kensington Avenue just before 6 a.m. Tuesday. It was found that the driver, a 37-year-old Cheektowaga man, was driving southbound, crossed into the northbound lane and hit a tree and a utility pole. His wife, 40 and also of Cheektowaga, was in the car. Both were taken to ECMC to be treated for life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Anyone with dashcam video is asked to contact police at (716) 689-1311. All roadways in the area have since been re-opened. Latest Local News Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can 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 News 4 Buffalo. Over the weekend, officials in Texas announced that the number of people missing following the July 4 floods had dropped from over 100 to three. As is the case during major natural disasters, the number of people missing can often change dramatically due to a number of factors. Heres a look at how the number of missing dropped so drastically: Updated death toll and number of persons still missing In the wake of the floods that ravaged Texas Hill Country over the July 4 weekend at least 135 people have been confirmed dead, per CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Kerr County alone there were 107 people killed, including 37 children. There were initially 161 reported people missing in Kerr County, that number has now dropped to three, per NBC. How did the number of missing drop so drastically? This drastic drop in the number of missing was not completely unexpected, according to The New York Times. In the chaos and confusion caused by a major disaster there is a lot of painstaking work required to bring clarity to the number of people missing. Making sense of the list of those unaccounted for is a crucial part of disaster response, whether for flash floods, tornadoes or wildfires. A number of factors can play into the struggle of obtaining an accurate missing persons count, including tourists or visitors in the area and people without stable housing, per The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This process takes time, officer Jonathan Lamb of the Kerrville Police Department said in a statement on Sunday, per The New York Times. It is essential to ensure that every lead is thoroughly followed and each person is properly accounted for. In major disasters people often report their loved ones missing if they havent heard from them. For the Texas floods this was further complicated because of the number of tourists who were in the area, these peoples family and friends were contacting officials from afar. In order to clarify who was actually missing, state and local officials worked to verify the status of each individual who had been reported missing, per The New York Times. Many people who had initially been reported as missing were verified as safe then were removed from the list, per BBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said it required countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families, per BBC. Similar things have happened in past major disasters It is not unusual for a large drop in the number of missing people to occur in the aftermath of a major disaster. According to The New York Times, after the 2018 wildfire that devastated Paradise, California, there was a missing person count of 1,300. In the end, the final death toll was 85. In Maui, Hawaii after the 2023 fire, there were 1,100 people reported missing, six months after the disaster there were 102 confirmed deaths with two people still missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the aftermath of the Maui fire, the missing person count fell to 388 and authorities released a list of names. There were people who were surprised to find themselves on the list, per The New York Times. When reflecting on his experience in the Paradise Fire, Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea said People always want to draw a correlation between the number of people that havent been accounted for and the number of deaths, per The New York Times. It is not fair to come to that conclusion too early, he added. The work isnt over Though officials in Kerr County acknowledged relief due to the steep decline in people missing, Lamb said the work is not complete, per The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are still three people missing, and their loved ones are still waiting. In a Facebook post from Kerrville City, the mayor, Joe Herring Jr., said Our thoughts remain with the families still awaiting news, and we will continue to stand with them as efforts persist. Weeks of search and rescue operations Search and rescue operations in the areas devastated by floods have continued for over two weeks now and have included over 1,000 local, state and federal responders, according to The Washington Post. There have also been thousands of volunteers involved in combing through the area. The search involved heavy equipment, search dogs, helicopters and waterborne teams. Firefighters and divers working from airboats and inflated zodiacs have searched through the murky waters of the Guadalupe River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some teams have also used sonar equipment to find out what might be buried in the riverbed, per The Washington Post. Texas legislature special session The Texas State Legislature on Monday started a special session and some of the agenda items include issues identified in the aftermath of the devastating floods. We delivered on historic legislation in the 89th Regular Legislative Session that will benefit Texans for generations to come, said Gov. Greg Abbott, in a statement about the session. There is more work to be done, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country. We must ensure better preparation for such events in the future. The states lawmakers will be working on legislation to improve warning systems and emergency communications, especially in flood prone areas, as well as legislation to provide relief funding for those affected by the floods, per CNN. They will also focus on legislation to evaluate and streamline rules and regulations to speed preparedness for and recovery from natural disasters, per Abbotts statement. Roughly 2,000 National Guard troops across multiple states are expected to be mobilized to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement at detention facilities, according to a US official and a source familiar with the planning. Its unclear when the troops will be mobilized, though the US official said the move, which is still under deliberation, could come as soon as this week. Both sources said the troops will be placed on Title 32 status, which puts them under the command of their governors and not subject to the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the use of the military for domestic law enforcement purposes. The Trump administration has ramped up immigration arrests nationwide, resulting in a dramatic increase of people in ICE custody. As of Tuesday, there were around 57,000 people in ICE custody, according to federal data obtained by CNN. Senior Trump officials are preparing to expand detention space nationwide in the coming weeks after receiving a historic amount of funding from Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US official said the mobilization is expected to call up National Guard troops from as many as 20 states who will be tasked with some hands-on roles including conducting finger printing and mouth swabbing of detainees. National Guard forces have largely been used to provide administrative assistance to ICE thus far, though the US official said ICE has communicated the need for assistance in other areas. A defense official said the Pentagon would not speculate on future operations or operational needs, but DoD stands ready to support our DHS partners in executing the Presidents executive orders and protecting the United States sovereign territory. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment. The plans are in line with an earlier request from DHS to the Defense Department asking for thousands of National Guard personnel to assist with a range of tasks, including processing, transportation support and detention support. According to the request, obtained by CNN, up to 2,500 National Guard personnel were requested to support security at detention facilities, in-facility operations like meal distribution, processing and emergency response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Senate aide said the expected move to put 2,000 Guardsmen on Title 32 status was significant and likely an indicator of the administration moving closer to the full request from DHS for thousands more Guardsmen to assist in immigration enforcement across the country. If youre plotting the points on a graph of the way the administration has taken one step at a time, you continue that trajectory and its going to look pretty similar to what DHS has been requesting, as far as 20,000 troops across the country performing what wed consider to be immigration enforcement activities, the aide said. CNN has reported that the White House and Department of Homeland Security have been seeking ways to use the National Guard and the military more broadly to help bolster immigration enforcement around the country , in an effort to ramp up arrests of migrants. While ICE is preparing to receive an unprecedented $75 billion in funding, current and former Homeland Security officials say the recruiting and training of ICE personnel is likely to take weeks or months, requiring outside assistance in the interim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roughly 4,000 National Guardsmen were mobilized last month to assist ICE personnel in Los Angeles, in response to protests and to protect federal personnel and property, though half of them have since been released from the mission. The Florida National Guard has also been mobilized to conduct base camp security at a new detention center in the Everglades, the Pentagon announced earlier this month, though a spokesperson for the Florida Guard previously said they had not yet been tasked with detention or enforcement operations. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Police and university officials in Wisconsin are pleading for help locating a missing graduate student who disappeared over the weekend. The La Crosse Police Department said that Eliotte Heinz, 22, was last seen walking southbound on the 500 Block of Front Street South which is close to the Mississippi River at approximately 3:22am on Sunday, July 20. "Her family, friends and police have made several attempts to locate her with no success," police added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Viterbo University, where Heinz attends school, the missing student was at Bronco's Bar in La Crosse around 2:30 a.m. local time that morning. Family members say that she was on her way home when she disappeared, according to local station WKBT-DT. "She needs to be back home with us. That's where she was trying to go," Amber Heinz said, according to the outlet. "We love you, we miss you, and we're doing everything we can to get you back to us." "We need to find her," added her brother Brian. "Its tearing our family apart right now." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The university has been organizing volunteer community search efforts this week to try to locate Heinz and distribute missing person fliers. In an update, police said that they are continuing to "follow up on all leads and information as to the whereabouts of Eliotte." "Thank you to the community for your support and information provided," they added. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Her mother, Amber Heinz, spoke to those who had gathered for a prayer service at the university on Monday, July 21, local radio station WIZM reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We ask that if youve seen anything, even if its small, anything at all, please call the La Crosse Police Department," Amber Heinz said, according to the station. "If you have Ring cameras and you think you might have captured an image of Eliotte, please call them, let them take a look at your footage. Even if you dont think its a big deal, it could be a really big deal for her." La Crosse Police Department Eliotte Heinz. Eliotte Heinz. As the search continues, anyone with information about Heinz's location or those who have seen her are asked to call the La Crosse Police Department. She is described by police as being about 5'4 and 120 lbs. with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a light T-shirt and cutoff shorts. Read the original article on People The federal government has released a massive trove of documents related to the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., sparking renewed scrutiny and debate over the events surrounding his death. The 230,000 pages of records were published on the National Archives and Records Administrations website on July 21 and can be accessed here. The release follows a directive from President Donald Trump in Executive Order 14176, which called for the declassification of documents related to the assassinations of King, President John F. Kennedy, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. The release of these files numbers almost 3x more than the 80,000 JFK files that were released earlier this year. Attorney General Pamela Bondi marked the occasion by hosting Kings niece, Dr. Alveda King, at the Department of Justice. The American people deserve answers decades after the horrific assassination of one of our nations great leaders, Bondi said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alveda King added, 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. The newly released files arrive amid persistent skepticism from Kings family and civil rights groups, who have long opposed such a release due to privacy concerns. We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our familys continuing grief, the King family said in a statement, per the Associated Press. King was gunned down on April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, where he had traveled to support striking sanitation workers. James Earl Ray later pleaded guilty to the killing but recanted and claimed innocence until he died in 1998. In 1999, a civil jury in Memphis found that Ray had acted as part of a broader conspiracy involving government agencies. The Justice Department, however, concluded in its investigation that it had found nothing to disturb the 1969 judicial determination that James Earl Ray murdered Dr. King. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI has long faced scrutiny for its treatment of King, including a covert surveillance program that included wiretaps, bugged hotel rooms, and attempts to discredit him during his lifetime. He was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign, the King family said. What the newly released files contain remains to be seen, and The Dallas Express is currently reviewing the documents: updates will be posted as soon as they become available. On the first day of the 2025 Summer Council Session, Council Delegates Amber Kanazbah Crotty and Dr. Andy Nez, alongside the Missing and Murdered Dine Relatives (MMDR) Task Force, community leaders, and the Peshlakai family, gathered in solemn unity to honor the lives of DeShauna and Del Lynn Peshlakai. The two sisters were tragically killed by a drunk driver in 2010. To remember their lives and raise awareness about the ongoing threat of drunk driving across the Navajo Nation, delegates and advocates participated in a memorial walkAngels vs. Drunk Driversfrom the Navajo Nation Museum to the Council Chamber. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MMDR Task Force Chair Amber Kanazbah Crotty emphasized the Councils commitment to justice and prevention, stating, The Peshlakai sisters were vibrant young Dine girls with bright futures. Their deaths were preventable. We owe it to them and to every family impacted by drunk driving to fight for stronger penalties, consistent prosecution, and lasting policy change. We must amend our laws, including Title 17, and ensure our justice system works for our peoplenot against them. Darlene Peshlakai, mother of the Peshlakai sisters, addressed the Council and the public, expressing both sorrow and resolve. Its been over fifteen years, but the pain never leaves. We keep walking, showing up, and spreading the message that drunk driving must end. This is not just our fight. It should be everyones. We need checkpoints. We need chapter-level engagement. We need the entire Navajo Nation to stand with us and protect our youth. Speaker Crystalyne Curley echoed the call for community-wide action. These issues are painful, but we must talk about them, she said. Lets use our platformssocial media, community forums, and legislative actionto bring visibility and change. We honor the Peshlakai family not just with our words, but with the work we commit to from this moment forward. The Angels vs. Drunk Drivers walk was both a tribute to the lives lost and a call to actionreminding all who participated that real change is possible, but only if it is pursued with unity, urgency, and unwavering resolve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iran said Tuesday 27 inmates were still at large after an Israeli airstrike last month targeted Evin prison in the north of the capital, Tehran, local media reported. The airstrikes were part of Israels 12-day bombardment of the Islamic Republic that killed about 1,100 people. while 28 were left dead in Israel in Iranian retaliatory strikes. Judiciarys news website, Mizanonline, quoted spokesman Asghar Jahangir as saying 75 prisoners had escaped following the strike, of which 48 were either recaptured or voluntarily returned. He said authorities will detain the others if they don't hand themselves over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jahangir said the escapees were prisoners doing time for minor offenses. Iranian officials said the Israeli strike killed 71 people, but local media reported earlier in July that 80 were left dead at the time, including prison staff, soldiers, inmates and visiting family members. Authorities also said five inmates died. Its unclear why Israel targeted the prison. The Israeli Defense Ministry had said that 50 aircraft dropped 100 munitions on military targets based on high-quality and accurate intelligence from the Intelligence Branch. The New York-based Center for Human Rights had criticized Israel for striking the prison, seen as a symbol of repression of any opposition, saying it violated the principle of distinction between civilian and military targets. PARIS, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Audrey Azoulay, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said on Tuesday that U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO contradicts the fundamental principles of multilateralism. Deeply regretting the decision made by U.S. President Donald Trump, Azoulay warned that the withdrawal might affect foremost UNESCO's partners in the United States, in particularly communities seeking site inscription on the World Heritage List, Creative City status, and University Chairs. On Tuesday, the United States announced a decision to withdraw from UNESCO by the end of December 2026, just two years after rejoining the organization. This marks the third time Washington has exited UNESCO. According to a statement by the U.S. State Department, the withdrawal was prompted by what Washington perceived as UNESCO's tendency to "advance divisive social and cultural causes," particularly regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. In response, the UNESCO director-general expressed regret over the U.S. decision, rejecting the stated reasons. She emphasized that UNESCO remains a "rare forum for building consensus through concrete, action-oriented multilateralism." "These claims also contradict the reality of UNESCO's efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism," she added. Despite the loss of funding from the United States, Azoulay affirmed that the U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO in 2026 will not affect the organization's normal operations, as its financial position has been significantly strengthened. "We have implemented major structural reforms and diversified our funding sources. Thanks to the efforts made by the Organization since 2018, the decline in U.S. financial contributions has been effectively offset," she stated. Azoulay also emphasized that UNESCO has intensified its efforts to take meaningful action wherever its mission can contribute to peace, reaffirming the critical importance of its mandate, even in the wake of the last U.S. withdrawal under President Trump in 2017. On Monday, 28 countries, including the United Kingdom, Japan, and numerous European nations, issued a joint statement calling on Israel that the war on Gaza must end now, marking the latest example of intensifying criticism from Israels allies. The joint statement, signed by the foreign ministers of these countries, 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 comes as global pressure mounts on Israel over civilian casualties at aid sites, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and violations of international humanitarian law as the occupied Palestinian territory simmers with starvation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels war on Gaza has killed more than 59,000 people and wounded 140,000 since the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, in which 1,139 people were killed and more than 200 were taken captive. So, what does the joint statement say? Who are these countries? And how have Israel and its closest ally, the United States, reacted? What did the statement say? The joint statement said the countries are coming together with a simple, urgent message: The war in Gaza must end now. The statement underlined that the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths and that the Israeli governments aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They called on the Israeli government to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law and immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid. The group of countries also noted that the captives cruelly held by Hamas continue to suffer terribly and called for their immediate and unconditional release. They said in the statement that a negotiated ceasefire offers the best hope of bringing [the captives] home and ending the agony of their families. Demographic change, settler violence: What else did the countries say? The countries criticised Israels plan to establish a concentration zone Israels vision of relocating the entire Palestinian population into a fenced, heavily controlled zone built on the ruins of Rafah as completely unacceptable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law, the joint statement said. The group of countries also marked its opposition to any steps towards territorial or demographic change in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and noted that the E1 settlement plan announced would divide a Palestinian state in two, marking a flagrant breach of international law and critically [undermining] the two-state solution. They also called out that the settlement building across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has accelerated while settler violence against Palestinians has soared. This must stop. Which countries signed the joint statement? The joint statement was signed by the foreign ministers of a total of 28 countries: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK. These governments, many of them allies of Israel, issued some of their strongest language yet, condemning the obstruction of aid in the occupied Palestinian territory. Palestinian houses and buildings lying in ruins in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on January 22, 2025 [Mohammed Salem/Reuters] Which of those countries recognise Palestine? Out of these 28 countries from the joint statement, nine recognise the State of Palestine as a sovereign state. Cyprus, Malta, and Poland recognised Palestine shortly after the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iceland followed in 2011, and Sweden in 2014. Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, and Spain recognised Palestine in 2024. How did Israel respond? Oren Marmorstein, a spokesperson for the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote on X that Israel rejects the joint statement published by the group of countries, as it is disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas. Israel further claimed that instead of agreeing to a ceasefire, Hamas is busy running a campaign to spread lies about Israel and deliberately acting to increase friction and harm to civilians who come to receive humanitarian aid. The statement further said there is a concrete proposal for a ceasefire deal and Hamas stubbornly refuses to accept it. What does Hamas say about the ceasefire? The spokesperson of the military wing of Hamas said Israel was the one that rejected a ceasefire agreement to release all captives held in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obeida said in a prerecorded video, released on Friday, that the group had in recent months offered a comprehensive deal that would release all captives at once but it was rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right ministers. It has become clear to us that the government of the criminal Netanyahu has no real interest in the captives because they are soldiers, he said, adding that Hamas favours a deal that guarantees an end to the war, a withdrawal of Israeli forces, and entry of humanitarian aid for besieged Palestinians. Hamas is still holding 50 people in Gaza, about 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Demonstrators hold a banner featuring an image of US President Trump, at a protest to demand the release of all captives held in Gaza, near the US consulate in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 7, 2025 [Ammar Awad/Reuters] What is Israel blocking from entering Gaza, claiming that Hamas can use it? Israel continues to block the entry of essential humanitarian supplies into Gaza, claiming that Hamas could divert or repurpose them for military use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the items withheld are: Baby formula, food, water filters, and medicines. Medicine and medical supplies face blocks as part of Israels dual-use restrictions, where items like painkillers and dialysis equipment are held back, ostensibly for possible Hamas exploitation in military contexts. Other medical equipment, such as oxygen cylinders, anaesthetics, and cancer medications, has been restricted. Israeli authorities argue that some items, like certain chemicals or electronics, could have dual-use potential. Aid groups report that the blanket denial of crucial medical items is pushing Gazas health system towards total collapse, and say that these restrictions are collective punishment and violations of international humanitarian law. HEBER CITY, Utah (ABC4) The three suspects arrested after a brief standoff with a SWAT team in Heber City on Monday have been identified. Police are still seeking two suspects connected to the incident and have released photos. According to court documents, David Gervacio, 22, Cristian Gervacio, 18, and Johnny Gervacio, 28, acted in concert with two other suspects to commit a violent group assault that resulted in two stabbings during a private birthday party at a Heber City restaurant over the weekend. The three men each face one count of first-degree felony attempted murder and third-degree felony assault as well as misdemeanor assault, obstruction of justice and criminal trespass. Cristian Gervacio also faces an additional misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance. Photos of Jose Manuel Gervacio from 2024. Heber City Police say he is a suspect in the attempted homicide. (Heber City Police) Photos of Jose Manuel Gervacio from 2024. Heber City Police say he is a suspect in the attempted homicide. (Heber City Police) Police say all three were allegedly part of a group of five men that disrupted an after-hours quinceanera party and resulted in a double stabbing. When officers arrived, just after 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 20, they reportedly found an unusually large crowd and two victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fourth suspect has been identified as Jose Manuel Gervacio and remains at large as of Tuesday, July 22. Police are warning the public not to approach him, as he is considered armed and dangerous. Officers are actively working on identifying the fifth suspect, and are asking the public for help. The first victim, a 34-year-old male, suffered a stab wound to his abdomen and was airlifted to a Salt Lake City hospital in critical condition. The second victim, a 21-year-old male, was treated on the scene for a stab wound to his leg and was released on the scene. Following an investigation, detectives identified the three Gervacio men as being involved, saying surveillance video clearly shows the three working with two others to confront the first victim. David, Cristian, and Johnny were all arrested during the execution of their Heber City residence, where officers also allegedly found a $5 bill belonging to Cristian with a substance that allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine. Photos of the unidentified male suspect. Police are asking the public for help. (Heber City Police) Photos of the unidentified male suspect. Police are asking the public for help. (Heber City Police) Photos of the unidentified male suspect. Police are asking the public for help. (Heber City Police) Anyone with information regarding Josue Manuel Gervacio or the unidentified suspect should contact the Heber City Police Department at 435-654-3040. Police remind that tips can be submitted anonymously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 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. For generations of college students, the traditional path to a bachelors degree has typically meant earning about 120 credit hours across a four-year period. But given todays increased costs and time often associated with claiming a bachelors degree, more and more educators and lawmakers are championing accelerated, sub-120 hour bachelors degree programs. I do think theres a way to streamline the process and get a student graduated through the system in three years versus four years; 90 credit hours versus 120 credit hours, Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz told the Deseret News last fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And House Bill 265 the so-called strategic reinvestment legislation that was recently ratified by the Utah Legislature limits bachelors degrees at Utahs public degree-granting institutions to no more than 120 credit hours with allowances if programs require additional credit hours if they require accreditation or licensing. Now a pair of Utah public schools Weber State University and Utah Valley University have introduced proposals for a few specific accelerated bachelors degree programs. The accelerated programs were applauded by the Utah Board of Higher Education during their recent meeting. Were thrilled to see Weber State University and Utah Valley University stepping forward with some of the first accelerated bachelors degrees in Utahs public higher education system, said Aaron Skonnard, Utah Board of Higher Education member in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Board of Higher Educations move to approve these accelerated degrees creates additional learning options for students and faster pathways to careers and is helping push innovation across the nation. Accelerated bachelors degrees require as few as 90 credit hours compared to the traditional 120 credits required for most four-year programs and are designed to increase flexibility and affordability for students while maintaining rigorous academic standards. The boards 2024 policy made Utah one of the first states in the nation to allow public colleges and universities to develop bachelors degree programs below the 120-credit-hour threshold, according to the board of education. Weber States proposed accelerated bachelors degrees include sound production/recording and an interdisciplinary degree in politics, philosophy and economics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, UVUs proposed degrees include emergency services supervision, professional advancement and several other programs each designed with high-impact career outcomes in mind and a strong focus on learning outcomes and employer-aligned competencies, according to a UBHE release. The accelerated bachelors programs proposed by WSU and UVU are pending final approval by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities the accrediting body for the states higher education institutions and reportedly still need to follow established guidelines from the accreditor. Weber States programs have already received approval from its board of trustees while UVUs proposal will be reviewed by its board of trustees in its next meeting. Another tool to help more Utahns graduate The proposed accelerated bachelors degree programs are anchored to student success, said Weber State University President Brad Mortensen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Providing accelerated pathways in select programs saves time and money while achieving the same learning outcomes, said Mortensen in a UBHE release. We want to meet students where they are and help them reach their goals more efficiently, without sacrificing the value of their education. These programs are another tool to help more Utahns graduate and thrive in our state. Mortensens counterpart at UVU, President Astrid Tuminez, said the states largest university is endeavoring to provide career-focused pathways that meet the evolving needs of the states students and workforce. These proposed accelerated bachelors degrees reflect that commitment, said Tuminez. By reducing time and cost to completion, we are helping more students achieve their educational goals and contribute meaningfully to Utahs economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuminez told the higher ed board members that UVU has been studying accelerated degree programs for a long time. Our approach was very pragmatic in just asking which degrees would lend themselves to this less than 120 credit hours. Mortensen added that WSU cannot actively advertise the new accelerated bachelors degree programs until they have received final NWCCU approval but were hoping to be able to start enrolling students as soon as this fall. Accelerated degrees already being offered by Latter-day Saint-sponsored schools An accelerated bachelors degree program isnt new to many Utah students. Utahs Ensign College and neighboring Brigham Young University-Idaho which are privately sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints both offer accelerated bachelors degree programs through BYU-Pathway Worldwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NWCCU recently removed the pilot designation for the existing accelerated degrees at BYU-Idaho and Ensign College while allowing institutions to submit substantive change proposals to offer bachelors degrees based on students achieving specific learning outcomes within a reduced credit hour amount rather than requiring a traditional number of credit hours to the degree. If an institution can show that a (proposed bachelors degree program) achieves the same student-learning outcomes at a credit level thats lower than 120 credit hours, then they will be able to bring those forward and the (NWCCU) will evaluate them, said TJ Bliss, the Utah System of Higher Educations associate commissioner for academic affairs reported to the board. Commissioner of Higher Education Geoffrey Landward said that WSUs and UVUs proposed accelerated degree programs are exactly the kind of pioneering approaches to these types of degrees that we were hoping for. A French court on Monday jailed three people for human trafficking in the champagne industry, exploiting seasonal workers and housing them in appalling conditions. The Champagne region is under tough scrutiny, with another inquiry looking into the use of Ukrainian workers during the same 2023 harvest, which was marked by exceptional heat and the deaths of four grape-pickers. A lawyer for the victims more than 50 mostly undocumented migrant workers from Mali, Mauritania, Ivory Coast and Senegal said the court had made a "historic" decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victims, who said they had been treated "like slaves," also praised the ruling. "The people were working in really bad conditions, and this decision is fair," said Amadou Diallo, a 39-year-old from Senegal. The workers, all undocumented migrants, were found during the 2023 September harvest living in cramped and unhygienic conditions in a building at Nesle-le-Repons in the heart of champagne country, the BBC reported. The court sentenced the director of a servicing company called Anavim, a Kyrgyz woman in her 40s, to two years behind bars, and another two years suspended. She had denied being responsible for the housing conditions, and blamed the two other defendants suspected of recruiting the harvesters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court sentenced the two others, both men in their 30s, to one year in jail, alongside suspended terms. One is a man from the country of Georgia and the other is a Frenchman, the BBC reported. All three were found guilty of human trafficking defined under French law as "recruiting, transporting, transferring, housing or receiving a person to exploit them," by means of coerced employment, abusing a position of authority, abusing a vulnerable situation or in exchange of payment or benefits. Some workers were recruited via a Whatsapp group message for the West African Soninke ethnic community living in Paris, which promised "well-paid work" in the Champagne region, the BBC reported. The Anavim director was also found guilty of crimes including concealing employment of workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court in Chalons-en-Champagne dissolved the servicing company and ordered a wine-making cooperative it worked with to pay a $87,000 fine. The court ordered the three guilty to pay 4,000 euros each to each victim. A lawyer for the Anavim director called the ruling "unfair" and said there would be an appeal. "My client is the ideal culprit for an industry that has long turned a blind eye to its own practices," said Bruno Questel. "No food, no water, no nothing" Maxime Cessieux, an attorney for the victims, said the 2025 harvest "will be closely scrutinized and no one will be able to say 'I didn't know, I didn't understand, I didn't know who these people in my vineyards were.'" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September 2023, the labor inspectorate found that the accommodation provided by Anavim for grape-pickers southwest of Reims "seriously undermined" their safety, health and dignity. The accommodation was subsequently closed by the prefecture, which had pointed to makeshift bedding and "the appalling state of the toilets, washrooms and communal areas." Camara Sikou, one of the victims, told the court the workers had been treated "like slaves." "They put us in an abandoned building, with no food, no water, no nothing," added Modibo Sidibe, who said the workers were in the fields from 5 a.m. until 6 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I never thought the people who made champagne would put us up in a place which even animals would not accept," Kanouitie Djakariayou, 44, told La Croix newspaper, per the BBC. The Comite Champagne, which represents winegrowers and champagne houses, was a plaintiff in the trial. This aerial photo taken on Sept. 20, 2024 near Pierry and Epernay, in eastern France, shows grape pickers in a vineyard during the Champagne harvest. / Credit: PIERRE BEAUVILLAIN/AFP via Getty Images "You don't play with the health and safety of seasonal workers. Nor are we playing with the image of our appellation," the trade association said. The CGT champagne trade union said the punishment was not sufficient. "What we are asking for is the downgrading of the harvest" in the zones where the offenses were committed so it could no longer be used to produce champagne, said Jose Blanco, CGT general secretary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every year, around 120,000 seasonal workers are recruited to pick the grapes grown across 84,000 acres in the Champagne region. In 2023, four harvesters died, possibly the result of sunstroke after working in scorching heat. A service provider and its manager will go on trial in November on suspicion of having housed 40 Ukrainians in unfit conditions. Detroit lawnmower gang still going strong after 15 years Legendary singer Ozzy Osbourne dies at 76 Sneak peek: The Case of the Black Swan (Part 1) The U.S. Department of Education has released $35.8 million in Title IV-B funding to support North Carolinas 21st Century Community Learning Centers, ensuring the continuation of 99 after-school and summer programs across the state. These programs, which served over 10,000 students and employed nearly 1,400 staff members last year, provide essential academic support and safe environments for students, particularly in high-poverty areas. We want to thank Attorney General Jacksons efforts in pursuing the release of these funds through legal action, said North Carolina State Superintendent Maurice Mo Green and State Board of Education Chairman Eric Davis in a joint statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ALSO READ: NC Attorney General sues to stop $165M education funding cut The programs are primarily operated by community organizations, churches, and nonprofits, which account for 75% of the operations. This funding allows these organizations to continue serving North Carolina families by providing enriching activities for children after school. While the release of the $35.8 million is a positive development, there remains $130 million in federal education funds that are still under review. These funds are crucial for supporting additional teachers to lower class sizes, implementing safety and security measures, providing English learner support, and offering teacher professional development and academic enrichment programs. Superintendent Green and Chairman Davis emphasized their ongoing efforts to work with federal partners to secure the release of the remaining funds that Congress approved for the current school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The release of Title IV-B funding is a significant step in supporting North Carolinas educational programs, but the continued advocacy for the remaining $130 million highlights the ongoing challenges in securing necessary resources for students and educators. VIDEO: STEM event at UNC Charlotte in jeopardy due to federal funding cuts MIAMI TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WDTN) At least four people were taken to the hospital after a crash occurred late Monday on I-75. The Dayton Post of the Ohio State Highway patrol confirmed troopers were dispatched July 21 at 11:25 p.m. to the northbound lanes of I-75 in Miami Township. SNAP cards valid at farmers markets across Ohio According to OSP, a crash involving at least four vehicles occurred on the interstate. At least four people were taken from the scene for medical evaluation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All northbound lanes were closed, but have since reopened. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. What has become a summer tradition in the islands, the 4th annual Out of System and 7Gen Culture Hawaii Luau Grass Volleyball Tournament set another attendance record this past weekend on Oahus Windward side. Held Sunday at Kailua District Park, the tournament served as the culmination of several days of volleyball-centered community events, including a free keiki clinic. The 2025 edition of the outdoor grassroots event featured more than 150 teams from across Hawaii, the continental U.S., including Delaware, and international destinations like Europe. Participants ranged from youth athletes to current collegiate and professional volleyball players, making the event a showcase of all skill levels and backgrounds. Among the tournament organizers were former University of Hawaii mens volleyball standouts Joe and Gage Worsley, who continue to grow their Out of System brand with a mission to give back to the community that once supported their careers. For us, this event kind of represents everything, said Joe Worsley. The love we appreciated during our time at UH, the people we connected with, this gives us a way to stay connected and provide something meaningful. We broke the state record last year and added another 4050 teams this year. It just keeps growing, and we love coming back to give this to the community. Science fairs and competitions were the norm for Vinicia Kim, who grew up in Guam with a deep passion for science, technology, engineering and math. But as she advanced to high school, the U.S. territory island located roughly 1,500 miles east of the Philippines soon became too small for Kims growing interests. Guam doesnt have a lot of STEM opportunities at all, Kim said. Even at the University of Guam, its so small that we barely have any basic laboratory [equipment], like what other universities would have. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter When the 17-year-old student learned of a highly competitive U.S. summer science program, she applied. Little did she know that she would not only be accepted, but flown to the small, rural town of Chadron, nestled in the sandhills of western Nebraska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, Kim began the biochemistry program at SSP International, a nonprofit that has offered residential summer STEM research opportunities to teenagers since 1959. She and 35 other rising seniors spent five weeks at Chadron State College, conducting research with professors and graduate students to help prevent fungal infection of agricultural crops. Vinicia Kim (St. Johns School) The college is one of 14 universities across the nation that housed 600 students this summer to tackle research projects in fields like astrophysics and cell biology. Chadron State a school of roughly 2,000 students joined the organizations list of partners this year to expand the biochemistry program, which also takes place at Purdue and Indiana universities. Rachel Avard, a biology professor at Framingham State University in Massachusetts, worked with SSP International students at Purdue University last year. This summer, she came to Chadron for the same reason: to help aspiring scientists gain key STEM skills, along with personal growth and preparation for college. For many of them, this is the first time in their lives that they havent been the best immediately walking in the door, she said. Were really able to hold their hand through the process of learning how to grow these skills and how to work in a team, how to adjust to failure, how to work through all these challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The three colleges in SSP Internationals biochemistry program are working on the same research project. When the last session ends, students will have designed a molecule that could inhibit enzyme activity and prevent fungal infection of crops. Its a task that SSP International students have been working on for a few years, Avard said. The organization is collecting participants research results that can hopefully be used to help create a drug to protect crops in the future. Fungal pathogens are killing sometimes up to 50% or 60% of crops every year. And we have all these pesticides and fungicides, but theyre all extremely toxic, she said. So the goal for this project is to develop a drug that is going to kill fungi. Related From Water Quality to Cancer, Meet 6 STEM Students Solving Real-World Problems The workload includes 60-hour weeks in the colleges science and math wing. Days are filled with in-depth classroom lectures and team discussions before students pull on latex gloves to conduct experiments in the lab. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone gets one-hour breaks for rest or meals, but the students often end up in the lab after sunset or during personal time on weekends. Dinners are always business casual and include professional networking opportunities with guest speakers. Avard and other faculty also take the students on field trips or host games in the evenings to help them work as a team. The rigor of the summer science program was a surprise for many, including Kim. I didnt know itd be this intense. The first three days, I would say, were the most intense of my life like exam season but it makes me feel productive, and I think thats whats really important, she said. And good results are going to come out soon. Science is exciting. You dont know whats going to happen. So it keeps us on all of our toes and wanting to do our best. Researchers have found that high-quality academic preparation and exposure to STEM is a key influence in high schoolers chances of landing a STEM career. In a 2023 study, 75% of Gen Z youth said they were interested in STEM occupations but only 29% listed a STEM role as their first career choice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2021 Purdue University study on SSP Internationals summer science program found that engaging in authentic research as a high school student has the ability to promote motivation and retention in STEM. The thought is not just that we are trying to teach science to some students, but we wanted to give students a transformational experience at a pivotal time in their life, said Amy Belote, the organizations vice president of program operations. When theyre leaving the summer science program, theyre getting ready to start their senior year of high school thinking about their future, what they envision for themselves. Were giving them some hands-on experience before they start making all of those plans. Related Career-Connected Learning: Engaging Students by Teaching Real-World Skills The program accepts only about 15% of applicants, Belote said, and tries to balance the number of males and females in each cohort. In Chadron, the group consists of 18 girls and 18 boys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program comes with a hefty price tag: $9,800. Nearly half of participants last year received financial aid, and about a third were able to go for free. Students can also receive spending money and $3,000 stipends to replace wages they would have earned during the summer if they were at home. Avard said these facets of the program allow students of a variety of backgrounds to experience something that can change their life trajectory. Witnessing each students personal growth secluded on a college campus with a small group of people for five weeks, working long hours is her favorite part. On day one, theyre not making eye contact. Theyre very shy. Theyre all very unsure, she said. Theyve never really been alone or without parental supervision all day, every day. And so the growth that we see in just even the first couple weeks is phenomenal. Aiden Fee (The Dunham School) This summer was Aiden Fees first time visiting the Midwest. A 16-year-old from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he said he learned to love the open landscape and friendly people in town. He also became more comfortable with meeting new people in unfamiliar settings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive learned a lot more about teamwork and asking questions, Fee said. A lot of the students here are some of the highest-achieving at their school. Whenever you have so many people like that, its about not being a leader, but relying on other people. Kim said shes looking forward to using the organizations alumni network, which provides group and one-on-one mentoring for recent participants as they transition from high school to college. These [past] weeks will be the most intense and challenging time of my life. But its been so eye-opening. Ive met so many people from different cultures, and I just cant wait for the future, because we all aspire to be some type of scientist, she said. So I cant wait to see where this program leads us. EL PASO, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Bridge of the Americas port of entry seized more than 130 grams of fentanyl last week in a smuggling attempt that officials described as exceptionally dangerous. The bust occurred shortly before 4 a.m. on July 18 when a 56-year-old U.S. citizen arrived at the pedestrian crossing from Mexico. During a routine sweep, a CBP drug detection dog alerted to the man, prompting officers to conduct a more thorough inspection. An initial exam led officers to suspect that the man might be concealing drugs internally. He was transported to a local medical facility, where a medical scan confirmed the presence of foreign objects in his body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roughly 90 minutes later, the man passed two condom-wrapped bundles. One bundle contained a white powder testing positive for fentanyl and weighing 81.6 grams. The second bundle contained blue pills, also confirmed to be fentanyl, weighing 50.8 grams. Combined, the two packages totaled 132.4 grams. Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Smuggling fentanyl internally is exceptionally dangerous, and we would advise anyone considering this to think twice and not risk their life or liberty, said El Paso Port Director Ray Provencio. CBP has multiple layers of enforcement to identify and stop these smuggling attempts. The man was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations to face charges related to the smuggling attempt. CBP officials continue to warn about the dangers of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that has been linked to thousands of overdose deaths across the United States. 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 Yourbasin. Manmade satellites launch from Florida regularly But the U.S. (and Florida) just celebrated an anniversary with Earths natural satellite this weekend, on July 20, which was also International Moon Day. More than 50 years ago, on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong took one giant leap for mankind and became the first person to walk on the moon four days after lifting off from Merritt Island, Florida. Ahead of the 53rd anniversary of the moon landing, The United Nations declared the anniversary to be observed as International Moon Day in December 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In honor of the recently passed 56th anniversary of the moon landing, which kickstarted the Space Coasts reputation as a rocket launch hub, heres more about Earths natural satellite and when you can see the next full moon. Watching rocket launches from Florida: Vacationing in Florida and want to catch a rocket launch? Heres what to know Why is International Moon Day celebrated? 56th anniversary of Apollo 11 moon landing International Moon Day was established in 2021 by the United Nations and is observed on the anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first two humans to set foot on the surface of the moon, landing NASAs Eagle Lunar Module near the moons Sea of Tranquility just four days after lifting off from Floridas Space Coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fun fact: The moon landing is the origin of the turn of phrase "the eagle has landed," which is what Neil Armstrong said when the "Eagle" Lunar Module touched down. International Moon Day marks the anniversary of the first landing by humans on the Moon as part of the Apollo 11 lunar mission in 1969, The United Nations website says. The day of observance also considers the achievements of all States in the exploration of the Moon and (raises) public awareness of sustainable Moon exploration and utilization. This years International Moon Day was the fourth since it was created in December 2021. Do they still launch rockets from Florida? Heres when the last Florida rocket launch was Yes! There are rocket launches from NASA's Kennedy Space Center near Merritt Island, Florida and Cape Canaverals Space Force Station regularly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida Todays Space team has a monthly rocket launch calendar that tracks potential launches as they appear on Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisories. Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral In the first six months of 2025 alone, there have been 56 orbital rocket launches from Floridas Space Coast, which will likely shatter the 2024 record of 93 launches by the years end, according to the Florida Today Space team. When is the next full moon? If youd rather look for a natural satellite in the sky instead of rockets, the next full moon is coming up in just over two weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Augusts full moon, the Sturgeon Moon, will reach peak illumination on Saturday, Aug. 9 at around 3:55 a.m. ET, according to The Old Farmers Almanac. The moon will appear full to the naked eye on the night of Friday, Aug. 8 and likely appear full through Sunday, Aug. 10. The moon appears full to the eye for two to three nights, according to EarthSky. However, astronomers regard the moon as full at a precisely defined instant, when the moon is exactly 180 degrees opposite the sun in ecliptic longitude. How many full moons will we have in 2025? There are 12 full moons each year, one in every month. Each months full moon has a nickname or a variety of nicknames. Including the Sturgeon Moon in August, five full moons are left in 2025. Heres a list of 2025s full moon dates: January 13: Wolf Moon February 12: Snow Moon March 14: Worm Moon April 12: Pink Moon May 12: Flower Moon June 11: Strawberry Moon July 10: Buck Moon August 9: Sturgeon Moon September 7: Corn Moon October 6: Harvest Moon November 5: Beaver Moon December 4: Cold Moon This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Apollo 11 56th anniversary passes: When is the next full moon? This story was originally published on HR Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily HR Dive newsletter. In a survey, 44% of U.S. workers said an active social media presence could more likely hurt someones career than help it, according to a July 17 report from the American Staffing Association. In contrast, 37% said an active social media presence is more likely to be advantageous to someones career, the survey found. An active social media presence has the ability to make or break years of hard work in the blink of an eye, Richard Wahlquist, CEO at ASA, said in a news release. While younger generations may see social media as a platform for personal expression as well as a tool to advance their careers, its important to keep in mind that any post you make will likely be seen by potential employers, he added. In the survey of more than 2,000 Americans, attitudes differed somewhat by generation. While 48% of employed baby boomers said a social media presence can negatively affect someones career, 51% of Generation Z workers said it can positively influence it. In addition, 56% of Gen Z workers said they believe their social media presence has helped their own personal career, as compared to 44% of millennials, 28% of Gen X and 20% of baby boomers. In some contexts, personal social media use can lead to significant workplace concerns and conflicts. For instance, an Israeli former vice president of engineering in August 2024 brought an unlawful termination and retaliation lawsuit against Intel, which referenced a supervisors social media posts in support of Hamas. He agreed to dismiss the lawsuit earlier this year. In another lawsuit, an actor fired from The Mandalorian series has alleged wrongful termination and discrimination due to her conservative posts on social media. Although she cited a California labor code that protects workers rights to be politically active, the case could hinge on nuances around free speech and workers political rights, law experts told HR Dive. Recommended Reading Jul. 22A 59-year-old woman who arrived at Miami Valley Hospital Monday night following a shooting has died. Around 11:30 p.m., the woman showed up at the hospital with a gunshot wound, said Dayton police Lt. Eric Sheldon. She succumbed to her injuries, according to police. Officers have a possible location of the shooting, but are still investigating. Dayton police homicide detectives are handling the investigation. (KRON) One lucky person in the Bay Area is off to a great start to the week. On Monday, a $677,821 winning Powerball ticket was sold in San Bruno, according to the California Lottery. The Powerball numbers for Monday were 8, 11, 28, 33 and 42, with a Powerball of 2. The winning ticket matched all five numbers of the draw, but missed matching the Powerball, which would have elevated the $677,821 prize to $308 million. The winning 5/5 ticket was sold at Specialty Tobacco Outlet at 1230 El Camino Real. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vacaville man scratches $1 million winner in California Lottery In the runner-up category, 57 tickets sold matched four numbers of the draw, earning $268 a piece. The next Powerball draw is on Wednesday, where the jackpot increases to an estimated $325 million. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The 89th annual Ozark Empire Fair is set to start later this week on Thursday, July 24th. The fair is known for food, rides, and plenty of Ozarks heat. This should come as no surprise given the yearly timing of the fair coinciding with what is, on average, our hottest time of the year. Up until this week, summer has sputtered along. Temperatures have struggled to get to 90 thanks to a cloudier and wetter pattern through a lot of the summer so far. A big shift in the pattern is cranking up the heat and trimming out the rain chances this week. A summer ridge is bullying its way north into the region this week. These ridges act as cloud and rain stiflers and also tend to pump up atmospheric temperatures. The opening of the fair on Thursday will come with hot and quiet weather. Temperatures that day are likely to soar to the highest levels of the summer so far, topping out at a blistering 96. Feels like temperatures will be around 100. The heat will be slow to ease that evening, especially over the blacktop, with readings cooling through the 80s through late evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friday promises to be another hot one, but theres a signal for more cloud cover later in the day, and some rain cant be ruled out, although chances look very low right now. Weekend conditions will remain hot with humidity increasing again. A boundary draped across Missouri will likely contribute to more cloud cover and at least spotty rain chances through the weekend. Temperatures will remain hot with afternoon highs close to the mid-90s both days. Feels like temperatures will climb over 100 both afternoons. The fair will continue through next week with no signal for a letup in the hot pattern through early next week. Rain chances will remain slim with afternoon highs in the 90s, with feels like temperatures climbing over 100. By the end of next week, as we near the close of the fair, we may see enough of a shift in the pattern for fronts to move in and for rain chances to go up. This should also trim back the heat some. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All in all, a pretty typical fair forecast, and one of the reasons those jugs of root beer are so good! Click here for more information on times, events, and food at the fair. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) Crews responded to a fire in an abandoned building near Monroe Boulevard and 9th Street in Ogden, which prompted road closures. According to Chief Michael Slater, with the Ogden Fire Department, the fire occurred at an abandoned building, near Monroe Boulevard and Ninth Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Courtesy: Kade Garner//KTVX The Ogden Fire Department noted that, due to the intense fire, dense smoke, and abandoned building, firefighters went into a defensive strategy, which included surrounding the building. Fortunately, they were able to keep preventing the fire from spreading and have secured it. Three juveniles were also seen fleeing from the structure, before firefighters arrived at the scene. However, the investigation is still ongoing, and investigators have not officially determined what caused the fire. Initial estimates put damages at approximately $700,000 worth. Ogden Police Department are also now working on the investigation and are following up on leads on two suspects. 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. This years marking season has been particularly tough, according to Dr Mark Shanahan, an associate politics prof at Surrey University. But it is not the hot weather or increased workloads that are making the student assessment period even more gruelling. It is generative AI. While some essays Ive read have been genuinely outstanding, for the first time in my 15 years in academia, the majority submitted in some areas have clearly used AI, says the academic. There may be no stopping this, but there is a general disquiet that so many students are reaching immediately for the AI solution before being prepared to do the work. In a paper on law and the media, undergraduate responses were peppered with descriptive accounts generated by ChatGPT or other AI software of Johnny Depps libel suit against Amber Heard, Boris Johnsons Partygate scandal, Amanda Knoxs murder trial in Italy and, strangely, the sexting exploits of former New York congressman Anthony Weiner. These case studies were appearing almost word for word; students have put the same prompts into AI and got the same answers, says Shanahan. Weiner, for instance, had not been mentioned at all in our course teaching. The academic spent the best part of a fortnight mining students work for insight and originality, and all too often was met with banality. Students are putting the same prompts into AI and getting the same answers, says Dr Mark Shanahan - Dean Whiting I know what essays at each level sound like, the language students use and the common errors they make. But this time, too often I was reading smooth, generic work that simply didnt sound like anyone Id met in class this year, he says. Undergraduate dependence on AI is endemic. Almost all students 92 per cent are using it in some capacity, up from 66 per cent in 2024, a survey of more than 10,000 students conducted earlier this year by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), a leading think tank focused on higher education policy, found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While fewer students admit to using AI for direct help with their assessments, evidence of cheating is growing even as it becomes harder to detect. Nearly 7,000 confirmed cases of students passing off AI-generated work as their own were recorded across universities in 202324. Experts warn these numbers represent only the tip of the iceberg. In the face of this looming threat to academic integrity, and to students motivation to think for themselves, one might reasonably expect urgent action from the Government, the university regulator or from institutions themselves. Instead, the Office for Students (OFS) position on AI, published last month, is to embrace innovation and applaud students excitement about the responsive support AI may facilitate. On the clear and present danger to academic integrity, it uses the Star Trek cyborg argument resistance is futile. Josh Fleming, director of strategy and delivery at the OFS, says: Resisting AI integration would be a temporary solution with significant opportunity costs for both institutions and students. But while so many in higher education are simply ignoring the AI tidal wave, or trying to surf it by expounding its benefits while minimising its risks, some academics are fighting back. At University College Londons prestigious law school, lecturers are so concerned about students over-reliance on AI that all modules have 50 to 100 per cent secured assessment either in-person exams or in-class assessments such as orals and presentations. In making integrity the priority, students are taught how to: find useful information and critically appraise it in a world of cheap text, stand out from the AI slop, know what to ask, take intellectual risks, connect with each other and work with the lights off. Students ability to acquire these skills is dependent on higher educations capacity to guard against the worst excesses of AI, according to Dr Michael Veale, associate prof and vice-dean of UCL Faculty of Laws. Thinking requires foundational knowledge, he says. Students who learn primarily to act as passive conduits for AI-produced information are not going to reach the potential they have to use the tool well, let alone the much broader potential they have as independent thinkers. Veale cites the many studies that indicate educational benefits of handwriting over typing and asks if there are parallel losses in educational benefits to students who, for instance, do not summarise material themselves but let ChatGPT do it. There are voices arguing that heavy use of AI in, for example, coursework, is acceptable these tools will be available in the workplace, so why should students not have access to them in a university? Perhaps they can be used in assessment, as long as they are acknowledged? says the academic. We disagree. Students at UCL Laws are assessed on underlying abilities and skills rather than a capacity for content creation. Students who act as conduits for AI-produced information are not going to reach their potential as independent thinkers, says Dr Michael Veale - Matt Writtle Adding weight to the approach is a High Court warning, issued last month, urging senior lawyers to take action to prevent the misuse of AI, after it was revealed that dozens of fake case-law citations, which were completely fictitious or contained made-up passages, have been put before the courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UCL Faculty of Laws has now produced a position paper on AI use, in the hope that others in higher education will reassess what academic integrity and scholarship mean in the age of the AI juggernaut. Bland, repetitive language, over-elaborate metaphors and ubiquitous use of certain words, such as nuanced, illuminate, intricate tapestry and, most of all, delve, can all point to AI-generated text, but do not come close to being the smoking gun required to make an accusation of cheating. And in any case, any careful student can circumvent these shortcomings. In response to the threat, dons at Oxford and Cambridge are spearheading a return to traditional exams. Slowly but surely, the online versions introduced under Covid, which many universities retained because they are cheaper and easier to organise, are being replaced with in-person, pen-and-paper exams. Professor Matei Candea, from Cambridge School of the Humanities and Social Sciences, believes over-use of AI is robbing students of crucial skills. We often hear that universities should prepare students to live and work in a world full of AI, and that is surely right. But at least part of that means learning to think and write without AI so you can assess and judge what the machine produces, she says. Professors at the University of Oxfords law faculty have also had enough. It is essential exams are properly invigilated and students are prevented from using chatbots, googling, or cutting and pasting, said one academic. Meanwhile the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages is reintroducing closed-book, handwritten exams despite students objecting to being tested on what they call outdated skills like memorisation. Dr Andrew Woon, a senior lecturer in strategic management at Queen Mary, University of London, argues that exams can cultivate skills students will need to thrive in an AI-dominated world. Students claims that they struggle to perform well in high-pressure exams is an argument to teach them key competencies, such as time management and stress regulation, rather than a reason to think exams are inherently flawed. In a Higher Education Policy Institute blog, Woon writes: Exams offer a rare opportunity and space for students to engage in undivided intellectual immersion, because exams create structured, distraction-free environments that demand focused engagement. They encourage deep reading, critical analysis and articulation without reliance on external assistance. In-person assessment may be the only way to guarantee that what is produced is the students own work, but no one in higher education, including the OFS, knows the extent to which traditional exams still exist across universities compared with other forms of assessment. Many universities promote courses that are 100 per cent coursework. While more academics may be putting their heads above the AI parapet to raise concerns and take action over their own small spheres of influence, they are up against passive university committees, powerful tech companies and what looks like a captured regulator. The debate goes on. But in the meantime, generative AI is being trumpeted from on high as the solution to the deepening shortcomings of our screen-addled, algorithm-assaulted brains. 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. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting director Todd Lyons on Wednesday slammed Hunter Biden, the son of former President Biden, over recent comments he made about immigration. Thats just idiotic. Its dumb. You know, to make comments like that is crazy, because under the last administration, those are the problems we have right now. Under these former administrations, President Obama, President Biden, its made illegal immigration common, in the commonplace, and thats just not the case, Lyons told Fox Newss John Roberts on America Reports. In an interview released Monday, the younger Biden told YouTube creator Andrew Callaghan that all these Democrats say, you have to talk about and realize that people are really upset about illegal immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement F you, the former presidents son continued. How do you think your hotel room gets cleaned? How do you think you have food on your f table? Who do you think washes your dishes? 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 added later. Bukele or Trump? Callaghan asked, referencing Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. Both, Biden responded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. During the first few months of his return to White House, President 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Community leaders are calling on New York State to pump the brakes on extending Teslas lease agreement at the South Buffalo Gigafactory. Critics argue the factorys deal with the state was wasteful from the beginning and are now urging state leaders to explore alternative companies to occupy the South Park Avenue facility. They are failing to address any of the concerns by advocates here, said Andrea O Suilleabhain, executive director of the Partnership for the Public Good (PPG). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state is currently considering an extension of Teslas lease at the publicly-owned factory. The proposed agreement would prolong Teslas occupancy from 2029 through 2034. According to PPG, the facility funded by taxpayer dollars is falling short of expectations. See if somebody can do better with it. Can somebody produce more jobs, more high-quality jobs, with less harm to the environment and less harm to the community? Is there a more reliable partner? said Sam Magavern, senior policy fellow at PPG. The current workforce at the site includes about 2,000 full-time employees following layoffs last year. Advocacy groups argue that any renewed lease should include higher job targets, improved wages and benefits, union recognition, and stronger workplace protections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been numerous complaints of racial harassment, poor working conditions, and being treated as a robot not a human, Magavern said. State Assemblymember Pat Burke echoed those concerns, suggesting the state should open the opportunity to fair competition to determine which company can offer the most high-quality jobs and public benefits. Everyone else is running away from Tesla its investors are running away. Everyone is fleeing Tesla. And now New York State wants to double down with a sweetheart deal? It doesnt make any sense, said Burke. In a statement to WIVB News 4 Monday night, State Senator April Baskin criticized the current arrangement: The plant pays $0 in property taxes. The jobs that are offered do not provide career-advancing opportunities, and the labor environment is not pro-worker. She emphasized the need for a better economic and environmental return on this public investment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional concerns have emerged over Teslas reported plans to build an AI supercomputer at the site. Environmental advocates are sounding the alarm on the potential consequences. Consequences of the use of all the enormous energy demands include added stress to the grid, increased emissions, threats to ecosystems, water supplies, and human health. So we are extremely concerned, said Chris Murawski, executive director of the Clean Air Coalition of Western New York. The pushback has also raised questions about what might happen to current workers if Tesla is removed from the facility. News 4 has reached out to both Tesla and Gov. Kathy Hochuls office for comment. Latest Local News Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) A new update to House Bill 3073 is changing how Texas law defines consent, particularly in cases where sexual assault victims were intoxicated or changed their minds during a sexual encounter. Previously, state law did not clearly define situations where a person became too intoxicated to consent to sexual contact. In such cases, if the individual had willingly consumed drugs or alcohol, prosecutors often struggled to pursue sexual assault charges. That legal gap has now been addressed. Under the revised language of House Bill 3073, it is now considered sexual assault if a person engages in sexual activity with someone who is incapable of consenting due to intoxication, even if the intoxication was voluntary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The update also reinforces that consent can be withdrawn at any time. If a person revokes consent during an encounter and the other individual continues the sexual act, it can now be prosecuted as sexual assault under Texas law. The legal change comes amid broader efforts in Texas and across the country to modernize sexual assault statutes and better support survivors in the courtroom. There are several resources across the Permian Basin available for victims of sexual assault: Midland Rape Crisis and Childrens Advocacy Center offers free and confidential services to victims. Crisis Center of West Texas provides shelter for sexual assault victims in Odessa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Sexual Assault Hotline is 1-800-656-4673. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. 5Star Life Insurance Company has appointed John Naum as its new CFO, succeeding Kimberley Wooding, who has retired from the position. Wooding stated: John and I have collaborated closely to ensure a smooth transition of the CFO role. I am confident that his financial acumen will support 5Star Lifes ongoing growth while preserving our financial strength. Naum has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry. Most recently, he was the associate vice-president of finance at United Educators Insurance, where he assisted the CFO with financial strategy, reporting, budgeting, forecasting and investment management. His previous positions include CFO at Loggerhead, VP of finance at Northern Neck Insurance, and finance roles at Allianz, Genworth, DXC Technology and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. 5Star Life president Larry Spencer said: We are thrilled to welcome John to our team. He brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in financial leadership that will be invaluable as we navigate the evolving landscape of our industry and implement the next phase of our enterprise strategic plan. John added: It is a privilege to step into this role with 5Star Life. I am committed to advancing the organisations meaningful mission and supporting its strategic objectives. 5Star Life, which operates as the life insurance underwriter for the Armed Forces Benefit Association's member benefits, along with offering group and worksite voluntary insurance products, is licensed across 49 US states. "5Star Life Insurance hires new CFO " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Law enforcement has released additional information on the former elementary school teacher who was arrested after he was accused of sexually assaulting minors. On June 12, police arrested 66-year-old Matthew Gogan, who was formerly employed as a teacher at Stratton Meadows Elementary School in Colorado Springs between 2018 and 2020. In the arrest papers, he was described as a W.I.N. (What I Need) teacher, a class which is taken to assist students in academic areas they are struggling with. Now, detectives with the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) said they have reason to believe there may be additional victims. CSPD: Former elementary school teacher arrested in sexual assault investigation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to an affidavit, the first incident involving Gogan was reported in April 2019. A student disclosed that they were waiting in the school office, and Gogan, who was already sitting there, allegedly placed his hand on her upper thigh and massaged her inappropriately. Gogan also commented on how the student was as pretty as another person whose name was redacted from the affidavit. Per the arrest papers, a witness said the student had looked at her with a help me look, and the witness asked what happened. Documents state that the student had whispered to the witness what Gogan had said to her. The witness said she had observed Gogans hand on the students hip and that he was saying something to the student. The affidavit further says that the witness observed the student had a look of terror, which caused her to stop and ask if she was okay. During that incident, Gogan confirmed the comment he made but denied touching her inappropriately and said he at most may have placed his arm around the top of her shoulders, though he did not remember it well because it was a non-extrordinary event to him. On the arrest papers, it was also noted that Gogan would stop the student in the morning at the door, and when he saw her, he grabbed her and forced her to hug him. She said he did not do this with other children. Gogan denied hugging her and denied her ever being in one of his classes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April 2025, another student came forward and disclosed that when she was eight years old and in second grade, she was participating in a W.I.N. class. The student said during class, she would write a paragraph, then bring it to Gogan to evaluate. She said that each time, he would have her stand close to him, and would place his hands on her lower back and rub her as he told her she did really good. Mr. Gogan repeated this behaviour during the following instances when she presented him with her work to evaluate. She said she did not think much of it at the time because she did not know what was happening. The student said the incident happened around five years ago. The student also said Gogan had massaged and touched her inappropriately. Another person who also came forward described Gogan as a touchy individual, especially with female students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gogan faces two counts of Sexual Assault on a Child by One in a Position of Trust. Detectives are asking victims, or if anyone knows someone who may have been a victim of Gogan, to contact CSPD at (719) 444-7000 or the Pikes Peak Area Crimes Stoppers at (719) 634-STOP (7867). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A 22-year-old Midland man was arrested after investigators say he severely assaulted his girlfriend during an argument, leaving her with a possible broken nose, a chipped tooth, and multiple injuries across her body. Rene Reyes Rodriguez was arrested on July 19 and charged with Aggravated Assault Causing Serious Bodily Injury, Family Violence, a second-degree felony. Credit: MCSO records According to an affidavit filed by a Midland County Sheriffs deputy, the victim was found receiving medical treatment from EMS outside her mothers home after she fled the scene with her two children. Paramedics told the deputy the woman may have suffered a broken nose. Deputies noted visible deformity and a runny, bloody nose consistent with blunt trauma to the face. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman told deputies the assault happened earlier that morning, around 5 a.m., at the couples residence on West County Road 116. She said it started with an argument involving her sister-in-law and escalated once she returned to the RV where she lived with Rodriguez. She said during the argument, Rodriguez punched her in the nose with a closed fist. The impact, she said, caused immediate pain, bleeding, and chipped teeth. She told deputies that Rodriguez continued the assault by pulling her hair and striking her repeatedly throughout her body. She said she did not fight back. After the assault, she said Rodriguez eventually stopped and allowed her to clean up. The two later fell asleep in the RV. When they woke up later that morning, she told Rodriguez she wanted to leave and take her belongings. At that point, she said he became aggressive again, refusing to let her leave, following her around the RV, and ultimately throwing her items out. During this confrontation, Rodriguez allegedly hurled a glass cologne bottle at her, striking her left arm. Deputies observed a fresh cut to her elbow where she said the bottle had hit her. The victim told deputies she was finally able to grab her keys, gather her children, and drive to her mothers house, where she called for medical help. She said she wanted to press charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriguez was arrested the next day and booked into the Midland County Detention Center. Rodriguez remains in custody as of Tuesday morning, with a $250,000 bond. The case remains pending in Midland County Justice Court, Precinct 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. Migrants are exploiting a family reunion scheme set up after the Afghanistan kill list scandal to trick their way into Britain, insiders have claimed. Some migrants evacuated under the Governments emergency resettlement scheme are contacting people in Afghanistan offering safe arrivals by plane, according to multiple sources in the Afghan community. Other Afghans in the UK report being approached with offers of up to 20,000 per person to falsely list strangers in their home country as family members for evacuation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One Afghan living in the north of England told The Telegraph that he had been contacted by at least three people asking him to register their names and relatives as his wife, brother, or sister to secure passage to Britain. Another migrant who arrived in Britain in 2023, said: Lots of people came here like this and more will be coming. The Government has basically opened an official smuggling route many have already come, and many more are on the way. People are being smuggled into Britain with all expenses paid by the Government. A lot of people came this way. A lot. The resettlement scheme, known as the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR), was set up for Afghans named on a leaked kill list that exposed the identities of thousands who worked with British Forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those travelling to the UK can bring extended family members with them. Defence ministers initially wanted to restrict arrivals to married couples and their children, but UK courts repeatedly expanded the eligibility criteria, citing the European Convention on Human Rights. Afghans claim that some people are exploiting these rules to bring in migrants masquerading as members of their families. Migrants are willing to pay the money because it is a far safer means of getting to the UK than using people smugglers to get them across the Channel in small boats. Some of those offering to bring migrants in are demanding payment under the hawala system Arabic for transfer or trust making it impossible for law enforcement to track the flow of money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has even been claimed that Afghans living in temporary accommodation in Britain are using the funds to buy houses and land in Afghanistan. It follows reports that some have brought as many as 22 family members to the UK under the ARR. Government sources say Afghans who were flown to Britain brought an average of eight family members with them, leaving officials scrambling to find accommodation for them. On Saturday, it also emerged that civil servants warned the Defence Secretary that letting tens of thousands of Afghans enter the UK risks community cohesion amid a potential wave of homelessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Migrants using people smugglers to flee Afghanistan for Britain are even returning to the country part way through their journey to the UK because they believe they could exploit the scheme instead. Firouz, 29, a computer science graduate from Herat, Afghanistan, currently living in Iran, said: It would cost me the same amount to keep going with smugglers plus theres the danger of the journey, and I might not even make it to Britain. But if someone is willing to take the same amount to get me in another way, why not? He added that his family has started exploring such options by reaching out to people in Britain, hoping to be listed as someones husband, son, brother anything that works. Another migrant said: They [Afghans in Britain] demand up to 20,000 to add your name to the list. You have to pay their relatives in Afghanistan, and then the money is sent to them in Britain in small amounts through the hawala system and currency exchange shops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Telegraph has previously revealed that small boat smugglers across the Channel and asylum seekers use the same system to move funds. They want you to pay in cash first, the Afghan man added. They even tell you to sell your house or car. But if you say you cant raise the money, they demand cars, jewellery, houses and land. An Afghan currently staying in a Home Office hotel in the Midlands added: They [Afghans] are not doing it to save lives its about money. A lot of people are getting very rich. Theyre living in Britain while adding to their property back in Afghanistan. The Government set up the ARR to airlift people named in the data breach to the UK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 4, John Healey, the Defence Secretary, was told that continuing to let Afghans and their family members enter the UK would increase the cumulative pressure on local councils in cities including London and Manchester. Under the ARR, a minimum of 730 per year could present as homeless, the document said. Civil servants added that this estimate may be overly optimistic, meaning that the true figure of homeless new arrivals placing disproportionate pressures on council services could be far higher. Whitehall sources previously told The Telegraph that one person who came to the UK was allowed to bring 22 family members, while others were in the high teens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It came after a dramatic change in eligibility criteria for Afghan family members. In November, High Court judge Mrs Justice Yip ruled that family members did not have to have a blood or legal connection to the applicant. Her ruling stated: The term family member does not have any fixed meaning in law or in common usage. Indeed, the word family may mean different things to different people and in different contexts. There may be cultural considerations there is no requirement for a blood or legal connection. The Conservative government took action in 2023 when it learnt that a list of nearly 19,000 Afghans who had applied to come to Britain was wrongly shared by a defence official in 2022. The public was kept in the dark because of a super-injunction from September 2023 until last week. A Taliban fighter stands guard as people move past him - AAMIR QURESHI/Getty Government sources insisted that robust checks were in place to prevent criminals from entering the UK and biometric tests, including fingerprinting and facial recognition, were used to check peoples identity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, sources in Afghanistan pointed out that bribing officials to obtain false passports is commonplace and record-keeping is poor, meaning that there may be little reliable data against which to check someones identity. A Government spokesman said: There is no evidence to support any of these claims and we strongly refute them. Any family member that relocates to the UK alongside a Principal Applicant must undergo robust biometric and security checks and thorough eligibility assessments to prove connection and dependence. 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. For Ai-jen Poo, theres one key element that exists at the core of who we are as a nation: care. Rightfully acclaimed as an expert on caregiving, Poo was born in Pittsburgh to Taiwanese parents who immigrated to the United Statesand shes been surrounded by caregivers her entire life. Her mother was an oncologist, her father was a molecular biologist, and her grandmother was a nurse. With direct insight into the invisible load that is often carried, Poo has dedicated her lifes work to advocating for and reimagining how society views and treats the labor of caregivers. Poo is the author of The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Elder Boom in a Changing America, co-founder and executive director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, as well as co-founder of Caring Across Generations and SuperMajority. Shes been recognized as one of Times 100 Most Influential People in the World and one of Fortune 50s Worlds Greatest Leadersand now shes being recognized as a Parents Next Gen Winner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres how shes shaping the world, with care, one step at a time. You grew up surrounded by caregivers. What did that teach you about the invisible labor that they carry? Caregivers have so many superpowers, but one in particular is just the ability to exercise agency and take action even when you feel like you dont have any control over a situation. I think a lot of people become caregivers and theres a moment of joy in becoming parents. Then some people become caregivers in a moment of crisis, and either way, your world kind of changes, and you often feel like you lose a sense of control over your environment. What Ive always found so inspiring about caregivers is [that] even amidst lots of chaos and change and new challenges, caregivers find a way to show up and make sure that the people they love have what they need. You mentioned that your grandparents were very involved in your upbringing and that your grandmother taught you a lot about caregiving. What is the most important lesson that you learned from her that influences how you approach your work today? To embrace the village. Whenever I was with hershe would take care of me almost every summer of my childhood there was always a village of aunties and uncles. I dont even know who my blood relatives [were] and it didnt matter. It was like the village in the village, which was an intergenerational village. Everybody looked out for each other and helped to take care of each other. Just seeing the village in action reminded me how untenable it isas I grew older and saw so many different family situationsto think about being a parent or a caregiver alone. We should just really all know and remember that caregiving is meant to be a collective endeavor. Embracing the village is so important. How do you feel the intergenerational village has transformed over the years? Many modern parents and caregivers express the lack of support they feel as theyre raising children. Thats where I think that the parents who have found communities and built communities of other parents and caregivers, who have embraced childcare providers and early childhood educators and neighbors as part of the village [come in]. I think that the modern-day village is all of us. Its the care workers, its the family, its the friends, its the neighbors. The more intentional we are about building it, I think the stronger it can beand Ive seen that play out so many times. What do you think is the most pressing issue facing children and families in 2025? In 2026? The most pressing issue Im focused on right now is threats to Medicaid, which is the program through which almost 80 million people get their healthcare. The program is so much more than a healthcare program. It funds healthcare for 1 in 5 children in the country, and it funds 40% of all childbirths in the country. Many health centers and hospitals, especially rural hospitals, are funded almost entirely through the Medicaid program. Its also a long-term care program, so if you need care or more services and support as an older person or a person with disabilities or a chronic illness, oftentimes your only option for support is through Medicaid. What that means is 70% of homecare workers are paid for through the Medicaid program. Our families rely so heavily on this program, and theres a [bill that was passed that will] cut it by over $700 billion, which would be devastating for the country and so many families who rely on Medicaid as a lifeline. So, Im really focused on protecting our care. Why do you think women's labor in this space is devalued and what effects have you seen that have? At the end of the day, our economic system has assigned value to some forms of work over others, and its often associated with the race and gender of the person doing the work. The work of care, for example, has always been associated with women and taken for granted that women will sort of handle it, woman up, and make sure that the care that the family needs is taken care of. I think that the reason for that is that we have these hierarchies of human value that really shape our world and our systems have valued the contribution of men over women for generations. As that starts to change and as more people need care and more people participate in care, we have this generational opportunity to really change the way that we value and support it. Right now, 38% of all family caregivers are men, and all of usmen, women, people of all gendersneed care. Both as parents and as we age or become disabled so the universality of the need and the experiences, especially in this age and era, gives us a really unique generational opportunity to make sure that it is valued in a whole new way and not associated with any one gender, but valued by all and everyone who does it be valued as well. Can you talk about the National Domestic Workers Alliance and its purpose? The National Domestic Workers Alliance is an organization that represents the 2.2 million nannies, homecare workers, and cleaners who work inside our homes, supporting families. This is work that has historically been undervalued and excluded from some of the most basic protections, even as its seen as some of the most essential and fundamental work in our economy. They call it the work that makes all other work possible. This domestic workers alliance is working to make every domestic work job a good job that you can take pride in and support your family on and to ultimately bring dignity and respect to the work. By the way, the work of care is among the fastest-growing professions in our economy because theres such a huge demand for care work. Every day in our country, 10,000 babies are born and 10,000 of us turn 65. Were living longer than ever before, and so the needs on both ends of the generational spectrum are growing, and these are jobs that also cant be outsourced or automated. Theres no AI that can take care of our kids or parents yet, and so, again, we have this generational opportunity to invest in making care jobs good jobs that you can really take pride in, and that is what the National Domestic Workers Alliance is working towards. Is there anyone in your family or community who inspires your work? I would say my grandmother. She really inspired me in many ways as a caregiver for me and my sister, and my mother, but also for the village that she was a part of before she passed away. She always approached hardship from a place of opportunity. She was always very joyful. She was one of those people who believed that if you laugh really hard three times a day, youll live a really, really healthy life. She believed that laughter was the key to a good life, and I think she might be right about that. I think it helped her stay hopeful and look towards the future and see every hardship as an opportunity for growth and for change that could be possible if we make it so. I think I got that sense of optimism and possibility from her. How do you hope that the care we pour into caregivers will change over the next few years? We have over 105 million family caregivers in our current day. We have more than 33 million households that have children under the age of 18. We are a caregiving nation, and I believe that if we continue to come together to support each other, to take care of those that we love, theres nothing that we cant accomplish. That is an unstoppable force for change, and I have seen the care movement grow so much since COVID. Weve really started to come together in unprecedented ways. I just want to see us continue to do so and overcome obstacles, or every message that tells us that we dont have the most important things in common, which is care. I hope that everybody understands that we are connected by care and we are more powerful than ever and will continue to be so if we continue to find each other. Read the original article on Parents The crew of a B-52H Stratofortress that had a near-miss with a civilian airliner near Minot International Airport last Friday told air traffic control they were nearby, but were not informed a passenger jet was in the area, the Air Force said. The passenger jet, flight 3788 from SkyWest Airlines, was on approach to land at the Minot airport the evening of July 18 when it had to veer sharply to avoid the B-52. Both planes ultimately landed safely. A passenger took video of the pilots explanation of what happened afterwards, which was widely shared online. Nobody told us about the B-52 in the area, the pilot told passengers. Theres no radar here. The tower does everything visually. 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, and nobody said, Hey, theres also a B-52 in the pattern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minot Air Force Base released a statement Monday night that detailed its understanding of the incident, and said the B-52s flyover of the North Dakota State Fairgrounds was planned in advance and cleared by the FAA. The base said the airports air traffic control personnel and the Minot bases Radar Approach Control, or RAPCON, were among those informed about the B-52s flyover plans. The Air Force said the B-52 crew contacted RAPCON at about 7:10 pm to get ready for the flyover and remained in contact as the plane flew to a holding point 12 miles east of the fairgrounds. During that holding period, the Air Force said, the B-52 crew told both RAPCON and the airports air traffic control tower about their flyover plans. The Air Force said that at 7:40, the B-52 crew told the bases RAPCON that it was heading towards the fairgrounds, roughly two miles southeast of the Minot airport. Three minutes later, RAPCON told the B-52 crew to contact the air traffic control tower, which the crew did, the Air Force said. The tower instructed the B-52 to keep flying two miles westbound after the flyover was done, the Air Force said, but air traffic controllers did not tell the B-52 a passenger jet was inbound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The B-52s flyover happened at 7:50, the Air Force said, and it kept flying west as instructed to clear the airports airspace before returning to base. The Air Force said the FAA is investigating the incident. SkyWest said it is conducting an investigation as well. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WRBL) The Alabama Public Service Commission has approved the new 483 area code overlay for residents in the state. The approval that happened on March 6, 2024, granted the new 483 area code to replace the 334 area code that serves Selma, Montgomery, Prattville, Pike Road, Tuskegee, Auburn, Opelika, Phenix City, Eufaula, Dothan, Enterprise, Troy, Greenville, and a large portion of central and southeast Alabama, according to the Alabama Public Service Commission. Residents in the region with the 334 area code can start adjusting to the 10-digit dialing window beginning on Jan. 23, 2026, prior to the scheduled implementation of the new 483 area code overlay on Feb. 23, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the new three-digit code, residents in the designated areas will have enough supply of new telephone numbers as the 334 area code will exhaust by the third quarter of 2026, according to the Alabama Public Service Commission. The public service commission says new customers and customers requesting an additional telephone line may be assigned the new 483 area code pending activation. The implementation will not affect customers existing service in the central and southeast Alabama region. Although this three-digit area code will be a change for some individuals in Alabama, there will be no changes for three-digit numbers such as 911 and others. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Former state legislator and Tuscaloosa city councilor Cynthia Almond is the newly appointed president of the Alabama Public Service Commission, the states top utility regulator. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News) 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. There arent many jobs in Alabama like president of the Public Service Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states chief utility regulator is the head of a three-person council that sets rates and policies for the states electric, gas, telecommunications and other utilities. If Alabama Power, the states largest electricity provider, wants to raise rates or build a new plant, the PSC has to sign off. Same if Spire wants to change gas rates or a new company wants to install fiber internet service. The commission, in some circumstances, also regulates taxis, buses, railroads, water utilities, trucking companies and wastewater systems. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Now, for the first time since 2012, theres a new boss at the sometimes under-the-radar utility commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cynthia Lee Almond, 60, was sworn in on June 16 as the new president of the PSC, leaving her seat in the Alabama House of Representatives to become the states top utility regulator. The new gig is a drastic change from Almonds previous role, splitting time between the legislature and running her Tuscaloosa law firm, which specializes in estate planning, probate, real estate and business law. Before that, she spent 16 years on the Tuscaloosa City Council and worked as an assistant dean at the University of Alabama School of Law. In her first interview as PSC president, Almond told Inside Climate News she had a lot to learn about utility regulation. I will do my best to get in there and get educated and learn as much as I can so I can make informed decisions, Almond said. Thats a big part of it. You cant make decisions about all this if you dont really understand what it is, and youre not born understanding this stuff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Almond was appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey to fill the seat vacated by Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh, who left the commission in May to accept a Trump administration job in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Cavanaughs 12-year tenure leading the PSC was not without controversy. She and Commissioner Jeremy Oden rejected calls to hold formal rate hearings for Alabama Power, the states largest electricity provider, as utility commissions in most states do. The commission changed from using the industry-standard return on equity metric to gauge utility profit margins to a novel weighted retail return formula that makes comparisons to utilities in other states more complicated. Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh served for 12 years as president of the Public Service Commission before taking a job with the Trump administration earlier this year. (File) Under Cavanaughs leadership, the PSC approved a controversial fee for small-scale, rooftop solar projects that solar advocates say unfairly stifles the residential and commercial markets in the state. The fee is currently $5.41 per kilowatt of solar capacity per month. For a typical 5-kilowatt rooftop solar array, the fee adds $27 each month to the customers power bill, regardless of how much the panels produce. The legality of the fee is now being challenged in federal court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the commission last year rejected efforts by environmental groups to intervene over fuel rates that Alabama Power charges its customers. Earlier this month, a Montgomery circuit court judge dismissed an appeal seeking to overturn the PSCs decision. David Hughes, a political science professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, said that a change in leadership at the PSC could provide room for some change in policy, though as a single member of a three-person commission, Almond wont be able to make sweeping, unilateral changes. The popular perception is that the PSC historically has been pretty favorable to groups like Alabama Power, and its not exactly a secret that Alabama doesnt have the cheapest electricity rates, Hughes said. So people are going to be looking to this appointment to see what, if anything, changes. Almond said she planned to maintain the status quo at the commissionat least for now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to start out continuing the practices, whatevers been going on, lets just keep doing that until we figure out if thats a good thing, not a good thing, or we want to do something different, Almond said. As to formal rate hearings for Alabama Power and other utilities, Almond declined to preview what her stance will be but said it was critical to strike the right balance between utility profit and keeping utilities affordable. Our whole role is to be the interface between the public and the utilities, she said. Making sure people have affordable, reliable energy sources, and also, on the other hand, regulating the utilities and making sure theyre complying with the parameters that had already been set up for them, but also understanding that they need to remain solvent in order to provide us reliable and affordable energy. The politics of utility regulation in Alabama Utility rates have long been a contentious political issue in Alabama, and Cavanaughs tenure leading the PSC was no exception. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Almond said she was a Republican and would run on a Republican ticket, but acknowledged that she may handle things differently than her predecessor, perhaps due to her legal background. Im a fact gatherer, and one of my first challenges will be to educate myself on the energy industry, she said. I mean, its complicated, its very technical. And obviously I dont have to be an expert in everything, but I do have a certain amount of learning to do on all the industries, and Ill spend time doing that. She said that includes speaking with the utilities the PSC regulates, as well as environmental groups which are often critical of the PSC and regulated utilities. Theres just a lot to learn at this point, and everybodys offered to help educate me, she said. I think theres nothing wrong with that, and just making sure were hearing from all different types is important. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That message is a notable shift from the sentiment from her predecessor, Cavanaugh, towards environmental groups. In her first year as PSC President, Cavanaugh co-authored an op-ed published on the PSC website criticizing environmental extremists that she claimed had waged a full frontal attack on coal-based energy production, that would harm Alabamas economy and increase energy prices. When asked about the op-ed, Cavanaugh told The Birmingham News, I want to exclude the environmentalists from taking part in the process [of setting utility rates]. From 2012 on, PSC campaigns often echoed national politicswith candidates pledging to fight the Obama and Biden administrations, or support Donald Trumpas opposed to focusing on statewide issues like electricity rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cavanaugh was chair of the Alabama Republican Party before being elected to the commission, whereas Almond is a relative newcomer to partisan politics. On the city council, we did not run on a party ticket, Almond said. In Tuscaloosa, a pothole is not a Republican pothole or a Democratic pothole. Its just a pothole. The same could be said for Alabama power bills, which are frequently cited as being among the highest in the nation. Almond received praise from across Alabamas political spectrum when she was appointed by Ivey, a Republican, to the PSC post. Cynthia has proven to be an extremely effective public servant and leader, and I am confident the people of Alabama will be even better served when she takes the helm at the Public Service Commission, Ivey said in a news release. Since 2021, I have been able to count on Cynthia to get real, meaningful work done in the Legislature, and while I know the people of Tuscaloosa will miss her representation in the State House, every person across this state will now benefit from her leadership on the Public Service Commission. PSC President Cynthia Almond and Gov. Kay Ivey following Almonds swearing in. (Alabama Governors Office) Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, a Democrat who lost to Ivey in Alabamas 2018 gubernatorial election, said Almond was an excellent choice for PSC president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maddox, who began his sixth term as mayor this year, said Almond played a pivotal role in the citys growth during her 16 years on the city council, four as council president. She was a key leader as we continued to grow Tuscaloosa, Maddox said. Ms. Almond is thoughtful, progressive and always bends to do the right thing. I think shes a terrific choice. Maddox said that during his run for governor, he asked Almond to stay on for another term as council president so that she could step in as interim mayor if he won. If I was fortunate enough to win, with Cynthia being the council president, I knew she would make a fantastic mayor, Maddox said. Daniel Tait, executive director of clean energy advocacy group Energy Alabama, said he had not had any dealings with Almond yet, but had positive impressions so far. Its clear that shes sharp, Tait said. Shes a lawyer by training, so its very good that she understands the law, she understands regulation. And thats going to be a big gain to the expertise of the commission. Energy Alabama has been a frequent critic of the PSC under Cavanaugh, and was the group the commission blocked from intervening in the docket over Alabama Powers fuel rates. I dont think that means were going to start magically winning everything at the commission, but Im happy that therell be somebody who can listen to reason, well-reasoned arguments, and make a fair decision, Tait said. And I dont think that means siding with Alabama Power every time. Almond to split time between Tuscaloosa and Montgomery Almond said she spoke with Cavanaugh after it was announced she would become the new president. I just wanted to hear from her, Almond said. Shes been up there a while, so whatever she had to say, and she had a lot to say. Almond said the conversation was very helpful. I think its a mistake not to have some handoff from one administration to the other, she said. You dont have to agree with everything somebody did or didnt do, but you at least want to hear what it was. Alabama Power is also a major political player in the state. The company does not contribute directly to Public Service Commission candidates, but does invest widely in other elections. An ICN examination of campaign finance records did not show any direct contributions from Alabama Power to Almond. Almond said shes not certain whether the company contributed to her campaigns for Tuscaloosa City Council or Alabama Legislature. Its quite possible, but I honestly dont know, Almond said. But Ive also taken a lot from individuals who have power bills. Leading the Public Service Commission will be the first time Almond is accountable to voters outside the Tuscaloosa area. District 63, which Almond represented in the Alabama House, fully encompasses the district she represented on the Tuscaloosa City Council for 16 years before joining the Legislature. Public Service Commissioners and the PSC president are elected statewide every four years with a salary of $114,639. Ive never run a statewide race before, so thats kind of daunting, but there are people who have, so I just have to find the people that can help me, she said. Im very excited about that. Its something I was interested in, I was just trying to figure out what the right [statewide] role was, and I really think its worked out quite well. Almond grew up in Tuscaloosa and earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Alabama before moving to Decatur for her then-husbands law practice. She worked in private practice for three years before taking a job at the University of Alabama School of Laws office of advancement, where she rose to assistant dean over 12 years. She took time off to raise her two children in Tuscaloosa before founding Almond Attorneys, a small firm focused on estate planning, probate, real estate and business law, where she still works. After 16 years on the city council, Almond said she was encouraged to run for District 63 in the Alabama House in 2020. Bill Poole had resigned from the seat to become finance director for Ivey, who four years later nominated Almond for the PSC position. Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, speaks to a colleague in the Alabama House of Representatives on May 6, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) Almond said that during her four years in the Legislature, she worked with Iveys office to advance legislation on affordable housing with an eye on workforce development, as well as a bill called the Colby Act, which provided means for adults with disabilities to enter into supported decision-making arrangements, a more flexible option that the strict guardianship relationship established in previous laws. Almonds close relationship with the governors office may have helped put her on the governors radar, Hughes said. Appointments, historically, have been a way to reward allies or repay political debts: to make sure that your faction of the party has their hands on the levers of power. Almond and Ivey both represent the more centrist wing of the Republican Party, particularly among southern politicians, Hughes said. A scorecard of governors produced by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative nonprofit, ranked Ivey 28th among state executives, behind even some conservative Democrats. Ivey, 80, who is barred from running for a third consecutive term, has also broken from GOP colleagues views on government appointments in her final term. Earlier this year, for example, Ivey ignored the suggestion of the states attorney general to reappoint his ally, Leigh Gwathney, as head of the states pardon and parole board. Gwathney had been widely criticized for voting to block paroles or pardons, even in cases where her fellow board members suggested they were warranted. That included voting against parole to a long-term care facility for an inmate who was quadriplegic and non-verbal. Under Gwathney, Alabamas parole rate for eligible inmates fell from 55 percent in 2017 to 8 percent in 2023, before rebounding to 20 percent last year. Almonds appointment, then, could be another example of Ivey feeling more free to appoint politicians of her own ilk, particularly in light of her inability to run again for the states top office, Hughes said. During her time in the Legislature, Almond also sponsored the House version of an updated Alabama Open Records Act, signed into law last year. The bill established timelines for government bodies to respond to open records requests, a glaring omission from the previous version. Almond said the open records bill, like many Public Service Commission decisions, was about finding the right balance between competing interests. People have a right to know and request [information], but at the same time, you want it to be reasonable and not too onerous on the people having to get the information to the point where it breaks the bank for them, Almond said. So theres a balance there, but there needs to be a process, and thats not too hard to do. Im just delighted we have a process and some parameters in place and some timelines and guidelines for everybody to know what theyre supposed to do. Almonds legislative record showed a willingness to reach across the political aisle, according to Hughes, whos studied Alabama politics for years. One of Hughes analyses of the voting records of members of the Alabama House of Representatives concluded that during the latest legislative session, she was the second-most bipartisan member of the legislative body. Almond also broke from her party colleagues on occasion during her time in the statehouse. In 2023, she was the sole Republican vote against a bill that banned state contracts with entities that boycott businesses because the business engages in certain sectors or does not meet certain environmental or corporate governance standards. The anti-ESG legislation ultimately passed the legislature and was signed into law. Almond said she plans to scale back, but not eliminate, her work at the law firm while working full time at the Commission. She said Alabama courts have made clear that commissioners can have outside income, but the PSC is intended to be a full-time, 40-hour-per-week job. First of all, Ill do whatever I need to do [for the PSC], and figure it out as we go, she said at a conference room at her Tuscaloosa law office. Im withdrawing my personal involvement, not totally, but in large part, in my law firm. But Ill work out of here. Almond said she plans to work on PSC business two days a week at the PSC offices in Montgomery and three from her law office in Tuscaloosa, in addition to the various travels around the state that the job entails. She said she keeps an apartment in Montgomery from her time in the Legislature, and will make the roughly two-hour drive from Tuscaloosa as needed. Thats what I hope will work, and I hope is the right thing to do, she said. A study has shown that destructive weather patterns are causing massive strain on the California home insurance market, according to InsuranceNewsNet. What's happening? California has been battered by catastrophic wildfires in recent years, leaving properties and lives in shambles. Direct air capture company Deep Sky has released findings showing that one in five homes in the most extreme fire risk areas of California have lost insurance coverage since 2019. Many insurance companies pulled coverage just months before the record-setting Palisades fires in January 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The home insurance market is in a state of crisis. The highest risk areas of California have effectively become uninsurable and will soon become unaffordable," said the report. "Banks will not approve mortgages without home insurance, and few will buy a house without a mortgage (in a high risk wildfire area no less). Without significant policy intervention, these properties will eventually become worthless." Why is home insurance important? "We are in a statewide insurance crisis, affecting millions of Californians," said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, per InsuranceNewsNet. "Taking this on requires tough decisions. This is not a game." This sentiment has been shared by the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, which has projected that climate shifts will prompt a housing market crash worse than the one in 2008. What's being done about home insurance hikes? Wildfire season has begun in the state, and solutions are hard to find. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "California is just entering the worst phase of its crisis," said Diane Delaney, executive director of the Private Risk Management Association, per InsuranceNewsNet. "Regulatory limitations have made it difficult for insurers to adjust pricing or expand capacity in high-risk areas." While California has a state-backed insurer of last resort, the amount of risk they're able to be exposed to is limited. Florida has attempted several reforms, which have included financial support for insurers, but homeowner rates have continued to rise despite the "corporate welfare." 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. Alaska Airlines planes sit on the tarmac at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington state on March 25, 2024. Credit - Stephen BrashearGetty Images Hundreds of Alaska Airlines flights and thousands of passengers travel plans were disrupted over the weekend and well into Monday following a significant IT outage that resulted in the grounding of planes for about three hours. The airline has since resumed flights, but the company said in a statement late Monday that the effects of the grounding could result in possible additional disruptions as well as delays. Travelers have reported waiting for hours in ticketing queues and sleeping in airports because of the outage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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, the airline said in its statement. Heres what to know. What happened? Flights were grounded at 8 p.m. PT on July 20 after the outage. Alaska Airlines said a critical piece of multi-redundant hardware, which was manufactured by a third party, suddenly failed. The unexpected failure affected the airlines systems, requiring the ground stop. The stop was lifted at 11 p.m. PT, Sunday. The Seattle-based airline assured that the IT outage is not a cybersecurity event and is not related to any other current eventsincluding the recent worldwide Microsoft hack. It also said the safety of its flights remain unaffected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Sunday, the airline cancelled more than 200 flights, with 116 cancellations on Mondayaffecting some 15,600 passengers. What can you do if youre an affected passenger? The airline advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Alaska Airlines said it offers a flexible travel policy for those who wish to change or cancel their flights. According to its website, Alaska Airlines will provide hotel accommodations, arrange ground transport, and distribute meal vouchers for those affected by the outage. It may also help arrange flights for another air carrier to the passengers destination. These IT outage-related measures apply only to tickets purchased on or before July 20, with original travel dates between the 20th and the 23rd. New travel dates are expected to be from Monday, July 21, until July 28. How common are airline IT outages? Tech-related flight disruptions are common, though they are usually resolved in hours. Many airlines have long relied on aging computer systems, and the aviation industry has been criticized for failing to modernize swiftly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, a massive Microsoft IT outage caused the grounding of flights worldwide. In January 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered the grounding of all departing flights nationwide for 90 minutes because of a computer issue that prevented airports from updating safety notices that help warn pilots of potential flight hazards. The FAA found no evidence of a cyberattack, instead tracing the issue to a corrupt file. And in December 2022, Southwest Airlines cancelled thousands of its flights over more than two weeks, stranding more than 2 million travelers at the height of the holiday season. The airlines operations were stymied by a winter storm, but the issue snowballed after the storm overwhelmed its crew-rescheduling system. Contact us at letters@time.com. By Nazrin Abdul The launch of the Zangazur Corridor has the potential to reduce freight transportation costs and significantly enhance the attractiveness of the route for regional trade, Azernews reports, citing Kenan Gurbanov, Secretary General of the Azerbaijan International Road Carriers Association (ABADA). Emphasizing the strategic importance of the corridor Gurbanov noted that the Zangezur Corridor is a globally significant project. "We are all eagerly awaiting its opening. At present, our freight shipments to Europe must pass through either Georgia or Iran, which increases both transportation time and costs. Once the Zangezur Corridor opens, the route will become shorter and transit will take place entirely through Azerbaijani territory, he said. Gurbanov noted that in addition to reducing costs, the corridor would make the route more attractive for international freight operators. Touching on ABADAs internal goals, Gurbanov stated that the organization aims to surpass 100 large companies using TIR Carnets by the end of the year. Currently, 85 companies are registered under the system. Our goal is to involve all Azerbaijani carriers in the TIR Carnet system, which directly contributes to improving service quality Were also working to expand the geographical footprint of our member companies. That footprint already reaches China, and our next objective is to extend it deeper into Europe, he said. Gurbanov also addressed challenges faced by Azerbaijani carriers operating in Iran: There are many fines and artificial barriers in Iran, which complicate deep access into the country. Despite this, expanding our freight operations in that direction remains one of our goals, he concluded. Druzhba has outlived its Soviet political origins but not its strategic importance. It continues to anchor Russian crude flows into Central and Eastern Europe, even as war-related disruptions and EU diversification efforts steadily erode its reliability. Several branches have been repeatedly idled, rerouted, or mothballed due to physical sabotage, sanctions-related payment bottlenecks, and commercial realignment. With a peak capacity of approximately 1.4 million barrels per day, the network is supported by a series of mainline and intermediary pumping stations and tank farms totaling roughly 1.5 million cubic meters in crude storage. The Druzhba Pipeline, also known as the Friendship Pipeline, remains one of the largest and most geopolitically sensitive crude transport corridors in the world. Completed in 1964 to link Soviet oil fields to Warsaw Pact markets, the system now stretches over 4,000 kilometers from Russia through Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, terminating in Germany. Here are the 9 most geopolitically and economically significant oil and gas pipelines in the world: Control over these assets is power. It brings not just throughput revenue, but strategic influence, something increasingly visible in cross-continental projects like the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline , where infrastructure is both a commercial instrument and a geopolitical wager. As nations race to secure demand and derisk supply, pipeline politics is once again front and center. Yet pipelines also create friction lines. Infrastructure that cuts across borders or bottlenecks (Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal, Strait of Malacca) can become geopolitical flashpoints. Disruptions in these zones dont stay local. They echo globally in the form of price spikes, inventory swings, and rebalanced trade flows. What makes pipelines indispensable isnt just cost or carbon footprint; its continuity. Cross-border systems like Russias Druzhba and Canadas Keystone arent just conduits; they are arteries of energy security, designed to bypass naval chokepoints and harden supply resilience. These corridors knit together producers and consumers across continents, often out of sight, but never out of play. Pipelines are the unsung backbone of the global energy systemquietly moving billions of barrels of oil and trillions of cubic feet of gas with unmatched efficiency, reliability, and scale. In the U.S., they handle nearly 70% of all petroleum shipments, or over 14 billion barrels annually, without the headlines or volatility of seaborne trade. Story Continues As of late June 2025, pipeline flows remain fractured. Reuters reported on June 26 that U.S. crude inventories had posted another unexpected drawdown, helping to lift Brent and WTI benchmarks, despite Druzhba-linked volumes to Germany falling sharply as Kazakhstan cut June deliveries to just 160,000 tonnes. ESPO Pipeline (Russia to China and the Pacific) Crude oil: ~1.0 million barrels/day to China Ownership: Transneft and Rosneft ESPO Source: EJAtlas The ESPO (Eastern SiberiaPacific Ocean) pipeline is a Russian crude oil pipeline system that transports oil from Eastern Siberia to the Asia-Pacific markets. It's operated by the Russian pipeline company Transneft. The pipeline consists of two main sections: the first connects Taishet to Skovorodino, and the second connects Skovorodino to an oil export terminal at Kozmino Bay on the Pacific coast. The Skovorodino branch extends through Mohe to Daqing, China. Construction of the pipeline commenced in April 2006, with the section between Taishet and Talakan launched in reverse to pump oil from the Alinsky deposit in 2008. The initial capacity of the pipeline was 600,000 barrels per day, which increased to 1,000,000 bpd in 2016 with plans to expand it further to 1,600,000 bpd by 2025. Nord Stream 1 & 2 (Russia to Germany) Natural gas: 110 bcm/year (combined), both pipelines now inactive Ownership: Gazprom + European energy firms NS Source: Euronews Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 are offshore natural gas pipelines that run from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea. The two 1,224-kilometre pipelines offer the most direct connection between Russias vast gas reserves and Europes energy-hungry markets. The twin pipelines have a combined capacity to transport 55 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas per year. Located in Western Siberia on the Yamal Peninsula, the Bovanenkovo oil and gas condensate deposit supplies the bulk of the gas transported by the Nord Stream Pipelines. Bovanenkovo has estimated gas reserves of up to 4.9 trillion cubic meters. Nord Stream 1 has been operational since 2011, while Nord Stream 2, though completed in 2021, never entered service. Both pipelines have been at the center of geopolitical debate regarding energy security and European dependence on Russian gas. In September 2022, explosions damaged three of the four pipelines, leading to significant gas leaks and raising questions about sabotage. Keystone Pipeline System (Canada to U.S.) Crude oil: ~590,000 barrels/day (existing system, excluding XL) Ownership: TC Energy KS Source: BBC The Keystone Pipeline System is a critical and politically charged component of North Americas crude oil logistics network. Now operated by South Bow, a company spun off from TC Energys liquids division, Keystone transports crude and bitumen from Albertas oil sands deep into the U.S. refining heartland. Its core segments connect Hardisty, Alberta, to Steele City, Nebraska, and onward to key refining hubs in Illinois, Oklahoma, and the Gulf Coast. Phase I of the system stretches over 2,100 miles, delivering up to 590,000 barrels per day to Midwestern refineries. The broader network reaches as far as Port Arthur and Houston, Texas, integrating with the U.S. Gulf Coast's export and processing infrastructure. The controversial Keystone XL expansion, once planned to add 830,000 bpd in capacity, was canceled in 2021 following sustained regulatory and political opposition. Keystone has long stood at the intersection of energy strategy and environmental activism. Opponents argue that transporting diluted bitumen raises greater environmental and spill risks than conventional crude. Proponents counter that pipelines like Keystone enhance continental energy security, reduce reliance on seaborne imports, and support thousands of high-wage jobs in engineering, construction, and operations. BTC Pipeline (BakuTbilisiCeyhan) Crude oil: ~1.2 million barrels/day design capacity, ~600,000 actual Ownership: BP-led consortium KSP Source: EBRD The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline is a 1,768-kilometer-long pipeline spanning three countries that transports crude oil from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. It connects Baku, Azerbaijan, to Ceyhan, Turkey, passing through Tbilisi, Georgia. The pipeline became operational on May 25, 2005. The first phase of the pipeline was built by the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline company (BTC Co) and became operational in June 2006. The Azerbaijan and Georgia sections of the pipeline are operated by BP Plc. (NYSE:BP) on behalf of its shareholders in BTC Co., while BOTAS International Limited (BIL) operates the third section. BTC originally had a throughput capacity of one million barrels per day, which BP has since expanded to 1.2 million barrels per day by using chemicals that reduce drag along the pipeline, thus allowing higher flow rates. Last year, 305 tankers lifted 29 million tonnes of crude oil from Ceyhan. TANAP (Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline) Natural gas: 16 bcm/year current, expandable to 31 bcm Ownership: SOCAR, BOTA?, BP, SGC TANAP Source: Azerbaijan Ministry of Energy The Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) pipeline system is located in Turkey, stretching from the Turkey-Georgia border to the Turkey-Greece border, linking the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP) and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). The 1,811 km natural gas pipeline transports natural gas extracted in Azerbaijan to Turkey and then to Europe. The first phase of the pipeline was commissioned in June 2018, while the second phase of the pipeline was completed in November 2019. Back in 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan christened TANAP a regional peace project before announcing that the pipeline had reached its maximum capacity of 32 billion cubic meters of gas annually. IraqTurkey Pipeline (ITP) Crude oil: ~500,000600,000 barrels/day when operational Ownership: SOMO, Turkish Ministry of Energy KC Source: ZERGOGCOS Kirkuk-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline, also known as the IraqTurkey Crude Pipeline (ITP), is an operating oil pipeline that runs from the City of Kirkuk in northern Iraq to the Mediterranean terminal of Ceyhan in Turkey. The first phase of the 986-kilometer pipeline was completed in 1976, while the second parallel pipeline was completed in 1987. The pipeline system has a total capacity of 1.4 million bpd, effectively making Iraq the largest supplier of oil to Turkey while also providing an alternate route for the Middle Eastern producer to export its oil. Unfortunately, last year, Turkey suspended oil flows through the ITP after the ICC ordered the country to pay Iraq ~ $1.5 billion for past oil deliveries and to suspend export of crude oil from Kurdistan transported through ITP. The pivotal pipeline has now remained closed for two years. Trans Mountain Pipeline (Canada) Crude oil and products: expanded to ~890,000 barrels/day (from 300,000) Ownership: Government of Canada TM Source: Trans Mountain The Trans Mountain Pipeline is a Canadian pipeline system that carries crude and refined petroleum products from Edmonton, Alberta, to the coast of British Columbia, with delivery points in Kamloops, Sumas, and Burnaby. The Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX), which doubled the pipeline's capacity, became fully operational in May 2024 The expansion of TMX was intended to lower the Canadian oil industrys reliance on US-bound pipelines and American refiners, which forced Canadian producers to accept deeper discounts for their crude as well as leaving them exposed to oil price shocks. However, TMX is facing fresh challenges. While the project has successfully opened new export markets for Canadian crude oil, particularly to Asia, some companies are hesitant to pay the higher tolls associated with the project's cost overruns. This has resulted in utilization rates below initial forecasts, though the pipeline continues to provide significant economic benefits to Canada. China-Myanmar Oil and Gas Pipelines Crude oil: ~440,000 barrels/day Gas: ~12 bcm/year Ownership: CNPC CM Source: China Center The China-Myanmar Oil and Gas Pipelines are a strategic bypass best considered as Chinas engineered response to the so-called Malacca Dilemma. Stretching roughly 800 kilometers through Myanmar, the dual pipeline corridors allow Beijing to sidestep one of Asias most vulnerable maritime chokepoints. Crude oil sourced from the Middle East and Africa is offloaded at Myanmars Kyaukphyu port and piped directly into Yunnan Province, while a parallel gas line channels offshore natural gas to both China and domestic Myanmar markets. This inland route offers Beijing a rare overland alternative to the heavily patrolled Strait of Malacca, through which over 80% of Chinas oil imports have traditionally passed. More than just a hedge against naval disruption, the pipelines support four offtake stations within Myanmar, supplying local energy needs and reinforcing bilateral interdependence. For Myanmars government, the project has also become a vital revenue stream, anchored by steady transit fees and infrastructure payments from China. The corridor illustrates the broader logic of Chinas Belt and Road energy playbook: diversify routes, secure inland access, and extend regional leverage through fixed infrastructure. In an era of exposed sea lanes and shifting alliances, few links are as subtly significant. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Read this article on OilPrice.com Fishing boats are seen in Kodiak's St. Paul Harbor on Oct. 3, 2022. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Gov. Mike Dunleavy has canceled a broadly supported bill proposed by a legislative task force and intended to help commercial fishers in Alaska. The governor issued his veto of Senate Bill 156 on Wednesday, marking his seventh veto of a policy bill this year. Legislators will have an opportunity to call for an override vote on most of those vetoes when they meet Aug. 2 for a special legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 156, which was inspired by policies drafted by a joint House-Senate task force intended to evaluate the states commercial fishing industry, would transfer $3.69 million from a defunct state loan fund to the state-owned Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank, which provides loans to fishers. In his veto message, the governor said that in a year of limited revenues and competing needs, committing scarce public dollars to subsidize a private lender is not prudent. Until long-term fiscal policy is put into place, the state must preserve its limited resources. Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, was the lead sponsor of SB 156. In posts on social media, Kiehl called the veto a weird move because the bill was based on work he did with the governor, it passed through the Capitol by a combined 59-1 vote, and he said the governors office declined meetings to discuss it after the Legislature passed the bill. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Petty theft, vandalism and yes, even people treating your back door like a public restroom are headaches business owners know all too well. But one Albuquerque entrepreneur is proving you dont need a big budget or a security team to fight back. Thierry Gonzalez, who runs a business in downtown Albuquerque, decided to take matters into his own hands after repeated incidents of people loitering, using drugs and relieving themselves behind his store. Don't miss Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve just had a lot of problems with people using our back door as a bathroom or a place to shoot up or whatever, Gonzales told KOB 4. For less than $150, he built a high-impact deterrent using a Ring camera, PVC pipes, sprinklers and Wi-Fi solenoid valves to keep trespassers at bay. But is this DIY fix just clever or could it cause legal trouble in the long run? Spraying away trouble Gonzalez came up with a simple solution to the chaos outside his business. For three years, hes dealt with unsanitary and unsafe incidents part of a growing issue in Albuquerque, where homelessness rose to 2,394 people in 2023. Rather than wait for things to get worse, he took matters into his own hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they dont leave, then we spray them with water. That just seems to be the simplest way, and its a humane solution to getting someone to stop using our back door as a bathroom, Gonzales said. Other business owners are now asking how they can set up similar sprinkler systems to protect their property. The problem isnt new in Albuquerque. In 2023, KRQE Investigates reported that a business on Central Avenue was dealing with the same issues of homelessness, drug use and human waste all threatening its survival. I pick up out there the burnt tin foils that theyre doing the drugs with. I probably can clean up 100 a day, said Michael Spaeth, co-owner of Southwestern Minerals. The needles I can probably pick up 25, 30 a week. It blows in from the alley. The whole yard is just covered with drug residue. While local businesses are clearly struggling, questions remain about whether this approach is legal, and if its a sustainable solution or just a temporary fix to keep the lights on. 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 The legal solution Gonzalez says his creative setup is already making a difference. What used to be a twice-daily issue now happens only every other day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cant depend on somebody else to handle the problem for us, and were doing what we can to combat it on our own, but do it in a safe, you know, humane manner, he said. Whether his method is legal, however, remains unclear. According to KOB 4, New Mexico law doesnt explicitly address tactics like Gonzalezs, putting it in something of a gray area. Mayor Tim Keller has acknowledged the challenges businesses face. In 2024, he announced the Metro Homelessness Initiative (MHI), a program aimed at addressing housing issues, connecting unhoused individuals with jobs and creating paths out of homelessness through its A Better Way Forward campaign. Were acting with urgency, but what the City can do alone is not enough. We are inviting service providers, the business community, and elected leaders to come to the table this fall, pool our resources and turn the tide on homelessness, Keller said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Business owners dealing with similar problems are encouraged to reach out to local authorities or seek legal guidance. A little expert advice can go a long way in keeping things under control. 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. Jul. 21An Albuquerque man known for his extensive involvement in the lowriding community has died after a multi-vehicle crash Sunday morning. Cecil Barreras, 61, of Albuquerque, was killed when his 1958 Chevrolet Impala crashed into a semi-truck on Interstate 40. No one has been charged and the incident is under investigation, New Mexico State Police spokesperson Amanda Richards said in an email. At 7:57 a.m. Sunday, New Mexico State Police responded to a call of a multi-vehicle crash on westbound I-40 at Rio Grande NW, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2022 Nissan was "traveling at a high rate of speed" when the driver crashed into a jersey barrier, Richards said. While a witness was helping the driver of the Nissan, she said, Barreras suddenly hit his brakes, slid under a semi-truck, then his Impala caught fire. Barreras was taken to a local hospital where he died that evening, Richards said. "He was a major part of the lowrider community," Melissa Barreras, Barreras' daughter, said in an online fundraiser for his funeral expenses. "He helped so many people with cars, money even the shirt off his back if you asked him for it. He was the best part of our lives. He is deeply missed." On social media, there has been an outpouring of support for Cecil Barreras with comments ranging from prayers to how much Cecil Barreras loved cars. Tuesdays Top Stories Tuesdays Five Facts [1] ABQ mayor signs executive order for immigrant safety, rights 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. The city says the order reaffirms its commitment to support the citys immigrant community. New Mexico Speaker of the House Javier Martinez echoed the Mayors concerns, while some city councilors are pushing back against the idea. [2] Family speaks about father killed in a crash The family of a car enthusiast who died in a crash in Albuquerque is sharing his story. Cecil Barreras was taking his recently purchased 1958 Chevy Impala to get detailed when he got into a crash with a semi early Sunday morning. Police later confirmed he died. State police are still investigating, but say a car had previously crashed into a wall and the semi tried to avoid that crash. The Impala, also traveling west, applied its brakes, slid underneath and caught fire. Barreras loved classic cars and frequently took them to shows across the metro area and the southwest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [3] Warm weather with more storms forming around New Mexico Tuesday will be an active afternoon across the state with numerous showers and storms by the afternoon. All storms will be capable of heavy rainfall, dropping as much as 1 in some places. This will bring a threat of flash flooding, especially over the Ruidoso area burn scars. The monsoon pattern begins to break down on Wednesday, but there will still be scattered afternoon showers and storms across the state [4] CBP officers seize 42 pounds of cocaine at Ysleta Port of Entry U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 42 pounds of cocaine at the Ysleta Port of Entry on Sunday. Officials say a vehicle driven by a 21-year-old female U.S. citizen arrived from Mexico. The vehicle was stopped for a secondary exam and a drug sniffing dog alerted officers to the presence of narcotics. Officers located ten bundles hidden in a compartment below the rear seat. The substance tested positive for cocaine. The driver was arrested and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations. [5] Albuquerque diner named one of the best in the country by Food Network Lindys Diner was included in the Food Networks list of Classic Diners You Dont Want To Miss, in All 50 States. Food Network staff highlighted the diners signature dishes, such as the Cowboy Breakfast and the restaurants Green Chile Cheeseburger. Lindys Diner is located on the corner of Central and Fifth, its considered to be one of the longest-running restaurants in the city Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) An Albuquerque man has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison after two separate convictions in a half-year span. The first case involved shots fired with a stolen gun, and the second case involved multiple violent assaults. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Mexico confirms that Anthony Hernandez, 32, is subject to three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, APD responded to a ShotSpotter alert as well as 911 calls reporting gunfire and a man brandishing a weapon outside of a southeast apartment complex on Oct. 26, 2021. At the scene, officers found Hernandez attempting to hide behind a wall.. A search led to the recovery of a stolen 9mm pistol. Hernandez is a convicted felon who is prohibited from firearm possession. He was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm following a jury trial in October of 2024. During pretrial detention, the U.S. Attorneys Office states that Hernandez committed multiple violent assaults. He attacked a CoreCivic security contractor on Nov. 15, 2022. This led to serious injuries, including a concussion and nose fracture. Hernandez was indicted for assaulting a federal officer resulting in bodily injury. Investigation revealed Hernandez had been involved in other assaults on fellow inmates and correctional officers. One incident involved a homemade weapon. Hernandez was found with contraband, including a sharpened weapon and methamphetamine, while he was in custody. Following a three-day trial in January of 2025, a federal jury found Hernandez guilty. The Albuquerque Police Department investigated the felon in possession case and the United States Marshals Service investigated the assault on the officer. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Elena Stiteler and Kimberly Bell. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Jul. 21An Albuquerque teenager accused of fatally shooting two men in 2023, and admitting to one of the fatal shootings on Instagram, pleaded no contest to two murder charges on Monday. Andres Herrera, 19, pleaded no contest in court to two counts of first-degree murder in the fall 2023 killing of Phillip Apodaca, 27, and the winter 2023 slaying of 19-year-old Damion Alday. Herrera was a teenager during both shootings, but will be charged and sentenced as an adult, according to a statement from 2nd Judicial District Attorney Sam Bregman. Herrera faces the possibility of two life sentences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first murder occurred on Oct. 6, 2023, after officers responded to a shooting at the now-closed ReSource Brewery Co. on the 3100 block of Eubank NE, near Candelaria. Officers found Apodaca fatally injured with multiple gunshot wounds to the back, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. "Herrera was linked to the crime by his clothing and the car he was driving," Bregman said in the statement. On Dec. 27, 2023, Albuquerque police officers responded to a call of shots fired in Sundoro Park around 4:30 p.m. Officers arrived to find Alday dead on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds to the head, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. Video footage from the park showed Herrera and Alday getting out of their vehicles and arguing, the criminal complaint states. The two exchanged gunfire and Herrera walked up to Alday and shot him. Herrera returned to his vehicle to retrieve what officers believed was an assault rifle before shooting Alday multiple times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albuquerque police were able to track down Herrera with his license plate number, which revealed Herrera was connected to a shooting in November of 2023, the criminal complaint stated. In November, Herrera gave officers a fake name and told them he was the victim of a robbery. Officers found an Instagram post of Herrera admitting he had shot Alday with a Glock firearm. "I laid off the first shot shooting him somewhere where he dropped to the ground then started shooting back. After a bit he was screaming then stopped n I walked up to him shooting him in the head 5 times," the complaint states the post read. Herrera was arrested in a Southwest Albuquerque home three weeks after he shot and killed Alday and was booked at the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center. Judges on the U.S. District Court of New Jersey have declined to retain President Trumps pick for the states top federal prosecutor, Alina Habba, as the clock on her interim status runs out. In a terse standing order, the court tapped attorney Desiree Leigh Grace to lead the office hours before the expiration of Habbas 120-day temporary term. The appointment is effective as of Tuesday, according to the order signed by U.S. District Judge Renee Marie Bumb, the districts chief judge. Hours later, the Department of Justice took the bold move of announcing it had removed Grace without announcing who would replace her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Habba, who served as a personal lawyer for Trump, assumed the role of U.S. attorney for New Jersey in March. Her profile as a staunch defender of the president in the courtroom and the press was raised while representing him in his business fraud case and the defamation and sexual assault lawsuits brought by advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. Early in her interim term, her leadership came under scrutiny following the arrests and charges against Newark, N.J., Mayor Ras Baraka (D) and Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) stemming from an incident at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. Although a trespass count against Baraka was dropped, McIver is still fighting her criminal charges in court. She has pleaded not guilty to three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officers. At a hearing dismissing Barakas charge, a federal judge said the arrest suggested a worrisome misstep by the office, noting the apparent rush in bringing the case that culminated in the governments embarrassing retraction of the charge. Baraka has sued Habba for damages over his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite that, high-ranking Justice Department officials imparted trust in Habbas ability to run the office. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote on the social platform X before the announcement that Habba brought steady leadership and sound judgment as interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. He said she has the full confidence of the president and DOJ. After the courts order, he said the judges were trying to force Habba out before the end of her term, which he suggested ends Friday before midnight. Their rush reveals what this was always about: a left-wing agenda, not the rule of law, Blanche wrote Tuesday. When judges act like activists, they undermine confidence in our justice system. Alina is President Trumps choice to leadand no partisan bench can override that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on X that Grace, Habbas first assistant who was tapped to take over the role, has been removed since politically minded judges refused to let Habba continue in the position. The Hill asked the Justice Department whether Grace was removed from the position of first assistant or from the office altogether. This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges especially when they threaten the Presidents core Article II powers, Bondi wrote. A New Jersey native and first-generation American, Habba became part of Trumps orbit by representing him in a defamation lawsuit brought by former Apprentice contestant Summer Zervos, who later dropped the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most recently, she worked in the White House as a counselor to the president and, before that, as Trumps legal spokesperson and a senior adviser to his campaign. The New Jersey federal judges decision comes after judges in the Northern District of New York made a similar choice. They refused to extend the interim term of John Sarcone III, Trumps pick there for the districts chief federal prosecutor. However, to get around that decision, Sarcone was appointed as a special attorney to Attorney General Pam Bondi, which gave him the powers of a U.S. attorney indefinitely, according to the New York Times. The Justice Department declined to comment on whether it planned to make the same move for Habba. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In both instances, the judges had the authority to keep the prosecutors in their roles indefinitely, until Trump fills the vacancy, but they declined to do so. Grace served as Habbas first assistant before being appointed to the new role. Updated at 5:55 p.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. TOPEKA (KSNT) Law enforcement say a missing Topeka child has been found safe in another state following a recent AMBER Alert. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) reported a missing local two-year-old was located safe. Law enforcement in Mattoon, Illinois found the child and suspect at 12:25 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22. How do AMBER Alerts work? The Topeka Police Department (TPD) held a live press conference for the child abduction in the citys Oakland neighborhood at the intersection of Northeast Chester Avenue and Northeast Division Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TPD Chief Chris Vallejo told reporters a new homicide investigation is underway after police found two people dead in a residence around 9:50 a.m. on July 22 in the 500 block of Wabash after they were called to the location for a welfare check. This is in the same area where the child was abducted from. For more crime 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. When you think about what it might mean to live next door to an Airbnb, you might imagine lots of noise, a constant stream of strangers coming and going, and general chaos. But one thing you may not anticipate is the cost of your HOA fees rising. Residents of a downtown Atlanta condo building have been complaining about an influx of Airbnb renters since 2021. "The weed, the smoking, the drugs," resident Nicky Buggs told Channel 2 Action News (WSB-TV) about her concerns. Don't miss But, those are not the only issues. Since Airbnbs took over the building, residents say they have seen their homeowners association (HOA) fees and utility bills increase. And understandably, they're not happy about it. The hidden cost of living among Airbnbs Living among Airbnbs is as unpleasant for these Atlanta residents as you might assume. I see females running up and down the halls with no clothes on, resident Zeda Stanley Sartor told Channel 2 Action News. Since limited liability companies (LLCs) were reported to have turned a large number of units in the building into Airbnbs, there have been frequent parties and lots of noise. But residents' frustrations go beyond that. Not only have their HOA fees increased, but they say the floors with Airbnbs are the ones being prioritized for upgrades, while non-Airbnb floors are being deprioritized. That's not surprising since, at this point, residents say Airbnb owners control the HOA board. The HOA board told Channel 2 Action News that eventually, all floors in the building will get updated, acknowledging that renovations are sorely needed. We cannot do them all at once. It's a 21-floor building, cant be done, board member Marsha DeQuiors said. But, condo owners aren't thrilled to suddenly see their HOA fees rising after staying the same since 2018. They're also not thrilled that since Airbnbs have moved in, their water bills have also risen with leaks also becoming more of a problem. "We even looked at like, OK let's just meter each unit and make everybody responsible for their own water, and the building's not designed for that," board member Jamey Waters told Channel 2 Action News. The suspect accused of killing American Idol music supervisor Robin Kaye and her musician husband Thomas Deluca allegedly fatally shot the couple with their own gun. Kaye and Deluca, both 70, were found dead with gunshot wounds inside their $4.5-million Encino, Calif. home on July 14. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) responded to a burglary call at the property four days prior, according to a felony complaint filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles, which was examined by PEOPLE. After finding no signs of forced entry, they left. It's thought that the couple were already dead, or possibly dying, that same day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a town hall meeting at the Encino Community Center on Monday, July 21, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said that the man accused of the killings allegedly shot the victims with their own gun before calling the police himself, the DA's Office confirmed to PEOPLE. The suspect is thought to have found the weapon inside after breaking in, per CBS News. The day after the victims were discovered deceased, the LAPD confirmed to PEOPLE that Raymond Boodarian, 22, a resident of Encino, had been arrested in connection with the killings. According to authorities, the couple is believed to have walked in on the suspect inside their home, where a confrontation turned deadly. Robin Kaye/Facebook Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca He was charged two days later on Thursday, July 17 with two counts of murder and one count of residential burglary with a person. The murder charges include the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder during the commission of a burglary, as well as firearm allegations. On Monday, Hochman told town hall meeting attendees that the suspect used his cellphone to call police after the killings, providing his name, the DA's Office confirmed to PEOPLE. ABC7 Los Angeles reported that this ultimately resulted in the suspect being tracked down. Rachel Murray/Getty for Guild of Music Supervisors Robin Kaye is pictured in 2017 Robin Kaye is pictured in 2017 As residents voiced their concern about crime in the area during the meeting, LAPD Deputy Chief Marla Ciuffetelli said, "We're having phenomenal numbers on crime reduction. That being said, when two wonderful people end up dead in their own home, those crime statistics fall kind of flat," per the outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PEOPLE has contacted Hochman and the Los Angeles Police Department for updates on the investigation. TMZ/BACKGRID Suspect Raymond Boodarian is taken into custody after Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca are fatally shot Suspect Raymond Boodarian is taken into custody after Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca are fatally shot On July 14, Kaye and Deluca were found in separate rooms of their home with gunshot wounds to the head. According to police sources, officers arriving at the scene discovered a trail of blood leading to the front of the property and made entry through a shattered glass sliding door at the back of the house. Deluca was found in the bathroom, while Kaye was located in the pantry. First responders from the Los Angeles Fire Department pronounced the couple dead at the scene. Police previously said that the killings appeared to be random, and there was no known connection between the victims and the suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The LAPD told PEOPLE that a welfare check was conducted on July 14 at approximately 2:30 p.m. local time at the couples home on the 4700 block of White Oak Avenue in Encino, after a concerned individual reported they hadnt heard from the pair. Thats when authorities discovered the bodies. Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times/Getty The Encino home where Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca were found dead The Encino home where Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca were found dead "The victims returned home while the suspect had gained entry into the residence, and a confrontation ensued, which resulted in the suspect taking their lives, authorities previously told PEOPLE. The victims succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds, and the suspect fled from the residence on foot. 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. Kayes impressive career spanned decades in both the music and television industries. Best known for her work on American Idol from 2002 to 2023, she also served as music supervisor on Lip Sync Battle, After the Sunset, The Singing Bee and QViva!: The Chosen, in addition to multiple Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. Deluca, a respected songwriter and musician, most recently released an album titled Street Rock in 2022. Read the original article on People 'American Idol' Executive and Husband Reportedly Killed by Their Own Gun originally appeared on Parade. New details have emerged in the murder case of American Idol music supervisor Robin Kaye and her musician husband Thomas Deluca. According to reports, the suspect accused of killing the couple allegedly fatally shot the couple with their own gun. Kaye and Deluca, both 70, were found dead by with gunshot wounds by police responding to a welfare check inside their Encino, California home on Monday, July 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a felony complaint filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a burglary call at the property four days before Kaye and Deluca's bodies were discovered. After finding no signs of forced entry, they left. It's thought that the couple were already dead, or possibly dying, that same day. During a town hall meeting at the Encino Community Center on Monday, July 21, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said that the suspect shot the victims with their own gun before calling the police himself, ABC7 Los Angeles reported. CBS News said that the suspect is believed to have found the weapon inside the home after breaking in. On Tuesday, July 15, a day after the victims were discovered, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that Raymond Boodarian, 22, a resident of Encino, had been arrested in connection with the murders. He was charged on Thursday, July 17 with two counts of murder and one count of residential burglary with a person. Authorities believe the couple may have walked in on the suspect inside their home, and the confrontation turned deadly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ABC7 Los Angeles also reported that during the town hall meeting, Hochman told attendees that Boodarian used his cell phone to call police after the killings and provided them with his name, which ultimately led to him being tracked down. Kaye served as a music supervisor on American Idol for 11 years after joining the reality singing competition in 2002, according to her IMDb. Her efforts on the series earned her three Guild of Music Supervisors awards for Best Music Supervision for Reality Television. Deluca was a respected songwriter and musician and most recently released an album titled Street Rock in 2022. 'American Idol' Executive and Husband Reportedly Killed by Their Own Gun first appeared on Parade on Jul 22, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared. More details are emerging in the investigation into the deaths of American Idol music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas DeLuca including the origin of the firearm used in the shooting. At a town hall meeting held Monday, July 21, at the Encino Community Center, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the suspect used the couples own gun and called police himself following the fatal shooting, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. As Globe previously reported, Kaye and DeLuca, both 70, were found dead in their Encino home on Monday, July 14, after police responded to a call for a welfare check. The Los Angeles Police Department told NBC Los Angeles that officers discovered blood at the front door when they arrived. On Tuesday, July 15, Raymond Boodarian was taken into police custody. He was officially charged with two counts of murder and one count of first-degree residential burglary two days later, on Thursday, July 17, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County District Attorneys office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the news release, Boodarian entered the couples home on or about July 10, at about 4 p.m. When the couple arrived at home, Boodarian allegedly shot them multiple times, then fled the area, the news release explained. The victims were found several days later during a welfare check. In a matter of moments, this couple was senselessly killed in their own home as they returned from the grocery store, Hochman said. This tragic shooting has shaken a valley community and the notion that home should be our safe sanctuary. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their family and friends who are grieving this tremendous loss. In an article published on July 17, TMZ reported the double homicide suspect was living with his mother, stepfather and teenage sister in a Los Angeles apartment complex before the killings. Neighbors of theirs spoke to the outlet about his erratic behavior, as Globe previously reported last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hed just start yelling into the sky. Not words just screeches, one neighbor alleged. There was always yelling coming from their apartment mostly him screaming at his parents, another neighbor claimed. A spokesperson for American Idol shared a statement regarding the couples tragic death. We are devastated to hear of Robin and her dear husband, Toms, passing. Robin has been a cornerstone of the Idol family since 2009 and was truly loved and respected by all who came in contact with her, that statement read. Robin will remain in our hearts forever and we share our deepest sympathy with her family and friends during this difficult time. WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. (KDVR) The American Motel along the Interstate 70 Frontage Road is now closed and coming down soon. The motel is part of a stretch along the I-70 and Kipling corridor thats known as Wheat Ridges Hotel District. Crime down around I-70 and Kipling in Wheat Ridge: police It has been an area of community concern for quite some time for quality of life issues, but also for crime for our police department as well, Wheat Ridge Police Department Public Information Officer Alex Rose said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in 2021, Wheat Ridge passed a hotel licensing ordinance. City officials tell FOX31 the ordinance was adopted in response to community concerns about crime, deteriorating conditions, and unsafe living environments at these hotels. Before this ordinance was passed, the hotels in our community took up about 10% of our calls for service for our police department, Rose said. Were talking about nine businesses in an entire city taking up one out of ten police calls for service. Since the ordinance passed, Rose said calls for service at hotels went down from 10% to 4%. A more than 50% drop in calls for service from motels is significant, Rose said. And then within a quarter mile of that, I-70 and Kipling area, we are seeing a nearly 30% drop in crime and calls for service. Thats tangible results that everyday people who call that community home can see. They can see the improvement, but the work isnt done yet. Were going to continue to push to make sure that that is a vibrant community. Wheat Ridge hotels working with city on security Rose said a number of hotels have worked with the city to make safety and security improvements like adding fencing and security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This Colorado sheriffs office wants to bring back mounted patrol And then some other businesses have decided to move on to other ventures, Rose said. American Motel is one of those businesses. On Monday, you could see doors and windows boarded up. According to the city, the 4.85-acre site will become a new multifamily apartment community developed by Trinsic Residential Group. The city worked with the nonprofit The Family Tree to make sure those who lived at the motel could find somewhere else to go. What we see is people moving into hotels pretty often because thats what they can afford, Family Tree Chief Impact Officer Cassie Ratliff said. We saw that there was a lot of folks living there. And with the funds that we were able to get from the city, we were able to help people move out of the motel, pay their deposits, pay their first months rent, help them get set up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Family Tree helped 18 households move out of the American Motel into permanent housing units in the Denver Metro area. FOX31 reached out to Trinsic Residential Group to ask for more details about development plans and dates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Kristina Cooke and Ted Hesson GREENVILLE, Ohio (Reuters) -For 125 days in her immigration detention cell, Ingrid Mejia replayed in her head the day she was separated from her 3-year-old son. Mejia, a 25-year-old farmworker from Guatemala, had gone to court on February 25 on a charge of driving without a license. She didnt have a lawyer - or child care. So she left Eliazar, a chubby-cheeked child with dark hair and eyes, waiting outside with the person who had given her a ride to court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She thought she would pay a fine and go home, just as she had four months earlier on the same charge. Instead, as this was her fourth such offense, municipal court judge Julie Monnin sentenced her to three days in Ohios Darke County jail. The brief sentence plunged Mejia into the dragnet of President Donald Trumps aggressive immigration enforcement, landing her in immigration detention for more than four months and stranding her U.S. citizen son in foster care for even longer. Mejia began trying to get her son back on July 3, within hours of her release. She hoped it would happen in days. But at a July 15 custody hearing, child welfare officials said Eliazar had bonded with his foster family during her prolonged detention. They told the hearing a slow transition would be in the childs best interest, Mejia said. Hes my son. I just want him back now, Mejia said after the hearing. I just want to hug him." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friends and family say Mejia is a hardworking mother, not a violent criminal, who did not need to be detained, and her son did not deserve to be in foster care. Immigration authorities and those who favor restricting migration say Mejia repeatedly broke the law by driving without a license and by violating immigration rules. Mejia admits to using false paperwork to enter the U.S. and to being in the country illegally. I don't think this offense should be minimized," Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies for the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that favors lower levels of immigration, said of the driving without a license charge. Trump was elected on a promise to deport millions of immigrants who are in the United States illegally, and has deported more than 239,000 people so far, according to Department of Homeland Security data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His administration has set arrest quotas for immigration enforcement officials of 3,000 a day - 10 times higher than average daily arrests the last year of President Joe Bidens administration. It has also been releasing far fewer people from immigration detention on humanitarian grounds. Just 67 people were paroled in June by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, down from 5,159 in December, Bidens last full month in office, government data show. Meanwhile, since Trump took office, ICE has dramatically increased detainer requests - notices to state and local jails to hold an immigrant for pick-up, sweeping up immigrants like Mejia. They rose to 700 a day on average through early June, from an average of about 400 a day during the same time period last year, according to a Reuters analysis of ICE data collected by UC Berkeleys Deportation Data Project. PICKED UP FROM JAIL Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Mejia was booked into the county jail on February 25, her fingerprints were automatically shared with ICE. They showed a match for a person who had entered the United States seven years earlier and was in the country illegally. ICE issued a detainer request and on February 28, after Mejia had completed her unlicensed-driving sentence, immigration officers picked her up from jail and drove her 140 miles to a detention center in Tiffin, Ohio, according to jail records. She has been arrested multiple times for driving illegally and admitted to law enforcement that she was in the country illegally, DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin told Reuters in a statement, in response to questions about Mejia and her child. McLaughlin said deportees are generally given the choice of taking U.S. citizen children with them or leaving them with friends or family in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Mejia was convicted on February 25, police and child welfare officials tried to contact a friend whom she suggested could look after Eliazar during her three-day sentence. But the woman didnt answer the door to Mark Ater - the police chief in Union City, where Mejia lived - because she was afraid he might be working with ICE. With nobody else immediately available, Eliazar was placed in foster care. The case weighed on Ater, the police chief said. "It broke my heart that this kid was taken away from his mom, he said. Outside of the entire situation, there was still a kid that was going to go into foster care." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monnin, the judge, declined to comment, saying the unfortunate consequences of the defendants actions are out of my control, adding: I pray that a reunification process is developed quickly. A TEENAGER ALONE Mejia fled sexual and gang violence in Guatemala, arriving at a port of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border in November 2017, a few weeks shy of her 18th birthday, according to her immigration paperwork. Smugglers told her to travel on her younger sisters documents to ensure she was processed as an unaccompanied minor in the event that her journey took longer than expected, she said. While entering on fraudulent documents does not disqualify an asylum application, it can make it harder to win, experts say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mejia spent four months in a government childrens shelter before being released to pursue her asylum claim. She moved on to Virginia, where she lived for eight months with a woman who beat her with a leather whip and made her work for no pay, according to her application for a visa for victims of human trafficking. Reuters was unable to verify her account independently. By September 2019, she had escaped and made her way to an area of rural Ohio in Americas Corn Belt, dotted with poultry farms and egg processing plants. She got a job packing eggs into cartons that were shipped to grocery stores across the country. Mejia said she tried to use mini-van ride shares to get to work from her home in Indiana, 20 miles away, but sometimes there were no seats available. Neither Ohio nor Indiana allow immigrants in the country illegally to obtain drivers licenses. She was driving to work on February 18 when she ran a stop sign, colliding with another car, according to the police report. Nobody was injured. The officer at the scene wrote her up for driving without a license, requiring her to appear in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Jim Groff, 76, who heard the collision from his home across the street, the facts of Mejia's detention are simple: She was in the country illegally. If mom wants her little baby back, send them back, he said. But he wished the U.S. could speed up the process of allowing immigrants to come into the country legally. Jeepers, creepers, theyre damn good workers, he said. MIXED MESSAGES In late February, after her transfer to immigration detention, a distraught Mejia contacted Maira Vasquez, for help finding out where Eliazar was and how she could get him into the care of a family member. Vasquez, a U.S. citizen, attended Eliazars birth as a community health worker and the two women had stayed in contact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Vasquez visited Darke Countys Department of Job and Family Services in March, officials told her this was a new situation for them and they weren't sure how to handle it. Asked for comment, the agency said it was unable to share details about the case, citing privacy laws. We continue to work closely with the family, law enforcement and our community partners to ensure child safety, it said in a statement. Many state and local child welfare agencies dont have the training to handle cases involving the immigration system, said Kelly Kribs, co-director at the nonprofit Young Centers technical assistance program, which aims to support children caught between the federal immigration and state court systems. ICE and local child welfare agencies work as separate systems, with separate goals, she said. These agencies dont talk to one another, Kribs said. That can lead to mixed messages. Mejia told Reuters in a phone call from detention in March that ICE officers told her that she could be reunited with Eliazar if she signed a document agreeing to be deported. But Vasquez said that county officials told her that Eliazar was in their custody, and they had their own processes meant to look after the boys best interests. Mejia didn't sign and Vasquez continued to explore options for placing Eliazar with family or friends. Mejias sister, who asked not to be named as she is afraid of being arrested by ICE, was initially willing to take him. But county officials told her that it would be difficult for her to pass background checks as she is in the country illegally. Two friends who do have legal residency declined to take Eliazar because they feared exposing family members who are in the U.S. illegally, Vasquez said. Eliazars father has never been involved in his life, and was not an option, Mejia said. LASTING TRAUMA Experts warn that forcibly separating a child from a parent can result in trauma, even after they are reunited. Mejias son is being set up for major psychiatric and learning problems in the future by this separation, Joan Lederer, a psychiatrist who evaluated Mejia at the request of her lawyer, wrote in a court filing. In detention, Mejia thought about Eliazar warming to people quickly. He doesnt talk much due to a speech delay, she said, which makes conversations by phone difficult. In April, child welfare officials sent Vasquez a picture of a smiling Eliazar with a toy truck. They told her that Eliazars foster family had five other children. Mejia said officials told her that nobody in the house spoke Spanish and she worried he would not understand what was going on around him. By that point, Ater, the police chief who went to the address Mejia provided that February day, was alarmed that Eliazar was still in foster care. He reached out to Vasquez and said Eliazar could stay with him and his family until he is reunited with Mejia three minutes or three years. He would even fly the boy to Guatemala if Mejia were to be deported. I have to go out and do my job, he said. But on the flip side, I'm also human and this isn't cool. This little dude is not with his mom, and what does the future hold for him and what does the future hold for her? Mejia worried that signing over custody of Eliazar to Ater could mean losing him forever. She also didnt think it would help ease access to the boy for family members, as they were unlikely to visit him at the home of a police officer for fear of being arrested by ICE, Vasquez said. She decided to wait. On July 2, an immigration judge dismissed Mejias deportation case for a second time, ruling that she was entitled to a hearing before an asylum officer and noting she was the sole custodian of a U.S. citizen child with disabilities. This time, ICE did not contest the ruling and released Mejia the next day. Vasquez picked her up from the detention center, and the two women tried calling Darke County childrens services but it was the eve of the July 4 holiday and they couldnt immediately get through. The following Monday afternoon, Mejia did meet Eliazar, in the offices of childrens services. I just hugged him and hugged him, she said. She said he recognized her, but didnt speak to her. He seemed attached to his foster parents, and she said she overheard him speaking English. In the July 15 custody hearing, child welfare officials recommended more visits so that Eliazar could get used to his mother again, Mejia said. Officials also ordered inspections of her home to ensure her place is appropriate for a child, she said. Darke County childrens services declined to comment. Vasquez said child welfare officials expressed concerns about how Mejia would support Eliazar, now that she has lost her egg packing job. Vasquez said she had raised funds to deposit about $3,000 in a bank account in Mejias name to show she has money to tide her over until she gets her work permit. On Monday, July 21, an official from childrens services and Eliazars foster mom dropped him off at Mejias home with unexpected good news. He would be allowed to stay with her, with regular child welfare visits until the case is closed. "They are not going to take him away anymore," Mejia said. This makes me happy. (Reporting by Kristina Cooke in Greenville, Ohio and Ted Hesson in Washington, D.C., additional reporting by MB Pell in New York and Carlos Barria in Union City, Indiana; Editing by Mary Milliken and Suzanne Goldenberg) The human rights organization Amnesty International called on Tuesday for an investigation into the Israeli attack on Iran's notorious Evin prison around four weeks ago, calling it a possible war crime. "Under international humanitarian law, a prison or place of detention is presumed a civilian object and there is no credible evidence in this case that Evin prison constituted a lawful military objective," Amnesty said in a report published on Tuesday. During Israel's brief war with Iran, the Israeli Air Force bombed several areas of the detention centre in Tehran. Israel characterized the attack as a symbolic strike against the Iranian government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Activists and former inmates said the attack endangered the lives of political prisoners. The Iranian judiciary says at least 71 people were killed in the bombing. Amnesty estimates that between 1,500 and 2,000 prisoners were in the detention centre during the air strikes, including political prisoners and foreigners who had been convicted in controversial trials. With the war ongoing, the Iranian judiciary transferred numerous inmates to other prisons. In some cases, relatives still do not know where their family members are. Evin Prison is considered a site of serious human rights violations. Iranian judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir said on Tuesday that 27 prisoners who had escaped in the chaos following the attacks were still at large. A total of 75 inmates had fled, 48 of whom had since been recaptured, he was quoted as saying by the Iranian state news agency IRNA. By Laurie Chen BEIJING (Reuters) -Expectations are rock-bottom for an EU-China summit on Thursday that will test European resolve and unity as the bloc faces intense trade pressure from both Beijing and the United States, analysts say. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa plan to press Chinese leaders on rare earths and the war in Ukraine, both areas of tension, during the summit in Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is little hope for headway, at a time both sides face major challenges sustaining economic growth and Europe struggles to shore up support for Ukraine. The summit was shortened from two days to one due to a "scheduling conflict" raised by Chinese officials, two sources familiar with the planning told Reuters. A business roundtable that was meant to happen on the second day in the city of Hefei will now take place in Beijing, one of the sources said. Both sides may reach a modest joint statement on climate, one of the sources said, but no other tangible achievements are expected. In multiple recent speeches, von der Leyen has revived hawkish China rhetoric, accusing China on July 8 of "enabling Russia's war economy" and flooding global markets with overcapacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We know that we don't see eye to eye with China on many issues, but we believe that it is essential to have this kind of very direct and open and constructive conversation," said one EU official. The official and the sources declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to media. A spokesperson for the European Commission referred to a statement announcing the summit, which said leaders would discuss ways of ensuring "a more balanced, reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade relationship". In response to Reuters' questions, the Chinese foreign ministry referred to a spokesperson's statement on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Some people in Europe continue to ... exaggerate specific economic and trade issues and make groundless accusations against China on the Ukraine issue, causing unnecessary interference to China-EU relations," its spokesperson said. RISING TENSIONS The 27-member European Union has also been negotiating hard with Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened 30% tariffs on most EU exports from Aug. 1, with prospects for a broader trade deal fading. At the Beijing summit, China hopes to press the EU for a solution to its tariffs on China-built electric vehicles, for which Beijing claims price commitment negotiations are in the "final stages". But European officials say there has been little progress for months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, China threatened to respond to EU sanctions on two Chinese banks and five firms over the Ukraine war. Its commerce ministry said on Monday the sanctions "seriously harmed trade, economic and financial ties". Other trade disputes are simmering in the background. China retaliated against EU restrictions on medical device procurement with its own curbs on July 6, and slapped duties on French cognac producers. China's exports to the EU grew in May while its U.S. exports plunged 34.5% in value terms the same month, sparking fears Chinese trade overcapacity is being diverted to the bloc due to U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods. There is also a growing sense that EU firms are collateral damage for China's rare earth export controls that primarily targeted Washington but have disrupted European defence and automotive supply chains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In return for concessions on rare earths, China's asks could include reviving a long-stalled investment agreement after Beijing lifted sanctions on European Parliament members in May, and pushing back on U.S. export curbs on Dutch firm ASML's chipmaking equipment. China has raised both in the weeks leading up to the summit, two sources familiar with the matter said. 'GLOVES OFF' "The mood is extremely pessimistic in Europe regarding the summit," said Mathieu Duchatel, a director at the Institut Montaigne think tank in Paris, adding that Washington rejected previous EU proposals for coordination on China policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is a sense that the gloves are completely off on the Chinese side ... They sense the transatlantic relationship has weakened and are trying to seize the opportunity." Diplomats and analysts also say that China is growing increasingly frustrated behind closed doors with European officials' repeated insistence on the war in Ukraine, which Beijing views as an obstacle in the relationship. There is little space for constructive dialogue on this, another EU official admitted, with Chinese counterparts denying evidence of Chinese firms' involvement in supplying dual-use goods to Russia. Meanwhile, China believes Europe will cave in to U.S. tariff pressure, said a diplomat familiar with Chinese official thinking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing succeeded in getting Trump to lower crushing 145% tariffs during talks in May and scored a further win when Washington agreed to resume Nvidia H20 AI chip exports, leaving it in a relatively strong position. "This will be the latest in a long list of EU-China summits that have delivered next to nothing," said Noah Barkin, senior advisor at Rhodium Group's China practice. "It is a sign that the economic and security problems in the relationship have become so deep-seated as to be irreconcilable." (Reporting by Laurie Chen in Beijing; Additional reporting by Andrew Gray in Brussels and John Irish in Paris; Editing by Aidan Lewis) American national security officials have met in this idyllic mountain retreat in Colorado each July for the last 15 years to talk openly about the biggest threats facing the world. But this years Aspen Security Forum at times seemed to take place in a parallel universe where Donald Trump isnt president. In the past, interviews and off-the-record chats here made headlines around the world for their insight into what the people running the U.S. government were thinking about threats to national security. But Trump's team boycotted the conference this year. And some of the former officials and experts who did attend seemed to downplay the dramatic changes that the Trump administration has already made to foreign policy, a sign that either some of the nation's top experts haven't grappled with the new world order he is attempting to build or they are afraid to speak openly about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who might have been able to explain what the president is thinking were nowhere to be seen. Very few Trump administration officials agreed to attend, and most of those who did largely military leaders abruptly canceled on the eve of the conference. The Pentagon ordered them not to appear, saying the forum promotes the evil of globalism, disdain for our great country and hatred for the president of the United States. That charge is not only demonstrably false but deeply ironic, because even before the cancellations, one could argue that some of the panel discussions in Aspen this year seemed calibrated to tread lightly around the historic changes Trump is making to American foreign and trade policy even though those changes run contrary to values many attendees have been espousing their whole careers. Major Trump initiatives with implications for U.S. national security such as diverting FBI agents to immigration enforcement and refocusing counterterrorism efforts toward Latin American gangs were not mentioned. Neither were serious developments, such as the exodus of national security experts from the intelligence community, the FBI and the State Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some speakers seemed determined to avoid criticizing the president and his policies, even when Trumps handling of an issue directly contradicted their long-stated views. Some of this was the fruit of good intentions the Aspen Security Forum has always taken pains to be a safe space for both parties. In fact, several senior officials in the first Trump administration trekked to Aspen to appear in panel discussions, including the CIA director, the FBI director and two homeland security secretaries. But things have changed. The Trump administration is not only declining to engage with perceived opponents, its using the levers of power to punish them, from law firms to universities to individuals. More than one Aspen Security Forum attendee admitted off the record that there was widespread concern that speaking out against Trump could hurt their business or professional interests. The result was a meetup that on occasion seemed airily disconnected from the Trump administration's actions and policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consider foreign aid. Speakers at the Aspen Security Forum have long touted the benefits of American soft power, especially foreign assistance. So you might have expected some of them to denounce Trump's historic slashing of the U.S. Agency for International Development, which one study projected could cost 14 million lives by 2030. But a panel examining the subject was given the milquetoast title, The Weight of the World: International Aid and Trade. The moderator, Dafna Linzer of U.S. News and World Report, introduced the subject by asking former USAID Director Henrietta Holsman Fore: Theres a lot of changes under President Trump in aid and trade, challenges and opportunities how are you seeing the field? Fore was briefly direct, referring to the Trump cuts as a typhoon that has come through our ecosystem, but she quickly moved on. The important thing, she said, is to look forward: What do we do now? As she was talking about the potential for artificial intelligence and quantum computing to make foreign aid more efficient, The Atlantic reported that the U.S. government had decided to incinerate nearly 500 tons of food aid that had expired before it could be distributed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Edward Luce of the Financial Times asked Fore, who served under President George W. Bush, how and when U.S. foreign assistance could be rebuilt, she answered, I think you can start now, and I think the administration is going to need it, she said, adding that Trump will need to use it as a tool to achieve his goals around the world and suggesting the audience gather our best ideas for Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Later in the week, Congress voted at Trump's behest to claw back $8 billion in foreign aid it had previously approved. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, an expert on Russia whose ideas could not be more diametrically opposed to Trump's, celebrated the president's recent expressions of annoyance with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine as a "turning point" and even disputed the suggestion that Trump had long had an "affinity" for Putin. Rice, who created a highly regarded foreign assistance program during the Bush administration to battle HIV, also declined to criticize Trump's aid cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other speakers were more blunt. Robert Zoellick, a former official in the Reagan and both Bush administrations, made no effort to hide his disdain for Trump's trade and tariff policies, saying they would raise costs, increase uncertainty for investors and undermine strategic relationships with allies. A group of experts on China, including a member of the first Trump administration, also largely agreed that the president does not have much of a strategy other than trying to get the country to buy more U.S. goods. I dont think he has a sense of the moral imperative of the United States leading the free world, democracy as a value, said Elizabeth Economy, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning Hoover Institution. Not surprisingly, the strongest statements about the Trump administration came from two Democratic senators, Mark Warner and Chris Coons. Were basically seeing the destruction of 75 years of soft power in six months, Warner said during a panel discussion. The panel was supposed to include a Republican senator, John Cornyn of Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He canceled at the last minute, without explanation. Subscribe to the Project 47 newsletter to receive weekly updates on and expert insight into the key issues and figures defining Trumps second term. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com By Ana Mano and Cassandra Garrison SAO PAULO/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Latin American farmers are in for a rough ride if the U.S. slaps secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian exports, such as the fertilizers essential for cash crops from Mexican avocados to Brazilian soybeans and corn. For farm powerhouse Brazil, which covered about a third of its fertilizer demand with $3.7 billion of imports from Russia last year, there is virtually no alternative to fill the gap if those flows are halted, experts and industry players said. The 2022 outbreak of war in Ukraine triggered stockpiling of Russian fertilizer in the region. Prices soared briefly, but trade has now normalized. Plans to boost domestic fertilizer production in Mexico and Brazil have made slow progress in the face of relatively cheap Russian imports. Shipments to Brazil, the world's largest producer of soybeans, sugar and coffee, rose nearly 30% in the first half of this year, the Russian Fertilizer Producers Association said. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte singled out Brazil among a handful of countries that could be hit "very hard" by sanctions for doing business with Russia as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed push to end the war in Ukraine. Fresh sanctions targeting Russian fertilizer imports could "render soybean and corn production inviable," said Lucas Beber, vice president of Brazilian grain farming group Aprosoja. Mexico also imported more than $580 million of fertilizers last year from Russia, its largest supplier according to government data. Potential U.S. sanctions would pose a big problem for farmers there. "It would affect Mexico's purchases from Russia of different fertilizers, particularly urea, which is the most widely used in crops such as corn, sorghum, wheat, and even avocado," said Raul Urteaga. A former director of international affairs for Mexico's agriculture ministry, Urteaga warned of a drop-off in the quality of fertilizers available if Russian imports disappear. That could weaken avocado production and send prices higher for U.S. consumers. The U.S. accounts for more than 80% of Mexico's total avocado exports, a market worth more than $3 billion last year, according to U.S. government data. "The price of avocados would increase if producers have to use other alternatives or find fertilizers that are imported from sources other than Russia," Urteaga said. Russia is also top fertilizer supplier for Colombia, another key producer of fruits, flowers and coffee to the U.S. Russia provides about a quarter of Colombia's fertilizer imports, government data shows. Editor's note: This story was updated to include a response from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) regarding the bribery charges. Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) have charged a senior officer of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and two accomplices with extorting a $300,000 bribe, NABU announced on July 22. The charges come as Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, including the SBU, launched investigations into several NABU employees in what watchdogs call government pressure on the anti-corruption institution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to NABU, the SBU officer, who worked in the Department for the Protection of National Statehood, is suspected of demanding payment from a person under investigation for allegedly organizing illegal border crossings for military-age men during wartime. In exchange, the officer reportedly promised to destroy case materials and suppress already uncovered facts. When the individual refused, the suspects allegedly threatened to pursue harsher charges that could lead to criminal prosecution. Authorities said the suspects were caught after receiving a partial payment of $72,000. The SBU officer has been charged with bribery. The suspects' identities were not disclosed. The Kyiv Independent has reached out to the SBU for comment. In response, the agency said that the case had originated from its own internal investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the SBU, the officer was caught "red-handed" in 2024 during an operation led by the agency's Internal Security Directorate and the National Police. The case was later transferred to the State Bureau of Investigation and then to NABU due to the large size of the bribe. The SBU said NABU detectives have since completed the investigation and handed the case to court. The officer faces up to 12 years in prison and confiscation of assets. The charges come just one day after Ukraine's independent anti-corruption institutions themselves came under pressure. Several law enforcement bodies, including the Prosecutor General's Office, the SBU, and the State Investigation Bureau, conducted sweeping searches of NABU's premises and operations. At least 70 searches were carried out targeting NABU and SAPO, with 15 employees under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the SBU cited suspicions of Russian infiltration and administrative misconduct, including allegations ranging from traffic accidents to treason, anti-corruption watchdogs and opposition lawmakers denounced the move as politically motivated. Critics, including the Anti-Corruption Action Center, warned that the searches appeared to be a coordinated effort to dismantle Ukraine's independent anti-corruption infrastructure. The anti-corruption crackdown occurred while NABU chief Semen Kryvonos and chief anti-corruption prosecutor Oleksandr Klymenko were abroad on a working trip in the United Kingdom. Both returned immediately following the searches. In response to NABU's accusation that the SBU accessed secret investigative data without proper court warrants, the Security Service defended its actions as legally justified under national security protocols. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SBU has also detained a NABU employee on charges of spying for Russia, and a second officer accused of links to illicit drug trade and pro-Russian actors. Read also: The crackdown on Ukraines anti-corruption agencies, explained Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Volodymyr Zelensky faced public protests on Tuesday night after parliament backed a controversial bill limiting the power of anti-corruption agencies. Thousands of people, including veterans, gathered close to the presidents office to demand that Mr Zelensky back down amid widespread international condemnation over the proposal. The demonstrations, which have reportedly spread to Lviv and Dnipro, are the first public protests against the Ukrainian president since the Russian invasion in February 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the day, cries of Shame! were heard in the Verkhovna Rada as MPs backed giving the prosecutor general, a position appointed directly by the president, more power over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (Sapo). These powers include the ability to reassign or redirect investigations. The bill was pushed by the presidents office and came after both agencies investigated senior Ukrainian officials, including those close to the president. After being passed by parliament, it was signed into law by Mr Zelensky on Tuesday evening. In an address early on Wednesday, Mr Zelensky said the Nabu and Sapo would work regardless of the changes, adding that Ukraines anti-corruption infrastructure needed to be cleared of Russian influences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecutor general is determined to ensure that punishment is inevitable in Ukraine, he said. Credit: @MendicantRoman/X Protesters on the streets of Kyiv demanded that Mr Zelensky veto the measure. Semen Kryvonos, the head of Nabu, urged Mr Zelensky not to approve the proposal, saying it would destroy the work of the two institutions. Demonstrators said they believed Andriy Yermak, Mr Zelenskys chief of staff, was behind the move, and that Ukraine was turning into Russia. Some carried placards that read: Welcome to Russia. A veteran with a prosthetic arm was among the demonstrators - James Prushton Those on the streets were predominantly under the age of 30. Signs reading Azov, where are you? were held aloft, in reference to the Ukrainian National Guards Azov Brigade, which was formerly a far-Right militia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pasha, a Ukrainian who attended the protest, said that he believed the government was attempting to sneak through the legislation. Oleg, a Ukrainian anti-corruption journalist, said it was the worst attempt by the government yet to erode Ukraines independent anti-corruption authorities. The protest was organised at short notice by a Ukrainian military veteran - James Prushton Opponents of the Ukrainian president have long raised concerns about him centralising power under the guise of wartime necessity, and the move follows weeks of manoeuvres against pro-reform and anti-corruption activists. The protests came a day after Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) agents carried out raids on the Nabu and Sapo offices, alleging a broad range of crimes from Russian infiltration to traffic violations. Fifteen Nabu officials were placed under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nabu, which was set up with the assistance of the FBI and the EU, recently opened a criminal case against Oleksiy Chernyshov, a close ally of the president, on charges of abuse of power and illegal enrichment. He denied the charges, but was dismissed in last weeks government reshuffle. On Tuesday, Brussels said it was concerned by the draft law and pointed out that its payments to Ukraine were conditional on progress in transparency, judicial reform and democratic governance. Credit:Bohdan Ben In the Ukrainian parliament, the bill passed with the support of 263 MPs, with 13 abstaining and 13 voting against. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oleksiy Goncharenko, an opposition MP who voted against the measure, said the bill was about the end of the independence of anti-corruption bodies inside Ukraine, blaming the personal choice of President Zelensky. The president may have been motivated by the recent investigation of Mr Chernyshov, the former vice-president, who is very close to him, said Mr Goncharenko. He added: Im not a supporter of President Zelensky at all, but at the same time, internationally, Ive always supported his efforts. But today he made a very bad choice ... and it will definitely make Ukraine weaker. Referring to Russia, he said: Small democracies can win over bigger autocracies. But small autocracies will sooner or later be swallowed by bigger ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second measure to immediately send the legislation to the presidents desk for his signature into law passed with 246 votes. Meaghan Mobbs, the daughter of Keith Kellog, the US special envoy to Ukraine, said: This decision is truly, unbelievably, mind-bogglingly stupid. It happens at the worst possible time given the recent positive shifts in US policy. Ukrainian celebrities implored Mr Zelensky not to sign the law, including the popular chef Yehven Klopotenko and Serhiy Prytula, an actor turned military fundraiser. Anastasia Radina, the head of the parliamentary anti-corruption committee, was reportedly the only member of Mr Zelenskys Servant of the People party to speak out against the legislation ahead of the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I ask you, colleagues, not to deceive yourselves and the people that you are voting for some mild strengthening of the prosecutor general, and not for the dismantling of Nabu and Sapo, she said. After the amendments that the committee added to this bill today, contrary to the rules, the anti-corruption prosecutors office becomes a fiction for budget funds. The bill has seen a huge backlash from Ukrainians - Danylo Antoniuk/Anadolu via Getty Images On Tuesday, Nabu announced that, together with Sapo, it had charged a senior SBU officer and two accomplices with extorting a $300,000 bribe. The case involved a military officer accused of facilitating illegal border crossings for men seeking to flee the country. No senior government figure had publicly defended the law by Tuesday afternoon, amid a furious backlash from Ukrainian civil society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, we ran an editorial warning of an anti-democratic backslide in Ukraine, said Olga Rudenko, the editor in chief of the respected Kyiv Independent. Today, its happening in plain sight. This isnt what our people have been fighting and dying for, and its devastatingly unfair to them. The German foreign office said in a statement: The independence and strength of Ukraines anti-corruption institutions have been key to reform efforts of recent years. Ukraine will continue to be measured against their progress. Europe helped pull Zelenskys relationship back from the brink of collapse after the Oval Office debacle. But now this unforced error by Kyiv. Where does it leave Ukraines EU accession? said Nigel Gould-Davies, a former UK ambassador to Belarus and senior fellow at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, a Washington-based think tank. Before the vote, Guillaume Mercier, a spokesman for the European Commission, said: [Nabu and Sapo] are crucial to Ukraines reform agenda and must operate in an independent way to fight corruption and maintain public trust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EU provides significant financial assistance to Ukraine conditional on progress in transparency, judicial reform and democratic governance. Ukraines accession [to the EU] will require a strong capacity to combat corruption and to ensure institutional resilience. In June, a poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that 65 per cent of Ukrainians trust Mr Zelensky, while 30 per cent do not. The poll was conducted using a random sample of 1,011 adults across the country, excluding areas occupied by Russia. 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. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has received death threats in recent days and had a campaign office vandalized with a message criticizing her for supporting Israels war in Gaza, the campaign manager for the New York congresswoman said Monday. The congresswomans staff is discussing the situation with security officials, campaign manager Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben said in a social media post outlining incidents that come as Ocasio-Cortez, long a focus of animosity from conservatives, faces criticism from progressives over a recent vote on Israel. Last night, our campaign office in the Bronx was vandalized and we are in the processing of cleaning it up, Hidalgo-Wohlleben said on X. In the past few days, we also have received multiple threats on the Congresswomans life and we are treating this seriously with our security partners to make sure she, our staff, and volunteers are safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York Police Department said the vandalism is under investigation. No arrests have been made. The Capitol Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Video captured by local news outlets in New York showed the message AOC funds genocide in Gaza written on a sign hanging in front of her campaign office in the Bronx, along with red paint splattered on the buildings face. Ocasio-Cortez has repeatedly criticized Israels military campaign in Gaza, including labelling it a genocide. But on Friday, she voted against an amendment to the defense spending bill offered by Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Green that would have stripped funding for Israels missile defense systems. Ocasio-Cortez ultimately voted against the defense spending bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her vote on the amendment provoked pushback from progressives. In a statement following the vote, the Democratic Socialists of America condemned her opposition to the amendment, which they view as support for Israels eliminationist campaign against the Palestinian people. The fact that Representative Ocasio-Cortez acknowledges that Israel is carrying out this genocide makes her support for military aid all the more disappointing and incongruous, the statement said. Ocasio-Cortez defended her vote in a statement on social media, arguing that the amendment would have perpetuated the war in Gaza by cutting funding for Israels defense systems without forcing an end to the larger military campaign launched in response to the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas. 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, she wrote on X. I remain focused on cutting the flow of US munitions that are being used to perpetuate the genocide in Gaza. New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has received multiple death threats and her head office was vandalized by anti-Israel supporters over the weekend. Ocasio-Cortezs Bronx office was smeared in red paint Sunday and activists placed a placard on the building that read: AOC FUNDS GENOCIDE IN GAZA, her campaign office said. Last night, our campaign office in the Bronx was vandalized and we are in the process of cleaning it up, said campaign manager Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben in a post on X. In the past few days, we also have received multiple threats on the Congresswomans life and we are treating this seriously with our security partners to make sure she, our staff, and volunteers are safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York Police Department said the incident was under investigation and no arrests have been made. The vandalism came days after Ocasio-Cortez voted against an amendment put forward by Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Friday that would have stripped $500 million in funding for Israels missile defense systems. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs New York office in the Bronx was smeared in red paint and activists placed a placard on the building that read: AOC FUNDS GENOCIDE IN GAZA (Getty Images) Ocasio-Cortez has been a consistent voice against Israels military offensive in Gaza and criticized Greenes amendment for doing nothing to cut off offensive aid to Israel nor end the flow of U.S. munitions in the war-torn region. What it does do is cut off defensive Iron Dome capacities while allowing the actual bombs killing Palestinians to continue, Ocasio-Cortez added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democratic Socialists of America condemned the congresswomans vote in a statement released Friday. Ocasio-Cortez voted against an amendment put forward by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene that would have stripped $500 million funding for Israels missile defense systems. (Getty Images) The fact that Representative Ocasio-Cortez acknowledges that Israel is carrying out this genocide makes her support for military aid all the more disappointing and incongruous, the group said. We urge the representative to continue voting against the Iron Dome, whether it is part of a larger defense spending bill or as a stand-alone bill. Democratic strategist Waleed Shahid was among those who came to Ocasio-Cortezs defense. She has one of the strongest pro-Palestinian voting records in Congress. Its fair to debate strategy and disagreement over specific choicesbut vandalizing her office and saying @AOC funds genocide isnt just wrong, Shahid wrote in a post on X. Its reckless, dishonest, misleading, and deeply unserious. The entrance to the South Dakota State Penitentiarys East Hall. (Courtesy of South Dakota Department of Corrections) Another inmate died this week in the custody of the South Dakota Department of Corrections, continuing a trend of higher-than-average prison deaths. South Dakota tracks in-custody deaths by state fiscal year. That time period runs from July 1 to June 30. The state is currently in fiscal year 2026. Deaths in DOC custody, by fiscal year 2018: 12 2019: 10 2020: 14 2021: 14 2022: 11 2023: 11 2024: 14 2025: 19 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nineteen inmates died in the recently concluded 2025 fiscal year, which is more than any year since at least 2018, the earliest year for which data is readily available. The apparent suicide of 25-year-old Justin Copier on Sunday in his cell at Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield is the second death of fiscal year 2026. The Department of Corrections sends a notice to the press each time an inmate dies in its care. The agency doesnt always list a cause of death, but one particular cause has drawn the attention of state investigators four times this calendar year. Four of the in-custody deaths are confirmed or suspected overdoses on the campus of the state penitentiary in Sioux Falls. Two of them, the deaths of 20-year-old Anthony Richards and 39-year-old Jason Garreau, have drawn criminal charges for those accused of providing them with drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state Division of Criminal Investigation is still looking into the other two cases, the June 10 death of 42-year-old Nicholas Skorka and May 18 death of Joshua Arrow. Arrows death was an overdose. Skorkas cause of death was not officially known as of Monday, according to DCI spokesman Tony Mangan. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPMs Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version. What an Absurd Position to be in More than three months after the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked contempt of court proceedings against the Trump administration in the original Alien Enemies Act (AEA) case, it showed signs of life for the first time yesterday but only after the detainees at CECOT were repatriated to Venezuela over the weekend. Like a drunk after a bender, the appeals court wandered into the aftermath of its own misconduct with lots of questions and few answers. In a new order, the court insouciantly noted the weekend developments: The [government] sought this Courts intervention based, in part, on their view that the order impermissibly pressured the [government] to engage in diplomacy with El Salvador. The [government] informed this Court that on July 18, 2025, El Salvador transferred the class members to Venezuela, which has made certain assurances to the U.S. government. With events having long ago overtaken the court, it ordered the Trump administration to file a brief of no longer than 2,500 words by tomorrow addressing whether and how these factual developments affect their position in this case. It set what for this panel is a blindingly fast briefing schedule of about a week for the parties to address this and related issues in the case, including the governments response to a motion that plaintiffs filed last week to try to nudge the court along. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It should be noted that only two of the three judges Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao (Trump appointees) agreed to grant the Trumps administrations request for an administrative stay in April. The third judge Cornelia Pillard (an Obama appointee) opposed the stay. As Morning Memo noted last week, the unconscionable delay by the appeals court blocked U.S. District Judge James Boasberg from continuing with contempt proceedings after he found probable cause that the Trump administration had committed criminal contempt by continuing with the Alien Enemies Act removals in defiance of his orders to turn back the deportation flights. To put a blunt point on it: If Boasbergs order had been followed, there would have been no Venezuelan nationals imprisoned at CECOT, at least not until higher courts in the U.S. had weighed in. Given how courts have ruled subsequently, its not clear anyone would have been removed under this AEA proclamation. Its hard to conceive of conduct in contempt of court more far-reaching, historic, and consequential. In the three months since the appeals court stay went it effect, fired DOJ lawyer Erez Reuveni turned into a whistleblower and released internal department communications that showed more starkly than ever before how purposefully and willfully defiant the administration had been in the face of Boasbergs orders. DOJ official Emil Bove emerged as perhaps the central villain in the account provided by Reuveni, but by this time President Trump had nominated Bove to a seat on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Still, the D.C. Circuit panel didnt issue a ruling or move to lift the stay or otherwise bother itself with the case in any public way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The inexcusable delays had compounding effects in other cases against the Trump administration. While Boasberg had a head start as the judge in the first AEA case, that advantage was squandered by the appeals court, with the result that the administration could engage in similar stonewalling and defiance with subsequent judges in various others challenges to executive power without the specter of a criminal contempt proceeding, let alone a contempt finding, hanging over its head. With the new briefing schedule, it appears likely that the temporary administrative stay will have lasted from April until late July or early August. The world kept spinning while the appeals court dawdled. Awaiting Big Decision I: Pro-Palestinian International Students Trial ended Monday in the case challenging the Trump administrations targeting of pro-Palestinian international students for their political views. U.S. District Judge William G. Young of Boston said he would need some time to render his verdict. Awaiting Big Decision II: Harvards Case Against Trump During a two-hour hearing Monday, U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs of Boston appeared receptive to Harvards arguments that President Trump has unlawfully targeted it with contingent funding cuts. Harvard is seeking summary judgment, meaning there are no disputed facts to be resolved at trial and the judge should rule now. CBO: 10 Million Will Lose Health Insurance Under BBB The CBOs final tally on the centerpiece legislation of Trump II is in: 10 million people will lose health insurance coverage as the deficit balloons by $3.4 trillion over 10 years. The bulk of the deficit spending comes from the permanent extension of Trumps 2017 tax cuts. Medicaid Cuts Will Hit Disabled Americans Hard NYT: Federal law deems most home- and community-based services as optional, so they are often targeted when states have to tighten their belts. When temporary Great Recession increases in Medicaid funding expired in the early 2010s, for example, every state reduced home care by limiting enrollment or lowering spending on existing recipients. Good Read Wired: How Trump Killed Cancer Research Dems Use Epstein to Send House GOP Into Hiding While President Trump plays all the old MAGA hits to try to woo back disillusioned right-wing conspiracists, House Republicans basically shut down the lower chamber rather than face votes on troll-y amendments by House Democrats calling for the release of more records related to Jeffrey Epstein. The upshot is that not much will get done this week before the House leaves for August recess. Trump Punishes WSJ Over Epstein Letter Thanks to a D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals decision last month that allowed President Trump to continue punishing the Associated Press for not using Gulf of America in its stories, there was nothing stopping him from retaliating against the Wall Street Journal for reporting on his letter to Jeffrey Epstein. The White House yanked the WSJ from the press pool covering the presidents upcoming trip to Scotland. Good Riddance Today is the last day on the job for interim U.S. attorney Alina Habba of New Jersey. The former Trump lawyer and hanger-on has been a disaster in the temporary role, and the federal judges in the state declined to extend her term. Retribution Watch: Thomas Windom Edition House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) has issued a subpoena to former DOJ prosecutor Thomas Windom, who was deeply involved in the criminal cases against Donald Trump both before and after the appointment of Special Prosecutor Jack Smith. The subpoena part of the larger Trump-led retribution against prosecutors and investigators comes after Windom declined to answer some committee questions in a private session last month. The subpoena calls for Windom to appear before the committee in September. FEMA Search and Rescue Chief Resigns Ken Pagureks, the head of FEMAs Urban Search and Rescue unit, resigned Monday after it took more than 72 hours for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to authorize deployment after the catastrophic flooding this month in Texas, CNN reports. Dems Plot Counter to GOP Redistricting in Texas Democratic leaders are considering mid-decade redistricting in five blue states California, New York, New Jersey, Minnesota and Washington state to counter the GOP redistricting effort underway in a special session in Texas, according to CNN. Colbert Mock-Relishes His Role as a Martyr on the Cross Do you like Morning Memo? Let us know! WESTFIELD This summer, Elm Electrical is once again offering free four-day training sessions for students interested in the electrical field and for prospective co-op students at one of three Elm Futures training seminars. The seminars are held in Elm University, the companys inhouse training program. ELM University classrooms and labs are used year-round giving employees who want to become licensed electricians an opportunity to opt into Elm four-year apprentice program. They can work their jobs Monday through Thursday and then every other Friday attend school at Elm U for free. ELM Futures training seminars provide exposure to the field for high school students who dont attend a technical school and for trade students who want to continue learning skills over the summer. One session took place in June and Session 2 ran July 13-17. Session 3, which runs from Aug. 4-7 is already full with a waitlist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paul Asselin, ELM Futures instructor, emphasized the value of the program for students from traditional high schools who might not have considered a trade career. Often, these students think its too late to enter a trade. We ensure they know that pursuing a career in the electrical field is still very much an option, he said. On Monday through Wednesday during the training seminars, students receive instruction in Elms state-of-the-art multimedia classrooms and hands-on lab. Thursday, the final day, is Challenge Day where students apply what theyve learned and complete a project board challenge. ELM project managers evaluate their work and offer feedback. This is a great opportunity to showcase and utilize our training facility, expose kids to the electrical field as well as instruct our current and future workforce. At the same time we can get them excited about the field and see what the kids can do, said Asselin, adding that the seminar gives ELM Electrical a snapshot of what theyd look like as potential co-op students on the job. Students in Session 2 came from Westfield Technical Academy, Chicopee Comprehensive High School, Palmer Vocation, Springfield Technical Community College and one from Connecticut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been a great week. Paul was awesome. Ive learned a lot of more advanced stuff this week, so thats been pretty cool, said Antonio Simposon of Westfield Technical Academy at the end of last weeks training. Asani Gayle, an engineering student at STCC said it was a great refresher for him. I attended school in Jamaica nine years ago. Paul showed us how to not just get it right, but to do it well. He reminded us how important accurate measurements are, how to do a good splice. I loved my week here with this group. This was a great group of students. They all worked so hard this week. They helped each other out, everyone improved, and it was a HOT week. They showed up every day ready to work, Asselin said. Asselin said ELM University is a great option for employees who in four years are ready to sit for their exam to be licensed electricians. Adding our Futures program to our Elm U program really allows us to groom our future workforce from the very beginning, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elm is a diversified automation, construction and electrical services provider that has been serving commercial and industrial customers throughout the Northeast since 1971. Elm offers a broad portfolio of services which includes automated manufacturing and distribution systems, design-build electrical construction services, machinery and mechanical solutions, electrical control panel assembly services, 24/7 electrical service and support and electrical preventative maintenance. For more information about ELM Electrical and its training programs, visit www.elmelectrical.com. Read the original article on MassLive. B2Gold Corp. (NYSE:BTG) is one of the best high-return penny stocks to buy now. On July 11, BMO Capital Markets analysts reiterated a Buy rating on the stock. The Buy rating is based on the Canadian gold miners series of positive updates. B2Gold Corp (BTG) Rated as a Buy at BMO Capital A close-up of a technician using advanced geological-surveying equipment, evaluating a gold deposit. The company has already announced a $740 million investment as it seeks to initiate its Gramalote gold project in Colombia. Once fully operational, the mine is expected to become a significant production asset yielding an average annual output of 177,000 ounces over 13-year mine life. It is also expected to average 227,000 ounces annually. In addition, B2Gold achieved a significant milestone with the first gold pour at the Goose Mine in Nunavut, Canada. The mine is in the process of ramping up to full production and is poised to become operational, producing between 120,000 and 150,000 ounces of gold per year. Consequently, the company remains well-positioned to capitalize on soaring gold prices as it ramps up production. B2Gold Corp. (NYSE:BTG) is involved in acquiring mineral properties, exploring, developing, and operating gold mines. The company extracts gold ore, processes it into gold dore bars, and sells them on the global market. It maintains operations in several countries, including Mali, Namibia, and the Philippines. While we acknowledge the potential of BTG 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: 10 Best Chemical Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires and 7 Most Undervalued Pot Stocks To Buy According To Analysts. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Vince Leach in 2024. Photo by Gage Skidmore | Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0 Arizona Sen. Vince Leach, a Tucson Republican, shared a meme on Facebook decrying foreign-born politicians, even though members of his own caucus were born outside the country. There are 32 foreign born members of Congress! the meme says, alongside an image of Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar, long a target of Islamophobic attacks. Who do they really represent? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leach posted the image to both his personal and candidate Facebook pages along with the caption Question of the day. Leach did not respond to repeated requests for comment. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Hes correct that 32 members of Congress were born outside of the United States nine Republicans and 23 Democrats. One of them is Arizona Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani who was born in Mexico, and became a citizen through the naturalization process. Ciscomani did not respond to a request for comment from the Arizona Mirror. As someone born abroad while my father proudly served in the U.S. Air Force, I find Senator Leachs post surprising and disappointing, Arizona Senate Minority Whip Rosanna Gabaldon told the Mirror. Implying that foreign-born Americans are somehow less capable of representing their communities undermines the very principles of service, equality and democracy that our country is built on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabaldon, who was born in Bermuda, is one of six Arizona state lawmakers who are foreign born. Four of the six are Republicans. Arizona is made stronger by its diversity, and our leaders should focus on bringing people together, not questioning the patriotism or legitimacy of their colleagues based on birthplace, Gabaldon said. I stand proudly with all who serve honorably, regardless of where they were born. Speaker of the House Steve Montenegro, who was born in El Salvador, did not respond to the Mirrors request for comment about the meme that Leach shared. Other notable politicians born outside the country include Texas Republican Ted Cruz, Illinois Democrat Tammy Duckworth, Texas Republican Dan Crenshaw and Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The image elicited a number of xenophobic and Islamophobic comments. ALL FOLLOWING 9-11, one commenter claimed, alleging that all the foreign-born members of congress were elected after the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. The countries where the largest number of current members of Congress were born are India, Mexico and West Germany. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE LITTLE ROCK, Ark. A rare opportunity for Arkansans to see a state treasure up close as the state capitol chandelier has been lowered for cleaning this week. The chandelier was lowered to the rotunda on Monday morning. Secretary of State Cole Jester said the chandelier will make its return trip to the Capitol dome at 1 p.m. Friday. State Capitols chandelier gets lowered to the public for a week A spokesperson for Jesters office said the chandelier is lowered about once a year for cleaning, and in this case, to replace a few bulbs. State Capitol chandelier lowered for cleaning and maintenance, July 21, 2025 (KARK by Kensi Freeland) State Capitol chandelier lowered for cleaning and maintenance, July 21, 2025 (KARK by Kensi Freeland) State Capitol chandelier lowered for cleaning and maintenance, July 21, 2025 (KARK by Kensi Freeland) State Capitol chandelier lowered for cleaning and maintenance, July 21, 2025 (KARK by Kensi Freeland) State Capitol chandelier lowered for cleaning and maintenance, July 21, 2025 (KARK by Kensi Freeland) State Capitol chandelier lowered for cleaning and maintenance, July 21, 2025 (KARK by Kensi Freeland) Officials said the more than 4,000-pound chandelier is approximately 12 feet in diameter and 18 feet tall. It was lowered on a 73-foot chain. An intricate design, it has over 2,000 brass, copper, zinc, iron and glass parts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its twin, produced by New Yorks Mitchell-Vance Company, hangs in the Utah state capitol. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. A U.S. Army video meant to laud the services work on fielding small armed drones instead highlights just how much it and the rest of the U.S. military continue to lag behind global trends. Have you ever seen a drone drop a GRENADE? a now-deleted post earlier today from the official U.S. Army account on X read. Watch Soldiers from @7thATC [7th Army Training Command], the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine [JMTG-U] and @173rdAbnBde [the 173rd Airborne Brigade] execute the Armys first live-grenade drop from an unmanned aircraft system in Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany. The U.S. Army appears to have deleted a (widely mocked) tweet displaying its new grenade-dropping drone capability. pic.twitter.com/nw5Fuipy0I OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) July 21, 2025 The accompanying video, which continues to circulate online, as seen below, shows Army personnel loading standard M67 fragmentation hand grenades, as well as inert M69 practice types, onto small quadcopter-type drones fitted with purpose-built mechanisms for dropping them. The system is designed to pull out the safety pin on the unmodified grenade as it is released. It was the first live ordnance drop from a small UAS for [the] conventional Army, Army Maj. Philip Draper, a brigade aviation officer with the JMTG-U, says in the video. Thats a big step for 7th ATC [and the] 173rd [Airborne Brigade], who we partnered with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Really, the purpose of this training is more of innovation, its to do things weve not done before, to extend ourselves beyond what were currently capable of doing, Army Col. Donny Hebel, head of the JMTG-U, also says in the clip. The JMTG-U was first created in 2015 to train and advise the Ukrainian armed forces, and the unit was situated inside the country until Russias all-out invasion in 2022. A screen capture from the Army video showing a soldier loading an M69 practice grenade onto a small quadcopter-type drone at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany. US Army capture The stated goal is to conduct additional trials of this capability at Grafenwoehr, which is the Armys largest training facility in Europe, and then pass along lessons learned to higher authorities within the Army enterprise, according to Draper. There is a deep disconnect between the very tone of the social media post, as well as what is seen in the video and the comments therein, and the global reality when it comes to small armed drones. The answer to the have you ever seen a drone drop a GRENADE? is a resounding yes for anyone who has watched this area of development over the past decade. ISIS terrorists very prominently began using exactly this capability during the Battle of Mosul in Iraq in 2016 and 2017, something TWZ noted at the time was a clear sign of things to come. We had predicted exactly this kind of application for commercially available drones for years prior. This was written in 2016 (date stamp is off). Nobody who has been power will answer for this incredible lack of imagination and foresight of course. We choose to lose.https://t.co/LcC1F5x5BT Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) July 21, 2025 In the years that followed, ISIS and other militant organizations also used drones to drop small munitions, including on American forces, in Syria. The threat of weaponized commercial drones, including types carrying improvised explosive payloads designed to just smash into their target and detonate, migrated to Afghanistan, as well. This all led U.S. military leaders themselves to acknowledge a significant shift in the character of modern warfare years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, as we think about this problem, Ive been in the Army for 38 years, and in my entire time in the Army on battlefields in Iraq, in Afghanistan, Syria, I never had to look up, now-retired Army Gen. Richard Clarke, then-head of U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), said at the annual Aspen Security Forum in 2022. I never had to look up because the U.S. always maintained air superiority and our forces were protected because we had air cover. But now with everything from quadcopters theyre very small up to very large unmanned aerial vehicles [UAV], we wont always have that luxury. Top Stories This Week Sea Submarine USS Connecticut Severely Damaged In Pacific Crash To Return To Service In 2026 Submarine USS Connecticut Severely Damaged In Pacific Crash To Return To Service In 2026 By Joseph Trevithick Air Eurofighter Typhoon Canopy-Shattering Bird Strike Captured In Amazing Images Eurofighter Typhoon Canopy-Shattering Bird Strike Captured In Amazing Images By Howard Altman Air KC-46 Crews Ordered To Drastically Curtail Use Of Jets Onboard Auxiliary Power Unit (Updated) KC-46 Crews Ordered To Drastically Curtail Use Of Jets Onboard Auxiliary Power Unit (Updated) By Howard Altman The cost of entry into this, particular for some of the small unmanned aerial systems, is very, very low, Clarke added at the time. I think that this is something thats gotta continue to go up in terms of our priority for the protection, not just of our forces that are forward today thats the current problem but whats gonna come home to roost. Some of these technologies could be used by our adversaries on our near abroad or even into our homeland. Clarkes comments notably came before Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine, a conflict that has now fully driven the significance of drones, especially small weaponized types, into the mainstream consciousness. The members of the JMTG-U should be especially well aware of this reality. Reposting this video showing a Russian T-80BVM tank with a roof screen and deploying smoke surviving multiple FPV hits and misses.https://t.co/nS5v1Vx15F https://t.co/YpwuUrelOT pic.twitter.com/A6ethi6l0O Rob Lee (@RALee85) December 13, 2023 A Ukrainian drone from the 79th Air Assault Brigade drops a 40mm HEDP grenade on a Russian UR-77 Meteorit, causing a catastrophic payload explosion. pic.twitter.com/SsaQCKXsNL OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) August 14, 2023 Various nation-state armed forces and non-state actors around the world, including drug cartels in Mexico, now regularly employ small armed drones. The recent live grenade drops from drones at Grafenwoehr arent even the first time the U.S. Army has demonstrated this capability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the first time, U.S. Army personnel dropped live grenades straight from an UAV [uncrewed aerial vehicle], an Army press release in 2023 triumphantly declared. Our eyes in the sky, now the RQ-28A, a [small quadcopter] UAV manufactured by Skydio, will be a force for the Sky Dragons across the [XVIII Airborne] Corps. Last year, our sister site Task & Purpose highlighted the Armys Fort Bragg in North Carolina, then named Fort Liberty, formally becoming the first installation where soldiers could train to use small drones to drop live munitions. Fort Bragg is home to the XVIII Airborne Corps, which includes the 82nd Airborne Division, and is also a hub for Army special operations forces. A small Army quadcopter drone configured to drop M67/M69 grenades seen during a test at Fort Bragg in 2023. US Army The U.S. Marine Corps has also been active and outspoken about incorporating small armed drones into its arsenal. On top of all this, the very real threat posed now by uncrewed aerial systems has been driving parallel demand for systems to defeat them, another area where TWZ regularly highlights how the U.S. military is worryingly lagging behind. Again, this is a reality that extends beyond nation state armed forces to non-state actors. For example, the use of weaponized commercial drones has become so prevalent in fighting between drug cartels in Mexico that at least one improvised armored truck, also commonly referred to as a Narco Tank, has emerged with an anti-drone armor screen on top of its cab. This kind of add-on protection first appeared on Russian tanks in the lead-up to the war in Ukraine and has since become a fixture on armored and unarmored vehicles on both sides of that conflict, as well as emerged with other armed forces globally. The U.S. Army is just now looking to give its own M1 Abrams tanks and other armored vehicles new top protection against these threats. A Ukrainian M1 Abrams tank with anti-drone armor screens, as well as other add-on armor. Metinvest A new section on counter-drone tactics recently added to an Army tank warfare manual drew its own criticism for being behind the times, especially based on observations from Ukraine. Recommendations for tank commanders to stand in open hatches and use hand signals to signal other friendly forces of incoming enemy drones, to rapidly disperse off established paths (and potentially into nearby minefields), and to use M1028 canister rounds (essentially very large shotgun shells) from the M1s 120mm main gun as the prime anti-drone weapon struck many as not just unlikely to be effective, but also adds risk. The plan to leave a track and break into a herringbone will most likely result in multiple landmine hits. And the laughable instructions to shoot canister at a rapidly moving FPV could only have have emanated from a General. pic.twitter.com/IorCrQHQfK Roy (@GrandpaRoy2) July 13, 2025 The Pentagon did just recently announce sweeping policy changes intended to finally move the Army and the rest of the Department of Defense beyond seemingly endless testing of weaponized drones and actually field those capabilities, especially among smaller ground units. You can read more about these efforts aimed at Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, the Armys Have you ever seen a drone drop a GRENADE? video shows the service is still moving at the same pace as it has been, despite weaponized drones having become a fixture in active conflict zones worldwide, as well as years of its own relevant work. Contact the author: joe@twz.com Three bodies have been found in a house in the Bavarian town of Zwiesel, in south-eastern Germany. A police spokeswoman said on Tuesday that the case is being treated as homicide, and that a 37-year-old suspect has been arrested in neighbouring Austria. The man had turned himself in to the police in the Austrian city of Linz on Monday afternoon, saying he had killed three people, the police said. The suspect has been taken into custody and is due to be extradited to Germany. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spokeswoman did not provide any further information on the identities of the three dead or the suspect. It was initially unclear whether the suspect and the alleged victims knew each other, and the motive is also unknown. The police and public prosecutor's office are investigating the case. Multiple arrests have been made in an 18-year-old murder case that previously went cold due to a lack of leads. On Monday, the Riverside County Sheriffs Department announced that five people had been identified and arrested in connection with the June 13, 2007, killing of Andres Valdes in Mead Valley. The 51-year-old Valdes was shot multiple times at a home on the 19000 block of Mariposa Avenue in the community located in western Riverside County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On that night, deputies from the Sheriffs Departments station in Perris responded to the home for reports of shots fired during a potential home invasion robbery. Deputies located Valdes at the scene and he was pronounced dead by paramedics. Additional victims were located at the home, including several who were assaulted and suffered minor injuries. Witnesses told investigators that several masked men entered the property to commit a robbery. Valdes fought with the assailants, which led to at least one person fatally shooting him. The Riverside County Sheriffs Office Central Homicide Unit took over the investigation, but the case eventually went cold without any arrests due to a lack of leads or evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, a new set of investigators reviewed and decided to reopen the case. Over the past several months, multiple suspects were identified as being involved in the murder and robbery, the Sheriffs Department said in a news release. Five people were ultimately arrested, including two who still live a short drive from where Valdes was killed. The five suspects have been identified as Kenneth Tucker, 37, of Riverside; Deshawn Hill, 36, of Riverside; Dennis Haynes, 37, of Phoenix; Kenneth Haynes, 37, of Phoenix; and Keith Crutchfield, 37, of Killeen, Texas. Hill was arrested on July 5 in Riverside and was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside, and Tucker was arrested the following day in Riverside and booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta. Kenneth Tucker, 37, of Riverside; Deshawn Hill, 36, of Riverside are shown in these undated mugshots. (Riverside County Sheriffs Department) The other three were arrested between July 14 and July 21 in Arizona and Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All three suspects arrested out of state will be transported to Riverside County to face charges, officials said. The Sheriffs Department says all five face potential charges for murder in Andres Valdes killing. This investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact investigators Darryl Robertson or Andrew Lucifora of the RSD Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. New art fair will debut around Bde Maka Ska this fall originally appeared on Bring Me The News. With the Minnehaha Falls Art Fair wrapped up, Homespun Events has unveiled plans to launch a new fall-time event in Minneapolis. The City of Lakes Art Fair will have its inaugural installment on Oct. 11 and 12 at Bde Maka Ska. The event will take place at the northwest side of the lake between W Lake Street and W 32nd Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are SO excited to bring a new art fair to Minneapolis in the beautiful backdrop of Bde Maka Ska during peak autumn colors," reads a message on the company's site, which adds that more details will be revealed soon. Bde Maka SkaMinneapolis Park and Recreation Board While the event isn't right in the heart of Uptown, the City of Lakes Art Fair puts an art festival near the neighborhood, which no longer has the Uptown Art Fair. After construction forced a temporary relocation, the Uptown Association rebranded the event as the SoMi Art Fair and will continue to host it at Bachman's on Lyndale, which is, notably, not in Uptown. The soon-to-debut fair run by the same group that hosts the Edina Art Fair, Palace Theatre Holiday Market, and other events promises that the event will feature more than 150 artists, as well as live music, food and drink, and other activities. The City of Lakes Art Fair is currently accepting applications from artists, food vendors, musicians, and community organizations through Aug. 15. Related: Stone Arch Bridge reopens to the public earlier than expected This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared. WATERLOO, Ill. A teen girl has died after being shot Monday afternoon. According to the Monroe County Sheriffs Department, officers were called to the 5900 block of State Route 3 around 1:30 p.m. Upon arrival, they located 14-year-old Emma Schultheis with a gunshot wound. The teen was transported to a hospital in St. Louis, but she succumbed to her injuries. Officials confirmed that they located a gun at the scene, and that there are no suspects at large or threats to the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting remains under investigation. No further information was 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 FOX 2. GILES COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) Two Giles County teens face multiple charges in connection with an ongoing sexual exploitation case, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Teen charged with vehicular assault, reckless endangerment after flipping vehicle on Briley Parkway The TBI said agents started investigating circumstances surrounding a photograph of a Giles County teen that had appeared on social media at the request of 22nd Judicial District Attorney General Brent Cooper in November 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the course of the investigation, TBI agents determined that two classmates had posted the image after they had received it from another classmate. One of the teens allegedly also sent a direct message and threatened to harm the victim. MNPD: 18-year-old arrested in teens shooting death outside Antioch Starbucks One of the teens has been charged with illegal use of a telecommunications device, unlawful photography dissemination and harassment. The second teen has been charged with illegal use of a telecommunications device and unlawful photography dissemination. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Two planes almost crashed into each other Monday in Mexico City, an incident that comes after multiple aviation accidents in recent months have rattled travelers. Delta Air Lines told The Hills sister network NewsNation that on one of its flights headed to Atlanta from Mexico City on Monday morning, flight crew onboard observed another aircraft landing in front of their aircraft on the same runway as the flight started to take off. Flight crew safely stopped their takeoff and returned to a gate, Delta told NewsNation. After taking on some additional fuel and conferring with Delta safety and flight operations officials, the aircraft redeparted for Atlanta at 9:42 am and arrived at 3:20 pm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Tuesday statement, Aeromexico said regarding the event that occurred on July 21, on flight AM1631, operating the Aguascalientes Mexico City route with an Embraer190 aircraft, we inform that we are working closely with the corresponding authorities to conduct a detailed investigation. At Aeromexico, the safety of our customers and employees is, and will always be, our highest priority, the airline added. Airlive reported Tuesday that Aeromexico Connect Flight AM1631, early reports indicated, was about to touch down on a runway as the Delta flight had been cleared to enter the runway and start a takeoff roll. The Federal Aviation Administration referred The Hill to the Mexican authorities and Delta, and the National Transportation Safety Board said it was aware of the event but have nothing to release at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hill has reached out to transportation officials in Mexico for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD) is one of the most profitable consumer stocks to buy now. Bank of America slightly lowered its price target on McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD) to $322 from $327 while keeping a Neutral rating, as it fine-tunes estimates across its restaurant coverage ahead of the sectors upcoming earnings season. The revised target implies an upside of roughly 8.4% from the current market price of $297. BofA Trims McDonald's (MCD) Price Target, Maintains Neutral Rating saknakorn / Shutterstock.com The move reflects a broader recalibration by BofA analysts, who are adjusting their models to account for changes in market multiples and company-specific revisions. While McDonalds remains a stable performer, the firm signaled that valuation has grown less compelling in the short term, especially amid a backdrop of slowing same-store sales growth and cautious consumer trends in key international markets. BofA highlighted that while McDonalds continues to benefit from scale, operational efficiency, and strong brand equity, macro pressures, including FX headwinds and uneven traffic in Europe, could limit near-term upside. Still, the modest price cut is not a sign of deteriorating fundamentals but rather part of a broader sector-level housekeeping. Investors will be closely monitoring McDonalds quarterly update for guidance on pricing strategies, traffic trends, and progress in digital engagement, all of which will shape sentiment heading into the second half of the year. While we acknowledge the potential of MCD 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: Top 10 Healthcare AI Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds and 10 Best Industrial Automation Stocks to Buy for the Next Decade Disclosure: None. After searching several homes around metro Atlanta, the FBI says they, along with local agencies, found more than $5 million in drugs. Houston County and Perry Police Department searched nine homes around the metro Atlanta area and recovered a large number of illegal drugs and cash. So far, 21 people have been arrested, but the FBI says more could be charged. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Agents say those involved were funneling the drugs into Houston County, which is just south of Macon, and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators say they found: 76.8 pounds of marijuana 9.7 pounds of methamphetamine 13.4 pounds of powder cocaine 4.32 pounds of ecstasy, believed to be laced with fentanyl 15.45 pounds of THC edibles Over $200,000 in cash None of those arrested have been identified. Its unclear where the raided homes were located. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] More than two dozen countries released a joint statement on Monday demanding Israel immediately end its ongoing campaign of destruction in Gaza, which aid workers inside the Palestinian territory say has reached its death phase. The signatories which are mostly made up of European foreign ministers and the EU commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management condemned the U.S.-backed militarized aid sites that have been described as death traps, as well as the ongoing blockade of desperately needed humanitarian assistance that has led to mass starvation, thirst and disease, on top of the daily airstrikes and gunfire. 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, read the statement, which does not include the United States. People carry items that symbolize elements of daily life being lost or denied to Palestinians, during a "Red Line for Gaza" protest at Parliament Square in London on July 22. Leon Neal via Getty Images The State Department did not respond to HuffPosts inquiry into whether the signatories had reached out to the U.S. before publishing. Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, called the statement disgusting and accused the countries of siding with Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli Foreign Ministry also lambasted the statement, saying its disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas. The agency went on to blame the militant group for the massacres Israeli forces and mercenaries carry out every day against Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid. The statement fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognize Hamass role and responsibility for the situation, the ministry said of the statement that expressly calls for Hamas to release the hostages. Hamas is the sole party responsible for the continuation of the war and the suffering on both sides. Israels starvation campaign has reached historic levels of depravity, with soldiers corralling desperate Palestinians to their so-called aid sites before opening fire on them. Since May, Israeli forces have killed more than a thousand hungry people seeking aid, according to the UN agency responsible for helping Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). A Palestinian girl is measured for malnutrition during treatment at the Patient Friends Association Hospital in Gaza City, on July 22, 2025. Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images Doctors say the wounded especially children will often die an unnecessary death because Israel has destroyed the hospitals, blocked medical supplies from entering the territory and left patients so malnourished their immune system wont let them heal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have never seen a situation in which so many severely malnourished children perish in such a short time after reaching medical care, Joseph Belliveau, executive director of aid group MedGlobal, said Tuesday in response to five Palestinian children dying of severe acute malnutrition in a span of 72 hours. This is a deliberate and human-made disaster. Those children died because there is not enough food in Gaza and not enough medicines, including IV fluids and therapeutic formula, to revive them, he continued. This is not an inevitable result of war. It is a choice to collectively punish an entire population in its most raw, brutal and extreme form. Just outside Gaza are at least 6,000 UNRWA trucks full of humanitarian assistance the agency says could feed the population of 2 million for at least three months including Palestinians working with UNRWA who senior emergency officer Louise Wateridge said are fainting from hunger while trying to help their community. A child looks on as he holds a pan as Palestinians line up to receive food from a charity in Gaza City, on July 22. Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty Images Political will is needed. Inaction is complicity and makes us lose our humanity, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said. The countries in Mondays joint statement said they are prepared to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire, though did not specify what that action would look like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The countries also condemned as a violation of international humanitarian law the Israeli governments proposal to force the Palestinian population into a so-called humanitarian city on the ruins of Rafah, Gazas southernmost city that soldiers have essentially wiped out. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has described the proposal as a concentration camp to ethnically cleanse Palestinians. Weve finally reached the final episode, UNRWA worker Mona told Wateridge. Now were in the death phase, because everything around people at the moment is death. Advocates for child welfare reform are once again asking the legislature to create a commission to study how child care and protection cases are handled in Massachusetts in the wake of the Harmony Montgomery case. 25 investigates has followed this push since 2022. The Harmony Commission Resolve H.218 is named after the 5-year-old Massachusetts foster child who was murdered by her biological father Adam Montgomery in New Hampshire. (link: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families for years, before 2019 when a judge granted custody to Adam, a convicted felon with a history of violence. He is now convicted of beating her to death later that year. His lawyers have filed an appeal. On Tuesday, advocates went before the Joint Committee on Children and Families at the State House urging the commission be created to help safeguard childrens best interests while balancing the rights of parents. We also ask that the committee if formed would address structural problems in particular the representation of children in these cases, which is not only dangerous to children but put Harmony Montgomery in harms way, said Carol Erskine, retired Massachusetts first justice of Worcester County juvenile court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As 25 Investigates has reported, the day custody was granted to Adam Montgomery, Harmony had no voice in the courtroom who spoke up on her behalf. This is the third time the Harmony Commission has gone before Massachusetts lawmakers. 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 Welcome back to World Brief, where were looking at global criticism of Israels actions in Gaza, a new trade deal between the United States and the Philippines, and the future of Irans nuclear program. Sign up to receive World Brief in your inbox every weekday. Sign up to receive World Brief in your inbox every weekday. Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enter your email Sign Up Loading... Signed Up Weaponizing Aid Foreign ministers from 28 countries issued a joint statement on Monday condemning Israels military actions against Palestinians and calling for an end to the war in Gaza. The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths, the statement said. 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 lettersigned by 24 European governments as well as Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealanddemanded that Israel lift its restrictions on the flow of aid into the territory and allow the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations to deliver basic supplies unimpeded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli governments aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity, the countries added, likely referring to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an Israeli- and U.S.-backed distribution system that has forced Palestinians to travel long distances to access a limited amount of food at just four distribution sites across Gaza. The U.N. human rights office said in a new report on Tuesday that Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians seeking food aid since late May, mostly at or near GHF locations. Rights organizations have previously accused Israel of weaponizing aid in Gaza. According to the U.N. report, the Gaza Health Ministry has recorded at least 101 Palestinian deaths due to malnutrition in the past few days, including around 15 deaths within a 24-hour period. And U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Monday that the last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing in Gaza as the territory barrels toward levels of mass starvation. Israels Foreign Ministry slammed the foreign ministers joint statement as disconnected from reality, adding that it fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognize Hamass role and responsibility for the situation. Instead, Israel accused the militant group of prolonging the war by refusing to accept an Israeli-backed cease-fire and hostage release deal. Hamas is the sole party responsible for the continuation of the war and the suffering on both sides, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein posted on X. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned the letter as disgusting and said the international community must instead pressure Hamas to end the war. Germanywhich, due in part to its history, has strongly supported Israel since the war in Gaza beganremained silent on the statement, though German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul wrote on X that he had spoken with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to express concern about Gazas catastrophic humanitarian situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Past joint efforts to pressure Israel to stop its military actions in Gaza have largely failed. In May, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom threatened concrete actions if Israel did not stop its offensive in the territory, but as FP columnist Steven A. Cook argued at the time, Israels growing isolation on the world stage has not forced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to change course. Todays Most Read Why Trump Keeps Betraying His Base by Stephen M. Walt Bidens Team Lied About Gaza. Its Time to Hold Them Accountable. by Matthew Duss The U.S. Can No Longer Stave Off Competition From China by Howard W. French What Were Following 1 percent less. U.S. President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with the Philippines on Tuesday following a White House meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Under the terms of the deal, the United States will impose a 19 percent tariff on goods from the Philippinesdown just 1 percent from the original rate that the White House threatened to impose on Manila come Trumps Aug. 1 deadline. U.S. goods will face zero tariffs in the Philippines. Efforts to secure a trade deal were challenging, with Trump implying earlier in the day that Marcoss negotiating style was hindering talks. [W]ere not there because hes negotiating too tough, Trump said of Marcos. In fact, I used to like him better than I do now. Hes too tough, but well probably agree to something. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But behind closed doors, the two leaders were able to cement a trade agreement similar to that between the United States and Indonesia, which also faces a 19 percent U.S. tariff under a recently negotiated deal. This makes the Philippines the fifth country to secure a new trade arrangement with the United States since Trump announced his proposed tariffs in April (the other four being China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom). Our strongest partner has always been the United States, Marcos said. Nuclear talks. Iranian officials met with officials from Russia and China on Tuesday to discuss the possible return of U.N. sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear program. The talks came just days before Tehran is set to meet with representatives from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom in Istanbul on Friday to discuss a potential nuclear deal. The three European countries have vowed to reimpose so-called snapback sanctions on Iran if no progress toward a nuclear agreement has been made by the end of August. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned on Tuesday that such sanctions would only further complicate the situation. One of the biggest points of contention remains Irans uranium enrichment capabilities, which Israel and the United States say are a threat to the Middle East but Tehran maintains are vital for civilian purposes. The White House has previously said it will not accept any nuclear deal that allows Iran to continue uranium enrichment. But Iran appears unwilling to concede. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tehrans uranium enrichment program is now stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday, referring to Israeli and U.S. strikes on Irans nuclear and military infrastructure last month. But obviously, we cannot give up our enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists, and now, more than that, it is a question of national pride. Increasing authority. Ukrainian lawmakers passed legislation on Tuesday that would give President Volodymyr Zelensky greater influence over the countrys independent anti-corruption bodies by effectively eliminating the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and its partner organization, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office. Under the billpassed with 263 votes and fast-tracked to Zelenskys desk for final approvalboth agencies would be placed under the authority of Kyivs prosecutor general. Supporters framed the move as a vital wartime measure to help investigate reports of missing people. But critics warned that the bill would concentrate authority within Zelenskys administration and silence his opponents. Whats happening is the demolition of the anticorruption infrastructure in Ukraine, said Daria Kaleniuk, the co-founder of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, which helped establish NABU after Ukraines 2014 revolution. Experts suggest that the legislation could hamper Ukraines bid to join the European Union, as independent anti-corruption mechanisms and government transparency are key considerations for accession. Ambassadors from the G-7 told the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that they have serious concerns and intend to discuss these developments with government leaders. Odds and Ends The alleged cheating scandal at a Coldplay concert, in which the married CEO of U.S. tech company Astronomer was caught on a kiss cam in a romantic embrace with another of the companys senior employees, has taken the world by storm. Now, even Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is offering his two cents on the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Pashinyan suggested that the kiss cam canoodlers have more integrity than Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, because the CEO of Astronomer resigned over the incident, whereas Karekin has not stepped down following accusations by Pashinyan that the church leader broke his vow of celibacy. Pashinyan and Karekin have long feuded over allegations that Pashinyan is uncircumcised and therefore not Christiana scathing accusation in a country where around 94 percent of the population identifies as Armenian Orthodox. A months-long investigation by the Rowan County Sheriffs Office led to the arrest of three people, the seizure of large quantities of drugs, and the discovery of illegal firearms, including one that was fully automatic. ALSO READ: Drug bust leads to arrest in Rowan County Detectives began investigating two suspects, Stacey Bryant and Adam Anderson, for trafficking fentanyl and executed two separate searches this month at a home on Old Mocksville Road in Salisbury, the sheriff said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first search warrant on July 1 that was executed resulted in the seizure of approximately 15 grams of fentanyl, 24 grams of methamphetamine, 18 grams of cocaine, numerous opioid pills, and two illegal firearms from the residence. Bryant was charged with trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in opioid, possession with intent to sell cocaine, possession with intent to sell methamphetamine, possession of a Schedule IV, and maintaining a dwelling for the use and sale of a controlled substance. Anderson was charged with possession of a firearm by felon, two counts of possession of Schedule II , and maintaining a dwelling for the use and sale of a controlled substance. Wayne Morrison was charged with possession of a firearm by felon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was later revealed that one of the guns at Andersons home was fully automatic, the sheriff said. Another search Investigators went after Anderson on more charges, including possession of a weapon of mass destruction. On July 16, Vice and Narcotics detectives returned to the home on Mocksville Road to serve an arrest warrant for the weapon of mass destruction charge. During the arrest, investigators saw more criminal activity happening so another search warrant was issued. During the second search, detectives found about 80 grams of meth, 1 gram of fentanyl, and 1.8 grams of psilocybin mushrooms. Drug paraphernalia was also discovered on the premises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anderson was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, maintaining a dwelling for the use and sale of a controlled substance, felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, felony possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, and possession of a weapon of mass destruction. The investigation remains ongoing. VIDEO: 21-year-old man shot, killed in Salisbury, police say ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Cash rewards are being offered for information leading to the arrest of nine suspects wanted for various crimes in Abilene. Police are seeking these suspects for the following offenses: Norie Fawcett Deadly Conduct Broderic Livingston Robbery, Evading Arrest Andrew Allen Rice Assault with a Deadly Weapon Tyler James Hudson Robbery, Assault Family Violence, DWI Lisa Michelle Brown Aggravated Assault Elizabeth Thompson Aggravated Assault with Deadly WEapon Taner Pierce Robbery Aryn Taylor Burglary of Habitation Joshua Christian Aggravated Assault Jazmin Rockuemore (FEATURED FUGITIVE) Arson Jazmin Rockuemore Joshua Christian Aryn Taylor Taner Pierce Elizabeth Thompson Lisa Michelle Brown Tyler James Hudson Andrew Allen Rice Broderic Livingston Norie Fawcett CrimeStoppers is offering $500 cash rewards for information that leads to the capture any of the suspects, and a $1000 cash reward for information that leads to the capture of the featured fugitive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cash rewards will only be given if the information is received during the week their mugshots are aired on Abilenes Wanted Criminals. Up Next Survivor of Vietnam tourist boat capsize worries about missing husband and children | AP Ice cream makers will phase out artificial dyes by 2028 Abilenes Wanted Criminals is a police-run social media segment that will highlight wanted suspects from around the City each week. Episodes will be posted to the Abilene Police Departments YouTube page or APDs PIO Youtube 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. WOOD COUNTY, Texas (KETK) Perryville Volunteer Fire Chief Daniel Charles Alexander was arrested earlier this month for theft of service after failing to work on a construction project that was already paid for, an affidavit said. Trio arrested after stealing from T.J. Maxx in Tyler, affidavit reveals Mugshot of Daniel Charles Alexander, courtesy of Wood County Jail Records According to the court documents, Alexander signed a contract to construct a 4040 shop building for the victim in exchange for $38,796 on March 19. The victim said Alexander wrote the size of the building as 3040 in the contract, an affidavit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim contacted Alexander to explain that the size of the building was incorrect and Alexander responded by adding $10,443 to the quoted price of the job due to the change in size, according to the affidavit. The contact was not formally changed and both parties settled during a verbal agreement. Police capture Nacogdoches man on Texas Top 10 Most Wanted List for sexual assault of child Alexander informed the victim that he did not have enough money to buy the material needed for the project and asked the victim to pay upfront for the project. The affidavit said the upfront payment included material and labor costs, which came out to $49,239. The victim wrote two checks to Alexander, with one check valued at $38,796 on March 20 and the other check valued at $10,443 on April 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the affidavit, the victim asked Alexander to begin construction several times through phone calls, but Alexander never started the project, and he would sometimes ignore the victims phone calls. After Alexander gave many excuses for not starting the job, the victim filed a theft of service report on June 18 with the Franklin County Sheriffs Office. Tyler PD searching for armed and dangerous man wanted for murder Text messages between the victim and Alexander show the agreement that was exchanged between the two parties. According to Wood County Jail records, Alexander was booked for a theft of service charge on July 17 and was released four days later. 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. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison a press conference on Feb. 26, 2024. Photo by Madison McVan/Minnesota Reformer. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is suing the Trump administration over federal rules instructing employees to verify the immigration status of people who use social safety net programs, including homeless shelters, child care programs and community health clinics. Minnesota is one of 20 states involved in the lawsuit. Its the 30th lawsuit Ellison has filed against the Trump administration his office has joined lawsuits over the executive branchs withholding of funds approved by Congress; Immigration and Customs Enforcements access to personal data; and Trumps executive order intended to end birthright citizenship, among others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This month, several federal agencies issued new rules requiring program administrators to check peoples immigration status before enrolling them in the program. For example, companies and nonprofits providing free or reduced-cost child care through the federal Head Start program must now verify that the children they serve are American citizens, a departure from precedent under both Democratic and Republican administrations. The same goes for shelters that receive federal funding, and community health clinics, which are required by federal law to serve everyone in their service area, contrary to the new agency rule. These restrictions on who can access public benefits are deeply cruel and they require state programs to verify immigration status when those programs may not be able to do so, Ellison said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ellison and the other 19 attorneys general are arguing that the federal government acted unlawfully by making these changes without following the procedures outlined by the Administrative Procedure Act, and by misapplying the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. The lawsuit also argues that the executive branch violated the Constitutions spending clause by implementing new funding conditions on states without fair notice or consent. Air India has found no fault with the fuel switches of its Boeing fleet, the airline said on Tuesday, adding to mounting evidence that the pilots killed in the crash were to blame. The airline carried out inspections and found no problems with the locking mechanism of the fuel control switch of all Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft in its fleet, a spokesman said. The captain of the crashed jet is likely to have cut off the fuel supply before the plane went down in Ahmedabad, US officials believe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first officer, who was flying the Boeing 787-9, questioned why the captain had moved switches to the cut-off position, according to a US assessment of the black box data. He expressed surprise and panic while the captain remained calm, the Wall Street Journal reported. All but one of the 242 people on board the Boeing 787 Dreamliner were killed when the aircraft plunged into a medical student hostel in a suburb last month, less than a minute after take-off from Ahmedabad airport. Indias aviation regulator ordered airlines to check fuel switches on Boeing jets after a preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau found that switches controlling fuel flow to the jets two engines were turned off, leading to a catastrophic loss of thrust at take-off. The switches were moved in succession, one second apart, according to the report. Some 10 seconds later, they were turned back on. The report did not say whether the switches may have been turned off accidentally or deliberately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The findings explain why the jets emergency power generator, known as a ram air turbine, appeared to have been activated moments before it plummeted to the ground. While the initial report does not draw any conclusion, it has raised questions about the actions of Sumeet Sabharwal, the lead pilot, and Clive Kundar, the co-pilot, who had more than 19,000 hours of flying time between them. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal issued a mayday call in the moments before the disaster In the moments before the disaster, Captain Sabharwal, 56, issued a mayday call. However, after the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of barely 400ft above the runway all contact was lost. The plane then glided towards the ground and crashed in an explosion. The Telegraph previously revealed that Air India crash investigators were examining the medical records of Mr Sabharwal amid claims that he suffered from depression and mental health problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Captain Sabharwal had been considering leaving the airline to look after his elderly father following the death of his mother in 2022. The crash was the first fatal accident involving Boeings Dreamliner. However, the airline had suffered reputational damage after a string of safety and quality problems. 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 Nations' World Food Programme last week conducted humanitarian air drops in South Sudan as the country, less than two decades old, faces surging conflict while global assistance programs are roiled in a financial crisis and more than 2 million of the nations children are at risk of malnutrition. The civil war in neighboring Sudan has displaced 1 million refugees who have flowed into the Upper Nile of South Sudan, where the WFP said it targeted its airdrops because it was the only way to reach the area. The emergency food deliveries serve some of the world's most desperate populations as the U.S. -- long the world's top humanitarian donor -- initiates a new foreign assistance strategy under the auspices of the State Department and officials express an openness to unconventional measures to get aid to those who need it. The organization said in a press release it was the first time in over four months it was able to deliver food to the people of the remote region. WFP told ABC News it would continue to deliver aid from the air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Sudan has become a 'case study' for the impact of USAID cuts, aid worker says "Airdrops are ongoing to reach the planned target of 40,000 people," said Tomson Phiri, a spokesperson for WFP in the country. Fogbow - PHOTO: The non-governmental organization Nile Hope collected bags of food that were airdropped by Fogbow in June and distributed them to families. The WFP airdrops, totaling more than 400 metric tons, follow those in the Upper Nile by Fogbow, a private American company working with humanitarian distributors on the ground. Now defunct, the U.S. Agency for International Development officially closed its doors on July 1 when the State Department took over its remaining programs. USAIDs staff was downsized by 83%, and a small number were rehired to continue their work under the new apparatus, a State Department spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A senior State Department official said a new deft bureaucracy accountable to Washington policymakers could have more of an appetite for unconventional measures like airdrops. This transition has not stopped us from investing in sort of new and innovative solutions, the official said. And once we get through this transition and the programs are over here [at State], I think the next few months are really going to help indicate where we think our future vision is. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports that $1.4 billion of funding for its programs is on hold or shuttered -- leaving nearly 12 million refugees, or a third of the world's displaced people, without access to its support. In addition to the Trump administration's reorganization of its foreign aid policy, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Germany have announced a scaling down of their own foreign assistance budgets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That includes South Sudan. A UNHCR report on the toll of aid cuts on refugees says 75% of UNHCR-funded safe spaces, which has supported up to 80,000 women and girls who fled there, have closed. Fogbow - PHOTO: The non-governmental organization Nile Hope collected bags of food that were airdropped by Fogbow in June and distributed them to families. Violence in the borderlands between the countries -- which split when South Sudan gained independence in 2011 -- leaves the world's youngest nation in a precarious place only seven years after a cease-fire in its own civil war. The humanitarian community has long wrestled over airdrops, which are costly and difficult to execute. They are considered a last resort for conflict zones unreachable by land or sea. A U.N. spokesperson in Sudan said in a statement to ABC News that airdrops were costly, complex and context dependent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: In win for Trump, House narrowly OKs effort to claw back $9B from budget -- including cuts to public broadcasting and USAID While they can provide temporary relief in locations that are otherwise inaccessible, they are usually inadequate and cannot substitute for sustained, secure humanitarian access by road or land, said Dan Tengo, a spokesperson for the U.N.s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Fogbow dropped 600 metric tons of food aid in the Upper Nile in June operations, partnering with a non-governmental organization that distributed it on the ground. In 2024, it managed to conduct airdrops amid the civil war -- with USAID funding -- in Sudan. A State Department spokesperson told ABC News it was aware of reports of airdrops in South Sudan but that the U.S. [has] not been involved in these operations. It said it is not working with Fogbow on humanitarian operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a concept of operations in June that was eventually scuttled, Fogbow proposed to conduct airdrops in Sudan with the Jordanian Royal Air Force. The plan would have targeted the drops for civilians in the besieged city of El Fasher, a flashpoint in the violence in Sudan. Mick Mulroy, Fogbow president and an ABC News contributor, said he wouldnt disagree with the U.N.s characterization -- a barge or a truck could scale significantly more aid delivery, he said. Fogbow - PHOTO: Bags of food are loaded onto a Fogbow aircraft to be dropped in South Sudan in June. But we're agnostic. You shouldn't use the most expensive [option] unless it's the only option. And in the places where we use it, it's the only option. Chris Hyslop, Fogbows director of humanitarian operations and 15-year veteran of the U.N., including three years in Sudan, said aid workers in conflict zones are ready to administer aid -- if they could get their hands on food and lifesaving goods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He noted that 85% of all humanitarians who are working are actually from the country they're working in. In Sudan and South Sudan, which broke away and gained independence in 2011, humanitarians are ready to turn funding to aid, Hyslop said. It's extremely challenging. They're there. They want to do more, he said. They're able to do more, but they cannot, because the access, due to fighting, is so constrained. In South Sudan, the WFP said it can deliver crucial assistance if the countrys main river routes were reopened. Theyve been blocked since mid-April by active fighting, the organization said, adding it has 1,500 metric tons of food ready for transport once the routes are reopened. Madison Investments, an investment advisor, released its Madison Large Cap Fund second-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter, the fund (Class Y) increased 3.1%, compared to a 10.9% gain for the S&P 500 index. In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025. In its second quarter 2025 investor letter, Madison Large Cap Fund highlighted stocks such as Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN). Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN) is an alternative asset manager and REIT/Real Estate Investment Manager firm. The one-month return of Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN) was 11.25%, and its shares gained 41.46% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On July 21, 2025, Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN) stock closed at $66.33 per share with a market capitalization of $101.73 billion. Madison Large Cap Fund stated the following regarding Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter: "The top five contributors for the quarter were Ferguson, Berkshire Hathaway, Analog Devices, Texas Instruments, and Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN). Brookfield Corporation reported strong quarterly results and its shares bounced back in the quarter after selling off in the first quarter on fears of a slowdown in global economic growth." An experienced asset manager studying financial documents intently in their office. Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 40 hedge fund portfolios held Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN) at the end of the first quarter, which was 37 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN) 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. In another article, we covered Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN) and shared Alphyn Capital Management's views on the company. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q2 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) A man pleaded guilty to multiple charges in connection with the death of an Albuquerque woman during an attempted robbery, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced. Joseph Montoya is one of three individuals who were arrested following the death of Brandy McManus at her home near McMahon and Unser in October 2023. APD said one of the suspects shot McManus while the other two fired at a neighbor who confronted them. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Montoya pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, attempted armed robbery, aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence. He faces nearly three decades in the New Mexico Corrections Department. Sentencing will take place at a later date. Austin Wilkins and Kristopher Darling are also facing charges for the incident. 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now) Following a months-long investigation, an Alexandria pet groomer is facing charges for the death of one dog and the abuse of several others at a boarding and grooming facility in Del Ray, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria said Tuesday. Authorities arrested Kevin Sanders on Monday in connection with the alleged abuse at Your Dogs Best Friends, a full-service dog daycare, after a young golden retriever named Abigail died under his care on July 12, 2024. He was charged with one count of felony cruelty and four class 1 misdemeanors. The investigation launched after an anonymous former employee of Your Dogs Best Friends contacted AWLA on Dec. 13, 2024, to report Abigails death and the abuse of multiple others that took place while they were being groomed at the facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former employee gave investigators initial video evidence, which reportedly showed that the abuse took place at the hands of one groomer, identified as Sanders. As a result, AWLAs Animal Services team, with support from Alexandria police, served a search warrant for additional video evidence in January, seizing more than 600 hours of footage in which Sanders is allegedly seen abusing multiple dogs between Dec. 17, 2024, and Jan. 24, 2025. All of Creations Petcare employee charged with animal cruelty in Loudoun County Police began interviewing witnesses and charges were sent to a grand jury. The jury certified the charges, leading to Sanders arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders was still employed at Your Dogs Best Friends at the time of the arrest, AWLA said upon announcing his arrest. No complaint against Your Dogs Best Friends was made by Abigails owner because the events that led to the dogs death were undisclosed by the facility, the agency continued. The owner of Your Dogs Best Friends, Paul Haire, issued a statement acknowledging that the news of Sanders arrest may be distressing, but that the health and safety of every dog is the facilitys highest priority. Haire also noted that the golden retriever died while on the grooming table in what a veterinarian had confirmed was a heart attack caused by a congenital heart defect, Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Statement from Paul Haire, owner of Your Dogs Best FriendsDownload Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AWLA noted that it had investigated Your Dogs Best Friends for a previous complaint in December 2021 after a dog reportedly became sick after boarding at the facility, however the investigation showed a lack of evidence connecting the dogs illness to its stay at the center. We encourage animal guardians to do extensive research when choosing any animal-related grooming, boarding or sitting services or facilities, said AWLA. Our Animal Services team has been working diligently on this investigation, and the investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. State contracts for Florida's controversial "Alligator Alcatraz" detention camp were removed from a public database and replaced with far less detailed documents after media outlets began writing about them last week. The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), which is overseeing the state's new immigrant detention camp in the Everglades, says the contracts contained "proprietary information." However, open government advocates and state Democratic lawmakers say that removing details of the contracts flies in the face of Florida's promises to provide transparency in public spending, especially given the massive expenditures of taxpayer money involved. The most recent reporting on the ballooning costs of the Everglades detention camp puts it at $250 million and growing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's a lot of our money that we deserve to see how it's spent, and it's a high profile project," David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida, says. "There's a lot of public interest, so those are two reasons why this information should be proactively posted online." On July 16, The Tributary, a nonprofit Florida news outlet, first reported details of a $78 million contract to Critical Response Strategies (CRS), a consulting company that is apparently responsible for managing day-to-day operations at the detention camp. The Tributary reported that CRS is linked to a venture capital firm headed by one of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' "biggest financial backers." But shortly after reporters began piecing together the details of who was being hired to staff, supply, and service the 3,000-person-capacity tent prison, the information started being scrubbed from the internetnot just from the companies' webpages and LinkedIn profiles, but from state websites. "State officials also appear to have clawed back information about CRS: A copy of the $78 million Alligator Alcatraz contract was included in a state vendor database Tuesday [July 15]," The Tributary reported. "On Wednesday, it was no longer available." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CRS contract disappeared from the Florida Accountability Contract Tracking System (FACTS), an online database hosted by the Florida Department of Financial Services (FDFS). The database allows the public to track taxpayer-funded state contracts. Florida state Rep. Anna V. Eskamani (DOrlando) wrote on X on July 16 that it appeared more than a dozen contracts totaling more than $200 million in taxpayer dollars had been scrubbed from the FACTS website. The Miami New Times confirmed that six of the contracts Eskamani flagged related to the detention camp were no longer available on the FACTS website. Although the FDFS hosts the website, individual agencies, such as the FDEM, are responsible for uploading contracts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephanie Hartman, FDEM spokesperson, says in a statement to Reason that the documents "included proprietary information that shouldn't have been uploaded, so they have been corrected and posted." The agency did not respond to a follow-up question about which specific information it considers proprietary. "They didn't correct anything," Eskamani says. "All they did was upload just the cover [sheet], which has no info. There are no trade secretsonly government grift to no-bid contracts." The reuploaded document of the CRS contract, for instance, is a bare-bones summary of the contract amount, supplier, and other information such as issue date and the amount awarded for the contract. The previous version contained detailed line items of purchase orders and other information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Cuillier points out, if sensitive private information was included, it could simply be redacted without having to pull the entire document. "I can't even imagine what [the concerns] would be for a contract like that, but let's say for argument there is something in there that really hurt the company," he says. "Just black that out and put the rest up. Transparency is critical here when we're talking about taxpayer dollars." To prove his point, Cuillier quotes from the FACTS "frequently asked questions" webpage, which says that, "Given that government purchases are paid for by citizens, through taxes and fees, how government procures goods and services and the amounts it pays for them should be open for public review." The FACTS website even includes a Thomas Jefferson quote on the importance of transparency in government bookkeeping: "We might hope to see the finances as clear and intelligible as a merchant's books, so that every member of Congress, and every man of every mind in the Union should be able to comprehend them, to investigate abuses, and consequently, to control them." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I love that the State of Florida cares so deeply about transparency and is quoting our great Thomas Jefferson about how critical it is," Cuillier says. "Now they need to just follow through with that." The post 'Alligator Alcatraz' Contracts Disappeared From a Florida State Database appeared first on Reason.com. Jonathan Nez speaks at a get-out-the-vote event hosted by the Gila River Indian Community on Oct. 12, 2024. Photo by Shondiin Silversmith | Arizona Mirror Former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez has launched another bid for Congress, seeking to unseat Republican incumbent Rep. Eli Crane and flip Arizonas largest congressional district. I am a fighter, and now more than ever, we need someone to warrior up and fight for Arizona, Nez said in a statement. The only thing Crane has fought for since taking office is taking money from our hard-working families to give to billionaires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Crane has betrayed us, he added. Nez, a Democrat, ran against Crane in 2024, when Crane won the seat with 54% of the vote to Nezs 45%. Crane, a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, lives in Oro Valley, outside the district. He served in the U.S. Navy for 13 years, where he joined the SEAL team, and operated a small business called Bottle Breacher until he sold it in 2022. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In the 2024 general election, Nez won the heavily tribal northern counties of Apache, Coconino and Navajo, as well as Graham. However, Crane secured the deep red counties of Yavapai, Gila, Pinal and parts of Maricopa and Mohave counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congressional District 2 covers about 60% of Arizona, and tribal land makes up a large portion of that area, but is sparsely populated. The district includes 14 Tribal Nations in northern, eastern, and central Arizona, with Indigenous people making up about 20% of the districts total population. If elected, Nez would be the first Native American member of Congress from Arizona, a state that is home to 22 federally recognized Tribal Nations. As Navajo Nation President, I worked across the aisle to deliver water security and lower prices for Northern Arizona, and thats the kind of leadership we need in Congress, Nez said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Second Congressional District stretches from south of Phoenix to the borders of New Mexico to the east and Utah to the north, encompassing much of eastern and northern Arizona. The district was redrawn in 2021 during the once-a-decade redistricting process, to include heavily GOP Yavapai County, and Republicans have a strong registration advantage as a result. The redrawn district gave the GOP a seven-point edge, a stark difference from the nearly evenly split district it replaced. Nez was born in Tuba City and raised in Shonto, on the Navajo Nation. He has 18 years of public service experience, starting at the age of 29 as the vice president of the Shonto Chapter House on the Navajo Nation. He would go on to serve on the Navajo Nation Council and the Navajo County Board of Supervisors before being elected Navajo Nation vice president in 2015 and then president in 2019. Shortly after that he led the Navajo people through the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nez criticized Cranes recent actions in Congress, saying they have disproportionately harmed people in his congressional district, especially Cranes votes in support of the big, beautiful bill that will slash Medicaid and funding for public media. Eli Crane voted to gut Arizonans health care and take food off our tables all to pay for tax cuts for billionaires, Nez said. Nearly 1 in 3 people in our district depend on Medicaid. Two counties in the district Apache County and Navajo County have some of the highest county-level proportions of seniors on Medicaid in the country, according to Nezs campaign. Thousands are going to lose their health coverage and hospitals across our region in Page, Winslow, and Globe could be forced to shut down, he added. Cranes priorities might go over well in the wealthy suburbs where he is from, but not in rural Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leaders across Arizona have backed Nezs bid. U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly said that the people of Arizona deserve leaders who work hard for them, and he believes that Nez is precisely that kind of leader. He listens to people, and he solves problems because he cares about families in rural Arizona, Kelly said in a statement. During his time in the U.S. Navy and as a senator, Kelly said he has been exposed to examples of both strong and poor leadership. When Crane voted to cut Arizonans healthcare and threaten rural hospitals to help pay for a tax cut for billionaires, Kelly said it was an example of poor leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need Jonathan Nez in Congress to help undo that damage, protect our healthcare, and preserve our access to clean water, he added. Hes got my full support. Arizonas other U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego echoed Kellys remarks in his support of Nez, highlighting how Nez has proven his leadership by spending his life fighting for Native communities, protecting public lands, and standing up for the people of Northern Arizona. Im proud to support him because Arizona needs a fighter in Congress who knows how to advocate and deliver for rural and tribal communities, Gallego, also a Democrat, said in a statement. Jonathan has the experience and vision to take on Eli Crane and deliver real results for Arizonas future. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, said she has witnessed Nez work and watched him step up to help Arizonans afford critical needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes brought resources to Northern Arizona to install high-speed internet, improve access to electricity, and bring down those costs, she said in a statement. Hes also been a very strong negotiator when it comes to protecting our water rights. Im proud to support him as he runs for Congress. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE ANDERSON An Anderson family is battling their 3-year-old sons rare brain-development condition. Its believed that Beau Hanson has the only known case of CASK disorder in Indiana. Fewer than 20 such cases can be found in the United States, according to estimates. The CASK gene is located on the X chromosome and plays a crucial role in brain development. CASK stands for calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase in medical terminology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The disorders manifest with a range of symptoms, notably intellectual disability and microcephaly (small head size). Other common symptoms include seizures, motor difficulties and distinctive brain abnormalities. The family is hosting a fundraiser Saturday, July 26, at American Legion Post 127 to help cover expenses for Beau and to make a donation to the CASK Research Foundation. The all-day event will include a car show, motorcycle ride, a breakfast, live music and a dinner. Sitting in a specialized chair at the familys home, Beau watches what is taking place around him, at times smiling at his parents and the familys two pet dogs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Josh Hanson, Beaus father, said at the time of his birth on April 22, 2022, the family didnt know a lot about what was taking place with their son. Beau has a fraternal twin brother, Boston, who does not have the CASK disorder. The day after (Beau) was born, they had to lifeline him to Riley, Josh Hanson recalled. They didnt get him stable. Doctors told Josh and Aubree Parnell, Beaus mother, that Beau would never be able to walk. We were told it was a mild case, Hanson said. They were preparing us for the worst. Today, Beau has vision problems and cant speak. The family feeds him with a tube. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parnell said all of her sons doctor appointments are at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. At first we were frustrated, because we werent getting the answers we wanted, Hanson said. Stepping back, we realized that this was so rare. Riley has been really great. Parnell stays home to care for Beau and his two siblings Boston, and a 6-year-old daughter, Everlee. He needs constant care, Parnell said of Beau. The only help I have is his dad. As he gets older, we hope to get respite care. Josh Hanson said the other two children feel close connections to Beau. Our daughter asks to help take care of him, Parnell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family plans to remodel their garage for when Beau gets older and will need additional special care. Hanson said the family wants to be able to help other families facing the same concerns. Theyve been able to get about $10,000 in medical supplies at no cost. I take it day by day, Parnell said of caring for her son. Josh Hanson wishes he had the ability to read Beaus mind. At times he is smiling and laughing. We dont know what hes thinking, Hanson explained, noting that the family is trying to provide the two other children with a normal life. The support of family and friends from around the country has helped, he added. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission recently recognized several of its officers for their work with the commission. Commissioner recognized the Arkansas Game Warden of the Year, granted a Meritorious Service Award, the Lifesaving Award, the Boating Game Warden of the Year and the K-9 Award. GAME WARDEN OF THE YEAR Game Warden of the Year was given to David Foret of Mountain Home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials cited two enforcement actions Foret took recently, the first being spotting a poacher scattering bait while he was turkey hunting. Foret returned the next day and found the poachers hunting blind and cell camera. He returned to the site for six days before coming across the poacher and another man entering the blind. Arkansas Game and Fish launches program to work with anglers to grow trophy bass potential Foret cited the men for hunting violations, officials said. In a second instance, Foret saw a man catching over the limit and undersized fish while he was crappie fishing. He returned the next day in uniform and found the man doing the same thing. The fisherman was cited. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foret was one of 12 Wardens who were nominated. MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD Lt. Adam Baker received the rarely given Meritorious Service Award. Officials said it was for his performance beyond expectations. Baker and his wife are active in foster care, officials said, going as far as to organizing a Family Fishing Day in 2017 for foster families. That same year, he and other officers saved a family from a burning housing complex on Lake Hamilton. Arkansas Game & Phished: AGFC says it lost more than $400K from scam In 2019, Baker got help for a female victim and arrested her abuser. In 2020, he helped rescue a suicidal man in Faulkner County, and in 2021, he used the Heimlich maneuver to save a choking woman. Recently, he rescued a nonverbal child wandering on Highway 10 near Lake Maumelle, officials said. LIFESAVING AWARD/ BOATING GAME WARDEN OF THE YEAR Cpl. Bernie Soliz was honored with both a Lifesaving Award as well as being named the Butch Potts Boating Game Warden of the Year. Soliz, also the 2022 Boating Officer of the Year, worked 452 boating hours, made over 4,000 contacts and wrote over 175 boating-related citations, including 10 for boating while intoxicated or under the influence. Soliz also saved the life of a motorcyclist with his quick thinking to improvise a tourniquet, officials said. K-9 AWARD K-9 Ruby, led by her handler, Kurt VanMatre, earned the divisions K-9 award after playing a key role in more than 64 AGFC and criminal violations and assisting in a multistate homicide investigation. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: AGFC Lt. Col. Jake Dunn, Game Warden First Class David Foret, AGFC Director Schoenrock at last Tuesdays Annual Enforcement Awards. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath. AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock (left) and Lt. Col Jake Dunn (right) presented Lt. Adam Baker with the Meritorious Service Award for consistent performance well beyond the normal duties of a game warden. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath. Cpl. Bernie Soliz was honored with both a Lifesaving Award and the Butch Potts Boating Game Warden of the Year Award. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath. AGFC K-9 Ruby and her handler Kurt VanMatre earned the AGFCs K-9 award for their role in more than 64 cases during 2025, including assistance to other agencies on homicide cases and evidence recovery. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath. OTHER AWARDS Brady Smith: recognized for receiving 2024 National Wild Turkey Federation Game Warden of the Year award. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cpl. Robby King: Waterfowl Game Warden of the Year. Sgt. Jeff Dalton: Wardens Star. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ALLENDALE, S.C. (WJBF) Two suspects wanted in connection with a murder that occurred at Hay Street on Saturday, July 19 have been arrested, the Allendale County Sheriffs Office said Tuesday. In a press release posted to Facebook, Tyrese Lofton and Javon Odoms were taken into custody without incident on July 22. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) assisted in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are truly grateful to SLED and DNR for answering the call and for working side by side with our deputies throughout this investigation. Most importantly, we thank the people of Allendale County who stepped forward with information and remained vigilantyour voices helped bring justice one step closer. According to the Allendale County Sheriffs Office, further details about the investigation will be released as appropriate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Asylum seekers who lie about being children are to be targeted with new AI face checks. Dame Angela Eagle, the border security and asylum minister, said it was the most cost-effective way to check whether a migrant was falsely claiming to be under 18 to boost their chances of entering the UK. The move comes as a report by the immigration watchdog revealed that up to three-quarters of cases where age was disputed saw children wrongly classed as adults, while a quarter who claimed to be children were judged to be over 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Bolt, independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, said it was inevitable some decisions would be wrong without a foolproof test of chronological age. He said this was clearly a cause for concern, especially where a child is denied the rights and protections to which they are entitled. Currently initial age decisions are made by Home Office staff based on a migrants physical appearance and demeanour. Ministers hope to roll out facial-age estimation for migrants arriving by small boats and lorries next year, subject to further testing of the technology. Dame Angela said the technology, trained on millions of images of people with confirmed ages, was able to produce an age estimate with a known degree of accuracy for an individual whose age was unknown or disputed Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early assessments suggest that facial-age estimation could produce workable results much quicker than other potential methods of scientific or technological age assessment, such as bone X-rays or MRI scans, but at a fraction of the cost, and with no requirement for a physical medical procedure or accompanying medical supervision, she said. Dame Angela Eagle says the use of AI will produce more accurate results at a fraction of the cost - PA Between January 2023 and January 2025, Mr Bolt said 20 out of 59 cases where a person was sent to Manston migrant centre as an adult were then later sent back to Western Jet Foil, UK Border Forces rescue and arrivals base in Dover docks, and accepted as being a child. The independent chief inspector of borders and immigration said: The environment at Western Jet Foil, and the physical and mental condition of the migrants after a long, arduous, and perilous journey, make the already difficult task of assessing age even more challenging. The report, which does not cover the Home Offices fresh announcement on using artificial intelligence, calls for officials to involve interpreters, social workers and experts in the process to gain more confidence in its decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Bolt said many organisations who advocate for children believe the initial age decision process is crude and cruel. He added: Over the years, and again during this inspection, I have listened to young people who felt disbelieved and dismissed by the Home Office, whose hopes have been crushed, and whose mental health has suffered. The Home Office has an uphill task in persuading these critics that it can be trusted in this area. Committing to better communication, engagement and collaboration would be a start. Refugee Council welcomes Government response During the visit, inspectors saw examples of a lack of cultural awareness, decisions that relied on generic physical characteristics, and questioning that focused on the migrants credibility which should not form the basis of an age decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Bolt also cited concerns from local authorities and NGOs of examples of young people who felt pressured into signing a Home Office statement of age document to say they were over 18 years old, or had not understood what they had been asked to sign. The chief inspector also called for both the Home Office and its critics to agree that some initial age decisions, that are opinion, are wrong, and that some migrants lie about their age. He added that this means not having a type of initial age assessment risks incentivising more to do so, which is not in the best interests of unaccompanied asylum seeking children. Responding to the report, the Home Office accepted all recommendations, including to carry out an evaluation of initial age decision training, and publish guidance on processes needed before someone signs the statement of age form. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Refugee Council welcomed the Governments response to the report, but also called for caution over the use of AI to determine ages. Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the charity, said: We welcome the decision to abandon intrusive scientific methods like X-rays and MRI, which we have long called for, but we are not convinced that replacing them with AI tools is the answer. These technologies continue to raise serious questions about accuracy, ethics and fairness. We call on the Government to implement reforms that prioritise professional assessments led by trained social workers, which is the most accurate way to determine age and ensure that every child is properly identified, supported, and given the chance to recover and thrive. 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 medical devices industry is always undergoing significant regulatory changes. In the EU and UK there have been new frameworks introduced recently, and as a result the medical device industry is consistently navigating a complex and evolving regulatory framework that has implications on medical device company market strategies. The EU Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) came into effect on 26 May 2021. The regulation introduced several changes to medical device regulation in Europe, including stronger market surveillance, establishing explicit responsibilities for manufacturers, improved traceability, a central database for comprehensive information on medical products, and high-risk device assessment. Additionally, in July 2025, the Competent Authorities for Medical Devices and the Head of Medicines Agency issued a statement advocating for significant medical device regulation reforms in the EU. Specifically, they are advocating for improved coordination, governance, and centralisation of regulatory activities in the EU. Similarly, in the UK, new Post-Market Surveillance regulations have taken effect in June 2025. The new regulations require device manufacturers to track the safety and performance of products to help identify safety issues early. The regulations will ensure manufacturers have a system in place to monitor devices once in use, collect safety data, report serious incidents, and take action quickly when any issues arise. These changes and expansions mean that manufacturers need to navigate complex landscapes of regulations that govern various aspects of medical device production. The need to comply with these regulations can lead to increased operational costs and may limit the ability to rapidly introduce new products. Changes and expansions in regulations can significantly impact market entry strategies. The evolving landscape often results in longer timelines to get necessary approvals, ultimately hindering a companys ability to enter the market with new products quickly. This can divert resources from other critical areas such as research and development or marketing, potentially impacting overall competitiveness. Due to the complexity of regulatory requirements, companies may consider forming strategic partnerships with local companies that have established regulatory pathways. This can facilitate smoother market entry and compliance with local laws. Companies should establish robust compliance programmes to monitor adherence to both domestic and international regulations. Companies that have proactively adapted their product development processes to comply with new regulations tend to perform better. For example, companies that invested in understanding the MDR and preemptively adjusted their clinical trial protocol to align with the requirements likely gained a competitive edge. WASHINGTON As Congress begins work on the next highway bill set to go into effect next year, the American Trucking Associations said its ready to transition from a gas tax to an annual vehicle registration fee to help pay for maintaining and improving roads and bridges. Were looking seriously at advocating for a registration fee that applies to everybody trucks, cars, electric vehicles, ATA President Chris Spear told the lawmakers at a Senate Commerce Committee subcommittee hearing on Tuesday. You already register your vehicle at the state [motor vehicle agencies], you simply pay for what you normally would pay in fuel costs at the pump. You get rid of the gas tax, the tire tax, and put it in a registration fee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spear said the cost of the annual fee could be roughly $200 to $250 for cars, with payments spread out over the course of the year. It would be more for the trucking industry, but thats fine, were willing to do that, he said. It would capture everyone, and its fair. OOIDAs Pugh testifying on Tuesday. Credit: U.S. Senate Speaking on behalf of small carriers and owner operators, Lewie Pugh, executive vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, told the subcommittee that while he supports a registration fee to capture electric vehicles which do not pay fuel taxes to pay for infrastructure OOIDA is not yet ready to abandon fuel taxes. I think we need the intestinal fortitude to raise the gas tax, because it hasnt been raised since 1993, he said. You pay it at the pump, and it works. Why create something new, other than having electric vehicles pay an additional registration fee. Congress has for years been making up for gas-tax shortfalls in the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) by transferring money from the Treasury Departments general fund. But with the HTF estimated to be depleted by 2028, lawmakers are considering alternative payment options by the trucking industry to keep it viable, including weight-based user fees. Debating automation, drug testing While there was agreement at the hearing on how to address some issues lawmakers want to see tackled in the next highway bill such English proficiency requirements, commercial driver license fraud and expanding truck parking, there was less agreement on a path forward for autonomous vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R, Texas, about an AV framework to be included in the legislation, Spear and Teamsters President Sean OBrien sparred over whether automation would kill jobs are create them. This is always portrayed as a threat to jobs, but there are 65 ports in this country and not one ranks in the top 50 in the world for efficiency and productivity, Spear said. To grow the economy were going to need both jobs and autonomy. Were going to need technologies to get throughput in and out of those ports and on our roads. Youre going to need both those hard-working union jobs and technology to assist them. Teamsters Sean OBrien testifying on Tuesday. (Credit: U.S. Senate) OBrien insisted that human drivers remain in truck cabs no matter the level of automation. Im all for efficiencies there are efficiencies built into [the labor agreement with port workers]. But there are also job protections in that agreement as a result of implementing new technology. So a priority would be that upon implementation, you protect and create new jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ATA would also like to see a hair testing requirement for the trucking industry included in the next reauthorization as well a hard no for OOIDA. We support post-crash testing for sure, but not hair testing, Pugh said. We dont feel theres enough data to support it. Driver shortage? A driver shortage debate played out at the hearing as well, with Spear pointing out that driver pay does not go up 19% during a freight recession unless there is a shortage of qualified drivers. But Sen. Ed Markey, D, Mass., contended that millions of people holding CDLs are competing for about 900,000 long-haul trucking jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact 90% of truck drivers leave their job after a year. This high level of turnover suggests the issue might not be whether there are enough drivers, but whether existing drivers are getting enough out of the job. OBrien added that the small number of unionized carriers had closer to a 10-15% turnover rate. That means people are happy with their wages and benefits. When you have a race to the bottom, and people keep leaving the industry after a year theres a breakdown somewhere. Related articles: Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher. The post ATA proposes ditching gas tax for vehicle registration fee appeared first on FreightWaves. Rapper Cash Out, whose real name is John-Michael Hakeem Gibson, was sentenced to life in prison plus 70 years on Monday after being found guilty in his RICO and sex trafficking case. On Friday, the 34-year-old artist received a guilty verdict in an Atlanta court. According to WSB-TV Atlanta , the life sentence plus 70 years will run concurrently. His mother, Linda Smith, was sentenced to 30 years, and his cousin, Tyrone Taylor, was sentenced to life in prison plus 70 years. Gibson is known for his 2014 platinum hit Cashin Out and She Twerkin. He released one studio album in 2014, Lets Get It, and six mixtapes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His career was stalled when he was arrested in a Georgia prostitution sting in June 2019. The trial, which began this past June, brought forth allegations that Gibson, his cousin and his mother had forced women into sex work. When they operated the house of horrors, they were also said to have coordinated the sale of women and the corresponding payments. Prosecutors presented text messages from eight different phones as evidence. This has been going on for seven years, Fulton County prosecutor Earnelle Winfrey said to the Atlanta courtroom on Friday. This aint just straight pimping this is trafficking. She added that though they were pimping, for sure, it was the force and cohesion of the operation that made it trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gibson first faced charges in June 2023. His legal team claimed that victims were pushed to testify. In closing arguments, his team argued that the women involved were not forced. His mother claimed that she was unaware of the trafficking, but prosecutors cited payment receipts linking her to the offenses. This included a leased residence where some of the victims were said to be housed. Additionally, witnesses claimed that Smith had engaged in prostitution herself. Its not about the victims actions in a sex trafficking case, Winfrey told jurors on Friday. Its about what they did. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) Trumbull County Auditor Martha Yoder is worried layoffs could be on the horizon for employees of her office. Yoder says the money for her general fund payroll will run out by the end of October, adding most of the salaries for her 39-person staff are funded at least partially with that money. The auditors office was given a $3.4 million budget, which was $394,000 less than what it had asked for. Employee resignations and other savings measures reduced the shortfall to $293,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yoder says if nothing changes, layoffs or partial layoffs would need to happen before the money runs out. Its about the people that are going to not have work at the end of the year, but its also about work that wont get done things like property transfers, conveyances, things like tax mapping GIS, Yoder said. We know we have extra money, so we will be allocating more money to some departments, and were going to go on a need basis. Were going to get by mandated services first, said Trumbull County Commissioner Denny Malloy. Malloy says the extra money comes from a boost in sales tax revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A mid-year budget review is planned for July 30 at 1 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 WKBN.com. As new details emerge following the ill-fated Air India crash, investigators are looking at the possibility of the incident being intentional rather than a tragic accident. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had departed for London's Gatwick Airport on June 12 when it crashed into a residential area in Ahmedabad approximately 30 seconds after takeoff. While there was one survivor, the remaining 229 passengers and 12 crew members on board died. On July 12, the cause of the crash was stated in a preliminary report published by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, which revealed fuel to the aircrafts engines was cut off shortly before it crashed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The black box recording later suggested the captain of the flight turned off the planes fuel switches, as the co-pilot reportedly asked him why the switches were put in the cutoff position and seemed panicked, while the captain seemed calm, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. A report by the New York Times indicates the switch was turned back on about 10 seconds later, but it was too late. The Aviation Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) noted in a July 17 statement that it is too early to reach any definite conclusions. As the investigation continues, it has not yet been determined whether the incident was intentional or a tragic accident. PEOPLE spoke to U.S.-based aviation expert Anthony Brickhouse a former professor of aviation safety and accident investigation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University who has been in the industry for the last 28 years to walk through how a scenario like this could happen. Siddharaj Solanki/Bloomberg via Getty Aircraft landing gear at the crash site in Ahmedabad Aircraft landing gear at the crash site in Ahmedabad Brickhouse says the direction that I'm leaning is the crash was caused by an intentional act, based on the evidence that was released in the preliminary report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He notes that if the incident was related to a mechanical malfunction in the Boeing 787-7 Dreamliner, then an industry-wide safety notice would have been released by now. I think the fact that nothing has come out in terms of a service bulletin or a specific warning is key," he says. If you come across something that is a threat to safety, you address it immediately. So, the fact that this accident happened over a month ago and I haven't seen any warnings that airlines need to take if they're flying a 787, that's pointing in the direction that the aircraft was in perfectly good operating condition, and we need to look at the pilots and look at their actions. Following the release of the preliminary report, Air India inspected the locking mechanism of fuel control switches on its entire fleet of Boeing 737s and 787 Dreamliners, and noted that no issues were found, according to the Associated Press. The crash was also the first fatal incident involving the 787 Dreamliner, PEOPLE previously reported. Siddharaj Solanki/Bloomberg via Getty Aircraft debris at the crash site Aircraft debris at the crash site While Brickhouse notes that the crash being caused by pilot error isn't 100% off the table, the fact that the fuel was cut off shortly after takeoff makes it highly unlikely that it was an accident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There are only certain times when you would cut the fuel flow, and that would be when you're on the ground and the flight is over, he says. There's really no reason at all in flight for fuel flow to be cut to the engines because once the engines lose power, that's it. You're a glider at that point. He adds that one of the pilots cutting the fuel flow is something that could be done as its a mere couple of motions that you have to take to do it. However, there would be immediate warning signs that something was wrong. You would get alarms. In an aircraft as advanced as a 787, you'd actually get a verbal warning, he says. And then as a pilot who flies regularly, when those engines are cut, it's going to be a different feel than what you're used to. So the co-pilot would've had several clues that something was not right. Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner Brickhouse adds that even if one of the pilots realized what had happened and tried to fix the issue, its not an easy task to do with turbine engines, which is what larger aircrafts like the Boeing 787 use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In turbine engines, they have something called spool up, he explains. The engines have to get wound up before they can produce thrust. In a situation like that, when you're heavy and you're relatively slow, you don't have time for those engines to spool back up to power. At that point you're going down. 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. While the details of the tragic incident may create some anxiety for nervous fliers, Brickhouse is adamant that aviation remains the safest mode of transportation. I suspect that investigators who are inside of this know a lot more than what they're telling the general public. I think they're really just trying to answer the question as to why something like this would happen.' Read the original article on People KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium leaders are pleased with the results of a prescribed burn several months later. In April, park rangers and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) conducted the controlled burn. PREVIOUS: TDEC, Bays Mtn. Park perform prescribed burn to negate future forest fires Since then, park manager Megan Krager said Bays Mountain has seen the return of plants that have been an encouraging sight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have been noticing that weve been having some sassafrass come back a little bit more than what weve had before, Krager said. Blueberries, essentially for the animals that live in this particular area, and then also too we have seen the chestnut oaks start to come on back, and were very excited to see that. Photo: WJHL Photo: WJHL Photo: WJHL Prescribed burns mimic naturally occurring forest fires, which promote a healthy ecosystem. According to Krager, it did not take long for the park to see results from the burn. Two weeks after our burn, we could start to see a little bit of greenery pop up because of some of the grasses that we do have in our area, but over time, were very happy with the results that we are seeing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Krager told News Channel 11 that other parks and areas that conduct burns have seen the return of plants that have not been present in more than a century. In some locations, like in North Carolina, for instance, they had some prescribed burns, and they saw plants come back that they hadnt seen for 150 years, she said. Now, are we going to see that here in our park? Maybe not, but its just interesting to see what is coming back. The chestnut oak seedlings that park staff have found post-burn are of particular importance. Seeing these little seedlings come on up of oaks is one of the things that we wanted to try and hit with this prescribed burn. Were hoping to do more burns in the future, start heading west, [and] we will start to increase our oak populations. 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. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) Bazetta Township has responded to Trumbull County Auditor Martha Yoders appeal of an order from the Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas compelling her to pay the township money that was lost in a cybercrime. Read next: Woman sentenced for desecrating grave The crux of the case and appeal is whether the common pleas court can command the performance of an act by a public official (writ of mandamus) pay Bazetta in these circumstances when Yoder claims she already fulfilled her duty by paying the money, albeit to the wrong bank, according to Yoders appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yoder claims that Bazettas claim of a writ of mandamus is wrong, and if they brought a case at all, it should be a tort claiming negligence. However, a government is immune to negligence claims. Therefore, Bazetta would be unlikely to recover the money. And Yoder believes it was Bazetta who was negligent when it turned off two-factor authentication in its email account, which led to the email hack. Bazetta claims in its response to Yoders appeal, which is being heard in the 11th District Court of Appeals, that Yoder did not fulfill her duty as auditor to pay Bazetta when her employee diverted township funds to a bank in California based on fraudulent emails. The emails from the cybercriminals contained numerous indicators of fraud that were ignored by the auditors employee, Bazettas response said. The first fraudulent email was sent on Aug. 8, 2024, with a subject line: Notification of Bank Account Change. The email claimed to be from Cynthia Chapman, as fiscal officer of Bazetta Township. Chapman was not the fiscal officer of Bazetta Township and had not been since March 2021, which Yoders employee knew, the response stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The email also had odd phrasing such as retired operations with Huntington and please refrain from sending anything to that account. The email also ccd individuals with email addresses similar to Bazetta Township email addresses, but they were misspelled. For example, one of the addresses had wtp in the address instead of twp. In addition, the telephone number on the email was not the phone number for Bazetta Township. The response also states that Yoder was warned April 12 by the Auditor of State about scams such as this one that included information on how to avoid them. However, the bulletin was received after the April 8 fraudulent email, but Bazetta claims that even then, Yoder did not give her employees a copy of the bulletin or advise them to be aware of how to avoid payment redirect schemes until October 21 more than six months later. 2024-003Download The second fraudulent email was sent April 9 one day after the first. This one claimed to be from Stacy Marling as Bazettas fiscal officer again, with the same red flags as the first email, according to the response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yoders employee wrote, We would actually need something in writing to switch the banking information. Nothing formal, just an email from you with the routing number and account number would be ok. The cybercriminals responded the next day with the information requested. The letter appeared to be from Stacy Marling, but was not signed, and gave instructions to send the payments to Green Dot Bank in Pasadena, California. Yoders employee made no attempt to confirm the email or contact anyone in Bazetta Township about the banking change, Bazettas response said. Bazetta argues that the writ of mandamus that was issued by the lower court commands the performance of an act a duty of office (Yoder to pay Bazetta Township), and Bazetta claims they have a clear and legal right to the money, and that Yoder, as auditor, has a duty to pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bazetta Township says they are owed $80,000 that could not be recovered in the cybercrime. The township was able to get back $80,000 of the $160,000 theft. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. During Donald Trumps 2024 campaign, virtually every Republican in Congress backed him as he promoted the idea of mass deportations specifically, his goal of pursuing the largest such operation in U.S. history. But having seen what this agenda looks like in practice, some of these conservatives have seen fit to try to intervene. The administrations haphazard and, at times, blatantly unlawful anti-immigration crusade has some GOP lawmakers essentially doubling as case workers for immigrants of their choosing, according to a new report from NOTUS. The outlet documented various efforts by Republicans on Capitol Hill to get the administration to grant leniency on a case-by-case basis. Per the report: Trump administration officials insist there will be no amnesty while carrying out mass deportations, but some Republicans told NOTUS that behind the scenes, theyre advocating for some immigrants to stay. Its another sign President Donald Trumps allies in Congress are grappling with the administrations ambitious arrest quotas, and theyre realizing its targets for deportation arent limited to violent criminals and gang members. Republican lawmakers pointed to stories of longtime residents and workers getting arrested as reasons for members of Congress to intervene. Others said they often help people with visas, or that theyre advocating for immigrants who hope to obtain permanent legal status. But most said they support the Trump administrations immigration agenda, even if theyre stepping in on behalf of some people who face removal. NOTUS named Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Rep. Chip Roy of Texas as two Republicans who despite backing Trumps anti-immigrant agenda have sought leniency in specific cases. Scalise reached out to the administration about an Iranian woman named Mandonna Kashanian, who subsequently was released from ICE detention. However, she was still being targeted for deportation despite Scalises argument that she should be judged on her lifes work and contributions to the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roy told NOTUS hes going to bat for one particular immigrant, saying hes a good guy. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., told the outlet that hed been asking the administration for help with amnesty for certain immigrants, as well. It should go without saying that this piecemeal approach essentially, a shadow immigration system in which some immigrants legal status could feasibly hinge on the occasional generosity of their representatives in Congress isnt the way immigration enforcement should be conducted in a just or ethical world. The aforementioned GOP lawmakers have heaped praise on the immigrants theyre trying to help, but similar things have been said about numerous immigrants swept up in Trumps crackdown a large number of whom have no criminal records whatsoever and seem equally worthy of remaining in the country. Republican leaders have frequently scoffed at the notion that the Trump administration is rounding up and deporting law-abiding people who mean well for the country. But the fact that some of the presidents close congressional allies are begging for mercy only lends credence to that contention. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com BELLA VISTA, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) A Bella Vista man has been sentenced to nearly two decades in prison for using artificial intelligence to make child sexual abuse materials, according to court documents. Michael Carey, 55, pleaded guilty to three counts of distributing, possessing or viewing sexually explicit conduct involving a child on July 17. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison, followed by 10 years suspended. Michael Carey, 55 (Courtesy: Benton County Detention Center) Carey was arrested in July 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initial investigation started after a Benton County Sheriffs detective for the Criminal Investigation Division noticed 420 files downloaded to Careys IP address through BitTorrent software, a peer-to-peer file sharing software, the affidavit states. Fayetteville man accused of shooting at groom in Springdale wedding Of those downloaded files, three child abuse images were found. The sexually explicit images described by the CID detective show children believed to be younger than six years old. The affidavit said that Carey had begun creating his own images using an artificial intelligence (AI) generator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This led to a search warrant investigation of Careys home where a floppy disk, and multiple laptops, phones, DVDs, disks and hard drives were found by the FBI Arkansas Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking task force, and the Benton County Sheriffs Office SWAT team. As part of his sentence, Carey is ordered to have no contact with minors and register as a sex offender. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Donald Trumps latest decision towards the LGBTQ+ community has stepped on a lot of toes, and actor Jim Parsons is not letting it slide. The Big Bang Theory star, who is married to Todd Spiewak, blasted the president for ending the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline option offering counselors to LGBTQ+ members. The Trump administration shut down the lifeline on July 17, and now, Parsons has criticized how it endangers the gay community. Jim Parsons Calls Donald Trumps Removal of Suicide Lifeline Criminal MEGA In a recent appearance on MSNBCs The Weekend, the Home star openly showed his displeasure with the government over its treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think it's quite literally criminal," Parsons said, adding that the decision was biased. "It's one of the kinds of decisions that you're like, 'There's no good reason for it. It doesn't matter what reason you ever put towards it or say it's the reason it's happening, it's never going to be justified." The 52-year-old actor continued pointing out how the decision was intended to hurt the gay community. He stated, "It is only hurtful, and it feels like it's only being done in order to make a point; we're getting rid of this because we want to make sure certain people understand they are not welcome here." Fans Join Jim Parsons In Blasting Donald Trump The actor was not alone in criticizing Trump, as his fans joined in, calling out the administration. One user penned a lengthy paragraph praising the actor while condemning the new policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fan wrote, Powerfully said by Jim Parsons. Stripping away vital mental health support for the LGBTQ+ community is not just cruel, it's dangerous. Every life matters, and access to help should never be politicized. A second user added, Jim Parsons is a literal angel and he's RIGHT cause what the f--k is the point of removing that option besides wanting LGBT suicide rate to spike. Two other admirers referenced the actors character in the CBS series and applauded the actor for standing up to the government. One individual remarked, Good to know that Sheldon Cooper is an ally in these trying times. Another user chimed in, And this is why Jim Parsons is the best part of 'The Big Bang Theory'!! A Look Into The Big Bang Theory Actors Marriage Jeremy Smith/imageSPACE / MEGA Parsons outspoken criticism of Trumps bias against the gay community is unsurprising given that he and his husband are active LGBTQ advocates. The Hidden Figures star and Spiewak tied the knot in 2017 with a ceremony at the Rainbow Room in New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple initially met on a blind date in 2002, and after several dates, they made their relationship public in 2012. The Normal Heart actor previously opened up about their first date, calling it an unforgettable experience. He told PEOPLE Magazine, Ill never forget that late fall into the holidays when we spent so much time together just falling more in love. Every time there's that smell when the air gets cold in New York, it always reminds me. Former President Barack Obama Urged Men To Have Gay Friends Ron Sachs - CNP for NY Post / MEGA Parson's criticism of Trump comes after Barack Obama's advice for young men to have diverse friend groups. While the new government makes decisions perceived as harmful to the LGBTQ+ community, the former president has encouraged men to befriend gay people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obama shared his thoughts on the importance of having gay friends during a conversation with his wife, Michelle Obama on her podcast. The former politician expressed that his views were shaped by his gay professor and advised men raising boys to befriend gay men. He said, "You need that person in your friend group so that if you then have a boy who is gay or nonbinary, or what have you, they have somebody that they can go, 'Okay, I'm not alone in this. Barack Obama Made History Endorsing Same-Sex Marriage In The U.S. MEGA During Obamas time in office as POTUS, he became the first sitting president to publicly encourage same-sex marriage. He later explained that his stance was built after personal interactions with his staff members and soldiers who had monogamous relationships. Obama admitted that he realized that the soldiers who risked their lives for the country felt constrained because of their sexual orientation. In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage was legal. China has delayed and then discreetly issued its first rare earth mining and smelting quotas for 2025, a move that signals tighter control over the critical sector, reported Reuters, citing unnamed sources. The delay in this year's quotas is partly attributed to a proposal introduced in February to include imported ore in the quota system. This proposal was met with resistance from import-dependent companies concerned about potential restrictions on their feedstock supply. Rare earth elements (REEs), essential in various high-tech applications, are a key focus of global supply chain monitoring. China, as the world's largest producer of rare earth minerals, has traditionally issued these quotas to state-owned companies. Access to the quotas was restricted to only two state-owned groups, China Rare Earth Group and China Northern Rare Earth Group High-Tech, which were eligible last year, a decrease from six in previous years. The expected announcement in the first quarter was absent, and companies were reportedly instructed not to disclose the figures for security reasons. This strategic shift comes as China becomes increasingly protective of its rare earth resources, which have been a point of contention in trade negotiations with the US and EU. China has previously leveraged its control over rare earths, adding several elements to its export restriction list in response to US tariff hikes, disrupting supply chains and impacting manufacturers globally. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which is responsible for issuing the quotas, has not responded to enquiries about the change in disclosure practices. In the past year, China's mining quotas were set at 270,000 tonnes (t), with growth falling to 5.9% from 21.4% in 2023. The smelting and separation quotas also saw an increase to 254,000t, a 4.2% rise from 2023. The quota system, in place since 2006, alongside corporate consolidation, has been used by Beijing to exert control over the industry's output. "China discreetly sets rare earth quotas for 2025" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. A sigh of relief washes over the crew. The sun peeks out from the angry clouds. They made it, they think. The small fishing vessel survived amidst a storm of biblical proportions and unfathomably large seas. But its fleeting; suddenly, the mother of all rogue waves darkens the horizon. Its headed straight for the boat, as the captain punches the throttle. Thats a scene from The Perfect Storm (2000) the iconic scene in which the crew, helmed by captain George Clooney, is battered by an extremely large, extremely early-CGI interpretation of the mythical rogue wave. But these monsters arent myth; theyre real. In a recent study, scientists attempted to recreate and better understand these rare phenomena. And they looked at the largest rogue wave on record. How big was it? 85 feet. The wave, dubbed the Draupner Wave, was recorded in 1995 and it struck an oil-drilling platform off the coast of Norway. No cameras captured it, but heres a video breakdown. So, what is a rogue wave? According to the study, Rogue waves are large waves that may appear in both the open ocean and in near-shore waters. They are very difficult to predict and significantly bigger than other, surrounding waves. They are responsible for damage to coastal infrastructure and shipping, and their impact is amplified due to the difficulty in making predictions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And how big can they get? Rogue waves have a formal definition of having a peak height of double the significant wave height, defined as the average height of the highest one third of waves over the relevant period, the study continues. To put that into perspective, the Draupner Wave clocked in at the aforementioned 85 feet; whereas other waves in the region, during the same period, were closer to 39 feet. Hence the labeling as rogue. From a surfing standpoint, the current Guinness World Record for largest wave surfed is held by Sebastian Steudtner for an 86-footer from Nazare, Portugal in October of 2020 but multiple waves suspected to be much larger have been surfed since. Related: 60-Foot Rogue Wave Captured in Pacific Ocean (Video) Recently, another group of scientists set out to study rogue waves. In particular, they were looking off the west coast of Canada, where the Ucluelet Wave was recorded in 2020, and was measured by buoys at 58 feet. The researchers explained: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These waves are at least twice as tall as the surrounding waves. Theyre unpredictable. They can come from unexpected directions, often against prevailing winds and swells. You need a whole cocktail of factors to come together wind, swell, current. Its a chaotic, nonlinear wave interaction, where one wave will suddenly gather energy from others and explode in size. Once fiction, made mythical in movies; now, a reality studied by scientists. Related: The Top 10 Biggest Waves Ever Surfed The Biggest Rogue Wave on Record Was a Behemoth. How Big Was it? first appeared on Surfer on Jul 22, 2025 VERSAILLES, Ky. (FOX 56) A program offered by Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) is expanding, and the announcement was made on Tuesday. BCTCs adult education program serves the colleges in Anderson, Clark, Estill, Fayette, and Scott counties, and its now expanded to Woodford, creating even more of an opportunity for prospective students to make use of it. Dr. Greg Feeney is the BCTC president. Part of the BCTC mission and KCTCS mission is open access, and open access isnt that you have a website or that you open your doors. Thats part of it, but what also matters is that you bring the education to them. You remove as many barriers as possible, Feeney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feeney said this opens the door for anyone without a high school degree, no matter their age, to have a new chance at education, which in turn could lead to more educational opportunities down the road. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Our top student in our Associate of Science major, which is one of the toughest ones, our top student started in GED. It shows very well that when you work with a student, they develop that skill set. The potential is just endless, and now shes going to UK with a scholarship, Feeney said. Kentucky Community and Technical College System President Dr. Ryan Quarles said this also plays into the local workforce, giving these students more job opportunities post-adult education that they may have missed out on otherwise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of times, people may have to open up the books and get that GED accomplished so they can be employable. These are free programs. Theyre accessible to everybody that wants to improve themselves, and that every GED graduate is one step closer to having another job filled in Kentucky, Quarles said. Feeney shared that adult education has already led to success stories, and the goal is to bring those stories from Woodford County, too. The youngest student was 18, and the oldest student was in her 80s. Weve had a grandmother and a grandchild walk across that stage together for their GED a couple of years ago, so its a great program for everyone, Feeney said. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More information on the adult education program 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 FOX 56 News. BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) One man in Boardman went above and beyond to honor those who protect the community, and now hes asking others to join him. Over 10 years ago, Dan Santon put up a flag pole outside his business, Santon Electric, to honor the Boardman safety forces. But in 2020, he felt a calling to do more. He decided to expand, adding a walkway and displays recognizing healthcare workers for their service during the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When COVID hit, all the safety forces that came by here every day, wed hear sirens. So, its basically to honor all those people and a place for remembrance. We dont want to ever forget it, Santon said. In total, the memorial pays respect to medical professionals, first responders and military service members. He calls the memorial Gratitude, but he isnt the only thankful one. I get phone calls; We went by your place, you know, almost maybe cry. I mean, just people would really appreciate it because it was just an empty lot here, and it was a very good to look at before. So, they like it, Santon said. Now, he wants the community to get involved. Hes using the display to remember peoples family members who served in the military or as front-line workers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe they meet once or twice a year, and they have no place to meet. Id be glad to appropriate a section for them. Ill even put the bricks in for their loved ones, Santon said. If you are interested in honoring a loved one in the Gratitude memorial, call Santon Electric at 330-758-0082. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Bob the Drag Queen has spoken! Drag legend Bob the Drag Queen appeared on MSNBC this weekend and had strong critiques of California Gov. Gavin Newsom for talking to far-right agitators like Charlie Kirk. Bob appeared on MSNBC's The Weekend: Primetime with Ayman Mohyeldin and Antonia Hylton, and the segment began with a discussion on the Trump administration shutting down the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm really afraid of what the outcome will be. I mean, obviously, mental health is really important, especially when it comes to mental health surrounding suicidal ideology and how hard it can be to get through something like that," Bob said. "Obviously, when you're in that state of mind, you're going to end up needing some help. And it feels really upsetting that that will not be provided to people who need it now." Mohyeldin then mentioned that some Democrats, including Newsom, have begun to pivot on their views on trans people. "He's been going on right-wing media, speaking to Charlie Kirk and others, and basically calling out the Democrats and his party for taking a position of being pro-trans," Mohyeldin said. "Can I just say, speaking to Charlie Kirk is never a good idea," Bob replied. "No one should be speaking to Charlie Kirk. I don't know if we still do that kind of social isolation. We've all just agreed that this is one person we will not be speaking to. But I do believe Charlie Kirk is that person." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bob also questioned if Newsom actually knows any trans people. "I will say this: No one who actually knows a trans person would ever go around saying and doing these things," Bob continued. "And I mean, actually knows Your partner, your children, your parents, your cousin, your best friend, like, people you see on a daily basis." youtu.be - YouTube In March, Newsom came under fire from LGBTQ+ advocates when he hosted Kirk on his podcast. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, has spent years demonizing trans people and continued to push his agenda on the podcast episode. At one point, he asked if Newsom agreed with him that trans athletes have an unfair advantage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think it's an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that," Newsom replied. "It is an issue of fairness, it's deeply unfair I revere sports. So, the issue of fairness is completely legit." This July, Newsom faced more criticism when he appeared on the conservative podcast the Shawn Ryan Show. On the podcast, Newsom continued to capitulate on trans issues. "That's now no longer about celebrating your rights. It's about denying other people theirs," Newsom said. Marriage equality was about everyone's right [...] But your child may not have that same opportunity to get on the podium if a trans athlete is competing." Bob the Drag Queen isn't the only celebrity to call out Newsom and his trans rights pivot. Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings recently said he will never vote for Newsom, even if he's the Democratic nominee for president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Any candidate cynically 'triangulating' on trans kids is a non-starter, and now is the time to say so," Jennings said. "There's still so much time to advance candidates that DON'T suck." This article originally appeared on Out: Bob the Drag Queen says, 'No one should be speaking to Charlie Kirk' RELATED As the two biggest economic targets in Donald Trumps trade war, some analysts thought the European Union and China could move closer together and stake out common ground. But a summit between the two sides in Beijing on Thursday is instead expected to showcase the deep-seated frictions and mistrust that are widening a rift between the two heavyweights. European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are set to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping and hold summit talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting comes as both countries have faced heightened tariffs on their exports to the US with uncertainties in US trade relations driving Beijing to look to tighten ties with the EU and other major economies. But a list of grievances between the two sides are setting that goal out of reach. The EU was far from shy about its concerns in the lead up to the summit. Officials in recent weeks have reiterated their long-standing concerns over what they say are inexpensive Chinese goods flooding European markets, raised alarms about Beijings move to squeeze the rare earths supply chain, and decried its ongoing backing for Russia as it wages war in Ukraine. Beijing has lashed out against those concerns, including the 27-member blocs move last year to raise tariffs on its electric vehicles, launching a range of its own trade probes in apparent retaliation. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shakes hands with Chinese leader Xi Jinping after holding a trilateral meeting including French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris in May, 2024. - Christian Liewig/Corbis/Getty Images After the EU last month announced it was barring Chinese companies from participating in public tenders for medical devices over a certain value, Beijing hit back with its own curbs on government purchases of Europe-made devices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Chinas Ministry of Commerce slammed the EU decision to include two Chinese banks and a handful of other firms in its latest sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. It claimed the move would have a severely negative impact on China-EU economic and trade relations. Chinas Commerce Minister Wang Wentao lodged solemn representations diplomatic speak for formally expressing serious discontent over the sanctions in a video call with EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic on Tuesday. The two officials had candid and in-depth discussions on China-EU economic and trade cooperation and key issues of concern, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said in a statement. All this sets the stage for a contentious summit, ostensibly meant to celebrate 50 years of relations, thats already been whittled from a planned two days to a single-day event. We should expect a very difficult moment and not a deal making moment, said Abigael Vasselier, head of the Foreign Relations team at MERICS think tank in Germany, during a media briefing this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in some ways that mirrors frictions between China and the US, she added: China has created leverage over Europe, has gone into a tit-for-tat escalation with Europe, and has linked all issues. You could almost say this looks like a Trump playbook used by China on Europe. The US effect Trumps trade war and his negotiations with both major economies is also casting a long shadow over the summit. There were signs earlier this year that Beijing hoped shared adversity in the face of tariff threats from the US could push China and Europe together. And earlier this month, Beijing granted a reprieve for Europes major cognac makers following an anti-dumping probe widely seen as retaliation for the blocs imposition of up to 45% tariffs on its electric vehicles last year. But in separate addresses to G7 leaders and European lawmakers in recent weeks, von der Leyen made clear the blocs deep concerns about Beijing had been unresolved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China is using this quasi-monopoly (on rare earths) not only as a bargaining chip, but also weaponizing it to undermine competitors in key industries, she said to G7 leaders meeting in Canada in June. Beijing has extensive control over supply chains for these critical minerals key in everything from EV batteries and cell phones to fighter jets and roiled global manufacturing after placing export controls on some such minerals amid its trade spat with the US. China agreed during a truce with the US in June to ease these controls. Von der Leyen also called for unified G7 action to pressure Beijing as it floods global markets with subsidized overcapacity that its own market cannot absorb. Miners are seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in China's Inner Mongolia in 2011. - Reuters While von der Leyen has long been hawkish on Beijing, voices in China have seen her as pandering to the US to ease trade frictions and are watching closely for signs that a potential US-EU trade deal could target their economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Chinas leaders are also joining this weeks summit in what they see as a relatively strong position relative to the EU when it comes the US talks. Beijing sees its decision to play hardball with the US, by raising tit-for-tat levies and then showing the power of its rare earths leverage, as paying off bringing the US to the negotiating table twice and resulting with an agreement for a trade framework. Even as frictions remain - including Chinas purchases of Russian oil and Washingtons elevated tariffs on Chinese goods - Beijing has already chalked wins, like the announced resumption of sales of Nvidias H20 AI chips to China, in a reversal of an April US export ban. The EU, meanwhile, is scrambling ahead of an August 1 deadline to cut a deal with the US to avert heavy tariffs and may see more at stake than their Chinese counterparts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The worst-case scenario would be for Europe to find itself in a two-front trade war with the US and China at a time when Trump is pressing for some sort of Faustian bargain with Beijing, said Noah Barkin, a Berlin-based visiting senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States think tank. Rebalance? With this backdrop, chances for any concrete outcomes appear low to observers on both sides, who instead stress that dialogue can be a form of progress in itself. Europe has been clear that it doesnt want to cut ties with China, but rather rebalance its economic relationship, which saw a more than 300 billion Euro deficit last year. It also aims to derisk its supply chains, and work together with China on shared global issues like climate change a potential area of agreement this week. But experts say a key hold-up for Europe has been a sense that Beijing is unmoved by Brussels core concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We havent had an EU-China summit that produced real deliverables for many years and this one wont be any different. That is a reflection of Beijings refusal to address the EUs two biggest concerns: an increasingly imbalanced economic relationship that poses a growing threat to European industry and Chinas ongoing support for Russia, said Barkin. China has rejected Europes concerns about industrial overcapacity leading to a flood of exports as baseless, with one state media outlet recently saying that instead of rebalancing trade, Europe to needs to recalibrate its mentality. BYD electric cars at a vehicle presentation event in Berlin this May. - Annegret Hilse/Reuters Instead, Beijing is expected to continue to push for setting minimum prices of Chinese-made EVs in Europe instead of tariffs, as well as unfettered access to European technology and markets. And even as Russia ramps up its assault on Kyiv, Beijing is unlikely to give any sign of a shift in that position on Moscow, its close partner. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly told the European Unions top diplomat earlier this month that Beijing cant accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine as this could allow the United States to turn its full attention to China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China has long claimed neutrality in the war and defended its normal trade with Russia, while ramping up purchases of its oil and shipping goods Western leaders say power Russias defense industry. But observers in China still feel theres room for collaboration as the two sides sit down on Thursday. To solve challenges from climate change to AI and global conflicts, the European Union needs China, and China needs the European Union, according to Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University in Beijing. Alluding to the view that the EU can be a counterweight for China against US frictions and a partner in promoting globalization, he added: If China and the European Union seek win-win cooperation, the so-called new Cold War cannot prevail. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com John Broderick, the retired state Supreme Court justice who was tasked with distributing millions of dollars to alleged victims of physical and sexual abuse at New Hampshire youth detention centers, is leaving as administrator of the settlement fund. Gov. Kelly Ayottes office announced Brodericks departure on Tuesday. John T. Broderick Jr. John T. Broderick Broderick will leave by the end of the month. Assistant Administrator Diane Nicolosi is also resigning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bulletin on the Youth Development Center Settlement Funds website said some processing and resolution activity will need to be paused. While Ayottes office said Broderick was resigning, he said he was leaving as a result of a recent change in the nature of the position. The state budgets trailer bill that passed last month made the position of administrator subject to nomination by the governor and confirmation by the Executive Council. The position will have no fixed term and the administrator can be removed at any time by the governor for any reason. Broderick has served in an independent role under the Judicial Branch. He was confirmed by the state Supreme Court for the position in 2022 after being recommended by state prosecutors and lawyers for victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has come under fire in recent months from Attorney General John Formella and lawmakers for the way the fund has paid settlements to victims and fees to their lawyers. Victims who decide to go through the settlement process agree not to pursue their damage claims in court. A public bulletin posted Monday on the funds website said Broderick informed the Judicial Branch and the attorney general he will leave July 31. He plans to issue final decisions on claims pending for evaluation prior to July 1 and the Quarterly Report for the period ending June 30 before he leaves. The bulletin also said Nicolosi told Broderick Monday she will not be able to serve as assistant administrator when the position transitions to the Executive Branch given her senior status with the Judicial Branch. She is a retired superior court judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nicolosis resignation was effective Monday. During this transition period, YDC Claims Administration will remain operational and continue to process claims as much as possible, the bulletin says. Some processing and resolution activity will need to be paused after July 31, 2025, until a new claims administrator is in place. We are not aware of when a new Executive Branch appointee will be selected and seated, and we will provide updates when available. Broderick told lawmakers that his office has already approved damage awards that will total at least $26 million over the next two years. More than 1,300 alleged victims have applied for settlements that total nearly $1.5 billion. The average damage award that Broderick and Formella separately have approved is over $500,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state budget Ayotte signed gives the fund $20 million more along with the proceeds from the future sale of the Sununu Youth Services Center that replaced the YDC when it was built in the early 1990s. pfeely@unionleader.com Three Alabama men have been arrested for allegedly operating what local authorities described as an abhorrent and horrific child sex abuse ring out of an underground bunker near their homes in Brent, Ala. The Bibb County Sheriffs Office announced this past weekend that William Chase McElroy, Dalton Terrell, and Andres Velazquez-Trejo have all been arrested and charged in connection with the child sex abuse case. Local authorities began investigating the case back in February, the Bibb County Sheriffs Office said in a social media post announcing the mens arrest on Saturday. The Bibb County Sheriffs Office said McElroy, 21, has been charged with four counts of rape, six counts of human trafficking, six counts of sodomy, and four counts of kidnapping. Terrell, also 21, was charged with six counts of rape, 12 counts of sodomy, and five counts of human trafficking. Meanwhile, Velazquez-Trejo, 29, was charged with six counts of human trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff Wade reiterates that such abhorrent behavior will not be tolerated in Bibb County and that offenders will face prosecution to the fullest extent of the law, the sheriffs office said in a statement. As this is an ongoing case, details are currently limited. Some details have emerged from local reports, however. AL.com reported over the weekend that the three men allegedly carried out their child sex abuse operation for more than a year, between January 2024 and April 2025. The mens alleged victims ranged from 3-to-10 years old, the outlet reported, citing charging documents. McElroy and Terrell allegedly admitted to sexually abusing the children, according to AL.com, while Velazquez-Trejo is accused of selling nude images of the victims to other suspects before also selling the children themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to AL.com, authorities havent yet determined how the three men knew each other, but noted they all live in trailers within a mile of one another. The children were allegedly drugged and brought to the bunker, according to a report by WBRC, which also described the bunker as a local storm shelter. 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. Robert Turner Jr., the District Attorney for the 4th Circuit of Alabama, said in a statement on Tuesday that there are more anticipated arrests to follow beyond the three men already indicted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This case represents one of the most troubling and complex investigations our office has undertaken, these allegations are sadistic and sickening, Turner Jr. said. Assistant District Attorney Bryan Jones said "it's just unimaginable that someone could do this to a child, according to WBRC. Children are defenseless, and they depend on adults to take care of them and protect them," Jones added. "And then when adults do these types of things to them, its just really horrific. Neighbors and other community members have since taken to social media to call for justice. Misty Colburn, a neighbor who lived near one of the suspects, told WVTM that she believes the men deserve way worse than prison in her mind. I couldnt imagine the amount of pain the children went through and the amount of pain that they should go through, the neighbor said. I dont think theres a way to even do it. Read the original article on People A new study has found that exposure to military burn pits increases the risk of mental health conditions and brain injuries, a finding researchers say could lead to better understanding of those conditions in veterans. The study, conducted by various universities, including the Brown School of Public Health and the Harvard Injury Control Research Center, and Department of Veterans Affairs epidemiologists, examined the medical records and deployment data of nearly 440,000 Army and Air Force members who deployed from 2001 to 2011. The researchers found that service members who deployed to bases with large burn pits had higher rates of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, but also higher rates of brain damage and injury-related deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read Next: The Marines Are Leaving Los Angeles According to the data, nearly 29% of service members diagnosed with severe stress had spent at least 130 days at a base with a burn pit, compared with roughly 13% who were diagnosed but served at a base that didn't burn its trash. Personnel were twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety if they spent at least four months at a base with a burn pit than those who served at cleaner installations. And of the 979 troops in the study who died by suicide using a firearm, 90% had served on a base with a large burn pit for 129 days or more. The researchers theorize that the hazardous materials released by the burn pits, which were used to dispose of garbage, medical waste, plastics, batteries, office equipment, tires, ammunition and other items, can disrupt endocrine and immune function, accumulate in the brain or disrupt neurotransmitters and contribute to brain inflammation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have, essentially, this cocktail of various hazardous exposures, which include a lot of known carcinogens. We know they could really impact areas of the brain that are really strongly associated with mental health," Christian Hoover, a National Institutes of Health research fellow at Brown University, said in an interview with Military.com. The research points to an association between burn pits and mental health conditions but does not show that burn pits caused the disorders. But the study still indicates a link between cumulative exposure and mental health conditions. "The genesis of the project was essentially the idea that environmental exposures could influence mental health," Hoover said. Previous research had shown an association between burn pit exposure and injury and suicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another study, released in 2024, also found that veterans who served at bases with burn pits were more likely to have heart disease, high blood pressure and chronic respiratory illnesses than those who weren't exposed to the pollution. To address illnesses linked to burn pit exposure during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, Congress passed the PACT Act, providing health care and benefits to millions of veterans exposed to environmental contamination in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Diseases considered by the VA to be eligible for expedited disability benefits and medical services under the PACT Act include respiratory conditions and certain types of cancer. Mental health conditions are not considered to be "presumptive" to military service, and some conditions, like post-traumatic stress disorder, must be linked to certain events in military service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hoover said the study has limitations because it does not include additional factors that can affect mental health, such as combat or blast exposure, and it also did not include information on health care provided outside the VA. It also did not take into account the timing of diagnoses in relation to the burn pit exposure. But given its large size, the findings "heighten concerns about the potential of long-term health impact of exposure to burn pits," the authors noted. Hoover said the study could provide comfort to those exposed to burn pits who have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. While American society has made a concerted effort in the past decade to reduce the stigma of mental health diagnoses, some veterans continue to misunderstand the nature of those conditions, he said. "It feels a little bit easier to understand these conditions when you think of it as being linked to an exposure, rather than something that is reflected about your personality or your sense of self," Hoover said. "It provides the understanding that burn pits affect not just the lungs and heart, but also brains and behavior." The study was published by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Related: VA Plans Outreach to Screen 3 Million More Veterans for Toxic Exposures Chinas State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has called a meeting with prominent online food delivery companies, including Ele.me from Alibaba Group, Meituan and JD.com, to discuss ongoing price competition in the industry. The regulator has stressed the need for these companies to adopt more rational competitive practices, as reported by the South China Morning Post. The SAMR's meeting aimed to regulate promotional activities, promote fair competition and create a balanced environment that benefits consumers, merchants, delivery personnel and platform operators. The regulator reminded the companies of their obligations under e-commerce, anti-unfair competition and food safety laws. In a separate session, the SAMR addressed food safety issues linked to live-streaming e-commerce, revealing that some food products sold during live-streamed events contained high levels of food additives or pesticide residues. Representatives from various live-streaming platforms and influencer agencies participated in this discussion, although their identities were not disclosed. This intervention by the SAMR follows a period of intense rivalry among the three food delivery platforms, which have been engaged in aggressive discounting to increase their market presence, according to the news agency. Recent promotions included significant reductions in delivery fees for items such as tea and coffee, and the expansion of their offerings to include groceries and other products. The competition intensified in mid-July 2025, with all three companies offering substantial subsidies. JD.com, which initiated the competitive drive early in the year, revealed plans to invest more than 10bn yuan ($1.4bn) to enhance restaurant quality on its delivery platform. The company had announced its entry to the Chinese food delivery sector in February 2025. Alibaba has introduced a 50bn yuan subsidy initiative to encourage consumer spending on its Taobao Shangou service, along with promotional events. These competitive tactics have reportedly resulted in a marked increase in transaction volumes, with daily orders rising from 100 million at the beginning of the year to more than 250 million recently. However, the aggressive nature of this competition has led to criticism from industry figures, including Meituans core local commerce business director, who described the current state of competition as irrational. "Chinese regulator urges major food deliverers to compete fairly" was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. (FOX 5/KUSI) Homeless encampments scattered alongside the San Diego freeways are not only an eyesore for the community, but can also present dangers regarding safety and health. Mayor Todd Gloria announced an agreement with Caltrans on Tuesday that initiates a one-year pilot program, allowing the city of San Diego to access state land and assist residents in clearing homeless encampments along specific state highways. Workers attempt to clear encampments alongside San Diego freeways. According to the city, the agreement allows for city crews to access a five-mile stretch of state freeways that run through Little Italy, Downtown, Sherman Heights, East Village and Barrio Logan. The citys new access to the land will also relieve some extra duties from Caltrans crews, freeing them to work on other areas of the county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The map below shows the state right-of-way highways which the pilot program will include. A map of San Diego showing the span of highways covered during the pilot program agreement. The stretches of highways listed in the agreement include: I-5 from the Coronado Bridge to Laurel Street in City Heights SR-163 from Ash Street in Downtown to the I-5 Freeway SR-94 from 17th Street in East Village to 30th Street near Balboa Park The state government will reimburse San Diego up to $400,000 of its costs for clearing the encampments, in addition to assisting the homeless individuals in finding appropriate and safe housing, according to the agreement. Ozzy Osbourne died at 76: Heres a look at his appearances in San Diego Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The one-year pilot program is structured around Gov. Gavin Newsoms ordinance to prioritize clearing homeless encampments throughout the state, while ensuring a safer and faster process to connect homeless people with proper resources and housing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HUNTSVILLE, Ontario Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canadas premiers are tempering expectations that they'll strike a new economic and security deal with Donald Trump by the end of the month. We would like to have the ideal deal, as fast as possible. But what can we get? Quebec Premier Francois Legault said Tuesday. You almost need to ask Donald Trump, and Im not even sure he knows himself what he wants. Its a shift in tone from the premiers and Carney, who ran for election on his economic record, arguing hed be the best person to negotiate with the president. But Canada is finding it harder than it looks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carney met the premiers in Muskoka, cottage country north of Toronto, to update them on Canada-U.S. negotiations. As the leaders emerged from a three-hour meeting, they downplayed hopes of an Aug. 1 deal, arguing that achieving a good deal is more important than hitting a deadline. We will agree [to] a deal if theres one on the table that is in the best interest of Canadians. Just as the United States will do with the best interests of the U.S., Carney told reporters. Theyre complex negotiations, and well use all the time thats necessary. A team of Canadian negotiators is headed to Washington this week, including Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Carneys chief-of-staff, Marc-Andre Blanchard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a deal isnt struck by the start of the month, the president has promised to raise tariffs on Canadian imports to 35 percent. The White House has said the administration plans to impose the tariff only on goods that do not comply with the United-States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, though the details will be up to Trump to decide. Im personally not focused on the date, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston told reporters. There were some discussions at the table today from others as well, who kind of share that idea. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Donald Trump is very, very hard to deal with. Just because hes so fluid. Its constantly moving with him, he added. You talk to him one day, and then all of a sudden the next day hes on some media outlet saying theres a 35 percent tariff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the negotiations continue, the premiers spent Tuesday carving out a strategy to offset the economic impact of Trumps tariffs on the aluminum, steel, auto and lumber sector. They spoke about developing large infrastructure projects, breaking down trade barriers between provinces and encouraging a buy Canadian approach. The premiers expressed confidence in Carney to negotiate a good deal, which the prime minister told reporters would be something that preserves, reinforces and stabilizes the Canada-U.S. relationship as much as possible. Earlier in the day, premiers received advice from former Canadian ambassadors to the U.S. Gary Doer and David McNaughton, who helped renegotiate the USMCA. We want a good deal, not a fast deal, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said. And we dont want to make a fast deal in expense of a good deal. WAPELLO COUNTY, Iowa A passenger was airlifted to an Iowa City hospital after the vehicle she was in crashed into a train in Wapello County. At around 4:40 p.m. Monday evening, a 2004 Buick sedan was traveling southbound on 215th Avenue near Ottumwa. According to an Iowa State Patrol crash report, the driver of the vehicle didnt stop at a railroad crossing and was struck by an oncoming train. More information released about Polk County crash that injured 5 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver and the rear passenger of the Buick werent injured in the crash, the report states; however, the front passenger, identified as a 57-year-old woman from North Carolina, sustained serious injuries and was life flighted to the University of Iowa Hospital for treatment. No additional information has been released. 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. The Qore facility in Eddyville will create a bio-based alternative to petrochemical components used in clothing and other products. Executives held a ribbon cutting at the plant Tuesday July 22, 2025. From left are Allie Buckvold, Axel Viering, Bruce Leslie, Jon Veldhouse, Anita Heinemann. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch) EDDYVILLE Iowa grown corn will soon end up in apparel like Spanx, and other products typically made with petroleum-based components, following the opening of a new processing facility. Qore, the joint venture between Minnesota-based Cargill and Germany-based HELM AG, celebrated the opening of the $300 million facility Tuesday, and future growth it represents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The facility will take sustainably grown corn from within the area, then grind it and process it into QIRA, which the company said is an identical replacement of 1,4-butanediol, a chemical component used to manufacture various polymers. Officials with Qore and the partnering companies said the venture is a response to consumer demand for more sustainably produced products, but will also stoke the Iowa corn market and local economy, and pave the way for future partnerships to for bio-based alternatives to petroleum-derived products. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Jon Veldhouse, CEO of Qore, said Tuesday the project connects a global challenge with the natural process of corn absorbing CO2 and turning light into plant energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It proves that scalable solutions can come from the ground up, that innovation can start with corn, that the products we use every day in fashion, footwear, personal care, electronics, automotive they can be more responsible and serve a louder purpose, Veldhouse said. Extending the life of petroleum via bio-based solutions Qore has already partnered with a number of brands, the first of which was Lycra, the original makers of Spandex materials. Gary Smith, Lycra Companys CEO, said with QIRA, he can provide a high level of product credibility and show consumers exactly where the corn in their yoga pants was grown. But, he said the Qore partnership represents more than just a sustainable story he can communicate to consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its about a future where you dont have to compromise on the standard of living that weve all come to know, Smith said. The ability to actually have renewable inputs that replace petrochemicals is huge. Smith said he hopes this is the first step in a future with many QIRA facilities around the world. Its not if, its when fossil fuels run out, Smith said. Weve done wonderful things of extending fracking, horizontal drilling, shale oil, whatever but theres only so many dead dinosaurs in the ground. At full capacity, the Eddyville plant will have an annual demand of 100 million bushels of corn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steve Kuiper, an Iowa corn farmer growing for the facility, said that capacity would take all of his corn plus a whole lot of other folks. Plus, that corn would be sold at a premium since QIRA needs to be made with corn grown under regenerative farming practices, like cover cropping and reduced tillage. Kuiper said he was already following these practices, but now that he has a designated market for his corn, it has made him more mindful of the practices. Corn farmers have had low market prices the past several years and are looking for new markets that will give them a higher price per bushel, or to grow the market through things like Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kuiper said the QIRA market doesnt fill the same gap as something like sustainable aviation fuel would, but he said biochemistry is on everybodys minds and he said farmers, and consumers, need to advocate for more biochemical solutions. Those are direct replacements for petroleum products, Kuiper said. Its going to do a couple of things its better for the environment, but its also going to extend the life of petroleum. Axel Viering, an executive board member of the German chemical company HELM, said the partnership with Cargill and HELM represents a meeting of agriculture and chemicals. The vision of Qore is to produce and market something very special, Viering said. QIRA is the purest, the finest, the most sustainable product in its product category, and the goal is to position Qore as a lighthouse asset, globally, for sustainable solutions. Economic development The plant in Eddyville is poised to produce 66,000 metric tons of QIRA annually, but the partners said they all hope demand for the product expands and more facilities will be needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Hans Wilz, R-Ottumwa, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday and said he has driven past the Cargill plant, which opened 40 years ago in Eddyville, countless times and had friends who worked there. He said the Qore expansion is a reminder that the plant has a much bigger footprint than most people understand. Its farmers growing corn, its people having jobs, but its also sustainability and a cleaner way to do things even in our clothing now, Wilz said. its cool to see how we fit in the process. Colleen May, president at Cargills Bioindustrial Group, said its difficult to calculate the economic impact of the plant because there are many connected supply chains. During the Trump administration, there has been a shift away from sustainable projects, like Climate Smart agriculture and other project started by the Biden administration, in favor of promoting increased domestic production of fossil fuels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May said in her conversations about Qore at the federal level, this change in mindset hasnt been an issue. She said most Congress members agree on projects that support rural America. Were emphasizing today more about economic development, particularly in the Midwest and that has been very very well received, May said. She said biosolutions represent an alternative for conscious consumers but there is not enough agriculture to completely replace petrochemicals, so the two will continue to coexist. May said now that the plant is up and running they have been able to send samples to dozens and dozens of customers who are interested in using QIRA and she expects more brands will use the material. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the products hit the shelves, customers will see QIRA branding to identify it in stores. Its like the Intel inside, May said. Thats how we think of it. This story has been updated to make a clarification. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE July 22 (UPI) -- The Catholic Church's Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem called on regional and world leaders to end the violence in Gaza after Thursday's deadly church shelling. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Patriarch Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and other clergy toured the remains of the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in northern Gaza on Tuesday. They called for an end to the war during a press conference held afterward at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center in Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We entered a place of devastation, but also of wonderful humanity," Pizzaballa told media. "We walked through the dust of ruins, past collapsed buildings and tents everywhere: in courtyards, alleyways, on the streets and on the beach -- tents that have become homes for those who have lost everything," Pizzaballa said. Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, leads Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, as they arrive at the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem for a joint press conference about the severe suffering in Gaza on Tuesday. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI "And yet, in the midst of all this, we encountered something deeper than the destruction: the dignity of the human spirit that refuses to be extinguished," he continued. "We met mothers preparing food for others, nurses treating wounds with gentleness, and people of all faiths still praying to the God who sees and never forgets." Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, left, listens while Theophilos III, calls on the international community to make peace in Gaza during Tuesday's joint press conference in the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI Pizzaballa called on regional and world leaders to find a way to restore "life, dignity and all lost humanity" in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is time to end this nonsense, to end the war and put the common good of people as the top priority," he said. Several of the clergy who toured the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza attend the news conference at the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem on Tuesday. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI Patriarch Theophilos III called Gaza a "land bruised by prolonged affliction and pierced by the cries of its people" after touring the church's grounds. "We entered as servants of the suffering Body of Christ, walking among the wounded, the bereaved, the displaced and the faithful whose dignity remains unbroken despite their agony," Theophilos III said. Clergy and journalists listen as Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Theophilos III call for peace in Gaza during a joint press conference in the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem on Tuesday. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI "We encountered a people crushed by the weight of war, yet carrying within them the image of God," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Among the broken walls of the Church of the Holy Family and the wounded hearts of its faithful, we witnessed both profound grief and unyielding hope." A man whispers to Theophilos III during a joint press conference with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa in the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem after their visit to Gaza on Tuesday. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI Theophilos III said, "Silence in the face of suffering is a betrayal of conscience," and called on the international community to make peace in Gaza. Two were killed and several injured, including a priest who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, when the IDF shelled the church. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday apologized for Israel Defense Forces shelling the Catholic church, which is the only one in Gaza. He said a "stray ammunition" struck the church, and Israeli officials are investigating the matter. Local residents and displaced Gazans were using the church for shelter when it was struck. STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) Stafford County deputies said three people were detained during their search for a woman wanted out of two Northern Virginia cities. The Stafford County Sheriffs Office (SCSO) said authorities were looking for a wanted suspect who was believed to be on Forest Lane Road just after 12:30 p.m. on July 20. Deputies had been told a woman wanted out of Fredericksburg and Fairfax was at the home in the area. When deputies arrived at the home and spoke with the homeowner, the man claimed the woman wasnt there. However, the SCSO said he was seen texting her that deputies would not leave until she came out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He refused to comply with the officers and was detained. SCSO said the woman was seen running around upstairs, but continued to pretend she wasnt home. DC, Maryland officials aim to remove white supremacists name from Chevy Chase Circle Eventually, she surrendered and was detained. Deputies learned that a third man was still inside and surrendered himself after a brief standoff. The homeowner said he did not know who the man was. The wanted woman was charged with obstruction of justice, using abusive language and was served on her outstanding warrants. She was held without bond. The man was charged with obstruction of justice and trespassing and held on a $2,500 bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The homeowner received a summons for obstruction of justice. A wanted woman and her friends attempted to hide from deputies, but instead were caught quicker than an affair at a Coldplay concert, SCSO said about the incident in a news release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 cause of death has been revealed for Melina Frattolin, the 9-year-old girl who was found dead over the weekend in upstate New York after police allege her father falsely reported her missing. A preliminary autopsy completed by Dr. Michael Sikirica on Monday, July 21, determined Melina died of asphyxia due to drowning and her death was ruled a homicide, New York State Police announced in a press release on Tuesday, July 22. The final determination and report are pending further laboratory testing, state police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, July 20, hours after officials issued an Amber Alert for Melina, state police said that she was found dead in Ticonderoga, N.Y. The girl was initially reported missing on the night of Saturday, July 19, by her father, 45-year-old Luciano Frattolin, 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 at a press conference. Police later alleged that authorities "identified inconsistencies in the fathers account of events and the timeline he provided" and determined that there was no evidence of an abduction. Frattolin was then arrested on Monday, July 21, and charged with his murder and concealment of a corpse, with state police alleging he killed Melina and dumped her body in a remote area. According to the Associated Press, the suspect has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Essex County Jail Luciano Frattolin Luciano Frattolin 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. Frattolin and his wife, Melina's mother, have been separated for several years, state police said, noting that the girl's mother maintained custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the investigation continues, New York State Police are asking for the public's help in gathering additional video evidence or eyewitness accounts of the silver car the father and daughter traveled in from July 11 until July 19 on I-87, per the press release. Anyone with information is urged to call 518-873-2750 or email crimetip@troopers.ny.gov. If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.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 ANDERSON Proposed changes to the Anderson City Courtroom prior to the death penalty trial of Carl Roy Webb Boards II were discussed during a court session. Earlier this year, Madison Circuit Court Division 3 Judge Andrew Hopper moved the trial of Boards, the man charged with the 2022 shooting death of Elwood police officer Noah Shahnavaz, to Anderson City Court. Boards is scheduled to go on trial in January on charges including murder. He faces a possible death sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a Monday hearing, upgrades to the city court were discussed. Andrew Hanna, chief deputy with the Madison County Prosecutor's Office, said the changes discussed included audio and video equipment, enlarging the jury box and the tables for the attorneys. The motion granting the move to the Anderson City Court noted it seats about 120, compared to 38 in the circuit courtroom, and notes that city court has three secure holding cells, compared to none in the courthouse. During the Monday hearing, Judge Hopper ruled that two Indiana State Police detectives, Rich Clay and Brad Tucker, could be present for the entire trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Normally during a trial, witnesses are not allowed to remain in the courtroom prior to providing testimony. Both Det. Clay and Det. Tucker's presence in the courtroom "will assist the prosecution in maintaining continuity and accuracy of evidence concerning the extensive and detailed facts of the investigation, stated the motion to allow the ISP detectives to remain in the courtroom. Two of three competency evaluations of Boards has been completed. Judge Hopper appointed a second expert to conduct an intellectual disability evaluation of Boards. The judge appointed Dr. John Fabian, because Dr. Karen Salekin has failed to meet two deadlines to produce the evaluation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A hearing has been set for Monday at the request of the state to explore why Salekin should not be held in contempt of court for not conducting the evaluation. Jury selection from Delaware County is scheduled to start Jan. 12, 2026, and the trial is set to continue Jan. 26, 2026. Boards is charged with murder in the July 31, 2022, fatal shooting of Shahnavaz. According to police, just after 2 a.m. that morning, Shahnavaz stopped a 2012 Buick LaCrosse near Indiana 37 and County Road 1100 North, and Boards, who had been driving the car, shot the officer. Police have not provided a reason for the traffic stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers from Elwood and Madison County found the wounded Shahnavaz and administered life-saving measures until medical personnel arrived. Just after 2:30 a.m., Hamilton County officers found the Buick and attempted a traffic stop. The Buick continued southbound on Indiana 37. Hamilton County sheriffs deputies pursued the Buick and deployed a tire deflation device near the area of Indiana 37 and 146th Street. Boards then surrendered without further incident. After more than two years in court, Will County prosecutors moved Monday to drop several criminal charges, first filed in 2023, against two New Lenox business owners, after a circuit court judge denied their request to reschedule the trial date. Jeffery Regnier, the owner of Kee Firearms and Training in New Lenox, and Greta Keranen, with Kee Construction, will not face charges of theft by deception, burglary, loan fraud, wire fraud or burglary fraud, unless the state decides to refile the charges. Laura Byrne, a spokesperson for the Will County states attorneys office requested, refused to comment but in an email said prosecutors sought a continuance to allow for expert analysis of handwriting on original documents, as well as the unavailability of witnesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the motion to continue was denied, the charges were dismissed. Byrne wrote she is unable at this time to say if charges will be refiled. Regnier and Keranen were first charged with several felonies for fraud and theft of COVID-19 pandemic relief funds in 2023. The state requested to continue the case, scheduled for a jury trial Monday, on another date due to the absence of several witnesses, including two special agents for the U.S. Secret Service and a former secret service agent now working with the IRS Southeastern District Analysis. The state said the agents were necessary to the case but were scheduled for field work the week of the trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Judge Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak said prosecutors had four months to ensure the witnesses presence, as the July court date was set in March, and denied the states request. Previous judges in the case expressed frustration with prosecutor delays. The New Lenox business partners will still face a number of charges in Will County Circuit Court on Sept. 8, including money laundering and filing a fraudulent Illinois sales and use tax return. Im relieved that they dropped the case at this point in time because of the time its taken to go almost 30 months to prove that were innocent, Regnier said Monday. Regnier and Keranen won a case July 16 to recover seized property and securities under the Eighth Amendments protection against excessive fines. The properties, including four vehicles and Fidelity Investment accounts valued at $5.5 million, were seized as a part of officials investigation of Regnier and Keranen for money laundering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Ettinger, an attorney on the case, called the judgement historic for how pretrial civil forfeiture is applied in the county. Previously, defendants had to wait 10 months to a year of trial proceedings before they could move to dismiss the forfeiture and get their property back, Ettinger said. They had no right to seize that property under the Constitution, said Ettinger. Whatever alleged fraud, if it was $200,000, they could seize that amount of money, but you cant take the rest of their assets just because its in the same account. The business owners also filed a federal lawsuit in January 2025, claiming Will County authorities and the U.S. Secret Service targeted them and others with frivolous civil forfeiture cases. Defendants in the lawsuit are the Will County sheriffs office, a U.S. Secret Service agent and unknown members of the Will County sheriffs office and U.S. Secret Service. The agent filed a request Monday to dismiss several motions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit alleges the Will County states attorneys office worked in conjunction with the secret service and the Will County sheriffs office to bring knowingly frivolous civil forfeiture claims targeting citizens of Will County to line the pockets of the Will County States attorney and other Illinois government agencies. Under Illinois law, 65% of forfeiture proceeds go to the arresting agency, which in this case is either Will County sheriff or U.S. Secret Service, 12.5% goes to the states attorney, 12.5% to the state appellate prosecutor and 10% to Illinois State Police. The lawsuit claims those authorities, working together, created a de facto policy to overzealously pursue forfeiture opportunities regardless of their legality in violation of the constitutional rights of the individuals whose assets they seek to forfeit. The federal lawsuit also alleged the ongoing and widespread constitutional violations in civil forfeiture cases in Will County and across Illinois suggest a possible widespread conspiracy, understanding or policy that leads to the overzealous and unconstitutional prosecution of forfeiture cases. BOSTON (AP) More than 120 cases, including some for assault on family members and police, were dismissed Tuesday in Boston, the latest fallout from a monthslong dispute over pay that has led public defenders to stop taking new clients. At a mostly empty courtroom, Boston Municipal Court Chief Justice Tracy-Lee Lyons invoked the Lavallee protocol in dismissing case after case. It requires cases be dropped if a defendant hasn't had an attorney for 45 days and released from custody if they haven't had one for seven days. Tuesday was the first time it was invoked to drop cases, while suspects in custody have been released in recent weeks. Most were for minor crimes like shoplifting, drug possession and motor vehicle violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But several involved cases of assault on police officers and domestic violence. One suspect allegedly punched his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach and slapped her in the face. Another case involved a woman who was allegedly assaulted by the father of her child, who threatened to kill her and tried to strangle her. A third case involved a suspect who allegedly hit a police officer and threated to shoot him. The judge, repeatedly invoking the Lavallee protocol, dismissed almost all of the cases after being convinced public defenders had made a good-faith effort to find the defendants an attorney. No defendants were in court to hear their cases being dismissed. This case will be dismissed without prejudice, Lyons said repeatedly, noting that all fines and fees would be waived. Frustration from prosecutors over dropped cases Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors unsuccessfully objected to the dismissal of many of the cases, especially the most serious being dismissed. The case dismissals today, with many more expected in coming days and weeks, present a clear and continuing threat to public safety, James Borghesani, a spokesperson for the Suffolk County district attorneys office, said in a statement. They vowed to re-prosecute all the cases. "Our prosecutors and victim witness advocates are working extremely hard to keep victims and other impacted persons updated on whats happening with their cases," he continued. These are difficult conversations. We remain hopeful that a structural solution will be found to address the causal issues here and prevent any repeat. Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, speaking to reporters in Fall River, said the situation needed to be resolved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a public safety issue and also a due process issue as people need representation," she said. I know the parties are talking. They have got to find a way to work this out. We need lawyers in court ... and certainly they need to be paid fairly. Dispute revolves around pay Public defenders, who argue they are the lowest paid in New England, launched a work stoppage at the end of May in hopes of pressuring the legislature to increase their hourly pay. The state agency representing public defenders had proposed a pay increase from $65 an hour to $73 an hour over the next two fiscal years for lawyers in district court, an increase from $85 an hour to $105 an hour for lawyers in Superior Court and $120 an hour to $150 an hour for lawyers handling murder cases. But the 2026 fiscal year budget of $60.9 billion signed early this month by Healey didnt include any increase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dismissal of cases today under the Lavallee protocols is what needs to be done for those individuals charged with crimes but with no lawyer to vindicate their constitution rights," said Shira Diner, a lecturer at the Boston University School of Law and the immediate past president of the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. "It is, however, not a solution to the deep crisis of inadequate pay for bar advocates. Until there are enough qualified lawyers in courts to fulfill the constitutional obligation of the right to counsel this crisis will only intensify." The pay of public defenders is a national issue Massachusetts is the latest state struggling to adequately fund its public defender system. In New York City, legal aid attorneys are demanding better pay and working conditions. Earlier this month, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed a two-year state budget into law that increases the pay of public defenders and district attorneys in each of the next two years. That comes after the Legislature in 2023 also increased the pay to address rising caseloads, high turnover and low salaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public defenders in Minnesota averted a walkout in 2022 that threatened to bring the court system to a standstill. A year later, the legislature came up with more funding for the state Board of Public Defense so it could meet what the American Bar Association recommends for manageable caseload standards. Oregon, meanwhile, has struggled for years with a critical shortage of court-provided attorneys for low-income defendants. As of Tuesday, nearly 3,500 defendants did not have a public defender, a dashboard from the Oregon Judicial Department showed. Of those, about 143 people were in custody, some for longer than seven days. Amid the states public defense crisis, lawmakers last month approved over $2 million for defense attorneys to take more caseloads in the counties most affected by the shortage and over $3 million for Oregon law schools to train and supervise law students to take on misdemeanor cases. M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE:MTB) is one of the 10 Best Financial Stocks on Wall Streets Radar. On July 18, Citi increased its price target for M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE:MTB) from $212 to $215 but kept a Neutral rating. This decision came after the company reported its second quarter 2025 results. Citi described the latest quarterly results as strong, even though M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE:MTB) reported a lower-than-expected net interest income (NII) and set a lower minimum for its 2025 NII guidance range. Citi Raises Price Target for M&T Bank (MTB), Keeps Neutral Rating A busy financial advisor talking to a client in their office. Citi has reduced its near-term deposit beta estimates for M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE:MTB) because of higher funding costs, which are putting pressure on net interest income. However, this impact is partially offset by the banks stronger balance sheet growth. M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE:MTB) is a financial holding company that operates mainly through its banking subsidiary, M&T Bank. It provides banking products and services through a network of branches and ATMs primarily in the eastern US. While we acknowledge the potential of MTB as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Best American Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Now and 11 Best Fintech Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Authorities say the 21-year-old man killed in a weekend shooting in downtown Milwaukee was part of a group of three who held another group at gunpoint before a shootout took place. Those details are outlined in a criminal complaint against 21-year-old Dominec Deshawn Gaines Jr., of Milwaukee, who is facing a charge of felony murder as party to a crime. Prosecutors say Gaines joined with two others including the fatally injured 21-year-old Raymond Wilson and an injured 15-year-old on July 19 to confront a group of men near the Milwaukee School of Engineering on the 300 block of East Juneau Avenue at about 2 a.m., before the shooting took place. The school said in a statement that no members of the MSOE community were involved in the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While charged with felony murder, Gaines is not accused of killing Wilson, but the charges against him outline his role in the confrontation that led to the shootout that killed the 21-year-old man. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office identified Wilson as the man killed. Milwaukee Police Department spokesperson said the department arrested the teenager and Gaines and are still seeking an unknown suspect in the shooting. Gaines' charging document alleges surveillance video showed he got into a shootout after the three robbed someone in a group of four people sometime after 2:04 a.m. Afterwards, Wilson runs across the street to a fifth person and points a gun at the person, before turning back around and returning, according to the criminal complaint. As Wilson returns, the surveillance video shows the fifth person open fire on the man, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilson, the teenager and Gaines retreat to their vehicle and Wilson opens fire back at the man. Prosecutors say Wilson was shot and killed during the incident and the teenager injured, with Gaines being seen walking away from the scene as first responders arrive to tend to the injured. In an interview with police, the teenager lied about his role in the confrontation but said the group they robbed were people Wilson and Gaines had a feud with, according to the complaint. Gaines later told police in an interview that the group they held at gunpoint had previously in the night looked at them "funny" and he had checked the pockets of one man to take any potential guns they had on them, according to the complaint. During the police investigation, they recovered over 20 bullet casings from the scene, with the casings found in locations where either Wilson or the other person were seen on surveillance footage firing from, according to the criminal complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Wisconsin, a conviction for felony murder carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. By contrast, a conviction for first-degree reckless homicide is punishable by up 60 years. Anyone convicted of first-degree intentional homicide faces a mandatory life imprisonment. The double shooting is at least the third fatal shooting since June in downtown Milwaukee. On June 8, a quadruple shooting injured four near Fiserv Forum, about a week later another quadruple shooting injured four others, and on June 16 a 29-year-old was killed in a shooting on the 300 block of West Vliet Street. Downtown is part of Milwaukee Police District One, which has seen 17 non-fatal shootings this year and six homicides, according to police data. Both those data points are outpacing prior years', when there was three homicides at this time in 2023 and 10 nonfatal shootings. Overall, shootings are down in Milwaukee this year, but homicides are still up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Charges filed in fatal shooting near Milwaukee School of Engineering Charlotte City Council hires outside counsel to investigate corruption allegations The Charlotte City Council has hired outside legal counsel to investigate allegations of corruption within the city. The decision follows a Channel 9 investigation that uncovered a secret settlement between the city council and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: City council member clarifies allegations of corruption, says comments were misconstrued After the settlement, Charlotte City Councilmember Victoria Watlington sent an email to supporters expressing concern about the situation and describing unethical and frankly illegal activities occurring within city government. She later clarified and walked back her comments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two days after Watlingtons email, the interim city attorney informed potential airport bond investors about the corruption allegations, indicating that these claims would be investigated. City Council has hired Patrick Flanagan of Cranfill Sumner to conduct the investigation. Records indicate that Flanagan will be compensated at a rate of $300 per hour, with a cap of $25,000. WFAE was the first to report the contract details. There is no specified timeline for the investigation. (WATCH BELOW: Change somebodys life: Ministry rehabs used bikes for people in need) CHICAGO (WGN) The manhunt continues Wednesday for the suspect accused of shooting two people Monday after he was arrested for a separate incident at UI Health. Security remains heightened on the hospital campus two days after a tense encounter unfolded in the Outpatient Care Center South Tower lobby, in which UIC police say a contractor working on the hospital campus is accused of a pulling a gun on a patient. After being released from custody for that incident, the suspect since identified as Glenn Rhymes is then accused of shooting two people off-campus, including a co-worker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A UI Health spokesperson says Rhymes, who was an Aramark employee working at the hospital, pulled out a handgun and threatened a patient during an argument Monday morning in the lobby of the OCC South Tower. Glenn Rhymes (photo provided by UI Health) UI Health Security and UIC Police responded immediately. Rhymes was taken into custody by UIC Police, and the weapon was confiscated. The weapon was not fired, and no one was injured. UIC police said Rhymes was charged with three misdemeanor counts with a future court date in that incident, prior to being released from custody, in addition to having his Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card revoked. The three misdemeanor counts include: Concealed Carry Act Enter Prohibited Place. Disorderly Conduct Breach of Peace. Aggravated Assault Firearm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After being released from custody, Rhymes somehow got a gun and then allegedly shot two people in a home in Chicago, one of them also an Aramark employee working at UI Health. Rhymes remains at-large. WGN-TV knocked on the door of Rhymes south suburban home on Wednesday. No one answered. Neighbors and workers at a Glenwood area business said theyre familiar with Rhymes, telling WGN-TV he has several children and always seemed polite. The last time they saw Rhymes was Monday, the same day of the incident in the Outpatient Care Center South Tower lobby. The Chicago Police Department is leading the investigation into the shooting. However, CPD does not identify suspects in any crime until charges are filed, so its not clear where that alleged shooting took place, or the conditions of the victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UIC says it has an Incident Command set up at UI Health and extra police are on-hand, and it has tightened access to its facilities. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Anyone with any information is urged to contact UIC Police at 312-355-5555 or call 911 to alert Chicago police. WGN News also reached out to Aramark for comment. The company says its fully cooperating with the investigation and that Rhymes is employed by the company. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 popular trail at a famed national park in the state of Washington has been forced to close after a mountain lion mauled a four-year-old child. According to reports, the National Park Service on Sunday closed Hurricane Ridge Road, its surrounding area and associated trails in Olympic National Park. The 4-year-old child's family was enjoying a stroll near the Victoria Overlook area when a collared mountain lion emerged and bit the child. Park rangers were notified about the attack on Sunday at around 3:15 p.m. The child's exact injury or injuries have not been publicly disclosed, but the child had to be transferred via LifeFlight to a Level 1 Trauma Center in Seattle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, park officials launched a search effort to find the mountain lion. The search efforts included help from a canine team. Less than two hours after the incident, rangers located the mountain lion. Officials killed the mountain lion on Monday. Related: Black Bear Wows Homeowner With Polite, Human-Like Behavior Caught on Camera Seattle's KIRO-7 reported, via CBS News, that a hiker, Steve Murrow, who was on the trail on the same day the attack unfolded said he didn't witness it but he heard screaming. "We heard like screaming of a small child," Murrow said, who added that the father's quick actions in getting the child away from the mountain lion saved the child's life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't think that kid would survive if it wasn't for his dad jumping in," Murrow added. "I mean, he's a hero. You know, it just boils down to safety in numbers and it is rare that something like this would happen." Child's Mauling by Mountain Lion Forces Closures at Popular National Park first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 22, 2025 Maryland Sen. Angela Alsobrooks introduced a bill last week that would prevent foreign adversaries from buying up the nations farm and timber lands in order to spy on the U.S. and interrupt its food supply chain despite the fact that data shows investors from these nations own less than 1% of U.S. farm, timber and ranching lands, per the Department of Agriculture. Alsobrooks, a Democrat, who last week co-introduced the bipartisan bill alongside two Republican Senators and one Democrat, called the bill commonsense legislation that will make us safer and stronger. In response, the Chinese Embassy called the bill discriminatory and urged the U.S. to rethink its international strategy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. overstretches the concept of national security and deprives the right of institutions and citizens of particular countries to purchase farmland, the spokesperson for the Chinese embassy said in an email. While multiple experts The Baltimore Sun interviewed said scope of the threat is hard to determine because of difficulties collecting data on foreign investments, one food and national security expert says fears of food supply issues are overblown. The perception of the threat doesnt match the reality of the threat, said Caitlin Welsh, the director of the Global Food and Water Security Program of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, on food-supply concerns. However, Welsh did say that there is an argument that some agricultural land purchases by foreign investors could be a potential national security concern, such as near military facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill Alsobrooks introduced would codify the Agriculture Secretarys role in reviewing farmland transactions made by investors from other countries to determine whether they pose threats to American security. Purchases from China, North Korea, Russia and Iran are subject to special review, according to an email statement from Alsobrooks. The House of Representatives unanimously passed the bill in June. The Senates version is not yet scheduled for a vote. Adding the Agriculture Secretary to certain conversations on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. was a part of a Trump administration July plan created to monitor investors in other countries purchasing farmland, arguing that certain investments could put national and food security at risk. The secretary was added to the committee on July 8 via a memorandum of understanding; this bill would make that appointment permanent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration has pushed for prioritizing American businesses and limiting outside influence in the United States. This is typically discriminatory and violates the principle of market economy and international trade rules, and will eventually hurt the U.S.s own interests, Chinas embassy spokesperson said. We urge the U.S. to immediately stop politicizing trade and investment issues. Alsobrooks did not respond by publication to a follow-up request for comment on the embassys remarks. Military assets and espionage threats Maryland is home to several sensitive sites, Alsobrooks said in a statement to The Sun, namely Camp David, federal agencies and Fort Meade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is absolutely critical these sites are safe from foreign adversaries, she said. Foreign investors are required to self-report agricultural land transactions to the U.S. Department of Agriculture under a 1978 law called the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act. Danny Munch, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation, described Alsobrooks bill as an effort to streamline oversight of foreign purchases of agricultural land between the Department of Agriculture which collects data under the 1978 law, and the committee that reviews foreign investments. There is concern within some of the agricultural community that some of the bad actors that could exist would not be reported, Munch said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, he said, some farmers like being able to sell their land when and to who they want. A plan for a Chinese firm to purchase land for a corn milling plant 12 miles away from an U.S. Air Force base in 2023 led to nationwide attention to investors from foreign adversarial nations purchasing land near military sites. From 2016 to 2021, foreign purchases of U.S. agricultural land has increased by 40%, according to the Department of Agriculture. Investors from Canada, The Netherlands, Italy and The United Kingdom owned the most U.S. agricultural land of any foreign country. Investors outside of the United States owned about 3.5% of agricultural land in December 2023, according to the Department of Agriculture. Investors from adversarial nations owned less than 1% of this foreign-held land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foreign adversary nations own a small percentage of agricultural land, with investors from North Korea owning no acres and from Russia owning 11 acres as of December 2023. Investors from China owned 277,336 acres of agricultural land, according to a Department of Agriculture report. Vincent Smith, professor emeritus at Montana State University and the director of the Agricultural Policy Program at the American Enterprise Institute, noted that the annual rate of return on investments in agricultural land runs at roughly 6%. It has to do with worries about spying, intellectual property theft, and so on, Smith said. Whether Chinese institutions should be able to access properties adjacent to military bases and American security assets is a point of legitimate debate, he said. Smith said the potential risks from foreign countries acquiring this agricultural land include using the land for espionage as well as stealing intellectual property by monitoring farming techniques. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran-based investors owned 3,030 acres of U.S. agricultural land as of December 2023, according to the Department of Agriculture. Majid Sadeghpour is the political director of the Organization of Iranian American Communities, a nonprofit that advocates for human rights and democracy in Iran and strongly opposes Irans current government. Sadeghpours group, which opposes an appeasement policy towards Iran, according to their website, was in favor of the bill, and its restriction on Iranian companies. We welcome U.S. government vigilance and measures which ensure individuals / organizations associated with the regime and its (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps) do not financially benefit from investments in the United States, he said in an email to The Sun. Food supply concerns The bills co-author also alleges that these countries pose a threat to the U.S. food supply chain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to The Sun, Alsobrooks said that an insecure food supply chain represents a significant threat to the nation, adding that the bill would support Marylands agricultural communities while protecting the countrys food security. The Maryland Grain Producers Association backed the bill for just this reason, its executive director said. Lindsay Thompson, the associations executive director, said the group is concerned that if unchecked, purchases of farmland by corporations headquartered in these countries could undermine the U.S. food supply by taking land from U.S. farmers, as well as stealing crop production techniques. She added that it could lead to financial hardships, cutting the food supply short. The secretary of USDA uniquely understands the entire agricultural system and the vulnerabilities that our farmers and agricultural companies could be subject to in these types of transactions, Thompson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welsh, however, said there is not significant evidence that the small percentage of foreign-held agricultural land could impact the nations food supply. She said, however, she believes foreign purchases of agricultural land should be monitored on the federal level. I think that pulls on a lot of emotions, but I dont think that there is a strong basis of evidence for the claim that Chinas ownership of U.S. farmland threatens U.S. food security, Welsh said. _____ Welcome to Foreign Policys China Brief. The highlights this week: Construction begins on a controversial megadam in Tibet, exit bans are being imposed on U.S. citizens, and rural toilets come under investigation. Sign up to receive China Brief in your inbox every Tuesday. Sign up to receive China Brief in your inbox every Tuesday. Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enter your email Sign Up Loading... Signed Up China Breaks Ground on a Record-Breaking Dam Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced over the weekend that construction had begun on a megadam on Tibets Yarlung Tsangpo river. The megadam is set to become the worlds largest hydropower system and, costing an estimated $167 billion, by far the most expensive megadam of all time. It is anticipated to provide 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, or around 4 percent of Chinas energy needs. Megadams are highly controversial. While nominally a clean form of power generation, they can have profound ecological and social consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In China, construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the worlds current largest hydropower project, required the displacement of 1.3 million people. It continues to be a source of anxiety for the public, given repeated fears of a catastrophic dam collapse. For context, the collapse of the Banqiao Dam in Henan province in 1975whose storage capacity was around one-sixtieth of the Three Gorges Damkilled approximately 230,000 people through initial flooding and later starvation and illness. The displacement and destruction caused by dams are particularly sensitive in Tibet, where the Chinese government has conducted a decades-long program of forcible resettlement. This agenda, alongside practices of ethnic discrimination and cultural and religious oppression, has accelerated under Chinese President Xi Jinping. Just last year, Chinese authorities violently cracked down on protests against another Tibetan dam project that is currently under construction, which would submerge a culturally and religiously significant area home to several villages and ancient monasteries. From Beijings perspective, the risks of building dams are irrelevant given the possible benefits for carbon emissions and electricity costs. Cheap electricity matters not only for Chinese households but also for industry, where prices per kilowatt-hour are 60 to 70 percent lower than in Europe and 30 to 40 percent lower than in the United States. Although China has become a world leader in renewable energy, it still fundamentally relies on coal generation to keep electricity prices low. The Tibetan megadam may help to offset that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any Tibetan protests against the new megadam will do little to change the authorities minds. Controlling water has been a symbol of government power and legitimacy in China for millennia, what Sinologist Karl Wittfogel has dubbed as an example of hydraulic despotism. One of Chinas mythical founders, Yu the Great, was supposedly the worlds first dam builder. Historically, gigantic water control projects have sometimes led to political disaster. For instance, the brief-lived Sui Dynasty (581-618) constructed the Grand Canal to ferry men and arms to a futile war against a Korean kingdom, but it instead brought about famine, rebellions, and the eventual collapse of the dynasty. Although the impact of the new megadam on Tibetans may matter little to Beijing, it could have noteworthy diplomatic effects. The dammed river, the Yarlung, feeds into Indias Brahmaputra River, and while some Indian commentators think the new dam may help with flood control, others are concerned about its potential impact on water supply and irrigation. In southern China, the damming of the Mekong Riverboth within China itself and by Chinese-backed projects in Laos and Cambodiahas had a severe impact on downstream countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At present, though, public discourse around the Tibetan megadam seems to mostly be an excuse for Indian and Pakistani politicians to snip at each other rather than a source of severe blowback for Beijing. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Indias northeastern province of Assam, claimed that Pakistan was using the dam as a baseless attempt to conjure up a water crisis. Its an issue of particular import since India and Pakistan are in the middle of tense negotiations over the future of the Indus Waters Treaty. Theres not yet an official completion date on the project; the Three Gorges Dam took over a decade to build, but the mountainous conditions in Tibet may make this even harder. Its also highly likely that costs will balloon, as tends to happen with Chinas megaprojects due to both legitimate difficulties and rampant corruption. What Were Following Exit bans for U.S. citizens. This week, new details emerged about two U.S. citizens being subjected to Chinese exit bansa long-standing pressure tool in which a foreign visitor is prevented from leaving the country without being charged with an offense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest cases involve a U.S. Commerce Department employee and a Wells Fargo banker. The banker, Mao Chenyue, is ethnically Chinese, and it is likely that the Commerce Department employee, who was visiting family, is too. Beijing has consistently proved more willing to use this kind of coercion against people of Chinese descent, out of a feeling of ownership of the diaspora. Many such cases have involved children or relatives of people who fled China, whom authorities are trying to force to return to the country for punishment. The seat of power. One of Xis long-term priorities has been a toilet revolution in China. First launched in 2015, the project looked to replace Chinas notoriously ill-kept and paper-less public toiletsstill used regularly by many people who lack toilets in their own homeswith shiny and hygienic modern facilities. While originally targeted mostly at tourist sites, over the years the campaign shifted to providing relief to poorer rural areas, though with decidedly mixed results. But the toilet revolution is ripe fodder for a classic Chinese governmental problem: When campaigns are directed from the top, facilities are often built purely for inspections, not usage. Its a lot easier to keep a pool, community center, or toilet clean if nobodys allowed inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It turns out thats been happening with rural toilets. A recent study exposed facilities in Shanxis Jishan county that are only open for inspection visits or activities and kept locked up the rest of the time. This has prompted an official investigation from the Jishan governmentthough its unclear whether this is really the governments No. 1 priority. FPs Most Read This Week Bidens Team Lied About Gaza. Its Time to Hold Them Accountable. by Matthew Duss When the Threat Is Inside the White House by Tim Weiner Why Rubios Asia Visit Was a Total Bust by Derek Grossman Tech and Business Tariff delays. Even as U.S. President Donald Trump mulls sweeping new tariffs on the United States global trading partners, he has avoided a full confrontation with China on the scale of the post-Liberation Day clash. In part, that may be because Beijing doesnt actually think China is likely to get hit by Trumps latest threats. While U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has claimed that Aug. 1 is a pretty hard deadline for countries to reach new trade deals with the United States to avoid tariffs, he has also said the supposed 90-day suspension for tariffs on China is likely to be extended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given Trumps track record of following through with threats on China thus far, such as his perpetual refusal to enforce the legally mandated ban on TikTok, Beijing has good reason to call Trumps bluff. Rail upgrade. China is set to upgrade its popular high-speed rail network, focusing on improving service quality and technology rather than expanding the system, which has nearly reached its goal of 50,000 kilometers (about 31,000 miles) of coverage. But as the eminent economic geographer Lu Dadao points out, the system remains costly, overbuilt, and ridden with corruption. The initial process of establishing high-speed rail went wildly over budget and saw so much money embezzled that the entire Railways Ministry was abolished. (A minister who oversaw it is now serving life in prison.) Gaston County commissioners are expected to vote Tuesday night on a request to build hundreds of homes near Mount Holly. ALSO READ: Gaston County targeted for nearly 350 jobs Officials with the city of Mount Holly do not agree with the plans. The property owner believes hes done everything right for the development between Interstate 85 and West Charlotte Avenue. Mount Holly city officials said the property owner and developer refused to meet their standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the Gaston County Planning Board has approved those plans, which could be become reality with a yes-vote from commissioners. Mount Hollys mayor plans to speak Tuesday night and tell commissioners to not do it. Channel 9s Ken Lemon spoke with several people who want to see 135 acres of farmland behind Mount Holly Middle School become a site for nearly 300 new homes. But the city is not onboard. We are not in favor of this, said Mount Holly Councilman Bryan Hough. We have standards that they have not lived up to. The city rejected plans to annex the land and approve new construction proposed by the property owner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also voted to send a letter to Gaston County commissioners asking to reject zoning for the project. The county needs to understand that this is none of their business, Hough said. The city manager said the developer and property owner should pay for the connection to city water and sewer instead of using a sewer plant and well system. The city is in a position to be able to provide water and sewer for this development contingent on an annexation being reached, said city manager Jonathan Blount. Lemon spoke with the property owner, Tom Springs, by phone. Springs said it would cost $2.5 million to make those improvements and the well and sewer plant they want to build will be effective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sewer plant has been approved by the state of North Carolina. Its being used by several cities already, Springs said. He said he has tried for 10 years to get the land developed, which is land that he said has been in his family since before the Great Depression. When I was in high school, I plowed that all night long, Springs said. I think I have earned the right to do what I want to with it. He will also be at the meeting with his developer hoping to convince county commissioners to approve the plans. VIDEO: New hiking trail could connect Gaston and Catawba counties Clint Twedt-Ball, the founder of the nonprofit Matthew 25, launched his campaign for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District July 22, 2025. (Photo courtesy Clint Twedt-Ball campaign) Clint Twedt-Ball, the founder of the nonprofit Matthew 25, announced his campaign to run as a Democrat in Iowas 2nd Congressional District Tuesday. A week after Twedt-Ball stepped down from his role leading Matthew 25, a Cedar Rapids nonprofit focused on food security and building community, he launched his campaign. In an interview with the Iowa Capital Dispatch, the 54-year-old pastor said he decided to run for Congress because he has seen through his nonprofit and church work how President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have made life more difficult for people in need through actions like cutting funding for Medicaid and food benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the election happened last year, I was afraid of some of the rhetoric that had started kind of being present, and this whole division thats been happening in our society, and the way in which were taking away from people that are struggling the most whether its seniors or working families, he said. And so that got my brain going, and my wife and I spent several months kind of praying and discerning. I drove the district, and kind of just talked to people on the streets about how they were feeling, and ultimately decided that there needed to be somebody new and different that jumped into the race. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The district, covering much of northeast Iowa including the cities of Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and Waterloo, is currently represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who was first elected in 2020. Hinson has voted in support of legislation like the big beautiful bill and others backed by the Trump administration this year. Twedt-Ball criticized Hinson for not holding more public events where she can hear from constituents, and said her support for cutting Medicaid funding shows she had absolutely no empathy for people that are really struggling just to make ends meet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She went to Washington as this kind of moderate Republican, right, that wanted to build relationships across the aisle, Twedt-Ball said. And if you look at what shes doing now, there is no difference between some of the positions she takes and that are just mean and hateful, and those of the administration. If elected to Congress, the Cedar Rapids Democrat said he would focus on supporting Iowas rural communities including providing support for rural hospitals impacted by Medicaid cuts, protect Medicare and Social Security funding for seniors, and work to bring down prices on necessities like groceries and housing. In a statement on Twedt-Balls announcement, a spokesperson for the U.S. House Republicans campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee, called the candidate a radical activist whos hostile to common sense and completely out of step with Iowans. Voters want leaders who will deliver real results, and thats exactly why theyll send Ashley Hinson back to Congress in 2026, NRCC Spokeswoman Emily Tuttle said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twedt-Ball is not the only Democrat aiming to take on Hinson in the 2026 election. Kathy Dolter, the former dean of nursing at Kirkwood Community College, launched her congressional campaign earlier in July, and Iowa Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, said she is also weighing a run for the seat. Coming from his experience leading Matthew 25, Twedt-Ball said he brings experience other candidates may not have in knowing how to work with people from all different backgrounds to solve problems in a very efficient way. I mean, nonprofits are scrappy, Twedt-Ball said. They dont have a lot of money and resources, and yet, we built some incredible things at Matthew 25. And we built, most importantly, the trust and love of the community, and Im the only person that is able to say that. Ive done that very hands-on work with working families, and created solutions that help them. And thats what I want to do in Congress. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE CNN anchor Abby Phillip didnt hold back on her criticism of President Donald Trump and his inability to make good on his promises. During Monday nights episode of CNN NewsNight, Phillip aired a mashup of videos featuring Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and used the segment to highlight what she described as repeated inaccuracies coming from the White House. We are two weeks from the new deadline for nations to make trade deals or face new tariffs, and the commerce secretary is once again promising hes got the goods, Phillip stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was referring to Trumps repeated claim that he has completed 200 trade deals despite there being only 195 countries in the world. To emphasize the disconnect, Phillip rolled a series of clips showing Lutnick enthusiastically talking up the outcome of these alleged deals. CNN anchor Abby Phillip and President Donald Trump. Getty Images Oh, theyre going to love the deals that President Trump and I are doing, Lutnick said in one clip. I mean theyre just going to love them. This is going to be the next two weeks are going to be weeks for the record books. President Trump is going to deliver for the American people. Phillip added that Trumps promises have been limited at best, noting that the administrations habit of teasing big announcements has become a trend. She followed with more clips of Lutnick hyping the process. On June 11, he said the administration had a significant amount of deals. Then, on June 26, he promised to announce a whole bunch of deals over the next week or so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The veteran journalist also made note that on Sunday, Lutnick gave false hope to the American people, citing that only four trade agreements have been announced. U.S. President Donald Trump, during a bill signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Bloomberg via Getty Images Later in the segment, Phillip turned her focus to Shark Tank investor Kevin OLeary and questioned him on the status of the negotiations. OLeary then referenced earlier comments from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Talks are moving along, but the important thing here is the quality of the deal, not the timing of the deals, Bessent said. You know, again, were proceeding at pace with the negotiations, but were not going to rush for the sake of doing deals. Phillip then stated that the messaging has become contradictory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bessent mentioned on July 6 that the Trump administration anticipated finalizing a wave of trade deals before its initial target date of July 7. Related... Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin suddenly resurfaced and, as usual, couldnt stay silent. He posted a message on his Telegram channel. The reason is quite simple: Moscow is reacting more and more painfully to Bakus increasingly independent policy and Yerevans increasingly less pro-Russian course. In his post, Karasin complained that the West is allegedly systematically encircling Russia along the perimeter and noted, with some indignation, that even Azerbaijan is now speaking in a harsh tone, while Pashinyan is supposedly attacking the Armenian Church. In the end, Karasin even resorted to threats not against Azerbaijan, but against some scriptwriters in the West: dont play with fire, he warned, or it wont flare up just regionally itll be global. Grigory Borisovich, no one encircled you you simply screwed up. For years, Russian federal TV channels have been smearing Azerbaijan almost daily. And by the way, most of the people doing the smearing just happen to have Armenian surnames. The problems didnt start last year last year was simply when the patience finally ran out. And not just in Azerbaijan. Russias neighbors are not obliged to follow your script forever, chant your mantras about the brotherhood of nations, or express gratitude at every opportunity for tanks in the suburbs. And you're surprised that Baku is speaking harshly? How exactly do you expect a country to respond when its sovereign interests have been ignored for years, while you essentially supported the existing status quo and separatism? How should it react to the absurd ostrich game Moscow played after the Azerbaijani plane was shot down? Or to recent events? Did you really expect it all to be quietly swallowed? Well, to quote Arshavin: your expectations are your problems. For decades, you've been lighting fires along your own borders with your own hands and now you're surprised that the smoke is blowing in your face? This story was originally published on Manufacturing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Manufacturing Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs is looking to sell its idle mills and certain assets to potential buyers, including data center developers, in an effort to reduce its overall debt and rightsize operations, EVP and CFO Celso Goncalves said in an earnings call Monday. The company is in talks with advisor JPMorgan, exploring the potential sale of certain non-core operating assets worth billions of dollars, Goncalves said. It is also hearing from buyers interested in its recently idled mills in Riverdale, Illinois, as well as Steelton and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. These sitesare all uniquely positioned geographically and have what data center developers are looking for access to power and water with the infrastructure already in place, Goncalves said. If any of the sales are successful, he said the proceeds will go toward debt reduction. Dive Insight: Cleveland-Cliffs, one of the largest producers of flat-rolled steel, has been in downsizing mode in response to weak automotive production and rising prices. Between March and May, it fully or partially idled six facilities, resulting in layoffs affecting 2,000 workers across Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. The company is expecting these changes to result in annual cost savings of about $310 million, according to an investor presentation. It is not expecting these changes to hurt steel production output. We are laser-focused on cost-cutting and steel sales, and thats the way we will continue to execute going forward, President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said on the earnings call. In the second quarter, Cleveland-Cliffs reported revenue of $4.9 billion, driven by record-high steel shipments, higher pricing and lower costs. The results are up from Q1 and the same period last year. The steelmaker also recorded a net loss of $470 million, which included a one-time cost of $323 million related to its recent plant idlings. Looking ahead, Cleveland-Cliffs is expecting steel sales prices to remain favorable as slab prices decline. A third-party slab contract is set to expire in less than five months, which should allow the company to shift sales to higher-margin opportunities. The company is also expecting raw material costs to continue improving, citing a $15 per ton decrease in costs compared to Q1. On the call, the CEO lauded the Trump administrations Section 232 steel tariffs, which increased from 25% to 50% on June 4, and have played a key role in addressing issues with foreign competitors. An employee at a medical facility in Cobb County is facing drug and theft charges after being accused of stealing a sedative. Warrants say Ariana Lyons, an anesthesia assistant at Wellstar Vinings Health Park, was arrested on July 7. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The warrants say Lyons was found with 10 vials of Diprivan Propofol, each of which has a value of about $100. A doctor at the facility told investigators that Diprivan Propofol is not permitted to leave the operating room, let alone the whole building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Propofol is a sedative generally used by anesthesiologists before patients undergo medical procedures. TRENDING STORIES: Cobb County jail records show that Lyons was booked on charges of theft and drug possession on July 7 and released on a $2,000 bond on July 9. Channel 2 Action News has reached out to MAK Anesthesia, which employed Lyons and contracted her services to Wellstar. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Body camera footage shows a Mesa County Sheriff's deputy conducting a traffic stop of Utah student Caroline Dias Goncalves on June 5, 2025. Dias Goncalves was arrested by federal immigration authorities shortly thereafter. (Screenshot from Mesa County Sheriff's Officer YouTube) Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said Tuesday that he had taken legal action against a Mesa County sheriffs deputy over an alleged violation of state laws prohibiting coordination between local police and federal immigration agents. The civil complaint, filed in Mesa County District Court, alleges that Investigator Alexander Zwinck intentionally violated Colorado law by sending messages to a Signal group chat with federal law enforcement, leading to the arrest of a Utah college student last month. State law bars government employees, including law enforcement officers, from sharing information for the purposes of investigating for, participating in, cooperating with, or assisting in federal immigration enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caroline Dias Goncalves was detained by ICE in Grand Junction on June 5, shortly after being pulled over by Zwinck in a separate traffic stop, from which she was let go with a warning. Zwinck has been placed on leave amid an internal investigation into whether the messages complied with state law and departmental policies. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Body camera footage released by the department at the time showed a traffic stop lasting nearly 20 minutes, during which Zwinck asked Dias Goncalvez, who was born in Brazil and brought to the U.S. by her parents as a 7-year-old, whether she was born and raised in Utah, after noting she had a little bit of an accent. Weisers lawsuit alleges that Zwinck sent a photo of Dias Goncalves license to the Signal chat within minutes of pulling her over, and federal agents ran her information through several databases accessible only by federal law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four minutes later, a federal immigration officer informed Deputy Zwinck in the Signal Chat that the officers searches revealed no criminal history. The immigration officer stated: Not seeing crim history, but I believe she has immigration issues. We are confirming,' the lawsuit says. Zwinck continued to communicate with federal agents throughout the traffic stop, during which he eventually asked Dias Goncalves to exit her vehicle and come to the passenger seat his patrol car while he did paperwork, a move that Weisers lawsuit characterizes as stalling. He then provided information about Dias Goncalves vehicle and direction of travel, and told federal officers nice work after hearing she was detained. These actions by the sheriffs deputy were for the sole purpose of immigration enforcement, Weiser said in a press conference in Denver. He assisted federal immigration officers apprehending the driver after the routine traffic stop and where there was no relevant criminal activity. Dias Goncalves, a nursing student at the University of Utah with no criminal record, was then held at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Aurora for 15 days before being released on bond, an experience she described as nightmare. The share of people taken into ICE custody despite having no criminal record has risen sharply since January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was away from her home, her friends, her family, and she was filled with fear, said Weiser. This action that happened to her was wrong. Weiser said his offices focus is on primarily stopping this from happening again. As a civil action, the states lawsuit could lead to an injunction, fines or other remedies through litigation, or the defendant could choose to enter into a consent decree agreeing to follow state law. Thats going to be up to the sheriffs deputy how they approach this litigation, whether its through consent or through an adversarial proceeding, Weiser said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Columbia University said on Tuesday it was disciplining dozens of pro-Palestinian student protesters who seized part of the school's main library during a demonstration in early May that led to multiple arrests. Following the protest, the university began an investigation into rules violations, banned participants from the campus and placed them on interim suspension, it said. It issued its final determinations on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbia said in a statement that the sanctions included probation, suspensions ranging from one year to three years, the revocation of degrees, and expulsions. It did not specify how it disciplined any individuals. "Disruptions to academic activities are in violation of University policies and Rules, and such violations will necessarily generate consequences," the university said in the statement announcing the actions. President Donald Trump has targeted universities including Columbia since returning to the White House in January over the pro-Palestinian student protest movement that roiled campuses last year. Columbia for Palestine, a pro-Palestinian group at the school, said on Tuesday that 80 students were informed on Monday about their punishments. It said the disciplinary action marked "the most suspensions for a single political protest in Columbia campus history" and exceeded past disciplinary actions announced against people over other protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, the Trump administration said it was penalizing the university over how it handled last year's pro-Palestinian protests by canceling hundreds of millions of dollars in research grants. It contended that Columbia's response to alleged antisemitism and harassment of Jewish and Israeli members of the university community was insufficient. After the government announced the funding cancellations, the school announced a series of commitments in response to the administration's concerns. "We support free speech," the school said in a statement at the time. "But demonstrations and other protest activities that occur inside academic buildings and places where academic activities take place present a direct impediment to maintaining our core academic mission." Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the Trump administration has wrongly conflated their criticism of Israel's military assault in Gaza with antisemitism and their advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel's devastating military campaign in Gaza followed a deadly October 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, the militant organization that governed Gaza. Last week, Columbia adopted a controversial definition of antisemitism that equates it with opposition to Zionism. The school also said it would no longer engage with pro-Palestinian group Columbia University Apartheid Divest. The government has attempted to use the leverage of federal funding with other educational institutions as well, including Harvard University, over campus protests. It has also tried deporting some foreign pro-Palestinian students but has faced judicial roadblocks. Rights advocates have raised concerns about due process, academic freedom and free speech over the government's actions. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Maria Tsvetkova in New York; Editing by Frank McGurty and Matthew Lewis) NEW YORK Columbia University has expelled and issued lengthy suspensions to dozens of students for participating in the pro-Palestinian occupation of Butler Library just days before final exams in May. The students who were suspended will be barred from campus for one to three years and have to submit a formal apology, according to protest group Columbia University Apartheid Divest. The sanctions were confirmed by the school, which added that some students were put on probation, while others had their degrees revoked. To create a thriving academic community, there must be respect for each other and the institutions fundamental work, policies, and rules, said Columbia spokeswoman Millie Wert. Disruptions to academic activities are in violation of University policies and Rules, and such violations will necessarily generate consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About two-thirds of the more than 70 disciplinary actions taken on Monday afternoon involved either suspensions or expulsions, a source familiar with the process told the Daily News. The majority of those suspensions will last two years. During the demonstration, protesters demanding Columbia divest from Israel and angry over the federal immigration detention of graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, pushed through security to occupy the main campus library forcing the evacuation of nearly 1,000 students studying as they worked to finish the semester. Activists who refused to identify themselves as a condition for exiting the library clashed with public safety personnel, including two officers who were injured. The takeover was ultimately short-lived, with the NYPD moving in quickly and making dozens of arrests. Students had been on interim suspensions pending further investigations and barred from campus for the last few months. A majority of protesters apprehended by police were arraigned on desk appearance tickets in late May and their cases adjourned until next month; about 20 others are scheduled for arraignment soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbia University Apartheid Divest theorized that Columbias sanctions were related to negotiations over a potential deal between Columbia and the Trump administration to restore hundreds of millions of dollars, mainly in federal research funding. The public funds were revoked in March as part of the presidents crackdown on higher education and chalked up to concerns that Columbia had not done enough to combat antisemitism. While Columbia likes to position itself as opposed to government overreach, the record demonstrates active collusion, not reluctant concessions, the protest group wrote in a statement. Last week, Columbia adopted a definition of antisemitism that recognizes some criticism of Israel as antisemitic. Columbias acting president, Claire Shipman, insisted such action was necessary regardless of government pressure. But the move coupled with the latest sanctions sparked concern among free speech groups. We must wonder whether the severity of the punishment was influenced by Columbias recent capitulation to the Trump administration to clamp down on student advocacy, said Veronica Salama, a staff attorney at the New York Civil Liberties Union, which Tuesday released an open letter to Columbia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was not immediately clear how many of the students were expelled or what factors led to some protesters facing harsher discipline than others. The Columbia source with knowledge of the disciplinary processes said at what time students left the library played a partial role; protesters were only permitted to exit before police came if they identified themselves. A college official known as the rules administrator a position as of this spring held by Gregory Wawro confirmed in a statement that a panel of faculty and administrators issued findings and sanctions related to the disruption of Butler Library during (the) reading period in May 2025, but did not offer specifics. Students have five days to appeal the decisions. The sanctions take effect after the conclusion of the appeal period and subject to such decisions from any such appeals, read the memo. A copy of the suspension notice, shared by student protesters with The News, spelled out two essays students would have to write before being eligible to return to campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first requires that students submit a statement of reflection on the disruption takeover, including the impact on students trying to study. The other directs them to write letters to Butler staff and janitors who were tasked with cleaning the library afterward. Columbia University Apartheid Divest said in a press release that some students have stated they will refuse to apologize. _____ Due to large bills and waiting for reimbursement on highway projects, Northeast Oklahoma Public Facilities Authority has delayed distribution to the trustees of the board. Those trustees are Northeastern State University, and the cities of Westville, Stilwell and Tahlequah. "We normally do distribution of funds at this time of year, from net revenue, that we give to our beneficiaries," Reagan said after the meeting. "[The delay is] because of these huge bills we are getting on these highway projects." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The projects in question are State Highway 59 and State Highway 100. Attorney Tim Baker said once the state reimburses NOPFA for these outlays, the money will be available. "If there is a net revenue, there will be a distribution," Reagan said after the meeting. During the discussion of this item, Stilwell Mayor Jean Ann Wright said if the distribution doesn't come soon, the city may have to make adjustments in its budget, maybe cut back hours for employees, because the distribution was expected. "From the amount of projects we have going on, and the money we are waiting on for reimbursement from the state, I think it's going to be difficult for us to make those distributions at this time," Reagan said. "Our goal is late September to be done with these projects, and then we should be back in business as far as not having to pay these big invoices and waiting on the [money to be reimbursed]." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wright said Stilwell's budget has about $50,000 allocated from the reimbursement. "These invoices are $400,000-$500,000," Reagan said, explaining the budget constraints on distribution. Hanley asked if these are outstanding amounts that are due from the state. Reagan clarified the contractors and vendors have been paid by NOPFA and reimbursements from the state have not been received yet. Reagan said he hopes the reimbursement comes in this week or next. "Then we will get hit with another invoice and probably an invoice for S.H. 100, which we haven't received an invoice for at all and they've been working for a couple of months," Reagan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When invoices are received, we pay them," Reagan said. Baker and Landsaw said invoices to the state are paid within 30-45 days. After the meeting, Wright said that in 2011 the residents of Stilwell voted to receive 5% of the net revenue from NOPFA. She mentioned that NSU receives a matching distribution; whatever each of the trustees receive, NSU gets a matching amount. Former Mayor Sue Catron shared with TPD how this arrangement came about. "In the '40s, the NSU president led the effort to bring natural gas to the area," Catron said. "The coalition of the president and the mayors of Tahlequah and Stilwell formed NOPFA." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That agreement included how funds would be distributed, and requires that the board be led by NSU's president as chair, and other board members must be the mayors of the communities served, Catron said. Reagan gave a report on NOPFA's financials and brought the trustees' attention to the checking account balance, which is much lower than usual due to the projects in Westville and Stilwell on S.H. 59 and S.H. 100. "It's much lower than it was last year, but in the reserve construction fee on the Stilwell side, we are negative $296,000; that's the account we are operating out of for the project," Reagan said. "Wanted to give you a heads up and we should be getting a reimbursement within the next week or two." One returning member and a new member were elected to serve on the Finance Committee. Christy Landsaw, vice president for Administration and Finance at NSU, agreed to serve another term, and Dr. Robert Hanley, president of NSU, agreed to serve on the committee. Mayor Suzanne Myers declined to serve on the committee another year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The finance committee is contacted by Reagan when an item needs to be fast-tracked for payment, such as when materials need to be ordered several weeks out, and it can't wait for the trustee meeting held the third Monday of each month. "Some of this material is 15 weeks out and we don't have 15 weeks," Reagan said. "I have to order as quick as I can and if it is over $5,000, I get in contact with the finance committee." After the approval from the finance committee, the item is brought before the full board and voted on to be ratified. Hanley asked if the committee takes an early look at the yearly budget and Landsaw said they do. What's next The next NOPFA meeting is scheduled for Aug. 18, 1 p.m., at 103 N. College Ave. CLUB CLOSED: Conde Nast is closing its membership program Vogue Club, WWD has learned. The membership club has quietly gone off the radar after a number of changes at the publication. More from WWD Vogue Clubs last Instagram post was on May 15 featuring an image of Julia Hobbs, who was previously British Vogues fashion features director before stepping down and recently moving into a senior contributor role at the magazine. She also spearheaded Vogue Club with a team of social media and video editors, who also worked on other departments within the Vogue universe at Conde Nast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vogue Club successfully launched as the brands first global fashion community. It gained traction amongst avid fashion fans and served as a valuable way to evolve, incorporating new formats and community-driven experiences which are now being absorbed into larger initiatives within the Vogue App and Vogue Shopping, said a spokesperson. Vogue has also leant into more consumer-facing events, such as Vogue World, Vogue Vintage Sale and British Vogues Wellness Retreat, all of which puts community and accessibility front and center. According to the Vogue website, a standard Vogue Club membership was priced at $30 a month or $300 a year, whereas founding members pricing cost $25 a month or $250 a year. Members would be able to access exclusive content, including articles and videos, live and recorded events, plus benefits like discounts and welcome gifts as part of their membership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vogue Club was introduced to the market in 2023 with the promise to demystify the industry, and help you make new friends in fashion, according to an article on Vogue.co.uk. The piece added that members would have access to monthly interactive Meet The Editor seminars with the likes of British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, and fashion features director Sarah Harris and in-person conversations and parties that will bring you closer inside Vogues universe, plus first-in-line ticket access for our VIP events, Vogue World and Forces of Fashion, at members-only prices. Vogue has been tapping into membership programs as early as 2018, firstly with In Vogue, which has now been rebranded as Vogue 100 Club, where membership costs $100,000 a year. Still, Conde Nast isnt the only one tapping into membership programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, Elle U.K., which is published by Hearst Magazines, said that it would be launching Elle Collective, a subscription platform for readers to interact with the making of the magazine, and the launch of a new newsletter. Elle U.K. has always had a really vibrant and engaged community, and weve been building on this with the launch of Elle Collective, our membership proposition, which was a natural next step in our evolution, Kenya Hunt, the magazines editor in chief told WWD earlier this year. At Harpers Bazaar theres Prive, where an annual membership fee totals 3,600 pounds or 18,000 for a corporate membership fee. According to the Harpers Bazaar website, Prive grants members access to their annual Frieze art party on Oct. 14 and a Christmas party slated for December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As reported, Conde Nasts favorite ship Vogue is restructuring. Last month, the publication said it will be seeking a head of editorial content at American Vogue, ending Anna Wintours 37-year reign as editor in chief of the publication. Wintour, 75, will remain chief content officer for Conde Nast and global editorial director, Vogue. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Photo by Alex Potemkin | Getty Images It was hardly a whodunnit: Ricky Wassenaar killed three other prisoners at a state prison in Tucson in April, and he claimed to have killed a fourth last November. He had reportedly told prison officials and a prison advocate outside the system that he was going to kill anyone they put in his cell. Not only were some of the murders most likely caught on surveillance video, Wassenaar also confessed to all four killings, even going so far as to call The Arizona Mirror to brag about them. He later called a Phoenix TV station to do the same. Ricky Wassenaars Arizona inmate photo The Arizona Department of Corrections lists three counts of first-degree murder on Wassenaars disciplinary record, visible to anyone on the department web site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For nearly four months, the Mirror asked the Department of Corrections and the relevant prosecuting agencies when the department would complete its investigation and when it would refer charges to a prosecutor. As of Monday morning, that had not happened. On Monday evening at around 7 p.m., after another round of questions, an Arizona Department of Corrections public information officer texted that the charges had been referred to the Pinal County Attorneys Office. A half hour later, that agencys PIO confirmed that the charging document had suddenly appeared in the countys computer system. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In a Tuesday morning text, Brendon Cross, a Corrections PIO wrote, While the Department is not the charging entity, recommendations have been sent to the County Attorney. It is the ADCRRs intention to support the integrity of their investigation and potential charges by deferring to them for additional questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Pinal County told the Mirror after this story was published that the county would need 90 days to review the referral before charges are filed. Charges will not be final until prosecutors take the case before a grand jury. Under Arizona law, a triple homicide is eligible for the death penalty, and having prior convictions and committing crimes while in prison are serious aggravating factors. Because the murders happened in Tucson, the case was supposed to be handled by the Pima County Attorneys Office, whose elected head, Laura Conover, has published op-eds against the death penalty. But in recent weeks, Pima County handed off the case to Pinal County because of an unspecified conflict of interest, which requires discussion about money and staffing and a mutual agreement between agencies. Both offices acknowledged the hand-off weeks ago, but it only happened officially on Monday. Why so much secrecy? State legislators are already questioning how the deaths were allowed to happen, and the state could be found liable for wrongful deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It does seem odd, although things coming out of the prisons are often delayed, said John Canby, an attorney at the Maricopa County Public Defenders Office, and a former prosecutor who ran the charging unit at the Pinal County Attorneys Office. Are they slow walking? Or are they trying not to get the information out? he asked. Kenneth Fields, a retired Maricopa County Superior Court judge and former assistant U.S. Attorney agreed. It seems strange to me, he told the Mirror. The only thing that keeps circling back in my mind is the gross incompetence of the guards and other people in charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its an open-and-shut investigation. Theres no reason to hold it up. Wassenaar, 62, burst into the news in 2004, when he and another prisoner took over a guard tower at the Lewis Prison near Buckeye. They took two correctional officers hostage and held them for a record 14 days before surrendering. The ensuing trial was a circus Wassenaar defended himself and because he was already serving time for armed robbery, the prison takeover earned him 16 life sentences, even though he had not killed anyone. Last November, he objected when prison officials decided to house another prisoner in his cell. He told Donna Hamm, of the prison advocacy group Middle Ground, that he even laid down to block entry to the cell. He had recently been upgraded to close custody from maximum security and had lived alone in cells for the last 20 years. He claimed he told the authorities that he would kill anyone they placed in his cell. On Nov. 5, Wassenaar told correctional officers that his new cell mate, Joseph DeSisto, 81, was dead. Wassenaar claimed that he had strangled DeSisto. Despite Wassenaars detailed description of the crime, an autopsy could not confirm that the death was homicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wassenaar was not charged, much to his chagrin. Under the law, prosecutors cant accept a confession without first having corpus delecti, that is, evidence that a crime was committed. DeSistos wife, Debbi, had no idea her husband might have been murdered until she read the Arizona Mirrors story about Wassenaars confession months later. Nobody told me anything, she told the Mirror in an interview. They said they tried resuscitating him three times, she said. I didnt think to ask what preceded it. She said she will be filing a lawsuit. Wassenaar claimed he told prison officials that he would kill anyone else they placed in his cell. He kept his word. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 4, correctional officers put a convicted rapist and murderer named Saul Alvarez in his cell. Wassenaar said he strangled Alvarez and stabbed him through the eye. Then he went out on the prison yard with a hefty rock in his fishnet laundry bag, got to where other prisoners were gathering to be let in to breakfast, and started swinging. There he said he killed Thorne Harnage and Donald Lashley, and injured a third prisoner. Child molesters: I wanted to kill them all, he told the Mirror in a telephone interview afterward. The taxpayers no longer have to pay for them, he said. Im paying my debt to society. And then, no word. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, Wassenaar called Hamm to ask if she had heard anything about charges against him. She had not. He told me he was willing to plead guilty and stipulate to the death penalty, she said. He said he would do so if he were allowed to air his grievances about the Department of Corrections. Its not that easy. One can plead guilty and legally agree to aggravating factors that justify a death sentence. But the actual sentence has to be imposed by a jury, or in rare circumstances, by a judge. Whatever happens, it wont make much difference for Wassenaar who is already serving 16 life sentences. And if he were sentenced to death, he would be well into his 80s before that sentence could be carried out. Oddly, Wassenaar also asked Hamm to find attorneys to represent the families of his victims, which she did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now the case has been referred and is under review by Pinal County prosecutors. ***UPDATE: This story has been updated with a comment from Pinal County on the timeline for charges to be filed. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE (EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) Congressman Jeff Crank announced that four projects expected to benefit El Paso County have been included in the U.S. House of Representatives Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill. On Tuesday, July 22, Congressman Crank announced four projects that will get funding, provided the appropriations bill passes. The 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill had not yet become law as of Tuesday, July 22. I am pleased to announce that my office has secured critical funding for projects in Colorados Fifth Congressional District, said Rep. Jeff Crank. These projects will allow for a safer community and protect our law enforcement, expand our students cybersecurity potential, and invest in our infrastructure. I look forward to seeing these projects signed into law later this Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The four projects included in the bill are: Purchase of a new rescue vehicle Purchase of a new rescue vehicle for the El Paso County Sheriffs Office. According to Congressman Crank, the Countys current and aging vehicle is commonly used to resolve dangerous situations while protecting deputies and the public. In the past year alone, the vehicle has been called to over 275 incidents. Congressman Crank hopes the purchase of the new vehicle will ensure the community does not lose this critical capability. I am incredibly grateful to Congressman Crank for his efforts to secure critical public safety funding for the citizens of the Pikes Peak region, said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. The acquisition of a new rescue vehicle will ensure the safety of the community, my deputies, and our law enforcement partners across Colorado. My Office is committed to reducing victims and holding criminals accountable- and equipment such as an ARV allows us to complete our mission safely. Obtaining state-of-the-art computer equipment for UCCS Obtain state-of-the-art computer equipment for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Cybersecurity Program and Cyber Engineering Labs. Congressman Crank said this equipment will allow UCCS to train the next generation of cyber professionals to assist the five military installations and thousands of small businesses that call the Fifth District home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am grateful to Congressman Crank for his partnership with UCCS and for submitting our community project funding request to Congress, said UCCS Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet. As a nationally recognized leader in cybersecurity education, this investment would allow us to expand our Cybersecurity Program and enhance our students preparation in Space and Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. I was overjoyed to hear from Congressman Crank that our project had been included in the House of Representatives FY26 CJS appropriations bill, which puts us one step closer to securing this funding for UCCS. Safety improvements at Constitution Avenue and Peterson Road According to Congressman Crank, the proposed project aims to improve community safety through targeted infrastructure improvements, including the installation of improved crosswalks, pedestrian signals, and refuge areas. This intersection has experienced multiple pedestrian fatalities and 69 crashes in the past six years. Replacing the aging storm sewer system Congressman Crank said this project will replace the aging storm sewer system along Palmer Park Boulevard with reinforced concrete pipes, upsize the drainage lines, and install an additional 26 inlets throughout the area. The Palmer Park Drainage Improvement Project will address essential community needs by enhancing public safety, protecting infrastructure, and improving accessibility. On behalf of the entire Board of County Commissioners, we thank Congressman Jeff Crank for his work and support for these projects, said Carrie Geitner, Chair of the Board of the El Paso County Commissioners. His leadership has been instrumental in helping El Paso County address real infrastructure needs. These investments have a meaningful impact on the daily lives of our residents and businesses by improving safety and reliability on our local roads. Im especially grateful for Representative Crank, his staff, and the Republican leadership in Washington who are prioritizing infrastructure, public safety, and the needs of communities like ourswithout growing government in the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) The city of Easthampton has announced that several cooling centers will be open from Thursday to Saturday to provide residents with a space away from the heat and humidity. A Heat Advisory is in effect from 11 a.m. Thursday to 8 p.m., Friday for heat indices between 95 and 103. City officials urge residents to take advantage of these locations during the extreme heat forecast for this week. The cooling centers will also have bottled water available for visitors. PHOTO: Massachusetts resident finds invasive species Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Easthampton Council on Aging, located at 19 Union Street, will be open on Thursday and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Additionally, the Public Safety Complex will be available 24/7 for residents seeking relief from the weather. The Nonotuck Spray Park will also be extending its hours during the heat wave to keep residents cool. The park will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday through Saturday. Easthampton officials also shared the following heat safety tips for residents ahead of the rising temperatures later this week: Find air-conditioned spaces , such as libraries, theaters, and shopping centers. Avoid strenuous activity , and drink plenty of water , even if you dont feel thirsty. Stay indoors as often as possible, and stay on the lowest floor of your home to avoid the sun. Cover your windows with drapes, shades, or awnings. Wear lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing . Eat light, well-balanced meals regularly, and avoid high-protein foods that increase your metabolic rate. Never leave children or pets unattended in a closed vehicle, and be sure to check on your loved ones regularly. 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. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners plans to close a line at its Bad Neuenahr factory in Germany in the autumn this year. The company said it decided to shut the non-refundable PET bottle line due to a "slight decline" in demand for non-returnable plastic bottles. The business said it is in dialogue with the employees about the implementation of the move. CCEP said it had already received initial signs of amicable solutions. The planned closure of the line affects 21 jobs at the site in western Germany, mainly in production. Changes at other locations will create two new jobs. CCEP said it will carry out the lay-offs exclusively on a voluntary basis. The line, which has only been operating in two shifts for some time now and is technically one of the older lines, is expected to be decommissioned in September or October 2025, the drinks giant said in a statement. CCEP said the Bad Neuenahr site remains an important production site, underlining the move only affects one line at the factory. The other four production lines at the facility two returnable PET lines and two returnable glass lines will remain in operation. The company bottles eight drinks at the site, including Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta Orange and Sprite. In January, CCEP set out plans to invest around 150m ($156.2m at the time) in its operations in Germany, with most of the funding being injected into its facility in Halle. The business said at the time that out of the 150m, nearly 45m was to be invested in the installation of a can-filling line in Halle to cater to the increased demand for canned beverages. Additional investments are planned for CCEPs sites in Luneburg and Dorsten. CCEP plans to spend 11m in Luneburg, where the money will be used to complete the construction of the reusable glass production line installed last year and build a new bottle sorting facility. Meanwhile, the company will spend 8m at the Dorsten facility to install a line for manufacturing concentrates for dispenser solutions in the foodservice industry. This line is being relocated from Cologne following CCEPs decision to close its production and logistics facility later this year. When announced in October, the closure was expected to impact 289 out of the total 602 employees working there. "Coca-Cola Europacific Partners to close non-refundable PET line in Germany" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is notifying the community that a man who has been labeled a Sexually Violent Predator has moved to a new address east of downtown. CSPD said that 43-year-old Joseph Scott Gould has moved to a new address, at 329 Swope Avenue. Gould was convicted of Sexual Assault on a Child in El Paso County in 2011. According to CSPD, he was also convicted of Sexual Assault on a Child in Franklin County, Nebraska, in 2005. Gould is described as a white man, 57, 294lbs with brown hair and blue eyes. Joseph Scott Gould, Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department According to CSPD, Goulds past behavior has led him to be labeled a Sexually Violent Predator by the court. CSPD has made a community notification as required by law and undertaken the following tasks: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notified the Division of Criminal Justices Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) Notification Team. Reviewed and confirmed Goulds residence, employment, access to vehicles, legal status, and past crimes. Made notifications to neighbors and businesses deemed to be in the immediate area. Briefed patrol personnel on Goulds status, history, appearance, residence, employment, and vehicles. Notified surrounding law enforcement agencies. Provided an online video that describes the SVP community notification process, SVP information, and additional resources for the community. Online SVP Community Notification video at: www.coloradosprings.gov. Click on Public Safety, then click on Police. CSPD said it will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that Gould registers as a sex offender and that he understands his responsibilities as such. Gould is one of 21 Sexually Violent Predators currently registered in Colorado Springs. CSPD said it takes the presence of Gould and others in the community very seriously and is intent on ensuring they conduct themselves in a lawful manner. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. A Connecticut man has been charged in connection with a double stabbing at a campground in Massachusetts. Jeffrey Deluca, 47, of Wilton is accused of stabbing two adults at a campground on Scott Road last Friday in Lanesborough where children were present, according to the Lanesborough Police Department. Police responded to the campground at 8:13 p.m. on the report of a stabbing and found that one of the victims was stabbed in the upper torso and the other was stabbed in the chest. Both victims were transported to the Berkshire Regional Medical Center for treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police, the stabbing is believed to have occurred during an unprovoked attack in the presence of several young children. Deluca was charged with three counts of reckless endangerment of a child, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault to murder (armed) and a single count of assault causing serious bodily injury. SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) A man was arrested last week after a cyclist was killed in a hit-and-run in Spartanburg County. The Spartanburg County Coroners Office said the crash occurred around 2:45 a.m. on July 17, on Highway 176 near Old Furnace Road. Officials said the crash involved a car hitting a bicycle, but details regarding the collision remain unclear at this time. The coroners office identified the man as 51-year-old Elvis Oral Strachan. He died at the scene around 3:30 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though testing is ongoing, officials said Strachan died from injuries related to the wreck. State troopers said Ricardo Perez Jr. was arrested on July 18. He was charged with hit-and-run causing death in connection to the collision. South Carolina Highway Patrol and the coroners office are still investigating the crash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) David Sweetser, the longtime owner of Providences so-called Superman building, died over the weekend. He was 70 years old. A devoted family man, beloved friend to many, and a titan in the real estate development industry, said Bill Fischer, a spokesman for Sweetser and his firm High Rock Development. He will be missed by all that knew him. He had a booming voice and a charitable heart. Though Sweetser embraced every community he worked with, Fischer said he was particularly bullish on Providence truly believing that the redevelopment of the Superman building would be a beacon of achievement for all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sweetser, who was a principal of the Massachusetts-based firm, first bought the skyscraper back in 2008. The Westminster Street high-rise, formerly known as the Industrial Trust Building, has sat vacant since Bank of America moved out in 2013. Sweetser intended to transform the states tallest building into nearly 300 apartments with commercial space on the ground level, though plans have stalled in recent months. In a statement, downtown Providence developer Buff Chace mourned the death of his friend and colleague. David was a true believer in the potential of Providence and a passionate advocate for the downtown, Chace said. Throughout our work together, Davids vision was unmistakable. He saw possibilities where others saw challenges and had the determination to turn those possibilities into reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chace said Sweetsers commitment to the Superman building exemplified his unwavering belief that Providences best days after ahead of us. David understood that revitalizing downtown wasnt just about buildings it was about creating a place where the communitys spirit could flourish, Chace said. I will miss his booming voice, his infectious enthusiasm for Providence, and his generous heart that was always ready to support worthy causes. Sweetser leaves behind his wife Jayne. His funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. The fate of the Superman building following Sweetsers death is unclear at this time. 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. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) were at the scene of a barricade situation that happened on Tuesday afternoon in Northwest D.C. DC, Maryland officials aim to remove white supremacists name from Chevy Chase Circle Details remain limited, however, DC Police Traffic said just after 2 p.m., the investigation led to the following road closures: Northbound 3rd Street Tunnel from I-695/South Capitol Street Northbound I-395 at the 3rd Street Tunnel ramp New York Avenue from New Jersey Avenue to 5th Street NW 4th Street from Massachusetts Avenue to M Street NW Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an update about two hours later, MPD said the barricade situation was resolved without 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Mom, its me, Shelby Nealy trembled into the phone from an interview room at an Ohio police station in 2019. I know Im a monster and a horrible person, but I need my kids taken care of. The four-hour interview was played in a courtroom at the Pinellas County Justice Center Monday and Tuesday during Nealys sentencing trial, in which a jury must decide if the 32-year-old spends the rest of his life in prison or is executed by the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nealy, who pleaded guilty to the murders of Richard Ivancic, 79, Laura Ivancic, 59, and their son, Nicholas Ivancic, 25, told a Tarpon Springs police detective he had to kill his wifes family for the sake of their two children, who would be without parents if he was caught for the murder of his wife, Jamie Ivancic, 21, the year before. Nealy became acquainted with the Ivancic family around 2014, when he and Nicholas Ivancic worked at the same Burger King in Ohio, state prosecutors said. Nicholas introduced Nealy to his sister and the two quickly fell in love and got married. The couple moved to Florida, where they lived with the Ivancics for a while before moving into their Port Richey home. They had two young children. Nealy and Jamie had a tumultuous relationship that often resulted in violence toward each other, Nealy told Detective Derek Anderson in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were arguing in February 2018 and she was armed with a knife, he said. Nealy thought she might try to hurt their child, so he strangled her and knocked the knife away. In that moment, he made the decision to end it once and for all, he told Anderson. After she stopped breathing, he hit her once in the head with a hammer to make sure she was dead, he said. He buried her body at the home they shared. Then, for nearly a year, he pretended to be Jamie in texts and social media posts until her family grew suspicious. That December, Nealy told the Ivancics that he and Jamie were coming to visit their Tarpon Springs home. He and the kids stayed there for a week before Nealy murdered them one by one with a hammer. He pulled their bodies into the bedrooms and wrapped them in rugs and tarps. He doused them with paint and cleaning supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He stayed at the home for another week, ordering copious amounts of Dominos and McDonalds and pawning off the familys valuables before heading to Ohio in Laura Ivancics SUV. The SUV led Tarpon Springs detectives to the state, where detectives sat down with Nealy, who immediately admitted to the killings. Nealy told Anderson his plan was to go back to Ohio, pay a few months rent on the Ivancics home, bulk up so he would be able to carry Richards body, then return to the home and bury the bodies in a ditch he dug. He told Anderson the Ivancics were great people who didnt deserve to die. And though he said he grappled with the decision, he ultimately felt he had to go through with the slayings because of his children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state is seeking the death penalty because of several aggravating factors: Nealys prior violent felony conviction, his motive of avoiding arrest for Jamies death, and the fact that the murders were cold, calculated and premeditated. When defense attorney Tania Alavi addressed the jury Tuesday afternoon, she said the facts of the case were not enough to impose the death penalty without considering mitigating factors. Over the next few days, she and co-counsel Bjorn Brunvand plan to show how Nealy went from a seemingly normal person to someone capable of carrying out these murders, she said. Namely, Alavi said Nealy was sexually abused by a woman when he was 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His mother and biological dad divorced when he was young, and he didnt meet his dad until he visited Texas that year. His biological dad killed himself the day after Nealys 17th birthday. Heather Holmes, a clinical psychologist who met with Nealy in jail, testified Tuesday that Nealy is diagnosed with ADHD and depression and was involuntarily taken to mental hospitals multiple times. He told her he blamed himself for his fathers suicide. I think this is a man who is completely unable to handle any kind of strong emotion, Holmes said. She said she diagnosed him with major depressive order and dependent personality disorder, which makes it difficult for him to make appropriate decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the 2019 interview, Nealy asked Anderson if he would go to death row for his crimes. If he did, he said, his kids would lose both of their parents. Theyre going to grow up and want to know, Why youd kill my damn mom? he said. If Im dead I cant answer that. Another person has died as a result of Saturday's fatal waterfall accident in central Oregon. The Deschutes County Sheriffs Office (DCSO) confirmed that their team of divers recovered the body of a second victim, a woman, around 11 a.m. Monday. She was located below Dillon Falls on the Deschutes River. On Saturday, a group of six people were swept over Dillon Falls at around 3 p.m. local time, triggering search and rescue efforts. Three people were rescued, while two women were found dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sixth person, a man, remains unaccounted for. "The Deschutes County Sheriffs Office extends its deepest condolences to the families affected and remains committed to exhausting all possibilities in the ongoing search effort," the DCSO said in a statement. Sol duc falls, Olympic national park, WA. (Photo by: Dukas/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Dukas/Getty Images The DCSO has not released the identities of the deceased, and an investigation is ongoing. Several other law enforcement agencies have also assisted in the search and recovery efforts, including the Bend Police Department, Bend Fire and Rescue, and AirLink Critical Care Transport. "SAR teams continue to work diligently, using all available resources," the DCSO said. "Over the past two days, crews have utilized boats, drones, swift water rescue teams, and K-9 units to search, map, and narrow down high-probability locations along the river corridor between the Dillon Falls Day Use Area above the falls and the Aspen Day Use Area below the falls." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dillons Falls is described as "a series of quick-drop rapids in the Deschutes River" near the communities of Bend and Sunriver, according to VisitCentralOregon.com. The 15-foot waterfall is a "dangerous Class V rapid," says the Salem Statesman Journal. Class V rapids are "extremely difficult, long, and very violent rapids with highly congested routes, which should be scouted from shore," says Wet Planet Whitewater. "Rescue conditions are difficult, and there is a significant hazard to life in the event of a mishap. Class V is the upper limit of what is possible in a commercial raft," Wet Planet Whitewater adds. Death Toll in Tragic Waterfall Accident Has Risen to 2 People first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 22, 2025 During a federal trial in Boston that concluded on Monday, two academic groups, the American Association of University Professors and the Middle East Studies Association, argued that the Trump administration's policy of deporting international students for expressing anti-Israel views is inconsistent with the First Amendment. The plaintiffs asked U.S. District Judge William Young for a preliminary injunction barring the Trump administration from enforcing its "ideological deportation policy." The government's lawyers responded by denying that any such policy exists. William Kanellis, a Justice Department trial lawyer, likened the plaintiffs in AAUP v. Rubio to Don Quixote, jousting at windmills they mistake for giants. Their case, he said, is based on nothing more than "imagination and creative conjuring." John Armstrong, who runs the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs, echoed that assessment when he took the stand, saying, "It's silly to suggest that there's such a policy." That position is pretty audacious in light of the many times that President Donald Trump and his underlings have bragged about seeking to expel students whose pro-Palestinian advocacy they view as antisemitic or pro-Hamas. The government's gaslighting strategy suggests those officials, despite insisting that this supposedly imaginary initiative has nothing to do with freedom of speech, are not confident that federal courts will agree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In public, Defendants have described their policy, defended it, and taken political credit for it," the plaintiffs note in their pretrial brief. "It is only now that the policy has been challenged that they say, incredibly, that the policy does not actually exist." Federal officials "have described the policy at length in official statements made to the public," the brief adds. "They have implemented the policy in a variety of ways, including: by issuing formal guidance relating to the revocation of visas and green cards; by establishing processes for identifying those engaged in pro-Palestinian advocacy; and by establishing processes for then revoking the visas or green cards of their targets. Defendants have also enforced the policy against potentially hundreds of noncitizen students and faculty, including most prominently Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, Mohsen Mahdawi, Yunseo Chung, and Badar Khan Suri." Despite all of that, the Trump administration argues that the plaintiffs have brought "a First Amendment challenge to a 'policy' of their own creation." They "do not try to locate this program in any statute, regulation, rule, or directive," the government complains. "They do not allege that it is written down anywhere. And they do not even try to identify its specific terms and substance. That is all unsurprising, because no such policy exists." That probably would be news to Trump, who during his 2024 campaign promised a crackdown that would make foreign students think twice about participating in anti-Israel protests. "One thing I do is, any student that protests, I throw them out of the country," he told donors in May 2024. "You know, there are a lot of foreign students. As soon as they hear that, they're going to behave." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khalil, a legal permanent resident who had played a conspicuous role in protests at Columbia University, was Trump's first target. After Khalil was arrested in Manhattan on March 8, Trump described him as "a Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student" and promised "this is the first arrest of many to come." There are "more students" at "Universities Across the Country" who "have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it," he said. "We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from the country." Khalil's arrest was based on 8 USC 1227, which authorizes the removal of noncitizens when the secretary of state "has reasonable ground to believe" their "presence or activities" in this country "would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States." In a two-page memo invoking Section 1227, Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed Khalil had participated in "antisemitic protests" that "foster[ed] a hostile environment for Jewish students." Those activities, Rubio averred, "undermine U.S. policy to combat anti-Semitism around the world and in the United States" as well as "efforts to protect Jewish students from harassment and violence in the United States." Rubio added that "condoning anti-Semitic conduct and disruptive protests in the United States would severely undermine" a "significant foreign policy objective." He nebulously described that objective as "champion[ing] core American interests and American citizens." Rubio did not cite any evidence that Khalil had promoted antisemitisma charge that Khalil vehemently denies. Nor did Rubio accuse Khalil of breaking the law. In fact, the memo acknowledged that the case against Khalil was based on "past, current, or expected beliefs, statements, or associations that are otherwise lawful." After Khalil's arrest, Rubio said it reflected a broader policy: "We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported." The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) likewise claimed Khalil had "led activities aligned to Hamas," explaining that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had arrested him "in support of President Trump's executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism, and in coordination with the Department of State." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a March 13 interview with NPR, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Troy Edgar was asked to back up the government's allegation that Khalil supported Hamas. "Well, I think you can see it on TV, right?" Edgar replied. "This is somebody that we've invited and allowed the student to come into the country, and he's put himself in the middle of the process of basically pro-Palestinian activity." As Reason's Robby Soave noted, "Edgar did not even bother to draw a distinction between pro-Hamas activism and pro-Palestinian activism." As the government's lawyers told it during the trial in Boston, neither Khalil's arrest nor the ones that followed broke new ground: The Trump administration was simply enforcing a longstanding law. But Michael Farbiarz, the federal judge in New Jersey who last month ordered Khalil's release while his immigration case is pending, delved into the legislative background and enforcement history of Section 1227. He concluded that neither was consistent with Rubio's invocation of the law against Khalil. "A Section 1227 removal of the kind at issue here," he said, "is unprecedentednot within the realm of conduct that the statute normally covers, of which an ordinary person would have notice." Rubio confirmed that Khalil's arrest would be the first of "many to come." In late March, he told reporters he had revoked the visas of about 300 students. "We do it every day," he said. "Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visa. At some point, I hope we run out because we've gotten rid of all of them, but we're looking every day for these lunatics that are tearing things up." Despite Rubio's implication that all of the the targets had engaged in disruptive protests, he conflated students who "start a riot," "take over a library," or "harass people" with students who merely express opinions that offend him. The sole basis for arresting Ozturk, for example, seemed to be an op-ed piece that she and two co-authors had published in Tufts University's student newspaper. That essay was severely critical of Israeli policy and expressed sympathy for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. But on its face, it was neither "pro-terrorist" nor "anti-Semitic." In any case, it clearly was speech protected by the First Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An executive order that Trump issued on January 20 likewise blurs the line between constitutionally protected speech and criminal conduct. "It is the policy of the United States," Trump says, "to protect its citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes." While terrorism is unambiguously criminal, the three other categories are broad and subjective enough to accommodate the "ideological deportation policy" exemplified by the arrests of people like Khalil and Ozturk. Nine days later, Trump issued an executive order announcing "additional measures to combat anti-Semitism." That order mentions "unlawful anti-Semitic harassment and violence," but it also directs every federal agency to identify "all civil and criminal authorities or actions within the jurisdiction of that agency" that might be used "to curb or combat anti-Semitism"a broad and contentious category that includes constitutionally protected speech. Notably, the order incorporates a definition of antisemitism that can include criticism of Israel, depending on how it is phrased and how selectively it is applied. Contrary to what the Trump administration is now claiming, these are all statements of policy, and that policy has been implemented. "DHS is investigating noncitizen students and faculty who are believed to have engaged in pro-Palestinian advocacy," the plaintiffs note. "DHS is coordinating with the State Department to revoke the visas and green cards of, and to arrest and detain, students and faculty engaged in lawful pro-Palestinian advocacy.The State Department has issued formal guidance to facilitate the revocation of students' and faculty members' visas based on speech or activity deemed 'pro-Hamas,' 'pro-terrorist,' or 'antisemitic.'" During the trial, Kanellis said the government had investigated about 5,000 pro-Palestinian protesters. An ICE official testified that investigators identified about 200 who might have violated U.S. law. But the upshot so far, Kanellis said, is just 18 arrests. If the Trump administration actually had a policy of targeting foreign students based on their political views, he said, "you'd see many more arrests." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the plaintiffs emphasize, however, the impact of this initiative goes far beyond the people who are actually arrested. Students and faculty members who understand that their political advocacy might result in a federal investigation that could lead to deportation are apt to watch what they say, which is precisely the result that Trump and Rubio are trying to accomplish. As Farbiarz put it, someone who "wishes to steer clear of the possibility of being removed from the United States under Section 1227" will be inclined to "go quiet" unless he is confident that he can predict exactly what sort of speech might trigger that outcome. "The goal is to chill speech" by "intimidating and scaring students and scholars," Alexandra Conlan, one of the plaintiffs' lawyers, said during the Boston trial. "The goal is to silence students and scholars who wish to express pro-Palestinian views." And that sort of chilling effect, she added, is "exactly what the First Amendment was meant to prevent." The post Defending Its Speech-Based Deportation Policy, the Trump Administration Says 'No Such Policy Exists' appeared first on Reason.com. Credit: Jack Leather for The Telegraph Asylum hotel locations are to be shared by the Home Office with food delivery companies to combat illegal working by asylum seekers. The government department has struck a new agreement with Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats, under which officials share details about hotels in high-risk areas to enable the firms to spot illegal working and suspend accounts. The move is designed to combat the practice of delivery drivers sharing their accounts with asylum seekers so that they can work illegally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The efforts to crack down on illegal working came after The Telegraph revealed in May how asylum seekers housed in taxpayer-funded hotels were working as delivery riders for Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat within days of arriving in the UK on small boats. Asylum seekers are banned from working during the first 12 months after lodging their claim, unless a decision is made sooner. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, said: Illegal working undermines honest business, exploits vulnerable individuals and fuels organised immigration crime. By enhancing our data sharing with delivery companies, we are taking decisive action to close loopholes and increase enforcement. The changes come alongside a 50 per cent increase in raids and arrests for illegal working under the Plan for Change, greater security measures and tough new legislation. Yvette Cooper says the Home Office is trying to close loopholes and increase enforcement - Getty Images/Wiktor Szymanowicz The gig economy firms had been increasing identity and right-to-work checks, which had led to thousands of workers being taken off the platforms, the Home Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The firms have also agreed to increase the use of facial verification checks and fraud detection technology to ensure only registered account holders can work off their platforms. This is designed to help stop people with no right to work in the UK from using someones name to earn money illegally. Any member of staff caught sharing their accounts will have their profiles suspended. Those moves follow meetings between Home Office officials and delivery firm bosses this month. Eddy Montgomery, director of enforcement at the Home Office, said: This next step of co-ordinated working with delivery firms will help us target those who seek to work illegally in the gig economy and exploit their status in the UK. My teams will continue to carry out increased enforcement activity across the UK, and I welcome this additional tool to disrupt and stop the abuse of our immigration system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The three delivery companies said they were fully committed to working with the Home Office and combating illegal working. Ministers promised a nationwide blitz to target migrants working illegally as part of efforts to deter people from coming to the UK from France. Officials hope to tackle the pull factors attracting migrants to the UK alongside the deal struck by Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, the French president, earlier this month to send some people who reach England in small boats back to France. More than 23,500 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel so far in 2025, a record for this point in the 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. An Aeromexico plane nearly collided with a Delta Air Lines plane while landing in Mexico City on Monday. FlightRadar24 data shows Aeromexico Flight 1631 flew over Delta Flight 590 on runway 5R at Mexico's Benito Juarez International Airport before proceeding to land ahead of it on the same runway. The two aircraft were just 200 feet apart, according to data from FlightRadar24. Delta Air Lines said the Atlanta-bound flight with 150 people onboard was on its takeoff roll when the crew aborted after observing "another aircraft landing in front of their aircraft on the same runway." Yuri Cortez/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Planes of Mexican airline Aeromexico taxi at Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City, May 3, 2025. MORE: FAA says it will investigate incident between SkyWest jet and B-52 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In air traffic control recordings, the Delta pilot can be heard saying, "We are holding on the runway" followed by someone saying, "Wow" and "Increible." (Spanish for "incredible.") It is unclear if that was said by a nearby pilot or a controller. The Delta plane had reached a speed of approximately 60 miles per hour before it stopped. The Delta jet returned to its gate before finally departing to its destination later that morning. "There are parallel runways at Mexico City. So we don't know if the controller told the Aeromexico aircraft to land on the left-hand and not the right-hand runway where the Delta jet was," said Steve Ganyard, an ABC News aviation contributor and former fighter pilot. "We also don't know, perhaps the tower controller didn't understand that they had cleared the Aeromexico aircraft to land while simultaneously clearing the Delta jet to take off." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Air India captain may have shut off fuel ahead of deadly crash, WSJ reports In a statement to ABC, Delta said, "Because nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, Delta will fully cooperate with authorities as the circumstances around this flight are investigated. We appreciate the flight crew's actions to maintain situational awareness and act quickly part of Delta's extensive training." Aeromexico said the airline is working closely with the authorities as they conduct a detailed investigation of the incident. "At Aeromexico, the safety of our customers and employees is, and will always be, our highest priority," the airline said in a statement. As authorities investigate the incident, aviation experts say they will consider whether there was a communication failure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It seems pretty clear that there was a failure to communicate, either with the tower controllers clearing it to aircraft for takeoff at the same time they cleared one to land, or perhaps they weren't clear with a landing aircraft which runway -- left or right -- it should have been landing on," said Ganyard. "But somewhere it was a failure to communicate." The Mexican Aviation Authority did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for a comment. Bottles of Coca-Cola are seen at a grocery store in Los Angeles, California, on 21 November 2017. Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters Coca-Cola has laid out plans to launch a product made with US cane sugar this year, days after Donald Trump claimed the company had agreed to replace high-fructose corn syrup. The company announced the change in a quarterly earnings report released on Tuesday. On a conference call with investors, Coca-Colas chairperson and CEO, James Quincey, said the company planned to expand our trademark product range with US cane sugar to reflect consumer interest in differentiated experiences. Quincey said the new offering would complement Coca-Colas core portfolio of drinks, suggesting it could arrive as an alternative, rather than a replacement, for its flagship Coke product. This is really an and strategy and not an or strategy, Quincey said, according to the Wall Street Journal. We are going to continue to use a lot of the corn syrup that we do now. The drink makers Mexican Coke is made with cane sugar and already sold in the US but often at nearly twice the price. Additionally, the US doesnt make enough cane sugar to satisfy demand in the country. Tuesdays announcement from Coca-Cola came as food and drink companies have rolled out plans to make changes amid Make America healthy again (Maha) campaign of the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr. However, experts say that drinks made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup are not necessarily healthier. Eva Greenthal, senior policy scientist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit consumer advocacy group, previously told CNN: Excess consumption of sugar from any source harms health. To make the US food supply healthier, the Trump administration should focus on less sugar, not different sugar. Coca-Cola had defended its use of corn syrup a product some blame for soaring US obesity rates after Trump claimed on 16 July he had convinced the brand to switch to using sugar cane in its US drinks. I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so. Id like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola, the president said in a social media post. This will be a very good move by them Youll see. Its just better! Coca-Cola said in a statement that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) which we use to sweeten some of our beverages is actually just a sweetener made from corn. Its safe; it has about the same number of calories per serving as table sugar and is metabolized in a similar way by your body. It added that the American Medical Association (AMA) has confirmed that HFCS is no more likely to contribute to obesity than table sugar or other full-calorie sweeteners. And it said: Please be assured that Coca-Cola brand soft drinks do not contain any harmful substances. A Delta flight had just begun its takeoff roll at Benito Juarez Mexico City International Airport when a regional jet appeared to fly over the plane and land in front of it on the same runway, forcing the Delta pilots to hit the brakes. Aeromexico Flight 1691, arriving from the city of Aguascalientes, touched down on Monday as Atlanta-bound Delta flight 590 was accelerating to initiate takeoff at 7:28 a.m. local time, according to Delta and preliminary flight data from the tracking site Flightradar24. The data shows that the Delta Boeing 737-800 reached 62 knots, or about 71 miles per hour, before pilots stopped the plane and halted their takeoff. The Delta pilots exited the runway and returned to the gate, the airline said. The plane received additional fuel and eventually departed for Atlanta at 9:42 a.m. The flight carrying 144 passengers and six crew members landed safely in Atlanta at 3:20 p.m. ET, according to Delta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Because nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, Delta will fully cooperate with authorities as the circumstances around this flight are investigated. We appreciate the flight crew's actions to maintain situational awareness and act quickly part of Delta's extensive training," a Delta spokesperson said in a statement to CBS News. Delta says it filed reports with the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration and Mexico's Federal Civil Aviation Agency, which is the country's aviation regulator. Aeromexico said it is working closely with the corresponding authorities to conduct an investigation. "At Aeromexico, the safety of our customers and employees is, and will always be, our highest priority," the airline's statement said. Mexican aviation authorities had no comment when contacted by CBS News, later directing to President Claudia Sheinbaum's remarks at a news conference on Wednesday. "Fortunately, nothing major happened," the Mexican president said. "All necessary alerts were issued, and all necessary measures are being taken, first to find out what happened, where the failure occurred, and second, to prevent it from happening again." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Days before the incident in Mexico, the pilot of a SkyWest flight which was operating as Delta Connection apologized to passengers after performing what he described as an "aggressive maneuver" while approaching a runway in Minot, North Dakota, where the plane was set for landing. The pilot said he had performed the maneuver to avoid a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber that appeared to be flying along "a converging course" with his plane. The Air Force says its flight crew was in communication with air traffic control but was not told about the airliner. SkyWest said the flight, from Minneapolis, had 76 passengers and four crew members on board. The airline and the FAA are investigating the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump reacts to DOJ reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer on Jeffrey Epstein files Ozzy Osbourne, heavy metal pioneer, dies at age 76 Judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia's release, 2nd judge limits ICE from immediately detaining him Delta using AI to determine the price you pay for plane tickets Delta Airlines is facing criticism for its use of artificial intelligence to determine ticket prices, a practice known as surveillance pricing. Delta president, Glen Hauenstein told investors earlier this month the airline plans to expand the practice by the end of 2025. Currently, Delta uses AI to set prices on 3% of its flights, with plans to expand this to 20% by the end of the year. This strategy involves moving away from fixed fares to more individualized pricing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Alan Mislove, Senior Associate Dean at Northeastern Universitys Khoury College of Computer Sciences, describes surveillance pricing as an extreme form of price personalization. While the practice is often criticized for a lack of transparency, Delta is now being open about using A.I. But its unclear how prices are determined. A Delta spokesperson tells Boston 25: There is no fare product Delta has ever used, is testing, or plans to use that targets customers with individualized offers based on personal information or otherwise. A variety of market forces drive the dynamic pricing model thats been used in the global industry for decades, with new tech simply streamlining this process. Delta always complies with regulations around pricing and disclosures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, criticized Deltas plans on X, warning against the use of AI algorithms to increase prices without transparency. Imagine needing to fly home to take care of a sick parent and AI has your personal data, knows youre desperate, and raises your ticket price. Thats the future Delta could be heading toward. Pricing based on your personal pain point. Im demanding answers and fighting back. Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) July 22, 2025 Sen. Gallego announced his intention to demand answers from Deltas CEO. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) began investigating surveillance pricing before the Trump administration, but the current status of this investigation is unclear. 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 WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) As the Trump administration renews its push for increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in major cities like New York, congressional Democrats are raising alarm over what they describe as inhumane and unconstitutional deportation tactics. At a special forum Tuesday on Capitol Hill, immigration attorneys and advocates testified that both undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens have been unlawfully targeted during mass deportation efforts. What we are seeing right now is truly shocking, said Sirine Shebaya, executive director of the National Immigration Project. U.S. citizens being deported without parental consent, working people abducted off the streets and disappeared into unmarked vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers and legal advocates say many undocumented immigrants actively pursuing asylum claims have also been detained. That is the highest number of clients that were seeing, said Karla Marie Ostolaza, managing director of the immigration practice at The Bronx Defenders. Were also seeing detentions happen during routine check-ins with ICE or its contractors. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) questioned why asylum-seekers are being held despite following legal procedures. Detained even though they are lawfully pursuing asylum? he asked. The testimonies included personal stories of trauma. U.S. Marine Alejandro Barranco described his fathers detention by ICE while working, saying his family continues to feel the impact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was held in a cage with 70 to 100 other people, Barranco said. He went 14 hours without water. His father was eventually released on bail. My father was lucky, but thousands are not. Democrats at the forum said the administration is tearing families apart despite promises to focus enforcement on dangerous criminals. This is total terror, said Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.). Tom Homan, the Trump administrations border czar, defended the strategy Monday, insisting its necessary for public safety. Were keeping this country safer, Homan said. If you dont want us in the jail, were going to go to the community and find them which means more officers in neighborhoods and more worksite enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new Big Beautiful Law includes funding to hire 10,000 new ICE agents. Democrats say they will continue to hold forums to provide overisght of the administrations immigration policies. We are organized, and we are resisting, said Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 News Senate Democrats are making a calculated gamble that cutting bipartisan spending deals this summer could save them from another politically painful shutdown fight this fall. Since their March crackup over whether to accept Republicans government funding bill, Democrats have gotten repeatedly trampled by their opponents partisan power plays on tax cuts, spending cuts, and rolling back Biden-era regulations. Even the usual bipartisan exercise of raising the debt ceiling got thrown into President Donald Trumps party-line megabill, further degrading Democratic leverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats still wield the legislative filibuster over government funding bills, but shutdown fights arent exactly in their DNA. So they are hoping that bipartisan spending deals will inoculate them from September hardball and avoid the kind of take-it-or-leave-it jam they experienced in March. My orientation now is to pass as many bipartisan bills as we can, so we dont have to face an all-or-nothing bill in September, Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, told Semafor. He said he hopes to get GOP agreements that key pieces of any spending deal arent dismantled via the party-line rescissions process Republicans used just last week: Ill be looking for some assurance that on these bipartisan bills, they mean it. They cant go back on it. Relegated to the minority and with little sway over the congressional agenda, Democrats are betting that the bipartisan route is the least terrible of several bad options ahead of them. The House GOP proved it can unilaterally fund the government without Democratic votes earlier this year, lessening the partys leverage on that side of the Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a lengthy caucus meeting on Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer led most of his party to advance a Veterans Affairs and Military Construction spending bill, probably the least controversial of the annual funding measures. His only alternative was to filibuster the bills and prepare for a shutdown fight. We are going to think about ways in which we can rebuild trust after rescissions. And you know, from my perspective, Id like to make a bipartisan appropriations process work again, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., a member of the Appropriations Committee, told Semafor. Writing bills that both parties can stand behind would make it actually harder for a partisan CR to be jammed through, she added. Still, its a decision that comes with some controversy. Schumer faced some of his harshest intraparty criticism earlier this year, after he and nine other Senate Democrats allowed a six-month spending bill to go through the Senate and become law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans just unilaterally cut $9 billion in congressionally-approved spending through rescissions, adding further drama to whats already a hard enough deadline to meet. Theyve shown no respect for the norms or rules. Its just partisan hardball and acting as Trumps puppet, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told Semafor. If Trump boasts about doing partisan, one-sided triumphs as disastrous as they are for the country theres little room for bipartisan compromise, he added. But that doesnt mean that we shouldnt try if its in the best interest of the country. Know More Schumer is maneuvering his party to avoid another internal firefight, hosting a lengthy Democratic caucus meeting on Tuesday and then linking up with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., on Tuesday afternoon an important development after the two leaders coordination faltered badly this spring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats want a bipartisan deal. Were working together to get one. But the bottom line is, Republicans are making it much harder, Schumer said. You cant say you want a bipartisan process, which [Majority Leader John Thune] said yesterday, and at the same time, put rescissions on the floor, which is the antithesis of bipartisanship. Still, its conventional wisdom now that the annual appropriations process is broken. The last time Congress passed all of the 12 spending bills on time was 1996. The Senate is just bringing its first spending bill to the floor now, in July. Thune, R-S.D., wants to add a couple of other less controversial appropriations bills to the package. The hope is that sets the stage for a more collegial September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a good chance it doesnt end up working out and Congress gets left with a dreaded continuing resolution extending current spending levels and avoiding a shutdown. Most Democrats dont even want to entertain that now. But not all of them are reluctant. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., told Semafor his position hasnt changed: Ill never vote for something that will shut the government down. And he said the 10 Democrats who voted to avoid a shutdown in March should feel vindicated. Trump could literally just mass fire everyone during a shutdown now. And the Supreme Court would probably back much of that, Fetterman said. Dont ever shut the government down. It was wrong when they were threatening and trying to do that. And its wrong for our party as well. Room for Disagreement Though Republicans will need probably at least eight Democratic votes to pass anything in the Senate to fund the government, some Democrats say ultimately its the GOPs responsibility to figure things out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans are in charge of everything, said Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M. They bear the responsibility and the burden. Burgesss view It could be an ugly September. And its very possible Democrats must undergo the same wrenching internal debate over whether to pick a shutdown fight that they experienced earlier this year. Im not confident that Schumer would go for a partisan Republican CR at this point which is why Democrats are trying to play ball on the appropriations bills now All that said, a shutdown is certainly on the table this fall. Democrats are facing pressure to fight Trump, Republicans are cutting spending with the rescissions package, and somehow Congress always finds a way to screw up the regular spending bill process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe things turn out differently this time, but its logical to be skeptical. Notable The Donald Trump-backed mid-cycle redistricting effort in Texas is already leaving a sour taste in voters mouths, according to a new Democratic polling memo obtained by POLITICO. A new poll conducted by Texas-based Z to A Research, which does polling for progressive clients, found that 63 percent of likely voters across 22 of Texas congressional districts including 41 percent of Republicans think the effort to redraw lines in the GOPs favor is unnecessary. As the State Legislature cowers under order from the Trump White House, they need to know that voters are not on their side, said a memo from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which commissioned the poll alongside the Democratic House Majority PAC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The memo underscores the high-stakes game that parties are playing with redistricting as they battle for control of a House with a razor-thin margin. If the electorate is similar to 2024, redrawing the maps could leave Republicans with an advantage. But Democrats are hoping for a blue wave and a large backlash to Trumps policies. In the memo, the DCCC accuses Republicans in the state of focusing on the redistricting effort instead of flood relief, which is another topic on the agenda for the legislatures special session, which began on Monday. Fifty-three percent of the likely voters polled thought that the legislature was prioritizing redistricting over flood relief, according to the memo, while 32 percent did not, and 54 percent also thought the Texas government is doing a poor or not so good job of responding to the flood damage. The poll was conducted via a text-to-web survey of 2,449 likely 2026 voters across 22 of Texas congressional districts. At least 100 voters were surveyed in each district, 12 of which are represented by Republicans and 10 of which are represented by Democrats. The polls margin of error is plus or minus 2 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After being told that the legislature is prioritizing redistricting over flood relief, 62 percent of the voters said they would be less likely to vote for a Republican. The figure rises to 67 percent of independents, and 21 percent of them were 2024 Trump voters, the memo said. The poll also set up some possible primaries, and across all 22 congressional districts surveyed, in no hypothetical Republican primary matchup did a congressional Republican incumbent garner more than 50 percent of the vote among Republican voters. The memo did not specify the exact primary matchups. DCCC Executive Director Julie Merz also wrote that the redistricting plan could backfire if Democrats have a strong year in 2026. Any new map Texas Republicans draw will almost certainly increase the number of competitive districts, thereby endangering more congressional Republican incumbents. Its basic math, Merz wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, Democrats know that redrawing up to five seats in Texas as well as a couple more in Ohio hurts their chances of taking the majority. The move by Texas has also forced Democrats to weigh their own redistricting options, though most of them face more legal hurdles. Its unclear what map Texas will ultimately adopt, but drawing the Trump-requested five seats does lend to the possibility of a so-called dummymander. Still, Republicans are adamant that its doable. DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) Deputies arrested a Summerville man Wednesday after a months-long investigation led to a drug bust, according to the Dorchester County Sheriffs Office. Pierre DaQuawn Stevon Rashaad Greene-Smalls, 37, was found in possession of 16 grams of cocaine after a traffic stop conducted by the Berkeley County Sheriffs Office. Dorchester County deputies then obtained a search warrant for his residence on Cotton Hope Lane following the stop. Authorities executed the search and found two kilograms of methamphetamine, 12 ounces of cocaine, 48 grams of crack cocaine, and a revolver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greene-Smalls is charged with trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking cocaine base, and trafficking cocaine. He is booked at the Hill-Finklea Detention Center. The Metro Narcotics unit led the investigation, made up of detectives from the Dorchester County Sheriffs Office and Summerville Police Department. This collaboration is critical to targeting criminals who seek to endanger our community through illegal drug activity. Let this arrest serve as a clear message: if you are engaged in such activity, we will arrest you, Sheriff Sam Richardson said. The Charleston County Sheriffs Office assisted with the investigation. 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. DES MOINES, Iowa A Des Moines man has been charged in an early Tuesday morning shooting that killed his step-grandson the Des Moines Police Department announced. At around 12:45 a.m. officers with the DMPD responded to a shooting in the 200 block of Bell Avenue. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a 38-year-old man with gunshot wounds as well as the suspected shooter. The victim, identified as Ryan Schonlau, died from his injuries at the scene. Car crashes into train in Wapello County, 1 airlifted to hospital On Tuesday afternoon, the DMPD announced that the suspect detained at the shooting scene, now identified as 73-year-old David Lee Ramsey, had been officially charged. Ramsey faces one count of first-degree murder and has been booked into the Polk County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the DMPD, Schonlau was Ramseys step-grandson and they both had been living at the home where the shooting occurred. No additional information has been released. Metro 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 who13.com. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the states new chief financial officer, Blaise Ingoglia, unveiled details Tuesday about their plans to DOGE local governments, hoping to uncover what they see as wasteful or inappropriate spending. Their first target: Broward County. It is far from the last. After announcing their efforts at a news conference in northwest Fort Lauderdale, they flew to Gainesville for a similar announcement about the city. And over the next couple of weeks, DeSantis said the list would grow to 10 to 15 city and county governments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its off to the races, DeSantis said. I think theres problems in local governments. Some local governments have done a good job. I think we have a big, diverse state, and its not necessarily like this part of the state is all bad, this part of the states all good. Its really a mix, and Ive had a lot of complaints, from folks down here in South Florida, vis-a-vis some of the governments. DeSantis said it is very possible that Miami-Dade County and possible Palm Beach County will soon be added to the list. Other local governments cities, towns and villages wont be immune, he said. Well be starting with those jurisdictions (about) which (we) have received a lot of complaints for their spending practices, and so were here in Broward County and I think most people know theres some criticism of how the county government has operated, DeSantis said. State teams will arrive at Broward County offices and elsewhere starting July 31 for onsite DOGE inspections and audits, DeSantis said, bolstered with additional authority the Legislature authorized for the executive branch during this years session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyll be looking for areas that DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature have sought to eliminate, such as efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion, and some kinds of environmental efforts aimed at responding to climate change. Broward has also spent a lot of money on kind of pet causes whether its D, E and I, whether its the Green New Deal, DeSantis said. Theres a lot of things that really deserve scrutiny. DeSantis cited County Administrator Monica Cepero, who he said makes almost half a million dollars a year. He brought up her salary again in Gainesville. DeSantis and Ingoglia also pointed to Visit Lauderdale, the county tourism promotion agency, spending $800,000 on a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 1, 2024. Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis and Ingoglia said their efforts are aimed mainly at protecting property taxpayers. The Rose parade float was paid for with taxes travelers pay when they rent hotel rooms, with use of the money limited to promoting Broward as a tourist destination. Ingoglia conceded that fact, but said it was indicative of a broader problem. That is just a symptom of excessive reckless spending where quite frankly they dont care. Im sorry to say this, but a lot of local officials just dont care because they dont view it as their own money, he said, suggesting that local elected officials view tax receipts like this endless pot of money. DeSantis and Ingoglia depicted state government, where theyve been operating, as a lean and efficient operation. Ingoglia was a state senator until DeSantis appointed him to fill the vacant state CFO job; he took office on Monday. Broward, they said, has experienced an explosion of property tax money coming into its coffers in recent years. They said that has fueled spending far above what would be needed to keep pace with relatively modest population growth in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis said the amount of property taxes taken in by the county has increased by almost 50% some $450 million since 2020 while population has increased less than 5%. Ingoglia said local government spending is far outstripping in my opinion, the residents and the taxpayers willingness and ability to pay. There is a new era of accountability in the state of Florida when it comes to fiscal spending, said Ingoglia, a former chair of the Republican Party of Florida. I will tell you that I cut my teeth years ago calling out local wasteful spending. And I have seen that local governments usually have the most egregious patterns of spending money on stuff that, quite frankly if the voters knew and we shone a light on it, they would probably disagree with. Broward County unfortunately is probably, in my mind, one of the worst offenders when it comes to spending, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Broward Mayor Beam Furr said he thinks the DOGE team will be suprised, positively, once its reviewed the countys spending. We have been good stewards and I think its a good story that we have to tell and my hope is once the governors office has a chance to take a look at it, theyll see we have a good story to tell, Furr said in a phone interview. I speak for all of the commissioners, if we can be more efficient in any way possible to provide the best service with the best price, were going to continue to do that. Furr, who is co-chair of the Broward Climate Change Task Force, said he thinks representatives from the state will be impressed when they see what the county is working on in connection with the Green New Deal. Weve just put forth an entire resilience plan with a return on investment aspect. Its very financially responsible as well as environmentally responsible. They can take a look at it. I think they may find they may want to model it elsewhere. And, Furr said, the county has complied with all laws relating to DEI. But I do think that Broward County has shown that it values the diversity in our county, he said Were going to continue to make sure everybody is valued in Broward County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ingoglia, referring to his time in the Legislature, said county and local governments spend lots of money on things that would not survive public scrutiny if they were exposed and then come to the state seeking money for local projects. The question we need to ask is (are) the counties who are requesting the money actually spending the money that they have wisely? Ingoglia said. What will frustrate me is when I see a county egregiously spending, not being good stewards of the taxpayer dollars, and then all of a sudden you hear an appropriation request. In a Monday letter to Ingoglia and DeSantis DOGE team, Cepero pointed to the proposed budget for the countys next fiscal year with a flat millage rate for property taxes. Ingoglia was sharply critical of the way local governments spin property taxes. Many tell their residents that the tax rate, or millage, is staying the same. But with rising property values, that still means more tax money coming into government coffers because a tax bill is determined by multiplying the rate by the property value. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you want the same revenue, the millage rate should be going down, not staying the same, Ingoglia said. So when your county comes out and says, well, you know, our millage rate has stayed the same, thats a tax increase in this scenario. State Rep. Chip LaMarca, a former Broward County commissioner who was at the DeSantis-Ingolia announcement, agreed in an interview with the assessment. He said he voted for only one annual county budget during his eight years on the commission the year the county decreased the millage rate. I agree with the idea that you just dont add more recurring spending by leaving the millage rate the same, LaMarca said. LaMarca said Broward County government spending warrants some scrutiny. Its a good place to start. I dont think hes (DeSantis) here by accident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Furr said the biggest driver of property taxes is public safety. If I were looking for places where you could be more efficient, I think youd be looking at places where most of the money is going, he said. DeSantis suggested the Broward Sheriffs Office could also be subject to scrutiny as part of the DOGE review. Theres a couple of sheriffs departments across the state that people have concerns about. Specifically asked about the Broward Sheriffs Office, DeSantis said, I think thats all fair game. We have the best sheriffs in the country in the state of Florida but I would not say all 67 departments are run (well). I would say most of them are run well, but I would say that there are some that they need to be looked at and I think this (Broward) could be one here, and I also think theres a couple others that have been brought to mind about where you would look to do. So stay tuned on all that. In Gainesville, he cited the Broward Sheriffs Office as grist for the mill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff Gregory Tony is independently elected. But his budget is financed by county tax money overseen by the County Commission, which oversees almost all the rest of county government, including agencies such as Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Tony has been elected sheriff twice, but he originally was appointed to the job in 2019 by DeSantis when the governor removed the previous sheriff, Scott Israel. Spokespersons for the Sheriffs Office didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. DeSantis said Broward County government has been somewhat cooperative with initial state efforts. It responded to some state questions with a letter Monday afternoon, he said, but that didnt affect his decision to pick the county first. We had already decided that this was gonna be something, you know, that we were gonna do going forward. Furr said the county has complied with all the states requests for information and would continue to do so. Broward County is aware and welcoming of the State of Floridas announced onsite visit to Broward County. The County has been compliant and responsive to previous requests from the States Department of Government Efficiency, spokesperson Gregory Meyer said via email Tuesday. The county did not respond Tuesday to questions about Ceperos salary and benefits. The website openpayrolls.com estimated it is $461,232, in the vicinity of DeSantis figure, but it wasnt clear if that includes extras. Earlier in Ceperos career she was an adviser to former Gov. Jeb Bush, a Republican. Shes currently registered with no party affiliation. Its not a political appointment, Furr said. Furr said Cepero is not overpaid. The countys budget, including the airport and seaport, is almost $9 billion. It is a 24/7 job. And when you look at what corporation heads are making it is a fraction. Shes well compensated, but we know that this is a huge job and has a lot of responsibility to it. And LaMarca said Ceperos salary doesnt mean that shes overpaid. I dont necessarily think so, he said. He said the directors of the seaport and the airport, the enterprise and high-revenue operation centers at the county are probably underpaid. When those executives who report to Cepero get raises, LaMarca said it generally means a boost for the county administrator. The Rose Parade float, seen by millions on TV, highlighted Visit Lauderdales Everyone Under the Sun brand campaign, which the agency described as welcoming people of diverse cultures, ethnicities, sexual orientations and disabilities with the aim of showing why Greater Fort Lauderdale is an ideal destination for visitors seeking a genuinely welcoming and inclusive environment. Some of the floral arrangements depicted the wave wall along Fort Lauderdale beach, the guitar hotel at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and alligators, manatees and sea turtles. Furr said the Rose Parade float did what it was supposed to: attract people to this county for vacationing to support the hotels and restaurants. I think that ones taken out of context. There was enough politics surrounding the float, which was approved by the County Commission, that a Los Angeles Times headline explained How one Florida county is defying DeSantis at the 2024 Rose Parade. Several of Browards leading Republicans were present for the DeSantis-Ingoglia event, including LaMarca, Broward College President Torey Alston, a former DeSantis appointee to the School Board and County Commission; Michele Merrell, the countys elected state Republican committeewoman; and Barbra Stern, who finished a close second in the election for Fort Lauderdale mayor last year and has filed paperwork as a candidate for 2028. Stern said she looks forward to seeing local governments receive some DOGE scrutiny, and said Fort Lauderdale could benefit. I have grave concerns over some of our activities here in Fort Lauderdale, she said, including continued studying of the possibility of a train tunnel under the New River, a project she said is dead. Police headquarters. Ive been very vocal about that. Thats a project that ballooned in price from when it was originally designed, and they changed the design, Stern said. We didnt need an iconic police headquarters. We needed a functional police headquarters. That added to the cost of the project. Those are taxpayer dollars. Were paying for this. LaMarca lives in Lighthouse Point, where he was city commissioner. Hes considered moving to Fort Lauderdale and running for mayor after term limits force him to leave the Legislature. He said cities warrant as much scrutiny as the county. I dont think any individual citys immune from it, starting from where I live to the largest cities. They all should look at their budgets every year and make sure were not just adding more on. Political writer Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon. Detroit Thermal is asking a judge to dissolve a temporary restraining order against the company, which is attempting to reactivate an underground steam heat network underneath the Mies van der Rohe co-ops much to the chagrin of many residents there to provide heat to a neighboring co-op in Lafayette Park. The private utility company on July 21 filed a motion in Wayne County Court to lift the order, urging the judge that if it does not gain access to easements in the Mies van der Rohe historic district by Aug. 4, the company wouldn't have sufficient time to complete the project to provide heat to the 1300 Lafayette East Cooperative which is across the street, to the south, on Lafayette Boulevard in time for the winter season. The typical heating season begins Oct. 15, according to the court filing. Townhouses by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, in Lafayette Park in Detroit on Thursday, April 14, 2016. Detroit Thermal claims it has the authority to do work within the Mies van der Rohe cooperatives since purchasing the distribution system in 2003, acquiring the rights and titles to the system. It also claims the Mies co-ops' attempts to block the companys access to the utility easements is unlawful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spokesman Harvey Hollins III, in a statement to the Free Press, said the company will not be able to upgrade the system to connect the 1300 building which currently is relying on temporary boilers with heat in time if it is unable to continue work. More than 600 Detroiters will be denied the heating solution they requested from Detroit Thermal, Hollins said in a statement. Despite the misinformed protests of some of their neighbors, there is no other route. There is no other alternative. There is no more time. Several residents of the Mies co-ops told the Free Press the fight has not been about providing heat to their neighbors. Instead, they say they grew frustrated with city government and business officials targeting their property with various conditions affecting their lives and sought further communication. Earlier this month, residents packed the Detroit city hall auditorium expressing concerns over potential harms to their neighborhood, including the potential harm to the Mies district's green spaces. The citys historic district commission moved ahead and approved a revised plan, which the company expressed was intended to minimize impacts to the neighborhood and address their concerns. Those include proper measures to protect trees, shrubs and other vegetation. Before the meeting, however, several of the Mies co-op boards filed a lawsuit, claiming the project is damaging, illegal and would tear apart a historic landmark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our neighborhood was at peace until Detroit Thermal, a foreign-owned company, inserted itself and started working on our private property, without our permission, to turn a profit said Natalie Pruett, board director for the Nicolet co-op. Although Detroit Thermal has been evasive about its plans, it has been clear about its goal: taking a shortcut through our private property to minimize costs and maximize its profit. Mies co-ops highlighted issues they face with Detroit Thermal, including "aggressive actions" despite the existing restraining order and their "failure to comply" with certificate of appropriateness conditions, "which should have triggered an immediate stop-work order" from the city. More: Lafayette Park co-ops sue Detroit Thermal over proposed steam project before key meeting "Detroit Thermal is attempting to create confusion and intimidate our residents," said Angela Fortino, board director of the LaSalle co-op. "Their actions are unacceptable. Residents of Lafayette and Nicolet Coops are already experiencing difficulties, including limited parking access and vehicles being tagged for towing due to construction activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Detroit Thermal signed a contract to construct a new steam system. It then used that contract as an excuse to trespass on private property without notifying the property owners or obtaining the necessary permits. Detroit Thermal took the approach of asking for forgiveness rather than permission, then, it acts surprised when the property owners object," said Leslie Lott, board director for the Joliet co-op. "It complains when the city shuts down its work and upholds the law. Right now, it is operating in violation of state statutes and city codes as publicly posted by the city of Detroit. This is an ongoing pattern of behavior. Detroit Thermal ignores the rules and then blames others when presented with the consequences." Residents on July 16 relayed concerns over Detroit Thermal performing excavation work in their neighborhood, despite the temporary restraining order. Work was reported to the city's SeeClickFix app, which operates the Improve Detroit system to report issues across the city. The residents and Detroit Thermal are currently in litigation over this matter. Disputes over the scope or any potential violation of the judges order are under the exclusive jurisdiction of that court and not city government. DPW staff only went on site (July 16) to monitor and document the activity that was brought to their attention, which is standard protocol, Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallett said in a statement. More: Judge issues restraining order against Detroit Thermal over Lafayette Park steam project Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hollins, again, reiterated the company had approval from various departments to perform work, which began July 14 on a public street, he said, adding that further delays would jeopardize the companys ability to provide heat in time. Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Thermal seeks restraining order lift to continue steam project Nearly a year after Hurricane Helene devastated Swannanoa, North Carolina, residents like Jess Fager continue to face an influx of disaster tourists drawn to the area. Despite the completion of repairs on her home, Fager still encounters visitors eager to document the aftermath of the storm, a phenomenon experts say is part of a growing trend of disaster tourism, according to the Charlotte Observer. I think were just going to have to live with it, Fager said about the ongoing attention from tourists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beth Heidelberg, a professor of urban studies, explains that people are drawn to disaster sites for the thrill of witnessing devastation from a safe distance. ALSO READ: More work to do: Gov. Stein cites tourism strength after Helene, calls on FEMA to fund cleanup It feels like a mockery, said Lydia Huntley, a lifelong Swannanoa resident, about the tourists. Disaster tourism has become a significant issue in Swannanoa and other areas affected by Hurricane Helene. Residents report that the influx of visitors has disrupted their daily lives, with traffic congestion and unwanted attention becoming common occurrences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nathan Phillips, an Asheville resident, took action by putting up signs to deter tourists from stopping and filming in his neighborhood. He expressed frustration over people blocking roads and complicating recovery efforts. Experts like Beth Heidelberg note that while some tourists visit with empathy, others are simply seeking spectacle, which can be distressing for locals still recovering from the disaster. In response to similar issues, some communities have started implementing measures to manage disaster tourism. For example, the Los Angeles City Council voted to restrict commercial tours in areas affected by wildfires, and Texas officials have warned against visiting flood-hit regions. Heidelberg suggests that communities can channel tourist interest into educational opportunities, as seen in places like Salem, Massachusetts, and Lockerbie, Scotland, where interpretive centers have been established to provide respectful learning experiences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Swannanoa and other affected areas continue to rebuild, the challenge remains to balance recovery with the influx of disaster tourists. Local officials and residents are working to find ways to manage this attention while focusing on healing and moving forward. VIDEO: More work to do: Gov. Stein cites tourism strength after Helene, calls on FEMA to fund cleanup August WTI crude oil (CLQ25) today is down -1.01 (-1.50%), and August RBOB gasoline (RBQ25) is down -0.0306 (-1.44%). Crude oil and gasoline prices today are falling for a second session, with gasoline dropping to a 2-week low. Crude oil prices are being undercut by concern that President Trump's tariff policies will lead to slower global economic growth and reduced energy demand. President Trump recently said that reciprocal tariffs will increase on August 1 for countries that have not clinched trade deals with the US. Today's weaker dollar is helping to limit losses in crude oil prices. More News from Barchart Today's global economic news was negative for energy demand and crude prices. The US July Richmond Fed manufacturing index unexpectedly fell -12 points to an 11-month low of -20, weaker than expectations of an increase to -2. Also, the ECB's quarterly Bank Lending Survey stated that loan demand in the Eurozone remained weak in Q2. 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 the second-largest oil producer in OPEC. Crude prices have carryover support from last Friday when the European Union approved fresh sanctions on Russian oil due to its aggression against 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, pushing the number of sanctioned ships above 400. 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. A Tennessee medical provider allegedly refused to provide prenatal care to an unmarried pregnant woman because it went against the doctors Christian values. Speaking at a town hall in Jonesborough, Tennessee, last week, an unnamed 35-year-old woman claimed that she was forced to seek care in Virginia after her local medical provider effectively claimed religious exemption. I just found out that Im pregnant again, the woman said. Ive been with my partner for about 15 years though were not married. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just had my first visit and that provider told me that, thanks to that fact, they were not comfortable treating me because I am an unwed mother and that went against their Christian values, she continued. The woman and her partner have a 13-year-old child together. The woman underscored that shes lucky enough to live along the Virginia state border, allowing her to receive out-of-state care. Still, she said she was scared out of her mind regarding the complications of the long drive. Tennessees Medical Ethics Defense Act went into effect in late April, allowing medical providers to opt out of participating in specific procedures that conflict with their consciencea legally defined term in the Volunteer State that refers to sincerely held ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. The aggrieved woman had her first prenatal visit less than three months after the measure was implemented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking with the Nashville Banner on the condition of anonymity, she recalled that instantly, I felt my stomach drop and I knew this wasnt right, this wasnt okay. I didnt want to react in a place of anger, because I felt like that was just going to support any judgment that the provider already had against me, she told the paper. I said thank you for your time and left, because if youre not willing to provide the best care to me, regardless of the reason, I dont want any part of this. They were not comfortable treating me because I am an unwed mother and that goes against their Christian values. At a recent town hall in Jonesborough, Tennessee, a woman said her OB-GYN refused to provide prenatal care because she isnt married. pic.twitter.com/E1eFTavtKY The Recount (@therecount) July 21, 2025 She has since filed complaints with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and the American Medical Association, according to the Banner. At the town hall, the woman said she had called Senator Marsha Blackburns office twice a day since the incident happened, but believed that she was either blocked or that Blackburn had all calls going directly to voicemail. Ive never even reached a staffer, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senator Bill Hagerty, however, did answerthough his staffers had bad news: I was told hes not obligated to listen to his constituents, the woman said. Just living in Tennessee as a pregnant woman, in the wake of the states total abortion ban, terrifies her. Speaking with the Banner, the mother recalled what happened to Adriana Smith in Georgia and feared that the same could happen to her in her home state. Smith, a 30-year-old woman, was declared brain dead in February after developing multiple blood clots in her brain. But because she was about nine weeks pregnant at the timepast Georgias six-week limit on abortionsthe state opted to use her body as an incubator until the fetus was viable. The fear for me is if something [high risk] happens, I cant guarantee that the provider I see is going to value my life over the life of this fetus, the Tennessee woman said. And while we do very, very much want this baby, I have one here already who very, very much relies on me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tennessee has the highest maternal mortality rate in the country, with more than 41 deaths per 100,000 births, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It also has a staggeringly high infant mortality ratetwo factors that, combined, contributed to its ranking as the worst state to live in in the U.S., according to a CNBC ranking. State Republicans pushed for the passage of the Medical Ethics Defense Act, bargaining that the legislation would help the state retain its medical professionals, but that hasnt been the case. Tennessee has been bleeding its medical expertise since the states abortion ban went into effect in 2022, and the states future isnt much brighter. A 2024 study from the Association of American Medical Colleges found that overall medical residency applications in the state had plummeted by more than 12 percent between 2023 and 2024, with obstetrics facing the worst decline, falling by 20.9 percent. Amid a MAGA meltdown over President Donald Trumps handling of the so-called Epstein files, the Justice Department is in talks to interview Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for child sex trafficking and other crimes connected to her longtime partner. Even if Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche does sit down with her in coming days, as he indicated Tuesday, to hear her account of who else may have participated in Jeffrey Epsteins crimes, anything she says may be exceedingly difficult to corroborate. That challenge will be exacerbated by her obvious incentive to tell the Trump administration what it wants to hear, perhaps in a bid for clemency or a reduced sentence. And the administration would face tough choices about how, or whether, to offer some sort of deal. The Justice Department has already accused Maxwell of being a pervasive liar. The prosecutors who brought charges against Maxwell repeatedly told the judge overseeing her 2021 trial that she was willing to brazenly lie under oath about her conduct. And they noted that her lies were the subject of two perjury counts, arguing that they evidence her willingness to flout the law in order to protect herself. (The counts, which were initially expected to be the subject of a second trial, were dropped after her conviction on the sex-trafficking charges.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are four questions raised by the Justice Departments surprising Maxwell move. Why is DOJ reaching out to Maxwell now? The Trump administration is struggling to escape the conspiracy vortex that its own leaders spent years fomenting. And now theyre casting about for ways to show the MAGA base that theyre pursuing new evidence in the Epstein case even though theyve already concluded theres nothing new to learn and said so just two weeks ago. Trump said Tuesday that he wasnt consulted in advance about the outreach to Maxwell but added: I think it would be something sounds appropriate to do, yeah. The White House declined further comment, deferring instead to the Justice Department. DOJ declined to elaborate on Blanches statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before her criminal case, Maxwell had already testified twice in civil lawsuits stemming from the allegations about her role in Epsteins crimes fiercely denying the existence of a criminal conspiracy or large-scale sex-trafficking operation. DOJ charged her with perjuring herself in those depositions. Maxwell has apparently never given her version of events to federal prosecutors. During pretrial proceedings in her criminal case, government prosecutors and Maxwells defense attorneys acknowledged they never even broached the subject of plea negotiations where such an interview might have occurred. The government has not issued any plea offers to the defense and the defense has not requested any plea offers from the government, then-Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Moe told Maxwells judge in November 2021. Maxwells attorney, meanwhile, claimed at the time that plea bargaining was not an issue because her client maintained her innocence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell declined to testify in her own defense at trial. At the Manhattan U.S. attorneys office, which brought the criminal charges against Maxwell, any defendant who cooperates with prosecutors must disclose all wrongdoing or risk losing the benefits of the hypothetical plea deal. That standard may have discouraged Maxwell from speaking to prosecutors. An attorney for Maxwell, David Oscar Markus, said Tuesday that Maxwell will always testify truthfully and confirmed that her legal team is in discussions with the government. In a letter to the court Tuesday, Markus indicated he had spoken directly to Blanche, who had no objection to Maxwell accessing some sealed materials connected to her criminal case. What could Maxwell tell DOJ that it doesnt already know? If you listen to Maxwell herself: Not much. She argued in court papers ahead of her trial that the allegations against her and Epstein were so old stretching back to the 1990s that theres little reliable information left to disclose. She contended that witnesses may have died or their memories faded, and corroborating documents she might be able to rely on to prove her version of events have long been destroyed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That filing includes categories labeled Dead witnesses and the lost testimony, Lost and missing witnesses, Witnesses whose memories have failed or corrupted and Lost or destroyed records. Significant numbers of potential witnesses no longer remember when events may have occurred, who was present, and do not have documents to refresh their memories, Maxwells lawyers contended. While Maxwells own memory of events could add new details to the record, its hard to see how prosecutors can credit any belated revelations without corroboration. What's in it for Maxwell? Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, so presumably any cooperation she might provide would come with a price. There are two main ways the Trump administration could repay her for information she offers, and they both have significant downsides for Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, the Justice Department could agree to file whats known as a Rule 35 motion, which is a request for a federal judge to lower a prison sentence based on certain conduct by a defendant, including cooperation with the government. The catch with that, however, is that it is up to the judge whether to grant such a request, and Maxwells case is now being overseen by U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer, an Obama appointee whom the Trump administration sees as a foe. Earlier this year, Engelmayer drew the wrath of Republicans after he temporarily blocked the Department of Government Efficiency from accessing Treasury Department payment systems. Trump called the decision a disgrace. Second, Trump could simply pardon Maxwell or commute her sentence. Although he has virtually unchecked authority to do so, such a move could cause serious political blowback. Trump is already under fire for failing to appease his base on the Epstein issue. Giving a break to a convicted child sex trafficker like Maxwell would likely further enrage those who are already angry over his handling of the matter unless Maxwell were to provide information so compelling to Trumps base that it could accept her walking free. How else might we hear from Maxwell or learn more about Epstein? On Tuesday morning, hours after the Justice Department said it would seek to interview Maxwell, House Republicans indicated they intend to subpoena Maxwell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This deposition will help the American people understand how Jeffrey Epstein was able to carry out his evil actions for so long without being brought to justice, said Tennessee Republican Rep. Tim Burchett, who put forth a motion seeking approval of the subpoena. And last week, the Justice Department asked to make public a subset of grand jury records stemming from the prosecutions of Epstein and Maxwell, but its unclear whether those would provide much insight beyond whats already known about those cases. First, federal judges must approve those requests. Additionally, DOJ already indicated that it intends to withhold certain information, including victim-related information and other personal identifying information prior to releasing the transcripts. On Tuesday, Engelmayer said he would rule on the request in the Maxwell case expeditiously but asked the government for additional information addressing several factors the judge must weigh, including why disclosure is being sought and what specific information is being sought. The judge also asked Maxwell to submit a letter stating her position on the potential disclosure, and he asked for any input from victims. In the Epstein case, U.S. District Judge Richard Berman asked for similar information. Attorneys for Donald Trump and Paramount Global officially gave notice Tuesday that the presidents litigation against CBS is over. The parties joint stipulation of dismissal with prejudice, filed in a Texas federal court, follows the announcement earlier this month that Paramount Global had settled Trumps lawsuit over the way that CBS News 60 Minutes edited an interview with Kamala Harris. The settlement contained no apology but called for Paramount to pay $16 million to Trumps future presidential library. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier on Tuesday, Trump posted on Truth Social that we have just achieved a BIG AND IMPORTANT WIN in our Historic Lawsuit against 60 Minutes, CBS, and Paramount. Just like ABC and George Slopadopoulos, CBS and its Corporate Owners knew that they defrauded the American People, and were desperate to settle. Trump went on to claim that Paramount/CBS/60 Minutes have today paid $16 Million Dollars in settlement, and we also anticipate receiving $20 Million Dollars more from the new Owners, in Advertising, PSAs, or similar Programming, for a total of over $36 Million Dollars. Earlier this month, Trump claimed that the additional amount was $16 million in advertising. His statement on Wednesday, though, was notable in that he stated that they anticipate the additional amount. Paramount Global has denied there was any additional amount to the settlement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contrary to some news reports or media speculation, Paramounts settlement with President Trump does not include PSAs or anything related to PSAs, a Paramount Global spokesperson said the day after the settlement was announced. Paramount has no knowledge of any promises or commitments made to President Trump other than those set forth in the settlement proposed by the mediator and accepted by the parties. A Skydance spokesperson declined comment. Trump sued CBS and Paramount last fall, claiming the network deceptively edited the interview with Harris to boost her election chances. The network denied that, and a 60 Minutes unedited transcript showed that one part of Harris answer to a question was shown on Face the Nation and the other part on the 60 Minutes broadcast. The networks attorneys and a number of legal experts said that the lawsuit was without merit. But Paramount Global is seeking Trump administration approval for its merger with Skydance. Although Paramount Global said the settlement was unrelated to FCC action, Trump has quickly cited his 60 Minutes complaint when asked about the status of the merger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent a letter to Skydance CEO David Ellison about a potential side deal with Trump, saying it raises questions of whether bribery laws were broken. They also asked about the circumstances of CBS cancellation last week of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. These reports raise fresh questions about corruption in the Trump Administration and President Trumps willingness to accept payments from entities with significant policy interests before agencies he controls, the three senators wrote. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The driver charged with murder for crashing a stolen rental car after speeding off the Manhattan Bridge into Chinatown knew she had killed two people when she and her passenger tried to hail a cab to get away, Manhattan prosecutors said Tuesday. While she refused blood and breathalyzer tests after being taken to the hospital, 23-year-old Autumn Donna Ascension Romero did admit she was driving the blue Malibu that slammed into victims May Kwok, 63, and bicyclist Kevin Cruickshank, 55, during the 7:30 a.m. Saturday crash at the Bowery and Canal St. She also admitted to having a few drinks before getting behind the wheel, prosecutors say. An open tequila bottle and a travel cup filled with alcohol were found in the front of the mangled car after the crash, prosecutors say. Cops say they found two 9-mm. pistols and a box of ammunition in a box inside the trunk of the wrecked vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Romeros attorney, however, tried to pin the crash on his clients passenger, alleging that 22-year-old Kennedy Lecraft may have grabbed the steering wheel just before the crash. Lecraft, who prosecutors say rented the Malibu from Enterprise and then failed to return it, is charged with weapon possession, possession of stolen property and unauthorized use of a vehicle. She was arraigned a day before Romero and is being held on Rikers Island on $300,000 bond. Romero and Lecraft managed to get out of their wrecked car and sat on the curb only 20 feet away from one of the decedents who was lying in the street, Assistant District Attorney Maria Luna said at Romeros arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court Tuesday. They then tried to flee the scene followed by multiple eyewitnesses who told them to stop and come back because they had just killed two people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The eyewitnesses managed to prevent Romero and Lecraft from hailing a cab and held the two captive until cops arrived and took them into custody. Romero is facing two counts of murder, as well as charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident and weapon possession after cops said two firearms were found in the Malibus trunk. Attorney Howard Greenberg said Romero is a nursing student. He suggested Lecraft may have grabbed the wheel and been responsible for the crash. My investigators learned that the co-defendant [Lecraft] apologized for the accident that she caused, Greenberg told Judge Michelle Weber. If you and I were driving to an arraignment and I was in the passenger seat and for some reason I grab the steering wheel and you have a neuro-muscular reaction that caused you to slam on the gas pedal, we might be able to envision what were the consequences of my behavior as a passenger in the car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lecrafts lawyer did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday on Greenbergs claims. Luna noted Romero was already facing charges in an unlicensed hit-and-run crash in April where shes accused of injuring a woman stepping out of an Uber in Brooklyn. She was facing a felony charge in Brooklyn for doing almost the same thing, Luna said. But in that case, she only caused serious physical injury, not death. At the request of the district attorney, Weber ordered Romero held without bail. Shes expected to return to court Thursday. With Nicholas Williams July 22 (UPI) -- Care about your kid's well being? Then best not give them a smartphone until they're a full-fledged teenager, a major new study says. Kids given a smartphone when they were younger than 13 tend to have poorer mental health and well-being, researchers report in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. Specifically, people between 18 and 24 who got their first smartphone at 12 or younger had higher odds of suicidal thoughts, aggression, detachment from reality, poorer emotional regulation and low self-worth, researchers report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early exposure to toxic social media explains much of the link between young smartphone access and poorer mental health, researchers said. Other contributing factors may include cyberbullying, disrupted sleep and poor family relationships. "Our data indicate that early smartphone ownership- and the social media access it often brings - is linked with a profound shift in mind health and wellbeing in early adulthood," says lead researcher Tara Thiagarajan, chief scientist of Sapien Labs, said in a news release. "I was initially surprised by how strong the results are," she said. "However, when you give it due consideration, it does begin to make sense that the younger developing mind is more compromised by the online environment given their vulnerability and lack of worldly experience." For the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 100,000 young adults around the world as part of the Global Mind Project, an ongoing research effort aimed at assessing the effects of modern society on mental health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each of the participants filled out a questionnaire to help determine their Mind Health Quotient (MHQ) - a measurement of their social, emotional, cognitive and physical well-being. The team focused on members of Generation Z born between 1997 and 2012 who were the first to grow up with smartphones and social media from early childhood. Results show that young adults who got their first smartphone before becoming teens had lower MHQ scores than those who got a phone later. In addition, the younger a person got their first smartphone, the worse their mental health and overall well-being, researchers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, about half (48%) of girls who got a smartphone at age 5 or 6 report suicidal thoughts, compared with 28% who got a smartphone at 13, the study says. Girls who got smartphones at a young age were more likely to have diminished self-image, self-worth and confidence, as well as less emotional resilience, researchers found. Meanwhile, boys were more likely to have lower stability, self-worth and empathy. Looking into potential causes, researchers found that early access to social media explains about 40% of the link between earlier smartphone ownership and poorer mental health in young adulthood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The results bolster growing concerns regarding how AI-driven social media algorithms amplify harmful content and encourage children to compare their lives to those of apparently happier and better-off influencers, researchers argue. Poor family relationships (13%), disrupted sleep (12%) and cyberbullying (10%) also contributed to the link, the study says. "Based on these findings, and with the age of first smartphones now well under age 13 across the world, we urge policymakers to adopt a precautionary approach, similar to regulations on alcohol and tobacco, by restricting smartphone access for under 13s, mandating digital literacy education and enforcing corporate accountability," Thiagarajan said. Several countries have already banned or restricted cell phone use in schools, including France, the Netherlands, Italy and New Zealand, researchers noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the U.S., Alabama, Arkansas, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma and West Virginia have passed legislation requiring schools to limit or ban smartphones, researchers added. "Our evidence suggests childhood smartphone ownership, an early gateway into AI-powered digital environments, is profoundly diminishing mind health and well-being in adulthood with deep consequences for individual agency and societal flourishing," Thiagarajan said. "That said, I think it is also important to point out that smartphones and social media are not the only assault to mental health and crisis facing younger adults," she said. "It explains some of the overall decline but not all of it." The study can't draw a direct cause-and-effect link between early smartphone access and poorer mental health as a young adult, researchers noted. More research is needed to confirm this link and explore its causes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Now, while more research is needed to unravel the causal mechanisms, waiting for irrefutable proof in the face of these population-level findings unfortunately risks missing the window for timely, preventative action," Thiagarajan said. More information Johns Hopkins Medicine has more on social media and children's mental health. Copyright 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Editors note: This editorial originally ran in fellow CNHI paper Enid, Oklahoma, News & Eagle. If the goal for Immigration and Customs Enforcement is to remove the worst of the worst undocumented immigrants, we fail to see how the detainment of Oklahoman Octavio Mota meets that goal. Mota is most certainly an Oklahoman. Having immigrated with his family when he was 2, mostly growing up in Enid before a recent move to Stillwater so his fiancee could study at Oklahoma State University, Mota has been a green card-holding legal permanent resident for much of his life. While ICE used some misdemeanors to make its arrest the kind of offenses that by all accounts probably could have been expunged by now Mota is not the worst of the worst. According to reporting from The Frontier, hes someone who works, pays taxes and was raising a family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our great Farmers and people in the Hotel and Leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace, President Donald Trump posted to his social media in June. In many cases the Criminals allowed into our Country by the VERY Stupid Biden Open Borders Policy are applying for those jobs This is not good. We must protect our Farmers, but get the CRIMINALS OUT OF THE USA. Changes are coming! Yes, a lot of American industry leans heavily on immigrant labor and its little shock that its often jobs that many natural born Americans seem unwilling to do. Words and deeds, apparently, are very different in these cases because White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller has pushed a huge quota onto ICE in an effort to make a campaign promise of mass deportations a reality. The reality is that ICE is now operating like the IRS. Theres a reason the IRS is more likely to audit someone making $50,000 a year than millionaire tax cheats the people making 50K a year dont have lawyers on retainer, they cant drag audits out for years and tie up the system. ICE, in an effort to meet its quota, is going for low-hanging fruit regardless of the human cost because its easier than infiltrating criminal organizations. Few people would argue that our borders should not be secured or that criminal gang members should not be deported. If your argument is that people should behave themselves once they come to this country, wed argue it should be pretty easy for anyone to weigh the justice of penalizing a youthful indiscretion like public intoxication against violent crimes or trafficking. How could it not be better for society if a father remained here to raise his child, do work that others wont and contribute to the tax base? If your argument is that people should be allowed to immigrate but must do it the right way, youre ignoring how increasingly and intentionally difficult that has become. When people like Mota are deported or threatened with deportation, it means Millers agenda isnt so much about national security than it is about an effort to reduce the number of brown people in the country. We dont think that was part of the campaign promise. Editors note: This editorial has been updated to reflect the fact Zelensky signed the bill into law on the evening of July 22, as shown on the Parliament's website. Last week, we warned of a coming anti-democratic backslide. Now, we see it happening. A parliamentary vote, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskys lawmakers, today took away the independence of Ukraines key anti-corruption bodies the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO). Zelensky signed it into law the same day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the new law, the prosecutor general, a notoriously non-independent figure, will now oversee anti-corruption investigations in a complete overturn of the system that was set up to be independent from other law enforcement bodies. In reality, it means that Zelenskys office will be able to stop investigations with a phone call. The move isnt an isolated incident, but part of a massive crackdown. The vote in parliament followed an unprecedented wave of raids on dozens of NABU officers homes the day before, where pretexts for searches ranged from drug trafficking accusations to car accidents from four years ago. The NABU chief said some searches got violent. A local media outlet reported that officers forced open a NABU detectives eyes to unlock his phone, set on face recognition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also closely follows an escalated prosecution of Ukraines best-known anti-corruption activist, an outspoken critic of Zelensky. This crackdown is being carried out by law enforcement agencies, lawmakers, and people controlled by President Zelensky. There is no second-guessing who is responsible for this. President Zelensky is making a choice to undermine Ukrainian democratic institutions in pursuit of expanding his personal power. Why do it now? The attacked anti-corruption agencies have been a nuisance for the political elite as they should be. They have investigated Zelenskys partys lawmakers and the presidents close associates. But just weeks ago, they went after his personal friend, then-Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, making him a suspect in a land grab case. There is talk of other close associates of Zelensky that detectives were investigating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, they were doing exactly what they were set up for: independently investigating top-level corruption. Its worth remembering that Ukraines anti-corruption infrastructure was set up in the years following the 2013-2014 EuroMaidan Revolution. It was one of the wins of the democratic, pro-Western movement that overthrew the corrupt pro-Russian president. Over 100 protesters were killed before the revolution prevailed. Protesters during the Revolution of Dignity, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 19, 2014. (Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images) It took the lives of those protesters, and years of work that followed, to set up independent anti-corruption infrastructure in Ukraine a major achievement for the young democracy. Now, President Zelensky is seeking to dismantle it to protect his associates and expand his power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The backdrop of the war is hugely helpful for this matter. Under martial law, there are no elections, and perhaps more importantly, there have been no mass street protests. Many of the most politically active Ukrainians, patriotic and uncompromising, are serving on the front lines or have been killed fighting. (The first anti-government protests since the start of the war are taking place right now, as we are running this editorial they are a reaction to todays vote, and have likely slowed down Zelenskys signing of the bill.) It is possible to condition Ukrainian leadership in a way that protects democracy but doesnt undermine Ukraines defense against Russia. But there is one other source of oversight: the West. And it needs to use its leverage to help Ukraine stay a democracy. Historically, Ukraines Western partners the U.S. and the EU have been a key force pushing reluctant Ukrainian officials to carry out reforms, including in the anti-corruption and law enforcement sector, using the leverage of financial aid to condition Ukrainians to move. It was a simple deal: Western aid comes in return for democratic progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the start of Russias full-scale invasion, Ukraines partners have largely refrained from pushing for reforms. The war and having a smooth relationship with Ukraines leadership have been made a priority. When a conversation is already awkward due to refusal to supply the requested weapons, the West is reluctant to further sour it with nods at failed reforms. Supporting democracy in Ukraine is a task that can wait till after the war that seemed to be the approach. Protesters gathered in response to a bill passed in Ukraine's parliament that strips independence from anti-corruption bodies, in Kyiv, Ukraine on July 22, 2025. The writing on the poster reads "Corruption applauds". (Danylo Antoniuk/The Kyiv Independent) This strategy has proved wrong, and it has led to todays dangerous backslide. The lack of interest from across the ocean has played a key role, too. U.S. President Donald Trumps administration isnt one to defend anti-corruption reforms, and only reluctantly pays attention to Ukraine at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evidently, certain actors in Ukraine perceived it as a free pass from Washington. Its not too late for Western partners to step in. It is possible to condition Ukrainian leadership in a way that protects democracy but doesnt undermine Ukraines defense against Russia. Military aid to Ukraine shouldnt be conditioned the survival of Ukraine and its defenders remains the number one priority. But it will be hard for foreign governments to find domestic support for such aid if Ukraine is allowed to slide into autocracy. The same man who represents Ukraines fight against Russia cant represent the destruction of Ukraines democracy. Every true supporter of Ukraine in Western governments needs to signal to Ukrainian leadership that the backslide is noted and wont go without consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there is no such reaction, there is no reason to think that the backslide will stop. There are other elements of the anti-corruption infrastructure that can be dismantled, such as the High Anti-Corruption Court. And next on the menu? Independent Ukrainian media. Ukraines democracy can still be salvaged. In peacetime, that responsibility would fall on the Ukrainian people. But today, Ukrainians are fighting and dying for Europe and the whole free world. Will the West hold the line for them? Read also: Point of no return Ukraines democracy under threat as new bill guts anti-corruption efforts Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Eliotte Heinz was a 22-year-old graduate student from Viterbo University, a private college in La Crosse, WI. That's an area of the Badger State that lines the Mississippi River; it's known as a college town surrounded by bluffs. Heinz disappeared on July 20 in La Crosse. She has now been found deceased in Minnesota. Police wrote on July 22 that the search "continues for Eliotte Heinz." However, on July 23, Viterbo announced the tragic news that Heinz was found deceased in the Mississippi River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was found dead in the Mississippi River on July 23, according to Viterbo. The cause of death is not yet clear; her body was located in the river in Brownsville, MN. "It is with sadness that we report, at approximately 10:28 a.m., Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025, the La Crosse Police Department was notified by the Houston County Sheriffs Department that a body had been located," La Crosse police wrote in a statement. "In what has been an ongoing proactive effort to locate Eliotte Heinz who had been reported missing on July 20th, 2025, today Eliottes body was recovered in the Mississippi River near Brownsville, MN. La Crosse Police are continuing to investigate and will await the results of an autopsy for an official cause of death. The entire department sends their condolences," the statement says. Multiple male college students have gone missing from the La Crosse bar area over the years and been found dead in the river. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some people are also mentioning the case of a 22 year old who went missing in Platteville, WI, on July 22, named Emma Jacob. She was also found deceased, although the cause of death is not clear. The deaths of the male college students, which date back to at least 1997, sparked concerns years ago about a potential serial killer, but police have repeatedly thrown cold water on that idea, blaming alcohol instead. They have not made that link in Heinz's case, however. "Between 1997 and 2006, La Crosse experienced tragedy after tragedy as eight separate college students were found to have drowned in the Mississippi River," the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's website says. "The deaths, contrary to some 'serial killer' theories put forth, were determined to be the results of excessive drinking combined with a close physical proximity to Riverside Park, bordering the Mississippi River." See a list here: Related: Many College Students Went Missing in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Is There a Serial Killer? Details of the Search for Eliotte Heinz "The La Crosse Police Department needs all of our help in the search for Eliotte Heinz. If you have information about Eliotte or her whereabouts, please contact law enforcement," the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrote on Facebook before Heinz was found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heinz's cellphone "was later recovered by her friends close to the hotel," a source told the Daily Mail. That hotel is the Courtyard Marriot, where surveillance video produced a much-shared image of Heinz walking down the sidewalk. Police released two photos of Heinz; one shows her with her dog, and the other shows her walking down the sidewalk. Elliote Heinz. La Crosse police photo release. La Crosse police have shared details of Heinz's last sighting. Heinz, who was born on June 8, 2003, "was last seen walking southbound on the 500 Block of Front Street South at approximately 3:22 a.m. on July 20th, 2025. Her family, friends and police have made several attempts to locate her with no success," La Crosse police wrote in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Eliotte is 22 years of age, 54, 120lbs, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Eliotte was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and jean shorts," the statement continues. According to the New York Post, Heinz disappeared after socializing "with friends at Broncos Bar in the citys downtown." Family members believe she was walking about 30 minutes to her apartment. Her family members appealed to the public for tips as the search continued. "If you have information as to Eliottes whereabouts or if you have seen her, please call police non-emergency at 608-782-7575. You can also report her whereabouts anonymously at La Crosse Area Crime Stoppers at 608-784-TIPS," police wrote. Related: Malcolm Jamal Warner Cause of Death: 'Cosby' Star Dies Tragically at 54 Eliotte Heinz Was a Missing College Student From La Crosse, Wisconsin. She Was Found Dead first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 22, 2025 A former engineer at a Southern California company has admitted to stealing U.S. trade secret technologies intended to detect nuclear missile launches, track ballistic and hypersonic missiles, and to allow U.S. fighter planes to detect and evade heat-seeking missiles. Chenguang Gong, 59, of San Jose, California, who is a dual citizen of the U.S. and China, pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of theft of trade secrets, federal Justice Department officials said in a statement. He remains free on $1.75 million bond. U.S. District Judge John Walter scheduled sentencing for Sept. 29. Gong faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The intended economic loss from Gongs criminal conduct exceeds $3.5 million, according to his plea agreement. Prosecutors said Gong transferred more than 3,600 files from a Los Angeles-area research and development company where he worked to personal storage devices during his brief tenure with the company last year. The files Gong transferred include blueprints for sophisticated infrared sensors designed for use in space-based systems to detect nuclear missile launches and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles, according to his plea agreement. They also include blueprints for sensors designed to enable U.S. military aircraft to detect incoming heat-seeking missiles and take countermeasures, including by jamming the missiles infrared tracking ability. U.S. Air Force F16 fighter jets fly in formation during U.S.-Philippines joint air force exercises dubbed Cope Thunder at Clark Air Base on May 09, 2023 in Mabalacat, Pampanga province, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images) Some of these files were later found on storage devices seized from Gongs temporary home in Thousand Oaks, California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January 2023, the victim company hired Gong as an application-specific integrated circuit design manager. In that role, he was responsible for the design, development and verification of its infrared sensors. Beginning on March 30, 2023, and continuing until his termination on April 26, 2023, prosecutors said Gong transferred thousands of files from his work laptop to three personal storage devices, including more than 1,800 files after he had accepted a job at one of the victim companys main competitors. Many of the files Gong transferred contained proprietary and trade secret information related to the development and design of a readout integrated circuit that allows space-based systems to detect missile launches and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles. They also contained a readout integrated circuit that allows aircraft to track incoming threats in low visibility environments. Gong also transferred files containing trade secrets relating to the development of next generation sensors capable of detecting low observable targets while demonstrating increased survivability in space, as well as the blueprints for the mechanical assemblies used to house and cryogenically cool the victim companys sensors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This information was among the victim companys most important trade secrets that are worth hundreds of millions of dollars, DOJ officials said in their statement. Many of the files had been marked [VICTIM COMPANY] PROPRIETARY, FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY, PROPRIETARY INFORMATION, and EXPORT CONTROLLED. This image provided by the U.S. Navy shows an aircraft launching from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during flight operations in the Red Sea, Jan. 22, 2024. (Kaitlin Watt/U.S. Navy via AP) Investigators also found that between approximately 2014 and 2022, while employed at several major technology companies in the U.S., Gong submitted numerous applications to Talent Programs administered by the Peoples Republic of China. The Chinese government uses talent programs to identify people with expert skills, abilities, and knowledge of advanced sciences and technologies, so they may help boost Chinas economy and its military capabilities, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2014, while employed at a U.S. information technology company headquartered in Dallas, Gong sent a business proposal to a contact at a high-tech research institute in China focused on both military and civilian products. In his proposal, translated from Chinese, Gong described a plan to produce high-performance analog-to-digital converters like those produced by his employer, prosecutors said. In another Talent Program application from September 2020, Gong proposed to develop low light/night vision image sensors for use in military night vision goggles and civilian applications. Gongs proposal included a video presentation that contained the model number of a sensor developed by an international defense, aerospace, and security company where Gong worked from 2015 to 2019, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gong travelled to China several times to seek Talent Program funding in order to develop sophisticated analog-to-digital converters. Prosecutors said in his Talent Program applications, Gong underscored that the high-performance analog-to-digital converters he proposed to develop in China had military applications, explaining that they directly determine the accuracy and range of radar systems and that [m]issile navigation systems also often use radar front-end systems. In a 2019 email, translated from Chinese, Gong remarked that he took a risk by traveling to China to participate in the Talent Programs because [he] worked foran American military industry company and thought he could do something to contribute to Chinas high-end military integrated circuits, according to prosecutors. 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 Ongoing tariff negotiations and the U.S.s declining global reputation, coupled with weakening economies and widespread political instability, have added significant complexity to the textile and apparel manufacturing industry. While denim is no more affected by these disruptions than other categories, blue jeans have emerged as a symbolic flashpoint in the broader debate. Arguably the most quintessential American garment, jeans have been manufactured primarily overseas for decades. This period has served as a reminder of how the legacy of American-made denim stands in contrast to todays global manufacturing reality. Despite President Trumps America First policy, the prevailing sentiment from domestic denim brand owners and designers is that a thriving domestic denim industry is unlikely to make a comeback. The necessary investment, expertise, machinery, and skilled workforce simply arent in place. The swift decline of Vidalia Mills in Louisianaif it can even be said to have truly taken offis a telling example. More from Sourcing Journal However, there are still pockets of opportunity, often driven by a renewed appreciation for heritage and nostalgia. The enduring fascination among denim enthusiasts with White Oaks iconic Draper X3 looms, the rising demand for vintage Americana fashion, and the efforts of U.S. brands to rebuild domestic supply chains all underscore the resilience of Made in USA. Download SJ Denims Made in America issue to learn: How small U.S. brands are navigating cost challenges to manufacture domestically Why designers say sourcing U.S.-made denim fabric is their greatest challenge How the legacy of White Oak lives on through photos and a foundation Why U.S. jeans are important to the Western consumer How one brand established a local supply chain for Made in USA jeans And much more Click here to download the issue. Jeffrey Epsteins brother is doubling down on his belief that the late financier didnt die by suicide when he was behind bars, while outlining his suspicions of a potential cover-up and demanding more information be released. Every American citizen should be concerned. Here you have an American citizen who was killed in prison under federal protection. That should disturb everyone that that can happen, Mark Epstein said in an interview Monday with Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. Mark said he initially had no reason to doubt that his brother, 66, did kill himself in 2019 while awaiting a federal sex trafficking trial, as authorities have said. I knew he was in jail. He was potentially facing a very long term. I knew he wouldnt want to live like that. Jeffrey Epstein's brother, Mark Epstein, has called for the release of more information about his late brother's death. via Associated Press But he said his views changed after going to identify his brothers body and speaking with a forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy. He also heard from a second pathologist, Dr. Michael Baden, whom he hired to witness the procedure on his behalf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They both came out of the autopsy room and they said they couldnt call it a suicide because it looked too much like a homicide. Now that never appears in any government report and no ones speaking about that. The two qualified forensic pathologists who did the autopsy could not call it a suicide because it looked too much like a homicide, he said. He questioned why New York Citys chief medical examiner, Dr. Barbara Samson, would later declare his brothers death to be a suicide, while accusing her of never personally examining his body or attending the autopsy herself. After the autopsy was over that day, we claimed the body. So she never saw it, he said. Samson has hit back against doubts previously shared by Dr. Baden, who briefly served as New York Citys medical examiner and who raised questions about broken bones found in Jeffrey Epsteins neck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I stand firmly behind our determination of the cause and manner of death in this case, she told The New York Times. In general, fractures of the hyoid bone and the cartilage can be seen in suicides and homicides. Mark Epstein has previously spoken out against authorities findings while even suggesting that his former friend President Donald Trump could have played a role. We know that Jeffrey had dirt on Donald Trump. Jeffrey Epsteins brother Mark Epstein says he wouldnt be surprised if Trump ordered his brothers murder. He also blames Trump for the subsequent DOJ and FBI coverup. pic.twitter.com/oRnb0HBRjA Mike Sington (@MikeSington) July 12, 2025 We know that Jeffrey had dirt on Donald Trump. We know that. Thats a fact, he told Don Lemon in an interview earlier this month. Mark claimed that in 2016 his brother told him that if he ever spoke publicly about what he knew about Trump, theyd have to cancel the presidential race that Trump was running in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He didnt tell me what he knew, but thats what he said, and Ive been public about that before, that shouldnt come as a shock, he said. He didnt tell me what he knew, but he said if he said what he knew, hed have to cancel the election. Thats a direct quote. Believing there are more questions than answers, Mark said he wants more information released, including by Trumps former White House adviser Steve Bannon, who claims to have hours worth of footage of him and Epstein talking in 2019. Let me see the videotapes, Mark Epstein told NBC News on Friday. Hes my brother. Bannon has said that he plans to release the footage early next year as part of a documentary hes working on. The documentary, he told The New York Times in 2021, will show how Epsteins perversions and depravity toward young women were part of a life that was systematically supported, encouraged and rewarded by a global establishment that dined off his money and his influence. Related... After years of peddling conspiracy theories about Jeffrey Epstein and demanding transparency on the workings of the so-called deep state and failing to make good on that promise it seems patience has run out for President Donald Trump and the pressure is on. The Justice Department and FBI set off a firestorm among Trump supporters when they announced in an unsigned memo that they would not make any further disclosures in the case of Jeffrey Epstein, a former longtime friend of Trump who died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting a federal sex trafficking trial in New York. After an exhaustive review, the memo said, the Justice Department had failed to locate any incriminating client list that may have detailed who participated in the underage sex trafficking services Epstein facilitated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the memo directly contradicted previous statements from the administration: In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi had confidently proclaimed that there was a client list sitting on my desk right now to review. And when the Department of Justice released declassified files on Epstein in that same month, they specifically hailed it as a first phase, while the White House had a ceremony for the release of the files which turned out to be mostly previously released flight logs and Epsteins phone book contacts inviting 15 far- and right-wing influencers to the White House to receive binders labeled The Epstein Files. HuffPost is committed to fearlessly covering the Trump administration. Click here to support our mission and become a member today. The contradiction roiled the MAGA faithful, sparked reports of infighting among administration officials and Republican politicians. And for once, they seemed to put Trump on the defensive. Trump had known and talked about Epstein publicly for years he told New York Magazine in 2002 that they had been friends since the 1980s and now the combination of the old friendship and the apparent lack of transparency had his supporters mistrustful, with his attempts to distance himself from Epstein failing to soothe his base. The president directed Bondi to ask federal courts to publicly release all of the pertinent grand jury transcripts in several of Epsteins criminal cases, as well as the case of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epsteins friend and associate, who remains the only person convicted in the situation. He expressed frustration about the distrust: He was making the order, Trump wrote in his directive posted to Truth Social, because of the ridiculous amount of publicity around Epstein. And he included a crucial caveat the testimony, he said, should be released subject to Court approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the surface, the maneuver may appear to be an attempt at transparency from the administration. Grand jury transcripts are typically kept under seal due to their sensitive nature and the potential risk of exposing identifying information about witnesses or other key players involved in a case. But the reality is that grand jury transcripts can only tell part of a story and it is not one that will necessarily reveal the truths people are seeking. A grand jury is convened not to pass judgment on guilt or innocence, but rather to decide whether there is probable cause to believe that a person committed a crime that can be prosecuted. Though prosecutors can subpoena documents or witness testimony to make their presentations, grand jury sessions are typically brief, with the jury seeing just enough information to convince them that charges are warranted. Much of the relevant evidence, especially correspondence or testimony from witnesses, is left for actual trial proceedings. Because of this, it is almost certain that the grand jury transcripts will include nothing revelatory about Epsteins clients or his powerful cadre of friends and allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And then there is the fact that what is, and is not, released must still be decided on. State and federal prosecutors may try to negotiate how much, and which pieces, of the transcripts should or shouldnt be made public. Epstein faced state charges in Florida before federal charges in New York, and the judges who presided over those cases will ultimately determine what information to release. Bondi, as well as whichever DOJ prosecutors are assigned to the case, will likely play a role in the negotiations. Even in cases that dont involve much sensitive information, negotiations over redactions can take weeks. Margaret Donovan, a former U.S. attorney, told HuffPost that its critical for people to understand that the promise of a grand jury transcript isnt worth much at face value. If you want to cherry-pick grand jury records to disclose, sure, you can pick a witness that isnt going to say anything about Trump. And what does that get you? Donovan said. It depends on the witness and the question asked. If the DOJ knows what records it is disclosing, asking for the transcripts is a safe call for them. They get to pick what gets shown to the public and they know what the transcripts say. Theyre just asking a judge to unseal it to the public. If transparency is the aim, the Justice Department could start by conducting a tailored search of all of the records and trial evidence available in Epstein and Maxwells cases from discovery, not just the transcripts. Unlike a grand jury transcript, which typically features tailored or limited questions, other evidence, such as photographs and digital downloads from devices, can flesh out more detailed information about a case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are also FBI 302s, forms that FBI agents complete to recount information from interviews with witnesses or other parties involved in a case. These forms are often heavily redacted when entered into a public docket, but the DOJ could request them and ask them to be made public if it so chooses. If people want to know if Trump was involved in the Epstein case, the DOJ should do a more targeted search for records that involve him, or they should do a full-scale release of the records, Donovan said. On Tuesday afternoon, the New York Times reported that two judges in New York responded to the Justice Departments request to unseal the transcripts. The government must provide arguments explaining why the grand jury materials should be unsealed and then submit two copies of the transcripts to the court. One copy will be unredacted and for the courts viewing; the other will be a version with the governments proposed redactions. Any exhibits that were presented to jurors that the department wishes to include can also be entered into the record if they wish. As clamoring over the Epstein files continues, on Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced in a post on X that the DOJ had reached out to attorneys for Maxwell seeking her testimony about anyone who has committed crimes against the victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in Blanches statement, he reiterated the departments findings in its memo: That no evidence was uncovered that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties. President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence. If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and DOJ will hear what she has to say, Blanche said. Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her role in recruiting underage girls for sexual abuse and hit with a fine of $750,000. When she was sentenced, Maxwell squarely blamed Epstein for her fate, leaving one witness who testified during the trial to remark that Maxwells apology came across as very hollow. The former socialite has appealed, and in April, she asked the Supreme Court to review details of her case and overturn her conviction. Maxwell claims that a 2008 non-prosecution agreement that Epstein struck with the U.S. Attorneys Office in Florida, which stated no criminal charges would be brought against any of his potential co-conspirators, should have covered her as well. An appeals court waved off Maxwells arguments: Since she was prosecuted in New York and Epsteins non-prosecution agreement was struck in Florida, it didnt apply to her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Blanches announcement on Tuesday, Maxwells attorney responded on X, saying she would testify truthfully to the department. Republican Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee who is also a member of the House Oversight Committee wants to subpoena Maxwell to testify before Congress. But Speaker of the House Mike Johnson shut down the House of Representatives on Tuesday, opting to send lawmakers into a five-week recess. There is no promise any of Maxwells conversations will be fully fleshed out in public since her appeal is active and still pending. Whatever would emerge would likely be limited because of this. The peddling and flouting of conspiracy theories is a cornerstone of Trumps approach to campaigning and governance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein has been, if nothing else, a convenient tool for Trumps messaging against political opponents, allowing to him to shift narratives or criticism on himself to another target: In 2019, Trump accused Bill and Hillary Clinton of being involved in Epsteins death while demanding a full probe; in 2020, he told reporter Jonathan Swan at least three times that people were still trying to figure out whether Epstein was killed or died by suicide; in 2023, Trump raised the conspiracy theory again when Tucker Carlson asked whether he believed Epstein had been murdered or not; last June, when asked during a Fox News interview whether he would declassify files on Epstein if reelected, Trump said he would before calling Epsteins death a weird situation and commenting on questions about the cameras that didnt happen to be working in Epsteins cell. And last September, while appearing on Lex Fridmans podcast, Trump assured listeners he would certainly take a look at releasing the list. Id have no problem with it, he said. This week, however, he called those demanding that list and more answers about his well-documented relationship to Epstein, weaklings fallen victim to bullshit, hook, line and sinker. Related... Erik Menendez has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition, his attorney said Tuesday. Erik, 54, and his brother Lyle, 57, are currently in prison for the 1989 shotgun murder of their parents, Mary Louise Kitty Menendez and Jose Menendez after being sentenced to life in prison without parole. The brothers are currently awaiting an August parole board hearing to determine if they will be released from prison after being resentenced in May. The specifics of Eriks condition have not been disclosed, though TMZ later reported he is suffering from kidney stones. His attorney, Mark Geragos, called for Eriks immediate release from prison due to his illness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erik is having a serious medical condition right now, Geragos told TMZ. I just think he should be parole furloughed, I think is the proper term, and he could be medically furloughed in advance of the hearing so that he can work with the parole attorney and get up to speed and be ready and do it and give it his best shot. I think that it's the only fair and equitable thing to do, he said. Erik Menendez (center) has been hospitalized (AP1990) Geragos did confirm that Erik has been receiving treatment at the the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California. The Independent has reached out to Geragos for more information. Erik and Lyle are currently one month away from their hearing scheduled for August 21 and 22, where, after 35 years in prison, a California parole board will decide if the two brothers are fit to be released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In May 2025, the two had their prison sentences reduced from life without parole to 50 years to life, which will make them eligible for parole under Californias youthful offender law because they committed the crime under the age of 26. The brothers were 18 and 21 at the time of the killings. Both brothers gave statements to the court prior to the ruling. I killed my mom and dad. I make no excuses and also no justification, Lyle said. The impact of my violent actions on my family ... is unfathomable. He added: I committed an atrocious act against two people who had the right to live, my mom and dad, he said. Today, 35 years later, I am deeply ashamed of who I was. He told the court that if released, he plans to work with the incarcerated community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erik said he took full responsibility for the killings and expressed his profound sorrow at his actions. I fired all five rounds at my parents and went back to reload, he said. I lied to police. I lied to my family. I'm truly sorry. Defense attorneys argued during the 1996 trial that the brothers acted out of self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father, but prosecutors argued that they killed their parents for a multimillion-dollar inheritance. The case has captured the publics attention for decades and the Netflix drama Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story and recent documentary The Menendez Brothers recently brought new attention to the case. Last year, former Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon opened the door to possible freedom for the brothers by asking a judge to reduce their sentences. But the newly elected district attorney, Nathan Hochman, had opposed the brothers resentencing, saying he did not believe they had taken responsibility for the murders. Erik Menendez is seeking to be released from prison as he receives treatment for a serious medical condition ahead of his parole hearing next month, his attorney said this week. Attorney Mark Geragos declined to share the specifics of the 54-year-old's condition in an interview with TMZ. But sources familiar with Erik's treatment told The Times he's suffering from severe kidney stones and complications arising from the condition, and needs extensive medical treatment. Geragos did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment from The Times on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Geragos told TMZ he would ask Gov. Gavin Newsom to release Erik immediately ahead of the brothers' appearance before the parole board. "It's a serious condition and he needs, I think, to be out so he can focus on the hearing," Geragos said, adding that he thinks releasing him early would be "the appropriate thing to do." Erik Menendez and his brother, Lyle, have spent more than 35 years in prison for killing their parents in 1989 in a case that over the past year has gained renewed public attention following the release of Netflix's "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" and various documentaries. The brothers were given a chance at freedom in May when an L.A. County judge granted a request to resentence them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic's decision to sentence the brothers to 50 years to life came after hours of testimony from family members who said the brothers had spent enough time behind bars for the brutal killings of their parents. The brothers had been serving life terms without the possibility of parole. If the parole board recommends freeing the brothers in August, the decision will be sent to Newsom for consideration. 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. An attorney for the Menendez brothers, who were convicted in the infamous 1989 murders of their parents, says Erik is suffering from a "serious" medical condition and should be released from prison immediately. In an interview with TMZ's Harvey Levin published on Tuesday, July 22, attorney Mark Geragos did not specify Erik's condition but noted he is getting treatment behind bars at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, Calif. It's unclear if Erik's condition is life-threatening. The news comes ahead of a parole board hearing for Erik, 54, and his brother, Lyle, 57, on Aug. 21 and Aug. 22. The brothers were resentenced to 50 years to life in prison on May 13, making them eligible for parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The siblings were previously sentenced to life in prison without parole for fatally shooting their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, inside the den of their Beverly Hills home on Aug. 20, 1989. VINCE BUCCI/AFP/Getty Erik and Lyle Menendez in 1992. Erik and Lyle Menendez in 1992. Erik, then 18, and Lyle, then 21, claimed that the murders came after their father the chief operating officer of RCA Records sexually abused them for years and their mother, a former pageant queen, ignored the abuse. They have maintained that they feared for their lives and that Jose had threatened to kill them if they told anyone about the sexual abuse. Meanwhile, prosecutors said the two brothers motive was greed and cited their lavish spending spree after the slayings. Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom could potentially seek to grant the brothers clemency and make his decision at any time, though he has said he will wait until after their final parole beard hearing to decide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom previously requested the parole board conduct a comprehensive risk assessment investigation into whether the brothers could pose a risk to public safety should they be released. 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. After he resentenced the brothers, Judge Michael Jesic said he'd given the matter "long thought," acknowledging they committed an "absolutely horrific crime, and there's no way around it." But he said he was moved by the brothers' behavior behind bars. "Life without parole gives an inmate no hope, no reason to do anything good. And I give them a lot of credit. It's remarkable what they did when they had no hope of getting out," Jesic said. The Menendez brothers made a virtual video appearance at the hearing and took full responsibility for the murders, Fox News reported. Read the original article on People Erik Menendez is being treated for a serious medical condition ahead of his parole hearing in August. Following his diagnosis, Mark Geragos, Eriks attorney, has asked California Governor Gavin Newsom to allow his client to leave prison. However, he would not clarify what the specific condition was or if he was requesting furlough to receive better medical treatment. I dont want to let the cat out of the bag, he told TMZ on Tuesday, July 22. I am not going to violate HIPAA or attorney client privilege but if there is anybody that should be furloughed especially right now a month before the hearing it is Erik. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he noted that his diagnosis was hopefully not life-threatening, Geragos, 67, reiterated that it was serious. He should be medically furloughed so he can work with the parole attorney and be up to speed and be ready, the lawyer explained. It is the only fair and equitable thing to do. Its since been confirmed by TMZ that Menendez, 54, is being treated for kidney stones. Erik and Lyle Menendez were arrested in 1990 on first-degree murder charges for the 1989 deaths of their parents, Jose and Kitty. Despite claims that they acted in self defense following years of alleged sexual abuse, the brothers were both sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Decades later, their story returned to the spotlight with the release of Ryan Murphys series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. It not only sparked debate on the events that may have led up to Jose and Kittys murders, but also whether the brothers were unfairly sentenced. Celebrities such as Rosie ODonnell and Kim Kardashian have publicly spoken out on the case and argued in favor of their release. I have spent time with Lyle and Erik; they are not monsters. They are kind, intelligent, and honest men, Kardashian, 44, wrote in an October 2024 essay published by NBC News. The killings are not excusable. I want to make that clear. Nor is their behavior before, during or after the crime. But we should not deny who they are today in their 50s. The Menendez brothers were resentenced to 50 years to life in May, making them eligible for parole. Their hearings are currently scheduled to take place on August 21 and 22. (WJET/WFXP) Over an acre of land was damaged following a fire in Conneaut, Ohio, on Tuesday. On Tuesday, July 22, around 1 p.m., first responders from the Conneaut Fire Department, Monroe Township Volunteer Fire Department and the Springfield Volunteer Fire Department responded to a brush fire near South Parish and Horton roads in Conneaut Township. Erie community make quick save of baby ducks amid Moon Mammoths excitement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Conneaut Fire Department chief also requested additional assistance from the Kingsville Township Fire Department and Pierpont Volunteer Fire Department. According to crews on scene, the fire was located at the edge of a hayfield that had recently been cut and raked. Water rescue training: Lake City Fire Department trains for water response Fire crews, with the help of a local farmer, were able to stop the spread of the fire before it reached a nearby woodline. In total, fire crews were on scene for about an hour and a half, and a total of 1.5 acres burned on the property. No injuries were reported. Photo provided by: West County On Scene Photo provided by: West County On Scene Photo provided by: West County On Scene Photo provided by: West County On Scene Photo provided by: West County On Scene Photo provided by: West County On Scene Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The United States has entered the peak of summer and a heat dome sealing in all that hot, humid air is making millions of people feel every bit of it. Some cities could notch their highest temperatures of the year as heat builds from the South to the Midwest this week while humidity drives the heat index, or how hot it will actually feel, well into the triple digits. Heat remains the deadliest form of extreme weather in the US. Globally, heat waves are becoming more frequent, more severe and lasting longer as the world warms due to fossil fuel-driven climate change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brutal temperatures will stretch from the South through the Midwest on Thursday and also start to push into the East. Thursday could be the new hottest day of the year in cities like Chicago, St. Louis and Memphis. Chicago and St. Louis are expected to soar into the upper 90s while Memphis could flirt with the triple digit mark. Unlike the intense heat wave earlier this summer, this bout of stifling heat isnt likely to topple hundreds of records. But records dont need to fall for heat to be incredibly dangerous. A Level 3 of 4 heat risk stretches from the Gulf Coast to Vermont Thursday, and pockets along the Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast are under a Level 4 of 4 extreme risk. The heat will ramp up considerably Thursday in parts of the Ohio Valley and start to reach into the Northeast. Detroit, Cleveland and Cincinnati could come within a degree of or match their hottest day of the year so far, with expected highs in the 90s. These highs are about 10 degrees hotter than whats typical even in this hottest month of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most intense heat for the East Coast will arrive by Friday, with high temperatures in the middle to upper 90s and a heat index of 100 degrees or more possible for Washington, DC, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston. High temperatures in this range are also up to 10 degrees hotter than typical for these cities. Heat this severe impacts anyone without access to effective cooling or proper hydration, not just vulnerable populations, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And for those without air conditioning, staying indoors can become deadly during the hottest parts of the day, the agency warns. For those under the highest risk level, the heat dangers are heightened because there will be little to no overnight relief. The heat index also known as the apparent temperature will soar to dangerous levels for tens of millions this week. Heat indices soared into the triple digits across the South and parts of the Central Plains on Tuesday and Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Humid conditions will also prevent temperatures from cooling significantly overnight. It could still be close to 80 degrees in St. Louis by sunrise Thursday nearly 10 degrees higher than a typical low for July. Chicago is expected to see low temperatures in the upper 70s Thursday morning, a departure from the typical lows in the 60s for this time of year. When overnight temperatures dont cool down enough to offer relief for overheated bodies, people are at greater risk for heat-related illnesses. Nighttime temperatures are taking the hardest hit from climate change, warming faster than daytime highs. Climate change is making this weeks heat wave at least three times more likely for nearly 160 million people, almost half the US population, when compared with a world without fossil fuel emissions, according to an analysis from the climate research nonprofit Climate Central. The heat dome will ease by Saturday for many, replaced by more typical, though still very toasty, late July temperatures. Heres how hot this summer has been so far For many in the contiguous US, its been sweltering since meteorological summer June through August began. The bulk of the heat has been focused on the East, where dozens of locations are so far on track for their hottest summer to date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many more locales are currently experiencing at least one of their 10-hottest summers to date. The Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley and Midwest have all been literal hotspots. Summer-to-date temperature rankings are valid as of July 17, 2025. - CNN Weather Rather than searing daytime temperatures driving the above-average heat in these locations, its been many, many instances of too-warm overnight lows making the biggest impact, according to a CNN analysis of data from NOAAs National Climatic Data Center. The Plains have so far dodged this really hot summer. Much of the West has too, with a few exceptions: Seattle is having its fifth-warmest summer to date while Portland is hovering around seventh-highest. Tiny pockets of cooler-than-normal summers are few and far between in the US, but the San Francisco Bay Area in California is one of them. Parts of the Bay Area including Oakland and Fremont are experiencing one of their coolest summers to date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement August will likely be another hot month for much of the country, according to the Climate Prediction Centers latest forecast. Cities that are already baking could continue their hot streak while other places that have escaped the worst could still warm up a bit in the latter part of summer. CNNs Luke Snyder contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) will release earnings results for the second quarter, before the opening bell on Wednesday, July 23. Analysts expect the Dallas-based company to report quarterly earnings at 53 cents per share, down from 57 cents per share in the year-ago period. AT&T projects to report quarterly revenue of $30.46 billion. It reported $29.8 billion the previous year, according to data from Benzinga Pro. On July 16, Morgan Stanley analyst Simon Flannery maintained an Overweight rating for AT&T. It also raised the price target from $31 to $32. With the recent buzz around AT&T, some investors may be eyeing potential gains from the company's dividends. As of now, AT&T offers an annual dividend yield of 3.84%. Thats a quarterly dividend amount of 28 cents per share ($1.11 a year). To figure out how to earn $500 monthly from AT&T, start with the yearly target of $6,000 ($500 x 12 months). Next, we take this amount and divide it by AT&T's $1.11 dividend: $6,000 / $1.11 = 5,405 shares. So, an investor would need to own approximately $147,989 worth of AT&T, or 5,405 shares to generate a monthly dividend income of $500. Assuming a more conservative goal of $100 monthly ($1,200 annually), we do the same calculation: $1,200 / $1.11 = 1,081 shares, or $29,598 to generate a monthly dividend income of $100. View more earnings on T Note that dividend yield can change on a rolling basis, as the dividend payment and the stock price both fluctuate over time. The dividend yield is calculated by dividing the annual dividend payment by the current stock price. As the stock price changes, the dividend yield will also change. For example, if a stock pays an annual dividend of $2 and its current price is $50, its dividend yield would be 4%. However, if the stock price increases to $60, the dividend yield would decrease to 3.33% ($2/$60). Conversely, if the stock price decreases to $40, the dividend yield would increase to 5% ($2/$40). Further, the dividend payment itself can also change over time, which can also impact the dividend yield. If a company increases its dividend payment, the dividend yield will increase even if the stock price remains the same. Similarly, if a company decreases its dividend payment, the dividend yield will decrease. T Price Action: Shares of AT&T rose by 1.6% to close at $27.38 on Monday. Read More: Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Claim: In July 2025, Barron Trump, the son of U.S. President Donald Trump, announced his marriage to Sasha Obama, the daughter of former President Barack Obama. Rating: Rating: False In July 2025, videos surfaced on social media sites like YouTube and TikTok alleging that Barron Trump, the son of U.S. President Donald Trump, announced his marriage to Sasha Obama, the daughter of former President Barack Obama, without providing evidence to corroborate the claim. Snopes readers searched the site looking for information about the rumor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The claim is false. The rumor spread in the form of videos with narration, scripting and sequencing generated using artificial intelligence (AI) video tools. Without naming a source for its information, one video's narrator said: Barron Trump has just announced that Sasha Obama will be his one and only wife. Donald Trump was so furious that he was rushed to a private hospital. But Barron refuses to give up, because Sasha possesses three qualities that deeply attract him. However, there was no evidence to support the assertion that Barron Trump and Sasha Obama were engaged to be married. If, hypothetically speaking, there was even a sliver of truth to the claim for instance, if there was even a rumor that the two were dating at all reputable media outlets would have written about it. However, searching the internet for such articles turned up no results. In short, the claim appeared to be made up from whole cloth for the purpose of gaining clicks, or views, online. Despite the fact that the video's underlying claim was false, the clip about the two presidents' children could seem believable because both largely stay out of the public limelight, creating more uncertainty about their personal lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most recent available news on Sasha Obama's dating life comes from 2022, when tabloids claimed she was dating Clifton Powell Jr., son of the actor Clifton Powell. Meanwhile, People magazine reported a rumor about Barron Trump having a girlfriend at New York University in June 2025. Videos sharing such baseless rumors are able to use AI-generated images to make it harder for viewers to discern whether a story is real or fake. Such videos can generate hundreds or thousands of comments from YouTube users, some of whom appear to interpret the videos as real news. This was not the first time Barron Trump had supposedly become engaged to or married the child of a world leader we previously reported on a rumor that he had married Princess Leonor of Spain, which came from similarly AI-generated videos. Sources: Allen, Joseph. "Rumors Are Swirling That Barron Trump and Sasha Obama Are Dating." Distractify, 21 Jul. 2025, https://www.distractify.com/p/barron-trump-and-sasha-obama-dating-rumors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Secret Service Is 'Well-Versed' in Handling Girlfriends, Source Says as Barron Trump Dating Rumors Emerge (Exclusive)." People.Com, https://people.com/barron-trump-dating-rumors-secret-service-well-versed-relationships-exclusive-11749306. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025. Selleck, Emily. Who Is Clifton Powell Jr.? What to Know about Sasha Obama's BF. 21 Apr. 2022, https://pagesix.com/article/who-is-clifton-powell-jr-what-to-know-about-sasha-obamas-bf/. Wrona, Aleksandra. "Did Barron Trump Marry Princess Leonor of Spain?" Snopes, 6 Jun. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/spain-marriage-barron-trump-princess-leonor/. ISLE OF WIGHT A state trooper on Monday night shot at a man who authorities said crashed a sedan, flashed a firearm and fled the scene after the trooper attempted a traffic stop near the James River Bridge. The man remains at large but poses no threat to the community, Virginia State Police said. Around 9:41 p.m. on Monday, a trooper observed a Chevrolet Impala speeding south on the U.S. 17. State police said the trooper attempted to pull over the car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State police said the Impala stopped in the roadways median near the Eagle Harbor Apartments in Carrollton. The driver, while fleeing the car on foot, displayed a firearm and the trooper fired at him. There were two passengers in the car. Multiple agencies unsuccessfully attempted to located the man. State police said the passengers and trooper were not injured. No additional details were immediately available. Anyone with information is urged to contact state police at (804) 750-8789 or submit a tip through questions@vsp.virginia.gov. GALIVANTS FERRY, S.C. (WBTW) Drivers are being asked to avoid a section of Highway 308 in the Galivants Ferry area because of fallen tree branches that are blocking the roadway, Horry County Fire Rescue said. As of about 1:40 p.m., the highway was closed between Nichols Highway and Jenerette Road, HCFR said. Crews are working with the South Carolina Department of Transportation to get the highway back open. Download the News13 app to stay updated on the go Sign up for WBTW email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WBTW.com for the Grand Strand and Pee Dee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. PLATTSBURGH North Country moms, babies and families are invited to celebrate breastfeeding by participating in The Big Latch On planned from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 9. The free event will be held in the boardroom at University of Vermont Health Network Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., with latch time at 10:30 a.m. The latch will be held on the front lawn weather permitting. Guests are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. Each year, breastfeeding women across the globe come together to nurse their child for one full minute at an established time. The event originated in New Zealand and was started by the Womens Health Action in 2005 as part of World Breastfeeding Week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Plattsburgh Big Latch On is held annually as part of this world-wide effort to promote breastfeeding as a healthy start for babies. The Big Latch On is a celebration of breastfeeding, though all types of infant feeding are recognized as valid and supported. The breastfeeding journey is very different for everyone. No two journeys will look the same. For some, it can be a real challenge. Helping individuals meet their personal feeding goals is the top priority, Jocelyn Fittin, a lactation consultant with the Alice T. Miner Women & Childrens Center, said. The community looks forward to this event every year, so it is an honor to be able to facilitate this. I am so proud of how much this event has helped normalize breastfeeding over the years. The event is so important, because women and families from our community can see that theyre not alone and that there is a lot of support out there to lean on. Having support within the community and family support is crucial for success. In addition to the latch on moment, mothers, babies and their loved ones can also: get their picture taken courtesy of Natures Breeze Photography Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement get prizes for the youngest and oldest nursling get door prizes enjoy refreshments visit local agencies and vendors on site with information and answers to questions enjoy a bake sale benefiting the WCC Bereavement Program to help families through infant loss For more information, contact Fittin at 518-562-7142. Everyone loves a David and Goliath story, especially when the David character the little guy ends up coming out on top against the giant -- the powerful Goliath. Who doesn't want victory for the underdog? It's a great story, but it's not always the realistic outcome, and sometimes the Goliath is just too darn strong. In the case of two fast-food taco chains, Del Taco (David) tried its best to overtake its rival, Taco Bell (Goliath), but to no avail. The two taco restaurants began around the same time in the 1960s, with Del Taco opening just two years after Taco Bell. Del Taco has always seen Taco Bell as its rival, while today, Taco Bell's competitors are really the other fast-food giants like McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King. In the early 1990s the smaller company was led by Kevin Moriarty, who wanted to emulate the success of Taco Bell. However, Del Taco's plans for mass expansion sadly didn't quite work out. After being open for almost 30 years, Del Taco filed for bankruptcy in 1993, after an "onerous debt load" taken on in a buyout was simply too much, according to Greg Johnson of the Los Angeles Times. While Del Taco claimed to be a profitable company despite having nearly $100 million worth of debt, it wasn't enough to go head to head with Taco Bell, which as a subsidiary of Pepsico, controlled 70% of the Mexican-style fast-food market at the time. When Del Taco filed for bankruptcy, they had plans to expand the chain to 500 restaurants by 1995. Meanwhile, Taco Bell had 3,700 locations in 49 states and 15 foreign countries, with no signs of slowing down. The bankruptcy protection didn't completely put Del Taco out of business, but it did slow down its expansion plans significantly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 11 Mexican Restaurant Chains, Ranked Worst To Best Del Taco Got Knocked Down But (Slowly) Got Up Again a Del Taco location in California - Hapabapa/Getty Images Like the Chumbawumba song goes, Del Taco may have gotten knocked down, but they got up again, and not even Taco Bell was going to keep them down. When Del Taco first opened its doors in 1964 in Yermo, California, they were off to a roaring start with a menu of inexpensive tacos, tostadas, fries, and cheeseburgers. The number of restaurants grew in the 1970s to 100, and in 1988, Del Taco joined forces with Naugles restaurant chain, which came with more locations around the country and the ability to keep its doors open 24/7, a major perk that many of the Del Taco locations still practice. The 90s brought a new logo design and an overall makeover to the brand's image, and by continuing to expand and make improvements to the menu, like adding a $2 value menu, Del Taco has acquired a loyal and loving fan base. Despite the setback in 1993, Del Taco is still a thriving business, with 587 locations currently around the United States. The taco chain is proud of its use of fresh ingredients and reasonable prices. While it doesn't even come close to the success of Taco Bell, which currently has 8,500 locations worldwide, Del Taco's David and Goliath story is ultimately one of success. Did David defeat Goliath? No, but they still found a way to be in the arena nonetheless, giving Mexican-style fast-food lovers even more options to choose from and indulge in. Read the original article on Tasting Table. (FREMONT COUNTY, Colo.) The Fremont County Sheriffs Office (FCSO) is addressing the Department of Corrections (DOC) inmate transfer backlog, days after various sheriffs across Colorado called on Governor Jared Polis to take action. On July 10, 17 sheriffs sent Governor Polis a joint letter over the ongoing transfer backlog and inadequate per diem reimbursement rate for DOC-sentenced inmates. The letter was signed by sheriffs in El Paso, Teller, Pueblo, Douglas, Lake, Weld, Cheyenne, Montrose, Gilpin, Otero, Fremont, Grand, Archuleta, Kit Carson, Conejos, Garfield, and Costilla counties. 17 Colorado sheriffs seek resolution to backlog of prison inmate transfers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to FCSO, the backlog impacts not only the sheriffs office but the community as well, as they allegedly place an unsustainable burden on your operations and local taxpayers. County jails were never designedor fundedto house state inmates for extended periods, the Colorado Sheriffs stated in the letter. Yet were being forced to expand capacity and stretch already limited staff to accommodate inmates who should be in state custody. This isnt just unsustainableits unfair to local taxpayers. The sheriffs office said that operating costs at the FCSO Jail in 2024 are approximately $130 per day to house one inmate at the Fremont County Jail. The state only reimburses $77.16 a day for one inmate in their backlog, which, according to FCSO, leaves a $52.84 deficit that must be paid by Fremont County and taxpayers. The coalition of sheriffs is asking the Governor to take the following immediate actions: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Accelerate and reduce the DOC transfer backlog by using emergency bed capacity or contracted facilities. Adjust the per diem reimbursement rate to reflect true county costs. Enhance the capacity of mental health treatment to effectively manage court-ordered evaluations and transfers. Meet with Colorado sheriffs to collaborate, identify, and implement joint solutions. Earlier in July, the Governors Office told FOX31, FOX21s sister station, that the governor was looking forward to working with sheriffs to tackle the backlog. The DOC also replied that they were looking forward to working together. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A Washington law that would have demanded clergy members to report child abuse and neglect in all circumstances has been blocked by a federal court. U.S. District Judge David Estudillo granted the preliminary injunction against the enactment of Senate Bill 5373 on Friday. The bill, which was originally slated to go into effect on July 27, would have required priests to disclose incidents of child abuse even when they learn about it through privileged communication like confession. 4-year-old attacked by mountain lion at Washingtons Olympic National Park Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 5373 was initially introduced to the Washington State Legislature in January. Former Attorney General and current Gov. Bob Ferguson signed it into law in May, a year after he announced plans to investigate child sex abuse allegations at Catholic churches. Roman Catholic Archbishop Paul Etienne of Seattle, Bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima and Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane have since filed a complaint, claiming that the bill impedes on the clergys right to exercise religion freely. The U.S. Department of Justice later filed a motion to join the lawsuit against the anti-Catholic measure. The Catholic church upholds the belief that a priest who discloses what they learn through confession will be subject to automatic excommunication and risks eternal damnation, the U.S. District Court for the Western District Of Washington at Tacoma said. States cannot justify an inroad on religious liberty without first showing that it is the least restrictive means of achieving some compelling state interest, Estudillo wrote. The State arguably could have chosen a less restrictive means of advancing its interest in protecting children from abuse and neglect by adding members of the clergy to the list of mandated reporters while also permitting a narrow exception for the confessional, as approximately 25 other states have done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wannabe cartel assassin, 19, gets life for birthday party murder The judge added that Washington officials could have instead worked alongside priests to identify gaps in child protective services. Seattle Archdiocese Etienne claimed that the policies the church has already enforced surrounding child abuse reports go further than those of state leaders. Officials also failed to show why they were requiring the clergy to report the abuse disclosed in confessionals, while others who work with underserved children have not seen this exemption, according to Estudillo. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Advance mail-in ballot applications were at the center of a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a 2021 Kansas law. (Illustration by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA A federal court ruling permanently blocked a 2021 Kansas law that banned groups from sending advance ballot applications to voters, finding that state lawmakers tried to suppress free speech. The case focused on the prefilled, mailed ballot applications that voting organizations sent to hundreds of thousands of Kansans leading up to the 2020 presidential election, which was rife with false accusations of illegitimate results nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Danielle Lang, senior director for voting rights at the Campaign Legal Center, said in a statement the recent court decision affirms that encouraging voter participation is protected under the First Amendment. The center was one of three attorney groups arguing against the ban. Kansass law was one in a nationwide trend by state legislatures moving to restrict this fundamental right, Lang said. But Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, who was a defendant in the lawsuit, maintained that prefilled ballot applications are at odds with an informed electorate. A spokeswoman for Schwabs office, Whitney Tempel, said Friday that his priority is reducing voter confusion and maintaining election integrity. Schwab is seeking the Republican nomination in the 2026 gubernatorial election. The use of pre-populated mail ballot applications contributes to misinformation and undermines voter confidence, Tempel said in an email. Unfortunately, some groups challenging these efforts appear to be advancing political agendas rather than focusing on whats best for Kansas voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican lawmakers passed House Bill 2332 during the 2021 session by overriding the governors veto. The law sought to ban any non-Kansas resident or business from distributing advance mail ballot applications to voters and prohibit any applications from containing personalized voter information. Supporters argued at the time the law ensured transparent elections free from corruption. VoteAmerica and the Voter Participation Center, two national civic engagement organizations that are not based in Kansas, said in the original complaint that the law would have made it impossible to continue their mission of expanding, encouraging, and assisting voter participation through their advance voting operations in Kansas. In the 2020 general election, around 112,000 Kansas voters mailed a pre-paid or pre-addressed envelope containing an advance ballot application, according to the lawsuit. About 69,000 of those applications were from VoteAmerica or the Voter Participation Center. VoteAmerica sends pre-populated advance ballot applications only to those who request them, while Voter Participation Center sends unsolicited applications. County election offices received around 14,740 duplicate applications from voters who used prepaid envelopes from the voter center or its sister organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Judge Kathryn Vratil evaluated in a 40-page decision whether the law was a content-based regulation and, if the law is content-neutral, whether lawmakers crafted the law for an improper purpose or reason, including suppression of free expression. The defendants in the case Schwab, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said that HB 2332 was meant to minimize voter confusion, streamline efficiency in election administration and foster confidence in and protect the integrity of the electoral process. However, they didnt explain how the law was designed to do those things, Vratil said in the decision. Vratil also considered the timing of the Legislatures introduction of HB 2332, which came a month after the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol and about three months after the 2020 election. Mail-in voting became one of several scapegoats for the alleged stealing of the 2020 presidential election, Vratil wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Kansas however, one week after the election, on November 10, 2020, Schwab had publicly declared that the 2020 election in Kansas was successful, without widespread, systematic issues of voter fraud, intimidation, irregularities or voting problems an undisputed fact which calls into question any purported legislative intent to root out fraud, promote efficiency or avoid voter confusion in Kansas elections, Vratil said. It was more probably true than not true, the decision said, that the Legislature prohibited voting groups from sending prefilled applications to suppress speech. The ruling was the second time the case had been in federal court, and, before that, a state court deemed the law unconstitutional. In 2023, a federal judge ruled that a ban on prefilled applications was an unconstitutional infringement on plaintiffs First Amendment rights to speech and association. Schwab, Kobach and Howe appealed to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, which sent part of the case back to district court for review. During the 2025 session, lawmakers passed and the governor signed into law House Bill 2016, which included modifications to advance ballot application law. It now says that no portion of an application can be completed before mailing it to a registered voter, except the date of the election. Another 2025 voting-related law that eliminated the three-day mail-in ballot grace period is also being litigated. This story has been updated. If blocking your ex isn't enough, try calling Florida's attorney general. In a post on social media, Attorney General James Uthmeier said his office got a tip from someone whose abusive ex overstayed a tourism visa. He is now in the process of being deported. "If your ex is in this country illegally, please feel free to reach out to our office. Wed be happy to assist," Uthmeier wrote on X. We recently got a tip from someone whose abusive ex overstayed a tourism visa. He is now cued up for deportation. If your ex is in this country illegally, please feel free to reach out to our office. Wed be happy to assist. Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) July 22, 2025 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement already has a tip line that receives more than 15,000 calls a month, according to the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE staff collect information received from phone calls and then turn over that information to specific programs within the Department of Homeland Security. "Individuals across the world can report suspicious criminal activity to the ICE Tip Line 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Highly trained specialists take reports from both the public and law enforcement agencies on more than 400 laws enforced by ICE," the agency says on its website. According to the agency, "Illegal Immigration" is a crime that is reportable to the tip line. The agency said it does not offer rewards for aiding in immigration enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Uthmeier's office said people can call the Citizen's Service line at 1-866-966-7226 to report a crime. Questions for comment from ICE are pending. Gov. Ron DeSantis (right) attends the 50th annual Red Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More alongside new Attorney General of Florida James Uthmeier (left) Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Uthmeier has been one of the most vocal supporters of the president's anti-illegal immigration agenda. As the federal government has ramped up detaining and deporting immigrants who are in the country illegally, Uthmeier, along with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have prioritized using state resources to complement the feds' efforts. Uthmeier, formerly the governor's chief of staff, was also involved with a controversial program in 2022 to fly migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard in Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, he's most known for his most recent idea, Alligator Alcatraz. On June 19, Uthmeier posted a video to X suggesting that the "virtually abandoned" Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, a 39-square mile property with a 10,500-foot runway, could be easily converted into a temporary immigrant detention center to aid in Florida's efforts to locate and deport "criminal aliens." Alligator Alcatraz, which began receiving detainees earlier this month, can house up to 3,000 people. "We want to fill this place up," Uthmeier told President Donald Trump during his visit to the detention facility on July 1. The attorney general said the president was the "inspiration" for the Everglades detention center, adding "hopefully there's more to come." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida Attorney General offers to deport your ex through ICE hotline A Marion County teenager who was charged with killing three of his friends at the age of 12 will spend decades behind bars. A judge sentenced Christopher Atkins, now 15 years old, in connection to the killings of Layla Silvernail, Camille Quarles and Michael Hodo in 2023. Atkins was one of three charged in the murders. He and the two others, Robert Robinson and Tahj Brewton, pleaded guilty this past spring. Robinson was 17 at the time and Brewton was 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said the three boys and the other three teenagers robbed a man when he was trying to buy a gun from them. The group then turned on one another, with Silvernail and Hodo shot by the two other boys. They said Robinson ordered Atkins, who went by the street name 3-5, to shoot Quarles, who had been riding with them in the trunk of Silvernails small sedan. The group then left a wounded Silvernail close to the shooting site and dumped Hodos body in a ditch a half mile from her, where it was discovered by another teenager walking to school the following morning. Quarles body was left with the car, which the group attempted to sink in a retention pond a few miles away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said the boys then burned their clothes as they fled back to Atkins house. Atkins was able to corroborate their evidence and sequence of events when he confessed to the killings and the armed robbery, they said. Those boys decided to play God, Silvernails grandmother emotionally told the judge before he ordered his sentence, as Atkins wiped his own tears. May God forgive me that the boys who did this are haunted every day by what theyve done. Atkins attorneys tried to soften his image, noting his mother was arrested on a warrant after deputies came to search their house and he had trouble in school. A counselor hired by Atkins team testified he had elevated levels of lead in his blood and was known by family members to be easily manipulated and a little bit slow, to the audible groans of the victims loved ones in the audience. Atkins appeared shaken when the counselor said he had expressed remorse and criticized Atkins mothers parenting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her ability to advocate for his needs seemed weak, Dr. Barbara Russell concluded. Atkins older cousin also directly apologized to the families and asked for leniency, citing Atkins tough upbringing. Finally, Atkins gave a statement of his own, appearing at first to reference a script but quickly deviating. In rushed, broken speech, he asked for another chance. He said he had a future and wanted to prove he wasnt the person he was being cast as. He said he wanted to influence others to not take the path he had and tell them to cherish their families. You think Im bad, Im not, he said. I promise if you give me another chance, Im good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He barely mentioned the pain of the families in the court room, left shaking their heads by his words until his attorney cut him off. Prosecutors asked the court for more than the minimum mandatory of 40 years in prison, saying he was the least culpable of the three defendants but he knew his actions would lead to consequences when he decided to rob someone at gunpoint. Atkins attorney asked for the 40, with concurrent sentences for his lesser charges. The judge said he would not weigh Hodo and Silvernails deaths when passing his sentence onto Atkins because Atkins was not directly responsible for their deaths, acknowledging he knew his decision would cause some anguish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge sentenced Atkins to serve the 40 years, with 798 days credit for time served, citing his young age as the biggest factor in his decision as the victims families sobbed. He said this was the first 12-year-old he could recall being charged and sentenced with first degree murder in Marion County history. Due to his age, his sentence will be eligible for review after 25 years. Brewton and Robinson were expected to be sentenced Wednesday at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Floridas Burmese python problem isnt going away anytime soon. The researchers, snake trackers, and other conservationists working to remove the giant snakes will be the first to tell you that eradicating this invasive species isnt a realistic goal. That hasnt kept them from trying to manage the problem, though, and scientists are now working on a new and futuristic approach to finding and removing pythons: robotic bunny rabbits. Researchers at the University of Florida are hoping these robo-bunnies can be another tool in the python toolbox, similar to the highly successful scout-snake method that has been honed by wildlife biologists at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Only instead of using male pythons (that have been surgically implanted with GPS) to lead them to the females, trackers would use the robots to bring the invasive snakes to them. These are stuffed toys that have been retro-fitted with electrical components so they can be remotely controlled. The robots also have tiny cameras that sense movement and notify researchers, who can then check the video feed to see if a python has been lured in. The Universitys experiments with robotic rabbits are ongoing, according to the Palm Beach Post, and the research is being funded by the South Florida Water Management District the same government agency that pays bounties to licensed snake removal experts and hosts the Florida Python Challenge every year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our partners have allowed us to trial these things that may sound a little crazy, wildlife ecologist and UF project leader Robert McCleery told the Post. Working in the Everglades for ten years, you get tired of documenting the problem. You want to address it. The robotic rabbits also give off a heat signature, like real rodents. Photos courtesy SFWMD McCleery said that in early July, his team launched a pilot study with 40 robotic rabbits spread out across a large area. These high-tech decoys will be monitored as the team continues to learn and build on the experiment. (As one example, McCleery explained that incorporating rabbit scents into the robots could be worth consideration in the future.) Read Next: These Snake Trackers Have Removed More than 20 Tons of Invasive Pythons from Florida and Theyre Just Getting Started The idea of using bunnies as decoys made sense for the team at UF, since rabbits, and specifically marsh rabbits, are some of the favorite prey items for Burmese pythons. Recent studies (including one authored by McCleery) have shown the massive declines in the Everglades marsh rabbit populations that can be directly attributed to pythons. Years ago we were hearing all these claims about the decimation of mesomammals in the Everglades. Well, this researcher thought that sounded far-fetched, so he decided to study it, says Ian Bartoszek, a wildlife biologist and python tracker based in Naples. So, he got a bunch of marsh rabbits, put [GPS] collars on them, and then he let them go in the core Everglades area Within six months, 77 percent of those rabbits were found inside the bellies of pythons. And he was a believer after that. The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) has concluded that Duke Energy Floridas proposed 26.5-mile, 230-kilovolt transmission line in Central Florida is necessary. The transmission line will run through Lake, Volusia, Seminole, and Orange Counties, enhancing system reliability and increasing power transfer capabilities. This project will enhance system reliability, increase power transfer capability, and better meet local load requirements, said PSC Chairman Mike La Rosa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The line will run from Duke Energy Floridas DeLand West Substation in Volusia County to the Dona Vista Substation in Lake County. As part of the project, Duke aims to rebuild the existing 69 kV line along the same route, enhancing reliability for the customers served by this line. The project aims to alleviate potential overloads and low voltage issues, decrease line loading on existing circuits, and enhance north-to-south power transfer capacity. The new transmission line is projected to cost $165 million and be in service by January 2030. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Gal Gadot met with former hostages Doron Steinbrecher, Liri Albag, Naama Levy, Moran Stella Yanai, and Ilana Gritzewsky. Several female former hostages met Israeli actress Gal Gadot on Tuesday, according to a press release from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Gadot met with former hostages Doron Steinbrecher, Liri Albag, Naama Levy, Moran Stella Yanai, and Ilana Gritzewsky in Israel. In the meeting, the women shared their stories of captivity and expressed their gratitude for her activism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youve all been through incredibly difficult things, and I cant believe youre standing here today, continuing your lives and fighting for others," Gadot said. 'You are an inspiration, you are strength' "Watching you carry the weight for those still in captivity you are an inspiration, and you are strength. I hope with all my heart they all come home soon. The hostages emphasized the importance of continuing to speak out about those still remaining in captivity. Dont stop. We must keep talking and keep them in peoples hearts and minds," said Doron Steinbrecher. At the Jerusalem Film Festival, Gadot called for an end to the Israel-Hamas War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most important thing all of us wish is that we can breathe again calmly, and we will be able to do that when the hostages return home." Their meeting comes as Israeli and Palestinian delegations hold talks about a ceasefire and hostage deal. Israel and its negotiating partners are still waiting for Hamas's response to the proposed deal presented by mediators last week. N12 reported that Hamas is stalling talks, and that American mediators believe that "if there is no agreement this time, the blame will lie fully with Hamas." KANSAS CITY, Mo. A former Kansas City educator has been accused of trying to solicit nude images of a student who attended the school he taught at. Jonathan Newton has been charged with second-degree sexual trafficking of a child. Founder of Mean Mule Distilling Company dies in weekend motorcycle crash According to the probable cause statement, on March 27, 2025, a teenage victim and the teens guardian went to the Kansas City Police Department to report an incident with the victims former teacher. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While at a relatives home in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 25, the victim was contacted by Newton the victims former school teacher aide on Snapchat. He allegedly asked the victim for explicit images, the probable cause reads. The victim did not provide any pictures but took screenshots of the conversation, which were shown to police, according to the probable cause statement. Additionally, the victim said Newton told him he was going to send his own explicit image to the teen. Police then called Newton on Snapchat to confirm it was indeed his account and placed the former teacher under an investigative arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GoFundMe created for grandmother killed in flash flood in Overland Park According to the probable cause statement, Newton admitted he had an inappropriate conversation with the victim on Snapchat. Newton told police he had met the 15-year-old victim while working at the school they both attended. Newtons arrest warrant does not allow him to be within 1,000 feet of Brookside Charter School in Kansas City, Missouri. FOX4 reached out to Brookside Charter School, and the superintendent confirmed that Newton worked for the school from July 2023 until February 2025. He was the Upper School Dean of Students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The superintendent said he could not discuss the reason for Newton leaving the school. However, his employment ended more than a month before he allegedly asked a former student for explicit pictures. Newton is currently being held under house arrest on a $75,000 cash-only bond, according to the arrest warrant. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Justice Department on Tuesday said it fired Desiree Leigh Grace as the newly appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, hours after federal judges in the state chose her over President Donald Trump's pick, Alina Habba. The announcement came after federal judges in New Jersey opted not to appoint Habba, Trump's former personal attorney, as the state's top federal prosecutor on a permanent basis. Trump appointed Habba as the state's acting U.S. attorney in March. "This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges -- especially when they threaten the President's core Article II powers," Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X in announcing Grace's firing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Newark mayor sues Alina Habba for malicious prosecution Grace was Habba's first assistant before district judges elevated her to the top job, setting up Habba's ouster. Habba was awaiting Senate confirmation when her 120-day term as acting U.S. attorney expired this week. Federal law gives district judges the authority to name a United States attorney if the president's nominee is not acted upon by the U.S. Senate within 120 days. Previous Justice Departments have recognized that district judges have the authority to name a United States attorney if the president's nominee is not acted upon by the U.S. Senate within 120 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's unclear if the Trump Justice Department now believes it can bypass that process or if it plans to seek Senate confirmation for Habba. Pool via AP, FILE - PHOTO: Alina Habba speaks after being sworn in as interim US Attorney General for New Jersey, in the Oval Office of the White House, March 28, 2025. Grace, a nine-year career prosecutor, previously ran the New Jersey office's criminal division. Habba served as Trump's legal spokesperson in several cases after he left the White House in 2021. When Trump reassumed the presidency this year, she was one of at least four of his defense attorneys to be named to posts in his administration, including Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and John Sauer. "Alina is President Trump's choice to lead," Blanche, the deputy attorney general, said on social media after the judges announced Grace's promotion earlier Tuesday. "No partisan bench can override that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her tenure as acting U.S. attorney, Habba made a mark in politically charged cases, bringing prosecutions against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, both Democrats. She also challenged New Jersey State Police over sanctuary policies related to immigration enforcement. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Jeff Evans, the founder of a popular Kansas City-based distillery, Mean Mule, was confirmed to be the victim of a deadly motorcycle crash over the weekend, according to his company. In a post on Instagram Tuesday, staff at Mean Mule Distilling Company shared a heartfelt message, honoring the late founder and his dedication to the Mean Mule family. Police identify woman killed in flash floods on Overland Park trail Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post reads, in part: Its with shattered hearts that we share the loss of our founder and friend, Jeff Evans, who passed away in a motorcycle accident this weekend. Jeff was the heart and soul of Mean Mule. His spirit, humor, and craftsmanship shaped everything we are. Alongside his wife and our cofounder, Meg, Jeff built more than a distillery he built a community. Mean Mule opened for business in 2016; however, its roots trace back much further than that. The story begins with an ancestral farm, a Mean ol Mule and a woman, Grandma Lillian, who passed down stories from the Great Depression eraof how her family made it out of poverty with the help of booze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, nearly a century after Prohibition, Evans was able to create a brand with more than 17,000 followers on Instagram that centered around community, his familys story and the stories of the distillerys loyal customers. Mean Mule will be closed until Wednesday, allowing staff, family and friends the time to grieve. But once the doors are open, staff said they will welcome all who knew and loved Evans. Remember him with us, grieve with us, raise a glass with us, and share the stories and laughter he gave us. Weve also made a Google form where you can submit Jeff stories for us all to enjoy, the post reads. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporting our business is supporting us. If youd like to honor him, find a bottle or can of Mean Mule at your local shop and make a toast to him. We dont yet know what the coming days, weeks, or months will look like, but well keep you updated here as we find our way forward. Well also share details about a memorial or service for Jeff when were able. Thank you for loving Jeff and for being part of our beautiful Mean Mule family. At this time, there are no details regarding Evans crash or an upcoming memorial service. To stay up to date with Mean Mule and any future events honoring Evans life, 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. More than $216,000 in federal education funding for Watauga County is frozen. The Department of Education said it needs to review federal grant programs for North Carolina schools, according to the Watauga Democrat. ALSO READ: STEM event at UNC Charlotte in jeopardy due to federal funding cuts The countys superintendent said the funding would go towards supporting teacher positions, support staff, workshops, and supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, there is no timeline on when the Department of Education will make its decision. This is a part of billions halted nationwide last month. VIDEO: STEM event at UNC Charlotte in jeopardy due to federal funding cuts TRENTON, N.J. (PIX11) In a city that needs it, the state is delivering what some call a beacon of hope As officials break ground on a new maternal and infant health innovation center in Trenton. It takes a village to raise a child, said Sen. Shirley Turner (D-NJ 15th District), but it also takes a village in order to provide maternal and infant health. More Local News Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy helped celebrate the genesis of the more than $86 million project slated to open in early 2027. Partnering with Rutgers School of Nursing, Capitalhealth, and others, its billed as a first-of-its-kind hub. Its mission: eliminate racial disparities in maternal and infant care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will provide comprehensive clinical care, wraparound support, and serve as a training hub for a workforce that reflects the communities it serves, said First Lady Tammy Murphy. We know statewide there are terrible disparities with Black women, seven times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related incident, said Lisa Asare, CEO of the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority. Black babies [are] three times as likely to die before their first birthday. Trenton fits within those statistics. There really are challenges in the City. Aside from serving the State from a central location, community leaders say they expect the center to have a huge impact on the City. But it wont be alone in its efforts. The [Innovation] Center provides opportunity to really address the disparities and challenges around maternal health, said Diana Rodgers, Executive Director of the Greater Mt. Zion Community Development Corporation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Across the street at Greater Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, leaders have spent the last two years working to start up a birthing center. As everyone knows, Trenton is a birthing desert, said Rodgers. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Since Trenton-Mercer Hospitals departure more than a decade ago, mothers in the city have had to go to Hopewell or Princeton to give birth. We will be the first birthing center in the City of Trenton, said Rodgers. The project, Back in Our Hands Birthing and Wellness, is unaffiliated with the Innovation Center, which will not perform deliveries. Still, Church leaders look forward to being a good neighbor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were hoping to have moms to be able to birth sometime in 2026, said Rodgers, but prior to that, the education is very important, helping moms to understand the importance of the wellness aspect. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Curtis Williams HOUSTON (Reuters) -Exxon Mobil has begun negotiations with the Trinidad and Tobago government to explore for oil and gas in up to seven deepwater blocks off the East Coast of the Caribbean country, which the top U.S. oil producer left more than two decades ago, two sources close to the talks told Reuters. The areas Exxon is interested in are located north of the company's prolific Stabroek block in Guyana, the fastest-growing oil production province in the world, the people said. Exxon and partners Hess and CNOOC have discovered more than 11 billion barrels of recoverable oil and gas in Stabroek and plan to produce more than 900,000 barrels per day of light sweet crude later this year. Trinidad and Tobago is speaking with several major oil and gas companies, Trinidad and Tobago's Energy Minister Roodlal Moonilal told Reuters on Tuesday. "We are in discussions with major players to ramp up exploration and production within and outside of bid rounds," Moonilal said, without disclosing names. Exxon said it does not comment on rumors or speculation. Exxon left Trinidad and Tobago in 2003 after a failed exploration program. Under the new government of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Trinidad aims to rejuvenate investment, especially offshore, where more gas output is needed to support the nation's liquefied natural gas (LNG) and petrochemical industries. Since she took office in April, a flagship offshore gas project with neighboring Venezuela that lost its U.S. authorization to move forward has been shelved, while the government has focused efforts on deepening ties with the region's other energy producers. According to Trinidad's laws, the government can individually negotiate areas for exploration and production if they are not included in a competitive bidding round. Trinidad and Tobago is in the middle of a deepwater auction that has been extended to close on September 17, and which does not include the blocks Exxon is negotiating for. If Exxon and Trinidad reach an agreement, the U.S. producer could acquire almost all the ultra deepwater blocks that remain unlicensed. The large discoveries of oil and gas made in recent years in the Guyana-Suriname basin are one of the reasons why Trinidad is now seeing a renewed interest in its ongoing deepwater auction, the country's energy minister said at a conference early in July. Moonilal said Trinidad was open to bids outside of auctions and hinted at the negotiations. "We are currently considering one such proposal, and if the negotiations are successful, a major announcement will soon be made," he added. (Reporting by Curtis Williams in Houston; additional reporting by Sheila DangEditing by Marguerita Choy) Straphangers on the G train have a brand new ride. The MTA with uncharacteristically little fanfare has replaced every train on the Brooklyn-Queens crosstown line with the newest cars in the subway fleet, the state-of-the-art R211, the Daily News has learned. The swap comes a bit more than six months after G train riders found themselves aboard some of the MTAs oldest cars after track defects elsewhere in the system caused transit bigs to shuffle around subway cars and amid a second summer of partial service as the transit agency works to upgrade the G lines signaling system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An MTA spokesman Tuesday confirmed that all 13 trains operating on the G line now consist of new, Kawasaki-built R211 train cars. Easily spotted down the tracks with its diagonal headlights, the R211 was first debuted on the A line in 2023 after delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new subway cars quickly phased out the 1970s-era R46s still in service on that line, and now make up the bulk of A and C train rolling stock. The MTA announced earlier this week that at least one R211 is also now in service on the B line. Four R211s with so-called open gangways articulated connections that allow passengers to freely travel between cars have been operating on the G line since March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new cars mean the G line now once again has a full complement of trains capable of communicating with the modern computerized signal system known as CBTC, or Communication Based Train Control. MTA has been slowly installing the CBTC system along the G line, a project that required a rolling summer shutdown last year, as well as nighttime shutdowns and four weekends without service this summer. Modernization work on the G line is expected to last until 2027. As first reported in the Daily News, an older model of CBTC-capable train car, the R160, was pulled off the G line in January, after track defects along the E, F and R lines were said to be quickly wearing out the wheels on the subway cars assigned to those lines. In another quiet subway swap, the MTA sent the G lines R160s to the E, F and R, in order to offset a shortage on those lines caused by more frequent maintenance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The G then got 1980s-vintage R68s, know for their familiar orange conversational seating layouts older cars the MTA has slated for retirement. G train riders were told the borrowed R160s would return by March but they didnt. Last month, New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow told The News that, after months of trying, his teams felt they had finally solved the wheel wear issue on the E, F and R lines by setting slower speed limits around certain curves. Weve made adjustments to the speeds on several curves, slowing down the trains just a hint, Crichlow said in June, adding that the speed limit in those areas had been lowered by 5 mph or less. We had an engineering consultant take a look at the force that was being placed on the rail in those areas, he continued. We feel, very confidently, that weve found the curves that were [causing] most of the wheel wear. The release of more than 100 pages of declassified files and a memorandum by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has reignited political battles over Russia's actions during the 2016 presidential election, a topic that has long incensed President Trump and put the actions of the U.S. intelligence community in partisan crosshairs. Gabbard's office on Friday alleged in the memorandum, which accompanied the files, that they contained what she called evidence of "suppression" and manipulation of the intelligence underlying a 2017 community-wide assessment of Russia's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. The files include email exchanges, excerpts from a President's Daily Brief and a readout from a principals committee meeting, chiefly from a period during the Obama administration. In a statement and social media posts, Gabbard claimed the materials, which were marked declassified on July 17, 2025, were evidence of a "treasonous conspiracy" and "years-long coup" plotted by Obama administration officials against Mr. Trump, and said she would forward them to the Department of Justice as part of a criminal referral. She also said in subsequent media appearances that more declassifications about the matter would be made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats fiercely disputed her claims, pointing to the findings of a bipartisan Senate investigation that concluded Russia had attempted to influence the 2016 election. They accused Gabbard herself of misrepresenting intelligence findings and processes. "What you saw from the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, was not just a lie, but a very dangerous lie, because when you start throwing around language like sedition and treason, somebody is going to get hurt," said Congressman Jim Himes, ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" Sunday. "[T]he intelligence community is full of very good people who do their jobs every single day, and now they're watching their leader do something that each and every one of them knows is dishonest," Himes said. "This is just another example of the DNI trying to cook the books, rewrite history, and erode trust in the intelligence agencies she's supposed to be leading," Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner of Virginia said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The memorandum released by Gabbard appears to conflate different kinds of Russian operations during the 2016 election cycle while alleging Obama administration officials fabricated a narrative designed to undermine Mr. Trump. It points several times to select phrases in the documents that say Russia lacked the intent or the capability to use cyber operations to target U.S. election infrastructure, change vote tallies, and overturn the election which previous investigations agreed did not happen. But while no evidence emerged to indicate Russia engaged in a vote-switching cyberattack, there was evidence that showed a multi-pronged Kremlin influence campaign that attempted to sway American voters. That influence campaign included hack-and-leak operations and social media posts designed to undermine the candidacy of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and bolster then-candidate Trump's, according to the intelligence community's assessment. In the years after the 2016 presidential election, multiple reviews of the intelligence community's findings including the Senate report and an investigation led by special counsel John Durham, who was appointed by Mr. Trump reinforced its conclusions. A CIA review of the tradecraft involved in the agency's assessment released earlier this month found some of its judgments may have been rushed and the confidence levels attached to one of them may have been too high, but it did not change the conclusion that Russia's efforts were designed to benefit Mr. Trump's candidacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obama's spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush said in a statement Tuesday: "These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction." "Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes," Rodenbush wrote. Gabbard's statements on Friday were praised and recirculated multiple times by the president, senior White House officials and Republican lawmakers. Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Tom Cotton wrote in a social media post, "It will take decades for the Intelligence Community to recover from the damage done during the Obama and Biden presidencies." Senior White House official Stephen Miller wrote that Gabbard had "exposed the startling depths of a seditious coup against the Republic." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The memorandum also criticizes leaks from what it terms "IC officials" or "Deep State officials in the IC" with "IC" referring to the intelligence community to media outlets at the time the assessments were being drafted that said Russia had intervened in the election in an effort to help President Trump. The memo does not, however, identify these individuals or provide other evidence about the origin of those disclosures. It also highlights instances in which certain agencies disputed or pushed to change language included in evolving intelligence assessments of Russia's cyber activity. For instance, it cites an FBI official who suggested in an exchange in September of 2016 that language about Russia's intent to use cyber attacks to disrupt the 2016 election be "softened." "[W]e would prefer for the first sentence regarding Russia's intent to be softened," the official wrote. "The way it currently reads, it would indicate that we have definitive information that Russia does intend to disrupt our elections and we are uncomfortable making that assessment at this point." Dissents from different agencies are common and conclusions can change as more intelligence is collected or analysis is done, according to current and former officials familiar with the drafting process for intelligence assessments. It is not clear from the redacted selection of emails released by Gabbard how the language flagged by the FBI was finalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warner has expressed concerns about the effect of Gabbard's recent actions on intelligence sharing by partners of the United States, noting that representatives of the intelligence-sharing alliance known as the Five Eyes which includes the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada had approached him for answers. "I have had Five Eye partners say, 'Warner, what the hell is going on?'" Warner said during a panel discussion at last week's Aspen Security forum, hours before the 2016 files were released. "I do believe our Five Eyes partners and others are not sharing as much information as they would." Detroit lawnmower gang still going strong after 15 years Examining how GOP lawmakers are reacting to the Epstein controversy Rep. Adriano Espaillat on videos of NYC migrants in ICE custody (Texas Scorecard) A maintenance worker in Gainesville Independent School District was jailed after getting caught in an underage sex solicitation sting. Hunter Clayton Jordan, 26, was arrested and charged with online solicitation of a minor, a felony. The Cooke County Sheriffs Department conducted the sting operation on July 15-16 with the Texas Department of Public Safety, Collin County Sheriffs Department, and The Colony Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While suspects believed they were communicating with under-age minors, they were actually chatting with law enforcement officers, according to a media release from Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington. The suspects were then directed to a pre-determined location in Gainesville, where law enforcement was waiting. Sappington said Jordan showed up driving a Gainesville ISD vehicle. Online solicitation of a minor is a second- or third-degree felony, depending on the circumstances of the crime. Sappington stated that Jordan was charged with a second-degree felony, which is punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison. Jordan was arrested on July 15 and booked into the Cooke County Jail. Bond was set at $150,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to Gainesville ISD families and staff, Superintendent DesMontes Stewart indicated that a maintenance department employee was arrested for online solicitation of a minor and had since been fired. He stated that Jordans arrest was the result of a sting operation, Therefore, no actual minors were involved. Upon hire, all GISD employees must complete and pass a fingerprint-based background check that identifies criminal history results through both the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Gainesville ISD maintains a subscription to all staff background reports for the entirety of their employment, wrote Stewart. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement and are committed to transparency as this case develops, he added. If you have a concern or information to report, please contact the Cooke County Sheriffs Office or the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of Texas school employees have been accused of sex crimes involving students and other children in just the past few years. Thousands of educator sexual misconduct complaints have been reported to the state since the Texas Education Agency began keeping organized records in 2021. Gallatin County Courthouse in Bozeman. (Keila Szpaller/The Daily Montanan) The Gallatin County Commission last week approved an ordinance banning camping on public property and within public rights-of-way. Like other communities in Montana, Gallatin County and the Bozeman area have struggled with rising housing prices and homelessness during the last decade. A 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found Montana experienced an 89% increase in homelessness from 2007 to 2023, the second-largest increase among states. Bozeman saw a 63.5% increase from 2019 to 2022, according to data from the Montana Coalition to Solve Homelessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new Gallatin County ordinance puts a penalty of up to $500 and/or 10 days in jail for breaking the law. The intention here is to have the enforcement tool if needed and when needed, Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer told the commission during a July 1 discussion on the ordinance. The hope, commissioners said, is that citations are only given as a last resort. This doesnt necessarily appear as the most compassionate approach, right? And I kind of struggled with that feeling as well, and yet I also feel the balance between connecting people to resources and protecting the health and safety of everyone in our community is really important, Commissioner Jennifer Boyer said on July 15. And you know this, this mechanism, although likely to be used very rarely, does allow a way to ensure sanitation and public health and safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commissioners expect to get data from law enforcement surrounding the issue, Boyer said. Officials called the move proactive. Bozeman passed its own urban camping law late last year. Missoula, often a focal point when discussing homeless Montanans, has struggled with urban camping near the Clark Fork, leading to closures of public land and cleanups. Adding to the issue, a shelter on Johnson Street in Missoula funded by American Rescue Plan Act dollars was recently closed. Georgia NAACP president reacts to FBIs release of MLK documents Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s family is calling for empathy and respect following the release of thousands of FBI records. The King family vehemently opposed the disclosure, but the Trump administration released the files to reportedly show transparency. There was no need to give us graphic details that dig down into that open wound, Georgia NAACP President Gerald Griggs told Channel 2s Audrey Washington. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Those who said they are opposed to the disclosure said they believe the Trump administration released the documents as a distraction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think they were released to take the publics interest away from the Epstein file, Griggs said. In a post, Dr. Bernice King tweeted a picture of her father with the caption: Now, do the Epstein files. Despite ongoing pressure, Trump has not ordered the unsealing of the entire Epstein case file. Trump signed an executive order to declassify the MLK files. The 240,000-page document detailed the FBIs surveillance of Dr. King until his assassination in 1968. The only thing new was the continuation of the possibility that James Earl Ray didnt act alone, Griggs added. 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, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgia State University professor Tanya Washington said the release should make people question why Dr. King was the target of such intense investigation. But aside from the personal We are going to learn how our government investigates American citizens, Washington said. Dr. Kings former assistant Xernona Clayton wrote: We already suffered when we lost Dr. King. it was a painful moment for all of us. Here we are facing it again because we have ugliness at the White House. The King children did not mention Trump in their statement. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Germany and the Czech Republic agree that checks at their shared border should only be temporary, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Prime Minister Petr Fiala said after a meeting in Berlin on Tuesday. "We want a European solution," assured Merz. "But as long as we are not able to better protect the external European borders, we must carry out checks at the internal European borders." Germany and the Czech Republic share a border that is more than 800 kilometres long. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordered an intensification of checks on the border just a few hours after taking office in early May. Due to irregular migration, Fiala expressed understanding for the German approach. But he said that instead of border checks, there must be a long-term solution for the EU's external border. "A long-term solution must be a European solution so that we can continue to cross the internal [EU] border freely." Forty-three people were aboard a deportation flight that took off from Germany for Baghdad on Tuesday, the Interior Ministry confirmed after news emerged of the first such flight since February. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, who has been pushing a tougher approach to migration, said the flight was part of his new policies, as he continued to call for more returns, agreements with other countries and a crackdown on people's smugglers, in comments to the Bild tabloid. The 43 men aboard the flight, which departed at 10:52 am (0852 GMT) from the eastern city of Leipzig, had all been required to leave the country, according to authorities in the state of Thuringia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fourteen of the deportees - all single men, some of whom had been convicted of criminal offences - had been based in Thuringia, in central Germany. A dpa photographer described how police prepared the flight's departure, with the passengers taken to the aircraft in police vehicles and two larger airport buses. Police officers accompanied the passengers individually up the stairs into the plane. After landing in the Iraqi capital, the passengers first went through various immigration formalities, dpa learnt from airport sources. The transfer was subject to strict security protocols in Iraq, they said. It was initially unclear where the men were to be taken after entering the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Germany deported 816 Iraqis last year, according to the Interior Ministry. Some were sent to other EU countries to have their asylum applications processed, while 615 people were taken directly to Iraq. In February of this year, 47 people were deported from Hanover to Iraq. Last Friday, a deportation flight to Afghanistan also took off from Leipzig Airport. According to official figures, 81 offenders were on board that flight. The security situation in Iraq remains tense after decades of war and political unrest. There is currently no major fighting, but attacks continue by armed groups, including Iranian-backed militias. There are also tensions with Kurdish groups in the north of the country. The UN says 1.2 million Iraqi people are internally displaced and 3 million people are dependent on humanitarian aid. Many returnees are unable to meet their basic needs on their own. In a 2023 survey of returning migrants conducted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), almost half of respondents said they wanted to emigrate from Iraq again within six months. Passengers sit in a police vehicle before boarding a deportation flight at Leipzig/Halle Airport. A plane bound for Baghdad was stationed at the airport earlier in the morning, suggesting another deportation operation may be underway. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) The city of Grand Rapids will soon have a new administrator running its emergency management department. Benjamin Rance will be joining the city from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. There are a number of hazards we dont necessarily have to worry about as much as down south, specifically hurricanes but we have our own challenges, Rance said. Rance is from West Michigan and is currently working remotely for FEMA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am the program manager for a community resilience program basically providing technical assistance to local emergency managers across the United States and our territories, Rance said. With concerns about the future of federal disaster assistance funding being debated in Washington, Rance brings knowledge of the agency. It really is something thats on every local emergency managers mind, he said, Coming from the federal government, I am acutely aware of the changes that have happened and probably will continue to happen at FEMA. So Im really looking forward to using my knowledge of FEMA programs and how FEMA operates in general to help navigate any incidents that we have that require federal report. Rance says while federal support is important, the majority of emergency management response is managed at the state level and implemented at the local level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He most recently was deployed to North Carolina to provide assistance after Hurricane Helene. I was working in a town where I saw firsthand what a river thats normally three or four feet deep, what does it look like when it gets to 26 feet deep, an entire downtown just completely washed away, Rance said. Grand Rapids saw major flooding of its own in spring of 2013. Rance says city preparations are crucial. Were in a great place with our hazard mitigation plans, our emergency operations plans. I think then were ready to continue to train our staff to meet the needs, he said. Rance will officially begin his new role on Aug. 4. 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. GREENWOOD COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) A Greenwood County man was arrested and charged after being found in possession of child sexual abuse materials. The South Carolina Attorney Generals Office said 77-year-old Russell Wesley Waters was arrested Thursday when investigators with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a tip that led them to Waters. According to a release, investigators said Waters had files of child sexual abuse material. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waters is charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree, according to the release. Each count is a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Investigators with the Attorney Generals Office, Homeland Security and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division assisted with the investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. US-based Farmer Brothers Coffee has started a process to explore strategic options focused on maximising shareholder value. In a statement yesterday (21 July), the owner of the Farmer Brothers and Boyds Coffee brands said it has made significant progress in transforming its operations and improving its business performance in the last two years, Farmer Brothers sold assets worth approximately $100m to TreeHouse Foods in June 2023. David Pace, the chairman of the companys board, said, since that the deal, the group had focused on improving financial and operational structure. We believe now is the right time to explore additional options that could allow us to more effectively maximise shareholder value, Pace added. As part of the review, Farmer Brothers' board has established a strategy committee comprising independent directors to assess a range of strategic options. The committee will provide recommendations to the full board. The company has hired North Point Mergers and Acquisitions as its financial advisor and Winston & Strawn as its legal counsel. Farmer Brothers said its board has not set a specific timeline for the review, adding there is no guarantee it will result in any transaction or strategic outcome. In the nine months ending 31 March, Farmer Brothers reported net sales of $257.1m, a marginal increase from $256.6m in the same period the previous year. However, the company recorded a net loss of $9.7m, compared to a profit of $717,000 in the prior year. In a statement accompanying the results on 8 May, Farmer Brothers president and CEO John Moore said the team continues to do the work to streamline operations, increase efficiencies and better manage our overall cost structure as we proactively work to navigate this challenging market environment. Farmer Brothers customer base includes small independent eateries and foodservice providers, as well as restaurant chains, department stores and hotels. The company also supplies grocery chains with private-label coffee, plus consumer-branded coffee and tea products. "Farmer Brothers Coffee to weigh strategic options " was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio debuted a brand-new roller coaster at the end of June. The ride is called Siren's Curse, and it includes 160-foot height as well as reaching a top speed of 58 miles per hour. However, the opening of the new coaster has not been the best. It began with a malfunction early on, leaving riders suspended vertically, although it was less than 10 minutes, according to a spokesman for the park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the beginning of July, riders were stuck again on the Siren's Curse ride. Now, a third malfunction has occurred in less than one month, according to Craig Webb of The Akron Beacon Journal. "The Siren's Curse once again left guests dangling atop its 160-foot-tall tilt tower. The popular ride that opened a month ago stopped mid-tilt the evening of July 19 and left passengers on the coaster train stranded at about a 45-degree angle for about 20 minutes," Webb wrote. #SirensCurse. Experience the tilt June 28. Sirens Curse opens June 28, but YOU can ride it EARLY! Help support @PrayerfromMaria & enjoy EXCLUSIVE ride time on June 26. Details https://t.co/wMWyTfRWtD pic.twitter.com/hAOrqABkSi Cedar Point (@cedarpoint) June 4, 2025 The hiccup happened in the middle of the 160-foot-tall lift hill, which is the signature of the ride. Park spokesman Tony Clark did release a statement on the ride malfunction, per Webb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The coasters safety system performed as designed, the ride was restarted, and guests continued their ride. It reopened shortly after and all guests exited the ride safely." Still, it's not a good look that a roller coaster that has been open for less than a month has already experienced three separate mishaps. Related: Rollercoaster Launch at Iconic Theme Park Didnt Go as Planned Guests Stuck on New Roller Coaster for 20 Minutes After Latest Breakdown first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 22, 2025 Editor's note: This is an updated version of our Texas Legislature 101 guides originally published in 2023. Texas lawmakers will return to the Capitol on July 21 for a second attempt at regulating THC, the psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plants of hemp and marijuana. This comes after Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a planned ban on most hemp products, which contain THC at lower levels than marijuana, as well as more than two dozen other bills that lawmakers had approved. Abbott has also called on lawmakers to tackle emergency preparedness in the wake of catastrophic flooding in Central Texas, as well as redrawing the states congressional districts and passing conservative priorities such as banning abortion pills. Heres what you need to know: Why theres a special session During their regular legislative session in the spring, state lawmakers passed a bill that would have banned consumable hemp products like vapes, gummies and drinks that provide a similar high as marijuana. The broad ban would have taken effect in September, if not for Abbotts veto. He then ordered a special legislative session for lawmakers to regulate the hemp industry and address other bills he vetoed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other vetoed bills on Abbotts agenda range from changes to the criminal justice system to water rights management, but many eyes will be on how lawmakers address a loophole in previous state laws legalizing hemp that allowed the sale of THC products which spawned an entire new industry across Texas. Lt. Gov Dan Patrick, who has claimed that THC is driving young people to suicide and altering peoples brains, championed the ban and even threatened to make lawmakers work overtime by preventing other important legislation from advancing if they didnt approve a ban. Experts say there are some health concerns, including that THC can be addictive, but they say it doesnt usually cause widespread psychosis or brain damage. The hemp industry and its advocates warned the ban could shutter the hemp industry and hinder access to the non-psychoactive CBD and CBG and to medical marijuana for patients in need of pain relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers did expand the states limited medical marijuana program, but medical marijuana dispensaries still hope lawmakers will heavily regulate the hemp industry by putting in place age restrictions and banning synthetic delta-8 THC, which makes up the bulk of consumable hemp products. A special session lasts up to 30 days, and state lawmakers can only work on the governors agenda items. After facing pressure from President Donald Trumps political team, Abbott has asked lawmakers to redraw some of Texas 38 U.S. House districts ahead of the 2026 midterms. He also directed lawmakers to focus on these areas following the deadly Hill Country floods over the July 4 weekend: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flood warning systems Emergency communications Natural disaster preparation Relief funding for the impacted areas Abbott also included several high-profile and controversial conservative priorities that didnt pass during the 140-day regular session, including: Banning cities and counties from hiring lobbyists to advocate for them at the Capitol Requiring people to use bathrooms that align with the sex they were assigned at birth Cracking down on the manufacturing and distribution of abortion pills During the session, which ran from January through early June, state lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would have established a statewide plan to improve Texas disaster response. House Bill 13 called for the plan to include the use of outdoor warning sirens, like those used in tornado-prone Texas counties, and develop new emergency alert systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Rep. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, said he would propose legislation to ensure people are alerted with sirens along watersheds instead of notifications on their phones that could be silenced or missed. How Texans can follow the session The Texas Legislature Online: Through the Legislatures website, you can find bills that have been filed and track their progress. You can easily create a personal list of bills to follow and set up email alerts for updates on legislation. You can also receive email alerts when notices of upcoming committee hearings are posted. You can also use the website to find links to broadcasts of floor debates or committee meetings in the House and Senate, as well as other resources, such as a glossary of legislative terms. The Bill Status Hotline: During the legislative session, you can call 877-824-7038 in Texas to get up-to-the-minute information about a bills status, the legislative process, help getting a copy of the bill and contact information for a lawmakers office, according to the Legislative Reference Library. But hotline staff cannot interpret a bill or transfer your call to a lawmakers office. The Texas Tribune: You can also keep up with the latest on the Legislature through the Tribunes coverage. Here are some of the ways you can follow our work: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Want to know how your lawmakers voted on key issues during the regular legislative session? Use our lawmaker lookup tool to find out. Subscribe to our newsletters. For summaries of the most important Texas news from us and other news outlets, you can sign up for The Brief, our free daily newsletter, or for The Briefly Weekly. You can also sign up for breaking news alerts or weekly RSS newsletters compiling all our stories on topics such as the Texas Legislature, education and health care. Follow our free WhatsApp channel, where well be sending updates at least once a week with essential news about the Texas Legislature. Find and follow us through this link. Tap the bell icon in the channel to turn on notifications for any updates. Listen to our weekly podcast, TribCast, where Editor-in-Chief Matthew Watkins, reporter Eleanor Klibanoff and other guests will discuss the latest news from the session. Find it wherever you listen to podcasts and on our YouTube channel. Want even more updates? We also have a premium newsletter, The Blast, with exclusive reporting, nonpartisan analysis and the first word on political moves across the state. Subscribe and get access to our texting line for timely updates and alerts of new editions of The Blast. How can I participate in the legislative process? Contact your lawmakers: Texans can share their concerns and personal stories with their elected representatives, which can be the most effective form of advocacy, said Kathy Green, the director of state and federal strategy for AARP Texas who has more than 30 years of experience working in and around state government. If youve got stories about those actual things that affect your daily life, talk to your legislator about that, she said. They need to hear the stories; they need to understand what people back in their districts are facing. But it helps to be prepared with knowledge of the legislation, including its impact and possible costs, and about the lawmaker youre contacting, said state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo. For example, dont lobby a legislator to support a bill that they authored, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meeting with the lawmakers staff can be just as important as meeting with their boss, Zaffirini added. Staff is very important in the process because staff makes the recommendations regarding the bill, she said. So by working with a staff, [constituents] prepare the staff to be persuasive with a member. Testify at a public hearing: You can register through kiosks at the Capitol or online while using the Capitol Wi-Fi. In the Senate, you may have to fill out a card in person during the hearing to testify. You can find more tips on how to testify here. During a special session, a Senate committee or subcommittee must post notice of a meeting at least 24 hours before the meeting, according to the states legislative guide. House committees or subcommittees must also typically post notice for a public hearing held during a special session at least 24 hours before, unless the rule is suspended by a vote of the members on the House floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is more impactful to succinctly speak about your experience than it is to read written testimony or just cite facts, said Luke Metzger, the executive director of the advocacy group Environment Texas. But you can also submit written testimony or have someone else testify on your behalf. It can take time for legislation to come up for discussion in a committee hearing, especially if a hearing is scheduled for after a chamber meets for floor debate, so it helps to be prepared to be at the Capitol for a while. Planning is critical, and typically plan to spend the day and stay overnight if necessary, Zaffirini said. It can also help to communicate with staff if you need to leave by a certain time, she said. Join an advocacy group: If you find an organization that is working on issues that matter to you, they can help you navigate and stay engaged in the legislative process. But it doesnt take a well-funded organization, said Shera Eichler, a government affairs consultant and former chief of staff for a state representative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe there's a group of parents or a group of your neighbors that share the same common concerns, where you can all meet with the legislator together or send a letter together, she said. Disclosure: AARP and AARP Texas 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. Man found shot, killed in Gwinnett County church parking lot Gwinnett County Police are investigating a homicide at a church parking lot after someone found a mans body with a gunshot wound in the parking lot Tuesday morning. Police confirmed to Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson that one man was killed in the parking lot of Canon United Methodist Church on Webb Gin House Road. On Wednesday, police identified the victim as 28-year-old Oscar Alexis Cruz. His family has set up a GoFundMe. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The discovery left neighbors puzzled about what happened early Tuesday morning in their quiet community near Snellville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abby Gonzalez, who lives near the church, said her husband also spotted the body about an hour after the original tip led to the homicide investigation. My husband was driving, it was around 7 oclock in the morning leaving to work and he actually saw the body and saw the officers and he stopped and he was like, should we be worried? Gonzalez said. Gonzalez says officers reassured her it was an isolated incident. What makes the case more mysterious for her is that she and her family never heard gunshots. Police arrived at the scene around 6 oclock in the morning after receiving a 911 call and found the body of a Hispanic man in his 20s, police said. Investigators said they do not believe the church has any connection to the homicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The church canceled preschool classes for the day while police spent hours searching for evidence. We do not believe there is any association with the church itself, said Sgt. James Lawson with Gwinnett County Police. In a statement posted to social media, the church wrote As we understand it, the victim was not connected with Cannon. Our campus will reopen on Wednesday morning. We are praying for those affected by this tragedy, as well as for those conducting the investigation. Despite her concerns, Gonzalez said her family feels reassured by the areas typically peaceful nature. Weve been living here for three years and nothing like that has ever happened around here, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police have not released information about suspects or a motive. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] According to the proposal, all haredi men will receive draft summons and be required to serve in the IDF, although the outline does not explain why it would be limited to men. The Coalition of Service Organizations, a consortium of 18 nonprofits that is in favor of expanding the IDFs ranks, outlined its version of a framework for a haredi (ultra-Orthodox) IDF conscription bill during a Knesset conference on Tuesday. According to the proposal, all haredi men will receive draft summons and will be required to serve in the IDF. However, up to 3% of men in each graduating class will be able to receive an exemption as outstanding Torah scholars, based on exams that will be open to whoever is interested. The outline did not detail why the exam would be open only to men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the proposal suggests differentiating between the current pool of haredi candidates, comprised of men between the ages of 18 and 26, and haredi men who reach the age of 18. While the former category will receive an unspecified lenient arrangement based on the IDFs needs, the latter will be subject to the full extent of the proposal. The rest of the draft included provisions similar to proposals that arose in meetings in the Knessets Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee over the past year, such as financial sanctions on people who evade the draft without a proper exemption; retroactive funding for yeshivas based on the number of their conscripts; and opening units and frameworks within the army adapted to the haredi lifestyle. A full version of the bill proposal will be published as early as Wednesday, a member of one of the consortium said. The haredi leadership argues that it is forbidden to draft yeshiva students whose Torah is their profession and that they defend the State of Israel through their studies. (credit: Marc Israel Sellem/Jerusalem Post) The Coalition of Service Organizations includes a series of organizations without political affiliations, such as the IDF Reservists Wives Forum, but also syndicates affiliated with specific parties or groups, such as the Likud and the Forum of National-Religious Reservists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a statement by this coalition of nonprofits, the framework was developed over recent months in collaboration with experts in law, national security, and civil society, and offered a responsible, unifying, and practical solution to the issue of military conscription in Israel. It added that the proposal was submitted on Tuesday to members of the Knesset from both the coalition and the opposition to promote it as broad legislation and to build support for it across all factions. Government MKs propose new "Haredi draft" bill The conference was hosted by three MKs from the coalition: Dan Illouz (Likud), Moshe Passal (Likud), and Yitzhak Kreuzer (Otzma Yehudit). It is estimated that five other MKs from the coalition participated as well, as did eight or so from the opposition. The coalition of nonprofits criticized the recent decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remove the defense panels chairperson, MK Yuli Edelstein (Likud), from his position over Edelsteins fallout with the haredi parties in negotiations over the bill last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of who chairs the committee, only an effective conscription law will succeed in passing in the Knesset, the coalition said. Edelstein attended the Coalition of Service Organizations conference in the Knesset and promised that the only law that would pass would be one that would lead to widespread conscription. He had met with representatives from this coalition numerous times in recent weeks. Judge Allison D. Burroughs, who is overseeing Harvard Universitys lawsuit against the Trump administration over canceled government funding for the university, isnt being shy with her commentary on the suit. During a court hearing Monday, Burroughs characterized a Trump administration argument as a little bit mind-boggling. President Donald Trump, for his part, took to Truth Social to take aim at Burroughs on Monday, calling her a TOTAL DISASTER and an automatic loss for the People of our Country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the Monday court date, Burroughs questioned Michael Velchik, the lawyer representing the Trump administration, who is also a Harvard alum. Lonely over there? Burroughs asked Velchik at the beginning of the hearing, who was met by eight lawyers from two cases on the Harvard side. The executive branch speaks with one voice, Velchik said. During the hearing, Burroughs pushed back on whether the federal government could cancel grants across the institution en masse without substantially proving that researchers or labs had engaged in antisemitism. This is what she characterized as a little bit mind-boggling and said that theres no documentation, no procedure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added that the consequences of that in terms of the constitutional law are staggering to me. She said that taking away grants from labs and researchers could hurt Americans and Jews. Velchik argued that it is under the federal governments authority to terminate any funding that doesnt align with federal priorities. Holding up a black binder with Harvards report on antisemitism, he said it is clear there is an issue at the university. Youre waving that around, the judge shot back, noting that the report was made public after the White House began taking action against Harvard. He said the institution hasnt been adequately addressing the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How do you know that Harvard is not complying? Burroughs said. While she seemed to mostly aim her questions at the Trump administrations lawyer, she gave Velchik a brief albeit pointed compliment. I hear what you are saying, and youre saying it very well. That Harvard education is paying off for you, Burroughs said. In his Truth Social post on Monday, Trump pointed to Harvard as an institution that is anti-Semitic, anti-Christian and anti-America and implied that Burroughs will rule in the universitys favor. 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, Trump said. What has happened between the Trump admin and Harvard? The Trump administration has gone after Harvard since April, cutting 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 investigations and threats have been made against the institution, some of which have also focused on threatening the universitys ability to enroll international students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is the universitys second lawsuit. More Higher Ed Read the original article on MassLive. The US Department of Health and Human Services said Monday that its undertaking an initiative to reform the countrys organ donation system, after a federal investigation found that one organization in the Kentucky region began the process to take organs from people who may not have been dead. A House subcommittee held a hearing Tuesday on organ donation safety lapses and how procurement and transplant organizations intend to improve the system, to regain the trust of donors and their families. That trust is essential because the US organ donation system relies on people to volunteer to donate, often when they get a drivers license. As of 2022, about 170 million people in the US have signed up to donate their organs when they die, but there is always more demand for organs than what is available. Last year, there were more than 48,000 transplants in the US, but more than 103,000 people were on waiting lists. About 13 people in the United States die every day waiting for a transplant, according to the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, or HRSA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HHS says the reform initiative was launched after an investigation by HRSA found problems with dozens of cases involving incomplete donations when an organization started the process to take someones organs but, for some reason, the donation never happened. Dr. Raymond Lynch, chief of HRSAs Organ Transplant Branch, said at the hearing Tuesday that the report was focused on problems in Kentucky that should not happen going forward. Id like to begin by expressing my apologies for the care that was delivered to your constituents, to the people of Kentucky. Its unacceptable, and its not something that HRSA is going to let stand, Lynch told the House Energy & Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Trust is earned. Its not to be expected. Its earned every day, he added. These are horrific reports According to the report on the federal investigation, as well as a memo prepared ahead of the House hearing, the cases were managed by Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates, a procurement organization that handles donations in Kentucky and parts of Ohio and West Virginia, which has merged with another group and is now called Network for Hope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the 351 cases in the investigation, more than 100 had concerning features, including 73 patients with neurological signs incompatible with organ donation, HHS said in a news release Monday. At least 28 cases involved patients who may not have been deceased at the time the organ procurement process began, raising serious ethical and legal questions. These were not unique. These are horrific reports, House subcommittee Chair Dr. John Joyce, a Pennsylvania Republican, said Tuesday. It affirms the need for this investigation to occur. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also cited the investigation as the impetus for new oversight of the organ donation process. Our findings show that hospitals allowed the organ procurement process to begin when patients showed signs of life, and this is horrifying, Kennedy said in Mondays release. The organ procurement organizations that coordinate access to transplants will be held accountable. The entire system must be fixed to ensure that every potential donors life is treated with the sanctity it deserves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Network for Hope did not respond to CNNs request for comment, but it says on its website that it is fully committed to transparency and is in full compliance with all requirements of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which regulates organ donation organizations. Our goal has always been and will remain to meet the highest ethical and medical standards in donation and transplantation. CEO Barry Massa testified Tuesday that the organization got the HRSA report only a few days ago and said it is in the process of reviewing the issues cited and is addressing the agencys concerns. It is clear that the reports allegations and contents are serious and alarming, Massa said. Patient safety is at the forefront of everything that we do. I want to assure the subcommittee that Network for Hope will take any appropriate action necessary to continue to implement policies and procedures, to continuously improve, and be better, and most importantly, ensure and promote patient safety. The investigation found patterns such as failures to follow professional best practices, to respect family wishes, to collaborate with a patients primary medical team and to recognize neurological function, suggesting organizational dysfunction and poor quality and safety assurance culture in the Kentucky-area organization, according to a report from HRSA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation also found that the Kentucky-area organization and the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, which oversees the local groups, failed to adequately recognize and respond to poor patient care and quality practices, the report says. The organ procurement organization in Kentucky is one of 55 in the US, and since the federal review, HRSA said, it has received reports of similar patterns of high-risk procurement practices at other organizations. Lynch said Tuesday that the agency was undertaking investigations of cases in other parts of the country and would have an additional investigative report on patient safety in the organ donation system. The agency is mandating system-level changes to safeguard potential organ donors across the US and said the Kentucky-area organization needed to conduct a full root cause analysis of its failures to follow internal protocols. It also said the organization must adopt a formal procedure to halt a donation process if there are safety concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Network for Hope says on its website: We are equally committed to addressing the recent guidance from the HRSA and we are already evaluating whether any updates to our current practices are needed. TJ Hoovers story The federal investigation was launched after one case in Kentucky came to light during a congressional hearing in September. In 2021, 33-year-old TJ Hoover was hospitalized after a drug overdose. He woke up in the operating room to find people shaving his chest, bathing his body in surgical solution and talking about harvesting his organs. Earlier that day, a doctor had declared him brain-dead, according to his medical records, even though he seemed to be reacting to stimuli, making eye contact and shaking his head. Former staffers of the organ procurement organization who were involved in Hoovers case raised concerns that he wasnt brain-dead and should not have been on the operating table. The concerns were ignored, according to the federal investigation. TJ Hoover's case is still under investigation by the Kentucky attorney general's office. - CNN Staff told CNN that the procedure to take Hoovers organs stopped after a surgeon saw his reaction to stimuli. The Kentucky procurement organization told CNN last fall that it had reviewed the case and remains confident that accepted practices and approved protocols were followed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hoover now lives with his sister in Richmond, Kentucky, and is undergoing extensive physical therapy and treatment, much of which is shared on TikTok in an effort to inspire others. Massa, who took his position with Network for Hope after Hoovers case, testified Tuesday that the organization had followed policy and regulations, but in this case, communication could have been vastly improved. Massa said that Covid had complicated communication between the organ procurement team and the hospital. Although the process was followed, he added, there was a lot of unique things that could have been done better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massa said that Network for Hope is doing its own independent investigation of Hoovers and the other cases mentioned in the HRSA report. The organization has put additional safeguards in place to bring more trust to the system, he said: Nurses and attending physicians now have a checklist so they know what their role is in particular donations, and the organization has created an explanatory video. HRSAs Lynch testified that appropriate reevaluation of neurologic status would have prevented many of the errors in the Kentucky cases. Building that collaborative relationship and listening to the medical teams and the families would have prevented many of these, he said. The agency is also creating a place on its website for people to report any concerns they encounter during any part of the organ donation process. Donation after circulatory death Congress has been investigating the nations organ donation system for years. Tuesdays hearing was intended to determine what lessons could be learned from the investigation, what changes are necessary to make the system better and what challenges lie ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One issue involves organs procured from patients who arent brain-dead. Although most donations in the US come from people who are brain-dead, there are other circumstances in which a patient may become an organ donor. Its called donation after circulatory death, or DCD, and it has become much more common in recent years. Some experts question the ethics of the practice. A donation after brain death is defined by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network as the organ recovery process that may occur following death by irreversible cessation of cerebral and brain stem function; characterized by absence of electrical activity in the brain, blood flow to the brain, and brain function as determined by clinical assessment of responses. DCD, by comparison, is when youve got somebody with essentially devastating illness or injury, and their familys decided to withdraw life support, Dr. Robert Cannon, an associate professor of surgery and surgical director of the liver transplant program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told CNN last year after Hoovers case came to light. Cannon was not involved in Hoovers case but was familiar with it because he testified about lapses in the organ procurement system at the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing where the case came to light in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Certainly, we have potential DCD donors with lots of reflexes, Cannon said. But as long as the family knows this is whats happening with their loved one, this process is considered ethical and standard. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com BOSTON (WWLP) The Healey administration announced a new $180,000 grant being offered to support higher education for students with disabilities. The administration opened applications for public colleges and universities to apply for grant funding on Monday for the Massachusetts Inclusive Postsecondary Education (MAIPSE) program. This program enables certain students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to take part in undergraduate academic courses. Investigators narrow Gabriel House fire to two possible causes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funding will allow students to take part in courses, activities, and internships, while making sure that they have full access to curriculum, textbooks, and coursework materials. Additional support can also be provided through the grant funding, such as consultants like employment specialists and peer mentors for the students. These grants will lift barriers for students with disabilities, enabling learners to experience college, whether its in a classroom, through an internship or as part of a campus club, said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. Through MAIPSE, we are committed to supporting the development of more high-quality, inclusive programs so students of all abilities have access to the transformational opportunities of going to college. The Board of Higher Education unanimously approved the proposed state regulations that established MAIPSE in April. Through the program, the administration hopes to give more education opportunities to students ages 18 and over with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder. Applications must be submitted by institutions online by July 31. 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. MEXICO, Mo. Home Depot announced it will be closing a rural Missouri distribution center at the end of October, impacting over 60 employees. According to a Missouri WARN Notice, the facility will close on Oct. 26 in Mexico, Missouri, located at 4665 E Liberty Street. In a letter to the Missouri Department of Workforce Development, 61 employees are expected to be laid off on or before the facilitys closing date. The letter states the employees will be permanently separated from Home Depot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waterloo teen was prepping to show cattle at county fair prior to shooting death The letter also said employees will not be given bumping rights, and the affected employees are not represented by a labor union. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HOOKS, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) A vote by the Hooks City Council on Monday made it the 59th city in Texas to outlaw abortion and declare its city a sanctuary for the unborn. The unanimous 5-0 vote makes the tiny Texas town, with a population of 2,796, the 76th in the nation to pass such an ordinance. The ordinances adoption was spearheaded by Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn, an organization that is pushing for a full stop to abortion throughout the state. The first ordinance of its kind was passed in Wascom, and has slowly spread throughout the state. The Hooks Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance prohibits: (1) performing an elective abortion and aiding or abetting elective abortions within the city limits of Hooks, (2) elective abortions on residents of Hooks regardless of where the abortion takes place, (3) abortion trafficking through the City of Hooks, (4) the mailing of abortion-inducing drugs into the City of Hooks, (5) criminal organizations from doing business inside the city limits of Hooks, and (6) the transportation or disposal of the remains of unborn children who have been killed by an elective abortion across state lines and carried by waste management companies into Texas in and through the City of Hooks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Support for the ordinance is overwhelming, as Mark Lee Dickson, Founder of Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn, shared reactions of community members in a Facebook post. Hooks resident and Southern Baptist minister Roy Ford shared, Abortion is a moral violation of Gods Word. The baby is NOT THE WOMANS BODY, because the blood type is often different. Human life is the ultimate of Gods creation so it is one of the things that glorifies Him. Thank God for the five men of the Hooks, Texas City Council. They unanimously voted tonight for Hooks to be a SANCTUARY CITY FOR THE UNBORN. Bowie County Republican Chairman Gary Singleton said it was a privilege to be in the meeting at the time of the vote, calling Texas a pro-life state and acknowledging that more work was needed to protect pregnant moms and their unborn children. Planned Parenthood Tyler Health Center, which provided gynecological, birth control, and abortion services for women, closed its office on July 17. 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. House Republicans moved forward with an effort to rename the Kennedy Center Opera House after first lady Melania Trump just months after President Donald Trump seized control of the national arts center and established himself as chairman. If the proposal to honor Melania becomes law, the venue's second largest space will be known as the "First Lady Melania Trump Opera House." On Tuesday, July 22, the Republican-led House Appropriations Committee voted 33-25 to approve an amendment that calls for the first-ever renaming of the famed Kennedy Center stage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amendment is now tucked into a larger bill that's intended to allocate funding for the Interior Department, the Environmental Protection Agency and related agencies during the upcoming fiscal year. The bill has not yet been approved by the full House, which is about to go on an extended summer break. ALEX WROBLEWSKI/AFP via Getty Donald and Melania Trump arrive at the Kennedy Center, where they were met with boos and cheers, on June 11, 2025 Donald and Melania Trump arrive at the Kennedy Center, where they were met with boos and cheers, on June 11, 2025 In line with tradition for a first lady, Melania currently serves as an honorary Kennedy Center chair. During her husband's first term as president, she shirked her duties to participate in the Kennedy Center Honors, which are traditionally held in the Opera House and followed with a White House reception hosted by the first couple. The Trumps distanced themselves from the event each year, and White House receptions resumed in 2021 under the Bidens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This time around, since Donald's hostile purge of the Kennedy Center's leadership in February and subsequent cuts to "woke" programming, the first couple has only made one prominent public appearance at the arts center, to attend the opening night of Les Miserables one of Donald's favorite musicals. Donald and Melania's arrival at the Opera House on June 11 was met with a mixture of boos and cheers, the latter of which came largely from their invited guests. Several lead actors in the musical boycotted the evening's performance because of the Trumps' attendance. Still, the Trumps and Vances maintain a very visible presence in the Kennedy Center their official portraits are prominently hung in the Hall of Nations. Craig Hudson For The Washington Post via Getty The Trumps and Vances have their portraits hanging in the Kennedy Center Hall of Nations The Trumps and Vances have their portraits hanging in the Kennedy Center Hall of Nations Naming the Kennedy Center Opera House after a sitting first lady particularly one who has been met with criticism by the arts communities it houses would be an unusual move, yet it comes amid a string of far-fetched attempts by House Republicans to curry favor with the president by plastering his family's name and likeness across the nation even before their legacy is cemented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If every GOP-led bill had gone through this year, Washington Dulles International Airport would instead be called Donald J. Trump International, the president's birthday would be a national holiday, and his face would be on both currency and Mount Rushmore. 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. In May, Florida Rep. Greg Steube even suggested halting funding to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) if it did not change its name to Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (otherwise known as WMAGA) and rename its Metrorail subway system to be called the "Trump Train." It is unprecedented and to be honest with you, its completely wild, John White, professor emeritus of politics at Catholic University, told The Washington Post in June. History shows that most things are named after presidents after they have either long left office or been deceased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first lady's office and the Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment about House Republicans' proposed Opera House name change. Read the original article on People Kristo Kaarmann (left) and Taavet Hinrikus founded Wise together in 2010 - Levon Biss/The Forbes Collection The founders of the 11bn UK fintech champion Wise have clashed over an attempt to shift its main listing to the US. In a letter to shareholders, Taavet Hinrikus, who co-founded Wise with chief executive Kristo Kaarmann in 2010, warned he was deeply troubled by the proposals, which he claimed would concentrate power among a handful of company insiders. Mr Hinrikus claimed directors had buried a bid to increase their influence over the company in proposals that shareholders will vote on this week. As well as agreeing to move Wises primary listing from London to New York, the voting documents ask shareholders to agree to a 10-year extension to super-voting shares held by early investors, including Mr Kaarmann. These shares had been scheduled to expire in July 2026 and ensure outsized control for a few insiders, granting them 90pc of the voting rights. A dangerous precedent Mr Hinrikus, who holds a 550m stake in Wise and was chief executive of the company until 2017, claimed it was entirely inappropriate and unfair to combine the two issues in one vote and a contravention of shareholder democracy. The letter, which was sent by Mr Hinrikuss Skaala Investments, said it was not in principle opposed to the US listing, but urged shareholders to vote against the current scheme. It said: Entrenching disproportionate power in the hands of a few sets a dangerous precedent one that contradicts the values on which Wise built its public credibility. The intervention has unearthed a rift between the two Wise founders, who launched the payments business 15 years ago after meeting at a party and bonding over their shared troubles of sending money home to their native Estonia. In response to the letter, Mr Kaarmann said Mr Hinrikus no longer plays an active role in Wise and has been pursuing his own interests since 2021. He said the shareholding structure helps us build a sustainable and profitable business for the long term. Mr Hinrikus led Wise from 2010 until 2017 before becoming chairman. He stepped down from the company in 2021, although he still holds 15pc of the businesss super-voting shares. He has since emerged as one of Britains leading start-up investors, backing dozens of businesses across Europe. The entrepreneur was an outspoken critic of Brexit and said leaving the EU had made it harder to set up a financial company in London. Dual-share structure The board of Wise said it was disappointed by Mr Hinrikuss letter. It added he had endorsed its current dual share structure when Wise went public in London in 2021. House Republicans are ready to do some rebranding. On Thursday, GOP members of the House Appropriations Committee voted to rename the Opera House at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts after Melania Trump. The move to honor the first lady comes after President Trump overhauled the leadership of the arts institution in February, dismissing much of its board and naming himself its chairman. Those moves left some performers, such as Issa Rae and the creative team behind Hamilton, vowing to steer clear of the Kennedy Center. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The name change was part of a larger Interior Department spending bill and passed on a vote of 33-25. Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson introduced the amendment to rechristen the opera house. In a statement, Simpson said, naming a theater after [the first lady] is an excellent way to recognize her appreciation for the arts. Melania Trump serves as honorary chair of the Kennedy Center, as have first ladies before her. President Trump steered clear of the venue during his first term, skipping the Kennedy Center Honors. However, during his second term, he not only toured the venue after overhauling its leadership, but also attended a performance of Les Miserables with his wife. The bill will still needs to be approved by the full House before getting voted on by the Senate. The recent Republican-backed tax bill included $257 million that was earmarked for repairs and maintenance on the Kennedy Center. However, Republicans want to cut the centers budget for the next year by $7 million. Spokespeople for the Kennedy Center and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. House Republicans have made passage of the fiscal 2026 Interior-Environment spending bill contingent, at least for now, on renaming the opera house at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after Melania Trump. The procedural markup of the spending bill voted on by House appropriators on Tuesday contained a short amendment from Idaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson: Makes technical changes, designates the First Lady Melania Trump Opera House. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amendment was adopted by a vote of 33 to 25, though the proposed legislation with the renaming amendment has yet to receive a vote by the full Congress, nor is such polling assured. Other sycophantic Republican lawmakers have similarly looked to honor (and flatter) Trump during his second term by, for example, Congressman Addison McDowell proposing legislation to redesignate Washington Dulles International Airport as Donald J. Trump International Airport; new Texas Rep. Brandon Gill proposing a measure to require all $100 bills be redesigned to have Trumps face on them; California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa announcing hes nominating Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize; and Upper New York State Rep. Claudia Tenney proposing Trumps birthday become a national holiday. The possible opera house renaming follows U.S. President Donald Trump and wife Melania in mid-June attending a local debut of Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The performance was marked by a protest attendance by local drag queens and an eruption of booing and reactive MAGA-rally-style chants from the crowd. The John F. Kennedy Center had already been retooled soon after Trump took control of the institution at the start of his second term, fired its entire board, then replaced them with loyalists including Susie Wiles, his chief of staff, second lady Usha Vance, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnicks wife, Allison, and Fox News hosts Maria Bartiromo and Laura Ingraham. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. leaders hand-picked board soon elected Trump to be chairman of the cultural venue. A touring production of the hit musical Hamilton decided against going ahead with plans to play the Kennedy Center in light of Trumps takeover of the institution. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. HOWARD COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Authorities are asking for the publics help in identifying the individuals responsible for dumping five dogs at the Happy Day Humane Society. According to the Howard County Sheriffs Office, the incident happened in the early morning hours of June 26, 2025. Surveillance footage reportedly captured a vehicle and suspects involved in abandoning the animals outside the shelter, which is located off West I-20. The Sheriffs Office reminds the public that abandoning animals without making reasonable arrangements for their care is a criminal offense under Texas law. Under Texas Penal Code 42.092, it is a Class A misdemeanor to intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly abandon an animal without making reasonable arrangements for its custody. Crime Stoppers is now offering a way for community members to share information anonymously. Anyone with information about the identity of the suspects or the vehicle involved is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (432) 263-TIPS (8477). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the P3 Tips mobile app or online at www.p3tips.com/1277. Please reference Case No. 25-0668 when submitting tips. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (WDTN) A total of $125,000 is up for grabs as Huber Heights looks to boost economic development. The city has announced a new Economic Development Grant Program to strengthen local businesses. The program aims to help small businesses, nonprofits and entrepreneurs in the community. Lane closures expected on busy Huber Heights road The $125,000 will be distributed across four categories: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement $50,000 to local matches of county and state grants $25,000 for small business and nonprofit support $25,000 for veteran-owned business grants $25,000 for women- and minority-owned business grants The initiative is funded entirely through the sale and lease of city-owned properties. Eligible applicants must be located in Huber Heights, be in good standing with the city and offer proof of ownership and how the funds would be used. Applicants can apply under more than one category if eligible. Applications are open from Aug. 18 through Oct. 17. A grant review committee will evaluate submissions for approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information on how to apply, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Depending on where you live, an innocent ice cream truck could hide a potential threat. Richs Ice Cream Co., based in West Palm Beach, Florida, recalled 110,292 cases of ice cream bars on June 27. The frozen treats may be contaminated with listeria, a potentially lethal foodborne pathogen. Rich's sells its products to schools and ice cream trucks across the country, so this recall is particularly dangerous for school-age kids. When Rich's first recalled the contaminated ice cream bars, the company sent a note to its distributors but not to the public, according to a Food Safety News report. Nearly three weeks later, on July 17, the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) classified the recall as Class II, or a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote, per the FDAs website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This classification brought the recall to light and caused a wave of media coverage. Here's what you need to know to keep your family safe. What You Need To Know Take care when ordering treats from an ice cream truck this summer. Listeria bacteria can survive refrigeration and even freezing, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. The following frozen products may contain traces of listeria: Chocolate Crunch Cake Bar Cool Watermelon Bar Cotton Candy Twirl Bar Crumbled Cookie Bar Fudge Frenzy Bar Orange Cream Bar Rich Bar Savagely Sour BlueRaspberry Bar Savagely Sour Cherry Bar Strawberry Shortcake Bar The ice cream bars were all individually packaged in plastic wrappers. There's not much parents can do right now, except err on the side of caution when purchasing from ice cream trucks. Simply Recipes / Rich's Ice Cream The distributors of Rich's ice cream bars sold the frozen treats to schools and ice cream truck vendors in the following states: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alabama Arizona California Florida Georgia Illinois Iowa Louisiana Massachusetts Missouri Nebraska Nevada New Jersey New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennessee Texas Virginia Wisconsin If you think you or your child has eaten one of the contaminated ice cream treats, monitor for symptoms. Listeria can cause fever and flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and fatigue, according to the CDC. Other common symptoms are headache, stiff neck, confusion, and loss of balance. If you experience any of the above, contact your healthcare provider to confirm a diagnosis. Read the original article on SIMPLYRECIPES Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Alex Adams joins state officials and business leaders to announce the Idaho State Park Foster Family Passport at Lucky Peak State Park, as foster parents and families stand behind him. (Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun) Idaho Health and Welfare director Alex Adams, who was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, vowed to protect Head Start and improve child welfare in a committee hearing on his nomination amid pointed questions from senators. The committee will later vote on whether to advance Adams nomination to be assistant secretary of family support to the full Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams, who prior to his appointment as director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in May 2024 served as the governors budget director, also fielded questions about recruiting and retaining foster families, cuts to Medicaid, protecting child trafficking victims, and whether he would commit to sharing information with the committee if confirmed. Senate Democrats question Adams on Head Start cuts, pressure from Trump administration Head Start, the early learning program for low-income families, is facing $1 billion in withheld, congressionally approved funding this year. The Region 10 office, which services Idaho, Alaska, Washington and Oregon, closed in April at the direction of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., KREM 2 reported. Adams did not comment on if he supported or opposed the cuts, despite repeated questions by Democratic members of the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho. I would echo what Secretary Kennedy has told the committee, which is his goal is to make Head Start brighter by the end of this administration, Adams told the committee Tuesday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgia Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, who said he was a proud Head Start alum said he has asked Kennedy for answers about the closures of regional offices for the program in April and has yet to hear back. Warnock asked how Adams would ensure closures wouldnt further disrupt access for the families who use the program. Im hearing from providers, yes it has disrupted services, Warnock said. Adams responded that he would try to open lines of communication with the nonprofit entities that administer the Head Start grants. U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Georgia, speaks to reporters as he departs a vote on the Senate floor on Capitol Hill on Aug. 6, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images) Warnock also asked if Adams would review the termination decisions and report whether they are disrupting services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My job is to follow the law, so if errors have been made, I would look to correct those, Adams said. But my job is to follow the law and ensure that all legal obligations related to Head Start are being fulfilled. Warnock pushed Adams to answer yes or no on the review and report of the terminations, which Adams did not do, but said he was happy to look at it. Warnock concluded his time by saying, In your answers, I feel the pressure that you feel from the administration, I hope you will take account of what the people youre pledging to serve are actually feeling. Adams in answering multiple questions reiterated his commitment to the program and on multiple occasions highlighted that his wifes grandmother ran a Head Start program in Blackfoot, Idaho, in the late 1960s. Adams, Crapo defend Medicaid reductions in federal budget reconciliation Nevada Democratic U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, said the cuts to Medicaid under the massive budget reconciliation bill passed this month may threaten behavioral health service for foster youth, many of whom rely on Medicaid for health care services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She asked what Adams intended to do to work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, to avoid a negative impact on foster childrens services. Adams said the intention behind the budget bill is not to have any impact on the core constituency of Medicaid. Adams said he wanted to lean into prevention services provided by the Administration for Children and Families, which he would oversee if nominated. He said he would also work closely with Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for CMS. U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) (R) and Ranking Member Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) preside over a meeting as the committee votes to advance the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services on Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Senate Finance Ranking Member U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, said he was troubled that Adams told his staff that the Medicaid cuts affect only fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, every single kid in foster care is eligible for Medicaid, so when you cut Medicaid, youre directly cutting health care for kids whove experienced, in many instances, extraordinary trauma, Wyden said, and I just dont understand how you basically can say that cuts in access to therapy, developmental screenings, basic medical care they need to health and thrive, really isnt something thats going to be important to you if youre confirmed. Crapo, who supported the budget reconciliation bill, argued that the cuts to Medicaid would not reduce benefits for most recipients, unless they do not comply with its new work requirements, are in the country illegally or are registered to receive benefits from multiple states. Crapo highlights Adams work on foster care in Idaho In introducing Adams, Crapo highlighted the work on child welfare Adams did as head of the state health agency. Little appointed Adams to head the states largest agency in May 2024, and he started in the role that June. Immediately, Adams said his major priority would be improving the states child welfare system by increasing recruitment of foster families, enhancing prevention services to keep children in their homes when it was safe to do so, and improving services for foster families to enhance retention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crapo highlighted that Adams worked with the Idaho Legislature to enact laws to extend foster care to age 23, allow kin-specific licensing standards, and enhance time to permanency. During the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers approved Adams $23.2 million increase to the youth safety division of the agency, the Idaho Capital Sun reported. Adams on Tuesday touted that his agency increased the ratio of foster families to youth from 74 families for every 100 foster children when he started, to 95 families for every 100 children. Crapo also mentioned Adams experience as Gov. Brad Littles budget director from 2019 to 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has demonstrated a keen eye toward fiscal responsibility, reducing regulatory burden and maximizing the impact of taxpayer dollars, Crapo said. This experience will be invaluable as he oversees the varied programs under (the Administration for Children and Families)s purview. Adams said that improving child welfare would continue to be a main priority if he is nominated. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Democrats ask pointed questions about Trump administrations actions A number of committee Democrats asked pointed questions about actions under the Trump administration, such as the presidents proposal to eliminate the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program known as LIHEAP. Adams mostly deflected from offering his own opinion, but said he would follow the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vermont Democratic U.S. Sen. Peter Welch repeatedly tried to get Adams to say what his perspective was on the elimination of the program that provides funds that assist low-income families with energy costs. Adams responded with the administrations justification for doing it, which included a priority to reduce energy costs for everyone, and that if Congress funds it, well get the money out the door. Welch told him he admired Adams work in administering LIHEAP in Idaho, but was disappointed in Adams lack of candor about his view of its elimination. Wyden asked Adams what he would do to combat documented cases of mistreatment or harm of children in residential treatment facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams said Idahos rate of congregate care has reduced by 35% since he started and that he implemented a new requirement that one visit be unannounced. Wyden also asked what Adams would do to address specific harms to LGTBQ+ children in these facilities, documented in a report his office compiled. Simple, Adams responded, all kids deserve respect and dignity. Wyden pushed Adams to say what he would do, you are very articulate but its really hard to understand what you stand for and what you would do. Adams said he wasnt familiar with the cases Wyden mentioned, but my operating principal in Idaho has been, when theres a fork in the road, Im going to do whats in the best interest of the child. A committee vote on Adams nomination will likely occur before Congress goes to recess in August, a spokesperson for Crapos office told the Sun. After that, it will go to the full Senate for consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX (Texas Scorecard) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced that illegal aliens charged with heinous crimes were arrested across the country this past weekend. According to a DHS report, those arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement include individuals guilty of murder, rape, and pedophilia. Over the weekend, our brave ICE agents arrested more depraved criminal illegal aliens, including murderers, rapists, and three child pedophiles. These are the types of barbaric criminals our ICE law enforcement is arresting and removing from American communities every day, said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McLaughlin said that despite the rise in assaults against ICE officers, they continue to put their lives on the line to make American communities safe. DHS highlighted the arrests of nearly a dozen individuals. Among those apprehended is 58-year-old Jose Arinaga-Ramirez, who is in the U.S. unlawfully from Mexico and was arrested in San Antonio by ICE Dallas. He has been convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child. ICE Dallas also reports that Ramirez has a criminal history of resisting arrest, driving while intoxicated, and has two convictions for illegal re-entry. Gilmer Vertiz-Bustemante, 37, another illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested by ICE Houston and has a murder conviction in Tarrant County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several other ICE field offices across the nation also reported the arrests of illegal aliens guilty of similar crimes, including ICE Los Angeles, ICE Philadelphia, and ICE Boston. Last week, DHS announced that ICE officers have faced an 830 percent increase in assaults since January 21. TOPEKA (KSNT) Police say a man accused of kidnapping a Topeka child and taking him more than 400 miles from home is in custody. The Mattoon Police Department (MPD) in Illinois said in a press release that officers were notified around 12:10 p.m. on July 22 that a child at the center of an AMBER Alert out of Topeka, Kansas may be inside the city limits. Police say they learned the suspect involved in the abduction and a double-murder in Topeka, 32-year-old Christopher Barnshaw, was driving a white Lexus passenger car in Mattoon. The MPD said one of its officers who was on a traffic stop on Route 16 at 12:16 p.m. spotted the suspects vehicle pass by. The officer began following the vehicle east towards Charleston, Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speeding driver late for church caught going 111 mph in Douglas County Multiple officers pulled the vehicle over at the intersection of Route 16 and Beechtree Road. Police took Barnshaw into custody without issue and recovered the missing child, who was in the backseat, unharmed. Officers also recovered a firearm on Barnshaw. Christopher Barnshaws mugshot. (Photo Courtesy/Mattoon Police Department) The MPD said Barnshaw is being held on aggravated kidnapping and unlawful use of a weapon charges in the Coles County Jail. The department is working to reunite the child with a family member. Man sentenced for raping, killing Topeka five-year-old girl in 2023 The Topeka Police Department held a press conference on July 22 regarding the abduction. TPD Chief Chris Vallejo said police were called around 9:50 a.m. on July 22 to a home in the 500 block of Wabash on a welfare check. Officers found a man and woman dead and discovered a two-year-old child was missing. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issued an AMBER Alert for the child shortly after the deaths were discovered. (Photo By: Savannah Meier) (Photo By: Savannah Meier) (Photo By: Savannah Meier) (Photo By: Savannah Meier) (Photo By: Savannah Meier) Woman killed in Auburn house fire was trapped in bathroom: fire marshal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more crime 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. Armenian Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, currently under arrest for attempting to usurp power and plotting a terrorist attack, is not wasting his time. From behind bars, he has filed several lawsuits for the "protection of honor and dignity," demanding millions of drams from those who dared to call a spade a spade. For instance, Galstanyan is asking MP Vahagn Aleksanyan to pay nearly $23,000 apparently, thats how much the archbishop believes his unblemished reputation is worth in the deputys eyes. Meanwhile, hes demanding a symbolic 7,500 drams from the Minister of Health and a couple of other politicians. Apparently, the amount varies depending on the degree of "desecration" of his saintly image. Alphabet (GOOG) (GOOGL) has lagged behind other Magnificent 7 tech stocks in 2025, but a deeper look reveals that Google might just be one of the most underappreciated artificial intelligence (AI) opportunities in the market right now. Whats Happening With Google? Googles market share in search recently dipped below 90% for the first time since 2015, causing concern over its core ad model. More News from Barchart But Google is fighting back by introducing AI Overviews, Gemini integrations, and launching free AI training with the State of Virginia. This diversification strategy could help secure long-term relevance in a rapidly changing tech landscape. Congress is Buying the Dip Congressmen Ro Khanna and John Boozman disclosed purchases of GOOGL stock in May and June. Since those trades, the stock has rallied over 15%, though it's still negative YTD. This activity is tracked on Barcharts Politician Insider Trading page, giving you transparency into what influential policymakers and committee members are doing behind the scenes. Key Technical Indicators Turning Bullish Alphabet stock recently reclaimed its 200-day moving average a traditionally bullish technical signal. Plus, the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) is climbing back above 50, with positive sloping moving averages. www.barchart.com Call option activity is also rising, with key gamma levels forming around the $190$200 strikes. Barcharts Gamma Exposure Tool can help traders to monitor these critical resistance and breakout levels. www.barchart.com Bottom Line Alphabet might be the underdog of the AI race but its fundamentals remain solid, and momentum is quietly building ahead of earnings on July 23: If the stock breaks above $190, it could mark the beginning of a new bullish trend. Track the breakout potential using Barcharts interactive tools. On the date of publication, Barchart Insights 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 BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) Police from across Illinois will join forces to combat speeding, including in Bloomington and Normal. The Bloomington Police Department is joining hundreds of other agencies in stepping up traffic safety to reduce speeding, according to police spokesperson Bryce Janssen. Peoria police joining other agencies to combat speeding He also said the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Polices Illinois Speed Awareness Day will take place on Wednesday, July 23. Drivers can expect to see more patrols looking for traffic violations, including speeding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The campaign aims to reduce the increase in speed-related crashes. According to 2023 data from the Illinois Department of Transportation, speeding is involved in 44.9% of all motor vehicle fatalities, 36.3% of all injury crashes, and 31.1% of all roadway crashes. The Normal Police Department will also be taking part in Illinois Speed Awareness Day, according to Chief Steve Petrilli. Petrilli said the goal of the campaign is to raise awareness and save lives. He said while speeding may get you there faster, if you obey the speed limit, you will most likely arrive alive. For more information, visit the Traffic Safety Marketing website or the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police 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 CIProud.com. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Federal immigration arrests across Washington rose sharply in June as the Trump administration continues its aggressive nationwide push for deportations, according to new data. Arrests in June, more than 275, were at least double any month since President Donald Trump reclaimed the presidency in January. At the same time, the share of arrestees in Washington with criminal records dropped sharply, to less than one-third. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The figures come from the Deportation Data Project out of the University of California, Berkeley, where researchers received the information via Freedom of Information Act requests. The data runs through June 26. I think that every community member in our country who is watching the news and comes from an immigrant family is increasingly concerned about their safety here, said Caedmon Magboo Cahill, director of policy advocacy at the American Civil Liberties Unions Washington chapter. The data provides the most complete look yet at the numbers underpinning the Trump administrations immigration crackdown. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin defended the administrations approach. We are continuing to go after the worst of the worst including gang members, pedophiles, and rapists, she said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are delivering on President Trumps and the American peoples mandate to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens and make America safe, McLaughlin added. The dramatic rise in arrests last month in Washington, which mirrors national trends, came as top federal officials upped arrest quotas. Congress this month added $170 billion to carry out Trumps immigration agenda, an extraordinary funding injection sure to expand deportation efforts. The legislation makes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement the largest federal law enforcement agency. Were bracing for even more ICE activity throughout the country and in our state, Cahill said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rise in local arrests coincides with a surge in flights of migrants detained elsewhere and brought to Washington for detention. This has strained capacity at the states only federal immigration detention facility, the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma. The Berkeley researchers data isnt comprehensive. For one, it only includes ICE administrative arrests, excluding Customs and Border Protection. And, in some cases, no state is listed for individual arrest records. So the arrest figures for Washington are likely an undercount. Here are a few other takeaways from the statistics. Arrests up In the first five months of Trumps presidency, ICE arrests jumped 35% in Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From Inauguration Day to June 26, the feds arrested 782 people, according to the Deportation Data Project. Thats up from 581 in the same period last year. So far this year, ICE is averaging five arrests per day in Washington, an 85% leap from all of 2024. Catalina Velasquez, the executive director of the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, said this increase in arrests since Trump retook office represents an immeasurable amount of pain on Washington communities. Still, Washingtons increase pales in comparison to much of the rest of the nation, as many states have seen arrests double or triple, according to a New York Times analysis. Arrests in Idaho, for example, have skyrocketed around 10-fold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As immigration enforcement agents are ruthlessly targeting, surveilling, and detaining community members, this comparatively lower increase in ICE arrests demonstrates the necessity and importance of a proactive, community-centered deportation defense infrastructure ready to mobilize and protect our communities, said Velasquez, citing her organizations rapid response teams. The ACLUs Washington chapter has seen a nearly five-times jump in immigration-related calls since last year, Cahill said. Examples of calls include people concerned about Medicaid data sharing with immigration enforcement and someone who couldnt get a loan because of the perception theyre from a Latin American country and wouldnt be able to repay the money if ICE arrests them. How many have been convicted of crimes? Since starting his first campaign for president, Trump has especially focused his rhetoric on immigrants with criminal records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the first five months of his second term, 41% of those arrested in Washington have had criminal records, according to the Deportation Data Projects statistics. Another 16% have pending criminal charges. Thats up from 36% and 4% respectively in the same span last year when former President Joe Biden was in office. But of those arrested this June, only 31% had criminal records, as immigration agents tried to reach hefty quotas. McLaughlin claimed 70% of ICE arrests nationwide have been of criminal illegal aliens and accused the Deportation Data Project of cherry-picking data to peddle a false narrative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the individuals that are counted as non-criminals are actually terrorists, human rights abusers, gangsters and more; they just dont have a rap sheet in the U.S., she said. Further, every single one of these individuals committed a crime when they came into this country illegally. It is not an accurate description to say they are non-criminals. Living in the United States illegally is a civil violation, not criminal. Liliana Chumpitasi, deputy director at the advocacy organization La Resistencia, said in an email that this tough-on-crime approach is used as an excuse to destroy our communities. Demographic shift The Trump administration, in Washington and elsewhere, has focused its enforcement efforts on immigrants from Latin American countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The top six countries from which migrants emigrated are in Latin America. Migrants from Mexico have made up nearly half of the arrests in Washington since Trump took office. Mexico is followed by Venezuelan immigrants, who have been a specific target of the federal government amid claims migrants have ties to the Tren de Aragua gang. The countries that follow are Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia and Nicaragua. Migrants from India rank seventh. During the same period last year, Indian immigrants were second most likely to be arrested. Trumps border czar, Tom Homan, has suggested federal agents can question people based on their physical appearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chumpitasi said, They cant be more clear about racial profiling than that. The Trump administration has also seemed to focus more on arresting men, as they make up seven in every eight arrestees since Inauguration Day. Thats up from less than 75% in this span last year. Expedited removal Under Trump, ICE has also moved to more quickly deport immigrants through a process called expedited removal. This process allows immigration officials to deport immigrants without legal status without a hearing before a judge. Trump expanded expedited removal in his first term, before Biden dialed it back. From Jan. 20 to June 26 this year, 13% of arrested immigrants were labeled as expedited removals, according to the data. Thats up from 3% in the same period last year under Biden. The Trump administration came under fire in Seattle and elsewhere in May as it moved to dismiss many immigration cases in court so they could immediately detain those migrants and immediately place them into expedited removal proceedings. Advocacy groups sued last week over due process concerns associated with this new practice. A woman posing as a nurse is accused of using nearly two dozen aliases to illegally treat patients at multiple facilities in Pennsylvania, authorities said Monday. Shannon Nicole Womack, 39, was initially arrested in April after providing Pennsylvania State Police with false identification during a routine traffic stop on Interstate 79 in Cecil Township, CBS Pittsburgh reported. An investigation later determined that around 20 aliases and seven different Social Security numbers were associated with Womacks name, police spokesperson Rocco Gagliardi said at a press conference Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Days after Womacks initial arrest, investigators executed a search warrant on her vehicle and found prescription medications, medical records and equipment, and multiple forms of identification, according to a criminal complaint reviewed by the Observer-Reporter. Although Womack is not licensed to practice medicine in any U.S. state, she allegedly worked nursing shifts at facilities in Allegheny, Erie, Washington, Beaver, Bradford and Westmoreland counties, according to Pittsburghs ABC affiliate WTAE. Womack obtained employment through staffing agencies and (was) able to create her own host agency, Gagliardi told reporters. She was picking up the phone and transferring those employment, jobs and careers to herself. According to police, Womack used the identities of four licensed nurses from other states to pose as a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse and nursing supervisor at rehabilitation and long-term care facilities throughout Pennsylvania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deception likely began in 2020 in the early days of the pandemic, police said During that COVID time, (health care facilities) got hit hard, and they needed help, Gagliardi said. So it wasnt uncommon for these different residence locations, agencies, to reach out to host agencies and say we need some extra shifts filled. That started in 2020 and it was such an easy transition, she just kept going after that. Womack is charged with 43 counts, including identity theft, falsely pretending to hold a license and endangering the welfare of a care-dependent person, ABC News reported, citing court records. She appeared in court Monday, where a judge set her bail at $250,000. Shes due back in court July 28 on charges stemming from the traffic stop. A preliminary hearing on the new charges is scheduled for Aug. 12. _____ Imposter nurse stole medication from senior patients locally, accused of crimes in 5 other states What began as a routine traffic stop spiraled into what State Police are calling a sophisticated, multi-state scheme. Shannon Womack is accused of stealing the identities of and nursing certifications from actual nurses and using them to get jobs, including at 9 facilities in the Pittsburgh area. RELATED COVERAGE >>> Troopers say woman posed as nurse, worked at 9 Pennsylvania healthcare facilities Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State police say theyre now going through every death at the facilities where Womack worked, during the timeframe she was employed, to make sure there were no deaths related to improper care. Her background checks came back clear because of the stolen identities and 20+ aliases shes accused of using, as well as the fake references. Womack obtained staffing through agencies and even at that point, was able to create her own host agency, Trooper Rocco Gagliardi said. So she was picking up the phone and transferring those jobs and careers to herself. State police released the full list of aliases Womak used in Pennsylvania: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shannon Nicole Parham Shannon Nicole Abiola Shannon Nicole Armstrong Shannon Abiola-Parham Shannon Nicole Grimes Shannon Nicole Womack Shannon Nicole Lawson Shannon Nicole Lethco Shannon Nicole Robinson Shannon Lee Lawson PSP asks health care agencies and providers to check if any of the above names match their employment records. If any do, those providers are urged to contact PSP Washington at 724-223-5200. 11 Investigates has learned four other states have active warrants out for Shannon Womack, where shes also accused of posing as a nurse. They include Georgia, Tennessee, New Jersey and Indiana. In addition, shes been accused of practicing as a nurse without being certified in Connecticut. We even found an alert from the Georgia Department of State, warning healthcare facilities about an imposter nurse. The top cop in Washington County, where Womack was pulled over, said she took advantage of vulnerable seniors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are vile acts, Washington County District Attorney, Jason Walsh said. Not only taking advantage of older citizens in this Commonwealth, not getting the proper care or medications they need because someone puts themselves in this position to defraud them. State police say theyve traced Womacks actions back to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when healthcare facilities were in need of essential workers and accepted multi-state licenses. The facilities and dates when Womack worked are below: Greenery Center for Rehab and Nursing in Washington County from 10/1/24-10/6/24 Beaver Valley Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Beaver County from 2/3/25-2/23/25 Sayre Healthcare Center in Bradford County from 2/17/25-2/18/25 Oak Hill Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Westmoreland County from 2/25/25-3/8/25 Southmont of Presbyterian in Washington County on 3/1/25 Corner View Nursing and Rehabilitation in Allegheny County from 3/4/25-3/17/25 Eldercrest Rehabilitation in Allegheny County from 3/9/25-3/27/25 Harmar Village Care in Allegheny County from 3/10/25-3/13/25 St. Marys Home of Erie in Erie County on 4/2/25 Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW LONDON and DEIR AL BALAH, Gaza Strip -- In the children's ward in the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Hospital in Deir al Balah, central Gaza, the impact of Gaza's deteriorating humanitarian crisis is on full display. There are around 30 children receiving treatment in the ward, local staff told ABC News, and all of them are suffering from the effects of malnutrition. Nourhan Salha said she took her 5-month-old daughter to the hospital after she fell ill and was unable to gain weight. Haya suffered from complications at birth, her mother said, due to a lack of oxygen. The baby's weak immune system at birth was exacerbated by a lack of baby formula available in Gaza, Nourhan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's a difficult feeling to see my daughter sick," she said. "And I can't do anything for her. It's a really hard thing for a mother to feel like this; it's indescribable." COGAT, the Israel organization in charge of facilitating aid into the Gaza Strip, says there is no ban on baby formula entering the strip, and they have delivered over 2,000 tons of formula and baby food into Gaza. Hatem Khaled/Reuters - PHOTO: Smoke rises during Israeli strikes amid the Israeli military operation in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, July 21, 2025. MORE: WHO staff residence in Gaza attacked by IDF, WHO says But Salha said that baby formula is difficult to access, either due to a lack of availability or prohibitively high prices. UNRWA, the UN agency that supports Palestinian refugees, says that "malnutrition has increased amid severe shortages of nutrition supplies" and that one in ten children screened in their medical facilities is malnourished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United Nations Population Fund has warned that pregnant women are particularly vulnerable in Gaza, with hunger increasing the chance of miscarriages, low birth rate and other complications for newborns. Some of the children at Al Aqsa Martyrs are suffering from other conditions, exacerbated by their underlying malnutrition, doctors said. Om Ismael Abu Zannana, a mother of three, took her 2-year-old daughter to the hospital after they struggled to find food for several days after she said the family had been displaced a week ago. Her daughter fainted, she said, after feeling dizzy. "My daughter wants to eat, and I can't afford to get her or myself anything to eat. Or to my other children at the tent," Zannana told ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the hospital, Haya is able to drink some of the formula she desperately needs, her mother said. But each day is a struggle for survival. "Sometimes we buy [formula] from the market. It used to be available," she said. "But now it's not. It's too expensive and not available in enough quantities." At the nearby Deir al Balah market, what were once thriving stalls full of produce now look scarce. Shopkeepers and customers complain of both a lack of supply, and the food and basic necessities they do have on offer are prohibitively expensive for many. "Prices are unimaginable, the situation is tragic," Ayed Shaheen, a shopkeeper, told ABC News. Asked about prospective ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, Shaheen's ire seemed to turn towards the Hamas negotiators abroad, who are in talks with Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Find us a solution, what are you negotiating about?" he said. "We are humans, not dogs, we want to eat and live, just like you [negotiators] living abroad eating meat, lamb and fish and living the best way. We want to live like you are living." MORE: 25 countries sign statement calling for end of war in Gaza The World Food Programme warned on Sunday that 90,000 women and children in Gaza now urgently need treatment for malnutrition, but for many there does not appear to be respite from the Israeli military campaign in the near future. Israel denies there is widespread starvation in Gaza, and has accused Hamas of exploiting humanitarian aid deliveries to pay for its "war machine." On Sunday, the IDF issued new evacuation orders for the city of Deir al Balah, although neither the market nor the hospital fall under the latest evacuation orders. Abdel Kareem Hana/AP - PHOTO: Illumination flares launched by the Israeli army are seen over Deir al-Balah in central Gaza Strip Monday, July 21, 2025. The evacuation order has cut off the coastal area of Al Mawasi, where thousands of Palestinians are living in tents, from the city to the rest of central Gaza, where most humanitarian organizations in the Strip are headquartered, according to a visual analysis by ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the market, smoke can be seen rising in the near distance from the renewed attacks on the city. As the war continues to close in, Nourhan hopes that her family will not be abandoned. "I ask the world to stop the war," she said. "Open the borders and provide milk and diapers for the children. It's not fair what's happening to us." Witnesses have reported a major increase in military activity in the city, which has so far been relatively untouched in over 21 months of war. From the market, smoke from Israel's expanded ground operation there can be seen rising in the near distance. A Syrian fact-finding committee on Tuesday confirmed that 1,426 people - mostly civilians, including many Alawites - were killed during a wave of violence in the country's coastal provinces between March 6 and 9. According to committee spokesman Yasser al-Farhan, the clashes began when remnants of armed groups linked to toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad launched coordinated attacks on government forces in Latakia, Tartus and Hama, killing 238 army and security personnel. Among the dead were 90 women, most of them unarmed civilians, the committee said as it presented its findings at a press conference in Damascus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attackers were described as organized, unlawful groups loyal to the ousted al-Assad regime, now operating independently and resisting transitional authorities. "These groups carried out large-scale assaults on military and security targets, blocked roads, and used heavy and light weapons," al-Farhan said. The new government launched a military operation to quash the violence. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitor, estimated at the time that over 1,600 people, mainly from the Alawite minority, to which al-Assad belonged, had been killed in the unrest. According to the committee, 550 individuals have been identified as responsible for the attacks and subsequent sectarian violence, though their names remain confidential, with only 31 suspects arrested so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after the committee released its investigative report, the observatory said that more than 1,200 people from the Alawite community have gone missing or been detained since the massacres. The observatory said that there were confirmed reports that some of them were arrested by Syrian government security and military agencies. According to testimonies from families, many of the missing were taken to detention centres without arrest warrants or legal procedures, and their families and lawyers have been denied any information about their whereabouts or legal status. The observatory warned that continued secrecy around their fate raises serious fears of forced disappearances and concerns that detainees may be subjected to torture or extrajudicial killing, especially in the absence of transparency and independent judicial oversight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The observatory said it holds the Syrian government fully responsible for the safety of those missing and demands the immediate disclosure of their fate, the publication of their names, and the release of all who have not been convicted through a fair trial. It also called for the families to be allowed immediate contact. The observatory stressed that the international community's silence about these violations only enables their continuation. It renewed its call for urgent action by international organizations, particularly the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, to put an end to such practices and to reveal the fate of those who remain missing or abducted. More than six months after al-Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel alliance, violence also continues to rattle southern Syria, where Druze militias are battling Sunni Bedouin tribal groups backed by Damascus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although President Ahmed al-Sharaa has pledged to protect minorities, critics accuse his government of carrying out symbolic arrests and having limited accountability. The committee urged the prosecution of fugitive members of al-Assad's regime, describing them as ongoing threats to their communities. It emphasized the need for national dialogue and civil peace, recommending measures to curb incitement to violence through legislation, education and media oversight. Recommendations also included launching formal victim compensation schemes, reforming security and military institutions, updating equipment and training, and strengthening human rights protections. A Syrian fact-finding committee on Tuesday confirmed that 1,426 people - mostly civilians, including many Alawites - were killed during a wave of violence in the country's coastal provinces between March 6 and 9. According to committee spokesman Yasser al-Farhan, the clashes began when remnants of armed groups linked to toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad launched coordinated attacks on government forces in Latakia, Tartous and Hama, killing 238 army and security personnel. Among the dead were 90 women, most of them unarmed civilians, the committee said as it presented its findings at a press conference in Damascus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attackers were described as organized, unlawful groups loyal to the ousted Assad regime, now operating independently and resisting transitional authorities. "These groups carried out large-scale assaults on military and security targets, blocked roads, and used heavy and light weapons," al-Farhan said. The new government launched a military operation to quash the violence. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitor, estimated at the time that over 1,600 people, mainly from the Alawite minority, to which Assad belonged, had been killed in the unrest. According to the committee, 550 individuals have been identified as responsible for the attacks and subsequent sectarian violence, though their names remain confidential, with only 31 suspects arrested so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than six months after Assad was toppled by an Islamist-led rebel alliance, violence also continues to rattle southern Syria, where Druze militias are battling Sunni Bedouin tribal groups backed by Damascus. Although President Ahmad al-Sharaa has pledged to protect minorities, critics accuse his government of carrying out symbolic arrests and limited accountability. The committee urged the prosecution of fugitive members of Assad's regime, describing them as ongoing threats to their communities. It emphasized the need for national dialogue and civil peace, recommending measures to curb incitement to violence through legislation, education and media oversight. Recommendations also included launching formal victim compensation schemes, reforming security and military institutions, updating equipment and training, and strengthening human rights protections. FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) Investigators have identified two potential causes of the deadly fire at a Fall River assisted living facility, but since they cant pinpoint the exact origin, its officially been ruled undetermined. Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III and State Fire Marshal Jon Davine held a news conference Tuesday afternoon to release their preliminary findings. Davine said the fire at Gabriel House began in a residents room on the second floor where investigators found an oxygen concentrator and numerous smoking materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two possible causes, according to Davine, were a malfunction of the oxygen machine or the improper use or disposal of smoking materials. Regardless of what caused it, Davine said the fire was clearly accidental. Tragically, the occupant was among those who lost their lives on July 13 and we could not speak to that resident to get an account of the fire in its earliest stages, he added. What we know about the Fall River fire victims Davine said the presence of medical oxygen played a significant role in the fire. Oxygen is a necessary component of any fire and it was present in the area of origin and other locations at Gabriel House, he explained. In an oxygen-rich environment, the fire will ignite more readily and spread more rapidly and burn at higher temperatures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres truly no safe way to smoke, Davine added, but smoking is especially dangerous when home oxygen is in use. No one should smoke around medical oxygen. The remains of a battery-powered scooter were also found in the room, but Davine said its believed the scooter was damaged in the fire, not the cause of it. The fire remains under investigation. Story continues below video. The fire claimed the lives of 10 residents and sent more than 30 others to the hospital for treatment. All of the residents were also displaced, but the city helped make sure they had a place to stay, whether it be with family or at another facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When first responders arrived on scene, many residents were still trapped in the burning building since they had limited mobility and couldnt escape on their own. Bodycam video showed firefighters, police and EMS personnel rushing into the building and helping those people get to safety. Theres no doubt in my mind that that fire was destined to kill 50-plus people, Fire Chief Jefferey Bacon said, recounting their heroic efforts. In the days that followed, the firefighters union pushed for more personnel at the fire department, saying that just two of its 10 companies were staffed to national standards. The city soon said it would increase staffing, and Gov. Maura Healey announced Tuesday that Fall River will get $1.2 million in state funding to help accomplish that. Shes also taking steps to ensure that assisted living facilities statewide have proper safety measures in place. Healey: Fall River getting $1.2 million to hire more firefighters Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Paul Coogan announced Tuesday that flags at municipal buildings in Fall River will be flown at half-staff until sunset on Sunday, July 27, in honor of the victims. 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 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. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said during a recent interview that the U.S.s strikes last month destroyed Tehrans nuclear facilities and that the country will not refrain from continuing to enrich uranium. 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, Araghchi told Fox Newss Bret Baier. Araghchi later added that the facilities have been destroyed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Irans foreign minister, in an interview on Special Report with Bret Baier, said Iran will be able to rebuild the facilities, insisting that Tehran would not pause enriching uranium. If the goal is to make sure that Iran will never have nuclear weapons, that is achievable, Araghchi said. President Trump and other administration officials have claimed that U.S. military strikes on June 21 completely destroyed Irans three nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. A recent intelligence assessment, which was reported by multiple news outlets last week, said that the nuclear facility in Fordow was mostly destroyed, but the ones in Natanz and Isfahan were not and could potentially resume uranium enrichment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Apart from the White House, the Defense Department (DOD) has also pushed back against the intelligence report, saying that the June attacks, carried out by B-2 bombers and Tomahawk cruise missiles, obliterated all three sites. DODs chief spokesman Sean Parnell said to reporters earlier in July that the Pentagons assessments indicated that Irans nuclear program was set back by one to two years. Israel initially attacked Iran on June 13, which led to a 12-day war between the two countries. A ceasefire was reached on June 24. Prior to the conflict, the U.S. and Iran completed five rounds of nuclear talks, although the two countries did not reach a deal. Trump pulled out of a former President Obama-negotiated deal in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is developed by ourselves. It is an achievement by ourselves. The technology is there. The scientists are there, the people who have run these facilities are there. Buildings can be rebuilt. Facilities can be rebuilt. Machines can be replaced, Araghchi said. I think the recent attack proved that there is no military option for our nuclear program, the foreign minister added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Israel's military on Tuesday responded to accusations by the World Health Organization (WHO) that its forces attacked the UN agency's facilities in central Gaza and detained staff members. The military said soldiers came under fire in the city of Deir al-Balah on Monday and returned fire in the direction the shots originated. However, the military did not specify whether the gunfire came from WHO premises in Deir al-Balah. The WHO said that a staff accommodation facility was attacked on Monday and that a central warehouse had been damaged in a separate incident on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a report by Israeli news outlet Ynet, citing a military spokesperson, the army is aware of claims that a residential complex housing WHO employees was struck. The report added that, according to the military, no agency staff were injured. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) publicly confirmed that several individuals were detained in Deir al-Balah on suspicion of "involvement in terrorism." It did not clarify whether those detained were WHO employees or their relatives, as the UN agency has stated. Most of those detained were released following on-site questioning, the army said. The IDF did not comment on one individual who, according to the WHO, remains in custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement on Monday, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said male WHO staff and their male relatives had been handcuffed, stripped, searched at gunpoint, and interrogated on site. Responding to the claim, the Israeli military stated on Tuesday: "At times during field questioning, it is necessary for individuals suspected of terrorist activity to temporarily remove parts of their clothing in order to ensure that they are not concealing explosive belts or other weapons." Suspects are treated in accordance with international law, the military added. Ghebreyesus also said that women and children related to WHO staff had been forced to flee on foot amid the fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military said it had warned civilians to leave the area prior to its operation and had been in contact with international organizations operating there. The IDF advanced this week into the south-west of Deir al-Balah as part of its operations against Palestinian militant organization Hamas and other groups. Guterres'appalled' by Israeli attacks on UN buildings UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said he was "appalled that UN premises have been struck, among them facilities of UN Office for Project services and World Health Organization, including who main warehouse." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is despite all parties having been informed of the locations of these un facilities. These premises are inviolable and must be protected under international humanitarian law without exception," Guterres told the UN Security Council in New York, which meets regularly to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip. Guterres also described the situation in the territory as a "horror show, in the level of death and destruction without parallel in recent times." "Malnourishment is soaring. Starvation is knocking on every door, and now we are seeing the last gasp of a humanitarian system built on humanitarian principles. This system is being denied the conditions to function, denied the space to deliver, denied the safety to save lives," Guterres said. Palestinians mourn over dead bodies after they were brought to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City after Israeli forces opened fire on civilians who were waiting for humanitarian aid near the Zikim area on the northern Gaza coastline. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa FRANKFURT (Reuters) -German car parts maker Bosch will cut up to 1,100 jobs by 2029 and restructure its Reutlingen plant as a rapidly worsening auto market drives down sales, a senior company official said on Tuesday. Bosch will focus the plant mainly on manufacturing semiconductors, as making electronic control units is no longer competitive, a statement said. "The European market for control units is highly price-driven and fiercely contested by new entrants," said Bosch's executive vice president of semiconductor operations, Dirk Kress. "The necessary job cuts are not easy for us, but they are urgently needed to secure the future of the site." Bosch employs around 10,000 people in Reutlingen. German and European auto makers have come under pressure from high costs and ferocious foreign competition, as well as a tariff war between the United States and its global trading partners. (Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach, writing by Matthias Williams, editing by Rachel More and Thomas Seythal) INDIANA The work by Indiana University of Pennsylvanias anthropology, geospatial and Earth science students at a World War II crash site in Germany is being credited for assisting in the identification of an American soldier lost in battle. Roughly 80 years later, U.S. Army Air Force 1st Lt. Wylie W. Leverett was accounted for, according to the U.S. Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. That progress stemmed from the work at a field school in Germany organized by IUP professors Andrea Palmiotto and William Chadwick, which for the past five years has led graduates and undergraduates to study the crash site of a World War II B-17 in Germany that the group helped identify as Fuddy Duddy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leverett was the pilot of that plane. They were invited to investigate the site through selection by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Accounting Agency through the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc. It is truly an honor to involve students in this investigation, where they gain hands-on experience in working with a national agency and what theyve learned in the classroom about the practice of how anthropology applies in a real-life investigation, Palmiotto said in a statement. Its very rewarding and humbling to be part of this discovery and to help the Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency provide answers to the late Lt. Leveretts family and friends. Leverett, of Texas, was assigned to the 708th Bombardment Squadron, 447th Bombardment Group, 4th Combat Bomb Wing, 3rd Air Division, 8th Air Force in the European Theater during World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he piloted a B-17G Flying Fortress nicknamed Fuddy Duddy on Dec. 30, 1944, the plane was lost after it collided with another American aircraft during a bombing mission to Mannheim, Germany, according to a Department of Defense release. As the formation of bombers neared their attack location, a bomber in the low position of the lead squadron suddenly lost altitude, a DOD release said. At the same time, Fuddy Duddy rose in altitude. Its not known why these two aircrafts unexpectedly changed their altitude simultaneously, but witnesses suspected the prop-wash from the formation created turbulence around the bombers. Surviving aircrew reported the first Flying Fortress propellers slicing through Fuddy Duddys aluminum skin, cutting the aircraft fuselage in two. Fuddy Duddy then rolled and went into an uncontrolled spin downward, while the other aircraft careened downward, the DOD said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only two personnel from Fuddy Duddy survived. There were 18 crew members between both planes. Farmers from Mudau, Germany, found 13 of the remaining 16 and provided services for them before burying the group in a single mass grave. A team from the American Graves Registration Command, which searched for and recovered fallen American military personnel in the European Theater, went to Steinbach, Germany, in January 1946 to investigate. Witnesses were interviewed, and remains were collected and eventually interred at the U.S. Military Cemetery at St. Avold, France. In May 2019, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) contracted History Flight Inc. to excavate a crash site believed to be Fuddy Duddy, and although the area was severely scavenged, possible material evidence and osseous materials were recovered, the DOD said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IUP students used ground-penetrating radar to scan and identify areas to excavate at the Fuddy Duddy crash site between June and July 2022, and in June 2023, that group recovered an identification tag belonging to one of the missing aircrew, which confirmed the site. Leverett was identified officially Aug. 21, 2024, through anthropological and circumstantial analysis by DPAA, along with mitochondrial and Y-chromosome DNA analysis from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System. His name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France, along with the others still missing from World War II. A rosette will be placed next to Leveretts name to indicate he has been accounted for. He will be buried in Dallas, Texas, later this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DPAA is grateful to History Flight Inc. and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania for their partnerships and support, the DOD said. The American Battle Monuments Commission and the U.S. Army Regional Mortuary-Europe were also thanked. We promise our students real-life experiences, and faculty members who are leaders in their profession, said Steve Hovan, IUP dean of the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Projects like this, for which students earn academic credit, reflect these promises kept to our students and provide an opportunity for our students to literally change the lives of this fallen soldiers family and friends with their studies. Joshua Byers is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5054. Follow him on Twitter @Journo_Josh. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A plane described as jet trainer crashed near Granite Falls, Minnesota, on Monday evening after a flight record said it departed from Watertown. One person was killed and a second was injured, according to the Yellow Medicine County Sheriffs Office in Minnesota. The plane was an Aero Vodochody L-39 that crashed around 5:30 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Flight Track records show the jet trainer was headed to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Sioux Falls wants state help if it hosts prison Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The individual who died is David Colin Dacus, 49, of San Francisco, California. The other person in the jet was Mark Ryan Ruff, 43, of Dallas, Texas, according to the sheriffs office. The sheriffs office said Tuesday afternoon that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were investigating at the crash scene. The two agencies will be removing the wreckage and examining it at a different location Personnel who responded to the crash, found an unspent cartridge used for the ejection seats in the jet. The Bloomington Bomb Squad and the 148th Air Wing were contacted to assist. The cartridge was safely removed from the site, the sheriffs office said. A controlled explosion was performed. The crash was reported at about 5:23 p.m. The sheriffs office said it received a report of a jet experiencing engine trouble near the Granite Falls Airport. An emergency call at 5:32 p.m. said the jet had crashed near Minnesota Highway 23, north of the intersection with Yellow Medicine County Road 39. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency responders found an individual standing alongside the highway who received medical attention. A second occupant was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to the sheriffs office. Watertown is about 85 miles from Granite Falls. Granite Falls is on U.S. Highway 212 and Minnesota Highway 23. The municipal airport is about four miles south of the city. Industry websites describe the Aero Vodochody L-39 as a versatile jet trainer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. RICHMOND A joint legislative subcommittee is studying what it would mean to move all of Virginias elections to even years. The subcommittee met at the General Assembly building Tuesday for the first of four discussions this summer and fall. Its largely by historical fluke that Virginia has an election every year, according to legislative services senior attorney Brooks Braun. In 1868, Virginia, then under U.S. military control, enacted a new constitution that abolished slavery, provided for universal male suffrage and established a uniform November date for general elections. But arguments over provisions that would disenfranchise former Confederates delayed the ratification election, planned for later that year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then-President Ulysses Grant ordered an election in 1869. The constitution excluding the Confederate disenfranchisement clauses was ratified by referendum, and Virginia also elected its first Reconstruction-era governor and legislature. The commonwealth has held odd-year elections ever since. Voter turnout Arguments in favor of election consolidation to even years cite reduced costs and that voter turnout for state and local elections would be drastically improved. If turnout is your only consideration, or your major consideration, you stuff everything into a presidential year, said political analyst Bob Holsworth during Tuesdays presentations. You can think of Virginia as having four separate electorates, presenters said. The first group votes in presidential elections, over the past 15 years, consistently accounts for 70 to 75% of the population. The second group, voting in presidential midterm elections, has seen improved turnout since 2014 and includes between 40 and 60% of the population. The third group votes in Virginias gubernatorial and House of Delegates elections every four years the year after the presidential election and is made up of around 40 to 55% of the population. The last group, voting in midterm gubernatorial elections, which includes House of Delegates and state Senate elections, has the worst voter turnout, with between 29 and 42% of the vote. Fighting to be heard Consolidating elections does result in better turnout, but it also means that local candidates must compete with federal or state candidates for attention and dollars. In Hampton Roads, following a 2021 law that meant local elections that historically held in May were moved to November, local candidates said it was hard to be heard over the noise of the presidential race, if voters knew there was a back half of the ballot at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2024 is first time some Hampton Roads elections are in November. Is it helping or hurting? I have 17 incorporated towns (in my district) on the Eastern Shore, so youre talking about 200 to 500 people, youre talking about posters, just meeting your neighbor and asking them to vote, Del. Rob Bloxom, R-Mappsville, said. They should be talking about the potholes, the tree trimming, the ditch maintenance, not national issues, not immigration, not pro-life. Theyll never vote on any of that. Constitutional hurdles Changing Virginias elections to occur solely in even years would not be a simple process, Braun, the legislative services attorney, said. Virginias constitution does not mandate odd year elections for state office, but it does specify term lengths and when they start. To get on an even-year schedule, the governor, for example would need to serve either a three or five-year term. The constitution would need to be amended to allow for one-time shortened or lengthened terms for the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, House of Delegates members, state senators and other constitutional officers like sheriffs and commonwealths attorneys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To make the change, a constitutional amendment would have to be proposed by the subcommittee in the next legislative session and then subsequently pass the lengthy ratification process. Braun modeled a timeline in which the first election for statewide offices and the entire legislature would be serving a regular term would be in 2034. Thats assuming that the governors term was temporarily reduced to three years instead of five. After 12 election cycles, in 2041, the city clerk of court position would finally be back to its regularly-scheduled eight-year term and consolidation would be complete. The joint subcommittee will meet again this Thursday to discuss how campaign finance would be affected. Kate Seltzer, kate.seltzer@virginiamedia.com, (757)713-7881 (Main photo courtesy of the University of Iowa; form courtesy of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security) In another setback for U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a judge has rejected the departments argument that it has fully complied with a court order in a lawsuit brought by Iowa students who fear theyve been targeted for deportation. In April 2025, four University of Iowa students sued DHS for wrongful termination of their student status, which they alleged caused irreparable stress and anxiety due to fear of imminent seizure and deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On May 15, 2025, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction requiring DHS to maintain the plaintiffs status as students in its Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records. The judge also ordered DHS to add to the records a notation of active student status that would be backdated to the date the agency had terminated that status ensuring that other entities wouldnt act on the termination and attempt to deport the students on that basis. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX On June 12, 2025, DHS filed a motion seeking to revise the injunction. The department argued that due to technological limitations with SEVIS records, the system did not allow the creation of written notations that would be visible to other users of the system, such as schools and employers, outside of DHS. Attorneys for the agency also informed the court that the four student plaintiffs were each sent letters confirming their student status was retroactively reinstated, and argued the students could present those letters to anyone questioning their status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DHS asked that the court issue a ruling indicating it had fulfilled the requirements of the injunction, while also arguing the injunction was overbroad and amounted to a prohibition against any sort of prosecution for crimes the students might commit. Noting that DHS had made no assertions as to what, if any, efforts had been made to remedy the claimed technological limitations within SEVIS, U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger denied DHS motion to revise her order. As for the letters DHS provided the students, Ebinger indicted the letters didnt fully address the students risk since they wouldnt necessarily be present when schools or employers examined SEVIS records and questions arose as to their status. The court does not find this proposed alternative solution adequate to provide complete relief to plaintiffs, Ebinger stated. With regard to DHS claim that the injunction bars future criminal prosecutions, Ebinger noted that her order does not apply to state, county, or local law enforcement acting separately from DHS and not at DHS instruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, she ruled, the injunction prevents neither arrests nor the commencement of prosecutions. Rather, as to the plaintiffs four individual people whom the court previously found to be likely to succeed on their claims of unfounded and harmful status record interference the courts order requires advance notice to the court as part of defendants due process efforts. The order does not prohibit law enforcement actions. The three University of Iowa international students and one UI international-student graduate are suing Homeland Security for having revoked their status as students a step they fear could lead to being detained and deported. In June, lawyers for Homeland Security asked for, and received, a 60-day extension of time to file an answer to the case. As justification, they said the small civil division for the U.S. Attorneys Office has recently been experiencing significant staffing shortages, and the issues raised in the UI case have been the focus of significant litigation around the country, resulting in a need for additional time is needed to coordinate any response to the lawsuit with others inside the U.S. Department of Justice. The governments lawyers now have until Aug. 21, 2025, to respond to the students lawsuit. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Two federal judges sent a message to the Trump administration about its attempt to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell: Try again. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche had filed unsealing motions on both the Epstein and Maxwell dockets amid the political backlash President Donald Trump has faced for his administrations refusal to make public all Epstein-related materials as promised. Of course, unsealing these grand jury materials wouldnt disclose all known government information related to Epstein, who died in custody in 2019 in what the medical examiner deemed a suicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even this relatively limited grand jury information wont be forthcoming, at least not until the DOJ satisfies legal requirements that it failed to fulfill in Blanches unsealing motions. The judges' orders on Tuesday come as Blanche announced his intention the same day to meet with Maxwell and ask her: what do you know? Blanche noted that the Justice Department hadnt previously asked that question of the woman who was charged during the first Trump administration and convicted in 2021 of conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors. She has a pending Supreme Court petition trying to overturn her conviction and 20-year sentence; the DOJ opposed her petition last week, and the high court has not yet said whether it will consider her appeal. The orders sending Blanche back to the drawing board on Tuesday came from U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer, an Obama appointee whos presiding over the Maxwell docket, and U.S. District Judge Richard Berman, a Clinton appointee whos handling the Epstein docket. Both judges are in the Southern District of New York, where Maxwell and Epstein were charged. The orders are similarly worded; you can read the Maxwell one here and the Epstein one here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both orders say that the judges intend to resolve the unsealing motions expeditiously but that Blanches filings were inadequate. The judges gave the DOJ a week, until July 29, to file a more detailed memorandum making the case for unsealing. Among other things, the judges said the DOJ has to say in the memorandum whether it reviewed the grand jury transcripts in question before making the requests and whether victims were notified. In addition to the governments memoranda, the judges said filings on the matter are due from Maxwell, Epsteins representative and victims by Aug. 5. Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in the Trump administrations legal cases. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The Department of Justice quickly fired the newly named US attorney in New Jersey on Tuesday after federal judges in the state declined to extend Alina Habbas interim appointment. Attorney General Pam Bondis announcement came after the district court voted to elevate Desiree Leigh Grace, New Jerseys first assistant US attorney, to replace the Trump ally. Nonetheless, politically minded judges refused to allow her to continue in her position, replacing Alina with the First Assistant. Accordingly, the First Assistant United States Attorney in New Jersey has just been removed. This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges especially when they threaten the Presidents core Article II powers, Bondi posted on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rapid change-up prompted confusion as to who will lead the top federal prosecutors office in the state. Its unclear if Graces removal is enforceable or whether the district court judges will challenge the move. Theres also some confusion of when Habbas appointment expires. Graces appointment was set to be effective July 22, 2025, or upon the expiration of 120 days after appointment by the Attorney General of the Interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba, whichever is later, according to the order signed by Chief Judge Renee Marie Bumb. President Donald Trump appointed Habba to the position on March 24, but she was sworn in on March 28, with department officials arguing that her term doesnt conclude until Friday. Interim US attorneys are only allowed to serve for 120 days if they are not confirmed by the US Senate or extended indefinitely by the district court in their jurisdiction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Habba previously served as a spokesperson for the Trump campaign and as a personal attorney for Trump. She represented Trump during his civil fraud trial in 2023 and 2024. After Trump won reelection, Habba served as counselor to the president before Trump tapped her to serve as US attorney. Trump formally nominated Habba to serve in the position for a four-year term on July 1. Habbas nomination is still awaiting a vote from the Senate Judiciary Committee before she would advance to the full Senate for a floor confirmation vote. The president and his legal team have been exploring options for reappointing nominees rejected by the courts, but it is unclear if Habba would accept a reappointment in this case, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche put out a statement on X on Tuesday, saying: The district court judges in NJ are trying to force out @USAttyHabba before her term expires at 11:59 p.m. Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their rush reveals what this was always about: a left-wing agenda, not the rule of law. When judges act like activists, they undermine confidence in our justice system. Alina is President Trumps choice to leadand no partisan bench can override that. He had previously urged the federal judges in New Jersey to appoint Habba indefinitely on an interim basis while she awaits Senate confirmation, saying she has the full confidence of leadership at the Justice Department. Habba is President Trumps second US attorney nominee to struggle to receive support from the district court or the Senate Judiciary Committee. In May, the Senate Judiciary Committee decided not to confirm Trumps controversial pick to lead the DC US attorneys office, Ed Martin. It is rare to have multiple candidates fail to receive support from the district court or the Senate Judiciary Committee. This headline and story have been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The Department of Justice is now in talks with Ghislaine Maxwells attorneys to have her testify about what she knows regarding Jeffrey Epsteins sexual abuse of girls. It comes after the DOJ released a memo saying the infamous Epstein list of clients does not exist. The announcement created a firestorm of backlash from MAGA supporters and shook the political ground on Capitol Hill as the debate has infiltrated most of the legislative business, including an early dismissal for lawmakers. I dont really follow that too much. Its sort of a witch hunt a continuation of the witch hunt, said President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ says the president instructed it to release all credible evidence. Meanwhile, House Republicans are moving ahead, voting to subpoena Maxwell to testify on what she may know. Do what the president asked. Release those records. I think thats a great start, said Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.). House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) wants to leave this to the White House and instead hes sending members home early for August recess. Theres no purpose for Congress to push an administration to do something theyre already doing This is for political games, said Johnson. Democrats accuse Johnson of stalling and sheltering those who could be involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre ending this week early because theyre afraid to cast votes on the Epstein issue, said Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.). Maxwell has yet to be scheduled for testimony and the pressure on lawmakers is set to intensify this summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TOPEKA (KSNT) The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) announced that it has awarded contracts for a new Child Welfare Information System that is expected to cost $100 million. DCF has awarded three contracts for a new Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) that will be used to modernize DCFs current systems, according to a press release issued on July 22. The DCF said the new system will integrate services across Prevention and Protection Services and Adult Protective Services. A modern and adaptable information technology infrastructure system will help our employees and partners seamlessly work together to better serve Kansans, said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. Were happy to be working with RedMane, Maximus, and CSG to bring the information technology side of Kansas child welfare system into the 21st century. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KSDE releases new income guidelines for school meal programs The contracts were awarded to the following vendors: $44 million . RedMane Technology. To build and implement the new CCWIS system. $2.19 million . Maximus U.S. Services. To provide oversight and monitor the project. $4.75 million . CSG Government Solutions. To validate systems and ensure quality. DCF said the new CCWIS will replace the old legacy systems, improve data sharing between agencies, enhance case management and ensure federal CCWIS compliance. About half of the total cost will come from the State General Fund with the rest coming from Federal IV-E funds, according to the DCF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas AMBER Alert ends, child found safe in Illinois The CCWIS project is anticipated to start immediately now that all contractors are approved by the Administration for Children and Families and the State of Kansas. DCF reported these design, development and implementation contracts are for four years and include three optional 36-month renewals. 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. The Kansas Department of Education announced Tuesday that all Kansas school districts, in addition to private schools, will be participating in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program for the 2025-2026 school year. To be considered for the offer, the Department of Education listed out the income eligibility requirements based on household size. Here are the benefits you can receive: KC Pet Project to transfer animal control duties to city of Kansas City Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Household Size Free Benefits Reduced Price Benefits 1 $20,345 $28,953 2 $27,495 $39,128 3 $34,645 $49,303 4 $41,795 $59,478 5 $48,945 $69,653 6 $56,095 $79,828 7 $63,245 $90,003 8 $70,395 $100,178 For each additional household member add $7,150 to the free benefits; add $10,175 to the reduced price benefits for each additional household member. If you are interested in signing up, you can find application forms and an informational letter at each school district or private school. Additional copies can also be found in each principal business office. To receive the benefits, applications may be submitted at any time during the year. However, an application for reduced price or the free Child Nutrition Program cannot be approved unless it contains complete eligibility information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Households receiving food assistance or Temporary Assistance to Families (TAF) will be notified that their children will be provided free benefits unless the household notifies the school that it chooses to decline benefits, the Department of Education states. Households receiving assistance under these programs should submit an application only if they arent notified of their eligibility by a specified date determined by the schools. Participants in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) special supplemental nutrition program, or those who receive certain Medicaid benefits, may be eligible for the reduced price or free benefits. Additionally, those receiving Food Assistance, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Temporary Assistance for Families (TAF), those who are considered homeless or a migrant or those with children in foster care or Head Start may qualify automatically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Department of Education, all households are encouraged to apply if they believe they may qualify. GoFundMe created for grandmother killed in flash flood in Overland Park However, the department added, Under provisions of the reduced price and free benefit policy, the determining official will review applications and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians who are dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may wish to discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis. Parents wishing to make a formal appeal may make a request either orally or in writing for a hearing on the decision. Contact the school district or private school for the name, address and phone number of the hearing official and information about the hearing procedures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information or to apply, contact your local school district. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Global fusion energy investment has seen a surge, with an influx of $2.64bn since July 2024 marking the largest annual increase since 2022, as reported by Reuters citing a report by Fusion Industry Association. The financial influx was noted across key regions such as the US, the European Union (EU), Japan, China and the UK. The Fusion Industry Association, based in Washington, US, reported that total funding for the 53 surveyed fusion companies now stands at close to $9.77bn - a five-fold increase since 2021. 2025's figures show a 178% jump from just over $900m raised in 2024. Companies within the sector emphasise the necessity for increased funding to transition fusion energy into a commercially viable industry. Significant challenges in achieving commercialisation involve reducing the energy requirements to initiate reactions, ensuring that these reactions can proceed in a continuous manner and developing efficient systems for energy transfer. FIA CEO Andrew Holland stated: The acceleration of capital, even when the global economy has tightened, is a signal of maturing investor confidence, technological progress and a rapidly coalescing supply chain. Notably absent from these figures is public funding for state-led fusion projects, an area in which China is at the forefront globally. Investment has been drawn from conventional fossil fuel companies, including Chevron and Shell's venture arms, Siemens Energy and Nucor the US's largest steel producer. This increase in financial backing coincides with rising power demands driven by AI applications and data centre growth. Google recently announced its agreement to purchase electricity from Commonwealth Fusion Systems' anticipated plant in Virginia that aims to begin operations by the early 2030s. Despite this positive trend in financing, securing additional funds remains challenging according to 83% of survey respondents. Fusion enterprises estimate they will need between $3m and $12.5bn more, with a median figure of $700m, to launch their first pilot plants successfully. The collective amount deemed necessary by industry players totals approximately $77bn an eightfold leap compared to current investor commitments and could be reduced through expected consolidation within the industry. "Global fusion energy investment surges to $2.64bn" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. U.S. Rep. James Comer is seen taking the podium at the 2024 Fancy Farm Picnic via this KET livestream. (Screenshot via KET) KET is reviving its plans to cover the 2025 Fancy Farm Picnic in West Kentucky following a donation from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. KET, the states public television network, had initially canceled its coverage of the political event last week after Congress voted to eliminate funding to public media nationwide, including PBS and NPR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were grateful to the Kentucky Chamber, a longtime corporate partner and supporter of KET, for helping us to continue this decades-long tradition of bringing viewers across the state coverage of this iconic event, said Shae Hopkins, KET executive director and CEO, in a Friday press release. Fancy Farm picnic organizers had named Ashli Watts, the president and CEO of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, as the emcee of the event earlier this summer. KETs press release did not disclose the donation amount. The annual gathering typically brings the states high-profile elected officials and candidates together in front of a crowd. KETs coverage included broadcasting their speeches statewide. KETs Renee Shaw will be joined by analysts Bob Babbage and Trey Grayson for the networks coverage on Saturday, Aug. 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, radio network Louisville Public Media announced that donors raised more than $400,000 since the passage of the federal fund cuts Friday. That covers a $376,000 deficit the station faced losing from a federal grant. We dont know yet what will happen to the public media system in the long-run, LPM said to supporters online. There are still challenges ahead. But you answered the call when we needed you most, and we cant thank you enough for your support. Jul. 22Editor's note: This story was updated Tuesday with additional information from Aid to the Church of Need International. A Nigerian priest who previously served in Alaska has been released unharmed several weeks after being captured by Boko Haram in early June, officials said this week. "We received word today that Fr Alphonsus Afina is unharmed and has been safely released," the Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks said in a Facebook post Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Afina was released along with 10 women who were also held captive, according to a Tuesday statement by Aid to the Church of Need International. Afina served as a priest in Fairbanks and Alaska villages across the Seward Peninsula from 2017 to 2024. Bishop John Bakeni auxiliary bishop of Maiduguri, Nigeria, where Afina's home parish is located said in Tuesday's statement: "To the glory of God, Father Afina was released yesterday along with ten women at about 4 p.m. We were able to have him in custody, and he was handed over to us around 11:30 p.m., yesterday." The Rev. Robert Fath, vicar general of the Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks, said last week that they heard through unofficial channels that Afina was alive. A priest who also works in the Fairbanks diocese received word from friends in the Diocese of Maiduguri that Afina was still alive, Fath said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "An individual who escaped was able to let us know that he was still alive," Fath said. "Then ... Father Alphonsus was also able to speak to his diocese again." Afina's call to his home diocese confirmed the news from the escapee that Afina was still alive. Bakeni, in Nigeria, said that Afina "looks a bit frail and tired, but I think he is in good health and emotionally is stable." "We are now arranging medical checkups and rest for him, and we plan to reunite him with his mother and family today," Bakeni said in Tuesday's statement. Afina and others were traveling by car in northern Nigeria when they were ambushed and abducted by Boko Haram. In a Facebook post Monday, Murkowski said her team "has been hard at work with Ambassador Rick Mills at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, the U.S. State Department, the National Security Council, and a host of other agencies and organizations to help secure his release. Thank you for your tireless efforts and to those in Alaska and around the world, thank you for your prayers. Welcome home, Father Afina." HAMMONDSPORT, N.Y. (WETM) Bike safety is always important, and since United Way of the Southern Tier hosts a charity bike ride each year, it has now brought in a new event to teach kids about basic safety rules. The annual Tour de Keuka charity ride will return to Hammondsport on Saturday, Aug. 2, where cyclists will gather for a ride around Keuka Lake to raise money for community programs provided to kids, seniors and families by United Way. Enjoy free summer movies in Steuben County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As an addition to this years charity event, United Way has announced that it will be holding a free Kids Bike Safety Rodeo at the Hammondsport Fire Station at 10 a.m. to help promote bike safety from an early age. During the rodeo, kids will learn basic bike safety rules and participate in a scavenger hunt. All kids who participate in the rodeo will be entered into a drawing to win prizes, which include new bikes. Participating kids must bring their own bike to the event and wear a helmet. Kids can get a free book bag at an upcoming giveaway event in Painted Post If youre interested in signing your kid up for the rodeo, youre encouraged to register them ahead of time, as spots are limited to 60. Registration can be done online for free. If spots are still available, registrations can be made on the day of the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who sign up to participate in the event are asked to bring a new, unopened hygiene item for United Ways back-to-school toiletries drive. Items that will be accepted include toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, combs and brushes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. The Trump administration on Monday released thousands of pages of records related to the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The King family issued a statement related to the release, asking the public to engage with the files with empathy. The information was under a court-ordered seal since 1977, dating from when the FBI first gathered evidence in the 1950s and 1960s, and turned it over to the National Archives. The National Archives organization noted that many of the records related to Kings assassination were not available to the public, but the agency was coordinating with other federal agencies and the executive branch to gather remaining records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Archives is working with other federal agencies to review and release records related to the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the agency said on its website. Advocates say there was little new information released in the batch of records, including FBI wiretap recordings of King and other materials that are sealed until 2027, The New York Times reported. Heres what we know about the recent batch of records: Records release The administration unexpectedly released the files on Monday afternoon. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January looking to declassify the records related to the assassinations of both King and former President John F. Kennedy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The records released Monday show a sample of investigative documents from the FBI, internal memos and surveillance. Some files released were not legible and have deteriorated over time, with the National Archives noting that each of the documents shown were the best copy available. Other documents were titled Resistance Information Report and detailed the examination into the Poor Peoples Campaign, and Kings later demonstrations shortly before his death. The release included information from the CIA and the House Select Committee on Assassinations. A review of the documents conducted by The Washington Post did not provide new information about the FBI surveilling King and if convicted assassin James Earl Ray was associated with the federal agency, like the King family had previously claimed. Trump administration remarks Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard shared that the administration was releasing more than 200,000 files related to Kings assassination after nearly 60 years of questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The documents include details 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, Gabbard said in a post online. Gabbard also thanked Trump for signing the executive order to digitize, declassify and release the files after an unprecedented interagency effort. Attorney General Pam Bondi also highlighted the Department of Justices role in releasing the files, noting that it was the result of months of collaboration between multiple agencies. The American people deserve answers decades after the horrific assassination of one of our nations great leaders, Bondi said in a statement. The Department of Justice is proud to partner with Director Gabbard and the (Office of the Director of National Intelligence) at President Trumps direction for this latest disclosure. King family statement Kings two living children, Martin III and Bernice, released a statement about the documents detailing their fathers assassination becoming publicly available. They noted that his murder has long been a subject of interest, captivating public curiosity for decades. The Kings said his death has been an intense personal grief for their family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our familys continuing grief, their statement said. Statement from the King Family on the Release of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s Assassination Files: 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 Martin Luther King III (@OfficialMLK3) July 21, 2025 They also have asked the public to review the documents through a historical context and noted former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoovers relentless targeting of King. While leading the bureau, Hoover wiretapped Kings telephone, bugged his hotel rooms and used people to gather information on the Civil Rights activist, The Associated Press reported. The Kings said their father was targeted in an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing way that spread disinformation. They argued Hoover wanted to destroy Kings reputation and disrupt the Civil Rights Movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While we support transparency and historical accountability, we object to any attacks on our fathers legacy or attempts to weaponize it to spread falsehoods, the Kings said. They asked the public to move forward using the lessons of their father and bring equity, justice, and peace for all. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee in April 1968. His murder came several years after he successfully moved the nation forward through notable demonstrations and speeches, and former President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. At the time of his death, he was focused on economic injustice and the Vietnam War abroad and was visiting with striking sanitation workers in Memphis. His family has long questioned if Ray acted alone in the assassination, asking the justice system to reexamine the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family said they will be reviewing the newly released files and will assess if it offers additional insights beyond the findings our family has already accepted. Experts say they arent sure the new batch of files will prove that the FBI was involved in Kings death, but its a lot of files to dig through and they must be viewed with an eye of suspicion, the AP reported. The long-sealed files related to the FBIs yearslong surveillance of civil rights icon Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were released Monday by the Trump administration. Before that, the more than 240,000 pages had never been digitized and sat collecting dust in facilities across the federal government for decades, the office of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said in a statement. In the hours since the trove of documents was made available through the National Archives and Records Administration, experts have said the files do not appear to include any major revelations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what we know so far about the files: Whats in the FBIs MLK files? The internal FBI memos detail the investigation into Kings assassination in 1968 and include the discussion of potential leads as well as documents related to James Earl Ray, Kings convicted assassin, according to the Trump administration. The files include scans of black and white documents that were often composed by typewriter as well as a few pages in color. Some of the records include transcripts of wiretaps and electronic surveillance. David Garrow, a historian and author of a Pulitzer Prize biography of King, said the records offer an interesting procedural insight into the methods used by the FBI to surveil King, but so far, they dont appear to offer anything that could shift his perspective on the civil rights leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You have to know FBI numerical serialization practices to even understand what youre looking at, Garrow said about the documents. Its almost akin to learning a foreign language. Garrow said the release also includes Freedom of Information requests filed by Ray. What did Kings family say about the files? The King family has long objected to the release of the documents and urged the public to view the records 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, Kings children, Bernice King and Martin Luther King III, said in a joint statement posted on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family, which was given advance access to the files, has denied Ray was solely responsible for the death of the civil rights leader. While we support transparency and historical accountability, we object to any attacks on our fathers legacy or attempts to weaponize it to spread falsehoods, the Kings said in their statement. Those who promote the fruit of the FBIs surveillance will unknowingly align themselves with an ongoing campaign to degrade our father and the Civil Rights Movement, they added. But not everyone in the King family opposes the publication of the files. Kings niece, Alveda King, an outspoken conservative who frequently diverges publicly from her family, has said shes grateful to President Trump for his transparency after the documents release. Why does the FBI have files on King? The FBI surveilled King and his associates throughout the Civil Rights Movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the direction of Hoover, the agency sought to undermine Kings efforts to secure civil rights for African Americans by dredging up information that could tarnish his personal image and investigating his alleged ties to the Communist Party. They treated him as an adversary somebody who it would help to have dirt on, historian Jonathan Eig, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, King: A Life, told CNNs Zachary Wolf. In addition to surveillance, Kings phone lines were often bugged, as well as the hotel rooms where he would often stay, Eig said. The FBI has previously released a memo that attempts to tie King to various communist influences and alleges financial improprieties at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the civil rights organization he led. The document also graphically describes Kings history of adultery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When reviewing the documents, Garrow said, there are some instances where it helps to consider the source. Some documents were written to be purposefully misleading in keeping with an FBI internal practice of concealing information to prevent internal leaks. If its information coming from a human informant, youve got to be careful to consider how much self-serving or self-exaggerating BS there might be, Garrow said. Thats particularly the case with the informants that the FBI had in the US Communist Party. Why were the records released now? The documents were initially intended to remain under seal until 2027. However, President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January that mandated the files be declassified and released. Their publication comes as the Trump administration continues to weather a barrage of criticism over its handling of the release of documents related to the case of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the investigation into his underaged sex trafficking operation. Trump and Epstein were friendly for years before Epstein was charged with solicitation of prostitution in the mid-2000s. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January to declassify the files of former President John F. Kennedy, former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. - Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images The administration is also facing backlash from some GOP lawmakers, who have rejected the presidents insistence that there is no new information relating to Epsteins death and they appear determined to force greater transparency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garrow, the historian, told CNN he doesnt believe the timing of the Kings records is connected to the Epstein case. He said he viewed communications between the King family and the Justice Department that warned of the documents release before Trumps alleged lewd birthday letter to Epstein surfaced. But on Monday, Bernice King became yet another voice calling for the administration to be more transparent about Epstein. After the release of thousands of documents related to her father, King shared an impassive image of the Civil Rights leader on social media, with the caption Now, do the Epstein files. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com CORNELIUS, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A larceny suspect was arrested after multiple retail stores were robbed across the Charlotte area, police say. Cornelius detectives partnered with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and several local retailers to identify and arrest a suspect who allegedly stole from them multiple times, according to police. Police identified Tony Williams, 34, as a suspect, accused of stealing over $100,000 worth of items from retail stores including Lowes, Target, and Home Depot throughout the Charlotte metro area in the last 90 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court documents, Williams is accused of stealing two iPhone 16s, three Ninja Slushi machines and a pair of Rayban Meta glasses valued at $2,359.97 from the Target on Walker Branch Drive in Charlotte. He allegedly deactivated and removed the antishoplifting components from the items. Court documents also show Williams allegedly took power tools and tool kits from Home Depot on at least five occasions and Lowes. On July 10, Cornelius detectives executed a search warrant on his home on Prospect Drive in Charlotte. During the search, detectives found approximately $15,000 worth of stolen property and returned it to the victims. A stolen vehicle and a loaded firearm were also recovered. Williams was charged with five counts of felony larceny. Additionally, he has several pending warrants for his arrest for felony organized retail theft over $100k and felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 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. A popular summer destination has been put on notice after researchers spotted what they believe to be the largest white shark ever tagged in the western North Atlantic Ocean. OCEARCH, a shark-tracking research group, says it has recently detected a great white shark dubbed Contender a mere 50 miles off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The research group says Contender weighs a whopping 1,653 pounds and is 13 feet and nine inches long. The ocean giant was last pinged on Friday east of Massachusetts, between Nantucket Shoals and Georges Bank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After tagging the great white shark, OCEARCH will track Contender for the next five years. The hope is for OCEARCH to learn about the species' migration patterns. So far, Contender has had quite a journey. Researchers first tracked the adult male in January and tagged him off the coast of Georgia. Contender then made his way down to Florida before heading up to the Outer Banks in North Carolina, where his presence previously made headlines. Related: Fisherman Stabbed Through Skull by Rare Trophy Fish "The SPOT tag deployed on Contender will provide valuable real-time data for approximately five years, helping us track his movements and understand his migration patterns," the group says. "Additionally, we've collected important biological samples, including urogenital material, which are currently being analyzed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for how the group came up with the name Contender, OCEARCH says it's to pay homage of Contender Boats, "a longtime OCEARCH partner, whose industry-leading sport fishing and pleasure boats enable our research missions." Largest Great White Shark on Record Swimming Off Popular Tourist Destination first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 22, 2025 An amendment added to the House version of a must-pass national defense bill calls for more research and scrutiny into cancer concerns among troops who worked with America's nuclear missiles. A provision added by Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., in the House draft of the annual legislation seeks to review the occupational health and safety conditions of the facilities where troops oversee and work on the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. The issue hit close to home for the retired Air Force brigadier general and commander turned lawmaker. "I met a constituent who was dying from cancer a few months back, and it inspired my amendment on the ICBM cancer study," Bacon told Military.com in a statement. "He was terminal and had strong beliefs that the ICBM crews were dying of cancer at a higher rate and at younger ages than the population at large." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read Next: Marine Corps Starts Reassigning Harrier Mechanics as Jet Closes in on Retirement Bacon's amendment added to the House draft of the National Defense Authorization Act comes amid an ongoing Air Force study into growing cancer concerns among those who work with the nuclear missiles. Military.com shed light on these concerns in an in-depth investigative series that revealed prior warnings about potential cancer concerns due to carcinogenes in the Cold War-era facilities which went ignored for two decades and exposure to toxins was not taken seriously among current and former maintenance workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That exposure included well-documented interactions with carcinogens ranging from polychlorinated biphenyls, known as PCBs, and asbestos to smoke inhalation from burnt paper tapes, biological exposure from standing water and even sewage backup, pesticides and herbicides. A staff member in Bacon's office told Military.com that the Air Force's current study was "commendable," but there are some concerns. "The first is that the Air Force has not looked thoroughly enough at the many types of toxins and carcinogens that could impact missileers," the staffer said. "Concerns about asbestos and other carcinogenic chemicals, water quality, and air quality from closed burning in the capsules are just a few of the concerns that the Air Force needs to look into." One recent independent study first reported on by Military.com examined a database of those diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana and found service members were diagnosed at younger ages compared to the wider population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There are concerns about the methodology and rigor of the study that the Air Force is conducting," the staffer added. The Torchlight Initiative, a grassroots organization of current and former service members who've worked with the nation's land-based nuclear missiles, praised Bacon's amendment in a statement provided to Military.com. One of their members, retired Col. Michael Yamzon, has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and is one of Bacon's constituents. "As [Yamzon] confronts service-related mesothelioma, his advocacy highlights the very heart of this legislation: Making sure that every ICBM service member and their family receive the recognition, support, and care they deserve -- never overlooked or left waiting due to gaps in research or bureaucratic delays," the Torchlight Initiative said in a statement. "This amendment plays a crucial role in protecting the health of both current and former members of the missile community who have endured hazardous environments for years," the group added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bacon's amendment comes after the Torchlight Initiative has made more frequent visits and appearances on Capitol Hill in recent months, aiming to expand benefits, research and investigations under the existing 2022 toxic exposure law known as the PACT Act. While the PACT Act mostly focused on burn pits and chemical exposure overseas, advocates from Torchlight and other veterans service organizations want increased awareness on domestic incidents, as well as occupational-related illnesses such as traumatic brain injury and radiation exposure. "I recall meeting victims of cancer when I was a commander. ... They were in the Middle East near burn pits," Bacon told Military.com. "They had terminal cancer from the service they gave our country. They deserved better." Bacon's amendment wouldn't be a redo of the Air Force's study but would task the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to review the health and safety conditions of the facilities as well as the methodology behind the service's probe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amendment passed out of committee but must still pass the House and be agreed to by the Senate in the final bill, which will become law. Related: Troops, Veterans Advocates Want to See the PACT Act Better Track Toxic Exposures WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) A bipartisan group of lawmakers is calling for a sweeping overhaul of the United States organ transplant system after a federal investigation uncovered what they describe as horrifying failures in patient safety and oversight. Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Congressman Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) are among those demanding reforms, pointing to widespread mismanagement in the countrys Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Its horrifying to everybody to see some of these practices that are being used, said Rep. DeGette during a congressional hearing on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve got a responsibility to make sure that people know this process will be conducted humanely and legally, added Rep. Palmer. The hearing comes on the heels of a government report that revealed major failures in organ procurement, including lost organs, botched transplants, and even a disturbing case involving a misdiagnosis of brain death. In one incident, doctors prepared to harvest organs from a 33-year-old Kentucky man after he was declared brain-dead only for the patient to show signs of life as the surgery began. If the patients dying and they take the patients organs before they die thats euthanasia, Palmer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal officials acknowledged shortcomings in the system and pledged changes. Dr. Raymond Lynch, a representative from the Department of Health and Human Services, told lawmakers that reforms are already underway. These include upgrades in technology, better tracking systems, and more robust oversight. When we identify conduct that is at odds with the OPTN contractors duties, we notify them and set expectations to perform better, Lynch said. Congress is now drafting bipartisan legislation aimed at restructuring the transplant network from the ground up potentially ending decades of monopoly oversight and opening the door to more accountability. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A judge dismissed a case against Tim Ballard, the founder and former CEO of Operation Underground Railroad, an anti-human sex trafficking organization, in a case brought against him and OUR in 2023 by his former assistant, Celeste Borys, and her husband, Mike Borys. Ballard won on procedural grounds after a Utah district court judge ruled Monday that the key evidence had been improperly obtained, ultimately dropping the case against both Ballard and OUR. The ruling did not address the underlying claims of sexual misconduct or how organization leadership may have enabled the alleged inappropriate behavior. Shortly after Mr. Ballard was given notice of this lawsuit, we became suspicious that someone had hacked into his private email and his Google Drive and stolen his documents and his private email communications, Alexis Federico, one of Ballards attorneys, told reporters during a news conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Borys parted ways with OUR, she accessed Ballards email to obtain information that was used as evidence in court by her legal counsel,the judges order stated. Borys method of obtaining the information in court was deemed improper and so was thrown out, the judge concluded. Practically speaking, what Ms. Borys did is no different than if she had used a key to access Mr. Ballards office in the dark of night to secretly photocopy documents from locked file drawers, including documents that were marked as privileged. The wrongful nature of that conduct should have been obvious to anyone, including importantly her lawyers, 3rd District Court Judge Todd Shaughnessy said in his order, obtained by the Deseret News. Based on the foregoing, and for good cause, the court orders all of Ms. Boryss claims against all named defendants dismissed with prejudice, the judge added. The court agrees that OUR and Mr. Ballard have been prejudiced by plaintiffs circumventing the rules. The Deseret News reached out to both Borys legal counsel and OUR for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not known yet if Borys attorneys will appeal the decision. Her husbands claims of fraud and emotional distress in the case were greenlit to proceed by the judge, but she cannot refile the same claims in court because Shaughnessy dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice. Ballard has denied any wrongdoing in any of the legal suits against him, and has filed defamation cases against other women who have accused him of sexual misconduct. With Borys lawsuit dismissed, it is unclear how it will affect a separate sexual misconduct case brought against Ballard by five Utah women. According to Fox 13, some of the same evidence is being used in that case. Ballards attorneys said they look forward to arguing their clients cases. By Nora Eckert and Nathan Gomes (Reuters) -General Motors' second-quarter earnings took a $1.1-billion hit from tariffs, but the automaker still beat analyst expectations for the period on Tuesday, supported by strong sales of its core gasoline trucks and SUVs. The largest U.S. automaker by sales said it expects the tariff impact to worsen in the third quarter and stuck to a previous estimate that trade headwinds threaten to hit the bottom line by $4 billion to $5 billion this year. GM said it could take steps to mitigate at least 30% of that impact. Shares fell 8%. The automaker's revenue in the quarter ended June 30 fell nearly 2% to about $47 billion from a year ago. Its quarterly adjusted earnings per share fell to $2.53 compared with $3.06 a year earlier. Analysts on average expected adjusted profit of $2.44 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG. Its adjusted earnings before interest and taxes fell 32% to $3 billion. GM was among corporations that revised annual guidance due to the impact from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, lowering it to an annual adjusted core profit of between $10 billion and $12.5 billion. The company on Tuesday stood by that forecast. CFRA Research analyst Garrett Nelson wrote in a Tuesday morning note that one of the reasons shares dropped was because investors were disappointed the automaker did not raise guidance. Beyond tariffs, GMs underlying business in the quarter was solid. Sales in the U.S. market its main source of profit rose 7%, while the company continued to command strong pricing on its pickup trucks and SUVs. GM swung back to a small profit in China, after losing money there a year earlier. Analysts said GM may need to cut investment in future projects or find other ways to trim spending to offset the effect of tariffs. The automaker is so far keeping pricing consistent and absorbing added tariff costs rather than passing them on to customers. Jeep-maker Stellantis on Monday warned that tariffs would significantly affect results in the second half of 2025, and said tariffs cost it about 300 million euros in the first half of the year. Shares of Ford Motor fell about 1% on Tuesday, and U.S.-traded shares of Stellantis edged up less than 1%. GM took several steps in recent months to bolster its combustion-engine operations through increased investment in its U.S. factory base, calling into question its goal of ending the production of gas-powered cars and trucks by 2035. "Despite slower EV industry growth, we believe the long-term future is profitable electric vehicle production, and this continues to be our north star," GM CEO Mary Barra told analysts Tuesday. CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) Months after a natural gas explosion obliterated a Clarksburg home, a lawsuit has been filed in Harrison County court claiming wrongful death. Gregory Lee Loser, 63, died from injuries sustained in the explosion on Sunday, Jan. 26, and his estate, represented by Administratrix Melissa OConnell, is seeking compensation and damages from Hope Gas, the City of Clarksburg and multiple contractors, who are accused of negligence that led to the explosion on Kramer Drive. The following information was obtained from a lawsuit filed in Harrison County Circuit Court on Tuesday. Hope Gas The suit claims that natural gas provided by Hope Gas via an underground line began to escape after a mechanical fitting on the line failed. The suit adds that the failure was either due to poor installation or the poor condition of the vintage gas line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit claims that due to cold temperatures at the time, the leaking gas could not escape through the ground and instead made its way into the basement of Losers home. The gas was later ignited by a foreseeable ignition source, which caused the explosion. In the preliminary report filed by Hope Gas to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the company said that the cause of the explosion may have been due to a connection failure at the intersection of Chestnut and Harvey streets, and that construction in the area may have contributed. Hope Gas reported in the days following the explosion that it had found several leaks in the area of Kramer Drive, and neighbors said that they could smell gas just before the explosion. The suit said that Hope Gas had to repair other leaks in the area of the explosion on many occasions prior to the explosion and claimed that the failing pipes and couplings were installed in the early 1980s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On top of the above claims, the suit also says that Hope Gas failed to communicate with contractors working in the area to ensure that the gas lines were handled properly. OConnell and Losers estate added in the suit that its seeking all damages possible against Hope Gas under the Wrongful Death statute outlined in the West Virginia State Code and claims that the company is strictly liable for Losers death. Patient arrested after Sharpe Hospital standoff allegedly claimed he had 25 bombs to use on White House, Pentagon City of Clarksburg/Clarksburg Water Board Losers estate claims in the suit that construction work done in the area of Kramer Drive may have contributed to the explosion, specifically work done by the Clarksburg Water Board, which is overseen by the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to the explosion, the Clarksburg Water Board was called to repair a leaking water line on several occasions, according to the suit, which said that the leaks may have caused the soil to erode near the Hope Gas line, which was overlaid with the water line. The suit claims that the Clarksburg Water Board contracted much of its work in the area of the intersection of Chestnut and Harvey streets to Green River and Snider & Son and that all three parties should have been aware of the potential erosion issues. Losers estate also says that the Clarksburg Water Board and Hope Gas should have inspected and supervised both of the contractors to ensure that the repairs were done properly and that both the water and gas lines were in safe condition. Green River and Snider & Son According to the suit, Green River LLC was contracted to perform excavation, repair and replacement operations for water lines in Clarksburg on or before August 2024 at the above-listed intersection. At the same time, Snider & Son was contracted to perform drilling operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reports from Hope Gas referenced in the lawsuit say that the explosion may have been caused by contractor work in the area. The suit adds that in August 2024, either Snider & Son or another entity under its direction struck a gas line on S. Chestnut Street and it was not properly repaired. The suit claims that both contractors, as well as the Clarksburg Water Board, were negligent as the construction sites were improperly staffed and managed, and that the crews were either not properly trained or failed to ensure that their tasks were done safely. 12 News has reached out to all four defendants in this case, but has only received a reply from Hope Gas as of Thursday evening, which reads as follows: Hope Gas is unable to make any specific comment on pending litigation. That being said, our thoughts remain with Mr. Losers family and others affected by this incident. We would like to reassure every community we serve that Hope Gas exceeds federal requirements related to monitoring our pipeline infrastructure across the entire state West Virginia. You can read the full lawsuit below: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OConnell vs. Hope Gas and ClarksburgDownload Editors note: This story has been updated to include a statement from Hope Gas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. At least 15 Palestinians, including four children, have starved to death in a single day in the besieged Gaza Strip, according to health officials, bringing the total number of deaths from malnutrition since Israels war began to 101. The announcement on Tuesday came as Israeli forces continued to pound Gaza, killing at least 81 people, and the United Nations described the situation in the enclave as a horror show with a level of death and destruction without parallel in recent times. The Palestinian Ministry of Health said that the 15 starvation-related deaths over the past 24 hours included four children and that the overall toll of 101 included 80 children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the deaths have come in the last few weeks. Among the children who died on Tuesday were six-week-old Yousef al-Safadi, who passed away at a hospital in northern Gaza City, and 13-year-old Abdulhamid al-Ghalban, who died in another medical facility in southern Khan Younis, according to doctors. Yousefs uncle, Adham al-Safadi, told the Reuters news agency that the infants mother had not been able to breastfeed because she was not eating and the family could not find baby formula to feed him. You cant get milk anywhere, and if you do find any, its $100 for a tub, al-Safadi told Reuters. The mother cant breastfeed. Theres no food and drinks, so there is no breastmilk. The baby died of malnutrition. Horror show in Gaza The starvation crisis comes amid a nearly five-month blockade by Israel on food, fuel, water and other humanitarian supplies entering the Gaza. Israel cut off all goods from entering the territory in March, but has allowed in a trickle of aid starting in May, mostly through the controversial United States-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the UN, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians seeking food aid since the GHF began its operations, most of them near the groups distribution points. The 81 Palestinians killed on Tuesday include at least 31 aid seekers, according to medics in Gaza. Fifteen others were killed in an Israeli attack on a building housing displaced people in northern Gaza City, according to a source at al-Shifa Hospital, while 13 more were killed and 50 others wounded in a strike on the nearby Shati refugee camp, according to the Palestinian Civil Defence. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking at the Security Council, highlighted the horror show for the 2.3 million Palestinians in the enclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Malnourishment is soaring, starvation is knocking on every door, and now we are seeing the last gasp of a humanitarian system built on humanitarian principles, he said. This system is being denied the space to function, denied the space to deliver, denied the safety to save lives. Guterres said that Israel has intensified military operations in Gaza, including by issuing new forced displacement orders in parts of central Deir el-Balah, a city that was considered the last remotely safe area in the Strip. According to UN figures, nearly 88 percent of the entire Gaza Strip is now within Israeli militarised zones or under displacement orders, forcing the population into an ever-shrinking space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guterres said the latest order was layering devastation upon devastation. Staff fainting on duty Doctors in Gaza, meanwhile, said they are seeing increasing numbers of malnourished people arriving at their hospitals. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, the director of al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, told reporters that there could be alarming numbers of deaths due to starvation. Khalil al-Daqran, the spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, said doctors are not able to help those suffering from malnutrition. Hospitals are already overwhelmed by the number of casualties from gunfire. They cant provide much more help for hunger-related symptoms because of food and medicine shortages, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deqran said some 600,000 people were suffering from malnutrition, including at least 60,000 pregnant women. Symptoms among those going hungry include dehydration and anaemia, he said. Healthcare workers and humanitarian staff in Gaza were also reporting fainting on the job because of the hunger and exhaustion, according to officials. No one is spared: caretakers in Gaza are also in need of care, Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, wrote on X. Doctors, nurses, journalists & humanitarians are hungry. Many are now fainting due to hunger & exhaustion while performing their duties: reporting atrocities or alleviating some of the suffering. Lazzarini went on to say that seeking food in Gaza has become as deadly as the Israeli bombardments and denounced the GHF schemes as a sadistic death trap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Snipers open fire randomly on crowds as if they are given a licence to kill. A massive hunt of people, in total impunity. This cannot be our new norm, humanitarian assistance is not the job of mercenaries, he said. The Norwegian Refugee Council, one of the largest independent aid organisations in Gaza, also said its staff in the enclave were starving. Our last tent, our last food parcel, our last relief items have been distributed. There is nothing left, Jan Egeland, the secretary-general of the NRC, told Reuters. Hundreds of truckloads have been sitting in warehouses or in Egypt or elsewhere, and costing our Western European donors a lot of money, but they are blocked from coming in, Egeland said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel is not yielding. They just want to paralyse our work, he added. Israel denies targeting civilians and rejects responsibility for the shortages of food in Gaza. The GHF has also rejected what it said were false and exaggerated statistics from the UN about the killings at its aid sites. Assault on Deir el-Balah Humanitarian groups also say that Israels military operations in central Deir el-Balah, which is the main hub for aid efforts, have compromised their ability to operate in the Strip. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the secretary-general of the World Health Organization, said on X that the agencys staff residence was attacked three times during the Israeli assault, while its main warehouse was damaged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli troops entered the residence, forced women and children to evacuate, and handcuffed and stripped male staff and family members. Four staff were detained, and one remains in Israeli custody, he said. WHO demands the immediate release of the detained staff and protection of all its staff, Tedros wrote. With the main warehouse nonfunctional and the majority of medical supplies in Gaza depleted, WHO is severely constrained in adequately supporting hospitals, emergency medical teams and health partners, already critically short on medicines, fuel, and equipment, he added. While the Israeli military has claimed its operation in the area is now over, Palestinians living there have not been able to return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al Jazeeras Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Deir el-Balah, said residents were afraid to go back to their homes as they are in the firing line of heavy artillery. He said that quadcopters and surveillance drones also hover over the area, creating an atmosphere of intimidation and fear. Israels war on Gaza which began after the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023 has killed at least 59,106 Palestinians and wounded 142,511. Most of the victims are women and children. The killings and destruction come as ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel remain stalled. The two sides have been holding indirect talks in Qatar on a US proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, during which Hamas would release more of the Israelis it took captive in the October 7 attacks, while Israel would free Palestinian prisoners and allow a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza. While there has been some progress, officials say a main sticking point is the redeployment of Israeli troops after any ceasefire takes place. In a statement, Hamas called on Arab nations to break their ties with Israel over its systematic genocide and criminal starvation in the enclave. We affirm that the official responses and positions do not rise to the level of the catastrophe facing two and a quarter million people. The deafening silence of our nations rulers encourages war criminal Netanyahu to pursue his policy of starvation and genocide, the Palestinian group said. Our people are starving while thousands of aid trucks are piling up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing. We call on Arab and Islamic countries to sever all ties with the fascist occupation entity and expel Zionist ambassadors, it added. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A Lenexa, Kansas, man convicted of killing his wife and son last year during a police standoff will serve 50 years in prison without the possibility of parole. A Johnson County judge sentenced 54-year-old Todd Donovan to a Hard 50 for shooting and killing his wife, 52-year-old Sheila Donovan, and son, 22-year-old Tyler Donovan. Former Kansas City teacher accused of sex trafficking, asking student for explicit photos Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donovan was also sentenced on a cruelty to animals charge after he shot and killed his neighbors dog on the same day. He was charged on Nov. 4, 2024, and pleaded guilty back in April. Mugshot of Todd Donovan, courtesy of Johnson County Sheriffs Office On Nov. 1, 2024, Lenexa police officers responded to reports of gunfire in the area of Hallet Street and Mullen Road. Police said that, as officers arrived at the scene, multiple gunshots were heard coming from the home. Officers called Donovan, who was suspected of firing the gun, and learned that he was still inside the home. Police attempted to get him to exit the residence peacefully; however, he refused the officers request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lenexa Tactical Team and crisis negotiators responded to the scene and began their barricade operations. Police said negotiators allegedly spoke with Donovan for nearly two hours before he hung up, leading the tactical team to enter the home and place him in custody. He was believed to have overdosed, leading emergency responders to take him to a hospital for treatment. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android After Donovan was out of the home, officers found the bodies of two victims who had been shot. Police also learned that a neighbors dog had been shot and killed at the same time they responded to the initial call. 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. Local libraries grappling with cuts to federal funding Libraries across Ohio are grappling with decreased funding due to a tighter state budget, putting essential services at risk. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Greene County Public Library is among those affected and is seeking voter approval for additional funding in the upcoming November ballot to maintain operations across its eight branches. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think taking away federal funding is irresponsible, Donyel Denson said, who visited the Xenia Community Library. Were just trying to keep what we have, and we hope that the voters will consider that, Karl Colon said, executive director of Greene County Public Library. Denson emphasized the importance of libraries, noting that they provide free services such as printing, which can be crucial for those without access to a printer at home. Colon explained that the librarys funding change would be about $300,000 a year, which could support services like the bookmobile. He added that programs like the bookmobile and spaces like Spark Place contribute significantly to the community and local economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A dollar spent in a public library returns 5 dollars in benefits to the community. So thats everything from books that you check out to us teaching children how to read, Colon said. The outcome of the November ballot will be crucial for the Greene County Public Library as it seeks to secure the necessary funding to continue providing valuable services to the community. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] 4Corners K-9 Search and Rescue uses K-9 rescue dogs to search for missing persons on Native American tribal land. (Jozef Feher/Pexels) Human trafficking continues to be a problem in the state. The National Human Trafficking Hotline had 350 reports from New Mexico in 2021, the most recent data available. Its an issue that also intersects with the 193 missing and murdered Indigenous people here . Two organizations spoke with lawmakers last week about how they could help. 4Corners K-9 Search and Rescue uses K-9 rescue dogs to search for missing persons on Native American tribal land, while Truckers Against Trafficking offers courses to truckers to keep them informed of potential trafficking signs. They spoke to the Legislative Indian Affairs interim committee on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bernadine Beyale (Dine) is executive director of 4Corners and was part of a state response team before starting her own nonprofit in 2022. Beyale said working on tribal lands has been more challenging. When we were part of the state rescue team, we had more finds and more successes, meaning we found people alive because we were called faster in those situations, when someone went missing through the state, she said. But now that were on tribal lands, I dont get those calls fast enough. Were getting them too late. Were getting them days, months, even years later. Beyale said her organization relies on volunteers and raises its own money. Shes working with Truckers Against Trafficking, which plans to expand its outreach next year. Both groups told lawmakers they would like to see support from the state. Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Albuquerque) applauded the efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is why we need to change the anti-donation laws in our state, because this is one of those areas that is so incredibly important, and its saving lives directly, she said. The states anti-donation clause prohibits state and local governments from giving funds to individuals or entities, including nonprofits. Beyale said trafficking is often overlooked. No one really talks about it, and its an area we do need to bring to light more, especially in our Four Corners area, she said. Support for this coverage comes from the Thornburg Foundation. The Dirksen U.S. Courthouse was evacuated and remained on lockdown Tuesday as FBI and other law enforcement personnel continued to talk to a man who walked into the courthouse armed with a knife and threatened to hurt himself. The incident, which was still ongoing as of 4:45 p.m., began shortly before 11 a.m. when the man entered the lobby at 219 S. Dearborn St. and was stopped by security. Sources told the Tribune at one point he demanded to speak to the FBI. Courthouse security cleared the lobby and ordered the rest of the building, which houses the U.S. District, U.S. Bankruptcy and 7th Circuit Appeals courts, locked down. As negotiators were brought in to talk to the man, Chicago police and Department of Homeland Security officers blocked off traffic on Dearborn Street, Jackson Boulevard, and Adams and Clark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Chicago police SWAT van sat parked at Jackson and Dearborn, next to an armored military-style truck as curious passersby snapped photos and took video of the scene. Court officials said the incident involves a single individual and that the public was not in danger. Law enforcement negotiators are on scene. All individuals in the courthouse are directed to stay away from the lobby while law enforcement manage the scene, court officials said in a statement early Tuesday afternoon. Initially, people who were already in the 27-story building were allowed to continue activities, with free movement allowed from the second floor and above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities instructed people in the building via an intercom to remain where they were and avoid the lobby, U.S. attorneys office spokesperson Joseph Fitzpatrick said. Access to other facilities, including the Kluczynski Federal Building, was also restricted. Shortly after 2:30 p.m., however, authorities began going floor to floor telling people they had to evacuate. Dozens of lawyers, courthouse workers and other people who had business in the courthouse could be seen leaving through the rear lobby doors and walking east to State Street. As of 4:45 p.m., the man could still be seen inside the courthouse lobby. He was wearing a backpack and at times had what appeared to be a knife held up to his throat. Officers in tactical gear were stacked outside the front door of the courthouse as negotiations continued. Jul. 22While she knew she would eventually become San Joaquin County Board of Education president at some point during her six-year term, Lodi's Jordan Giannoni did not think it would happen so soon after her election. Giannoni was unable to attend last week's meeting, where the board conducted its annual reorganization, but received a call from San Joaquin County Office of Education staff asking if she would be okay with being nominated. "It definitely was surprising," she said. "I wouldn't have seen it coming if I had been at the meeting. Even with other members who were elected the same time I was, like Chuck Winn, who was a supervisor for eight years, they nominated me for the role." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giannoni was elected to the Area 5 seat during in the March 2024 presidential primary election in her first attempt at running for political office. She replaced Greg Clark and became the first woman to serve Area 5 on the board, and the youngest member out of the pool of five directors at the age of 36. "I feel like in some ways, it's been a little easier than I thought it would be," she said of her first year on the board. "Going in, I had a little bit of anxiety because the board had worked together for some time, but everyone has been respectful and supportive. I feel fortunate the current trustees recognized I had the skills and chops to be their leader this year." As board president for the 2025-26 school year, Giannoni said she hopes she and her fellow trustees can continue to support funding core SJCOE programs such as CARE and Discovery ChalleNGe Academy, as well as address issues important to families like attending the school of their choice and appealing interdistrict transfers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "San Joaquin County is the 14th largest in the state, but our (office of education) is the third largest," she said. "Our COE has been very innovative over the years. Our Teachers College nothing like that really exists anywhere else in the state, so we need to make sure programs like that remain available." Founded in 2009, Teachers College of San Joaquin is an accredited institution that offers a teaching and administrative service credentials program, teacher and administrator induction, five Master of Education concentrations, and specialized non-degree programs. Giannoni said as state education is facing challenging times, she wants to ensure programs such as Teachers College remain intact, especially as districts look for new instructors. Born and raised in Lodi, Giannoni attended public schools in the county before earning her bachelor's degree at the University of California, Berkeley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After graduating, she worked at the publishing companies Pearson and McGraw-Hill before landing a position at Delta College in 2015 while completing her Master of Business Administration at night at University of California, Davis. She became a full-time faculty member at Delta in 2017, earned tenure in 2021, and recently completed her Doctorate in Education at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. "I'm honored (to become president)," she said. "I feel like the community has done a lot for me, and now I feel I need to give back by shaping the next generation of students. That's important to me." LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) The City of Longview is asking drivers to use caution as new seal coats will be applied to road surfaces across the city starting on Tuesday. Union Grove ISD to discuss superintendents resignation The city said brief lane closures are expected throughout this process, but the closures should last about five minutes. Flyers will be given to residents who are directly affected to explain the estimated timeframe of operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City of Longview is executing what they are calling Chip Seal Operations, which are expected to last around four to five days. Chip seal refers to an inexpensive seal coat that is spread along roads to protect against the forces of traffic. Division grows in Henderson over replacement of town mural A seal coat is a surface treatment where a sticky, black, semi-solid liquid, known as a bituminous surface or asphalt binder, is applied to an existing roadway, The City of Longview said. The asphalt binder is then covered with a layer of loose gravel, or aggregate. Over time as vehicles drive on the seal-coated road surface, the loose gravel is pushed into the asphalt binder creating the desired surface texture. Those interested in learning more about the Chip Seal Operations can visit this link and questions about the construction can be differed to Assistant City Engineer Zack Shaner P.E. at 903-237-1321. For a full list of the chip seal locations, visit this link. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Longview Fire Department honors member enlisting in U.S. Navy Clark Construction of Texas, Incorporated of Victoria, Texas, is constructing this project. 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. An attorney who handles homelessness policy in the Los Angeles city attorney's office has been selected as the interim chief executive for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to guide the troubled agency through a year of downsizing. An agenda item posted Tuesday would authorize Wendy Greuel, chair of the 10-member LAHSA commission, to negotiate a 12-month contract with Gita O'Neill, a career city attorney. A vote is scheduled for Friday, the day current Chief Executive Va Lecia Adams Kellum is set to leave the agency she led for 2 years. Adams Kellum announced her intent to step down shortly after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted in March to form a new county homelessness department that will oversee funds currently administered by LAHSA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other than O'Neill's monthly base salary of $30,833.30, or approximately $370,000 a year, LAHSA released no information about the candidate who emerged at the top during a months-long search. The city attorney's office did not respond to a request for O'Neill's resume. O'Neill did not respond to a call from The Times. Her LinkedIn page says she has worked in the city attorney's office for just under 24 years. As interim CEO, O'Neill will be responsible for reshaping the joint city-county authority as it loses about 40% of its $875-million budget and seeks to leave behind a tumultuous period in which it was harshly criticized in a series of audits for poor contract and data management. A 2024 report by the Los Angeles County auditor-controller found that lax accounting procedures resulted in the failure to reclaim millions of dollars in cash advances to contractors and to pay other contractors on time, even when funds were available. Those deficiencies were already known when Adams Kellum was hired in January 2023 with a mandate to fix them. In her defense, she argued that the county audit primarily covered a period before she took the job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But critics say progress has been far too slow. Early this year, an audit commissioned by U.S. District Judge David O. Carter found that LAHSA lacks sufficient financial oversight to ensure that its contractors deliver the services they are paid to provide, leaving the agency vulnerable to waste and fraud. The supervisors' vote to pull back from the agency followed soon after. As a result of the vote, more than 700 county workers will be transferred to the new agency by Jan. 1. Six months later, the new department will finish taking on hundreds more employees from LAHSA. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Louisiana First News is proud to receive the Going the Extra Mile Award from the Capital Area United Way on Tuesday. The award was given during the groups annual awards program at LAuberge Casino. Other local companies were also honored for the work they do with the organization. Louisiana First News anchors Reggi Marion and Sydney Simone and meteorologist Ashley Renee pictured with award. For over 100 years, the Capital Area United Way has worked to improve the lives of others in the 10-parish region. Some of the work includes free literacy workshops, free food distribution and the United Way 211/CAUW line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each year, Louisiana First News is proud to partner with the Capital Area United Way as part of Founders Day of Caring. 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. Chicago, Illinois-based Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI) provides public safety and enterprise security solutions in the United States and internationally. With a market cap of $70.2 billion, the company operates in two segments: Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The tech company is expected to release its Q2 2025 earnings on Thursday, August 7. Ahead of this event, analysts project MSI to report earnings of $3.06 per share, which represents a 3.4% growth from $2.96 in the same quarter last year. The company has surpassed Wall Streets bottom-line estimates in each of the past four quarters, which is impressive. More News from Barchart For fiscal 2025, analysts forecast MSI to report an EPS of $13.48, marking a 5.9% increase from $12.73 reported in fiscal 2024. Moreover, in fiscal 2026, its earnings are expected to grow 7.9% year-over-year to $14.54 per share. www.barchart.com MSI stock has grown 6.6% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming the Technology Select Sector SPDR Funds (XLK) 16.3% surge and the S&P 500 Indexs ($SPX) 13.6% uptick during the same time frame. www.barchart.com On May 1, MSI declined marginally following the release of its Q1 results. The communications equipment maker posted revenue of $2.53 billion in the period, surpassing Street forecasts. Moreover, its adjusted earnings for the quarter amounted to $2.88 per share, surpassing the consensus estimates by 5.9%. Looking ahead, the company expects full-year earnings in the range of $14.64 to $14.74 per share. Analysts' consensus view on MSI is moderately optimistic, with an overall "Moderate Buy" rating. Out of 13 analysts covering the stock, opinions include eight "Strong Buys," one "Moderate Buy," and four "Holds. Its mean price target of $503.56 suggests a 19.8% upside potential from current price 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 One of the banners carried by demonstrators during the "No Kings" protest in Louisville in June called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement . (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer) Kentuckys largest city is changing a detention policy for immigrants following pressure from the Trump administration. During a Tuesday press conference, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said the city will reinstate a 48-hour hold for inmates who are arrested for crimes, are booked in our jail and are subject to deportation notices to allow federal officers time to take custody of those inmates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without doing so, the city could lose federal financial support and put the immigrant community and other vulnerable populations at risk, Greenberg said. Louisville stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants if we remain classified as a sanctuary city, he said. Many of those funds are used to provide food, rental assistance and medical care to our most vulnerable residents. I will not risk hurting them either. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in an X post Tuesday morning that Louisville was dropping its sanctuary city policies as a result of a strong written warning from my office and called it a major victory for the Department of Justice. This should set an example to other cities, she said. Instead of forcing us to sue you which we will, without hesitation follow the law, get rid of sanctuary policies and work with us to fix the illegal immigration crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louisville was the only Kentucky city on a list of 500 sanctuary jurisdictions published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security earlier this year, along with four Kentucky counties. The list disappeared from the departments website in a matter of days following complaints from the National Sheriffs Association that many counties were erroneously included. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer) I have been assured by the U.S. Department of Justice that, if we reinstate the 48-hour detainers for inmates whove been arrested for crimes, Louisville will be taken off the federal sanctuary city list. Accordingly, Metro Corrections will begin honoring 48-hour federal detainers as soon as practical because the stakes are too high, Greenberg said. In turn, Louisville will no longer be considered a sanctuary city by the federal government. This change in designation is critical. Cities on the sanctuary city list right now are experiencing a terrifying increase in raids by ICE, including mass raids. Just look at whats gone on in LA and other cities across the country. Greenberg said he spoke with leaders in the immigrant community before making the decision who expressed fear over current federal policies and current ICE actions. He doesnt want the National Guard occupying the streets of Louisville, he said, which could risk the safety of our broader immigrant community. In a June 25 letter, U.S. Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate said the citys sanctuary policies were interfering with the Trump administrations immigration crackdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By refusing to honor civil detainers expressly authorized by Congress and creating a de facto requirement that federal immigration authorities obtain a criminal warrant to arrest or take custody of a detained alien, Louisville has unlawfully created an obstacle to the accomplishment and execution of the full purposes and objectives of the federal immigration laws, that letter stated. Greenberg replied to Shumate on July 21, saying that your letter has made clear that the consequences of being a sanctuary jurisdiction are significant and will have major impacts on our city going forward. Some in Kentuckys Republican-controlled state legislature have sought to ban local governments from enacting sanctuary policies. Rep. T.J. Roberts, a freshman Republican from Burlington, filed a bill to do so in the legislative session earlier this year, but the legislation did not get a committee hearing. I am the grandson of two young Germans who fled Nazi Germany to escape Hitlers wrath. I am proud to be the grandson of immigrants and I am proud to live in a city that warmly welcomes refugees and other immigrants, Greenberg said Tuesday. As your mayor, I am committed to supporting our immigrant community. They are an integral part of Louisvilles amazing fabric, enriching our city with diverse cultures, traditions, and perspectives. They are our neighbors, classmates of our children, entrepreneurs, work colleagues and our friends. ACLU condemns decision and Senate GOP hopefuls praise it The Kentucky chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has asked that Louisville leadership reconsider the policy decision. Amber Duke (Photo provided) Amber Duke, the executive director of ACLU-KY, said in a statement that the move undermines the trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement and will worsen overcrowding and understaffing issues at the jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By choosing to comply in the face of the Trump administrations threats, Louisville has aligned itself with policies that have led to increased fear, mass deportations and instability in cities across the country, Duke said. Todays decision will no doubt bolster the Trump administrations political attacks on Democratically led municipalities and will not prevent further federal interference into local matters. Two Republican candidates for U.S. Senate U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and former Attorney General Daniel Cameron praised Trump and Bondi for the DOJ action Tuesday. Sanctuary cities anywhere are a threat to Kentuckians everywhere, Barr said on X. He added that the state is safer today because of their efforts. Cameron said on X: Protecting Kentucky families means upholding our nations laws. Today is a victory for every Kentuckian and the rule of law. Read the letter from U.S. Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate 2025-06-25 Letter DOJ to Mayor Greenberg (1) SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX About 120 people attend the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners meeting on July 21 in Portland to urge the county jail to stop housing people for federal immigration authorities. (Photo by Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star) PORTLAND, Maine Public pressure for Maines largest jail to end its contract with federal immigration authorities has continued to grow but so far elected officials have not taken action to reconsider the agreement. Roughly 120 people packed the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday night, spilling into the halls, to call for the county jail to stop housing people for federal immigration authorities, the third monthly meeting that has seen public comment dominated by this demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce told Maine Morning Star the detention work done by the county is separate from the enforcement tactics being used by federal immigration authorities, which meeting attendees condemned as unlawful. But the majority of the public at the meeting argued the federal government cant carry out its immigration policies without cooperation from county jails like Cumberland. Your inaction so far has been a choice and that is a choice to be complicit with the ICE deportation machine, said Portland resident Lara Rosen. The number of people detained under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement orders at the facility in Portland has hovered at roughly 100 per month since President Donald Trump took office, a sizable jump under his presidency, according to data Maine Morning Star obtained through public record requests. Many of those demanding Cumberland County Jail stop housing people for federal immigration authorities were brought together by a grassroots group called No ICE for Maine, which has collected nearly 3,000 petition signatures in support of that aim, according to member Jack OBrien, a math professor at Bowdoin College. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are right at the beginning of an exponential change in how ICE is funded and the architecture and the infrastructure, OBrien told Maine Morning Star ahead of the meeting. Now is the moment to get out, rather than to get enmeshed in this enormous deportation machine. OBrien is referring to the spending bill Trump signed into law earlier this month securing unprecedented funds more than $170 billion for immigration enforcement, including for detention and hiring new agents. It is unclear yet whether or how such allocations will be used in Maine but members of the group argue canceling the contract between Maines largest jail and federal immigration authorities could jam up these expansion efforts. The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners hears demands from the public to terminate the county jails contract with federal immigration authorities during a July 21 meeting in Portland. (Photo by Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star) Members of the public requested the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners vote on whether to continue the county jails contract with federal authorities at its next meeting in August, but the board did not commit to such an action. James Cloutier, the commissioner representing most of Portland, told Maine Morning Star the board expects to convene a fully informed discussion on the matter in the coming weeks and by the conclusion of its work determine whether the termination of the ICE agreements would be helpful or harmful to the persons in custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration law is complex, ICE activities directly challenge constitutional protections for all persons regardless of citizenship status and the federal resources being newly directed at augmented enforcement activities are astonishing in scope, Cloutier added. We appear to be at the beginning of a prolonged and discouraging process. The four other commissioners did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication. Detention numbers Unlike many other states, Maine doesnt have a dedicated U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, which means local jails are relied on for detentions. Jails across the state temporarily detain immigrants at the request of ICE in the absence of contracts with federal authorities but at least four facilities have official agreements of some sort. Some of these contracts have been longstanding, such as the one at Cumberland County Jail, however at least one jail just entered into a contract in recent weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cumberland County Sheriffs Office doesnt have a direct contract with ICE but has had a contract with the U.S. Marshal Service since July 2010. Under this contract, Cumberland County Jail is given a daily rate to house federal detainees, including people awaiting a hearing on their immigration status or deportation. Last summer, the jail lifted a restriction on intake due to staffing shortages. While ICE detentions had occurred prior to the pause, they increased steadily after, reaching about 50 detentions per month before Trump took office on Jan. 20 but then doubled in the following months. Maine Morning Star reported earlier this spring that the jail was seeing the highest number of detentions in the state, which remains the case. The jail had 68 people detained under immigration orders in January, 129 in February, 123 in March, 100 in April, 109 in May, 96 in June and as of Tuesday had detained 65 people in July so far, according to data obtained through a Freedom of Access Act request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a really persistent change and a really entrenched difference, Anahita Sotoohi, staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, told Maine Morning Star. A minority of people at the county commissioners meeting on Monday argued that ending one contract with one jail wouldnt make a difference, given that federal immigration officers can still make arrests in Maine and that millions of additional dollars are now being funneled to enforcement across the country. What we really want to do is keep people as close as possible to us, said Nancy Markowitz, referring to keeping people in Cumberland County, so they have access to attorneys and to their families and community. But, as was the case when Maine Morning Star first reported on increased detentions earlier this spring, the majority of people detained under ICE orders in Maine still appear to be transferred from other states and are then quickly transferred out of Maine too, according to attorneys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is one of the many harmful impacts of immigration detention, Sotoohi said, that people are frequently transferred from one facility to another, with very little notice, which is really destabilizing for people and makes it hard for them to maintain contact with their families, with their lawyers. Cumberland County and other jails are only holding people for a few days at most, which is typical for immigration detention, Sotoohi said. Based on public records obtained by the ACLU and shared with Maine Morning Star, other counties also have direct contracts to hold people for federal immigration authorities. The Franklin County Sheriffs Office recently entered into an agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection on May 16, and Hancock County entered into an agreement with the U.S. Marshal Service in February 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Somerset County Sheriffs Office denied a request for information about any contracts governing the relationship between Somerset County Jail and U.S. Marshal Service, writing, The U.S. Marshals service asserts privilege as to this document. Given that, Sotoohi surmises that there is an agreement in place. When the records request was fulfilled in May, the office said there were 14 ICE detainees being held at the jail. Even with these agreements, the Department of Homeland Security has accused Cumberland and Hancock counties, as well as the city of Portland, of being uncooperative with federal immigration laws. Public response Joyce told Maine Morning Star in a statement Tuesday that the Cumberland County Sheriffs Office will continue to accept arrests as long as beds have been set aside for federal inmates. While I appreciate the individuals bringing their concerns to our attention, a majority of their complaints are regarding the tactics of ICE and the Border Patrol, Joyce said. We are not responsible for their tactics and can not affect change when it comes to those concerns. Those concerns are better addressed with the agency leaders, or Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But those critics argued Monday that assisting federal authorities makes Cumberland County complicit in their actions. We can either be witness to this, or we can stand up and protect our rights, said Roger Bishop, a resident of Cape Elizabeth. Cait Vaughan of Portland similarly said, You dont do the right thing just because you know that its going to lead to a particular outcome. You do the right thing because your humanity demands it. About 120 people attend the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners meeting on July 21 in Portland to urge the county jail to stop housing people for federal immigration authorities. (Photo by Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star) Several Portland Public Schools teachers told the board that there have been days their students havent come to school because their families heard that ICE might be in the area. They said their students have expressed fears that their parents will be taken away while they are at school, or that they will be taken away while attending school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data released earlier this month shows ICE arrests in Maine have been increasing. Members of the public and legal advocacy groups have raised concern particularly about the nature of such arrests. The Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, Maines only statewide immigration legal services organization, has tracked 17 traffic stops since March 2025 where local and state authorities have handed over at least 35 Maine residents and workers to immigration officers based on their immigration status. Portland resident Jennifer Boggs shared at the meeting that she moved to the U.S. at age three but did not realize until 2012 that she wasnt a citizen after seeking out paperwork. Now she has citizenship, but she said, If that had happened today, I dont know where I would be if my child would be wondering where her mother was because I was snatched off the street because of paperwork. The pushback in Cumberland County is just one example of public demands to cut ties with federal immigration efforts across the state. After the Wells Police Department became the only Maine agency to contract with ICE under whats called the 287(g) program which Trump revived to bolster ICEs capacity by deputizing local police officers to detain immigrants, an authority otherwise generally reserved to federal authorities Wells residents packed their usually spare Select Board meetings to call for the termination of the agreement. As of last month, they had submitted more than 900 signatures for a petition to that effect. Wells Police Chief Jo-Ann Putnam told Maine Morning Star shes holding off on having her officers credentialed under the program as she waits to see what happens with two legislative proposals that could ban such agreements. But those bills wont be taken back up until January. Overall, it remains unclear to what extent state and local law enforcement are helping with immigration enforcement because the majority of police departments currently have local discretion regarding when to involve federal officials. Community members have started individual fundraisers when immigration authorities have detained their neighbors and loved ones, but a more comprehensive fund is now in the works. The Peoples Coalition for Safety & Justice, whose membership includes Presente! Maine and other groups, recently launched a Maine Solidarity Fund to pool resources to help cover bail and bond support for immigrants who are detained in Maine, as well as to help cover health care costs for transgender Mainers in light of federal attacks on such care. Maine Morning Star is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maine Morning Star maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Lauren McCauley for questions: info@mainemorningstar.com. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. A new bill introduced in the Missouri Senate seeks to ban the practice of cloud seeding, a form of weather modification. Known as the Freedom to Farm Act, the bill looks to stop environmental manipulation, including cloud seeding, by any individuals or organizations operating in the state. Cloud seeding is a weather manipulation technique that is used to influence precipitation. The process involves putting substances like silver iodide or sodium chloride (salt) into clouds to promote rain or snow. It is usually done by aircraft that release the chemicals into areas where clouds are present but lacking enough moisture for precipitation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A conflict of interest: STL Sheriffs new HR officer previously fired stirs controversy Supporters of cloud seeding argue that it can help alleviate droughts, boost water supplies, and improve yields. However, critics of the practice raise concerns about environmental risks. This could be things like the introduction of chemicals, which leads to ozone depletion, pollution, and other unintended consequences of altering weather patterns. There are also the ethical implications to consider, such as fairness, equity, and playing god. If the bill passes, any use of cloud seeding or environmental manipulation techniques would be banned, with violators facing legal accountability for damages caused. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cloud seeding has already been used in various parts of the United States and the world. According to a July 2024 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), it is being used in nine different states, and 10 have banned or are considering banning weather modification as a whole. The bill also has initiatives to protect farmers from restrictions that could interfere with their ability to produce food, including limitations on water usage and other resources vital to farming. We will closely monitor this bill, and updates on its progress and potential impact will be provided as the situation develops. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A man is accused of shooting and killing a pet goat and trying to extort money from a person he said was having an affair with his girlfriend and others. Morgan Bailey, 44, was charged with cruelty to animals, extortion, aggravated battery, and false imprisonment, offender armed with dangerous weapon. Morgan Bailey, 44, was charged with cruelty to animals aggravated, extortion, aggravated battery and false imprisonment, offender armed with dangerous weapon. (East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office) The East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office was called to a home in the City of St. George around 1:15 p.m. on Monday, July 21, to investigate a disturbance call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before they got to the scene, deputies were told that dispatch received word from someone that their brother was in danger. Two people were located at the scene, including Bailey. The 44-year-old told EBRSO that he spoke with the other man who was there and told him he knew about his affairs, including with his girlfriend. Bailey stated that he told the man he would tell his wife and family everything if he did not tell them before 2 p.m. The 44-year-old said that the man had been lying to his family for years, and he was tired of covering for the victim, according to the affidavit. Deputies then spoke with the other man, who said Bailey told him he would not leave until he was paid the $10,000 he was owed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man said that Bailey wanted the money for keeping his affairs a secret from his family. 1 charged after stabbing leaves man injured in Baton Rouge He said that Bailey got a gun and beat him in the head with it after pointing it at him. EBRSO was able to listen to a voicemail where the man could be heard yelling at Bailey to stop the beating, according to the affidavit. He said Bailey shot his pet goat with a separate gun, and deputies saw the dead animal in the backyard. EBRSO was able to see a video of Bailey carrying the gun, which the man said was used to kill the goat, according to EBRSO. Bailey was arrested and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Monday, July 21. 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. A man held in a Rikers Island jail died early Tuesday, the ninth city jail-related death in 2025, officials said. The man, who was identified late Tuesday as Edwin Quispe, 33, was found unresponsive in a bathroom at the Eric M. Taylor Center and declared dead at 8:28 a.m., the officials said. The cause and circumstances are under investigation. The jail-related death toll of nine in 2025 has now matched that of 2023 and came as advocates rallied at City Hall to protest the death of another detainee, Christian Collado, on July 9. There were five jail deaths in 2024, 19 in 2022, Mayor Adams first year in office, and 16 in 2021, the final year of Mayor de Blasios tenure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collado, who had two open criminal cases, died of cancer in the Bellevue Hospital jail ward, officials and advocates said. Though Department of Correction officials said Collados brother was with him at the end, Collados lawyer Judah Maltz told the Queens Eagle that he pleaded with authorities, including the Queens district attorneys office, to support an earlier release as it became clear Collado was dying. For Christian Collado, imagine spending your last days with terminal cancer incarcerated, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said at the City Hall rally. They denied Christian end-of-life care. That is inhumane and cruel. None of these people have been sentenced to cruel and inhumane treatment and none have been sentenced to death. Everyone must think about the human beings behind these names. Brendan Brosh, a spokesman for the Queens DAs office, countered that a judge ordered Collado held without bail despite the existing cancer diagnosis after his arrest for breaking into the home of an elderly woman and taking her wheelchair. Collado also had an open warrant from federal court in Pennsylvania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brosh said Maltz only made a formal application for Collados release on July 8, a day before his death. Meanwhile, in the state prisons, the reverberations of the 22-day prison strike earlier this year continue to linger. On Tuesday, the Legal Aid Society accused state officials of ignoring a court injunction aimed at forcing the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to fully implement the HALT Solitary Confinement Act. After the 22-day prison strike, which ended in early March, DOCCS officials suspended some elements of the law. Legal Aid sued in April, alleging inmates were being kept in their cells longer than the law allows, isolated and deprived of basic services, the lawsuit contended. On July 2, Judge Daniel Lynch in Albany ruled DOCCS could not invoke emergency provisions to suspend elements of HALT and keep inmates in their cells more than 17 hours a day or suspend programming and recreation in the prisons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lynch set July 11 as the date the order became effective. But Legal Aid now claims in a letter sent Monday that DOCCS hasnt identified prisons where HALT remains suspended or stated whether basic things, like minimum out-of-cell time, have been restored, plus has failed to explain how current staffing levels amount to a genuine emergency. DOCCS defiance of the preliminary injunction harms our clients and reflects a disregard for judicial oversight, said Antony Gemmell, supervising attorney with Legal Aids Prisoners Rights Project. Thomas Mailey, a DOCCS spokesman, responded, The department [DOCCS] has complied with the judges direction, submitted the requested information and the courts decision is pending. (KRON) A man has been charged with murder in the killing of 41-year-old Casey Way, who was shot while walking her two dogs with her boyfriend in San Leandro last week, Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson announced Tuesday. Rohith Sunil, 21, of San Jose, faces up to 50 years to life in state prison if convicted. Sunil was arrested by Dublin Police Department officers following the July 17 shooting on an unrelated matter and found him in possession of a firearm, the San Leandro Police Department said. According to authorities, detectives linked him to Ways death through descriptions of the suspect and the suspect vehicle. Police investigate the fatal shooting of a woman in San Leandro on July 17, 2025. Police said Sunil pulled up in his car next to Way and her boyfriend around 11 p.m. on East 14th Street near Williams Street. After a brief conversation, Sunil allegedly drew a handgun and shot Way once in the torso. After the shooting, detectives said Sunil fled in his car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The womans boyfriend and her two dogs were uninjured in the shooting. Police investigate the fatal shooting of a woman in San Leandro on July 17, 2025. In addition to the murder charge, DA Dickson announced charges of assault with a semi-automatic gun and carrying a loaded weapon in public against Sunil. The charges include sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a firearm, causing death. Police have not released any motives in the killing. Sunil was scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the East County Hall of Justice in Dublin. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man fatally shot in Soulsville over the weekend has been identified by police, and the victims father is mourning his son. Tuesday, police identified Joseph Simpson, 18, as the man who was shot to death in South Memphis over the weekend. One dead after Soulsville shooting Joseph Smith Courtesy of Smith family Officers responded at 8:15 p.m. to a shooting at College Street and Ferry Court. A male victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Sunday morning, MPD reported that the victim died at the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Memphis Murder Map 2025 To be honest with you, we are not holding up very well, said Theodore Simpson, dad of Joseph Simpson. I got a phone call saying my son just got shot, and he is laying on the ground, so I said to them call the police, call the ambulance. They say no we called you first, no call them, said Simpson. Simpson said his son graduated from Trezavant High School and was changing his life. Joseph Smith Courtesy of Smith family Joseph Smith Courtesy of Smith family When I say he actually changed his life, he was going different places with the church. He started doing all these other things, and he even has a picture with Governor Bill Haslam, said Simpson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Possible drowning at Raleigh library: MPD Simpson said that the family was just celebrating a birthday two days before the fatal shooting. There are so many times that he has made us all laugh. You know, unfortunately, now were all crying. So we are going to really miss him; he was well loved, said Simpson. Josephs family has set up a GoFundMe to help with burial expenses. Police still have not released suspect information. 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. MERCER, Pa. (WKBN) A man who a jury found not guilty of murder in a fatal shooting learned his sentence on other convictions in the case on Tuesday. Billy DeWayne Phillips faced multiple charges in connection with the shooting of 35-year-old Terran Page-Hughes on Ravine Place in Sharon on Aug. 1, 2024. A jury found Phillips not guilty of murder charges, but did find Phillips guilty of aggravated assault and criminal conspiracy aggravated assault following a trial earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuesday, Mercer County Court of Common Pleas Judge Ronald Amrhein, Jr., sentenced Phillips to six to 15 years in prison, but with credit for the 355 days Phillips already served in custody. Phillips was also ordered to pay $6,500 in restitution to the Victim Compensation Assistance Program. A co-defendant in the case, Jamel Jordan, is facing charges of criminal homicide and first-degree murder. Charges against a third defendant were filed but later withdrawn. Investigators have said the shooting was a result of a feud over a woman and a fight that preceded the shooting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Solamon Flores-Garcia, 43, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for armed carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence in Monroe. The sentencing was announced by Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, following Flores-Garcias actions on October 24, 2023. On that day, Flores-Garcia, who was residing illegally in the U.S., committed carjacking and robbery using a red handgun. ALSO READ: Police: Monroe man accused of robbing home, then store at gunpoint Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Rhett Bolen of the Monroe Police Department, joined U.S. Attorney Ferguson in announcing the sentencing. According to court documents, Flores-Garcia approached a neighbors home in Monroe, N.C., where he demanded the neighbors wallet and car keys at gunpoint. He then used the stolen vehicle to drive to La Chiquita Mexican store, where he committed a robbery. During the robbery, Flores-Garcia pointed a red firearm at the head of the store clerk before taking money and fleeing the scene. He was apprehended shortly after the incident. Flores-Garcia remains in custody and will be transferred to a federal facility designated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. VIDEO: Second teen arrested in Monroe drive-by shooting The HPS Center for Financial Excellence (HPS-CFE) at the Howard University School of Business has a lofty goal: Become a major player in positioning its graduates in the potentially lucrative financial services industry. The HBCU aims to be viewed in the same light as other powerhouse business schools by helping to secure above-average finance roles for its graduates within the next four to five years. That is a desire for Curtis Kidd Telemaque, Ph.D., and director of HPS-CFE. The HPS Center was created to intentionally correct the skew from back office only positions to client-facing roles that require a highly technical skillset. As such, the centers strategy has been to merge theoretical financial concepts taught in class with practitioner-led extra-curricular modules. LOCATING STUDENTS IN ROLES THEY HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FROM The Washington, D.C.-based school is boosting efforts to help HBCU students land future careers in investment banking, alternative finance, and asset management. Black students, especially those from HBCUs, have long not been equally represented in such high-paying roles. Research shows that graduate hiring at global banks, like those based in New York, has just 0.5% of senior investment bankers who are Black. Another report reveals that minority- and women-owned firms manage just 1.4% of the roughly $82 trillion in U.S. assets under management, despite performing on par with industry averages. Now, Howards business school wants to help change these statistics. SCORING HIGH-PAYING JOBS NEAR TIMES SQUARE AFTER GRADUATION Helping change the narrative are Dylan Thomas and Jessica Barnes. They are now earning or about to earn six-figure salaries working at mega companies near Times Square in New York City. After completing an internship at Barclays last summer, Thomas joined one of Wall Streets most influential investment banks. He was just hired as an investment banking analyst at Barclays, stating his pay is definitely more than I have ever made. Essentially, if a tech media or telecommunications company finds itself in debt, they call my team, we lend them some money, and then we charge them for that money that they borrowed, Thomas told BLACK ENTERPRISE. He says HPS-CFE supplied him with mentorship, exposure, and experience to help find his footing in the financial services industry. Photo credit: Myles Dawson Thomas reflected on how current and future students can benefit from a $10 million gift announced in 2021 by HPS Investment Partners and The Kapnick Foundation to create the HPS-CFE. You can learn more about the center and investment here. The project remains in progress, as Dr. Curtis Kidd Telemaque, who became the HPS-CFE director in 2021, continues to work with students. HAMMOND, Ind. (KNWA/KFTA) A Honduran man has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for cashing hundreds of fraudulent paychecks in Indiana and Oklahoma totaling more than $500,000, according to court documents. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma said in a news release that Luis Banegas Rodriguez, 25, was sentenced to 27 months and one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in two cases. Court documents said that on June 23, 2023, Banegas Rodriguez and his co-conspirators used fake identification cards to cash 178 fraudulent paychecks totaling $299,474 at five branches of the same bank and three check-cashing businesses in eastern Oklahoma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An indictment said the banks and check-cashing businesses were located in Poteau, Spiro, Talihina, Wister and Heavener. Former Poteau football coach accused of embezzlement The checks were designed to look like they had been issued by a building materials supply company, the release said. Nearly six months earlier, Banegas Rodriguez and his co-conspirators used fake identification cards to cash 169 fraudulent paychecks totaling $233,569 at three branches of the same bank in northern Indiana. The cases were investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the Indiana State Police, with valuable assistance provided by the Benton County (Indiana) Sheriffs Department, the Benton County (Indiana) Prosecutors Office, the Poteau (Oklahoma) Police Department, and the Houston (Texas) Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. A Marine veteran whose father was detained by federal immigration agents while at his landscaping job in California last month told Congress members on Tuesday that his father is "traumatized" by what happened and charged that the immigration system is "broken." Customs and Border Patrol agents arrested Narciso Barranco, who is undocumented, in Santa Ana on June 21, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Video of him being forcibly detained showed masked agents holding him down on the street and repeatedly punching him after he ran from agents. "My father has no criminal record and should have never been attacked by these agents," his son, Alejandro Barranco, told Democratic members of the House Committee on Homeland Security during an oversight forum examining the Trump administrations detention and deportation practices on Tuesday. "He supported his family and paid taxes. He is a human being, but he was not treated with the basic dignity he deserved." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Millions of undocumented immigrants will no longer be eligible for bond hearings, according to ICE memo Alejandro Barranco said his father, who has two other sons who are currently serving as Marines, is "deeply devoted to this country." The veteran said he believes the current immigration system is "broken." Cruel and indiscriminate raids are tearing families apart and punishing hard-working people who contribute to our communities every day," Alejandro Barranco said. "My father, like so many others, deserves a fair chance to stay in this country he calls home. The country is better because of people like my dad. It is time our policies reflected that." Damian Dovarganes/AP - PHOTO: Alejandro Barranco conducts an interview as he arrives to check on his father Narciso, who was detained by federal agents, outside the Metropolitan Detention Center, June 23, 2025, in Los Angeles. Narciso Barranco has since been released from custody bond but is "still scared," his son said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hes still traumatized from everything that happened," Alejandro Barranco said. The Department of Homeland Security said following the arrest that Narciso Barranco tried to evade law enforcement, "swung a weed whacker directly at an agent's face" and resisted commands. "The agents took appropriate action and followed their training to use the minimum amount of force necessary to resolve the situation in a manner that prioritizes the safety of the public and our officers," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement at the time. A controversial and violent takedown caught on camera shows masked border patrol agents repeatedly punching an undocumented immigrant after he's been detained. The agents claim the father of three marines threatened them with a weed whacker. @TrevorLAult has details. pic.twitter.com/yg5aHI0IHz World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) June 24, 2025 Alejandro Barranco said during Tuesday's forum that his father got scared after the masked agents approached him while he was at work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As he worked, he noticed masked men approaching him, and was quickly surrounded by men who did not identify themselves and never presented any type of warrant," he said. "Terrified, he ran. They chased him through the parking lot and into a crowded street. They pointed guns at him, pepper-sprayed him. They tackled him to the ground and kicked him." MORE: Newlywed Palestinian woman released from ICE custody after months in detention When asked his thoughts about Marines being sent to assist in immigration operations, Alejandro said he believes many would feel "confused, hurt and just sad about everything that is going on." "I served with a lot of Marines who are of Latino backgrounds and whose parents and family members, some of them are undocumented," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked by Rep. Lou Correa, D-Calif., if he was still loyal to the U.S., the Marine veteran replied, "Yes, of course." "I decided to join the Marine Corps out of the love I have for this country and to bring honor to my family name," Alejandro Barranco said. "When I told my dad I was going to enlist, he cried with pride. He told me to give everything I had, because we should do anything and everything to give back to our country." Narciso Barranco was released from federal custody on July 15 and has an immigration status hearing in August, according to Orange City Council officials. Marjorie Taylor Greene has issued a warning if President Donald Trump and his administration dont release the Epstein files: The base will turn, and theres no going back. Greene, who represents Georgias 14th Congressional District, has been calling for the release of the files in the case since the beginning of her political run. She and is joined by a growing number of not only Republicans, but Democrats as well, demanding for the files to be released. 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 In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Greene said, Dangling bits of red meat no longer satisfies. They want the whole steak dinner and will accept nothing else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a press gaggle with reporters on Tuesday, Greene called for transparency. The American people really want to see transparency. Its become one of those basically fractures that is too big to ignore, Greene said. House Speaker Mike Johnson sent members of Congress home early on Tuesday for a month-long break. This is after the weeks legislative agenda was upended by Republican members who are clamoring for a vote to have the files released. Johnson said Tuesday morning that he wants to give the White House space to release the Epstein information on its own, despite the bipartisan push for legislation that aims to force the release of more documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This comes as the Department of Justice said it wants to interview Epsteins former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, a senior official said Tuesday. She was convicted of helping the financier sexually abuse underage girls and is now serving a lengthy prison sentence. TRENDING STORIES: If Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a post on X, adding that President Donald Trump has told us to release all credible evidence. A lawyer for Maxwell confirmed there were discussions with the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell, who in 2022 was sentenced to 20 years in prison, is part of an ongoing Justice Department effort to cast itself as transparent. The effort follows fierce backlash from parts of Trumps base over an earlier refusal to release additional records in the Epstein investigation. As part of that effort, the Justice Department, acting at the direction of Trump, last week asked a court to unseal grand jury transcripts from the case. Epstein, who killed himself in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial, sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, exploiting vulnerable girls as young as 14, authorities say. He couldnt have done so without the help of Maxwell, his longtime companion, prosecutors say. The Justice Department had said in a two-page memo this month that it had not uncovered evidence to charge anyone else in connection with Epsteins abuse. But Blanche said in his social media post that the Justice Department does not shy away from uncomfortable truths, nor from the responsibility to pursue justice wherever the facts may lead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said in his post that, at the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi, he has communicated with counsel for Ms. Maxwell to determine whether she would be willing to speak with prosecutors from the Department. He said he anticipated meeting with Maxwell in the coming days. A lawyer for Maxwell, David Oscar Markus, said Tuesday in a statement: I can confirm that we are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case. Two judges who will decide whether to release the grand jury transcripts, Paul Engelmayer and Richard Berman, noted in nearly identical orders Tuesday that the records can be made public only under special circumstances. They said the Justice Department hadnt provided them with enough information. They gave the government until July 29 to explain why it wants the transcripts released and describe how much of the information has previously been made public. They also want to hear from Epsteins victims and from Maxwell by Aug. 5 as to whether they oppose or support disclosure of the records. The Associated Press contributed to this article. An investigation into the source of the fatal fire at a Massachusetts assisted living facility last week classified the cause as "undetermined," though officials believe it was an accident. The July 13 fire began in a resident's room on the left side of the second floor at the Gabriel House Assisted Living Residence in Fall River, State Fire Marshal John Gavin told reporters Tuesday. Gavin said the resident was among the 10 people who were killed in the fire but did not identify whose room it was. There was no sign of an intentionally set fire, officials said. Gavin said there was no sign of an electrical fire, an appliance fire or candles or incense inside the room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators are homing in on two potential causes, he said. "One was an electrical or mechanical failure involving the oxygen concentrator," Gavin said, referring to a medical device in the room. "The other was improper use or disposal of smoking materials." A patient is loaded onto an ambulance after a fire at Gabriel House. (Colin Furze / Fall River Herald / USA Today Network) Without the ability to interview the room's resident, the state has declared the cause of the fire as undetermined. Gavin said both potential causes are "clearly accidental." Gavin went on to say that it's obvious that the presence of medical oxygen played a "significant role" in the blaze's intensity, regardless of its cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Oxygen is a necessary component of any fire," Gavin said. "And it was present in the area of origin and other locations at Gabriel House. In an oxygen-rich environment, the fire will ignite more readily and spread more rapidly and burn at higher temperatures." Officials have said the fire broke out at 9:30 p.m. July 13 and killed nine people. One other person, Brenda Cropper, was hospitalized in critical condition. Cropper, 66, died Friday as a result of her injuries, the Bristol County District Attorney's Office said. George K. Regan Jr., a spokesperson for Gabriel House, said in a statement that there "no words to adequately convey the depths of our grief and shock." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "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," he said. An investigator takes measurements near an entrance to Gabriel House. (Steven Senne / AP) The condition of the facility's sprinkler system was also a question. Gabriel House's fire suppression system was last tested on July 8 and determined to be in working order, Regan said in the statement. He added that he understands the importance of determining what happened and that Gabriel House was working with authorities to find the answers. "Our community, our residents, and most of all, the families who have suffered these unimaginable losses, deserve nothing less," Regan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced Tuesday that she would set aside $5.7 million in state funding for police and fire services in 10 eligible communities. Fall River, where the fire occurred, will also receive $1.2 million for the hiring of additional emergency response personnel. The state's secretary of elder affairs will also be tasked with identifying any additional regulations that could help protect assisted living residents. "I know all of us here are of the deep view that no family, no resident, no community, should ever have to suffer or live with fear that something like this could happen to them or to their loved one," Healey said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) The Mattoon Police Department shared more information about how they found and rescued a child who officials say was kidnapped and brought from Topeka, Kansas to Coles County on Tuesday. Just after noon on Tuesday, the Mattoon Police Department was notified that a suspect in a kidnapping incident was possibly in the area. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Christopher Barnshaw, is a suspect in a double murder in Topeka, Kan. Barnshaw was believed to have taken a 23-month-old child of one of the victims before fleeing the area, Mattoon Police said. MORE: Missing child from Kansas found in Mattoon after AMBER alert issued; suspect in custody Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 12:16 p.m., a Mattoon Police officer saw the vehicle that Barnshaw was believed to have been driving while conducting a traffic stop on Route 16. The officer began to follow the vehicle eastbound toward Charleston. Soon after, more officers arrived, and they stopped the car at the intersection of Route 16 and Beechtree Road. The child that had been reported missing was found safe in the backseat. Police found a gun concealed on Barnshaw during the arrest, and he was taken into custody without incident. He was booked in the Coles County Jail. This is a tragedy: Two found dead in Topeka home after child abducted Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barnshaw was charged with aggravated kidnapping and unlawful use of a weapon. Now, the Mattoon Police Department is working alongside the Topeka Police Department to investigate. Law enforcement agencies are also working to reunite the child with a family member. Law enforcement from Coles County, Charleston, Illinois State Police and Eastern Illinois University assisted in the response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Mayor Brandon Johnson promised Tuesday to crack down on smoking on Chicago Transit Authority trains and buses, latching onto an effort already underway in the City Council. Johnson signed an executive order directing city departments to send social workers onto the transit system and City Hall lobbyists to push for more safety funding in Springfield. The mayor said he was fed up and signaled a hesitant openness to ramping up police enforcement. But he shared few specifics on what anti-smoking efforts will look like and how much they will cost during an afternoon news conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is unacceptable. As a city, were better than this, Johnson said during the City Hall news conference. There has to be a deeper level of accountability. And when it comes to the safety and the well-being of working families in this city, Im going to do whatever is necessary to bring the full force of government. Johnson cited experiences inhaling secondhand smoke as an asthmatic to underscore the push. He pledged to send social work teams onto the system, launch anti-smoking public awareness campaigns and start an assessment of other resources that city departments can use to deter CTA smoking. Making the CTA safer will be critical to increasing ridership, up 11% last year after a pandemic nosedive, Johnson said. We cannot have visitors coming through OHare and being met with smoking and even other acts of violence, he said. Same thing goes for our most vulnerable population and those who rely upon public transportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked if he would consider banning smokers from the train system, the mayor didnt shy away from the possibility of the heavy-handed response. Thats come up. Were exploring every single option, he said. But he took a more cautious approach when asked if his crackdown would include more arrests and citations. The city issued over 6,300 smoking tickets on the CTA in 2023, he said. Its not like the Police Department is not citing these individuals. Its proven to not be enough, so thats why we are taking a more holistic approach, Johnson said. Johnsons executive order comes on the heels of a similar City Council push led by Ald. Bill Conway, 34th. Conway introduced a resolution calling for the CTA to snuff out smoking last month signed by a council majority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayor did not contact Conway before moving ahead on his own crackdown effort, Conway said Tuesday. The downtown alderman said he was happy Johnson is taking the issue seriously, but urged the mayor to work with him. Conway shared doubts about the effectiveness of Johnsons plans. In lieu of public awareness campaigns and social worker outreach, the city should focus instead on data-driven law enforcement efforts, he said. We really need it to be done in a data-driven way, Conway said. I believe additional enforcement here will more than pay for itself in terms of ridership. Prosecutors have until the end of the workday Wednesday to file their response to death row inmate Ralph Leroy Menziess request for a commutation hearing. Menzies, 67, is scheduled to be executed by firing squad on Sept. 5. He was convicted of killing Maurine Hunsaker, a 26-year-old mother of three who worked at a gas station in Kearns, in 1986. Last week, attorneys for Menzies filed a petition with the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole requesting a commutation. The board has the power to change Menzies death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Board Administrator Jennifer Yim outlined the steps of the commutation process. Much of the process will be similar to last years commutation hearing that was granted to Taberon Dave Honie before he was executed. After Menzies death warrant was signed, his attorneys had seven days to file a petition for a commutation hearing, which they did last week. The state then has seven days to respond. That deadline is Wednesday at 5 p.m. Once the petition and response are filed, the pardons board will determine whether to grant a hearing. Yim noted Tuesday that there is one key difference between the decision-making process for Menzies versus the decision process for Honie. In 1992, state lawmakers changed the statute on what the board may consider when deciding a commutation case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because Mr Menzies was sentenced in 1988, those newer statutes will not apply. Essentially, what that means is the board will have very broad latitude in determining whether or not to grant a hearing in this case because those statutes do not affect Mr. Menzies, she said. Death row inmate Ralph Menzies attends 3rd District Court in West Jordan on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, without the presence of an attorney. (Pool photo on Oct. 3, 2007) | Francisco Kjolseth Under the new rules, board members cannot consider constitutional issues previously raised by the court, issues that should have been raised by the court, or issues subject to judicial review. Those rules will not apply to Menzies when deciding whether to grant a commutation hearing before the full five-member board of pardons. Honie was granted a commutation hearing last year, as was Ronnie Lee Gardner in 2010. The board ultimately rejected their arguments, however, and both executions proceeded as scheduled. Gardner was the last Utah inmate put to death by firing squad. The board exists in a situation where it has the right to issue pardons and parole; thats part of its constitutional duty. Commutation is one of those main duties. What we are not, are courts. So the board will stay within its own lane in order to promote the best functioning of government and will not attempt to relitigate anything that has been litigated in the past, Yim said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we will consider is what is raised in the petition filed by the petitioner and the states response. When asked whether Menzies competency something his attorneys have argued is rapidly declining would be considered if he is granted a hearing, Yim said, The judge has issued the death warrant. The judge has determined competency. Those things, unless changed by the court, will not be considered by the board. Menzies is scheduled to be back in court on Wednesday, when a judge will once again consider whether to grant a full hearing to address his competency. If a commutation hearing is granted, the petitioner may present testimony and provide supporting arguments concerning the issues raised in a given petition. The state may also present testimony and provide argument against the petition. Victims will also be given an opportunity to be heard at the hearing, according to the board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the hearing is completed, the board will have until Sept. 5 to make a decision. Due to the recent departure of Utah Board of Pardons and Parole Chairman Scott Stephenson, and board member Dan Bokovoy recusing himself from any hearing because he was formerly the Department of Corrections legal counsel, two pro-tem board members will help fill the five seats if a hearing is granted. MERCER, Pa. (WKBN) A Mercer County man was sentenced Tuesday for causing a babys injuries in October 2024. Cameron Gehr, 21, was convicted of aggravated assault, a first-degree felony, in the case. Mercer County Court of Common Pleas Judge Ronald Amrhein, Jr., sentenced Gehr to 10 years of probation, according to a sentencing entry. Gehr can have no unsupervised contact with a child pending further order of the court. The court will consider removing the restriction at a later date if Gehr completes a parenting class and has no other incidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gehr was charged after an investigation of a 7-month-old childs injuries after the child was taken to UPMC Horizon in Greenville on Oct. 23, 2024. A report from Pennsylvania State Police states that the boy had multiple bruises on his face, scratches on his shoulder and back, and his arm was broken in at least two places. A witness told police that she was sleeping at a Delaware Township residence when she was awakened by the baby crying while Gehr was alone with him. She said she observed blood on the babys mouth after she heard him screaming, according to a criminal complaint. The witness told police Gehr claimed he dropped the babys bottle onto his face during this instance, but that several months ago, the baby had a fat lip after she witnessed Gehr slamming a bottle into [the babys] mouth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another witness who spoke with police said Gehr was not allowed to lift anything with one of his hands due to having stitches. Officers spoke with Gehr, who said the baby started to cry in his crib, so he picked the baby up by the arm without any other support, lifting him by one arm over the crib railing to set him on a nearby bed, the criminal complaint states. Gehr also told police that he dropped a full bottle onto the babys face accidentally, according to the complaint. Gehr told police he picked the baby up in a similar manner several times recently because of the injury on his hand, before later saying this instance was the first time. Laurel Stone and Erin Yudt contributed to this 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 WKBN.com. MERCER, Pa. (WKBN) A Mercer man is facing several charges in connection with burglaries at several Amish businesses and churches in Mercer County, including an arson charge for allegedly setting a fire at one of the churches. Read next: Fights reported among teens in Boardman Harley Redmond, 30, is charged with multiple counts of burglary, arson, theft by unlawful taking and criminal mischief. He is also charged with institutional vandalism of a place of worship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a criminal complaint, between May 16 and May 21, Redmond broke into M&M Grocery Store in West Salem Township; Byler Discount Store in Jackson Township; Coolspring Presbyterian Church in Fairview Township; Jerusalem Christian Church in Otter Creek Township; Clarks Mills Community Church in Perry Township; Ben Byler Small Engine Repair in Fairview Township; and Sandy Lake Presbyterian Church in Sandy Lake Township. While each burglary was reported separately, a check of state police records showed similarities in the crimes, such as involving a church or Amish business, and that the suspect was looking for cash, according to the criminal complaint. Surveillance video also captured a suspected pickup truck and a suspect with a tattoo that matched Redmonds, and witnesses described the same vehicle at the scene of some of the burglaries. A witness told police that Redmond had hundreds of dollars in a bank bag but wouldnt tell her where it came from. He also gave her a decorative wooden box that is believed to have come from Clarks Mills Community Church, and the bank bag is believed to be from M&M Grocery, the complaint said. Redmond was interviewed by police on June 26 when he told investigators that he moved to Iowa with his girlfriend in May. He returned to Mercer County sometime in June. He denied having any knowledge of the wooden box and said he was not driving the pickup truck in the surveillance video. He also denied that he was in any church and never possessed a large sum money, as reported by the witness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint said that $5,000 in damage was done by the fire Redmond is accused of setting inside Jerusalem Christian Church, as well as damage to the doors of the other businesses and churches he is accused of breaking into. Charges were filed against Redmond on Monday. A preliminary hearing in the case is set for Aug. 4. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JOPLIN, Mo. Mercy Hospital celebrates its newest facility, one theyre calling a partnership with local employers. A blessing and ribbon-cutting for Mercys occupational medicine clinic was held Tuesday morning. The clinic will focus on employees injured on the job, primarily those who are using work comp in their recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Administrators say this is about helping employees return to the job in a timely manner and is something Joplin didnt previously have. Weve been working on this for a long time. We finally have had a chance to hire a board-certified occupational medicine physician, which was the missing link for us to be able to bring this service to Joplin, but now we have all the pieces in place, we can offer this service to the community, said Joe Caputo, Mercy Clinic Orthopedics VP of Operations. Mercys Occupational Health Clinic is located at 1717 S Range Line Road, Suite B. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Insignia Financial, one of Australia's wealth management firms, is about to undergo a significant change in ownership following a planned takeover by US-based CC Capital and One Investment Management (OneIM). Under the provisions of a freshly signed Scheme Implementation Deed (SID), the two private investment groups would buy 100% of Insignia for A$4.80 per share in cash, valuing the company at around A$3.9bn (US$2.5bn). The offer provides a strong 56.9% premium over Insignia's final undisturbed share price of A$3.06 on December 11, 2024. Subject to judicial and regulatory approvals, the deal will be carried out through a scheme of arrangement and is anticipated to be put to a vote by shareholders in the first half of 2026. These consist of approvals from Insignia shareholders, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), and the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB). Insignia, which manages and advises on over A$330bn in assets, is regarded as a prime target for growth-oriented investors aiming to tap into Australia's A$4.1tn superannuation system. Chinh Chu, Senior Managing Director of CC Capital stated: "We believe that Australia's superannuation system is world-class in addressing the structural challenge of aging populations saving for retirement. Insignia's scale, trusted brands, and deep relationships across the A$4.1tn (US$2.7tn) superannuation market1 make it a compelling long-term platform for growth. We recognise the high duty of care required to steward a business with Insignia's rich heritage and connection to the retirement and superannuation system, and we are confident that our investment acumen and long-term approach will position us to improve member outcomes and further enhance the operational trajectory of the business." OneIM's CEO and co-founder Rajeev Misra added: "We are excited to partner with Insignia's management team to help craft the company's next chapter of continued growth and unmatched member service. We believe Insignia will benefit from OneIM's approach to creating long-term value for all stakeholders as we help combine Insignia's history of excellence with technological and investing expertise." Scott Hartley, CEO of Insignia Financial, shared: "Subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, the CC Capital and OneIM offer would deliver attractive value to our shareholders, while providing the resources and global perspective needed to accelerate our strategic agenda for members, customers and advisers. I look forward to working with the CC Capital and OneIM teams to continue our focus on creating best-in-class service and outcomes for our members." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has reiterated earlier criticism of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, describing it as "no longer acceptable," while defending his government's decision not to sign a statement calling for an end to the war. "I really want to urge the Israeli government to stop the massive military interventions, to facilitate a ceasefire and, above all, to enable humanitarian aid for the population," Merz, a conservative, said at a press conference with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala in Berlin. At the same time, Merz stressed that he believed that his government, which includes the Social Democratic Party (SPD) as a junior partner, was united in its view on the Gaza war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There are no differences of opinion on the matter within the coalition. We are in complete agreement on these issues," he said. It comes after the parliamentary leader of the SPD, Matthias Miersch, called on the government to join 28 other countries and sign a statement demanding an immediate end to the war in the Gaza Strip. The fact that Germany is not among the signatories, which include 20 European Union member states as well as the EU itself, has caused speculation, in light of past reticence on the part of Berlin to condemn Israel's actions in Gaza. When asked why Germany wasn't backing the statement signed by foreign ministers on Monday on the initiative of the United Kingdom, Merz pointed to a previously adopted declaration by the European Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That statement was "practically identical in content ... to what is now expressed in the letter," he said, referring to Monday's statement. "I was one of the first to say very clearly, also in Germany, that the conditions [in Gaza] are no longer acceptable," he added in defending himself. New Mexico's 988 lifeline offers specialized counseling to veterans, Spanish speakers and LGBTQ+ people. (Infographic courtesy of the New Mexico Health Care Authority) While the federal governments crisis hotline no longer offers specially trained counselors for LGBTQ+ people under the age of 25, the state of New Mexicos own 988 line remains. The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) removed the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelines Press 3 option for LGBTQ+ young people on July 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, that same day, the New Mexico Health Care Authority said in a news release that its 988 service continues without interruption, and its counselors receive ongoing training in LGBTQ+ cultural competency and affirming practices. Every person deserves to feel seen, heard, and supported during their most vulnerable moments, Health Care Authority Secretary Kari Armijo said in a statement. While this national change removes one pathway to specialized support, our local counselors are trained to provide inclusive, affirming crisis intervention for all New Mexicans, including LGBTQ+ youth individuals. In 2024, New Mexicos 988 Lifeline received 5,716 calls through the LGBTQ+ support option, the agency said. HCA also pointed to a survey conducted by the Trevor Project showing that nearly 40% of LGBTQIA+ young people reported seriously considering suicide that year. Rudy Montoya, director of influence, experience and culture at Equality New Mexico, told Source NM on Tuesday that federal changes to the 988 Lifeline harm LGBTQ+ communities especially young people who rely on affirming, identity-specific crisis support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Equality New Mexico, we know that crisis response must be culturally competent and community-rooted. Thats why we applaud New Mexico for choosing to maintain the LGBTQ+ option in our 988 system, even as the federal government turns its back, Montoya said in an emailed statement. When our communities are in crisis, we deserve to speak to someone who understands us without fear, stigma, or judgment. New Mexicos decision is not just compassionate, its life-saving. Marty Jacobson, chair of the New Mexico Democratic Partys LGBTQ+ caucus, told Source NM on Tuesday that he was troubled by SAMHSAs decision to remove support for the option, saying its going to put childrens lives in danger. This resource is still available and youth who are out there who may be experiencing issues that they need to talk to someone about, they can still call the hotline and get the help that they need in New Mexico, Jacobson said in an interview. New Mexicos legal protections for gender-affirming care for young people under state law still stand, despite the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling last month upholding Tennessees ban. Jacobson said he is hopeful because New Mexico is going in a different direction from many other states when it comes to people loving each other. People who are lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual everyone is in society, and what we recognize in New Mexico is that these are our neighbors, and that we support and help out our neighbors when they need it, he said. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) After the Michigan Supreme Court tossed out a previous decision, the Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld the constitutionality of a state law against making a false threat of terrorism. The Michigan Court of Appeals issued a decision Monday reaffirming the law. In February, the Court of Appeals upended a 2002 state statute making it a crime to make a terrorist threat or false report of terrorism, calling the law facially unconstitutional. The opinion was published, making it binding. In March, the Michigan Supreme Court vacated the ruling and sent the case back to the appeals court to reconsider, giving it a number of factors to consider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having considered these directives, we now conclude that (the law) is not facially unconstitutional, the appeals courts Monday decision (PDF) read in part. Michigan Supreme Court tosses ruling that called terror threat law unconstitutional The decision lays out what the prosecution must prove for someone to be guilty of the count, including that a defendant said they would commit a felony, that they knew such a felony could result in someones harm and that they wanted to intimidate or frighten someone. It does not matter whether the defendant actually could commit the felony or actually intended to commit the felony, but only whether the defendant threatened to commit the felony as an act of terrorism, the ruling reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Tuesday statement, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel who had pushed for the Supreme Court to restore the law called the decision a critical victory for public safety. It makes clear that those who seek to spread fear and destabilize our communities through threats of terrorism can be held accountable. Our anti-terrorism threat law is a vital tool for my office and county prosecutors across the state, and this ruling ensures we can continue using it to uphold the law and protect the people of Michigan, Nessel stated. After the appeals courts initial decision calling the law unconstitutional, a Kent County judge threw out the criminal charge against Jacob Vanderkooy, who was accused of threatening to kill people at a Rockford restaurant where he once worked. However, he was sentenced to probation on stalking and drug charges. News 8s John Hogan contributed to this 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 WOODTV.com. US tech giant Microsoft has pointed the finger at China amid a wave of cyberattacks on firms and government agencies worldwide, announcing on Tuesday that it has identified three Chinese hacker groups responsible for the damage so far. Two of them, Linen Typhoon and Violet Typhoon, are known Chinese state actors who exploited a previously unknown, serious vulnerability in Microsoft's SharePoint application by "targeting internet-facing SharePoint servers," the company said. A third "China-based threat actor," known as Storm-2603 was also observed exploiting the vulnerabilities, Microsoft said, adding that investigations into other potential attackers were ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of companies and organizations worldwide have been affected. Access to servers via SharePoint, a file-sharing application, potentially allows hackers to steal sensitive data including passwords, IT security experts have warned. Microsoft has since released updates to fix the issue, but attackers could also gain permanent access to the systems even after the security gap has been closed. Figures published by the Shadowserver Foundation show the United States tops the list with 546 vulnerable servers. In Germany, criminal hackers successfully penetrated a SharePoint server in at least 104 cases between last weekend and Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the foundation, Canada ranks third behind Germany with 87 vulnerable systems. The Shadowserver Foundation is an international, non-profit organization in the field of IT security that is dedicated to improving online security. House Speaker Mike Johnson is shutting the House of Representatives down early in order to prevent lawmakers from voting on the release of the Epstein files. On Monday night, the House Rules committee came to a stalemate, with Democrats and some Republicans pushing to include Epstein-related proposals in bills up for debate this week. Rather than allow more votes on the Epstein evidence, Republicans recessed the committee. This means that, while the House was due to be in session until Thursday, July 24, they won't have anything to vote on after Wednesday, and representatives will adjourn for their summer break. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson toed President Donald Trump's party line when addressing the decision with reporters. "We all understand that the 'America First' agenda and the American people are best served by putting an end to the Democrat side shows, and that's what we're doing by not allowing the Rules Committee to continue with that nonsense this week," the Louisiana Republican said. "We are not going to let them use this as a political battering ram," he added. "The Rules Committee became the ground for them to do that." Andrew Harnik/Getty President Donald Trump and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speak to the press on May 20, 2025 President Donald Trump and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speak to the press on May 20, 2025 Earlier this month, the Department of Justice and FBI released a joint memo, which stated that their investigation into Epstein's alleged crimes and subsequent death in prison was complete. The memo also stated the investigation found that Epstein's long-rumored "client list" did not exist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, calls for the Trump administration to release the evidence in the 2019 child sex trafficking case against the billionaire and alleged predator have come from Democrats and Republicans alike. Trump, who campaigned last year on promises that he would declassify and release more evidence related to the Epstein case, has since backtracked, referring to interest in the case as the "Epstein hoax," and shunning followers who "bought into" it. Earlier this week, he did direct Attorney General Pam Bondi to release "any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony," though it's unclear how much evidence the president's social media orders will be able to make public. By law, grand jury testimony is kept secret, except in matters of national security or counterintelligence, neither of which applies in this case. Moreover, some legal experts have said that the release of the grand jury testimony may be a misdirect to appease the public and distract from the other evidence in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump knows SDNY prosecutors seeking to indict Epstein and Maxwell didnt ask questions about him in their grand jury presentations while he was POTUS. Its a red herring to distract from the evidence that matters: witness interview notes, videos, photos, etc., wrote Kristy Greenberg, a legal analyst for MSNBC and a former federal prosecutor, on X on July 17. Davidoff Studios/Getty Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in 1997 Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in 1997 According to an itemized list from the Department of Justice, the evidence in their custody includes photos, cameras, computers, hard drives and more, including one CD labeled "girl pics nude book 4." However, Trump's grand jury orders were enough for Johnson, who continued on Tuesday to accuse Democrats of playing "political games" in the House. "The president has said clearly, and he has now ordered his DOJ to do what it is we've all needed DOJ to do for years now, and that is to get everything released," he said. "So they're in the process of that. There's no purpose for Congress to push an administration to do something that they're already doing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We can both call for full transparency and also protect victims. And if you run roughshod or you do it too quickly, that's not what happens," the House speaker added. Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, a libertarian-aligned lawmaker, is one of the few congressional Republicans who has pushed back against Trump during his second term. He one of only two House Republicans who voted against Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" earlier this month and has been one of the most vocal members of the House calling for a vote on releasing the Epstein docs. This has placed him in Trump's crosshairs and earned him a social media rant from the president on Tuesday. "Thomas Massie, the worst Republican Congressman, and an almost guaranteed NO VOTE each and every time, is an Embarrassment to Kentucky," Trump wrote. "Hes lazy, slow moving, and totally disingenuous - A real loser! Never has anything positive to add. Looking for someone good to run against this guy, someone I can Endorse and vigorously campaign for!" 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. Speaking with a reporter outside the Capitol building later in the day, Massie didn't seem bothered by the president's threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They're trying to beat up on me to keep everybody else in line here," he said. "I think it's not working. I think what's gonna happen is this will be a referendum on whether the executive branch controls the legislative branch." "I'm gonna prevail, and what they're gonna find out is, it will embolden members of Congress here to go with their heart, with their mind, with their constituents, and not just toe the party line," Massie added. Read the original article on People A Minnesota lawmaker is expected to resign from the state Senate after being criminally convicted of burglary on July 18. Democratic state Sen. Nicole Mitchells departure will dissolve the partys one-seat majority in the upper chamber and comes after months of Republican criticism regarding her criminal record. Senator Mitchells constituents deserve for her legislative projects to be finalized or ready to hand off to her successor before she resigns, her attorney Dane DeKrey said in a statement to USA Today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mitchells constituents also deserve to have their outstanding issues handled before her resignation. It was the honor of her lifetime to serve her District and the State of Minnesota, he added. Shes slated to resign no later than Aug. 4. Dekrey did not immediately respond to The Hills request for comment on the matter. Mitchell, a former lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard and a meteorologist, was arrested last year while visiting her estranged stepmother to collect her deceased fathers belongings. She used burglary tools to enter the home in the Detroit Lakes area. Minnesota Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson (R), in a statement, once again condemned Mitchells actions, stating her continued participation in the Minnesota Senate leaves the body with a stain on its record for every time her vote was the deciding vote in passing legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mitchells resignation comes weeks after two Democratic lawmakers in the Minnesota Legislature were shot at their respective homes. Rep. Melissa Hoffman (D) died due to gunshot wounds, as did her husband and Golden Retriever. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GLADEWATER, Texas (KETK) Several minors are accused of breaking into an unoccupied lake house in Gladewater over the weekend. Now, local law enforcement is searching for those involved. The Gladewater Police Department said the party was held on Saturday at a lake house located in East Lake Drive. Since opening the investigation, authorities have interviewed multiple individuals who reported being invited to the party through social media. Motorcyclist dies after 3 vehicle wreck in New Chapel Hill Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities also spoke with the owner of the home, who stated that he did not grant permission for the gathering and that the house was not authorized for use. Police are also reviewing reports of any other potential criminal activity. Once the investigation concludes, the department will conduct a full internal review of the initial police response to ensure accountability and best practices moving forward, the Gladewater Police Department said. Two juveniles have been detained and referred to Upshur County juvenile probation. Detectives are looking to identify additional individuals. As the case remains open, anyone with any possible information regarding the case is asked to contact Lieutenant Fitzgerald or Sergeant Burrows at 903-842-2166. 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. GLENCOE, Ky. (FOX 56) Kentucky State Police said a 14-year-old from Glencoe was found safe on July 22. Kentucky State Police in Campbellsburg said Isabella Demaria, from Owen County, was last seen by family on July 21 around 10 p.m. Demaria is described as being 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighing about 120 pounds, with black hair and green eyes. KSP said she was last seen wearing a dark-colored t-shirt, possibly with a rock and roll music theme, baggy pants, and carrying two dark backpacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a news release, she had made statements about traveling to Florida. Other possible destinations are Covington or Ohio. MISSING IN KENTUCKY In an update around 8 p.m. on July 22, state police said Demaria had been safely located. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MISSOURI The Missouri Supreme Court has ruled that counties cannot impose an additional 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana sales within incorporated cities. The Supreme Court signed a majority opinion on Tuesday that essentially bans stacking of marijuana taxes. Under the ruling, an incorporated village, town, or city may impose a 3% marijuana tax if the sale comes within its own jurisdiction. A county, however, can only impose a 3% marijuana tax if the sale happens in an unincorporated area of the county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision overturns a previous interpretation that allowed counties to collect the taxes in incorporated areas, in addition to incorporated municipalities. When Missouri voters approved the legalization of adult recreational marijuana as constitutional amendment in 2022, the measure allowed a local government to impose a 3% sales tax. The courts ruling now clarifies that the term does not mean both a city and a county can tax the same sale. Waterloo teen was prepping to show cattle at county fair prior to shooting death Last year, a Florissant-based dispensary, Robust Missouri 3 LLC, filed a lawsuit, arguing that the states marijuana amendment permitted either one body of a local government, either a city or a county, to levy a local sales tax on recreational marijuana purchases, but not both in the same area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Missouri Department of Revenue data suggested that adult-use marijuana purchases in Florissant were subject to a total sales rate of of 20.988%, including a 3% sales tax imposed by both the City of Florissant and St. Louis County. Under Tuesdays ruling, the Florissant 3% sales tax can remain in effect for the Robust dispensary, but not the 3% sales tax for St. Louis County. The Missouri Cannabis Trade Association estimates that the states cannabis industry generates $241 million in sales tax revenue annually for state and local governments. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 U.S. Capitol as lawmakers worked into the night on the "big beautiful bill" on July 2, 2025. (Photo by Ashley Murray/States Newsroom) OMAHA Two political matchups in Nebraska will likely get national attention as both could help determine which party controls what parts of Congress after the 2026 midterm elections. One is the U.S. House race in Nebraskas Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District. The seat is typically a target of both national parties, as one of the rare remaining swing districts that has stayed politically split. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The seat may be more of a target now, since U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., decided not to seek reelection. Several Democrats jumped into the race, creating a politically diverse and competitive primary race. A first-time federal candidate is leading the Democratic pack in terms of fundraising as more politically established candidates are lagging behind. 2nd District fundraising New federal campaign finance filings show congressional candidate newcomer and business owner Denise Powell led the way, raising $429,739 in the second quarter. Powell has connections to some of local Democrats top donors. Much of her political team has ties to former State Sen. Tony Vargas 2024 House bid. While money isnt the be-all in politics, it can provide a glimpse of the initial support and the viability of a candidate. Powell said, Its clear that people are tired of lip service from politicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, she said, people are ready for someone who is ready to go to Washington to put our communities first. She called her bid an opportunity to send a champion for hardworking Nebraskans to Congress who will finally put a stop to the chaos of the Trump administration. State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, the other high-profile candidate who has been in the Democratic primary since early June, raised the second most. The state lawmaker, with his own list of donors, raised $130,341 over the same span. Ethan Dunn, a Cavanaugh campaign spokesperson, said the senator continues to hear from voters across [district] that they know he will be the voice of reason amongst the Trump chaos. The plan that John has to win the nomination is on track, and we are confident Johns message voters will resonate with the voters, Dunn said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Powells campaign lists having more campaign cash on hand than Cavanaugh with $340,121 compared to the state senators $127,122. A third high-profile Democrat in the race, Douglas County District Court Clerk Crystal Rhoades, announced her bid Monday and just started fundraising. The same can be said of Navy veteran Kishla Askins, who joined the race last week, after the fundraising quarter ended in late June. Another Democrat running, Mark Johnston, reported raising $6,976.58 and listed $1,628.31 in cash on hand. Evangelos Argyrakis hadnt yet filed campaign finance forms for his Democratic bid. Federal law requires candidates to file campaign finance paperwork quarterly with the Federal Election Commission unless they have not yet raised or spent $5,000. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two highest-profile announced Republican candidates in Nebraskas 2nd District, Omaha City Council, Vice President Brinker Harding and former State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha, entered the race this month, after the fundraising quarter ended. Neither had filed FEC reports. However, Hardings campaign has said it had raised $222,000 in the first two days after announcing his bid. Lindstroms team said the former senator raised $250,000 in his campaigns first week. National political observers view the Omaha-area House seat as a possible pickup for Democrats, although the district retains a slight GOP lean. The 2nd District includes all of Douglas and Saunders Counties, as well as western Sarpy County. Senate race tallies Nebraskas other federal race that could garner national attention is the bid by former Omaha labor leader Dan Osborn to unseat U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Osborn made national headlines in 2024 for turning an expected safe race for Republicans into a potential upset bid against U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb. He outraised Fischer in 2024, according to OpenSecrets.org, which tracks federal fundraising. He raised $14 million, including some late money from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. For Nebraskas 2026 Senate race, Osborn has reported raising $196,541 since his July announcement, according to his latest filing. He listed having $124,202 in cash on hand. As expected, Ricketts, a former two-term governor, significantly outraised him. His campaign raised $901,113 and his separate Pete Ricketts Victory Fund raised $1.2 million. His victory fund is used for multiple races, political parties and causes. Ricketts has a combined war chest of about $1.5 million. Ricketts, who had to run in a 2024 special election to finish the last two years of former Republican U.S. Sen. Ben Sasses term, raised $5.8 million against Preston Love Jr., records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ricketts also has used his own money to influence Nebraska politics. He retains the states dominant political operation. Osborn, who has proven himself a prolific fundraiser, has tried to frame his race against the millionaire Ricketts as the billionaire versus the mechanic. Will Coup, a Ricketts campaign spokesperson, pointed to Osborns use of ActBlue, a fundraising tool used often by Democrats, as evidence of a nonpartisan bid Senate bid with Democratic help. Dan Osborns ActBlue page makes it easy for his liberal, out-of-state donors to support him, AOC and Kamala Harris without having to switch [browser] tabs, Coup said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Osborn has said previously that he maintains independence from the Democratic Party and that he would not caucus with either party. Editors note: This story has been updated to include the campaign finance filing for Mark Johnston. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This story was originally published on Manufacturing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Manufacturing Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Joby Aviation is doubling its manufacturing capacity at its facilities in California and Ohio, the electric vertical take-off and landing plane maker announced last week. The companys plans include increasing the Marina, California, facilitys space to 435,500 square feet, according to the press release. The company initially broke ground on the site last year. Joby is also actively standing up its manufacturing capacity at an existing renovated facility in Dayton, Ohio, a spokesperson said in an email. The company acquired a U.S. Postal Service facility at Dayton International Airport to jump-start production as it builds its $500 million air taxi manufacturing plant. Dive Insight: Joby spent about $15 million on property and equipment in the first quarter, Paul Sciarra, executive chairman, said in a May earnings call. The investments went toward expanding the California and Ohio facilities, test equipment as well as costs of its full-motion flight simulator for pilot training. The investment totals for the Ohio and California sites was not disclosed. Once the Marina site is fully operational, the facility is expected to produce up to 24 aircraft a year, the eVTOL manufacturer said. It will also house Jobys certified full-motion flight simulator, which is set to arrive before years end, JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO, said during the earnings call. Additionally, the Marina plant will provide other capabilities, including conforming ground and flight testing components, pilot training simulators and aircraft maintenance. It also includes the Federal Aviation Administrations initial production certification, which enables companies to manufacture duplicate products under a type design approved by the agency. The certification will also enable the company to get the FAAs approval to operate an aircraft in flight. As for the Dayton facility, the site will manufacture and test aircraft components for Jobys pilot production line. Joby is installing equipment at the factory, which will establish the required FAA production certification capabilities and support the eVTOL makers plans to scale operations, according to the press release. The Dayton facilitys production ramp-up will progressively increase to build up to 500 aircraft per year. Jobys partnership with the Toyota Motor Corp. has enabled the eVTOL maker to scale its air taxi production. The automaker is Jobys largest shareholder. In 2023, Toyota initially invested $400 million in the electric air taxi maker, and the two manufacturers signed a long-term supply agreement for powertrain and actuation components. In a special hearing at Boston Municipal Court, Chief Justice Tracy-Lee Lyons dismissed more than 100 criminal cases on Tuesday. The action taken as the public defenders work stoppage in a dispute over wages took a dramatic turn. The court finds CPCS made a good faith effort to secure representation but has been unable to do so, Judge Lyons declared more than 100 times. This case will be dismissed without prejudice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public defenders began the work stoppage back on May 27 and have been refusing to take on any new clients until they get paid a higher wage, causing a catastrophic logjam of criminal cases. They say the states $65-an-hour rate is an unlivable wage. They say neighboring states pay their public defenders twice as much. Recently, a SJC justice ordered the release of any indigent defendant held longer than 7 days. And she ruled that all charges be dropped if any indigent defendant case is older than 45 days. At Boston Municipal Court, most of the charges dropped were for nonviolent crimes. However, several involved assaults on police officers, domestic violence assaults, and the use of dangerous weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Fall River, Gov. Maura Healey called for lawmakers to act. This is a matter of public safety and so theyve got to sort this out and resolve this. Ill work with them and the Legislature in any capacity to see that through, Healey said. Veteran Boston defense Attorney Phil Tracy agreed. In an interview, Tracy said something must change. People are going to get hurt, wives, robberies are going to take place by guys who were already in jail, and now they are out, Tracy said. The Suffolk County DAs Office said in a statement that the dismissals are a continuing threat to public safety. The case dismissals today, with many more expected in coming days and weeks, present a clear and continuing threat to public safety, the DAs office said. Our prosecutors and victim witness advocates are working extremely hard to keep victims and other impacted persons updated on whats happening with their cases. These are difficult conversations. We remain hopeful that a structural solution will be found to address the causal issues here and prevent any repeat. 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 BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A Denham Springs man accused of secretly recording and taking photos of women who were shopping at different stores faces additional charges after his June arrest. Tyler Washington, 23, was charged with four counts each of stalking and video voyeurism on June 10. The Livingston Parish Sheriffs Office announced Tuesday that Washington faces four more counts each of stalking and video voyeurism after more victims, including a juvenile, contacted authorities. Sheriff Jason Ard said the new charges are tied to the original investigation from May. Ard previously said Washington would change his disguise with hats or glasses, or even change his hairstyle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said detectives believe there could be more victims. Anyone with information is urged to contact deputies through the LPSO app or by calling 225-686-2241 x1. Louisiana man accused of construction fraud; homeowner lost $225K, deputies say 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. POLK COUNTY, Iowa More information has been released about a crash over the weekend that injured five people in Polk County. On Sunday morning deputies with the Polk County Sheriffs Office responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of NW 112th Street and Highway 163, also known as East University Avenue, just south of Mitchellville. When first responders arrived at the intersection, they found one vehicle on its top submerged in water and the other in the median. Why corn sweat is a hot topic in Iowa Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to an Iowa State Patrol crash report released Monday night, a 2019 Honda Insight was stopped at a stop sign at the intersection when it pulled out in front of a 2014 Buick Enclave. The collision sent the Honda Insight rolling down an embankment until it stopped, submerged in water. The Buick Enclave spun out and crashed into the median of Highway 163. The driver of the Honda Insight, and only occupant, was rescued from the submerged vehicle and was life flighted to a local hospital in stable condition, the sheriffs office said. The occupants of the Buick Enclave, two adults and two juveniles, were transported to a nearby hospital via ground ambulance for treatment of minor injuries. No additional information has been released. 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. (WSPA) Even if youre not planning on moving anytime soon, at some point in your life, chances are youll need to know how to properly vet a moving company. In this 7NEWS Here to Help Consumer Exclusive, an Upstate woman who moved from Ohio has a warning you wont likely forget. Moving is stressful enough without the dread that you may never get your belongings back. For Tracy Vickery, her 2019 move to South Carolina was nothing less than traumatic. Online searches can lead to brokers not movers Her online search had led her to a company called American Standard Moving & Storage out of Boca Raton, Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she submitted a detailed itemized belongings list and paid her deposit, she, like many, had no clue she was dealing with a broker who sent third-party movers. Right when I saw them, red flags started coming left and right. The gentleman was very unprofessional, dirty shirt and all, and then a girl walks up who is pregnant, Vickery said. Its important for customers to know the difference between a mover and a broker. This US Department of Transportation fact sheet helps explain what questions you should ask of brokers if you do go that route and highlights how brokers are not the owners of the moving company. In short, movers own their own trucks, but brokers get paid for finding you a mover and disreputable ones may make promises that the mover wont honor. Bait and switch Vickery said they loaded her lifes possessions in a rental truck, one she was supposed to share with another family, and then came the bait and switch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I was like, how much is that? And it was another $2,372. And I said no Im not doing that. And they said no you cant do that or you will not get your stuff back, Vickery said. What we call it is a hostage move, they hold your goods hostage, Dan Hilton, the Executive Director of the American Trucking Associations Moving and Storage Conference, explained. These are not reputable movers. They really are a version of organized crime, he added. How to vet a mover/broker? Hilton said a reputable mover will have an active DOT number that you can find on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website. The DOT or company lookup page allows you to find the DOT number by entering the companys name or vice versa. You can also check if the company is insured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This FMCSA checklist explained steps to avoid moving scams, including: Getting at least 3 estimates Researching the companies standing with Better Business Bureau Reading any document before signing How to get a more accurate quote Whatever you do, try to hire movers who can come in person to assess your home so you dont get a low-ball quote. If thats not possible, do a virtual tour, where you show them not just your stuff but the stairs, the exits and dont forget the attic. Vickery said she paid the extra amount, but the delivery kept getting delayed. We had to sleep on a blow-up mattress for 45 days, she said. And then, the day her stuff arrived, they charged her even more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement $6,300 is what I ended up paying them instead of the $1,885, she said, and added that when her stuff finally arrived, much of it was broken or ruined so that was an extra several thousand in losses. 7NEWS learned that while American Standard did have a DOT number at the time of broadcast, the company is not authorized to transport household goods across state lines. And despite our efforts to get company comment, its website is down, and phone number links to an unaffiliated company. How to file a complaint To file a complaint against a mover, you can click here or call 1(888) 368-7238 Monday-Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) The city of Murfreesboro has launched an effort to bring more native plants back to town through the Murfreesboro Indigenous Project. Their most recent project can be found at Murfree Spring Wetlands. Leaders of the project say the Murfree Spring Wetlands is a naturally rich area of the city. READ MORE | Latest headlines from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County There are plenty of plants and trees on the property, but many of them are just for decoration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outdoor Murfreesboro, which is a part of the citys park division, recently started to uproot the ornamental plants and replace them with plants native to Tennessee. The city said development has stamped out many native plants, so now they need to take every chance they can get to bring native plants back. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts I think people are really feeling that loss of wilderness that was once here. From even an emotional level, having those wild plants back makes us feel more in touch with nature. Theres a really important reason beyond that, which is were losing birds and other insect species because theyre missing their plants that they rely on to complete their life cycle, Murfreesboro Indigenous Project Coordinator Andra Prewett said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outdoor Murfreesboro will have several more plants to plant in the fall at the Murfree Spring Wetlands, and theyre always looking for volunteers to lighten their load. Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@wkrn.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A Georgetown County controversy over land-based fishing laws is moving its way down the Grand Strand. Little River-based Shoreline Shark Conservation and sea tour operator Greg Haskins on Tuesday filed a lawsuit Tuesday in 15th Circuit Court, asking a judge to prevent Horry County from enforcing its shore-based shark fishing ban because it violates state law. In 2011, county leaders adopted an ordinance regulating when and how people can fish on public land, making it unlawful for anyone to catch or take any shark or other marine animals that may endanger the public from piers, beaches, shores or coastal waters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commercial fishing off public beaches is also barred under the rule. The problem for Haskins and other opponents is that the countys stance contradicts the state Constitution. PIImageDisplayDownload The traditions of hunting and fishing are valuable parts of the states heritage, important for conservation and a protected means of managing nonthreatened wildlife, Article 1, Section 25 states. The citizens of this state have the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife traditionally pursued. The legal gambit comes amid an uproar in Georgetown County after leaders said last month they were considering a measure barring bait and surf fishing on public beaches between 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. from May 1 through Sept. 30 peak tourism months in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials recently said theyd defer a third and final reading on the idea after major community backlash. Instead of boosting public safety, the lawsuit argues land-based shark fishing restrictions actually cause greater problems. Land-based shark fishing has never injured or killed a bystander, swimmer, or surfer in South Carolina. There has never been a reported attack by a hooked or recently released shark on a swimmer or surfer in South Carolina, the complaint says. Perpetuating an irrational fear of sharks through a so-called safety ordinance negatively impacts shark conservation and therefore the health of our oceans. * * * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, has denounced Donald Trump's new allegations against Barack Obama as an "unsubstantiated" deflection. Amid increasing pressure on the Trump administration to release all files related to Jeffrey Epstein's child sex trafficking case, the president and his national intelligence director, Tulsi Gabbard, have focused their attention on accusing Obama of conspiring against him in 2016, according to a report Gabbard released on Friday, July 18. The next day, after a user on X asked Grok if the report was based in fact, or if the Trump administration is "just trying to distract from Jeffrey Epstein," the chatbot replied that none of the claims against Obama appeared to have merit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No credible evidence exists that Barack Obama committed any crimes; allegations of a 'treasonous conspiracy' in 2016 are unsubstantiated and refuted by bipartisan reports confirming Russian interference," Grok wrote in a reply. "Gabbard's claims appear politically motivated to distract from Epstein file scrutiny." ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty President Donald Trump and Elon Musk speak in the Oval Office on March 14, 2025 President Donald Trump and Elon Musk speak in the Oval Office on March 14, 2025 Grok is an AI addition to the social media platform that Musk who recently had a public falling-out with Trump bought in 2022. The Trump administration recently closed a $200 million deal with Musk's AI company to incorporate Grok into the Pentagon's workflow, but that hasn't stopped the chatbot from criticizing the president. 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. Musk himself has rattled off several X posts about Trump's handling of the Epstein files in recent days. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has accused the administration of a "cover up" by failing to turn over all the Epstein evidence and he has questioned why Ghislaine Maxwell would be in prison for aiding Epstein's child sexual abuse if the Epstein crimes were a "hoax." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one post, Musk reminded his followers of Trump's strategy with past controversies, writing, "1. Admit nothing; 2. Deny everything; 3. Make counterclaims." He then added, "But it wont work this time." Davidoff Studios/Getty Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump pose at Mar-a-Lago in 1997 Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump pose at Mar-a-Lago in 1997 On Tuesday, July 22, Obama spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush released a fiery statement regarding the Trump administration's repeated allegations against the 44th president. "Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response," the statement began. "But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction." Rodenbush's statement continued: "Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes. These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio." Pete Marovich/Bloomberg via Getty President-elect Donald Trump meets with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office after winning the 2016 election President-elect Donald Trump meets with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office after winning the 2016 election In the Friday report, Gabbard claimed Obama and his administration "manufactured and politicized intelligence to lay the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup against President Trump." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report alleged that Obama gave false statements to media outlets, which stated that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election. In 2016, Trump ultimately won over his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. Trump further called Obama's actions "treason" in a trailing Oval Office rant on Tuesday, saying, "They tried to steal the election. They tried to obfuscate the election." While Obama has never faced criminal charges for election interference, Trump was hit with several felony charges between two separate cases related to election subversion: the first involving his alleged role in instigating the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot, and the second regarding his alleged attempts to overturn Georgia's 2020 election results. The cases were dropped once Trump was elected for a second term as president in November 2024. Read the original article on People The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund , a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation , has awarded $3 million in grants to preserve and support 24 sites across the United States that represent Black history, activism, innovation, and joy. Recipients of this years grants include Black modernist sites, iconic landmarks like Harlems Apollo Theater, and community-led museums and institutions. Since its inception in 2017, the Action Fund has raised over $150 million and supported over 378 grantees nationwide. This years grants have been awarded through three different programs apart of the Action Fund including: National Grant Program (NGP), Descendant and Family Stewardship Initiative (DFS), and Conserving Black Modernism program (CBM). This is the first year of the DFS Program, designed to empower descendant communities and family-led organizations with the resources they need to preserve and manage their own historic Black sites. The program is supported by a $5.2 million investment from the Mellon Foundation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Action Fund, we believe everyone can be a preservationist. Through our partnership with the Mellon Foundation, the Descendant and Family Stewardship Initiative represents this enduring commitment to help grassroots communities and families share their stories of resilience and power. said Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and senior vice president at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in a press release. Leggs added, Grants that support the physical preservation and management of these incredible places are crucial to keeping our nations history alive. We hope this investment will further empower these communities to be leaders in this important effort. Morgan Forde Among the first recipients of this grant is the Muddy Waters Mojo Museum in Chicago. The former home once belonged to McKinley Morganfield, known as Muddy Waters, the father of the Chicago Blues scene, and became a cultural hub for local musicians. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Muddy Waters Mojo Museum plans to use the funding for long-term master planning and cementing their stewardship of the music legends legacy. Mark Clennon The Action Funds award announcement also includes the third round of Conserving Black Modernism grants (with support from the Getty Foundation), designed to protect and promote the work of Black architects and designers. Among the recipients, Founders Church of Religious Science in Los Angeles will receive grant funding support for an accessibility and interpretation plan, allowing for more efficient use of the building and creating opportunities to tell the churchs rich architectural history. In the late 1950s, the church commissioned Paul R. Williams, the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects, to design its iconic modern-style, ellipse-shaped building that still stands today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years list of Action Fund grantees represents a diverse mix of cultural institutions and locations across the country. The full list of recipients for the 2025 National Grant Program include: Berry College African American Cemeteries in Mount Berry, Georgia Gibbs Cottage at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University in Tallahassee, FL Historic Brooklyn, Illinois in Brooklyn, Illinois Colored Knights of Pythias in Indianapolis, Indiana Town of Glendora in Mississippi Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York Lewis H. Latimer House Museum in Flushing, New York Sylvester Manor Educational Farm in Shelter Island, New York Jewel Theater in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Letitia Carson Legacy Project at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon Tom Lee House: Klondike Cultural Center in Memphis, Tennessee Woodville School in Gloucester, Virginia The full list of recipients for the 2025 Descendant and Family Stewardship Initiative include: Muddy Waters Mojo Museum in Chicago, Illinois Bibb House and Bibbtown Church-Cemetery in Russellville, Kentucky The Custom House at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland Highlander Research and Education Center in New Market, Tennessee Olivewood Cemetery in Houston, Texas Clemmons Family Farm in Charlotte, Vermont Dr. James & Janie Washington Cultural Center in Seattle, Washington Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The full list of recipients for the 2025 Conserving Black Modernism program include: Founders Church of Religious Science in Los Angeles, California 2500 New Hackensack at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York Administration Building at Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia First Church of Deliverance in Chicago, Illinois McKenzie Hall at University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon You Might Also Like New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Rachel Wainer Apter wrote the majority opinion in Tuesday's case. (Ed Murray for New Jersey Monitor) The New Jersey Supreme Court Tuesday rejected a claim that a public defender provided ineffective counsel by failing to investigate her clients immigration status beyond asking whether hes a United States citizen. Juan C. Hernandez-Peralta, a Mexican-born man who came to the United States as a toddler but who repeatedly said he was a U.S.-born citizen, claimed his sentencing attorney was deficient because she did not advise him that pleading guilty to criminal charges could lead to his deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in a 5-2 decision, the states high court said Hernandez-Peraltas attorney, Carol Wentworth of the state Public Defenders Office, reasonably accepted that he was a citizen because of his repeated assertions that he was. Neither the plea form, nor the presentence report, nor any other information provided to Wentworth by the time of sentencing clearly called that assertion into question, Justice Rachel Wainer Apter wrote for the majority. Sentencing counsels failure to do more than ask her client if he was a U.S. citizen does not constitute deficient performance. The case stems from Hernandez-Peraltas 2019 guilty plea to charges of robbery and burglary in Ocean County. Throughout the legal process, he repeatedly claimed he was born in New York, despite being born in Mexico. When Wentworth, who represented him for his sentencing only, asked him if he was a United States citizen, he said he was. Under his plea deal, he agreed to five years of recovery court probation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twice he violated those terms, and at both of those hearings he said he was born in Mexico. After the second violation, the court terminated his probation and sentenced him to five years in prison, which he did not appeal. In 2022, he filed a petition for post-conviction relief alleging Wentworth provided ineffective counsel because she didnt tell him his guilty plea could subject him to deportation. Hernandez-Peralta claimed that his family had told him he was a U.S. citizen, which he believed until he received a notice in 2022 that he would be deported. The lower court sided with him about Wentworths counsel, as did an appellate court panel, which said she failed to meet her affirmative duty to advise defendant that deportation was a clear consequence of his guilty plea. But Wainer Apter wrote that duty did not exist because Hernandez-Peralta explicitly affirmed citizenship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reasonable professional assistance does not require the best of attorneys it simply requires that defendants attorney is not so ineffective as to make the idea of a fair trial meaningless, she said. There was no such ineffectiveness here. Hernandez-Peralta was deported to Mexico at some point during the appeal process. It is not clear from Tuesdays ruling when that happened. Wainer Apter was joined by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner and Justices Anne Patterson, Fabiana Pierre-Louis, and John Jay Hoffman. Justice Michael Noriega, in a dissent, said Tuesdays decision undermines the protections granted by a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court case known as Padilla, which requires attorneys to advise clients of potential deportation after a guilty plea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sixth Amendment requires more than a box-checking inquiry; it demands a reasonable investigation of the clients status, Noriega wrote, joined by Justice Douglas Fasciale. Noriega called Wentworths representation deficient, saying when she read in his presentencing report that her client was born in Mexico, she should have done more than simply ask him if he was a United States citizen. By posing the same question contained in the plea form, counsel merely elicited a response consistent with the form information she already possessed without confronting the material fact that had raised concern: how her client obtained legal status if he was born in Mexico. In a statement from the state Public Defenders Office, Deputy Public Defender Alison Perrone said Tuesdays decision relies on facts that are unique to this case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We remain committed to ensuring our attorneys thoroughly investigate all aspects of a clients case and meaningfully address Padilla-related concerns at every stage of the criminal legal process, said Perrone. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX New Jersey U.S. District Court judges on Tuesday declined to make Alina Habbas job as the states U.S. attorney permanent, instead tapping second-in-command Desiree Grace for the role. The judges panel did not give a reason for bypassing Habba in the order issued Tuesday morning. A districts federal judges can opt to keep an interim prosecutor in place, extending the persons stay beyond the allowed 120-day maximum. Formerly President Trumps personal lawyer, Habba was White House counsel when he named her as New Jerseys interim U.S. attorney in March. Trump had officially nominated her for the position but was opposed by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and Sen. Andy Kim, Democrats who questioned her qualifications and called her prosecutions partisan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, they issued a joint statement opposing her confirmation, contending that she has degraded the office and pursued frivolous and politically motivated prosecutions. Habbas 120-day tenure has been controversial, marked by the arrests of two elected Democrats, U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, as they tried to visit an ICE detention center in May. She also established an Election Integrity Task Force to scrutinize voter rolls. Following her appointment, Habba stated that her goal was to turn New Jersey red. One of her first moves was to launch investigations into Dem. Gov. Phil Murphy and State Attorney General Matthew Platkin for forbidding local law enforcement from cooperating with federal agents on immigration raids. Before the White House, Habba represented Trump in several civil suits and served as a spokesperson last year while he juggled his presidential campaign with court appearances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the defamation suit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, Habba misstated the law, bungled procedure and brought up topics that had been declared off-limits. That led Judge Lewis A. Kaplan to chide her for the missteps and for objecting once he had ruled. The judge panels vote rejecting Habba comes days after the Trump administration did an end run around a similar appointment in New Yorks Northern District with then-interim U.S. Attorney John Sarcone. After a panel of judges declined to make him permanent, the Justice Department created a new title, special attorney to the attorney general essentially appointing him as his own assistant, a post not subject to congressional confirmation, thus making him the de facto U.S. attorney for the foreseeable future. With News Wire Services Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK) is one of the best affordable stocks under $5 to invest in. On July 18, JPMorgan analyst Sandeep Deshpande lowered the firms price target on Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK) to EUR 5.60 from EUR 6.05 while keeping an Overweight rating on the shares. Nokia Oyj (NOK): Showcasing Optical AI Innovations to Tackle Connectivity Challenges A computer engineer engaging in coding activities in a brightly lit server room. Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK) reported a 3% year-over-year decline in fiscal Q1 2025 net sales on a constant currency and portfolio basis, primarily due to a challenging prior-year comparison in Nokia Technologies. Network Infrastructure rose 11% on a constant currency and portfolio basis, while Cloud and Network Services grew 8%. Nokia Oyjs (NYSE:NOK) full-year 2025 outlook remained unchanged, with a comparable operating profit of between EUR 1.9 billion and 2.4 billion and free cash flow conversion from comparable operating profit of between 50% and 80%. Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK) provides network infrastructure, software, and technology services. Its operations are divided into the following segments: Mobile Networks, Network Infrastructure, Cloud and Network Services, and Nokia Technologies. While we acknowledge the potential of NOK as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. PHILADELPHIA (AP) A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday struck down a New Jersey law that bans operators from contracting with the federal government to run immigration detention centers in the state. The 2-1 ruling means the private prison firm CoreCivic Corp. can continue to operate the Elizabeth Detention Center. The ruling marked a victory for President Donald Trump's administration as it continues a crackdown on immigration around the country that has included efforts to expand a network of detention centers in a bid to ramp up deporations of certain immigrants. Just as states cannot regulate the federal government itself, they cannot regulate private parties in a way that severely undercuts a federal function, U.S. Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas, an appointee of President Trump, wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law, he said, interferes with the federal governments core power to enforce immigration laws. The 2021 law signed by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy barred CoreCivic from renewing its contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The company sued, and a district judge sided with the firm before the state appealed the ruling to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court. Attorney General Matthew Platkin, in a social media post, called Tuesday's ruling disappointing and said states have the right to protect people within their borders. He said the office is considering its next steps. As recent events at Delaney Hall underscore, entrusting detention to for-profit companies poses grave risks to health and safety," he said, referring to recent turmoil over conditions at a 1,000-bed private prison facility that opened in May in Newark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, a Democrat, was charged by Trump's Justice Department with assaulting immigration officers at a May 9 visit to the Newark facility. McIver has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was also arrested on a trespassing charge at Delaney Hall that was later dropped, has filed a malicious prosecution lawsuit. CoreCivic, in a statement Tuesday, said that it does not make arrests or enforce immigration laws. Our responsibility is to care for each person respectfully and humanely while they receive the legal due process that they are entitled to, spokesman Ryan Gustin said. AUSTIN (KXAN) Health officials announced this week that the measles virus was detected in the Austin-Travis County areas wastewater. There are no reported measles cases in the area right now, so how did it show up in the wastewater? Dr. Desmar Walkes, the medical director for Austin Public Health and Travis County Health Authority, said the source of that detection is unknown right now, but it could have come from a couple of different things. Measles detected in Travis County wastewater: Austin Public Health Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The evidence shows that at the time when we collected the wastewater, there was the presence of that virus in the wastewater, Walkes said. The source of that, we dont know at this point, because weve not had any reported cases, nor have we any tests pending from people that were suspected of having measles. Walkes said the virus couldve shown up in the wastewater from someone who was sick and didnt seek medical attention, or APH is unaware of their illness, or it couldve been from someone who was traveling through the area. Its significant for us because weve not had a detection of measles here in the water before now, and we want to make sure that we let our partners know in the healthcare system that this has occurred, just in case there was someone here who had measles and exposed others in our jurisdiction so that they can be, you know, alert and testing as they have been people that come in with symptoms, Walkes said. So far this year, Travis County has had only two positive measles cases in 2025, both of which were travel-related. One of those cases was reported in February, and the other in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wastewater is collected from sewage treatment plants, then APH sends it off for testing. Walkes said the traces of the virus were detected in samples that were taken July 6, which were reported to the health agency on July 18. As people use the bathroom, they are depositing information about whether or not they are sick as well, Walkes explained. So, we take that information when we do the tests, and it gives us a snapshot of whether or not there is the presence of communicable disease in the water that were testing. Its a way that we do surveillance in our community so we can understand whether or not there is something out there that may be making our population ill, and in this case, we picked up measles, Walkes said. Walkes said wastewater testing wasnt something that was widely done prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but APH found it to be a valuable tool in our tool belt for ways that we do surveillance for communicable disease, following COVID. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Past coverage: Austin is testing wastewater for COVID-19 again When the COVID pandemic hit the Austin-Travis County area, wastewater surveillance would often reveal the virus in the water a few days before an uptick in reported COVID cases, Walkes explained. [Wastewater testing] has really, has helped us understand whats going on from a population health perspective, particularly when we dont have a lot of testing going on or testing thats being reported, Walkes said. While the wastewater results dont reveal anything about who has measles or how many people in the area have measles, Walkes said its an important reminder to be vigilant and protected against the virus, and APH is ramping up surveillance as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Measles is very contagious. Heres how to avoid it In this instance, we picked up measles, so weve been monitoring and have had heightened surveillance because we have an outbreak in the state of Texas, which appears to be winding down, but we know that its not over, Walkes said. We know that people have been traveling. We know that there are still people who are not vaccinated, and so because we know those things, we want to be sure that we can get the message out to people, so that they can be aware of whats going on, so they can get out there and get vaccinated. How to get vaccinated against measles APH offers the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine at a low cost or for free at its Shots for Tots and Big Shots clinics and different locations. Those interested can check the APH vaccine clinic schedule online to find a clinic near them. CommUnityCare also offers appointments that can be scheduled online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The MMR vaccine is also available at H-E-B pharmacies with no copay for people 14 and older participating in: Medical Access Program (MAP) Medical Access Program Basic Sliding Fee Scale Program The MMR vaccine is also offered at doctors offices and other pharmacies. Children under the age of 14 will require a prescription from a healthcare provider to receive the vaccine at a pharmacy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Trump's Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, is accusing former President Obama of manipulating intelligence related to the 2016 Russia probe and is signaling potential prosecutions. NBC News David Rohde joins Way Too Early to discuss Gabbards politicization of the intelligence community, and whether her claims offer new evidence or simply aim to change the subject. A city Department of Education teachers assistant was caught flying into Kennedy Airport with child pornography, federal prosecutors allege. Alejandro Santos, 47, who works with children with mental disabilities, some of them nonverbal, was stopped at the airport on July 15 after taking a flight to New York from the Dominican Republic, prosecutors allege. The Bronx resident was flagged as someone who might be carrying child sexual abuse material, and when Customs agents searched his phone they found about 50 child porn videos and images, according to a criminal complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court filings dont specify what led law enforcement officials to set up a lookout alert for Santos when he went through customs. Santos also had clothed photos of his students mixed into the camera roll of his phone, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Sise said at his arraignment on federal child porn charges in Brooklyn Federal Court last week. That certainly rings alarm bells for the government, Sise said last Wednesday. To date, we havent seen that hes had, you know, extracurricular activities with the students, but the investigation began yesterday, and we know that hes got pictures of his students on his personal device. Officials with the Department of Education would not reveal at which school Santos worked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This alleged behavior is extremely concerning and unacceptable, said Jenna Lyle, a spokeswoman for the public schools. This employee was suspended immediately following their arrest, and if convicted, we will pursue termination. Santos lawyer, Kyla Wells of Federal Defenders, said at the arraignment that he was returning home from a vacation with his sister when he was stopped at the airport. Santos is a 21-year DOE veteran, she said. Magistrate Judge Cheryl Pollack ordered Santos released on $200,000 bond, secured by his two sisters and his brother-in-law. Hes not allowed to communicate with any children other than his own, and is barred from using the internet, except to communicate with people approved by pretrial services officials. His lawyer declined comment Tuesday. With Cayla Bamberger The founder of a violent militia group who was pardoned for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack by President Donald Trump, warned that Trump faces trouble over not releasing documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right group the Oath Keepers, has joined a growing chorus of MAGA voices who have expressed anger that Trump hasnt released more information about Epstein, the disgraced financier who killed himself in 2019 before he was set to face trial for sex crimes. I believe 90% of his own base understands that Epstein was up to something and we know thats the tip of the iceberg, Rhodes told a crowd at a Comfort Inn in Texas last week, the Daily Beast first reported on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rhodes was referring to Attorney General Pam Bondis announcement earlier this month that documents related to Epstein including potential information on his co-conspirators dont exist. Trump, a longtime friend of Epstein, has blamed Democrats over what he calls a hoax. Its really disheartening to see President Trump just declare that to be a hoax, Rhodes said. I dont think it is. And I think its going to cause him trouble in his own base. It already is. Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in the Jan. 6 attack and was pardoned by Trump along with more than 1,500 other rioters. Rhodes and his fellow Oath Keepers had planned to stop Congress from certifying Joe Bidens election by any means necessary, including using an arsenal of guns that they brought from across the country if Trump had invoked the Insurrection Act that day. Trump falsely claimed his poll numbers have gone up, significantly following the lack of Epstein files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My Poll Numbers within the Republican Party, and MAGA, have gone up, significantly, since the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax was exposed by the Radical Left Democrats and, just plain troublemakers, Trump wrote Sunday on his social media platform Truth Social. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) canceled upcoming House votes on Tuesday and is sending lawmakers home early for a five-week recess to block a bipartisan effort to force a vote on releasing files on Epstein. On Tuesday, Trump again downplayed his role with Epstein. We had the Greatest Six Months of any President in the History of our Country, and all the Fake News wants to talk about is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax! Trump wrote on Truth Social. Barack Obama is hitting back at the Trump administration for accusing the former president of treason. Donald Trumps director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, last week shared documents that she misleadingly claimed proved that the Obama White House manufactured intelligence about Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election to lay the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup against President Trump. The president seems keen on using this purported evidence of sedatious activity (as he inventively put it Tuesday) to force the national conversation off his perceived lack of transparency regarding the case of deceased sex criminal and his former friend Jeffrey Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president on Sunday shared memes about imprisoning Obama. On Tuesday, he told a reporter with an Epstein-related inquiry that Gabbards story is what they should be talking about instead. Later Tuesday, Obama spokesman Patrick Rodenbush responded to the attacks with a statement excoriating Trumps allegations as bizarre, ridiculous, and a weak attempt at distraction. Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response, the statement reads. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. Rodenbush continues: Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes. These findings, he also points out, were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, which was then chaired by Marco Rubiomeaning that, somewhat uncomfortably for Trump, Gabbards accusations of treasonous conspiracy, taken at face value, would implicate the second-highest-ranking official in his Cabinet. Former President Barack Obama hit back Tuesday at President Donald Trumps accusation that his predecessor committed treason related to the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Hours after Trump falsely accused Obama of trying to rig the 2016 election, the ex-presidents office said it had no choice but to publicly refute the claim. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction, Obamas office said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 44th commander in chiefs office debunked the claim that an intelligence report released last week by Trump Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard somehow amounts to new evidence against Obama or losing 2016 Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. The statement noted that neither Obama nor Clinton ever claimed that Russia succeeded in flipping votes from the Democrat to Trumps column in the election that catapulted him to the White House. It pointed to a 2020 bipartisan report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-chairman ex-Sen. Marco Rubio, that instead accused Russia of seeking to influence the election in Trumps favor. Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes, Obamas office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement came soon after Trump erupted in a rant against Obama during an Oval Office meeting with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos. They caught President Obama absolutely cold, Trump said. They tried to rig the election and they got caught. Its time to go after people, he added. Obamas been caught directlyHes guilty. This was treason. Trumps outburst is seen by critics as an attempt to distract from negative attention regarding his relationship with late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and unanswered calls to release files related to the notorious pedophiles case. Trumps right-wing MAGA base has been pushing for the administration to publicly bare Department of Justice files on the case even after Attorney General Pam Bondi said she wouldnt release any more information related to the sex-trafficking case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabbards report, released Friday, appears to be the latest effort to change the subject from Epstein. It downplayed the extent of Russian interference in the 2016 election by highlighting Obama administration emails showing officials had concluded before and after the presidential race that Moscow had not hacked state election systems to manipulate votes in Trumps favor. But Obamas Democratic administration never suggested otherwise, even as it exposed other means by which Russia interfered in the election, including through a massive hack-and-leak operation of Democratic emails by intelligence operatives working with WikiLeaks. _____ Barack Obama fired back at Donald Trump after he and members of his administration accused the former president of criminal behavior surrounding the 2016 election. On Tuesday, Obama issued a rare public message following Trump resurfacing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbards comments from the weekend that the former president took part in a treasonous conspiracy with his administration manufacturing intelligence to suggest Russia attempted to influence the results of the 2016 election. More from TheWrap Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction, the statement attributed to Patrick Rodenbush, a spokesperson for Obama, read. Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes. These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio. The assertions began with Gabbards appearance on Fox & Friends over the weekend. The director of national intelligence said the Obama administration worked to make it seem like Russia attempted to influence the 2016 election that saw Trump victorious over Hillary Clinton. Special prosecutor Robert Muellers 2019 report found no evidence Trumps campaign colluded with Russia at the time, but determined it made efforts to interfere in the election. President Obama and his team, he directed a manufactured piece of intelligence that detailed not if, but how Russia tried to influence the outcome of the United States election that President Trump won in November of 2016, she said. This document was then used as the foundation for everything that came next. Trump added fuel to the fire Tuesday morning when he brought up Gabbards weekend points. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The witch hunt that you should be talking about is they caught President Obama, Trump said when asked about the ongoing Epstein scandal for his administration. What they did to this country in 2016, starting in 2016 but going up to 2020 of the election, they tried to rig the election and they got caught. There should be very severe consequences for that. When we caught Hillary Clinton, I said, you know what, lets not go too far here. Its the ex-wife of a president and I thought it was sort of terrible. I let her off the hook and Im very happy I did. But its time to start after what they did to me and whether its the right or wrong its time to go after people. Obama has been caught directly. The post Obama Makes Rare Statement Slamming Trumps New 2016 Election Conspiracy: A Weak Attempt at Distraction appeared first on TheWrap. A spokesperson for former President Barack Obama on Tuesday dusted the cobwebs off his keyboard to type out a rare rebuttal to President Donald Trumps incessant nonsense. Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response, wrote Patrick Rodenbush. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodenbush was responding to Trumps false assertions last week that he never sought, nor benefited from, Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes, Rodenbush continued. These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio. Trump leveled the charge last week with the assistance of Russia-friendly spy chief Tulsi Gabbard, going so far as to say that Obama manufactured and politicized intelligence to launch a years-long coup against President Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (The claim is plainly false: Even casual readers likely remember when Trump publicly called for Russian hackers to obtain and release private emails from Hillary Clintons private email server and they obeyed the same day.) Nevertheless, Trump doubled down on the conspiracy Tuesday, telling reporters in the Oval Office that he believed Obama ought to face consequences. They tried to rig the election, and they got caught. And there should be very severe consequences for that, he said. Rodenbush told HuffPost Trumps Oval Office comments today called for a response. Ned Price, a former spokesman for the National Security Council in the Obama administration, previously told HuffPost it sure looks like Gabbard is helping Trump try to distract the nation from the Epstein files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Related... This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter. A U.K. judge has ordered JPMorgan Chase to stop suing the directors of Greek fintech Viva Wallet amid its international legal battle with Viva majority shareholder Werealize. JPMorgan sued four Viva executives, along with Werealize, for 917 million in damages in January, one year after Viva CEO Haris Karonis first sued the U.S. bank for allegedly impeding the fintechs growth. JPMorgan alleged that the fintechs executives deprived the bank of the value of its investment in Viva through illegal actions starting in March 2022. JPMorgan purchased 49.5% of Viva earlier in 2022, and the balance of the fintech is owned by Werealize. But U.K. Judge David Foxton granted Werealize and Vivas directors an anti-suit injunction Friday on the grounds that filing the lawsuit in Greece violated the firms shareholder agreement. We welcome the Courts finding that JPM breached its Shareholders Agreement (SHA) with WRL and must discontinue its baseless Greek proceedings against certain Viva board members, in which it claimed 917 million in damages (the amount invested in Viva), Karonis said in a prepared statement. Todays judgment exposes JPMs strategy for what it is: a targeted campaign of lawfare, aimed at pressuring WRL and intimidating Vivas directors through meritless litigation, solely to obstruct WRLs contractual right to exercise its call option and assume full control of Viva. He added that the bank must now step aside and allow Viva to continue growing and reach its full commercial potential. JPMorgan, however, also claimed victory following Foxtons ruling. We are pleased that the court ruled predominantly in our favor, and that WRL/Viva can no longer unjustly target our colleagues who served diligently on the Viva board, a spokesperson said via email. It is worth noting that Greek courts independently dismissed their baseless charges against our colleagues, as well. The UK court also rejected any claims of JPM acting abusively or in bad faith, the spokesperson said. While we will continue to address their litigious tactics, and many matters are still being resolved by the courts, our commitment remains steadfast to the business and our investment. While Karonis called on JPMorgan to bring an end to this pattern of self-embarrassment and engage in productive discussion, JPMorgans spokesperson said the bank hopes the rulings encourage Werealize to redirect their focus and energy towards the success of Viva. In May, JPMorgan withdrew its claim that Werealize breached its shareholder agreement with JPMorgan by allowing Viva to take certain business actions without obtaining JPMorgans consent. The claims were specific to the U.K. lawsuit. The State Department of Education is pictured. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY A senior officials resignation letter that the Oklahoma State Department of Education has fought to keep secret raises concerns of fundamental operational issues at the agency. Chief Compliance Officer Kourtney Heard resigned from the Education Department on April 4. Her resignation letter, which Oklahoma Voice obtained, alleges significant challenges, including manipulation of school accreditation, are hindering the Education Department from achieving better outcomes for students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heard declined to comment Tuesday. Oklahoma Voice received her letter from another former agency employee and independently confirmed its authenticity. The letter is the subject of an open records lawsuit from another media outlet, Oklahoma Watch. Education Department spokesperson Quinton Hitchcock declined to comment on the allegations raised in Heards letter. He said he is unable to comment on any personnel matters regarding employees, past or present. Heard joined the agency in April 2024 from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and now works for the state Teacher Retirement System, according to her LinkedIn account. She wrote in her letter, addressed to state Superintendent Ryan Walters and the Oklahoma State Board of Education, that leaving the agency was a difficult decision after having the privilege of working alongside talented colleagues and contributing to the departments important work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The challenges faced by the agency are significant, and despite best efforts, I believe that without addressing fundamental operational issues and senior leadership attitudes, the agency will not be able to achieve the outcomes that Oklahoma students deserve, Heard wrote. She wrote that she witnessed the barriers to progress firsthand. Those barriers include manipulation of school accreditation and deleting of employee review processes, she alleged. Her letter doesnt include details of how the agency carried out these manipulations nor which schools and employees were affected. Accreditation is one of the departments top functions, as no public school can operate in the state without an accreditation status. Agency staff conduct yearly accreditation reviews of every public school and district to ensure they adhere to state regulations and to identify potential deficiencies. The state Board of Education then approves each schools accreditation status annually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is my firm belief that until these issues are addressed comprehensively, the agency will not be successful in moving the needle, Heard wrote. It is my hope that the agency will focus on these critical areas to ensure that future initiatives result in meaningful, long-term improvements for our children. Another media outlet, Oklahoma Watch, filed a lawsuit in Oklahoma County District Court after the Education Department refused to turn over records of Heards resignation. The publication contends its a violation of the state Open Records Act to withhold these documents. The agency also rejected access to Oklahoma Voice in response to an open records request for Heards letter. The department now refuses to provide resignation letters from any former employee. While responding in court to the Oklahoma Watch lawsuit, the agency contended it has sole discretion to withhold resignation records because it would violate employee privacy to make them public. It also cited a section of the state Open Records Act that permits public bodies to keep resignation documents confidential if they pertain to an internal personnel investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the agency has refused to confirm whether such an investigation exists into Heard and other former staff members whose resignation letters are being withheld. Releasing resignation records would only serve a persons curiosity, not the public interest, the agency contended in court documents. The public has a right to know what Heards resignation letter contains, said Joey Senat, an Open Records Act expert and associate professor at Oklahoma State University. Resignation letters, which are generally considered public records, reveal when internal problems at a government agency prompted an employee to leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those are the kind of problems that the public needs to know about, Senat said. So, this is about the publics need to know. This is clearly not about idle curiosity. It is our government, and we have an obligation to oversee that government. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters says the taxpayer-funded agency he runs, the Oklahoma State Department of Education, is partnering with an Arizona-based online private school to teach Oklahoma children. Walters, a politically far-right Republican, said on Tuesday, July 22, that the school, the American Virtual Academy, is focused on promoting American principles rather than pushing a liberal agenda that has proven to be anti-American, antisemitic and anti-family. Walters also described the school as the state education agency's partner in a fight against far Left teachers unions and woke educators using the classroom for their political activism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walters said the school is seeking approval to participate in Oklahomas Parental Choice Tax Credit program, which would mean recipients of the tax credit could use it to pay tuition charged by the school. American Virtual Academy, which offers online classes for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, lists its address as being in Goodyear, Arizona. It formerly was known as The Bridge School and listed its home base as Houston. According to its website, it charges $3,000 per semester for high school students and $2,500 per semester for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Oklahoma has multiple online public schools that are free, most notably Epic Charter Schools, which has more than 25,000 students across the state. State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters said his agency has reached an agreement with an Arizona-based online private school that wants to participate in Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit program. Private school tax credits popular in Republican-controlled states Tax credit programs to pay for private school tuition have become increasingly popular in Republican-controlled states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma legislators approved the state's Parental Choice Tax Credit program in 2023, and it was officially launched that December. Under the program, any family whose children attend a private school can claim tax refunds between $5,000 and $7,500 annually, with priority given to families with household incomes of $150,000 or less. The Legislature budgeted $250 million for the program for the current fiscal year, which started on July 1. Supporters of the tax credits, including Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, have said they give lower-income families more school choices. Critics of the program have said it forces taxpayers to subsidize families who already were sending their children to private schools and that it funnels money that otherwise might be used for public education into private schools. More than 40% of the tax credits issued as part of Oklahomas Parental Choice Tax Credit program for the 2025-26 school year went to families with an annual income of $150,000 or more, according to a report from the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Left-wing indoctrination in schools poses a serious threat to our students, and parents deserve more options for their kids, Walters said in the statement announcing the partnership with American Virtual Academy. We are proud to be one of the first states in the country to do this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Virtual Academy website, under the heading scholarships, includes links to information in eight other states (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming) with programs similar to Oklahomas Parental Choice Tax Credit Program. The website also notes American Virtual Academy is accredited through Cognia. That organization is recognized by the Oklahoma Private School Accrediting Commission, Walters said in a statement to The Oklahoman. It's unclear if the agreement between the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the American Virtual Academy would need to be approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Education, which oversees the state agency. While Walters is the boards chair, he has clashed in recent months with four new members appointed earlier this year by Stitt, with whom Walters has had a political falling-out. The board's next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 24. Walters told The Oklahoman such approval is not needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is zero financial benefit to OSDE the only ones benefitting from this opportunity are Oklahoma's children," he said. Walters' announcement of the partnership with American Virtual Academy also included a statement from an official linked to the school, who said it would offer an "America First Education." We are thrilled to work with OSDE to provide Oklahoma parents with a pro-American, patriotic education for their children, said Tracy Harelson, the executive director of Verano Learning Partners. The Arizona nonprofit was described in the announcement as a "corporate partner for American Virtual Academy." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSDE will partner with American Virtual Academy to teach in Oklahoma Medical marijuana is pictured. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY Recreational marijuana supporters are moving forward with an effort to get it on the ballot, despite uncertainty about the constitutionality of a new law that slaps more regulations on the process. Supporters of State Question 837 received permission to begin collecting signatures for a constitutional amendment that would legalize the use of recreational marijuana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporters can begin collecting signatures Aug. 6. The deadline to turn in the 172,993 signatures is Nov. 3. Lawmakers passed and Gov. Kevin Stitt in May signed into law Senate Bill 1027 that puts more restrictions on the process voters use to get issues on the ballot. It quickly drew two legal challenges in the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The states high court has not blocked the law from taking effect because it wrote that it is considering a challenge to a State Question 836 to open the states primaries. The court order does not explain the reasoning. Among other things, the new petition law puts caps on the number of signatures that can be collected by county, which supporters say forces greater participation outside the highest populated counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jed Green is director of Oklahomans for Responsible Cannabis Action, a marijuana policy advocacy group backing legalization. We are proceeding forward and following the guidance provided by the Secretary of State at the front end, Geen said. This is basically extra administrative work for us. The more egregious unconstitutional aspects of 1027 may be litigated at some point in the future. The geographical requirements of the new law mean the organization has to collect signatures in 20 counties, which he is confident can be successfully done because his organization is statewide, he said. I think it is nearly impossible for anyone to be successful under the new rules, said Amber England, who has worked on several ballot initiatives, including the successful effort to expand Medicaid and a current effort to raise the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour. The latter issue will be on the ballot in June 2026. While the state may have an initiative petition process on the books, because of the restrictions lawmakers have implemented, it effectively has been shut down, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have worked on various different initiative petitions over the last decade, she said. The process has gotten harder every single time because of the different restrictions the Legislature has put on the process in an effort to take power away from voters. After lawmakers refused to act, voters used the process to expand Medicaid, pass criminal justice reform and legalize medical marijuana. But voters have balked at legalizing recreational marijuana. In 2018, 57% of voters approved legalizing medical marijuana. But less than five years later, they defeated a proposed state statute change that would have legalized recreational marijuana. The vote was nearly 62% against State Question 820. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pat McFerron, who ran the campaign against the recreational marijuana legalization, said it failed in all 77 counties. I think most Oklahomans believe the current system we have is de facto recreational, he said. The barrier is so miniscule so I see no desire among the public to make it even easier to buy cannabis. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Jul. 22---- The deceased and surviving occupants of the jet that crashed near Granite Falls on Monday evening have been identified. David Colin Dacus, 46, of San Francisco, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash shortly before 5:30 p.m. Monday. Mark Ryan Ruff, 43, of Dallas, was the surviving occupant. First responders located Ruff standing alongside Minnesota Highway 23 at the crash scene and provided medical care, according to a news release from the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff's Office. The jet crashed between the highway and BNSF Railway line about 5 miles south of Granite Falls and just north of Yellow Medicine County Road 39 near the Granite Falls Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The men were aboard a 50-year-old military trainer jet known as an Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros. The Czech-built aircraft is registered as N339L to an individual in Alpine, Wyoming. The two occupants of the jet were flying from Watertown, South Dakota, to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to attend the Experimental Aircraft Association show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. They had flown from Gillette, Wyoming, to Watertown on Monday afternoon. Federal Aviation Administration records show they were in the air for 23 minutes, from 5:06 p.m. to 5:29 p.m., after departing Watertown. The jet made a steady climb while on a route "straight as an arrow" from Watertown, toward Fond du Lac, reaching an altitude of 20,000 feet, according to flight data reviewed by Robert Katz, a commercial pilot in Dallas with 43 years of experience as a pilot and analyzing records of flights. Katz said that, in his opinion, a rapid climb to 20,000 feet may have stressed the 50-year-old aircraft, but that it would not be unusual to climb to that height for a flight covering the distance between Watertown and Fond du Lac. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flight data show the jet began a steady descent after it reached its peak altitude. Yellow Medicine County Sheriff Bill Flaten reported that his office had been informed the plane was experiencing engine problems. The flight path shows the jet made a relatively large, circular loop in the vicinity of the Granite Falls Airport, apparently as part of the attempt to descend for a landing. It made a much smaller loop and descended in seconds at its crash location, according to the FAA data. At approximately 5:32 p.m. Monday, the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call that an aircraft had crashed. Emergency responders arrived on the scene and assisted the lone survivor. While at the crash scene, personnel determined that there was an unspent cartridge used for the ejection seats in the jet. The Bloomington Bomb Squad and the 148th Air Wing were called for assistance, according to the news release from the Sheriff's Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The cartridge was safely removed from the site and a controlled explosion was performed to render it safe," the release stated. Investigators with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board arrived on the scene Tuesday. They are conducting a full investigation into the incident. They will remove the wreckage and examine it at a different location, according to the news release. The sheriff stated that any further questions regarding the crash investigation should be directed to the federal agencies. Assisting in the response were the Granite Falls Police Department, Granite Falls Fire Department, Avera Granite Falls Ambulance, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Chippewa County Sheriff's Office, Bloomington Bomb Squad, the 148th Fighter Wing, Xcel Energy, BNSF, Upper Sioux Community, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Avera Granite Falls Health Center and the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office. OAKFIELD, Wis. (WFRV) An 81-year-old woman from south central Wisconsin was killed during a head-on collision in Fond du Lac County on Tuesday afternoon. According to the Fond du Lac County Sheriffs Office, multiple 911 calls reported the crash on U.S. Highway 151 near Thill Road in Oakfield, with deputies and State Patrol Troopers responding. Crashes like this are avoidable: Squad car in Wisconsin severely damaged after being hit by suspected intoxicated driver Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two Dane County Sheriffs Office deputies were in the area for an assignment and witnessed the collision as it happened, immediately providing medical aid to those involved. An 81-year-old woman from the Sun Prairie area was pronounced dead at the scene, with a 59-year-old Waupun man seriously injured and hospitalized for treatment. Preliminary investigations indicate that the woman was heading southbound when she may have suffered a medical emergency, crossing over the grass median into the northern lanes and hitting the Waupun mans vehicle. Ozzy Osbourne dies weeks after farewell show The man reportedly attempted to avoid the collision by maneuvering away, subsequently sideswiping another vehicle. The third vehicles occupants reported no injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No additional details are 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Despite the best efforts of the Justice Department, former Louisville, Kentucky, police detective Brett Hankison will be going to prison. For all the open displays of hostility the second Trump administration has exhibited toward the Black community thus far and there have been many the Justice Departments sentencing recommendation for one of the men involved in the fatal raid on Breonna Taylors apartment felt like a particularly brazen show of contempt. Hankison was one of the officers involved in the raid that killed 26-year-old Taylor on March 13, 2020, when several other officers executed a "no knock" search warrant tied to an ex-boyfriend of Taylors who did not live at her home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hankison, who fired several shots in the raid, did not fire the shot that killed Taylor, though he was found guilty by a federal jury last November of violating Taylors civil rights. And frustratingly, while there remains an investigation into the warrant that authorized the raid, Hankison is the only officer who fired into Taylors apartment to be charged and convicted of any crime. Federal prosecutors declined to prosecute the officer who did fire the fatal shot, Myles Cosgrove, stating that he was justified in his actions. Breonna Taylors killing will never yield complete justice, yet if it is left to the Trump administration, Breonna, her grieving family and all those who understand their plight would receive no justice at all. In a sentencing memorandum Wednesday, Justice Department officials recommended Hankison be given a downward variance, or lower sentence, rather than the range recommended by the federal sentencing guidelines. Whereas the U.S. Probation Office recommended 11 to 14 years, the Justice Department request called for Hankison to receive one days imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release and a $100 fine. That sentence, had the judge agreed, would have been the equivalent of time served. He would have walked free. The memorandum was signed by two Trump appointees, Robert J. Keenum, senior counsel for the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division, and Harmeet Dhillon, the departments assistant attorney general. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keenum and Dhillon did not seem concerned with justice for Taylors wrongful death. Nor did they seem concerned with her civil rights, focusing instead on Hankisons well-being. Per the memo, in light of the three trials of [Hankison] and the media attention given to each trial, it is no surprise that [he] has suffered from resulting stress and psychological problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, sleeping difficulties and related conditions. The memo also claimed that Hankisons personal history and characteristics back up the assertion that there is no need for a prison sentence to protect the public from the defendant or provide just punishment or deterrence. Rightfully, lawyers for Taylors family referred to this as an insult and added that Breonnas mother, Tamika Palmer, had been left, once again, heartbroken and angry. It is unfathomable that, after finally securing a conviction, the Department of Justice would seek a sentence so drastically below the federal guidelines, lawyers Ben Crump, Lonita Baker and Sam Aguiar said in a statement condemning the Justice Department recommendation. This sets a dangerous precedent, the statement continued. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Statistics bear this out. As Crump argued in a separate op-ed for USA Today, a recent study showed Black women and girls are already 40% more likely to be killed by police than white women, even though they are just 15% of the female U.S. population, according to a 2024 study. More than half of these deaths were callously classified as collateral damage, meaning the women were not even the intended targets of the police action that took their lives," Crump continued. And data scientist and policy analyst Samuel Sinyangwe, the founder of Mapping Police Violence, a database of police killings in the United States, highlighted research that suggests police already get more lenient sentences than civilians convicted of the same crimes. Infuriatingly, although U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings noted the Justice Departments recommendation was inappropriate, she also went with a lower number than what was listed in the U.S. Probation Office presentencing report. It is shameful that Brett Hankison will spend less than three years in prison for blindly spraying bullets through an apartment in the middle of the night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is shameful that the Trump administration, and specifically the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division, tried to brazenly subvert justice in the case of an incredibly unjust death. (And likely will try to do so again.) And it is shameful that throughout this case, the justice system has consistently seemed to be on their side. Yet no matter what the president or the assistant attorney general says, Breonna Taylors life mattered. And we will continue to speak her name. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Hunter Biden, the son of former President Joe Biden, went on a series of expletive-laden rants about the 2024 election in a recent interview with YouTuber Andrew Callaghan. According to the former president's son, it seems that everyone in the world can be blamed for Donald Trump's victory last November. Everyone, that is, except his father. Hunter Biden was furious that actor George Clooney called for Joe Biden to drop out of the White House race in the summer of 2024. "What right do you have to step on a man whos given 52 years of his f---ing life to the services 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 to undermine the president? Biden ranted in the interview. Clooney didn't take an "ad" out in the Times; he wrote an even-handed op-ed in that paper, in which he expressed "love" for Joe Biden but said his experiences with the president led him to believe that Biden was too old to run again. But Hunter's questioning of Clooney's "right" to criticize his father is what makes Hunter's words unbearably arrogant. Hunter Biden seems to think that a citizens expressing his views about the president was in some sense inappropriate or stepping out of their lane. In reality what Clooney was doing was not only his democratic right; it was his responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The younger Biden also lashed out at influential figures in the party as useless, and named several Obama advisers as undeserving of their success. Former Obama adviser David Axelrod had one success in his political life, and that was Barack Obama and that was because of Barack Obama, he said. He also blamed Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker, for his father's downfall and criticized her for declining to give Joe Biden "a full-throated endorsement" in 2024 (Pelosi didnt publicly call for Biden to drop out but worked behind the scenes to pressure him to exit). Hunter Biden's defense of his father's infamous debate performance was unconvincing. Hes 81 years old; hes tired as s---, Hunter Biden said. They give him Ambien to be able to sleep, and he gets up on the stage and he looks like hes a deer in the headlights. Even if that explanation were true, it only seems to underscore the underlying truth that Biden was too old to handle the rigors of a presidential run. More importantly, there is, of course, no evidence that Biden's well-documented decline in communicative abilities as president can be attributed to popping sleeping pills. Undeterred, Hunter Biden expressed disbelief that Democrats didn't march blindly in lockstep behind his father. Why do you think that the Republicans have an advantage over us? Because theyre unified," Biden said. "They will go along with anything. He apparently thinks cultlike devotion to a leader in a party is a good thing. But that's not necessarily what voters will go for. Hunter Biden, like his father, appears hostile to introspection and determined to live forever in a fantasy that the country failed the Bidens rather than the other way around. It's perhaps not surprising coming from someone who, as the son of then-Vice President Biden, landed an astonishingly inappropriate gig paying up to $50,000 a month on the board of a Ukrainian national gas company that he had no apparent qualifications for. Someone whose constant reckless behavior became a political albatross for the Democratic Party. Someone who pleaded guilty to tax fraud and then received a presidential pardon from his father. Out here in the real world, however, we do live in a world with consequences. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The Israel Defense Forces struck the only Catholic church in Gaza last week. The compound of the Holy Family, which belongs to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was hit at 10:20 a.m. local time. Three civilians were killed and nine others injured, including the parish priest. The Patriarchate described the attack plainly: the targeting of innocent civilians. Israel, after a torrent of international criticism including from President Trump, claimed the strike was a mistake. But no public evidence has yet supported that explanation. Churches, of course, are not difficult to identify: cross, steeple, certain features. And no credible account has emerged explaining how this specific target was mistakenly hit. Many argue that the strike may have been an intentional form of retaliation for Christian leaders recent criticism of Israeli settler violence in a West Bank Christian town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of intent, this strike is an instantiation of a political turning point. The truth is that Israel overstepped not only the line of military proportionality, but the line that keeps even its staunchest allies American evangelical conservatives in its corner. That shift is visible at the top. Even Mike Huckabee, a longtime evangelical ally of Israel and U.S. ambassador to the country, has warned that Israel may be turning openly hostile toward Christians. In a pointed letter to Israels Interior minister, he threatened visa restrictions on Israel for blocking Christian pilgrims from entering the country. Huckabees criticism matters not just because of his stature, but that he represents millions of evangelical voters who have historically provided Israel with a powerful base of bipartisan American support. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), too, voted alongside Democrats to strip Israel of $500 million in funding hours after the bombing. Another Mike, Daily Wire commentator and essential Christian Zionist Michael Knowles, reacted to the strike and said: Youre losing me. When you strike churches and start interfering with American interests Now weve got a problem. Support for Israel in the U.S. has long rested on two legs: shared strategic interests and shared moral values. The second of those legs is buckling: not just on the left, but now, visibly, among Israels own evangelical base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The political backlash already underway clearly shows that Israels pattern of hostility toward Christians is beginning to carry substantial consequences. Evidently, Israels gamble with the goodwill of its strongest political base in the U.S. has failed. And theres another reason why striking a church is politically self-defeating: the West may struggle to communicate empathy for Palestinian civilians, but they brought in the beacon of American conservatism: Christianity and the church. I say this not as someone predisposed to condemn Israel. I as a Christian was broadly supportive of Israel in the weeks following Oct. 7. Not out of ideology but because, prudentially, I believed Israels response to Hamas attacks was warranted and necessary. But I now firmly believe government of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has crossed the proportionality line with its recent food and aid blockade and relentless bombardment of civilians. Self-evidently, Israel has gone beyond its supposed mission to eliminate Hamas and get the remaining hostages released, and now seem overshadowed by an egregiously destructive military operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And just as Israels moral clarity has eroded, so too has the political cover once granted by its most reliable American supporters. When Israel strikes the church in Gaza they lose Michael Knowles. When Israel starts interfering with Christian pilgrims, they lose Mike Huckabee. And if they lose the Huckabee archetype, whom they rely on, then the Israeli government is badly misplaying its hand. In any case, an indefinite war, especially one with such a catastrophic civilian toll, cannot retain public or political support in the U.S. Still, the U.S. remains Israels closest ally. But that support depends on shared values. If those values begin to diverge, so too will the relationship. William Liang is a writer living in San Francisco. His work has appeared in the Daily Wire, the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Diego Union-Tribune and 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 The Hill. BEND, Ore. (AP) Oregon authorities on Tuesday identified two people who died in a fatal waterfall accident as search operations continued for the one person who remains missing. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office said the victims include Amanda Lloyd, 40, of Rockwall, Texas; and Lindsay Bashan, 33, of Parkland, Florida. The accident happened Saturday afternoon when a group was swept over Dillon Falls on the Deschutes River, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the city of Bend. Authorities describe it as a dangerous section of the river, featuring 15-foot (5-meter) falls and whitewater rapids obstructed by rocks, logs and other debris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The six people were floating on inner tubes tied together, the sheriff's office said. The three people who survived jumped from their inner tubes and made it to shore, while the other three were swept into the rapids. One person died at the scene while a second body was found Monday. Teams were searching for the one person still missing on Tuesday, authorities said. A diver was surveying the area from a plane, while a separate aircraft assisted with specialized search cameras. Search dogs were also at the scene. The sheriffs office praised those involved in search operations during the difficult and emotional incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have led a coordinated and effective mission under very challenging conditions, and their work has already helped bring answers and closure to two grieving families," spokesperson Jason Carr said in a statement. Carr has previously said that the missing were presumed dead due to the unlikelihood of surviving the falls. People recreating on that area of the river normally exit at the Dillon Falls day use area, as the waterfall is just around the bend, Carr said. Signs along the river warn of the hazardous waterfall ahead. The three people rescued had minor wounds such as scrapes and bruises and were able to exit the rescue boat on their own and walk. They were transported to a local hospital to ensure they had no other injuries, Carr said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The names of the three survivors are being withheld to respect their privacy, the sheriff's office said. The Deschutes River, which runs through Bend, is popular during the summer for various water activities, including rafting, inner tube floating, kayaking and paddleboarding. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Two Oregon lawmakers reintroduced a bill in Congress on Tuesday that would limit deployment of federal law enforcement to states. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) reintroduced the Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on Americas Streets Act in an effort to stop the Trump administration from deploying federal law enforcement and armed forces against Americans. The bill would limit deployment of federal law enforcement or armed forces to a city unless the aid is requested by the mayor and governor. Additionally, the bill would require federal law enforcement to have identifying information clearly displayed and would ban the use of unmarked vehicles during arrests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DONT MISS: Im gonna head to Portland: Federal border czar claims crackdown on sanctuary cities Merkley and Bonamici said they first introduced the bill in 2020 after unmarked federal law enforcement grabbed protesters off the street in Portland. Heavily armed, unidentified federal forces in unmarked vehicles grabbing protesters off the street are the actions of an authoritarian regime and have no place in our democratic republic, Sen. Merkley said. We cannot allow these secret police tactics and attacks on our fundamental freedoms. The Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on Americas Streets Act is a critical step against a gross violation of Americans civil rights. Oregonians remember the last time Donald Trump deployed unidentified federal officers to Portland, added Rep. Bonamici. The forces sent to Oregon in 2020 inflamed tensions and increased danger to peaceful protestors and others in the area. This authoritarian behavior cannot be tolerated. Im leading this legislation to protect Portland and cities across the country from occupation by unwanted federal law enforcement and armed forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNBC ranks Oregon among most expensive states. Heres why The bill has several Democratic cosponsors, including Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), along with Representatives Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05). Merkley and Bonamici noted their bill comes after the Trump administration deployed National Guard members to Los Angeles in early June following clashes between protesters and federal immigration authorities. At the time, the White House announced that President Trump would deploy soldiers to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester, in Los Angeles, as reported by the Associated Press, noting hundreds of soldiers accompanied law enforcement agents on immigration operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VIDEO: ClackCo deputies punched mentally disabled inmate 7 times, lawsuit claims In response to the deployment, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Los Angeles on June 8, as noted by AP, blocking a major freeway as law enforcement used tear gas, rubber bullets and flash bangs to control the crowd. The deployment led California Governor Gavin Newsom to file a lawsuit, arguing Trump violated the law when he deployed the California Guard despite his opposition. The governor also argued that the troops likely violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which bans troops from conducting civilian law enforcement in the U.S., AP notes. Merkley and Bonamici said their bill also comes amid reports of increasing numbers of federal officers around the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland. 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 KOIN.com. US President Donald Trump has shared an excerpt from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs speech delivered at the Shusha Global Media Forum, held in Khankendi, on his social media platform, Truth Social. In the shared segment, President Aliyev highlighted that Donald Trump shares fundamental values, including family with the Azerbaijani people, which is why he supports Trumps return to the US presidency. Aliyev emphasized that Trump was the only recent US president who did not start any wars, but rather sought to end them a stance that resonates with Azerbaijans vision of stability and peace in the region. President Aliyev also expressed his appreciation for Trumps personal efforts during his time in office to mediate peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, despite being engaged with broader global security challenges. President Trump hit India with 50% tariffs on Wednesday, a move that many say will upend a decades-long push by Washington to forge closer ties with New Delhi. Trump added an extra 25% tariffs on to India imports because of its purchase of Russian oil, which Trump claims has been aiding the Russian-Ukraine war. The new tariffs took effect from 12:01am today, doubling the existing 25% tariffs on Indian exports. Analysts say that Trump's tariffs could wipe out any gains India made from purchasing discounted Russian oil. The hit to labour-intensive industries, such as textiles is also a concern. This is going to be a very big impact on Indian exporters because 50% tariffs are not workable for the clients, said Israr Ahmed, managing director of Farida Shoes Pvt. Ltd., which depends on the US for 60% of its business. On Monday, Trump warned he could impose new tariffs and export limits on advanced technology and semiconductors in response to digital service taxes in other countries that he says unfairly target American tech firms. In a post to Truth Social late Monday, Trump argued the taxes are meant to hurt US companies while letting China's biggest tech players off the hook. "As the President of the United States, I will stand up to Countries that attack our incredible American Tech Companies," Trump wrote. Trump did not specify any countries in his post, but the European Union has employed various taxes and regulatory methods that Trump has said unfairly targets US tech giants. The EU defended its use of the measures on Tuesday. "Its the sovereign right of the EU and its member states to regulate our economic activities on our territory," a spokeswoman said. The new drama comes after the US and the EU established a written framework for the trade deal agreed to in late July. Also on Monday, Trump said a 15% tariff on imports from South Korea will hold despite President Lee Jae Myung's visit to Washington, D.C. The two countries struck a trade deal in July, allowing South Korea to avoid a stiffer 25% tariff, but tensions over the agreement have persisted, Bloomberg reported. Last week, Trump said that the US is investigating furniture imports and will impose a tariff on the products once the probe is complete. Also last week, Canada vowed to drop its retaliatory tariffs to match US tariff exemptions for goods covered under the US-Mexico-Canada trade pact. Earlier this month, Trump unveiled "reciprocal" tariffs on dozens of US trade partners (which you can see in the graphic below). Lamont Buckels (Courtesy: SLMPD) ST. LOUIS St. Louis police are asking for the publics help in locating two men accused of a drive-by shooting in downtown last month. According to an SLMPD spokesperson, the shooting occurred June 7 around 3 a.m. at Washington Avenue and Tucker Boulevard. Police said Lamont Mont Buckels, 24, and Dontay Tay Moore, 22, were firing guns while hanging out of a car. Dontay Moore (Courtesy: SLMPD) Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police at 314-444-2500. Tipsters who would like to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward can contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS. Only tips submitted to CrimeStoppers that lead to an arrest are eligible for the reward. 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 10 people have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Palestinian sources said on Tuesday. Dozens more people sustained injuries, rescue workers reported. The attack completely destroyed the house of a bank branch director, they said. He and several members of his family are said to have been killed. These claims could not be independently verified. The Israeli military initially did not comment on the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other parts of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military continued its activities against the Palestinian militant organization Hamas. According to the Hamas-run health authority, at least 81 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of Tuesday. The figures do not differentiate between fighters and civilians and could not be independently verified. UN: Almost all people in Gaza Strip are starving Citing rescue workers in the Gaza Strip, Arabic news channel Al Jazeera reported that 31 people were killed in the vicinity of distribution centres for humanitarian aid. Reports from UN organizations indicate that almost all residents of the besieged coastal strip are now starving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the health authority, 15 people, most of them children, have died of hunger in the last 24 hours. The claims could not be independently verified. The trigger for the Gaza war was the attack by Hamas and other Islamist extremists on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage to the Gaza Strip. Since then, 59,106 Palestinians have been killed, the Hamas-run health authority said on Tuesday. These figures also do not differentiate between civilians and fighters. Many killed in Gaza City refugee camp At least 16 Palestinians were reported dead and dozens more injured after tents sheltering displaced people were hit in the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Palestinian news agency WAFA said children were among the victims. The information could not be independently verified. The Israeli military did not immediately comment when asked about the reports. Footage circulating on Palestinian media and social platforms purportedly shows rescue workers pulling victims from the tent camp during the night. Injured children are also visible in the video, though the authenticity of the footage could not be independently confirmed. WAFA, citing medical sources in Gaza, further reported that Israeli forces killed seven people and injured several others as they sought humanitarian aid near the so-called Netzarim Corridor in the central part of the strip. Details on how and where the victims were killed were not initially available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A distribution centre run by the United States and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is located in the area. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to the report, and the GHF has not yet issued a statement. WAFA also reported additional Israeli strikes in other parts of Gaza, some of which were said to be deadly. Separately, the Israeli military said one of its soldiers was killed in southern Gaza on Monday. Mourners grief near the body of a Palestinian killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa A local man was injured after the boat in which he was a passenger struck Tenkiller Dam early Tuesday morning. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the operator of a 2009 Legend, 27-year-old Connor Upton of Colorado, was unfamiliar with Tenkiller Lake. Due to limited visibility, struck the dam at approximately 1:10 a.m. Trey Snell, 27, Park Hill, was airlifted to St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa and admitted in good condition with leg injuries. The boat operator was not injured, nor was another passenger Douglas Stratton, 25, of Cookson. The condition of the driver was apparently normal and the cause of the crash is under investigation. OHP HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) Pennsylvanias new summer EBT program provides eligible children with the opportunity to purchase food while school is out. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, the new program, Sun Bucks, is a grocery benefits program that gives households a one-time payment of $120 for each eligible child to purchase food. Benefits can be used at participating grocery stores. While many children will receive the benefits automatically, some households need to apply, according to the DHS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DHS said children are automatically eligible if they: The household received SNAP or TANF between July 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025, and the child is enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program; OR The household received SNAP or TANF between July 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025, and the child is not enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program but was between ages 6-18 between July 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025; OR The child received Medicaid with qualifying income for the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program between July 1, 2024, and August 31, 202,5 and the child is enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program; OR The child received Medicaid with qualifying income for the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program between July 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025 and the child is not enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program but is between ages 6-18 between July 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025; OR The child is in Head Start, is homeless, in foster care, or is a runaway and the child is enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program; OR The child applied for and was determined eligible for free or reduced-priced meals through the National School Lunch or Breakfast Program. Anyone unsure of their eligibility can check using the online eligibility navigator. The DHS said the applications received after August 31 will be considered for Summer 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 ABC27. In his first speech as program manager for the Trump administrations Golden Dome project, Gen. Michael Guetlein said hes moving quickly to build an empowered, expert team to start identifying and integrating technology for an advanced homeland missile defense architecture. Weve been very, very selective on getting not only the right talent, but the right personalities that understand how to go fast, Guetlein said Tuesday at the Innovate Space Global Economic Summit in Arlington, Virginia. Not everybody understands what it takes to move at that speed. Previously the Space Forces second in command, Guetlein was confirmed last week for this role, officially assuming the position Monday. As a direct report to Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg, he has a slew of authorities designed to speed up decision-making and capability delivery, including the ability to bypass standard competitive hiring procedures that can slow down the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guetlein said he has a long way to go in building his team but has a list of 30 names, identified from across industry and academia that he hopes will join the effort. Along with filling out his program office, Guetlein is also pulling together a national-level consortium that includes companies, labs and universities to serve both as capability providers and technical advisers for the effort. Since President Donald Trump announced plans to develop Golden Dome during his first week in office, the Pentagon has been working to identify a path forward studying capability options, understanding the industry landscape and getting a sense of the feasibility of crafting a layered missile defense capability that brings together ground, air and space sensors and interceptors. White House taps Global Strike head as next Air Force vice chief Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In May, Trump added another challenge to the project, announcing during a televised Oval Office meeting that he expects Golden Dome to be completed by 2028 at a price tag of $175 billion. Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world, and even if theyre launched from space. And we will have the best system ever built, Trump said at the time. With Guetlein in place and starting to populate the newly established program office, one of his early tasks is to craft a vision for what the Golden Dome architecture will include and deliver it to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth within 60 days. To further lay the groundwork and provide context for the 60-day study, Guetlein will travel to U.S. Northern Command on Thursday to discuss current gaps in the current homeland defense architecture with its commander Gen. Gregory Guillot and U.S. Space Command head, Gen. Stephen Whiting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guetlein said those gaps will help inform the size of the Golden Dome architecture, the scope of his organization and the capabilities needed to counter future threats. The office is also planning several engagements with companies vying to support the effort, including a long-awaited Missile Defense Agency that was slated to happen in June but was delayed by Guetleins confirmation process. Space Systems Command will also host an industry session focused on options for developing and fielding interceptors that can destroy missile threats from space. That part of the architecture, Guetlein said, presents the greatest technical challenge, noting that while the capabilities exist and have been proven, there are looming questions about the number of interceptors that will be required and at what cost. What we have not proven is, first, can I do it economically, and then second, can I do it at scale? he said. Can I build enough satellites to get after the threat? Can I expand the industrial base fast enough to build those satellites? Do I have enough raw materials, etc? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While those questions will likely take some time to answer, Guetlein said a more near-term task will be integrating various systems from across the military services into a common command-and-control architecture. That includes sensors, weapons and communication channels that need to work together, he said. To get after that challenge, Guetlein plans to schedule incremental demonstrations on a six-month cadence with a goal of delivering capability as soon as possible. We are on a short timeline, he said. The president gave us three years to deliver this capability and were going to deliver in three years. That means we need to move out with a sense of urgency and move out with incremental wins along the way. COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah (ABC4) A person was shot inside a house in Cottonwood Heights after an argument, according to Cottonwood Heights Police. The incident happened near 2085 E Bo Mar Drive shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Sgt. Kyler Burroughs with Cottonwood Heights Police Department said it was an argument between two brothers. The suspect shot at the victim multiple times, Burroughs said. Police say the victim was able to get outside the home, run across the street, and call 911. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Craig Barkin, the neighbor, recalled seeing the victim in his driveway. He told ABC4, I hear this ungodly scream. My son was in the room up above the garage and he heard somebody call for helpthe kid said his brother shot him. Darren Bailey/KTVX Darren Bailey/KTVX Darren Bailey/KTVX Darren Bailey/KTVX According to neighbors, the victim was shot in his arm, shoulder, and one bullet grazed his face. His arm was covered in blood. His stomach was covered in blood, and his pants were covered in blood, lying in my driveway, Craig Barkin, one of the neighbors, noted, It was not pretty. The victim was then taken to the hospital, and officials say he is in stable condition at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A SWAT team also responded to the scene. Police say the suspect cooperated with police and got outside the house. An investigation is underway, and officers are still on scene. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Just one building at the FRED310 industrial site has reportedly sold for nearly as much as what the then-undeveloped land traded for from Boeing to a developer. In a transaction earlier this month, Building D, an industrial space encompassing 753,069 square feet, sold to international real estate investment firm BentallGreenOak (BGO), whose U.S. headquarters is in New York. The property is at 6921 192nd St. E. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A BGO representative confirmed the purchase Monday evening in response to questions from The News Tribune, but offered no further details including price. Sales information has not yet been posted online in the countys property portal. Representatives from Cushman & Wakefield arranged the transaction and initially announced the sale in a release July 3, but without details on price or buyer. A regional Q2 Industrial Market report from commercial brokerage Lee & Associates released this month shared transaction details. It reported that the sales price was $176 million in the reports notable transactions list. The Registry real estate website was the first to report on the sales details Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer online property portal lists the Building D propertys total assessed value as more than $119 million. The Boeing Co. originally sold the 310-acre site to California-based commercial real estate firm Panattoni Development Co. as part of a larger round of Boeing property sales in the area in 2021. The site sold at that time for $200 million. A screenshot of an online brochure shows the FRED310 buildings and whats still to come. Panattoni partnered with a real estate fund advised by Crow Holdings Capital of Dallas in developing Fred310, an industrial campus planned for six buildings. Building D is leased to two tenants including GE Appliance. More recently Kowa, a Japanese manufacturer, was added as the second tenant for general industrial warehouse use, according to a filing in March with the Department of Ecology. The umbrella Kowa Group includes divisions that encompass a broad set of entities, including pharmaceuticals and medical equipment and optical instruments, among other things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other entities at the campus include Harbor Freights distribution center in the sites Building E, and Floor & Decor in Building C. Building G remains to be leased at 611,000 square feet, and buildings A and B have yet to be built, completing the six-building site. The Braslavski family said in a statement that Israeli officials were refusing to meet with them and provide updates on Rom's condition. Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed on Tuesday that the terror group's leadership had lost contact on Monday with the terror cell members holding Israeli hostage Rom Braslavski in the Gaza Strip after Israeli forces besieged an area in Gaza where Braslavski was believed to be held. No one knows where Rom isnot the IDF, not PIJ. The only thing we were ever told is that he is being held alone," the Braslavski family said in a statement, adding that they were heartbroken and in pain over the news. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family added that they had demanded a meeting of senior Israeli defense officials to update them on Rom's status, but only one member of the security council responded. "We want to know where our son is. We want those responsible to sit with us and present the full picturenot fragments of information or partial truths." Israelis attend a rally calling for the release of Israelis held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, outside the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, July 13, 2025. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) Braslavski family heartbroken after PIJ statement The family added that they completely disagreed with National Missions Minister Orit Strock's statements that the IDF should expand operations in Gaza even at the risk of the hostages' lives. There should be no do not touch zones in Gaza. To win this war, we need to take control of these areas as well, the Religious Zionist Party MK said, adding that the IDF must fight against Hamas and other Gaza terrorist groups in all parts of the enclave and defeat them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She should try putting herself in our position. If she could feel what I, Tami, feel as a mother, she wouldnt be able to speak the way she did," the statement read. "When people in government imagine themselves in our place, maybe decisions would be different. Lets see if then theyd still prioritize land over hostages." Braslavski was kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023; he was a medic who reportedly stayed behind to help others at the festival. He was 19 at the time of his abduction, but is now 21. His family has said that they have received very little information about his whereabouts during his time in captivity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more than a year, we havent had a single shred of information about whats happening to him, his cousin, Adam Hajj, told KAN. Hajj added that the family had no idea whether hes eating or drinking, or if hes even being warmed. Yair Golan denounces event as 'nightmare coming true' The Democrats Party leader MK Yair Golan denounced the news on X/Twitter, stating that "As we warned, if we do not bring back the hostages, we risk losing them forever." "For the people of Israel, this is a nightmare coming true; for the Israeli government, it is policy," he added. "I embrace the Breslavsky family and pray that Rom returns home safely and soon. We must reach a deal now, we must bring back the hostages in one phase, now," he concluded. Pinellas County will ask the state to reimburse about half of its more than $125 million upcoming beach renourishment project. But replenishing the sand wiped away by storms and currents will happen with or without reimbursement, at least this time, county officials said. Typically, the Army Corps of Engineers pays for about 65% of renourishment costs. But this years project is fully funded by the county because it doesnt have all of beachfront landowners permanent agreements that give ongoing public access to parts of their property. Thats a new requirement in order for the Army Corps to pay for the work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For this project, Pinellas is asking for temporary agreements that only last until 2029. This is the only time the county will pay on its own, Public Works Director Kelli Hammer Levy said. The County Commission unanimously decided on Tuesday to ask for part of the costs to be included in the Florida Beach Management Funding Assistance Program, which would reimburse the county. The program can cover half of local governments renourishment costs as long as the restored beachfront is publicly accessible, is on critically eroded beaches and is located on the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean or Straits of Florida. Beach renourishment is a process where sand is pumped from offshore or elsewhere and dumped on beaches to extend their depth and protect against storms. Pinellas will add more than 2.5 million metric yards of sand along about 12 miles of Sand Key, Treasure Island and Long Key-Upham Beach starting in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That amount of sand is enough to fill The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg more than 40 times, according to a county news release. About two-thirds of Pinellas 35 mile stretch of beaches are considered critically eroded, according to an August Florida Department of Environmental Protection report. This includes almost all of Sand Key, all of Treasure Island, all of Long Key and the southern part of Clearwater Beach. The erosion threatens development and recreational interests in Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Redington Shores, North Redington Beach, Redington Beach and the north end of Madeira Beach in Sand Key, the report read. The same goes for Treasure Island and Long Key. The sand is so critical to protect our homes, our businesses and our infrastructure, Pinellas County Commissioner Kathleen Peters said at a public meeting discussing the project in Treasure Island on July 10. Much of that protection is gone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Levy said if the Army Corps helped, Pinellas would then ask the environmental protection department to cover half of the countys remaining costs under the same program. Because the Army Corps isnt contributing to this years project, Pinellas is asking for half of its remaining costs to be reimbursed. The one-time project uses money from the countys 6% tax on short-term lodging, as well as some grant money from the Florida Department of Emergency Management, Levy said. Pinellas is still urging people to sign the temporary agreements, known as easements. The county will renourish the beach even without all of the agreements and will accept easements until the very last minute, Levy added. The county is hosting a notary with information on the project in the Indian Shores Municipal Center on Wednesday from 1-5 p.m. at 19305 Gulf Blvd. There is also a public meeting to discuss the project scheduled from 6-8 p.m. on Aug. 6 in Belleair Beach at 444 Causeway Blvd. Meta Platforms has decided not to sign the European Union's (EUs) code of practice designed to help companies adhere to the bloc's AI Act. This decision was announced by Meta's chief global affairs officer Joel Kaplan, in a LinkedIn post. Europe is heading down the wrong path on AI. We have carefully reviewed the European Commissions Code of Practice for general-purpose AI (GPAI) models and Meta wont be signing it, Kaplan said in the post. This Code introduces a number of legal uncertainties for model developers, as well as measures which go far beyond the scope of the AI Act. The EU's voluntary code of practice, formulated by 13 independent experts, aims to assist companies in aligning with the AI regulations. It requires signatories to publish summaries of training content for their AI models and adhere to EU copyright laws. The code also mandates regular updates on AI tools and services and prohibits the use of pirated content in AI training. Additionally, companies must respect requests from content owners not to use their works in datasets. Meanwhile, another tech major Microsoft, is considering signing the code. Microsoft President Brad Smith told Reuters: "I think it's likely we will sign. We need to read the documents. Our goal is to find a way to be supportive and at the same time one of the things we really welcome is the direct engagement by the AI Office with industry. Earlier in July 2025, several tech companies urged the European Commission to delay the AI act rollout, requesting a two-year postponement. However, the Commission did not change the timeline. OpenAI and Mistral have already signed the code. Recently, the European Commission also released guidelines for AI model providers. These regulations will impact providers of general-purpose AI models with systemic risk, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Meta. Companies with such models must adhere to the legislation by 2 August 2027. "Meta declines to sign EU AI code of practice" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The City of Piqua Parks and Recreation Department has been hosting Evening Yoga at the Lock for its summer wellness series. The one-hour classes are led by a certified instructor from Satsang Yoga and Wellness. They are designed to be open for people of all experience levels to learn to stretch, strengthen their mind/body and de-stress. The riverfront is a serene backdrop to the class. Relax your body & mind with Day Yoga Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each class is $10 for Piqua residents or $15 for non-residents. It is held on Wednesdays. The schedule is as follows: July 23: 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 13: 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 3: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 24: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. To register, click here. Participants are asked to bring a yoga mat, water bottle and a positive mindset. Lock 9 Park is located at 125 E. Water St. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. UPDATE: On Tuesday, a judge lifted the permanent injunction on the lawsuit filed 40 years ago, allowing the law to go into effect. However, the new lawsuit, filed Monday, with updated arguments to block parental notification, is going forward. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Planned Parenthood is suing the state of Nevada to block a 40-year-old law from going into effect requiring doctors to notify parents of an abortion. The Nevada Legislature passed Senate Bill 510 in 1985, legislation that targeted teens and would have required parental notification for any unmarried or unemancipated person seeking an abortion. Shortly after its passage, the bill was found unconstitutional and unenforceable because it violated the right to an abortion under the U.S. Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two Nevada district attorneys moved to vacate the decades-old permanent injunction a few years after the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed in Clark County District Court on Monday, was filed by Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, based in California but with clinics in Nevada, and a Nevada doctor, referred to as Dr. Doe. A-25-923661-C-Complaint-COMP-CIVDownload Attorneys argue that a law cannot be revived after it was ruled unconstitutional. The lawsuit moves to block the state from disregarding the permanent injunction, which would allow the law to take effect. The 1985 law carries criminal penalties for doctors who fail to notify parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys who filed the suit argue that a relatively small number of adolescents who cannot or do not involve parents or legal guardians have valid reasons for making that choice forced parental involvement may endanger their emotional and physical well-being, including, for example, by creating threats to their housing security. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Editors note: This article has been updated to reflect the fact Zelensky signed the bill into law on the evening of July 22, as shown on the Parliament's website. "Dark times ahead." "Peak of corruption." "Point of no return." Ukrainian society sounded a code red for the country's democracy on July 22, as the final votes were tallied on a bill in Ukraine's parliament that strips independence from anti-corruption bodies, which was then signed into law by President Volodymyr Zelensky later that day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many described the new legislative changes as gutting a decade of hard-fought reforms and reverting to the notorious era of high corruption under former President Viktor Yanukovych that sparked the deadly EuroMaidan protests in 2013-2014. Since then, major anti-corruption reforms have been implemented as part of the country's efforts to integrate with Europe, including in response to requirements by the International Monetary Fund and the European Union. Some fear that the new bill could jeopardize the country's ties to the west and crucial financial support. "Everything is now being rolled back," Svitlana Matviienko, executive director of the Ukrainian non-profit Agency for Legislative Initiatives, told the Kyiv Independent shortly after the bill passed. "These tactics arent new in Ukraines history. They echo the Prosecutor Generals Office under Yanukovych, when a single official could determine the outcome of any case, and the prosecutorial system served political interests rather than justice." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new legislation gives the prosecutor general powerful authority over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). NABU is responsible for investigating and building major corruption cases, which are then prosecuted by SAPO. Both bodies were set up in the wake of the EuroMaidan movement with the cooperation of international partners, and are designed to operate beyond the influence of political interference. "Its something the EU cant afford to ignore, and it will impact how Ukraine is perceived, including our prospects for reintegration." Under the new law, the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president, has the ability to access and reassign case files, issue binding instructions to investigators, and unilaterally close cases, among other powers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This isnt just a concern its a fundamental shift that strikes at the heart of democracy," Inna Sovsun, a lawmaker from the Holos opposition party, told the Kyiv Independent. "Its something the EU cant afford to ignore, and it will impact how Ukraine is perceived, including our prospects for reintegration." The bill was passed with the support of 263 lawmakers, with 13 members voting against the bill and 13 abstaining. The bill then headed to Zelensky's desk, where he signed it. President Volodymyr Zelensky answers journalists questions during a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 4, 2025. (Ihor Kuznietsov / Novyny LIVE / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) The moves come a day after the European Union and the G7 expressed concerns over Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) carrying out more than 70 searches of locations linked to NABU, moves that were criticized by civil society activists as an attempt to intimidate and dismantle anti-corruption efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kyiv Independent reached out to various figures in Ukrainian society to understand how they see this law and what it means for their country's future. Yaroslav Hrytsak historian I may exaggerate, but this decision can amount to a coup-detat. Not in terms of change of power, but in terms of how the principles the power should operate. A sound state cherishes independence of its institutions. This one curtails it. This power is sick and it reveals its sickness at the most critical moment of the war. It is dangerous, it is depressing, it is suicidal. Volodymyr Ariev lawmaker for the European Solidarity opposition party I see Zelensky and his team dont give a flying f*ck about Ukraines European integration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This vote is a U-turn to the model of Ruskiy Mir ("Russian World") and a threat to all achievements in pro-EU reforms. Independence of both bodies is the key to our European Union membership and it was just broken. Petro senior sergeant with the 38th Marine Brigade deployed in the Pokrovsk sector If Zelensky signs it, I think we will lose global support as such. The destruction of the controlling body of the corruption component is needed only to steal with impunity. No one will support such a country. An employee within SAPO whose name was withheld as they are not authorized to speak publicly The anti-corruption system after the Revolution of Dignity has not yet encountered such a reversal of reform. Many experts will agree that dark times await us all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of Ukraine's (reform) commitments relate to the fight against corruption. And the reversal of reforms threatens the western path of the state. But we are optimistically forward-looking. No one is going to back down from the mission. We rely on and are guided only by facts. The threat is extraordinary, events are happening quickly and are causing concern. We are discussing it. What will happen next we will see. Anastasia Radina chairperson of parliament's anti-corruption committee and a member of Zelensky's Servant of the People party The threat has already been fulfilled. The building is not just on fire, it's burned to embers already. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is important to understand that NABU and SAP are not just some abbreviations, they are not just some law enforcement agencies in Ukraine. These are the bodies that were created from scratch as a response to the Revolution of Dignity, in order to entrust the fight against corruption to a new, separate body, untainted by old corruption practices. Its a terrible shame. A woman sets a candle on a wall of bricks in memory of protesters killed during the Revolution of Dignity in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 23, 2014. (Genya Savilov / AFP via Getty Images) Yaroslav Yurchyshyn a member of parliament from the Holos opposition party This will finally destroy the independence of the anti-corruption infrastructure. The prosecutor general, 100% the President's man, will decide who and what cases will be investigated, who and how will provide procedural support from the prosecutor's office. Therefore, we should expect the closure of a number of high-profile cases, such as the Chernyshov case. Sergey Fursa an expert with Dragon Capital, a leading Ukrainian investment bank Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After what happened, we can expect anything. Because indeed the Ukrainian authorities have thus crossed all possible red lines, violating all the obligations undertaken within the framework of cooperation with the International Monetary Fund, with the European Union within the framework of European integration, and even violating the conditions of madness. Because now, after this, nothing is impossible. And this creates very significant risks for the country. Yuriy Nikolov investigative journalist, founder of Nashi Hroshi/Our Money In my eyes, weve gone back to the times of Yanukovych, which I always considered the peak of corruption in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NABU hunted for the top officials, for the biggest corruptioneers. Not for the heads of some regional courts or what have you. And the results of their activity became, I think, what we are holding onto today. (If NABU is rendered ineffective), there will still be anti-corruption activity, but what will remain is anti-corruption activity against low-level people. Top-corruptioneers will be able to get away with anything, and for everyone else, the law and moreover, the law in selective application. Svitlana Matviienko Executive Director of the Agency for Legislative Initiatives Everything is now being rolled back. These tactics arent new in Ukraines history. They echo the Prosecutor Generals Office under Yanukovych, when a single official could determine the outcome of any case, and the prosecutorial system served political interests rather than justice. This draft law risks slowing Ukraines EU accession talks and jeopardizing critical financial aid. More importantly, it marks a potential point of no return, both for prosecution reform and for the broader structure of the rule of law in Ukraine. Today, the country has lost not just its anti-corruption institutions but also the trust it has painstakingly built since 2014. This is happening now because July is a difficult month for public administration. People are tired, international partners are on vacation its the perfect time for radical decisions that have been simmering for a while. Ihor Lachenkov activist, influencer, blogger Today the Verkhovna Rada voted for a law that effectively destroys the independence of NABU and SAPO. This is absolutely unacceptable in our time; we are moving toward the EU, and Ukraine has worked on these institutions for years. But we see that as soon as these institutions started targeting people close to the president, they were immediately attacked. This threatens to bring about full manual control over cases and the protection of a certain circle of people. There will be selective justice some media 'scoundrels' will be jailed, but friends (of powerful people) wont. Daria Kaleniuk executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Center It is the demolition of independent anti-corruption institutions, which we've been building for the last 10 years since the Revolution of Dignity. And it's reinstating the prosecutor generals full control over all the top proceedings of high-level corruption. Since 2014, weve been building instruments and tools to make sure that the prosecutor general is not able to control these proceedings. This is how the specialized corruption prosecution was created. And now the prosecutor general can order NABU and SAPO which cases to investigate, which cases to stop, and what to do in proceedings. Peoples Deputies vote during a plenary session in the Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 11, 2025. (Andrii Nesterenko / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) Iryna Friz a lawmaker from the European Solidarity opposition party This is a terrible strategic mistake in passing this law I am one hundred percent convinced that this does not contribute to our European integration. There is only one way (to prevent the adopted bill from coming into force) a presidential veto. But I doubt that he will impose a veto on this bill, considering that all the coordination of what happened today and around this bill in the hall was from the President's Office. Therefore, unfortunately, I do not delude myself with illusions that President Zelensky is capable of adequately assessing the risks from such a step for his directly image career and including historical one. Kate Tsurkan, Martin Fornusek, Katerina Hodunova, Daria Shulzhenko, Asami Terajima, Kollen Post, and Yana Prots contributed reporting. Hi, this is Andrea. Thank you for reading this article. The Kyiv Independent doesn't have a wealthy owner or a paywall. Instead, we rely on readers like you to keep our journalism funded. If you liked this article, consider joining our community today. Read also: Russia to spend $1.1 trillion preparing for upcoming large-scale war, Ukraines intel chief says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. TICONDEROGA An autopsy on a young girl found dead in Ticongeroga on Sunday revealed she died of asphyxia due to drowning. Dr. Michael Sikirica conducted the autopsy of Melina Frattolin, 9, at Glens Falls Hospital in Gelns Falls, New York, on Monday, according to a news release from the New York State police Troop G on Tuesday afternoon. Melinas death was ruled a homicide. The father of a missing 9-year-old girl found dead in Ticonderoga has been charged with her murder, State Police said Monday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luciano Frattolin, 45, of Montreal, was arrested Sunday for killing the girl and leaving her body in a remote pond off Route 74 in the town of Ticonderoga, Essex County. He is charged with felony second degree murder and concealment of a human corpse, and is lodged in the Essex County Jail at Lewis without bail. Frattolin initially told the Warren County Sheriffs Department the girl was abducted by two men in a white van Saturday evening at Exit 22 of the Adirondack Northway after he stopped alongside the road. He said the van then sped south on the interstate, triggering a massive search by multiple agencies. But Frattolins story quickly began to unravel, police said, and its many inconsistencies made them believe he might have been involved in her death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Police held a news conference at Troop G headquarters in Latham on Monday morning to announce Frattolins arrest. In relation to the investigation, New York state police are seeking the publics assistance in gathering additional video evidence or eyewitness accounts of the vehicle Melina and Luciano Frattolin were traveling in before the girls death. The vehicle was a 2024 gray Toyota Prius. Police stated the pair traveled from July 11 to 19 in the area of Interstate 87 north between exits 28 (North Schroon Lake: U.S. 9, New York 74 to Ticonderoga) through exit 20 (Fort Ann, Queensbury, Lake George, New York, 149 and U.S. 9) during the evening hours of July 19. Anyone with information, including photos or video, should call police at 518-873-2750 or email crimetip@troopers.ny.gov. MIDDLETON, Wis. (WFRV) Authorities in southern Wisconsin are asking for the publics help in identifying a person who was reportedly seen pointing an object shaped like a firearm. According to the Middleton Police Department, officers responded Monday afternoon to the area of North High Point Road near Westchester Drive after receiving a report of someone pointing what appeared to be a gun. Crashes like this are avoidable: Squad car in Wisconsin severely damaged after being hit by suspected intoxicated driver Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses said the object may have been a toy or water gun, though it resembled a real firearm. Corrections officer in Wisconsin arrested on domestic abuse charges after fiancee calls authorities Police say the individual may have been dropped off by a dark-colored Toyota RAV4 or a similar SUV, which was last seen heading south on High Point Road. Officers were unable to find the person or the vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to call the Middleton Police Department at 608-824-7300. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Nearly half of all residential moves in the U.S. happen during the summer, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, according to U-Hauls report on midyear migration trends. New data shows that for the first time since the pandemic, major U.S. cities could be starting to grow again. A U-Haul moving van travels on a road in this photo provided by U-Haul on July 22, 2025. Most of the U-Haul customers arriving in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro metro area so far in 2025 have come from Washington, with movers from California coming in second place, followed by Arizona. Idahoans and Texans came in fourth and fifth place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Portland settles lawsuit after Irving Park light pole falls on boy, babysitter The other most common origin states in order were Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Florida and Montana. New Portland-area residents from within the state are coming most frequently from Salem, Eugene, Bend, Medford and Corvallis, according to the report. A truck hauling a U-Haul trailer travels on a road in this photo provided by U-Haul on July 22, 2025. Portlanders who left Oregon moved most frequently to Seattle, followed by San Francisco and Los Angeles. Phoenix and Spokane, Wash., were fourth and fifth-place destinations. As previously reported by KOIN, Portlands population is slowly beginning to increase according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Vancouver, Wash., which is considered part of the Portland Metro, has grown consistently in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. A pregnant woman is facing charges after being accused of trying to run over the father of her unborn child before stabbing him in the chest in southern Ohio. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] This happened Saturday afternoon in Sycamore Township. WLWT in Cincinnati reported it was not far from the FBI Building in the township. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WXIX in Cincinnati reported that Hamilton County deputies responded to a domestic dispute involving two tourists from Chicago. The dispute escalated when the male victim was stabbed by his pregnant girlfriend. The suspect has been identified as 21-year-old Amari Claudio. Deputies said Claudio tried to hit the victim with her vehicle more than once. WLWT reported she then got out of the vehicle while it was still in gear and chased him. When she caught up with him, she reportedly stabbed him in the chest. While the vehicle was still in motion, a 10-year-old boy, who was in the vehicle, jumped out and suffered minor injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Claudio is facing felonious assault, domestic violence, and endangering children charges, according to Hamilton County court records. Shes being held in Hamilton County Justice Center on a $70,000 bond. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The popular social media influencers known as the Nelk Boys received a wave of criticism this week following their interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming theyre not the best at grilling guests and pushing back. Sure, were probably not the best at asking questions. Were not the best journalists, we never claimed to be, so we might not be the best at pressing them, but in my opinion, its up to the viewer to form their own educated opinion, Full Send Podcast co-host Kyle Forgeard said Monday in defense of the interview, which aired Sunday. Forgeard and co-host Aaron Steiny Steinberg rose to internet fame as the Nelk Boys, appealing to young men immersed in frat culture. Their social media content consists of prank videos, young women in bikinis and promoting controversial manosphere figures such as Andrew Tate and Conor McGregor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Nelk Boys foray into politics manifested itself as heavy support for President Donald Trump. They interviewed Trump in 2020 and spoke at his 2024 campaign rallies, creating content with Trump and denouncing then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Their 70-minute interview with Netanyahu drew backlash from many for being too lenient. Others criticized the fact that the Israeli prime minister was even on in the first place. Last week, the International Criminal Court rejected Israels request to withdraw its arrest warrant for Netanyahu, whom it has accused of crimes against humanity and using food as a weapon in its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. The Nelk Boys lobbed several softball questions at Netanyahu throughout the interview, such as, What would you say is your greatest accomplishment? and Whats your go-to at McDonalds? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You like Burger King over McDonalds? Forgeard asked at around 42:22. Steinberg then called Netanyahus fast-food preference his worst take. The Nelk Boys did ask Netanyahu some harder-hitting questions, including Why do they say Israel is, like, starving the people of Gaza? However, the duo did not press the prime minister any further, instead allowing him to promote Israels side amid the conflict with Palestine uninterrupted. In an almost four-hour-long Kick stream on Monday, the duo read comments from viewers bashing them for their interview. Asking him if he prefers Burger King or McDonalds While people are starving this is insane, one comment read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reputation takes years to build & just seconds to ruin, read another comment with over 20,000 likes. This is the point of the podcast, Forgeard responded. We leave it up to you guys as the viewer to form your own intelligent opinion. I think you guys are giving us way too much credit as Nelk and youre not giving yourself as viewers enough credit. Leftist Twitch streamer Hasan Piker appeared on the stream, ripping the two apart for giving a microphone to Netanyahu. Its like, interviewing Adolf Hitler, Piker said. Like, would you interview Adolf Hitler during the Holocaust if you had the opportunity? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White supremacist Nick Fuentes also came on the stream to tell the Nelk Boys their interview was a bad move because he believes people will see the episode as a push by Netanyahu for public relations. Hes gonna come on your show to try to get all the young conservative, frat guys. You know, all the masculine men, the manosphere types, the streaming types to try and get back into the pocket of Israel, Fuentes said. The Nelk Boys continued to defend the interview. On the Full Send Podcast what we do and what our style is, is we will have the most controversial people on this fucking planet on the podcast, hate it or love it, Forgeard said. Related... One of Kenyas most prominent human rights activists has been released on bail after being charged with unlawful possession of ammunition, as critics accuse authorities of ramping up efforts to stifle dissent in the East African country. Boniface Mwangi was arrested over the weekend in connection with the facilitation of terrorist activities during the June 25 protests, Kenyas Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced on social media on Sunday, drawing immediate outrage among activists. When the 42-year-old award-winning photographer appeared in court on Monday, the terrorism charges had been downgraded to two counts of possession of ammunition without a valid firearm certificate because of teargas canisters and blank rounds allegedly found at his office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His arrest came as activists say more than 100 protesters have been charged with terror-related offenses, arson and money laundering in the past month over demonstrations sparked by widespread dissatisfaction with President William Rutos administration especially among the youth whose support propelled him into power. Im known as a human rights defender, not a terrorist, Mwangi told CNN on Monday evening after he was released on bail. Im so fired up; Im not scared at all. The only thing that can stop me is a bullet in my head, but as long as Im alive Ill keep organizing for regime change. The government we have in power is not working for the people. Mwangi, who has been critical of successive Kenyan governments and describes himself as the peoples watchman, said he was arrested at home by plainclothes policemen on Saturday and taken to his office in the capital Nairobi. He claimed policemen ransacked the office, confiscating devices and finding two unused teargas canisters and one blank round. Protesters often display the canisters or rounds during demonstrations to journalists as evidence of police brutality and use of excessive force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video on social media showed Mwangi shout Ruto Must Go! as he was driven away from his office on Saturday. Mwangi denied the charges; a judge freed him on a personal bond and set a hearing date for August 21. Prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi poses for a photo while holding a Kenyan flag inside the dock at Kahawa Law Courts in Kiambu, Kenya, Monday, July 21, 2025. - Brian Inganga/AP Crackdown on protest Protests erupted in the country in June after several cases of alleged police brutality, including the death of a teacher while in police custody. During the protests, claims swirled among frustrated demonstrators on social media that government-affiliated politicians had hired people to attack peaceful protesters and damage property to discredit the demonstrations. The Law Society of Kenya, which advises and assists the legal profession, government and public, said the protests had been infiltrated by armed, hired goons in a scathing statement on Monday. We strongly condemn this malicious, deliberate re-emergence of radicalized militia sponsored by the political class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During recent protests, CNN saw groups of men armed with batons marching alongside police and beating up civilians in Nairobi while uniformed officers watched. Businesses were burnt in other parts of the country and a police station attacked. CNN has asked the Kenyan government and police for comment, but has not heard back. President Ruto accused some politicians of misleading youth to riot on Sunday and warned of consequences: The police are trained to deal with criminals. Theyre not trained in parenting. So, if you surrender your children to the police, what do you expect? The right to protest is protected under Kenyas constitution but authorities have characterized recent demonstrations as chaotic looting sprees. Kenyan prosecutors slapped several youths with arson and terrorism charges following the protests, and judges imposed hefty bail terms even though many claimed their innocence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rights groups have condemned the use of terrorism charges. We are deeply concerned by the continued misuse of the Prevention of Terrorism Act to manage public order, according to a statement on Monday from the Police Reforms Working Group, a coalition of civil society organizations that monitors policing. This practice undermines Kenyas criminal justice system and jeopardizes critical international partnerships aimed at safeguarding national security. The Kenyan chapter of the International Commission of Jurists on Sunday said it was alarmed by the growing pattern of arbitrary arrests and trumped-up charges targeting innocent youth. In a statement, the human rights group added: What began as targeted persecution of young protesters demanding accountability has metastasized into a full-scale assault on Kenyas democracy. The government has denied any wrongdoing. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution defended its use of terrorism charges, saying that the protests were calculated and coordinated acts of violence and that the office remains committed to executing its constitutional mandate in accordance with the law, public interest, and administration of justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We wish to reassure the public that all charges have been brought strictly based on available evidence, it added on Monday. Heavy-handed policing Activists like Mwangi and legal experts say the Kenyan government is criminalizing dissent by using charges such as terrorism, arson and money laundering to stoke fear among protesters. Over the past year, CNN has filmed security forces violently breaking up protests on multiple occasions, shooting at unarmed protesters and assaulting bystanders. At least 38 people were killed and 130 injured in another protest earlier this month, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. President Ruto previously told police officers on July 9 to shoot looters and arsonists in the leg if they considered them a threat, rather than killing them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen went further a week later by issuing a directive for officers to shoot at protesters who approached police stations. The former lecturer of law attempted to walk back the comments after public outcry but did not rescind the directive. On Monday, Murkomen called out those challenging the terror charges, asking: If you invade a police station and burn it and steal guns burn courts and peoples businesses, what is that crime if it is not terrorism? Mwangi told CNN that Ruto and his government were weaponizing the DCI to criminalize dissent, which is allowed by the constitution but hes going to fail. They want to scare youth (away) from protesting because it will be hard to get work, or even a visa, he said. And if the kids are not scared, they want to scare their parents. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Several dozen people protested in Berlin on Tuesday evening against the performance by Russia-born soprano Anna Netrebko at the Classic Open Air music festival. Up to 200 people participated in the protest called by the Ukraine Solidarity Association Vitsche at the Gendarmenmarkt square in front of the Berlin Concert Hall, according to the group. The Berlin police said the protests remained peaceful and without incidents. The demonstrators, many with Ukrainian flags, gathered well before the concert and positioned themselves in front of the three entrances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Russia is a terrorist state," they shouted to concertgoers who had to pass by them. Others chanted "No business with Russia" or "No stage for Putin supporters." Netrebko holds both Russian and Austrian passports. The star soprano came under criticism after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 due to her alleged closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Among other things, she celebrated her 50th birthday at the Kremlin Palace in Moscow in 2021. Vitsche accuses the opera star of not clearly positioning herself against the war. Her management has always pointed out that Netrebko has spoken out against the war. The open-air concert to conclude the festival was initially planned for Monday evening but was postponed by a day due to forecasts of heavy rain. The Classic Open Air featured not only musicians from the classical world but also jazz, pop and rock artists. Morgan Stanley reboots Alphabet stock price target before earnings originally appeared on TheStreet. Being scrutinized yet being on the cusp isnt new for Google (GOOGL) stock. However, its next act might be its sharpest to date. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Its AI rollout has efficiently evolved from abstract to actual, and Wall Street is taking notice. Earnings are around the corner, and big-name players are already adjusting their expectations. Hence, beyond the hype, its more about the numbers, the strategy, and whether Googles long game in AI is finally paying dividends. Google stock gets a fresh boost from Morgan Stanley ahead of key resultsImage source: Radecka/NurPhoto via Getty Images Google stock rides momentum as AI turns into revenue If 2023 was the year when Google showed off its AI muscles, 2025 is the year it started getting paid for it. Related: Veteran analyst drops surprise call on Tesla ahead of earnings Case in point is Googles Q1 earnings print, which made it clear that generative AI is far from being just a buzzword for its business. Revenue surged 12% year-over-year to $90.23 billion, while net income rose in tandem by 46% to a superb $34.54 billion. CEO Sundar Pichai didnt mince words in saying how AI-powered improvements across Search, Ads, and Cloud drove that stellar performance. Also, it isnt just about flash, and its about function for Google. AI Mode and conversational summaries are now the default across Search, Discover, and YouTube. Instead of the age-old static search results, users get smart, dynamic answers, facilitating Google to a clear upgrade path from free search to paid subscriptions. Also, the Google One AI Premium tier is already seeing traction. Ads are way smarter too. Googles Performance Max campaigns enable brands to auto-generate everything from headlines to display assets using generative models. Related: Morgan Stanley resets S&P 500 target for 2026 That results in more effective targeting, quicker execution, and higher conversion rates, all monetized under Googles classic PPC model. Enterprise clients arent left out either. Gemini-powered Duet AI now lives inside Workspace apps, and with new tiered subscriptions (AI Pro and AI Ultra), Google is opening new monetization layers in its productivity suite. Moreover, in the Cloud, tools like Vertex AI Studio and Agent Builder have become full-fledged AI platforms. Meanwhile, Google One has gone past 150 million subscribers, on the back of AI-powered storage and productivity upgrades. More Tech Stock News: Protests were held in Kiev on Tuesday evening after a new law passed by the Ukrainian parliament which threatened to curb the independence of anti-corruption investigators was signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky. "In effect, two institutions - the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) have been made subservient," NABU head Semen Kryvonos was quoted as saying by local media on Tuesday. Kryvonos asked Zelensky not to sign the law, which he said jeopardizes Ukraine's path to European Union membership. However, the president signed it in the evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several hundred, mostly young people, gathered within sight of the president's office in Kiev to protest. Chanting "Shame, shame," they called for a presidential veto of the law, a dpa reporter on the scene said. Protests also took place in the cities of Lviv, Odessa and Dnipro. Critics have long accused Zelensky of increasingly authoritarian tendencies. Criticism from the EU A spokesman for the European Commission said in Brussels that the EU was concerned about the step. NABU and SAP were "crucial to Ukraine's reform agenda," he said, and they "must operate independently to fight corruption." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos emphasized that the rule of law is at the heart of the EU accession negotiations. A clear majority of 263 lawmakers voted in favour of the bill which critics say allows the Prosecutor General's Office to drop investigations into high-ranking state officials. Under the law, the Prosecutor General's Office is also entitled to take over investigations from NABU and hand them over to other bodies. Ukrainian intelligence takes action against anti-corruption bureau On Monday, the SBU secret service, which reports directly to Zelensky, took action against NABU employees on charges including collaboration with Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A system of anti-corruption authorities was created in Ukraine after the overthrow of Ukraine's pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych in the wake of pro-Western protests in 2014. Nevertheless, according to the non-governmental organization Transparency International, Ukraine remains one of the most corrupt countries in Europe. Critics have often accused the anti-corruption bodies of being a Western means to influence Ukrainian politics. BOSTON (WPRI) A Providence man convicted of kidnapping and murdering a Boston woman in 2019, has lost his appeal seeking a new trial. A jury found Louis Coleman guilty of kidnapping death resulting in 2022. Prosecutors said he lured Jassy Correia into his car outside the Boston nightclub Venu, then sexually assaulted her and strangled her to death in his car. Correias body was later found inside a couch cushion, stuffed into a suitcase in Colemans car when he was pulled over days after she was killed, several states away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 112-page decision, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Monday denied a myriad of legal arguments by Coleman, upholding the mandatory life sentence he received. Coleman is currently being held behind bars at a high security federal prison in southern California. READ: Full 1st Circuit Decision in Coleman Case Prosecutors said Coleman intercepted a drunk Correia, who was out celebrating her upcoming 23rd birthday, outside the nightclub at 2:32 a.m. Correia had attempted to get into an Uber, but was pushed away. Thats when Coleman approached her and said, this is not your Uber, according to witness testimony. Coleman escorted Correia to his car, at one point giving her a piggyback because she was shoeless and it had snowed. louis coleman jassy correia collage_1551456555613.jpg.jpg Video footage shows Colemans car drove to nearby Tremont St. and parked for 12 minutes. It was during that time investigators said there was evidence that Coleman sexually assaulted Correia and there was a struggle, including a shattered windshield. An autopsy concluded Correia had been strangled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roughly 90 minutes later, video from Colemans Providence apartment complex on Chestnut St. showed him carrying a body out of his car. Police later identified the person slumped over Colemans shoulders as Correia, and she was naked from the waist up. Police later discovered Coleman purchased various items like a scented candle, limestone as well as baking soda, coveralls, an odor respirator bleach and a large suitcase. A search warrant also found Coleman conducted internet searches, querying things like can a person fit in a suitcase, how to clean for embalming, and how to pull a tooth thats not loose. Six days after the encounter outside the nightclub, video showed Coleman putting a suitcase in the trunk of his car, noticeably struggling with its weight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators who had identified Coleman through video surveillance in Boston tracked his car using its OnStar system. Coleman was pulled over by a police officer in Delaware, where he stated there was someone in the trunk, and shes dead. At trial Coleman did not dispute killing Correia, and claimed the sex with her was consensual. His attorneys argued Correia suddenly became violent and she died during a struggle. A jury at U.S. District Court in Boston convicted Coleman after a 15-day trial in June 2022. The 1st Circuit rejected Colemans multiple legal challenges, including claims that the indictment was unconstitutional, police had not established probable cause for search warrants, racial bias in jury selection, and how the jury was instructed by the trial judge prior to deliberations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court spent considerable time analyzing the federal kidnapping statute which requires the government to prove among other elements that a defendant seized someone, held them for an appreciable time, and that they were doing so for a reason. In this case, the government argued Coleman kidnapped Correia for the purposes of sexual gratification. The appellate court agreed. Judge Julie Rikelman wrote for the majority, finding evidence showed Coleman approached an intoxicated young woman who was separated from her friends, without her shoes or jacket on a winter night, and had sex with her in his car just minutes later. The most likely inference that a jury could draw from these circumstances, even if it was not the only possible inference, was that Coleman formed the intent to assault Correia before or soon after he approached her, Rikelman wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coleman also argued the use of the phrase sexual assault at trial was prejudicial, when he argued the sex was consensual. The decision found it was up to the jury to untangle that based on the evidence. Considering the DNA evidence of sexual intercourse and the evidence of a struggle in the car including the injuries to the rest of Correias body and the cracks in the windshield of the car the jury could reasonably infer that Correia did not consent to sex with Coleman, Rikelman wrote. It is unclear if Coleman will appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The attorney representing him in the appellate case did not immediately return a request for comment. The case was argued before a three-judge panel that included Judge Bruce Selya. The Providence native died earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tim White (twhite@wpri.com) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook. 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. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) An upcoming meeting could reveal details on Insights future plans for its hospitals in Trumbull County. Trumbull County commissioners are planning on hosting other elected leaders, along with the Insight Health Systems team, including Founder Dr. Jawad Shah, for a public meeting in two weeks. The meeting follows news that Insights Medicare application for Trumbull Hospital had been approved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Insights facilities have been closed since March. Those at Insight had reported that they couldnt access money they needed to operate because of issues with the hospitals previous owner, Steward Health. Commissioner Denny Malloy said he believes Insight will brief elected officials at the meeting and unveil its plan. Weve been waiting for this. Weve been pulling for them, you know. We need to know whats going on, Hillside, we need to know whats going on with the old Trumbull Memorial, we need to know whats going on with Elm Road, and I think were going to get our questions answered at that time, Malloy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting has been scheduled for August 5 at 1 p.m. Meanwhile, the Ohio Nurses Association is calling on Insight to give more information on its plans for Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital. A statement from ONA says the sudden closure of Hillside left patients scrambling for care and nurses and other health professionals without jobs. The closure of Hillside wasnt just the shutdown of a building it ripped away critical rehabilitative services from patients recovering from strokes, surgeries, and life-altering conditions, said Rick Lucas, president and executive director of the ONA. A hospital is not just a building. A hospital is its people the nurses, therapists, and frontline staff who keep patients safe and who show up every day with their whole hearts, said Lucas. If Insight is serious about reopening Hillside, labor needs a seat at the table. Because without the workers, its just an empty shell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ONA is calling on Insight to restore Hillside as a fully operational, community-centered hospital. An Insight spokesperson released the following statement on Tuesday: Insight is working diligently to attain the Hillside Medicare provider number as was recently accomplished for the Trumbull acute care hospital. We will have more information in the coming weeks as we coordinate with the regulatory authorities, union leaders, and government agencies. Insight Chelsea Simeon 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. A Queens woman who sex trafficked a 14-year-old girl from El Salvador and forced her to work without pay has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, the Queens District Attorneys Office said last Thursday. Marilyn Roque, 30, was sentenced after pleading guilty in May to sex trafficking of a child, sex trafficking by force, labor trafficking and endangering the welfare of a child. The teenager first arrived from El Salvador to live with Roque in Roques Rockaway Park home in September 2022, according to court documents. Four months later, Roque forced the 14-year-old to have sex with a 49-year-old man for $600 on New Years Eve. In addition to pimping her out, Roque, 30, forced the girl to take care of her children and work at a restaurant without pay, threatening her with deportation if she told anyone, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This defendant took advantage of a child and forced the 14-year-old to engage in prostitution and work shifts at a restaurant for her own financial gain, Queens D.A. Melinda Katz said in a statement. I thank the brave teenager, who came forward and gave us information to build this case and get justice. The trafficking of children and stripping them of their dignity through forced sex and labor exploitation is particularly sinister. Roque often kept the teenager out of school so she could work, according to the D.A.s office. On New Years Eve 2022, Roque forced the teen to have sex with her neighbor, Jesus Juarez-Reyas, now 51. Juarez-Reyas has pleaded guilty to rape in the third degree and patronizing a person for prostitution. He and Roque will both be required to register as sex offenders. Juarez-Reyas is expected to be sentenced July 23. Federal judges in New Jersey have ousted Alina Habba as the interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey, refusing to extend the 120-day appointment President Trump gifted her in March. Trump appointed her as interim attorney, but to stay full-time, Habba would need to be approved by district judges or have the Senate confirm her position. On Tuesday, New Jerseys federal judges instead chose to replace Habba with longtime prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace, who served as Habbas assistant. Habba was Trumps personal lawyer, unsuccessfully defending him in his hush-money and E. Jean Carroll defamation cases. She made headlines for multiple alarming gaffes unbecoming of a U.S. attorney, and went to great lengths to defend the president, even making excuses for his falling asleep during his own trial. In March, she claimed that the thousands of military veterans indiscriminately fired by DOGE were simply unfit. She is also currently being sued by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka for malicious persecution after she briefly charged him with trespassing following his arrest by ICE for attempting to enter a local detention center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche railed against Habbas firing, calling it politically motivated and arguing that the deadline was supposed to be longer. The district court judges in NJ are trying to force out @USAttyHabba before her term expires at 11:59 p.m. Friday, he wrote Tuesday on X. Their rush reveals what this was always about: a left-wing agenda, not the rule of law. When judges act like activists, they undermine confidence in our justice system. Alina is President Trumps choice to leadand no partisan bench can override that. Habba made a similar statement on Sean Hannitys show Monday night, insinuating that New Jersey Senators Corey Booker and Andy Kim deliberately froze her out of her job, putting her at the mercy of judges who, to her, were biased and corrupt. Habba has too many moments of incompetence for this firing to be entirely politically motivated, especially since shes being replaced with the assistant she chose. And even if that is the case, her firing is only as political as her hiring was to begin with. DOVER, Ohio (WJW) A wet start to the year has contributed to an increase in mosquitoes this summer, including those that can transmit viruses. Area health departments have already been trapping and sending mosquitos to Columbus where testing is done for West Nile virus. PHOTOS: Ozzy Osbournes last stop in Cleveland But the Tuscarawas County Health Department has now confirmed a case of another, more rare mosquito-borne virus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The La Crosse virus has been confirmed in a 66-year-old man from Uhrichsville. La Crosse is a type of virus that can cause encephalitis and that is what we are concerned with here in public health here in Tuscarawas county, said Caroline Terakedis, director of environmental health services for the Tuscarawas County Health Department. Symptoms can occur within five to 15 days of a bite. If you started to have like fever and fatigue, joint pain, headaches, we would recommend that you call a physician, said Terakedis. Though rare, the virus is transmitted by the Aedes triseriatus, or eastern treehole mosquito, that is typically found in wooded areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They commonly multiply in small holes of trees where there is standing water. They are a little bit more of a shy mosquito they dont aggressively come out and bite people. Its difficult to treat standing water for them because they prefer to breed in small tiny areas like tree holes but they really like scrap tires, if you have tires improperly stored on your property they can breed there, said Terakedis. Woman dies while running Presque Isle Half Marathon Heres what we know In a news release, the health department says it will be responding to the positive test results according to best practice recommendations and will be conducting mosquito control activities in the City of Uhrichsville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its release, the health department says according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many people infected with the La Crosse virus have no apparent symptoms. But particularly for juveniles, the symptoms can be very serious. In 2019, Fox 8 introduced you to a 9 year-old from Berlin who was treated at Akron Childrens Hospital where a part of his skull was removed to relieve swelling of his brain. The Tuscarawas County Health department says there is no vaccine against the virus, and there are no medications to specifically treat La Cross Encephalitis. Terakedis says residents of Uhrichsville are at no greater risk of getting the virus than anyone else, regardless of where you may live. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Report: Local football star Jeremiah Kellys cause of death revealed in autopsy Experts say the best medicine might just be prevention. I think it tells us that we need to continue to take care, to make sure that we are doing what we need to do to protect ourselves and our families, to make sure that we are avoiding mosquito populations wherever possible, that we are wearing long sleeves, long pants, that we are wearing insect repellant with DEET. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Dallas eliminated two enforcement programs targeting delinquent offenders after accepting $50,000 from a leftist group that promotes critical race theory. PolicyLink a group that explicitly promotes critical race theory gave Dallas a $50,000 grant in 2020 to examine its participation in Texas failure-to-appear and vehicle registration hold programs. These systems catch offenders who skip out on court, placing holds on drivers licenses and vehicle registrations until they resolve open cases. But after the PolicyLink study, Dallas chief of equity and inclusion recommended the city discontinue participation in these programs, according to a memo obtained by The Dallas Express. The city cut license and registration holds soon after. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PolicyLink is a left-of-center research and advocacy group that promotes critical race theory, which influences racial and economic policy across the U.S., according to InfluenceWatch. The group celebrated after Dallas ended its failure to appear programs. Texas uses Omnibase for its license hold program to ensure compliance with court orders by denying drivers license renewals to offenders until they resolve their case. Omnibase estimates 80 to 90 percent of offenders comply with officials who contract with the service. Texas transportation law allows authorities to freeze vehicle registrations for those who are past due on a fine or fee, according to the Dallas County website. This program is called scofflaw. Jim Lehman, collections program manager for the Texas Office of Court Administration for 18 years, told The Dallas Express that these failure-to-appear programs ease the strain on the judicial system. Lehman is also co-CEO of the Coalition of American Court Collectors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the residual effect is revenue, the real emphasis and the real purpose of the program is to get people to come to court, Lehman said. It empowers the courts, and it empowers the judges. He called the programs extremely positive, and said the court can discern whether a citizen is blowing them off or really having a hardship. If theyve got kids, and bills, and all kinds of stuff, and they have an issue, the court can deal with that directly, Lehman said. The program is set up to complement that. But after PolicyLinks grant and study, Dallas stopped new license holds on November 1, 2021, and stopped registration holds one month later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rick Ericson, the citys deputy director of communications, confirmed to The Dallas Express that the city does not use the OmniBase program. The Dallas Express requested further comment but did not receive a response in time for publication. Infiltrating Dallas Government PolicyLink approached Dallas with a proposal in 2020. The group offered Dallas $50,000 to review its fines, fees, and related collections practices, to participate in the Cities and Counties Fines and Fees Justice Cohort for racial equity, and to present an actionable plan of at least three fine or fee reforms, according to city council minutes. Lehman said he had worked with Dallas during his time with the state, so a friend reached out after PolicyLinks proposal and mentioned that the city might drop its failure-to-appear program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The council had been approached by several outside groups, Lehman said. They were giving them grant money in order to go in and do a big analysis of how their fines and fees work. Lehman told The Dallas Express the main group was PolicyLink. The program lasted 18 months, and linked various city departments and external community partner organizations, according to a June 4, 2021, memo from Dallas Chief of Equity and Inclusion Liz Cedillo-Pereira now assistant city manager obtained by The Dallas Express. A PolicyLink guide for members of Dallas cohort recommended taking an equity framework to combat pervasive, often unseen, biases built into systems and mindsets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Participants like Dallas would do things like join monthly video conferences with partner organizations, sit in webinars with experts in the field, and communicate on a shared listserv platform. They would build and enact a Fine and Fee Reform Agenda. The program wrapped up by suggesting the Dallas city council end participation in debt-based drivers license suspensions and vehicle registration holds. The Fallout Cedillo-Pereira said in the June 4, 2021, memo obtained by The Dallas Express that, following the PolicyLink study, officials would discontinue participation in these programs. Dallas ultimately dropped them from the budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2022. Officials expected these cuts to reduce Dallas revenue that year by nearly $700,000 and affect more than 72,000 residents across the city. More specifically, Cedillo-Pereira wrote in the memo, dropping these programs would alleviate the burden of holds on more than 44,000 residents in the top 10 ZIP codes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lehman said he thinks cutting these programs will have a negative impact on Dallas. Once the general public knows that there is weak or no enforcement of any code, any policy, then their behavior follows suit. Its not that important to you, so why should it be important to me? he said. You put it off until it gets extreme. And the extreme could be the issuance of warrants. Lehman said some judges are very interested in making sure that people comply, so they will issue warrants. But he said others may also put off enforcement, simply sending the cases to collection agencies. The impact of that, in my opinion, is noncompliance or delayed compliance, he said. That creates a backlog a huge backlog because people just arent coming in, and theyre not responding to the collection agency, and theres no pressure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PolicyLink instructed participants to conduct a racial equity impact assessment for each of their reforms. It stated that equity addresses race forthrightly and productively, aiming to solve economic inequality and racial exclusion. In her memo, Cedillo-Pereira included a chart of the most affected zip codes, highlighting the majority race in each. PolicyLink tells government leaders about the harmful impact of fines and fees on low-income communities, particularly those of color, according to its website. Groups like PolicyLink say the programs are hurting low income minorities and disadvantaging individuals who couldnt afford to pay, according to Lehman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But compared to the rest of the country, he said, Texas programs are unique. Its really cool, and Ive advocated this program nationally, he said. Theres no other program like it in the country It offers a huge cushion. Instead of suspending licenses, Texas failure to appear program simply blocks renewals, which incentivizes offenders to deal with fines and fees, but gives them plenty of time, according to Lehman. They had an agenda all along, and that agenda was to move the jurisdictions they work with away from fine and fee enforcement, he said. One of those tools that they zeroed in on was the failure to appear program. From Equity to Enforcement Rollbacks PolicyLink developed a blueprint for then-President Joe Bidens racial equity plan in 2021, as The Hill reported at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We wanted to make sure that the ramp-up to address racial equity could be as smooth as possible, PolicyLink CEO Michael McAfee told the outlet at the time. PolicyLink launched in 1998 to promote grassroots mobilization of left-wing activism to influence local policy, according to InfluenceWatch. It hosts briefings with policymakers, and holds a summit every three years to organize a cohesive racial agenda. The group had $110 million in assets as of 2022. The group launched PolicyLink Equity Action in 2015 to support equity in government housing and spending for ethnic minorities, according to InfluenceWatch. It founded PolicyLink Legal in 2018 to advance its agenda in the courts. PolicyLink published an article on Fighting Anti-Blackness Through Budget Justice in 2020, applauding efforts to defund the police and calling to go even further. Beyond defunding police, theres a broader need to rethink regressive tax systems and structures, the article reads. As protests show no sign of slowing, the energy and attention in the streets must generate a groundswell of people demanding equity and justice in how we spend our tax dollars. PolicyLink published a study based on the intersection of critical race theory, technological development, and advertising practice. A senior associate was also a professor who taught a course titled Critical Race Theory and Public Policy. After President Donald Trump was reelected in 2024, PolicyLink President Ashley Gardere hosted a webinar titled Racial Justice After the 2024 Election, according to InfluenceWatch, planning racial equity strategies during the second Trump administration. PolicyLink, The Financial Justice Project, and the Fines and Fees Justice Center published a one-year review of efforts to subvert fines and fees, including in Dallas. The Financial Justice Project in San Francisco boasted of being the nations first effort embedded in government to assess and reform fines, fees, and financial penalties. The Fines and Fees Justice Center aims to eliminate the fines and fees that distort justice. I think what they want to do is have a positive impact on the community, Lehman said. But the way that the process works is, anything that doesnt fit in their box is outside of their box and therefore you need to get rid of it. Virginia GOP gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears is set to announce staff changes later this week, according to three people familiar with campaign personnel decisions an attempt to turn things around as her campaign lags in polling and fundraising. Earle-Sears, Virginias lieutenant governor, is attempting to become the first Black woman ever elected governor in the nations history, and the first Virginia Republican in nearly 30 years to succeed a sitting GOP governor. Democrats and Republicans alike see the governors race as an important bellwether ahead of the 2026 midterms and an appraisal of President Donald Trumps first few months back in office. But a recent poll from Virginia Commonwealth University has her trailing Democrat Abigail Spanberger by double digits 49 percent to 37 percent. The latest campaign finance reports also show Spanberger with a significant fundraising advantage. Between June 6 and June 30, Spanberger raised $4.2 million and had more than $15 million on hand, whereas Earle-Sears raised only $2.3 million in the same period. Her campaign has $4.5 million cash on hand as of July 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With little more than 100 days until Election Day, Earle-Sears is banking on a staff shake-up to help steady the campaign. At the end of the day, this is just refocusing for the last push, said one person close to the campaign who, like others in this story, was granted anonymity to speak freely about staff reshuffling. The person characterized the move as a positive change that most staff welcomed, arguing the reports of the campaign being in peril are overblown. Lets rip off this tabloid Band-Aid and move on is kind of the overall vibe, the person added. Its not the first staff change to hit the beleaguered campaign. Following mounting pressure from fellow Republicans including some within Trumps orbit who have referred to campaign staff as amateurs the campaign made changes, including the reassignment of her campaign manager, Will Archer, a pastor with no political experience. (People familiar with the campaign say he will continue in a role focused on voter outreach.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richard Wagner, Earle-Sears political director, has left the campaign, NBC News reported. On top of the personnel shake-ups, Earle-Sears has run into controversy. Earlier this year the Earle-Sears campaign blasted a fundraising email comparing DEI to American slavery, where she remarked: Slaves did not die in the fields so that we could call ourselves victims now in 2025. Last week, a publication called Dogwood released an audio clip of Earle-Sears in which she appeared to acknowledge the cuts to the federal workforce negatively impacting her standing with voters, telling supporters that she and Spanberger were neck and neck before her Democratic opponent brought up DOGE repeatedly and began opening up a lead. Northern Virginia is home to a lot of federal workers who were targeted by DOGE, and in March the progressive Meidas Touch Network released a different recording in which Earle-Sears appeared to be downplaying the severity of the DOGE cuts. Ive always had concerns about this race, but not because of Winsome, just because of the overall environment, said one Republican strategist. I expected to be where we are, and when I saw a lot of the DOGE activities and Elon Musk activities having a major impact on Northern Virginia, it gave me even more of a concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taken together, the campaign is amplifying the monthslong concerns that Earle-Sears does not have enough time or the right personnel in place to get the campaign on track in the final stretch. This is not the kind of conversation you want to have as an organization in the middle of July in Virginia politics, because voting starts in 60 days, said Republican Chris Saxman, a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, referring to the period when early voting begins in Virginia. Those close to the campaign say they are hoping to secure in the fall one or two debates with Spanberger, a format in which they expect Earle-Sears will shine. But others remain skeptical about her prospects. Winsome is not going to trust anyone who comes in here in the last 100 days, said one Republican strategist keeping tabs on the race. I mean, if she were really serious, she would probably fire the consultants and just get a team to try to have a respectable showing and not lose by 15 points. A Providence man has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for selling fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills, the U.S. Attorney said Tuesday. Michael Sellers, 40, was sentenced to 70 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom said in a statement. U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy handed down his sentence. Sellers pleaded guilty in March to two counts of distribution of fentanyl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of his guilty plea, Sellers admitted that on at least two occasions, he sold more than 1,000 counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills to an individual. Sellers admitted that on Nov. 16, 2023, he provided the individual with 1,027 fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills in exchange for $2,500 in cash. On Nov. 24, 2023, he provided the same person with 1,024 fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills in exchange for $2,500, prosecutors said. At the time, Sellers was unaware that both transactions were monitored by the FBI and the pills were quickly seized, Bloom said. 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 Its been a rough ride for Tesla (TSLA) over the past few months. As CEO Elon Musk focused his attention on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Teslas company and stock saw some dramatic volatility. Musk left DOGE in May and committed to focusing on Tesla. Since then, however, he had a public blowout with President Donald Trump and is now talking about forming a political party called the American Party, according to a post he wrote on X, which is creating chaos for the brand and uncertainty for investors. Read Next: Heres What Musks White House Exit Could Mean for the Future of DOGE And Your Wallet Explore More: 5 Cities You Need To Consider If You're Retiring in 2025 While Musk redefined the car industry, his avid political interests have shaken up the market and spooked investors. Read on for experts take on whether Musks pivot is good for the company and the stock. How Musks Political Aspirations Impacted Tesla In the first quarter, electric vehicle (EV) sales increased more than 11% year over year, per Cox Automotive, but Tesla hasnt been riding that wave. Tesla saw its sales fall, and many attributed that, in part, to Musks political involvements earlier this year. In the companys first quarter earnings release, it reported that net income fell by 71% year over year, per NPR, and in the second quarter, it reported that sales plunged a record 13.5% year over year, per CNN. Its stock also saw a lot of volatility during this time. On the first trading day of 2025, Tesla stock closed around $380. By the end of March, it had fallen to around $260. It has since recovered some of those losses and is trading around $330 as of July 22. When Musk got into politics, it created confusion for investors, said Gilbert Michaud, Ph.D., assistant professor of environmental policy at Loyola University Chicago. When he removed himself from DOGE, things got better. However, Musk is still involving himself in politics and offering criticisms of the president on social media, which has led to more volatility in the stock. Check Out: 3 Ways Trumps Big Beautiful Bill Could Hit Tesla Investors Musk Could Still See Backlash From Investors Investors expect a strong visionary at the helm of a company to guide it to success, and Musk was that trailblazer, but some people are now questioning his choices. Every time Musk leans heavily into politics, Teslas stock tends to react and not always positively, according to Michael Foguth, founder and president of Foguth Financial Group. Investors typically want leadership thats focused on operations and innovation, not controversy. His new political party initiative could become a distraction and raise concerns over long-term vision and brand stability. BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Tuesday for the grand opening of the new Gold Spectrum site in Bristol, Tennessee. WJHL Photo More than 250 people work at the cannabis company, and the new site will serve as the main base of operations, according to Gold Spectrum CEO Zack Green. 250 employees are spread across everything from here at this facility, our retail locations, and our wholesale field reps as well, Green said. Then to keep up with demands of growth, we intend to hire an additional 100 people within the local Holston Valley community area. We have about 15 or more job postings on our website right now, and we need to fill about 100 new [positions] in the next three months, to keep up with our growth demands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS: Relocated cannabis company at 250 jobs may add 100 lobbying for easing of restrictive TN law House Bill 1376, which was signed by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, made the sale, manufacture and distribution of a majority of hemp-derived cannabinoids illegal starting in 2026. Green has been outspoken on the legislation and claimed it could be detrimental to the entire industry in Tennessee, banning the sale of roughly 90% of hemp-derived cannabinoids. We want there to be stricter guidelines for testing of the products, for labeling of the products and for transparency in those products and packaging, Green said. It keeps everybody on an even playing field. It lets the consumers know that theyre getting a safe-to-consume product that is, you know, truly, what it is advertised as. Were trying to make progress on that in the amendment that were looking for with House Bill 1376. Unless there are changes made to the already-signed bill, Green warned businesses like Gold Spectrum would likely falter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That would be a really dark day for the industry and for this state, Green said. But were very optimistic. Were very involved, locally and at the state, and with non-profits. You know, I feel like a lot of people had had the wool pulled over their eyes when this amendment was put in. Green said he and others in the industry are confident they can rally support to make changes to the law quickly. State Senator Bobby Harshbarger, who attended the ribbon cutting, said a middle ground has to be found. Trying to keep products like this, similar to alcohol, you want to keep alcohol out of the hands of adolescents as well Harshbarger said. I think were moving in the right direction as far as just having responsibility. I think that if we could find that middle ground, find that balance, because it will be a financial impact in the future. Youve got to take that into consideration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The site, located at 1717 Bristol Caverns Highway, served as the former Holston Valley Middle School. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. RIDGELAND, S.C. (WSAV) An inmate at the Ridgeland Correctional Institute pleaded guilty to the rape and kidnapping of a commissary worker, officials announced Tuesday. Ahmad Rashad Bonds, 41, pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping at the Jasper County Courthouse Tuesday. He was sentenced to 29 years for both charges and his sentences will be served concurrently, meaning he will serve his sentences at the same time. Bonds was already incarcerated and serving a 25-year prison sentence for first-degree criminal sexual conduct, first-degree burglary and armed robbery when the attack happened in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He snuck into the prisons stockroom through an unlocked door while the worker was documenting damaged items and attacked her, a 14th Judicial Circuit spokesperson said. Hampton Co. seeking man in Fox Trail Road shooting He waited for an opportunity to attack the victim, and he got his chance when she went to the restroom to wash her hands, Hunter Swanson of the 14th Circuit Solicitors Office, who prosecuted the case said. Wearing a face covering, he attacked her from behind, pushing her to the floor. He also threatened to kill the woman after 68-year-old was able to pull Bonds face covering down. When she tried to call for help, Bonds beat the woman with the phones handset, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) investigators documented blood smearing on the bathrooms walls and floor due to the attack. The worker was able to push a cabinet and table against the door and fought Bond off by spraying chemicals in his face after he attempted to get into the storage room again. Bond then returned to his cell block for roll call. The woman was found two hours later and treated for her injuries. Gas line safety emphasized after surge in leaks She was able to identify Bonds in a lineup and DNA collected during a sexual assault exam came back as Bonds, officials said. The victim in this case is ready to put this nightmare behind her and move on with her life, Swanson said. Todays outcome provides a modicum of closure to the victim who endured a violent attack. 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 WSAV-TV. HOPKINTON, R.I. (WPRI) A mission to rebuild bigger and better after a devastating fire four years ago is ushering in a new day for Foster Parrots wildlife sanctuary in Hope Valley. The fact that we have been able to reach this level is kind of a miracle, Karen Windsor told 12 News. My heart swells when I walk through this building. Sanctuary director Karen Windsor has been leading the charge on raising money for a new state-of-the-art facility thats now under construction by Bentley Builders. The Warwick-based companys prior work includes the rainforest exhibit at Roger Williams Park Zoo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In just a few months, the new building will house 400 exotic birds that call the sanctuary home. Windsor said these birds cant live in homes or go back to wild, and many have medical conditions caused by their time in captivity. WATCH: Stranded passengers rescued from sky ride at Southwicks Zoo Since the tragic fire in April 2021, staff have been caring for the birds in whats left of their headquarters in less than ideal conditions. This entire new facility is going to be a living memorial to the birds that that we lost, Windsor said. Scaling up the sanctuary in such a big way hasnt been cheap. Windsor raised $6 million in donations to cover the cost of engineering and the actual buildout, but more fundraising is needed to complete the aviaries and eventual landscaping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not easy raising money for parrots, Windsor added. Parrots kind of fall between the cracks in the animal welfare landscape. People dont relate to them like they do mammals. A rendering of the future Foster Parrots sanctuary (Courtesy of Frank Karpowicz Architects) A rendering of the future Foster Parrots sanctuary (Courtesy of Frank Karpowicz Architects) She credits a strong base of supporters who believe in the sanctuarys mission of rescue, foster care, and public education for reaching that goal. We have built relationships with several foundations and they have been instrumental in helping us, Windsor said. And, of course, fundraising events. Were working every single day to make this happen. One notably large donation of $1.8 million came from the late host of The Price is Right Bob Barker. Windsor said Foster Parrots was one of the animal welfare organizations included in his will. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ALSO READ: Meet the dog whose fluffy face brings joy to Providences East Side As the Northeasts largest parrot rescue, Foster Parrots receives more than a thousand requests a year from people looking for placement of unwanted parrots and other exotic birds. Windsor said they do their best to find the right placement and explained that the lifespan of a parrot is about 80 years, but many people who buy birds dont make a plan for the animal in the event of illness or death. We have found that its the aging and death of guardians and health problems as people age are the biggest reasons [for relinquishment], she explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Windsor also pointed out the proliferation of small exotic birds like cockatiels and budgies into the pet market, saying they are often impulse buys and once the person gets home with the bird, they find that theyre too noisy or messy and no longer want it. Earlier this year, the sanctuary worked on legislation with state Rep. Megan Cotter that would have banned the sale of parrots from brokers and breeders in Rhode Island pet stores. The Rhode Island Current reported on the heated debate over the bill in the House Committee on Corporations and the eventual vote holding it for further study. Windsor said the sanctuary plans to refocus its energy on legislative matters after their new headquarters is complete. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can learn more about Foster Parrots programs and fundraising campaign on its website and Facebook. 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. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Canadian tourism into the U.S. continues to decline with a more than 30 percent drop in June compared to the same time in 2024. Local agencies are getting creative to help attract international travel to the Rochester area. New data from Statistics Canada shows a steady decline over the last six months and significant economic losses projected for the American tourism industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Rochester, tourism leaders with Visit Rochester only report slight changes. Talking to our local attractions, they are certainly down in Canadian traffic. But, one of the good things is domestic travel is way up. Certain museums have seen a decrease in Canadian traffic but an increase in domestic, said Don Jeffries, president and CEO of Visit Rochester. Whether youve seen it on a billboard or via social media, Visit Rochester recently launched a new campaign called Dear Canada. Jeffries says it serves as a heartfelt reminder to Canadians that there is plenty to see and do in the Finger Lakes Region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Travelers no longer have to remove their shoes during security screenings at US airports It wasnt a hard sell. When youre comfortable coming here, were ready to have you. A lot of the local attractions and my counterparts across the country withdrew from their Canadian campaign. We did not think that was a good idea. We wanted to say, Canada, youre welcome here. It was a little different than what we usually do, said Jeffries. The celebration of the Erie Canals bicentennial is also taking place this year. Leaders with the New York State Canal Corporation are adjusting to spread the word up north. Its to remind folks to come see us. Come visit and come utilize this iconic waterway. There are more than 220 communities throughout the canal corridor. Were working with many of them on special programming and special events that highlight and note the bicentennial, said Shane Mahar of the NYS Canal Corporation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On average, Rochester sees between 20 to 25 percent of Canadian visitors each year a bulk of the citys business. Rochester, although were not bulletproof, were certainly doing much better than our counterparts, said Jeffries. More on Visit Rochesters Dear Canada campaign can be seen 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 RochesterFirst. ROCK HILL, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Rock Hill Schools is welcoming around 100 new certified educators to the district during its annual Learning to Rock orientation, taking place Wednesday, July 23 and Thursday, July 24 at Castle Heights Middle School. This two-day event is designed to prepare newly hired educators for a successful start to the school year through collaboration, professional development, and connection to the Rock Hill community. This is always a special time of year as we welcome new teachers and returning educators who have chosen Rock Hill Schools. Our Learning to Rock program is just one of the ways we invest in our educators from day one. Superintendent Dr. Deborah Elder Rock Hills pay is $52,000 for new hires, the highest for starting teachers in York County. Plus, 98% of teaching positions are filled and 100% of bus routes are covered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025 New Hires: Approximately 100 certified educators will join Rock Hill Schools this year. 7 educators are returning to Rock Hill Schools after previously serving in the district. More than half bring multiple years of teaching experience to their new roles. 14 new hires are proud graduates of Rock Hill Schools high schools. 7 certified educators are transitioning from support roles into certified teaching positions through our Grow Your Own initiative and partnerships with the South Carolina Department of Educations alternative certification pathways. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MACHESNEY PARK, Ill. (WTVO) Machesney and Loves Park Police arrested Matthew Smith, 20, for meeting a 15-year-old to have sex at an elementary school, among other accusations. Loves Park officers responded to Maple Elementary School on Maple Avenue after receiving reports of sexual assault on May 27. The victim and Smith agreed to meet at this location through Snapchat, according to court records. Smith admitted to performing sexual acts on the teen, authorities reported. Matthew Smith. Photo: Winnebago County Jail On June 3, Machensey Park officers started to investigate Smith for more reports of inappropriate sexual behavior toward another 15-year-old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith sent multiple sexual images to the victim, court documents show. The teen told officials the suspect asked her multiple times for sexual pictures of herself. Smith is charged with three counts of sexual abuse of a minor, traveling to meet a minor, possession of child porn and grooming. If you are a survivor of domestic or sexual violence, visit our Stateline Strong page for resources. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Russia plans to spend around $1.1 trillion on rearmament over the next 11 years in preparation for a potential large-scale war, Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said on July 22. Moscow has launched its most ambitious weapons program since the collapse of the Soviet Union, he said. Russia is mobilizing all sectors of society to support its military buildup, he added. "There is a total mobilization of politics, economy, and society of the Russian Federation to be ready for the upcoming large-scale war," Budanov said during the annual meeting of Ukrainian ambassadors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of this reform, Russia has already created two new military districts Moscow and Leningrad and is preparing to form additional divisions and military units. Budanov said the Kremlin's goal is not just regional domination but a reshaping of the global order. "Russia seeks to disrupt the current security and economic order," he added. "For this purpose, Moscow is building up its presence in Africa, primarily using its proxy forces." Budanov also warned that Russia is conducting hybrid operations abroad, including cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns, aimed at undermining democracies. "Moscow's goal is to impose on countries its own vision of the future world order, where 'big' states, primarily the Russian Federation, have full power, a monopoly on all critical resources and decide the fate of the world in a closed circle," Budanov said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His comments follow a growing number of warnings from Western intelligence services about Russia's long-term military buildup. Last year, German intelligence chief Bruno Kahl said that Moscow will have the military capabilities to attack NATO by 2030. Russia's defense spending has already overtaken that of all European countries combined. In 2024, its military budget surged by 42% to $462 billion, surpassing Europe's collective defense expenditure of $457 billion, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on April 30 that Russia is prepared to scale up its war effort to levels last seen in World War II, claiming "millions" of civilians are supporting the military by donating supplies and equipment. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi estimated in April that Russia could call up to 5 million trained reservists, with a broader mobilization potential of 20 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: US NATO ambassador warns China over subsidizing Russias war in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia is now using decoy drones with 100% of its components made in China, Ukraines Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) claimed on Tuesday. While Russian weapons have long contained parts from China as well as many other nations, this marks likely the first time one of its drones is completely made up of Chinese parts. The discovery is additional proof of Beijings growing support for Moscows war in Ukraine. The drone in question is a new decoy Russia is using to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses, according to GUR. The delta-winged weapon loosely resembles the infamous Shahed-136 drone, but is much smaller, according to GUR. In addition to serving as a decoy, this drone may also pack a warhead weighing up to 15 kilos (about 33 pounds). As we reported yesterday, Russia is already overwhelming Ukrainian air defenses with more drones and improved tactics. All components and blocks [in the new drones] are of Chinese origin, according to GURs War&Sanctions project, which maintains a database of thousands of foreign components found in Russian weapons. GUR publishes components of a new Russian UAV used as a decoy and reconnaissance, it can also carry a warhead weighing up to 15 kg. All components and blocks are of Chinese origin. The UAV is also equipped with a Chinese copy of Australian RFD900x data transmission pic.twitter.com/EVd7AxBIEA MAKS 25 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) July 22, 2025 GUR recovered at least two of these drones, the second of which contained two components of unknown origin. Nearly half of the parts in the first drone come from one company, CUAV Technology. Those parts include a flight controller with an autopilot, navigation modules and antennas, and an airspeed sensor with a pilot tube, GUR stated. Advertisement Advertisement The company is a National High-Tech Enterprise and Guangdong Provincial Specialized, Refined, Unique, and Innovative Enterprise specializing in open-source unmanned systems technology, according to the CUAV Technology Co. website. It integrates R&D, production, and sales. The discovery of these CUAV Technology Co. components came even though the company announced restrictions on the supply of products to Ukraine and Russia in October 2022. The stated goal was to prevent their use for military purposes, GUR noted. However, in 2023, the Russian Federation presented a vertical take-off UAV of allegedly its own design, which turned out to be a CUAV Technology product available on AliExpress, GUR added. The new Russian decoy drone is different because instead of being an off-the-shelf purchase, it represents a new method of indigenous production. The War Zone cannot independently verify these claims. Weve reached out to CUAV Technology Co. and GUR for more details and will update this story with any pertinent information provided. Some of the Chinese components found in a new Russian decoy drone. (GUR) GURs findings about the new Russian decoy drone come as Moscow is increasingly relying on Beijing to provide technology for its drones, especially artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Last month, GUR found that a Russian V2U barrage drone used in the Sumy region could autonomously search and select targets using AI. The V2U relied on the Chinese Leetop A203 minicomputer and a central processor with an American NVIDIA Jetson Orin module. We first wrote about how AI would make drones even deadlier last year, which you can read about here. Russia is also relying on China to help extend the range of its fiber-optic controlled drones by providing spools allowing those weapons to reach as far as 50km (about 31 miles). The increased reach gives the Russians a big advantage for a system that is already creating havoc for Ukrainian forces. Fiber optics are used by both sides because it makes drones impervious to jamming and other forms of electronic warfare and helps mitigate the effects of terrain that can also interfere with radio control. Chinese working on Russian drones say they now have 50km fiber optic cables. Ukraine is fighting every enemy of western civilization while the US is increasingly on the side of the bad guys. pic.twitter.com/Y2gwc3eJZi Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) June 5, 2025 This new decoy drone is one of many Russian weapons relying on foreign parts. However, previous recoveries by GUR show a wider range of origin for components. Advertisement Advertisement For instance, a Russian Shahed-136 strike drone GUR obtained contained dozens of components from the U.S. as well as parts from Iran, Taiwan and other nations. Last year, we noted that GUR found dozens of foreign components in a Russian S-70 Okhotnik-B (Hunter-B) flying wing unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) downed in a case of friendly fire. S-70 Okhotnik-B (Hunter-B) flying wing unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV). Russian MOD Screenshot/via X.com Other Russian weapons, like the Banderol S-8000 cruise missile, contain parts from Switzerland, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea as well as the U.S. and China, according to the GUR database. In the very early days of the all-out invasion, GUR shared with us a list of several weapons packed with foreign chips. They were found inside a recovered example of the 9S932-1, a radar-equipped air defense command post vehicle that is part of the larger Barnaul-T system, a Pantsir air defense system, a Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter, and a Kh-101 (AS-23A Kodiak) cruise missile. These parts all found their way into Russian weapons despite international sanctions designed to prevent that from happening. Beyond components, China appears to have provided Russia with at least some complete weapons systems. In May, we reported that Russia was using a new Chinese laser system to shoot down Ukrainian drones. The system seen in a video posted to Telegram appeared to be at least extremely similar to a system Beijing has apparently already provided to Iran, which you can read more about here. However, it remains unclear how widely this system is being fielded by Russia. Advertisement Advertisement You can see images and video of those systems below. While the sensor arrangement seems to have been altered, the system observed in Russian service strongly resembles the Chinese Shen Nung 3000/5000 anti-drone laser. https://t.co/Q1wSToDhW5 pic.twitter.com/K1BqNvVWTS Fabian Hinz (@fab_hinz) May 31, 2025 Russias growing reliance on China for technology comes as the two nations are drawing closer in what can be described as a relationship of convenience to challenge the U.S. and its allies. Officially, China has expressed neutrality in this conflict; however, its actions say otherwise. Earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the European Unions top diplomat that Beijing cant accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine because it could allow the U.S. to turn its full attention to China, CNN reported. The network cited an official briefed on the talks. The Chinese foreign ministers admission came during what the official said was a four-hour meeting with EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas in Brussels that featured tough but respectful exchanges, covering a broad range of issues from cyber security, rare earths to trade imbalances, Taiwan and Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement The official said Wangs private remarks suggested Beijing might prefer a protracted war in Ukraine that keeps the United States from focusing on its rivalry with China, CNN added. Wangs comments echo concerns of critics of Chinas policy that Beijing has geopolitically much more at stake in the Ukrainian conflict than its admitted position of neutrality. Chinas assistance to Russia differs from what North Korea is providing in terms of missiles, artillery, millions of rounds of shells and more than 11,000 troops fighting against Ukraine. However, the electronics flowing from China are critical to Russias military-industrial complex. Given that Russia has had time to shift its supply chain to Chinese sources while simultaneously spinning up its economy into a wartime configuration, it is likely we will see many more of these components installed throughout Moscows arsenal. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun is encouraging City Council members to vote yes on the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement between TWG Development Group and the City of Terre Haute. If housing is truly a human right, we must embrace housing projects at all price ranges. We need more housing at varied price levels to help all Hoosiers of today, and Hoosiers of tomorrow, says Mayor Brandon Sakbun. According to a press release, through the citys PILOT agreement, TWG will pay the City Controller to compensate for the loss of property tax revenue due to tax-exempt use of property. The city says this agreement will allow for the payments to be deposited into a housing trust fund with the purpose of providing financial assistance and grants/loans for development and rehabilitation for stable and affordable housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city will work together with TWG Development Group on this development project to address the need for more available housing options. TWG received $1.2 million in Affordable & Workforce Housing Tax Credits, made available through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, to fund the housing development. Wabash Place Apartments will bring 120 apartment units offering a mix of one, two, or three-bedroom options. In the press release, Mayor Sakbun highlighted two concerns that have been brought forward from the city council regarding the PILOT Agreement with TWG. Some council members have requested the use of local contractors on the construction of Wabash Place Apartments. However, the city is unable to mandate the usage of local contractors for private projects that receive state and federal tax credits. While the administration strongly encourages any developer to utilize local contractors, only public projects are under the guidelines of the Responsible Bidder Ordinance, Sakbun stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sakbun added, The second concern is the possibility of TWG selling this developed property in 15 years, falling into the hands of an unknown owner. If Wabash Place Apartments is sold in the future, that does not change the fact that we need housing in Terre Haute now. We believe that the proposed Property Maintenance Code will ensure that current and future properties are maintained and the owners are held accountable if they are not. With this in mind, the proposed development directly helps our lower-income families to receive the living accommodations they deserve. The PILOT Agreement between TWG Development Group and the city of Terre Haute was approved Wednesday night at the City Council Meeting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (WSPA) The head of South Carolina publics broadcasting operations said on Monday efforts to defund public broadcasting wont stop efforts to provide educational resources or to tell meaningful stories of life in the Palmetto State. Last week federal lawmakers voted to cut $9 billion in federal funding for aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The cuts are expected to heavily impact public television and radio stations in rural areas. Adrienne Fairwell, president and CEO of SCETV, issued the following statement on the cuts. At South Carolina ETV and Public Radio, our mission is rooted in service providing trusted content, educational resources and meaningful storytelling that amplifies the voices of our state. I am thankful for the continued support SCETV receives from the Governors Office, the South Carolina General Assembly and members of the ETV Endowment of South Carolina. We remain steadfast in our mission, continuing to deliver local content created by South Carolinians for South Carolinians, supporting educational programming and classroom resources, and providing essential emergency communications and government transparency services to our state. Together, we are creating a stronger, more informed and connected South Carolina. Adrienne Fairwell, president and CEO of SCETV Read next: $1.1B in federal funding cuts for NPR, PBS pass Congress; what does that mean for North Carolina? 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 WSPA 7NEWS. This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has banned four former bankers from future work in the industry, the agency disclosed Thursday. James Blose, once general counsel at Stamford, Connecticut-based Webster Bank, was barred from the industry after pleading guilty to bank fraud and engaging in illegal monetary transactions and being sentenced in April to four years in prison. Blose was involved in a decade-long embezzlement scheme that used his attorney trust accounts to cover personal expenses and transfer funds to accounts in the names of businesses he had created and controlled. Through this scheme, Blose was found to have stole roughly $7.4 million from his employers and used the money for his personal benefit, including buying a vacation property, luxury vehicles, and private jet charters. If the prohibition order is violated, Blose could face fines of up to $1 million or imprisonment for up to five years, or both. It could also lead to additional civil money penalties, the OCC noted. However, Blose has the right to request an informal hearing, which must be submitted in writing and received within 30 days of order service, according to the OCC. Lacey Ann Henry, a former teller manager at the Trooper, Pennsylvania, branch of TD from June 2020 to February 2022, accessed confidential customer information and withdrew at least $41,500 from customer checking accounts in November and December 2021, for her personal benefit, the OCC found. Henry engaged in violations of law and unsafe and unsound practices, which resulted in financial loss to the Bank and financial gain to Respondent, and demonstrated personal dishonesty, the agency said in the prohibition order. Alonso Missael Gonzalez Ibarra, a former teller and associate operations lead at a Portland, Oregon, branch of JPMorgan Chase, stole $36,768 between June and October 2022 from two ATMs. In an attempt to cover up his theft, Ibarra, who worked at JPMorgan for roughly seven years, altered the totals in the ATM records to make the ATMs appear to be in balance, the OCC found. Cricel Santamaria, a former client service representative at a Stamford location of Webster Bank, obtained 62 images of checks from the lenders internal systems and sold them online between October 2021 and April 2022, the OCC found. The total reported check sale fraud was $237,374, while the bank lost about $108,000, the agency said. LONDON (AP) When a schoolboy going for a run found the ribs of a wooden ship poking through the dunes of a remote Scottish beach, it sparked a hunt by archaeologists, scientists and local historians to uncover its story. Through a mix of high-tech science and community research, they have an answer. Researchers announced Wednesday that the vessel is very likely the Earl of Chatham, an 18th-century warship that saw action in the American War of Independence before a second life hunting whales in the Arctic and then a stormy demise. I would regard it as a lucky ship, which is a strange thing to say about a ship thats wrecked, said Ben Saunders, senior marine archaeologist at Wessex Archaeology, a charity that helped community researchers conduct the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think if it had been found in many other places, it wouldnt necessarily have had that community drive, that desire to recover and study that material, and also the community spirit to do it, Saunders said. Uncovered after 250 years The wreck was discovered in February 2024 after a storm swept away sand covering it on Sanday, one of the rugged Orkney Islands that lie off Scotlands northern tip. It excited interest on the island of 500 people, whose history is bound up with the sea and its dangers. Around 270 shipwrecks have been recorded around the 20-square-mile (50-square-kilometer) island since the 15th century. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local farmers used their tractors and trailers to haul the 12 tons of oak timbers off the beach, before local researchers set to work trying to identify it. That was really good fun, and it was such a good feeling about the community everybody pulling together to get it back, said Sylvia Thorne, one of the islands community researchers. Quite a few people are really getting interested in it and becoming experts. Dendrochronology the science of dating wood from tree rings showed the timber came from southern England in the middle of the 18th century. That was one bit of luck, Saunders said, because it coincides with the point where British bureaucracys really starting to kick off and detailed records were being kept. And so we can then start to look at the archive evidence that we have for the wrecks in Orkney, Saunders said. It becomes a process of elimination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You remove ones that are Northern European as opposed to British, you remove wrecks that are too small or operating out of the north of England and you really are down to two or three and Earl of Chatham is the last one left. Wars and whaling Further research found that before it was the Earl of Chatham, the ship was HMS Hind, a 24-gun Royal Navy frigate built in Chichester on Englands south coast in 1749. Its military career saw it play a part in the expansion and contraction of the British Empire. It helped Britain wrest control of Canada from France during the sieges of Louisbourg and Quebec in the 1750s, and in the 1770s served as a convoy escort during Britains failed effort to hold onto its American colonies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sold off by the navy in 1784 and renamed, the vessel became a whaling ship, hunting the huge mammals in the Arctic waters off Greenland. Whale oil was an essential fuel of the Industrial Revolution, used to lubricate machinery, soften fabric and light city streets. Saunders said that in 1787 there were 120 London-based whaling ships in the Greenland Sea, the Earl of Chatham among them. A year later, while heading out to the whaling ground, it was wrecked in bad weather off Sanday. All 56 crew members survived more evidence, Saunders says, that this was a vessel blessed with luck. Community effort Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ships timbers are being preserved in a freshwater tank at the Sanday Heritage Centre while plans are discussed to put it on permanent display. Saunders said that the project is a model of community involvement in archaeology. The community have been so keen, have been so desirous to be involved and to find out things to learn, and theyre so proud of it. Its down to them it was discovered, its down to them it was recovered and its been stabilized and been protected, he said. For locals, its a link to the islands maritime past and future. Finding long-buried wrecks could become more common as climate change alters the wind patterns around Britain and reshapes the coastline. One of the biggest things Ive got out of this project is realizing how much the past in Sanday is just constantly with you either visible or just under the surface, said Ruth Peace, another community researcher. FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A Florence County man who was bitten by a K9 last May in a violent confrontation with former deputy Treyvon Sellers is suing his former employer. Johnny Cooper was bitten by Sellers dog Ikar after William Rankin a man he had no affiliation with entered his National Cemetery Road home while trying to elude Sellers. Rankins estate on Friday filed a wrongful death suit against the sheriffs office. Sellers shot the unarmed man five times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cooper underwent extensive emergency surgery for his injuries. Cooper also suffered permanent disfigurement and impairment to his left arm and left shoulder. I have personally met with the families of Mr. Rankin and Mr. Cooper where I have been as candid and transparent as I know how, and I have expressed my deep regret and sorrow over this incident, Sheriff TJ Joye said last summer. This incident is not indicative of our values, our mission or our training. Sellers, who was fired from the sheriffs office on July 26, 2024, after a domestic violence arrest in Darlington County, was on administrative leave at the time for his role in Rankins death. In August 2024, Sellers was charged by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division with voluntary manslaughter, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and misconduct in office in connection with Rankins death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sellers shot Rankin after following him into a National Cemetery Road residence following a vehicle pursuit. Rankin died a short time later, while another man, Johnny Cooper, was bitten by Sellers K9 and seriously injured. After about 5 1/2 minutes, video shows Sellers exiting his vehicle and start chasing after Rankin, demanding him to get on the ground. Sellers is also heard yelling at his K9, who was off the leash, saying stop it! and here! Sellers then entered the house without announcing his or the K9s presence. The K9 then started attacking Cooper, who had no affiliation with Rankin. Sellers is heard saying Ikar, here but to no avail. Sellers then spots Rankin hiding under a couch cushion, saying I see you dude, get on the f ground. If you move, Ill f shoot you, Sellers told Rankin just moments before firing two shots. After about a one-second pause, Sellers shot Rankin three more times. Meanwhile, Cooper can be heard pleading for K9 Ikar to stop, saying, Oh, please God, help me. Please. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A little more than a minute after the shooting, Rankin is heard saying Im alive, but I cant breathe. About five minutes after that, EMS came to render aid to Rankin. SLED said in an arrest affidavit that Sellers gave the K9 incorrect commands and did not use available resources to remove K9 Ikar from Cooper, which resulted in him being mauled for approximately 87 seconds. Cooper is seeking unspecified financial damages on grounds of negligence, assault, battery and violations of the state Constiution. * * * 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. I have been beating this horse for a very, very long time, says Michael Wolff. And suddenly now everybodys [saying] oh yeah, Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. Why people did not see that this was a story a long time ago is just amazing to me. It is confusing that it could have been out there in plain view, and ignored for so long. Five years before Epsteins death in 2019, Wolff, best known as the author of four bestselling books on Trumps presidency, began recording hundreds of interviews with the financier, and attended exclusive events at his flat in New York. For years, no publisher or broadcaster has dared to touch the explosive cache which he claims runs close to 100 hours of tape, split over some 30 sessions together. Author and Trump expert Michael Wolff says he has collected around 100 hours of tape that reveal Trump and Epsteins relationship - Sky UK Instead, Wolff has released only snippets of the recordings to date. But now, thanks to the mounting speculation about the extent of Trumps relationship with Epstein, the tapes have become some of the most in-demand material in America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein died by suicide while awaiting trial for sex trafficking, accused of procuring prostitutes some underage for his friends and acquaintances. Trumps Maga base have long clamoured for the release of classified documents about his case, believing they could incriminate establishment figures, in particular Bill Clinton (who has denied all knowledge of Epsteins crimes). Jeffrey Epstein and former president Bill Clinton in 2002 - Netflix Having been friends with Epstein for years before a bitter falling out in 2004, Trump took full advantage of the situation, repeatedly suggesting that there was explosive material possessed by authorities which would come to light if he was re-elected, and hinting Epstein might not have taken his own life. Yet as Trump has backed away from his promises of disclosure on Epstein, Maga commentators have started to turn on him. The disgraced former general Mike Flynn, a sometime ally who has become a political commentator, posted on social media reminding the president in capital letters that the EPSTEIN AFFAIR IS NOT GOING AWAY. Having stoked Epstein conspiracy theories for years, including indulging the idea he kept a so-called client list used to blackmail co-conspirators, Trump and his team may now find that their strategy comes back to bite them. Protesters in Houston, Texas, in July demanding for the Epstein files to be released - RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP [Threatening disclosure] was a typical Trump blow-hard kind of thing, Wolff says. According to his reportage, Trump and Epstein were at one time even closer than had been previously thought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and Epstein, wealthy and connected men of similar ages, mixed in similar fields and socialised together frequently. They were on several occasions spotted at the same parties. In 2002, Trump called Epstein a terrific guy in a New York Magazine profile, adding that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. In audio files previously released on Wolffs Fire and Fury podcast, Epstein said he had been Trumps best friend for 10 years; Wolff has also said Trumps nickname for Epstein was Jeffy. From 1988/89 through to 2004 Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump were the best friends, Wolff, 71, says over the phone from his home in the Hamptons. These were Eighties guys, from a moment when having money forgave anything and everybody idolised anybody who had money. Having money gave you this extraordinary entitlement. This was the last blush of what it is to be a playboy. They had the money, the planes, the total disregard of middle class rules. [...] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They had the same interests. They did the same things, pursued the same activities, pursued very often the same women. Someone called me the other day and said you dont mean Trump was interested in little girls? I said no but they [Trump and Epstein] were both obsessed with models. They started modelling agencies, invested in modelling agencies. Trump has his beauty pageants, Epstein had the Victorias Secret stuff [Epstein was an advisor to Les Wexner, the Victorias Secret boss]. They had the same interests. They did the same things, says Michael Wolff - Davidoff Studios Photography/Archive Photos Wolff says the friendship centred on Palm Beach, Florida, where Epstein and Trump were neighbours. Epstein had this set of a dozen Polaroids of Trump around Epsteins swimming pool, Wolff recalls. He alleges the images were held in Epsteins safe, which the FBI seized when they raided his homes in New York and Palm Beach in July 2019. I remember three of them vividly. Two of the pictures had topless girls sitting in Trumps lap, and one where Trump has a stain on the front of his [trousers] and three or five topless girls are pointing at it and laughing. These guys defined each other. Epstein is the best window through which to understand Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, a report in The Wall Street Journal alleged that Trump sent Epstein a card on his 50th birthday in 2003, with a drawing of a naked woman and an imagined cryptic conversation between the two men which was said to include the phrase may every day be another wonderful secret. Trump immediately denied writing the note, claiming: its not my language its not my words. He added he did not draw pictures of women. In the wake of the story, the White House has banned the WSJ from covering an upcoming trip to Scotland due to the fake and defamatory conduct and Trump has moved to sue the Rupert Murdoch-owned publication for $10bn. The president has spoken of being subjected to a witch hunt. On Monday, White House communications director Stephen Cheung said Trump once kicked Epstein out of his club for being a creep and called allegations about him recycled, old fake news. After decades of friendship, in 2004, Trump and Epstein had what Wolff describes as an acrimonious falling out over a real estate deal, so were not close during Epsteins alleged crimes at the so-called Epstein Island, Little St James in the US Virgin Islands. It was after that that criminal accusations first started to gather around Epstein, culminating in a 13-month prison sentence for prostitution in 2008. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2014, Epstein approached Wolff, a highly respected New York journalist who had been the media columnist of Vanity Fair, with a view to being written about. Wolff had just begun writing about Trump, work which would form the basis of Fire and Fury, the first of his accounts of the presidents time in the White House. Wolffs book Fire and Fury about Trumps first presidency - NurPhoto Epstein said you can ask me anything, I have nothing to hide, and you judge for yourself whether Im honest, Wolff recalls. After a couple of pretty damn interesting conversations, Wolff began attending the events Epstein held at his mansion on the Upper East side, thought to be one of the largest private residences in New York. It was kind of extraordinary, Wolff says. The people there were amazing. From Bill Gates to Ehud Barak [former Israeli prime minister] to Larry Summers, just one person after another. Prince Andrew? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yeah, Wolff says. Epstein conducted these things at his dining table. People came in from morning until night. There were very few women, it had a mens club feel to it. But it was kind of irresistible, frankly, and I confess to having a good time. The subjects were foreign policy, the economy. No girls, that was never a topic. From left to right: Melania Trump, Prince Andrew, Gwendolyn Beck and Jeffrey Epstein at a party at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach in 2000 - Davidoff Studios Photography/Archive Photos Then in 2015, when Trump started to run [for the presidency], Epstein started to talk about his relationship with Trump, which was eye-opening. I was starting to write about Trump, so it was very valuable. In 2017, [Epstein] became friends with Steve Bannon and they bonded over their mutual obsession slash hatred of Trump. They talked about Trump all the time. As the authorities closed in on Epstein prior to his arrest in 2019, he remained in touch with Wolff. In a piece from 2020, The Last Days of Jeffrey Epstein, Wolff details the acrimony between Epstein and Trump. Epstein refers to Trump as a moron, and makes derogatory claims about his leadership style. He lets someone else be in charge, until other people realise that someone else is in charge. When that happens, youre no longer in charge. After the fall-out over their property deal, Wolff says Epstein came to believe it was Trump who had close relations to the Florida law enforcement who turned Epstein in before he was jailed for soliciting prostitutes in 2008. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the same piece, Wolff quotes Bannon telling Epstein he was the only person he was afraid of during Trumps first presidential campaign, implying he believed the financier knew dangerous secrets about Trump. As well you should have been, Epstein is reported to have replied. It was during Trumps presidency that Epstein was arrested. Wolffs own relationship with Epstein had a macabre denouement. The last message he wrote appears to be to me, Wolff says. He died on Saturday morning and I got the message on Friday evening. I had written a note through his lawyers asking how he was doing. The message was pretty crazy. But still hanging around no pun intended. Then he died with the bedsheet around his neck a few hours later. It was very weird. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The circumstances of Epsteins death have become a lightning rod for conspiracy theorists. He was found in the early hours of Aug 10 2019, hanging off the side of his cells bed. The official ruling was a suicide by hanging, but Epsteins lawyers challenged that account. Two guards who were meant to check on him had fallen asleep, and two CCTV cameras in front of his cell malfunctioned at the critical moment. Surveys have suggested that only 15 per cent of Americans believe Epstein died by suicide. A protester outside Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse during the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell in 2021 - BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP When the US Department of Justice finally released a tape of events that evening two weeks ago, analysts found that nearly three minutes had been cut out. It seems implausible that he could have killed himself in the way they say he would have had to have killed himself, Wolff says, but equally implausible that he would have been murdered and all of the people, the FBI agents and assistant US attorneys would either know something or keep quiet about it. I dont know. In the years since Epsteins death, Wolff has tried to draw attention to what he claims was the true extent of his relationship with Trump. But he has not gained much traction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been trying to place this stuff for a long time. Wolff says, describing how he has pitched larger treatments of his endless amounts of recordings countless times, only for the plug to be pulled at the last minute. Its so compelling that everyones always interested, but executives decide its too complicated and controversial. Because as soon as you start to deal with Epstein as a person with multiple dimensions, instead of just this evil guy, it freaks everybody out. Virginia Giuffre was one of the most prominent and outspoken alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein until her death this year - Mark Kauzlarich/Bloomberg He says he thinks partly the press has not been willing to further confront Trumps friendship with Epstein. There has been, among the respectable press, a view that this subject is too icky, Wolff says. Good people dont discuss this. Hes the president of the United States, how can you link him to the president of the United States without evidence It has something to do with the fact that there is not the language in the post MeToo world to discuss sex. You have to talk about sex, you have to make distinctions between girls and women, talk about the complicated idea of consent of victims. Its very hard in the recent climate. People dont know how to approach this, he adds. They think its going to be too hot to handle, the Right wing is going to yell at us and the Left wing is going to yell at us and the women are going to yell at us and Trump is going to yell at us. Were not going to be a hero to anyone if we tell this story. To judge by the renewed interest in Wolffs 100 hours of tapes, this time, the weight of public pressure may prove decisive. 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. WASHINGTON (AP) The Senate narrowly voted on Tuesday to begin considering the nomination of former Trump lawyer Emil Bove for a lifetime appointment as a federal appeals court judge, with at least one Republican opposed and Democrats vowing to try to slow his confirmation. Bove, a former criminal defense lawyer for President Donald Trump, is now a top official at the Justice Department. His nomination for the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has come under intense scrutiny from Democrats after a fired department lawyer said he suggested the Trump administration may need to ignore judicial commands a claim Bove denies. He was at the forefront of the departments dismissed corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. He has also accused FBI officials of insubordination for refusing to hand over the names of agents who investigated the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol and ordered the firings of a group of prosecutors involved in those Jan. 6 criminal cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 50-48 vote came after Democrats forced an additional procedural vote on his nomination, an effort to protest the nomination and delay the process. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called Bove the extreme of the extreme of the extreme and Trumps worst judicial nominee to date. Mr. Boves entire career has been built on one thing: fealty to Donald Trump, Schumer said. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski was the only Republican to vote with Democrats against moving to consider the nomination. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, voted with Republicans to move forward but said in a statement that she will oppose Boves confirmation on a final vote. We have to have judges who will adhere to the rule of law and the Constitution and do so regardless of what their personal views may be, Collins said. Mr. Boves political profile and some of the actions he has taken in his leadership roles at the Department of Justice cause me to conclude he would not serve as an impartial jurist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear whether any other Republicans will oppose Boves confirmation. If all Democrats vote against the nomination, Senate Republicans can lose three GOP votes and still confirm him if Vice President JD Vance breaks a 50-50 tie. The tension and delays over Boves nomination come as Republicans have tried to move Trumps nominees as quickly as possible and as Trump has pushed Senate Majority Leader John Thune to skip the traditional August recess to stay in session and confirm more judges and executive branch officials. Thune said he is considering doing that if Democrats continue to force delays, and Democrats have shown little signs of letting up. At his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Bove took criticism of his tenure head-on, telling lawmakers he understands some of his decisions have generated controversy. But Bove said he has been inaccurately portrayed as Trumps henchman and enforcer at the department. I am someone who tries to stand up for what I believe is right, Bove said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the panel, said Bove has used his position to weaponize the Department of Justice against the presidents enemies. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, defended Bove against the whistleblowers claims and said he deserves fair treatment. He said Democrats withheld the complaint from the fired lawyer and that his staff had investigated the claims. Mr. Bove has a strong legal background and has served his country honorably, Grassley said at a Senate Judiciary meeting last week, where Democrats walked out in protest. The whistleblower complaint came from a former Justice Department lawyer who was fired in April after conceding in court that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man who had been living in Maryland, was mistakenly deported to an El Salvador prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That lawyer, Erez Reuveni, described efforts by top Justice Department officials in the weeks before his firing to stonewall and mislead judges to carry out deportations championed by the White House. Reuveni described a Justice Department meeting in March concerning Trumps plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act over what the president claimed was an invasion by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Reuveni said Bove raised the possibility that a court might block the deportations before they could happen. Reuveni claims Bove used a profanity in saying the department would need to consider telling the courts what to do and ignore any such order, Reuvenis lawyers said in the filing. Bove said he has no recollection of saying anything of that kind. A former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, Bove was on Trumps legal team during his New York hush money trial and defended Trump in the two federal criminal cases brought by the Justice Department. If confirmed by the Senate, hell serve on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears cases from Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. ___ WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) Senior citizens in Trumbull County have a new place to get support. Representatives of Ohio Senior Care were on hand Tuesday to celebrate the opening of the new Buckeye PACE in Warren. Its in the old Rite Aid on Elm Road NE. Starting August 1, seniors who qualify for long-term care at a skilled nursing facility can come here instead. The goal is to keep seniors at home and in their communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre going to make memories here as they interact with their friends and they do activities, and they are going to share meals. They are going to be able to hear from other members of the community as they come in here, and we do appreciate the fact we are able to take a building that would otherwise be blight and make it something that is going to be very memorable for our seniors, said Craig Worland, COO and activing CEO of One Senior Care. There will also be a primary care clinic on site where seniors can see a doctor at any point. They also arrange and help manage their specialty appointments and make sure theyve got transportation there. Well provide the transportation. Theyll get there. Well get the medical records and make sure the care is coordinated, so what the cardiologist is saying jives with what the pulmonologist is saying, which is what the primary care doctor is saying, Worland said. Ohio Senior Care also opened a Buckeye PACE in Mahoning County on Monday. It is located on Market Street in Youngstown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Oehlbeck 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. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Duluth at 3:42 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22. This warning applies to Carlton and St. Louis counties in Minnesota and Douglas County in Wisconsin. Meteorologists warn of winds as strong as 60 mph. Use caution, officials warn of hail as large as 0.88 inches. The NWS warns: "For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways." See weather radar for Douglas County What are NWS meteorologists saying? At 3:42 p.m., the NWS issued a statement including the following information: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The National Weather Service in Duluth MN has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for: Southern St. Louis County in northeastern Minnesota, Carlton County in northeastern Minnesota, Northwestern Douglas County in northwestern Wisconsin, Until 4:45 p.m. CDT. At 3:42 p.m. CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Fond Du Lac Band Brookston Area, or 13 miles west of Cloquet, moving east at 45 mph. HAZARD: 60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail. SOURCE: Radar indicated. IMPACT: Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. This severe thunderstorm will be near, Fond Du Lac Band Sawyer Area and Fond Du Lac Band Brookston Area around 3:45 p.m. CDT. Cloquet and Fond Du Lac Band Cloquet Area around 3:50 p.m. CDT. Brookston around 3:55 p.m. CDT. Saginaw around 4 p.m. CDT. Other locations in the path of this severe thunderstorm include Hermantown, Pike Lake Near Duluth, Duluth, City of Rice Lake, French River and McQuade Harbor." What is a severe thunderstorm warning? A severe thunderstorm warning means the area is experiencing or is about to experience a storm with winds of 58 mph or higher or hail an inch in diameter or larger. Tips for staying safe during thunderstorms Once in a shelter, stay away from windows and avoid electrical equipment and plumbing. Keep a battery-powered weather radio nearby in case of loss of power. Remember to bring pets inside. If there is time, secure loose objects outside as these objects often become dangerous flying debris in high winds. Postpone outdoor activities until the storms have passed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This weather report was generated automatically using information from the National Weather Service and a story written and reviewed by an editor. See the latest weather alerts and forecasts here This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Severe thunderstorm warning issued for Douglas County ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) A Chemung County inmate was arrested on Sunday after deputies said he assaulted another inmate with a tablet. Jeffery A. Savoy, 60, currently held in the Chemung County Jail, was arrested on Sunday, July 20, on the charge of assault in the second degree (class D felony), according to a release from the Chemung County Sheriffs Office. Corning inmate arrested on felony assault charge Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, around 10:09 a.m., deputies from the road patrol unit with the Chemung County Sheriffs Office were called to the Chemung County Jail for the report of a physical fight between Savoy and another male inmate, the release explained. Upon further investigation, deputies said it was discovered that Savoy had hit the male inmate in the face with his jail-issued electronic tablet during a dispute between the two of them. The inmate who was hit by Savoy suffered an injury that issued the need for him to be treated by nursing staff at the jail, the release stated. As a result, Savoy was charged with the above-listed crime and is being held at the Chemung County Jail on an unrelated charge, the release explained. Savoy will be processed on the above-listed charge in the City of Elmira court in the future, the release 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 WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. Law enforcement, Sioux Falls officials and legislators participate in a forum on July 22, 2025, in downtown Sioux Falls about the proposed construction of a men's prison in the northeastern part of the city. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) SIOUX FALLS Mayor Paul TenHaken isnt kicking and screaming against the proposed construction of a larger mens prison in northeastern Sioux Falls. But hes not thrilled about it. There are consequences to that and there are costs to that, TenHaken said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was among several speakers at the Safer Sioux Falls Forum held Tuesday in downtown Sioux Falls. Earlier this month, a state task force endorsed a 1,500-bed complex with a price cap of $650 million. The facility would replace the oldest parts of the state penitentiary, which has been in Sioux Falls for 144 years. Lawmakers will consider the proposal, and could select one of two undeveloped Sioux Falls sites, at a special legislative session in September. The two sites in northeast Sioux Falls selected as potential prison locations. Speakers at Tuesdays forum didnt debate whether the prison should be placed in the states largest city or not, unlike forums held in other communities where prison sites were considered. The focus was on how the state and local governments can partner to better use taxpayer dollars and help prisoners transition back into society. Topics included housing, rehabilitation and improving resources statewide for parolees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 95% of penitentiary inmates return to society after they serve their sentence. Sioux Falls Democratic state Rep. Kadyn Wittman said rehabilitation programming and appropriate facilities to encourage better reentry outcomes are the best investment of taxpayer dollars. If a person is released from prison in Sioux Falls without a family member in town or housing lined up at a halfway house, Wittman said, you are walking to the shelter. That is where you are going to be restarting your life and reentering society, said Wittman, who formerly worked at a Sioux Falls emergency shelter. Shelters dont always have case managers to help people deal with substance use disorders that went untreated in the prison system, for example. That needs to be achieved by the state Department of Corrections and other local agencies working together, Wittman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TenHaken said the Legislature can help the city invest in more felon-friendly housing with wrap-around supportive services. Sioux Falls Police Chief John Thum, right, speaks at a forum on July 22, 2025, in downtown Sioux Falls about the proposed construction of a mens prison in the northeastern part of the city. At left is Mayor Paul TenHaken. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Without proper housing and support services to reintegrate into society, people often reoffend or violate their parole. That perpetually works the person through the system, said Sioux Falls Police Chief John Thum, where they continue to reoffend and drain public resources in the criminal justice system. Resources, Thum added, will make the biggest impact. He added that violent and property crime per capita is at a five-year low in the city. Theyre not going to put a shovel in the ground yet, Thum said. This isnt going to be up tomorrow. We have time to plan. We have time to appropriate. We have time to have these big conversations that are challenging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many offenders reentering society relocate to Sioux Falls or Rapid City because the cities have resources they need and jobs available to them, speakers agreed. The Legislature should invest in parole resources and programs statewide so released prisoners from rural areas can return home, said Minnehaha County States Attorney Daniel Haggar. Its important that as people parole out, theyre able to go back to their convicting counties, their home communities, and not sacrifice the rehabilitation that they may be able to get in Sioux Falls. Minnehaha County States Attorney Daniel Haggar speaks at a forum on July 22, 2025, in downtown Sioux Falls about the proposed construction of a mens prison in the northeastern part of the city. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Ryan Brunner, senior policy adviser for the Governors Office, said Gov. Larry Rhoden is open to suggestions about the services needed for people released from prison. In an interview with South Dakota Searchlight after the meeting, organizer of the forum and Sioux Falls Republican Rep. Greg Jamison said lawmakers should view such requests as a pay now or later investment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the realistic option of funding treatment programming at a higher level than weve done is crystal clear, Jamison said. But the state budget is already stretched thin, said state House Speaker Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids. Hansen hesitated to say whether the Legislature would support such investments and ideas, adding that lawmakers will need to balance the requests among many other policy interests and fiscal interests. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A small jet crashed Monday, July 21, near Granite Falls Municipal Airport in western Minnesota, killing one of two people on board, according to multiple reports. The Yellow Medicine County Sheriffs Office told KMSP-TV that it received a report of a jet having engine problems near the airport shortly before 5:30 p.m., and then minutes later received a 911 call saying the aircraft had crashed near Highway 23. At the site of the crash, emergency responders found one person standing along the highway and gave them medical attention. The other occupant of the aircraft was pronounced dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Heres how many people have died in crashes related to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh since 1982 The aircraft involved in the crash was an Aero Vodochody L-39, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration, which also indicated there were two people on board. The National Transportation Safety Board will be in charge of the investigation. The jet departed from Alpine, Wyoming, shortly before 11:30 a.m. Mountain time July 21, briefly landed in Gillette, Wyoming, then arrived in Watertown, South Dakota, shortly after 3:30 p.m. Central time, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website. It took off again shortly after 5 p.m., and crashed on its way to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, not far from the site of EAA AirVenture, a popular airshow that began July 21 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Plane crash kills one person in western Minnesota, reports say F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE:FNB) is one of the 10 Best Financial Stocks on Wall Streets Radar. On July 18, Raymond James increased its price target on F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE:FNB) from $15 to $18 while keeping an Outperform rating. This decision came after the company reported its second-quarter results. F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE:FNB) showed strong core performance, including lower costs for funding and asset repricing that helped improve both its net interest margin and net interest income. Raymond James Lifts Price Target for FNB, Keeps Outperform Rating A customer walking into a bank branch, expressing the convenience of consumer banking services. Raymond James pointed out that F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE:FNB) showed improvements in its capital levels and asset quality during the second quarter. Additionally, fee revenues exceeded expectations. F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE:FNB) increased its guidance for net interest income in 2025. However, Raymond James analysis suggests that this outlook might still be conservative if commercial loan growth pipelines accelerate as expected. The firm sees the risk-reward profile for F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE:FNB) as attractive at current levels. F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE:FNB) is a diversified financial services company that offers a full range of commercial banking, consumer banking, and wealth management solutions. The company operates through its subsidiary network, which is led by its largest subsidiary, First National Bank of Pennsylvania. While we acknowledge the potential of FNB as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Best American Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Now and 11 Best Fintech Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. EDWARDSBURG, Mich. Gordon Carr, an organizer of an event honoring the life of William Fred Kincel, a Spanish-American War veteran, fought back tears as he read from his prepared statement. When entering our military, we take an oath to defend America from her enemies, foreign or domestic, Carr said. Whether in times of war or peace, this oath is honored for as long as we live, and it is why we honor those who have gone before us. William passed Dec. 14, 1943. Although, its been almost 82 years since William was originally laid to rest, the passage of time doesnt matter. Lest we forget. In March, storms and tornados came through the Edwardsburg Cemetery and uprooted a tree, unearthing Kincels grave. Reinterring the grave took several groups to accomplish, including the village, Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, Brutsche Concrete Products and state and local regulators, Carr said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Village Clerk Sarah Overgaard talked with Karee Krause, service officer for the Veterans Affairs Cass County office, and suggested an honor guard. I reached out to Gordon [Carr] and said, Hey, they were able to get this vault repaired, get him placed back in, so whenever youre able to do the honor guard ..., and he set it up and magic happened, Overgaard said. Because hes amazing. Carr, who serves as the 2nd vice commander of the American Legion Post 365, VFW Post 2284 honor guard, and on the Edwardsburg Planning Commission, got the honor guard together. The event included a 21-gun salute, a two-minute speech by Carr describing Kincels life, the playing of taps and the placing of an American flag on Kincels grave. Carr, who is an Air Force veteran himself, talked about the call to serve the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The call to duty, the call to serve your country, Carr said. And thats why I went in ... I enlisted. It was a volunteer military back then and I raised my hand and gave my oath to protect this country just like every other veteran has ever done. Kincel was born on April 2, 1873, in Goshen. He enlisted on April 26, 1898, as a private, left for Indianapolis and joined the 157th Regiment of the 3rd Indiana Infantry, Company A, known as the Studebakers Tigers. He served under Col. George Studebaker, the son of Clement Studebaker, who co-founded what would become the Studebaker Corp. Kincel never saw combat. Instead, he protected United States warehouses and prepared in Tampa, Florida, for deployment to Cuba, until the Aug. 12, 1898, armistice was signed, Carr said. He was discharged on Nov. 1, 1898. On Nov. 1, the 157th mustered out 50 officers and 1,223 enlisted personnel, Carr said. During this tour of duty, two officers and 16 enlisted died from disease and one enlisted from an accident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not much is known about Kincels life after he left military service, Carr said. According to his obituary in the Dec. 16, 1943, edition of the Battle Creek Enquirer, Kincel was a horseshoer by trade and lived in Edwardsburg with his wife, Ida. He died at 2:15 p.m. on Dec. 14, 1943, at the Veterans Administration facility in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he had been a patient since March 8, 1942. No other Spanish-American War veterans are buried in the Edwardsburg Cemetery, Carr said. Kincel also likely did not receive burial honors when he died in 1943, making this event a special occasion. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Sparks were flying on Tuesday as Siouxland kids began working on developing a new skill. Western Iowa Tech Community College (WIT) is hosting a welding camp for kids ages 10 through 16 this week. Students learn about welding safety and basics, and eventually make their way to the shop, where they get to forge their own project. Western Iowa Tech partners with the Scene of the Crash Car Club, which donates funds to operate the free camp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both students and instructors say welding skills will be a beneficial skill for their futures. Even though were teaching welding today, that trade can be taken into everyday lifewhether it be HVAC, electrical, constructionthis trade can be used in many, said WIT Building Trades and Apprenticeships Director Kevin Woockman. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some students participating in the event are planning to use the skill in the near future. I build a lot of mowers, and I thought it would be really helpful if I learned how to weld, just in case we need it, said 13-year-old welder Crew Behring. This is Western Iowa Techs third year of hosting the event, and officials said the attendance continues to grow every 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. A new raised crosswalk to slow traffic in Key Center is under construction and will require temporary detours Tuesday, one to two years after residents expressed concern about excessive speeding in the rural areas major business center. Pierce County will install the raised crosswalk, or speed table, at the site of an existing crosswalk on Key Peninsula Highway Northwest, near the Key Peninsula Fire Department headquarters and a Sound Credit Union branch across the street, Key Peninsula Fire Department spokesperson Anne Nesbit wrote in a text message. The road way may be blocked intermittently, the Key Peninsula Fire Department posted on Facebook the day before. An alternative route may be useful during the day by using the Lackey/Olson loop. Please remember that the crosswalk will be raised once construction is done which will require everyone to slow down. A speed table is longer and flatter at the top than a speed hump. Most passenger cars can fit all of their wheels on the speed tables flat surface, which is typically 10 feet long but with approaching ramps of six feet on both sides of the plateau, according to a primer from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. The actual length of a speed table can vary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays the Day, KP Friends! Pierce County Council member Robyn Denson posted on Facebook Tuesday with several traffic-related emojis. Thanks to the dedication of engaged community members, the long-awaited Key Peninsula speed table is being installed today! She added that construction is expected to wrap up by the end of the day. Key Peninsula News first reported several stories about the journey to bring the speed table to Key Center. Key Peninsula resident Kathy Lyons proposed the idea of a speed table to council member Denson following a collision she witnessed in Key Center, the news outlet reported. Reached via phone Tuesday, Lyons recounted the story of how her concerns started. She was putting up a scarecrow in Key Center with a friend when a car came racing through at 50 to 60 miles an hour, she recalled. The speed limit in the area is 30 miles an hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another vehicle was turning into the Key IGA grocery store, and the first car plowed into him, she said. One of the vehicles, a truck, came sideways right at us, she recalled. Lyons and her friend thought their lives were over, but the vehicle ended up missing them and they survived. That was when she decided enough was enough. After seeing examples of speed tables in other places such as Hansville, a coastal community in Kitsap County, Lyons proposed it to council member Denson. I said to Pierce County, I said, Are we going to have to wait until someone dies before then we do something? Lyons said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The county ran studies of that area and other possible projects on the peninsula. Denson called Lyons back one day saying that the county was going to put in the speed table in Key Center, Lyons recalled. ... it will be safe for the pedestrians because theyre putting it right at the crosswalk, and it will slow down the traffic, so I call it a win-win, Lyons said. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) A Springfield man was arrested last Thursday on multiple charges connected to illegally riding an off-highway vehicle. Police investigate after man stabbed and robbed on bike trail in Northampton Springfield Police Spokesperson Ryan Walsh stated that at approximately 6:05 p.m. on Thursday, officers observed an ATV allegedly driving at a high speed on White Street. The driver of the vehicle was not wearing a helmet. The ATV also had a sticker on it that read: Never Operate this Vehicle on Public Roads. (Springfield Police Department) Using mobile surveillance, police observed the ATV driving recklessly throughout Springfield, reportedly putting multiple pedestrians in harms way. The ATV stopped on Longfellow Terrace, where officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The operator attempted to drive away, but then got off the vehicle and began to escape on foot. Springfield police located the driver, identified as 28-year-old Raymond Gonzalez-Ortiz of Springfield, at a residence on the 0-100 block of Longfellow Terrace, where he was arrested and the ATV was seized. Courtesy of the Springfield Police Department. Gonzalez-Ortiz was charged with: Failure to Stop for Police Negligent/Reckless Operation of a Snow/Recreational Vehicle Uninsured Motor Vehicle Snow/Recreational Vehicle Helmet Violation Snow Recreational Vehicle Public Way Violation Snow/Recreational Vehicle Unregistered The Springfield Police Department conducts Off-Highway-Vehicle (OHV) enforcement details to combat illegal riding of dirt bikes and other off-highway vehicles in the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Depending on the situation, police say that theyll typically follow the suspect until they stop, and then seize the ATV, dirt bikes, or other OHVs. It could lead to an arrest or a criminal complaint. Theyve led to numerous crashes and serious injuries, and death as well for some of the riders, Walsh said. They are just not street-safe. And theres also been issues over the past few years of these riders riding in groups and harassing drivers or pedestrians. Walsh said that due to law enforcement efforts, numbers have decreased drastically over the past few years. He added that police will remain out on the roads to make their presence known and continue cracking down on illegal riding of off-highway vehicles, as they are not permitted in the city of Springfield. 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. St. Paul reacts to 'deeply disappointing' closure of Cub Foods' Midway store originally appeared on Bring Me The News. The community is rallying around Cub Foods workers whose jobs are being eliminated with the closure of the store in St. Paul's Midway neighborhood, while lamenting the loss of another grocery option in the city. Almost 100 employees could be laid off when the store at 1440 University Ave. W. closes on Aug. 2, according to a layoff notice filed Monday by Supervalu with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The majority of impacted employees are represented by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1189. The union previously negotiated a contract for them that includes layoff protections and entitles them to severance pay, according to UFCW Local 1189 President Adam J. Evenstad. "We intend to do everything within our power to protect the rights and livelihoods of our members during this transition," he said in a statement provided to Bring Me The News. The impending closure comes on the heels of another shutdown in St. Paul, with Lunds & Byerlys closing its downtown store the only major grocery option in the downtown neighborhood in March. Most of Cub's stores, including the Midway location, are owned by Rhode Island-based wholesale distributor United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) following its 2018 acquisition of Supervalu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UFCW Local 1189 is working to find new jobs for workers in facilities owned by UNFI. The union has a meeting scheduled with company representatives on Friday. "Weve fought hard to build contract protections that offer a safety net in moments like this," Evenstad said. "We will enforce those provisions and fight for equitable placement and compensation for every single affected worker." In a Monday statement, St. Paul Councilmember Anika Bowie called UNFI's decision to close the Midway store "deeply disappointing," especially after the city and her Ward 1 office "exhausted every effort to support the business." "This store has survived a pandemic, a national civil uprising, and now, in the midst of a promising future for the United Village development, it is struggling to keep its doors open," Bowie said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local developer Kraus-Anderson is planning an overhaul of the Midway Marketplace shopping center, where the Cub store is located, as part of its United Village project in the vicinity of Allianz Field. "We are committed to shaping a commercial center that is safe, vibrant, and rooted in community needs," Bowie said. Cub Foods is closing at 1440 University Ave. W. in early August.Google A Cub spokesperson told Bring Me The News on Monday that UNFI decided to close the Midway store "after carefully evaluating all options." Cub isn't the first retailer to exit Midway, leaving fewer grocery shopping options in the neighborhood. Rainbow Foods, also owned by Supervalu, closed a nearby store in 2017 to make room for Allianz Field. Then a Walmart Supercenter within Midway Marketplace closed in 2019 due to several factors, including the store's overall performance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bowie said her top priority is supporting the 96 Cub employees who are facing layoffs, many of whom are parents working on fixed incomes, and live in the neighborhood. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared. Wisconsin's new two-year budget included $4 million for interchange upgrades needed to welcome Buc-ee's, the gas station and convivence store behemoth, to DeForest, north of Madison. But that's only a portion of the $7 million to $8 million DeForest needs, Village Administrator Bill Chang said July 22. DeForest remains in a "holding pattern" pending separate state legislation, he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The $4 million investment is "greatly appreciated by the village," Chang said. "However, we are not all the way there to covering the full amount yet." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recently signed state budget directs the state Department of Transportation to provide a $4 million grant for improvements to the Interstate 39/90/94 and County V interchange to handle increased traffic. The infrastructure project is expected to cost $15.1 million, and Buc-ee's has offered to pay about 53% of it. That cost may have changed since the estimate almost two years ago, Chang noted, because of market conditions and costs of materials. In his budget proposal, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers recommended $6 million for the project. The allocation was in the budget document passed by Republicans and signed by Evers, but at the smaller amount. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Apart from the state budget, lawmakers are considering separate legislation to assist DeForest. The bill would extend a tax incremental financing district, allowing property tax money from the proposed Buc-ee's and other nearby developments to help fund the improvements. That intersection is a "high-growth area," Chang said, and he previously testified to lawmakers that developers and landowners are waiting to make decisions based on the progress of the interchange project. The bipartisan bill passed the state Assembly in May, 93-4, but hasn't received a vote in the Senate. If Senate passes the legislation and Evers signs it in addition to the $4 million the village "would be in a better position," Chang said. "That brings us back to the table to really negotiate the details of that development agreement." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What's the big deal about Buc-ee's, the gas-station chain coming to Wisconsin? Let this native Texan tell you More: Buc-ee's gets approval from Oak Creek council for fueling plaza with 120 gas pumps A Buc-ee's spokesperson declined to comment. Chang said Buc-ee's is still interested in the DeForest site in addition to a second proposal in Oak Creek, a southern suburb of Milwaukee. The Oak Creek location could open in early 2027 but is delayed, pending a traffic impact analysis. The proposed DeForest and Oak Creek stores are each projected to create up to 225 jobs. The DeForest location is expected to generate more than $30 million in taxable sales per year from 5 million visitors. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What's next for Buc-ee's in Wisconsin after DeForest gets state money The Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) headquarters is seen in Providence at 101 Friendship Street. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) The Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) could lose the Providence headquarters it has called home for over two decades if the department cant secure state approval of a new 10-year lease by the end of July. That wouldnt bother some of the approximately 460 state workers who report to work in the building at 101 Friendship St. in the capital citys old Jewelry District. A recent union survey found nearly 86% of respondents did not want the buildings lease to renew when it ends on Nov. 30, 2025, due to problems with the buildings aging interior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 140 members of SEIU Local 580 who took the survey this month outlined a long list of complaints, from a lack of parking to infestations by insects, mice and other rodents populating the buildings five floors. The most cited complaints in the survey, however, involved odors and poor air circulation. Its disgusting in this building. I have 30 years left. Please let us leave, wrote one respondent. Officials for DCYF and the Department of Administration sought the approval of a new decade-long lease from the State Properties Committee on Tuesday morning, but the panel instead postponed the matter pending a review of air quality reports. The reports have been done DCYFs responded to them in the past, Chairman Marco Schiappa, the acting director of the Rhode Island Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance, said in an interview. We just have not seen the reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schiappa said one copy was given on Monday to Rachel Rebello, a special assistant attorney general who sits on the nine-member panel. Rhode Island Current requested a copy from DCYF. A spokesperson acknowledged the request but did not immediately provide one. Adam Boudreaux, the states chief property manager, told the panel that DCYF decided to renew the lease for another 10 years in the spring of 2024. The proposed agreement calls for the state to pay an annual rent of $22 per square foot over the first five years, with $23.50 over the back half of the lease. Based on its 99,500 square footage, the states fiscal 2026 budget anticipates a total rent of nearly $24 million over the 10-year term. The agreement, Boudreaux said, calls for improvements including new carpets and paint throughout the majority of the building, new flooring in the lobby and main entrance area, new window blinds, and water fountains with filtration units installed on each floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have the deal already done, I believe its a good deal, Boudreaux said. I wouldnt want to mess it up. The lease requires approval by the State Properties Committee no later than July 31, Boudreaux told the committee. If a deal cant be reached in the next nine days, staff now working inside the former jewelry factory will have to move starting in December. So where could they go? Nowhere, DCYF Chief of Staff Misty Delgado told the committee. Trying to relocate would be close to impossible, Delgado said. It would also be very inconvenient for our workforce. Boudreaux said the existing location has served DCYF over the years, highlighting its proximity to the Family Court at the Garrahy Judicial Complex down the street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is truly a unique location that is perfect for our reasons, and trying to recompete would be very close, close to impossible, Boudreaux said. A folder containing documents associated with the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families 10-year lease renewal for its Providence headquarters sits on a desk during the State Properties Committee meeting on July 22, 2025. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) Never designed for safe, modern office use Just down the street from the DCYF headquarters, a new state health lab rises skyward. The neighborhood is dense with development projects, and a queer nightclub and multistory parking garage flank the agencys headquarters. But the buildings unique location cant undo quirks the workers organized under SEIU 580 noted in the recent survey. Preempting Tuesdays State Properties Committee meeting was a 4,000-word email to union members on July 17. It compiled the many union complaints about the Friendship Street headquarters and linked to a 2021 newsletter echoing many of the same grievances. The email introduction argues that the Friendship Street building was never designed for safe, modern office use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Tuesdays meeting, Delgado acknowledged the building has had issues in the past, including rodents. But she insisted the building is still safe. Our comprehensive testing and monitoring has consistently demonstrated that the air quality is well within all established acceptable ranges, Delgado said. I would not put myself or our workforce, or the children and families who serve in a building that was unsafe. Asked by Schiappa if there were any documented cases of health issues by workers because of the building, Delgado shook her head no. Thats not true, Matthew Gunnip, a case worker with the DCYF and president of SEIU Local 580, said from the audience. Theres an active grievance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those past issues got the attention of federal inspectors in 1992 and 1993 when the then-named Rhode Island Department of Employment and Training occupied the building. Federal inspectors noted in1992 that the buildings windows didnt open something echoed in the survey responses from July 2025. Black dust around the HVAC system is seen at DCYF Providence headquarters is seen in a photo taken during a federal inspection on June 1, 2018. (Photo from 2019 NIOSH report) More than 25 years later, ventilation concerns remained a problem, according to the 2019 report compiled by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) after inspectors examine facilities once again in 2018. Investigators could not conclude if metals present in the air and surfaces inside the building originated from jewelry manufacturing in the past. But overall, NIOSH measured low levels of silver a metal usually present in manufacturing-polluted spaces in the buildings surfaces. Still, NIOSH concluded that building concerns included signs of a dusty environment, indoor dampness, improperly functioning HVAC system, and rodents and pests. A special meeting by the State Properties Committee will likely be held by the committee some time next week, Schiappa said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Michigan House Oversight Committee Chair and State Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay Township) has received authorization from the committee to subpoena the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Director Elizabeth Hertel, and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. The office of Rep. DeBoyer said in a news release that this authorization clears the path for what will be the most extensive use of the Legislatures subpoena power in Michigan history. We are tired of seeing government actors with no regard for the public face zero accountability. That is not how representative government ought to work, and it ought to stop. If it wasnt clear before that we are not messing around, it should be now, said DeBoyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeBoyer states that these subpoenas were sought due to alarming allegations of government misconduct. He specifically calls out Nessel, saying that her subpoena relates to potential criminal activity by a top Democrat official and an organization with ties to a member of Nessels family. DeBoyer says that the Michigan Secretary of State sent a criminal referral to the attorney generals office with allegations that an organization called Bipartisan Solutions used a fraudulent dark money scheme to fund a ballot initiative co-chaired by a close member of Nessels family. Theres a lot we have yet to learn about Dana Nessels decisions, but that is exactly why we are seeking a subpoena on her office. This investigation will allow us to uncover the truth and learn about any potential misconduct, said DeBoyer in a news release sent to 6 News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of what occurred, we need to be absolutely certain that our states highest-ranking law enforcement official is not helping her friends and family evade the law. If the Attorney General has nothing to hide, she should welcome transparency into her house. The MDHHS issued the following statement in response to the subpoena: The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is always willing to meet with our legislative partners to discuss the programs and supports we administer to protect the health and safety of Michigan families. MDHHS has appeared before policy, budget, and oversight committees in the Michigan House of Representatives 21 times and responded to more than 100 requests for information from these committees since the start of this legislative term in January 2025. MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel responded to the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday, July 8, and shared that she was happy to testify before the committee on an alternative date and requested more information on what the committee wanted to discuss to ensure she was prepared for a productive conversation that focused on the matters the legislature wanted to discuss. A subpoena was not necessary to compel the director to appear before the committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The MDHHS also shared a letter sent from Hertel to DeBoyer with 6 News: 7-7-25 Rep. DeBoyer Oversight Request_Download Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) In a Tuesday court filing, the Tennessee Department of Human Services has called for the closure of a suspected illegal child care agency in Antioch after a 4-month-old died. Pedestrian killed in hit-and-run on I-40 in Hermitage The filing obtained by News 2 claims that law enforcement officials were called to a home on Windcrest Lane on Friday, July 18, after an infant was found unresponsive in his crib. A woman claimed that she had put the child down after feeding him and found him choking on his vomit 20 minutes later. Though emergency personnel tried to resuscitate the child, they did not succeed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Monday home visit, the woman told DHS staff members that she had been caring for seven children two 4-month-olds, including the one who died, and five 2-year-olds at the time of the infants death. DHS stated that means she had been caring for more unrelated children than is allowed under state law without a license. Investigators identify woman found dead in Coffee County DHS staff reportedly found several pack n plays with mobiles and stuffed animals, and the woman allegedly told them that she had laid the infant in one of the pack n plays and found him unresponsive 20 minutes later. The filing claims she also told DHS staff that the infant had just started attending and she typically had seven children under her care, adding she had been caring for children for many years. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com The filing asks the state to issue a temporary injunction preventing the woman from working in any kind of child care without a license, as well as permission to grant DHS immediate access to anywhere shes caring for children to monitor her for compliance with state law. As of publication, no criminal charges have been filed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 2s Sara Smith spoke with a neighbor, Derrick Becton. The woman watched his son years ago. She started my 9-year-old son when he was first born, so she was the first caregiver for him, Becton said. I think [for] about 12 to 13 months. We loved her, Becton continued. She did everything. She was very informative. She cared for the kids. It is so unfortunate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. STATESVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A Statesville man has pleaded guilty to several charges in connection with the overdose deaths of two women, Statesville Police Department says. Around 11:18 a.m. on November 1, 2023, police responded to the 1100 block of South Meeting Street. When officers arrived, they found two unconscious women, later identified as Brittany Peace, 33 and Heather Wilson, 35, both of Statesville. They were pronounced dead at the scene by Iredell County emergency officials. During the initial investigation, officers said they discovered narcotics and drug paraphernalia in the bedroom where Peace and Wilson were found. Police never said what type of narcotics the women consumed. Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area >> Latest stories here The investigation revealed that one of the females who purchased narcotics from Kaylan OBrien Brandon in the early morning hours of Nov. 1. Shortly after, Brandon was taken into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 7, Brandon pled guilty to several charges including death by distribution and involuntary manslaughter. Brandon was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Lisa Johnson-Tonkins to a maximum of 12 years in prison. The Statesville Police Department extends its condolences to the families of Brittany Peace and Heather Wilson and thanks the District Attorneys Office for their work on the case, particularly lead prosecutor Chris Cleaveland, the department said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. RaySearch Laboratories and Radiology Oncology Systems have formed a partnership, aiming to expand access to cancer treatment technology. The companies look to capitalise on opportunities involving new and existing technologies, emphasising the integration of refurbished linear accelerators with 'advanced' software tools. The aim is to provide comprehensive solutions that not only extend the lifecycle of linear accelerators but also promote sustainability in radiation therapy. By doing so, the two companies are working towards improving care and strengthening their market positions. This initiative challenges the routine scrapping of fully functional linear accelerators after ten years, advocating for their refurbishment and use in centres with limited technology. The collaboration, which aims to provide comprehensive solutions that broaden access to radiation therapy, has already produced several agreements. Radiology Oncology Systems president John V Vano said: Too many cancer patients around the world face a critical gap between their need for care and the advanced technology available. Our collaboration with RaySearch allows us to help our customers expand their access to critical, life-changing care. Under this collaboration, RaySearch is expected to see increased adoption of its RayStation treatment planning system and RayCare oncology information system (OIS). RaySearch founder and CEO Johan Lof said: Access to care is critical for us to fulfil our vision of a world where cancer is conquered. This partnership, with its combination of refurbished linacs and advanced software solutions, can really make a difference. Two centres in Argentina have placed orders for Varian Trilogy linear accelerators while a US centre has chosen TrueBeam and RayStation. A Mexican centre has selected Elekta Versa HD and RayStation. Earlier this year, Odense University Hospital (OUH) in Denmark ordered the RayStation system. "RaySearch and Radiology Oncology Systems form partnership" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) More than a dozen Hoosier organizations will be hosting events in cities across Indiana to demonstrate how federal cuts are affecting communities. 14 Indiana-based organizations are organizing the events in cities and small towns across the Hoosier state to demonstrate how federal cuts to essential health and food programs are impacting the areas. Medicaid members, healthcare workers, faith and community leaders, will be sharing their experiences at the events to underscore the importance of these programs to Hoosiers regardless of their age, race, and ability. The events will be held on July 26, which is also the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the organizers want to recognize that anyone can become a person with a disability at any time. This emphasizes the statistic that Medicaid is used as an essential lifeline that provides healthcare coverage for 44% of Hoosier adults with disabilities and 66% of nursing home residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge blocks Trump administration from cutting Planned Parenthood funding The news release from Hoosier Action states that an estimated 267,996 Hoosiers, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities, will lose healthcare from the funding cuts. Those coverage losses could be even higher if the state decides to roll back eligibility in response to the cuts. Nearly 2 million individuals in the state of Indiana rely on Medicaid programs for their healthcare. The release also spoke on how Ball State economist, Michael J. Hicks, and our sister station, Fox 59, listed 20 rural hospitals that are in danger of closing due to budget cuts. The release also talks about how cutting Food Stamps will affect an estimated 128,000 people and how eliminating the free and reduced-price school lunches will affect children being fed when nearly half of all Hoosier children qualify for the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is a list of the Families First protests and gatherings being held on July 26 in Indiana: Terre Haute 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Vigo County Courthouse Greencastle 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 1 Courthouse Square Salem 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 407 North Main Street Merrillville 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Entrance to Methodist Hospital Southlake Mitchell 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friendship Park Winchester to Richmond Caravan 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 527 East Greenville Avenue to Middlefork Reservoir, shelter #3 (closest to the dog park) St. Joseph County 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. State Highway 933 & Brother Andre Drive Fort Wayne 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Headwaters 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 MyWabashValley.com. PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) Slow-moving superloads will be causing lengthy delays for drivers in Bedford, Blair, Cambria and Somerset County until mid-September. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation shared that superloads of windmill blades, tower parts and turbine parts are making their way to CPV Rogues Wind facility near Patton, Cambria County. Starting Wednesday, July 23, these loads will cause both traffic stoppages and traffic delays. How to receive a new license plate in Pennsylvania Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres when our areas can expect to see these superloads: Wednesday, July 23 The mid tower section on U.S. 220 in Bedford County begins at approximately 7 a.m. The tower base section on U.S. 220 in Bedford County begins at approximately 8 a.m. The route includes U.S. 220 and Interstate 99 (I-99) through Bedford County, I-99 and U.S. 22 through Blair County, and U.S. 22, U.S. 219, Route 4013 (Sunset Road) and Route 36 through Cambria County. Thursday, July 24 Top tower section and center upper mid tower section (separate superloads) will be on U.S. 220 in Bedford County beginning approximately 7 a.m. Mid tower section will begin traveling on U.S. 220 in Bedford County at 8 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Route includes U.S. 220 and I-99 through Bedford County, I-99 and U.S. 22 through Blair County, and U.S. 22, U.S. 219, Route 4013 (Sunset Road) and Route 36 through Cambria County. A windmill blade load will begin traveling on U.S. 219 in Somerset County at 11 a.m. The route includes U.S. 219 through Somerset County, and U.S. 219, Route 4013 (Sunset Road) and Route 36 through Cambria County. Friday, July 25 Another load will begin travelling on U.S. 220 in Bedford County at approximately 9 a.m. This route includes U.S. 220 and I-99 through Bedford County, I-99 and U.S. 22 through Blair County, and U.S. 22, U.S. 219, Route 4013 (Sunset Road) and Route 36 through Cambria County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The loads themselves will take up two lanes during their travels and drivers are being asked to be patient or to find another route. PennDOT added that loads will be traveling at both the posted speed limit and as slow as 25 to 30 miles per hour, or slower as needed. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. Drivers are encouraged to drive slowly, eliminate all distractions and stay alert for any signage or additional directions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. July 22 (UPI) -- Suspect Raymond Boodarian allegedly used a firearm owned by victims Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca to shoot and kill the couple inside their Encino, Calif., home on July 10. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman on Monday night said Boodarian, 22, used a gun owned by Kaye and Deluca to shoot and kill the couple and then called the police. "Mr. Boodarian got caught because he used his cell phone to contact police concerning the situation [and] actually identified himself by name," Hochman told attendees during a special meeting of the Encino Neighborhood Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Police were able to ping the cell phone, find out where he lived, go to his residence and arrest him." Hochman said police found the gun used to kill the couple at the crime scene. "The gun that was actually used in the murders wasn't [Boodarian's] gun," Hochman told meeting attendees. "It was a gun that he recovered from the actual house," he added. "It was Robin's and Tom's gun." More than 100 Encino residents attended an Encino Neighborhood Council meeting to discuss the matter on Monday night, which Hochman addressed. The residents were concerned that Boodarian was released from jail last year despite being suspected of battery, making threats and brandishing a weapon, ENC President Josh Sautter told NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A judge dismissed the case following a mental health evaluation of Boodarian. Kaye and Deluca, both age 70, returned home on the evening of July 10 while Boodarian allegedly was inside to burglarize it, Hochman said. Local police discovered the victims' bodies while conducting a welfare check four days later on July 14. Los Angeles Police arrested Boodarian on July 15 and said he is an Encino resident. Boodarian is charged with two counts of murder during a robbery, one count of burglary, intentional use of a firearm and committing multiple murders. He is being held without bail and has an arraignment hearing scheduled on Aug. 20 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, during which he could enter a plea. Kaye was a music supervisor on the popular "American Idol" television show, and Deluca was a musician. CANTON, Miss. (WJTV) Canton police announced a suspect was arrested in connection to a fatal weekend shooting. The shooting occurred at Camden Park Apartments on Parkview Drive on Saturday, July 19. Former Petal teacher arrested again on sex crime charges According to Canton Police Chief Otha Brown, James Ross was waiting for his girlfriend, who was in a car with her uncle and Troy Waldrep, 47. The police chief said there was an argument, and Ross pulled out a gun and shot Waldrep in the face. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He (Ross) got agitated for some reason. Him and Ms. Harris had some words. He pulled out a gun and shot one time to the face to Mr. Waldrep. And after that, he left the scene, said Brown. Troy Waldrep (Courtesy: Mary T. Edwards) James Ross (Courtesy: Madison Co. Detention Center) Ross was later arrested by Ridgeland police. He was charged with murder, firearm in possession of a convicted felon and discharging a firearm within city limits. Ross is being held in the Madison County Detention Center. 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. FRENCH CREEK, W.Va. (WBOY) Two suspects accused of fraud in West Virginia and believed to be involved in a larger criminal organization were finally arrested and extradited back to the Mountain State after an investigation that lasted more than a year. Deputies with the Upshur County Sheriffs Department were called to investigate a possible fraud in French Creek on July 14, 2023, according to a press release from the sheriffs office. While responding, deputies began a pursuit on the suspect vehicle, which fled in a reckless manner through Rock Cave and into Braxton County, according to the release. The vehicle crashed and two suspects fled on foot, evading law enforcement at that time. Over the course of a 16-month investigation, the suspects were identified as Ramon Rosario-Tavarez, 22, of New Jersey and Yamilka Vicente, 21, of Indiana, who deputies said are believed to be part of a larger criminal operation spanning the eastern U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marion County police chief warns against flashing brights to signal speed traps: consider the potential risks Last month, Tavarez and Vicente were arrested by the Pennsylvania State Police on warrants out of West Virginia and are being extradited to face the following charges. Ramon Rosario-Tavarez: Fleeing in a vehicle with Reckless Indifference Use or possession of altered or fraudulent vehicle registration (2 counts) Identity Theft Attempted Fraudulent Scheme Conspiracy to commit a felony Yamilka Vicente: Identity Theft Attempted Fraudulent Scheme Conspiracy to commit a felony The Upshur County Sheriffs Office would like to thank the Lewis and Braxton County Sheriffs Office and the West Virginia State Police in the assistance in response to the initial vehicle pursuit and search for the suspects, the release 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 WBOY.com. The News One Republicans new push to overhaul US sanctions on Syria is upending Washingtons entrenched partisan alliances, splitting both parties and raising questions about where the White House stands. The House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday advanced a bill from Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., that would allow President Donald Trump to permanently lift key sanctions on Syria in two years so long as its new government meets a set of conditions, including the release of political prisoners held by deposed former leader Bashar al-Assad. Trump has already ended many sanctions on Syria through an executive order designed to help its new leader, the former militant Ahmed al-Sharaa, pursue his stated goal of opening the country up to new trade opportunities. Yet a significant number of lawmakers in both parties are skeptical of Trumps quick embrace of the new Syrian leader, and Israels latest strikes on Syria have compounded the tricky politics of the moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that context, Lawlers proposal to set conditions on the remaining US sanctions has prompted a unique alignment of conservatives and progressives who prefer full repeal. In another display of bipartisanship, two centrist Democrats Reps. Brad Sherman of California and Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey helped Republicans advance the Lawler plan. Trump-friendly Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., joined all other Democrats in voting no. The objective here is very straightforward, which is to actually allow for this government to start to take hold and be successful and in order to do that, you need to have, obviously, economic cooperation, and you need the sanctions to begin to be eased, Lawler told Semafor. Still, he added, I believe it is foolish to immediately remove all sanctions without a truly stable situation on the ground, pointing to a possible coup or a collapse of this fledgling government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawler said hes been in touch with members of the administration about his legislation. A White House spokesperson declined to comment. I get what Mikes trying to do, but in my view, lets not get ahead of the White House, Donalds told Semafor. A lot of things have changed on the ground; lets give the president a wide berth. Under current law, Trump can waive the remaining US sanctions on Syria, imposed under a law known as the Caesar Act, every 180 days. Lawlers legislation would give the new administration two years to certify the new Syrian government had met its set of conditions before lifting the sanctions for good. Among the lawmakers advocating for full repeal, rather than Lawlers solution: Conservative Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., who urged the committee to reconsider the measure, and the Financial Services Committees top Democrat, Rep. Maxine Waters of California. Wilson said he supported the failed amendment Waters offered to Lawlers bill on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, hey, shes correct, Wilson said of Waters. Im very grateful that indeed, the president has indicated that he wants to give Syria a chance and the way to do that is to fully repeal the sanctions, so that businesses know that they can invest. Some Democrats were torn ahead of the vote. Rep. Greg Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Semafor that its a touchy situation. You remove all the sanctions at one time you know, what does that mean? Meeks said on his way into the committee room. At the same time, you want to make sure that there is progress going down the road. Maybe by the time I get outside, I can tell you exactly what I believe, Meeks added. He wound up voting against the bill. Know More The president cannot permanently lift sanctions imposed by the Caesar Act unless Congress repeals that law (or allows it to lapse in 2029). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Trump administration issued a new six-month waiver of the sanctions in May, lawmakers on both sides of the debate say the short-term relief makes it difficult to facilitate long-term economic growth in Syria because investors lack certainty needed to make long-term decisions. What Lawler is attempting to do [is say] We want sanctions relief. We want money to flow back into the country, said Financial Services Chair French Hill, R-Ark. But how do we do that in the right way? Lawlers not adding burden, in my judgment, in his proposal. The president has these freedoms, but in this bill, hes granted statutory relief that he doesnt have, Hill added. The bill is a balanced bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawler acknowledged that the administrations position is going to be vital when it comes to building sufficient support in the full House and Senate. Sherman raised concerns over lifting sanctions after sectarian violence in Syria led to the death of a US citizen last week. He voted yes after Lawler agreed to adopt his amendment that would add a new condition for lifting sanctions: reasonable steps to protect religious and ethnic minorities. As the Trump administration seeks to bring Syria into the Abraham Accords, Lawler expressed optimism that his proposal could be a helpful tool. The president in May promised Syrias new president sanctions relief if Damascus agreed to pursue normalized relations with Israel. This, in implementation, can be used as a vehicle by which to help actually normalize economic ties with Israelis, Lawler said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawler said the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which also has jurisdiction over Syria sanctions, will also need to mark up the legislation. Meeks said that committee was his preferred venue for further discussion about the proposal. Room for Disagreement Those advocating to repeal the Caesar Act make two main arguments. Republicans say it would provide Trump with the most flexibility possible; Democrats say it would be the best bet for protecting Syrians. Sanctions are not effective in what the goal here is, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., said. On the ground, it is the Syrian people that are hurting because of these sanctions. The Syrian Emergency Task Force said in a press release Tuesday that the bill goes against President Trumps agenda of giving Syria a chance and allowing long-term investment. Eleanors View A lot of the uncertainty surrounding Lawlers bill can be attributed to its relatively short runway. He only introduced the proposal last week, which hasnt left much time for members to decide how they want to proceed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Either way, the Trump administrations approach is critical. If it endorses the legislation, Lawlers proposal is on a glide path to enactment. If the administration tries to pump the brakes, it seems inevitable that the bills momentum slows. Notable BEIRUT (AP) A Syrian-American man of the Druze religious minority was killed in southern Syria when he got caught up in sectarian clashes there last week while visiting family members, relatives and officials said Tuesday. The U.S. State Department confirmed the death of U.S citizen Hossam Soraya in the city of Sweida and extended its condolences to his family. His relatives and friends told The Associated Press that Saraya, in his mid-30s from Oklahoma, was killed in an attack last Wednesday. The violence in Sweida provice, where the city of Sweida is the provincial capital, erupted earlier this month between the Druze community, an offshoot of Shiite Islam, and the local Sunni Bedouin tribes, drawing in Syrian government forces, which effectively sided with the Bedouins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of people were killed both civilians and combatants before a ceasefire calmed the fighting, only for clashes to restart days later. The U.N. International Organization for Migration said more than 130,000 people were displaced during the fighting. The fighting threatened Syria's fragile transition and underscored the difficulties the new government faces as it tries to consolidate control over the country, months after Islamist-led insurgents ousted longtime autocrat Bashar Assad last December. Neighboring Israel also intervened, striking Syrian forces actions Israel said was in defense of the Druze, who are also a significant minority in Israel. A raid by gunmen in military uniform The clashes started as a series of tit-for-tat kidnappings between armed Bedouin clans and Druze militias. Government forces intervened to stop the hostilities but effectively sided with the Bedouins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Soraya was abducted with his brother Karim, their father Ghassan and three other relatives from the family home by gunmen who later shot and killed them in a square in Sweida, his friends and relatives said, speaking on condition of anonymity fearing reprisals. The gunmen told them they were government forces and assured the women nothing would happen to their men as they took them away, one of Soraya's friends said. The gunmen returned later and threatened the women and children, before leaving without harming them but taking off with gold and other valuables from the house, the friend said. They said they believe government forces were behind the killings but did not elaborate. The Syrian Defense Ministry says Tuesday it was investigating shocking and serious violations committed by an unknown group wearing military uniforms in Sweida, without giving further details. The ministry did not specifically mention Sarayas killing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford said on Monday he was heartbroken over Sarayas killing. We are praying for his family, friends, and the entire community as they grieve this senseless loss. Lankford said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Fellow Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin meanwhile said that he is working with partners in the region to learn more. Trying to reach the family After new of the violence broke out, Saraya's relatives in America could not get a hold of him and other male family members in the Druze-majority city. They were told by remaining relatives in Sweida of the raid and that Saraya and the others were taken away by gunmen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, to their horror, they recognized Hossam and the other men from the family in a video posted on social media showing gunmen in military uniform sprayed their relatives with automatic fire as tehy were kneeling on the asphalt in a Sweida roundabout. Another video that surfaced later, shows their relatives being marched off by at least 10 armed men in military uniform, chatting among themselves, smiling and posing for the camera. A life in America Although Hossam had been living in the United States since 2014, he remained engaged in the community back home in Syria. He and his brother co-founded an online school named after their family for Syrians abroad interested in completing their education with their native country's curriculum, with millions scattered around the world after the almost 14-year civil war that erupted in 2011 and ended with Assad's ouster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the school's social media page, Syrians and Oklahomans paid tribute to Hossam and his family after their deaths were announced. More than half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria. The others live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981. Most Druze in Syria have supported a more diplomatic approach with the new government in Damascus but the clashes in Sweida have left many doubtful of a peaceful coexistence the new leaders in the post-Assad era. ___ Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri in New York contributed to this report. (Reuters) -The Syrian defence ministry said on Tuesday it was aware of reports of "shocking violations" by people wearing military fatigues in the country's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, and said it would launch an investigation. Sectarian clashes have escalated in Sweida this month between the Druze - a religious minority native to the area - and Syrian Bedouin tribes. Ferocious fighting then broke out between Druze militia and government forces sent to the city to quell the unrest. The fighting left over 300 people dead and drew in neighbouring Israel, which carried out airstrikes in southern Syria and on the defence ministry in Damascus last week. Israel said it was protecting the Druze, who form a significant minority in Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Israel and Syria agreed to a ceasefire supported by Turkey, Jordan and neighbours. Syria's Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said in a statement there would be "no tolerance" for perpetrators of human rights violations in Sweida, even if they were committed by ministry forces. A committee has been formed to investigate reports of killings by people wearing military fatigues and to try to identify them, he said. Separately, the Syrian interior ministry said it had launched an investigation into reports of field executions committed by "unknown people" in Sweida. "Such acts constitute serious crimes," ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din Al-Baba said, stressing that the ministry was also working on identifying those involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Syrian fact-finding committee said separately on Tuesday that 1,426 people had died in March in attacks on security forces and subsequent mass killings of Alawites, but concluded that commanders had not given orders for the revenge attacks. The incidents in the coastal region were the worst violence to hit Syria since the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad last year. The new leadership is made up mainly of former anti-Assad rebel fighters, who are facing fresh unrest this month involving other minority groups in the southwest. (Reporting by Maya Gebeily, Menna Alaa El-Din and Muhammad Al Gebaly; Editing by Chris Reese and Rosalba O'Brien) Taco Bell customers can expect to see new dishes at a reasonable price thanks to a brand new offering. The fast food chain announced Thursday that it's adding a new deal in stores: The Luxe Value Menu. The meu is packed with premium flavors and bold formats, according to the news release, and each item is priced at $3 or less. From handheld stacks to indulgent dips, the Luxe Value Menu test is built to satisfy every craving and proves fans can have it all: flavor, variety, innovation, and value, the company said in the press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the Luxe Value Menu will be tested only at select locations across Indianapolis, Indiana, starting Thursday, while supplies last. Future plans for the menu have not yet been announced. There are five items in the lineup, including a Mini Taco Salad, which is seasoned beef, chipotle sauce, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and refried beans in a crispy, golden tortilla bowl. Taco Bell launches Luxe Value Menu with items for $3 or less, but it will only be available in stores in Indianapolis (Getty) The second item is a Chipotle Ranch Chicken Stacker, which has grilled all-white-meat chicken, a three-cheese blend, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado ranch sauce, and chipotle sauce. Those ingredients are then folded into Taco Bells stacker format of a flour tortilla. A third item on the menu is the Beefy Potato Loaded Griller. This is a rolled-up tortilla filled with beef, crispy potato bites, nacho cheese sauce, chipotle sauce, and sour cream. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fourth new item is a Chips & Nacho Supreme Dip, which is layers of beef, beans, nacho cheese sauce, sour cream, pico de gallo, and a three-cheese blend. Its, of course, served with a side of chips. The final item is a sweet treat, Salted Caramel Churros. The inside of the churros is creamy, while the outside is covered in salted caramel sugar. Taco Bell has other luxe deals nationwide, specifically the Luxe Cravings Box. This includes the $5 classic box, which has a 5-Layer Beef Burrito, Crunchy Taco, Cinnamon Twists, and a medium drink. The brand also has the $7 Supreme Luxe Cravings Box, featuring a Chicken Chalupa Supreme, 5-Layer Beef Burrito, Crunchy Taco, Chips & Nacho Cheese sauce, and a medium drink. A third option is the $9 Discovery Luxe Cravings Box, which has a Crispy Chicken Burrito, Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Tacos, Crunchy Taco, Cinnamon Twists, and a medium drink. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new Luxe Value Menu comes after Taco Bell leaned into offering another beloved food: Crispy Chicken. In June, the company introduced a crispy chicken taco for $2.79, a crispy chicken burrito for $5.49, and crispy chicken strips, which include two pieces for $3.99. This came shortly after the brand offered a limited release of its crispy chicken nuggets, which quickly sold out when they first launched in December. Crispy chicken is having a moment, but our fans made it a movement, Taylor Montgomery, Chief Marketing Officer at Taco Bell, said in a press release last month. So, we decided to bring our sell-out Nuggets recipe to the formats that defined our brand because true innovation means elevating the icons, not replacing them. Were not like every other chicken spot out there, were doing crispy chicken the only way we know how: full of flavor and unmistakably Taco Bell. New tax policy may enshrine a space for political campaigning within places of worship. Shown is the Open Bible College in Des Moines. (Photo via Google Earth) Iowa faith leaders expressed mixed reactions to an Internal Revenue Service court filing allowing houses of worship to endorse political candidates while maintaining nonprofit status. Critics say the move could open the door to more campaign spending and political division. If you have the ability to influence the election, then people who have money who also want to influence elections are going to find a way to get you involved, said Brendan Glavin, director of insights for OpenSecrets, a research group tracking money in U.S. politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IRSs court filing came as part of a joint motion for a consent judgment in a lawsuit filed against the federal tax agency by National Religious Broadcasters. The lawsuit contested that a provision in tax law that required certain organizations, including churches to refrain from participating or intervening in political campaigns to maintain their nonprofit, tax-exempt status. The motion sets out a new interpretation of the law, stating that when houses of worship speak in good faith to their congregation through its customary channels on matters of faith concerning electoral politics they do not jeopardize their nonprofit status by participating or intervening in a political campaign. Nobody at the IRS is interested in jeopardizing their career over questioning a non-profits political status, Glavin said. The same would apply to a church. He adds there have been multiple instances where faith communities have tried to test the law and generate court cases but before now, but the IRS didnt take the bait. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike other nonprofits, houses of worship including churches are not typically required to file 990 forms which disclose financial information about the organization and they automatically qualify for tax-exempt status, whereas other nonprofits must apply. Glavin said a potential scenario that could arise is a candidate could donate money to a church with the understanding the church would publicly endorse or support them, but adds, it could already be happening. Pastor Josh Bingaman, lead pastor of First Church in Des Moines and dean of Open Bible College, hosted and prayed for President Donald Trump at a pastors meeting hosted at First Church. He said he also sent an invitation to the previous administration and would have been honored to pray for former President Joe Biden as well. The First Amendment gives a special exception for the practice of religion and also free speech. And so, its never really been tested in court, its very rarely been enforced by the IRS and I believe there was a great fear that it wouldnt stand up in court, Bingaman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bingamans church is part of a smaller denomination called open bible churches which headquarters in Des Moines. He said he believes the IRS move is just in line with whats right but adds that he has no desire to endorse. Rather, he said the change will remove the chilling effect and give pastors the ability to address issues in our nation more candidly. Glavin said the IRS decision to put a little bit of language to their stance on endorsing candidates from the pulpit could create a situation where somebody can go out and push the envelope. He says it may lead to further court cases that create a position where the door gets open even wider. How faith communities are reacting to the change Rabbi Michael Gilboa of Tifereth Israel Synagogue said that even though theres a permission now he has no plans to act on it. We are very proud that our members participate in the political process, Gilboa said. But its not our place to promote that from the pulpit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gilboas synagogue is home to members of both parties and everywhere in between. He said the Jewish people have really benefited greatly from the American values of freedom and democracy but added that people dont bring their politics to the synagogue that much. After speaking with some of his colleagues, Gilboa said the IRS decision is not a good move. He said it will promote further partisan divide and members may start sorting themselves under religious leaders who favor their partisan stance. However, Pastor Charles Hundley of First Church of God in Des Moines said he thinks this decision is a good thing. I look at it from a biblical worldview and I ought to be able to express that, he said. Am I going to stand up in front of the pulpit and probably try to bully everybody into doing that? No, thats not my style. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundley said pastors have been selecting a candidate and explaining their choice before the court filing, just not necessarily from the pulpit. He said righteousness and justice is what the government should be doing and wants candidates that feel similarly. Gilboa argued that the move was divisive. Any time you are dividing a community its a problem. We work very hard to make sure that this is a community that is open to all points of view, Gilboa said. It doesnt mean we agree with every point of view, but saying theres a political litmus test for coming into a synagogue is a recipe for disaster. For some Iowans, faith and politics are intertwined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the fact that churches can endorse candidates from the pulpit is returning to the original idea of the church leading culture, said Lucas Laughton. Im not going to be the only person whos ever said this but if the church and godly people are not leading the culture then the world is happy to do it. Laughton, a Clive resident since 2014 and a member of In His Light Ministries, said he believes the spirit behind the Declaration of Independence came from the pulpit. He said there is no one better suited than faith leaders to look for biblical character in political candidates. Denise Hiscocks, the former treasurer of Harvest Bible Chapel in Clear Lake, said that sharing a candidates story is different from telling voters what to think, as long as whoever is speaking from that pulpit is speaking truth about that candidate. I think the pulpit serves as a good platform for people to know the truth. And knowing the truth means knowing what God says about individuals, she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE GlobalData are delighted to open registration for the Global Automotive Outlook Conference, taking place on October 21, 2025 at the Gem Theatre, in Detroit, Michigan. Join GlobalData's senior industry analysts for a day of expert insight, exclusive commentary, and critical analysis on the key forces shaping the automotive sector. What to Expect: Live commentary from GlobalData analysts on the latest market developments Analysis of emerging trends, market outlooks, and shifts in global supply chains Insight into EV, autonomous tech, tariffs, sustainability challenges, and more! Opportunities to network with automotive peers and decision makers Whether you're navigating the EV transition, responding to global policy shifts, or simply trying to stay ahead of market disruption, this event is designed to equip you with the knowledge and context you need. This is a free-to-attend, in-person event. Spaces are limited, so early registration is advised. Our conferences are exclusive events for GlobalData customers, but we don't want you to miss out. Contact us today and quote the conference title to find out how you can grab your place. "Registration is now open for GlobalDatas Global Automotive Outlook Conference 2025" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. Teddi Mellencamp is speaking out after her Los Angeles home was targeted in an attempted burglary. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 44, released a joint statement with her estranged husband Edwin Arroyave regarding the incident to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday, July 22. We are grateful that everyone is unharmed. While we are shaken, we are fortunate to have the latest in home security systems which scared off the intruders, they wrote. Authorities were alerted and swiftly responded. We appreciate everyones heightened concern in light of recent criminal activities in our area, but we are safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Arroyave and Mellencamp split in October 2024, the exes were both at the Encino home with their children when the incident occurred, Mellencamp confirmed to ABC News. The exes share three kids together Slate, 12, Cruz, 10, and Dove, 5. Teddi Mellencamp/ Instagram Teddi Mellencamp and husband Edwin Arroyave celebrate Easter with their three children Slate, Cruz, and Dove in March 2024. Teddi Mellencamp and husband Edwin Arroyave celebrate Easter with their three children Slate, Cruz, and Dove in March 2024. The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that the incident occurred around 10:15 p.m. local time on Monday, July 21. The suspects had fled the location when officers arrived, according to police. They were described as two males wearing black-hooded sweatshirts and they left the scene in a black BMW. Suspects are still outstanding and officers completed an attempted burglary report, the LAPD adds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mellencamps ex Arroyave, who founded the home security company Skyline Security, shared footage of the intruders on the property in a July 22 Instagram post. The video footage shows the suspects dressed in all black as they jump over a gate and onto the driveway. They appear to hide behind a white car before proceeding towards the property. The idea for Skyline Security came from the trauma of having a gun held to my head at 18. The ability to save lives and protect families is the genesis of what I do, he wrote in the caption, before sharing the same statement as Mellencamp. Arroyave was upstairs with his family when he got an alert from a motion-detecting camera installed on the property, he told NBC Los Angeles. He added that the intruders were inside the home for about 20 seconds before fleeing the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Just blessed and grateful that nothing happened," Arroyave told the outlet. "With things like that, people get freaked out and things can happen. Luckily, nothing happened, they just ran out." 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. Around the same time Mellencamp and Arroyaves home was broken into, another burglary was reported while community members were at a safety meeting to discuss the heightened crime in the area recently, the outlet states. PEOPLE previously reported on the murder of American Idol music supervisor Robin Kaye and her musician husband Thomas Deluca on July 14. The couple, both 70, were found dead with gunshot wounds inside their Encino home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, July 21, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said that the man accused of the killings allegedly shot the victims with their own gun before calling the police himself, the DA's Office confirmed to PEOPLE. Raymond Boodarian, 22, a resident of Encino, had been arrested in connection with the killings on the day after the victims were discovered deceased, the LAPD previously confirmed to PEOPLE. Read the original article on People DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A crash in Butler County left one teen dead and another seriously injured. On Wednesday, July 23, the Butler County Coroners Office released the name of the 17-year-old girl who died in the crash. Her name was Alexa Miller. According to the Butler County Sheriffs Office, deputies and medics were dispatched to the 2100 block of Ross Hanover Road for reports of a crash around 1:45 a.m. on Tuesday, July 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4 hurt after multi-vehicle crash in Miami Township Upon arrival, first responders found a 2014 Acura had struck a tree. There were two occupants at the time of the crash, both 17-year-old girls. Investigators believe the car was traveling westbound when the driver lost control and went off the left side of the road, hitting the tree. The driver was declared dead at the scene. The passenger sustained serious injuries and was taken to Miami Valley Hospital by medical helicopter. Deputies do not believe drugs or alcohol were involved, but say speed is being investigated as a contributing factor of the crash. 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. A mom was changing her babys diaper when she saw something that scared her. Rowan Steiner, 31, said her son, Max, then 9 months, was crying during the diaper change and thats when she spotted a massive blue lump by his gums. The Salt Lake City, Utah, mom of five said she and her husband rushed her son to the hospital, where he spent 12 hours being examined by five different doctors, according to Daily Mail. Kennedy News & Media Part of a fidget toy that was in 9-month-old Max Steiner's mouth Part of a fidget toy that was in 9-month-old Max Steiner's mouth The PEOPLE App is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Docs originally thought it was a tumor but admitted it could be something else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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, Steiner said of the 2022 ordeal. But, I, his dad, and all of the doctors physically touched it ... every single person did. One doctor even said Max needed a CT scan. But when an ear, nose, and throat specialist examined Max, he used a dental tool to pry the mass off and the Steiners discovered it was a bubble from a fidget toy that had come loose while the tot was sucking on it. Getty Stock image of a fidget toy. Stock image of a fidget toy. It was just suctioned so tightly that it wasn't moving at all, Steiner told the outlet. We were like, How would this make sense? A fidget toy was not what we were thinking of at all." We were terrified, and then when we found out it was a fidget toy, we were relieved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Max had some swelling and bleeding around his gums after the plastic bubble was removed, but his mom shares, 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. 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. Read the original article on People NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A Tennessee judge ruled on Tuesday that the state can deactivate a death-row inmate's implanted heart-regulating device at a hospital on the morning of his execution, rather than bringing a doctor or technician into the execution chamber. The ruling comes after Deputy Attorney General Cody Brandon told the judge they could not comply with an earlier order requiring Byron Black's implanted cardioverter-defibrillator to be turned off just prior to the injection of a lethal dose of pentobarbital on Aug. 5. In the Friday order, Davidson County Chancery Court Judge Russell Perkins agreed with Black's attorneys that not deactivating the device could cause Black to suffer needlessly as it continuously shocks him in an attempt to restore his hearts normal rhythm during the execution. At a Tuesday hearing on the issue, Brandon said Black's physicians at Nashville General Hospital are unwilling to come to the execution chamber. That means the Friday chancellor's order is, in effect, an order to stay the execution, which only the Tennessee Supreme Court has the power to do, he argued. Brandon asked the judge to either overturn his Friday order or allow the Tennessee Department of Correction to take Black to the hospital for the deactivation on Aug. 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelley Henry, who represents Black, argued that the state should not be allowed to deactivate the device prematurely because doing so could result in Blacks death while he still has the possibility of a last-minute reprieve. On August 4, we will still be in other courts seeking a stay of execution, Henry said. She also said state officials had not really tried to find a doctor willing to come to the prison. She first brought the issue up with the Tennessee Department of Correction in early June, but it was not until the Friday order that they began to look into it, and then they only contacted Nashville General Hospital. Its like when you tell a teenager to clean up their room, and they pick up one sock, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is a small, battery-powered electronic instrument, surgically implanted in the chest, that serves as a pacemaker and an emergency defibrillator. Perkins noted in court on Tuesday that during a two-day hearing last week on the issue, a doctor testifying for Black said that deactivating the device is quick and doesnt require surgery, only a handheld machine. Meanwhile, the state did not present any testimony at the time that deactivation would be an administrative or logistical burden. In modifying his own order on Tuesday, Perkins wrote that it is obvious the state has taken only minimal steps to comply with his Friday order. However, Perkins said he also wants to ensure that his ruling can't be construed as an attempt to interfere with the execution. Ive lost sleep over this because I want to do the right thing, Perkins said at the hearing. I want to honor the memories of these victims while also making sure the execution is properly carried out. Black was convicted in the 1988 shooting deaths of girlfriend Angela Clay, 29, and her two daughters, Latoya, 9, and Lakeisha, 6. Prosecutors said Black was in a jealous rage when he shot the three at their home. At the time, Black was on work-release while serving time for shooting and wounding Clays estranged husband. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Had she not been killed, Lakeisha would be in her 40s today, Brandon told the judge on Tuesday. Justice has waited 37 years. It should not wait any longer. Blacks motion related to his heart device came within a general challenge he and other death row inmates filed against the states new execution protocol. The trial isnt until 2026. A week after heavy rains pummeled the Texas Hill Country and the flooded Guadalupe River swept hundreds of people overnight, Texans have come together to mourn, search for the many people missing and begin to rebuild. Many questions remain about how storms caught off guard an area prone to flooding and led to the second deadliest flood in Texas history. Heres what we know. Flooding death toll increases to 137 across Texas Community members add flowers to a memorial honoring victims of the flood in Kerrville on Wednesday. Credit: Brenda Bazan for The Texas Tribune The floods swept away local residents, summer campers along the river and many visitors who were in the scenic area for the Fourth of July weekend. There were at least 108 confirmed deaths, including 37 children, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, told lawmakers at July 31 legislative committee hearing about the floods. At least 137 people died across Texas due to the flooding, Nim Kidd, chief the Texas Division of Emergency Management, previously said during a July 23 committee hearing about the floods. On July 7, the nearly century-old girls Camp Mystic confirmed that 27 campers and counselors were among the dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kidd on July 23 said the number of missing people across the region had dropped to two. More than 100 people were initially listed as missing; officials have said the drastic drop came "through extensive follow-up work among state and local agencies" which verified that nearly all the missing people were safe. On July 22, Gov. Greg Abbott said online that the search continued for one adult male and a girl from Camp Mystic. The tragedy has left families like that of Tanya Powell mourning. Her 21-year-old daughter, Ella Rose Cahill, was found dead July 8. It was like a relieved, happy, sad, horrible, wonderful news. I mean, I can't even describe it, because you're so happy that she's still not out there somewhere, Powell said. But at the same time, it's like this final moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others, like the father of Ellas boyfriend, Aidan Heartfield, continued searching through debris and muddy waters, even as hopes to find anyone alive dimmed. Local authorities have said they havent made a live rescue since the weekend of the floods. Aidans dad, Thad Heartfield, has been channeling all of his energy into leading volunteer search efforts since the afternoon of July 4. A sliver of hope follows him that Aidan his kind, smart and gentle 22-year-old son would rest easy soon. I always think todays the day Ill get a call from a DNA match, Heartfield said July 9. Im answering a lot of calls from numbers I dont know. Every one of those calls, I think this could be that call. Aidan's body was recovered on July 12, according to multiple media reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roughly 2,100 emergency responders from 10 states have descended on Kerr County to assist with the recovery and cleanup efforts, according to officials. But the Hill Countrys rough terrain and the floods devastation huge debris piles of trees snapped like toothpicks, pieces of broken buildings and mangled cars have slowed search efforts. Read more about families search efforts and the wreckage. Texas state leaders call for more sirens, flood gauges and mitigation efforts Gov. Greg Abbott listens to Courtney Calhoun, a Kerr County resident and volunteer, during a press conference in Hunt on Tuesday. Credit: Brenda Bazan for The Texas Tribune After failing to pass legislation this spring that would have established a statewide plan to improve Texas disaster response, state elected leaders have promised to address gaps in the states flood warning and mitigation systems. State leaders returned to the Texas Capitol on July 21 for a special legislative session and have held legislative committee hearings about the flash flooding and emergency response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the hearings, state lawmakers have blasted a river authority for failing to build a flood warning system on the Guadalupe River and heard concerns about a lack of minimum qualifications for local emergency management coordinators and about failures getting first responders on the same radio communication channel. More recently, the top two emergency management officials in Kerr County told lawmakers that they were asleep in the early morning hours of July 4 when floodwaters rose. Gov. Greg Abbott, who called the special session after vetoing a THC ban and sets the agenda for these 30-day, overtime lawmaking periods, ordered lawmakers to pass legislation on the following measures this week: flood warning systems flood emergency communications natural disaster preparation and recovery relief funding for the impacted areas Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more about what lawmakers could do in response to the flooding. Disclosure: Facebook 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. Texas counties have little power to stop construction in flood-prone areas A fallen roof and debris is seen on the banks of the Guadalupe River after intense flooding Tuesday in Ingram. Credit: Ronaldo Bolanos/The Texas Tribune Camp Mystic and many of the other camps along the Guadalupe River sit on land known to be at high risk for a devastating flood. But theyre too far outside any city limits to be more closely regulated. While cities can largely decide what is built, counties in Texas have no jurisdiction to implement comprehensive zoning rules that could limit people from living or building close to the waters edge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some federal guardrails for building in floodplains, efforts to relocate residents out of flood zones and programs to fortify infrastructure do exist. But relocation programs have had mixed success and many rural counties in Texas dont have hazard mitigation plans required for infrastructure assistance. The states explosive growth, the appeal of inexpensive flood-prone land and extreme weather make this a pressing concern. A quarter of the states land carries some degree of severe flood risk, leaving an estimated 5 million Texans in possible jeopardy. Read more. Time gap between flood warnings and local response raises questions Kerrville City Council and Mayor Joe Herring at an emergency City Council meeting at Kerrville City Hall on Tuesday. Credit: Ronaldo Bolanos/The Texas Tribune Though flooding is familiar to the Hill Country, the high death toll has raised questions about whether forecasters or local officials in charge of emergency response gave people in the area adequate warning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of the devastation, the National Weather Service on Thursday afternoon issued a flood watch a threat designation that means the conditions are present for a flood to happen for Kerr County. At 1:14 a.m., federal forecasters escalated that announcement to a flood warning, a signal that flooding is happening or is imminent. It was sent out three hours and 21 minutes before the first flooding reports came in from low-lying water crossings in the area. The weather service says that first warning triggered one of many automatic alerts to cellphones and weather radios, telling people in the area of the danger. NWS officials said they also communicated directly with local officials during the night of the floods, but did not specify when. In some cases, they said, calls went to voicemail. Kerrvilles mayor said he was unaware of the flooding until around 5:30 a.m., more than four hours after that first warning, when the city manager called and woke him up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warnings didnt go up on county Facebook pages until around the same time when the Guadalupe River had already risen rapidly, spilled out of its banks around Hunt and was making its way toward the county seat of Kerrville. It remains a mystery whether local officials got the NWS initial warning and activated in any meaningful way before the flooding. Officials have not provided clear answers, saying their attention is on search and rescue efforts. Read more about the flooding and response timeline. The Hill Countrys many hills and rivers are a recipe for catastrophic floods The very features that draw people to Texas Hill Country hills, multiple rivers and rocky terrain ideal for fishing or camping under starry skies also make it one of the most flood-prone areas in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Balcones Escarpment, a major geological feature that cuts across Central Texas, makes for dramatic views and elevation changes in the area. But it can also lead storms to stall and dump heavy rain, as was the case when leftover moisture from Tropical Storm Barry intensified the storms that caused the flash floods. And when storms roll in, water rushes downhill fast, gaining speed and force as it moves. Theres little to slow it down thin, rocky soil doesnt absorb much water, and exposed bedrock and sparse vegetation offer no buffer. Clay-rich soils in parts of the region also prevent infiltration, meaning rain turns to runoff almost immediately. Between 2 and 7 a.m. on July 4, the Guadalupe River in Kerrville rose 35 feet, according to a flood gauge in the area. Hydrologists say its a recipe for catastrophic floods that has merited the area the nickname of flash flood alley and has led to about 30 major flooding events of 20 feet or more in the cities of Kerrville, Hunt and Comfort since 1966. Read more about the history of flooding in the area. The Texas Senate is doubling down with its attempt to ban hemp-derived THC, setting up another showdown with the House, where lawmakers are more amenable to regulating the substance than eliminating it from recreational use. Senate Bill 5 by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, would create a blanket ban on products containing any detectable amount of any cannabinoid other than cannabidiol and cannabigerol, better known as CBD and CBG, non-intoxicating components of cannabis. This bill would eliminate the majority of hemp products, including those that are legal under the federal definition. The bill would make the manufacturing, delivering or possessing with the intent to provide consumable hemp products a third-degree felony offense, as well as create misdemeanor offenses for providing consumable hemp by courier, delivery, or mail service. Possession of hemp products will be considered a misdemeanor offense. However, a person caught illegally possessing the products for the first time will not face charges under the bill. The bill passed the Senate State Affairs Committee unanimously on Tuesday and advanced to the full chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perry said that the state has tried to regulate hemp, but its not being enforced. We will regulate it by banning it because we have tried regulation, said a visibly frustrated Perry during Tuesdays hearing on the bill. Gov. Greg Abbott has asked lawmakers to prioritize hemp regulatory issues during the 30-day special session that started on Monday. SB 5 is essentially a revival of Senate Bill 3 from this years regular legislative session, which lawmakers passed but Abbott vetoed. Abbott in his veto urged lawmakers to instead regulate hemp sales similarly to liquor sales, by prohibiting sales near places frequented by children, and prohibiting sales to anyone under the age of 21, with strict penalties for any retailer that fails to comply. The hemp industry has largely been amenable to these restrictions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although reports circulated during the hearing on Tuesday suggesting that Abbott had suddenly changed his mind and wants a full ban, his press secretary Andrew Mahaleris said the governor supports a ban for those under 21, with a full ban on extraordinarily dangerous synthetic products. Adults should be able to access heavily regulated, nonintoxicating levels of hemp, and there should be strict legal enforcement of hemp that exceeds 3.0 milligrams total THC per serving, he said in the statement. The Governor will continue working with the legislature to establish a framework that meets those goals." Abbotts veto came after immense pushback from hemp supporters, including veterans and chronically ill people, who said hemp has been a cheaper and more accessible alternative to the medical marijuana program. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who was a large supporter of a THC ban, lambasted the veto as an attempt to legalize adult-use cannabis. During the hearing, several senators took the opportunity to take shots at pro-hemp supporters, accusing them of using veterans as a battering ram to protect an illegal market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just slimy and dishonest, said Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood. Hall and others started to question and encourage law enforcement to begin arresting hemp consumers and retailers without the passage of SB 5, since this was an illegal market. Steve Dye, Allen police chief who has pro-actively cracked down on hemp in his city, said not many police chiefs want to go after hemp due to potential lawsuits and not many district attorneys want to prosecute these substances, but he believes a ban will force many businesses to close, making it easier to control hemp. It would take decades, in our opinion, and millions of millions of dollars to hire and train agents to understand chemistry, potency threshold, lab testing and labeling compliance, and they will never be able to keep pace with the retailers, wholesalers and shippers, Dye said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other lawmakers called hemp products gas station heroin, suggested that the Uvalde shooter might have had mental problems due to marijuana usage, called retailers modern day trap-houses, and indicated that THC might cause dementia in older people. It's especially concerning given your recent investment in the dementia institute of Texas. It'd be counterproductive to fund dementia prevention while also expanding access to products that may increase dementia risk, said Lindy McGee, a member of the Texas Pediatric Society. Perry, throughout the hearing, emphasized that he needed a strong showing of support to implement this ban, suggesting police chiefs encourage school district leaders to support the effort and encourage other groups to talk about the damage caused by THC in hopes of reaching Abbott. Perrys call comes after months of massive response from THC supporters about the damages a ban would do to the economy and to ailing Texans, many of whom signed up to speak on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ramona Harding, a Navy veteran, told lawmakers about how she was raped while in the service, leading to her drug and alcohol addiction. After her two brothers died from alcohol poisoning, her family and medical professionals recommended she move to hemp, and she says its the only thing keeping her alive. If you pass this, I dont know what I am going to do. I promised my husband I wouldnt kill myself, she said. Other veterans accused lawmakers of betraying their conservative values and dismissing polls that show a majority of Texans dont want a ban. This is turning Texas into a nanny state, said Mitch Fuller, a representative for Texas VFW. This is about the alcohol lobby and the pharmaceutical lobby. You want to talk about poison. Pharmaceuticals are the poison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farmers, lawyers, retailers, parents, real estate agents, and others testified before lawmakers, taking exception to how they have been described by Perry and others. They said a ban restricts the freedoms of Texans and goes against the spirit of the state. We followed every rule, food grade standards, lab testing, licensing and more, and now we are being accused of targeting children, working with cartels, and being terrorists, said John Elmore, a hemp farmer in Texas. As a Texan, I never expected this level of misdirection from people we were supposed to trust. Some hemp advocates resigned themselves to the prospect of another ugly fight this special session. I am not here with any naivety. I know I am not going to change your minds, said Zach Crow, an attorney who represents businesses operating in hemp and cannabis markets. But marijuana and cannabis are not the boogieman you are making it out to be. My clients dont sell THC to children, period, and we would like to see those people in jail. 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. Washington Todd Blanche, the second-highest ranking official at the Justice Department, said Tuesday that he plans to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell "in the coming days" about the case involving convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "Justice demands courage. For the first time, the Department of Justice is reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell to ask: what do you know?" Blanche wrote on social media. He added that he contacted Maxwell's lawyers at the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi. "I intend to meet with her soon. No one is above the law and no lead is off-limits," Blanche wrote. On Capitol Hill, a subcommittee of the House Oversight and Reform Committee approved a motion from GOP Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee that directs the committee's chairman to subpoena Maxwell to appear for a deposition, a signal of lawmakers' interest in speaking to Epstein's former partner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blanche, who was President Trump's private defense attorney before joining the Justice Department, said that the department and the FBI continue to stand by a memo released earlier this month that concluded Epstein did not have a "client list" and confirmed that he died by suicide. The memo, which detailed the findings of a review of Epstein's case, also said there was no "credible evidence" that the disgraced financier blackmailed prominent people. The Justice Department and FBI also said they would not release any additional information about Epstein's case, and noted that the review did not uncover evidence that would prompt an investigation into uncharged third parties. "President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence," Blanche said in a second statement shared by Bondi. "If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say." The deputy attorney general said the Justice Department in prior administrations had not asked about her willingness to meet with the government, and he anticipates "meeting with Ms. Maxwell in the coming days." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Oscar Markus, Maxwell's lawyer, said in a statement, "I can confirm that we are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case." Mr. Trump told reporters that he did not know about Blanche's bid to speak with Maxwell but said it "sounds appropriate to do." "It's sort of a witch hunt," he said in the Oval Office. "Just a continuation of the witch hunt." Maxwell was an associate of Epstein's and convicted in 2021 for her role in helping Epstein recruit, groom and abuse underage girls. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. Her lawyers have asked the Supreme Court to take up an appeal of her conviction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blanche's outreach to Maxwell's lawyers comes after the Justice Department asked a federal court in New York on Friday to unseal transcripts from grand jury proceedings involving Epstein. He was indicted in 2019 on one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. Federal prosecutors alleged that Epstein sexually exploited and abused dozens of underage girls from 2002 through 2005, and worked with others who set up sexual encounters with victims at Epstein's residences in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida. He died by suicide while in federal custody before his trial. Epstein had been arrested in Florida in 2006 and pleaded guilty to two state prostitution charges in 2008. In addition to asking the court to release the grand jury transcripts related to Epstein's indictment, the Justice Department also asked it to make public grand jury transcripts associated with Maxwell's case. U.S. District Judges Paul Engelmayer and Richard Berman, who are handling Maxwell and Epstein's cases, respectively, each ordered the Justice Department to submit additional filings to the court about its request to unseal the grand jury records. The judges gave the defendants in Epstein's case, his representative and victims until Aug. 5 to lay out their positions on the proposed disclosure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether the transcripts become public will be up to the judges overseeing the cases, though the records will likely be heavily redacted to shield information related to victims. If the Justice Department's requests are granted by the court, the material is unlikely to be available immediately, and it could be weeks or months before it is unsealed. Federal rules typically require matters before a grand jury to be kept secret. The president and his administration have been dealing with backlash from Mr. Trump's allies that arose after the Justice Department released the memo about Epstein. Some top administration officials, such as Vice President JD Vance and FBI Director Kash Patel, suggested before Mr. Trump's reelection that Democrats were deliberately concealing information about Epstein and his purported list of clients. But now, with the Justice Department under Mr. Trump's control, some of his allies are skeptical of its claim that there is nothing left to disclose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Trump has tried to downplay the focus on Epstein and lashed out at some of his supporters, calling them "weaklings" who have been fooled by Democrats. He referred to claims about Epstein as the "Jeffrey Epstein Hoax." Epstein and Mr. Trump moved in the same social circles in New York and Florida from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. They were friends for years, until they had a falling out around 2004. Mr. Trump has previously acknowledged he crossed paths with Epstein in Palm Beach, but said in 2019 following Epstein's arrest that they haven't spoken in 15 years. Last week, the president lashed out at a story in the Wall Street Journal that chronicled the pair's relationship, which the president has said ended before Epstein's first arrest in 2006. The Journal reported that Mr. Trump had signed a "bawdy" letter to Epstein in the early 2000s to mark his 50th birthday that said, in part, "may every day be another wonderful secret." CBS News has not independently seen or verified the letter. Mr. Trump called the letter "fake" and filed a defamation lawsuit against the Journal's publisher, parent company News Corporation, its leader Rupert Murdoch and the reporters who wrote the Epstein story. Mr. Trump is seeking at least $20 billion in damages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump reacts to DOJ reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer on Jeffrey Epstein files Ozzy Osbourne, heavy metal pioneer, dies at age 76 Judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia's release, 2nd judge limits ICE from immediately detaining him Sanctuary cities such as New York City and Los Angeles, which have long been a target of President Donald Trump for not adhering to his immigration enforcement policies, are now expected to face greater scrutiny from the federal government after a recent violent shooting. On Saturday night, a 42-year-old off-duty Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer was shot near Riverside Park in New York City, per CBS News. At a press conference on Sunday, Democratic Mayor Eric Adams and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the officer, who is now in recovery, was sitting on the rocks with a friend in the park when two men on a moped approached them. Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, a 21-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic, whom the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says was detained at the border for entering the U.S. illegally in 2023 but was subsequently released, allegedly dismounted the moped and approached the officer from behind while displaying a firearm. At this point, the officer "realized he was being robbed and drew his service weapon in defense," said Tisch, who cited CCTV footage in her statement. "The perp fired first, and an exchange of gunfire followed." The officer was then hit in the forearm and face, while Mora, who was injured in his leg and groin, reportedly fled the scene on the moped along with the driver. He was apprehended Sunday at a Bronx hospital following surgery for his wounds. Mora was wanted for a robbery and stabbing in New York, and had prior arrests for assault and violating a protective order, plus a Massachusetts extradition warrant for kidnapping, according to CBS News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even though Tisch stated the New York Police Department has "no indication that the officer was targeted for his employment," the incident has galvanized the Trump administration to continue its crackdown on sanctuary cities in the United States. "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," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said on Monday. While accusing Democrats of culpability in the attack, Noem managed a cry for help, urging "every single mayor, and sanctuary city, and sanctuary governor to change their policies and to change their tactics right now." Noem also claimed that a second suspect was in custody, but provided no details. Border czar Tom Homan, a vocal critic of sanctuary cities, on Monday called them "sanctuaries for criminals." "We're going to flood the zone," Homan said. "Sanctuary cities get exactly what they don't want: more agents in the community and more agents in the worksite." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the second Trump administration, "flooding the zone" has led to the arrest of innocent civilians, racial profiling, and enhanced surveillance of Americans by law enforcement. In June, Los Angeles residents protested enhanced immigration enforcement in the city, leading to riots and the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard members and 700 Marines by Trump as a response. On Tuesday, Sen. Jeff Merkley (DOre.) and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (DOre.) introduced bills in the Senate and House, respectively, to block further deployments of the National Guard and require law enforcement officials to identify themselves during operations. The evidence on sanctuary cities runs counter to the Trump administration's claims about criminality. A 2017 study by the University of New Mexico found "no correlation between a sanctuary city and crime." Some research has linked sanctuary practices to a decrease in both property and violent crime over time because they integrate immigrants into society. Despite this, the Trump administration appears ready to "flood the zone" of sanctuary cities, which will likely come at the cost of due process and constitutional protections for immigrants and citizens alike. The post Tom Homan's Plan To 'Flood the Zone' in Sanctuary Cities Will Lead to More Due Process Violations appeared first on Reason.com. By Utkarsh Shetti and Mike Stone (Reuters) -RTX cut its 2025 profit forecast on Tuesday as the aerospace and defense giant took a hit from U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war despite strong demand for its engines and aftermarket services. Shares of the company were down 2.7% by 10:25 a.m. EDT (1425 GMT). Trump's imposition of tariffs on imports of aluminum and steel has shrouded the markets with uncertainty, threatening to add pressure on an already-strained supply chain. "We have not seen any major impact on our demand signals," RTX Chief Financial Officer Neil Mitchill said in an interview. "But ultimately over the long term, we do expect to see some pressure on pricing and other costs in businesses as we look to recoup this headwind." RTX had warned of an $850 million hit from the trade war, based on an assumption that steel and aluminum tariffs would remain at 25%, China tariffs at 145% and global reciprocal tariffs at 10%. Since then, levies on steel and aluminum have doubled to 50% and Trump has unveiled new tariffs on most trading partners, but those on China have significantly reduced. Mitchill said the company now believes that tariff costs, net of mitigation efforts, will be around $500 million in 2025 alone, and about $125 million of that has already been incurred. The company now expects adjusted profit between $5.80 and $5.95 per share for 2025, down from its prior forecast of $6.00 and $6.15 per share. Maintenance and repair service providers for commercial aircraft have banked on a shortage of new jets, as production delays force airlines to operate an older, cost-intensive fleet. Demand in its defense business has remained strong in the face of growing geopolitical tensions around the world. RTX's Patriot air defense systems have been widely used on the battlefield in Ukraine to counter missile threats from Russia. Raytheon, RTX's defense unit, reported sales that rose 8% to $7 billion in the second quarter. RTX has enjoyed strong demand in all its business segments, particularly as it sees an increased appetite for new commercial jet engines and maintenance work on existing ones, leading it to raise its adjusted 2025 sales forecast. It now expects between $84.75 and $85.5 billion in 2025, from its previous forecast of $83 billion to $84 billion. The company said its focus is now on ramping production and capacity. RTX's Pratt and Whitney unit, which produces engines for Airbus' A320neo jets and competes with CFM International, saw sales rise 12%. Pratt has struggled with output problems in recent years and is in the middle of an inspection drive for potentially flawed components in its geared turbofan engines that have grounded hundreds of planes in recent months. ST. LOUIS The Missouri woman at the center of high-profile legal battles and controversies over exotic animal ownership, specifically chimpanzees, appeared in federal court on Tuesday, where it was learned she was hiding another chimp at her home. FOX 2 News has learned that authorities found the chimpanzee in the basement of her Sunrise Beach, Missouri, home, which she shares with husband Jerry Aswegan. The chimp was not registered. Haddix is not allowed to keep chimpanzees anymore as part of her bond conditions from prior cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haddix told the court she was not feeling well after an episode that sent her to the hospital in Camden County. She said she was arrested in the hospital and felt well enough to sit through the hearing. She remained silent other than the explanation about her health. She was shackled at her hands and feet. Haddix will be back in court on Thursday afternoon for a bond revocation hearing. U.S. Marshals arrested Haddix, 55, on Saturday afternoon after a St. Louis County Circuit Court judge issued an arrest warrant, instructing law enforcement to detain Haddix and Aswegan for allegedly ducking financial sanctions levied against them. After being held by the Camden County Sheriffs Office, Haddix was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aswegan is still expected to be taken into custody at some point. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News In 2024, a federal court ordered Tonia Haddix and Jerry Aswegan to pay more than $220,000 in attorneys fees and costs to PETA last year to end a lawsuit. Haddix and Aswegan gained national notoriety as the focus of the HBO docuseries Chimp Crazy, which explored Haddixs actions and broader issues related to the private ownership of exotic animals. The docuseries is based on original reporting from FOX Files investigator Chris Hayes. Over the years, Haddix cared for the seven chimpanzees and bred them as talent for films and photoshoots, among other activities. These chimpanzees previously inhabited the Missouri Primate Foundation, a now-defunct animal breeding facility near Festus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haddixs attachment to one chimpanzee, Tonka, sparked national attention in 2021. Tonka is a former animal movie star, appearing in films like the 1997 comedy Buddy. At some point, Haddix claimed that Tonka had died when she instead had him locked in her basement. Animal advocacy groups like PETA said the many chimpanzees once under her care were unsafe and neglected. In 2020, Haddix and PETA came to terms as part of a consent decree, allowing Haddix to keep three of seven chimps in her care. Haddix later balked at the agreement, prompting a federal raid of her Festus animal facility in July 2021. Six chimpsnot including Tonkawere removed and transferred to a Florida animal sanctuary. At the time, Haddix claimed Tonka was dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But nearly one whole year later, Tonka was found caged in Haddixs basement in her Lake of the Ozarks-area home. That discovery prompted a new lawsuit from PETA, which contended that Haddix and her husband concocted an elaborate hoax when claiming Tonka had died, lied under oath about text messages she sent about Tonka at a time she previously deemed the chimp dead and tried to bribe federal marshals ordered to prevent Haddix from euthanizing Tonka. That lawsuit was supposedly settled in 2024, with Haddix and Aswego agreeing to a six-figure payout. However, PETA alleges the pair have failed to make any payments as part of the settlement and have not shared financial records. The St. Louis County judges court order, filed July 17, said Haddix and Aswego have failed to appear at multiple scheduled court hearings. The judge scheduled a show cause hearing for Aug. 5 to provide an update on the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Tonka now resides at the Save The Chimps sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. A legislative audit of the Tooele County School District paints an unsavory picture of the district, highlighted by poor student achievement, low employee morale and inadequate accountability. The audit, released last month, found the school district which comprises 27 schools and over 15,000 students performed below state targets and the performance of peer districts of comparable size in most standardized state tests and graduation rates in 2024. Auditors say this, along with the personnel-related findings, has led to inefficiencies and noncompliance in the education of Tooele County students. Poor student achievement HB1 established state assessment performance targets for all major student assessments and was passed during the 2024 legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state target for the Acadience assessment, an assessment for grades K3, is set at 60% of students should be typical or better, the audit states. However, the inspection found Tooele County School District performed below its peer districts in literacy, and below most of its peer districts in numeracy. Additionally, the district performed significantly below state targets and peer districts in the Readiness Improvement Success Empowerment, or RISE, assessment. RISE is a state test administered to all Utah students in grades 3-8 in English language arts and math, and grades 4-8 in science. As for the ACT, the state set a target for 74% of students testing above a score of 18. Tooele County School District performed below the state average of 61% of students testing above a score of 18, coming in at 56%. The district is also below the state target graduation rate of 92.1%, with a 79% graduation rate. Regardless of assessment type, subject or grade, (Tooele County School District) students are generally performing lower than the state targets and peer districts, and have done so since 2019, the audit concludes. (The district) needs to prioritize student achievement and take strategic steps to improve the districts quality of education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But whats causing the district to perform below state targets and peer districts? According to the audit team, the district has not previously held teachers accountable to a high standard of instruction. Nevertheless, the audit explained the district is currently implementing initiatives that should have a positive impact on student achievement. More specifically, the audit recommended that the district create an assistant superintendent position devoted to academics, taking ownership of student performance goals and data. This individual should have authority to oversee and implement academic initiatives and report directly to the superintendent and district school board. District culture In addition to the need to improve student achievement, the audit also found that the district has a combined problem of policy noncompliance and low morale among its employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A review of all 2024 Board (of Education) meetings and work sessions found that the board rarely engages in discussions about district strategic goals or student achievement. The lack of meaningful dialogue during public meetings suggests the board has not intentionally prioritized strategic planning and student achievement, the audit states. The audit also says low morale among employees can affect policy compliance. A culture survey of Tooele district employees found that less than 50% believed morale was high in the district. At the school level, district employees agreed to having high morale at a rate 15% less than those in other previously surveyed Utah school districts. School district culture is essential for overall improvement, and a culture of trust is necessary for a district to thrive. A successful school board should model and set clear expectations that address tone, morale and overall culture, the audit states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Auditors also identified policy violations in human resources decisions, particularly in the hiring realm. Reviewing a random sample of 100 job positions filled between 2019 and 2024, they found that 25 had completed applications in accourdance with policy requirements, while 75 had incomplete applications. The incomplete applications were missing documentation or verification of minimum qualifications for the specific job posting. Incomplete applications typically lacked proof of high school graduation or an equivalent diploma, food handlers permits and higher education degree transcripts. This is concerning because the district may not fully verify an applicants qualifications before hiring, as policy dictates, the audit reads. While the human resources department can improve, it is the board who is responsible for creating policy and the superintendent for ensuring consistent implementation. District response Before the audit was released to the public, the Tooele County School District released a statement addressing the findings. We welcomed the opportunity for an external review of the Tooele County School District and embraced this audit with full cooperation, transparency and humility. We are committed to continuous learning and improvement to ensure the Tooele County School District students have the knowledge, skills and dispositions they need to achieve their potential, reads a letter from the district. We agree with the recommendations presented by the audit team and commit to implementing them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for the establishment of an assistant superintendent devoted to academics, the district said it will discuss and decide on the position no later than the Sept. 9 board meeting. The full audit can be read in its entirety at olag.utleg.gov/audits.jsp, and the districts complete letter of response to the audit here. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) Two lanes of Highway 17 North in Myrtle Beach have cleared after a crash near the Coastal Grand Mall, according to the South Carolina Department of Transportation. The crash was in the area of Pine Island and Piedmont Road. An SCDOT traffic camera showed multiple emergency vehicles and heavy traffic in the area. * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, 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. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) The National Weather Service in Charleston met Tuesday with government officials from Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties to ensure the public knows what to expect if a flash flood warning is issued for their area. It comes as the National Weather Service implements a change in its flash flood warning criteria, noting that the public can expect to see fewer flood advisories and more base flash flood warnings. The goal is to lower the threshold for what the NWS considers a flash flood warning, and for the alerts to be more impact-based. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current base flash flood warning criteria, that does not activate the wireless emergency alert, that is for whether cars are stalled on roads, if roads are impassable due to flooding, said Brian Haines, Meteorologist in Charge with the National Weather Service Charleston. Before that was our flood advisory criteria, so now, were making that our flash flood base criteria. Tri-county emergency management directors said theyre keeping up with the changes and are ready to alert residents of any dangers. When these triggers are met under these new criteria, we are able to amplify their messages and provide the public with protective actions if they need to take actions to keep themselves safe, said Justin Pierce, Director of Emergency Management for Charleston County. The base warnings will activate the emergency alert system and tone alerts that are broadcast over the TV, radio, and NOAA weather radios. It will broadcast the message to more people than the previous flood advisory would have warranted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre watching the Weather Channel, per se, and youll see that scroll at the bottom. Watching one of your news stations, youll see that scroll at the bottom, said Haines. For the flood advisory, you may not have seen that scroll at the bottom; it didnt activate EAS. The changes are being made to match the rest of the criteria that the eastern region sets for its flash flood warnings. This way, visitors to Charleston are aware of what level of threat theyre facing. Warnings for considerable and catastrophic threats will not be changed and will still be sent directly to phones. Theres no learning curve for you if youre a tourist. You can come in and say if my phone is going off, I know that equates to this level of flash flooding. If I get a scroll and an EAS that equates to this level of flash flooding, said Haines. The changes go into effect on August 1st. 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. The Trump administration has awarded a Virginia-based defense contractor a $1.26 billion contract to build a 5,000-bed immigration detention center in El Paso, Texas, reports Bloomberg. The newestand biggestfacility will be located at the 1 million-acre Fort Bliss Army base, equipped with tents for detention infrastructure and an airport to serve as a deportation hub. President Donald Trump has grappled with limited detention space holding back his mass deportation plans since January. As of late June, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) held a record-high 57,861 detainees. With only 41,500 beds officially allocated by Congress, the spike in numbers has already led to overcrowded conditions at many federal detention facilities. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Trump signed into law in July, seeks to alleviate this bottleneck by appropriating $45 billion to increase detention capacity to 100,000 beds by the end of the yearmore than doubling the current number of beds available. Now, the Trump administration is focusing on providing detention tents, or "hardened soft-sided facilities," according to documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, to speed up expansion. Documents show that ICE is prioritizing nine projects in other locations including Colorado, Indiana, and New Jersey to add more than 9,000 detention beds. The Fort Bliss detention center in El Paso, Texas, is listed as the highest priority project, with plans to be operational by August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But relying on tents likely means eschewing federal detention standards designed to ensure facilities are safe and humane. "All the reasons why you and I live not in tents but in homes are going to inevitably come up in a facility that doesn't offer people walls and floors and insulation," Emma Wagner, deputy legal director at the American Immigration Council, told Bloomberg. Basic needs, like medical facilities and safe food to eat, are harder to meet with tents. "It's very hard to imagine how soft-sided facilities could satisfy even the low detention standards that are reflected in ICE's most recent standards," Wagner continued. Alligator Alcatraz, located in Florida's Everglades, similarly relies on "hardened soft-sided facilities." After only eight days of construction, the facility began accepting immigrant detainees on July 2. Soon after, the detainees reported worms in the food, oppressive heat, and flooding issues. Two weeks after opening, the facility was sued in the Southern District of Florida for subjecting detainees to inhumane conditions and denying them access to their attorneys. Detainees at other rushed immigration detention centers, like the upcoming Fort Bliss facility, are likely to meet a similar fate. The post Trump Administration Plans To Spend $1.26 Billion on an Immigrant Detention Center in Texas appeared first on Reason.com. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President Donald Trump announced a new trade deal with the Philippines on Tuesday after meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House. However, dozens of other countries are facing new tariffs starting August 1st. Ahead of their closed-door talks President Trump had planned to impose a 20% tariff on Filipino goods but teased that negotiations were going well. Were going to talk about trade today. And were very close to finishing a trade deal, big trade deal actually, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After that meeting the president announced on Truth Social that they did reach a deal, saying the Philippines will open their market to U.S. goods with no tariffs and the Philippines will pay a 19% tariff. However, the U.S. has not reached trade deals with dozens of other countries, including some of our top trading partners. President Trump is still threatening a 35% tariff on Canada and 30% tariffs on Mexico and the European Union starting August 1st. Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warns that will have real consequences for American consumers. The reckless Trump tariffs. Which are going to increase costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars a year, Jeffries said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House says the administration is actively negotiating other trade deals and is promising more announcements soon. The trade team and the president himself continue to be very engaged with countries around the world when it comes to our trade agreements. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed head of the Federal Communications Commission, gloated Tuesday morning over the abrupt cancellation of Stephen Colberts late-night CBS show and gleefully mocked critics of the move. The partisan lefts ritualist wailing and gnashing of teeth over Colbert is quite revealing, Carr tweeted. Theyre acting like theyre losing a loyal DNC spokesperson that was entitled to an exemption from the laws of economics. Carrs post came the morning after Colbert fired back at Donald Trump for celebrating that the comedian got fired, telling the president to go f*** yourself during a blistering monologue that also saw the host promise that the gloves would be off over his final 10 months on air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On top of that, Carrs mockery of Colbert and his defenders comes just days after the FCC chairman met with David Ellison, the CEO of Skydance Media and the son of pro-Trump billionaire Larry Ellison. According to a regulatory filing, Ellison urged Carr to finalize Skydances $8.4 billion merger with Paramount, the parent company of CBS that recently settled a meritless lawsuit with Trump over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris. The FCC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Carrs tweet. Brendan Carr, the chairman of the FCC, mocked critics of CBS decision to cancel Stephen Colberts show mere days after meeting with David Ellison about the upcoming Paramount merger. (AFP via Getty Images) The meeting between Carr, Ellison and Ellisons legal team took place two days before CBS announced that it was canceling Colberts show, which Paramount executives claimed was purely a financial decision due to the programs hefty production costs and the dwindling ad revenues for late-night programming on linear television. Asking Carr to promptly grant Paramounts request to transfer control of its broadcast licenses to Skydance while highlighting the public interest benefits of the merger, Ellisons team promised the FCC that CBS would be unbiased under the new corporate leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [W]e explained the Ellison family and RedBird represent fresh leadership with the vision and experience needed to drive New Paramounts long-term growth in the face of the challenges presented by todays media landscape, all while preserving and enhancing the legacy and broad reach of both the national CBS television network and the companys 28 owned-and-operated local television stations, Ellisons attorney wrote in the filing. Relatedly, we discussed Skydance's commitment to unbiased journalism and its embrace of diverse viewpoints, principles that will ensure CBS's editorial decision-making reflects the varied ideological perspectives of American viewers, the lawyer added. While it has been recently reported that Colberts show was losing as much as $40 million annually despite being the top-rated show in its time slot, prompting Colbert himself to call out his own network Monday night for leaking the data to justify the cancellation, CBS has been accused of appeasing the Trump administration with the politically motivated move. Especially since Colbert not only has long been critical of Trump, but has also repeatedly blasted Paramounts decision to settle its lawsuit, likening it to bribery in order to grease the wheels of the merger. The Writers Guild of America, which represents the writing staff of The Late Show, said it is concerned that the cancellation is a bribe, sacrificing free speech to curry favor with the Trump Administration as the company looks for merger approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CBS staffers also arent buying the companys claims that Colberts show was canceled due to financial reasons. Many of us think this was part and parcel of the Trump shakedown settlement, one network employee told The Independent. A defiant Stephen Colbert hosts The Late Show on Monday July 21 2025 days after its axing was announced (The Late Show/CBS) Meanwhile, several Democratic lawmakers who are already alleging the network is placating Trump with the cancellation have also pressed Ellison about the presidents claim that they reached a side deal on the lawsuit settlement. Trump has asserted that, besides the $16 million Paramount agreed to pay, Ellison promised as much as $19 million in pro-Trump advertisements on CBS once the merger is complete. During Colberts broadcast on Monday night, several other late-night show hosts and celebrities appeared to show support for the CBS star, including The Daily Shows Jon Stewart, who is also rumored to possibly face cancellation amid the merger. In his own passionate and profane monologue on Monday night, Stewart defended his longtime friend while acknowledging that he could soon be on the chopping block himself. At the same time, he called out Paramount for being fearful of Trump and his anti-media crusade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And if you believe as corporations or as networks, you can make yourselves so innocuous that you can serve a gruel so flavourless that you will never again be on the boy king's radar, Stewart proclaimed. Why will anyone watch you? And you are f***ing wrong. Carr, who serves as Trumps own personal attack dog against the legacy media, has long been a fierce critic of the mainstream press and has opened or threatened several investigations into media companies over their news coverage. Earlier this spring, Carr said all options remain on the table in his agency's ongoing news distortion probe of CBS News over the 60 Minutes interview behind the presidents lawsuit. Months later, Paramount would reach its settlement with the president. Meanwhile, Carrs tweet prompted centrist pundit Matthew Yglesias to note that the FCC chief should clear the air over whether The Late Shows cancellation is playing a factor in his decision to approve the Paramount-Skydance deal. I think the fact that its been widely reported in the business press that Paramount believes settling lawsuits with Trump is key to winning merger approval from your agency is influencing some peoples understanding of the Colbert situation, Yglesias wrote, leading Carr to react with a wind blowing face emoji. President Donald Trump marked the 81st anniversary of Guams liberation from Japanese occupation with a message honoring the American forces who reclaimed the Pacific territory on July 21, 1944. The Presidential statement emphasized Americas continued commitment to defending its territories and interests through military strength. As Imperial Japanese forces tried to hold their ground, they struggled to withstand the full might of the U.S. Armed Forces, Trump said in his White House message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The battle for Guam lasted three weeks across challenging terrain. American forces fought through jungles, caves, and rugged hills to regain control of the strategically vital island. The victory positioned U.S. forces within striking distance of ending the war in the Pacific. The liberation came at a steep cost. More than 1,200 service members and over 1,000 Guam residents died during the campaign. Trump characterized the 1944 victory as a bold reassertion of American sovereignty at a time when our future and our freedom were in peril. Under my leadership, the United States remains committed to upholding a foreign policy of peace through strength, the president stated. He pledged that America would never waver in defending our interests, our citizens, our territory, and our glorious way of life from all enemies, foreign and domestic. The liberation ended nearly three years of Japanese occupation that began December 10, 1941. Guam served as a crucial base for subsequent American operations in the Pacific theater. President Donald Trump claimed that Skydance Media, once its deal to merge with Paramount Global is approved, is expected to contribute $20 million in advertising, public service announcements or similar programming, as part of a side deal alongside Paramounts $16 million payment to settle his lawsuit accusing 60 Minutes of deceptive editing. Sources familiar with the situation said Skydance does not have any side deal with Trump under which it would grant free advertising to the president. (Skydance declined to comment.) Paramount has said that its settlement with Trump under which it paid $16 million, most of which will go to his future presidential library does not include PSAs or anything related to PSAs. Paramount has no knowledge of any promises or commitments made to President Trump other than those set forth in the settlement proposed by the mediator and accepted by the parties. The statement from Trumps legal team about the Paramount settlement issued July 1 did not include any references to advertising or PSAs as part of the agreement. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Trump now claims the settlement over his 60 Minutes lawsuit is worth over $36 million in total. Earlier this month, he told reporters that the settlement was worth like $32 [million] to maybe $35 million. A New York Post report published July 2 claimed that Skydance CEO David Ellison had agreed to a secret side deal with Trump agreeing to provide an additional $15 million-$20 million worth of ads that support conservative causes supported by President Trump. Trump, Paramount and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr have each claimed the 60 Minutes settlement is unrelated to the administrations approval of Skydances pending $8 billion takeover of Paramount. On Tuesday, lawyers for Paramount and Trump officially entered a joint stipulation of dismissal of Trumps lawsuit with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The settlement agreement does not include a statement of apology or regret, per Paramount. SEE ALSO: Skydance CEO David Ellison Pledged to FCC He Would Ensure CBS News Coverage Reflects Varied Ideological Perspectives Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, regarding Trumps claim he is getting an extra $20 million in advertising from Skydance, said in a post on X, This reeks of corruption. She previously characterized the Paramount/CBS settlement with Trump as bribery and called for an investigation into whether or not any anti-bribery laws were broken. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Warren and Sens. Bernie Sanders and Ron Wyden sent a letter to Skydances Ellison, asking whether Skydance and Trump had a secret side deal apart from the Paramount settlement and whether Skydance had anything to do with CBSs cancelation of The Late Shaw With Stephen Colbert. Are we still supposed to believe that canceling Colberts show on CBS was purely a financial decision? she said Tuesday. Heres Trumps full comment, posted on Truth Social Tuesday: BREAKING NEWS! We have just achieved a BIG AND IMPORTANT WIN in our Historic Lawsuit against 60 Minutes, CBS, and Paramount. Just like ABC and George Slopadopoulos, CBS and its Corporate Owners knew that they defrauded the American People, and were desperate to settle. Paramount/CBS/60 Minutes have today paid $16 Million Dollars in settlement, and we also anticipate receiving $20 Million Dollars more from the new Owners, in Advertising, PSAs, or similar Programming, for a total of over $36 Million Dollars. This is another in a long line of VICTORIES over the Fake News Media, who we are holding to account for their widespread fraud and deceit. The Wall Street Journal, The Failing New York Times, The Washington Post, MSDNC, CNN, and all other Mainstream Media Liars, are ON NOTICE that the days of them being allowed to deceive the American People are OVER. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Russian exports of precious metals including gold and silver to China have significantly increased in the first half of the year, with an 80% jump to $1bn compared to the same period last year, reported Bloomberg, citing data from Trade Data Monitor. This surge is attributed to record gold prices, which have risen by around 28% this year, driven by various global economic factors. These factors reportedly include heightened geopolitical risks, trade tensions, and robust buying from central banks and exchange-traded funds. As the world's second-largest gold producer, Russia's annual output exceeds 300 tonnes (t). However, since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has been excluded from Western trading hubs such as London and New York. This has left China as one of the few major markets available for Russian precious metals. Despite the Bank of Russia halting large-scale gold purchases, domestic retail demand within Russia has surged, reaching a record high in 2024. Russian citizens have increasingly turned to precious metals as a means to protect their savings amidst economic uncertainty. Russian palladium and platinum producer MMC Norilsk Nickel has responded to the market conditions by increasing its exports to China this year. The prices for these metals have risen significantly, with palladium and platinum prices increasing by 38% and 59%, respectively, this year. In the first half of 2025, Norilsk Nickel reported that the production of palladium and platinum reached 1.3 million ounces, a 5% decrease year-on-year, and 335,000oz, a 6% decrease year-on-year, respectively. All platinum group metals were sourced from the company's own Russian feedstock. "Russian precious metals exports to China surge in H1 2025" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. President Donald Trump says he is facing a witch hunt amid mounting pressure for him to order the release of secret Epstein files. Its sort of a witch hunt, just a continuation of a witch hunt, the president said from the Oval Office on Tuesday. The comments followed a request from the Department of Justice (DoJ) to interview Ghislaine Maxwell in prison over what information she holds on Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In what is shaping up to be the biggest crisis of his presidency, Mr Trumps refusal to release all the information the US government holds on the case has infuriated even some of his most loyal supporters. The president sought to distract from the furore by accusing Barack Obama of treason for his alleged attempts to undermine Mr Trumps first election victory. The witch hunt you should be talking about is that they caught President [Barack] Obama absolutely cold. Whether its right or wrong, its time to go after people. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year jail sentence for sex trafficking Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year jail sentence for sex trafficking, has the potential to incriminate some powerful individuals who were linked to the paedophile financier, including political opponents of Mr Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her legal team is likely to leverage her co-operation for a reduced prison sentence. Responding to the DoJs efforts to interview Maxwell, Mr Trump said: Yeah, I dont know about it, but I think its something that would be.. sounds appropriate to do. He continued: I dont really follow that too much. David Oscar Markus, Maxwells lawyer, confirmed the Trump administration had made contact with him, adding: Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. Alan Dershowitz, Epsteins former lawyer, described Maxwell as the Rosetta Stone of the Epstein debacle. She knows everything. She is the Rosetta Stone... She arranged every single trip with everybody, he told Fox News on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Dershowitz suggested Maxwell should be given legal immunity in exchange for talking freely before Congress. Trump officials are expected to meet with Maxwell in the coming days - New York Daily News Archive The FBI and the DoJ recently concluded that Epstein did not have a client list and died by suicide in a Manhattan prison cell in 2019. Conspiracy theorists, including many Trump voters, believe that Epstein was killed to prevent supposed information about high-profile clients involved with the financier being made public. Speaker Mike Johnson said he would shut the House down early for August recess on Tuesday, closing the session after a vote on Wednesday. On Monday, he quashed a vote which could have pressured Mr Trump to release Epstein files. However, Republicans moved to force Maxwell to testify in front of the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House oversight and government reform committee advanced a motion filed by Tim Burchett, a Tennessee representative, seeking approval to subpoena Maxwell. Speaking from the White House on Tuesday, Mr Trump lashed out at the WSJ for publishing details of his alleged birthday note to Epstein, calling it a terrible paper. Mr Trump added he was suing them for a lot of money. On Friday, the president filed a $10bn (7.4bn) defamation suit against the newspaper, the two reporters who wrote the story and Rupert Murdoch, the newspapers owner. Mr Trump claimed the letter, which is said to have included a drawing of a naked woman and the message: we have certain things in common was fake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trumps relationship with Maxwell stretches back decades. He was pictured with Maxwell and her paedophile financier boyfriend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in 2000. Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell together in 2000 - Davidoff Studios Photography In 2020, while Maxwell was awaiting trial on federal sex crimes for her role in Epsteins sex trafficking crimes, Mr Trump said he wished her well. Asked whether he expected her to go public with the names of the men who have been accused in lawsuits of taking part in Epsteins sex-trafficking crimes, Mr Trump said: I dont know... I havent really been following it too much. I just wish her well, frankly. Ive met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach, and I guess they lived in Palm Beach. But I wish her well, whatever it is, Mr Trump added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An appeal put forward by Maxwells lawyers was rejected last year. Maxwells appeal focused largely on a 2007 non-prosecution agreement made between Epstein and federal prosecutors in southern Florida, which she said barred her from being prosecuted in Manhattan 13 years later. Her lawyer argued that the wording of the agreement signalled the governments intent to bar prosecutions nationwide of potential co-conspirators, including, but not limited to, four of Epsteins assistants. Earlier in July, the Trump administration urged the Supreme Court to reject another appeal by Maxwells lawyers. D John Sauer, the US solicitor-general, said the argument relating to the 2007 non-prosecution agreement was unlikely to succeed in any appeals court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Mr Obama said in a statement: Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction. Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes. These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate intelligence committee, led by then-chairman Marco Rubio. 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. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is seen at an Oval Office meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 22, 2025. Credit - Yuri Gripas AbacaBloomberg via Getty Images The Trump Administration announced on Tuesday that the United States will once again withdraw from UNESCO, the United Nations cultural agency that preserves World Heritage sites and promotes international cooperation in education, science, and culture. The decision to pull U.S. funding and participation from UNESCOwhich stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizationwas expected, given that the Trump Administration has already cut ties with several other international bodies, including the World Health Organization and the U.N. Human Rights Council, and has withdrawn from global agreements such as the Paris climate accord. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump had also pulled out of UNESCO in his first term, arguing that U.S. involvement was not in the national interest and that the agency promoted anti-Israel speech. The Biden Administration rejoined the agency in 2023, citing concerns that the U.S. absence had allowed China and other strategic competitors to gain influence over global standards set by the agency. Read more: How the National Park System Is Faring Under the Trump Administration The U.S. withdrawal will take effect at the end of 2026, and is expected to deal a significant financial and symbolic blow to the Paris-based agency that relies on contributions from member states to support initiatives ranging from heritage site preservation and Holocaust education to setting standards for artificial intelligence and technology education. Heres what to know about UNESCO, the reasons for withdrawal, and what it means for the world heritage sites. Why is the U.S. leaving UNESCO? State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement that the decision to withdraw from UNESCO was based on the agencys perceived support for divisive social and cultural causes, claiming that its focus on the UNs Sustainable Development Goals is part of a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added that UNESCOs decision in 2011 to admit the State of Palestine as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization. The Trump Administration has previously criticized U.N. institutions for what it views as bias against Israel and a failure to align with U.S. values. The White House made a similar argument in 2018, when Trump first pulled the U.S. out of UNESCO. The U.S. has had a complicated relationship with UNESCO over the years. It was a founding member in 1945 but withdrew in 1984 under the Reagan Administration to protest alleged financial mismanagement and perceived anti-U.S. bias during the Cold War. The U.S. later rejoined in 2003 under the George W. Bush Administration, but stopped funding for the agency after it voted to include Palestine as a full member in 2011 under the Obama Administration. Five years after Trump withdrew from UNESCO in 2018, the Biden Administration rejoined the agency in 2023 and announced plans to pay over $600 million in back dues, arguing that the U.S. absence had allowed China to fill the gap left in UNESCO policymakingespecially in shaping global standards on technology, education, and artificial intelligence. What is UNESCO? UNESCO, which stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was founded after World War II to promote peace through international cooperation. Today, nearly 200 countries are members of UNESCO, along with 12 associate members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency is perhaps best known for preserving cultural heritage through its UNESCO World Heritage Sites program, which recognizes 1,248 historic landmarks in 170 countries for protection, including the Taj Mal, the pyramids of Giza, and the Notre Dame Cathedral. "World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located, UNESCOs website says. However, that declaration may be at odds with the Trump Administrations America First approach. In July, Trump signed an executive order increasing fees for foreign tourists visiting U.S. national parks, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. "The national parks will be about America first, Trump said at a recent rally. In addition to preserving cultural heritage, UNESCO says its mission is to set standards, produce tools and develop knowledge to create solutions to some of the greatest challenges of our time, and foster a world of greater equality and peace, according to its website. Protecting biodiversity, responding to artificial intelligence, advancing quality education, safeguarding heritage, and ensuring access to reliable information are some examples of the work that UNESCO does with its 194 Member States across the globe. UNESCO World Heritage sites in the U.S. There are 26 UNESCO World Heritage sites in the United States: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cultural sites: Natural sites: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mixed sites: How will the U.S. withdrawal affect UNESCO? The U.S. withdrawal is expected to have both financial and symbolic consequences. As one of UNESCOs largest contributors, the U.S. plays a critical role in funding its efforts. Without that support, the agency could be forced to scale back or restructure preservation initiatives. Past U.S. officials have also warned that stepping back could cede influence to strategic competitors, particularly in fast-developing areas like AI governance. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, said in a statement Tuesday that the agency deeply regrets the U.S. decision to withdraw but added that the announcement was anticipated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, we have undertaken major structural reforms and diversified our funding sources, she said. Thanks to the efforts made by the Organization since 2018, the decreasing trend in the financial contribution of the US has been offset, so that it now represents 8% of the Organization's total budget compared to 40% for some United Nations entities; while at the same time, UNESCOs overall budget has steadily increased. Azoulay also rejected accusations of an anti-Israel bias, claiming that the Trump Administrations claim contradicts the reality of UNESCOs efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism. The reasons put forward by the United States to withdraw from the Organization are the same as seven years ago even though the situation has changed profoundly, political tensions have receded, and UNESCO today constitutes a rare forum for consensus on concrete and action-oriented multilateralism, Azoulay said. Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump on Tuesday said a trip to China might be not too distant, raising prospects that the leaders of the world's two largest economies may meet soon to help reset relations after moving to climb down from a trade war. Donald Trump made the remarks while hosting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House, where he praised the fantastic military relationship with Manila as the U.S. looks to counter China's influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Yet, Trump still said the U.S. is getting along with China very well. We have a very good relationship." He added that Beijing has resumed shipping to the U.S. record numbers of much-needed rare earth magnets, which are used in iPhones and other high-tech products like electric vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Widely speculated about since Trump returned to the White House, a summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping would be expected to stabilize even for a short while a difficult relationship defined by mistrust and competition. Beijing believes a leader-level summit is necessary to steady U.S.-China relations and that Trump must be wooed because he has the final say on America's policy toward China, despite more hawkish voices in his Cabinet, observers say. The question, however, is when. Danny Russel, a distinguished fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said Trump has consistently shown his hunger for a visit to China and that Beijing has used that to bolster leverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As soon as the leadership in Beijing is satisfied that Trump will be on his best behavior and will accept terms for a deal that they think are favorable, they will give a green light to the visit, Russel said. Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Washington-based think tank Stimson Center, said a visit is in the making with two sides likely to strike a trade deal. What Trump said might mean the visit would not be in September but "potentially November, but still depends on whether they play ball on trade and other things we want," Sun said. Trump's campaign to impose tariffs on other countries kicked off a high-stake trade war with Beijing. China raised tariffs on U.S. goods to 125% in response to Trump's hiking the tax on Chinese goods to 145%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both sides also imposed on each other harsh trade restrictions on critical products: China on rare earths, and the U.S. on computing chips and jet engine technology. Trade tensions, however, eased following two rounds of high-level talks in Geneva and London, when the two sides agreed to lower tariffs pending a more permanent deal by mid-August and pull back on trade restrictions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday on Fox Business' Mornings with Maria that he will be meeting with his Chinese counterparts in Stockholm next week to work on what is likely an extension of the Aug. 12 deadline. I think trade is in a very good place with China," Bessent told host Maria Bartiromo. Hopefully, we can see the Chinese pull back on some of this glut of manufacturing that they're doing and concentrate on building a consumer economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he also expects to bring up China's purchases of Russian and Iranian oil and Beijing's role in aiding Moscow in its war against Ukraine. Beijing has not announced any travel plans for Vice Premier He Lifeng, who led trade negotiations in both Geneva and London on behalf of the Chinese government, but it is not unusual for China to make such announcements closer to a travel date. In a possible friendly gesture, Beijing on Tuesday said it suspended an antitrust investigation into chemical maker DuPonts operations in China. China's State Administration for Market Regulation made the announcement in a one-line statement but gave no explanation for the decision. DuPont said in a statement that it is pleased" with China's action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinese regulators launched the investigation in April against DuPont China Group, a subsidiary of the chemical giant, as part of Beijings broad, retaliatory response to Trumps sky-high tariffs. Beijing also has agreed to approve export permits for rare earth elements and rare earth magnets that U.S. manufacturers need to build cars, robots, wind turbines and other high-tech products. The U.S. has eased restrictions on some advanced chips and other technologies. ___ Associated Press writers Josh Boak and Fu Ting in Washington contributed to this report. Sources told The Jerusalem Post that Trump said that Iran was still welcome at the table, but that the US would not convince them to negotiate. US President Donald Trump has recently stated in private conversations that the United States has decided to stop trying to persuade Iran to engage in talks over its nuclear program. If they want to comethey are welcome. But we are not going to try and convince or beg them to do so, the president said in several discussions, according to two sources who spoke with The Jeursalem Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's remarks come after a prolonged effort by his administration to convince Tehran to hold negotiations, insisting that any deal must prohibit Iran from enriching uranium. A satellite view shows an overview of Fordow underground complex, after the U.S. struck the underground nuclear facility, near Qom, Iran June 22, 2025. (credit: Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS ) Iran refuses to give up uranium enrichment Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated Irans stance in an interview with Fox News, saying, We cannot give up our right to enrich uranium. He also noted that the attacks by Israel and the US had caused significant damage to Irans nuclear facilities. In response, President Trump posted on Truth Social: If necessarywe will strike the nuclear sites again. On Friday, a meeting is set to take place in Istanbul between Irans deputy foreign minister and the deputy foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany. European countries have warned Iran that if a new nuclear agreement is not reached by August, the UN Security Council will trigger the snapback mechanism, reimposing significant sanctions on Iran. The new US missile defense system will explore alternatives to Elon Musk's SpaceX, with Amazon.com's Project Kuiper among the main contenders. The Trump administration is expanding its search for partners to build the Golden Dome missile defense system, courting Amazon.com's Project Kuiper and big defense contractors as tensions with Elon Musk threaten SpaceX's dominance in the program, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The shift marks a strategic pivot away from reliance on Musk's SpaceX, whose Starlink and Starshield satellite networks have become central to US military communications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes amid a deteriorating relationship between Trump and Musk, which culminated in a public falling-out on June 5. Even before the spat, officials at the Pentagon and White House had begun exploring alternatives to SpaceX, wary of over-reliance on a single partner for huge portions of the ambitious, $175 billion space-based defense shield, two of the sources said. SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment. Responding to a post about the Reuters story on X, Musk wrote, "Federal acquisition regulations require using the best provider at the best price. Anything else would be breaking the law." Due to its size, track record of launching more than 9,000 of its own Starlink satellites, and experience in government procurement, SpaceX still has the inside track to assist with major portions of the Golden Dome, especially launch contracts, sources say. A fundamental key to the success of Israels air defense lies in the multilayered defense system that many countries around the world are trying to copy. Here, rockets fired by Hezbollah are intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system over the Upper Galilee last August. (credit: JALAA MAREY/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES) Project Kuiper, which has launched just 78 of a planned constellation of 3,000 low-earth orbit satellites, has been approached by the Pentagon to join the effort, signaling the administration's openness to integrating commercial tech firms into national defense infrastructure and going beyond traditional defense players. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeff Bezos, Amazon's executive chairman, told Reuters in January that Kuiper would be "primarily commercial," but acknowledged "there will be defense uses for these [low-earth orbit] constellations, no doubt." A spokesperson for Project Kuiper declined to comment for this story. The Pentagon declined to comment. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. Golden Dome's ambitions mirror those of Israel's Iron Dome - a homeland missile defense shield - but a larger, more complex layered defense system requires a vast network of orbiting satellites covering more territory. In the search for more vendors for the satellite layers of Golden Dome, "Kuiper is a big one," a US official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While SpaceX remains a frontrunner due to its unmatched launch capabilities, its share of the program could shrink, two of the people said. Officials have reached out to new entrants like rocket companies Stoke Space and Rocket Lab RKLB.O are gaining traction and will be able to bid on individual launches as the program matures, according to the US official. Later in the development of Golden Dome "each individual launch is going to get bid, and we have to actually give bids to other people," besides SpaceX, the official said. The US needs satellites There is an urgent need for more satellite production. Last year Congress gave Space Force a $13 billion mandate - up from $900 million - to buy satellite-based communication services in what was widely seen as one of many efforts to stimulate private sector satellite production. Amazon's Project Kuiper, a $10 billion initiative led by former Starlink managers dismissed by Musk for slow progress, Reuters has reported, has lagged behind SpaceX in deployment. But its potential defense applications - such as communications that could aid missile tracking - have drawn renewed interest as the administration prepares to allocate the first $25 billion tranche of funding authorized under Trump's sweeping tax and spending bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Traditional defense giants Northrop Grumman NOC.N, Lockheed Martin LMT.N, and L3Harris LHX.N are also in talks to support Golden Dome. L3Harris CFO Kenneth Bedingfield told Reuters in an interview the company has seen a surge in interest in its missile warning and tracking technologies, which are expected to play a key role in the system. Northrop, meanwhile, is pursuing several efforts including a space-based interceptor, a component that would enable missile strikes from orbit, Robert Fleming, the head of the company's space business, told Reuters in an interview. "Lockheed Martin is ready to support Golden Dome for America as a proven mission partner," Robert Lightfoot, president of Lockheed Martin Space, said in a statement. Golden Dome's initial outreach this spring invited smaller, newer Silicon Valley firms seen as nimbler, more sophisticated and potentially less expensive alternatives to the big defense firms to the table - but that was before the Musk-Trump feud upended that calculus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several with close ties to Trump aside from SpaceX, including Palantir PLTR.O and Anduril - were considered early frontrunners to win big pieces of the $175 billion project. But the Musk-Trump feud has reshaped the competitive landscape. Musk recently launched the "America Party," a tech-centric, centrist political movement aimed at defeating Republicans who backed Trump's tax-and-spend agenda. An ever-evolving timeframe Trump launched the Golden Dome initiative just a week into his second term, pushing for rapid deployment. Space Force General Michael Guetlein, confirmed by the Senate on July 17, is set to lead the program with sweeping authority. Under a previously unreported directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Guetlein has 30 days from confirmation to build a team, 60 days to deliver an initial system design, and 120 days to present a full implementation plan, including satellite and ground station details, two people briefed on the memo said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hours after Reuters published its story Tuesday morning, the Pentagon issued a press release acknowledging that an architecture for Golden Dome will be "developed within the next 60 days." The inclusion of commercial platforms like Kuiper raises security concerns. Its satellites would need to be hardened against cyberattacks and electronic warfare, a challenge that has plagued even SpaceX's Starlink network. In May 2024, Elon Musk said SpaceX was spending "significant resources combating Russian jamming efforts. This is a tough problem." Beyond the technical and political challenges, Golden Dome could reshape global security dynamics. A fully operational space-based missile shield may prompt adversaries to develop new offensive capabilities or accelerate the militarization of space. Still, established defense players like Lockheed and RTX, formerly Raytheon, will likely be at the front of the line for contracts. Executives at RTX, maker of the Patriot missile defense system, said on Tuesday they believe the system is going to be integral to Golden Dome "especially if you want to make a significant impact over the next 2 to 3 years." TOPEKA (KSNT) Police say two people are dead Tuesday following a recent AMBER Alert in Topeka. The Topeka Police Department (TPD) held a live press conference at 1 p.m. on July 22 at Northeast Division Street and Northeast Chester Avenue in the Oakland neighborhood. A city spokesman said this press conference is related to a recent child abduction. TPD Chief Chris Vallejo said an active homicide investigation is underway following the AMBER Alert during the press conference. He said police were called around 9:50 a.m. on July 22 to a home in the 500 block of Wabash on a welfare check. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Topeka police say 72-year-old man killed, found near local community center Police found two people, a woman and man, dead in the home. A two-year-old child that lived at the home was not located and law enforcement issued the AMBER Alert a short time later. Vallejo said police are still investigating the cause of death for the two individuals. The identity of the homicide victims will be released once next of kin notifications are made. This is a tragedy, and I know the residents around this area are concerned about this, about this event, Vallejo said. Its not something that happens every day, and I feel for them. I just want them to know that we are going to bring this investigation to its full conclusion and we will bring justice for the victims with whatever information we found out and there is no ongoing threat and the Topeka Police Department and supporting departments are on this case. (Photo By: Savannah Meier) (Photo By: Savannah Meier) (Photo By: Savannah Meier) (Photo By: Savannah Meier) The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) reported that a missing local two-year-old was taken from the 500 block of Wabash and was last seen on Friday, July 18 in an AMBER Alert issued on Tuesday, July 22. Law enforcement in Mattoon, Illinois located the child, along with a suspect, around 12:25 p.m. on July 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mattoon Police Department said it arrested 32-year-old Christopher Barnshaw for the abduction. He is in custody for aggravated kidnapping and unlawful use of a weapon charges in the Coles County Jail. Man sentenced for raping, killing Topeka five-year-old girl in 2023 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. 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. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Students at two Nashville schools will soon be able to ride directly to school using WeGo buses. Nashville Mayor Freddie OConnell announced Tuesday that students at Glencliff and McGavock high schools will have an easier route to school thanks to new routes on WeGo through the Choose How You Move transit service. Route 6 will serve McGavock High School, and Route 52 will serve Glencliff High School, according to the mayors office. The routes will run twice daily to accommodate school hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More We know many of our high school students rely on transit to get to their classes and for some of them, gaps in that service have made it challenging, OConnell said. The new service to McGavock and Glencliff High Schools is another way were already making it easier to get around using transit. The new stops will be in place during the 2025-2026 academic year, with more improvements expected for students and staff in future years through Choose How You Move, according to the mayors office. Choose How You Move makes using public transportation more convenient and accessible for everyone, CHYM Chief Program Officer Sabrina Sussman said. Students will be able to take transit straight to their first class of the day, and this is an example of making transit make sense for more Nashvillians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spring Hill considers changes to chicken ordinance Metro Councilman Jordan Huffman worked with WeGo to make the changes happen, according to the mayors office. The upcoming reestablished bus service to McGavock High School is about more than transportation; its about opportunity. Reliable transit ensures our students can get to school safely and on time, breaking down barriers and helping them succeed in and out of the classroom, Huffman said in a release. Huffman further added to his comments online, saying, Reliable transit breaks down barriers and helps our students succeed both in and out of the classroom. Lets keep moving forward, together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Metro Councilman Jeff Gregg also lauded the new school routes. In District 15, I know there are many students who routinely use WeGo to get to and from McGavock, Gregg said. Students were walking from the #6 bus stop on Lebanon Pike, up McGavock Pike, to the school. The new link makes that a much safer and shorter journey. Rutherford County Schools votes in new cellphone policy According to WeGo, students and school staff have taken more than 700,000 free rides on city buses through a partnership between WeGo and Metro Nashville Public Schools. A partnership between WeGo and MNPS called the StrIDe program allows students and staff to ride WeGo for no charge, WeGo CEO Steve Bland said. Over the past year, the program provided 712,381 rides, including 16,446 for MNPS staff. MNPS students and staff are an important part of our WeGo service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the mayors office, existing routes on WeGo near both McGavock and Glencliff high schools have proven to be two of the routes with consistent student ridership. Were grateful to Mayor OConnell and WeGo for prioritizing transportation access for our students through this partnership, MNPS Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle said. The service, combined with the ability for our high school students to ride WeGo at no cost through the StrIDe program, removes barriers and expands access to Metro Nashville Public Schools. This is another step toward ensuring every student can engage fully in their education and choose the academic program that is right for them. Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@wkrn.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. (Reuters) -Two Russian soldiers in need of medical care were handed over by Ukrainian authorities on Tuesday to be returned home, the Russian Defence Ministry said. A ministry statement on Telegram said the two servicemen were handed over and taken to Belarus, one of Moscow's closest allies, on Russia's western border. They were receiving treatment in Belarus and would soon return to Russia, it said. The statement said the action was undertaken on the basis of agreements reached at the second of two direct meetings aimed at ending the conflict last month between Russian and Ukrainian representatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two meetings in Istanbul resulted in agreements to return prisoners of war and remains of fallen soldiers, but made little progress towards an end to the more than three-year-old conflict. Large exchanges have taken place since the two meetings. A third meeting was due to be held on Wednesday in the Turkish city. (Reporting by Ronald Popeski; Editing by David Gregorio) MEMPHIS, Tenn. The United States Marshals Service in Memphis arrested a man from Texas who had a warrant out for aggravated rape and assault. Tristan Mullins, 26, had a warrant in Shelby County for aggravated rape and aggravated assault. U.S. Marshals said that he was also wanted in Denton County, Texas, for assaulting a pregnant woman, assaulting a family member, and failing to appear in court. Tristan Mullins Courtesy of U.S. Marshals and Shelby County 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 WREG.com. UK launches 50-Day military support campaign for Ukraine Xinhua) 08:29, July 22, 2025 LONDON, July 21 (Xinhua) -- British Defence Secretary John Healey on Monday announced the launch of a 50-day military support campaign for Ukraine, aligning with a recent warning issued by U.S. President Donald Trump to Russia. Healey said on social media platform X that at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) meeting held on Monday, participating countries reached a new agreement to supply critical air defence ammunition to Ukraine, "as part of a 50-day drive to arm Ukraine and force Putin to the negotiating table." Last week, Trump said that he had secured an agreement with NATO allies to facilitate large-scale arms deliveries to Ukraine. He also warned Russia that it would face a second round of tariffs if it fails to reach a peace deal within 50 days. At the UDCG meeting, Healey affirmed Britain's support, saying that Britain "backs this policy" and will fully participate to ensure its success, according to French news outlet AFP. Healey also revealed that Britain and Germany have agreed to jointly provide air defence missiles to Ukraine. The partnership is part of a wider European initiative aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defensive capabilities. According to a press release from the British Ministry of Defence on Monday, Britain has already delivered more than 150 million pounds (202.5 million U.S. dollars) worth of air defence missiles and artillery to Ukraine over the past two months. The country is also ramping up procurement efforts to provide hundreds more air defence missiles and thousands of artillery shells. In total, Britain is expected to spend at least 700 million pounds on air defence and artillery support for Ukraine this year, including the 150 million pounds worth of equipment already delivered, according to the release. (1 pound = 1.35 U.S. dollars) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) By Nazrin Abdul A bilateral meeting between Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ceyhun Bayramov, and his Georgian counterpart Maka Bochorishvili has begun in Tbilisi. According to Azernews, the information was shared via the official social media account of Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting is expected to cover the current state and future prospects of Azerbaijan-Georgia bilateral relations, regional cooperation, and opportunities to deepen the strategic partnership between the two neighboring countries. 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 Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB). Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB) is an oil field services company. The one-month return of Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB) was -1.22%, and its shares lost 32.61% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On July 18, 2025, Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB) stock closed at $33.32 per share, with a market capitalization of $49.702 billion. Ariel Appreciation Fund stated the following regarding Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter: "Shares of Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB), the largest oilfield services company in the world by revenue, also underperformed amidst falling oil prices and trade tensions. While quarterly earnings came in slightly behind expectations, the market appears more concerned with the rising supply and weak macroeconomic conditions weighing on energy prices and oilfield services demand going forward. Nonetheless, we believe there are tailwinds supporting rising demand over the medium-term, as national oil companies invest in long-cycle projects to grow capacity and address the natural decline of production. We think SLB is the best positioned among the oilfield services companies, given their leading scale and expertise across nearly every product and service category, as well as their exposure to more resilient international markets. In the long run, we expect SLB will continue to evolve their capabilities to help clients with rising energy needs going forward." Schlumberger (SLB) Drops 5.89% on Israel-Iran Ceasefire An aerial view of a well site, depicting the scale of oil and gas operations. Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 68 hedge fund portfolios held Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB) at the end of the first quarter, compared to 80 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB) 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. A Ukrainian Dassault Mirage 2000 fighter has crashed, the first loss of one of the jets that were donated by France. On the evening of July 22, 2025, while performing a flight mission on a Mirage-2000 fighter jet, an aircraft equipment failure occurred, which the pilot reported to the flight manager, the Ukrainian Air Force reported. He then acted competently, as is expected in crisis situations, and successfully ejected. The search and rescue team found the pilot, his condition is stable. There were no casualties on the ground. A special commission has been appointed to establish the causes of the aviation incident. The Ukrainian Air Force received its first Mirage back in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before delivering the jets, France performed unspecified modifications to allow them to fly air-to-ground missions. You can read more about that here. This is the latest loss of a donated fourth-generation fighter. Ukraine has seen at least four of its donated F-16 Vipers destroyed, resulting in the deaths of four pilots. This is a developing story. Stay with The War Zone for updates. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Ukraine's 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade released video footage on July 22 that allegedly shows Russian troops shooting and killing a civilian riding a bicycle in the front-line village of Torske in Donetsk Oblast. Soldiers with the 63rd Brigade recorded the shooting and their subsequent retaliation against the three Russian soldiers involved in the murder. "(T)he Russians shot a civilian in Torske, deliberately and with intent to kill," the brigade wrote in a Telegram post accompanying the video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The footage shows a person riding a bicycle down a village road before being ambushed by military personnel hiding in the nearby trees. After the rider falls, three soldiers emerge onto the road. One shoots the rider point-blank. 0:00 / 1 Ukrainian drone pilots and gunners eliminated the three Russian personnel responsible for the killing, the 63rd Brigade reported. The rest of the video depicts the successful strikes against the soldiers. "No court was needed instant karma worked," the brigade wrote. Numerous cases of Russian troops murdering or abusing civilians have surfaced since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian prosecutors and monitoring groups have documented mounting instances of Russian forces executing Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in a systemic violation of the Geneva Convention. In November 2024, Russian soldiers shot and killed a civilian woman in the front-line village of Terny in Donetsk Oblast. Read also: Point of no return Ukraines democracy under threat as new bill guts anti-corruption efforts Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A portion of state Highway 133 over an inlet of Lake Keowee in Pickens County collapsed Monday, July 21, 2025. (Provided by the S.C. Department of Transportation) The collapse of an Upstate bridge on Monday put an exclamation point on officials need to fix the states aging infrastructure. The car-sized hole in a bridge over an inlet of Lake Keowee in Pickens County appeared just days after the state Department of Transportations governing board approved the next round of bridges for repair. No one was injured when part of an entire lane fell into the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 57-year-old bridge is part of a network of aging bridges that DOT Secretary Justin Powell has said since his tenure started must be a top priority for repairs. The bridge, located near the golf course community Old Edwards Reserve at Lake Keowee, was slated for replacement later this year. The timetable is being moved up, said Department of Transportation spokeswoman Hannah Robinson. About 1,800 vehicles usually cross the bridge daily. A 22-mile detour is expected to last for months. Construction should start soon and be completed in early 2026. During an inspection earlier this year, the bridge was determined to be in fair condition, meaning it had some minor issues but no structural problems, according to the DOT. About 55% of all bridges in the state were reported to be in fair condition in 2024, according to data collected by the Federal Highway Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of its condition, the two-lane bridge on Crowe Creek Road (state Highway 133) was load restricted, meaning trucks and other heavy vehicles were not supposed to cross, according to the state DOT. But a truck weighing more than the posted 15-ton limit used it anyway. Thats what caused the damage, the agency said in an update Wednesday. Built in 1968, the Lake Keowee bridge is among about a third of the 8,400 state-maintained bridges nearing or past its intended lifespan. The bridge is far from the oldest in the state, however, with roughly 500 dating back at least 90 years, according to the DOT. In 2023, then-Secretary Christy Hall asked the Legislature for a five-year, $1 billion commitment for bridge work. The Houses budget plan provided the first installment of $200 million, but the Senate refused. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then a span of Interstate 20 in Kershaw County had to be closed for emergency repairs four days over Christmas of that year. The closure should serve as a wake-up call, Gov. Henry McMaster said in a letter asking legislators to spend a surplus of state sales taxes on bridge repairs. Legislators didnt send the $500 million that McMaster recommended last year. But they did start approving $200 million allotments as initially requested, adding to the $239 million already dedicated annually for bridge work. The second allotment, approved in the budget that took effect July 1, will repair or replace 159 additional bridges. The DOT commission approved the list Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of those, 79 are bridges on interstates or primary routes, and 80 are on secondary routes, according to the agency. Our team is already hard at work putting this money to use to help people and goods move through South Carolina, Powell said in a news release. The initial infusion of $200 million put 119 bridges on the list last July. The Pickens County bridge that collapsed at 1:40 p.m. Monday was not a new addition. The transportation commission put it on the list in December of 2021, after the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided an additional $1.3 billion in federal highway funding over five years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Construction is either underway or complete on 416 of the states bridges the agency named in 2017 as priorities to replace or repair within 10 years, or by 2027, the agency said in a news release. The 278 bridges added in the past two years go beyond the agencys goal of fixing 500 bridges over that decade, officials have said. Editors note: This article was updated Wednesday, July 23, with more information from the Department of Transportation on what caused the collapse and how long the bridge will be closed. ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) An investigation is underway after detectives said a baby returned home from daycare scratched and bruised by an employee. According to the Anderson County Sheriffs Office, in late June detectives began an investigation after a one-and-a-half-year-old baby returned home from a daycare on Brogan Avenue with visible injuries. Detectives reportedly executed a search warrant at the daycare facility and found surveillance footage aligning with the childs injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives have charged Cameron Olivia Bomar, 21, with cruelty to children in connection with the investigation. Deputies are continuing to speak with potential victims families and said more charges are possible in this case. Bomar has been booked into the Anderson County Detention Center and has since been released on 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. (WSPA) An Upstate man will spend 28 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to sex crimes involving minors in Orangeburg and Anderson counties. According to the state attorney generals office, Jonathan Charping, of Anderson County, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and three total counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. According to the attorney generals office, in May 2022, the Anderson County Sheriffs Office received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding an account later linked to Charping which had uploaded child sexual abuse files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charping reportedly admitted to investigators he had child sex abuse materials on his cell phone, and the attorney generals office said a search of the device revealed thousands of files, including a video showing the sexual assault of a two-month-old child. Charping was sentenced Tuesday to serve 28 years in prison and he will have to register as a sex offender and be subject to GPS monitoring after his release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Mike Huckabee is the first US official from the Republican Party to visit Ramallah in recent years. US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee met with Palestinian Authority Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh in Ramallah on Tuesday, al-Sheikh confirmed on X/Twitter. During the meeting, the two officials discussed efforts to create a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, release hostages held in Hamas terror captivity, and deliver urgent aid to Gazan civilians, al-Sheikh confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two also discussed the situation in the West Bank, including "the severe economic and financial crisis and settler violence." They also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, and the "importance of the US role in achieving stability, security, and peace in the region." Huckabee became the first Republican senior American official in years to visit Ramallah. However, officials from the Democrat Party, including then secretary of state Anthony Blinken, have visited Ramallah, with Blinken meeting al-Sheikh in February 2024. Amichai Stein contributed to this report. This is a developing story. An American citizen from Oklahoma was among eight men, all family members, rounded up and killed in an execution-style attack during the sectarian violence that flared in Syria last week. Hosam Saraya, a 35-year-old Syrian-American, was identified by two relatives and a friend as one of eight men whose killing was captured on a video that circulated on social media over the weekend. The video, which has been geolocated by CNN, shows a group of armed men wearing military uniforms and face masks firing on eight captives while shouting God is great. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNN cannot independently verify the identify of the gunmen in the video. A friend of the Saraya family said he believed they were militants aligned with the government. A school in Suwayda founded by Hosam Saraya also blamed government-linked fighters for the attack. Sarayas brother Kareem and other family members were also executed, according to two relatives, one in Syria and one in the US, who asked not to be named for safety reasons. The US-based relative said the familys male members had all been killed leaving only their wives and daughters. The killings occurred on July 17 amid an outbreak of sectarian violence between Syrian Druze groups and Bedouin tribes in the Druze-majority Suwayda province. Saraya, who had studied in Oklahoma before returning to Syria, belonged to the Druze community, an Arab religious group of roughly one million people who primarily live in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. He had gone to Syria to care for his father who was ill, the US relative said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A female family member who survived the massacre recalled how militants had opened fire on and stormed the familys multi-story home early in the morning. Some of them were wearing military fatigues, some of them were dressed like Bedouins one of them was wearing a General Security uniform the black one, she said, adding, They told us we are the army of Ahmad Al-Jolani (the Syrian president). They threatened us, told us not to make a sound or we will kill you, she said. They threatened us with rape he told me if you speak I will come and kill you. She said the young men in the house had tried to fight off the intruders, but were overwhelmed and taken to a place near the home Tishreen Square and executed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The friend who CNN spoke to corroborated these details, saying he witnessed the militants storm the home and forcibly remove eight men, while leaving female family members inside. The Syrian government categorically rejects crimes against civilians, Nour al-Dean Baba, a spokesperson for the countrys interior ministry, told CNN on Tuesday. Everyone responsible for these crimes will face justice, regardless of the ethnicity or sect of the victims. As long as they were innocent civilians, such acts are absolutely unacceptable to us and those who committed it will face justice, al-Dean Baba said. Pray for us The US relative first learned of the attack when one of the female survivors sent her a desperate message: Pray for us, they kidnapped the boys, they shot the house, they stole stuff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twelve hours passed as the family desperately waited for news, hoping their relatives would return safely. It wasnt until another overseas relative saw the videos circulating of their execution that they realized the eight men had been killed. The friend who spoke to CNN said relatives later told him the captives were marched 200 meters to Tishreen Square, where they were lined up and executed. One of the men had sent a final message to friends that read, Come and help us if you can. They surrounded us, the friend said. The friend, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, identified Hosam Sarayas body after watching the video. I dont know how monsters can do that, the US relative told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about Saraya, the US State Department confirmed Monday that an American citizen had died in Suwayda. On Tuesday, spokesperson Tammy Bruce offered condolences to Sarayas family and said the department was providing them consular assistance, but declined to give further details. Oklahoma Sens. James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin also confirmed the killing of an American from the state in Syria. Hosam was an Oklahoman and member of the Druze community who was tragically executed alongside other members of his family in Syria, Lankford wrote on X. We are praying for his family, friends, and the entire community as they grieve this senseless loss. Mullin wrote on X that an American citizen from Oklahoma was brutally executed alongside his family members in Syria, adding he was working with partners in the region to learn more. His tweet did not name the Saraya family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Widespread violence between the Druze minority and Bedouin tribes in southern Syria erupted on July 13 and has left hundreds dead in the latest explosion of sectarian bloodletting since the authoritarian rule of Bashar al-Assad was toppled by a coalition of Islamist rebels. The violence drew Israeli intervention in support of the Druze, as well as US condemnation and an international scramble to stop the fighting spiraling further. The Syrian government said over the weekend that clashes in Suwayda had stopped after a ceasefire agreement was reached between the government, Druze groups, and Bedouin tribes. A separate ceasefire was agreed between Syria and Israel. The deal was announced by US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who said it was embraced by Turkey, Jordan and other neighboring countries. Catherine Nicholls contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The State Department on Tuesday confirmed an American citizen was shot and killed by Syrian government forces in viral graphic footage on social media. Hosam Saraya, a Syrian American citizen of Druze descent, was murdered alongside dozens of other men being held captive by local forces in Tishreen Square, located in the center of Sweida, Syria. We offer condolences to the family on their loss and are providing consular assistance to them, the State Department said in a statement to ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are greatly concerned when any U.S. citizen is harmed overseas, wherever they are, the department wrote. The United States calls for accountability in all cases where U.S. citizens are harmed abroad. Officials told the outlet they were looking into accounts of the death of an individual reported to have been a U.S. citizen in Syria, while family and friends of Saraya confirmed his identity to ABC. The State Department did not immediately respond to The Hills request for comment. Government leaders started feuding with the Druze people the largest ethnic group in Sweida, but are considered a minority in the country and Sunni factions within the country last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saraya recently returned home to care for his father after completing courses in Oklahoma, according to CNN Arabic. Oklahoma lawmakers also acknowledged his death through posts online. Cindy and I are heartbroken by the death of Hosam Saraya. Hosam was an Oklahoman and member of the Druze community who was tragically executed alongside other members of his family in Syria, Sen. James Lankford (R) wrote in a Monday post on social platform X. We are praying for his family, friends, and the entire community as they grieve this senseless loss. May God bring peace and comfort in this time of sorrow, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve learned that an American citizen from Oklahoma was brutally executed alongside his family members in Syria, Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R) wrote on X. Im working with partners in the region to learn more, and were in touch with @GovStitt on this devastating situation, Mullin said. Our prayers are with the family 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 The Hill. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday agreed to delay by one year a requirement for newly delivered U.S. passenger airplanes to have a secondary barrier to the flight deck to prevent intrusions that was set to take effect in August. Airlines for America, the trade group representing American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and other major carriers, had asked the FAA to delay compliance by two years because the agency has not yet certified a secondary cockpit barrier, and no manuals, procedures or training programs have been authorized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This will allow time to facilitate FAA certification and install the barriers," the agency said Tuesday. After the hijacking of four U.S. airplanes on September 11, 2001, the FAA adopted standards for flight deck security to make them resistant to forcible intrusion and unauthorized entry. The rule requires aircraft manufacturers to install a second physical barrier on new planes used in commercial passenger service in the United States, though it will not require existing planes to be retrofitted. The FAA said in 2023 the additional barrier will protect flight decks from intrusion when the cockpit door is open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Air Line Pilots Association had urged the FAA last month "to reject this latest stalling tactic" and to install barriers it has described as lightweight, retractable security gates. The union has pressed for the rule, saying at least 52 hijacking attempts worldwide since 2001 "confirm that aviation remains a target for terrorist activity, highlighting the persistent threat of hijackings." Unions in 2023 urged that the rule take effect one year after publication, while Boeing, Airbus and Airlines for America had called for three years. The FAA was supposed to have adopted rules by 2019 under a 2018 federal law, but the agency has said it was required to follow procedural rules before it could impose new regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FAA in 2007 set rules to address flight deck security when the cockpit door was opened, including requiring the door be locked when the airplane is in operation, unless necessary to open it to permit access by authorized persons. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler and Jamie Freed) This story was originally published on Construction Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Construction Dive newsletter. Remaining selective and planning for risk have been key to Skanskas profitability. CEO Anders Danielsson said the firm has been more discerning about only taking on projects and clients in sectors where it has seen success in the past. We took important strategic positions some years ago to be more selective, Danielsson told Construction Dive. We have the right team in place. The chief of the Stockholm-based contractor spoke to analysts during a second quarter earnings call July 18, where the results showed that U.S. construction has continued to be the anchor of the firms success. However, continued changes around tariffs have raised questions on pricing for materials, and that uncertainty has impacted project timelines and the ability for contractors to break ground. Danielsson said Skanska has seen minimal impact from the tariff policy thus far, and remained bullish for the future. In part, that success is due to sourcing U.S. materials, he said, noting he hasnt seen increased competition for those domestic products. headshot of Anders Danielsson We haven't seen a lot of [impact from tariffs], but we are careful to not to end up in a situation where we suffer from, like price increases, Danielsson told Construction Dive after the call. And so we are very careful before we bid for a project, we secure the prices from our suppliers. When price hikes do arise, Danielsson said Skanska has had success passing the difference back onto the client. As an example, he cited the firm successfully doing so when construction costs spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic. Priority sectors Within construction, the U.S. civil market remains one of the major success areas for Skanska. Danielsson anticipates strong demand for traditional infrastructure in the states. He cited confidence for public funding to continue to flow to critical sectors such as schools, hospitals, airports and data centers. In recent earnings reports, a sticking point for the firm has been commercial property development, especially as workers in the U.S. largely continued to work from home following the pandemic. Though the firms outlook on commercial development for the next 12 months remains weak, Danielsson said a shift to quality, where companies target nicer offices in more attractive areas, continues to show promise. I'm sure most companies want their employees back to office, Danielsson said. So that trend will continue. How and whether a hurricane will develop gets a lot of attention. What matters most, though, is where it's headed. Hurricanes are steered by wind flow through a deep layer of the atmosphere up to the level of the jet stream, much like a steering wheel does the same for your vehicle. Here are some things meteorologists look for in these weather patterns to decipher whether a hurricane is a significant mainland U.S. threat, or simply likely to stay over the open Atlantic Ocean. Mainland US Threat Pattern - Hurricanes that strike the mainland most often first become hurricanes in the Caribbean Sea, Gulf or near the Southeast coast, as we discussed in a previous article. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - They tend to develop later after moving off Africa as tropical waves and usually farther south in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. - Stronger, more expansive high pressure over the central Atlantic known as the Bermuda-Azores high acts as a northern wall, forcing the storm to track westward longer, eventually bringing it closer to land. - Lacking a significant southward dip in the jet stream in the eastern U.S., the system can't turn sharply north and northeast in time to avoid some part of the U.S. East Coast or Gulf Coast. Sometimes that jet stream dip arrives either too late, or simply, bypasses the storm altogether. tropical US threat recurve pattern Recent Example: Isaias - In 2020, Isaias battled interaction with land Hispaniola wind shear and dry air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - But the Bermuda-Azores high was just strong enough and the jet stream's southward plunge over the Mississippi Valley was too far west. - So, instead of curling sharply out to sea, Isaias raked up the Eastern Seaboard from the Carolinas to upstate New York with damaging winds, heavy rain and storm surge flooding. Hurricane Isaias 2020 track Lower US Threat Pattern: The "Recurve" - Most hurricanes that develop soon after moving off western Africa - known as Cabo Verde hurricanes - don't make it to the mainland U.S. But the few that do make it are almost always very destructive. - Hurricanes starting off farther north in the eastern or central Atlantic have a better chance of eventually curling away from the mainland U.S. since they have more latitude to start with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - But in this scenario, high pressure to the storm's north is weaker and less expansive, more confined to The Azores rather than Bermuda. - There can also be a stronger southward dip in the jet stream near or along the U.S. East Coast. - This configuration forces a hurricane to curl north, then northeast known as recurving sooner, steering it away from the East Coast into the open ocean. - Occasionally, one of these recurve storms can impact Bermuda, and may also survive into the Canadian Maritimes. tropical US threat recurve pattern Recent Example: Sam - In 2021, Hurricane Sam reached Category 4 intensity in the central Atlantic Ocean. - However, a jet-stream trough along the East Coast and a weaker Bermuda-Azores high curled Sam to the north, then northeast, far from any land concerns. Hurricane Sam 2021 track Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. US envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack warned Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa that the country needs to recalibrate its policies, pointing out there is "no plan B." A US envoy has urged Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to recalibrate his policies and embrace a more inclusive approach after a new round of sectarian bloodshed last week, or risk losing international support and fragmenting the country. US envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack said he had advised Sharaa in private discussions to revisit elements of the pre-war army structure, scale back Islamist indoctrination, and seek regional security assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview in Beirut, Barrack told Reuters that without swift change, Sharaa risks losing the momentum that once propelled him to power. Sharaa should say: "I'm going to adapt quickly, because if I don't adapt quickly, I'm going to lose the energy of the universe that was behind me," Barrack said. He said Sharaa could "grow up as a president and say, 'the right thing for me to do is not to follow my theme, which isn't working so well.'" Sharaa, leader of a former Al Qaeda offshoot, came to power in Syria after guerrilla fighters he led brought down President Bashar al-Assad in December last year after more than 13 years of civil war. The leader of Syria's Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that headed a lightning rebel offensive snatching Damascus from government control, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, address a crowd at the capital's landmark Umayyad Mosque on December 8, 2024. (credit: AREF TAMMAWI/AFP via Getty Images) Though his fighters have roots in Sunni Muslim militancy, Sharaa has promised to protect members of Syria's many sectarian minorities. But that pledge has been challenged, first by mass killings of members of Assad's Alawite sect in March, and now by the latest violence in the southwest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of people have been reported killed in clashes in the southern province of Sweida between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes, and Sharaa's own forces. Israel intervened with airstrikes to prevent what it said was the mass killing of Druze by government forces. Barrack said the new government should consider being "more inclusive quicker" when it comes to integrating minorities into the ruling structure. But he also pushed back against reports that Syrian security forces were responsible for violations against Druze civilians. He suggested that Islamic State group militants may have been disguised in government uniforms and that social media videos are easily doctored and therefore unreliable. "The Syrian troops haven't gone into the city. These atrocities that are happening are not happening at the hands of the Syrian regime troops. They're not even in the city because they agreed with Israel that they would not go in," he said. US said that there is no successor to al-Sharaa The US helped broker a ceasefire last week that brought an end to the fighting, which erupted between Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze factions on July 13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barrack said the stakes in Syria are dangerously high, with no succession plan or viable alternative to the country's new Islamist government. "With this Syrian regime, there is no plan B. If this Syrian regime fails, somebody is trying to instigate it to fail," Barrack said. "For what purpose? There's no successor." Asked if Syria could follow the dire scenarios of Libya and Afghanistan, he said: "Yes, or even worse." The US has said it did not support Israel's airstrikes on Syria. Barrack said the strikes had added to the "confusion" in Syria. Israel says Syria's new rulers are dangerous militants and has vowed to keep government troops out of the southwest and protect Syria's Druze minority in the area, encouraged by calls from Israel's own Druze community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barrack said his message to Israel is to have a dialogue to alleviate their concerns about Syria's new Sunni leaders and that the US could play the role of an "honest intermediary" to help resolve any concerns. He said Sharaa had signaled from the beginning of his rule that Israel was not his enemy and that he could normalize ties in due time. He said the United States was not dictating what the political format of Syria should be, other than stability, unity, fairness, and inclusion. "If they end up with a federalist government, that's their determination. And the answer to the question is, everybody may now need to adapt." The Navys largest aircraft carrier, Gerald R. Ford, transited the Strait of Gibraltar on Saturday as it made its way to the Mediterranean for a regularly scheduled deployment to the area, according to the Navy. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group left its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk and Naval Weapons Station Yorktown in Virginia on June 24 for the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. Gerald R. Fords mission remains clear: maintain freedom of navigation in international waters for all nations, Capt. David Skarosi, commanding officer of the Ford, said in a release. Our Sailors are excited to execute this mission and operate side-by-side with our Allies and partners throughout the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strike group, which contains 4,500 sailors, includes the flagship aircraft carrier Ford, nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing 8, Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Winston S. Churchill and Destroyer Squadron 2s guided-missile destroyers Mitscher, Mahan, Bainbridge and Forrest Sherman. Navy vessels transited the Strait of Gibraltar alongside the Spanish Navys Santa Maria-class frigate Canarias and the U.S. fast combat support ship Supply, according to the Navy. The Ford embarked for the Mediterranean several days after American stealth bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs on Irans nuclear sites. A defense official told Military Times at the time that the move was not a response to rising tensions in the Middle East and was part of a regularly scheduled deployment. VAN BUREN, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Arkansas State Police say an officer with the Van Buren Police Department has been arrested in connection with a child stalking investigation. The department said in a news release that Jason Scites, 45, was arrested on July 21 for one count of internet stalking of a child. Jason Scites, 45 (Courtesy: Crawford County Detention Center) Scites arrest came following an investigation that uncovered evidence of inappropriate online communication between Scites and a minor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was arrested by the Arkansas State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, in coordination with the Van Buren Police Department (VBPD), Crawford County Sheriffs Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. Van Buren Police Chief Jonathan Wear terminated Scites, according to the release. Wear formally submitted a decertification request to the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST). Wear gave the following statement to KNWA/FOX24 on Tuesday: The Van Buren Police Department was notified by the Arkansas State Police of an investigation involving one of our officers. We immediately offered full cooperation and support throughout the investigation, and some of our investigators assisted with the arrest. Upon Officer Scites arrest, he was immediately terminated from his position with our department. This morning, I submitted a request to the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards to decertify him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This former officers actions do not reflect the integrity and dedication of the men and women who proudly serve the City of Van Buren. As Chief of Police, I remain committed to transparency, accountability, and upholding the highest ethical standards within our department. While this incident may impact trust in our profession, we will continue working to maintain the confidence of those we serve. Scites is being held in the Crawford County Detention Center without bond, according to his booking. This is a developing story. Stay with KNWA/FOX24 for the latest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated. Ukrainians rallied in Kyiv and other major cities on July 22 after lawmakers passed a bill that would effectively destroy two of Ukraine's key anti-corruption bodies, in the first country-wide protests since Russia's full-scale invasion began. Despite citizens' demands that President Volodymyr Zelensky veto the bill, the president signed the law on the evening of July 22 as the protests were underway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demonstrators gathered in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, and Odesa to oppose the legislation, which grants sweeping new powers to the prosecutor general over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). "Take cardboard from boxes and make posters where you write everything you think about the recent onslaught," war veteran Dmytro Koziatynskyi wrote in a Facebook post that helped mobilize the protests. The bill allows the prosecutor general to issue binding instructions to NABU, reassign cases outside the agency, and delegate SAPO's authority to other prosecutors. Critics say the changes dismantle safeguards that protect both bodies from political interference. People gathered to protest a bill passed in Ukraine's parliament that strips independence from anti-corruption bodies, in Kyiv, Ukraine on July 22, 2025. (Danylo Antoniuk/The Kyiv Independent) Parliament approved the bill earlier that day with 263 votes in favor, 13 against, and 13 abstaining. The measure moved through committee and the legislature and was signed by Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk within hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the capital, protesters carrying flags and handmade signs chanted "Get your hands off NABU and SAP," "Veto the law," and "No corruption in government." The atmosphere was spirited and defiant, with chants of "Power belongs to the people" and periodic renditions of the national anthem. Kyiv Independent journalists at the scene reported a crowd including veterans, active-duty soldiers, and civilians. Protests also broke out in the western city of Lviv, where several hundred people gathered on the central Svobody Avenue, chanting "Shame!" and "Corruption is the death of the future." Standing around a statue of Ukraine's most revered poet, Taras Shevchenko, demonstrators raised signs urging the president to block the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both NABU and SAPO expressed gratitude and support for the protests, which continued after news broke that Zelensky had signed the legislation. "We perceive this support as a sign of trust in our institution. And we will do everything to justify it," NABU said in a social media post. "We were particularly impressed by the decisive stance of young people the future of the country for which we work. ... We will continue to work and defend the independence of our investigations from interference." The SAPO team also thanked the demonstrators for their support. "Despite immense pressure and disgraceful decisions, we continue to fight for justice, integrity, and dignity," SAPO wrote via Telegram. On July 22, 2025, Ukrainians gathered in Lviv after lawmakers passed a bill that effectively destroys two of Ukraine's main anti-corruption agencies. (Martin Fornusek / The Kyiv Independent) The protests reflect mounting concern that Ukraine's anti-corruption drive a core condition for EU membership and international aid is under threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, the move drew criticism from Kyiv's international partners. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos expressed "serious concern" over the bill's adoption. "The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence is a serious step back," Kos wrote on X. "Independent bodies like NABU and SAPO are essential for Ukraine's EU path. Rule of law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations." The changes would amount to the "destruction of NABU and SAPO's independence and practically subordinate their activities to the prosecutor general," NABU said in a statement. "Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure, built since 2015, will be destroyed," the agency added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Editorial: Zelensky is one signature away from betraying Ukraines democracy Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. PANAMA CITY, Fla (WMBB) The Bay District School board is meeting to discuss a multitude of subjects. You can read the full agenda here. This is the first meeting since News 13 broke the story of Bay High School principal Blythe Carpenter being suspended for one week in June. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday afternoon is set to dive into border security and immigration enforcement efforts under the Biden administration. The hearing, titled Bidens Border Betrayal: Criminal Aliens in America, comes as President Trump is seeking to beef up funding for border security and has launched a robust crackdown on illegal immigration. The president and many Republicans have cast blame on the previous administration for a surge of undocumented immigrants coming into the U.S. The event is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. EDT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch the live video above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) One of my first questions to Marcus Rosten, the WNY Wildway director was can you kind of explain what exactly the Western New York Wild Way is and why its so important? The Western New York Wild Way is a plan to reconnect to our regions largest tracts of wildlife habitat. That has been spearheaded by the Western New York Land Conservancy, which is a local nonprofit thats working to permanently protect land of significant conservation value in western New York. So when we are doing well, when we do our land protection and conservation work, we always want to make sure that we are doing our best to conserve what is most important ecologically and for wildlife, he said. Animals like black bears, bobcats and salamanders rely on connected forests and wetlands. But as development grows, their homes shrink and with the climate changing, its forcing species to move and adapt more than ever before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 47-year-old elephant at Seneca Park Zoo saved after it had been knocked over Were going to have species that are going to need to move even more than they have, across a landscape that is increasingly fragmented. So the Western New York wild way will help, not only species that have really large ranges, like Black Bear, who can, travel over 50 miles in a typical home range, but even smaller species like spotted salamanders who have smaller home ranges, Rosten said. Already, the Conservancy is protecting over 700 acres. And the land is doing what it was meant to: welcoming wildlife back. We just finished a wildlife study throughout the wild way, trying to better understand where three of our largest mammals in the wild were, where they are existing and where theyre moving. Being a bobcat, black bear and fisher. And fisher is a species that was once regionally extrapolated from western New York. They were, you know, hunted and trapped to regional extinction. And their population has mostly been reintroduced thanks to an effort in northern Pennsylvania and the National Forest, said Rosten. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wildway stretches over 7 counties from the PA border to Lake Ontario and includes core habitats like Letchworth State Park. While their work is just getting started, the idea remains simple: build connections and the wildlife will follow. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Photo by simpson33 via iStock / Getty Images Plus) A white couple from eastern Iowa alleges the state illegally considered their race when rejecting their application to adopt three Black children who were part of their extended family. A lawsuit filed by the couple claims the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, which was removed as the three childrens guardian last year by a court order, has an unwritten and illegal policy of considering the race and ethnicity of children under its supervision when making decisions on where to place children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The civil lawsuit follows a 2024 court decision in which DHHS was found to have violated the federal Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 and the Interethnic Adoption Provisions of 1996. Based on that finding, DHHS was removed as the guardian of the three children involved in the new lawsuit. Jacob and Renee Sankey of LeClaire, who eventually adopted the children after a court battle, are now suing DHHS, its director and several DHHS adoption workers in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa for violating its own polices as well as the federal adoption laws. The couple claims they are the great-uncle and great-aunt of the three children whose biological mother grew up in the foster care system and was adopted by other members of the Sankey family. After the mother turned 18, the lawsuit claims, she spent roughly five years in and out of prison and then split her time between Indiana and Iowa. In the spring of 2022, when two of the children were four months old and one was 17 months old, concerns were raised about the childrens welfare while in their mothers care. The children were removed from the mothers home and temporarily placed in the care of their material grandparents, the lawsuit alleges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beginning in July 2022, the children began spending one or two weeks per month with Jacob and Renee Sankey and the couples children in LeClaire. During those times, the lawsuit claims, a close bond was formed, and the Sankeys expressed an interest in adopting the children. After the parental rights of the childrens biological parents were terminated by court order in May 2023, guardianship was transferred to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. The agency then formed an adoption selection committee to choose an adoptive family for the children. According to the lawsuit, the Sankeys formally applied to adopt the children, as did EShaya Anderson and Mary Anderson of Indiana, who are sisters to the mothers biological father. The Andersons are African-American, the lawsuit states. The children are African-American. The Sankeys are white Caucasian. Despite the close and personal bond between the children and the Sankeys, and the fact that they were relatives, (DHHS) did not select the Sankeys for adoption. Instead, (the agency) selected the Andersons for adoption due to the color, race, and/or ethnicity of the Sankeys and the children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit claims that in doing so, DHHS failed to act in the childrens best interests by irresponsibly, negligently, and recklessly discharging their duties in finding a suitable adoptive home for the children by ignoring expressed safety concerns about the selected family. Lawsuit: Emails show DHHS focused on race According to the lawsuit, DHHS employee manual unequivocally prohibits a childs court-appointed guardian or attorney from participating in the adoption selection committees deliberation process. The lawsuit claims that despite that policy, the childrens guardian actively participated in the deliberations after having openly discussed the fact that race was a predominant factor in adoptions. In sworn testimony, the lawsuit alleges, members of the committee have stated that the real deliberations in the matter took place through individual conversations and through an email exchange in which the guardian was an active participant. I worry about if the girls go with the Sankeys in LeClaire, where there are very few people of color -- lets face it, thats a very upper-middle class white environment and a very white, wealthy school district -- how are the Sankeys going to introduce the girls to their culture? Email from DHHS adoption worker Katy James, as quoted in a new federal lawsuit As evidence of the alleged consideration of race and color, the lawsuit claims that in at least seven of the 15 emails that were exchanged between members of the committee, direct references were made to race and color. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one email, adoption worker Katy James allegedly stated, I worry about if the girls go with the Sankeys in LeClaire, where there are very few people of color lets face it, thats a very upper-middle class white environment and a very white, wealthy school district how are the Sankeys going to introduce the girls to their culture? Who in the Sankeys circle is not white? The lawsuit also claims the childrens guardian ad litem sent others involved in the selection process copies of articles she had picked up at a recent conference, including one entitled, The Weaponization of Whiteness. In another email exchange, an individual informed James the Sankey adoption would be a great case for relatives to take up with the court and for us to lose guardianship because we didnt do our job. All members of the committee and the childrens guardian ad litem deliberately used the race and/or ethnicity of the children and the Sankeys throughout the adoption selection process, the lawsuit claims. They each documented their use of race and/or ethnicity in writing, with no regard to applicable federal and state law and written policies of HHS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agencys actions demonstrate that DHHS has implemented an unwritten policy of considering race and ethnicity when selecting adoptive parents, the lawsuit adds. Judge removes DHHS as childrens guardian In April 2024, the lawsuit alleges, a Johnson County judge determined DHHS had violated federal adoption law and held that it was necessary and in the best interests of the children to remove DHHS as the childrens guardian. In doing so, the judge allegedly stated, It is difficult to understand from the communication that is part of the record, how the department can claim that race and color were not a primary consideration in their decision. The issue of culture is brought up both in the emails and in direct testimony. According to the lawsuit, the judge went on to state that some of the selection committee members were unable to articulate a reason for the selection of Mary (Anderson). The judge also noted that while the committee viewed Anderson working the overnight shift as a positive, the fact that Renee Sankey was a stay-at-home mom was negated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court then entered an order appointing the Sankeys as the childrens guardian. But as a result of the removal of DHHS as guardian, the Sankeys and the children lost their eligibility for substantial governmental benefits they would have otherwise received, the lawsuit claims. DHHS did not challenge the courts findings and did not appeal the decision. The lawsuit is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for alleged violations of the Sankeys right to equal protection and due process as well as negligence. The lawsuit also seeks an order requiring DHHS to cease any policy, practice, custom, and conduct in violation Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 as amended by the Interethnic Adoption Provisions of 1996. DHHS has yet to file a response to the lawsuit and did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Score one for Skechers Inc. A California federal district court judge in Los Angeles has ruled against a pension plan investors bid for a preliminary injunction to delay the closing of the planned acquisition of Skechers by 3G Capital. More from WWD The $9 billion go-private deal with Brazilian private-equity firm 3G Capital is the biggest shoe buyout in history, and the footwear company had already received antitrust clearance from the Federal Trade Commission. But the Key West Police Officers & Firefighters Retirement Plan (Key West) had an issue with the transaction and wanted to delay its closing on the ground that it didnt want to be forced to choose between two different shareholder elections without more information. The deal structure has one election at $63 a share and the other at $57 a share in cash and one unlisted, non-transferable equity unit in a newly formed entity that will become the parent of Skechers upon the closing of the transaction. Key West filed its lawsuit in May and a month later sought a preliminary injunction. Named as defendants were Skechers and members of the founding family company founder, chairman and CEO Robert Greenberg and the firms president, his son Michael Greenberg. The Greenberg family, which is also the controlling stakeholder and will retain a minority stake, has been involved in the business for the last three decades, and both father and son will continue to oversee operations post-acquisition, along with other members of current management. On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Percy Anderson ruled against Key West, finding that it failed to establish it would likely suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief. The court found that the required filing statement and 3Gs prospectus for the offer of equity consideration contained background information regarding merger talks detailing 3Gs approach, the lack of other bidders and the Skechers board deliberations as well as the formation of a committee of independent directors to negotiate and approve or disapprove the deal. It also included a fairness opinion obtained by Skechers from its financial adviser Greenhill & Co., among other matters that also went into detail about financial data, projections and risk factors to inform stockholders decision-making, according to the minutes of an in-chamber meeting last Thursday. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. The outspoken co-founder of Return to the Land, a relatively new whites-only group based in northern Arkansas, said the group could be expanding to the Springfield, Missouri, area. Eric Orwoll, co-founder of Return to the Land, a private membership association that excludes non-white people. Photo courtesy of Orwolls YouTube channel. Eric Orwoll, co-founder of Return to the Land (RTTL), told Ozarks First a group of people are considering developing an RTTL community near Springfield. According to RTTLs website, RTTL is a private member association exclusively made for white people. Jewish people are also barred from membership. Members are vetted through an application process based on European ancestry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We seek to create a decentralized movement, formed of various individuals and societies returning to the land, RTLs website says. We will promote strong families with common ancestry and raise the next generation in an environment that reflects our traditional values. The groups homebase land association is based on 160 acres in northern Arkansas and has been in development since 2023. Orwoll said the draw to northern Arkansas was its affordable land, natural beauty, abundant water resources and a conservative, predominantly white population. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released a statement on X earlier this month saying this northern Arkansas development not only revives discredited and reprehensible forms of segregation it should also be illegal under the Arkansas Fair Housing Act, the Fair Housing Act of 1968, as well as other federal and state civil rights laws. We urge the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission, local elected officials, and law enforcement to act swiftly to ensure that Northeast Arkansas remains a welcome and inclusive community, not a refuge for intolerance and exclusion, said Lindsay Baach Friedmann, regional director of the ADL South Central, in the X statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orwoll told Ozarks First that RTTL is a private association that doesnt sell real estate. The attorneys weve consulted believe what were doing is legal, Orwoll said. Americans have the right to freely associate and form intentional communities on whatever basis they choose. Orwoll said he hopes to help found RTTL communities in all 50 states. We want to ensure that White Americans who value their ancestry will have the ability to live among like-minded people in the future if they choose to do so, regardless of demographic changes, Orwoll said. Wed like for a network of communities, community centers and recreational areas to be available to our members that affords them opportunities to celebrate their heritage with their folk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orwoll said RTTL plans to facilitate homeschool groups, healthcare networks, legal advocacy groups and much more. Whites should have the ability to live among their own people if thats what they want to do, and mass immigration is quickly making that nearly impossible in many Western nations, Orwoll said. If individuals decide to live in multi-racial communities, then they should be allowed to do so, but we dont want racial forced on us in every aspect of life. Orwoll noted there is a group thats considering developing an RTTL community near Springfield. Were glad to facilitate communities in Missouri and think its a great state, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ADL labeled the group as part of a growing trend in white separatist organizing, according to an RTTL press release. In the release, Orwoll contends RTTLs criteria reflect shared ancestral values, not hatred or violence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) The Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU Texas is hosting an array of events for those artsy and creative individuals. From a few dates to choose from, the WFMA invites the community to their Crafternoon events. Summer & Fall Saturdays: July 19 & 26 August 2, 9 & 23 September 6 & 20 October 4, 18 & 25 November 1 & 8 December 6 & 13 This is a free event where you can bring any art project, such as a painting, drawing, or even knitting, and hang out with the rest of the group! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WFMA provides drinks and snacks; just bring your project and the chance to hang out with others in a fun and relaxing group. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more information, contact them at (940) 397-8900. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON, D.C. (WFRV) Congressman Tony Wied (R-WI) and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) have introduced a bipartisan bill to award the Vietnam Service Medal to veterans of Operation End Sweep, a U.S. Navy mission carried out in 1973 to clear mines from North Vietnams Haiphong Harbor after the official end of the war. According to a press release, currently, those who served in Operation End Sweep are not eligible for the medal, as the mission occurred after U.S. troops officially withdrew following the Paris Peace Accords. Historic recognition effort advances for Milwaukee LGBTQ+ landmark This Is It bar Their service and sacrifice deserve to be honored and recognized alongside the millions of Americans who served their country during the Vietnam War. Im proud to work with Representative Wied to honor these sailors. Senator Tammy Baldwin UW-Oshkosh appoints Cassie Schiltz as Top Assistant Womens Basketball Coach Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill, titled the Honoring Operation End Sweep Veterans Act, is inspired by Retired Navy Commander Michael Cosgrove of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, who participated in the operation but never received formal recognition. The full bill can be read 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. WINCHESTER, Ky. (FOX 56) If you knew Brian Epperson or he had access to your home in the past three years, Winchester police hope youll speak with them. Court documents have tied Epperson to multiple suspicious deaths in rentals booked under his name. He also allegedly placed a hidden camera in an ex-girlfriends bedroom. RELATED: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epperson has since been charged with murder, video voyeurism, and possession of methamphetamine. On Tuesday, July 22, Winchester police urged people who knew him to come forward. Epperson had previously worked as a contractor, so theyre also looking to speak with those whose homes hes had access to in the past three years. The notice comes shortly after new charges were filed in the case after an ex-girlfriend reported finding a hidden camera in her bedroom. It was discussed as a digital clock. She told police that Epperson had bought it and placed it there. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recordings from the clock camera were reportedly found on Eppersons phone, per court documents. Kentucky State Police Trooper Michael Haney said that Post 8 is also searching for leads in the Powell County area. If you own any cabins or Airbnbs and have rented to him, please call Detective Brad Watson or Detective Sgt. Eugene Robinson at KSP Post 8 at (606) 784-4127, he wrote. Court documents show the investigation into Epperson began on May 31, when 32-year-old Kristen Morris was found dead inside a Patsy Road Airbnb. Shed reportedly been staying there with 44-year-old Brian Epperson, and the coroner noted finding tablets filled with an unknown substance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morris had overdosed on methamphetamine, but her levels were unusually high. The case against Epperson has been sent to a grand jury. If you have any information, call (859) 745-7418 or email mreed@winchesterky.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Correction: A previous version of this story misstated Stephen Miller's position. A conservative legal group says it sent letters to the Tennessee attorney general and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission asking for an investigation into Cracker Barrel, accusing the restaurant chain of discriminating against White men. The company's executive suite and its board of directors has become less racially and ethnically diverse since 2022. The group of employees that has seen the greatest increase in its racial and ethnic diversity since then is hourly staff, where the share of employees who are members of a racial or ethnic minority increased by 4 percentage points since 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement America First Legal, founded by White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, posted the letters online on July 21. The legal group argues the company is violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Tennessee Human Rights Act. The Attorney General's Office and the EEOC did not respond to confirm they received the letters. In 2004, the U.S. Department of Justice had to step in to force Cracker Barrel to end its pattern of racial discrimination, which included turning away Black customers. Racial and LGBTQ+ inclusivity efforts were praised under Cracker Barrel's former CEO Sandra Cochran, who took over in 2011 and left in 2023, overseeing large increases in the company's stock price. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store on Campbell Station Road in Farragut, Tennessee on Thursday, June 20, 2019. Cracker Barrel's headquarters are in Lebanon. Cracker Barrel did not respond to a request for comment. America First Legal takes issue with a statement on Cracker Barrel's website that reads the company is "committed to making progress through action" to "[a]ttract, select, develop and retain high performing talent with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company's reported demographics included in America First Legal's news release show the percentage of employees who are women or part of a racial or ethic minority in the "executive team" has slightly decreased since 2022. America First Legal points to a 4-percentage-point increase in the share of hourly staff who are part of a racial or ethnic minority since 2022 as evidence of Cracker Barrel's alleged discrimination. The share of professional staff and store level management who are part of a racial or ethnic minority increased by 3 percentage points each since 2022. America First Legal also complains that the company considers, among other things . . . diversity of age, gender, race and ethnic background in evaluating candidates for the company's board of directors. Directors of a corporation are not considered employees, according to the Internal Revenue Service. The makeup of the board of directors has become less racially and ethnically diverse since 2022, falling from 40% to 33% of its members being part of a racial or ethnic minority. "Cracker Barrels policies openly discriminate against heterosexual, white, and male employees in favor of diverse employees," the letter to the Tennessee Attorney General's Office states. America First Legal also takes issue with Cracker Barrel's Business Resource Groups called employee resource groups at some other companies which are voluntary, employee-led groups. They argue groups for Black, Latino, LGBTQ+ and women employees unlawfully provide benefits based on sex, ethnicity or race. Other groups on Cracker Barrel's website include those for veterans, modern professionals and employees interested in improving their health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These sorts of groups, common at many companies, have come under more scrutiny since President Donald Trumps executive order directing agencies to combat illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities. 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: America First Legal asks for investigation into Cracker Barrel WINOOSKI, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) The Winooski School District released a statement Tuesday saying that its superintendent Wilmer Chavarria, was subjected to abusive interrogation for more than five hours by customs and border protection agents upon his return to the U.S. from visiting family in Nicaragua. This is not normal. It is wrong. It is inhumane. It is unjust, reads the statement. We urge our elected leaders and federal agencies to investigate this incident and take meaningful steps to prevent such abuses from continuing. No one especially not a U.S. citizen should face such treatment at the hands of their government. Mask off: New York bill would charge ICE agents who hide their faces Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chavarria grew up in Nicaragua, attended university in Canada and the U.S., and became a U.S. citizen in 2018. He served as a school principal in both New Mexico and Vermont before becoming superintendent of the Winooski School District. As Winooski superintendent, Chavarria has promoted the protection of migrant students and families, introducing a policy that would limit the ability of immigration agents to access student information or visit school grounds. That policy was approved in February. Chavarria said that the policy was prompted after students and families approached him worried about deportations. All I could do was promise them that whatever we could do to keep their child safe, we would do that, he said. Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas called Chavarrias detention and interrogation unconscionable. In a democracy there is a contract between citizens and their government that we will work collectively to follow rules and keep everyone safe; that contract was broken in this situation and Mr. Chavarria suffered the consequences. Sarah Copeland Hanzas Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Capitol Police search for shirtless man suspected of attempting to enter a state representative's home. The Wisconsin State Capitol Police Department said it is investigating a suspicious, shirtless man attempting to open the door of a state representative's residence in Milwaukee. Police said the incident took place July 21 about 10:20 p.m. at the home of state Rep. Priscilla Prado. The man was captured on doorbell surveillance camera attempting to open the door before walking around the property for a while. Prado, a Democrat who represents Assembly District 9 and who was sworn in earlier this year, released a statement on the incident. State Rep. Priscilla Prado (D-Milwaukee) "Late last night, a disturbance occurred at my residence," Prado said. "Authorities have been notified and are actively investigating this situation. I am grateful that no one was injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This has been a deeply unsettling experience, and I appreciate the influx of concern. I respectfully ask for privacy and patience as law enforcement continues its work." Police describe the man as white, in his late 40s to early 50s, about 6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds. He has shoulder length blond hair. Police ask anyone with information to call officer Bryce Ripp at 608-266-8797 or email him at bryce.ripp1@wisconsin.gov. Last month, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos signaled his intent to provide increased security measures for Wisconsin lawmakers at the State Capitol after two Minnesota lawmakers were gunned down at their homes by a man who also targeted Wisconsin officials. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin State Capitol police investigate suspicious, shirtless man Special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is scheduled to travel to Europe this week for meetings on a wide range of issues, including the Israel-Hamas conflict, and will continue pushing for a ceasefire and peace deal, according to a U.S. official. In a briefing with reporters Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce suggested Witkoff could soon go to the Middle East, but declined to provide details about his itinerary. "When it comes to the specific location of the envoy, I do not have that," Bruce said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas are ongoing, according to an Israeli official, and the Israeli government expects to soon receive Hamas' response to an offer made last week. So far, there have been no breakthroughs as they attempt to broker a 60-day ceasefire, initially proposed by the U.S., in the 21-month war. Doha, Qatar, hosted indirect talks between the two parties earlier this month. Witkoff, according to two diplomatic sources, was expected to travel to the Middle East if negotiations progressed and a deal could potentially be closed. He met last week with Qatari officials at the White House just before President Trump hosted the Qatari prime minister for a dinner that stretched late into the night. It took place as diplomatic efforts were reaching a critical moment in the pursuit of a deal to release the 20 living Israeli hostages, free some Palestinian detainees, allow the entry of much needed food and aid to civilians in Gaza, and bring about a cessation of violence and repositioning of Israeli Defense Forces. A U.S. official and a regional source familiar with the diplomacy told CBS News that Israel last week proposed a new map with new locations where the IDF would potentially withdraw within Gaza. The demarcation of these proposed withdrawal zones has been a sticking point in the ongoing diplomatic efforts to broker a deal acceptable to both Hamas and the Netanyahu government. The international mediators Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. planned to transit the Israeli proposal to Hamas for consideration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two sources indicated that the Trump administration is cautiously optimistic about the possibility of an impending break in the Gaza negotiations that could lead to a 60-day ceasefire and hostage release. Steve Witkoff, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, attends a meeting between President Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office at the White House on July 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. / Credit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Washington in early July to discuss the deal with the Trump administration but a sticking point emerged over the deployment of Israeli troops during the truce. Israel wants to keep forces in what it says is an important land corridor in southern Gaza, but Hamas views the presence of Israeli troops on that strip of land as an indication that Israel intends to continue the war once a temporary ceasefire expires. The Knesset goes into a three-month summer recess next week, on July 27, which would give Netanyahu more political flexibility in ceasefire negotiations. In the meantime, Israel has continued to carry out military operations in Gaza, and on Sunday, it issued new evacuation orders to include an area that has been somewhat less hard hit than others, indicating a new battleground may be opening up and squeezing Palestinians further south. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a social media post published Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces warned Palestinians 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." Officials from the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza also said more than 80 people were killed trying to access emergency food supplies on Sunday. Ozzy Osbourne, heavy metal pioneer, dies at age 76 Gene Simmons reflects on the life and legacy of Ozzy Osbourne How to lower your cholesterol and protect your heart Yolo County officials want the state attorney general's office to join the investigation into a deadly fireworks explosion at a pyrotechnic company facility due to what many locals see as a potential conflict of interest. It was revealed that two Yolo County Sheriff's Office employees owned the property where the facility caught fire, killing seven people. On Friday, Yolo County Chair Mary Vixie Sandy wrote to Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta's office asking that he join the investigation over a "strong public perception of conflicts" with the Sheriff's Office and the ongoing probe into the deadly industrial accident. There have been no criminal charges filed in connection to the explosion and fire that ripped through a pyrotechnic company warehouse in the rural farming community of Esparto, Calif., on July 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state fire marshal's office is leading the investigation and the Yolo County district attorney's office is providing oversight in the event that charges are filed, according to county officials. "While we do not question the ability and integrity of the District Attorney to support the Cal Fire and Cal OSHA investigations, ensuring the publics confidence in the investigation and outcomes is of critical importance to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors and our community," Sandy wrote. "It is our strong belief that the public perception and integrity of the investigation elements currently being carried out at the local level would be best served by the direct involvement of the Department of Justice." The attorney general's office said it is reviewing the request. Read more: 'We want answers.' Families hold vigil after seven found dead in fireworks factory explosion Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Family members of the victims say their relatives were hired to package fireworks in the days leading up to the Fourth of July weekend at the Esparto warehouse. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Their remains were pulled from the site several days following the explosion and after explosives experts safely ignited the remaining hazardous materials. The dead were identified as Christopher Goltiao Bocog, 45, of San Francisco; Neil Justin Li, 41, of San Francisco; Joel Jeremias Melendez, 28, of Sacramento; Carlos Javier Rodriguez-Mora, 43, of San Andreas; Jesus Manaces Ramos, 18, of San Pablo; Jhony Ernesto Ramos, 22, of San Pablo; and Angel Mathew Voller, 18, of Stockton, according to the Yolo County coroner's office. Since the explosion, the state fire marshal's office suspended the pyrotechnic licenses of Kenneth Chee from Devastating Pyrotechnics and Craig Cutright of Blackstar Fireworks, who were linked to the site. Cutright previously worked as a volunteer firefighter with the local fire department, officials said. The fireworks businesses operated on property owned by Sheriff's Lt. Sam Machado and his wife, who works as an administrative employee for the Sheriff's Office. Both are on administrative leave, according to Sheriff Tom Lopez. Sheriff's officials were directly involved in the emergency response to the explosion and the brush fire that followed but have not been involved in the ongoing investigation, according to authorities. The Sheriff's Office declined to provide any comments on the investigation and directed all questions to to Cal Fire, Lopez said in a statement posted to Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Still, some may have perceived we were inaccessible our intent was, is, and continues to be full support of the investigative process and respect for the lead agencys role," Lopez said. Although Machado and his wife have been placed on leave, Lopez said this "does not imply wrongdoing, but it is a standard measure to help ensure an impartial and fair investigative process." Machado could not be reached for comment. Earlier this month, law enforcement officials searched a San Francisco home where Chee is listed as the owner. His attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Etta James Farming, a canary bean and wheat farmer, sued Devastating Pyrotechnics, Blackstar Fireworks, Cutright and Machado in a civil suit. Etta James Farming claims the fire damaged its adjoining crops, farming equipment and infrastructure. The lawsuit says that the fireworks operators operated an illegal business on a site that was not permitted on the property. The illegal operation should have been obvious to everyone named in the lawsuit, according to Etta James Farming. They seek an undetermined amount related to the destruction of the crops, farming infrastructure and equipment, along with punitive damages. 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. New York City animal shelters are becoming overwhelmed as residents surrender more and more pets amid an ongoing affordability crisis, according to a new report. The Animal Care Centers of New York City a network of public animal shelters in Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island told The New York Times they have 1,000 animals in their system as of last week. The shelter network is now caring for hundreds of cats, dogs and kittens. The network is also housing 50 rabbits, a dozen guinea pigs and several birds. The increase in surrenders comes as pet owners are increasingly unable to afford their furry friends, according to the Times. People are surrendering animals nonstop, and the shelters are struggling to keep up, Animal Care Centers Communications Director Katy Hansen told the newspaper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not everybody is surrendering their pet because they just dont have time, Hansen said. Theres a lot of people that are just, like, really struggling. And its sad. You know, they come in, theyre crying. I think its just people are broke, she added. The wealth gap is hitting hard. New York City shelters, like the ASPCA Adoption Center, have seen an uptick in animals this summer as a new report reveals many residents are surrendering their pets because they can't afford them (ASPCA) It can cost pet owners thousands of dollars per year to take care of their animals. The ASPCA estimates cat owners pay more than $1,100 in the first year they own their pet, while large dog owners pay more than $2,000 in the first year. Meanwhile, about half of New York City households are unable to make ends meet, and the cost of basic needs is rising faster than earnings, according to a 2023 report by the non-profit United Way New York City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An ASPCA spokesperson told The Independent the agencys New York City adoption center has also seen an uptick in animals in recent weeks. This uptick is the result of a variety of factors, including an increase in 311 calls, criminal complaint reports and criminal cases, as well as ongoing capacity challenges that many shelters across the country are facing, the spokesperson said. Summer is also generally a busier time of year for shelters as it coincides with kitten season, when shelters nationwide are flooded with vulnerable, newborn kittens who require specialized care, the spokesperson added. The summer is one of the busiest time for animal shelters, according to the ASPCA (ASPCA) Its not cheap for shelters to care for the animals, either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dakin Humane Society, a shelter based in Springfield, Massachusetts, estimates it costs their shelter about $950 per animal they care for. Thats because animals that pass through shelters often have extra medical and behavioral needs, the Dakin Humane Society says. The Animal Care Centers of New York City says it has suspended intake as a result of this uptick, except for animals that were sent in by government agencies, animals that pose threats to the public and animals having medical emergencies. We cant adopt our way out, Hansen told the Times. I mean, unless we did a thousand adoptions this weekend, but thats pretty unrealistic. So what is it that we can do? I dont know. I think everyones trying to figure it out. Teako's Project Hub, including the Lkken and Venna main Projects, now consists of 58 projects covering a total area of 4,092 sq. km and prospective for copper, cobalt, zinc, gold, platinum group elements, uranium, antimony, molybdenum and rare-earth-elements and 4 projects wherein Teako holds a 10% economic interest. Provides update on its strategic Project Hub portfolio and announces expansion through the acquisition of 9 uranium projects, 19 VMS and base metal projects, and 2 REE projects from private Norwegian company Element29. Teako has initiated its summer 2025 field program at the high-grade Cu-Co-Zn Lkken and Venna projects in central Norway. The field program at Lkken will focus on potential mineralized extensions to the former mining operations at Dragset, whilst field work at Venna will focus on defining the economic potential of areas of high-grade Cu mineralization. The Company's immediate priorities are to continue advancing existing copper targets within the Lkken project area, together with the identification and prioritization of new additional drill targets within the broader Lkken - Venna property package. Prior to the commencement of the summer 2025 program, the Company deployed its in-house geological team to initiate a mapping and gamma-ray spectrometry program across its existing and newly acquired uranium projects primarily to confirm historical data acquired by previous operators. This program was driven by the increasing market interest in Norwegian uranium assets. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Teako Minerals Corp. (CSE: TMIN) (the "Company" or "Teako") is pleased to announce the commencement of its summer 2025 field mapping and sampling program at its main Lkken and Venna copper-cobalt-zinc ("Cu-Co-Zn") massive sulfide ("VMS") projects, located in central Norway (the "Projects"). In addition, the Company is pleased to provide an update on its strategic Project Hub (the "Project Hub"), which includes the recent acquisition of nine uranium projects, nineteen VMS and base metal projects, and two rare earth element (or "REE") projects (the "Properties") from private Norwegian company Element29 AS (the "Vendor" or "Element29") (the "Acquisition"). Story continues Lkken & Venna 2025 Summer Field Program: Teako's 2025 summer field program will focus on advancing both its Lkken project, specifically around the Dragset-Halsetasen target, and the Venna project. Mapping and sampling at Dragset-Halsetasen will focus on the discovery of potential extensions to the known high-grade Cu mineralization at the former Dragset mining operations. The Venna program will focus on evaluating the economic potential of areas surrounding high-grade Cu-bearing outcrops discovered by previous operators, subsequently sampled by the Norwegian Geological Survey (or "NGU") and most recently confirmed by Teako geologists during July 2025 reconnaissance exploration activities conducted as part of final planning for the 2025 summer field program. Venna Program: The Venna project was a key focus of the Company's 2024 summer field program (see Company New release dated November 19, 2024). The Company's primary objective in the Venna project is to identify and delineate high-grade Lkken-style VMS deposits hosted within favourable stratigraphy along strike from the former Lkken mining operations. Teako's field teams have recently confirmed high-grade outcropping Cu mineralization from the historic "SANDSVE" occurrence within the central portion of the Company's Venna claims. This was confirmed through reconnaissance exploration activities using Teako's Portable X-ray Fluorescence (or "pXRF"). On-site pXRF analyses of one grab sample in the area of interest returned values averaging 2.8% Cu (sample VNP25-001B)1. This high-grade sample adds to previous data obtained by the NGU in the same area whereby certified lab analysis of two grab samples in the area (SANDSVE-2, SANDSVE-3) returned elevated values of 2.5% Cu and 1.1% Cu respectively (see Figure 1).2 1,2 The reported sample constitutes a grab sample, which by definition is selectively obtained and may not be representative of all the mineralization within the property. Samples will be collected from sampling grids (see Figure 1) within the areas of identified elevated copper grades to confirm mineralization style and grade. Subsequently, detailed geological and structural mapping will be conducted, focusing on the central portion of the Venna project area. This program aims to identify additional, previously undocumented mineralization and to comprehensively characterize the area's geology and structural controls on mineralization. VNP25-001B will be sent for laboratory analysis together with any samples of interest to be collected in this 2025 summer field program. Figure 1: Venna project - Cu values (%) from grab samples based on Teako pXRF measurements and NGU certified laboratory assays To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8258/259602_53381c26b48539ee_002full.jpg The geology of the Venna project is characterized by the Trondheim Nappe Complex comprising three greenschist-facies, basaltic metavolcanic belts: the Lkken-Vassfjellet-Bymarka (LVB) ophiolite to the northwest, the central belt including the Mostadmarka Formation, and the eastern Fundsj Group. The Venna project specifically lies within the Mostadmarka Formation. These greenstone belts are separated from each other by metasedimentary units and structural features such as faults and disconformities. Lkken Program: The summer 2025 field program will focus on the Dragset-Halsetasen target, which hosts the former Dragset mining operations and is located approximately 5 km West of the former Lkken mine. The primary objective of this program is to identify potential extensions of the known Cu-Co-Zn mineralization. The field program at Dragset-Halsetasen is based on a comprehensive review of all available geological and exploration data, and will consist of systematic prospecting over known historic mine workings and detailed geological mapping of the broader prospective area within sampling grids where rock-chip samples will be regularly collected to support geochemical analysis. All samples will be logged for lithology and mineralization, with structural data recorded in detail. The area of primary focus for the 2025 summer field program is outlined by the yellow polygon (see Figure 2). Figure 2: Area of primary focus at Dragset-Halsetasen 2025 program (yellow polygon) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8258/259602_53381c26b48539ee_003full.jpg The Dragset target hosts a greenstone-hosted, pyrite-bearing massive sulphide deposit. The Cu-Co-Zn mineralization at Dragset is interpreted from both geological and geophysical data to be hosted within a fold nose, with the southern mineralized limb of the fold zone interpreted to extend eastwards towards the Halsetasen sector (see Figure 2). The Dragset deposit was first discovered in the late 1600's and operated with interruptions until 1909 with a reported total production of approximately 65,000t @ 3.5% Cu3. 3 Metal production figures reported for Dragset are sourced from the Norwegian Geological Survey ("NGU") online database at https://geo.ngu.no/kart/mineralressurser_mobil/?lang=nor. The Company has not completed sufficient work to verify the reported data, but believes the data to be accurate and relevant. Terms of the Element29 Transaction (the "Acquisition") Pursuant to the Acquisition, Teako acquired a total of 30 Properties (9 uranium, 19 VMS and base metals, and 2 REE) from Element29 for a cash consideration of approximately NOK 226,740 (approximately C$30,000) which represents the Vendor's costs of staking the projects. The Company has completed internal due diligence on the Element29 projects and is satisfied that all the mineral claims are in good standing. The Vendor is a holding company controlled by Mr. Sven Gollan, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company. As a result, the Acquisition constitutes a "related party transaction", as such term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). In completing the Acquisition, the Company has relied on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements enumerated in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, respectively, as neither the fair market value of the subject matter of the Acquisition, nor the consideration paid by the Company, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization. Updates to Project Hub The Project Hub strategy was initially developed from the Company's first-mover advantage in-country, leveraging both technical skill and strong local community engagement to acquire and advance groups of both core and non-core assets. Core assets such as the Lkken-Venna district remain integral to the Company's self-funded exploration programs going forward, whereas the Company aims to retain exposure to exploration success on non-core assets through securing deals with strong partners. These deals, if secured, are intended to potentially bring in capital and/or ongoing cash flow, retain upside exposure, and reduce overall risk, thereby strengthening Teako's foundation. Upon completion of the Acquisition, Teako's Project Hub, including the Lkken and Venna main projects, now consists of 58 projects covering a total area of 4,092 sq. km (or 409,200 hectares) and prospective for copper, cobalt, zinc, gold, platinum group elements (or "PGE"), uranium, antimony, molybdenum and rare-earth-elements and 4 projects wherein Teako holds a 10% economic interest (see Figure 3). This optimization of the Project Hub represents a 50% reduction in size compared to last year. Additionally, in a move to prioritize the most prospective areas, the Company has dropped its Vaddas project and streamlined and optimized its Lkken and Venna projects by reducing certain 100% owned claims (see Figure 4). The Lkken and Venna Projects now measures 405 sq. km and 292 sq. km, respectively. Figure 3: Overview over Teako's strategic project hub. To view an enhanced version of Figure 3 please visit: http://teakominerals.com/wp-content/uploads/Teako-Minerals-Project-Hub-July-2025.png Figure 4: Lkken & Venna projects - optimized and streamlined claims To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8258/259602_53381c26b48539ee_005full.jpg Qualified Person The technical information in this press release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and reviewed and approved by Eric Roth, a Non-Executive Director of Teako and Qualified Person under NI 43- 101. Mr. Roth holds a Ph.D. in Economic Geology from the University of Western Australia, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), and is a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists. Mr. Roth has over 35 years of experience in international minerals exploration and mining project evaluation. About Teako Minerals Corp.: Teako Minerals Corp. is a Vancouver-based mineral exploration company committed to acquiring, exploring, and developing mineral properties in Norway, focusing on critical metals such as copper, cobalt, zinc and molybdenum. By leveraging leading-edge exploration technologies and strategic partnerships, Teako aims to address the growing demand for essential minerals while generating value for shareholders and stakeholders alike. Contact Information: Sven Gollan - CEO T: +1 (604)-871-4301 Email: sven.gollan@teakominerals.com Forward-Looking Information: This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of Teako. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of Teako. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "will," "may," "would," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "could" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements related to (i) the commencement, scope and objectives of the Company's 2025 summer field mapping and sampling program and (ii) statements relating to the Company's belief that market interest in Norwegian uranium assets is increasing, and that such interest influenced the initiation of the Company's exploration activities and (iii) the Company's expectations and views with respect to certain mining jurisdictions, future transactions and the Company's plans. Although Teako believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because Teako can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include but are not limited to, risks associated with the mineral exploration industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; the uncertainty of mineral resource estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks), constraint in the availability of services, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, changes in legislation impacting the mining industry, adverse weather conditions and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures. These and other risks are set out in more detail in Teako's interim Management's Discussion and Analysis, for the period ended April 30, 2025. All dollar figures included herein are presented in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted. Neither the CSE nor its market regulator accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/259602 Two health care companies are positioned to keep tens of millions of dollars that are meant to benefit the army of low-wage home health aides who care for disabled and elderly New Yorkers. The first company, Public Partnerships LLC, recently took over New Yorks state-funded home health program. The second, health insurer Leading Edge Administrators, was hired by PPL to provide insurance and other benefits to the hundreds of thousands of workers mostly women and immigrants who provide the home care. The new coverage began in May. A New York Focus investigation has found that Leading Edge has championed a business model allowing the employers they work with to keep money that should legally go to their workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In partnership with PPL, that strategy could help the two companies hold on to nearly $100 million a year in New York. That is them keeping the money that they were supposed to pay to the employees, said LaDonna Lusher, partner at employment law firm Virginia & Ambinder, after New York Focus described the business model to her. I do think that the New York attorney general could investigate that. A spokesperson for the attorney generals office declined to comment and the state has not accused the companies of any wrongdoing. PPL is currently facing multiple lawsuits alleging that it has underpaid New Yorks home care workers, who generally make about $20 per hour. The company denies those allegations. There are two parts to Leading Edges model. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the first, 40 cents per hour out of every NYC-area home care workers paycheck will automatically go towards the Leading Edge health plan. That plan doesnt cover most medical expenses, like hospital care and specialist visits, but rather covers only basic preventative care, like annual physicals and mammograms. Thats useless for the majority of home health aides, who already have health insurance that covers those basics. Because many aides likely will not use the insurance, Leading Edge and PPL will be able to keep the money that they take out of the aides paychecks to pay for it, instead of spending that money on health care. and there is no way for most aides to opt out. I dont want anything to do with this insurance, said Maggie Ornstein, a home health aide who cares for her mother in Queens and was forced to enroll in the Leading Edge plan. I already have insurance that I pay a lot of money for. The second part of the Leading Edge model involves deducting more money from home care workers hourly pay and putting that cash in an account that they can use for expenses ranging from prescription drugs to transportation costs. Aides frequently complain that the account is difficult to use, and the company admits that roughly a third of employee funds go unspent which could equal tens of millions of dollars more each year not going to New Yorks home care workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It only qualifies for certain things. It wont qualify for other things. The aides dont know that in the beginning, and then they learn that the hard way, said Lusher, the employment lawyer. She added that many health care companies offer similar accounts and workers frequently struggle to use them. New York Focuss ongoing investigation into Leading Edge which sometimes goes by the name Omni Advantage has revealed patients left in ruinous medical debt, numerous suits by doctors and hospitals who have accused the company of not paying bills, and a founder, Jerry Weissman, convicted of insurance-related felonies for which he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Even how the company spends its profits is questionable: Weissman and his wife Barbara run a charity the Modim Foundation to which they and the companies they control have donated over $5 million since 2022. The charity has reported giving away $4.3 million since then but has refused to disclose where it sent the money even after repeated inquiries from New York Focus a violation of federal law that raises questions about whether the Modim Foundation is truly doing charitable work. Some legislators have expressed concern about Leading Edges history and practices, but the company has not yet faced any consequences or public scrutiny from government regulators. A legislative hearing to investigate PPLs takeover of the home care program was scheduled for early July, but was then postponed to August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leading Edge did not respond to requests for comment for this story. A PPL spokesperson said that New York Focuss new findings are categorically incorrect and founded on outdated assumptions and misinformation, and that the company and its partners are in full compliance with New York law and not profiting off unspent premiums. Money meant for employees will be used only to benefit workers, they said. The spokesperson, who wouldnt share their name, did not respond to follow-up questions or agree to interview requests. The two programs that Leading Edge offers have their roots in a 2011 New York state law known as wage parity, which says that home care workers in New York City and the surrounding area must be paid a supplemental amount in addition to the state minimum wage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Almost as soon as the law was passed, companies such as Leading Edge found a way to circumvent it by focusing on a critical loophole: The bonus wages can be paid either in cash or in benefits, such as health insurance. Leading Edges strategy relies on offering workers benefits, but making those benefits very difficult to claim. When employees dont claim or use the full value of their benefits, the company paying saves significantly. The majority of home health aides will likely be unable to claim any benefits from the Leading Edge plan. Thats because they already have public health insurance or coverage through another job or a family member, according to an analysis of census data by Barbara Caress, a health policy professor at Baruch College. These plans provide all of the services covered by the Leading Edge plan. As a result, insurance plans like Leading Edges are usually useless to workers, said Edward Larned, a vice president at New York-based company Clarity Benefit Solutions. Its like, Hey, Im offering a medical plan, and its the worst plan ever, Larned said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no way to opt out of the Leading Edge plan unless health aides purchase an even more expensive plan from the company, one which also has huge gaps in coverage. People enrolled in Medicare, which the federal government offers to Americans over 65, can also opt out. Since most workers are already covered under a different insurance, the 40 cents per hour that they pay for the Leading Edge plan will likely go almost entirely unspent. According to a former Leading Edge leadership employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to continued employment in the insurance industry, the average number of bills submitted under similar plans was less than one per employee per year. In a 2018 appearance on the podcast All Things Homecare, Leading Edge insurance and benefits specialist Mayer Majer acknowledged that utilization is really low for these kinds of Leading Edge plans. PPL has tried to minimize the fact that workers are paying for the program, instead framing it as a benefit on top of their salary. When asked during a radio interview why workers are being forced to enroll in the plan, ex-PPL president Maria Perrin said that there is no cost to employees to be in the plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health aide Cynthia Villalobos, who cares for her mother on Staten Island, rejected this claim. Im not a fool. I know that money is getting taken out of my check, she said. Villalobos already has health insurance through her other job at a sleepwear manufacturer, and doesnt plan to use the insurance from Leading Edge. The former leadership employee said that this type of insurance plan is an arrangement that Leading Edge has created numerous times with other clients in New York and profited handsomely from. Thats because Leading Edge takes the money workers paid for the insurance and didnt use and splits it with the employer. Theyre putting in programs that give kickbacks to the employer, the former employee said. PPL did not answer New York Focuss inquiry about whether it is using this model. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An insurance claim has first been stamped approved, but then stamped denied. In 2020, New Yorks legislature passed a law meant to end this type of practice. They barred companies like Leading Edge from taking bonus wages meant for workers and returning the cash to employers. The mandatory health insurance business model serves as the replacement. These plans can reach unheard-of profit margins as high as 70 percent per year netting Leading Edge and its clients millions of dollars, the former employee said. Margins in the insurance industry are generally in the single digits. If the plan that Leading Edge is offering PPL hits that benchmark, it could mean that the two companies will reap nearly $60 million a year in profits, according to New York Focuss analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another part of Leading Edges benefit package could also lead to tens of millions of dollars meant for home care aides remaining with the company and with PPL. Another portion of every workers hourly pay between 22 to 47 cents per hour, depending on their location will go towards the companys Flex Card program, with workers receiving a debit card to be used to pay for eligible expenses such as health and transportation. The workers dont have to pay taxes on this part of their salary (Leading Edges clients also save money because this portion of employees wages is exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes, which are paid by employers). However, by Leading Edges own admission, a significant amount of the money goes unspent. In the 2018 podcast, Majer, the Leading Edge employee, said that about 30 percent of Flex Card dollars are never spent. If that rate was applied to all of the health aides now in the Flex Card program, that would equal nearly $30 million each year not being used by workers. Majer did not respond to a request for comment. One of the reasons that much of the money isnt spent is because the card is difficult to use. Facebook forums for New York home health aides abound with complaints that certain stores or websites dont accept the card, or it doesnt work for particular products. Aides also complain that the cards website is difficult to navigate and frequently unusable. The hours I have spent on this are hours that Im not spending hanging out with my mother or providing her with the care she needs, said Ornstein, the Queens home health aide. Like with the insurance plan, Leading Edge has a method for getting the money back. When health aides leave their jobs, PPL and Leading Edge can deduct an administrative fee each month until the accounts balance reaches zero, according to documents prepared by Leading Edge. This is a strategy frequently used by employers to reclaim money after its been allocated to employees, said Larned, the vice president at the benefits company. We would just withdraw that from their account balance every month until the combination of that withdrawal and their spending gets down to zero, and then we close out the account, he said. This appears to be a strategy that Leading Edge has used on previous occasions. Rather than slowly draining former employees benefit accounts, companies that want to obey the spirit of the law can mail their former employees a check for the sum they accrued before leaving the job, Larned said. Helping companies spend less on their workers is an explicit part of Leading Edges business pitch. In a LinkedIn post from last year, Majer the company executive boasted that Leading Edge can help you save by providing employees with benefits instead of wages. In the 2018 podcast, Majer acknowledged that this arrangement is unpopular with some home care aides. The aides dont want the card, they want the money, he said. The White House is desperately trying to move on by directing the ongoing uproar to the FBI as MAGA world clamors for the release of more Jeffrey Epstein files. When asked on Monday why the president does not just order the FBI to release the full Epstein files, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt left the ball in the bureaus court and claimed it was up to the attorney general. The president has said if the Department of Justice and the FBI want to move forward with releasing any further credible evidence, they should do so, Leavitt responded. As to why they have or have not or will, you should ask the FBI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, it was the FBI and Justice Department that had released a memo earlier this month indicating no further information would be released, igniting the entire firestorm to begin with. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt answering questions from reporters outside the White House on July 21, 2025 as the White House attempts to put distance between itself and the Epstein case amid backlash. / Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images That memo also claimed there was no Epstein client list, raising additional questions after Attorney General Pam Bondi previously indicated in February the list was on her desk for review, before later claiming she was referring to the files as a whole. When pressed on Monday whether the president would call on FBI Director Kash Patel to do more, Leavitt once again tried to distance the White House from decision making and said it was with the federal law enforcement agency. The president has told the attorney general and the FBI director to release any credible evidence that they find, and he also signaled to them over the weekend to move forward with unsealing the grand jury documents that were under seal by various judges across the country, she claimed. Pres. Trump, pictured with Jeffrey Epstein has changed his tune and started referring to the case as a It comes as the president has raged over new bombshell reports about his own relationship with Epstein including allegedly writing Epstein a birthday letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an attempt to move past the ongoing outrage, the president last week posted that he had asked Bondi to produce pertinent grand jury testimony, but he also started to blast the entire case as the Epstein hoax and blame Democrats after previously saying on the campaign trail he would release the files. On Friday, the Justice Department asked a federal judge to unseal the testimony from the prosecution of the disgraced financier as well as the grand jury testimony from the case against Epsteins partner Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex-trafficking and remains in prison. However, grand jury testimony is typically shielded from the public to protect witnesses and victims. Legal experts have also warned that even if the grand jury testimony is unsealed by a judge, it would be extremely limited. It would not include key evidence such as witness statements, recordings or reveal co-conspirators. Far-right activists have been among some of the loudest voices calling for Epsteins clients to be revealed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leavitt was asked about the frustration from MAGA world on Monday as the president has blasted his own supporters in recent days and urged them to move on from the Epstein case, but she rejected that he was losing support from his base. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday it was up to FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi, pictured, to release more Jeffrey Epstein files. / Kayla Bartkowski / Kayla Bartkowski/Getty As the White House struggles to put distance between itself from backlash and accusations swirl that the Justice Department and FBI are attempting to protect the president by not releasing more, Republicans on Capitol Hill have moved to block Democrats efforts to have the files released. On Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson shut the door on the House voting on a resolution to release the files before going on recess for the month of August. There is no daylight between the House Republicans, the House and the president on maximum transparency. He has said he wants all the credible files related to Epstein to be released, Johnson claimed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson pointed to the president asking the attorney general to release grand jury testimony. My belief is we need to have the administration 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, he argued. The GOP House leadership plan to head out on break without the vote was called out by podcaster Theo Von. Last fall, Vice President JD Vance called for the files to be released on his show. He tagged Vance in his X post in which he asked Johnson why the House could not put the bill from Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie on the floor for a vote. Why cant we put the @RoKhanna @RepThomasMassie bill for a vote this week @SpeakerJohnson @JDVance??" he wrote. A technician works inside an AstraZeneca laboratory in this undated photo. The pharmaceutical giant announced plans to build its largest drug manufacturing facility in Virginia. (Photo courtesy of AstraZenica) In a vote of confidence for Virginias growing life sciences sector, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca announced plans to build its largest drug manufacturing facility in the world somewhere in the commonwealth marking the companys single biggest investment ever. The U.K.-based biopharmaceutical company said the new facility will be a cornerstone of its $50 billion U.S. expansion plan by 2030. The site, which will focus on producing treatments for cancer, respiratory illness, and rare diseases, is expected to create hundreds of highly skilled jobs and use AI, automation, and advanced data analytics to optimize production. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who joined AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot and White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett at the announcement in Washington, D.C., said the move represents a landmark moment for Virginias economy. I want to thank AstraZeneca for choosing Virginia as the cornerstone for this transformational investment, Youngkin said. This project will set the standard for the latest technological advancements in pharmaceutical manufacturing, creating hundreds of highly skilled jobs and helping further strengthen the nations domestic supply chain. U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., also praised the deal, pointing to the commonwealths long-standing push to bring drug manufacturing back onshore. AstraZeneca is investing billions to build a manufacturing facility in Virginia, creating hundreds of jobs, Kaine said. As a city councilman, mayor, governor, and senator, Ive been proud to help lay the groundwork for Virginias leadership in onshoring the manufacturing of essential medicines and their ingredients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company said it chose Virginia because of its research institutions, skilled workforce, and commitment to innovation in advanced manufacturing. The Mercury has reached out to both Youngkins office and Kaine to learn more about what financial incentives, tax breaks, or infrastructure commitments Virginia may have offered as part of the recruitment effort. AstraZenecas record-breaking bet on Virginia comes at a critical economic juncture for the commonwealth, which is grappling with rising job losses particularly in its large federal sector. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Virginia posted the only statistically significant uptick in unemployment in June, with its rate climbing to 3.5% marking six consecutive months of increases. The state has lost an estimated 11,100 federal positions this year alone, primarily affecting Northern Virginias federal workers and contractors . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The University of Virginias Weldon Cooper Center forecasts total job losses could reach 32,000 by years end, fueled by federal layoffs and reduced contracting. At its new drug substance manufacturing facility, AstraZeneca aims to produce key ingredients for treatments in oncology, cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases, respiratory and immunological conditions, and other rare disorders. CEO Soriot said the investment underscores both the companys global ambitions and confidence in Americas biopharma future. Todays announcement underpins our belief in Americas innovation in biopharmaceuticals and our commitment to the millions of patients who need our medicines in America and globally, Soriot said. It will also support our ambition to reach $80 billion in revenue by 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the partnership with Virginia reflects the states desire to create high-wage, science-driven jobs while helping bolster the U.S. domestic medicine supply chain. The announcement was met with enthusiasm across Virginias political spectrum. Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura called the project proof that Virginia is becoming a premier hub for the life sciences. With our top-tier research institutions, skilled workforce, and commitment to advanced manufacturing, we are well-positioned to support the breakthroughs that improve lives around the world, Segura said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State lawmakers echoed the sentiment. Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, said the project reflects years of strategic investment in science and manufacturing. We welcome AstraZeneca to the commonwealth and look forward to continued growth in Virginias life sciences sector, Torian said. Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, a senior member of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, called the partnership a chance to reshore our critical pharmaceutical supply chain and elevate Virginias bioscience economy to a global level. AstraZeneca, which sells medicines in over 125 countries, said the new Virginia facility will become a central piece of its global production network. The company has not yet publicly disclosed the exact location of the future plant or a construction timeline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement comes at a time of renewed national focus on securing pharmaceutical manufacturing within the U.S., particularly after pandemic-era supply chain disruptions. AstraZenecas decision positions Virginia at the center of that effort which stakeholders hope will invite other industry leaders to follow suit. AstraZeneca has been increasingly focused on the U.S. market, which generated more than 40% of the companys total revenue in 2024. Even before President Donald Trump returned to office, the pharmaceutical giant had been prioritizing expansion in the United States, the worlds largest pharmaceutical market, valued at $635 billion. Its latest move to expand its manufacturing footprint on American soil comes as the Trump administration signals a more aggressive stance toward the industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has floated the idea of new import tariffs on pharmaceuticals and is pressuring companies to produce more of their medicines domestically rather than relying on overseas facilities. Although the pharmaceutical sector has largely avoided being swept into previous trade disputes, Trump has also renewed his push to lower U.S. drug prices to levels comparable with those in other countries. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Lawyers for a 20-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker who was wrongly deported earlier this year will ask a federal judge in coming days to consider opening criminal contempt proceedings against the Trump administration for egregious violations of her orders. The potential proceedings would open a major new front in the monthslong legal saga surrounding the man, referred to only as Cristian in court filings, who was deported to a notorious mega-prison in El Salvador in mid-March under the Alien Enemies Act, a sweeping 18th-century wartime authority President Donald Trump invoked to speed up removals of migrants his administration claimed are members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. Last week, he was sent back to his home country as part of a prisoner swap with Venezuela. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US District Judge Stephanie Gallagher, of the federal court in Baltimore, decided earlier this year that Cristians deportation violated a court settlement protecting some young migrants with pending asylum claims and ordered officials to facilitate his return to the US so he can have his asylum application resolved. The government did little to carry out her directive and his case largely flew under the radar in recent months. But last week, Cristian was among a group of about 250 Venezuelans who had been imprisoned in El Salvadors CECOT prison that were flown back to their home country in exchange for 10 US nationals. He was a pawn in this prisoner exchange deal, Cristians lawyer, Kevin DeJong, said during a hearing on Tuesday in the case. They were taking active, purposeful steps to deport him to the country in which he actually fears persecution. The attorney told the judge that given the history of violations here, criminal contempt should be on the table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been recurring violations and just blatant disregard for the settlement agreement, the courts orders, DeJong said. Someone should be held accountable for these egregious violations. He said they would file a request for the judge to consider opening criminal contempt proceedings within the next 10 days. Gallagher, who was appointed to the bench by Trump during his first term, said DeJong had proffered a basis under which you could seek some sanctions or contempt, but was careful to note that she wasnt at this time making any early conclusions on the matter. The judge, too, seemed skeptical that her earlier directive had been complied with. Until Tuesday, a court-ordered fact-finding process had been underway to determine what officials had been doing to carry out her order. The judge put that process on hold since Cristian is no longer in El Salvador. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, she said, It wouldnt be moot as to whether my orders were complied with or not. Justice Department attorney Ruth Ann Mueller pushed back strongly during Tuesdays hearing on DeJongs claims that the government hasnt complied with court orders in the case and claimed that officials would remove domestic barriers that would prevent Cristian from returning stateside. Should Cristian wish to return, the government is ready and able to facilitate that, she told the judge. Cristians case has in some ways mirrored that of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He had been living in Maryland until March when the Trump administration moved him to CECOT under a different immigration authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A separate judge in Maryland ordered officials to facilitate his return, and his attorneys are similarly seeking sanctions against the government for their alleged failure to comply with that judges rulings. Abrego Garcia was eventually brought back to the US to face human smuggling charges in Tennessee. He has pleaded not guilty. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A group of university researchers at Northwestern including a nursing mother have come up with a way to ease one of the most anxiety-producing dilemmas of early breastfeeding: How much milk is the baby consuming? The new device the result of a collaboration between pediatricians and engineers is a small wireless set of electrodes worn on the mother's breast that measures the amount of milk expressed during a feeding. Although it still in development and is not yet available to the public, Julia Seitchik, who left the hospital with her first child weighing less than 5 pounds, was able to give it a test run with her third child and called it a "game-changer." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was committed to breastfeeding her first infant, but there was "no room for error." If her baby lost more than 10% of her body weight, the newborn would have to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. "You have no idea what they're getting. You have no idea of whether milk's coming out, because especially in the beginning it's not like it's flowing," Seitchik said. She hired a lactation consultant, who would weigh the baby before and after a feeding to make sure she was getting enough milk a cumbersome process that required she have a tiny scale at home. "There was a lot of anxiety around it," she said. "My husband was like, 'We should just formula feed her!' This is often the moment that breastfeeding gets derailed, said Dr. Jennifer Wicks, an attending physician in the NICU at Lurie Children's Hospital and instructor at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine, who was breastfeeding her own child during the study she was involved with. When she used to work in a pediatric practice, Wicks said, parents would "come in and just be panicked that their baby isn't getting enough, and that they weren't producing enough milk. It's really just a complete unknown oftentimes." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The anxiety itself can decrease the flow of milk, and many mothers would start pumping and introducing formula at this point, which can further reduce milk production, said Wicks. Ultimately, many simply give up on breastfeeding. Just 27% of infants in the U.S. breastfeed exclusively through 6 months of age. Healthy People 2030, a Health and Human Services Department initiative that sets national health targets, set a goal of 42%, an acknowledgment that breastfeeding can be challenging and not all women are able to do it for a host of reasons. If we can get moms even a little closer to that goal it will make us feel like weve at least partially been successful in this mission," said Wicks. The creation of the tiny device began four years ago with a tour of the NICU by a team of engineers from Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering dedicated to solving questions affecting patient care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pediatricians wanted help with a dilemma: Moms wanted to know how much milk their babies were drinking, but there was no way to know. And in the NICU, the sickest babies wouldn't even be able to breastfeed safely unless they could measure the exact amount of milk they were consuming. "They asked us if we could cook up a solution that would address that need," said John Rogers, who leads the engineering team. They got to work. The team started by trying to create a device that could be worn by the baby. They tried mounting sensors on the infant's chin and chest to test if the amount of milk a baby drinks could be measured through swallowing, but it didn't work. They tried to measure properties of the stomach of the baby, but it was too hard to isolate the effect of the milk. So they switched to measuring the mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We went down so many dead ends that we almost gave up," said Rogers. Finally, Rogers made a fortuitous visit to his own physician, where he had his BMI checked using a small device that sends electrical signals through the body to measure the amount of fat. Could the same technology be used to measure milk in the breast, he wondered? And so the breastfeeding device was born: a small wireless set of electrodes placed on the breast that measure the change in electrical currents of the breast tissue to determine how much milk is being expressed. The data are transmitted via Bluetooth to a phone, where parents can watch the consumption data appear over the course of a feeding. Researchers tested the device on 12 pumping and breastfeeding mothers and published the results in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering. Rogers said feeding is rarely predictable. Sometimes, it starts slow and then builds. Other times, the baby gets a flood of milk in the beginning, and then slows down as a feeding goes on. Being able to watch it on the phone provides a lot of reassurance and guidance," said Rogers, giving the mother information on how long she needs to feed, and whether she might need to reposition the baby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also informed parents and physicians on whether the mother might need to change her breastfeeding routine. "There are some moms who produce enough to feed the whole neighborhood but others do not," said Dr. Craig Garfield, an attending physician at Lurie Childrens Hospital and professor at the Feinberg School of Medicine. "If you knew a mom wasnt producing enough, you could have her feed first and then pump after to increase her supply." Seitchik, who was part of the trial and used the device at home while pumping milk for her son, praised it. "In this data driven world, to just to kind of go blindly into these situations feels like a little funny," she sad. It feels like we should know how much our kids are eating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For decades, new technology was slow to develop for new mothers and babies in the postpartum period. "Its not a large market share opportunity, so theres not a lot of venture capital funding, but also its a really compelling need," said Rogers. Its a great space for academics to come in and try to fill that gap." The private market has been hesitant to invest in postpartum devices "because it's a very short period of time that these things get used, and sometimes they can be quite expensive," said Christina Farr, an investor with Scrub Capital and author of the health tech newsletter Second Opinion. Often, a woman will buy a device like a wearable breast pump and then sell it online or give it to a friend. "Then you just lost a customer," said Farr. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But investors are beginning to take note of the opportunities in women's health after a few breakout successes, including Maven, a women's health startup valued at $1.7 billion, and Midi, which is focused on menopause. The postpartum period is also ripe for development, said Farr. "There's so much desperation and need at this moment, and very little that has really changed in the past number of decades to support women." This article is part of The Times early childhood education initiative, focusing on the learning and development of California children from birth to age 5. For more information about the initiative and its philanthropic funders, go to latimes.com/earlyed. 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. Tesla is reportedly embroiled in a legal battle with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) over allegations that the EV manufacturer has overstated the capabilities of its autopilot and full self-driving technologies and misled consumers, Bloomberg reported. The hearing in Oakland, which began on Monday, could result in the suspension or revocation of Tesla's dealer licence in California. This legal battle coincides with a separate jury trial in Miami, where Tesla's Autopilot is under scrutiny following a fatal 2019 collision. The DMV alleges that Tesla made "untrue or misleading" statements in 2021 and 2022 while advertising that its vehicles could operate autonomously without driver intervention. The California DMV's complaint, amended in November 2023, asserts that Tesla's vehicles equipped with driver-assist technology could not at the time of those advertisements, and cannot now, operate as autonomous vehicles. Tesla is currently embroiled in a dispute with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) regarding the marketing of its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving technology. The DMV alleges that Tesla made "untrue or misleading" statements about the capabilities of its driver-assistance systems. In filings, Tesla has argued that the remarks fall under the protection of free speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the US Constitution. The company stated in February 2024 filing that: Tesla repeatedly and explicitly makes clear that its vehicles are not autonomous and require active driver supervision. The company's attorneys have also stated that the promotional statements referenced by the DMV are being misinterpreted, arguing that the regulatory body is not adequately acknowledging the cautions and disclaimers Tesla has provided regarding its systems. Federal safety regulators have investigated multiple Autopilot crashes, leading to a recall of two million cars in 2023 due to concerns that the system does not adequately ensure driver attentiveness. The automotive industry uses a classification system ranging from Level 0 to 5 to denote the degree of automation in vehicles. Tesla's Autopilot is said to be classified as Level 2, which needs continuous driver input and supervision. As the Oakland hearing approaches, both the DMV and Tesla have refrained from commenting. Last month, Tesla faced a lawsuit over a fatal accident in New Jersey, US, where a 2024 Model S, equipped with autopilot and full self-driving features, was involved in a crash that killed three family members. BAIRD, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Baird ISD employee Waldo Rodriquez is now facing deportation even though his employer says he was meeting the conditions set out for him by U.S. Immigration. Rodriquez is a Baird ISD employee who was detained earlier this month during a routine check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and could be deported to a country where he has never had residency. As Trumps raids ramp up, a Texas regions residents stay inside even when they need medical care Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodriquez came to the U.S. illegally from Cuba roughly 20 years ago and was arrested in the early 2000s for that offence. Due to the U.S.s policies at the time, Rodriquez was allowed by U.S. Immigration to stay in America to live and work so long as he adhered to strict conditions, including yearly check-ins with U.S. Immigration regarding his status. However, at his most recent annual check-in, Rodriquez found himself detained by ICE and scheduled for deportation. For the last three years, Rodriquez has been working for Baird ISD as a member of their maintenance team. Baird Superintendent, Dr. Tim Little, relayed information he received from Rodriquezs wife regarding her husbands incarceration. He was held for several days in a mass detention area, sleeping on a concrete floor. Im told he has been asked to sign a permission letter to allow him to be sent to Mexico, which he is refusing to do. Because he has no connection or knows no one in Mexico, Little said. Judge weighs reality of Trump ideological deportation policy as activists crackdown trial ends Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an effort to bring clarity to the situation, Little said that he and other school staff attempted to contact the proper channels regarding Rodriquezs incarceration but have been met with little success for answers. We have reached out to our federal representatives. They did not respond at all or declined to intervene, Little added. A potentially concerning element of Waldo Rodriquezs past was a charge he received when he was initially arrested for being in the country illegally. According to the information provided by Superintendent Little, Rodriquez had been charged with human trafficking many years ago and said that those particular charges stem from Rodriquezs involvement in helping bring others like himself into the U.S. from Cuba. Little also explained the background behind Rodriquezs employment at the school despite his criminal history and shared that for the last three years, Rodriquez has been an essential asset for the school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we hire someone, we try to look at the whole context. If youve got drug convictions selling drugs, if youve abused children, or done anything that would make you unfit to be around children. If youve committed sex crimes, were never going to hire you in Baird, Little assured. Waldo didnt fit that. Yes, he committed a crime, and he did pay for it. Hes been on probation for it. Hes done what hes supposed to do. Volunteers flock to immigration courts to support migrants arrested in the hallways While Baird ISD isnt certain of Rodriquezs future, or even exactly sure which detention center he is currently being held at, they are hopeful for a positive outcome and are holding Waldo Rodriquezs position with their school for him until his return. KTAB/KRBC has reached out to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Field Office in Dallas, where Rodriquez was recently detained, but has not heard back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hundreds of protesters have rallied in Bangladesh to demand accountability after an air force fighter jet crashed into a Dhaka school, killing 31 people, including 25 students. The children, many aged under 12, were about to return home from class on Monday when the Bangladesh air force jet crashed into their school and burst into flames. The military said the plane had suffered mechanical failure. Students from the school and others from nearby colleges protested as two government officials visited the crash site on Tuesday, demanding an accurate death toll and shouting, Why did our brothers die? We demand answers! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere in the capital, hundreds of protesting students, some of them waving sticks, broke through the main gate of the federal government secretariat, demanding the resignation of the education adviser, according to local TV footage. The protesting students called for those killed and injured to be named, compensation for families, the decommissioning of what they said were old and risky jets, and a change in air force training procedures. Police fired tear gas and used sound grenades to disperse the crowd, leaving about 80 students injured, Jamuna TV, a Bangladeshi station, reported. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Talebur Rahman said he did not have information on the number of injured, the Reuters news agency reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The students have several demands, said Al Jazeeras Tanvir Chowdhury, from the site of the crash at Milestone School and College. Theyre asking the government to accurately list the name of the people who died and also those who are injured; they want an exact figure the number of people who are in the hospital. They also want compensation and a public apology, Chowdhury said. They also want the air force to get away from old aircraft and to change their training procedures. The military said in a statement that 31 people had died and 165 had been admitted to hospitals in the city. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said 68 remained in hospital, and the condition of 10 of them was critical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A statement from the press office of Muhammad Yunus, the countrys interim administrator, said that the government, the military, school and hospital authorities were working together to publish a list of named victims. It also said the air force will be told not to operate training aircraft in populated areas. The nation is mourning Rescue workers continued to scour the charred buildings for debris on Tuesday as distressed residents of the area looked on. The whole nation is mourning. This is something [thats] never happened in this country, said Al Jazeeras Chowdhury. Some parents were inconsolable. Abul Hossain broke down as he spoke about his nine-year-old daughter, Nusrat Jahan Anika, killed in the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I took her to school yesterday morning like every day. I had no idea it would be the last time I would be seeing her, Hossain told Reuters. She was buried on Monday night. Rubina Akter said her son Raiyan Toufiq had a miraculous escape after his shirt caught fire when he was on a staircase. He sprinted to the ground floor and jumped on the grass to douse it, Akter told Reuters. He tore his shirt and vest inside, which saved him from severe burns. Women react at the site after an air force training aircraft crashed into the Milestone School and College campus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 22, 2025 [Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters] Smriti, an 11th-grade student at the school, told The Associated Press news agency that her eardrums felt they were about to burst when the plane crashed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I saw some children lying with their limbs spread out, some of their lifeless bodies scattered around. Can you save them? Tell me, will they ever be able to return to their parents arms again? she asked. The jet had taken off from a nearby airbase on a routine training mission, the military said. After experiencing mechanical failure, the pilot tried to divert the aircraft away from populated areas, but it crashed into the school campus. The pilot, flight lieutenant Mohammed Toukir Islam, was among those killed. It was his first solo flight as he was completing his training. The incident comes as neighbour India is still grappling with the worlds worst aviation disaster in a decade after an Air India plane crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad last month, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 others on the ground. Gotham City Police haven't shown up in Detroit, but the Bat Signal will light up the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center this week to celebrate Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Batman 1989 concert. As sun sets and darkness falls, people can visit and take pictures of the outside of the theater where the signal will be lit up from 8 p.m. to midnight Monday, July 21 until Friday, July 25. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra will play the iconic Danny Elfman score in concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 25 with tickets starting at $39. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Bat Signal in Midtown celebrates Detroit Symphony Orchestra concert BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sid Edwards expresses his appreciation for Sen. Regina Barrow for securing funding for community initiatives in the parish. Barrow secured $1,025,000 in state funding to support key public safety and community development in the city-parish. The appropriation will directly support violence prevention, neighborhood outreach and health-focused programming. Senator Barrows unwavering dedication to Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish is truly remarkable, said Edwards. This $1 million appropriation will significantly benefit our citizens, and we sincerely appreciate her efforts to secure these essential funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The million-dollar appropriation would support projects including: $25,000 Back to School Event: Community Outreach $49,900 Domestic Violence and Mental Health Services (Vee and Cai) $50,000 Community Health Clinic (Dental) $50,000 Community Outreach Events: Prevention and Intervention $50,000 Community Junior Take Over Day $60,000 Educators R Essential: Back to School Event $75,000 Community Development: Glen Oaks Security Dads $100,000 Community Neighborhood Bonding $120,000 Council District Outreach: Districts 1-12 $445,100 Office of Violence Prevention This appropriation is an investment in our future, said Barrow. It will allow us to address critical needs, support, and improve the quality of life for all our residents. I am proud to champion these resources for our community. 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. Jul. 21A dispute over security at the Bernalillo County Courthouse spilled into public view Monday when sheriff's officials denied an allegation by court officials that the agency has scaled back court-related staffing. Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen's office denied it had trimmed staffing levels at the courthouse even as the court abbreviated its hours of operation claiming security concerns. "Contrary to the narrative presented (by the state judiciary), there has been no lapse in safety or reduction in service to the Second Judicial District Court," the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office said in a statement Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BCSO also refuted the claims by court officials that deputies have responded to 5,867 calls for service at court facilities so far this year. Of those calls for service, more than 60% were "proactive perimeter or floor checks standard, low-risk safety sweeps" rather than responses to incidents, BCSO said. But the BCSO statement also acknowledged that the overtime cost for court security "was a key factor in our decision to restructure staffing for greater efficiency" at the courts. The Administrative Office of the Courts issued a statement Sunday afternoon announcing plans to limit the number of people entering the Bernalillo County Courthouse in response to what it described as security concerns and BCSO staffing cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The safety and well-being of people required to go to court cannot be compromised," Supreme Court Chief Justice David K. Thomson said in the AOC statement. Sarah Jacobs, AOC deputy director, said Monday that court personnel were "shocked" by BCSO's announcement July 10 that the agency planned to cut security staff "by one-third to one-half" beginning on Monday. The state judiciary needs more security staff, not less, Jacobs said. "A reduction in (security staff) is unacceptable to us," Jacobs said. The judiciary is negotiating with BCSO seeking a full restoration of security staff, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "An agreement for us would, at a minimum, look like returning to the status quo in terms of the deputies," Jacobs said. "That's the immediate goal." The Bernalillo County Courthouse at Fourth and Roma NW curtailed hours of several clerk's offices on Monday. Clerks sat at information desks in the lobby informing people about the new hours of operation. For example, the main court clerk's office was open only from 1-4 p.m. Monday. Typically the clerk's office is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition, civil, family and children's court hearings in the 2nd Judicial District Court were conducted remotely rather than in person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We anticipate the adjusted operations continuing at least through the end of next week" unless an earlier agreement is reached with BCSO, Jacobs said. Otherwise, the courthouse appeared to operate largely as usual on Monday, with sheriff's deputies screening people at the front entrance and running personal belongings through an X-ray machine. Bernalillo County deputies continued to be a familiar sight in hallways and courtrooms and providing security during criminal trials. Judicial officials cited two recent examples of security incidents at the Bernalillo County Courthouse as evidence that a robust security staff is needed. Chaos erupted in a 2nd Judicial District courtroom in January when the family of a murder victim attacked the accused killer, resulting in a melee that injured a corrections officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And last week, members of the district attorney's office were "verbally accosted and confronted" near a courthouse parking lot following a hearing, AOC said in a statement. Bernalillo County owns the Bernalillo County Courthouse and state law requires counties to provide security at each of the state's 13 judicial districts, Jacobs said. BCSO contends the "status quo is unsustainable" and requires a broader conversation about how court security is provided and funded. "This is yet another example of an unfunded state mandate placed on counties across New Mexico, forcing local law enforcement agencies to fulfill obligations without the resources, infrastructure, or support necessary to sustain them," BCSO said in the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BCSO this year has paid nearly $900,000 in overtime for court-related staffing, the statement said. Court-related overtime cost the county over $1 million a year in 2023 and 2024. BCSO disputes that the agency is skimping on security at 2nd Judicial District Court facilities. BCSO said that on Monday it had nine "court security specialists" assigned to the Bernalillo County Courthouse and the Public Safety Center at Fourth and Roma NW, which handles probation and specialty courts. BSCO had five additional deputies at the Children's' Court at 5100 Second NW. "These numbers reflect the full staffing of Court Security Specialists currently employed by Bernalillo County," the statement said. "In addition, non-sworn BCSO personnel assist with entry screening, allowing sworn deputies to be strategically placed throughout the facilities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AOC spokesman Barry Massey responded Monday that BCSO said in its July 10 statement that it planned to cap the number of deputies at 14 at the court's three locations, "which is below past staffing levels" at the three sites. "By any measure, security staffing at the Second Judicial District Court remains inadequate for the state's busiest district court," Massey said. "Court hearings often are emotionally charged and contentious. Underestimating the court's security needs can lead to serious harm or tragedy." Malcolm-Jamal Warner, known for starring in the TV sitcom The Cosby Show, has died at 54. He was swimming off the coast of Playa Cocles, in the province of Limon. This popular beach is where many spend time on vacation, but it has a lifeguard problem. NBC News reported, "[Malcolm-Jamal Warner] was swimming at Playa Cocles in Limon province when a current pulled him deeper into the ocean, [Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Department] told the Associated Press. 'He was rescued by people on the beach,' the departments initial report said, but first responders from Costa Ricas Red Cross found him without vital signs and he was taken to the morgue." Lifeguarding in Costa Rica Has a Complicated Past What you may not know is that Limon province is one of the very few areas in Costa Rica with a lifeguard program. Additionally, it is community-funded and in its early stages of development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a study conducted on drownings from 2001-19, the authors claim, "Principally, a strong national lifeguarding system which guarantees permanent and professional supervision, prevention and rescue services at beaches is required. Importantly, the sustainability and success of any lifeguard system in the country will require support from local, provincial and central government, in addition to that of the tourism industry." This has been a need for more than a decade, after community members founded a lifeguard service in 2004, after five people drowned in eight days off the coast of Playa Cocles. The same beach where Malcolm-Jamal Warner drowned. The government has taken steps to implement better lifeguarding. But the same researchers highlight that, "In 2019, the Costa Rican National Assembly passed a bill requiring coastal counties to provide permanent professional lifeguards at the most popular beaches; however, implementation of the law was significantly delayed due to COVID-19. Also, a pilot program started in January 2020 deployed permanent lifeguards in six popular beaches at Costa Rica and has generated positive initial indicators including rescues and preventive actions." What is Being Done to Prevent Drownings Like Malcolm-Jamal Warner's? Thankfully, there is hope for the region. Recently, community members have been improving the community lifeguard ranks, attempting to implement more complete and consistent coverage near the area where Malcolm-Jamal Warner drowned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a video posted 3 months ago by Caribbean Guard, they highlight the next steps and goals for lifeguarding in the area. Especially Punta Cocles and Playa Chiquita, which are directly adjacent to Playa Cocles. At the end of the video, Caribbean Guard claims, "Since we started the Organized Beach Program, from Punta Cocles to Playa Chiquita in July 2024, until today, more than six months later, there have been no more deaths from growing in this sector." The organization plans to keep expanding so that the beaches are safer for both tourists and locals. Their goal is to prevent drownings, protect beaches, organize the community, and keep the beaches as safe as possible for as long as possible. New Call to Action and Details Released by Caribbean Guard on Malcolm-Jamal Warner's Death The Caribbean Guard made a statement about the incident, offering condolences and using the opportunity as a call to action, saying, "From Caribbean Guard, an association of volunteer lifeguards, we call on the President of the Nation, the national government, the Municipality of Talamanca, and the entire Caribbean community to continue joining forces to minimize this problem, which, sadly, is on the rise throughout the country." Echoing prior safety concerns and pleas for support, Caribbean Guard continued, "We're doing everything in our power. We've saved countless lives in recent years, and if Caribbean Guard didn't exist, drownings would be in the dozens. We're doing everything we can to minimize the risks, but without government assistance, clear public policies, and strong support from local businesses, this will continue to happen." Related: Adam Sandler Recalls Friendship With Malcolm-Jamal Warner After Shocking Death Related: 'TV Wife' of Malcolm-Jamal Warner Tracee Ellis Ross Leaves Heartfelt Goodbye Message Related: Caribbean Guard Shares New Details on Malcolm-Jamal Warner's Death. They're Harrowing Beach Where Malcolm-Jamal Warner Drowned Had Lifeguard Troubles: New Details Emerge first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) Two Suffolk residents captured two separate incidents of bears walking around their Suffolk neighborhoods, with one woman saying she couldnt believe her eyes and now reminding everyone to be careful this summer. Im assuming he just went right on through, because he was just walking leisurely, said Suffolk resident Ronsae Rose. But Rose isnt talking about a person walking, or even a dog. Rather, she is talking about a much larger furry friend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I sent it to my family and everybody said No, thats a bear, Rose said. Her doorbell camera video captured a bear crossing Lucerne Avenue, just a short drive away from downtown Suffolk. Another Suffolk resident captured a video of a bear approaching his side door the very next day. They come out of their dens hungry, so they are on the search and wanna find food, said Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources District Biologist Peter Acker. Mid-summer, they are still sort of on the same routine, they still wanna eat. The Virginias Department of Wildlife Resources said black bears are the species you would find here in the Commonwealth, and like any wildlife, its recommended that you keep a distance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are scavenging, they are trying to find somewhere to eat and somewhere to stay, Rose said. Were knocking all their trees down, were knocking the woods down [and] they dont have anywhere to go. I just let my neighbors know, as well, to be vigilant, and when they come out here at night, to be safe. Be sure to keep your trash cans and any other food sources secure. If you see a bear, capturing the moment is OK, just do so safely. Take a picture, tell your friends, put it on Facebook, Acker said. Its a neat encounter. Said Rose: Ive seen snakes. As a matter of fact I saw a snake last week, possums, but never a bear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more wildlife resources, 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 WAVY.com. First breakfast and now the grill experts explain why consumers are seeing higher prices down the grocery aisle. During a Tuesday, July 22 segment of the Today show, NBC News correspondent Christine Romans explained why the price of grilling season According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ground beef is currently priced at $6.12 per pound, representing an 11.84% increase from 2024, and steak is $11.49 per pound, representing an 8.05% increase from last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a noticeable jump. Ground beef is above $6 per pound for the first time in history, said Romans, also adding that the American Farm Bureau Federation reported that there is strong demand for beef ahead of other animal proteins, like pork, poultry and seafood. Getty Close-up of unrecognizable white man checking the price of ground beef at supermarket Close-up of unrecognizable white man checking the price of ground beef at supermarket The government anticipates the price of beef and veal to see an increase of about 7% in 2025, Romans reported. She also concludes that a few factors, including fewer family farms, a shrinking number of cattle herds and droughts in the Midwest leading to cattle having fewer areas to graze upon, can begin to explain the reasoning behind the sudden price spike. The rise in border fees also creates a roadblock for international farmers, along with a ban on imports from Mexican beef due to an infectious screwworm thats infecting its livestock, according to AP News. Earlier this year, it was the price of eggs that were a grocery list item that had consumers hesitating to pick up; however, Romans announced those prices are decreasing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in March, a carton of 12 eggs was roughly $6.23, a huge increase from its previous year of $2.72. Today, eggs are about $3.78. Beef is way more complicated than eggs, Michael Swanson, chief agriculture economist at Wells Fargo, told News 10. The cattle industry is still the Wild West of the protein market, whereas the egg market is more Corporate America with its supply and demand management. Roman suggested picking up pork since those prices have plateaued, as reported by the USDA, buying in bulk while preferred cuts are on sale and storing it in a freezer. Read the original article on People A restaurant in Portland, Oregon nearly closed its doors for good before customers jumped in to try and save it. Higgins Restaurant revealed in a post on social media on July 12 that the establishment may have to close up shop after 31 years if something did not change and then it did. According to Libby Dowsett of KGW8, reservations at the restaurant have seen a major increase since the announcement and Higgins now has a chance to survive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Co-owner and chef, Greg Higgins, revealed that the restaurant went from zero to 75 reservations in one day, for example. "I gotta just say, wow!" Higgins exclaimed. "We're absolutely overwhelmed by the response." However, Higgins did admit that this major uptick must keep up into the fall for the restaurant to stay open. That's when theater season hits and provides a nice boost for businesses in the area. In the aforementioned announcement, Higgins and co-owner Paul Mallory revealed that changes in the area have taken a toll on their restaurant, putting it on the brink. "Office vacancies are at historic highs among the worst in the nation," the owners said. "Business travel is down. Arts and culture events are in their summer lull. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For independent restaurants like ours, who've poured everything into this city for decades, it's become nearly impossible to keep going," they added. The attempted rescue of Higgins comes in the same month a pair of bars in the area, Slow Bar and Home, A Bar, announced they will be closing up shop on Aug. 9 and at the end of July, respectively. Portland restaurants have struggled badly since the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, according to Leslie Bridgers of the Press Herald back in March, of the 303 dine-in restaurants that were open around the time of the shutdown, around one-third have closed. Related: Tesla Diner's Full Menu and Prices Revealed Beloved Restaurant Nearly Closed Before Customers Saved It first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 22, 2025 Jul. 21GRAND FORKS An Arvilla man accused of possessing explosives while traveling through Grand Forks County failed to appear for his Monday, July 21, hearing, because he is in Clay County, Minnesota, custody on an unrelated matter. Christopher Ryan Ringsrud-Knowels, 44, faces up to five years in prison if convicted of Class C felony possession of explosives. Ringsrud-Knowels and 41-year-old Gabriel Patrick Messmer were charged in June after a vehicle search by law enforcement uncovered a homemade explosive device, according to a declaration of probable cause filed in the case. Messmer was driving the vehicle, and Ringsrud-Knowels was the passenger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident resulted in an hourslong closure of southbound Interstate 29. During his initial court appearance, Ringsrud-Knowels said the situation was a misunderstanding; he claimed the device was a smoke bomb used to kill gophers. Messmer who faces the same felony charge as his co-defendant had his preliminary hearing Monday, which ended with the judge determining there was probable cause to proceed with his criminal case. Messmer, of Fargo, was then arraigned and pleaded not guilty to explosive possession. He remains out of custody on a $10,000 cash or surety bond. His next hearing, a final dispositional conference, is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ringsrud-Knowels, however, did not appear for the hearing. He was arrested July 14 and remains in the Clay County Jail. The Forum reported that Ringsrud-Knowels is accused of fleeing from law enforcement, the result of which was an hourslong standoff and a shelter-in-place order for the surrounding area. Ringsrud-Knowels allegedly refused to halt when law enforcement attempted to initiate a traffic stop and, when stop sticks caused the vehicle to eventually stop, Ringsrud-Knowels allegedly fled on foot into an occupied home in Moorhead. A standoff ensued. The Red River Valley SWAT team was called to negotiate with Ringsrud-Knowels and remove him from the home. He is being held on a $600,000 cash or surety bond. A request to revoke Ringsrud-Knowels' bond in the Grand Forks County case was filed July 17, stating that he violated his bond conditions. The request was granted, and a bench warrant was issued Monday morning. LONDON (AP) Hewlett Packard is owed more than 700 million pounds ($943 million) from British tech tycoon Mike Lynch's estate and his former finance director after they lost a fraud case involving Lynch's software company, a U.K. High Court judge ruled on Tuesday. The courts decision comes nearly a year after Lynch was killed when his superyacht sank off Sicily, where he had gathered with friends and family to celebrate his acquittal months earlier in a separate U.S. criminal trial. The U.S. tech company, now known as Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, had accused Lynch of fraud and conspiracy after it bought Lynch's company, Autonomy Corp., for $11 billion. HPE also took Lynch to court in the U.K., seeking up to $4 billion in damages in a civil case. The High Court had ruled mostly in HPEs favor in 2022, but the judge had said that the amount awarded would be substantially less than the company was seeking. Judge Robert Hildyard was originally due to issue a draft ruling in September but delayed it after Lynchs yacht, the Bayesian, sank in the storm off Sicily on Aug. 19. Lynch and his daughter were among seven people who died while 15 others survived, including the captain and most of the crew. In a written judgment, Hildyard expressed his sympathy and deepest condolences to Lynchs wife and family. Hildyard said HPE suffered a loss of 646 million pounds based on the difference between Autonomy's purchase price and what it would have paid had Autonomy's true financial position been correctly presented." HPE is also owed 51.7 million pounds for "personal claims related to deceit and/or misrepresentation" against Lynch and Sushovan Hussain, the finance director, and $47.5 million for other losses. Hussain was convicted in a 2018 U.S. trial of wire fraud and other crimes related to Autonomys sale, and sentenced to five years in prison. We are pleased that this decision brings us a step closer to the resolution of this dispute," HPE said in a statement. "We look forward to the further hearing at which the final amount of HPEs damages will be determined. A hearing to deal with interest, currency conversion and whether Lynchs estate can appeal is set for November. In a statement written before his death and issued posthumously, Lynch said the ruling shows that HPs original claim was not just a wild overstatement - misleading shareholders - but it was off the mark by 80%. This result exposes HPs failure and makes clear that the immense damage to Autonomy was down to HPs own errors and actions," he said. Pennsylvania law gives riders the choice to ride helmetless unless they are 21 or younger or have less than two years of experience. (Peter Hall/Capital-Star) Most motorcyclists in Pennsylvania have had the choice of whether or not to wear a helmet for 22 years, but a Berks County lawmaker said Monday that its time to make helmet use mandatory again. State Rep. Manuel Guzman (D-Berks) said he plans to introduce a bill that would require all motorcycle riders and passengers to wear protective headgear, regardless of their age or riding experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Listen to Peter and Emilys audio recap here: https://penncapital-star.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/22epphHELMETQ-web.mp3 State law gives riders the choice to ride helmetless unless they are younger than 21 or have less than two years of experience. The experience requirement is waived for riders who have completed a PennDOT-approved motorcycle safety course. Data continues to show that partial helmet laws do not provide sufficient protection to the riding public, Guzman said in a memo seeking co-sponsors for the proposal. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Pennsylvania repealed its helmet requirement in 2003 after 35 years, in response to pressure from motorcycle riders groups who said it should be a matter of personal preference. Groups including the Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education of Pennsylvania (ABATE Pa.) maintain that helmet requirements infringe on personal freedom to choose their lifestyle and attire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Motorcyclist Association strongly encourages the use of helmets and other protective gear. But it asserts that helmets alone are insufficient to ensure motorcyclists safety and that other measures to improve the skill of riders and awareness of other motorists should play a role. The National Institutes for Health, meanwhile, cites data that shows helmet use reduces the severity of injuries, disability, length of hospital stays and costs for motorcycle riders. In one study of emergency medical service reports in Hawaii, researchers found unhelmeted riders were three to four times more likely to die. Other research focuses on the cost of injuries sustained by motorcycle riders, finding unhelmeted riders were less likely to be insured, suffered more serious injuries and placed a large financial burden on society. Since 2003, there have been efforts to reinstate the motorcycle helmet requirement. State Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) introduced bills to restore the requirement in 2007 and 2011. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The increase in death and injuries on our roads and the shattered lives of victims and their families ought to be enough to admit the 2003 repeal was a mistake and we should fix it, Frankel said in a statement. Guzman noted 19 states and the District of Columbia have universal helmet laws. All of Pennsylvanias neighbors except Delaware and Ohio require all riders to wear a helmet. Motorcycle helmets save lives. Its time Pennsylvania joins the majority of states that protect all riders equally, Guzmans memo says. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX German Culture Commissioner Wolfram Weimer is calling on major US streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon and Disney to boost their investment in German productions. Ahead of a meeting set for Wednesday, Weimer raised the prospect of either binding obligations or voluntary commitments. "Those who do successful business in Germany, benefiting from our market and taxpayer-funded subsidies, should also invest more in German film productions," Weimer told dpa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weimer, who coordinates the government's activities when it comes to cultural and media policy, has invited senior executives from several media corporations to the Chancellery in Berlin for what he's calling a "streamer summit." Weimer pointed to Germany's strengths as a shooting location: "We have great production facilities, talented screenwriters and actors, and extensive funding from both the federal and state governments. There are many good reasons to become more active here." "There are always opportunities to invest directly in production facilities," he added. 'Think about the audience' Last week, Weimer voiced concern over the state of Germany's film and television industry in the face of of mounting competition from the dominant US streaming platforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to the Rheinische Post newspaper, he said too many films in Germany are made without the audience in mind. "Those who make films should primarily think about the audience," he said. He also noted the structural disruptions caused by digital platforms and streaming services. "We are witnessing a revolutionary shift because almost the entire media business, from development to production to distribution, is facing massive changes," Weimer told the newspaper. "Media monopolies of American origin are effectively emerging here. And our system is not only under pressure, but is facing existential concerns." BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) Its an area the city and county hope will become a hub for visitors to Albuquerque, but surrounding areas have become an eyesore. Now, Bernalillo County is trying to clean up the mess. Its very disappointing because this is the land were going to leave our children, and you know, were just polluting it, said Gabriel Villescas, Solid Waste Manager, Bernalillo County. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right behind the newly built Route 66 Visitor Center on the west side of Albuquerque, the land has become a dumping site for hundreds of semi-tires. But it goes a substantial distance down the way here. I would say at least a thousand feet, said Villescas. Gabriel Villescas is the Solid Waste Manager for Bernalillo County, and said they discovered the problem about four months ago and have counted more than 650 tires. He said they each weigh about 110 pounds. Theyre a lot larger, they have a lot more rubber in them, a lot more steel, theyre a little bit more problematic to get rid of, said Villescas. Because of the location, the low lighting, the no surveillance, people have been dumping obviously here for quite a while. But who is doing it remains a mystery. Obviously, somebody in the commercial field is using this as their dump ground, said Villescas. Villescas said there is an arroyo nearby, which makes this a bigger problem as it can pollute the aquifer. You know, part of the problem is when people start a dump site like this, it propagates. The next guy goes, Oh, thats a good place to dump,' said Villescas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And thats already happening. About three miles east of the Visitor Center, an empty area near the sand dunes has also become a dumping ground for car tires and other trash. Bernalillo County said this location has even more tires because its more accessible to the general public. Bernalillo County told KRQE News 13 that there are more than 1,000 tires at this location, and they could become homes for rodents or mosquitoes, which would also bring disease. On Monday, one man said he came to look for spare tires because he sees so many dumped there. When we have visitors coming in as one of the first places that they see, we definitely want to make sure that theyre not seeing something like this as an issue, and we also want to make sure that our residents are taking pride in their community, said Martina Rivera, Education Program Coordinator, Bernalillo County. Bernalillo County said theyve recently received a grant theyll use to buy a larger tire cutter to deal with the semi tires. Both dumping locations will also be added to the Countys Illegal Dumping Route list, which means county workers will monitor the areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bernalillo County said theyll also be having a community cleanup event in the East Mountains next month at the Whispering Pines Senior Center in Tijeras. People can bring up to unwanted tires to the site to dispose of them correctly. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The youngest daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. has joined the chorus of critics calling on President Donald Trump to release the Jeffrey Epstein files in response to the federal government unveiling thousands of investigative documents relating to her fathers assassination. Bernice King expressed disapproval in a series of statements on Monday regarding the Trump administrations move to declassify more than 230,000 files relating to her fathers 1968 murder. She questioned the value of releasing the files now and condemned any attempts to misuse these documents in ways intended to undermine our fathers legacy and the significant achievements of the [civil rights] movement. She also challenged Trump to do the same with federal records regarding Epstein, the disgraced and deceased sex trafficker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, do the Epstein files, Bernice King wrote on X Monday evening along with a Black and white picture of her father. Now, do the Epstein files. pic.twitter.com/rzlub3WucQ Be A King (@BerniceKing) July 21, 2025 Capital B Atlanta has reached out to the White House for comment. The King Center CEO went into greater detail about her feelings regarding the publication of the MLK files in a lengthy Vanity Fair article that explained the lifelong trauma she has endured since first learning of her fathers murder when she was just 5 years old. Today, I am not writing in my role as CEO of The King Center to address the governments recent release of assassination records, Bernice King wrote. Today, instead, I wonder why I have to be confronted once again with something that was very confusing and distressing for me as a five-year-old. I am, honestly, not prepared to revisit the gruesome details of this painful history. For me, there is no real value in it; there is only reliving the trauma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been six months since Trump issued an executive order shortly after his inauguration that directed his administration to prepare to release the MLK files in conjunction with the release of files relating to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and his brother, Robert Kennedy. Their families and the American people deserve transparency and truth, Trump said in January. It is in the national interest to finally release all records related to these assassinations without delay. King Center CEO Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., speaks during a news conference in January at the King Center in Atlanta. (Kate Brumback/Associated Press) Bernice King, her brother Martin Luther King III, and other members of the King family were given advance notice of Mondays release and had their own teams examine the records prior to their disclosure, according to the Associated Press. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said the MLK files include information connected to James Earl Ray, the man convicted of fatally shooting King on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her writings on Monday, Bernice King maintained her familys stated belief that Ray was not the assassin, but a scapegoat used by a large and powerful network, one that included informants whom the FBI recruited from within my fathers camp. She recalled Ray telling her late brother, Dexter King, that he did not kill their father, a revelation revealed after the King family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Shelby County, Tennessee, in 1999. After hearing from some 70 witnesses over the course of four weeks during the wrongful death trial, a Memphis jury concluded that government entities conspired in the assassination, Bernice King told Vanity Fair. Our family views that verdict as an affirmation of our long-held beliefs. Trumps second inauguration coincided with MLK Day in January, sparking interest in what the slain civil rights legends family would say about the occasion. Bernice King told Capital B Atlanta during a follow-up interview in February that she feared the country was entering uncharted territory. The post Bernice King Condemns MLK File Release, Calls for Epstein Docs appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta. Jim Parsons is blasting President Donald Trumps administration for shutting down one of the nations crisis hotlines, which offered tailored support for LGBTQ youth and young adults. The Big Bang Theory star made a recent appearance on MSNBCs The Weekend, where he criticized the decision to end the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifelines LGBTQ service on July 17. More from The Hollywood Reporter 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. The openly gay actor, who is married to Todd Spiewak, 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. According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the LGBTQ youth program served more than 1.4 million callers since it launched in September 2022. Callers now dont have the option to Press 3 for specialized LGBTQ support. SAMHSA wrote in a statement after it was announced that the Trump administration would be shutting down the specialized service, 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. Anyone who calls the Lifeline will continue to receive compassion and help. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Oregon State University-Cascades students attend a graduation ceremony on June 17, 2018 in Bend. Oregon graduates with loans who are seeking assistance can turn to the state's student loan ombudsman, which recently reported a record number of complaints regarding loan administrators. (Photo courtesy of Rob Kerr/OSU-Cascades) Oregonians are filing a record number of grievances with a state official who helps ensure student loan servicers follow the law, according to an annual report from the Department of Consumer and Business Services. The 26 pages of findings released earlier this month in consultation with the departments Division of Financial Regulation and its student loan ombudsman say that 95 complaints were made to the ombudsmans office from June 2024 to May 2025. That marks a more than 30% jump from the previous reported years caseload. The department attributes the rise to shifting federal guidance and a lack of clarity from loan payment administrators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The office had more open complaints when the report was published than at any other comparable period in the offices three-year history, despite also investigating and closing more complaints per month than in previous years. I am speaking to so many people, Lane Thompson, Oregons student loan ombuds, told the Capital Chronicle. Just the kind of overall feeling among borrowers is that their student loans are becoming more expensive. They are more difficult to deal with. Were talking about a time when most people list the economy as a number one concern, these are big bills for people. The amount of student debt Oregonians owe is higher than the nationwide average, with the Beaver States more than 533,000 federal student loan borrowers having about $44,000 in debt, according to a January 2025 fact sheet from the D.C-based Student Borrower Protection Center. The states report organized the most common complaints from individuals seeking to pay off that debt by keyword, with phrases such as forgiveness/cancellation and servicer provided wrong information ranking at the top. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The overlap and shared roots of many complaints come back to lack of information, the report reads. Various companies handling debt payments to the education department have been difficult to reach, the report says. In particular, it notes that low-income individuals, public servants and people with disabilities have been most harmed by a lack of clear guidance when it comes to accessing federal loan benefits. Changing federal policies The main change in theme and tenor of complaints this year, according to the report, revolved around the handling of litigation against the Saving on a Valuable Education program, on which an estimated 104,700 Oregonians rely, according to the D.C.-based nonprofit Student Borrower Protection Center. The program, created by the Biden administration, gave these individuals monthly repayment terms and allowed them to pay nothing if their yearly income was less than $32,800, capping collectable interest while setting a pathway to forgiveness after 10 to 25 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SAVE payments have been on hold since Republican states received an injunction in July 2024, and a ruling from a federal judge in February reaffirmed that block. But starting in August, interest will begin to accrue on loans. Congress, meanwhile, has moved to end the SAVE pathway by 2028 in Republicans recently-passed megabill earlier this month. The new payment plans could cost borrowers making less than $35,000 dollars annually around an additional $300 monthly in payments, according to analysis from the Student Borrower Protection Center. Thompsons office is still working on its analysis of the bill, she said, but the removal of SAVE would leave few payment plans for enrollees. By 2026, enrollees have two main payment plans, though there are some exemptions depending on how long someone has been a part of SAVE. One option has cancellation set at 30 years with income-based monthly payments of $10 a month, a number that was previously $0. Another has higher payments and a 10-25 year cancellation period. SAVE, however, was not the only program noted in the report. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is also facing changes under a March executive order by the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program provides loan cancellation after 10 years of payment for many government employees and nonprofit workers, but proposed language from the Department of Education has alarmed some advocacy groups who now fear eligibility could become a tool of political retribution, the Associated Press reported earlier this month. Additionally, staffing reductions at the U.S. Department of Education have impacted the offices ability to carry out its duties, according to the report. The education department had said it would resume forced collections on defaulted student loans in May following a pause at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Thompson said the ombudsman office has seen little communication signaling the implementation of the policy, such as a 30-day debt collections notice. No ones really seen it, we dont have a copy of it, she said. Collections do not appear to have started. The ombudsman office holds the legal authority to enforce its actions, as empowered by the state Legislature through the passage of Senate Bill 485 in 2021. The office is currently investigating one loan administrator for failing to respond to its inquiries, according to the report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE 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. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW LOS ANGELES (AP) Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Times since 2018, said this week that he intends to take the newspaper public in the coming year. During an interview on Mondays The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Soon-Shiong said the move would allow the Times to be democratized and allow the public to have ownership of this paper. Soon-Shiong said he's working with an organization thats putting that together right now. He didn't identify the organization or say whether the deal would involve an initial public offer to sell shares of the company or another investment arrangement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether youre right, left, Democrat, Republican, youre an American. So the opportunity for us to provide a paper that is the voices of the people, truly the voices of the people, is important, he said. Soon-Shiong, a biotech billionaire, acquired the Times as part of a $500 million deal, returning it to local ownership two decades after the Chandler family sold it to Tribune Co. Soon-Shiong's purchase raised hopes after years of cutbacks, circulation declines and leadership changes. But like much of the media industry, the Times has continued to face financial difficulties, losing money and subscribers. Last year the company said it would lay off at least 115 employees more than 20% of the newsroom in one of the largest staff cuts in the newspapers history. At the time, the news organization said it had fallen well short of its digital subscriber goals and needed a revenue boost to sustain the newsroom and its digital operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January 2024, executive editor Kevin Merida suddenly stepped down after a 2 1/2-year tenure at the newspaper that spanned the coronavirus pandemic and three Pulitzer Prizes, as well as a period of layoffs and contentious contract negotiations. Then in October, the editorials editor resigned after Soon-Shiong blocked the editorial boards plans to endorse Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris for president. Mariel Garza told the Columbia Journalism Review in an interview that she quit because the Times was remaining silent on the contest in dangerous times. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) A 69-year-old Birmingham man arrested Monday in connection to a 2024 shooting. Nathaniel Johnson Jr. is charged with attempted murder following an October shooting on 17th Court South that left a man injured. Johnson was arrested by members of Birmingham Police Departments Crime Reduction Team on the 400 block of Kappa Ave. Is eliminating state income tax a possibility in Alabama? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is being held in the Jefferson County Jail without bail, according to BPD. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. US regulators have waived fines for automakers failing to meet fuel efficiency standards dating back to the 2022 model year, following a new law signed by President Donald Trump. This move, part of a tax and budget bill, puts an end to fines under the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rules established by a 1975 energy law. In a letter obtained by Reuters, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has informed automakers that it is re-evaluating its fuel economy regulations. The move aligns with other measures from Washington aimed at easing the production of gasoline vehicles and increasing the cost of electric vehicle (EV) sales. In the past, non-compliance with US fuel economy requirements has led to significant penalties for automakers. Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, incurred a $190.7m civil penalty for the 2019 and 2020 model years, adding to around $400m in fines from 2016 to 2019. Previously, General Motors (GM) paid $128.2m for 2016 and 2017. President Trump's recent actions also include nullifying California's goal to phase out gasoline-only vehicle sales by 2035. Meanwhile, Tesla has benefited from the situation, earning $2.8bn globally from regulatory credits through the sale of zero-emission EVs. The legislation signed this month by Trump states that vehicle fines will be eliminated for any year where NHTSA has not completed its rulemaking process. Center for Biological Diversitys Safe Climate Transport Campaign director Dan Becker expressed disapproval of the decision, stating: "The Trump administration is reaching back in time to give an obscene gift to pollution law violators GM and Stellantis at the expense of the American taxpayer. The automakers lobbied hard for this get out of jail free card. They get hundreds of millions in fines cancelled." GM and Stellantis have yet to respond to the development. Senate Republicans estimates that the law could save automakers around $200m. The NHTSA under President Joe Biden proposed in 2023 to increase fuel economy standards through 2032, which would have cost the industry an estimated $14bn in fines, including $6.5bn, $3bn, and $1bn for GM, Stellantis, and Ford Motor, respectively. However, the final rule adopted last year significantly reduced these requirements, capping potential industry fines at $1.83bn from 2027 through 2031. "US automakers exempted from fines for fuel efficiency non-compliance" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. Editors Note: This article involves charges that fall under Texass laws for assault against protected victims, in this case, a child. To understand how the state defines a protected victim and why these cases carry enhanced penalties, watch our explainer found in the video player above. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) A 22-year-old Midland man is facing a felony charge after investigators say he admitted to beating his toddler son with a belt, leaving the child with visible bruises on both legs. Jerry Alexander Montoya was arrested on July 18 by the Midland County Sheriffs Office and charged with Injury to a Child, Recklessly Causing Serious Bodily Injury or Mental Deficiency, a second-degree felony under Texas law. His bond was set at $150,000. According to an affidavit, deputies were called to the Midland Rape Crisis and Childrens Advocacy Center on July 17 after the childs mother reported possible abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman told investigators that Montoya, her boyfriend and the childs father, had been the primary caretaker of the child between July 14 and July 16 while she was at work and while the child was sick. She said she became concerned during a text exchange with Montoya in which she expressed disapproval of how he spoke to the toddler and allegations that he had previously left bruises on the child. On July 17, while changing her childs clothes, the woman said she discovered bruising on both the left and right thighs of the toddler. When she confronted Montoya, she said he admitted to hitting the child with a belt after the child drew on a TV and a TV stand. The affidavit states that Montoya told the childs mother he had blacked out during the punishment and later felt remorse for his actions. The mother documented the injuries with photos and showed them to investigators. According to the report, deputies observed multiple distinct marks on both of VCs thighs. The injuries included thin, long bruises with rounded edges that investigators noted were consistent with a belt, and showed signs of healing in yellow and green tones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on the evidence and witness statements, deputies concluded that Montoya intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence caused bodily injury to a child. A warrant for his arrest was obtained the following day. Montoya was taken into custody in Odessa and booked into the Midland County jail just before 3 p.m. on July 18. As of Monday, he remained in custody and did not have an attorney listed in court records. The case is pending disposition in Midland County Justice Court, Precinct 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. Theres still more than a years worth of work to do on NASAs future Artemis launch tower at Kennedy Space Center, but all of the big pieces have been put in place. The last of seven modular steel blocks that make up the bulk of the towers height was put into place on July 2 by the towers contractor Bechtel. The block called Mod 10 brings it to 377 feet tall from the base structure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This achievement underscores our ongoing partnership with NASA and local unions, and the teams steady progress toward safe delivery of this critical infrastructure, the company said in an emailed statement. Progress has been tracked on the companys website with the latest addition dubbed Reaching the Top. Mod 4 was the first of the seven blocks put in place on Jan. 3, growing the structure 272 feet in less than six months. Mod 10 will support the Crew Access Arm for ML-2, which is among the parts that have yet to be assembled before the companys deadline of November 2026 for delivery to NASA. ML-2 is designed for use on a larger version of NASAs Space Launch System rocket, which wont fly until at least the Artemis IV mission on NASAs roadmap in late 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first three Artemis missions have or will use the ML-1, which was converted from use from NASAs defunct Constellation program. A crane towers above the mobile launcher 2 adjacent the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel) A crane towers above the mobile launcher 2 adjacent the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel) Show Caption1 of 3A crane towers above the mobile launcher 2 adjacent the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)Expand Artemis I was the first launch of SLS, an uncrewed test flight that sent Orion out to the moon and back. Artemis II will be the first crewed flight of Orion, looking to send four astronauts on a trip around the moon without landing no later than April 2026. Artemis III looks to return humans to the moon for the first time since the end of the Apollo program in 1972. That mission, which is reliant on the completion of SpaceXs in-development Starship as a human landing system as well as new spacesuits from Axiom Space, is targeting launch by summer 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether or not ML-2 would ever be used was in question as President Trumps proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 sought to end the SLS rocket program as well as the Orion spacecraft, Gateway lunar space station and NASAs Exploration Ground Systems team based at KSC after the flight of Artemis III. But Congress, led by an effort from Sen. Ted Cruz, was able add more than $10 billion in this years Big, Beautiful Bill to save SLS for both the fourth and fifth launches of Artemis as well as set aside money for Orion and Gateway. Both versions of the Senate and House budget bills for 2026, moreover, look to keep funding for Artemis existing programs in place. Congress is the ultimate decider of what the federal budget will look like, although without an agreement, its possible NASA will simply continue with funding based on current levels with continuing resolutions. Still, with funds already set aside, work continued in earnest to get ML-2 ready for the fourth Artemis flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its supposed to fly the first part of the Gateway station, and would use the larger version of SLS called the Block 1B that has more payload capacity. It too would feature a rendezvous and moon landing with Starship. The Artemis V mission is supposed to be the first flight to use Blue Origins Blue Moon lander instead of Starship. NASA will still need to perform about a years worth of tests and added work after Bechtel hands it off in 2026. The ML2 project, which was initially a $383 million contract awarded in 2019, had an original delivery date of 2023. A NASA Office of Inspector General audit released in August 2024 said the costs had already nearly tripled to more than $1 billion with the delivery date pushed into late 2026. Its part of the growing costs and delays associated with all facets of the Artemis program. In 2023, the OIG said by the time Artemis III flies, the program will have topped $93 billion in costs since it was originally announced in 2012. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) An airman from Florida will finally be laid to rest after he disappeared off a mountain in Laos over 50 years ago during the Vietnam War. Sergeant Willis R. Hall, 40, of Broward County, was one of 19 men assigned to Lima Site 85, a secret radar site on a remote mountain in Laos. The site was used to guide bomb strikes against North Vietnam, according to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The site, manned by volunteer Air Force technicians, operated for a little over four months before it was attacked by Vietnamese troops. The Americans sought shelter on a narrow ledge of the mountain, and eight of them were rescued by U.S. helicopters a few hours later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hall was one of the 11 Americans who were presumed to be killed in the battle, and despite numerous recovery operations, their remains were unable to be recovered. But the Department of Defence Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency (DPAA) never stopped trying to recover the missing airmen. A 1994 mission was unsuccessful, but in 2003, the remains of one of the other missing airmen, Sgt. Patrick Shannon, were recovered. In 2023, DPAA and other partner organizations discovered unexploded ordnance, incident-related materials, possible material evidence, and bone tissue from a research site that was later identified as belonging to another missing airman, Sgt. David Price. Earlier this year, recovery teams excavated the site and recovered possible human remains, material evidence, and bone tissue, which were sent to the DPAA laboratory for analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along with anthropological analysis, scientists analyzed mitochondrial, Y-chromosome, and autosomal DNA to identify Halls remains. DPAA said Hall has been memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, as well as on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in DC. A rosette will now be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. After being missing for 57 years, his family will finally lay him to rest this fall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A body was pulled from the Housatonic River in Monroe on Monday after emergency crews received the report of a person in distress in the water. Crews responded to an area below the Stevenson Dam just before 3:20 p.m. upon receiving the report, prompting a response from multiple agencies, according to the Monroe Police Department. Police were assisted by fire crews from the Stevenson Volunteer Fire Company and the Oxford Fire Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A dive team later confirmed there was a body in the water at the base of the dam, police said. The individual was recovered and has not yet been identified. The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner was notified of the death, according to police. The circumstances surrounding the death are being investigated by Monroe police. The response at the scene also included Connecticut State Police, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue Team. UPDATE: The Rusk Rural Water Supply announced Wednesday morning that the boil water notice for multiple areas in Rusk have been rescinded. RUSK, Texas (KETK) Due to a water line leak, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is requiring the Rusk Rural Water Supply Company to issue a boil water notice to all of their customers. Boil water notice rescinded for Pritchett Water Supply Co-op customers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Areas in Rusk that are affected include: FM 786 Piney Grove Road County Road 1310 County Road 1313 County Road1314 County Road1328 County Road 1503 County Road1504 County Road 1506 County Road 1508 County Road 1521 Residents are asked to boil their water prior to consumption, including washing hands or face, brushing teeth and drinking. Children, seniors and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria and are asked to follow these directions. In lieu of boiling, individuals can purchase bottled water. When the boil water notice is no longer in effect, Rusk Rural Water Supply will notify its customers. Those with any questions can call 903-683-6178. 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. Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has ordered the freezing of the accounts and assets of former President Jair Bolsonaros third son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, while the former president may now face arrest over his activities on social media. Eduardo, a Brazilian congressman who has been active in Washington, DC, drumming up support for his fathers court battle, called the decision another arbitrary and criminal decision by Moraes. Moraes relies on illegal decisions to protect himself from the consequences of his crimes. Like every dictator, Eduardo Bolsonaro said in a post on X on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If he thinks this will make me stop, I make it clear: I will not be intimidated, and I will not be silenced. I prepared myself for this moment, he said. This is just another demonstration of abuse of power and confirms everything I have been denouncing in Washington and to authorities worldwide, he added. CNN Brasil first reported that the confidential court decision was issued on Saturday as part of a probe into Eduardo Bolsonaros conduct in the United States. Moraes, who oversees the criminal case in which the former president is accused of plotting a coup to overturn the 2022 election result, issued a separate ruling on Monday saying that any attempt to circumvent a court ruling in which he ordered Jair Bolsonaro to wear an ankle bracelet and banned him from using social media could result in arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brazilian news outlet G1 reported that Moraes summoned Bolsonaros lawyers to clarify their clients alleged non-compliance with his order restricting use of social media. According to G1, Moraes gave the lawyers 24 hours to present an explanation, adding that if the defence does not adequately justify Bolsonaros online behaviour, he may order the immediate arrest of the former president. On Friday, Bolsonaro described the decision by Moraes to prohibit his social media use as cowardice, and said he intended to continue engaging with the media to ensure his voice was heard. Vera Chemim, a Sao Paulo-based constitutional lawyer, told the Reuters news agency that she believed the countrys former leader is now on shaky ground, noting that media interviews, while not explicitly mentioned in the court order, could still be used to justify Bolsonaros arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolsonaro is now completely silenced, she said. Any misstep could lead to a preventive arrest. The tightening restrictions on Bolsonaro come after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Brazilian court officials, and specifically Justice Moraes, were conducting a political witch-hunt against the former president. As a result, the US was revoking travel visas for Moraes and his allies on the court, as well as their immediate family members, Rubio said. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula swiftly labelled Washingtons decision to impose visa bans on court officials arbitrary and baseless, saying that foreign interference in his countrys judiciary was unacceptable. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods starting on August 1, as he called on Lula to drop the charges against Bolsonaro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolsonaro, whose right-wing policies while in power earned him the nickname Trump of the Tropics , has denied that he led an attempt to overthrow the government but acknowledged taking part in meetings aimed at reversing the 2022 election outcome. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) Closing arguments are set to get underway on Tuesday morning after the prosecution and the defense both rested and closed their cases in chief on Monday afternoon in the murder trial of Ronald Arthur Burdick. Burdick, 45, of Burkburnett, was indicted by a Wichita County grand jury for the murder of Michael Randall, who died from a gunshot wound to the head on the morning of June 9, 2023, on Sheppard Road. PREVIOUS STORY: Ron Burdick collapses, abruptly ending heated day of testimony Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A jury of five men and seven women was seated on Monday, July 14, 2025, in the 30th District Courtroom, with Judge Jeff McKnight presiding. A recap of previous proceedings can be found below: Prosecuting the case on behalf of the state is Jarret Noll, of the Wichita County District Attorneys Office, with Kyle Lessor assisting. Jeff Eaves, a Wichita Falls defense attorney, is representing Burdick, with the assistance of Colin Jordan. After Burdick experienced a medical episode and collapsed on Thursday, July 17, abruptly bringing proceedings to a halt, testimony resumed on Monday, July 21, with Burdick back in the courtroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burdicks attorney, Jeff Eaves, called the last witnesses on behalf of the defense, including an expert, before resting its case in chief. PREVIOUS STORY: Victims brother testifies in Ron Burdick murder trial Noll then reopened the prosecutions case, called two rebuttal witnesses, including Tye Davis, Chief Investigator for the Wichita County District Attorneys Office. Both sides then closed their cases in chief. Presiding Judge Jeff McKnight then dismissed the jury for the day at around 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, July 21, instructing them to return at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 22, when proceedings are set to resume. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Judge McKnight reads the jury its charge, instructing them on how to proceed with their deliberations, the prosecution and the defense will have the opportunity to present final arguments to the men and women of the jury. The prosecution has the opportunity to have the first word and the last word to the jury. They will present their arguments, followed by Burdicks defense. Then, the prosecution will have one final opportunity to address the jury. PREVIOUS STORY: Day 2 of Ron Burdick murder trial underway in Wichita Falls Once closing arguments have concluded, the jury will then exit the courtroom and move into the jury room, where they will deliberate until they reach a unanimous verdict, however long that may take. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If convicted, Burdick faces a punishment range of 5 to 99 years, or life in prison. Before his trial began, Burdick elected to have his sentence determined by the jury, meaning that a punishment phase of the trial would follow if Burdick were found guilty. This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. HONOLULU (KHON2) On Monday, July 21, the City and County of Honolulu has issued a warning for box jellyfish. The creatures were spotted in the waters at Waikiki beaches. The alert was sent out at 11:54 a.m. and beachgoers are advised to be very careful and to follow all posted signs. Box jellyfish are sea creatures that have long, stinging tentacles. Their sting can be very painful and even dangerous. PHOTOS: Experience Honolulus 4 OG bars Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These jellyfish often appear in Hawaiis waters about eight to 10 days after a full moon. They are clear and hard to see in the water, which makes them even more risky. City and county officials said that lifeguards and officials have posted warning signs at Waikiki and other beaches where jellyfish may be present. 7 takeaways across 8 years of Hawaii tourism If you see one of these signs, do not go swimming. It is safest to stay out of the water until the warning is removed. If you get stung by a box jellyfish, tell someone right away. Youll need to rinse the area with vinegar and get help from a lifeguard or call 911 if needed. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Remember not to rub the sting it can make the pain much worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To stay safe, check for updates before going to the beach. You can find alerts online, on social media or by looking for signs at the beach. Please be careful and take this warning seriously. The box jellyfish usually move on after a few days; so its best to wait until its safe to swim again. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8 You can click here to read more about the warning. Stay safe and enjoy Hawaiis beaches when the water is clear! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The Bakersfield Police Department has asked the community for help in locating a 13-year-old boy last seen on Saturday. Marsean Hall, 13, was last seen in the 300 block of Pacheco Road at around 7 p.m., according to officials. Hall is considered at risk due to being a first-time runaway. Marsean Hall, 13 / Photo: Bakersfield Police Department Police described Hall as 5 feet, 7 inches and 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a red shirt, black pants and white shoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information regarding Halls whereabouts is asked to call BPD at 661-327-7111. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes summoned the lawyers of former President Jair Bolsonaro to clarify Bolsonaro's alleged non-compliance with court orders restricting his use of social media, news outlet G1 reported on Monday. Moraes gave Bolsonaro's lawyers 24 hours to present an explanation, adding that if the defense does not adequately justify the behavior, he may order the immediate arrest of the former president, according to G1. Moraes said earlier in the day that Bolsonaro may be arrested if his press interviews are published on social media, raising questions about whether the right-wing leader is allowed to talk to journalists. (Reporting by Andre Romani; Editing by Kylie Madry) WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Fox News on Tuesday that sanctioning Russian oil to end the Ukraine war is a "very real possibility." President Donald Trump said this month that Washington could put 100% tariffs on buyers of Russian oil and impose other sanctions if Moscow does not agree to a major peace agreement with Ukraine, a deadline that ends in early September. "It is huge pressure on Russia," Wright said in an interview on Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier." "That's the biggest pressure you can put on them," Wright said. The U.S. is the world's top producer of oil and gas, a position Wright said means the U.S. can take action that was previously unthinkable. "We're able to do things that we couldn't do before," he said. Despite that position, the Trump administration has not yet put major oil sanctions on Russia, preferring to impose them on OPEC producer Iran since the president took office for a second time in January. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Leslie Adler and Jamie Freed) A lawsuit filed by former Brimfield police officer Ryan Olszta who alleged he was removed from the force because of his sexual orientation has been dismissed, following years of resident complaints, legal disputes and a Red Flag Law hearing that revoked his guns. On July 11, United States Magistrate Judge Katherine A. Robertson dismissed the case without prejudice, meaning it can be refiled, based on insufficient service of process. However, many of the claims have also passed the statue of limitation. Olszta first sued the town and multiple members of the Board of Selectmen in 2022 alleging his sexual orientation led to not being reappointed as a police officer the year before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defendants dislike for Plaintiffs sexuality was a factor in not reappointing his position on the police force, the original court documents state. In June 2021, there were 13 police officers up for reappointment in the town, who are reappointed by the Board of Selectmen. Olszta was the only police officer not reappointed. Court documents filed with the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts in 2022 stated he suffered emotional distress, missed 30 work details, regularly scheduled hours with the police department and 110 hours of work during the Brimfield Flea Market. Court documents stated Olszta was the only openly gay police officer in the department and board member Suzanne Collins made several comments about his sexuality, regarding him visiting his boyfriend at the time, now ex-boyfriend due to the stress of this situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martin Kelly, Pat Leaming, Collins and Michael Miller were listed in the original lawsuit. Kelly, Leaming and Collins had voted to not reappoint Olszta as a police officer. All allegations were denied by Kelly, Leaming, Collins and Miller, court documents state. In 2022, the lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice and Olszta refiled the complaint in April 2024, this time including current Chief of Police William Beaudry and George Adams. It also added additional information over the years and removed Kelly. Plaintiff has been unable to obtain other employment as a police officer since Brimfield declined to reappoint him, the court documents state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, court documents state, he applied for a job in Monson and was denied. Additionally, according to court documents, the Massachusetts police oversight board told Olszta he would never work again as a police officer due to the complaints in Brimfield. The board, the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission, has decertified 56 officers in the two years since it began exercising its authority to do so under a 2020 policing reform law. Without a certification, officers are barred from police work. Olszta is not currently certified by POST. However, the commission has not taken any public steps to formally suspend or revoke his certification. The Brimfield Board of Selectmen and Police Department did not respond to MassLives request for comment. Who is Ryan Olszta? Olszta was involved in many aspects of police and town duties for years in Brimfield, including teaching firearm safety classes, doing police detail during the Brimfield Flea Market and tracking down multiple emus on the run, once wrapping one of them into an emu burrito to safely get it out of the woods, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to his time in Brimfield, Olszta spent time in the Army and at Joe Schreibvogels GW Exotic Animal Park, better known as Tiger King. In 2013, Olszta spent seven weeks at the unique zoo. During this time, he saw and reported the mistreatment of the animals to the USDA. According to a letter to the USDA, the television personality attacked Olszta online after he left. Olszta warned the USDA it was common for Tiger King to virtually attack people who left the zoo on bad terms with blatantly false statements, including in one case even filing false police reports. Olszta later moved to Massachusetts, working as an officer in Wales and was hired in Brimfield in 2016. He was also on the Board of Selectmen in Brimfield from June 2018 until 2021, when he decided not to run again. Red Flag law Massachusetts red flag laws, which were expanded in last years sweeping gun reform bill, allows a judge to issue an order to require someone to surrender any licenses to carry firearms, firearms identification cards and all firearms or ammunition they control, own or possess. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officially called the Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO), it is used to temporarily take guns away from people who are believed to pose a danger to themselves or others. Court documents show Olszta being requested for an ERPO hearing in November. His license to carry was suspended and he was forced to surrender all guns. The request came after an estranged uncle wrote that he was worried for Ryans safety and the safety of others and believe he needs emotional help not a gun. The ERPO was later dismissed, court documents state. Resident complaints Complaints about harassment, verbal abuse and ethical concerns regarding Olszta continued for years, leaving residents scared and concerned, documents obtained by MassLive in 2023 revealed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaints detail how the former police officer became unusually agitated during police stops and accused a small business owner of supporting terroristic organizations, which she said put her in jeopardy during a time when our country was at a high state of insecurity. Olszta and his lawyer have not responded to MassLives recent requests for comment. In 2021, Olszta told MassLive complaints against the police were baseless and lack credibility. The complaints also note that Olszta discussed a child who was part of an investigation with town residents at a nearby Applebees. Olszta reportedly told the other residents that the child, who was a local Boy Scout, is on heavy medications. ... this just continues to show how extreme and how dangerous this individual is, and not only to your community but he branches out and is a danger to our state, especially with his badge, one of the complaints sent by a Massachusetts resident to the Board of Selectmen states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2019, Eric Pearson, owner of Pearsons Towing and Collision in Wales, tried to record Olszta, who was the police officer at a scene, when the tow truck driver claimed Olszta had erratic behavior, including yelling, swearing and ultimately jumped on my neck. The complaint, however, was not sent to the Board of Selectmen until July 7, 2021. It stated that when Pearson walked back to his truck to get his phone and record the officer, Olszta told him to turn the f*** around, put my hands behind my back and that I was under arrest. He proceeded to place his hand on his gun. Olszta then claimed Pearson had touched him, although the complaint claims Pearson was not near Olszta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pearson was then flung to the ground, which left him with cuts on his arms and face, documents state, and Pearson wrote Olszta jumped on my neck. Officer Olszta is now yelling into his police radio, requesting back up as if hes being attacked, Pearson wrote. Once in the police barracks, Olszta took pictures of Pearson using Olsztas personal cell phone, the complaint states. The pictures, Pearson states, made its way to the Brimfield Fire House with Officer Olszta boasting about the incident. It wasnt the only complaint by a tow truck driver where Olszta became extremely agitated. Multiple people, including a scout leader and a childs mother, complained to the town stating that Olszta publicly spoke about a Boy Scout he had arrested, stating he is on heavy medications and still seeing a psychologist to a group of people after a town meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MassLive reported on multiple issues regarding the police officer prior to the 2021 meeting. A letter, sent by Eric Schultz, states the officer did a pat-and-frisk of Koichi Morita, my good friend, who has a very limited command of the English language. Officer Olszta has evidenced by his words and actions, i.e. in his comments on social media, an animosity towards Schultz family members and their family business, the letter states. Given his personal animosity towards me and my family business, and taking into account his vengeful natures, the willful and malicious purpose of the unlawful pat-and-frisks was to annoy, frighten and humiliate us thereby showing that Officer Olszta is unfit to act as an armed, uniformed police officer in the Town of Brimfield. Nicholas Burns told MassLive in a 2021 interview that his dad was arrested by Olszta three years ago for sticking up for one of our vendors when there was a dispute over a new parking rule. The arrest report states multiple people were watching and that he followed Olszta down the roadway yelling profanities and waving his hands around in a menacing way. Burns said thats not true. And a 2021 lawsuit claimed Olszta had been writing defamatory posts on Facebook and tracking movements of at least two individuals making them fearful that he will appear when they are running errands in order to harass them. The lawsuit also stated that the plaintiffs businesses were impacted by false claims on Facebook written by Olszta. It claims the officer has harassed and intimidated Klia (Crisafulli), her clients and her customers. The case was resolved through a settlement at the end of 2024, according to court filings. Olsztas lawsuit claims he was unaware of any complaints filed with the police department. The former police chief also never publicly released any information regarding the complaints against Olszta. MassLive asked for complaints against Olszta in a public records request, including disciplinary actions in October 2021. It wasnt until October 2023, after Kuss retired, that MassLive received the information, including more than a dozen of those complaints. However, Kuss told MassLive each complaint was looked into and that it wasnt uncommon for there to be complaints against the arresting officer. In October 2023, Kuss spoke highly of Olszta and his time in Brimfield. He put in the effort. He put in the work. He was willing to do the things he needed to do. He took the trainings, he was constantly going to training. Just about every single measure, Kuss said. He was an excellent police officer. More Brimfield flea market news Read the original article on MassLive. July 21 (UPI) -- Nearly 30 nations on Monday issued a joint statement saying Israel's ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza has "reached new depths" and "must end now." Meanwhile, Israel in rejecting it said the statement "sends the wrong message to Hamas" and was "disconnected from reality." Britain and 28 other nations, including Canada, France, Italy and Australia called for remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas to be released, denounced settler activity in the West Bank and Israel's "humanitarian city" scheme in southern Gaza. 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," read the joint statement in part singed by its foreign ministers. The other signatories included Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Iceland, Ireland, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Austria and Belgium. They called it "horrifying" that over 800 Palestinians have so far been killed seeking help, adding that it was "unacceptable" that Israeli officials continue to deny "essential humanitarian assistance" to Gaza's civilian population. "Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law," the letter stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, it was critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and came out against a recent "city" proposal by Israeli officials. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz floated a plan to construct a "city" camp in ruined Rafah to eventually hold all Palestinians in Gaza. The allied countries wrote that Israel's aid delivery model in Gaza is "dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity." Reports by CBS suggest since May that Israeli forces have routinely opened fire on people in Gaza near food distribution sites. Meanwhile, Israeli officials do not allow foreign journalists to enter Gaza, making it nearly impossible to independent verify facts such as rising death figures by the Hamas-run health ministry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group of nations called for Israel to "immediately" lift its restrictions on the flow of much-needed aid into Gaza in order to "urgently enable" the United Nations and other humanitarian non-government orgs to "do their life saving work safely and effectively." Late Monday morning, Israel's foreign ministry flatly rejected the international statement by suggesting it was "better to avoid statements of this kind" during "sensitive moments" in the ongoing cease-fire negotiations. Their words failed to "focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognize Hamas's role and responsibility for the situation," Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein posted on X. He claimed that Iran's terror proxy was the "sole party responsible for the continuation of the war and the suffering on both sides." It got released hours after further IDF strikes killed three people in a central area of the war-torn enclave where thousands of displaced Palestinians refugees take shelter, and days after Israeli military bombings killed three at a Catholic Church injuring several, including a priest. A British man who dreamt about being like James Bond has been found guilty of trying to spy for what he believed to be Russian intelligence service agents. Howard Phillips, 65, intended to help two apparent Russian agents called Sasha and Dima, including by passing on personal information about Sir Grant Shapps, the former defence secretary, helping with travel logistics and booking hotels. He thought it would be easy work for easy money but didnt realise he was actually communicating with undercover British officers who were posing as Russian agents called Dima and Sasha. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A jury found Phillips, from Harlow in Essex, guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service, in breach of the National Security Act, on Tuesday following a trial at the same court. He mouthed the words cant believe it as he was convicted of the rare spying charge. Howard Phillips thought he was assisting Russian secret service agents - CPS/PA The jury reached a unanimous verdict after four hours and four minutes of deliberations. Phillips, wearing a dark suit and tie, silently shook his head in the dock as the verdict was given. Amanda Phillips, the defendants ex-wife, told the court during the trial that he would dream about being like James Bond, and that he watched films to do with MI5 and MI6 and was infatuated with it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mrs Phillips told the court she was aware the defendant had applied for a job at the UK Border Force in October 2023, which prosecutors said was part of his bid to assist Russias intelligence service. Phillips previously claimed he had contacted the Russian embassy in early 2024 in a bid to track and expose Russian agents to assist Israel. The prosecutor previously told the trial that Phillips was unemployed and struggling financially in 2023. In October, he applied for a job as a UK Border Force officer, which involves searching baggage and processing passengers at an airport or seaport. Howard Phillips became deeply involved in helping who he thought were Russian agents - Facebook The prosecutor said Phillips was very keen to provide assistance to them in various imaginative ways of his own devising. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Communication between Phillips and the Russian agents started in March 2024, initially via email and then on WhatsApp. It was heard that Phillips became deeply involved with the agents, who spoke to him in fake Russian accents. Phillips was asked to travel to London on April 4 last year and to bring a USB stick with a document uploaded to it, detailing how he could assist the Russian Intelligence Service (RIS). He was asked to leave it on the seat of a bicycle near St Pancras station and then leave London. Phillips said in the document that he could move easily in society, under the radar and undetected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The father of four said he could act with 100 per cent loyalty and dedication with no questions asked. Howard Phillips delivered a document to the agents in which he said he could move undetected through society - Solent News & Photo Agency/Met Police Phillips and the two officers arranged to meet in person on April 26. During their meeting, which took place at the London Bridge Hotel, he told the agents that he applied for a job at the civil service and was in the process of being able to access the Home Office. He told them that he had a background working in insolvency but had worked a nine-to-five most of his life, and so wanted to do something different. Phillips said that he then found himself in a position where now I need to be earning money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was asked during the conversation why he chose to assist Russia. In response, he said: I have been once. I feel that over many, many years, theres been a lot of discredit accorded towards Russia and I think a lot of it is absolute rubbish. He said he thought about assisting the RIS after a trip to Moscow, and said: Suddenly thought, maybe I can offer services. I get what I want and you get what you want. From that point onwards, Phillips and the agents spoke on Signal, the end-to-end encrypted messaging app. Moscow very pleased On May 9, Phillips met the undercover officers at a Costa Coffee in a retail park in West Thurrock, Essex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During this meeting, which had been covertly recorded, Phillips told the agents that he held useful information which was personal details about Sir Grant. This included the politicians home address, home telephone number and details of his private plane. Phillips, who is Jewish, told them that he had been invited to Sir Grants house five years ago after they met at a synagogue. Phillips was also given a sheet of paper with instructions for a task on it, which included the words Moscow very pleased with ongoing progress. Jurors heard that Phillips asked to use the word mother instead of Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phillips booked hotel rooms and bought phones for who he believed were senior RIS officers. After he completed those tasks, he messaged the undercover officer to say that he hoped mother will show her appreciation for the work that I am doing for you. Howard Phillips uploaded personal details about Sir Grant Shapps to a USB for the agents - Met Police/Solent News & Photo Agency On May 16, Phillips created a document on his laptop containing the personal details of Sir Grant, which he uploaded to a USB stick. He met Sasha and handed over a brown paper bag that contained a Samsung Galaxy phone, a Hilton hotel key card and the USB stick. Phillips was handed an envelope with 1,000 in cash and was asked to head to a coffee shop on Kings Cross Square to meet a man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After arriving at the cafe, he was arrested by officers. Jocelyn Ledward KC told jurors that assisting foreign intelligence services of hostile states could undermine the UKs security. On leaking Shappss information, she said: The defendant knew exactly what those personal details of Grant Shapps MP would enable the Russians to do. The evidence shows he was very keen to offer assistance, not necessarily for any ideological reason, but particularly to be financially rewarded for so doing easy work for easy money. Howard Phillips said that he had been invited to Sir Grant Shappss house after they met at a synagogue - James Manning/PA Archive The court heard Phillips had sent several letters in the past to various political figures, celebrities, and businessmen, among others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November 2022, he sent a letter to actress Jennifer Aniston and the agent of Tom Cruise, in which he asked to meet up in the US in the hopes of obtaining an acting role. Phillips denied the charge and instead told jurors that he made contact with the RIS in an attempt to track and expose a Russian agent. Justice Bobbie Cheema-Grubb remanded Phillips in custody and adjourned sentencing to the earliest available date in the autumn. Det Ch Supt Helen Flanagan, head of operations for the Mets Counter Terrorism Command unit, said: Phillips was unemployed and his primary motivation for wanting to become a spy for the Russian Intelligence Service was financial reward. His conviction should act as stark warning to anyone who thinks that carrying out illegal activity on behalf of a foreign state is an attractive or easy way to earn money. The reality is that we take this kind of activity extremely seriously. Those involved will be identified, investigated and, like Phillips, will face extremely serious consequences when they are convicted. This case is also another successful use of the National Security Act to prosecute someone who was attempting to undermine the security of the UK and we will continue to use these powers available to us to help keep the public safe. 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. Sailors encountering killer whales in British waters have been warned to switch off their engines and lower their sails or risk being rammed after orcas attacked a yacht in Spain. Two sailors were saved by the Spanish coastguard after their vessel, Azurea, was attacked by the whales off the coast of the Basque country on Monday afternoon. The French yacht was rammed at about 2pm local time, two nautical miles from the Basque coast and the town of Deba. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The coastguard rescued the pair, one of whom was aged 60, after they sent out a mayday distress call. Both were taken safe and sound to the port of Getaria. Rescuers said such incidents were uncommon so high up in the Atlantic. While such attacks are rare in the Basque Country, they are a well-known phenomenon further south in Galicia and in the orca alley of the Strait of Gibraltar, where boats have been sunk. The orcas approach from the stern and hit the rudder before losing interest once they have stopped the boat in a phenomenon that scientists have struggled to fully explain. It is thought the orcas responsible for the incidents number 15 out of a pod of 50 whales. It is not known why certain killer whales have started to ram into boats in the Mediterranean - BPNS This latest incident comes the same month that wildlife experts confirmed the first ever sighting of Iberian orcas in Cornish waters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, a killer whale barged into a fishing boat near Shetland in Scotland in what was the first and so far only orca attack in British waters since the phenomenon began. For some unknown reason, the killer whales have developed a penchant for breaking the rudders of sailboats and once they have achieved this, they leave the boat alone, Prof Volker Deeke, professor of wildlife conservation at the University of Cumbria, said. He told The Telegraph the incidents should not be viewed as attacks. During interactions, the animals remain cool, calm and collected without any of the behavioural signs of aggression such as splashing, or vocalisations, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he said it can not be ruled out that similar incidents to those seen around the Iberian Peninsula could occur in British waters in the future. He added: UK sailors transiting the hotspots should definitely familiarise themselves with the guidance. The same guidance applies for sailors encountering any killer whales in Cornish waters. The guidance given to sailors in the Strait of Gibraltar includes to stop the boat engine and lower the sails immediately if orcas are spotted, turn off autopilot and echo sounders and not to make loud noises in an effort to scare them away. Other advice includes avoiding hot spots in the first place and, most crucially, to stay in shallow waters of about 20 meters in depth, where orcas do not like to swim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr Javier Almunia, director of the Loro Parque Foundation, told The Telegraph: The behaviour has reduced, at least in the Gibraltar Strait, by around 90 per cent following the recommendations of the Spanish authorities. Spain recommends that boats do not stop but instead go full speed towards shallower waters, which makes it harder for the orcas to headbutt the rudders. Some marine experts have suggested that the orcas attack the boats out of boredom - SWNS/Greg Blackburn Dr Almunia said that if the interaction in the Basque Country was confirmed it can be explained by the same animals moving around the Iberian Peninsula. So far theres no evidence of different pods to the ones that are visiting Gibraltar in summer are learning this behaviour, he said in comments that will reassure British sailors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no evidence of the behaviour moving on or being transferred to a different pod. Marine biologists believe that the whales may be attacking out of boredom. Other theories are that the whales are exhibiting territorial, defensive, or playful behaviour. It has also been suggested that a female orca called White Gladis taught gangs of the apex predators to attack the boats after being traumatised by a collision with a boat, or being trapped in illegal fishing nets. The first reports of aggressive orcas off the Iberian coast began in May 2020. In September of that year, Spanish authorities banned boats from setting sail from the countrys north-western tip after 29 orca attacks were registered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least six vessels have been sunk since 2021, including two last year. Two crew members were rescued unharmed in May 2024 when the 15metre sailing yacht Alboran Cognac sank in the Strait of Gibraltar after repeated ramming by Iberian orcas. In July, the British yacht Bonhomme William sank in the Strait of Gibraltar after it was attacked at night. All three on board were rescued. Two attacks in quick succession in August 2023 were the first ramming incidents involving orcas reported in waters off the Basque Country. A pod of about five orcas struck the rudder and hull of a sailboat about 20 miles north of Zumaia without causing major damage, followed by an incident involving a French trimaran travelling about 18 miles north of Ondarroa. Both boats needed only minor repairs. 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. Dozens of people lined up to donate their blood as soon as the donation center opened and 40 samples were collected in just two hours. Magen David Adom began a blood drive on Sunday in the Druze-majority village of Isfiya to support Syrian Druze wounded by militia groups and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) regime forces in recent clashes, The Press Service of Israel (TPS-IL) reported. Dozens of people lined up to donate their blood as soon as the donation center opened, and 40 samples were collected in just two hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the IDF has set up emergency care centers for Druze in Syria in recent months, employees at the blood bank warned that there was currently no way to transfer the blood as of yet. There is no way to transfer the blood samples to Syria, at least for now, but we hope our wounded brothers will be allowed to receive medical treatment in Israel, Wafa Rachruch, a blood bank employee in charge of Isfiyas temporary blood donation facility, said. Isfiya resident Rami told TPS-IL that donating blood was special for him, especially knowing Its for our brothers. A BEDOUIN fighter walks with a weapon near damaged cars and buildings in Sweida, Syria, this past Saturday. The Druze are under siege once again, the writer asserts. (credit: Karam al-Masri/Reuters) While Rami is one of the few members of his community without relatives in Syria, he asserted that all the Druze are family. Fears for Syrian Druze Saleh Badriya, the CEO of the Israeli-Druze Center in Isfiya, who organized the efforts and worked as a paramedic for 15 years, shared that several of his relatives were killed during the recent attacks on Syrian Druze. Last week, he crossed into Syria in protest against Bedouin militias and Syrian regime violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite promises from Syrian leadership, he admitted that it was hard to feel that his family would be safe remaining in Syria. Sunni jihadists view us Druze as renegades, and I am not sure at all the new leader can do anything about it, even if he wanted to, Badriya said. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, smiles on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, as she exits the Alaska House of Representatives following her annual address to the Alaska Legislature. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) Speaking in an interview on Friday, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said President Donald Trumps health care-cutting budget plan was destined to pass Congress, and her decisive vote on the package last month represented the best of a bad pair of options. In a new analysis published Monday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, Republicans big, beautiful law is estimated to add almost $3.4 trillion to the federal debt over the next decade and cause 10 million Americans to lose access to health insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murkowski said she believes that had she opposed the law, Republican senators would instead have sought a 50th vote from Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, and the result would have been deeper cuts to the federal budget, including to health care. What he was looking for was dramatically more cuts to Medicaid, dramatically greater reductions in spending, Murkowski said. And so it was no secret that the bill was going to pass. It was just a question of whether or not it was going to pass with Senator Pauls vote, or with Senator Murkowskis vote. In a column published July 3 by the Louisville Courier-Journal, Paul wrote, They could have had my vote and saved money but instead chose more spending and tax and welfare changes targeted at Alaska at the cost of the fiscal sanity of our country. Murkowski, echoing comments made previously by Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, who also voted for the proposal, said she was disappointed that several provisions benefiting Alaska were stricken by the Senate parliamentarian after objections from Senate Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those included large subsidies for the states Medicaid program and a new split of oil revenue from federal land on the North Slope, with 90% going to the state and 10% to the federal government. Voting on the budget package began before the parliamentarian ruled on all aspects of it. And so we didnt know what was in and we didnt know what was not in, Murkowski said. During the process, the 90-10 split dropped to 70-30, and state-specific benefits for Alaska disappeared. Afterward, one provision that survived a concession for wind and solar projects was quashed by executive orders issued by President Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to the Anchorage Daily News on Friday, Murkowski said she feels cheated by the maneuver. Speaking to the Alaska Beacon, she said, I have been criticized. I have been hung out to dry. But you know what? At the end of the day, I fought for my constituents as best I knew how, and I should never, and I will never, apologize for doing the best that I can by them. In her last three Alaska U.S. Senate elections, Murkowski defeated more socially conservative candidates with the support of Democrats and independents. On social media, after her vote in favor of the Republican budget plan, many of those voters voiced their disapproval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about that disappointment, Murkowski said she understands and hears that criticism. I get the fact that they want me to be principled on this. But if it costs Alaskans which it would have then how is that doing my job for them? At the end of the day, I couldnt kill it, and I understand that people might not believe that, but again, what I set out to do was try to make improvements to a measure that started out in a place that would have made it very challenging for too many Alaskans. Murkowski said she expects the Trump administration to propose more retroactive budget cuts akin to the one that passed last week involving foreign aid and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Sullivan voted in favor of the cut; Murkowski opposed it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Afterward, Trump budget director Russ Vought said he wants congressional Republicans to get more partisan in the budget process and that lawmakers should expect more rescission votes like last weeks. Murkowski said she hopes other Republicans will join her in rejecting that call. I would like to think that its comments like that, that would galvanize us as appropriators, galvanize us as Republicans and Democrats in the United States Senate, she said. Our oath is to the Constitution. We would say weve got our job to do here, and we know that in order to do it and have it be enduring, it takes 60 votes, and so we need to be more bipartisan and not more partisan. To me, it was absolutely offensive, his statement, and so arrogant. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Buffalo State University will celebrate graduate Robin Lazzara after she was named the 2025 New York Small Business Development Center Young Entrepreneur of the Year. She graduated in 2018 with a degree in television and film arts. Lazzara has other awards under her belt, including the 2023 SBA Buffalo District Young Entrepreneur Award and a 2025 Television Editing Award, and this latest one will be honored by the university she graduated from. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lazzaras latest award will be recognized at 10 a.m. on July 29 at Buffalo States Butler Library. The ceremony will feature remarks from university representatives, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the NYSBDC and Assemblyman Jonathan Riveras office. Lazzara has worked as production secretary of various feature films like A Quiet Place: Part II and Nightmare Alley, and she was selected as one of 14 award recipients from a network of 25,000 clients. Shes also the founder of the company Glow Video LLC, a woman-owned production studio dedicated to telling inclusive stories for clients in Western New York. Latest Local News Owen Klein is an intern for the summer of 2025 at WIVB. He is a rising senior at Penn State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) With crews battling the Burdoin Fire, some evacuations have been lowered and growth has slowed, but the fire remains uncontained. The fire, which started on Friday to the east of Bingen, Wash., in Klickitat County, quickly grew over the weekend, overtaking 10,000 acres. Armed man hides in Mall 205 shelving for hours before arrest As of Tuesday morning, Washington fire officials said the fire is at 10,993 acres and still uncontained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout Monday, officials said helicopters and planes helped slow the spread of the fire, while ground crews worked to create lines of defense. While most evacuations remain unchanged, officials said that the evacuation notice from Dougs Beach to Horsethief Lake has been lowered to level 2. See a full list of evacuations online. A map of the Burdoin Fire as of July 22, 2025 (Firenet) So far, 14 homes have been destroyed, 37 have been damaged and another 250 are threatened by the fire, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center. Highway 14 still remains closed through the area of the fire, as well as Highway 142 and Centerville Highway, where the fire leapt over the Klickitat River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay with KOIN 6 as we keep you up-to-date on wildfires in Oregon and Washington. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This story was originally published on Supply Chain Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Supply Chain Dive newsletter. The U.S. is planning to implement a 93.5% tariff on graphite imports from China, the Commerce Department said Thursday. The rate was set based on the preliminary findings of an antidumping duty investigation initiated by the department in January. The department is also conducting a parallel countervailing duty investigation related to graphite from China. Preliminary findings from that investigation call for an 11.58% tariff on the material, per a July Federal Register filing. Final determinations from each probe will be announced by Dec. 5, the department said. The tariff rates may change in the final ruling, according to a Commerce Department fact sheet. The petition was introduced in December 2024 by the American Active Anode Material Producers, a trade group representing domestic graphite producers, alleging imports from China were benefiting from countervailable subsidies and stymieing the growth of U.S. industry, per a January Federal Register filing. This is an important ruling for North American graphite producers. Commerces determination proves that China is selling [active anode material] at less than fair value into the domestic market, said Erik Olson, a spokesperson for the group, in a Thursday press release. Dumping is a malicious trade practice used by China to undercut competition and wield geopolitical influence. It is all made possible by a concerted combination of massive subsidies and other state-sponsored policies. China is the worlds largest supplier of graphite, accounting for 78% of worldwide production in 2024, per a January report from the U.S. Geological Survey. The U.S. imported roughly $375.1 million worth of graphite from China in 2024, according to data from the U.S. International Trade Commission. China also accounted for 67.6% of all natural graphite imports to the U.S. the same year, while supplying 59.8% of other graphite-related products, such as artificial and colloidal forms of the material. Duties on graphite imports from China would further build on the Trump administrations push to boost domestic critical mineral supplies. The Commerce Department in April began a Section 232 investigation into the importation of critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, graphite and nickel. Trump has also ordered similar probes of semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. Previous Section 232 investigations have resulted in tariffs on imports of materials such as steel and aluminum. A new residential community will bring 273 homes to 88 acres in Germantown. The Germantown Village Board approved Butler-based Home Path Financial's Sutton Farm residential development plans at its board meeting July 7. This residential development will be at the northeast corner of Lannon Road (County Highway Y) and County Line Road (County Highway Q), according to village documents. What kinds of homes will be built? Germantown is set to build a 273 home residential development. This is a rendering of a single-family ranch home, called the Pathway Series. According to village documents, this project will consist of four kinds of homes: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 44 homes (the flagship series) will range from 1,800 to more than 2,700 square feet and will each have two- to three-car garages 99 homes (the pathway series) will range from 1,450 to 2,450 square feet, and will be single-family ranch and 2-story homes with two- to three-car garages 28 homes (paired ranch villas) will begin at 1,200 square feet, and will be one-story homes with two- to three-bedrooms and two-car garages 102 townhouse-style attached homes will range from 1,650 to 2,200 square feet with private driveways and garages, common outdoor space and additional guest parking Germantown is set to build a new residential development. This is a rendering for 102 townhouse-style attached homes designed with private driveways that is planned for this kind of development. How much will these homes cost? According to village documents, the average home price for the flagship homes will be between $675,000 and $800,000, $500,000 to $550,000 for the Pathway series and $475,000 to $550,000 for the paired ranch villas. The townhomes are expected to be priced between $450,000 and $500,000, according to village documents. Germantown is set to build a residential development. Twenty-eight of these homes, called paired ranch villas, will be one-story, two to three-bedroom ranch homes. Will there be open space in the Sutton Farm residential development? According to village documents, there will be approximately 28 acres of open space at the Sutton Farm residential development. This includes the preservation of a 9.8-acre woodland area and a central active park. The Sutton Farm residential development in Germantown is slated to have 273 new homes spanning over 88 acres. It will feature about 28 acres of open space, according to village documents. This includes the preservation of a 9.8-acre woodland area. Will the homeowners be a part of a homeowners association? Yes, all homeowners are required to be a part of the community's homeowners association. How much anticipated revenue will this project bring to the Village of Germantown? The anticipated property tax revenue is about $600,000 annually, once the development is complete, said Village Administrator Steve Kreklow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also stated that the impact fee revenue, a one-time source of revenue that the property developers pay to the government, is $1.8 million. He said that will go to various village departments such as the police or fire departments. When will construction begin for the residential development? Kreklow said he does not have a specific date for when the construction is to begin but expects site preparation to begin by the end of this year. Is the Sutton Farm residential development the biggest in Germantown? Kreklow estimated that the Sutton Farm residential project ranks among the top five major housing developments in Germantown. Kreklow said the last significant residential development approved for Germantown was the Wrenwood development in 2018. This included more than 300 homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Located at the intersection Mequon Road and Country Aire Drive, Kreklow stated that 250 of the homes have already been built. He said the project is in its final phase, which is expected to be completed within the next few years. "We have seen a lot of data that there is a real demand for housing, there is a shortage of housing, and there is space for housing in Germantown," said Kreklow. "It shows people want to live here." More: Hop Yard Ale Works eyes a July 25 opening for its Menomonee Falls location More: Menomonee Falls is getting its first Wisconsin State Historical Marker thanks to Fussville Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Germantown board approves Butler-based developer's plans for 273 homes Tracy Jeffords is sounding the alarm on fake texts that appear to be from FasTrak tolls. The 72-year-old Lake County man told ABC 7 On Your Side that he lost more than $3,300 to a scammer who used his debit card information to make a purchase on eBay. Now he wants to warn other seniors to be on the lookout for scam texts that reporters say have inundated people in the Bay Area for months. It all started back In April when Jeffords drove to San Francisco for a heart procedure. Shortly after returning home, he received a text that said he owed money for crossing a bridge toll plaza. He assumed the text was legitimate and entered his debit card information. However, when he received a letter from FasTrak for the same reason some days later, the alarm bells sounded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeffords checked his bank account and found his information had been used to make a purchase on eBay. "It made me feel terrible. And the thing is, it's going to happen to somebody else." Jeffords says he wants to warn others who may not realize the texts are a scam. "Especially older people. I have my [faculties] about me, but I don't really think twice or get suspicious as I should, or as I used to," he said. Don't miss Getting reimbursed after a scam ABC 7 On Your Side is working to help Jeffords get reimbursed after the scam. Though he has tried to dispute the charge with both eBay and his bank, he has so far been unable to recover the $3,300 he lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michel Weksler, a consultant specializing in payment security, warned that scams that go after debit card information are harder for banks to reverse. "The primary thing is that the money moves almost instantaneously. And when the money is moved, you cannot easily get it back. In most cases, it's gone," he said. Jeffords says that as a retiree, losing this sum has a substantial impact on his budget. FBI receives 2,000 complaints about road toll collection services scams Just as news reports warn of scam texts hitting phones all over the Bay Area, the AARP also reports that residents of Utah are being hit with a similar scam. In fact, IC3, the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center, reports shows the organization has received more than 2,000 complaints about road toll collection texts. And scams purporting to be from FasTrak Lane, the company that collects tolls for all roads in California specifically, are the most common. The AARP warns that the scam is also hitting those outside of California, with a volunteer in Utah reporting a similar story as Tracy Jeffords. Luckily, the volunteers bank was able to flag the charge as suspicious and deactivate her debit card. 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 avoid text-based scams The AARP advises seniors to always be suspicious of text messages purporting to be from legitimate companies and services. FasTrak, for example, never requests payment from drivers via a text with a link to a website. The AARP also advises looking at the number the text came from. These scams often originate outside of the states. For example, the volunteer in Utah found that her scam text came from a number with the country code of the Philippines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FCC further warns seniors that scams will often use threatening or pushy language to get you to act quickly, but that legitimate toll collectors will never do this. For example, many of these scam texts threaten to suspend your account or hit you with further fines. If you receive a text of this type, you can always call the toll company right away at a number searched up on their website, instead of following any links in the text and potentially falling for a scam. The FCC also says the following flags are a dead giveaway that a text is a scam: Asking you to pay through non-standard methods like gift cards or wire transfers The text originates from an international phone number Other phone numbers included as recipients Generic greetings such as "Dear Customer" or "E-ZPass user." They note that legitimate messages will usually address you by name. And if the message is a scam, the toll company will want you to report the details to help them track down the impersonators. 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. Californians are not relishing In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyders decision to move the beloved burger chains headquarters from California to Tennessee, with some even calling for a boycott in response. Snyder, 43, announced on the Relatable podcast that In-N-Outs current headquarters in Irvine will close by 2030 as part of a long-term plan to consolidate operations in Baldwin Park, where the company began in 1948. A new co-headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, is also set to open in 2026, where Snyder will be based. Theres a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here, Snyder told podcast host and conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey, adding that the company is looking to expand into the South. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Independent has contacted In-N-Out for comment. Customers in the Golden State are furious on social media. Many pointed out that Tennessees lack of state income tax and lower minimum wage may be influencing In-N-Outs move. In-N-Out headquarters will be out of California by 2030, the CEO has said. The decision has drawn the ire of local residents. (Getty) Privately owned by the Snyder family, the Christian-run company has faced past criticism for anti-LBGTQ and anti-vaccine views, though previous boycott efforts have had little financial impact. This time, one Reddit user said in a thread, Time to boycott. If you really hate business in California, then California hates doing business with you. Uhhhh... hard to do business? someone else questioned Snyders explanation. How is it that she's worth several BILLION dollars, most of which is from us??? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an idiotic mindset, a third person sounded off. In-N-Out provides great job opportunities for the people of California. If you did this to everyone, California would be even more in shambles than it already is. California is the problem, not In-N-Out. People on social media are calling for a boycott of In-N-Out, inside encouraging customers to try a local restaurant. (Getty) Another added about the billionaire, California has treated their family and their business very, very well. This is simply ungrateful and shameful. Others suggested its time to focus on local California burger joints rather than a chain that serves literally the saltiest burgers I have ever had. The burger is good, but not enough to put up with lining her pockets anymore, one person agreed. Smash burgers are everywhere now, or I can make them at home. Expansion also puts into question their vow that they couldnt provide the same quality if they left the West Coast. Not worth it to go. CANNELTON Like many of her neighbors, Donna Petry longs for a solution to ongoing issues with sewage lines damaged by flooding in western Fayette County in mid-August 2022. But, shes not holding her breath. Scratch that, on some days, maybe she is. Petry lives up Cannelton Hollow along Smithers Creek, an area just on the outskirts of Smithers that is still affected by damaged sewer lines. As officials have haltingly addressed the replacement of the lines, the creek is still affected by unhealthy sewage from Kanawha Falls Public Service District wastewater customers, including the Mount Olive Correctional Complex at the top of the mountain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some days you cant stand to go out on the deck and other days its OK, Petry, who has lived in her current home since 1970, said in describing the odor. You cant enjoy being outside; its sickening at times. Sewage can sometimes be seen in the creek, too, she said. The broken line situation doesnt affect her water or sewage service; it just makes life uncomfortable at times. Weve never had a disruption of service, Petry said. She and her husband, Jay Petry, are served by West Virginia American Water on the water side and KFPSD for wastewater service. Its absolutely ridiculous, Petry said. Especially something that affects wildlife (and) just our general area. Its horrible when you have that smell; its embarrassing. Past history makes you think it (a permanent fix) is not going to happen quickly anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the 2022 flood, the Petrys lost their pool, and a large concrete slab washed up into their yard via the water inundation. They eventually had to pay someone to remove the slab and clean the yard. They received no financial relief from any source in the aftermath of the flood, she said, and have had no communication with the PSD officials. A retired nurse, Petry owns a business, The Sew Shed, next door to her home. Its an LLC and not a walk-in business, but its kept her busy for the last five years. I started sewing (after she retired), and one machine led to five. Id just like to see it resolved, she said of the ongoing sewage issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The repair of the broken lines has involved a great deal of back-and-forth discussion and correspondence, including a new design for replacement lines and addressing the funding for the replacement costs, which are expected to be hefty, but a lack of significant progress has caused consternation. Because the sewer line in Cannelton Hollow was completely destroyed during the 2022 flood, there is a known and ongoing discharge of raw and partially treated sewage into Smithers Creek, Terry Fletcher, chief communications officer with the WVDEP, wrote in an email. The presence of untreated sewage in surface waters is a violation of the state and federal Clean Water Acts, regardless of the volume or concentration. For that reason, sampling was not required to confirm that a violation had occurred since this situation already meets the threshold for noncompliance under federal and state law. Sampling is generally used to assess pollutant levels in more ambiguous or complex cases where compliance with specific water quality standards is in question. The WVDEPs Clean Water State Revolving Fund program has been actively working with the Kanawha Falls Public Service District to implement a permanent solution, Fletcher continued. The only viable long-term fix for the sewage collection issues in Cannelton Hollow is the construction of a new sewer line. Preliminary design and engineering work for that project is underway with coordination from local, state and federal partners. WVDEP remains committed to supporting efforts to advance the project once the appropriate local decisions and resources are in place. On June 2, Jonathan Grose, chairman of the KFPSD board, wrote a letter to Dr. Jason Means, state public assistance officer/program manager with the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security Emergency Management Division, concerning ownership of the sewer lines which service the Mount Olive Correctional Complex and Cannelton Hollow residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the letter, also sent to the Fayette County Commission, the City of Smithers, WVAW and the WVDEP, Grose discussed KFPSDs working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist in funding the replacement of the Cannelton Hollow sewer line that receives wastewater from the Mount Olive Correctional Complex and Jail. It has recently come to my attention that the wastewater collection line from the prison into KFPSDs pump station is not owned by KFPSD, Grose wrote. Indeed, KFPSD has been unable to locate any documentation showing that it owns or is responsible for the Cannelton Hollow sewer collection line. Thus, KFPSD is withdrawing its request from FEMA for funding to replace the Cannelton Hollow sewer collection line. Recently, the Commission staff became aware of a letter from the chairman of the Kanawha Falls PSD to the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security claiming that the Kanawha Falls PSD does not own the damaged sewer line that serves the Cannelton area and the Mount Olive Correctional Center, state Public Service Commission Chairman Charlotte Lane said in a July 8 statement. The letter also stated the intent of the KFPSD to withdraw its funding requests as a result. In order to simply inform the Commission of this development, the Commission staff filed the letter in a formal case involving another PSD in Fayette County, the Armstrong PSD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Commission staff did not offer an opinion at that time regarding the validity of the assertions made by KFPSD. As of now, the Commission has no formal proceedings before it regarding the ownership of the sewer line in question, and as a result it has not made any rulings relating to the question of ownership of the sewer line. If the ownership of any existing utility line is in question, utilities may file a formal case at any time in order for the Commission to adjudicate the matter. The Commission remains concerned regarding the length of time the sewer line repair project has taken, and understands the funding agencies at both the state and federal levels are currently working towards solutions to funding-related obstacles, Lane added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 11, the WVDEP sent a letter to Joseph Goodnite, the KFPSD general manager, in response to Goodnites request that notices of violation (NOVs) issued to KFPSD for untreated sewage being released into Smithers Creek and the Kanawha River in violation of the permit be vacated and, instead, directed toward the correct responsible parties. He indicated as responsible parties Smithers, the Fayette County Commission or a consent agreement between West Virginia American Water to establish a corrective action plan and timeline. In his June 16 letter to the WVDEPs Division of Water and Waste Management, Goodnite said KFPSD had, in good faith, attempted to mitigate the environmental and public hazard that exists in the aftermath of the flood. As it attempted to work with various agencies to accomplish that task, KFPSD was made aware of documents that show the ownership of the sewage lines lies with Smithers and the Smithers Sanitary Board instead of the PSD, Goodnite said in the June 16 missive. In the July 11 letter to Goodnite, Brad Wright, chief inspector for the WVDEPs Division of Water and Waste Management, Environmental Enforcement, said that DEP research indicated that KFPSD does, indeed, own the impacted Cannelton Hollow sewer lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As discussed on our June 27, 2025 call, KFPSDs WV/NPDES Permit No. WV0034991 includes the Cannelton service area and West Virginia Department of Public Safety Correctional Facility at Mount Olive in the list of areas served by the facilities, Wright wrote. WV/NPDES Permit No. WV0021741, issued to City of Smithers, does not include these areas. As we discussed, the NOVs were appropriately issued based on the requirements of WV/NPDES Permit No. WV0034991 regardless of ownership. Additionally, the operating agreements and related documents included in the June 16, 2025 correspondence do not provide evidence that the ownership differs from the coverage area included in WV/NPDES Permit No. WV0034991, Wrights letter continued. The complete transcript of documents related to KFPSDs 1993 Series A $2,872,937 sewer revenue bond, retrieved from WVDEP records and attached to this letter, contains documentation of KFPSDs original upgrade projects that included extension of service to Mt. Olive, the Cannelton area and connection for City of Smitherss system. Included in the documentation is a certification by KFPSD that all land and all rights-of-way necessary for the construction of the system upgrades and was acquired by KFPSD or could be acquired by KFPSD through purchase or condemnation. Based on the permit requirements and available evidence in WVDEP records, KFPSD owns and is responsible for the impacted sewer line, the letter to Goodnite continued. WVDEP finds no evidence that warrants vacating the appropriately issued NOVs. Therefore, on behalf of the director of the Division of Water and Waste Management, WVDEP has determined that the NOVs will not be rescinded. WVDEP agrees that the release of untreated sewage originated from a flood event and acknowledges KFPSDs difficulties securing funding for the repair project. WVDEP will continue to assist KFPSD, to the extent possible, with securing funding; however, KFPSD remains responsible for complying with WV/NPDES Permit No. WV0034991 and correcting these issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citing a 1996 operation and maintenance agreement with Smithers, as well as other points of interest, Goodnite said Monday he is working on an appeal of the WVDEP findings. In a meeting earlier in 2025, the Fayette County Commission approved a temporary fix that was expected to alleviate some of the lingering odor issues, but that process has yet to begin. Goodnite said hes heard nothing further from the county commission on the most recent proposal to mitigate some of the odor while a more permanent fix awaits. Im not mayor for the people on the county side of the line who have suffered for three years with the smell and the health risks of raw sewage rolling down Smithers Creek, rolling down sometimes their front yards and their back yards, Smithers Mayor Anne Cavalier said recently. But, those people deserve a voice and they deserve their friends and their neighbors and their fellow Mountaineers to stand up for them. Thats what Im trying to. Thats what our city council is trying to do. We have asked PSC through a filing that was filed by our attorney at Bowles Rice, and we have authored and sent a letter to the governors office to intercede. After three years, it is perfectly clear that the parties involved cannot reach agreement and, while theyre trying to reach this agreement, the good people up Cannelton Hollow continue to suffer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a June 27 letter from Bowles Rice Attorneys at Law to Karen Buckley, the PSC executive secretary, Bowles Rice partner James Kelsh said no evidence exists to support a claim that Smithers owns the impacted sewer lines. It has been asserted in media coverage that the City of Smithers or the Sanitary Board may own the sewer line which serves the prison, the letter read in part. A review of the history of sewer service to the prison demonstrates that this is a clearly false suggestion. On July 21, Kelsh followed up with another filing to Buckley pointing out the DEPs finding that KFPSD and not Smithers or its sanitary board owns the impacted lines. The WVDEP concluded that KFPSD is and has been responsible for those (sewer collection) mains since KFPSD installed them, Kelsh wrote. Cavalier also penned a June 30 letter to the office of Gov. Patrick Morrisey seeking assistance in the Cannelton situation. This is going on the fourth year, said John Brenemen, president of the Fayette County Commission and the commissions Valley District representative. The worst thing again is the citizens of the county are the ones that are suffering. Weve tried to do everything we can; I guess Kanawha Falls just doesnt want to do anything with those folks. West Virginia American Water is committed to helping find solutions for the people of Cannelton Hollow to address sewer line concerns, said Olivia Bailey, WVAWs external affairs manager. The first floor of the City-County Council building was full of activity this past weekend. IMPD officers and at least seven community organizations were prepared to implement a first-time process for handling youth breaking curfew. Under the plan to help curb downtown gun violence after a deadly start to July, youth out after curfew would be taken to the downtown hub. Officers would collect their information, contact parents to come pick them up, and organizations would provide food while connecting with them to resources. If parents don't pick them up within an hour, they would be taken to the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center. In the hub's first weekend, which featured the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game and Indiana Black Expo downtown, officials said they accounted for zero kids taken to the detention center for breaking curfew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's in addition to the fact that we had no significant violent crimes or public safety incidents downtown this weekend," IMPD Deputy Chief of Operations Tanya Terry said. "It took all of us to come together to get to this point and show what downtown Indy can be a fun, safe place for residents and visitors alike." Only six people have been cited for a youth curfew violation in the past two years. Five youths were cited in October 2023, and one was cited this July 2025, according to city records. While the weekend has been deemed by some public safety leaders as progress, community leaders say there's more work to be done. They want to make sure this type of response can sustain well beyond downtown when there are large events like Black Expo, the WNBA All-Star Game, and Fourth of July. Indianapolis youth leaders seek long-term, expanded solutions The organizations that volunteered to be a part of the hub collaborating with police were Firefly Children & Family Alliance, Eskenazi Health, VOICES, Inner Beauty Program, Inc., Let Them Talk Indy, and New B.O.Y. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kareem Hines, the founder of New B.O.Y (Breed of Youth), leads one of the organizations represented at the hub over the weekend. He said he hopes that police and city officials look at the early success and push the pilot program to the rest of the year. "And not just downtown, 'cause that's a minimal space," Hines told IndyStar. "We need this all over the city if other organizations can collaborate. 'Cause we see kids out all over, not just downtown. We need this at Post Road, 30th and MLK, Lawrence, or wherever. Go where the hotspots are." Following the mass shooting that left seven young people shot and two dead over Fourth of July weekend, Keith "Wildstyle" Paschall went downtown to observe the problem. He feels youth should have more controlled spaces where they can gather and have fun. Reunification site for youth: City to open 'safe and secure' site with resources for youth found out past curfew Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We need to audit our relationships with promoters, venue organizers, and people who used to host events for teens and young people," Paschall said. "A couple of years back, roller rinks, for example, used to be open later, but they'd shut down because of a lot of youth fighting, and they felt pressure to." Paschall also said there needs to be more resources for parents that aren't punitive. He wants them to have more support beyond pouring money into mentorships or community organizations that don't consider them in their mission to help. In a statement, Fraternal Order of Police president Rick Snyder said this past weekend "proves it can be done." "When accountability and consequences for criminal behavior are clearly articulated and understood, it works," Snyder said. "It also turns out we didnt need to restrict the rights of the law-abiding to get adults and juveniles to not shoot one another in downtown Indianapolis." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Snyder also said the city didn't need a change to curfew or gun laws; just a willingness to enforce existing laws. "Time will tell if Indys politicians in charge choose to sustain this path or return to failed policies and misguided agendas," he said. 'We can't tout this as a success' Once again, no children were brought into our safe & secure location last night. Huge thanks to parents, guardians, family members, and our incredible community partners who helped staff the site all weekend. This is what community looks like. This is for our kids. Chief Chris Bailey (@IMPD_Chief) July 20, 2025 IMPD's Terry said the department has community organizations, including Ten Pointe Coalition, that try to target hotspots of youth violence throughout the city. "While it's not as visible as the downtown events and incidents, they are ongoing in the background, and our hope with IMPD is we're happy to continue to be a conduit between the kids and families that need the services, and those community-based service providers" Terry said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said IMPD is in the early stages of creating written guidance for organizations that are willing be part of the solution. The ideal situation for everybody, Terry said, would be that a family or child in need of extra support has access to services regardless of the presence of a major event downtown, Hines said this should be something the city invests in. Whereas IMPD is paid to work all hours of the night to ensure curfew is being met, the city's service organizations are not. "We had like five to six mentors and we asked them to volunteer from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m," Hines said. "But that's volunteering, and we can't tout this as a success after one weekend. We need to extend that same grace, manpower, and more for the rest of this year." Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis youth leaders seek downtown gun violence progress Jul. 21After Canton's ABC store was flooded for the third time in 20 years, it's giving up on its Main Street location in favor of a strip mall store front outside of downtown a move that will create new parking downtown but also diminish the town's cut of profits off liquor sales. The Canton town board voted to buy the ABC store property downtown for $156,300 at the last town meeting. But the town won't actually fork out any cash to buy the site. Instead, the town's annual cut of liquor sale proceeds for the next four years will cover the cost of the purchase. In the meantime, the town will use the property, which is now an empty lot following demolition of the flooded store, for extra downtown parking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moving money The ABC store regularly gives 64% of its net profits about $40,000-50,000 annually to the town each year. The remainder of profits goes to the county and alcohol education per state statute. Now, in exchange for taking title of the Main Street property, the town will forgo those funds until they equate to the purchase price. "You're not actually having to pay them up front," explained Town Manager Lisa Stinnett at Canton's town meeting. "They won't give us that money per year for four years, and that will pay the tax value on that property." Money won't be leaving Canton's pocket, but the town also won't receive the annual boost to its general fund for several years. However, Chief Finance Officer Natalie Walker says she doesn't think this will cause significant problems for the town's budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't see (this) impacting us negatively and we're able to provide more parking for the downtown businesses with this lot, so I think it's a win-win," Walker told The Mountaineer. It's not the first time the town has made a deal like this with the ABC board. When the ABC store flooded in 2004, the town gave up profit disbursements, which were needed to pay the mortgage on a new building. That deal wrapped up only a handful of years ago meaning Canton has only received ABC profits from less than five of the last 20 years, and now faces another four years without ABC windfall. On the surface, Canton is paying its own ABC board for a parcel that was already purchased once using ABC revenue. But there's a reason for that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canton ABC's General Manager Hugh Williams said that ABC couldn't legally hand over the property for free. "According to general statute any exchange of property between North Carolina governmental entities has to be for exchange of value," Williams said. "In other words, we couldn't just simply sign the property over to the town there has to be real value involved." Once all parties agreed that the best future for the land would be in town hands, the $156,300 value listed on the county property tax roll became the price. The Canton ABC used its flood insurance money to demolish the building and clean up debris. What's next for ABC? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams doesn't think the ABC board will pocket that $156,000 though. The new store is set to reopen in the former Davis True Value space, which offers new opportunities along with new challenges. "We're in a unique situation we're basically starting from scratch with the new store. We're going to be dealing with construction costs and we're going to have a lot of costs that normally we wouldn't have," Williams said. "I don't know exactly how much profit we're going to have for the next couple of years until we just get going." Since the store closed, ABC revenue in Waynesville and Maggie Valley stores has risen, likely from Canton shoppers going a few extra miles. Canton's ABC has historically brought in significantly less money each month than its neighbors, so it's unclear how the nearly 10-month closure will impact sales in the long run. Whatever profits the store does make as it gets off the ground will likely go towards buying more inventory for the larger space and covering the costs of construction, renovations and remaining overhead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This uncertainty also explains why the contract says the town will forgo the profits for four years. Before Helene, the Canton ABC generated enough profits to pay off the $156,000 in close to three years. But with the lease on the new building still waiting to be finalized, higher costs and a shaken customer base, no one really knows how long the payback will last. Community benefit Acquiring the now-empty lot provides an opportunity for the town given the growth of downtown events and festivals in recent years particularly being right across the street from Sorrells Park. The town already owns an adjacent lot and with the ABC building razed, the spot is primed for added parking. Mayor Zeb Smathers even suggested inviting food trucks to the new space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will utilize that space as best we can," Stinnett assured the board. And while the town won't have any money coming into its general fund from the ABC anytime soon, Williams is confident that the store will help support the community long-term. "Once we get through the next couple of years and get construction over with, in the long-run I think it will be more beneficial for the town and for the ABC board," Williams said. "That's why the ABC system is designed for us to distribute back to the community." The Caribbean Guard has shared new details about the drowning death of Cosby actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner. As tributes pour in for the 54-year-old actor, husband and father, what happened on that Costa Rican beach is becoming clearer. Warner drowned on July 20, but it wasn't before bystanders made a valiant effort to save him. The Caribbean Guard is a Southern Caribbean Lifeguard Association, according to its Facebook page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We deeply regret the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, in Playa Grande," a statement released by the Caribbean Guard says. A second person was also injured in the incident, but he has not been identified. Warner was on vacation with his wife and daughter. How Malcolm-Jamal Warner Died According to the Caribbean Guard, Warner "was swept away by a strong hangover current and died by drowning." "It was all very fast and even though there were people on the beach who came in to rescue him, they didn't arrive in time," the Caribbean Guard revealed. "He was pulled underwater with no vital signs and despite having been provided with CPR maneuvers on the beach, his resuscitation was unsuccessful," the statement continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is a hangover current? It appears to be another translation for "rip current," the more common term in English. According to the American Meteorology Association, "Efforts to translate National Weather Service brochures about rip currents into Spanish show the challenge of trying to translate complex terms. While Spanish-speaking participants who read a translated brochure found it overall effective at conveying the risks of rip currents, they identified numerous translation issues. The most common was about the Spanish language term NWS used for rip currents 'corrientes de resaca'; to many Spanish speakers, 'resaca' means 'hangover.'" What Is a Rip Current? What is a rip current? "Rip currents are channelized currents of water flowing away from shore at surf beaches," according to the United States Lifesaving Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Rip currents typically form at breaks in sandbars, and also near structures such as jetties and piers." Rip currents pull swimmers away from shores and have accounted for more than 100 deaths each year in the United States, the association reported. There are signs that a rip current may be present: "A narrow gap of darker, seemingly calmer water between areas of breaking waves and whitewater," is one of them, according to the association. "You may be able to escape by swimming out of the current in a direction following the shoreline, or toward breaking waves, then at an angle toward the beach," the association advises. The Play Grande Beach Has Had Previous Problems The statement also outlines previous issues with the beach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Playa Grande is one of our most challenging beaches. It's a beach known by local surfers and there are signs (in English and Spanish) that warn of the danger of death by drowning," the Guard noted. "It's a beach that the Caribbean Guard has patrolled for the last few years. Nope this Sunday though," they revealed. "Due to the recent water incidents on Playa black we have allocated resources there and on Chiquita, another emblematic beach, for its currents," they added. "From Caribbean Guard, association of volunteer lifeguards, we appeal to the President of the Nation, the national government, the Municipality of Talamanca and the entire Caribbean community, to continue joining efforts to minimize this problem, which is sadly rising ALL OVER THE COUNTRY," reads the post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We do everything within our power. We've saved numerous lives in recent years, and if Caribbean Guard didn't exist, drownings would count by the dozens. We do our part to minimize risks but if we dont have government help, clear public policies and strong support from local entrepreneurs, this will keep happening." Related: Malcolm-Jamal Warner Never Wanted to Marry - Until He Met His Wife Caribbean Guard Shares New Details on Malcolm-Jamal Warner Death. They're Harrowing first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 22, 2025 CARROLL COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Authorities have arrested a Carroll County teen in connection with the July 9 shooting death of 19-year-old Alexzander Drake Bernhardt, whose body was found in a rural roadway. Thomas Kevin Blewett, 18. (COURTESY: Carroll County Sheriffs Office) Thomas Kevin Blewett, 18, was taken into custody on July 18 by Arkansas State Police with assistance from the Carroll County Sheriffs Office (CCSO). He faces charges of first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence. Blewett is being held in the Carroll County Detention Center on a $1 million bond, with his next court appearance set for Aug 4, according to CCSO. Details emerge in affidavit According to an affidavit filed in Carroll County Circuit Court, investigators allege that Blewett shot Bernhardt in the forehead with a 9mm pistol while inside a Kia Soul, then moved his body and attempted to conceal evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses told investigators that Blewett said, Im gonna go to prison for life, shortly after a shot was fired inside the vehicle. Two teens were in the car with him at the time, one of whom is a minor. The teens initially gave incomplete statements but later returned voluntarily to the sheriffs office and provided more detailed account, according to court documents. One teen said they were driving the Kia with Blewett and the other witness when the shooting happened. The second witness told investigators they heard a gunshot, turned and saw Blewett holding a tan pistol while Bernhardt bled from the head. Missouri man drowns in Carroll County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the second witness got out of the car in shock, the driver said they kept going briefly before Blewett reportedly removed Bernhardts body and left it along County Road 435. Blewett then allegedly tried to clean the car with wipes before picking the second teen back up. Authorities later found the vehicle in a wooded area off County Road 436 near Boyd Church, based on a tip from Blewetts father, Green Forest police officer Tommy Blewett, who directed deputies to the area. Authorities reported finding a large amount of blood in the backseat. The case remains under active investigation, according to CCSO. In a Facebook post, Carroll County Sheriff Daniel Klatt thanked Arkansas State Police and local deputies for their work and asked the public to come forward with any additional information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact the Carroll County Sheriffs Office at 870-423-7373. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. (NewsNation) DEA Special Agent Robert Murphy says Americans are chancing their lives by not getting prescription medicine from a licensed pharmacist amid cartels disguising dangerous drugs as everyday pills. Murphy joined Elizabeth Vargas Reports on Friday to discuss the challenges facing the agency. Its the same thing I tell my family. Anything you find on the street, near 100% of the drugs that we see in pill form on the street, are almost all fake, Murphy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DEA expects to seize double the amount of methamphetamine in 2025 than in the previous year. MLK Jr. assassination files released after 60 years There is a big demand in this country for meth. And were seeing more and more of it. And then theres some other scary things developing in the sense that were seeing more and more methamphetamine pills disguised as, you know, coveted pills, like Adderall or oxycodone, and, you know, the MDMA, Murphy explained. Methamphetamine is highly addictive, very cheap, highly addictive, purely synthetic and very profitable. Thats why the Mexican cartels want to focus on it. Were seeing the demand for pills. Theres less stigma about someone using the pill. Its, you know, you have to shoot it in your arm, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second person detained after off-duty CBP officer shot: Noem The DEA special agent noted that it is so profitable because the Mexican cartel controls the whole process, from manufacturing to distribution, unlike cocaine, which requires collaboration with Colombian cartels. Murphy added that a drug similar to fentanyl is on the rise. According to Murphy, carfentanil is much more powerful and addictive than fentanyl. I can hold two pills in my hand, and I couldnt tell you which one was real, which one wasnt. My best advice is to stay away, Murphy 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 NewsNation. Key Points One-time charges led to a significant profit miss. Lockheed Martin still has a solid business, but there are few immediate catalysts. 10 stocks we like better than Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin's (NYSE: LMT) quarter was loaded with cost overruns and write-offs, causing the defense contractor to miss expectations. Investors were disappointed, sending Lockheed shares down more than 5% as of 10:30 ET Tuesday. Image source: Lockheed Martin. Charges eat into results Lockheed Martin ranks as the world's largest defense contractor, but the company has come on hard times of late. The maker of the F-35 and a wide range of helicopters, missiles, and space systems has been shut out of recent high-profile awards, including the new fighter jet program that went to Boeing. Lockheed shares are down about 14% from their peak for the year. The company's latest results are not helping reverse the momentum. Lockheed earned $1.46 per share in the quarter on revenue of $18.2 billion, missing Wall Street's consensus estimate for $6.52 per share in earnings on revenue of $18.6 billion. There is a lot of noise in that earnings number. Quarterly results included $1.6 billion in program losses including $950 million on a classified aerospace project. Absent those charges, earnings would have come in at $7.29 per share. Free cash flow was also soft. Lockheed used $150 million in cash, compared to an estimate for $1.2 billion in positive free cash flow, thanks to slower-than-expected F-35 deliveries. Is Lockheed Martin stock a buy? The charges were mostly one-time items, but unfortunately for investors there is no reason to believe things will improve anytime soon. Lockheed's book-to-bill, a measure of future business compared to current-quarter revenue, was an anemic 0.8x, with none of the company's four segments booking more business in the quarter than what they billed out. Lockheed Martin remains a powerful franchise that should find new opportunities over time. But for now, investors are likely to have to be content with a 3% dividend yield as Lockheed works through these headwinds. Do the experts think Lockheed Martin is a buy right now? The Motley Fools expert analyst team, drawing on years of investing experience and deep analysis of thousands of stocks, leverages our proprietary Moneyball AI investing database to uncover top opportunities. Theyve just revealed their 10 best stocks to buy now did Lockheed Martin make the list? When our Stock Advisor analyst team has a stock recommendation, it can pay to listen. After all, Stock Advisors total average return is up 1,055% vs. just 180% for the S&P that is beating the market by 874.27%!* The case of a third person who faces charges in connection with the death of a 17-year-old Milan teen is scheduled to continue in Rock Island County Court, according Rock Island County Court records. Napoleon Jackson (Rock Island County Jail) In April 2023, 16-year-old Napoleon Jackson was arrested in Newton, Iowa, in connection with the homicide investigation of the death of Daniel Taylor the morning of April 14, says a news release from the Rock Island County Sheriffs Office. Jackson, now 18, has been charged as an adult. He faces charges of first-degree murder, home invasion and aggravated battery. He is being held in Rock Island County Jail. Pretrial conferences are scheduled for Aug. 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier Johnell Smith III, 17, was sentenced in Rock Island County Court in connection with the shooting death of a 17-year-old Daniel Danny Taylor in 2023. During the sentencing, Smith maintained his innocence, saying he feared for his life because of co-defendant Napoleon Jackson, who was with Smith that night. Judge Frank Fuhr sentenced Smith to 20 years plus 15 years for gun enhancement, for a total of 35 years. The sentence also includes three years of mandatory supervised release. A fatal shooting in Milan in 2023 Illinois State Police crime-scene investigators and Rock Island County sheriffs deputies were on the scene after the early-morning April 14, 2023, shooting in the 11700 block of Ridgewood Road in Milan, according to a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Rock Island County Sheriffs Office received a 911 call reporting a person shot around 12:44 a.m. that Friday from the 11700 block of Ridgewood Road in Milan. Deputies immediately responded to the residence and inside the home located a 17-year-old boy with multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Rock Island County Sheriffs Office. About 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, 16-year-old Napoleon Jackson was arrested in Newton, Iowa, in connection with the homicide investigation of the death of Daniel Taylor the morning of April 14, the release says. According to the release, The apprehension of Mr. Jackson would not have been possible without the support of our law enforcement partners with the Iowa State Patrol (DCI/DNE Division,) the Newton Police Department, and the Jasper County Sheriffs Office. Police say the initial information gathered suggests that a confrontation occurred inside the residence, the news release says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the incident, several gunshots were fired, including the round that is believed to have struck the victim. Suspects fled the scene, the release says. Also in connection with the incident, Tationna Taylor, 21, earlier was sentenced to nine years with 18 months of mandatory supervised release after she pleaded guilty to, and was convicted of, home invasion, a Class X felony, according to Rock Island County Court records. Illinois State Police crime scene investigators and Rock Island County sheriffs deputies are on the scene of a shooting in the 11700 block of Ridgewood Road in Milan on April 14, 2023. (Bryan Bobb, OurQuadCities.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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Jul. 21The investigation into Hershall Creachbaum Jr., a 7-year-old boy reported missing before his presumed remains were found July 12, is continuing after his mother and boyfriend were charged in connection to his disappearance. Here's what's next in the case: Mother, boyfriend indicted by grand jury Ashley Johnson, the boy's mother, and Michael Kendrick, her boyfriend, have been indicted by a grand jury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson, 39, is facing one count of obstructing justice, and Kendrick was charged with two counts of tampering with evidence and three counts of gross abuse of a corpse. Kendrick and Johnson are scheduled to be arraigned in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court on Thursday. Around 3:45 a.m. on July 12, Kendrick called 911 and reported a man punched him and took Creachbaum, according to Montgomery County Regional Dispatch records. While investigating, Dayton police determined the boy hadn't been kidnapped and may have been missing for several weeks. They took Kendrick and Johnson to the Public Safety Building to be interviewed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson, 36, initially told detectives she saw Creachbaum playing with his 11-year-old sister the day before he was reported missing, according to Dayton Municipal Court records. "After speaking further with the mother, we learned that (the boy) was dead," a detective wrote. Johnson said Creachbaum, who was non-verbal with autism, died while she was in the hospital in late May. Kendrick reportedly told Johnson the boy died from natural causes. She never saw him after she returned home, she told authorities. "During an interview with Michael, he stated that while drinking and in an argument over the phone, he punched (the boy) in the head twice," an affidavit read. "He then pushed him down, causing him to bounce off the floor and striking other parts of his body." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Creachbaum reportedly died the next day. Kendrick said he kept the boy's body and put it in a deep freezer after it began to smell, according to court records. He used a suitcase to bring the boy to a grassy field. After a few weeks, Kendrick reportedly returned and put the bones in a bag and left them on McClure Street. Kendrick guided police to where the remains were, according to court records. Formal identification of remains pending Dayton police Chief Kamran Afzal said the remains are presumed to be Creachbaum. The Montgomery County Coroner's Office is working to confirm the identity. They'll also determine the cause and manner of death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We've reached out to the coroner's office to see how long it could take to formally confirm the identity of the remains or the cause and manner of death. More charges could be coming During a press conference on July 14, Afzal said police are working with the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office and coroner's office to investigate. Additional charges may be filed pending the forensic examination of Creachbaum's presumed remains. When asked about the chance of additional charges being filed, a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office said it's not a simple matter. "There is a lot of additional investigation that needs to be completed, and that will take time," said Greg Flannagan, public information officer for the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the remains found on McClure Street are presumed to be those of Creachbaum, they need to be positively identified via DNA, he said. The coroner's office also needs to determine the cause and manner of death, if possible, Flannagan said. "Additional charges are certainly possible, but that would depend on the additional investigation being completed and what the evidence shows," he said. (Getty Images) Problems with the presentation of a Missouri Sunshine Law case, along with misinterpretation of a lower court ruling, doomed the appeal in a closely watched lawsuit over what must be included in a meeting notice and what constitutes a meeting that can be held on short notice. The Western District Missouri Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision handed down Tuesday, upheld Cass County Circuit Judge R. Michael Wagners June 2023 ruling in favor of the Western Cass Fire Protection District. In the case, one-time directors Kerri VanMeveren and Darvin Schildknecht and an organization called Citizens for Transparency and Accountability accused other board members of numerous violations of the open meetings law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit said the board held meetings without the required 24-hour notice, altered agendas to add non-emergency items and put little to no information on posted agendas about what subjects were up for discussion. In one instance, for a meeting where other board members tried to oust VanMeveren and Schildknecht, there was no indication in the agenda that was to be discussed. When the appeals court heard arguments in September, Judge Thomas Chapman questioned attorney Jim Layton, representing the plaintiffs, about writing a narrative for an appeal rather than individual point-by-point claims of error in the circuit court ruling. Layton defended grouping the 46 violations by subject. In his majority opinion, Chapman returned to that question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On appeal, plaintiffs continue a trend of attempting to litigate their claims wholesale without providing the court or the opposing party with a clear indication of the claims on which they assert error or the precise nature of their arguments, Chapman wrote. The circuit court decision was entered when plaintiffs rested their case during a bench trial. In a dissent, Judge Alok Ahuja wrote that the narrative from Layton followed the points raised in the motion from the fire district seeking the judgment. The circuit courts judgment is flawed, Ahuja wrote, because it was delivered without the defense having to present any evidence on claims where the defense bore the burden of proof. It was unnecessary for plaintiffs to establish the merit of each individual Sunshine Law violation they alleged, when the adequacy of those claims was never individually challenged, Ahuja wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with The Independent, Layton said he would ask the Missouri Supreme Court to hear the case. The narrative presentation was to identify specific legal questions involving multiple incidents, he said. Instead of pointing out that there were half a dozen or so legal issues on which the circuit court was wrong, the majority said that we had to break those down into, you know, somewhere between 40 and 60 individual arguments, the vast majority of which would have been redundant, Layton said. Aaron Racine, attorney for the fire district, said hes pleased with the result. Obviously, the plaintiffs are entitled to do what they think is necessary in terms of the petition for review, he said. And well see what happens going forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The appeal drew the attention of Attorney General Andrew Baileys office, the Missouri Press Association and the Freedom Center of Missouri, all of which wrote briefs urging the court to overturn the trial court. The issues involved, they wrote, are some of the most fundamental aspects of what constitutes proper notice of a meeting, how much can be added to an agenda after it is posted, and what information must be presented about an item to be considered. All public governmental bodies shall give notice of the time, date, and place of each meeting, and its tentative agenda, in a manner reasonably calculated to advise the public of the matters to be considered, the Sunshine Law states. The problems with fire district notices, the lawsuit alleged, were that they often gave the least possible information such as a resolution number and no other details under the heading Banking for a July 20, 2022, meeting. During the same meeting, while on the agenda item with the heading reports, the board adopted changes to the duties of some personnel without any indication that was the intent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VanMeveren said she was disappointed that the appeal was rejected because of how it was presented rather than the facts. Its very disappointing to be dismissed on a technicality, based on the gravity of whats at stake here and the disservice it does to the citizens of this community, she said. It sends a message to those that try to hold their government agencies accountable, that their ability to do so comes with such great barriers and obstacles. The outside briefs noted that there are no court rulings to guide governments on what should be included in a meeting notice to abide by the Sunshine Law. The ruling did not provide that either, Layton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Missouri remains without any appellate decisions on most of the open meetings questions we addressed in our briefs, he said. The fire district continues to include very little information in its notices, despite the lawsuit, VanMeveren said. They have not changed their process, she said, or how they operate. This article was updated to correct a name spelling. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) Castle graduate Cam Tilly will be making the next step in his career. Tilly signed his rookie contract with the New York Mets. The former pitcher for the Knights was selected in the seventh round of the 2025 MLB Draft. According to MLB.com, Tilly signed for $397,500 almost $150,000 above his slot value. Tilly was most recently a relief pitcher for the Auburn Tigers. Memorial grad Matthew Fisher remains unsigned. He was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies two picks prior. 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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Youth carrying a crucifix and Marian banner lead Cataldo Pilgrimage on Day 1 of their three-day, 50-mile trek through North Idaho. (Lisa Ormond/FaVS News) This story was first published by FaVS News on July 21, 2025. On July 18, over 300 hundred Christian pilgrims left Immaculate Conception Church in Post Falls, Idaho, to walk the annual Cataldo Pilgrimage marking a quarter century spiritual tradition that highlights faith with 50 miles of walking, prayer, confession and song. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cataldo Pilgrimage is a three-day journey across the North Idaho wilderness culminating at the Sacred Heart Mission of the Coeur d Alene Tribe (Cataldo Mission), which is the oldest standing building and Catholic mission in Idaho. The Rev. Thomas Buschmann of Immaculate Conception Church in Post Falls replenishes his water during a procession break. (Lisa Ormond /FaVS News) Its a religious experience where Christian men, women, children and families of all ages gather as a community in unison to give honor to God and profess their faith. Over the three-day event a total of 500 people participated. The Rev. Thomas Buschmann, six-year assistant priest at Immaculate Conception, said this holy gathering brings pilgrims together for many reasons but touches most participants deeply in some way. Five priests were present in the group to provide spiritual guidance in the way of confessions and prayer. This is a journey that is communal but also individual, which often is the case with a pilgrimage experience, Buschmann said. The journey is one with God, and it can be mysteriously impactful for each person. Cataldo Mission: A sacred place to come Jake Eberlein, a 43-year-old Immaculate Conception parish member and annual pilgrim himself every year since 2002, said people come from all over the world to walk this pilgrimage always held in July. Catholic historian Jake Eberlein stops to take a breather on the North Idaho Centennial Trail. (Lisa Ormond/FaVS News) We are on pilgrimage to go the Cataldo Mission, which has been a center of faith in the Northwest since the 1850s, Eberlein said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eberlein is also a local historian and author who wrote the book, Wilderness Cathedral: The Story of Idahos Oldest Building. His 2017 book chronicles the history of the Old Sacred Heart Mission at the Coeur dAlenes Old Mission State Park at Cataldo, Idaho. A path of purpose in the Bitterroot Mountains Eberlein added that walking the terrain side-by-side with others builds camaraderie in a most beautiful outdoor setting of northern Idaho over the three-day, 50-mile route. The group camps overnight in two locations along the route, including the Wolf Lodge Valley and on day two in the Bitterroot Mountain area at Rose Lake. We are going to the mission to pray together for the church and for each other and our families, Eberlein said. Every year the pilgrimage spiritually feels unique because your life circumstances change and that directs you to be here as a pilgrim for different reasons and to offer prayer around those reasons. The journey does take physical stamina, too, and the website for the pilgrimage offered preparation tips. But event organizers had plenty of helpers and aid-support vans lining the procession route giving participants opportunities to rest, replenish water supplies and stop for restroom breaks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event concluded at the mission with a Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and adoration followed. A Benediction is a Catholic ceremony where the Sacrament (consecrated Eucharist) is displayed for viewing by believers to pray and be in the presence of Jesus. Immaculate Conception Youth Leader Tom Latham said he has taken part in the annual Cataldo Pilgrimage since its inception from his congregations location. He said participants could choose to join one, two or all three days. It is always worth every step, Latham said. It is the most amazing opportunity to profess your faith standing with others in a setting that is so breathtaking that is northern Idaho. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The deadly fire at an assisted-living facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, was accidental, however, the cause is classified as undetermined because investigators found two possible origins, officials said. State Fire Marshal Jon Davine there are two possible causes that "were clearly accidental": an electrical or mechanical failure involving an oxygen concentrator, or improper use or disposal of smoking materials. Officials will continue to investigate, but may not be able to narrow it down to one cause, Davine said. Steven Senne/AP - PHOTO: An investigator takes measurements, July 14, 2025, near an entrance to the Gabriel House assisted living facility following a fire that started late Sunday, in Fall River, Mass. MORE: 10th victim dies from devastating fire at assisted-living facility in Massachusetts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ten people died and dozens were hurt in the July 13 blaze at the Gabriel House, which was home to about 70 people. The 10 residents killed ranged in age from 61 to 86. The fire-alarm fire began in a second-floor resident's room, where there was an oxygen concentrator and numerous smoking materials, Davine said at a news conference on Tuesday. There were no signs of issues from cooking, candles, lighting, heating, electrical outlets or other appliances in the room, he said. Kimberlee Kruesi/AP - PHOTO: Boards cover the windows of the Gabriel House assisted living facility, July 15, 2025 in Fall River, Mass. MORE: Family of woman who survived assisted-living facility fire: 'I'm sure she felt so helpless' Responders did find the damaged remains of a battery-powered scooter, but Davine said investigators believe that was a product of the fire, not the cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resident of the room was among the 10 people who died, so investigators could not get an account of the fire in its earliest stages, Davine said. Investigators believe the presence of medical oxygen contributed to the fire's rapid spread, Davine added. Rodrique Ngowi/AP - PHOTO: Flowers sit at a makeshift memorial in front of the Gabriel House assisted living facility, where a fire on Sunday killed several people, July 16, 2025 in Fall River, Mass. Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III called the blaze an "unprecedented tragedy." Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon again commended the first responders who rushed into the flames. "We mourn the lives lost and the decades of family memories were erased," Bacon said. "I ask that you say a prayer for these families and I also ask that you spare a thought for the first responders confronting their own trauma." Steven Senne/AP - PHOTO: Michael Pimentel, a resident at the Gabriel House assisted living facility, in Fall River, Mass., receives assistance outside a temporary shelter, July 14, 2025, in Fall River, following a fire that started late Sunday. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey held a separate news conference earlier on Tuesday to discuss steps to ensure "tragedies like this dont happen again." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Healey announced the state is giving $1.2 million to Fall River to hire more emergency response personnel, stressing the importance of supporting firefighters and first responders. Healey also said the state is launching a fire and life safety initiative to ensure all 273 assisted living facilities in Massachusetts "are prepared to prevent fires and protect residents during emergencies." All facilities must submit an emergency preparedness plan to the state within 30 days, she said. The state is also requiring all facilities to give residents and their families a letter outlining fire safety protocols, evacuation safety procedures and points of contact for questions or concerns, she said. Rosie Roches cause of death has been revealed. The 20-year-old cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry was found dead in her Wiltshire home on July 14. She was killed by a traumatic head injury, according to reporting by The Independent, Gazette and Herald and the Daily Mail, which cited the Wiltshire and Swindon coroner. The Wiltshire and Swindon coroner did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was reported earlier that Roches mother and sister found her deceased in their home after she began packing for a vacation with friends. A firearm was allegedly found close by inside the property. Following her death, an investigation was opened by the Wiltshire and Swindon coroner. Coroner Grant Davies said that police "have deemed the death as non-suspicious and there was no third-party involvement," per The Sun. Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince William and Prince Harry, from left, in July 2021 Prince William and Prince Harry, from left, in July 2021 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. Wiltshire police also noted that there are no suspicious circumstances involved in Roches death, in a statement to The Independent, adding that their thoughts are with her family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roche was a student at Durham University where she studied English literature. She was the granddaughter of Princess Diana's uncle, Edmund Roche, 5th Baron Fermoy. A spokeswoman told The Sun that the royal family's cousin "will be sorely missed." Professor Wendy Powers, the principal of University College, where Roche attended, also told The Independent that staff and students are extremely saddened by her death. Chris Jackson/Getty; ANDY STENNING/POOL/AFP via Getty Prince William, Prince Harry Prince William, Prince Harry She noted that she was loved for her creativity, energy, her love of books, poetry and travel among many other talents. In an obituary published by the Yorkshire Post on Saturday, July 19, family members remembered Roche as a "darling" daughter, sister and granddaughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Roche, Rosie Jeanne Burke. Died on Monday 14th July 2025. Darling daughter of Hugh and Pippa, incredible sister to Archie and Agatha, Granddaughter to Derek and Rae Long, the obituary stated, adding that a memorial service will be held at a later date. Read the original article on People WEBER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) The Weber County Sheriffs Office has identified the man who drowned at Causey Reservoir over the weekend as a member of the military who was stationed at Hill Air Force Base. According to Lieutenant Sean Endsley, the victim was 23-year-old Angel Harris of Delaware, and he was stationed at Hill Air Force Base. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Diving crews find drowning victim in Causey Reservoir Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At around 2:30 p.m. on July 19, officials began receiving 911 reports about a drowning at Causey Reservoir. Harris jumped into the water and had not resurfaced. Harris was cliff diving, and initial investigations have found that he was not wearing a life jacket when he jumped into the water and drowned, according to Lt. Endsley. Multiple agencies responded to the scene and began to search, including Weber County Sheriffs Office, Weber Fire District, Ogden and Riverdale Fire Departments, and the Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Emergency respondents were not able to locate Harris during the initial search, so dive teams began to search the reservoir. At around 9:10 p.m., a DNR remote-operated vehicle found his body, and divers recovered it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are thankful for the resources and dive teams that aided the search and recovery operation. Our hearts and sympathies go out to Angels family and friends in the wake of this loss, Lt. Endsley wrote. Officials urge water safety following recent drownings The Weber County Sheriffs Office has reminded the public to be mindful of water safety and that all water activities at Causey Reservoir require life jackets. Causey Reservoir (KTVX / Kade Garner) 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Ysleta International Port of Entry seized 42 pounds of cocaine on Sunday, July 20, CBP said in a press release on Monday, July 21. CBP says the drugs were concealed in a vehicle being driven by a 21-year-old woman, who is a U.S. citizen. The seizure was made shortly before 4 p.m. when a woman arrived in a vehicle from Mexico. CBP officers selected the vehicle for a secondary exam after a scan identified anomalies in the vehicle, CBP said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A drug-sniffing dog searched the vehicle and alerted officers to the presence of narcotics. Officers then located a hidden compartment below the rear seat containing 10 bundles, CBP said. The contents of the bundles tested positive for cocaine, CBP said. The driver was arrested and was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations to face failed smuggling attempt charges, CBP 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. Back in 2022, four University of Idaho students were massacred in an off-campus rental house, which prompted a weeks-long manhunt for a suspected killer and rattled the quiet college town of Moscow, Idaho, that hadnt seen a murder in seven years. The victims Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20 were all found stabbed to death in their home at 1122 King Road in Moscow on Nov. 13, 2022. Weeks passed without any significant developments or a suspect. After hundreds of interviews and thousands of tips in search of a suspected killer, authorities homed in on Bryan Kohberger as their suspect. The then-28-year-old was pursuing a doctorate in criminal justice at Washington State University, just across the state border from Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In mid-December 2022, authorities tracked down Kohberger in Pennsylvania, where he was home for the holidays at his parents house after finishing up his first semester. He was arrested on Dec. 30, 2022, and days later was extradited to Idaho. On Wednesday, he was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences, plus 10 years for a charge of burglary, in addition to fines totaling $270,000. "The defendant has studied crime," lead prosecutor Bill Thompson said during a July 2 hearing, in which Kohberger pleaded guilty to killing all four students. "In fact, he did a detailed paper on crime scene processing when he was working on his Ph.D., and he had that knowledge skillset. Prosecutors laid out DNA evidence, cellphone records and surveillance footage that tied Kohberger to the killings. Heres a look at the timeline of what happened, the evidence and how authorities tracked him down, according to an evidentiary summary recited by Thompson at the hearing earlier this month. Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Courtesy of the family, Maddie Mogen via Instagram; Kaylee Goncalves via Instagram; Xana Kernodle via Instagram A timeline of what happened on Nov. 13, 2022, according to investigators Just after 4 a.m., Kohberger entered the rental home at 1122 King Road through the kitchen sliding door at the back of the house. Kohberger went up to the third floor, where he killed Mogen and Goncalves with a knife. He left the knife sheath next to Mogens body. He then worked his way back down through the house and encountered Kernodle, who had received a DoorDash order, also killing her with a knife. Kernodles boyfriend Chapin was asleep in her bedroom, and Kohberger killed him as well. Each victim suffered multiple wounds, Thompson said. There is no evidence that there was any sexual component or sexual assault on any of the victims. There were two other roommates in the house at the time of the killings who survived: Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke. According to court documents, Mortensen said she woke up to strange noises and crying. She looked outside her bedroom door and saw a figure wearing black clothing and a mask walking toward her. Mortensen froze as the person walked past her and went to a sliding glass door. After that she locked herself in her room. Around 11:58 a.m.: A 911 call was placed to report that Kernodle was unconscious. Moscow Police arrived to discover the four students had been killed. Kohbergers cellphone pinged repeatedly near the murder house July 9, 2022: Kohbergers phone started connecting to a cellphone tower in the area of the 1122 King Road home, where the murders would occur months later. Between July 9 and Nov. 7, 2022: Kohbergers phone connected to that same tower from about 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. about 23 times. The prosecution has said they dont have evidence Kohberger had direct contact with the home or residents during that time but they know that his phone was in the area at those times. Nov. 13, 2022: Kohberger left his apartment in Pullman, Wash. His phone was turned off at about 2:54 a.m. It remained off until about 4:48 a.m. when his phone came back on, and his phone activity tracked back to his apartment in Pullman. Kohbergers car was seen on surveillance video repeatedly passing the murder house The site of the quadruple murder on Jan. 3, 2023 in Moscow, Idaho. (David Ryder/Getty Images) Aug. 22, 2022: Kohberger was pulled over by a Latah County Sheriffs deputy in Idaho for a routine traffic stop. He was driving a 2015 white Hyundai Elantra with a Pennsylvania license plate. Authorities obtained his name, phone number and address. Nov. 13, 2022: Video surveillance from a business on the highway that connects Pullman and Moscow showed a 2015 white Hyundai Elantra entering Moscow around 3:02 a.m. Around 3:30 a.m., surveillance from businesses and residences showed Kohbergers car circling the neighborhood near 1122 King Road. 4:05 a.m.: Kohberger parked his car on the street behind the house. 4:20 a.m.: His car is seen on surveillance tape leaving the area outside 1122 King Road at a high speed. He then drove on rural backroads to avoid highways with surveillance cameras. 5:26 a.m.: Surveillance cameras in Pullman picked up his car heading toward his apartment. 5:30 a.m.: Kohberger arrived back at his apartment in Pullman. Around 9 a.m.: As indicated by cellphone tower pings, his phone returned to the area of King Road, stayed for about 10 minutes and then returned to his apartment in Pullman. Around 9:30 a.m.: Based on evidence taken from his cellphone, he took a selfie giving a thumbs-up in what appears to be his bathroom at his residence. The knife and sheath In March 2022, Kohberger bought a Ka-Bar knife, which is meant for combat, on Amazon using a gift card. Evidence shows he attempted to delete his purchase history from Amazon. The knife sheath was found next to Mogens body and was sent to the Idaho State Police forensic lab. Single-source male DNA was found on the snap of the sheath, as well as blood from Mogen and Goncalves. The DNA on a Q-tip Before Kohbergers arrest in December 2022, authorities conducted a trash pull at his parents' house in Pennsylvania. They took samples of trash that were set out on the street for collection and sent them to the Idaho State forensics laboratory. Lab experts were able to identify DNA on a Q-tip that came from the father of the person whose DNA was found on the knife sheath that was found at the crime scene next to Mogens body. After Kohberger was arrested and extradited to Idaho, a DNA sample was taken from him, which matched the DNA from the button on the knife sheath. Whats next for Kohberger? Kohberger, 30, was expected to go through a lengthy and highly publicized trial in August. But in a surprise turn of events, Kohberger pleaded guilty on July 2 to murdering the four students as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 23, Judge Steven Hippler imposed the following sentence on Kohberger: Count 1 Burglary: 10 years, fine of $50,000 Count 2 First-degree murder of Madison Mogen: Life in prison without parole, fine of $50,000, civil penalty of $5,000 to the family Count 3 First-degree murder of Kaylee Goncalves: Life in prison without parole, fine of $50,000, civil penalty of $5,000 to the family Count 4 First-degree murder of Xana Kernodle: Life in prison without parole, fine of $50,000, civil penalty of $5,000 to the family Count 5 First-degree murder of Ethan Chapin: Life in prison without parole, fine of $50,000, civil penalty of $5,000 to the family Kohberger will be transferred into the custody of the Idaho Department of Corrections, where hell be evaluated to determine where he will be housed to serve his sentences. A long-standing gag order was also lifted last week, which means police and prosecutors can now speak out about the case. Documents that were sealed in the high-profile case may be made public soon. What we still dont know Authorities never found the murder weapon, nor did they find any usable evidence in Kohbergers sparse apartment or office. When they searched his Hyundai Elantra, they found that it was cleaned so thoroughly that there wasnt anything to discover even in the crevices of the car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The main questions that have gone unanswered still remain: Why did Kohberger kill these four students? Why did he pick the house at 1122 King Road and those victims who were apparent strangers to him? On Monday, President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social that he hoped Judge Hippler 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, Trump wrote online, adding, These were vicious murders, with so many questions left unanswered. Kohbergers plea agreement didn't require him to explain his motive or actions during his sentencing. While he had the formal opportunity to speak directly to the court before he was sentenced after emotional victim impact statements were read, the admitted killer spoke just three words aloud the entire time: "I respectfully decline." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hippler appeared emotional before he sentenced Kohberger, and addressed the unknown. "What we don't know and what we may never know is why," Hippler said. "I share the desire expressed by others to understand the why. But upon reflection, it seems to me, and this is just my own opinion, that by continuing to focus on why, we continue to give Mr. Kohberger relevance." Hippler said even if he could make Kohberger speak about his motive, which he cannot legally do, "How could I be assured that what he speaks is the truth?" There is no reason for these crimes that could approach anything resembling rationality." By Nazrin Abdul Today, as part of an official visit to Georgia, the Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, met with Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the information, the two ministers initially held a one-on-one meeting, which was later followed by expanded talks with the participation of both countries delegations. During the discussions, the sides exchanged views on the current state and future prospects of the strategic partnership and longstanding friendship between Azerbaijan and Georgia. Both ministers underscored the importance of continued high-level political dialogue, reciprocal visits, and regular political consultations in strengthening bilateral ties. The talks focused on enhancing cooperation across a wide range of areas, including energy, transport, trade, tourism, and education. The strategic significance of joint projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, and the Southern Gas Corridor was highlighted, along with new initiatives in green energy and digital connectivity. The role of the East-West Middle Corridor in boosting regional cooperation between the South Caucasus and Central Asia was also emphasized. The ministers expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum in bilateral trade and economic relations, noting the steady growth in trade turnover. They also stressed the importance of deepening humanitarian cooperation and promoting cultural exchanges. The parties reaffirmed the value of sustained mutual support and collaboration on international platforms and within regional initiatives. They highlighted the growing importance of trilateral and multilateral formats involving both countries, especially in advancing regional partnerships that include Central Asian nations. It was noted that Azerbaijans strong ties with Central Asia serve as a foundation for broader Azerbaijan-Georgia-Central Asia cooperation. Regional developments and international security issues of mutual concern were also discussed. Minister Bayramov briefed his Georgian counterpart on Azerbaijans large-scale reconstruction and development efforts in territories liberated from occupation, as well as on the ongoing normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. He acknowledged Georgias constructive role in this process, particularly its hosting of several key meetings since 2022. Despite progress in the peace process, Minister Bayramov emphasized that unresolved territorial claims against Azerbaijan in Armenias constitution continue to obstruct the signing of a final peace agreement. The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on a range of other issues of mutual interest. Following the discussions, the two ministers held a joint press conference to deliver statements summarizing the outcomes of the meeting. --- 11:40 A bilateral meeting between Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ceyhun Bayramov, and his Georgian counterpart Maka Bochorishvili has begun in Tbilisi. According to Azernews, the information was shared via the official social media account of Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting is expected to cover the current state and future prospects of Azerbaijan-Georgia bilateral relations, regional cooperation, and opportunities to deepen the strategic partnership between the two neighboring countries. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL) is one of the most profitable consumer stocks to buy now. Royal Caribbean (NYSE:RCL) received a significant vote of confidence from Wolfe Research, which raised its price target on the stock to $394 from $272 while reiterating its Outperform rating. The revised target represents a potential upside of nearly 13% from the current trading level of around $350. Wolfe Raises Royal Caribbean (RCL) Price Target, Maintains Outperform Rating An aerial view of a luxurious cruise ship, surrounded by the blue horizon. The move follows strong industry data pointing to robust cruise demand and pricing trends holding firm through the second half of the year. Wolfe analysts cited improved onboard spending, healthy booking curves, and continued strength in premium cabin sales as key reasons for their bullish stance. Royal Caribbean has been among the top performers in the travel sector this year, fueled by a surge in international travel and a shift in consumer discretionary spending toward experiences over goods. Wolfes update suggests that the stock still has room to run, especially as capacity returns to pre-pandemic levels and new ship deliveries drive earnings growth. With forward guidance already raised in previous quarters, the focus now shifts to whether Royal Caribbean can sustain momentum through 2025 amid macro uncertainty and rising costs. For now, analysts appear confident the cruise line remains on a favorable course. While we acknowledge the potential of RCL 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: Top 10 Healthcare AI Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds and 10 Best Industrial Automation Stocks to Buy for the Next Decade Disclosure: None. GRANVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) A central Ohio brewery that welcomed beer enthusiasts for more than a decade is looking to pass the taproom to new ownership. Founders Jay Parsons and Ross Kirk of Granville Brewing Company announced on social media last week that they are selling the Licking County brewery at 5371 Columbus Road. The post said Parsons and Kirk, along with their families, have decided its time for their tenure as owners of Granville Brewing to come to an end. Mikeys Late Night Slice to open new central Ohio, Dayton locations Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a difficult decision, but one that we owe to this special place, Parsons and Kirk wrote, noting that the sale includes everything except the building. The post didnt include an asking price. Granville Brewing Company at 5371 Columbus Road. (Courtesy Photo/Granville Brewing Company) Granville Brewing was founded 14 years ago and offers Belgian-style beers and ales. The brands brewery sits among farmland and is located near the intersection of Columbus Road and Outville Road in a renovated horse barn, inviting customers to the propertys taproom, barnyard patio, or for carryout. Granville Brewing Company, which started as a conversation over beers in 2011, has been an amazing journey filled with good friends, laughs, tears, and a lot of great beer, the post said. The brewery brought you all to the same place and you built an amazing community of people from all walks of life through conversation and beers. Axe throwing company holds grand opening for Grove City location Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parsons and Kirk encouraged longtime customers in the post to come celebrate this weird, wonderful place. The brewery, which is open from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, has plenty of beer and will remain open until it is gone, the post said. We have had an amazing experience bringing GBC this far and hope that someone wants to pick up the ball and continue to carry it down the field with the love and energy it deserves, Parsons and Kirk 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. On Sunday, our thoughtful and reserved president reposted on his Truth Social site a video generated by artificial intelligence that falsely showed former President Obama being arrested and imprisoned. There are those among you who think this is high humor; those among you who who find it as tiresome as it is offensive; and those among you blissfully unaware of the mental morass that is Truth Social. Whatever camp you fall into, the video crosses all demographics by being expected just another crazy Trump stunt in a repetitive cycle of division and diversion so frequent it makes Groundhog Day seem fresh. Epstein who? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there are three reasons why this particular video not made by the president but amplified to thousands is worth noting, and maybe even worth fearing. First, it is flat-out racist. In it, Obama is ripped out of a chair in the Oval Office and forced onto his knees, almost bowing, to a laughing Trump. That imagery isn't hard to interpret: America's most esteemed Black man who recently warned we are on the brink of losing democracy forced into submission before our leader. The video comes as Trump claims that Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, has uncovered a treasonous conspiracy in 2016 in which top Obama officials colluded with Russia to disrupt the election. Democrats say the claim is erroneous at best. Read more: Trump administration releases FBI records on MLK Jr. despite his familys opposition Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you are inclined to give Trump the benefit of the doubt, right before this scene of Obama forced to kneel, a meme of Pepe the Frog an iconic image of the far-right and white supremacy flashes on the screen. Not subtle. But also, not the first time racism has come straight from the White House. On Monday, the Rev. Amos Brown, pastor of San Francisco's Third Baptist Church and a student of Martin Luther King Jr., reminded me that not too long ago, then-President Woodrow Wilson screened the pro-KKK film "The Birth of a Nation" at the executive mansion. It was the first film screening ever held there, and its anti-Black viewpoint sparked controversy and protests. That was due in no small part to a truth that Hollywood knows well fiction has great power to sway minds. Brown sees direct similarities in how Wilson amplified fictional anti-Blackness then, and how Trump is doing so now, both for political gain. "Mr. Trump should realize that Obama hasn't done anything to him. But just the idea, the thought of a Black person being human, is a threat to him and his supporters," Brown told me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown said he's praying for the president to "stop this bigotry" and see the error of his ways. I'll pray the great gods give the reverend good luck on that. But, on the earthly plane, Brown said that "the more things change, the more they remain the same." Trump courted the Black vote and has his supporters among people of all colors and ethnicities, but he's also played on racist tropes for political success, from stoking fear around the Central Park Five, now known as the Exonerated Five, decades ago to stoking fear around Black immigrants eating cats and dogs in Ohio during the recent election. It's an old playbook, because it works. Reposting the image of Obama on his knees is scary because it's a harsh reminder that racism is no longer an undercurrent in our society, if it ever was. It's a motivator and a power to be openly wielded just the way Wilson did back in 1915. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the differences in media from back in the day to now are what should raise our second fear around this video. A fictional film is one thing. An AI-generated video that for many people seems to depict reality is a whole new level of, well, reality. Read more: Chabria: What this formerly undocumented congressman understands about patriotism that Trump doesn't The fear of deepfakes in politics is not new. It's a global problem, and in fairness, this isn't the first time (by far) Trump or other politicians have used deepfakes. Trump last year reposted an image of Taylor Swift endorsing him (which never happened). Also last year, during the election and the height of the Elon Musk-Trump bromance, the billionaire posted a fake photo of political challenger Kamala Harris dressed in what looked like a communist military uniform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump himself has not been immune. In 2023, Eliot Higgins, the founder of the investigative outlet Bellingcat, said he was toying with an AI tool and created images of Trump being arrested, never thinking it would go viral (especially since one image gave Trump three legs). Of course it did, and millions of people looked at these fake pictures, at least some assuming they were real. The list of deepfake political examples is long and ominous. Which brings us to the third reason Trump's latest use of one is unsettling. He clearly sees the effectiveness of manipulating race and reality to increase his own power and further his own agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obama on his knees strikes a chord all too close to the image of Latino Sen. Alex Padilla being taken to the floor by federal authorities a few weeks ago during a news conference. It bears chilling resemblance to the thousands of images flooding us daily of immigrants being taken down and detained by immigration officers in often violent fashion. Videos like this one of Obama are the normalizing, the mockery, the celebration of the erosion of civil rights we are currently seeing being aimed at Black, brown and vulnerable Americans. There is nothing innocent or unplanned about these kinds of videos. They are a political weapon being used for a purpose. Because when repetition dulls our shock of them, how long before we are no longer shocked by real images of real arrests? 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. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) Central Illinois is set for a heat wave with indexes predicted to top out well over 100 degrees in all of our viewing area. And not everyone has a place to stay cool. So, organizations in Champaign-Urbana are ready to provide cool air and a place to stay. Cunningham Township, the Salvation Army and others are coming together to make a one-week emergency shelter for the heat wave. Its something that organizers say wont just keep people comfortable, but will save lives. READ MORE: Temporary shelter available in Champaign Co. as heat wave approaches Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve counted over 150 people actively outside in abandoned buildings or in cars, including a number of families with children, said Cunningham Township Supervisor Danielle Chynoweth. She said a majority of those people are also dealing with disabilities. Everyone outside is facing danger or with the heat wave thats coming, Chynoweth said. Tomorrow, we expect heat indexes to get up to 115 degrees, which is an incredibly unsafe. And, they dont have the low-barrier capacity to help. We have half the shelter beds as we did ten years ago, but twice the homeless population, Chynoweth added. So, she got some help from the Salvation Army to keep people comfortable, cool and away from the suns harmful rays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Central Illinois cooling centers open this season People can access the shelter by going to Strides, Chynoweth said. Getting on the waitlist, we opened that shelter yesterday and not a single person was turned away. This new pop-up shelter has 30 cots, and Cunningham Township is providing transportation from Strides to the Salvation Army on Prospect Avenue. We provide dinner and breakfast, Chynoweth said. Well make sure people are safe for the night, and then they can stay in the cooling space during the day. The emergency shelter will only be open for a few days during the heat wave. A pop-up shelter is necessary, but insufficient, Chynoweth said. One week of shelter isnt going to solve the problems, but its absolutely the basic minimum that we need to do to make sure that people dont die in the heat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shelter will be open until July 26. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) Dangerously high temperatures are likely to hit Central Illinois this week and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is urging community members to watch out for signs of heat-related illness, and to protect themselves and their loved ones. Heat-related illness can range from mild heat exhaustion to potentially life-threatening heat stroke. This happens when the body cant regulate its temperature, and loses the ability to cool itself. A temperature of 106 degrees or higher for 10 to 15 minutes could lead to death or permanent disability. Temporary shelter available in Champaign Co. as heat wave approaches Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CUPHD said signs and symptoms of heat-related illness include a body temperature of 103 degrees or higher, red, hot, and dry skin with no signs of perspiration, rapid, strong pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness or confusion and nausea. Central Illinois cooling centers open this season To avoid heat-related illness, CUPHD said that its important to follow these steps: Stay hydrated Drink 48 to 64 ounces of cool, non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages daily Limit activity during peak heat Avoid physical exertion during the hottest parts of the day. If you absolutely must be outside, take breaks often in the shade or a cool environment Wear light-colored, lightweight clothing This help your body stay cooler Cool down when overheated Take a cool shower if you begin to overheat Seek air-conditioned spaces If your home is not air-conditioned, visit a mall, library, grocery store, or other public space to cool off Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The health district is also reminding community members to never leave children, older adults, or pets in a parked car because temperatures can rise quickly. For more information about the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness, or tips to avoid it, visit the Champaign County EMAs 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 WCIA.com. CHAMPION, Ohio (WKBN) Champion Township leaders met with residents Monday to talk about ongoing flooding concerns. Over the last few weeks, people living in the area have reported water backing up into their homes, and its not just rainwater. Some say theyve had sewage flooding into their basements. Board of Trustees Chairman Doug Emerine says the townships 12-inch stormlines arent cutting it, and many need to be doubled in size to handle heavy rainfall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, crews are flushing out storm drains and inspecting sewer lines to find the source of the issues. Emerine says the sanitary system is being overwhelmed by stormwater. He says the township is doing its part, but homeowners need to step up, too. We are recommending that the houses that are, in fact, dumping any kind of footer water, downspout water, any kind of storm discharge water into the sanitary system to please get that water out of sanitary lines immediately. That would require sump crocks put in your basement. That would require a backflow preventer. Youve got to get rid of your footer water, of course. You need a sump pump, Emerine said. He says the township recently bought a $15,000 camera system to inspect underground lines and pinpoint problem areas. TJ Renninger contributed to this 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 WKBN.com. Tala Ali wasnt expecting him not to come back. Yes, she had driven her fellow Clifton Mosque board member, Imam Ayman Soliman, to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Blue Ash, Ohio, for his appointment the morning of July 9. Yes, they were prepared for the possibility that he wouldnt walk back out of that building; a small team of 15 Cincinnati clergy and three state legislators had accompanied them in case they would need to mobilize. But his lawyers said it was just supposed to be a regular check-in. He was supposed to come back he should have. We took him in, Ali, chair of the Clifton Mosque, told Salon. We hoped for the best, but we were strategized for the worst. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After nearly four hours of waiting outside the office, the worst came to pass. Its been nearly two weeks since ICE detained the revered imam and former interfaith chaplain at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, and the city has been left reeling since. Righteous outcry has turned into an outpouring of support, spawning a flurry of demonstrations across the city, open letters, crowdfunding campaigns and lawmaker interventions as residents appeal for his release. Solimans detention is one of the latest to catapult into the national spotlight, seen by critics as another example of how the Trump administrations aggressive effort to effect mass deportations has led to ICE agents snatching up immigrants with little to no warning, ripping apart families, communities and, in this case, workplaces. His immigration story also isnt much unlike any other asylum seekers: He fled his home country of Egypt in 2014 after his documentation of student protests against the military-backed government as a freelance journalist landed him in jail multiple times over, where he was subjected to beatings and torture for days at a time. Soliman is far from the only victim of ICEs enforcement actions across the tri-state area, Ali told Salon. Indeed, she was unavailable for a previously scheduled interview because she had to respond to an SOS call about an ICE sighting in a Cincinnati neighborhood. Soliman, she said, is just one target with enough support from enough of the right people to ensure his story is told. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive talked to congregants at Muslim mosque that say, If they can come after him, they can come after any of us, and not only can they come after any of us, they have been coming after us, Ali said. Solimans detention has shaken everyone. I dont know where Ayman got the time, the human capacity, to be there for so many and on such a deep level, but he did, she added. Thats why we have so many standing up right now. Judith Ragsdale, a now-retired senior director of pastoral care at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital who hired Soliman four years ago, can attest to that. She told Salon that when she opened his resume she cried because of how perfect he was for the chaplaincy role she sought to fill: a faith leader who could both attend to patients in the newborn intensive care unit and serve Muslim patients in the hospitals Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute. Ayman has made a profound difference for staff and certainly for the families in walking families through what is Islamically allowed around end of life, she said in a phone interview. He stayed late at the hospital, caring for patients inside and outside of his units and faith, she said. He is one of the just rarest finds in the country around chaplaincy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ragsdale had visited Soliman at the Butler County Jail last week, speaking with him for just 13 minutes via video call before it cut them off. He told her that he was scared about being detained, but that he and the other inmates were supporting each other. He said hes begun teaching a curious guard about Islam, held the jails first Jumuah, or Friday prayer for Muslim detainees, ensured they had access to kosher meals and has even been asked to return to the jail as a chaplain if and when hes released. That is Ayman Soliman in a nutshell, Ragsdale said. He said that Allah had given him such a sense of peace and that this is part of Allahs plan. And I can tell you, I have been very afraid for him, and I left the jail feeling far more at peace than I have felt for the last week. But she still worries. I feel very, well just heart sick about what lays before so many people who dont have his level of support, and what could actually happen to him, she said. A spokesperson for Cincinnati Childrens Hospital told Salon that it does not comment on former or current personnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soliman entered the United States in March 2014 on a tourist visa, and applied for asylum with U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services in early February of 2015, court documents show. He was granted asylum in 2018 under the first Trump administration, and he soon sought a green card. But his permanent residency application stalled into the Biden administration. Complicating matters were a series of lawsuits Soliman filed against the government beginning in 2022 over an FBI flag that came up during a background check for a chaplain job with the Oregon Department of Corrections; after sending his fingerprints to the state police to show he didnt pose a risk, he was told they didnt match the FBI flag. More than six years later, Soliman has yet to receive a green card. Going back to Egypt for me is a death sentence, he said in an interview with Ohio state Rep. Munira Abdullahi, D, in the moments prior to his ICE check-in earlier this month, a somber look flashing on his face. I didnt come to America seeking a better life. It was escaping death. Robert Ratliff, a lawyer for Soliman, told Salon that the imam received a notice of the governments intent to revoke his asylum status in December 2024, more than a decade after his arrival in the U.S. Solimans status and, subsequently, his work authorization was officially revoked last month after an asylum officer, by way of three or four levels of assumptions, accused him of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and deemed him ineligible for asylum, Ratliff said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That officer, Ratliff said, labeled a national charitable organization Soliman was affiliated with while in Egypt, Al-Jameya al Shareya, a Tier III terrorist group last year despite the U.S. government never designating it as such. The organization had provided support to the Muslim Brotherhood, the officer alleged, also labeling the group a Tier III foreign terrorist organization despite the U.S. not formally determining it as such. In 2013, a military coup led by current authoritarian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, now a close U.S. ally, ousted Egypts first democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi, who was affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. Because Soliman had served as a board member for a local chapter of Al-Jameya al Shareya a fact he disclosed in his initial asylum application the officer then claimed he also had provided material support for the Muslim Brotherhood and was, thus, not eligible for asylum. Soliman and his lawyers, however, deny that claim. We believe strongly that Mr. Soliman has provided a very solid asylum claim, Ratliff said, noting that the asylum officer never touched Solimans underlying asylum grant in their decision to terminate. That still exists, Ratliff added. The original finding that he did fear for his life and safety and was being persecuted in Egypt that was not part of the termination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told Salon in a statement that immigrants, even if they have lawful status or a pending application, are not shielded from immigration enforcement action. USCIS is responsible for administering Americas lawful immigration system, ensuring the integrity of the immigration process, and protecting the interests of the American people by screening and vetting aliens, the spokesperson said. USCIS, however, does not discuss the details of individual immigration cases, the spokesperson added. Start your day with essential news from Salon. Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course. In the days after his arrest, Solimans lawyers filed an emergency petition in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio to make sure he would not be moved from within the Cleveland Immigration Courts jurisdiction to a facility in another state or deported, as has been the case for other ICE detainees amid the Trump administrations crackdown. The court granted the request last week, issuing a temporary restraining order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soliman has an initial appearance and bond hearing slated for July 22. The interfaith leader, Ratliff said, is approaching his current circumstances with a positive outlook, motivated in large part by his faith and the backing hes received from his community. The support people have shown, he said, will also help during his bond hearing, where a Cleveland Immigration Court judge will consider Solimans ties to the community in determining whether to release him. And he has plenty of those ties, according to a longtime colleague of Soliman, who requested anonymity out of fear of losing their job. Social media has been flooded with posts and comments about Solimans impact on the families hes served and staff hes helped deliver quality care at Cincinnati Childrens. Because of how dedicated, centered, faithful and steady he is, losing him to immigration enforcement is hard for the community to bear, the colleague said. The helplessness is what a lot of the community [members] are hurting from, they said. The injustice is the worst part, but the helplessness in the face of it is its a lot of moral struggle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why people are clamoring for anything they can do to make a difference, spawning a massive response. A crowdfunding campaign organized by the Ohio Immigrant Alliance has raised more than half of its $100,000 goal from 684 donors as of Monday afternoon. A petition seeking his release from ICE detention has received nearly 4,000 signatures, and at least two open letters of support from local clergy and healthcare workers have circulated, garnering hundreds of signatures each. U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, as well as Democratic state Reps. Rachel Baker and Karen Brownlee, and Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Kearney voiced support for Soliman and worked to guarantee his right to due process in court. Meanwhile, several organizations, including University of Cincinnati student groups hes volunteered for, across the state have denounced his detention and called for his release. Community members have also held a handful of demonstrations outside the Butler County Jail and Cincinnati Childrens Hospital in the days since his detention. Last Thursday, an evening protest and march for Soliman across the Roebling Bridge connecting Cincinnati and northern Kentucky erupted in chaos as police deployed force at times, punching demonstrators and pulling them to the ground to get them to disperse. Local news outlets reported that police arrested more than a dozen people. Ali, the Clifton Mosque chair, told Salon that shes received calls from Soliman every day, sometimes multiple times a day. He always opens with checking on her and her family, particularly her sibling whos undergoing treatment for cancer, and she touches base with him about the advocacy shes coordinating around his case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By now, hes gone over a week without his medication, which shes working to get for him. They speak at length about his fears that Arabic language press could pick up on his current circumstance, that his detention could impact his family in Egypt, that Egyptian officials could learn information that they could use against him should he be removed from the U.S. She takes care to update him on the groundswell of support hes receiving from the outside, like the hundreds of demonstrators rallying for his release or the call she received from someone Soliman helped during a mental health crisis who said they wouldnt be alive if not for him. That part of the call, she said, always stuns him into silence. He just says, I really didnt expect this much support. Please keep letting people know how grateful I am, how much I appreciate it, Ali recalled. You really have brought me comfort. I feel better, is what he says. He also tells her of the spiritual support he receives on the inside and shares with his fellow detainees, and how its also helped him keep faith. We have a thing in our tradition, Wherever God plants you, bloom, Ali said, and thats what hes doing. The post He was a chaplain at a childrens hospital. Now hes detained by ICE appeared first on Salon.com. (GIF: GIPHY) The legal landscape for freight brokers continues to grow more complex, as yet another court case has put broker liability under scrutiny. The latest development comes from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is now considering whether a freight broker can be held liable for a fatal crash involving a contracted carrier. The case, Crane v. Liberty Lane, is centered around a 2018 accident in Texas that claimed the life of Lyndon Meyer, and it could tip the balance in an already divided judicial system. The ever constant issue in this fight is whether the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (F4A), which generally protects brokers from state laws affecting their price, route, or service, also shields them from negligence claims related to carrier selection. While a district court initially dismissed the case in favor of Penske Logistics and Penske Transportation Solutions, which brokered the load in question, the plaintiffs have appealed. They argue that the case qualifies under F4As so-called safety exemption, which allows certain state-level claims if they relate to motor vehicle safety. This case is just the latest in a growing number of broker liability lawsuits. The legal consensus is anything but settled. Courts in the Seventh and Eleventh Circuits have ruled in favor of broker immunity, while decisions in the Sixth and Ninth Circuits have gone the other way, allowing lawsuits against brokers to proceed under state negligence laws. Meanwhile, an Illinois state court recently denied a motion to dismiss against Echo Global Logistics in a similar case, adding further weight to the trend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outcome of the Fifth Circuits review could have national implications. If the court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, it would mark the third federal appeals court to allow broker liability claims, tipping the balance in the ongoing circuit split. That could increase the likelihood that the U.S. Supreme Court steps in to resolve the issue. Two high-profile cases, Caribe v. Montgomery and Cox v. TQL, are already petitioning the Court for review. While F4A may still offer some legal shield, its not impenetrable, and the current wave of lawsuits is testing its limits. The Fifth Circuits decision is expected to land in the coming months. The Supreme Court has denied hearing broker liability cases in the past, but with the added cases and lower courts with contradicting outcomes, it could finally be the reason for the courts to take the case. To get the full newsletter in your inbox every Tuesday, subscribe below. The post Check Call: Broker liability hits the headlines once again appeared first on FreightWaves. The Clinton Foundation launched Too Small to Fail in 2013 to support families with young children by providing opportunities and resources for early learning. Over the years, the initiative has leveraged partnerships to transform everyday spaces like libraries and playgrounds into places that promote meaningful interactions that foster early learning and development. It has cultivated early literacy champions across sectors, developing campaigns in states and collaborations with media companies. Recently, Too Small to Fail released a new report outlining impact and lessons learned over the past decade. According to the report, research demonstrates that parents and caregivers talk, read and sing more frequently with their children after taking part in Too Small to Fail programming in laundromats, grocery stores, waiting rooms and other settings. One of the key takeaways is that trusted messengers, such as pediatricians and librarians, are the secret sauce to supporting families with young children in early literacy. Too Small to Fail founder Hillary Rodham Clinton was a child advocate before going into politics. As a lawyer for the Childrens Defense Fund, she helped research the 1974 report Children Out of School in America, which examined the living conditions of American children and surfaced a number of barriers facing them. The findings in that report shaped her views on education and guided her in shaping the mission of Too Small to Fail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clinton is still actively involved in the work, alongside her daughter Chelsea Clinton, who chairs the initiatives advisory council of advocates and researchers. The council, which includes Dana Suskind, founder and co-director of TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health at the University of Chicago and Joan Lombardi, principal advisor at Stanford Center on Early Childhood, has helped Too Small to Fail scale its impact and stay abreast of the science behind reading. As a pediatric surgeon and social scientist who believes deeply in the power of parents and caregivers to build childrens brains, says Suskind, I am tremendously grateful for their work. Too Small to Fail meets families where they are, recognizing and honoring their inherent wisdom, and supporting that wisdom with the resources every child deserves. It continues to harness one of our most precious and infinite resources: the support of loving grown-ups to unlock every childs full potential. Lombardi adds: Too Small to Fail has been a persistent voice in supporting parents engagement with their young children and pioneering innovations in communities across the country. In an interview with Mark Swartz, Chelsea Clinton recollects her experiences over the first decade of Too Small to Fail and sets her sights on the coming years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. Chelsea Clinton visits a child at a Too Small to Fail literacy installation made in partnership with the Napa County Health and Human Services Agency and the California Department of Social Service. (Clinton Foundation) Swartz: What stands out to you from visiting laundromats, libraries and other Too Small To Fail sites? Clinton: I have so many memories. What stands out is just the joy. Theres so much joy on the kids faces and also the parents or grandparents faces when theyre reading to their children in laundromats, whether in Chicago or New Orleans or Philadelphia. And while Ive been to quite a few of these sites, its only a fraction of the hundreds that we helped build. Theres such a warmth and such a sense of welcoming and hospitality. A Too Small to Fail installation in a playground. (Clinton Foundation) Swartz: What do you hear from the parents and grandparents? Clinton: Real enthusiasm and excitement and gratitude that there now are more books that theyre able to read with their kids and in whatever language they need to be able to read them, to have those bonding moments, those teaching moments with their kids. Swartz: Youve talked to producers and writers about embedding Too Small to Fail messages into their shows, and that has had a tremendous reach. How did those partnerships work? Clinton: I have this vivid memory of my mom and I going to Hollywood and speaking on a panel with lots of writers and showrunners and creative folks. We discussed the importance of reading, singing and talking to kids at every age whenever possible. Whether Orange Is the New Black or Jane the Virgin or Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, they found ways to embed the messages in ways that were organic for them. We believe it has been powerful for the audiences. Swartz: And they didnt say, Thanks, but we dont need your advice on how to create a story? Clinton: Weve had really wonderful, delightful, productive conversations with folks in Hollywood over many years. Weve talked about the importance of parents or grandparents and anyone thats around [young children] about the understanding that we are effectively their first teachers. Weve also had really productive conversations in Hollywood about the ways in which climate change affects our most vulnerable [Americans], including infants and toddlers. We always feel that if were sharing recent research and evidence, if its something that is in the context of how theyre thinking about future episodes of the future arc of a show, maybe it will be incorporated at some point. Swartz: Besides your own mother, who have your early childhood heroes or influences been? Clinton: Certainly my grandmothers. I was very, very close with both of my grandmothers. I was really lucky to spend a lot of time with each of them as a kid and could not imagine my childhood without them. I only wish that I could have known my dads mom as an adult. I always had great teachers, and I remember preschool being so fun. I have quite clear memories of my kindergarten and first grade teachers, Mrs. Minor and Mrs. Mitchell. Chelsea Clinton with children at a Too Small to Fail installation at the Milwaukee Family Courthouse. (Karen Olivia/Reach Out and Read) Swartz: How has your own motherhood journey influenced your understanding of the early childhood issues that Too Small to Fail addresses? Clinton: Becoming a parent didnt shift what I cared about as much as it sharpened everything I cared about. I cared even more intensely about early childhood education and supporting what parents and other caregivers need to be the best teachers. Candidly, I didnt know that I could care any more about the things that I already cared about, and then I became a parent and somehow discovered that I could. That was a revelation to me. Everything feels even more intense because it now feels so personal, because now its about my kids and their cohort and the world that theyre growing up in. Swartz: What are you most excited about for the next 10 years of Too Small to Fail? Clinton: Im most excited about continuing to build on whats working. We have a lot of research now that [shows that] what were doing is working, so we should do more of it. We should also be open to whatever our remarkable community suggests that we should try next. Ukraines Chesno movement has revealed a full list of MPs who, on Tuesday 22 July, endorsed draft law No. 12414, containing modifications intended to deprive the countrys independent anti-corruption authorities of autonomy and bring them under the Prosecutor General's control. Source: Chesno Details: A total of 263 elected representatives cast their votes in favour of the draft law. The Servant of the People faction led the charge with 185 votes, bolstered by strong support from Platform for Life and Peace (18), Dovira (Trust) (17), Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) (15), For the Future (10) and Restoration of Ukraine (9). Additionally, European Solidarity contributed three votes, Holos (Voice) one, and five came from non-factional deputies. Background: On 22 July, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) voted for draft law No. 12414 at second reading, according to which the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO) which are currently independent will become dependent on decisions made by the prosecutor general. Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk swiftly approved the law. The heads of anti-corruption agencies NABU and SAPO implored President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reject draft law No. 12414, a move they warn obliterates the independence of these institutions. The ambassadors of the G7 countries echoed concerns over the SSUs actions against NABU. The European Union voiced deep concern over Ukraines recent moves against NABU and SAPO. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Selling your home can be cause for celebration unless, of course, you never actually listed it. This is the situation a Chicago man recently found himself in, after discovering a property he owned was listed for sale without his knowledge or consent. Frank Diaz had purchased an abandoned fixer-upper on Chicagos West Side with the intention of flipping it. His plan was to turn the workers cottage into a three-unit building, according to CBS News Chicago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats what I do. I fix them up and then rent or sell them, Diaz told the news outlet. But that plan was nearly derailed when he discovered someone else had put the property up for sale without his knowledge or permission. Don't miss How a mystery realtor listed the home without the owners consent In late May, Diaz discovered that his property was listed for sale, complete with marketing videos, on a real estate brokers social media page and on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a property listing and information portal for licensed real estate professionals. The house was advertised as an off-market, all-cash deal for $200,000. Licensed realtor Anthony Kirkland with Coldwell Banker was listed as the agent on the property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have never met him before, Diaz told CBS News Chicago. Yet, some of the social media videos were taken inside the house, leading Diaz to conclude that whoever filmed those videos had been trespassing. The locks had also been changed and a realtors lockbox was attached to the door. Kirkland told CBS News Chicago that somebody was posing as the owner and that he removed the listing once made aware. However, despite being the agent who posted the property, he declined to say who had initially claimed to be the owner or who had given him the go-ahead to list it. Diaz has since filed an ethics complaint with the Chicago Association of Realtors. You do your job as a realtor and you reach out, Diaz told CBS News Chicago, and if they would have done enough digging, they would have known my number, and they would have called me if I wanted to sell the property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to CBS News Chicago, the association said that when a complaint is lodged, it triggers a formal due process that includes a hearing that can result in a fine, suspension, expulsion in membership and possibly referral to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. I would like to know what happened, Diaz said. Someone had listed my property without my consent. 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 Title theft is a growing problem Diaz isnt the only victim of this type of crime. Earlier this year the Boston Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a statement warning property owners and real estate agents about an increasing number of quitclaim deed fraud incidents, which is also known as home title theft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The perpetrators forge documents to record a fake transfer of property ownership. They can then sell or rent the property, forcing the real owners to head to court to reclaim their property. Deed fraud often involves identity theft where criminals will use personal information gleaned from the internet or elsewhere to assume your identity or claim to represent you to steal your property, according to FBI Boston. But deed fraud takes many forms. For example, fraudsters can search public records to find vacant land or properties without mortgages or liens and then ask a real estate agent to list them. Or, an elderly homeowner could be targeted by family members and manipulated into transferring over the property into their name. While the FBI doesnt keep statistics specifically related to quitclaim deed fraud, there were 58,141 reported victims of real estate fraud in the U.S. between 2019 and 2023, according to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) adding up to a whopping $1.3 billion in losses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, if you own a vacant property, youll want to know how to protect yourself. Protect yourself from quitclaim deed fraud The only way to truly protect yourself is with a homeowners policy of title insurance, David Fleck, a real estate fraud attorney, told Realtor.com. This is different from an owners policy of title insurance because it helps protect you against fraud after the purchase of the property, whereas traditional title insurance only protects you prior to the purchase. All title insurance companies, all the big ones, now offer it, Fleck told Realtor.com. To reduce your risk, the FBI recommends the following: Set up title alerts with your county clerks office, if available Create Google Alerts or other online monitoring for your name or property address Watch for red flags like missing utility or tax bills, or sudden usage spikes at a vacant property Avoid remote closings when selling or buying property and verify identity in person Ask for proof of ownership, such as recent utility bills or tax statements, before working with a new seller Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It may seem far-fetched that a complete stranger could sell your property without your knowledge or permission, but it happens and being aware that this type of crime exists is the first step in protecting yourself. 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. Even as the question of broker liability is already before the Supreme Court for a possible review, with a second case likely to join the clamor for high court resolution of conflicting circuits, a lawsuit in the Fifth Circuit involving two arms of the Penske trucking empire has the potential to add another level of conflict to the mix. The location of the Penske caseformally known as Crane vs. Liberty Laneis particularly important. There are conflicting precedents on the issue of whether a broker can be held liable for an accident or other damaging outcome (like a theft) if the carrier it hires causes the incident. But those precedents of other federal circuit courtsnot the Fifthlead to the inconsistency that the industry hopes might lead the Supreme Court to granting certiorari and provide legal clarity. Theres a case in front of it now that could be the pathway for a Supreme Court ruling: Caribe vs. Montgomery. That Seventh Circuit case involves 3PL giant C.H. Robinson (NASDAQ: CHRW). A tie vote that would be broken, either way The Supreme Court has chosen not to take up the issue of broker liability under the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (F4A) on three separate occasions in recent years. But the conflict among the circuits is now wider, with what amounts to a 2-2 split in circuit court opinions. A ruling by the Fifth Circuit either way in the Penske case would make it a 3-2 split. Given that the Fifth Circuit has only just recently begun taking briefs on Crane vs. Liberty Lane, it is unclear whether the case could play a role in whether the nine justices will accept certiorari on Caribe vs. Montgomery. Trucking attorneys also believe TQL will request certiorari in a case it recently lost in the Sixth Circuit, Cox vs. TQL. It is likely to be months before Crane vs. Liberty Lane will be decided and become part of the conflict that the Supreme Court is being asked to clarify. By the same token, it is not impossible that if the Supreme Court accepts certiorari in coming weeks on Caribe vs. Montgomery, the Fifth Circuit judges might wait to see if there is high court clarification on broker liability that might guide their decision in the Penske case. Seventh and Eleventh check in with decisions that back brokers Decisions that protected brokers from liability in recent years have been handed down in the Seventh Circuit (the Ying Ye and Aspen vs. Landstar cases, as well as Caribe vs. Montgomery) and the Eleventh Circuit (Gauthier vs. TQL) (NASDAQ: LSTR). Meanwhile, along with the Sixth Circuit decision in Cox vs. TQL that found F4A did not fully protect brokers, there is a similar finding on the record in the Ninth Circuit in Miller vs. C.H. Robinson). Chicago police issued a community alert Monday after a series of antisemitic phrases were left on property in Hyde Park last month. Between June 23 and June 30, stickers or graffiti with antisemitic phrases were left on various properties including a mailbox, stop sign, lockers and an emergency bell in the South Side neighborhood, police said. The criminal damages to property took place on the 5100 block of South University Avenue, 1200 and 1300 block of East 53rd Street, 1300 block of East 54th Street and 1500 block of East 55th Street, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alert comes after swastikas were painted on several buildings and one building was tagged a second time with a pro-immigration enforcement statement in Little Village over the weekend. In June, a woman defaced a Pilsen mural at 16th Street and Ashland Avenue and was accused of attacking another woman who tried to stop her. That mural depicted solidarity between a Mexican and a Palestinian man. tkenny@chicagotribune.com A child was killed in heavy Russian overnight airstrikes on Ukraine, Kramatorsk mayor Alexander Goncharenko reported on Tuesday. The 10-year-old boy died when guided glide bombs hit a residential building in the eastern Ukrainian city, Goncharenko wrote on Facebook. Five other people were injured, he said. Kramatorsk is part of a metropolitan area in Donetsk that remains under Ukrainian control three years after the start of Russia's war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the front has moved so close that the Russian military can now attack the city with heavy glide bombs, which have a range of up to 40 kilometres. Moscow annexed the Donetsk region, as well as the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson, a few months after the outbreak of war and demands Ukraine's complete withdrawal from these areas. Attacks on Sumy In the north-eastern city of Sumy, three people including a child were injured in bomb attacks, according to the civil protection agency. Five apartment buildings, a shopping centre and more than a dozen vehicles were damaged it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few weeks ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his intention to create a "buffer zone" in the region, effectively by occupying the Ukrainian border areas. In the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa, there were initial reports of drone attacks in which at least one person was injured. Fires broke out in several places in the city, according to regional media. Residential buildings and social infrastructure were damaged, Governor Oleh Kiper confirmed on Telegram. Odessa is frequently targeted by Russian drone attacks. Three China-linked hacking groups are among those responsible for a sweeping cyberattack against users of popular Microsoft server software that has already impacted dozens of organizations across the globe. Federal investigators believe multiple U.S. government agencies are among the early victims of the ongoing cyber exploitation campaign, though the full scope is not yet clear, according to two U.S. officials with knowledge of the matter. Microsoft confirmed in a blog post Tuesday that three Chinese hacking gangs known as Violet Typhoon, Linen Typhoon and Storm-2603 are involved in the hacking effort. At least two U.S. federal agencies are among the roughly 100 suspected victims of the hacks thus far, said one U.S. official directly involved in the incident response and a second who has been briefed on it. Both people were granted anonymity due to the ongoing nature of the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Private security researchers and federal investigators have been managing the fallout of the hack since Saturday, when Microsoft first reported that unknown hackers were exploiting a significant flaw affecting its customer-managed SharePoint servers, a widely used workplace collaboration platform. While U.S. investigators are still scrambling to understand the full scope of the hacking campaign, it is fast shaping up to be the most serious cybersecurity incident of President Donald Trumps second term in office thus far. With rapid adoption of these exploits, Microsoft assesses with high confidence that the threat actors will continue to integrate them into their attacks against unpatched on-premises SharePoint systems, Microsoft said in a blog post Tuesday morning. The first U.S. official said government investigators currently suspect at least four to five federal agencies were breached, while more agencies are yet to be fully investigated. The second added they were briefed Monday that more than one federal agency was impacted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both officials said the U.S. government has not yet made its own assessment of China's involvement in the breaches. Prior to Microsofts announcement, investigators at cybersecurity firm Mandiant said Monday, at least one of the hacking groups behind that first tranche of hacks is affiliated with Beijing. A researcher at another large cybersecurity firm offered a similar assessment, saying some targeting they had seen lines up perfectly with what researchers expect from Chinese hacking groups. Spokespeople for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the FBI, which have said publicly they are working to address the breach, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the number of agencies impacted. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the suspected links to China. The Chinese embassy in Washington also did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Washington Post first reported Monday on the scope of the breach and that private researchers believe at least two federal agencies were affected by the hack. They later reported on the suspected links to China. Microsoft and other private researchers probing the incident believe that hackers unrelated to China are already exploiting the same Microsoft software flaw and more hacking groups could try to do so soon. It's critical to understand that multiple actors are now actively exploiting this vulnerability, and other hackers are likely to leverage this exploit as well, Charles Carmakal, the chief technology officer at Googles Mandiant, said in a statement Monday night. Researchers at separate leading internet scanning firms told POLITICO Monday that roughly 100 organizations across the globe appear to have been hit thus far. Silas Cutler, principal researcher at internet scanning firm Censys, and Piotr Kijewski, CEO of The Shadowserver Foundation, also said that thousands more could be vulnerable to attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flaws in the SharePoint software are considered severe because they allowed hackers to remotely access Microsoft customers running self-hosted versions of the service, and then burrow deeper inside their networks. The vulnerabilities did not affect those running a version of SharePoint hosted on Microsoft cloud servers. Microsoft failed to fix one software bug in its on-site SharePoint service earlier this month, and has only been able to offer partial mitigations for additional bugs since. A Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement that the company is both working to ensure its customers install fixes and coordinating closely with CISA, DOD Cyber Defense Command, and key cybersecurity partners around the world throughout our response. A spokesperson for CISA said the tech giant has been responding quickly ever since the agency reached out to it. The incident is the latest in a string of breaches targeting the U.S. tech giant, several of which have involved China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, Chinese hackers stole emails from the U.S. ambassador to China and the U.S. Commerce Secretary by exploiting a cascade of Microsoft security misfires that were later skewered by a federal cyber review panel. And last week, the Pentagon announced that it would review all of its cloud products, after a ProPublica investigation revealed China-based engineers were providing technical support for Pentagon computer systems. The latest exploit is reigniting scrutiny of Microsoft on the Hill. Government agencies have become dependent on a company that not only doesn't care about security, but is making billions of dollars selling premium cybersecurity services to address the flaws in its products, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said in a statement about the recent hack. A spokesperson for Democratic lawmakers on the House Homeland Security Committee said lawmakers on that panel recently requested a briefing from Microsoft and CISA about Microsofts use of China-based engineers for certain U.S. government systems. By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard TAIPEI (Reuters) -As Taiwan gears up for a recall vote that could reshape its parliament, opposition lawmakers being challenged at the ballot box are getting two unusual supporters: Chinese officials and state media outlets rallying to their cause. While President Lai Ching-te won the election last year, his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost its legislative majority. The opposition has flexed its muscles since then to pass laws the government has opposed and impose budget cuts, complicating efforts to boost defence spending in particular. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The political drama has been happening against a backdrop of China ramping up its own military and diplomatic pressure campaign against Taiwan to assert territorial claims Lai and his government resolutely reject. Lai has offered talks with Beijing many times, but been rebuffed. Civic groups formally started the recall campaign earlier this year, and on Saturday voters will decide on the fate of 24 lawmakers from Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), around one-fifth of all lawmakers. The recall groups say theirs is an "anti-communist" movement, accusing the KMT of selling out Taiwan by sending lawmakers to China, not supporting defence spending, and bringing chaos to parliament. The KMT rejects those accusations, denouncing Lai's "dictatorship" and "green terror" - the DPP's party colour. China has not sat quietly on the sidelines, to the KMT's unease, ever wary of being "painted red" by its opponents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, two senior Chinese officials overseeing Taiwan policy denounced the recalls as a "political scheme" of Lai's. Lai is "engaging in dictatorship under the guise of democracy" and "using every means possible to suppress the opposition," China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian told a news briefing in June. Taiwanese tycoon Robert Tsao, one of the most prominent recall campaigners, said such comments would only support their cause. "It shows they (the KMT) are together with the communist party. It helps us," he told reporters at a campaign event on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'OUR BUSINESS' The KMT says it neither asked for nor wants China's support, can't control what China says, and that it is not pro-Beijing. "We feel the same way as all the people of Taiwan - this is our business. It is the two parties, the DPP and the KMT, fighting for public support, for public recognition. It has nothing to do with the mainland," party spokesperson Crystal Yang told Reuters. Chinese state media outlets and their affiliated social media accounts published some 425 articles or videos describing the recall campaign as "dictatorship" or "green terror" in the first half of 2025, according to Taiwan research organisation IORG, which analyses Chinese state media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an April commentary, China's ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily said Lai was "presumptuously abusing the recall system to crack down on the opposition party, attempting to establish a 'green dictatorship.'" Pointing to the similarity between China and the KMT's arguments against the recalls, Wu Szu-yao, secretary general of the DPP's legislative caucus, said Beijing is "offering ammunition" to the KMT to sway voters. "China is really concerned that the mass recall will be successful and win the support of Taiwan's public," she said. China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The KMT says its China engagement is vital given Beijing's refusal to talk to Lai, who it says is a "separatist", and to advocate for Taiwan's interests, such as promoting agricultural exports. "This is an unfair criticism," Tony Lin, chair of the KMT's Culture and Communication Committee, said, referring to the accusations they are pro-Beijing. "What we have always stressed is that we are pro-communication." The KMT hopes people will turn out to also express their dissatisfaction with Lai, whom they say is incompetent and has stoked tensions with China. "The DPP uses its overwhelming propaganda network to bring up a sense of fear (about China) in Taiwan society," said Huang Kwei-bo, a professor of diplomacy at Taipei's National Chengchi University and a former KMT deputy secretary general. (Reporting by Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Lincoln Feast) The Chinese Embassy is denouncing a bill introduced by Maryland Sen. Angela Alsobrooks that would prevent foreign adversaries from buying up the nations farmland and timberland in order to spy on the U.S. and interrupt its food supply chain. The U.S. overstretches the concept of national security and deprives the right of institutions and citizens of particular countries to purchase farmland, the spokesperson for the Chinese embassy said in an email to The Baltimore Sun, calling the bill discriminatory and urging the U.S. to rethink its international strategy. Alsobrooks, a Democrat, co-introduced the bipartisan bill last week alongside two Republican Senators and one Democrat. She called the bill common sense legislation that will make us safer and stronger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data shows the adversarial foreign investors identified in the bill China, North Korea, Russia and Iran own less than 1% of U.S. farm, timber and ranching lands, per the Department of Agriculture. Several agricultural policy experts The Baltimore Sun interviewed said the scope of the threat is hard to determine because of difficulties collecting data on foreign investments. One food and national security expert says fears of food supply issues are overblown. The perception of the threat doesnt match the reality of the threat, said Caitlin Welsh, the director of the Global Food and Water Security Program of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, on food-supply concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Welsh did say that there is an argument that some agricultural land purchases by foreign investors could be a potential national security concern, such as those near military facilities. The bill Alsobrooks introduced would codify the agriculture secretarys role in reviewing farmland transactions made by investors from other countries to determine whether they pose threats to American security. Purchases from China, North Korea, Russia and Iran are subject to special review, according to an email statement from Alsobrooks. The House of Representatives unanimously passed the bill in June. The Senates version is not yet scheduled for a vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adding the agriculture secretary to certain conversations on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. was a part of a Trump administration July plan created to monitor investors in other countries purchasing farmland, arguing that certain investments could put national and food security at risk. The secretary was added to the committee ]on July 8 via a memorandum of understanding; this bill would make that appointment permanent. The administration has pushed for prioritizing American businesses and limiting outside influence in the United States. This is typically discriminatory and violates the principle of market economy and international trade rules, and will eventually hurt the U.S.s own interests, Chinas embassy spokesperson said. We urge the U.S. to immediately stop politicizing trade and investment issues. Alsobrooks did not respond by publicaton to a follow-up request for comment on the embassys remarks. Military assets and espionage threats Maryland is home to several sensitive sites, Alsobrooks said in her earlier statement to The Sun, namely Camp David, federal agencies and Fort Meade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is absolutely critical these sites are safe from foreign adversaries, she said. Foreign investors are required to self-report agricultural land transactions to the U.S. Department of Agriculture under a 1978 law called the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act. Danny Munch, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation, described Alsobrooks bill as an effort to streamline oversight of foreign purchases of agricultural land between the Department of Agriculture, which collects data under the 1978 law, and the committee that reviews foreign investments. There is concern within some of the agricultural community that some of the bad actors that could exist would not be reported, Munch said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, he said, some farmers like being able to sell their land when and to who they want. A plan for a Chinese firm to purchase land for a corn milling plant 12 miles away from an U.S. Air Force base in 2023 led to nationwide attention to investors from foreign adversarial nations purchasing land near military sites. From 2016 to 2021, foreign purchases of U.S. agricultural land has increased by 40%, according to the Department of Agriculture. Investors from Canada, The Netherlands, Italy and The United Kingdom owned the most U.S. agricultural land of any foreign country. Investors outside of the United States owned about 3.5% of agricultural land in December 2023, according to the Department of Agriculture. Investors from adversarial nations owned less than 1% of this foreign-held land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foreign adversary nations own a small percentage of agricultural land, with investors from North Korea owning no acres and from Russia owning 11 acres as of December 2023. Investors from China owned 277,336 acres of agricultural land, according to a Department of Agriculture report. Vincent Smith, professor emeritus at Montana State University and the director of the Agricultural Policy Program at the American Enterprise Institute, noted that the annual rate of return on investments in agricultural land runs at roughly 6%. It has to do with worries about spying, intellectual property theft, and so on, Smith said. Whether Chinese institutions should be able to access properties adjacent to military bases and American security assets is a point of legitimate debate, he said. Smith said the potential risks from foreign countries acquiring this agricultural land include using the land for espionage as well as stealing intellectual property by monitoring farming techniques. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran-based investors owned 3,030 acres of U.S. agricultural land as of December 2023, according to the Department of Agriculture. Majid Sadeghpour is the political director of the Organization of Iranian American Communities, a nonprofit that advocates for human rights and democracy in Iran and strongly opposes Irans current government. Sadeghpours group, which opposes an appeasement policy toward Iran, according to their website, was in favor of the bill, and its restriction on Iranian companies. We welcome U.S. government vigilance and measures which ensure individuals/ organizations associated with the regime and its [Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps] do not financially benefit from investments in the United States, he said in an email to The Sun. Food supply concerns Alsobrooks also alleges that these countries pose a threat to the U.S. food supply chain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her statement to The Sun, Alsobrooks said that an insecure food supply chain represents a significant threat to the nation, adding that the bill would support Marylands agricultural communities while protecting the countrys food security. The Maryland Grain Producers Association backed the bill for just this reason, its executive director said. Lindsay Thompson, the associations executive director, said the group is concerned that if unchecked, purchases of farmland by corporations headquartered in these countries could undermine the U.S. food supply by taking land from U.S. farmers, as well as stealing crop production techniques. She added that it could lead to financial hardships, cutting the food supply short. The secretary of USDA uniquely understands the entire agricultural system and the vulnerabilities that our farmers and agricultural companies could be subject to in these types of transactions, Thompson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welsh, however, said there is no significant evidence that the small percentage of foreign-held agricultural land could impact the nations food supply. She said, however, she believes foreign purchases of agricultural land should be monitored on the federal level. I think that pulls on a lot of emotions, but I dont think that there is a strong basis of evidence for the claim that Chinas ownership of U.S. farmland threatens U.S. food security, Welsh said. Have a news tip? Contact Gabriella Fine at gfine@baltsun.com or Katharine Wilson at kwilson@baltsun.com. A dual US-Chinese national pleaded guilty on Monday to stealing American missile secrets. Chenguang Gong, a 59-year-old engineer, transferred more than 3,600 files from an unnamed research and development company in Los Angeles, where he worked, to personal storage devices last year, according to the US Department of Justice. Among the transferred files, which were found at Gongs home in Southern California, were blueprints for sophisticated infrared sensors designed for use in space-based systems to detect nuclear missile launches and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles, according to the Justice Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were also blueprints for sensors that can enable military aircraft to detect incoming heat-seeking missiles and take countermeasures, such as by jamming the missiles infrared tracking ability. The transfer also included documents relating to the development of next generation sensors, which can detect low observable targets as well as the blueprints for the mechanical assemblies, which were used to house and cool the companys own sensors. The company files were reportedly clearly labelled as containing proprietary information and valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. Applied to Chinas talent programme Gong, who was born in China and became a US citizen in 2011, had worked for the company for less than a month when his contract was terminated in April 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During its investigation, US law enforcement also found that between approximately 2014 and 2022, Gong had submitted several applications to the so-called talent programme, which is administered by the Chinese government to identify individuals with exceptional skills and abilities and utilise them to expand the states capabilities, including in the military. When he had applied for the programme, Gong was working at several major technology companies in the US. In one, he described a low light/night vision image sensor that could be used in military night vision goggles. In 2014, Gong had also sent a letter to a technology university in China proposing an analogue-to-digital converter. He later travelled to and from China multiple times to seek funding for this technology, emphasising that it had important military applications. According to his plea agreement, the losses incurred from the stolen documents exceed $3.5 million (2.6 million). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gong now faces up to 10 years in prison, with his sentencing scheduled for Sept 29. 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. This story was updated with comments from a July 22 press conference following Soliman's court hearing. Cincinnati imam Ayman Soliman will remain jailed in Butler County until at least July 29, an immigration judge ruled. Soliman and his attorneys had hoped Cleveland Immigration Judge Jennifer Riedthaler-Williams would grant bond at a hearing on Tuesday, July 22, and release him. She instead set a new hearing to accept additional filings through the end of this week, then return to his request for bond and related matters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soliman attended the hearing virtually from the Butler County jail. Dressed in a yellow-and-white jail uniform and brown-framed glasses, the 51-year-old imam told the judge he did not require an Arabic interpreter for his hearing. "I understand English and can be OK without an interpreter," he said. "My English proficiency is high." Cincinnati Children's chaplain Iman Ayman Soliman was detained by Immigration and Custom Enforcement after officials revoked his asylum status, his supporters say. The judge brought one into the hearing anyway in the event one was needed. Government, lawyer argue over terrorist ties Soliman's attorney, Robert Ratliff, called his client "a man of faith" and "strong moral character" who has lived and worked in the Cincinnati area for a long time. He disputed the government's position that Soliman has ties to terrorism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cheryl Gutridge, attorney for the Department of Homeland Security, argued otherwise, noting that the government filed evidence of Soliman's involvement in a charity linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. That group is considered a terrorist organization in Soliman's home country of Egypt, but not in the United States. Gutridge also argued that the Cleveland immigration court does not have jurisdiction over Soliman because of the terrorism allegation. After the hearing, Ratliff said the government's primary argument at this date is that Soliman should be deported because he no longer has asylum protection. He won that status in 2018, four years after arriving in the United States, and lost it last month following a years-long legal effort to clear his records of an "FBI flag." The government continues to assert a tie to terrorism, without specific evidence, as the underlying reason Soliman lost asylum status, his attorneys said at the press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When the government wants to put forth a narrative, they will," said Kathryn Brady, an attorney with the Muslim Legal Fund of America. The government's case has been a "massive game of six degrees of separation," added Francel Daniel, another Muslim Legal Fund lawyer. "There's just no evidence." Who is Ayman Soliman? Soliman came to the United States in 2014 after facing persecution in Egypt for his work in support of freelance journalists, his supporters say. He's been held at the Butler County jail in Hamilton since Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested him July 9. His case has attracted attention across Greater Cincinnati and beyond, especially because of his work with sick children and their families during a four-year stint as a chaplain at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, a prayer vigil on his behalf turned violent, as participants encountered police as they made their way from The Banks in Downtown Cincinnati to the John A. Roebling Bridge into Covington. Before his hearing, Soliman reacted to the violence in a message his lawyers shared on Instagram. "I only wish for peaceful vigils. I do not want anyone to be arrested or harmed on my behalf," he said. What's next in the case? Soliman's case continues in federal court this week. On July 15, U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett granted a temporary restraining order to prevent officials from removing Soliman from the state of Ohio until his bond hearing with the immigration court. Barrett scheduled a status conference on that order for July 24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration judge Riedthaler-Williams could rule on Soliman's request for bond as soon as Friday. Soliman's next virtual hearing in the immigration court will be at 8 a.m. July 29. Enquirer reporter Victoria Moorwood contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Will Ohio imam remain in jail? Immigration judge says yes for now EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The El Paso City Council has accepted the retirement of Chief Internal Auditor Edmundo Calderon, effective Aug. 1, the City said in a news release on Monday, July 21. The City Council is expected to name an interim chief internal auditor at an upcoming meeting. Calderon submitted his retirement notice on July 18, shortly after marking 20 years of service with the City of El Paso. Calderons last day in the office will be Aug. 1, after which he will utilize accrued vacation concluding his employment with the City on Oct. 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has truly been my pleasure to serve the City Council, city management, and most importantly, the taxpayers of the City of El Paso for the last 20 years, Calderon said. As I look forward to opening the next chapter of my life, I am grateful to have spent a career committed to public service. Mayor Renard Johnson said: Mr. Calderon has been instrumental in promoting transparency, accountability, and strong internal controls across the organization. His two decades of service reflect a deep dedication to the residents of El Paso, and we thank him for his professionalism and integrity. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The city of Bakersfield is expected to declare August as Valley Fever Awareness Month at its city council meeting on Wednesday, according to the agenda. The proclamation is to be made to Scott Thygerson, the chief executive officer of Kern Medical, the agenda says. Concerns arose this year when Valley fever cases spiked across the state, with over 3,000 cases reported in the first three months of 2025 already about double the 10-year average. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the center of it all is Kern County, which set a record last year with 3,990 cases and 49 Valley fever-related deaths. Valley Fever Awareness Month in California is August. Most Valley fever cases in the state are diagnosed in the fall, from September through November, according to the California Department of Public Health. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JACKSON HEIGHTS, Queens (PIX11) If theres an emergency anywhere in the five boroughs, people need to be informed about it right away, of course. In trying to meet that need, the city has announced a new partnership with the Citizen App, which it says is the fastest way to reach the most people. More Local News Still, the city has some work to do to convince some of its residents that the new agreement can make things safer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The app, which is in operation in 19 of the largest U.S. cities, is where people can get notified of breaking news, as well as upload video and other information about incidents as they happen. Here in New York, the largest of the cities in which the Citizen App is in use, the city government says its connecting residents with the app in the name of improving public safety. This would allow us to communicate with more than 3 million New Yorkers through all five boroughs, Mayor Eric Adams said at the formal announcement of the new arrangement on Sunday. The agreement between the city and the app will result in a new account on Citizen called NYC Public Safety. Its designed to put the citys alerts and notifications from all of its agencies into one place where anyone with the app will get a heads up. Among those reacting to the news on Monday were people in one of the busiest and most diverse locations in the city: Diversity Plaza, the public square on 37th Road and Broadway, next to the 74th St. station on the 7 train. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any way to keep people prepared, said Amy Simpson as she walked down the plaza with a friend, is a positive thing, she continued. Youve just got to get people to really use it. Mayor Adams supported that assessment on Monday, a day after he first announced the Citizen App agreement. At an event about the use of drones to fight crime and promote public safety, Adams said that adding the citys resources to the Citizen App, including information from drones, makes the app all the better. Were looking at how we can use all forms of technology, the mayor said. Still, not every New Yorker is convinced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Faisal Hossain lives in Brooklyn and was waiting for his parents at Diversity Plaza. I know people who use the app, and I feel like you get a lot of alerts about everything, he said, adding that to him, the additional information is not necessarily a good thing. It feels like it kind of creates more panic or worry about things that, like, a lot of these things arent going to affect me. It doesnt necessarily make me feel safer, 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 PIX11. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) Myrtle Beach city leaders told News13 the real-time parking app Eleven-X will soon have its pilot run along 9th Avenue N. and Chester Street in the next two to three months. The app will use sensor technology placed underground by using lidar or light detection and ranging technology to help identify vehicles parked in any of the roughly 30 spots along the trial test street. City leaders say the app aims to make parking easier for drivers in the area. Economic development director Devin Parks said the app pilot run comes from the Living Lab program. The program is designed to help emerging technology to better serve the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well get a full year of robust data to give us an idea of, is this the route we want to go when we rethink public parking from a city-wide perspective, instead of having to make that full commit, we can take this data and make educated, informed decisions as to whats best for our residents and whats best for our visitors moving forward, he said. Instead of just taking someones word for theres no parking right now, this is an app or a website that provides in real time, Hey, not only are there parking places available right now, there are three spots on 9th Avenue and Chester Street, and it will give you directions. So, really just easing the process of finding parking. Visiting from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Ryan Hundiak and Ashley Flynn said that as visitors to the area, an app like Eleven-X would be very beneficial. Visiting Myrtle Beach during what boulevard workers call peak tourist season, Flynn said parking was very difficult near the boulevard this past weekend, and they had to drive around multiple blocks. I think itll make it much easier, especially for tourists, Flynn said. If youre not super familiar with the area, I think it would be much simpler so that you can just park and go. Her boyfriend, Hundiak, added that it would allow those visiting the beach to make a smooth visit to know what they can expect for any events taking place near the beach. He said that it would be helpful for other big events like the Carolina Country Music Fest near the heart of downtown. I think itd be nice. You wont have to feel like you have to fight for parking because its kind of how it feels a little bit sometimes, you got somebody slipping out of a space and you got to fight your way in before somebody else can, so I think itd be nice to know where to go, he said. If youre not from this area and youre already fighting to find a spot circling everywhere and cant find something, and you finally find something, but its three blocks away. Youre not going to want to lug all your beach supplies all the way across to the beach, so this app would help avoid that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parks said the data collected from the trial run will help assist in implementation decisions in other potential locations. Its actually important that these sensors report data back and forth in real time, because not only are we looking for how many cars are currently in this section, but whats the turnover? Parks said. So if I have two parking places that are open and theyre getting in and out pretty quickly and theres only a minute in between someone leaving, in someone parking, we need to know really, to, again, just enhance our understanding of the parking situation, understand turnover times, understand demand and, you know, use that data to really make informed decisions moving forward. Parks added that the pilot project will not use taxpayers dollars. We have received grant funding from a DC Blox over in the Information Technology and Aerospace Park, he said. I believe this project is $7,000 seed funding for this pilot program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visiting Myrtle Beach from Chesnee, South Carolina, Mitchell Jones said the new app would be an easier parking option for those wanting to attend popular destinations near the oceanfront. Thatd be great, especially on weekends, he said. Its right here, where the Bowery and all the things are that most people like to attend. It being right here on this street, that would be really good. You see, youre not far at all from it [the beach]. Parks said the pilot trial is set to start in the next two to three months and will be tested on for a total of 12 months. * * * Gabby Jonas joined the News13 team as a multimedia journalist in April 2024. She is from Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Kent State University in May 2023. Follow Gabby 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The El Paso City Council voted unanimously on Monday, July 21 to suspend Texas Gas Services (TGS) proposed $41.1 million rate increase for 90 days. The move is designed to protect residents from an immediate financial impact and allow the City to thoroughly evaluate the request, the City said. The increase was filed on June 30 and applies to TGSs incorporated areas within three service regions: Central-Gulf, West North, and Rio Grande Valley, the City said. El Paso is in the West North region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If approved as requested, the typical residential customer would see an average monthly increase of $10.38, with large residential users facing up to $14.64 more per month, the City said. The Citys suspension of the proposed effective date provides immediate relief to ratepayers and creates time to analyze the proposal, the City said in its news release. The City is taking immediate steps to ensure that ratepayers are not burdened by unjustified utility hikes, City Attorney Karla Nieman said. This action allows us to dig into the data and make certain that any changes are fair, necessary, and in the best interest of El Paso residents. The Citys review will focus on whether the requested increase is truly needed, how the costs are being calculated, and whether the proposed changes are fair to El Paso customers, the City said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, the City will take a close look at how much profit TGS is seeking, whether the companys accounting for equipment wear and tear is reasonable, and whether the proposed consolidation of TGS three service areas into one Texas service area is reasonable or will make El Pasoans pay for costs incurred in other parts of the state, the City said. The City Council will consider and make a ruling on the case before Nov. 17, the City said. The City will then participate in proceedings before the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC), which has ultimate jurisdiction over the rate case. The timeline sets the effective date 90 days after the original proposal unless adjusted by agreement among the parties or further action by the RRC, the City 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 KTSM 9 News. MEMPHIS, Tenn. The city of Memphis spent $600,000 of your taxpayer money on a forensic audit of the Memphis Area Transit Authority. Now, they wont release the report generated from that audit. MATA has been under the microscope after announcing last summer a $60 million shortfall. The mayor told us then, he was ordering a forensic audit as part of a broader effort to figure out the financial issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to make sure that we are doing all that we can to get the organization stabilized, Mayor Paul Young said in an interview with WREG Investigators in November. According to the contract, the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers signed on in November. They agreed to dig deeper into MATAs cash flows and transactions between Jan. 2019 and June 2024. contractDownload Theyd conduct interviews, sift through budgets, contracts, and more. Eventually, their findings would be put into a final report, typically less than 20 pages, including factual observations and recommended control enhancement opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through the Tennessee Records Act, WREG Investigators asked for that final report, so you can know what was found since MATA uses your taxpayer funds, and the city spent your tax dollars on the audit. We received a response on Friday. It stated, The records requested are exempt from disclosure; therefore, your request is denied. They cited a statute of the law that basically asserts the attorney-client privilege. The same excuse that council members and the city attorney gave in April and in June when MATAs finances came up during committee meetings. Page three of the PricewaterhouseCoopers contract noted, Services performed under this Agreement do not include the provision of legal advice and the Consultant makes no representations regarding questions of legal interpretation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We asked the city for more clarification as to why the report falls under attorney-client privilege and why it cant be released. We received this response Monday, The legal team is currently reviewing your inquiry and will respond as soon as possible. WREG Investigators will keep digging. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Russians shot a civilian who was riding a bicycle in the village of Torske in Donetsk Oblast. Soldiers of the 63rd Separate Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine recorded the crime and killed three Russians involved in the killing of the civilian. Source: 63rd Separate Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Details: The brigade claims that the Russians deliberately shot the civilian, and followed up with more shots to ensure his death. Quote: "It's not a secret that Russians are murderers and bastards. However, we rarely get a chance to film their inhuman actions live. This time, we managed to do it the Russians shot a civilian in Torske, and they did it quite deliberately, with a finishing shot. There is no need for a trial theyve been met with instant karmic justice." More details: It is reported that Ukrainian pilots of combat unmanned aerial systems and artillery killed those three Russians involved in the crime. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! BAKER, La. (Louisiana First) Big changes are underway for students in the City of Baker as the school district embarks on a transformative partnership with Helix Community Schools. Beginning this fall, Baker High School and Park Ridge Achievement Academy will be operated in collaboration with the charter network, bringing a new focus on innovation, STEM education, and student enrichment. This collaboration between Helix Community Schools and the City of Baker is going to be off the chartsjust fantastic, said CEO of Helix Community Schools Preston Castille. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new school year officially begins Aug. 4, with returning students welcomed back to updated campuses and an expanded vision for education in Baker. That includes a brand-new Park Ridge campus located inside Bethany Church, serving students in pre-K through eighth grade. Back to School 2025: Where to get free school supplies in, near Baton Rouge The new Bethany location features science labs, outdoor playgrounds, a full-service cafeteria, a modern auditorium, and one of the largest gymnasiums in the city. Meanwhile, the original Park Ridge campus is being reimagined as a creative hub for electives, performing arts, and after-school enrichment. Helix Community Schools is strongly based on a STEM curriculum, Castille added. Were bringing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to Baker. Were bringing a fintech and performing arts curriculum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Baker High School, Principal Alisa Welsh said the focus is on creating a safe, inspiring environment that prioritizes both academic excellence and parental involvement. Its important that parents understand they are partners in their childrens education, Welsh said. They have to know whats going on here. Helix officials also said this expansion is just the beginning. Additional programs are in the works, including enhanced industry-based certifications and the continuation of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program in partnership with Rosebud. Baker High School already had a business management JumpStart curriculum, and so we plan to enhance that with a few more industry-based certifications, Welsh said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district is inviting families to learn more at upcoming Discovery Nights: July 28 for 10th graders July 29 for 11th and 12th graders The events will give parents and students a chance to meet school leaders, explore program offerings, and prepare for a bold new school year ahead. We plan to push the narrative, Welsh said. We want to grow in leaps and bounds. 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. A Mesa County Sheriff's Office deputy released Utah college student Caroline Dias Goncalves with a warming June 5, 2025, when he pulled her over for following too closely. Then ICE agents arrested her after she exited I-70. She spent two weeks in an ICE facility in Aurora, before being released on bond. Jul. 21Just over two-and-a-half months ago, the life of one Clyde man changed forever in the parking lot of Clyde Central United Methodist Church. On May 7, Matthew Dailey was doing an oil change on his Ford Focus in the church's parking lot. "I had everything I needed. All my safety stuff was there. The jack was a piece of garbage, and it gave out. From the waist up, I was under the car," Dailey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following minutes and hours were crucial in saving Dailey's life. Clyde firefighter Brandon Cox was quickly on scene. "We had a great response. But time was of the essence. It was making decisions off of time and training," Cox said. Cox threw auto cribbing under the vehicle, used a stabilization strut to stabilize the vehicle and then grabbed the jaws of life to lift the car off Dailey. Having that equipment available was crucial for making the save. "We're fortunate to have really good tools on these trucks," Cox said. "We have a board that is very pro-buying tools. It's all about budget. We lost some budgeting due to the flood, but we're still pushing to get more tools to be able to do stuff with this." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When he pulled Dailey out from under the car, he had no pulse and wasn't breathing. "The reason he went into cardiac arrest was because of suffocation," Cox said. "The car was on his lungs, and he couldn't expand his lungs." Normally, during a traumatic arrest, something like a gunshot wound or a car falling on someone, firefighters don't attempt CPR, leaving that to EMS, Cox said. But this instance was different. "I just made that call," said Cox, who is also a licensed EMT. "There are just calls we do sometimes where we make those calls. He wasn't bleeding anywhere. It all ran through my head in that second of 'This isn't a traumatic arrest. I'm going to do everything I possibly can.'" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That decision could be the reason that Dailey is still here. "He could've been a jackass and said, 'I'm not going to do everything. I'm going to wait for EMS to get here and do what they do.' But the outcome would have been a lot different," Dailey said. After Dailey was stabilized on the scene, he was transported to Mission Hospital by the man who pulled him out from under the car. "I drove him in and made up some time," Cox said. "I was the first person to touch him, so I was going to be the last person to touch him going into the ER." Typically in these type of incidents when there is a serious injury, a firefighter will drive the ambulance in while the paramedics work on the patient in the back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They both need to be back there doing stuff simultaneously, so a firefighter will drive them to the hospital," Cox said. Once he was there, the long road to recovery began. Dailey was in a drug-induced coma for three-and-a-half weeks. That was followed by two more weeks in the hospital. "There's still a lot further to go. They told me a lot of times in the hospital that I shouldn't be here," Dailey said. He said that he was told he had died twice, once in the ambulance and once at the scene. "I guess I'm a cat now that I have more than nine lives," Dailey joked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monday night, Cox was recognized at the Clyde Fire Department with a SAVE award from the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The firefighter is an experienced member of the crew in Clyde, having previously served in Asheville. "He got a lot of his training with the City of Asheville, and he brought that training here and helps us with it," Clyde Fire Chief Wentfard Henson said. "It is an honor to serve with those folks, knowing the skills they've got. To get him out from under that car, that's real skill. It takes training." Before the ceremony began, Cox was sitting in the bay of the fire station. Then, those gathered for the evening came around the back of the building and into the bay door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I was like, 'What are all of these people here? We're just doing training tonight,'" Cox said. As Dailey rounded the corner, the firefighter realized what was going on. It was an emotional evening for both Cox and Dailey. "For me personally, it's huge," Cox said. "I'm going on 21 years of this. You get to save lives, but in this type of call, you don't get to see that type of outcome. Personally, it's huge for my well-being and mental state knowing that something we did, did something. We do this to help, but helping doesn't always help." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Dailey and his fiancee, Alisha Smith, it was a chance to show their appreciation. "It's a job for you, but it's more than you guys doing a job for me. If you guys weren't doing your job, I wouldn't be here," Dailey said. Cox also pointed to the significance of the evening for the younger, less experienced firefighters. "It pushes them to want to get more specialized training to do something like that. That takes training and repetition to be able to do it and not think about it," Cox said. For Dailey, the incident changed his entire life and thus, changed his perspective on life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Everybody takes life for granted," he said. "You get used to doing what you're doing. 'Oh, I'm OK. Nothing's going to happen.' It's a split-second, and everything changes." Now, Dailey and Smith face the challenge of rebuilding their lives that have been altered so heavily. Dailey has been out of work since the accident, and Smith is on disability. "Eight hundred bucks a month doesn't go far," Dailey said. But the two are leaning heavily on one another. Dailey said when he woke up from the coma, Smith was tickling his feet, knowing that he is extremely ticklish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If it wasn't for her, I would've probably let them just pull the plug on it. She was there every day," Dailey said. "She made it a lot easier. I don't want to be here, but I fought through it, and I'm getting better." And that recovery is continuing every day. "I can't tell you what's going to happen next week, but I know tomorrow is going to be a little better than today was," Dailey said. "And today was a whole lot better than two months ago," Smith quickly added. The pair has a GoFundMe up to help cover bills and medical expenses following the accident. You can donate at www.gofundme.com/f/aid-needed-for-fiances-rehab-and-expenses. LUDLOW, Mass. (WWLP) A new coffee shop in Ludlow hosted its grand opening celebration with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday. In a news release sent to 22News from the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce, Ludlow Coffee Company is independently owned by a young couple who grew up in town. They pursued their education and careers in Boston and have now returned to their roots to establish a thriving business. Two members of the Ludlow Police Department promoted Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From lattes to cappuccinos, Ludlow Coffee Company offers a huge variety of drinks for people to enjoy. Steph Defina, who is one of the owners of the shop, saw firsthand how excited the community was. Well, lets just say a line of 20 people came at us, and that was our first time being open, Defina said. But like I said, it was so fun. It was like drinking out of a firehose but in the best way possible. You know, you just kind of dream of things like that, and were first-time business owners, and just seeing that was a rush of adrenaline. Ludlow Coffee Company offers premium coffee from George Howell, who opened his first cafe in 1975, The Coffee Connection in Cambridges Harvard Square. The Coffee Connection has grown to 24 company-owned stores that were eventually sold to Starbucks Coffee Company. George Howell Coffee continues to buy and roast the finest regional and single farm-sourced coffees. Defina said the coffee company wants to bring the entire community together and put on events for the public. You can find them at 135 East Street in Ludlow. The shop is open six days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and it is closed on Mondays. 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. BELLEVILLE, Ill. Officials announced breakthroughs in multiple cold cases Tuesday morning, which they say came from the help of collaboration with students from a local university. In the span of three months in 2002, three women were found dead along different Illinois roadways. They were believed to be victims of serial killer Maury Travis. Up until this year, the women were known as Jane Does due to the nature in which they were found. In 2014, their cases were recorded in the National Missing and Unidentified Person System (NamUS). DNA analysis results were able to identify them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, the Illinois State Police announced one of those victims was Carol Jean Hemphill. The other two were identified Tuesday as Kelly Johnson and Crystal Lay, which were cases assigned to students, according to SIUEs Dr. Trish Oberweis. Additionally, ISP Director Brendan Kelly mentioned the students helped them review and bring charges to 34-year-old Alan Davis in May for the murder of 40-year-old Truman Smith in February 2011. Waterloo teen was prepping to show cattle at county fair prior to shooting death They pulled together all of the available information on each of these three victims, they presented their cases to our team, and that team renewed their investigations, ultimately named two women whose identities had been hidden for decades. They advocated for charges against Allen Davis for the murder of Truman Smith, Oberweis said. In each of these cases, the renewed investigation began with a student review and took root with the police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Kelly, eight students from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville join their Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 6s team every semester in effort to solve homicides through searchable information in cold cases. One of those was graduate student Ryleigh Franklin. Every person deserves to be identified and remembered. Im proud to have played a part in giving two women their names back, she said. Illinois State Police described the collaboration between the two as another avenue to review cold cases in a process thats often complicated. The partnership between ISP and SIUE is providing students with practical criminal investigation experience, and providing another avenue for review of cold cases to hold those responsible for crimes accountable, a release 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 FOX 2. Swimmers itch is making some people who have played in shallow areas of the Columbia River miserable this summer, says the Benton Franklin Health District. The itch, also called cercarial dermatitis, is caused by an allergic reaction to certain microscopic parasites that burrow into the skin through pores. Symptoms can include: Tingling, burning or itching skin Small reddish pimples Small blisters The temptation is to scratch, which can cause secondary bacterial infections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This condition isnt contagious and usually goes away on its own, but it can be very uncomfortable, said Dr. Steve Krager, health officer for Benton and Franklin counties. We want people to be aware and take a few simple precautions to reduce their risk while enjoying the water, he said. The adult parasite lives in the blood of infected animals or birds, which in the Tri-Cities area includes ducks and geese. Their eggs contaminate the birds droppings, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A gaggle of goslings cross Paul Parish Drive toward the green grass of the Columbia Park Golf Tri-Plex by the Columbia River in Kennewick. The eggs hatch in the water, releasing small, free-swimming microscopic larvae that search out snails to infect. They multiply and develop in the snail, before being released as a different type of microscopic larvae in the water to repeat the lifecycle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They search out a bird or mammal as a host, but can mistakenly burrow into human skin where they do not survive. The condition is not contagious, so there is no requirement that medical professionals report it to the health district. But district health professionals have heard anecdotal reports of swimmers itch this month. At least one report was linked to playing in shallow river water in a Richland park where ducks or geese gather. Health officials recommend not feeding ducks or geese in areas where people swim, and staying out of marshy areas where snails are often found. Children are most often affected by swimmers itch, since they tend to wade and play in shallow water, according to the CDC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also are less likely to towel dry themselves after being in the water. To prevent the larvae from burrowing into skin, showering or towel drying is recommended immediately after leaving the water. Sunscreen applied before going into the water also can help prevent swimmers itch by blocking the skins pores. Treating swimmers itch Symptoms may appear within minutes of swimming in contaminated water and itching may last for up to a week or more before it gradually goes away, according to the CDC. Because the itch is related to an allergic reaction, the more often people are exposed to contaminated water, the more intense and immediate the symptoms, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most cases dont require medical attention. But to relieve the itch, the CDC recommends: Use corticosteroid cream Apply cool compresses to the affected areas Bathe in Epsom salts or baking soda Soak in colloidal oatmeal baths Apply baking soda paste to the rash (made by stirring water into baking soda until it reaches a paste-like consistency) If itching is severe, a health care provider may recommend a prescription-strength lotion or cream. The snails that are associated with swimmers itch can live in fresh or salt water. But there is no risk of swimmers itch in a well maintained and chlorinated swimming pool. Columbia University has disciplined over 70 students for participating in two student-led protests, a source familiar with the matter said. The university confirmed in a statement Tuesday that it was punishing students who participated in the protest at the schools Butler Library, where at least 80 people were detained, as well as a similar demonstration during its annual alumni weekend last year. Columbia said it would not release the "individual disciplinary results of any student" but said that "sanctions from Butler Library include probation, suspensions (ranging from one year to three years), degree revocations, and expulsions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The source familiar with the matter told NBC News in a phone call that most of the disciplinary action resulted in suspensions or expulsions. Of those suspended, two-thirds received a two-year suspension. Over 70 students related to the protests over alumni were either suspended or expelled. Around 80% of the more than 70 disciplined received suspensions or expulsions. And most of the suspensions are for at least two years. Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a student group advocating for the university to divest its ties to Israel, said in a news release that nearly 80 students were informed Monday afternoon that they would be suspended for one to three years or expelled for participating in the protest in May. The student group claimed that the disciplinary letters required suspended students to submit apologies to the university to return to campus or face expulsion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its statement Tuesday, Columbia said, "Our institution must focus on delivering on its academic mission for our community." "Disruptions to academic activities are in violation of University policies and Rules, and such violations will necessarily generate consequences," it said. The disciplinary crackdown comes several months after the Trump administration cut hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research grants to the university. Following those cuts, Columbia implemented a long list of new policies at the request of the Trump administration to begin negotiations on restoring federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The university agreed to adjust its disciplinary process, ban masks at protests in most cases and hire dozens of new security officers, among other measures, according to a document the university said it shared with the federal government and posted on its website. Last year's student protests and encampments at the university, galvanized by the ongoing war in Gaza, drew both outrage and applause around the world. The unprecedented nature of the student-led protests which marked the first time Columbia allowed police to suppress demonstrations at the university since protests against the Vietnam War in 1968 made the university the de facto epicenter of similar demonstrations at universities nationwide. But some of Columbia's students previously told NBC News that protesting on the campus in recent months had become "dangerous" following the university's agreement with the Trump administration and the detainment of student activist Mahmoud Khalil by immigration authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khalil, a graduate student who helped lead negotiations between student protesters and the university, was held at an immigration detention center in Louisiana for more than 104 days before he was released last month. However, the fears did not stop dozens from protesting the war and the university's ties to Israel in May. Dozens of demonstrators occupied a room in Butler Library during the May protest, as students were studying for their final exams. Protesters wore keffiyehs, chanted slogans and clashed with police and campus security officers, according to video of the demonstration posted on social media. Police officers prevented the demonstrators from leaving the library without presenting identification for some time before they began arresting students, the videos show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The protest resulted in the detainment of at least 80 people, according to New York police. Two campus security officers were injured during the protest, the university said at the time, because of a crowd surge. Columbia took similar disciplinary action in March for pro-Palestinian protests that took place on campus last year. It issued "multi-year suspensions, temporary degree revocations and expulsion" for students who overtook a university building, Hamilton Hall, at the height of last year's protests. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) While many curb ramps around Columbus are compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), some are not, and the city is working to fix that. The work is included in the citys 2025 ADA Curb Ramp Project. The project lists 239 ramps at about 70 intersections to be worked on, according to the Columbus Department of Public Service (DPS). One of the intersections the city plans to work on is Dennison Avenue and West Sixth Avenue. Increasing accessibility at Ohio State Fair Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were talking about cuts that dont meet current standards, this would be one, and that would be one, resident Chuck Fairbanks said as he pointed out some issues at that intersection in the University District. Fairbanks has lived in the area for decades and been a wheelchair user since the late 1970s, so he knows the sidewalks and curb ramps to the streets well. He said the citys made a lot of progress since he was in college. Currently, were doing pretty well, I think, with a few exceptions, but I can only think of two or three places where theres not a cut where there should be, he said. But there is still work to be done. Ramps are required to be a certain width and have a specified slope. They also need to have what DPS deputy director James Young referred to as detectable warnings. At many intersections, that is a red mat with bumps in a grid-like pattern. Several spots in Fairbanks neighborhood do not have those. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have about 56,000 ramps in the city, so it doesnt sound like were making improvements, but a lot of them are compliant; we are making gradual increases and improvements in the system, Young said. Ohio House overrides one budget veto, hoping to provide property tax relief The 2025 project will cost around $1.2 million. We want to make sure people have the means to get around their neighborhood, so a lot of times when were going through, its literally how do you get to places you need to be, and having that ramp in there makes it just easier to access your neighborhood, Young said. The work on this years project is expected to start in the fall, according to DPS. Young said the department usually decides where to do the work based on 311 requests and employees noticing problems. 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. Hunter Biden finally made news outside the MAGA mediasphere for something that's usually the work of Fox News and other deep state disseminators: He verbally bashed the Democratic Party, CNNs Jake Tapper, former Obama aides and even Hollywoods devastatingly handsome ambassador George Clooney. President Biden's son, whose very name inspires a Pavlovian response among right-wing conspiracy theorists, appears to have pulled a page from the opposition's playbook when during two recent interviews he leaned into grievance politics, repeatedly hurled expletives and condemned those who "did not remain loyal" to his father. Hunter Biden's first round of interviews since the 2024 election started out tame enough when last week on a new podcast hosted by Jaime Harrison, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, he said that Democrats lost to Donald Trump because they abandoned his father. There was no grand conspiracy to hide his fathers health issues, he said. We lost the last election because we did not remain loyal to the leader of the party. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fair enough. Then it was on to Clooney, one of the first high-profile figures on the left to call for Biden to step aside from his reelection campaign after a disastrous debate performance. Hunter Biden disparagingly referred to the actor as a brand and told Harrison, Do you think in Middle America, that voter in Green Bay, Wis., gives a s what George Clooney thinks about who she should vote for? Then came the knockout punch. In a separate, three-hour-plus interview released Monday with YouTuber Andrew Callaghan, he said of the star: "George Clooney is not a f actor. He is a f, I don't know what he is. He's a brand. F him and everybody around him." George Clooney was among Kennedy Center honorees welcomed by President Biden at the White House on Dec. 4, 2022. (Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press) Hunter Biden also had some words for senior Biden aide Anita Dunn. The Anita Dunns of the world, who's made $40 [million], $50 million off the Democratic Party, they're 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 anyone in history and how to garner more votes than any president that has ever run." Former Obama aide and political analyst David Axelrod was also on the list. He said Axelrod had one success in his political life, and that was Barack Obama, and that was because of Barack Obama. And if the above sentiments were attributed to the current president's sons, who've characterized the Democratic Party as Nazis and referred to those who were protesting immigration sweeps by the patently offensive term "mongoloids"? Meh, it's just another Monday. But Hunter Biden, like most public-facing Democrats, is held to a different standard. When they go low, we go high. Remember that sage advice that worked for Democrats back in the late aughts and early 2010s but now sounds like advice pulled from a 1950s guide to etiquette? The younger Biden not only deviated from that lefty code but also mirrored his tormentors, then unleashed his ire onto his own party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunter Biden's own reckless actions over the years made him grist for all manner of right-wing helmed investigations. Then there are the stupid conspiracies, whether it's the missing laptop or that mysterious bag of cocaine found in the White House. Hard to keep track, but the younger Biden went there during his recent interview. "I have been clean and sober since June of 2019. I have not touched a drop of alcohol or a drug, and I'm incredibly proud of that," he told Callaghan. And why would I bring cocaine into the White House and stick it into a cubby outside of the Situation Room in the West Wing?" But he also attributed at least one recent alleged conspiracy to those outside the right-wing cabal or, more specifically, to Jake Tapper. The CNN anchor co-wrote Original Sin, a provocative book that claimed President Bidens confidants worked to conceal his declining health from the public. Hunter Biden argued that it was nonsense and that the ability to keep a secret in Washington is zero. What sells, Jaime? he asked Harrison. What sells is the idea of a conspiracy. And the public spectacle of flaming your enemy's enemy. 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. With its efforts to bring the art and environment closer together since 2001, the non-profit Artists in Residence in the Everglades (AIRIE) has not only grown in size, but in depth. Each year, the organization selects approximately 12 artists to be part of their residency program. The residency lasts for one calendar month, where artists stay in a cabin within the Everglades National Park. Every morning, they see the sunrise over the Everglades and experience the sunset. The hope is to inspire the creation of something beautiful. This season, AIRIE is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The celebration comes in the form of new programming throughout the year as well as an extended residency program featuring 18 fellows instead of the usual dozen. T The new season began in July with artist Sterling Rook as the first fellow to take up residency at AIRIE. Weve also grown in terms of what were trying to say, which is around creating an affirming space for artists to come and engage with the environment, says Tracey Robertson Carter, AIRIEs acting director. We want to encourage the use of the arts around the challenges that we face every day in our, in our precious environment, and particularly that in South Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most recent open call for AIRE garnered over 500 applicants, more than any other year, says Carter. While the selection process is lengthy and tough, the director admits its also wholly inspiring. I love reading in the application about what the residency can be, she says. Carter mentions one incoming fellow, musician Thandeka Mfinyongo from Cape Town, South Africa, who works with ancestral instruments and sounds. Shes bringing her ancestral instruments here and wanting to create new sounds in our Florida environment. (Reading in her application) what that would mean to the sound, what it might mean to her connection back to her ancestry, its projects like that you just cant help but be in awe. Thandeka Mfinyongo, born in Cape Town, is a musician deeply rooted in African musical traditions. Artist residents are given one month to stay on property within the Everglades and given the freedom to create. There is also a stipend for expenses and exclusive access to the national park. Their singular mission is to take inspiration from their surroundings and apply it to their practice. We really look at it as a research residency, says Cornelius Tulloch, global artistic director for AIRIE and former fellow himself. The artists only commitment is to be in the park, engage with the community, and to do one public programming, which could be a talk, a walk, or some other kind of format where we meet the artists we arent afraid to allow the artists to be artists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tulloch was part of the 2022 AIRIE cohort and was so inspired, he stuck around. I think thats the beauty of doing AIRIE, he says. No matter what you thought youd come in with, you leave with so much more. Artist Daveed Baptiste plans on hosting extravagant photoshoots during his residency and aims to capture images like this piece titled Boy Dreams. Throughout his time with AIRIE, Tulloch has become a pseudo-Everglades influencer, he quips. He went from posting pictures of art and fashion to posting about the national park. I feel like for a lot of people, its that kind of literal fact of representation like, how do I exist in this space? Tullochs social media feed inspired fellow artist and friend, Daveed Baptiste. The Haitian-American textile artist and photographer never really saw himself in an environment like the Everglades. That is, until he saw Tullochs posts. He was inspired and applied to AIRIE. Baptiste will begin his residency at the Everglades National Park in March 2026. I just remember seeing footage for like a whole month, says Baptiste of his friend Tulloch. He was posting in the Everglades, like the swamp and trails. Incoming AIRIE fellow David Baptiste focuses his practice on photography and textile design. Based in New York City, Baptiste grew up in Miami and shares that hes been searching for an opportunity that would bring him home. Miami is where I discovered art I feel like Miami is the soul of my practice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to his residency, the photographer plans on hosting multiple photoshoots among the trees and water. When you look up the Everglades, you didnt really see a lot of Black folk in the (attraction) videos or photos. Theres this large absence of Black folks. And so during my time there, Im going to be looking at how visual culture shapes our perception of who has access to the Everglades and I will be hosting the most fabulous photo shoots with beautiful Black families, friends, queer people, and kind of just presenting this Black Utopia within the river of grass, says Baptiste. Homecoming by Daveed Baptiste. Another Miami native and incoming fellow is Lee Pivnik. The young artist has been applying to the residency on-and-off since 2016. His upcoming residency in September is a dream come true. He lists a handful of growing ideas he has for his one month in nature. Im so excited for September, shares Pivnik. I have two ongoing projects right now that are very Everglades focused and inspired. Ill be thinking about how the Everglades holds all of these histories and stories of trauma, survival, neglect, and then resurgence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pivnik adds, Im hoping to really use the experience to produce materials and ideas thatll continue to feed my practice. In addition to Baptiste, Pivnik, Mfinyongo and Rook, this seasons fellows include Ashia Ajani (Denver, Colo.), The Honourable Elizabeth A. Baker (who works within the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University), Shenny de Los Angeles (Kissimmee, Fla.), Sarah Doerfel and Vincent Scheers (Munich), Samuel Dominguez (London), Laurena Fineus (New York, N.Y.), Havin Hat (Germany), Julius Karoubi (Oslo, Norway), Bex McCharen (Miami), Jewel Rodgers (Nebraska), Ackeem Salmon (Detroit), Jean Shin (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Sheherazade Thenard (Miami) and Coco Villa (Queens, N.Y.), and David Rahahetih Webb (Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina). Artist Lee Pivnik begins his AIRIE residency in September. Board president Zoe McKenzie has been with AIRE for two years and sees her role as bridging a connection between the organization and the community. The folks that are in this cohort have already begun to intersect their point of view and experience and influence with their fellow participants, says McKenzie. They are already building an incredible legacy and network that will go from South Florida, from AIRIE and the Everglades, and beyond. If you go: WHAT: Artists in Residence in the Everglades (AIRIE) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WHERE: Everglades National Park, Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, 40001 State Highway 9336, Homestead INFORMATION: (305) 209-0177 or airie.org. ArtburstMiami.com is a nonprofit media source for the arts featuring fresh and original stories by writers dedicated to theater, dance, visual arts, film, music and more. Dont miss a story at www.artburstmiami.com THURSDAY, July 24 FREE PLANETARIUM SHOW: A free show will be offered at 7 p.m. at the Clark Planetarium in the Advanced Technology Center on the campus of Shawnee State University. Free shows are offered Mondays and Thursdays. Learn more about the planetariums shows at www.shawnee.edu/planetarium. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS: The Scioto County Commissioners will meet in regular session at 9:30 a.m., on the third floor of the Scioto County Courthouse, 602 Seventh St., Portsmouth. The commissioners meeting is also livestreamed on their Facebook page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MONDAY, July 28 FREE PLANETARIUM SHOW: A free show will be offered at 7 p.m. at the Clark Planetarium in the Advanced Technology Center on the campus of Shawnee State University. Free shows are offered Mondays and Thursdays. Learn more about the planetariums shows at www.shawnee.edu/planetarium. TUESDAY, July 29 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS: The Scioto County Commissioners will meet in regular session at 9:30 a.m., on the third floor of the Scioto County Courthouse, 602 Seventh St., Portsmouth. The commissioners meeting is also livestreamed on their Facebook page. BOARD OF HEALTH: Portsmouth City Board of Health will meet in regular session at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held in the first-floor conference room at the Portsmouth City Health Department located at 605 Washington Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement THURSDAY, July 31 SCIOTOVILLE SCHOOL: Sciotoville Community School will hold its July governing board meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the library of East High School located at 224 Marshall St, Portsmouth. Want to see your event listed here? Please send all information, including date, time and address to rray@hdmediallc.com with the subject line Community Calendar. As of Sept. 30, Colorado's federal trial judges collectively had 73 motions in civil cases that had been sitting on their dockets for at least six months without a ruling. This weekend, two female fitness powerhouses are coming together to host a back to school event like no other that incorporates health and wellness while also providing families with the tools they need for a successful new year. Shakera Greene is the owner of BOAW Fitness of Savannah she is partnering with Atlanta nonprofit, DiaBeating the Odds, for the free, family-friendly Health & Wellness Back-to-School Event! Click the arrow in the video box above to watch the interview. Event Highlights: *200 Free backpacks filled with school supplies *On-site book fair with free books (including Spanish-language titles) *Health screenings (diabetes and other conditions) *Free fitness classes for all levels *Giveaways and raffles courtesy of the Atlanta Hawks *Local vendors, family resources & more Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wellness Conversations for Students, Parents & Caregivers: 10:30-11:00a Mental Wellness: Supporting Your Childs Mental Wellness for a Strong Start to the School Year 12:00-12:30p Physical Wellness: Diabetes & Heart Disease in Black and Brown Communities Wellness Vendors & Resources- Still looking for additional vendors *Diabetes Screenings and Education *Mental Health Support & Resources *Nutrition & Dental Health *Youth Activities and Enrichment *College & Career Readiness *Parenting and Family Services *Financial Wellness *Local Nonprofit & Outreach Organizations *Free Wellness Giveaways for Families Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Current Needs: 5-8 additional volunteers, monetary donations or donations via our amazing school supply list, tables and chairs, a DJ that would give us a discounted rate. https://linktr.ee/diabeatingtheodds Health & Wellness Back-to-School Event Saturday, July 26 10:00 AM 2:00 PM 309C E. Main Street, Garden City Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. AUSTIN (KXAN) The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country said Tuesday that it has raised more than $60 million for communities hit by severe floods over the weekend of July 4. In a press release, the charity said that some of the donations have been disbursed as grants to 35 other nonprofit groups providing disaster relief in flood-affected areas. Community Foundation CEO Austin Dickinson said in the release that the nonprofit has been astounded by the outpouring of generosity and love. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every new donation is a testament to the compassion pouring in from Texas and across the country. As our community rebuilds, this continued support will ensure that no one walks this road alone, Dickinson said. Its now in its second round of grants and will issue more than $4 million across priority categories identified as the most urgent areas of community need, according to its release. Community Foundation also said it will form a Community Advisory Council to advise its future funding decisions. This council, which will be announced on July 31, will include local leaders and residents who will help advise on long-term recovery investments and resource distribution, the release states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A full list of grant recipients can be found on the Community Foundations website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. A publicly traded company recently finalized its purchase of the Beaver Falls wastewater system, with plans to invest millions of dollars for improvements. Through its Aqua Pennsylvania subsidiary, Essential Utilities Inc. purchased the citys wastewater system in Beaver County for $37.75 million. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved the sale Friday. Serving 3,200 customers in Beaver Falls, the system provides bulk transmission and treatment equal to the demand of about 3,800 single-family homes across Patterson Township, Patterson Heights Borough, White Township, West Mayfield Borough, Big Beaver Borough, Eastvale Borough and North Sewickley Township. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are excited to bring customers in Beaver Falls and the surrounding area into the Aqua family, said Essential Utilities Chairman and CEO Christopher Franklin. The successful completion of this transaction was the result of partnering with local and state officials to find the best solution for customers and taxpayers in Beaver Falls and current customers of Aqua. This is a great example of how regionalization of water systems and wastewater systems can bring long-term benefits to communities. Officials say Aqua Pennsylvania plans to invest $10 million in infrastructure improvements over the next decade, focusing on safety and plant upgrades. Those include: Repairing and replacing portions of sewer collection system Upgrading the treatment plant headworks and filter tower Upgrading the pump station The investments Aqua Pennsylvania plans to make at the wastewater treatment plant, coupled with their operational expertise, will ensure dependable service to our community for years to come, said Beaver Falls Mayor Kenya Johns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Customers base rates will not change after Aqua Pennsylvania begins operating the system, officials say. Any future rate changes will first need approval from the PUC. Eligible customers who need help with their sewer bills will have access to Aquas low-income Customer Assistance Program and hardship fund called Aqua Aid. Residents should look for communication from Aqua Pennsylvania with service schedules and procedures during the transition, officials say. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW The Supreme Court of Virginia building in Downtown Richmond. (Robert Zullo/ Virginia Mercury) Toll Road Investors Partnership II (TRIP II), which operates the private 14-mile Dulles Greenway toll road, is seeking to overturn a Virginia Supreme Courts decision last week to reject the companys request to hike the roadways toll rate. This comes after the Virginia Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the unanimous decision by the State Corporation Commission (SCC) to reject the proposal because it did not demonstrate that the proposed rates would be reasonable to the user in relation to the benefit obtained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Atlas Arteria, which owns the roadway, is regulated by the SCC under the Virginia Highway Corporation Act, which allows the company to request a toll increase once per year but doesnt permit it to negotiate those increases. On July 11, 2023, TRIP II applied to raise tolls on vehicles, including two-axle vehicles, from $5.80 to $8.10 during peak hours and from $5.25 to $6.40 during off-peak hours, to cover its debt payments and operating expenses. Traveling the toll road cost commuters driving two-axle vehicles $1.75 and $3.50 for all other vehicles when the road opened in 1995. Court records indicate TRIP IIs debt stood at $1.1 billion as of December 2022. TRIP IIs pending federal case, which was stayed in anticipation of the SCV appeal decision, will now proceed, said Atlas Arteria in a statement. The federal complaint alleges constitutional violations distinct from those decided by the (Supreme Court) and seeks compensatory, declarative, injunctive, and other relief, unavailable to TRIP II in the SCV appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company said TRIP II would continue to engage with the SCCs working group and plans to file a new proposal to raise toll rates later this year. Following the Supreme Courts decision, Attorney General Jason Miyares said in a statement on Thursday that the proposal failed to meet the basic legal standards of reasonableness and public benefit and that the high court upheld the commissions finding that the proposed tolls were unjustified and unreasonably burdensome on the public. Virginia law mandates that toll increases must be reasonable to drivers in relation to the benefit received. In October 2023, the Virginia Attorney Generals Division of Consumer Counsel joined the case for TRIP IIs rate increase, along with Loudoun County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an enormous win for hardworking Virginians who are already stretched thin by rising costs, Miyares said in a statement on July 17. No private company has the right to exploit a government franchise to gouge commuters, especially when public alternatives exist. My office stood up to defend Virginia consumers from the largest toll increase in Dulles Greenway history, and today, common sense prevailed. Loudoun County leaders also celebrated the courts decision. The toll road runs between Leesburg and Washington Dulles International Airport, situated in Loudoun County. County leaders asked to participate in the case because they believe decades of increased tolls on the Greenway prevent drivers from using it, which results in increased congestion on public roads in the county and forces Loudoun County to expand other roads at public expense. In anticipation of the Supreme Courts decision, TRIP II filed its complaint in February in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District shortly after the SCCs decision on Sept. 4, 2024. Since the Virginia Supreme Courts ruling, no additional hearings have been scheduled. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Just after 10:15 p.m. on May 1, 2024, LCAC 84 was full of bored and irritated Marines and sailors. Nine minutes later, it would be deflated and destroyed. The hulking inflatable landing craft the acronym LCAC stands for Landing Craft, Air Cushion had been dispatched from the deck of the amphibious assault ship USS New York that evening full of passengers bound for the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, also sailing off the coast of Florida. One passenger had somebody elses long fishing pole wedged between his knees; a deck engineer complained of an unpleasant smell in the cabin and hunted for a bottle of Febreze. The banter continued until 10:24, when an engineer reported seeing the green running light of LCAC 70, a hovercraft from the Wasp headed the opposite direction in what was planned to be a port-to-port passage. They are coming right at us, dude, the engineer said, according to a black box recording. Five seconds later, the transports collided head-on at more than 50 knots, or 57 miles per hour. Three dozen Marines and sailors in both LCACs sustained lacerations, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries; chained-down vehicles were flung onto their sides and the crafts themselves sustained some $48 million in damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A command investigation obtained by Task and Purpose via a Freedom of Information Act request attributed the head-on collision to human error, finding it was the result of a breakdown of basic mariner skills and failure to follow the rules of the road. Roles were improperly assigned and unclear, while training was inadequate, officials found. Perhaps most damningly, reports showed that vehicle crewmembers told passengers they didnt have to wear their seatbelts and protective gear, an instruction that investigators found exacerbated the resulting injuries. What remains unclear is how the Navy has specifically addressed the underlying problems that led to a mystifyingly avoidable disaster. In response to queries from Task and Purpose, Lt. Cmdr. David Carter, a spokesman for U.S. Fleet Forces Command, said that Adm. Daryl Caudle, the commander of Fleet Forces, had endorsed all 42 recommendations [from the report], which are in the process of being implemented by the respective commands. A photo of LCAC 84, following the collision from the investigation into the mishap. Image via the Navy. Though no one died in the nighttime collision, the lack of effective communication and the confusion and shock that preceded the impact all echo the 2017 collisions of the Navy destroyers USS Fitzgerald and USS McCain with merchant vessels. The two incidents claimed the lives of 17 crew members and prompted a comprehensive review of the entire surface Navy that found undermanning, fatigue and insufficient training were widespread. Significant failures across echelons of leadership in the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group are indicative of larger cultural shortfalls within the amphibious community, a 1,470-page investigation completed by Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta, commander of the Navys Carrier Strike Group 12, found. The patterns of failure include manning shortfalls, gaps in operating doctrine, ineffective command and control and improper assumption of risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These patterns indicate that the Navy has not implemented effective solutions to address root causes, investigators concluded. The investigation further excoriated a culture of noncompliance and lack of discipline among both LCAC crews, citing low knowledge levels, missing radio discipline, and failures to identify and mitigate risk. These factors directly contributed to the mishap, the investigation found. Investigators also warned that as the Navys LCAC program was transitioning from the legacy hovercraft to the replacement LCAC 100, with some crews already piloting the new craft as training curriculum lagged behind, risk was significantly elevated and the possibility of another collision was more likely. According to the investigation report, the two 87-foot landing craft had been set to carry out a passenger, mail and cargo transfer between the two warships the evening of May 1. The mission was briefed that afternoon, and about three hours before the LCAC operation was set to begin, the Wasp and the New York set Condition 1A, indicating the highest state of ship operational readiness. LCAC 84 left the well deck of the Wasp with 15 crew and passengers aboard just after 8 p.m. LCAC 70 departed the New York about 20 minutes later with 27 personnel aboard. Due to aircraft operations on the flight deck of the Wasp, LCAC 70 wasnt able to enter its well deck right away to unload passengers. Instead, it waited in the water near the ship for around 50 minutes as flight ops continued. A Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) in the Bay of Bengal on April 8, 2025. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Caroline H. Lui. An additional hovercraft from the New York, LCAC 89, was supposed to conduct its own passenger transfer, but had mechanical issues. LCAC 84 was ordered to proceed to the New York to pick up the passengers the down landing craft couldnt carry. While crew members told investigators mission re-taskings like this were not uncommon, communication over the change was unclear and caused some confusion. The first passenger transfer was uneventful, with both LCACs entering the ships well decks just before 10 p.m. and offloading passengers. But tasking changes for a second transfer were starting to cause stress. LCAC 70s crew found it was getting a new group of passengers to bring back to the New York, even though this change had not been fully briefed or acknowledged, and key commanders had not approved the change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both LCACs departed their ships well decks on a return journey at 10:13 p.m., each with 19 personnel aboard. The night was dark, and LCAC 70s windshield wipers werent working. The two hovercraft were in communication, but both started playing music and using internal comms for playful banter back and forth. They also made pejorative comments about LCAC 89s crew for being inoperable due to a broken bow thruster. At 10:15 p.m., nine minutes before the collision, LCAC 70s loadmaster identified an object off the crafts bow. The LCACs navigator acknowledged the report sarcastically, according to a transcript of recorder data. Yeah, its the ship. Good job, the navigator responded. The engineer told the navigator not to dismiss the loadmaster, calling his tone very condescending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The loadmaster got the distance wrong, saying the Wasp was eight miles away when it was actually 12, but the navigator didnt mention it, investigators found. The loadmaster told investigators he was often told he provided too many contact reports in his job as a lookout. Six minutes before the collision, LCAC 70s navigator reported that the two craft were going to pass each other at their starboard, or right-hand, sides. Key information, like bearing, range, and passing distance, was never transmitted. LCAC 84s navigator also clocked the other craft around the same time, but didnt communicate to its crew. At 10:22, with two minutes to collision, the navigator told his craftmaster that it looked like the two LCACs were going to pass within 1,000 yards of each other, but did not report bearing and range. With a minute to go until collision, the navigator communicated to LCAC 70 a casual message that investigators think may have been an inside joke: We will meet you on the twos for a little port to port. See ya on the twos! an unknown crew member from one of the LCACs responded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 10:24, the crews of both LCACs spotted the other craft and realized a collision was imminent. LCAC 84s loadmaster saw a white masthead light and froze in shock, failing to make a report. LCAC 70s navigator told the craftmaster to break right, but didnt explain what he was seeing, causing confusion. Neither vessel reduced its speed. Onboard recorders captured the terror of the final seconds before impact. Go, go, go, go, go, go, left, LCAC 70s navigator or engineer says. Go left! A final message, from the craft master or navigator, is cut off. Guys, brace, brace for s The high-speed collision threw passengers around the cabins of both crafts. Loose gear, including fire extinguishers, caused head injuries. The worst-injured had skull and facial fractures; four had to be medically evacuated from their ships. Search-and-rescue crews retrieved the injured personnel from the water, and the two LCACs were at least temporarily abandoned. It was the worst LCAC mishap since the vessels entered service in 1986. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While training for LCAC crew members is rigorous the senior navigator for all LCACs told investigators that the attrition rate for navigator training is the second-highest in the Navy, after SEAL training at BUD/S a source close to the investigation told Task and Purpose the LCAC community itself was not subject to the same standards as the rest of the surface fleet. The source, who declined to be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly, pointed out that the landing crafts are crewed entirely by enlisted personnel, and craftmaster qualification training does not resemble the rigor of Officer on Duty training for ships. Each craft seems to have developed a microclimate based on the individual in charge, the source said. Beyond evidence of what Navy Surface Force Atlantic Commander Rear Adm. Joseph Cahill called a complacent and unprofessional attitude in his sign-off of the report, the LCAC community was found to be dogged by familiar issues: budget shortfalls, undermanning, and exhaustion. Crew members reported that inoperable windshield wipers were common on the aging craft. Seatbelts were tangled, some were tied behind benches and inaccessible. Only 37% of seats were fully operational across Assault Craft Unit 4, the parent command for the two LCACs involved in the collision, the investigation found. More broadly, witnesses told the investigators that funding for spare parts was lacking. Post-collision images of LCAC 70, left, and LCAC 84, right, taken from the Navys investigation into the mishap. Images via the Navy. Manning was also recognized as a major problem throughout the LCAC community. While the LCACs had full crews, several watchstanders aboard the New York were performing multiple duties due to manning shortfalls and the Wasp was short on personnel to man the boat control team and watch stations, which direct, track, and provide lookout for LCACs from the ship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boat control team manning aboard ships is not sufficient to support shipboard rest policies, the investigation found. Fatigue seemed to be a problem within the landing craft as well. While LCAC crews told investigators theyd gotten sufficient rest before their mission, cabin recorders picked up one navigator complaining of exhaustion and empty energy drink cans were found scattered in one of the crafts forward compartments. Training also came up short of expectations, particularly on use of systems like the Amphibious Assault Direction System, a kind of Blue Force Tracker that can help craft operators spot contacts in the surrounding waters. Finally, the unexpected re-tasking of the two LCACs after their first personnel transport missions the night of May 1 was found to be a causal issue in the crash, with shortfalls in communication, expertise, and proper risk assessment all contributing to the disastrous outcome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leadership failing to recognize the accumulated risk is a natural product of the system structure, investigators wrote. Top Stories News A breakdown of safety procedures directly contributed to an 82nd Airborne paratroopers death A breakdown of safety procedures directly contributed to an 82nd Airborne paratroopers death By Jeff Schogol 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 News The Army and Navy want the right to repair their own equipment The Army and Navy want the right to repair their own equipment By Jeff Schogol When the command investigation into the mishap was receiving final endorsements in November 2024, certain corrective actions were already taking place, including a 90-day review of the culture within Assault Craft Unit 4, and unspecified interim corrective actions to shape the culture. Carter, the Fleet Forces Command spokesman, said the 90-day review was completed in June, and follow-on questions and commentary for Naval Beach Group Two, the parent unit of Assault Craft Unit 4, are currently being reviewed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The implementation status of the 42 recommendations to come from the report, covering improvements to training, instruction on the rules of the road at sea, watchbills, and LCAC manning, are unclear. Leadership of Assault Craft Unit 4 have addressed cultural and operational issues through afloat cultural workshops, training critiques, and safety procedure reviews and initiatives, Carter said. The investigation called for a host of administrative and disciplinary actions, including administrative action for the commanding officers of the Wasp for failure to execute LCAC briefings by the book and the New York for failure to institute the correct watch bill. The leaders for the LCAC units were also faulted for failures of oversight and for re-tasking the landing craft in violation of policy. No senior officers appear to have lost their jobs over the disaster, though. The commanding officers of both amphibious assault ships transitioned out in standard passage of command ceremonies in January. The commander of Assault Craft Unit 4 retired in May. The navigators for LC70 and LC84 and a craftmaster with LC70 were recommended for discipline or administrative action due to dereliction of duty, and the crewmembers of both crafts were cited for not wearing seatbelts or helmets as required. Carter said all personnel actions had been completed and the Navy would not comment further on personnel matters. The source close to the investigation suggested that the collision of the LCACs could be grounds for another CR moment, referring to the Navys comprehensive review. But, they said, with individual mishaps and investigations that take months to complete, its hard to keep attention on the problems. End result is that people forget and move on, the source said. Nobody connects the dots. The state comptroller's report also found that domestic violence and the challenges to fight it have become exacerbated because of the Israel-Hamas War. The Social Affairs and Welfare Ministry must work to finally establish a national agency to deal with domestic violence and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), the State Comptrollers Office recommended in a new, comprehensive annual report on local governance. The largest challenges to the fight against this phenomena - which Israel has been working hard at for the past three decades - are the lack of a legal characterization for it, the fact that victims cant and dont always come forward to file a complaint or seek help due to the trauma, and unnecessary encumbrances on authorities, leading to an unproductive work flow. All these were exacerbated by the Israel-Hamas War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When my sister was murdered by her partner, I knew that I would do everything to save the next Michali. Since then, I have dedicated my life to saving lives and fighting violence against women, said Lili Ben Ami, the sister of social worker Michal Sela who was murdered by her partner and the father of her baby in 2019, went on to found the Michal Sela Forum, an innovative non-profit that fights violence against women. The report reads: Violence as a broad category constitutes a violation of one of the most basic of human rights: That of a person to their body and their dignity. When violence is directed towards women, and in relationships in particular, the violation carries the same gravitas. "Alongside the individual short-and-long-term consequences, the phenomena of violence against women carries public and communal consequences, particularly ones that are financial and intergenerational, something that could be remedied by a legal characterization of violence, Ben Ami explained. Woman in shadows (illustrative). (credit: FLICKR) The long-time fight against domestic abuse and IPV has shown so far that to combat it, tight and consistent coordination and enforcement between all the different relevant authorities is critical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The designated government body in this case is a widespread national agency led by a permanent inter-ministerial committee headed by the director-general of the Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry. The issue is far more precarious, in general, than its treatment, both due to how insidious it can be and the fact that it's difficult to gather data on it, as it depends on victims coming forward, and they cannot always do so. The Israel-Hamas War only exacerbated the phenomenon; this is not unique to Israel and has been observed worldwide during times of national emergencies, like wars or natural disasters, meaning that attention to the issue is even more needed. The Comptroller published a report on the matter in 2021. The data for this report was gathered from August to September of 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police statistics show that between 2022 and 2024, 32 women were murdered by their partners, making up a third of femicides. IPV investigations made up 64% of cases opened in 2023 under the umbrella of domestic violence. In the 12 months that preceded the 2024 survey, about 576,000 of people between the ages of 18 and 65 suffered violence from their partners - both physical and non-physical. About a fourth experienced severe abuse. Legal characterization A characterization itself of the phenomena of domestic violence has not yet been ratified by the Israeli government - Israel did not sign onto the Istanbul Convention, an international agreement created to protect women from violence and abuse. It encourages states to take action - by helping victims, holding abusers accountable, and working toward gender equality. Additionally, any bill proposals to establish such a designation did not advance. The lack of a legal characterization makes it extremely difficult to monitor the phenomena and estimate its reach, and also to treat it at the governmental level. It too widens the gap between what is offered and what is needed, reads the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The designated national agency was not established to completion, and not at all at the regional and local levels. Additionally, the inter-ministerial committee, which is operational, did not follow the division of authorities and responsibilities that were recommended, encumbering its productivity. However, the Comptroller found that the Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry did put together a simulator to estimate the level of danger for IPV. This is due to be integrated with the other relevant ministries within the next two years. The Comptroller also found that there is now a more accurate understanding of how widespread domestic violence and IPV are, thanks to a national survey from 2024. However, the Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry has not yet scheduled a meeting to discuss the findings, or to order more surveys. The inter-ministerial committee The committee also failed to set a work plan that coordinated with the 2023-2024 budget, and did not discuss the application of such a plan, complicating the matter of funding as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Comptroller found that recommendations from committees in 1998 and 2016 to streamline the information from authorities to healthcare workers - were not followed. This was only exacerbated during the war - both due to the overload and to widespread evacuations. Out of 146,000 documented cases of IPV between the ages of 18 and 65, only 17,000 women are registered for services, and only 12,300 men and women actually receive it. By August 2020, there had not been a central aggregative system to collect data. The Comptroller found that this had been partially fixed, but that the lack of a central data system means that it cannot be used for legislative purposes. The matter of money From a budgetary perspective, about 60% of the allocated funds were actualized by recommendation of the inter-ministerial committee, which the Comptroller noted was an improvement, though it is not where it should be. The report noted though that there was no increase in budget for the committee during the war, despite the heightened predicted violence. The funds are also designated to specific areas, making it incredibly difficult to track how effective the funds are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cannot stand aside against the phenomena of abuse by partners - which 146,000 people experienced since the start of the Israel-Hamas War. A third of women who were murdered in 2022-2024 were killed by their partners. These statistics demand that the State work against this, reads the report. The war When the war broke out, the Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry did not work to expand awareness of its services, nor did it explain the broader effects the war had on domestic violence and IPV. The Comptroller found that even though the ministry was aware that there is severe under-reporting of IPV, it did not work to find creative solutions to try to breach that wall. This became particularly relevant to domestic violence shelters, as they are run by local authorities, which work with data from the ministry. The ministry did order a quick survey in January 2024 on domestic violence and IPV during the war (after it had been ongoing for several months by then). However, that was the last one it conducted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The previous Comptroller report found that the relevant ministries (Welfare and Social Affairs, Education, and the Authority for Prevention of Violence, Alcohol and Drug Use) did not all work under the same first-response plan - which attempts to tackle domestic violence before it becomes extreme - and also that the projected budget at the time was fully insufficient. The Comptroller found that this was partially remedied - the plans were expanded - but that the ministries still dont have a comprehensive first-response plan that works smoothly across them all platforms (Social Affairs and Welfare, Education, Health, National Security, and the Authority), and that the budget is still lacking. Ben Ami added that when women were moved around localities due to evacuations, their treatments were interrupted and the care disrupted. In 2021, the Health Ministry found that nearly a fifth (18%) of reported cases it recorded of domestic violence came up through calls for mental health treatment, including suicide attempts and addiction (1,630 out of 8,814). Yet, the Comptroller found, the Health Ministry has not allocated a budget for domestic violence treatment coordinators in psychiatric hospitals and communal centers. As of December 2024, such coordinators were only employed in two psychiatric hospitals in Israel. The Comptroller found that the Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry had fully fixed its budgetary model for the communal centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, it found that, overall, the number of men treated in domestic violence centers did go down since 2019, though the percentage of those treated in the non-Jewish sector remained the same (19%). It also found that the Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry excelled in its campaign to reach men in the circle of violence and help them get the help they need. The courts The previous report found that the administration of the courts did not have an updated list of protection orders through which men were referred to for treatment. In 2021, the courts referred only 89 people to treatment centers. The Comptroller found slight improvements: A 2022 amendment made it so that courts were obligated to test the compatibility for treatment for a man against whom a restraining order was issued. Yet, as of December 2024, this had not been fully implemented in staffing by the Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry; it only filled a fourth of the required staff. The previous report also found that only 14% of judges attended conference days on the matter; this dropped to seven percent in 2024. There were also no training programs on the updated amendment, nor did the administration of the courts have the statistics it needed to fully implement it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Comptroller further found that there has been no fix to the phenomenon of people who were imprisoned for domestic abuse getting released by an administrative procedure - rather than a parole hearing. The reason this is critical is because the hearing sees to it that the person enrolls in a communal rehabilitation program once they are released. And, those who are released according to the ideal protocol number at less than 10%. The report reads, Only 10% of those who were imprisoned for abuse and domestic violence were incorporated into rehabilitation programs. The Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry must join forces with authorities - the National Security Ministry, and the Israel Prison Service and its Rehabilitation Division - to coalesce a response. There are currently 583 areas that are susceptible to fires, 81 of which are in the highest danger category. Of these 81, only nine were included in the government's budget for buffer zones. One of the worrisome phenomena plaguing Israel over the last few years that has less to do with wars and security is wildfires. A new, comprehensive annual report on local governance by the State Comptrollers Office released on Tuesday found that despite the rising occurrences of wildfires, authorities are not prepared for what may be coming. 35,500 wildfires broke out in 2024, yet only nine out of the 81 areas categorized as extremely dangerous were allocated buffer zones in the case of a fire. This points to the government's failure in preparation; the fires on Independence Day should've raised the alarm. We are one step away from a massive disaster, said State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the last Comptroller report on the matter in 2018, Israel has been repeatedly struck by wildfires - many during the hotter months - all while theIsrael-Hamas War raged. After the massive wildfire in April, Engleman requested that the government lay out plans to handle such emergency situations. Nearly 2,000 hectares (almost 5,000 acres) of land were charred. Every year, Israelis experience the effects of climate change more and more, as the weather gets more extreme, and not all disasters can be fought off. In 2022, the government passed a decision to put together a national, multi-year plan to deal with fires and expand the budget forbuffer zones, areas around vulnerable spaces or structures where vegetation is managed to reduce the risk of wildfires. The National Security Ministry, which is responsible for actualizing the decision, did not advance it. Wildfires rage, with firefighters doing their valiant best. (credit: FLASH90) From 2020 to 2024, approximately 28,500 fires broke out per year in open areas, like forests, marking just over half (56%) of all the fires for that timespan; 2024 alone saw 33,500 fires. About 17,400 of them were treated by the Fire and Rescue Authority from January to October 2024 on the Northern front, while 735 fires started from military equipment strikes (like missiles). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Comptroller found a massive gap in fire treatment preparations along the Northern border throughout the war, as the area was subjected to strikes from Hezbollah, and many rockets and drones fell in open spaces, causing fires. The Comptroller also found that there were sites where Fire and Rescue Authority personnel did not even reach, and that there was not enough aerial assistance. There are currently 583 areas that are susceptible to fires, 81 of which are in the highest danger category. Of these 81, only nine were included in the government's budget for buffer zones. Drafts for new fire protection regulations were halted by the National Security Ministry The previous Comptroller report on the matter, conducted from September to December 2024, found that drafts for new fire protection regulations that were advanced by the previous National Security Ministry were halted by the current one, headed by Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir, due to a budget deficit. Three areas were probed in the last report: Haifa, the Zichron Ya'acov local council, and Yokne'am Illit. The Comptroller found that the Haifa municipality did not submit a plan for its two most at-risk neighborhoods, nor for 23 other areas designated to have buffer zones. Zichron Ya'acov prepared a protection plan but did not set deadlines for the buffer zones, while the Yokne'am Illit municipality did prepare a plan, but has not yet submitted it for approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a series of wildfires in 2017, Haifa began to designate buffer zones. The Comptroller found that some neighborhoods were covered, but not all, including ones in danger zones. The city has eight neighborhoods that are caged in, meaning they have only one incoming and outgoing route - despite previous recommendations to expand the routes; when the previous report had been done, it was nine neighborhoods. The Comptroller also found that the municipality didn't penalize residents who didn't properly prepare their private lands that fall in buffer zones. Neither did Yokne'am Illit. The Zichron Ya'acov local council did take action, but still needs a comprehensive plan. The previous report found that the Mateh Yehuda regional council did nothing to make sure that the towns of Beit Meir and Nataf were following wildfire protection procedures. The Comptroller found that this had been partially remedied, with a budget designation amounting to about NIS 3m., but that the council did not keep track of the towns' compliance. The Comptroller further found that the Fire and Rescue Authority did not properly run the required checks on all hoses, rather only the ones in extreme danger zones. The report did note though that Haifa improved its buffer zone plan dramatically, particularly for the nine caged neighborhoods. As well, the Zichron Ya'acov local council prepared a protection plan. Tensions between Russia and the neighbouring Caucasus republic of Azerbaijan are escalating against the backdrop of Moscow's war in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned Baku not to jeopardize relations between the two countries because of the war. Moscow, he said, is counting on "getting through what will hopefully be a short period of cooling in bilateral relations," Russian news agencies reported on Tuesday. Moscow's rebuke was triggered by comments made by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who expressed his solidarity with Ukraine during an interview with Ukrainian journalists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He called on Kiev not to accept the Russian occupation of parts of its territory and to recapture them, as Azerbaijan had done with Nagorno-Karabakh. In 2020, Baku conquered the conflict-ridden region inhabited by Armenians in a brief war against its neighbour. Russian military bloggers reacted with outrage, some calling for "a show of strength; not just sabre-rattling, but concrete violent measures." There was talk of a violation of national honour. The background to the growing tensions is the shooting down of an Azerbaijani passenger plane by a Russian surface-to-air missile at the end of 2024. The aircraft was approaching Grozny, where Russian air defences were engaged with Ukrainian drones at the time. Thirty-eight people were killed in the emergency landing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Azerbaijan complains that Russia has never acknowledged responsibility for the incident. Aliyev recently announced his intention to take the matter to international courts. A series of criminal proceedings against Azerbaijanis in the Russian Ural region is further straining relations. Two Azerbaijanis died during the arrests at the end of June. Baku saw this as ethnically motivated and responded with arrests of Russians in its own territory, including journalists from Moscow state media. (WHTM) Congressman Scott Perry is set to host a telephone town hall on Tuesday night. According to Congressman Perry, who represents Pennsylvanias 10th Congressional District, he will be hosting a tele-town hall on Tuesday, July 22, at 6 p.m. Im looking forward to hearing from you, whats on your mind, and updating you on everything thats going on in DC and at home. Please call in if you can!, he said on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attendees can RSVP for the town hall online. Rep. Perry represents Dauphin County and parts of York and Cumberland Counties. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Gov. Jared Polis is asking Coloradans to weigh in on the $29 million pedestrian bridge he envisions as part of the state's 150th birthday celebration. ST. LOUIS A St. Louisan whose home was destroyed by the May 16 tornado has faced ongoing challenges in receiving assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The reason for his trouble: his drivers license. Im stuck between a rock and a hard spot, said Troy Spencer. His drivers license lists his old address on Fountain Avenue, but Spencer has been residing at his now storm-damaged home on Bayard Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Spencer says that FEMA told him that his address caused a discrepancy in his disaster assistance application. The house was in The Truth and The Light Ministries. I was telling them that was the church I started back in 2008, Spencer said. St. Louis property records confirmed that ownership, and Missouri Secretary of State records for the church list Spencer and his Bayard address as registered agents. Spencer visited the DMV to get a new license, this time under the Bayard address. They told me at the counter itll be 7-10 business days to receive my license, Spencer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly a month has passed since Spencer visited the DMV, and he still has not received his new ID. Spencer feared that if his ID didnt arrive before FEMAs Aug. 11 application deadline, he would be without assistance. I called channel 2, my favorite station. Mike Colombo. You gonna come through. I know it. I feel it, Spencer said. FOX 2 contacted FEMA on Troys behalf and explained the situation. FEMA representatives quickly replied with information that helped guide Troys next steps. I went down to the Secretary of States Office and turned my not-for-profit into a sole proprietorship of the church, Spencer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spencers next stop was the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center on Newstead. They said they approved my identity. I said I wish they couldve done that 30 days ago. I wasnt thinking, Spencer said. Troy told FOX 2 hes waiting to see what type of assistance hell be eligible for. Ive told everybody about how you helped me and had the ball turning. Ive been praying to God and God picked you. I thank God for you, Spencer said. Man catches monster 86-pound catfish from Missouri River FOX 2 was happy to help Troy, but we also learned helpful tips that can benefit others: Stay in touch with FEMA about your needs Keep receipts for disaster-related purchases Provide contractor estimates for repairs Visit a Disaster Recovery Center Read your letter from FEMA carefully Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to FEMA, May 16 storm victims will need to get their initial disaster assistance applications submitted by the Aug. 11 deadline, but they told FOX 2 that doesnt mean everything needs to be finalized. For the March 14-15 disaster, the deadline to apply with FEMA is tomorrow, July 22. For the May 16 disaster, the deadline to apply with FEMA is August 11. Individuals can apply online here or call 1-800-621-3362. St. Louisans can also visit a Disaster Recovery Center, which 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 FOX 2. In mid-July 2025, social media users circulated a rumor that Kerr County, an area hit hard by central Texas' devastating flash floods, rejected $10 million offered by former U.S. President Joe Biden to update its flood warning system. Biden's administration did offer Kerr County about $10 million in pandemic relief funds under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in 2021. However, while local governments could use those funds for flood infrastructure, the federal government did not specifically earmark the money for that purpose. It could be used for various purposes, such as pandemic-related government services and pay for essential workers. Kerr County residents had mixed reactions to the offered funds. While the county's commissioners faced pressure to reject the federal money, they eventually accepted it and used most of it to build a new first responder emergency radio system for the sheriff's department. Although reputable reports indicate county officials, for years, discussed and attempted to upgrade their flood warning system, it remained unclear, as of this writing, why Kerr County did not use any of the federal funds to improve flood infrastructure. Harley Belew, a commissioner at the time, said via email that the radio system the county bought with ARPA funds was used "to full effect" during the flooding. After destructive flash floods swept through central Texas in 2025, local officials came under scrutiny from people nationwide searching for reasons why the disaster killed so many people. One rumor pointed fingers at officials from the conservative Kerr County, one of the hardest-hit areas along the Guadalupe River, for allegedly rejecting or diverting money sent by former U.S. President Joe Biden meant to update the county's flood warning systems. The allegation spread on Instagram, Facebook, X, Threads and Bluesky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Kerr County was literally given $10 million by the Biden administration to help upgrade their flood warning system, and they said no," an Instagram user claimed in one popular video. "Instead, you know what Kerr County did? They called it a 'communist agenda' and rerouted the money to the sheriff's department." https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL--LE8yxej/?igsh=MWV1ZjBoYmt3OTRscQ%3D%3D But this claim needs context. While the Biden administration did grant Kerr County $10.2 million in 2021, the federal government outlined various purposes for the money, such as pay for essential workers and assistance for businesses affected by the pandemic. The money could be used for natural disaster-related infrastructure, such as updates to flood warning systems, but it did not have to be spent that way. The funds originated from the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, which Congress passed to support local governments impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. "I've been getting death threats, can you imagine? And cursing us for decisions we didn't get a chance to make," one Kerr County commissioner, Rich Paces, said at a July 14, 2025, meeting (see 24:03). "Joe Biden didn't give us $10 million for a flood warning system. Now, that's just false information. We did get 10 million in ARPA funds, OK, and we used it for a radio system to help with emergency response." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Kerr County residents were split on whether to accept the ARPA money, the county did eventually accept the funds and spent most of it on building a new emergency response radio system for the sheriff's department. In other words, officials did not spend ARPA dollars on upgrading the county's outdated flood warning system. While current Kerr County commissioners did not immediately respond to an inquiry asking about this, a commissioner from 2021, Harley Belew, said replacing the "antiquated" system "provided better coverage between Kerr County officers and dispatch." "The new system also enabled Kerr County Deputies to communicate with other state and local law enforcement agencies during emergencies," Belew wrote in an email. "Those radios have been used to full effect during this disaster." How Kerr County could have spent ARPA funds The ARPA gave local governments loose guidelines for what to use the funds on. Those guidelines, taken directly from the legislation, can be seen below (emphasis ours): (Sec. 9901) This section provides funding to states, territories, and tribal governments to mitigate the fiscal effects stemming from the COVID-19 public health emergency. A state, territory, or tribal government shall use the funds to cover costs incurred by December 31, 2024, to respond to the COVID-19 emergency or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality; provide premium pay to essential workers or provide grants to employers of essential workers during the COVID-19 emergency; provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue of such state, territory, or tribal government due to the COVID-19 emergency; or make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure. The section prohibits (1) the use of funds to reduce or delay the imposition of a tax or tax increase, or (2) deposit of the funds into a pension fund. Page 59 of this Treasury Department document showed the federal government did, in fact, offer Kerr County $10.2 million in ARPA funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other local governments used ARPA funds for storm-related infrastructure. Corpus Christi, Texas, for example, used $15 million in ARPA money to "rehabilitate and/or replace aging storm water infrastructure" (Page 8). But Kerr County did not spend any of its ARPA dollars on storm or water-related infrastructure, except for about $116,000 used for an "ice storm closure," according to a Kerr County budget workshop in July 2024. It's unclear how, exactly, those funds were used (see 2:28:34). Local residents had mixed reaction to ARPA offer When the Biden administration offered the ARPA money to the county, some people urged officials to reject it entirely. In a survey of 181 residents, about 41% of respondents said they wanted to "send the money back." In a Nov. 22, 2021, meeting, residents cited fears of federal overreach and possible "strings attached" such as potential vaccine mandates as reasons to reject the $10.2 million. At least one resident referred to "these people" presumably the Biden administration as "communist," as referenced in the above-mentioned Instagram post. (For the record, nothing in ARPA mandates COVID-19 vaccines.) The county's commissioners eventually voted to accept the funds, despite "heavy pressure, sometimes bordering threatening behavior, from ultra-conservative activists," according to a local newspaper, Kerr County Lead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the $10.2 million, Kerr County spent $7 million on a new first responder emergency radio for the sheriff's department and another $1.1 million on hiring emergency responders. The county also spent funds on a new walkway, other hires and administrative needs like updated software (see a detailed breakdown at 2:27:34). Why didn't Kerr County use ARPA dollars to upgrade flood alert system? Multiple reputable news outlets, including NBC News, reported that before 2021, Kerr County officials repeatedly discussed upgrading its flood warning systems and sought funding from the state, only to be rebuffed. One rejected proposal reportedly asked Texas for just under $1 million to update the flood warning system. According to Kerr County's adopted 2024-25 budget, officials spent $9,500 on its flood warning system from budget year 2020 to 2024 (Page 98). However, as of this writing, Kerr County has not provided an explanation as to why it did not use ARPA money to fund its much-needed alert system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas Tribune reported on July 10 that "it's not clear if residents or the commissioners understood at the time they could have applied the [ARPA] funds to a warning system," given that the Kerr County commissioners in charge at the time did not respond to the paper's requests for interviews. The commissioners, except for Belew, also did not immediately respond to Snopes. Belew's aforementioned response did not directly address whether commissioners knew they could use the funds for a warning system, despite being asked. A Nov. 4, 2021, workshop presentation on ARPA funds by Kerr County's grant administrator at the time, Rosa Lavender, noted the money could be used on "necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, stormwater infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet" (Slide 9). At least a dozen residents attended the workshop, based on minutes from a commissioner meeting on Nov. 22, 2021. Therefore, at least some residents and officials knew the money could be used on stormwater infrastructure. To summarize: Kerr County did not reject $10 million from the Biden administration to update its flood warning system, specifically. Rather, the former presidential administration issued the money, pandemic relief funding, to use on various things, including, but not limited to, stormwater infrastructure. So, while the county could have used the federal dollars to upgrade the flood warning system, it spent most of it on an emergency responder radio system for the sheriff's department. It remained unclear as of this writing why Kerr County did not use the funds specifically for its flood warning system. Sources: Amestoy, Louis. "BREAKING: Kerr County Commissioners Hold Fast on Federal COVID-19 Funds." The Kerr County Lead, 24 Jan. 2022, kerrcountylead.com/breaking-kerr-county-commissioners-hold-fast-on-federal-covid-19-funds/. Accessed 15 July 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flavelle, Christopher, et al. "Kerr County Repeatedly Sought Help with Flood Risk. Texas Said No." Archive.ph, The New York Times, 10 July 2025, archive.ph/wWEER. Accessed 15 July 2025. Gorman, Steve. "Texas Flood Death Toll Rises to 131 as New Storms Loom." Reuters, 15 July 2025, www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/texas-flood-death-toll-rises-131-new-storms-loom-2025-07-14/. Accessed 15 July 2025. "H.R.1319 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): American Rescue Plan Act of 2021." Www.congress.gov, 2 Mar. 2021, www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319. Accessed 15 July 2025. Jacoby, Kenny. "Texas County Where Campers Died Was Denied Money to Boost Warning Systems." USA TODAY, 7 July 2025, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/07/07/texas-flooding-kerr-county-flood-warning-money-denial/84499153007/. Accessed 15 July 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KERR COUNTY AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) PROJECT WORKSHOP. 4 Nov. 2021, www.co.kerr.tx.us/arpa/Kerr_Workshop_Presentation.pdf. Accessed 15 July 2025. "Kerr County Commissioners' Court Budget Workshop, July 1, 2024." Www.youtube.com, 1 July 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdMk8bBSYbY. Accessed 15 July 2025. "KERR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT Regular Session Monday, November 22, 2021." Kerr.tx.us, 22 Nov. 2021, legacy.co.kerr.tx.us/commcrt/minutes/2021/112221(CC).txt. Accessed 15 July 2025. "Kerr County Commissioners Court Session, July 14, 2025." Www.youtube.com, 14 July 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7vJO9Xs3h8. Accessed 15 July 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KERR COUNTY, TEXAS 2024-2025 ADOPTED BUDGET . Sept. 24AD, legacy.co.kerr.tx.us/notices/docs/2024-08-30--KerrCounty-FY2024-25AdoptedBudget.pdf. Accessed 15 July 2025. Langford, Terri, and Dan Keemahill. "Why Kerr County Balked on a New Flood Warning System." The Texas Tribune, 10 July 2025, www.texastribune.org/2025/07/10/texas-kerr-county-commissioners-flooding-warning/. Accessed 15 July 2025. Lavender, Rosa. "County Provides ARPA Fund Update." Hccommunityjournal.com, 14 July 2024, www.hccommunityjournal.com/article_fd3f3e9c-3eb8-11ef-9bb2-b32dd8fc6b3d.html. Accessed 15 July 2025. Sommer, Lauren. "Kerr County Struggled to Fund Flood Warnings. Under Trump, It's Getting Even Harder." NPR, 10 July 2025, www.npr.org/2025/07/10/nx-s1-5461091/texas-flooding-warning-system-fema. Accessed 15 July 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Survey Results." Https://Www.co.kerr.tx.us, www.co.kerr.tx.us/arpa/Community_Survey_Results.pdf. "Veterans' Pathway Open to Pedestrians Following Friday Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony." Welcome to Kerr County | Kerrville, TX, kerrcountytx.gov/blog/veterans-pathway-open-to-pedestrians-following-friday-ribbon-cutting-ceremony#gsc.tab=0. Accessed 15 July 2025. Willard, Keenan. "Donations Pour into Kerr County as Officials Say State Will Improve Flood Safety." NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, 9 July 2025, www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/donations-pour-into-kerr-county-as-officials-say-state-will-improve-flood-safety/3881865/. Accessed 15 July 2025. PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) Victims of a phony investment scheme hope to recoup some of their losses through the sale of the convicted swindlers former home. According to court documents, federal prosecutors can prove that Matthew Mencarelli spent $360,000 of the money he stole on construction of his custom-built home. The house is perched atop a long driveway that runs off Post Drive Northeast in Plainfield Township. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 8 years in prison for Rockford-area contractor, investment scammer The propertys future has been uncertain after a federal judge in February sentenced Mencarelli, 39, to eight years in prison. The Rockford-area contractor, whose company was called Matthews Woodworking, pleaded guilty to seven counts of wire fraud in November 2024. The U.S. Attorneys Office in Grand Rapids said Mencarelli stole $1.6 million from more than a dozen people by convincing them he needed investors for an infrastructure project in Traverse City that never existed. In 2023, when Mencarelli was in danger of losing his Post Drive home, his parents bought it out of foreclosure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a joint motion filed June 30 in U.S. District Court, the senior Mencarellis have struck a deal with federal prosecutors to sell the property. Im guilty: Rockford-area contractor pleads in $1.7 million scheme Seller claims to have invested minimally $430,000 into the purchase of the Property and has incurred other costs of ownership since the purchase of the property, the motion read. The U.S. claims to trace $360,000 from the victims into the Property. The home is expected to sell for $700,000 to $800,000. The first $430,000 of net proceeds plus the out-of-pocket expenses incurred in remodeling and redecorating the Property to prepare it for sale shall be paid to the Seller, read the motion. After the seller is paid the $430,000 any additional funds up to $360,000 shall then be paid (to the government for distribution to victims.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal prosecutors did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the deal, but Robert L DeJong, representing Mencarellis parents, offered the following: Feds: Rockford-area contractors investment scheme netted $718,000 The Mencarellis purchased the house out of a bank foreclosure without any knowledge of any claims by the government. Arguably, they could have defeated those claims. But they chose to cooperate with the government in reaching this agreement with the hope and expectation that they will get their money back and that the government will recover its full claims on behalf of the victims. As one can imagine, this entire situation has been devastating to the entire Mencarelli family. Matt Mencarelli began serving his 90-month (8 years) prison term in late February, but his criminal defense attorney has filed an appeal on his behalf. The attorney argues that Mencarellis sentencing guideline range should have been lower because Mencarelli accepted responsibility through his guilty plea. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. The Pentagon got a whopping $150-billion increase in the budget bill passed by Congress and signed by the president July 4. That will push next years proposed Pentagon budget to more than $1 trillion. Most of that enormous amount will go to weapons manufacturers. A new report by the Quincy Institute and the Costs of War Project at Brown University found that for the period from 2020 to 2024, more than half of the Pentagon budget 54% went to private companies. That figure has climbed considerably since the immediate post-Cold War period of the 1990s, when the contractor share was 41%. The surge of spending on the Pentagon and its primary weapons suppliers wont necessarily make us safer. It may just enrich military companies while subsidizing overpriced, underperforming weapons systems, even as it promotes an accelerated arms race with China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Veterans' advocates warn of low morale amid L.A. deployment: 'This is not what we signed up for' While weapons firms will fare well if the new budget goes through as planned, military personnel and the veterans who have fought in Americas wars in this century will not. The Trump administration is seeking deep cuts in personnel, facilities and research at the Veterans Affairs, and tens of thousands of military families have to use food stamps, a program cut by 20% in the budget bill, to make ends meet. The $150 billion in add-ons for the Pentagon include tens of billions for the Trump administrations all-but-impossible dream of a leak-proof Golden Dome missile defense system , a goal that has been pursued for more than 40 years without success. Other big winners include the new F-47 combat aircraft, and the military shipbuilding industry, which is slated for a huge infusion of new funding. The question of how to allocate the Pentagons orgy of weapons spending is complicated by the fact that there are now two powerful factions within the arms industry fighting over the departments budget, the traditional Big Five, composed of Lockheed Martin, RTX (formerly Raytheon), Boeing, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman, and emerging military tech firms such as SpaceX, Palantir and Anduril. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Aerospace Corp. to invest $100 million in El Segundo campus, moves headquarters to Washington, D.C., area The Big Five currently get the bulk of Pentagon weapons spending, but the emerging tech firms are catching up, winning lucrative contracts for military-wide communications systems and antidrone technology. And there will be more such contracts. Even after the public falling out between Elon Musk and the president, the emerging tech firms have a decided advantage, with advocates such as Vice President JD Vance, who maintains close ties with his mentor and political supporter Peter Thiel of Palantir, and dozens of staff members from military tech firms who are now embedded in the national security and budget bureaucracies of the Trump administration. Meanwhile, the tech sectors promises of a new, revolutionary era of defense made possible by artificial-intelligence-driven weapons and other technologies are almost certainly overstated. If past practice tells us anything, it is that new, complex high-tech weapons will not save us. The history of Pentagon procurement is littered with miracle weapons, from the electronic battlefield in Vietnam to Ronald Reagans impenetrable Star Wars missile shield to networked warfare and precision-guided bombs used in the Iraq and Afghan wars. When push came to shove, these highly touted systems either failed to work as advertised, or were irrelevant to the kinds of wars they were being used in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Air Force launches unarmed nuclear missile from Vandenberg overnight, lands near Marshall Islands Just one example: Despite the fact that the Pentagon spent well over $10 billion to find a system that could neutralize improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan, only modest progress was made. Even after the new technology was deployed, 40% of I.E.Ds could not be cleared. Technology is a tool, but it is not the decisive factor in winning wars or deterring adversaries. An effective military should be based on well-trained, well-compensated and highly motivated troops. That means taking some of that 54% of the Pentagon budget that goes to contractors and investing in supporting the people who are actually tasked with fighting Americas wars. But to be truly safe, we need to fight fewer wars by adopting a more realistic strategy that emphasizes diplomacy and close cooperation with allies, and that resorts to force only when there is a major, direct threat to U.S. security. A more balanced strategy would be much less likely to put U.S. troops in high-risk situations like the nation-building efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead of letting corporate special interests distort our foreign and military policies, we need to press for an approach that puts strategic considerations first. That will mean taking steps to reduce the power of the arms makers, new and old, through steps such as stronger measures to limit the revolving door between government and industry. And we need to bring more independent voices into the Pentagons budget discussions. Lockheed Martin, Palantir, SpaceX and other companies shouldnt have undue influence over decisions on how much to spend on our military, and what to spend it on. Thats no way to make a military budget, and no way to defend a country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement William D. Hartung is a senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and the co-author, with Stephen Semler, of the report Profits of War: Top Beneficiaries of Pentagon Spending, 2020 to 2024. 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. Information, in the second Trump administration, is a currency of power and fear. Last week, Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi announced sweeping subpoenas targeting physicians and medical providers who offer care for transgender youth. The aim is not to initiate prosecutions: Indeed, the legal theories upon which such prosecutions might rest are tenuous at best. By filing these investigative demands, the government plainly hopes to chill medical providers from offering expert care. This strategy can work even if, at the end of the day, the governments threats are hollow as a matter of law. The White Houses plainly unconstitutional attacks on law firms, for example, have substantially worked even though the minority of firms to challenge the orders rapidly won relief. Fortunately, the legal system is not powerless in the face of such overreaching: Federal district courts have the authority, and the obligation, to recognize that patient-physician dealings are akin to attorney-client and spousal discussions. Both of the latter benefit from judicially created privileges or legal shields that individuals can invoke against the states probing. At a moment when not just gender medicine but also reproductive care more generally is in peril, federal courts can and should step in and shield intimately private medical data as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We suspect that many people believe that what they tell their doctors is already private. Theyre right, but only sort of. Theres a federal law called HIPAA that limits what your doctor can do with the information. It says that your doctor cant, for instance, sell your medical records to the newspaper. In 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services also issued a HIPAA privacy rule that heightened protections for reproductive healthcare information. (Last month, a federal district court in Texas declared the rule unconstitutional so its future is uncertain.) Even with the privacy rule, however, HIPAA hides a gaping hole: It allows disclosures required by law . And the law explicitly permits disclosures pursuant to subpoenas of all kinds judicial, grand jury or administrative including those issued by Bondi. So if the Justice Department subpoenas your intimate and sensitive healthcare information, HIPAA wont stop that. In previous academic work , weve urged Congress and state legislatures to fill this gap. Blue states have acted to curtail cooperation with other states but theres a limit to what states can do when the federal government demands information. Yet there remains one entity that can, and should, act immediately to shield reproductive healthcare information: the same federal district courts that have been at the forefront of pushing back on the Trump administrations many illegal and unconstitutional actions. We think federal courts should extend existing privileges, as evidentiary shields are called, to encompass both records of gender-affirming and transgender medical care, and also records of reproductive care more generally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A privilege not only bars protected information from being admitted into evidence at trial, but also blocks subpoenas, warrants and other court orders. Federal district courts have a general power to create privileges, and they often do so when people already have a reasonable expectation that their conversations will not be disclosed. Most people have heard of the attorney-client privilege, which means that you can confide in your lawyer without worrying that what you say will end up being used in court. But privileges can apply to all sorts of other information as well: what you tell your spouse, what you tell your spiritual advisor and even highway safety data that your state reports to the feds in exchange for funding. Existing court-created privileges protect not only attorney-client but also executive-branch communications. Federal courts should recognize a privilege for doctor-patient communications in gender and reproductive medicine. They could do so if one of the physicians subpoenaed recently goes to court. The protection they seek is simply an extension of widely recognized legal principles and expectations of privacy. Federal courts already have recognized a privilege for patient communications with psychotherapists, and many state courts also offer privilege protections for broader doctor-patient communications. Importantly, it is the job of federal district courts to craft evidence-related rules. After all, these are the judges who are closest to litigants and the mechanics of evidence protection. District courts dont need to wait around for the Supreme Court to act on this, because the Federal Rules of Evidence left privileges to common law development in the district courts. And under the well-established balancing test that lower federal courts should follow when they create new privileges, we think our proposed privilege is an easy case: It serves a public purpose and protects what should be recognized as a valued interest of transcendent importance privacy for our most intimate medical care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case for recognizing the privilege in respect to the recent subpoenas is especially strong: The attorney general is seeking to chill physicians from providing advice that is protected by the 1st Amendment and care that is guaranteed by federal statutes. Such subpoenas are directly at odds with the rule of law. Today, it is trans kids; tomorrow, it will be people seeking an abortion or contraception. We should not have to wait for the federal government to go this far before our privacy gets the shield that it deserves. Aziz Huq and Rebecca Wexler are professors of law at the University of Chicago Law School and Columbia Law School, respectively. If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The heat wave baking the central United States this week may feel worse than those earlier in the summer, and corn is partly to blame. The claim may sound unusual, but this common crop can actually change the weather. "Corn actually produces humidity, if you will, or moisture that wicks off the plant on average about 4,000 gallons per acre [per day]," Farmer Mark Baker told AccuWeather. That added moisture increases the humidity, which in turn raises the AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures, making already-hot days feel even more intense. During the past week, dew point temperatures as high as 88 degrees were measured at Kennett, Missouri, with 86 and both Boone, Iowa and Gary, Indiana. Combined with the temperature and other factors, the AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature was 96 degrees at 5 a.m. Wednesday, rising to 116 in the afternoon at Kennett. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The phenomenon is called "corn sweat," and it's far more pronounced with corn than other plants. For comparison, a large oak tree releases around 100 gallons of water into the atmosphere each day, 40 times less than an acre of corn. An ear of corn growing in a field. (UrosPoteko/Getty Images) "On a normal day, I mean, the humidity in the cornfield is substantially worse," Baker added. "You step out of the corn and you go, 'Wow, that's a breath of fresh air.'" All this week, AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures are expected to climb above 100 degrees in parts of the Corn Belt, including Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. The effects of corn sweat will continue to amplify heat and humidity until the crops are harvested in early autumn. (WFRV) A corrections officer in western Wisconsin was arrested on Sunday after his fiancee reportedly called authorities about a domestic abuse incident. According to the Jackson County Sheriffs Office, on July 20, around 10:20 a.m., a call came in from a woman about a possible domestic incident involving her fiance. While authorities were on way, it was reportedly discovered that the man involved is a Jackson County Sheriffs Office employee. The man was described as being a corrections officer. The Jackson County Sheriffs Office then asked for help from the Trempealeau County Sheriffs Office due to the conflict of interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neenah hardware store to close after 159 years in business The Trempealeau County Sheriffs Office investigated the alleged incident and arrested the man. The man was identified as a 23-year-old living in the Melrose, Wisconsin area. He was sent to the Trempealeau County Jail and charged with domestic-related battery, strangulation and disorderly conduct, the release said. No additional information was provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Jennifer Barnhill is a columnist for Military.com writing about military families. Military spouses are often encouraged to pursue volunteerism as a way to stay professionally relevant during relocations and career disruptions. But while organizations benefit from a steady stream of unpaid, skilled labor, the payoff for spouses is far less certain. Are they getting the same return on investment -- or just filling in the gaps in Defense Department programming? Natalie Worthan, founder and CEO of Veterans Collaborative and a veteran Army spouse who was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award in 2007, began volunteering with Army Emergency Relief (AER) after arriving at her husband's first duty station at Fort Drum, in rural New York. Before volunteering, Worthan said she tried to find employment at retail stores like Gap, but landed at AER because of its mission and the skills it allowed her to develop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It was almost 40 hours a week," she said. Her struggle to find paid employment continued at her next duty station, forcing her to take another volunteer role to stay professionally relevant. Finally, at her third duty station, she landed a volunteer role that led to a paid position. Rather than be a magic resume bullet, her volunteerism turned into paid employment only 33% of the time. "When I had to sit there and actually add it up the gaps in employment, the volunteerism, opportunities that were unpaid or unbenefited, the monetary losses are huge," Worthan said. Despite these early sacrifices, it was clear from Worthan's demeanor that she viewed her volunteer experiences as a net positive -- personally and professionally. Over the years, it has struck me just how many military spouses were happy to talk about instances where their volunteerism served them. While data shows that volunteerism offers many personal and professional benefits, I wondered why so few were talking about the downsides. In 2021, I surveyed military spouse club volunteers to find out why. Those who answered the survey cited many reasons for volunteering: Some had a strategic professional purpose, others did it for social engagement, and others were "voluntold." Their strategic goals were all over the map. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly anything could be responsible for a volunteer's satisfaction with their experience. A good friend, a resume bullet, a distraction from a duty station with next to no paid opportunities -- the list of positives was as varied as the volunteers themselves. While many had negative experiences with aspects of volunteerism, the benefits of interpersonal connections seemed to outweigh their immediate frustrations. In 2022, I submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the Navy, Air Force and Army to quantify military spouse volunteerism by obtaining the total number of hours donated by military spouse volunteers to inform a book I'm writing, "The Military Stories You've Been Told & the Ones You Need to Hear." The Army volunteers served in places like the Red Cross, Family Advocacy Program and recreation centers. My research revealed that military spouse volunteerism likely saves the DoD nearly a billion dollars annually. While this cost savings may help sustain underfunded programs, it also masks unmet staffing needs. My research taught me a valuable lesson: Volunteerism is always strategic for the organization, but is inconsistently strategic for the military spouse volunteer. A Military Spouse Urban Legend? Many spouses I spoke to believe the skills they build in volunteer roles can open doors -- and sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. Does that mean strategic volunteerism is just another military spouse urban legend? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They're being told, because I've been also told this, this is going to help you in your career to be a family readiness leader," said Amanda Scott. She shared that this was one of the reasons she decided to volunteer her time to co-author what she calls her "manifesto" on the role of military spouses and readiness for the Association of Defense Communities (ADC). In speaking with a DoD leader at an ADC event, she was told, "We don't expect anything from military spouses." Scott quickly responded by asking them who runs their family readiness programming. The leader replied, "They're volunteering; they want to be doing it." "If you are using volunteers to fill a strategic priority, then it's not a strategic priority," said Scott. Her statement underscores the very real tension faced by military officials who balance resource gaps and strategic imperatives -- creating a cycle of dysfunction. The military thinks military spouses want to volunteer because we keep doing it. And we keep doing it because we observe a legitimate need not being filled by the DoD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Red Cross office in Yokota, Japan, was recognized by the Air Force, which said the location had 86 volunteers in 2023 who donated 3,574 hours, with only two paid staff members. The volunteers work at the Air Force terminal to ensure it is cleaned and well-stocked for military personnel and their families. That same Red Cross office regularly puts out calls on its Facebook page for volunteers to fill roles at its Military Treatment Facility, posting, "The Yokota Pediatric clinic is looking for nurse volunteers to help make a difference in the community. If you are trying to stay active within your field and further your career with valuable experience, then this is the opportunity for you." In 2023, the Yokota Clinic announced it was reducing services for DoD civilians to a space available basis, resulting in some leaving their posts. Military.com reached out to the Yokota Red Cross office for comment but did not receive a reply before publication. One area that often relies upon military spouse volunteerism is the military nonprofit ecosystem. "What really bothered me about those organizations, I mean, their finances are public, so you do know how much money they get," shared Army spouse Kayla Corbitt, who was shocked to discover how much the community relied upon volunteerism in her early days founding the military-serving nonprofit Operation Child Care Project (OCCP). "Those are the same organizations that we would see calling for volunteers from those in the trenches, those that they are supposed to be serving." She calls it the military community business model. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a military spouse, she wanted to do something different when she had the opportunity. In its first year, OCCP raised only $5,000. By the second year, thanks to successful pitch competitions, it grew to $30,000 in funding. "I started by just doing little things. So people who were volunteering with me, they got stipends," said Corbitt. As of today, Operation Child Care Project has only two volunteers and five paid contract employees. Corbitt does not collect a salary. Other military nonprofit organizations also have models that appropriately utilize military spouse volunteers through clearly defined, time-bound functions. The Military Spouse Advocacy Network (MSAN) brings together military spouses for mentorship and social connection. The National Military Family Association (NMFA) trains volunteers to tell their stories to military and congressional leadership for a "Day on the Hill." Both help develop leadership and technical skills, but if these volunteer roles were paid, they might lose their authenticity. Do Employers Really Value Volunteerism? Tracy Steele was living in Okinawa, Japan, while her spouse was serving overseas. Like many military spouses overseas, she struggled to find paid employment in her career field as a registered nurse. She volunteered with numerous organizations, including the American Welfare and Works Association, which helped her develop many professional skills and build her network. She also launched her own volunteer venture called Beyond Volunteering, collaborating with Marine Corps Community Services to help military spouses translate their volunteer experience for their resumes. Eventually, her volunteer hours added up, providing her enough experience to sit for a certification exam to become a professional resume writer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Those steps helped me get to where I am now, my position with Hiring Our Heroes," Steele shared. She has taken the lessons she learned as a volunteer with her in her role, believing that strategic volunteerism does work, with the right employer. However, she admits that not all employers agree on how to value volunteerism. "I hear from recruiters, hiring managers all the time, and the work I do, they don't care if the work is paid or unpaid. They want you to get your hands-on experience," she said. But she also hears the conflicting messages. "There's going to be some industries that think that the volunteer work is nice that you did that, but [say], 'I want to see your paid employment.'" Steele believes that her strategic volunteerism helped her gain the necessary experience she needed to open a door for her at her current role. Her current company saw and valued both her network and skillset and didn't care where she obtained her experience. However, it is unclear how employers at large value volunteerism. Even the government is somewhat unclear. While USAJobs does encourage applicants to list volunteer experience, it does not break down how the volunteer work would be considered to the level it does for education in lieu of employment experience. And the government is one of the few employers that requires salary disclosures of job applicants, making it hard for military spouses to avoid disclosing whether a role was paid or unpaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And if the government doesn't clearly articulate how it values volunteerism, why would we expect industry to do so? "From a hiring/recruiter perspective, volunteer work is always seen as lesser than paid positions," said a former hiring manager of a global Fortune 500 company that offers special hiring programs for veterans and military spouses, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of violating contract agreements. "I can't think of a single time within either a recruiting process or discussions with a hiring manager that they looked at a volunteer experience as the best qualification for somebody to receive or not receive the job." Despite inconsistent messages about how volunteerism is seen overall, military spouse volunteers may still find benefits if they approach every opportunity with their eyes open. Because not all volunteer opportunities are strategic for the volunteer. SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) Spartanburg County leaders are reminding voters in District 3 that there is an open county council seat that needs to be filled. Councils huge, said John Baucom, Director of Registrations and Elections. Council is responsible for attracting the economic engines to the county, the companies, the businesses that drive the economy that provide jobs. The seat was occupies for more than 30 years by David Britt, who stepped down in May to serve on the South Carolina Public Service Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district, according to county leaders, comprises the eastside of Spartanburg, Cowpens and extends to the eastern edge of the county line. Baucom said candidates began filing for the position quickly. Although eight candidates are running, only six will appear on the ballot in the Republican primary. Paul D. Abbott Jr. Bryan Alverson Tim Burrell Caylus Goodson Jason C. Lynch Stephen Craig Mathis The two other candidates heading straight to the November ballot are: Kathryn Harvey with the Democratic Party. Sarah Gonzalez with the Forward Party. Baucom said all eligible voters can vote during the early voting period, from July 21 to August 1. Voting is open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 AM 5:00 PM at 366 N Church St. Polls will be open from 7:00 AM 7:00 PM on August 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baucom said voters who wish to cast a ballot on special primary day, or August 5, must do so at their assigned precinct polling place. Voters unsure of where to vote can find their polling place 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 WSPA 7NEWS. PALM COAST, Fla. (WJW) A Florida couple is facing charges after deputies say they left their infant alone in a running, unlocked vehicle while they drank inside a bar. According to the Flagler County Sheriffs Office, deputies responded to a tip around 10 p.m. on Friday, July 18, that a child was alone in a vehicle outside a bar. Maple Heights police kill dogs after woman mauled; witnesses say officers saved her life Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When deputies arrived, they located the car with the engine running, keys in the ignition, and an infant asleep in an improperly secured car seat in the back, according to the deputies body camera video. A woman later identified as Clarisse Finnegan, 28, exited the bar and approached the vehicle. She told deputies the car was hers and that her husband, Norman Finnegan Jr., 60, was still inside, according to the sheriffs office. Norman Finnegan, Clarisse Finnegan, Courtesy: Flagler County Sheriffs Office Deputies escorted Norman from the bar, and both were detained for questioning. Clarisse initially told deputies she entered the bar to use the restroom and get money for baby supplies. She said she returned to the car briefly to check on the infant, then went back to tell Norman she was ready to leave. However, witness statements and video surveillance contradicted the couples timeline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Offensive demonstrations cause outrage in Summit County Witnesses told deputies the pair had been drinking at the bar. These two will never receive parents of the year award with this behavior, said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly. Its never acceptable to leave an infant alone inside a running vehicleespecially while inside a bar drinking. This kind of recklessness could have ended in tragedy. Norman and Clarisse Finnegan were arrested on felony child neglect charges without great bodily harm, a third-degree felony. Norman was later released on a $2,500 bond, and Clarisse was released on her own recognizance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Florida Department of Children and Families has opened an investigation into 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. When Natasha and Randy Roosekrans used Uber to secure a ride from their hotel to their cruise ship in South Florida, they didnt expect to run into any issues. Despite being first-time users of the rideshare app, they successfully navigated their way toward the cruise port destination without complications. However, their journey took an unexpected and problematic turn just before they reached the entrance to the cruise terminal. During their outing, they discovered their Uber driver was unauthorized, forcing them to awkwardly find alternative transportation from a roadside location. Fortunately, this unexpected setback didn't derail their plans. However, they are now raising awareness about the potentially hazardous situation they encountered. Don't miss Riding with a bogus rideshare driver Before getting into the vehicle, the first-time Uber passengers double-checked that the driver had all of the correct information. He had the right vehicle, an Uber sign and even a four-digit PIN that both drivers and passengers receive from Uber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After thorough verification, the couple felt confident and proceeded with their ride. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until they approached the cruise port security checkpoint, where drivers are required to present valid identification. Ten minutes in, the driver starts kind of looking around himself and, you know, feeling over on his seat. He said Well, I seem to have left my wallet somewhere,' said Randy Roosekrans in an interview with WSVN 7 News Miami. At that point, the driver asked Randy to take over driving to avoid any issues. Randy assumed control of the vehicle. However, upon arrival at the checkpoint, officials required identification from all occupants, including the counterfeit Uber driver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the illegitimate driver couldnt produce sufficient documentation to prove his identity matched the Uber account, the law enforcement agent seemed frustrated and explained to the couple this situation was illegal. When Randy said he was trying to help, the officer responded with, Youre not, so keep your mouth shut at this point. It turns out that the Uber driver was illegally using a family members account to drive passengers around town. Ultimately, the driver was detained by the police, leaving the Roosekrans stranded on the side of the road with their luggage. Were standing there with our luggage, just, in the middle of the street, said Natasha. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The good news is the couple made it to their cruise ship in time and had a wonderful three-week vacation. But when they filed a complaint with Uber, they initially werent given a refund. Illegal driver, you know, not his car, asked the passenger to drive him in, got detained by the police. We were escorted out by the police. If this doesnt qualify for a refund, Im gonna have you tell me what does, said Randy. After speaking with the media, the Roosekrans did end up getting a full refund. However, they are now sharing their experience to prevent other travelers from enduring similar distressing situations. 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 Fraud contributing to an insurance crisis Fake Uber and Lyft drivers arent uncommon around Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Although prolific, illegitimate rides are unregulated, illegal and potentially dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement agencies have launched numerous undercover operations at both Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to combat illegal transportation services. Despite impounding dozens of vehicles during these crackdowns, the issue of unauthorized drivers continues to persist at these major South Florida transportation hubs. The influx of unlicensed drivers serving as impromptu rideshare operators poses significant risks not only to passenger safety but also exacerbates Florida's already troubled insurance landscape. With individuals unknowingly entering vehicles operated by drivers lacking proper credentials and insurance coverage, this underground transportation network is further destabilizing the state's insurance market. Under the law, Uber and Lyft require drivers to meet specific insurance mandates. In Florida, legitimate drivers must carry at least $1 million in liability coverage when a passenger is in a vehicle. Both Uber and Lyft enforce this insurance requirement with their legitimate drivers. But the cost of insuring drivers isnt cheap. Uber and Lyft incur significant costs to maintain the necessary level of coverage. In fact, Uber claims that 19% of fares in Florida go toward insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its no secret that the legal landscape in Florida is topsy-turvy. Many businesses, including Uber, claim the state has rampant lawsuit abuse, which pushes up insurance costs for everyone. After all, if someone sues an insurer, who must pay significant damages, the insurer often passes on that cost to the other policyholders by increasing their insurance premiums. The good news is that recent legal reforms at the state level were passed in 2023. Since then, the changing legal landscape has shown possible signs of stabilized insurance costs. But with rampant fake Uber drivers on the streets of South Florida, passengers must remain wary. And, when accidents happen, it may put upward pressure on insurance premiums, which affects the budget of every Sunshine State resident. 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. Viktor Husarov, an officer from a classified unit of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), who is suspected of espionage in favour of the Russian FSB, has been placed under detention by the Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv. Source: Hromadske, citing its sources Details: According to the media outlet, Husarov has been placed in pre-trial detention for 60 days without the possibility of bail. Background: On July 21, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the Prosecutor Generals Office announced the exposure of a Russian intelligence infiltration within NABU. It was reported that an employee of NABUs central office, working in its most elite and classified D-2 unit, was detained in Kyiv. The SBU stated that they had documented at least 60 instances in which the suspect transmitted classified information to a former deputy head of [former president Viktor] Yanukovychs security service. Sources from Ukrainska Pravda confirmed that the individual in question is Viktor Husarov. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Court Theatre, the distinguished professional company in residence at the University of Chicago, has hired a new artistic director: Avery Willis Hoffman. Hoffman, 48, who holds a doctorate in classic languages and literature from Oxford University, has most recently been artistic director of the Brown Arts Institute at Brown University, which the university describes as a catalyst and incubator for the arts at Brown and beyond. Prior to that, Hoffman was program director at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City and a senior project developer at Ralph Appelbaum Associates, a museum planning and design firm. In a telephone interview, Hoffman praised the theaters incredible legacy and history and said she will first interact with the various constituencies served by the company before making big moves. Im always one to spend considerable time listening and acclimating, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While she has an extensive background in presenting and producing, Hoffman does not have a comparable background in play direction, as did her predecessors. She said she was still thinking about whether she would direct at Court but was more focused on bringing in new voices to the theater. Ive been thinking deeply about that, she said. In my career, Ive been on the producing and supporting side of things. I dont plan on directing three or four of the five shows. I want to bring in more Chicago directors, more female directors, more directors of color. Thats my gut instinct. That said, Hoffman certainly matches Courts long-standing specialty in the classics. My personal background is steeped in the classics, she said. I have a particular passion for the re-intepretation of those plays. Im really intrigued by the question, How do we define a classic? We continue to wrestle with that definition and thats going to be really fruitful for us as we work with scholars and writers. Id love us to get into the weeds of how the South Side of Chicago defines a classic. Hoffman replaces Charles Newell, the artistic director of Court since 1994, who stepped down last summer after a 30-year run. The search for Hoffman took an atypically long time. Court began as a campus summer program in the 1950s but was professionalized and somewhat separated from the university by the late Nicholas Rudall, who led the theater for decades prior to his retirement. In more recent years, Court and its university home in Hyde Park have grown more aligned; the search for artistic director was led by the universitys Office of the Provost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hoffman begins her new job in November. This is the third major artistic director position in Chicago theater to be filled in recent years, following others at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the Goodman Theatre. In all three cases, hires have been made from outside Chicago. Chris Jones is a Tribune critic. cjones5@chicagotribune.com VIENNA, Wis. (WFRV) Police in Wisconsin are issuing strong reminders after a squad car was significantly damaged by a driver suspected to be operating while intoxicated on July 20. The DeForest Police Department reported that officers were assisting the Wisconsin State Patrol at the scene of a motor vehicle crash on the morning of July 20 on the northbound side of I-39/90/94. Oshkosh Police Department suspicious fire after suspect seen placing, igniting box near building Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers reported that during that investigation, a suspected intoxicated driver heading south hit an unoccupied DeForest Police Department squad car, seriously damaging both vehicles and causing injuries to the occupants of the striking vehicle. Police Chief James Olson said in a release that the incident is a reminder of the devastation that impaired driving can cause. Corrections officer in Wisconsin arrested on domestic abuse charges after fiancee calls authorities Loss of life, property damage and the lasting psychological impacts on those who witness and respond to these horrific incidents cannot be understated, Chief Olson said. With the availability of safe ride programs, crashes like these are avoidable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No additional details are 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Donald Trumps senior White House aide Stephen Miller pushed a bonkers, racist claim on Monday after he suggested that he could spot someones immigration status just by looking at a picture of them. Miller, in a Fox News appearance, reacted to an ABC News clip of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) emphasizing that LA is a city of immigrants and it wont get rebuilt without immigrant labor after devastating wildfires earlier this year. If you look at photos of the Empire State Building being constructed in record time, by the way you know what you dont see there? Any illegal aliens, Miller told Fox News Laura Ingraham. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You look at the photos of us landing a man on the moon, you look at the NASA control room, you dont see any photos of illegal aliens. Americans built this country, Americans sustained this country, Americans have powered this country for two and a half centuries. In reality, immigrants played a key role in the construction of the Empire State Building, a project that at its peak had a workforce of 3,500 people. Many of the workers were Irish and Italian immigrants, who were notably joined by Mohawk ironworkers, according to the Museum of the City of New York. The iconic skyscraper was also designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon: a firm founded by Canadian-born architect Richmond Shreve and William F. Lamb, whose father was an immigrant from Scotland, before Chicago native Arthur Loomis Harmon joined in 1929. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Empire State Building took just over 13 months to build between March 1930 and April 1931, becoming the worlds tallest building at the time. It held that title for nearly four decades until the construction of the World Trade Center. MILLER: If you look at photos of the Empire State Building being built, you dont see any illegal aliens. When you look at the photos of the NASA control room during the moon landing, you dont see any illegal aliens. Americans built, sustained, and powered this country for two pic.twitter.com/CGMUNlSAG8 Acyn (@Acyn) July 21, 2025 Social media users ripped Millers skyscraper talk and also took aim at his NASA comments, referring to the secret U.S. intelligence program Operation Paperclip that brought Nazi scientists to America that played a key part in the beginnings of NASA and its Apollo missions in the years after World War II. The Empire State project employed ~3,400 construction workers, many Italian and Irish. Mohawk ironworkers, sky boys, were vital crew members. One bricklayer, Aniello Conte, was an Italian undocumented immigrant. His papers are not visible in photos. https://t.co/TL3EzfGxxhhttps://t.co/pnx1FsUf5Bpic.twitter.com/6P5wRcuqjo Bad Fox Graphics (@BadFoxGraphics) July 21, 2025 Everything from the history of agricultural labor prior the Founding, through the post-slavery Industrial Revolution, through Wernher von Braun at NASA is a direct refutation of this ahistorical bullshit. https://t.co/d1t1Sj8B9H Jason Goldman (@goldman) July 22, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NASAs storied moon landing was powered by legal immigrants They were Nazi war criminals brought to the US through Operation Paperclip, but they were legal https://t.co/P1dUZnCDaw Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) July 22, 2025 "When you look at the photos of the NASA control room during the moon landing, you dont see any illegal aliens." Just actual, bona fide, Hitler-era German full Nazi rocket scientists. https://t.co/efvhlQoG3w Dr David Berger, aBsuRdiSTe cROnickLeR (@YouAreLobbyLud) July 22, 2025 How does someone know people are "Illegal aliens" from a picture? Machine Pun Kelly (@KellyScaletta) July 22, 2025 According to Stephen Miller you can see a persons legal status https://t.co/Xx7aB0OJrW PatriotTakes (@patriottakes) July 21, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My grandfather immigrated to US from Poland. He came through Ellis Island but gave a false age so he could work; so so technically he was an Illegal alien He served in WWI and worked as a mason on both the Empire State and the Chrysler Buildings. You think he was the only 1? So Steve Zagorski (@sgz0040) July 21, 2025 Related... A 9-year-old boy who captured hearts throughout Connecticut during his brave fight against a painful cancer has died while using his moms head as a pillow. Mickey Flemmings heard her only child take his last breathe Thursday at 6:02 p.m. His oncologist planted a million kisses on his lifeless body as she did at every appointment, his mom said. I am at peace, Mickey Flemmings said, noting she drew comfort from the thoughts and prayers of so many people and thanks them for the many donations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres really nothing you can tell a parent when they lose a childHe was such a kind-hearted, sweet boy you couldnt help but love him. Maicah, who was going into fourth-grade and was known for his enchanting, contagious smile, became popular in Connecticut after two of his teachers, former kindergarten teacher Lindsay Fitzgerald and third-grade teacher, Annie Carnes started a GoFundMe for Maicahs family, as his mom, a hard-working proud Jamaican woman and single mom had to quit her job three years ago to care for him. She was struggling to meet basic living expenses. So far the GoFundMe has raised just under $25,000 and continues as a fund to help pay for his end of life and funeral expenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It went from a help Maicah keep his smile through the fight fund to the title, In Loving Memory of Maicah Our Smiling Angel. A viewing will be held for family, friends, medical staff and teachers, soon, and later, a celebration of life for the community to attend Aug. 9 at a location to be determined. Maicah was diagnosed in kindergarten with neuroblastoma which creates tumors throughout the body. He recently literally lost his ability to smile because of the cancer and was in constant pain. Mickey Flemmings said the pain become unmanageable at home last Monday so she brought him to Connecticut Childrens Medical Center where he had been treated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As he used her head as a pillow while the two lay together, I was counting his breaths because they were few and far between. Then she felt his head flop. His doctor told the family they could have some time with him after he passed. So they gave him a bath, put lotion on him, dressed him in his favorite Minecraft PJs. The oncologist who would always ask Maicah at the end of appointments, Do you want your one million kisses? and gave them to him a last time. He looked so peaceful, mom said. Mickey Flemmings said she finds comfort in knowing that because he was introduced to God at an early age, she would often find Maicah praying on his own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aside from his smile, the neuroblastoma also took away his Make-A-Wish birthday trip to the Bahamas with mom about a month ago. The morning she woke Maicah up to leave for the island trip his legs caved and he went to an emergency department instead. He wanted the doctor to come in soon because he wanted to play in the sand. Mom knew at that point there would be no sand for Maicah. Upon his passing the teachers wrote on the GoFundMe page: He was just 9 years old. A kind, loving, and bright soul who touched the hearts of everyone who knew him. His strength, smile, and gentle spirit were truly remarkable, and his absence leaves a space that can never be filled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kindergarten teacher Fitzgerald has said she and Maicah, just kind of bonded, from the get-go in kindergarten. She called Maicah her Velcro kid because he often sat on her lap while she gave a lesson or sat in her teachers chair. Hugs were his love language, mom has said, and the smile remained, until it couldnt, through all the treatments and pain. Even the kids wanted to be around him, Fitzgerald has said. The cancer started in 27 places in Maicahs body and went down to zero following many types of treatment, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, a stem cell transplant and more. The family lives in Manchester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neuroblastomas are cancers that start in early nerve cells (called neuroblasts) of the sympathetic nervous system, so they can be found anywhere along this system, according to the American Cancer Society. Then the cancer returned to 17 places and moved fast in the end, Mickey Flemmings said. A Connecticut man claims state courts dont comply with a state law. He is looking for answers about the light pollution he contends is emanating from court buildings in the state and has now taken his quest for dark skies to the courts. Leo Smith, the co-founder of The Coalition to Reduce Light Pollution in Connecticut, has filed a suit against the Connecticut Judicial Branch, naming Chief Justice Raheem Mullins and Chief Court Administrator Judge Elizabeth Bozzuto as defendants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith, a Suffield resident, claims the court administration has for years ignored state statutes requiring that outdoor lighting located at state facilities to be designed to minimize light pollution, and for nonessential outdoor lighting be turned off from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. daily. Smith has served for over 18 years as the chair of the Connecticut Chapter of DarkSky International, an organization dedicated to reducing unnecessary light pollution, which it contends can cause problems for people and wildlife. The group also wants people to be able to see starry skies at night. In answer to the suit, Assistant Attorney General Michael Rondon, who represents the judges, is asking the court, documents show, to stay all discovery and/or enter a protective order to extend the Judicial Departments deadline to respond to the case. A stay on discovery would mean not having to quickly provide the massive amount of information Smith requested from the courts. According to a court filing by Rondon, Smith is seeking state-wide relief concerning each and every one of the hundreds of outdoor light fixtures installed at courthouses across Connecticut. Specifically, he asks the Court to order Mullins and Bozzuto to conduct a fixture-by-fixture audit at Connecticut courthouses for compliance with unspecified lighting standards, and a corresponding order directing them to modify or replace all noncompliant fixtures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith doesnt specify which lights at which courthouses allegedly fail/violate which standards and alleges that these purported violations cause an unspecified amount of light pollution, Rondon wrote. Rondon also wrote that Smiths wide-ranging requests for information include seeking detailed information about all outdoor lighting fixtures at all State-run courthouses, includingbut certainly not limited tothe date each fixture was installed, the name of the worker who installed each fixture, the specifications of each fixture, and the source of funding for each fixture. Requests seeking comment were sent to the attorney generals office. The Attorney Generals Chief of Staff Cara Passaro, responded, Were not able to comment on this matter at this time. Smith said he has drafted statutory and regulatory language that has been adopted in multiple Connecticut statutes and one state building code amendment on reducing light pollution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issue of the adverse environmental effects of light pollution on human health and the ecology has served as the foundation for adoption of public policy in Connecticut to minimize light pollution to the extent reasonably possible, Smith said. Smiths quest is two years in the making. He said two years ago he sent a letter with photos to Laura Jovino, director of facilities for the Connecticut Judicial System. That letter specifically pointed out the outdoor lighting at Manchester courthouse parking lot on Center Street. Smith wrote that outdoor lighting failed to comply with the Light Pollution Control Amendment to the State Building Code. Smith sent an email to Buzzuto on March 10, expressing his concerns. Compliance requires that the light design is flat glass lens, and that installation of the fixture be such that the light points straight down. An attempt to place the light at a 45 degree angle in an effort to light a distant corner, and avoid the expense of installing a dedicated light to illuminate the distant corner fails to comply with the Light Pollution Control requirements in the State Building Code, Smith wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith also cited in the email that he informed Chief Justice Mullins shortly after he was sworn in this year, raising the same issue regarding noncompliance. Smith said he received no response. In the event that the noncompliance problems regarding outdoor lighting are not voluntarily addressed by the court system to cover all statewide court facilities within a reasonable but tight time frame, notice is hereby provided that a state lawsuit will be filed, naming as Defendants the Chief Court Administrator, and Justice Raheem Mullins, in his capacity as Chief Justice, Smith wrote. Smith cited a state law on the lighting issue. The law states, nonessential outdoor lighting of state-owned buildings. Restriction. (a) For the purposes of this section, nonessential outdoor lighting means lighting that has not been deemed essential for either safety or functionality, as determined by a state agency head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (b) For any state-owned building, nonessential outdoor lighting shall be turned off between the hours of eleven oclock p.m. and six oclock a.m. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the State Capitol building. (c) The State Building Inspector and the Code and Standards Committee shall consider a change in lighting design to effectuate the purposes of this section for any revision to the State Building Code to take effect on or after January 1, 2024. Nine days after Smiths email on March 19, Bozzuto issued a directive exempting all outdoor lights at all court facilities statewide, Smith said. The Judicial Branch never declared outdoor lights to be essential (thus exempt from the 11 p.m. shutoff requirement) until over a year and half after the law went into effect, when on March 19, 2025, Elizabeth Bozzuto, Chief Court Administrator for the Judicial Branch, issued thedirective exempting all outdoor lights at all court facilities statewide. The directive followed by nine days the March 10, 2025, email I sent to her, Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These state statutes and regulations show clearly that Connecticut has recognized the adverse effects caused by unnecessary levels of light pollution on human, plant and animal health, Smith said. The need for light at night is recognized by all as essential in todays world. Light at night will necessarily create some level of light pollution. The goal in adopting these statutes and regulations is not to eliminate light at night, but rather to minimize the unnecessary light pollution caused by misdirected outdoor lighting that shines light into the sky or onto neighboring properties where there is no benefit to doing so. Following the memo, Smith filed the legal complaint initially on May 5 after having papers certified, with the hearing expected to be on Aug. 23. Amendments have been added since May 5, records show. Smith also submitted multiple photos of lights being illuminated after 11 p.m. This has been going on for a long time in terms of Connecticut public policy and reducing light pollution that its really not needed. And it would just seem that the court would be in the position where, when this is a law, they should comply with it, Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I basically said, look, you know, I dont want to have to go to court on this. Why dont we just work this out? I dont heard anything back from her, he said. We never found out about this memo that she sent on nine days later on March 19, except for the fact that one of the state legislators had been sort of intervening on the side to find out what their department was going to do about the lighting. Smith called the memo that declared all outdoor lights essential as ridiculous. If you take the Supreme Court building on Capitol Avenue, even if they argue that people work late at night there, Smith said. All of those people exit through the rear of the building into a secure parking lot. They dont come through the front door, so why do you need the lights on the front of the building on the facade after 11 p.m.? You dontIf every state agency said all lights at all facilities are essential then it would make the law meaninglesstruly an abuse of discretion. The state law on this topic date back to 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith said he isnt frustrated by the lighting situation but is more concerned. When I raised the issue originally, my message that there is a problem and Im willing to work with you in terms of guidance at no charge, Smith said. Im not looking for a consultant fee or anything. Ill just help you. And I dont even hear so much as a word back. And so, its concerning, yes, but its mostly because what I read from that as arroganceBut when Judge Buzzuto writes that memo nine days after my email, its basically saying to me that they have no intention of complying with the law and theyre going to find every which way that they can to try and get around it. Rondon wrote that the states answer deadline for information in the suit is July 27, although they have a pending motion for extension of time to extend the deadline to August 23, 2025. He wrote the state intends to file a motion to dismiss the case, based on challenging the courts subject matter jurisdiction. You are the owner of this article. Realtor Cindy Myrex (left) and Cullman City Councilman Clint Hollingsworth (right) will face each other in the Aug. 12 runoff for the Republican nomination for House District 12 in Cullman County. (Left: Courtesy Cindy Myrex; Right: Courtesy Clint Hollingsworth) A Republican primary for a Cullman County House seat will officially go to an August runoff. Nine provisional ballots were counted Tuesday from the July 15 special primary election between Cindy Myrex, Clint Hollingsworth, Heather Doyle and Dan McWhorter. The primary seemed to be headed to a runoff on election day after Myrex, a Smith Lake realtor, received 49.8% of votes and Hollingsworth, a Cullman city councilman, got 43.2% of votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three of the provisional ballots went to Myrex and six went to Hollingsworth, according to the Cullman County elections office. In the initial tally, Myrex was about a dozen votes short of winning the nomination. Doyle wrote in a statement on Wednesday that she will be supporting Myrex in the runoff. I sincerely hope my supporters will support Cindy because Alabama needs more strong female voices in the House who will fight for tax relief, advocate for family court reform, and demand transparency in government, she wrote. Cindy will reflect the values of her constituents and work to protect the voices of children something Alabama is far behind on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A message seeking comment from McWhorter on who he will support was left Monday. The runoff will take place on Aug. 12. The winner will face Democrat Matthew Glover, a sales manager and former Good Hope City Councilman, on Oct. 28. The father of two little girls who were found living in a cave in India with their Russian mother said he previously filed a missing persons report and just wants to be with his children. In an interview with Indian news outlet The Hindu, the father, Dror Goldstein, and his lawyer said that he had filed a missing persons complaint with Indian officials after his former partner, Nina Kutina, left Goa (a state in western India) with their two daughters without telling him. After he heard the news that the children and Kutina were found living in a cave in Gokarna, a town in Karnataka State, on Wednesday, July 9, he immediately flew back to India from his home country of Israel to see the girls, according to The Hindu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My wish, my concern is that if they go now to Russia, it would be very hard for me to keep in touch with them. So, I wish they would stay in India, Goldstein told the outlet. My wish is to be close to my daughters, to have shared custody. Thats all. Local officials, the Russian Embassy in New Delhi and Goldstein's attorney did not respond to PEOPLEs multiple requests for comment. Since the news of her discovery broke, Kutina has defended her decision to live in the forest and shared more about her journey. In an interview with Indian media, Kutina explained that shes been traveling for 20 years and gave birth to each of her four kids (she had two sons before meeting Goldstein) in different countries. "We were not dying, and I did not bring my children, my daughters, to die in jungle, Kutina told an Indian news outlet of her decision to stay in the cave, according to the BBC. They were very happy, they swam in the waterfall, they had a very good place for sleeping, a lot of lessons in art making, we made from clay, we painted, we ate good, I was cooking very good and tasty food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police inspector Sridhar S.R. and officers were patrolling the Ramateertha hills in Gokarna on the evening of July 9 when they came across the 40-year-old and her two daughters, ages 4 and 6, the office of local police superintendent M Narayana said in a statement shared on X. Superintendent of Police, Uttara Kannada District/X Officials came across the Russian woman in a cave in Gokarna in Karnataka State on July 9. Officials came across the Russian woman in a cave in Gokarna in Karnataka State on July 9. Kutina told police that she was interested in staying in the forest and worshiping God, according to the translated statement, and had come here with her children from Goa and stayed in the cave on the hill and worshiped God and meditated. After Kutina was unable to provide valid documentation for herself and her children, police said they found Kutinas passport and visa, which had expired in 2017, in the cave. Kutina first entered India in 2016, and met Goldstein a year later, The Guardian reported. By 2018, Kutina had overstayed her visa and was deported to Russia, before she traveled to Ukraine, where she gave birth to their first daughter. In 2020, the woman traveled back to India, where she reunited with Goldstein and gave birth to their youngest child, the paper reported. In October 2024, her eldest son, who was 21, died in a motorcycle crash in India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kutina told The Hindu that grief immobilized her for a long time, which is part of the reason she overstayed her visa. First, there were multiple personal losses not just the death of my son, but also a few other close people, she told the outlet. We were constantly dealing with grief, paperwork and other problems. Superintendent of Police, Uttara Kannada District/X The woman with one of her daughters. The woman with one of her daughters. 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 Russian woman is now facing deportation, and is staying at a woman's shelter with her children, according to authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goldstein said he filed the missing persons complaint late last year and struggled to return to India because of the war in his home country. He told The Hindu that hes sent money to his family every month and spent six months a year for the past three years living in India, which is the amount of time allowed by his visa. Goldstein said he wants equal access to his children, but doesnt want to share a home with Kutina, who has told him that's the only way he can see the girls, he told the outlet. Goldstein added, I want to be a father to my two daughters. Read the original article on People View From Hurricane Ridge, at Olympic Park in Washington. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images) A 4-year-old child was attacked by a mountain lion while walking with his family in Washington's Olympic National Park on Sunday, according to officials with the National Park Service. The incident occurred near the Victoria Overlook area along Hurricane Ridge on July 20. The child was reportedly bitten by a collared cougar. Witnesses told local media that the child's father intervened during the attack and was able to pull the animal away. "I don't think that kid would survive if it wasn't for his dad jumping in," hiker Steve Murrow told KIRO 7. "He's a hero." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Park rangers and paramedics from Clallam County Fire District 2 responded quickly and transported the child by LifeFlight to a Level 1 trauma center in Seattle, where he was later released. Park staff, joined by a canine tracking team, began searching for the animal shortly after the attack. Rangers located the mountain lion later that evening. The animal was euthanized the following morning to eliminate any ongoing threat to the public. There are no current dangers to park visitors, but the incident remains under investigation. "The cougar is a very territorial animal and persists at low population densities. Though the cougar population is uncertain, there is definite evidence of their existence. Territorial scratch mounds and tracks can be found on the backcountry trails throughout the park," the National Park Service wrote. Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare, but Olympic National Park urges visitors to stay alert and follow safety guidelines. Tips include keeping children close, never running from a cougar, and fighting back if attacked. SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (KCAU) A Dakota County Commissioner will serve a seven-day jail sentence for driving while drunk. During a hearing on Monday, a judge gave Richard Bousquet the sentence for refusing to submit to a test, a first offense charge. He was ordered to report to the Dakota County Jail at 6 p.m. Bousquet has one day of credit that was previously served after his arrest. His license has been revoked for six months, and he has been ordered to pay $600 in fines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On January 5, authorities said they pulled Bousquet over in South Sioux City after turning without using a turn signal. His blood alcohol level was above the 0.08 legal limit. Story continues below Officials said he refused to take a breath test. Another case involving him driving with a revoked license was dropped. He pled guilty in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Adams County coroner Francis Dutrow shared new statements on the death of Dan Rivera, who passed suddenly on July 13 in a Gettysburg, Pennsylvania hotel room. Rivera, 54, hosted a showing of Annabelle one day before he passed. He was also leading the New England Society for Psychic Research's sold out Devils on the Run Tour. Dutrow said the Annabelle doll was not at the scene of Rivera's death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The doll was gifted to a nursing student in the 1960s, but was said to be "demonically possessed" by late NESPR founders Ed and Lorraine Warren, a demonologist and trance medium. According to the NESPR, the Warrens kept the doll in a glass box "to contain the evil spirited entity." Annabelle has recently been on tour throughout the United States. Ghost Adventures star Zak Bagans said, "My thoughts and prayers go out to [Rivera's] family and friends. I can only speak to my experiences with Annabelle. I did have the opportunity to investigate Annabelle when the owner brought her to my museum in 2017. I got very affected by her and it kind of caused me to touch the doll. The owner didn't like that too much. It was a demonic infestation and severely affected me, and I was literally in the hospital the next day. It was a two-month-long attachment and one of the worst experiences of my life." Coroners said Rivera's death was nothing suspicious. "The coroner's office and the state police were called to the scene on Sunday night," said Chief Deputy Coroner Scott Pennewill. "He did go for an autopsy today and it's pending." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Autopsies are said to take 60 to 90 days. Dutrow said he will be sending out a press release once the autopsy is finalized. Some believe Annabelle, which inspired The Conjuring movie series, has nothing to do with Rivera's death. "What's even harder to see right now are the posts blaming his death on things like the Annabelle doll and attacking places like Ghostly Images of Gettysburg Tours and other locations for having events. That needs to stop. His family shouldn't have to read that kind of nonsense while they're grieving," shared Ghost Hunters star Jason Hawes. Dan Rivera's Coroner Reveals More About 'Possessed' Annabelle Doll in Wake of His Death first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 The Darden School of Business is the second school to leave The Consortium this month. Courtesy photo University of Virginias Darden School of Business confirmed this morning (July 22) that it has suspended its partnership with The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, the second member school to do so this summer. Darden has also suspended its participation in the Forte Foundation, a non-profit network of businesses and business schools that works to increase womens representation in business education and leadership roles, according to a written statement from McGregor McCance, a Darden spokesperson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspensions are part of a broader review of programs and partnerships across the University, McCance wrote to Poets&Quants. Darden will continue to support our students and community throughout this process. We dont have additional information to share at this time beyond this statement. NOT A REFLECTION OF THE VALUE OR QUALITY OF OUR WORK TOGETHER Darden appears to have suspended its Consortium partnership on July 17, according to an email the Consortium sent to prospective applicants that was later posted on Reddit. This suspension is not a reflection of the value or quality of our work together. UVA Darden has made clear that this decision is purely driven by the scrutiny and evaluations of their programs, policies and practices, not by any dissatisfaction with our partnership or mission, the email reads. University of Virginia Darden School of Business has been an exceptional partner since 1992, and we are grateful for the many students who have benefited from our collaboration over these many years. We respect their position and remain hopeful that we may find new ways to collaborate in the future as policies evolve. CONSORTIUM NOW HAS 23 MEMBER SCHOOLS Darden is the second business school to exit the Consortium this month. University of Texas at Austins McCombs School of Business ended its four-decade partnership effective July 1. Both schools seem to have left amid mounting state and federal pressure regarding their DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) policies. (See: If We Stay Silent, Theyll Leave Us Alone: Still No Comment From Texas McCombs Or Consortium On Historic Split) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That leaves 23 schools in The Consortium, a network of business schools and companies working to help Black, Hispanic, and Native American students earn elite MBA degrees and enter corporate leadership pipelines. Consortium Fellows receive full-tuition scholarships to member schools while Consortium Fellows and student members receive networking, professional development, and other resources. In 2004, the organization expanded its eligibility to include all U.S. citizens and permanent residents who demonstrate a commitment to its mission. U.S. higher education has been under unprecedented pressure from the Trump administration since January. While both public and private institutions have been targeted, public universities are particularly vulnerable because of state-level funding and oversight. Private universities, while shielded from state laws, rely heavily on federal research grants and financial aid. And Trump and his administration seem to be gunning for elite institutions like Harvard, Columbia, and Stanford, all of which have been named in federal investigations or lawsuits. The table below shows the 25 Consortium member schools active at the start of this year, grouped by state. Washington University in St. Louis, Indiana University, and the University of Wisconsin were the founding member schools, joining in 1966. University of California, Berkeley (Haas) 1993 & 2010 Public California University of California, Los Angeles (Anderson) 2010 Public California University of Southern California (Marshall) 1968 Private California Stanford University (GSB) 2022 Private California Yale University (SOM) 2008 Private Connecticut Georgetown University (McDonough) 2013 Private District of Columbia Emory University (Goizueta) 2001 Private Georgia University of Chicago (Booth) 2024 Private Illinois Northwestern University (Kellogg) 2023 Private Illinois Indiana University (Kelley) 1966 Public Indiana University of Michigan (Ross) 1983 Public Michigan Washington University in St. Louis (Olin) 1966 Private Missouri Dartmouth College (Tuck) 1999 Private New Hampshire Cornell University (SC Johnson) 2009 Private New York Columbia University (CBS) 2021 Private New York New York University (Stern) 1984 Private New York University of Rochester (Simon) 1968 Private New York University of North Carolina (KenanFlagler) 1973 Public North Carolina Duke University (Fuqua) 2024 Private North Carolina Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper) 2001 Private Pennsylvania Rice University (Jones) 2017 Private Texas University of Texas at Austin (McCombs) Left July 1 1984 Public Texas University of Virginia (Darden) Left July 17 1992 Public Virginia University of Washington (Foster) 2018 Public Washington University of WisconsinMadison (Wisconsin WSB) 1966 Public Wisconsin RED-STATE PRESSURE PLAYS Among Consortium member schools, public universities in red states are under significant political pressure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Texas, Senate Bill 17 took effect in January 2024, banning public universities from maintaining DEI offices, staff, and hiring practices. UT Austin responded by closing its DEI office, canceling cultural ceremonies, and reassigning staff. This year, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 37, expanding legislative control over faculty governance and curriculum. (Rice University, as a private school, is more shielded from state laws.) Indianas Republican supermajority passed a law in April banning public universities from taking actions based on race and gender. In May, Indiana University closed its Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, directing academic units to take necessary steps to ensure compliance with state and federal policies and guidance, according to a school release. In North Carolina, the UNC systems Board of Governors repealed its DEI policy in 2024 and replaced it with a policy called Equality Within the University of North Carolina, eliminating DEI offices and funding. The change came without legislative prompting, but the General Assembly followed suit: After Trump carried the state 51% to 47.8%, the legislature passed Senate Bill 558 to ban DEI in public universities. Gov. Josh Stein vetoed the bill on July 3, but lawmakers are expected to attempt an override on July 29. Of course, being in a Blue (or Blueish) state wont necessarily save DEI programs. Just ask Virginia. UVA: A HIGH-PROFILE TARGET Perhaps no public university has been more consequentially strong-armed by the Trump administration than University of Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Democratic nominee Kamala Harris won Virginia with 51.8% of the vote in 2024, and Democrats have a slight majority in both chambers, Virginias governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general are all Republicans. Earlier this spring, UVAs Board of Visitors unanimously voted to dismantle its office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and end practices deemed discriminatory on the basis of race. It didnt matter. The Department of Justice launched an investigation anyway, claiming that UVA merely rebranded its DEI initiatives and personnel. The universitys current Board of Visitors, appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin, are conservative Republicans who lean right. Individually and as a group, they lack idealogical diversity, a conservative battle cry in right wing attacks on universities. All together, the UVA board of visitors have contributed more than $4.8 million to Republican candidates and committees vs. $10,000 to Democrats according to The Cavalier Daily, the student newspaper. In May, the ultra right-wing America First Legal filed a 98-page letter to DOJ, alleging that UVA President James Ryan and his leadership team hadnt actually dismantled anything. The letter called out Dardens partnerships with groups like The Consortium, Forte Foundation, and others that provide scholarships and support to under-represented minorities and women. America First Legal also repeatedly called for Ryans head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On June 26, Ryan announced his resignation saying he did so to shield the university from escalating federal retaliation that could jeopardize research funding, student aid, jobs, and visas. He plans to remain on UVAs faculty. Such direct DOJ intervention is a threat to both academic freedom and institutional autonomy, critics say. It also sets a troubling precedent. It is the first time federal officials explicitly tied grant funding to the removal of a university official. (See: How The Trump Administration Is Strong Arming Higher Education). In this climate, its little surprise that Darden would have to reconsider its partnerships with organizations like The Consortium and Forte. The question is: Will other Consortium schools or Forte schools, for that matter be forced to make similar decisions? DONT MISS: IF WE STAY SILENT, THEYLL LEAVE US ALONE: STILL NO COMMENT FROM TEXAS MCCOMBS OR CONSORTIUM ON HISTORIC SPLIT and AMID DEI BACKLASH, UT AUSTINS MCCOMBS QUIETLY ENDS 40-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CONSORTIUM The post Virginia Darden Confirms Suspension From The Consortium And Forte Amid Mounting DEI Pressure appeared first on Poets&Quants. DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) Dauphin County District Attorney Francis Chardo was recently elected President of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association (PDAA). The PDAA says Chardo will serve as president of the association for the 2025-2026 business year. Chardo currently serves on the Executive Committee of the PDAA and the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute (PDAI), which is the education and training arm of PDAA, according to the PDAA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Alerts I have served as part of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association for many years. I am proud to succeed an excellent President, David Strouse, the Clinton County District Attorney, Chardo said. During my term, I will have the benefit of working with Armstrong County District Attorney Katie Charlton as Vice President; Schuylkill County District Attorney Michael OPake as Secretary-Treasurer, and a great Executive Committee and Staff. Chardo serves as the Dauphin County District Attorney and has worked as a prosecutor for over 30 years, handling more than 140 jury trials throughout his career, according to the PDAA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visit the PDAA website for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. As if Israel was not facing enough challenges, at the very moment it finds itself facing an existential war on seven fronts, it is cursed with a British Foreign Secretary of the calibre of David Lammy. It is like some kind of divine comedy. This morning, the MP for Tottenham took to the airways to talk tough about the Jewish state, threatening sanctions on the appalling regime in Jerusalem as it strives to defend Western freedoms against the forces of jihad. It was most revealing, but not in the way the Foreign Secretary appeared to think. Lammys rhetoric exposed not the supposed shortcomings of Israel but his own gullibility to Hamas propaganda, ignorance of the Middle East and inadequacy for high office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yesterday, a video emerged apparently showing Hamas thugs marching half-naked Gazan civilians who had received Israeli-American aid to an unknown destination after rounding them up for punishment. This took its place among countless other videos of Hamas killing, torturing and intimidating its own people as it continues to use them as pawns in its attempt to exterminate the Jews by way of Western media. Yesterday, another short clip showed a gathering of brave Gazans risking their necks to rally against their jihadi overlords. Shamefully, these courageous souls showed more opposition to Hamas than displayed by Britains Foreign Secretary. The truth is as obvious as it is widely overlooked. Israel is a democracy that only wants its hostages home and those threatening its people defeated, then to be left alone; Hamas wants to destroy the Jews, and is willing to bring the Strip down around their ears in the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that the Israeli-American aid efforts are designed to circumvent the United Nations; the UN agency UNRWA has been reported as working hand-in-glove with the jihadis. We also know that this starves Hamas of the source of its income, bringing its defeat much closer. That is why the terrorists and their media partners have been creating as much propaganda as they can to convince the world that Israel is for some reason both going to the trouble of providing aid to Gaza and then massacring anybody who comes to claim it, blackening their international reputation in the process. Bit of a waste of effort, no? The Jews are known for many things, but not normally for their stupidity. It is quite obvious that this war comprises a bunch of depraved jihadis who herd their own people to death for propaganda, against a democracy fighting a war it did not start while confronted with human shields. Should Israel just give up? What then? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet Lammy and the rest of this atrocious Government has been entirely taken in by the disinformation. Whens the last time you heard our Foreign Secretary criticising Hamas or their enablers in the West? UNRWA employees reportedly took part in the atrocities of October 7. At least 1,200 of them, according to Israeli intelligence, are card-carrying members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad. Has the Foreign Secretary ever made mention of that? His interview with BBC Breakfast this morning was a case in point. All the usual slurs were present. In an exhibition of preening self-fashioning, he stated that he was sickened and appalled by Israel. Jerusalems actions were grotesque, he said, as Lammy had seen innocent children holding out their hand for food shot and killed in the way that we have seen in the last few days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Foreign Secretary might as well have delivered a speech entitled your foreign policy is in the hands of a man who is fool enough to believe Hamas propaganda. Lammy declared that if Israel failed to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, Britain would impose further sanctions upon it. Does Lammy really think that it is purely in Israels gift to reach a ceasefire? Doesnt it take two to fight a war? Again and again, negotiations in Qatar have been derailed by Hamas, which strings the talks along only to scuttle them at the last minute. Why? Because it understands that if it released the hostages, it would soon be out of power. For Israel to unilaterally withdraw from Gaza now, with its citizens still in the catacombs and the jihadis still clutching the levers of power, would only store up further atrocities, war and unrest in the future. Israel has tried unilateral withdrawal in the past. In 2005, it pulled all Israelis out of Gaza, handing over the keys to the Palestinians. The result? A terror state in which every aspect of governance was geared purely towards the deaths of the Jews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lammys short-sightedness is beyond belief. But it is not just Israel that the Foreign Secretary is betraying. It is the West as a whole, which accelerates towards its final decline with every jihadi victory. 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. Related coverage in video player above. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The Dayton Airport is receiving funding to boost local economic development. Ohio officials have announced that four airports throughout the state will receive more than $225 million to prepare for future economic development. This money comes from the All Ohio Future Fund. The Dayton International Airport will receive $78,750,000 for upgrades to the Dayton Airport Defense and Aerospace Campus. This money will go toward expanding the airports capacity for new hangars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The airport plans to build a new apron, and rehabilitate the existing apron. An airport apron is where planes are parked, loaded/unloaded, boarded and maintained. The money will fund maintenance to airport taxiways and area roads. These upgrades will prepare the airport for future economic development projects, as well as the surrounding communities. Enhancing the surrounding area of Dayton International attracts not only airlines but other private companies looking to use the airport to fit their business needs, said State Senator Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City). The opportunities this project brings for economic growth to the entire region are substantial. I look forward to seeing the projects completion and the benefits it will bring to the 5th Senate District. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The funds are administered through the Ohio Department of Development. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A 32-year-old man was arrested in connection with a carjacking in D.C. that happened in the Chinatown community, police said. Around 1:45 a.m. on April 24, D.C. police responded to the 800 block of 7th Street, Northwest, for the report of a carjacking. Upon arrival, the victim reported being approached and assaulted by multiple suspects. After the assault, the suspects fled the scene in the victims vehicle. U Street juvenile curfew zone sees some violations, but no major issues Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, July 18, 32-year-old Jarrell Gayden was arrested and charged with unarmed carjacking. Police are still working to identify a second man who was allegedly involved in the incident. Courtesy: DC police Courtesy: DC police The unnamed second suspect was seen wearing a Nike shirt with the word Georgia written on it. He was shown wearing a durag and with a small amount of facial hair. Check DCNewsNow.com for updates. To keep up with the latest news and weather updates, download our Mobile App on iPhone or Android. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. CHEVY CHASE, Md. (DC News Now) Congressional representatives and a senator introduced a bill Tuesday to remove a segregationists name from a park sitting in both Washington, D.C. and Maryland. Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.08) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) are working to remove Francis Newlandss name from Chevy Chase Circle, a federal park. According to the National Park Service (NPS), Newlands formed the Chevy Chase Land Company, which developed the Chevy Chase neighborhood. He began buying land in Northwest D.C. and Montgomery County, Md., building roads, streetcars and an amusement park, while also making sure the community had schools, churches, water and sewage systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I-495 accident causes delays in Fairfax County on Tuesday Newlands set prices so high that only affluent citizens (mostly white) could afford to live there at the time. Only members with access to wealth were allowed to move to the new neighborhood while immigrants, Jews and people of color were not welcome in the neighborhoods amenities. He was also an outspoken white supremacist and promoted those beliefs, NPS said. He actively sought to repeal the 15th Amendment, which gave African-American men the right to vote. Newlands advocated that the U.S. should be a homeland for whites. Francis Newlands was a white supremacist who worked to make his developments, including Chevy Chase, inaccessible to Black, Jewish, and working-class families. We should not be memorializing him and the bigoted policies he stood for the legacies of which are still harmful to this day, Van Hollen said in an announcement about the recently introduced bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of glorifying those who promoted exclusion and division, we should be working together to build communities that support growth and economic inclusion for all, he continued. The bill would remove the plaque and inscriptions bearing his name from Chevy Chase Circle. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Ruma Paul and Sam Jahan DHAKA (Reuters) -Police used tear gas to disperse angry students in Bangladesh on Tuesday who demanded answers from the interim government after an air force fighter jet crashed into a Dhaka school and killed 31 people, at least 25 of them children. The children, many aged under 12, were about to return home from class on Monday when the Chinese-manufactured F-7 BGI Bangladesh Air Force jet ploughed into their school and burst into flames, trapping pupils in the fire and debris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military said it had suffered mechanical failure. Students from the school and others from nearby colleges protested as two government officials visited the crash site, demanding an accurate death toll and shouting, "Why did our brothers die? We demand answers!" Elsewhere in the capital, hundreds of protesting students, some of them waving sticks, broke through the main gate of the federal government secretariat, demanding the resignation of the education adviser, according to local TV footage. Police baton charged them, fired tear gas and used sound grenades to disperse the crowd, leaving dozens injured, witnesses said. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Talebur Rahman said they had to use tear gas to disperse the protesters. He said he did not have information on the number of injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rescue workers continued to scour the charred buildings for debris on Tuesday as distressed residents of the area looked on. Some parents were inconsolable. Abul Hossain broke down as he spoke about his nine-year-old daughter, Nusrat Jahan Anika, killed in the crash. "I took her to school yesterday morning like every day. I had no idea it would be the last time I would be seeing her," he said. She was buried on Monday night. Rubina Akter said her son Raiyan Toufiq had a miraculous escape after his shirt caught fire when he was on a staircase. "He sprinted to the ground floor and jumped on the grass to douse it," she said. "He tore his shirt and vest inside, which saved him from severe burns." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jet had taken off from a nearby air base on a routine training mission, the military said. After experiencing mechanical failure the pilot tried to divert the aircraft away from populated areas, but it crashed into the campus. The pilot was among those killed. On Tuesday, the military said in a statement that 31 people had died and 165 had been admitted to hospitals in the city. The health ministry said 68 remained in hospital and the condition of 10 of them was critical. STUDENT DEMANDS The government announced a day of mourning, with flags at half-mast and special prayers at all places of worship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Leo said he was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life in the crash and prayed that families and friends may be consoled in their grief, and for the healing and comfort of the injured, according to a Vatican statement. The protesting students called for those killed and injured to be named, the decommissioning of what they said were old and risky jets, and a change in air force training procedures. A statement from the press office of Muhammad Yunus, the country's interim administrator, said that the government, the military, school and hospital authorities were working together to publish a list of victims. It also said the air force will be told not to operate training aircraft in populated areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The F-7 BGI is the final and most advanced variant in China's Chengdu J-7/F-7 aircraft family, according to Jane's 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 era MiG-21. The incident comes as neighbour India is still grappling with the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade after an Air India plane crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad last month, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground. Bangladesh has faced months of political uncertainty after then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee the country last August following weeks of deadly student protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The interim government of Nobel laureate Yunus has promised to hold elections next year amid mounting demands from political parties to advance them. (Reporting by Ruma Paul, Sam Jahan and Sudipto Ganguly; Writing by Tanvi Mehta and YP Rajesh; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Kate Mayberry, Saad Sayeed, Alexandra Hudson) The death toll from the crash of a Bangladesh Air Force training jet into a school in Dhaka has risen to 31, most of whom are pupils, officials said on Tuesday. The Chinese-made F-7BGI fighter jet crashed into the two-storey Milestone School and College in the north of the capital on Monday. The armed forces said in the afternoon that the death toll had risen to 31, without giving details. Twenty deaths and some 171 wounded were reported on Monday. Seven more people died of their injuries overnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, Sayedur Rahman, an assistant to interim government head Muhammad Yunus, said the pilot and 25 children were among the 27 dead counted by that point. The identity of six bodies could not be determined, he said. Some 78 people, mostly students and many with burn injuries, were undergoing treatment at different hospitals. The crash occurred minutes after the plane took off on Monday afternoon, according to the Bangladeshi military. It said that the pilot of the training aircraft noticed a technical malfunction soon after it took off from Dhaka's Kurmitola airbase. At the time of the crash, many children were still at the school, which teaches children from elementary class up to 12th grade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government announced a day of national mourning on Tuesday. The national flag has been lowered to half-mast at all public and private institutions. Several hundred pupils demonstrated near the crash site, demanding a thorough investigation and an accurate death count. The demonstration began as two senior advisers from the interim administration arrived at the scene in the morning. The protesters chanted slogans such as "We want justice" and "Why did our brothers die? We demand answers!" effectively trapping the advisers and several senior officials inside the school building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pupils have alleged that authorities attempted to conceal the true number of casualties, a claim the government has dismissed as false. Onlookers gathered at the scene, taking photos and recording videos on Tuesday, according to local resident Al Amin. He noted that a burnt smell still hung in the air, with children's books, half-burned schoolbags, shoes and charred furniture scattered around. "I can't take it. It's heart-wrenching," he said. Police cordoned off the area. In a video message, Yunus promised an investigation into the accident. "We will definitely investigate this incident, but these innocent children will never come back," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They are all our children, and they are gone forever. We are ensuring treatment for the injured, and everyone is making every effort for them," he added. He expressed sympathy for the parents, relatives and friends of the deceased, saying: "To say we are shocked would be an understatement. The scars of this accident have not yet healed." He noted that bodies were still arriving at hospital and that people continued to die from their injuries. Members of the Bangladesh Army and Fire Service begin rescue operations after a Bangladesh Air Force plane crashed into a Milestone College building. Habibur Rahman/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa In Antarctic waters, glaciers calve like distant thunder and the air stings with salt and cold. It is in these waters that marine mammal ecologist Ari Friedlaender shuts off the inflatable boats engine and waits. This is the edge of the worldremote, hostile, and stunningly alive. Beneath the hull, the dark sea churns with wonder abound. A humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) emerges, slow, deliberate, and gentle in its curious demeanor, casting a ripple across the surface. Then another shadow glides below. One rolls sideways to peer up, one spyhops, another nudges the rubber boat as if asking a question. You feel alien out there, Friedlaender tells Popular Science. And yet, the whale chooses you and interacts with you as a curious individual. It gives you its attention, and that kind of moment is just the most compelling. In the last two decades, humpback whales in Antarctic waters have staged one of the most remarkable recoveries since the end of commercial whaling. We started seeing them againfirst almost none, then a few, then many, Ted Cheeseman, a marine ecologist and co-founder of the whale tracking platform Happywhale, tells Popular Science. But we didnt know who we were seeing. We wanted to know more than just that whales were coming back. We wanted to know which whales. [ Related: Humpback whales use bubble-nets as tools. ] Unlike critically endangered species like the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) or Rices whale (Balaenoptera ricei), humpbacks have shown a striking degree of behavioral flexibility and resilience in a rapidly changing ocean. But their future is still uncertain: ship strikes, warming waters, and shifting food webs continue to pose serious threats. So began a transformative shift in whale science, driven by photography, artificial intelligence, public participation, and lab researchand it all starts with the fluke. The story flukes tell To the casual observer or the untrained eye, the emergence of a whales tail may just be an exciting and fleeting splash of black and white. But to researchers and other whale lovers across the globe, that exhilarating splash holds a unique story and is as idiosyncratic as a human fingerprint. The shape of the trailing edge, pigmentation patterns, rake marks from orca attacks, scars from fishing gear, and barnacle clusters all combine to tell the narrative of an individual whales life, as well as how to identify that humpback. Flukes as a primary piece of data are incredibly valuable, Friedlaender explains. They help us trace migration routes, understand site fidelity, and even track how changes in the environment impact individual behavior over time. Marine mammal ecologist Ari Friedlaender. Image: Avery Schuyler Nunn for Popular Science If youre lucky enough to observe a whale fluke arcing above the waterline, try taking a closer look beyond the marvel of it. Is the edge smooth or torn? Are there specks, scars, or barnacles dotting one side more than the other? Do the pigmentation patterns differ from other flukes that youve spotted? Like a fingerprint, these ever-so-slight irregularities and subtle signatures mark a whales identity, and can give you some insight into their life story. This citizen science and fluke analysis is crucial, because whales are famously hard to study. As Cheeseman puts it, We see one percent of a whale for one percent of its life. Most of what whales dofeed, rest, nurse, socializehappens deep below the surface, and far from view. That disconnect, he says, contributes to a larger issue: a failure to relate. When we look out at the horizon, he says, were removed from whats really happening under the waves. Whales need youto take photos Happywhale aims to change that by making individual whales visible, trackable, and, most of all, relatable. Anyonetourists, sailors, researcherscan upload a fluke photo to the platform. AI, trained on thousands of images, scans each photo and compares it to over 112,000 known whales in the database. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The algorithm reads features we might miss, Cheeseman says. Even if a scar disappears, or pigmentation changes over time, the trailing edge often stays consistent from nearly birth. The computer can pick up on that and match individuals with more accuracy than the human eye. Still, every match is verified by a humanpreserving both the integrity of the data and the intimacy of the process. The goal is to keep people at the center of the science, Cheeseman says. We want people to feel close to it. And they do. When someone uploads a photo and later receives a notification that their whale has been seen thousands of miles away, something shifts. It lights something up inside people, he says. They go from being a bystander to being part of a story. That story is often one of resilience in a rapidly changing ocean. Many whales carry visible signs of survivalscars from boat strikes, or entanglement wounds that wrap around the tail like old rope. In 2016, there were 71 documented whale entanglements off the US West Coast, but Cheeseman estimates thats just 10% of what actually occurred. Imagine driving down a road and seeing a deer caught in a barbed wire fence, he says. Most people would stop, call someone, and maybe even risk yourself to help free it. But with whales, its out of sight, so its out of mind, and since we dont know about it, we dont care, and we dont act. The work Friedlaender and Cheeseman are doingalongside the growing community of citizen scientistsaims to help close that gap. And in a time when climate change, noise pollution, and industrial fishing continue to erode ocean health, proximity matters. Weve urbanized the ocean, Cheeseman says. We build roads in itshipping lanesand infrastructure like ports and offshore platforms. We ask so much of it. But we dont think of it as part of our shared space. Thats beginning to change, and in part, its because of whales. Not just whales as a species, but whales as individuals. Early whale research looked at the species as a whole, Friedlander notes, but fluke matching has transformed this approach by allowing scientists to study individual whales in much finer detail. This method opens up opportunities to investigate how specific factorssuch as food supply, noise pollution, or environmental shiftsaffect particular whales and various demographic groups differently. What has really been valuable, he continues, is being able to say, This is a fluke of an individual whale with a long sighting history41 years in one case. When you want to study processes that happen over an animals lifetime, that contextual detail becomes crucial. This rich, individual-level perspective informs everything from behavioral studies to toxicology research, facilitating new ways in understanding these ocean giants in unprecedented depth. A playful juvenile breaches the water. Image: Avery Schuyler Nunn for Popular Science That personal connection leads to a desire for protection Friedlaenders research focuses on detailed snapshots of individual whales using suction cup tags that collect incredibly fine-resolution data. These tags reveal intimate details about how a whale moves, dives, and feedsshowing, for example, how it manages to engulf whats essentially a swimming pools worth of water in a single mouthful to fuel its massive energy needs. Cheeseman highlights how this complementary blending of citizen science and traditional scientific methods brings research from being something out there to something closer and more accessible. By combining fine-scale data from suction cup tags with long-term sighting records collected by everyday people through Happywhale, we create a more holistic view of humpback whalesconnecting detailed individual behaviors to broader lifetime patterns and population trends. [ Related: Whale pee moves vital nutrients thousands of miles. ] And it all stirs something deeper. We are wired to care about individuals more than abstract concepts, Cheeseman continues. And that personal connection is what leads to a desire for protection. Friedlaender and Cheeseman will soon return to Antarctica to continue their research in one of the planets most ecologically vital and least accessible regions. Their work is supported through a partnership between the Friedlaender Lab at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and Quark Expeditions, which facilitates science-based voyages in the Southern Ocean. In these former whaling grounds, the team will deepen their data on humpback behavior and migrationbringing AI, photo ID, and public participation into one of the last truly wild frontiers. One whale at a time, the ocean is becoming less anonymous. And with every scar and splash recorded, the researchers see that a clearer picture of this hidden world begins to emerge, not just in the minds of scientists, but in the hearts of the people observing, and participating, from ashore. CARMEL Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside U.S. Sen. Todd Young's Carmel office July 20, calling on Indiana's Republican congressional leaders to invest in local communities rather than promote the administration's goals of arresting and deporting migrants. Two similar protests were happening concurrently outside the offices of U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz in Noblesville and U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym in Mishawaka, with protesters calling on the representatives to prioritize issues that they said would benefit Hoosiers directly. The Indiana State AFL-CIO, Indivisible Central Indiana, and the Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance organized these protests in response to the federal government's passage of the massive bill, known as the "One Big, Beautiful Bill," which includes tax cuts, increased spending on immigration enforcement and budgetary reductions to Medicaid. Dozens of demonstrators protest outside of U.S. Sen. Todd Young's office in Carmel, Indiana, as part of one of three protests simultaneously held in Indiana on Sunday, July 20, 2025. "Across Indiana, we have hundreds of Hoosiers standing together to say we want our taxpayer dollars to be used for housing, health care and education, and not to be used for masked ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers who terrorize our communities and frankly, kidnap our friends and families," said event organizer Stuart undefined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IndyStar reached out to Young's, Spartz's and Yakym's offices for comment. Although Young did not provide a direct response to the July 20 protest, he did provide his reasoning for voting for the "One Big, Beautiful Bill." The One Big Beautiful Bill Act provides important resources to support and modernize our military. It also will significantly invest in border security to build more of our border wall and hire more border patrol officers," Young said in a statement to IndyStar. Spartz's press secretary provided a statement to IndyStar's question regarding the demonstrations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Congresswoman has been committed to fixing our broken health care system since her time in the State Senate," said Spartz's press secretary in an email to IndyStar. "Weve made some progress, but much more needs to be done to improve transparency, affordability, access, and outcomes and to stop material fraud and abuse." At the time of publication, Yakym had not provided a comment. Concerns of fear growing in migrant communities Mora said this issue runs deep for him and others who work in immigration law. He has witnessed growing fear among Indiana's migrant communities concerning increasing militarization of immigration enforcement across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was on display earlier in the month, when protesters outside of a Ventura County farm in Camarillo, California, were hit with pepper balls and tear gas as federal agents were conducting an immigration sweep on Glass House Farms, one of the state's largest cannabis farms. More: Families divided, rage, tear gas: How the Glass House raid went down That immigration raid led to the arrest of more than 350 people, including George Retes, 25, a U.S. Army veteran, while he was on his way to work. Retes was released from jail three days later. The raid also led to the death of Jaime Alanis Garcia, 56, a farm worker who fell 30 feet off a building and suffered "catastrophic" injuries to his head and neck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Indiana has not experienced an immigration raid at this scale, community leaders shared that many in migrant communities are afraid that they may potentially be picked up off the street and deported, whether rightfully or not. Many also shared concerns about Indiana and Indianapolis leaders increasing participation with national immigration enforcement. Rev. Carolyn Higginbotham with the Central Christian Church Disciples of Christ speaks to demonstrators protesting outside of U.S. Sen. Todd Young's Carmel office, the site of one of three immigration enforcement protests held across Indiana on Sunday, July 20, 2025. "Part of our concern is with the use of our jails (being) used as a detention center for ICE," said Rev. Carolyn Higginbotham with the Central Christian Church Disciples of Christ. "We are deeply concerned about the way in which our tax dollars are being spent and we do not want them used to warehouse folks for ICE. What we want is for them to invest in things that are actually going to make our city a better home for everyone and a place where people feel safe." Dozens of demonstrators protest outside of U.S. Sen. Todd Young's Carmel office, the site of one of three protests of immigration enforcement simultaneously held across Indiana on Sunday, July 20, 2025. Earlier this year, the Marion County Adult Detention Center started being more heavily used as a place where the federal government temporarily jailed immigrants picked up in Indiana and neighboring states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This came after the federal government ran into capacity issues at its existing immigration detention center, as 84 of the 181 detention facilities exceeded their contractual capacity on at least one day during October 2024 through mid-April 2025, according to a report by nonprofit TRAC. Included on that report was the Clay County Justice Center in Brazil, Indiana. The jail is contracted to house up to 100 migrants, but appears to have an average daily population of about 242 people through mid-April, according to TRAC data. More: Marion County Jail is housing ICE detainees. Here's why that concerns some Camp Atterbury being turned into a detention center Demonstrators also called on Indiana leaders to stand against the federal government's plan to turn the Camp Atterbury military post near Edinburgh into a temporary detention center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This news was announced on July 15 in a letter written by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlining a plan to use Camp Atterbury as temporary housing for migrants being held by the Department of Homeland Security. "The terrible irony (is) that this is the place where we welcomed Afghan refugees a couple of years ago, and now those same people could be targeted for removal through the same facility," Higginbotham said. Sayra Campos, a representative from the Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance, speaks to demonstrators protesting outside of U.S. Sen. Todd Young's Carmel office, the site of one of three immigration enforcement protests held across Indiana on Sunday, July 20, 2025. Many at the protest said they believed that Indiana's state government leaders should shift their focus from federal issues to more localized problems, like the growing divide among low-income families wanting to improve their children's education, or the housing affordability crisis emerging in cities like West Lafayette and Carmel. "Our message today is one of hope," said Sayra Campos, a representative from the Indiana Undocumented Youth Alliance. "We don't need more policing. We want investments in housing, health care, education, jobs with dignity and permanent protections for all Hoosiers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact IndyStar reporter Noe Padilla at npadilla@indystar.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Anti-ICE protesters urge Indiana leaders to focus on state issues Update: July 22, 8 p.m. LA SAL, Utah (ABC4) The Deer Creek fire is currently at 17,304 acres and 77% contained, according to the latest information from the Utah Department of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. Officials say favorable weather conditions continued with reduced temperatures on Tuesday that helped increase containment on the fire. With a strong foothold on containment, firefighters say they are continuing to clean up vegetation and further containment. Courtesy: Utah Fire Info Courtesy: Utah Fire Info Original story: July 22, 11 a.m. LA SAL, Utah (ABC4) The Deer Creek Fire burning in San Juan County, which is now believed to be human caused, is current at 17,184 acres, according to the latest information from the Utah Department of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Containment on the fire remains at 54%. About 580 fire personnel are fighting the fire with seven helicopters, 30 engines and 15 crews stationed in the area. Officials say favorable weather conditions are expected again on Tuesday and should allow crews to continue building up containment. Due to moderating fire behavior, crews were able to work directly along the fire edge, increase containment, and further secure the fires perimeter to the east and southeast, officials said in a statement. Deer Creek Fire grows over 17,000 acres, now at 54% containment Due to a decrease in fire activity, officials have opened up entry on the west side of the fire and some of the lower Two-Mile area near Manti-La Sal National Forest. Containing the fire perimeter Crews say they have transformed the existing vegetation breaks into natural areas by filling them with soil and overlaying the area with brush and other forest debris. Deer Creek fire. Courtesy: Utah Fire Info Deer Creek fire. Courtesy: Utah Fire Info Deer Creek fire. Courtesy: Utah Fire Info Deer Creek fire. Courtesy: Utah Fire Info On steep slopes, waterbars may be constructed to direct water away from firelines in an effort to prevent erosion on sloping roads and cleared paths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hagerman Fire Protection District of Idaho is one of the crews on scene helping out with the Deer Creek fire. They posted the video below where you can see firefighters working on mop up and fallen trees that have been charred due to the fire. With the increase in containment, some of the firefighters involved will be released to support other fires or will be able to travel home for rest before responding to other fires, officials said in the press release. Current evacuation orders continue to remain in place for Zones 2, 3, 4 and 6. Mountain Shadows, Lower Highway 46 and Hang Dog will have access to roads and will be allowed to stay. As of Monday, July 21, San Juan County Sheriffs Office and Utah Fire Authority have identified a suspect who may have caused the fire but are not releasing any additional information about the suspect 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. Next year, Ukraine will need at least US$120 billion for defence, Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal says. Source: Shmyhal on Telegram Quote: "Strategic goals and priorities of Ukraine's defence are: more Ukrainian-made weapons 50% should be procured domestically; more foreign companies willing to cooperate with Ukraine and operate in Ukraine; more arms and non-lethal aid supplies that even neutral countries can provide." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Shmyhal stressed that "a particular focus is on new deliveries of the most effective means of protecting our sky, especially those capable of intercepting ballistic targets". The defence minister added that additional funding is also required for the development of Ukrainian industry, including the production of FPV drones, long-range and interceptor drones. The figure of US$120 billion is roughly double Ukraines defence budget for 2025. Background: New Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko stated that she is likely to seek additional funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as she plans to strengthen public finances amid the ongoing war with Russia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Fort Carson announced Tuesday Gate 19 will temporarily close Aug. 1 about two years after an $11 million Colorado Department of Transportation project to pave the road to the gate. The base made the decision in part because the overall number of soldiers on base is down with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team deployed to the Southern border while the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade is scheduled to deploy to the Middle East, said Dee McNutt, a spokeswoman for Fort Carson. The aviation brigade members are some of the main users of the gate because it provides closer access to the Butts Army Airfield. "We will continuously reevaluate. This was a today decision based on current conditions and manpower," McNutt said. She expects the investment in the road will be valuable into the future. Base staff made the changes after examining traffic and resource data, and speaking with experts, a news release said. El Paso County paved Charter Oak Ranch Road in 2022 and fully finished the road that leads to Gate 19 in 2023. It included drainage infrastructure, settling ponds, and a retaining wall. The road had crumbling pavement, poor drainage, a steep grade and narrow lanes. Opening Gate 19 was meant to ease congestion at Fort Carson's Gate 20, The Gazette previously reported. The investment in Charter Oak Ranch Road is part of a package of four projects known as the Military Access Mobility and Safety Improvements. The final project focused on widening South Academy Boulevard is still going on. The package of projects was funded through a federal grant, Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority, El Paso County and CDOT. In addition to closing Gate 19, the base is changing operations at Gates 5 and 6. Gate 5 near Titus Boulevard and Colorado 115 will be open 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. seven days a week. Gate 6 on Wilderness Road east of Colorado 115 will be open 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Gate 19 near Charter Oak Ranch Road will be closed until further notice. During closure times, community members can use Gates 1, 3, 4 and 20. We understand this change may cause inconvenience throughout the installation. We appreciate the communitys patience and understanding as we manage all available resources, said Col. Erik Oksenvaag, Fort Carson garrison commander. This story has been updated to state the closure of Gate 19 is temporary and El Paso County paved Charter Oak Ranch Road. Two co-defendants accused of torturing, killing and dismembering a Gulfport teen will be tried separately, a Pinellas judge said Tuesday. Steven Gress, 35, and Michelle Brandes, 37, were charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with the February slaying of 16-year-old Miranda Corsette. They could face the death penalty if convicted. At a pre-trial hearing at the Pinellas County Justice Center Tuesday morning, Judge Philip Federico agreed to grant the two separate trials, which defense attorneys indicated they preferred and prosecutors did not oppose. Federico said the question now is who dips their toes in first, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assistant State Attorney Juan Saldivar, who is prosecuting both cases, said he believes Gress and Brandes are equally culpable in Corsettes murder. Jenna Finkelstein, one of Brandes lawyers, said during the hearing that she plans to argue her client was coerced into participating in the murder. Gress, 35, met the Gulfport teen on the dating app Grindr in February. He picked her up from her grandmothers home in Gulfport and took her to the apartment he shared with Brandes on 27th Avenue North in St. Petersburg. The couple beat and tortured Corsette for a week because Gress thought she had stolen a ring from the apartment, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least six people saw the teenager or knew she was being held against her will before she was killed, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in April. This little bitch stole my ring and wont give it back, Gress told one neighbor who saw Miranda, according to the warrant. So Ive been beating her ass. Three people, including Gress mother, later admitted to police that he had sent them photos of the girl that showed her nude, bruised and in increasingly worse physical condition. Gress told police that Brandes shoved a billiard ball into Corsettes throat and covered her face in plastic wrap. He said he couldnt get to her quickly enough to poke holes in the plastic so she could breathe, according to the affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the teen died, they drove to Brandes mothers house in Largo, where Gress used a chainsaw to dismember Mirandas body, according to police. They put the remains in trash bags and the next day left them in a dumpster in Ruskin, investigators said. Police learned the contents of the dumpster likely went to the countys incinerator. Police said there is no evidence Miranda took the ring, and Brandes later claimed to have found it in Gresss car. Gress was arrested March 5 after police said he threatened Brandes with an air-powered harpoon gun when she tried to leave their apartment during an argument. Brandes turned herself in to police on March 8. While the affidavit states that Gress largely blamed Brandes for the worst of the violence, in her own interview with detectives, she depicted him as the main aggressor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both are being held in the county jail without bond. Federico, who said he has never seen two defendants up for the death penalty in a high-profile murder case point the finger at each other, agreed to give both parties time to review discovery and depose witnesses. He set a status hearing for Oct. 8. The judge said its unlikely that hell rule to leave out any information from discovery if the attorneys ask him to. Death is different, Federico said. Ive done enough of these cases to know that everything is given in death penalty cases. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) Two men accused of homicide and facing a potential death sentence if convicted asked Pennsylvania's highest court Tuesday to restrict a county prosecutor's pursuit of the death penalty, accusing him of misusing it to pressure defendants into guilty pleas or get them to turn state's evidence. The two defendants filed a petition before the state Supreme Court that suggests a range of actions to limit Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh's discretion in asking for capital punishment. The arbitrary seeking of the death penalty has become a crisis in Washington County, where a wildly disproportionate number" of the state's prosecutorial death penalty notices of aggravating factors are filed, wrote lawyers for Jordan Clarke and Joshua George. They say Walsh, a Republican appointed in 2021 and elected to keep the job nearly two years ago, has sought the death penalty in 11 of the county's 18 homicide cases during his term in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walsh on Tuesday disputed the numbers, saying the county has had more than 18 homicide cases over that period. He said several of the cases during his tenure have involved the deaths of children, where one of the aggravating factors required for the death penalty, the young age of the victim, is simple to demonstrate in court. If it fits under the law, prosecutors can seek the death penalty, Walsh said in a phone interview. That's just the law. The petition asks the justices to adopt some or all of the changes they want. They are asking for Walsh to be required to have an out-of-county judge, the attorney generals office or a court-appointed special master review decisions to seek the death penalty; to stop the death penalty from being pursued in the cases of the two petitioners; and to get an outside judge to review all death penalty cases filed since the year Walsh took office. Washington County is a suburban and rural area of more than 200,000 people with a history of coal mining and gas drilling in the state's southwesternmost corner, about 28 miles (45 kilometers) southwest of Pittsburgh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No county has a bottomless well of money to fund defense teams representing indigents facing capital punishment, lawyers with the Philadelphia-based Atlantic Center for Capital Representation argued in asking the justices to take the unusual step of accepting a case without an underlying appeal. The excessive, abusive, and coercive use of the death penalty by District Attorney Walsh has surely strained Washington County's ability to fund constitutionally adequate defenses. As an example, the filing describes how the prosecutor's office upgraded a woman's charge of conspiracy to commit homicide to add criminal homicide after being told by defense lawyers that conspiracy was not sufficient to face a death penalty. She spent nearly four years in jail before the case was dismissed. Walsh said there is evidence supporting the case and he plans to appeal the dismissal. In Clarkes case, involving a 2-month-old boys death, the petition alleges Walsh intervened to improperly influence the manner of death determination, filed homicide charges and a notice of aggravators before the manner of death was determined, and is pursuing a death sentence based on facially inappropriate aggravating circumstances. Walsh said state and federal courts have long upheld the legality of the death penalty. In Pennsylvania, only three people have been executed since the 1970s, and all had given up on their appeals. Appeals and natural deaths have shrunk Pennsylvania's death row from well over 200 two decades ago to 94 inmates currently. This is nothing but a liberal Hail Mary from a liberal think tank, Walsh said of the newly filed court petition. Those allegations are nonsensical and without merit. President Donald Trump on Tuesday attempted to shift the publics focus away from the building crisis around the release of sealed documents detailing the Jeffrey Epstein case by urging his Justice Department to go after his predecessors. "Whether it's right or wrong, it's time to go after people," Trump said, accusing former President Barack Obama of treason. As he took questions alongside Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Oval Office, Trump dismissed the furor over the disgraced former financier, driven largely by Republican lawmakers and his own supporters, as a witch hunt, claiming he didnt know about the Justice Departments decision to seek a new interview with Epstein confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20 year prison sentence for sex trafficking minors and other crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont follow it too much, he said of the Epstein drama, urging the press to cover what he called the other witch hunt an alleged plot by Obama to rig the 2016 election. The remarks, which come as Republicans in Washington are increasingly divided over how to respond to Trumps unfulfilled promises to release the Epstein documents , represent an attempt to not only deflect the focus on Epstein but growing willingness to sic law enforcement agencies, which have traditionally operated independent from the White House, on his political enemies. This was treason, Trump declared. Barack Hussein Obama is the ringleader. Hillary Clinton was right there with him and so was Sleepy Joe Biden, and so were the rest of them: [former FBI Director James] Comey, [former Director of National Intelligence James] Clapper, the whole group. They tried to rig an election and they got caught. And then they did rig the election in 2020. And then because I knew I won that election by a lot, I did it a third time and I won in a landslide." The president pointed to newly declassified materials released last week by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who said Obama and top aides manufactured and politicized intelligence related to Russian attempts to influence the 2016 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is like proof, irrefutable proof, that Obama was sedatious, that Obama was trying to lead a coup, Trump said, apparently mispronouncing seditious." This is the biggest scandal in the history of our country. Trump said the decision to take legal action against Obama and potentially others would rest with Attorney General Pam Bondi, who he described as a very competent, very good, very loyal to our country person. Patrick Rodenbush, a spokesperson for Obama, responded in a statement later Tuesday afternoon. "Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response," he said. "But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The emails and memos Gabbard released involve Obama administration correspondence about Russian attempts at election interference in 2016. Those officials concluded at the time that it was unlikely Russian hackers would successfully compromise physical election infrastructure or alter vote totals without detection but could succeed in swaying voters and undermining public confidence in the election. In a press release and her own social media posts, Gabbard has suggested that those conclusions reveal assertions made about potential Russian interference following the election were knowingly false. But the former Obama administration officials never suggested that voting machines were manipulated or that any election infrastructure had been compromised. Several Democrats were quick to dismiss Gabbards allegations as nonsensical. And a bipartisan Senate committee in a 2020 report backed the intelligence communitys conclusion that Russian President Vladimir Putin did attempt to influence the 2016 election. Rodenbush, the Obama spokesman, pointed to that report and the fact that one of Trump's current Secretary of State chaired the committee that issued the report. "Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes," he said. "These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio." A Delta Air Lines flight prepared for takeoff was halted Monday after another plane flew feet above it, according to officials. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] It happened at Mexico City airport on Monday. According to officials, data from Flight Radar24 shows Aeromexico flight 1631 and Delta 590 were just 200 feet apart. The Delta plane slammed on its brakes and stopped the takeoff. The Delta jet only reached about 60 miles per hour, according to authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Atlanta-based airline said the crew aborted takeoff after noticing another aircraft landing in front of their aircraft on the same runway. The flight returned to the gate and departed for Atlanta later that morning. Delta Air Lines released the following statement: Because nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, Delta will fully cooperate with authorities as the circumstances around this flight are investigated. We appreciate the flight crews actions to maintain situational awareness and act quickly part of Deltas extensive training. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Balis Bingin Beach is one of the most picturesque beaches in the world. But its so much more than that, too. Its a living, breathing, and thriving community built on the back of generations of Balinese people that have been taking care of surfers since the 70s. Sure, the simple cliffside Warungs have grown and expanded as travel to Bali has exploded, but the heart and soul of Bingin remains the same. Until now. Last month, 45 businesses on the beach at Bingin were served notices from the government that basically said, tear down your structure, or we will. Despite legal battles and local pushback, yesterday the mayor of Bali alongside 100s of demolition workers in bright hard hats showed up and started swinging their hammers around. Its a shocking sight. Why? Thats where things get tricky. The entirety of Bingin Beach is owned by the government, meaning nobody has a land certificate to build and/or operate a business on the beach. But they never have, and until now the government has allowed them to flourish. So what changed? Well, rumors are circulating about a big name investment group looking to snap up the land to build a massive beach club, with some speculating theyd even try to privatize the beach and/or the wave, similar to what the Nihi Beach resort does in Sumba. And where theres smoke, well, theres usually fireespecially in Indonesia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the government is denying these rumors, its a strange decision to suddenly decide now is the time to rip apart a community thats been around for generations. Related: More Cliff Carnage at Uluwatu as Development Continues Unabated On Instagram, Mega Semadhi said it best: Bingin Beach is not just a tourist place. This has been home to my family and the local community for over six generations. Where we live, grow and earn a living through hard work without depending on anyone. Without Bingin, I wouldn't know surfing, wouldn't have a career that led me to introduce Bali and Indonesia to the world. Through Bingin, we can improve the quality of life of our families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont push down the rules. But I ask: Are the rules fair ? What really stands for all? There are still many buildings like beach clubs, bars and restaurants standing in similar positionseven more leaning out to the seathat have remained untouched today. Why are only local kiosks and community owned inns being evacuated? Are they special? I'm aware that coastal land is state owned. But these buildings have been standing since the 70's, long before laws and regulations existed. For years they have been trying to dialogue, asking the government to regulate so that the development is not too much, so that Bingin remains authentic. But here is the result: one-sided eviction, with no real protection for the local community. What is the fate of the hundreds of workers who will be laid off and the impact on the future economy around the Bingin Beach? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If it must be dismantled, I beg you very much: Give a chance to the people of Bingin to cooperate with banjar / traditional villages / dinas to keep managing this area, because they are the ones who raise, protect, and make Bingin known to the world. Or, otherwise make Bingin a truly protected green zone. Let only coconut and pandan trees grow, not the new beach club that is drowned in Bali. Bali is Island of the Gods not Island of Beach Club. It must be endlessly frustrating for locals like Mega that are watching their livelihoods destroyed in front of their eyes by people in power who have no clue what Bingin means to Uluwatu and beyond. If the government took time to learn Bingins storied history, theyd realize that without these Illegal businesses on the beach at Bingin there would be no mega resorts, restaurants, gyms, or health clubs anywhere nearby. Bingin beach is the heart and soul of an entire community and without it, whats left? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While things seem dire at the moment, the legal battle is apparently still ongoing, so theres still a sliver of a hope for a reversal of some kind. Theres also a petition circulating that got 15 thousand signatures just yesterday, which you can add to by clicking here. Related: The 5 Best Surf Trips for Solo Travelers The Demolition of Balis Bingin Beach Has Sadly Begun first appeared on Surfer on Jul 22, 2025 GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) A dental surgery center where a young child died released a statement in response to the tragedy. On July 17, the Greensboro Police Department said they were investigating the death of a child at a business on Hickory Ridge Drive after being called for assistance. Valleygate Dental Surgery Center provided the following statement about this, stating they are heartbroken and that their thoughts are with the family of the child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The health and well-being of every patient is our highest priority, they wrote. 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. Since 2019, more than 13,000 patients have safely received care at our Greensboro ambulatory surgery center. While rare, complications can occur unexpectedly even under carefully controlled circumstances. We are actively reviewing yesterdays circumstances in collaboration with all relevant agencies. We remain focused on safety, transparency, and the trust our patients place in us. While we cannot comment on specifics at this time, we will provide updates as appropriate, and in a manner respectful to the privacy of our patients family, the statement concluded. 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 FOX8 WGHP. In an encouraging sign for sustainable cities everywhere, Denver's e-bike rebate program is proving to be super successful. It launched in 2022 with $300,000 in funding, enough to hand out about 600 rebate vouchers to residents who had purchased e-bikes. They were snapped up in record time "like Taylor Swift fans flooding Ticketmaster," former program lead Mike Salisbury told Mother Jones. Over time, Denver expanded the initiative, ultimately distributing more than 9,000 rebates to help people buy e-bikes. The results speak for themselves. Research commissioned by the city in 2022 found that people who snagged vouchers now ride an average of 26 miles per week and 65% ride daily. If even half those rides replace car trips, the program eliminates more than 6.1 million gas-powered miles annually. That's like taking 478 cars off the road and slashing heat-trapping pollution by nearly 190,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Advertisement Advertisement While other cities and states are catching on from Michigan to North Carolina advocates say Denver's model proves that these programs can boost sustainability, equity, health, and well-being. Traveling via e-bike not only saves drivers more money than commuting by car (including electric vehicles), but it also slashes pollution clogging the air and harming public health. For anyone looking to get an e-bike, Upway offers a wide variety from folding e-bikes to mountain e-bikes with many models priced up to 60% less than other dealers. Upway also buys used e-bikes, making it easy for owners to upgrade anytime. Combining an e-bike with home solar maximizes the benefits. Charging at home costs less, slashes utility bills, and cuts home emissions. EnergySage is a free resource that can help you find reliable local installers, get a quote, and save up to $10,000 on installation. Luchia Brown, a Denver resident who qualified for a $400 rebate, said the program pushed her to finally buy an e-bike, and it revolutionized her routine. "It changed my life!" she told Mother Jones. June Churchill, a low-income resident facing unemployment and housing instability, said her e-bike was "totally crucial to getting and keeping my job." For her, the rebate meant access to more work, better housing, and freedom to move. Advertisement Advertisement "People love it," said Will Toor of the Colorado Energy Office. "There's nothing we've done that has gotten as much positive feedback." 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. DENVER (KDVR) Rain and thunderstorms move back into Denvers weather forecast, and will help make temperatures less hot for the middle of the workweek. Weather tonight: Showers ending, clearing Showers and thunderstorms will continue Monday evening, mostly in the mountains and eastern plains. Monday night, clouds will start to clear as low temperatures fall to the 60s. FOX31 Weather: View the latest Denver forecasts, maps and radar Weather tomorrow: Hot, afternoon storms Tuesday will start off with sunshine. Then, as high temperatures climb to the low to mid 90s, clouds will increase ahead of showers and thunderstorms. Looking ahead: More showers and storms; hot weekend The best chance for widely scattered showers and storms moves in Wednesday and Thursday. This will help limit high temperatures to the upper 80s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up for weather alerts from the Pinpoint Weather team A warming trend gets going Friday through the weekend. Friday, sunshine will aid in boosting high temperatures to the lower 90s ahead of a few afternoon thunderstorms. Then mid- to upper-90s return Saturday, Sunday and Monday alongside plenty of sunshine. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Alimat Aliyeva The Republic of Korea is actively exploring new strategies to ease tensions and normalize relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), amid rising concerns over stability on the Korean Peninsula. "The government is currently formulating a renewed policy framework and considering a range of diplomatic and humanitarian steps aimed at reducing tensions and improving inter-Korean relations," the official statement said. South Korean officials have emphasized that this initiative will combine dialogue, deterrence, and cooperation reflecting a more flexible and multi-layered approach compared to previous policies. The goal, they say, is to create an atmosphere conducive to peace and trust-building, while remaining firm on national security. The move comes amid a period of strained relations, with recent missile tests by the North and the suspension of key communication channels between Seoul and Pyongyang. Analysts suggest that any breakthrough will require careful coordination with international partners, especially the United States and China. According to diplomatic sources, possible steps under consideration include reactivating humanitarian aid programs, proposing military hotline re-establishment, and initiating cultural and academic exchanges to rebuild grassroots connections between the two Koreas. "This is not about appeasement, but about finding a realistic path forward," a senior South Korean official said on condition of anonymity. "We cannot remain locked in a cycle of provocation and silence." The last significant inter-Korean engagement occurred in 20182019, when a series of high-level summits sparked hope for lasting peace, only to later stall. The Souths new approach signals a cautious but deliberate attempt to revive momentum through consistent, small-scale confidence-building measures. Observers note that even symbolic gestures such as joint participation in sporting events or cooperative environmental initiatives could lay the groundwork for broader diplomatic breakthroughs. The split between the Colorado Springs City Council and Mayor Yemi Mobolade on the retail marijuana tax continued Tuesday when the council overrode Mobolade's first veto of his term in office. The City Council voted 6-3 at the meeting Tuesday to override the veto Mobolade issued for an amendment allowing the council to seek grant applications for outside groups that would use the tax revenue for public safety, mental health services and post-traumatic stress disorder treatment for veterans. The amendment kept in place by the veto override concerned when the council gets to have say in the spending of the tax revenue. During the city budgeting process, the Mayor's Office proposes the annual city budget and sends it to the City Council, which can make amendments and changes before approving it. The amendment allows the council to solicit grant applications and make recommendations to the mayor during the initial drafting of the budget. The amendment also confirmed that the city could choose to send the revenue to an outside nonprofit or agency, instead of a city department. Councilmembers Dave Donelson, Kimberly Gold and Nancy Henjum voted against the override. They were the same three votes against the original ordinance when it passed on July 8. Six votes were required for the override. Mobolade said when he issued the veto that the council's involvement would add more bureaucracy and delays to the process. Mobolade said the city needed to ensure the tax revenue would be used to address public safety issues and help fill the expected shortfalls in the 2026 budget. "Whether this veto stood or was overridden is no longer the point. The budget process will move forward as required by the Charter, and my proposed budget will reflect our citys shared priorities: safety, quality of life, and responsible governance," Mobolade said in a statement shortly after the vote. Featured Local Savings The sales tax on the recently legalized marijuana sales is expected to provide up to $1.4 million to Colorado Springs by the end of the year. Donelson said he opposed the measure because he felt it was a redundant step. City staff had previously told the council that they implicitly had the right to seek applications for the tax revenue whether or not the ordinance passed. Councilmembers who supported the change argued that the process was needed in order to meet the letter of the law passed by voters in 2022 establishing the marijuana sales tax program. Colorado Springs offers limited mental health services with the Colorado Springs Police Department and Colorado Springs Fire Department and no city programs that are specifically dedicated to PTSD. "The only way to fill the will of the voters is to fund two buckets that the city currently does not fund, nor should they," City Council President Lynette Crow-Iverson said. Gold said in a statement after the vote that residents "don't trust how we're handling their tax dollars," which was why the ballot measure passed in 2022 setting up the sales tax. It remains to be seen how the new process will play out during the budget process this year. The City Council needs to set up a new subcommittee in the next few months to field grant applications and a framework for how eligible uses will be vetted. Crow-Iverson said Tuesday afternoon that the framework would be established in the coming weeks. "Whether this will be in place in time for the 2026 budget is still to be determined, but our intention is to begin shaping the structure as soon as possible," Crow-Iverson said. Mobolade's chief of staff, Jamie Fabos, said the mayor's office was moving ahead with its proposal for the tax revenue in the 2026 budget. Fabos said the proposal would largely split the tax revenue between staffing for the 911 call center, providing new technology for the police, and the Fire Department's divisions that respond to mental health calls. A deportation flight to Iraq took off from the eastern German city of Leipzig on Tuesday morning, dpa has learnt. The aircraft, bound for Baghdad, took off at 10:52 am (0852 GMT), according to the Flightradar24 website. Germany's Interior Ministry did not initially provide any official confirmation when asked. A dpa photographer described how police prepared the flight's departure, with the passengers taken to the aircraft in police vehicles and two larger airport buses. Police officers accompanied the passengers individually up the stairs into the plane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Germany deported 816 Iraqis last year, according to the Interior Ministry. Some were sent to other EU countries to have their asylum applications processed, while 615 people were taken directly to Iraq. In February of this year, 47 people were deported from Hanover to Iraq. Last Friday, a deportation flight to Afghanistan also took off from Leipzig Airport. According to official figures, 81 offenders were on board that flight. The security situation in Iraq remains tense after decades of war and political unrest. There is currently no major fighting, but attacks continue by armed groups, including Iran-backed militias. There are also tensions with Kurdish groups in the north of the country. The UN says 1.2 million Iraqi people are internally displaced and three million people are dependent on humanitarian aid. Many returnees are unable to meet their basic needs on their own. In a 2023 survey of returning migrants conducted by the International Organization for Migration, almost half of respondents said they wanted to emigrate from Iraq again within six months. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Three men unlawfully residing in the Las Vegas area face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Nevada. Artemio Valencia-Rodriguez, 47; Uvalfre Mariano Cazares-Guillen, 33; and Ismael Artemio Hidalgo-Gomez, 27, are all charged with one count of deported alien found in the United States. Preliminary hearings for all three defendants are scheduled for August 4. According to allegations made during court proceedings, Valencia-Rodriguez and Cazares-Guillen, both citizens and nationals of Mexico, and Hidalgo Gomez, a citizen and national of Guatemala, were all previously deported and removed from the United States and reentered illegally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 1, Valencia-Rodriguez was remanded to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from the Clark County Detention Center. Valencia-Rodriguez was arrested by officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on February 8, 2024, for two counts of Lewdness by Person Over 18 with Child Less Than 14 and Kidnapping of Minor. Valencia-Rodriguez had previously been deported to Mexico on January 9, 2003, August 12, 2009, and August 17, 2009. He has two prior felony convictions for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and a felony conviction for Convicted Person Possessing a Firearm. On July 2, Cazares-Guillen was remanded to the custody of ICE from the Clark County Detention Center after he had been arrested by officers from Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Unlawful Act Imitation Controlled Substance. Cazares-Guillen had previously been deported to Mexico on or about August 18, 2018, after being convicted of Burglary While in Possession of Firearm and two counts of Robbery. On July 3, Hidalgo-Gomez was remanded to the custody of ICE from the Clark County Detention Center after he had been arrested by officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for Battery Domestic Violence. Hidalgo-Gomez had previously been deported to Guatemala on or about October 6, 2017, November 2, 2017, and February 4, 2021. Hidalgo-Gomez was convicted on January 19, 2021, of the same offense he is currently charged with in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. If convicted, Valencia-Rodriguez and Hidalgo-Gomez both face a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If convicted, Cazares-Guillen faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. The public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NILES TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) A woman found dead near Niles Monday had been shot, deputies say. The Berrien County Sheriffs Office says deputies were sent to the mobile home community Franklin Woods on 13th Street in Niles Township around 1 p.m. Courtney Hershberger, 29, had been found dead inside a home. Man arrested after womans suspicious death near Niles, deputies say On Monday, deputies said a 33-year-old man from Indiana had been arrested on open murder and weapons charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, they said the suspect and Hershberger were involved in a relationship. He was expected to be arraigned Wednesday afternoon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche intends to meet with convicted sex trafficker and Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell in the next several days, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Tuesday morning. Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021 for recruiting and grooming multiple teenage girls for over a decade to be sexually abused by Epstein. She was investigated and indicted during the first Trump administration and tried and convicted during the Biden administration. The meeting was confirmed by Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Markus, who has been requesting meetings with Trump administration officials and has argued that Maxwell did not receive a fair trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can confirm that we are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully," Markus said. "We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case. NBC News has reported that Maxwell did not ask for a plea agreement and was not offered one before her trial, according to statements federal prosecutors made at the time. After she was convicted in New York, she was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in New York City in 2005. (Patrick McMullan / Getty Images file) Blanche, in a statement Bondi posted Tuesday on X, said the Justice Department stood by its July 6 decision to release no further documents in the Epstein case, which sparked an uproar among Trump supporters that has proven to be one of the largest political challenges of Trumps second term. Trump has repeatedly called on his supporters to move on and focus on other topics, and at one point he called them stupid. Trump supporters criticized the decision, citing Bondis repeated promises that she would release documents related to the Epstein case. Multiple Republican lawmakers and right-wing influencers have also criticized Bondi, whom Trump has defended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid the backlash, the Justice Department filed a motion in federal court last week calling on a judge to release the associated grand jury transcripts of cases having to do with Epstein. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer, who is overseeing Maxwell's case, said in a court filing that the government has not adequately addressed the factors that district courts weigh in considering applications for disclosure, including why disclosure is being sought in the particular case and what specific information is being sought for disclosure. The government must file a memorandum of law no later than July 29, the judge said. U.S. District Judge John Berman, who is handling the government's request to unseal documents in Epstein's federal case, issued a similar order Tuesday. Both judges set a deadline of Aug. 5 for victims' attorneys to weigh in on the potential disclosures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jack Scarola, who is representing multiple Epstein victims, said he and his clients have yet to hear from government lawyers. Generally every time Epstein comes to their attention, it is a painful experience," Scarola said. "However, they are pleased about the ongoing attention because they recognize they could get the answers to many unanswered questions." Blaming other prosecutors In an unusual step, Blanche appeared to publicly criticize the work of the Justice Department prosecutors who investigated Epstein during George W. Bushs second term, Trumps first term and Bidens term. "Until now, no administration on behalf of the Department had inquired about her willingness to meet with the government." Blanche said, referring to Maxwell. "That changes now." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Justice demands courage," Blanche added in a separate X post. "For the first time, the Department of Justice is reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell to ask: what do you know?" Legal experts have questioned the credibility of Maxwell's claims, given her role in enabling Epstein's abuse of minors for over a decade. They have also criticized the Justice Departments investigation of Epstein during George W. Bush's administration. In a 2008 plea deal overseen by the U.S. attorney in South Florida at the time, Alex Acosta, Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges of procuring a person under 18 for prostitution and felony solicitation of prostitution. The agreement required Epstein to register as a sex offender and serve about a year in a Florida county jail. But he was able to leave almost daily for work, and he was allowed to have his own private security detail behind bars. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. (Mark Peterson / Pool via Getty Images file ) Eleven years later, Epstein was indicted on July 8, 2019, during Trump's first administration, on federal charges of sex trafficking minors in New York. His case ended after he was found dead in his jail cell roughly one month later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A medical examiners office ruled he died by suicide, a conclusion that Bondi and Blanche supported in the July 6 statement issued by the Justice Department and the FBI. Roughly a year later, Maxwell was indicted on federal charges on July 9, 2020. She was found guilty on Dec. 29, 2021, of multiple counts of conspiring to sex traffic minors and later sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. But her trial did not reveal proof that other men sexually abused the minors. Continued conspiracy theories For years, the cause of Epsteins death, his high-profile contacts, his initial plea agreement and the graphic details of the allegations have fueled conspiracy theories and demands that the government release all it knows about the case. Trump helped fuel the theories in the past, saying during his presidential campaign last year that he would have no problem looking into an Epstein client list. Jeffrey Epstein on March 28, 2017. (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP file) After she became attorney general, Bondi repeatedly promised to release documents related to the Epstein case. In a Fox News interview in February, she said an Epstein client list was sitting on my desk right now to review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino also called for the release of Epstein documents before Trump chose them for their current positions. But the July 6 joint statement by the Justice Department and the FBI said an exhaustive internal review of Epstein-related records had not produced enough evidence to prosecute any other people. "A systematic review revealed no incriminating 'client list,'" the agencies said. "There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions. We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties." Ghislaine Maxwell at the start of her trial in 2021. (Jane Rosenberg / Reuters) Multiple federal judges have rejected appeals of Maxwell's conviction, and her current appeal is before the Supreme Court. She is serving her 20-year sentence at a federal prison in Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., criticized Trumps handling of the Epstein case on social media Monday. But in an interview with NBC News on Tuesday, she said she believes Blanche is absolutely making the right move to go talk with Ghislaine Maxwell." Greene said, however, that she does not know whether any information Maxwell provides Blanche can be trusted. She should have to present evidence if shes making statements about people, Greene said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia speaking in Fort Lauderdale on July 22, 2025. (Screenshot via DeSantis Facebook) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and newly installed Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia are beginning a crackdown on local government spending by targeting predominantly Democratic Gainesville and Broward County. They outlined their plans during press conferences in Broward and Gainesville on Tuesday, wielding the states new DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) apparatus, modeled on Elon Musks efforts in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOGE emerged from a DeSantis executive order and legislation signed by the governor earlier this year. Failure by municipal leaders to cooperate could bring costly fines. We are going to start doing onsite DOGE inspections and audits of county and municipal governments, DeSantis said at his first event of the day in Fort Lauderdale. So, beginning on July 31, our teams composed of auditors and other skilled staff that are drawn from various state agencies, they will be using the authority that I mentioned to conduct reviews of the data systems, physical premises, and personnel of counties and cities that have thus far refused to cooperate with us to identify and report on any excessive spending patterns. Later Tuesday morning in Gainesville, Ingoglia said local governments are taking in extra revenue and some are spending it recklessly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I hate to say it, but you guys are living in a city where one of the worst offenders are, we believe, he added to the audience at the Florida Department of Transportation office in Gainesville. A letter sent Monday to Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward accused the city of increasing its property tax burden on homeowners by $30 million over four years, an increase of 80%. The letter bore signatures from Ingoglia, lead Florida DOGE official Eric Soskin, and Leda Kelly, director in DeSantis Office of Policy and Budget. Simultaneously, the authors noted, Gainesvilles annual budget had expanded by nearly $90 million per year. Questioning the numbers Ward told the Phoenix that those numbers are not accurate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our office is trying to figure out exactly where those numbers come from and how they arrived at them, he said. But I look forward to our ability to sit down with whoever it is and provide all of the information, but I just dont see it. Gainesvilles general fund has increased from around $130 million four years ago to around $155 million today, Ward said, with most of that increase for public safety. And I will stand behind that all day long, he said, adding that the results have been huge decreases in crime, fewer pedestrians and cyclists dying on city streets, and improvements in housing affordability. Were a well-run city and we can certainly give them all of the information they ask for. They will interpret it however they wish, but the people of Gainesville are pretty happy with us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regarding Broward County, DeSantis mentioned his disapproval of some of the County Commissions spending on items that he said included DEI initiatives, the Green New Deal, and nearly $800,000 for a parade float for the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, Calif. So theres a lot of things that really deserve scrutiny, he said. (The $790,000 buy was financed by Visit Lauderdale, which is funded by the countys tourist bed tax, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel). We have the authority, DeSantis added in Fort Lauderdale. This is no longer optional. We no longer have to ask, Mother May I? We can just simply say, You must comply under the law. Theres a new level of accountability in the state of Florida when it comes to fiscal spending, said Ingoglia, sworn in as the states new CFO on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Broward County hasnt increased its millage rates in years, property taxes have risen with property values. Ingoglia argued local governments should be decreasing their millages rate under those circumstances. If you want to keep the same revenue, the millage rate should be going down, not staying the same, he said. So, when your county comes out and says, Well, you know, our millage rate has stayed the same thats a tax increase in this scenario. Its not a tax decrease. Its not even taking in the same amount of revenue. So, millage rates should be going down. Not staying stable, and they should definitely not be going up. Penalties A provision added to the state budget that went into effect on July 1 gives the Executive Office of the Governor the power to compel local governments that receive state funding to provide access to personnel records, physical buildings, and data systems, with fines of up to $1,000 a day for failing to comply with each individual line item noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between 10 to 15 other local governments could receive similar treatment, including Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Manatee, and Hillsborough counties, according to the governor. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE State officials are preparing to conduct on-site audits of cities and counties across Florida, starting with Broward County and Gainesville, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday in press conferences in each place. Blasting local governments for DEI policies and administrators salaries, DeSantis said he plans to announce between 10 to 15 similar audits in the coming weeks, targeted at agencies that didnt voluntarily comply with his request to turn over financial data to his new Department of Governmental Efficiency, or DOGE. DeSantis and newly appointed Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, who accompanied the governor at his appearances, didnt mention any Central Florida jurisdictions in their crosshairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The audits, DeSantis and Ingoglia said, could reveal key information in their campaign for Florida voters to ban property taxes, a referendum they hope to pitch next year. Auditors are expected to begin their work July 31. You cannot have meaningful property tax reform unless you have meaningful spending reform, Ingoglia said in the news conference in Gainesville. Were on a mission to prove that the things they dont want to cut, they can cut. They just dont want to cut. Ingoglia was a state senator until DeSantis appointed him to fill the vacant state CFO job; he took office on Monday. DeSantis was flexing his new power to audit local governments, granted to him this year in Floridas budget. Under the policy, his office can analyze personnel, contracts, grants or for supporting DEI, referring to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, DeSantis argued in his Fort Lauderdale press conference that the Broward County administrator Monica Cepero had a bloated salary of close to half a million dollars per year. He also contended that Broward and Gainesville have DEI and Green New Deal policies. He contended both governments have let spending get out of control as their revenues have soared. City and county budgets have exploded in recent years even without increasing property tax rates, because soaring property values have bolstered collections. If you want the same revenue, the millage rate should be going down, not staying the same, Ingoglia said. So when your county comes out and says, well, you know, our millage rate has stayed the same, thats a tax increase in this scenario. Administrators of cities and counties are usually highly-paid positions overseeing the day-to-day operations of a local government. For instance, in Seminole County, county manager Darren Gray makes $273,000 annually, while Orlandos chief administrative officer Francis Flynn makes $295,714. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But one of the highest-paid administrators in Central Florida is a top political ally of DeSantis. Stephanie Kopelousos earns $400,000 a year as the administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which provides government services to Walt Disney World. A five-member DeSantis-appointed board hired Kopelousos in March 2024 after DeSantis recommended her for the job. She served as DeSantis director of legislative affairs and also worked on his unsuccessful presidential campaign. DeSantis and Ingoglia also hinted that law enforcement agencies, school districts and potentially tourism marketing agencies could be a focus of audits. You will see counties in a variety of parts of the state and different political compositions, DeSantis said. It could also be other entities that are affiliated with a specific county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis noted that Broward spent $800,000 on a Rose Bowl parade float last year though that expense was made by Visit Lauderdale, the countys tourism marketing arm funded by a portion of the Tourist Development Tax. The float was pitched as a way to bolster Browards tourism with a message inclusive to people of various ethnicities, sexual orientations and cultures, the agency said at the time. Broward has also spent a lot of money on all kind of pet causes, he said. There are a lot of things here that really deserve scrutiny. State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said she saw the splashy Tuesday rollout as a distraction from news reports questioning spending at the states so-called Alligator Alcatraz immigrant detention center in the Everglades. Gov. Ron DeSantis is operating a half-billion [dollar], no-bid contract detention facility in the Everglades, hiding contracts from the public, providing no clarity where the money is going to come from, said Eskamani, who is also a candidate for mayor of Orlando. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Orlando Sentinel also reported that Floridas fiscal watchdog agency hasnt audited any of the expenses and contracts issued under DeSantis 30-month-old, ongoing emergency declaration of a border crisis, despite a state law requiring such oversight. If anybody is going to be DOGEd right now, its Gov. Ron DeSantis, Eskamani said. Martin Comas and Skyler Swisher of the Sentinel staff and Anthony Man of the Sun Sentinel contributed. rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com DENVER (KDVR) The state commander of the Colorado Veterans of Foreign Wars, Fred Scheck, says they are not anti-bridge bridge they are just against the location, which currently is planned to go through where memorials to veterans currently stand. I believe that what hes doing is totally inappropriate because hes desecrating memorials dedicated to veterans, Scheck said. Owner of Denver car dealership says vehicles hit by gunfire, 2nd time in under a month Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This frustration comes from the proposed pedestrian bridge that will start near the memorials on the north side of the Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Denver, across the street from the Capitol building, and wind across Lincoln Street to the west steps of the state capitol. The governors office announced the bridge in May: A project designed to celebrate the states 150th birthday next year. When the project was announced, Governor Jared Polis released a statement saying in part: When Coloradans of all ages come to visit our state capitol, they can more easily access and enjoy Lincoln Veterans Park while enjoying and learning from art from local artists. This interactive experience will showcase Colorados history and look to our even stronger future. Scheck says it is not about not having a bridge or not choosing to celebrate the states history. His issue is with the location of the bridge. The Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway park landing rendering. (Courtesy of Studio Gang) The Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway Lincoln Pass rendering. (Courtesy of Studio Gang) The Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway canopy walk rendering. (Courtesy of Studio Gang) The Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway aerial rendering. (Courtesy of Studio Gang) The Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway as rendered by Studio Gang, StudioTrope, Mundus Bishop, and Olin and Thornton Thomasetti. (Renderings provided by the Colorado Governors Office) Why would he want to start that there; isnt there better places we could start this instead of desecrating our memorials? Scheck said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police investigating deadly hit-and-run crash that killed bicyclist in Denver Memorials and mementos to fallen soldiers and veterans can be seen throughout the park. A history Scheck says, would be left behind for the CO150 walkway. If they were to do this at the mall in Washington, D.C., at the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, what would people say? So why do we want to do it in the state of Colorado, which is one of the greatest states in this country? Scheck said. FOX31 reached out to the Governors office about the complaints listed by the VFW and other veterans groups but did not receive a response. If you have something you would like to add to the conversation, a survey was put forward by the state for input until midnight on July 21. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. The Colorado Springs Police Department is seeking additional victims as it has been conducting a monthslong sexual assault investigation into a former Colorado Springs elementary schoolteacher. Matthew Gogan, 66, was a teacher at the Stratton Meadows Elementary School, according to police. According to Harrison School District 2, Gogan was employed from Aug. 6, 2018, to May 22, 2020. The district said in a statement that "All updates about the allegations or arrest will come directly from CSPD. " The Police Department is investigating Gogan for an alleged sexual assault, which occurred about five years ago, Gazette news partner KOAA reported. Investigators were notified in April about the incident. Featured Local Savings During the investigation, police said another victim was contacted who had previously reported Gogan's behavior in the past, and on June 12, Gogan was arrested on suspicion of two counts of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust. According to a court document search, this is the only case Gogan has had brought against him in Colorado. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000 or the Pikes Peak Area Crimes Stoppers at 719-634-7867. By Joseph Ax (Reuters) -Texas Republicans on Monday launched a high-risk, high-reward redrawing of the state's 38 congressional districts, a move championed by President Donald Trump to protect the party's narrow U.S. House majority in next year's midterm elections. Trump has told reporters he expects the effort to yield as many as five additional House Republicans. Republicans hold a narrow 220-212 majority in the House, with three Democratic-held seats vacant after members' deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But redistricting experts said the plan could backfire if Republicans try to squeeze too many seats out of what is already considered a significantly skewed map. "Redrawing the Texas map is a dangerous proposition for House Republicans and their incumbents," Suzan DelBene, a Democratic congresswoman from Washington State and chair of the party's congressional campaign arm, told reporters. "It's basic math. For them to try to break up Democratic-held districts, they will have to weaken Republican districts, who already are facing political headwinds." Under the current lines, Republicans control 25 seats, nearly two-thirds of the districts in a state that went for Trump last year by a 56% to 42% margin. States are required to redistrict every 10 years based on the U.S. Census but the Texas map was passed just four years ago by the Republican-dominated legislature. While mid-cycle redistricting occasionally takes place, it is usually prompted by a change in power at the legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is totally unprecedented for a party to redraw its own map," said Michael Li, a redistricting expert at New York University's Brennan Center for Justice. "I can't think of another situation where the party got what it wanted, did very well and then decided to redraw its own map." Texas Democrats expressed disapproval on the state Senate floor on Monday and criticized Republicans for pursuing redistricting during a special legislative session that will also address funding for flood prevention in the wake of the deadly July 4 flash flooding that killed more than 130. But they have little recourse in a legislature dominated by Republicans. "I think this is a tremendous waste of time," Senator Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat, said. Asked about Democratic criticisms, a spokesman for Governor Greg Abbott previously said the governor was "dedicated to delivering results on issues important to Texans" during the session, including flood relief and tax cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PACKING AND CRACKING Gerrymandering, the process of manipulating district boundaries to benefit one party, typically includes both "packing" and "cracking." Packing involves cramming as many opposition voters into a district as possible, making it easier to win the surrounding districts; cracking divides opposition voters into multiple districts, diluting their electoral power. When lawmakers push too far, however, they run the risk of creating a so-called "dummymander," in which the margins are thin enough that the other party ends up winning districts in a voting shift. Trump's Republicans already face vulnerabilities ahead of the 2026 elections. Only 41% of Americans approve of the job he is doing, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling, and the president's party historically underperforms during midterm elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats privately concede that Republicans could fairly easily draw a new map to oust two vulnerable Democrats, Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, whose heavily Latino south Texas districts swung toward Trump in 2024. But gaining five seats is a tougher task. "This has dummymander written all over it," said New York University's Li. "When you gerrymander, you're making a bet that you know what the future of the state will look like. In some states, that's a safe bet; in Texas, it's very much not." Texas is one of the fastest growing states in the nation, adding more than 1,500 people a day from 2023 to 2024, according to the state demographer. Texas lawmakers need only look back a few years to see how a seemingly safe gerrymander can shift. In 2018, during Trump's first term, Democrats flipped two seats and came close to winning a handful of other previously solid Republican seats, as suburban voters swung away from Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the 2020 census, Texas Republicans responded by drawing a map designed to protect their incumbents. Only three of the state's 38 districts are seen as competitive under the current lines. In calling for the special session, Abbott cited a letter from Trump's Justice Department that alleged four majority-minority districts all held by Democrats were unconstitutional racial gerrymanders. Democrats and civil rights groups have warned that breaking up majority-minority districts will dilute the voting power for people of color. The existing map is already the subject of several lawsuits claiming that it intentionally discriminated against minority voters. Some Democrats have also suggested fighting fire with fire by redistricting in states they control. California Governor Gavin Newsom has floated the idea of sidestepping the state's redistricting commission to draw a new, more Democrat-friendly map. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; editing by Paul Thomasch and Lincoln Feast.) ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. (WRBL) New court documents reveal two men were allegedly involved in a burglary just hours before a deadly home invasion left an Alexander City man deadand one of them is now also charged with capital murder. Steven Abercrombie, 22, and Joshua Travis Etchison are both facing burglary charges stemming from an incident around 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, 2025. According to sworn complaints, both men unlawfully entered an unoccupied storage shed with the intent to steal property. While Etchison is currently ONLY charged in connection with the burglary, Abercrombie was arrested hours later and charged in a separate, deadly crime. Investigators say just after 8:00 a.m. the same morning, Abercrombie and an unknown co-defendant forced their way into a mobile home on Washington Street, also in Alexander City. Once inside, Abercrombie allegedly pulled a gun on 32-year-old Toyias Gopher and demanded money. Gopher was shot multiple times and died at the scene. At this time, investigators have not said if Etchison is the co-defendant in the homicide or if they suspect another defendant to be charged. Toyias Gopher was well liked in his community and a father of children he adored. Abercrombie is facing Capital Murder during a Robbery, Burglary 3rd Degree, and Theft of Property 2nd Degree in connection with both incidents. He was booked into the Tallapoosa County Jail later that evening and is being held without bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tallapoosa County District Attorneys Office recused itself from the case due to a conflict of interest involving one of its employees. Within minutes of being notified, District Attorney Mike Segrest requested the Alabama Attorney Generals Office take over. The District Attorneys office has been fire-walled from this investigation from the very beginning and does not have any information related to the investigation, Segrest wrote on social media. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is leading the homicide case. ALEA says the investigation remains active, and more details may be released 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 WRBL. Shortly before a highly anticipated public meeting Monday evening about its ideas for a sprawling residential development, Crown Equities abruptly dropped out a decision that stops the project from advancing until September at soonest. The Minneapolis-based developer in mid-June showed preliminary plans for nearly 300 apartments and townhouses during an informal talk with the Farmington Planning and Zoning Commission. Last week, it put forward a revision with just 228 units, all rental or ownership townhouses and single-family homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was scheduled to present that revised plan Monday night and introduce analyses projecting a relatively modest impact on school enrollment but a $1.6 million-a-year net increase to the tax rolls. However, attorney Robert Reeve of the local Scully, Nicksa & Reeve law firm advised the town Friday that Crown was withdrawing from the informal talks, but provided no further detail. Neither Reeve nor Crown could be reached Monday. The company is still free to request further informal talks or to submit a formal zoning application. However, the commission takes August off and isnt scheduled to meet again until Sept. 8. Residents have been talking extensively about the project since the first informal discussion June 23. Its one of the largest residential proposals in Farmington in recent years, and would cover 65 acres between the Farmington River and Route 4, a thoroughfare that is already badly traffic clogged at the morning and evening rush hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commissioners on June 23 raised questions, particularly about the impact on school enrollments. Moderate-income Connecticut suburbs have grown increasingly wary of large residential projects likely to draw families, since the state provides relatively little education aid compared to what it gives poor suburbs and large cities. Farmington reported spending a little under $20,200 per pupil in 2022-23, and its enrollment currently hovers around 4,100. Last week, Crown Equities submitted a report from one of its consultants, Goman + York, concluding that the impact of the 228-unit plan would be about 50 new students. Demographic changes in population structure (age), household type, and household size, are disrupting conventional understandings of housing, school district enrollments, and municipal fiscal impacts, wrote Donald Poland of Goman + York. As a result of demographic change, Farmingtons existing housing stock only generates 0.382 enrollments per occupied housing unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From 2007 to 2023, Farmington added 1,130 newly constructed housing units, while school district enrollments declined by 15 pupilsstagnant enrollment growth over 16 years, he wrote. The 228 proposed rental and ownership housing units are projected to generate a total of 100 school district enrollments (0.44/unit), of which 50 are estimated to be new-to-district enrollments (0.22/unit). The consultants report suggested the Enclave would add about $895,000 a year in new municipal expenses, with $548,000 of that going to pay for new school students. But the complex would also add about $2.5 million in new property taxes, car taxes and sewer use fees. Goman+York finds the 228 proposed rental and ownership housing units will generate approximately $1,647,988 in net positive revenues annually, Poland wrote. In addition, the proposed 228-unit development will pay approximately $1,104,525 in one-time development fees. A Facebook page called Citizens for Farmington has questioned the practice of allowing developers to hold informal, pre-application talks with developers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Require applicants to complete the application process before being allowed to present at public meetings and solicit feedback from commissioners, said a recent post, which also said residents should be entitled to speak at all such meetings. State law has permitted pre-application discussions since at least 2003, and many communities use them as a way to give developers an early sense of community reservations or questions before committing to the expense of a full-scale proposal and presentation. By law, the public is allowed to attend all of those talks. STORY: :: Hundreds of students demand transparency from authorities after a deadly campus air force jet crash :: Dhaka, Bangladesh :: July 22, 2025 Among six demands raised during the demonstration, the students called for the government to make public the accurate number of bodies found. A government statement posted on social media called their demands "reasonable", and that after speaking with representatives of the protesting students, a data center has been established at the school that contains information about the deceased, injured and missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The data is being regularly updated from this center," the statement added. At least 25 children were among the 27 dead pulled from scorched buildings after the Bangladesh Air Force jet on a training mission crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in Dhaka on Monday, officials said on Tuesday. NEW DELHI (Reuters) -At least 25 children were among the 27 people killed when a Bangladesh Air Force plane crashed into a college and school campus in the capital city of Dhaka on Monday. Here is a look at what happened. HOW DID THE CRASH OCCUR? The fighter aircraft took off at 1:06 p.m. (0706 GMT) from the air force base in Dhaka's Kurmitola for a routine training mission, but experienced a mechanical failure soon after. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pilot attempted to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas to minimize civilian casualties and damage, but his efforts were unsuccessful and the jet crashed into a building. WHERE DID THE PLANE GO DOWN? The two-storey building that the plane rammed into belonged to the Milestone School and College in Dhaka's Diabari area, located about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the air force base. Visuals from the scene showed the mangled remains of the aircraft dented into the side of the building, dismantling its iron grills and creating a gaping hole in the structure. HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE KILLED? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bodies of at least 27 people, including 25 children, a teacher, and the jet's pilot, were pulled out from the debris. More than 100 children and 15 other people were also injured, of whom 78 are still admitted in hospitals with burn injuries. WHICH AIRCRAFT WAS INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT? The jet was an F-7 fighter aircraft - the final and most advanced variant in China's Chengdu J-7/F-7 aircraft family, according to Jane's Information Group. Bangladesh had signed a contract in 2011 for 16 such planes, and deliveries were completed by 2013. HOW HAVE AUTHORITIES REACTED? The Bangladesh Air Force has formed a high-level investigation committee to probe the cause of the accident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Muhammad Yunus, the head of the country's interim government, has also vowed to "take all necessary measures" to investigate its cause. In the meantime, the government says it is providing "all kinds of assistance" to those affected. (Compiled by Sakshi Dayal; Edited by Saad Sayeed) SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) The Chatham County District Attorney (DA) is requesting business owners preserve any possible evidence in last months shooting at Oglethorpe Mall as her office builds cases against the five people have been arrested. Even the slightest, tiniest bit of evidence that you think might not matter actually can make the difference in a case that is this big, Chatham County DA Shalena Cook-Jones said. Cook-Jones office sent letters to every business owner at the Oglethorpe Mall and mall security earlier this month, requesting they preserve anything that could be considered evidence in the case of the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WSAV obtained a copy of one of the letters. You can imagine in a situation like this one where its a very hectic scene and you have first responders there whose job it is to make sure first everyone is safe, people are not really thinking about could and could not be evidence. It could be a shoe. It could be a drop of blood. It can be a piece of clothing, a shell casing, she said. Court dates set for Oglethorpe Mall shooting suspects While the letters are technically only a request, the DA said there could be consequences for intentionally concealing evidence. Where we think that evidence might exist, we could send a subpoena for it and obtain it that way, she said. If we found that something did exist and perhaps it was destroyed despite the fact that we told them we needed it, there are a number of things that could possibly happen. There are charges for obstruction or tampering with evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The District Attorneys office also has only a matter of months to make their case to a grand jury, the body that will ultimately decide whether the case should go to trial. Several of the suspects have been brought into custody. By law, they have to be indicted within 90 days, or they will be automatically entitled to a bond of some amount, Cook-Jones said. If any of the accused are granted bond, they would not have to wait in jail until they stand trial. However, according to the DA, the clock isnt the only thing her office will be battling. In the day of social media where nothing is sacred and people are throwing their opinions around about what they think should or should not happen, that makes it very hard to get a fair trial here, and thats something well also likely be fighting against once this case is resolved. 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 WSAV-TV. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Ariel Levinson-Waldman started the nonprofit Tzedek D.C. in 2017 with a wide variety of services for residents in D.C., including helping clients erase or avoid medical debt. Levinson-Waldman said medical debt disproportionately impacts lower-income residents. The credit report is so important to getting access to a job, access to loans, access to rental housing or housing, Levinson-Walman said. Peoples physical health is impacted because there is fear of medical debt and so people will just not go to the doctor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DMV Doers: Virginia nurse helps colleagues get through challenging times Tzedek has erased more than $60 million in debt for D.C. residents, but more work needs to be done. Waldman-Levinson and his team participate in more than 100 events each year, and they have an awareness campaign educating people on ways to protect their credit. Ultimately, we see that this harms an entire community, Levinson-Waldman said. It hits the Black communities and the disabled, so its an issue of racial justice and disability justice and doing the right thing. Levinson-Waldman said President Donald Trumps Big Beautiful Bill will impact healthcare coverage for millions of Americans. He said that they will have to work even harder to help D.C. residents who will be affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means less healthcare and less trips to the doctor, he said. People will not be getting the care they need. 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. The Community College of Denvers president will soon lead all of Colorados public community colleges. Marielena DeSanctis was named the sole finalist to succeed Joe Garcia as the Colorado Community College Systems chancellor Tuesday. Garcia announced his retirement in February and the system began a nationwide search for his successor the following month. The systems board members touted her decorated 26-year career in education, leadership and collaboration toward improving postsecondary education and workforce training. Dr. DeSanctis brings a unique and far-reaching combination of experience across K-12 public education, the private sector, workforce systems, and higher education, said Landon Mascarenaz, board chair for the Colorado Community College System. She emerged from a highly accomplished pool of national and local candidates. During the process, the Board became inspired about her vision to move CCCS and Colorado into the future. She has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to inclusive excellence, innovation, and breakthrough initiatives throughout her career, and the Board is confident she will be the bold and collaborative leader to guide CCCS to achieve our vision of being the first and best for every learner in Colorado. DeSanctis has served as president for the Community College of Denver since 2021 and currently serves as co-chair of the National Academies of Sciences, a board member of the Downtown Denver Partnership and a board member of the Colorado Education Initiative. Earlier this month, she was selected to join the Colorado Business Roundtable Board of Directors, who work to address economic challenges across Colorado. In its announcement, the college system highlighted her efforts in student success, workforce-driven innovation and strengthened partnerships across the Denver metro region. This has resulted in increased enrollment, new career-aligned programs, expanded concurrent enrollment opportunities at the Community College of Denver. Featured Local Savings Additionally, the college has secured grants and philanthropic investments toward holistic student services and workforce-aligned academic pathways, and DeSanctis has worked to advance legislation to expand access to high school diplomas through community colleges. I am thrilled to congratulate Dr. Marielena DeSanctis for being named the sole finalist for Chancellor of the Colorado Community College System, Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement. Community colleges open doors to opportunity for students, save families thousands of dollars while teaching important skills, and are a pathway to fill in-demand, good-paying jobs, and I am confident that under the forward-thinking and experienced leadership of Dr. DeSanctis, Colorados community college students and our economy will thrive. Before her time in Denver, DeSanctis assumed various roles in K-12 and higher education that included teaching, principal, assistant superintendent and provost positions across Florida. She first earned a degree in mechanical engineering and began her career in the private sector, which she said inspired her approach to working in systems and collaborating with different groups and municipalities. The CCCS Strategic Plan calls on us to be the first and best path to prosperity for every learner and that vision resonates deeply with my own, DeSanctis said in a statement. Together with our colleges, communities, and business partners, we will accelerate economic mobility, expand career-connected learning, and transform the way Colorado experiences education and opportunity. The board plans to take a formal vote of confirmation at its August meeting and anticipates a start date in early fall. The Florida native and daughter of a Cuban immigrant, DeSanctis will be the first Latina in Colorado history to lead the Community College System, if confirmed. How do you reduce greenhouse gas emissions from one of the largest sources buildings without breaking the bank or the grid? To answer that question, the utility Puget Sound Energy (PSE) turned to DNV, a global risk management and assurance consultancy, to examine the benefits of heat pumps. While heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technologies have vastly improved in efficiency over time, the intervals at which people replace these systems arent that frequent, so it may take decades to upgrade a carbon-intensive but otherwise properly functioning HVAC system. Utility programs to incentivize the replacement of older systems with more efficient ones can speed up the process, but in colder regions, that typically means simply replacing a system fueled by oil or natural gas with a more efficient but still fossil-fueled system. Electric heat was simply too inefficient and expensive for colder climates until recently. Fortunately, the heat pumps on the market today have matured to the point where they are effective in places with colder climates, like Washington state. But they still need a little push for widespread adoption. When data met heat pumps PSE supports approximately 1.1 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers and is at the forefront of heat pump deployment across the Evergreen State. The utility, which has worked with DNV on energy projects since 2010, wanted more data on potential customer and system impacts of dual-fuel heat pumps. I was already in conversation with the customer on a potential project related to load forecasting when a question came up around dual-fuel heat pumps, said DNV Principal Consultant Kevin Cracknell. My response was that DNV has the data and expertise to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So DNV and PSE devised a pilot program that provided incentives for two types of heating and cooling systems: dual-fuel heat pump systems and cold-climate heat pump systems. The pilot targeted customers who were either interested in adding a hybrid heat pump system to their natural gas furnace or replacing their electric forced hot-air furnace with a cold-climate heat pump. With average winter temperatures between 30 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, PSEs territory is an ideal place to deploy heat pumps. But electrification comes with challenges. If the majority of PSEs 900,000-plus gas customers made the switch to electric heat pumps, the impact on the grid could be significant. Because the impacts on energy savings and peak load from heat pumps hadnt been closely studied, PSE needed to fully understand the implications before it considered expanding the program. When it comes to energy efficiency programs, utilities need information backed up by sound science. The DNV team provided critical information on heat pumps to PSE so they can move the energy transformation forward, said Geoff Barker, a principal consultant at DNV and the sponsor of this project. To get a clear picture of typical consumption patterns, DNV completed a preliminary analysis using unique localized data, including residential saturation surveys, daily gas data, and interval advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) data. The data was available through DNVs existing end-use data development work as well as load research completed to support PSEs gas and electric utility rate cases. Using this data, DNV examined consumption patterns on the basis of outside temperature, home size, and heating technology. DNVs preliminary analysis enabled PSE to confidently validate assumptions on energy use and changes in load, which got the utility team excited for a more detailed study. Then PSE engaged DNV to evaluate how much money energy program participants saved and how the new equipment changed peak demand during the heating season. Both these statistics are important participants need to see at least a small dent in their energy bills to make their investment worthwhile, and the utility needs to make sure the grid can handle the increased demand. Measuring energy savings was relatively simple. DNV analyzed billing data to estimate annual heating savings and hourly peak demand, modeled consumption data, and then estimated annual savings using weather-normalized daily consumption and peak-demand impacts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A sample of dual-fuel heat pumps were also submetered to determine when the heat pumps or gas furnaces were being used and at what outdoor temperatures. To measure the difference between the modeled and actual consumption, the submeter data was also compared with the consumption data in the AMI billing analysis. From an energy savings perspective, results were positive: The pilot program showed that all the program participants reduced the total amount of energy used to heat their homes. For participants who switched from an electric furnace to a heat pump, all the energy savings were due to the greater efficiency of the cold-climate heat pump. Results were mixed for participants who switched from a gas furnace to a heat pump and for those who installed a hybrid system. While their electricity use increased, that was countered by a reduction in gas consumption, and thus a reduction in their overall home energy use. Just as important to PSE was the programs effectiveness. DNV explored the experiences of the customers who switched to hybrid systems, the contractors who installed the equipment, and PSE staff to understand all aspects of the program. Unlike the energy savings evaluation, this analysis depended on interviews and surveys, and provided PSE with insights on how to improve the program moving forward. The good news is that all participants were very satisfied with the new equipment. Customers rated their experience with the program very highly, and a majority of them would recommend a similar heat pump system to their friends and family. For energy savings, the average satisfaction rating for customers with a cold-climate heat pump was 4 out of 5. For owners of a hybrid system, it was slightly lower, 3.9 out of 5, likely because the overall savings were a bit less than expected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats next for heat pumps in Washington state? DNV identified several areas where the program could be improved, including the need for more clarity on how to optimally run the hybrid heat pump systems (some participants had their gas heating kick in at temperatures as high as 50F, and others let it run at any temperature). PSE plans to provide incentives for hybrid heat pump systems for the next 5 years and will continue to evaluate the energy savings, peak demand, and carbon emissions impacts over the next few years. Additionally, future participants and their systems will provide more data, which will help increase understanding of how hybrid heat pump systems impact energy consumption giving the industry a greater understanding of this emerging opportunity. PSE plans to provide incentives for hybrid heat pump systems for the next 5 years and will continue to evaluate the energy savings, peak demand, and carbon emissions impacts of the systems over the next few years. PSEs pilot heat pump program is laying the foundation for significant decarbonization in Washington state, ensuring that its customers are saving energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and keeping warm all winter long. But the impact of this pilot program goes beyond the states borders. The data and insights DNV has amassed are a solid foundation for utilities, contractors, and customers to understand the value of heat pumps as an effective tool for decarbonization. A legal alternative to marijuana widely available in shops around Europe has a "clear link" to hospital admissions for psychosis, a mental illness where a person is unable to tell what is real, patient records in Ireland suggest. There is "sufficient evidence" that HHC, sold in vapes and so-called edibles in some countries, is increasing mental illnesses, according to a team of doctors and researchers from University Hospital Galway, University College Galway and Trinity College Dublin. HHC, or hexahydrocannabinol, is a widely available semi-synthetic cannabinoid that emulates the effect of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive substance in cannabis that causes smokers to feel "high" or "stoned." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HHC products appeared as a "legal high" in shops in the early 2020s in Europe and North America, but have since been banned in some countries such as Germany, the UK, France and Sweden. The researchers examined medical records of patients treated for psychotic illness at the hospital to assess for intake of HHC or other drugs prior to admission. "Of the 214 total admissions for psychotic illness, 28 admissions (13.1%) were preceded by use of HHC, nine of whom used only HHC," the team said in a paper published by BJPsych, a British College of Psychiatry and Cambridge University Press journal. "Sixteen (34%) admissions of first-episode psychosis were preceded by HHC use, with seven of these using only HHC," the team added, recommending that doctors should "explicitly enquire about the use of HHC in patients presenting with first-episode and relapse of psychotic illness." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Such psychoses appear to be more prominent in young people with early-phase psychosis, and highlights the need for authorities to change legislation to avoid further harm," the team said. According to the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, it "beggars belief" that HHC is available without restrictions. There is "a clear link between consumption of HHC and the onset of psychosis," the College said in a statement posted on social media. Dog the Bounty Hunters stepson, Gregory Zecca, has reportedly been put on a psychiatric hold after he shot and killed his own 13-year-old son in what is being described as a "freak accident." The individuals representing the family told TMZ that the hold was for Zecca's protection, as there is reportedly some fear that he may try to hurt himself in his grief. The representatives also noted that his current state is grief from losing his son, and not an admission of guilt related to the shooting. At the time of publishing, no charges have been brought against anyone involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zecca reportedly has not been able to speak with his family or the police because he has been heavily sedated since the shooting. Under Floridas Baker Act also called the Florida Mental Health Act people exhibiting serious signs of mental illness or who are acting in ways that indicate they could be a threat to themselves or others can be placed under an involuntary medical hold, though it is unclear if Zecca's hold is voluntary or involuntary. Gregory Zecca, the stepson of Duane Chapman aka Dog the Bounty Hunter has been placed into a psychiatric hold after he accidentally shot and killed his 13-year-old son, Anthony, in their Naples, Florida home (Instagram/@franciedogchapman/Instagram) The shooting occurred at Zecca's apartment in Naples, Florida on Saturday evening. According to the Collier County Sheriff's Office, Anthony Zecca's son was shot in his neck, just above his sternum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies were dispatched to the apartment around 8:08 pm local time. Anthony was pronounced dead at 8:21 pm the same evening. The firearm involved in the deadly shooting was sitting on the family's kitchen island. Zecca, who works with his stepfather, Duane Chapman also known as Dog the Bounty Hunter is a noted gun enthusiast, and would take Anthony to gun ranges, often posting photos on Instagram, according to the New York Post. Chapman and his sixth wife, Francie Zecca's mother issued a joint statement following Anthony's death. "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 couple said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Collier County Sheriff's Office told The Daily Mail that an investigation is ongoing, and that the tragic event was an "isolated incident." According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unintentional injury is a leading cause of death among U.S. children between the ages of 0 and 17, and firearms are a leading cause of such injuries, second only to motor vehicle accidents. Approximately half of unintentional firearm injury deaths that affect children happen at their homes when guns are not properly locked away. (NewsNation) A House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee voted Tuesday to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex offender and longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, as the Republicans on Capitol Hill push for the publication of more information related to Epsteins case. During an unrelated subcommittee hearing, Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., moved to direct the panel to authorize and issue a subpoena for Maxwell to appear for a deposition, which passed by voice vote. Recently, Rep. Burchett sent a letter to Chairman Comer requesting a subpoena for Ghislaine Maxwells testimony. In response, Chairman Comer directed Rep. Burchett to introduce a motion to subpoena Ms. Maxwell for a deposition, allowing the Committee to formally consider whether to proceed, a spokesperson for the committee said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeffrey Epstein timeline: Sex trafficking, scandals, Ghislaine Maxwell The Committee will seek to subpoena Ms. Maxwell as expeditiously as possible. Since Ms. Maxwell is in federal prison, the Committee will work with the Department of Justice and Bureau of Prisons to identify a date when Committee can depose her. The move by Burchett comes amid an outcry from Republicans over the Trump administrations handling of the Epstein files which has left the House in disarray for the second consecutive week. The Department of Justice anticipates soon meeting with Maxwell, according to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Ghislaine Maxwell on her fathers yacht, The Lady Ghislaine. (Photo by Mathieu Polak/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images) This photo provided by the New York State Sex Offender Registry shows Jeffrey Epstein, March 28, 2017. (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP, File) A house stands above a boat on Little St. James Island, owned by fund manager Jeffrey Epstein, in St. Thomas on July 10, 2019. (Marco Bello/Bloomberg via Getty Images) American financier Jeffrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell at a party in honor of David Tang, hosted by Michael and Shakira Caine in London on June 20, 1997. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images) Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Audrey Strauss, announces charges against Ghislaine Maxwell during a July 2, 2020, news conference in New York City. (Photo by Johannes EISELE / GETTY-AFP) Ghislaine Maxwell, founder of the TerraMar Project, attends a news conference on the Issue of Oceans in Sustainable Development Goals, at United Nations headquarters on June 25, 2013. (United Nations Photo/Rick Bajornas via AP, File) The DOJ has reached out to Maxwells counsel about meeting with federal prosecutors because President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence, Blanche wrote in a statement shared by Attorney General Pam Bondi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I anticipate meeting with Ms. Maxwell in the coming days, he continued. Until now, no administration on behalf of the Department had inquired about her willingness to meet with the government. That changes now. Maxwells attorney, David Oscar Markus, confirmed he and his client are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case, Markus wrote. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on sex trafficking charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in a New York City jail in 2019, was known for his high-profile social life with associates that included Trump, former President Bill Clinton and others. Epstein files fallout plagues Trump administration Trumps FBI and DOJ have come under fire following a joint memo released earlier this month that declared Epstein did not have a client list and died by suicide in 2019 in a New York City jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has grown frustrated with his followers seeking transparency about the case, saying in a lengthy social media post last week that the files were nothing but a scam. Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this bulls, hook, line, and sinker, Trump wrote. They havent learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years. MLK Jr. assassination files released after 60 years In February, the DOJ released some files regarding Epstein to a small group of conservative influencers, as part of Trumps push for declassifying high-profile cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ last week requested the federal court unseal transcripts from the grand jury that investigated Epstein before his 2019 death in a New York City jail. NewsNation affiliate The Hill 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. NEED TO KNOW Ghislaine Maxwell said she doesn't believe Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide while in jail in 2019 She made the claim in over 300 pages of transcripts and audio recordings from her conversation with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, which were released on Aug. 22 Maxwell, one of Epstein's closest confidantes, was convicted on child sex trafficking charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison Ghislaine Maxwell has broken her silence on her late confidante Jeffrey Epstein's death. On Friday, Aug. 22, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released over 300 pages of transcripts and audio recordings from the convicted child sex trafficker's conversation with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, which took place in late July over the course of two days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein's convicted "madam" met with Blanche, 51, to discuss what she may know about crimes committed by the disgraced financier, as well as what she believes happened to Epstein who died inside a jail cell in 2019 at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City, in what officials ruled a suicide. Speaking with the official in Donald Trump's presidential administration, Maxwell, 63, who was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, claimed that she doesn't believe Epstein died by suicide. She instead speculated that she thinks his death may have been the result of an "internal situation" in jail. "In prison, where I am, they will kill you, or they will pay somebody can pay a prisoner to kill you for $25 worth of commissary," Maxwell said. "That's about the going rate for a hit with a lock today." When asked if she thought somebody on the outside would have wanted Epstein killed, Maxwell said that, while it is "of course" possible, she didn't "see it" happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But I don't know of any reason why, and I don't believe in the blackmail or in any of this, I don't think Epstein had a hit on like that," she continued. "If it is indeed murder, I believe it was an internal situation." Maxwell added that she also didn't have any first-hand knowledge or speculation to offer, in relation to theories that someone had Epstein killed to "silence" him. "I do not have any reason to believe that," she said. "And I also think it's ludicrous, because if that I also happen to think if that is what they wanted, they would've had plenty of opportunity when he wasn't in jail," Maxwell further explained. "And if they were worried about blackmail or anything from him, he would've been a very easy target." The transcripts were released to the public as Maxwell angled last month for a pardon from President Trump, who she said in the interviews was "friendly" with Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She claimed of the pair, that she "only saw them in social settings" and "never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way." (The claims from Maxwell come amid renewed scrutiny of the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case.) Maxwell's lawyer, David Markus, previously said his client didn't hold back when speaking with Blanche about what she knows in relation to Epstein who was charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors, for which he pleaded not guilty, before his death. Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty; Sarah Yenesel-Pool/Getty Ghislaine Maxwell, Todd Blanche Ghislaine Maxwell, Todd Blanche Maxwell, one of Epstein's closest confidantes, was convicted on child sex trafficking charges in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. She is currently incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution Tallahassee in Florida. Earlier this year, Attorney General Pam Bondi said that Epstein's client list was "sitting on my desk" and waiting to be released, only for the DOJ to declare later that no such client list existed and there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute any potential co-conspirators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, 79, himself, who was associated with Epstein for many years before a falling-out in the mid-2000s, had pleaded with his political base to stop talking about Epstein, calling the ongoing focus on the disgraced pedophile unbelievable. The politician specifically has faced questions about his past association with Epstein, especially after his former top lieutenant, Elon Musk, posted that Trump was "in the Epstein files." Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a person under 18 for prostitution in 2008 and served over a year in jail, following a widely-criticized plea deal with federal prosecutors. He was arrested again in 2019 on sex trafficking charges, but was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell a month later. Epstein's death was ruled a suicide, but the circumstances of his death remain controversial and have generated suspicion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein's brother, Mark Epstein, previously said that he has grown more suspicious over time that his brother was murdered. More and more, I believe he was murdered," he told NBC News. "And everyone who looks at all the information thats out there on facts comes to the same conclusion." If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People Carolyn Feinstein and her husband Joshua Aaron A Department of Justice (DoJ) employee claims she was fired in retribution after bosses discovered her husband was the creator of an anti-ICE app. Carolyn Feinstein said she was unfairly removed from her post because of the role her husband, Joshua Aaron, played in developing ICEBlock. The ICEBlock app sends warnings to users when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are nearby. Earlier this month, Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, issued a warning to Mr Aaron, accusing him of threatening the lives of ICE agents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Feinstein received a letter on Friday saying her role has been terminated at the DoJ, where she has worked for almost a decade. This was retribution. I was fired because of the actions, or activism, of my husband, Ms Feinstein told The Daily Beast. It is insulting to me because I dedicated myself and my career to serving the people of the United States, and now the DoJ is claiming I was attempting to harm some of them. And thats not true. Joshua Aaron said he launched the app to fight back against the immigration raids Ms Feinstein, who works in bankruptcy fraud, said she was targeted because of her husbands work. Mr Aaron infuriated Trump supporters earlier this month when he gave an interview to CNN discussing his reasons for developing ICEBlock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The app allows users to pin on a map whenever they spot ICE agents, which then sends a notification to other users within a five-mile radius to help them evade arrest. Mr Aaron said he launched the app in April because he wanted to do something to fight back against Mr Trumps ICE raids, which he said were reminiscent of Nazi Germany. Ms Bondi criticised the app developer, saying the app puts officers at risk of injury by revealing their locations. Hes giving a message to criminals where our federal officers are, and he cannot do that. And we are looking at it, she said in a press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are looking at him. And he better watch out because thats not a protected speech. That is threatening the lives of our law enforcement officers throughout this country. ICEBlock allows users to record sightings of ICE officials - ICEBlock Tom Homan, Donald Trumps border tsar, also blasted CNN for pushing the app and urged the DoJ to investigate the matter. Following the backlash, Ms Feinstein claimed she informed the DoJ of her relationship with Mr Aaron because the couple began receiving threats. Since we live in the same house, I thought it was pertinent to contact my employer, the DoJ, to notify them of death threats that were coming in and just in case I needed to be out of the office, so they would be prepared, she told the Daily Beast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A DoJ committee apparently contacted Ms Feinstein to ask her about her interests in the app. She is a minority shareholder of All U Chart, Inc., the company that holds the IP for ICEBlock. Last week, the far-Right influencer Laura Loomar posted on X that she had identified Ms Feinstein as Mr Aarons spouse and urged the DoJ to fire her. Shortly afterwards, Mr Homan gave an interview to Newsmax in which he said Ms Loomer had shared her findings with him and that he had contacted the DoJ, warning Mr Aaron that he is giving a heads up to criminals. Within 24 hours of Mr Homans comments, Ms Feinstein allegedly received a termination letter accusing her of showing a lack of candor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Feinstein told The Daily Beast: My service to the people of the United States was unbiased. Each one of them landed on the same level for me. I didnt play favourites, I didnt have a disservice to any person within the United States because of who they are, what they look like, or where they work. A DoJ spokesman said: For several weeks, the Department of Justice inquired into this former employees activities and discovered she has a sizable interest in All U Chart, Inc., the company that holds the IP for ICEBlock. ICEBlock is an app that illegal aliens use to evade capture while endangering the lives of ICE officers by disclosing their location. This DoJ will not tolerate threats against law enforcement or law enforcement officers. 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. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) New York State Police have charged two people, including a 17-year-old, after a domestic situation resulted in a stabbing in Wayne County. Just before noon on Thursday, July 17, Troopers were called to Lake Avenue in the Village of Wolcott for a reported stabbing. 33-year-old Devell Taylor was found conscious and alert with multiple stab wounds. After investigation, NYSP determined that Taylor had become physically aggressive in front of four children. As the situation escalated, the 17-year-old intervened and stabbed Taylor several times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teen was treated as an Adolescent Offender and charged with assault (2nd) and criminal possession of a weapon (4th). He was released to the custody of a relative on electronic monitoring. Taylor, who was treated and released from a Syracuse hospital, was charged with criminal mischief (3rd), endangering the welfare of a child, and harassment (2nd). He was sent to the Wayne County Jail for arraignment. State Police are continuing 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 RochesterFirst. More than 20 nonprofit organizations that receive federal grants to serve victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and those experiencing homelessness, filed a lawsuit Monday against the Trump administration over new funding requirements. The organizations which are spread across more than a dozen states and include Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and Violence Free Minnesota allege the changes at the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Health and Human Services (HHS) have thrown a wrench in their life-saving work. Some of the plaintiffs, according to the suit, stand to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal funds. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, states that the new restrictions do not enable the plaintiffs to better serve vulnerable members of society and instead seek to advance the Administrations wholly unrelated ideological goalsincluding to end diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, deny transgender peoples identities, and cut off access to abortion resources and referrals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, for example, HUD Secretary Scott Turner announced in a post on social media that the department would impose new conditions on funds distributed through its Continuum of Care program, which is designed to end homelessness. The conditions cite several executive orders President Donald Trump issued during the first weeks of his presidency, including that the government will only legally recognize two, unchangeable sexes; deem diversity, equity and inclusion programs within the federal government illegal; and end forced use of Federal taxpayer dollars to fund or promote elective abortion. HHS and three of its divisions the Administration for Children and Families, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration were also named as defendants and have enacted similar conditions for grant recipients, affecting the CDCs Rape Prevention and Education program, funding for families who have experienced domestic violence and grants intended to reduce infant and maternal mortality, among other programs. In line with those executive orders, the conditions at HUD and HHS prohibit grant recipients from using funds to promote gender ideology, which the administration defines as the concept that someones gender identity can be different than their birth sex. They also require recipients to certify that they do not operate any programs that violate any applicable Federal antidiscrimination laws and prohibit recipients from using funds to fund or promote elective abortions. The complaint argues that the requirements have been written in a way expressly designed to expose grantees to civil and criminal liability under the False Claims Act, which prohibits false claims to the federal government. The complaint says these new conditions put plaintiffs between a rock and a hard place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They can accept the conditionsand fundamentally change their programming, abandon outreach methods and programs designed to best serve their communities, and risk exposing themselves to ruinous liability. Or they can decline the funding and halt their funded programsdisplacing domestic and sexual violence survivors from safe housing, ending programs designed to reduce and prevent domestic and sexual violence, and putting previously homeless families and children back on the streets, the complaint states. HHS, the Administration for Children and Families, the CDC, the Health Resources and Services Administration and HUD did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the complaint. Skye Perryman, the president and CEO of Democracy Forward, one of the organizations representing the plaintiffs, said the new policy is an example of the administration continuing to target people in vulnerable communities. Organizations serving survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, LGBTQ+ youth, and people experiencing homelessness should not be forced to abandon their work, erase the identities of those they serve, or compromise their values just to keep their doors open, Perryman said in a statement. This unlawful and harmful policy puts extreme schemes ahead of peoples dignity and safety by restricting essential federal support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit, which asks the court to permanently block the funding conditions, argues that imposing the restrictions exceeds the governments authority by circumventing Congress, which generally approves any changes to federal funding. In addition, the suit argues that in some cases the conditions conflict with other federal policies. For example, recipients of Continuum of Care funds are required to comply with nondiscrimination regulations, the suit states, including HUDs equal access rule, which requires services, including sleep quarters and bathroom facilities, to be provided to an individual in accordance with the individuals gender identity, and that individuals are not subjected to intrusive questioning or asked to provide evidence of their gender identity. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Russia has warned there will be no miracles in a third round of direct peace talks with Ukraine set for Wednesday. Delegates from Kyiv and Moscow are due to meet in Istanbul, but the sides remain far apart on how to end the war started by Vladimir Putins full-scale invasion on Feb 24, 2022. Hopes therefore remain low that Ukraine and Russia will make any progress towards stopping the fighting, despite US efforts to push the peace process forward. Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, has praised previous talks in Istanbul, but a Kremlin spokesman has moved to dampen expectations - Pavel Bednyakov/Pool/AFP via Getty Images There is no reason to expect any breakthroughs in the category of miracles it is hardly possible in the current situation, said Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We intend to pursue our interests, we intend to ensure our interests and fulfil the tasks that we set for ourselves from the very beginning. Mr Peskov also declined to give any indication of a possible timeline to reach an agreement to end the war. Ukrainian and Western officials have accused the Kremlin of stalling the talks in order for its bigger army to capture more Ukrainian land. Russia currently holds about 20 per cent of Ukraine. Russias approach setting low expectations comes just one day after Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, renewed his offer to meet directly with Putin to negotiate a ceasefire, and expressed interest in speeding up the talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine never wanted this war, and it is Russia that must end the war that it itself started, Mr Zelensky posted online. The talks will be the third direct round of such meetings. Rustem Umerov, the secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, will lead the delegation on behalf of Kyiv. Moscow has not yet announced who it will send. The agenda from our side is clear: The return of prisoners of war, the return of the children abducted by Russia, and the preparation of a leaders meeting, Mr Zelensky said, outlining priorities for the talks. The earlier Istanbul talks in May and June led to the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war, and the remains of fallen soldiers but no real breakthrough on a peace agreement in a war that has been grinding on for three and a half years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Zelensky has insisted that lower-level delegations will not be as effective as a face-to-face meeting between the two countries leaders, but Putin has repeatedly rejected the idea even as Donald Trump last week threatened to slap Russia with new sanctions if a peace deal is not agreed in 50 days, a period that will expire on Sept 2. Demands from both sides remain far apart particularly on the issue of returning occupied Ukrainian territory. The Kremlin has made clear that it wants Ukraine to give up the regions that Moscow claims have been integrated into Russia. Russia also wants promises that Ukraine will not be allowed to join Nato, to limit the size of the Ukrainian military, and to recognise Russian as an official language in Ukraine. Ukrainian and Russian representatives first met in Istanbul in May, with proceedings overseen by Hakan Fidan, the Turkish foreign minister - Arda Kucukkaya/Turkish Foreign Ministry via Reuters But such demands have already been rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has pushed for an unconditional ceasefire before more substantial talks on a final agreement.Ukraine has agreed to this, but Russia has refused unless certain conditions are met. Russia and Ukraine are continuing to launch attacks at each others cities as they prepare for the talks. Russian forces attacked Ukrainian cities in three regions overnight on Monday, killing a child and injuring at least 40 others, officials said. And in a statement on Russias Telegram channel, it has said that its forces took control of the village of Novotoretske in eastern Ukraines Donetsk region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine also launched an attack against Russia using long-range drones. The defence ministry in Moscow said that its air defences shot down 35 such drones overnight, including three over the capital. 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. One of Colorado Springs' biggest tourism boosters is laying the groundwork for a campaign to increase the city's tax on hotel rooms and rental cars during the 2026 election. Visit Colorado Springs presented the nonprofit corporation's new strategic roadmap to the Colorado Springs City Council at a work session Monday morning. The strategic roadmap that was finalized in May focused on the next three years of getting more tourists to visit the area and stay longer during their visits. The focal point of the new plan was a push to increase the Lodgers and Automobile Rental Tax (LART). The tax would add a 2% surcharge on hotel stays and 1% tax for car rentals, which are used to support events in Colorado Springs and the groups that promote tourism to the city. Visit Colorado Springs receives the largest share of the tax allocations. The tax rates for hotel stays and car rentals have not changed since the tax was enacted in 1980. The tax provided $10 million in revenue for Colorado Springs in 2024 and was projected to bring in around $10.5 million this year. Visit COS CEO Doug Price said that does not capture all the other benefits of bringing in more tourists who spend money dining and shopping in the city. Price and the City Council hoped that the sales tax generated by the U.S. Senior Open and other recent summer events would provide a boost the city's recent budget crunch. "I believe that the way we are going to get out of the financial crisis we're in is not by cutting government, it's by finding better resources and revenue creation. Tourism is at the heart of it. This is the path out for us," Councilmember David Leinweber said. A 2018 study by a national hospitality group found that Colorado Springs had one of the lowest taxes on hotel rooms across 150 cities. Price suggested that both of the tax rates could be closer to 4% while still being competitive with other markets. Price said that the city government had prioritized ballot efforts for the 2C road tax and the Trails, Open Space and Parks tax while LART largely remained unchanged. Price said he was starting the conversation now to align with the City Council long before the it would end up going to voters. "We think in order to increase that lodging and auto tax, one of the things that needs to be built into that is a way to fund future projects and maintenance of the parks and open trails that we already have," Price said. Visit Colorado Springs has begun testing campaign slogans and strategies on a tax increase with focus groups of likely voters in Colorado Springs. Price told the City Council that the best results for a campaign focused on how tourism revenue would boost other areas of the city. Monday was the first presentation to the City Council about the potential push for a ballot question. Councilmember Nancy Henjum, who also serves on the LART advisory committee, said the city needs to do a lot of work to campaign for such a big tax change . "I'm not sure we are ready for that, but we need to get ready. The city needs to be really collaborating ... to really fund and prepare for a potential increase in going to the voters," Henjum said. Visit Colorado Springs plans to work on two other priorities through 2028. One push would be on marketing campaigns to convince tourists to visit the area between November and March, which are usually the quietest months for visitors. The other push is to get the tourists to plan longer trips. Visit Colorado Springs said that in 2024, the average length of tourist stays increased from 2.2 days to 2.7 days. Price wanted to keep increasing that metric by working on conferences and flights from out-of-state visitors. "It happens in the planning stages. For us, our goal is to invite people to come and plant the seed that you cannot do it all in a day," Price said. The United States has announced it will once again leave UNESCO, the UNs educational, scientific and cultural agency, only two years after rejoining. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce linked the withdrawal to what Washington sees as UNESCOs push to advance divisive social and cultural causes. She added that the decision to admit the State of Palestine as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization. This marks the third time the US has pulled out of UNESCO, which is based in Paris, and the second time during the Trump era. Donald Trumps administration withdrew from UNESCO during his first term, after which the US stayed away for five years. The Biden administration later reapplied and rejoined the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest withdrawal will take effect at the end of December 2026. Related While the US contributes a significant part of UNESCOs budget, the organisation, the Associated Press writes, should be able to manage without American funding. The US share of funding has fallen in recent years and now accounts for just 8% of UNESCOs total budget, with other countries stepping up their contributions. The US first pulled out of UNESCO back in 1984 under President Reagan, citing mismanagement, corruption, and accusations that the agency was advancing Soviet interests. It rejoined in 2003 during George W. Bushs presidency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2017, the Trump administration announced the country's second withdrawal over similar concerns about anti-Israel bias, which took effect a year later. The US and Israel had already stopped funding UNESCO after it voted to include Palestine as a member state in 2011. This is a developing story and our journalists will provide updates as soon as possible. Jul. 21July 18, 1985 Reunion, race part of Bong dedication event A reunion of his former Army Air Force squadron and a five-mile footrace named in his honor are among the events planned for this weekend when the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge is formally dedicated to America's "Ace of Aces." The Poplar native shot down 40 Japanese airplanes over the South Pacific during World War II to earn the title bestowed on him by General Douglas S. MacArthur who presented Bong the Congressional Medal of Honor in December of 1944. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was killed at the age of 24 testing a P-80 "Shooting Star" jet plan near Burbank, Calif., on the morning of Aug. 6, 1945 as the war came to a close with the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. The $70 million bridge above the St. Louis River was opened in October of 1984 after 15 years of planning and four years of construction. This ranger babysits endangered pack GORDON Dick Thiel would prefer to leave wolves alone. But, as long as there are people of malicious intent who won't do the same he feels it's necessary to gather as much information as possible about Wisconsin's small timber wolf population by capturing wolves, tranquilizing them, subjecting them to various indignities and monitoring their movements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thiel, a research biologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' Bureau of Endangered Resources, has been conducting field research on timber wolves for the past six years to determine the status and distribution of the animal in the state. This information will help him and others formulate a recovery plan he hopes will increase the wolf population three-fold and ensure the survival of the species. July 19, 1985 Kelly Park officially dedicated After nearly 70 years, Kelly Park in Superior has finally been officially dedicated to the man who designed it and many other parks in the city, Robert Kelly III. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Bruce Hagen and Park Administrator Jeff Vito participated in the dedication ceremony Thursday at the park, located at N. 8th Street and Grand Avenue. Tombstones overturned Superior police said about 30 tombstones at the Nemadji Cemetery were overturned sometime late Wednesday or early Thursday. The vandalism occurred along 31st Avenue East from 10th to 12th Street. The tombstones involved were very old and several of them cracked and broke, a police department spokesman said. A caretaker at the cemetery said the vandalism occurred during daylight hours but that has not been confirmed, according to police. Police had no suspects or estimates of damage available on Friday. July 20, 1925 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two boys walk from Chicago Started for Hibbing July 11 with dime and a can of beans Picking up the morning papers and reading of the shooting of policemen and other innocents, and reading in the afternoon papers of new outbreaks held little appeal to 10-year-old Armand George Basterash and his brother, Thomas Clifford, age 12, of Chicago. Well they remembered days of serenity lived at Hibbing, where they could romp and play at will in no danger of the bullet of an assassin. So they told their father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Nip T. Basterash, 2106 South Turner avenue, Chicago, that they planned to start out a la Dick Whittington, sans cat, to make their fortunes in more fertile and safe fields. The father and mother laughed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Go ahead," they told them. "You'll be back before we go to bed tonight. We've heard of that story before. You'll get no farther than Wilmette." With 10 cents, a can of pork and beans, a can opener and a loaf of bread, but without a knife, the two adventurers set forth. Passing motorists picked them up and gave them a "lift." When hunger overtook them they stopped for a "drink." Never did they fail to find a loaded table awaiting them. They finally reached Superior and their aunt, Mrs. Alice Basterach, 716 Fisher avenue. They are going to stay with her well they don't know just how long. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sees gun and steps on gas; fools bandits Presence of mind and the quick "pick up" of his automobile saved H.H. Wedde, Soo Line employe at Blackhoof, Minn., from being robbed Saturday. While driving toward Superior, on the Oliver road about a mile from where the Military road joins the Oliver highway, Mr. Wedde was hailed over by two men, who were standing in the road. He was about to stop when he noticed that one of the men had a revolver in his hand. He "stepped on the gas," passing the two men who both fired at him, the bullets going into the rear of his automobile, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Wedde notified the authorities, who are looking for the men. Pea cannery to reopen Tuesday The Lange Pea Cannery at Poplar, Wis., which was forced to shut down Friday because of lack of water from the Poplar river, used to wash the peas, is expected to reopen again Tuesday morning using water shipped in by rail over the Northern Pacific railway, A.N. Gilstad told the Telegram this morning over the telephone. In the meantime, drillers are sinking wells and the Poplar river above the cannery is being opened to increase the flow of water so that in a week or 10 days it is hoped to have sufficient water flowing locally to operate the plant without shipping it in by rail. Approximately 150 gallons of water a minute are required to wash the peas for canning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Superior man says yarn has wrong import Communism taught at the Waino School but not anarchy, asserts Askeli Nonsense! Untruth! Distortion. So does Henry Askeli, assistant editor of the Tyomies, Superior's Finish daily paper, brand the article which appeared in the July 19 issue of the Minneapolis Journal which terms the school now being conducted by the Young Workers' league at Waino, near Brule as "A summer school of hate, tucked away in the northernmost recesses of Wisconsin, nearing the end of its task of training 56 youthful followers of the red flag to become communist leaders and agitators against the existing form of American government." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And standing at Askeli's elbow, just as vehement in his denial of the alleged import of the article, was Henry Koski, editor of the Tyomies and a power among the Finnish people of the Northwest. "It is most surely true as the Journal articles say that a school which teaches communism to its students is being conducted at the little Waino schoolhouse, but the statement that the classes breed hate, that the school is operated as secretly as possible and the import that violence is taught are gross distortions of the true facts." Articles and pictures courtesy of retired librarian Judy Aunet with Superior Public Library. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) Downtown Norfolk Restaurant Week officially kicked off Monday, and its a chance to celebrate the Mermaid Citys vibrant dining scene. Restaurant Week has a total of 24 participating businesses, and it runs until Sunday, July 27. Businesses put together specially crafted menus with prices ranging from $20 to $45. I love it, and I get to discover great new restaurants, Norfolk resident Mary Brenner said. I like to try ones that I havent tried before, and then, if I like them, I come back later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Norfolk Seafood Company and Oyster Bar manager Jason Ferber said theyre participating in the festivities this year, and its been steady so far. He said the boom in business is more than welcome. It has been a rough couple years after COVID, but were really starting to build up again, Ferber said. Were seeing a business come back. Were seeing the energy come back. Paul Rice, director of communications for the Downtown Norfolk Council, said this restauarant week comes at a perfect time, with free two-hour downtown parking now in place. Norfolk has one of the best food scenes in Virginia, Rice said. And so, this is our big stage to show off and tell folks about all the amazing food and all the great chefs that we have in Downtown Norfolk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more details about Restaurant Week, 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 WAVY.com. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the M23 rebel group have committed to signing a peace agreement by 18 August, as announced during a ceremony held in Doha on Saturday. While this development indicates progress, several key issues remain unresolved and subject to further negotiation. Analysts are now assessing the likelihood of the agreement achieving a durable resolution to the conflict. Since February, the front in eastern DRC has stabilised, but violence has intensified between the M23 and a myriad of pro-Kinshasa militias waging guerrilla warfare in eastern Congo, a region bordering Rwanda that is rich in minerals and has been plagued by conflict for more than 30 years. A declaration of principles outlining the new timeline was signed by representatives of both parties on Saturday, 19 July, during a ceremony that followed several months of mediation by Qatar, which began in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Qatar offers proposal in stalled peace talks between DRC and M23 Negotiations for the final peace agreement are set to restart no later than 8 August, according to the declaration, which would give the parties ten days to finalise a deal if they stick to their new 18 August deadline for signing. "We are confident and we are hopeful," Massad Boulos, Trump's senior adviser for Africa, told Reuters after Saturday's ceremony in Doha, adding that DRC's President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda's leader Paul Kagame "have both committed to resolving this." Peace agreement? Jacquemain Shabani, Congolese Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Interior, Security, Decentralisation and Customary Affairs, followed the discussions in Doha on behalf of the government. He told RFI that the details of the deal still need to be spelled out and outlined in the peace agreement, which will be signed once again in Doha on 18 August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will have to wait a few more days to see the signing of this final document, which will define and determine the conditions under which, notably, the various prisoners on both sides can be released," he added. He also insisted on the need for political dialogue between Kinshasa and the M23. The United States has also hosted separate talks between the governments of Congo and Rwanda, and has exerted pressure to finalise a durable peace deal in Congo. President Donald Trump has made it clear he hopes that would spur Western investment into a country rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals. DRC conflict coltan entering EU via Rwandan smuggling routes, report finds Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Fred Bauma, executive director of the Congolese Institute for Research on Governance, Politics, and Violence, Ebuteli, "this is a statement of principle that is not yet the Peace Agreement, but it opens the way to negotiations to reach a peace agreement that we hope will be reached soon." Bauma said that the ambition of this peace agreement is precisely to bring about an end to the conflict in eastern DRC and the withdrawal of the M23 from the occupied areas. "I think that what is different compared to the various previous initiatives is the leading role of international actors like the United States and Qatar, who are bringing all their weight to bear to ensure that the peace agreement can succeed," the expert added. Potential disagreements Negotiations in Doha have stalled, with limited progress on confidence-building measures such as prisoner releases and reopening banks in rebel-held areas. The declaration of principles commits to creating conditions for future action but leaves key issues unresolved, including potential Rwandan and M23 withdrawals and the restoration of state authority in eastern DRC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We saw immediately, the day after the signing of this agreement in principle, that a new controversy arose over the interpretation of what territorial integrity or the restoration of state authority is," Bauma told RFI. He thinks that, on both sides, It won't be easy to implement this agreement, and that it would take a lot of pressure. From 1960 to present day, 11 dates that explain the conflict in the DRC "I think the facilitators, Qatar and the United States, and also all the other countries that have influence in the region, must ensure that we avoid a further escalation because that would mean a return to and perhaps the failure of these negotiations, which will not promote the immediate return of peace to the region." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Martin Ziakwau, Catholic University of Congo, the issue isn't the signing of the declaration of principles. The real issue is the subject of direct discussions between the government and the M23. "The most important thing is not to reach the end of a military saga, but to create the conditions for lasting peace," he told RFI. (with Reuters) The Kurdistan autonomous region is growing increasingly frustrated with Baghdads response. The leaders have likely communicated this to their Western allies. Baghdad needs to do more to respond to drone attacks - that is the message being communicated to Iraq this past week by Western countries after approximately 20 drone attacks in Iraq. Most of the attacks targeted energy infrastructure in Iraqs Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq. The KRG has blamed Iranian-backed militias affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces for the attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iraqs government has been slow to respond. It finally said that it had investigated a series of drone attacks on radar installations that occurred on June 24. Those attacks coincided with the end of the Iran-Israel conflict. Iraqs parliament was supposed to discuss drone attacks on July 21. However, the session ended without a discussion. Rudaw media in Erbil, a Kurdish channel, noted that the Kurdish parties in parliament had boycotted the session. Lawmakers from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) boycotted the session. Only three Kurdish parliamentarians attended it, according to Soran Omar from the Islamist Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal). Two of them left the session before it ended, the site reported. Smoke rises after a drone attack targeted oil facilities in the Zakho area of Iraq's Kurdistan region, Iraq July 16, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/KHALID AL-MOUSILY) It was not clear initially why the Kurdish parties pulled out, but it appears they did not feel the discussion would actually address the drone attacks on their region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dara Sekaniani, a Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) lawmaker and member of the Iraqi parliament's legal committee, said he left after it became clear the drone strikes would not be discussed, Rudaw noted. This is likely what caused the parties to decide to boycott the session. Rudaw noted that since early July, nearly 20 drone attacks have hit the Kurdistan Region, mostly targeting oil fields and causing significant financial losses. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks and there have been no new attacks since Erbil and Baghdad reached a new agreement on finances and oil exports on Thursday. Frustration with Baghdad grows The Kurdistan autonomous region is growing increasingly frustrated with Baghdads response. The leaders have likely communicated this to their Western colleagues. The KRG has close ties to the US and some other Western countries. Many countries work with the autonomous region to support its fight against extremism and also its stability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We see that very often Iraq and the Kurdistan Region become victims of those militias that are outside authority. I can say that the Iraqi government cannot control those armed groups, Srwa Mohammed, a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) lawmaker in the Iraqi parliament, told Rudaw. Despite having general authority, and the prime minister being the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, there are still militias that operate outside the law and do not follow official authority, Mohammed added. Some believe that the drone attacks are linked to tensions with Iran and also oil deals. For instance, Rudaw noted that in March, the US rescinded waivers allowing Iraq to import energy from Iran. The Kurdistan Region subsequently signed multibillion-dollar energy deals with American companies in May to develop its oil and gas fields - contracts that Baghdad rejected as unconstitutional and challenged in court. However, Iraqs Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favor of the KRG, upholding the contracts. The same report noted that on Tuesday, Iraq's state-run North Oil Company signed an initial agreement with US-based HKN Energy for the development of the Hamrin oil field in Basra province, just hours after a drone strike targeted one of HKNs oil fields in the Kurdistan Region. On Monday, Iraqs Council of Ministers approved a new deal to resume salary payments and restart Kurdish oil exports. Under the agreement, the KRG must export all of its oil through Iraqs State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), keeping 50,000 barrels per day for local consumption and delivering 230,000 barrels daily to Baghdad. Is Iraq quietly enabling the PMF to carry out drone attacks? The PMF are a group of Iranian-backed militias who are also official paramilitaries of Baghdad. For instance, Kataib Hezbollah is part of the PMF. It killed three Americans in Jordan in a drone attack in January 2024. It also kidnapped Princeton researcher Elizbaeth Tsurkov. This illustrates how these groups know how to use drones and are willing to commit crimes, apparently at the behest of Iran. Recent investigations point to the drone attack being launched from the Kirkuk region, according to a KRG official. The drones may have been launched from near Dibs, a town that is south of Altun Kupri. Dibs used to be controlled by the Kurdish Peshmerga until 2017, when the Iraqi army pushed the Kurdish forces out of Kirkuk. Since then, pro-Iranian groups have played a larger role in Kirkuk. Jul. 21In Albuquerque, much of the Rio Grande was a cracked riverbed Monday, a result of a record dry winter and legal restrictions on storing Rio Grande water. The Rio Grande is fed primarily by snowfall in Colorado and northern New Mexico. When the snow melts in the spring, it runs into the river. As weather patterns change with less snow predicted in winters and the possibility of more extreme monsoon events in the summers, a dry river in the Albuquerque metro area might become a more common sight. "When there's no water in the river, and there's not enough water to give water to all of these uses, life's a lot harder," said Jason Casuga, Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District CEO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Rio Grande is dry for long stretches of the year south of Albuquerque, the river has rarely run dry in the Albuquerque metro area in recent decades. In 2022, the river ran dry for a 5-mile stretch in Albuquerque for the first time in 40 years, thanks to a winter of underwhelming snowfall and a lack of stored river water. The story this year is similar: not enough snow and little stored water to supplement the river's flows. "In general, we are seeing more dry years," said National Weather Service meteorologist Matt DeMaria. "We're seeing more variable years. So we're kind of swinging back and forth between these very wet years and very dry years. And that is what's unusual. With climate change, we're not seeing as many near-normal years as we used to." Because of rising temperatures and climate change, New Mexico is expected to become more arid with more variation in weather over the coming decades, according to a 2022 report from New Mexico Tech. Rio Grande flows north of the Elephant Butte Reservoir are predicted to decrease 25% by 2072, according to the report. In December through April, southern Colorado and northern New Mexico had record dry weather or snowfall in the bottom 10th percentile, according to DeMaria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We did have that mid-May snowstorm, which brought up to 3 feet or so in the northern mountains, which helped a little bit. But unfortunately, did not do a lot to help out from the extremely dry winter," DeMaria said. South of Socorro, river drying began in mid-April, according to the Bureau of Reclamation, and there were 20 miles dry south of Socorro and north of Elephant Butte as of early July. Casuaga believes that how often the river runs dry in the Albuquerque area will depend in part on choices the state makes about storing and conserving water. "The river's life. That's why communities developed around here, and I think that's something that we have to wrestle with," Casuga said. "We need water to sustain our communities. But a lot of why people live here and enjoy living in this area is because of what the Rio Grande is, the habitat it creates, and the history on it of both agriculture and an ecology." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As snow melts in the mountains, New Mexico's water infrastructure is designed to capture and distribute spring run-off to communities and farmers along the Rio Grande. To keep water flowing regularly, several government agencies work together to store water in dams. When there is excess spring run-off, it can be stored and released later in the summer to keep the river flowing and water moving to New Mexico farms. When there isn't much snow melt, there's less water in the river to store or send downstream. New Mexico is also bound by a legal agreement: the Rio Grande Compact, which determines how the river's water is divided between Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. The amount of water each state gets varies depending on how much water is in the system in a given year. In wetter years, New Mexico is obligated to send a higher percentage of water down river. In drier years, New Mexico is obligated to send a lower percentage of water down river. At present, New Mexico owes water under the Compact to Texas, to the tune of 125,000 acre feet, a debt that accumulated over several previous years. The water debt means New Mexico is not allowed to store any Rio Grande water. "The drought is a big deal. But when you couple the drought with not having access to your greatest water management tool, which is being able to store water, that just makes the problem even worse. And most New Mexicans are just not used to that," Casuga said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Mexico also gets some water from a different river system through the San Juan-Chama project. Water managers already released the San Juan-Chama water to keep the river flowing in June and early July. Now, there is no more stored water the state is allowed to send down. Casuga would like to see the state reimagine how it manages water, with a new focus on capturing rainwater and preparing for floods. "How do they help communities invest in infrastructure to route water that we get from rain and arroyos running back to the rivers and prevent those waters from damaging communities?" Casuga said. In the near-term, New Mexico can expect more rainfall in the coming week. The end of July through the middle of August is peak monsoon season, DeMaria said, which means it's also peak flash flood season. He encourages hikers, bikers or people enjoying a lake visit to check the weather before they go. "We can get a lot of flash flooding this time of year, but there's also concerns such as strong winds and hail and lightning too, which can be kind of a sneaky hazard as well," DeMaria said. Sharren Haskel hosted Ulysse Ellian in Jerusalem, discussing security for Jewish community, EU designation of IRGC, European Islamist threat, and rising antisemtism since Oct. 7. Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel hosted Dutch MP Ulysse Ellian in Jerusalem on Monday and discussed increased funding for Holocaust education, Jewish community security, and efforts to have the European Union officially designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Haskel also praised Ellian's "leadership and moral clarity," the ministry announced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Ellian is one of the most courageous voices in Europe today someone who truly understands that the Iranian regime is a threat not only to Israel, but to Europe and the free world. His personal story, as the son of Iranian exiles who fled tyranny, gives him a unique moral perspective and an unwavering commitment to truth," Haskel said. "In these challenging times, Israel is grateful for principled allies like him who stand with us. Ellian also reaffirmed his "enduring support for Israel's fight against terror," expressing "deep concern over the sharp increase in antisemitic incidents across Europe" since Hamas's October 7 massacre. Israel is not alone, said Ellian. As the son of a family that fled the oppression of the Iranian regime, I will continue to stand with Israel in the fight against this regime and to defend democracy, freedom, and the Jewish people. Ulysse Ellian pictured in June 2022; illustrative. (credit: De Balie/Wikimedia Commons) Who is Ulysse Ellian? Ellian, the son of Tehran-born dissident Afshin Ellian, also states that he has been targeted by pro-regime Iranians who have threatened his life. He was born in Afghanistan in 1988 after his parents fled the Islamic Republic after the 1979 revolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ellian lives under security protection by Dutch authorities due to his outspoken statements against rising European Islamism and the threats against him from pro-Iranian regime activists. Haskel described Ellian as "a courageous voice against the Iranian regime and rising antisemitism," while Ellian was visiting Israel for the first time. Ellian is a leading critic of the Iranian regime in the Netherlands and has steadfastly supported Israel while championing democratic values, defending the Dutch Jewish community, and strengthening Israel-EU cooperation amid rising antisemitism. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A man accused of burglary at a home on Greenwell Springs Road has been arrested. On Monday, around 7 a.m., the East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office responded to a home where a burglary had taken place. Deputies working the scene confirmed that Henry Taylor, 37, was approached by the homeowner about going into a tool shed and removing the tools inside. Henry Taylor Authorities say that before they arrived at the scene, Taylor charged at the homeowner and proceeded to fire one shot into the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the confrontation, the 37-year-old man ran into a nearby wooded area. A perimeter was formed by a SWAT team, as they were unsure if he was armed in the woods. After further investigation, deputies discovered that Taylor was a familiar face from a previous arrest. When SWAT arrived, Taylor walked out of the home and surrendered without incident. Currently, Taylor is on probation for a burglary charge in Livingston Parish. He was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for simple burglary. 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. An El Paso County judge has ruled additional houses can be built north of the Air Force Academy in Hay Creek Valley, siding against a resident who had tried to hold the county to its own rule that limits development on dead-end roads. The dead-end road in question, Hay Creek, is the only way into the valley and serves other winding lanes. If a wildfire sparked in the area, residents of about 80 existing homes would flee from a fire along Hay Creek Road from the area hemmed in by the Air Force Academy to the south, Forest Service land to the west and a conservation easement to the north. The ruling issued by Judge David Prince earlier this month opens the door to more residents, including 20 proposed by View Homes that sparked the lawsuit. Residents of the new subdivision wouldn't live along Hay Creek Road, but they would use it every day to come and go from the valley. Resident Michael Cloutier challenged the new homes in court after they were approved by the El Paso County commissioners arguing they violated the county's land-use code that limits the number of homes along a dead-end road to 25. The land-use rule in question states: "The maximum number of lots fronting and taking access from a dead-end road is 25." Judge David Prince decided to allow the homes to be built because they do not front Hay Creek Road. His reasoning aligned with the El Paso County commissioners' decision on the same grounds. Cloutier said he believed Prince had been fair throughout the case, but disagreed with his ruling. "This ruling effectively authorizes unlimited development on a dead end-road as long as you build it in a cul-de-sac. Thats heinously inappropriate," Cloutier said. He also pointed to the definition of "and" in the land-use development code, noting that it states "all connected items or provisions apply," meaning that homes that take access along the road, but do not front it, should be counted. After about a year battling in court over what Cloutier believes is a common-sense interpretation of the land-use code, he said he can't financially keep fighting at this time. But if another proposal came through, he would be ready to contest the issue again. Andy Boian, a spokesman for View Homes, said the ruling shows the homes are in compliance with zoning rules. "We are obviously pleased with the judge's findings," he said. Previously, Joe Stifter, with the owner View Homes, told the El Paso County commissioners that while all the residents would likely evacuate at the same time the traffic would be dispersed. "Everybody is going to access Hay Creek at roughly the same time, but at different points," he said. The company also agreed to put in a cistern that would provide at least 33,000 gallons of water for fire protection. El Paso County declined to comment on the issue because the window to appeal the judge's decision is still open. In the coming months, the county's officials and firefighters should gain a better understanding of how long it could take to evacuate certain neighborhoods because the Pikes Peak Office of Emergency Management invested in a new artificial intelligence tool that can model how traffic will flow in an evacuation, the Gazette reported previously. EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former candidate for Easthampton superintendent of schools, whose job offer was rescinded in 2023 after he referred to the school committee chair and an administrative assistant as ladies in an email. Hurricane Properties CEO responds to Easthampton rent hikes Dr. Vito Perrone filed suit against the City of Easthampton, as well as the members of the school committee who ultimately voted to take back the offer: Cynthia Kwiecinski, Megan Harvey, Benjamin Hersey, Marin Goldstein, and former Mayor Nicole LaChapelle. Perrone alleged the defendants violated his 14th Amendment right to procedural due process; a claim U.S. District Court Judge Mark Mastroianni has rejected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The controversy, which drew public protest and even national media attention, began in March of 2023. Following two interviews, the School Committee voted 4-3 in their March 23 meeting to offer the position of superintendent to Perrone, who had been the principal of Easthampton High School. Five days later, Kwiecinski announced in another School Committee meeting that Perrone would begin work in July of 2023, pending successful contract negotiations. Perrone had requested to review a contract proposal prior to the next meeting, and on March 29, the School Committees executive assistant emailed it to the plaintiff. Perrone replied to the assistant and Kwiecinski in an email requesting increased compensation in the second and third year of his contract, and additional vacation and sick days. The email began with the salutation Ladies, which Kwiecinski found insulting. The following day, the committee met with Perrone via Zoom, but the Committee asked him to log off so the members could have a private discussion. Kwiecinski told other committee members that she found Perrones use of the word ladies as unprofessional and dismissive, and that she is terrified of his behavior. Other members of the committee said the term ladies was a microaggression. Committee Member Laurie Garcia suggested that Perrone be allowed back into the meeting to explain himself, but Harvey replied that we cannot give an oppressor [] any opportunity to explain away the oppression. The Committee voted 5-1-1 to rescind the decision to hire Perrone, with Garcia voting no, and Shannon Dunham abstaining (Garcia and Dunham, who both later resigned from the Committee, were not defendants in the lawsuit.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his ruling, Mastroianni wrote that negotiations do not constitute a legal offer of employment under Massachusetts law, and further, by asking to increase his salary in the second two years of his contract and demanding additional vacation and sick days, Perrone provided a counteroffer, despite his assertions that he did not. Additionally, Mastroianni said the email sent to Perrone on March 29 was not an enforceable contract, and that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court had ruled that a school committee vote to extend a contract is not an enforceable agreement. Finally, Mastroianni wrote that the Massachusetts Statute of Frauds requires certain contracts be written and signed by the plaintiff in order for the plaintiff to make a claim, and that no such signed agreement exists, adding that emails and meeting minutes do not satisfy the statute. Mastroianni only ruled on six of the 13 counts in Perrones lawsuit, which dealt with the question of procedural due process, declining to rule on questions of state law (alleging breach of contract, violating a covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and violation of the states Civil Rights Act.) Those counts were dismissed without prejudice. 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) ECUs College of Nursing was recognized as a Center of Excellence by the National League of Nursing. ECU Nursing has been recognized as a Center of Excellence by the NLN since 2008, marking this as their 17th consecutive year. I want to thank everyone connected with the College of Nursing for the heavy lifting, leadership, and numerous sacrifices that contributed to this outcome, Dean of the College of Nursing, Dr. Bimbola Akintade, said. This recognition comes on the heels of the 10-year accreditation assessments by the North Carolina Board of Nursing and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, as well as a visit from the Bedford Falls Foundation, which resulted in funding for our new advanced military medic accelerated BSN program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ECUs College of Nursing program received this designation because of these accomplishments: Over 1,400 students continuously enrolled in baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral programs. The highest number of new graduate nurses of any four-year institution in North Carolina. Only nurse midwifery program in North Carolina. Only clinical nurse specialist program in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida. The only fully accredited nursing simulation program in North Carolina, accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. The National League for Nursing is proud to offer the Centers of Excellence program as a way to recognize schools that have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and invested resources over a sustained period of time to distinguish themselves in a specific area related to nursing education, NLNs membership director and foundation manager, Elizabeth Reyna, said. It is an honor to count East Carolina University among the outstanding group of recipients of this designation. Representatives from the College of Nursing will formally receive the recognition during the NLNs Education Summit in Orlando, Florida, on September 19, 2025. 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. In late May, British Security Minister Dan Jarvis visited Guayaquil, Ecuadors largest city and economic capital, whose port is used to export much of the countrys booming cocaine trade. There, Jarvis signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.K. and Ecuador to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fight against organized crime. According to Ecuadors Ministry of Interior, the agreement has five pillars. These include strengthening law enforcements investigative capacity to dismantle organized criminal groups; using enhanced equipment to improve the profiling of containers in which cocaine is smuggled; providing specialized training to tackle illicit finance; combating environmental crimes; and improving governance. During the ceremony, the U.K. also donated 100 point-to-point portable radios and 70 batteries to the Special Mobile Anti-Narcotics Group, a 30-year-old elite arm of the Ecuadorian National Police known by its Spanish-language acronym GEMA. This gift follows previous donations of equipment, including vehicles, in 2023 and 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jarvis visit, coupled with a trip to Colombia, is part of the British governments efforts to strengthen upstream measures to stem the tide of cocaine that has flooded Europe in recent years. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. However, while British support has bolstered Ecuadors response to narcotics trafficking, the assistance pales into insignificance when compared to the scale of the organized crime challenge facing the South American country. Surging Cocaine Production Over the past decade or so, cocaine production in South America has reached record levels. In 2023, global cocaine production surged to 3,708 tons, a 34 percent increase compared to the previous year and at least four times more than the amount produced in 2013. The rise is largely attributed to substantial increases in coca cultivation in Colombia and revised yield data that resulted in a production figure that was 50 percent higher than in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over this period, the expansion of coca cultivation in Colombia and Peruthe worlds two largest coca-growing countrieshas combined with the broader fragmentation of the cocaine trade in South America to create a deadly security crisis in neighboring Ecuador. Once described by a British Foreign Office minister as a haven of tranquillity compared with its violent neighbours, Ecuador has in recent years become one of the most dangerous countries in South America. In 2023, the deadliest year in Ecuadors history, about 8,000 people met violent deaths. Between January and March 2025, there were 2,361 violent deaths, making it the most lethal first quarter in the country ever. The rampant violence has also included massacres and targeted attacks on politicians, public officials and prison guards. Much of the violence is driven by various domestic and international criminal networks vying for control of the cocaine trade, particularly territory along transit routes and points of shipment. Some of these domestic groups, which have recently splintered, have expanded their criminal activities to include extortion, kidnapping, illegal mining, human smuggling, fuel smuggling and wildlife trafficking. In response to this crisis, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, who was recently re-elected, has declared several states of emergencies, labeled criminal groups as terrorist organizations and deployed the military on Ecuadors streets and into prisons to quell the violence. Ecuadors Role as a Transit Hub Ecuadors expansive coastline, weak security controls and proximity to Colombia and Peru have made it a hub for cocaine trafficking to the U.K. since the late 1980s. For instance, in 1989, Ecuador was the source of 36.6 percent of all cocaine smuggled to the U.K., with the largest seizure amounting to 153 kilograms, or roughly 340 pounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, cocaine shipments leaving Ecuador for the U.K. have continued unabated. For example, in April 2022, a British organized criminal group imported 139 kilograms of cocaine, or roughly 310 pounds, concealed in a shipping container, with a street value of roughly $13.5 million at the time. The increasing volumes of cocaine reaching the U.K. meet a soaring demand that has reportedly resulted in the country having the second-highest cocaine usage rate in the world. Ecuadorian authorities have also interdicted substantial cocaine shipments destined for the United Kingdom. For instance, in August and September 2022 alone, Ecuadorian authorities seized several tons of cocaine, with the latter interception in coordination with British authorities. The following January, Ecuadorian authorities seized roughly a ton of cocaine destined for the United Kingdom. Ecuador also serves as a major trans-shipment point for cocaine trafficking to mainland Europe. In 2024, approximately 30 percent of cocaine smuggled from the country was destined for the continent. That year, Spain seized the largest amount of cocaine in its history: 13 tons concealed within a shipment of bananas originating at the port of Guayaquil. In 2025, Ecuadorian and European authorities dismantled a transnational criminal network that was involved in shipping cocaine from Ecuador to Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. Since the start of the operation the previous year, national authorities arrested 50 suspects and seized 73 tons of cocaine. Cocaine Networks Several transnational criminal networks are active within Ecuador, with some posing a direct threat to the United Kingdom, according to Chris Campbell, the British ambassador to Quito. Top of the list are Albanian networks, which have established a significant foothold in the international cocaine trade by dealing directly with suppliers in Ecuador and other South American countries. This has allowed some Albanian networks to establish a source-to-street business model. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the U.K., Albanian networks are significant players at all levels of the cocaine supply chain. These groups, which the Home Office described as an acute threat, have expanded their influence by selling high-quality cocaine at competitive prices. British criminal networks are also active in trafficking cocaine from Ecuador and other South American countries to the U.K., either directly or via transit hubs. For example, last year, Scottish gangster Jamie Stevenson and his accomplices were convicted of importing approximately a ton of cocaine from Ecuador into Dover in 2020, with a street value of roughly $128 million at the time. The increasing volumes of cocaine reaching the U.K. meet a soaring demand that has reportedly resulted in the country having the second-highest cocaine usage rate in the world. In 2019, cocaine consumption in England, Scotland and Wales was estimated to be 117 tons annually, an increase of approximately 290 percent since 2011. The consumption rate is likely higher today. U.K. Support to Ecuador The U.K. has provided limited bilateral counternarcotics support to Ecuador since 1985. However, the priority placed on the country has fluctuated over time, with Ecuadors neighbors, Peru and Colombia, often enjoying greater levels of support. During this period, anti-drug assistance to Ecuador included the donation of vehicles, training for customs officials, training of sniffer dogs and the provision of forensic laboratory equipment. Relatively small amounts of anti-drug support to the Ecuadorian authorities continued through the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most recent iteration of this support, which began in April 2021, aimed to reduce border security vulnerabilities against illicit commodity smuggling. This was achieved by providing training, technology, logistics and equipment to the National Port and Airport Investigation Unit, the National Canine Unit and the GEMA. Alongside the U.S., the U.K. helped to fund and equip a Police Analysis and Targeting Center in Guayaquil, tasked with detecting and interdicting cocaine shipments. British support has been effective, resulting in the seizure of nearly a ton of cocaine destined for the U.K. between 2021 and 2023, and the interdiction of 95 tons of cocaine seized in Ecuador in 2024, or roughly a third of all seizures in the country that year. That said, cocaine seizures, however large, have little to no impact on reducing drug availability, nor do they put innovative and adaptive criminal networks out of business. The continuation of the U.K.s long-standing, albeit small-scale, counternarcotics support to Ecuador, as well as other cocaine hotspots in the region, including Colombia, reflects Londons concern about the countrys drug-related security crisis. However, this limited support is no match for the scale of Ecuadors drug problem. Nor does the support come close to the assistance provided by Washington. Plagued by high levels of violence, corruption and weak institutions, Ecuador faces an uphill battle in curbing its rampant drugs industry and wider organized crime problem. The countrys challenges are part of a broader transnational crisis that connects the countries where cocaine is produced, transited and consumed. While international cooperation is vital to curb the worst excesses of Ecuadors drug emergency, the current level of support from the U.K. and other nations will do little to change the realities on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Philip A. Berry is a visiting senior lecturer at Kings College London, where he specializes in international drug policy. He was previously a counternarcotics official at the U.K. Home Office. He is the author of The War on Drugs and Anglo-American Relations: Lessons from Afghanistan, 2001-2011. The post Ecuadors Cocaine Trafficking Crisis Is a Problem for the U.K., Too appeared first on World Politics Review. With Sen. Dick Durbin stepping aside after nearly three decades in the U.S. Senate, Democratic Party leaders in Cook County have wisely chosen not to anoint a favorite in the crowded Democratic primary. Illinois voters deserve a Democratic primary without heavyhanded meddling. So Cook County Democrats made the right call by staying neutral. A neutral stance can prevent the kind of backroom deals that turn off voters and depress turnout. Across the country, voters are showing impatience with party insiders angling to pick winners long before ballots are cast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were glad the Democratic powers that be decided albeit, not unanimously that this momentous occasion should be left to the people, despite immense pressure from Gov. JB Pritzker to back his former lieutenant governor for the seat. While we believe the governor is within his rights to endorse anyone he pleases and even to put some of his personal billions to work for that candidate, weve also said we believe Pritzker should resist the urge to put his thumb on the scale. While hed certainly love to lock in a key ally as Durbins inevitable successor, the people deserve a fair, competitive race. Pritzkers preferred candidate, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, has served as lieutenant governor since 2019 and previously served in the Illinois House, giving her statewide visibility and legislative experience. U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, a former state legislator and statewide officeholder, has represented Illinois in Congress since 2013 and brings deep ties to the partys establishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, in Congress since 2017, is a prolific fundraiser with a strong suburban base and support from prominent Latino and downstate leaders. Thats the hot state of play at present but the primary wont take place until March. Well have plenty more to say about this race before that. And America could well be in a different place by then. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. WILLIMANTIC An educator at the Mill Museum in Willimantic is looking to expand programs and information for the public over the next few months. Emma Welty, who joined the Mill Museum as its educator at the beginning of the year, is looking to increase awareness of the museums history. Welty is both an artist and an educator. Her background includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fiber, Textile and Weaving Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She also holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Visual Art and Art History from Purchase College. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I graduated in the thick of the pandemic and moved into a sort of online teaching model for a while, Welty said. Ive been working in-person and online as a teaching artist ever since. Welty teaches weaving and other sorts of general fiber arts for summer camps and after-school programs. Her work drew upon ancestral traditions of Armenian carpet weaving and janyak, an ancient knotted needlelace technique. She has taught a variety of fiber and sculpture techniques with a focus on lacemaking and tapestry weaving. During the school year, Welty will work with educators and students on field trips to align their educational offerings with the curriculum. As I get more acquainted with the museum, I hope to get involved with people like Peggy Church, who works at the museum as the weaving instructor, Welty said. I want to continue textile programming where people can have a hands-on approach to the museum as well as a historical survey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spinning bee is part of a special program held on the fourth Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Church will lead a drop-in spinning bee at the museum in Dungan Hall, 157-B Union Street in Willimantic. Participants will be able to bring a spindle or wheel, or hang out. There is no admission fee for spinners, and beginners are welcome to join. Welty is hoping that next year they will get some additional summer programming, such as fiber art for kids. I came to the Mill Museum after seeing a job posting for a museum educator, Welty said. It has been a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Im excited about the programming that were going to put together as a team. The Mill Museum is located at 411 Main Street in Willimantic and is open on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 860-456-2178 or email themillmuseum@gmail.com. Lawmakers across the country filed more bills to restrict or protect libraries and readers in the first half of this year than last year, a new report found. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) State lawmakers across the country filed more bills to restrict or protect libraries and readers in the first half of this year than last year, a new report found. The split fell largely along geographic lines, according to the report from EveryLibrary, a group that advocates against book bans and censorship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between January and July 2025, lawmakers introduced 133 bills that the organization deemed harmful to libraries, librarians or readers rights in 33 states an increase from 121 bills in all of 2024. Fourteen of those measures had passed as of mid-July. At the same time, legislators introduced 76 bills in 32 states to protect library services or affirm the right to read, the report found. The geographic split among these policies is stark. In Southern and Plains states, new laws increasingly criminalize certain actions of librarians, restrict access to materials about gender and race, and transfer decision-making power to politically appointed boards or parent-led councils. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas alone passed a trio of sweeping laws stripping educators of certain legal protections when providing potentially obscene materials; banning public funding for instructional materials containing obscene content; and giving parents more authority over student reading choices and new library additions. Tennessee lowered the bar to prosecute educators for sharing books that might be considered harmful to minors. A New Hampshire bill likewise wouldve made it easier for parents or the state attorney general to bring civil actions against school employees for distributing material deemed harmful to minors, but it was vetoed by Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte. In Nebraska, a new law allows for real-time alerts for parents every time a student checks out a book. South Dakota requires libraries and schools to install filtering software. New laws in Idaho heighten the requirements to form library districts and mandate stricter internet filtering policies that are tied to state funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In contrast, several Northeastern states have passed legislation protections for libraries and librarians and anti-censorship laws. New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island and Connecticut have each enacted freedom to read or other laws that codify protections against ideological censorship in libraries. Connecticut also took a major step in modernizing libraries in the digital age, the report said, becoming the first state in the nation to pass a law regulating how libraries license and manage e-books and digital audiobooks. Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Under Nigel Farages radical new plan to slash crime in Britain, criminals like child murderer Ian Huntley could find themselves behind bars in one of the worlds most brutal prisons: El Salvadors Cecot. Designed to crush the spirit of its detainees, it is known for packing hundreds of tattooed gang members into windowless cells. Prisoners are allegedly beaten, sexually abused, fed rotten food, and leave with missing teeth. Even before entering the facility, they are shaved, shackled, denied daylight, and subjected to what Venezuela described on Monday as torture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Launching his proposal this week, Mr Farage said: We can send some of our worst violent criminals overseas to serve their terms. If that means that Ian Huntley goes to El Salvador our attitude is so be it. He added that he had not spoken to El Salvador yet, but we do know theyre quite happy to take American violent offenders, so I dont see any reason why [not]. They want the money, they want the income. The plan, inspired by Donald Trumps migrant deportation programme, would require Britain to leave the European Convention on Human Rights. Nigel Farage unveils his plan to cut crime in Britain alongside MP Sarah Pochin, left, and London councillor Laila Cunningham - Thomas Krych/Anadolu via Getty Images The Reform leaders rhetoric mirrored Mr Trumps tough on crime and indifferent to international norms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farage insisted his government would not send people for trial in El Salvador. Lets make that absolutely clear. But he suggested Britain could emulate the US deal, in which the El Salvadoran government accepts deported criminals in exchange for financial support. Just hours after Farages remarks, Venezuelas attorney general, Tarek William Saab, announced a formal investigation into the alleged torture of 252 prisoners inside Cecot. The claims include beatings, lack of legal access, and months without family contact. Saab said some inmates feared they would not survive the facility. Venezuelans embrace upon arrival home after being released from El Salvadors Cecot prison as part of a detainee exchange agreement between Venezuela and the US - Getty Images South America If Huntley were ever transferred under such a scheme, he would find himself housed in a concrete hellscape surrounded by some of the most violent men alive, including former members of MS-13 and Barrio 18, transnational gangs known for beheadings and child recruitment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a review of Cecot, the Human Rights Watch describes its findings: Cases of torture, ill-treatment, incommunicado detention, severe violations of due process and inhumane conditions, such as lack of access to adequate healthcare and food. The contrast with Huntleys current situation could not be more stark. The Soham killer is serving life for the 2002 murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. At HMP Frankland, while closely monitored, he reportedly enjoys access to DVDs, chess games, and frequent trips to the gym. Even within the humane confines of HMP Frankland, Ian Huntley complained recently that he was being picked on by staff - Ian Huntley El Salvadors Cecot prison is a concrete hellscape surrounded by some of the most violent men alive - AFP But even within those humane confines, he reportedly complained recently that he was being picked on by staff when in fact, the red No10 Manchester United top he was found wearing bore a chilling similarity to the shirts worn by his victims, a source told The Sun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not difficult to imagine the fate that might await someone like Huntley if thrown into Cecot. British prisoners, especially child killers, are already targeted in UK prisons. In an El Salvadoran jail, he would likely find himself completely exposed. Kristi Noem, Mr Trumps former Homeland Security Secretary, visited Cecot earlier this year and posed in front of dozens of inmates jammed together in a single holding cage. Her visit was meant to signal that the Trump administration was removing what they called the worst of the worst. US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem during a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center in March - ALEX BRANDON But whether El Salvador would entertain such an arrangement with Britain remains unclear. The country is already under pressure from international human rights groups over the conditions at Cecot, though Farage appears undeterred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement El Salvador might be quite an extreme example, he admitted, but the idea that we could send prisoners to Kosovo, to Estonia and everything else is a very, very serious proposal. Farages foreign prison plan comes after the Government released thousands of domestic prisoners early due to overcrowding, prompting criticism from across the political spectrum. Reform sees the moment as an opportunity to present a stark alternative, one where Britains most reviled criminals, like Huntley, are shipped abroad. The Telegraph has contacted Reform 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. ELIZABETHTOWN, N.Y. (ABC22/FOX44) In 1919, the prince of Thailand, then a student at Harvard Medical School, visited Essex County, New York on vacation along with his fiancee. Even 106 years later, the Adirondack History Museum in Elizabethtown chose to highlight Thai culture, heritage, and community spirit with a unique celebration. The event on Saturday, the third since its inauguration in 2023, included traditional dance, flute, the national anthems of both the U.S. and Thailand, educational exhibits, and plenty of Thai food and crafts, with some of the proceeds going to charity. (Courtesy: George McBride) (Courtesy: George McBride) (Courtesy: George McBride) (Courtesy: George McBride) (Courtesy: George McBride) (Courtesy: George McBride) (Courtesy: George McBride) Essex County plans to use tourist tax to boost emergency services Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prince Mahidol, whose visit helped form one of the earliest cultural and educational bridges between Thailand and the United States, has been called the father of modern medicine and public health in Thailand. His grandson is the current King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand, and his son, King Bhumibol, was one of the longest-reigning monarchs in human history. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. People gathered outside Elon Musks long-awaited Tesla diner in Hollywood on Monday after he shared that it would be opening to the public. The diner, which will feature superchargers for electric vehicles and two drive-in movie screens, has been in development since 2018. Diner classics, including hamburgers, hot dogs, and wings, will be served in Tesla-branded food containers. Social media posts on X claim that the diner will officially open at 4:20 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The diner located at 7001 Santa Monica Blvd., held a soft opening over the weekend for first responders and members of the Southern California Tesla Club. Videos and photos shared showed servers on roller skates and the humanoid robot, named Optimus, scooping popcorn. Musk shared on X that if the diner is successful, he plans to open more locations in major cities worldwide. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BOSTON (WWLP) Governor Healey first declared a State of Emergency due to the overburdened shelter system in August 2023, and her administration recently extended the declaration through November of this year. This bill would make school lunches healthier The states housing secretary says the system can no longer support the level of demand for emergency housing, citing decreased federal support, high housing costs, and increased economic uncertainty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the most recent budget, the state appropriated over $276 million for the system and implemented a 4,000-family cap, both cited in the Housing Secretarys announcement letter as reasons the system cannot keep up with demand. The House speaker does not see the need for the state of emergency declaration. I dont know what the emergency is, said Speaker Ron Mariano. We funded it adequately, and it shouldnt be a problem. This disconnect over whether the system constitutes an emergency comes as a bi-weekly shelter spending report says the state spends $3,828 per family per week. Mass Fiscal Alliance, a conservative watchdog group, released a statement in response to the number. If you dont think the average working Massachusetts family could use that kind of money each week after working hard and paying their taxes their whole lives, as opposed to just arriving here, youre an elitist, said Paul Craney, Mass Fiscals Executive Director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mass Fiscal says the states resources should be sent elsewhere, but lawmakers have not indicated any intention to reduce spending on the emergency shelter system. 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. The man accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend and confessing the crimes to friends and family will see trial, an El Paso County judge ruled Tuesday. Kevin Wells, 37, is accused of killing 34-year-old Lisa West on May 13 at the Mountain Shadows Apartments on Fontmore Road. Officers discovered West's body while responding to a call from Wells, who indicated someone was trying to break into his apartment and that he was not home, but his girlfriend was inside. Wells is facing a first-degree murder charge for West's death. The prosecution called four witnesses to the stand Tuesday as part of Wells' preliminary hearing to determine if he would see trial. Wells' defense counsel argued to delay the hearing, claiming they recently obtained new discovery and needed time to review it. Judge Amanda Philipps denied the request. Colorado Springs police officer Tyler Bresson was one of the responding officers to the burglary call. His testimony largely centered around first impressions of the scene and phone calls he had with Wells. According to Bresson, the outside of the apartment did not appear suspicious, but a gruesome discovery awaited him on the other side of the door. Upon entering, Bresson located West's body with a single bullet hole between her eyes. Photographs of the scene were shown to the courtroom, in which West's body was illuminated by the slim slivers of light coming through the closed blinds. Early into the investigation, Bresson made contact with Wells to go over his 911 call and Wells gave no indication officers were about to walk into an alleged murder scene, Bresson testified. During the phone call, which was played in court, Wells mumbles and stumbles over his words. Wells allegedly confessed to the murder to multiple people, including his father and employer, Wells' arrest affidavit said. Wells' father, who was briefly present in the courtroom Tuesday, encouraged his son to turn himself in. The prosecution then called Colorado Springs detective Ashton Lofgreen with the homicide unit to the stand. Lofgreen testified to what law enforcement uncovered through search warrants granted on the day of the alleged homicide. According to Lofgreen, Wells was the only resident on the lease for the apartment. West had previously applied to be a roommate, but was denied. Wells was also the only resident listed as paying utilities for the unit. When officers searched Wells' apartment they discovered multiple bullet casings, an empty handgun safe and a shattered sliding glass door. Featured Local Savings During cross-examination, Lofgreen testified to the autopsy results for West, which revealed several substances, including methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl, were found in her body. Colorado State Patrol Trooper Mathew Tillman testified he assisted in locating Wells' vehicle after the agency asked troopers to be on the lookout. Wells initially told Bresson he was heading to Denver, but later corrected himself that he was in Monument. Cellphone tracking placed Wells heading south, where he was eventually arrested. Wells was taken into custody about 60 miles away from his residence in Colorado City, Tillman testified. According to the trooper, Wells was compliant during his arrest. The final witness of the day was lead detective Shelby Johnson with the department's homicide unit. Johnson went over the background of Wells' and West's relationship. Text messages from West to a friend on the day of her death indicated West wanted to leave Wells due to abuse. "I wish I could leave, but I literally have nowhere to go and no money," one text sent by West stated. During cross-examination, Johnson revealed that another witness at the scene told detectives they saw a "suspicious person" in the apartment complex the morning of West's death. The defense asked Philipps not to bind over charges, arguing the prosecution did not prove the "premeditation" requirement for first-degree murder. Philipps explained she had to make her ruling by seeing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution. Wells, who appeared in custody, sat with his head down for the majority of the hearing, shaking his head at times as he listened to the alleged details of his girlfriend's death. Wells' friends and family members were present in the courtroom, but were asked to leave before testimony due to the possibility they would be called as witnesses. Wells remains in El Paso County jail on a no-bond hold, booking records show. His next appearance in the 4th Judicial District is Aug. 21, for an arraignment and bond hearing. While Philipps bound over the first-degree murder charge for trial, she acknowledged the prosecution did not meet its burden to the point of validating Wells' no-bond hold. President Donald Trumps nomination of his former criminal defense attorney, Emil Bove, to be a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, has been mired in controversy. On June 24, 2025, Erez Reuveni, a former Department of Justice attorney who worked with Bove, released an extensive, 27-page whistleblower report. Reuveni claimed that Bove, as the Trump administrations acting deputy attorney general, said that it might become necessary to tell a court fuck you and ignore court orders related to the administrations immigration policies. Boves acting role ended on March 6 when he resumed his current position of principal associate deputy attorney general. When asked about this statement at his June 25 Senate confirmation hearing, Bove said, I dont recall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And on July 15, 80 former federal and state judges signed a letter opposing Boves nomination. The letter argued that Mr. Boves egregious record of mistreating law enforcement officers, abusing power, and disregarding the law itself disqualifies him for this position. A day later, more than 900 former Department of Justice attorneys submitted their own letter opposing Boves confirmation. The attorneys argued that Few actions could undermine the rule of law more than a senior executive branch official flouting another branchs authority. But that is exactly what Mr. Bove allegedly did through his involvement in DOJs defiance of court orders. On July 17, Democrats walked out of the Senate Judiciary Committee vote, in protest of the refusal by Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, to allow further investigation and debate on the nomination. Republicans on the committee then unanimously voted to move the nomination forward for a full Senate vote. As a scholar of the courts, I know that most federal court appointments are not as controversial as Boves nomination. But highly contentious nominations do arise from time to time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres how three controversial nominations turned out and how Boves nomination is different in a crucial way. Robert Bork testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation as associate justice of the Supreme Court in September 1987. Mark Reinstein/Corbis via Getty Images Robert Bork Bork is the only federal court nominee whose name became a verb. Borking is to attack or defeat (a nominee or candidate for public office) unfairly through an organized campaign of harsh public criticism or vilification, according to Merriam-Webster. This refers to Republican President Ronald Reagans 1987 appointment of Bork to the Supreme Court. Reagan called Bork one of the finest judges in Americas history. Democrats viewed Bork, a federal appeals court judge, as an ideologically extreme conservative, with their opposition based largely on his extensive scholarly work and opinions on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In opposing the Bork nomination, Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts took the Senate floor and gave a fiery speech: Robert Borks America is a land in which women would be forced into back-alley abortions, blacks would sit at segregated lunch counters, rogue police could break down citizens doors in midnight raids, schoolchildren could not be taught about evolution, writers and artists could be censored at the whim of government, and the doors of the federal courts would be shut on the fingers of millions of citizens for whom the judiciary is often the only protector of the individual rights that are the heart of our democracy. Ultimately, Borks nomination failed by a 58-42 vote in the Senate, with 52 Democrats and six Republicans rejecting the nomination. Ronnie White In 1997, Democratic President Bill Clinton nominated White to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. White was the first Black judge on the Missouri Supreme Court. Republican Sen. John Ashcroft, from Whites home state of Missouri, led the fight against the nomination. Ashcroft alleged that Whites confirmation would push the law in a pro-criminal direction. Ashcroft based this claim on Whites comparatively liberal record in death penalty cases as a judge on the Missouri Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, there was limited evidence to support this assertion. This led some to believe that Ashcrofts attack on the nomination was motivated by stereotypes that African Americans, like White, are soft on crime. Even Clinton implied that race may be a factor in the attacks on White: By voting down the first African-American judge to serve on the Missouri Supreme Court, the Republicans have deprived both the judiciary and the people of Missouri of an excellent, fair, and impartial Federal judge. Whites nomination was defeated in the Senate by a 54-45 party-line vote. In 2014, White was renominated to the same judgeship by President Barack Obama and confirmed by largely party-line 53-44 vote, garnering the support of a single Republican, Susan Collins of Maine. Ronnie White, a former justice for the Missouri Supreme Court, testifies during an attorney general confirmation hearing in Washington in January 2001. Alex Wong/Newsmakers Miguel Estrada Republican President George W. Bush nominated Estrada to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 2001. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Estrada, who had earned a unanimous well-qualified rating from the American Bar Association, faced deep opposition from Senate Democrats, who believed he was a conservative ideologue. They also worried that, if confirmed, he would later be appointed to the Supreme Court. Miguel Estrada, President George Bushs nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, is sworn in during his hearing before Senate Judiciary on Sept. 26, 2002. Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly/Getty Images However, unlike Bork who had an extensive paper trail as an academic and judge Estradas written record was very thin. Democrats sought to use his confirmation hearing to probe his beliefs. But they didnt get very far, as Estrada dodged many of the senators questions, including ones about Supreme Court cases he disagreed with and judges he admired. Democrats were particularly troubled by allegations that Estrada, when he was screening candidates for Justice Anthony Kennedy, disqualified applicants for Supreme Court clerkships based on their ideology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to one attorney: Miguel told me his job was to prevent liberal clerks from being hired. He told me he was screening out liberals because a liberal clerk had influenced Justice Kennedy to side with the majority and write a pro-gay-rights decision in a case known as Romer v. Evans, which struck down a Colorado statute that discriminated against gays and lesbians. When asked about this at his confirmation hearing, Estrada initially denied it but later backpedaled. Estrada said, There is a set of circumstances in which I would consider ideology if I think that the person has some extreme view that he would not be willing to set aside in service to Justice Kennedy. Unlike the Bork nomination, Democrats didnt have the numbers to vote Estradas nomination down. Instead, they successfully filibustered the nomination, knowing that Republicans couldnt muster the required 60 votes to end the filibuster. This marked the first time in Senate history that a court of appeals nomination was filibustered. Estrada would never serve as a judge. Bove stands out As the examples of Bork, Estrada and White make clear, contentious nominations to the federal courts often involve ideological concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is also true for Bove, who is opposed in part because of the perception that he is a conservative ideologue. But the main concerns about Bove are related to a belief that he is a Trump loyalist who shows little respect for the rule of law or the judicial branch. This makes Bove stand out among contentious federal court nominations. 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: Paul M. Collins Jr., UMass Amherst Read more: Paul M. Collins Jr. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) The Empire Mall is set to host a Back to School Bash. 1 injured in crane tip at Fort Randall Dam The mall will have an afternoon of free games, crafts, animal encounters, face painting and more, a news release said. The first 150 kids will receive an exclusive Empire Mall Giveaway Bag packed with retailer coupons and surprises. The event is 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Republic Services sanitation workers at the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center continue to picket but Republic employees return to work in King and Snohomish counties as union negotiations resume. Represented by the Teamsters Local 252 union, workers at the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center in Lacey began picketing on July 9 to push for a new contract with better wages and benefits and stronger labor protections. According to Matt McQuaid, a Teamsters spokesperson, Lacey union members were scheduled to meet with Republic Services on July 30, but the meeting occurred Monday, July 21, instead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We initially were not scheduled to meet with the company until July 30, but we are now meeting with them today, he wrote Monday. Picket line extensions have been taken down for the time being as a gesture of good faith. The primary picket in Lacey remains ongoing, though. The picket does not affect garbage pickup in Thurston County, as local trash collection is managed by LeMay and the City of Olympia. However, Republic workers in King and Snohomish county refused to report for work to honor the picket line starting earlier this month. This move paused regular trash services in Kent, Bellevue, Renton and Edmonds for over a week. While trash pileups prompted the cities to establish free drop-off sites, Republic announced in a service alert that employees in King and Snohomish counties would return to work on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to The Olympian, Republic Services said, We are in negotiations today regarding a new contract for our nine employees at our Lacey Transfer Station. Teamsters from Boston and other areas ended picketing at our Seattle-area locations and our drivers have returned to work. The Lacey demonstration began shortly after Republic sanitation employees went on strike in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Georgia and California at the beginning of the month. Six Boston area communities are suing Republic over growing concerns that trash pileups have become a public health risk. Republic Services also filed a lawsuit against the Boston area Teamsters Local 25 union, seeking an immediate temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to prevent the union from alleged unlawful conduct. Encino residents are demanding officials take action following the murders of an American Idol executive and her husband earlier this month, which were followed by a rash of break-ins. More than 500 people packed the Encino Community Center Monday night to share their frustration with the ongoing criminal activity, including five break-ins over the past twelve days. Why does it have to take a death in order for us to have a meeting like this? said one woman at the meeting, referring to the killings of TV executive Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca, whose bodies were discovered on July 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The break-in is believed to have occurred on July 10 as the couple was returning home and caught the burglar in the act. Investigators believe the suspect shot the couple with their own gun during a violent struggle. The communitys frustration was directed toward Los Angeles Police Department Captain Michael Bland and Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman, who were on hand to address the residents. According to the LAPD, year-over-year violent crime is down in the area, but additional patrols between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. have been requested. Hochman promised increased accountability for criminals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My goal is to deter criminals from committing the crimes in the first place, thus saving a whole lot of victims in the process, Hochman said. Because to deter criminals, [they] have to appreciate that there is some level of certainty that they will be arrested and brought to justice if they commit the crime. Two more break-ins were reported Monday night, including one on the 4500 block of Hayvenhurst Avenue where the family was believed to be home when the suspects broke in through the garage before fleeing in an unknown vehicle. The second burglary call occurred on the 4900 block of Enfield Avenue, but it was unclear if anything was taken. No injuries were reported in either incident. 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. If youve been watching the freight headlines latelyor reading the comments on socialsthey all seem to circle back to the same loaded question: Should drivers who cant speak or read English be allowed behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound truck? Its a fair question. But the deeper you dig, the more complicated the answer becomes. Because this conversation isnt just about English. Its about labor. About regulation. About identity. And depending on who you ask, its either a long-overdue safety crackdownor a smokescreen designed to shift blame away from the real issues gutting the industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets peel back the layers. Since English Language Proficiency (ELP) was reinstated as an Out-of-Service (OOS) violation on June 25, 2025, states have been citing truck drivers who cant speak or read English. Some are enforcing it. Others, like Texas, are not. The good news? OOS is still OOS. If a driver pic.twitter.com/2Xw5CkPJiB may be danielle (@maybedanielleee) July 15, 2025 How Did We Get Here? The rule isnt new. English Language Proficiency (ELP) has technically been a requirement under FMCSA guidelines since the 1980s. Drivers are supposed to be able to read traffic signs, understand inspection instructions, and speak clearly with law enforcement. But for years, enforcement was inconsistent at best. States didnt apply it evenly. Inspectors looked the other way. Carriers found workarounds. The rule sat quietly on the booksuntil June 25, 2025. Thats when FMCSA officially reinstated ELP as an enforceable Out-of-Service (OOS) violation. If a driver cant demonstrate English proficiency at the time of inspection, they can be shut down on the spot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some states jumped in right away. Texas, Tennessee, Missouri, Wyoming, and others began reporting ELP violations in significant numbers. Otherslike Californiahave reportedly directed officers not to enforce the rule, citing political and legal concerns. Now the industry is split. Some see this as common sense finally catching up with reality. Others view it as coded language for something much uglier. What the Supporters Say: Safety and Fairness The pro-ELP crowd says the issue is cut and dry. If you cant read a bridge height sign, you shouldnt be driving, one inspector told us privately. Were not targeting anybodywere trying to prevent preventable crashes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats echoed by Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, who recently said, Only truckers proficient in our national languageEnglishwill drive on our roads. To many American drivers, this enforcement feels like long-overdue justice. They argue that non-citizen drivers have been allowed to enter the industry through the back doorobtaining non-domicile CDLs in states with looser oversight, avoiding taxes and insurance, and undercutting wages. Graphics like the one showing Unbalanced Labor Practices have gone viral. On one side: American citizens paying taxes, holding insurance, spending in their local communities. On the other: non-citizens supposedly skating by without any of it. That may be oversimplifiedbut for those struggling to stay afloat in a brutal rate environment, it hits a nerve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To them, this isnt about language. Its about survival. What the Critics Say: Weaponized Bureaucracy But lets not pretend the other side isnt speaking loudly, too. Critics of ELP enforcement call it a solution in search of a scapegoat. They argue that cracking down on English proficiency wont fix the root issues: market volatility, weak enforcement of fraud, or unchecked broker power. And they ask a fair question: If ELP is really about safety, why wasnt it enforced for the last decade? Some suspect the timing is political. Truckersespecially in the long-haul OTR spacehave been squeezed hard by falling rates and rising operating costs. Its tempting for lawmakers to point to immigrant drivers as the reason, especially in an election year. But the data doesnt tell a clean story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While theres been an increase in non-domiciled CDLs and foreign-born drivers entering the market, the idea of a foreign invasion is more social media narrative than statistical fact. The rate drop started long before ELP enforcement became a headline. And while there are certainly bad actorscarriers using loopholes to skirt the rulespainting all immigrant drivers with the same brush is both lazy and dangerous. (Source: SONAR, NTI.USA National Truckload Index. The SONAR National Truckload Index shows the market rate in July 2020 was $2.23 per milenearly identical to where we are now. But back then, that rate felt like a win. Today, it feels like survival mode. Same number, completely different climate. Thats what makes the ELP debate more complicated than it seems.) Will This Raise Rates? Not Certain. Heres another myth that needs busting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of folks pushing for stricter ELP enforcement believe it will shrink the driver pool and force brokers to pay more. That may feel logical, but the market doesnt care about logic. It cares about capacity and demand. And right now, theres still plenty of capacity. Even with a net loss in authorities this year, SONAR data shows were still far above pre-2020 carrier counts. Rates wont jump just because a few hundred drivers get pulled out of service. Remember 2018? Rates were high not because there were fewer driversbut because there was more freight than capacity. The minute that flips, prices fallno matter whos behind the wheel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And lets be honest: if enforcement gets too aggressive, carriers will just find new workarounds. They always do. And even if capacity leaves at a rate enough to drive rates up, history shows that when rates increase, so does one other thingnew authorities.. This Isnt the First Time Language Was a Wedge Weve seen this beforein other industries. English-only policies have historically been a flashpoint. They sound like neutral safety measures but often become cultural battlegrounds. For many immigrant driversespecially those from Eastern Europe, Africa, and Latin Americathis feels like theyre being singled out, even when theyve done everything legally. Several of them can speak functional Englishbut they get nervous when pulled over. They stumble. They panic. And now thats grounds for a shutdown? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where do we draw the line between actual danger and cultural discomfort? We need to be careful not to turn policy into profiling. The Bigger Problem: FMCSA Still Cant Keep Up Lets zoom out for a second. While were arguing over ELP, the bigger issue is staring us in the face. FMCSAs budget is $926 million. And yet, over 94% of carriers in the system have no safety rating at all. Thats not a typo. It means nearly every new authority has never had an on-site audit. This isnt regulationits theater. Pop-up CDL mills, shell companies, shady brokers gaming the systemnone of that gets caught. But a driver fumbling through an inspection in Missouri? Thats who were prioritizing? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency needs modernization. It needs teeth. And it needs to focus on fraud, training, and safety culturenot just language skills. What Would Real Reform Look Like? Instead of leaning too hard on ELP as the fix-all, heres what smarter regulation could look like: Audit All New Authorities Within 90 Days Dont let new entrants operate unchecked. Standardize CDL Training Requirements Nationwide No more state-to-state loopholes for skill testing or residency. Make English Proficiency a CDL Entry Requirement, Not a Gotcha Enforcement Tactic Test at the front endnot the roadside. Tie Safety Ratings to Authority Renewal No more endless Not Rated carriers floating under the radar. Use Data Analytics to Track Fraud Patterns Repeat addresses. Phone numbers. Shell behavior. We have the techuse it. Final Word: Fairness Has to Go Both Ways The goal should be to protect the roads, protect the public, and protect the people doing it the right way. That means holding everyone accountableregardless of where they were born or what language they speak at home. It also means calling out bad faith arguments on both sides. No, not every non-citizen driver is unqualified. But no, the system hasnt done enough to verify whos on our roads, either. We dont need more noise. We need leadership. The industry is in a trust crisis. And trust doesnt come from slogansit comes from action. Lets clean up the fraud. Lets get back to meaningful audits. Lets treat carriers, brokers, and drivers like professionalsnot pawns in a political game. And above alllets remember this: trucking isnt just an industry. Its an ecosystem. If one part breaks, we all feel it. And no matter which side of this debate you fall on, the only way forward is together. The post The English-Only Fight in Trucking A Rule, A Reckoning, or a Distraction? appeared first on FreightWaves. While Britains ship of state drifts serenely towards the rocks, the captain and crew are arguing about the precise order of the deckchairs. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Sir Keir Starmers spokesman have both said that the Government must address concerns over migration, without specifying how. Away from Downing Street, the mood is febrile. Protests outside asylum hotels by locals furious at the sudden imposition of large numbers of young men in their towns have been exploited by far-Right agitators, leading to clashes with the police. The observation from one MP that the country is a tinderbox seems close to the mark. Yet beyond a vague sense that something isnt quite right, the Government carries on as normal. Ms Rayner is continuing her project on social cohesion; the people smugglers continue their trade across the Channel; borrowing continues to rise as the population shoulders the burden of the new arrivals. There is no sense of urgency, and no sense of a plan ready to be put into action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nor is there any real willingness to discuss the precise issues in question. Ms Rayners comments still appeared to focus on economic insecurity as a primary factor in explaining dissatisfaction, instead of finding solutions to the primary issue of uncontrolled immigration. There is an echo of the political correctness that silenced conversation in the towns where grooming gangs operated. Nor does there seem to be much prospect of imminent change. The potential fiasco of a Tommy Robinson-led demonstration in Epping may well grab headlines should it come to pass, and indeed may be welcomed by those desperate to pretend that the only issues are those created by troublemakers; it will do nothing to address local unease at the changes imposed on the area. Nor will it do so in places experiencing similar shifts. The decision to disperse asylum seekers into hotels around the country remains a baffling one, and it is almost certain that a detention estate separate from the general population would see far fewer potential flashpoints for unrest. So, too, is the unwillingness to slap down judges undermining our borders, or to speak frankly about the long-term costs of our asylum policy. Instead, the ship drifts. There is no indication that anyone in Government has any plan for regaining control over our borders or addressing the concerns of the population. And there is no indication, either, that one is on the way. 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. (SECURITY-WIDEFIELD, Colo.) Two people have been arrested and charged with narcotics possession after deputies pulled them over in a reportedly high-crime area of Security-Widefield. According to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPSO), around 1:15 a.m. on Sunday, July 20, deputies were patrolling near Almont Avenue in Security-Widefield, an area that EPSO described as having recently experienced high rates of criminal activity, including motor vehicle theft, known narcotics distribution, weapons violations, and numerous wanted individuals. While on patrol, deputies saw a maroon SUV heading north with its high beams on. The SUV stopped briefly in front of a home before quickly speeding off as law enforcement approached. Deputies pulled the car over near the intersection of Maribou Way and Bradley Road. The driver was identified as 65-year-old Walter Bivins, though the woman with him in the car initially refused to give her name to deputies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EPSO said because the car was allegedly connected to a known narcotics location, deputies called for the assistance of a K9 unit. K9 officers with the Fountain Police Department responded and K9 Odin alerted during an open-air check of the SUV. Both Bivins and the woman were detained, and the passenger was eventually identified as 26-year-old Leola Santistevan, who had four active warrants for her arrest, EPSO said. Walter Bivins. Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriffs Office Leola Santistevan. Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriffs Office A search of Walter Bivins revealed a clear baggie containing a white crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine, a separate baggie with a brown substance suspected to be heroin, and blue pills marked M/30 believed to be fentanyl. Santistevan admitted that she was in possession of approximately three fentanyl pills. A search of the SUV uncovered additional small baggies and a digital scalecommonly associated with narcotics distribution. Both Bivins and Santistevan were booked into the El Paso Couny Jail and issued summons for drug possession. I commend my Patrol deputies for their diligence and proactive policing in a high-crime area, which directly led to the seizure of dangerous narcotics and the apprehension of multiple offenders, said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. Their vigilance is a testament to the professionalism expected from my deputies. We also extend our sincere gratitude to the Fountain Police Department and K9 Odin for their critical assistance during this operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. (Corrects day of week in first sentence) By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives said on Tuesday he would send lawmakers home a day early for a five-week summer recess to avoid a political fight over files on disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move averts a push by Democrats and some Republicans for a vote on a bipartisan resolution to require the Justice Department and FBI to release all government documents on Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What we refuse to do is participate in another one of the Democrats' political games. This is a serious matter. We are not going to let them use this as a political battering ram," House Speaker Mike Johnson, of Louisiana, told reporters. Many of President Donald Trump's supporters who embraced a slew of conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein saw their hopes raised when the administration vowed to release a slew of new documents on the case, only to backtrack and say it had concluded that there was no evidence to support the theories. That opened a rare breach between Trump and parts of his Make America Great Again base of support. Majorities of Americans and Trump's Republicans say they believed the government is hiding details on the case, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. On Monday, Democrats sought to use a House Rules Committee meeting to force a vote on the Epstein resolution introduced by Republican Representative Thomas Massie and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna. The panel serves as gatekeeper for floor-bound legislation. Republicans instead suspended the hearing, preventing the panel from approving bills for floor consideration this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House had been expected to hold the week's final votes on Thursday. But House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the chamber's No. 2 Republican, told reporters there would be votes on Tuesday and Wednesday for less important legislation considered under suspension of the rules. A subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite and Epstein's longtime girlfriend, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of sex trafficking in 2021. Under mounting pressure from Trump supporters for the release of material, Attorney General Pam Bondi has asked a federal judge to unseal grand jury transcripts in the cases of both Epstein and Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 of five federal charges related to her role in Epstein's alleged sexual abuse of underage girls. (Editing by Scott Malone and Mark Porter) The Justice Department announced on Tuesday that it is seeking a meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epsteins longtime associate and convicted co-conspirator, as the Trump administration faces intensifying criticism over its handling of the Epstein case. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously served as Trumps criminal defense lawyer, posted on X that he had reached out to Maxwells legal team at the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi and expects to meet with her soon. No one is above the lawand no lead is off-limits, Blanche wrote, adding in a separate statement: If Ghislaine Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say Until now, no administration on behalf of the Department had inquired about her willingness to meet with the government. That changes now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ announcement comes after weeks of mounting pressure from Trumps MAGA base and congressional Democrats to release more evidence about Epsteins alleged network of abusers. Last week, Trump called the Epstein case a hoax perpetrated by Democrats and urged his supporters to move on, but eventually instructed Bondi to petition a federal court for the release of grand jury testimony, The move to meet with Maxwell appears designed to placate Trumps supporters, many of whom have grown disillusioned ever since a July DOJFBI report concluded there was no additional evidence relating to the case to disclose. That report has fueled skepticism among right-wing influencers and others that a cover-up is protecting powerful figures implicated in Epsteins crimes. Though some congressional Republicans have called on the administration to release the so-called files, GOP members of the House Rules Committee recently blocked an effort to do so. Start your day with essential news from Salon. Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course. On Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee approved a motion to subpoena Maxwell by voice vote. The motion was introduced by Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn. But House Republicans are reportedly not taking up several bills this week in order to avoid further votes related to Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence after her 2021 conviction for sex trafficking minors and other charges, has petitioned the Supreme Court to review her case. Last week, the DOJ urged the high court to deny that appeal. David Oscar Markus, Maxwells attorney, confirmed to Axios that discussions with prosecutors have begun. Ghislaine will always testify truthfully, he said, adding, We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case. The post Epstein saga: Ex-Trump lawyer to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell appeared first on Salon.com. Security footage of an escalator malfunction that left 24 people injured at the Vine City MARTA station shows the escalator speeding up and then stopping. (Atlanta News First) After an escalator malfunction left at least 24 people injured at a MARTA station following a Beyonce concert earlier this month, a state investigation found that missing parts on the escalator and an overload of passengers were the likely causes of the accident. On July 15, as people were leaving Mercedes-Benz Stadium after Beyonces final show in Atlanta for the Cowboy Carter tour, an escalator at the Vine City MARTA station abruptly sped up and stopped, resulting in multiple people needing medical attention. According to a report from the states Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, the agency that oversees escalator and elevator inspections, during the agencys accident investigation the day after the incident, drive belts were found to be missing from the motors of the escalator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three drive belts were noted during (the) investigation to be missing from the top drive motor, and one belt was missing from the bottom drive motor, wrote state safety inspector Jerrold Miller wrote in the investigation report. It is unknown if the belts were missing at the time of the incident or if the belts came off the pulley due to the incident. Due to the high passenger volume and the motor drive belts missing, this would have caused an over-normal operating speed condition leading to the injuries. The report notes that the escalators operating weight capacity is 8000 pounds. Stephany Fisher, director of communications at MARTA, declined to give a comment about the investigation report due to the incident being subject to legal claims. Read More: Beyonce Fans Injured Leaving Final Cowboy Carter Show in Atlanta Prior to the release of the report, MARTA officials and the manufacturer of the escalator, Schindler, claimed that the incident was caused by a stampede of people on the escalator, not because there was something wrong with the equipment itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a panicked stampede of people that overcrowded and overloaded the unit, causing its multi-layered, code required safety system to activate. This is not an issue so long as the escalator is being used normally, said Kim LaCava, spokesperson for Schindler, in an email to Capital B Atlanta on July 17. Fisher said that MARTA police on the scene reported that a person began screaming and running, causing a stampede on the escalator. In security footage obtained by Atlanta News First, a video shows numerous people standing on the escalator. No one in the video is running or pushing past one another. Read More: History Beneath Our Feet: Where MARTA Runs, Lives Were Once Sold in Atlanta Many people who were at the station claim that there was no stampede on the escalator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DMaia Devoe, who was present at the time of the incident, told Capital B Atlanta that while there was commotion outside the station gates, no stampede occurred on the escalator. Those of us that were closer to the escalator, we werent near the chaos that was on the other end of the train station, said Devoe. Devoe, 29, said the aftermath of the crash caused multiple people to pile on top of one another, saying it looked like dead bodies laying on the ground. The escalator sped up and then stopped, and you could hear everybody scream and you could hear the crash, said Devoe. Devoe walked away from the situation physically unharmed, but she said two of her friends were injured in the incident. Her friend, Jaylen Black, was left with a broken ankle, and another friend in their group ended up with a concussion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Black spoke publicly on social media about the incident, calling out MARTA and sharing she thought she was going to die. This was not a stampede. No one was pushing each other and everyone was patient and not rowdy after that incredible show. The facts: the escalator at Vine City MARTA malfunctioned after the Beyonce concert and sped out of control while packed with people, said Black in an Instagram post. I was thrown into a pile, crushed under bodies, unable to move, barely able to breathe. My ankle was broken and ligaments protruding and people kept falling on top of us. EMTs made me a priority transport to the hospital because I got the worst of it. Black did not respond to Capital B Atlantas requests for comment, but Devoe said her friend is focusing on recovery and litigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fisher with MARTA said that the weight capacity for the escalator is approximately 9,100 pounds, and LaCava with Schindler said that if the escalator is overloaded the brakes will kick in as part of the machines safety features. In the video footage, the machine speeds up for about five to eight seconds before it comes to a stop. Devoe said that MARTA should have had more staff helping to manage the flow of people inside the station. She said there was no staff present helping to manage the amount of people on the escalators. I would hope that there would be a lot more crowd control. Its millions of people that theyre promoting to use MARTA; there needs to be crowd control there. There was a bomb squad truck outside. Were prepared for a bomb, but why are they not prepared for the millions of people that are here? said Devoe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fisher said MARTA staff were metering the crowd outside the station, at the fare gates, and on the platform, but there was not a staff member positioned at the top of the escalator. She said there was a divider located at the escalator to help meter the crowd, but it was pushed over in the rush. MARTA will continue to provide support staff to assist during large events and look at areas for improvement including stationing someone at all escalators, said Fisher. Two days after the incident, MARTAs CEO, Collie Greenwood, announced he was retiring early from the transit organization. Fisher said that the incident had nothing to do with Greenwoods decision to step down from his position, and said his early retirement was due to delays in the immigration process as he is a Canadian citizen. The post State Investigation Finds Missing Belts As A Cause Of Escalator Collapse After Beyonce Concert appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta. Parents from the early- and mid-1980s probably remember the first "photo on a milk carton" kid, Etan Patz, with fear. Patz was killed in 1979 and became the first face of the Missing Children Milk Carton Program, designed to publicize the issue of missing children and expand the search effort for children. His picture, which included both of his parents, helped catalyze a national movement, according to the Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even more alarming, Patz's body was never found, and it wasn't until 2017 that Pedro Hernandez was convicted of murdering the 6-year-old in Soho, Lower Manhattan, New York City. Hernandez confessed to enticing Patz into his basement while the boy was walking alone to a bus stop, according to The New York Times. Now, Hernandez could walk free if the state isn't able to give him a new trial within a reasonable time, which will be determined by a federal judge. A federal appeals court on July 21, 2025, ordered Hernandez be released if the state can't comply. The search continues on a rainy Sunday at the site where New York police and FBI agents dig up a basement believed to contain clues to the unsolved disappearance 33 years ago of six-year-old Etan Patz in New York, April 21, 2012. Police shut off two blocks of Prince Street and erected a blue tarpaulin tent over the entrance to the basement where detectives hope finally to break the case of Etan Patz, who became America's most famous missing child when he vanished on his way to school in 1979. AFP/Getty Images Hernandez was first arrested in relation to Patz in 2012 and faced prosecution by the Manhattan District Attorney's office. Now current DA Alvin Bragg will have to decide if he wants to continue pursuing the matter more than 10 years after the first arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bragg's office is reviewing the decision," spokeswoman Emily Tuttle said. No scientific evidence ever linked Hernandez to the killing of Patz, and Hernandez's attorneys in their appeal charged that the court's original conviction came before it issued improper instructions to the jury, among other issues. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which lifted the conviction of Hernandez, sided with his lawyers. "We conclude that the state trial court contradicted clearly established federal law and that this error was not harmless," the three-judge panel wrote. The court, writing of the instruction to jurors, later argued they "would have unquestionably impacted deliberations." Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. (R) speaks as Stanley Patz (L) looks on following the sentencing of Pedro Hernandez, convicted for the 1979 kidnapping and murdering of six-year-old Etan Patz, at Manhattan Supreme Court, April 18, 2017 in New York. In a case that still haunts US parents and forever changed the handling of child abductions, Etan Patz vanished on May 25, 1979 after leaving his parents' home in Manhattan to walk alone for the first time to the school bus stop. Pedro Hernandez, then 18 years old and working in a convenience store near the bus stop, was convicted on Valentine's Day after a second trial. The first trial ended in 2015 with the jury failing to reach a unanimous verdict. The 56-year-old, who has been in custody since 2012, was sentenced on Tuesday for luring Etan into the basement of the convenience store with the promise of a soda, choking him and putting his body out with the trash. BRYAN R. SMITH/Getty Images Hernandez issued a false confession due to psychotic hallucinations, his lawyers argued, and he ended up recanting the confession, which he gave after being arrested. Police then read him his miranda rights and asked him to repeat his original confession on tape, after he recanted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of the jury's deliberations focused on Hernandez's confession. Jurors even asked the judge at the time if they should consider it in their deliberations if they believe the recorded confession was not given voluntarily. The state trial court instructed the jurors, "the answer is, no," without further explanation, the federal appeals court noted in its ruling. Related: Murder Suspect Posed as Hiker Fleeing Bear to Evade Police Etan Patz Was Original Milk Carton Kid. Now Suspect Pedro Hernandez Release Ordered first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has voiced serious alarm over the Verkhovna Radas (Ukrainian Parliament) adoption of a contentious law stripping the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO) of their independence. Source: Kos on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: Marta Kos expressed "serious concern" over the outcome of the Verkhovna Radas vote on draft law No. 12414, which renders NABU and SAPO beholden to the Prosecutor Generals decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Kos: "The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABUs independence is a serious step back. Independent bodies like NABU & SAPO, are essential for Ukraines EU path. Rule of Law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations." Background: Earlier, European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier noted the EUs unease over the situation surrounding NABU and SAPO, though no plans have emerged to suspend financial aid to Ukraine. On 21 July, the ambassadors of the G7 countries echoed concerns over the Security Service of Ukraines actions against NABU. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt floated the idea on Tuesday that a smaller group of EU states could join forces to organize return centres for rejected asylum seekers in countries outside the European Union. The aim behind the idea is to return rejected asylum seekers to their countries of origin more quickly. Arriving at a meeting with his EU counterparts in Copenhagen, Dobrindt said there were possibilities outside Europe to create such centres together with partner countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We want to formalize this goal," Dobrindt told reporters. Both a joint EU-wide approach and an initiative of individual EU member countries are conceivable, said the German minister. "I don't want to rule out the possibility of Germany joining others," he said. In addition to the return of rejected asylum seekers, the talks in Copenhagen will focus on measures against irregular migration and the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking. Member states are also eyeing up a stronger role for the border protection agency Frontex. Dobrindt had already advocated a tougher approach to migration policy at a meeting in Bavaria last Friday with interior ministers from Austria, France, Denmark, Poland and the Czech Republic, including more consistent deportations, even to Syria and Afghanistan. Beyond migration issues, the ministers plan to discuss how the European Union can be made more resilient to a range of crises such as natural disasters or issues such as IT outages. On July 24, Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, the heads of the European Commission and the European Council respectively, will be in Beijing for a summit to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. They will most certainly talk about U.S. President Donald Trump and his recent announcement of a 30 percent tariff on EU imports. This visit comes on the heels of the Munich Security Conference in February, where Washington and China offered starkly contrasting messages to Europe. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance denounced Europeans penchant for, in his view, shutting down media, shutting down elections, or shutting people out of the political process. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, for his part, gave a speech praising the virtues of multilateralism, open trade, and the rules-based global order. Without explicitly mentioning Trump or the United States, his message to Europeans was: Look, we are in the same boat and should therefore stick together. One might think Wangs line would resonate amid European frustrations with Washington. But the reality is, Trumps ascent does not mean a lovefest between Europe and China. Von der Leyen and Costas mission is to manage conflict, not to pitch a shiny new partnership with Beijing. The very fact that the summit is not taking place in Brussels and that big guns such as French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will be absent speaks volumes about the myriad problems bedeviling Sino-European ties. From trade and technology to Russias war in Ukraine, the list is becoming even longer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both European and Chinese leaders want a functional relationship, as their meeting in Beijing shows. But such efforts should not be taken as evidence that Europe is turning to China out of frustration with the United States. First, economic relations between the EU and China have become contentious. European businesses used to see China as a promised land as they set up shop there. In the 2000s, following its entry into the World Trade Organization, China accounted for up to 40 percent of Volkswagens global sales and a similar percentage of BMWs. But these days the tables have turned. After losing market share in China, now German carmakers face competition on their home turf. Chinese brands such as BYD are establishing a foothold as Europe is poised to shift from internal combustion to electric vehicles in the 2030s as part of its effort to decarbonize. Unfair practices such as state subsidies give those companies an edge against European rivals. The EU is watching with unease. In a recent speech before the European Parliament, von der Leyen noted that China had unique instruments at its disposal to play outside the rules, allowing it to flood global markets with subsidized overcapacitynot just to boost its own industries but to choke international competition. Back in 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Commission chief called China a competitor and a rival and has been a prominent advocate of de-risking from dependency on the Chinese economy. Now, for all the diplomatic niceties, the Europe-China rivalry is heating up, with China making worrying inroads on European markets. Last year, the EU slapped hefty tariffs on Chinese EVs, alleging unfair competition. BYD is still building a manufacturing base in Hungary as well as Turkeywhich has unfettered access to the EU thanks to the customs union in place. Worse, from Europes perspective, China controls the raw materials essential for green technology, from batteries to solar panels. European EV builders may still be dependent on Chinese-made batteries, for example, and Beijing knows how to leverage that. China recently imposed restrictions on rare earths export to the EU as a tit-for-tat of excluding Chinese medical equipment from public procurement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From Europes economic perspective, tensions between China and the United States might actually make things worse. The fear on the continent is that the goods diverted from the U.S. market will be dumped on European consumers. Europes trade deficit with China surpassed 300 billion euros in 2024. Trumps tariffs coupled with Chinas overcapacity will be a major headache for Eurocrats and businesses alike. As a result, the EU is vowing to launch further probes into Chinese malfeasance, similar to the EV investigation. China is insisting that the 2020 Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) with the EU is still very much on the agenda. But the European Parliament still refuses to ratify the deal over concerns about human rights. China skepticism has now taken hold in key EU capitals, too, and the summit will not make it disappear. Tensions are rising in the security realm as well. Early in Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europeans had a reason to see Chinese President Xi Jinping as a moderating influence on his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. For instance, the Chinese leadership was credited with issuing a behind-the-scenes warning to the Kremlin against the use of tactical nuclear weapons in early 2023. But even these modest grounds for optimism are waning as China comes closer to open support for Putins war. At a meeting with EU foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas this month, Wang reportedly said China could not afford to have Russia lose in Ukraine. Xis attendance of this years Victory Parade at Moscows Red Squarealongside EU leaders such as Hungarys Viktor Orban and Slovakias Robert Fico, one should addis telling, too. Reports that China is delivering lethal aid to Russia have further inflamed Europeans anxiety. Chinese electronic components also feed into Russian military capabilities, such as missiles and drones, which could threaten NATOeven if such components are also used by Ukraines hugely successful unmanned platforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite these tensions, Europe is not seeking to decouple from China. China and Europe are aware that they need each other and want to ensure that competition takes place within certain bounds. There are signs that both sides are finding their way toward such a modus vivendi. In April, Beijing announced it would lift restrictions on several EU lawmakers, in hopes of resuscitating the CAI. In contrast with the 2024 NATO summit, there was no hawkish language on China in the communique from The Hague last monthlargely because Trump wanted to keep it short. Dialogue is also continuing at multiple levels. On July 14, Teresa Ribera, the European Commissions green transition chief, accompanied by three of her fellow commissioners, headlined the Sixth EU-China High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue in Beijing. The U.S. exit from the Paris climate accord underscores the importance for Europe and China, the two key stakeholders, to team up on cutting emissions. And there are still EU member states, such as Spain and Hungary, that view Beijing as a welcome partner and not a menace. Finally, opportunities in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence will continue to give both sides reasons to work together. The launch of DeepSeek has revived investor optimism about Chinas economy, which has been underperforming post-COVID. The European tech sector also welcomed the launch. The AI models open-source code has allowed other companies to tailor the technology to their needs while improving it and developing new products. This makes it a public good of sorts and highlights Chinas centrality in the global economy. With Europe lagging behind the United States on AI, DeepSeek may narrow the gap at least a bit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Europe will continue to secure benefits like this from its relationship with China. But Europeans no longer believe, as they did through the 2010s, that relations with Beijing are win-win. Moreover, Europe appreciates that trans-Atlantic ties have thus far proved resilient, as illustrated by Trumps U-turn on NATO and tougher line on Putin. If forced to pick a side in the U.S.-China competition, European decision-makers willunenthusiasticallyside with Washington. In the meantime, they recognize that strategic autonomy also involves reducing excessive reliance on Chinese resources, trade, investment, and technology. The tepid tone at the anniversary party in Beijing will be a testament to that. The European Court of Human Rights has dismissed a lawsuit from three former British MPs, who sought to compel the government to investigate the alleged influence of Russian disinformation on the Brexit referendum and parliamentary elections. Source: The Guardian, as reported by European Pravda Details: In a ruling unveiled on Tuesday, the ECtHR in Strasbourg affirmed that states enjoy "a wide margin of appreciation" in ways to deal with election interference attempts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court acknowledged that the British governments initial response to Russias alleged meddling in the 2016 EU exit vote fell short, but deemed those deficiencies later rectified. They highlighted that Britain launched two inquiries including a 2020 parliamentary committee report on Russia and enacted laws to thwart foreign interference. "While the applicants have criticised these measures as too little, too late, the measures nevertheless appear to address the points raised by the applicants," the ECtHR judgment declared. The Court also noted that while the threat of disinformation must not be downplayed, the precise impact of Russian or other interference on the electoral process remains "difficult to assess accurately". Background: Three former British MPs and staunch Brexit opponents lodged the case, demanding an inquiry into Russias meddling in elections following the 2020 Russia report. They argued that the UK government and intelligence agencies failed to adequately scrutinise the Kremlins efforts to sway the Brexit vote, branding it a breach of Article 3 of Protocol I of the European Convention on Human Rights, which safeguards the right to free elections. Back in 2020, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a known Brexit advocate, dismissed claims that the EU departure vote was tainted by Russian interference. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! DENVER (KDVR) A 38-year-old man was arrested last week on suspicion of internet luring and sex assault on a child after the childs mother found sexually explicit text messages on her sons phone. According to the Weld County Sheriffs Office, deputies were called to a residence in unincorporated Evans on July 16 for a disturbance. Teen arrested, accused of stabbing involving 2 family members in Castle Pines that left 1 dead Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the residence, deputies learned from the reporting party that she had found sexually explicit texts on her juvenile sons phone from another adult in the household who is not biologically related to her son. Deputies and detectives investigated and allegedly found an exchange of sexually explicit text messages from Luis Felipe Loma Martinez, 38, to the juvenile victim. The investigators also learned that the victim had been allegedly sexually assaulted by Martinez multiple times. According to Colorado Court records, Martinez is facing four charges of sexual assault on a child pattern of abuse. The Weld County Sheriffs Office said Martinez was arrested on suspicion of internet luring of a child, as well as three counts of sexual assault on a child. Martinez was given a $75,000 cash or surety bond and remains in Weld County custody, according to court records. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 23 for an advisement hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Weld County Sheriffs Office said there is no ongoing risk to the public and asked anyone with information about the allegations to call the tip line at 970-304-6464. Tips can also be emailed to crimetips@weld.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 FOX31 Denver. AUBURN With a Christmas tree-growers eye honed over decades, Paul Alan Shealer examined a nearly eight-foot-tall Douglas fir Monday at Evergreen Acres Tree Farm. Under the morning sun, the trees bluish tint made it stand out from the rows of evergreens sprouting from red shale on a rolling hillside off Route 895. Paul Shealer points out different aspects of a Christmas tree that are judged in competition at the family's farm in West Brunswick Twp., Monday, July 21, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A little farther down the field, Shealer gave another Douglas fir the once over. Though it lacks the brilliant sheen of the other, it is fuller and its taper is perfect for hanging Christmas ornaments. In the next day or so, the Shealer family will have to decide which one of the trees will be entered into the National Christmas Tree Association biannual contest this weekend in Michigan. The stakes are high. The winner of the associations tree contest will supply the Christmas tree for the Blue Room at the White House. The second place finisher gets to supply the Vice Presidents tree. The Shealers are no strangers to the contest. In fact, theyve won it twice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trees grown on Evergreen Acres were placed in the White House when Bill Clinton was president in 2000 and when Joe Biden was in office in 2022. In 2008, when Evergreen Acres was reserve national champions, the farm placed a tree in the residence of Vice President Dick Cheney at the Naval Observatory in Washington. Paul Shealer and Cooper Shealer, 12, look at the trunk of a Christmas tree while on their farm in West Brunswick Twp., Monday, July 21, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Meantime, the family will have to decide which of the two candidates will be loaded up in the wee hours Thursday morning and transported to Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twelve-year-old Cooper Shealer, already an old hand at working the Christmas tree farm, likes the bluish Douglas fir weaned from New Mexico seed. Pop-Pop Paul and mom, Pam Shealer, kind of like the fuller shape of candidate No. 2. Evergreen acres is now owned by Pam and Paul Anthony Shealer, the fourth generation in the family business. Therell be, no doubt, some evergreen soul searching before the final choice is made. The family rented a 15-passenger van to transport the tree to a farm near Cadillac, Michigan, where the national tree growers are meeting. Its important, Pam said, to keep the tree cool when transporting. In Michigan, it will be stored in a cooling locker prior to the contest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A panel of three judges pick the top two trees in each species. The membership decides the winners, with each farm having one vote. Rows of Christmas trees line a plantation in West Brunswick Twp., Monday, July 21, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) The reason why we like to compete is to see how we stack up against the big guys, said Paul, whose grandparents started the farm in 1945. Were only a small grower. Evergreen Acres grows trees on several farms totaling about 180 acres. In narrowing the contest entry down to two trees, they reviewed an estimated 5,000 evergreens. The recent rainfall has been a Godsend, Paul Alan said. It was a welcome relief after several seasons of drought, when irrigation was required to keep the trees growing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should Evergreen Acres be chosen to place a tree in the White House for the third time, theres already an 18 1/2-foot Douglas fir waiting for harvest. * Paul and Pam Shealer stand next to a Christmas tree they hope will be sent to the White House at their family farm in West Brunswick Twp., Monday, July 21, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) * Paul Shealer talks about how the White House desires a single trunk Christmas tree at his familys farm in West Brunswick Twp., Monday, July 21, 2025. Sometimes the larger trees can develop multiple trunks. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Show Caption Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1 of 2 Paul and Pam Shealer stand next to a Christmas tree they hope will be sent to the White House at their family farm in West Brunswick Twp., Monday, July 21, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Expand The White House has a strict limit of 18 feet because of the ceiling height in the Blue Room. The rooms chandelier is taken down and the tree is lighted by wiring from the ceiling. The White House chief usher and its grounds superintendent inspect and oversee the trees transportation to Washington, D.C. A former Boston teacher is facing federal charges for allegedly using social media to exchange nude photos with teen girls in at least six different states and having graphic sexual chat sessions with the girls while on the job. John Magee Gavin, 35, of Brookline, was indicted 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, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement. Gavin, a former science teacher at the Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston, is believed to have communicated with at least 20 girls between the ages of 12 and 17 years old from around the world, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gavin also previously worked as a sixth-grade teacher at the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School in Hyde Park and as a paraprofessional with the Brookline Public Schools, according to court filings. Prosecutors allege that Gavin, who appeared in federal court in Boston on Monday, engaged in sexualized online conversations with the young girls while he was teaching in class. In January, investigators identified Gavin as the owner of a Discord account who messaged at least 20 underage females across the country including in Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina and Florida, as well as the United Kingdom and Canada. Prosecutors allege that Gavin used the Discord account to engage in online masturbation sessions with the minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The messages within the chats are largely sexual in nature with Gavin often asking sexually charged questions to the (minor victims) to include if they are horny, how often they masturbate, their sexual experiences and requests for child sexual abuse material, Foley wrote in her request for Gavins pretrial detention dated Friday. The chats also allegedly included conversations in which Gavin expressed his sexual interest in certain students at the Josiah Quincy school. In one conversation, Gavin allegedly discussed his sexual interest in a freshman student at the school where he was employed as a teacher and fantasized about having sex with her, Foley said. Idk I dont even teach her but I often go into the classroom if I hear it is noisy or I see her in the hallway and every time she says hi to me by name, Gavin allegedly wrote of the freshman student at his school while chatting with a minor victim on Oct. 15, 2024, court documents show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He then goes on to tell the minor victim that the freshman student probably goes home and thinks of me while performing a sex act, Gavin allegedly wrote in the sexually-explicit message. Examples of photos John Magee Gavin, 35, of Brookline, allegedly sent of himself to underage girls, including two that appear to be taken inside of a school, according to federal prosecutors. Foley, in requesting that Gavin be detained pending his trial, wrote of the governments concerns. During his career, he has come into contact with hundreds, if not thousands of children who live in the Boston area. The evidence shows that Gavin has a sexual interest in children and the students that he taught, Foley wrote in her request for Gavins pretrial detention. Local police arrested Gavin in February. He is charged in Brookline District Court with enticing a child under 16, obscene matter to a minor, lascivious pose/exhibit child in nude, and possession of child pornography. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal prosecutors allege that a forensic review of evidence seized from Gavins Brookline home revealed approximately 147 files, including 94 images and 53 videos, on his iPhone depicting child sexual abuse material. The files allegedly depicted the rape of both female and male minors, ranging in age from approximately five to 17 years old. On June 5, the Massachusetts Probation Service determined that Gavin violated his conditions of pretrial release for his state charges, prosecutors said. One of the conditions for Gavins pretrial release was No use of Social Media apps including TikTok, [Kik], Instagram. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A review by Massachusetts Probation Service of Gavins cellphone showed that he was using the device to access YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X, all in violation of his pretrial conditions of release, Foley wrote in her request for Gavins pretrial detention. In a statement in February after his arrest, Boston Public Schools said the safety and well-being of our students is always our highest priority and reiterated to school families that charges against Gavin are not related to BPS or BPS students. If convicted of the charge of coercion and enticement of a minor, Gavin faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. If convicted of the charge of receipt of child pornography, Gavin faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If convicted of the charge of possession of child pornography, Gavin faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274 or email USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.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 A Louisville police officer convicted in connection with a botched raid that resulted in Breonna Taylors death was sentenced on Monday to more than two years in prison, days after the government had asked a judge not to incarcerate him. Brett Hankison, a former Louisville Metro Police Department detective, was found guilty last year of violating Taylors civil rights after he blindly fired shots into her apartment in March 2020 during the raid. Hankison faced a maximum sentence of life in prison but was instead ordered to serve 33 months incarcerated, or two years and nine months, according to The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge said the governments recommendation of no prison time is not appropriate for Hankison and said she was startled more people werent injured in the raid. Hankison is the first person sentenced to prison in connection with Taylors death. Shot and killed by other officers during the raid, Taylor became a face of the Black Lives Matter movement that caught fire that year after her death and the police killing of George Floyd, sparking nationwide protests. Though Hankisons shots did not injure anyone, prosecutors said at trial that he acted recklessly and violated a fundamental rule of deadly force: If they cannot see the person theyre shooting at, they cannot pull the trigger. But on Thursday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) changed course. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOJ civil rights chief Harmeet Dhillon and a senior counselor in the division asked U.S. District Judge Grady Jennings to sentence Hankison to time served amounting to just one day, which he spent being booked and making his initial appearance before a judge. The government also suggested three years of supervised release. Reasonable minds certainly might disagree whether, even if Defendant Hankisons conduct did constitute a seizure, a prosecution under this statute should have been brought under these circumstances at all, the unusual sentencing memorandum read. Neither Dhillon nor Robert Keenan, the senior counselor, were part of the initial prosecution team. The about-face marked a sharp departure from the Biden administrations efforts to force accountability for the role of racial discrimination in police misconduct. The U.S. Probation Office suggested a sentence of 135 to 168 months in prison, or about 11 to 14 years in prison, for the excessive force conviction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department said the guidelines resulting in that recommendation do not fairly apply in Hankisons case, particularly because of previous failed efforts to convict him. The ex-detective was previously acquitted on all three counts he faced during a 2022 trial in Kentucky state court. The first federal trial he faced, in 2023, resulted in a mistrial on both charges against him. And the subsequent retrial in 2024 resulted in his conviction. The officers who shot and killed Taylor have not been charged, since prosecutors determined they were justified in firing. The 26-year-olds boyfriend fired first from inside the apartment, striking an officers leg. No drugs were found during the raid. Four people were arrested in front of the courthouse Monday for creating confrontation, kicking vehicles or otherwise creating an unsafe environment, according to the AP. Local outlets reported that Taylors aunt was among those arrested. Their charges were not immediately known. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press contributed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Double jeopardy does not apply, the states Court of Appeals narrowly said, when it ruled a former Ole Miss student acquitted by a judge should be tried again for the near fatal stabbing of a Tennessee man in 2019. Union County Circuit Judge Kent Smith had ruled in 2023 that the prosecution violated Lane Mitchells constitutional right to compulsory process specifically to command the victim to testify as a defense witness in issuing an order of acquittal of attempted murder. The appeals court ruled the acquittal was not based on the evidence. The 5-4 ruling sent the case back to the trial court. Appeals Court Judge John Weddle, formerly the district attorney of counties in northeast Mississippi, recused himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mitchells attorneys did not respond to a request for comment about whether he will appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court. Mother of Ole Miss football player fatally shot wants answers District Attorney Ben Creekmore recused himself from the case in 2021, which led the attorney generals office to appoint two of its attorneys to prosecute the case. A spokesperson from the attorney generals office confirmed the office would appoint prosecutors for a new trial. In 2019, the then-18-year-old Mitchell stabbed Collierville resident Nathan Russell Rogers at the Tallahatchie Gourmet a restaurant where Rogers had been a regular customer and visited after hiking in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mitchell said during trial and in court records that he believed Rogers had a weapon and he feared for the safety of a female waitress and his father who was working as a bartender. However, Rogers was unarmed. Video footage from the restaurant also captured the leadup, stabbing and its aftermath. Stills from the video showed how Mitchell grabbed a knife from the bar and held it behind his back and watched for a few moments. As his father and Rogers began to struggle, Mitchell came up from behind Rogers and stabbed him three times in the neck. Rogers nearly bled out and needed immediate surgery. As a result of the stabbing, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and was placed under his fathers conservatorship, according to court records. Mississippi Today reported that Mitchell went on to attend another college in Tennessee and would have attended graduation before his trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four days before trial, the defense tried to subpoena Rogers to testify. But when trial began and a jury had been impaneled, he did not show up. The defense filed a summons with a Tennessee court for him to be taken into custody and delivered to Union County, but the summons was never served. The Shelby County probate court in Tennessee, which oversees Rogers conservatorship, quashed the request to bring Rogers to court in Mississippi, ruling that he was a disabled person who is incapable of testifying in any legal proceeding, including the one in which he almost died. The Court of Appeals order notes that the defense did not attempt to appeal the probate courts decision or ask for a continuance to appeal ways to get Rogers to testify. The appellate courts majority opinion written by Judge John Emfinger focused on whether the court had the ability to hear the case and whether state law provided a valid way for the state to appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Section 99-35-103(a) provides a way for appeals when an indictment is dismissed before a decision is made on the merits of the indictment. We find that subsection 99-35-103(a) does not contain any such limitation, Emfinger wrote in the majority opinion. Instead, it plainly and unambiguously applies to all efforts to dismiss a charging instrument, for any reason, at whatever time it may be filed. Bond denied for man accused of killing LaDatra Williams The majority also found that dismissing the indictment doesnt prevent subsequent prosecution for the same offense. In appeal documents, Mitchells attorneys have said retrying him would violate his protection against double jeopardy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judges Jack Wilson, Anthony Lawrence III, David Neil McCarty and Amy Lassitter St. Pe joined the majority order. Another focus of the decision was whether Judge Smith was correct to dismiss Mitchells charge and acquit him. Smith identified the conservator, Bob Rogers, who is also the victims father, and his attorney as members of the prosecution team. During trial the judge bemoaned some of those actions, including how Bob Rogers was an impediment to the case and helped his son avoid testifying. The Court of Appeals disagreed, saying Bob Rogers and his attorney were not part of the prosecution team, noting the state Supreme Court has determined that team consists of the investigative and prosecutorial personnel. The court also noted that Bob Rogers, as the conservator, was acting in his sons best interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a dissent joined by Judges Virginia Carlton, Deborah McDonald and Latrice Westbrooks, Chief Judge Donna Barnes argues the court does not have authority to hear the states appeal, so it must be dismissed. The statute in which the state appealed has limited exceptions, and interpreting it as the majority does disregards plain reading of the statute and Mitchells constitutional rights, according to the dissent. Timing of when an indictment can be dismissed matters because it can bring up concerns about double jeopardy the protection of being tried twice for the same offense. Jeopardy attaches when a jury is impaneled or a trial begins where guilt may be imposed, which is what happened in Mitchells case. In a separate dissent, Judge Latrice Westbrooks agreed with Barnes and emphasized the trial courts constitutional and procedural rationales to enter a judgment of acquittal for Mitchell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Westbrook said that its the states responsibility to ensure its primary witness is available and present to testify, and allowing the ruling would be a double standard. This is in contrast with how a trial may proceed if a defendant fails to appeal, she wrote. Like Barnes, she disagreed with the majority of justices that the state had a legal means to appeal, including potential concerns of double jeopardy. The majoritys refusal to properly recognize the limits of our jurisdiction over an acquittal turns decades of constitutional law and criminal procedure on its head. This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. 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. SPRINGFIELD A former Savage Arms executive sued for sexual harassment doesnt want his private and consensual relationships revealed in court, but a Hampden Superior Court judge has ruled otherwise. Alexandra Cain, a financial analyst, in 2024 sued her former boss, David Piacentini, then a vice president and chief operating officer, alleging he created a hostile workplace by sexually harassing her for at least two years. Also named as a defendant is Savage Arms, a prominent Westfield gun manufacturer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her complaint, Cain alleges Piacentini once tried to woo her to his hotel room during a work trip, sent personal texts with inappropriate emojis and, on one occasion at work, positioned his erect penis on her shoulder while simultaneously panting. Piacentini denied doing anything that caused Cain harm, and Savage Arms said it responded to Cains complaint appropriately. Recent filings show an attempt by Piacentini to bar questioning in a deposition that relates to other romantic relationships. Permitting deposition questioning of defendant Piacentinis private relationships at work or elsewhere that were consensual, i.e. not unwelcome and unwanted, would be irrelevant to plaintiffs claims. Obviously, consensual conduct would not constitute sexual harassment or a hostile work environment based on gender, sexual harassment and assault and battery, his attorney, Tyler Kenefick, wrote in a pleading. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Superior Court Judge Charles W. Groce III denied the motion to limit the testimony but allowed a motion to conceal transcripts from the public court record. Kenefick argued that public disclosure of such information would cause his client oppression and embarrassment, specifically on MassLive.com, owned by Advance Publications, which also owns The Republican. Attached to the complaint is an email executives sent to Piacentini in March 2023, advising of the companys decision to issue a five-day unpaid suspension. Specifically, on January 12, 2023, you texted an indirect subordinate of yours at the Lakefield facility to come to your hotel room for drinks. You seemed to have gotten upset by her declining the invitation and ignored her the rest of your visit to the facility, the email read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your action caused the Lakefield employee to become extremely uncomfortable, and she feared that by declining the invitation she would be losing her job. Dave, not only is this behavior unacceptable for a Savage Arms employee, it is magnified by your position as chief financial officer and senior executive of our company, the email concluded by suggesting Piacentini evaluate his behavior to remain employed. Piacentini, of West Springfield, left the company in late 2024, according to his LinkedIn profile. His lawyer, Kenefick, was unable to comment before press time. Read the original article on MassLive. A former Ukrainian official has been found dead in a swimming pool in Spain, in the same complex where a Russian defector was assassinated last year. The body of Ihor Hrushevsky, who was a senior official in Kyivs interior ministry, was discovered on June 29 at the Cala Alta complex in Villajoyosa, Alicante, a resort home to a large Russian and Ukrainian community. He was found floating in the water, with blood on one ear, after allegedly taking a late-night swim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spanish police described the death as accidental, possibly caused by a heart attack or seizure. However, residents are alarmed as it follows the murder of Maksim Kuzminov, a former Russian military pilot, at the same resort less than 18 months ago. Maksim Kuzminov was shot dead outside a garage in Spain in February 2024 - Maksim Kuzminov Mr Kuzminov, 28, was shot dead outside a garage in February 2024, six months after flying his helicopter across the front lines to Ukraine for a 400,000 reward. His murder, which is still being investigated by a court in Villajoyosa, is suspected to have been committed by Russian agents in revenge for his defection. Mr Hrushevsky, who was 61, is reported to have recently purchased a flat in the complex after retiring to Spain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was the head of the organised crime department in the central Cherkasy and Kirovohrad regions, according to the Kyiv Post. The unit was disbanded during police reforms in 2015. Theyre saying it was a heart attack. What is clear is that he didnt drown because the water only comes up to my neck, and Im a shorty, Blanca, a resident of the complex, told online newspaper El Espanol. Another resident told the outlet that Mr Hrushevsky has been living in the complex for a few months and kept a low profile. Anything can happen between Ukrainians and Russians, he said when asked about the former police officers possible cause of death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraines foreign affairs ministry said that, according to its consulate in Barcelona, Mr Hrushevskys death occurred as a result of drowning. The consulate assisted in preparing the relevant documents for the repatriation of the body to Ukraine, the ministry added. The discovery of Mr Hrushevskys body is the latest of a string of suspicious deaths involving Ukrainians and Russians in Spain since the 2022 Russian invasion. In May, Andriy Portnov, a former Ukrainian pro-Russian politician, was shot in broad daylight in Madrid. Mr Portnov, who was a leading official under Viktor Yanukovych, the Kremlin-friendly former Ukrainian president, was dropping off his children at school when he was shot nine times by a hitman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spanish police have made no arrests in relation to the killing. The suspect is believed to have fled from the scene in a car. In April 2022, weeks after the start of the war in Ukraine, Sergey Protosenya, a multi-millionaire Russian gas company executive, was found hanging from railings outside his luxury villa on the Costa Brava. The bodies of his wife and daughter were discovered alongside him with multiple stab wounds. Mr Protosenya had been deputy chairman of Novatek, a natural gas producer, since 2015. He was one of around eight Russian oligarchs whose bodies were found in suspicious circumstances in the six months after Putins invasion of Ukraine. 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. VIRGINIA BEACH Laura Hughes, the former chairwoman of the Republican Party of Virginia Beach, has been found not guilty of a felony charge of intercepting wire communications. Hughes, an attorney and former Virginia Beach School Board member, was indicted last summer by a grand jury. She was accused of improperly recording a phone call about who else was seeking the chairmanship. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Virginia Beach Circuit Court Judge James Lewis dismissed the case Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This nightmare thats been going on for over a year is over, Hughes said in an interview Tuesday morning. Since the indictment, her father passed away, she lost her job and her position as chair of the party. We thought that the judge made right the decision in the fact that it only took him 30 seconds to do so, said one of her attorneys Gary C. Byler, who is also her new employer. Its a shame so many resources were wasted on charges that should never have been brought. State law prohibits any person who is not a party to a communication to intentionally intercept, disclose, or use that communication without the consent of at least one involved party. The law also states that its illegal to use any wired or wireless device to intercept such a communication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conversation at the heart of the case occurred in February 2024. Hughes had described an interaction at the partys office in a public Facebook post, though no mention was made in her video of any recording of the conversation. Hughes said in the post that she wanted verification of filing to see if anyone else who filed to run for chair had met the deadline and that she was concerned about election integrity. Not long after the indictment, she was ousted as party chair. On May 7, leaders of the Virginia GOPs 2nd Congressional District Committee voted her out for failing to function in her role. She is appealing the decision to the state party, which is scheduled to hold a closed meeting Tuesday night. The outcome is expected to be available this week. Stacy Parker, 757-222-5152, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com An Empire State Building tour guide is suing after she got stuck in an elevator nearly 70 stories in the air, leading to an alleged case of PTSD she claims now precludes her from ever getting in another lift, cutting short a decades-long career escorting tourists to the iconic New York City skyscrapers 86th-floor observation deck. Maxine Malcolm was entrapped, dangling high up fearing for her very life and not knowing if the swinging elevator would drop at any time, reads a civil complaint obtained by The Independent. As a result of the incident, Malcolm, 55, found that she could no longer enter an elevator as an unnatural fear would overcome her, the complaint contends. A gripping fear for which she had to seek treatment. As a result of the incident Maxine Malcolm could no longer work in her job and had to leave employment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The elevators in the 94-year-old Empire State Building often get stuck, Malcolm says in her complaint. In 2008, five of the buildings elevators all got stuck at the same time, forcing passengers to pry open the doors and jump down to the nearest landing. In 2016, members of a high school choir were trapped in an Empire State Building elevator some 40 stories in the air, and had to be rescued by firefighters. Last year, seven people were stranded in a stuck elevator on the towers 16th floor, finally getting out after 90 minutes when rescue crews led them through a hatch in the cars ceiling. Reached by phone on Tuesday, Malcolm, a Brooklyn resident, declined to answer any questions about her experience and referred The Independent to her attorney, Manuel Moses, who declined to comment. The Empire State Building is a beloved New York City attraction, but a longtime tour guide claims getting stuck in one of its elevators left her with severe PTSD. (Getty) Malcolms complaint, which was filed July 18 in Kings County Supreme Court, says was a trusted employee and highly respected in her job, having served millions of tourists during her 30 years as an Empire State Building tour guide. Her duties involved ferry[ing] passengers on elevators up to the observation deck, according to the complaint, which claims Malcolm observed that these elevators would often get stuck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxine Malcolm would observe how on those occasions management at The Empire State Building would make every effort to ameliorate the anxiety and fear this would cause by offering free admission and words of assurance, the complaint continues. Maxine Malcolm noticed that before this incident occurred there was an elevator that was getting stuck going up to the observation deck and remaining in disrepair. According to Malcolms complaint, cars 5, 6, 8, and 10 broke down often. Around 3 p.m. on September 10, 2023, Malcolm was alone in car 6, heading upstairs for her lunch break, the complaint goes on. When it reached the 67th floor, the elevator suddenly stopped and began swinging back and forth, according to the complaint. Amid the turbulence, Malcolm was badly shaken to and fro in this elevator and was knocked to the floor seriously injur[ing] her shoulder, the complaint states. [I]t should be noted that this was the day before September 11th and in her mind this heightened her fear of possible impending death, the complaint contends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventually, Malcolm managed to get out, although the complaint does not specify how long she was stuck, and whether the elevator simply started up again or if she had to be rescued. Maxine Malcolm remains in psychological treatment related to the elevator incident, as she still suffers from PTSD[,] also known as post-traumatic stress disorder[,] and has a phobia for getting in an elevator by herself that causes severe emotional distress, the complaint states. Maxine Malcolm is suing Otis, the world's largest elevator company, claiming its alleged negligence caused her condition that prevents her from working. (Creative Commons) Before Malcolm developed her elevator phobia, she was earning roughly $90,000 annually, with overtime and benefits, according to her complaint. Now, it says, she receives $2,182 per month from workers comp, or, a little under $550 a week. Malcolms lawsuit blames the Otis Elevator Company for her troubles, including personal injury, emotional distress and economic damages. (The Empire State Building and its management are not named as defendants in the suit.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It claims Otis Elevator breached a heightened duty of care as these elevators and more specifically the one involved is specifically used for income-earning purposes and intended to lift very high loads up very far for millions of people annually who have paid a fee to go up to the observation deck. This incident was foreseeable, Malcolms complaint alleges. There was a history of problems with the elevators in The Empire State Building is that they have a tendency to break down and the employees from the Otis Elevator Company would take those elevators out of rotation, fix them, and sometimes they fix it or put it out for the entire day[,] depending on the issue. Yet, Malcolm accuses Otis Elevator of allowing the elevators condition to deteriorate by failing to among other things keep all the components of the elevator car, assembly, associated mechanicals and cables, lift electric motors, indicators, [and] sensors in working order for the safety of the public. As a result, Malcolms complaint says she experienced severe pain and suffering, emotional distress, and anguish. Malcolm wanted to continue working at the Empire State Building into her later years, but is now unable to, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is suing on multiple causes of action, including negligence, elevator phobia and loss of employment, and is seeking monetary damages to be determined in court. A spokesman for Otis, the worlds largest elevator company, told The Independent, It would not be appropriate for us to comment on a pending legal matter. By Mike Stone WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration is expanding its search for partners to build the Golden Dome missile defense system, courting Amazon.com's Project Kuiper and big defense contractors as tensions with Elon Musk threaten SpaceX's dominance in the program, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The shift marks a strategic pivot away from reliance on Musk's SpaceX, whose Starlink and Starshield satellite networks have become central to U.S. military communications. It comes amid a deteriorating relationship between Trump and Musk, which culminated in a public falling-out on June 5. Even before the spat, officials at the Pentagon and White House had begun exploring alternatives to SpaceX, wary of over-reliance on a single partner for huge portions of the ambitious, $175 billion space-based defense shield, two of the sources said. SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment. Responding to a post about the Reuters story on X, Musk wrote, "Federal acquisition regulations require using the best provider at the best price. Anything else would be breaking the law." Due to its size, track record of launching more than 9,000 of its own Starlink satellites, and experience in government procurement, SpaceX still has the inside track to assist with major portions of the Golden Dome, especially launch contracts, sources say. Project Kuiper, which has launched just 78 of a planned constellation of 3,000 low-earth orbit satellites, has been approached by the Pentagon to join the effort, signaling the administration's openness to integrating commercial tech firms into national defense infrastructure and going beyond traditional defense players. Jeff Bezos, Amazon's executive chairman, told Reuters in January that Kuiper would be "primarily commercial," but acknowledged "there will be defense uses for these [low-earth orbit] constellations, no doubt." A spokesperson for Project Kuiper declined to comment for this story. The Pentagon declined to comment. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. Golden Dome's ambitions mirror those of Israel's Iron Dome - a homeland missile defense shield - but a larger, more complex layered defense system requires a vast network of orbiting satellites covering more territory. In the search for more vendors for the satellite layers of Golden Dome, "Kuiper is a big one," a U.S. official said. While SpaceX remains a frontrunner due to its unmatched launch capabilities, its share of the program could shrink, two of the people said. Officials have reached out to new entrants like rocket companies Stoke Space and Rocket Lab are gaining traction and will be able to bid on individual launches as the program matures, according to the U.S. official. By David Stanway SINGAPORE (Reuters) -China has broken ground on what it says will be the world's largest hydropower project, a $170 billion feat capable of generating enough electricity each year to power Britain. The scheme dwarfs the mighty Three Gorges Dam, currently the world's largest, and Chinese construction and engineering stocks surged after Premier Li Qiang unveiled it on the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Beijing, the project promises clean power, jobs and a jolt of stimulus for a slowing economy. For neighbours downstream, it stirs old anxieties about water security: the Yarlung Zangbo becomes the Brahmaputra in India and Bangladesh, a lifeline for millions. WHAT EXACTLY DID CHINA APPROVE? The plan involves five dams along a 50km stretch where the river plunges 2,000 metres off the Tibetan Plateau. First power is expected to be generated in the earlytomid 2030s, but beyond that and the price tag, China has published little information about how it intends to build the project. WHY ARE NEIGHBOURS CONCERNED Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That lack of information is compounding fears about water security in India and Bangladesh, which rely on the Brahmaputra for irrigation, hydropower and drinking water. The chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, which borders China, said earlier this year that the dam could dry out 80% of the river passing through the Indian state while potentially inundating downstream areas such as neighbouring Assam state. In addition to water, the dam will also mean less sediment flowing downstream, according to Michael Steckler, a professor at Columbia University. That sediment carries nutrients essential for agriculture on floodplains downstream. India and China fought a border war in this region in the 1960s, and the lack of transparency from Beijing has helped fuel speculation it might use the dam to cut off water in another conflict, according to Sayanangshu Modak, an expert on the India-China water relationship at the University of Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The construction of the Yarlung Zangbo hydropower project is a matter within the scope of Chinas sovereign affairs," Beijing's foreign ministry said on Tuesday, adding the dam would provide clean energy and prevent flooding. "China has also conducted necessary communication with downstream countries regarding hydrological information, flood control, and disaster mitigation cooperation related to the Yarlung Zangbo project," the ministry said. India's foreign and water ministries did not respond to requests for comment. WILL IT STARVE INDIA OF WATER? But the impact of the dam on downstream flows has been overstated, in part because the bulk of the water that enters the Brahmaputra is from monsoon rainfall south of the Himalayas, and not from China, said Modak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that China's plans are for a "run of the river" hydropower project, which means the water will flow normally along the usual course of the Brahmaputra. India itself has proposed two dams on the Siang river, its name for the Yarlung Zangbo. One, an 11.5-gigawatt project in Arunachal Pradesh, will be India's largest if it goes ahead. Those have been proposed, in part, to assert India's claims on the river and bolster its case should China ever seek to divert the water, Modak added. "If India can show that it has been using the waters, then China cannot unilaterally divert," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CONTROVERSY IS COMMON Quarrels over dams and water security are not new. Pakistan has accused India of weaponising shared water supplies in the disputed Kashmir region after New Delhi suspended its participation in the Indus Waters Treaty, which regulates water sharing between the neighbours. In Egypt, a senior politician was once caught on camera proposing to bomb a controversial Nile river dam planned by Ethiopia during a long-running dispute over the project. EARTHQUAKE AND EXTREME WEATHER RISKS The dam will be built in an earthquake zone also prone to landslides, glaciallake floods and storms. A spree of dam building in the area sparked concerns from experts about safety following a devastating earthquake in Tibet earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A much smaller hydropower project on a nearby tributary has been limited to fourmonth construction windows because of engineering challenges in high altitudes and vicious winters. (Reporting by David Stanway in Singapore; Additional reporting by Colleen Howe in Beijing; Writing by Lewis Jackson; Editing by Saad Sayeed) ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) The Fratollin case has some wondering what can be done to prevent fake Amber Alerts being issued. An investigation into the death of nine-year-old Melina Frattolin continues. Her father, Luciano Frattolin, has been charged with Second degree murder and concealment of a Human Corpse. He pleaded not guilty. The charges come after police say he reported his daughter missing, prompting an Amber Alert on Sunday Morning. According to the New York States Website, an amber alert can be issued if law enforcement believes an abduction of a child has occurred and the child is believed to be in danger of serious bodily harm and/or death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Captain Robert McConnell, New York State Police SOT: Anytime an amber alert is issued, there is a balance between providing prompt information to the public but also ensuring that information is accurate and reliable. We dont want to numb the public with unvetted alerts. So in this case it was difficult to confirm some of the initial information provided by the suspect. Police say the story Luciano Frattolin told was inconsistent. The initial account is that he pulled over in the area of exit 22 in lake George. Pulled over to a parking lot to urinate. His initial reports is he stepped away to a wooden area returns to the area and at that point the child is gone from a vehicle. he reports a suspicious white van fleeing the scene south bound. During a subsequent interview, he then reports two unknown males forced her into a white van. That lead was thoroughly investigated and disproven. Attorney Bob Babcock, a partner at Tully Rinckey, says a person can be charged with filing a false police report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It sounds like in this case, they had enough for the homicide, so they brought the homicide charged up front, along with the concealment of a corpse. They can certainly add on additional charges later. However, it remains to be seen if charges will be added. Frattolin will have a felony hearing on Friday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania has agreed to pay $790,000 to resolve allegations of civil liability that it submitted claims that violated Medicare rules, officials announced. The eye care practice violated Medicare rules and regulations by submitting claims between Sept. 1, 2018, and April 7, 2025, to Medicare Part B for evaluation and management services on the same date of service for beneficiaries receiving bilateral eye injections, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said in a release. Eye Consultants has offices in Wyomissing, Blandon, Pottstown, Pottsville and Lebanon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The settlement agreement indicates $395,000 of the $790,000 is restitution. The United States Attorneys Office in the Middle District of Pennsylvania is dedicated to working with its law enforcement partners to zealously investigate allegations of the submission of unsupported claims to federal health care programs, Acting U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus said in the release. Improperly billing federal health care programs increases the costs of these taxpayer-funded programs. Settlements like this one are an important part of the fight against fraud, waste and abuse. On behalf of Eye Consultants, attorney Ben Curtis issued the following statement: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania, PC, has always been firmly committed to compliance, including compliance with all Medicare billing rules. The civil settlement agreement that Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania recently entered into with the federal government involves less than 1% of the practices total Medicare claims spanning over six years, and is not an indication of any past intention to violate highly technical Medicare rules and regulations. Indeed, this settlement agreement is not an admission of liability. Importantly, though, Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania remains fully focused on its mission to deliver the highest quality care for its patients and the communities it loves to serve. Maureen Dixon, special agent in charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, said providers who participate in the Medicare program must abide by the programs rules when submitting claims. HHS-OIG is committed to protecting the integrity of the Medicare program and maintaining the trust of the people it serves., Dixon said. We will continue to work with the United States Attorneys Office and other law enforcement partners to address allegations brought under the False Claims Act. A 22-year-old Trump administration appointee with no national security experience whose leadership role at a Department of Homeland Security anti-terror unit prompted criticism now denies he had any real power to begin with. "All decisions came down from policy leadership, [the] undersecretary, deputy secretary, and chief of staff," Thomas Fugate, who was appointed in February, told Fox News of his role at the agencys Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, known as CP3. "Its only when you take it out of context and blow it out of proportion that it then becomes a massive problem where people think Im practically running the FBI," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the same article, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called Fugate the victim of a media smear campaign, and said, Fugate never held the director role at CP3, and to imply that he had operational control or exercised leadership over CP3 is simply untrue, as we have consistently told them." In June, ProPublica reported that Fugate, a recent college graduate and Trump campaign worker, had been tapped for a major role at CP3 after the centers previous director, national security veteran Bill Braniff, resigned in March in the face of Trump administration funding cuts. Thomas Fugate, 22, denies holding sway at Homeland Security counterterrorism office, despite administration officials previously praising his leadership (Department of Homeland Security) Due to his success, he has been temporarily given additional leadership responsibilities in the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships office, an administration official told the outlet. This is a credit to his work ethic and success on the job. National security professionals were alarmed by Fugates rise, comparing it to putting the intern in charge of an outfit dedicated to funding programs aimed at preventing domestic shootings and terror attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic critics of the president also hammered the move, including Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut. Never worked a day in counter-terrorism, Murphy wrote on X. But hes a BIG Trump fan. So he got the job. Prior to serving in the Trump administration, Fugate interned with Texas lawmakers and at the conservative Heritage Foundation, as well as worked in landscaping and at a grocery store. Braniff, the former head of CP3, has criticized the cuts to the office, including an $18.5 million funding cut last week that Homeland Security said was targeting wasteful and ideologically driven programs tied to diversity and LGBT+ work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When people say, You cant prove prevention doesnt work, I ask them, Do you go to the doctor? Do you have a smoke detector in your home? Then you believe in prevention, Braniff, now the head of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab at American University, told NBC News. Do I know for certain that we helped to avert school shootings and mass casualty attacks? I am 99% sure that we helped to avert a number of them, he added. As part of its push to increase border security and rapidly deport millions, the Trump administration has shifted resources and agents away from areas like counterterrorism, though by June the FBI was reportedly considering shifting thousands of agents back to threats from foreign adversaries. Acts of violence and extremism have taken place during the Trump administration, including a fire attack on marchers in Colorado raising awareness of Israeli hostages, the arson of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiros residence, and the shooting of two Israeli Embassy workers in Washington. Uproar over the Trump administration's handling of files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation continues to grip Washington, prompting the Justice Department on Tuesday to schedule an unusual meeting with Epstein's top confidant, Ghislaine Maxwell, and the House Oversight Committee to move to subpoena her testimony amid bipartisan calls for transparency in the case. The renewed focus on Maxwell comes amid persistent questions over Trumps years-long friendship with Epstein, the late and disgraced financier whose sprawling sex-trafficking ring victimized more than 200 women and girls. Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison for her role in perpetuating one of the most expansive sex-trafficking rings in modern U.S. history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is the first time the Justice Department has approached Maxwell's counsel for a meeting, according to the deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche, who wrote in a statement that he would take the meeting himself "to ask: What do you know?" "No one is above the law and no lead is off-limits," said Blanche, formerly one of Trump's personal attorneys. Read more: Trump resists bipartisan calls to release Justice Department files on Jeffrey Epstein And yet, Republicans and Democrats alike are expressing suspicion over the Justice Department's moves, questioning whether its outreach to Maxwell could be an effort to cut a cooperation agreement with a figure holding unique insights on the president's friendship with Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Markus, called Trump "the ultimate dealmaker" earlier this month, and said this week that Maxwell's team is "grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case. "Ghislaine Maxwell is a federal prisoner right now. Obviously, she wants a pardon, so she will probably sing from whatever hymnal Donald Trump tells her to sing from," Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland and ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, told CNN this week. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) introduced a binding resolution that would compel the release of FBI files related to the Epstein investigation, drawing a rebuke from Trump on social media Tuesday. And Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), a longtime ally of the president, told reporters that he did not trust what the Justice Department was telling the public about the case. "No, I don't. I don't. I don't trust them," he said. "I'm big on clarity and transparency, and that's a good reason people don't trust government in either party." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burchett motioned in the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday to have the panel proceed with a subpoena for Maxwell to appear for public testimony, a move that was adopted by voice vote. But to prevent a bipartisan vote on releasing the files from moving on the House floor, House Speaker Mike Johnson planned to send the chamber home for summer recess a day early, telling reporters that there was no purpose in Congress pushing the administration "to do something they're already doing." Epstein, a wealthy financier with a deep bench of powerful friends, died in a New York City prison in August 2019 facing federal charges over a child sex-trafficking conspiracy. The New York City medical examiner and the inspector general of the Justice Department both ruled Epsteins death was a suicide. But suspicions of conspiracy have surrounded his case and his untimely death due to his known association with some of the countrys most powerful men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Barabak: Here's why Jeffrey Epstein's tangled web is conspiratorial catnip Photos of Trump, Epstein and Maxwell are widely available, and Trump has acknowledged their friendship in the past. Ive known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy, 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," he said. "No doubt about it Jeffrey enjoys his social life. Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump sent a raunchy 50th birthday card to Epstein that included a sketch of a naked woman, featuring breasts and a squiggly Donald signature mimicking pubic hair. The sketch also included a note that read, Happy Birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret. Maxwell compiled the album, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has begged and scolded his supporters to move on from the controversy, despite stoking conspiracies around the existence of a list of Epstein's clients throughout the 2024 presidential election. I would say these files were made up by [former FBI Director James] Comey and [former President] Obama, made up by the Biden" administration, Trump now says, "and we went through years of that with the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax." 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. A near miss between a Delta regional jet and a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber over North Dakota is now under federal investigation. The incident happened Friday as SkyWest flight 3788, operating as a Delta Connection from Minneapolis to Minot, was on final approach. Without warning, the jets pilot was forced into what he called an aggressive maneuver to avoid the bomber. The sudden bank startled passengers onboard, Reuters reported. All of a sudden we just jerk really hard to the right, passenger Monica Green told ABC News. The pilot got on the announcement and said, Ill explain everything once weve landed safely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the flight landed safely in Minot, the pilot addressed the cabin, explaining that the B-52 came unexpectedly into their flight path. I felt it was the safest thing to do to turn behind it, the pilot said in a cockpit announcement captured on audio. This is not normal at all I dont know why they didnt give us a heads up. Related: Delta Pilot Issues Apology to Passengers Minot International Airport operates under visual flight rules and does not have radar coverage. Its air traffic controllers are private contractors, not FAA employees. Adding to the complexity, Minot is also home to an active Air Force base with a fleet of B-52 bombers. The Air Force confirmed a B-52 performed a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair that evening but did not offer further details. We are aware of the reports and are looking into the matter, a spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SkyWest confirmed its flight performed a go-around after spotting another aircraft in its path and said it is investigating the incident. The FAA said Monday it is reviewing the situation and working to determine how a close call like this happened and whether miscommunication between military and civilian aviation contributed to the scare. For the passengers on board, it was a jarring reminder of how quickly routine flights can take a turn when everything doesnt go according to plan. Related: FAA Makes Official Announcement on Newark Liberty International Airport FAA Launches Investigation After Delta Jets Near Miss With B-52 Bomber first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 SPRINGFIELD Studio A muffles even the hum of distant air conditioning, its walls draped in black curtains. It was the Monday after Congress moved to take back $1.1 billion in funding for public media. Upstairs, radio staffers with New England Public Media worried what would happen to cash-strapped sister stations around the country. Matt Abramovitz, president of NEPM, stepped into the silence of Studio A on the first stop of a station tour. I think people are really reckoning with the enormity of this cut, Abramovitz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEPM saw revenues of $7.3 million and expenses of about $11.6 million in its tax year ending in June 2024, according to its most recently available tax information. The NPR and PBS affiliate was set to receive about $875,000 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting starting in October. But if there arent any moves to temper the blow, that funding wont be part of NEPMs budget thanks to moves in Washington. But Studio A developed as a television studio in a building at 44 Hampden St. in Springfield will play a role in the organizations next chapter, Abramovitz said. The organization plans to expand its use as a live event space. A piano covered in cloth lends itself to performances, and NEPM can fill Studio A with risers to hold a 150-person audience to witness, say, a debate between Senate candidates, as U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Republican challenger John Deaton did in October. Live events, Abramovitz said, could help foster a deeper connection between NEPM and its audience, and bring the brand to life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abramovitz said that starting Tuesday, the broadcaster will begin a membership drive. Then, in coming weeks and months, NEPM will reexamine its vendor services and programming fees, looking for places to trim or renegotiate. Last Friday, Abramovitz said on the stations own The Fabulous 413 program that layoffs are an option of last resort. NEPM has always been part of a media ecosystem, said Abramovitz. He believes the role it plays is meaningful and needed. Today, with the funding cut looming, new ventures are essential. Education Program Coordinator Donyel LeNoir Felton, who wore an I-heart-PBS pin, used her phone to show a video she filmed and produced in Spanish, even though shes still learning the language. She created the video, which told the story of a rowing club on the Connecticut River, as part of a pilot project exploring vertical video a la TikTok with the New England News Collaborative, which is an NPR regional hub. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NPR reshared the video and it was viewed about a quarter million times. For Abramovitz, it showed how important it was to share stories that may be local, but can resonate with viewers around the world and reflect what our America is today. In the near future, Abramovitz said the broadcaster hopes to expand the Friday morning program called The Rundown with host Carrie Saldo and expand the reach and audience of its marquee show, The Fabulous 413, via video. Studio lights hung low in a radio studio off the newsroom, part of an effort to convert the space to better handle video that could be posted to, say, YouTube, or other platforms. In the newsroom, Monte Belmonte, who co-hosts the Fabulous 413, was at his desk, home to a couple bottles of hot sauce, a Barbie-themed mug of coffee and a Mr. Rogers page-a-day calendar. Im a child of public broadcasting, Belmonte said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea that Congress decided not to support public broadcasting programs is a hard pill to swallow, he said. Hes concerned that the middle-of-the-road news programming offered by NPR and PBS, content that explores all sides of an issue, appears to have fallen out of favor. As he talked Monday, he said The Fabulous 413 spoke with a prominent Franklin County Republican running for sheriff who believes the state needs to better support the bar advocates, the attorneys appointed by the court to represent defendants. Hi, Kaliis Smith, the co-host of the Fabulous 413, said upon walking into the newsroom. Coffee first. She returned with a red mug a few moments later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel like our community, because we have connected in the ways that we have, is probably going to rise to the challenge, Smith said of the funding cuts. Im not going to say Im not worried about us. I am worried about us. Shes more worried about the fate of other public media stations whose budgets rely more heavily on federal funding and that may close over the cuts. A few desks away, Kari Njiiri, a senior reporter and host of Jazz Safari, said he felt for the stations whose budgets may be severely affected by the coming cuts and who may be the primary source of information in various corners of the nation. This has been an ongoing battle for years and now, it seems to come to pass, Njiiri said. Weathering cuts Public media has developed an infrastructure six decades in the making, Abramovitz said, that could help it weather hard times out of Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turning to metaphor, he said, You can cut a tree back really far and it looks like it may not come back, but then it does. And I hope, and thats kind of our job right now, is that even if we do see a contraction across the public media ecosystem, with these federal funding cuts, that we have to hope that we are gaining enough healthy root and system that it will come back. In May, NEPM helped organize a musical instrument drive that collected hundreds of instruments so children in Springfield schools could learn to make music, Abramovitz said. Part of our job is to show up for our community and do work that no other media company will do. And thats just one of the examples of the ways we do that, Abramovitz said. Other examples include Belmonte dressing up like Bruce Lee or Glinda from the Wizard of Oz around Thanksgiving to march from Springfield to Greenfield to raise money for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the effort to preserve federal funding, NEPM and other public media stations shared a website called Protect My Public Media, which helped generate 1.2 million messages to Congress in six weeks, Abramovitz said. We know that part of the secret sauce of public media is (that) it inspires you to take action, Abramovitz said. And some of that actions becoming a member, getting a tote bag. And some of that action is running to Congress or donating instruments or marching and donating to the Food Bank of Western Mass. And for us, those kinds of actions are what glues our communities together. more news from Western Massachusetts Read the original article on MassLive. Did Barron Trump announce, as a social media post claims, that he's dating Sasha Obama and that she "will be his one and only wife"? No, that's not true: The TikTok video says the announcement put Barron's father, President Donald Trump, in the hospital, a made-up event corroborated by no credible information sources. A president disappearing from his announced-in-advance schedule of appearances would have been Fthe subject of worldwide news. In addition, there is no record of a public announcement by Barron Trump of a relationship with Sasha Obama. The claim originated in a July 8, 2025 TikTok video (archived here) where it was published on the @hooptalk24h account under the title "Baron Trump just announced that Sasha Obama will be his one and only wife". The voice-over opened: Donald Trump got so mad he rushed to a private hospital. This is what the first frame of the video looked like on TikTok at the time of writing: Source: Lead Stories screenshot of a TikTok post by @hooptalk24h. The next image in the video showed Trump lying in a hospital bed. Reverse image search on Google (archived here) shows no such photo of Trump has been shared on public information sources, even though there was extensive news coverage of his hospitalizations for COVID and after he was injured in an assassination attempt. Multiple clickbait accounts have used AI to creat images of Trump in a hospital bed, but no reliable news site has posted such an image. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike his very-online family, whose posts are prolific, Barron Trump does not post to social media platforms. The @BARRONTRUMP X account, created in August of 2012, has a blue checkmark indicating authenticity, but there have been no posts to it. Lead Stories searched Google News (archived here) and Yahoo!News archived here for any sign of a Trump/Obama offspring relationship announcement and found nothing from evidence-based or official sources, only reposts and copies of the clickbait fake story. The search terms used were: "Barron Trump announce" AND "Sasha Obama" AND wife. Further indicating it's fake, the video claiming Barron Trump and Sasha Obama will marry includes an often-posted fake clip of a giant Barron Trump at the White House. The giveaway is the common "levitation" error in deepfake videos, in which the person walks on air, as is shown below. In the fake clip, Barron appears to be roughly twice the height of his father, which would make him at least 12 feet tall: Source: Lead Stories screenshot of a TikTok post by @hooptalk24h. Readers interested in more Lead Stories debunks of bogus claims about Barron Trump will find a collection here. Claim: Three girls were found alive inside a hollow tree more than a week after the July 2025 Texas flash floods. Rating: Rating: False A story that spread on social media in July 2025 claimed three girls were found alive in a hollow tree more than a week after floods devastated the area around Texas' Guadalupe River in July 2025. The floods, which took place during the Fourth of July weekend, killed at least 135 people and, as of this writing, three people were still missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, one Facebook post (archived) with the claim read: "3 Missing Texas Girls Found Alive in a Hollow Tree 1 Mile From Camp They Survived Nearly 10 Days Thanks to These 2 Things...," reaching over 5,800 reactions. The post displayed three pictures seemingly showing scenes from the 2025 Texas floods. Many commenters on the post expressed joy and gratitude, celebrating the story as a miracle and thanking God for the girls' alleged survival. One Snopes reader asked over email, "Wondering if the article about three girls surviving the Texas flood by staying in a hollowed out tree is true." Another wrote, "This post has been going around Christian socials and I can't find any news stories on it." Google reverse image search results showed that the collage spread via multiple Facebook posts, but the rumor also spread on other social media platforms including Threads and X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the story of three missing girls surviving in a hollow tree after the 2025 Texas floods was a work of fiction, part of a growing trend of stories generated using artificial intelligence (AI) and designed to attract clicks and advertising revenue on unreliable websites. Searches of Bing, DuckDuckGo, Google and Yahoo found no news media outlets reporting about such events. Prominent news media outlets would have widely reported this rumor, if true. Because there were no credible reports or evidence to support this narrative, we have rated this claim false. From Facebook posts to ad-filled blogs The false story spread widely through social media posts that redirected users to ad-saturated blog sites designed to generate clicks and revenue. The blog articles often lacked sources, bylines or any verifiable details, and many appeared to be copy-pasted or lightly reworded versions of each other. One such article, titled, "3 Missing Texas Girls Found Alive in a Hollow Tree 1 Mile From Camp They Survived Nearly 10 Days Thanks to These 2 Things," began: In what's being called one of the most miraculous survival stories in American history, three girls who vanished during the Texas flood disaster have been found alive tucked inside the hollow of an ancient oak tree just one mile from the ravaged Camp Wrenwood. The girls Emily Rivera, Zoey Nash, and Hope Lin, ages 8 to 10 survived for nearly 10 days with no food, using only rainwater and lessons from a wilderness safety drill they had completed days before the storm. The story claimed the girls survived on rainwater alone, using skills from a wilderness safety drill completed days before the floods a highly improbable scenario for children aged 8 to 10. Notably, none of the girls' names Emily Rivera, Zoey Nash or Hope Lin appeared in any credible reports of missing or rescued children from the floods. What's more, some of the articles ended with a vague mention of RedCross.org, likely an attempt to add legitimacy, reading: "This story will continue to be updated as more details become available. For support, donations, or volunteer opportunities in the ongoing Texas flood recovery, visit RedCross.org." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another article, titled, "The Hollow Tree Miracle: How Three Missing Texas Girls Survived 10 Days Alone Using Only Rainwater, Instinctand One Unbelievable Lesson," featured a nearly identical narrative: In the aftermath of the devastating Texas flood that swept through Camp Wrenwood and left 27 children unaccounted for, a discovery stunned the nation: three missing girls were found alive after nearly 10 days, hidden inside a hollow oak tree less than a mile from the campgrounds. Their survivalagainst all odds, without food, shelter, or adult guidanceis now being called one of the most remarkable child survival stories in modern American history. What saved them? Not just luck. But something far more powerful: memory, improvisation, and an unbreakable bond. None of these articles cited or linked to any credible sources, official statements or news reports. They also repeatedly referenced "Camp Wrenwood" as the location tied to the girls' survival, but we found no evidence that any such camp exists in Texas. In reality, the camp most impacted by the flooding was Camp Mystic, a riverside Christian camp for girls in Hunt, Texas. (Another nearby camp, Heart O' the Hills, was also significantly affected by the floods, though it did not experience the same scale of loss as Camp Mystic.) Additionally, AI-detection websites such as Copyleaks.com, ZeroGPT.com and Phrasly.ai all flagged the text of the blog articles as at least partially generated using AI tools. (copyleaks.com) Overall, the story contained multiple warning signs, and the combination of AI-generated text published via profit-driven blog sites helped the rumor spread online even in the absence of any credible news coverage. Similar story about 2 missing girls The fabricated story about three girls surviving in a hollow tree appears to have been inspired by an earlier false claim that rescuers had saved two girls clinging to a tree during the Texas floods. The now-retracted article stated, "Two girls were rescued alive from a tree nearly 30 feet high Sunday in the flood zone between Comfort and Homillus Road in Center Point, according to multiple sources, as search teams also recovered four bodies in the area." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though some rescuers initially repeated the claim, the Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha ultimately confirmed it was "100% inaccurate." Kerr County Flood Event Joint Information Center warned that such misinformation often spreads during disasters. In fact, we have investigated numerous rumors related to the Texas floods from fabricated rescue stories to false celebrity donation claims many of which were fueled by AI-generated content. Sources: "AI Detector - Free AI Checker for ChatGPT, GPT-4, Gemini & More." Copyleaks, https://copyleaks.com/ai-content-detector. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025. AI Detector - Trusted AI Checker for ChatGPT, GPT4 & Gemini. https://www.zerogpt.com/. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christensen, Laerke. "Watch out for Story about Rescuers Saving 2 Young Girls Clinging to Tree in Texas Floods." Snopes, 7 Jul. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/texas-floods-girls-found-in-tree/. "Floods Turned Beloved Texas Camp into a Nightmare. At Least 27 Girls Remain Missing." AP News, 4 Jul. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704. Liles, Jordan. "Caitlin Clark Offered to Pay Texas Flood Victims' Funeral Expenses?" Snopes, 11 Jul. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/caitlin-clark-texas-flood-funerals/. ---. "Toddler Girl Lost in Texas Floods Rescued by 'guardian Angel' Dog?" Snopes, 14 Jul. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/texas-floods-dog-rescued-girl/. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rescuers Find 2 Girls in Tree, 30-Feet up, near Comfort The Kerr County Lead. 6 Jul. 2025, https://web.archive.org/web/20250706203713/https://kerrcountylead.com/rescuers-find-2-girls-in-tree-30-feet-up-near-comfort/. Texas Floods Articles | Snopes.Com. https://www.snopes.com/tag/2025_texas_floods/. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025. Claim: In July 2025, a 61-year-old man died after being pulled into an MRI machine while wearing a metal chain. Rating: Rating: True In July 2025, social media posts claimed a 61-year-old man died after being pulled into an MRI machine while wearing a metal chain. The man was not a patient but walked into the MRI room while a scan was in progress, the posts claimed. Police reportedly said the man was at the hospital with someone else, according to the posts. Snopes readers emailed us and searched our website to determine if the claim was true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police in New York confirmed that a 61-year-old man died after he was pulled into an MRI machine at a medical facility. The victim wore "a large metallic chain around his neck, causing him to be drawn into the machine," the Nassau County Police Department said in a statement. Therefore, we've rated this claim true. Officers responded to a 911 call at Long Island's Nassau Open MRI on July 16, 2025, the statement said. When officers arrived, they learned that a 61-year-old man entered "an unauthorized Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) room while the scan was in progress," according to the police department. The man, who was not identified in the police statement, "was wearing a large metallic chain around his neck," which led to him being drawn into the machine, resulting in a medical episode, police said. Medical personnel took the man to a local hospital in critical condition, and he died the following day, according to police. Police said an investigation into the man's death is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though police did not name the victim, News 12 Long Island identified him as 61-year-old Keith McAllister. (Snopes could not independently confirm that reporting. The Nassau County Medical Examiner's Office directed us to the police department, which said it could not release the man's identity at the time of this publication.) News 12 Long Island spoke to Adrienne Jones-McAllister, a woman identified as his wife. Jones-McAllister told News 12 that, while in the exam room, she asked a technician to get her husband to help her off the table after she had an MRI on her knee. According to News 12, the technician reportedly allowed her husband in the room, "despite the fact he was wearing his 20-pound chain that Jones-McAllister said he uses for weight training." A spokesperson for the police department told Snopes it was unable to comment on Jones-McAllister's accusation that a technician allowed her husband into the exam room. We also reached out to Nassau Open MRI, the medical facility, for more information, and we will update this story if we receive a response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones-McAllister told News 12 she saw her husband "walk toward the table" and the machine "snatch him." According to a person who identified themselves as Jones-McAllister's daughter in a GoFundMe campaign, Jones-McAllister and the technician "tried for several minutes to release him before the police were called." "He was attached to the machine for almost an hour before they could release the chain from the machine. Unfortunately, on July 17th, he lost his battle after having several heart attacks following the tragic incident," the GoFundMe campaign said. MRIs produce 'strong magnetic field' MRIs "produce a strong magnetic field," the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering explains on its website. This will attract magnetic objects, including everything from small items such as keys and cellphones to larger items like oxygen tanks, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If these objects "become projectiles," or objects that propel through the air, they "may cause damage to the scanner or injury to the patient or medical professionals," the FDA says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cleveland Clinic advises people to "leave all jewelry and other accessories at home or remove them before your MRI scan," adding that "metal and electronic items aren't allowed in the exam room because they can interfere with the magnetic field of the MRI unit, cause burns or become harmful projectiles." Sources: "Aided - Westbury *Update*." Nassau County Police, NY, 18 July 2025, www.pdcn.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=14326. Accessed 21 July 2025. Dowd, Cecilia. "Nassau County Woman Recalls Harrowing Experience of Her Husband Being Pulled into MRI Machine." News 12 - Default, 18 July 2025, longisland.news12.com/police-man-pulled-into-mri-machine-by-necklace-dies-from-his-injuries. Accessed 21 July 2025. "Donate to a Wife in Need of Trying to Lay Her Husband to Rest, Organized by Samantha Bodden." Gofundme.com, www.gofundme.com/f/a-wife-in-desperate-needof-trying-to-lay-her-husband-to-rest. Accessed 21 July 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National Institute of Biomedical imaging and Bioengineering. "Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)." National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/science-topics/magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri. Accessed 21 July 2025. FDA. "MRI: Benefits and Risks." U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 9 Dec. 2017, www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/mri-magnetic-resonance-imaging/benefits-and-risks. Accessed 21 July 2025. Cleveland Clinic. "MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)." Cleveland Clinic, 9 May 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/4876-magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri. Accessed 21 July 2025. Claim: In late July 2025, officials in Texas reported that the number of missing people in the July 2025 floods dropped from more than 160 to two. Rating: Rating: True In early July 2025, devastating flash floods swept central Texas, particularly in Kerr County, resulting in the deadliest inland rainfall flood in the U.S. since 1976. At least 136 people died including 108 in Kerr County. In the days immediately following the July 4 flooding, officials reported dozens of people missing and put out a call to the public to assist in identifying each missing person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The numbers fluctuated in the aftermath of the flood. On July 8, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that 161 people were missing. On July 9, officials said more than 170 people were still unaccounted for. In a news conference on July 10, police from Kerrville a Kerr County city intensely affected by the flooding confirmed that the locale's number of missing individuals remained at 161. By July 14, Abbott said in a news conference that the number of those missing was 97. "In the aftermath of the devastating flood that swept through Kerr County July 4, officials urged the public to report any unaccounted-for individuals through a dedicated hotline and email. In the initial days, hundreds were reported missing," a Kerr County spokesperson wrote to Snopes via email. However, by July 19, dozens of posts across multiple platforms (archived, archived, archived) claimed the number of missing individuals in Kerr County had dropped to just three. BREAKING: The number of missing persons following the Kerr County, TX floods has dropped from 160 to just 3 Keep praying for these families Search efforts will continue until the remaining three are located. This is a MASSIVE undertaking led by President Trump, pic.twitter.com/srKGdN8kUX Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 20, 2025 Kerr County corroborated these claims via email, writing: In coordination with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), investigators began an exhaustive effort to verify the status of each individual who was reported missing. Through tireless work and continuous communication with families, local agencies, and impacted communities, the number of law-enforcement confirmed missing individuals has now declined to three. Both the city of Kerrville and the Kerr County Sheriff's Office confirmed the reports via their social media accounts on July 19, noting that "many individuals who were initially reported as missing have been verified as safe and removed from the list." "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 the statement. "Thanks to their extraordinary efforts, the number of individuals previously listed as missing has dropped from over 160 to three." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 22, a search task force recovered the body of one of the three missing people, dropping the number of those missing to two and increasing the death toll to at least 136. In an X post on July 22, Abbott wrote, "We are still missing one adult male and a little girl from Camp Mystic." Today, Task Force 1 recovered the body of a missing adult female lost in the flood. She was recovered in the Kerrville area. We are still missing one adult male and a little girl from Camp Mystic. Our search continues. Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 23, 2025 We will update this story if we receive any further information regarding the number of people found as the rescue effort in Kerr County continues. Officials have not publicly confirmed the identities of those missing. We've broken down a number of claims related to the July 2025 Texas floods, including the rumor that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum sent rescue teams to Texas and a claim that Rainmaker Technology Corp.'s cloud seeding mission caused flooding. Sources: Erdman, Jonathan. Texas Flood Was America's Deadliest In 49 Years | Weather.Com. 10 Jul. 2025, https://weather.com/news/weather/news/2025-07-08-texas-flash-flood-deadliest-since-1970s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gorman, Steve. 'Texas Flood Death Toll Rises to 131 as New Storms Loom'. Reuters, 15 Jul. 2025. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/texas-flood-death-toll-rises-131-new-storms-loom-2025-07-14/. McFadden, Alyce, and Chris Hippensteel. 'Number of Missing in Kerr County, Texas, After Floods Drops to 3'. The New York Times, 19 Jul. 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/19/us/texas-floods-kerr-county-missing.html. 'What to Know about the Flash Floods in Texas That Killed over 100 People'. AP News, 6 Jul. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/flash-flood-texas-camp-mystic-aec9181a07d3ce8ff85197922e108b13. - YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO6MpHkk2q8#ddg-play. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025. Claim: U.S. President Donald Trump signed a law effective Aug. 1, 2025, making couples who have been in a relationship for five years automatically legally married. Rating: Rating: False In July 2025, a rumor circulated online that U.S. President Donald Trump signed a law effective Aug. 1, 2025, making couples who have been in a relationship for five years automatically legally married. "Trump just signed a bill effective Aug. 1 if u have been in a relationship for 5 years you legally married #cc," one Facebook post (archived) read. One TikTok video (archived) with the claim reached over 2.4 million views and 314,300 reactions, with a caption "Trump announced You are legally married if you are in a relationship for 5+ years." The rumor spread on multiple social media platforms such as Threads, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Reddit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there was no such law, nor was there any credible indication that Trump was proposing such a law in July 2025. No reputable news outlets, government websites, or official Trump statements supported this claim. What's more, marriage laws are primarily determined by individual states, not the federal government. Any such major federal legislation would have been widely reported by the press. Therefore, we have rated this claim as false. We contacted the White House for a comment, but a spokesperson declined to provide an on-the-record statement. No evidence of new Trump law on marriage A search on the White House website showed no mention of "marriage" between mid-June and mid-July 2025. Additionally, a Google search for "New Trump law all couples together 5 or more years are legally married" and similar search terms yielded only social media posts, with no credible news reports, government announcements or legal sources confirming such a law. If this claim were true, it would almost certainly have been widely covered by major news outlets, legal analysts, and official government channels, given the significant legal implications of automatically recognizing couples as legally married after five years. The rumor seemed to stem from a misunderstanding of common law marriage, a legal concept that exists in some U.S. states. Common law marriage recognizes couples as married without a formal ceremony or marriage license, but only if certain conditions are met, typically that the couple live together and present themselves as a married couple. Importantly, however, common law marriage does not "force" people to be married, but rather grants couples the legal recognition and protections of marriage if they meet specific criteria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of this writing, there was no evidence that Trump's administration enacted or proposed any federal changes to common law marriage laws. Videos, both real and AI-generated, helped advance rumor The rumor likely originated from a July 5 TikTok video (archived) posted by the user @goldmiind18, who has shared multiple similar videos framed as breaking news about Trump announcing controversial legislation (see screenshot below). (TikTok user @goldmiind18) We contacted the user to ask about the origin of the story and to request the source of the information but as of this writing have not received a reply. In the video, the user claimed, "it's all over the news, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, world news, top news, national news, CNN, TMZ," and also stated that couples would be receiving marriage licenses in the mail. In reality, this was false and no news outlets reported such a development, as we have already explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rumor was later picked up by accounts sharing clearly AI-generated videos on the topic. While it remains unconfirmed who first originated the specific claim about a new Trump marriage law, similar ideas have circulated online for some time. For instance, in mid-June 2025 one X user wrote, "We would free so many people if common law marriage kicked in by default at the 5-year mark," reaching over 1.2 million views. (X user @webdevMason) Another post shared a similar sentiment: "This is why common-law marriage is a very good idea for women and children. I can't think of a case against it. Cohabiting for five years? Married. Men can't get all the benefits without the legal responsibilities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While these posts suggested support for the idea of automatic marriage after a certain period of cohabitation, they didn't provide evidence of any such policy proposal from Trump or any federal law. In 2016, NPR published an article titled, "No, You're Not In A Common-Law Marriage After 7 Years Together," addressing widespread misunderstandings about common law marriage. We have fact-checked similar claims regarding marriage law in the past. For instance, in 2022 we looked at claims that Tennessee Republicans supported a piece of legislation that would legalize child marriage. Sources: "Common Law Marriage." LII / Legal Information Institute, https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/common_law_marriage_0. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025. Glenn, Heidi. "No, You're Not In A Common-Law Marriage After 7 Years Together." NPR, 4 Sep. 2016. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2016/09/04/487825901/no-you-re-not-in-a-common-law-marriage-after-7-years-of-dating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MacGuill, Dan. "Would a Proposed Tennessee Law 'Legalize Child Marriage'?" Snopes, 5 Apr. 2022, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/tennessee-law-child-marriage/. "Which States Recognize Common Law Marriage?" Www.Nolo.Com, https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/living-together-book/chapter2-4.html. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025. (Reuters) -A Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet on a routine training mission crashed into a college and school campus in the capital Dhaka on Monday after what the military said was a mechanical failure. At least 31 people were killed, most of them children. Here's what we know about the F-7 BGI jet that went down: WHAT ARE F-7/J-7 FIGHTER JETS? The F-7 BGI, which crashed soon after take-off, is a lightweight fighter jet, the final and most advanced version of China's Chengdu J-7/F-7 family, according to Jane's Information Group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chengdu J-7 is the licence-built version of the Soviet era MiG-21 and is used for training and limited combat roles. The F-7 is the export variant of J-7. The South Asian country's air force has operated F-7 variants since the 1980s. Dhaka signed a contract for 16 BGI version aircraft in 2011 and deliveries were completed by 2013 - the final batch of the manufactured jets. PRODUCTION OF THE JETS China manufactured the jets from 1965 to 2013, making it one of the longest-running fighter production lines there. Due to its affordability, the jet was widely exported, especially to developing nations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The J-7 was fully decommissioned from the Chinese military by the end of 2023 but several countries still use the export variant. WIDESPREAD USAGE OF F-7 Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Iran and North Korea are among the countries that have used or still use variants of the F-7. Pakistan is the largest operator of F-7 aircraft and has 66 of them, according to the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies. Pakistan also has one of China's most advanced warplanes, the J-10, and used it to launch air-to-air missiles to bring down at least two Indian fighter jets during the recent conflict between the two countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PAST INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE JETS May 2025 - An Air Force of Zimbabwe pilot died when a F-7 crashed during a routine sortie in the Southern African nation. June 2022 - A J-7 crashed into residential buildings in the Chinese city of Xiangyang in central Hubei Province, killing at least one person on the ground. May 2022 - Two Iranian pilots died after their F-7 crashed during a training mission near Anarak, 200 km (125 miles) east of the city of Isfahan. January 2022 - Two Pakistani Air Force pilots were killed when a FT-7 aircraft, a variant of the F-7, crashed. There have been a number of other incidents with F-7 jets in Pakistan that resulted in deaths of pilots. (Compiled by Sudipto Ganguly; editing by YP Rajesh and Mark Heinrich) (Photo: Clayton Henkel) North Carolina Republican lawmakers mad rush to slash income taxes on corporation and the wealthy in recent years has produced many disastrous impacts. See, for example, our threadbare and crumbling public schools. But theres another big and negative impact: the effect on property taxes. Thanks to fast rising home prices, theres a growing need to update and raise property tax exemptions for seniors and other homeowners on fixed incomes so theyre not forced out of their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, because of plummeting income tax revenues, the state is much less able to aid county governments in filling revenue holes that would develop if property tax exemptions were raised. And so it is that counties have been forced, reluctantly, to oppose bills in the state legislature that would raise property tax exemptions. The bottom line: By slashing income taxes, state legislators have unjustly shifted responsibility for funding core public services further onto people of modest means like senior homeowners. All North Carolinians should demand better. For NC Newsline, Im Rob Schofield. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) The Historic Fairview Cemetery and the New Mexico Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club are inviting the community to join them to help commemorate National Buffalo Soldiers Day. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Buffalo Soldiers were the earliest African American troops in the United States Army, and served on the western frontier post-Civil War. The community is invited to the Historic Fairview Cemetery at 10 a.m. for its third year commemorating National Buffalo Soldiers Day. The New Mexico Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club, Albuquerque Chapter, will enter the cemetery in a precession to the ceremony area. They will also speak about their organization and the Buffalo Soldiers. There will also be a special guided tour of Buffalo Soldier graves at the cemetery. 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. A woman accused of impersonating four nurses from other states and using around 20 aliases since 2020 has been arrested and charged with dozens of counts, police said. Shannon Nicole Womack, 39, has been charged with 43 counts, including endangering the welfare of a care-dependent person, identity theft, forgery and falsely pretending to hold a license, according to court records. Womack is also charged with use and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records. Google Maps Street View - PHOTO: In this screen grab from Google Maps Street View, the sign for Hamar Village Health and Rehab Center is shown. Womack was arrested on Monday, court records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Womack gave police false identification when she was pulled over by police in a routine traffic stop in April on Interstate 79, according to Pennsylvania State Police. MORE: NYC woman dies after unlicensed surgeon tried to remove her butt implants: Police An investigation revealed that approximately 20 different aliases and seven different Social Security numbers were associated with Womack, according to police. A search warrant was then executed on her vehicle, and investigators found multiple forms of identification, prescription medications prescribed to different victims, medical documents and various pieces of medical equipment, police said. Georgia Secretary of State - PHOTO: Shannon Nicole Womack, 39, has been charged with 43 counts including endangering the welfare of a care-dependent person, identity theft, forgery and falsely pretending to hold a license, according to court records. Womack posed as a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse and registered nurse supervisor at multiple rehabilitation and nursing home facilities throughout Pennsylvania, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was using the identities and credentials of four confirmed nurses from southern states, police said. MORE: Woman arrested for impersonating nurses at several LA hospitals "Womack was able to secure these nursing positions through staffing agencies by submitting fraudulently signed documents and also by creating a false LLC to self-deploy herself to multiple jobs," police said in a statement. "Womack obtained employment through staffing agencies and even ... was able to create her own host agency," Pennsylvania State Police trooper Rocco Gagliardi said at a press conference. "So she was picking up the phone and transferring those employment jobs, careers, to herself." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police believe she began the deception in 2020 and continued it across many states on the eastern side of the country. Google Maps Street View - PHOTO: In this screen grab from Google Maps Street View, the sign for Eldercrest Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Munhall, Pa., is shown. "During that COVID time, they got hit hard, and they needed help," Gagliardi said. "So it wasn't uncommon for these different residence locations, agencies, to reach out to host agencies and say we need some extra shifts filled. That started in 2020 and it was such an easy transition, she just kept going after that." The investigation remains ongoing, police said. Womack's bail was set at $250,000. Her next court appearance was scheduled for July 29. What does a sasquatch sound like? Soon South Milwaukee will be filled with sasquatch calls or at least what locals think a sasquatch call sounds like during a contest at the inaugural Samtemberfest, Sat. Sept. 27, at the Bucyrus Commons, 1028 Madison Ave. The event, which will last from 3 to 7 p.m., is being created, operated, and marketed by Savage Solutions, the Milwaukee-based marketing and branding agency that introduced the world to South Milwaukee Sam, the citys spokesperson (or spokesasquatch) last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cory Savage, founder and CEO of Savage Solutions, said the agency always wanted to do a Sam-specific event and he hopes this is the first annual Samtemberfest. Creative Director and partner at Savage Solutions Mark Hungsberg called Sam South Milwaukees biggest cheerleader who wanted to create an event that celebrated everything Sam-tastic about South Milwaukee from its shops to the Bucyrus Commons event space. Live music, local vendors, food trucks, kids activities and some carnival games are a few of the elements visitors can expect at the free-to-attend event. There will also be plenty of Sam swag for fans of South Milwaukees sasquatch to pick up. South Milwaukees mayor plans to participate in sasquatch calling contest A small South Milwaukee Sam fan speaks with the city's sasquatch at an event. One of the more unique activities at the event is the sasquatch calling contest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Participants are encouraged to sign up ahead of time at smkesam.com/samtemberfest. Each participant will give their rendition of a sasquatch call and, with the help of the audience, Sam will pick a winner. Sams never spoke in public, and we thought itd be fun to invite people to try their best Sasquatch call and Sam could judge it with the audience, Hungsberg said. South Milwaukee Mayor Jim Shelenske told the Journal Sentinel he hasnt had a chance to practice his call yet. Theres a good chance youll see me participating but I have to work on my calling, he said. Shelenske said hes looking forward to the family-friendly event in September and hopes people from throughout the area come by. Classic rock, local food trucks and other activities also on the Samtemberfest schedule In addition to the sasquatch calls, attendees will also hear local 60s rock band Lovin Kind perform from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with a possible guitar solo from Sam, according to the event website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attendees can choose from the event's multiple food trucks, including Savs Food Trailer, Azteca Food Truck, the Baked N Loaded Spud Wagon, Drink Co2, and Atwood Hwy BBQ Shack. Sams manager Fran Magyar of Savage Solutions said shes working to secure more food trucks and vendors for the event. Anyone interested can reach out to Magyar at fran@savagemke.com or 262-226-2457. There will be kids activities including a bounce house, one or two carnival games, potential face painting (depending on permitting), and of course photo ops with Sam. Hungsberg said a coupon or deals book may also be offered to attendees for local businesses, some that maybe couldnt make it to the event, to bring people back into the city after Samtemberfest. A group of South Milwaukee Sam fans pose with the city's sasquatch at Da Crusher statue during the South Milwaukee Farmer's Market. South Milwaukee's Samtemberfest is not taxpayer funded The event is not funded by taxpayer dollars but instead is fully funded through a Bucyrus Foundation grant. Hungsberg said Savage Solutions is looking for sponsorships to help offset costs. He said anyone interested in sponsoring the event can also reach out to Magyar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Magyar said Samtemberfest was first announced to the public on Sams social media pages July 17. More updates will be posted there as the event nears. Who is South Milwaukee Sam? Sasquatches are typically hard to spot, but Sam made himself very known in July 2024 with a video introducing himself to South Milwaukee. In his video, Sam said he decided to settle in South Milwaukee and he made it his mission to share what makes the city a great place. Funding for the Sam branding campaign through Savage Solutions is through a grant from the Bucyrus Foundation. When the foundation issued the grant to South Milwaukee, it included a request to use a portion toward a new marketing campaign for the city. South Milwaukee Sam helped wrestler South Milwaukee Man at Crusherfest 2025. Since his inception, Sam has appeared at most city events including helping South Milwaukee Man, a local wrestler, during a match at Crusherfest in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Savage told the Journal Sentinel in July 2024 the idea for Sam came from the Milwaukee Lion sightings from about a decade ago. Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about the fall festival for South Milwaukee's sasquatch HONOLULU (KHON2) A chapter in Hawaiis maritime history is coming to a close. Historic Falls of Clyde may be removed from Honolulu Harbor Shipwright LLC have started removing the 146-year-old Falls of Clyde. The iron-hulled ship has been docked in Honolulu Harbor for decades. But after years of disrepair and failed restoration attempts, the state is officially moving forward with plans to remove and dispose of the vessel safely. It looks like they may be dropping off some of the equipment Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A string of preservation efforts followed including an attempt to return her to Scotland but each fell short due to funding, logistics, or legal hurdles. In 2023, the Falls of Clyde was officially removed from the National Register of Historic Places, stripping her of protected status. Check out more news from around Hawaii The vessel was purchased by William Matson in the late 19th century and was mainly used to bring goods and people back and forth between Hawaii and California. It was sold and then converted to an oil tanker in 1907 before repeatedly changing hands until it was brought back to Honolulu in 1963 as a floating museum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But by 2019, the ships condition had deteriorated so significantly that the Department of Transportation revoked its permits, citing serious structural and environmental concerns. Several proposals to restore the vessel including one that aimed to return her to Scotland were ultimately unsuccessful. Now, the state has awarded a $4.9 million contract for her removal. Starting today, crews will begin clearing debris, sealing access points, and preparing the vessel for her final journey. By late November, shell be towed more than 12 miles offshore and sunk in deep water a process known as scuttling under strict oversight by the Coast Guard and EPA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news So while her story ends far from shore, her legacy as a symbol of Hawaiis maritime past will live on. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 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 IRONDALE, Ala. (WIAT) Nearly a year following Phillip Reeders death, his family is calling for answers and accountability from the Irondale Police Department after watching newly released body camera footage from the day he died. Reeder, 52, died during what his family described as a mental health crisis in August 2024. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency recently allowed his family to view the body camera footage from that day. At a press conference held outside Irondale City Hall on Monday, the family and their attorneys said what they saw raised serious concerns. Phillip is heard clearly not once, not twice, but three times I cant breathe. I cant breathe. I cant breathe, said Sandra Lee Reeder, his wife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Civil rights attorney Harry Daniels, who is representing the family, said the footage shows Reeder being restrained for several minutes. If I stand right here and count to 120 seconds a lot can happen. Thats three minutes, Daniels said. A knee was on the back of his neck while he was in handcuffs. Shots fired after dispute at Homewood day care Reeders son Zachariah Reeder said his family is not alone in experiencing this kind of loss. This is a horrible thing to happen to any family, he said. It happened to George Floyd, and its happened to several other families. Theres video after video of people being shot, killed, murdered not just by other people but by police officers. People who are there to serve and protect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Jefferson County Coroners Office classified Reeders manner of death as a homicide, though that does not necessarily mean there is culpability in the case. It stated in its autopsy case summary blunt force injuries alone would not have caused Reeders death. The combination of his heart disease, cocaine, injuries, and exertion from the altercation are the best explanation for Mr. Reeders death, part of the summary reads. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: ALEA investigating death of man after possible medical event The ALEA confirmed it turned the case over to the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office in December and is reviewing the possibility of publicly releasing the body camera footage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city of Irondale provided the following statement after the press conference: The City of Irondale and the Irondale Police Department do not agree with the characterization of events by Ms. Sandra Reeder regarding the death of Phillip Reeder. Alabama Act 2023-507 prevents the release of the body-worn camera footage and prevents disclosure of such footage to anyone other than those persons listed in the statute. The statute permits the personal representative of a deceased individual whose image or voice is the subject of the recording to view the video. Therefore, the City of Irondale facilitated the viewing of the video on July 18, 2025 to Mr. Reeders personal representative, Ms. Sandra Reeder, in accordance with the law. On 8/6/2024 at approximately 5:10 am, Irondale 911 received several calls regarding a white male subject (later identified as Phillip Reeder) running in and out of traffic on Highway 78 near Old Leeds Road. Officers were dispatched to the area and located the subject who appeared to be under the influence and behaving erratically. Despite multiple commands to comply, Mr. Reeder continued running in the road and shouting. As Mr. Reeder posed a danger to himself and others, a Taser was deployed to bring Mr. Reeder to the ground and assist officers with detaining Mr. Reeder. Even after deployment of the Taser, Mr. Reeder continued to resist and would not follow commands of the officers. Once handcuffed, Mr. Reeder continued to struggle and resist for almost two minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers did hold Mr. Reeder to the ground using their arms only. No knee was placed in the back of his neck, and no excessive force was used. Mr. Reeder stopped resisting, and the officers realized that he had stopped breathing. They immediately turned him over, checked for a pulse and began CPR until the paramedics arrived. ALEA conducted an independent investigation of the incident and found no wrongdoing by the Irondale police officers. The force used against Mr. Reeder was only the force necessary and proportional to the need to prevent his running wildly back and forth on a busy road endangering himself and others. The cause of death indicated on Mr. Reeders death certificate is recorded as Hypertensive heart disease associated with cocaine use and restraint during altercation and it is noted on the death certificate that the Decedent with heart disease consumed illicit drug and was subdued during altercation with police. Following the investigation by ALEA, the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office did not see any probable cause sufficient for criminal charges in regard to the officers and their actions during the arrest/use of force incident. The City of Irondale and the Irondale Police Department support our police officers and do not believe they did anything wrong as to Phillip Reeder. 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 CBS 42. ST. LOUIS The family of a man who died in the St. Louis City Justice Center over the weekend is demanding answers days after they learned of his death. The family of 31-year-old Samuel Hayes Jr. and their attorneys gathered in front of the jail on Monday, asking for the city to release the surveillance footage connected to Hayes death. St. Louis Metropolitan Police confirmed that the Justice Center notified police of an in-custody death around 11:35 p.m. on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Police learned that a fight between two detainees in a shared cell began around 8:20 p.m. Police allege that one of those detainees, identified as Samuel Hayes Jr., did not listen to jail staff after the confrontation and was placed in a restraint chair. Hayes was later found unresponsive around 10 p.m. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Hayes had been in jail for more than a year after being charged with firstdegree murder connected to a deadly April 2024 shooting in North St. Louis. He was scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hayes parents claim the jail did not notify them about their sons death until around 2:30 a.m. Sundayaround four hours after he was reportedly pronounced dead at the hospital. His mother also said she did not hear from a detective until Monday afternoon. Mayor Cara Spencer was notified of the detainee death on Sunday. She released a statement offering condolences to Hayes family and loved ones and promising transparency and accountability in the investigation. I have been clear about my commitment to ensuring the safety of those in our care at the jail, and reforming the jail is one of my top priorities, Spencer said. We will continue to support and await the SLMPDs thorough investigation and final report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the first in-custody death under Mayor Spencer, but far from the first overall. There were more than a dozen jail deaths under the previous administration. Division of Corrections Commissioner Doug Burris issued a statement on the matter, saying in part: The Division of Corrections recognizes that any death in custody is a profoundly serious matter and extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased. The safety and well-being of individuals in our care is a fundamental responsibility, and incidents of this nature are treated with the highest level of scrutiny. The Division is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. The St. Louis Medical Examiners Office will conduct an autopsy to determine an official cause of death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tonia Haddix found to be hiding another chimp The SLMPDs Force Investigations Unit, which investigates all in-custody deaths and use of deadly force incidents involving police, is also conducting a comprehensive inquiry and will prepare a full report. The family is being represented by the St. Louis-based Khazaeli-Wyrsch law firm. Attorney Jack Waldron confirmed Monday the firm has yet to file a lawsuit against the city on behalf of the family. He said they are currently working to get answers to the familys questions. Monday night, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson Mitch McCoy released the following statement regarding surveillance video connected to the Hayes case: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives assigned to the Force Investigations Unit are working with officials at the St. Louis City Justice Center to obtain all surveillance video related to the in-custody death, McCoy said. During all Force investigations, SLMPD detectives offer an opportunity for the involved family to see the video obtained of the incident. FIU detectives will work with the family of Mr. Hayes to coordinate a viewing of jail surveillance footage after SLMPD has obtained all video. We expect the viewing of the video to occur in the near future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Many questions remain unanswered in the death of LaDatra Williams in Mississippi. The 26-year-old mother of four vanished nearly two months ago, according to her family members. According to the Lawrence County Sheriffs Office, her body was discovered in a shallow grave on July 14. Mississippi State Forensic Unit aids in LaDatra Williams case Charles Sims was officially charged with first-degree murder in the case. Authorities said Sims led them to the location of her body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams family believes that justice has not been fully served and that Sims did not act alone. Certain things should have never happened, not only to my child but the other women, the other people. It ended with mine, but it didnt start with mine. Whether they were brainwashed or just doing it to do it, right is right and wrong is wrong, and all of this is wrong. He should answer and the others should answer, too, said Audrey Davis Rogers, the aunt of Williams. LaDatra Williams (Courtesy: Family of LaDatra Williams) Charles Sims (Courtesy: Lawrence County Sheriffs Office) According to authorities, Williams was one of several women romantically involved with Sims. Hes believed to have four to five partners and is the father of at least 22 children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are claims that Sims may be leading a secluded group with some sources referring to it as a cult. Lawrence County Sheriff Ryan Everett said Sims property has compound-like features, but he stopped short of labeling it. A GoFundMe has been set up to help pay for the funeral expenses for Williams. 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. by Peter Tase The rules-based international order is experiencing a stage of rapid, unpredictable and significant changes. Swing states within the European Union and Russias brutal invasion of Ukraine epitomize the constantly changing tectonic plates of transatlantic geopolitics. As Arthur Herman - a Wisconsin native distinguished historian and a former senior fellow at Hudson Institute - wrote: It is not only politics that may be seen as war by other means. For centuries, governments have sought to demoralize and defeat their enemies without resorting to the battlefield. While the current White House under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump has embraced a form of upheaval in its first six months, altering key policies, European relationships, and arrangements; Lithuania a NATO and EU member nation - a parliamentary republic has openly demonstrated ethical dilemmas in the execution of its foreign policy and feckless roadmap in deterring Moscows hegemonic aspirations in the Baltics and eastern Europe. As the genocidal Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Kremlins devastating crimes against humanity, continue to inflict irreparable damages over Ukraine for more than eleven years; Vilnius international trade policy looks more like business as usual as Russian Federation was among the top six trading partners of Lithuania in 2023. The European Unions economic sanctions against Russia have not influenced Lithuanias International trade policy and swing diplomacy. The spine-chilling vacillations are demonstrated by the government of PM Gintautas Paluckas, in its efforts to aid the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation, by serving as its orange life vest hung on the roof of Konigsberg Cathedral. Paluckas purported pro Russian posture comes at a critical time when Moscow is desperately looking for alternative energy sources as its Kaliningrad region is facing an energy collapse. According to public sources, the Russian authorities are incapable to prevent the disruption of electrical energy supply and underground negotiations are under way as Belarus and Lithuania will allegedly come to rescue in these critical times. It is imperative for European Union to stay rivetted on thwarting Moscows military threat and its growing attempts to convince Lithuanian officials to act against EU and NATO recommendations and interests. So far, Lithuanian authorities have failed to understand at a granular level the propaganda machine and influence of Russia in Europe through Kaliningrad region. As warfare is in the midst of massive changes in reconnaissance systems and in all military domains simultaneously; on May 5th, Lithuanian government has announced that it will invest 1.1 billion euros over the next decade to strengthen security of its borders with Russia and Belarus. On the other hand, Lithuania has the cards to provide electrical energy to Kaliningrad region in the future and in doing so this will be its major geopolitical blunder of the century. Furthermore, almost a million Russian residents of this region will have to make a real choice in the future - in what political and legal framework will they continue to live - choosing between democratic Europe or authoritarian Russian regime. It is paramount to emphasize that Aleksandr Ivanovich UDALTSOV, a seasoned Russian diplomat, former Ambassador of Moscow to Lithuania, with ties to Russias security services, continues to have trusted human intelligence sources from Vilnius. At this juncture, for NATO, LITHUANIA is indeed a flair - up point. On February 8th, 2025, the Baltic States withdrew from the regional joint energy system BRELL (Belarus Russia Estonia Latvia Lithuania). Therefore, the Kaliningrad region became energy isolated from the unified energy system of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. This makes the territory energy dependent on neighboring countries and vulnerable. The 10-year agreement between the Lithuanian gas transmission operator Amber Grid and Russias Gazprom on the transit of natural gas to the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation through the sovereign territory of Lithuania expires in 2025. Under this agreement, Lithuania transits up to 2.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year via a 155-kilometer main pipeline with a diameter of 500 mm along the Minsk Vilnius Kaunas Kaliningrad route. The Republic of Lithuania is no longer dependent on Russian gas imports for domestic needs, as its purchases were completely stopped in April 2022. Now all the gas needed by Lithuania in liquefied form is supplied to the Lithuanian gas distribution network through the LNG terminal in Klaipeda. In early March 2025, Lithuanian President Gitanas Naus?da stated that the issue of Russian gas transit corridor is not bilateral and the decision to extend the contract should be made at the European Union level. That is, despite the obvious commercial interests (Lithuania annually receives approximately 20 million euros in payments for gas transit to the Kaliningrad region), Vilnius openly demonstrates its commitment to a consolidated pan-European posture on Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Kremlin is pinning all its hopes on the resolution of the issue of energy supply to the Kaliningrad region on the favorable lobbying of Hungary and Slovakia. Budapest and Bratislava can indeed block a likely negative decision of the European Union to engage with Russia. However, Hungary and Slovakia are not in a suitable position to lobby in favor of Moscow. In 2019, to diversify the origin of gas provisions to the Kaliningrad region, Russia created an alternative sea route. An alternative to land-based route for supplying natural gas from mainland Russia to the Kaliningrad region is via the Baltic Sea. The base dock terminal is located 5 km from the coast in the Zelenograd region. The mobile regasification unit (MRGU) Marshal Vasilevsky receives liquefied gas on board at the Gazprom LNG Portovaya or Cryogaz-Vysotsk terminals in the Leningrad region and delivers it to its destination. In a re-gasified form, the gas is supplied to the Kaliningrad underground gas storage facility via an underwater pipeline, which is connected to the gas network of the enclave. Anticipating a possible scenario of blocking pipeline transit, Gazprom plans to complete the expansion of the Kaliningrad UGS (underground gas storage) from the current capacity of 516 million cubic meters to 800 million cubic meters in 2025. This is done to create a strategic reserve for the region in case of supply disruptions, primarily in the event of a cessation of gas supply to the combined heat and power plants and thermal power plants built in the region over the past few years. Energy flow for Kaliningrad is fundamental and geo-strategically important for Moscow and European Union nations must work hand in glove to economically crush Russia until its ruthless army withdraws from every inch of sovereign Ukrainian territory. Certainly, Vilnius plays a geographic role in these critical times as regional energy pipelines can further embolden economic statecraft of EU and further reduce Russias global leadership and geopolitical influence. 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The family of a 77-year-old woman killed in a hit-and-run crash in South-Central El Paso over the weekend is speaking out, asking for justice and pleading for the driver involved to come forward. According to El Paso Police, the crash happened just before 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, near the intersection of Alameda Avenue and Gibraltar Road. Family members say the victim was Maria Lopez, a mother and grandmother, known for her generosity and love for others. Police have not identified the victim in the crash yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UPDATE: Woman pedestrian killed in hit-and-run near El Pasos Ascarate Park She would be the type to always say, Oh, its someones birthday. Let me cook some gorditas,' said her daughter, Viviana Lopez. She cared about everyone. Lopez tells KTSM her mother had been shopping that morning and was planning to visit family in Juarez. Police say a woman pedestrian was crossing Alameda when she was hit by what investigators describe as a light-colored SUV. She died at the scene and the driver fled, police said. Nobody with a soul does that, Viviana Lopez said. Im not sure how a person could just leave a sweet old lady there. I just want justice for my mom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Monday evening, police had not formally identified the victim, and no arrests had been made. This marks El Pasos 34th traffic fatality of 2025, compared to 36 at this time last year. The Lopez family has created a GoFundMe to help with funeral and other expenses. Anyone with information about the crash is urged to contact El Paso police at (915) 588-4900 or Crime Stoppers of El Paso at (915) 566-TIPS (8477). Through Crime Stoppers, you can remain anonymous. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A vital community resource in East Baton Rouge is preparing for a major expansion. The Family and Youth Service Center, which has supported thousands of families since its founding in 2011, is set to break ground on a new facility in January 2026. The announcement came Monday at the Baton Rouge Press Club. Director Roxson Welch said the upcoming facility will help expand the centers reach and bring new services under one roof. We want to be able to fill it with services that we dont have right now, Welch said. Theres a huge need for some type of housingto have a place where people can find whats available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The center, located on Government Street, currently houses several agencies offering services like truancy prevention, mental health care, job training, and parenting support. The goal, Welch says, is to provide comprehensive wraparound care for families. We work with kids and their families and try to make them as strong as possible, she added. You drop in, and you ought to be able to have every need for a family filled right there. As the school year approaches, the center is ramping up outreach, encouraging families who need assistance to take advantage of available services. Anybody thats having trouble finding resources for their children, for themselves with their childrenreach out to us, Welch said. If we dont know the answer, well find it for you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new facility is expected to open in 2026 and aims to meet the growing needs of families in the region, offering expanded programs and continuing its mission of support and stability. The Family and Youth Service Center is located on Government Street and provides free services to those in need. 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. A head-on collision killed a teenager and closed part of State Route 40 in Washington County on Tuesday morning. Washington County 911 officials say a portion of Route 40 in North Bethlehem Township was closed due to the crash. Officials with the Washington County coroners office say the incident occurred around 5:11 a.m., when a vehicle traveling east on E. National Pike (Route 40) crashed into another vehicle heading west. Both vehicles caught fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dispatchers confirm one person died in the crash, and another was flown to a hospital. Washington County Coroner Tim Warco identified the person killed as Chayse Allen, 18, of South Strabane Township. Allen was the driver eastbound vehicle. Its unknown whether Allen was wearing a seatbelt, officials say. The crash remains under investigation. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Two people are dead, and one person was taken into custody following a two-vehicle crash Tuesday morning in southwest Oklahoma City. According to authorities, the crash happened at around 2 a.m. Tuesday, near the area of SW 24th Street and Agnew Avenue. One of the vehicles contained three people in total, including the driver. SW 24th Street and Agnew Avenue fatal crash. (KFOR) SW 24th Street and Agnew Avenue fatal crash. (KFOR) The driver of that vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene, while one of the passengers was transported to a nearby hospital, where they were later pronounced dead. The third person was said to be in stable condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The individual driving the other vehicle was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence, police say. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Here are this mornings top stories with KELOLAND On the Go. Authorities are investigating a two vehicle crash in Beadle County that left one man dead Monday morning. Fatal 2 vehicle semi crash in Huron A small housefire extended into the attic of a home near 39th and Terry Avenue Monday night, causing a heavy fire rescue presence in the area. Housefire near 39th and Terry Avenue An event in Sioux Falls Tuesday will look at the impacts of having a prison in the city. The Safer Sioux Falls Forum comes about two weeks after a task force recommended spending up to $650 million on a new 1,500-bed mens prison in Sioux Falls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prison impact to be discussed at Sioux Falls forum A heat advisory has been posted for today for much of central and western KELOLAND. The heat index will rise above 100 in most areas shaded in orange. Hot and humid weather today; More severe weather 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 KELOLAND.com. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) The son of a dog owner on Buffalos East Side believes the fatal shooting of his fathers dog by a police officer couldve been prevented. Buffalo Police say the officers actions were justified. This all unfolded the afternoon of June 28 on Newburgh Avenue near Lang Avenue in Buffalo. WIVB News 4 obtained body camera video from Buffalo Police through a Freedom of Information request. The clip begins with no audio at 12:50 p.m. as an officer walks up the driveway of a home on Newburgh Avenue. You can see two dogs behind a gate down the driveway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a Buffalo Police report, officers were tasked to go door to door handing out a memo from the chief of E-District. A city spokesperson says the memos were part of a routine walking patrol to alert residents ahead of the 4th of July about illegal fireworks and unpermitted gatherings. In the video, you can see one of the dogs getting through the gate as the officer runs away. The officer runs up the front steps of the house, and the audio pipes in. Get down, said the officer. Its just after this moment that the officer shoots the dog on the staircase. Weve chosen not to air the exact moment. Other officers arrive soon after. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police report notes that dog control responded and took custody of the deceased dog. A city spokesperson says no case was opened, and the officers actions were deemed justified. In response to an interview request, the spokesperson sent a copy of the police report and this line from the Buffalo Police Departments Manual of Procedures: If the officer or another person is in the process of being attacked by an animal and is in imminent danger, the officer may discharge his/her firearm to ward off the attack. We spoke with retired Buffalo Police Captain Jeff Rinaldo for his take, and asked him if he thought the officers actions were justified. A hundred percent, Rinaldo said. I mean, unfortunately, nobody wants to have to do what that officer did in that situation. But you also cant run the risk of getting bit and seriously injured, especially with two dogs now chasing after you up the porch. Again, its easy to presume, as the owner of the pet, what the dog would have done. But its a different scenario when youre the police officer faced with that threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luis Angel Arroyo is the son of the dogs owner. He said in part that he feels this could have all been prevented if the officer didnt walk in the driveway and just used the front door. He wants to see better Buffalo Police policy when it comes to handling situations like this. He said Apollo was a 2-year-old American Bully, who was a big baby, energetic and playful. Arroyo told us the other dog in the video was not injured. Latest Local News Patrick Ryan is an award-winning reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2020. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) Antonio Barrera will remember his son, Anthony, as kind and selfless. He was a good kid, an excellent kid, Antonio said. He would give you his shirt off his back if he had to. His 24-year-old son was one of two men shot and killed during the early morning hours in the San Marcos Square on Saturday. A third person was also injured but is recovering. Anthony Barrera was shot and killed on Saturday, July 19, in San Marcos. (Courtesy Antonio Barrera) I still text him, Antonio said. Ive been texting good morning, good night, as if he were still here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Family is the most important foremost to us. Thats what he was taught. So he lived by it thats what we all live by, he continued. San Marcos police said the violence began with a fight between Anthony Barrera and another man, who police have not named, over that mans wife. Police said Anthony was dating the married woman. Others joined in, including 19-year-old Avery Saul Bowman, who police say stole Barreras necklace during the altercation. SMPD asked for the publics help to locate Bowman, who has been accused of capital murder. In a Tuesday update, police said Bowman was arrested. UPDATE: Second man arrested, charged in connection to San Marcos double homicide Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge said while Anthony was fighting Bowman, 19-year-old Jermiah Jayden Tobias allegedly got involved and shot a handgun that police believed had an altered trigger, allowing the weapon to fire automatically. About eight shots were fired, Standridge said. Police arrested Tobias Saturday night and charged him with two counts of capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to Hays County online jail records. As of Sunday, Tobias bond was set at $1.65 million. Antonio Barreras son, Anthony, was killed in a shooting in San Marcos (KXAN Photo/Sam Stark) Tobias was out of jail on bond at the time. He had previously been arrested on charges of alleged unlawful carrying of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance, police said. Two victims were shot in the head Anthony was pronounced dead at the scene, and Alek Pacheco, 20, later died at the hospital. Additionally, a third victim was grazed by a stray bullet. 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A father wants justice for his son, who was shot to death two years ago in Frayser. Larry Porterfield is angry, heartbroken, and hurt because his sons killers have not been caught. Memphis Police say the shooting that took the life of Barry Porterfield, 30, happened on June 6, 2023. Barry Porterfield My cousin from the grove, he came knocking on the door and woke me up, it was around 12 or 1, said Larry Porterfield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barry was shot in the 2500 block of Smith Ridge Cove. MPD said they responded to the scene just after 9 p.m., there were two people shot. One was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and the other victim Barry Porterfield died on the scene. Larry said that he hasnt been told much about his sons case, but what was shared has crushed him. Im left with a broken heart: Mom looks for answers after son killed outside Amazon facility He was shot, three people with automatic weapons, they was hiding in the shadows, they wasnt waiting for him, they was waiting for someone else, said Larry Porterfield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He walked up on some stuff they he didnt know nothing about that wasnt intended for him, they was out to kill somebody, if you got them men with three automatic weapons, they were intended to kill somebody and it look like they didnt care who, said Porterfield. He said that he was told that one of the gunmen even walked up to his son while he was on the ground, bleeding, and shot him again at close range and then ran away. They are not going to stop there, If you they got away with it, they are going to kill somebody elses child, said Porterfield. Police say that they are looking for six gunmen involved in this homicide. Barry Porterfield also leaves behind a teenage daughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you know who killed 30-year-old Barry Porterfield, you are urged to call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. Your tip could help put a dangerous criminal behind bars and $4,000 in your pocket. Remember, all calls are confidential. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. It's a good thing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is staying on top of the latest recalls, because knowing about new recalls impacts people's lives. The sooner you find out about an item that falls under a recall, the quicker you can get rid of it and keep your friends and family safe. "A recall is a method of removing or correcting products that are in violation of laws administered by the Food and Drug Administration," the FDA notes. They add that a recall is a voluntary action taken by manufacturers and distributors to protect the health of the public and keep them away "from items that offer a "risk of injury or gross deception or are otherwise defective." Now, the FDA has announced a chocolate spread recall due to salmonella contamination. According to the Mayo Clinic, salmonellosis "is a common bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract." The clinic adds that most people "develop diarrhea, fever and stomach (abdominal) cramps within 8 to 72 hours after exposure." The Cleveland Clinic adds that "salmonella is an infection with salmonella bacteria that causes diarrhea, fever and stomach pains." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recall is for Dubai chocolate spread, which is sold nationwide. World Market recalled its Emek Spread Pistachio Cacao Cream with Kadayif sold from June 11 to July 9, according to a press release from the FDA. The spread's jar is labeled with "Dubai" and contains similar ingredients to the Dubai chocolate bar, but with kadayif and pistachio paste. The product was also packaged in clear glass jar with the date code stamped on the top of the lid. Now, the recall has been raised to a Class 1 alert, which means a "reasonable probability" that injecting the spread could cause serious illness or even death, according to the FDA. The recall was announced after samples of the food item tested positive for salmonella, the FDA added. The good news is that no illnesses have been reported so far. Those who have the item are urged to throw it away as soon as possible or return it to World Market for a full refund. Related: FDA Announces Major Recall of Popular Deodorant FDA Announces Major Recall of Popular Chocolate Item first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 A video showing federal agents walking through an Inland Empire grocery store Monday morning prompted a call for answers by community advocates. The video shared by the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ICIJ) showed agents exiting an employees only area at the Stater Bros. location on West Holt Boulevard in Ontario. The incident prompted ICIJ Executive Director Javier Hernandez to ask why the agents were allowed into the store and expressed concerns over the Ontario Police Departments role in the operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stater Bros. issued a statement Monday afternoon regarding the incident. Unannounced, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents informed the Store Manager at our Ontario Stater Bros. Market that they were conducting surveillance on an individual at a nearby donut shop located within the same shopping plaza. According to the agents, the individual entered our store, prompting them to follow him inside, the statement reads. Federal agents are seen at a Stater Bros. in Ontario on July 21, 2025. (Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice) There were later unconfirmed reports that three people, including a U.S. citizen, had been detained at some point during the operation. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately release information about possible detainees. The Ontario Police Department also issued a statement, indicating they were responding to reports that a federal agent may have been assaulted, but had no further role after learning the agents were acting in an official capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This morning, at approximately 9:45 a.m., our officers responded to the possible assault of a federal law enforcement officer in the 500 block of West Holt Blvd. Upon arrival, our officers confirmed that the individuals involved were federal agents acting in an official capacity as they attempted to apprehend a wanted individual. This represented the entirety of our departments role in the situation, the Police Department said in the statement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Several non-profits in the Las Vegas valley are adjusting to losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in education funding after the Trump Administration put a freeze on some funding. The White House announced earlier this month that it was reviewing $6.8 billion in education funding for some after-school and English language learning programs. We believe that we need to give youth exposure to items, you never whats going to spark their interest, Yolanda Mationg, the chief development officer for the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Nevada, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are 13 Boys & Girls Club locations across the Las Vegas valley and they offer before-and-after-school programming for children from ages 5 to 18. Yet, a federal funding freeze has left them flatfooted. Im happy to say that at this time that we are not turning any members away. We do fundraising efforts to make up that gap, Mationg said. One of those major fundraising efforts is the 12th Annual Sneaker Ball taking place on Sept. 18 at the Donald W. Reynolds Clubhouse located at 2980 Robindale Road in Henderson. When asked how much the organization needs to fundraise to make up for the federal funding gap, Mationg said, Im looking to fundraise a million dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House previously said the pause is to review whether the funds align with President Donald Trumps policies. We have spent $3 trillion since 1980 on education in our country when this department was set up and our scores have continued to go down. We are not doing something right, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said on June 3 at a congressional hearing. The Trump Administration over the weekend unfroze $1.3 billion for after-school programs, which could be good news for After-School All-Stars Greater Las Vegas. The non-profits executive director Jodi Manzella said $1.5 million is being withheld, impacting programs at 13 Clark County School District schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nevada, held a press conference last Friday at After-School All-Stars, a non-profit she founded. This type of uncertainty. Are the funds there? Are they not there? Its incredibly disruptive. Its not a way to run our country and its certainly not a way to run an organization, Lee said. According to the City of Las Vegas, it wont be offering free after-school through its ReInvent program at seven CCSD elementary schools as long as the grant that funded it is frozen. In an email to 8 News Now, the Nevada Department of Education stated it was notified that federal funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers would be released Monday. That is the grant After-School All-Stars relies on to fund its programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Nevada Department of Education remains committed to providing timely updates to grant recipients and stakeholders as additional information becomes available, a spokeswoman for the Nevada Department of Education 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 KLAS. The Fred D. Thompson Federal Courthouse in Nashville (Photo: John Partipilo) A Tennessee law that bars adults from giving information to minors about legal, out-of-state abortions violates the First Amendment and cannot be enforced, a federal judge ruled Friday. Senior United States Circuit Judge Julia Gibbons called the 2024 law impermissible viewpoint discrimination, writing that it criminalizes only one side of the speech about abortion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tennessee law prohibits speech encouraging lawful abortion while allowing speech discouraging lawful abortion, wrote Gibbons, who sits on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals but was appointed to preside over the case in Nashville after several other federal judges recused themselves from the case. Democratic Rep. Aftyn Behn of Nashville (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) But, the ultimate fate of the law remains unsettled. In November, Tennessees Attorney General appealed a ruling that temporarily stopped the law from taking effect. That appeal remains pending with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, awaiting a decision. The law was passed with the backing of GOP lawmakers and Gov. Bill Lee in 2024, nearly two years after the states near-total abortion ban took effect. Since the ban, abortion rights advocates inside and out of Tennessee have provided information and funding to individuals seeking abortion in states where the procedure remains legal. The lawsuit was brought by state Rep. Aftyn Behn, a Nashville Democrat and social worker, who has publicly advocated for abortion rights, and Rachel Welty, a Nashville attorney who describes herself as an advocate for safe and healthy access to abortion care. They are represented in the case by Nashville attorneys Daniel Horwitz, Melissa Dix and Sarah Martin. The union representing local trash workers in Massachusetts scored a win, Monday, as a federal judge ruled in their favor. Republic Services was seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Teamsters Local 25, who in a court filing they accuse of engaging in unlawful strike activities. Some of those activities include engaging in violent and unlawful intimidation and coercion, making threats of physical harm and sexual assault, as well as engaging in theft and severe acts of vandalism damaging property, according to the filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge hearing the case denied Republic Services motion. Frankly, Im not surprised. We knew the allegations made by Republic did not justify any action by the federal court. As usual, Republic misled the court about our conduct. Maybe now Republic will come to its senses and come back to the bargaining table to resolve the strike, Tom Mari, President of Teamsters Local Union 25 said in a statement to Boston 25. We disagree with the Judges decision, a spokesperson for Republic Services said. The lawsuit was not dismissed because during the hearing, we informed the court that additional conduct has occurred since we filed our complaint. We look forward to our opportunity to present live testimony regarding the Teamsters unlawful conduct so the court may determine whether a preliminary injunction is warranted. Also today, a scheduled court hearing in Salem Superior Court was pushed back until tomorrow, as six impacted communities seek a court order to force Republic Services to resume operational standards. 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 NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) The Department of Homeland Security said it will flood New York City with immigration agents in response to a border patrol agent being shot Saturday night. The comment came during a briefing led by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, where there were updates on the investigation, and blame for the shooting was laid on NYC Mayor Eric Adams and other local officials who support Sanctuary City policies. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noem said the Border Patrol Agent remains in stable condition after being shot. The NYPD said he was off duty in Fort Washington Park with a friend when surveillance video shows he was approached by two men on scooters with guns in an apparent robbery attempt. The agent and the two men exchanged gunfire. One of the suspects, 21-year-old Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, an undocumented immigrant with an extensive criminal past, including recent arrests in NYC, was shot. Noem also confirmed the arrest of a second suspect, saying he was also in the country illegally. Make no mistake: This officer is in the hospital fighting for his life because of the policies of the mayor of the city and the city council and others in charge of keeping the public safe and refused to do so, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State However, Mayor Eric Adams has been one of the few officials in NYC who have favored changing New Yorks criminal justice system, and modifying NYCs sanctuary policies, which block local law enforcement from cooperating more with immigration authorities. Im very clear, and Ive always have been clear Stop to revolving into a system, go after the dangerous migrant and assign seekers who are here, and allow hard-working people who are in this city to go on with their lives, Adams said. In response to the shooting, Trump Administration Border Czar Tom Homan said there will be an immigration crackdown in New York City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to flood the zone, Homan said outline a plan to more aggressively go after undocumented criminals, but also pick up anyone else in the country without status regardless of criminal suspicion. So sanctuary cities get exactly what they dont want, more agents in the community. There has already been an increasingly aggressive approach by ICE around the Tri-State Area. They have raided job sites, approached children in parks, and arrested people just outside immigration court, even with asylum and green card cases still pending. PIX 11 News asked Press Secretary Noem about these arrests when she insisted the mass deportation efforts remain focused on criminals. Are you not undercutting your own argument when you go and arrest those other people? PIX 11s Henry Rosoff asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Absolutely not, Noem responded. We are targeting people who are perpetuating crimes in this country, or people who have removal orders who have gone through due process, and need to be removed from this country. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. There are lies, damn lies, and the Office for National Statistics. That is, of course, if you dont trust the crime stats coming out of the ONS, the nations collector of stats about all manner of subjects. I am one of them. There is a pervasive sense that Britain is going fast off the rails, and the sense that law and order has broken down creeps into everyday conversation. Balaclava-clad hoodlums nab dozens of phones a day. Foreign paedophiles avoid deportation while young mums get imprisoned for mean Facebook posts. Academics and politicians (Nigel Farage, following on from the Conservative shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Alex Burghart) warn about the threat of widespread civil conflict. And yet, Fraser Nelson, formerly of this parish, patiently shares the official crime survey statistics from the ONS that show a steep decline over the past 20 years. Theft, violence, even neighbourhood crimes have more than halved, with total reported crimes at over 12 million in 2005, now dropping to less than 6 million in 2024. That crimewave in full... pic.twitter.com/T2i1dH5Tla Fraser Nelson (@FraserNelson) July 21, 2025 What to do when the anecdotes, or the vibes as the kids say these days, clash with the evidence? Should we just trust the nations stats maestros, and ignore the impending sense of doom that feels all around us? Jeff Bezos, the genius behind Amazon, has a very useful heuristic for this sort of question: The thing I have noticed is when the anecdotes and the data disagree, the anecdotes are usually right. Theres something wrong with the way you are measuring it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With this insight in mind, Adam Wren (an inspiring campaigner behind fundraising to pay for court transcripts in the Pakistani rape gang cases) has interrogated the data. In a thread on X, he systematically dismantles much of the methodology behind the ONSs work. Wren points out that the official crime survey uses super output areas which are areas defined to have roughly equal population sizes. This is to normalise outputs and be stable across time. Wren explains that whilst this might work for other types of statistical reporting, such as heart attacks (which might be expected to be more uniform) crime tends to be focused on some specific geography. Indeed, he says that: 80 per cent of crime in any given area will occur on certain streets or hotspots like pubs, trains or bus stations. According to Wren, the ONS data doesnt even measure crimes against businesses, shoplifting, or criminal damage, despite every small supermarket in London pushing both its staff and its produce behind horrible plastic barriers to prevent more crimes. It is in these areas where Britain has seen an explosion of vicious, senseless violence and other offences. So it would be a mistake to fixate on whether crime has gone up or gone down. It doesnt matter how safe you feel if you live your life in a peaceful, lovely village 364 days a year, but on the one occasion you go to a big city to visit a theatre or restaurant your phone is nicked and some recent arrival threatens you with a zombie knife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If I had to put my finger on it, I put a lot of the dread down to the changing nature of violence in Britain in the 21st century. Back in the day, you were much more likely to get punched in the pub. But you also knew that you were going to that sort of place and that certain behaviour would lead to a fight. You might even want that. If you didnt want to get into a fight, you just went to a different pub. And because it was rules-based within communities, people knew where the line was and that line was socially policed. That kind of social violence has now largely disappeared, replaced by: maybe Ill get stabbed for asking someone to put headphones on. The violence we see now in Britain is more arbitrary, more random, and more spontaneous. Westminster is always the last to see social trends. But the febrile scenes from Southport and Ballymena to Epping not to mention unreported crimes will eventually make themselves known, even if politicians dont want to see it. 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 head of FEMAs Urban Search and Rescue branch, which runs a network of teams stationed across the country that can swiftly respond to natural disasters, resigned on Monday. Ken Pagureks departure comes less than three weeks after a delayed FEMA response to catastrophic flooding in central Texas caused by bureaucratic hurdles put in place by the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the disaster response agency. Pagurek told colleagues at FEMA that the delay was the tipping point that led to his voluntary departure after months of frustration with the Trump administrations efforts to dismantle the agency, according to two sources familiar with his thinking. It took more than 72 hours after the flooding for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to authorize the deployment of FEMAs search and rescue network. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After spending more than a decade with FEMAs urban search and rescue system, including about a year as its chief, Pagurek said in his resignation letter, obtained by CNN, that he was returning to the Philadelphia Fire Department and did not mention the Texas flooding. This decision was not made lightly, and after much reflection and prayer, it is the right path for me at this time, Pagurek wrote. I have been continually inspired by the unwavering dedication, unmatched courage, and deep-seated commitment we share for saving lives and bringing hope in the face of devastation. The Department of Homeland Security has defended its response to the Texas floods. A department spokesperson stressed that Noem initially tapped into other DHS assets, including rescue teams from the US Coast Guard and Border Patrol, and over time, as a need for FEMA resources arose, those requests received the secretarys approval. It is laughable that a career public employee, who claims to serve the American people, would choose to resign over our refusal to hastily approve a six-figure deployment contract without basic financial oversight, another DHS spokesman said in a statement about Pagureks resignation. Were being responsible with taxpayer dollars, thats our job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some FEMA officials have balked at sweeping changes to FEMA under the Trump administration, more than a dozen agency sources have told CNN, which they believe have stripped the agency of its autonomy and undermined its ability to respond to disasters quickly and efficiently. Pagurek, who declined to comment, joins dozens of high-ranking officials to leave FEMA since Trump took office, as the agency undergoes a major overhaul and faces plummeting morale and a brain drain from the departure of longtime leaders. Established by Congress in the early 1990s, FEMAs urban search and rescue system, or US&R, includes a network of 28 highly trained state-managed teams stationed across the country, ready to rapidly deploy to a wide range of disasters from collapsed buildings to catastrophic storms. Annual congressional funding ensures these task forces are equipped for the nations worst emergencies and paid when FEMA deploys them though local fire departments and emergency management offices house and staff the crews and maintain their readiness. Cost controls As CNN first reported, FEMA leaders were unable to quickly mobilize some critical resources, including these elite teams, in the crucial first hours of the Texas floods. The holdup stemmed from a new rule imposed by Noem, who continues to require her personal approval for every contract and grant over $100,000 before funds can be released a threshold that FEMA officials called pennies during a disaster response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some FEMA teams, which are involved in large area searches, water rescues and finding human remains, didnt arrive in Texas and begin field work until a week after the flood. President Donald Trump has brushed off questions about Noems leadership during the floods, praising the federal response in Texas, and defended the plan to reduce FEMAs footprint and shift more responsibility for disasters to the states. Texas, which has one of the most robust emergency management systems in the country, managed the disaster largely on its own, deploying more than 2,100 people across 20 state agencies, Gov. Greg Abbotts office said. While Pagurek privately expressed frustration with recent changes at FEMA, his resignation letter expressed confidence in the ongoing strength, capability, and leadership of the Branch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pagurek also reflected on the many disasters he responded to during his time at FEMA. The bonds formed in the heat of disaster are unlike any other. I will always hold close the camaraderie, shared purpose, and deep sense of family that define the US&R System, he wrote. In 2021, CNN interviewed Pagurek at the scene of the Surfside condominium collapse near Miami, his exhaustion and emotion evident after hours spent leading search and rescue teams through the wreckage. Our job is to do the best that we can as quickly as possible, he said at the time. I love helping people. I love serving others. New internal process FEMA is now rolling out a new internal review process aimed at speeding up the approval of lifesaving resources during disasters, according to multiple internal memos obtained by CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent days, FEMA has established the Disaster Funding Adjudication Task Force to process and track more urgent contracts and mission assignment requests during emergencies, the memos show. Disaster-specific means related to a specific (Presidential Major Disaster Declaration) and requires approval immediately or within hours to prevent delays in the delivery of financial or life-sustaining assistance, one memo states. Multiple agency officials told CNN the task force was already in development before the Texas floods, as FEMA works to fulfill its rapid response mission while complying with Noems new rules. However, the task force will still ultimately route those requests through acting FEMA administrator David Richardson installed by Noem after she fired his predecessor in May and then to Noem for her personal approval, the memos state, raising questions about whether the updated process will truly speed up disaster funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DHS keeps talking about reducing hurdles but at every turn theyve made it more difficult for the agency and the people left here to do our job, a longtime FEMA official told CNN. Its just a shotgun approach to guidance that we are constantly reacting to, and then trying to build internal process on the fly, to make sure we can answer the bell when its rung. The DHS spokesman questioned whether the memos are actionable policy. Any bureaucrat with fingers to type and two brain cells to rub together can draft an internal memo suggesting changes to niche bureaucratic process, the spokesman wrote. This story has been updated with additional details. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Nashville police are investigating after a woman was hit by a vehicle and left for dead on Interstate 40 during the early morning hours of July 22. Police said in a news release the unidentified female left a gray SUV and began walking on the right shoulder of I-40 westbound near Old Hickory Boulevard around 12:30 a.m. before she was hit by a burgundy sedan that did not stop. After the first crash, the woman was hit by multiple vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One witness stayed at the scene until investigators arrived. The crash closed the interstate for several hours. Police are searching for the burgundy sedan. They said they believe it will have heavy front end damage, windshield and possible roof damage. The medical examiner's office is working to identify the woman. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville police seek burgundy car in fatal I-40 hit-and-run A man living in the U.S. illegally was arrested earlier this month after he was stopped by Florida Highway Patrol in Palm Beach County for speeding and was determined to be wanted for murder in Guatemala, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said on Monday. Calixto Lopez Domingo, 32, of West Palm Beach, was cited for speeding and driving without a license on July 10 after he was stopped by a trooper on Interstate 95 south near 6th Avenue South in Lake Worth Beach, according to Palm Beach County court records. The traffic citations said he was driving 89 mph on the interstate, 24 mph above the speed limit, and had never been issued a license. The department did not provide further information in its post on X Monday about the allegations against Lopez Domingo in Guatemala. He was taken to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for processing and removal from the United States, the post said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department and FHP did not respond to emails seeking further information about the case. Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state officials in recent months have touted Florida Highway Patrol troopers as the first in the country to be delegated authority to enforce federal immigration laws and as an agency that is setting an example for how other states could enforce President Donald Trumps promise of mass deportations. In February, DeSantis announced that all 67 county sheriffs in Florida had entered into 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which allow local officers to act with some immigration authority. He said the agreements would lead to street-level enforcement. FHP entered into their own agreement earlier that month. Dave Kerner, FLHSMVs executive director, said at a May news conference in Tampa alongside DeSantis that over 1,800 state troopers across all counties were credentialed to act with immigration authority under the agreement. As of that day, Kerner said FHP had assisted with or been the lead arresting agency of more than 1,000 immigrants living in the country illegally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis announced at the Tampa news conference that more than 100 troopers had recently been sworn in as Special Deputy U.S. Marshals, which he said is even over and above the 287(g) agreement. That allows them to execute federal warrants and remove dangerous criminal aliens from our communities, he said, and conduct stand-alone operations without federal partners. What we have now with FHP is that they are able to conduct immigration operations wholly independent of the federal government. And theres no one else in the country where theyre doing that, DeSantis said. These guys now at FHP, they can do operations, they can get illegals and they can do everything that an immigration officer would do up until the point where they get processed for removal. Kerners agency has recently highlighted numerous arrests of immigrants that resulted from traffic stops. Last week, the agency said in a post on X that FHP arrested an alleged member of the MS-13 gang after a traffic stop in Wakulla County and taken to an ICE facility to be processed and deported. Last month, a routine traffic stop in Gadsden County led to the arrest of three men, one of whom was living in the country illegally, for allegedly trafficking a minor who was reported missing, the agency said in another post on X. Hundreds of immigrants have been taken into custody in Central Florida alone this year after being stopped for minor traffic violations, a recent Orlando Sentinel investigation found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Orlando Sentinels analysis shows 55% of ICE detainees in Lake, Osceola and Seminole County jails earlier this year were arrested during vehicle stops. Less than 20% were charged with violent crimes. Officers who stop people for minor infractions now routinely run their names, and those of their passengers, through a federal database to search for immigration warrants filed against them. Since January, federal authorities have been inputting thousands more warrants into the National Crime Information Center, local officials told the Orlando Sentinel, making matches far more common. Orlando immigrants path to deportation: Often, it starts with a traffic infraction Information from the Orlando Sentinel was used in this report. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) An additional man was arrested and charged following a shootout at Woodlawn High School earlier this month. The shooting, which took place on July 12 shortly after 7 pm, left one woman injured and at least seven vehicles shot into. 1 injured, multiple vehicles shot into at Woodlawn High School Truman Fitzgerald, with Birmingham Police Department, said the shootout was between two groups in the back parking lot of Woodlawn High School during Woodlawn Alumni Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hours after the shooting, officers with BPDs Special Enforcement Team initiated a traffic stop at the Arkadelphia Road/I-59N entrance ramp and arrested four suspects in connection with the shooting. Tuesday morning, Birmingham police announced a fifth man, 29-year-old Dakawuan Collins, was charged in the shooting. Collins was taken into custody by members of the Birmingham Crime Reduction Team on Monday and placed in the Jefferson County Jail. He is charged with 1st degree assault. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A Filipino American family is still reeling after a violent hate crime nearly claimed the life of a husband and father. Now, more than two years later, they are demanding justice as his attacker awaits sentencing. Lets be clear this was not a random act; This was a hate crime. Christian Lenzt chose to target my father because he is Filipino American, Phillip Quindara said. Our lives were shattered by a senseless and violent act of hate, Leonida Quindara said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the Quindara family, the trauma is still fresh. You were almost successful in killing me, The victim, Amadeo Quindara, said to his attacker in court on Monday morning. You waited until my son left the house, and thats when you came and attacked me. In May 2023, 77-year-old Quindara was beaten in his garage by his neighbor, Christian Lentz, in what prosecutors say was a racially motivated attack. I heard a moaning in the garage and as soon as I opened my garage door, I saw my husband lying in a pool of blood, Leonida Quindara explained. The injuries were serious, including a brain hematoma, but the emotional scars run even deeper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My dad is not the same person he was before. He was once an active, joyful, and engaged man, Phillip Quindara said. He no longer leaves the house without fear. He no longer enjoys the simple activities that brought him so much joy, and we as a family no longer feel safe. You took away my dreams. You took away my freedom, Amadeo Quindara said. Our rights to feel safe in our own home and the right to live without fear, said Leonida Quindara. In April, Lentz pleaded guilty but mentally ill to residential burglary motivated by bias or hatred and abuse of an older person. He told the court he was in a manic episode at the time of the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This mental illness defense is an excuse for his violent and racist actions, Henry Quindara, the victims son, said. Lentz is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 4 at 9 a.m. Lentzs defense attorney is asking the court to prioritize treatment over punishment, saying this case highlights an urgent need for better mental health resources. Lentz issued an apology in court not only to the Quindara family but to the entire community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. The final victim in a fire that killed 10 residents at Fall Rivers Gabriel House assisted living facility earlier this month has been identified as 70-year-old Halina Lawler. Nearly 50 firefighters responded to the July 13 fire shortly before 9:40 p.m. and found flames blowing out the front door of the building, which housed about 70 residents on Oliver Street. Many of the homes residents some of which had mobility issues screamed for help out of its windows, and police officers and neighbors helped rescue many of them. In addition to the 10 residents who died, 30 residents were injured and the rest were displaced. As of last week, all the displaced residents have been provided new living arrangements and five residents were still hospitalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides Lawler, the other residents who died in the fire have been identified as: Brenda Cropper, 66 Joseph Wilansky, 77 Rui Albernaz, 64 Ronald Codega, 61 Margaret Duddy, 69 Robert King, 78 Kim Mackin, 71 Richard Rochon, 78 Eleanor Willett, 86 The Bristol County District Attorneys Office has described the fire as being accidental, but the deadly incident has led to the discovery of other problems at Gabriel House. Residents claimed the sprinkler system at the facility was working inconsistently during the fire, and police body camera footage seemed to substantiate those claims. But on Monday, the facilitys owners told MassLive that the sprinkler system was checked quarterly, and that it passed inspection just five days before the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, MassLive investigation of conditions at Gabriel House found that residents in wheelchairs lived on the third floor of the building with a broken elevator for prolonged periods of time. Residents, family members and documents provided by the city detailed a litany of security and safety issues that plagued the home, including cockroach infestations and an apparent absence of emergency planning. The fire also exposed long-simmering tensions between the Fall River firefighters union and Mayor Paul Coogan over staffing at the fire department, but the two parties reached an agreement to bring on more new firefighters last week. As official inquiries into the fire continue, Morgan & Morgan the nations largest personal injury law firm announced last week that one of the homes residents had hired the firm to do its own investigation into the fire. Gabriel House opened in 1999 and offered services to seniors who cannot afford the high end of assisted living. Staff was on site 24 hours a day, and the facility had a security monitoring system. Deadly Gabriel House fire Read the original article on MassLive. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The Dayton Police Department has released its summer update for statistics for murder, non-negligent manslaughter and homicides in 2025 so far. The data is based off of reports from Jan. 1 to July 17 annually. The data shows a pretty consistent trend. LeAnne Marie McPherson, WDTN 2025 was the highest year in recent records for murder and non-negligent manslaughter, with 23 victims. BMV fees increasing in 2026: How much more youll pay LeAnne Marie McPherson, WDTN 2025 and 2022 both saw a peak of 18 victims of homicide with a firearm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DPD also said there have been 41 reports of stolen cars within the East Patrol District in the last month. Half the stolen vehicles were left running or had keys inside. It should go without saying, but please do not leave your keys inside your car and do not leave your car running while it is unattended, wrote the DPD. For information on the Dayton Peace Campaign, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Almost time to get up for school. Many Delaware public schools will be opening their doors by the end of August with that last Friday off for a long Labor Day weekend or within the first week of September. So get those supplies together. Remember to shuffle through drawers to find what you don't need to buy again. Plan your route to the bus stop or drop-off. Check whether your school already has an open house, orientation or block party on the books. And, of course, be ready to take those first-day-of-school photos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have mapped out when the first day of school will fall for Delaware school districts: Brandywine Aug. 25 The first Monday in August will be the first day for Brandywine's first to sixth grades, freshmen and high school seniors, according to the district calendar. It also serves as kindergarten orientation day, though times vary across schools. By the following day, Aug. 26, all K-12 students report to school. And preschool gets things started Sept. 2. ICYMI: Early August is also packed with new family orientations, meet-and-greets, school take-a-peek nights and more. Colonial Aug. 25 Monday will be the first day for kindergarteners, sixth grade and high school freshmen, as Colonial begins a slightly staggered start. By Aug. 26, all students must follow suit. Preschool will start after Labor Day, come Sept. 2. Laurel Aug. 25 Monday will welcome all kindergarten and second graders, as well as fifth, seventh and ninth grades in Laurel School District. Then, the following day they will bring in all pre-K to high school students across the Sussex County system. New Castle County Vo-Tech Aug. 25 Vo-Tech's first week of school will also come at a staggered start. By the last Monday in August, just high school freshmen and seniors will attend. Then, Aug. 26 will see only sophomores and juniors, while seniors will see asynchronous learning. Everyone is due to school by Aug. 27. POLYTECH Aug. 25 This last August Monday will be the first school day for all students at POLYTECH High School. There's also a "9th Grade Academy" event for freshmen on Aug. 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taxes: How are your taxes changing in New Castle County? Delaware schools take reassessment boosts Red Clay Consolidated Aug. 25 Aug. 25 will mark the first day of school for Red Clay's Early Years Program, first to sixth graders, as well as high school freshmen. Come Aug. 26, everyone reports to school. Kindergartners get a staggered start, with last names A-L coming Aug. 25 and 26, while M-Z kick things off Aug. 27 and 28. Seaford Aug. 27 The last Wednesday in August marks Day No. 1 for just pre-K, kindergarten, third, sixth and ninth grade. By the following day, Aug. 28, all students should be reporting for duty in Seaford. Sussex Technical Aug. 26 On the Sussex County Vocational Technical school calendar, Aug. 25 will open doors to just freshmen. Then, they can expect all other high school students to join the ranks once they've settled in, the following day. Woodbridge Aug. 25 Freshmen will see their first day of school Aug. 25, on Woodbridge's calendar, joined by grades first to sixth and the first half of kindergartners. The next day, Aug. 26, will see seventh and eighth grades, alongside the rest of high school students, head to class. By Aug. 27, the second half of kindergartners will report. Delmar Aug. 28 The last week in August brings a couple back-to-school nights for high school and middle school, while a "transition day" is planned for only fifth grade and high school freshmen to report to school on Aug. 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then by September's first Tuesday, Sept. 2, all grades must report from the beach. Jeison Gonzalez, a fourth grade student, works at his desk at North Georgetown Elementary School in Georgetown in 2016. Milford, Sept. 2 Milford has the first Tuesday of September on the calendar for first day of school for all students, K-12. Lake Forest Sept. 2 Lake Forest is hosting a half-day "transition day" for kindergarten, fourth and sixth grades, as well as high school freshmen Aug. 28 while all other grades report the next week, on Sept. 2, to mark the first day of school for all grades. Caesar Rodney Sept. 2 With the last week of August packing in various teacher development, Sept. 2 will mark the first day of school for Caesar Rodney students. Appoquinimink Sept. 2 The last week in August will offer opportunities for new parent orientation, freshman open houses, meet-the-teacher events and more, per Appo's calendar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, Appoquinimink is getting things started with a first day of school on the first Tuesday of September for grades first to ninth, alongside kindergartners with last names starting with A to L. The next day, Sept. 3, will welcome the rest, as well as just kindergartners with last names from M to Z. Sept. 8 will bring in preschool. New schools: Major school projects across Delaware see funding from final legislative push Capital Sept. 2 The first September Tuesday will mark the first day of school for Capital's kindergarten through sixth graders, as well as high school freshmen. The remaining high schoolers will stagger by one day, heading to school by Sept. 3. Preschool starts Sept. 8, according to the calendar. A sign in one of the hallways at the Bayard School in Wilmington welcomes students back to classes. Christina Sept. 2 Sept. 2 will welcome Christina's grades one to six, alongside high school freshmen, and an orientation for kindergarten. The first day of school for the rest of K-12 comes the next day. Sept. 8 marks the first day for preschools. Indian River Sept. 2 Grades kindergarten, sixth grade and high school freshman, alongside the Howard T. Ennis school, start out the school year for Indian River on Sept. 2. Then, the first day for the rest of K-12 comes Sept. 3. However, preschool will begin Sept. 8. Smyrna Sept. 2 This first Tuesday in September will mark the first pupil day for kindergarten to high school freshman in Smyrna, while sophomores, juniors and seniors start asynchronous for that day. Then, per the calendar, the remaining students and early childhood pupils report the following day. Cape Henlopen Sept. 3 After multiple Meet The Teacher nights and more, the first Wednesday in September is set to be the first day for students to report back to Cape Henlopen schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICYMI: Delaware joins suit against Trump administration for $6.8 billion in frozen education funds Have a story? Contact Kelly Powers at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on Twitter @kpowers01. (This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Almost that time: When is Delaware's first day of school? New Mexico health officials confirmed Santa Fe County's first case of measles Tuesday, the ninth county to report a case since the outbreak began in mid-February.(Conceptual image/Getty Photos) New Mexico health officials Tuesday confirmed Santa Fes first case of measles: an unvaccinated child who contracted the virus during travel. The latest case brings the states total number of cases to 96, since the outbreak began in mid-February. Health officials also warned that people may have been exposed at an Albuquerque Amusement park last week during the following times and date: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 11 a.m. 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 17 at Cliffs Amusement Park at 4800 Osuna Road NW. Santa Fe makes the ninth county with identified measles cases, joining Chaves, Curry, Dona Ana, Eddy, Lea, Luna, San Juan and Sandoval counties. New Mexico Department of Health officials urged any people recently at the location to check their vaccination statuses and report any symptoms that develop in the next three weeks to health care providers. Every new case, including those that are a result of travel elsewhere, is a reminder that measles is a highly contagious virus, NMDOH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Miranda Durham said in a statement. Thankfully New Mexicans are responding to the call to get a measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, the best defense against measles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health care providers say the vaccine is the only effective prevention against the spread of the highly contagious respiratory virus. Measles symptoms can develop between one to three weeks from exposure and include fever, cough, red eyes and a spotted red rash usually spreading across the face and across the body. People can spread measles in the days before and after symptoms appear. Severe complications from measles, including pneumonia, occur in about one in five cases. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio (WTRF) A high school in Ohio will become the first in the country to receive a decommissioned Air Force Thunderbird Jet. The event marks the first time the U.S. Air Force has ever provided an authentic aircraft to be permanently displayed outside a school. People in Florida stop dinner, grab tools to rescue 4 involved in plane crash The Union Local Afterburners, the local committee which petitioned to obtain the jet, said they worked to bring the aircraft to Union Local High School in Belmont as a reminder of American military service, aviation history, and community spirit, according to a press release issued by the school district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its also a fitting symbol for the schools mascot: Union Local High School is, quite literally, the Home of the Jets. An F-16 aircraft from the U.S. Air Force takes off in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Feb. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) The committee said it had been trying to get the jet since 2018, when they had initially submitted their request. The Air Force approved the request in 2021, setting the stage for years of preparation and fundraising, according to the release. The United States Air Force has never given a Thunderbird out to the public, Dirk Davis, the president of the Union Local Afterburners, was quoted as saying in the release. This has always gone to the military bases and the went to state museums. Union local was lucky enough. We applied and we got it. Like winning the lottery. The retired F-16 will now be transported to Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, where its engine and seats will be removed in preparation for safe, long-term display at the school. Construction of an 18-foot pedestal to support the jet has already been completed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Bangladesh air force jet crashes into a school in Dhaka, killing at least 27 people The aircraft is expected to arrive and be installed on campus in the spring of 2026. This is more than just a plane, its a symbol of perseverance, patriotism, and pride for the students and the entire community, Union Local Afterburners committee member Pete Busack said. The entire project was funded solely through donations collected by the Afterburners organization, which included contributions from alumni, community members, and local businesses. No public or school funds were used. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Getty Images) A criminal investigation into the fatal 2013 police shooting of an unarmed Black man in Fife will be reopened under Washingtons new review process for cases where law enforcement has used lethal force. This is the first such case the states nascent Office of Independent Investigations has sent to prosecutors to take another look at. In May 2013, Leonard Thomas mother called 911 after they got into a dispute over his four-year-old son, according to court documents. When police arrived, Thomas, 30, holed up inside his house with his son and refused to leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lengthy standoff ensued with a SWAT team. He repeatedly told police to leave. Authorities told Thomas to let his son go. He refused, saying the boy was in no danger. He eventually agreed to let his mother take his son, but officers deployed explosives to breach the homes back door, shooting his dog as they entered. He lurched for his son, who authorities repeatedly called a hostage. Officer Brian Markert, a Lakewood police sniper, shot Thomas with a .308-caliber rifle in the lower abdomen, according to court records. This was despite Thomas saying he didnt have a weapon. After an investigation by police across Pierce County, prosecutors found the fatal shooting justified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officer Markert, an expert marksman, did what was necessary to protect a child, Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said at the time. In 2017, a federal court jury awarded Thomas parents and son more than $15 million after they sued the cities of Lakewood and Fife, as well as specific officers. After an appeal, a settlement dropped the payout to $12.5 million. At trial, Markert had claimed he shot Thomas out of fear for the child. Critics of the officers said that theyd taken an overly militaristic approach in responding to the incident. Leonard Thomas father, Fred Thomas, serves as co-chair of the Office of Independent Investigations advisory board, which helps guide the offices hiring and policy decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To avoid a conflict of interest, the agency handed off the review of Thomas death to a third-party organization. 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, Roger Rogoff, director of the Office of Independent Investigations, said in a statement. 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. One of the officers accused of escalating the situation before Thomas death, Mike Wiley, later shot and killed a driver during a traffic stop in 2020. The city of Lakewood settled a civil case over the drivers death for $8 million. Pierce County prosecutors declined to charge Wiley. Wiley is now the Lakewood Police Departments training coordinator, city spokesperson Brynn Grimley said. Markert is in the patrol division. The commander of the SWAT team that killed Thomas, Mike Zaro, retired in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grimley otherwise declined to comment on the Office of Independent Investigations referral to prosecutors. The state Legislature created the Office of Independent Investigations in 2021 in the wake of widespread protests around the U.S. over the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Supporters saw it as necessary to avoid the perception that police were investigating fellow officers involved in deadly incidents. It took years to get the office off the ground to investigate new cases, which the agency started taking on in December. But since 2023, the offices investigators have also accepted requests from the public to review older cases when police used deadly force and new evidence has been discovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not long after, Thomas mother, Annalesa Thomas, asked the agency to open a new criminal investigation into her sons death. The civil lawsuit over Thomass killing turned up evidence that warranted a new criminal investigation, former King County Superior Court Judge William Downing determined as a third-party reviewer from JAMS, formerly known as Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services. Rogoff also used to serve on the King County Superior Court bench. An agency spokesperson said Rogoff and Downing had no contact during the review process. What exact evidence Downing was referring to is unclear. The Office of Independent Investigations declined to share most case files as the inquiry is active. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case now goes to the Pierce County prosecutors office, which declined to charge the officers involved in Thomas death in 2013. Like any officer-involved fatal incident referral, the Prosecuting Attorney and experienced [deputy prosecuting attorneys] will be reviewing the case, requesting any follow-up that may be needed, and then making a charging decision after a full review, spokesperson Adam Faber said Monday. The Office of Independent Investigations is reviewing nine other cases. Lawmakers this legislative session cut the fledgling teams budget, leaving advocates worried it could lose momentum. But Rogoff has said he still expects his agency to expand. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) With the homeless population growing in Wichita Falls, one local non-profit wants to bring those numbers down by building tiny homes for homeless veterans. As a Vietnam veteran and vice Chairman of Homes for Freedom, Kenny Reynolds knows the importance of showing support for those who put their lives on the line for our freedom. After meeting several homeless veterans in our city, he knew he had to do something to help. It really disturbs us that we have veterans on the street, under bridges, behind houses, in cardboard boxes. Theres 85 to 100 that we know of in this area. Theres more than that. They just said they were not willing to talk about it yet. And I for one, I dont think thats right. I dont think we should have veterans on the street, Reynolds said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So Reynolds got to work. First, he received a lot, free of charge from the city, then got to building, and once its complete, the veteran they choose to move in wont have to worry about a thing. All appliances obviously, but also all the furnishings that come out, a recliner or a TV. A bedroom will have the bed and a nightstand there, and were hanging things on it. We have a bathroom in there that they can literally roll into it. Take a shower. Its large enough that you spin it around in there with a wheelchair if that need be, Reynolds said. But Reynolds said he cant do this alone. These shells cost us about $13,500 each if anybody so inclined wed be happy to visit with you. And then from there theres a lot a lot to it to finish the interiors, Reynolds said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reynolds said that theyll build the next one on the same lot once this tiny home is finished. Reynolds said he hopes the first home will be complete and ready to move into around Veterans Day, but depending on donations, he can have it finished sooner. If thats something you would like to help with, click here to make a donation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) Vermonts Fish & Wildlife Department is urging the public to continue reporting information through the wild turkey brood survey. Anyone that sees a flock can fill out the survey and report their findings. Specific details, like where the turkeys were seen, could help Fish & Wildlife monitor the wild turkey population. Vermont Fish and Wildlifes turkey biologist Toni Mikula says this information helps us assess the impacts of spring weather on the survival of poults and adult turkeys which is important in the management of turkeys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 286 reports were completed by mid-July, according to Mikula in one release. This puts the team right on track to meet our goal. By mid-July, we had 286 reports, which puts us right on track to meet our goal of 1,000 reports, but only if people keep sending them in until the end of August. Although you may not see many poults, its just as important for us to know about lone hens, especially after last Mays cold, rainy weather. Those interested in filling out this survey can do so 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 ABC22 & FOX44. Florida law enforcement said it is investigating a business for allegedly advertising a sexualized performance to children. Attorney General James Uthmeier has launched an investigation into a Pride Tea Dance event in Vero Beach, Florida, issuing a subpoena to Linda Moore, the Vice Mayor and owner of the Kilted Mermaid. The investigation centers around a performance that took place last month, which was reportedly advertised on social media as all ages welcome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uthmeiers office said it is examining whether the event violated Florida laws. In Florida, we dont sacrifice the innocence of children for the perversions of some demented adults, said Attorney General James Uthmeier. The event allegedly featured adult performers in revealing attire and burlesque outfits interacting with children. The Attorney Generals office has issued subpoenas to obtain surveillance footage, employee schedules, and documents related to the performers and attendees of the event. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Florida arrest sparks debate over use of force Lawmakers and attorneys are raising concerns over a violent arrest in Jacksonville involving the Sheriffs Office, where deputies were seen punching a man during a traffic stop in February. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office has released body-camera footage of the incident, maintaining that the officers involved did not commit any criminal acts. The suspect, 22-year-old William McNeil, also captured video of the encounter, which shows him arguing with officers before one breaks his window, punches him, and pulls him from the car, hitting him again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There absolutely was force used by the arresting officers and yes that force is ugly. Just because that force is ugly does not mean its unlawful, said Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters. The incident began when an officer pulled McNeil over for not having his lights on in the rain. McNeil then locked himself inside the vehicle as the officer repeatedly ordered him to exit the car. In the police report, an officer claimed McNeil was reaching for a knife, a claim that McNeils lawyers deny. McNeil states that the arrest left him with a chipped tooth and wounds requiring nine stitches. Despite the deputies being cleared of criminal charges, an internal investigation into their conduct is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The release of the body-camera footage and the ongoing internal investigation highlight the complexity of the incident, as differing narratives emerge from the videos and statements involved. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Florida sheriffs' deputies will soon begin to detain undocumented immigrants, and officials say they will need more detention space to hold them all but they're still being blocked by the feds. At a July 22 meeting of the State Board of Immigration Enforcement, Director Larry Keefe said all county sheriff's offices and departments will have gone through immigration training and will be able to arrest immigrants who are in the country illegally, an authorization that has already been used by Florida Highway Patrol troopers to detain people in traffic stops. "Right now, the national strategy is to do everything we can, as led by Florida ... to crank up the numbers in regard to arrest and apprehension and detention to influence voluntary departure decision making by illegal aliens," Keefe said, referring to what's also called "self-deportation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the need for detention space will be "even more work, more acute," Keefe said even as Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he doesn't want to be responsible for holding immigrants for months on end. In images released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, people are seen arrested in Florida as part of "Operation Tidal Wave," a joint ICE-local law enforcement crackdown on undocumented immigrants in April 2025. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Florida law enforcement groups have been "at loggerheads" with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over federal jail standards, which has prevented local jails from being able to be used as detention facilities. Judd, chair of the State Immigration Enforcement Council, voiced concerns about these bureaucratic roadblocks in previous council meetings, saying federal standards which he called "ridiculous at best and insane at worst" are slowing them down. More: 600-plus local law enforcement agencies are partnering with ICE: See if yours is one of them Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My biggest fear is we train up these different police departments and sheriff's offices, and they're eager and excited to go out here and detain these folks ... it's like, quite frankly, shooting fish in a barrel," Judd said. And "when we put the pedal to the metal and get up to the speed limit, there is no way in God's green earth they can handle this capacity," Judd added. "The president needs to know, until they stand up a lot of housing ... the state of Florida will overwhelm them easily in one day because they're already at their max capacity." Judd also said the state needs more immigration judges and the Florida Immigration Response Center needs more support because it can't keep up with the number of phone calls. The call center provides immigration-related information for law enforcement. Gov. Ron DeSantis, who also attended the meeting, said the state has the capacity to expand South Florida's Alligator Alcatraz and open Camp Blanding in Starke for additional detention space, but called them "processing centers." The people detained shouldn't be there for a long time because they're expeditiously deported, he explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What I don't want to do is babysit people for six months, that's not what our role is," DeSantis said. The state is also still waiting on federal authorization to use National Guard Judge Advocate General (JAG) officers as immigration judges, DeSantis said. On July 1, during President Donald Trump's visit to Alligator Alcatraz, he told Florida leaders he would approve the decision. "At the end of the day, the ability to house and process these illegals is the responsibility of the federal government," DeSantis said. "We've gone above and beyond in Florida to assist its mission because we think its really important for our state and for our country. "But they absolutely are going to need to take all that massive amount of money they just got and be able to provide better ability to hold, process and deport illegals totally separate from anything our state agencies are doing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration advocates, Democrats and environmental activists have denounced Alligator Alcatraz, the facility in the Everglades, since its inception. Most recently, on July 21, a group of 22 state legislators called upon the governor to rescind Executive Order 23-03, the immigration emergency order that DeSantis used to seize control of the land to create Alligator Alcatraz. "This order is politically motivated, outdated, and a misuse of executive power. Its draining resources from real emergencies like hurricane prep and disaster response just to enforce an extreme anti-immigrant agenda that is unethical and on shaky legal ground," wrote Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, on X. At the July 22 immigration board meeting, members also approved two resolutions. One approved adding perimeters to the grant application process for reimbursement to local law enforcement for immigration-related costs, and the other was on data collection, including how many have been charged under the new state laws and the outcomes of their cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Board of Immigration Enforcement, established by Senate Bill 2C, was created within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and its members are the governor and Florida Cabinet: Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, Attorney General James Uthmeier and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. This is the board's first meeting since its inception in February; the position of CFO was vacated in April after Jimmy Patronis began serving as a representative for Florida's Congressional District 1. Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida sheriff deputies will soon be able to make immigration arrests 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. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Napoleon is relatively unusual in western history for aligning himself with the brutal Hannibal not Hannibals Roman enemy, Scipio Africanus. The Frenchmans interest in the Carthaginian bordered on obsessional. He read every book about him he could find, including the Latin histories of Livy, and made copious notes. He could work examples from Hannibals life into conversation with ease, and when he crossed the Alps in 1800, he knew precisely whose footsteps he was following in. Hannibal was more than a man: he was, like Napoleon, a god. Hannibal was no stranger himself to self-mythologising. His name meant he who is favoured by Baal: Baal Hamon being the chief god of the Carthaginians, who reached the apex of their global powers from their city near Tunis (in modern Tunisia) in the third and second centuries BC. Hannibal had the air of an immortal, but also believed that he enjoyed the protection of Melqart, the Phoenician equivalent of Hercules. Melqart was often equated with the sun itself. Such confidence in ones divine credentials can only breed an appetite for risk-taking. Hannibal was clever, charismatic and fair. His success as a commander, argues Eve MacDonald in her comprehensive new book, Carthage: A New History of an Ancient Empire, rested in his soldiers and their loyalty to him. The general was known for distributing bounties to his soldiers a professional army drawn from many territories, including North Africa, Iberia, Greece and Italy and following with further payments. The Romans, of course, despised him as the apparently unbeatable foe. The phrase Hannibal ad portas (Hannibal is at the gates) gained currency during the Punic Wars between the two ancient superpowers, epitomising the fear as well as the awe he inspired in his adversaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But has Hannibals fame eclipsed that of his civilisation? This is one of the questions MacDonald, a senior lecturer in Ancient History at Cardiff, poses in Carthage. The fact that Greek and Roman sources dating from soon after Hannibals time focus so heavily upon him, she suggests, tends to skew our evidence about Carthage around the life of one man and his great deeds and adventures. As a result, wider-ranging historical interest in the region gets lost in the appetite for daring deeds of great soldiers. Napoleons fascination is a prime example. MacDonalds history, then, is not so much revisionist as expansionist. Its subtitle might have been: Who Were the Carthaginians? Inhabitants of the ancient city were committed to comfortable living. Men we know far more about them than we do the women wore long tunics and earrings for pierced ears. On the evidence of Aristophanes, the Greek comedian, we can conjecture that they were mainly circumcised. From as early as the third century BC, the wealthier members of society had bathrooms with cisterns in their homes. They dined well on fish and a porridge consisting of grain with eggs, curd and honey. Meat was consumed mainly after religious sacrifices. One very early banquet, the remains of which were recently uncovered in the former Carthaginian city of Utica (near modern Bizerte), featured goat, oxen, pig, horse, and even turtle and dog. The ruins of Carthages Antonine baths in modern-day Tunisia - Getty The architects of Carthaginian cities gave some consideration to the breeding and keeping of animals. MacDonald, who draws effectively upon her background in archaeology, describes stabling for horses and spaces inside the double casemate walls of Carthage for raising elephants. Before Hannibal famously led 37 of the beasts across the Alps, Pyrrhus, King of the region of Epirus, introduced 20 to Italy, prior to his expedition to expel Carthaginians from Sicily. Having seen elephants in action, the Carthaginians were smitten, and went on to use them during their conquests of the Iberian Peninsula. The animals provided unparalleled cover for their retreat during a river-crossing beset by an hostile Celtic tribe. Theres no consensus over which species the Carthaginians used, but a combination of African and Asian elephants is likely. The Carthaginians would not have been nearly so famous had they not fought with Rome. And the Romans might never have created their enduring empire had it not been for Carthage, which they mercilessly destroyed in 146 BC following a lengthy siege. The difficulty for the modern historian is that, in putting Carthage on the map, the Romans cast shadow on its virtues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a typical story of history being written by the victors. MacDonalds ambition to retell the history of Carthage from a Carthaginian perspective, then, is hampered by the limitations of the written material. This is unavoidable and only to be expected. No historian of the ancient world should be taken to task over the gaps in the sources; its how they navigate those gaps that matters. MacDonald pieces the material together admirably and succeeds in creating a thickly-layered portrait of a culture that has often struck readers as peculiar and violent. She takes a particularly sensitive approach to the interpretation of phenomena such as child-sacrifice. An open-air sanctuary in Carthage has been found to contain thousands of urns filled with the cremated bodies of babies, young children and animals. It is known as a tophet from the Hebrew name of a valley in Jerusalem where the Philistines were said to sacrifice their children through fire. Greek and Roman writers wrote with abhorrence of Carthaginian children being rolled into flame-filled pits. Dido Building Carthage by J.M.W. Turner, 1815 - Getty Were children sacrificed in prayer for the wellbeing of the city? Or are these the dedicated remains of infants who died from natural causes? Most were very young when they died and we know that the rate of infant mortality was high. MacDonald draws attention to the inscriptions upon the stelae erected next to the urns, and particularly to the words, because he / she heard our voice. This looks very much like a divine offering in fulfilment of a vow or an answered prayer. While it remains unclear exactly what was happening here, it is interesting to observe, as MacDonald does, that similar sanctuaries have been discovered in Malta, Sardinia, Sicily and elsewhere in north Africa. MacDonald is also willing to indulge the myths about the foundation of Carthage. According to the legend elaborated in Virgils Aeneid, the city was established by Dido (known to the Carthaginians as Elissa), who fled her home in the Phoenician city of Tyre (in modern Lebanon) to escape her tyrannical brother Pygmalion. Having made landfall on the coast near Tunisia, the beleaguered Dido requested a piece of land only as large as an ox-hide. Her wish was granted, and she proceeded to chop up a hide into skinny strips, which she laid end to end to encompass a sizeable area for her new city. The citadel at Carthage was known thereafter as Byrsa, from the Greek for ox-hide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a brilliant story, and according to MacDonald, calls on the well-known concept of using an ox to plough an area of land to mark out boundaries. That sounds plausible. One thing the ancient writers did get absolutely right was that Carthage was founded in the 9th century BC and had Phoenician origins. The earliest inscription found at Carthage on a gold pendant placed in a tomb dates to then and even refers to a Pygmalion. Radiocarbon dating further supports a foundation date in the 9th century BC. MacDonald writes clearly and frankly, and has produced an enjoyable and readily digestible introduction to Carthage. Hers is not a book of stylish prose or vivid description. The closest we come to the latter is in the opening pages, which recount the final destruction of Carthage, and in a survey of the aftermath of the Battle of Cannae, when steam rose in the morning off the still warm bodies of the dead and injured. Some readers will favour such an information-over-atmosphere approach, and there is much to be said for giving it to us straight. But there were moments in which I felt that MacDonald could have let go a little. If Hannibal has one lesson for writers, it is surely that triumph is dependent upon risk. Daisy Dunn is the author of books including The Missing Thread: A New History of the Ancient World Through the Women Who Shaped It. Carthage: A New History of an Ancient Empire is published by Ebury at 22. To order your copy, call 0330 173 0523 or visit Telegraph Books 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 former Everett bar owner who was convicted of multiple rapes has been sentenced to over 100 years in prison for his crimes. Christian Sayre, 39, who used to own the Anchor Pub, was the subject of a multi-year investigation following allegations that he drugged, raped and sexually assaulted bar customers and other people he was familiar with. The Everett Police Department launched its investigation into Sayres crimes in September 2021, after DNA evidence linked him to a 2020 sexual assault case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the next several months, the Everett Police Department uncovered dozens of potential victims and a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior stretching back over two decades, EPD wrote in a press release. During the investigation, authorities recovered a notebook listing over 30 women, along with hard drives containing child pornography. Several of the women named in Sayres notes came forward and reported assaults, some dating as far back as 2011. Todays sentencing reflects the gravity of Christian Sayres crimes and honors the strength of the survivors who came forward to ensure he was held accountable, said Mayor Cassie Franklin. This case is a stark reminder of the importance of victim advocacy, trauma-informed investigations and the power of perseverance in the pursuit of justice. Sayre was convicted on 16 felony charges, including rape and indecent liberties involving both adult and child victims. He is also facing charges of sexual assault in Oregon, where he will be extradited for those charges at a later date. Mengistu was held in terror captivity in the Gaza Strip for almost 11 years before being released in February. He had been hospitalized since his release. Former hostage in the Gaza Strip, Avera Mengistu, was released from Sourasky Medical Center's Ichilov Hospital, Tel Aviv, on Tuesday, Mengistu, who was held by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip for over 10 years, was released in February as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mengistu, an Israeli Jew of Ethiopian descent, was said to have been suffering from mental illness when he crossed the border into the Gaza Strip on September 7, 2014. Born in Ethiopia, he immigrated to Israel at the age of five with his family as part of Operation Solomon. He grew up in Ashkelon with his eight brothers and sisters. Former hostage Avera Mengistu. (credit: SCREENSHOT/VIA SECTION 27A OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT) After his older brother, Michael, suffered from anorexia and died at the age of 29, his mental state deteriorated and he began to conduct long marches alone throughout Israel. How did Mengistu end up in Gaza? The now-38-year-old was 28 years old when he crossed into northern Gaza after having a fight with his mother, according to Human Rights Watch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas claims that he is a soldier, a claim disputed by both Human Rights Watch and his family. His family said, upon his release, that "Our family has endured ten years and five months of unimaginable suffering. During this time, there have been continuous efforts to secure his return, with prayers and pleas, some silent, that remained unanswered until today. "We ask that these moments be respected, and that we be granted the peace and rest we so desperately need." Danielle Greyman-Kennard contributed to this report. This is a developing story. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The attorney representing a former Oklahoma judge accused in a drive-by shooting now claims Oklahomas Attorney General violated a verbal agreement by speaking to News 4 about an ongoing dispute with the case. The attorney claims to have proof that the two had an agreement, but says he doesnt want to share it right now. As News 4 reported Friday, Stephen Jonesan attorney representing former Garfield County District Court Judge Brian Lovellclaimed in a June 30 court filing that he and Attorney General Gentner Drummond struck a deferred prosecution agreement during several private phone calls. However, Drummond told News 4 no agreement existed, because his office is still waiting on medical records before deciding whether Lovell is mentally competent to face trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Jones says the mere fact that Drummond commented publicly on the issue raised even more red flagsaccusing Drummond of going back on yet another verbal agreement not to talk publicly about the case. Drummond: Claim of deferred prosecution deal for former judge not accurate Jones claims to have transcripts of his phone calls with Drummond, but says he is not going to release them as of right now. A multi-county grand jury indicted Lovell in May 2024, accusing him of shooting at his brother-in-laws house in the town of Bison, Okla., during an apparent drive-by in 2023. Lovell is also accused of a separate drive-by shooting in Austin, Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 4 also reported that Lovells former courtroom bailiff claimed to have had an affair with Lovell, and the two had sex together inside the Garfield County Courthouse. He resigned from the bench last fall, citing thyroid cancer and dementia. Jones, who is representing Lovell in the Oklahoma drive-by shooting case, says the states chief medical officer diagnosed Lovell with a form of dementia. He argues that the diagnosis proves Lovell wasnt of sound mind when the shooting happened and doesnt deserve to stand trial. Mr. Lovell has been diagnosed by the preeminent psychiatrist in this state as having found a temporal dementia, Jones told News 4 Monday. He fits all of the symptoms. His conduct is consistent with that disease. Jones says when he brought that up in court, prosecutors with Drummonds office asked to bring in another doctor for a second opinion. In April, Jones claims Drummond called him and offered to resolve the case with a deferred prosecution agreement, which would allow Lovell to avoid going to trial. He brought up the deferred prosecution agreement and asked whether I would accept that and whether my client would accept it, Jones said. And I told him that my client would accept it and that I accepted it. Jones says they finalized the specifics of the deal during a second call in June, when he claims Drummond promised to send over the formal, written agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones claims Drummond also said his office would no longer seek a second medical evaluation. However, Jones says Drummonds office never sent him a copy of the agreement. When News 4 asked Drummond about the case on July 9, he said the delay was because his office was still waiting for a second medical opinion to help determine whether Lovell should face trial. The status of the case right now is hes providing my office with the neurological and psychological reports of the attending physicians that will either bring light to the fact that the judge has a mental disability or not, Drummond said. Jones insists Drummond promised in June that he would no longer seek a second opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He says Drummond called him again on July 2, and explained he reversed on that promise because he needed a second opinion to serve as cover to avoid political fallout from allowing someone of Lovells status to avoid trial. He needed a peg, Jones said. In other words, something to hang your hat on. He didnt say his hat, but he said he needed a peg I understand the politics of that. Next time in your office: Court testimony details alleged sexual relationship between Oklahoma judge, bailiff before resignation Jones says he supports Drummonds political ambitions, so he agreed to get Lovell a second evaluation to help Drummond politically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He claims the two agreed not to talk about the issue publicly for 30 days during their July 2 phone call. Jones says he was surprised to learn Drummond spoke on camera with News 4 just seven days later. I took the attorney general at his word, Jones said. That got me to thinking, well, perhaps Ive misjudged the attorney general. I hope I havent. In a press release Monday, Jones accused Drummond of orchestrating the interview to limit political fallout, writing in part: On Friday Drummond arranged for an interview with a single reporter from a single television station which he knew from experience would appear on the air at 6:00 p.m. on a Friday evening in the middle of the summer when attention to television news is at the lowest level of the year However, Drummond did not request the interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 4 asked Drummond about the case while interviewing him on an unrelated topic for an unrelated story on July 9. Drummond voluntarily answered the questions. News 4 had been attempting to speak to Jones since earlier than July 9, but did not hear back from Jones until Friday, when he declined to comment to News 4. The story aired during the 10 p.m. newscast Fridaynot at 6 p.m. as Jones press release claimed. Despite telling News 4 he had no comment on Friday, Jones reached out to us on Saturday seeking an interview to respond to Drummonds claims News 4 aired on Friday. During the interview with him on Monday, Jones claimed he has transcripts of his phone calls with Drummond, but doesnt want to release them unless he has to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am relying on the [Attorney General] to honor his word, Jones said. I am still his supporter, and Im still his friend, and Im still his ally. I make a difference between politics and law, and I expect him to honor his agreement. On Monday, News 4 asked Drummonds office if he had any response to Jones claims. A spokesperson said he does not. Jones says he filed a motion asking a judge to decide once and for all whether a formal agreement exists. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (FOX40.COM) The Sacramento City Council is set to vote on whether to designate the former Land Park Lanes building as a historic landmark on Tuesday. The bowling alley, located at 5850 Freeport Boulevard, was originally constructed in 1960 and served the Sacramento area until the owners permanently closed the facility in 2024 after a fire. Video: Sacramento bowling alley closes a month after fire (May 2024) The Bowlero Corporation, which owns the building, filed with the city to have the structure demolished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sacramento city code requires consideration of whether buildings more than 50-years-old merit inclusion on the citys Register of Historic and Cultural Resources. Bowlero contracted a company to prepare a report on the building which found it was not eligible for preservation. However, a report commissioned by the Sacramento County Historical Society found that the building was a historic significance in part for its Mid-Century Modern Googie commercial architectural style. Preservation Sacramento, a separate historical capital city society, submitted a comment to the city noting the building had ties to the areas Japanese-American and LGBTQ+ communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Preservation Sacramento pointed to the buildings Japanese-American developer, Gonzo Sakai, and the several bowling leagues of second-generation Japanese-Americans that had played at the venue since its opening. The group also noted that the building was mentioned in a recent report on the citys LGBTQ+ population as a place where the LGBTQ+ bowling league, the River City Bowlers, had met for decades. City council staff recommended the council vote to grant the building historical designation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Native Vote. Jonathan Nez thinks it is a time for change in Congress. Because of that reason, the foomrer president of the Navajo announced today he is running for Congress in Arizonas 2nd congressional district. Nez led the Navajo Nation during the Covid-19 pandemic and is a well-known leader across rural Arizona. If elected, Nez would become the first Native American to represent Arizona in Congress. Home to 14 American Indian tribes, the congressional districtt includes a population that is nearly 20% Native American. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nezs candidacy follows his strong performance in the previous election cycle, where he significantly outperformed expectations, energizing voters across Northern Arizona. His grassroots campaign drew support from over 78,000 online donors and placed AZ-02 firmly on the national political map. A Democrat, Nez will need to win the party's nomination to oppose right-wing conservative Rep. Eli Crane, who he faced in the 2024 election. As Navajo Nation President, I worked across the aisle to deliver water security and lower prices for Northern Arizona, and thats the kind of leadership we need in Congress, said Nez. I am a fighter, and now more than ever we need someone to warrior up and fight for Arizona. The only thing Crane has fought for since taking office is taking money from our hard working families to give to billionaires. Mr. Crane has betrayed us. Raised in Shonto, AZ, Nez grew up on his familys ranch without electricity or running water. His life and work have been rooted in the district. As Navajo Nation President, he championed water rights, economic development, and rural infrastructurealways with a focus on protecting the way of life in Arizonas rural and tribal communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In contrast, Rep. Eli Crane resides in the wealthy Tucson suburb of Oro Valley and has never lived in the district he represents. Nez criticized Crane for voting to slash Medicaid and cut funding to essential rural services, including tribal radio and health care. Eli Crane voted to gut Arizonans health care and take food off our tables all to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Nearly 1 in 3 people in our district depend on Medicaid, or AHCCCS as its called in Arizona. Thousands are going to lose their health coverage and hospitals across ourcregion in Page, Winslow, and Globe could be forced to shut down. Cranes priorities might go over well in the wealthy suburbs where he is from, but not in rural Arizona, Nez said. Cranes votes have also targeted funding for public media, including tribal radio stations like KUYI on the Hopi Reservation and KGHR on the Navajo Nation. These stations rely on public funding for about half their budgets funding Crane has voted to eliminate. Additionally, Apache and Navajo counties have some of the highest rates of seniors on Medicaid in the entire country. In 2024, Nez outperformed Vice President Kamala Harris by 3.5 points in the district and ran ahead of Senate candidate Ruben Gallego. As The Cook Political Report noted in October 2024, Nez quietly built up a robust campaign operation focused on mobilizing Native American voters and reaching out to moderate Republicans turned off by Cranes hardline style. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has since added AZ-02 to its Districts in Play list. Cook Political Report wrote that while AZ-02 remains a tough district for Democrats, Nezs performance makes it one to watch: Democratic strategists acknowledge that this district is a reach for them to flip, but they believe Nez could make this a competitive race particularly if the national political environment favors Democrats. Jonathan Nez enters the race with a proven record, deep community roots, and a commitment to fighting for the people of Northern Arizona. About the Author: "Shaun Griswold, contributing writer, is a Native American journalist based Albuquerque. He is a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna, and his ancestry also includes Jemez and Zuni on the maternal side of his family. He has more than a decade of print and broadcast news experience. " Contact: shawn@nativenewsonline.net A Naval Special Warfare sailor assigned to a West Coast-based SEAL unit who was recently released by Venezuela after being detained for nearly a year is going through a reintegration process designed to support service members who have been in isolation, a Navy spokesperson said. Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Wilbert Castaneda was not a Navy SEAL when he was arrested in Venezuela because his Navy Enlisted Classification had been revoked before then, said a U.S. official, who had no information about why Castaneda is no longer a SEAL. Castaneda was arrested in Caracas, Venezuela, last August, and he was initially accused of being part of a CIA-led operation to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduros regime claims which the State Department described as categorically false. Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Wilbert Castaneda. Photo courtesy of Christian Castaneda. Castaneda, 37, was one of 10 Americans released on July 18 as part of an exchange that involved returning more than 250 Venezuelans who had been deported from the United States to El Salvador to their country, according to the Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation is looking into the circumstances of how Castaneda was detained, a Navy spokesperson told Task & Purpose on Monday. His older brother Christian told the New York Times that the sailor had gone to Venezuela to meet a romantic partner. My brother has served honorably in the U.S. Navy for over 18 years and, because of his role as a breacher and dealing with regular exposure to explosions, he has suffered several traumatic brain injuries, Christian Castaneda said in a July 18 news release from Global Reach, a non-profit organization that advocates for bringing home Americans who are wrongly detained in foreign countries. His medical condition worsened from those workplace hazards, which we believe impaired his judgment and risk mitigation, Christian Castaneda continued. His condition led him to make a bad decision to travel to Venezuela. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christian Castaneda is currently supporting his brother who is being evaluated at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, for the traumatic brain injuries that he received while serving as a Navy SEAL, and for the physical and psychological trauma he endured while in captivity said Eric Lebson, a family spokesperson working with Global Reach. Castaneda enlisted in the Navy in April 2007, and he took part in Navy Special Warfare Training at Coronado, California from July 2007 to August 2008, according to his service record, which was provided to Task & Purpose. Between 2009 and 2022, he served with both East and West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare units. His awards include three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, four Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, two Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medals, the Armed Forces Service Medal, and four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons. We are just glad that he is out and able to receive the treatment and help he deserves, and will be able to celebrate his upcoming 38th birthday with his family in freedom, Christian Castaneda said in the Global Reach news release. Top Stories This Week 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 News Army warns special ops veterans in Florida of potential terrorist threat Army warns special ops veterans in Florida of potential terrorist threat By Jeff Schogol Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the most recent prisoner exchange with Venezuela. In a December 2023 swap, Venezuela released 10 Americans and returned former defense contractor Leonard Glenn Francis better known by his nickname Fat Leonard to the United States. Francis went on the lam in 2022 before he could be sentenced on bribery and corruption charges to which he had pleaded guilty. Prior to the most recent exchange, more Americans were wrongly held in Venezuela than in any other country in the world, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a July 18 statement. It is unacceptable that Venezuelan regime representatives arrested and jailed U.S. nationals under highly questionable circumstances and without proper due process, Rubio said. Every wrongfully detained American in Venezuela is now free and back in our homeland. (WBRE/WYOU) The Department of Justice says they have charged a former Assistant Director of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ministries after images were discovered that appeared to have been taken from a hidden camera viewing showers at the facility. According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ministries received a report from a woman who claimed she was groomed into a sexual relationship with 51-year-old Daniel Reed, when she was between 14 and 17 years old. Through further investigation into Reed, detectives say they found a peephole and a two-way mirror in the second-floor hallway closet of the Youth Ministries, which looked into the second-floor bathroom shower. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High beam argument leads to gunshots A search warrant was executed at Reeds residence, and law enforcement stated that on a device, internet searches related to the use of hidden cameras for illicit purposes were discovered. Authorities said it also included a text to a group with two 16-year-olds, appearing to encourage them to use the shower at the facility. On a hard drive, investigators say they found at least seven nude images of minors from the second-floor bathroom at the Youth Ministries facility, and pictures of others in other bathrooms and bedrooms. All the images appeared to have been taken from a hidden camera, as stated in the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reed has been charged with attempted production of child pornography, production of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. The maximum penalty is 70 years, a term of supervised release following prison, a fine, and the imposition of a special assessment. The DOJ is also asking any potential victims or anyone with information to call (814) 234-0341. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Tamika Palmer, Breonna Taylor's mother, center, in yellow, leaves the Gene Snyder federal courthouse in downtown Louisville after Brett Hankison was sentence to 33 months in prison. July 21, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd) LOUISVILLE Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison was sentenced Monday to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a 2020 police raid that killed an unarmed woman and helped ignite national racial justice protests. The U.S. Department of Justice had recommended that Hankison, who was part of the team who came to Breonna Taylors apartment with a no-knock search warrant, be sentenced to a single day of time served. After a nearly five-hour sentencing hearing at the Gene Snyder federal courthouse in downtown Louisville, U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings, an appointee of President Donald Trump, said she was troubled by the sentencing memorandum and arguments, which she said appeared to minimize the encounter that resulted in Taylors death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Hankison did not fire the shots that killed Taylor, a police internal investigation determined that he shot indiscriminately from outside the apartment through a covered sliding glass door and window, hitting a neighbors apartment. He was convicted last year of violating Taylors civil rights. Jennings also said certain phrases in the memorandum appeared to harken to political issues and said she would not be swayed by politics. The courtroom on Monday was at capacity an hour before the hearing began. An overflow room quickly filled as well, where attendees gasped, cried and shook their heads throughout the proceedings. Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, said outside the courthouse after the hearing that she felt like her family had no prosecution fighting for them. Tamika Palmer, Breonna Taylors mother, speaks outside the Gene Snyder federal courthouse in downtown Louisville after Brett Hankison was sentence to 33 months in prison on July 21, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd) The DOJ lawyer, Robert J. Keenan, argued that Hankison fired to protect life and defend his fellow officers and stressed that Brett Hankison did not kill Miss Taylor nor injure her or anyone else. He also said there is a public perception that everything that went wrong the night that Taylor died is Hankisons responsibility, which is not true according to fact and law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the judge did the best she could with what she had to work with, Palmer said. Ben Crump and Lonita Baker speak outside the Gene Snyder federal courthouse in downtown Louisville after Brett Hankison was sentence to 33 months in prison. July 21, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd) Palmer, who gave a victim impact statement to the court along with Taylors aunts and cousin, brought an envelope full of other victims statements that the judge said she was upset to not have received earlier. The government, Jennings said, has a responsibility to submit victim statements and to not have received them earlier was a disservice. Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney representing the family, said the delay in submitting letters was insult on top of injury, literally. Lonita Baker, one of the familys lawyers, said while 33 months in prison is not enough, its more than they were asking for, and we do have to commend the judge for taking the time to listen, to push back and to express her disappointment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jennings said the government had made a 180-degree turn on the case without any change to the underlying facts. The way the sentencing memorandum praised the work of the jury that previously found Hankison guilty of violating Taylors civil rights while also questioning the justice of the charge is incongruous and inappropriate, Jennings said. Six people who testified as character witnesses for Hankison, including his daughter and several police officers, told the judge that his legal battles since 2020 over Taylors death had taken a significant mental toll on him and his loved ones. They also asked the judge for a light sentence so he could care for his aging mother. Breonna Taylor protesters outside the Gene Snyder federal courthouse in downtown Louisville on. July 21, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd) On the night Hankison and others came to Taylors apartment in March 2020 with a no-knock search warrant, police were investigating a former boyfriend of Taylors who lived at a different address. Taylor, an unarmed Black woman, and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were in bed when police broke into the apartment. Walker fired at what he thought were intruders breaking into the residence, striking Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly in his thigh. Mattingly initially sued Walker but dropped the case voluntarily in 2023. Hankison and two other officers fired their guns a total of 32 times. Hankison fired from outside the apartment through a covered sliding glass door and window, hitting a neighbors apartment. It was later determined that officer Myles Cosgrove fired the shot that killed Taylor, whose death led to massive protests in Louisville and beyond. He was not charged and was later hired by a police force in Carroll County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside the courthouse around 6:30 p.m., a small crowd chanted Say her name and Breonna Taylor! One man cried out, when the sentence was delivered, It aint enough! Jennings said Hankison, not presenting a flight risk, can voluntarily surrender once the Bureau of Prisons sets a time and location for him to do so. She is also requiring him to seek mental health treatment for his reported post traumatic stress disorder. His legal team plans to appeal the sentence. Breonna Taylor protestors rally outside the Gene Snyder federal courthouse in downtown Louisville, July 21, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd) SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A fragile ceasefire between Druze and Bedouin forces in southern Syria is holding after a week of conflict that left more than 1,000 dead. Tensions between the two communities have exploded, leading to some of the worst sectarian violence Syria has seen since the collapse of Bashar al-Assads dictatorship. The mainly Druze city of Sweida was overrun by Bedouin fighters last week, before state forces took control. Israel then carried out air strikes in support of the Druze, who are resisting Damascus efforts to impose authority; armed groups are still massed around Sweida, the BBC reported. The new Syrian government is keen to present a unified face post-Assad, but the latest clashes point to a nation still riven with ethnic and religious tensions. After a week of violence where hundreds of Druze civilians and hundreds more Druze, Syrian and Bedouin fighters were reportedly killed, the Syrian government reported that clashes in the southern city of Suwayda have stopped. On Saturday, the government, Druze groups and Bedouin tribes reached a ceasefire agreement that seemed to be holding, per CNN. Communications with the province remain difficult. On Sunday, there were no reports of gunfire in the city of Suwayda, per reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After several bloody days in Suwayda province, the Internal Security Forces have succeeded in calming the situation following their deployment in the northern and western areas, Syrias Interior Minister Anas Khattab said in a post on X, per CNN. They managed to enforce the ceasefire within the city of Suwayda, paving the way for a prisoner exchange phase and the gradual restoration of stability across the province, he continued. According to CNN, this prisoner exchange has not yet happened. The U.S. condemns the violence and criticizes intervention by Israel Morgue workers place the bodies of unidentified people killed during clashes between Bedouin clans and Druze militias, into plastic bags outside the National Hospital in Sweida, Syria, Monday, July 21, 2025. | Fahd Kiwan Tom Barrack, U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, posted on X on Sunday acknowledging the ceasefire, saying that The next foundation stone on a path to inclusion, and lasting de-escalation, is a complete exchange of hostages and detainees, the logistics of which are in process. Escalating hostilities can only be contained with an agreement to pause violence, protect the innocent, allow humanitarian access, and step back from danger. As of 17:00 Damascus time, all parties have navigated to a pause and cessation of hostilities. The next foundation stone Ambassador Tom Barrack (@USAMBTurkiye) July 20, 2025 According to The Associated Press, Barrack criticized Israels intervention in the violence in Syria, calling it poorly timed and saying it complicated efforts to stabilize the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barrack also doubled down on the United States support for the new Syrian government. He added that the U.S. was not consulted in the decision for Israel to strike Syria last week, nor was it the United States responsibility in matters that Israel feels is for its own self-defense, per The Hill. President Donald Trump has so far put his support behind the interim Syrian government, which ousted dictator Bashar Assad and took power late last year, per The Hill. In May, Trump announced he would be giving Syria a chance to rebuild by lifting all U.S. sanctions on the country. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also spoke about the conflict in Syria. On Saturday he called on the Syrian government to use its forces to stopviolent jihadists from entering Suwayda and carrying out massacres, per CNN. What happened that led to the ceasefire? Last week fighting broke out between the Druze and Bedouin communities in southern Syria, and over 300 people were reportedly killed in the fighting, per The Hill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Israel launched airstrikes against both Damascus and Syrian government forces over what it said was protection for the Druze community, per The Hill. In Israel, the Druze minority is deeply respected and integrated. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the strikes against Syria were meant to prevent the militarization of Syrian forces on Israels northern border as well as protect the brothers of our brothers, the Druze at the Druze Mountain, per The Hill. The Israeli strikes were condemned by interim Syrian president Ahmad Al-Sharaa who said they were an attempt to cause chaos in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the AP, the Syrian government also intervened in the violence and fought alongside the Bedouins before withdrawing due to the ceasefire agreement. Humanitarian aid was sent into the area following the ceasefire agreement. In a broadcast on Saturday, Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, urged the Bedouins to leave the city saying that they cannot replace the role of the state in handling the countrys affairs and restoring security, per ABC. We thank the Bedouins for their heroic stances but demand they fully commit to the ceasefire and comply with the states orders, he added. Who are the Druze? The Druze are a Middle Eastern ethnic group that live in several different countries after they were separated by borders drawn by the breakup of the Ottoman empire in the early 1920s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But unlike other ethnic groups like the Kurds, who are largely Muslim, the Druze are a unique religious and ethnic group. Their tradition dates back to the 11th century and incorporates elements of Islam, Hinduism and even classical Greek philosophy, per Pew Research Center. There are over 1 million members of the community who live primarily in Syria and Lebanon with smaller communities in Israel and Jordan. The Religion Media Centre reported that The Druze follow an esoteric, monotheistic religion that blends elements of other Abrahamic religions, including Judaism and Christianity, as well as several other philosophies such as Hinduism. The Druze are known for being a close-knit community active in public life. Many Israeli Druze have served in the Israeli military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 700,000 Druze live in Syria, mostly in the southern province of al-Suweida, and historically theyve generally maintained a degree of autonomy, per The Religion Media Centre. According to CNN, the Bedouins are a semi-nomadic group that is predominantly tribal. They have family trees that extend into Gaza and Egypts northern Sinai. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Tuesday issued a sharp condemnation of Israel's expanding military operations in the Gaza Strip. "The humanitarian situation in Gaza is disgraceful, it is a scandal that must be ended immediately," Barrot told France Inter radio. The top diplomat spoke after Israel began a ground operation targeting Deir al-Balah, the main hub for humanitarian efforts in the besieged coastal territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is "no longer any justification for the Israeli army's military operations in Gaza. It is an offensive that will exacerbate an already catastrophic situation and lead to further forced displacement, which we condemn in the strongest terms," he said. Barrot also called for media access to the territory: "I demand that the free and independent press be given access to Gaza to show what is happening there and to report on it." 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. Jul. 21An appeals court revived a health care fraud case against a Gambrills physician last week, over a year after a federal judge set the urgent care operator's conviction aside. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To log in, click here. Originally Published:July 21, 2025 at 11:47 AM EDT Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and longtime local talk-radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter. A Chicago tax preparer was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for orchestrating a $3.6 million COVID-19 relief fraud scheme. Farooq Khan, 31, submitted dozens of bogus loan applications for defunct businesses through his tax preparation company. Khan owned Hannan Tax Services in Chicago. From May 2020 through October 2021, he prepared and submitted at least 30 fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents reveal Khan knew the companies were non-operational and ineligible. He falsified employee numbers and tax records for the defunct businesses. The scheme netted approximately $3.6 million in fraudulent distributions. Khan personally pocketed about $1.2 million of the stolen funds. He also attempted to secure an additional $588,900 through other loan applications. These applications for nonexistent companies were never funded. Khan pleaded guilty to wire fraud on February 19. The court ordered him to pay $3,645,104 in restitution, in addition to his prison sentence. The FBI Chicago Field Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated the case. Trial Attorney Claire Sobczak Pacelli of the Justice Departments Fraud Section handled the prosecution. Federal authorities encourage reporting suspected COVID-19 fraud through the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline at 866-720-5721. Tips can also be submitted online at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. NORTH WINDHAM Round Room will be donating more than $3 million in backpacks to over 100,000 students across the country to help alleviate financial burdens for families nationwide. This backpack giveaway is one of the countrys largest Verizon Authorized Retailers events as it will host School Rocks Backpack Giveaway at more than 1,200 of its TCC and Wireless Zone stores. They will offer complimentary backpacks to families for the upcoming school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Locations in eastern Connecticut participating in the event will take place on Sunday, July 27, at 1 p.m. The locations giving away backpacks during the event include 1675 Boston Turnpike in Coventry and 361 Boston Post Road, Route 6 in North Windham. Families are invited to attend their local event to pick up a complimentary backpack, one per present child, and as supplies last. This is one of those moments each year that reminds us why we do what we do, said Scott Moorehead, CEO of Round Room. Its not just about the backpacks, its about showing up for our neighbors. When our teams gather in stores across the country to give back on the same day, its a magical thing. This year also marks the conclusion of Room Rounds first Stuff the Bus campaign, a nationwide school supply drive held throughout June at participating stores. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The campaign was designed to provide essential classroom tools to under-resourced schools, and the initiative rallied community members across five states. The finalists, who were nominated by a local business, will receive supplies collected in their area. Round Room will also be giving one winning school a bus filled with nearly $40,000 of essential supplies during the Backpack Giveaway. We know for many families, back-to-school season is exciting, yet overwhelming, Moorehead said. The rising cost of everyday essentials is forcing parents to make hard choices, and a simple backpack can become one more financial stressor. Thats why this initiative matters. We want to ease that burden and help students walk into the classroom feeling confident and cared for. By Dominique Vidalon PARIS (Reuters) -French judges on Tuesday ordered that French Culture Minister Rachida Dati and former automobile executive Carlos Ghosn must stand trial for alleged corruption and abuse of power in a case focusing on consulting fees, a judicial source said. The French prosecutor's office for financial crimes (PNF) had requested in November 2024 that Dati, widely expected to run for the post of Paris mayor in March 2026, and former Renault-Nissan boss Ghosn be tried as part of its investigation into corruption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators had been probing the consulting fees Dati once received from the Renault-Nissan auto alliance, which hired her as a consultant after she stepped down as justice minister in 2009 to stand for the European Parliament. Dati has denied irregularities in the fees she received during that time, and Ghosn, who fled from Japan in a box aboard a private jet to Lebanon, has denied allegations of misconduct against him. Speaking to LCI television on Tuesday evening, Dati vowed to fight the judges' decision: "I am not going to resign myself. I will fight. I will fight everywhere." Asked if she could stay in the government, she said: "Have I been condemned? Of course not. That's it" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked if Dati should resign from the French government, Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin told TF1 television: "I cannot comment on legal proceedings, but it is clear that Rachida Dati who is a great politician and someone I would very much like to see become mayor of Paris is presumed innocent, and we should not be too quick to condemn people." Ghosn's representatives could not immediately be reached for comment. Ghosn, who holds French, Lebanese and Brazilian citizenships, has not left Lebanon since 2019 because of an Interpol Red Notice issued by Japan. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Additional reporting by Gilles Guillaume, Elizabeth Pineau and Benjamin Mallet; Editing by Jan Harvey and Mark Porter) MARION, Arkansas The new school year is right around the corner, and one Arkansas school district is introducing a fresh, new option to its students and the community. Its called the farm-to-school program. The program was created by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders office in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Corrections, the State Department of Agriculture, and the Arkansas Department of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The way it works is that inmates at the Arkansas Department of Corrections will grow fresh fruits and vegetables that will go straight from the field to the school district. Marion is the first school district in Arkansas to offer the program to its students, and the program comes at no cost to the district. 2,000 gallons of hazardous solution spills on McLemore Ave: MFD So, on their first day of school, students can expect to see tomatoes, potatoes, peas, kale, strawberries, blueberries, and more on their plates. According to data from the USDA, Arkansas has the highest rate of food insecurity, with 19% of households experiencing a lack of access to nutritious food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With this program really getting those nutritional things in that the students will need. As far as fruit and vegetables, well you have a lot of students that dont eat a lot of fruit and vegetables because they dont know about the fruit and vegetable side, said Kenneth Lamb, food service director of Marion School District. With this program here, how do a lot of chefs in the kitchen, the chefs in the classroom, so Ill be able to partner with the local farm to bring them in, because that farm will be able to the farmer will be able to give them the knowledge, like the math that goes into the plot in the seeding, and its still the educational piece behind it, stated Lamb. University of MS football player dead after five people shot in Cordova And Melissa Lace, child nutrition director of the Marion School District, said they try to teach kids how to prepare the foods they see at school in their home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our chef here runs programs, and he brings students in. And like last year, they did a kimchi program. So, the students learned to make kimchi, said Lace. So we try to incorporate not only the food that we serve them, but we try to show them how to prepare food at home also. Marion Junior High School is where the program will begin before expansion, and food items that are not used by the school will be donated to food pantries and or other charities in the area. Governor Huckabee Sanders is expected to visit Marion Junior High School in October to review the program, and shes hoping the program eventually spreads across the state. 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 WREG.com. LONG ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11) A family is raising money to fund the funeral of a man who died after he was sucked into an MRI machine on Long Island. Keith McAllister was helping his wife in an MRI room at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury on July 16 when he was pulled into the machine, according to his familys GoFundMe. His family wrote that a technician let him in the room without realizing he was wearing a metal chain around his neck. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McAllister had several heart attacks before he died on July 17, according to his GoFundMe. Keith was a husband, a father, a stepfather, a grandfather, a brother, and an uncle. He was a friend to many, his family wrote on GoFundMe. The GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $8,000 and has a goal of $11,000. To donate, click here. 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Frontier Airlines will launch a new nonstop service from the El Paso International Airport to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport this fall, the airline said in a press release on Tuesday, July 22. The service will operate three times per week and will begin on Oct. 8, and will offer affordable travel across the state of Texas for both locals and tourists, the airline said. The airline says its offering fares as low as $39 to celebrate the announcement of the new service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To get the promotional fare offer, tickets must be purchased by July 28. Sale fares are valid for non-stop travel on select days of week from Oct. 7 through Dec. 18. The following travel blackout dates apply: Nov. 21-26, 28-30; Dec. 1-2. Round trip purchase is not required, the airline said. Frontiers new service adds valuable competition to the Dallas market, giving our community more flexibility, affordability, and connectivity, said Tony Nevarez, director of aviation at El Paso International Airport. Frontier has been a great partner since 2018, and were excited to see them grow in El Paso again. We encourage travelers to take advantage of the new route, as community support like this helps us expand future air service. Frontier Airlines began service in El Paso in March 2018 with flights to Denver and later expanding to include Chicago, Las Vegas, and temporary service to Orlando, San Diego, and Ontario, California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information on this new service, click here: https://www.flyfrontier.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 KTSM 9 News. CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) A fugitive Moldovan oligarch implicated in a $1 billion bank fraud and other illicit schemes was detained Tuesday in Greece, Moldovas national police said. Vladimir Plahotniuc fled Moldova in 2019 as he faced a series of corruption charges including allegations of complicity in a scheme that led to $1 billion disappearing from a Moldovan bank in 2014, which at the time was equivalent to about an eighth of Moldovas annual GDP. Plahotniuc has denied any wrongdoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moldovan police said in a statement they were informed by Interpols office in Athens that two Moldovan citizens had been detained, including Plahotniuc, who was placed on Interpol's international wanted list in February. Authorities did not name the other detainee. The Greek police unit tackling organized crime said Interpol was seeking Plahotniuc on suspicion of participating in a criminal organization, fraud and money laundering. Moldova's Ministry of Justice and Prosecutors Office are in the process of exchanging information to begin seeking extradition of Plahotniuc and the other detainee, a government official told The Associated Press. Plahotniuc, one of Moldovas wealthiest men, fled to the U.S. from Moldova in June 2019 after failing to form a government with his Democratic Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. declared him persona non grata in 2020 and his whereabouts were unknown for years. The powerful businessman and politician was added to a U.S. State Department sanctions list in 2022 for alleged corruption. The charges included controlling the countrys law enforcement to target political and business rivals and meddling in Moldovas elections. He was added to a U.K. sanctions list in 2022 and barred from entering the country. His assets were frozen in the U.K. and its overseas territories. AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) The funeral arrangements for the mother and daughter killed in a July 10 incident, involving a Lee County man has been set. The funeral for 34-year-old Tyeisha Williams and her 13-year-old daughter Zynnya Wright will take place on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church Tuskegee at 410 Cedar St., Tuskegee, AL 36083. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Auburn man accused of killing his wife and her teen daughter charged with Capital Murder Auburn City Schools Superintendent Dr. Cristen Herring, principals, teachers, students, local churches, organizations, and key figures of the community will also be attending the funeral service. The repass will happen at the Tuskegee Municipal Complex at 101 Fonville St., Tuskegee, AL 36083. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 10, it was a grim discovery when Auburn police conducting a welfare check found the bodies of Tyeisha Williams and Zynnya inside a home on Samantha Court. Authorities believed that the two were killed within 48 hours of being found. 41-year-old Aaron Dontay Williams was accused of murder and initially was wanted by authorities on charges of double homicide and kidnapping, which led to an urgent search for 3-year-old Jibreel Harun, the biological son of Aaron and Tyeisha Williams. A statewide Amber Alert was issued, and authorities described Aaron Williams as armed and dangerous. Aaron Williams was taken into custody in Tennessee, while the child was found safe. He was then extradited from Giles County Jail to the Auburn Police Department after waiving his right to fight extradition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He made his first court appearance this month and now faces kidnapping charges and four counts of capital murder, including one that is under Alabamas new law: It is a capital offense to kill a parent or guardian in the presence of a young child. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A sharply divided Colorado Republican Party elected former House Minority Whip Richard Holtorf to fill the state GOP's vacant vice chair position Monday night during an online meeting that laid bare ongoing disputes that have consumed the state party for more than a year. Roughly 400 Republican state central committee members cast their votes for the party's No. 2 job nearly two hours into a special meeting held on the Zoom teleconference platform to replace Darrel Phelan, the state GOP's previous vice chair, who attributed his abrupt resignation last month to his frustration over state chair Brita Horn's refusal to let him help run the party. Horn, Phelan and Russ Andrews, the state party secretary, won election to their positions in March after running as members of a slate that explicitly pledged to reverse party policies put in place by their predecessors, including former state GOP chair Dave Williams, who attended Monday night's meeting. The online meeting streamed live by the party on YouTube included multiple calls to postpone the vote and instead fill the vacant vice chair position at an upcoming, in-person meeting. Attendees also complained that the meeting's organizers were ignoring attempts by committee members to participate in the disjointed and sometimes testy discussions. Holtorf, a cattle rancher from Sterling and one-time congressional candidate, narrowly defeated Mark Hampton, founder of Parker Conservatives and a self-identified voice of the party's grassroots, with 204 votes to Hampton's 193, or 52% to 48%. "We need to be a big tent party, not a puritan party chasing away fellow Republican Party members," Holtorf said before the vote. "Building bridges between our divided factions is critical. Mending fences, not cutting fences, is essential." Holtorf, who ran against state party-endorsed U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in last year's crowded 4th Congressional District primary, said the state GOP has to return to its longstanding practice of staying neutral in primaries. "We have a unique opportunity, if we choose to seize the moment unified around a strategic pathway that leads us to victory in this cycle," Holtorf said. "This includes supporting all Republican candidates, not just the ones we like as state GOP leaders, or we think are Republican enough. Districts are different. Every candidate who follows the rules should have a fair and equal opportunity to gain the vote of the electorate." Holtorf, a retired colonel with 29 years of service in the Army, said he hoped to bring "strategic leadership" to the role, outlining plans to recruit candidates and help them win with financial support and coordination across races. "Imagine the idea of working together instead of being in silos and working, perhaps, against each other," he said. "This is called synchronized operations in the military, and I know how to do it." Added Holtorf: "We need to focus on our candidates, not our bickering and infighting." Hampton's message was more confrontational. "We're standing at a crossroads, a seminal moment for the Colorado Republican Party," he told central committee members. "You're going to cast a vote that either locks us into the same old broken machine or finally shifts us into forward gear. And let me be crystal clear: if you're clinging to the rear-view mirror still, you're headed straight into the ditch." Hampton took direct swipes at Holtorf, citing the former state lawmaker's middling grades on a conservative group's legislative scorecard "that's a failure on repeat," Hampton said and faulting his opponent for suggesting during the primary that Boebert "dressed like a prostitute." "I've been brutally blunt with politicians," Hampton added. "I've been critical about compromising conservative values and principles, but I've never said anything vile like that." Colorado's Republican congressional delegation split ahead of Monday's central committee meeting, with Boebert throwing her support behind Hampton and the other three, U.S. Reps. Jeff Hurd, Jeff Crank and Gabe Evans, endorsing Holtorf. Hampton also blasted Holtorf for his role last summer chairing a disputed meeting of state GOP central committee members that attempted to impeach Williams and his fellow party officers and replace them with other Republicans, including Horn, who was elected vice chair at the meeting. A judge later ruled that the meeting, held at a church in Brighton, hadn't complied with state party rules so would have no effect. "He chaired the infamous, improper meeting to overthrow our last state chair," Hampton said, referring to Holtorf. "That was a disgrace and one of the most divisive things that could have been done in our own party." Hampton said he understood his approach won't endear him to all Republicans. "I'm not running to be liked," he said. "In fact, I think there's a lot of people that would tell you right now they don't like me, and that'll probably continue. I'm running to get this party back on track." Following the vote, Holtorf appeared briefly on screen to thank his supporters and opponents alike. "I want to extend my hand to serve all in every capacity that I can as your vice chair," Holtorf said. "Whether you voted for me or not is not relevant. So I want to thank everybody for allowing me to have the privilege of serving as your vice chair." Hampton took to Facebook Tuesday morning to deliver a lengthy critique of the central committee meeting, calling the proceedings "political malpractice." "It was a clown car pileup so spectacular it couldve been directed by Bozo himself, and Mad Magazine penning the script," Hampton said, maintaining that throughout the meeting committee members tried to speak, raised their hands, waved signs and "begged to be acknowledged" but were "completely ignored, as if they were extras in the political Hunger Games." Hampton urged his followers not to "mourn last nights disaster, celebrate it," adding that he was. "It exposed the rot. It woke up more of the base. And it lit a fire under a movement that no Zoom Muppet Show can stop." Freed from being "buried in their bureaucratic mess," Hampton said, he looked forward to spending the next year and a half building a "true grassroots machine" that can win control of the state party at its next reorganization in 2027. "Were not here to manage the decline of the Colorado GOP. Were here to take it back," he concluded. Horn was unavailable for an interview Monday night or Tuesday, her spokesman told Colorado Politics, but she released a statement welcoming Holtorf to his position. We are excited to have Vice Chairman Holtorf on board," Horn said. "With 469 days left until Election Day, we can now return our focus to the proper role of the party - winning elections. The military personnel responsible for the shooting are reportedly in custody, and a legal case is allegedly being pursued against them A joint funeral was held in the Markazi Province in Iran after four civilians, including a three-year-old child, were killed by Islamic regime military officials, dissident media sites and BBC Persian reported earlier this week. Security forces reportedly attended the funeral, including the police commander of the region, though official comments on the incident have remained vague. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official claim regarding the killings is that "Security forces at a military facility opened fire on two passing vehicles that they suspected were suspicious," according to BBC Persian. The victims were two women, a man, and a young child - all of whom have now been buried in the Khomeini Martyrs' Cemetery. The military personnel responsible for the shooting are reportedly in custody, and a legal case is allegedly being pursued against them, Iranian media reported. Pictures of Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists and others killed in Israeli strikes are displayed in Behesht Zahra Cemetery in southern Tehran, Iran, July 11, 2025 (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS) Gholamreza Sheikhi, the husband of one of the victims and father of two, reportedly said ahead of the funeral that "No one has the right to send a message to our enemy. I asked all relatives and friends to make this matter public." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He claimed, while referring to the IRGC as angels, that his wife had been a supporter of the regime and insisted she "always called on everyone to obey this revolution in family speeches and criticisms," and "God used my wife as an intermediary so that no one would say a word against this revolution." Iran's 'cycle' of violence While the relatives of the victims maintained support for the regime, Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi condemned the incident. This cycle, this repeating patternwhose first victims are always childrenwill only end with the fall of the Islamic Republic, Ebadi wrote on social media on Sunday. Iran reportedly set up checkpoints across the country following the 12-day war with Israel, though it has proven deadly for Iranian civilians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BBC Persian reported that in addition to the shooting of four civilians earlier this week, two people were killed and one wounded after regime forces fired on a car at a checkpoint on July 1. Dissident groups and NGOs have also warned that the IRGC had killed and wounded civilians while scouring the country for Israeli spies. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) We now know a lot more information about a story we first told you about last Sunday. Dennis Richard of Water Planet Dolphin Tours shot a video of a charter boat capturing a giant manta ray here in Panama City Beach. It happened Saturday, July 12th. The stunning footage showed the enormous animal being guided into a holding net and lifted on board. WATCH: Commercial boat crew caught manta ray near Panama City Beach Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials confirmed they issued a permit, but didnt give us much more information. The marine life activist group, Tidebreakers, managed to get a copy of the permit and shared it with News 13. The permit confirms what we were originally told, that the FWC issued the permit to SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. The manta ray may be featured in a massive new aquarium at SeaWorlds new Abu Dhabi location, which opened last year. FWC issued a special activity license, allowing Dynasty Marine to collect the ray for international display. The giant manta is listed as an endangered species under the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the same prohibitions that protect Endangered Species Act do not automatically apply to threatened species. So, apparently, it was all legal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Trump administrations latest findings in the investigation into the 2016 Russia-gate scandal were published in a press release on Friday. Tulsi Gabbard, director of National Intelligence, accused former President Barack Obama and leadership in his national security cabinet of lay(ing) the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup against President Trump. Gabbard said her departments monthslong investigation found that in 2016, top U.S. leaders committed what she called a treasonous conspiracy by apparently manipulating the American people into believing Russia played a role in then-presidential candidate Donald Trump winning the White House against Hillary Clinton. 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, per the press release. Their egregious abuse of power and blatant rejection of our Constitution threatens the very foundation and integrity of our democratic republic. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Including Obama, other top officials being accused are Obamas former CIA Director John Brennan and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. The news comes just after former leaders of both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Brennan were put under investigation last week by the Department of Justice for potential wrongdoings in the Trump-Russia probe during the Obama administration, specifically with the Steele dossier, which contained unverified allegations about Trump. Investigative journalist Matt Taibbi told Fox News that Gabbards investigation makes it apparent that the real target is the Obama White House because of decisions that were made in early December 2016 to suppress the presidential daily briefing and go ahead and order a new intelligence community assessment that ultimately would have much more aggressive conclusions about Trump and Russia. According to the timeline provided in the Friday press release, Clapper stated, Foreign adversaries did not use cyberattacks on election infrastructure to alter the U.S. Presidential election outcome, in December 2016. After that, Obama held a meeting a few days later with top aides, including Clapper. His assistant then sent an email to IC leaders tasking them with creating a new IC assessment per the Presidents request that details the tools Moscow used and actions it took to influence the 2016 election. Other top intelligence agencies also participated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabbard posted an image of the timeline of the Russia hoax on her social media. 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 But not everyone believes Gabbard has incriminating evidence against the former president and his staff. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., told CBS News that this years-long coup Gabbard is insinuating happened has no legal basis. Gabbards press release was not just a lie, Himes said, but a very dangerous lie. He cited the Senate report, which backed the claim that Russia attempted to influence the presidential election by sabotaging Hillary Clintons campaign and supporting Trump. It is well known and well established that the Russians hacked into the DNC and undertook any number of other influence operations, including buying reams of Facebook ads, to discredit Hillary Clinton. That is not in contention, Himes added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Gabbards office released the information, Trump has posted multiple times on social media in connection with the allegations, even sharing an AI-generated video of Obama being arrested by FBI agents. Gabbard said in the release that all of her offices findings would be handed over to the Department of Justice for further action. GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) Officials in Gallatin have begun discussions on Project Phoenix a plan that could bring a massive revamp to downtown Gallatin. The proposed public-private partnership would added mixed-use and residential buildings to the city hall block, allowing more people to live in the downtown area. In addition, the project would also reconstruct city hall, relocate the Gallatin Fire Departments headquarters to a new building, and add a park, among other changes. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts Its a massive undertaking, and one thats already generated plenty of discussion among locals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tell us what its going to cost, how long is it going to take, you know, how many people are going to be put out of business? asked Sandra Kelley, a Gallatin resident. The scope of it, I mean its just crazy to me that [the city] would take on something of this magnitude without letting the people be involved or letting us in on it. I dont want to see what theyre planning. And what will it do to the businesses, the churches? Its beyond my imagination that theyre going to do it, Kelley added. Make use of whats here, instead of building a whole bunch of new stuff. Its just going to ruin the town, I say. Kelley has started a petition, not against Project Phoenix, but instead to push city officials to be more transparent with the details of the plan. It currently has over 100 signatures. Meanwhile, one outspoken Gallatin councilmember believes the numbers arent adding up on Project Phoenix. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe its a good idea, but I cant make up my mind because basic, simple questions are not answered, said Councilman Pascal Jouvence. If we tear down [city hall], everybodys going to have to move out of there and work somewhere else. How much is that going to cost? Sumner County debates short-term rental rules in unincorporated areas For Jouvence, cost is the biggest question that remains unknown with Project Phoenix. He emphasized that taxpayers should not feel the burden. I want all the numbers in front of us before any decision is made. I cant take the, We need to sign [off] on it before we can figure out if thats going to work. No, that doesnt work like that, said Jouvence. All the constituents Ive talked to I found only one person that was pro-Project Phoenix. I think the issue comes from a lack of transparency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of now, nothing has been approved or green-lit with Project Phoenix. It remains in a design and discussion phase, with studies still being conducted regarding its feasibility. News 2 spoke with both Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown and Vice Mayor Craig Hayes about Project Phoenix. Hayes said the city has been communicating everything we know about the project. We have no idea on the cost for the developers or the city, so we cant really show that. We have been very transparent, said Hayes. I dont believe in killing the project because we dont know enough right now. Hayes stressed how the project would draw more foot traffic to downtown Gallatin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City squares survive on walkability. To make our downtown survive, you have to have people living down there, he said. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Meanwhile, Brown said the opportunity to redevelop any number of properties surrounding their historic city square could be beneficial. She agreed that Project Phoenix could put more shoppers and diners at businesses front doors. Brown also emphasized the importance of foot traffic for the long-range vibrancy and success of local businesses. Gallatin city leaders will discuss Project Phoenix in a work session starting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Jul. 21Every morning, South Valley teen RaeAnna Gallegos watches her three steers, Magic, Honey and Tank, nourish on grain. As they eat, she said she wonders about "how big they're going to get" and how they will do at the upcoming Bernalillo County Fair. The fair starts Friday at Expo New Mexico and ends with an auction on Aug. 1. "The county fair is really important when you're showing cattle because it's the culmination of all your hard work," Gallegos, 16, said. "It's where you get the chance to compete, get judged and learn how your animal stacks up against others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You also get valuable feedback from the judge, which helps you as a showman." Showmanship refers to how well a participant presents and handles their animal in the show ring. It is not only about the quality of the animal, but the exhibitor's skill, knowledge and ability to work with their animal, Gallegos explained. In the past, she said she felt pressure whenever she competed during a fair. "I have to make a bond with my steer to know that we're going to work as a team going into that ring," Gallegos said. "I always tell my steer, 'We got this, buddy. It's game time.'" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the ring, the participant is expected to keep their eyes on the judge and follow directions, maintain proper spacing and present their animal, she said. Gallegos has not let the pressure get to her. Last year, she earned grand champion steer and reserve champion showman in class at the county fair. That is in addition to placing in multiple categories at the New Mexico State Fair. The Bernalillo County Fair is one of many statewide county fairs that give 4-H participants a chance to showcase a year's worth of hard work that culminates with the New Mexico State Fair starting Sept. 4. But the events are more than about winning that ribbon. "It's not about the awards," Gallegos said, "but getting that appreciation and knowing that you put all your work and dedication into that animal to make sure they look good, and your showmanship is right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's just like a big 'thank you' at the end of the day." Aside from her steers, Gallegos will be showcasing her dairy cow named Daisy; lamb, Lightning McQueen; goat, Baby; and Shih Tzu named Buddy. She will also participate in exhibit competitions like cooking and sewing. "If I don't know how to sew, how am I going to fix a pair of pants that I tore while working with my steers?" Gallegos said. "If I don't know how to cook, how am I going to make cookies for my buyers?" Teaching responsibility Gallegos' love of animals and 4-H came from her upbringing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her great-great-grandparents raised sheep on what became her parents' South Valley property. Gallegos' dad, Ramiro Gallegos, grew up raising pigs. Her older brothers, Christopher Walker and Evan Garcia, reared animals during their years in 4-H. The family property may only be a couple of acres, RaeAnna Gallegos said, "but it's enough for me to show cattle and do the great things I do every year, every day and still get to (honor) my family heritage." That passion for animals and agriculture propelled her to become a strong advocate for 4-H. A few years ago, she successfully lobbied to have her middle school, Ernie Pyle, implement a 4-H after-school program. Molly Hayes, who runs the program at Ernie Pyle, said 4-H offers skills that people can carry with them for the rest of their lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She works hard to promote the 4-H, and she understands the values that it teaches," Hayes said. RaeAnna Gallegos' passion for 4-H and her animals do not get in the way of her school work and extracurricular activities. The Valley High School junior has a 3.8 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society. She's also involved in cheerleading and softball. While she enjoys cheering her teams on, if a school activity coincides with her 4-H duties or chores at home, she said, "I have to say, 'I'm sorry. I have to go to 4-H,' or 'I have to put my steers first.'" After graduating high school, she said she plans to go to New Mexico State University and hopes to one day go to veterinarian school. She also wants to own a ranch and raise steers and heifers for 4-H kids who live in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RaeAnna Gallegos' immediate goal is to encourage people to come support the kids and animals and learn what 4-H is about. "I want to represent my club and community well," she said, "and show the value of youth agriculture programs in 4-H and Albuquerque." TOWANDA, Pa. (WETM) Gannon Associates Insurance has donated $10,000 to a nonprofit based in Northeastern Pennsylvania that works to help children who face food insecurity. The insurance agency donated the money after receiving an award through Independent Agent Giving, which helps independent insurance agents who sell Liberty Mutual Small Commercial Insurance, Safeco Insurance or State Auto products make a difference in their community. Troy Fair set to return for its 149th year Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through the program, Gannon was awarded a 2025 Make More Happen Award for its partnership with CHOP Out Hunger, a nonprofit organization that provides meals to children and families who struggle with food insecurity in 21 Pennsylvania counties. Gannon first received $5,000 to donate to the organization, which was later matched after the insurance agencys story was shared on the Make More Happen webpage and received over 500 votes and comments. The matching donation then turned the total donation amount into $10,000. Since it was established, Gannon has supported CHOP by volunteering, fundraising and its client referral program, which turns customer referrals into contributions to charity. Gannons most recent contribution was packing over 500 food bags for kids to have during the weekends when they arent in school. Document shredding event to be held during Senior Expo in Bradford County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By supporting CHOP Out Hunger, were not just filling stomachs; were nurturing futures, said Kali Grove, marketing manager at Gannon Associates Insurance. Its inspiring to see our entire agency come together to ensure no child goes without food. Throughout 2025, Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance will pick up to 36 independent agencies for a Make More Happen Award to help support community giveback. Awards are given to eligible agencies that submit an application and demonstrate their commitment to a specific cause. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GARFIELD COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) Garfield County Libraries are hosting an assortment of different community events starting as soon as this coming weekend. Kicking things off this Saturday with a meet-and-greet at the Rifle Branch Library. Author Cassandra Ann Jacobs, who went to high school just down the road in Glenwood, will be there to discuss her writing journey and her book Black Hollow. The event is open to anyone and free; show up at 1 p.m. to meet Jacobs. Also on Saturday, the Glenwood Springs Branch Library will be hosting a Mario Kart event from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. as part of their Summer Reading Challenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following day, July 27, there will be matinees of nostalgic films. The Parachute Branch Library will be showing free movies that will take place at 2 p.m. on their respective dates. 10 Things I Hate About You, July 27. Waynes World, Aug. 24. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sept. 28. The Carbondale Branch Library will also be putting on a free recital from a guitar ensemble on Monday, July 28, at 5 p.m. The recital will feature local middle and high school students performing their work from the Aspen Music Festival and Schools P.A.L.S. program. Starting Tuesday, July 29, Garfield County Public Health will join the libraries to provide a place for discussion about mental health issues. They will follow up by presenting the event again on select Tuesdays, alternating between the Glenwood Springs and Rifle Branch Libraries at 5 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement July 29, Glenwood Springs Branch Library Sept. 30, Rifle Branch Library Oct. 28, Glenwood Springs Branch Library They will all be open to the public, free, and will be streamed on Zoom. Another event taking place on Tuesday, July 29, is bilingual yoga led by Diana Laughlin as part of the Summer Reading Challenge. July 29, 1 p.m., Glenwood Springs Branch Library July 29, 4 p.m., Carbondale Branch Library July 30, 11 a.m., New Castle Branch Library July 30, 2 p.m., Silt Branch Library July 31, 11 a.m., Parachute Branch Library July 31, 2 p.m., Rifle Branch Library These yoga events will bring songs and stories in both English and Spanish while practicing breathing and mindfulness. The events are free and are recommended for kids ages 4 to 10, but anyone is welcome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To end of the month, there will be a tie-dying event for teens. The Carbondale Branch Library will host it at 4:15 on July 31 as part of their Summer Reading Challenge. Anyone ages 10 to 18 can join to dye bandanas; attendees are encouraged to bring their own clothing to dye using the librarys supplies. Starting off August, Garfield County Libraries will host Rocky Mountain Puppets for their presentation of Prism Break. Each showing is free and open to all. Aug. 5, 1 p.m., Glenwood Springs Branch Library Aug. 5, 4 p.m., Carbondale Branch Library Aug. 6, 11 a.m., New Castle Branch Library Aug. 6, 2 p.m., Silt Branch Library Aug. 7, 11 a.m., Parachute Branch Library Aug. 7, 2 p.m., Rifle Branch Library Just days after, the Carbondale Branch Library is inviting people to come to their Truck N Roll event, where attendees can get a close-up look at working vehicles and big trucks. Those who drive the vehicles will be there to chat, and the vehicles will be open to explore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event is free and will take place on Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The first hour will be free of sirens and horns for those with sensory sensitivities. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. When Israel launched its controversial US-backed aid plan for Gaza, it aimed to stop Hamass alleged profiteering from the seizure and sale of humanitarian supplies. The aid delivery plan overseen by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has proved a blood-soaked catastrophe. The Gazan health authorities report that hundreds of people have been killed by gunfire as they queue for food at the GHF aid points controlled by Israeli troops and American contractors. Credit: Social media Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has also caused Hamass worst financial crisis in decades, Israeli officials report. The terror group has been unable to pay its fighters or repair its network of tunnels and hideouts beneath the Strip. Cash shortages have also left Hamas reportedly unable to pay salaries for police or ministry employees. Money reserves amassed before, or during the early stages of, the war have run short, while Israeli strikes have devastated the leadership and fractured its grip on the besieged territory. Hamas for years received large sums from Iran, Qatar and others, and was also able to tax cross-border commerce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has long alleged that Hamas also made money by seizing and selling international aid entering Gaza, though this has been denied by the United Nations and aid agencies. That income ended, officials say, when Israel imposed a blockade in March, and then began using the GHF, set up jointly by the US and Israel, to run aid hubs and bypass UN-run distributions. Gazans desperate for food swarm a truck carrying humanitarian aid in Jabalia, in the north of the Strip, on Tuesday - Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP via Getty Images The UN, the European Commission and major international aid organisations have said they have no evidence that Hamas has systematically stolen their aid. The Israeli government has not provided proof. Twenty-eight countries including Britain, this week condemned the new aid arrangements, amid widespread reports of starvation, and hundreds of people being shot as they tried to get food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The countries joint statement described as horrifying the recent deaths of over 800 Palestinians who were seeking aid, according to the figures released by Gazas Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas, and the UN human rights office. 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. Iman Shabat, a mother of five, carries a sack of flour from a humanitarian aid convoy that arrived in Gaza City on Tuesday. Israels new model of aid delivery has been attacked as dangerous by the international commuity - Jehad Ashrafi/AP Photo Palestinian health officials have said at least 101 people have died of hunger during the conflict, most of them in recent weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Food that does arrive in the coastal Strip is often sold and resold at extortionate prices, said Rabiha Abdel Aziz, a 75-year-old mother of nine living in a displacement camp in western Gaza. I dont know how people can eat, she told The Telegraph, explaining that the family can no longer even afford a kilo of flour, which currently costs 26. She said: My grandchildren wake up in the morning and ask me for a piece of bread that we dont have...Where will we get the money to buy food at this price? We are dying of hunger and bombing. People collapse in the streets Salem Jehad, a father of four who is living in a camp west of Gaza city, said he was unable to find milk for his newborn son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said: All my children have lost half their weight, and I am the same. Most people dont have money. Two years without work during the war, with the crossings closed and aid entering scarcely, people are collapsing in the streets from weakness and hunger. We drink water with salt to satisfy our hunger. Mr Jehad said access to food had dramatically worsened since GHF took over the distribution and he wanted a return to the previous UN-run model. A Palestinian boy waits at a charity kitchen in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday. Gazans say access to food has dramatically worsened since the new aid delivery model was introduced - AFP via Getty Images The UN said on Tuesday that Israeli forces had killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food aid in Gaza since the GHF began operations in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aid distributions have been marred by chaotic scenes and frequent reports of Israeli forces firing on people waiting to collect rations. Israels military has disputed previous death tolls, but has said its troops have at times fired warning shots, and it is investigating accusations of civilian deaths. Mr Jehad said: Now we are running into death traps. Gazans are dying to bring a kilo of flour and rice. Hamass mistake over strategy of suffering Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, who leads the Realign for Palestine lobby group, said that Hamas had counted on the humanitarian crisis to bring the war to an end. He told the Post: Hamass strategy relied on the suffering of Gazans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But when this strategy failed, it foolishly doubled down on this approach, in large part because it had nothing else in its toolbox to deal with Israels ferocious reaction to Oct 7 and the worlds inability to stop it. Lior Akerman, the head of national resilience at the Institute for Policy and Strategy (IPS) at Reichman University, and a former chief of staff in Shin Bet, Israels MI5, said Hamas had almost completely disintegrated in the Gaza Strip. He said: All the senior commanders were killed and all the frameworks of the fighting disintegrated. Today, in the absence of commanders, Hamas members in the Gaza Strip are operating like independent, armed militias. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In every area, the terrorists continue to do the best they can with the weapons they possess, and they are effectively waging a guerrilla war against the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This type of fighting could last for years and wear down the IDF in a never-ending war. Truce negotiations held up Israel and Hamas are holding indirect talks in Doha aimed at reaching a 60-day truce and a hostage release deal. But there has been no sign of a deal yet, and discussions have reportedly been held up by Hamass negotiators in Doha being unable to reach representatives in Gaza since late last week. Ronen Solomon, an Israeli intelligence analyst, said as Hamas had been degraded in Gaza, the groups centre of gravity had shifted to abroad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that with only Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, commander of the Gaza City Brigade, remaining as a senior figure in Gaza, a dramatic change has occurred. The centre of gravity shifted from the Strip to Hamas abroad, he said. And in particular to Khalil al-Khayya, who was very much involved in the planning of Oct 7 and continues to lead an extremist line from the Hamas base in Qatar. 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. For months, U.N. officials, aid groups and experts have warned that Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are on the brink of famine without formally declaring one. Even though Israel eased a 2 1/2-month blockade on the territory in May, aid groups say only a trickle of assistance is getting into the enclave and that Palestinians face catastrophic levels of hunger 21 months into the Israeli offensive launched after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack. Hundreds have been killed by Israeli forces as they try to reach aid sites or convoys, according to witnesses, health officials and the United Nations' human rights office. The military says it has only fired warning shots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the mounting desperation, there's been no formal declaration of famine. Here's why: UN says Gaza's hunger crisis is worsening Gazas population of roughly 2 million Palestinians relies almost entirely on outside aid. Israel's offensive has wiped out what was already limited local food production. Israel's blockade, along with ongoing fighting and chaos inside the territory, has further limited people's access to food. The U.N. World Food Program says Gazas hunger crisis has reached new and astonishing levels of desperation." Nearly 100,000 women and children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, and a third of Gazas population is going days without eating, Ross Smith, the agencys director for emergencies, said Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaza's Health Ministry said Tuesday that more than 100 people have died while showing signs of hunger and malnutrition, mostly children. It did not give their exact cause of death. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, is staffed by medical professionals and its figures on war deaths are seen by the U.N. and other experts as the most reliable estimate of casualties. Famine occurs when these conditions are met The leading international authority on food crises is the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, first set up in 2004 during the famine in Somalia. It includes more than a dozen U.N. agencies, aid groups, governments and other bodies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Famine can appear in pockets sometimes small ones and a formal classification requires caution. The IPC has only declared famine a few times in Somalia in 2011, and South Sudan in 2017 and 2020, and last year in parts of Sudans western Darfur region. Tens of thousands are believed to have died in Somalia and South Sudan. It rates an area as in famine when all three of these conditions are confirmed: 20% of households have an extreme lack of food, or are essentially starving. At least 30% of children six months to five years old suffer from acute malnutrition or wasting, meaning theyre too thin for their height. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least two people or four children under five per 10,000 are dying daily due to starvation or the interaction of malnutrition and disease. Gaza poses a major challenge for experts because Israel severely limits access to the territory, making it difficult and in some cases impossible to gather data. Famine declarations usually come from the U.N. or governments While the IPC says it is the primary mechanism used by the international community to conclude whether a famine is happening or projected, it typically doesnt make such a declaration itself. Often, U.N. officials together with governments will make a formal statement based on an analysis from the IPC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the IPC says once a famine is declared it's already too late. While it can prevent further deaths, it means many people will have died by the time a famine is declared. It's not always clear that hunger is the cause of death Most cases of severe malnutrition in children arise through a combination of lack of nutrients along with an infection, leading to diarrhea and other symptoms that cause dehydration, said Alex de Waal, author of Mass Starvation: The History and Future of Famine and executive director of the World Peace Foundation. There are no standard guidelines for physicians to classify cause of death as malnutrition as opposed to infection," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When famine occurs, there are often relatively few deaths from hunger alone, with far more people dying from a combination of malnutrition, disease and other forms of deprivation. All of these count as excess deaths separate from violence that can be attributed to a food crisis or famine, he said. The war has made it hard to get accurate information Israel's offensive has gutted Gaza's health system and displaced some 90% of its population. With hospitals damaged and overwhelmed by war casualties, it can be difficult to screen people for malnutrition and collect precise data on deaths. Data and surveillance systems are incomplete and eroded," said James Smith, an emergency doctor and lecturer in humanitarian policy at the University College London who spent more than two months in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Which means that all health indicators and the death toll are known to be an underestimation, he said. Even when famine is declared, the response can be lacking A declaration of famine should in theory galvanize the international community to rush food to those who need it. But with aid budgets already stretched, and war and politics throwing up obstacles, that doesn't always happen. There is not a big, huge bank account to draw on, said OCHAs Laerke. The fundamental problem is that we build the fire engine as we respond. Aid groups say plenty of food and other aid has been gathered on Gaza's borders, but Israel is allowing only a small amount to enter. Within Gaza, gunfire, chaos and looting have plagued the distribution of food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military says it has facilitated the entry of some 4,500 aid trucks since mid-May. Thats far below the 600 trucks a day that aid groups say are needed, and which entered during a six-week ceasefire earlier this year. An Israeli-backed American contractor is also distributing food. U.N. agencies say Israeli restrictions, and the breakdown of law and order, make it difficult to distribute the food that does come in. Only a massive scale-up in food aid distributions can stabilize this spiraling situation, calm anxieties and rebuild the trust within communities that more food is coming, the World Food Program said over the weekend. An agreed ceasefire is long overdue. ___ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story was first published on July 22, 2025. It was updated on July 23, 2025, to correct that an area is in famine when all three of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classifications conditions are confirmed. ___ Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed. The tech world says generative artificial intelligence is essential for the future of work and learning. But as an educator, I still wonder: Is it really worth bringing it into the classroom? Will these tools truly help students learn, or create new challenges we havent yet faced? Like many other people in higher education, I was skeptical but knew I couldnt ignore it. So, instead of waiting for all the answers, I decided to dive in and discover what preparing students for an AI-powered world really means beyond the hype. Last semester, I developed a business technology class where the latest generative AI tools were woven into the curriculum. What I found is that AI productivity products have a learning curve, much like other applications that students, and ultimately white-collar workers, use in knowledge work. But I needed to adjust how I taught the class to emphasize critical thinking, reflection on how these tools are being used and checks against the errors they produce. The project Its no secret that generative AI is changing how people work, learn and teach. According to the 2025 McKinsey Global Survey on AI, 78% of respondents said their organizations use AI in at least one business function, and many are actively reskilling their workforce or training them with new skills to meet the demands of this shift. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As program director of the Business Information Technology bachelors degree program at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Wisconsins polytechnic university, I spend a lot of time thinking about how to prepare students for the workplace. Im also an AI enthusiast, but a skeptical one. I believe in the power of these tools, but I also know they raise questions about ethics, responsibility and readiness. So, I asked myself: How can I make sure our students are ready to use AI and understand it? In spring 2025, University of Wisconsin-Stout launched a pilot for a small group of faculty and staff to explore Microsoft 365 Copilot for business. Since it works alongside tools such as Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, OneDrive and Teams, which are products our students already use, I saw an opportunity to bring these latest AI features to them as well. To do that, I built an exploratory project into our senior capstone course. Students were asked to use Copilot for Business throughout the semester, keep a journal reflecting on their experience and develop practical use cases for how AI could support them both as students and future professionals. I didnt assign specific tasks. Instead, I encouraged them to explore freely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My goal wasnt to turn them into AI experts overnight. I wanted them to build comfort, fluency and critical awareness about how and when to use AI tools in real-world contexts. What my students and I learned What stood out to me the most was how quickly students moved from curiosity to confidence. Many of them had already experimented with tools such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini, but Copilot for Business was a little different. It worked with their own documents, emails, meeting notes and class materials, which made the experience more personal and immediately relevant. In their journals, students described how they used Copilot to summarize Teams video meetings, draft PowerPoint slides and write more polished emails. One student said it saved them time by generating summaries they could review after a meeting instead of taking notes during the call or rewatching a recording. Another used it to check their assignment against the rubric a scoring tool that outlines the criteria and performance levels for assessing student work to help them feel more confident before submitting their work. College students will likely be asked to use AI features in business productivity applications once they enter the workforce. Whats the best way to teach them how to effectively use them? Denise Jans on Unsplash Several students admitted they struggled at first to write effective prompts the typed requests that guide the AI to generate content and had to experiment to get the results they wanted. A few reflected on instances where Copilot, like other generative AI tools, produced inaccurate or made-up information, or hallucinations, and said they learned to double-check its responses. This helped them understand the importance of verifying AI-generated content, especially in academic and professional settings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some students also said they had to remind themselves to use Copilot instead of falling back on other tools they were more familiar with. In some cases, they simply forgot Copilot was available. That feedback showed me how important it is to give students time and space to build new habits around emerging technologies. Whats next While Copilot for Business worked well for this project, its higher cost compared with previous desktop productivity apps may limit its use in future classes and raises ethical questions about access. That said, I plan to continue expanding the use of generative AI tools across my courses. Instead of treating AI as a one-off topic, I want it to become part of the flow of everyday academic work. My goal is to help students build AI literacy and use these tools responsibly and thoughtfully, as a support for their learning, not a replacement for it. Historically, software programs enabled people to produce content, such as text documents, slides or the like, whereas generative AI tools produce the work based on user prompts. This shift requires a higher level of awareness about what students are learning and how theyre engaging with the materials and the AI tool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This pilot project reminded me that integrating AI into the classroom isnt just about giving students access to new tools. Its about creating space to explore, experiment, reflect and think critically about how these tools fit into their personal and professional lives and, most importantly, how they work. As an educator, Im also thinking about the deeper questions this technology raises. How do we ensure that students continue developing original thoughts and critical thinking when AI can easily generate ideas or content? How can we preserve meaningful learning while still taking advantage of the efficiency these tools offer? And what kinds of assignments can help students use AI effectively while still demonstrating their own thinking? These arent just theoretical concerns. Early studies have identified the risks of cognitive offloading when performing tasks, such as writing essays with AI. Studies have also shown that using AI can reduce cognitive effort and even affect students confidence levels in their thinking. This highlights the importance of incorporating critical thinking activities alongside AI use. These questions arent easy, but they are important. Higher education has an important role to play in helping students use AI and understand its impact and their responsibility in shaping how its used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Striking the right balance between fostering original thought and critical thinking with AI can be tricky. One way Ive approached this is encouraging students to first create their content on their own, then use AI for review. This way, they maintain ownership of their work and see AI as a helpful tool rather than a shortcut. Its all about knowing when to leverage AI to refine or enhance their ideas. One piece of advice I received that really stuck with me was this: Start small, be transparent and talk openly with your students. Thats what I did, and its what Ill continue doing as I enter this next chapter of teaching and learning in the age of AI. 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: Camille Banger, University of Wisconsin-Stout Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Camille Banger 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. In what a district attorney called a heart-wrenching situation, a Georgia woman will spend years behind bars for the death of her young daughter. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Last Thursday, Taylor Marie Hughes, of Lyons, pleaded guilty in Toombs County Superior Court for the death of her 4-year-old daughter, Reese Carter Hughes. The plea stems from the investigation that began on March 14. Toombs County deputies responded to a call about an unresponsive child. The caller informed dispatch that they were en route to the hospital from their home. Emergency responders met the caller at the Enmarket convenience store at West Liberty Street and South Victory Drive in Lyons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paramedics immediately began life-saving measures while headed to Memorial Health Meadows Hospital in Vidalia, authorities said. Shortly after arriving at the hospital, Reese Hughes was pronounced dead. TRENDING STORIES: Investigators said, Taylor Hughes failed to protect her daughter from physical abuse inflicted by her boyfriend, Seth Hunter Brown, of Lyons, and failed to get Reese immediate medical attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before pleading guilty, TCSO said Taylor Hughes provided critical information to investigators and agreed to testify against Brown in his upcoming trials. Taylor Hughes pleaded guilty to one count of felony murder and two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree. She was sentenced to life plus twenty concurrent. Brown is still awaiting trial. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] District Attorney Tripp Fitzner said it was a heart-wrenching situation. It is a heart-wrenching situation. I lack the words to express the magnitude of this tragedy. Whether you know the families involved or not, it affects us deeply at a visceral level, Fitzner wrote. A top German court has rejected a complaint by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) over an assessment by the domestic intelligence agency which classifies the party as a suspected right-wing extremist group, the court said on Tuesday. This means a judgement by a regional administrative court which backed the classification last year is final. Germany's federal domestic intelligence agency, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, classified the AfD and its now disbanded youth wing as suspected extremist movements, which allowed the agency to monitor the party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AfD took legal action against the assessment, but the challenge was struck down by an administrative court in Cologne. A higher administrative court in Munster also rejected an appeal, finding sufficiently substantiated circumstances suggesting the AfD was striving to damage the free democratic basic order. After the Munster court denied leave to appeal against its judgement, the AfD took the matter to the federal administrative court in Leipzig, which rejected the final challenge in the case. The domestic intelligence agency has since upgraded its assessment and classified the AfD, which came second in February's parliamentary elections, as a confirmed right-wing extremist group. However, the classification published in early May has been suspended pending a ruling in another legal challenge brought by the party. A number the party's regional branches, meanwhile, are being monitored as confirmed right-wing extremist groups by state intelligence. German Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan expressed regret on Tuesday that Germany had not joined the 28 countries demanding an immediate end to the war in Gaza, in a statement issued the previous day. The Social Democratic politician said the demand in the joint letter was "understandable," in comments to the Rheinische Post newspaper. "I would have wished for Germany to join the signal from the 29 partners," Alabali Radovan said. The letter was signed by 28 countries and the European Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What is happening in Gaza right now is unbelievable. Innocent children are dying. People are starving," she added. "What is needed now not at some point is an immediate and sustainable ceasefire." On Monday, the foreign ministers of 25 countries, including Italy, France, Austria, Britain, Belgium and Canada, as well as EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, signed a joint statement calling for the war in Gaza to "end now." Greece, Cyprus and Malta also joined the initiative. Germany - which for historic reasons sees its fate existentially tied to that of Israel - is not among the signatories. "The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity," the letter states. German Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan expressed regret on Tuesday that Germany had not joined the 28 countries demanding an immediate end to the war in Gaza, in a statement issued the previous day. The Social Democratic politician said the demand in the joint letter was "understandable," in comments to the Rheinische Post newspaper. "I would have wished for Germany to join the signal from the 29 partners," Alabali Radovan said. The letter was signed by 28 countries and the European Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What is happening in Gaza right now is unbelievable. Innocent children are dying. People are starving," she added. "What is needed now not at some point is an immediate and sustainable ceasefire." On Monday, the foreign ministers of 25 countries, including Italy, France, Austria, Britain, Belgium and Canada, as well as EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, signed a joint statement calling for the war in Gaza to "end now." Greece, Cyprus and Malta also joined the initiative. Germany - which for historic reasons sees its fate existentially tied to that of Israel - is not among the signatories. "The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity," the letter states. German Foreign Minister shares criticism Despite not signing the statement, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed his concern on X about the "catastrophic humanitarian situation" in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he had telephoned with his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar, adding: "We urgently call on Israel to implement the agreements with the EU to enable humanitarian aid." Brussels has not published details of the conditions agreed with Israel for the provision of aid to Gaza. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she had also spoken with Saar, telling him that "the killing of civilians seeking aid in Gaza is indefensible." "All options remain on the table if Israel doesn't deliver on its pledges," she wrote on X. Alabali Radovan further stated: "The civilian population in Gaza must not keep being crushed between the fronts. Children, families, the elderly they need water, food, medical care and security." She appealed to the Israeli government: "International law must be observed! Allow aid deliveries to pass through unhindered! Permit safe humanitarian corridors and unimpeded access for the UN and humanitarian organizations!" Local politicians in north-eastern Germany were up in arms on Tuesday, after news broke that a major oil and gas deposit has been discovered in neighbouring Poland, with some experts also cautioning against extraction. The find off the Polish Baltic coast by Canadian company Central European Petroleum (CEP) was hailed as a possible "breakthrough moment" in Poland, but officials across the border in Germany were quick to point out that extracting fossil fuels should not take priority in times of climate change. "Our future does not lie in oil from the Baltic Sea, but in energy from the sun, wind and biomass," said Till Backhaus, environment minister of the coastal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, which borders Poland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The project stands for a backward-looking industrial policy in terms of climate policy, which is contrary to the interests of the environment and tourism on the German side," he added. Major breakthrough? The Wolin East offshore oil field discovered by CEP is said to be located around 6 kilometres from the port city of Swinoujscie on the fringes of north-western Poland. Parts of the city are located on the island of Usedom, which is divided between Germany and Poland. According to the results of test drilling, the recoverable reserves of crude oil and natural gas are estimated at 200 million barrels of oil equivalent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CEP said the Wolin East site is estimated to represent "the largest conventional hydrocarbon field" ever discovered in Poland and "one of the largest conventional oil discoveries in Europe in the past decade." If the deposit is confirmed, this "may prove to be one of the breakthrough moments in the history of hydrocarbon exploration in Poland," said the country's chief national geologist Krzysztof Galos. "The future development of this site may significantly contribute to strengthening Poland's energy security and reducing its dependence on external hydrocarbon suppliers," he told news agency PAP. Mining could begin in three to four years, with the field estimated to be able to cover 4% to 5% of Poland's annual oil demand for several years, according to Galos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CEP has held a licence for exploration off the western Polish coast since 2017. Officials and experts sound alarm Officials in the German part of Usedom were less euphoric, however, with the mayor of the town of Heringsdorf noting the area's status as a nature conservation area. "We are a spa and holiday resort. We do everything we can to keep our beaches, our town and the sea clean," said Laura Isabelle Marisken. "Heavy industrial gas and oil extraction right on our doorstep, it's obvious that this is a massive intrusion into our natural environment." The German Institute for Economic Research also advised against exploiting the oil field, noting not only possible considerable negative consequences for tourism, but also the risk of cross-border pollution caused by an accident. "In addition, the promotion of fossil fuels thwarts climate protection goals," said Claudia Kemfert, head of the institute's Energy, Transport and Environment Department. "The costs and benefits [of the project] are therefore disproportionate." Germany is at risk of missing its climate targets from 2040 onwards, according to the German government's latest climate protection report. The 2025 report, which has been obtained by dpa, is due to be approved by Cabinet in the coming weeks. Germany aims to become carbon neutral by 2045, but the report found that the climate protection measures adopted to date are "insufficient" to achieve the targets for 2040 and 2045. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To reach its climate goals, the country must take "further transformation steps" in the medium and long term, according to the more than 450-page document, which was drafted by the Federal Ministry for Climate Action. Germany is on track to reach its targets for the period up to 2030, according to the report. "If the climate protection measures decided upon to date are implemented, the total annual emission targets set out in the Climate Protection Act can be met between 2021 and 2030," it states. However, this is conditional on the measures being implemented consistently and on adjustments being made in the event of new developments, for example a sharp rise in energy demand. The report also highlighted the building and transport sectors as particular obstacles to achieving the climate targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the transport sector, the "most effective starting point" for a significant reduction is to accelerate the transition to electric vehciles, it says. In the building sector, the authors' projections for 2045 assume that more than 11 million buildings will be supplied by heat pumps and around 3.5 million buildings will be connected to heating networks. However, they conclude that progress is "too slow to achieve the targets for 2030 or 2045 in time." By Sarah Marsh and Andreas Rinke BERLIN (Reuters) -German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is under pressure to take a firmer stance on Israel, with members of his own coalition calling for Berlin to join a statement by dozens of Western nations condemning the "inhumane killing" of Palestinians. Merz, who leads Germany's centre-right CDU, has been increasingly critical of Israel. But Germany was notably absent from the joint statement issued on Monday by the EU Crisis Management Commissioner and 28 Western countries, including Britain and France, that called on Israel to immediately end the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The countries condemned what they called the "drip feeding of aid" to Palestinians in Gaza and said it was "horrifying" that more than 800 civilians had been killed while seeking aid. Reem Alabali Radovan, international development minister in Merz's cabinet and a member of the centre-left SPD junior coalition partners, said on Tuesday she was unhappy with Germany's decision not to sign it. "The demands in the letter from the 29 partners to the Israeli government are understandable to me. I would have wished for Germany to join the signal sent by the 29 partners," she said. Merz said late on Tuesday that the European Council had already issued a joint declaration that was "practically identical in content to what is expressed in the letter". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The council's June statement did deplore the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza but was not as emotionally charged and bluntly critical of Israel - nor did it condemn the Israeli scheme to move Palestinians to a so-called "humanitarian city" announced earlier this month. "I was one of the first to say very clearly even in Germany that the situation there is no longer acceptable," Merz said, denying any divisions within his coalition on this issue. On Monday, he said he spoke on Friday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and told him "very clearly and very explicitly that we do not share the Israeli governments policy on Gaza". But the decision to withhold Germany's signature from the declaration follows many months in which Germany has taken particular care in public to restrain its criticism of Israeli actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement German officials say their approach to Israel is governed by a special responsibility, known as the Staatsraison, arising from the legacy of the Nazi Holocaust. They believe they can achieve more through diplomatic back channels than public statements. Merz is one of the few European leaders who has publicly offered to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, without arresting him on a warrant for suspected war crimes issued by the International Criminal Court in the Hague. Israel rejects the charges against Netanyahu and says they are politically motivated. The ICC says all signatories of the court's founding statute, which include all 27 EU members, are obliged to arrest Netanyahu if he enters their territory. Critics of Merz's approach, including within the SPD coalition partners, say the legacy of the Holocaust cannot be an excuse for ignoring Israeli crimes, and, on the contrary, the post-Holocaust motto of "never again" should apply to Gaza now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The situation in Gaza is catastrophic and represents a humanitarian abyss," said a joint statement by two senior SPD lawmakers - foreign policy spokesperson Adis Ahmetovic and rapporteur for the Middle East Rolf Mutzenich - who called for Berlin to join the joint declaration. There should be "clear and immediate consequences" for Israel, including the suspension of a pact governing EU-Israeli relations and a halt to the export of weapons to Israel that are used in violation of international law, they said. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh and Andreas RinkeAdditional Reporting by Alexander RatzEditing by Peter Graff and Raju Gopalakrishnan) Getting an H-1B visa is like winning the lottery heres how the program works In 2025, more than 400,000 foreign professionals submitted their names for a chance at an H-1B visa, but only about 114,000 were selected.That 25.6% success rate is still higher than 2024s even more competitive odds at 24.8%. For skilled workers hoping to live and work in the United States, the H-1B process has come to feel less like a job application and more like a game of chance. But this high-stakes lottery isnt just about numbers. The H-1B program fuels major industries like tech, health care, and engineering all sectors struggling to meet demand with domestic workers alone. With recent reforms aimed at cutting fraud and increasing fairness, H-1B Employer Data looked into ways the U.S. is reshaping how it welcomes talent from abroad. What is the H-1B visa? The H-1B is a temporary, nonimmigrant visa that allows U.S. companies to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations. These jobs require at least a bachelors degree and tend to cluster in science, technology, engineering, and math collectively known as STEM fields. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since its creation in 1990, the program has become one of the main legal pathways for skilled workers to enter the U.S. labor market. Its also one of the most hotly debated, with advocates praising its economic benefits and critics raising concerns about fairness and wage suppression. The structure: caps, lotteries, and reforms Each year, the U.S. government issues a maximum of 85,000 H-1B visas: 65,000 under the general cap and 20,000 for workers with a U.S. masters degree or higher. However, demand has long outpaced supply, which led U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services to implement a lottery system; one that, until recently, could be manipulated through multiple employer registrations. That changed in FY 2025, when USCIS introduced a beneficiary-centric selection process. Instead of allowing multiple companies to submit separate entries for the same individual, USCIS now enters each worker into the lottery only once, regardless of how many offers they have. This helped reduce system gaming and slashed duplicate entries. According to USCIS data, the average number of registrations per applicant dropped from 1.70 in fiscal year 2024 to just 1.06 in 2025. Total eligible registrations also declined by over 38%, from 758,994 to 470,342. Data chart showing H1-B visa registrations and selections by fiscal year. - H-1B Employer Data Who gets selected and where do they come from? The typical H-1B recipient is 33, holds at least a bachelors degree, and works in a tech-adjacent role. According to the latest congressional report from USCIS, 72.3% of approved H-1B petitions in FY 2023 came from India, followed by China at 11.7%. The rest came from countries like Canada, South Korea, and the Philippines in much smaller numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In terms of education: 34% held a bachelors degree 22% held a masters 8% held a doctorate 4% had a professional degree 32% had an unknown education level (often due to missing employer data) Gender disparities persist: 71% of recipients in FY 2023 were male. Data chart showing the percentage of H1-B recipients by country of origin. - H-1B Employer Data Where they work and what they earn The H-1B is deeply tied to the tech economy. In FY 2023, about 65% of all H-1B approvals were for computer-related occupations, with smaller shares in: Engineering and architecture: 9.5% Education: 6% Administrative specializations: 5% Health care and medicine: 4.3% Employers must prove that a role qualifies as a specialty occupation, a position requiring both theoretical and practical expertise typically earned through a degree. That has made the H-1B a go-to solution for U.S. employers trying to close the STEM skills gap. A recent study from the American Immigration Council underscored how essential these workers are to filling chronic labor shortages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre also well-compensated. According to a Forbes analysis of USCIS wage data, the average salary for H-1B computer professionals in FY 2022 was $129,000, with a median of $123,000. These figures have grown over 25% since 2018. Some top tech firms offer even more: Nvidia paid an average of $213,634, while Wipro paid $93,146. These roles arent cheap for employers, either. Total costs for hiring an H-1B worker can exceed $30,000, once you factor in legal and government filing fees. Data chart showing percentage of H1-B recipients by occupation. - H-1B Employer Data Which companies hire the most? In FY 2025, the companies submitting the most Labor Condition Applications (a key part of the H-1B process) included: Amazon: 10,969 applications Cognizant: 8,688 Ernst & Young: 8,674 Tata Consultancy Services: 8,120 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As this breakdown from MyVisaJobs shows, big tech and consulting firms dominate the top of the list. These companies rely heavily on global talent pipelines to maintain product development, infrastructure, and client services. Top 25 H1-B sponsoring companies and average salary. - H-1B Employer Data Economic impact and lingering questions Research shows the benefits of the H-1B program extend well beyond individual workers. Some studies estimate that each H-1B visa leads to 7.5 additional jobs for U.S. workers in related fields. The program also contributes to lower prices, higher innovation rates, and increased output in tech goods and services, particularly in regions that host large numbers of H-1B workers. However, its not without controversy. Critics argue that the program can depress wages in certain sectors, while others believe it gives too much power to large corporations. Still, economic modeling has found that the overall impact is positive, especially for innovation and productivity in the U.S. economy. Whats next? The beneficiary-centric reform in FY 2025 marked a significant improvement in reducing fraud and leveling the playing field. USCIS has also increased site visits, random audits, and reporting mechanisms for suspected abuse all part of a broader effort to increase transparency and trust in the system (USCIS fraud page). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Looking ahead, policy discussions will continue about whether the H-1B cap should be expanded, restructured, or replaced altogether. But one thing is clear: for tens of thousands of skilled professionals around the world, this visa remains the most direct, if unpredictable, path into the American workforce. This story was produced by H1-B Employer Data and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and 20 other attorneys general are suing the Federal Administration over a new policy that reclassifies more than a dozen federally funded services as benefits similar to welfare. Those programs will now have to verify the immigration status of students and parents. The move could have devastating impacts on Oregons Head Start programs which provide early childhood education to low-income families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement announcing the lawsuit, Rayfield says, These changes were issued with no notice, no legal justification, and no plan for how states are supposed to comply. Non-profit advocacy group Family Forward Oregon along with Head Start groups across the country is also suing the administration over its closure of offices and restriction against using funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Candice Williams, the executive director at Family Forward Oregon, says the administrations latest policy was done to create deliberate chaos and believes there is a reason services for children are being targeted. What this administration is attempting to do is disinform and de-educate the next generation of voters, she said. They are attempting to make it so their kids will not be ready to participate in the democratic process when its their chance to take over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Head Start programs are required to exclude children based on immigration status, Rayfields office says Oregon could lose over $3.1 million each year in funding, impacting nearly 5,000 kids across the state. Williams says its not just undocumented kids and parents that will feel those impacts. If your program has any number of children that could be covered by these changes, that whole program is at risk of closing its doors. This is going to hurt all families that engage with Head Start, she said. Nationally, more than half a million families will be impacted by the policy change. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) The Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office arrested a man on child pornography charges. According to the sheriffs office, APSO and the Louisiana Attorney Generals Office received a case from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about pornography involving juveniles. During an investigation, detectives conducted a search warrant and discovered that Devante Carter, 30, of Gonzales, downloaded multiple videos of child pornography and sexual abuse of an animal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 16, Carter was arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail on four counts of pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13, three counts of sexual abuse of an animal, and possession of pornography involving juveniles. This is an ongoing investigation. 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. GOP state Sen. Eric Pratt to run for Angie Craig's open U.S. House seat originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Minnesota Sen. Eric Pratt just launched a bid for the competitive 2nd Congressional District seat that's being vacated by U.S. Rep. Angie Craig. Pratt (R-Prior Lake) announced on Monday that he's entering the race with a campaign that's "about putting families first." He listed lowering costs for working families among his priorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The people of the Second District deserve a representative who listens, understands their challenges, and delivers real results," he said in a statement. "President Trump is making strides and bringing energy back to our economy, but families in CD2 still need someone who can win in November to keep that momentum going." Pratt was first elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2016, 2020 and 2022. He represents District 54 in the southeast metro. Sen. Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake) represents District 54 in the southeast metro.Minnesota Senate Pratt joins Tyler Kistner, a Marine veteran who's unsuccessfully challenged Craig twice, in seeking the Republican nomination for the 2nd Congressional District. Democrats also running for the seat include former Lakeville mayor and DFL state Sen. Matt Little and current state Sen. Matt Klein. Craig is vying for Tina Smith's soon-to-be-open U.S. Senate seat instead of another Congressional term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This open seat is critical, and its going to take a Republican in Congress who will fight to deliver real relief where its needed most," Pratt said. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) called on President Donald Trump to release files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. DeSantis made his remarks Sunday on Fox News One Nation with Brian Kilmeade, days after the Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation sent a letter claiming there was no Epstein client list and that they would not release any further information about the investigation. Trump, who had a friendship with the late sex offender and previously promised that he would release the files, has since demanded that people stop drawing attention to the matter. What I would say is just release it, let people see. But I do think theres a desire for justice because Jeffrey Epstein and [Ghislaine] Maxwell didnt just do this amongst themselves. I mean, there were obviously other people involved, and yet no ones been brought to justice, DeSantis, who notably signed legislation authorizing the release of public grand jury documents last year, told Fox News. Advertisement Advertisement (A grand jury in Florida indicted Epstein on a felony charge of soliciting prostitution in 2006, but it wasnt until nearly two decades later that DeSantis legislation allowed the documents to be publicly released. In a statement at the time, DeSantis said, The public deserves to know who participated in Jeffrey Epsteins sex trafficking.) DeSantis, who has had a rocky relationshipwith Trump, joined a growing chorus of concerned politicians who have called on the Trump administration to release more information about Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting a trial on sex trafficking charges. Epsteins death, crimes and alleged sex trafficking operations have been at the center of right-wing conspiracies for years. As such, the Trump administrations recent decision to stop looking into it has been the subject of conversation for weeks. Trump has angrily tried to shut the conversation down. Earlier this month, Trump lashed out at a reporter who asked Attorney General Pam Bondi about the latest Epstein news. Advertisement Advertisement Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guys been talked about for years, the president abruptly said before Bondi was able to respond. I mean, I cant believe youre asking a question on Epstein at a time like this, where were having some of the greatest success and also tragedy with what happened in Texas. It just seems like a desecration. Trump has also slammed his own fan base over the topic, calling them weaklings. 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, Trump said in a post on Truth Social. They havent learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years. Multiple people, including billionaire Elon Musk and another former Trump administration official, have since speculated that Trump could be incriminated by the Epstein files. Advertisement Advertisement Time to drop the really big bomb, Musk said. [Trump] is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Miles Taylor, who served as Homeland Security chief of staff in 2019, told MSNBCs Alex Witt that it reeks of a cover-up. It doesnt have to be criminal, he cautioned. It could just be embarrassing. Related... Gov. Kevin Stitt has appointed a Jones woman to an open seat on the Statewide Charter School Board. Stitt named Britni Tomcho to the nine-member board on Friday, July 18. The Legislature created the board in 2023 to support education choice through the authorization of charter schools and virtual charter schools and the development and implementation of educational online learning courses and tools, according to its website. The board began meeting in July 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tomcho is one of three new members of the board, along with William Pearson, of Oologah appointed by Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton and Courtney Anderson, an Oklahoma State Department of Education staffer who is the new proxy for state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters. Tomcho said on her LinkedIn page that shes worked for Little Rock, Arkansas-based WEHCO Media, a newspaper and digital marketing company, since November 2022. According to the company's website, Tomcho was promoted to vice president of digital consumer revenue in December 2024 and oversees its digital subscription business. Tomcho has also worked for the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee and the San Angelo Standard-Times in Texas. Tomcho replaces Angie Thomas, of Edmond, on the charter school board. Tomchos term will begin July 31 and continue through July 2028. The governor appoints three of the board members, with the leaders of the Senate and House appointing two members each. The state auditor and inspector and the state superintendent of public instruction each can either serve on the board or appoint a proxy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board gained prominence for backing the proposed St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, which would have been the nations first publicly funded religious charter school. By a 4-4 vote in May, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that blocked St. Isidore from receiving taxpayer money. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Britni Tomcho named to Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) talked tolls Monday after his potential opponent in the Democratic primary said theyd be back on the table if he became governor. State Rep. Josh Elliott (D-88) the only Democrat to formally announce a gubernatorial run told News 8 on This Week in Connecticut that he supports bringing tolls back. Connecticut public schools named second-best in US: WalletHub Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a user fee, Elliott said. So ultimately, youre asking people from out of state to pay your state to be able to use your resources. Thats why I believe in it. The subject of tolls has been highly debated in this state for years. It has been nearly four decades since Connecticut has had toll roads. Ive been there. Ive done that. People did not want us to use tolls, Lamont said. I did challenge the legislature in January. I said, Look, were in pretty good shape on our transportation fund now, but were doing a lot of work. At some point, you give me your alternatives, what you think you can get behind. I havent heard a peep from any of em. Lamont has not formally announced a run for re-election yet, but has said he is a lot more inclined to do so than he once was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. FALL RIVER, Mass. (SHNS) The cause of the Gabriel House fire that killed 10 assisted living residents in Fall River this month is officially undetermined because investigators cannot yet say whether the fatal fire was started by the electrical or mechanical failure of an oxygen machine in a residents room, or instead by the improper disposal of smoking materials in that room, the state fire marshal said Tuesday. The July 13 fire began in a residents room on the left side of the second floor of the assisted living facility and was clearly accidental, Fire Marshal Jon Davine said at a press conference. Investigators narrowed the cause of the blaze to those two possibilities, but have not been able to nail it down further in part because the occupant of the room where the fire ignited was among the 10 who died. He said investigators found an oxygen concentrator and numerous smoking materials in the room where the fire began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Healey sitting out Governors Assoc. summer meeting Regardless of the exact cause, theres one additional factor we need to address. Investigators believe the presence of medical oxygen played a significant role in the fires rapid spread and the ensuing tragedy. Oxygen is a necessary component of any fire, and it was present in the area of origin and other locations at Gabriel House, Davine said. The fire marshal added, Home oxygen was was a known factor in about 20 fire deaths and more than three dozen injuries in Massachusetts over the past 10 years, and it was [a] suspected factor in many more. Most of these incidents involve smoking materials, which are the leading cause of fatal fires here in Massachusetts and across the nation. Davine discussed the preliminary findings at a press conference alongside Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn and Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon. Quinn, whose office is investigating the 10 deaths that resulted from the fire, declined to comment Tuesday when asked if smoking was allowed in the room where investigators believe the fire started. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district attorney also declined to comment on the status of the assisted living facilitys fire suppression system, saying that it is one factor under review as part of an investigation that is very active and will be ongoing for some period of time. Earlier Tuesday, Gov. Maura Healey visited Fall River to meet with city officials and area lawmakers. We are here today to listen, to make sure that we understand what this community needs now and moving forward in the wake of this tragedy. Were also here to discuss what were doing as a state to ensure that tragedies like this dont happen again, the governor said. All of us, I know all of us here, are of the deep view that no family, no resident, no community, should ever have to suffer or live with fear that something like this could happen to them or to their loved one. Healey also announced that she would make $1.2 million in state funding available for Fall River to hire more emergency response personnel and that she instructed her team to expedite the release of funds for a municipal public safety staffing program, a total of $5.7 million for 10 eligible municipalities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The special state commission that has been studying assisted living facilities with an emphasis on resident health and safety, which faces an Aug. 1 deadline, will be continuing to work over the coming weeks to incorporate lessons learned from the fatal Fall River fire on July 13, Healey said Tuesday. Even before Healey suggested that the Assisted Living Residence Commission would be working beyond its 1 deadline, Sen. Mark Montigny of New Bedford telegraphed his plan to seek an extension of at least 90 days when the commission meets Wednesday. When it met last week, some commission members wanted an extension and some wanted to issue a partial report while continuing to probe safety issues. After hearing from advocates who serve as the direct voice of residents, there is no question that the commission must take more time to ensure such a tragedy never happens again, Montigny said, adding that he has been meeting with resident advocates over the last week. Anything short of that will not be acceptable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aging & Independence Secretary Robin Lipson, who chairs the commission, said last week she wanted to take time between the meetings to think about how we balance the need to take a little more time on some issues, like the ones that we talked about that are directly influenced by what happened in Fall River, with the desire to share some of the great work weve already done with the Legislature. Healey on Friday afternoon announced a spate of safety-focused changes that she said her administration is requiring assisted living centers to make in response to the Gabriel House fire. 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. 21GRAND FORKS As 2026 budget negotiations continue, members of the Grand Forks County Commission will have to consider how to cut expenses or find new revenue to cover $1.4 million in spending that goes beyond the 3% cap on property tax levies. The commission considered the 2026 budget during a special meeting Monday afternoon; many of the numbers remain preliminary at this time. The commission will again consider the budget during a special meeting on July 29. Some of the unknowns include how much the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement will give the county for leased beds at the correctional center and how much health insurance benefits will cost the county. Commissioner Terry Bjerke said he will hold off on many of his proposed cuts until firmer numbers on revenue from DOCR came back. Some defined his proposed cuts as "Bjerke's Big Beautiful Budget" in reference to the federal government's recent passage of over $1 trillion in budget cuts and also in reference to Bjerke's "chainsaw" his word he plans to use on the county's budget. County Administrator Tom Ford told the commissioners that it's hard to budget for something that doesn't yet actually exist. "I'm a firm believer in anything can happen between now and then," Ford said. "Worst-case scenario, what if neither the state nor the county can agree and both walk away, and we budgeted for that revenue and now that revenue doesn't exist?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, the county and state have been in negotiations for several months about the state leasing beds in the correctional center expansion to house state prisoners. Sheriff Andy Schneider told commissioners that conversations are ongoing and that the state is likely seeking 60 beds instead of 72 to balance county space concerns and state budget concerns. During Monday's meeting, he did propose potentially eliminating many of the juvenile detention services the county currently provides as something for county staff to consider, and also to focus on providing those services locally instead of as part of a regional hub. "This is not a state facility this is a Grand Forks County facility," Bjerke said. "If the state wants a state facility, then the state can take state dollars to pay for it. The county should not be subsidizing this." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surrounding counties do pay Grand Forks County for use of juvenile detention facilities and Schneider said that if there were savings, they'd likely be eaten by having to transport from Moorhead or Minot, the next closest facilities. "That would then mandate the sheriff's office to transport juvenile inmates back and forth to court hearings," Schneider told the commission. "We would probably need additional staff, plus additional vehicles." Bjerke also asked staff to look into unfunded mandates, like the county's veterans services, increases in county recorder costs, changes to the state's court and criminal records software, and looking into UND paying property taxes, among a laundry list of things. The county will also have to account for a 14% to 19% increase in health insurance costs and increased costs of the retirement plan. County Human Resources Director Michele Thiel said that looking into a health savings account plan that would have lower costs for the county could be a way to save on benefit costs and provide county employees with more options. The final numbers won't be available until October, after the commission needs to have a budget passed, so a 19% increase has been budgeted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The budget proposed on Tuesday would see the county levy a total of $37.7 million in property taxes. Of that, $31.97 million includes levies subject to the state's new 3% cap. The other $5.7 million are taxes that aren't included in the cap and are either voter-approved, state taxes, or other boards separate from the county but included in the county tax bill. Bjerke said that he's seeking to put a ballot referendum on measures such as the ambulance service and senior citizens center. The ambulance service was approved by voters in 2002, and the senior citizens center a vote in 1988. The value of a mill, which corresponds with increased tax valuation of the county, has increased to an estimated $410,142 from the 2025 value of $394,222, a roughly 4% increase. The proposed budget for Tuesday would have the county levy 95.14 mills, 3.59 mills more than 2025. To keep the budget in compliance with state tax caps, the total number of mills is between 85 mills and 88 mills, or $1.4 million to $2.58 million in cuts. A mill is the multiplier used to calculate what a property owner owes in property taxes to a taxing entity. A mill is one one-thousandth of the total taxable value of an entity's jurisdiction. The mill levy is the total property tax levy needed divided by the value of a mill to get the mill rate and levy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of that could be augmented by the DOCR lease at the correctional center and by using cash-carry forward to buy down the levy. "I think we need to have a discussion of taking some of that cash-carry forward," Commissioner Cynthia Pic said. "I don't remember, quite honestly, a year that we haven't done it in my years of terms." What the county has done for years is take some of its cash reserve and cash budgeted for a year but not spent, and put it into the next year. The process of "buying down" the levy is the way many governments keep the property tax increases low while regulating their reserves that can generate interest. In recent years, the county has kept a higher balance in reserves, but potentially lowering that amount is an option for the commission, said County Auditor Colleen Morstad. Historically, the county has had a balance of 15% to 25% of annual expenditures. The commission will again consider the budget on Tuesday, July 29. The commission is scheduled to pass a preliminary budget on Aug. 5, ahead of the Aug. 10 deadline, and have a public hearing on the budget on Sept. 16. Jul. 21GRAND FORKS A Grand Forks man was arrested after a Sunday afternoon, July 20, standoff when he initially refused to surrender himself as police attempted to serve a warrant for his arrest. Jason Tyler Houle, 53, was booked into the Grand Forks County Correctional Center at 2:11 p.m. Sunday on allegations of violating an order prohibiting contact, according to the jail's daily intake report. A warrant service was carried out in the 4200 block of Fifth North Avenue at 12:35 p.m., according to Lt. Andrew Stein and the Grand Forks Police Department's daily dispatch log. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Houle was taken into custody within less than an hour and a half, exiting the residence he was inside without incident. Stein said officers had reason to believe Houle might be barricaded; however, that ended up not being the case. Stein was unsure why officers believed that; more information will likely be available once court documents are filed. No formal charges had been made as of Monday afternoon, July 21. Reviewing Houle's court record in the state of North Dakota, he does not appear to have a prior record of assault on officers, evading arrest or other similar offenses. He does have an active case that alleges he failed to appear in court after being released from custody, but he maintains not guilty pleas. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) A magical invitation has been issued for families across the region to attend an enchanting Royal Ball at The Grand Halle on Broad Street this August. The Grand Halle Royal Ball, scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, will feature a live, interactive performance by three princesses from Pittsburghs Fairytale Princess Visits. Guests can expect sing-alongs, choreographed dances, and plenty of opportunities to take photos with their favorite characters. Organizers say the event will offer more than just a show, its designed to inspire imagination and create cherished memories for children and their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each childs ticket includes a DIY crown, coloring pack, and candy favor, along with a chance to be photographed with the princesses and inside a replica of an enchanted tower. Light snacks, beverages, and sweet treats will also be provided to all attendees. Guests are encouraged to wear their finest royal attire, from sparkling gowns and tiaras to dress uniforms fit for a prince or princess. Tickets are $25 for children and $20 for adults and must be purchased in advance. Sales will continue until the event is sold out. The ball will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Grand Halle, located at 306 Broad Street in the Cambria City Cultural District. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit GrandHalle.com, email info@grandhalle.com, or call 814-254-4033. 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. This Fourth of July felt more like a day of mourning than a celebration of American democracy. I found myself that weekend watching Washington Journal, C-SPANs venerable daily call-in show, which posed a question to viewers: What is the most important issue facing America? During the three-hour-long show, I heard a nation in crisis and pain, disunited and polarized. The callers were angry at the elites, the system, Donald Trump, the two-party system, the news media, their neighbors and fellow Americans and an American society that seems fundamentally broken and beyond repair where regular people and average Americans are too often marginalized and ignored. Predictably, the Trumpists were enthralled by their Dear Leader and his mass deportation campaign and other policies. Trump, they said, is the new sheriff in town, who is fighting back against foreign countries like China that have been raping the American people. He is also defending white men and other real Americans from cancel culture. The MAGAverse sees an America overrun with brown terrorists and illegal immigrants. One caller feigned empathy for the illegal aliens, who may be swallowed up by Trumps Alligator Alcatraz and larger nationwide gulag system, but nonetheless said they should not be in this country and do not deserve due process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were other callers, too. One offered a plea for civility in public life and decried the hatred coming from the top of our government. A caller from Oregon, who sounded like an older woman, suggested the host hang up on hostile callers who say really terrible things about the other party, or especially the Democrats . . . because it only adds to the terrible viciousness that is going on in our country. The final caller, a woman from North Carolina, was especially devastating in her sincerity. I think the biggest problem is greed over integrity, she said, channeling the terror that vulnerable Americans who need help from the social safety net are feeling in the wake of Trump and the GOPs big ugly bill, which includes cruel cuts to essential services such as housing, health care and food support that help them to maintain some threadbare amount of human dignity. When that vote went through, it was clear that people dont care about their fellow people. All these people who are going to lose their health care, which is going to cause a real effect overall to their subsistence and that is all it is, subsistence, if they are on Medicaid they are struggling to get by. These [cuts] are the bottom of the barrel. It is only . . . greed and the lack of integrity [that] is fueling this discord. Trump is leading the band. But it is the individual person. How were they raised, all those Republicans? For decades, it has been clear that the Republican party values greed over integrity. The GOPs support for the Big Beautiful Bill, discredited trickle-down economics and Trumps corrupt use of the presidency to further enrich himself and his family is prima facie proof of that claim. Taken together, the presidents policies are producing an economy that uses state power to give even more money and resources to the rich, while punishing the poor and vulnerable as undeserving and immoral and demonizing them as welfare queens and a parasite class instead of expanding social democracy and opportunity for everyone. But what about the Democrats? Instead of crafting a real populist agenda that speaks to the economic needs and perils of the average American and how the Trump administration and MAGA movement are directly responsible for that pain the Democrats are still disoriented after losing the White House and Senate in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democratic National Committee is conducting a political autopsy about the partys 2024 election losses. But according to multiple reports, party officials are not examining the impact of former President Joe Bidens decision to seek reelection or decisions made by Kamala Harris campaign, which she inherited from Biden after he exited the race. Instead, they are convening endless meetings about their messaging and brand, as well as the role of consultants and outside allied groups. Officials are generally engaging in hand-wringing and in-fighting about if they are too liberal and left, and whether they should pivot back to the center to capture the white working class vote from Trump and MAGA, while trying to figure out why they lost ground among key base voters such as Latinos and young Black men. The hope is they will try to learn what it means to be an effective opposition party when the countrys democracy is collapsing into authoritarianism. Both parties, to varying degrees, serve the same masters in the financier class and corporatocracy. They have each advanced a neoliberal gangster capitalist regime that has seen the financialization of almost every aspect of American life; a decline in intergenerational mobility and real wages; and a regime of globalization. This has included outsourcing and flexible accumulation that has replaced industrial and other well-paying skilled and semi-skilled jobs with a service economy, gig jobs and side hustles. For at least the last decade, Americans have perceived that the countrys political elite in both parties prioritize greed over integrity. A 2023 report from the Pew Research Center found a majority of respondents saying the political process is dominated by special interests, flooded with campaign cash and mired in partisan warfare. Politicians were largely seen as self-serving and ineffective. Want more sharp takes on politics? Sign up for our free newsletter, Standing Room Only, written by Amanda Marcotte, now also a weekly show on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. One finding was particularly damning: Majorities found all or most politicians to be motivated by selfish reasons. Sixty-three percent said that all or most [politicians] ran for office to make a lot of money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These numbers back up a famous study published nine years earlier, in which political scientists Martin Gilens and Benjamin Page showed that Republicans and Democrats in Congress are largely unresponsive to the policy demands of the average American. Instead, these elected officials are hyper-responsive to the policy demands and concerns of the richest Americans, corporations and interest groups. When considered alongside the Supreme Courts infamous Citizens United decision, which removed limits on campaign contributions and so-called dark money, its no wonder Gilens and Page found that Americas democracy is actually an oligarchy. In addition, neither party supports strong financial transparency laws or other rules such as divestment of stocks or blind trusts that would, for example, impede the moral hazard of members of Congress, and their immediate family members, being able to personally profit from legislation passed by Congress. In total, the American people, and their ability to live full and meaningful lives, are being gobbled up by what political theorist Nancy Fraser describes as cannibal capitalism. Some people who called into Washington Journal were political partisans, and they likely included right-wing operatives who are paid to phone the program and circulate their talking points. There were also rage-filled hate-eaters who revel in the pain and suffering of other Americans they deem to be traitors and not real Americans like them. But the deeper current among the callers was of an America that is lost and in dire need of help a battered, wounded democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are many technical terms for this. Negative partisanship, echo chambers, the dark triad, propaganda, pathocracy and political sadism are just a few. This language is important. But you dont need to know the academic jargon to hear the truth. Real people are being impacted by power and public policy. The media has a role to play here, too. Communicating this cause-and-effect requires empathetic reporting and journalism that centers the human dimension instead of foregrounding abstract policies and numbers. This approach builds trust by authentically and carefully listening to people and their communities. To be clear, numbers and data do matter, but the lives being impacted by them matter much more. The Fourth Estate has an obligation to speak truth to power and give the public the information and context they can use to make good decisions, particularly during a time in which Trump and MAGA Republicans are attacking and suing media institutions, and gutting public media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The caller from North Carolina was right. Greed vs. integrity is the conflict of our age and right now, greed is winning. The post Greed vs. integrity in Trumps Gilded Age appeared first on Salon.com. ATHENS (Reuters) -Greek police have arrested a Moldovan tycoon and a former political leader wanted for allegedly participating in a criminal organisation, money laundering and fraud, police said on Tuesday. Vladimir Plahotniuc, considered one of Moldova's richest men and a former lawmaker, was arrested at the Athens airport on an Interpol notice on Monday evening. He has been accused in connection with a $1 billion fraud against Moldovan banks in 2014-2015, a case known locally as the "theft of the century". He has denied wrongdoing. Police also arrested former Moldovan lawmaker Constantin Tutu, 38, who is wanted by Russia for allegedly trafficking drugs internationally, police officials said. Both suspects had an Interpol red notice issued against them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moldova's General Inspectorate of Police confirmed that Plahotniuc, who was the leader of the Democratic party from 2016-2019, and Tutu had been arrested. Plahotniuc, 59, is suspected to have fled Moldova in 2019. Following a tip-off, Greek police launched an investigation which found that Plahotniuc was living with his partner in a luxurious villa in the southern suburbs of Athens. Tutu also lived in the same residence, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the confidentiality of the probe. In 2023, the European Union imposed sanctions on seven people from Moldova, including Plahotniuc, for actions that it said destabilised and undermined the territorial integrity of Moldova and neighbouring Ukraine. Since 2023, Plahotniuc has lived in 22 countries, changing residence regularly to avoid detection, the Greek police officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two men, carrying only backpacks, were arrested at the Athens airport after boarding a flight to Dubai. They will appear before a prosecutor on Wednesday to respond to charges. Moldova is expected to request his extradition, the country's General Prosecutor's office said. (Reporting by Yannis Souliotis in Athens; Additional reporting by Alexander Tanas in Chisinau and Ron Popeski; Writing by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Leslie Adler) By Alimat Aliyeva North Korea has announced plans to build a third Choe Hyun-class destroyer, with completion targeted before October 10, 2026 a date that coincides with the next anniversary of the Workers Party of Korea (WPK), Azernews reports. The new warship is part of Pyongyangs ongoing efforts to modernize its naval capabilities and strengthen its maritime presence. "The latest destroyer, a powerful symbol of Koreas strength and spirit, represents a major leap in our shipbuilding revolution. It is the proud creation of the unwavering determination, iron will, and exceptional leadership of Comrade Kim Jong-un," said Yun Chee Gor, director of the Nampho Shipyard, during a ceremony marking the launch of the first vessel in the series in April this year. This upcoming destroyer will follow the same class blueprint, which reportedly combines upgraded radar systems, longer-range missile capabilities, and improved stealth features although much of the ships technical specifications remain classified. Military analysts suggest that North Koreas naval buildup may be aimed not only at regional power projection, but also at countering U.S. and South Korean surveillance in the Yellow Sea. The timing aligned with a major political anniversary also suggests the project serves both military and propaganda purposes. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., issued a warning to President Donald Trump on Monday on how his administration is handling information related to sex trafficker Jeffrey 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 wrote 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. Greenes warning is one small part of the growing discontent from Trumps MAGA supporters. The conspiracists among his base have been in shambles since the Department of Justice declined to release the Epstein files. Though Greenes post doesnt explicitly name Epstein or Trump, it follows the presidents directive last week to Attorney General Pam Bondi to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said releasing more information wont satisfy his critics. 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 wrote. Last week, Trump called his supporters who still care about the Epstein case weaklings. Start your day with essential news from Salon. Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course. The DOJs failure to release more information on Epstein has created a schism among Republicans and MAGA supporters, with House Republicans blocking an attempt from Democrats to release all records related to Epstein, and popular far-right podcaster Nick Fuentes calling MAGA a scam. The post Greene warns Trump theres no going back on Epstein files promises appeared first on Salon.com. ROME (AP) Italys highest court has ruled that a lawsuit brought by climate activists against Italian energy company Eni and its government shareholders can go ahead, in what Greenpeace said on Tuesday was a victory for efforts to pursue climate justice in Italy. In an ordinance released on Monday, the Court of Cassation rejected the company's motions to dismiss the lawsuit on jurisdictional grounds and ordered the case to be heard on its merits by a Rome tribunal. Eni said that it was greatly satisfied with the decision, and said it expected that the Rome court would ultimately dismantle the climate activists claims of responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, Greenpeace, environmental group ReCommon and a dozen Italian citizens had sued Eni and its two main government shareholders the Italian finance ministry and development bank seeking damages for what they said were the effects of climate change. The plaintiffs cited their fundamental rights enshrined in the European Convention of Human Rights, as well as Italys ratification of various international climate accords and Enis stated commitment to reaching climate reduction targets. The energy company and the government sought to dismiss the suit on jurisdictional and other grounds, but the Cassation court ruled that the case could go ahead. For more than a century, scientists have known that large quantities of greenhouse gases, released from the burning of fossil fuels, go up into the atmosphere and heat the planet, leading to higher temperatures, rising sea levels and extreme weather events that are both more frequent and more intense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around the world in recent years, individuals, climate activist groups and local governments have sued energy companies and governments to try to force them to take concrete action to curb greenhouse gas emissions and compensate for losses associated with climate change. Greenpeace and ReCommon described the ruling a landmark decision, saying it would impact current and future climate-related litigation in Italy. They say it brings Italian courts in line with other European countries that have recognized the rights of people to try to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for global warming through lawsuits, and called the ruling itself one of the most significant in climate change litigation internationally. No one, not even a colossus like Eni, can escape its responsibilities anymore, the groups said in a joint statement. Judges will finally be able to examine the merits of our case: those who pollute and contribute to the climate crisis must answer for their actions. Eni said that it welcomed the ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proceedings can finally resume before the Court of Rome, where the unfounded theories put forward by Greenpeace and ReCommon regarding the alleged responsibility of Eni for climate change-related damages will be dismantled, in a context that is rigorous and respectful of the law, rather than driven by the instrumental, unfounded, and often misleading slogans of the two associations, the company said in a statement. Italy's finance ministry and the development bank, known as the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, declined to comment. While the ruling doesnt enter into the merits of the case, Greenpeace and Recommon highlighted the judges determination that Italian courts can have jurisdiction over claims about emissions by Eni subsidiaries in foreign countries, since in this case, harm allegedly occurred in Italy and decisions were made by the Italy-based parent company. PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) Greyhound, a large intercity bus service, announced on Tuesday an expansion of service in Panama City Beach with new express routes. According to a news release, routes will include Orlando, Baton Rouge, and Houston, offering residents and visitors more convenient long-distance travel options. Panama City travelers will also have fast, affordable options to travel east and west with direct service to Baytown and Houston, TX; Lafayette and Baton Rouge, LA; Mobile, AL, and Fort Walton Beach, Tallahassee, and Gainesville, FL as well as south Florida with stops in Lake City, Ocala, and Orlando. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greyhound will operate four daily schedules in Panama City, serving these destinations and offering connections to hundreds of locations. To purchase tickets, 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 mypanhandle.com. A childs lifeless body pulled from a pool as onlookers watch helplessly; paramedics attempting to revive the unconscious boy; friends and family watching in horror as the boy is taken away by ambulance. These images played out during a visceral reenactment in Orange County Monday, but the distressing scenes happen in real life everyday across the country. On Monday, Huntington Beach hosted a press event at a real backyard pool in the city to simulate the critical moments that could determine if a person lives or dies in a potential drowning scenario. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The demonstration mirrored a typical backyard pool gathering, with children playing in the water while adults socialized nearby, unaware that no one was actively watching, the city of Huntington Beach wrote in a news release. In the demonstration, a boy swimming alone goes under the water, forgotten by those enjoying an otherwise easygoing day. In another scene, a designated Water Watcher springs into action to pull the boy from the water and drag him to the pools edge, at which point a full, simulated paramedic response takes place. Its a simple demonstration that may be difficult for some to watch, but highlights the importance of swim safety, especially during the summer months. This is the type of community engagement that saves lives, said Huntington Beach Mayor Pat Burns. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four, and the second leading cause of death for ages five to fourteen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire Chief Eric McCoy said first responders are reaching the peak months for when drownings are most likely to occur. Based on trends from the last five years, we could still see several near-drowning emergencies and possibly even fatalities before the year ends, McCoy said. But the city of Huntington Beach also used the demonstration to celebrate an important milestone for the city: zero drownings so far in 2025. That is the result of education, prevention, and a citywide commitment to safety, Burns said. The Fire Department said a vast majority of drowning events take place with parents present, and most drowning deaths of children under the age of 1 happen at home. These, McCoy said, are preventable tragedies. A child volunteer goes underwater as part of a drowning demonstration in Huntington Beach on July 21, 2025. (City of Huntington Beach) A designated Water Watcher rescues a child volunteer as part of a simulated drowning demonstration in Huntington Beach on July 21, 2025. (City of Huntington Beach) Paramedics perform simulated CPR on a child volunteer as part of a drowning demonstration in Huntington Beach on July 21, 2025. (City of Huntington Beach) Paramedics wheel out a gurney as part of a simulated drowning demonstration in Huntington Beach on July 21, 2025. (City of Huntington Beach) Julie Lopiccolo also spoke about the heart-breaking and life-changing effects of an unexpected loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopiccolo co-founded the Jasper Ray Foundation after her toddler son drowned in a backyard pool that had no fencing. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to raising awareness about drowning deaths and informing the public about preventing future tragedies. We received a call no parent ever wants to get. Jasper had been found face down in the water, Lopiccolo said. Our world was left in pieces. He was our best friend and the love of our lives. His death has inspired her to inform the public about drowning deaths and how simple preventative measures can save countless lives. Lopiccolo provided a list of tips for families to prevent drownings: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barriers to prevent access to water in homes CPR know it and practice it Learn to swim Active and engaged supervision designate a Water Watcher Inspect drains Involve children a. Conduct water safety briefings before any swim session, tailored to the type of water and age of the child b. Teach children to ask every time they get in the water even the bath c. Emphasize safe behaviors no rough housing, breath holding, or running d. Teach rip current awareness and proper use of rescue tools reach, throw, dont go The Huntington Beach Fire Department has launched a new Water Watcher program, which encourages adults to take 15-minute shifts as the defacto person watching the water without any distractions. Designated Water Watchers can wear tags to identify them as being on-duty during their brief shift. Those tags, as well as other drowning prevention materials, can be found free of charge at all city fire stations, libraries and community centers. Trevor McDonald, chief of the HBFD Marine Safety Division, said drowning deaths across Orange County have steadily rises in recent years, from 31 in 2019 to 54 in 2023. The trend is clear, McDonald said. This is a real and growing threat. Here in Huntington Beach, we want to do everything possible to reverse that pattern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCoy added that future deaths can be prevented if we work together. Mondays demonstration was particularly timely, as two major events related to drowning made national headlines: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled millions of above-ground pools due to at least nine drowning deaths over the last decade, and actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his role as Theo Huxtable in The Cosby Show, drowned while on vacation in Costa Rica. July 25 is also World Drowning Prevention Day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Habitat for Humanity is helping fight Buffalos housing crisis by building one home at a time. This groundbreaking represents more than just new homes it represents hope, stability, and a brighter future for the families of Buffalo, said Michael Ball, vice president of community affairs for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Together we are fostering hope and a stronger, more connected Buffalo, said Tracy Woodrow, the chief administrative officer and WNY regional president for M&T Bank. These homes will become places of possibility where individuals can put down roots and contribute to the vibrancy of the Bailey Green Neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Highmark and M&T Bank are sponsoring two new homes to be built on Zenner Street. With these two new homes, there will be eight Habitat homes on that block, along with 20 others located throughout the surrounding area. We need more homes in our community, theres no doubt about it, and this street is emblematic of the work thats been done through the years by many people to take what were vacant lots and make them homes for families, said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. Jerome Suah, who lives across the street from the lot where these two homes will be built, knows firsthand how these houses can help a family. Im living in a Habitat house, so another Habitat house coming in next to me is a great deal because I know how it felt when I first got my Habitat house, said Suah. It just made a great deal to us. It brings that confidence to us as a family my kids have their own rooms now, they can run around in the backyard; its just beautiful to know that you own the property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ball shared that Highmark had more than 800,000 screenings within the past three years and found that housing is one of the most pressing social health needs. Here in Buffalo, the need is clear. Almost half of renters are what we considered rent burdened, spending over 35% of their income on housing, said Ball. State Senator Sean Ryan calls Buffalos housing crisis unique. Were not the only city in North America to face a housing crisis, but at the same time we have almost 20,000 lots that are developable, said Ryan. Habitat for Humanity is also looking for others to volunteer to help build these homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You dont have to have any experience in any capacity, said DJ Manou, the volunteer coordinator for Habitat for Humanity Buffalo. Well provide all that instruction, all the safety equipment, and have you come out here and help us. At the same time, youre helping somebody else say, Im now home.' For more information on how to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, visit their website here. Latest Local News Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. The German media group that owns the influential daily Suddeutsche Zeitung fell victim to a hacker attack, it said on Tuesday. According to a statement by Sudwestdeutsche Medienholding (SWMH), unauthorized individuals briefly accessed the group's internal network in what was described as a "critical IT security incident." The company, which owns a chain of newspapers, said it is working closely with security authorities in response. Online and print operations unaffected The attack has been stymied, a spokesperson said, while alternative workflows have been implemented to maintain operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The breach affected all companies connected via the publisher's network, including the Stuttgarter Zeitung and Stuttgarter Nachrichten newspapers. Despite the attack, online reporting and newspaper production continued without disruption. "All newspapers are appearing as usual," the spokesperson said. Incident discovered in mid-July The first signs of unusual activity were detected during the weekend of July 1213. By Monday, July 14, SWMH had implemented extensive security measures to contain the incident. The attack has been reported to the police cybercrime unit and external IT security experts have been brought in to investigate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group said it is cooperating closely with law enforcement and data protection authorities in an effort to identify those responsible and bolster its defences. SWMH is one of Germanys largest newspaper publishers, employing around 4,500 people. The suspect was reported to police after his social media account posted a statement from Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida. Israel Police filed an indictment against a 65-year-old resident of Tuba-Zangaria on suspicion of incitement to terrorism and identification with three different terrorist organizations. The man allegedly made posts on social media in support of Hamas, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda. The suspect was reported to police after his social media account posted a statement from Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida, which read: "The Islamic nation will not rise and will not have a standing among the nations until this sacred land is purified from the defilement of the occupiers." Smoke rises as members of the Israel Border Police stand at the ceasefire line between the Golan Heights and Syria, July 16, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD) Northern District Police searched the mans home on June 29 and discovered an ISIS flag hanging on the living room wall and several weapons, including machetes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Northern District Prosecutor's Office, represented by Attorney Mai Saker, filed an indictment on Monday in the Kiryat Shmona Magistrate's Court against the defendant on charges of incitement to terrorism, identification with a terrorist organization, and weapons offences. ISIS support in Israel Previously, police in May arrested three Arab-Israelis from Arara, near Haifa, for pledging allegiance to ISIS and for planning to carry out terrorist attacks in Israel. Two adults and one minor were apprehended on suspicion of planning to carry out terrorist attacks in Israel in the name of ISIS. Per the indictment, the minor had begun to express interest in the Islamic State four to five years prior to the arrest. In the interview with Maariv, Ofer criticized Israel's approach since Operation Gideons Chariots, arguing that Hamas gets everything it wants. More than four months have passed since the end of the last ceasefire in Gaza, and despite this, Israel has failed to achieve any strategic gains, neither through the fighting nor the political negotiations, Eyal Ofer, an expert on Hamas's economy and regional relations, told Maariv. In the interview, Ofer criticized Israel's approach since Operation Gideons Chariots, arguing that Hamas gets everything it wants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Its been four months since the ceasefire ended, and Hamas is still negotiating hard, setting demands, and Israel is yielding," Ofer said. "What does this teach us? That the main principle of the previous agreementthe option for the IDF to return to fightinghasnt led to any strategic outcomes for Israel." The consequences of further agreements Ofer warns that any further deal with Hamas would likely lead to Israels near-total withdrawal from areas captured during the operation, particularly from strategic positions in the southern Gaza Strip. "If there is another deal now, Hamas will get Israeli withdrawal from nearly all the areas captured during Operation Gideons Chariots, including the Morag Corridor and most of the Rafah urban area." Palestinians walking at the market in Gaza City, on July 21, 2025. (credit: Ali Hassan/Flash90) Ofer believes the situation is already visible on the ground, particularly for the Abu Shabab clan, which controls parts of the eastern areas of Gaza City under IDF protection. Recently, the clan appealed in The Times for international protection from Hamas's threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It seems that the message that Israel will not control all of Gaza forever is starting to be taken into account," he said. Philadelphi corridor as a rare exception The only exception, according to Ofer, is the Philadelphi corridor. Hamas only concedes to Israel in one areaHamas is willing to let us stay in the Philadelphi corridor. Why? Hamas knows that the disconnection between Gaza and Egypt and its economic connection to Israel have benefited it in the past and will continue to do so in the future. Hamas wants Gazas reconstruction resources, funded globally, to flow into the Gaza Strip from Israel. For example, the quality of cement from Israel is much better than Egyptian cement, and Israel can always be pressured. Hamass growing leverage Ofer claims that Hamas is already benefiting from this extortion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hamas is already receiving, even before any agreement, fuel and increased aid. This is because Israel has put itself in an impossible situation: Weve taken responsibility for the economy and health of two million Gazans, but we don't control the population centers. Hamas does. Therefore, we have no choice. Implementing the civilian responsibility weve taken on requires transferring aid through Hamas, Gaza's looting gangs, and tradersunless we simply pile up a huge stack of boxes in aid distribution camps, without asking, 'Who wants it, come and take.'" For Ofer, this is what Israeli "civilian responsibility" in Gaza looks like today: A complete loss. Were transferring aid to Hamas, and the world blames us for the hunger in Gaza. In the end, just like in the tale of the rotten fish, well be kicked out of the city. Hamass continued strength and Israeli failure Ofer explains that Hamas has become stronger due to two major successes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas has blended into the civilian population, from where it carries out guerrilla operations against the IDF. On the one hand, Hamas manages to harm our soldiers every few days, portraying itself to its people and the Arab world as a strong military force in the region. On the other hand, the mixing of the IDF and Hamas with the civilian population creates the images of dead and starving childrenthe main Hamas weapon. Therefore, it is no surprise that Hamas continues to make unreasonable demands without feeling any urgency to end the conflict. When they feel strong, they keep demanding everythingincluding the release of murderers they want freed and sent abroad, where its harder for us to eliminate them. Of course, theyve already received the biggest prize: the return of a million displaced people to Gaza City and northern Gaza. Hostages versus strategic gains He does not underestimate the importance of securing the return of hostages, but highlights the cost of such actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "And what did Israel get? The hostages. Important. But the insistence was on 'returning to combat.' We did. So what did we get from it (apart from another 40 dead and dozens of wounded)? Did Hamas become convinced by Operation Gideons Chariots to demand less? Is Hamas begging for a deal that will stop the fighting of five divisions in Gaza? Not at all." The standoff continues Ofer concludes that Hamas remains in the same position. "Hamas is still in the same place, stalling (just like Netanyahuit's a mutual interest) and knows theyre not threatened militarily in any way. Theyll keep creating a false image to the world and occasionally achieve successes in guerrilla warfare. That is, until the next deal." SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) The Hampden District Attorney says the county has seen over a dozen deadly motor vehicle crashes so far this year. Hurricane Properties CEO responds to Easthampton rent hikes According to numbers from the DAs motor vehicle homicide unit, they have responded to 48 incidents this year, and 31 have been deadly. The DAs office says Hampden County has been on track to exceed previous annual totals. The key contributing factors include distracted driving, speeding, and reckless maneuvering. 22News spoke with the Springfield Police Department about how recent construction in the city could help combat this deadly issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spokesman for the Springfield Police, Ryan Walsh, told 22News, These are slowing down some of the major issues weve seen in the past. Parker Street has kind of emerged in some areas to one lane on both sides as opposed to a four-lane road. Those kinds of things slow a driver down. And it may not ultimately cut down on the number of crashes we have but it will cut down on the severity of the crashes we have. There were 68 total annual crash callouts in 2024. DA Anthony Gulluni urges drivers and pedestrians to stay alert and follow the rules of the road. 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. HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. (WSAV) The Hampton County Sheriffs Office (HCSO) took a man who allegedly shot into a car that was occupied by a young child into custody Tuesday. At around 8 p.m. Friday, Hampton County deputies responded to Fox Trail Road for reports of a shooting where witnesses said individuals in both vehicles exchanged gunfire. The child was unharmed, but an adult in the vehicle was shot. Their injury was non-life threatening, a spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teen arrested in Metter shooting death Officials identified 22-year-old Jordan Maliek Greene as a suspect in the shooting. Greene is charged with for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, discharging a firearm into a dwelling and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. This incident is separate from the earlier shooting on Foxtail Road, which involved a six-year-old-boy, a spokesperson said. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Greene, youre asked to call 911 or the Hampton County Sheriffs Office tipline at 1-866-942-1120. You can also submit an anonymous tip on their mobile app or visit their 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 WSAV-TV. Curious what happened to Kristin Cabot, the woman at the center of the viral Coldplay kiss cam video? Footage of her embracing Astronomer CEO Andy Byron at a concert sparked immediate backlash, raising questions about workplace conduct, personal relationships, and corporate accountability. Heres what happened to Kristin Cabot, the Coldplay kiss cam woman, and why she remains in the spotlight. What happened to Kristin Cabot? Astronomer placed Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot on administrative leave after she appeared on the jumbotron embracing CEO Andy Byron at a Coldplay concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The viral incident sparked widespread speculation about an affair, as reports indicate both are married to other people. Andy Byron resigned days after the incident, while Cabot has not stepped down. Legal experts suggest the company may be delaying action due to internal investigations and possible contractual obligations. Attorney Nicole Brenecki noted, In a real-world big company, you cant just fire someone because the headlines are ugly (via New York Post). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kristin Cabot married Andrew Cabot, the sixth-generation owner of Privateer Rum and heir to one of Bostons wealthiest families. Public records show they purchased a $2.2 million home in New Hampshire earlier in 2025. Her LinkedIn, now deleted, indicated she joined Privateer Rums advisory board in 2020. Astronomer released a statement reaffirming its commitment to professional standards, saying, Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met. Cofounder Pete DeJoy, now interim CEO, commented, While I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name. Cabot began working at Astronomer in November 2024. Her future with the company remains uncertain. Attorney William Cafaro said its difficult to conceive how she could continue in her role and suggested an exit agreement may be under negotiation. Employment lawyer Douglas Wigdor added that more information could surface, affecting Cabots standing: Maybe theres more to the story from her. Astronomer has not responded to recent media inquiries regarding Cabots employment status. The post What Happened to Kristin Cabot, the Coldplay Kiss Cam Woman? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. FAIRFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) Mens mental health is a topic that can be difficult to talk about for some. Some men feel expectations to pull it together and be productive and perfect, according to Dr. Susan DAmbrosio, psychologist with Hartford HealthCares Tallwood Mens Health Center in Fairfield. Health is taught with cooking classes from Griffin Hospital experts These expectations, according to DAmbrosio, can make coping difficult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through her work, DAmbrosio only sees male patients, and for many conditions, including mental health and sexual health, she says men tend not to ask for help. She is there for them when they dont even realize what they are experiencing. Some persistent sadness and hopelessness, they might feel angry, aggression, irritability, they might have digestive issues or headaches, DAmbrosio said. There is also sexual variability. DAmbrosio explained that depression and stress present in mysterious ways in men who may be found physically healthy. Experiencing depression for men can become dangerous. Men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women and choose more deadly methods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 100 men commit suicide every day in the U.S. DAmbrosio said men need to know that stress and depression are manageable and treatable. Once your kind of ok with not being ok and allow yourself to get the support and allow other people to support you, theyre often able to work through what theyre struggling with, she said. DAmbrosio wants people to know that on the back of their insurance card, employers usually provide a confidential employee assistance program number for help. And now, telehealth has made counseling visits easier than every. For some men it takes combination of therapy and medication, but just starting somewhere is often a relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Hartford Public Library launched a new campaign Monday called Restore, Renew, and Reimagine. State and community leaders said this campaign is about more than renovation. It aims to rethink what a public library can be and do for the community in the modern day. Country star Brad Paisley brings Bridgeport police officers on stage during concert The campaign also strives to increase access to everything the library has to offer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are the centers of opportunity, HPL President and CEO Bridget E. Quinn said. We are places for everyone. For education, for literacy, but for workforce readiness, for entrepreneurship, for citizenship, for social services. Quinn added that the goal is ultimately to build a library that reflects Hartfords spirit. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) A New Haven man pleaded guilty on Monday to operating an unlicensed money transferring business, including using funds he knew were initially obtained from scams. According to evidence and testimony, 56-year-old William McNeilly owned and operated Global Income Marketplace LLC (GIM) out of a storefront in West Haven. GIM was engaged in website builders programming tech computer repairs and upgrades, according to its Connecticut state registration. 3 charged with drug, firearm offenses after traffic stop in Waterbury Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McNeilly, along with another individual, also operated Global NuMedia LLC (GNM), which was registered in Delaware. McNeilly opened up several bank accounts in the names of GIM and GNM, as well as a cryptocurrency exchange in the name of GNM. He did this despite never obtaining a license from the Connecticut Department of Banking for the purposes of engaging in money transmission. Between a nearly three-year span from about July 2019-June 2022, McNeilly used his businesses to convert over $1 million in U.S. currency into cryptocurrency for customers throughout the U.S. McNeilly was aware that some of the funds involved had been derived via fraud schemes, including cashiers checks which were deposited in GIM accounts that were the result of romance schemes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February 2021, TD Bank contacted McNeilly and told him that a $10,000 wire transfer to GNM was reported as fraudulent, and that he also needed a license to operate a money transmission business. Even though TD Bank closed the GIM and GNM accounts, McNeilly maintained operation of the money transmission business with other GIM and GNM accounts. McNeilly, who was arrested on June 6, 2024, pleaded guilty to one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison, and three counts of making illegal money transactions, which carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison for each count. McNeilly was released on a $50,000 bond and sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Ruslan Mahamedrasulov, an official of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) suspected of connections with Russia, was detained for 60 days by the Pecherskyi District Court of Kyiv on 22 July. Source: Radio Liberty; Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office Details: Radio Liberty notes that the prosecutor and the defence filed a request for a closed hearing, which the judge granted. It was later reported that the court had imposed a pre-trial restriction in the form of detention on Mahamedrasulov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NABU official said he had expected the decision. His lawyer, Tetiana Okhrimchuk, said the defence would appeal the decision. Update: The Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office has stated that the NABU department head suspected of aiding Russia was remanded in custody in the city of Dnipro at the decision of the Pecherskyi District Court of Kyiv. The pre-trial restriction was imposed without bail. The term of detention is until 16 September 2025. Background: As the head of one of NABU's interregional detective departments, Ruslan Mahamedrasulov coordinates the Bureau's activities in the frontline Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts from the city of Dnipro. The Security Service of Ukraine claims that the official "has contact with representatives of the aggressor country and helps his father, a businessman, to conduct illegal trade with Russia". There have been no public comments or reactions from the suspect so far. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) Questions remain after a fire killed 10 people at the Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility in Fall River. Gov. Maura Healey met with city leaders late Tuesday morning and said her visit is to make sure state leaders know what the city needs moving forward and to talk about what the state is doing to ensure tragedies like this dont happen again. I want to make sure, as governor, that we are doing all that we can to support our first responders, that we are supporting local fire services as much as we can, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Healey announced that shes making $1.2 million in state funding available to the city so it can hire more emergency response personnel. Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said the money will help pay for current overtime expenses and help the department come up with a way to hire sufficient firefighters and not only rely on overtime to staff the department properly. He said his goal is to hire people who are already firefighters and EMTs in the hopes they can be trained in a 2-3 week class so they can learn the departments expectations and equipment and get them in the company by the fall. Were all talking about how our guys arent taking as many overtimes as they used to. Theyre not filling as many details. We have trouble filling that stuff, Bacon explained. One of the chiefs [at a conference last year] looked at me and said, Dont you think its strange that we say were concerned about our guys mental health, but we complain that theyre not working enough? So when we can staff the department properly, that eliminates that problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor also said shes directed her team to expedite the release of $5.7 million in funding through the Municipal Public Safety Staffing Program, which will be open to 10 eligible communities, including Fall River. This comes one day after Healey announced a series of measures to enhance safety at assisted living facilities across the state. Fall River is an amazing community. It is a resilient community. Last week, it was tested in the most horrific way, but I saw a city of neighbors who care about one another, who step up for one another, who look after one another, and I saw first responders and public servants do amazing things, Healey said. They do that because they care deeply about the people they serve, she continued. That is the spirit that I support today, that I applaud today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Healey seeks to ensure safety at assisted living facilities after deadly fire The state fire marshal and Bristol County district attorney held a separate news conference Tuesday afternoon to give an update on the fire investigation. Fire Marshal Jon Davine said it appeared to have been caused by either an oxygen machine malfunction or improper use or disposal of smoking materials. Since investigators couldnt pinpoint the specific source, the cause is officially undetermined, according to Davine. MORE: Investigators find 2 possible causes of deadly Fall River fire A spokesperson for Gabriel House released a statement on Monday saying there are no words to adequately convey the depths of our grief and shock over the devastating events of July 13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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, the statement read. 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, the statement continued. 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. This was the deadliest fire in the state since 1984, when 15 residents were killed in a rooming house fire in Beverly, according to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. What we know about the Fall River fire victims Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previous coverage on 12 News This Morning: How you can help The Firefighters Wives Association has set up a GoFundMe page for those affected by the fire. Catholic Charities is also collecting donations for impacted residents, including clothing, bedding, toiletries and other essentials. Donations can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The city has compiled a list of residents specific clothing and mobility needs for those who want to donate but are unsure what to bring. 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. FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has announced a series of measures to enhance safety at assisted living facilities across the state after a deadly fire tore through Gabriel House last week. What happened in Fall River is a horrible tragedy, Healey said. Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones and to the first responders who saved so many others. This is a moment to make sure that every assisted living residence is prepared to respond to emergencies and to protect the safety of their residents, she continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Fundraiser for Fall River fire survivors draws big crowd The Executive Office of Aging and Independence, which is tasked with ensuring Massachusetts 273 assisted living facilities are in compliance with state regulations, launched a fire and life safety initiative Monday. The goal is to make sure facilities statewide are prepared to protect their residents during an emergency. We are engaging every assisted living provider in this process. By requiring clear communication with residents and detailed reporting to the state, we are making sure resident safety is front and center today and every day, Aging and Independence Secretary Robin Lipson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SEE ALSO: Bodycam shows first responders rescuing residents from Fall River fire The initiative requires assisted living facilities to issue a letter to residents and their families within five business days outlining fire safety protocols and evacuation procedures, as well as key points of contact for questions and concerns. The state is also requiring those facilities to post evacuation instructions and exit routes inside residents units and in common spaces. Additionally, the Executive Office of Aging and Independence will be distributing a fire safety assessment survey to assisted living facilities, which must be completed and returned within 30 calendar days. The state said this will reaffirm compliance with fire safety requirements such as sprinkler systems, fire drills, evacuation protocols, and maintenance of fire-related doors and walls. Facilities will also be required to report the age of key systems within their buildings so the state can prioritize oversight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Inspection reports reveal Gabriel House was up to code before fire The state is also asking for assisted living facilities to submit their current, site-specific disaster and emergency preparedness plan to the Executive Office of Aging and Independence within 30 calendar days, with the deadline running concurrent to the fire safety assessment survey. This coordinated response is about ensuring every building has the resources, knowledge and support they need to keep residents safe in the event of an emergency, Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah said. Lipson told 12 News on Monday that numerous facilities have already sent letters to their residents and families. She described their immediate action as very reassuring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the state is also finalizing proposed amendments to its regulatory requirements for assisted living facilities. The amendments predate the fire at the Gabriel House, but will be reevaluated in that context before a public hearing is scheduled. TARGET 12: Gabriel House owner tied to multiple legal disputes, harassment claims The Gabriel House issued a statement Monday, roughly a week after the fire claimed the lives of 10 residents and injured dozens of others. 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, spokesman George K. Regan Jr. said. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ensuring the safety of our residents has always been our paramount responsibility since our purchase of Gabriel House in late 1999, Regan continued. 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. Regan said Gabriel House is cooperating with the investigation and providing temporary housing to the surviving residents. We will continue to provide investigators with whatever assistance they need, Regan said. 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. Healey plans to visit Fall River on Tuesday for a debrief with Mayor Paul Coogan on the citys response to the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEXT: Donations a lifeline for Fall River fire survivors 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. BOSTON (SHNS) Gov. Maura Healey is not attending the National Governors Association summer meeting later this week in Colorado, spokesperson Karissa Hand told the News Service on Monday afternoon. Hand did not immediately provide an explanation of why Healey who has vocally opposed policy shifts and federal funding cuts under the Trump administration is not heading to Colorado Springs for the gathering, which is slated for Friday and Saturday. Healey did attend the NGAs winter meeting in Washington, D.C., where she had planned to voice concerns about disruptions in the flow of federal funding to states. The NGA announced earlier Monday that U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. will be at the summer meeting. Healey has called Kennedy a threat to public health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy will discuss his Make America Healthy Again agenda, which is initially focused on addressing chronic childhood diseases, during a fireside chat Saturday, the NGA said. The conversation will be moderated by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. Kennedy sent shockwaves through the public health community earlier this summer when he fired all 17 members of a federal vaccine advisory. The Massachusetts Vaccine Purchasing Advisory Council, which helps with the distribution of childhood vaccines, hinges its work on guidance from the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Healeys latest supplemental budget would empower the state Department of Public Health to disentangle itself from ACIP and set its own childhood vaccine schedule. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, whom President Donald Trump has tasked with shuttering the Department of Education, is slated to meet with governors during a session Friday, the NGA also announced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Healey had no public events Monday but is heading to Fall River on Tuesday as a follow-up to the Gabriel House assisted living facility fire. 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. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A woman accused of being on her cellphone when the car she was driving hit an 8-year-old boy, fatally injuring him, had her preliminary hearing postponed to October. Kyle J. Humphrey, the attorney representing Judith Deval, said in court Tuesday more time was needed to review voluminous discovery provided by the prosecution. Devals preliminary hearing is now scheduled Oct. 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crash happened as Deval, 40, returned to work from her lunch break on the afternoon of Oct. 16. She came to a stop at the intersection of Bank Street and Holtby Road. Roosevelt Elementary School had let out, and students and parents were walking in the area. Deval waited until the intersection cleared then moved forward hitting a boy who came out of nowhere, she told police. She stopped and got out, accidentally putting her Toyota Camry in reverse instead of park. It backed over the boy. The child, Ricardo Aguilar, died the next day. Deval is charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, a felony. Humphrey has called what happened a tragic, terrible accident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deval told police she wasnt on her phone but a witness said otherwise, according to court documents. Later, Deval said she remembered returning a call from her aunt, documents said. She said she couldnt recall if she held the phone while driving which is illegal in California or used Bluetooth. An analysis of the phone revealed it had been in handheld mode, police said in the documents. The aunt confirmed she was on the phone with Deval when the crash occurred. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. At least three teachers died trying to get young children to safety after a fighter jet crashed into a school in Bangladeshs capital on Monday, killing at least 31 people in one of the worst aviation disasters in the countrys history. So far 25 school pupils, most of them under the age of 12, have been reported killed in the crash which saw a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft come down on top of a school building in Dhaka's densely populated Uttara neighbourhood. The members of the schools faculty who were killed include Mahrein Chowdhury, a 46-year-old school administrator, who sustained 80 per cent burns while trying to escort students out of the Hyder Ali Hall building at the school when the F-7 BGI crashed into the school, about 12 minutes after its takeoff from a nearby military facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chowdhury was escorting students to meet their parents when the aircraft crashed into the gate of the building. Despite being severely burned herself, Chowdhury helped take 20 students to safety. Hours later, she succumbed to her injuries in hospital. "She didn't get out first from her building when it caught fire, instead tried to get as many students out but ended up suffering 100 per cent burns, said her brother, Munaf Mojib Chowdhury. He recalled his elder sister as a mother-like figure who had helped to raise him. Mahrein Chowdhury was buried on Tuesday in her family graveyard beside her parents. Two other teachers are known to have succumbed to their burn injuries, a senior teacher who was present in the next building at the time of the disaster told The Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crash took place shortly after 1pm when students were leaving exams and teachers were busy checking papers, according to the senior teacher, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the school. He recalled hearing a loud sound comparing it to a bomb blast when the aircraft first crashed into a school building. "The school is near an air force base, so we are used to the noise of fighter aircraft, but this was extraordinarily loud. At first glance, I couldn't spot anything, but seconds later, a thick stream of smoke started coming out of the building," he recalled. The senior teacher saw dozens of injured students mostly those with minor injuries running toward the school's medical room on the lower floor, while many other pupils were trapped under debris on the second floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Army personnel stationed nearby rushed to the school as the fire from the blast intensified and spread rapidly about 15 minutes after the crash, leading to more fatalities. Ambulances and a helicopter arrived at the scene shortly after. Firemen work at the site of a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft that crashed into a school campus shortly after takeoff in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) "As the fire spread, we were asked to move toward the playing field. Everyone was evacuated to the grounds to make space for the ambulance and the helicopter to take the pupils to the nearest hospitals," the senior teacher said. "Everyone who could help, including teachers, staff and pupils, jumped in to the rescue without thinking twice." Doctors said late on Monday that about two dozen people remained in a critical condition, out of a total 165 injured. A blood donation camp has been opened at a specialised burns hospital where most of the injured were being treated. Twenty bodies have been handed over to their families, with some needing DNA matching after they were charred beyond recognition. Many relatives waited overnight at the burns hospital while identification processes were carried out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nasima Begum was among the mothers whose children were admitted to the hospital after suffering severe burns in the crash. Her son, who studies in grade seven, was playing when the crash happened, Ms Begum told The Independent. "He's completely burned," she said. "It has been more than 24 hours, his state is critical. The doctors are not saying anything positive. This is the second hospital we have had to take him," she said, as she prayed to Allah to save her son. 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) Rubina Akter said her son Raiyan Toufiq had a miraculous escape after his shirt caught fire when he was on a staircase. "He sprinted to the ground floor and jumped on the grass to douse it," she told Reuters. "He tore his shirt and vest inside which saved him from severe burns." Another student who had already left the classroom after finishing his exam told BBC Bangla: "My best friend, the one I was in the exam hall with, he died right in front of my eyes." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rescue workers continued to scour the charred buildings for debris on Tuesday as distressed residents of the area looked on. Abul Hossain mourned his nine-year-old daughter after saying his final goodbye on Monday night. "I took her to school yesterday morning like every day. I had no idea it would be the last time I would be seeing her," he said. The pilot, Flight Lt Mohammed Toukir Islam, who died in the crash, made "every effort to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas toward a more sparsely inhabited location," the military said. The Chinese-made F-7 BGI training aircraft experienced a "technical malfunction" moments after takeoff from the AK Khandaker air force base at 1.06 pm local time on Monday, the military added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the pilot's first solo flight as he was completing his training course. It remained unclear if he managed to eject before the jet hit the building. The Bangladesh air force said it has launched a formal investigation. The government declared Tuesday was a day of mourning, with flags at half-mast and special prayers at all places of worship as hundreds of students protested near the site of the crash. The Milestone school is located about 11km from the air force base in a densely populated area near a metro station and numerous shops and homes. Bangladesh's national flag keeps half-mast on Supreme Court building in homage to the victims of Monday's Bangladesh air force training aircraft crash (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The protesting students transparency over the numbers and identities of the dead and injured, compensation for their families, and an immediate halt to the use of "outdated and unsafe" training aircraft by the Bangladesh Air Force. They chanted slogans and accused security officials of beating them and manhandling teachers. The students angrily confronted two senior government advisers who arrived to visit the scene, forcing them to take cover for six hours inside the school campus before additional security forces arrived and escorted them out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scores of students suffered injuries after police charged them with batons after they broke through security barricades and entered the Bangladesh Secretariat complex, elsewhere across the capital. Security fired tear gas and used stun grenades to disperse the crowd. Mondays plane crash was the deadliest aviation incident in the Bangladeshi capital in decades. In 2008, another F-7 training jet crashed outside Dhaka, killing its pilot, who had ejected after he discovered a technical problem. 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. The incident comes as neighbour India is still grappling with the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade after an Air India plane crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad city in Gujarat last month, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground. By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) -A federal appeals court on Tuesday rejected a proposed class action by eight Malian citizens who sought to hold Hershey, Nestle and five other companies liable for child labor on Ivory Coast cocoa farms. In a 3-0 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found no causal connection between the plaintiffs' forced labor and the defendants' alleged venture to obtain "cheap cocoa harvested by enslaved children." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs said they were required to live in squalor and threatened with starvation if they did not work, after being approached by unfamiliar men who falsely promised paying jobs. They sued under a federal law protecting children and other victims of human trafficking and forced labor. Circuit Judge Justin Walker, however, said the plaintiffs alleged at most they worked in areas that supplied cocoa to the defendants, which buy an estimated 70% of Ivorian cocoa, rather than specific farms that supplied the cocoa. "Is there a 'possibility' that at least some of the importers sourced cocoa from those farms? Yes," Walker wrote. "But is it 'plausible'? Not on this complaint." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other defendants included privately-held Cargill, privately-held Mars, Mondelez International, Barry Callebaut and Olam International. Mali and the Ivory Coast share a border in West Africa. A trial judge ruled for the defendants in June 2022. Terry Collingsworth, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said his clients were "extremely disappointed" and considering their legal options. "The court rewarded the chocolate multinational defendants ... for concealing their cocoa supply chains, such that former child slaves are unable to link a specific company to the Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) farms where they were enslaved," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March 2024, the same court dismissed a similar lawsuit seeking to hold five major technology companies including Apple and Tesla liable for child labor in cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Collingsworth represented the plaintiffs in the cobalt case. The case is Coubaly et al v Cargill Inc et al, D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 22-7104. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New YorkEditing by Alexandra Hudson) ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Nikki and Jon-David Gudselak may be competing for the title of Americas Favorite Couple through Variety magazines national competition now, but once upon a time, they were Gates-Chili high school sweethearts and looked forward to their easy, fairytale life ahead. But as they quickly discovered, life is never that simple. The couple had five miscarriages before their two sons were born, and then another three before their daughter. But today, their family of five can only be grateful for the miracles of their three healthy children, Tobias, Finnick, and Everleigh. I feel like any time we have to discipline them, Jon-David said.Its like taking advantage of such a blessing that weve had and been given. Theyre our crew. Theyre our friends. Just, you know, every parents dream. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But just when their fairytale was within reach, another tragedy reared its head. Jon-David went to the doctor after experiencing pain in his abdomen, expecting kidney stones, but the reality was far scarier. They did a CT of my chest, and they found a big old tumor, he said. And they said, oh, this is not very good. Jon-David was diagnosed with stage four of a very rare type of Thymus cancer, also known as thymoma. This was the start of a years-long battle with the cancer, including several operations, countless hours in travelling to and from hospitals across the country and unspeakable difficulties for the family. But, as the couple already learned, tragedy doesnt mean the end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You have to make light of it because its so heavy all the time, Nikki said. Were trying to maintain normalcy and maintain positive things for them. And I dont want them looking back on their childhood, and I dont want it to be molded by dad had cancer. And I dont want that to be, like, this great cloud over their childhood. I want my kids to see their dad as a fighter, not as somebody who just lays down and takes this, Jon-David said. If you let this win, its like a whole other sickness that you would be inheriting if you did not face this with positivity and optimism. And that has carried me. Thats something that I told myself, like, Im not going to be one of those people. Between doctors appointments and chemotherapy treatments, the couple has managed to make the top fifteen and quickly approaching the top 10 for the competition, which can be voted on by the public online here, with a grand prize of $20,000. While covering medical bills is on the couples to-do list, they have one more pressing issue that comes first. Well take care of those eventually and stuff, Jon-David said. Top priority would be Disney (World) for sure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite it all, Jon-David still shows up every day with a smile. Friends and family can often catch him cheering on his boys at lacrosse games, playing in the front yard, and staying #JDStrong. To further support the Gudselak family, people can contribute to their GoFundMe 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 RochesterFirst. ROANOKE COUNTY, Va (WFXR) Theres a new deputy sheriff in the Roanoke County Sheriffs Department, one with four legs. Deputy Sheriff K-9 Liberty, or better known as Libby, a reduced golden doodle, is here to help the department with their mental health. According to a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 30% of first responders deal with mental health issues, compared to 20% of the general population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the science is day-to-day proven, you know? Deputy Sheriff Ethan Sweeney, Libertys handler, said, When we run across somebody that clearly is having a tough day, its a complete 180. As soon as they come in, kiss your face, a terrible day is instantly better, and she will kiss your face, way too much. Libby is seven months old. She still has a lot of puppy energy. So, right now most of her training is about obedience and learning to get used to different types of crowds and people Libbys only been in service for about a month now. Not even that. Yes. So a great addition to the team, Sheriff Joseph Orange said. Later this fall, both she and Sweeney will head to a more formal training; Libby to become a certified therapy dog, and Sweeney will be trained in K-9 handling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With any type of first responder, whether its corrections, whether its police, firefighters, we all go through some pretty serious stuff, so whats better than coming back to your office and seeing your best friend there? Sweeney said, Soon shes going to be a highly trained best friend. Sweeney says hes been super appreciative of both the state and the Roanoke County Sheriffs Offices support of Libby and this new mental health initiative. He hopes to continue seeing more ways to boost first responders mental health. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. An Atlanta judge served rapper Ca$h Out with multiple life sentences on Monday, July 21, for RICO and sex trafficking charges. The two-month-long trial concluded July 18 with guilty verdicts for 11 counts of various crimes, including two counts of trafficking for sexual servitude. The following Monday a judge sentenced Ca$h Out real name John Michael Gibson with two life sentences plus an additional 75 years in prison. Gibson was also found guilty of battery, pimping, and aggravated sodomy amongst other crimes. Standing trial alongside Gibson was his cousin, Tyrone Taylor, who also received a life sentence. Gibson's mother was also found guilty of one RICO charge and one trafficking charge and will serve 30 years in prison for her role in the operation. The prosecution claimed that "Mama Ca$h Out," Linda Smith, provided a home where sex crimes took place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The three defendants were accused of using their record company Pyrex Music Group to convince young women to engage in commercial sexual activity. Fulton County Deputy District Attorney Earnelle Winfrey claimed that Ca$h Out had conducted a "seven-year reign of terror" through his prostitution ring prior to initial charges being filed in June 2023. Ca$h Out is best known for his 2012 debut single, "Cashin' Out," which peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year. He had a second hit two years later in 2014 with the song "She Twerkin'." Several of Gibson's victims spoke out against the rapper during the trial. The three defendants are expected to begin their sentencing immediately in Georgia. Hit-Making Rapper Gets Life in Prison for Disturbing Crimes first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 Jul. 21Steven W. Holden Sr. is running for Congress again and he's returning to the 24th Congressional District to compete for the seat against Congresswoman Claudia L. Tenney and at least two other Democrats. Holden, 52, said he fell in love with the 24th Congressional District, covering northwestern Jefferson County and most of the Lake Ontario shoreline out to Niagara Falls, when he first ran to unseat Tenney there in the 2022 campaign, and circumstances have permitted him to return to the district to mount another run for office. Holden said 2022 was a bad year for Democrats the Democratic party was incumbent and held trifecta control in Washington D.C. for two years after 2020, and voters started to turn on them in the 2022 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "2022 was not a good year for Democrats in the state, it just wasn't for anybody," Holden said. That same year, Governor Kathleen C. Hochul was up for her first run for a full term in office, and netted the narrowest win for a Democrat gubernatorial candidate in a generation. Holden said he has heard a distinct lack of enthusiasm for Tenney, R-Cleveland, who was first elected to the newly constituted NY-21 in 2022 and beat Holden 65% to 34% in the final tally. "What we're already hearing on the ground not just from Democrats, but from a lot of people, and this will come out more in the next weeks and months, is that there's a general dissatisfaction," he said. "We hear from everyone, they're not satisfied with the representation Claudia is giving right now." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He pointed to recent legislation the Congresswoman has introduced to undo a federal ban on plastic straws, and other issues related to the culture war that Tenney has championed. Holden said he sees many people in the district concerned over the rising cost of living, now-in-place federal cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, and the ongoing uncertainty of the Social Security program. "These issues are compounding on each other, and these are things that we've said for a few years will come to fruition," he said. Holden for years has campaigned on his rural and military background having grown up on a farm in Oklahoma, and a 20-year-plus career in the Army with four combat deployments and time as a senior officer. As recently as 2019, Holden was a consultant for the Army. He calls himself a "practical progressive," and in the face of a Republican-controlled Congress and Presidency, has said he would focus on pushing back on the GOP agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If elected, Holden said he sees the best strategy for a Democrat lawmaker would be to work to convince moderate Republicans to oppose the most controversial GOP policies. "Not being in power, there's only some much that can be done, but there is more than can be done," he said. "We can be vocal, try to build coalitions issue by issue." If there is a Democratic majority in the House, Holden said he would have an inroad with the likely Democratic Speaker of the House, current minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-Brooklyn. Holden has run, or tried to run, for Congress now three times in northern New York his 2022 competition against Tenney that ended with her double-digit victory margin, then a campaign to be the Democrat against Congresswoman Elise M. Stefanik in NY-21 in 2024. In that campaign, Holden wasn't able to make it onto the primary ballot. In December of that year, when it appeared Congresswoman Elise M. Stefanik would be stepping down from her seat to take a job with the Trump administration, Holden started a public campaign for the anticipated special election. He ultimately was not chosen, and the nomination was preliminarily handed to Blake Gendebien. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This time, Holden said he thinks the difference that could spell victory for him lies in a grassroots opposition to the Trump administration's actions locally and the way Tenney has tied herself to Trump. "There's an energy that's arising because, people are waking up and going 'wait a second, these issues affect me,' and that's the difference," he said. "And now she's nationalized herself, which makes her a target across the country. She's on the DOGE caucus, she wants to make Trump's birthday a national holiday, and she's involved in the immigration issue." Assuming all candidates are able to submit petitions to appear on the 2026 ballot, Holden is on track to head into as Democratic primary against Diana Kastenbaum, a former manufacturing CEO of Batavia, whose been organizing a series of town hall events across the district since the start of the year. On Friday, a former federal employee laid off in the government efficiency efforts led by Trump's 'Department of Government Efficiency,' from Lockport also announced her campaign to be the next Democrat to run in NY-24 Alissa Ellman. Tenney has no apparent Republican challengers as of now. The primaries will happen in June of next year ahead of the November general election. President Trumps border czar Tom Homan hammered Hunter Biden, the son of former President Biden, over his criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement operations. Biden said during his interview with YouTube creator Andrew Callaghan, which was released on Monday, that all these Democrats say, you have to talk about and realize that people are really upset about illegal immigration. F you. How do you think your hotel room gets cleaned? How do you think you have food on your f table? Who do you think washes your dishes, Hunter Biden said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homan criticized both the younger Biden and former President Biden for his administrations handling of the southern border Monday night. The former first drug addict doesnt know hes talking about first of all, but the left doesnt want to admit the truth. The left, the left, doesnt want to admit the truth. They know that under President Biden, not by accident, not by mismanagement, not by incompetence, by design, Homan said during his appearance on Fox News Hannity. 10.5 million people came over the border and they released a vast majority in the United States. Sex trafficking, women and children, historic high, over a quarter million Americans dead from fentanyl coming across the border in historic high, over 400 people on terrorist watchlist were arrested coming across the border in historic high, cartels made more money than ever, Homan told host Sean Hannity. Homan said Monday night that the administration will continue looking for those who are in the country illegally and have a criminal record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are looking for these people. Were trying to find as many criminals, national security threats as we can. Right now in seven weeks. In seven weeks, President Trump created the most secure border in the history of this nation in seven weeks. What Joe Biden couldnt do it for years, Homan said. President Trump proves to the American people every day when hes the greatest president my lifetime. Bidens criticism of ICEs operations has also been slammed by Todd Lyons, ICEs acting director, on Monday. Thats just idiotic. Its dumb. You know, to make comments like that is crazy, because under the last administration, those are the problems we have right now. Under these former administrations, President Obama, President Biden, its made illegal immigration common, in the commonplace, and thats just not the case, Lyons said on Fox 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 The Hill. Hundreds of Hoosiers are asking the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to not roll back regulations meant to protect the quality of the states land, water and air. IDEM opened a public comment period in June to solicit input on existing rules after Gov. Mike Braun ordered the agency to review environmental regulations and policies deemed excessive and burdensome. Brauns executive order, Creating Opportunity through Reduction of Excessive Environmental Regulation, asked IDEM to report opportunities to revisit or rescind regulations by July 1. The agency received more than 1,300 comments, the vast majority of which said Brauns order would weaken public health and environmental protections in the state, according to an IndyStar analysis. A letter-writing campaign initiated by the Hoosier Environmental Council accounted for more than 900 of the submitted comments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The HECs campaign focused on sustaining regulations on four topics: wetlands protection, hazardous waste disposal, open burning and industrial stormwater permitting. Fewer than 30 submissions asked IDEM to review or rescind regulations. Sam Carpenter, executive director of HEC, said the advocacy group is calling on Braun to respond to these comments. We think the governor should acknowledge them and say how he's going to prioritize these issues, Carpenter said. We are at a point where our natural resources, through development and other means, have become more and more restricted, more and more limited, more and more has been destroyed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Braun, in a written statement following the public input period, wrote we can be good stewards of our environment without stifling growth through excessive government mandates, and Im proud to be leading that initiative here in Indiana. The governors office did not respond to IndyStars inquiry on the number of Hoosiers submitting comments requesting IDEM to not water down existing regulations. Hoosiers want to keep environmental protections David Van Gilder, senior policy and legal director with HEC, said the group will continue raising awareness around Brauns order for deregulation. Hoosier Environmental Council is in favor of smart regulations, Van Gilder said. We're not looking for extra bureaucracy or red tape, what we're looking for is our natural resources, our environment and our health to be protected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside of HECs campaign, other groups and individuals also submitted comments relating to Brauns order asking IDEM to roll back rules. Indiana Conservation Voters, the White River Alliance, Socially Responsible Agriculture Project, Just Transition Northwest Indiana and Save the Dunes submitted comments on behalf of their organizations. The ICVs submission, supported by hundreds of signatures, recommended regional experts uphold science-based regulations and IDEM hold hearings for regulations up for review. We urge IDEM to prioritize the burdens of hard-working Hoosiers and hold a public hearing and chance for comment for each and every rule and regulation you intend to rescind or alter, the letter said. Business, industry request regulatory review While mostly individuals wrote in asking IDEM to keep environmental regulations in place, about 25 industry groups and businesses made submissions recommending deregulation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Indiana Energy Association, a trade organization representing investor-owned utilities across the state, wrote that a few of IDEMs regulations and policies may be unduly burdensome, significantly raise the cost of living for Hoosiers, are not supported by current law and the best available science, or do not benefit Indianas environment. The IEAs comments touched on issues of river temperature requirements, hazardous waste regulations and certain emissions monitoring. Coal mining company Peabody Midwest Mining submitted comments saying certain coal-burning utility regulations are being reconsidered by the U.S. EPA following the agencys deregulation push under President Donald Trump and IDEM should follow suit. Peabody support the current administrations efforts to identify and revise unnecessary and overly-burdensome regulations that have been imposed on the utility and fossil fuel industries, the companys comments said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the state continues its review of environmental policy, Van Gilder said HEC will continue to raise the groups concerns with the governor. We very politely, strongly, respectfully call on an appropriate reaction from the governor on these comments, he said. 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: Hoosiers ask Braun and IDEM not to roll back environmental protections Gaza City The head of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City said on Tuesday that 21 children had died across the Palestinian territory in the past three days "due to malnutrition and starvation." "These deaths were recorded at hospitals in Gaza, including Al-Shifa in Gaza City, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah and Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis ... over the past 72 hours," Mohammed Abu Salmiya told reporters. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned Monday evening that "the last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing" in Gaza, and that there were growing reports of children and adults exhibiting symptoms of malnutrition. Abu Salmiya told reporters that new cases of malnutrition and starvation were arriving at Gaza's remaining functioning hospitals "every moment," adding: "We are heading towards alarming numbers of deaths due to the starvation inflicted on the people of Gaza." In a statement issued Tuesday, the U.N. human rights office said many people were arriving at Gaza's hospitals "in a state of severe exhaustion caused by a lack of food. Others are collapsing in the streets. Many more may be dying unreported ... These deaths and the horrendous physical and psychological suffering caused by hunger are the result of Israel's interference with and militarization of humanitarian assistance." 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 southern Gaza, July 20, 2025. / Credit: Hatem Khaled/REUTERS Photos emerging from Gaza in recent days have shown children and infants with severe malnutrition, including some said by hospital workers to have died of the condition. According to the National Institutes of Health, severe malnutrition typically causes symptoms including dramatic wasting, or fat and muscle loss, poor circulation and extreme fatigue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hospitals are already overwhelmed by the number of casualties from gunfire. They can't provide much more help for hunger-related symptoms because of food and medicine shortages," Khalil al-Deqran, a spokesperson for the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, told the Reuters news agency. Deqran said there were 600,000 people suffering from malnutrition symptoms such as dehydration and anemia, including 60,000 pregnant women. After talks to extend a six-week ceasefire broke down, Israel imposed a full blockade on Gaza on March 2 this year, allowing no aid in until trucks were again permitted to cross the border in late May. The U.N. and aid organizations say the quantity of food and other emergency supplies being allowed into Gaza since then has been vastly insufficient, however. Food stocks accumulated inside the Palestinian territory during the ceasefire have depleted, leaving the territory's more than two million inhabitants experiencing the worst shortages since the start of the war sparked by the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Some 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 others taken hostage during that siege more than 650 days ago, and 20 of the captives are still thought to be alive in Gaza. World Food Program director Carl Skau, who visited Gaza City in early July, called the situation "the worst" he had ever seen. Last Sunday, the civil defense agency in Hamas-run Gaza reported that at least three infants had died from "severe hunger and malnutrition" over the previous week. Zainab Abu Haleeb, a five-month-old Palestinian girl diagnosed with malnutrition, according to medics, lies on a bed as she receives treatment at the al-Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, July 15, 2025. / Credit: Hussam Al-Masri/REUTERS On Monday, the governments of 25 countries, including Israeli and U.S. allies Britain, France, Australia and Canada, urged an immediate end to the war, the unconditional release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and the free flow of aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their joint statement, they accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's U.S.-backed government of the "drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children" in Gaza. The nations also condemned a new system for aid distribution backed by Israel's military that was launched in late May with the support of the Trump administration, but no support from other nations or humanitarian organizations. The U.N.'s human rights office said Tuesday that Israeli forces have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food aid in Gaza since the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started operations on May 26. Officially a private effort, the GHF began working in Gaza with virtually no information provided about its funding or management after Israel imposed the more than two-month blockade on all supplies entering Gaza. The group's operations, focused around four "humanitarian hubs" for food distribution, have been marred by chaotic scenes and near-daily reports of Israeli forces firing on people waiting to collect rations in the Palestinian territory, where the Israeli military is seeking to destroy Hamas. "As of July 21, we have recorded 1,054 people killed in Gaza while trying to get food; 766 of them were killed in the vicinity of GHF sites and 288 near U.N. and other humanitarian organizations' aid convoys," U.N. human rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan told the AFP news agency. He said the agency's data was "based on information from multiple reliable sources on the ground, including medical teams, humanitarian and human rights organizations." GHF says it has distributed more than 1.4 million boxes of foodstuffs to date and that it adjusts its "operations in real time to keep people safe and informed, and we stand ready to partner with other organizations to scale up and deliver more meals to the people of Gaza." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.N. and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives and violates basic humanitarian principles. The group has never commented, despite numerous questions from CBS News, on any links it has with the U.S. or Israeli governments. The Trump administration announced its first public support for the GHF $30 million in funding earlier this month, and called on other organizations and countries to cooperate with the group, saying that, in its view, it provides the only means of delivering aid in Gaza without the risk of Hamas stealing it. Bryan Kohberger sentenced to life in prison for murders of Idaho students Idaho murders victims' families speak out at Bryan Kohberger's sentencing hearing Trump reacts to DOJ reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer on Jeffrey Epstein files AUSTIN (KXAN) A planet that scientists called a hot Jupiter is causing trouble for its solar neighbor. Labeled HIP 67522 b by scientists, this planet is 415 light-years from Earth. It is one of just a few discovered planets that is less than 100 million years old. Artists concept of the star HIP 67522 with a flare erupting toward an orbiting planet, HIP 67522 b. A second planet, HIP 67522 c, is shown in the background. (Janine Fohlmeister, Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam) In a recent study conducted by the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON), scientists discovered that the planet, which orbits very close to its star, is shrinking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The planet is just a tad smaller than Jupiter and completes its orbit in just seven days. Scientists believe that because of its size and tight orbit, it is causing its star to freak out. The star is emitting giant solar flares, no danger to us here on Earth, that are actually tearing away chunks of the planet. Ekaterina Ilin, an astrophysicist at ASTRON, spoke to the Associated Press about whats happened. What we observe in that very young, very close in planet is that it moves through the magnetic field of the star and perturbs it, Ilin said. So it sort of whips up a wave that can travel, because its so close to its star, it can travel to the star and trigger big explosions within that magnetic field. And whats very fascinating about that is just that it basically means that the planet is in a way roasting itself, you could say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The researchers used data from the European Space Agencys CHEOPS telescope and NASAs Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) to observe solar interaction. They published their findings in this months issue of Nature. According to NASA, the star that the planet orbits is also young and prone to solar flares. What will happen long term to that planet long term is that it will lose most of its atmosphere over what in cosmic terms is very short, only a few hundred million years. So in a way it causes its own doom, Ilin said. According to NASA, the constant damage to the planets atmosphere could shrink it to the size of Neptune. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The scientist team now plans to take this discovery and use it to find similar interactions throughout the cosmos. This is really the first time we see it so clearly. And it is very surprising because it is a hundred times at least stronger than what theory predicts. So we now really need to take into account this type of interaction if we want to know what happens to the atmospheres of planets around any young star, Ilin said. Scanning the Earth from space Later this month, July 30, NASA plans to launch NISAR. The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is co-developed with India and will be the first partnership between the US and India. NISAR is a revolutionary mission that will systematically map every inch of the Earth, both land and ice, through day and night roughly once every six days, said Dr. Akshata Krishnamurthy, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Science Phase Lead for NISAR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The satellite has two kinds of radars on board that will allow it to map the Earth down to the centimeter. It will help scientists study land movement, earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes and even floods. If NISAR is actually positioned correctly at the right time, at the right location, then we might be able to even monitor and assess the situation and provide early response and emergency response to those flood prone areas, said Dr. Krishnamurthy. The satellite will gather more data than any satellite before it, streaming that data back to scientists on Earth. If you were to take NISARs data and stream it on a streaming platform, it would take us 100 years to get through all that data. So thats the amount of data were collecting, said Dr. Krishnamurthy. The mission will last three years. The earliest launch date is July 30. 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. ALLEGANY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) Two people are without a place to live after a fire caused thousands of dollars in damage to their home and left multiple pets dead Saturday. The Maryland State Fire Marshal said that about 75 firefighters responded to the 22000 block of Cosgrove Lane in the Westernport area on July 19. There, crews found a fire inside the living room of a single-family home. The blaze was brought under control within 30 minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Van, truck set on fire in suspected arson near Glenmont Center, officials say The Fire Marshals office said 15 dogs and three cats were inside the home during the fire, but are either missing or have died in the blaze. A firefighter was treated on the scene for minor injuries. Officials said the fire caused about $225,000 in damage, and two residents are being assisted by the American Red Cross. Investigators are still working to determine what sparked 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. House members are getting more funding for security amid concerns about political violence. They can now spend $20,000 on home security, doubled from $10,000. They're also getting an extra $4,850 per month to hire security guards through September 30. If you're a lawmaker looking to purchase a new home security system, now's the time to do it. The House Administration Committee announced on Tuesday that members of the House of Representatives can now spend $20,000 on home security improvements with public funds, up from $10,000 before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They're also getting $5,000 a month to spend on personal security, including hired security guards, back in their home states. That's an increase from just $150 before, and it's set to last through September 30, the end of the fiscal year. The change is coming days before the House heads home for the August recess, when many lawmakers will be back in their districts and interacting with constituents, including at town halls. Politicians have been able to spend campaign funds on personal security, and many of them already do. Wealthier lawmakers may choose to hire security with their own money as well. The changes come a month after two Minnesota state lawmakers were shot in their homes in what the Department of Justice has called "targeted political assassinations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The speaker of the Minnesota House, Melissa Hortman, died of her injuries along with her husband Mark. State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot, but survived. Other lawmakers have faced threats to their lives in recent months. The most recent was Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, whose Bronx office was vandalized after she voted against an amendment to a defense spending bill that would have struck funding for Israel's "Iron Dome" defensive missile system. A spokesman for the congresswoman, Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben, said on X on Monday that her office had "received multiple threats on the Congresswoman's life and we are treating this seriously with our security partners to make sure she, our staff, and volunteers are safe." Read the original article on Business Insider WASHINGTON The House Oversight Committee plans to subpoena Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell "as expeditiously as possible," a committee spokesperson said. The Trump administration is under growing pressure, some of it from allies of President Donald Trump, to release additional files related to Epstein. Epstein died in jail in 2019 awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, and his death has sparked conspiracy theories for years. A House Oversight subcommittee on Tuesday without opposition approved a motion directing the committee chair, James Comer, to issue a subpoena for Maxwell. Only four members were present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Comer, R-Ky., had directed Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., to introduce the motion after Burchett requested that the committee subpoena her. The motion allows "the Committee to formally consider whether to proceed," the committee spokesperson said. "The Committee will seek to subpoena Ms. Maxwell as expeditiously as possible," the spokesperson said. "Since Ms. Maxwell is in federal prison, the Committee will work with the Department of Justice and Bureau of Prisons to identify a date when Committee can depose her." Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence in Florida after she was convicted of federal sex trafficking charges in 2021. She was accused of recruiting and grooming girls whom Epstein sexually abused. Maxwells counsel and the Bureau of Prisons did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the possible congressional testimony. The Justice Department declined to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that he would reach out to Maxwell's counsel to determine whether she would be willing to speak with Justice Department prosecutors. "President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence," Blanche said in a statement on X issued by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The statement said that if Maxwell had "information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say." Maxwell's attorney, David Oscar Markus, confirmed Tuesday that his team was "in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully." Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday that he was unaware of Blanche's plans but that he believed it would be "appropriate" for him to speak to Maxwell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know about it, but I think its something that would be, sounds appropriate to do, Trump said as he took questions before a meeting with the president of the Philippines. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee voted Tuesday to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex offender and longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, as the Republicans on Capitol Hill push for the publication of more information related to Epsteins case. During an unrelated subcommittee hearing, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) moved to direct the panel to authorize and issue a subpoena for Maxwell to appear for a deposition, which passed by voice vote. Recently, Rep. Burchett sent a letter to Chairman Comer requesting a subpoena for Ghislaine Maxwells testimony. In response, Chairman Comer directed Rep. Burchett to introduce a motion to subpoena Ms. Maxwell for a deposition, allowing the Committee to formally consider whether to proceed, a spokesperson for the committee said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Committee will seek to subpoena Ms. Maxwell as expeditiously as possible. Since Ms. Maxwell is in federal prison, the Committee will work with the Department of Justice and Bureau of Prisons to identify a date when Committee can depose her. The move by Burchett comes amid an outcry from Republicans over the Trump administrations handling of the Epstein files which has left the House in disarray for the second consecutive week. Its bipartisan passage is also a sign of Democratic pressure on the topic. House Oversight Republicans have quashed prior efforts by Democrats on the panel to subpoena various figures. But the parties banded together Tuesday over a shared interest in Maxwell. Oversight Democrats just unanimously voted to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epsteins partner, House Oversight Democrats wrote on the social platform X after the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is progress. We will not stop fighting until the Epstein Files are released. Trump and Bondi must stop blocking the American people from the truth. The House Rules Committee met Monday to tee up a series of bills for consideration on the floor, but broke for the night without finishing its work as Democrats threatened to stage another vote on whether the chamber should bring a resolution to the floor that would compel the release of the Epstein documents. Republicans on the panel saw the vote as a complicated one, caught between wanting to support the publication of the materials with placating President Trump, who has urged GOP lawmakers to drop the matter. Rules Committee Republicans faced the same vote last week and rejected the amendment, which prompted pushback from their constituents. Later in the week, the panel tried to calm the situation by advancing a nonbinding resolution calling for but not legally requiring the release of some Epstein files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That effort has not completely quelled the calls for more information on both sides of the aisle. In response to that pressure, Justice Department leadership announced Tuesday that it has begun to coordinate with Maxwells attorney about setting up a meeting. This Department of Justice does not shy away from uncomfortable truths, nor from the responsibility to pursue justice wherever the facts may lead, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement shared on X. President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence. If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Therefore, at the direction of Attorney General Bondi, I have communicated with counsel for Ms. Maxwell to determine whether she would be willing to speak with prosecutors from the Department. I anticipate meeting with Ms. Maxwell in the coming days. An attorney for Maxwell indicated an openness to speaking with administration officials before Burchett pushed for a subpoena. I can confirm that we are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case, attorney David Oscar Markus wrote on X. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The turmoil in Congress over the Jeffrey Epstein probe isn't going away anytime soon after House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Tuesday he is ending the legislative session early before Congress' August recess. Johnson vented to reporters -- even pounding the podium -- as he expressed incredulity that the House was sucked into the saga, leading Republicans to abandon legislative business this week and begin their five-week summer recess a day early. "There's no purpose for Congress to push an administration to do something that they're already doing. And so this is for political games," Johnson said at the House GOP's news conference on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: How could Congress compel the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files? The move came after GOP-led Rules Committee -- which was working on advancing a slate of unrelated bills -- came to a halt Monday evening because Democrats announced their plan to force a committee vote on bipartisan legislation that would call for the release of the Epstein files. Republicans on the panel decided to recess the meeting with lawmakers saying there were no plans to reconvene at all. Some Republicans, such as Republican Rep. Thomas Massie slammed the decision to table the meeting and criticized Johnson. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters - PHOTO: The U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument line up behind RFK Stadium, which is in the process of being demolished potentially to make way for a new NFL football stadium, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 21, 2025. "People have wanted these files for years. The president's staff, administration, his own children, his vice president have promised that these files would come out, and now we're being told it's a hoax. It just doesn't wash," Massie told ABC News Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massie said he still intends to try to work with Democrats and a handful of Republicans to force a vote on legislation to release Epstein-related files later this fall. "You don't lose your base over one single thing, but [Trump's] eroding his base. And more importantly, if we don't take the right side of this issue, it's going to cost us votes in the midterms," Massie said. Johnson laid blame on the Democrats for creating the controversy, echoing statements made by President Donald Trump over the last two weeks, however, he appeared particularly agitated by Massie's criticism. "Some people seem to enjoy trying to inflict political pain on their own teammates. I'm not going to address anybody individually, but I'll tell you that some here are much more frustrating than others. It's small, tiny handful, but one in particular is giving me lots of consternation," he said. "I don't understand Thomas Massie's motivation. I really don't. I don't know how his mind works." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Critics say Trump trying to distract from Epstein by talking about everything but that Republican Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina said Monday he and the other Republicans on the committee did not want to vote on Democrats' Epstein amendments, calling the effort "grandstanding." House Republicans will not hold votes this week on several measures, including an immigration bill and a clean water bill, because Democrats on the panel continue to attempt to force tough votes over releasing the Epstein files. J. Scott Applewhite/AP - PHOTO: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., stops to answer reporters about calls to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, July 21, 2025. With the House floor paralyzed, House GOP leaders announced on Tuesday that the chamber is leaving for a five-week district work period a day earlier than expected. Republicans scrapped votes planned for Thursday with final votes now slated for Wednesday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Tuesday punted questions about the Epstein scandal to the Trump administration and deferred to relevant Senate committee chairs when asked if it will involve itself with any further investigation into Epstein. "I believe the president and the attorney general will make the right decisions there with regard to that," he said. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked whether the administration supported Johnson's move to not hold a vote on a resolution calling for the release of the files. "I'm not sure if anyone here spoke to the speaker about that. As you know, we're always in pretty good communication with the speaker of the House. But the president himself has said that if the Department of Justice has credible evidence, they should release it," she said. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Oval Office at the White House, July 22, 2025 in Washington. Meanwhile, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer plans to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell "as expeditiously as possible," according to a committee spokeswoman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Since Ms. Maxwell is in federal prison, the Committee will work with the Department of Justice and Bureau of Prisons to identify a date when Committee can depose her," the spokeswoman said in a statement Tuesday. When asked about the Justice Department's announcement that they would seek an interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's convicted associate, Trump said he didn't know anything about it, but "sounds appropriate." Lawyers for Maxwell are asking a federal judge to let them review any grand jury testimony before they take a position on whether to release it to the public. According to the letter from Maxwells lawyers, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche does not oppose allowing her lawyers to review the grand jury transcripts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As counsel for Ms. Maxwell, we would similarly like to review the grand jury transcripts at issue (we have not seen them and our understanding is that they have never been provided to the defense in their entirety) in order to craft a response and set out our position to the Court, her lawyer David Oscar Markus wrote. The unusual legal predicament comes as lawyers for the Department of Justice are attempting to unseal sensitive grand jury transcripts related to Epstein and meet with Maxwell. An objection from Maxwell into unsealing the records could further complicate the process of potentially releasing the records. Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking and other charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022. Earlier Tuesday, the federal judge overseeing the Justice Department's request to unseal grand jury records said he plans to rule "expeditiously" on the matter but noted that Maxwells position on the release could impact his decision. ABC News' Tierra Cunningham, James Hill and Peter Charalambous contributed to this report. Washington House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Tuesday a pilot program to raise the security allowance of members of the chamber until the end of September as lawmakers have faced increasing threats. It comes in the wake of the separate shootings of a congressional intern and two Minnesota state lawmakers and their spouses. Under Johnson's proposal, members of the House of Representatives will receive an additional $20,000 under the residential security allowance through the end of the fiscal year, or Sept. 30. Johnson also said the monitoring and maintenance allotment for the remainder of the fiscal year will be increased to $5,000 to be put toward personal security. Johnson said that at the end of September, he would evaluate "all the data points, see how effective it was, how it was utilized, and then make decisions going forward." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We live in an enhanced threat environment," Johnson told CBS News. "We mourn the death of this intern that Ron Estes had, that you know, has been in the news the last couple of days, just an unspeakable tragedy." Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, an intern of Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas, was shot and killed in Washington, D.C., on June 30. Police said at the time that they did not believe Tarpinian-Jachym was the intended target of the shooting, but the shooting has rattled many on Capitol Hill. The announcement also comes after Johnson and Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries met last month in the wake of the shootings of Minnesota state lawmakers, Rep. Melissa Hortman and Sen. John Hoffman, and their spouses. Hortman and her husband were shot and killed in their home in the early hours of June 14, while Hoffman and his wife were shot and wounded roughly 5 miles away at their home. The FBI said the suspect, 57-year-old Vance Boelter, went to the homes of two other Minnesota lawmakers. Boelter has been charged with two counts of murder, two counts of stalking and two weapons charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the shootings, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also said he had asked Capitol Police to increase security for members of Congress. All members of Congress received a security briefing in the days following the shootings, and Schumer called it "more than a regional tragedy." Detroit lawnmower gang still going strong after 15 years Looking back on Ozzy Osbourne's life and legacy Legendary singer Ozzy Osbourne dies at 76 Melania Trump at the International Women of Courage Award ceremony on April 1 - Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The opera house at the Kennedy Center might be named after First Lady Melania Trump. Why? Ask these House Republicans. On Tuesday, Republicans on the Appropriations Committee approved an amendment in the annual spending bill to rename the Opera House in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to First Lady Melania Trump Opera House, The Washington Post reports. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Opera House is the second-largest theater at the Kennedy Center with 2,364 seats. The renaming proposal was approved by the Republican-dominated panel 33-25 on Tuesday, and comes as the Trump administration has taken over aspects of the Kennedy Center in the last several months. Back in February, President Donald Trump appointed himself chairman of the board for the institution. As is tradition, the first lady serves as an honorary chair of the Kennedy Center board. Back in June, both Melania and Donald Trump attended a showing of Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center, which was boycotted by at least 10 cast members who refused to play for the MAGA president. Following Trumps self-appointment as Kennedy Center chairman, at least 26 performances were canceled, including 15 by the acts themselves. Issa Rae canceled a Feb. 14 show, citing an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums. On Feb. 13, Low Cut Connie, the Philadelphia rock and soul band fronted by Adam Weiner, canceled their March 19 concert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeffrey Seller were supposed to bring Hamilton to the Kennedy Center in 2026, but canceled the run as well. Meanwhile, the Kennedy Centers Tapestry of Pride originally scheduled for June 5 to 8 during Washington, D.C.s World Pride Festival was informed that their events had been canceled. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Youre not the only one dealing with houseflies. Humans and flies alike are trying to beat the heat, which is probably why youre noticing them more. Theyre not really considered a pest, just a nuisance, said Julia Laughlin with OSU Extension. Houseflies are on the move and become active all summer long. Even with a life cycle of about 7-10 days, these annoying bugs can quickly build up a full force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outdoor work safety is key as summer heat bears down In July and August, youre likely to notice them more, as theyre also trying to stay cool in this heat. A little bit of cool air brings them in like a magnet, said Laughlin. Laughlin says that when we open up our doors, theyll fly right in. They seem to find your kitchen and your food right away, she said. You may also see them around your pets food, trash cans, and house plants. But, there is good news. Theyre not considered a pest of any plant, said Laughlin. Laughlin said flies are attracted to decaying matter in the soil. Its their bread and butter. Thats also why theyre important. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The big question is, how do you get rid of them inside your home? We dont necessarily recommend you spraying because theyre flying, said Laughlin. Theyre going to be where your food is, where you dont want chemicals anyway. The best method is to trap them with sticky tape or kill them physically. A good ol fly swatter can be your best friend during the next two months. You can also eliminate where they congregate, like a water source in your backyard. After all, they need water to survive, too. It also helps to pick up after your pets, in your yard, and around your doors. Dont forget to cover up your compost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youve got a fresh layer of greens, maybe put a layer of straw, or a layer of leaves on top of that, said Laughlin. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. A wave of digital theft is hitting Americas most vulnerable families where it hurts most the dinner table. Don't miss I wish this wouldnt have happened to me, Yolanda Berryhill, a mother to three and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipient in Harris County, Texas, told FOX 26. I feel more of a failure as a mother than anything because I cant really help my kids right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Berryhill has lived with a disability since surviving a 1998 robbery where she was shot four times and suffered three aneurysms. SNAP is her family's lifeline, but that lifeline was cut without warning earlier this month when she went to buy food. The cashier was like, Its not going through, she recalled. Berryhill reported to the sheriffs office that $730 vanished from her account within hours of her monthly deposit and was spent at a Walmart in Germantown, Maryland. Benefits are being stolen from parents trying to feed their kids Berryhill's stolen benefits are part of a bigger problem. Fraudulent SNAP transactions increased by a shocking 55% between the last quarter of FY2024 and the first quarter of FY2025, according to the USDA. The number of households impacted in FY2025 Q1 was 221,191, up from 143,903 in FY2024 Q4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even worse is that victims are no longer guaranteed help. Congress let the program to replace benefits with federal funds expire in December 2024, leaving millions without a safety net. The USDA website says it replaced $322.5 million in stolen benefits from FY2023 Q2 to FY2025 Q1. Theft of funds on SNAP EBT cards has dramatically increased in recent years, said the USDA in May. In such cases, criminals steal funds loaded onto EBT cards that SNAP recipients rely on to buy food by surreptitiously installing card skimmers, and cloning point of sale terminals enabling them to steal publicly funded benefits. Recent investigations show that international criminal organizations are heavily involved and benefiting from SNAP fraud. Our estimate is that something above $400 million is stolen every year from the pockets of low-income households moms and dads trying to feed their kids, said Justin King, the policy director at Propel, to FOX 26. Propel is a free app that helps SNAP users track their balances and detect fraud. We see really negative outcomes when people are victimized in this way. People go deeper into debt, they fall behind on other bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trumps big beautiful bill has also made big changes to the SNAP program that the Urban Institute says will widen the persistent gap between benefits and food costs. Prices are just rising, but the SNAP benefits are going down, Berryhill adds. Shes left to figure out how to feed her family for the rest of the month. 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 protect your SNAP benefits: As fraudulent SNAP transactions skyrocket, digital thieves are cashing in while families go hungry. So, how can you protect your benefits in a system not built for the modern fraud game? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Start here: Secure your PIN Use a strong, complex PIN that doesnt relate to your birthday, address, or any repeating numbers. Update it every month, ideally right before your benefits are loaded. Monitor, freeze, repeat Your EBT card isnt just plastic, its your paycheck. Lock your card when youre not using it. For example, Texas allows you to freeze your EBT card via the Texas Benefits app. Check your balance frequently. The Propel app sends you alerts for suspicious activity. Watch for card skimmers Fraudsters are planting skimming devices, tiny readers that steal your card data, on self-checkout machines and store card readers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Be vigilant at checkout and avoid suspicious card readers. Learn how to spot card skimmers by looking at the card reader for signs (bulky, off-center, loose parts) and checking the security seal. Block out-of-state use Several states now let you block SNAP card use in other states, which prevents scammers from draining your funds 1,000 miles away. The Propel app also lets you do this. If you believe your card has been compromised or benefits have been stolen, contact your state office to cancel the card and report it to the authorities. As SNAP fraud hits crisis levels, one thing is clear: your EBT card isnt just a benefit, its a target for thieves. For families like Berryhills, the damage is already done. 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. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Hundreds of students at one D.C. high school will receive brand new Chromebooks as part of a $380,000 donation intended to expand digital access. School officials announced Tuesday that T-Mobile will donate the Chromebooks for distribution to students at KIPP DC Legacy College Preparatory as part of the providers Project 10Million initiative, which aims to close the digital divide in education by offering free mobile hotspots and connectivity to up to 10 million eligible student households, according to KIPP DC. DMV Doers: DC Attorney helping residents erase or avoid medical debt As part of the effort, in addition to the Chromebooks, eligible students at the high school in Ward 8 can also receive: Free mobile hotspot devices with 100GB of high-speed data per year for five years Optional low-cost data passes for additional access Access to at-cost devices for hybrid and remote learning Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Access to reliable technology is no longer a luxury, its a necessity, said Shannon Hodge, president of KIPP DC. this donation helps ensure more of our students have the tools they need to learn, connect and thrive. Were deeply grateful to T-Mobile for their commitment to digital equity and for making it easier for families to support their childrens education, both in and our of the classroom. To learn more about Project 10Million, 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. DALLAS (AP) Texas officials labored to account for more than 160 people originally reported missing along the Guadalupe River after the deadly July Fourth floods before ultimately concluding that most were safe and only three individuals still haven't been found, the top executive in the hardest-hit county said Monday. Most of them were tourists that came into town and left and went back home and didnt report that they were there, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said at a special meeting of the county commissioner court. He called the process a Herculean effort." The flash floods killed at least 135 people in Texas, and most of the deaths were in Kerr County, where destructive, fast-moving water rose 26 feet (8 meters) on the Guadalupe River, washing away buildings and vehicles in the area about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of San Antonio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sharp revision in the number of missing by Kerr County officials on Saturday followed a familiar pattern in the often chaotic aftermath of large-scale disasters. Hundreds of people were reported missing in the initial days after the floods through a phone hotline and email address, which launched investigators on an exhaustive effort to verify the status of each of those individuals, Kerrville police spokesperson Jonathan Lamb said. We understand how critical it is to report this information accurately not only for the families affected but for the integrity of our emergency response as a whole, Lamb said. Sharp swings follow disasters Drastic changes in the missing count after a disaster arent unusual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For instance, the death count from the 2023 Maui fire was eventually found to be just over 100 far below the 1,100 initially feared missing. In 2017, a wildfire in Northern Californias wine country killed more than 20 people, but most of the 100 people initially reported missing were located safe. The 2018 wildfire that largely destroyed the California town of Paradise ended up killing nearly 100 people, though Butte County investigators at one point had the names of more than 3,000 people who were not accounted for in the early days of the disaster. The names were whittled down when the list was published in the local paper, and many people realized for the first time that officials were looking for them. Tourists and campers reported missing Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas Hill Country is a popular tourist destination, where campers seek out spots along the Guadalupe River amid the rolling landscapes. Vacation cabins, RV parks and youth campgrounds fill the riverbanks and hills of Kerr County, including Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian summer camp for girls where at least 27 campers and counselors died in the floods. The flooding was far more severe than the 100-year event envisioned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, experts said, and it moved so quickly in the middle of the night that it caught many off guard in Kerr County, which lacked a warning system. Tracking down the missing Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a July 14 news conference, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had lowered the number of still-missing in the state to about 100 and suggested that pinning down that number was difficult. In the days after the floods, officials had put the number of missing at about 170 statewide with all but about 10 coming from Kerr County alone. Campers, residents or people who registered at RV parks or hotels are easier to account for, Abbott said. Others may have been reported missing by a friend, family member or coworker. In Travis County, which includes Austin, the floods killed at least 10 people. The sheriffs office has said one person remains on their missing list but may be removed if they can verify sightings of the person. Kristen Dark, a spokesperson for the sheriffs office, said investigators work the missing person and decedent list just like we would work any other cases. For instance, if someone reports that they havent seen their neighbor, deputies might begin by reaching out to the neighbors employer and family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They use all kinds of different avenues to see if they can find out either that the person hasnt been seen or that the person is alive and heres where they are, she said. ____ Associated Press writer Nadia Lathan in Austin contributed to this report. (NewsNation) Hunter Biden says his father Joe Bidens poor debate performance in 2024 was because the president had taken Ambien. In a three-hour interview conducted by Andrew Callaghan and posted to YouTube, Hunter Biden addressed a range of topics, from his drug use to his fathers presidency. Hunter Biden blames fathers debate performance on Ambien Biden said his father, who returned from an international trip two weeks before the debate, had been given Ambien to deal with sleep disturbances from travel, though he did not say how long it was between the last dose of the common sleeping medication and the debate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MLK Jr. assassination files released after 60 years Ambien is known to have side effects including drowsiness, and sometimes dangerous complex sleep behaviors like sleepwalking and sleep cooking. President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race following his poor debate performance, which he blamed on fatigue and having a cold. The president never indicated he took Ambien in the lead-up to the debate, and it was not in any of his medical records. Hunter Biden attacks Dems Hunter Biden also addressed his fathers critics, going on a profanity-filled rant about George Clooney, one of the prominent Democrats who called for Joe Biden to exit the presidential race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement F him. F him and everybody around him, Hunter Biden said. DOJ requests noncitizen inmate info from multiple California jails He also levied an attack against Democratic political operatives who pushed for a new candidate, including James Carville and David Axelrod. Hunter Biden on immigration The former first son also criticized President Donald Trump, specifically his immigration policies. How do you think your hotel room gets cleaned? Hunter Biden said of those with anti-immigrant sentiment. He also attacked the Trump administrations policy of deporting immigrants in the country illegally to a notorious prison in El Salvador, calling Trump a f dictator thug. Hunter Biden on cocaine use Hunter Biden was also asked about his history with addiction and the revelation that he had made his own crack cocaine while he was still using drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pat Tillmans brother arrested in post office fire: report However, he denied that cocaine found in the White House in 2023 belonged to him. The FBI has opened an investigation into the drugs, which were found in a cubby. Hunter Biden, who has been open about his history of addiction, said he was clean and sober at the time. 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hunter Biden is blaming his fathers poor 2024 presidential debate performance on Ambien that he said doctors prescribed to help him deal with jet lag. In a podcast interview released Monday, the onetime first son said former President Joe Biden was likely exhausted from the rigors of world travel ahead of the June clash that led to his pulling the plug on his reelection campaign. He flew around the world. Hes 81 years old. Hes tired, Hunter Biden said. They give him Ambien to be able to sleep, and he gets up on the stage and looks like a deer in the headlights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joe Bidens doctors never listed Ambien, a common sleep aid, as a medication he was given. The interview with YouTube personality Andrew Callaghan was released on the one-year anniversary of Joe Biden ending his bid to win four more years in the White House, a decision that came amid disastrous political fallout from the debate. Hunter Biden also denied any involvement in the discovery of a baggie of cocaine that was left in a White House security cubby in 2023, insisting he has been sober since 2019 after a well-documented battle with cocaine and other substance abuse. I have not touched a drop of alcohol or a drug, and Im incredibly proud of that, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FBI Director Kash Patel has named the incident as one of several Biden-era investigations that he intends to revisit. President Trump publicly said he suspected Hunter Biden could be responsible, although no evidence has ever surfaced. Hunter Biden was pardoned by his father last December, just a few weeks before Joe Biden left the White House in January. He was facing prison time after being convicted on federal gun charges related to his drug use in June 2024 and later pleading guilty to tax charges. _____ Hunter Biden Issues Scathing Rebuke of George Clooney in Defense of His Father originally appeared on Parade. Hunter Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, is lashing out at actor George Clooney. In an interview for Andrew Callaghans Channel 5 YouTube series that spanned over three hours, Hunter accused Clooney and a number of high-profile Democratic strategists of betrayal and cowardice in the aftermath of the 2024 election cycle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about Clooneys July 2024 op-ed calling on President Biden to withdraw from the race after his debate performance, Hunter, 55, launched into a tirade over the treatment of his father. F--k him. F--k him. F--k him. And everybody around him, Hunter began, unprompted and visibly seething. I dont have to be f-----g nice. Number one, I agree with [director] Quentin Tarantino. F-----g George Clooney is not a f-----g actor. He is a f-----g, like, I dont know where he is. Hes a brand. Clooneys column, published in The New York Times, has been credited by some with galvanizing Democratic pressure that ultimately led to Joe Bidens decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Hunter Biden just went off on the Democratic Party: "Fuck him and everybody around him... George Clooney is not a fucking an actor. He's a brand." "James Carville hasn't won a race in 40 fucking years." "David Axelrod had one success in his political life and that was Barack pic.twitter.com/Cdk9t29gwZ Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 21, 2025 Hunter took personal offense at what he considered disloyalty to a president who had given 52 years of his f-----g life to the service of this country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What do you have to do with f-----g anything? he said of Clooney. Why do I have to f-----g listen to you? What right do you have to step on a man whos given 52 years of his f-----g 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-----g New York Times? Parade reached out to Clooneys representatives, who did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication. The young Biden also tore into other Democratic establishment figures, including James Carville, David Axelrod, David Plouffe, and the hosts of Pod Save America. James Carville, who hasnt run a race in 40 f-----g years, he exclaimed. 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-----g David Axelrod. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunter continued: And the Pod Save America Guys [hosts Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer, and Tommy Vietor] who were junior f-----g speechwriters on Barack Obamas Senate staff who had been dining out on their relationship with him for years, making millions of dollars. Vietor has since responded to Bidens comments on 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. Hunter later called out Anita Dunn, one of Biden's longtime advisors, accusing her of enriching herself at the partys expense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Anita Dunns of the world, whove made $40, $50 million dollars off the Democratic Party, he said. 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. Hunter went on to claim that Clooneys op-ed was partly driven by a personal grudge linked to international politics involving Clooneys wife, human rights lawyer Amal Clooney. He was b------g to the White House staff, the senior staff that he was so angry that the president would criticize the arrest warrant that was executed for [Benjamin] Netanyahu, and the president, when asked if they would arrest Netanyahu if he came to the United States, said he would not have the authority, nor would he do that I guess George Clooneys wife was the principal architect of that arrest, of that warrant for Netanyahu, he continued. And I dont judge that in one way or another if it was the right thing or not. He was very, very angry that my dad did not pay homage to her or something. And I understand defending your wife or something, but I saw the text messages that he wrote, reams of text messages like, How dare he do that. And he kept promising that he was going to embarrass the president and pull out of the fundraiser. Watch the full interview on YouTube. Hunter Biden Issues Scathing Rebuke of George Clooney in Defense of His Father first appeared on Parade on Jul 21, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared. Hunter Biden has claimed that his father Joe Biden was groggy from taking the sleeping aid Ambien during his presidential debate against Donald Trump last year, accounting for his disastrous performance. I know exactly what happened in that debate, Hunter told YouTube personality Andrew Callaghan in an interview released on Monday. He flew around the world. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The veteran Democrat cut a frail figure when he took to the CNN debate stage in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 27 last year to battle it out with Trump as he sought another four years in the White House. Hunter Biden is interviewed by YouTuber Andrew Callaghan (Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan/YouTube) Biden went on to give a series of mangled answers, failing to make the case for his record in the Oval Office or a second term and at one point declared incoherently: We finally beat Medicare. I really dont know what he said at the end of that sentence, his Republican opponent said after one garbled answer. I dont think he knows what he said either. After more than three weeks of pressure from panicked Democrats for Biden to step aside, he finally did so on July 21, paving the way for then-vice president Kamala Harris to run in his stead, only for her to lose to Trump the following November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the use of Ambien is common for sleep disorders, there was no mention of it among the six medications prescribed to the Democrat that were referenced in his annual physical report published on February 28 2024, signed off by Bidens presidential physician Dr. Kevin OConnor. In the same interview, Hunter noted that there was little opposition to Biden running again prior to the televised head-to-head: The people who came out against him were nobody, except Speaker Emeritus [Nancy] Pelosi did not give a full-throated endorsement. The entirety of the progressive side of the Democratic Party said Joe Biden has got more of our agenda accomplished in four years than any president in history. Joe Biden examining his notes during his fateful CNN debate against Donald Trump in Atlanta, Georgia (AFP/Getty) That changed in the aftermath of his fathers very public humiliation, Hunter alleged. They said, We are going to blow up the party if you dont drop out. Were going to protest this all the way up for the next month, all the way up to the convention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Picking up his fathers story, Hunter told Callaghan: He gets over the hump, he goes and does the [ABC News anchor George] Stephanopoulos [interview]. Everybody goes, OK, thats not enough, we got to see him give a press conference. What followed was another troubling public appearance on July 12 at which Biden appeared alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and accidentally referred to him as Vladimir, apparently confusing him with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Five days after that, with the pressure campaign on him to step aside only intensifying, Biden was diagnosed with Covid-19. He woke up in the morning and he had a severe case of Covid, and the pictures of him getting on and off the plane were just devastating, and then the vultures descended, Hunter remembered. Trump and Biden on the CNN debate stage (Getty) So Joe Biden, I think, did the most selfless thing that I know of any politician in the history of this f***ing country. He stepped aside to save the party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the same interview, Hunter lashed out at Hollywood actor George Clooney who wrote a New York Times editorial last year calling on the president to drop out of the race after becoming concerned by his appearance at a charity gala alongside Barack Obama. F*** you. What do you have to do with f***ing anything? Hunter said angrily of Clooney. While the presidents son made his opinion clear on why the Democratic ticket failed at the polls last year, others have pointed to his own role in bringing down his fathers presidency. A lightning rod for MAGA conspiracy theories, Hunters prosecution on tax and gun charges led to speculation that the president would pardon his son, which he denied and then did anyway leading some to feel he had received favorable treatment because of his privileged position. The book 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America by Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager and Isaac Arnsdorf argues that Biden was preoccupied with the prospect of his son going to prison at the height of election campaigning last summer, causing him to take his eye off the ball. Hunter Biden is back in the spotlight thanks to a media blitz in which he aggressively defended his father, former President Biden, and reignited a long-simmering feud between the Biden family and members of the Democratic Party who pushed for the former president to drop out of the 2024 race. Hunter Biden took aim at actor George Clooney, Obama White House officials and President Trump in a pair of fiery and profanity-laced interviews that were released on the anniversary of the former presidents decision to end his candidacy. The former presidents son, a major target for personal and political attacks from Republicans in recent years, appeared on YouTube personality Andrew Callaghans show and also sat down for a lengthy interview with former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Jamie Harrison to unpack the 2024 campaign and the state of the party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans viewed Hunter Bidens reemergence as a gift, as they have tried to keep the former president and his mental acuity in the headlines. Democrats, meanwhile, were left shaking their heads at yet another self-inflicted controversy sparked by the former first family. 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, Tommy Vietor, a former Obama White House official, posted on the social platform X. The interviews underscored the degree to which the Biden family still feels stung by the Democratic Partys decision to abandon the former president as its nominee, despite his decades of service and his successful 2020 campaign. The comments also came at a time when Trump has grappled with discontent among members of his own base over the handling of the case of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and as Democrats have attempted to stay on the attack over the massive tax and spending bill Trump signed into law earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunter Bidens interviews made significant rounds in the media and online. Fox News played comments from the former presidents son in which he went on an expletive-laced tirade against the Trump administrations deportation efforts, as well as a soundbite in which Hunter Biden mused about how he would have handled discussions with El Salvador about a wrongfully deported migrant. How do you think your hotel room gets cleaned? How do you think you have food on your fing table? Who do you think washes your dishes? Hunter Biden said of those in the country illegally. Clearly theyve learned nothing from President Trumps overwhelming victory on Nov. 5, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox in response to those comments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of Hunter Bidens more incendiary comments came during a sit-down with Callaghan, who hosts the YouTube series Channel 5. Hunter Biden teed off on Clooney, whose New York Times op-ed last summer added fuel to calls for then-President Biden to step down after his disastrous debate performance. F you, what do you have to do with fing anything? Why do I have to fing listen to you? What right do you have to step on a man whos given 52 years of his fing life to the service of this country, Hunter Biden said of Clooney. Hunter Biden went on to single out Democratic strategist James Carville, top Obama White House adviser David Axelrod, former Obama aide David Plouffe, who joined the Harris campaign in a senior role, and Anita Dunn, who was a top White House official under the former president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 and how to garner more votes than any president that has ever won, and theyre going to replace their judgment for his? Hunter Biden told Callaghan. Hunter Biden also offered a previously unheard of explanation for why his father struggled so mightily in a June 2024 debate with Trump that set off a wave of calls for Democrats to reconsider their nominee. I know exactly what happened in that debate. He flew around the world basically the mileage he could have flown around the world three times, Hunter Biden said. Hes 81 years old. Hes tired as s. They give him Ambien to be able to sleep. He gets up on the stage, and he looks like a deer in the headlights. The former president has repeatedly blamed his halting debate performance on feeling under the weather. Some allies have blamed his taxing travel schedule before the debate. But he had been at Camp David for a week before the debate privately preparing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the former president did not respond to a request for comment about Hunter Bidens comments to Gallagher. Hunter Biden also echoed the argument of many of his fathers allies that the partys defeat last November was a result of its decision to push the former president out of the race. We lost the election because we did not remain loyal to the leader of the party. Thats my position, Hunter Biden told Jamie Harrison on his newly launched podcast, At Our Table. The former president has largely remained under the radar since leaving office in January. He has made a few low-profile public appearances, and he gave a rare interview to The New York Times earlier this month to push back on claims he was not aware of who was granted clemency in the final weeks of his presidency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump White House and Republicans on Capitol Hill have worked to keep him in the spotlight, though. Trump attacks his predecessor multiple times each week over policy and the use of an autopen to sign certain actions while in office. House Republicans have launched a probe into the former presidents mental acuity while in office, summoning a host of former White House officials for testimony. So far, his aides who have been called to testify have invoked their Fifth Amendment right, giving the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee little to work with. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), also keen to keep a spotlight on the Biden administration, released a 14-minute video on Monday of Democrats repeatedly defending the former presidents mental sharpness. As House Republicans investigate the scandal to bring accountability, the American people should never forget how far Democrats and the media went to hide the truth about the mental decline of the man holding the most powerful position on earth, Johnson said in a statement. 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. Hunter Biden, during an interview with YouTube host Andrew Callaghan released on Monday, said his father, former President Joe Biden, was taking the sleep aid Ambien and suggested that could have been to blame for his disastrous debate against Donald Trump that ultimately resulted in him stepping away from his re-election bid. "I'll tell you what, I know exactly what happened in that debate. He flew around the world, basically, and 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 stage and he looks like he's a deer in the headlights. And it feeds into f****** story that anybody wants to tell," Hunter Biden said on the YouTube show "Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan." Hunter Biden later told ABC News' Jonathan Karl he was not saying that his father was taking Ambien immediately before the debate -- he was making a point about his travel schedule in the weeks before the debate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have no idea whether or not he used Ambien while traveling through multiple times zones in the weeks leading up to the debate. My point was that his debate performance was completely out of character then and now, he said." The former president's team declined to comment to ABC News. Hunter Biden continued to forcefully push back on any assertion that there was some sort of cover-up of his father's condition, and said that progressives rushed to his father's side to laud his agenda in the fallout of that debate. He claimed that, at first, Nancy Pelosi was the lone voice doubting Joe Biden's place on the Democratic ticket. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images - PHOTO: Hunter Biden, the son President Joe Biden, is seen during an event to celebrate the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams on the South Lawn of the White House, Sept. 30, 2024. "If this was a conspiracy somehow the entirety of a White House in which you literally living on top of each other has kept their mouth shut, about, you knowand what's the conspiracy? That Joe Biden got old? Yeah, he got old. He got old before our eyes," Hunter Biden said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued: "The people that came out against him were who? Nobody, except Speaker Pelosi, emeritus. Speaker Emeritus Pelosi did not give a full-throated endorsement, which allowed everyone else to go 'Ok.' Except who came out full-throated? Progressives, AOC, Bernie, the entire progressive wing. Ro Khanna. The entire progressive side of the Democratic Party said Joe Biden has got more of our agenda accomplished in four years than any president in history." Pelosi's office declined to comment to ABC News. MORE: Biden falters in high-stakes debate, Trump spews falsehoods Along with discussing his father's debate performance, Hunter Biden also denied that the bag of cocaine found in the White House complex back in 2023 belonged to him. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images - PHOTO: President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump participate in the Presidential Debate, June 27, 2024 in Atlanta. A suspect was never identified by the Secret Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There's this conflation people have. I mean, I think they're opening up an investigation to cocaine that was found in a cubby outside the West Wing of the White House," Hunter Biden said. Hunter Biden said that since the incident occurred while his father was president, he was immediately targeted. "They're literally going to do an FBI -- another congressional investigation because they're convinced themselves that it had to be me. That there was a little tiny I guess my point of view on bringing it up is that, no, I have been clean and sober since June of 2019, and I have not touched a drop of alcohol or drug and I'm incredibly proud of that," Hunter Biden said. He denied that the drugs were his. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Photos show cocaine found inside White House complex in July "Why would I bring cocaine to the White House, stick it into a cubby outside the situation room in the West Wing? When I wasn't there anyway. I mean, who the f*** knows?" Hunter Biden said. Hunter Biden then said he found it ironic that he was questioned about his drug and alcohol addiction by former Rep. Matt Gaetz during closed-door dispositions on Capitol Hill, as Gaetz was also embroiled in drug and sex scandals. "I demanded that they do it in public, and they refused .... Matt Gaetz, of all people, was giving me s*** about my drug use. I said, 'Really? All the people at this table, you're going to talk to me about my addiction and my alcoholism?'" Hunter Biden said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to ABC News, Gaetz responded, "It is a real shame that the Republican Congress never issued a subpoena to Hunter Biden for live testimony in public. Its also still troubling to me that Republicans in congress allowed Hunter to testify absent the video recording we usually make of witnesses. These would have been great moments for the country to see. The transcripts dont do them justice. Hunter tried to use references to his drug use to avoid accountability for his international shake down business. I hope hes enjoying his pardon." Hunter Biden spoke with Callaghan for over three hours in a wide-ranging conversation. -ABC News' Will Steakin contributed to this report. By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Former President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, said his father's disastrous debate performance against President Donald Trump that led to the Democrat stepping aside as presidential candidate was the result of him taking Ambien due to his travel. "And I'll tell you what, I know exactly what happened in that debate. He (Joe Biden) flew around the world, basically the mileage he could have flown around the world three times. He's 81 years old. He's tired as shit," the former president's son said in an interview released on Monday with YouTube creator Andrew Callaghan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "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," Hunter Biden added. Ambien is a medication used for short-term treatment of sleeping problems. Joe Biden's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment late on Monday. The former president prepared at Camp David with his aides for several days for the debate. Prior to being at Camp David, the Democrat took two European trips and was on the U.S. West Coast for a fundraiser. The former president's debate performance against then-Republican presidential candidate Trump, in which the Democrat regularly struggled to finish his thoughts, triggered a backlash against Biden's candidacy for the 2024 elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Less than a month after that June 27, 2024, debate, Biden stepped aside as presidential candidate after having trailed Trump in the polls. Former Vice President Kamala Harris then became the candidate for the Democrats and went on to lose to Trump in the November elections. In the days after the debate, the former president blamed his debate performance on jet lag after two overseas trips earlier that month. In the interview released on Monday, Hunter Biden also expressed frustration with Democratic voices, strategists and lawmakers who abandoned his father's candidacy following the debate. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Paul Thomasch and Stephen Coates) CHICAGO 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. ____ Donald Trumps administration is desperately trying to lure retired ICE agents back into the fold to help enact the presidents massive deportation campaign, according to The New York Times. Trump administration officials have been reaching out directly to former officers in good standing and posting tailored offers on job portals attempting to recruit them with promises of hefty cash bonuses. One email reviewed by the Times issued an urgent call to former law enforcement officers to join OPERATION RETURN TO MISSION, and included an offer for qualified candidates to collect up to $50,000 in bonuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ready to rejoin the mission and get up to a $50k signing bonus ON TOP OF rehired annuitant pay (pension + paycheck)? read one LinkedIn post from Robert Hammer, acting executive associate director at Homeland Security Investigations. Submit your application by Aug 1 to be eligible for the full recruitment incentives package. The Trump administrations latest efforts come alongside comments from a former agency prosecutor that many ICE agents are seeking exit strategies, having become unhappy and experiencing very low morale as they face moral dilemmas about executing their jobs. Apparently, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Millers directive to execute a lofty 3,000 immigration arrests per day has rendered many in the service completely miserable. As it turns out, ripping families apart and then subjecting them to inhumane prison conditions isnt everyones dream job. Maybe the only people who can stomach it are the ones who have already been doing it. Still, the Trump administration has said it hopes to hire 10,000 ICE agents and 3,000 border patrol agents to conduct the presidents grotesque immigration policies. Jul. 21MITCHELL U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed that an active investigation is underway at Trail King Industries facility in Mitchell. On June 11, the Mitchell Republic received multiple tips about ICE's presence at Trail King. This week, Erin Bultje, deputy communications chief for ICE, confirmed to the newspaper that there is an ongoing investigation related to Trail King. However, Bultje declined to offer further details, citing the active nature of the case. Trail King Vice President of Human Resources Lee Anderson gave the following statement to the Mitchell Republic seeking comment on the investigation, "We do not wish to comment on your inquiry." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No information has been made public about the investigation's focus or whether any enforcement actions have been taken. Separately, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley recently announced a partnership between ICE and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) under the 287(g) program, which authorizes state agents to assist in federal immigration enforcement targeting violent criminals and drug traffickers. DCI plans to establish a task force headquartered in Pierre, with agents from across the state receiving federal training to serve as 287(g) Task Force officers. ICE has already had an active presence in South Dakota this year. On May 13, they conducted a worksite enforcement action in Madison that resulted in eight arrests at two local businesses Manitou Equipment and Global Polymer Industries. Manitou had previously received nearly $1 million in state financial support while Kristi Noem was governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE criticized these companies for allegedly employing undocumented workers, emphasizing that immigration enforcement isn't limited to big cities but extends to small towns across rural America, according to South Dakota Searchlight . The timing of the raids coincided with protests against Noem in Madison, raising concerns among local students and immigrant advocacy groups about the broader impact of immigration enforcement in the region. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island is pictured in downtown Providence. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) A nationwide coalition of organizations serving domestic violence survivors and unhoused people including the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence is challenging new conditions on federal housing and violence prevention grants set by the Trump administration, the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island announced Monday. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island in Providence against five federal agencies and their respective agency heads involves 22 plaintiffs in 14 states and the District of Columbia. They are seeking to block stricter eligibility requirements revolving around the Trump administrations efforts not to fund programs or organizations that support diversity, equity, and inclusion or what it dubs gender ideology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defendants include U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner. Plaintiffs claim that Health and Human Services recent attempts to limit eligibility based on factors like diversity and gender identity is an unconstitutional maneuver that will imperil the people served by these groups, such as women and children experiencing homelessness. The plaintiffs want the court to vacate the new eligibility requirements. They are also seeking a temporary restraining order against Health and Human Services to free up funds for relevant programs. These harmful funding conditions jeopardize decades of progress in how we care for survivors and prevent domestic violence, Lucy Rios, executive director of lead plaintiff Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said in a statement Monday. There are disparities based on identities like race, sexual orientation, immigration status, and gender identity that impact access to services and justice. In the middle of a housing crisis, restricting access to safe, affirming shelter is not only dangerous, it is devastating and will put lives at risk. Domestic violence prevention groups rely on grants to subsidize housing, support services The lawsuit is brought by domestic violence prevention groups in the District of Columbia and the following states: California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and Wisconsin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The groups rely at least partially on funding programs subject to new eligibility restrictions, which includes a range of federal grants administered by Health and Human Services and HUD, such as the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act and the Continuum of Care Program, which subsidizes housing and other support services for survivors of domestic violence, LGBTQ+ youth and other vulnerable populations. Haus of Codec is the only emergency housing provider in Rhode Island that exclusively serves LGBTQIA+ clients between the ages of 18 and 24, according to a statement from its executive director, Julio E. Berroa. Without these funds our program would cease to exist, Berroa wrote. The crucial and life saving services Haus of Codec provides has been a lifeline for our state that is experiencing a significant deficit in affordable housing and shelter beds for all populations. Losing these funds would mean more individuals would be returning to the street and lose access to food, clothing, essential personal care products and the dignity that no person should live without. The HHS grant policy, updated in April, prescribes that grantees do not, and will not during the term of this financial assistance award, operate any programs that advance or promote DEI, DEIA, or discriminatory equity ideology in violation of Federal anti-discrimination laws. HUD lists similar requirements in its eligibility documentation. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs core complaints mirror those made in a similar case represented by the ACLU in March: that new stipulations placed on applications for federal arts grants essentially force applicants to make false claims on grant applications, or risk losing access to federal funds entirely if their organizations are deemed noncompliant. The new requirements leave the plaintiffs in an impossible position, the lawsuit argues. According to the complaint, the Trump administration has imposed these requirements in a manner expressly designed to expose grantees to civil and criminal liability under the False Claims Act. The suit cites a May 19 memo from the U.S. Department of Justice that characterizes the False Claims Act as the Justice Departments primary weapon against government fraud, waste, and abuse. Plaintiffs and their members genuinely fear that in performing their lawful activities, including in some cases those not funded by HHS or HUD funds, they will be accused of violating the New Conditions to which Defendants insist they agree, the lawsuit reads. This fear is amplified by the governments stated goal to use the False Claims Act as a weapon against grantees conduct. Representing the plaintiffs are Lynette Labinger for the ACLU Foundation of Rhode Island, Amy Romero and Mary Dunn for the Lawyers Committee for Rhode Island, Democracy Forward, Jacobson Lawyers Group, and the National Womens Law Center. The lawsuit wants the court to vacate the new application requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. complaint_-_ricadv_v._rfk_jr Rhode Island Current, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Rhode Island Current maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janine L. Weisman for questions: info@rhodeislandcurrent.com. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE 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. 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. 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. Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com. The state of Idaho has filed a motion to extend the no-contact orders against Bryan Kohberger, who recently pleaded guilty to all charges connected to the University of Idaho student murders, according to court documents. The motion requests that the court extend the current no-contact orders for an additional 99 years. These orders currently prevent Kohberger from contacting the victims and are set to expire on January 5, 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kohbergers sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday and will air on KIRO 7 and kiro7.com, starting at 7:45 a.m. The state argues that, due to the severity of the crimes and the guilty pleas entered, the extended no-contact period is warranted. Kohberger was previously indicted for the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students - Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin - in Moscow in November 2022. The extension, if granted, would remain in effect for nearly a centuryintended to last for the rest of Kohbergers life. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as photographed on June 12, 2017, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) U.S. senators for Idaho Mike Crapo and Jim Risch are again proposing a bill to split the existing Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals a federal court with jurisdiction over much of the West into two courts. The Judicial Reorganization Act was previously proposed by Crapo in 2019 and 2021, and Idaho U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson proposed a similar bill earlier this year, and in 2019, 2021 and 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2025 bill would create a 12th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which would take over cases out of Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. The Ninth Circuit would retain jurisdiction over California, Guam and Hawaii. The nations largest and busiest circuit court of appeals has been overburdened for years covering more than 11,000 cases annually from nine Western states and two U.S. territories, Crapo said in a press release. The Ninth Circuits significant backlog and inefficiency impedes the administration of justice throughout the region. The time is now to divide the court to reflect the Wests massive population growth and provide greater access to justice for all. The bill would add one appellate judge to each court, raising the total number of judges between both courts to 31 with 18 serving the Ninth Circuit and 13 judges in the 12th. The president would appoint new judges who would be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has long reflected the values of California, which dominates its justices and judicial cases, Risch said. The Judicial Reorganization Act would split and modernize the Ninth Circuit, allowing for more manageable caseloads and justice that aligns with the values of Idaho. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ninth Circuit is the largest circuit court in the nation by geography, population and workload, according to the press release. The appeals court has jurisdiction over 40% of the nations landmarks, and one-in-five Americans. One fifth of all pending federal appeals and 56% of all immigration cases in the nation are filed within the Ninth Circuit, the release said. The bill would authorize funds to be appropriated as may be necessary to carry out the act; the legislation doesnt specify a number. The WHO said the Israeli military attacked its staff residence and main warehouse in Deir al-Balah on Monday, compromising its operations in Gaza. The IDF on Tuesday said that there were no casualties among the World Health Organization's (WHO) workers in Gaza, and that their evacuation from the area was coordinated with the military beforehand. Earlier, the WHO said the Israeli military attacked its staff residence and main warehouse in Deir al-Balah on Monday, compromising its operations in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United Nations agency said the WHO staff residence was attacked three times, with airstrikes causing a fire and extensive damage, and endangering staff and their families, including children. "The Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward Al-Mawasi amid active conflict. Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and screened at gunpoint," WHO said. Two WHO staff and two family members were detained, it said in a post on X/Twitter, adding that three were later released, while one staff member remained in detention. 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) "WHO demands the immediate release of the detained staff and protection of all its staff," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. IDF says they identified gunfire in the Deir al-Balah area, detained suspects on suspicion of terrorism According to the IDF, soldiers identified gunfire directed at them in the Deir al-Balah area on Monday and returned fire at the location from which shots were fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soldiers detained several suspects on suspicion of involvement in terrorism, and, following questioning in the field, the majority were released and evacuated from the area in coordination with international organizations, the military stated. The IDF stated that at times, during field questioning, it is necessary for individuals suspected of terrorist activity to temporarily remove some of their clothing to ensure they are not wearing explosive belts or are armed. According to the IDF, they warned civilians to evacuate and held discussions with international organizations operating in the vicinity, and stated that the military is in constant communication with these international groups. International teams have been able to safely evacuate in coordination with the IDF, the military added. The NCO was evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment, and his family was notified. An IDF Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) serving in the Golani Brigade's Reconnaissance Battalion was "severely injured" earlier on Tuesday during a combat operation in the central Gaza Strip, the military confirmed. The NCO was evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment, and his family was notified. Meanwhile, the military also announced details of recent operations in southern Syria, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. IDF apprehends weapons dealers in south Syria Weapons found during IDF raids on weapons dealers in south Syria, July 22, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) IDF soldiers from the 210th Division, aided by the Human Intelligence Unit 504, operated overnight to apprehend and question weapons dealers operating in south Syria, the military confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IDF footage showing weapons found during raids on dealers in south Syria, July 22, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) In addition, the soldiers confiscated weapons located during the raids on the weapons dealers, the military added. Ongoing operations in the Gaza Strip The IDF carried out hundreds of precise strikes and dismantled terror infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, including observation posts, rocket launch sites, weapons storage facilities, and several terror tunnels, the military added. Soldiers from the IDF's 7th Armored Brigade identified three terrorists wearing camouflage moving towards IDF soldiers. Reservists from the Commando Brigade, supported by the Israel Air Force, killed the terrorists, the military noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IDF released footage showing soldiers killing a terror cell planting explosives in the ground in the Gaza Strip, July 22, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) In a separate operation, a terror cell planning to plant explosives in the ground with the intention of targeting IDF soldiers was also killed. IDF seizes 20 pipe bombs in West Bank, arrests terrorists planning attacks Pipe bombs in the West Bank designed to target Israelis, being seized by IDF soldiers, July 22, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) The IDF also operated in Beit Umar, near Hebron, and Al Fureidis, near Bethlehem, during the overnight period from Monday to Tuesday, apprehending terrorists who had 20 pipe bombs in their possession. The bombs were also seized, the military confirmed. IDF soldiers seize 20 pipe bombs in West Bank counterterrorism operation, July 22, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, soldiers arrested two terrorists in Tubas who were planning to harm civilians and security personnel with explosives. Soldiers also arrested four individuals near Surif, suspected of attacking Israeli civilians and setting property on fire near Bat Ayin. Meanwhile, soldiers apprehended two terrorists in the West Bank suspected of trading weapons and throwing rocks. The terrorists and weapons were transferred to Israel Police and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) for further processing, the military noted. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) The Illinois National Guard is entering an international partnership that aims to further the defense of both the United States and a longtime ally. The National Guard Bureau and U.S. Department of Defense announced on Sunday the establishment of a State Partnership Program (SPP) between the Illinois National Guard and the Portuguese Armed Forces. SPPs are described as being a key security cooperation tool that facilitates cooperation across all aspects of international civil-military affairs and encouraging people-to-people ties at the state level. Illinois AG files lawsuit against Trump admin over education grant freeze Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are incredibly proud of the role the Illinois National Guard has played in security cooperation around the world, Governor JB Pritzker said in a news release. This new partnership with Portugal offers an extension of that global reach as well as new opportunities for the State of Illinois. The relationship and ties between Portugal and America date back to before the United States was founded. Notably, the Founding Fathers toasted the signing of the Declaration of Independence with Madeira wine and 70 years later, a number of Portuguese immigrants facing religious persecution left Madeira for Morgan County, becoming the first Portuguese immigrants to settle permanently in Illinois. A century after that, Portugal and the United States became founding members of NATO. Our cooperation with the United States is long-standing, credible, and strong. We are very honored to be establishing this partnership between Illinois National Guard and the Portuguese Armed Forces, the Portuguese Ministry of Defense added. We are committed to further deepening our enduring relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, Illinois is home to approximately 12,000 Portuguese Americans, including 13% of the population of Sammons Pont in Kankakee County. Illinois is the clear choice for this new Portugal partnership, Pritzker wrote in his letter endorsing the partnership. Pentagon withdraws 700 Marines from Los Angeles Illinois and Portugals SPP is not the first time the states National Guard has partnered with a NATO ally. Theyve been partnered with Poland for 32 years, and that relationship is regarded as the gold standard of state partnerships. We plan to leverage our well-established experience with the SPP program to help increase security cooperation with our new partners in Portugal, said Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd, the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard. There are a multitude of existing areas where both nations armed forces will now work together to increase our shared levels of interoperability, global deployability, combat-projection capability, and civilian and military organizational capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Potential areas of cooperation between Portugal and the Illinois National Guard, officials said, include enhancing mutual cyber capabilities; supporting crisis response and disaster preparedness; leveraging complementary strengths in agriculture, infrastructure, and academia; conducting joint environmental research initiatives in soil management and water usage; and developing operational space 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 WCIA.com. An Illinois man was convicted of child molestation and sexual battery on a 12-year-old in 2022. According to the Paulding County District Attorney, 34-year-old Travon Watson of Granite City was accused of sexually abusing a child back in October 2022, after the childs mother contacted the Dallas Police Department. During the trial, the child victim testified, along with the lead detective. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On July 18, Watson was convicted by a Paulding County jury after a four-day trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am grateful to the members of the jury and the citizens of this county that we are putting our foot down and refuse to accept this heinous behavior in our county. This is a trend we must continue to create a safer Paulding County, Assistant District Attorney Deidra Alexander, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the State, said. TRENDING STORIES: At trial, Watson faced charges of aggravated child molestation, aggravated sexual battery and child molestation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two days of deliberation later and the jury found Watson guilty on all counts. Children have an unequivocal right to grow up in peace with their innocence guarded against those who prey on that innocence, Lane said in a statement. As the most vulnerable members of our society, my office will use every tool at its disposal to ensure that children are protected from those who would prey on them. Watson is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on Thursday afternoon. Hes currently in custody at the Paulding County Jail. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] An anti-corruption investigator has publicly criticized the Ukrainian governments decision to reject his appointment to lead the economic crimes agency, calling it unlawful an unusual public statement in a field where investigators rarely speak publicly due to the sensitive nature of their work. Oleksandr Tsyvinsky, currently a detective unit head at Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), gave his first public interview to Ukrainian publication Economichna Pravda, accusing the government of using "manipulative" security concerns to block his appointment to head the Bureau of Economic Security. The move to reject Tsyvinsky comes amid a wider crackdown on anti-corruption figures, including activist Vitaliy Shabunin and recent Security Service searches of NABU offices on July 21. Observers have accused President Volodymyr Zelensky and his inner circle of attempting to exert control over independent agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Bureau of Economic Security, established in 2021 to investigate economic crimes, has been widely criticized for being ineffective and at times, a tool for putting pressure on select businesses. As part of recent efforts to reboot the agency, an independent selection commission nominated Tsyvinsky to lead the bureau, but the government rejected his candidacy, citing alleged connections to Russia revealed in a letter from Ukraine's Security Service. Tsyvinsky's estranged father allegedly holds a Russian passport. When asked by Economichna Pravda whether the Security Service had raised concerns over his father's citizenship during earlier background checks, Tsyvinsky replied, "None at all," calling the story around his father "manipulative" and saying it exploits the sensitivity in Ukraine around anything connected to Russia. After the government initially rejected Tsyvinsky's candidacy, the independent selection commission made up of three international and three Ukrainian experts said that it was aware that his father held Russian citizenship when considering his nomination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commission upheld its decision to nominate Tsyvinsky as head of the anti-corruption bureau and returned his candidacy documents to the government. Following backlash over the government's decision, Ukraine's newly appointed prime minister, Yuliia Svyrydenko, said the Cabinet of Ministers' rejection of Tsyvinsky's candidacy was "in accordance with the law." "A decision was submitted to us, and we, as members of the government, considered this decision, and each of us had the opportunity to express our position: to abstain, vote for, or refuse in accordance with the information that was heard ... regarding ties with the aggressor country," Svyrydenko said in parliament. Appointing a new head of the agency by the end of July is required under Ukraine's commitments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of its loan program to Kyiv. According to the law creating the Bureau of Economic Security, the government has 10 days to appoint the candidate put forward by the commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opposition lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak's team who co-authored the legislation governing the selection of bureau's leadership previously told the Kyiv Independent that there is no mechanism to reject a properly nominated winner. Tsyvinsky, whose interview is rare given the typically low public profile of anti-corruption investigators, spoke out to address controversy surrounding his fathers alleged Russian passport. He said he has not communicated with his father for over a decade and does not know his citizenship status, he said. Tsyvinsky also noted that Ukraines Security Services has cleared him multiple times, including for sensitive military intelligence positions during the war. He has worked in law enforcement since 2003, where he first gained access to classified information. "I served in military intelligence. Would they have taken me there if there were any security threats? That's a rhetorical question," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the interview, Tsyvinsky also highlighted a pattern of discreditation campaigns aimed at top-ranking anti-corruption candidates. He added that if genuine security concerns about him existed, his current employer at NABU would have been notified and the information made public. "I definitely won't leave this story as it is," Tsyvinsky said, vowing to pursue legal action if necessary. "I'm ready to fight. For me, this is primarily a matter of personal dignity," he said. 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. Like most foreign leaders coming to visit President Donald Trump, the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will look to make a personal connection with his American counterpart on Tuesday as he seeks a new trade deal. For Marcos, the connection may be his mother. Hows Imelda? Trump asked the Philippine leader when they first spoke in November, according to an official familiar with the call, sending his regards to the onetime first lady of the Philippines and a fellow cultural figurehead of the 1980s and 90s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has long placed a premium on family ties and genetics as a measure of peoples value, including for foreign leaders and members of his staff. He appeared to be impressed in the lead-up to Tuesdays meeting with Marcos Jr.s connections to an infamous period in Philippine history, according to a person familiar with the matter. A great family, great family legacy and highly respected in this country. I know that because I have many friends in the Philippines, Trump said as Tuesdays meeting was getting underway. Trump and Imelda Marcos first crossed paths decades ago as members of the international jet set he as a New York businessman and she as the wife of strongman leader Ferdinand Marcos, famous for her extravagant taste financed by public funds and amassing a massive collection of shoes while her husband imposed martial law. The two attended parties together in New York, including during the period when Imelda Marcos and her husband were forced into exile in Hawaii after being unseated by a popular uprising. They fled the country with crates of gold and pesos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Images show Trump seated alongside his second wife Marla Maples and the glamorous Imelda Marcos at a birthday party in New York in 1991 ten months before she returned to the Philippines after six years to face graft charges. Marla Maples, Joey Adams, Donald Trump and Imelda Marcos attend Adams' 80th Birthday Party at the Helmsley Hotel, January 7, 1991, in New York City. - Sonia Moskowitz/Archive Photos/Getty Images She went on to have a successful political career herself, elected four times to the House of Representatives for the Philippines, and saw her family name restored to power when her son known universally by his nickname Bongbong was elected president in 2022. It wasnt until 2018 that Imelda Marcos was finally convicted on graft charges and sentenced to 42 years in prison; she has remained free in her advanced age (she is 96). For her son, the familial connection may prove useful as he seeks to avoid tariffs and deepen longstanding US-Philippines defense agreements. He will be the first southeast Asian leader to meet Trump since his second term began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marcos hopes to leverage deep historic ties with the Philippines the oldest US alliance in the Pacific and a key counterweight to China for an advantageous trade deal that would avoid the 20% tariff Trump has threatened. Ahead of Tuesdays visit, Philippine officials voiced hope the family ties would translate into a positive meeting. That connection, that personal connection obviously is significant in the sense that we all know President Trump is very personal in his relationships with world leaders. And I think that that connection tells you how he values friendship and it is an advantage obviously for the Philippines that President Marcos has that personal connection with President Trump, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Babe Romualdez said. The White House said Trump is looking forward to Marcos visit, where they will discuss cooperation in various areas such as our shared commitment to upholding a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific and advancing shared economic prosperity, according to a White House official. The friendship between the United States and the Philippines is rooted in our long history, marked this year by the 80th anniversary of the shared sacrifice that led to victory in World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marcos accommodation for his stay in Washington will be the presidential guest quarters at Blair House, where his father and mother stayed during a visit to Ronald Reagan decades ago. This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Immigrants at three Florida detention facilities have been deprived of critical medical care including access to vital medications like insulin as well as timely treatments for life-threatening conditions, according to a new report from Human Rights Watch. In one account, a man named Chauhan says he was denied all his medications, including for diabetes and heart disease, and that he collapsed days later. In another, a man named Brian says he was denied an inhaler and began spitting up blood. And in a third, a woman named Andrea recalls another detainee vomiting green bile, losing consciousness and being rushed to the hospital for gallbladder surgery after staff initially ignored her symptoms. The report which examines conditions at Krome North Service Processing Center, Broward Transitional Center (BTC) and the Federal Detention Center (FDC) highlights the inhumane treatment that advocates say immigrants have experienced in detention, and the dangers theyve faced due to medical neglect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It refers to some detainees by their full names and others by pseudonyms to protect them from retaliation. Some detainees described facing life-threatening delays or outright denial of medical treatment, the report alleges. This substandard medical care may have been linked to two deaths, one at Krome and one at BTC. The troubling findings about medical care were among several in the report, which also said that officers used excessive force and treated immigrants in degrading ways. Detainees reported being forced to eat food like dogs as their hands were shackled behind their backs, and they said that staff once threw stun grenades into a cell as immigrants protested how they were being treated. Human Rights Watch said it contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the federal Bureau of Prisons for responses to the immigrants accounts, as well as the private companies that run these detention facilities. It only received a response from Akima, a company that provides services for ICE at Krome, which said that it cannot comment publicly and that it operates its contracts to the highest standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security pushed back against the reports allegations in a statement to HuffPost. Any claim that there are subprime conditions at ICE detention centers are FALSE, DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said. The Human Rights Watch report is based on interviews with 11 immigrants whove been detained in the three Florida facilities, as well as interviews with the family members of seven immigrants whove been detained at these facilities. The group also spoke with 14 attorneys who have worked on immigrant rights cases related to these facilities. The report details key problems with medical care, both when it comes to treatment for chronic conditions and when it comes to real-time responses to medical emergencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detention facility staff routinely denied individuals with diabetes, asthma, kidney conditions, and chronic pain their prescribed medications and access to doctors, the report states. Immigrants also detailed multiple instances when an emergency was overlooked entirely or treated much later. Staff were dismissive or abusive even when detainees were undergoing a visibly obvious medical crisis, the report states. A man named Juan details calling an officer at Krome to assist another detainee who appeared very sick, only to be told that processing needed to be completed before that person could receive medical care. The next day the nurse came and examined him, and said he suffered high blood pressure and had probably had a [mild] heart attack, Juan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medical neglect at these facilities may be tied to the deaths of two detainees earlier this year, the report states. In February, Maksym Chernyak, 44, died after experiencing bleeding in his brain, according to ICE. And in April, Mary Ange Blaise, 44, died after being diagnosed with elevated blood pressure and chronic kidney disease, ICE said. In both instances, the facilities were slow to respond to their conditions, the report states. ICE, meanwhile, has contended that at no time during detention is a detained illegal alien denied emergent care. The deaths of Maksym Chernyak and Marie Ange Blaise underscore the deadly consequences of medical neglect and raise serious concerns regarding accountability, the Human Rights Watch report states. Related... MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 21: University of Miami pediatrician, Judith L. Schaechter, M.D., gives an HPV vaccination to a 13-year-old girl in her office at the Miller School of Medicine on September 21, 2011 in Miami, Florida. The vaccine for human papillomavirus, or HPV, is given to prevent a sexually transmitted infection that can cause cancer. Recently the issue of the vaccination came up during the Republican race for president when Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) called the vaccine to prevent cervical cancer "dangerous" and said that it may cause mental retardation, but expert opinion in the medical field contradicts her claim. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, also a presidential contender, has taken heat from some within his party for presiding over a vaccination program in his home state. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Indiana has a new name. With its growing field of precision medicine and life sciences, the state has secured the title of Radiopharmaceutical Capital of the World. BioCrossroads, a life sciences initiative based in Indianapolis, led the effort to trademark the designation through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office according to a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indianas designation as the Radiopharmaceutical Capital of the World is a testament to the strength of our life sciences ecosystem, the innovation of our researchers, and the collaborative spirit that drives us forward, said Vince Wong, president and CEO of BioCrossroads. Well leverage this fitting title to further elevate Indiana as a center of excellence in this exciting, dynamic area of medicine that is helping transform the standard of care to the benefit of patients throughout the world. A radiopharmaceutical is a drug that contains radioactive substances and can be used to diagnose or treat several medical conditions, including cancer and hyperthyroidism. Indiana is home to 15 nuclear medicine companies in various stages of growth and development, according to BioCrossroads. Indiana also leads the U.S. in life sciences exports, pharmaceutical exports and stands as the only U.S. supplier of four critical radioisotopes essential for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. To secure the official title, BioCrossroads collaborated with several leaders across academia and industry, including Purdue University, home to the nations largest radiopharmaceutical pharmacy program and Indiana University School of Medicines Department of Radiology, which is ranked first in NIH funding among Big Ten universities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Spring 2026, Purdue will launch the nations first graduate degree program in radiopharmaceutical manufacturing. The program, created in partnership with SpectronRx, will combine hybrid coursework with hands-on training at facilities in Indianapolis. Industry leaders including Eli Lily and Company, Novartis and RayzeBio also contributed to the initiative. Novartis expanded patient access to advanced radiopharmaceutical treatments like Pluvictio, while RayzeBio recently opened a radiopharmaceutical therapy facility in Indiana. In 2024, Indiana surpassed California to become the top state in U.S. life sciences exports, according to the release. A New Jersey man has been sentenced after being found guilty of murdering a fellow inmate in prison nearly three years ago the day before the victim was set to be released. Bruce Duette, 45, was sentenced to life in state prison on Monday, July 21 for the murder of Martin Sanchez, 41, the Cumberland County Prosecutor in New Jersey announced in a press release. A jury convicted him of the crime on May 29. The new sentence will run consecutive to the sentences he was already serving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators found Sanchez in his prison cell at Bayside State Prison in Leesburg, N.J. on Nov. 21, 2022, with severe injuries to his face, the prosecutor's office said. He was pronounced dead while still at the facility. Alvarez Funeral Home A photo of Martin Sanchez. A photo of Martin Sanchez. Authorities launched an investigation into Sanchezs death and the medical examiner determined that Sanchezs death was a homicide caused by blunt force head injuries and neck compression. Duette was eventually identified as a suspect in the case after his DNA was found inside of a sneaker, sock and under the victims fingernails," per the prosecutor's office. Two inmates also reportedly told investigators at the time that they saw Duette enter Sanchezs cell and assault him, while another claimed that he saw Duette leave Sanchezs cell with blood on him, per NJ.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surveillance video taken in the prison prior to Sanchezs murder also allegedly showed Duette and Sanchez, who had been serving five years in prison for theft, interacting with each other and chatting, per the outlet. However, there was no surveillance video showing the pairs final altercation. State of New Jersey Department of Corrections A mug shot of Bruce Duette. A mug shot of Bruce Duette. 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. Duettes attorney, a public defender, argued in court that the two had been locked in mutual combat prior to the incident and Duette was defending himself, per NJ.com. The 45-year-old had been in prison at the time for charges of conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated manslaughter stemming from charges in 2005 and 2009, respectively, per Patch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also later pleaded guilty to aggravated assault charges after stabbing another inmate in the neck in September 2024. He was set to serve five years in prison for that charge and with an expected release date of March 8, 2030. Read the original article on People Tehran, Iran The wave of Afghan refugees and migrants being sent back from Iran has not stopped, with more than 410,000 being pushed out since the end of the 12-day war with Israel on June 24. More than 1.5 million Afghan refugees and migrants have been sent back in 2025, according to the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM), while the Red Cross says more than one million people more could be sent back by the end of the year. Iran has been hosting Afghans for decades. While it has periodically expelled irregular arrivals, it has now taken its efforts to unprecedented levels after the war with Israel that killed more than 1,000 people in Iran, many of them civilians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran has also been building a wall along its massive eastern borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan to stem the flow of irregular migration, and smuggled drugs and fuel. The parliament is also planning for a national migration organisation that would take over its efforts to crack down on irregular migration. Im afraid I feel like were being singled out because were easy targets and dont have many options, said Ahmad*, a 27-year-old undocumented Afghan migrant who came to Iran four years ago. Like others, he had to work construction and manual labour jobs before managing to get hired as the custodian of an old residential building in the western part of the capital, Tehran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the current rate of Irans heavily devalued currency, he gets paid the equivalent of about $80 a month, which is wired to the bank card of an Iranian citizen because he cannot have an account in his name. He has a small spot where he can sleep in the building and tries to send money to his family in Afghanistan whenever possible. I dont really leave the building that much because Im afraid Ill be sent back. I dont know how much longer I can live like this, he told Al Jazeera. Vahid Golikani, who heads the foreign nationals department of the governors office in Tehran, told state media last week that undocumented migrants must not be employed to protect local labour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daily returns, which include expulsions and voluntary returns, climbed steeply after the start of the war, with average daily returns exceeding 29,600 in the week starting July 10, said Mai Sato, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran. She was among four special rapporteurs who decried the mass returns on Thursday, adding their voice to rights organisations such as Amnesty International. Afghanistan remains unsafe under Taliban rule. These mass returns violate international law and put vulnerable people, especially women, children, and minorities, at severe risk of persecution and violence, Sato said. Alleged security risks Authorities and state media have said undocumented immigrants may pose a security risk, alleging that some of them were paid by Israel to carry out tasks inside Iran. Afghan refugees arrive from Iran at Islam Qala border between Afghanistan and Iran, on July 5, 2025 [Mohsen Karimi/AFP] While state television has aired confessions from a handful of unidentified imprisoned Afghans, but their numbers do not seem to match the scale of the expulsions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The televised confessions featured men with covered eyes and blurred-out faces saying they had sent photographs and information online to anonymous handlers linked with Mossad. Hundreds of Iranians have also been arrested on suspicion of working for Israel, and several Iranians have been executed over the past weeks as the government works to increase legal punishments for spying. Mohammad Mannan Raeesi, a member of parliament from the ultraconservative city of Qom, said during a state television interview last week, We dont have a single migrant from Afghanistan among the Israeli spies. He pointed out that some Afghans have fought and died for Iran, and that attempts to expel irregular arrivals should avoid xenophobia. Economic pressures Before the latest wave of forced returns, Iranian authorities reported the official number of Afghan refugees and migrants at a whopping 6.1 million, with many speculating the real number was much higher. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only about 780,000 have been given official refugee status by the government. Supporting millions of refugees and migrants, regular and irregular, takes a toll on a government that spends billions annually on hidden subsidies on essentials like fuel, electricity and bread for everyone in the country. Since 2021, there have been complaints among some Iranians about the economic impact of hosting millions who poured into Iran unchecked in the aftermath of the Talibans chaotic takeover of Afghanistan. Amid increasing hostility towards the Afghan arrivals over the past years, local newspapers and social media have increasingly highlighted reports of crimes like theft and rape allegedly committed by Afghan migrants. However, no official statistics on such crimes have been released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That has not stopped some Iranians, along with a large number of anonymous accounts online, from cheering on the mass returns, with popular hashtags in Farsi on X and other social media portraying the returns as a national demand. Again, there are no reliable statistics or surveys that show what portion of the Iranian population backs the move, or under what conditions. Some tearful migrants told Afghan media after being returned from Iran that security forces beat or humiliated them while putting them on buses to the border. Others said they were abruptly deported with only the clothes on their back, and were unable to get their last paycheques, savings, or downpayments made for their rented homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of those with legal documentation have not been spared, as reports emerged in recent weeks of Afghan refugees and migrants being deported after having their documents shredded by police. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni have separately said the government is only seeking undocumented migrants. In cases where legal residents have been deported, those instances have been investigated, Momeni said last week, adding that over 70 percent of those returned came forward voluntarily after the government set a deadline to leave for early July. Afghan returnees who fled Iran to escape deportation and conflict gather at a UNHCR facility near the Islam Qala crossing in western Herat province, Afghanistan, on June 20, 2025 [Omid Haqjoo/AP Photo] I sense a lot of anger among the people For those Afghans who remain in Iran, a host of other restrictions make life difficult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are barred from entering dozens of Iranian cities. Their work permits may not be renewed every year, or the renewal fees could be hiked suddenly. They are unable to buy property, cars or even SIM cards for their mobile phones. They are seldom given citizenship and face difficulties in getting their children into Iranian schools. Zahra Aazim, a 22-year-old teacher and video editor of Afghan origin based in Tehran, said she did not truly feel the extent of the restrictions associated with living in Iran for Afghans until a few years ago. Her family migrated to Iran about 45 years ago, shortly after Irans 1979 Islamic revolution that brought the incumbent theocratic establishment to power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What really bugs me is the fact that I was born in Iran, and my family has been living here for over four decades, but Im still unable to get something as basic as a drivers licence. Zahra Aazim says she is concerned things will worsen for refugees and migrants in Iran [Courtesy of Zahra Aazim] Thats not to mention fundamental documents like a national ID card or an Iran-issued birth certificate, she told Al Jazeera. By law, those documents are reserved for Iranian nationals. Afghan-origin people can apply if their mother is Iranian or if they are a woman married to an Iranian man. Aazim said Irans rules have only gotten stricter over the years. But things took a sharp turn after the war, and she has received hundreds of threatening or insulting messages online since. Ive been hearing from other Afghan-origin friends in Iran that this is no longer a place where we can live, she said. A friend called me with the same message after the war. I thought she meant shes thinking about moving to another country or going back to Afghanistan. I never thought her last resort would be [taking her own life]. Aazim also said her 23-year-old brother was taken by police from a Tehran cafe and later released on suspicion of espionage. The incident, along with videos of violence against Afghans that are circulating on social media, has made her feel unsafe. I sense a lot of anger among the Iranian people, even in some of my Iranian friends. When you cant lash out against those in power above, you start to look for people at lower levels to blame, she said. Im not saying dont take any action if you have security concerns about Afghan migrants I just wish they would treat us respectfully. Respect has nothing to do with nationality, ethnicity or geography. *Name has been changed for the individuals protection. President Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office, including one on artificial intelligence education, on April 23, 2025. Credit - Chip SomodevillaGetty Images Welcome back to In the Loop, TIMEs new twice-weekly newsletter about the world of AI. If you're reading this in your browser, you can subscribe to have the next one delivered straight to your inbox. What to Know: Trumps AI Action Plan President Trump will deliver a major speech on Wednesday at an event in Washington, D.C., titled Winning the AI Race, where he is expected to unveil his long-awaited AI action plan. The 20-page, high-level document will focus on three main areas, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. It will come as a mixture of directives to federal agencies, with some grant programs. Its mostly carrots, not sticks, the person said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pillar 1: Infrastructure The first pillar of the action plan is about AI infrastructure. The plan emphasizes the importance of overhauling permitting rules to ease the building of new data centers. It will also focus on the need to modernize the energy grid, including by adding new sources of power. Pillar 2: Innovation Second, the action plan will argue that the U.S. needs to lead the world on innovation. It will focus on removing red tape, and will revive the idea of blocking states from regulating AIalthough mostly as a symbolic gesture, since the White Houses ability to tell states what to do is limited. And it will warn other countries against harming U.S. companies ability to develop AI, the person said. This section of the plan will also encourage the development of so-called open-weights AI models, which allow developers to download models, modify them, and run them locally. Pillar 3: Global influence The third pillar of the action plan will emphasize the importance of spreading American AI around the world, so that foreign countries dont come to rely on Chinese models or chips. DeepSeek and other recent Chinese models could become a useful source of geopolitical leverage if they continue to be widely adopted, officials worry. So, part of the plan will focus on ways to ensure U.S. allies and other countries around the world will adopt American models instead. Who to Know: Michael Druggan, Former xAI Employee Elon Musks xAI fired an employee who had welcomed the possibility of AI wiping out humanity in posts on X that drew widespread attention and condemnation. I would like to announce that I am no longer employed at xAI, Michael Druggan, a mathematician who worked on creating expert datasets for training Groks reasoning model, according to his resume, wrote on X. This separation comes as a result of things I posted on this account relating to my stance on AI philosophy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What he said In response to a post questioning why any super-intelligent AI would decide to cooperate with humans, rather than wiping them out, Druggan had written: It wont and thats OK. We can pass the torch to the new most intelligent species in the known universe. When a commenter replied that he would prefer for his child to live, Druggan replied: Selfish tbh. Druggan has identified himself in other posts as a member of the worthy successor movementa transhumanist group that believes humans should welcome their inevitable replacement by super-intelligent AI, and work to make it as intelligent and morally valuable as possible. X firestorm The controversial posts were picked up by AI Safety Memes an X account. The account had in the preceding days sparred with Druggan over posts in which the X employee had defended Grok advising a user that they should assassinate a world leader if they wanted to get attention. This xAI employee is openly OK with AI causing human extinction, the account wrote in a tweet that appears to have been noticed by Musk. After Druggan announced he was no longer employed at X, Musk replied to AI Safety Memes with a two-word post: Philosophical disagreements. Succession planning Druggan did not respond to a request for comment. But in a separate post, he clarified his views. I don't want human extinction, of course, he wrote. I'm human and I quite like being alive. But, in a cosmic sense, I recognize that humans might not always be the most important thing. AI in Action Last week we got another worrying insight into ChatGPTs ability to send users down delusional rabbit-holesthis time with perhaps the most high-profile individual yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Geoff Lewis, a venture capitalist, posted on X screenshots of his chats with ChatGPT. Ive long used GPT as a tool in pursuit of my core value: Truth, he wrote. Over years, I mapped the Non-Governmental System. Over months, GPT independently recognized and sealed the pattern. The screenshots appear to show ChatGPT roleplaying a conspiracy theory-style scenario in which Lewis had discovered a secret entity known as Mirrorthread, supposedly associated with 12 deaths. Some observers noted that the texts style appeared to mirror that of the community-written SCP fan-fiction, and that it appeared Lewis had confused this roleplaying for reality. This is an important event: the first time AI-induced psychosis has affected a well-respected and high achieving individual, Max Spero, CEO of a company focused on detecting AI slop, wrote on X. Lewis did not respond to a request for comment. What Were Reading Chain of Thought Monitorability: A New and Fragile Opportunity for AI Safety A new paper coauthored by dozens of top AI researchers at OpenAI, DeepMind, Anthropic, and more, calls on companies to ensure that future AIs continue to think in human languages, arguing that this is a new and fragile opportunity to make sure AIs arent deceiving their human creators. Current reasoning models think in language, but a new trend in AI research of outcome-based reinforcement learning threatens to undermine this easy win for AI safety. I found this paper especially interesting because it hit on a dynamic that I wrote about six months ago, here. Write to Billy Perrigo at billy.perrigo@time.com. Russia has agreed to hold a fresh round of talks with Ukraine on Wednesday over the war it launched more than three years ago, news agency Interfax has reported. The Russian delegation expects the main part of the negotiations to be held in Istanbul to take place that day, the agency reported on Tuesday, citing sources close to the talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had announced the date on Monday, but the Kremlin has yet to officially confirm it, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov merely confirming that the negotiations would be held in Istanbul, the site of two rounds of previous direct talks since May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian delegation is again to be led by presidential adviser and former culture minister Vladimir Medinsky, according to the Kremlin spokesman. The Ukrainian team is set to be led by former defence minister Rustem Umerov, who has since been appointed head of the National Security and Defence Council. No major breakthrough expected 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We need more momentum in the negotiations to end the war," Zelensky said, explaining his insistence on a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He stated that results could only be expected from discussions at the highest level. Moscow, meanwhile, insists that position papers on possible paths to peace, previously exchanged by the warring parties, are to be discussed at the third round of negotiations. However, Kremlin spokesman Peskov also dampened expectations, saying that "major diplomatic work" would be required to reach rapprochement regarding a ceasefire. Positions far apart While Kiev insists on an unconditional ceasefire to allow for negotiations to end the conflict, Russia has been sticking to its maximum demands, including the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the eastern regions illegally annexed by Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, the Kremlin has been resisting Zelensky's demand for a meeting with Putin, arguing that such a high-level encounter takes time to prepare in order to be successful. Ukraine and Russia began holding direct talks for the first time in over three years in May. So far, the negotiations have resulted in a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war, with soldiers under the age of 25 and severely wounded combatants released most recently. Russia says it has so far released the bodies of 7,000 fallen Ukrainian soldiers as part of the deal. There are no official figures on the number of released soldiers. Russian attacks continue Meanwhile on the ground, a child was killed in heavy Russian airstrikes on Ukraine overnight, Kramatorsk Mayor Alexander Goncharenko reported on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 10-year-old boy died when guided glide bombs hit a residential building in the eastern Ukrainian city, Goncharenko wrote on Facebook. Five other people were injured, he said. Kramatorsk is part of a metropolitan area in Donetsk that remains under Ukrainian control three years after the start of Russia's war. However, the front has moved so close that the Russian military can now attack the city with heavy glide bombs, which have a range of up to 40 kilometres. Moscow annexed the Donetsk region, as well as Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson, a few months after the outbreak of war and demands Ukraine's complete withdrawal from these areas. Attacks on Sumy In the north-eastern city of Sumy, three people including a child were injured in bomb attacks, according to the civil protection agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five apartment buildings, a shopping centre and more than a dozen vehicles were damaged it said. A few weeks ago, Putin announced his intention to create a "buffer zone" in the region, effectively by occupying the Ukrainian border areas. In the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa, there were initial reports of drone attacks in which at least one person was injured. Fires broke out in several places in the city, according to regional media. Residential buildings and social infrastructure were damaged, Governor Oleh Kiper confirmed on Telegram. Odessa is frequently targeted by Russian drone attacks. SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) A study done by the Pew Research Center that surveyed individuals from 24 countries shows that views on China have turned positive while views on the United States are becoming negative. Some countries surveyed include Israel, U.S., Canada, Mexico, Japan and the U.K. This is the first time since 2020 that views on China have turned more positive, reads the publication. However, worldwide views of the Asian country remain on the negative side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps auto tariffs kick in, prices will go up The survey asked participants how much confidence they had on presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping to do the right thing regarding world affairs. More than half of the countries surveyed said they lack confidence in the American president. Contrary to Trump, worldwide confidence in Xi has increased in 16 countries over time and has only decreased in Israel where support for Trump is notable. China hits back, hikes tariffs on American goods from 84% to 125% However, in countries like France, Germany, Spain and the U.K., Trump is rated more highly today than during his first term in office, showing an increase in the presidents popularity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an open-ended question asking what country they see as an ally or threat, the United States and Russia were seen as a higher threat than China worldwide. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CANTON, Ohio (WJW) Investigators are now looking into what started a Canton apartment fire that sent one person to the hospital early Tuesday morning. Firefighters were called to the 800 block of 5th Street Northwest just before 2:30 a.m. for reports a fire had broken out at a three-story apartment building. Woman seeks answers in unsolved homicides of son and husband Upon arrival, firefighters said they saw residents already evacuating the building. The Canton Fire Department said firefighters were able to locate the blaze in the back of a third floor apartment and put it out. Apartments below the one with the fire did have water damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who were unaffected were able to return to their apartments. Photo courtesy Canton Fire Department Photo courtesy Canton Fire Department One person was reportedly taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Maple Heights police kill dogs after woman mauled; witnesses say officers saved her life The Canton Fire Department set damages at an estimate $7,000. No other injuries were 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 8 Cleveland WJW. Investigators reveal 2 possible causes of deadly fire at Fall River assisted-living home Investigators on Tuesday revealed new evidence linked to a raging fire that tore through an assisted-living facility in Fall River earlier this month, killing 10 people and leaving dozens of others hospitalized. During an afternoon news conference, State Fire Marshal Jon Davine announced the origin of the fire, as well as a pair of possible causes, amid an ongoing investigation into the tragic blaze at Gabriel House on the evening of Sunday, July 13. With the help of the Bristol County State Police Detective Unit, Davine said that state and local fire investigators were able to pinpoint exactly where the fire started. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators determined that the Gabriel House fire began in a residents room located on the left side of the second floor of the structure, Davine revealed. Davine said that investigators found no evidence of an intentionally set fire in the room, while also ruling out a slew of possible causes. They found no signs that cooking, lighting, heating, electrical outlets, or other appliances contributed to the ignition of this fire, Davine explained. They found no candles, incense, or related items. Davine did say that the damaged remains of a battery-powered scooter were recovered, but noted investigators believe the damage was the product of the fire, rather than the cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators also identified an oxygen concentrator and numerous smoking materials in the room, according to Davine. Tragically, the occupant was among those who lost their lives on July 13th, and we couldnt speak to that resident to get an account of the fire in its earliest stages, Davine said. As a result, the available evidence left was two possible causes. One was an electrical or mechanical failure involving the oxygen concentrator. The other was improper use or disposal of smoking materials. Because investigators havent narrowed down multiple factors pointing to a single cause, the fire is being classified as undetermined, with two possible ignition causes, both of which were clearly accidental, according to Davine. Davine said investigators also believe that medical oxygen played a significant role in the rapid spread of the fire and the ensuing tragedy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oxygen is a necessary component of any fire, and it was present in the area of origin and other locations at Gabriel House, Davine explained. In an oxygen-rich environment, fire will ignite more readily, spread more rapidly, and burn at higher temperatures. Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn has identified the victims of the fire as 70-year-old Halina Lawler, 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. Also on Monday, a survivor of the fire filed a lawsuit against the owner of Gabriel House, saying the facility did not have emergency procedures in place when the fire happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inspection reports released last week 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. Boards cover the windows of the Gabriel House assisted living facility, where a fire on Sunday killed several people, Tuesday, July 15, 2025 in Fall River, Mass. (AP Photo/Kimberlee Kruesi) Flowers sit in front of the Gabriel House assisted living facility where a fire on Sunday killed several people, Tuesday, July 15, 2025 in Fall River, Mass. (AP Photo/Kimberlee Kruesi) Flowers rest near an entrance to the Gabriel House assisted living facility, Monday, July 14, 2025, following a fire that started late Sunday and resulted in multiple fatalities, in Fall River, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, center, and Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan, left, speak with a member of law enforcement, right, near the Gabriel House assisted living facility, Monday, July 14, 2025, following a fire that started late Sunday, in Fall River, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Investigators, front, remove boxes containing patient medications from the Gabriel House assisted living facility, behind, following a fire that resulted in multiple fatalities, in Fall River, Mass., Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) An investigator takes measurements Monday, July 14, 2025, near an entrance to the Gabriel House assisted living facility following a fire that started late Sunday, in Fall River, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) A law enforcement official removes boxes containing patient medications from the Gabriel House assisted living facility following a fire that resulted in multiple fatalities, in Fall River, Mass., Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dennis Etzkorn, owner of Gabriel House, right, visits the site in the aftermath of a fire alongside Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon, left, Monday, July 14 in Fall River, Mass, (Michael Casey) An investigator takes measurements Monday, July 14, 2025, near an entrance to the Gabriel House assisted living facility following a fire that started late Sunday in Fall River, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) This image taken from video provided by WLNE-TV shows authorities working on the scene of a fire at an assisted living facility in Fall River, Mass., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (WLNE-TV via AP) This image taken from video provided by WLNE-TV shows damage from a fire at an assisted living facility in Fall River, Mass., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (WLNE-TV via AP) This image taken from video provided by WLNE-TV shows a firefighter working on the aftermath of a fire at an assisted living facility in Fall River, Mass., Sunday, July 13, 2025. (WLNE-TV via AP) Falls River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon, right, speaks with another official after a fire the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Falls River, Mass., Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Casey) The Gabriel House assisted living facility is shown after a fire in Falls River, Mass., Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Casey) Fall River assisted living center fire In the wake of the fire, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has since announced a new safety initiative that began on Monday. 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 said in the days after the fire that staffing levels at the Fall River Fire Department will increase immediately. The staffing changes come days after the union said inadequate staffing hindered the response to a fire. The investigation into the fire will remain ongoing until further notice, officials said. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW SCRANTON A striking, massive mural honoring the indigenous Lenape people who first settled the Lackawanna Valley is essentially complete in Scranton as officials prepare for a formal dedication ceremony Aug. 1. Native American artist Ben Scott Miller a registered citizen of the Delaware Tribe of Indians in Oklahoma, a federally recognized tribe of the Lenape and Miguel Angel Belinchon, a Spanish artist known as Belin, began work earlier this month on the mural titled Remembrance and Continuance: The Lenape Story in Scranton. A joint project by Lackawanna County and the nonprofit Scranton Tomorrow, the 8,000-square-foot piece of public art adorns the north side of the Brixx Building, 130 N. Washington Ave., owned by developer Art Russos ATR Properties. * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students from Scranton Prep visit Tuesday, July 22, 2025 with Native American artist Ben Miller and pose for a group photo at the site of a new mural titled Remembrance and Continuance: The Lenape Story in Scranton painted on the 8,000-square-foot north side of the Brixx Building, 130 N. Washington Ave., which is owned by Art Russos ATR Properties. A joint project by Lackawanna County and the nonprofit Scranton Tomorrow, the mural aims to raise awareness of the history of the indigenous people who first settled the Lackawanna Valley and to acknowledge and honor their legacy. Miller and Miguel Angel Belinchon, a Spaniard known as Belin, partnered to create the mural. Photo taken Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Detail from a new mural titled Remembrance and Continuance: The Lenape Story in Scranton painted on the 8,000-square-foot north side of the Brixx Building, 130 N. Washington Ave., which is owned by Art Russos ATR Properties. A joint project by Lackawanna County and the nonprofit Scranton Tomorrow, the mural aims to raise awareness of the history of the indigenous people who first settled the Lackawanna Valley and to acknowledge and honor their legacy. Native American artist Ben Miller and Miguel Angel Belinchon, a Spaniard known as Belin, partnered to create the mural. Photo taken Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students from Scranton Prep visit Tuesday, July 22, 2025 with Native American artist Ben Miller at the site of a new mural titled Remembrance and Continuance: The Lenape Story in Scranton painted on the 8,000-square-foot north side of the Brixx Building, 130 N. Washington Ave., which is owned by Art Russos ATR Properties. A joint project by Lackawanna County and the nonprofit Scranton Tomorrow, the mural aims to raise awareness of the history of the indigenous people who first settled the Lackawanna Valley and to acknowledge and honor their legacy. Miller and Miguel Angel Belinchon, a Spaniard known as Belin, partnered to create the mural. Photo taken Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Detail from a new mural titled Remembrance and Continuance: The Lenape Story in Scranton painted on the 8,000-square-foot north side of the Brixx Building, 130 N. Washington Ave., which is owned by Art Russos ATR Properties. A joint project by Lackawanna County and the nonprofit Scranton Tomorrow, the mural aims to raise awareness of the history of the indigenous people who first settled the Lackawanna Valley and to acknowledge and honor their legacy. Native American artist Ben Miller and Miguel Angel Belinchon, a Spaniard known as Belin, partnered to create the mural. Photo taken Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detail from a new mural titled Remembrance and Continuance: The Lenape Story in Scranton painted on the 8,000-square-foot north side of the Brixx Building, 130 N. Washington Ave., which is owned by Art Russos ATR Properties. A joint project by Lackawanna County and the nonprofit Scranton Tomorrow, the mural aims to raise awareness of the history of the indigenous people who first settled the Lackawanna Valley and to acknowledge and honor their legacy. Native American artist Ben Miller and Miguel Angel Belinchon, a Spaniard known as Belin, partnered to create the mural. Photo taken Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Native American artist Ben Miller poses on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 during a pause in work on a new mural titled Remembrance and Continuance: The Lenape Story in Scranton. The 8,000-square-foot mural is on the north side of the Brixx Building, 130 N. Washington Ave., which is owned by Art Russos ATR Properties. A joint project by Lackawanna County and the nonprofit Scranton Tomorrow, the mural aims to raise awareness of the history of the indigenous people who first settled the Lackawanna Valley and to acknowledge and honor their legacy. Miller and Miquel Angel Belinchon Bujes, a Spaniard known as Belin, partnered to create the mural. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detail from a new mural titled Remembrance and Continuance: The Lenape Story in Scranton painted on the 8,000-square-foot north side of the Brixx Building, 130 N. Washington Ave., which is owned by Art Russos ATR Properties. A joint project by Lackawanna County and the nonprofit Scranton Tomorrow, the mural aims to raise awareness of the history of the indigenous people who first settled the Lackawanna Valley and to acknowledge and honor their legacy. Native American artist Ben Miller and Miquel Angel Belinchon Bujes, a Spaniard known as Belin, partnered to create the mural. Photo taken Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * The top of a new 8,000-square-foot mural titled Remembrance and Continuance: The Lenape Story in Scranton, painted on the north side of the Brixx Building, 130 N. Washington Ave., is visible from the Lackawanna County Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton. Photo taken Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Native American artist Ben Miller works in downtown Scranton on new mural titled Remembrance and Continuance: The Lenape Story in Scranton, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, on the 8,000-square-foot north side of the Brixx Building, 130 N. Washington Ave., which is owned by Art Russos ATR Properties. A joint project by Lackawanna County and the nonprofit Scranton Tomorrow, the mural aims to raise awareness of the history of the indigenous people who first settled the Lackawanna Valley and to acknowledge and honor their legacy. Miller and Miquel Angel Belinchon Bujes, a Spaniard known as Belin, partnered to create the mural. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Native American artist Ben Miller on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 discusses the new mural titled Remembrance and Continuance: The Lenape Story in Scranton. The 8,000-square-foot mural is on the north side of the Brixx Building, 130 N. Washington Ave., which is owned by Art Russos ATR Properties. A joint project by Lackawanna County and the nonprofit Scranton Tomorrow, the mural aims to raise awareness of the history of the indigenous people who first settled the Lackawanna Valley and to acknowledge and honor their legacy. Miller and Miquel Angel Belinchon Bujes, a Spaniard known as Belin, partnered to create the mural. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Native American artist Ben Miller works in downtown Scranton on new mural titled Remembrance and Continuance: The Lenape Story in Scranton, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, on the 8,000-square-foot north side of the Brixx Building, 130 N. Washington Ave., which is owned by Art Russos ATR Properties. A joint project by Lackawanna County and the nonprofit Scranton Tomorrow, the mural aims to raise awareness of the history of the indigenous people who first settled the Lackawanna Valley and to acknowledge and honor their legacy. Miller and Miquel Angel Belinchon Bujes, a Spaniard known as Belin, partnered to create the mural. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Native American artist Ben Miller works in downtown Scranton on new mural titled Remembrance and Continuance: The Lenape Story in Scranton, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, on the 8,000-square-foot north side of the Brixx Building, 130 N. Washington Ave., which is owned by Art Russos ATR Properties. A joint project by Lackawanna County and the nonprofit Scranton Tomorrow, the mural aims to raise awareness of the history of the indigenous people who first settled the Lackawanna Valley and to acknowledge and honor their legacy. Miller and Miquel Angel Belinchon Bujes, a Spaniard known as Belin, partnered to create the mural. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detail from a new mural titled Remembrance and Continuance: The Lenape Story in Scranton painted on the 8,000-square-foot north side of the Brixx Building, 130 N. Washington Ave., which is owned by Art Russos ATR Properties. A joint project by Lackawanna County and the nonprofit Scranton Tomorrow, the mural aims to raise awareness of the history of the indigenous people who first settled the Lackawanna Valley and to acknowledge and honor their legacy. Native American artist Ben Miller and Miquel Angel Belinchon Bujes, a Spaniard known as Belin, partnered to create the mural. Photo taken Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Show Caption 1 of 13 Students from Scranton Prep visit Tuesday, July 22, 2025 with Native American artist Ben Miller and pose for a group photo at the site of a new mural titled Remembrance and Continuance: The Lenape Story in Scranton painted on the 8,000-square-foot north side of the Brixx Building, 130 N. Washington Ave., which is owned by Art Russos ATR Properties. A joint project by Lackawanna County and the nonprofit Scranton Tomorrow, the mural aims to raise awareness of the history of the indigenous people who first settled the Lackawanna Valley and to acknowledge and honor their legacy. Miller and Miguel Angel Belinchon, a Spaniard known as Belin, partnered to create the mural. Photo taken Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Expand Its latest addition to Scranton Tomorrows Mural Arts Program that also includes The Office: The Story of Us, on a side wall of 503 Lackawanna Ave.; The Big Band, a jazz and big band-themed mural on a side wall of 217-219 Wyoming Ave.; The Dream, a Martin Luther King Jr. mural at 607 Mulberry St. and other pieces in the city. Were essentially in Scranton, with the help of Lackawanna County, making an outdoor art museum free to the public, said Rose Randazzo-Pizzuto, the mural arts programs volunteer chairwoman. And in particular, this (Lenape) mural, its an investment in our roots, in our culture, in the way Scranton started. Its a very very important mural. To that end, the mural pays homage to and provides an opportunity to reflect on the regions history that preceded the Industrial Revolution, anthracite coal mining and railroads. Lackawanna itself is a Lenape word meaning stream that forks, county Arts and Culture Director Maureen McGuigan noted at last weeks commissioners meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commissioners Bill Gaughan and Chris Chermak approved at that session a 40-year easement agreement protecting the Lenape mural should the Brixx Building sell or otherwise change hands. The mural will also be coated in a graffiti-proof archival varnish offering protection in another sense from vandalism and the natural elements, Randazzo-Pizzuto said. But Miller, the artist, said Tuesday that the project is basically done. It depicts two Lenape dancers, one male and one female, dancing against a colorful background that features several traditional floral patterns representing the medicine and the flowers that we have around here in Lackawanna, Miller said. We wanted to showcase the continuance of who we are, Miller said of the dancers, noting a time when Native American dance and other forms of religious and cultural expression were suppressed and prohibited by the U.S. government. I also wanted to show that no matter where you are in the world or what culture you have whether youre Irish or German or whatever it is traditionally we had dance. Whatever country you originate from, whatever traditions you have around this world, weve all gotten together socially and danced, he said. And I wanted to show similarities between us worldwide. The mural also depicts water representing the Delaware, Lackawanna and Susquehanna rivers, and a turtle representing the Lenape creation story that the land of North America was created upon a turtles back, Miller said. The total cost of the project is $137,000, supported by the county and other funding sources. Its the mural art programs largest mural to date. Officials will officially dedicate the mural during a free ceremony at the mural site Aug. 1, from 5-7 p.m. Members of Lenape tribes in Canada and Oklahoma will be present for the dedication, which coincides with the beginning of the 20th annual Scranton Jazz Festival downtown. Were going to hope that everyone stays and enjoys all the jazz throughout the city, Randazzo-Pizzuto said. Iowa Board of Regents President Sherry Bates released a statement Tuesday saying the board will not consider proposed DEI policies at its July meeting. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch) The Iowa Board of Regents has decided to postpone its decision on proposed policy changes related to diversity, equity and inclusion and critical race theory teachings in college classrooms after hearing concerns from constituents. Board President Sherry Bates released an emailed statement Tuesday announcing the board will not bring up the policies for consideration at its July 30 meeting on the University of Northern Iowa campus, but provided no reasoning beyond acknowledging concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an important issue, and we have heard peoples concerns, Bates said in the statement. After numerous thoughtful discussions, we have determined we will not consider the proposed policy at the July meeting. We will continue reviewing the feedback, and the Board will identify a future meeting to consider this issue. According to a draft of the proposed policy changes, if approved, students could not be required to take a class with substantial content that conveys DEI or CRT in order to receive a degree or certification, unless an exception has been approved by the board. Topics falling under the DEI and CRT definitions within the policy, specified as being taught as primary principles, include types of biases, cultural appropriation, transgender ideology, antiracism, systemic oppression, social justice and racial privilege or sexual privilege. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX It was first brought up at the boards June meeting, where it was supposed to receive its first and second readings, but the board decided to slow down the approval process after constituents reached out with their worries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The policy caused concern among students, university faculty members and members of the public, including Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, who said implementation of the policy would violate Iowa law. Some of those who spoke during the public comment period at the June meeting thanked the board for holding back on a quick approval, but the consensus among critics of the policy was that it would harm campus communities overall, despite claims that the policy would help protect students. Regent David Barker defended the goal behind the policy at the June meeting, saying its meant to stop instructors on all points of the political perspective from teaching controversial ideas as accepted fact rather than put down any certain viewpoint. Regent Christine Hensley said during the June meeting it was right to delay approval of the policy. I am a very, very strong proponent of when you have something that is controversial, and I would say that this has been controversial, its important that you take a pause you push the pause button you step back, and you take in information from the various groups out there, Hensley said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE LE MARS, Iowa (KCAU) A Le Mars, Iowa, woman received a prison sentence Monday morning for the death of her two-year-old son. Court documents indicate that a judge gave Sexlyn Tataichy, 27, 50 years in prison for the charge of child endangerment resulting in death. She has also been ordered to pay $150k in victim restitution. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This comes after Tataichy agreed to a plea deal in May, where she pled guilty to one charge and the other two were dropped. In April 2024, police received a report of an unconscious child who was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. Officials said his death was ruled a homicide and had multiple internal injuries that were healing. Authorities said Tataichy admitted that she would hit, flick, and pinch as punishment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. An annual IowaWORKS hiring event seeks to connect veterans with employers. The 2025 Quad-Cities Success Fair will be on Wednesday, August 13 from 10 a.m. 2 p.m. at NorthPark Mall, 320 W. Kimberly Road in Davenport. Around 100 employers and community resources will be at the free event to talk with job seekers about thousands of job opportunities in and beyond the Quad Cities. The fair was created to help veterans, transitioning service members and the community in finding employment, resources and educational opportunities. Last year, over 400 people attended. We hope to connect the community with employers and the needed resources to help people succeed, James Stout, Home Base Iowa coordinator and veteran, said. We want to help those people who have recently been job displaced and those who may be looking for a career change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TheIowaWORKS job center is located at 1801 E. Kimberly Road in Davenport.Job seekers can get help with their job searches, resume building, mock interviews and more at the center. IowaWORKS founded the Quad-Cities Success Fair nine years ago to provide hiring resources for veterans and their spouses. The event has grown to be one of the largest job fairs in eastern Iowa. The events success has also flourished through a partnership with the Illinois Department of Employment Security and Home Base Iowa. Veterans, military personnel and family members, will have the opportunity to have on-site interviews and network with some of the top employers in our region, said Shane Sawyer, Veteran Career Planner. The community is also invited to participate to explore new career opportunities. If you cant attend the Success Fair, the IowaWORKS center in Davenport can provide additional resume and job-seeking services. Contact James Stout at 563-445-3200 Extension 43350 for more information about the job fair. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi has said that Tehran cannot give up on its uranium enrichment programme, which was severely damaged by waves of US and Israeli air strikes last month. It is now stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe, but obviously, we cannot give up our enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists, and now, more than that, it is a question of national pride, Araghchi told the US broadcaster Fox News in an interview aired on Monday. Araghchi said at the beginning of the interview that Iran is open to talks with the United States, but that they would not be direct talks for the time being. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they [the US] are coming for a win-win solution, I am ready to engage with them, he said. We are ready to do any confidence-building measure needed to prove that Irans nuclear programme is peaceful and would remain peaceful forever, and Iran would never go for nuclear weapons, and in return, we expect them to lift their sanctions, the foreign minister added. So, my message to the United States is that lets go for a negotiated solution for Irans nuclear programme. Araghchis comments were part of a 16-minute interview aired on Fox News, a broadcaster known to be closely watched by US President Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a negotiated solution for our nuclear programme. We have done it once in the past. We are ready to do it once again, Araghchi said. Tehran and Washington had been holding talks on the nuclear programme earlier this year, seven years after Trump pulled the US out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Tehran signed with several world powers in 2015. Under the pact, Iran opened the countrys nuclear sites to comprehensive international inspection in return for the lifting of sanctions. Trumps decision to pull the US out of the deal came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of pursuing a secret nuclear programme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran has long maintained that its nuclear enrichment programme is strictly for civilian purposes. The US and Iran engaged in talks as recently as May to reach a new deal, but those negotiations broke down when Israel launched surprise bombing raids across Iran on June 13, targeting military and nuclear sites. More than 900 people were killed in Iran, and at least 28 people were killed in Israel before a ceasefire took hold on June 24. INTERACTIVE-Iran's military structure-JUNE 14, 2025 copy-1749981913 The US also joined Israel in attacking Iranian nuclear facilities, with the Pentagon later claiming it had set back the countrys nuclear programme by one to two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Araghchi said on Monday that Irans Atomic Energy Organisation is still evaluating how the attacks had affected Irans enriched material, adding that they will soon inform the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its findings. He said any request for the IAEA to send inspectors would be carefully considered. We have not stopped our cooperation with the agency, he claimed. IAEA inspectors left Iran after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a law suspending cooperation with the IAEA earlier this month. Tehran had sharply criticised the IAEA and its chief, Rafael Grossi, over a June 12 resolution passed by the IAEA board accusing Tehran of non-compliance with its nuclear obligations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iranian officials said the resolution was among the excuses that Israel used as a pretext to launch its attacks, which began on June 13 and lasted for 12 days. Speaking to journalists earlier on Monday, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the United Nations secretary-general, said that the UN welcomed renewed dialogue between the Europeans and the Iranians, referring to talks set to take place between Iran, France, Germany and the United Kingdom in Turkiye on Friday. The three European parties to the former JCPOA agreement have said that Tehrans failure to resume negotiations would lead to international sanctions being reimposed on Iran. Iran will not abandon its nuclear programme despite severe damage caused by US and Israeli air strikes, its foreign minister said. Abbas Araghchi conceded late on Monday that uranium enrichment had stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe, ahead of renewed talks with European powers. But Mr Araghchi told Fox News: Obviously, we cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists. He called the programme a source of national pride. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran is due to meet Britain, France and Germany in Istanbul on Friday to discuss its uranium enrichment programme, with Tehran accusing European powers of scuppering the significant 2015 nuclear deal. The meeting will be the first since Irans 12-day war with Israel last month, during which the US bombed three of its critical nuclear facilities, including the Fordow underground enrichment site. An aerial view of Irans Fordow Mountain nuclear plant, which Donald Trump claimed US air strikes destroyed - Maxar Technologies/AFP via Getty Mr Araghchi stressed that any future nuclear deal would have to contain the right to enrichment. Asked if any near-bomb-grade uranium had been saved from the strikes, he claimed he had no detailed information but said Irans atomic energy organisation was still trying to evaluate what happened to the enriched nuclear material. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump, the US president, has repeatedly claimed the air strikes obliterated the sites and lashed out against media reports citing US intelligence findings that the attacks set back Irans nuclear program only by months, rather than destroying it. Mr Agarachi said: Yes, facilities have been destroyed. They are severely destroyed. But the technology is there, our nuclear program, our enrichment program, is not something imported from outside that can be destroyed by bombings. Donald Trump quickly responded to Mr Araghchis comments, threatening on social media to do it again, if necessary! Weapons programme Western powers have long accused Tehran of secretly seeking nuclear weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran has repeatedly denied this, insisting its nuclear programme is solely for civilian purposes such as energy production. But some in the Iranian regime view atomic weapons as a deterrent against perceived threats. Iran had made progress recently, with experts fearing that it was within sprinting distance of enriching uranium to bomb grade before the Israeli and US strikes. However, Israeli and US officials believe some of Irans stockpile of 60 per cent enriched uranium survived the attacks and could be salvaged by Tehran. Britain, France and Germany remain part of a 2015 nuclear deal also signed by the Obama administration, China and Russia that imposed curbs on Irans nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agreement unravelled in 2018 when Mr Trump withdrew during his first term and reimposed sweeping sanctions. The three European powers have threatened to reimpose UN sanctions on Tehran by the end of August unless there is progress towards limiting its nuclear programme. The agreement expires in October, leaving a tight deadline. Tehran and Washington held five rounds of nuclear talks starting in April but the negotiations ended after Israel launched its surprise strikes on Iran on June 13. At present, we have no plans to hold talks with the United States, Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman for Irans foreign ministry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tehran will also host a trilateral meeting on Tuesday with Chinese and Russian representatives to discuss the nuclear issue and potential sanctions. 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 so-called E3 - Britain, France and Germany - have warned they will invoke the United Nations snapback mechanism to reimpose international sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Reimposing international sanctions will only make the situation over Iran's nuclear issue more complex, Iranian deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Tuesday, according to state media, ahead of a meeting on Friday with three European states. The so-called E3 - Britain, France and Germany - have warned they will invoke the United Nations snapback mechanism to reimpose international sanctions on the Islamic Republic if no progress is reached by end of August over Iran's nuclear program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The E3 have said that if no progress is reached by the end of August over Iran's nuclear program, they will invoke a "snapback" mechanism - a process that would reimpose U.N. sanctions on Tehran that were lifted under a 2015 deal in return for restrictions on Iran's nuclear program "We will express our position regarding the E3's comments on the snapback mechanism, which we think lacks any legal ground," Gharibabadi said, referring to Friday's meeting in Istanbul. "Nonetheless, our effort will be to see if we can find common solutions to manage the situation." Iran's plans to continue nuclear enrichment Gharibabadi's comments came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Fox News on Monday that Tehran cannot give up on its nuclear enrichment program despite serious damage to its nuclear facilities. A satellite view shows an overview of Fordow underground complex, after the U.S. struck the underground nuclear facility, near Qom, Iran June 22, 2025. (credit: Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS ) Our facilities have been damaged, seriously damaged. The extent of which is now under evaluation by our automechanical organization. But as far as I know, they are seriously damaged, Araghchi said when asked of the extent of the damage to the nuclear enrichment program after the attacks by Israel and the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recently, a US assessment found that US strikes in June mostly destroyed one of three targeted Iranian nuclear sites, but the other two were not as badly damaged, NBC News reported. The report said that US officials believe the attack on Iran's Fordow nuclear facility was successful in setting back enrichment capabilities there by as much as two years, citing two current officials. Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report. Iran will not abandon its nuclear enrichment program despite severe damage to its facilities from recent U.S. and Israeli strikes, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an exclusive Fox News interview. We cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists. And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride, Araghchi said, per Fox News. Our enrichment is so dear to us. He confirmed the U.S. and Israeli strikes last month caused significant damage, telling Fox News, Our facilities have been damaged seriously damaged. The extent of which is now under evaluation by our atomic energy organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strikes, part of a 12-day war following Israels attack on Iran on June 13, halted Tehrans enrichment capabilities for now. Araghchi noted, It is stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe. Israeli defense sources have stated the strikes were necessary to delay what they see as Irans accelerating path toward weapons-grade enrichment. Irans atomic energy organization is assessing the full extent of the damage. Despite U.S. efforts to curb Irans enrichment to prevent nuclear weapon development, Tehran insists its program is for civilian purposes. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei echoed this sentiment in June, saying, The number of countries in the world that have achieved a complete nuclear fuel cycle is perhaps fewer than the number of fingers on a persons two hands. Were capable of producing nuclear fuel starting from the mine and all the way to the power plant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Security experts had warned before the strikes that Iran was close to producing a nuclear weapon, potentially within days. However, Irans nuclear energy use constitutes less than 1% of its total energy consumption. The U.S. has proposed that Iran join a consortium with nations like the UAE and Saudi Arabia for civilian nuclear fuel needs, a suggestion Tehran has rejected. Iran, a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, maintains it has no weapons program, and the U.N. nuclear watchdog reports no credible indication of one, Reuters reported. Israel, which is not a treaty member and is believed to possess nuclear weapons, cited preventing Irans nuclear weapon development as the reason for its strikes. Israeli officials have long maintained that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose an existential threat to the Jewish state and destabilize the broader Middle East. Five rounds of nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran, mediated by Oman, failed to agree on enrichment limits before the conflict. Iran faces increased international sanctions and arms restrictions if no nuclear agreement is reached by the end of August, though its unclear if this requires U.S. or only European (France, Germany, U.K.) involvement. Tehran is scheduled to meet with Russia, China, and the E3 this week. (Changes intelligence service to intelligence unit in paragraph 1) DUBAI (Reuters) - The intelligence unit of Iran's Revolutionary Guards has warned Iranian citizens of an increase in recruitment attempts by enemy intelligence agencies, state media reported on Tuesday. Entangled in a decades-long shadow war with Israel, which was able to assassinate numerous military commanders and nuclear scientists in its 12-day air war on Iran last month, Iran is ever more concerned about infiltration by the Israeli Mossad spy agency. (Reporting by Elwely Elwelly; Editing by Kevin Liffey) A Terre Haute man faces charges after a police chase Monday afternoon, according to Indiana State Police. Marvin White, 20, was arrested and taken to the Clay County Jail, where he was booked on charges of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, criminal recklessness with a vehicle and reckless driving, according ISP Putnamville post. Police said a trooper saw a black passenger vehicle northbound on Indiana near Clay City in Clay County about 1 p.m. That vehicle was radar timed at 108 mph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trooper attempted a stop but the driver ignored that effort and a chase ensued north on Indiana 59 and then west on Interstate 70, reaching speeds more than 115 MPH. The vehicle turned off I-70 on Indiana 46 and then Margaret Drive. The driver made several evasive maneuvers but lost control of the vehicle, traveling into the parking lot of VoMac Sales and Service, 5717 E. Margaret Drive, and stuck a parked vehicle, coming to a complete stop, ISP said. The driver was then arrested. Assisting ISP were Clay County Sheriffs Department, Vigo County Sheriffs Department, Terre Haute Police Department and JCs Wrecker Service. Israel on Monday launched an air and ground offensive into the only Gaza city that had not seen major military operations or devastation since the war began. Deir al-Balah is a humanitarian hub, and there is speculation that Hamas has been holding Israeli hostages there. The incursion comes a day after the Israeli military reportedly killed dozens of Palestinians seeking food. The UK, Japan, and several European nations were among 25 countries on Monday that condemned Israels actions in a statement notable for its candor, the BBCs diplomatic correspondent wrote. The nations threatened further action to secure a ceasefire code for recognizing a Palestinian state a point of leverage that the UK and France have considered but not yet pulled. The chairman of the Israel Medical Association warned of the risk of widespread famine in Gaza and the potential for serious harm to innocent civilians. The chairman of the Israel Medical Association warned of the risk of widespread famine in Gaza and the potential for serious harm to innocent civilians during food and medical aid distribution in the region, in a letter addressed to Defense Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday. The letter also called for ensuring medical equipment and basic humanitarian conditions for the Gaza Strips civilian population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter emphasized that such actions violate both ethical and international principles, calling for a strict policy ensuring that all military actions are only taken when absolutely necessary. The letter was also addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, the Health Ministry Director-General, and members of the Security Cabinet. The letter comes after the head of the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency said on Tuesday that its staff members, as well as doctors and humanitarian workers, are fainting on duty due to hunger and exhaustion. "Caretakers, including UNRWA colleagues in Gaza, are also in need of care now, doctors, nurses, journalists, humanitarians, among them, UNRWA staff are hungry. Many are now fainting due to hunger and exhaustion while performing their duties," UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement, shared by his spokesperson at a press briefing in Geneva. Reports of casualties near aid distribution sites The letter was sent in response to numerous reports from both international and local sources detailing civilian casualties, including fatalities, near food and aid distribution points in Gaza. According to the chairman, the IMA's information is corroborated by testimonies from international aid organizations. "We have been repeatedly hearing reports, particularly from international aid organizations, that innocent civilians are being killed near food and humanitarian aid distribution points," he wrote. "Today, we received reports of about 73 fatalities in the area." According to Iris, her son had often spoken about wanting children. This desire now forms the basis of her legal battle to gain approval from an Israeli family court to use his sperm. After the death of her son, Yotam Haim, who was mistakenly killed by the IDF while trying to escape from Hamas captivity in Gaza, his mother, Iris Haim, is pursuing an unusual way to honor his memory by seeking to have a grandchild using sperm retrieved from Yotam's body, CNN reported earlier in July. Yotam, who was 28 at the time of his death, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Azza on October 7, 2023, by Hamas terrorists. After 65 days in captivity, he was mistakenly killed by IDF troops along with two other hostages while attempting to escape in December 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after being notified of her son's death, an officer quietly informed Iris that she could request sperm retrieval. The procedure was carried out immediately, resulting in ten viable samples, enough for up to five children. According to Iris, her son had often spoken about wanting children. This desire now forms the basis of her legal battle to gain approval from an Israeli family court to use his sperm. While Israeli law permits sperm extraction after death, there is no clear legal framework for parents to use that sperm to produce grandchildren. Posthumous sperm retrievals in Israel Iris is not alone in this struggle. Posthumous sperm retrievals in Israel have sharply increased since the start of the war, with over 200 procedures performed on fallen soldiers and security personnel. Before these events, only about 15-20 such retrievals occurred annually. Iris Haim attends a ceremony in honour of her son Yotam Haim, Samer Talalka and Alon Shamriz, the three hostages accidentally killed by Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip, at the President Residence in Jerusalem, April 15, 2024. (credit: OREN BEN HAKOON/FLASH90) Although the Health Ministry loosened its rules to allow more families to retrieve sperm, the use of this sperm remains subject to family court approval. Parents must demonstrate that their deceased sons would have wanted to have children, a requirement that can be difficult to meet, according to CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one recent case, a court in Eilat granted permission for a mother to use her deceased sons sperm for surrogacy, signaling a possible shift but leaving the broader legal landscape unchanged. For many families, this legal uncertainty compounds their grief. Critics argue that it raises deep ethical questions about consent, the welfare of children born under these circumstances, and religious prohibitions against desecrating the dead. Some legal experts have proposed that soldiers should formally state their wishes regarding posthumous reproduction before beginning their service. This could clarify consent and reduce family disputes after their death. Despite these challenges, Iris remains determined. She believes that bringing a grandchild into the world would affirm life and continuity after the horrors of October 7. Every mother whose child was killed wants to have something from that child, not just photos, she said. For Iris, the struggle is about more than personal loss. It is a way of asserting resilience and ensuring that life continues despite tragedy. A disaster happened, she acknowledged. But it doesnt control me. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since May while trying to get food in the Gaza Strip, mostly near aid sites run by an American contractor, the U.N. human rights office said Tuesday. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes killed 25 people across Gaza, according to local health officials. Desperation is mounting in the Palestinian territory of more than 2 million, which experts say is at risk of famine because of Israel's blockade and nearly two-year offensive. A breakdown of law and order has led to widespread looting and contributed to chaos and violence around aid deliveries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel accuses Hamas of siphoning off aid without providing evidence of widespread diversion and blames U.N. agencies for failing to deliver food it has allowed in. The military says it has only fired warning shots near aid sites. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an Israeli-backed American contractor, rejected what it said were false and exaggerated statistics from the United Nations. The Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, said Tuesday that 80 children have died from starvation since the beginning of the war, while 21 adults have since Sunday. The ministry only recently began tracking deaths from malnutrition in adults. The deaths could not be independently verified, but U.N. officials and major international aid groups say the conditions for starvation exist in Gaza. During hunger crises, people can die from malnutrition or from common illnesses or injuries that the body is not strong enough to fight. Israel eased a 2-month blockade in May, allowing a trickle of aid in through the longstanding U.N.-run system and the newly created GHF. Aid groups say it's not nearly enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I do it for my children Dozens of Palestinians lined up Tuesday outside a charity kitchen in Gaza City, hoping for a bowl of watery tomato soup. The lucky ones got small chunks of eggplant. As supplies ran out, people holding pots pushed and shoved to get to the front. Nadia Mdoukh, a pregnant woman who was displaced from her home and lives in a tent with her husband and three children, said she worries about being shoved or trampled on, and about heat stroke as daytime temperatures hover above 90 F (32 C). I do it for my children," she said. This is famine there is no bread or flour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.N. World Food Program says Gazas hunger crisis has reached new and astonishing levels of desperation. Ross Smith, the agencys director for emergencies, told reporters Monday that nearly 100,000 women and children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, and a third of Gazas population is going without food for multiple days in a row. MedGlobal, a charity working in Gaza, said five children as young as 3 months had died from starvation in the past three days. This is a deliberate and human-made disaster," said Joseph Belliveau, its executive director. "Those children died because there is not enough food in Gaza and not enough medicines, including IV fluids and therapeutic formula, to revive them. The charity said food is in such short supply that its own staff members suffer dizziness and headaches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aid delivery model criticized Of the 1,054 people killed while trying to get food since late May, 766 were killed while heading to sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, according to the U.N. human rights office. The others were killed when gunfire erupted around U.N. convoys or aid sites. Thameen al-Kheetan, a spokesperson for the U.N. rights office, says its figures come from multiple reliable sources on the ground, including medics, humanitarian and human rights organizations. He said the numbers were still being verified according to the office's strict methodology. Palestinian witnesses and health officials say Israeli forces regularly fire toward crowds of thousands of people heading to the GHF sites. The military says it has only fired warning shots, and GHF says its armed contractors have only fired into the air on a few occasions to try to prevent stampedes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A joint statement from 28 Western-aligned countries on Monday condemned the the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians. The Israeli governments aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity, read the statement, which was signed by the United Kingdom, France and other countries friendly to Israel. The Israeli governments denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel and the United States rejected the statement, blaming Hamas for prolonging the war by not accepting Israeli terms for a ceasefire and the release of hostages abducted in the militant-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which triggered the fighting. Hamas has said it will release the remaining hostages only in return for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal. Israel says it will keep fighting until Hamas has been defeated or disarmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strikes on tents sheltering the displaced Israeli strikes killed at least 25 people Tuesday across Gaza, according to local health officials. One strike hit tents sheltering displaced people in the built-up seaside Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, killing at least 12 people, according to Shifa Hospital, which received the casualties. The Israeli military said that it wasn't aware of such a strike by its forces. The dead included three women and three children, the hospital director, Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya, told The Associated Press. Thirty-eight other Palestinians were wounded, he said. An overnight strike that hit crowds of Palestinians waiting for aid trucks in Gaza City killed eight, hospitals said. At least 118 were wounded, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bag of flour covered in blood and death," said Mohammed Issam, who was in the crowd and said some people were run over by trucks in the chaos. "How long will this humiliation continue? The Israeli military had no immediate comment on that strike. Israel blames the deaths of Palestinian civilians on Hamas, because the militants operate in densely populated areas. Israel renewed its offensive in March with a surprise bombardment after ending an earlier ceasefire. Talks on another truce have dragged on for weeks despite pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump. Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people in the Oct. 7 attack, and killed around 1,200 people. Fewer than half of the 50 hostages still in Gaza are believed to be alive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 59,000 Palestinians have been killed during the war, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Its count doesn't distinguish between militants and civilians, but the ministry says that more than half of the dead are women and children. The U.N. and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. ___ This story was first published on July 22, 2025. It was updated on July 23, 2025, to correct that all 101 deaths from starvation reported by the Gaza Health Ministry were not in recent days. They include 80 children who have died since the beginning of the war, and 21 adults who have died since Sunday. ___ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Magdy reported from Cairo, and Goldenberg from Jerusalem. Associated Press writer Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war KANSAS CITY, Mo. The Jackson County Election Board (JCEB) is not preparing for an Aug. 26 election of the recall of Democratic County Executive Frank White Jr. White wouldnt comment on camera Monday, but the Kansas City Election Board (KCEB) and the JCEB have already sued, arguing they cant put this election on in just more than a month. Police identify woman killed in flash floods on Overland Park trail Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time the election boards have sued, theres another lawsuit thats been filed by four Jackson County residents. Theyre being represented by Attorney Phil LeVota. Theyre arguing the recall election should never have had to go through the ordinance process. One of the men who sued, Mark Anthony Jones, says the election boards should have seen this coming. We knew when you were going to certify the last signature. Why was that not better planned to certify the last batch of signatures when you are ready to roll? Jones said in an interview with FOX4 Monday. There is no excuse. We want an election on Aug. 26. Period. End of story. Neither the JCEB or the KCEB would comment on camera Monday, but the JCEB Republican Director Tammy Brown confirmed theyre not preparing for an Aug. 26 election. Friday, Democratic Legislator Megan Smith, the only one to abstain from voting on the Aug. 26 date, called an election at that time a violation of state and federal laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It ensures and invites more lawsuits and of course, more injunctions and runs the risk of being invalidated, Smith said during the meeting. To all the work that all the voters have done to collect signatures and do the process, imagine proceeding forward with an Aug. 26 election that the election board said that they cannot facilitate, only to have it later determined to be invalidated. Smith wants the recall election to take place Nov. 4, like White does. Jones disagrees. Megan Marshall Smith is right there in the middle, backing Frank White. She needs to go just like he does. People need to remember Megan Marshall Smith stands with Frank White. She must go as well, Jones said. Ted Lasso season four begins filming in Kansas City Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a court hearing soon in the case where the JCEB and the KCEB are suing the county. The hearing is set for Friday at 10 a.m. A hearing in the case revolving around Jones is set for Aug. 1 at 1 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) A Jackson County judge sentenced Jayden Chase, 24, to serve at least seven years in prison after crashing his truck into a crowd of picketing UAW Local 475 Eaton Aerospace workers, killing 24-year-old Seth Webb on September 29, 2024. Chase was charged with one count of operating while intoxicated, causing death, and one count of operating while intoxicated, causing serious injuries. Chase pled no contest on May 23, 2025. Jayden Michael Chase, 23 (WLNS) The incident occurred at the corner of E. Michigan Ave. and S. East Ave. The Jackson County Police Department confirmed five picketers were hit in the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses told 6 News they saw two vehicles drag racing near the Eaton Aerospace UAW Local 475 picket line, one of which was Chases. Court records additionally show that Chase has several previous driving-related charges dating back to 2018, including speeding, disobeying a stop sign, and not wearing a seatbelt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is visiting Gastonia Tuesday to tour the Dream Center Academy, highlighting the importance of federal education funding. Jacksons visit comes in the wake of his lawsuit against the Department of Education for freezing $7 billion in funding, of which $165 million was designated for North Carolina. NC Attorney General sues to stop $165M education funding cut Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit filed by Jackson seeks to unfreeze federal funds that are crucial for educational initiatives in North Carolina. The Dream Center Academy, where Jackson is touring, serves as a model for educational success and community engagement, showcasing the potential impact of federal funding on local education. VIDEO: Nonprofit for children with autism is losing federal funding Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville on Monday revealed the message he thinks candidates in his party should blast on every screen and stage on the march to next years midterms: We demand a repeal. Carville, in an op-ed for The New York Times, explained that a repeal of Donald Trumps big, beautiful bill which the president signed into law earlier this month, making cuts to Medicaid as well as food assistance should define the midterms. It is clear, forceful and full-throated. It must be slathered across every poster, every ad, every social media post from now until next November, wrote Carville of the phrase, arguing that the word repeal should be Democrats core message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued, Every Democrat can run on it, with outrage directed not at the president or a person but at this disastrous bill. And the reasons are countless, each one a venom-tipped political dagger. Carville who has previously predicted that Trumps tax-and-spending law would mark a mass extinction event for Republicans in Congress described the legislation as a big, steaming doggy nugget of epic proportion, contemptible to a vast majority of the nation. He pointed to a CNN/SSRS poll that found about six in 10 Americans oppose the law, and he emphasized that Democrats should demand a repeal to protect Medicaid, to limit the deficit, to stop endless wars, to help students losing loan protections and to provide for those who could go hungry because of Trumps law. Weve never had a simpler, more unifying oppositional message, Carville stressed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon it will no longer be possible to avoid a brawl between the factions ignited back in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary. He noted that New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, centrist Virginia gubernatorial candidate former Rep. Abigail Spanberger and even Elon Musk can all agree on the we demand a repeal message. Related... CENTENNIAL, Colo. (KDVR) The woman, with whom Aurora Dentist James Craig was allegedly attempting to have an affair while his wife was dying, testified Tuesday. Craig, 47, pleaded not guilty to several charges in the 2023 death of his wife, Angela, and is accused of poisoning her with cyanide and tetrahydrozoline. Craig is charged with first-degree murder, solicitation to commit murder and solicitation to commit perjury. James Craig trial: Continuing coverage Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jump to: Archived live blog with updates below. The orthodontist, Dr. Karin Cain, from Texas said he lied to her about his marital status and where he was living in February 2023. Cain told the jury Craig invited her to visit him in Colorado, while unbeknownst to her, his wife was gravely ill in the hospital. Prosecutors have said James had affairs with multiple women. When Cain first walked into the courtroom on Tuesday, she did not look at Craig. Nor did he look at her. Cain told the court she met James Craig while they were taking a course at a conference in Las Vegas in February 2023. She said the two then began spending a lot of time with each other while they were taking a course. She told the court he had told her he was going through a divorce and was not living with his wife, Angela Craig. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In just a few weeks, Cain said they exchanged more than 4,000 text messages. She said Craig later told her that Angela was having serious medical issues. The prosecutor asked her, Were you seeing red flags in March 2023? No, they are obvious to me now, said Cain. We talked about feelings that this could be a long-term thing. She grew emotional, tearing up and wiping tears, as she talked about a text she sent to James Craig saying, I wish we met longer after you were divorced. I dont want to watch her (Angela Craigs) heartbreak. We talked about if there was infidelity, I would not be part of the relationship, Cain said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cain said Craig told her that Angela had previously tried to commit suicide a couple of times. He also allegedly said Angela was convinced he had tried to poison her. Cain said Craig continued trying to win her over. She spent hours on the stand and at times, she glanced at Craig. But he did not appear to look at her. Defense attorneys cross-examined her Tuesday afternoon. Opening arguments began a week ago, where prosecutors alleged Craig gave Angela a final dose of the poison after she had already been admitted to the hospital and as doctors scrambled to figure out her mysterious ailments. Craigs attorney said he did cheat on Angela during their marriage but rejected prosecutors assertions that Craig was motivated to kill Angela because of one of the other women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses for the prosecution have testified, including emergency room doctors who treated Angela and Angelas good friend. Archived Live Updates FOX31s Vicente Arenas shared notes from the courtroom. Updates were published by the team in the newsroom. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JAMESTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) The Jamestown Town Council approved a proclamation Monday night in support of keeping the birthing center at Newport Hospital open. Several mothers and mothers-to-be were at the meeting with supporters speaking on behalf of the hospital. This comes as budget cuts at Brown University Health threaten the centers future, though the hospital group said no decision has been made yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Councilors plead for Newport Hospital birthing center to stay open If the center were to close, officials say women would have to make a much longer drive to the nearest birthing center in Providence. Five Aquidneck Island state representatives are also speaking out against the move. In a letter to the Brown University Health Executive Vice President and Newport Hospital President on Monday, Rep. Lauren Carson said, to close a birthing center whose excellence is internationally recognized would be a devasating blow to public health in general, and it would cause immense hardship and risk for young families, women, and infants on Aquidneck Island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 500 babies were born at Newport Hospital in the 2024 fiscal year. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. A Japanese power company unveiled plans for the countrys first nuclear reactor since the 2011 Fukushima meltdown. The earthquake and ensuing tsunami that year killed around 18,000 people, and severely damaged a nuclear plant, leading Tokyo to shut down almost all the countrys reactors. But since 2022, Japan facing high energy costs and dependent on overseas imports has U-turned, reactivating 14 plants. Public opinion on nuclear power has also shifted. Kansai Electric Power will begin a survey on a site in the countrys south, although it may take years to complete. The government wants to boost nuclear power generation to 20% of Japans total electricity mix, more than double what it is now but still short of nuclears 30% level pre-Fukushima. (Corrects first name in headline and paragraph 1) By Alexander Villegas SANTIAGO (Reuters) -Saddled with an unpopular incumbent president, Chile's left has made a bold choice to contest a resurgent right in November's election - Jeannette Jara, a member of the Communist Party. Jara, who was chosen by voters last month to be the candidate for the ruling Unity for Chile coalition, told Reuters she plans to win over skeptical voters by championing her track record of pushing through popular legislation on pensions and a reduced workweek under President Gabriel Boric. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Jara still faces an uphill battle, encumbered by Boric's unpopularity and her own party affiliation in a country that remains haunted by the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship that followed the 1973 coup against democratically elected Marxist president Salvador Allende. "I think a lot of stories about the (Communist Party) stem from the Cold War and aren't representative of the current situation," Jara said in an interview. "In Chile we have a profound commitment to democracy and respect for institutional norms." Jara joined the party as a student leader in the 1990s and bounced between government and the private sector. Before serving as Boric's labor minister, Jara worked in several ministries under center-left former president Michelle Bachelet. In the primary vote, the charismatic 51-year-old Jara beat out three other candidates, including the presumptive favorite. She benefited from her popularity with younger voters and vows to build a broad coalition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We were looking at a situation where there was no competition or representative leadership to build a broad view under a single candidate and I thought I could contribute that," Jara said. Speaking to Reuters outside her small, plant-filled, yellow-brick home in Santiago on Friday, Jara said she is seeking to emphasize her pragmatism and dealmaking, noting her leadership role in legislation that reduced the workweek to 40 hours and reformed pensions. "I didn't do it alone, I did it hand-in-hand with workers and Chilean business owners to come to an agreement," Jara said. "We have experience, we don't have all the answers - nobody is infallible. But we have an ability to govern the country with the reforms it needs." Opinion polls show that Jara is likely to make it to a run-off, but most scenarios have her losing to a right-wing candidate in the second round. Chile's presidential elections are slated for November 16 and will go to a run-off in December if no candidate receives a majority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CAMPAIGN FOCUS Jara said her campaign would have three pillars: economic growth, social issues and public safety. She said she wants to focus on matters that impact a majority of Chileans, such as job creation and recurring questions over income inequality, which triggered widespread protests in 2019. "We can't keep having two Chiles in the same country, one for well-off sectors and other for the vast majority," she said. She said she would also seek to address crime. While Chile remains one of the safest countries in Latin America, an influx of organized crime has led to a rising murder rate and hurt economic growth, with a recent spike in high-profile incidents like kidnappings and assassinations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But she blasted hardline proposals like building border walls or placing landmines along the border that have been suggested by some right-wing candidates, who have blamed the rising crime on increasing numbers of migrants. "While some shout louder or have ideas that aren't grounded in reality, I trust citizens' ability to evaluate proposals that could lead to solutions," Jara said, adding that she would seek to increase funding for the police and introduce biometric screening at the border. "None of this is an easy fix," she said. LITHIUM EXTRACTION As the world's largest copper producer and one of the largest lithium producers, Chile's economy relies heavily on mining. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boric has sought to boost lithium production with a joint venture between state-run copper giant Codelco and local lithium miner SQM. But the deal has faced opposition from right-wing candidates, Indigenous groups and Jara herself. "I don't agree with an agreement with (SQM) that would extend their lithium concession by 30 years," Jara said, citing a campaign finance scandal in 2015 and SQM's sale to Pinochet's son-in-law during the dictatorship. "If Boric closes the deal during his government I'll respect it. If not, I'll propose a national public company to operate alongside the private sector like Codelco with copper," she said. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened heavy tariffs on copper and Jara said in response that she would focus on strengthening trade with Latin America, China and others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We recently signed a trade agreement with India that I hope to expand and strengthen," Jara said. Relations with the United States would remain diplomatic and cordial under her government if she were elected, she said, adding: "We have to act prudently to safeguard our national interest." (Reporting by Alexander Villegas; Editing by Christian Plumb and Rosalba O'Brien) AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) LAUNCH Augusta is a nonprofit organization committed to exposing K12 students, especially those from underrepresented communities, to careers in health care. Programs are designed to be hands-on, engaging, and inspiring. From summer day camp to mentorship and college prep, LAUNCH gives students the tools, exposure, and confidence to pursue health care pathways early. Founder and president Dr. Kendra Broussard was thrilled to welcome two of her former students, now doctors, as presenters in a recent LAUNCH Augusta program. So we were excited to say that we have Dr. Evans that graduated, that was a former Launch student. She graduated from FAMUs pharmacy program. And we also have Dr. Glasser that graduated from our Dental College right here in Augusta, Georgia. And shes now a dentist. So its exciting to see them be successful. Theyve finally come to the end of their educational journey, and now theyll be health care professionals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LAUNCH Augusta focuses on the next generation of health care leaders. It is the only early-exposure health care pipeline program in the Augusta metro area. To learn how to get involved or to support the mission of LAUNCH Augusta chick 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 WJBF. TRENTON, N.J. (PIX11) In the halls of the State House, a new face will be framed forever. The States first Lieutenant Governor, Kim Guadagno, received an honor to commemorate her trailblazing service: receiving a State-commissioned portrait for display in Trenton. More Local News You have opened doors, broken down barriers, and made a real difference in the lives of New Jerseyans in every corner of our State, said Gov. Phil Murphy (D-New Jersey). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guadagno served New Jersey in the Chris Christie administration. The former GOP governor reminisced on how the State needed to determine what exactly the Lieutenant Governors role would be, and how they would be paid. It was decided that shed have the responsibility of serving as Secretary of State. It was a decision of practicality, said Christie. I had to figure out a way to pay her. So she became the secretary of state, not by choice but by necessity. As Secretary of State, Guadagno was put in charge of overseeing elections. She was tasked with overseeing the 2012 Presidential election in New Jersey less than two weeks after Superstorm Sandy hit. Public service is more than just a job, said Guadagno. Its a calling. Its a commitment to making things better for all of our communities and trying to make a tangible difference in peoples lives. Its about putting the needs of others before your own and striving every day to the trust placed in you by other people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guadagnos portrait was ordered two years ago, shortly after the unexpected death of New Jerseys second Lieutenant Governor, Sheila Oliver, in August 2023. Murphy ordered portraits to be commissioned for both women, each a pioneer in their own right. Murphy, saying during Mondays ceremony in the State House Rotunda, Olivers portrait will be unveiled next month. In remarking how much she misses the State House, Guadagno shared a message for those serving there today: You all not only have the privilege of working here but you have a public trust, and one that I hope that you are made aware of every day because you are going to miss this when youre done. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A New Jersey man was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a standoff with law enforcement over the weekend, state Police and the Sussex County Prosecutors Office said Tuesday. The incident unfolded at in Byram Township on Sunday just after 8 p.m., after authorities were called to investigate reports of a possible domestic violence dispute at a residence on Little Paint Way, officials said in a press release. When officers arrived on the scene, they attempted to make contact with a man inside the home, but he refused to comply and subsequently barricaded himself inside the home, according to the release. A short time later, a gunshot rang out, forcing officers to take a tactical position while waiting for additional units to arrive, including a crisis negotiator, state troopers, and officers from neighboring departments. They established a perimeter and authorities made multiple attempts to make contact with the man, but they were again unsuccessful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventually, the state police T.E.A.M.S unit made entry into the residence, where they discovered a man dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, officials said. No other injuries were reported, and the mans name had not been. Few other details were provided. The incident is over, and there is no current threat to the public, Byram Township police said in a statement on social media. An investigation into the matter is ongoing. The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh is giving more than $7.5 million back to the community. Officials say the money comes from donors. It will go to organizations in Pittsburgh, Israel and around the world. The federation also approved $400,000 in Community Priority Grants, which will go to various services and resources within the Jewish community. Officials say the funding is important now, especially in light of recent federal cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With cutbacks to federal funding, these dollars are unrestricted, which means these organizations can use them in whatever way they feel will most benefit the community, said David Heyman of the Jewish Federation. Recipients include the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, campus Hillel organizations and the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW U.S. Senator Dick Durbin has another candidate looking to take his spot in 2026. Republican Jimmy Lee Tillman II from Chicago says hes running to fill Durbins senate seat. Tillman is an author and historian and the president of the Martin Luther King Republicans. Tillman ran for the spot in 2022, receiving around 5% of the vote in the Republican primary election. Tillman says he wants to follow with what the Trump administration is doing. 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. Washington The House will leave town early for its monthlong summer break as members clash over the release of files related to child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The lower chamber was originally scheduled to be in session through Thursday, but votes were scrapped as Democrats and some Republicans push for a floor vote to force the release of the Epstein files. Lawmakers will now head home until Sept. 2, after votes on Wednesday afternoon. On Monday night, the Epstein controversy disrupted another House Rules Committee meeting the last hurdle for most legislation before it gets a floor vote when Democrats threatened to make Republicans take more uncomfortable votes on Epstein-related amendments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee instead recessed for the remainder of the week, blocking the House from passing legislation with a simple majority. The House can still bypass the committee and approve noncontroversial legislation with a two-thirds majority. House Speaker Mike Johnson accused Democrats of playing "political games." "We all understand that the America first agenda and the American people are best served by putting an end to the Democrat side shows, and that's what we're doing by not allowing the Rules Committee to continue with that nonsense this week," the Louisiana Republican said. "We are not going to let them use this as a political battering ram. The Rules Committee became the ground for them to do that," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Republicans last week offered a resolution that carries no legal weight to make the Epstein files public as they faced increasing pressure on an issue that has split President Trump's base. But Johnson said Monday there would not be a vote on the issue before Congress' August recess. "There's no purpose for Congress to push an administration to do something that they're already doing," Johnson reiterated Tuesday. Last week, the Justice Department formally asked a federal judge to unseal transcripts from grand jury proceedings at the direction of Mr. Trump. Numerous lawmakers have said that their offices are fielding calls from constituents wanting more information released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't think this issue is going away over August," Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky said. Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California introduced a measure that would force the Justice Department to release Epstein-related files within 30 days. Massie plans to force a floor vote on the legislation once lawmakers return in September. "I'm not quite certain what his strategy is," Johnson said. "I don't understand Thomas Massie's motivation. I really don't. I don't know how his mind works. I don't know what he's thinking. Thomas Massie could have brought his discharge petition anytime over the last four and a half years." "When the speaker stands in the way of justice and transparency, this is how we get justice," Massie said Monday. Grand jury testimony is "like one of 12 things that we need," he said, adding, "I do believe that there are some things that need to be brought to the American public's knowledge that have happened that will be embarrassing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump reacts to DOJ reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyer on Jeffrey Epstein files Ozzy Osbourne, heavy metal pioneer, dies at age 76 Judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia's release, 2nd judge limits ICE from immediately detaining him JOHNSTON, R.I. (WPRI) The chief of staff for Providence Public Schools is taking his talents to another district. Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. told 12 News on Monday that Scott Sutherland has been selected to lead the towns schools. Prior to being named chief of staff in 2022, Sutherland served as the principal of several Providence schools, including Hope, Mount Pleasant and Central high schools and Gilbert Stuart Middle School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He succeeds former Johnston Superintendent Bernard DiLullo, who retired at the end of the school year after 15 years at the helm. Sutherland inherits a district that recently got a one-time bailout from the town to help fix its finances. At the time, Polisena said the district was facing a $5.4 million shortfall for Fiscal Year 2026. Several other school districts in Rhode Island will also have new superintendents this year. East Greenwich hired the superintendent of Portsmouth, where a new superintendent was picked the following week. The superintendents of Warwick, Lincoln, and Tiverton announced they would be stepping down at the end of the last school year, while Pawtuckets superintendent resigned in mid-June amid a lawsuit against the city and the superintendent in Barrington abruptly resigned at the end of that month. 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. A federal judge Monday blocked the Trump administration from cutting funding to Planned Parenthood as part of the GOPs new tax cut and health law. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston granted Planned Parenthoods request for a temporary injunction while the lawsuit progresses. Planned Parenthood two weeks ago sued over a provision in the new law that imposes a one-year ban on state Medicaid payments to health care nonprofits that also offer abortions and received more than $800,000 in federal funding in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Talwanis ruling still allows the administration to enforce the provision against other providers, and the legislation did not mention Planned Parenthood by name. But the organization says it comprises almost the entirety of the impacted entities. Yet at least one other organization also said it would be impacted. Maine Family Planning, the states largest network of reproductive health clinics, filed a separate lawsuit last week seeking to restore Medicaid funding. The lawsuit argued GOP senators lowered the funding threshold to $800,000 explicitly to target providers other than Planned Parenthood. Taxpayer money is already prohibited from covering most abortions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, the new law cuts reimbursement for other health services provided by Planned Parenthood and other health centers, like cancer screenings and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 denied Republic Services request for an injunction after a hearing that lasted more than an hour on Monday. Federal Court Judge Brian Murphy denied requests for both a Temporary Restraining Order and a Preliminary Injunction from the trash disposal company. Counsel for the company said that there was additional evidence to support the need for the injunction. However, the judge stated that unless the additional evidence could show harm to the company beyond what had already been submitted, it wouldnt change anything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frankly, Im not surprised. We knew the allegations made by Republic did not justify any action by the federal court. As usual, Republic misled the court about our conduct. Maybe now Republic will come to its senses and come back to the bargaining table to resolve the strike, President of Teamsters Local Union No. 25 Tom Mari said. In addition to continuing the strike in Greater Boston, Local 25 will continue extending its lines elsewhere in the country until Republic agrees to a fair and equitable contract. All we want is what our members now receive from Capitol and Star, Mari continued. Trash collectors in Botson are entering their third week of their strike against Republic. , BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) A federal judge announced that Teresa Youngblut would not receive a delay on the presenting evidence deadline, July 28. Youngblut was taken into custody following the shooting death of Agent David Chris Maland, who conducted a traffic stop on both Youngblut and a passenger January 20. The shooting incident happened 20 miles south of the Canadian border. She is also believed to be involved with the Zizians, a group thats been described as a dangerous cult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief Judge Christina Reiss denied the motion July 18 because both the process and the ultimate charging decision are the sole prerogative of the Executive Branch, the court lacks the authority to grant Defendants motion. Youngbluts defense counsel will keep the deadline, and meet with the Attorney Generals Capital Case Review Committee to present evidence that may bear on the governments decision to seek the death penalty against a defendant charged with potentially capital crimes. Her team previously argued that the deadline was unusually rushed, and that the amount of evidence with the deadline they had was more than the defense can locate within the timeframe. Federal prosecutors said last week that the judge should deny this motion, Associated Press reports. 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. HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) A Madison County judge today rejected a request in a June murder case to allow a self-defense hearing at a much earlier stage than is common in Alabama. Attorneys for Amber Baker say there is nothing in Alabama that prevents a District Court from conducting an immunity, or self-defense, hearing rather than the defendant having to wait until the case is moved to Circuit Court, which can take a year or longer. The defense argues Alabama says an immunity hearing can be scheduled in the court having jurisdiction, which is currently the Madison County District Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But District Court Judge Ron Smith agreed with the prosecutions argument that the immunity hearing request is a pre-trial motion and, in felony cases, pre-trial motions are heard in Circuit Court. Baker, 25, is charged with killing Nicholas Howell on Rucker Circle on June 16. She contends she acted in self-defense. An immunity hearing gives a defendant in a murder case a chance to offer evidence that their use of deadly force was justified. Defense Attorney Larry Marsili says it doesnt make sense for a person who can show they acted lawfully to have to wait for a grand jury indictment, moving the case to Circuit Court. That process can be lengthy, but it is also typical of how immunity hearings are scheduled in Alabama. The District Court currently is the court having jurisdiction over the Defendant, the defense argues. The States position requires a determination that no Court currently has jurisdiction over the issue of immunity from prosecution as set out in the statute. If the District Court lacks jurisdiction, and the Circuit Court does not yet have jurisdiction, then that would mean that there is no jurisdiction over the issue to be exercised by any Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marsili has said this is a case of first impression, meaning a legal challenge that has not previously gone through the scrutiny of the Alabama Appeals Courts. The defense has the option of appealing todays ruling to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. A federal judge on Monday sentenced a former Kentucky police officer to nearly three years in prison for using excessive force during the deadly Breonna Taylor raid five years ago, rebuffing a U.S. Department of Justice recommendation of no prison time for the defendant. Brett Hankison, who fired 10 shots during the raid but didnt hit anyone, was the only officer on the scene charged in the Black womans death in 2020. He is the first person sentenced to prison in the case that rocked the city of Louisville and spawned weeks of street protests over police brutality five years ago. U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings sentenced Hankison at a hearing Monday afternoon in which she said no prison time is not appropriate for Hankison. She also said she was startled that there werent more people injured in the raid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She sentenced him to 33 months in prison as well as three years of supervised probation. Hankison will not report directly to prison. Jennings said the Bureau of Prisons will determine where and when he starts his sentence. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Jennings expressed disappointment with federal prosecutors sentencing memo filed last week, saying the Justice Department treated Hankisons actions as an inconsequential crime, and said the memo was incongruous and inappropriate. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who helped Taylors family secure a $12 million wrongful death settlement against the city of Louisville and was present Mondya, had called the Justice Department recommendation an insult to the life of Breonna Taylor and a blatant betrayal of the jurys decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said Monday afternoon that he had hoped Hankison would get more time. But, he said: We are grateful that he is at least going to prison and has to think for those 3 years about Breonna Taylor and that her life mattered. And afterward, before a crowd gathered outside the courthouse, Crump yelled: Say Her name. The crowd yelled back: Breonna Taylor! Hankison fired his weapon the night of the March 2020 botched drug raid, his shot flying through the walls of Taylors apartment into a neighboring apartment without hitting or injuring anyone. The 26-year-olds death, along with the May 2020 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, sparked racial injustice protests nationwide that year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, the U.S. Justice Department recommended no prison time for Hankison, in an abrupt about-face by federal prosecutors that has angered critics after the department spent years prosecuting the former detective. The Justice Department, which has changed leadership under President Donald Trump since Hankisons conviction, said in a sentencing memo last week that there is no need for a prison sentence to protect the public from Hankison. Federal prosecutors suggested time already served, which amounts to one day, and three years of supervised probation. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: Prosecutors at his previous federal trials aggressively pursued a conviction against Hankison, 49, arguing that he blindly fired 10 shots into Taylors windows without identifying a target. Taylor was shot in her hallway by two other officers after her boyfriend fired from inside the apartment, striking an officer in the leg. Neither of the other officers was charged in state or federal court after prosecutors deemed they were justified in returning fire into the apartment. Louisville police used a drug warrant to enter the apartment, but found no drugs or cash inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A separate jury deadlocked on federal charges against Hankison in 2023, and he was acquitted on state charges of wanton endangerment in 2022. In their recent sentencing memo, federal prosecutors wrote that though Hankisons response in these fraught circumstances was unreasonable given the benefit of hindsight, that unreasonable response did not kill or wound Breonna Taylor, her boyfriend, her neighbors, defendants fellow officers, or anyone else. On Monday, the Louisville Metro Police Department arrested four people in front of the courthouse who it said were creating confrontation, kicking vehicles, or otherwise creating an unsafe environment. Authorities didnt list the charges those arrested would face. We understand this case caused pain and damaged trust between our department and the community, a police statement said. We particularly respect and value the 1st Amendment. However, what we saw today in front of the courthouse in the street was not safe, acceptable or legal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A U.S. Probation Office presentencing report had said Hankison should face a range of 135 to 168 months imprisonment on the excessive force conviction, according to the memo. But federal prosecutors said multiple factors including that Hankisons two other trials ended with no convictions should greatly reduce the potential punishment. The memorandum was submitted by Harmeet Dhillon, chief of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division and a Trump political appointee who in May moved to cancel settlements with Louisville and Minneapolis that had called for overhauling their police departments. Latest central Kentucky weather forecast In the Taylor case, three other ex-Louisville police officers have been charged with crafting a falsified warrant, but have not gone to trial. None were at the scene when Taylor was shot. 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. A federal judge on Monday sentenced a former Kentucky police officer to nearly three years in prison for using excessive force during the deadly Breonna Taylor raid five years ago, rebuffing a U.S. Department of Justice recommendation of no prison time for the defendant. Brett Hankison, who fired 10 shots during the raid but didnt hit anyone, was the only officer on the scene charged in the Black womans death in 2020. He is the first person sentenced to prison in the case that rocked the city of Louisville and spawned weeks of street protests over police brutality five years ago. U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings sentenced Hankison at a hearing Monday afternoon in which she said no prison time is not appropriate for Hankison. She also said she was startled that there werent more people injured in the raid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She sentenced him to 33 months in prison as well as three years of supervised probation. Hankison will not report directly to prison. Jennings said the Bureau of Prisons will determine where and when he starts his sentence. Jennings expressed disappointment with federal prosecutors sentencing memo filed last week, saying the Justice Department treated Hankisons actions as an inconsequential crime, and said the memo was incongruous and inappropriate. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who helped Taylors family secure a $12 million wrongful death settlement against the city of Louisville and was present Mondya, had called the Justice Department recommendation an insult to the life of Breonna Taylor and a blatant betrayal of the jurys decision. He said Monday afternoon that he had hoped Hankison would get more time. But, he said: We are grateful that he is at least going to prison and has to think for those 3 years about Breonna Taylor and that her life mattered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And afterward, before a crowd gathered outside the courthouse, Crump yelled: Say Her name. The crowd yelled back: Breonna Taylor! Hankison fired his weapon the night of the March 2020 botched drug raid, his shot flying through the walls of Taylors apartment into a neighboring apartment without hitting or injuring anyone. The 26-year-olds death, along with the May 2020 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, sparked racial injustice protests nationwide that year. Last week, the U.S. Justice Department recommended no prison time for Hankison, in an abrupt about-face by federal prosecutors that has angered critics after the department spent years prosecuting the former detective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department, which has changed leadership under President Donald Trump since Hankisons conviction, said in a sentencing memo last week that there is no need for a prison sentence to protect the public from Hankison. Federal prosecutors suggested time already served, which amounts to one day, and three years of supervised probation. Prosecutors at his previous federal trials aggressively pursued a conviction against Hankison, 49, arguing that he blindly fired 10 shots into Taylors windows without identifying a target. Taylor was shot in her hallway by two other officers after her boyfriend fired from inside the apartment, striking an officer in the leg. Neither of the other officers was charged in state or federal court after prosecutors deemed they were justified in returning fire into the apartment. Louisville police used a drug warrant to enter the apartment, but found no drugs or cash inside. A separate jury deadlocked on federal charges against Hankison in 2023, and he was acquitted on state charges of wanton endangerment in 2022. In their recent sentencing memo, federal prosecutors wrote that though Hankisons response in these fraught circumstances was unreasonable given the benefit of hindsight, that unreasonable response did not kill or wound Breonna Taylor, her boyfriend, her neighbors, defendants fellow officers, or anyone else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, the Louisville Metro Police Department arrested four people in front of the courthouse who it said were creating confrontation, kicking vehicles, or otherwise creating an unsafe environment. Authorities didnt list the charges those arrested would face. We understand this case caused pain and damaged trust between our department and the community, a police statement said. We particularly respect and value the 1st Amendment. However, what we saw today in front of the courthouse in the street was not safe, acceptable or legal. A U.S. Probation Office presentencing report had said Hankison should face a range of 135 to 168 months imprisonment on the excessive force conviction, according to the memo. But federal prosecutors said multiple factors including that Hankisons two other trials ended with no convictions should greatly reduce the potential punishment. The memorandum was submitted by Harmeet Dhillon, chief of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division and a Trump political appointee who in May moved to cancel settlements with Louisville and Minneapolis that had called for overhauling their police departments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Taylor case, three other ex-Louisville police officers have been charged with crafting a falsified warrant, but have not gone to trial. None were at the scene when Taylor was shot.L Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW July 22 (UPI) -- A federal judge has issued a partial block of a provision in President Donald Trump's massive tax and spending cuts bill that sought to defund Planned Parenthood. Judge Indira Talwani of the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts had earlier this month issued a temporary restraining order against the so-called defund provision of the bill, on Monday made it a partial preliminary injunction as the case continues. In her order on Monday, Talwani said Planned Parenthood had demonstrated "a substantial likelihood of success" in its First Amendment argument against the provision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's policy bill, which passed Congress on July 3, enacts a one-year ban on Medicaid payments to healthcare nonprofits that provide abortion services and that received more than $800,000 in Medicaid reimbursements in fiscal year 2023. Planned Parenthood argued that the provision's purpose was to specifically "punish" them for advocating for and providing legal abortion access outside of the Medicaid program and without using federal funds. They also argued that it punishes Planned Parenthood members who do not provide abortions because of their association with the main organization and its advocacy for the medical procedure. "Instead of merely prohibiting Planned Parenthood members that receive Medicaid funds from providing abortions, the statute prohibits them from affiliating with entities that do," the President Barack Obama appointee said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Moreover, the record is devoid of evidentiary support for defendants' suggestion that Planned Parenthood entities share funds that are ultimately used for abortions." She continued that "restricting funds based on affiliation with an abortion provider operates only to restrict the associational right of members taht. do not provide abortion." Planned Parenthood had filed its lawsuit July 7, with Talwani issuing a temporary restraining order against the provision within hours. Her order on Monday stops short of granting a preliminary injunction to all Planned Parenthood members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This isn't over," several Planned Parenthood organizations that filed the lawsuit said in a statement. "While we're grateful that the court recognized the harm caused by this law, we're disappointed that not all members were granted the necessary relief today. Patients across the country should be able to go to their trusted Planned Parenthood provider for birth control, cancer screenings and STI testing and treatment." A federal judge on Monday extended an order that blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a provision of President Donald Trumps sweeping domestic policy law to defund Planned Parenthoods health care services. US District Judge Indira Talwani partially granted Planned Parenthoods request for a preliminary injunction while its lawsuit against the administration plays out. The order does not apply to all Planned Parenthood members. The Trump administration will not be allowed to enforce the funding ban against the Planned Parenthood members who cannot provide abortions because of state abortion bans, or who received less than $800,000 in Medicaid reimbursements in 2023, Planned Parenthood said Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The measure which is part of Trumps big, beautiful bill, that was signed into law July 4 bars Medicaid users from coverage with a health care provider that also provides abortion services. In a statement responding to the ruling, the Planned Parenthood groups said, This isnt over. While were grateful that the court recognized the harm caused by this law, were disappointed that not all members were granted the necessary relief today. The court has not yet ruled on whether it will grant preliminary injunctive relief to other members. We remain hopeful that the court will grant this relief. There will be nothing short of a public health crisis if Planned Parenthood members are allowed to be defunded, they added. Talwani, a Barack Obama appointee, had previously temporarily blocked the provisions enforcement for 14 days on July 7, after the Planned Parenthood Federation of America along with Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and Planned Parenthood Association of Utah sued the administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the legislation does not explicitly mention Planned Parenthood, it prohibits federal funding for providers primarily engaged in family planning services, reproductive health, and related medical care that also provide abortion services. Planned Parenthood previously warned that nearly 200 clinics nationwide which also provide birth control, STI testing and treatment, and cancer screening could close as a result of the bills ban on funds. Talwani, in her order, said Planned Parenthood was likely to succeed on its claim that the laws funding ban violates the health care providers First Amendment rights because of its support for and provision of abortion services. Instead of merely prohibiting Planned Parenthood Members that receive Medicaid funds from providing abortions, the statute prohibits them from affiliating with entities that do. Moreover, the record is devoid of evidentiary support for Defendants suggestion that Planned Parenthood entities share funds that are ultimately used for abortions, the judge wrote. Therefore, restricting funds based on affiliation with an abortion provider operates only to restrict the associational right of Members that do not provide abortion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill originally barred funds for ten years, before the Senate Parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, reduced the measure to one year. CNN has reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for comment. Planned Parenthood is also battling the Trump administration in court over cuts to a federal teen pregnancy prevention program. Lawyers for five Planned Parenthood networks argued in a federal District of Columbia court this June that administrations changes to the program, including limits on language around diversity and equity, were vague and could bar Planned Parenthood from providing longtime services. CNNs Devan Cole, Sarah Owermohle and Kaanita Iyer contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A US judge raised questions Monday over the legality of the Donald Trump administrations cuts to Harvard Universitys research funding. During a hearing, the university argued the funding freeze is unconstitutional, while the White House contended the school has allowed antisemitism to fester on its campus. While the judge is yet to issue a ruling, she pushed back on the administrations claims that concerns around antisemitism justified the cuts. Trump has made Harvard central to his effort to reshape American higher education; his administration also recently served subpoenas to the Ivy League school for records on international students. Trump-style populists have long thrilled at the prospect of humbling elite universities, The Atlantic wrote in a recent profile of Harvards president. Brazil's Supreme Court threatened to order the arrest of former president Jair Bolsonaro on Monday. The court ordered Bolsonaro's lawyers to explain, within 24 hours, why he breached restrictions on his use of social media, local media reported. On Friday, the presiding judge, Alexandre de Moraes, ordered that Bolsonaro not be active on social networks. He is under house arrest at night and must wear an electronic ankle tag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moraes said Bolsonaro breached the social media ban when speaking with journalists on Monday. The speech was shared on social media, including by Bolsonaro's son Eduardo. "This is a symbol of the greatest humiliation in our country," he said, referring to his ankle tag. "What they are doing to a former president of the republic is cowardly," he continued. The judge had earlier issued a clarification of his ruling, which stated that Bolsonaro's use of social media extended to third parties. The 70-year-old ex-president faces charges of plotting to overthrow the government of his leftist successor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva following his election defeat in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolsonaro's trial is in its final phase with the closing statements. The former president is charged with trying to "destroy the democratic legal order." He denies all accusations. On January 8, 2023, Bolsonaro's supporters stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace in Brasilia shortly after Lula took office. Federal judges declined to keep President Donald Trumps former personal attorney as New Jerseys top federal prosecutor, exercising an arcane statute to rebuff the Trump administrations wishes. New Jersey district court judges voted to not let interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba stay on the job after her 120-day interim term expires, instead picking prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace, according to a court order posted to the judiciarys website. There is confusion about when the change is effective, with the court suggesting Graces appointment should begin today, but leaving open it could be another day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Habba, who served as counselor to the president and as Trumps personal attorney, was Trumps pick to be New Jerseys top federal prosecutor a position she assumed in March on an interim basis. The decision to pass on Habba at the 120-day deadline of her tenure sets up a potential showdown between the judiciary and the White House, since the Trump administration lobbied judges to give Habba the permanent slot. Federal law allows for the White House to fire U.S. attorneys, although it is unclear if Trump plans to do that to Grace. President Trump has full confidence in Alina Habba, whose work as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey has made the Garden State and the nation safer," White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement. "The Trump Administration looks forward to her final confirmation in the U.S. Senate and will work tirelessly to ensure the people of New Jersey are well represented. Grace is a registered Republican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who has been critical of Habba, congratulated Grace. Fellow New Jersey Democratic Sen. Andy Kim said he was grateful to see Grace on the job. The fight over Habbas fate touches on deeper issues, including separation of powers and the aims of the Department of Justice Habba has been accused of partisan prosecutions, while her allies accuse the judges of partisanship toward her. Others in the Trump administration rushed to Habbas defense on Tuesday afternoon. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on social media that Habba is doing outstanding work in New Jersey and makes the Justice Department proud. Todd Blanche, a deputy attorney general who also served as personal attorney to Trump, accused judges of trying to force out Habba before Friday. It appears some are counting from March 24 when she was appointed and others the March 28 date when she was sworn in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their rush reveals what this was always about: a left-wing agenda, not the rule of law, he said on social media. When judges act like activists, they undermine confidence in our justice. He was referring to the unusual process that played out this week. District court judges have a say over who fills an executive branch post because of a law about filling U.S. attorney vacancies. The law has been around for decades with some interruption, but Congress put it back on the books after accusations that President George W. Bushs administration removed nine U.S. attorneys for political reasons. The lions share of the district court judges in New Jersey were appointed by Democratic presidents. Now, the Trump administration could make a countermove to remove Grace and even try to get Habba her old job back by appointing Habba to be the first assistant U.S. attorney since that official can become acting U.S. attorney if there is a vacancy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump-aligned lawyer James Burnham posted that Trump would be well within his constitutional authority to take swift action to regain control of this important US Attorneys office for the Executive Branch he heads. At the time Habba was named to the position, few expected her to remain in the job beyond the 120-day interim window, but Trump has since nominated Habba for a full four-year term, a post that requires Senate confirmation. In the Senate, Habba is facing Democratic criticism in the confirmation process. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) has previously said he wants the White House to pick someone else because he considers Habba a partisan warrior. Bookers frustration with Habba includes the arrest and short-lived prosecution of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and the charges Habba filed against Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) following a scrum outside a federal immigration detention facility. In May, a federal magistrate judge criticized her offices hasty arrest and swift dismissal of a trespassing charge against Baraka as suggesting a worrisome misstep by her office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Habbas office has reportedly subpoenaed New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy after a comment the Democrat made about potentially housing a migrant above his garage. Habba was more overtly political than the typical federal prosecutor. Shortly after she was named as interim U.S. attorney, Habba told a conservative podcaster that she may be able to help turn New Jersey red. Hopefully, while Im there, I can help that cause, she said at the time. Madison Fernandez and Josh Gerstein contributed to this report. By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Justice Department accused a panel of New Jersey federal court judges of political motives for declining to permanently appoint Republican President Donald Trump's former lawyer Alina Habba as the state's top federal prosecutor. The judges on the U.S. District Court in New Jersey named Desiree Grace, the second highest-ranking official in the U.S. attorney's office, to replace Habba on Tuesday. Hours later Attorney General Pam Bondi said Grace had been removed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges especially when they threaten the Presidents core Article II powers," Bondi wrote in a post on X, referring to Trump's authority under the U.S. Constitution. Federal law allows district courts to intervene if an interim U.S. attorney has not received Senate approval within 120 days. Democrats condemned the removal of Grace. "The firing of a career public servant, lawfully appointed by the court, is another blatant attempt to intimidate anyone that doesn't agree with them and undermine judicial independence," Democratic U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim from New Jersey said in a joint statement. Habba has been serving as New Jersey's interim U.S. attorney since her appointment by Trump in March, but was limited by law to 120 days in office unless the court agreed to keep her in place. The U.S. Senate has not yet acted on her formal nomination to the role, submitted by Trump this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Habba and Grace could not be immediately reached for comment. Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, said in a statement on X that the U.S. District Court in New Jersey was trying to "force" Habba out of her job before her term expires at 11:59 p.m. on Friday. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York last week declined to keep Trump's U.S. attorney pick John Sarcone in place after his 120-day term neared expiration. Sarcone managed to stay in the office after the Justice Department found a workaround by naming him as "special attorney to the attorney general," according to the New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department cannot make a similar arrangement for Habba, however, because federal law prohibits the government from appointing someone to serve in an acting capacity if the individual was already nominated by the president to serve in that role. Habba's brief tenure as New Jersey's interim U.S. attorney included the filing of multiple legal actions against Democratic elected officials. Her office brought criminal charges against Democratic U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver, as she and other members of Congress and Newark's Democratic mayor, Ras Baraka, tried to visit an immigration detention center. The scene grew chaotic after immigration agents tried to arrest Baraka for trespassing, and McIver's elbows appeared to make brief contact with an immigration officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Habba's office charged McIver with two counts of assaulting and impeding a law enforcement officer. McIver has pleaded not guilty. Habba's office did not follow Justice Department rules which require prosecutors to seek permission from the Public Integrity Section before bringing criminal charges against a member of Congress for conduct related to their official duties. Habba's office also charged Baraka, but later dropped the case, prompting a federal magistrate judge to criticize her office for its handling of the matter. Until March, Habba had never worked as a prosecutor. She has represented Trump in a variety of civil litigation, including a trial in which a jury found Trump liable for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll after she accused him of raping her in the mid-1990s in a department store dressing room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, a federal judge in Florida sanctioned Trump and Habba and ordered them to pay $1 million for filing a frivolous lawsuit which alleged that Hillary Clinton and others conspired to damage Trump's reputation in the investigation into Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; additional reporting by Kanishka Singh editing by Scott Malone, Matthew Lewis, Susan Heavey and Christian Schmollinger) Wes Streeting has accused junior doctors of a complete disdain for patients after talks with the medics union collapsed. A five-day walkout will go ahead from Friday, in the first national strike by a healthcare union under a Labour Government since the winter of discontent in 1979. The British Medical Association (BMA) is pushing for pay increases of 29 per cent, having already secured such a boost under Labour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials had been locked in talks since last Thursday in an attempt to reach a deal to avert strike action by junior doctors, now known as resident doctors. But they descended into acrimony on Tuesday night. The leaders of the unions resident doctors committee (RDC) said they had not received any substantive proposal to persuade them to call off walkouts. Wes Streeting has called the decision to strike reckless and needless - Getty Images/Jack Hill The Health Secretary said: After a 28.9 per cent pay hike in the last three years and the highest pay rise in the public sector two years in a row, strike action is completely unjustified, completely unprecedented in the history of British trade unionism and shows a complete disdain for patients and the wider recovery of the NHS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the union had blown the opportunity to create new roles that would have seen doctors rise up the ranks sooner. Other proposals under discussion could have seen doctors compensated for the costs of mandatory exams, rota moves and equipment. Mr Streeting said the decision to opt for strike action was reckless and needless saying they would have lost nothing by postponing strikes while talks continued. Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt, who co-chair the RDC, said the committee did not receive an offer that would meet the scale of those challenges facing medics. The committee said while members were happy to discuss non-pay issues, the row is at its core a pay dispute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its leaders said the Government had made clear that boosting pay was off the table, and had not come up with enough new ideas to relieve crushing burdens on the finances of resident doctors, including the cost of training and student debt. A source close to the Health Secretary accused the RDCs leaders of weak leadership saying it didnt have a spine and was unable to control the committee. They led us to believe there was a deal to work with, they said. Tens of thousands of resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, are set to strike from 7am on Friday to 7am on Wednesday - Getty Images/Leon Neal It comes amid increasing tensions between the union and NHS leaders over the walkouts, which will take place for five consecutive days from 7am on Friday July 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sir Jim Mackey, the head of the NHS, has instructed hospitals to cancel as few appointments and operations as they can safely manage. He is concerned that too many patients have come to harm from repeated strikes, which have resulted in dangerous delays. In particular, hospitals have been told to ensure that cancer patients, especially those who have already faced delays, and urgent cases waiting for planned surgery do not have procedures axed. But the BMA has said that attempting to keep more routine services running will endanger safety, saying consultants providing cover will be spread too thinly to provide emergency and urgent care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday night Mr Streeting said: All of my attention will be now on averting harm to patients and supporting NHS staff at work. In opposition Mr Streeting had said he was beyond furious with the Tories for allowing strikes to occur, accusing them of being incapable of resolving the dispute. It comes as polling shows growing opposition to the strikes with 52 per cent of the public against them, down from 48 per cent in May. The YouGov polling shows those over the age of 65 the group which depends most on the NHS have the greatest concerns, with 75 per cent of this group opposed to strikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, said the decision for strikes to go ahead is a crushing blow for patients and for the NHS. He said: Trusts have been holding off cancellations while there was the realistic prospect of a breakthrough. They will now be doing all they can to ensure there are fewer and in some cases many fewer cancellations than last time. Safety is paramount, so unfortunately there will be some disruption for patients because of the need to provide cover. He also urged doctors to tell hospitals if they intended to take part in strikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We urge resident doctors to help trusts minimise the harm by notifying them of their plans for strike days. For example we must ensure that there are enough staff for all the cancer, transplant and maternity care that cannot and must not be delayed. Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said the decision to go ahead with strikes demonstrates a worrying disregard for the very real toll this further disruption will have on peoples health and their confidence in the healthcare system. The union is demanding rates of cover which would see consultants paid 6,000 for being on call during this weekend of strikes, even if they did no work and never left their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Elkeles said: Another huge worry is the cost. It is vital that consultants providing cover take NHS rates of pay rather than insisting on inflated BMA rates that are simply unaffordable. Prof Meghana Pandit, NHS Englands co-national medical director, said: This new round of strikes by resident doctors will no doubt be incredibly challenging for the NHS, and while local services are working extremely hard to minimise the impact for patients, as they always do, some disruption to services is inevitable. We urge the BMA to work with NHS England and local trust medical directors and leaders to minimise the impact their actions have on essential care. It is vital that people do not put off seeking care and come forward for treatment using 111 online for non-life threatening care, as well as local pharmacies or general practice, or dialling 999 in a life-threatening emergency. 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 Missouri Supreme Court issued a show-cause order last week asking why it should hear the appeal of a preliminary injunction that made abortion legally available in the state. The judges, shown in a Sept. 10, 2024, photo, are, from left, Kelly Broniec, Robin Ransom, W. Brent Powell, Chief Justice Mary Russell, Zel Fischer, Paul Wilson and Ginger Gooch. (Pool photo by Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch). The Missouri Supreme Court isnt as ready to hear the appeal of a ruling that allowed abortions to resume in the state as Attorney General Andrew Bailey is to argue it in front of the seven judges. In filings for an appeal of Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhangs July 3 preliminary injunction, Baileys office asked for an expedited schedule and a hearing the week of Aug. 11. The two Planned Parenthood organizations suing to block enforcement of laws regulating abortion, represented by the ACLU of Missouri, agreed there should be an expedited schedule but suggested arguments the week of Aug. 18 would be better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But instead of setting a schedule, the court has directed the attorneys to explain why it should hear arguments at all. The two sides have until Friday to show cause as to why this court has exclusive appellate jurisdiction over this appeal under the Missouri Constitution. It means somebodys questioning whether theyve got the authority, the jurisdictional authority, to hear this case, said Heidi Vollet, an attorney fromJefferson City who clerked for then-U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist in 2001 and teaches appellate law to other practicing attorneys for continuing legal education. That doesnt mean theyve decided one way or the other, that they do or do not, she said. So show cause means that theyre concerned enough about it that theres a question and they want to hear from the parties on that subject. Zhangs July 3 ruling allowed surgical abortions to resume, and Planned Parenthood clinics are providing appointments for women in St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City. The clinics cannot offer medication abortions because the ruling did not block enforcement of a law requiring clinics to have complication plans for women who experience issues after taking the drugs. The state has thus far not signed off on a complication plan submitted earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order blocked the regulation describing what must be in the complication plan, such as access to a physician at all hours, but not the law itself requiring the plans. Vollet said the Supreme Court has a limited number of cases where the law bypasses the three district appellate courts, usually the first stop in the appeals process. One set of cases involve the validity of a statute or provision of the constitution of this state If the type of case isnt listed with the categories where the Supreme Court has exclusive jurisdiction, an appeal must generally be filed first with the court of appeals. The show-cause orders reference to the courts exclusive jurisdiction is not a question the court had to ask, said former Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Wolff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court has the authority to bypass the court of appeals and take an appeal directly, Wolff said. It will be up to Baileys office to show the court it has exclusive jurisdiction, or for Planned Parenthood to admit that having a statute declared invalid is their goal, for the court to agree to hear the case, Wolff said. Baileys office did not respond to a request for comment. The ACLU said the court made the right move by issuing the show-cause order. The Missouri Supreme Court is correct to seek the parties positions to the question of jurisdiction, said spokesman Tom Bastian. This is the first time we have seen a direct appeal on a circuit court ordered preliminary injunction to the Missouri Supreme Court, whose authority is set by the Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the appeal, Baileys office is asking the court to decide that the case should not be before Zhang at all, but in Cole County. The appeal also asks the court to declare that Zhang used the wrong legal standard when issuing the preliminary injunction. Because the ruling from Zhang is a preliminary injunction, it is not final. That means she has not yet decided whether the state laws her orders block violate the terms of the abortion rights amendment approved by voters in November. Instead, her decision is based on the likelihood the Planned Parenthood plaintiffs will prevail at trial and which side is damaged more, the plaintiffs if the laws are enforced or the state that will see its laws go unenforced. The show-cause order doesnt necessarily alter the timeline either party requested for an expedited hearing, Vollet said. They absolutely are interested to know about jurisdiction, she said. And theyre looking at that presumably before they order a certain time frame. This is the second time the question of whether Zhang had grounds to block enforcement of state abortion laws and regulations has come before the court. In May, the court issued a writ ordering Zhang to withdraw two previous preliminary injunctions issued by Zhang. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is the first time Baileys office has used a power newly granted by the legislature to appeal a preliminary injunction that blocks enforcement of any provision of the constitution, state law or regulation. The law was an attack on abortion rights, Bastian said, because it was passed only because of the case being heard by Zhang. The law allows the state, and only the state, to appeal interlocutory preliminary injunctions that temporarily block the enforcement of laws that likely violate the constitution, Bastian said. But the new law, which took effect April 24 with Gov. Mike Kehoes signature, does not assign jurisdiction over those appeals to a particular court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For very good reason, if this doesnt belong in the Supreme Court, theyre much better off, Wolff said. This is my personal view of it, but by letting the Court of Appeals decide this in the first instance, and then they can take it, take transfer or not take transfer, depending on how badly the court of appeals screwed it up, or not at all. Jul. 21CAVALIER COUNTY A Hillsboro, Kansas, man was sentenced Thursday, July 17, to 20 years in prison with eight years suspended for various electronic sexual crimes involving minors. Matthew Alyn McCarty, 34, pleaded guilty to five offenses across his three criminal cases. The most severe offenses were Class A felony use of a minor in a sexual performance and Class A felony use of a minor in a sexual performance by persuasion, inducement, coercion or enticement. The crimes both carried maximum 20-year sentences. McCarty also pleaded guilty to Class B felony luring a minor believed to be under age 15 by computer while the defendant is at least 22, Class C felony luring a minor believed to be between 15 and 17 years old by computer while the defendant is at least 22 and Class A misdemeanor indecent exposure to a minor by electronic means. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Various charges were dismissed, including an additional count each of Class C felony luring and Class A misdemeanor indecent exposure. A Class B felony charge of sexual extortion was dismissed as well. McCarty traveled to Cavalier County for harvest season, which is how he became aware of the girls he victimized in his three criminal cases, according to affidavits filed in the cases. He would have been a resident of Nebraska, and then Kansas, during the yearslong period beginning in 2016 when he committed the crimes. McCarty sent nude photographs to minors, engaging in sexual conversations with two of them, asking for nude photographs and using them as blackmail against one girl who refused to continue sending them, according to an affidavit filed in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One girl told law enforcement she first received an explicit photo from McCarty when she was 10 years old. McCarty admitted he attempted to initiate inappropriate conversations with girls, sending and receiving nude images for his sexual pleasure, according to the affidavit. He also admitted to using a burner phone for the illicit communication, but destroyed the phone in 2018. Charges were filed against McCarty in September and October 2024. Booked and held on a $50,000 bond, he remained in custody throughout the duration of his case. He maintained not guilty pleas to his charges until February of this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his sentencing Thursday, July 17, McCarty was ordered to serve 12 years in prison, have no contact with specific people involved in the case and spend three years on supervised probation once he is released. McCarty has credit for 290 days served in custody. Karen Read grand juror to plead guilty to leaking details about federal investigation A Massachusetts woman who served as a grand juror in the federal investigation into the Karen Read murder case is expected to plead guilty to criminal contempt on Tuesday. Jessica Leslie, 34, of Dracut, admitted to leaking information presented to a federal grand jury to unauthorized individuals, including the names of various witnesses, when she was charged in federal court in Boston earlier this month. Federal prosecutors alleged that the leaks occurred between August 2022 and March 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leslies attorneys were able to reach a plea agreement with federal prosecutors that will result in two years of supervised release. Read, who was under investigation in connection with the murder of her Boston police officer boyfriend, faced no federal charges. Last month, a Norfolk Superior Court jury acquitted her of murder and manslaughter in the death of John OKeefe. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Jul. 21Mayor Tim Keller signed an executive order Monday that aims to protect immigrant rights amid reports of increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Albuquerque and across the country. The order, however, is a mixed bag of new and preexisting directives, some of which have been criticized for being unenforceable. Most of the policies are in line with a 2018 City Council resolution that declared Albuquerque an "immigrant friendly city" and forbade city personnel from working with ICE, save for when required by a court order. Other directives expand on the resolution. For example, the order requires the city attorney to routinely file Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests about ICE activities within the city. It also mandates that Katarina Sandoval, the city's child wellbeing officer, and the Office of Equity and Inclusion develop "trauma-informed" training for all city departments that work with children impacted by immigration enforcement, including those who have been separated from their parents. The order additionally warns that anyone caught impersonating an ICE agent will be prosecuted "to the highest degree allowable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move comes a week after video of an ICE arrest at a West Side Walmart went viral, leading to a Sunday protest outside the grocery store that drew immigrant advocates and Keller's political opponent, mayoral hopeful and former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico Alex Uballez, who has called on the city to do more to protect immigrants. There has been an increase of arrests by ICE under President Donald Trump, who frequently speaks during public appearances about his efforts to deport "the worst of the worst." Some items in Keller's executive order appear to conflict with one another, especially where ICE and the Albuquerque Police Department overlap. While the executive order states that ICE agents "must not disrupt the wellbeing of City public spaces through violent or harmful detainment actions," it also states that "the Albuquerque Police Department cannot legally interfere with ICE activity." However, the order does instruct APD to verify the identity of suspected ICE agents if asked to by a member of the public. The public can report suspected ICE raids to APD's non-emergency line, (505) 242-2677, for verification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither ICE nor the U.S. Department of Homeland Security could be immediately reached for comment on the executive order. Members of local immigrant advocacy groups crowded in the mayor's conference room Monday to watch as Keller signed the order, using a different pen to write each letter and then passing them backward. He did so, he said, to honor the tradition of giving a keepsake to those who helped a piece of policy reach the finish line. Fabiola Landeros, a community organizer with El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos, lauded the mayor for taking action and spoke of the fear running through the immigrant community, whom she lovingly called "mi gente" or my people. "Imagine feeling afraid every time you left your home that you will be disappeared, separated from your children, that nobody will know where you are, or that you could be held in a detention center in a country you're not from," Landeros said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the Roundhouse also came to show their support. State Sen. Cindy Nava, D-Bernalillo, and House Speaker Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, reflected on the struggles their families endured as immigrants. Nava is an immigrant herself, specifically a "Dreamer," the colloquial term for a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. "Thank you to everyone here for your continued fight, your work, and your strength in being here, because I know the fear that lives inside us," Nava said in Spanish. Not everyone saw the executive order as a step in the right direction, or a step forward at all. "It means nothing, it says nothing, it's political theater," City Councilor Dan Lewis said about the mayor's executive order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lewis said that he, alongside city councilors Renee Grout and Dan Champine, will propose an amendment to any resolution that seeks to codify or expand upon the executive order. Lewis hopes to reestablish cooperation between the federal government and the city through granting them access to data in the Prisoner Transport Center. Other critics included Uballez. "Today's reaffirmation fell far short of the solutions our community deserves, prioritizing the optics of safety instead of actually operationalizing it," Uballez said in a statement. Several of the directives from the executive order appeared a week earlier in a letter of recommendations for immigration reform sent to the city by Uballez. When asked if the timing of the executive order stemmed from his challenger's letter, Keller said that the two were unrelated and that the city began drafting the order in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm not familiar with the specifics (of the letter), but as I understand it, we were already doing most of those things," Keller said after the news conference. Uballez's letter included 11 recommendations, which included restricting data sharing with the federal government, paying the legal fees of those facing deportation with public funds, and passing an Immigrant Civil Rights Act. City personnel have been forbidden to share information about immigration status, except when presented with a court order, since the 2018 resolution. "While Alex's newfound interest in immigrant rights is refreshing, where were these suggestions while he was working for Donald Trump?" said city spokesperson in a later statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uballez, and more than 20 other U.S. attorneys, were fired in the first month of Trump's second term as part of a purge of political appointees in the Justice Department. He was appointed in 2022 by former President Joe Biden. Uballez announced his bid for the mayor's office in April. "Our immigrant communities and their advocates are working so hard in this moment, they deserve a mayor who will match their energy with the power at his disposal," Uballez said. Jul. 21A Kellogg man has been convicted of illegally killing a bull moose in North Idaho last fall and leaving it to waste. Raymond A. Black pleaded guilty to a felony charge related to the shooting of a moose in the middle of a Forest Service road last November near Wold Lodge Saddle, according to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Black didn't have a moose tag. Moose are a "once-in-a-lifetime" species in Idaho, which means hunters who draw a moose tag can only do so once, according to the Fish and Game news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After he killed the moose, Black tried to load it into his truck but got stuck in the snow. He hiked out to get help and was picked up by two other hunters. When Black got back to his vehicle and got it unstuck, he left the moose behind, according to the release. The hunters who picked Black up were suspicious of his story, according to the release. They recorded his license plate number and submitted a tip to Fish and Game's Citizens Against Poaching hotline, which led to an investigation and a search warrant for Black's home. Fish and Game's conservation officers found the rifle used to kill the moose and other evidence at the house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Kootenai County District Court judge earlier this month sentenced Black to six months in jail and ordered him to pay a $1,500 fine, $10,000 in restitution, $250 in meat processing fees and $245 in court costs. He also received a lifetime revocation of hunting and trapping privileges in Idaho, which will apply in all U.S. states except Hawaii. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) Dozens of leaders and stakeholders from around the nation connected for a forum in Washington, D.C., exploring the impact and prevention of human trafficking. Its like an obvious thing. Of course, we should be doing things like this, but were just starting because we just thought of it. Theres so many opportunities for cooperation in government that we just, we eventually, fortunately, realize we should be doing all this all the time, Sec. Michael Adams told the gathering on Monday. The offices prevention program is only about 6 months old, but it has partnered with more than a thousand businesses in a unified effort to combat human trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were really focused on ones that have foot traffic, ones that convenience stores, hotels and motels, and so forth. Places that actually are going to be able to see people who are in the situation, Adams said. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: In January, Adams, the chief business official for the state, launched the Kentucky Businesses Against Human Trafficking initiative to bring the business community to the table, start a conversation on raising awareness, and make clear where victims can get help. This business, this business, that business may be part of it, but this one not. Well, why not? And its a conversation that they have at the local level that talks about what they do. And it does include training. It does include, you know, constant reminder of that youre part of this program, U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Thomas Ruck said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ruck is a senior adviser for DHSs Blue Campaign, a nationwide human trafficking prevention initiative. Ruck and Adams joined each other for a panel held during a day-long forum on human trafficking prevention hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce. Adams discussed how other states can model the program and how it measures success, both in expected and unexpected ways. Ruck briefly mentioned an encounter with a victim at a KBAT media event in Louisville earlier this year. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: At a break, a lady came up to me and she said, I need help. I said, How can I help you? She said, Im being trafficked, and I dont want to go home. I immediately, at that time, took her to you. And threw all the resources we had, Ruck said Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We referred the case to the Louisville Metro Police Department, and we were able to correspond with the investigator who was assigned to that case afterward. And it was successful. She was extracted, Adams said. Businesses can learn more about getting involved on the Kentucky Secretary of States 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. Several bills that appeared destined for success in the recently completed regular Texas Legislative Session failed for one reason or another. Two among those include elimination of property tax and the STAAR Test. Both, and other proposals, will be addressed in Legislatures special session, which began Monday, said state Rep. Helen Kerwin, R-Glen Rose. Kerwin discussed the session just past and the Special Session during Thursdays meeting of the Cleburne Rotary Club. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I get very excited about legislation, Kerwin said. And Im looking forward to starting on the Special Session. The STAAR test remains in place for now despite its unpopularity. We had so much support [for repeal] in the House and Senate, she said. We heard from teachers, superintendents, school administrators and members of the communities that its time for it to go. It was killed by a technicality in the Senate. But its on the agenda for the special session and Im pretty sure it will pass. Should legislators boot the STAAR Test another series of tests Kerwin dubbed less onerous will replace it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School districts are excited about the replacement option, which is a series of three tests at the beginning, middle and end of the school year to monitor progress instead of this enormous test deal in the spring. The replacement tests will include a series of options increasing local control by allowing school districts to choose from several options as opposed to the STAAR Tests current one-size-fits-all format. With numerous bills calling for elimination of property tax having been filed during the recent session, Kerwin said shes hopeful such a bill may be successful in the Special Session. That said, the recent session resulted in more property tax relief than ever before, Kerwin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Which I think opened the door and is going to make it easier to fight for elimination, Kerwin said. Legislators in the just completed session increased the homestead exemption to $140,000 for most homeowners and to $200,000 for seniors and disabled individuals. If voters approve these measures this November, more than 60% of seniors and disabled homeowners will see their school property tax bill wiped out entirely, Kerwin said. For businesses, legislators increased the exemption on personal property tax from $2,500 to $125,000. That Kerwin said, will free thousands of dollars up annually to be reinvested into Texas businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kerwin spoke of bills passed to bolster border and grid security and election integrity. Another bill assists with classroom discipline. We kept hearing over and over that teachers do not have enough discipline in the classrooms, Kerwin said. Senate Bill 6 gives teachers the authority to remove a student without jumping through hoops and layers of bureaucracy and paperwork. They also have the authority to approve the child returning to their classroom. Kerwin spoke of pay raises approved for teachers and non-administrative school staff, but not administrative staff, as well as additional funding approved for rural schools, pre-kindergarten education, school safety, special need student programs and other school district needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That bill, House Bill 2, represents the largest new public education investment in Texas history, Kerwin added. Kerwin cited several bills passed to defend Texas sovereigty against hostile foreign nations those being North Korea, China, Russia and Iran. One of those bills protects against purchase of Texas land. It is now the best bill in all 50 states in the country to protect our Texas lands, farm land, ranch lands against hostile foreign purchases, Kerwin said. Kerwin discussed bills passed that will increase transparency in public schools and increase protections against trafficking and home schooling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kerwin, on the other hand, decried the states budget growth. The growth was bigger last session, but we still added to it, Kerwin said. Fiscal restraint is just something we have to have right now. Kerwin criticized too a bill passed to allocate $10 billion over the next decade to attract the production of Hollywood films in Texas. Originally it was supposed to include 75% of the workforce from Texas and they promised that the subject matter would be Texas stories, Texas values and Texas heritage, Kerwin said. I considered it initially when I read the numbers on return investment, how much money this could bring in and create jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kerwin changed her mind, however, once she saw the final bill, which drops the Texas employment requirement to 35% and pretty much eliminated the requirement of films of Texas values and heritage. Kerwin said she hopes to revisit PFAS, or forever chemicals, in the next session and has gained widespread support on the topic. Such chemicals, derived from numerous household and industrial products have been found in Johnson County water and soil. They have been linked to cancer and other diseases in people as well as diseases and death in animals and pollution of the environment. Kerwins bill last session addressed land applications of 17 such chemicals through the spreading of biosolids used as fertilizer. Kerwin said she and other legislators plan to introduce similar expanded bills in the next legislative session. Kerwin spoke of push back against proposed PFAS restrictions from the oil and gas industry but support from, among others, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Kerwin concluded by encouraging residents to visit her Cleburne office at Wright Plaza and to bring their concerns, questions and ideas for possible future bills. Children, especially girls, who own smartphones before they are 13 years old may have worse mental health outcomes when they're older, a new study suggests. The study, published Sunday in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, analyzed self-reported questionnaire results from more than 100,000 young adults between the ages of 18 and 24. The questionnaire asked respondents about mental health symptoms, such as having aggression, feelings of detachment, hallucinations and suicidal thoughts. Those who were given smartphones at an earlier age were associated with worse mental health outcomes for every year of smartphone ownership before the age of 13. STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images - PHOTO: A small child plays on a smartphone in an undated stock photo. Early smartphone ownership was associated with feelings of lower self-image and lower self-worth in both girls and boys. Girls reported lower emotional resilience and lower confidence, while boys reported feeling less calm, less stable and less empathetic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The younger the child gets a smartphone, the more exposure to all this impacts them psychologically and shapes the way they think and view the world," Tara Thiagarajan, one of the study's authors, told ABC News in an emailed statement. About 48% of young women who had smartphones by 5 or 6 years old reported having severe suicidal thoughts, compared to 28% of females who had smartphones by 13 or older. In young men, 31% of those who had smartphones by 5 or 6 years old reported having severe suicidal thoughts and 20% of males who had smartphones by 13 or older reported having severe suicidal thoughts. Cellphone bans in schools take center stage amid mental health crisis Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Study authors attributed the differences between young women's and young men's mental health symptoms to social media usage. Other factors that seemed to impact mental health outcomes were cyberbullying, poor sleep and poor family relationships. The study's authors recommended restricting smartphone and social media access for kids under 13, promoting digital literacy education and corporate accountability. "Ideally, children should not have a smartphone until age 14, and when they do get a smartphone, parents should take the time to discuss with their children how to interact on the Internet and explain the consequences of doing various things," Thiagarajan added. ABC News' Dr. Tara Narula also said on "Good Morning America" Monday that limiting kids' access to social media appears to be a key step in protecting children and their mental health outcomes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The longer we can push off allowing our kids to be on social media, we are learning, the better," Narula said. "I think lots of families are getting creative landlines . flip phones for kids [are] maybe an option so that they can have access to communicating without all the other things that come with smartphones." Social psychologist says kids shouldn't have smartphones before high school The study's findings come amid an effort led by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of "Anxious Generation," to limit kids' smartphone use due to the impact on their mental health. Haidt has proposed setting nationwide "norms" or guidelines, including not giving children a smartphone before high school, no social media before age 16 and establishing schools as phone-free zones. Pediatrician Dr. Natasha Burgert also recommended that parents demonstrate to children how to use smartphones responsibly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Children watch everything you do -- and that doesn't stop until they leave your house," Burgert told ABC News via email. "Connect authentically and meaningfully for a few minutes every day, and show your children that the humans we live with are more important and worthy of our attention than our phones." The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends families follow the 5 C's of media use, including teaching kids and teens how to be safe online, since content and advertisements may be targeting an older audience. Jimmy Kimmel Live guest host Alan Cumming didnt hold back on Donald Trump on Monday as he hit back at the president over his attacks against the transgender community. The actor in a jab seemingly aimed at Trump, whose administration has ordered federal agencies to bar trans workers from bathrooms matching their gender identity said theres no evidence that trans people are a threat to women. There is, however, ample evidence that the president of the United States publicly brags about barging into beauty pageant dressing rooms and grabbing women by their pussies. Wake up, America! he declared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cumming went on to dismiss right-wing claims that trans people are attacking cisgender people in public bathrooms. Why on earth would a rapist go to the bother of pretending to be trans in a country that actually treats rapists better than trans people? he asked. The actor went on to note that reports of anti-trans hate incidents have seen a massive rise over the past year. In Los Angeles Country, there was a 125% increase in reported anti-trans hate crimes in 2023. Another surprising statistic? Our sitting president is a million percent more likely to be on the Epstein list than any trans person, Cumming said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So lets not pretend that weve got our eye on the ball when it comes to sexual violence, OK, America? And how dare this president make random, unfounded accusations of sexual criminality against trans people when he was literally ordered to pay $83 million to a woman who accused him of sexual assault. He continued, Its the pot calling the kettle black after trying to grab its handle in the changing room of a T.J. Maxx. Earlier in the monologue, Cumming who is known for his portrayal of Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler in the 2003 X-Men sequel X2 argued that trans people are actual superheroes unlike fictional characters people see on screen. Like superheroes, evil billionaires want to get rid of trans people for no fucking reason whatsoever, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And just like superheroes, trans people are not new. Theyve been around forever and theyre not going anywhere, no matter how much this administration tries to make you fear them. Check out more from Cummings Monday monologue below. Related... Once a British socialite who lived a life of luxury, Ghislaine Maxwell today is confined in a U.S. prison after being convicted of helping financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. Now, three years after she was sentenced, a top U.S. Department of Justice official plans to personally interview Maxwell to find out if she has information about anyone who has committed crimes against Epstein's victims. It isn't clear what Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche might learn from the meeting. Maxwell has long claimed she is innocent and had no knowledge that Epstein, or anyone else, was sexually abusing teenagers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein killed himself while awaiting trial in 2019, but his case has generated endless attention and conspiracy theories because of his and Maxwells links to famous people, including royals, presidents and billionaires. President Donald Trump has suggested in the past there was a cover-up. Now his administration is dealing with the fallout after the Justice Department initially announced two weeks ago that it would not release any more evidence about the Epstein investigation. The department has since changed course, at Trump's urging. Who is Ghislaine Maxwell? She grew up as the daughter of the late British billionaire Robert Maxwell, a former member of Parliament whose publishing empire included the Daily Mirror, one of Britains biggest tabloid newspapers, and the book publisher Macmillan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a college student, she became close friends with Britain's Prince Andrew, who would later invite her to royal residences, including Windsor Castle. But the Maxwell family was shattered by scandal. After Robert Maxwell fell from his yacht and died in 1991, investigators accused him of embezzling huge sums of money from his companies' pension funds. Soon after her father's death, Ghislaine Maxwell was photographed at a memorial sitting next to Epstein, an American money manager. Maxwell dated Epstein but later also became his employee, taking on a variety of tasks, including hiring staff for his six homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How did Ghislaine Maxwell help Epstein? Part of Maxwell's household duties included hiring a steady stream of young people to give massages to Epstein. As far as Im concerned, everyone who came to his house was an adult professional person, she said in a deposition nearly a decade ago. But police and prosecutors said many of those masseuses were underage girls who were paid for sexual acts. Epstein was arrested in 2006 in Palm Beach, Florida, after multiple girls, including students from a local high school, spoke to police. But he ultimately pleaded guilty in 2008 to a single charge of procuring a person under 18 for prostitution and served 13 months in jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell wasn't charged until 2021. At her trial, four women testified that Maxwell groomed them as teenagers to participate in sexual acts with Epstein and sometimes participated in the abuse. Maxwell's lawyers argued that the womens recollections had been manipulated by lawyers pursuing civil lawsuits, pointing to inconsistencies in their testimony. A jury convicted Maxwell of sex trafficking, conspiracy and transportation of a minor for illegal sexual activity. Why do investigators want to talk to Maxwell now? The Justice Department's request to talk with Maxwell comes at a time when it is dealing with backlash from some of President Donald Trumps supporters, some of whom believe there has been a government cover-up to protect Epstein's rich and powerful friends from being implicated in his crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department asked a judge last week to unseal transcripts of the grand jury sessions that led to indictments against Epstein and Maxwell. The Justice Department said in a memo that it had not uncovered evidence to charge anyone else in connection with Epsteins abuse. But Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on social media that if Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say. He said he anticipated meeting with Maxwell in the coming days. Will she talk? It remains to be seen. One of her lawyers, David Oscar Markus, said Tuesday that they were in discussions with the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ghislaine will always testify truthfully, he said in the statement. Maxwell did not testify at her trial but gave two lengthy depositions years ago. She repeatedly said that one of Epstein's accusers, who claimed he had trafficked her to powerful men, including Prince Andrew, was a liar who fabricated her story. Where is Ghislaine Maxwell now? Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence and is currently at a low-security federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida. Her attorneys have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court after a lower court upheld her convictions last fall. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the Jeffrey Epstein case at https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Jeff Gianola, the longtime main anchor for KOIN 6 News, will retire later in 2025, he announced Monday. Gianola, who has been with KOIN 6 News since 1998, has been a daily news presence in Portland for 43 years. He covered all the major stories in the region, mostly from the anchor desk. But when he got out from behind the desk he was able to provide the insights only a skilled journalist can provide. There are seasons in life: KOIN 6 anchor Jeff Gianola to step away Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And he touched the lives of countless people, especially foster children who needed a home. His long-running series, Wednesdays Child, literally changed the lives of hundreds of kids who found a forever home, in large part because of the way he told a story. Most recently, he shared his journey out of silence. He was diagnosed with Menieres disease several years ago and began to go deaf. He found a way to be able to work around his hearing loss and rarely missed a day of work. But the hearing loss got worse, and in February 2025 he underwent a cochlear implant. Jeff Gianola sits on a park bench able to hear the birds chirping after his cochlear implant surgery, May 2025 (KOIN) Longtime KOIN 6 reporters and anchors Jeff Gianola and Ken Boddie as the Blues Brothers at the 2024 Waterfront Blues Festival, Jul. 6, 2024. (KOIN) Clark County Deputy Health Officer Dr. Steve Krager (left), Jeff Gianola (center) and Tri-County Health Officer Jennifer Vines (right) discuss the coronavirus, March 5, 2020. (KOIN) Mo Rocca sits down with Jeff Gianola in the KOIN 6 studios, November 15 2019. (KOIN) Jeff Gianola sits down with Lateea 28 years after she was featured as an 8-year-old Wednesdays Child looking for an adoptive home, Jan. 15, 2020. (KOIN) Jim Belushi joined Jeff Gianola and Jennifer Hoff at the Waterfront Blues Fest in downtown Portland, July 4, 2019 (KOIN) KOIN 6 News anchor Jeff Gianola talked with Stephen Colbert as he took over hosting The Late Show, September 3, 2015 (KOIN) Again, he was brave enough to share his first-hand story, not to shine a spotlight on himself but to show others battling this problem how it could be handled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though he admits to having mixed emotions, Jeff Gianola said his heart is full of gratitude. This was my decision. The staff and management at KOIN have always told me I had a job for life. But life is short and its time for the next chapter, he said. Jeff Gianola will anchor his last newscast at KOIN sometime in late November 2025. I love what I do. Quite frankly, I often say I was born to do this job. But there are seasons in life, and my long, beautiful summer is about to transition into my next season. Irreplaceable Tom Keeler, the Vice President & General Manager of KOIN TV, said Jeff Gianola is irreplaceable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeff is an Oregon institution who has earned the respect of Oregonians for his insightful story telling thats made a real impact on the lives of our residents for over 40 years. He broadcast the local news with the same talent and skills as a major network news anchor and viewers in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem DMA all benefitted from the trust Jeff was able to establish with the entire community, Keeler said. Jeff is an irreplaceable fixture in the region and will be greatly missed. Knowing Jeff, however, he will continue to serve our community in other ways for years to come. Jeff Gianola, July 25, 2019 (KOIN) KOIN 6 News Director Rich Kurz said he always knew this day would come but hoped to have more time working with him. Hes an amazing anchor and has a gift for understanding people, Kurz said. That ability to connect with anyone, from any walk of life, is part of what sets Jeff apart and what makes him an outstanding journalist. There are very few anchors like him and Im blessed to have had the chance to work with him for eight years. Think of any story from the last three decades in Oregon and Southwest Washington and Jeff was front and center in reporting it. Its impossible to look at the areas history and big stories without Jeff being a part of it. He always brought out the heart and soul of the story, the emotional connection that makes viewers notice. But its not just the news stories. He was a fantastic colleague, helping many journalists advance their careers through the years, and he demonstrated his commitment to making our community a better place through his Wednesdays Child segments that brought foster kids to their forever families, making a life-changing difference for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kurz said he and station management will spend some time thinking about the position and what we need to look for, but knows that Jeff Gianolas legacy makes this a highly sought after position. He expects journalists across the country to be interested as well as the strong group of anchors at KOIN who know the area and who will have a chance to increase their contributions. Starting in late summer or early fall, Jeff Gianola will look back at some of the biggest and most impactful stories hes covered at KOIN. I cant wait to see them, Kurz said. Stay with KOIN 6 News as we celebrate Jeff Gianolas legacy on broadcast and online with a look back at some of his most memorable storytelling. 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 KOIN.com. The Kremlin does not expect any breakthroughs from the next round of talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, stating that the Russian side intends to pursue its goals. Source: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by Russian media outlet Interfax Quote from Peskov: "There is absolutely no reason to expect any miraculous breakthroughs, and such breakthroughs are hardly possible in the current situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We intend to pursue our interests, to secure our interests and to achieve the objectives we set from the very beginning." Details: Responding to a comment from a Russian journalist that the previous two rounds of talks had "not been sufficiently productive", Peskov said that "the topic of Ukrainian settlement is so complex that reaching agreements on [prisoner] exchanges and the return of bodies of the deceased is already a form of progress." Background: Ukraine has proposed to Russia that a new round of talks be held this week. Independent Turkce reported on Monday, citing sources, that Russian and Ukrainian delegations may meet this week in Istanbul on 23 or 24 July. The Kremlin said 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". President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed that a delegation be formed for negotiations with the Russian side. The delegation will be headed by Rustem Umierov, National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) Secretary. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! CBA is advertising jobs in India that it made redundant in Australia just weeks ago. Photo: Shutterstock With Australian unemployment surging, the Finance Sector Union (FSU) is furious over revelations the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) is hiring over 100 Indian software engineers to replace hundreds of Australian workers it fired just months ago. The banks CBA India subsidiary is currently recruiting technical staff, the FSU noted, including Staff Data Engineer, Senior Software Engineer, Software Engineer, Staff Software Engineer, Engineering Manager, Software Engineer, and Senior Data Engineer. Some 110 of these are identical to jobs CBA cut this year including 304 in June, 163 in May, and 164 in March in what the FSU called an outrageous and unjustified move it said CBA made in piecemeal announcements [so it] wouldnt be widely noticed. The CBA Enterprise Agreements definition of redundancy, it says, encompasses roles no longer required by [CBA] to be done by anyone, required to be done at a different location which is not within a reasonable commuting difference, [or] restructured. For them to make workers redundant in Australia is to make a claim that those positions are no longer required, FSU national secretary Julia Angrisano said, adding that to then hire Indian staff for the same roles is the very definition of bad faith. By hiring for the same job, at their own Indian subsidiary, theyre showing themselves to have breached the Enterprise Agreement and essentially lied to their workers, she said, noting that FSU will take CBA to the Fair Work Commission over the issue. Relocating tech roles to India CBA has long hinted at needing to look overseas for skills, with former human resources group executive Sian Lewis telling the 2021 Gartner IT Symposium that there simply isnt enough tech talent in Australia to meet demand across all organisations. That was two years before CBA slashed 251 Australian IT, business banking and retail banking roles and five years after the bank exited the Indian market after failing to build a profitable presence there. Now on the back of a surge in Australian-Indian relations that includes a push to more readily recognise and share skilled ICT staff CBA is again rebuilding its Indian headcount, nearly doubling staff in the country from 2,854 in 2022 to 5,630 last year. During the same time, FSU noted, CBA Australia has laid off 2,581 local workers leading Angrisano to label the newly discovered deception a shameful act from Australias richest company. CBA India is hiring for dozens of roles that it declared redundant in Australia just weeks ago. Image: Supplied An Information Age search of the CBA India Jobs site showed 140 roles are currently being advertised with roles including those mentioned by FSU and that jobs were continuing to be posted even after FSU announced its findings. Other tech roles on offer include Staff Software Engineer Gen AI, a Senior Finance Analyst in the CBAs Technology Finance Center of Excellence (CoE), Senior Manager of the Fraud & Scams CoE, Cyber Defence Analyst, Cyber Incident Responder, and more. One Software Engineer role at the Bangalore-Manyata Tech Park promises a key role in delivering key capabilities like building the APIs to integrate CBA systems. [and] regular opportunities to work on some of the finest IT systems in Australia. We have known for years that big banks have had a preference for work to be performed offshore, Angrisano said, adding that outraged FSU members now have the proof that this is happening in real time. Restructuring at the worst time CBA isnt the only bank restructuring its tech workforce, with Westpac cutting local jobs and NAB also adding thousands of Indian jobs in recent years as it shifts away from long-established offshoring arrangements and pivots to bolster its capabilities in AI. Yet the banks' pushback against the FSU CBA said there is no basis to the unions allegations and that it had been transparent in communicating workforce shifts with our technology team will ring hollow for hundreds of Australian workers let go in a time of surging local unemployment. Newly released ABS figures showed that Australian unemployment grew from 4.1 per cent in May to 4.3 per cent in June, with youth employment surging but full-time employment dropping by 38,000 overall as underemployment and part-time work grew. With AI variously blamed and exonerated for jobs, and many companies rehiring staff after going all-in on AI too quickly, CBAs duplicity amplifies the uncertainty of a tough economic climate and an IT market that recently shrank for the first time in 17 years. CBA has been unrepentant about hiring in India, with CEO Matt Comyn telling the companys last AGM that in some areas there is just not sufficient capability in Australia. We are a better bank because weve been able to hire more skilled [financial crime tool] expertise in India, he said while lauding its university partnerships as extremely important in building specialist capabilities in security, AI and data science. That was just weeks after CBA announced a five-year strategic AI partnership with the University of Adelaide, and two years after a similar deal with Griffith University as the bank worked to increase its domestic roster of financial crime specialists. We see this as an opportunity [and] as a market locally where there are some specific skills that will be developed, Comyn said just months before slashing local jobs and its been an opportunity for us to bring in some new talent in those areas to CBA. To continue to attract, retain and develop outstanding people, he added, we must provide interesting and challenging roles and contemporary training to support their development, as well as competitive remuneration. The FSU isnt buying it: We do not believe [these] are in fact genuine redundancies, Angrisano said. These jobs are not required to be done in India; theyre just moving the work there to take advantage of cheaper labour and further line their own pockets. KANSAS (KSNT) The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) shared its guidelines for the Child Nutrition Program that provides reduced and free meals to many students in the Sunflower State. The KSDE announced that all Kansas school districts and many private schools are participating in the National Lunch and/or School Breakfast Program on Tuesday, July 22. The benefits are available from schools and can be submitted at any time during the year. The 2025-2026 Income Eligibility Guidelines can be found below: Household Size Free Benefits Reduced Price Benefits 1 $20,345 $28,953 2 $27,495 $39,128 3 $34,645 $49,303 4 $41,795 $59,478 5 $48,945 $69,653 6 $56,095 $79,828 7 $63,245 $90,003 8 $70,395 $100,178 For each additional household member, add: +$7,150 +$10,175 People applying for the Child Nutrition Program benefits must include complete household information, income details, Social Security information and a signature from an adult of the household. Families receiving food assistance or Temporary Assistance to Families (TAF) and foster children under state custody get automatic eligibility for free meals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas audit uncovers free student lunch misallocations Children under Head Start, Migrant Education or who are homeless or runaway may also talk to their school district about qualifying. Students who are enrolled in the special supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) or who receive certain Medicaid benefits may be eligible for reduced-price meals or free benefits. Parents who are unsatisfied with eligibility rulings can appeal the request orally or in writing for a hearing on the decision. To appeal the rulings, parents must contact the school district or private school for information on the process. 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. 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 KSNT 27 News. HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) Kentucky is getting national recognition for its efforts to combat human trafficking. Secretary of State Michael Adams joined a panel at a day-long forum hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC. He spoke about his offices prevention effort that started about six months ago. Back in January, Adams launched the Kentucky Businesses Against Human Trafficking initiative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He says the goal is to involve businesses, raise awareness and connect victims with help. In six months, the program has partnered with over 1,000 businesses to fight human trafficking. Businesses can learn more about getting involved on the Secretary of States 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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a veteran of the Russo-Ukrainian war, has rallied Kyiv residents to unite in protest this Tuesday evening following the adoption of a contentious law stripping the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO) of their independence. Source: Koziatynskyi on Facebook, a correspondent of Ukrainska Pravda Details: The veteran proposed gathering at 20:00 in the square near the Ivan Franko Theatre, which he deems "the closest viable spot to the Presidents Office". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Koziatynskyi: "As you know, today the Verkhovna Rada voted for changes that will obliterate the independence of the anti-corruption system. MPs have decided that NABU and SAPO should bow to the Prosecutor General. So grab the cardboard from some boxes and make placards that express what you think about this assault on the anti-corruption framework. Petitions have already been started demanding that the president veto this travesty, but he could sign this bill in the time it takes for those petitions to gain traction. Time is not on our side. We must take to the streets tonight and urge Zelenskyy to prevent a return to the dark days of Yanukovych. See you this evening!" Koziatynskyi also urged political parties and figures to refrain from endorsing this action. Updated: Later, an Ukrainska Pravda correspondent reported that several hundred Kyivans had gathered on the square for a peaceful protest. Police officers and dialogue police are also present. Protest in Kyiv Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photo: Volodymyr Tunik-Fryz, UP . - - pic.twitter.com/wrFnfcV4wx (@ukrpravda_news) July 22, 2025 " ". - - pic.twitter.com/Lt4FjErwnG (@ukrpravda_news) July 22, 2025 Photos from the Lviv demonstration on Svobody Avenue have also been shared on social media. Photo: olena dub facebook Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photo: UP Photo: OLENA DUB FACEBOOK Background: On 22 July, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) voted for draft law No. 12414 at second reading, according to which the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO) which are currently independent will become dependent on decisions made by the prosecutor general. Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk swiftly approved the law. The heads of NABU and SAPO have implored President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to sign draft law No. 12414, which they warn would effectively obliterate the independence of these institutions. The ambassadors of the G7 countries have also expressed concerns over the SSUs actions against NABU. The European Union has voiced deep concern over Ukraines recent moves against NABU and SAPO. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Labours plans to build hundreds of thousands of homes in new towns across the country risk stifling local democracy and eroding public trust, experts have warned. Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, has signalled that each new town is likely be governed by a development corporation to ensure projects progress beyond the current parliament. Development corporations are organisations created by the Government or regional officials to oversee large-scale developments, often regeneration of former industrial areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They can be led by ministers, metro mayors or local authority leaders. Boards are often appointed by central government or other authorities, rather than being elected by the people who are potentially most affected by their decisions. Matthew Pennycook said ministers wouldnt hesitate to take forward sites deemed to be in the national interest - House of Commons Mr Pennycooks comments have raised concerns that people living near the sites of proposed new towns will not have a say in the decision-making process. Miriam Levin, a director at Demos, a cross-party think tank, said the proposals risked a democratic deficit where decision-makers are not directly accountable to the local population, and arent subject to the same level of scrutiny that residents expect from their local authority. While new towns are much needed to address the nations chronic housing shortage, she warned that development corporations could pose a risk to democratic accountability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Levin said: Existing communities and newcomers need to be involved in the shaping of new towns from the outset. The risk of citizens voices being marginalised, is [where] communities feel like developments are being imposed on them. This reinforces the doom-loop of loss of trust in politics and political institutions. The National Association of Local Councils (Nalc) said its members must be at the heart of [the] process and said there should be local democratic representation from the outset. Mr Pennycook said during a parliamentary session last week he very strongly felt there must be a role for local voice in whatever delivery mechanism comes forward and said ministers want as much local buy-in as possible. However, he told the built environment committee that ministers wouldnt hesitate to take forward sites deemed to be in the national interest, even if they face a major backlash from local communities. Citizen participation His comments follow a vow from Sir Keir Starmer to [take] on the Nimbys to boost economic growth and prevent them from blocking major infrastructure projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Levin said: The new towns programme offers a huge opportunity to enable radical forms of citizen engagement, co-design, community and self-build models, and long-term stewardship in the creation of new places. Development corporation models should be deployed to enable citizen participation, not to stifle it. Around a dozen areas will be earmarked for the first wave of new towns and major urban extensions in a taskforce report, set to be sent to ministers within the next few weeks. Some are expected to be built on greenfield sites. A spokesman for the Nalc said: Where parish and town councils already exist, they must be fully involved in shaping and delivering the new town, and their role must be respected and empowered throughout the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If delivered in a fair and balanced way, with full consultation and engagement with communities, new towns can help meet housing targets and create sustainable, thriving places. Ultimately, successful new towns will be those built with communities, not just for them. A spokesman for the Local Government Association said: We are facing a housing crisis, and councils have a key role to play in addressing this challenge. It is vital that any governance model for new towns is underpinned by strong local democratic accountability, ensuring that councils and their communities have a central and meaningful voice in shaping local areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New towns that were built by development corporations include Milton Keynes, chaired by Lord Campbell of Eskan. Sir Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, is pressing on with plans to create a mayoral development corporation to pedestrianise Oxford Street, a decision that has prompted a backlash from Labour-run Westminster City Council as it torpedoed two years of work on its own 90m project to improve the area. 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. Labour voters would back plans to stop ultra-wealthy individuals fleeing the UK after Rachel Reevess tax raid prompted thousands to leave. On Tuesday, research published by think tank Onward found that nearly three-quarters (69pc) of Labour supporters would back the Government if it exempted the richest from some taxes in return for them paying a small lump sum in cash and investing in the UK economy. Under Onwards proposal, wealthy residents could be exempt from taxes on foreign income, capital gains, and inheritance for 15 years in return for paying a flat 300,000 fee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They would also have to invest 3m into one of the Governments industrial priorities, such as life sciences, clean energy and financial services, to qualify for the tax break. Sir Simon Clarke, the director of Onward, said: It is crazy for us to chase wealthy people out of this country when they could be both paying tax and making a hugely important wider economic contribution here. The proposal comes as Ms Reeves faces mounting pressure from Labour backbenchers and union backers to make the rich pay more. Ms Reeves has already increased taxes since coming to power last year. These include abolishing the non-dom status and tightening inheritance tax rules, along with tax rises on business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However Labour backbench MPs have increasingly called for a wealth tax from the Chancellor to fix Britains finances. Lord Kinnock, the former Labour leader, said recently that the public was fed up with the richest going unscathed. He said imposing a 2pc tax on asset values above 10m would deliver 10bn to 11bn for the Treasury. However, Lord Mendelsohn, Labours former business spokesman, said: A small group of wealthy individuals pay a significant proportion of the tax we rely upon. I do not agree with some colleagues that we should wave goodbye to the wealthy. Many wealthy figures have already left Britain, including Goldman Sachs most senior UK banker Richard Gnodde, Aston Villa co-owner Nassef Sawiris and Charlie Mullins, the founder of Pimlico Plumbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Henley & Partners, an advisory firm, expects the UK to lose more millionaires than any other country this year as high taxes drive away the wealthy. According to its research, 16,500 millionaires will leave the UK in 2025 - up from 10,800 last year. Andrew Griffith, shadow business secretary, said: There is nothing good about wealth creators fleeing the country leaving the rest of us to pay higher taxes or have worse public services. Last night, a Treasury spokesman said: The UK remains highly attractive. Our main capital gains tax rate is lower than any other G7 European country and our new residence-based regime is simpler and more attractive than the previous one, whilst it also addresses tax system unfairness so every long-term resident pays their taxes here. 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. LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) In Lafayette today, community members honored the legacy of Congressman John Lewis, who is remembered for his civil rights activism and fight for social justice. Marking the 5th anniversary of Lewiss passing on July 17, Good Trouble 337, along with other organizations, participated in a nationwide day of peace, a nonviolent protest to fight attacks on civil and human rights. People gathered with signs to protest on the corner of West University and Cameron Street, inspired by John Lewis call to make good trouble, necessary trouble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Good Trouble 337, Indivisible Acadiana, and Voice of the Experienced (VOTE) united to make their voices heard, demanding an end to what they say is an authoritarian attack on the right to vote, freedom of speech and press, and efforts to criminalize communities. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Matthew Issak, one of the organizers of the protest, said that the protest is not only to bring awareness to the issues surrounding civil and human rights being attacked, but also to honor the legacy of Congressman John Lewis. Today, as part of an event thats been arranged to commemorate the passing of John Lewis, who was a congressman in Georgia, said Issak. He was important in the civil rights era, and he fought really for voting rights and an end to segregation. Were commemorating the 5th anniversary of his passing because were still fighting those battles today. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. A Lake County man is facing charges for allegedly abusing a 77-year-old woman staying at a group home with him in Umatilla. Deputies arrested Pedro Custodio on July 12, after the victim and a witness came forward to report him. According to the probable cause affidavit, Custodio became angry with the woman for talking excessively, grabbed her, and threw her to the ground, causing a bruise. The victim stated that this was not the first instance of abuse, recounting a previous occasion where Custodio yelled at her and pushed her for moving too slowly while showering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A witness corroborated the victims account, stating she had observed Custodio allegedly abusing the woman on several occasions. Neighbor Kandice Cunningham expressed her lack of surprise at the arrest, citing complaints about Custodios treatment of residents in the group home. Custodio has a long criminal history in Lake County, with at least four previous mug shots related to charges similar to the current allegations. His arrest has raised concerns among neighbors, who have reported hearing arguments and other disturbances at the group home. The Lake County Sheriffs Office is actively investigating the case, including the possibility of other victims at the group home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Stephanie Earley stated that investigators are working to ensure Custodio faces appropriate charges and to determine if other residents have been affected. Custodio is also facing a violation of probation charge stemming from a 2022 incident where he allegedly threw a box cutter at a man. As the investigation continues, the community remains vigilant, hoping for justice and safety for the residents of the group home. T Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. A Lake County father was arrested Sunday, accused of child neglect and negligence after police say his 5-year-old son shot himself in the head with his gun last month. Dexter Demond Neal, 49, of Eustis, turned himself into law enforcement over the weekend, police records show. The boy, shot on June 29, survived and is undergoing rehabilitation, said Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri. A Eustis Police Department spokesperson said the boy is still in the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers said Neal was remorseful during interviews. For one, one, one decision that unconsciously I did and whatever the consequence is, thats what it is, he told them, according to the probable cause affidavit. I dont care, I dont care, I dont care. I just want him to be okay. Capri previously told the Orlando Sentinel that it appeared the son got a hold of the weapon and was attempting to play with it when he shot himself in the forehead. Eustis police responded to the home around 9 a.m. after the boys sister called 911, Capri said. The affidavit says Neal told police he was sleeping in bed with the son that morning and placed one of several guns he owns underneath the pillow. He left the bedroom at one point, and the son shot himself while he was gone. He said he usually stores his guns out of reach of children. Two neighbors, a flight trauma nurse and a police officer, tended to the injured child before first responders arrived. The boy was airlifted to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and underwent surgery. Florida law says any person who knows or reasonably should know a minor under 16 can likely access their firearms and doesnt properly secure them can be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor if the firearm comes into the possession of a minor who then uses it in a careless manner. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Updates on boat ramps, volunteer opportunities and progress in reopening Government Wash are among the topics for the next Lake Mead community meeting. The virtual meeting is scheduled at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21. The public is invited to participate. For an invitation to join on Microsoft Teams, send an email in advance to lake_public_affairs@nps.gov. The full agenda for the meeting: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Superintendents opening Hemenway Harbor boat ramp extension More to Mead highlights Gateway Community feedback Love Lake Mead Days and fall volunteer opportunities Government Wash reopening progress Superintendents update Your input helps shape the future of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and we look forward to your participation, a Facebook post announcing the meeting 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 KLAS. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A Lake Milton man was sentenced Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to time served after pleading guilty in May to a chase last July. Devlin Schneider, 19, received the sentence from Judge John Durkin after pleading guilty May 6 to charges of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony and obstructing official business, a first-degree misdemeanor. The attorneys in the case recommended a sentence of one year, and that sentence was adopted by Judge Durkin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schneider has been in the county jail awaiting the outcome of his case since July 23, 2024. He will be released following a hearing Friday in juvenile court on a pending probation violation. Schneider was charged in this case after a July 2024 arrest by Milton Township police. Reports said Schneider was passed out inside a car in the parking lot of a Milton Avenue bar. An officer was speaking to him when he put the car in gear and drove away. He was caught a short time later. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Jul. 21The Lake Spokane fire continued to burn in Stevens County, growing to r 2,331 acres as of Monday. Firefighters estimate it is 1% contained. The fire started around 1:15 p.m. Saturday near the Lake Spokane Campground outside of Nine Mile Falls. Though the exact cause remains under investigation, it is human caused , according to an update released by Northeast Washington Fire Information. Witnesses in Riverside State Park Saturday heard intermittent shooting between noon and 3 p.m. There were different shot patterns, indicating different kinds of firearms. Around 2:30 p.m. there was the sound of semiautomatic gun fire followed by large pops that sounded like explosive material. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initial smoke had a yellow hue, followed by dark gray plumes. Cecile Grace Charles, a homeowner who lives in the area, and Malika Baggar, an attendant at a Mobile 1 gas station near the fire, both said they heard stories from multiple people about gunshots followed by a large explosion. The fire was calmer on Monday as temperatures hovered in the low 70s with traces of rain. Flames spread toward the north and northeast, said Isabelle Hoygaard, a public information officer with the Washington Department of Natural Resources. Cooler temperatures and the possibility of light rain Tuesday could slow the fire's progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least one primary residential structure was lost during the initial spread of the fire, and a handful of structures are damaged, Hoygaard said. The official count of structures lost to the fire is not available yet. There were about 200 personnel involved in fighting efforts, with more scheduled to arrive this week. Fire operations are focused on slowing forward progression of the fire. Crews on the ground will work on structure protection and air support will handle hot spots. Level 2 and 3 evacuations remain in effect. The Red Cross set up an evacuation shelter for displaced residents at Lakeside High School. On Monday evening the DNR said crews are monitoring the fire as it burns to the edge of state Highway 291. Bonny Matejowsky'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. Credit: Good Morning Britain Israel will face further sanctions from the UK if it fails to agree a ceasefire in Gaza, David Lammy said. Weve announced a raft of sanctions over the last few months, the Foreign Secretary told ITVs Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, when asked what plans he had if Israel continued the war. He said:There will be more, clearly, and we keep all of those options under consideration if we do not see a change in behaviour and if the suffering doesnt come to an end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its important that we continue to work with international partners if we are to have the maximum result. It comes after Israel rejected criticism of its war in Gaza from twenty-eight countries including the UK, France and Canada on Monday. Israel dismissed the condemnation as disconnected from reality and accused the nations of failing to recognise Hamas role and responsibility for the situation. Appalled, sickened On Monday, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli PM, told the Full Send Podcast that it was completely false that Israel was killing babies and starving people. When asked by Sky News for his personal reaction to the situation unfolding in Gaza, Mr Lammy told BBC Breakfast: I feel the same as the British public: appalled, sickened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My responsibility as Foreign Secretary is to make sure that the British government is not complicit in war crimes. Mr Lammy said that the UK had suspended sales of arms that could be used in Gaza last September. He added: These are not words that are usually used by a Foreign Secretary who is attempting to be diplomatic, but when you see innocent children holding out their hand for food, and you see them shot and killed in the way that we have seen in the last few days, of course Britain must call it out. Whether Israel has committed war crimes is for the courts to decide but there is a real risk of breach of international humanitarian law, Lammy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His comments came after Israel launched a new offensive into southern and eastern districts of Deir al-Balah for the first time, an area where the IDF suspects hostages may be held. Deir al-Balah is where the WHOs staff residence was attacked three times in air strikes by the IDF, causing another fire and significant damage. The Israeli military also strip-searched and detained WHO staff and badly damaged a critical warehouse of supplies, the UN agency said. 01:01 PM BST Todays live blog has ended Todays live blog has ended. Heres a round-up of the main events: David Lammy warned that Israel will face further sanctions from the UK if it fails to reach a ceasefire in Gaza Lammy said he feels appalled and sickened by Israels actions in Gaza The Israeli military strip-searched and detained WHO staff in Gaza and badly damaged a critical warehouse of supplies The WHOs staff residence was also attacked three times in air strikes by the IDF France urged Israel to give free and independent press access to Gaza international media have been barred from Gaza over the last two years The UN said its staff, doctors and humanitarian workers are fainting on duty due to hunger and exhaustion Netanyahu appeared on the Full Send Podcast, a YouTube channel known for its prank videos, and claimed that it is completely false that Israel is killing babies and starving people 12:24 PM BST Israeli troops handcuffed, stripped, and interrogated WHO aid workers The Israeli military strip-searched and detained WHO staff in Gaza and badly damaged a critical warehouse of supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WHOs staff residence was also attacked three times in air strikes by the IDF, causing another fire and significant damage, the agencys statement said. The organisation warned the incidents would cripple efforts to sustain a collapsing health system in a region where two million people are in desperate need of humanitarian aid, including food and medicine. The incident took place in Deir al-Balah, an area in central Gaza which is packed with displaced Palestinians after 21 months of war. It has also become a central hub for humanitarian efforts in the devastated territory, where aid workers have warned of potential mass deaths from hunger in the coming days. Gaza officials said 18 starved to death within 24 hours between Sunday and Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Continue reading the full story here. 12:06 PM BST IDF defends gunfire in Deir al-Balah The Israeli military has defended its gunfire in Deir al-Balah a territory where Israel had previously not yet conducted major ground operations. In a statement, the IDF says troops identified shots being fired at them and responded toward the area from which the shooting originated. Tanks entered the region this week in Israels new ground offensive. Israel also highlighted that on Sunday it ordered the immediate evacuation of six city blocks: prior to the start of IDF activities in the area, the IDF warned the civilian population to evacuate for their safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At times during field questioning, it is necessary for individuals suspected of terrorist activity to temporarily remove parts of their clothing in order to ensure that they are not concealing explosive belts or other weapons. Deir al-Balah is an area where the IDF suspects hostages may be held. 11:52 AM BST Stray bullets constant threat in field hospital, says Red Cross physiotherapist Even inside the field hospital, stray bullets were a constant threat, a Red Cross physiotherapist from Ireland, who was deployed to Gaza for six weeks, has said. Our programme manager would shout down the radio, warning everyone to take cover, Rieke Hayes said. Theres no obvious frontline the sounds and sights and smells of war are all around you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One patient told me: As soon as Im better, Ill go queue again. One time, I got a box of food that lasted five days. Another time, I got a bullet in the arm. She added: No one should have to risk their life to collect aid. Hi, I'm Rieke, a physio from Ireland. I just finished a 6-week deployment to Gaza with the @ICRC. For the next 3 days, I'll post about my experiences at the Red Cross Field Hospital. Me & my youngest patient: Malek, a 6-month-old baby who was injured in an explosion. pic.twitter.com/4meooBj8Pe ICRC UK & Ireland (@ICRC_uk) July 2, 2025 11:28 AM BST France urges Israel to give free and independent press access to Gaza Vivian Song reporting from Paris France is calling for the free and independent press to be given access to the Gaza Strip and condemned Israels latest offensive. Jean-Noel Barrot, the French foreign minister, made the comments on Tuesday, after the Agence France-Presse Society of Journalists (SDJ) released a statement warning that their journalists in Gaza face death by starvation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am asking that the free and independent press be allowed access to Gaza to show what is happening there and to bear witness to it, Mr Barrot told French radio station France Inter. International media have been barred from Gaza over the last two years. On Monday, the Society of Journalists called the situation untenable and that living conditions have deteriorated dramatically for their correspondents, who include a journalist, three photographers and six videographers. Since AFP was founded in August 1944, weve lost journalists in conflicts, weve had wounded and prisoners in our ranks, but none of us has any memory of seeing a collaborator starve to death, the SDJ wrote on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We refuse to see them die. Mr Barrot said that France is working to get the journalists out of Gaza in the coming weeks. There is no longer any justification for the Israeli armys military operations in Gaza. This is an offensive that will worsen an already catastrophic situation and cause further forced displacement of populations, which we condemn in the strongest possible terms , he said. 11:03 AM BST Food situation worst its ever been, says Save the Children The food situation is absolutely desperate and the worst its ever been, Save the Childrens humanitarian director Rachael Cummings has said. The markets are empty, she told Sky News. People may even have cash in their pockets yet they cannot buy bread [or] vegetables. One of my colleagues said to me yesterday, We are all walking together towards death. And this is the situation now for people in Gaza, she said. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed in recent weeks while trying to collect food from aid convoys. 10:34 AM BST Israeli settlers torch vehicles and graffiti revenge Israeli settlers have set fire to cars in the West Bank and spray painted them with graffiti of the word revenge in Hebrew. The attack took place in the village of Beitin, near Ramallah. pic.twitter.com/EPuBcU88y8 (@PalinfoAr) July 22, 2025 10:21 AM BST UN staff fainting from hunger in Gaza Staff members, doctors and humanitarian workers are fainting on duty due to hunger and exhaustion, the head of the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency has said. Caretakers, including UNRWA colleagues in Gaza, are also in need of care now, doctors, nurses, journalists, humanitarians, among them, UNRWA staff are hungry, UNRWA commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said at a press briefing in Geneva. Many are now fainting due to hunger and exhaustion while performing their duties. Lazzarini also described Gaza as hell on earth where nowhere is safe. 10:06 AM BST UN official calls Gaza starvation a man-made famine A UN official has said starvation in Gaza is a man-made famine. What we are seeing now in Gaza is the most horrific stage of Israels starvation campaign, Michael Fakhri, the UNs special rapporteur on the right to food, told Al Jazeera. From a legal perspective, what we do know undoubtedly is that this is a war crime. 09:48 AM BST IDF reservist killed in Gaza fighting An IDF reservist soldier has been killed during fighting in the southern Gaza strip. Vladimir Loza, 36, died when a blast from a planted explosive device caused a building to collapse. At leasr 865 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the start of the war. Reserve soldier Vladimir Luza was killed in an explosive device detonation in Rafah 09:21 AM BST Trump caught off guard by Israeli strike on Catholic church in Gaza Donald Trump was caught off guard by Israeli strikes on Gaza and Syria last week, the White House has admitted, underscoring the increasingly tense relationship between the US president and Benjamin Netanyahus government. An Israeli strike last Thursday on the only Catholic Church in Gaza angered Mr Trump, who quickly phoned Mr Netanyahu to ensure the Israeli prime minister released a statement calling the strike a mistake. Mr Trump was similarly surprised by Israel airstrikes targeting government buildings in the Syrian capital Damascus on July 16 at a moment his administration is working to rebuild the war-torn nation. Trump was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and also the bombing of a Catholic church in Gaza, Ms Leavitt told reporters at a press briefing on Monday night. In both accounts, the president quickly called the prime minister to rectify those situations, she continued. The president had hoped Mr Netanyahus four-day visit to Washington earlier this month would finally yield progress on ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, repeatedly saying a deal could be expected that week. However, talks continue to stall and on Monday Israel launched a new ground operation in the centre of the war-ravaged Strip, targeting the last remaining area that had not suffered significant damage. Meanwhile, dozens more Gazans were reportedly killed by Israeli troops while seeking aid. The presidents message on this conflict weve seen in the Middle East taking place for far too long, that has become quite brutal, especially in recent days, youve seen reports of more people dying. I think the president never likes to see that. He wants the killing to end, Ms Leavitt said. An Israeli strike on Gazas only Catholic church injured several people on July 17, including the parish priest, as well as causing damage to the building - OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP 09:11 AM BST Lammy sickened by Israels actions in Gaza David Lammy has said he is appalled and sickened by Israels actions in Gaza. When asked for his personal reaction to the situation unfolding in Gaza, he told BBC Breakfast: I feel the same as the British public: appalled, sickened. I described what I saw, yesterday in Parliament, as grotesque. These are not words that are usually used by a Foreign Secretary who is attempting to be diplomatic, but when you see innocent children holding out their hand for food, and you see them shot and killed in the way that we have seen in the last few days, of course Britain must call it out. We will continue to pressure, we will continue to act, we will continue to urge this Israeli government to listen to 83% of its public who are urging them now to move to a ceasefire so those hostages can come out. 09:01 AM BST Netanyahu: completely false that Israel is killing babies and starving people Netanyahu has claimed that it is completely false that Israel is killing babies and starving people. The reason we have civilian casualties in Gaza is that Hamas were basically horrible murderers and killers, committed to our destruction and your destruction, he said. The Israeli PM appeared on the Full Send Podcast yesterday, a Canadian-American YouTube channel known for its prank videos, hosted by the Nelk Boys. They say that the great Satan is America, he told them. Israel is the small Satan standing in the way of conquering the Middle East, and then theyll move on to you. We tell the civilians: please leave. But Hamas wants them to stay because they want civilian casualties so they can show it on CNN. 08:37 AM BST Clear risk of war crimes by Israel, says Lammy Whether Israel has committed war crimes is for the courts to decide but there is a real risk of breach of international humanitarian law, David Lammy has said. My responsibility as Foreign Secretary is to make sure that the British government is not complicit, he said on Sky News. And for that reason we suspended arms sales that could be used in Gaza. In the end it will be for the international criminal court and the international court of justice to make a determination on the substance of what is being said. 08:31 AM BST Israel accused of strip-searching aid workers The Israeli military strip-searched and detained World Health Organisation (WHO) workers in Gaza, the UN organisation has claimed. Three Israeli Defence Forces air strikes reportedly targeted a warehouse and the homes of WHO staff and their families on Monday, resulting in a fire and extensive damage. A spokesman for the WHO said women and children were forced to evacuate on foot towardan active conflict. During the attacks on Deir al-Balah, male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and screened at gunpoint, the spokesperson said. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director General, said the strikes would further hinder attempts to support hospitals and doctors in the war-torn region at a time they are already critically short on medicines, fuel, and equipment. Israel launched a new offensive into southern and eastern districts of Deir al-Balah for the first time on Monday, an area the IDF suspects hostages may be held. 08:17 AM BST Pictured: flames rise from apartment hit by Israeli strike Smoke and flames rise from a residential building hit by an Israeli strike - Khamis Al-Rifi/REUTERS 08:10 AM BST Intolerable attacks on WHO are crippling healthcare, says Streeting Wes Streeting has said that the intolerable attacks against the WHO are further crippling the health response in Gaza. Medics working in conditions that could scarcely be imagined in our worst nightmares must not be targets, the Health Secretary wrote on X. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law. 07:55 AM BST Lammy says UKs actions not just symbolic David Lammy has said the UKs efforts to stop the war in Gaza are not purely symbolic. The UKs arms licences accounted for just 1 per cent of Israels defence before the UK government halted exports last September, he told Sky News. The Foreign Secretary clarified that the UK does not supply arms to the IDF that could be used in Gaza with the exception of the F-35 global pool, which is a shared inventory of spare parts for F-35 fighter jets. 07:37 AM BST WHO director says ceasefire in Gaza overdue Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director General, said the strikes would further hinder attempts to support hospitals and doctors in the war-torn region at a time they are already critically short on medicines, fuel, and equipment. As the lead agency for health, compromising WHOs operations is crippling the entire health response in Gaza, he said. Dr Tedros said on X that a ceasefire in Gaza is not just necessary, it is overdue. 07:31 AM BST Israel launches new offensive where hostages may be held Israel has launched an offensive into southern and eastern districts of Deir al-Balah for the first time on Monday, an area the IDF suspects hostages may be held. Yesterday, the military ordered Palestinians to evacuate Deir al-Balah an area where many of the displaced had sought refuge as it is one of the few territories where Israel had not yet conducted major ground operations. 07:23 AM BST Israeli military intercepts missile from Houthi rebels The Israeli army has intercepted a missile from Yemen, following the IDFs air strikes on a port held by Houthi rebels. Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF, the Israeli military reported. The Iran-backed rebels have come under a series of Israeli strikes since they began to launch strikes on Israel in solidarity with Palestinians. 07:13 AM BST Israel dismisses criticism from UK over Gaza war Israel has rejected yesterdays criticism of its war in Gaza from twenty-eight countries including the UK and Canada. Suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths, read the joint statement, also signed by the EU commissioner for equality. Israel has dismissed the condemnation as disconnected from reality and accused them of failing to recognise Hamas role and responsibility for the situation. 06:56 AM BST WHO statement in full The WHO has released a statement condemning the attacks on a building that was housing its staff and their families in Gaza, and the destruction of its main warehouse. The Israeli military entered its premises and strip searched the staff, the WHO has claimed. WHO operations compromised following attacks on warehouse and facility sheltering staff and families in Gaza WHO condemns in the strongest terms the attacks on a building housing WHO staff in Deir al Balah, in the middle area of Gaza, the mistreatment of those sheltering there, pic.twitter.com/CWe68tNiX9 World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 21, 2025 06:51 AM BST Welcome to our live coverage Good morning. Welcome to our live coverage of the war in Gaza. Well bring you the latest news and analysis throughout the day. 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. LANCASTER, Pa. (WHTM) Lancasters newest, and largest, Rubiks Cubes have more than one way to solve them. The three-foot by three-foot cubes each have an original poem on its face. People can move the cubes to rearrange the words and create unique poems. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now ICYMI: Top 5 Stories of the Week You see a Rubiks Cube this big, like you want to play with it, and then while youre playing with it, youre noticing that it says actual words on it, said Thunda Khatt, the artist and poet behind the works. So, youre not just trying to solve for color. You can also solve for the original poem. So, each face of the cube has an original poem written in its color. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Titled Poetry Cubed, Khatt was inspired by the ancient Chinese palindrome poem Xuan Ji Tu by Su Hui, according to the City of Lancaster Office of Public Art & Urban Design. That poem consists of a 29 by 29 grid of characters, which can be read in different ways to form 3,000 smaller poems. Khatt developed a new form of poetry to fit each face of the cube. Called HaiCube, it consists of three lines with three syllables per line. Handcrafted tie-dye, candle making store relocating in York County Lancaster residents composed the poems on the cubes at a series of workshops. The works will also go on display at the Lancaster Recreation Commission, the Lancaster Library and the Boys and Girls Club. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A Lancaster County man faces multiple charges after State Police say six girls reported being molested. Samuel Beiler, 25, of Gap, is accused of groping and exposing himself to the girls at a Salisbury Township farm, court documents filed by State Police at Lancaster show. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Morning Weather Forecast Troopers said in the court docs that they had received multiple reports from Lancaster County Children and Youth in June about Beiler having indecent contact with the alleged victims, whose ages ranged between 8 and 16 during the time of the alleged assaults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Police were able to interview the girls, who detailed the alleged indecent assaults. A criminal complaint shows Beiler was reported to have allegedly groped some of the girls while they were in a swimming pond and also in a barn on the property. Some girls also reported that Beiler groped them when they were in a basement. State Police say one girl also reported she was blindfolded by Beiler before he allegedly exposed himself and forced her to perform a sexual act. Vehicle smashes into York County house Beiler was charged Monday with multiple felonies, including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor sexual abuse of children, indecent assault of a person less than age 13 and corruption of minors. He also faces misdemeanor charges of indecent exposure, criminal attempt indecent assault, and corruption of minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beiler was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge William Mankin, who placed him on unsecured bail set at $250,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 25. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. For landlords that are part of the Atlanta Housing Authoritys Housing Choice Voucher Program, control over rental prices is now out of their hands. A copy of a memo from Chief Housing and Real Estate Officer Alan Ferguson shared with Channel 2 Action News said rent increases at HCVP properties would not be approved. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The memo was sent on July 14, with Ferguson telling the landlords that work with Atlanta Housing they would not approve rental increases for HCVP properties requested July 1 or later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organization officials said this was due to "news and guidance continuing to evolve around federal funding and financial assistance programs" and what it means for industries, organizations and residents that rely on the funds. TRENDING STORIES: The Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia has determined that it is prudent to suspend rental increases for AHs Housing Choice Voucher Program, effective immediately, Fergusons memo said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any rent increase requests for units with renewal dates of July 1 or later will not be processed, according to AH. "Atlanta Housing values its stakeholders, especially its housing providers, and recognizes that your participation in AHs affordable housing programs is mission-critical," Ferguson said in the letter. Going forward, the organization will continue monitoring changes to budget, legislation and regulatory actions that could impact how it performs its work. AH said it will update its stakeholders as information becomes available. Channel 2 Action News asked for a list of the landlords and vendors that work with AH on their housing choice voucher program and is waiting for a response. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Update, 7:32 p.m.: All lanes are re-opened. Previous post: A fire was blocking eastbound State Route 16 in Tacoma on Monday evening, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation on X. The two right lanes were blocked near South Sprague Avenue soon after the fire began at 6:37 p.m. They were still blocked as of 7:08 p.m. Traffic was backed up past Union Avenue. Tacoma Fire Department spokesperson Chelsea Shepherd said in a phone call that dry conditions led the same area where a brush fire broke out Saturday to reignite. That fire ignited at about 2:47 p.m. on the south side of state Route 16 and spread up toward Center Street, and covered 10,000 square feet when a reporter spoke to Shepherd on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tacoma Fire crews knocked down the smoldering area with water Monday evening and shut down two lanes very briefly for our rigs to get there, said Shepherd. The road was reopened within the hour. Editors note: This story has been updated to include information about the fire from the Tacoma Fire Department. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) The farmers market is back on the Capitol lawn! Community members can shop locally with 60 Michigan farmers and vendors and enjoy music performances from the Lansing Symphony Orchestra. We are beyond excited to be celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the Farmers Markets at the Capitol this year, says MIFMA Executive Director Amanda Shreve in a news release to 6 News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are grateful for all of the support from past and present sponsors, vendors, and customers over the years. We regularly hear from state employees and downtown workers that these markets are their favorite days of the year, and we feel very honored by that, too! Community members attend the Capitol Farmers Market in Lansing, MI. Event officials say the market accepts Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) Bridge Cards and Double Up Food Bucks. A lot has changed in the last 20 years, but our commitment to Michigan products has only grown stronger, says Jenny Radon, MIFMA Programs Director. Our vendors represent more than businesses that just so happen to be located in Michigan- theyre champions for Michigans agricultural products. Community members attend the Capitol Farmers Market in Lansing, MI. The event ends at 2 p.m. The farmers market will have additional dates on August 26 and September 23. 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. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) A violent weekend in the capital city, with 4 separate shootings, has Lansings police chief worried it could lead to even more violence down the road. Police took four people into custody over the weekend, and on Monday, they say they are still searching for other people who may have been involved. Statistics provided by the Lansing Police Department show violent crime is down this year compared to 2024, even after this weekends shootings. However, authorities are still concerned. (WLNS) This year, Lansing has seen 23 non-fatal shootings, as well as 4 homicides not including this weekends incidents. Even including those, though, the city is on pace to post better numbers than 2024, 2023, and 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the city saw 56 shootings and 10 homicides, the year before that saw 64 shootings and 11 homicides, and 2022 saw 58 non-fatal shootings and 15 homicides the highest in the past four years. Lansing Police Chief Rob Backus has previously credited community support for the downward trend, but authorities are worried that what happened over the weekend could lead to retaliation down the road. At a news conference addressing the recent violence, Backus says he hopes people take time to grieve rather than take revenge. He also said he was pleased with the work of local violence intervention groups like Advance Pace, noting that they had about 10 members outside a hospital in support of a 15-year-old girl who was shot this weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also stressed how his department will be looking into how the guns involved in these shootings were acquired. As we dig into this, of course, were looking into offenders primarily, but on the backside of this,s were gonna start looking at how these actual firearms came into play, said Backus. Ive already noted that at least one of them was a stolen firearm. We know that one of them was an unregistered firearm. Cause we need to know who else was involved in these cases [and] how these firearms got into potentially the wrong peoples hands. Backus is urging anyone in the community with helpful information to contact the Lansing Police Department or anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 517-483-7867. RELATED: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) The Capital Area Law Enforcement Foundation (CALEF) is hosting a fundraiser to raise money for officer armor vests. Pat Englade, founder of CALEF and former Baton Rouge police chief, said the rifle-rated vests are the second most expensive thing an officer uses aside from their police car. Englade said this particular piece of equipment is expensive and can cost around $2,000 per vest. Englade said their mission started after the killings of police officers in 2016. He said the vests those officers were wearing disintegrated upon impact. So far, the organization has raised over $3 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its a reminder of what can happen when people dont have the proper equipment to use. Those guys all had vests on, but they werent rifle-rated. The person that shot them was using a rifle that day, said Englade. Study shows types of crime people in Louisiana are most likely to get arrested for Bill Profita, who represents the Baton Rouge Union of Police, said its important for CALEF to advocate on behalf of BRPD, LSU Police, and Southern University Police to get the highest rated gear. Most departments dont have in their budget the kind of money it takes to equip their officers with these expensive rifle-rated vests, said Profita. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Rare and Allocated Bourbon Auction live drawing is Aug. 15 at Bowie Outfitters in Baton Rouge. Tickets are $100, and you will be entered into a raffle to win different prizes, including a $70,000 collection of bourbon from EH Taylor. 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. A sign directs voters to a ballot drop box outside the Chester County Government Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Capital-Star/Peter Hall) Rep. Jill Cooper (R-Westmoreland) wants to encourage Pennsylvanians to vote for candidates based on their qualifications and policies, as opposed to regional ties, which can strongly influence statewide elections. Cooper says she plans to introduce legislation to eliminate the requirement to list candidates home counties on primary ballots. She argues the change would eliminate divisive attitudes toward candidates based on geographical stereotypes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public opinion experts largely agree that details like county affiliations often have arbitrary influence over voters, whose next major decision may be in next years Republican gubernatorial primary. But in practice, experts are wary that getting voters to look deeper into primary candidates may prove more difficult than removing county affiliation from ballots. Pennsylvanias Election Code currently requires primary ballots to include candidates home county or municipality. A candidates county is must be printed opposite or under the candidates name when it appears on ballots in multiple counties. When a candidate is running in only one county, or a district within that county, the candidates home city, borough, township or ward, must also be printed opposite or under their name on the ballot. The requirement does not apply to general election ballots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Ultimately, the qualifications of a candidate are more important than the geographical location of where they live, Cooper said. Voters might have a bias against the suburbs and favor an urban area, or in a state race, they might favor a candidate from a certain region of the state, while disapproving of another region, she explained. She is currently recruiting co-sponsors and believes the legislation will attract bipartisan support. While county affiliations can influence voters at the polls, it is only one of many factors they consider, said Berwood Yost, director of the Franklin & Marshall College Poll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just another bit of information that voters can use to make up their mind, he said. When voters have limited information about candidates, they use cognitive shortcuts to choose their votes, Muhlenberg College political science professor Chris Borick said. That also holds true for general elections, he said, where the party affiliation for each candidate plays the overwhelming role in voter decisionmaking. Party affiliation isnt a factor in a primary election, when all candidates come from the same party. So voters turn to other shortcuts, such as a county of residence, to make their final decisions, Yost explained. But regional affinity is not the only cue voters take from the primary ballot. Voters use arbitrary measures like ballot position or a candidates perceived gender to make their decision in the absence of more information, according to Yost and Borick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There isnt one thing that necessarily matters. Its the cluster of characteristics that each candidate represents, Yost said. Poll workers demonstrate how ballots are received, processed, scanned, and securely stored on Election Day at the Philadelphia Election Warehouse during a press tour by the Philadelphia City Commissioners on October 25, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images) Cooper agrees that a candidates perceived gender or ethnicity, based on names, may also influence voters, but those assumptions are impossible to eliminate and also appear on a general ballot. According to her, having county residence on the ballot does not serve a productive purpose, and the candidates residence can be easily removed. County affiliation plays a magnified role in low-turnout, uncontested elections, according to Yost. Recently, Pennsylvanias spring 2025 primaries had undoubtedly disappointing turnout, he told the Capital Star in May. His research on recent primaries shows in a majority of elections, candidates received a larger share of the vote in their home counties than than their statewide share. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans maintaining their current narrow majority beyond 2026 may hinge upon a few key races in Pennsylvania. Additionally, Borick said county affiliation is most likely to affect down-ballot races, such as state races for attorney general, auditor general, treasurer, and judges, where voters often have little knowledge about the candidates. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX He called Coopers concerns a fair critique of the current primary ballot system, since only listing the name and county residence might undermine the purpose of voting on a candidates merit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Borick added a caveat: Without that information, what voters use to make decisions might still be very limited. In other words, it is unclear whether voters would change their habits and do more detailed research on candidates if the state stripped primary ballots of county affiliations, Borick said. Some civic-minded groups do not take issue with the existence of counties on primary ballots, but want to champion efforts to better inform voters. While we dont see this as an issue from an election administration standpoint, we should prioritize addressing the larger challenge of ensuring voters have access to more meaningful information on candidates, The Committee of Seventy Communications Director Genevieve Greene said in a statement to the Capital-Star. Regardless of potential solutions, lawmakers and public opinion experts stressed that a candidates local roots have historically played a powerful role in Pennsylvania politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cooper has seen this effect since she was elected to the Westmoreland Republican Committee in 2008, she said. This bill was not triggered by a specific race in the past or a specific race in the future. To me, it was just something that I had been thinking about for a long time, she said. Borick sees a parallel between Coopers proposal and reform measures in the Progressive Era to promote nonpartisan elections and remove party affiliation from the ballot. At the end of the 19th century, reformers, who condemned partisanship as divisive, wanted to encourage voters to better inform themselves on candidates before voting. In Pennsylvania, a deep-rooted divide between the western and eastern parts of the commonwealth has historically had an outsized role in electoral politics, Borick said. The undue influence of geography has most significantly influenced judicial races in the past, said Deborah Gross, president of Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts, which advocates for public access to the judiciary. A historic bias against Philadelphia has often been evident in voters decisions at the ballot box. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although she does not know its origin, Gross said historically a lot of the Supreme Court justices came from the western part of the state rather than the eastern part of the state. Currently, two justices come from Philadelphia, while three come from Allegheny County, and two come from central Pennsylvania. Most recently, the home county influence played an important role in last springs Democratic primary for state treasurer, when Allegheny County resident Erin McClelland won 53% to 46% against the Democratic Partys endorsed candidate for treasurer, state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro of Erie County, according to Yost. Despite the endorsement, voters preference for local candidates helped propel McClellands victory, along with historically higher voter turnout in the western part of the state, he said. McClelland lost the general election to Republican incumbent Treasurer Stacy Garrity. Elena Eisenstadt is a Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents Association summer intern. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Western Mass. lawmakers are advocating for legislation that would reform the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission and the communities it serves. This legislation, titled An Act Relative to Regional Equity, aims to restructure the board of directors of the commission to represent all of the regions it provides services to. Currently, no communities outside of Springfield have representation in governance or rate-setting decisions within the board. Local grants to address health equity across western Massachusetts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For too long, communities that help fund and rely on this critical infrastructure have had no formal seat at the table, said Representative Aaron Saunders (D-Belchertown), who filed the legislation. This bill corrects that imbalance by giving surrounding municipalities meaningful representation and decision-making. Its about fairness, equity, and transparency. This bill would expand the Springfield Water and Sewer Commissions board from three members to seven. Four of the members would be appointed by the mayor of Springfield, with the remaining three appointed by a new advisory board made up of chief executives from Ludlow, Wilbraham, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Agawam, and West Springfield, and representatives from the watershed towns of Russell, Granville, and Blandford. The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission may be based in the city, but its impact reaches far beyond its borders, said Senator Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow). This legislation advances the regional equity Western Mass deserves, ensuring that every community receiving services has a seat at the table and a voice in the decisions that affect them. Additional reforms include ensuring at least one board member is a minority person, appointing an independent ombudsperson to advocate for ratepayer interests, and applying open meeting and public records laws to commission operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local leaders are now urging that the Legislature advance this bill this session, emphasizing its fairness and accountability within the western Mass. community. 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. A Mount Vernon woman pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to wire fraud charges as part of a conspiracy that targeted the Missouri Lottery Commission and a Joplin gas station. According to a statement by Jeffrey Ray, acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Amy Young, 42, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Rush to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. According to the federal plea agreement, Young conspired with others to purchase Missouri lottery tickets using stolen and fraudulent credit cards and credit card numbers at a Phillips 66 gas station in Joplin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young and her co-conspirators made $62,082.50 in fraudulent transactions at the gas station in July and August of 2022. These transactions included the purchase of Missouri Lottery tickets. The perpetrators would send other individuals to collect any cash prizes associated with the tickets. The group fraudulently claimed $54,248 in cash prizes from the Missouri Lottery Commission. The fraudulent cash prizes and credit card transactions totaled $116,330.50, according to the statement. Youngs co-defendant, Larry Duane Green, 56, of Mount Vernon, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud April 15, 2024, and is awaiting sentencing. The statement noted that under federal statutes, Young and Green are subject to sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole and a maximum fine of $250,000 for each count. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a pre-sentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the Joplin and Springfield police departments. By Raphael Satter WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Bleach maker Clorox said Tuesday that it has sued information technology provider Cognizant over a devastating 2023 cyberattack, alleging the hackers gained access by asking the tech company's staff for its employees' passwords. Clorox was one of several major companies hit in August 2023 by the hacking group dubbed Scattered Spider, which specializes in tricking IT help desks into handing over credentials and then using that access to lock them up for ransom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group is often described as unusually sophisticated and persistent, but in a case filed in California state court on Tuesday, Clorox said one of Scattered Spider's hackers was able to repeatedly steal employees' passwords simply by asking for them. "Cognizant was not duped by any elaborate ploy or sophisticated hacking techniques," according to a copy of the lawsuit reviewed by Reuters. "The cybercriminal just called the Cognizant Service Desk, asked for credentials to access Clorox's network, and Cognizant handed the credentials right over." Cognizant, in an emailed statement, pushed back, saying it did not manage cybersecurity for Clorox and it was only hired for limited help desk services. "Clorox has tried to blame us for these failures, but the reality is that Clorox hired Cognizant for a narrow scope of help desk services which Cognizant reasonably performed," Cognizant said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit was not immediately visible on the public docket of the Superior Court of Alameda County. Clorox provided Reuters with a receipt for the lawsuit from the court. Three partial transcripts included in the lawsuit allegedly show conversations between the hacker and Cognizant support staff in which the intruder asks to have passwords reset and the support staff complies without verifying who they are talking to, for example by quizzing them on their employee identification number or their manager's name. "I don't have a password, so I can't connect," the hacker says in one call. The agent replies, "Oh, OK. OK. So let me provide the password to you OK?" The apparent ease with which the hackers got what they wanted wasn't necessarily an indication that they weren't skilled, said Maxie Reynolds, a security expert who has specialized in social engineering and is not a party to the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They just tried what typically works," she said. Reynolds said the full transcripts were needed to offer a fair evaluation of what happened in 2023 but said that, "if all they had to do was call and ask straight out, thats not social engineering and it is negligence/non-fulfillment of duty." The 2023 hack at Clorox caused $380 million in damages, the suit said, about $50 million of which was tied to remedial costs and the rest attributable to Clorox's inability to ship products to retailers in the wake of the hack. Clorox said the clean-up was hampered by other failures by Cognizant's staff, including failure to de-activate certain accounts or properly restore data. (Reporting by Raphael Satter; Editing by Chris Reese, Daniel Wallis and Christian Schmollinger) BALTIMORE (AP) Despite a judges order calling for his return to the United States from El Salvador, a Venezuelan migrant was instead sent back to his home country in a prisoner exchange deal reached last week, an unexpected development that left his lawyers scrambling to locate him. It marks the latest wrinkle in yet another messy court battle over the Trump administrations crackdown on illegal immigration, which has repeatedly challenged the power of federal courts. Attorneys for the Venezuelan native identified only as Cristian in court papers said during a court hearing Tuesday that they dont know where he is or how to get in touch with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After he was deported to a Salvadoran mega-prison in March, U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher ordered the government to facilitate the his return to the U.S. She cited the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to the same notorious prison. Cristian is among a group of plaintiffs who entered the country as unaccompanied children seeking asylum. A 2019 settlement agreement said they couldnt be deported until their asylum claims were adjudicated. Because his application is still pending, Gallagher said, the Trump administration violated that agreement in sending Cristian to a notorious prison known as the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, which was built to hold alleged gang members. And now hes back in Venezuela, the country he escaped years ago because he feared persecution, his attorneys argued during Tuesdays hearing in federal court in Baltimore. They sent him back to the one country hes actually seeking asylum from, attorney Kevin DeJong told the court. We were shocked to see that happen on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cristian was released from CECOT along with 251 other Venezuelan migrants who had been imprisoned in El Salvador since March. President Donald Trump paid El Salvador $6 million to house them there after he issued a proclamation calling for the arrest and removal of Venezuelan gang members under the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 wartime law. As part of the deal on Friday, Venezuela released 10 jailed U.S. citizens and permanent residents in exchange for getting back the 252 deportees. Cristian was a pawn in this plan, I dont know how else to say it, DeJong said. He was a pawn in this prisoner exchange deal. DeJong said Cristians legal team hasnt been able to get in touch with him since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gallagher, who was nominated to the federal bench by Trump in 2019, told the governments lawyers Tuesday to help provide contact information for Cristian. But Justice Department attorney Ruth Ann Mueller wasnt able to confirm even where in Venezuela he ended up. This is a fast-evolving situation, she said. The judge said shes seen no evidence showing the Trump administration tried to get Cristian sent directly to the U.S. upon his release from prison in El Salvador. Attorneys for the plaintiffs said they plan to file a motion requesting sanctions against the government for failing to comply with the courts orders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mueller, however, argued they were in compliance, saying she believes what happened with El Salvador is moot now, given Cristians release. She said facilitating his return looks very different now that hes in Venezuela. The first step would be Cristians lawyers contacting him and confirming whether he indeed wants to return to the U.S. Before his deportation, he was transferred into federal custody from a jail in Harris County, Texas, in January. Immigration officials have already determined that Cristian isnt entitled to asylum, according to earlier testimony from the government. But his lawyers argue hes still entitled to a ruling on the merits of his asylum application by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Attorneys for the government wrote in court papers last week that Venezuelan leaders have pledged not to interfere with travel plans for anyone in Cristians position who has to attend legal proceedings in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With these assurances now having been obtained, and Cristian now having been released from El Salvadors custody, the Department of State has pledged to assist the Department of Homeland Security in facilitating the return of Cristian should he wish to return, the attorneys wrote. Mellissa Harper, acting assistant director of enforcement and removal operations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said in a written declaration to the court that State Department and embassy officials have assumed responsibility for high-level diplomatic discussions about the situation. Gallagher ordered the government to file weekly status reports as the case proceeds. What We Learned About Playa Cocles, the Costa Rican Beach Where Malcolm-Jamal Warner Drowned originally appeared on Parade. Like many, I was shocked when I heard about the death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the 54-year-old one-time star of The Cosby Show, who died while swimming on vacation in Costa Rica on July 20. I immediately thought back to my own family vacation to Costa Rica in 2019. The ocean was so calm in the Playa Conchal area on the Pacific coast where we stayed that my daughter and I learned to successfully stand-up paddle board for the first time, something I had less success with on subsequent vacations to Mexico. SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox Costa Rica is about the size of West Virginia and has more than 300 different beaches along its 800 miles of Pacific and Caribbean coastlines with varying water conditions. Playa Cocles, where Warner drowned on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, is more than 450 kilometers from where I stayed. Is Playa Cocles known for its dangerous surf? Playa Cocles is an ideal destination for nature lovers, reads a description on the AllTrails website for Cocles Beach. Advertisement Advertisement Its long stretch of golden sand, surrounded by tropical jungle and coconut trees, creates a wild and relaxed atmosphere. The waters are intensely blue but have strong currents, so caution is advised when swimming, it warns. It is a popular spot for surfers because of its consistent waves and proximity to the local community, offering gastronomic and cultural options. What was Malcolm-Jamal Warners cause of death? According to a report from the Associate Press, Warner drowned on the afternoon of July 20 while swimming at Playa Cocles, in the Limon province, after a current pulled him deeper out to sea. He was rescued by people on the beach, Costa Ricas Judicial Investigation Departments initial report said, per AP, but first responders from the Red Cross said he had no vital signs and he was taken to the morgue. Advertisement Advertisement Costa Rican National Police told ABC News that Warners official cause of death is asphyxia, (which is oxygen deprivation, per Cleveland Clinic). How many drownings have there been at Playa Cocles? A 2016 report into beach safety in Costa Rica said there hadnt been a drowning at Playa Cocles since 2004, adding that the area was supervised by a lifeguard team expert in spotting rip currents. However, the same report warned of the danger of the areas rip tides. Most good swimmers can swim about 1.5 metres per second, whereas Michael Phelps set a record at 2.1 metres per second at the London Olympics, said Chris Houser, professor of earth and environmental sciences, at the University of Windsor. At Playa Cocles beach, where we recorded the worst rips in Costa Rica, we found rips as strong as 2.8 metres per second, so even an Olympic swimmer could get swept up and drown trying to fight the current. Advertisement Advertisement What We Learned About Playa Cocles, the Costa Rican Beach Where Malcolm-Jamal Warner Drowned first appeared on Parade on Jul 22, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared. The Scoop White House deputy chief of staff James Blair, budget director Russell Vought, and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte will be among those visiting the Federal Reserve on Thursday, Blair told Semafor. The visit, scheduled for 4pm, is part of the White Houses effort to ramp up scrutiny of the Feds $2.5 billion renovation, which President Donald Trump has zeroed in on as a possible pretext for ousting Chair Jerome Powell. I just want to get eyes on sort of the whole project itself, Blair told Semafor after finalizing the upcoming visit. The administration is looking to analyze the project plans and get a better sense of what the renovations look like by cross-checking them with details sent in letters and comments made by Powell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National Capitol Planning Commission chairman Will Scharf and commissioner Stuart Levenbach may also attend the walk-through, Blair said. Know More Thursdays walk-through comes shortly after Vought sent a letter last week suggesting Powell has grossly mismanaged the Fed. Vought noted in the letter that Trump is extremely troubled by Powells management and cited what he described as an ostentatious overhaul of the central banking systems headquarters. Powell defended the project in response and has also asked the Feds inspector general to review the renovations. Blair told reporters last week that others had expressed interest in the Federal Reserves renovation plans as well, including a number of US senators. Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott, R-S.C., is expected to attend, according to a person familiar with the planning, but its unclear which other senators may be there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Fed project has divided Republicans, some of whom argue that the renovations would not be a valid reason to oust Powell, Semafor previously reported. There are also bipartisan fears about the impact removing Powell would have on the markets. Trump appears to be leaning away from the idea of firing Powell for now, despite the growing criticism from his administration and scrutiny of the headquarter renovations. I think hes done a bad job, but hes going to be out pretty soon anyway, Trump told reporters Tuesday, referring to the expiration of Powells term next year. Eight months, hell be out. Notable White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt added that Trump was caught off guard by both Israel's strikes in Syria and the bombing of the Catholic church in Gaza. US President Donald Trump "wants the killing to end" in Gaza, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters in a Monday briefing, adding that he also wants to "negotiate a ceasefire in this region, and he wants to see all of the hostages released." Asked whether US President Donald Trump had a message for participants at the upcoming two-state solution conference later this month, Leavitt said, "I'm not sure he has any particular message for those countries." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think the presidents message on this conflict in the Middle East, which has been going on for a long time and has become quite brutal - especially in Gaza - is clear: The president doesnt like to see that. He wants the killing to end, to negotiate a ceasefire in this region, and he wants to see all of the hostages released from Gaza. That has been a top priority for this president. Trump enjoys 'good working relationship' with Netanyahu, White House says When pressed on whether Trump had expressed frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following recent IDF strikes in Gaza, and how those strikes might impact ongoing negotiations, Leavitt emphasized the presidents relationship with the prime minister. The president enjoys a good working relationship with Netanyahu and stays in frequent communication with him, she said. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt walks outside of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 21, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/Nathan Howard) He was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and also by the bombing of the Catholic church in Gaza. In both cases, the president quickly called the prime minister to rectify those situations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We saw Secretary of State Marco Rubio intervene when it came to Syria, and we saw a de-escalation there. Leavitt added, As for the bombing of the Catholic church in Gaza, the prime minister put out a statement saying this was an accident and that they deeply regret it. That action followed his conversation with the president. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Chief Legal Analyst Khalif Rhodes explains how the North Carolina courts empower police to conduct searches for illegal substances like marijuana which could be confused for legal substances like hemp. PREVIOUS COVERAGE | CMPD crime lab test does not tell the difference between legal hemp and illegal marijuana, expert says Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. states have built less than 400 electric vehicle charging ports through April under $7.5 billion federal infrastructure programs, the Government Accountability Office said Tuesday. As of April 2025, 384 charging ports are operating at 68 stations in 16 states, GAO said, saying a joint office overseeing the program "has not defined performance goals with measurable targets and time frames for its activities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In May, California and 15 other states sued the U.S. Transportation Department, saying the federal government was illegally withholding at least $3 billion awarded to states for building EV charging stations under a 2021 infrastructure law. The Transportation Department under President Donald Trump in February suspended the EV charging program and rescinded approval of state plans pending a review. The GAO noted that Trump wants Congress to rescind $6 billion in unspent EV charging funding. Nationwide, there are about 219,000 publicly available EV charging ports, according to the Energy Department. In June 2024, a Democratic senator criticized the previous Biden administration for deploying just seven EV charging stations with a few dozen ports calling it "pathetic." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We're now three years into this ... That is a vast administrative failure," said Senator Jeff Merkley. "Something is terribly wrong and it needs to be fixed." The Trump administration has taken a number of steps to discourage EV sales. Trump signed legislation this month that will end the $7,500 EV tax credit and $4,000 used EV tax credit on Sept. 30. Trump in January revoked a 2021 executive order signed by Biden that sought to ensure half of all new vehicles sold in the United States by 2030 were electric. In March, the General Services Administration told federal agencies that existing charging stations for government-owned EVs "that are deemed not to be mission-critical should be disconnected from the network and turned off." GSA said in April it had canceled 32 electric vehicle charging projects worth over $23 million. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Aurora Ellis) Beth Weinstein isnt known for walking away from a battle. The liberal activist from Tarpon Springs regularly rallies against Republican politicians, taunts anti-abortion protesters, trolls online opponents of LGBTQ+ rights. Raised in what she called a racist Long Island neighborhood by a mom who taught her to be a feminist, Weinstein, 53, says she just cant help herself. When others talk in muted tones, she rarely holds back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am a petty bitch, she said, sitting in her home office surrounded by photos and other memorabilia from her causes and actions, from Black Lives Matter to anti-book banning. A marketing director by profession, Weinstein has been known to collect and publicize opponents social media posts, often coordinating with left-wing organizations to expand their reach. She has joined forces with Indivisible, a national anti-Trump group, to wage a campaign against Moms for Liberty. She jumped into the Pinellas County school district battle over book bans when her childs school removed Toni Morrisons Beloved from courses and libraries. With the way U.S. politics is trending, Weinstein said, she feels compelled to get even more active in the resistance. But she just couldnt any more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. citizens opposed to their government often say theyll just move to Canada if things get too bad. Some actually follow through. Emigration to Canada doubled after George W. Bushs 2004 reelection, for instance, according to Global News. Much the same was anticipated after Donald Trumps 2024 reelection, according to immigration.ca. In mid-June, Weinstein invited friends to her Farewell Comrades party. She, her husband Steve and their two kids had sold their home of 17 years and planned to head to Toronto, despite having no housing or work lined up at the time. Its been something we have discussed since the first Trump administration, said Weinstein, who wore an anti-Trump T-shirt. But at that point, the kids were much younger and I didnt feel like uprooting them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now theyre 17 and 20. Both accelerated their schooling to graduate early this spring, one from high school and the other from college. And the family is set to walk away from an environment where they said they feel threatened, belittled and unfree. The last time we were the good guys was WWII, said Steve Weinstein, 56, who frequently accompanies his wife to rallies carrying a sign saying that hes from the future and things dont get any better. I feel less free now than I ever have. Sure, they could stay to fight back, he acknowledged. But, he wondered, what exactly would they be fighting for? His wife said she gets weekly death threats for her activism. Their older child, who is transgender, has been assailed verbally and threatened with violence. The patriarchy, he said, remains the patriarchy no matter whos in charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The whole idea of your huddled masses yearning to be free? Thats all gone now, he said, pointing to the nations anti-immigrant push. Beyond all that, the health care system doesnt adequately serve citizens, he said, noting his own heart scares that required experimental surgery, delaying their departure plans. Home insurance costs keep rising. Hurricanes are coming with increasing intensity. He said his grandfather, a German Jew who came to the United States in the 1930s, instilled the message that if you ever see this Nazi bullst, get away as fast as you can. ... I dont even know if Canada will be far enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other ways, though, it will be too far, Beth Weinstein said. I feel immense guilt, she said. Shes leaving behind her mom, who doesnt want to move, and her colleagues in arms who have organized together over the years. The issues that have fueled her activism are deepening, she said, and many people who are the targets of the right do not have the same ability to leave. Weinstein jokes that shes paving the way for one possible version of the future, fleeing fascism and setting up the Underground Railroad for my comrades for when this is too dangerous to stay. But shes hoping for an alternate ending, one in which she could return to a country where she doesnt fear being picked up and disappeared by the government. To that end, she intends to keep organizing, messaging, digging for information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have a vast network. I have a lot of receipts, Weinstein said. My sense of justice wont change. What will change, she continued, is her peace of mind. Maybe she wont need a camera surveillance system surrounding her house anymore, she said, or a safe filled with guns. It just means that on weekends Im going to farmers markets. Im going to yoga and Zumba classes, she said. Its not a question of fear. I want peace. Editors note: Beth Weinstein was raised in Long Island, New York. Due to a reporting error, a previous version of this story misidentified where she grew up. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: An automated license plate reader is seen mounted on a pole on June 13, 2024 in San Francisco, California. The city of San Francisco has installed 100 automated license plate readers across the city and plans to install 300 more in the coming weeks as officials look to technology to help combat crime in the city. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) With police departments across the country integrating license plate readers as part of law enforcement efforts, legal advocates are pushing for protections around how departments use the emerging technology. According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit focused on online free speech and privacy, automated license plate readers are high speed computer controlled cameras that can be mounted on street poles, streetlights, highway overpasses, mobile trailers and police cars. They automatically capture all license plate numbers that come into view, along with the location, date and time, and upload that data to a central server. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The technology is intended for departments to determine whether a vehicle was at the scene of the crime and identify travel patterns, though privacy advocates warn that this data goes far beyond tracking a license plate and can be used to paint an intimate picture of an individuals life and their vehicle. Additionally, law enforcement agencies can opt to share their data with other agencies, with the Wisconsin Examiner reporting in May that departments, including the Milwaukee Police Department, were accessing data from one vendor, Flock, regardless of whether they hold their own contracts for the system. In late May, 404 Media published a trove of data obtained through public records requests to the Danville, Ill. police department showing Flock search logs from across the nation. Included among the data is five searches from the Grand Rapids Police Department with protests listed as the reason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first search listed was made on Feb. 3, 2025 with the search time frame ranging from Jan. 31, 2025 through Feb. 3, using the term bus as a filter. Another search on Feb. 4 uses a broader range, Jan. 7 through Feb. 4, while the remaining three searches conducted on Feb. 4 looked at Jan. 28 through Feb. 4. The timeline for the searches corresponds with multiple protests held throughout January and early February including a Jan. 18 rally in support of Palestine, a Jan. 20 march in protest of President Donald Trumps inauguration and his anti-immigrant agenda and a Feb. 1 rally in support of immigrant rights, reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ rights. The searches are listed under the name N. Ken. In an email to the Michigan Advance, a spokesperson for the Department said they do not use Flock devices to target protestors. Grand Rapids Police Department on April 12, 2022 with barricades in front of the entrance, anticipating protests after a GRPD officer fatally shot a 26-year-old Black man, Patrick Lyoya, in the head. | Allison R. Donahue Seeking protections at the state level While license plate readers like Flocks have wide reaching capabilities, legal advocates are quick to point out the lack of guard rails for how these systems operate and how law enforcement utilizes them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although surveillance is somewhat inherent as part of policing, Gabrielle Dresner, a policy strategist with the ACLU of Michigan, said these systems go beyond peoples expected right to privacy, even for a public space. You dont expect to be tracked when you leave your house, when you go to the gym, when you go to a religious service, when you go to a protest, because those are all protected activities, and the way that license plate readers are being used is oft akin to if a GPS was put on your car, Dresner said. In addition to following a vehicle from light to light, Dresner noted that these systems collect data beyond the license plate number, creating a profile for a car based on characteristics like if there is a bumper sticker, or a roof rack. Additionally, community members are often unaware that these cameras are being used in their community, as they are made to be small and discrete, Dresner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cameras have become so widespread, there is even a website, DeFlock.me where people can view and report license plate readers in their community. I think its really telling that these things are being paid for by the public, with taxpayer dollars, and the public doesnt know anything about them. They dont know when theyre being used or what theyre being used for, she said. The Grand Rapids Police Department searches on protests also serve as a perfect example surrounding the concerns about misuse with these devices, Dresner said. We keep being told that [license plate readers] are only being used for limited purposes, but information keeps coming out about them being used for other improper uses, and the denials of such use are slowly losing credibility as more and more evidence comes to light, Dresner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly the only guardrails that exist against license plate reader vendors selling data to outside parties would be their own policies, though Dresner said she wasnt aware of any cases where this had happened. As more police departments work to incorporate this technology, Dresner has been advocating for guidelines within state laws on how these devices are used and how information can be stored. The model legislation put forth by the ACLU lays out fairly limited uses for how these cameras can be used in investigations, Dresner explained, and pointed to instances like an Amber Alert, missing persons and stolen vehicles. It also bars departments from storing data for lengthy periods of time, with a summary of the policy stating retention periods should be measured in days or weeks, not months or years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, law enforcement would not be permitted to share data with third parties who do not follow proper retention and access procedures, with the ACLUs model noting departments should be transparent with whom they share their data. The model also proposes that any entity using automated license plate readers should be required to publicly report its usage on at least an annual basis. While there were some state lawmakers interested during the previous legislative session from 2023-2024, the policy was never put before the Legislature, Dresner said, though she added that there has been positive response to the model legislation during the current session. Pushing for Constitutional protections At the national level, attorneys for the Institute for Justice are also taking action to raise awareness of the cameras, calling on residents of Bay City to reject a proposed contract with Flock before the city commission on Monday. The organization cited numerous examples of abuse of the technology, from police officers in Connecticut, Florida and Kansas using the technology to stalk innocent individuals, including ex-girlfriends, to the federal government accessing local departments cameras without permission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The institute is also moving forward with a federal lawsuit against the city of Norfolk, Va. over the citys use of more than 170 cameras, aiming to address the constitutional concerns brought by the police departments use of these devices. Under the Fourth Amendment, law enforcement officials have to request a warrant in order to move forward with a lawful search or seizure of any property. In order to get that warrant they have to justify their actions, and if they cannot they dont get the warrant, explained Robert Frommer, a senior attorney for the Institute for Justice and director of the organizations Project on the Fourth Amendment. Robert Frommer, a senior attorney at the Institute for Justice and director of the organizations Project on the Fourth Amendment. | Photo courtesy of the Institute for Justice However, in numerous cases where license plate readers have been used inappropriately, there have been little to no consequences, Frommer said. While its important to have that accountability on the back end, thats no substitute for strong Constitutional privacy protections on the front end to ensure those rules arent violated in the first place, Frommer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alongside the constitutional concerns presented by these devices, Frommer noted that the technology behind these cameras is evolving rapidly, with cameras now having functions that did not exist when he launched the Norfolk case in 2024. That rapid change of technological pace, it just underscores the need to have courts involved. Because, unfortunately, if we dont do anything as technology advances, our privacy is going to necessarily decrease, Frommer said. Wisconsin Examiner Reporter Isiah Holmes contributed to this report. ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. An alleged illegal THC seller remains defiant as questions arise about why another Exotic Smokes on St. Charles Rock Road has yet to go up in smoke. Its sister location was raided and shut down Thursday in south St. Louis. The original location in Breckenridge Hills has never closed, despite alleged unlicensed THC sales. Were not just allowing them to legally break the law. Theres something called the Farm Bill of 2018, which says that places can sell hemp-related products if the THC level is under .3, Captain Randy Von Cloedt, Breckenridge Hills Police Department, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Von Cloedt says two undercover purchases at the still open Exotic Smokes resulted in lab tests revealing products over the limit. It came back as just marijuana, he said. A viewer told FOX 2 News that the Phillips 66 gas station next door is also selling THC products. The Missouri Department of Health said that gas station does not have a license to sell it. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News FOX 2 went to talk to store employees about it. A manager told us he wants to follow the law and said he believes all of his THC products test below the legal limit. He added that theyve recently spent nearly a thousand dollars on testing to make sure they are complying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police are monitoring. He told us, basically, if hes not doing what hes supposed to do, he wants to make sure hes doing it the correct way, Von Cloedt said. Licensed dispensaries caution that youre risking knowing what youre getting with the unlicensed guys. You are buying product that is either imported from local black markets or as far away as China, Greenlight Dispensarys Charlie Unger said. We have no idea whats going into these products. You often have very manipulative, misleading packaging, Capt. Von Cloedt said. Potato chips with THC. Ive seen slushies with THC. We want to make sure kids arent getting their hands on this stuff, too, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Breckenridge Hills will consider revoking Exotic Smokes business license at a meeting this week. And the police department intends to follow up on the gas stations testing to confirm its in compliance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WEST VIRGINIA (WVNS) Help is on the way for many low-income families throughout the state. Officials with the West Virginia Department of Human Services have announced that LIEAP applications will be opening next week. Public Service Commission of West Virginia orders electric service audit Program Manager with the Department of Human Services, Marsha Stowers said the program helps thousands of West Virginians get back on their feet each year. Last year, West Virginia served around 42,000 households during the regular LIEAP season and over 3,000 households through the emergency portion of it, she said. We anticipate it to be about the same this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Factors like household size, income, and utility costs are all considered each year when deciding which homes are eligible for the program. To apply, residents can stop by their local DoHS office between July 28 and August 8, or until assistance funds have been exhausted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Host Malcolm-Jamal Warner at the 2023 Beloved Community Awards. - Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images The Caribbean Guard, a volunteer lifeguard association, issued a statement in the wake of Malcolm-Jamal Warners drowning in Costa Rica. The actor, who was 54 years old, died of asphyxia after being caught by a high current while swimming on Sunday. No lifeguards were on duty, as their limited services had been allocated to other locations in the area, the association said. It was all very fast and even though there were people on the beach who came in to rescue him, they didnt arrive in time, the Caribbean Guard said in a statement on Facebook. The association noted that Playa Grande, where the drowning occurred, is one of its most challenging beaches. It has patrolled the beach for the last few years, and notes that its a beach known by local surfers and there are signs (in English and Spanish) that warn of the danger of death by drowning. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While there would have normally been guards on duty at Playa Grande, they were redirected to patrol Playa Black and Chiquita, two other local beaches with prominent dangerous currents that recently experienced water incidents. The Caribbean Guard shared that it deeply regrets the actors death, lamenting that despite having been provided with CPR maneuvers on the beach by locals, his resuscitation was unsuccessful. While unfortunate, the Caribbean Guard sees the incident as being indicative of a larger problem across Costa Rica and other countries in the Caribbean that will persist without direct intervention. We appeal to the President of the Nation, the national government, the Municipality of Talamanca and the entire Caribbean community, the association wrote, to continue joining efforts to minimize this problem, which is sadly rising all over the country. The volunteer group noted that we do everything in our power, and they have saved numerous lives in recent years. Without them, the statement continues, drownings would could by the dozens. Still, without the proper resources, their reach is limited, they wrote. We do our part to minimize risks but if we dont have government help, clear public policies and strong support from local entrepreneurs, they concluded, this will keep happening. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The U.S. Capitol pictured on March 25, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom) As they seek to recapture control of the U.S. House, top Democrats are looking at how to redraw congressional maps in blue states to win more seats in 2026. Could it happen here in Washington, where Democrats already hold eight of the states 10 House seats? Almost certainly not, say those critical to unlocking the redistricting process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The main reason is that it would require a two-thirds majority in the state House and Senate to reconvene the states bipartisan Redistricting Commission. That cant be attempted until the next session in January unless Gov. Bob Ferguson summons lawmakers back sooner. There is no there, there. Theres literally no way to get the results they are talking about before the 2026 election, said Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle. We have already done our share to get Democrats in the House. Theres no juice to squeeze in the lemon here. House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle, agreed. Its not on the table for us, he said. We have an 8-2 delegation. It would take some very creative map drawing to get to 9-1. Theres no chance Republicans would be interested in helping us, Fitzgibbon added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes right. House Republicans will not supply votes needed to reconvene the commission or try to abolish it, and will not consent to a special session to gerrymander congressional maps, said House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn. If Democrats still try to amend the map legislatively, they will get sued and lose, he said. This is not a serious proposal, Stokesbary said. I hope Democrats try so the rest of us can have a good laugh and realize Democrat leadership is as dumb as their base thinks they are. Drawing a line CNN reported Sunday that U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, and other Democrats are discussing how to counter whats unfolding in Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There, President Donald Trump is publicly pushing the states Republican-controlled Legislature to redraw district maps to garner more GOP wins to shore up the partys majority in Congress. It is one of the issues Texas lawmakers are expected to tackle in a 30-day special session that began Monday. We are absolutely going to respond, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told CNN on Monday. But DelBene, of Medina, demurred when pressed on whether that response would be trying to redraw maps in Democratic strongholds like Washington and California. A map of Washingtons 10 congressional districts. (Courtesy of Washington State Redistricting Commission) In Washington, Republican U.S. Reps. Dan Newhouse and Michael Baumgartner hold safe seats in the 4th and 5th congressional districts respectively, both located east of the Cascades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In order to turn one more congressional district into a winnable seat, Democrats would need to slash through counties, communities and natural geography in order to unite Spokane, Pullman, Walla Walla, Pasco and Yakima into a single district, Stokesbary said. The resulting Frankenmap would make Picasso look like a child drawing stick figures. Another approach might be to redraw the 3rd Congressional District to be safer for Democrats. Republicans held it for more than a decade until 2022, when Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez defeated Republican Joe Kent in one of the years biggest political surprises. Her 2,629-vote win was confirmed in a machine recount that Kent requested. When the two faced each other again last year, Gluesenkamp Perez won by nearly 15,000 votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the 3rd District still leans Republican. President Donald Trump won it in each of his presidential runs. Always a challenge Redistricting isnt cheap. The 2020 process cost about $2.65 million. It can be messy, as the most recent commission demonstrated. The four voting members two Democrats and two Republicans agreed on final contours for the states 49 legislative and 10 congressional districts a few minutes past their Nov. 15, 2021 deadline. The state Supreme Court in December decided to allow the tardy documents to be sent to the Legislature for final approval. Then came a lawsuit that argued the drawing of a legislative district in central Washington violated federal law by impairing the ability of Latino voters to participate equally in elections. A federal judge agreed and, in early 2024, approved new boundaries for the 15th Legislative District in the Yakima Valley, and several surrounding districts, that are in place now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opponents appealed. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held a hearing in March and a ruling could be issued before the end of the year. Whoever loses might ask the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the case. In response to reports that Democrats may look to redraw maps in Washington, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said Monday that no one had contacted his office, and it would be very difficult to pull off given the way the process is handled. It would be incredibly expensive and time-consuming to attempt any redistricting efforts in Washington without an active Redistricting Commission and with the 2026 midterms on the horizon, he said. The Lithuanian campaign Radarom!, which in February this year united the Lithuanian people and companies to support Ukraine, has purchased over 2,000 drones for the Ukrainian defence forces. Source: LRT, a Lithuanian public broadcaster; European Pravda Details: The total amount of aid raised through the campaign has already exceeded 4.4 million, and thousands of UAVs are being delivered to Ukrainian defenders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the latest data, a total of 2,609 drones have been purchased, and a down payment has been made for an additional 320 Lithuanian-made drones. 2.6 million has already been spent on the production of Lithuanian drones, while 1.7 million has been allocated for equipment for Ukrainian manufacturers. Quote from the CEO of LRT, Monika Garbaciauskaite-Budriene: "Thanks to the people and companies of Lithuania, we are able to contribute to the defence of Ukraine and that is what matters most. From the very first day of the campaign, we have kept our finger on the pulse, constantly monitoring the process and reporting to the public on how donations are spent. Trust is our highest value, so we are obliged to act responsibly and transparently." Photo: LRT Two-thirds of all aid has been allocated to Lithuanian production, while the rest has been used to purchase Ukrainian drones and equipment. Initially, Ukrainian-made drones dominated, as they could be delivered more quickly, but now the results of Lithuanian manufacturers work are becoming evident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The third Radarom! campaign was organised by LRT in cooperation with Blue/Yellow, Laisves TV and Stiprus kartu and took place from February 3 to 24. During the campaign, residents and companies in Lithuania donated over 5 million. Photo: LRT Background: On July 14, Lithuania launched a two-month charity campaign called Dronaton, initiated by the non-governmental organisation Blue/Yellow. The goal of the campaign is to raise 1 million for the purchase of drones for Ukrainian defenders. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (NewsNation) President Donald Trump is meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, with tariffs and security likely items on the agenda. The two leaders expressed optimism about the future for the U.S.-Philippines relationship when it comes to trade and security. It is worthwhile to remember it was President Trump who in his first term characterized the relationship between the US and Philippines as iron clad,' Marcos said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOJ asking to meet with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell Marcos three-day visit shows the importance of the alliance between the treaty partners at a time when China is increasingly assertive in the South China Sea, where Manila and Beijing have clashed over the hotly contested Scarborough Shoal. The visit also comes as the White House approaches a self-imposed deadline for new tariffs to go into effect. On Aug. 1, the Philippines would be subject to a 20% tariff as demanded by Trump unless the country can strike a deal. I intend to convey to President Trump and his Cabinet officials that the Philippines is ready to negotiate a bilateral trade deal that will ensure strong, mutually beneficial and future-oriented collaborations that only the United States and the Philippines will be able to take advantage of, Marcos said Sunday when he was departing for Washington, according to his office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Philippines is one of the oldest U.S. treaty allies in the Pacific, and Marcos is expected to reiterate the history of cooperation and the need for mutual defense cooperation in the South China Sea. The South China Sea has been an area of territorial conflict as China has sought to exert more influence in the region, clashing with the Philippines and other nearby nations, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Livingston Parish was approved for federal funding for a new safety system. According to Parish President Randy Delatte, FEMAs Hazard Mitigation Grant Program awarded the parish $476,423 to install nine advanced weather stations across the parish, including several school campuses. These weather stations will monitor real-time weather data such as wind speed, rainfall, and temperature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delatte said the Early Warning System Project would give emergency officials insight into developing weather threats and would give residents more time to prepare in the event of severe storms. This is a major step toward making Livingston Parish more resilient and better prepared for the future, said Delatte. The weather stations will be placed at Albany High School, Frost Elementary, Juban Parc Junior High, Live Oak High School, LIGO Livingston, Livingston Fire Station District 11, Maurepas High School, Springfield High School, and Walker High School. 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. AUGUSTA, Ga (WJBF) One of the oldest African American churches in the country is celebrating a milestone. Members of the historic Spirit Creek Baptist Church honored their 225th anniversary. They held at gala Saturday at the Doubletree in Augusta. Originally built near Butler Creek, the church has grown and expanded its reach throughout the area. The celebration included music and a powerful message by Reverend William Blount of Greater Young Zion Baptist Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newschannel 6s Dee Griffin served as the mistress of ceremonies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Cincinnati imam Ayman Soliman could be released from the Butler County jail Tuesday, July 22, with the bond hearing in his immigration case moved up a day. With a 1 p.m. virtual hearing with the Cleveland Immigration Court, "same day release is difficult, but this case has some attention, so may be a bit faster," Robert A. Ratliff, one of his attorneys, told The Enquirer via email. Soliman, a former chaplain at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on July 9, about a month after the government revoked his asylum status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cleveland Immigration Court, which handles all immigration hearings for Ohio, earlier scheduled what is called a master hearing for July 22. At that proceeding, Judge Jennifer Riedthaler-Williams could set a timeline for Soliman's case, including his plan to file an updated asylum application, according to Ratliff. In also considering bond, Riedthaler-Williams could set bond at or higher than the minimum level of $1,500, Ratliff said. She could also require Soliman to wear an ankle monitor or check in on a phone app to be released, he said. In addition to working as a chaplain at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Ayman Soliman has been a volunteer imam and board member at the Clifton Mosque. DHS will have a say in bond decision As to whether Soliman will be set free from the jail in downtown Hamilton on July 22, his lawyer said he's hoping for an immediate decision. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, will have a say in the proceedings. Department lawyers could oppose his release or appeal a decision to release him, Ratliff said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Even if the court grants bond, DHS may still make a determination that he is a danger to society and refuse to release," he said. In that circumstance, DHS has the authority to hold a detainee for up to 180 days before federal courts have the right of review, he added. Soliman will likely be one of many detainees scheduled in front of the court at the same time, as The Enquirer learned in sitting through a morning of Riedthaler-Williams' docket last month. His case has attracted national attention, with a July 17 prayer vigil for him turning violent when police pushed back on protesters trying to cross the John A. Roebling Bridge. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Will Cincinnati imam Ayman Soliman be released? Bond hearing set COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) Students will return to classrooms next month and many parents are questioning whether their children are mentally prepared for the school year. Counseling psychologist and licensed professional counselor, Dr. Charlotte Michelle Sanchez, stopped by WRBL News3 to talk about challenges children will face during this season. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Indiana Department of Education has released results from the spring 2025 Indiana Learning Evaluation and Assessment Readiness Network test and Cass County schools fell below average when it came to English/ Language Arts proficiency. Statewide, 40.6% of Indianas students are at or above proficiency standards in ELA, and 42.1% of students are at or above proficiency standards in math, read a press release from the IDOE. This is up 0.1 and 5.2 percentage points respectively since 2021, which represents the current Indiana baseline. Students in grades third through eighth are required to take the ILEARN test. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caston School Corporation had the best overall percentage of students who were proficient in English/ Language Arts at 39.5 percent. The report said that 387 students were tested at Caston and 150 students were reported as scoring below average. Eighty-four students were approaching proficiency while 153 students were proficient or above average. Pioneer Regional School Corporation had a percentage score of 31.4 with 388 students tested while Lewis Cass had a score 30.4 percent with 688 students tested. Logansport Regional School Corporation scored just 23.2 percent but their score is skewed as students learning English as a second language are required to take the ILEARN test and are counted with the rest of the student population of test takers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, Logansport schools had 1917 students take the test with 1073 scoring below average, 399 approaching proficiency and 445 students scoring as proficient or better. Across the nation, STEM classes and skills have generally been pushed ahead of the liberal arts in both grade schools and colleges. The literacy and numeracy skills developed in early grades are essential as students begin to explore career options, engage in hands-on learning, and ultimately, make decisions about their next steps after graduation, said Governor Mike Braun. While we continue to see students growing in math proficiency, this years results remind us all of the need to continue our focus in both early and adolescent literacy. In the meantime, Governor Braun has signed property tax reform that is estimated to cut Indiana school funding by $744.4 million. He is also ending state funding for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which supplies free books to young readers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statewide average score for math was 42.1 percent. Both Pioneer and Caston met the state average with Caston matching the score and Pioneer scoring 42.2 percent. Lewis Cass had a Math score of 34.4 percent and Logansport schools scored 21.9 percent. Jul. 21---- A week of fun, sun and community gathering at New London Water Days was capped off with even more events through the weekend. Community members and guests from afar had the chance to enjoy several gatherings, activities, live music and lots of food. New London Water Days is a community-organized event which takes place over the course of a week in July. Last year, a new committee took over the organization of the event and members were able to build on what they learned then for the 2025 New London Water Days. "One thing we realized last year was that Water Days didn't necessarily have enough things outside of the parade for families. So the carnival was kind of a way to address that," New London Water Days Committee member Tim Davis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis helped to organize a carnival for younger guests. The carnival included several bounce houses, one of which doubled as a water slide. Kids at the event Saturday were also able to enjoy a tractor pull, a fishing tournament, and, of course, the Grand Day Parade. The parade featured local organizations marching down Main Street with music and candy. Featured floats included religious groups, local companies and lots of first responders. The work of the first responders didn't end there. After the Grand Day Parade, the New London Fire Department hosted a hog roast at the fire house. The firefighters and volunteers, made up of friends and family, prepared 250 pounds of meat for the event. "We buy the food, prepare it all of that. There are 25 of us here and then our spouses. And, there is a freewill donation to support the community," New London Fire Chief Mark Skindelien said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Activities extended beyond the firehouse and the carnival. Many small businesses got involved, putting on events, sales and other promotions. Goat Ridge Brewing hosted live music and drinks for a packed riverside event. In the alley next door, a series of pop-up shops called the Lower Town Market gave independent sellers a chance to showcase their crafts and items. The Lower Town Market sets up in New London twice a year, one of the occasions being part of New London Water Days. A Long Island man facing charges for a deadly drunk driving crash earlier this month has died in the hospital, police said Tuesday. Joseph Curto, 54, was the suspect in a July 15 wreck in Bethpage that killed 40-year-old Cindy Saborio, according to Nassau County police. Following the crash, Curto was hospitalized in critical condition, and police said his arraignment would be postponed until he was physically able to attend the hearing. But instead, Curto died from his injuries in a Long Island hospital on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Curto, a Seaford resident, was driving his 2013 Honda Pilot northbound on Seamans Neck Road through Bethpage when he collided head-on with a 2008 Honda Accord driven by Saborio, investigators said. Saborio, a Wantagh resident, was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators quickly determined Curto was driving while intoxicated. I saw his car by the tree, and her car wrapped around that pole, neighbor Christopher Cesarani told WCBS after the wreck. They tried to get her out of the car, but they felt her pulse and she had no pulse. According to the most recent data, released in 2022, Long Island was the states deadliest region for car crashes. State authorities tallied 81 car crash deaths in Nassau County and 164 in Suffolk County that year. Long Islands rate of 8.4 deadly car crashes per 100,000 people was near the state median in 2022. New York Citys rate of 2.9 killer crashes per 100,000 was well below the state average. Israeli aggression appears to be vexing the Trump Administration. The White House said Monday that President Donald Trump had not approved of Israels airstrikes on Syria last week, which reportedly continued even after the U.S. had told Israel to stand down after Israel bombed Syrian tanks on Tuesday. Israel launched new airstrikes on Damascus on Wednesday, killing at least three people and wounding dozens of others. Israel said its strikes were aimed at protecting the Syrian Druze community after days of clashes between members of the Druze militia and Bedouin tribes as well as Syrian military intervention. At the same time, Israels government said the strikes were in retaliation for Syrian troops entering a region in southern Syria that Israel had unilaterally declared a demilitarized zone. The Syrian government has rejected that claim and repeatedly condemned Israeli military action towards Syria, including in recent months the seizure of Syrian territory and multiple airstrikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump Administration brokered a cease-fire between Israel and Syria, U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said on Friday, but some within the Administration have grown restive over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus recalcitrance, Axios reported on Sunday. Bibi acted like a madman. He bombs everything all the time, one official told the outlet. This could undermine what Trump is trying to do. Trump was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and also the bombing of the Catholic Church in Gaza, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday, although she added that Trump enjoys a good working relationship with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and stays in frequent communication with him. In both cases, the President quickly called the [Israeli] Prime Minister to rectify these situations, Leavitt added. Israels strikes on Syria and a Catholic Church in Gaza came after Netanyahus visit to Washington earlier this month, which appeared to signal progress towards a Gaza cease-fire deal even as critics have worried that a Trump-mediated cease-fire would involve the removal of Palestinians and redevelopment of the Gaza Strip under U.S. and/or Israeli control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everything Israel is doing, from bombing civilians to bulldozing entire city blocks has been done with American bombs and bulldozers, says William Figueroa, an assistant professor of international relations at the University of Groningen. Clemens Chay, a research fellow at the National University of Singapores Middle East Institute, tells TIME that Trump has emboldened Israel by backing it militarily even as Israel has put at risk many U.S. goals, including by bombing Iran when Tehran was in the midst of nuclear talks with Washington and now bombing Syria after Trump had earlier signalled a desire to improve relations with the country by lifting U.S. sanctions. Netanyahu likely took Trumps vague response to any military action as a go-ahead, Chay says. The U.S. President is well-known for vacillating in his positions towards various foreign policy issues, but the Israeli Prime Minister is nowfollowing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear [facilities]confident in his own ability of being the Trump whisperer. Trump is continuing the failed policies of his predecessors by ceding the initiative to Israel, Jon Hoffman, a foreign policy analyst at the Cato Institute, posted on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even so, Israel depends critically on U.S. support: It is not surprising that Israel signs a cease-fire when the United States applies real pressure, because they could not pursue any conflict, in Iran or in Gaza, without the continual supply of weapons, ammunition, and military tech from the United States, Figueroa previously told TIME. When the person signing the checks says they really mean it, you listen. Its not the first time Israel has gambled that the U.S. would back it despite going against the Trump Administrations advice. While Netanyahu has managed to sustain U.S. support, in part by stroking Mr Trumps ego with a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize and by allowing Trump to claim victory over brokering cease-fires in the Middle East, Chay says, Israels continued actions risk not only being seen as an overstepping of boundaries by Trump officials, but worse, also as a form of unchecked Israeli military power by regional states. Israels strikes on Syria Israel reportedly agreed on Tuesday to stand down at Barracks request in order for the U.S. to negotiate a peace deal. But the next day, Israel escalated its attacks, bombing Syrias military headquarters and a facility near the presidential palace. The bombing in Syria caught the President and the White House by surprise. The President doesnt like turning on the television and seeing bombs dropped in a country he is seeking peace in and made a monumental announcement to help rebuild, one official told Axios. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another official suggested that the Israeli government was harming its reputation among the Trump Administration. The Israelis need to get their head out of their asses, the official told Axios. Meanwhile, an Israeli official told Axios that Trump had not indicated concerns about Israeli intervention in Syria and had even supported Israeli action in Syria during his first few weeks in office. Bombing of Catholic church in Gaza Israel also came under fire after striking on Thursday the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, killing three people and wounding others who were sheltering there. The news shook the Catholic community around the world. Before his death, Pope Francis had held daily calls with the parishGazas only Catholic church. Francis successor, Pope Leo XIV posted on X that he was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury and reiterated the need for an immediate cease-fire. The news also angered the Trump Administration. Leavitt said Thursday that Trump did not have a positive reaction to the attack and that he called Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning to address the strikes on that church in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu said in a Thursday statement that Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit the church, calling it a mistake. He said Israel was investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites. The Israel Defense Forces said in a later statement 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. The cause of the incident is under review. Israels military added, The IDF directs its strikes solely at military targets and makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and religious structures, and regrets any unintentional damage caused to them. Gazans, journalists and humanitarian organizations have recorded numerous Israeli attacks on civilian, religious, and aid sites over the course of the two-year war. Murder of Palestinian American by Israeli settlers The July 11 murder of Palestinian American Saif Musallet by a mob of Israeli settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has also incited backlash from the U.S. government. Musallets family told CBS News that he had been visiting his familys land in the town of Sinjil when he was surrounded and beaten by settlers for over three hours. The settlers blocked an ambulance and paramedics from reaching him, his family said. Musallets brother eventually carried him to an ambulance, but he died before reaching the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a rare albeit tempered criticism of Israel, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who is known to be an outspoken ally of Israeli settlers, called the attack a criminal and terrorist act. Huckabee said he asked Israel to aggressively investigate Mussallets murder. Saif was just 20 yrs old, Huckabee added. The IDF told CBS News last week that a joint investigation was launched by the Israel Police and the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Thameen Al-Kheetan sounded the alarm on rising violence by Israeli settlers and security forces in the West Bank. Israel must immediately stop these killings, harassment and home demolitions across the occupied Palestinian territory, Al-Kheetan said last week. As the occupying power, Israel must take all feasible measures to ensure public order and safety in the West Bank. It is under the obligation to protect Palestinians from settler attacks and to end the unlawful use of force by its security forces. There must be thorough, independent and transparent investigations into all killings and all other alleged violations of international law. Those responsible must be held to account. Huckabee also visited the Christian community of Taybeh in the West Bank on Saturday after a church was reportedly attacked and vandalized by Israeli settlers. To commit an act of sacrilege by desecrating a place that is supposed to be a place of worship, it is an act of terror, and it is a crime. There should be consequences, and it should be harsh consequences because it is one of the last bastions of our civilization, the places where we worship, Huckabee said in a statement. He later clarified on X that he did not attribute the cause of the arson attack on the church to anyone. Israels post-cease-fire strikes on Iran Israel came under fire directly from Trump in June when it continued to trade strikes with Iran within hours of the U.S. President publicly announcing a cease-fire. Trumps cease-fire came after nearly two weeks of attacks between Israel and Iran that the U.S. even joined militarily, bombing three key Iranian nuclear facilities, despite Trumps longtime professed aversion to military entanglement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not happy with Iran, but Im really not happy with Israel, Trump told reporters on June 24, characterizing an Iranian missile strike that Israel cited as reason to retaliate as one rocket that didnt land anywhere. Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which Ive never seen before, Trump added. The President also posted on Truth Social the same day: ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!Netanyahu appeared to heed Trumps warning at the time, as the fragile cease-fire appeared to hold and the Israeli leaders friendship with Trump seemed stronger than ever. Still, experts caution that the Trump Administrations apparent exasperation with Israel is unlikely to lead to any real change in bilateral relations. Trump is certainly showing some on-again/off-again frustration with Netanyahu. And separately Trump is shifting his focus back to privileging his business-driven relations with others in the region, particularly the Gulf states, says Phyllis Bennis, a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and director of its New Internationalism Project. But I think it would be a mistake to equate those realities with changing his position towards Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump Administration has shown frustration with Netanyahu before, but it has never translated to anything less than full support in material and diplomatic terms, says Figueroa. Its hard to imagine any red line left to be crossed that would be a tipping point for Trump. Contact us at letters@time.com. GUEST OPINION: Artificial Intelligence Appreciation Day celebrates the way AI has changed our lifes for the better. This year, we speak to AI leaders to analyse what the next wave of innovations have in store for us and its transformative impact on various industries worldwide. Vinayak Sreedhar, country head A/NZ, ManageEngine: This AI Appreciation Day, in addition to celebrating the transformative potential of AI, we must also remain cognisant of the human factors accompanying its adoption. Our recent survey of organisations across Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ) revealed that while 93 per cent of organisations have implemented AI technologies, 97 per cent of those surveyed acknowledge a lack of AI-related skills. Its clear there is a need for comprehensive and ongoing education and upskilling initiatives. These findings reflect a broader pattern across A/NZ. Businesses are eager to capitalise on the benefits of AI, but many remain unsure how to do so responsibly and sustainably. With increased reliance on AI to improve operations and customer experiences, theres growing pressure to ensure deployments are ethical and secure. At ManageEngine, we advocate for AI that supports, not supplants, human roles. By embedding AI into IT operations, security, and service management, we aim to enhance efficiency and decision-making while ensuring transparency and ethical governance. As organisations navigate the complexities of AI integration, fostering employee trust and providing adequate training are vital to harnessing AIs full potential responsibly. Only by building confidence alongside capability can we unlock the true possibilities of AI. Jason Baden, Regional Vice President, ANZ, F5: AI Appreciation Day is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible strides weve made in AI, but also to confront the responsibility that comes with it. Australias digital economy is being reshaped by AI. Not just in how organisations operate, but in how they secure and deliver digital experiences. From banks deploying AI for fraud detection to government agencies exploring automation, were seeing a clear drive toward smarter, faster, more efficient services. But with that progress comes increased risk. As more applications integrate AI models, the attack surface is expanding, and so is the pressure to ensure those systems are safe, trusted, and resilient while defending against new forms of attack. To get this right, we need more than just technical innovation. It will take collaboration between the sectors to ensure the workforce can build the skills, safeguards, and standards that will define the next phase of AI maturity in Australia. Australian organisations are right to be optimistic about AIs potential, but success will depend on how well we manage security and responsible deployment. The focus must now shift from experimentation to accountability. AI is here to stay, but now we must work together to make it safe. David Irecki, CTO, APJ at Boomi: Today, as we venture into spaces once thought improbable, we recognise the engineers, researchers, and dreamers behind AI. The ones who took radical ideas and made them a reality that is accessible to all. Our AI advances are built atop decades of research. Now its on us to continue the legacy of visionaries and ensure these systems are used in an ethical and responsible manner. We dont want AI to fall into the same traps as previous advancements, where technology overtakes governance and understanding. Lets continue to build AI and frameworks that reflect our highest values: inclusion, transparency, and trust, and create a future we can be proud of. Narain Viswanathan, Area Director ANZ at Workiva: AI is quickly moving from hype to reality - and in doing so, revolutionising financial reporting, sustainability management, audit, and risk. We have seen so many people experience the significant and positive changes AI has had on their work lives. What was once late nights, tedious work, and stressful environments have been transformed for the better by the massive advancements in AI, he said. Even just a few minutes away from a desk is making all the difference for finance, sustainability, and internal auditing professionals. During a customer panel discussion at a recent Workiva conference in Barcelona, Cognizants Environment & Sustainability Governance and Reporting Principal, Deepa Rao, noted that AIs ability to automate aspects of her work has allowed her to finally take lunch and coffee breaks again. She also shared that another member of her team has been able to automate roughly 90 per cent of their role, enabling them to direct their focus to more value-added tasks. And none of this couldve been possible if it werent for the unseen effort of innovators, researchers and engineers behind AI its driving the world towards a smarter, more efficient way of working." By Chris Prentice NEW YORK (Reuters) -The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has tapped a longtime official of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board to lead the audit watchdog, after the agency's head pushed out its Democratic chief last week. George Botic, a certified public accountant who has been a PCAOB board member since October 2023, will on Wednesday become the acting chair of the PCAOB, the SEC said in a statement late on Monday. Congress formed the nonprofit in 2002 in response to a series of high-profile accounting scandals and auditing failures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Botic said in the SEC's statement that he was honored to work with the securities regulator, which oversees the board, and PCAOB staff to meet its mission. The SEC's chairman last week asked for the resignation of Erica Williams, who had been leading the PCAOB since January 2022. Botic has worked at the PCAOB for over two decades, in a variety of roles, according to his LinkedIn profile. The change in leadership has been expected since Republicans took power in Washington earlier this year. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins has been a vocal critic of the PCAOB in the past, and Republican lawmakers earlier this year tried unsuccessfully to effectively eliminate the group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outgoing chair told Reuters she urged the incoming leadership to protect the watchdogs work. "Now is not the time to pull back from the PCAOB," Erica Williams told Reuters in an interview last week. "History tells us that in times when the economy is tight, when there is volatility, thats when people cook the books. There is an increased risk of fraud. (Reporting by Chris Prentice; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama ) GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Longtime federal prosecutor Timothy VerHey has been appointed to serve as the next U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed VerHey. He was formally sworn in Monday by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Hala Jarbou. Sign up for breaking news alert emails VerHey has served as a federal prosecutor in Grand Rapids since 1990, prosecuting cases ranging from capital murder and domestic terrorism to international fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before joining the U.S. Attorneys Office, the University of Notre Dame Law School grad clerked for Judge Harry Wellford in the U.S. Court of Appeals and worked for two years as an attorney at Warner, Norcross & Judd, which is based in Grand Rapids. I am honored that Attorney General Bondi has asked me to serve as the U.S. Attorney for this district, VerHey said in a statement. The people of West Michigan expect that I and the members of this office will apply federal law in a fair and effective manner, and that is exactly what we will do. The U.S. Attorney is the chief federal law enforcement officer for their district. The Western District of Michigan covers the western half of both of Michigans peninsulas, including approximately 1.6 million people. VerHey leads a team of more than 60 prosecutors, civil litigators and support staff. Mark Totten, nominated by former President Joe Biden, previously held the position. He resigned in January. Alexis Sanford stood in as the acting U.S. attorney for the district until VerHey was sworn in. 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. LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) Earlier this month, a ceremony was held to honor a member of the Longview Fire Department who has decided to enlist in the United States Navy. Tyler PD searching for armed and dangerous man wanted for murder The ceremony was held on July 14 to recognize Jack McGaughey, who previously served in the Marine Corps and will now be joining the Navy. McGaughey will apply the skills he has learned during his time as a paramedic for the Longview Fire Department. Courtesy of the Longview Fire Department Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Longview firefighter and Navy Commander Blaine Cardinale administered McGaugheys Oath of Enlistment during the ceremony. One of the best parts of being an officer in the Navy is getting to be a part of this incredible day for sailors, Cardinale said. With Jack and I being friends and colleagues at LFD, this was one of the most memorable enlistments Ive ever had the honor of administering. 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. July 22 (UPI) -- Firefighters in a Chicago suburb were called to a commuter train to help capture a ball python that got loose from its owner and slithered into a control box panel. The Oak Park Fire Department said in a Facebook post that firefighters responded to a CTA Green Line train at the Harlem stop on a call "for assistance in securing a pet ball python snake." The snake, named Lucius, had slithered away from its owner and made its way into a control box panel aboard the train. "We were able to open the box, secure the snake and return Lucius to a very appreciative pirate, his owner," the post said. "Not a typical rescue, but a memorable one for sure!" A wildfire burning in a sparsely populated region of central Oregon has become the largest fire this year and is on the verge of surpassing 100,000 acres to become what's officially known as a megafire. Nearly 900 personnel have been battling the Cram Fire about 100 miles (160 kilometers) southeast of Portland, and they have it about 73% contained with more than 95,000 acres burned. Here's a look at what megafires are and their increasing frequency in the warming world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is a megafire? A megafire is generally defined as a fire that burns at least 100,000 acres, said Craig Clements, a climate scientist and director of the Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center at San Jose State University. That translates to about 156 square miles (404 square kilometers), or about half the size of New York City, which has a land area of 300 square miles (778 square kilometers). Not all researchers agree that megafire is a scientifically sound term, though Clements has used it, and with its usage by the media increasing, he believes its here to stay, similar to heat dome and other popular weather labels that arent formal scientific terms. References to 100,000 acres as megafires can also be found in some government reports and research in recent years. Are megafires happening more often? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were at least 14 wildfires that burned more than 100,000 acres in the U.S. in 2024, according to a report by the National Interagency Coordination Center. A 2022 Interior Department report found that the number of megafires, which it defined as more than 100,000 acres, had increased in the preceding decade. The amount of forest area burned each year in the western U.S. has approximately tripled since the 1980s, according to Brian Harvey, professor of forest fire science at the University of Washington. The link between wildfires and climate change The link between climate change and the increasing frequency of severe wildfires is particularly noticeable in the western U.S. and the boreal forest that stretches from Canada into Alaska, Harvey said, because these fire-prone ecosystems rely on winter snowpack to provide moisture all summer, and global warming has led to less snow, melting earlier in the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wildfires naturally occur in healthy ecosystems, but extreme wildfires can slow the regrowth of native plants and trees and create favorable conditions for invasive species. The threat is growing as climate change can make wildfires more frequent and severe, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Wildfire seasons are also influenced by lightning, land management practices and human-caused fires. Fires started by humans account for 70-90% of wildfires depending on the state and year, according to the USDA. This includes fires started by fireworks or discarded cigarettes. Rising temperatures and longer droughts have dried out plants and leaves, driving wildfires in the western U.S. over the past 20 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Fires are getting bigger and this has been linked to drying of fuels from a warming climate, Clements said. Large fires are, by definition, fires that are driven by extreme weather conditions like really high temperatures, low relative humidity and strong winds, said James Johnston, assistant research professor at the University of Oregon. Climate change explains much of this weather, which is increasing the frequency of large, fast-moving fires, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When and how did the Cram Fire start? Firefighters responded to a fire burning on private land along U.S. Route 97 in the Willowdale area on July 13, according to Central Oregon Fire Information. It burned just over 2 square miles (6 square kilometers) at the time and was uncontained. By the next day, it had grown so much that Gov. Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act after county officials requested assistance, allowing the Oregon State Fire Marshal to mobilize resources to support local agencies. It was the sixth time this wildfire season that the governor invoked the act. The cause is under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What kind of damage has it caused? The fire has destroyed two homes and 14 outbuildings such as barns, pump houses, workshops or sheds, officials said. The threat to structures was significantly reduced when containment reached 73%, officials said Monday. Some evacuations remained in effect Monday, but some zones have been downgraded. ____ OMalley reported from Philadelphia and Brumfield reported from Cockeysville, Maryland. ____ The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. With Congress passing a measure to rescind $1.1 billion in previously allocated funds for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, NPR, PBS, and their member stations are bracing for major challenges ahead. This cut effectively eliminates all federal support for public media for the next two years, hitting local stations especially those in smaller and rural markets the hardest. Vital programming and educational services that rely heavily on federal dollars are now in jeopardy. Amid these political and financial headwinds, PBS rich history of Emmy-winning programs remains a testament to its unmatched contributions to television. From the beloved Sesame Street to groundbreaking documentary series like Frontline and award-winning dramas such as Downton Abbey, PBS has built a legacy of excellence, earning more than 1,000 Emmys and shaping Americas cultural and educational landscape for decades. Heres a look at some of PBS most celebrated and award-winning programs. More from Gold Derby Sesame Street Sesame Street, the iconic educational children's television series combining live-action, puppetry, animation, and sketch comedy, was created by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett and produced by Sesame Workshop (formerly the Children's Television Workshop). Renowned for its use of Jim Henson's Muppets and its unique blend of educational content, humor, and cultural references, the show premiered on Nov. 10, 1969. Over the decades, it has earned hundreds of Emmy Awards across Daytime, Primetime, and Children's & Family ceremonies. Originally airing on PBS, its first-run episodes transitioned to HBO in 2016, then to HBO Max in 2020, and are set to debut on Netflix in 2025. The PBS program has won multiple Emmys for Best Children's Program and achievements in writing, directing, and performing. In 2009, Sesame Street received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 36th Daytime Emmys in recognition of its 40 years on the air. Masterpiece Home to beloved series like Wolf Hall, Sherlock, and Victoria, Masterpiece has earned numerous Primetime Emmy Awards for its outstanding dramas. Most notably, Downton Abbey won Best Movie/Miniseries in 2011, launching the critically acclaimed series that went on to earn 69 Emmy nominations and 15 wins. These include awards for directing, writing, cinematography, costumes, hairstyling, music, production design, and acting, with Maggie Smith earning three Supporting Actress Emmys for her iconic role as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham. American Masters This documentary series profiling cultural icons has earned 27 Emmys since debuting on PBS in 1986. Created by Susan Lacy, American Masters has since become a hallmark of excellence in documentary storytelling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frontline PBS's flagship investigative journalism series has won over 100 News and Documentary Emmys for reporting, documentary filmmaking, and coverage of critical global and domestic issues since debuting in 1983. PBS News Hour Known for its in-depth reporting and analysis, PBS News Hour earned a Primetime Emmy in 1977 for Achievement in Broadcast Journalism. It has since won eight News and Documentary Emmys. Created in 1975, it is broadcast on over 350 PBS member stations and airs seven nights per week. Nature Winner of two Primetime Emmys, Nature a wildlife documentary series has earned 69 News and Documentary Emmy nominations, including nine wins for cinematography, music and sound, research, and nature programming. The weekly one-hour program debuted in 1982. Antiques Roadshow Based on the original British series that debuted in 1979, the American reboot first aired in 1997 and has earned 23 Primetime Emmy nominations including this year for Best Structured Reality Program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Great Performances A showcase for theater, dance, opera, and music specials, Great Performances has won 29 Primetime Emmys for its exceptional production quality and presentation of performing arts. The PBS staple has been on since 1972 and continues to air new episodes. Nova This acclaimed science documentary series has earned numerous awards for its ability to present complex scientific topics in an engaging and accessible way, including Emmys for writing and directing. Debuting in 1974, Nova has produced nearly 1,000 episodes and is broadcast in more than 100 countries. The series has been recognized with Emmy Awards for 16 different installments, solidifying its reputation as one of the most influential and enduring programs in science television. This Old House The pioneering home improvement show that debuted in 1979 has been nominated for more than 100 Emmy Awards, including multiple Daytime Emmys for categories like Outstanding Lifestyle Program, Outstanding Directing, and Outstanding Host for its long-time experts like Bob Vila, Norm Abram, and Kevin O'Connor. It was nominated 11 times for Best Daytime Talk Series, winning in 1983, and is the fifth-most nominated series in the category behind Donahue, Live, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and The View. Best of Gold Derby Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Californias expanded film and TV tax credit program couldnt arrive soon enough for Los Angeles production workers, as the latest FilmLA report showed that on-location shoot days dropped again by 6.2% year-over-year. The drop is largely attributable to feature film shoots, which fell 21% from Q2 2024 to just 553 shoot days, as well as commercials, which are not eligible for tax credit incentives and recorded 692 shoot days, down 15% from the previous quarter. More from TheWrap Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The one bright spot was an increase for television shoots, which logged 2,224 shoot days for the best quarter for the category since the start of last year. TV dramas, with 782 shoot days, did the most filming since the 2023 strikes ended, while reality TV at 1,124 days had its best quarter since Q1 2024. Starting this quarter, the California Film Commission will begin providing tax credits to applying productions under the states expanded program, which was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this month as part of the states budget. Half-hour TV productions and large-scale competition shows are among the projects that have been added to the eligibility list while the overall cap for the program has been increased from $330 million to $750 million, with $75 million of that allotted to independent productions. While there is work ahead to bring Los Angeles-area production back to its full potential, we are optimistic and grounded in our mission to keep production affordable, accessible and straightforward, FilmLA president Paul Audley said in a Tuesday statement. We look forward to our continuing conversations with government officials and our partners in the industry to see the full fruition of the economic, cultural, and employment benefits that Los Angeless film ecosystem offers to our community. The post Los Angeles Production Declines 6.2% in Final FilmLA Report Before Tax Incentive Expansion appeared first on TheWrap. The Los Angeles Times is set to go public, thats according to billionaire owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, who made the surprise announcement in an interview with Jon Stewart on Mondays episode of The Daily Show. In a wide-ranging interview, Soon-Shiong spoke about his medical research work as well as his ownership of the Times. After Stewart asked whether there was a conflict of interest in Soon-Shiong seeking FDA approval for some of his businesses as well as owning a major newspaper, the billionaire replied that he would look to take L.A. Times public, [for it] to be democratized. And allow the public to have ownership of this paper, to move away from ethics concerns. Soon-Shiong said he hoped the move to take the Times public would happen over the next year, and he was working with an organization to make it happen. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon-Shiong, a South African-American transplant surgeon and medical researcher turned pharmaceuticals billionaire, acquired the Los Angeles Times, as well as the San Diego Tribune and some other assets, for $500 million in 2018. In an interview for PBS at the time of the purchase, Soon-Shiong explained his reasons for buying the Times. Its so important for democracy. Its important for education. Its important for this country. And its an institution that I think we need to protect, Soon-Shiong said. I grew up in Apartheid South Africa, the only thing that was my respite was the newspaper. Under Soon-Shiong, however, the Times, particularly in the past few years, has been beset with internal problems and external criticism as the paper faces declining readership and struggles to keep a lid on growing political and ideological differences between staff and ownership. Last year proved to be something of an annus horribilis for the Times, beginning with the high-profile exit of top editor Kevin Merida and reports of a tug-of-war for control over the Times. The year also saw threats of a newsroom walkout from staff, a round of layoffs, the exit of star critic Justin Chang and most seismic of all, the decision by the paper not to endorse a candidate for the 2024 presidential election. The non-endorsement scandal became a national story, and Soon-Shiong faced fierce criticism, with a number of top editors including Robert Greene, Mariel Garza and Karin Klein resigning from the Times. Vice President Kamala Harris called non-endorsement from the paper disappointing. Post-election, Soon-Shiong has looked to shift the Times image as an avowedly liberal paper and done interviews with the likes of Fox News outlining his push to make the Times cover views both sides. Weve conflated news and opinion, Soon-Shiong said in the appearance on Fox News @ Night in November. So, the first thing I want to do is ensure that we explicit say, This is news. And if its news, it should just be the facts, period. And if its an opinion, thats maybe an opinion of the news, and thats what I call now a voice.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, Soon-Shiong again raised eyebrows among the papers staff with the introduction of an AI-powered feature that analyzes stories for their political viewpoint. The newspapers new Insights tool, which situates stories along the political spectrum, risks further eroding confidence in the news, said one union leader. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. President Donald Trump promised Americans they would get tired of winning for now, it appears they are getting tired of reading about him. Trumps first term saw books authored by prominent journalists sell hundreds of thousands of copies each as the public rushed to learn the inside details of Trumps norm-shattering presidency. But similar books arent exactly flying off the shelves in his second term, and the bar to getting onto the coveted New York Times bestseller list has been lowered as the overall nonfiction book market has dipped. In these tenuous times for the nonfiction political book market, industry insiders say there are fewer big advances being paid and narrower routes to success that rely on brand-name authors or a partisan perspective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone is desperately looking for the next Michael Wolff or James Comey for next year, but its not clear there could ever be one again, said one concerned publisher, referencing two of the authors with biggest book successes of Trumps first term. Theres definitely a slump, and its across all of nonfiction, added a book agent. Part of it is that we were just actually tired of this, and were exhausted, and we dont want to spend 30 bucks and six or eight hours of our time feeling worse. (Publishing insiders and authors were granted anonymity for this story because they didnt have authorization to speak from their employers or wanted to speak candidly about the state of the industry.) The latest example is 2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America, by political journalists Josh Dawsey, Tyler Pager and Isaac Arnsdorf. 2024 sold roughly 6,000 hardcover copies in the first week of publication, according to data released last Wednesday from NPD BookScan. Yet even with that sales figure, it hit the New York Times bestseller list at No. 4. (The Times bestseller list does not disclose its data sources.) It has become somewhat easier to get on to the Times bestseller list because it measures comparable sales across the board. One point of comparison: In a similar week in July 2017, the No. 4 book on the Times nonfiction list was former Sen. Al Frankens book, which had been out for weeks and still sold almost 11,000 copies that week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dawsey and Pager referred a request for comment to a publicist for their publisher, who said she was "very happy" with sales, while Arnsdorf didnt respond to a request for comment. Their agent Elyse Cheney said the numbers, including all formats, far exceed the BookScan figure but declined to give exact numbers. A person with direct knowledge of the sales said they were more than double 6,000 including all formats, and that e-book and audio sales were almost as high as print sales. (BookScan data is not a full account of a books success as it captures around 70 percent of hardcover sales and does not track e-book and audio uploads.) They are three great reporters, but they have a difficult time finding an audience, because at the end of the day, they play it pretty straight, said another book agent. A fundamental question in our divided politics, and its just as true for publishing who are you marketing to? Are you selling a book to the MSNBC crowd or the Fox News crowd? Theres very little in between. To wit: Butler: The Untold Story of the Near Assassination of Donald Trump and the Fight for Americas Heartland, by conservative journalist Salena Zito, came out the same week as 2024 and sold about 23,000 hardcover copies, according to BookScan numbers, hitting No. 1 on the Times bestseller list. Zito said in a statement that she was deeply humbled by this ranking and grateful to President Trump, who interviewed with me dozens of times for the book and generously encouraged people to read it. Trump posted about the book on social media, including sharing a preorder link before its publication. Thats a book thats being published to the MAGAs. So those books are always different in their numbers, said a book agent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This follows other second-term Trump books experiencing lackluster sales. Trump in Exile, by the Wall Street Journals Meridith McGraw, has sold roughly 2,000 copies since its release last August, according to BookScan. Axios Alex Isenstadts Revenge: The Inside Story of Trumps Return to Power, published in March, has sold around 3,000 copies so far, according to BookScan. McGraw and Isenstadt declined to comment. Author Michael Wolff became one of the masters of the Trump genre with 2018s Fire and Fury, which sold more than 25,000 copies during its first week on sale in 2018 and went on to sell more than 900,000. But the writer sold only around 3,000 print copies during the equivalent first week publicity campaign for his latest installment All or Nothing: How Trump Recaptured America, published in March. (It has now sold around 11,000 copies, according to BookScan.) As these books have posted middling sales figures, publishers are finding it hard to justify signing big advances for new Trump books. Thats made it more difficult for political journalists to get lucrative book deals. Editors are not spending anywhere near the amount of money that they did this time eight years ago, said one of the book agents. The days of just writing a book to write a book and checking the box for someones career those days are over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are taking on fewer projects in the space because the ones that we do take on, they basically have to rise to a mid six- or seven-figure deal, said the agent. The person said that they talk with publishers who speak of a lot of fatigue in the market and that there has to be a clear path on either breaking news or a wow factor for a book to get that kind of money today. The skepticism in the marketplace for political nonfiction, particularly Trump books, has led publishers and agents to try to get authors who are big brand names with built-in fan bases like Ezra Klein or Jake Tapper. Both have seen significant success this year with their books Abundance (co-written with Derek Thompson) and Original Sin, respectively. Abundance has sold roughly 146,000 copies since its publication in March, according to BookScan. Tapper, one of the most prominent CNN anchors, was attached to Axios Alex Thompsons Biden book project after his book deal had been cancelled. Original Sin, which focused more on the 46th president than the 47th, became a No. 1 Times bestseller for two weeks and was on the bestseller list for almost two months. It has sold about 97,000 copies since its publication in May, according to BookScan. You gotta have podcasts or TV, unfortunately, these days, said one of the book agents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authors are well aware of readers news exhaustion after a decade of Trump dominating the political conversation. Trump as an angry president yelling at clouds is not news anymore, said one author of a recent political book. News is what sells books. Trumps first term saw multiple major sellers besides Fire and Fury. Bob Woodwards Fear sold 1.1 million copies in all formats in its first week, and Simon and Schuster called it the bestselling book in company history. The Room Where It Happened, the explosive 2020 memoir by former national security adviser John Bolton, and A Higher Loyalty, by former FBI Director James Comey, each logged more than 600,000 sales within their first few years of publication. [Trump] is so familiar to everyone by now, and people are less shocked by new revelations because it enforces their own ideas about who he is or they just dont care, said an author of a recent Trump book. There have been some other bright spots for the industry this year. NBC News Jonathan Allen and The Hills Amie Parnes registered success with their 2024 election book Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House, which entered the Times list at No. 1 and has been optioned to become a feature film. The authors said in a statement they are proud of our unmatched behind-the-scenes reporting on the last three presidential elections and deeply humbled by the response to their latest work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dawsey, Pager, Arnsdorf, McGraw, Isenstadt, Allen, Parnes and Alex Thompson all previously worked for POLITICO. Still, the broader shift in the markets appetite for Trump books is clear. During the Biden presidency, books by former Trump aides similarly failed to generate much interest. (Biden books didnt tend to sell well, either.) The author of the recent Trump book said they didnt even ask their publisher how many copies it sold. I didnt go into it being like, Im going to make a bunch of money off of it, said the author. I had a good advance, and I went into it for the experience of it, and as a reporting exercise, and a chance to put a mark on a certain moment in time that I knew really well and covered really closely. ST. MARTIN PARISH, La. (KLFY) The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Spanish Lake Game and Fishing Preserve Commission held a preliminary meeting to explore options for restoring the historic Spanish Lake. The lake, which lies in both Iberia and St. Martin Parish, has become harder to access in recent years. Fishing success has dropped dramatically, largely due to an estimated 17 feet of sediment that has accumulated at the bottom. Spanish Lake Game and Fishing Preserve Commission member, David Tate, says current habitat conditions make it difficult for fish populations to thrive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The habitat there is not conducive for fish reproduction, said Tate. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest He explains removing the sediment would be the first crucial step toward any effective renovation. The bottom sediment has to be removed, said Tate. The lake is slowly filling up and when the lake was made back in the 50s it was a shallow lake to begin with, and its filled with up to 17 feet of sediment. The last major improvements to the lake occurred in the 1990s, when LDWF cleared vegetation, added infrastructure, and stocked gamefish. Since then, siltation, poor bottom structure, and low oxygen levels have continued to degrade the lakes ecosystem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, the commission and LDWF are working on a new restoration strategy. They will have a skeletal plan and then we will look at that and then have questions and flesh that out, said Tate. We hope that by the spring, well have something to present to our legislators. Officials say any future plan will aim not only to restore the fishery, but also to support long-term sustainability of Spanish Lake as a public resource. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. [Provisional translation] On July 22, commencing at 3:00 pm for approximately 50 minutes, Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, held a Japan-Papua New Guinea Summit Meeting with Hon. Mr. James Marape, Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, who was paying a visit to Japan as an official Guest of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The overview of the meeting is as follows. Prime Minister Ishiba sincerely welcomed Prime Minister Marape's visit to Japan on the occasion of Papua New Guinea's National Day of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, on July 21, and expressed his desire to further strengthen relations with Papua New Guinea, that will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year. In response, Prime Minister Marape expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome he received during his visit to Japan and his desire to further develop the relationship between the two countries. Regarding bilateral relations, Prime Minister Ishiba stated that Japan has been contributing to the development of Papua New Guinea in a wide range of areas, including education, infrastructure development, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and that notes on provision of facilities and training vessels to the National Fisheries University were signed and exchanged last month. Expressing his appreciation for the understanding of the project for collecting the remains of the war dead, he also stated that security cooperation has been progressing, and that he would like to materialize cooperation through OSA (Official Security Assistance). In response, Prime Minister Marape expressed his understanding and cooperation for the project for collecting the remains of the war dead and his gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for their cooperation with Papua New Guinea. AUSTIN (Nexstar) Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced Tuesday 16 bills in the Texas Senate to be filed for the first called special session. Senate Bills 1 through 16 are reserved for the highest priority legislation, and they correspond to the 18 agenda items put forth by Gov. Greg Abbott in his proclamation calling a special session of the legislature. The first three bills on the list are in response to the devastating Independence Day Floods in the Hill Country. SB 1 is a bill for preparation and recovery from natural disasters. It has not been filed yet, but will be filed by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock. SB 2 is a bill to improve flood emergency warnings and communications and will be filed by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston. SB 3 is a relief funding package for the Hill Country and will be filed by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 4 will address mid-decade congressional redistricting, which the state decided to move forward with following direction from the Trump administration. Trump has said he wants Republicans in Texas to draw five new seats to help the GOP hold the U.S. House in 2026. Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, will file the bill, and he will also chair the Senate Committee on Redistricting. King was questioned Monday for hours by Democrats who voiced their opposition to the effort. Redistricting takes center stage on day one of special session SB 5 is the special session version of SB 3 from the 2025 regular session, which would ban all THC products in the state of Texas, including those derived from hemp, currently legal under state and federal law. Abbott vetoed the THC ban after the regular session and called for lawmakers to create a regulatory bill, not a ban, during the special session. Perry filed the bill, which was scheduled for a public hearing Tuesday. SB 6 is a bill to protect unborn children, which will be filed by Sen. Brian Hughes, R-Tyler. Abortion is already almost totally banned in Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 7 is a bill to protect womens spaces, referring to Abbotts call item to require individuals to use the bathroom that corresponds to their biological sex as opposed to their gender identity. The bill will be filed by Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston. Texas Senate votes for anti-trans bill restricts bathrooms use, other private spaces SB 8 is a bill to eliminate the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) Test, the states standardized test required for all K-12 students. A bill to ban the test failed during the regular session. The bill will be filed by Bettencourt. Bettencourt will also carry SB 9, to cut property taxes. SB 10 is a bill aimed at protecting victims of human trafficking and will be filed by Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 11 is a bill to grant the attorney general the power to prosecute election-related offenses; it was filed by Hughes. SB 12 would ban taxpayer-funded lobbying efforts and was filed by Middleton. SB 13 would create incentives for developers to build water-conserving projects. Water has become an issue of heightened concern as the state continues to grow rapidly. The bill was filed by Perry. SB 14 addresses records of police personnel maintained by law enforcement agencies. The bill was filed by King, but does not yet have a full text available. SB 15 aims to stop title theft and deed fraud for properties and will be carried by Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB 16 is a mega-bill related to the states judiciary and will be carried by Hughes. The special session convened on Monday and can last for up to 30 days. Only bills relating to items on the governors call can be introduced in a special session. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) A Lubbock woman has been booked after being indicted by a Tom Green County grand jury for allegedly burglarizing a Tom Green County residence, robbing two people with a knife and kidnapping them. According to records filed in Tom Green County, an indictment was filed on July 10. The indictment document states that Hannah Salinas, 23, was indicted on two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon and one count of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony. Each count has a set bond of $100,000, with a combined total of $500,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salinas was booked in Lubbock County on July 18. She would then be booked into the Tom Green County Detention Center on July 21. Remains of San Angelo man missing for years returning home The indictment record states that a Tom Green County jury indicted Salinas on two counts of aggravated robbery for allegedly threatening or placing two individuals in fear of imminent bodily injury or death while committing property theft in Tom Green County on Dec. 21, 2024. She was also accused of using or exhibiting a deadly weapon, namely a knife, during this act. Salinas was indicted on two counts of aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon for reportedly abducting the two individuals described in the aggravated robbery indictments on Dec. 21, 2024. She allegedly did so by restraining their movements, moving them from one place to another where they were not likely to be found and using or exhibiting a knife in the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salinas was indicted on one count of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony for reportedly burglarizing the home of the two individuals described in the previous indictments on Dec. 21, 2024, and attempting to commit the felony offense of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She was also accused in the record of having used or exhibited a knife during this time. Daniel Betell is listed as a codefendant in the case. Betell was booked into the Tom Green County Detention Center on Jan. 29 on similar charges and has a jury trial scheduled for Oct. 6, and as of the time of publication, court records filed in Tom Green County state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. A Worcester man plans to invest after winning $1 million on a scratch ticket, lottery officials said Monday. Mark DuBois of Worcester is the winner of a $1 million prize in the Massachusetts State Lotterys $4,000,000 Cash King Doubler instant ticket game. DuBois chose the cash option on his prize and received a one-time payment of $650,000, before taxes. He purchased his winning ticket at Brattle Stop Pizza, 1 Brattle St. in Worcester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The store will receive a $10,000 bonus for its sale of this ticket. 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 Early last year, 26-year-old Caitlin Monachan received a devastating diagnosis. She has Niemann-Pick disease, an ultra-rare genetic disorder caused by a missing enzyme, where toxic material builds up in the body, fatally damaging the lungs, liver and spleen. There is no cure but there is a wonder drug that considerably extends life, not by years but by decades. In adults the drug Xenpozyme could mean 30 more years of healthy life. For a child with early access, it could mean normal life expectancy. Xenpozyme is saving patients lives in 22 countries around the world. But not Monachans. The drug has been rejected for approval for use on the NHS, and in a little over a weeks time the window for renegotiation closes for good. For Monachan and other patients like her, that is tantamount to a death sentence. Its gut-wrenching, its heartbreaking, that I dont get the treatment just because I live in the UK, Monachan tells me when I visit her in Belfast. There is one other person in Northern Ireland [with Niemann-Pick disease] who has the treatment on compassionate grounds. Why does she get it and not me? If I want a fulfilling life, I need it. It can get your symptoms back to normal. I just want to be normal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monachans doctor had applied for compassionate use, where patients with serious or life-threatening conditions are given drugs not yet approved for general use when no other suitable treatment options are available, but the request was denied. Monachan is the loser in a cruel drug lottery. Soon after her diagnosis, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) announced it would not approve Xenpozyme for use on the NHS as it is too expensive. Despite lobbying from NPUK, the only UK charity dedicated to the condition, the NHS, NICE and Sanofi the pharmaceutical company that developed the drug have shown no flexibility on price, meaning that negotiations are at a stalemate. Toni Mathieson, the chief executive of NPUK, explains: NICE have indicated that there is still a window for negotiation but the deadline is 10 days away on August 1. If nothing changes, the window to secure access will then close indefinitely. Monachans doctor applied for her to be granted compassionate use of Xenpozyme, but the request was denied - Eilish McCormick Thats why NPUK is desperately trying to change the tides on this devastating decision, led by Mathieson, who herself has lost three children to the disease. Earlier this month, Mathieson attended the All-Party Parliamentary Group on rare, genetic and undiagnosed conditions in Parliament. Her mission was to lobby MPs to signal to Sanofi that the NHS is willing to go back to the negotiating table. The charity has urged people to write to their local MP, to Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, and to Paul Hudson, Sanofis chief executive. With the final deadline fast approaching, Monachan and her family are losing hope. We are speaking at the kitchen table in Monachans flat-share, while her mother, Moya, joins on the phone from Germany. Despite living in different countries, its clear they are close. When she got her diagnosis, I said, You were Caitlin yesterday, and the only difference is youre Caitlin today with an answer, which is always a good thing, Moya says. We had the encouragement of knowing that there was a treatment thats curative. Finding out that it wasnt available for Monachan, however, was like a gut punch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For as long as she can remember, Monachan has suffered a range of debilitating and seemingly random symptoms. Growing up in southern England, she had persistent migraines, fatigue and insomnia, and broke so many bones she was jokingly nicknamed Calamity Caitlin by her family. She bled excessively from minor injuries. I bleed a lot because I dont tend to clot, she says. So Im on my period for 20 days of the month, which is hard. She is small, but so is her mother, so her parents didnt think anything of it. An optician once noticed that she had a cherry-red spot on her retina another telltale sign of Niemann-Pick but it is so rare that no one connected the signs. Caitlin was plagued by seemingly random symptoms throughout her childhood It was when the family moved to Munich for her father Andrews job in the automotive industry, in 2014, and got private health insurance that a doctor discovered other unusual symptoms during a routine medical examination: high cholesterol and an enlarged spleen. Monachan was prescribed statins, and after finishing school, moved to Belfast to be near extended family while she completed a college course in professional cookery. A part-time job at a restaurant chain followed, but Monachan continued to struggle with overwhelming fatigue and bone pain. When I come home from work, I have to soak my feet in the bath for an hour because my bones get so sore, she says. She cannot socialise like other people her age, or work full time. The reason for this remained a medical mystery until she was referred to Dr Paul Hamilton, a consultant chemical pathologist in Belfast who runs a specialist clinic for lipid disorders. He asked, Have you ever heard of Niemann-Pick disease? Monachan says. I was just like, no. And he explained that its a disease that affects the fat breakdown in your body because you dont have a particular enzyme. Looking at Caitlin now, youd think she was fine, Moya says of her daughter. But thats how she is now, thats not her future. Caitlin has no guarantee of life expectancy. Theres no guarantee she will stay this way the build-up in her organs will impact her life more and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Xenpozyme stops this build-up in its tracks by replacing the enzyme acid sphingomyelinase that is deficient in patients with Niemann-Pick disease. The drug has been in development since the late 1990s, and in such a small community of patients around 36 people in the UK have Monachans subtype of the condition many of that number were actively involved with clinical trials in some way. It is so rare, in fact, that every sufferer in the UK or their parents or caregivers can gather for an annual conference run by NPUK. Monachan attended in April this year. I got to meet so many other people with the same condition, she says. Unfortunately for me, most of them are actually on treatment on compassionate grounds. That was really frustrating to hear. There is no guarantee, however, that their treatment can continue. With the final deadline fast approaching, Caitlin Monachan and her family are losing hope - Eilish McCormick To say that the medicine is expensive is something of an understatement. NPUK estimates that giving 36 patients access to Xenpozyme would cost the NHS 20m a year about 0.01 per cent of the total NHS budget. The charity says it does not know the cost per patient, but NICE guidelines for the condition state that the medication costs 3,612 per 20mg vial, excluding VAT. It is administered through fortnightly infusions at a recommended dose of 3mg for each kilogram of body weight, so, based on these figures, each treatment would cost nearly 38,000 for a person who weighed 70kg. However, for such a small group of patients, the charity still believes the drug could be affordable if Sanofi, the French pharmaceutical company that produces it, and the NHS could be persuaded to go back to the table. We arent allowed to be involved in the negotiation on cost, but based on the information that we have, we believe that it will cost 20 million a year, says Mathieson. She describes this as a small amount to save peoples lives. She adds, I really feel there is no point in developing a drug if the people who its meant for cant access it. Surely there has to be an answer or an arrangement that can be reached? Mathiesons eldest daughter, Lucy, was diagnosed with a severe form of Niemann-Pick at five weeks old. She didnt meet any milestones. She never walked. By the age of two, she could crawl a little bit, but by the age of two and a half, shed lost all of those skills. And from then, we were on a bit of a slippery slope to the end, really. In that time, devastatingly, Mathieson and her husband had two more children who died shortly after birth from Niemann-Pick. Lucy defied doctors predictions of her life expectancy and survived for two more years, but died aged four. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a mum, the only thing that brought me hope was the hope of a treatment or a therapy that was just around the corner, Mathieson says. Of course, our patients and families have lived with that hope and now theyre being left with no choice but best supportive care, which means visiting hospitals a lot and experiencing increasingly challenging symptoms that are progressive and severe and will lead to an early death. Toni Mathieson lost her daughter Lucy to Niemann-Pick at the age of four When contacted, a NICE spokesman said: We were disappointed not to be able to recommend olipudase alfa [the medical name for Xenpozyme], and we realise the decision was disappointing for people with Niemann-Pick disease and those who care for them. Unfortunately, both the companys and the independent external advisory groups cost-effectiveness estimates compared with standard care were over 300,000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained. So even when taking into account the substantial effect of olipudase alfa on quality and length of life, the cost-effectiveness estimates are higher than what NICE usually considers an acceptable use of NHS resources for highly specialised technologies. Francesca Buzer, an Essex-based mother of two boys, has seen the difference the drug can make first hand. Her son Dexter was just one when he became ill. As a baby, he was completely fine, and then when he was about one, I started to notice that he had a really bloated belly, she says. I thought he had some kind of food allergy. When his stomach got so large he was struggling to eat, Buzer took him to the doctors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That August, when he was about one and a half, I had him seen, and they said he had an absolutely giant liver and had to go straight to hospital. Dexters liver and spleen were so big they stretched from his chest to his groin. I thought he would die, Buzer says. It was a very traumatic, scary time. The local hospital didnt know what was wrong, so they were transferred to Kings College Hospital in London to see a liver specialist, and then to Evelina London Childrens Hospital. They told us that he had Niemann-Pick disease, that its extremely rare, and that at that point there was nothing available to help him, Buzer says. Everything fell apart. However, there was a drug thats compassionate-use only, and they would have to put a case together for Dexter and wait for that. He was accepted in March 2023, and it changed his life overnight. Francesca Buzer initially thought Dexter (pictured as a baby) was having problems with allergies - Amy Whittingham Photography Within three months, he had bounced back to being like any other boisterous, energetic four-year-old. He was able to attend pre-school for the first time (before the medication, he wasnt allowed to go because of the risk of infection). Hes such a friendly little laddie, very cheeky and confident. Its been amazing, Buzer says. I dont know what else to say its been completely life-changing. Dexters access to the treatment is secured despite NICEs decision not to approve it for us on the NHS. But that has done nothing to assuage Buzers worries about it being stopped in the future. Thats scary really, really scary, she says. Theres always a what if. What if it stops? They could stop it at any point if they dont want to pay out for it anymore. Thats what it boils down to, for her, for Monachan, and for everyone affected by this cruel disease: the value of their life being calculated in monetary value. Its now the final countdown. Will they be saved? 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. FORDYCE, Ark. A year and a month after the mass shooting in Fordyce, the gunman accused of all the bloodshed has changed his plea to guilty. Travis Eugene Poses, a 45-year-old from New Edinburg, appeared in Ouachita County Circuit Court for a pre-trial hearing Monday morning. He has been held at the Ouachita County Detention Center since his arrest. Travis Posey pleads guilty to Fordyce 2024 Mad Butcher mass shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was facing four counts of capital murder and 11 counts of attempted capital murder and pleaded guilty to all counts. Victims families were among the audience on Monday. 23-year-old Callie Weems, 50-year-old Roy Sturgis, 52-year-old Shirley Taylor and 81-year-old Ellen Shrum lost their lives on June 21, 2024. Sherry Jones lives in Fordyce. Like many in Fordyce, she lost a friend, Ellen Shrum, and nearly lost more had they been near the towns only full-service grocery store. She was a close friend of mine. Her husband is a cousin. Ive done her hair for years, and we were really close, Jones explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FBI statistics show Arkansas tops nation in 2024 Active Shooter report Travis Eugene Poseys plea was not guilty for over a year until he signed this guilty plea statement on Wednesday. He finalized the plea on Monday. I dont see how he could have even thought about pleading not guilty because everybody saw it, Jones stated. Billy Lee shops at Mad Butcher often and says even though the stores inside has been fixed, it will take longer for the community to heal from what Posey pleaded guilty to. I dont know what his (Poseys) problem is. Nobody knows what his problem is, Lee said. As part of the plea agreement, the prosecution is recommending Posey receive four sentences of life without parole. One for each murder charge. They are also recommending eleven 20-year sentences, one for each attempted murder charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just really been hard on the town, the people, and kids. Its affected just everybody here, and its just sad, and Im glad that its coming to a close, Jones said. Who is Travis Posey? Look into the Fordyce mass shooting suspects background Investigators have not released any motive for this mass shooting, and Arkansas State Police said Poseys criminal history before the mass shooting was nearly nonexistent. Poseys next court date will be Aug. 4 at 10 a.m. where statements from victims will be read. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Last week, congressional Republicans narrowly approved a White House rescissions package, clawing back roughly $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helps fund local public television and radio stations around the country, and roughly $8 billion from the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The measure a breathtaking example of GOP lawmakers ceding their authority to the White House at the presidents insistence was soon after signed into law by Donald Trump, at which point House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared on Fox News and declared, The Republican Party is the party of fiscal responsibility, and we are demonstrating that day after day. That the Louisiana Republican could deliver such a line with a straight face was rather unsettling. Indeed, just one day after Johnson made the comment, the public received fresh evidence about just how little the GOP actually cares about fiscal responsibility. NBC News reported: President Donald Trumps 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 report the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office published Monday. 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. According to the CBOs revised score, the $3.4 trillion figure does not include additional interest costs. With those additional figures factored in, the Republicans megabill is poised to add over $4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What was Johnson saying about the Republican Party being the party of fiscal responsibility? This isnt an especially new phenomenon. In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan and his party racked up some of the largest budget deficits in modern times. In the 1990s, Bill Clinton and his party eliminated the budget deficit altogether and started paying off the debt. Then George W. Bush took office, at which point Republicans put two wars, two tax cuts, Medicare expansion and a Wall Street bailout on the national credit card and made no effort to pay for any of it. Then-Vice President Dick Cheney declared that deficits dont matter, and a GOP senator famously said it was standard practice not to pay for things in the Bush era. Barack Obama managed to shrink the deficit by $1 trillion, before Trump added nearly $8 trillion to the national debt in his first term most of it before the Covid crisis before the deficit shrank again during Joe Bidens term. Put another way, the fight over the party of fiscal responsibility label is over before it starts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That said, the GOPs megabill is a game-changer, to the extent that it makes matters worse in new and dramatic ways. The New York Times reported earlier this month that the far-right domestic policy package doesnt just add trillions of dollars to the debt, it also reduces the amount of tax revenue the country collects for decades. Such a shortfall could begin a seismic shift in the nations fiscal trajectory and raise the risk of a debt crisis, the Times added. Whether the House speaker understands this or not, fiscal responsibility is one of his partys biggest weaknesses, no matter how eager he is to pretend otherwise. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com About 120 people attend the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners meeting on July 21 in Portland to urge the county jail to stop housing people for federal immigration authorities. (Photo by Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star) Public pressure for Maines largest jail to end its contract with federal immigration authorities has continued to grow but so far elected officials have not taken action to reconsider the agreement. Roughly 120 people packed the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday night, spilling into the halls, to call for the county jail to stop housing people for federal immigration authorities, the third monthly meeting that has seen public comment dominated by this demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce told Maine Morning Star the detention work done by the county is separate from the enforcement tactics being used by federal immigration authorities, which meeting attendees condemned as unlawful. But the majority of the public at the meeting argued the federal government cant carry out its immigration policies without cooperation from county jails like Cumberland. Your inaction so far has been a choice and that is a choice to be complicit with the ICE deportation machine, said Portland resident Lara Rosen. The number of people detained under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement orders at the facility in Portland has hovered at roughly 100 per month since President Donald Trump took office, a sizable jump under his presidency, according to data Maine Morning Star obtained through public record requests. Many of those demanding Cumberland County Jail stop housing people for federal immigration authorities were brought together by a grassroots group called No ICE for Maine, which has collected nearly 3,000 petition signatures in support of that aim, according to member Jack OBrien, who is a math professor at Bowdoin College. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are right at the beginning of an exponential change in how ICE is funded and the architecture and the infrastructure, OBrien told Maine Morning Star ahead of the meeting. Now is the moment to get out, rather than to get enmeshed in this enormous deportation machine. OBrien is referring to the spending bill Trump signed into law earlier this month securing unprecedented funds more than $170 billion for immigration enforcement, including for detention and hiring new agents. It is unclear yet whether or how such allocations will be used in Maine but members of the group argue canceling the contract between Maines largest jail and federal immigration authorities could jam up these expansion efforts. The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners hears demands from the public to terminate the county jails contract with federal immigration authorities during a July 21 meeting in Portland. (Photo by Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star) Members of the public requested the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners vote on whether to continue the county jails contract with federal authorities at its next meeting in August, but the board did not commit to such an action. James Cloutier, the commissioner representing most of Portland, told Maine Morning Star the board expects to convene a fully informed discussion on the matter in the coming weeks and by the conclusion of its work determine whether the termination of the ICE agreements would be helpful or harmful to the persons in custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration law is complex, ICE activities directly challenge constitutional protections for all persons regardless of citizenship status and the federal resources being newly directed at augmented enforcement activities are astonishing in scope, Cloutier added. We appear to be at the beginning of a prolonged and discouraging process. The four other commissioners did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication. Detention numbers Unlike many other states, Maine doesnt have a dedicated U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, which means local jails are relied on for detentions. Jails across the state temporarily detain immigrants at the request of ICE in the absence of contracts with federal authorities but at least four facilities have official agreements of some sort. Some of these contracts have been longstanding, such as the one at Cumberland County Jail, however at least one jail just entered into a contract in recent weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cumberland County Sheriffs Office doesnt have a direct contract with ICE but has had a contract with the U.S. Marshal Service since July 2010. Under this contract, Cumberland County Jail is given a daily rate to house federal detainees, including people awaiting a hearing on their immigration status or deportation. Last summer, the jail lifted a restriction on intake due to staffing shortages. While ICE detentions had occurred prior to the pause, they increased steadily after, reaching about 50 detentions per month before Trump took office on Jan. 20 but then doubled in the following months. Maine Morning Star reported earlier this spring that the jail was seeing the highest number of detentions in the state, which remains the case. The jail had 68 people detained under immigration orders in January, 129 in February, 123 in March, 100 in April, 109 in May, 96 in June and as of Tuesday had detained 65 people in July so far, according to data obtained through a Freedom of Access Act request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a really persistent change and a really entrenched difference, Anahita Sotoohi, staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, told Maine Morning Star. A minority of people at the county commissioners meeting on Monday argued that ending one contract with one jail wouldnt make a difference, given that federal immigration officers can still make arrests in Maine and that millions of additional dollars are now being funneled to enforcement across the country. What we really want to do is keep people as close as possible to us, said Nancy Markowitz, referring to keeping people in Cumberland County, so they have access to attorneys and to their families and community. But, as was the case when Maine Morning Star first reported on increased detentions earlier this spring, the majority of people detained under ICE orders in Maine still appear to be transferred from other states and are then quickly transferred out of Maine too, according to attorneys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is one of the many harmful impacts of immigration detention, Sotoohi said, that people are frequently transferred from one facility to another, with very little notice, which is really destabilizing for people and makes it hard for them to maintain contact with their families, with their lawyers. Cumberland County and other jails are only holding people for a few days at most, which is typical for immigration detention, Sotoohi said. Based on public records obtained by the ACLU and shared with Maine Morning Star, other counties also have direct contracts to hold people for federal immigration authorities. The Franklin County Sheriffs Office recently entered into an agreement with U.S. Customs and Border Protection on May 16, and Hancock County entered into an agreement with the U.S. Marshal Service in February 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Somerset County Sheriffs Office denied a request for information about any contracts governing the relationship between Somerset County Jail and U.S. Marshal Service, writing, The U.S. Marshals service asserts privilege as to this document. Given that, Sotoohi surmises that there is an agreement in place. When the records request was fulfilled in May, the office said there were 14 ICE detainees being held at the jail. Even with these agreements, the Department of Homeland Security has accused Cumberland and Hancock counties, as well as the city of Portland, of being uncooperative with federal immigration laws. Public response Joyce told Maine Morning Star in a statement Tuesday that the Cumberland County Sheriffs Office will continue to accept arrests as long as beds have been set aside for federal inmates. While I appreciate the individuals bringing their concerns to our attention, a majority of their complaints are regarding the tactics of ICE and the Border Patrol, Joyce said. We are not responsible for their tactics and can not affect change when it comes to those concerns. Those concerns are better addressed with the agency leaders, or Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But those critics argued Monday that assisting federal authorities makes Cumberland County complicit in their actions. We can either be witness to this, or we can stand up and protect our rights, said Roger Bishop, a resident of Cape Elizabeth. Cait Vaughan of Portland similarly said, You dont do the right thing just because you know that its going to lead to a particular outcome. You do the right thing because your humanity demands it. About 120 people attend the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners meeting on July 21 in Portland to urge the county jail to stop housing people for federal immigration authorities. (Photo by Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star) Several Portland Public Schools teachers told the board that there have been days their students havent come to school because their families heard that ICE might be in the area. They said their students have expressed fears that their parents will be taken away while they are at school, or that they will be taken away while attending school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data released earlier this month shows ICE arrests in Maine have been increasing. Members of the public and legal advocacy groups have raised concern particularly about the nature of such arrests. The Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, Maines only statewide immigration legal services organization, has tracked 17 traffic stops since March 2025 where local and state authorities have handed over at least 35 Maine residents and workers to immigration officers based on their immigration status. Portland resident Jennifer Boggs shared at the meeting that she moved to the U.S. at age three but did not realize until 2012 that she wasnt a citizen after seeking out paperwork. Now she has citizenship, but she said, If that had happened today, I dont know where I would be if my child would be wondering where her mother was because I was snatched off the street because of paperwork. The pushback in Cumberland County is just one example of public demands to cut ties with federal immigration efforts across the state. After the Wells Police Department became the only Maine agency to contract with ICE under whats called the 287(g) program which Trump revived to bolster ICEs capacity by deputizing local police officers to detain immigrants, an authority otherwise generally reserved to federal authorities Wells residents packed their usually spare Select Board meetings to call for the termination of the agreement. As of last month, they had submitted more than 900 signatures for a petition to that effect. Wells Police Chief Jo-Ann Putnam told Maine Morning Star shes holding off on having her officers credentialed under the program as she waits to see what happens with two legislative proposals that could ban such agreements. But those bills wont be taken back up until January. Overall, it remains unclear to what extent state and local law enforcement are helping with immigration enforcement because the majority of police departments currently have local discretion regarding when to involve federal officials. Community members have started individual fundraisers when immigration authorities have detained their neighbors and loved ones, but a more comprehensive fund is now in the works. The Peoples Coalition for Safety & Justice, whose membership includes Presente! Maine and other groups, recently launched a Maine Solidarity Fund to pool resources to help cover bail and bond support for immigrants who are detained in Maine, as well as to help cover health care costs for transgender Mainers in light of federal attacks on such care. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Costa Rican first responders also treated a second person at the scene where Malcolm-Jamal Warner was declared dead on Sunday, July 20, the Costa Rican Red Cross tells PEOPLE. The Costa Rican Red Cross received a report of a water-related incident at the Playa Grande resort in Cahuita, Limon at around 2:10 p.m. on Sunday, the organization said in a statement. Three ambulances were sent to the scene, where they attended to two adult male patients. One was taken to a local Limon clinic in critical condition. First responders performed CPR on the second individual, Warner, who was declared dead at the scene, the Costa Rican Red Cross said. FOX via Getty Malcolm-Jamal Warner Malcolm-Jamal Warner The scene was subsequently handed over to the police authorities for the appropriate legal procedures, the Costa Rican Red Cross statement read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked for further information, the Costa Rican Red Cross said the report they have is that two people were dragged by a water current at the beach, and both patients were out of the water when their paramedics arrived. Vivien Killilea/Getty Malcolm-Jamal Warner Malcolm-Jamal Warner Earlier on Monday, July 21, the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) confirmed in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that Warner appears to have entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current. Bystanders rescued Warner and took him to shore, where he was treated by the Costa Rican Red Cross. However, he was declared lifeless at the scene, the OIJ statement read. 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. Derek White/Getty Warner was on a family trip in Costa Rica, a source previously told PEOPLE. The actor, best known for his roles in The Cosby Show, Malcolm & Eddy and The Resident, was 54. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities confirmed Warner apparently died as a result of asphyxiation by submersion." Warner is survived by his wife and daughter, whose identities he kept private. His most recent projects included his podcast, Not All Hood, and a part on 9-1-1. In 2015, he won a Grammy for contributing to a cover of Stevie Wonders Jesus Children of America, and earned a nomination in 2022 for his spoken word poetry album Hiding in Plain View. Read the original article on People New details are emerging in the shocking death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner. The Cosby Show actor drowned while swimming on a family trip in Costa Rica on Sunday, July 20. He was 54. Warner was "swept away by a current" and "rescued by bystanders and taken to shore," according to a statement from the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ). He was declared lifeless on the shore, and his cause of death was determined to be a result of "asphyxiation by submersion." Authorities are now shedding more light on the circumstances that contributed to Warner's death. On Monday, July 21, the Caribbean Guard shared a Facebook post regarding the drowning, writing that they "deeply regret the passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner in Playa Grande." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post affirmed that Warner was "swept away by a strong hangover current and died by drowning" and added that it all happened "very fast." Paras Griffin/Getty Malcolm-Jamal Warner attends 2023 Beloved Community Awards Malcolm-Jamal Warner attends 2023 Beloved Community Awards "Even though there were people on the beach who came in to rescue him, they didn't arrive in time," the post continued. "He was pulled underwater with no vital signs and despite having been provided with CPR maneuvers on the beach, his resuscitation was unsuccessful." The beach is one of the area's "most challenging" and the agency noted that there are "signs (in English and Spanish) that warn of the danger of death by drowning" throughout the beach. Santiago Felipe/Getty Malcolm-Jamal Warner visits SiriusXM Studios on June 11, 2024 in New York City. Malcolm-Jamal Warner visits SiriusXM Studios on June 11, 2024 in New York City. There were no patrols on the beach on Sunday, the day Warner drowned. Per the Caribbean Guard's post, the beach is usually "patrolled," but this Sunday was an exception. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They had "allocated resources" elsewhere as a result of other "recent water incidents" at two nearby beaches that also have dangerous currents. The agency took the opportunity in the post to appeal to the government for more help. "We do everything within our power. We've saved numerous lives in recent years, and if Caribbean Guard didn't exist, drownings would count by the dozens. We do our part to minimize risks, but if we dont have government help, clear public policies and strong support from local entrepreneurs, this will keep happening." A second man was also caught in the same current as Warner and is in critical condition. According to the Costa Rican Red Cross, ambulances "attended" to two adult male patients on Sunday following a report of a water-related incident. FOX via Getty Malcolm-Jamal Warner on 'Alert: Missing Persons Unit' Malcolm-Jamal Warner on 'Alert: Missing Persons Unit' One was taken to a local clinic in critical condition, while first responders performed CPR on Warner, who was declared dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the Red Cross said, "The scene was subsequently handed over to the police authorities for the appropriate legal procedures." 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 Red Cross similarly reported that Warner and the other individual "were dragged by a water current at the beach." Read the original article on People While most remember Malcolm-Jamal Warner for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, which ran from 1984-1992, many in Atlanta also know him as someone who made a name for himself around the city playing bass guitar with his band Biological Misfits. One of his last performances was July 3 at Buteco in Grant Park, where the band hosted a monthly jam session on the first Thursday of the month. The electric performances blending soul, funk, hip-hop, and acid jazz featured Warner alongside David Whild, Dashill Smith, Rodney Edge, Landon Anderson, Khari Cabral Simmons, and DJ LV. For Yvonne Dragon, and her husband Randall, nights out to hear the Biological Misfits had become a much-needed opportunity for the busy Buckhead parents and entrepreneurs to block off time for themselves. One of her favorite parts of the bands appearances was how all the members played off of one another and created a unique vibe for the audience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They [were] pretty unique, Dragon told Capital B Atlanta. [They drew] many different crowds, but everyone is music lovers. Its not very formal. Its kind of like a family reunion type atmosphere. Three weeks ago, when the Dragons went to Buteco for a mini HBCU reunion with friends from Hampton University, Yvonne said Warner stood out on the patios stage but he was happy to let the other band members take the lead. He could have easily been the star of the band, but I think he enjoyed being a member, Dragon recalled. He was very humble, very approachable, very private guy, [he] was all about the music. After learning of the 54-year-olds passing after drowning while on a family vacation in Costa Rica, Dragon tearfully shared a connection that many fans can appreciate: I think everybody feels that way, whether they saw him perform or not. He was your big brother, your little brother, or your first crush. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another memorable night for Atlanta music fans was when Warner made an appearance for a Tribe Called Quest cover tribute put on by Dashill. I sit in, I play bass on Bonita Applebum and I do Check the Rhime with Dashill, Warner recounted in a 2023 interview with HipHop DX. And the show was so fire that I basically ended up becoming a part of the show. And every time we did it, the show, I would just end up playing bass or more songs and splitting verses on more songs with Dashill. According to the music site No Treble, Warner took up playing bass in his mid-20s and studied at the Musicians Institute and Berklee Online to learn from legends like Todd Johnson, Steve Bailey, and Anthony Wellington. I became a bass player. Because, through the music and poetry, there are ways that I can express myself that I cant as an actor or director, Warner said in an interview on NPRs All Things Considered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warner also performed lead for the jazz-funk group Miles Long, which booked two Valentines Day sold-out shows at City Winery earlier this year. He also made an appearance as the featured musical guest at Friday Jazz at the High Museum of Art. Read More: Beyonce Fans Remix Patriotic Symbols for Cowboy Carter Tour In 2015, Warner received a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the song Jesus Children, for the Robert Glasper Experiments version of the Stevie Wonder classic Jesus Children of America, which also featured Lalah Hathaway. He was also nominated for a Grammy in 2023 for his best spoken word poetry album, Hiding In Plain View. Before the Grammy win, Warner released other critically acclaimed spoken word albums: Miles Long Mix Tape (2003), and Love and Other Social Issues (2007). In addition to performing music and spoken word, Warner filmed the Fox series The Resident in Atlanta for six seasons and ultimately made the city his home with his wife and daughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, Warner launched the video podcast Not All Hood with co-hosts Weusi Baraka and Candace Kelley, exploring diverse experiences in the Black community. When we talk about the Black community, we tend to speak of it as a monolith, when the reality is there are so many different facets of the Black community, and we wanted to have a space where we can really explore, discuss, and acknowledge all of those different aspects, Warner told People magazine. Tributes to Warner poured in across social media, with fans sharing clips of his music and TV appearances. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens released a statement on Instagram, noting: He was a gifted musician, an inspiring speaker, and a cultural force who left a lasting mark on Atlanta. From his soulful set at the Mayors After the Masked Ball to his powerful presence during a creative workshop at this years Atlanta Jazz Festival, Malcolm brought authenticity, artistry, and heart to everything he touched. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One night last year, New York music journalist and Atlanta transplant Karen Good Marable happened to be hanging out with friends and her daughter at a restaurant in Grant Park when they heard the sounds of a band jamming. We heard this music down the street, and it was a live band, and it was amazing, Marable told Capital B Atlanta. When they walked over to check out the music, her daughter was the first to spot Warner. My daughter was like, Mommy, thats Theo. Can I go say hi? In a video captured on her friends phone, Marables daughter can be seen walking over to Warner, who gives the girl a big smile when she says, Hi, Theo Huxtable. Id heard him play, and Id heard the poetry before, Marable said. I had heard all the things, but I didnt know he played like that. It was real funky. I mean, he was just happy and doing his thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marable said shell always remember the kindness Warner showed her daughter that night and the sight of a beautiful man simply doing what he loved. It was special, because even after living in New York for 25 years and being a music journalist, you see everybody. Nothing is really shocking. But to be in Atlanta and to [see Malcolm] that night Its always a little surreal because hes an icon. Period. Hes an icon. The post Malcolm-Jamal Warner Was the Musical Gift Atlanta Didnt Know It Needed appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta. An activist once accused of issuing fake deeds to Detroit Land Bank Authority houses has been charged with numerous felonies after allegedly using a slingshot to damage the entrance of the Guardian Building, the famed art deco skyscraper where the quasi-public agency is based. The Wayne County Prosecutors Office on Tuesday charged Ramzu Yunus, 49, of Highland Park, with malicious destruction of a building in the July 19 incident at 500 Griswold St. Also charged with malicious destruction of a building is Angela Tajuan Williams, 57, of Waldorf, Maryland. The charges specify damage between $1,000 and $20,000 dollars. At an arraignment hearing, Yunus received a $50,000 personal bond with a GPS tether and Williams a $25,000 personal bond with a GPS tether. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair allegedly vandalized the Guardian Building's revolving glass door at 4:45 a.m. Saturday and fled, according to a news release from prosecutor Kym Worthys office. No one was injured. Additional warrant requests alleging Yunus and Williams vandalized two other Detroit buildings are under review, the prosecutors office said. The pair were arrested Saturday afternoon when Detroit police conducted a traffic stop on their vehicle downtown, at Madison and Witherell streets, the release said. Officers saw Yunus with an empty holster on his hip and searched his vehicle, finding a handgun with ammunition and a slingshot with metal pellets, the release said. Hes been charged also with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, carrying a concealed weapon, and two counts of felony firearm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yunus came under fire from Land Bank officials in 2021, after they said he convinced more than a dozen people they were entitled to free houses owned by the agency. More: These Michigan places have French names. How they got them More: GM quietly building EV customer trust as Musk burns it with Tesla Yunus told the media outlet Deadline Detroit at the time that he had issued thousands of deeds and was proud of his efforts, advertised online as the Detroit Free Housing Program by the Free Housing Department. He said the campaign aimed to help Black Detroiters exercise their right to self-determination, adding that many houses had fallen into Land Bank ownership after unjust tax foreclosures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Detroit Police Department opened an investigation at the time, but its unclear what came of it. The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. District court records show Yunus was charged in September 2021 with entering a vacant building without written authorization and that the proceedings stalled after he failed to appear for a hearing in 2022. Court records show no attorneys for Yunus and Williams, and neither could immediately be reached at associated phone numbers. A person who answered a number associated with Williams and identified himself as her brother said of the allegations, "Thats not (like) my sister, shes been brain washed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obviously Detroit has an issue with housing and in theory, (the free housing campaign) sounds good, said Carlton Williams. But its not a good thing to do, because youll get arrested." Violet Ikonomova is an investigative reporter with the Free Press. Contact her at vikonomova@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit activist charged with vandalism on Guardian Building BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) A 43-year-old man accused of possessing thousands of files containing child pornography was charged with three felonies Monday and made his first court appearance. Fong Hung Chun was charged with possession and distribution of child porn and possession of more than 600 illicit images, according to Superior Court records. Not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf. He remained in custody on $60,000 bail and his next court hearing was set for July 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of 13 electronic devices with more than 70 terabytes of storage were seized and Chun arrested when authorities from multiple agencies executed a search warrant last week in the 10100 block of Dutch Iris Drive, officials said. Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Kern County Sheriffs Office Special Victims Unit at 661-861-3110. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DARTMOUTH, Mass. (WPRI) Police have arrested a Woonsocket man accused of robbing a Dartmouth smoke shop at knifepoint last week. Muhammad Sheikh, 40, is facing numerous charges, including armed robbery, assault and battery, assault with a dangerous weapon, threatening to commit a crime, malicious destruction of property and operating a vehicle with a suspended license. Officers were called to the King Smoke Shop on State Road Friday evening to investigate reports of an armed robbery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect, later identified by police as Sheikh, walked into the shop brandishing a knife. Police said Sheikh threatened several employees with the weapon and made verbal threats to kill them while slashing the knife toward them. Sheikh then reportedly ripped the cash register from the counter and ran out of the store. The cash register contained approximately $700, according to police. Officers immediately began searching for the vehicle Sheikh drove off in, which was eventually spotted in Providence. Sheikh was taken into custody and charged as a fugitive from justice. Court records indicate Sheikh faced a judge Monday. He was ordered held without bail and waived extradition to Massachusetts. 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. NEW YORK (AP) A man with a history of arrests at pro-Palestinian protests was charged Monday with setting fire to 11 New York City police vehicles last month. Jakhi McCray, 21, of Brooklyn pleaded not guilty to arson in U.S. District Court. A criminal complaint unsealed Monday said McCray was recorded on surveillance video scaling a fence to a private lot for reserve New York Police Department vehicles in Brooklyns Bushwick neighborhood shortly before 1 a.m. on June 12. A police officer arrived about a half hour later to find the vehicles on fire and the suspect fleeing through a hole in the fence, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The complaint said a lighter and a pair of sunglasses containing McCray's fingerprints were found at the scene, along with fire starters that had been placed under some undamaged vehicles. Police estimated the replacement cost of the vehicles at $800,000. McCrays attorney, Ron Kuby, said his client, whom he described as an activist, was ordered released on the arson charge but remained in police custody on a separate misdemeanor count in Manhattan. After the vehicles were torched, Mayor Eric Adams suggested the suspect was connected to protests in Los Angeles, New York and elsewhere over the Trump administrations immigration enforcement agenda. Setting police vehicles ablaze is not a form of protest it is a federal crime, Joseph Nocella Jr., U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a news release Monday. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A man was charged with felony theft Monday in connection with a nearly $150,000 burglary after he was seen operating heavy equipment at his residence in East Nashville. According to court documents, on July 1, the owner of a Nashville-based engineering company was informed by another citizen that the companys machinery was seen at a residence in the 100 block of Elmhurst Avenue. Carjacking suspect crashes twice in Montgomery County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company owner arrived at his Goodlettsville warehouse to find it had been burglarized, and multiple pieces of equipment were missing. The items, estimated to cost a total of $142,000, included a trailer, utility vehicles branded with the company logo and a tractor with a rotary cutter. During an investigation into the residence on Elmhurst Avenue, detectives observed Jeremy Christie, 47, and another individual using the machinery on the property. Reports said when Christie noticed the officers, he fled into a nearby wooded area. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Detectives obtained photos of the men operating the tractor and acquired search warrants for the property, which is Christies registered address. Reports said the search resulted in the recovery of the missing items. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christie was charged with felony theft of property and booked into Metro Jail on a $75,000 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 WKRN News 2. BERLIN, Conn. (WTNH) A 25-year-old man was arrested in Florida for his part in a Berlin robbery earlier this year, according to police. CSP: Body found in car at Berlin CT Rail station The incident happened on March 5 at a CVS in Berlin. A 71-year-old woman was left with a dislocated shoulder when her purse was forcibly taken, according to police, and the suspect began using the womans stolen credit card to make multiple fraudulent purchases across Connecticut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect was identified as Paul Jeanerood, who was taken into custody and is awaiting transfer to Connecticut. He is facing charges related to the robbery and fraudulent use of the stolen credit card. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. KWTV's alleged vandal - KWTV The Oklahoma City man accused of vandalizing radar equipment at CBS affiliate KWTV has been charged with multiple felonies. According to court documents filed in Oklahoma County, Anthony Tyler Mitchell, 39, is accused of using a hammer to damage an OG&E electrical meter, a generator transfer switch, and satellite communication lines. The station said Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following statement relating to the charges: "This crime is about much more than vandalism of property," Drummond said. "Weather radar is not a weather weapon. Radar technology is vitally important and saves the lives of countless Oklahomans every year. This individual's alleged action is not simply wrong; it imperiled public safety. My office is committed to protecting critical infrastructure and holding accountable anyone who willfully damages it. Mitchell has a history of property-related offenses in Oklahoma City. Police said he had at least four previous cases in 2025 alone. Hes been charged with damaging equipment in a critical infrastructure facility, malicious injury or destruction of property over $1,000, and entering with the intent to commit a felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An anti-government militia called Veterans on Patrol told the station that it is "targeting" Oklahoma weather radars a few days after the incident. The group, which the Southern Poverty Law Center called an anti-government militia, told the station it thinks weather radars control the weather. Authorities investigating a man in connection with a corpse found in his home say he made flippant remarks about what police believe is likely the murder of his wife. Charles Byrd, 49, was arrested over the weekend after officers were tipped off by a relative, who alleged Byrd said he had hurt his wife, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said at a press conference on Sunday, July 20. Officers responding to the residence early Sunday morning allegedly found a decomposing body in Byrd's San Antonio, Texas, home, Salazar said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They saw human remains wrapped up in materials inside the residence, and authorities believe the remains belong to Byrds wife, 44-year-old Angela Byrd. Salazar said while authorities believe the person died by homicide, they are awaiting the medical examiners official confirmation on the identity of the deceased, as well as the manner and cause of death. After finding the remains, police were initially unable to locate Charles, but investigators tracked him down to a nearby house where he was allegedly hiding, Salazar said. Other arrests were made at the scene, but Salazar did not elaborate further. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once in custody, Charles allegedly admitted to killing Angela, claiming they had a physical confrontation around June 16th, leading to her death, Salazar said. Charles was reportedly nonchalant while talking to investigators, and boasted that he did not have a criminal record. He made a very flippant comment: 'go big or go home' [about this] being his first time committing a crime, Salazar claimed. I just found that very very shocking." Charles allegedly remained in the house with the corpse over the next month, at times taking steps to mask the odor of a decomposing corpse. 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. As he was being escorted by police following his arrest, Charles reportedly told KSAT: Im so sorry. I loved my wife" and added that he had a "mental break." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per Salazar, he has not asked for an attorney, the outlet reported. 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 CHICAGO A man is recovering in the hospital on Tuesday morning after officers say someone set fire to his tent during an argument on the citys Far North Side early Tuesday morning. According to police, the incident unfolded just before 12:30 a.m. after an argument broke out between two men in the 4500 block of North Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable Lake Shore Drive in Uptown. The victim, a 56-year-old man, told police that the fire started after he got into an argument with a 64-year-old man in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines During the argument, police said the 64-year-old man allegedly lit a match and set fire to the victims tent. Amid the flames, officers said the victim suffered burns to his right hand. He was later taken to the hospital where he was listed in good condition., According to police, the suspect was known to the victim; however, specific details about their relationship are unclear. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland An investigation into the incident is now underway, and the 64-year-old man, identified as Steven Carter, faces charges of aggravated arson and attempted murder. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact CPD Area Three Detectives at 312-744-8263 or dial 911. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHENANGO, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) Broome County Sheriffs Road Patrol arrests man for DWI and for operating a stolen motorcycle. The Broome County Sheriffs Road Patrol responded to a dispute in the Town of Chenango on Route 12 by the Speedway gas station, July 17th. A running motorcycle that allegedly struck a chain-link fence was spotted by deputies. The driver David Osborn of Frankfort was reported by witnesses to be hiding at the nearby price chopper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Osborn was taken to UHS Hospital for treatment of injuries. At the hospital he agreed to a field sobriety test as deputies noticed alleged signs of intoxication. He was then arrested for DWI and discovered to have no motorcycle license, a suspended drivers license, along with multiple warrants. A separate investigation by Binghamton Police found that the motorcycle was allegedly stolen. Osborn has been issued appearance tickets that are returnable to the Town of Chenango Court. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. A man has been arrested in Florida in connection with a purse snatching in Berlin in March that left a woman with a dislocated shoulder. The robbery was reported on March 5 at CVS where a 71-year-old womans purse was forcibly taken, according to Drew Gallupe, deputy chief of the Berlin Police Department. The victim suffered a dislocated shoulder. According to Gallupe, the thief quickly began using the victims stolen credit card to make a number of fraudulent purchases in numerous areas across the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the police departments Investigations Division conducted an extensive investigation that involved reviewing surveillance footage, vehicle descriptions and transaction details from numerous retailers. Through persistent efforts and inter-agency cooperation, a suspect was identified and linked to the crime, Gallupe said in a statement. The investigation led authorities to Florida where 25-year-old Paul Jeanerood was taken into custody after being identified as a suspect, Gallupe said Tuesday. He was apprehended by Florida authorities and remains in custody awaiting extradition to Connecticut. Gallupe said Jeanerood will face charges in the robbery and the fraudulent credit card transactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This case demonstrates the Berlin Police Departments commitment to victim justice and its effective collaboration with law enforcement partners across multiple states, Gallupe said. The department would like to thank all assisting agencies for their support in bringing this investigation to a successful conclusion. The investigation remains ongoing. NILES TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) Deputies are investigating the suspicious death of a 29-year-old woman south of Niles, less than three miles from the Indiana border. Around 1:16 p.m. Monday, the Berrien County Sheriffs Office was called to Franklin Woods mobile home community on 13th Street south of Bell Road in Niles Township. Arriving deputies found a woman dead inside a home. She was identified as 29-year-old Courtney Hershberger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her death was ruled suspicious, the sheriffs office wrote in a release, but its not clear what led up to it. A 33-year-old Indiana man who was not named was arrested and booked into the Berrien County Jail for open murder and weapons charges, deputies said. The sheriffs office is still 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 WOODTV.com. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A judge has denied bond for a man arrested more than a year ago in a deadly mistaken identity shooting in Southeast Memphis. Justin Howard is one of two people charged in the shooting death of George Harris in the 5400 block of Apple Blossom Drive on March 2, 2024. Justin Howard (SCSO) Harris was found dead in the drivers seat of a Chevy Malibu with four bullet holes in the driver side window. Investigators said Harris had borrowed the Malibu from his roommate, and he was not the intended target. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the vehicle owner and his ex-girlfriend, Kiauna Newsom, had argued earlier at a store on Kirby and Shelby Drive. They said Newsom, 29, was trying to shoot at her ex-boyfriend, but his roommate was hit instead. She was also charged with First-Degree Murder. Kiauna Newsom (SCSO) According to Newsom, a man known as Boogie was riding with her. When she saw the Chevy Malibu, she pulled beside it, and Boogie allegedly pulled out a rifle-style gun and fired multiple shots. Newsom reportedly identified Boogie, whose real name is Justin Howard, in a lineup. During a hearing Monday in Criminal Court 7, Howard was ordered to remain in custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom is locked up on a $750,000 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 WREG.com. CHICAGO A Cook County jury on Monday convicted a man of first-degree murder for shooting and killing 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 included 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 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Family members, police officers and prosecutors, including States Attorney Eileen ONeill Burke, packed the courtroom at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling came to court prior to the proceedings. Prosecutors said Montano shot and killed the officer in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue after he responded to a 911 call phoned in by Montanos girlfriend. Vasquez Lasso and his colleagues responded to the area 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was terrified, Montano said. I was in fear of my life. 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. It's not reasonable, she said. You dont get to shoot someone for any of that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Balmer, though, said that Montano initially lost the first two officers who pursued him and did not know Vasquez Lasso was chasing him. 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 week, 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. ____ STARKE, Fla. (AP) A man convicted of killing his estranged wife has died after spending more than four decades on Florida's death row. Robert Peede, 81, died Monday at Florida State Prison in Starke, according to Florida Department of Corrections records. His cause of death wasn't immediately reported. Peede was convicted in 1984 of murdering his estranged wife, Darla Peede, a year earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court records, Robert Peede drove from his home in North Carolina to Florida in March 1983 with the intention of making his wife return to North Carolina with him. During the drive back, Peede stopped just outside of Orlando and fatally stabbed his wife in the neck, prosecutors said. Her body was later found dumped in a wooded area of Georgia. When Peede was arrested at his home in Hillsboro, North Carolina, Darla Peedes car was parked outside. Its interior was heavily bloodstained. LANESBOROUGH, Mass. (WWLP) Two men were hospitalized with serious injuries after an unprovoked stabbing at Mount Greylock Campsite Park Friday night. According to the Berkshire County DAs Office, officers were called to the campground at 15 Scott Road around 8:00 p.m. last Friday for reports of a stabbing. Police investigate after man stabbed and robbed on bike trail in Northampton When police arrived, officers located two adult men who were suffering from stab wounds to the chest and upper torso. Investigators say the stabbing appeared to be unprovoked and occurred in the presence of young children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect, identified as 47-year-old Jeffrey Deluca of Wilton, Connecticut, was arrested at the location of the incident. The two victims were brought to Berkshire Medical Center and are expected to recover. (Courtesy of Berkshire County DAs Office) Deluca was charged with: Armed Assault with Intent to Murder (2 counts) Assault and Battery by a Dangerous Weapon (2 counts) Reckless Endangerment of a Child (3 counts) Assault and Battery Causing Serious Bodily Injury Deluca was arraigned on Monday in Central Berkshire District Court. A judge ordered Deluca held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing. 22News will provide updates as new information becomes available. 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. ST. LOUIS Homicide detectives with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are investigating after a man was found dead in the citys West End neighborhood. According to a police spokesperson, the stabbing happened before 6:40 a.m. in the 5600 block of Chamberlain Avenue. Officers arrived to find a 29-year-old man lying on the sidewalk with a large laceration to his arm and other injuries to his torso. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News EMS pronounced the man dead at the scene. The St. Louis Medical Examiners Office will conduct an autopsy to determine an official cause of death. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call the citys Homicide Division directly at 314-444-5371. Tipsters who would like to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward can contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS. Only tips submitted to CrimeStoppers that lead to an arrest are eligible for the reward. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 family of a man who died after being sucked into an MRI machine is sharing new heartbreaking details about what happened. The incident occurred just after 4:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday, July 16, when a 61-year-old man, later identified as Keith McAllister, entered an MRI room during a scan in Westbury, N.Y. "The male victim was wearing a large metallic chain around his neck causing him to be drawn into the machine which resulted in a medical episode," the Nassau County Police said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition but died the next day, police added. His wife, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, told News 12 Long Island she was with her husband when it happened. "He went limp in my arms," Jones-McAllister said, and this is still pulsating in my brain. She told the station she'd had an MRI on her knee and called for the technician to let her husband in to help her get back up afterward. The outlet reported the technician allowed McAllister inside even though he was wearing a 20-lb. weight-training chain around his neck. In that instant, the machine switched him around, pulled him in and he hit the MRI," she told the outlet. She and the technician tried to pull him away but were unsuccessful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was saying, Could you turn off the machine? Call 911. Do something. Turn this damn thing off! Jones-McAllister said, adding separately, "That was not the first time that guy has seen that chain. They had a conversation about it before." Patients are typically asked to remove any metal and electrical objects from their person before undergoing an MRI. According to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, MRI machines use powerful magnets to scan bodies for diseases and ailments while producing images of non-bony parts or soft tissues. In a GoFundMe set up to support her mother, Samantha Bodden claimed that her mom and the MRI technician spent several minutes trying to free him themselves before police were called but McAllister remained attached to the machine "for almost an hour before they could release the chain from the machine." According to both Bodden and Jones-McAllister, he died the following day after experiencing "several heart attacks following the tragic accident." 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. Bodden went on to remember McAllister as a "husband, a father, a stepfather, a grandfather, a brother, and an uncle" as well as a friend to many." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He was on a fixed income from social security and didnt have much. So at this time, my mother is asking for help with expenses to help bury him," she continued, adding that "anything will help and is very much appreciated." As of Monday, July 21, nearly $7,000 has been raised. Reached over the phone, a representative for the Nassau County Police Public Information Office said they have no additional information to release at this time beyond the department's initial statement, noting the Nassau County Medical Examiner will complete a report about McAllister's death. A representative for Nassau Open MRI, where the incident occurred, could not immediately be reached for a comment or clarification about McAllister's access to the room. Read the original article on People PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The man who died following a high-speed pursuit and crash that ended in a deputy shooting has been identified by Oregon State Police. Kyle Davis Graham, 47, was eluding officers with the Columbia County Sheriffs Office on Sunday afternoon when his white Kia Optima drove off Canaan Road near Highway 30 in Deer Island, according to police. Large police presence at Mall 205 for man hiding in rafters Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said Graham had lost control of the vehicle and gone down an embankment before stopping near Merrill Creek. Deputies said he was armed when confronted and shot by Deputy Seann Luedke. Despite life-saving measures by officers and medics, the suspect died at the scene, OSP said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KOIN Breaking News Alerts Deputy Luedke, who has been with the Columbia County department for three years, was placed on administrative leave per standard protocol. According to police, Graham had been involved in another chase on July 19 in which he eluded Washington State Patrol while crossing the Lewis and Clark Bridge to Oregon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story 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. WESTON, W.Va. (WBOY) A man is in police custody after state troopers say he made bomb threats toward federal buildings and got into an armed standoff at a Weston hospital. LATEST: Patient arrested after Sharpe Hospital standoff allegedly claimed he had 25 bombs to use on White House, Pentagon Brandon McGoye According to a press release, on Monday, troopers with the West Virginia State Police received multiple reports of a man making bomb threats toward various government facilities. While investigating, troopers also received another call reporting that Brandon McGoye, 27, of Huntington, a patient at William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital, had armed himself and was engaged in a standoff with facility personnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The release said that troopers from across the region responded to Sharpe Hospital and arrested McGoye without incident and he was found to be responsible for the bomb threats as well. McGoye has been charged with eight counts of terroristic threats and seven counts of false reports of bombs or other explosive devices. He was arraigned Monday afternoon with a bond set at $1 million cash. He is currently being held in the Central Regional Jail. State Troopers said that although McGoye alleged the bomb threats, the ongoing investigation has found no evidence of any actual or credible threat to public safety 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 WBOY.com. The man accused last month of a rampage and display of weapon at a Crossville RV store, received a 12-year sentence after pleading by information. The plea comes just three weeks after he was arrested. Brent Lee Hodge, 35, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault by display of a deadly weapon and vandalism of more than $60,000 in connection with an incident at the Factory Direct Marine and RB Store on Interstate Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The site is the former Crossville Outlet Mall. Hodge pleaded guilty as a Range II offender and is to serve his sentence at 35%. Charges of reckless endangerment, a second count of vandalism, unlawful possession of a weapon and theft of merchandise are to be dropped. Hodge is also responsible for restitution once he is released from prison at a rate of $50 per month. On June 23, Crossville Police were called to the RV business on a report of a man entering the building, getting onto a forklift and the bashing two recreation vehicles, walls and doors. Damage in the wake of the rampage was placed at $166,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The store manager told police the man then got off the forklift and was last seen walking toward Buc-ees. Hodge was apprehended near the I-40 overpass on Genesis Rd. He was quoted as telling the store manager, It was the forklifts fault, and the machine was broken. In other cases on the docket, the following took place: Set for trial Alexander Prady Vasquez, aggravated assault, trial set for Aug. 26. Deadline Donald Eugene Caswell, theft of property of $1,000 to $2,500, continued to Sept. 9. Travis Lee Coleman, possession of a Schedule II drug with intent, two counts of resisting a stop, arrest or search, simple possession of fentanyl and simple possession of meth, continued to Aug. 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brooke Ann Crabtree, auto burglary, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery and theft of property of up to $1,000, continued to Aug. 19. Kelly Renee Debord, aggravated burglary, continued to Aug. 19. Eric Christopher Gibbons, burglary and theft of property of $10,000 to $60,000, continued to Aug. 19. Eric James Haupt, possession of .5 grams of fentanyl or greater and possession of less than .5 grams of fentanyl, continued to Aug. 19. Shallymar Danyelle Cook Mills, possession of a Schedule I drug with intent and possession of meth with intent, continued to Aug. 5. Johnny Dewayne Ogle, possession of .5 grams of fentanyl or greater and possession of meth with intent, continued to Aug. 19 at which time Ogle is to return to court with an attorney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alexander Gregory Rice, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment (felony involving vehicle), domestic assault and evading arrest (vehicle), continued to Aug. 19. Michael Dale Rushing, possession of .5 grams of cocaine or greater, possession of 26 grams of meth or more with intent, driving while in possession of meth and driving on a revoked license, continued to Aug. 5. Jonathan Wayde Russell, reckless endanger (felony involving vehicle), evading arrest (vehicle) and theft of property of $2,500 and $10,000, continued to Aug. 19. Miosotis A. Sabourin, assault, continued to Aug. 19. Bradley Leon Smith, three counts of possession of meth with intent, posssession of .5 grams of fentanyl or more and possession of drug paraphernalia, continued to Aug. 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nathan Allen Bowman, possession of meth with intent, two counts of forgery, criminal simulation, simple possession of meth and possession of drug paraphernalia, to continue to be held without bond and continued to Aug. 19. Chase Edward Trisdale, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, burglary and theft of property of up to $1,000, continued to Aug. 19. Petitions/motions Quentin Eugene McDaniel, rape, motion for new trial continued to Aug. 19. Timothy Allen Cope, bond motion denied and case continued to Sept. 9 Probation violations Damon Levi Breeding, probation violation hearing continued to Aug. 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joseph Daniel Dunn, probation violations, application filed for Recovery Court; continued to status to Aug. 19. Gary Wayne Durbin, pleaded guilty to a probation violation and had his probation revoked to serve sentence. Durbin was granted furlough to attend long-term in-house recovery treatment. If he fails to serve his sentence, he faces serving in jail the balance of a six-year sentence. Ashley Shyan Grace Garren, probation violation hearing continued to Aug. 19. Porter Dylan Horsley, probation violation hearing continued to Aug. 19. Crystal Lachelle Melcher, probation violation hearing continued to Aug. 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ronnie Lee Shubert Jr., pleaded guilty to probation violation and had probation revoked to serve the balance of a five-year sentence. He is being credited for one year and seven months already served. Kristian Whitaker Moore Terebessy, probation violation hearing continued to Aug. 19. Sunshine Angelia Schoonhoven Thomas, pleaded guilty to probation violations and is to serve the balance of her sentence. Furlough was granted to enter Veterans Recovery Court. If she fails to successfully complete the treatment program, she faces serving the balance of her sentence. William Eric Whited, probation violation hearing continued to Aug. 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Jack Williams, probation violation hearing continued to Aug. 19. Kevin James Woody, pleaded guilty to the violation and is to serve 90 days in jail at 75% after which will be reinstated back on probation. Kevin Lynn Keyes, pleaded guilty to the violation and is to serve 60 days in jail at 75% after which will be reinstated back on probation. GULFPORT, Miss. (WJTV) A 49-year-old man pled guilty to unlawful reentry into the United States. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Pedro Aranda-Zaragoza, of Mexico, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 26, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison. Ex-corrections official alleges widespread medical neglect and mismanagement in Mississippis prison system On April 24, 2025, Aranda-Zaragoza was arrested as part of a Homeland Security Investigations review of employee documentation at the El Patron Mexican Grill in Vancleave. Prosecutors said he admitted to being in the U.S. illegally and to illegally returning after being lawfully removed from the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A review of his prior immigration records revealed that a Final Order of Removal had been issued against Aranda-Zaragoza in 2012. He was arrested by immigration officials in August 2018, and physically was removed from the U.S. that same month. According to prosecutors, a review of immigration records also revealed that Aranda-Zaragoza had not received permission or consent to apply for readmission or to lawfully reenter the U.S. from either the U.S. Attorney General or from the Secretary of Homeland Security. 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. A man who stalked his estranged wife before fatally stabbing her 26 times as she pushed their 7-month-old son in a stroller in the streets of England has been sentenced to life in prison. On Tuesday, July 22, a Bradford Crown Court judge handed down a sentence of life imprisonment to serve a minimum of 28 years to Habibur Rahman Masum, 26, of Burnley, Lancashire, according to The Crown Prosecution Service. In June, Masum was convicted of murdering Kulsuma Akter, 27, on April 6, 2024, in broad daylight while she was shopping in Bradford, the CPS said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of her death, Akter was living in a refuge/safe house after her estranged husband had sent her messages of a menacing nature which contained threats to kill and photos and videos of the area and premises where she was residing, according to the CPS. Prosecutors told the court she had moved into the safe house in January after Masum held a knife to her throat at their home in Oldham, the BBC reports. Before the attack, he had been seen "loitering, watching and waiting" in the streets near the safe house, prosecutors said, per the BBC. Related: 'Smiling Killer' Tracked Wife Using Phone, Then Stabbed Her to Death as She Pushed Their Baby in a Stroller Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the day she was murdered, Akter was pushing her son in a stroller with a friend when Masum confronted her. West Yorkshire Police Kulsuma Akter; Habibur Masum Kulsuma Akter; Habibur Masum After she refused his attempts at reconciling the marriage, he proceeded to stab her multiple times which sadly led to her death later the same day, according to the CPS. "You pulled out a knife from your pocket and attacked her in full view of passers-by," the judge said, the BBC reports. The judge said Masum stabbed his wife in the neck, adding he "stamped on her" before finally "cutting her throat, according to the BBC. "The wounds you had inflicted were unsurvivable, as was your intention, the judge said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Akter died from the stab wounds to her neck at a local hospital. After the attack, Masum was seen on surveillance video calmly walking away and smiling as he boarded public transportation, the BBC reports. There were no tears, there was no distress," KC prosecutor Stephen Wood told the court in June. "Perhaps, members of the jury, the smile you can clearly see form as he gets on that bus is as a result of him thinking at that point hes getting away. The smiling killer, he said. He was arrested on April 9 after a three-day manhunt. In June, Masum was convicted of murder, one count of assault, one count of making threats to kill and another count of stalking, the CPS said in its statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Masum pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of a bladed knife. The guilty plea to manslaughter was not accepted by the prosecution who proceeded to trial on the murder and other charges, the CPS said in its statement. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Habibur Masum is a violent and dangerous man who subjected his estranged wife to violence and domestic abuse causing her to flee their home to live in a safe house in Bradford, said Marie Walsh, Senior Crown Prosecution for CPS Yorkshire and Humberside. Unable to accept the relationship was over, he managed to track her down and then stabbed her multiple times, she said. This was a callous and shocking murder for which Masum has been convicted by the court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Home Office is deciding whether to deport Masum, who is from Bangladesh, 36 months before the minimum term, the BBC reports. Masum was in England on a graduate visa studying English literature at the University of Bedfordshire, the BBC reports. The visa expired on June 20. Prosecutor Wood said he had been told there was"high likelihood that this will be pursued, the BBC reports. 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 A Bay Area man has admitted to stealing missile-detecting technology for the benefit of China. San Jose resident Chenguang Gong, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of trade secrets, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release. Gong, a former engineer who is a dual citizen of the United States and China, transferred more than 3,600 files from a Los Angeles-area research and development company during his brief tenure with the company last year, the release explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stolen files included blueprints for sophisticated infrared sensors designed for use in space-based systems to detect nuclear missile launches and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as blueprints for sensors designed to enable U.S. military aircraft to detect incoming heat-seeking missiles and take countermeasures, including by jamming the missiles infrared tracking ability. Some of these files were later found on storage devices seized from Gongs temporary residence in Thousand Oaks, prosecutors said. As for what Gong would do with the files, the DOJ noted that he downloaded more than 1,800 files after he had accepted a job at one of the victim companys main competitors. Hed also previously made overtures to talent programs run by the Chinese government that are used to identify individuals who have expert skills, abilities, and knowledge of advanced sciences and technologies in order to access and utilize those skills and knowledge in transforming the [Chinese] economy, including its military capabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 2019 email, translated from Chinese, Gong remarked that he took a risk by traveling to China to participate in the Talent Programs because [he] worked foran American military industry company and thought he could do something to contribute to Chinas high-end military integrated circuits,' the release added. With this guilty plea, Gong faces a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison. Hes scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 29 and is free in lieu of $1.75 million bond in the meantime. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DENVER (KDVR) A man was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries Monday night after he was shot in a parking lot in Aurora, police said. The Aurora Police Department said the man was meeting someone in an apartment complex parking lot in the 100 block of Kenton Street when the shooting occurred at 9:47 p.m. Worst weve seen: Neighbors describe scene of house party that ended with shots fired Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second man who was with the victim was not injured and ran from the scene once shots were fired, before returning once officers arrived, according to police. APD said they are actively pursuing leads but that no arrests have been made and that the exact circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers by phone at 720-913-7867 or on its website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. A local man was arrested after threatening to kill the employees of a Dartmouth smoke shop during an armed robbery, Dartmouth police say. Muhammad Sheikh, 40, of Woonsocket, RI was arrested following an incident that took place at King Smoke Shop on State Road, July 18th. Sheikh entered the shop with a knife and threatened several employees, making threats to kill them and making a slashing motion towards them, police say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheikh then took the stores cash register which contained approximately 700 dollars before fleeing in a gray Honda Civic, according to officials. Police issued a Be On The Look Out for Sheikhs vehicle, which was later located by Providence, RI police in their city. Sheikh was taken into custody by Providence Police, officials say. Sheikh is facing several charges including armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, and threat to commit a crime (murder), according to Dartmouth Police. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A 1-year-old girl was thrown down a garbage chute by her uncle, sending her tumbling three floors to the basement incinerator inside a Staten Island apartment building Monday afternoon, cops said. The baby suffered only minor abrasions to her torso after being tossed down the chute inside the seven-story building near Steuben St. and Weser Ave. in Park Hill about 3:10 p.m., cops said. The incinerator wasnt on when she landed, officials said. The uncle dropped the baby down the chute on the third floor following a domestic incident with his family, cops said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The baby was taken to Staten Island University Hosptial North in stable condition, officials said. The infants mother was hysterical as medics rushed the victim into an ambulance, neighbors said. Thats sad. To put a baby down to the garbage, neighbor Keisha Lacey told ABC 7 New York. Nobody in their right state of mind would do something like that to a child. Im hurt, a second neighbor, Milton Franklin, said. Im just going to pray that God wraps his arms around his family and that they get through the situation. Cops took the uncle into custody for questioning. Charges were not immediately filed. LOS ANGELES (AP) There are thousands of illegal marijuana farms around the country. But when the federal government decided to stage one of its largest raids since President Donald Trump took office in January, it picked the biggest legal grower in California. Nearly two weeks later, the reason for the federal raid at two Glass House farm sites northwest of Los Angeles remains unclear and has prompted speculation. Some say the raid was intended to send a chilling message to immigrants in the U.S. illegally but also to rattle the states legal cannabis industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Republican Trump administration has been feuding with heavily Democratic California over funding for everything from high-speed rail construction to wildfire relief, so its also possible Glass House was pulled into a broader conflict between the White House and Sacramento. There are plenty of other places they can go to find illegal workers, said political consultant Adam Spiker, who advises cannabis companies. A lot of people believe there is a hint of politics in this. Its federal enforcement coming into California to go after cannabis. What happened during the raids? On July 10, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents executed a search warrant for Glass Houses farms in Carpinteria and Camarillo, court filings show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the Camarillo site, armored vehicles blocked the road, which is lined with fields and greenhouses, as masked agents deployed onto the property. One farmworker who fell from a greenhouse roof while running to hide later died from his injuries. Outside the farm, officers faced off with demonstrators and fired tear gas to disperse them, a federal agent wrote in court filings. One demonstrator threw a gas canister back at Border Patrol officers, according to the agent. Another demonstrator, who is sought by the FBI, appeared to fire a gun. More than 360 people were arrested, most suspected of being in the country without legal status. Those arrested included four U.S. citizens, including U.S. Army veteran George Retes, 25, who works as a security guard and was held for three days. The operation came more than a month into an extended crackdown across Southern California that was originally centered in Los Angeles, where local officials say the federal actions are spreading fear in immigrant communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why Glass House? No cannabis was seized and the criminal search warrants used to enter the farm sites are under court seal. Authorities refused to share them with The Associated Press. The government said the business was being investigated for potential child labor, human trafficking and other abuses. Agents found 14 children at one site. No information has been released about the minors. The company has not been charged. Federal and state laws allow children as young as 12 to work in agriculture under certain conditions, though no one under age 21 is allowed to work in the cannabis industry. Company officials did not respond to calls or emails. In a brief statement on the social platform X, Glass House said it complied with immigration and naturalization warrants and has never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some believe the raid was aimed at the legal marijuana market After the raid, United Farm Workers the countrys biggest farm worker union posted an urgent message to its social media accounts warning that because marijuana is illegal under federal law, workers who are not U.S. citizens should avoid jobs in the cannabis industry, including state-licensed facilities. We know this is unfair, it said, but we encourage you to protect yourself and your family. Industry experts point to unwelcome publicity the company received after rival Catalyst Cannabis Co. filed a 2023 lawsuit alleging that Glass House has become one of the largest, if not the largest, black marketers of cannabis in the state of California. The lawsuit, formally filed by Catalyst parent 562 Discount Med Inc., was dismissed last year but the headlines might have drawn the interest of federal investigators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who runs the Glass House farm sites? The company was co-founded by Kyle Kazan, a former Southern California police officer and special education teacher turned cannabis investor, and Graham Farrar, a Santa Barbara tech entrepreneur. Glass House started growing cannabis in a greenhouse in Carpinteria in Santa Barbara County when once-thriving cut flower operations were being reduced. It later bought property in Camarillo in neighboring Ventura County for $93 million that had six greenhouses and was being used to grow tomatoes and cucumbers. To date, two of the greenhouses have been converted to grow cannabis. Workers relatives said tomatoes are still being grown in other greenhouses at the location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How did Glass House do it? The raids have put the spotlight on a company that is alternately admired and reviled because of its meteoric rise in the nations largest legal market. Glass House is the states biggest legal cultivator, dwarfing its nearest rivals. Glass House Farms is part of the broader company Glass House Brands, which has other businesses that make cannabis products. There is no farmer in California that can compete with them at scale, Sacramento-based cannabis consultant Sam Rodriguez said. Many legal operators have struggled despite the passage of Proposition 64 in 2016 which was seen as a watershed moment in the push to legitimize and tax Californias multibillion-dollar marijuana industry. In 2018, when retail outlets could open, California became the worlds largest legal marketplace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But operators faced heavy taxes, seven-figure start-up costs and for many consumers, the tax-free illegal market remained a better deal. But as other companies folded, Glass House took off, fueling envy and suspicion by rivals over its boom at a time when much of the state's legal market was in crisis, in large part because of competition from the robust underground market. In a recent call with investors, Kazan said company revenue in the first quarter hit $45 million up 49% over the same period last year. He said he remained hopeful for a federal shift that would end marijuanas classification as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD. But we are a company that does not require federal legalization for survival, Kazan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glass House's sales grew as many others around the state declined. I remain steadfast in the belief that it is not if but when the cannabis industry becomes Americas next massive normalized industry, and Im excited to participate along with investors in the corresponding reward that that change will bring, he said. ***Warning: Content in this video may be considered disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.*** MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW) Maple Heights police shot and killed two dogs on Sunday afternoon. Witnesses maintain the quick, decisive action by the officers saved the victims life. Police were called to a home in the 5200 block of Henry Street after residents reported that a woman was being mauled by her two dogs, three-year-old Cane Corsos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack was so vicious that the victim pleaded with witnesses to use their cars to break the grip of the two dogs. Im sorry, we just pulled up to my house and we just saw these two dogs attacking this lady. The lady is trying to tell us to run the dogs over but we dont feel comfortable because we might hit her, a neighbor told the 911 dispatcher. Offensive demonstrations cause outrage in Summit County No, no, no, dont run her over! the dispatcher responded. One of the first officers arriving at the scene realized the womans life was hanging in the balance and immediately opened fire on the animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police body camera video reveals one of the Cane Corsos was killed almost immediately. The second dog was wounded and video from a neighbors Ring camera showed him running back home. He was put down by officers a short time later. Investigators said the victim, 62-year-old Rhonda Johnson, suffered severe injuries to her left arm, her legs and her chest. Officers rendered first aid at the scene until paramedics arrived and took her by ambulance to MetroHealth Medical Center. Witnesses said the decision by police to quickly neutralize the dogs was life saving. Those dogs were chewing, mangling her up and lets say another five minutes, that would have been it for her, neighbor Thomas Rackliffe told FOX 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It takes a lot to get them off, so he did the right thing. He saved her life, another neighbor, Rob Searcy, said. Residents on Henry Street said the two dogs had a history of being aggressive. They used to jump over the fence, kids come, they would chase the kids around the neighborhood. I had an incident when I first moved in and one of them charged at me. It nipped on my knee, so yes, I wasnt surprised at all, said Searcy. Tuscarawas County man infected with La Crosse virus Neighbors said they believe the behavior of the two dogs is a reflection of the way they were treated over the past three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said the Cane Corsos were brothers and friendly as puppies, but they were neglected for extended periods of time after their original owner was arrested on drug charges. They should have been treated like a human and they werent. Being cooped up in that yard for the last three years and not being taken care of very well. I think that changed them because they used to come over here and I used to pet them all the time. Now look at them, Rackliffe said. Residents contend that the aggressiveness of the dogs on Sunday was a result of the way they were treated. My father has a Cane Corso and he is the most loveable dog that you could possibly meet, but of course depending on each owner, how theyre raised can dictate if theyre aggressive or not, said Searcy. Whatever breed it is, if you raise them right, theyre going to be your best companion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are told that Johnson is in stable condition at Metro after undergoing surgery on Sunday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 investigation into the deaths of three L.A. County deputies, all killed by an explosion of military-style grenades thought to be inert, has made its way from Santa Monica to Marina del Rey where law enforcements officials were spotted outside an apartment complex Monday. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Preliminary reports suggest that the explosives may have been connected to an operation conducted July 17 a day before the deadly explosions 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. A woman cleaning out the storage bin spotted the devices and called authorities. Neighbors told KTLA that they were likely left behind by a former tenant who moved out approximately five years ago. Investigators with the L.A. County Sheriffs Department and ATF agents seen outside a Marina del Rey apartment complex on July 21, 2025. (KTLA) From left: Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Detective Victor Lemus and Detective William Osborn with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Investigators with the L.A. County Sheriffs Department and ATF agents seen outside a Marina del Rey apartment complex on July 21, 2025. (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. 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. What authorities reportedly found in the unit were two grenades believed to be stolen from the U.S. military by a previously enlisted individual who may have taken them during their training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The explosives were x-rayed at the Santa Monica scene and deemed inert and transported to the East L.A. training center. Twist him around, pulled him in: Man wearing necklace killed by MRI machine The tragic July 18 explosions reportedly occurred when one of the grenades was being cut in half as part of a training exercise to examine what was inside. Early Monday morning, more than a dozen police cars carrying homicide investigators with the sheriffs department, along with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were spotted outside the Villa Del Mar Apartments in the 13900 block of Marquesa Way searching a red Toyota Prius and, according to the Los Angeles Times, interviewing boat owners at a nearby marina that they also evacuated during their search. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unknown what, if anything, investigators found during the search of the vehicle. So far, police have not officially named a suspect, nor have any arrests have been made in the 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 KTLA. On Monday (July 21), the Trump administration released over 240,000 pages of sealed FBI surveillance records of Martin Luther King Jr., which had been under court protection since 1977 when the FBI first gathered the records and gave them to the National Archives and Records Administration. Associated Press reported that the slain laureates living children, Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, issued a statement on the matter noting that Kings assassination has been a captivating public curiosity for decades while stressing the personal nature of the release and urging that the filed be viewed within their full historical context. Among the documents are leads the FBI received following Kings assassination and details of the CIAs obsession with Kings international anti-war and anti-poverty movements in the years prior to his death. The statement continued, 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. 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 Bernice and Martin III reiterated their beliefs that James Earl Ray, the man convicted of assassinating King, was set up or not solely responsible. They referred to a 1999 civil case, where a Memphis jury concluded that Martin Luther King Jr. had been the target of a conspiracy. Ray plead guilty to Kings murder, but later renounced that plea and maintained his innocence until his death in 1998. As we review these newly released files, we will assess whether they offer additional insights beyond the findings our family has already accepted, they stated. The Kings also did not mention Trump in their statement, but on Instagram, Bernice shared a photo of her father with the caption: Now, do the Epstein files. A statement from the office of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard called the divulgence unprecedented and praised Trump for pushing the issue. When he took office, he signed an executive order to declassify records associated with John F. Kennedys, Robert F. Kennedys and Kings assassinations. JFKs records were unsealed in March and some of RFKs were shared in April. Alveda King, Martin Luther King Jr.s niece and an outspoken conservative, said she was grateful to President Trump for his transparency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kings records were supposed to be sealed until 2027, but Justice Department attorneys asked a federal judge to lift the order early. It was believed by Kings family and The Southern Christian Leadership Conference that he and other prominent civil rights leaders were illegally surveilled by the FBI in an effort to discredit them and their movement. [King] 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, said Bernice and Martin III. The intent was not only to monitor, but to discredit, dismantle and destroy Dr. Kings reputation and the broader American Civil Rights Movement. 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, they continued. The Kings noted they support transparency and historical accountability, but object to any attacks on our fathers legacy or attempts to weaponize it to spread falsehoods. They did confirm receiving advanced access to the records and have their own internal teams reviewing them. This will continue despite the Trump administration granting public access. More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. An executive order from January continues to be fulfilled following the release of files regarding the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration has made over 240,000 pages of records available on its website. This release comes in response to an executive order issued by the Trump administration back in January, and the agency has indicated that additional documents could be unveiled in the future. "Many of the records related to the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were previously transferred to the National Archives from federal agencies but were not available to the public," The National Archives wrote. "The National Archives is coordinating with other federal agencies across the Executive Branch to ensure that any remaining records are identified and transferred to the National Archives as soon as possible." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kings family objected to the release, saying the Federal Bureau of Investigations surveillance of the progressive leader was tainted by the agencys political bent at the time. Here's what to know about the release of the MLK files. Trump orders the release of confidential files On Jan. 23, Trump signed an executive order ordering the release of the records regarding the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. According to the order, information regarding JFK's assassination was initially intended to be released on Oct. 26, 2017, per the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992. Both Trump and Joe Biden granted government agencies responsible for the release several deadline extensions in 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "More than 50 years after the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Federal Government has not released to the public all of its records related to those events," the executive order states. "Their families and the American people deserve transparency and truth." Originally, the only records that were ordered for release were the ones regarding JFK's assassination. In the January order, Trump wrote that the release of all federal records pertaining to the assassinations of RFK and MLK Jr. was in the best interest of the public. What do the Martin Luther King Jr. files say? Nearly a quarter million pages of records related to the MLK assassination were released by the National Archives on July 21. The documents originate from the FBI's investigation into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. They include records identified by the Central Intelligence Agency as pertinent to the case, along with a file from the State Department concerning the extradition of James Earl Ray. Ray pleaded guilty in 1969 to the murder of King. Officials from the National Archives stated that the agency is working to recover any unknown records related to the King assassination from other federal partners. If found, these new records will be added to the website as they come in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The records were released at about 3:30 p.m. on July 21 and its unclear yet what revelations they might contain. Historians are still sifting through the over 75,000 pages of records released in March related to the JFK assassination. So far, nothing in the documents has changed the long-held findings that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in assassinating Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, while the then-president rode in a motorcade in Dallas. Why some of Martin Luther King Jr.'s family oppose releasing the FBI files The children of King and Coretta Scott King are urging those who engage with the MLK files to do so with a deep respect for their familys grief. The family also hopes that readers recognize that these files were created under the FBI's COINTELPRO program, which they say may have created bias against King. COINTELPRO was an FBI counterintelligence program designed to discredit political organizations, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. In addition to King, the program targeted the Black Panther Party, Communist Party, Ku Klux Klan and Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, the encyclopedia says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 1975 U.S. Senate investigation slammed the program's tactics. "Many of the techniques used would be intolerable in a democratic society even if all of the targets had been involved in violent activity, but COINTELPRO went far beyond that," the Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities said in its final report. "The Bureau conducted a sophisticated vigilante operation aimed squarely at preventing the exercise of First Amendment rights of speech and association." In the case of the civil rights icon, Kings family said COINTELPROs activities "were not only invasions of privacy, but intentional assaults on the truth." The family members express their support for transparency and accountability; however, they are also concerned that the FBI investigation files from that time could be weaponized against King. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We strongly condemn any attempts to misuse these documents in ways intended to undermine our fathers legacy and the significant achievements of the movement," the family said. "Those who promote the fruit of the FBIs surveillance will unknowingly align themselves with an ongoing campaign to degrade our father and the Civil Rights Movement." While some members of King's family oppose the release of the assassination files, some have fully supported the efforts. Attorney General Pamela Bondi hosted Dr. Alveda King at the Department of Justice to commemorate the release of files regarding the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "I am grateful to President Trump and Attorney General Bondi 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. "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." Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination and lasting legacy in Memphis Martin Luther King Jr. is famous for his work during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. As he pushed for desegregation in the United States, he became a polarizing figure for the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 4, 1968, King was shot at 6:05 p.m. on the second-floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. He had arrived in Memphis the day before to march with striking Memphis sanitation workers the following Monday. King was 39-years-old. He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Memphis where he was declared dead. Since his death, the Lorraine Motel has been transformed into the National Civil Rights Museum where hundreds of thousands of people come every year to learn about King, his work, the work of others like him, and their legacy today. "The National Civil Rights Museum is closely monitoring efforts to declassify national intelligence files related to the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., President John F. Kennedy, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy," wrote the museum in January after the order was signed. "We fully support measures to ensure the King Family will review any newly revealed information before it is made public." Where to read the MLK files? Looking to read the MLK files yourself? You can find them on the National Archives' website here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the files are scans of documents, and some are blurred or have become faint or difficult to read in the decades since Kings assassination. There are also photographs and sound recordings. Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jordan.green@commercialappeal.com. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Martin Luther King Jr. files: What to know about assassination records BALTIMORE Democratic Gov. Wes Moore isnt yet taking a stance on whether Maryland should opt into a new school choice program implemented at the federal level, as advocates and opponents rally over the issue. The Governor is committed to ensuring that every student in Maryland has the best education possible, Moores spokesperson Carter Elliott said in a statement. The Trump Administrations approach on this issue has never been tried before. We are evaluating all of the options to ensure Maryland students have the best opportunities to succeed. The federal school choice plan was passed as part of President Donald Trumps expansive tax bill earlier this month. If Maryland opts in, taxpayers could choose to donate up to $1,700 toward private education grants in the state and receive the same amount back as a tax credit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokeswoman for Maryland Congressman Andy Harris, a Republican, wrote in an email that he strongly supports federal school choice and that [e]very child regardless of zip code, income, or background deserves access to a quality education that fits their needs, not a one-size-fits-all system. Marylands U.S. Sens. Angela Alsobrooks and Chris Van Hollen, both Democrats, also didnt say whether they would support Maryland opting in. I am committed to making sure all of Marylands students get the education they deserve, Alsobrooks said in an emailed statement on Monday. Meanwhile, this Administration is taking the opposite approach working to dismantle the Department of Education and undermine the promise of an education for all Marylanders, by further eroding the resources districts, teachers, and students desperately need to succeed. Van Hollen said in an emailed statement, Instead of working to achieve the goal of ensuring that every child receives a quality education, Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are attacking public schools and the federal resources they depend on to support students while pumping more dollars into private education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School choice advocates argue that opting in would be a win for Maryland families who are dissatisfied with public school options, while opponents contend that the program would remove students from public schools, depriving them of funding and resources. School choice is complicated to implement and its been a sticky issue in the past, said Roger Hartley, dean of the College of Public Affairs at the University of Baltimore. He added that with another election season on the horizon, politicians may avoid taking sides on the issue without first having done their homework. Maryland has a small private school voucher program at the state level Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST). It provides around $9 million in the form of vouchers to help families send their kids to private and religious schools. Moore has proposed cuts to the program in the past, which began under his Republican predecessor, Larry Hogan, though BOOST has continued so far during Moores administration. Funding debate Advocates for the new federal program note that it would be funded at no cost to Maryland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It doesnt cost the state a dime, said Jeff Trimbath, president of the Maryland Family Institute, noting that the state faced significant deficits that it had to adjust for during the past legislative session. But Liz Zogby, co-chair of the Maryland Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition, noted that even though the program doesnt cost state dollars, it will take money out of public schools if they lose enrollees. This can be especially harmful for students with disabilities, who need public school resources and may not be able to attend a private school, she said. Lets say you have a student who is not being well-served in a private school, not making progress, acting out, having challenging behaviors because theyre not being well-supported that school can just expel them, Zogby said. But in public schools, she said, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting would be convened to figure out how to help the child. So they dont just kick kids out, she said. Whom does school choice benefit? Theres also a debate over which students would benefit from the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kalman Hettleman, a former member of the Baltimore City school board and the Maryland Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, said school choice funds go mainly to people of means, since scholarships may not cover the full cost of a students private school tuition. In many cases, the education savings accounts and vouchers will be able to go to people who have already left the public schools [and] are paying the whole private schools bill already, Hettleman said. Trimbath noted most schools offer other scholarships that could supplement a school choice scholarship, and that most schools means-test their support, offering more money to lower-income students. Garrett ODay, deputy director of the Maryland Catholic Conference, urged Moore and state education leaders to opt into the program and said that even if Maryland doesnt participate, Maryland taxpayers can still choose to donate to scholarship organizations in other states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, if the state doesnt opt in, Maryland dollars will go out of state to the detriment of Maryland kids who need it, taking away money available for education for both public and private school students, he wrote in an email. Unpredictable federal funding cuts Paul Lemle, president of the Maryland State Education Association, advocated against the opt-in for Maryland. We strongly oppose giving away public funds to private schools as Maryland public schools which serve 90% of Maryland students continue to face chaotic, drastic, and unpredictable federal funding cuts to schools that will hurt students and the supports they depend on, he said in a statement. Harris spokeswoman wrote in his statement that school choice is not about taking money away its about giving parents control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal plan is designed to empower families, not bureaucracies, she said in an email to The Sun. When parents can choose the best education for their child, all schools public and private must compete to improve. Thats a win for every student, including those with disabilities, who will benefit from increased options tailored to their needs. A spokesperson for the Maryland State Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment. _____ The Trump administrations decision Friday to release some of the $110 million earmarked for Marylands educational system will likely help a single after-school grant program but still leaves other programming in doubt. The Department of Education announced that it will release $1.3 billion in nationwide educational funding out of the $6.8 billion it was scheduled to be disbursed on or about July 1. Multiple states, including Maryland, are now involved in litigation to recover the rest of the money. The Maryland State Department of Education expects to get $22.6 million of the $110 million back, spokesperson Cherie Duvall-Jones said. But, as of Monday, the state had not received any of that promised grant money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of that will fund the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, a grant program that supports students and families, particularly those from low-income schools. The 21st Century Community Learning Center program provides comprehensive after-school and summer programs that have academic components, enrichment components, that are really sort of the creme de la creme of out-of-school time because they are so robust, said Ellie Mitchell, director of the Maryland Out of School Time Network, a state professional association for after-school and summer programs. Organizations relying on its grants were at risk of closure when Mitchell spoke with The Baltimore Sun before the Trump administration said it would restore some of the withheld funding Friday afternoon. Were really changing the trajectory of young peoples lives with after-school [programs]. And if you take that away, were not going to be able to reach Marylands ambitious goals around improving literacy, improving math, improving school-day attendance, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students at Village Learning Place, a grant recipient in north Baltimores Charles Village neighborhood, typically improve in those areas throughout the school year, according to Deputy Director Annie Malone. The center serves about 200 children from preschool through 12th grade each year. It holds a three-year grant under the initiative, which must be renewed annually. The grant provides them with over $350,000 each year, which Hayes described as a stable base for the organization to build upon, along with other funding sources. It would be devastating for us to not have that funding, said Siobhan Hayes, Village Learning Places executive director. Meanwhile, a Baltimore adult education program didnt receive any reassurances Monday about federal funding it receives through the federal Department of Labor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This time of year, we depend on a really huge payment that gets dropped, said Melissa Smith, executive director of the South Baltimore Learning Center in Federal Hill. Nearly a third of the almost $670,000 in grant money was supposed to arrive weeks ago. Without that money, notices signed by Smith are posted on the centers doors announcing a temporary closure. This summer semester, we enrolled over 180 learners, which is a record number. And I had to turn them away. The center employs 21 full- and part-time staff members and typically serves over 800 adult learners a year, according to Smith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have to not ignore adult literacy and adult education because there are so many lives on the line, Smith said. This place could be the reason why someone chooses not to commit a crime or not get incarcerated because they have an option to get education versus making a poor choice. The state Department of Labor declined to comment Monday on the partial restoration of funds. South Baltimore Learning Center is holding a rally Wednesday to advocate for its funding. It invited Mayor Brandon Scott and Gov. Wes Moore. Neither had accepted the invitation as of Monday afternoon. Baltimore County Public Schools does not expect any delay in services due to the cuts, spokesperson Gboyinde Onijala said in an email Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement USDOE has only agreed to restore limited funding for afterschool programming, which was not one of the programs that directly affects our budget, Andre Riley, spokesperson for Baltimore City Public Schools, said Monday. Regarding the remaining funds frozen by the Department of Education, we will face challenges in ensuring that staffing, materials, and other resources will be fully in place for the start of the 2025-2026 school year, Riley wrote in an email. The withheld funds have the power to affect after-school programs statewide. The Howard County Public School System said in a statement Monday that while federal funding isnt its primary source of revenue, it was concerned about the impacts withheld funds could have on multilingual learners, professional development and grants. HCPSS is awaiting additional details and guidance from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget/U.S. Department of Education and MSDE on if/when these allocations will be disbursed. In the meantime, HCPSS remains committed to providing students and families in Howard County with the top education they are accustomed to, the district said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its hard to imagine how were going to improve education by decreasing the resources available to public schools. It just doesnt compute, Mitchell said. Baltimore Sun reporter Kiersten Hacker contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Racquel Bazos at rbazos@baltsun.com, 443-813-0770 or on X as @rzbworks. ST. JOHNSBURY, VT. (WWLP) A Massachusetts man was arrested in Vermont for excessive speeding on I-91 south. Man faces eight charges for stabbing men at Mount Greylock Campsite Vermont State Police states that on Monday at approximately 6:40 p.m., a trooper observed a sedan heading south on I-91 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at a high rate of speed. The vehicles speed was recorded to be going 113 mph in a posted 65 mph zone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trooper conducted a traffic stop, and the driver was identified as 27-year-old Pascal Verneus of Everett, Massachusetts. Verneus was arrested and was taken to the Vermont State Police St. Johnsbury Barracks for processing. Courtesy of Vermont State Police. After processing, Verneus was released with a citation to appear at the Caledonia County Superior Court on September 8th to answer to the charge of Excessive Speed. He was also issued a Vermont Civil Violation Complaint for the offense of 31 or more mph over the speed limit. 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. BOSTON (WWLP) Health insurance companies face pressure as they negotiate their 2026 rates, and thousands of customers will be affected. Its time for state regulators to decide which rate proposals will be approved, and many will feel the impact. Six insurers now have the green light from the Division of Insurance for prices to increase officially. Insurers argue that they have little choice due to growing provider costs, while small business employees say this will put more strain on the states affordability. Higher education funding offered to students with disabilities in Mass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Premiums for many Massachusetts residents will increase from seven percent to an average of 12% in 2026. That includes Fallon Community Health Plan, Health New England, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Mass General Brigham Health Plan, Tufts Health Public Plans, and UnitedHealthcare Insurance. The increases will affect those on the merged market, which provides a subset of Bay Staters with health insurance through individual and small business plans. Each of the six approved providers originally sought increased between 9.9% and 14.8% and were negotiated down to 7.1% to 12.2%. The governor said that the negotiated rates are a win for Massachusetts residents, although this hike is larger than the 2025 increase for five of the six providers. Two carriers arent on the list. Blue Cross Blue Shield and WellSense Health Plan had their proposed increases rejected by state regulators, being told it was excessive. These insurers are the second and third largest in the merged market space. Blue Cross and WellSense have the ability to file an appeal in the next ten days, and their customers could still see price hikes. Its important to note that while this increase will affect 421,000 Bay Staters, it only affects those in the merged market, meaning those who work for large corporations and the like will not experience that increase. Governor Maura Healey is challenging insurers for passing these rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health care costs, as reflected in the proposed rates filed by health insurers, are simply unsustainable, Healey said in a statement. I directed our Insurance Commissioner to closely scrutinize these filings as part of the rate review process. 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. President Donald Trump is blasting U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie on social media again, this time calling him the "worst Republican Congressman" who's an "Embarrassment to Kentucky." Trump went on to say on Truth Social that Massie is "lazy, slow moving, and totally disingenuous." The hit comes amid on ongoing feud between the two GOP powerhouses who've been at odds over policies for years. But Massie's recent opposition to the Trump-backed "big beautiful bill" and bombing of nuclear sites in Iran have enraged Trump who's determined to campaign against Massie in next year's GOP primary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump posted on Truth Social July 21 that he's, "Looking for someone good to run against this guy, someone I can Endorse and vigorously campaign for!" Thomas Massie leads push to release Jeffrey Epstein files The post also comes as Massie leads the bipartisan push for officials to release files related to accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Massie has introduced a discharge petition to bypass GOP leadership in an effort to make documents related to Epstein's alleged crimes available to the public. Trump and his allies had supported releasing the files to the public until recently. Now, he calls the Epstein files a hoax perpetuated by his political enemies. Americans were promised justice. Our binding bipartisan legislation to release the complete Epstein files now has 20 sponsors. Soon we can begin collecting signatures required to force a public vote in the U.S. House. Is your member on this list?https://t.co/Y9hj5s4htr Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) July 22, 2025 The Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation released a memo this month that said investigators found no evidence of an "incriminating client list" and nothing to suggest Epstein blackmailed people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump socialized with Epstein and is among the many high-profile passengers named on flight logs of Epstein's private plane. Other notable names on the flight logs include former Democratic President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., The New York Times reported. Massie unbothered by Trump attacks Massie represents about 768,776 people in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, located in the northeastern part of the state. He first took office in November 2012 and has dominated every election since then. He was primaried by two candidates in 2024 and beat them with about 76% of the vote. In the previous election, he won his primary against three opponents with about 75% of the vote and crushed his Democratic and independent opponents with around 65% of the vote that fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massie has also gathered his own following of GOP lawmakers in Kentucky who readily align themselves with him. His popularity is also boosted whenever Trump insults him on social media. His campaign has said Trump's online attacks often result in new campaign donors. "I think he's doing it to keep other Republican members of Congress in line to make sure that they don't question anything he does and to make sure that they serve as rubber stamps for him," Massie previously told The Enquirer. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Trump dubs Thomas Massie 'worst Republican congressman' The White Houses attempts to mollify President Donald Trumps supporters growing outrage over the investigation into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein appears to be falling on deaf ears. Since Trump last week announced that he directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to begin the process of trying to unseal grand jury testimony in Epsteins criminal case, Republicans and MAGA stalwarts have publicly pushed the administration to release more documents related to Epstein. Within about the last 48 hours, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) warned that dangling bits of red meat is no longer enough for the base. Podcaster Theo Von on Monday took to social media to press Speaker Mike Johnson and Vice President JD Vance to hold a vote this week on a proposal to release files on the Epstein probe. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Sunday told Fox News to just release it, let people see. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even Bondis announcement on Tuesday that the Justice Department would seek to interview Epsteins co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for child sex trafficking and other crimes was met with disdain. Todays statement by Pam Bondi seems like a massive cope. Why wasnt this interview with Ghislaine Maxwell done on day 1? asked conservative commentator and Trump ally Laura Loomer on Tuesday. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The ongoing frustration signals that the administrations attempts to pacify Trumps supporters and others who are clamoring for more information related to Epstein have thus far failed. Trump acknowledged this over the weekend, posting on social media that releasing the grand jury transcripts, which are subject to a judges approval, wont placate everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nothing will be good enough for the troublemakers and radical left lunatics making the request. It will always be more, more, more, he said . Though Trump on Tuesday said he was unaware the DOJ was requesting the meeting with Maxwell, he added that it sounds like something that's appropriate to do. Still, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) a lawmaker who has clashed with Trump previously and is pushing for a floor vote on releasing files has vowed to take matters into his own hands if the administration continues to, in his view, withhold Epstein-related information. If the executive branch wont release phase 2 of the Epstein files, we will. Americans deserve transparency and the victims deserve justice, Massie posted on X on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday abruptly cut the weeks legislation session short to end the efforts to politicize the Epstein investigation. Were not going to play political games with this, Johnson said Tuesday at a press conference. Earlier this month, the Louisiana lawmaker called for transparency around the investigation , but on Tuesday said were done being lectured on transparency. The anger around the administrations handling of the Epstein investigation indicates a larger sense of discord among the Republican base, especially after the DOJ and FBI issued a memo earlier this month concluding that there was no evidence that Epstein was murdered in his jail cell or kept an incriminating client list. Many see the failures around the Epstein case as a prolonged pattern of inaction by Republican leaders. The Epstein issue was thrust into the foreground on Thursday after the Wall Street Journal published a story alleging that Trump sent a bawdy birthday letter to Epstein years ago. Trump has denied that he wrote the letter and sued the WSJ over the story . POLITICO has not independently verified the letters existence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matt Walsh, a conservative commentator who has also expressed frustration with the Epstein case but called the WSJ story fake and nonsense, on Monday pointed to a number of issues the base would like to see the administration take action on, including recent claims by Tulsi Gabbard that former President Barack Obama had engaged in a plot to subvert Trumps 2016 election. Walsh criticized Trump for recent social media posts depicting Obama in an orange jumpsuit instead of holding the former president accountable. Walsh said he is sick to death of Republicans refusing to take action against Democrats. You cannot allege a treasonous conspiracy and then do nothing about it, Walsh said. If I seem a bit cynical here, the typical pattern by Republicans since forever is to make these kinds of claims, but to make them only on social media and Fox News and to never actually bring it to a court of law so the parties responsible can be held accountable for their crimes. Walsh added that funny memes and sound bites are not going to cut it anymore. For his part, Trump on Tuesday did say that the DOJ should investigate his predecessors , including Obama and Joe Biden. Whether it's right or wrong, it's time to go after people, Trump said. HONOLULU (KHON2) The Maui doctor accused of trying to kill his wife on her birthday wants her phone records. Wife of Maui doctor withdraws request for restraining order Gerhardt Konigs attorney filed a motion for Arielle Konigs call records, text messages and social media logs from August 2024 to June 2025. The prosecution is fighting that request. The subpoenas in this case, which demand a near-total sweep of Ms. Konigs digital communications, lack any showing of evidentiary value and invade privileged and constitutionally protected areas of Ms. Konigs life. They are improper, unjustified, and an invasion of Ms. Konigs privacy. These types of overbroad fishing expedition subpoenas with dubious relevancy are unreasonable and oppressive, and must be quashed. Brandon M. Segal, Attourney for Arielle Konig Jury selection for his trial is scheduled for September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gerhardt Konig is charged with attempted murder after being accused of trying to push his wife off a Pali trail on her birthday back in March. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Arielle Konig has since filed for divorce. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Ive written quite a bit recently about the the mounting economic and humanitarian red flags surrounding the Floridas so-called Alligator Alcatraz. Not surprisingly, these columns have generated a lot of angry emails. Most readers are angry about the same things I am: The financial improprieties, including missing audits and secretive, no-bid contracts awarded to politically connected donors. And about reports of humanitarian concerns and due process violations for some detainees who havent been convicted of anything, including being in this country improperly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Floridas disaster pipeline funnels millions to politically connected contractors A smaller group has been angry at me for focusing on tax dollars and human rights, arguing that mass deportation is whats really important. This is the-ends-justifies-the-means crowd. But there has also been one more group of angry emailers that caught me off guard those angry that I havent compared whats happening to immigrants in Florida to what happened to Jews in Nazi Germany. Call it what it is, several have demanded: Alligator Auschwitz. Some other media outlets have already taken to parroting the Auschwitz nickname. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Let me be clear: I will not call it that. Gov. Ron DeSantis Alcatraz moniker may be gaslighting political schtick, but Auschwitz is a place where more than 1 million people were systemically murdered. And before anyone casually tosses around a term like that, they might consider listening to the people who know the history of Auschwitz those at the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida. The center minced no words in saying that comparing a detention center in Florida to the site of a global genocide trivializes the horrors of Auschwitz. Auschwitz is not a rhetorical device, the center said in a statement. It is not a catch-all term for injustice or cruelty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holocaust comparisons arent just inaccurate, they often get in the way of meaningful discussion and debate, said Stephen Poynor, the centers director of education and community engagement. It can evoke outrage and not critical thought, he said. Its an attempt to compare injustices and seek simple answers to complex questions. We dont need to compare anyones pain to know its horrific. Just as importantly, in my world, comparing South Floridas detention center to a death camp simply isnt accurate. And that matters. We can have fair debate over whether Floridas tent-and-cages facility meets the definition of a concentration camp. The author of a book on the Global History of Concentration Camps argued this month on MSNBC.com that it does mass civilian detention without real trials targeting vulnerable groups for political gain based on ethnicity, race, religion or political affiliation rather than for crimes committed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Poynor agrees the facility meets many of the technical definitions, noting that Nazis didnt invent the concept nor the term. But he also observes that most people think of the Holocaust when they hear the term. That is, in fact, precisely why many people use it. Yet detention center critics who jump straight to Holocaust comparisons play right into the hands of politicians who are eager to deflect from legitimate concerns about the center. The politicians sidestep valid concerns about due process and no-bid deals by saying: Auschwitz? These critics are crackpots. No ones being systematically murdered here. I dont think anyone wants violent criminals in this country illegally. I sure dont. Lock them up or get them out. But youd better be sure the people youre imprisoning broke the law and arent here legally. Thats why due process matters. And if you arent aware of the concerns on that front, then you havent been paying attention. The Miami Herald, Orlando Sentinel and others have reported on people being imprisoned without charges, teens as young as 15 being improperly held, detainees whose attorneys and families say theyre in this country legally and attorneys saying theyve been unable to even speak with their clients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you dont care about any of that, dont you dare call yourself a supporter of the U.S. Constitution. Due process is one of the principles that is supposed to separate the United States from lands of tyranny. Report finds dehumanizing conditions in Florida immigration detention centers Then there are the financial red flags that have accompanied virtually all of DeSantis emergency spending on immigration costly no-bid contracts awarded to political donors that have been hidden from the public and havent been audited the way Florida law demands. This is all deadly serious stuff, which is why politicians who know they cant defend it try to distract. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida Attorney General James Uthmeiers campaign is selling Alligator Alcatraz T-shirts and beer koozies. South Carolina GOP Congresswoman Nancy Mace said she wants to follow Floridas lead, posting: Dear DHS: Weve got a swamp and a dream. Lets talk. South Carolinas gators are ready. And theyre not big on paperwork. Hiding paperwork seems to be a key appeal for many of these people. If you dont care about the missing audits on these no-bid deals, spare the rest of us any claim that you believe in fiscal responsibility or the rule of law. Maxwell: Florida flouts auditing law on emergency immigration spending Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So yeah, get informed about the human and economic irregularities going on with your money under your nose. And get mad and demand better if you care about transparency, accountability, human rights, due process and fair justice. But dont go straight to Nazi genocide comparisons from a century ago. Because theres plenty disturbing about whats happening here right here and right now in Florida in 2025. smaxwell@orlandosentinel.com Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) on Monday called a Trump administration policy barring transgender people from serving openly in the military appalling and a wedge meant to divide and distract Americans. Earlier this month, I joined my neighbors across Delaware in celebrating the freedoms that define our nation, freedoms made possible by those who have worn the uniform, McBride said in a floor speech on Monday. It is appalling that while families gathered under fireworks to honor that sacrifice, the Trump administration was all too quietly forcing thousands of patriots out of military service. The Pentagon began removing openly transgender service members from the military in June, after the Supreme Court ruled that the Department of Defense may enforce a policy that President Trump ordered in January. Two district courts blocked the policy from taking effect before the Supreme Court issued its ruling, with one federal judge describing it as soaked in animus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike a policy enacted during Trumps first term that prevented most transgender people from serving but made an exception for troops who had already started their gender transition, the administrations new policy offers virtually no leeway, deeming anyone with a current diagnosis, history or symptoms of gender dysphoria unfit for military service. Transgender Americans, according to a Jan. 27 executive order, cannot satisfy the rigorous standards needed to serve, threatening military readiness and unit cohesion, an argument long used to keep marginalized groups including Black, gay and female Americans from serving. A 2016 RAND Corp. study commissioned by the Pentagon found that allowing trans people to serve had no negative impact on unit cohesion, operational effectiveness or readiness. These are Americans who have served with honor, with distinction and with unshakable patriotism; brave, honorable and committed patriots who have also dared to have the courage to say out loud that they are transgender, McBride, herself a transgender woman and the first out trans member of Congress, said on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are qualified, trained and decorated service members. They have deployed into combat, flown missions overseas, and led troops through danger, and now this administration is telling them that despite their qualifications and their exemplary quality of service, that they can no longer serve simply because of how they express their gender. This ban weakens our military, she added. It betrays our values, and it sends the cruelest possible message to some of our most dedicated citizens: that their service is unwelcome, and that ones identity matters more than what theyve done, what theyve sacrificed and what they fight for. Several legal challenges to the Trump administrations policy are ongoing. In May, 32 trans service members, supported by GLAD Law and the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, asked the Supreme Court to reinstate a lower courts preliminary injunction preventing the ban on transgender troops from being implemented while the case moves through the courts. In a letter to the court, the plaintiffs in Talbott v. USA wrote that recent statements made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth underscore that the ban was motivated by anti-transgender animus, not by the medical considerations advanced by the government. 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. BELLEVILLE, Ill. (WJW) A McDonalds manager and an employees mother were both charged following a shooting inside the restaurant, police said. Police in Belleville, Illinois, responded to a McDonalds at 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16. Michigan McDonalds worker charged with stabbing manager to death According to the Belleville Police Department, the conflict began when the on-duty manager, Kathy Bledsoe, told an employee to take out the trash. The girl refused, prompting Bledsoe to tell her to clock out and go home, police said. Kathy Bledsoe, Courtesy: Belleville Police Department The teen then called her mother, 35-year-old Tynika R. McKinzie, who police said walked into the kitchen area with two juveniles to confront Bledsoe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McKinzie allegedly struck Bledsoe in the face and head. During the scuffle, Bledsoe drew a handgun and fired one round, striking McKinzie in the leg, police said. Ohio teacher facing charges, accused of inappropriate contact with student McKinzie was hospitalized and later charged with one count of aggravated battery and one count of mob action. Bledsoe was arrested at the scene and charged with one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Happy Tuesday. Heres your Tuesday Tech Drop, a spin through some of the weeks top stories from the intersection of tech and politics. Grok for kids Over the weekend, billionaire Elon Musk announced that his social platform X would release a kid-friendly AI-chatbot hes calling Baby Grok. This comes on the heels of a recent controversy in which (regular) Grok, his AI chatbot, was found spewing racist and antisemitic hate speech (referring to itself at one point as MechaHitler) and detailing how it would rape a user. The announcement also comes in the wake of reports that other AI chatbots created by Xs parent company, xAI, have tried to pressure users into sexual conversations. Given this past behavior, it cant inspire much confidence in parents who might consider trusting their children with these chatbots. Read more in Bloomberg here. Election-related insecurity After an online portal was hacked and political candidates photos were changed to those of a former supreme leader of Iran, Arizona election officials teed off on the Trump administrations decision to weaken the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the federal agency that helps to prevent cyberattacks on U.S. election infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more at CyberScoop here. MAGA bot army mishap An NBC News report exposed an expansive network of artificial intelligence-driven bots on social media that have been trained to reply automatically with positive messages about people in the Trump administration. The report detailed how the accounts messaging has gone awry and become contradictory, apparently in response to the administrations handling of files related to deceased pedophile and Trump associate Jeffrey Epstein. Read more at NBC News here. Environmental rejection agency The Trump administration continued its war on scientific expertise as the Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday it is eliminating its Office of Research and Development, the division that The Associated Press called the EPAs main science arm and that produces research to support agency policies. Various lawmakers, along with many scientists and federal employees, have denounced the move for its potential to put Americans and the environment at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more at The Associated Press here. Crypto rules everything around me Bloomberg investigative reporter Jason Leopold chronicled his ongoing difficulty in getting the federal government to reveal the buyer (or buyers) of a one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album from the feds for $2,238,482.30. The government had seized the album from its previous owner, Martin Shkreli, after his fraud conviction required him to forfeit $7.4 million in assets. Read Leopolds reporting in Bloomberg here. Army hacker charged A former U.S. Army soldier pleaded guilty last week in a hacking and extortion scheme that involved stealing data from 10 telecommunications companies and threatening to release that information unless ransoms were paid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more at The Sacramento Bee here. Metas IDF ads A consumer watchdog discovered paid ads on the Meta-owned platforms Instagram, Facebook and Threads that were crowdfunding the purchase of drones for the Israel Defense Forces as Israel continues its attacks on Gaza in spite of international ire. Meta reportedly told the consumer watchdog Eko that the ads have been removed for violating company policy. Read more at The Guardian. FBI's King files As Donald Trump and his administration face backlash for their handling of the Epstein files, the government on Monday released documents related to FBI surveillance of Martin Luther King Jr. against the wishes of Kings family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kings daughter Bernice posted a photo of her father on X with a message that suggested she sees the move as a distraction from the Epstein controversy. Now, do the Epstein files. pic.twitter.com/rzlub3WucQ Be A King (@BerniceKing) July 21, 2025 The Rev. Al Sharpton, the MSNBC host, whos been in contact with members of the King family, agreed with that assessment during an appearance on Morning Joe on Tuesday, calling the release a smear and a clear distraction from Trumps Epstein issues. Watch his appearance below: Banned spyware chief seeks relief Scott Zuckerman, the founder of a spyware company thats been involved in multiple data breaches, is asking the Federal Trade Commission to overturn a ban that requires his businesses to maintain certain cybersecurity practices and undergo frequent audits. The public can comment here on Zuckermans petition until Aug. 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more at TechCrunch here. States give Trump admin gang databases A new article at The Intercept reports that state law enforcement officials are opening their often-flawed and racially biased gang databases to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to assist with Trumps mass incarceration and deportation agenda. The administration has been known to lob allegations of immigrants involvement with gangs without providing evidence. Read more at The Intercept here. YouTube propaganda channels Google removed thousands of YouTube channels it says were tied to state-linked propaganda campaigns being operated out of various countries, including China and Russia. Read more at CNBC here. 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. If you have a heart attack in the United States, you might assume that an ambulance will bring you to an ER and its staff will take care of you. But hospital closures over the past 20 years and physician shortages were undermining that assumption even before President Donald Trump signed his One Big Beautiful Bill into law. Now that legislationwhich will cut Medicaid spending by an estimated $1 trillion over 10 years, puts the entire emergency-medicine safety net at risk. The destabilizing effects will be felt not only by those who lose access to Medicaid, but also by those who have private health insurance. As an ER doctor in New York City, I am terrified about the coming cuts. A recent study from the Rand Corporation confirms that ERs across the entire country are dangerously overstretched and underfunded. About a fifth of emergency visits each year are never paid for, amounting to nearly $5.9 billion in care costs absorbed by hospitals. The uninsured and underinsured were already more likely to have to seek treatment in the ER when they fell ill. With the changes to Medicaid eligibility, their ranks are set to swell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medicaid provides coverage to more than 71 million Americans; in addition, the Childrens Health Insurance Program (which provides low-cost coverage for children of families that do not qualify for Medicaid) covers 7 million children. Trumps legislation is expected to deprive some 12 million people of Medicaid by 2034, and an additional 5 million will lose insurance because of changes to provisions of the Affordable Care Act. The cost of replacing this lost coverage for 17 million Americans will be especially daunting for low-income families: On average, health-insurance premiums add up to nearly $9,000 a year, whereas a full-time minimum-wage job generates just $15,000. I went into frontline medicine to help people, not to bankrupt themyet I am acutely aware that medical debt is a major factor in nearly three-fifths of bankruptcy cases in the United States. When someone who does not have insurance comes into the ER, I am forced to discuss with the patient what necessary care they may have to delay or forgo if they cannot afford it. These conversations will become only more frequent when millions of people are kicked off their health insurance. [Jonathan Chait: The cynical Republican plan to cut Medicaid] The 1986 Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, one of the most important public-health measures ever enacted in the United States, mandates that every emergency department must provide treatment to anyone who comes through the door, regardless of their ability to pay or their insurance status. People have access to health care in America, President George W. Bush once declared. After all, you just go to an emergency room. But the treatment mandate is unfunded. Bush neglected to say that patients are still charged for that visit once they receive the care they need. When they cant pay, they get hounded by a collection agency. If they still cant pay, the hospital ends up eating the cost. The downstream effect is lower staffing and fewer services. The burden of uncompensated emergency care unquestionably contributes to hospital closures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even before Trumps huge budget-reconciliation bill passed, many people living in rural communities were at risk of losing access to health care. Of 25 hospitals that closed last year, 10 were in rural America, the industry publication Beckers Hospital Review reported; according to a nonpartisan health-policy center, another 700 rural hospitals are financially distressed and at risk of closure. Nearly half of all children and one in five adults in small towns and country areas rely on Medicaid or CHIP; half of all births in these communities are financed by Medicaid. This makes rural hospitals highly dependent on the reimbursement that they receive from Medicaid for treating those patients. The more patients who lose coverage, the greater the threat to these institutions. A report from the National Rural Health Association and the research firm Manatt Health finds that, because of Trumps BBB, rural hospitals will lose 21 cents out of every dollar theyd previously received in Medicaid funding. The inevitable result will be more service cuts and more hospital closures, which will endanger everyone in these areaseven people with insurance. The rational course would be for the government to put more resources into Medicaid, so that patients in need could access care in an optimal setting, instead of visiting the ER, where treatment is more expensive to provide and less comprehensive. Supporters of the BBB purport to have data showing that patients with Medicaid misuse the ER by seeking unnecessary treatment, and they argue that visit volume will go down once they are uninsured. My own experience is that although uninsured patients see me less, they typically show up much sickerand need more resource-intensive care. One of my regular patients has both Crohns disease and a debilitating psychiatric condition. He has no family support, usually lives in a shelter, and only sometimes has a job. After requiring an emergency intestinal surgery last year, he now comes into the ER every few days to have his ostomy bag changed, because the only clinic that takes Medicaid is in another borough. In an ideal world, he would have access to a clinic with wound-care nursing and social support. In this far-from-ideal world, taking away his Medicaid will not stop him from having chronic disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This patient could try to skip visits, but he will have to come to the ER when he gets an infection or his illness flares again, and then he will also be stuck with a bill that will hurt his credit rating and set back his efforts to pull himself out of poverty. The hospital, too, will be worse offforced to absorb the cost of his treatment when previously it did receive at least small payments for his visits. In short, any appearance of less demand on health-care resources is a mirage; the real outcome will be worse health for the patient and higher costs for his health-care providers. Imagine various such scenarios replicated all across the country, when millions of people lose Medicaid coverage. In a letter to Senate leadership last month, the American Medical Associations chief executive, James Madara, warned that the proposed law could lead to delays in treatment, increases in emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and other expensive forms of care. His appeal went unheeded, as Congress passed the legislation on largely party-line votes. As Alison Haddock, the president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, put it: The very idea of emergency medicine as we now know itlifesaving care available for anyone at any timeis under direct threat. The threat is dire, but a stay is still possible. The majority of health-care cuts in the act will not go into effect until after the midterm elections in November 2026. Lawmakers have at least a theoretical opportunity to change course and save our emergency-medical systemif enough voters make them pay attention. Article originally published at The Atlantic PERRY TWP. A former township trustee and school board member in Delaware County has been tapped to lead the Perry administration office. Geraldine "Gerrie" Cotter, 55, was selected as the new Perry Township administrator in a 3-0 vote by trustees on July 15. She replaces longtime Administrator Joyce Martin, who retired in May. "Perry is a beautiful community. I'm happy to be part of it and ready to get to work," said Cotter, who's moving to the area from Westerville. "There's a good group of people here to work with." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cotter's first day on the job was July 16. She said she's in the process of meeting with Perry department heads, as well as getting to know police officers, firefighters, road and parks workers and office personnel. Perry Township Administrator Gerrie Cotter started her new role July 16. She is a former Genoa Township trustee and Westerville City School Board member from Delaware County. "I want to hear what our (agency leaders) have to say, and find out what plans they have to help move us forward," she said. As administrator, Cotter will oversee day-to-day operations of the township via the direction of the Perry Board of Trustees. She will assist with policy implementation and directives, supervising staff members, budget management, as well as fostering communication between the board, staff and residents. An initial task worth tackling includes updating and modernizing the township's website, www.perrytwp.com, according to Cotter, who said she wants to make the page more accessible for users and easier to navigate. New Perry Township administrator is a former trustee, school board member Cotter is no stranger to local government service. She served from 2006 to 2009 as a Genoa Township trustee in Delaware County, in addition to being a Westerville City School District board member for four years 2016 to 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said being closer to her son, Mattie, 22, who attends Kent State University, was a key reason for seeking the Perry administration post. "That helped to make the job very attractive," Cotter said. "I was already familiar with the area by coming (to Northeast Ohio) to visit him." Cotter was impressive during the interview process with Perry officials, according to Trustee Ralph DeChiara Jr., who said she will earn $95,000 annually. Official vacancy: Perry Township seeking new, full-time township administrator after retirement DeChiara added that he's confident that Cotter will be a strong benefit to Perry government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She comes with a lot of credentials and will be a good fit," said DeChiara, noting that four candidates interviewed for the administration post. "I think she will coordinate well with our agency leaders and department (personnel)." More about Perry Administrator Gerrie Cotter Cotter was born in Kentucky and grew up in Long Island, New York. She attended West Virginia University and later Loyola University in New Orleans. Her most recent professional position was as a project manager for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. In that role, she spent 14 years in workforce development for young adults. Trustee Matt Miller called Cotter's professional experience and interpersonal skills paramount, making her the right choice for the job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She's joining an outstanding group of employees in Perry," he said. "I feel that by adding this piece to the puzzle, we are positioned for exponential growth in our relationship with the community, local groups and within our own walls." In addition to her son, Cotter has an adult daughter, Cassie, who is 23 and lives in Westerville. Cotter said she enjoys reading and hiking in her free time. Reach Steven Grazier at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @sgrazierINDE This article originally appeared on The Independent: Gerrie Cotter of Westerville tapped as Perry Township administrator UAW President Shawn Fain speaks to a crowd in Detroit at a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign for president on Aug. 7, 2024. | Anna Liz Nichols In Warren, members of the United Auto Workers union approved charges against President Shawn Fain, following an investigation into a dispute between Fain and the unions secretary-treasurer. According to a report from the Detroit Free Press, members of the UAW Local 140 on Monday approved charges against Fain under Article 30 of the unions constitution, marking the second occasion where the local approved charges against the UAW president. Members also approved the charges at a May 18, meeting, but the vote was nullified as it did not occur at a special meeting as the constitution stipulates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In speaking with six members of the union, the Free Press confirmed that the charges were approved in a unanimous 80-0 vote, making it the fourth of six locals required to bring the charges to an administrative trial. According to copies of the charges reviewed by the Michigan Advance, Fain is accused of dereliction of duty, financial mismanagement, retaliation against union members, hiring non-UAW personnel for positions that should be filled by union members, and failing to comply with the conditions of a consent decree appointing an independent monitor to investigate misconduct and remove fraud, corruption, illegal behavior, dishonesty and unethical practices from the union. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The consent decree was put in place in 2021 following an embezzlement and bribery scandal which culminated in prison sentences for several top union leaders and auto executives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, the monitor released a report finding compelling evidence of retaliatory and illegitimate intent in Fains decision to strip Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock of certain responsibilities after she refused to authorize certain expenditures for Fains office. While Fain and the unions executive board alleged Mock had weaponized financial policies, obstructed operations, and sought to improperly influence votes by the board, the monitor concluded these allegations were either unsupported or outright unfounded. According to the Free Press, Mock and UAW Vice President Rich Boyer both attended Mondays meeting at the Local 140 as members, rather than in their leadership roles. In his June report, the monitor noted he was still investigating claims that Fain had also retaliated against Boyer by stripping the Stellantis Department from Boyers oversight. A UAW spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment prior to publication. PRINCETON A step at a time, Mercer Countys sheriff and deputies are getting ready to move out of their basement offices and into a former bank thats being transformed into their new headquarters. Current plans call for moving the Mercer County Sheriffs Department from the Mercer County Courthouses basement and into what was once the Mercer County Professional Building. In March 2024, the Mercer County Commission approved a $1.75 million American Rescue Plan grant to buy the former bank building. The money was part of the $11.4 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, also known as the COVID-19 Stimulus Package, that the county was awarded in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff Alan Christian said when the structure was purchased that moving into it will bring big changes for his department. The current basement quarters has only 1,600 square feet of space, but the new building will let the deputies and other personnel spread out their offices into 10,000 square feet, he said. The new headquarters has its own parking lot, so deputies wont have to park their cruisers alongside the courthouse, freeing up more space in the busy streets. In March, the county commission approved a $100,000 grant from the countys almost $2.6 million opioid settlement fund for renovating the departments new quarters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Current plans are to move in by Septembers third week, Christian said Monday. Interior work is nearly finished and the work is moving into a new phase. This phase focuses on the buildings exterior, but rainy weather has caused some delays. Nature, shes not being kind this year, he said. An opening celebration is being planned. We hope to have a rollout so everyone can see what weve got compared to what we had, Christian said. County Commission President Bill Archer said Monday that some of space the move opens up on the courthouses basement will be used for storage. The storage area is going to be primarily for the county clerks office, he said. They have to hold onto records for long periods of time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some offices such as one for personnel controlling inmate in the holding cell will remain, Archer said. For several years, the commission has been moving stored records out of the old county jail, which is located on the courthouses top floor. Weve been trying to eliminate all the storage up there as quickly as possible, Archer said. Built during the Thirties, the jail was equipped with steel floors and a steel ceiling as well as the cells steel bars. All that steel put a lot of weight on the courthouses top floor. Archer said that before he became a commissioner in 2016, a state inspector looked over the old jail and said that the weight was not appropriate for the courthouse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the county went into the regional jail system all of West Virginia did, too we just used that area up there for storage, Archer said. Back at the new sheriffs department headquarters, there are plans to create a museum honoring previous deputies. Christian asked Archer, the author of several books detailing the regions history, to help establish one. We do have some items that could be displayed, Archer said. It could be exciting. We also want to have an honor roll for officers who died in the line of duty. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said during a press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre that his country has not yet received confirmation of when the US will be able to deliver Patriot systems to Berlin to replace those sent to Ukraine. Source: European Pravda Details: Merz stated during the press conference that the US government had made a general commitment to provide Patriot systems to Germany and the European Union so they can then supply the existing Patriot systems to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Merz: "We will transfer and we will receive replacements. But these replacements have not yet actually been purchased. Negotiations with the US government are currently ongoing regarding where the replacements will come from." Details: Merz added that defence ministers now need to agree on the details. Meanwhile, Stre confirmed Norways intention to fund the purchase of a Patriot air defence system for Ukraine. 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. Bloomberg reported that Germany and the United States are close to a final agreement on the delivery of Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Former Mesquite Police Chief Maquade Chesley gestures toward City Manager Edward Owen Dickie moments before the City Council voted to fire Dickie in April. (Mesquite City Council stream screengrab) A federal lawsuit filed against the City of Mesquite by its former chief of police, Maquade Chesley, has been amended to include Mayor Jesse Whipple and City Council members Karen Fielding, Paul Wanlass, and Kevin Parrish. Chesley also added former city manager Edward Owen Dickie and former City Attorney Mike Branum as defendants. Branum declined to comment on the advice of counsel. The others did not respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chesley was terminated in January by Dickie, who initially cited a vote of no confidence by the Mesquite police union as the reason for Chesleys firing. He later said Chesley was fired for recording a conversation, which is not illegal in Nevada. Chesley is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. The city council members, with the exception of Councilwoman Pattie Gallo, voted in March to ratify Chesleys termination. Chesley contends he was not afforded the rights guaranteed to police officers under the Nevada Police Officers Bill of RIghts, which calls for investigations of police to be conducted by law enforcement. The city conducted two investigations performed by private contractors. The divisive and protracted years-long quest to terminate Chesley, a Mesquite police officer since 2007, has resulted in collateral damage in the executive offices of City Hall. In April, the City Council voted to fire Dickie over allegations of racist remarks first reported by the Current, and in May, Branum resigned just hours before the council was slated to review his performance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In early June, Clark County District Judge Nadia Krall issued contempt of court findings against Branum, the city, and its outside counsel for allowing a council agenda item, labeled an investigation into Chesleys firing, to go forward. In an amended complaint, Chesley alleges the city engaged in deceptive trade practices by attempting to settle pending lawsuits without notifying Chesleys attorney. The mayor, Jess Whipple, said he was advised by counsel that he could make an offer to me for up to $100,000, Chesley said Tuesday, adding the offer was to settle everything and have me walk away. Defendants (sic) are sophisticated parties who knew Chesley was represented by counsel when they offered to settle his lawsuit, the federal suit alleges. Plaintiff is represented by counsel in this matter and there is a duty and responsibility to send all communications and settlement offers through counsel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Clark County Judge Timothy Williams issued an order warning the citys failure to abide by the law, punctuated by efforts to obfuscate facts and conceal evidence, could result in a default judgment against the government. Williams called the citys actions egregious and unprecedented in their defiance of judicial authority, and indicative of a shocking disregard for the court, especially from a municipality. A motion filed Monday seeks to dismiss the federal case against Dickie, Whipple, Fielding, Wanlass, and Parrish, who argue Chesleys claims against city officials are redundant because he already sued the city, and that all the allegations are based on allegations involving official acts. Are you afraid of the colleague who easily wells up at work? For hundreds of male bosses, images of Rachel Reeves crying behind Sir Keir Starmer in the House of Commons this month triggered one of their great fears. Even the financial markets waded in with a response. Seemingly unaware of the tears streaming down his colleagues face, Sir Keir pressed ahead with Prime Ministers Questions and later admitted he was one of the last to notice that she was crying owing to the intense nature of the weekly Commons grilling. Many sympathised with the Chancellor after all, were human. But another group quietly sympathised with the Prime Minister. A City headhunter told me over lunch last week that male bosses privately admit to being terrified of women crying at work, so much so that they avoid giving them blunt feedback in the same way they might with men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crying breaks the rules of how were told to behave in the workplace, and so the bosses who admit to avoiding potential weepers would rather live without the awkwardness. Ingrained sexism doesnt help. Studies have shown that women who cry at work are considered weak, unprofessional or manipulative, while the assumption with teary men is that they must be going through a tricky time in their life. Its notable that it has been mostly senior women who have supported Reeves. In an interview in front of a business audience, Rain Newton-Smith, head of the Confederation of British Industry, said that a lot of female leaders had been in touch with her to convey solidarity with the Chancellor. Rain Newton-Smith, the CBI chief, said many female business leaders had been in touch to express solidarity with Rachel Reeves - Darren Staples/Bloomberg The problem is that these senior women are a minority, with most businesses still run by men. And if displays of emotion at work give men the jitters, then female colleagues end up suffering. Why? Because the frank feedback that is needed to better their careers is never given if bosses hold back out of fear of saying the wrong thing. Its an issue that has existed for decades. One female banker says she remembers a former boss at a top US bank who was a real guys guy giving a career talk to a group of senior women in London in the 1990s. He shared how he was always paranoid about giving women difficult feedback as he didnt want to make them cry, she recalls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was fabulously honest that as a result he realised he did not give the women the really tough feedback that hed give his male mentees and proteges. That would then put the women at a disadvantage as they wouldnt benefit from constructive feedback and they were more likely to continue to make mistakes or be blind-sided by later stage feedback. This all got much worse after the MeToo movement took off, with data from Lean In revealing in 2019 that 60pc of male managers felt uncomfortable mentoring younger women, up 32pc from the previous year. As Mark Zuckerbergs former lieutenant Sheryl Sandberg said at the time, the MeToo movement kicked off a new era. Sheryl Sandberg, Mark Zuckerbergs former deputy at Meta, said the MeToo movement signalled a new era for women in the workplace - Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images North America Ugly behaviour that once was indulged or ignored is finally being called out and condemned, she said. Now we must go further. Avoiding and isolating women at work whether out of an overabundance of caution, a misguided sense of decorum, irritation at having to check your words or actions, or any other reason must be unacceptable too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I suspect those figures wouldnt be so high today, because most people are fully capable of telling the difference between sexual harassment and a normal conversation. But the underlying fears remain among some men when it comes to mentoring women. Conversations should obviously be thoughtful and as kind as possible, but the fear of giving feedback that could lead to displays of emotion such as crying is ridiculous. After all, getting teary-eyed on the job is surprisingly common. A YouGov poll last year found that over half of staff have cried at work. A decent boss wont avoid having tough conversations just because it might be uncomfortable. Weak managers need training. There are far too many consultancies selling pointless online classes which teach staff the most basic things about acceptable behaviour. Actual examples include do not sexually harass a colleague and avoid unwelcome massaging in the office (sent to top lawyers). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of this box-ticking rubbish seems to be reforming any bad apples out there. Meanwhile useless managers are blindly ignoring half of their workforce. A better use of time and money would be to teach these bosses how to deal with big emotions and awkward conversations at work, so that women especially dont continue to lose out. A report by PwC last week found that its still set to take more than 40 years for the gender pay gap to close. Surely one of the many problems here, and one which is rarely discussed, is that women simply arent getting the same detailed level of feedback as men. As one boss puts it: I think male managers perhaps feel more comfortable being direct with male staff but in the end the managers job is to manage staff, whether male or female. If they shrink from difficult conversations for fear of offence then theyre not doing their job. Yet we need to acknowledge that exactly this is taking place inside businesses across the country. Pass the tissues will you? 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. DES MOINES, Iowa What a difference a day makes. Just 24 hours ago, parts of West Des Moines looked more like rivers than roads. Vine Street, in particular, was completely submerged after a sudden downpour turned quiet neighborhoods into flood zones. By Monday, the waters had recededbut the damage was still being uncovered. WHO 13s Katie Kaplan spoke with one homeowner in the area who had been hard at work tearing out their damaged basement flooring. The homeowner said water had seeped in through the joints where the walls met the floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to foundation specialist Jeremy Rogers, the General Manager of BAM Basements, he has been seeing that very issue in homes that have never had water issues before. The reason, he said, may lie in the regions recent dry spells. The droughts have caused their own problems, Rogers explained. I tell people its like a sponge. You take a sponge, get it wet, and leave it outit shrinks. Thats what the drought does to our soil. It shrinks and settles. But when the water returns, now its got all these cracked open avenues. Waters going to go down there, soften the ground, and create more settlement. And its not just the ground that is shifting. Rogers said the combination of drought, rain, and poor drainage is creating dangerous pressure around home foundations. All the rainfall that weve hadyou get a lot of soil saturation. That creates a lot of pressure on these walls, he said. You get a lot of hydrostatic pressure pushing up from underneath and creating leaks where the floor meets the wall. Add in things like bad gutters or negative grading, and the water intrusion just gets worse, especially after such a long drought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The combination of soil instability and heavy rain is a perfect storm for basement water damage. Rogers recommends that homeowners act fastespecially with more storms potentially on the way. Check your sump pump and make sure your downspouts are working, he advised. If you have cracks in your foundation, theyre not going to fix themselves. Call an expert before it becomes a bigger 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 who13.com. Michael Proctor criticized by defense attorney after skipping court hearing Michael Proctor, the disgraced lead investigator in the Karen Read murder case, came under fire on Monday after he failed to show up for another case he was asked to attend. Proctor, who was fired from his role with the Massachusetts State Police in March, had been subpoenaed to appear in Dedhams Norfolk Superior Court for a hearing on other cases involving him. Defense attorneys for defendants linked to cases Proctor worked on have asked a judge to stop the destruction of cellphone records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The request comes after Proctor was fired over a series of disparaging texts he sent about Read, which he read aloud in court during witness testimony at her first trial. Proctor admitted on the stand that the texts were unprofessional. He called Read things like a whack job and other derogatory words. He also talked about her medical issues and wrote, No nudes so far, while going through her phone. Several attorneys said last week that they were told Proctors cellphone records would be destroyed. The Norfolk District Attorneys Office said it was holding on to the records. The attorneys, including Rosemary Scapicchio, want charges against their clients thrown out due to alleged bias by Proctor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scapicchio blasted Proctor over his no-show in court. Apparently, he thinks hes above the law, Scapicchio told reporters after the hearing. He was served in hand. He was told to be here this morning. Scapicchio said she later learned from Proctors attorney that he was out of town on a vacation that he planned in 2024. The way that you handle things like that is you appear before the court before youre supposed to appear on the day, and you ask for some sort of modification, Scapicchio said. That didnt happen in this case. He just didnt show up. Proctors attorney was present in court, arguing that his client was fired for non-satisfactory performance, not for bias. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Massachusetts State Police Trial Board found Proctor guilty of two charges, unsatisfactory performance and alcoholic beverages, which were presented over three disciplinary hearings. Read was acquitted of murder and manslaughter in the death of John OKeefe in June. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW MSNBC host Michael Steele, a former chair of the Republican National Committee, is tearing into President Donald Trump for sharing a fake video Sunday showing former President Barack Obama getting arrested in the Oval Office and languishing in prison. We should note Donald Trump is the one with the mugshot, and the only president to have been convicted on 34 felony counts, Steele said during his opening monologue on The Weeknight Monday. You see, [to] Donald Trump, facts like that dont matter. Trump reshared the video on his Truth Social platform mere days after Tulsi Gabbard, his director of national intelligence, issued a report accusing the Obama White House of treasonous conspiracy by stating Russia helped Trump win the 2016 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabbards claims clashed with the findings of former U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller and a bipartisan 2020 Senate Intelligence Committee report, however, which stated Putin and the Russian Government demonstrated a preference for candidate Trump. Her report and the fake video featuring Obama were released amid an increasing focus on Trumps ties to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail in 2019. The video, which appears to have been generated by artificial intelligence, accrued more than 30,000 likes and 11,000 retruths after Trump shared it on his platform. Steele argued Monday that Trump posts this nonsense knowing his base will eat it up. The majority of right-wing broadcasters have continued to express support for Trump despite his administration teasing to declassify files on Epstein and his rumored client list, and then baselessly accusing Democrats of making the documents up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of those unfounded conspiracies, Steele said. Trump cant just turn off the spigot of lies when he wants to. And when it comes to Epstein, a significant portion of his voters expect Trump to deliver, even when the facts are not on their side. The video Trump reshared Sunday saw Obama jailed after getting detained by FBI agents. Alex Brandon/Associated Press Steele called the Obama video another one of Trumps dangerous attempts to distract his base from the Epstein fallout. Still, his co-host Symone Sanders-Townsend argued that its only disguised as content and serves as incitement for Trumps base, instead. She reminded Steele that Trump pardoned some 1,500 people convicted of anything related to events at or near the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and now seems to be putting out a clarion call to his own little personal militia to do his bidding. And now the people we have at the administration and Trump saying, These people need to be arrested. Sedition. Traitors, added Will Sommer, senior reporter at The Bulwark. I mean, its not hard to imagine that this could incite violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders-Townsend noted that it arguably already has, as Jan. 6 defendant Taylor Taranto was arrested near Obamas home in 2023 with guns in his car after Trump posted a screenshot including Obamas address on social media. She said, I think that Donald Trump shares these things, and its like a bat signal to his supporters. Watch the full discussion below: Related... The Michigan Attorney General's Office has rejected a state senator's call for a criminal investigation of a top Michigan State Police official, saying the facts of her case are not similar to another situation in which a state employee was charged and convicted for misuse of state-owned vehicles. State Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, speaks with a delegate at the Michigan Republican Party state convention in Detroit on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, who is minority vice chair of the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety, wrote Attorney General Dana Nessel June 22, questioning whether there was a double standard in the way her office enforced the law. Runestad wants Nessel's office to investigate MSP Chief Deputy Director Aimee Brimacombe, who, prior to her promotion to the No. 2 spot at MSP in December 2023, faced internal discipline in 2021 for using an MSP vehicle for personal purposes over a six-month period, and for being "insubordinate" when she refused to immediately return the vehicle as directed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Runestad's call for a criminal investigation came amid massive no-confidence votes by MSP troopers and command officers in both the MSP director, Col. James Grady, and Brimacombe, a lieutenant colonel. Some Republican lawmakers have called on both Grady and Brimacombe to resign or retire. Meanwhile, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has voiced strong support for Grady, whom she appointed to lead the department in September 2023. In his letter to Nessel, Runestad pointed to a recent criminal case involving an employee of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. Rufus Chappell, of Farmington Hills, then 64, was sentenced to three years' probation in May 2024 and ordered to pay more than $47,000 in restitution after a jury found him guilty of embezzlement, according to a news release from Nessel's office at the time of the sentencing. Chappell misused state vehicles for personal use over weekends, holidays, and outside business hours, racking up unauthorized vehicle usage and mileage fees totaling more than $47,000 between August 2015 and January 2019, the news release said. But in a July 7 letter to Runestad, Danielle Hagaman-Clark, who is chief of Nessel's criminal justice bureau, said the Chappell and Brimacombe situations are not similar. State officials began investigating Chappell's use of state vehicles in 2019 after learning that his driver's license had been suspended since 2016, Hagaman-Clark said in the letter to Runestad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They found that Chappell, between 2025 and early 2019, checked out state vehicles for 1,212 days, logging 176,000 miles and amassing costs and fees of more than $47,000, which he was ordered to repay by way of restitution, Hagaman-Clark said in the letter. On 142 occasions, Chappell had multiple state vehicles checked out at the same time, she said. "In the case of (then) Lt. Brimacombe, the total mileage as alleged in your letter was less than 10,000, the time frame was only several months, and she had been assigned a department vehicle for her use," Hagaman-Clark said. "The comparison between the two is simply a flawed narrative that doesn't hold upon inspection of the facts." Runestad, who is also chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, said July 21 he doesn't think the number of miles improperly driven should be the deciding factor on whether a crime was committed and it is "ridiculous" not to hold higher-level officials as accountable if not more accountable than lower-level ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the main difference he sees between the conduct of Chappell and that of Brimacombe is that "she wasn't as stupid." Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: AG nixes senator's call for criminal investigation of top MSP officer LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) The Michigan Court of Appeals has affirmed that the states anti-terrorism laws are constitutional. The court held that the law, which criminalizes making terrorist threats, is not unconstitutional. The Office of the Michigan Attorney General says that the law can be interpreted to require proof that the defendant acted recklessly. The court also found the trial court abused its discretion by dismissing the case while the appeal was pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This decision marks a critical victory for public safety, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. It makes clear that those who seek to spread fear and destabilize our communities through threats of terrorism can be held accountable. Our anti-terrorism threat law is a vital tool for my office and county prosecutors across the state, and this ruling ensures we can continue using it to uphold the law and protect the people of Michigan. The statute was enacted in 2002 and criminalizes threats and false threats of terrorism. However, in March, the Court of Appeals ruled the statute is unconstitutional because it doesnt require proof that the defendant subjectively understood the threatening nature of the statements or acted recklessly. Nessel filed an amicus brief to support the emergency application filed by the Wayne County Prosecutor to preserve the law. The Michigan Supreme Court vacated the Court of Appeals March decision, returning it to the lower court for reconsideration. 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. Greenleaf123/Getty Images Michigans appellate court reversed course in its initial determination that the states prohibition on making threats or false threats of terrorism was unconstitutional, ruling Monday that the law passed muster. In an opinion issued for People v. Kvasnicka, the Court of Appeals in a unanimous decision reversed its prior holding, which effectively dismissed charges against a man who threatened a young girl on social media, insinuating that he would either shoot up or blow up her school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Court of Appeals had ruled in February that the law was unconstitutional because it did not require proof that a defendant charged under the law subjectively understood the threatening nature of their statements, or that they acted recklessly in making them. The case reached the Michigan Supreme Court in March, but the high court said it had no opinion on whether the law was unconstitutional. It did kick the case back on remand to the Court of Appeals for further consideration, however, while also vacating the Court of Appeals holding that the statute violated protected free speech. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX On Monday, an appellate panel of Judge Michael Kelly, Judge Mark Boonstra and Judge Allie Greenleaf Maldonado ruled that the law was not facially unconstitutional. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move affirmed the Wayne Circuit Courts order denying Michael Kvasnickas motion to dismiss charges against him and remanded the case for further proceedings in the circuit court. Attorney General Dana Nessel hailed the ruling in a statement. This decision marks a critical victory for public safety, Nessel said. It makes clear that those who seek to spread fear and destabilize our communities through threats of terrorism can be held accountable. Our anti-terrorism threat law is a vital tool for my office and county prosecutors across the state, and this ruling ensures we can continue using it to uphold the law and protect the people of Michigan. Kvasnicka had allegedly told a young girl on social media that she was not (going to) be laughing once I come to your school and shoot it up or blow it up like Columbine. That led to criminal charges under the terrorist threat law and an additional count of using a computer to commit a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has yet to be convicted of the alleged crimes, and the appeal focused mainly on the denial of his motion to dismiss his charges. The appellate court threw the case out in February, but Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy appealed, sending the matter to the states high court in March. Nessel issued an amicus brief in support of Worthys arguments. Michigan Capitol | Susan J. Demas Updated at 3:13 p.m. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel will have to testify before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee in September after lawmakers issued several sweeping subpoenas to various departments on Tuesday. The push continues the committees flexing of its subpoena power since the GOP took control of the House this year. The subpoenas issued Tuesday also included document requests to the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Attorney General. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to Michigan Advance, Ed Golder, spokesperson for the DNR, said the department is always willing to meet with legislators to discuss its work to protect and manage natural and cultural resources. The DNR director and relevant staff would be happy to appear before the committee to answer questions regarding the departments work but have not been invited, Golder said. A subpoena was not necessary to compel the department to provide information. Lynn Sutfin, spokesperson for the state health department, said Hertel told the committee she would be happy to testify and requested more information on what the committee wanted to discuss so she could be more prepared. A subpoena was not necessary to compel the director to appear before the committee, Sutfin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A message seeking comment from the attorney generals office was not returned at the time of publication. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Regarding Hertel, state Rep. Jason Woolford (R-Howell) put forward a subpoena request for testimony requiring the director to testify before the committee on September 9. Woolford said the committee would seek from Hertel information on programs implemented by the state health department, adding that three subcommittees of the Oversight arm have spent the last several months investigating the department. Woolford specifically noted the House Oversight Subcommittee on Child Welfares work to probe Childrens Protective Services related to residential care issues, and the Subcommittee on State and Local Assistance Programs work on eligibility verification for programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite many committee hearings on these issues, DHHS representatives have provided unsatisfactory answers to the House members questions, and have repeatedly stated that Director Hertel would be the better person to answer these questions, Woolford said. Representatives of DHHS have repeatedly stated that their current protocols for administering these benefits and applications are required by federal guidelines, but they have failed to identify which federal guidelines contain these requirements. Woolford went on to say that MDHHS representatives have also refused requests to testify before the subcommittees, and said it appears as though the department was stonewalling the Oversight Committees investigative work. Prior to the committee approving the subpoena, state Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing), noted that Hertel was interested in making herself available, but has not been available on the dates suggested by the committee. Woolford, prior to Tsernoglous comment, noted that Hertel was asked to testify on dates in July but couldnt make it work. I have sat through several presentations through DHHS, so perhaps theyre not making everyone available, but they certainly have made some members available for the committee that Ive sat on, Tsernoglou said. Im not opposed to having the director testify, I think that would be a good idea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay), the committees chair, noted that as recently as last week, the committee sent Hertel additional possible dates for testimony but the committee had not heard back. The request for testimony from Hertel was authorized unanimously with all 17 members of the committee, Republicans and Democrats alike,voting yes. The departments spokesperson, Sutfin, told the Advance that DHHS officials have appeared before policy, budget and oversight committees 21 times and responded to more than 100 requests for information since the start of the latest legislative term in January. Document requests to AG over campaign finance violations, criminal investigation issues DeBoyer also called for the authorization of subpoenas against the attorney generals office, including one related to an unnamed criminal referral sent by the Michigan Department of State regarding a Campaign Finance Act violation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeBoyer did not mention the name of the person at the heart of the alleged violation, but said the subpoena would seek information on any potential criminal activity regarding that referral, and if any resulting investigation presented a conflict of interest between the Department of Attorney General and the subject of the suspect of the investigation. State Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay), chair of the Michigan House Oversight Committee, as the body issued several new subpoenas against varying departments. July 22, 2025 | Screenshot A representative from DeBoyers office later told Michigan Advance that the subpoena would seek additional information on a campaign finance complaint against Bipartisan Solutions, a dark money group that was alleged to have raised and contributed nearly $700,000 to the Fair and Equal Michigan ballot question committee in 2020. The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust issued the complaint to the Department of State. A database of resolved complaints on the departments website shows that the department had reason to believe that a violation had occurred, but DeBoyers office said that an investigation into the matter hasnt been touched. DeBoyers office said that there was a potential issue of a conflict of interest there between Nessel and a member of that group that the committee wanted to sort out, as it was in the public interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the committee meeting, DeBoyer noted that the House has a duty to examine, debate and enact legislation around how conflicts of interest should be regulated by statute. Furthermore, the House has the ability to impeach civil officers of the state of Michigan, where corrupt conduct in office occurs, DeBoyer said. In order to faithfully exercise its responsibilities. In this regard, the House is entitled to investigate the Department of Attorney Generals decisions regarding whether to issue criminal charges in this matter, or whether to create a conflict wall, given the close relationship between Attorney General Dana Nessel and the subject of the criminal referral. Separately, DeBoyer said he was also seeking documents related to any potential criminal complaints or activity allegedly involving Traci Kornak, an attorney and a member of the Democratic Party. A former columnist with The Detroit News had written pieces accusing Kornack of insurance fraud, and had sought to investigate the matter through the Freedom of Information Act. Document requests in that matter were partly denied. DeBoyer on Tuesday said the document request sent to Nessels office would also parse conflict of interest concerns regarding Kornack. Additional request would evaluate invasive swine, Canadian geese orders For the Department of Natural Resources, the committee issued subpoenas on the departments 2010 invasive species order regarding feral swine and a separate program on the euthanasia of Canadian geese. The swine issue was one brought up recently by guitarist and outdoorsman Ted Nugent when he visited the Michigan Capitol in June to rail against hunting and other conservation regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nugent also ran afoul of the DNR regarding alleged feral pigs when the department sued him and others in Ingham Circuit Court, to which he countersued in the Court of Claims and lost there. Nugents main argument was that the order on feral pigs specifically related to so-called Russian boar was invalid and unlawful. The case in Ingham Circuit Court was closed in May. This story was updated to include comment from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Health and Human Services. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- In the wake of public frustration over water shortages and infrastructure failures, Midland County leaders rejected a proposed subdivision plat in Greenwood Estates. At last weeks Tuesday Commissioners Court meeting, some residents expressed their frustrations over unreliable water access, deteriorating infrastructure, and what many called reckless overdevelopment. The debate reached a breaking point when one woman was removed from the room after refusing to yield the podium. The complaints stem from a growing water crisis in the Vander Ranch community, where residents say they are living with frequent boil water notices, water outages, and serious health concerns. Many report their tap water smells like sewage or chlorine, and some have linked it to skin rashes, stomach cramps, nausea, and hair thinning, with even children and pets affected. Test results cited by residents have pointed to the presence of E. coli, chloride, and arsenic in the water supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The utility company responsible for water in the area, Permian Basin Water Resources, operates through its subsidiary Park Water, and is also facing criticism for what residents call poor transparency and a failure to address long-standing issues. There have also been reports via social media of a sewage leak and a wastewater treatment plant operating at reduced capacity, raising even more concerns about water safety and infrastructure readiness. Some residents have shared through social media that they fear their property values are declining as a result of the situation. Others have taken their protests beyond the courtroom, organizing rallies outside the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and contacting lawmakers to demand urgent reform. Despite voting to reject the Greenwood Estates plat, Commissioner Villela later clarified that the courts authority in these situations is restricted by state law. What is a plat? Before developers can begin building homes, they must submit a plat: a legal map that outlines how the land will be divided into lots, streets, and public infrastructure. In unincorporated areas like Greenwood, its the county that reviews and approves these plat applications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed Greenwood Estates plat would have allowed for new homes to be built near Vander Ranch, a community already dealing with serious water quality and supply issues. Thats why residents said they are alarmed. They report that the current water system is already overwhelmed, and adding new homes would only increase demand on infrastructure thats struggling to provide safe, reliable service as it is. But under Texas law, counties can only deny a plat if it violates a specific technical requirement, such as lacking road access, violating setback distances, or failing to comply with drainage rules. Issues like water shortages, utility strain, or public health risks are not legally valid reasons to reject a plat. This means that even when residents are experiencing boil water notices, sewage smells, and health concerns, the county may still be legally obligated to approve new development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas Legislature gives municipalities broad authority to regulate plats based on infrastructure, water capacity, or other concerns. Unfortunately, those powers are not extended to counties, Villela said in a public statement. Villela explained that the county conducted a full legal review before the vote and found no violations of state statute that would clearly justify rejecting the plat. Nonetheless, the court voted unanimously to deny the application. Stating it was not as an act of defiance, but as a reflection of public concern and the urgent need for legislative change. When I took office, I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States, the Texas Constitution, and the laws of this Nation and of this State, he said. That means I must follow the law as it is, not as I wish it were. In his statement, Villela said he believes the current legal framework is inadequate and that counties should have more discretion when it comes to land-use decisions, particularly in fast-growing areas where infrastructure and public health are at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This vote was not a reflection of apathy, but of legal obligation, he added. I remain committed to standing up for Midland County, fighting for meaningful reform, and ensuring growth is guided by common sense and community values. You can read the full press release from Steven Villela here: Statement-from-Commissioner-Steven-Villela-on-Greenwood-Plat-ApprovalDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A 22-year-old Midland man is facing a third-degree felony charge after police say he violently assaulted and strangled his ex-girlfriend during a July 13 domestic incident at their shared apartment. 22-year-old Jukorian Andrews was arrested on July 17 by Midland Police Officer S. Acosta and charged with Assault of a Family or Household Member by Impeding Breath or Circulation, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by our newsroom. Credit: MCSO Records According to the affidavit, the victim, referred to in court documents as Jane Doe, met with detectives at the Midland Police Department lobby the afternoon following the alleged assault. She arrived with visible injuries, including a swollen and blackened left eye, bruising on her arms and neck, and burns along her shoulder and hip, reportedly caused by being dragged across the carpet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman told police that Andrews, who is the father of her child, became enraged after she spent time with her friends, who lived upstairs on another floor of the apartment complex. She said once she came back, he began arguing with her and then physically attacked her inside their apartment. According to her statement, he pushed her to the floor, dragged her into the bedroom by her hair and neck, and struck her repeatedly with open and closed fists. She also alleged that Andrews strangled her for 10 to 15 seconds, cutting off her ability to breathe or speak, before a male friend intervened and pulled him off her. Officers documented extensive injuries during the interview, including broken clothing consistent with Janes account and additional bruising and abrasions observed during a visual exam. Jane reportedly told police she had initially withheld details from responding officers the night before out of fear for her safety. She stated this was not the first time the ex-boyfriend had laid hands on her and had threatened her life in the past, the affidavit reads. Janes mother later provided a text message to police allegedly from Andrews that said he was serious about his threats and would be ok going to death row for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jane formally requested an emergency protective order for herself and her child and has expressed fear of returning to the apartment. Officers then filed for an arrest warrant the same day of the interview, stating there was probable cause to believe Andrews intentionally, knowingly, and recklessly caused bodily injury by impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of a household member, a violation of Texas Penal Code 25.11(a). Andrews was arrested four days later on a warrant and booked into the Midland County jail shortly after 9 a.m. on July 17. His bond is set at $100,000, and jail records show he is currently being held in the Midland County Detention Center as of Monday evening. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. You are not alone. The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides free, confidential support 24/7. Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), text START to 88788, or chat online at thehotline.org. In Midland, local support services may also be available through Safe Place of the Permian Basin, which offers emergency shelter, counseling, advocacy, and assistance with protective orders. Call their 24-hour crisis line at 1-800-967-8928. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) The third annual Food Truck Tuesday series hosted by the Midtown Center is in full swing. Food Truck Tuesdays go from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Tuesday through Aug. 26 at the Midtown Center, located at 96 W 15th St. near Pine Avenue. Organizers say it gives the community a space to come together, enjoy each others company and try different food truck vendors each week. It was really started just as a way to bring our neighborhood together. So a lot of people will bike, walk over to the Midtown Center on Tuesdays over the summer and just connect through food, music (and) just hanging out, Madison Palmatier, communications manager with Jubilee Ministries, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the last three years, the series has expanded to include live music presented by Cardaphonia. View the lineup here. According to Hollands website, limited seating is available. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sunday saw another night of protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping. Essex police were eager to clamp down on the subsequent demonstrations, arresting a total of six people and describing the atmosphere as angry and violent. Locals had for years expressed frustration at the area being used to house asylum seekers, a feeling which overflowed last week. This is not the first time protesters have clashed with police over the Governments decision to place those who cross the Channel in hotels. But the events of the past week should suggest to us that these disturbances will become more common. Epping is not like the largely Northern, post-industrial towns which protested last summer after the Southport attack. It is a leafy area, where you need a middle-class income to afford a mortgage. One of the videos from Thursdays protest showed the difference. A mother who looked like she would be more at home on the school run in an SUV than with a megaphone gave a rousing speech, saying that they were there to protect their children. That is because the trigger for the protests was an alleged sexual assault on a 14-year-old girl by a recently arrived Ethiopian asylum seeker, Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, staying at the asylum hotel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The failure of this Government and the last to stop the small boats crossings is radicalising Middle England. Every week brings more young men from some of the poorest and most violent societies on earth. Some will successfully claim asylum because they claim to come from places to which they cannot be deported. They are often kept in hotels, at a cost of billions to the tax payer. Although the Government brags that hotel numbers are on the way down, asylum seekers are also being put in flats and HMOs across the country. Increasingly there is nowhere you can go where you wont find asylum seekers barracked nearby, with all the risks that come with that. Most recently, Eritrean Aron Hadash was convicted of assaulting a 19-year-old with learning difficulties, which make her very childlike. That did not matter to Hadash, who was living at taxpayer expense in a nearby Holiday Inn. Intoxicated, he pinned her down, grabbed her breasts, and touched her crotch for several minutes before she escaped. Despite showing no remorse and the judge saying that he poses a high risk of serious harm to the public, he was sentenced to only 14 months and has already been released after serving a year on remand. That is why ordinary people came out onto the streets of Epping. Although there have been reports of members of the far-Right attending, the hand-made signs and mixed nature of the crowd suggests that it is largely locals. Tommy Robinson may have said he will join the protests this coming weekend, but that shows that he too was caught out. Most of the professional protestors were from counter-protestors from Stand up to Racism, who arrived from out of town with their professionally printed placards, only to be run out again by furious locals. That should actually worry the authorities more. A handful of troublemakers is one thing, a community up in arms is another. There is a logic to such community backlash. Last month, in Ballymena, the horrific rape of a local girl, allegedly by Roma teenagers, led to riots over several days that targeted Roma and other foreigners. In the aftermath, many of the Roma have left or been moved to new accommodation. Many locals are said to be pleased, claiming that anti-social behaviour has subsequently reduced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This shift in attitudes can also be seen in the increasingly fractious relationship between the police and the public. Images of a police van smashing into a protestor without stopping on Thursday shocked many. The sight of the police evacuating Stand up to Racism protestors in vans was also controversial, even if it was probably a sensible tactical decision to get them away. The revelation last week of a secret, multi-billion pound programme to smuggle Afghans into Britain while muzzling the press has only further reduced trust. People find it hard to believe in the rule of law when our borders go unguarded, while prosperous market towns have riot police on the streets. Restoring trust requires action. Our broken human rights laws are at the root of the small boat crisis, which is why Suella Braverman and I co-wrote a paper published this week which shows how Britain can leave the European Convention on Human Rights. Once we have regained control of our borders, we can begin closing the asylum hotels and HMOs. Those granted asylum over the last few years should have their cases reexamined, to see if they are genuine or if they were only beneficiaries of our overly-generous laws. This will help make our country safer for women and girls, bringing peace back to our streets. 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. (NewsNation) Three Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers in Florida have been accused of keeping migrants in conditions that violate human rights standards, according to a report released Monday. The report, entitled You Feel Like Your Life Is Over, focused on the Krome North Service Processing Center, the Broward Transitional Center and the Federal Detention Center, all in Florida. The report, published by Human Rights Watch, makes several allegations, including that detainees were shackled for long periods on buses, migrants were forced to sleep on concrete floors under fluorescent lighting and that many migrants were denied access to basic hygiene and medical care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOJ requests noncitizen inmate info from multiple California jails Human Rights Watch said that by March, the number of detainees being held at Krome had increased by 249% since President Donald Trumps inauguration. At times, reports said that the facility detained more than three times its operational capacity and that by June 20, the number of migrants being held at the three facilities had jumped 111% from population levels before Jan. 20. People in immigration detention are being treated as less than human, Belkis Wille, the reports author and associate crisis and conflict director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. These are not isolated incidents, but the result of a fundamentally broken detention system that is rife with serious abuses. A Bureau of Prisons spokesman told NewsNations partner The Hill that it cannot comment on the specific allegations in the report but that it was the agencys mission to to operate facilities that are safe, secure, and humane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 told The Hill in a statement. In a statement provided to NewsNation on Monday, Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, called the claims in the report false. McLaughlin said that the type of lies being pushed forward in the report contributed to an increase in attacks on ICE officers. She said that detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with their family members and lawyers. Ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of individuals in our custody is a top priority at ICE, McLaughlin said. ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens. Report alleges overcrowding, unsanitary conditions at Florida ICE centers The report accuses ICE detention officers of degrading and dehumanizing those in the center. Some detainees did not have access to food, water or functioning toilets and suffered extreme overcrowding in freezing holding cells, the report alleges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one case outlined by the report, a woman housed at Krome with dozens of other women said they were without bedding or privacy. She told Human Rights Watch that there was only one toilet, which was covered in feces. We begged the officers to let us clean it, but they just said sarcastically, Housekeeping will come soon, the woman said in the report. McLaughlin, the DHS spokeswoman, said that it is not uncommon for women to be staged at the Krome facility and that they are not placed in the facilitys general population. She added that male detainees do not have access to the women who are placed there. People hold signs reading Deportation Kills during a vigil protesting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody and mass deportations outside the Krome Detention Center in Miami on May 24, 2025. (Photo by Giorgio VIERA / AFP) (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images) Other migrants who deal with medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, kidney conditions and chronic pain were routinely denied prescribed medications by facility staff members, the report alleges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Migrant charged with concealing womans death arrested by ICE In other situations, the report alleges officers made men eat while their hands were shackled behind their backs after the group was forced to wait hours for lunch. One man told Human Rights Watch that the group had to bend over and eat off the chairs with our mouths, like dogs. Katie Blankenship, an immigration attorney and the co-founder of Sanctuary of the South, said that the rapid rate at which migrants have been arrested since Trump took office in January is causing a human rights crisis that will plague this state and the entire country for years to come. ICE officials have indicated they are looking to add at least 40,000 more migrant detention beds, with White House officials pushing federal immigration enforcement officers to make at least 3,000 migrant arrests per day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US government is detaining many people who pose no threat to public safety in conditions that violate basic human rights and dignity, Wille said. The United States has a responsibility to treat everyone in its custody with dignity and humanity. Its not the Ritz, but there is no cause for alarm: Lawmaker U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., recently toured the Krome facility after seeing social media concerns about the conditions inside. Gimenez described the facility, which currently houses 1,000 detainees, as being adequate, telling reporters that there were enough showers and toilets for those who are being held there and that detainees receive three meals per day. Yeah, its not the Ritz, but I can tell you that theres nothing going on in there that would be cause for alarm, Gimenez said, according to a local NBC affiliate in South Florida. 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. WASHINGTON Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Tuesday abruptly canceled upcoming House votes and decided to send lawmakers home early for a five-week recess, all because he wants to block a bipartisan effort to force a vote on releasing files on Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and former close friend to President Donald Trump. The House was scheduled to be in session through Thursday, with votes set for that day. But Tuesday morning, Johnson scrapped those plans and decided to close up shop by Wednesday afternoon. Lawmakers are now heading back to their districts until Sept. 2. Johnson told reporters hes fed up with Democrats efforts to force votes on releasing Epsteins files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American people are best served by putting an end to Democrats side shows, he said in a Tuesday press conference. Thats what were doing by not allowing the Rules Committee to continue with that nonsense this week. Were done being lectured on transparency, he said. On Monday night, Democrats forced an early end to a House Rules Committee hearing by announcing plans to force the committee to vote on a bipartisan bill to make the Justice Department release all of its files on Epstein, who faced multiple charges relating to sex trafficking of minors. The committee, which the speaker directly controls, ended its meeting and never came back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson claimed Tuesday that he supports maximum transparency on Epsteins records, but is concerned about the need to protect innocent victims of Epstein. The idea that the Justice Department should release all of its records on Epstein could harm them, he said. We also have to be judicious and careful about protecting the innocent, he claimed. We cannot be careless in an open release like that. But Johnson glossed over the real problem hes facing, which is that many House Republicans also want to see all of Epsteins files released. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and 11 other Republicans signed onto the bipartisan bill with Democrats, and theyre not backing down in trying to force a vote on it. Americans were promised justice, Massie said Tuesday on social media. Our binding bipartisan legislation to release the complete Epstein files now has 20 sponsors. Soon we can begin collecting signatures required to force a public vote in the U.S. House. Is your member on this list? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other GOPers on this bill are Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Tim Burchett (Tenn.), Eric Burlison (Mo.), Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Jeff Van Drew (N.J.), Eli Crane (Ariz.), Cory Mills (Fla.), Tom Barrett (Mich.), Max Miller (Ohio), Nancy Mace (S.C.) and Keith Self (Texas). Trump created this problem for himself. He and top officials in his administration spent years fueling conspiracies about an Epstein client list, and Trump vowed to release this purported list when he was running for president. They all fanned this idea that Democrats were hiding Epsteins client list to protect powerful figures in their party who they alleged were on it. Attorney General Pam Bondi defiantly claimed in February, weeks after Trump had won, that Epsteins client list was sitting right now on my desk for review. But Bondi is now claiming this list doesnt exist at all, and Trump is trying to move on. President Donald Trump previously vowed to release Jeffrey Epstein's client list, but now he's trying to move on. Why? AP/Getty Images It infuriated many of his staunch supporters, who are wondering, along with everyone else, why hes hiding Epsteins files. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported last week on a racy birthday card that Trump gave to Epstein in 2003, with a strange note. Trump, furious about this story, is now suing the newspaper for $10 billion over it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his Tuesday press conference, Johnson knocked Massie for working with Democrats to try to force the release of Epsteins files. Massie is the one trying to bite Republicans, Johnson said in response to a question about his GOP colleagues efforts. Let me just say about Thomas Massie: Could you just accept my southern, Bless his heart? The speaker also seemed to be trying to mislead people about what Massie and others are trying to accomplish with their bill versus what action Trump is currently taking regarding Epsteins files. He repeatedly said Trump ordered the Justice Department to get everything released, which means theres no purpose for Congress to also push for this. But Trump only directed the release of grand jury testimony related to Epsteins case, which is a tiny fraction of Epsteins records and files. And even this order only came in response to a groundswell of pressure from his own base. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) said he talked about the Epstein files during the Biden administration, and its clear how close Trump and Epstein were based on whats been made public so far. He said the two appear together in multiple videos and photos, theres weird quotes from Trump about Epstein, court pleadings that include Trumps name, plane logs showing Trump flying with Epstein, and now this creepy birthday card. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump is all over the Epstein files, Lieu told reporters Tuesday. Why do you think we have this entire explosion now about Epstein? he asked. Because Attorney General Pam Bondi went on national TV and told the American people that Jeffrey Epsteins client list was, quote, sitting on my desk right now. Wheres that client list? Why doesnt she release it? Later Tuesday, former longtime Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced that she would also be signing onto the bipartisan bill. It appears shes had a change of heart on the situation, as just days ago she was calling the Epstein controversy a distraction. For years, Epsteins victims many of them just children when they were abused have waited for justice, often in silence and in pain. They deserve answers, Pelosi said in a statement. They deserve dignity. And they deserve action from their government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She took direct aim at Johnson for his efforts to block transparency, saying his actions are an abdication of duty and a profound insult to Epsteins victims. Pelosi said, It is especially shameful that Speaker Johnson has shut down the House of Representatives for the summer to avoid a vote on this resolution. Related... House Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to spare Donald Trump from another Jeffrey Epstein headacheat least for now. As uproar from the MAGA base continues, the GOP leader said there will be no vote on any measure related to the so-called Epstein files before lawmakers head off on Thursday for summer break until September. Johnson insisted theres no daylight between House Republicans and the president, citing Trumps call last week for the Justice Department to make public grand jury testimony from the Epstein prosecution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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, the Louisiana Republican told reporters at the Capitol on Monday. But I dont think were at that point right now because we agree with the president. Mike Johnson is standing firmly with the president days after breaking rank to suggest the Epstein files should be made public. / Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images A non-binding resolution, approved by Republicans on the House Rules Committee last week, would carry no legal weight to compel the Justice Department to make any further disclosures about Epstein. It called on the DOJ to share materials related to the late sex offenders case and his death within 30 days. However, if it were to pass in a floor vote, it would still serve as a blow to Trump as he struggles to contain fractures in his base. It was offered up by Republicans after Democratsand GOP constituentsapplied sustained pressure. Democrats had pounced on the opportunity to capitalize on the MAGA infighting, trying to force votes on measures that would actually compel the DOJ to release the files. Johnson allowed the Rules Committee to advance the non-binding resolution last week as part of a deal with GOP holdouts on a rescissions package. It was viewed by critics as a way to address the issue without forcing any meaningful action or attracting backlash from Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress thinks youre stupid, GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky said at the time. The rules committee passed a NON-BINDING Epstein resolution, hoping folks will accept it as real. It forces the release of NOTHING. The House recesses on Thursday for a summer break. / Andrew Harnik / Getty Images Johnson also wouldnt commit to bringing it to the flooreverat the time, insisting, Were in line with the White House, theres no daylight between us. He seemed intent on hammering that point home after breaking with Trump just days earlier, calling for transparency on the Epstein files and saying, we should put everything out there and let the people decide. Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin slammed Republicans for scrapping several votes this week to avoid confronting the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans are literally shutting down the House floor and getting ready to go on vacation early just to weasel out of releasing the Epstein files, Martin said in a statement provided to the Daily Beast. While the American people elected leaders to fight for law and order and do their damn jobs, Republicans are bending the knee to Donald Trump and protecting an infamous sex trafficker. In a separate push, Massie and Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, have formed an unlikely alliance on bipartisan legislation to make the Justice Department release all Epstein-related materials in an attempt to work around Johnson. Ten House Republicans have signed on to the measure, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 on X in a cryptic warning on Monday. If not. The base will turn and theres no going back. Reps. Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene are among the Republicans who want a binding resolution on the Epstein files on the floor. / Andrew Harnik / Getty Images Massie has been pressuring House leaders to put the bill on the floor this week, to no avail. Trump has been flooding the zone with distractions after the Wall Street Journal on Thursday published a bombshell report describing a lewd birthday card from Trump to Epstein. That added to the uproar that Trump had been trying for days to stifle after his administration reversed course on making further disclosures about the Epstein case, infuriating a base that has long been fixated on conspiracy theories about it. I dont think this is going to go away, Massie told CNN on Monday. And I think when we return in September, well get phase two of the Epstein files. Ed Miliband has vowed to stop noise rules from blocking heat pumps as he campaigns for the devices to be installed across Britain. The Energy Secretary has promised to investigate how regulations are enforced and to relax the rules if needed, saying noise issues remains a big barrier to heat pump installations. Mr Miliband said: Were going to look at that, as to whether this is about the rules and the way they are being enforced and the knowledge of the rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Often what I find on some of these planning issues, sometimes its the rules, sometimes its the enforcement of the rules and sometimes its the awareness of the rules and youve got to work out which it is. My overall approach would be to say where there are barriers, lets get rid of them if we possibly can. If the noise thing is a barrier, obviously subject to making sure there isnt a disturbance to people, which I dont think there will be, we should act on that. Mr Miliband was addressing Bill Esterson, chair of the energy security and net zero committee, who said one in three heat pump installations required planning consent even in cases where the machines were producing noise comparable to a computer. The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), which sets planning standards for the devices, states that the noise from a heat pump cannot exceed 37 decibels (dB) when measured a metre away. 40dB is roughly equivalent to a quiet office or a library. Rollout struggles The Energy Secretary is pushing for Britain to install 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028 as part of his net zero drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Labour has already scrapped a rule requiring homeowners in England to gain planning consent to install heat pumps at least one metre away from a neighbouring property. The one-metre requirement had originally been introduced because some systems can emit a humming sound of up to 60dB, similar to the level produced by a fridge or dishwasher. Mr Miliband said that removing that rule had already made a difference in terms of more widespread adoption of the technology. In an awkward situation for the Energy Secretary, his own neighbours are protesting against a five-storey residential development over concerns that its six proposed heat pumps will cause noise pollution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justine Thornton, Mr Milibands wife, is among those objecting to the development in their Dartmouth Park neighbourhood, calling them too tall, too bulky and too dense, although she did not mention anything in relation to the heat pumps. Justine Thornton, Mr Milibands wife, is among those objecting to a new development in their Dartmouth Park neighbourhood - Chris Radburn/PA Campaigners warned that any relaxation of existing guidance could worsen noise pollution. Andrew Montford, of campaign group Net Zero Watch, said loosening restrictions around noise would undoubtedly lead to conflict between neighbours. He said: When heat pumps are new, they tend to be relatively quiet, but as they age they can become very noisy. John Stewart, chairman of the UK Noise Association, warned that any further easing of guidelines would remove the little protection residents have from heat pump noise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: It will particularly impact lower-income people living in flats or terraced houses where inevitably heat pumps will be very close to their homes. Miliband would be much better insisting on high-quality heat pumps rather than loosening restrictions on them. A government spokesman said: We have seen incredible innovation in heat pump design over the past decade, with technological advances meaning they have become quieter over time and noise complaints are rare. We have announced changes to remove planning constraints to make them easier to install and will review their impact to explore how we can further streamline the planning requirements to support heat pump take-up. 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. SOUTHPORT, N.Y. (WETM) A Pennsylvania man was arrested in July on a felony charge after reports that a trailer was stolen from a business in Southport, according to information from the Chemung County Sheriffs Office. Joseph Friel, 33, of Millerton, PA, was arrested on the charge of grand larceny in the fourth degree, a class E felony, after a reported theft on July 15. Person dies after construction site accident in Ithaca Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 16, Deputies were sent to a business at 1600 Cedar Street in Southport for the report of a stolen utility trailer. After checking the businesss surveillance footage, it showed a male, later identified as Friel, using a pickup truck to steal the trailer from the back of the business during the overnight of July 15, deputies said. Further investigation into the incident revealed that Friel took the trailer to a remote location in Southport so no one could find it. Deputies found Friel, and he agreed to reveal where he hid the trailer. The trailer was found and returned to the owner. Friel was arrested on the charge and processed before he was issued an appearance ticket for the Town of Southport Court and released. 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 WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. Millions of above ground swimming pools have been recalled after the deaths of several children. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that pools from the brands Bestway, Intex and Polygroup have been recalled, effective from July 21. The five million pools under recall have issues with their compression straps. Children are able to use the straps as footholds, gaining access to the pool. Some have been unable to get back out or to the surface after being submerged in water, and they've drowned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CSPC says that nine children between 22 months and three years old have died in the years between 2007 and 2022. The deaths took place in states across the country, including in California, Florida, Michigan and Texas. The recalled pool models have been sold since 2002. They each sit 48 inches or taller and feature the compression straps along the outside and on the vertical legs of the pool. These straps keep the pool's shape and make sure that it remains upright even before being filled with water. The three companies issued a joint statement addressing the recalls, adding that they "have a shared commitment to customer safety." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The companies noted that most pools in this height range or taller that are currently being sold have addressed this problem. The recall is a preventative measure for those with older pools that aren't as safe as the newer models. "The safe use of our products is important to us, and we are working together to get the word out about this recall and create a seamless process for our customers to participate," the companies said. Those who have the older models affected by the recall are advised to put the pool in a position where children cannot access it, or to drain it until a repair can be installed. Customers are able to contact any of the three affected companies in order to request a free repair kit for their pool. The repair kit includes a rope that attaches to each of the vertical supports and wraps around the pool, an addition the companie say will improve "structural integrity." After installing the rope, the customers can then cut the compression strap from the pool. Millions of Above Ground Pools Recalled After Accidents first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 FORT RUCKER, Ala (WDHN) Senator Katie Britt is hoping to split $119.4 million between military bases around Alabama. In the Bill, the Enterprise native is looking to get around $28.4 million for the home of Army Aviation. These funds would be used for: Flight Control Tower at Tabernacle Stagefield $8.1 million Fire and Rescue Station at Tabernacle Stagefield $6.6 million Medical Evacuation Support Facility $7.4 million Flight Control Tower at Cairns Army Airfield $2.7 million Lowe Army Aircraft Maintenance Hangar $3.6 million Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fort Rucker is back The future of our national defense infrastructure and warfighter will be stronger because of these investments in Alabamas world-class capabilities. Now more than ever we need to protect our homeland from 21st-century threats, said Sen. Britt in a release. I know Alabama will be indispensable to ensuring Americas military readiness and unmatched lethality across the globe. Im deeply proud to advance these wins for our state and look forward to getting this funding over the finish line to bring our tax dollars home to our communities. However, Fort Rucker would not be the only military base getting funding. Redstone Arsenal would get around $55 million. Approximately $32 million would be allocated to the Anniston Army Depot, and Maxwell Air Force Base would get $4 million. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. Iran will intends to continue its nuclear enrichment programme, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with US broadcaster Fox News aired on Monday. "We cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists. And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride," Araghchi told Fox News. "Our enrichment is so dear to us." Israel attacked Iran on June 13, bombing targets across the country. The Israeli government cited Tehran's controversial nuclear programme as justification and its suspicions that Iran plans to build a nuclear bomb. Iran, which denies this, responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After 12 days of war, during which the US dropped its most powerful conventional weapons on a key Iranian nuclear site, a ceasefire is now in place. Araghchi said Iran's nuclear facilities had been "seriously" damaged in the US strikes and all enrichment capabilities had ceased for the time being. US President Donald Trump has said that he would "absolutely" consider bombing Iran again if the country enriched uranium to a higher level. Negotiations between Iran and the so-called E3 states - Germany, France and the United Kingdom - are planned for Friday. The meeting is to take place in Istanbul at the level of deputy foreign ministers, said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, according to the web portal of the daily newspaper Etemad. Tehran is hoping for sanctions imposed on Iran to be lifted, while the United States and European countries are seeking to limit Iranian uranium enrichment and progress towards a nuclear weapon. Tehran has always insisted that its nuclear programme is peaceful. COLES COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) An AMBER alert that was issued for a Topeka, Kansas child has been rescinded after the child and the suspect were located in Mattoon Tuesday afternoon. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said the 23-month old child was last seen with the suspect, identified as 42-year-old Christopher Barnshaw, on Monday, July 21 at 5:45 a.m. The Topeka Police Department said the child was forcibly taken from his mother and he was believed to be in immediate danger. Danville murder still unsolved, family begging for witnesses to come forward Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An AMBER alert was issued for the child, who was located just before 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The child is now safe. Thanks for your assistance during the AMBER alert, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation wrote in a news release on Facebook around 12:50 p.m. The suspect is also in custody of local authorities, the bureau said. WCIAs partner station KSNT reported that an active homicide investigation is underway in connection with the AMBER alert. Topeka Police said the child was taken from a home in the 500 block of Wabash in Topeka on July 18. In a live press conference Tuesday afternoon, Topeka Police officials said officers responded to that same area in Topeka around 9:50 a.m. that same day for a welfare check. Once there, police found a man and woman dead in the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials are not releasing the identities of the victims until next of kin have been notified. Police are still investigating how the two died. WCIA reached out to both the Coles County Sheriffs Office and the Mattoon Police Department for more information. The Sheriffs Office said law enforcement officials from Mattoon, Charleston, Eastern Illinois University, Illinois State Police and Coles County assisted. This is a developing story. We will share updates as we learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. CHICAGO Authorities in Chicago are asking for help in the search for a teen girl who went missing over the weekend. According to Chicago police, 14-year-old Dana Rojas-Canedo went missing on Sunday, July 20, and has not been contacted since. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Officer said Rojas-Canedo was last spotted near the 4900 block of South Seeley Avenue, in the citys Back of the Yards neighborhood on the Southwest Side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The missing teen, who stands 5 feet tall and weighs around 130 pounds, has brown eyes and blue hair. Officers said the missing teen is also known to have a tattoo on her upper chest that reads Live life with no regrets. Photo provided by Chicago police shows 14-year-old Dana Rojas-Canedo went missing on Sunday, July 20, 2025. Rojas-Canedo was last seen wearing a black tank top with black leggings and red Jordan brand gym shoes. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Authorities shared details about the teens disappearance in a news release sent out on Monday afternoon. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of 14-year-old Dana Rojas-Canedo is asked to contact the CPD Area One Detective Division at 312-747-8380 or call 911. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. UPDATE: The Fountain Inn Police Department said Hughes was located and is safe. FOUNTAIN INN, S.C. (WSPA) Police are asking for the publics help in locating a missing teenager in Fountain Inn. The Fountain Inn Police Department said 14-year-old Madyson Faith Hughes was last seen near Barred Owl Drive and Ted Drive Tuesday morning around 1:30 a.m. According to the police, Hughes was last seen wearing a black shirt, gray pants and white shoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She stands 5-feet-4 inches tall and weighs 105 pounds. Hughes has brown hair and green eyes. If you have any information regarding Hughes whereabouts, contact the Fountain Inn Police Department at 864-862-4461. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JOPLIN, Mo. Missouri American Water is on a mission to make sure your water is toxin-free, and theyre well underway. The company is working across the state to replace old lead-based service lines with newer, EPA-approved ones. What Joplin residents need to know about Missouri American Waters ongoing service line replacement program 20,000 lines have been replaced so far. The federal government has set a deadline for all lead-based pipes to be replaced by 2037. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Missouri American Water representatives say they expect to be finished before that deadline, but they need help from the community to make it happen. So we are definitely making an impact, and I think its just important that our customers know theres still work to be done so go to our website if youre not sure what your service line is theres directions that can tell you how to find out, said Christie Barnhart, Missouri American Water Senior Comms. Manager. Barnhart also says that while old pipes are still up to health standards, newer replacements can add to the value of homes in the future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent). The head of Missouris cannabis testing unit said the new unannounced visits to collect product samples shouldnt impact business, in a podcast by the Missouri Cannabis Regulation Division. This is going to be just another arm of compliance, guys, said Ryan Bernard, the divisions testing and research unit manager. So keep this business as usual 100% of the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 1, cannabis regulators began arriving unannounced at licensed cultivation and manufacturing facilities to collect products off the shelves. Theyll take them to the Missouri State Public Health Reference Laboratory to be tested for things like mold, pesticides and a whole range of other things. Bernard said the process will not disrupt production, and it will be paid for by either by DCRs budget or state public health labs budget. The supply chain will remain intact, he said, Youll be able to move that material in and out freely, and you should do so. His team is looking to sample four to seven grams of final finished marijuana goods. If a package has more than four to seven grams, he said then theyll take the whole package. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just want to reiterate that its going to start as one tag per facility, meaning that were not looking to take 10 tags from a single facility, Bernard said. Then as the infrastructure is developed at the state public health lab, well slowly start increasing that out. Bernard said hell be randomly selecting based on the inventory listed in the states seed-to-sale tracking system called Metrc. If its today, I would go into our seed-to-sale system, pull your inventory down, and then just randomly select a sample to come to your facility to take, he said. If a product fails at the reference lab, he said his team will return to the facility to collect a full representative sample. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If that product fails at that point, were going to initiate an investigation, he said. If the material is no longer available at the originating facility, at that point, we may sample from dispensaries. Like most states, all testing of Missouri cannabis products occurs at private labs that have been licensed by the state. This is the divisions first attempt to double check the work of licensed testing labs tasked with ensuring the safety of Missouri marijuana products. Lawmakers began allocating money for this kind of sampling to be tested at the state laboratory in the fiscal year that began on July 1, 2024 with $3.8 million. Most of it went unspent because the cannabis testing methods were still in the process of being implemented, according to state budget documents. Another $2.4 million was allocated for the current fiscal year, and its unclear how much of it has been spent. States across the nation are taking similar proactive steps to establish reference laboratories to verify private laboratory cannabis testing, according to the divisions July press release announcing the testing. This reference lab will be a pivotal step forward in the evolution of reliable, science-based cannabis testing protocols, said Amy Moore, the divisions director. We are grateful for all the expertise and collaboration from many state and national partners, especially from the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory, that helped launch this initiative for Missouri. (KSNF/KODE) A Webb City man will spend more than a decade in federal prison for child porn charges. Tuesday morning in Missouri federal court, a judge sentenced Charles Tyler, 48, to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison. Once Tyler gets out of prison, hell have to serve 30 years of supervised probation. Tyler pleaded guilty back in March to one count of materials containing child porn. FOUR STATES CRIME Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A year ago this week a federal grand jury indicted Charles on child porn charges. The charges were originally filed in Jasper County after an online investigation into the distribution of child porn led them to Tylers home. Those charges are still active. According to court documents, his computer had hundreds of sexual images and videos involving kids as young as five and possibly younger. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) Missouri is pioneering new opportunities for a wide range of public safety personnel to further their education with free tuition awards for eligible members and their dependents. Public safety personnel with at least six years of service will now be eligible for free college tuition awards worth up to 100% of their resident tuition charges under a new law signed this July by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, called the Public Safety Retention and Recruitment Act. The new law applies to a wide range of positions, including firefighters, EMTs, police, sheriff's officers, advanced EMTs, paramedics and telecommunicator first responders residing in Missouri, and requires them to commit to a university or community college within the state to receive an award. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think it's fantastic," St. Joseph Police Department Recruiting Officer and seven-year veteran Ethan Miles said. "I have not seen a whole lot of other places that offer anything close to what this offers." Miles said he receives questions from prospective hires about tuition assistance nearly every day, praising the law for opening new doors for so many public safety officers to either finish or pursue their degree, boosting their qualifications and benefitting departments and communities as a whole. For active public safety members seeking awards, the law is designed to ensure that degree programs are related to public safety and public safety-oriented fields. Individuals who have already earned a baccalaureate degree are ineligible to use the tuition award to earn another degree. I think it helps keep people motivated to just keep learning It's extremely important to push yourself and continue to educate yourself," he said. Any of your cyber certifications, that kind of thing is going to help you when it comes to detectives, your criminal justice is going to be basically moving up in ranks." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the law comes at a strong time for the department's recruiting efforts following the hire of eight new officers, including seven from the Law Enforcement Academy in July. He's hopeful the measure will become a successful tool to assist with recruiting potential officers from outside the state. "I've seen more of an uptick in the past couple of months of people just wanting more information and interested in joining than I have the entire time I've been doing recruiting," Miles said. Additionally, the law states that a legal dependent of public safety personnel with at least ten years of service is eligible for a tuition award under similar parameters. They must commit to a Missouri institution and reside in the state for the next five years, but degree programs do not have to be related to public safety. Public safety personnel and their legal dependents are eligible for tuition awards for up to five consecutive years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I actually have a son that's starting college in August," Jeff Werner, a captain and 15-year veteran of the St. Joseph Fire Department said. "This would help my family household tremendously." Werner is optimistic the law will benefit not just St. Joseph but the entire state and public safety personnel, creating a stronger pool of candidates for a range of positions that departments often struggle to fill. I'm glad it's a first responder thing because recruiting has always been a big issue, finding those qualified applicants. So having a state backed resource would be beneficial for our department, he said. According to the law, tuition awards will not be issued if doing so would require an institution of higher education to create additional seats exceeding program capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement officials said some key questions remain on how the program will work, including how much will be allocated from the state. The act states that in the event that funds are insufficient to provide tuition awards for all eligible applicants, public safety personnel shall be in the first class of applicants to receive the awards, and dependents shall be in the second class. CAMDENTON, Mo. A Missouri State Park Ranger was arrested over the weekend for child sexual assault. According to the Camden County Sheriffs Office, detectives began their investigation on Saturday, July 19, after a juvenile victim came forward to report ongoing sexual abuse. Very disturbing allegations. The whole situation is disturbing, Colonel Scott Hines, chief deputy for the sheriffs office, said. It is a hard thing to do whenever theres any kind of a sexual assault or a sex crime against a minor. And in this case, its even more difficult because the person whos the perpetrator is a law enforcement officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A probable cause statement filed by the sheriffs office details multiple instances of sexual abuse over a two-year period. The victim said Billy G. Stephens III would assault them nearly every time Stephens was at their home. Walmart employee stabs co-worker during argument in Collinsville The probable cause statement says Stephens took the victim on a trip and that Stephens had sex with the victim in a hotel room both nights they were together. Stephens, 34, would sometimes pay the victim to have sex with him and gave the victim gifts, like a cell phone, according to the sheriffs office. With those forensic interviewers, when theyre speaking with those young people, with those young victims, theyre really kind of using that same language, that same inflection (of the victim being interviewed), Hines said. And they repeat back a lot of what they say to them to make sure that (the victims) understand the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said Stephens told the victim what they were doing was okay because, long ago, people used to do it all the time, and that God would not be mad at [the victim] for it. The probable cause statement says Stephens is a former Army Ranger and had been employed as a tactical firearms instructor at training facilities. Stephens allegedly told the victim they couldnt tell anyone about their activities because of his job and that he would be killed if he went to jail. Stephens was arrested late Saturday night while on duty. Camden County Sheriff Chris Edgar said the Missouri State Park Rangers cooperated with the investigation and assisted in devising a plan to take Stephens into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News The Camden County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Stephens 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 a felony prosecution. Stephens appeared in court Tuesday morning and was denied a bond reduction. He will remain jailed until at least his next court appearance on Aug. 14. The sheriffs office said Stephens worked as a ranger at several different parks across the Ozarks. A spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources said the department is aware of the arrest and that Stephens has been placed on unpaid administrative leave pending further investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hines said its possible there are other victims out there; anyone with information is asked to call the Camden County Sheriffs Office at 573-346-2243. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Robust Cannabis has a 75,000-square-foot facility in Cuba, Mo. with about 70 employees who come from the surrounding areas (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent). Cities and counties are not allowed to stack sales taxes on marijuana products, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday. In a 6-1 decision, the states highest court concluded the 2022 constitutional amendment that legalized recreational marijuana limits the definition of local government to allow only one municipality to impose a 3% sales tax a village, town or city in an incorporated area and a county in an unincorporated area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drafters of the constitutional amendment specified a local government is based on the area in which the dispensary is located, the court ruled. The case focused on Florissant-based dispensary Robust Missouri 3 LLC, where customers have been paying a total sales tax of almost 21% , which includes a 3% sales tax from both the city of Florissant and St. Louis County. The courts decision means only the Florissant sales tax can remain in place and will impact more than 70 areas across the state where both city and county governments have been imposing a 3% tax at dispensaries, according to Missouri Department of Revenue data. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Zel M. Fischer was the lone dissent, arguing that the constitutional amendments definition of local government clearly includes both incorporated and unincorporated areas. It would, Fischer wrote, therefore allow counties to impose the sales tax and collect it in incorporated areas. The patently absurd results of holding that and means or and that St. Louis County is not a local government within its own territorial jurisdiction confirms, once again, that simply applying the constitutions plain language meaning is the surest way for this court to implement the law as it was intended, Fischer argued. A panel of Missouri appellate judges agreed with Robust in November, ruling that the constitutions plain, unambiguous language means cities and counties cannot stack marijuana sales taxes. That decision reversed a lower courts ruling last year that allowed both Florissant and St. Louis County to both impose a 3% sales tax on marijuana products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruling also determined the outcome of a second case, currently before the Western District Court of Appeals. In that case, a Buchanan County judge also ruled that taxes could be stacked. The Western District court stopped action in the case while awaiting the Supreme Court decision. Andrew Mullins, executive director of the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, said his organization and other industry partners went to court days after the double taxation began in 2023 to protect the very customers that make Missouris marijuana program the envy of other states. Tuesdays ruling, Mullins said, will save Missouri cannabis customers an estimated $3 million every month. Missouri customers already pay their fair share, with sales tax revenue from cannabis in Missouri now tripling original state estimates, Mullins said. The rulings clarity preserves Missouris standing as one of the nations most impactful and accessible cannabis programs, ensuring patients and adult-use consumers continue to benefit from fair pricing, great service and robust product choice. The attached video was originally posted by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA A southwest Missouri woman is arrested following a short pursuit in Oklahoma. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, on June 30, an OHP trooper attempted a traffic stop on a maroon SUV with a defective windshield (and a driver not wearing their seatbelt). The motorist continued driving down the rural road, refusing to pull over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second trooper joined the chase, using what appears to be a PIT maneuver (which the OHP describes as a tactical vehicle intervention) to end the pursuit. The entire chase lasted a little over a minute. The driver, later identified as Brandi York, of Pineville, was found to be driving on a suspended license. Authorities say Yorks reasoning for not yielding was because she didnt want her vehicle to be towed. She was arrested for attempting to elude law enforcement, driving under suspension, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and other offenses. Additionally, there was a teenage passenger in the vehicle, who was released to a guardian. According to authorities, York had evaded capture in a previous incident in McDonald County, and related charges have since been filed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MISSOURI A Mount Vernon woman pleads guilty to her role in a wire fraud conspiracy that targeted the Missouri Lottery Commission and an area gas station. PREVIOUS: Missouri woman charged with orchestrating lottery ticket scheme This morning in federal court, Amy Young, 42, admitted to using stolen and fraudulent credit cards and numbers at a Joplin gas station to purchase lottery tickets. She said she and her fellow co-conspirators made more than $62,082.50 in July and August of 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young said they would buy the tickets using the stolen cards, then have someone else go in and collect the winnings from the tickets. In total, the group made $116,330.50 from the prizes and credit card transactions. Larry Green, 56, of Mount Vernon pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme back in April. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Joplin Police Department, and the Springfield Police Department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. On Monday, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, acting under President Trump's executive order, released more than 230,000 pages of previously sealed FBI documents detailing the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The documents include potential leads and internal memos tracking the cases progress. These records were sealed by court order in 1977, when the FBI initially transferred them to the National Archives and Records Administration. Dr. King was assassinated April 4, 1968, on a balcony outside his second-floor room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the press release, Gabbard said Americans have waited decades for full disclosure of the federal governments investigation into Dr. Kings death. The American people have waited nearly sixty years to see the full scope of the federal governments investigation into Dr. Kings assassination, said 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. What are the MLK files? The MLK files refer to the newly released FBI and CIA documents related to the 1968 assassination of Dr. King. These had been sealed since 1977 and were made public on July 21 under Trumps executive order. According to the DNI press release, files include material concerning leads on James Earl Ray, his former cellmates claims of a plot to kill King, and foreign intelligence including Canadian police evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, Trump also released 80,000 pages related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. What did the family say about the release of the MLK files? Kings family opposed the release, arguing that the FBIs surveillance of the civil rights icon was influenced by the agencys political bias during that era. According to the UC Berkeley library, when Dr. King was alive, he was under surveillance by the FBI's Counter-Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO). COINTELPRO was a covert FBI operation launched in 1956 to monitor, infiltrate, and disrupt domestic political organizations deemed "subversive." Initially targeting the Communist Party, it later expanded to include civil rights groups, Black liberation movements, and anti-war activists. Dr. King became a central target of COINTELPRO because the FBI, under J. Edgar Hoover, viewed him as a threat due to his growing influence and calls for systemic change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their statement, the King family advised that the FBI files should be read with an understanding of Dr. King's circumstances during that time period. "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," the family said in a statement. "The release of these files must 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." You can read the full statement from the King family below. Statement from the King Family on the Release of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s Assassination Files: 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 Martin Luther King III (@OfficialMLK3) July 21, 2025 MLK assassinated in Memphis, April 4, 1968 King, whose work furthering the Civil Rights Movement is honored with a federal holiday, was killed on the balcony outside his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Atlanta preacher was visiting the city to march alongside striking workers. On the evening of the assassination, he was preparing to leave for dinner at the home of a local minister. He stepped outside to speak with colleagues in the parking lot below and was shot in the face by an assassin. James Earl Ray, then a 40-year-old escaped fugitive, later confessed to the crime and was sentenced to a 99-year prison term. Ray later tried to recant his confession, claiming he was set up by a man named Raoul. He insisted until his death in 1998 that he did not kill King. A Memphis tavern owner and a former FBI agent also claimed someone named Raoul was behind the killing, according to the Department of Justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Loyd Jowers, a former Memphis tavern owner, claimed 25 years after the murder that he participated in a mafia-linked conspiracy to kill King. Jowers also linked Memphis police and Raoul to the assassination, the Justice Department said. Donald Wilson, a former FBI agent, claimed in 1998 that after Kings assassination, he found some papers in Rays car that mentioned Raoul as well as figures linked to the Kennedy assassination. Wilson said the papers were stolen from him by someone who later worked in the White House, according to the Justice Department. The family doesnt believe Ray was the shooter and said that they support the findings of a 1999 wrongful death lawsuit that found that King was the victim of a broad conspiracy that involved government agents. Department of Justice officials maintain that the findings of the civil lawsuit are not credible. Where can I read the MLK files? The MLK files are available through the National Archives' website here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the files are scanned documents, and some have become blurred or faded, making them difficult to read in the decades since Kings assassination. There are also photographs and sound recordings. -USA TODAY NETWORK Michael Loria contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: What's in the MLK files? Trump releases FBI files on assassination Donald Trumps administration is now hoping to distract Americans from Jeffrey Epstein by declassifying documents related to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and no one is impressedincluding Kings own children. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard announced Monday that the government would release 230,000 files on the federal investigation into Kings assasination. But Bernice King, who was only 5 when her father was killed, wasnt falling for the governments blatant misdirect. Now, do the Epstein files, she wrote on X Monday night. Screenshot of a tweet In a statement following the files release, Bernice and her brother Martin Luther King III urged that the files must be viewed within their full historical context and echoed the familys long-held contention that the man whod been convicted of Kings assassination, James Earl Ray, was not solely responsible for the death of the civil rights leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 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. 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. The Trump administration has already tried several other subjects for its disastrous bait and switch, including threatening to prosecute and imprison several of the presidents political enemies, such as former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Senator Adam Schiff. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s daughter has urged Donald Trump to release the full, unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files after thousands of documents surrounding the civil rights activists assassination were unsealed. Bernice King, 62, issued a blunt request to the president after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced the release of more than 230,000 pages tied to MLKs 1968 murder, promising complete transparency over the case. Now, do the Epstein files, King tweeted on Monday evening, along with a photograph of her father. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement King, who was five when her father was assassinated, and her brother Martin Luther King III, said in a joint statement: While we support transparency and historical accountability, we object to any attacks on our fathers legacy or attempts to weaponize it to spread falsehoods. Now, do the Epstein files. pic.twitter.com/rzlub3WucQ Be A King (@BerniceKing) July 21, 2025 Some civil rights activists rejected claims that the Trump administration was pursuing true transparency. The King Center, which is now led by Bernice King, framed the release of documents as a distraction. It is unfortunate and ill-timed, given the myriad of pressing issues and injustices affecting the United States and the global society, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rev. Al Sharpton said in a statement that Trumps unsealing of the MLK assassination files was not about transparency or justice. Its a desperate attempt to distract people from the firestorm engulfing Trump over the Epstein files and the public unraveling of his credibility among the Maga base, he added. The documents on the murder of the civil rights leader were posted as Trump faces mounting pressure to release all documents related to Epsteins sex trafficking investigation. Martin Luther King Jr.s daughter, Bernice King, has called on Trump to release the Epstein files (Getty Images) The president continues to face MAGA backlash after his administration concluded earlier this month that there was no evidence the convicted sex offender maintained a client list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has repeatedly framed the issue as a hoax perpetrated by Democrats. The Democrats, in return, said that Trump is attempting to distract from the scandal, including by peddling a conspiracy theory that former President Barack Obama orchestrated the Russia investigation into Trumps 2016 campaign. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters on Monday that Trump is running scared. Why do we think President Joe Biden or President Barack Obama's names are being invoked?, he said. Because Donald Trump is running scared. A day after the Wall Street Journals bombshell report that Trump allegedly sent a bawdy 50th birthday card to Epstein, the president asked the court to unseal grand jury transcripts in the prosecution of Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. A former prosecutor said that the document release is unlikely to produce much, if anything, and is a move to present himself as if hes doing something here and it really is nothing. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) An 18-year-old has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of 18-year-old Jeremiah Brown. According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, detectives arrested 18-year-old Zachary Spitaliere on Monday night. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Brown was shot on July 14 around 4:20 p.m. outside of a Starbucks located on the 5300 block of Hickory Hollow Parkway. He died hours later during surgery at TriStar Skyline Medical Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The MNPD said Spitaliere was arrested at a relatives home in Wilson County with the assistance of the Lebanon Police Department. Lebanon police added that he was arrested without incident. Spitaliere is now facing a charge of criminal homicide, authorities 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 WKRN News 2. Four left-wing and center-left parties in Moldova will unite in a pro-Russian electoral bloc for the upcoming parliamentary elections, Moldovan media outlet NewsMaker reported on July 22. The announcement comes as pro-Western President Maia Sandu, who narrowly secured reelection last year, seeks to preserve her parliamentary majority and advance Moldova's bid for EU accession. On July 4, Sandu said the future of Moldova's European path lies in the hands of voters. A recent referendum to gauge public support for EU membership passed with just over 50% of the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new bloc includes the Socialist Party, the Communist Party, the Heart of Moldova, and the Future of Moldova parties. Its leaders say they will jointly contest the Sept. 28 elections. "Today, the wish that many have been waiting for over the years is coming true the consolidation of left-wing and center-left political forces," said Igor Dodon, former Moldovan president and current leader of the pro-Russian Socialist Party. Moldova was granted EU candidate status in 2022, and Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity aims to achieve full membership by 2030. Sandu has repeatedly accused Russia of attempting to destabilize Moldova through its presence in the Russian-occupied Transnistria region. On June 12, she warned that Moscow could provoke unrest in the enclave ahead of the elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Transnistria has been under Russian-backed separatist control since the early 1990s, with approximately 1,000 to 1,500 Russian troops still stationed in the region. Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean earlier told the Financial Times that Russia plans to send 10,000 troops to Transnistria and establish a pro-Kremlin government in Moldova. Read also: BREAKING: Ukraines parliament passes bill destroying independence of key anti-corruption bodies Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A General Electric Type I-50-A Single Phase Watthour Meter, for measuring electrical usage, manufactured in Corning, New York, circa 1955. A Montgomery judge ruled earlier this month that the Alabama Public Service Commission could exclude Energy Alabama from a rate-making process. (Photo by Authenticated News/Archive Photos/Getty Images) A judge earlier this month ruled that an organization that advocates for renewable energy use in Alabama may be excluded from a process that partially determines energy rates in the state. Montgomery Circuit Court Judge Brooke Reid ruled on July 7 that the Alabama Public Service Commission could prevent Energy Alabama from intervening in a docket that set the energy cost recovery (ECR) rate that Alabama Power charges to customers for the fuel it pays to provide electricity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order stated that the PSC did not make its decision based on fraud or reached a decision that did not align with the evidence. Those two factors are the only avenues, based on Alabama law, that the court could have reversed the ruling made by the PSC, according to the ruling. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX We are really disappointed to learn about that ruling, said Daniel Tait, executive director of Energy Alabama in an interview last week. Ultimately, this keeps the door shut on public participation for fuel costs, which is a huge portion of regular peoples bills. Energy Alabama is currently considering its options for challenging the courts decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A message was sent Monday to Alabama Power seeking comment. The PSC declined comment, citing ongoing litigation. The rate ECR allows Alabama Power to recoup money paid to vendors to provide the fuel for energy generation through a fee applied to customers bills. Modifying the rate ECR requires a proceeding that includes a public hearing that allows third parties to intervene. The proceedings are all part of the one docket that Energy Alabama sought to intervene. The proceedings in that docket have been closed since 2008 even though the rate ECR continues to be adjusted. However, over the more than four decades of the operation of Rate ECR, the Commission has also regularly relied on interim consent orders to temporarily adjust the ECR Factor below the factor approved through one of the noted proceedings, the PSC said in its court filings. These temporary adjustments were administrative actions rather than products of proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The PSC adjusts the rate ECR every month at times depending on the price of oil, gas and uranium depending on the type of fuel that the plant uses to generate electricity. In May 2024, the PSC directed Alabama Power to reduce the rate ECR from $3.27 per kWh to $3.01 per kWh, according to a filing from Alabama Power with the Securities and Exchanges Commission. Energy Alabama filed a petition with the PSC to intervene in the docket even though the utility regulatory body sought to reduce the rate ECR. Should Energy Alabama be allowed to intervene, it could then request discovery documents and data to obtain additional information on the companys decision to adjust the rate ECR. The rate changes all the time, but just because it goes down doesnt necessarily mean the public shouldnt have an input, or that it could not have gone down even more, for instance, Tait said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The PSC denied Energy Alabamas request in August, saying there was no proceeding that allowed it to intervene. The final decision in the docket traced back to 2008. Energy Alabama filed a request again to have the PSC reconsider its decision, which the PSC again denied in November. That then prompted Energy Alabama to appeal the decision to the Montgomery Circuit Court. The Commissions orders are contrary to the substantial weight of the evidence and prejudice Energy Alabamas substantial rights, and those of all affected by Commission proceedings who are entitled by law to transparency and input, by preventing intervention and participation in the Rate ECR docket, the Southern Environmental Law Center said in a filing with the court, the organization representing Energy Alabama, in February. The PSC said that there are no proceedings happening, and that the adjustments are a series of temporary measures that are made administratively in collaboration with Alabama Power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Energy Alabama disputes that. Logically, the issuance of a consent order by the Commission and the Companys confirmation of consent, resulting in a binding agreement changing the ECR Factor and directly impacting customers, is a proceeding, Energy Alabama said in its court filing. Paradoxically, however, the Commission seeks to preclude intervention or public participation by unilaterally declaring this mechanism is not a proceeding. Del. Aletheia McCaskill (D-Baltimore County) gets a hug from Del. Bernice Mireku-North (D-Montgomery) on April 2 after the House approved a bill to create a reparations commission. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters) Gov. Wes Moore (D) and his staff met regularly with lawmakers to discuss a bill creating a reparations study commission, and expressed concerns about the bill that the governor subsequently vetoed, his office insisted Monday. And lawmakers claims that the administration was pursuing its own reparations plan that borrowed heavily from the later-vetoed bill are inaccurate, a top aide to the governor said Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pushback came one day after a Baltimore Banner story quoted lawmakers who said their requests for input from the governor on the reparations bill were rebuffed, as he ultimately pursued his own proposal that had almost the exact language from the lawmakers bill. It also brought renewed pledges from lawmakers to override the governors veto of the bill as soon as the General Assembly meets again. We remain committed to working to ensure this critical step toward reparative justice is realized and implemented with the care, urgency, and depth it deserves by overriding the veto, said a statement Monday from the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. The bill was a priority of the caucus, which said it had worked on the measure for more than a year. The bill would have created a commission to study the effects of historic racism on Black residents, and make recommendations for appropriate benefits for individuals whose ancestors were enslaved in Maryland or were impacted by certain inequitable government policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 23-member commission would have included various elected officials, researchers with an expertise in slavery, a member of the NAACP, historians, business leaders and members of the general public, among others. It was to consider potential benefits ranging from monetary awards to a public apology to debt forgiveness. It passed both chambers of the legislature by overwhelming majorities on April 2. In a decision that surprised many lawmakers, Moore vetoed the bill on May 16. Moore, currently the nations only Black governor, said in his veto message that it was a difficult decision but that now is not the time for another study. Now is the time for continued action that delivers results for the people we serve . But lawmakers and advocates involved in the reparations debate said the Moore administration was pursuing its own plan all along that would have done much the same as the bill, only under the governors name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Del. Aletheia McCaskill (D-Baltimore County), a lead sponsor of the House version of the bill, told the Banner that in a meeting with the governor shortly before the bill passed, he presented her with a draft plan which contained almost the exact language from her bill. She told the Banner that the packet she saw also included a proposed plan for the orders media rollout that included a list of TV stations and media outlets, as well as a prepared script. McCaskill did not respond to requests for comment Monday. But in a prepared statement, Moores chief of staff said her recollection of the event are inaccurate and the suggestion that documents were shared showing a press plan are lies. The governor vetoed this legislation, and the staffs draft alternative differed from her proposal, said Fagan Harris, Moores chief of staff. No documents showing a press plan were shared, those are lies, and the governor highlighted his continued concerns about her legislation. An aide to the governor refused Monday to share the administrations alternative plan, saying the administration would not share what he called draft materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris also said Moores staff met consistently with legislators throughout the session and kept them apprised of where the governor stood on the issue. The governor himself met with many of the legislators that pushed this effort, and at numerous occasions the office expressed hesitancy with the proposed legislation to say anything to the contrary is simply false, the statement said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Harris statement went on to echo many of the points of Moores veto message, saying the governor wants direct action, not legislation that carries an unknown price tag for taxpayers. The governor continues to work with legislators, local leaders, and advocates to close the racial wealth gap and right the historic injustices that have taken place in Maryland all while growing Marylands economy and ensuring the long-term fiscal stability of the state, Harris said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D-Montgomery), the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, said in a statement Monday that the caucus deeply values its longstanding partnership with Moore, but that they have a fundamental disagreement on the path forward on the issue of reparations. Wilkins described the reparations commission created in the bill as not a study of past harms, but a first-ever structured framework to determine how repair should be delivered, resourced, and implemented across generations. Together, we must pursue bold, lasting policies that deliver justice and opportunity for Black Marylanders, she added. Carl Snowden, convener of the Anne Arundel Caucus of African American Leaders, said that theres no one strategy to address reparations, but any path taken will require cooperation and communication among the states leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The veto may have made that cooperation more difficult in the short term, Snowden said, but he is optimistic about the future. He said that ultimately, its not about a single person or single strategy, but rather the end goal. The states leaders must embrace unity without uniformity to get there, he said. More than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed in several days of sectarian violence in Syrias coastal regions earlier this year, a government committee tasked with investigating the attacks has found. The committee said it had identified 298 suspects implicated in serious violations during the violence in the countrys Alawite heartland that left at least 1,426 members of the minority community dead in March. Tuesdays findings come after a new wave of violence involving the countrys Druze community, raising further questions over the new governments ability to manage sectarian tensions and maintain security after the December overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad himself an Alawite. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The March violence took place in a predominantly Alawite region of Syrias coast, where government forces and allied groups were accused of carrying out summary executions, mostly targeting Alawite civilians, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights saying more than 1,700 people were killed. The committees report said there was no evidence that Syrias military leadership ordered attacks on the Alawite community. The committees investigation documented serious violations against civilians on March 7, 8 and 9, including murder, premeditated murder, looting, destruction and burning of homes, torture and sectarian insults, spokesman Yasser al-Farhan told a news conference in Damascus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee confirmed the names of 1,426 dead, including 90 women, with most of the rest being civilians from the Alawite community, he said, adding that an unspecified number of further dead had not been verified. The investigation also identified 298 individuals by name who were suspected of involvement in the violations, al-Farhan continued, describing the figure as provisional. These have been referred for prosecution, and 37 people have been arrested, officials told journalists. They didnt say how many suspects were members of security forces. Bigger than just violations Authorities have accused gunmen loyal to al-Assad of instigating the violence, launching deadly attacks that killed dozens of security personnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee said 238 members of the army and security forces were killed in the attacks in the provinces of Tartous, Latakia and Hama. About 200,000 pro-government military reinforcements then converged on the area, according to al-Farhan. Jana Mustafa, a 24-year-old student from Baniyas whose father was killed during the violence, said she had not been waiting for the report because the truth was clear to me. The number of bodies, the mass graves and the screams of the victims were enough to clarify what happened, she said, expressing disappointment that the committees announcements appeared to include justifications for everything that happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issue is bigger than just violations. It was directed against an entire sect, she added. The committee said it based its report on more than 30 on-site visits, meetings with dozens of people in the towns and villages where violations occurred, and testimonies from hundreds of witnesses and victims. It also heard from government officials. Al-Farhan said the committee had identified people linked to certain military groups and factions among those involved in the violence, adding it believed they violated military orders and are suspected of committing violations against civilians. Disappointed and frustrated Rama Hussein, 22, whose three sisters, two cousins and grandfather were killed in the Jableh region, said she was sad, disappointed and frustrated with the committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one listened to my testimony, no one visited us I dont know who this committee met or who they saw, she said. I hope we see real accountability, not just reports and press conferences, she said, calling for compensation for the families of those killed. Human rights groups and international organisations have said entire families were killed, including women, children and the elderly. Gunmen stormed homes and asked residents whether they were Alawite or Sunni before killing or sparing them, they said. Committee chairman Jumaa al-Anzi said authorities had been consulted to identify individuals who appeared in videos on social media documenting violations, and that some of them were included among the suspects. The body said two lists of people suspected of involvement in attacks or violations had been referred to the judiciary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al-Anzi, the committees chair, said that we have no evidence that the [military] leaders gave orders to commit violations. The presidency had said new Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa had received the committees report on July 13, the same day that sectarian violence erupted in the Druze-majority province of Suwayda. Those clashes broke out between Sunni Muslim Bedouin clans and Druze armed groups, and government security forces who intervened to restore order. Druze armed groups launched revenge attacks on Bedouin communities. Hundreds have been killed, and the United Nations says more than 128,500 people have been displaced. The violence has largely stopped as a ceasefire takes hold. The committee chair said the violence in Suwayda is painful for all Syrians but beyond the jurisdiction of his committee. Time will reveal what happened and who is responsible for it, he said. BELTON, S.C. (WSPA) Nearly eight years later, the family of a man who died in a motorcycle crash is still searching for answers. On July 22, 2017, Millard Earl Jr. was riding his motorcycle on Highway 252 near Armstrong Road, which was closed for repairs. It just is draining me, said Jackie Cowan, Earl Jr.s mother. Every year it gets worse and it isnt getting any better. According to investigators, Earl seemed to have lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a large pile of gravel. He was found dead by construction workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they came and told me that [he was dead], I passed out a little bit, Cowan continued. I just couldnt believe that was him. Officials with the Anderson County Coroners Office said the original investigation was conducted by the Honea Path Police Department. During the initial investigation, officers said they thought Earl was doing stunts on his bike. Now, officials said they do not believe Earl was not the type to do that. He [didnt] do anything like that. He [didnt] do any stunts, she said. He knew how to ride a motorcycle. He had a motorcycle and he wouldnt do anything like that, so Im thinking theres foul play somewhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earl Jr.s family has spent eight years turning to the community for answers, as they believe there is more to the story. The family vowed to keep fighting for answers, all while wearing his face on their shirts and releasing balloons in the sky to honor him. Family members asked anyone with information about the crash to reach out to the county coroners office. The family is offering a $10,000 reward to anyone with information about the crash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Gennady Starunov, a physical education teacher who was named Moscows "Teacher of the Year" in 2022, was killed while serving in the Russian military during its invasion of Ukraine, school officials confirmed on July 21. Starunov taught at Marshal Chuikov School in Moscow before being mobilized in October 2022. He held the rank of junior sergeant and, by January 2023, was training at a military base in Belarus alongside other mobilized troops, according to Meduza, an independent Russian media outlet. The school's director, Mikhail Klochikhin, said Starunov died while fulfilling his "military duty." No details have been released about the location or circumstances of his death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starunov actively supported Russia's invasion and documented his experience in a Telegram blog titled "Frontline Notes." In May 2025, he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who reportedly praise his "important work" both on the battlefield and on social media. Starunov's death adds to the growing toll of Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine with more than 119,000 verified deaths as of July 17, according to independent Russian media. Ukraine's General Staff estimates that the actual number is far higher, claiming Russia has lost 1,041,990 troops since the start of the full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022 figures that largely align with Western intelligence assessments. 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. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) The local Christian Motorcyclists Association will host a Jericho Ride with special intentions this weekend. On Saturday, July 26, riders will meet at Copperhead Harley Davidson at 9 a.m. for a 100-mile ride that will stop in each local town and pray for the citizens and leadership of each town. American Hero Lt. Col Alllen B. West will be a special guest rider and then speak at the luncheon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ride will conclude with a donation-only hamburger meal at the Hospice of Wichita Falls administrative offices on Johnson Road. For more information, call (940) 636-9615 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A woman on a motorcycle was airlifted to a medical center in Massachusetts following a head-on collision with an SUV in Pomfret on Monday. The crash occurred on Putnam Road near the intersection with Allen Road around 5 p.m., according to Connecticut State Police. A 36-year-old Rhode Island woman was riding a 2023 Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST east on Putnam Road when her motorcycle collided with a 2021 Honda CR-V being driven in the opposite direction, state police said. The woman was taken to Day Kimball Hospital for serious injuries and was later airlifted to UMass Memorial Medical Center, according to state police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the Honda, a 38-year-old Putnam man, did not report any injuries, state police said. The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information has been asked to contact Trooper Shannondoa Gaertner at 860-779-4900 or shannondoa.gaertner@ct.gov. PRINCETON Mercer Countys new mountain coaster is an attraction that will help keep ATV tourists in town longer, according to the director of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail Authority. We still see a Thursday through Sunday pattern for our guests, trail director Jeffrey Lusk said. Its really going to take additional non-riding activities things like the roller coaster where folks will add a day. So you really need a new activity. Weve got to work on trying to keep these folks here an additional day and I think that is going to happen. Lusk said a roller coaster is something that will appeal to ATV tourists, who travel to the region each week in search of an outdoor adventure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I havent been to yet, but its on my bucket list now, Lusk said of the new Brush Creek Hollr Mountain Coaster, which is located next door to Brush Creek Falls Resort near Princeton. Things like that are really beneficial to us and adds an activity. And we need more activities for people to do do. It adds another piece of tourism infrastructure. But its not just ATV tourists. The new mountain coaster has gone viral on social media, particularly Facebook and Instagram, according to Jamie Null, executive director of the Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Weve never went viral before so I think this is very significant, Null said. We were the first organization to promote the mountain coaster on social media. We are getting ready to surpass 1 million organic views on Facebook and Instagram. Null said the mountain coaster is another unique attraction to Mercer County that visitors can enjoy. Thats in addition to the ATV trails, the state parks, walking and hiking trails, the arts and theater and unique dining attractions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the only one in West Virginia, Null said of the Brush Creek Falls Mountain Coaster. As you recall, Mercer County is promoted as a whole. This just fits in nicely with all of our other attractions. Its like pieces of the pie. Everything compliments each other. And while the hook for us is the outdoors and ATV, when you come to those things you need the others to compliment each other. Null said she did receive a number of comments and questions from ATV tourists who were able to see the roller coaster from the interstate as it was being constructed. The mountain coaster in Mercer County is different from traditional rollercoasters, according to General Manager Jeremiah McKendree. Riders on the 3,100-long mountain coaster can control their speed as they go down the rails. The ride starts when a haul cable pulls the mountain coasters cars up to around 210 feet. Then gravity takes over. Riders can control how fast they go on the way down to the coasters station, he said. And the coaster wont shut down when summer ends. It can run year around. Rain and snow shields can be fitted to the coasters cars so riders can still enjoy it despite seasonal weather changes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar mountain coasters in other parts of the country have been a hit, Lusk said. The places where they have been built in the Pigeon Fork, Gatlinburg area, have been very successful, Lusk said. Lusk said he is hoping to see similar attractions added to the region, including a zipline. In the meantime, some of the ATV tourists who travel to the region to ride the Hatfield-McCoy Trail and neighboring Spearhead Trail also will enjoy the new mountain coaster. And some of the visitors to the mountain coaster may likewise want to try out the ATV trails. They will feed off of each other, Lusk said. Our guests will go to the Mountain Coaster. Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com Michigan Public Service Commission Commissioner Alessandra Carreon at a Dec. 1, 2023 commission meeting. | Kyle Davidson Following confirmation from Michigan Public Service Commission Commissioner Alessandra Carreon that she would not be reappointed to the regulatory body, prompting speculation and concern from energy accountability advocates, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy confirmed Carreon will serve as its new chief climate officer. Carreon, who was appointed to the Public Service Commission on July 23, 2023, served as the first Asian-American Commissioner at the agency, which oversees energy and telecommunications utilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alessandra is a tremendous addition to our team, EGLE Director Phil Roos said in a statement. Her background in environmental consulting, regulatory compliance, and corporate sustainability makes her an ideal fit for this role. We are confident that her leadership will drive significant progress in our efforts to promote clean energy solutions and enhance environmental practices. In Carreons place, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer nominated Shaquila Myers, who previously served as one of her senior advisors. Myers has also served as former House Speaker Joe Tates office chief of staff during Democrats trifecta control of the House, Senate and governors seat in 2023 and 2024. Im honored to welcome Shaquila Myers to the Michigan Public Service Commission, the commissions chair, Dan Scripps, said in a statement. As commissioners, we play an important role in ensuring Michigan has reasonable rates, reliable energy, and quality telecommunications services. Having had the opportunity to work with Shaquila over many years, Ive seen firsthand her ability to navigate the ins and outs of complex issues. Shaquila is a true policy expert who will be a tremendous asset to the [commission] as we continue to keep our state running. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Environmental advocates frequently pointed to Carreon as a champion for renewable energy and an ally to communities of color and low-income communities bearing the brunt of high energy rates and climate change, with several advocacy groups voicing similar expectations for Myers. The stakes during Commissioner Myerss term could not be higher. In the face of a worsening climate crisis, the Commissions decisions will either protect communities or lock us into decades of fossil fuel dependence.We expect Commissioner Myers to champion critical environmental issues and put the voices of everyday Michiganders ahead of powerful interests, Tim Minotas, the deputy legislative and political director for the Michigan chapter of the Sierra Club. Courtney Brady, the deputy director of Midwest state policy for Evergreen Action praised Carreons work on the commission, while sharing hopes that Myers would continue those efforts. Commissioner Carreon has been a powerful advocate for clean, affordable energy in Michigan, and were excited to see her bring that same focus to her new role.As Shaquila Myers steps into her new role at the [commission], were hopeful shell carry that momentum forward. The Commission must stay focused on cutting energy costs, accelerating clean energy deployment, and holding utilities accountable to people not profits, Brady said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lisa Wozniak, executive director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, pointed to Carreons role on the commission as the agency worked to implement new energy technology alongside the states Clean Energy and Jobs Act, which included policy instructing the commission to consider climate and equity in their regulatory decisions. Wozniak also highlighted the commissions role as a backstop between regulated monopoly utilities and Michiganders paying their energy bills. In a moment when Michigan families are already burdened with high utility bills and constant rate hikes, we look forward to working with newly appointed Shaquila Myers to ensure the [commission] fulfills its essential role as the watchdog Michiganders deserve to improve our service, put CEO compensation in check and rein in utility company pollution, Wozniak said. EAST LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health could drastically impact universities in mid-Michigan that study breast cancer. 6 News spoke to Jamie Bernard, an associate professor at Michigan State University, who is researching breast cancer treatment. She says the loss of funding will mean a loss of lives. Back in April, Bernard told 6 News that her research funding had been cut, and grants had been frozen, and shes not the only one concerned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nadia Vizueta, a breast cancer survivor, says the proposed cuts are concerning. After her 39th birthday, Vizueta says she found a lump in her breast and immediately told her doctor. So, I had a biopsy, and unfortunately, not only did I have cancer, breast cancer, but they told me I probably had one of the most aggressive, rare types, called metaplastic breast cancer, said Vizueta. Metaplastic breast cancer is an incredibly rare form of breast cancer, accounting for less than one percent of all diagnoses. The five-year survival rate of patients with said form of cancer is around 55%, according to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. It tends to grow faster and is more likely to spread to other parts of the body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My cancer was actually linked to my exposure at the trade center at the time of 9/11, said Vizueta. I was taking classes that you know, which involved me going to Ground Zero, interviewing a lot of survivors. She says she went through a year and a half of aggressive chemotherapy treatment and surgeries. I was put on oral chemo called Zalota, said Vizueta. Which caused my hands and feet to bleed. I lost my fingerprints. Aggressive breast cancer cases such as Vizuetas are what push MSU associate professor Jamie Bernard to fight against proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health, which she says helps fund a lot of her research at the university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres also proposed one-third cuts to 40% cuts of all NIH, and that will seriously damage the research done here at Michigan State University, said Bernard. The federal funding, that keeps the lights on in the lab. That allows us to do our work, and hire our graduate and PHD students to train them. We cant do that without federal support. Bernard says the research to help treat breast cancer is done at universities with the help of federal funding, and without that money, she says there wont be many treatment options for patients. Its going to lead to increased costs and people dying, said Bernard. Youre also gonna lose your health care workforce as well. Which will also increase costs. Vizueta says the proposed NIH cuts would be a devastating loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having had a very rare type of breast cancer, where theres no real standard of care, said Vizueta. Research is really what is guiding future care. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. Multiple people have been killed in the Gaza Strip following attacks by the Israeli military, Palestinian media reported on Tuesday. At least 16 Palestinians were reported dead and dozens more injured after tents sheltering displaced people were hit in the Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. The Palestinian news agency WAFA said children were among the victims. The information could not be independently verified. The Israeli military did not immediately comment when asked about the reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Footage circulating on Palestinian media and social platforms purportedly shows rescue workers pulling victims from the tent camp during the night. Injured children are also visible in the video, though the authenticity of the footage could not be independently confirmed. WAFA, citing medical sources in Gaza, further reported that Israeli forces killed seven people and injured several others as they sought humanitarian aid near the so-called Netzarim Corridor in the central part of the strip. Details on how and where the victims were killed were not initially available. A distribution centre run by the United States and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is located in the area. Israel's military did not immediately respond to the report, and the GHF has not yet issued a statement. WAFA also reported additional Israeli strikes in other parts of Gaza, some of which were said to be deadly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, the Israeli military said one of its soldiers was killed in southern Gaza on Monday. Twenty-eight countries including Britain, France, Japan, Australia and Canada condemned Israel for the "inhumane killing" of civilians in Gaza. "The war in Gaza must end now," the joint statement issued on Monday said. "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." NEW YORK The conviction of Pedro Hernandez, the SoHo bodega clerk found guilty in the 1979 kidnapping and murder of 6-year-old Etan Patz, was overturned by a federal appeals court Monday reopening the book on one of the citys most notorious slayings. Hernandez, now 64, is currently serving 25 years to life for the decades-old killing that horrified the city and reverberated around the country. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the judge at Hernandezs 2017 trial gave improper instructions to the jury, warranting either a new trial or his release from custody. Emily Tuttle, a spokeswoman for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, said, We are reviewing the decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Little Etans cherubic face was one of the first to appear on the side of a milk carton in the 1980s campaign to find missing children. His devastating disappearance in broad daylight 46 years ago is seen as key contributor to a shift to helicopter parenting across the U.S. President Ronald Reagan made the anniversary of his disappearance National Missing Children Day in 1982. The Daily News reached out to Etans parents, Stan and Julie Patz, for comment on Mondays ruling, but they have not yet responded to the decision. They spent decades trying to get justice for their son and advocating for missing children across the country. Hernandezs appeal contended that an instruction by the trial court judge in response to a jury note about his alleged confessions improperly ignored Supreme Court precedent. A three-judge panel agreed. We conclude that the state trial court contradicted clearly established federal law and that this error was not harmless, the panel wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Hernandezs first trial ended in a mistrial in 2015 when a single holdout refused to convict, Manhattan prosecutors retried the case, leading to his 2017 conviction for felony murder and kidnapping for preying upon little Etan as the child walked alone to his school bus stop for the first time on May 25, 1979. Authorities first set their sights on Hernandez in 2012, when a tipster called cops alleging he had previously confessed to the crime. Hernandez, following his arrest, admitted to police that when he was himself a teen, he had lured Etan to the basement of the shop where he worked on West Broadway and Prince St. with a bottle of soda, and choked him. Hernandez claimed he disposed of Etan, still gasping for air, in a plastic bag and a box and left it on a staircase on Thompson St. alley. The childs mother discovered hed never made it as far as the bus stop when he didnt return home from school. Etan, whose body was never found, wasnt declared dead until 2001. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution relied heavily on Hernandezs confessions at both of his trials, lacking physical evidence and eyewitness testimony. "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. 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. At trial, the prosecution discussed and played these videos repeatedly, Mondays appeals court described Hernandezs confessions. While deliberating, jurors asked the court to explain whether, if they found that Hernandezs confessions before he was read his Miranda rights were involuntary, they must disregard his post-Miranda confessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge responded, No. The 2nd Circuit on Monday cited precedent holding unconstitutional the law enforcement tactic of intentionally obtaining an inadmissible confession, administering a Miranda warning, and then having the suspect repeat the confession. Despite the jurys note seeking an expla[nation] as to how it was to assess Hernandezs subsequent statements, the trial court provided none, the panel wrote. Indeed, the answer no was manifestly inaccurate, dramatically so. Hernandezs lawyers have long argued that he is profoundly mentally ill and that his confessions under interrogation, which he later recanted, should not have been taken at face value. His attorney, Harvey Fishbein, after the verdict in 2018, remarked, I hate to say it, but were confident well be back here someday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 2nd Circuit has now made clear was obtained in clear violation of law, Fishbein said in a statement Monday. 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. _____ Editors Note: The following update includes information from a probable cause affidavit obtained by KMID/KPEJ after publication of the initial article. UPDATE: MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Newly obtained court documents are shedding light on the moments leading up to the fatal beating that resulted in a murder charge against Isaiah Alex Diaz. According to the arrest affidavit, Midland Police responded twice on April 12 to Room 218 at the West Texas Inn after a man called 911 to report his roommate was hitting him. When officers first arrived, they found Diaz and the victim in the room with a shattered window but no visible injuries. Diaz was cited for criminal mischief, and both men were issued criminal trespass warnings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But hours later, officers were called back and found the victim alone, now with serious facial injuries and blood on the floor. He was taken to the hospital and later transferred to El Paso, where he died on May 4. The El Paso County Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death to be blunt head trauma and classified it as a homicide. Investigators later recovered surveillance footage from the motel, which contradicted Diazs claim that the victim had attacked him first. In the footage, the victim is seen outside when the window breaks, and Diaz is observed coaxing him back into the room. Diaz was then seen leaving alone, with what appears to be blood on his shirt and his right hand in his pocket. When detectives later encountered Diaz at a Jack in the Box near the scene, he agreed to come in for questioning but never showed. He eventually spoke to police by phone and claimed he acted in self-defense, striking the victim once or twice. He also said the cut on his hand was from a prior infection, a claim police say did not match video evidence or the condition of the scene. Diaz was arrested on July 21 near WCR 116 and SCR 1210 in Midland County after an anonymous tip was given to authorities through Midland Crime Stoppers. His bond is set at $1,000,000. Jail records show no attorney listed at this time. . . . ORIGINAL ARTICLE: MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A man wanted for murder in connection to a deadly assault at a Midland motel earlier this year was arrested Monday evening in Midland County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Midland Crime Stoppers, 33-year-old Isaiah Alex Diaz was taken into custody without incident after a tipster provided law enforcement with his possible location. The Midland County Sheriffs Office made the arrest following a swift response to the anonymous tip. The arrest stems from an April 12, 2025, incident at the West Texas Inn, located at 1000 W Interstate 20 in Midland. Authorities said Diaz and the victim were involved in a physical altercation during which the victim sustained multiple head injuries. The injured individual was later transported to a hospital in El Paso, where they died as a result of the injuries sustained in the fight. Crime Stoppers had been offering a $500 cash reward for information leading to Diazs arrest, noting that he was known to frequent the Midland-Odessa area and had also been seen in New Mexico. Great job to law enforcement and to the anonymous tipster for helping to get this fugitive off the street, said Angie Valenzuela, Executive Director of Midland Crime Stoppers, in a statement shared Monday night. Editors note: An arrest affidavit has been requested, and more details surrounding Diazs apprehension are expected to be released soon. This story will be updated as additional information becomes available. If you have any information related to criminal activity in the Midland area, Crime Stoppers encourages residents to submit tips anonymously by calling 694-TIPS, visiting www.694tips.com, or using the P3 Tips app. 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 Yourbasin. MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) A man from Muskegon and two teenagers accused of buying and selling illegal drugs have been arrested in northern Michigan. Michigan State Police announced that the Traverse Narcotics Team and Straits Area Narcotics Enforcement arrested the trio last month during a drug trafficking investigation across Grand Traverse and Kalkaska counties. According to MSP, 21-year-old Dahnontae McKinley and two unnamed 16-year-olds were arrested June 6 after a controlled purchase of fentanyl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All three males are believed to be heavily involved with dealing several kinds of illicit narcotics to Grand Traverse and Kalkaska counties, MSP said in a social media post. After searching their vehicle, investigators say they found 15 grams of heroin, 37 grams of fentanyl, 47 grams of crack cocaine, 15 grams of powder cocaine and more than $1,700 in cash. McKinley has been arraigned on charges of delivering a controlled substance and maintaining a drug house. He was given a $100,000 cash surety bond. The two teens were released to their guardians and will go through the proper court process due to their age. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) The Myrtle Beach City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the second reading of an amended juvenile curfew ordinance in an effort to curb youth violence in the city. The change amends the citys curfew for juveniles to 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., as opposed to the midnight to 6 a.m. curfew. Those younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian after 9 p.m. The first reading was approved two weeks ago. Councilmembers said its just the first step in addressing a larger issue. They say it wont solve everything, but consider it a significant move forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im truly a strong supporter of it and I have heard nothing but positive [things] from members of the business community that have contacted me, councilman Mike Lowder said. It is really sad that its gotten to a point where we have to do measures like this to make up where we live, where we work from, a much safer place to be, and especially for our visitors and guests who come here. Downtown businesses reflect on pending Myrtle Beach curfew change Police Chief Amy Prock spoke during the meeting, saying officers will be on the boardwalk alerting and educating people. She says curfew awareness is a priority as it goes into effect. Maria, a 17-year-old who did not want to give her last name on camera, said that although she feels the curfew could help with crime, she questioned city council on the identification process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre a tourist who comes in on different days and if theres different officers waiting there, its going to be a repetitive process for you and its going to possibly disrupt your vacation, she said. Maria also thinks juveniles arent the only problem in the city. I think people need to realize that its not just children who are committing crimes, she said. There are adults who are perfectly well coming in with, you know, such things like guns. Officials have recently experimented with a temporary 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew that started on July 2. It drew mixed reviews from visitors and downtown businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The enforced curfew zone includes much of the Ocean Boulevard and downtown area, specifically from the Atlantic Ocean to Kings Highway, between 13th Avenue South and 21st Avenue North, the city said. It also includes a small extension west of Kings Highway to Broadway Street, between small extension west of Kings Highway to Broadway Street, between 7th and 9th Avenues North. Ocean Boulevard has seen multiple instances of teen gun violence in the last couple months, starting with late April when 18-year-old Jerrius Davis of Bennettsville opened fire into a crowd before being shot and killed by an officer. Then, in late June, Evany McCray, a 17-year-old from Conway, allegedly shot and killed an 18-year-old at Peaches Corner on Ocean Boulevard. * * * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. * * * Gabby Jonas joined the News13 team as a multimedia journalist in April 2024. She is from Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Kent State University in May 2023. Follow Gabby on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, and read 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 WBTW. In-N-Out Burger CEO Lynsi Snyder is attempting to clear up confusion sparked by sensational headlines and misguided social media posts that led many people to believe she is relocating the company from California to Tennessee. Not true, Snyder says. The 43-year-old granddaughter of In-N-Out founders Harry and Ester Snyder recently appeared on the Relatable podcast, where she announced that she is moving her family from California to Tennessee, where the burger chain is currently expanding and adding a regional headquarters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a lot of really great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here, Snyder, a mother of four, told host Allie Beth Stuckey. This brief segment of a much longer interview generated national headlines. On social media, many interpreted Snyders comments as an announcement that the company was abandoning California, where it started in 1948 as a tiny burger stand in Baldwin Park. Late Monday, Snyder posted a video on social media to set the record straight. Were not moving In-N-Out Burgers corporate headquarters, she said. Were not leaving California or leaving our roots behind. Each one of our locations is here to stay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, In-N-Outs expansion into Tennessee was announced in January 2023 with a regional office in Franklin, a suburb of Nashville, slated to open next year. In February of this year, the company revealed plans to gradually relocate its corporate headquarters from Irvine, in Orange County, to Baldwin Park, a suburb east of Los Angeles Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, center, poses with In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder, to his right, in Franklin, Tenn., on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. In-N-Out Burger announced Tuesday that it plans to open a corporate office in Tennessee and restaurants in and around Nashville by 2026, marking the companys first expansion east of Texas. (AP Photo/Jonathan Mattise) While Snyder has, at times, been a vocal critic of the political and business climate in California, she says her personal move to Tennessee is just that: personal. Where I raise my family has nothing to do with my love and appreciation for our Customers in California. Im very proud of where In-N-Out started, and anyone who knows me knows how often I talk about our beginnings and how our customers here in California brought us to where we are today, she said. Snyders three-minute social media monologue, however, wasnt entirely a love letter to the Golden State. She also made it clear that Californias high cost of living, particularly housing, has been a factor in the companys decision to expand into Tennessee and potentially other, more affordable states in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moving into Tennessee provides our In-N-Out Associates wonderful opportunities to buy a home, raise a family, and be part of our expansion in a different part of the U.S., Snyder said. Its tough here in California, and this doesnt have to do with my love or loyalty to the state and our customers. But I love our associates and I [want to] offer them this. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) The first joint space mission between the U.S. and India will be an Earth-observing satellite scheduled to launch in late July. Officials say the NISAR satellite will be equipped with a powerful radar system that will track changes in Earths land and ice surfaces to improve understanding of hazards, agriculture and the movement of ice sheets and glaciers. Dr. Mark Clampin, NASAs Acting Deputy Associate Administrator in the Science Mission Directorate, spoke with Ron Rhodes via Zoom on Eyewitness News Daybreak on Tuesday. You can view the full interview 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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). Hundreds of current and former NASA employees have signed an open letter of dissent against Trump's proposed cuts at the agency and they're sounding the alarm on the safety of its astronauts in an ominous way. "The last six months have seen rapid and wasteful changes which have undermined our mission and caused catastrophic impacts on NASA's workforce," the letter states, addressed to interim administrator Sean Duffy. In total, 287 current and former employees have signed the document, at least four of whom are astronauts, according to Nature. In the era of Trump's retribution-driven politics, 156 chose to remain anonymous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A key theme in the letter is that the administration's policies "compromise human safety." It's a broad claim that gets narrowed into the tip of a blade when it invokes the specter of one of NASA's deadliest catastrophes. "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," the letter warns. The Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when a Space Shuttle carrying seven astronauts disintegrated upon reentering the Earth's atmosphere, killing everyone onboard. The letter's implications are unmistakable: that astronauts could die. Further underscoring the grave stakes, the document has been submitted as a "formal dissent": an official procedure for voicing disagreement that was implemented, the New York Times notes, in the wake of the Challenger and Columbia disasters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has threatened to slash nearly half of NASA's $7.3 billion science budget next year, and its overall budget of $18.8 billion by nearly a quarter. It has already cut nearly $118 million in NASA grants and contracts, according to a database maintained by the Planetary Society, and has initiated plans to fire or force out nearly 2,700 employees around 15 percent of its 17,000-strong workforce. "These cuts are arbitrary and have been enacted in defiance of congressional appropriations law," the letter claims. "The consequences for the agency and the country alike are dire." NASA's slim hope is that Congress might decide to overturn some of the White House's proposed cuts. But the signatories are furious that the agency is being expected to operate as if its budget's already been slashed, even though it hasn't been finalized. The letter calls on Duffy, the interim administrator, to not implement the Trump administration's proposed cuts, as legally, he's not obligated to operate with a diminished budget until they're approved by Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter has been named the Voyager Declaration, after the two NASA spacecraft that were launched to explore interstellar space in 1977, which are still persevering on their mission to this day. And, tellingly, it was dedicated to the more than a dozen NASA astronauts who have tragically lost their lives during spaceflight missions. More on NASA: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Reportedly Holding "Going Out of Business Sale" for Satellites A plane-sized asteroid scheduled to pass Earth next week is making headlines, but NASA experts want the public to understand why this encounter is more routine than remarkable. The asteroid is named 2025 OW and measures approximately 210 feet in length, according to NASA. It is set to pass Earth on July 28 at a distance of approximately 393,000 miles -- about 1.6 times the average distance to the Moon, according to the space agency. While it's traveling at an impressive speed of 46,908 miles per hour, NASA scientists emphasize this is normal and nothing to lose sleep over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is very routine," Ian J. O'Neill, media relations specialist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), told ABC News. "If there was a threat, you would hear from us. We would always put out alerts on our planetary defense blog." STOCK IMAGE/Getty Images - PHOTO: Asteroid in deep space, illustration MORE: Axiom private space mission could be glimpse of the future as ISS retirement looms Davide Farnocchia, an asteroid expert at NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), explains that space rocks passing by Earth are just business as usual in our solar system. "Close approaches happen all the time -- it's just part of the fabric of the solar system," Farnocchia told ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His team usually tracks several asteroids passing Earth each week -- as of Tuesday, they're watching five for next week alone. While 2025 OW is large enough to be of interest to NASA scientists, its well-understood orbit means it poses no danger. "We know exactly where it's going to be. We'll probably know where it's going to be for the next 100 years," O'Neill said. MORE: Chance of asteroid striking Earth in the next decade rises to 3.1%, NASA says For space enthusiasts hoping to catch a glimpse of 2025 OW, Farnocchia indicates it won't be visible with binoculars. However, he points to a more exciting upcoming event: the 2029 approach of asteroid Apophis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Apophis will come within 38,000 kilometers of Earth in April 2029 -- closer than our geostationary satellites," Farnocchia said. Approximately 1,115 feet in length, and due to its exceptionally close approach, Apophis will be visible to the naked eye, offering a rare opportunity for public observation of an asteroid. Both Farnocchia and O'Neill emphasize that while Earth is struck by roughly 100 tons of space material daily, most of this is harmless dust. Larger, potentially hazardous impacts are extremely rare. "For an object the size of 2025 OW, while close approaches might happen yearly, an actual Earth impact would only occur roughly every 10,000 years," Farnocchia notes. NASA continues to monitor near-Earth objects through its planetary defense programs, maintaining public transparency about any potential risks while emphasizing that most asteroid headlines are more sensational than concerning. A group of current and former NASA employees is up in arms about DOGE cuts to the agency's funding. In a letter to NASA's chief, Sean Duffy, the group slammed wasteful changes that undermine NASA's goals. The Trump administration has axed three NASA departments since March and fired several employees. A group of 287 current and former NASA employees said federal funding cuts will have dire consequences for NASA and the country as a whole. In a Monday letter titled the "Voyager Declaration," addressed to NASA's interim administrator and US transportation secretary Sean Duffy, the group slammed the Trump administration's recent actions against the space agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The last six months have seen rapid and wasteful changes which have undermined our mission and caused catastrophic impacts on NASA's workforce," the letter said. The group said recent policies proposed by the administration threaten to waste public resources, compromise human safety, and weaken national security. The letter to Duffy comes after the Trump administration axed three NASA departments as part of larger cuts carried out by the Department of Government Efficiency. Several NASA employees were also fired as a result of the DOGE cuts. "Interim Administrator Duffy, we urge you not to implement the harmful cuts proposed by this administration, as they are not in the best interest of NASA," the letter read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group said that the funding cuts could compromise safety for future missions, which was "a dangerous turn away from the lessons learned following the Columbia disaster." In 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated as it reentered Earth's atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts on board. The declaration added that cutting funding for missions and shutting them down was not reversible. "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," the group said in the document. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of 287 current and former NASA employees signed the declaration, per its website. In response to the letter, NASA's press secretary, Bethany Stevens, said to BI that the agency would never compromise on safety. "Any reduction including our current voluntary reduction will be designed to protect safety-critical roles," she said. In response to a BI's query on whether the group had heard back from Duffy's team, a representative of the group said it had not. Employees of the National Institutes of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency released similar declarations slamming DOGE cuts. The cuts resulted in more than 200,000 workers across all federal agencies losing their jobs in March. July 23, 2:17 a.m. This story has been updated to reflect comments from NASA's press secretary and a representative of the group of NASA veterans. Read the original article on Business Insider An 18-year-old man is charged in connection with the July 14 shooting of a man in the parking lot of a business on Hickory Hollow Parkway. Nashville police said Zachary Spitaliere was arrested July 21 at a relative's home in Wilson County with the help of Lebanon Police. Spitaliere is charged with one count of criminal homicide. Police said shots rang out in the parking lot in the 5300 block of Hickory Hollow Parkway around 4:20 p.m. on July 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeremiah Brown, 18, of Antioch, was taken by private vehicle to TriStar Century Farms' emergency room at 4:28 p.m. before being transferred to Skyline Medical Center, where he died during surgery. Brown was seen inside a vehicle with two other people before he exited the vehicle, police said just after the shooting. Police interviewed a teen who told police he drove Brown to the parking lot where she waited 10 minutes before Brown returned and said he was hit, according to an arrest affidavit. While driving Brown to the hospital, a male juvenile told police a black sedan was following them and firing shots at them, striking the vehicle twice, the affidavit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A witness told police he heard multiple gunshots and saw a shooter get into a black Chevrolet sedan, the affidavit said, noting that a second witness identified the suspect in a photo lineup. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville police file homicide charge in fatal Hickory Hollow shooting BOWLING GREEN A Navy veteran and Logan, native is pursuing his education at Bowling Green State University after finding a supportive learning community and academic programming to advance his career and life. Following in his familys footsteps, Jeffrey Mustard served in the U.S. military after graduating from high school. After serving five years in the U.S. Navy as a submarine sonar technician, Mustard continued to serve his country, working as a contractor to install, maintain and repair submarine systems for the U.S. Navy fleet. More: Honor Flight Columbus participants discuss trip and how to show thanks to veterans Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, Mustard decided to utilize his GI Bill benefits and began exploring colleges. He turned his focus to BGSU, ranked the No. 1 university in the Midwest for veteran and active military students. "My choice of BGSU was strategic and family-focused," Mustard said. "As a husband and father of two beautiful children, finding a university in a safe, welcoming community was paramount. The family-friendly atmosphere, safe neighborhoods, excellent city infrastructure and reliable utilities create an ideal environment for veteran families. Now living in the city of Bowling Green ranked one of Americas safest college towns Mustard chose to pursue a degree in construction management inspired by his years of experience working on submarines. To help prepare for his future career, Mustard selected BGSU, the only higher education institution in Ohio that prioritizes the approach of construction management students working with and learning alongside peers in architecture and environmental design. "The program's comprehensive design allows me to combine my technical background, leadership experience and passion for building into a meaningful and lasting career," Mustard said. Navy veteran Jeffrey Mustard, second from right, chose BGSU for his education for its strong support of veteran and active military students. Taking a hands-on approach to learning and applying construction management practices, Mustard's fear of adapting to academic life quickly disappeared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I remember being genuinely shocked by the support and willingness to help from everyone I encountered," he said. "The faculty at BGSU truly value veteran students for our engagement, work ethic and real-world perspective. "Multiple professors have also demonstrated exceptional understanding of my commitments as a husband and father, working with me to ensure I can excel academically while maintaining my family responsibilities." This summer, Mustard secured an internship at Kwest Group LLC, a civil and environmental construction company in Perrysburg, Ohio, as a member of their project management team. Each day, he applies his existing skill sets, learns from his peers and supports the team by researching, contacting and consulting with vendors and subcontractors on various projects. "The construction management program provided me with both the technical foundation and industry knowledge essential for success in this internship," Mustard said. "The experiential learning opportunities in the classroom directly translated to real-world applications on my current projects." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slated to graduate in Spring 2027, Mustard said BGSU is a place where veterans and active military students should consider pursuing their education, either during or after their service. "Bowling Green is rightfully recognized as one of America's best college towns," he said. "While my experience differs from that of traditional students due to my family responsibilities and military background, BGSU has a remarkable community culture both on campus and throughout the surrounding area. "BGSU is committed to supporting military-affiliated students, creating an environment where veterans can thrive academically while maintaining work-life balance. I look forward to contributing to Ohio's construction industry while continuing to serve my community in new ways." This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Navy veteran, Logan native pursues education at Bowling Green North Carolina state health officials have unveiled a new plan to combat the rising suicide rates among Black youth. The plan includes six key objectives, such as enhancing community-level suicide prevention efforts, improving prevention training, and reducing access to lethal means among Black youth. ALSO READ >> Charlottes Hidden Crisis: County-by-County mental health resource guide One of the significant aspects of the plan is to increase the utilization of the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which has been identified as underutilized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Channel 9 reported federal funding cuts for suicide prevention services targeting LGBTQ+ youth by the Trump administration earlier this month, which led to the discontinuation of a specific service for this group on July 17. Despite these cuts, the 9-8-8 hotline remains available for general use, providing a crucial resource for those in crisis. VIDEO: NAACP Convention honors youth leaders driving social justice and change Gov. Josh Steins vetoes of several bills will be tested next week when North Carolina lawmakers return to Raleigh to hold override votes. Stein had already blocked three bills ahead of the last week lawmakers spent in session at the Legislative Building in June. He subsequently vetoed 11 more bills that the Republican-controlled General Assembly sent him, bringing the total to 14. On Monday, Senate leader Phil Berger announced that the Senate will reconvene July 29 to hold override votes on seven Senate bills that Stein vetoed. The Senate will also take up overrides of any House bills that manage to clear the lower chamber, Bergers office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those seven bills include a bill that would allow anyone older than 18 to carry a concealed handgun in North Carolina without obtaining a permit, and a bill that would expand cooperation requirements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to four state law enforcement agencies. There are also two bills that target diversity, equity and inclusion positions and programs in public education and the states university and community college systems; a bill that reduces the State Board of Educations authority over charter schools; and bills that allow Duke Energy to delay previously planned carbon-emissions reductions, and block government agencies from collecting or disclosing information about members and donors of 501(c) nonprofits. How does a veto override work? In order to successfully defeat a veto, lawmakers need to override it in both chambers with a three-fifths supermajority. Republicans control a supermajority in the Senate, but are one seat short in the House. That means that any bill being overridden through both chambers will require Republicans to secure support from at least one Democrat, or take advantage of multiple Democratic absences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The seven other bills Stein vetoed that will need the House to vote first, on an override, have all been placed on the Houses voting calendar for July 29 as well. A bill being put on the calendar for a certain day doesnt necessarily mean it will be voted on that day. Leaders in both chambers often move bills around and reschedule votes, usually depending on whether all of their caucuss members are present. During the last week lawmakers were in town in June, GOP leaders gave notice of possible override votes that were ultimately delayed due to absences in both chambers. Berger said in a statement on Monday that Steins vetoes of the bills the Senate plans to take up next week confirms that he is out of touch with the people of North Carolina. He tolerates criminal illegal aliens roaming our streets, divisive DEI concepts in our schools, and government infringement on our Second Amendment rights, Berger said. I look forward to leading Senate Republicans in overriding these harmful vetoes and putting North Carolina families first. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stein, meanwhile, argued he was blocking bills that would make the state less safe by removing the permit requirement for carrying concealed handguns, which currently entails a background check and an eight-hour safety and training course, and effectively deputizing state officers to assist ICE with its duties, drawing resources away from local law enforcement needs. What do NC activists say about vetoes? The 14 bills Stein has vetoed this year cover some of the most contentious issues that have been debated among lawmakers, and the public. There has been agreement between lawmakers from both parties, and in both chambers, on many other bills. As of Monday, Stein had signed into law 67 bills. The Democratic governors decision to block some high-profile and controversial bills has been praised by a number of advocacy groups that have publicly called on him to take a forceful stand against GOP policies on issues like immigration enforcement, firearms, education, LGBTQ rights, and DEI policies and programs. During a rally Monday evening at North Carolina Freedom Park in downtown Raleigh, activists from several different groups commended Stein for blocking the bills, and urged lawmakers to sustain his vetoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anai Santibanez, the grants and program manager at the Hispanic Federation, said the immigration enforcement bills, by expanding state and local cooperation with ICE, would erode trust within Hispanic communities, undermine public safety, and violate basic rights. ICE and police collaborations wont keep us safe, Santibanez said. They create fear, they make immigrant families and already vulnerable communities less likely to report crimes, and less likely to seek help. Santibanez said that ICE raids and enforcement operations have caused many people living in the country without legal status and their families to live in fear and with anxiety for months. Our representatives should protect our community and not support legislation that scapegoats immigrants, she said. We are a part of the fabric of North Carolina, and we deserve a just and dignified treatment. Breaking down potential overrides on DEI and other vetoes | Under the Dome podcast NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) The North Charleston Police Department has welcomed a new K-9 to the team. K-9 Koda, a German Shorthaired Pointer, is a single-purpose tracking K-9, who was certified through the International Police Working Dog Association. According to the department, K-9 Koda will play a major role in helping the agency locate missing vulnerable adults, missing children, and non-violent offenders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to his tracking duties, K-9 Koda will also be a friendly face at community events, helping strengthen the bond between law enforcement and the public, the department said. North Charleston PD said it was able to welcome Koda to the team at no cost thanks to continued support from the Charleston County Sheriffs Office and the agencys executive staff. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Security officers at Los Angeles International Airport have found people smuggling goods through all kinds of ways. Beetles disguised as snacks. Drugs liquefied to look like dog shampoo. Even a suitcase full of clothes soaked in methamphetamine. Now they can add solar panels to the list. According to a post on X, officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection at LAX recently discovered nearly 300 pounds of methamphetamine in solar panels. The panels were headed to New Zealand on July 8, according to the agency, and were flagged before they were exported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We do this every day. These 'criminal masterminds' never stood a chance," the agency said in the social media post. The shipment originated from Mexico and there have been no arrests made in connection with the drug seizure, according to a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson, who added that there was no indication that the panels were fake, as initially reported. In April, customs officers found a little over 17 pounds of liquid methamphetamine disguised as dog shampoo. The colorful methamphetamine was hidden in a dozen plastic bottles at LAX that were in an air cargo shipment destined for Australia, the agency announced in a news release. Officers found a crystallized white substance on the bottles during an April 1 inspection that tested positive as methamphetamine. It's unclear if there were any arrests made in connection with the seizure in the U.S. or Australia. The potential street value in Australia was estimated at $1.8 million, according to Customs and Border Protection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, a passenger allegedly tried to smuggle in about $1,500 worth of giant live beetles in snack bags. Last November, a student was arrested after authorities found clothes in her suitcase were allegedly soaked in methamphetamine. She was headed for Australia. The airport has had more than 9 million international passengers pass through its terminals so far this year, according to LAX statistics. 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. MOREHEAD, Ky. (FOX 56) Chaosthats what Don Williams described waking up to on Sunday morning, July 20. It was pretty much chaos by the time I woke up. I was alerted by yelling outside by the police officers, Williams, a neighbor, told FOX 56. RELATED: Inside the West Sun Street apartment, they found a door with three bullet holes. On the other side lay 15-year-old Luis Jocsan Nanez Lopez, dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was alerted by yelling outside by the police officers, and I was confused because it was down here on the other side of the road, and then I came here to my neighbors house, Williams said. According to court documents, its believed Gildardo Martinez, 36, came home wanting to have sex with his girlfriend, the victims mother. Police said that when she turned him down, he bit her and twisted her arm, causing her to scream. Her son, Lopez, opened the door and told Martinez to stop. Thats when he was allegedly seen with a black pistol. Investigators said he fired it several times, shooting Lopez and his sister. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know, theres a level of guilt that came with that. I wish I could help them, Williams said. He told FOX 56 that things like this dont typically happen in their relatively quiet community. Thats part of the reason why I live here. Ive lived in other places. Indianapolis, Nashville, Memphis. Like, thats the kind of stuff you will see, but, Morehead, you dont really think about that kind of stuff, he emphasized. You just never know, like, thats a close knit community. And Im hoping that everyone comes together and helps this family because theyre going to need it. Williams said that the family was always kind to him, and hates to see this happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martinez was arraigned on Monday and pleaded not guilty to murder, first-degree assault, and first-degree attempted rape. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Buckle your seat belts for the wild ride that Israelis, along with the Trump administration, are about to experience between now and years end as the prime minister, a man whose almost every move is tethered to his determination to remain in power, plans and plots his reelection bid, most likely for early 2026. As former U.S. House Speaker Tip ONeill famously said, All politics is locala truth that holds in Israel as well. Just look at the issue of ultra-Orthodox conscription, which has rocked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition of late. But one element of Netanyahus bid for reelection isnt local: Donald Trump. Indeed, the U.S. president may not be the only factor shaping Netanyahus political future, but he certainly is an important one. That gives Trump, whose relationship with Netanyahu has been rocky at times, significant leverage. He can either help or hurt Netanyahus bid to extend his domination of Israels political scene. So, how will Trump play his part, and will he continue his propensity to be more supportive of Netanyahu than not? The answer may well shape how both Trump and Netanyahu respond to the challenges of Gaza, Iran, and the political roller coaster in Israel in the months to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels parliamentary system is known to be tumultuous: The average length of an Israeli government since independence is roughly 1.9 years, and Israelis go to the polls more frequently than nearly any other country within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The current government is coming up on its third yearan impressive feat given the traumas of the past year and a half. The government is the most right-wing in the countrys history, a marriage between Netanyahus Likud party, the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) parties, and ultranationalists (led by Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich). If the government comes to term, elections must be held by late October 2026. But there are surely signs that the coalition might not make it until then: Netanyahus government has been mired in the crisis over the military conscription of the ultra-Orthodox, who object to Israels compulsory military service and demand a bill that formally exempts them. Last week, ministers from two ultra-Orthodox parties submitted their resignations from the government over an impasse on the conscription bill, effectively leaving Netanyahu with a minority government of 50 seats (out of 120). Given that the Knesset starts a three-month summer recess on July 27, Netanyahu is relatively safe in power for now, but the clock is ticking. Bibi, ever the political mastermind, is readying his next move, looking to craft a platform that will ensure his reelection and political survival. While Israels 12-day war with Iran in June gave him a modest bump in the polls, Netanyahus coalition is still projected to fall short of a majority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How can Netanyahu improve his chances? He has options: a deal to free the hostages, a day-after plan that sees Hamas disarmed and many Palestinians moved out of Gaza, an agreement with Syria, and a pathway to normalization with Saudi Arabia. Much of this may well be beyond the achievable. But for any of it to become reality, Netanyahu will need a supportiveor at least an acquiescentTrump. Trump, during his first term, showered Netanyahu with helpful policy moves. He took his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia and Israel, was the first sitting U.S. president to pray at the Western Wall, recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital and moved the U.S. embassy there, recognized Israels sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, and announced a peace plan that left settlements intact and gave Israel 30 percent of the West Bank. In Trump 1.0, Netanyahus popularity was often tied to Trumps foreign-policy moves: When Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, Netanyahus Likud surged in the polls. Trump is immensely popular in Israel, in contrast to other countries, with 69 percent of those polled by Pew Research Center reporting a favorable opinion of the U.S. president, giving him power over the fate of Israeli politics and over the fate of Netanyahu himself. Having boosted Netanyahu during his first term, does Trump want him as a partner during his second? At first glance, six months in, the answer would appear to be yes. Trump has front-loaded any number of pro-Israeli handouts: delivering the shipments of 2,000 pound bombs that were paused by the Biden administration; canceling sanctions on settlers in the West Bank; hosting Netanyahu at the White House as his first foreign visitor; giving Netanyahu a wide margin to continue the war in Gaza; endorsing plans that would implicitly see Gazans relocated elsewhere; and, perhaps in his grandest move of all, joining Israels war against Iran by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Trumps view of Netanyahu is a complicated one. Unlike former Presidents Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, or Ronald Reagan, Trumps approach to Israel isnt sentimental; these presidents were enamored emotionally and politically with the idea of Israel, its people, and the Israeli story. Trumps view is highly transactional, situational, and guided by what he stands to gain. Trump has made no secret of the fact that he felt played by Netanyahu on Iran during his first term and saw Netanyahu as ungrateful for his political support when the prime minister cozied up to Biden. Indeed, in the past several months, Trump has taken a number of actions that have sidelined Netanyahu when it was in his interest: opening up a dialogue with Hamas, cutting a deal with the Houthis behind Israels back, announcing negotiations with Iran despite Netanyahus opposition, and removing sanctions on Syria in spite of Netanyahus objections. Indeed, Trump was reportedly angry when Israel struck Gazas only Christian church on July 17, prompting Netanyahu to offer an apology, and recent reporting suggests that Trumps team believes that Netanyahu is out of control following Israeli bombings in Syria. As Netanyahu plots his political future, the Trump factor looms large, especially as he seeks to maximize his successes and minimize his vulnerabilities. Not only is Trump more popular in Israel than Netanyahu, but on two of Netanyahus key national security achievementsprosecuting the war in Gaza (including freeing the hostages held by Hamas) and keeping the pressure on Iran the United States is central to validating Netanyahus story. So far, Trump has played to Netanyahus politics: On Gaza, he has pushed for an incremental release of hostages while allowing Israel to continue the war; on Iran, he has kept the pressure on Tehran, including considering additional military strikes, which is what Netanyahu desires. Should Trump shift in a different directionpressing Netanyahu to end the war with Hamas (which is what the majority of the Israeli public wants) without achieving Netanyahus proclaimed goal of total victory over Hamas, or, alternatively, reengaging in diplomacy with IranNetanyahu might find himself in a pickle with his right-wing coalition, contradicting his own victory narrative. Netanyahu has a vital stake in doing just enough to keep Trump sweet, but not too much that would cause his right-wing partners to abandon him. What Netanyahu cannot afford to do is to lose Trump and bungle his relations with Washington, something that he has sold as a key element of his success as prime minister. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump clearly has leverage over Netanyahu. Will he use it? And what would he ask for in return? The Knesset adjourns at the end of July and will not reconvene until late October, after the Jewish holidays. Well before that, its more than likely that Netanyahu will give Trump another win by agreeing to the U.S. proposal to free more hostages in exchange for a two-month cease-fire and an agreement on the delivery of assistance that would hopefully obviate the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians seeking assistance from the sites established through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Theres unlikely to be a major break between Israel and the United States over Iran, unless, by some miracle, Tehran and Washington find themselves close to an accord on the nuclear issue that Israel opposes. And on Syria, Netanyahu may be smart enough to ease up on the military strikes that have angered Trump administration officials. Day-after planning on Gaza is unlikely to gain traction with Hamas still holding hostages, and if reports are true that Israel has been seeking the administrations help in finding countries that would take Palestinians, then there might be little discord between Israel and the United States on next steps for Gaza. Does Trump even know what he wants? Since ending wars is one of his mantras, hed like credit for doing that in Gaza. And making peace, of course, is another of his goals, though its hard to envision anything enduring between Israelis and Palestinians anytime soon. The administration has watched from the sidelines as Israel has laid the basis for annexation of the West Bank in everything but name. Then theres the elusive quest for Israeli-Saudi normalization and that even more elusive Nobel Peace Prize that Trump covets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some analysts argue that in October, if no deal is reached on ultra-Orthodox conscription, then a date will be set for early electionsto be held within a few months. And one of Netanyahus campaign pledges will be to elect him to finish the job, freeing the remaining hostages and creating a pathway to normalization with Saudi Arabia. Trump would love that, though its hard to see Netanyahu doing what is required to satisfy the Saudis and other Gulf states on the issue of the Palestinians future, or exactly who Netanyahu would trust to sit with him in a new government. Theres also the not-so-small matter of Netanyahus ongoing trial and the lack of any accountability for the Israeli security failures that preceded the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023. The other possibility is that the conscription issue is somehow resolved, and the current government continues pursuing its right-wing agenda, invoking Benjamin Franklins quip about the American colonists and the British: We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately. Whatever road Netanyahu chooses, moving to the center or sticking to the right, hell need Trumps support. For Trump, whose focus on any given issue is limited, Netanyahu is something of a constant. Trump probably really doesnt like the prime minister or trust him. But Bibi can be useful. And hes always ready to flatter, describing Trump as a modern King Cyrus, Harry Truman, and others. And after all, Netanyahu did give Trump a giftthe opportunity to confound the experts and his predecessors with yet another first: claiming success in obliterating Irans nuclear program without a major war. And as hard as it is to see now, Netanyahu might give him anothera Saudi-Israeli normalization accord and that elusive Nobel. Also, backing Netanyahuthe darling of the Jewish right, many Republicans, and especially older evangelical Christiansis smart politics and helps Trump paint the Democrats, many of whom cant stand the prime minister, as anti-Israel. As weve seen recently in U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabees high-profile attendance at Netanyahus corruption trial, theres more than a little sympathy in Trumps eyes for the legally beleaguered Israeli leader. Trump has more cards than Netanyahu does in their relationship. But there still exists a certain dependence and mutual need for one another. Trump would dump Netanyahu if he saw a bigger or better win with another Israeli prime minister. But if elections do come, then Trump will likely prefer the genuflecting devil he knows rather than one he doesnt. Benjamin Netanyahu attacked the Democratic candidate, Zohran Mamdani, in an appearance on the Full Send Podcast with the Nelk Boys on Monday. The subject of Israel has repeatedly encroached on New York Citys mayoral race. Now, the countrys prime minister is also weighing in. Benjamin Netanyahu attacked the Democratic candidate, Zohran Mamdani, in an appearance on the Full Send Podcast with the Nelk Boys published on Monday. The Canadian-American influencer group is known for their viral pranks as well as their promotion of right-wing figures and causes, winning them a large following of young conservative men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After drawing criticism for hosting Netanyahu, the Nelk Boys who visited Israel in 2023 invited a host of streamers with records of antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric to join them online. Their discussion with Netanyahu covered his affinity for Donald Trump, Israels two-year war against Hamas in Gaza and antisemitism in the United States. It was conducted by two leading members of the group, Kyle Forgeard and Aaron Steinberg, who has said his grandparents were Holocaust survivors. They also discussed New York Citys mayors race, where the front-runner, Mamdani, has faced allegations of antisemitism for refusing to condemn the phrase globalize the intifada and supporting a boycott of Israel. Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during a Democratic mayoral primary debate, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in New York. (credit: YUKI IWAMURA/REUTERS) Steinberg asked Netanyahu how an antisemitic guy, referring to Mamdani, was able to capture an upset win in New Yorks Democratic primary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu responded, A lot of people have been taken in by this nonsense, claiming that voters were seduced by Mamdanis efforts to defund the police. (Although Mamdani supported police budget cuts during his 2020 campaign for state assembly, his mayoral campaign has not proposed defunding, but rather shifting police resources toward major crimes and keeping the force at the same headcount.) Netanyahu also slammed Mamdanis plan to tax the wealthiest New Yorkers, saying he would crush all enterprise and tax people to death. Sometimes you have to get mugged by reality to understand how stupid that is, he said. Mamdani's threat to arrest Netanyahu in New York Mamdani has said that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and that as mayor, he would have Netanyahu arrested if the prime minister visited New York. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu last year, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity, though countries that are not party to the treaty that created the court, including the United States, are not obligated to abide by it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdanis criticism of Israel has become a central topic in the mayoral race, and one that divides Jewish voters. Two of his opponents, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, are running as independents and making overtures to Jewish New Yorkers, who constitute about 13% of voters in the city. The Nelk Boys drew sharp criticism from many of their followers, who number in the millions across various platforms, for interviewing Netanyahu during his trip to Washington, D.C., earlier this month. Imagine asking someone about their burger preference while, as you speak, theyre starving a million people, one commenter wrote on Monday. Holy st the level of dystopia is unreal. The podcasters then streamed jointly with a number of personalities who have been harshly critical of Israel and Netanyahu, including Hasan Piker; Nick Fuentes, an avowed white supremacist and Holocaust denier; and Sneako, who recently shared cigars with Adams on the patio of Gracie Mansion. Sneako told the podcasters that he believed it was inappropriate to host Netanyahu. Responding to Pikers charge that the Nelk Boys were humanizing Netanyahu by having him on, Forgeard said, Well have anyone on. Like next episode, were going to have someone on with the complete opposite ideology. Deputy Commissioner Momi Meshulam is currently in Serbia conducting a legal deposition involving Srulik Einhorn, a former Netanyahu advisor. National Transitional Council (NTC) Commander Shlomo Meshulam, who led the investigations into Cases 1000 and 2000, in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a defendant, is currently in Serbia conducting legal proceedings involving Srulik Einhorn, a former advisor to Netanyahu. Meshulam is joined by Chief Inspector Gil Rachlin, who previously questioned Yair Netanyahu and former Communications Ministry director-general Shlomo Filber in the high-profile corruption cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent days, the two investigators also took an open testimony from Netanyahu himself as part of the emerging Qatargate affair. They are now expected to focus on Einhorns testimony, during which he will be asked to explain his role in two separate cases concerning conduct inside the Prime Ministers Office and his direct involvement in them. Two affairs under investigation In the classified documents case, Einhorn is expected to face questions about how a classified document allegedly related to Israel-Egypt relations was transferred to the German tabloid Bild. He is expected to claim he was unaware of the documents classified status and that he was acting under instructions from Netanyahus office. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview with The Jerusalem Post. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST) In the "Qatargate" affair, Einhorn is expected to explain his involvement in conveying messages on behalf of a political figure representing Qatar, messages that aimed to influence public discourse in Israel. His associates anticipate that Einhorn will argue that he acted within his official duties as an advisor in the PMO. The testimonies being collected in Serbia may shed new light on the conduct of political leadership and close advisors at the highest levels, and could bolster existing investigative lines concerning Netanyahus inner circle in recent years. Israeli officials in contact with Serbian counterparts On Sunday, Channel 13 reported that Israel Police's Lahav 433 corruption authorities would travel to Serbia to conduct a legal deposition of Einhorn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Channel 13, Israeli officials have been in contact with Serbian counterparts in an effort to question Einhorn, formerly a close adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The deposition is expected to take several days and will be conducted by both Israeli and Serbian investigators, Channel 13 noted. Einhorn has not returned to Israel since the investigation began, and previous attempts to depose him in Serbia were unsuccessful. Walla reported that both the Israel Police and the Justice Ministry have previously refrained from formally approaching Serbian authorities to advance the deposition request. The Netherlands is poised to make a "significant contribution" to the delivery of Patriot systems to Ukraine, with Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans affirming his nations readiness to co-finance additional supplies. Source: Dutch Ministry of Defence following the Contact Group on the Defence of Ukraine (Ramstein format) meeting on Monday, as reported by European Pravda Details: During the Ramstein-format gathering, Brekelmans underscored the urgent need to shield Ukraine from Russias "relentless campaign of air terror". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Russias goal is clear: to crush the indomitable spirit of Ukrainians and force them to their knees. We cannot permit this. Thus, we are committed to a substantial boost in Ukraines air defence capabilities," he declared with resolve. The Dutch Ministry of Defence highlighted that the country is engaged in "close and intensive consultations" with the United States and other allies to devise a scheme for supplying American weapons, including Patriot systems, to Ukraine. "The precise details of the Netherlands contribution will be hammered out in the coming days. This will unfold in tight coordination with NATO, the US, and other allies," the agency added. 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. Media reports suggest that Germany and the United States are working out final details of a deal to supply Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans has said that his country will make a significant contribution to the supply of American Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine. Source: Brekelmans on X (Twitter); Dutch Defence Ministry website; Ukrinform news agency Quote from Brekelmans: "We have held online discussions with defence ministers on support for Ukraine. The Netherlands will make a significant contribution to the supply of American air defence systems [Patriot ed.]. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The details will be agreed upon in the near future. We are also independently providing additional air defence equipment, such as ammunition for F-16s, anti-drone equipment, radars, etc." Details: The Dutch Ministry of Defence has also released the same information. Quote from Brekelmans during an online meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein Format): "Russia's air campaign of terror has recently reached new levels. Russia's goal is simple: to break the unyielding Ukrainian people. We cannot allow this to happen. We therefore want to make a significant contribution to additional air defence for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much has already been done, but more is needed. Only by continuing to provide unwavering and large-scale support to Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia will we force the Russian Federation to sit down at the negotiating table." Details: The Dutch Defence Ministrys website said that consultations are currently underway with the United States and other allies on the American initiative to supply additional weapons systems, including Patriot air defence systems, and that it is important that the whole of Europe contributes. Quote from Brekelmans: "Ukraine is protecting the front line against Russian aggression for the whole of Europe. If Russia manages to break through, it will immediately pose a greater threat to the rest of Europe and NATO." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: It is noted that providing air defence is a key priority of the Netherlands' military support to Ukraine. That is why, in addition to Patriot, they have supplied 24 F-16 fighter jets, relevant ammunition and spare parts and several anti-aircraft guns and I-HAWK systems. The Netherlands is also supplying Ukraine with radars for detecting drones and naval vessels equipped with air defence systems. Background: On Thursday 10 July, the Netherlands announced the allocation of 300 million to rebuild and strengthen of Ukraine in 2025 and 2026. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The New Mexico Supreme Court on July 21, 2025 limited in-person visits to the Bernalillo County Courthouse, and two other Second Judicial District Court locations in Albuquerque, after the county sheriffs office reduced the number of deputies it assigns for security. (Photo by Marisa Demarco / KUNM) The New Mexico Supreme Court on Monday limited how many people can enter three court buildings in the Albuquerque area after the county sheriffs office reduced the number of deputies it assigns for security, it said. Officials with the states judicial branch say the security cuts come as violence toward court staff and judges are on the rise. A news release by the state Administrative Office of the Courts noted a melee earlier this year in which family members beat a defendant and a jail guard during a hearing, as well as one last week in which several members of the district attorneys office were verbally accosted and confronted on their way to a parking lot after a court hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office on July 10 notified the Second Judicial District Court that it planned to reduce security personnel at court locations effective July 21, because of budget constraints, according to the AOC news release. Specifically, AOC Barry Massey told Source in a written statement, the sheriffs office informed the court it was capping the number of deputies assigned to the courts three locations at 14, below past staffing levels at the court. In a news release, the sheriffs office said it disagreed with ACOs characterization of its security staffing levels in the news release and contended there has been no lapse in safety or reduction in service at the 2nd Judicial District. In fact, our agency has worked diligently to identify inefficiencies and restructure schedules to achieve the same level of security and service with fewer deputies, saving taxpayers a significant amount of money without compromising public safety, the statement said. AOC said the Supreme Court ordered most hearings in civil, family and childrens court cases in Bernalillo County to be held online rather than in-person. The safety and well-being of people required to go to court cannot be compromised, Supreme Court Chief Justice David K. Thomson said in a statement. We value our partnership with the County of Bernalillo and especially the hard work and dedication of officers assigned to the courthouse. However, our paramount concern is protecting jurors, witnesses, victims and their families, attorneys, court employees, judges and members of the public who come to the district court for trials, hearings and other court business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massey told Source the court is focusing on working with BCSO and Bernalillo County to provide necessary security. Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Albuquerque), who serves on the Legislatures interim Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee, said she hadnt been aware of the staffing issue prior to Sources request for comment. She said she sees the situation as one that reduces peoples access to justice. The Legislature should address this and other courthouse access issues, Sedillo-Lopez said in an emailed statement. Our courthouses must be available for access to justice for all people. The committee heard a presentation on the topic of courthouse security earlier this month, and Camille Ward, a spokesperson for the Democratic majority in the state House of Representatives, told Source NM on Monday the issue will be back on the committees agenda next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The justices as of Monday also limited operating hours of the court clerks office and the domestic violence clerks office at the Bernalillo County Courthouse. Clerks will continue to respond to phone calls and electronic court filings, the AOC said. People will no longer be able to enter the courthouse to use the self-help center; however, it will still accept inquiries via email or by phone at (505) 841-6702. The changes are temporary through Aug. 2, the AOC said in its news release. We must take these precautionary steps while the district court works with Bernalillo County and its sheriffs office to restore security staffing to necessary levels, Thomson said. Jury trials in criminal and civil cases along with some other criminal proceedings such as sentencing hearings will continue to be held in-person, the AOC said. Jurors must still report to the courthouse for jury selection and trials, and the changes do not affect the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. Guarding the courthouse State law requires the 33 local county governments to provide security in district courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the case of Bernalillo County, the county owns the courthouse, the Juvenile Justice Center that houses the Childrens Court and the Public Safety Center where people report to pretrial services and treatment courts, the AOC noted, and the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office is responsible for providing security. That entails screening people who enter the courthouse; responding to judges and court staffs duress alarms when people pose threats; and intervening in courtroom disruptions and physical fights in court buildings. So far this year, there have been 5,867 calls for service to deputies working court security, the agency said. The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office, in its statement, described the AOCs statistic as misleading and said of those calls, 3,627 (over 60%) were proactive perimeter or floor checks standard, low-risk safety sweeps conducted by deputies, not responses to incidents. In his statement, AOC spokesman Massey noted that Bernalillo Countys three court locations are blocks apart and the main courthouse has seven floors with multiple courtrooms. This illustrates the challenge in responding to more than one altercation or threat at the same time in one or more of the district courts locations. By any measure, Massey added, security staffing at the Second Judicial District Court remains inadequate for the states busiest district court.court hearings often are emotionally charged and contentious. Underestimating the courts security needs can lead to serious harm or tragedy. During her presentation to lawmakers, Cynthia Pacheco, director of the Court Operations Division at AOC, included U.S. Marshals Service data showing a 104% increase in threats to judges nationwide between 2021 and 2024, noting spikes in threats during elections and politicized cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She told lawmakers she believes the judiciary statewide needs at least 150 security staff, and suggested they consider creating a new state court marshals service. She previously told Source NM her agency has started talking with court systems in Oregon and Maine that have established their own state court marshals. In magistrate and appeals courts, either the AOC or the appeals courts themselves pay for security, she said. Evan West, chief marshal for the Oregon Judicial Departments Marshals Office, told Source NM on Monday that he briefed James Noel, a district court judge in New Mexicos Thirteenth Judicial District, about Oregons court marshals, which were created under a different name in 2005. Oregons court marshals work security in appeals courts while 36 local sheriffs offices provide transport and security to trial courts, West said. They now train sheriffs deputies on planning for high-risk trials; conflict simulation; deescalation; dealing with sovereign citizens; and interacting with judges, court staff and the public, he said. Its not an easy process to stand up and take on court security when thats not the way its been done, West said. Illinois, Florida and Connecticut are also considering their own court marshals services, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barbara Cardone, director of legal affairs and public relations at the Maine Administrative Office of the Courts, told Source NM on Monday that Maine used to have a similar court security system to New Mexicos until it switched to a statewide court marshals service in the mid-2000s. We consider having gone to a judicial statewide marshal service to be a much better option for our state, Cardone said in an interview. Having the judicial marshals service that is specializing in courthouse policing and security, I think, has given us a more developed standard of policing in that area, rather than just having either retired deputies filling in or people rotating in from being out on the beat. Both Cardone and West said courthouse policing is different from regular policing, though it involves a similar set of skills. The focus isnt on going out and arresting people or looking for breaking laws, Cardone said. Their focus is on security, on keeping people safe and on understanding the techniques necessary to do that. This story was updated following publication to include additional information from the AOC spokesman and a statement from the Bernalillo County Sherifs Office. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA (Reuters) -The Norwegian Refugee Council, one of the largest independent aid organisations in Gaza, told Reuters on Tuesday its supplies were exhausted and some of its staff starving, and the group accused Israel of paralysing its work. "Our last tent, our last food parcel, our last relief items have been distributed. There is nothing left," Jan Egeland, the secretary general of the council, told Reuters in an interview via video link from Oslo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The council, which has 64 Palestinian and two international staff on the ground in Gaza, echoed comments on Tuesday by the head of the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA who said its staff were fainting on the job from hunger and exhaustion. The NRC said that for the last 145 days, it has not been able to get tents, water, sanitation supplies, food and education materials into Gaza, where Israel has been at war against Palestinian group Hamas since October 2023 and the United Nations has warned of a worsening hunger crisis. "Hundreds of truckloads have been sitting in warehouses or in Egypt or elsewhere, and costing our Western European donors a lot of money, but they are blocked from coming in That's why we are so angry. Because our job is to help," Egeland said. "Israel is not yielding. They just want to paralyse our work," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement COGAT, the Israeli military aid coordination agency, said in a statement that Israel does not restrict aid trucks entering Gaza, but international organisations face challenges in collecting the trucks on the Gaza side of border crossings. Israel is working with the groups to improve the system, COGAT said, adding that more than 4,500 aid trucks carrying food for the U.N. and international organizations have entered the enclave in the last two months. Many truckloads were still waiting to be picked up. COGAT said 950 shipments were on the Gaza sides of "the Kerem Shalom Crossing in the southern side of the Strip, and the Zikim Crossing in the northern part, pending collection and distribution." COGAT has accused Hamas of stealing food, which Hamas denies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NRC said its supplies of safe drinking water were running out due to dwindling fuel to run desalination plants. The water has reached 100,000 people in central and northern parts of Gaza in recent weeks An Israeli official told Reuters that the U.N. has been given approval to bring in half a million liters of fuel. "They're bringing in fuel and collecting, but they can bring in and they can collect more, and we are having discussions with them," the official said. (Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; editing by Sharon Singleton, David Gregorio and Cynthia Osterman) The Epstein file topic has piqued the interest of both political parties. Jeffrey Epstein has been characterized as a "monster" who engaged in the sex trafficking of minors to an elite clientele. The fact that Epstein died under questionable circumstances (suicide when his jail cell cameras were inoperative) leads us to wonder whether he was silenced because of his potential ability to blackmail important individuals who used his "services." Now the focus is on the client list itself if such a list exists. The only living witness to Epsteins activities is Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in the process. Both the Republicans and Democrats seem to want to investigate further. More: Rep. Thomas Massie: 'We all deserve to know whats in the Epstein files' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not just a salacious journey into a dark world. Epstein's clients committed a crime when they participated in sex trafficking. The Department of Justice should be eager to pursue any avenue that could identify these clients. Maxwell was undoubtedly a witness to many A-list meetings and is the key to that further investigation. Pam Bondi, our Attorney General, has a sworn duty to lead a full investigation including whatever "deal" she needs to offer Maxwell to identify the clients. Why hasnt Bondi been more forthcoming about her role in prosecuting such crimes? She is seemingly reluctant to address the situation, reveal file information (one day she has a list, the next day she doesnt), or pursue the obvious making a deal with a living (so far) witness to the whole affair. 'What changed?': Popular podcaster criticizes JD Vance over past Epstein comments We should all remember that the only candidate rejected for a Trump Cabinet post was Matt Gaetz. It was evident from the bipartisan outrage that his alleged trip with a minor to the Bahamas led to the withdrawal of his name for consideration to (of all jobs) U.S. Attorney General. He has since resigned his congressional post and slid into oblivion. But the lesson remains: the citizenry will not accept that leaders of the American democracy engage in such activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms. Bondi, please do your job now and be fully transparent in your actions. Mike Hauer, Villa Hills, Ky. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bondi should be transparent. Release the Epstein files | Letter 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. (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 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 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 non-U.S. citizen has been arrested for wrongful voting in New Hampshire, the attorney general said Tuesday. Naseef Bryan, who is living in Manchester, is charged with three class B felony counts of wrongful voting, Attorney General John Formella said in a statement. Bryan is expected to be arraigned at the Ninth Circuit Court, Manchester District Division, on Aug. 22, Formella said. Prosecutors allege that Bryan knowingly voted for any office or measure in the Nov. 7, 2023 Manchester city election, the Jan. 23, 2024 New Hampshire Presidential Primary election, and the Nov. 5, 2024 New Hampshire state general election, despite not being qualified to vote because he is not a U.S. citizen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If convicted of the charges, Bryan faces 3 to 7 years in state prison and a fine of up to $4,000. 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 NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) Television news reports from crime scenes are often nameless and faceless. That was the case Friday afternoon when 10 On Your Side brought you live reports from the 800 block of 35th Street in the Park Place section of Norfolk, where a then-unnamed 17-year-old boy was shot and killed. NPD: 17-year-old boy shot and killed on West 35th Street Jordan Alexander Hill is his name, and he was the face of joy for his mother, grandmother and a host of aunties. According to family members, Hill was released from detention in March with plans for a bright future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hill lived in the Tanners Creek section of Norfolk and he held a job at Popeyes, according to his mother. Hill turned 17 July 6, and he had plans to transfer from Maury High School to Granby High School, according to his family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was before Friday, and now, his family and residents of the Park Place neighborhood are in mourning. Guns Down advocate Clay Marquez also responded to the scene. And about 15 minutes out, I found out because my daughter called me and she was hysterical, Marquez said, and she was telling me that someone called her and told her that they had found Jordan on the ground, dead. I knew it was true once I saw the police lights, said Marquez. His family is overwhelmed with grief, but his grandmother asked 10 On Your side to share this statement: Jordan knew who God was, said Maria Spencer. His family knows the communitys needs. His grandmother has served as a volunteer with Marquezs Guns Down organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My daughter goes to church with him and stuff, and he was just a great young guy; his life was stolen, Marquez said. Police have not released any information on a suspect or possible motive. The family will hold a candlelight vigil Tuesday in hopes the healing process can begin. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SEOUL, July 22 (UPI) -- North Korea plans to build another 5,000-ton destroyer by October 2026, state-run media reported Tuesday, following the launch of two warships earlier this year. Workers at the Nampo Shipyard held a rally on Monday and "pledged to build another new-type destroyer by October 10, 2026," the official Korea Central News Agency reported. The date marks the anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pyongyang launched its first 5,000-ton destroyer, the Choe Hyon, at the Nampo Shipyard in April. That vessel is armed with a wide range of weapons, including nuclear-capable cruise missiles, according to North Korean reports. Photos released by the North showed that the Choe Hyon's missile and radar systems resemble those found on Russian vessels, prompting speculation that Pyongyang received technical assistance from Moscow in its development. North Korea has deployed troops, artillery and weapons to Russia to aid in Moscow's war against Ukraine, and is believed to be receiving much-needed financial support and advanced military technology for its own weapons programs. A second destroyer, named the Kang Kon, suffered an accident at its launch ceremony in May that left it listing on its side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who was in attendance at the launch, called the mishap a "criminal act" and warned of serious consequences for those found responsible. At least four officials were arrested in the aftermath. The Kang Kon was repaired and relaunched in June, although analysts have questioned whether it is fully operational. At that ceremony, Kim vowed to "commission two destroyers of the same class or higher into the navy every year." At Monday's rally, the shipyard manager urged workers to uphold the ruling party's "plan for building a powerful army" and to achieve "miraculous success ... in the building of another new-type warship," KCNA reported. The workers began construction of the new destroyer immediately after the rally, KCNA said. NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (KCAU) Work on a permanent fix for Penrose Drive in North Sioux City is nearing completion. Stockwell Engineering has been overseeing the street rebuild. Monday evening, John Brown, a company spokesman, told North Sioux City commissioners that wet weather has pushed the completion date back a bit. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews expect to be reshaping the road surface for paving next week. Penrose Drive was significantly damaged during last summers record flooding. John Brown said, The contractor is a little behind, but he fully plans to be paving by about the fourth of August. Were hoping to open it back up there by the eighth or ninth of August. Curbs, sidewalks, and approaches will still need work after the road is open. Brown said a utility relocation and storm sewer work are expected to be completed yet this week. Commissioners also voted to approve alternate one choice of the Northshore Drive Bypass project. That choice is expected to create faster travel time and less delays. There were two alternative options that the commission considered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said the project is to build a new bypass road between Interstate 29 and Westshore Drive, which will bypass Northshore Drive. The new road is expected to lower safety and traffic concerns. The total cost of the project is estimated between $20.5 and $25.2 million. The City of North Sioux City received $17 million in Congressional Designated Spending to be used to pay for construction and the design cost. The commission will look into whether or not modifications can be made, such as moving the bypass further north. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NORTHAMPTON Downtown night spot Bishops Lounge closed Sunday after reaching an eviction agreement with its landlord. Carla Racine, whod been running Bishops Lounge for the last three years, posted on social media that she plans to reopen in the fall in a new location. She didnt respond to messages Monday asking for further comment. The Strong Avenue propertys owner, Volkan Polatol, said by phone Monday he is cleaning the space on the third and fourth floors of the old Baystate Hotel above Sierra Grille and Mulinos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he needs to make repairs and wants to get the space reoccupied. But he has no specific plans yet. He declined to say what led to Racines business moving out. But eviction papers filed in Northampton District Court and Hampshire Superior Court reveal that Polatol agreed to waive his claim for an unspecified amount of unpaid rent in exchange for Racine vacating the premises no later than Tuesday, July 22. Also, Polatol agreed to let Racine keep the name Bishops Lounge and the social media presence in exchange for vacating. Polatol was part of an ownership group that took over Mulinos and Bishops Lounge in 2008. The club opened in 2003. Stories by Jim Kinney Read the original article on MassLive. Its been nicknamed Frankenfish. But its turning out to be more of a Superfish, with Lex Luthor attitude. The northern snakehead, a large Asiatic invasive species, has been expanding in Berks County with its almost super-piscine ability to live for days outside of water and its snake-like locomotive ability to slither across land. Vicious and voracious, agree Jarren Valick, 18, and Jonathan Maurek, 21, both of Fleetwood, who have been catching the fish at Lake Ontelaunee, a body of water that is hosting an increasing population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two have caught 15 of the fish at the lake since their snakehead quest began several years ago. Earlier this year, Valick hooked one that tipped the scales at over 8 pounds. You just have to be patient, he said. You could probably get 24 bites, maybe two hookups. But once you get that one fish on and you know its on, the adrenaline rush is out of this world. Increasing threat Its precisely that fighting ability and challenge the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is hoping will help control the spread of this fish that is posing an increasing threat to native fish populations. The aggressive nature of the species, hard fighting behavior, and tastiness are leading to an angler interest in them, Geoff Smith, warm-water unit leader for the fish and boat commission, wrote to the Reading Eagle in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The original introduction in Pennsylvania was in 2004 at Meadow Lake in Philadelphia, Smith said. The origin of that population was suspected to be a nearby fish market. The first Berks record is one taken from Bernharts Lake in Muhlenberg Township in 2017. Another was recorded taken from the Maiden Creek at the head of Lake Ontelaunee in 2022. Distribution in southeastern Pennsylvania is still random since all the populations are originating from unauthorized introductions, Smith said. There are a few populations in Berks and surrounding counties that we are aware of, Smith said. Marsh Creek Lake and Big Elk Creek in Chester County; Octoraro Lake and Octoraro Creek in Lancaster County; and Lake Ontelaunee, Maiden Creek and Schuylkill River are key ones in this area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How they take to various water bodies is one of the wildcards and primary concerns, Smith said. Protective parenting So far, most of the populations are not very dense, so its hard to quantify abundance and impacts, he said. Those effects may become more measurable as the snakeheads become more established over time. Keeping them out of all water bodies is the commissions objective. Their reproductive strategy of multiple broods annually and parental nest guarding give them a distinct advantage in recruiting juveniles to the population and building populations as a whole efficiently, Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Valick and Maurek have witnessed those parental behaviors that protect the young fish. Jonathan Maurek, 21, left, and Jarren Valick, 18, both of Fleetwood, look out over Lake Ontelaunee from the closed West Shore Drive bridge. The two have been catching northern snakehead fish, an invasive species, at the lake. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) One of the snakeheads almost bumped Valick, who was surprised when he looked down and saw at least 500 of the young fish swimming with the adult. They were probably just hatched a couple weeks before, Valick said. We couldnt really do anything about that because we couldnt pick them up. They were too small and they just fall out of your hand. But I saw the mother swim right by and couldnt get a cast in to catch it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maurek, a Kutztown University senior, has been fishing at the lake for the last seven years and has become a student of the snakehead, writing a research essay for his freshman composition course. These snakeheads keep breeding and have 500-plus young at a time with protective mothers, he said. Other fish like bluegills will protect the eggs pretty well, but once hatched they let them go, he said. The snakeheads protect the young, Maurek said. Thats what were scared about with their increasing population. Ugly, but taste good When the two fishermen began catching snakeheads at the lake a couple years ago, they killed them and disposed of them, a recommendation from the fish and boat commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then they discovered that the fish is quite tasty. The snakehead really doesnt have a fishy flavor, Maurek said. Its more like a white, flaky meat, kind of like flounder. They look ugly and are miserable, but they taste good. Valick added that he grills the fish or shallow fries them in cubes. Its almost like having a chicken nugget, he laughed. Like Chick-fil-A. Keeping track The fish and boat commission is hoping that more anglers take these fish from area lakes and streams that have a population and report their catches to the commission at pa.gov/services/fishandboat/report-ais. But the main focus has been on preventing introductions of the species into new areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far weve not had any dense populations, so impact has likely been minimal, Smith said, but if they were to become more established in a waterbody that may change. Reports are followed up with surveys to document presence or abundance. All fish that we capture are removed, and we encourage anglers to do the same, he said. Valick and Maurek are doing their best to remove the fish from Lake Ontelaunee and see other benefits to their snakehead pursuit. I mean, just coming out here on the lake with friends, not being on my phone, just enjoying the weather, Valick said, looking out over Lake Ontelaunee. And catching fish that I love. WARREN COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF) A Norwood man is charged with Murder in connection with a deadly shooting over the weekend. 57-year-old Charles Anthony Jeffery was arrested Saturday, July 19. Hes charged in the murder of 38-year-old Daphne Meyers of Warrenton, Georgia. The Warren County Sheriffs Office responded to calls of a shooting at a home on the 200 block of Phelps Drive around 3:30 a.m. Saturday. Investigators say the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute between Jeffery and Meyers, during which Meyers was shot by Jeffery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meyers was found dead inside the home. Her body will be taken to the GBI Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy. Jeffery is currently being held at the McDuffie County 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 WJBF. PETALUMA, Calif. (KRON) A 14-year-old Novato High School student was killed in Petaluma over the weekend. The boy was identified by a Sonoma County coroner as Aldo Rodriguez Cazarez. Cazarez was a beloved son, sibling, friend, and bright light in so many lives. He was taken from us far too soon, and our entire community is mourning this heartbreaking loss. No parent should ever have to go through this, a verified GoFundMe page states. The boy suffered fatal injuries when he was ejected from a Kia Soul that crashed during a Petaluma Police Department chase Saturday night. Cazarez was one of three passengers ejected from the Kia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the Kia had been recently stolen in Marin County, and the 17-year-old driver was drunk. The incident began when police were alerted to a possible DUI driver on Lakeville Highway. Officers watched the Kia as it began swerving on the highway into oncoming traffic and sideswiped another vehicle, police said. 10-year-old boy killed in Napa DUI crash A vehicle pursuit was initiated. Unfortunately, the suspect vehicle continued to flee from the pursuing officer and crashed off Lakeville Hwy in the area of Old Lakeville #1 at a high rate of speed, causing the vehicle to roll over. Tragically, one of the passengers passed away at the scene. The driver and the other two passengers were all transported to trauma centers in the area with significant injuries, the police department wrote. The driver was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence, and evading causing great bodily injury or death. Two of his passengers, a 15-year-old boy and 16-year-old boy, were stabilized in a hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Novato Unified School District wrote, We must join together as a community as we experience this tragic event, stay focused on the students involved, and hold each other near with unconditional love and support. To support students in processing the tragic incident over summer break, mental health support will be available at Novato High School library on Wednesday. We also have a plan to support students and staff at Novato High when we return to school on August 21, NUSD wrote. Detectives with the Santa Rosa Police Department are investigating what led up to the police chase and crash. All four occupants of the vehicle are juvenile males (from) Marin County. The relationship between the juveniles is part of the ongoing investigation, SRPD wrote. Law enforcement officials did not release the drivers name because he is a minor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (Photo: April Corbin Girnus/Nevada Current) An estimated $49 million in federal grants appropriated by Congress for K-12 education is still being withheld from Nevada, according to state leaders. The Trump administration earlier this month withheld $6.8 billion in federal grant funding for K-12 schools nationwide, with the U.S. Department of Education writing in an email that a review was needed to ascertain that taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the Presidents priorities and the Departments statutory responsibilities. The money, which had been expected by states on July 1, was meant to support a variety of programs, including afterschool activities, teacher training, and expanded science and technology opportunities for students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevada Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaros office estimated Nevadas portion of funding at $61.2 million for the upcoming school year, which for some students begins in less than three weeks. Similar estimates from other state leaders had the amount a few million lower, but all estimates came with warnings about the negative impact it would have for school districts and students. On Friday, following bipartisan backlash on the withholding of money to states, the Trump administration announced it would release funding for before- and after-school programs through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative. Nevada was expected to receive approximately $12.3 million through that initiative. But that still leaves nearly $49 million frozen for the Silver State, including $19.5 million for professional development for educators and school leaders, $12.8 million for academic enrichment and student support, and $8.2 million for English learners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clark County School District is still waiting to hear about the status of about $28 million in other federal grants that were recently frozen, said district Superintendent Jhone Ebert in a statement Monday. CCSD, which enrolls about two-thirds of K-12 students in the state, was estimated to receive half of the states total frozen funding. It will receive $2 million from the 21st Century community grants that were released. What the moneys for The biggest pot of still-frozen funds is tied to whats known as the Supporting Effective Instruction program or Title II, Part A. The Nevada Department of Education describes these grants as the only dedicated source of federal funding for preparing, training, and recruiting high-quality school leaders and educators. Nevada, which already faces difficulties with teacher recruitment and retention, was expected to get about $19.5 million in grant funding, which would be divided among individual school districts and charter schools using a set formula. CCSD is supposed to receive $12.8 million, according to Eberts statement. Another $12.8 million of Nevadas withheld funds are for the Student Support and Academic Enrichment program, or Title IV, Part A. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education, acceptable uses of those funds include providing college and career counseling, improving instruction in key subjects like science and technology, dropout prevention, and school-based mental health services. The grants are described as being used to improve the capacity of schools to provide all students with access to a well-rounded education, to improve school conditions for student learning, and to improve the use of instructional technology. Programs for English learners are also impacted, to the tune of $8.2 million in Nevada. Known as Title III, Part A grants, English Language Acquisition State Grants are used to meet the needs of English learners by supplementing effective language instruction educational programs, to provide effective professional development in English language development, and provide parent, family, and community engagement. CCSD last year spent Title III funding on software programs specifically designed for English learners, extra-duty pay to support professional development for educators, and classroom supplies, according to a district report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Nevada, 14.4% of public school students are classified as English learners. The freeze also impacted a much smaller pool of money for the Migrant Education Program Title I, Part C. That program helps children whose parents are migratory agricultural workers. Nevada was estimated to receive around $60,500 for the program. Nye County received the largest share of Migrant Education Program money in 2022: $20,000, according to the most recent report available on the Nevada Department of Educations website. Humboldt County received the second largest amount. Those two counties were consistently the biggest beneficiaries of the program between 2017 and 2022, according to state reports. An additional $8 million in federal funding was frozen for Adult Basic and Literacy Education and Adult Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education. Whats being done A group of 32 Senate Democrats publicly called the withholding of funds illegal. The funding for the affected programs was included within a bipartisan appropriations act passed and signed into law in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen were not among the Democrats who signed that June 10 letter. Instead, they signed onto a separate letter of 13 Democratic senators expressing strong opposition and urging disbursement of the funds and transparency of the review process. U.S. Reps. Dina Titus, Steven Horsford, and Susie Lee signed onto a letter with 150 House Democrats calling the withholding illegal. Meanwhile, Democratic attorneys general, including Nevadas Aaron Ford, have sued over the funds. Ford in a statement on social media called it a direct attack on Nevadas students and families and characterized the withholding of funds as yet another attempt at federal overreach by the Trump administration. Bigger threats loom The $49 million lawmakers are currently focused on may only be just the beginning of cuts to local schools and their districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At an event last week where Nevada speakers slammed the funding cuts, Cannizzaro noted that figure represents just the impact on the upcoming school year: So were talking about significant cuts over the biennium that we will have to manage as a state and the school districts are going to have to figure out. She warned that, if money appropriated by Congress and signed by the president can be cut in a moments notice and devastate local programming, then we should be ready for anything. President Donald Trump has vowed to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Supreme Court last week temporarily cleared the way for his administration to carry out mass layoffs and a plan to dramatically downsize the department. The National Education Association, the largest labor union in the country, has warned dismantling the federal department will send class sizes soaring, cut job training programs, make education more expensive and out of reach for middle-class families, take away special education services for students with disabilities, and gut student civil rights protections. The New York Young Republican Club is calling on Congress to invoke the Constitutions insurrection clause to disqualify Zohran Mamdani from potentially becoming the new mayor of New York City. The group said in a memo released Monday that Mamdanis words and actions make him eligible to be barred from serving in office under Section 3 of the Constitutions 14th Amendment, which was ratified in the aftermath of the Civil War and was originally designed to prevent former Confederates from holding public office in the future. The provision was dormant for decades, but it received attention last year in the context of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot as President Trump sought to return to office. A few states invoked the provision to prevent him from appearing on the ballot in the Republican primaries, but the Supreme Court struck down those moves, ruling that states do not have the power to enforce the amendment against federal candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, a majority of the justices ruled that only Congress can enforce the clause, though states still have the power to disqualify candidates for state office for violating Section 3. The memo cites a variety of accusations against Mamdani, a democratic socialist who is the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York City. The New York state Assembly member pulled off a surprise victory in the primary to win the nomination following considerable grassroots turnout. The group accuses Mamdani of participating in anti-American actions such as participating in protests with groups supporting Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, refusing to condemn the phrase globalize the intifada, refusing to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and wanting to turn New York City into an extreme hotbed of socialism, borderline communism, and over Marxism, ideologies Trump has declared to be enemies of the U.S. Mamdani has faced scrutiny over his avoidance in condemning the phrase globalize the intifada, which has received widespread attention since Hamass attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The phrase has differing meanings to different groups, with pro-Palestinian activists viewing it as a call for Palestinian liberation and pro-Israel activists and many Jews seeing it as a push for antisemitic violence, recalling extended periods of violence that occurred in the 1980s and 2000s during the First and Second Intifadas in Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani has said the phrase has different meanings to different people but that he doesnt use the phrase. He also reportedly told a group of business leaders last week that he would discourage others from using it. Mamdani has said he wouldnt cooperate with ICE if elected, a position numerous other Democrats leading major cities have also taken. Federal law doesnt prohibit sanctuary cities, though the Trump administration has called for cutting off federal funding to states and cities that dont cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Mamdani has identified himself as a democratic socialist but hasnt tied himself to communist or Marxist movements. The Hill has reached out to Mamdanis campaign for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Constitution provides for Congress to disqualify candidates from office, the process to do so is uncertain. The Supreme Court, in its ruling on the attempts to bar Trump from the ballot, said Congress must first pass a law to provide for the means of enforcing Section 3 before it is able to do so. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Bronx tattoo parlor owner allegedly kidnapped his teenage mistress and brought her back to his Westchester home, where he, his wife and their babysitter all took turns beating the girl, prosecutors said Monday. Hartsdale couple Wayne and Jasmine Barnes, and their kids babysitter, Lizbeth Cerrato-Sanchez, were all indicted on July 9 in connection with the violent May 16 abduction and assault of the 19-year-old victim who was employed at the tattoo shop, the Westchester County District Attorneys Office said. The level of depravity shown by the defendants in this case is astonishing, District Attorney Susan Cacace said in a statement. The accused kidnapper, Wayne Barnes, owned Sons of Ink tattoo parlor in the Bronx, where the victim was an employee. @sonsofinkbx/Instagram The shocking kidnapping began when Wayne Barnes, the 44-year-old owner of Sons of Ink tattoo parlor, and his teen employee with whom he was romantically involved got into an argument in his car on his way to dropping her off at her home in Queens, according to the prosecutor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tattoo artist allegedly shoved the teen out onto the side of the Grand Central Parkway. He eventually let her back in the car, but began hitting her with an expandable metal baton, the DA said. Wayne Barnes then turned around and picked up his 42-year-old wife in the Bronx while he continued to beat on the teen, prosecutors alleged. The Barneses reached their Hartsdale home and dragged the victim inside to continue their attack, according to the district attorneys office. The twisted pair allegedly took the girls phone, so she was unable to call for help. Then, Jasmine Barnes allegedly pushed the teen employee down a flight of stairs while also pulling her hair and hitting her with a metal baton, all while the couples children were also home, the DAs office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 19-year-old nanny, Cerrato-Sanchez, also allegedly slugged the victim in the face while the wife kept striking her with the baton. The victim was eventually given back her phone and changed into clean clothes before she was allowed to call an Uber and flee, prosecutors said. The 19-year-old victim and Wayne Barners were allegedly romantically involved. @sonsofinkbx/Instagram She went to the hospital for treatment the next day and reported the assault to Greenburgh police. Four days later, the trio of defendants was arrested. Wayne and Jasmine Barnes were both hit with a mountain of charges, including kidnapping, assault and criminal possession of a weapon, with the wife is also facing a series of charges in the Bronx. They both have pleaded not guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jasmine Barnes lawyer, Stephen Riebling, said he and his client were somewhat shocked by the wild accusations and we look forward to the day, hopefully sooner than later, where shes vindicated and free of these charges. The Post has sought comment from Westchester Legal Aid, which is representing Wayne Barnes. Cerrato-Sanchez, of Yonkers, was hit with second-degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon. An attorney was not listed for her, but she also pleaded not guilty to the charges. CARROLL COUNTY, Ark. An Oak Grove, Arkansas, man has been charged following the murder of a man on Wednesday, July 9. Thomas Blewett mugshot, photo courtesy of Carroll County Sheriffs Office According to a Carroll County Sheriffs Office social media post, Thomas Blewett, 18, has been arrested on a warrant for first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. Man faces first-degree murder charge in Ft. Smith Blewett was arrested following the death of 19-year-old Alexzander Drake Bernhardt on July 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previous Ozarks First coverage says Bernhardt was pronounced deceased when first responders found his body on a county road in northern Oak Grove. The post says that Arkansas State Police and deputies with the Carroll County Sheriffs Office have been working together during this open and active investigation. Blewett is currently in the Carroll County Jail with a $1,000,000 bond and is expected in court on Aug. 4, 2025. Anyone with information in this investigation is asked to call 870-423-7373. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. BOSTON HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW) On two weekends since late June, police have responded to a foot bridge over Route 8 where demonstrators have gathered, sharing what have been described as white supremacist and anti-Semitic messages. While the bridge is in Boston Heights, it is a part of a Summit Metro Parks hike-bike trail, so it is Metro Parks property. East Cleveland mayor fires police chief: I-Team During the late June demonstration, Boston Heights police, as well as Metroparks rangers, responded after five or six people were on the bridge attaching an offensive sign to fencing on the bridge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We responded on scene and we asked them to remove the signs from the bridge because it is on Metroparks and we dont allow anything to be affixed to any type of structure. They can hold them, but they can also not impede bike traffic or people walking or jogging on our bike paths as well, Metroparks Chief John Hamblen said. Boston Heights police said the demonstrators were asked for their identification, but they would not comply. They also say that the group was peaceful, so officers did not interfere with their demonstration. Offensive demonstrations cause outrage in Summit County As long as they are being peaceful and not being disorderly or disruptive to other park users, then they are not committing any type of violation, Hamblen said. Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Cosby Show star, dies at 54 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, a smaller number of them returned with an antisemitic message. On social media, news of the demonstrations triggered outrage. People decrying the message and the messengers include Democratic Ohio State Senator Casey Weinstein of Hudson. Weinstein wrote on Facebook after the June demonstration, I strongly condemn this vile display of hatred and cowardice by these pathetic masked Nazis who protested in our district. Their presence is a direct threat to our shared values of equality, decency, and unity. Saturdays demonstration triggered a counter demonstration on Sunday by a group calling itself the Burning River Brigade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many vehicles are honking and waving. We have had a few flip us the bird, which tells you that we are a divided nation, but we will stand up for what we believe, Becky Morgan said. 4 teens shot, 1 dead at unpermitted block party in Cleveland Weinstein was among those crediting the counter-demonstration. But police said the messages, however offensive, are protected by the First Amendment. Its not against the law to write on a board or a sheet or whatever you are carrying as long as you dont block user traffic, Hamblen said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. One of the ex-police officers who blindly shot into Breonna Taylors home during a botched no-knock raid in 2020 has been sentenced. Brett Hankison, a former Louisville Metro Police Department detective, was sentenced by a federal judge to 33 months in prison on Monday, July 21, according to reports from the New York Times, the Associated Press and Reuters. The prison term will be followed by three years of supervised probation. Hankison, 49, was found guilty in November 2024 of using excessive force on 26-year-old Taylor and depriving her of her civil rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal prosecutors found that during the police raid on March 13, 2020, Hankison blindly fired 10 shots into Taylors apartment but did not fire the bullets that killed Taylor, who was asleep in her bed, per a sentencing memorandum obtained by PEOPLE. Taylor, an aspiring nurse who had been working as an EMT, was in her apartment with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, when the officers busted into the home without warning. The warrant was connected to a narcotics investigation in which Taylor was not a suspect, and police did not find drugs or cash in her apartment. Breonna Taylor/instagram Breonna Taylor Walker believed the plain-clothed officers were intruders and opened fire on them, after which officers returned fire and killed Taylor in the process. An investigation determined ex-Louisville police detective Myles Cosgrove fired the shots that resulted in Taylor's death. Another officer, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, was wounded in the shooting. No criminal charges were filed at the time because investigators determined that the shooting was justifiable, as Walker had fired at cops first. Walker was charged with assault and attempted murder but his charges were later permanently dismissed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities later accused two former Louisville officers of falsifying the search warrant used to enter the home; the two officers, who were not present at the time of the shooting, are now facing federal charges. In 2023, Kelly Goodlett, who was not present during the raid, pleaded guilty to charges related to obtaining the warrant. Hankison is the only officer present during in the raid who has been convicted in connection with the case. Prior to his sentencing, the Department of Justice recommended Hankison should be sentenced to one day in prison, with credit for time served. This marked Hankison's second trial in this case, after a judge declared a mistrial last year. He was acquitted of separate state charges in March 2022. At the sentencing on Monday, four protesters, including Taylor's aunt, were arrested outside of the federal courthouse, WHAS 11 reported, citing police. They were released pending an upcoming court appearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taylor's shooting sparked months of protests in Louisville, and her name joined those of others invoked across the country by protesters seeking justice for Black victims of alleged police brutality. Her family reached a $12 million settlement with the city in 2020 after filing a wrongful-death lawsuit. 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. Jon Cherry/Getty Protesters and volunteers prepare a Breonna Taylor art installation by laying posters and flowers before the Praise in the Park event at the Big Four Lawn on June 5, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky. Protesters and volunteers prepare a Breonna Taylor art installation by laying posters and flowers before the Praise in the Park event at the Big Four Lawn on June 5, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky. Attorneys for Taylor's family reacted to Hankison's sentence, saying in a statement shared with PEOPLE, "While todays sentence is not what we had hoped for nor does it fully reflect the severity of the harm caused it is more than what the Department of Justice sought. That, in itself, is a statement. The jury found Brett Hankison guilty, and that verdict deserved to be met with real accountability." "We respect the courts decision," added attorneys Ben Crump, Lonita Baker, and Sam Aguiar. "But we will continue to call out the DOJs failure to stand firmly behind Breonnas rights and the rights of every Black woman whose life is treated as expendable." Read the original article on People A Jacksonville, Fla., sheriff's officer who was recorded in a cellphone video punching a Black man in the face during a traffic stop in February did not violate criminal law during the man's arrest, the State Attorney's Office says. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said the State Attorney's Office had cleared Officer Donald Bowers and the other officers involved in the Feb. 19 arrest of William McNeil Jr. of any wrongdoing. A video recorded by McNeil shows Bowers breaking the driver's side window and punching him after McNeil refused to get out of the SUV he had been driving. At a news conference Monday evening, Waters released video from Bowers' body-worn camera and those of two assisting officers none of which captured Bowers striking McNeil. The Law Offices of Harry M. Daniels LLC. McNeil recorded a two-minute video of the traffic stop using his cellphone, which was mounted on the SUVs dashboard. Sheriff Waters said the footage "does not comprehensively capture the circumstances surrounding the incident," including what occurred prior to McNeils arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waters said McNeil was warned seven times to exit his vehicle and told that officers would break his car window if he refused. He also allegedly declined to provide his drivers license or registration. Waters said that McNeil's alleged "non-compliance" "quickly rose to the level of criminal resistance to a police officer." The Law Offices of Harry M. Daniels LLC. "There are not options," Waters said at the news conference. "If you disagree, take care of it someplace else but not on the side of the road." In McNeil's video, which was widely shared online, he says he was pulled over because his headlights were off even though it was still daylight and not raining, to which an officer off camera responds, It doesnt matter, youre still required to have headlights on." Related: Viral Video Shows Fla. Officers Punch Black Man After He Questions Why Headlights Were Required in Daylight Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McNeil, with his seatbelt fastened, then asks the officer to show him the law he was citing and also asks to speak to a supervisor. Moments later, Bowers breaks the driver's side window, hits McNeil in the face and tells him to show his hands and get out of the car. 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. Bowers' response is under internal review to determine whether he violated department policy, Waters said, and he has been administratively reassigned pending the outcome of the review, the sheriff's office tells PEOPLE. Waters said he learned of McNeil's video on Sunday, after his attorneys, Ben Crump and Harry Daniels, released it and it went viral. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We were not aware of this allegation or of improper use of force before this weekend," Waters said Monday. McNeil's arrest report obtained by PEOPLE alleges he had reached for the floor of the SUV, "where a large knife was sitting." However, Waters acknowledged at the news conference that based on all of the videos, it was unclear whether this was true. McNeil was arrested and pleaded guilty to resisting a police officer without violence and driving with a suspended license, according to court records. The court records also show two drug-related charges and citations for not wearing a seatbelt and driving without headlights were dismissed. The State's Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to an inquiry about whether McNeil's video had factored into its decision not to charge Bowers. McNeil is scheduled to speak publicly about his arrest alongside his attorneys at a news conference Wednesday, July 23. Read the original article on People Denver joins a slew of other cities and counties across the U.S. that are reporting an earlier season for West Nile virus. What's happening? The city reported that it had discovered its first West Nile-positive mosquito for the 2025 season in early July. The Daily Camera reported the news, saying that while West Nile virus season was starting early in Colorado's Front Range, experts weren't certain that this would translate into a heavy season for infections. Why is this announcement concerning? West Nile is typically asymptomatic, but more severe cases can result in fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the virus can also turn deadly. Colorado reported 634 cases and 51 deaths from West Nile in 2023 and 207 cases and 20 deaths in 2022, per data from the state's Department of Public Health and Environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have seen healthy 20- and 30-year-olds with severe West Nile disease and permanent neurological damage," Dr. Daniel Pastula, chief of neuroinfectious diseases and global neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, told the Daily Camera. "It is much better to avoid getting this." Though West Nile has been in the U.S. since 1999, an overheating planet is driving increases in mosquito-borne illnesses. That's because these insects are taking advantage of warmer and wetter conditions, which are helping them expand their ranges, remain active for longer seasons, and move into higher altitudes. For instance, Massachusetts residents are advised to stay vigilant after the state discovered its first West Nile-carrying mosquitoes two weeks earlier than last year. Likewise, Larimer County, Colorado, reported its first West Nile-carrying mosquito in late June several weeks earlier than usual according to the Daily Camera. And Connecticut officials are warning residents that a mosquito that can carry several mosquito-borne illnesses, including dengue, is expected to spread farther and faster than usual across the state in 2025. What's being done about mosquito-borne illnesses? The CDPHE recommends that people protect themselves from being bitten by mosquitoes by using insect repellent when spending time outdoors, limiting outdoor activities at dusk and dawn, wearing long clothing and spraying it with insect repellent, draining standing water, and installing or repairing screens on windows and doors at home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many communities are also looking for ways to reduce mosquito populations in an effort to curb the transmission of mosquito-borne illnesses. For instance, officials in one Florida county are using X-rays to kill invasive mosquitoes, and one Manila neighborhood is paying people to turn over any mosquitoes they can capture. 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. New York State is taking positive steps toward sustainable energy usage in a recent approval to move forward with $636.2 million in energy infrastructure projects, as reported by Reuters. The New York State Public Service Commission approved the infrastructure expansion to upgrade New York's electric grid infrastructure and work toward the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. National Grid, an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company, will oversee 22 of the projects, Reuters reported. They will deliver 184.8 megawatts of new capacity to support electric vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York State Electric & Gas will head up a major industrial electrification project to expand the EV charging infrastructure, per Reuters. The state's support for expanding EV charging infrastructure and capacity is a step toward making EV ownership more appealing for car owners. EVs are much more environmentally friendly than their gas-powered counterparts because they do not produce tailpipe emissions, and the more gas-powered vehicles that are replaced by EVs, the better it is for the environment. Gas emissions that come from transportation are a major contributor to the warming of the planet and poor air quality. As EV sales increase around the world, infrastructure and charging efficiency are vital to the widespread adoption of EVs. Making EV charging more accessible can eliminate a hurdle for many potential EV owners. The infrastructure expansion will likely bring more jobs to the state. And, as the world moves toward a cleaner economy that prioritizes sustainable practices to minimize environmental impact and promote economic prosperity, steps like this will likely have a positive impact on the region. The long-term economic and environmental benefits can benefit both people and the planet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Major investments like this in clean energy are important factors in helping reduce planet-warming pollution in the environment, so this recent development is a positive step toward a cleaner future. According to Reuters, New York State Public Service Commission Chair Rory Christian said that "The urgent grid upgrade projects would expand grid capacity in many areas of the state, relieving urgent constraints on an accelerated basis while a broader, unified planning framework is developed." 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. WEBER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) Government officials provided tips and reminded residents to stay safe on the water following increase in water-related fatalities. With summer in full swing, many Utah residents are flocking to local bodies of water to enjoy outdoor recreation. However, several officials are urging individuals to follow water safety and safe recreation rules while participating in outdoor recreation. According to the Utah Division of Natural Resources (DNR), Utah has already seen six water-related deaths, involving one motorized personal watercraft, three paddlecraft (including stand-up paddleboards), and two swimmers. All six victims were not wearing life jackets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Causey Reservoir drowning victim identified as serviceman stationed at Hill Air Force Base One fatal incident occurred on Saturday, when 23-year-old Angel Harris drowned while cliff jumping at Causey Reservoir without a life jacket. Causey Reservoir, like many of Utahs state parks, lakes, and reservoirs, requires everyone to wear a life jacket while on the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Courtesy: KTVX / Kade Garner Other recreational areas have varying laws on life jacket usage. However, Ty Hunter, the Boating Program manager at the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation believes people should wear a life jacket whenever they are on the water. Hunter told ABC4, Did you wear a seatbelt coming up to recreate on whatever given day it is? If you did, why not wear a life jacket. Water Safety Tips Any individual planning to recreate on or near one of Utahs many water sites should ensure that they are doing so safely. At a DNR press conference, officials with various agencies emphasized the following water tips: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wear a life jacket In Utah, a life jacket is required for every person on board a watercraft. Anyone 12 and under must wear a life jacket at all times. Complete a boating education course While its recommended for everyone, any youth that are operating personal watercraft must complete a boating education course. Dont drink and boat Boating under the influence, just like driving, is prohibited and carries strict penalties. One BUI incident over the Fourth of July weekend caused life-threatening injuries. Chief Todd Royce with the DNR reminded the public that many water-related fatalities are preventable. He also said, Our message is simple: wear a life jacket, wear a helmet and never operate under the influence. 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. OHATCHEE Candidates for Ohatchee mayor and Town Council presented their goals for the community at a recent public forum, offering insight into their priorities ahead of the upcoming municipal election. The forum gave each mayoral candidate an opportunity to address issues such as economic development, government partnerships, and quality of life improvements. Incumbent Mayor Steve Baswell, who has held office for 17 years, is seeking re-election against former councilman Todd Eubanks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baswell emphasized the importance of attracting new businesses and providing them with resources to get established. He pointed to the towns purchase of 115 acres of land as a long-term investment. How do city leaders find people who want to invest in the towns business community? Baswell asked, before answering: You have to give them a place and help them get established. Baswell cited past collaborations with the Economic Development Commission and Alabama Department of Transportation that led to the construction of an access road to the nearby industrial park. He stressed the value of relationship-building, particularly with organizations such as Alabama Power Company and the Coosa Riverkeeper. There is someone always out there to help you out, Baswell said, and see what they can do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said those relationships could benefit Ohatchee through potential projects like a boat launch to draw tourists. Baswell, whose family has lived in Ohatchee for six generations, also highlighted past projects such as the ballfield and youth complex, and expressed interest in building a walking track for residents. Eubanks, who moved to Ohatchee in 2000, also has deep ties to the town. He raised his children in Ohatchee schools and served on the Town Council from 2004 to 2008. He has operated several businesses, including Ohatchee Hardware, and previously led the schools booster club. He said his decision to run for mayor was inspired by values instilled in him while growing up in Glencoe. I am looking into an ambulance service for Ohatchee and have people willing to help me, Eubanks said. I want to utilize our resources, but I dont want credit. This will be a group effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eubanks said he is also focused on increasing activity options for youth and seniors, including a splash pad, walking track and shuffleboard court. He has been in contact with Alabama Power leaders about improving access to the Coosa River and expressed interest in attracting more trucking and industrial businesses. I am putting out feelers, he said. If the things I want to do are not attainable, I would not be here. Council candidates outline priorities Town council candidates also shared their ideas for moving Ohatchee forward, with many emphasizing the need to support youth, seniors, small businesses and local infrastructure. The towns layout intersected by Alabama 144 and Alabama 77 and limited infrastructure were frequent topics of discussion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Place 1 Celesia Lisa Jennings, the unopposed incumbent, voiced support for keeping the town clean, upgrading buildings, maintaining roads and parks, hosting a weekly farmers market, and securing a new bus for the senior center. Place 2 Wesley Walker highlighted the importance of supporting first responders and city workers. He said he wants to be accessible to residents and help strengthen community pride and unity. Butch Mitchell, a five-term incumbent, recalled stories from his time in office and reaffirmed his commitment to Ohatchee. I have been in Ohatchee for 81 years, he said. This is home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leigh Gardner, a volunteer and small-business owner, emphasized protecting the Coosa River, expanding opportunities for youth, and being a voice for local entrepreneurs. Place 3 Ramone Underwood, who has a background in finance and the military, said his experience with the Department of Defense would help him manage the towns finances. Kip Reaves outlined five goals: modernizing parks, seeking grants, promoting transparency, highlighting the Coosa River and creeks, and boosting business to grow the tax base. I believe it is time to move the town forward, he said. Place 4 Teresa Lott, the incumbent, noted the towns recent land purchase and called for improved sewer and gas access to attract businesses. She encouraged residents to help maintain the towns appearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Griffith expressed interest in expanding dining options and improving transportation for seniors. He praised the senior center and asked voters to consider fresh ideas. Place 5 Perry Howard, a business executive and incumbent, said his council has generated $600,000 for the police department through a vehicle replacement program. The department recently acquired a $6,000 drone to aid in search operations. John Dyer, a longtime resident, cited his experience managing large-scale projects and aiding in disaster relief through his church. Wayne Carden, who works in banking, said he wants to help the town budget effectively and see greater use of the industrial park and Neely Henry Lake. Voters will have the opportunity to decide the towns leadership in the upcoming municipal election, which is scheduled for Aug. 26. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said the state will appeal a judges decision on the EdChoice program this Wednesday. In late June, a Franklin County judge ruled that Ohios EdChoice program is unconstitutional. Joined by legislators and school choice advocates, Yost told reporters on Monday that the state is filing an appeal in the case this week. Even Judge Jaiza Page expected the appeal, as she stayed her own decision to minimize disruptions until appeals are finished. That means although the program is deemed unconstitutional, it is not subject to changes at this time, something Yost wanted to make clear. See previous coverage of this ruling in the video player above. EdChoice is the law of the land. It is funded, it is operational, it is available for Ohio parents, Yost said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio House overrides one budget veto, hoping to provide property tax relief The EdChoice voucher program is a state scholarship that allows any student in Ohio to receive at least a partial scholarship to attend a private or charter school. A coalition of advocates, parents and public school districts sued the state over the program, alleging it is unconstitutional on several counts. Page agreed with the coalition called Vouchers Hurt Ohio, and ruled that the state took money from public schools to fund the voucher program. Yost and other school choice advocates disagree. State Rep. Jamie Callender (R-Concord) said that although advocates could have argued EdChoice takes public school funding previously, it is no longer true. Before 2022, the state would subtract funding directly from a school district for each student who used a voucher. After 2022, the state used a new school funding system, which considered public school funding and voucher funding separately. Yost, Callender and other speakers rebutted much of Pages decision, arguing previous court cases set a solid precedent for them to win an appeal. They said an appeal is crucial to protect parents right to choose how to educate their students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres hundreds of thousands of families that are depending on Attorney General Yost being successful in his arguments, School Choice Ohio President Yitz Frank said. According to data from the Ohio Department of Education, about 130,000 students attended school on a voucher last year, and about one million students attended public schools. Bobcats, bald eagles and bears, oh my! Species seeing population growth in Ohio Page also argued EdChoice involves direct payments to private religious schools with little or no state oversight, because parents can choose to spend their scholarships at religious schools. Religious attendance is very common with the EdChoice program; in the 2023-2024 school year, all of the top 100 schools with the highest enrollment of scholarship students were private religious schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yost and other speakers rebuked this, saying it is a parents right to choose where they send their kids, and families are entitled to a religious education if they choose. If youre going to have a school choice program, you cannot discriminate against kids because they choose a religious school, Aaron Baer, president of the Center for Christian Virtue, said. Speaker of the Ohio House Matt Huffman (R-Lima) even read from the Ohio Constitution at the news conference, pointing out a portion that says religion, morality and knowledge are essential to government, so the Ohio legislature is responsible for protecting the right to worship, and for encouraging schools. He said the state is required by the Constitution to encourage religious schools through programs like EdChoice. Ohio House overrides one budget veto, hoping to provide property tax relief Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vouchers Hurt Ohio strongly disagreed with Huffmans interpretation of the Constitution, pointing to another excerpt from the same section that says no Ohioan can be compelled to support any place of worship. They argue taxpayer dollars cannot legally be used to fund religious schools. Mr. Huffman is wrong and if he was a student in my high school history class, I would be compelled to give him an F for a partial and misleading answer, Vouchers Hurt Ohio committee member and educator Dan Heintz said in a statement. 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? Despite Vouchers Hurt Ohios criticism and initial legal success, Yost, Huffman and their fellow speakers felt confident they would win a future appeal. Yost is set to file his argument Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A Cincinnati man is facing federal charges after allegedly threatening federal officials on social media. According to court documents obtained by WDTN.com, Anthony Marcus Kelly is facing charges of: Threatening to assault, kidnap, or murder, a United States official Threatening interstate communications Documents allege Kelly had been identified as the user on social media platform Bluesky who allegedly made threats towards Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, as well as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alleged threats made by Kelly listed in documents are from June and July. Wright State University police recognized for work by state organization TXFC reportedly forwarded findings to the Ohio Statewide Terrorism Analysis & Crime Center, as well as the FBI and ICE. When authorities showed up to Kellys home to execute a search warrant, he allegedly admitted to being the Bluesky user and posting items. Court documents claim he expressed no remorse or regret for the content of his posts after being mirandized. A weapon and ammunition were reportedly located at his residence upon the search, documents claim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, posted on social media, saying that threats against federal officials are not acceptable. Thank you to our law enforcement, said McLaughlin. These threats will not be tolerated. You will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. NBC affiliate WLWT in Cincinnati reported Kellys attorney plans to fight the charges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Getty Images. Ohio Republican leaders announced their plan Monday to pursue an appeal of a Franklin County decision ruling that the states private school voucher program is unconstitutional. In a media briefing with Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman and others on Monday, state Attorney General Dave Yost said his office plans to appeal the recent decision in which a Franklin County judge ruled that Ohios private school voucher system known as EdChoice is unconstitutional. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Private schools participating in EdChoice receive substantially more state funding per student than public schools, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jaiza Page wrote in her decision. Where EdChoice participating private schools are inexplicably receiving double the per-pupil state funding than public schools, it is difficult to say that EdChoice is simply a scholarship that follows and/or benefits the students as opposed to a system that benefits private schools. Yost said they do not agree with the decision. Thats why they make appeals courts, and well be making our merits appeal Wednesday, explaining in some detail why we believe the trial court erred, he said. Yost said the briefing was to clarify the legal status of the private school voucher program, especially as a new school year approaches. 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. I want to urge all Ohioans to carefully consider whats in the best interest of your child. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The lawsuit argued that the Ohio legislatures current funding of the private school program is taking away from public schools in Ohio, where 90% of students in the state are educated. The court case questioned the constitutionality of the vouchers, saying the Ohio Constitutions edict for the state to fund a thorough and efficient system of schools was being violated with the continued and increasing funding of the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Page said in her ruling that while the General Assembly has exceedingly broad powers when it comes to the states common school system, those powers werent unlimited. In 2024, private school vouchers received almost $1 billion in state funding after the legislature raised eligibility for the program to include nearly every student in any income bracket. Claims that the private school vouchers were creating segregation within education were rejected by the judge. Though she acknowledged that it seems inevitable that some Ohio students might be excluded from the EdChoice program, Page also rejected a lawsuit claim that the states varied per-pupil funding between public and private schools created disparities in education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge allowed the voucher program to continue, as she anticipated appeals to the ruling, also saying the decision may cause significant changes to school funding in Ohio. During Mondays press briefing, Rabbi Eric Yitz Frank, president of School Choice Ohio, said more than 160,000 students are using one of the states various voucher programs, and that closing down the programs would have a terrible impact on the state and the education system. The lawyers can argue all they want, but at the end of the day, theres hundreds of thousands of families that are depending on Attorney General Yost being successful in his arguments, Frank said. A representative for Indiana-based EdChoice Legal Advocates was also present at the media briefing, expressing his confidence that the appeal will be successful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats most important is that Ohio parents retain the opportunity to choose the educational program that works best for them and their children, said Tom Fischer, vice president and director of litigation for the organization. Ohio Republicans hold 6 of 7 Ohio Supreme Court seats. Huffman took time during the press conference to defend school choice, against which he and other voucher supporters at the briefing said legal challenges have been attempted for the better part of three decades. He claimed a vast majority of Ohioans like what I do about this, and neither side will change their mind as another case and its appeal goes forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huffman claimed that the Ohio Constitution allows whats being done with education funding. The Ohio Constitution is unique, Huffman said. Its the only state constitution in the United States that requires the funding of religious education by the state. Huffman was referring to a clause of the constitution that states religion, morality and knowledge, however, being essential to good government, it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to pass suitable laws to protect every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship and to encourage schools and the means of instruction. The coalition of school district boards of education and public school advocates who joined in the lawsuit pushed back on Monday, arguing that Huffman left out parts of that constitutional clause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The document also states no person shall be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship or maintain any form of worship, against his consent: and no preference shall be given, by law, to any religious society; nor shall any interference with the rights of conscience be permitted, they noted. To put it politely, Mr. Huffman was mistaken in stating that the Ohio Constitution compels the legislature to fund religious schools and education, said Bill Phillis, executive director of the Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding, part of the Vouchers Hurt Ohio coalition who led the lawsuit. A spokesperson for Vouchers Hurt Ohio said the group also plans to appeal on one of the counts on which Page ruled against them, regarding the differences in per-pupil funding between public schools and private school vouchers. This story has been updated to clarify the specific count being appealed by Vouchers Hurt Ohio. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) An Oklahoma man and several of his family members are dead after an apparent militia attack and execution in Syria. Loved ones of 35-year-old Hosam Saraya, who spoke to News 4 on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation, confirmed the news first. They said Saraya was executed while in southern Syria, visiting his family back home in the city of Sweida. They say the family home was raided and Saraya, his father, three uncles, brother, and cousin were killed by what they call government-aligned militias. They say theyre fearful Saraya is being targeted as a member of the Druze religious minority. Video circulating online, Sarayas friends and family say, shows the executions taking place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its extremely tragic on all levels, a source familiar with Saraya said. He has his mom back home, who is now left without her sons, or her husband. Oklahoma mother visits D.C., fights for fentanyl awareness in Oklahoma schools Sarayas friends say he moved to Oklahoma a decade ago to start a new life and has a masters degree from Oklahoma Christian University in accounting. They said he was an active member of the Oklahoma City-metro community. Im definitely going to miss his, just overall calmness and his sense of humor, said the source. People loved him and they terribly miss him. News 4 reached out to the offices of Governor Kevin Stitt, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin, and U.S. Senator James Lankford for comment. The following statements are social media posts made on Mullin and Lankfords accounts. Governor Kevin Stitts office did not immediately respond to an after-hours request from a News 4 employee for comment: Cindy and I are heartbroken by the death of Hosam Saraya. Hosam was an Oklahoman and member of the Druze community who was tragically executed alongside other members of his family in Syria. We are praying for his family, friends, and the entire community as they grieve this senseless loss. May God bring peace and comfort in this time of sorrow. U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-Oklahoma) Weve learned that an American citizen from Oklahoma was brutally executed alongside his family members in Syria. Im working with partners in the region to learn more, and were in touch with @GovStitt on this devastating situation. Our prayers are with the family at this time. U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PRAIRIE GROVE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) An Oklahoma man was killed July 17 in a head-on crash on Viney Grove Road in Prairie Grove. According to a fatal crash report, Blake Williford of Owasso, Oklahoma, was driving a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado south on Viney Grove Road around 6:30 a.m. when he crossed into the other lane and hit a 2019 GMC Yukon head-on. Wiliford died after he was ejected from the truck. The driver of the Yukon was taken to a local hospital. Willifords body was taken to the Washington County Coroner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report says the weather and the road were clear. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Emotions ran high in a Kansas courtroom last week as the man who confessed to the rape and murder of 5-year-old Zoey Felix was sentenced by a judge. Mickel Cherry, 27, was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences on charges of first-degree murder and rape of an individual under the age of 14 by a person over the age of 18. Shawnee County District Court Judge Jessica Heinen did allow for the possibility of release but only after 50 years and with Cherry spending the rest of his life on parole once out of prison, according to a copy of the sentencing guideline obtained by PEOPLE. Shawnee County Department of Corrections Mickel Cherry Mickel Cherry Cherry entered a guilty plea back in December, a little over a year after Zoey was killed, according to a copy of the probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The convicted murderer was living with Zoey, her father Ezekiel Felix and her sister Katie Cain at the homeless encampment when he raped and then smothered the young girl with a pillow, according to the affidavit. Officers with the Topeka Police Department arrived at the scene on Oct. 2, 2023 to find Zoey suffering from life-threatening injuries and rushed the girl to the hospital, but it was too late. 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. Cherry's lawyers argued that he and Zoey were both products of a failed system, with her killer having spent most of his life shuttling through the foster care system in Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That argument rang particularly hollow to Cain, who broke down in tears outside the courtroom while speaking about her little sister. "In reality the only victim there truly was Zoey," Cain said in an interview with NBC affiliate KSNT. KSNT News/YouTube Katie Cain Katie Cain Cain also shot back at the defense team's remarks after the sentencing that the possibility of release provides "hope" for their client. "He's had hope. We gave him a chance, we gave him the light that he needed to bring out the person he was and," Cain said. "I mean, after a while everyone really does show their true colors." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The young girl's father also got emotional speaking outside court. To know that I wont be able to see another birthday, another Christmas, or anything like that, he said. They took the privilege from me, being a father. Read the original article on People Jul. 21ROCHESTER The Olmsted County Fair, which runs July 21 to 27, will include new activities, such as STEM Day and the Bucking Wild Big Hat Rodeo. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Day is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, in the Toyota Arena (Graham 4 building). The event will feature more than 16 hands-on activity stations hosted by local employers and organizations designed to encourage interest in STEM. Young learners will have the chance to explore real-world STEM careers, engage with interactive exhibits, and discover new educational opportunities, according to a statement announcing the event. STEM Forward, a collaboration between schools, industries, nonprofits and community partners in Southeast Minnesota, is hosting the free, family-friendly event. There will also be resources for local camps, programs and family learning events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rodeo, which includes bull riding and high-speed barrel racing, is at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Tickets for the rodeo can be purchased on the Olmsted County Fair website or at the gate. For more information on fair events, visit the fair website at olmstedcountyfair.com. Every few years, the tires on your car wear thin and need to be replaced. But where does that lost tire material go? The answer, unfortunately, is often waterways, where the tiny microplastic particles from the tires synthetic rubber carry several chemicals that can transfer into fish, crabs, and perhaps even the people who eat them. We are analytical and environmental chemists studying ways to remove microplastics and the toxic chemicals they carry before they reach waterways and the aquatic organisms that inhabit them. Microplastics, macro-problem Millions of metric tons of plastic waste enter the worlds oceans every year. In recent times, tire wear particles have been found to account for about 45 percent of all microplastics in both terrestrial and aquatic systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tires shed tiny microplastics as they move over roadways. Rain washes those tire wear particles into ditches, where they flow into streams, lakes, rivers, and oceans. Along the way, fish, crabs, oysters, and other aquatic life often find these tire wear particles in their food. With each bite, the fish also consume extremely toxic chemicals that can affect both the fish themselves and whatever creatures eat them. Some fish species, like rainbow trout, brook trout, and coho salmon, are dying from toxic chemicals linked to tire wear particles. Researchers in 2020 found that more than half of the coho salmon returning to streams in Washington state died before spawning, largely due to 6PPD-Q, a chemical derived from 6PPD, which is added to tires to prevent them from degrading. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the effects of tire wear particles arent just on aquatic organisms. Humans and animals alike may be exposed to airborne tire wear particles, especially people and animals who live near major roadways. In a study in China, the same chemical, 6PPD-Q, was also found in the urine of children and adults. While the effects of this chemical on the human body are still being studied, recent research shows that exposure to this chemical could harm multiple human organs, including the liver, lungs and kidneys. In Oxford, Mississippi, we identified more than 30,000 tire wear particles in 24 liters of stormwater runoff from roads and parking lots after two rainstorms. In heavy traffic areas, we believe the concentrations could be much higher. The Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council, a state-led coalition, in 2023 recommended identifying and deploying alternatives to 6PPD in tires to reduce 6PPD-Q in the environment. But tire manufacturers say theres no suitable replacement yet. What can communities do to reduce harm? At the University of Mississippi, we are experimenting with sustainable ways of removing tire wear particles from waterways with accessible and low-cost natural materials from agricultural wastes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea is simple: Capture the tire wear particles before they reach the streams, rivers, and oceans. In a recent study, we tested pine wood chips and biochar a form of charcoal made from heating rice husks in a limited-oxygen chamber, a process known as pyrolysis and found that they could remove approximately 90 percent of tire wear particles from water runoff at our test sites in Oxford. Biochar is an established material for removing contaminants from water due to its large surface area and pores, abundant chemical binding groups, high stability, strong adsorption capacity, and low cost. Wood chips, because of their rich composition of natural organic compounds, have also been shown to remove contaminants. Other scientists have also used sand to filter out microplastics, but its removal rate was low compared with biochar. Boluwatife S. Olubusoye, one of the authors of this article, positions a filter sock filled with biochar under a storm drain. James Cizdziel/University of Mississippi We designed a biofiltration system using biochar and wood chips in a filter sock and placed it at the mouth of a drainage outlet. We then collected stormwater runoff samples and measured the tire wear particles before and after the biofilters were installed during two storms over two months. The concentration of tire wear particles was found to be significantly lower after the biofilter was in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unique, elongated, and jagged features of tire wear particles make it easy for them to become trapped or entangled in the pores of these materials during a storm event. Even the smallest tire wear particles were trapped in the intricate network of these materials. Using biomass filters in the future We believe this approach holds strong potential for scalability to mitigate tire wear, particle pollution, and other contaminants during rainstorms. Since biochar and wood chips can be generated from agricultural waste, they are relatively inexpensive and readily available to local communities. Long-term monitoring studies will be needed, especially in heavy traffic environments, to fully determine the effectiveness and scalability of the approach. The source of the filtering material is also important. There have been some concerns about whether raw farm waste that has not undergone pyrolysis could release organic pollutants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like most filters, the biofilters would need to be replaced over time with used filters disposed of since the contaminants build up and the filters degrade. Plastic waste is harming the environment, the food people eat, and potentially human health. We believe biofilters made from plant waste could be an effective and relatively inexpensive, environmentally friendly solution. Boluwatife S. Olubusoye, Ph.D. Candidate in Chemistry, University of Mississippi, and James V Cizdziel, Professor of Chemistry, University of Mississippi This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The post One of the Biggest Microplastic Pollution Sources Might Surprise You appeared first on Katie Couric Media. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) A man is dead after firefighters responded to a reported drowning at Aquatic Park in San Francisco on Monday. The San Francisco Fire Department was called around 8 p.m. to the public beach after a man was seen calling for help in the water. SFFD rescue swimmers deployed into the water to search the last known location of the victim, SFFD said. Father and son successfully row from San Francisco to Hawaii Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After 30 minutes of searching, scuba divers found the victim and removed him from the water. Paramedics tried to revive the man, but he was pronounced deceased at the scene. On Tuesday, the fire department said the man was in his 50s or 60s. His identity has not been released at this time. This person happened to be wearing clothes and jeans, SFFD Lieutenant Mariano Elias told KRON4. Thats not your normal attire to go swimming, obviously, so that leads us to believe theres another reason why he was in 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 KRON4. After a five-month search for a permanent city manager, the Pasco City Council voted Monday to hire the city manager in Minot, N.D. Harold Stewart has been city manager there since December 2020. Minot is a city of about 48,000. Hell start working in Pasco on or before Oct. 1. His last day at the city of Minot is Sept. 19. I think the city will be really well-served. The individual weve selected will really benefit (the councils) vision, Mayor Pete Serrano said at Mondays council meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Serrano told the Tri-City Herald that Stewart led Minot through significant change and growth and made difficult staffing decisions as city manager. Minot was one of the larger cities compared to where other candidates had worked, and has an oil and gas economy. He said it seemed Stewart would start contributing from day one and hit the ground running. Stewart has held city manager positions with the city of Ogallala, Neb., Knoxville, Iowa and Warrensburg, Mo. and began his public service career with Douglas County in Kansas in 2005. He has 12 years of experience in city management. He holds a bachelors degree and a masters in public administration from the University of Kansas. He is expected to make $255,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im honored to have been selected to serve the residents of Pasco, Stewart said in a news release. I was deeply impressed by the citys vision, the pride of its staff, and the energy in the community. I look forward to getting started and working together to support the city councils priorities and the needs of Pascos diverse neighborhoods. Harold Stewart City manager search Stewart was one of three finalists named by the council earlier this month. They participated in a public meet-and-greet event July 13 and had final interviews on July 14. Pasco hired GMP Consultants to provide leadership services while it looked for a permanent replacement for the position. The city also hired GMP Consultants for recruiting and a nationwide search. There were 60 applicants for the position and the council considered about 12 qualified candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Interim City Manager Dave Zabell was hired in February to fill in after former City Manager Adam Lincoln resigned to take over as the Port of Pasco executive director. Zabell was Pascos city manager for eight years before he retired in October 2022. He joined GMP after retiring. Pasco has been paying GMP an hourly rate of $175, plus mileage and hotel expenses, for Zabells services, based on an annual salary of $336,700. Lincolns original base salary was $218,000. Stewart will oversee the day-to-day operations of 500 employees for the town of about 81,000. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Two men were hospitalized after a reported assault on East Main Street Tuesday morning, with one of the victims in serious condition. The Rochester Police Department responded to an address on East Main Street and found a 55-year-old man and a 56-year-old man. Officers say both men sustained injuries from blunt force trauma. The two victims were taken to the hospital. The 56-year-old man is expected to survive, but the 55-year-olds injuries are life-threatening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RPD is unable to confirm the circumstances that led up to the incident. No suspects are in custody. Anyone with information is asked to call 911. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON (AP) OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warned the financial industry of a significant impending fraud crisis because of the ability of artificial intelligence tools to impersonate a person's voice to bypass security checks and move money. Altman spoke at a Federal Reserve conference Tuesday in Washington. A thing that terrifies me is apparently there are still some financial institutions that will accept the voiceprint as authentication, Altman said. That is a crazy thing to still be doing. AI has fully defeated that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voiceprinting as an identification for wealthy bank clients grew popular more than a decade ago, with customers typically asked to utter a challenge phrase into the phone to access their accounts. But now AI voice clones, and eventually video clones, can impersonate people in a way that Altman said is increasingly indistinguishable from reality and will require new methods for verification. That might be something we can think about partnering on, said Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman, the central banks top financial regulator, who was hosting the discussion with Altman. (KRON) When news first broke in April 2024 about a Filipino supermarket chain Seafood City opening another Peninsula location, it was met with great excitement, especially within the large local Filipino community. More than a year ago, Seafood City said its Daly City store would be opening soon. That didnt happen thanks to delays in construction and the like. But the wait is finally over, and Seafood City has finally announced an opening date for its first Daly City store. The grand opening of the highly anticipated Filipino supermarket is on Thursday, July 31 at 9 a.m., the grocery store announced on social media. Seafood City is located at 1420 Southgate Ave. in the St. Francis Square Shopping Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daly City, were almost there! Join us on Thursday, July 31 at 9 a.m. for the grand opening of your newest home for all things Filipinoright in the heart of St. Francis Square, Seafood City wrote in the post. Jollibee named best fried chicken in country for 2nd straight year: USA Today A look outside the upcoming Seafood City supermarket in Daly City (KRON4 Photo). A look outside the upcoming Seafood City supermarket in Daly City (KRON4 Photo). A look outside the upcoming Seafood City supermarket in Daly City (KRON4 Photo). BINI brings P-pop, BINIverse to San Francisco in first Bay Area show Seafood City takes over as the grocery store at the shopping plaza on Southgate Avenue. The space was previously occupied by Asian retailer Pacific Supermarket, which closed in 2021. Daly City is home to one of the largest Filipino populations in the U.S. Popular Philippines-based fried chicken chain Jollibee opened its first U.S. location in that city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are currently six other Seafood City stores in the Bay Area: Concord, Hayward, Milpitas, Union City, South San Francisco and Vallejo. The cities listed are known to have some of the largest Filipino populations in the entire region. Seafood City first opened back in 1980 in National City (San Diego County). It has since opened in five different U.S. states, with the majority of its stores in California. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In 1946, a chemist researching how to prevent ice from forming on planes accidentally discovered cloud seeding a way to make clouds bigger, or encourage them to release more rain. Experimentation followed, and today, cloud-seeding is used in Texas, North Dakota and states across the West to combat drought and support irrigation. In Idaho, cloud seeding augments water supply for about $3.50 per acre-foot, relative to $20 per acre-foot for other options a good outcome. But it might never have happened if Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) had been in office 80 years ago. Greene has introduced legislation that would criminalize a broad range of meteorological and climate research, including proven, beneficial practices like cloud seeding, under the guise of preventing weather modification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt a one-off bill, and its not really about weather modification. Its part of a broader, dangerous effort to muzzle scientists. Columbia Universitys Sabin Center identifies more than 600 discrete government attempts to restrict or prohibit scientific research, education or discussion, or the publication or use of scientific information, since the November 2016 election. Of these, two-thirds nearly 400 separate actions over the past decade target climate scientists. Greenes bill is the latest illustration of a deeply worrying trend. Research can certainly involve risk. But understanding and managing that risk in a controlled setting is far better than being unprepared in the face of real-world catastrophe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we dont study pathogens, we cant prevent pandemics. And if we dont study weather modification or related strategies like geoengineering (i.e., the suite of techniques that seek to influence natural systems), we are giving up the possibility of tools that could help us forestall climate disasters. When it comes to weather modification and geoengineering, we need to understand whats possible, whats dangerous and how technologies might be governed. Sunlight reflection, for instance, is a concept that involves reflecting a tiny percentage of sunlight to cool the earth. Though the concept of sunlight reflection has been around for a while, it is still little more than a concept; no one is proposing large-scale deployment yet. But there is a real chance that sunlight reflection could safely reduce global temperatures, slowing the escalation of extreme weather events and buying us more time to build out the clean energy infrastructure we need to halt climate change once and for all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunlight reflection, and weather modification and geoengineering more broadly, must be studied with rigorous oversight, public engagement and strong international norms. This is not an endorsement that we should do it, but we cant afford to approach these questions with ignorance or ideology. The U.S., with its long history of leading on innovation, is ideally positioned to responsibly shape the fields of weather modification and geoengineering research. But if we prohibit it, as Florida and other states have done and Greene proposes to do nationally, we will cede the space to countries like China. Arguments for prohibiting all research on weather modification and geoengineering are based on misinformation and fear, not facts. They conflate real science, like sunlight reflection and cloud seeding, with debunked conspiracies like chemtrails. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys information hub on weather modification and geoengineering is an example of fact-first engagement that state governments and Congress would do well to emulate, and that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin should continue to prioritize. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greene claims to have researched weather modification for months, yet her bill would make real scientific research on the topic a felony. Many states considering bills like Greenes have rejected them, demonstrating bipartisan resistance to stifling science. Still, the fact that we have to fight these fights at all is deeply consequential. Criminalizing research doesnt solve problems, it papers over real ones. Scientific inquiry is not the same as advocating for action. And studying a tool doesnt mean using it, it means understanding it its opportunities, risks and limits. In a hotter, more volatile world, failing to prepare is its own kind of crime. Jedidah Isler, Ph.D ., is chief science officer at the Federation of American Scientists. 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. Hunter Biden is speaking out! Former President Joe Bidens notoriously troubled second son sat for a wide-ranging three-hour interview with YouTuber Andrew Callaghan. And while their conversation about Hunters struggles with alcohol and drugs will certainly be interesting to many people, it was Hunters comments about the Democratic establishment that most struck me. You see, Hunter is furious with the leaders of the Democratic Party for, in his view, betraying his dad. Here he was, railing against Jon Favreau and the rest of the Obama bros at Pod Save America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For some reason, the intelligentsia of the Democratic Party, with 2020 hindsight, believes that Joe Biden should have considered not running again, because of their perception that he was too old, he said. And so then the drumbeat began. The New York Times, on a near daily basis, Anon by the Pod Save America saviors of the Democratic Party what, four white millionaires that are dining out on their association with Barack Obama from 16 years ago, living in Beverly fing Hills telling the rest of the world what Black voters in South Carolina really want, or what the women, the waitress living outside of Green Bay, Wis., really believes. Hunter also addressed his fathers bad debate performance, which effectively ended his campaign. And Ill tell ya wait, I know exactly what happened in that debate, said Hunter. He flew around the world basically the 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, he gets up on the stage and he looks like hes a deer in the headlights. And it feeds into every fing story that anybody wants to tell. Ambien he blamed Ambien. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would just note that when Roseanne Barr sent that offensive tweet about Valerie Jarrett the one that ended her career she eventually explained that it was partly due to her taking Ambien. In response, the drug company that makes Ambien released a statement saying that Ambien does not cause racism. I cant wait for Ambien to put out a statement saying the drug doesnt transform you into a bad president either. But I digress. Hunter Biden also railed against George Clooney, and implied that it was the actors ego that prompted him to melt down and publish an op-ed in The New York Times encouraging Biden to get out of the race. Clooney was apparently offended that Biden didnt immediately recognize him at a fundraiser, a detail previously reported in Original Sin, the Jake Tapper-Alex Thompson book. F George Clooney, says Hunter, in no uncertain terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, conservatives are certainly enjoying watching Hunter Biden rail against all these people that they too dont like: the Obama Bros, Nancy Pelosi, George Clooney, David Axelrod, and on and on and on. I, too, am amused by watching this man savage the Democratic intelligentsia. But we should also face facts: The Democratic Party betrayed Biden for good reason. Their only mistake was not doing so earlier. Love him or hate him, Biden was not capable of serving another term, and his inner circle tried to conceal that fact from the voters. Hunter is loyal to his dad, and thats understandable. But the Biden family is simply delusional about this. There was no way that Biden was going to win the election, and there was no way he could continue to serve as president if he somehow did win. Its insulting to our intelligence to pretend otherwise. So while I appreciate Hunters willingness to speak his mind, and his openness to challenging other authority figures in Democratic circles, hes dead wrong on the substance here. Robby Soave is co-host of The Hills commentary show Rising and a senior editor for Reason Magazine. This column is an edited transcription of his on-air commentary. 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. There was a time, not long ago, when Republicans and Democrats actually got along. They considered members of the other party adversaries, not enemies and, after sparring during the day over policy disagreements, theyd often hang out together, even become friends. When I read that Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum were visiting Alcatraz last week, hailing it as the site of a new federal prison, I remembered my own friendship as a Democrat with the late Tony Blankley, then one of the Republican Partys brightest stars. Born a Brit, Blankley came to the U.S. and became a force in American politics: deputy attorney general of California; speechwriter for President Reagan; staffer for Rep. Bobbi Fiedler (R-Calif.); and press secretary to House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.). He loved working for Gingrich, Blankley once told me, because he was such a policy geek. Hed come in every morning, Blankley related, with at least ten new ideas hed thought of in the shower. But only one or two of them, Blankley quickly admitted, might be viable. The rest, hed tell the Speaker, werent even worth considering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats one of the most important functions of any political staffer: the willingness to tell your boss hes dead wrong. Its too bad theres nobody like that around Donald Trump. Hes filled his Cabinet and White House staff with nothing but loyalists who ask, How high? when he says Jump. Apparently, theres nobody willing to tell him the truth. Like the truth about Trumps plan reportedly hatched after watching a rerun of Clint Eastwoods film Escape from Alcatraz to restore Alcatraz as a maximum security federal prison. It has to be the dumbest of all the dumb ideas Trump has ever proposed as president. But, rather than tell Trump hes wrong, Bondi and Burgum, like the sycophants they are, went out to Alcatraz on July 17, trying to sell his plan. Theyre wasting their time. Its never going to happen. Alcatraz was shut down as a federal prison in 1963, sixty-two years ago, for good reason. Because of constant exposure to salt spray, its walls were literally falling apart and in need of support. The island had no running water and no sewer system. All food and water had to be brought in by boat every day, and trash and human waste taken out. A 1959 report indicated the prison was three times more expensive to run than the average American prison and far too expensive to maintain. At first, the Bureau of Prisons tried to make improvements, then gave it up as a lost cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been there recently. Its in even worse shape today. In fact, the existing structures are beyond repair. Engineers agree that the only way to recreate a prison on the island would be to raze all existing buildings and build a new prison from scratch. According to administration officials, as Axios scooped last week, that project would cost $2 billion, take years to complete, and theyd still have to bring in food and water every day and take out the waste. No matter how badly Trump would like to see it happen, $2 billions a lot of money to spend for a prison we dont need. In fact, 84 new federal prisons have been built since 1963, making a total of 120 facilities today. All of which have plenty of room because Americas prison population is rapidly declining. According to The Atlantic, from a peak of 1.6 million inmates in 2009, the prison population declined to 1.2 million in 2023 and is expected to sink to 600,000 by 2026. Those are the facts, which everybody seems to know except Donald Trump. But, surely, the facts about Alcatraz should be enough for Burgum, Bondi or chief of staff Susie Wiles to tell the president: This is a dumb idea. Its too expensive, itll take too long, and we dont need it. And, while theyre at it, maybe they could talk Trump out of a few other dumb ideas, like buying Greenland, revoking Rosie ODonnells citizenship or forcing the Washington Commanders to change their name back to Redskins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bill Press is host of The Bill Press Pod . He is the author of From the Left: A Life in the Crossfire . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. When DOGE started slashing foreign aid with a chainsaw, Elon Musk claimed it was all about getting rid of waste, fraud and abuse. Im pretty sure that no one disagrees that getting rid of actual waste, fraud and abuse is a good goal. However, I also think its fair to say that sometimes, the worst perpetrators are the ones claiming to be watchdogs. Heres a recent example: the destruction of 500 metric tons (over 1.1 million pounds) of food that could have fed 1.5 million children for a week, or 27,000 for a month. That food sat in warehouses for months because of the gutting of the U.S. Agency for International Development while aid workers begged to be allowed to distribute it. The food, valued at $800,000, cost an additional $130,000 to burn, all paid for by taxpayer dollars. A million pounds of food and nearly a million dollars in taxpayer funds poof. Up in smoke. What a waste. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Look, I get that $1 million is pocket change in Washington, but to most Americans, thats a lot of money. Not only were the State Departments actions wasteful, they were just plain wrong. How did we get here? On the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump issued an executive order suspending all foreign aid expenditures, except for those providing emergency and military assistance for 90 days. On March 10, the administration cancelled 83% of the programs run by USAID. Food that had already been sent to places like Dubai and the United Arab Emirates was stuck in warehouses there, including over 1 million pounds of nutrient-rich biscuits meant for children who were severely malnourished and even starving. According to Reuters, Jeremy Lewin and Kenneth Jackson, operatives of the budget-slashing Department of Government Efficiency, were appointed acting deputy USAID administrators and began terminating food security programs. USAID staff were barred from communicating with aid organizations that were asking to take the biscuits and distribute them to children in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters also reported that a January 25 email sent by Jackson emphasized a complete halt to all foreign assistance and banned USAID staff from any communications outside of the agency unless approved by their front office. Failure to abide by this directive ... will result in disciplinary action, said the memo reviewed by Reuters. Aid organizations, including the World Food Program, asked the U.S. State Department for permission to distribute food for the people for whom it was intended, mostly children in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but these biscuits could also provide immediate nutrition for severely malnourished adults as well. The expiration date on two stockpiles of biscuits was this month and in September. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told U.S. lawmakers on May 21 that no food would be wasted. An agreement to transfer the food to the World Food Program was approved on June 2, according to Reuters, and WFP was ready to receive all of the food. However, according to Hana Kiros, assistant editor for The Atlantic, an order to destroy the food had already been issued by the time Rubio told Congress that no food would be wasted. The State Departments reaction In spite of approvals given in enough time to theoretically get the food into the hands of those who need it most, timely action was not taken. This weekend, the U.S. State Department confirmed that it had destroyed the 500 metric tons of food that could have been distributed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce seemed to brush aside concerns about the unnecessary waste, telling reporters that If something is expired, we will destroy it. She added that 500 metric tons represented less than 1% of the food aid typically distributed in a year and denied that the biscuits were allowed to expire due to any mismanagement or inaction by USAID or the State Department, according to a "Good Morning America" report. Another State Department spokesperson placed blame on the Biden administration, saying in essence they bought too much, and that the current administration was unable to deplete (the food) before expiration. Still, that food could have been life-saving for many. Like the popular story of saving starfish on a beach, while no one could save all of them, this food would have made a difference to that one. Times more than a million. Michael Rigas, the deputy secretary of state for management and resources, has been facing questioning from lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rigas initially told Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine and the rest of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that it was government policy not to distribute the food as it neared the expiration date. Rigas was asked by Kaine why the State Department had not actually transferred the food as it had agreed, I dont have an answer for that question, senator. Im as distressed about that as you are, Rigas responded. When pushed to respond further, he told Kaine he thought it was a failure. Content warning: This article contains information about alleged child sexual abuse material. Reader discretion is advised. Report CSAM to law enforcement by contacting the ICAC Tip Line at (801) 281-1211 or your local law enforcement agency. OREM, Utah (ABC4) An Orem man has been charged with 41 felonies after a cyber tip revealed he was allegedly accessing, viewing, and sharing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Richard Kirkland Mallard, 44, was charged with nine counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, a first-degree felony, and 32 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to documents, on May 1, 2025, detectives with the Orem Police Department received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Kik, a messenger app, reported to law enforcement that a user was allegedly in possession of CSAM, and provided an email address and phone number that were connected to the account. READ NEXT: Eagle Mountain man arrested for paying 13-year-old for sexual photos, documents say Police obtained a search warrant for the email account and discovered that the user had links to graphic sexual stories and videos in his inbox and outbox. Using the email address and phone number, detectives connected the account to Mallard. Search warrants returned from Kik revealed that he had been messaging various users to obtain CSAM. Mallard not only requested, but also distributed CSAM files, according to documents. Some videos were so graphic that detectives had to mute the files while reviewing what CSAM Mallard allegedly possessed. Documents say most of the files included prepubescent or very young children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of arrest, the Orem Police officer found cause for 42 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and 44 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, but Mallard did not ultimately receive that many charges. Mallard was arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail on July 15. He is currently being held without bail, as law enforcement believes he poses a danger to the community and may be a flight risk if released. 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. Orlando police host town halls to help strengthen community trust A community initiative in Orlando is bringing law enforcement and neighbors together. On Monday, a slew of Orlando Police Officers showed up at the Colonial Town Neighborhood Center for a town hall with the police chief, Eric Smith. The event was organized for residents of District 4, which includes Milk District, Thornton Park, Delaney Park, and Colonialtown. Officers who are stationed in the area introduced themselves and detailed the work they do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers said violent crimes are down across District 4 by 20%, shootings by 40%, while parking and traffic issues have been the main concern for the community. Weve done 2,886 traffic stops and written 912 tickets we just want people to slow down, thats a big move for us, Chief Smith said. Residents also had the chance to connect with officers over a meal, provided to residents during the event. The officers come to show the community who works in their area. Its nice when an officer knocks on your door and they [neighbors] think I know them, I met them at the meeting, Smith said. We are a police department, but we work for our community. They need to have input on how we are doing policing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OPD organizes the town halls quarterly across all Orlando Districts. Meetings with Districts 1 and 6 are scheduled for the remainder of the week. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) The fight continues regarding trash pickup in the French Quarter. Some members of the city council continue to question whether Troy Henry Consulting is prepared to take over the job. Were just trying to get a little bit more transparent, a little bit more truth as to why. So much mystery and haziness and murkiness is going on with this contract, said Councilman Freddie King. Deputy CAO Joe Threat says just a day before the contract was signed on July 9, they informed the mayor why IV Waste should continue services, explaining that Henry Consulting was not ready. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement French Quarter residents support IV Waste You have to make sure youve got utilities set up. Youve got office spaces. You might have to change, switch gears, bring power into it. We didnt have a performance ban in place at that time, said Threat. An email shows the administration agreed to allow IV Waste to continue providing services. However, the following day, the mayor gave the contract to Henry Consulting. This letter and continuing on with IV Waste was to prevent any type of crisis from happening when it comes to sanitation services in the day and in the French Quarter, said Councilwoman Helena Moreno. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several of the council members are questioning the legality of the contract, believing it was signed early. On an original document where every other line is a continuous line, that is a red flag for a whiteout, said Councilman JP Morrell. Was she still at City Hall? That night on July 9, between 10:48 p.m. and midnight, to get this signed? Or does somebody drive to her house? said Moreno. According to City Sanitation Director Matt Torri, if Henry Consulting were to take over, it would cause a $2.1 million deficit, and Henry Consulting would actually be doing less work than IV Waste. This would come at great expense to the city. Thats a premium cost that wed be paying an hourly rate for that service. Its approximately $20,000 to $30,000 a month, said Torri. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four October election candidates disqualified from races Henry Consulting is set to start July 31 despite the objections of the city council and French Quarter Management District. Shes more concerned with Troy Henry getting the contract than whether your trash is picked up. Shes more concerned with Troy Henry getting 2.1 million more of your taxpayer dollars than Sidney Torres and does not care whether your trash gets picked up, said Morrell. Morrell told the mayors administration he wants the original contract to be sent to his office by noon Tuesday. If not, the council will continue discussions at the next meeting on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the new law, the French Quarter Market District has the right to choose its own provider, which they plan to make IV Waste. However, Morrell says things are still up in the air for who will pick up for the downtown area come July 31. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. In the buzzing crowd at Expo 2025 in Osaka a small line is starting to form, curling around the Tasty Japan food stall. The rumour that rice-guru Sumidaya Shoten is about to serve up some 'curry rice' samples is quickly confirmed as a trolley laden with spoonfuls of thick sauce and sticky white rice emerges from behind the scenes. I manage to secure a spoonful, and it's just as brightly spiced and satisfyingly tangy as everyone had promised. As the samples are savoured there's time to reflect on the fact that this cherished Japanese national dish actually owes its origins to Indian food-loving English sailors arriving on their shores. In fact, curry rice is a perfect example of Yoshoku, Japanese fusion cuisine that simmers local tastes with culinary influences from around the world. Now, the Japanese government is keen to share these Yoshoku dishes with a wider audience, and the Expo 2025 event is part of an effort to explain the history of these recipes and why they hold a special place in the hearts of Japanese people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related Food researcher Yuriko Aoki photographed at Expo 2025 Osaka - Credit: Euronews Food researcher Yuriko Aoki argues that ancient Japanese cuisine based on vegetables, fish, and rice was almost 'too healthy' before it began to incorporate Western influences. For many centuries it was forbidden for the Japanese to eat meat, and local cuisine 'did not contain enough nutrition', she explains. Long isolated from the rest of the world, her countrymen realised that they were often physically shorter than Dutch or Portuguese visitors, and so the move towards eating more pork and beef began to take hold in the early 20th Century. A perfect example of Yoshoku is Tonkatsu, a thick cutlet of pork, deep-fried and served with shredded cabbage and Worcestershire sauce, plus a bowl of short grain Japanese rice. Tonkatsu is a common sight in school and workplace canteens, and its name drops a heavy hint to its fusion cuisine past, as the word 'ton' means pork, and 'katsu' is a Japanese version of the Franco-British words 'cutlet' and 'cotelette'. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, different regions of Japan have created their own varieties of Tonkatsu, either switching to a veal cutlet, or the Miso Katsu, served with a miso sauce. I'm not alone in enjoying these specialties, either, as a recent survey found that 42% of foreign visitors had eaten Tonkatsu during their trip to Japan. What's more, according to JFOODO, the Japan Food Product Overseas Promotion Center, the number of Japanese restaurants worldwide is now over 180,000, a figure which has grown threefold in the past decade. Curry rice shared across generations - Credit: Euronews Expo 2025 runs until 13 October 2025 in Osaka, Japan. - Credit: Euronews The country's wider culinary traditions are also gaining influence in some of the highest-quality restaurants around the globe, with the focus on high-quality and sustainably-sourced ingredients plus low-fat recipes chiming with both chefs and their customers. A panel of Michelin-starred chefs at Expo 2025 revealed some of the latest ideas for weaving Japanese food concepts into local dishes. Kyle Connaughton, the chef from SingleThread Farm on the west coast of America explained to the audience how he was inspired by the traditional Japanese takiawase vegetable soup to create a Californian salad-style version using home-grown red and green manganchi peppers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile Mauro Calogreco, the Argentinian chef at the Mirazur restaurant in the south of France described a new recipe for duck with red seaweed and red shiso, an aromatic herb that's described as tasting half-way between mint and basil. Thai chef Chaudaree 'Tam' Debhakam from the Baan Tepa restaurant in Bangkok explained how she is now pairing rare Japanese Noto beef with what she describes as a 'blackened' Thai curry that compliments the rich flavour of the fatty meat. The addition of Thai tropical fruits and Thai jasmine rice cooked in Japanese bamboo leaves completes a perfect fusion dish. Looking ahead, all of the chefs at the Expo 2025 panel debate underlined the need to consume sustainably sourced ingredients. Chef Yoshihiro Murata from the iconic Kikunoi restaurant in Kyoto also advocated for a reduced intake of animal proteins in general, telling the crowd: "We all need to think about balance, and produce vegetables and make dishes with vegetables. I think it is a good idea to make a dish in which vegetables make up more than half of the entire course." At the heart of all of these recipes is the freshness and taste of the ingredients. Japanese cuisine gives great emphasis to the pure flavour of herbs, vegetables, seafood, fish and meat, offering them a chance to stand alone on the plate and the palate. To support them, you'll always find a bowl of plump Japanese rice. Food researcher Yuriko Aoki says that this humble crop carefully cultivated across the archipelago is actually her favourite Japanese speciality. "New rice can be eaten with just a dash of salt, it's delicious enough on its own," she smiles. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) A woman is dead after a Sunday morning shooting, and the suspect is still in the hospital. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) confirmed that the two had a prior relationship and had kids together. The call came in to Bethany Police at 8 a.m. Sunday to the Western Oaks Apartments on Northwest 23rd Street and North Glade Avenue in Bethany. Officers said 30-year-old Jonni Salazar was found in a car outside the complex with a gunshot wound. RELATED: Deadly shooting at Bethany apartment complex Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medical attention was rendered, but was unsuccessful. That person did die here at the scene at that point in time, said Bethany Police Chief John Reed. Thats when state agents with OSBI stepped in to look for the suspect. Agents said 32-year-old Alexander Berry was eventually found in an apartment at the complex, but he wouldnt come outside to talk to agents. We called and requested the Oklahoma County multi-jurisdictional task force. They got there and they were able to make entry into that apartment complex unit, said Hunter McKee with the OSBI. Inside the apartment, Berry was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and taken to the hospital in stable condition, and is expected to make a full recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, there are no other suspects at large, said McKee. While the investigation is still ongoing, OSBI confirmed that during the time of the shooting, Berry and Salazars children were not at the complex. Its still unclear what happened right before the shooting, and investigators are talking to witnesses to learn more. What had actually led up to the circumstances of that shooting, were still looking into right now. So were still kind of piecing together all of that of where suspect victim was up until that shooting happened, who they were in contact with, said McKee. OSBI said Berry will go to the Oklahoma County Jail when he leaves the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its now up to the District Attorneys Office to make any official charges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Hugam, Indian-administered Kashmir Nasir Amin Bhat, 17, was barely ankle-deep in the water when his school friend and neighbour Adil Ahmad shouted from the riverbank on a breezy summer evening in May. Turn back! Theres something in the water. Across the Lidder, a tributary of the Jhelum River, in Hugam village of Indian-administered Kashmirs Anantnag district, a Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) plunged into the glacial waters and started paddling furiously against the current with all four limbs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had no idea what it was, Bhat, a high school student, told Al Jazeera, but I grabbed my smartphone and turned on the camera. The grainy, nine-second video shows the creature with a fur coat classified as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List gliding out of the water and jumping onto the riverbank. After a few clumsy steps, the semiaquatic animal, which can reach elevations of 3,660 metres (12,000 feet) in the Himalayas during the summer, disappears behind a thick grove of bushes, bringing the video to an uneventful end. Eurasian otters used to thrive along the banks of the Lidder River, but rampant construction forced the semiaquatic animal to retreat [Jehangir Ali/Al Jazeera] Long believed to have gone extinct, Eurasian otters seem to be showing signs of resurgence in Kashmir, with three individuals spotted by Indian wildlife officers in two places since 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chance sightings have excited environmentalists and wildlife conservationists while raising hopes of a better future for the Himalayan regions fragile freshwater ecosystems, which have been battered by climate change in recent years. Habitat has improved Indian wildlife biologist Nisarg Prakash believes the sighting of otters in Kashmir was an indicator of high-quality aquatic habitats. The reappearance of otters might mean that poaching has come down or the habitat has improved, and maybe both in some cases, Prakash, whose work focuses on otters in southern parts of India, told Al Jazeera. Protected under Indias Wildlife Protection Act, otters were once widely distributed across north India, including the Himalayan foothills, the Gangetic plains and parts of the northeast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A peer-reviewed study by IUCN in November last year noted that the Eurasian otter, known among Kashmiri locals as voddur, was found in water bodies of Lidder and Jehlum valleys, including Wular Lake, one of Asias largest freshwater lakes. Hugam village in Anantnag district, Indian-administered Kashmir [Jehangir Ali/Al Jazeera] However, over the years, their population became patchy and fragmented due to habitat loss, pollution and human disturbances, says Khursheed Ahmad, a senior wildlife scientist at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K). Ahmad said that, due to habitat alterations from human activities and the encroachment of their ideal habitats along riverbanks and other water bodies, Eurasian otters retreated and became confined to areas that were least accessible to humans. Although they were not extinct, sightings and occurrences had become extremely rare and they were never documented, said Ahmad, who heads the Division of Wildlife Sciences at SKUAST-K. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Less than two years ago, a research team led by Ahmad accidentally stumbled on otters during a study on musk deer in Gurez, a valley of lush meadows and towering peaks split into two by the Kishanganga River along the Line of Control, the de facto border between India and Pakistan in the Himalayas. Past midnight on August 6, 2023, two individual otters were captured in a riverine habitat at an altitude of 2,600 metres (8,530 feet) in the valley near the 330MW Kishanganga Hydro Electric Project built by India following a prolonged legal battle with Pakistan at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. After that sighting, the research team focused on documenting the presence of otters on the Indian side of Kashmir. Unfortunately, due to heavy disturbance from fishing and other local and paramilitary activities, no further presence was documented, the IUCN study notes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahmed said Bhats video is only the second photographic evidence of otters in Kashmir. Too terrified to go there But in the large farming village of Hugam, comprising some 300 families, residents are both excited and worried. At the crack of dawn, Muneera Bano, a homemaker, wakes to the flutter of crows cawing furiously on the willow trees lining the tributarys banks outside her home in Hugam, located some 58km (36 miles) south of the main city of Srinagar. Bano has stopped washing clothes and utensils on the riverbank after the otter was discovered, something she had done for years. There are underwater caves [in the tributary], and it is hiding in one of them. When it comes out in the morning, crows see it and they start screaming. I am too terrified to go there, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bhat, the teenager who filmed the video, said he often used to bathe in the tributarys glacial waters and sometimes also caught fish. Now I cant even think about going there, he said. Nasir Amin Bhat captured the Eurasian otter on his mobile phone on May 28, 2025, when he was about to take a bath in the Lidder [Jehangir Ali/Al Jazeera] The grainy video led to rumours about the presence of crocodiles in the tributary, prompting Indian wildlife officials to set up a camera trap, which confirmed that it was a Eurasian otter also seen in Bhats video and not a crocodile. Some wildlife officials even bathed in the river in the presence of village elders to demonstrate that the water was completely safe. Although otters do not pose any threat to humans, they can turn unpredictable, especially when close to humans. But scientists say these animals can grow accustomed to the presence of humans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wildlife biologist Prakash said rather than being scared or fearful, curiosity about otters can make them a sight to be enjoyed while watching them fish or swim. Otters are largely active around dawn, dusk and after dark, though they can sometimes be seen during daytime as well. Eurasian otters largely prey on fish, eels, and sometimes, waterfowl, he said. Kashmiri farmer Wasim Ahmad remembers a summer day in the early 1990s when he was on the way back from school situated along the banks of Doodhganga, a major tributary of the Jhelum River. As Ahmad, now in his 40s, turned the corner, he saw a large procession of people walking jubilantly. One man was holding a dead otter while another was walking a dog on a leash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bagh-e-Mehtab in Srinagar is home to a community of poachers who, in the past, made a living by selling skins of animals such as cats, otters, and other animals. With stricter animal welfare laws in force in India now, the community has given up the old profession. Our elders warned us that otters skinned the children and ate them raw, said Ahmad, who was in ninth grade then. But as I grew up, I didnt come across even one person who was harmed by otters. It was basically a tactic to keep the children away from the river. Ahmad, the wildlife scientist, said the reappearance of otters in Kashmir was a positive sign. Now we should see to it that the new habitat is protected from uncontrolled pollution, garbage accumulation, increased carbon emissions and habitat degradation. Addressing these challenges is crucial for their conservation and wellbeing, he told Al Jazeera. Rabbi Moshe Hauer said that anti-Zionists are upset about what they are hearing and seeing," in Gaza. Rabbi Moshe Hauer, the executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, dropped a bombshell when he said that he has met anti-Zionists who say they are not antisemites and I believe them. Hauer is part of a solidarity delegation of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, led by COP chair Betsy Korn and CEO William Daroff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The delegation, several of whose members worked with President Isaac Herzog in his prior role as chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, came to the Presidents Residence on Monday evening. Their discussions focused on whether Israel and Hamas could reach a mutual accommodation and the upsurge of antisemitism across the United States. Hauer explained that those anti-Zionists who are not antisemites are upset about what they are hearing and seeing. Herzog acknowledged that it was a complex problem. Protesters gather at a main entrance in front of Columbia University during convocation, in New York City, US, August 25, 2024 (credit: REUTERS/CAITLIN OCHS) Hostages a pressing issue for US Jews Prior to discussing antisemitism in the US, which Herzog said was very disturbing, he introduced the delegation to Kobi, Idit, and Inbar Ohel, the parents and younger sister of 22-year-old hostage Alon Ohel, who has been frequently mentioned by released hostage Eli Sharabi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to speaking to heads of state, diplomats, and parliamentarians, Sharabi has written a memoir about his ordeal at the hands of Hamas. These are the leaders of American Jewry, Herzog told the Ohels, who were immediately showered with comments of empathy and concern and told that everyone present knows about Alon Ohel and feels for them. Keeping her voice even and making every effort not to betray emotion, Idit Ohel said of her son, We know that hes alive, and we know hes coping, but she couldnt say under what conditions. We keep hoping for all the hostages to return; we need them, she said. We feel, all of us, that we are hostages. We think about all of them every day, said Korn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president noted that this is a very sensitive time in the talks between the parties involved in reaching a ceasefire agreement and the immediate return of the hostages. To give the Ohel family a concept of the magnitude of support they are receiving from Jewish America, Herzog asked all the members of the delegation to introduce themselves and to state the number of congregants, communities, and people whom they represented. They were mind-boggled at the total number represented by Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform rabbis, as well as representatives of secular organizations. Herzog also thanked US President Donald Trump for the strong support that he had given to Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Herzog, in referring to past obstacles and delays to reaching an agreement, commented that Hamas continued to miss the opportunity. Their misunderstanding of reality is creating huge suffering and havoc for their own people, he declared. His remarks were reminiscent of those of his late uncle, Abba Eban, who famously said, The Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. To emphasize the unity of support from the Conference of Presidents, Hauer said: All synagogues are the same. They all face Jerusalem. With regard to the atrocities of October 7, the events that followed, and the absence of a commission of inquiry, Herzog assured one of his guests who questioned him on the subject that there will eventually be a forum in which all of the issues will be brought to the surface. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. With many parts of Arkansas in an extreme heat warning, people working outside in central Arkansas are beginning to dread the sight of the sweltering sun. Noah Hamtton sweeps and picks up litter in downtown Little Rock and said his team prepares for the heat. I walk around for about eight hours, seven to three oclock, Hamtton said. Arkansas Storm Team Forecast: Heat, Heat, and More Heat Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While he spends his shift underneath the sun beaming down on the concrete, other workers in the area feel the heat on a different level. James Brown with Conway Glass said his crew drinks water, Gatorade and even takes hydration pills. We got them some umbrellas on their lift for when theyre up in the air. So, it keeps the sun off of them, Brown said. He said the secret to keeping this crew working is knowing when to stop. Weve been leaving at 4:30, but well probably leave earlier this week because its probably going to be quite a bit hotter, Brown said. Little Rock Zoo helping animals beat the heat Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One other thing that helps beat the heat is knowing where to cool off. We get familiar with the local restaurants, Hamtton said. Where I can just go in and ask hey, can I get some water? Can I get something? Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. More than 20 million people in the military community, including many Tricare beneficiaries, will be moving to a new online authentication system over the next 18 months. The new myAuth system is replacing the legacy DS Logon system, which authenticates users onto more than 200 Defense Department and Veterans Affairs websites, defense officials announced July 17. Those who use the DS Logon system currently include military personnel, DOD civilians, military and civilian retirees, family member beneficiaries, contractors and vendors. Among other things, myAuth offers enhanced security protections, such as multi-factor authentication, which requires two or more verification methods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the system is completely phased in, users will be able to access all of their regular DOD applications with the one sign-in through myAuth. DOD officials say the new system will simplify the login process. Many users can already log in to MyAuth and set up an account using their DS Logon credentials. Officials are launching the system in phases, starting with milConnect and ID Card Office Online in May. As of July 14, more than 740,000 DOD-affiliated personnel had created myAuth accounts, officials said. The success rate for people creating their accounts is more than 99%, they said, minimizing the need for people to contact the call center. Those who wait until after the DS Logon is gone must reverify their identity if they dont have a Common Access Card. Many Tricare secure online patient services, such as the MHS Genesis patient portal, require a DS Logon account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who dont have a CAC or a DS Logon must create a one-time DS Logon account over the next 18 months to establish their identity and benefits before creating a myAuth account, the DOD told Military Times. Active-duty service members and DOD civilians with a CAC will likely have no problem making the transition to the new system, officials said in their announcement, because their daily use of programs that currently offer both DS Logon and myAuth for authentication will be a reminder for them to sign up for myAuth. Officials are focusing on getting the word out to a large number of users who dont use the DOD systems daily, such as retirees, family members and contractors. For example, the Defense Manpower Data Center is working with the Defense Health Agency to let users who access Tricare-related systems know about the change, said Zachary R. Gill, the branch chief of DMDCs identity credential access management and partner services, in the announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The myAuth provides secure access for retirees and other beneficiaries who may not have a Common Access Card. It also provides access options for people who do have a CAC but might not be able to use it in certain circumstances for example, a soldier traveling on orders booked through the Defense Travel System who encounters problems with a flight at the airport. Without access to a CAC-enabled computer, its a challenge to access the Defense Travel System to make changes in travel. But with myAuth, a soldier in that circumstance could use a different credential to access the Defense Travel System with a personal cell phone. The CAC will no longer be the only way to access these government systems. The myAuth uses Okta Verify, which can be installed on a personal or government-issued cell phone. There are biometric capabilities for both face and fingerprint recognition; the DOD organization using the system sets the methods for access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the applications individuals need to access may not require the highest levels of authentication, and not everyone has a CAC or a smartphone, or access to technology. So the myAuth system will flex to meet different needs, Gill said. As the new system is rolled out, individuals using applications such as milConnect are seeing a login screen for myAuth, which allows them to create a myAuth account. Gill noted that legacy DS Logon system isnt the only system being replaced by myAuth, but it is the largest. There are multiple authentication systems across the department that each department is paying for individually, which means each department is paying for sustainment costs or licensing costs, Gill said in the announcement, noting that DOD will shutter those systems and replace them with myAuth. More information about the change is available at myAuth Help. STILLWATER, Okla. (KFOR) Thousands of Oklahoma adults looking to further their education are now left waiting because of a freeze in funding. Over $7.5 million in federal grants were not distributed to Oklahoma CareerTech at the beginning of the fiscal year. Its really crucial when youre looking at a state that has nearly 300,000 adults without a high school diploma, said Brent Haken, director, Oklahoma CareerTech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The money was meant to support adult education and family literacy programs across the state, helping adults earn their high school diploma. Once they get that, they can go on to whats next, maybe it is one of our full-time programs in the technology center, maybe its going straight to work, said Max McKnight, director, workforce training at Oklahoma CareerTech. Oklahoma mother visits D.C., fights for fentanyl awareness in Oklahoma schools The Trump administration froze the funding, citing concerns it could be going toward educating undocumented immigrants. Were pretty adamant that we want it to go to Oklahoma citizens as well, not just U.S. citizens, but Oklahoma, people that want to be a part of our economy, said Haken. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haken says they even had plans in place to make sure that their program was focused on Oklahomans. We are compliant with a state statute that makes us even more aggressive in making sure its going to the right people, so I think theres just a review of making sure that every other state is handling that correctly, said Haken. The freeze impacts 30 different providers at 119 sites across Oklahoma. It impacts directly over 500 staff members in these places that are trying to get education opportunities out. We have over 12,000 students that are enrolled in these programs last year, and so all of that is on hold currently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma CareerTech is hopeful federal leaders will unfreeze the funding; however, its not clear how long that review process will take. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. North Carolina state lawmakers head back to Raleigh next week to gear up for a showdown with Gov. Josh Stein. WSOC LINK: The Political Beat with Joe Bruno Both chambers are preparing for override votes on several bills the governor vetoed this summer, which include: Republicans are one House seat short of being able to override vetoes unchallenged. VIDEO: Gov. Stein vetoes bills, calls them mean-spirited DENVER (KDVR) The owner of a southwest Denver car dealership says two of his vehicles were hit by gunfire over the weekend. Ray Khonsari says the damage was done early Sunday morning, with one of the bullets found lodged into a car seat. Sign up for the FOX31 Denver Guide weekly newsletter for events and activities And the engine I dont know, said Khonsari. If the bullet goes through the engine or not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Less than a month earlier, Khonsari says three other vehicles were also hit by gunfire. He estimates the damage for the latest incident is between $5 to $6,000. The dealership is located near Mississippi and South Kalamath Street. Khonsari believes the gunfire originates from a venue down the block, which hosts weekend gatherings of young people, who, added the car dealer, cause late-night trouble on the street. A man, who lives in a house nearby, says his residence has also been targeted. A lot of the neighbors on the street like to know whats going on, adds Khonsari. A spokesperson for the Denver Police Department confirmed officers responded to a shots fired call early Sunday morning. 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. After a woman was attacked and killed by dogs in the middle of a LaGrange street, the dogs owner is now facing charges. Police say Derrick Parker turned himself in to the Troup County Sheriffs Office on Monday. He is charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless conduct and dog running at large. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Warrants for Parkers arrest were issued shortly after Theresa Patterson, 60, was mauled by two dogs and died from her injuries. But investigators say they had not been able to locate Parker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When LaGrange officers found Parker in the middle of Swanson Street, she was still being attacked by two large dogs. TRENDING STORIES: Neighbors told Channel 2s Eryn Rogers that officers had to shoot and kill one dog to get it off Patterson. She was rushed to West Georgia Medical Center, but died from her injuries. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The owners of an assisted living home accused of removing all of its residents to convert to luxury apartments have now racked up $40,000 in fines over the renovations, Fort Lauderdale code enforcement officials said at a meeting Tuesday. Management for Oasis Living Quarters announced the controversial evictions at a meeting in March, according to residents, employees and a state inspection report. As residents moved out, workers began tearing down partitions, demolishing kitchenettes and installing air conditioning units. But the facility never received a permit for the renovations or changed the buildings use from an assisted and independent living home to apartment buildings, according to city officials. The removals, which included residents who were bedridden or had dementia, also led to a lawsuit and citations from the state over the lack of written notice. Attorneys for Oasis have claimed that it did provide notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a May 27 code enforcement hearing, an angry code enforcement board decided to give the owner of the property, Lauderdale Commercial Blvd Partners LLC, two weeks to comply with code and then begin fining them $1,000 a day if they did not comply. The LLC is connected to Lee and Jay Podolsky, members of a family of notorious landlords in New York City, the Sun Sentinel previously reported. On June 11, the fines began. By Tuesday, the fines totaled $40,000 and are continuing to increase each day, officials said. Andrew Gebbia, the building inspector, said he visited the property last week and the owners still were not in compliance with code. At that point, the contractor had not submitted applications for plumbing and electrical permits, Gebbia said. As of Tuesday, he had submitted the two applications but both still required additional documents and information. Asked if the building was occupied, Gebbia said yes, but not the units that were under construction. Half of the property that was once Oasis assisted living side is already operating as Waterview luxury apartments. The assisted living residents had first been moved into the other half, then told to leave in March. Ariel Grosfeld, an attorney for the Abrams Law Firm in Fort Lauderdale, appeared at the Tuesday meeting on behalf of the owners, asking the board to postpone the case until the next meeting because the attorneys for the owners are at trial. She also cited the convoluted nature of the case, the procedural history, and the irregularities from city staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they get the continuances, the fine still accrues, its still a thousand in a day? asked Jacquie Shaw, a member of the board. Assistant City Attorney Rhonda Montoya Hasan said yes, unless the board decides otherwise. The board voted to postpone the hearing until August and to continue fining the owners $1,000 a day in the meantime. A lawsuit in Broward County Court over the removals remains active. It was originally filed on behalf of a bedridden tenant still living at the facility. She later died shortly after moving out. Grosfeld, the attorney for the property, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Buckingham Palace lobbied Sir John Majors government for a 50m replacement of the Royal Yacht Britannia, newly released files suggest. Cabinet Office papers released by the National Archives reveal apparent backhanded manoeuvring by palace officials as ministers agonised over whether to order a replacement for the vessel. The files show how courtiers invited civil servants to a splendid lunch on the yacht and tried to influence a speech by Sir John, then prime minister, as part of a thinly veiled campaign to replace the ship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By 1993 it was apparent that, after 39 years, Britannia was reaching the end of its life, but Sir Johns Conservative government had yet to decide whether to invest in a new one. It was widely thought Queen Elizabeth II strongly favoured the commissioning of a new yacht but the Royal family could not afford to be seen to be trying to influence political decision-making. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on board the famous vessel it is thought that the late monarch wanted a new yacht - Getty Images/Tim Graham However, files released by the Archives at Kew, west London, show that senior courtiers privately approached No 10 to see if the prime minister would make a Commons statement stressing Britannias inestimable value to the nation. The plan, which appears to be a show of support for a new yacht, was rejected by the Cabinet Office, which warned that any such comments would be highly prejudicial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One senior official noted caustically that a claim by the Palace that the Queen was indifferent as to the outcome of a review of the yachts future hardly rings true. The issue of a new yacht came at an extremely difficult time for both the government and the Palace, with support for the royals at a low ebb. There had been an angry public backlash the previous year when ministers announced the taxpayer would pick up the bill, which eventually ran to 36m, for the restoration of Windsor Castle following a catastrophic fire. In the aftermath of her annus horribilis, which also saw the separation of Charles and Diana, the Queen agreed that she would for the first time pay taxes. Of inestimable value to the UK With Sir John due to announce the historic move in a statement to parliament, Sir Robert Fellows, the Queens private secretary, saw an opportunity to secure what would amount to a show of support for a new yacht. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He asked Alex Allan, the prime ministers principal private secretary, whether Sir John would insert a passage referring to the importance of Britannia as well as the Queens flight and the royal train. He suggested the prime minister should tell MPs that it was not just a question of cost but also the style in which we wish our head of state and members of the royal family to represent us in their public duties. It is always difficult to put a price on prestige but I have no doubt that over the years these items have been of inestimable value to this country. Officials held a press conference at the International Boat Show aimed at encouraging the replacement of the yacht - Eddie Mulholland for The Telegraph Sir Roberts proposed addition to Sir Johns statement went on: I would also like to make clear that there is not, and never has been, any pressure from the Queen to build a replacement for HMY Britannia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should the government decide it is in the national interest for the yacht to be replaced that would be of course another matter. However, Nicolas Bevan, the official heading the working group set up to consider the future of the yacht, warned that the proposed remarks could be prejudicial to any future decisions. For example to say that the royal yacht has been of inestimable value to this country will not be a helpful remark if ministers in due course decide not to replace Britannia, Mr Bevan said. Equally it hardly rings true to suggest that it is a matter of complete indifference to the Queen as to whether Britannia is replaced or not. No kind of rearguard action on the yacht Despite the palaces protestations of neutrality, the files suggest courtiers were involved in what amounted to some none-too-subtle lobbying in favour of a new yacht. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On May 13 1993, senior government officials, led by Sir Robin Butler, the cabinet secretary, were invited to a splendid lunch on board Britannia where they were regaled by Sir High Bidwell, the former lord mayor of London, and the Earl of Limerick, a senior banker, on the value of the yacht to UK business. Expressing his thanks afterwards to Major General Sir Simon Cooper, the master of the Queens household, Sir Robin noted that the setting had brought home the issues to those involved in a unique way. However, when news of the meeting leaked out, government press officers were instructed to impress upon journalists that the Queen and royal family were not fighting any kind of rearguard action on the yacht. Despite misgivings over the costs, the Major government finally announced in January 1997 that they would build a replacement yacht if they were returned to power in the general election later that year. The Royal Yacht Britannia is now berthed in Leith, Edinburgh, where it is open to visitors - Getty Images/Chris Jackson The move was however widely interpreted as a desperate attempt to shore up support among wavering Tory voters, and when Labour was swept to power in a landslide they promptly reversed the decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Britannia was finally decommissioned, after returning the Chris Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong, following the handover to China, the Queen was seen to shed a tear. In its 43 years of service, the yacht sailed over one million nautical miles on 968 state visits with the Royal family where they entertained prime ministers and presidents. The yacht is now retired and is berthed in Leith, Edinburgh, where it is open to visitors. 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 protest supporting Palestine Action, the campaign group proscribed in Britain as a terror organisation, is being organised on a US website. At least 500 demonstrators are planning to gather on August 9 in central London to hold signs saying: I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action. The Metropolitan Police has warned the protesters to expect to be arrested. The demonstration has been organised by Defend Our Juries, which is leading a campaign to reverse Palestine Actions proscription, under which hundreds have already been arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is using the United States-based website Action Network to tell would-be protesters to express support for the group in such large numbers that the police cannot arrest all of them. But Defend Our Juries has denied the use of a foreign website is a ploy to dodge the UK ban on Palestine Action. 500 is more than double the total number of people arrested under the Terrorism Act in 2024, the organisers say in an action briefing document published on the Action Network website. It would be practically and politically difficult for the state to respond to an action on this scale. Even assuming it had the physical capacity to arrest so many people on the same day, the political fallout from such an operation would be incalculable, causing irreparable damage to the reputation of the Government and the police. Defend Our Juries said the protest was required because Palestine Actions proscription was a major assault on democracy and everyones rights to freedom of expression. It added: Our assessment is that an action on this scale could be enough for the ban to be lifted. Charging and prosecuting at least 500 more people, in addition to the 200 people already arrested, is likely to be beyond the capacity of the state, given the current situation in the criminal justice system. Palestine Action took down its own website after it was proscribed earlier this month. Expressing support for the group is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000. But supporters have since turned out to to protest against the ban, and confronted police outside the Royal Courts of Justice early this month when the court was hearing an unsuccessful bid to block the ban. Action Network allows protest groups to organise for progressive causes without having to set up their own online infrastructure. We encourage responsible activism, and do not support using the platform to take unlawful or other improper action, its website reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do not control or endorse the conduct of users and make no representations of any kind about them. Defend Our Juries organised protests across the United Kingdom over the weekend in which more than 100 people were arrested and some pro-Palestinian activists chanted f--- your Jewish state. Demonstrations were held in Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, Truro, and London. We have detailed plan, says Met A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police 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. A spokesman for Defend Our Juries said: If the Home Secretary and the Met Commissioner think its a good use of public resources to arrest, detain and interview more than 500 people for quietly expressing an opinion about the genocide in Gaza, thats on them. We have been asked if our use of Action Network is a devious attempt to circumvent the proscription of Palestine Action, since the website is based in the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The answer is No. That never even occurred to us. If our aim was to put ourselves beyond the reach of UK law enforcement, we wouldnt have opted for the US. We have always used Action Network for our campaigns, as many other groups and movements do, for its user friendliness and functionality. Action Network was 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 56-year-old Palmyra man was charged with allegedly assaulting and imprisoning a woman in her apartment, according to the South Lebanon Township Police Department. Roy Craig Jr. has been charged with burglary, false imprisonment, simple assault, possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia and criminal trespass. On July 15, police were dispatched to the 2000 block of South Lincoln Avenue for an active fight. A witness said she heard "blood curling screaming" coming from an apartment at the rear of the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police entered the building and found the victim appeared to be in distress, with bleeding observed from her forearms and elbows. "(The victim) reported that when she arrived home to her apartment, Roy Craig Jr. leaped toward her from the interior window where he was laying in wait on a stairwell," police said in court documents. "(The victim) tried to escape and flee outside although he pinned her down with his weight on the floor, at which time she was cut by broken glass strewn from a dropped glass." Craig allegedly took the victim's cell phone, and kept her from leaving the apartment with a TASER type flashlight. According to court documents, Craig pulled the victim into the apartment and held his hands on her mouth. "He stated that he paid someone in Lebanon $1,000 to kill her," police said in their report. "While keeping her against her will in the living room, he interrogated her on paranoid thoughts he was having." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was able to escape after a neighbor heard the disturbance and intervened, causing Craig to allegedly flee the apartment on foot. Craig had been arrested two times in the last two weeks for violating a protection against abuse order from the victim, according to police. In a search of the victim's apartment, police were able to locate a tan backpack. Inside was a wallet with Craig's drivers license, along with three burned glass tubes with push rods that police identified as "crack pipes." Police also discovered a small black "Tile" tracking device located in the victim's car, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 8 p.m. police were dispatched to the 500 block of Zinns Mill Road for a trespass complaint. The owner located a shirtless man was inside his horse barn and furnace room. After being located, the suspect fled into the farm fields on foot. With assistance from the Cornwall Borough Police, Lebanon County Regional Police Department and the Lebanon County Drone Unit, Roy Craig Jr. was located on the Lebanon Valley Exposition Center grounds. According to court documents, Craig was discovered shirtless. "Roy Craig Jr. admitted to entering entering (the victim's) apartment without permission and admitted to entering a barn nearby," police said in their report. Craig has a preliminary hearing scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Verna at 8 a.m. Aug. 7. 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: Man charged with imprisoning woman in S. Lebanon Twp apartment French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on July 21 that French defense companies are eager to establish joint production with Ukrainian counterparts, with a particular focus on drone manufacturing. "From the French side, there is such great interest and desire to cooperate with Ukrainian drone manufacturers," Barrot said at a press conference in Kyiv alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. "From my conversations with some leaders of these (Ukrainian) companies, I felt that interest is also on the other side." Frances foreign minister highlighted a key recent development, noting that representatives from 80 French defense companies visited Ukraine last week, holding around 200 meetings with their Ukrainian counterparts. Barrot said the large-scale engagement "reflects the shared intention to speed up cooperation and launch joint production of weapons and drones in Ukraine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This push for joint production follows recent reports of specific initiatives already in the works. In June, France Info revealed that French automaker Renault, in partnership with a small and medium-sized defense enterprise, plans to launch drone production in Ukraine. The collaboration would see Renault equipping production lines on Ukrainian territory, with the drones intended for use by both Ukrainian and French military forces, marking a significant crossover between the automotive and defense sectors. While the French Defense Ministry declined to comment on Renault specifically, Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed on June 6 that a major French car manufacturer would indeed join forces with a defense SME to launch drone production in Ukraine. Speaking to Le Monde, Lecornu did not name the automaker but lauded the project as an "unprecedented partnership." When contacted by France Info, Renault confirmed government contact but added that "no decision has been taken at this stage." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drone production is planned to occur away from front-line areas, though the exact locations remain undisclosed. Lecornu emphasized that Ukrainians would handle the assembly, acknowledging their strong expertise in drone development and combat deployment strategies. Read also: Under constant attack, Ukraines arms makers take shelter in European factories Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Jaclyn Corin gestures as Yolanda King, granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr., speaks during March for Our Lives, in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2022. Credit - Joshua RobertsReuters On Valentines Day 2018, Jaclyn Corin, now 24, sheltered in a classroom while a former student shot and killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High Schoolincluding Corins 14-year-old friend Jaime Guttenbergand wounded 17 more. In the wake of what came to be known as the Parkland shooting, Corin, then a junior and her class president, helped organize a two-day trip for 100 students to Floridas capital city Tallahassee to press elected officials for gun-safety reform and co-founded the organization March For Our Lives. On March 24, 2018, an estimated 800,000 people joined the first march in Washington, D.C., while 800 other marches took place around the U.S. Since then, Corin has completed degrees at Harvard and Oxford, interned at the Biden White House, and had a brief stint as management consultant. Earlier this year she was appointed executive director of March For Our Lives. She talked to TIME from D.C. about the way the gun lobby and resistance movements have changed and why the group is organizing a social media, petition, and advertising campaign calling out Parkland Pam, the U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Youve recently taken over the leadership of the organization you co-founded. What are you hoping to achieve? The gun-violence-prevention movement has evolved significantly since 2018. We have been able to accomplish a lot; over 300 gun-safety laws were passed on the state level, the NRA was effectively bankrupted, and young people really started to prioritize gun-violence prevention as a key political issue. But as urgency faded in the public eye, in some ways, the crisis deepened. In the time of all the federal progress, we saw the gun lobby adapting. It moved away from the NRA bluster and towards a quieter, more dangerous strategy, of dismantling enforcement and targeting vulnerable communities with militarized marketing. So we are focusing on accountability, going back to the real human impacts of this issue, so as to not let those we've lost or been damaged by this issue go forgotten. Do you see the NRA as defanged permanently or just dealing with a setback? March For Our Lives played a major role in taking down the NRA. We exposed their corruption. We filed a legal complaint that led to Wayne LaPierres downfall, and since we marched in 2018 they've lost over a million members and nearly half of their revenue, but the larger infrastructure of the gun lobby has not weakened. It has diversified and become more difficult to track. The most alarming shift is the lobby's strategic focus on eroding enforcement. The absence of enforcement, especially under attorneys general like Pam Bondi, has created a de facto deregulation that makes it easier for illegal gun dealers, domestic abusers, and others to access deadly weapons when they shouldn't. U.S. Attorney General Bondi was the attorney general of Florida at the time of the Parkland shooting. Did you meet with her in the aftermath? Yes. One week after the shooting, I sat across from Pam Bondi with nine friends as a grieving 17-year-old, still processing the loss of my classmates, and she looked us in the eye and told us she was with us. I was disturbed that she kept moving the conversation from guns to a hollow school-safety message, and yet, because of the political conditions and conversation in Florida, she ended up publicly supporting measures like red-flag laws and raising the age to buy a firearm in Florida from 18 to 21. But once the cameras were gone and her political career advanced, she quietly reversed course. Have you asked her about the differences between the Florida legislation that she endorsed and the types of rules that she's endorsing now? I wrote her a letter, and we sent it to her team last week, but we have yet to receive a response. We are initiating a campaign to publicly showcase the hypocrisy she has demonstrated. Its not about vengeance, but rather accountability: if she's not willing to meet with us and reckon with the promises she made back in 2018, then we will continue to call out the discrepancies in what she has claimed she will deliver and what she is actually doing. What were the promises she made in 2018? She didn't make specific promises in our meeting, but publicly, she did advertise her fervent support of those red-flag laws and raising the age to buy a firearm, and more than that, she consistently reiterated her commitment to supporting victims and families. I couldn't think of a worse way to support victims and families than to destroy all of the progress the gun-violence-prevention movement has made over the last few years. [TIMEs request for comment to the Attorney Generals office went unanswered.] Is there a reason you call out Bondi over somebody like Senator Rick Scott, who was governor of Florida then, and passed some of those red-flag laws? Rick Scott is certainly on my sh-t list, but Pam Bondi represents a unique and deeply personal betrayal, both for me and the Parkland community at large. She was the first official I met with formally after the shooting. And her words carried weight for me because they were delivered directly to survivors in this moment of both national and personal crisis. She [publicly] made specific commitments, and then actively dismantled the very safeguards she once said she supported. Can you name two or three things that she has done since becoming U.S. Attorney General that you feel are a betrayal of the assurances she gave you? She has supported budget cuts to the ATF [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms]. She has destroyed funding for community-based violence-intervention programs that are proven to reduce gun violence in the communities most impacted by it, and she has gotten rid of the ATF zero-tolerance enforcement policy for rogue gun dealers who repeatedly break the law and supply weapons used in crimes. Back in 2018 she constantly reiterated that she wanted to make sure that rogue gun dealers didn't get away with literal murder, but now she is dismantling the policies that would make that possible. Governor Ron DeSantis said recently that he wants to repeal Florida's red-flag laws. Does that alarm you? It's true that Ron DeSantis has tried to push for the repeal of red-flag laws and reduce the age to buy a firearm back down from 21 to 18. So in response to that threat, which happened to occur around the time of the shooting at Florida State University, where a number of Parkland survivors then survived their second mass shooting, March For Our Lives convened a group of folks from both Parkland and the FSU community to sign a letter to DeSantis, demanding that he veto that legislation to roll back the progress we made if it were to ever reach his desk. How do you stay positive and hopeful when you see the kind of progress that you made being whittled away? It's devastating. I can't lie. There are days where I'm so exhausted and feel defeated. But for every elected official who breaks their promises, I've met dozens of young people who have proceeded to organize voter drives or start local coalitions or show up to town halls and begin conversations with their friends and community about what public safety should look like. Are you in touch with other survivors? Do you guys hang? I think surviving a mass shooting breeds closeness that can't be replicated. So I have stayed in close touch with many people, David Hogg included. Those friendships definitely make the aftereffects of experiencing a trauma like that a bit lighter. How many have moved on to other things? Most of the other co-founders of MFOL have moved on to other things. There are two co-founders, one of them being David, who are still heavily involved with the organization. Sometimes it's hard to be in a space like this for so long and stay personally committed to the mission to end gun violence. So they just exercise that commitment differently in their lives. Is there something that keeps you awake at night about the outlook for your generation or among your peers? I think there is a disillusionment among my generation with regard to American politics. By the time many of us hit 30, Donald Trump will have had influence over our politics for nearly half of our lives. Weve grown up in a society where that is the case and where we feel like many of our effortswhether voting or organizing or talking to family membersgo nowhere. But that's part of why I wanted to come back to lead March For Our Lives, because I think we can reinvigorate our generation so long as we are calling out the people who are doing us wrong as much as we are lifting up one another and inspiring true hope. I think seeing one person step up and make a difference makes all the difference in inspiring others to do the same. With the benefit of seven years hindsight, is there anything you would do differently now in the immediate aftermath of the shooting? That's a hard one to answer, because on the one hand, the raw authenticity and pure anger that was at the forefront of all of our communications back then made March For Our Lives so compelling. We were kids, 14, 15, 16, 17 years old, who were speaking from the heart and not delivering polished talking points. But I suppose in hindsight, I would tell both myself and all of us that progress is going to take a long time. We genuinely thought that we were going to end gun violence within a year or two. So I would tell us to slow down a little bit and celebrate even the slight progress we were able to make. That potentially would have helped me close my computer at a reasonable time of night. I know that David Hogg and X Gonzalez attracted a lot of criticism and even harassment. Has any of that come your way? X and David were the main two faces of the movement, but I personally experienced a number of death threats. I had the FBI on the speed dial. Getting involved in the gun-violence-prevention movement is scary, because I know what comes with putting your name out there. And I know so many women especially experience unique, horrific threats when they are to speak out for what they believe in. But there are thousands of innocent Americans, many of them children, who never got the chance to speak out about gun violence before their life was ended by it, so I am committing to continuing the fight. You went to Harvard for your undergraduate and Oxford for your masters. The world was your oyster. Was there a little bit of you that was like, do I go back to this gun-violence space? Its such a difficult issue and it attracts a lot of negative attention. At Harvard, there's a competitiveness that looms in the air where, if you don't join McKinsey, Bain, or BCG or have an active plan to go to law school, then you are failing. Immediately after I graduated from Harvard, I was a White House intern for the Biden Administration, and I had secured a job in management consulting [after graduation] a month into my time at Oxford. I worked in management consulting, in a public-sector department. I hated it, because it felt like I was not contributing to something bigger than me. And I recognized about myself that I wanted to have my hands on the clay and play an active role in molding it. So when the opportunity arose to lead March For Our Lives into its next chapter, I quit my consulting job at the six-month mark, and I am not regretful. This is exactly where I'm supposed to be right now in my life. Correction, July 22 The original version of this story misquoted Jaclyn Corin. She said: At Harvard, there's a competitiveness that looms in the air..., not "blooms in the air." Contact us at letters@time.com. Texas-based mobile virtual network provider Patriot Mobile announced Monday its support for Cell Phones for Soldiers (CPFS), a national nonprofit that provides cost-free communication services to active-duty military members and veterans. The organization accepts donations of used and unused phoneswhether working or broken. Donated phones are wiped of personal data, then either refurbished for resale through Vendidit, an AI-powered recommerce platform, or responsibly recycled for parts. Proceeds fund CPFS programs, including Cell Phones for Soldiers Mobile, Minutes That Matter, and Helping Heroes Home. Unused phones are cleaned and inspected to ensure they are in good working condition and ready to be paired with new service and distributed to veterans, according to CPFSs website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nonprofit partners with trusted mobile virtual network operatorsincluding Patriot Mobileto provide reliable low- or no-cost mobile service on the refurbished devices. Veterans at or below the federal poverty line, or those enrolled in government assistance programs such as SNAP or Medicaid, qualify for the free phone service. The program also delivers information on education, employment, healthcare, and local services directly to recipients devices. After one year of free service, veterans may keep their phones and access discounted service plans through CPFSs veteran-owned partners. Patriot Mobile is proud to support this program as part of our Veterans and First Responders-focused philanthropic patriotism, said Jenny Story, chief operating officer of Patriot Mobile. This grassroots, statewide effort is one of many CPFS programs Patriot Mobile supports to connect local and state officials with veterans in their communities. CPFS is grateful and humbled by the generosity Patriot Mobile provides to the veterans in our programs, said Rob Bergquist, founder and executive director of Cell Phones for Soldiers. We work together with Patriot Mobile and our other veteran-friendly partners for the sake of our nations veterans at locations around the country. From providing recruits with communication during Christmas to connect with loved ones in the Great Lakes region, to bridging the digital divide for at-risk veterans in the communities where they live, CPFS and Patriot Mobile are making a difference, he added. Eligible veterans can apply through their local county Veteran Service Officer or visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com. CHICAGO Faith leaders and community members gathered outside the Chicago Immigration Court office in the South Loop for a peaceful protest, urging compassion for immigrant families. The purpose of the gathering was to show solidarity with those affected by immigration policies and enforcement actions. That every time a family comes into this courthouse, they are treated with respect and dignity, Pastor Julie Contreras said. That ICE agents stop shackling and chaining them and criminalizing them. Theres something called due process in our nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The demonstration included prayers and public calls to implement policies that protect vulnerable families and provide a pathway to permanent residency for undocumented immigrants. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Baltazar Enriquez, the President of the Little Village Community Council, says the community must stand united and support those impacted. He says the Latino community is being deeply affected, pointing to an incident that allegedly took place Monday near Cermak Road and Kilbourn Avenue in which two men and a woman with her child were detained by ICE agents. Little Village businesses targeted in hate-fueled vandalism Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE agents just pulled over this car, drug them out of their car without a warrant, without any document, just kidnapped them. We dont know what their location is. Its very hard for us to even find out who they are, Enriquez said. Enriquez says they are coordinating with a rapid response team to identify the individuals who were detained and to contact their families in order to secure legal representation for them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PECOS, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) The Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School District Board of Trustees on July 21 approved Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Package #4, advancing the next phase of the new Pecos High School with plans to build a state-of-the-art Fine Arts Center. The new facility is expected to include a 900-seat auditorium, a band hall for the Mighty Eagle Band, a Black Box Theatre, art classrooms, a prop shop, and a new choir room. District leaders said the project represents a continued investment in student opportunity and success through creative education. This phase of our high school rebuild honors the heart of student expression, our fine arts programs, Superintendent Brent Jaco said in a statement. At PBTISD, we believe the arts are essential to a well-rounded education. Whether students find their voice through theatre, music, singing, painting, or behind-the-scenes production, these new spaces will give them the opportunity to shine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Fine Arts Center is scheduled to be completed by 2027 and will serve as a professional-grade venue for concerts, plays, award ceremonies, and districtwide events. The new Black Box Theatre will offer a more intimate and flexible space for student-directed productions and experimental performances. The district also plans to introduce a choir program, further expanding its arts curriculum. In addition to performance spaces, the center will house dedicated classrooms for traditional visual arts, such as painting and pottery, and a prop shop to support theater and band productions. This new facility is not just about construction, its about what it unlocks for our students, Jaco said. The Fine Arts Center was designed through a collaborative process involving students, teachers, administrators, and VLK Architects. Officials said the design reflects the unique identity of Pecos High School and the districts long-standing commitment to the arts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new Fine Arts Center is one component of the larger Pecos High School rebuild, which has included multiple GMP packages over several years. The full project is part of a long-term effort to modernize educational facilities across PBTISD. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. Jul. 21New Mexico's Public Education Department will begin touring the state next month seeking public input as it starts developing a court-mandated remedial plan to improve the quality of education it provides to students in the state. Seven years after the landmark ruling in the Yazzie-Martinez case, which found that the quality of education provided to underserved students in the state was so poor that it violated their constitutional rights, a ruling in April of this year found that the PED had not done enough since 2018 to improve, and required them to submit a remedial plan. PED has completed its first step, as ordered by the court, by selecting outside consultants to assist in the remedial plan. The entities chosen were New Mexico-based Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation and the Phoenix-based nonprofit WestEd. PED did not respond to questions about how much the contractors are being paid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meetings will take place in Farmington, Espanola and Las Cruces on Aug. 5; Raton on Aug. 6; Santa Fe, Mescalero and Clovis on Aug. 7; Silver City, Zuni and Carlsbad on Aug. 14; and Albuquerque on Aug. 20. Additionally, a virtual meeting will take place on Aug 26. The public is invited to attend, and "additional event details, including times and locations, will be announced soon," according to a PED news release. The state's primary educational policymaking arm, the Legislative Education Study Committee, will also join PED and the two contractors in the effort. By the beginning of October, PED must produce a draft remedial plan, "incorporating input from plaintiffs and stakeholders, and file a status report." By November, the department must "finalize the comprehensive remedial plan," according to the order from 1st Judicial District Judge Matthew Wilson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Yazzie-Martinez case was first brought over a decade ago, in 2014, when Wilhelmina Yazzie, the parent of a student at Gallup-McKinley County Schools, and Louise Martinez, the parent of an Albuquerque Public Schools student, joined other parents to file a lawsuit against the state, tasking it to improve its education system. PED said it will focus its remedial efforts in five core areas as required by the court: equitable access to high-quality instruction; access to well-prepared, culturally and linguistically responsive educators; academic, social and behavioral support services; fair and effective funding to meet student needs; and data and accountability systems to drive continuous improvement. Following the April ruling in favor of the plaintiffs, PED said it welcomed Wilson's "decision to lead development of a plan providing all New Mexico students an excellent education and that will lead to resolution of the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit." New Mexico is broadly and consistently considered to be one of the worst states in the country for K-12 public education. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A person was rushed to the hospital Tuesday morning with life-threatening injuries after they were struck by a CATS bus in uptown Charlotte. The accident happened just after 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 22, at the corner of 3rd Street and Brevard Street. Medic confirmed with Queen City News that one person was transported to Novant Presbyterian with serious injuries. The exact circumstances of the accident remain under investigation. This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has released a memo outlining medical conditions that disqualify recruits from joining the military, such as a history of paraphilic disorders which includes pedophilia and homicidal ideations. The memo also updates the list of medical conditions that require a waiver from a service secretary to enlist, including absence of a foot, having a pacemaker or defibrillator, or a history of disorders with psychotic features such as schizophrenic disorder. Severe underlying medical conditions introduce significant risks on the battlefield and threaten not only mission priorities, but also the health and safety of the affected individual and their fellow service members, Hegseth wrote. None of the disqualifying medical conditions were among the top health issues for which the military services have issued waivers recently, according to data that service officials provided to Task & Purpose earlier this year. The top medical conditions for which recruits seek medical waivers, according to that data, include vision issues and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, neither of which are addressed in the new memo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, Hegseth ordered the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness to review which medical conditions can be waived and which should disqualify military service. He wrote in an April 24 memo that applicants could currently receive medical waivers for conditions including schizophrenia, paraphilic disorders, congestive heart failure, and chronic use of oxygen. No information was immediately available about how many waivers were issued for those conditions. The services granted more than 52,400 medical waivers to troops in fiscal year 2024, according to data provided to Task & Purpose by the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force. The new policy seems unlikely to impact the majority of troops since the most common medical waivers granted this fiscal year and last were for those with ADHD or astigmatism, a vision problem that causes near-sightedness, according to information provided by the services. Top Stories This Week 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 News A Marine general will command the Naval Academy for the first time A Marine general will command the Naval Academy for the first time By Matt White Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fiscal year 2024, the top three conditions that the Air Force approved waivers for included asthma, cornea dystrophias/astigmatism and anxiety. For the Army, they were for behavioral health (a majority of which were for ADHD), orthopedic issues, and eye-related problems. In fiscal year 2024 and for part of 2025, the top conditions with health waivers in the Navy were for astigmatism, ADD/ADHD, and allergies. For the Marine Corps, the top waiver conditions were astigmatism, ADHD, and history of asthma or airway hyper-responsiveness after the persons 13th birthday. The new medical waiver policy comes amid Hegseths pledge to refocus and return to standards he alleges have been eroded in recent years to meet quotas. The Department remains committed to mission success by ensuring that the young Americans who serve are physically and mentally capable of performing their duties in the harshest conditions, Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data provided by the Navy indicated that a greater number of recruits began basic training with a medical waiver in fiscal year 2025 than in 2024. The increase in the percentage of recruits with waivers were the result of MHS Genesis coming online in 2022, Cmdr. Stephanie Turo, a spokesperson for Navy Recruiting Command, told Task & Purpose in May. The online system has flagged some conditions that Turo said were erroneous and would require a waiver. MHS Genesis was created as an electronic health record system that would follow a service member throughout their career, until their separation or retirement into the Department of Veterans Affairs health system. MHS Genesis also incorporates civilian health records, giving recruiting stations more insight into recruits previous medical history. Last year, nearly 37% of future sailors, or 13,148 individuals, began entry-level training with a medical waiver. As of mid-May which was a little more than halfway through the fiscal year more than 45% or 11,089 individuals had medical waivers, according to Navy data. This increase reflects significant improvements in the speed and efficiency of our medical waiver review process not a relaxation of standards, Turo said. US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has ordered for 700 marines deployed to Los Angeles last month, amid protests against a sweeping crackdown on undocumented immigrants, to be redeployed. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell on Monday said that, "with stability returning to Los Angeles," the marines could be withdrawn from the second largest US city by population. "Their rapid response, unwavering discipline, and unmistakable presence were instrumental in restoring order and upholding the rule of law," Parnell said, adding that their deployment had sent a "clear message: lawlessness will not be tolerated." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, Trump mobilized 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 marines for deployment in the city, despite opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, after days of demonstrations opposing his hard-line stance on migrants and recent deportation raids. The move has led to criticism that the deployments are exacerbating the situation on the ground. Under normal circumstances, control of the National Guard lies with individual US states. In times of war or national emergency, however, the president can assume command. Some 2,000 members of the National Guard remain in the city. According to the Trump administration they are there to protect federal personnel and property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There was never a need for the military to deploy against civilians in Los Angeles," Newsom, a prominent Democrat and potential 2028 presidential contender, said on Monday. "The damage is done, however. We, again, call upon them to do the right thing and end the militarization once and for all." Trump specifically targeted Democrat-led cities including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York with his crackdown on undocumented immigrants, urging the federal agents to step up enforcement efforts. Mass deportations were a central promise during Trump's election campaign. Since he returned to office in January, his administration has staged raids accompanied by press releases, photographs and regular updates on deportations to showcase their efforts. An estimated 11 million people currently live in the US without valid papers. Many work in sectors vital to the economy, such as agriculture, construction and hospitality US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has ordered for 700 marines deployed to Los Angeles last month, amid protests against a sweeping crackdown on undocumented immigrants, to be redeployed. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell on Monday said that, "with stability returning to Los Angeles," the marines could be withdrawn from the second largest US city by population. "Their rapid response, unwavering discipline, and unmistakable presence were instrumental in restoring order and upholding the rule of law," Parnell said, adding that their deployment had sent a "clear message: lawlessness will not be tolerated." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, Trump mobilized 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 marines for deployment in the city, despite opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, after days of demonstrations opposing his hard-line stance on migrants and recent deportation raids. The move has led to criticism that the deployments are exacerbating the situation on the ground. Under normal circumstances, control of the National Guard lies with individual US states. In times of war or national emergency, however, the president can assume command. Some 2,000 members of the National Guard remain in the city. According to the Trump administration they are there to protect federal personnel and property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There was never a need for the military to deploy against civilians in Los Angeles," Newsom, a prominent Democrat and potential 2028 presidential contender, said on Monday. "The damage is done, however. We, again, call upon them to do the right thing and end the militarization once and for all." Trump specifically targeted Democrat-led cities including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York with his crackdown on undocumented immigrants, urging the federal agents to step up enforcement efforts. In the United States, the past three presidents sworn into office have a combined age of 226. There's a minimum age requirement to serve as US president (35 years old), but no maximum age requirement. On the always conversational r/AskReddit, Reddit user u/CountyOpposite7622 asked fellow Americans: Would limiting the age of the President to 65 be something youd support? Why or why not? Here are some of the answers about a topic that is more split than you'd think: SimpleImages / Getty Images 1."Yes, if there is a young age limit, then an older one is justified as well." u/Tails6666 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Obama was the only president we've had this wave who was born after the 1940s." u/ricosmith1986 2."Id support age limits for all politicians. Asking someone to live a while in the world they create is a fair ask, in my opinion." u/dkviper11 3."Politicians collecting social security have no business in Congress, the White House, etc." u/Helpful_Finger_4854 Related: "He Left This Planet Feeling Every Bit Of His Death": Medical Professionals Are Revealing Their Most Shocking, Stomach-Dropping Patient Stories 4."Why are we letting folks who can die from a strong breeze knocking them over run the country?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement u/BooobiesANDbho 5."I think Americans need to ask themselves: Why are American politicians generally so old? Most of the world doesn't have maximum age limits either, yet older people in politics are much rarer elsewhere. Why?" u/Divolinon "Money = Power." u/Sad_Inspector_4780 6."Mitch McConnell has been a Kentucky senator since 1985; he's had power longer than I've been alive." u/Ferrous31 Drew Angerer / Getty Images 7."Add in 20-year limits on Supreme Court and Federal judge appointments. Lifetime appointments are ridiculous. As far as an age limit on legislators, I agree for the most part, but Sanders makes me question it. He seems to grasp the moment better than many Democrats in Congress who are 30 years his junior." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement u/matt_minderbinder 8."There is a minimum, so a maximum makes sense. 35-70 seems reasonable. A 70-year-old running for election would finish the term at 74, maybe 75, depending on the time of their birthday, of course. Just for discussion's sake." u/ifitfitsitshipz 9."Considering Congress limits my profession to age 65, I'd love for that to be an age cap for ALL federal elected officials as well." u/cbph 10."Without some sort of test for competency, it doesn't matter where you set the age limit." u/tricksterloki "The problem with that is that there is no way we could get everyone to agree on the definition of competent in this context." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement u/FreeIDecay Related: My Innocence Has Been Destroyed After Learning These Terrible, Disturbing, And Creepy Things 11."Actual fossils running our government." u/MakimaGOAT 12."Weve been stuck in a generational loop with presidents." u/kerouacrimbaud 13."The US Constitution technically has a provision to remove a mentally incompetent president from office. It's just never been used before for a whole host of reasons. An age limit would at least help." u/PenguinQuesadilla 14."There is a minimum because the founders wanted life experience to be a factor. Theres enough time for somebody to learn and understand how things work when it comes to people and management. I'm OK with the way things are. I like freedom, but I also appreciate having some structure within it. Let's say we eliminate the 35-year-old minimum, which would now allow a 10-year-old to be elected to the presidency. Probably not a smart move, but hopefully society isn't that silly." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement u/ifitfitsitshipz 15."I know plenty of 70-year-olds that I think would be perfectly competent to be president, and plenty of 40-year-olds I wouldn't trust to watch paint dry." u/OneGoodRib Related: 57 Low-Key Terrifying Photos That Gave Me Goosebumps But That I Couldn't Look Away From 16."Maybe tie it in with a driver's test. If they can't be mentally or physically competent enough to make decisions while in a car, I don't want them behind the wheel of a country either." u/ExistentialWonder 17."I think 75 by election day is fair. I work in healthcare, and people over 65 should have an opportunity to be represented because they have a drastically different set of needs than people who are 55. " Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement u/09232022 "F*** that. They've already been overrepresented in Congress for decades now. I'm done tolerating being ruled by ancient, technologically illiterate ghouls." u/GreatResetBet Andrew Harnik / Getty Images 18."I would probably say 65 when their term starts or 70 when it ends. Doing the job right is extremely stressful, and very few older folks can sustain that. I would also put caps on Congress: 75 years old at the end of their term." u/Freds_Bread 19."100%. We need presidents who still have enough life left to actually face the consequences of their choices in office. That way they'll have incentive to do good." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement u/Its0nlyRocketScience 20."Nope. The world does not need more techbro billionaires in politics. CEOs in general make awful politicians." u/ErikTheEngineer 21."Use cognitive tests for metrics that matter. Do not use age solely because it's correlated with older age. Person A can be sharp as a tack at 85, person B can develop early-onset dementia at 63." u/mintmouse Mario Martinez / Getty Images 22."The House, Senate, Supreme Court, and president should all top out at 50, not because of any issues of mental competency. Its because you should be forced to live in the world you built after you leave office. So many octogenarian freaks are fine with passing sociopathic legislation because theyre expecting to croak in the next three or four years. If its guaranteed that you actually have to suffer the fallout of your actions for 20 or 30 years, then you might be more likely to pass legislation that wont kill all of us in 10." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement u/FoucaultsPudendum "The flaw here is that ex-presidents/senators/etc. make a fuck-ton of money after they leave office, so they'll never have to deal with things that we peons have to deal with." u/Wuz314159 Related: 15 Men Who Tried To "Educate" Women About Their Own Bodies And Failed So, So Miserably 23."No, because not all old people are senile." u/RetroBerner 24."Yes, and I would also pay a ham sandwich or five to see a Constitutional amendment limiting all federally elected officials to either two consecutive 4-year terms or a single 6-year term to ensure they arent constantly campaigning." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement u/lipstickd_tapshoes 25."I find it shocking how many people in the US government are over 70, at least at the higher level. I actually supported Biden for his polices, but not as a person because of his age. He was in his late 70s to mid-80s. WTF is he doing, trying to run for president again? Yeah, for sure, an age limit. Id rather have someone whos mentally and physically alert and active enough to do the job. 65 is the retirement age, which should be the cutoff. Or like 67 or 68. Though older people can be mentally alert and aware, its clear at that age that it goes down." u/qings1 Marcia Straub / Getty Images 26."Absolutely. There is no reason we retire pilots flying commercially, and even in the military. The president is the Commander-in-Chief. 65 years old tops." u/ViolettaQueso 27."I'm not really in favor of limits like this, but also, it takes an unhinged person to, at 65, say 'I'd like to run for office,' let alone for POTUS." u/Able-Candle-2125 28."No. Different people age at different rates, so it doesn't make sense to disallow someone in their mid-60s who is still sharp from being president. Also, we the people are responsible for voting for decent candidates. Its our fault that so many of us are dumbass Trump supporters." u/OkArmordillo 29."You can't be the president if you're under 35. Nobody seems to have a problem with that. I sure don't. A 30-year window of eligibility makes pretty good sense to me. The person leading this country should be in their prime, and not someone whose mental faculties are potentially compromised by their advanced age." u/RilohKeen What do you think of a presidential age limit of 65? Comment below. Note: Responses have been edited for length/clarity. Also in Internet Finds: Women Are Absolutely Destroying The Internet With These 15 Tweets That Had Me Rolling On The Floor Also in Internet Finds: We've Only Explored 5% Of The Ocean, So It's No Surprise That These 27 Terrifying Stories From People Who Work At Sea Are Amongst The Scariest I've Ever Read Also in Internet Finds: 40 Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Creepy Wikipedia Pages Read it on BuzzFeed.com ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) New Mexico is home to the most highly polluted body of water in the world, according to University of New Mexico researchers. PFAS, a group of toxic forever chemicals linked to health problems, is showing up in water, wildlife, and everyday products. This week on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast, James Kenney, Secretary of the New Mexico Environment Department, joins Chris and Gabby to discuss the scope of contamination in New Mexico, the federal governments response, and what people can do to mitigate risks. I think we should be running around like our hairs on fire, honestly, Sec. Kenney said. Because it is one of the most egregious and significant pollution events thats happening, not only in New Mexico, but of our generation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How do you know if youve been exposed? Which bodies of water are considered hazardous? Are big game hunters at risk of eating contaminated meat? And what sort of health problems does PFAS cause? Read the environmental report on PFAS in New Mexico Sec. Kenney addresses those questions and more in the full discussion above. This is going to go down in history as the poisoning of the United States and the poisoning of a New Mexico community, said Kenney. And I dont want to look back on this in five years or ten years and say I couldve done more. I want to do everything and more today. Stay informed with the latest news by subscribing to the New Mexico News Insiders podcast wherever you listen. Download new episodes of the New Mexico News Insiders every Tuesday, starting around 5:30 a.m., Mountain time. Episodes are available on most podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean, among others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can also watch our podcasts in video form, both on-air and online. Tune in to an abbreviated version of the New Mexico News Insiders podcast on broadcast television every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. on Fox New Mexico. Full video episodes are posted on KRQEs YouTube page at youtube.com/krqenews13. Having trouble finding the show? Try searching your favorite podcast player with the term KRQE or New Mexico News Insiders (without the quotes). You can also use the links above to find the podcast on each service or listen to the audio player at the top of this post. If you have a question, comment, or suggestion for who should be interviewed on the podcast, let us know! Email your hosts at chris.mckee@krqe.com or gabrielle.burkhart@krqe.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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Jul. 22ASOTIN A Wyoming couple accused of orchestrating a knife attack on a Clarkston man appeared in Asotin County Superior Court on Monday. Phyllis K. Krogman, 65, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder at her arraignment before Judge Thomas Cox. Her husband, Thomas Krogman, 68, was informed an additional charge of conspiracy to commit murder has been filed by the prosecutor. He has pleaded not guilty to the original charge of first-degree attempted murder, but has not responded to the amended information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The allegations stem from an incident June 2 at Motel 6. The victim, Daniel Henry, 72, was stabbed multiple times and survived the attack. He is the brother of Phyllis Krogman, who resides in Gillette, Wyo., with husband Thomas. According to the probable-cause affidavit, Mrs. Krogman allegedly wanted revenge for family sexual abuse allegations that occurred when Henry was around 10 years old. Mrs. Krogman is accused of encouraging her husband to carry out the alleged attack and helping him plan it by phoning her brother to determine where he lived and worked. Mrs. Krogman was arrested at the Asotin County Courthouse last week after her husband's bond review. During the hearing, a detective said he had just listened to a recorded jailhouse call between the Wyoming husband and wife. During the call, Mrs. Krogman was allegedly making statements such as, "I want to know when my brother is going to pay for this." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM On Monday, Mr. Krogman's attorney told the Court that the charges based on that phone call are a "giant leap." Mrs. Krogman was referring to filing charges against her brother in another state, and she didn't have anything to do with the knife incident, said attorney Steve Graham, of Spokane. "The conspiracy charge is a big nothing-burger," Graham told the Lewiston Tribune. "The investigators are off track, and they're going to find out that they're wrong about this." According to police, Mr. Krogman drove 13 hours from Gillette to the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley, bought a Lewiston High School sweatshirt and walked into the Motel 6 lobby where Henry was working behind the counter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While in the hospital recovering from his injuries, Henry told police he had not seen his brother-in-law in about 10 years and didn't immediately recognize him. As for the sexual abuse allegations, Henry said he had apologized decades ago, and believed the matter had been resolved. After the alleged stabbing, which was captured on surveillance video, Mr. Krogman reportedly drove back to Wyoming, where he was later arrested and transported to the Asotin County Jail. Phyllis Krogman is being represented by Lewiston attorney Rick Cuddihy, and Asotin County Prosecutor Curt Liedkie is handling both cases for the state. Mrs. Krogman is set to appear in court Aug. 4, and her husband's trial is scheduled for early September. Both are in custody of the jail on no-bond holds. Sandaine can be reached at kerris@lmtribune.com. When Saudia 35 left King Abdulaziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia on Saturday morning, a landing at Pittsburgh International Airport wasnt on the schedule for the 13-hour flight. But when bad weather slammed into Washington, D.C., and arrival at Dulles International wasnt in the cards, Pittsburgh International Airport was where the big Boeing 777 ended up landing safely. Same thing Saturday for United Airlines Flight 804 from Tokyo to Dulles International and, on Monday, American Airlines Flight 168, a Boeing 787-900 flying from Tokyo to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Each were diverted for a safe landing at PIT when the weather precluded their original destination after many hours in the air across the Pacific Ocean and Canada and holding patterns. Its been a busy month for diversions at Pittsburgh International Airport, with 70 in June alone and 285 in 2025 through July 14. The busiest day was Tuesday, July 8, where bad weather on the East Coast saw 18 flights on their way to Reagan National and Dulles in Washington landing instead at Pittsburgh International. The flights came from all over the place, whether they were longhauls from London and Frankfurt, Germany, or closer to home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Click here to read more from our partners at the Pittsburgh Business Times. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Jul. 21Spokane'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. A barred owl at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, in Oregon. (Ray Bosch/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) A controversial plan to kill up to half a million invasive barred owls to protect endangered spotted owls is in jeopardy after the Trump administration terminated three critical grants funding the program. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services barred owl management strategy was approved last September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan, set to start this year and continue for three decades, called for lethal removal of barred owls in Washington, Oregon and California by shooting them with shotguns or, less frequently, capturing and euthanizing them. Barred owls and spotted owls prefer the same habitat and compete for the same food. But the barred owl is larger and more aggressive, and typically prevails in conflicts with the spotted owl. Julia Smith, endangered species recovery section manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, told the state Fish and Wildlife Commission last week that the northern spotted owl will be functionally extinct in Washington within the next decade if no new action is taken. Theres no easy button to recover this bird, and were left with only the most difficult options, Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has said its plan to shoot barred owls would result in the annual removal of less than one-half of 1% of the species North American population. Animal rights activists and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have publicly opposed the plan, calling it costly, unsustainable and inhumane. Now, the Trump administration has canceled $1.1 million in grants to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to enact the program, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday. The grant cancellation is the first public indication of the administrations stance on the plan. Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, two animal rights activist groups that have led a national fight against the plan, said Monday the grant cancellation marks a turning point in the debate over whether to kill the invasive owls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Americans dont want to finance shooting North American owls in national parks from Olympic to Crater Lake to Yosemite, said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy estimate the 30-year plan could cost up to $1.35 billion. An official cost estimate has not been released. The activist groups cited a $4.5 million grant awarded last year to the Hoopa Valley Tribe in California to kill 1,500 owls over four years a cost of roughly $3,000 per bird. While the barred owl management strategy is controversial, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says its necessary to stabilize the spotted owl population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington is home to the endangered northern spotted owl, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is included on the U.S. Fish and Wildlifes list of agencies cooperating with the barred owl removal plan. The northern spotted owl was designated as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act nearly 25 years ago. In the Pacific Northwest, spotted owls are known for their central role in the timber wars of the 1980s and 1990s, which pitted environmentalists concerned about saving old-growth trees against loggers. This conflict eventually led to the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan, which put new protections in place for forests where the spotted owl lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says that the rate of spotted owl population declines showed signs of improvement until about 2008, but accelerated soon after, and that the downturn coincided with the expansion of barred owls into spotted owls territory. Smith, with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, said modeling of what would happen if barred owls were no longer present in Washington showed the spotted owl population growing steadily for the next 15 years and stabilizing in 30 to 40 years. The simulation also showed that, if not completely eliminated from the state, barred owl populations would recover and stabilize as soon as management efforts stopped. Control across a large region would be incredibly expensive, and youd have to keep doing it forever, former U.S. Forest Service wildlife biologist Dr. Eric Forsman, who helped pioneer protections for spotted owls, said in a statement published by Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. In the long run, were just going to have to let the two species work it out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barred owl population control is one part of Washingtons three-pronged plan to save the spotted owl from extinction. Breeding programs to grow the spotted owl population and maintenance of old-growth forest habitat are the other two strategies Washington relies on. Smith noted that none of these methods alone would be enough to save the spotted owl. Well need to do all three of these things together, she said. Police in Florida are eating crow after it emerged that they arrested a random man in August of 2024, based on a lead generated by facial recognition software, and charged him with a horrifying crime of which he was entirely innocent. Robert Dillon of Lee County, Florida was shocked when officers hauled him out of his home last year, charging that he attempted to lure a 12-year-old child in another part of the state back in November of 2023. According to a police report viewed by Action News Jax, a local media outlet, Dillion was pegged for the crime after AI software used by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and Jacksonville Beach PD connected him to surveillance footage of the actual suspect, calling him a "93 percent match." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dillon's photo was then shown to two witnesses along with similar-looking individuals, who both identified the 51-year-old man as the suspect, leading to his arrest nine months after the alleged crime took place. In body-cam video shared by ANJax, both Dillon and his wife were audibly disturbed by the accusation. "This is f**king nuts. God this is nuts," said Dillon as local police stuffed him in the back of a squad car. "I haven't been out of Fort Meyers in two years," the man told police, referring to the seat of Lee County. Jacksonville Beach, for reference, is a five-hour drive North, on the opposite side of the peninsula. The Florida man is one of a growing number of wrongful arrests attributed to AI, a concerning trend as more and more police departments outsource their detective work to unproven and often sloppy algorithmic software. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the US, local police are growing increasingly reliant on AI tech that cross references datasets such as drivers registration info, surveillance camera footage, and social media. These systems are notoriously unreliable and sycophantic, scraping vast chunks of the internet to confirm users' queries. Paired with life-altering legal accusations, that's a recipe for a dystopian technological horror story. Even if this tech were to identify the right suspect a big if, given its numerous failures so far the US Constitution requires probable cause to make an arrest that legal experts say AI can't provide. "Police are not allowed under the Constitution to arrest somebody without probable cause," Nate Freed-Wessler, deputy director of the ACLUs Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project told ANJax. "And this technology expressly cannot provide probable cause, it is so glitchy, it's so unreliable. At best, it has to be viewed as an extremely unreliability lead because it often, often gets it wrong." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while the use of the notoriously hallucinogenic software leads to wrongful arrests, it also serves to allow agencies to skirt their responsibility to follow due process. Throughout Robert Dillon's infuriating saga, the two police departments involved continuously passed the buck onto each other. "If you came to me with a facial recognition hit and that was your probable cause, I would probably kick you out of my office because thats not how it works," Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters told ANJax. Though Waters' department apparently lent Jacksonville Beach PD the "aid" of its AI lab to identify Dillon, Waters and his department can skirt responsibility so long as they weren't the arresting agency. The arresting officers in Lee County did the same: "I don't know what to tell you, G. This isn't our investigation, it's all Jacksonville," the officer told Dillon, referring to Jacksonville Sheriff and Jacksonville Beach PD. When it became obvious that they had the wrong guy whether due to a proven alibi or lack of probable cause isn't yet known both Jacksonville agencies passed the buck onto the State of Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will not be commenting on this matter beyond stating that all warrant requests are submitted to the State Attorney's Office," the Jacksonville Beach Police Department said in a statement. "It is solely their decision whether or not to move forward with issuing a warrant." Per ANJax, Dillon is now pursuing legal damages for his wrongful arrest. If similar lawsuits suits are any indication, this incident might end up costing Jacksonville taxpayers bigtime. More on AI: A Peek Into Trump's AI Border Dystopia Chicago Police Department brass accused Mayor Brandon Johnsons administration of deliberately slowing down paychecks for dozens of employees this summer in a fiery email that warned the city was jeopardizing its compliance with the federal consent decree. Police Department Deputy Director Ryan Fitzsimons emailed multiple officials in Johnsons budget office June 2 to alert them of the departments overdue A-forms, paperwork required to process paychecks for new hires and promotions. After following up the next day to confirm that police recruits were not getting their first paychecks, he sent an additional message June 10 saying Johnsons budget office was purposely sitting on the forms. Given that we discussed at length via email and on our meeting on May 8th the need for timely approval of A-Forms, it would appear that OBM is pursuing a pattern of practice to delay the approval of A-Forms with the functional result of not paying employees on time and delaying compliance with the Consent Decree, Fitzsimons wrote. What is OBMs plan to systemically approve or deny A-forms? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unusually contentious email noted, CPD is committed to paying our employees on time. It is one of our most basic requirements as an employer and is also required by law. OBMs delay to sign A-Forms is exposing the City to increased legal risk along with diminished morale and increased attrition of our recruits. A joint statement last week from the mayors office, the Office of Budget Management and Chicago police acknowledged that about 60 police academy recruits saw late paychecks, along with six Chicago Fire Department employees. The response cast the snafu as an administrative error that has since been rectified. We acknowledge that administrative delays affected recently hired and promoted employees, and we have taken corrective steps to ensure the payments were made, the statement said. The City is continuing to evaluate ways to improve internal systems such as A-form processing and hiring workflows with a goal of reducing administrative delays and supporting public safety staffing needs. While the city said the lag was less than a week, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara noted the 54 recruits who started in May only got their first paycheck last month after he spoke with WMAQ-Ch. 5 to sound the alarm. And former city Inspector General Joe Ferguson, who has authored reports on the citys complicated hiring process, argued you shouldnt have that situation at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It appears to be just another manifestation of the general practice in which OBM is actually closely holding their hand on the checker in order to find nickels, dimes, dollars for costs, Ferguson, now president of the Civic Federation, said. Its beyond my imagination to even come up with something (that) looks like from the perspective of liability and responsibility, a practice that takes this budgetary control mentality to a new extreme. Johnson is not the first mayor accused of employing budgetary tricks with A-forms in times of austerity. The budget office has traditionally leaned on slow-walking filling vacancies as one of its few tools to free up money, and the city ended 2024 with a $161 million deficit and expects a more than $1 billion gap next year. But delaying A-forms for entire academy classes or police supervisors who have already begun their new roles is an atypical move, Catanzara said. We are talking about a guy who bragged about being on payment plans with utilities and not paying his own water bill for years, so I guess it shouldnt be anything new, Catanzara said, a reference to Johnson paying off thousands in outstanding water and sewer bills during his 2023 campaign. There was always some little one-offs here and there, but they were literally one person had an issue, and it was dealt with. This is mass incompetence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fitzsimons email exchange also revealed that the Police Department is now under a hiring freeze until September to assist OBM in managing expenses, which Catanzara said was also the unions understanding. The city and Police Department did not address questions about the pause in new recruits. The Police Department has historically exceeded its annual spending plan thanks to runaway overtime and misconduct settlement costs. No, its not acceptable, the mayor told reporters when asked about public safety expenditures blowing past budgeted costs by $207 million last year. He blamed police overtime spending on large events and said some innovative element has to happen to drive those numbers down. In his June 2 email, Fitzsimons also asked Johnson budget officials Jonathan Ernst and Joseph Sacks for the status of A-forms for three other groups: youth employment, civilian employees and promotions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear how Johnsons team responded. For the last category, which concerns officers being promoted to sergeants and lieutenants, Fitzsimons warned, These A-Forms are directly tied back to paragraphs 249 264. Promotions have already occurred and members have begun to grieve. The paragraphs he was referring to concern the federal consent decree that the Police Department has been under since 2019. The court order was meant to reform Chicago police after the murder of Laquan McDonald, but progress has lagged, including within the section on recruitment and promotions cited by Fitzsimons. Improving the supervisor-to-officer ratio has been a goal of Johnsons and is part of ensuring compliance with the consent decree. Fitzsimons reminded Johnsons budget officials in his email that the department had to brief the judge overseeing the mandate that month on A-form approvals. The city and CPD joint response did not answer questions on how many police supervisors saw their raises lag as a result of problems with the A-forms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The youth employment A-forms were needed to fill two Police Department jobs, while the civilian A-forms focused on staff that would help implement the consent decree, per Fitzsimons email. He said Johnsons 2024 budget, which civilianized about 400 sworn positions, netted $8 million in savings and the department wants to hire more consent decree staff as a result. During the past budget cycle, Johnson landed in hot water with police reform advocates and the Illinois attorney general for proposing a spending plan that nixed 162 consent decree vacancies. He later restored them. Figures provided by the budget office show that of the total 439 Police Department positions tied to the consent decree, 222 remain vacant. Some of the largest gaps are in the training officer and victim specialist roles, which are 57% and 50% vacant, respectively. CPD remains focused on filling both sworn and non-sworn vacancies while maintaining compliance with the consent decree, the joint city-Police Department statement said. We are continuing to assess resource allocations and hiring procedures across departments to ensure operational continuity and to address the evolving demands of public safety and reform implementation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2 President Pat Cleary said three ambulance commanders, 15 engineers, 44 lieutenants and 29 captains temporarily suffered incorrect paychecks too. The budget office confirmed six Fire Department employees were paid late but did not address whether supervisors did not receive updated paychecks after being promoted. Ferguson said the promise of Johnsons first budget, which was lauded by policing and fiscal experts for converting sworn positions to civilian ones to cut spending, fell flat because of bureaucratic snags such as this recent A-form problem. He doesnt blame the freshman mayor for inheriting a sluggish hiring process that often takes several months, but Johnsons budget office isnt doing itself any favors, he said. Theres this game going on in which OBM is managing (A-forms) purely for purposes of other budgetary needs that are not known to anybody, and for which there is no transparency, Ferguson said. One hand is holding back the other hand in what is an octopus-like structure, and this does not serve any of us well. HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11) A police officer shot at a 15-year-old boy armed with a gun in Harlem on Monday, sources told PIX11 News. Sources said it happened near 114th Street and Lenox Avenue around 6:30 p.m. Officers found a 30-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his thigh, according to sources. More Local News Police say two teenagers, one on a Citi Bike, the other on a scooter, started arguing when things escalated to a gunfight, during which a 30-year-old man was hit in the leg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources said two weapons had fired shots one was from an officer trying to get the armed teenager to surrender, and the other is believed to be from the teenagers gun. No one was struck by bullets, according to sources. Sources said the 30-year-old man was taken to a local hospital and isnt facing any charges in connection with the shooting. The boy was charged with attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon, according to sources. Sources said investigators are working to confirm the relationship between the teenager and the 30-year-old man and that the 30-year-old was the intended target. An NYPD Clergy Liaison Chaplain, Robert Rice, is offering prayers to community members in Harlem after another shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chaplain Rice said, It is my job to ease fear in the community and bring people together, and thats what Im good at doing. The community has been turning to Rice with their concerns about the number of shootings that have happened over the last few months, including the shooting death of Mama Zee, a beloved grandmother. Chaplain Rice said, When you have senior citizens afraid to come out and go to pick up medicine, thats scary, when you have mothers who wont come out with baby carriages, these are serious concerns from the community. This is a developing story. Please refresh the page for updates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. CHICAGO Authorities are searching for a driver who crashed a car into a CTA station on the citys West Side early Tuesday morning. According to Chicago police, the crash unfolded outside of the CTA Green Line Cicero station in the 4700 block of West Lake Street, just after 2 a.m. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Officers were initially called to the scene following a report of a crash, but when they arrived on the scene, they found an abandoned white SUV that had crashed into a wall of the station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers did say that the crash caused some damage to the wall, though the extent of the impact is unclear. While processing the scene, officers also spotted additional damage they believe may be connected to the crash. Officers said a toppled traffic signal near Fullerton and Cicero, as well as a damaged light pole near Cicero and Lake were also found during their investigation. Authorities were not able to locate a driver or any passengers who may have been involved in the crash. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Currently, it is unclear what led to the incident and an investigation is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on the crash is asked to contact CPD Area Four Detectives at 312-746-8251 or dial 911. Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 3 juveniles arrested after 2nd shooting in Austell neighborhood Cobb County police said a boy was injured after he was shot on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday morning, police said three juvenile suspects were identified and taken into custody. Family of the victim and one one the suspects speaks, on Channel 2 Action News at 5 p.m. The incident happened just after 4 p.m. along Padgett Drive near Austell on Monday. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The boy who was shot was taken to a nearby hospital for his injuries. Later in the evening, the SWAT team showed up for what appeared to be a standoff in the neighborhood. Police said the incident overnight and the other incident nearby were unrelated. New Jerseys federal trial judges have voted to block Donald Trumps personal attorney Alina Habba from serving as the states top prosecutor and named their own nominee to replace her. Hours later, Attorney General Pam Bondi blocked the judges nominee, setting in motion yet another showdown between the Trump administration and the judiciary. Habbas 120-day interim appointment as acting U.S. attorney for New Jersey is coming to an end following Trumps nomination in March. She has yet to have any confirmation hearings in the Senate, and the states two Democratic senators have effectively denied her from having one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a rare move, the states district court judges named Habbas first assistant Desiree Leigh Grace as her successor, according to Tuesdays standing order, which was signed by the districts chief judge Renee Marie Bumb. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche accused the judges of trying to force her out of the job. Federal judges in New Jersey have blocked Trumps former personal attorney Alina Habba from serving as U.S. attorney in the state (AFP via Getty Images) Their rush reveals what this was always about: a left-wing agenda, not the rule of law, said Blanche, another of Trumps former defense attorneys. When judges act like activists, they undermine confidence in our justice system. Alina is President Trumps choice to lead and no partisan bench can override that. Bondi said politically minded judges had refused to allow Habba to continue in the role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Accordingly, the First Assistant United States Attorney in New Jersey has just been removed, she added. This Department of Justice does not tolerate rogue judges especially when they threaten the Presidents core Article II powers. The White House appears willing to put up a fight to keep Habba in place. President Trump has full confidence in Alina Habba, whose work as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey has made the Garden State and the nation safer, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement to The Independent. The Trump Administration looks forward to her final confirmation in the U.S. Senate and will work tirelessly to ensure the people of New Jersey are well represented. Habba defended Trump last year during his blockbuster fraud trial and defamation lawsuits brought by E. Jean Carroll, all of which Trump lost. She then briefly served as counselor to the president before Trump named her as U.S. attorney in her home state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was sworn into office on March 28, which means there are just days left on her 120-day interim term. Blanche said her term expires at midnight Friday. The judges order takes effect Tuesday, or after Habba leaves office, whichever is later. Trump nominated her for a full term on July 1, but the states Democratic Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim derailed any chance of a confirmation hearing by issuing a withering statement kneecapping her credibility. Nominees typically need approval from home state senators, and Habba would also likely face hurdles securing votes from skeptical Republicans. Habba was on the legal team defending Trump in a blockbuster civil fraud case against the president and his real estate empire. He lost the case and owes roughly half a billion dollars, with interest, to the state of New York (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) In a joint statement following her nomination, the senators said she does not meet the standard to serve and accused her of pursuing frivolous and politically motivated prosecutions within her limited time in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her first two months in office, Habba brought controversial charges against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Rep. LaMonica McIver, both Democrats, following a scrum with federal agents at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in the state. The mayor was charged with trespassing, but Habba announced on May 19 that she was dropping the case for the sake of moving forward. A judge later reprimanded Habba for her embarrassing retraction. Barakas hasty arrest, followed by Habbas dismissal of the charges two weeks later, suggests a worrying misstep by your office, Magistrate Judge Andre Espinosa said during a hearing that month. The mayor later sued Habba for malicious prosecution. McIver, meanwhile, has been accused of assaulting law enforcement, which she has strenuously denied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Criminal charges against a sitting member of Congress appeared to escalate threats from the Trump administration under an emboldened Department of Justice to target his political enemies. Trump, whose administration wields unprecedented influence over the Justice Department, could still act to preserve his pick. The president has the power to appoint Habba as a special attorney to the attorney general, a move that could keep her on the job for another two years without any typical review or Senate vote on her qualifications. Federal judges had similarly tried to stop John Sarcone from continuing on as U.S. attorney in upstate New York when Trump named him as a special attorney to the attorney general to keep him in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president also could fire Grace and install another pick, which would likely ignite yet another legal firestorm as Democratic officials and lawyers intensify their scrutiny into Trumps increasingly deferential Justice Department. Habba, speaking at Trumps campaign rally in Madison Square Garden in 2024, is among the presidents former defense attorneys appointed to top roles with the Justice Department (AFP via Getty Images) Trump has already appointed several of his former defense attorneys in top roles at the agency serving under Attorney General Pam Bondi, another Trump loyalist. John Sauer, who successfully argued for Trumps immunity from criminal prosecution at the Supreme Court, was appointed U.S. solicitor general, the nations top attorney. Todd Blanche, who represented Trump in his hush-money trial and federal criminal indictments, is serving as deputy attorney general under Bondi. Trumps other criminal defense attorney Emil Bove, who worked alongside Blanche on the hush-money case, is currently a principal associate deputy attorney general. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has nominated Bove to serve a life term as an appeals court judge for a district that spans New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Last week, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee referred his nomination to the full Senate for a vote. All Democrats on the committee walked out in protest. The Independent has requested comment from the White House and Habbas office. Pope Leo XIV will meet with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, head of external relations for the Russian Orthodox Church, on July 26, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. The meeting will be Pope Leo's first audience with the senior Russian cleric, who represented Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, at Pope Francis's funeral. The meeting signals that the Vatican seeks to reopen channels of communication with Moscow's religious leadership following strained ties caused by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a call between the pope and Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, the Kremlin urged the Vatican to "take a more active role" in defending what it described as freedom of religion in Ukraine, particularly for the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of suppressing religious freedom due to its ban on the activities of the Moscow-linked church, which Kyiv accused of continued ties to Russia during the full-scale war. It is not to be confused with the autocephalous (autonomous) Orthodox Church of Ukraine. During the call with Putin, the pope emphasized the importance of dialogue and religious freedom, according to the Vatican. The Russian occupation of parts of Ukraine has led to widespread destruction of churches, the killing or abduction of dozens of clergy, and the repression of independent churches and minority religions, according to Ukrainian officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian Orthodox Church is seen as closely tied to the Russian government, and Patriarch Kirill has repeatedly voiced support for Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine. The upcoming audience comes just weeks after Pope Leo met President Volodymyr Zelensky at Castel Gandolfo on July 9, ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference co-hosted by Italy and Ukraine. The two discussed the war and "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," according to a Vatican statement. Pope Leo also reiterated his offer to host both Russian and Ukrainian officials for talks, though Moscow has previously dismissed the Vatican as a possible venue. Zelensky called the meeting a "great honor," expressing gratitude for the pope's support and efforts toward peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pope Leo has previously voiced support for war-torn Ukraine, saying the country has been "martyred" by Russia's "senseless war." His predecessor, late Pope Francis, has also repeatedly condemned violence in Ukraine but often drew criticism for statements perceived as relativizing Russia's responsibility in the 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. From its vibrant orange color to the old-school A-frame design, Whataburger is instantly recognized by fans. That iconic restaurant brand always delivers delicious food with Lone Star State hospitality. The newest menu item brings a taste of Texas that everyone is excited to try. For 75 years, the Texas born and bred quick service restaurant chain delivers big bites with a smile. Listening to guests preferences and being part of the community is just as important as serving the perfect Honey Butter Biscuit to start the day. Want trending news, op-eds, and top stories straight to your inbox? Sign up for our Daily newsletter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joining the menu for a limited time is the Bacon Wrangler Double burger. Sandwiched between two toasted buns, the two 100% American beef patties are topped with bacon, Monterey Jack and American cheeses, pickles, crispy onion strings and chipotle aioli. The new Texas-inspired burger will be available starting on August 5 for a limited time. Check with restaurants for availability and pricing. Whataburger serves a Bacon Wrangler Double Burger for a limited time. Whataburger Whataburger President and CEO Debbie Stroud spoke about the new burger. She said, As a proud Texas-born brand, Whataburger was built on bold flavors, genuine hospitality and a spirit that feels like home. For 75 years, weve brought that taste to communities across the country, serving up high quality, delicious food that celebrate our roots through flavor and freshness. The Bacon Wrangler Double is a delicious reminder that you can always experience a little bit of that spirit with every bite. Overall, the Bacon Wrangler Double delivers what people crave. In addition to having extra beef, the combination of unctuous bacon, double cheese and crunchy onions bring texture, flavor and heartiness. Related: Taco Bell's New Menu Item Has a Southern Twist Additionally, the chipotle aioli adds a signature flavor that Texans crave. This tangy, spicy and smoky condiment makes that burgers flavor pop. Fancy ketchup might be nice for fries, but a big burger deserves a bolder taste. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ready to saddle up and ride on over to Whataburger for a taste of the Bacon Wrangler Double? Just make sure that you use your manners when you place that order. Related: Popular Mexican Restaurant Just Launched a Surprising New Taco Popular Texas Restaurant Brand Wrangles a New Menu Item first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 A pool day turned perilous at a hotel in Benidorm, Spain, recently with over 10 men caught on video in an all-out brawl. The video, originally posted to TikTok, shows a man in a blue bathing suit getting out of the pool and pushing another man dressed in a black t-shirt, pants, and white sneakers into the pool. He then starts throwing punches at another man, who is seemingly a security guard or hotel employee. The scene swells from there, with the man dressed in black getting out of the pool and throwing punches back at the man in blue and a group of his friends all dressed in bathing suits. More security guards join the fray, with some trying to hold back the people fighting while others fight back. View the original article to see embedded media. As more employees join, the fighting turns to yelling and the camera pans to show a crowded pool full of other people watching. In the background of the fight, near the group of men in bathing suits, an English flag is being flown with the words 'Mansfield Town' and 'Ashs Stag 2025,' hinting that these may have been British tourists celebrating a bachelor party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second video posted to the same TikTok page is captioned "what started it all, the bouncer hitting the British lad for having a laugh." In the video, the man originally in the blue bathing suit is seen -- naked -- jumping into the pool in front of a crowd of onlookers. He jumps directly onto the railing as he is chased by the security guard, who continuously tells the man to get out of the pool. The man goes deeper into the pool as he puts his bathing suit back on and his friends surround the security guard. The original brawl video, which is set to the popular Jet2 Holiday trending sound, garnered 250,000 likes in 48 hours. Though people around the world are laughing at the altercation, residents of Spain have been protesting the massive increase in tourism around the country. Popular Tourist Hotel Devolves Into Pool Brawl in Wild Video first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 21, 2025 Popular U.S. Airline Cancels Hundreds of Flights Beginning This August originally appeared on Parade. Summer is the high season for carefree vacations across the globe. Whether booking a trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica or venturing to the wilds of northern Canada, millions of people are venturing to their nearest airports to set out on their idyllic summer vacations. Unfortunately, American Airlines has recently announced some major changes to their scheduled flights for the remainder of the year, including hundreds of cancellations for flights booked for August onwards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According toTravel and Tour World, American Airlines has recently been experiencing significant setbacks in its aviation operations, mainly owing to increased competition from rival airlines within the industry. On top of that, the popular airline company has been involved in an ongoing dispute with Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, leading them to cut back on routes into and out of O'Hare. For example, flights between Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth will scale down from 98 weekly departures to 85. Other flights between Chicago and Wilmington, Delaware, El Paso, Texas, Kansas City, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and New York LaGuardia will similarly experience a reduction in weekly departures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between these five airports, American Airlines will lose out on a combined 30 weekly flights into and out of O'Hare. To coincide with this new development, American has updated flights that were originally scheduled to touch down in O'Hare, either outright canceling them or rescheduling them for a later date or via an entirely different route. The significant change for American comes as several other airlines announce revised flight routes for the rest of 2025. In particular, United has announced their plans to cut back their domestic flights by $5, while JetBlue has confirmed they'll be slashing connecting routes between New Yorks JFK Airport and Austin, Houston, Miami and London Gatwick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, Avelo Airlines has made a dramatic decision to completely pull out of the West Coast, axing all operations into and out of California by December 2025. Popular U.S. Airline Cancels Hundreds of Flights Beginning This August first appeared on Parade on Jul 22, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared. This story was originally posted on MyNorthwest.com A water advisory for the City of Port Angeles was lifted Sunday evening after a tanker truck rolled into a nearby creek. The truck went off the road and rolled into Indian Creek at U.S. 101 at milepost 238 on Friday, around 11 a.m., the Washington State Patrol reported via X. The driver was transported to a nearby hospital as a precaution. Petroleum leaked out of the truck and into the creek until it was emptied and removed by Washington State Department of Ecology crews Saturday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The road by Indian Creek was fully blocked from Friday until Saturday morning. WSP later reported that the driver was doing OK, but that the main concern was the leaking tanker. #Update: Tanker truck spill update and yes the driver is doing ok. Our number 1 concern now is the leaking oil into the river. pic.twitter.com/d6O1ZtQQA0 Trooper Katherine Weatherwax (@wspd8pio) July 19, 2025 Although Ecology removed the truck, it continued to track the effects of the pollution. With the potential for additional release eliminated, current operations are focused on minimizing environmental impacts through fuel recovery and environmental assessments, Ecology stated on its website. Cleanup contractors are placing containment boom, replacing sorbent materials, and identifying areas where fuel can be recovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, officials are still monitoring the impact on wildlife, noting that people can report oiled animals to 1-800-22-BIRDS. City of Port Angeles shuts down Elwha River drinking water intake As a precaution, the City of Port Angeles temporarily shut down the Elwha River drinking water intake on Saturday and reopened it on Sunday. Ecology stated it was continuing to clean up the fuel site on Sunday morning. This story was originally published on July 18, 2025. It has been updated and republished since then. Jul. 21BELTRAMI COUNTY A building in Port Hope Township, north of Bemidji, has been declared a total loss after a fire broke out late Saturday night. According to a release from Bemidji Fire Chief Justin Sherwood, at 11:49 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire along Gull Lake Loop Road NE in Port Hope Township, about 16 miles north of Bemidji. Upon arrival, firefighters found a large, pole-type building fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters initiated defensive operations and deployed a 2 1/2-inch preconnected attack line and an elevated master stream for extinguishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As additional crews arrived, they deployed additional 1 3/4-inch attack lines. Due to the size of the fire, mutual aid was requested from Blackduck Fire Department for staffing, the release noted. A total of 28 firefighters and 10 pieces of equipment were on scene for approximately four hours. The building and its contents are a total loss and no injuries have been reported. The fire is under investigation but appears to be accidental, the release said. The Bemidji Ambulance Service, Beltrami County Sheriff's Office, Blackduck Fire Department, Beltrami Electric Cooperative and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal assisted Bemidji Fire Department at the scene. (Photo by Getty Images) Portions of the states new law adding new regulations and restrictions on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) has been temporarily blocked by a court decision, but only for businesses involved in the lawsuit challenging the measure. U.S. District Judge Stephanie Rose issued a decision Monday in the lawsuit filed in June against the Iowa insurance commissioner by a group of businesses and organizations. The plaintiffs are the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, Des Moines Orthopaedic Surgeons PC, Iowa Spring Manufacturing & Sales Co., Iowa Bankers Benefit Plan, and Iowa Laborers District Council Health and Welfare Fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs argued Senate File 383, the law signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds, was unlawful and does not align with federal regulations on PBMs, the entities that oversee prescription drug cost negotiations between drug manufacturers, pharmacies and health insurance companies. The law adds several new restrictions on certain PBM business practices, including on creating financial penalties or advantages when consumers fill their prescriptions at certain pharmacies as well as other means of coercing or forcing people to use a certain pharmacy. It also sets different cost-sharing rates, requires pharmacies be reimbursed at the national or state average acquisition cost of a drug, and establishes a dispensing reimbursement fee for independent and rural pharmacies at a rate of $10.68 for each prescription filled. Supporters of the measure, which passed during the 2025 legislative session, said the law will help rural and small pharmacies stay in business. But the lawsuit argues these provisions will not help struggling pharmacies and will raise healthcare costs for businesses across the state large and small by tens of millions of dollars. The suit also argues the new law violates the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, known as ERISA, which establishes certain free speech rights for health care insurance and retirement companies an argument brought up in the Friday hearing of the case, according to the Gazette. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The laws potential violations of ERISA was one of the main factors brought up in Roses decision Monday, who wrote the law crosses constitutional lines in multiple respects. This includes violations of ERISA by mandating certain cost-sharing arrangements and contractual terms, as well as violating the First Amendment by suppressing truthful commercial speech without adequate constitutional justification. While the ruling stated the Legislature had legitimate reasons for passing the law regarding the modern realities of employee benefit administration, it still presented conflicts between state and federal laws on these issues. Iowas comprehensive approach to PBM regulation reflects legitimate concerns about market concentration and rural healthcare access, Rose wrote. Yet the Constitutions allocation of regulatory authority between state and federal governments requires careful adherence to established boundaries, particularly where Congress has included express preemption provisions through comprehensive legislation like ERISA. There were 11 components of the law blocked in the injunction, including the $10.63 dispensing fee, the bans on PBMs and health benefit plans from favoring certain providers, and on a measure aimed at lowering costs when competing with mail order pharmacies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other parts of the law, like a requirement that PBMs transfer all manufacturer rebates to health plans and one preventing PBMs from using certain tactics to encourage individuals to use certain pharmacies, remain in effect. The injunction also only applies to the entities that were a part of the lawsuit, meaning the law including the pieces blocked in the Monday injunction remain in effect for other health care plans. A spokesperson with ABI, one of the plaintiffs in the case, said the business organization was happy with the judges order as it recognizes the significant flaws in SF 383. We are pleased that the court has taken this important step to protect the rights of Iowa employers and businesses, the ABI statement read. Protecting workers and keeping healthcare costs affordable is why Iowa employers and benefit plans brought this lawsuit in the first place. We remain committed to stopping this unconstitutional law. The order is temporary as the case works its way through the court system. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The City of Portland settled a lawsuit for nearly $1 million after a nine-year-old child and his babysitter were injured by a concrete light pole that fell on them in Irving Park. The case goes back to June 23, 2022, when Portland Fire & Rescue reported that the babysitter and child were lying on a hammock that the babysitter tied onto a light pole and tree when the light pole fell on them, seriously wounding the boy. According to the complaint filed in the Multnomah County Circuit Court on January 2, 2024, the caretaker also suffered multiple injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNBC ranks Oregon among most expensive states. Heres why Plaintiffs permanent injuries include concussion with loss of consciousness, bilateral femur injuries, lacerations to her forehead, pelvis crush injury, rectal bleeding, anxiety, court documents stated. The babysitter and the childs mother filed lawsuits against the city for damages, and the lawsuits were later consolidated after they were filed. The settlement was approved by the Portland City Council on June 4, directing the city to pay $782,600 to the boys mother on his behalf, along with $160,000 to the babysitter totaling $942,600. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gut punch: Hood River County Sheriff cuts services amid funding slump A spokesperson for the City of Portland told KOIN 6 News, The City Attorneys Office believes this mutually agreed settlement is in the interest of all parties. The young child had over $450,000 in medical bills, Jane Paulson, the attorney representing the boy and his mother, told KOIN 6 News on Monday. The light poles all over the city were dangerous. The lawsuit argued Portland officials were aware or shouldve been aware that park visitors would tie hammocks to light poles. It also stated that the city neglected to warn residents about the risks of using hammocks in parks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In early 2023, Portland Parks and Recreation started to remove and replace more than 200 older light poles across multiple public spaces including Irving Park. PP&R said the project was necessary because the light poles some of which were 100 years old had structural issues that made them unsafe for public use. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. By Sergio Goncalves LISBON (Reuters) -Portugal joined other Western countries in expressing a positive view of Morocco's autonomy proposal for the disputed Western Sahara region, after Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said on Tuesday the plan had a "serious and credible basis". The dispute, dating back to 1975, pits Morocco - which claims sovereignty over Western Sahara - against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks an independent state there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rangel showed support for the autonomy proposal, first presented by Moroccan King Mohammed VI to the United Nations in 2007, following a meeting in Lisbon with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. The plan would establish a local legislative, executive, and judicial authority for Western Sahara elected by its residents, while Rabat would retain control over defence, foreign affairs, and religion. "Following movements made by France, Spain, Britain and others, Portugal considers that this ... will be the most serious basis for a solution, but always under the auspices of the U.N.," Rangel later told reporters, falling short of recognising Morocco's sovereignty over the territory. Jose Tomaz Castello Branco, a professor of political science at Lisbon's Catholic University, said Portugal's position was "quite diplomatic, reasonable, and opens the door to a future formal recognition of Morocco's sovereignty". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "However, the Portuguese government is reserving room to maneuver to decide in the future, not committing completely yet," he said, adding that Lisbon's position should always be "carefully considered because Morocco is also Portugal's neighbor". During a high-level meeting in 2023, Portugal's previous Socialist government had already formalised its view of Morocco's proposal as "realistic, serious and credible", but Rangel's comments cemented the current centre-right government's position. In 1976, following Spain's withdrawal from what was until then its colony, the Polisario Front proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as a government-in-exile, based on the right to self-determination. France and Spain have also backed the autonomy proposal, with Madrid in 2022 formally describing it as "the most serious, realistic and credible" framework for resolving the dispute. (Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; Writing by David Latona; Editing by Paul Simao) United States Postal Service mailboxes are pictured. (Iowa Capital Dispatch photo) Ads from the American Postal Workers Union will be playing on Oklahoma and Iowa stations beginning this week warning about a federal proposal to privatize the U.S. Postal Service, the union announced Monday. The 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, 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. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The exact cause of the fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River may never be known, but investigators have narrowed the cause down to two possibilities, officials announced Tuesday afternoon. The fire, which killed 10 people and injured at least 30, began in the second-floor room of a resident and was caused by either an electrical or mechanical failure of an oxygen concentrator in the residents room or the improper use or disposal of smoking materials. Since investigators could not pinpoint one specific cause, it will remain undetermined, State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine said Tuesday. It is clear, though, that the presence of medical oxygen inside the assisted living facility contributed to the severity of the fire, believed to be the deadliest residential fire in Massachusetts in four decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres truly no safe way to smoke, but smoking is especially dangerous when home oxygen is in use, Davine said. No one should smoke around medical oxygen. We have oxygen throughout that building, so that contributed to the speed of that fire, he added. Home oxygen is responsible for about 20 fire deaths in Massachusetts over the past decade, and roughly three dozen injuries, Davine said, though it is suspected in more. Smoking materials are the leading cause of fatal fires in Massachusetts and nationwide. Inside the room where the fire broke out, which is on the left side of the left wing of the building, investigators found a damaged battery-powered scooter, which is not believed to be the cause. Investigators found no evidence of an intentionally lit fire and no evidence that cooking, lighting, heating, electrical outlets or other appliances contributed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no evidence of candles or incense inside the room, Davine said. Investigators wont reveal which room the fire broke out in, but confirmed that the resident who lived there was one of the 10 victims of the fire. Officials declined to answer Tuesday when asked if the deaths were contained to one side of the building. Jeffrey Bacon, the citys fire chief, has said previously that victims were found throughout the building, but particularly on its east side. The memorial for the victims of the fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility on July 13. Photos were taken on July 19. The memorial for the victims of the fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility on July 13. Photos were taken on July 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The east side of the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River on July 19. A charred window on the east side of the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River on July 19. The memorial for the victims of the fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility on July 13. Photos were taken on July 19. The memorial for the victims of the fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility on July 13. Photos were taken on July 19. The memorial for the victims of the fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility on July 13. Photos were taken on July 19. The west side of the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River on July 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The memorial for the victims of the fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility on July 13. Photos were taken on July 19. The fire broke out around 9:40 p.m. on July 13 at the assisted living facility at 261 Oliver St. in Fall River. More than a week after the fire on Tuesday, numerous candles lined the chain link fence erected outside the facility as part of a makeshift memorial to the victims. It is still not clear if the sprinklers inside the building worked as designed. Davine, Bristol County District Attorney Tom Quinn and Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said that was part of the ongoing investigation into the fire. Multiple residents have claimed the sprinkler system was working inconsistently during the fire, and police body camera footage seemed to back up those claims. The buildings owners said the system was in working order just days before the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nothing will undo what happened at Gabriel House, but we can do everything in our power to understand it and prevent it from ever happening again, Davine said Tuesday. Quinn would not answer questions on whether smoking was banned at the facility. Family members told MassLive some residents smoked in their rooms. Many of the residents at Gabriel House had mobility issues, further complicating firefighting efforts. When some first responding firefighters arrived, residents were screaming out their windows for help. Sanitary and safety issues plagued the building, including cockroaches and a perceived absence of emergency planning, which were detailed by residents, family members and documents provided by the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighbors of the assisted living facility told MassLive that they heard residents screaming for help on the third floor of the facility and rushed to the building with ladders. They helped firefighters pull a man out of a room through a window. A spokesperson for the Gabriel House ownership issued a statement on Monday. 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, the statement reads. A lawsuit filed Monday accuses Gabriel Care of negligence. Steven Oldrid, who lived in a studio apartment at the Fall River assisted living facility, said in the lawsuit that hes had additional expenses for his hospitalization and treatment, and his ability to engage in daily activities has been affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kerry Lecke, 58, cries outside the Timao Center on July 14, the day after a fire killed nine people and injured 30 at The Gabriel House in Fall River. The Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River on July 14, the day after a fire killed 10 residents and injured 30. Donna Murphy, a five-year resident of the Gabriel House in Fall River, speaks to reporters on July 14, one day after a fire killed 10 people and injured 30 at the assisted living facility. A woman lays flowers outside the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River on July 14, the day after a fire killed 10 residents and injured 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Debra Johnson, an employee at the Gabriel House in Fall River, on July 14. Johnson spoke to reporters about conditions at the assisted living facility the day after 10 people were killed and 30 were injured in a fire. Judith Croteau, 82, embraces a friend outside the Timao Center on July 14, the day after a fire killed 10 people and injured 30 at The Gabriel House in Fall River. Lorraine Ferrara, 71, in tears outside the Timao Center on July 14, the day after a fire killed 10 people and injured 30 at The Gabriel House in Fall River. The Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River on July 14, the day after a fire killed 10 residents and injured 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aid arriving for people at the Timao Center who were brought from the Gabriel House in Fall River, after a fatal fire ripped through the assisted living facility on July 13. A spokesman for Gabriel House, which is owned by Dennis D. Etzkorn, did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the lawsuit. Earlier in the day on Tuesday, the state announced it intends to provide Fall River a grant worth $1.2 million to help boost staffing levels in its fire department. The money going to the city is coming out of a pool of $5.7 million allocated for 10 communities across the state through its Municipal Public Safety Staffing Program. Were expediting this in light of the tragedy, again, with significant funding going to Fall River as well as going to nine other communities that are eligible by law, Healey said. All of us ... are of the deep view that no family, no resident, no community, should ever have to suffer or live with fear that something like this could happen to them or to their loved one. Heather Morrison of the MassLive staff contributed to this report. Deadly Gabriel House fire Read the original article on MassLive. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A Prairieville man accused of residential construction fraud, which resulted in a homeowner losing over $225,000, was arrested. Steven Ring, 47, was charged on July 21 with five counts of contractor misapplication of payments over $1,000 and one count of residential contractor fraud over $25,000. Steven Ring (Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office) The Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office stated that investigators discovered Ring entered into a contract in August 2021 to build a home in Geismar, but the project remains incomplete four years later. Deputies said multiple liens were filed on the property due to unpaid invoices for building materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office noted that Ring was arrested earlier this year in an unrelated case involving contractor misapplication of payments in Covington. An investigation is ongoing. East Baton Rouge deputies, SWAT arrest burglary suspect after clash with homeowner 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. PULTENEY, N.Y. (WETM) A Prattsburgh man has been arrested following a child exploitation investigation led by various law enforcement agencies and departments. Kyle Marshall, 23, was arrested on 43 counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child (class D felony) and 43 counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child (class E felony), as stated in a release from New York State Police. NYSP: Burdett man arrested after stealing guns, $450K in cash and precious metals Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say Marshall was charged with the crimes following a child exploitation investigation led by the State Police Bath Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Troop E Computer Crimes Unit (CCU), Troop E Forensic Investigation Unit, State Police Bath and the State Police Wayland Uniform Force. Officials say the investigation began after receiving a referral from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. During the investigation, officials say that on July 3, 2023, state police searched a home on County Route 77 in the town of Pulteney. During this search, officials say that multiple electronic devices were taken for forensic examination by the CCU. Millerton man arrested after stolen trailer incident in Southport Officials say Marshall was charged with the crimes following a superior court warrant issued by the Steuben County Court. As a result, Marshall was processed on the charges and taken to the Steuben County 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 WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. President Trump is weighing in on the Bryan Kohberger case and he's demanding answers from the confessed killer of 4 University of Idaho college students. The commander-in-chief took to his Truth Social platform Monday and fired off one of his usual not-so-subtle messages, kicking things off by describing the murdered students as "wonderful young souls." TMZ Trump then pointed out Kohberger cut a plea deal that spared him the death penalty ... noting that the butcher will spend the rest of his days doing hard time behind bars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What's more, Trump characterized Kohberger's crimes as nothing less than "vicious," with so many unanswered questions. 47 insisted that the judge force Kohberger to detail the fatal stabbings at his upcoming sentencing hearing. Trump also made it clear people were surprised Kohberger received the plea bargain from prosecutors last month -- and there's still been "no explanation" for his lethal actions. Earlier this month, Kohberger pled guilty in court to the 2022 murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, Madison Mogen, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20. We'll see if the judge takes some cues from the prez. Donald Trump is interested in turning Alcatraz into a fully functioning prison again. Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images Related: "He Left This Planet Feeling Every Bit Of His Death": Medical Professionals Are Revealing Their Most Shocking, Stomach-Dropping Patient Stories He ranted on Truth Social about it back in May: "REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ! For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm." The only problem with this grand plan is that the place is literally a museum, it's falling apart, and it would cost a reported $2 billion. Kirby Lee / Getty Images Related: My Innocence Has Been Destroyed After Learning These Terrible, Disturbing, And Creepy Things Last week, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum toured Alcatraz to see the place for themselves. San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst N / San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "President Trump is/was the master builder in our country of construction," Bondi explained. "He's been talking to construction companies who think they can come in here and fix this and fix it up in the way it should be in its original capacity to save Alcatraz." Related: 57 Low-Key Terrifying Photos That Gave Me Goosebumps But That I Couldn't Look Away From @DecodingFoxNews posted this clip from that Fox News interview, and Burgums face clearly says it all: Pam Bondi and Doug Burgum toured the former Alcatraz prison to assess how much work it would take to renovate. The walls are held together with wire mesh. It's basically a ruin. His face speaks for itself. I added a zoom. pic.twitter.com/By5QBmirrn Decoding Fox News (@DecodingFoxNews) July 21, 2025 Fox/DecodingFoxNews/Twitter: @DecodingFoxNews @719WDS explains it perfectly: "Burgum almost looks as if he has no idea why he is there." Related: 15 Men Who Tried To "Educate" Women About Their Own Bodies And Failed So, So Miserably Another person called his face "priceless." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have the obvious, "He's dying inside" comments. And then a bunch of people are like, "Just another episode of political theater. This administration kills me." Also in Internet Finds: Women Are Absolutely Destroying The Internet With These 15 Tweets That Had Me Rolling On The Floor Also in Internet Finds: We've Only Explored 5% Of The Ocean, So It's No Surprise That These 27 Terrifying Stories From People Who Work At Sea Are Amongst The Scariest I've Ever Read Also in Internet Finds: 40 Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Creepy Wikipedia Pages Read it on BuzzFeed.com Rosie Roche, a second cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry, has reportedly died. She was 20 years old. Roche the granddaughter of Princess Dianas uncle, Edmund Roche (her mother Frances Shand Kydd's brother) reportedly died on July 14, according to multiple outlets. She was found by her mother and sister after she had been packing for a trip with her friends, per The Sun. The outlet also reported that the Wiltshire and Swindon coroners court opened an investigation into her death. The Sun added that the inquiry was adjourned until October 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local coroner Grant Davies told the outlet that police have deemed the death as non-suspicious and there was no third-party involvement. A spokesperson for the family told The Sun that she will be sorely missed. At the time of her death, Roche was a student at Durham University, where she studied English Literature. Royal Family Member and Pippa Middletons Ex Thomas Kingstons Death to Be Investigated Roche, Rosie Jeanne Burke, Died on Monday 14th July 2025. Darling daughter of Hugh and Pippa, incredible sister to Archie and Agatha, Granddaughter to Derek and Rae Long. Private family funeral, an obituary published by the Yorkshire Post on Saturday, July 19, reads in part. The notice also added that, "A memorial service will be held at a later date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roches death comes a year after the unexpected passing of another royal family member. Thomas Kingston, who was married to King Charles IIIs second cousin Lady Gabriella Kingston and who once dated Pippa Middleton, died in February 2024 at age 45. At the time, several outlets reported that Thomas was found dead on February 25. It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the death of Thomas Kingston, our beloved husband, son and brother, a statement released by the Kingston family days later, on February 27, read. Tom was an exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him. His death has come as a great shock to the whole family and we ask you to respect our privacy as we mourn his passing. Royal Family Member Thomas Kingston and Lady Gabriellas Relationship Timeline A spokesperson from Buckingham Palace also addressed his passing at the time. The King and The Queen have been informed of Thomass death and join Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and all those who knew him in grieving a much-loved member of the family, the spokesperson said. In particular, Their Majesties send their most heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Gabriella and to all the Kingston family. A 20-year-old distant cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry was found dead in England. Rosie Roche, the granddaughter of Princess Dianas uncle, died at her family home July 14, according to The Sun. A firearm was reportedly found near Roches body, per the outlet. She was allegedly discovered by her mom and sister shortly after packing for an upcoming trip with friends. Prince William and Prince Harry attend an event at Westminster Abbey on April 25, 2018, in London. Getty Images Prince William and Prince Harry at the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews on May 20, 2017. Getty Images Coroner Grant Davies said that police have deemed the death as non-suspicious, adding, there was no third-party involvement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roche had reportedly been working toward a degree in English Literature at Durham University. A university spokesperson said she will be sorely missed. An obituary for William and Harrys distant cousin was published by The Yorkshire Post on July 19. It noted that Roche will have a private family funeral and that a memorial service will be held at a later date. Princess Diana with her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, in Hyde Park in London on May 7, 1995. Getty Images Princess Diana attends a dinner at the British Embassy in Washington, DC, in November 1985. Getty Images Darling daughter of Hugh and Pippa, incredible sister to Archie and Agatha, Granddaughter to Derek and Rae Long, the obituary read. The Post has reached out to the Royal Family for comment. Sadly, this wouldnt be the first time one of Prince William and Prince Harrys relatives has died under sudden circumstances. Prince Harry and Prince William at the unveiling of Princess Dianas statue in Kensington Palace in July 2021. POOL/AFP via Getty Images Thomas Kingston, the husband of King Charles second cousin, Lady Gabriella Kingston, died in February 2024 from a gunshot wound to the head at his parents home in a Cotswolds village in England. He was 45. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the death of Thomas Kingston, our beloved husband, son and brother, read a statement from Kingstons family after his death. Tom was an exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him, it continued. His death has come as a great shock to the whole family, and we ask you to respect our privacy as we mourn his passing. Prince Harry and Prince William on the day of Prince Harry and Meghan Markles wedding on May 18, 2018, in Windsor, England. Getty Images Kingston briefly dated Kate Middletons sister, Pippa, in 2011, before marrying Lady Gabriella in May 2019. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip attended Kingston and Gabriellas wedding three years before the beloved monarchs death in September 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prince Michael of Kent, Gabriellas father, was Queen Elizabeths first cousin. Then-Prince Charles, Prince William at an event commemorating the centenary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge on April 9, 2017, in France. Getty Images The king and the queen have been informed of Thomass death and join Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and all those who knew him in grieving a much-loved member of the family, Buckingham Palace said in a statement released on behalf of King Charles and Queen Camilla after Kingstons passing. In particular, Their Majesties send their most heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Gabriella and to all the Kingston family, the message added. Prince William and other members of the Royal Family later attended Kingstons funeral in London. If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org Rosie Roche was a cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry on their mother's side. The 20-year-old cousin was the granddaughter of Princess Diana's uncle. She was found dead at the family home on July 14, according to the Sun, and a firearm was nearby. Now an inquest is being conducted. According to the Sun, the coroner, Grant Davies, said that police "have deemed the death as non-suspicious and there was no third-party involvement." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roche's mother and sister found her, the publication noted. It's the second tragedy to strike the extended family of the princes since 2024. Thomas Kingston, the husband of their cousin Lady Gabrielle Kingston, died by suicide at the age of 45 in February 2024, according to People. His parents "made an emotional plea to raise awareness of the potential side effects of antidepressants," People reported after that death. Roche was in college; according to the Mirror, she was studying English literature at Durham University. The Mirror explained that Rosie Jeanne Burke Roche was the granddaughter of the late Edmund Roche, who was the 5th Baron Fermoy and the uncle of Princess Diana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thus, she had "strong ties to the British aristocracy," per the Mirror. Her parents were Edmund (Hugh) Burke Roche and Pippa Long, the Mirror reported. She was getting ready to go on a trip with friends when she was discovered dead, according to the Sun. The Yorkshire Post ran an obituary for Roche that read, "Roche, Rosie Jeanne Burke. Died on Monday 14th July 2025. 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. According to the New York Daily News, the Royal Family has not made any comment on Roche's death. Related: 'Sleeping Prince' Dead at 36 After Spending 20 Years in Coma Prince William's Cousin Found Dead With Gun Nearby first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 22, 2025 Princess Beatrice is carrying on a mission previously championed by her grandfather Prince Philip. This week, it was announced that the Princess of York will be the newest royal patron of the Chartered College of Teaching. To me, the power that teachers have on shaping lives and transforming futures makes it one of the most commendable and highly regarded professions, Princess Beatrice, 36, said in a statement. Im a passionate believer in the vital role that teachers play every day and know firsthand the impact that great teaching can leave on a child and their family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The patronage is an especially meaningful one, as it was previously held by Beatrice's late grandfather Prince Philip. Its a real honor to take up the role as Patron of the Chartered College of Teaching, a role previously held by my grandfather. Im really excited to support the Colleges mission to champion excellence in teaching and to celebrate the impact of this incredible profession, the princess added in her statement. We're delighted to announce HRH Princess Beatrice as our new Patron! Princess Beatrice has shown strong support for education through her work with Big Change and other organisations. Her patronage will help elevate the profession and support our mission to champion teachers. pic.twitter.com/ITsgilIour Chartered College of Teaching (@CharteredColl) July 18, 2025 The Chartered College of Teaching was founded in 1846 and incorporated as a royal charter by Queen Victoria in 1849. The society, which includes more than 42,000 members worldwide, names its objective as "the promotion of sound learning and the improvement and recognition of the art, science and practice of teaching for the public benefit." The college also released a statement announcing Beatrice's position as the new royal patron. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our Royal Charter, granted in 1849, is a powerful symbol of the professionalism and dedication of teachers," the statement read. "The late Duke of Edinburgh was our Patron until his death in 2021 and was an active supporter of the Chartered College of Teaching, and of the teaching profession. Royal patronage gives a clear indication of the fundamental role teachers play in society and for children and young people. On X, the college shared the announcement, writing, "Princess Beatrice has shown strong support for education through her work with Big Change and other organisations. Her patronage will help elevate the profession and support our mission to champion teachers." Jayne Fincher/The Fincher Files/Popperfoto via Getty Prince Philip and Princess Beatrice in May 1991 Prince Philip and Princess Beatrice in May 1991 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! While the princess and her younger sister, Princess Eugenie, are not working royals and hold professional careers, Beatrice serves in another important position within the royal family. In 2022, she was appointed as a Counsellor of State to her uncle, King Charles, which means she could execute constitutional duties if the King is abroad or unwell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The princess has made a gradual return to public life in recent months, after she and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi welcomed their second daughter, Athena, on Jan. 22. Athena was born several weeks prematurely, and Princess Beatrice shared her "sheer worry" about her daughter's early arrival in a personal essay for British Vogue in March. She wrote that she and her family now have a few more answers as to what happened, but still no precise explanation of the early birth and noted the experience taught her so much. Edo, as Beatrice's husband is called, shared an intimate mother-daughter photo from the interview in a touching tribute on Instagram. "So much pride for my beautiful wife, who has bravely shared our story of Athenas early arrival," he wrote. Beatrice and Edoardo are also parents to daughter Sienna, 3, as well as his son, Christopher Woolf, 9, from a previous relationship. Read the original article on People Prison bars that were once used as instruments of confinement at the Cook County Jail will be repurposed as musical instruments as part of a performance Wednesday by Chicago-based artist Maria Gaspar. The performance, titled We Lit the Fire and Trusted the Heat (after Angela Davis), aims to cultivate an environment where the US carceral system is undone, Gaspar said. At Gallery 400 of the University of Illinois Chicago, from which Gaspar graduated, the performance will use a sonic sculpture made from steel prison bars and glass rods cast from the prison bars salvaged from the now-demolished Division I building, the oldest section of the jail to express what liberation sounds like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Growing up in Little Village, Gaspar lived only a few blocks from the jail, and it taught her a lot about her community, she said. As a kid, for me, Little Village is a neighborhood about resiliency, Gaspar said. Its about pride, cultural pride, its about struggle and its about carcerality. Toward the end of her preteen years, Gaspar said, she was enrolled in a scared straight type of program without her knowledge. She toured Division 1 of the jail for hours, she said, and seeing men behind bars was a disturbing experience. She said she didnt have political awareness because she was so young. Now, as an adult with a critical lens and somebody whos a teacher and a mother, Gaspar said, I think what was happening is a kind of fear tactic that was, in many ways, targeting a group of immigrant kids and making them feel like they were criminals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She sees the experience as the pivotal moment that inspired her to evolve and learn more about politics. Having the jail as the backdrop of her childhood is not only symbolic of the performance, she said, but also how she got her start with the project. In 2021, when Division 1 was being torn down, Gaspar went to the street and recorded the demolition every day, from start to finish. The entire video came out to 60 hours and 20 minutes, and it is now used as a backdrop for the upcoming show. She had no plans for a performance until a judge came up to her one day while she was filming to talk to her. After a few moments, he left and came back to hand her a prison bar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That then led to scavenging more of the materials and then creating this sonic structure, she said. Related Articles The performance is in collaboration with Thaddeus Tukes, a vibraphonist from Chicago. The two had a connection and didnt know it prior to meeting about this show. Gaspar and Tukes both attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School on the Near West Side, but at different times. Gaspar chose to collaborate with Tukes, she said, because he understands the ideas behind the project: mass incarceration and abolitionism. Gaspar said she and Tukes both have a history of working in juvenile detention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were a lot of commonalities and I really love Thaddeus spirit, she said. Hes really open. He enjoys improvisation. But hes also this incredible composer, and hes really great at working with people. And I think those are all really wonderful elements for collaboration. At a time when people are being split up and society feels divided, Gaspar said, she hopes her performance can use sound as a tool to create meaning and a sense of connection. Im really just enjoying this time of exploration and experimentation of thinking about how sound can be both this beautiful visceral experience, but also a very political one too, she said. Following the free performance, Gaspar and Tukes will hold a conversation with Jimmy Soto, a paralegal and human rights activist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We Lit the Fire and Trusted the Heat (after Angela Davis) will be 6 p.m. July 23 at Gallery 400, 400 S. Peoria St. Free registration is required. Update: This story has been changed to reflect that steel prison bars are also part of the sonic sculpture. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) An event in Sioux Falls Tuesday will look at the impacts of having a prison in the city. The Safer Sioux Falls Forum comes about two weeks after a task force recommended spending up to $650 million on a new 1,500-bed mens prison in Sioux Falls. Cliff Ave. closed with one month till school starts The penitentiary in Sioux Falls dates back to the late 1800s. Sioux Falls is slated to remain home to a mens prison, after other locations in the state were eliminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It became pretty obvious that nobody else wanted this prison, and Sioux Falls already has a prison, so expanding kind of seemed like a more natural step if you will, State Rep. Greg Jamsion said. While Jamison, a task force member, supports building a new prison in Sioux Falls, he acknowledges there are challenges. Thats why hes organized a forum for Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM in the Belbas Theater at the Washington Pavilion. The very first question is to the mayor and to the police chief: What impacts have you felt in our community because of having the prison here? Jamison said. Jamison hopes the feedback will be considered when lawmakers gather for a special session in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inevitably, you could think of it. The prison is here. It has been here. Before we were even a state its been here or a city. Its just going to be expanded, so lets just be responsible and think about how can we do this best? Jamison said. The Safer Sioux Falls forum will be held in the Belbas Theater at the Washington Pavilion. The public will also be allowed to weigh in. I want to make this a transparent process. The public has a voice in all of this. They have concerns about their own safety, Jamison said. The special session where lawmakers will consider the task force recommendation is scheduled for September 23rd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. (Texas Scorecard) The University of Texas at Austin received a $6,000 invoice from the founder of an organization that distributes abortion drugs through the mail, including in states where the procedure is illegal. According to emails Texas Scorecard obtained from an open records request, Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, founder of the group Aid Access, submitted a $6,000 invoice to the university in 2021 for assistance given to the work of Dr. Abigail Aiken. Aid Access is a group that sends abortion drugs through the mail. According to its website, the group has facilitated over 200,000 online abortions to women in the USA since its start in 2018. Texas Right to Life has called the group an illegal abortion cartel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rebecca Gomperts runs the worlds largest abortion pill cartel, John Seago of Texas Right to Life told Texas Scorecard. Also affiliated with Aid Access, Dr. Margaret Carpenter of New Paltz, New York, is currently entangled in legal proceedings with Attorney General Ken Paxton due to her role in sending abortion drugs into Texas. Gomperts request for payment stemmed from her work on the academic paper, Factors Associated With Use of an Online Telemedicine Service to Access Self-managed Medical Abortion in the US, published by the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2021. The paper examined why individuals requested self-managed medication abortion through online telemedicine services. The paper claimed that the cost of in-clinic abortions and the physical proximity to an abortion facility were the primary factors that determined demand for abortion drugs via telemedicine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Self-managed medication abortion, which is often more profitable for the abortion industry than procedures performed in brick-and-mortar facilities, is notorious for its significant risk of complications. The paper was co-authored by Dr. Abigail Aiken, who is currently listed as the Principal Investigator at Project SANA. Texas Scorecard has previously reported on Project SANA, which claims to study the safety, effectiveness, and accessibility of self-managed medication abortion. As of July 16, Project SANAs page on UT-Austins website has been removed. The university did not respond to inquiries about the reasons for this change before publication. While the records received contained an invoice requesting payment, they did not include records of the payment having been made. Texas Scorecard asked UT-Austin if payment had been made and about the current status of Project SANA. A media representative from UT-Austin said he had no awareness of operations of individual programs in colleges and schools and encouraged us to contact Project SANA directly. Project SANA did not respond as of press time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond this payment, the records reveal an ongoing relationship between Aiken and Gomperts. In December 2024, Gomperts sent a letter to Aiken in which the former pledged the support of Aid Access for an upcoming research project. Gomperts also favorably cited Aikens work for over two decades providing early medication abortion in countries where safe abortion is not available. Finally, the records indicate a strong rapport between Aiken and Gomperts. In the December 2024 letter discussed above, Gomperts tells Aiken, It has been a pleasure to work closely with you in the past. Gomperts has been previously condemned for stating that abortion clients should lie to everybody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pro-abortion activism at UT-Austin continues while state lawmakers are set to consider pro-life legislation. Seago commented that these activities at UT-Austin highlight the need for continued action. This investigative journalism, Seago continued, shows that the abortion pill syndicate is closer to Texas than one may think. In fact, the queenpin herself, Gomperts, has been receiving money from the tax-funded University of Texas by selling abortion drugs and then getting paid by researchers to tell them about her criminal activity. Seago urged state lawmakers not to overlook the current danger posed by abortion pills, which are responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of preborn Texans each year. He emphasized that unborn children rely on elected officials to enact the Woman and Child Protection Act during the special session. Gov. Greg Abbott has placed legislation further protecting unborn children and their mothers from the harm of abortion on the call for the current special session of the Texas Legislature that started on July 21. What a cat-astrophe. The citys animal shelter operator halted its intake of Gothams unwanted pets last week for the first time in its nearly 30-year history due to critical overcrowding, prompting calls from Curtis Sliwa to cut its billion-dollar contract. A Husky lying down in a kennel at the Manhattan Animal Care Centers of New York site. Stephen Yang This is not a decision we take lightly, but we cannot take any more owner surrenders, the Animal Care Centers of New York wrote on social media Friday, adding it is at a breaking point with over 1,000 animals in its care across three sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite a city mandate requiring a shelter in each of the five boroughs, the Brooklyn ACC location is closed for renovations until 2026 and the Bronx Resource Center has been temporarily closed since May. A black and white cat inside a kennel at the East Harlem ACC location. Stephen Yang Another Bronx site is currently under construction, although the $92 million facility was supposed to open in the spring. The ACC speculated that a cost-of-living crisis is prompting pet owners in the city to dump their four-legged family members in droves, a rep told The Post. We hear it every day: I just dont have time anymore but your pet doesnt need all your time, just a little effort, a little care, and the chance to stay in the home they love, the ACC added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shelter system now harbors 1,056 animals, according to Department of Health figures. Sliwa, the GOP mayoral candidate, blasted the Manhattan adoption site in East Harlem at a press conference Monday, telling reporters he would immediately nix the mismanaged contract if elected. The ACC has a 34 year, $1.4 billion contract with the city. Animal welfare issues is a priority, and Animal Care and Control once again proves its a compete catastrophe, said Sliwa, who houses six senior cats he rescued. When I become mayor this relationship ends. New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa holds a press conference slamming ACC management on Monday afternoon. Stephen Yang This latest news comes after a Post investigation revealed the citys brand new Queens shelter is already operating at double capacity, and riddled with issues like understaffing and kennels filled with piles of excrement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres more room for cars parking and for people, Sliwa said of the Ridgewood site, which opened last year. All of this square footage and so few of these animals taken care of and the smell and the barking? Most animals get sick while inside because the ventilation is horrible. The Ridgewood, Queens ACC location is currently lodging double the number of dogs it has space for, a rep previously told The Post. Nicole Rosenthal / NY Post A staffer named Nikolaz at the Queens facility previously told The Post some dogs deteriorate in the kennels, while many develop kennel cough. A City Hall spokesperson defended the relationship with ACC and stressed that Mayor Eric Adams is dedicated to protecting pets in the city. Which is why our administration is working with Animal Care Centers of New York to ensure they have the resources needed to support the animals in their care, the spokesperson told The Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are also addressing the broader issues that contribute to shelter overpopulation and encourage all New Yorkers to help if they can, by adopting, fostering, or spreading the word about these wonderful animals looking for a home. Potential adopters peruse the dogs up for adoption at the Manhattan ACC location. Stephen Yang The shelter system currently euthanizes roughly 100 animals per month often due to medical or behavioral issues, ACC rep Katy Hansen said. Healthy dogs allegedly remain untouched one canine has been under the citys care for over 400 days but activists believe some are euthanized too quickly, like an elderly dog killed mere hours after wandering off from its devastated family. Sliwa slammed the organizations death row list, which publicizes pets at risk of being put down. A dog at the Ridgewood ACC animal shelter. Nicole Rosenthal / NY Post How could you have a death row list, with a $57 million dollar budget and lots of retail space? Sliwa said, moments before suggesting abandoned Rite Aid sites be converted into adoption centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Hansen questioned how many staffers would be able to man such sites. The GOP headliner also floated plans for a city-run shelter overhaul that would include a quasi-private public partnership to shift the cost of the system from taxpayers to animal-loving philanthropists, and the creation of an animal welfare agency in the basement of City Hall. All shelters, under a Sliwa administration, would be no-kill, and offer free spay and neuter programs, he said. In May, the U.S. Supreme Court granted an emergency request by the Trump administration to allow President Donald Trump's firing of National Labor Relations Board member Gywnne Wilcox to go into effect while Wilcox's lawsuit against Trump played out in court. Last week, the Supreme Court granted another emergency request by the Trump administration, this time allowing the firing of some 1,300 federal workers from the Department of Education to proceed while that lawsuit played out in court. Can you identify the key difference between the two cases? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each one seemed to affirm the same broad view of presidential control over federal agenciesyet only one of them actually said so. In the first case, Trump v. Wilcox, the Supreme Court issued an opinion that both explained its decision and offered a legal justification for it. But in the second case, McMahon v. New York, the Court offered no explanation at all. That case only said that Trump's emergency request was granted and left it at that. (The same three justices, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, dissented in both cases.) Why did the Supreme Court justify its order in one case while remaining silent in the other? The answer is that we simply don't know because a majority of the Court has declined to say. Critics have dubbed this uncertain legal terrain "the shadow docket," a pejorative term that covers the various emergency orders and summary judgments that the Supreme Court sometimes issues on an expedited basis, all without the benefit of full briefing and oral arguments. In some instances, such as McMahon, a "shadow docket" ruling will not even include a written decision from the justices who made it. The lack of any written decision is the part of all of this that has never sat well with me. The Supreme Court's emergency orders in Wilcox and McMahon both involved important questions of executive authority and both, at least on the surface, seemed to effectively resolve the matter in the president's favor, thus rendering any further litigation futile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet we only have access to the majority's rationale in one of the two. In Wilcox, for example, the majority clearly said that Trump's firing of the agency official may go into effect because Trump "is likely" to prevail after the litigation has fully played out. Why did the majority expect such a likelihood of success? "Because the Constitution vests the executive power in the President," the Court's Wilcox order stated, "he may remove without cause executive officers who exercise that power on his behalf, subject to narrow exceptions recognized by our precedents." And in "our judgment," the order continued, "the Government is likely to show" that a NLRB board member qualifies as an officer who "exercise[s] considerable executive power." Perhaps a similar expectation of ultimate success also explains why the administration's emergency request was granted in McMahon. But perhaps it doesn't. Perhaps there was another reason for the order. Yet only the Supreme Court can say for sure and the majority is pointedly not saying anything one way or the other. So, who knows if further litigation in McMahon is futile or not. That kind of guessing game does a disservice to the rule of law. Odds & Ends: What's Your Favorite Political Novel? After the great Peruvian novelist and Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa died earlier this year, I was inspired to read or reread several of his books. I recently finished The Feast of the Goat (translated from the Spanish by Edith Grossman) and it is an incredible work of literature, even better than I remembered. I don't know if it is the greatest political novel ever written, but I do think it deserves to be in the running. (I would also cast a vote in this category for Robert Penn Warren's magnificent All the King's Men.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Feast of the Goat is a fictionalized account of the depraved regime of Rafael Trujillo, the right-wing dictator who ruled over the Dominican Republic from 1930 until his assassination in 1961. Much of the book is drawn from the historical record, although some key characters are entirely the work of the author's imagination. The novel's interlocking story lines partially follow the actions and thinking of Trujillo, and partially follow the actions and thinking of some of his victims, both real and fictional. The result is a haunted and haunting reckoning with a vile regime and its destructive hold on power. Not exactly a cheerful book, to be sure, but I do highly recommend it. The post The Problem With the Supreme Court's 'Shadow Docket' appeared first on Reason.com. A student receiving an eye exam at Northwestern Local Schools in Springfield through an iSee clinic. (Photo provided by iSee Ohio.) A new program in the states two-year operating budget will help more Ohio children see better. The new $10 million Ohio Student Eye Exam (OhioSee) program will provide students in kindergarten through third grade comprehensive eye exams and glasses at schools. Obviously, we want to catch kids early so that they arent going for a long time without the ability to see in their formative years, said Dr. Elizabeth Muckley, executive director and CEO of the Ohio Optometric Association, which represents 70% of the states optometrists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX It is estimated that at least 35,000 Ohio students who needed glasses did not receive them during the 2022-23 school year. We will change that, and this budget gets us started down that pathway, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said during a press conference earlier this month. We begin this program by focusing on areas of the state with the highest need to make the most immediate and the greatest impact. Improving childrens vision will improve their success at school, which is a win for students, families and schools. An estimated 1 in 4 school-aged children have vision problems that could affect their ability to learn, according to the American Optometric Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ohio Department of Health will administer the OhioSee program, which was born out of Childrens Vision Strike Force, which DeWine commissioned in 2024. Children must be able to see clearly to read, DeWine said. Many students who fail a school vision screening never receive follow-up care. Some of the barriers to receiving follow-up care include a lack of transportation, lack providers in the area, or being underinsured. Vinton County is the only Ohio county with no optometrists, Muckley said. Dr. Shane Foster who has a practice in Athens, Logan, and Columbus could be the closest optometrist for some people living in Vinton County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It might take people an hour to drive to my office, he said. iSee The Ohio Optometric Foundations iSee program has been providing no cost comprehensive eye exams for children in schools for the past 15 years. The greatest thing about working with this program is that it seems like such a simple thing, but it can change a childs entire life trajectory, Foster said. The iSee program brings doctors from the region into local schools to give students an exam. Typically, they see students who might have already failed a school vision screening and were not able to get follow-up care or students who are on an individualized education program (IEP), Foster said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre struggling in school, theyre not able to see the board, or they cant read well, and you find out that maybe they just needed a pair of glasses, which in the grand scheme of things, is a relatively inexpensive solution to a problem that could be misdiagnosed as a learning disability, he said. The iSee program provides free glasses for students who need them, which usually ends up being about 85% of the students they see, Foster said. It has administered about 6,000 exams and prescribed almost 2,800 glasses, he said. As far as we know, it was the first of its kind in Ohio at the time, he said. There were 721 student exams and 603 glasses prescribed through 38 iSee clinics in 2024, according to their annual report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If programs like iSee and other similar programs didnt exist, these children would never be examined, Foster said. They would never be treated. The iSee clinics visited these Ohio counties during the 2024-25 school year: Butler County Clark County Crawford County Cuyahoga County Franklin County Greene County Hamilton County Hancock County Knox County Licking County Lorain County Madison County Marion County Mercer County Miami County Montgomery County Morrow County Pickaway County Preble County Richland County Stark County Summit County Tuscarawas County Washington County Senate Bill 36 Republican Ohio Sens. Jerry Cirino and George Lang introduced a bill earlier this year that would update the scope of practice for Ohios optometrist for the first time in 17 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Optometry is a regulated profession under the Ohio Revised Code and must ask lawmakers to make changes related to their scope of practice. Ohio Senate Bill 36 would broaden the drugs an optometrist may prescribe and allow optometrists to perform certain in-office, non-invasive laser procedures such as removing benign lesions including cysts, styes and skin tags. Optometrists would still not be able to perform LASIK or cataract eye surgery or perform operating room procedures under this bill. The need for this legislation came through many comments from patients to their optometrists, Cirino said in his sponsor testimony back in April. The bill also reduces unnecessary statutory and administrative red tape that only delays needed vision care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twelve states including Kentucky and Indiana let optometrists use lasers and 22 states permit optometrists to perform eye lid lesion procedures like the ones included in S.B. 36. We dont want young optometrists and graduates leaving our state to go to states that have a more modern scope of practice, Muckley said. Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE One of Detroit's most prominent clergymen notified his congregation Monday, July 21, that a former parishioner with whom he had an "inappropriate relationship" was leveling false allegations against him. Bishop Charles Ellis III, senior pastor at the massive Greater Grace Temple, sent his flock an email around 8 p.m. that said, in part: "I recently was made aware of social media posts shared by a former member of my congregation, with whom I had an inappropriate relationship over 15 years ago." Ellis said the posts include accusations "some of which are deeply troubling and untrue." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ellis did not name the former parishioner or specify which accusations were untrue. Bishop Charles H. Ellis III of Greater Grace Temple in Detroit sent an email to his congregation on July 21 stating a former parishioner with whom he had an "inappropriate relationship" was leveling false allegations against him. His statement said he asked his attorney to review the matter, including "an apparent joint bank account with my name on it." Mario Morrow, who Ellis retained to help manage the potential controversy, declined to elaborate. "The statement speaks for itself," Morrow said. Ellis' statement said he turned to his bishop around the time he was involved with the woman and "these indiscretions were addressed ... in a redemptive process, which included counseling." More from M.L. Elrick: I'll show you the money and reveal why it's nearly impossible to say where it came from Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ellis has led Greater Grace Temple on Detroit's west side for more than 20 years. His biography on the church's website says he has nearly 6,000 parishioners, many of whom attend services in a 4,000-seat auditorium in the church. The edifice cost $36 million at the time it opened in 2002. Greater Grace sits on a 20-acre campus known as the "City of David," which also houses some of Ellis' endeavors, which include a Montessori day care, a charter school, a travel agency, television and recording studios and a funeral home. Politicians routinely seek Ellis' support, and he has served as a board member at the Detroit Zoological Society and Detroit Medical Center. More: Detroit ethics officials faulted mayoral candidate for violating city's cooling-off period Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ellis and Greater Grace Temple were in the national spotlight when they hosted the funeral services for civil rights icon Rosa Parks in 2005 and Aretha Franklin in 2018. Ellis is married and has three children, including his daughter Kirsten, who died in 1994. M.L. Elrick is a Pulitzer Prize- and Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter, director of student investigative reporting program Eye On Michigan, and host of the ML's Soul of Detroit podcast. Contact him at mlelrick@freepress.com or follow him on X at @elrick, Facebook at ML Elrick and Instagram at ml_elrick. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Bishop Charles Ellis III admits 'inappropriate relationship' The Porter County Prosecutors office is asking a judge to increase the bond to $25,000 cash for Montrell McLaurin Jr., charged in a Portage murder and released on his own recognizance before being picked up twice for reportedly having a handgun. McLaurin continues to drive around this County while possessing firearms, which is something he is clearly prohibited from doing under Indiana Law, since he was charged in Porter County with allegedly killing someone with a firearm, documents state. McLaurin is a danger to the citizens of this County and his Bond should reflect this increased danger he poses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Prosecutor John Holmen filed the petition Friday, the day after McLaurin, 21, of Portage, was arrested by deputies with the Porter County Sheriffs Department during a routine traffic stop in which he was the driver. Police reportedly found a Glock 31C handgun under the passenger seat and within McLaurins reach, according to court documents. Police also recovered a Diamond DB 15 firearm from the vehicle, and he was charged with two Class A misdemeanor counts of unlawful carrying of a handgun. McLaurin, according to court documents, was also arrested by Portage Police on May 22 on misdemeanor counts of unlawful carrying of a handgun and marijuana possession, and was released on $800 bond. McLaurin is out on pre-trial release for the April 29, 2024, murder of Darion Anderson in Portage. McLaurin allegedly killed Anderson with a Drako firearm that fires powerful 7.62 cartridges, documents state. This Murder weapon was recently found by the Chicago Police Department during an arrest of juveniles in the City of Chicago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was charged with murder, murder in perpetration of a robbery and attempted robbery in that case. Prosecutors have requested a firearms enhancement for the charges. He has pleaded not guilty. McLaurin filed a motion for an early trial release on July 26, 2024, and was released on his own recognizance on Sept. 25, because his trial was not going to occur within a 180-day window after his arrest, as required by state law. Holmen, in his petition to increase bond, notes that a defendant is not entitled to release without bond when the arrestee is on pretrial release for an offense that is not related to the incident that is the basis for the present arrest. The state can be granted a bail alteration when there is a showing of good cause to support changing bail, documents state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is the States position that good cause exists based on the Defendant arrests for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm while being on pre-trial release for the same offense, and while also on release for the serious offense of Murder, documents state. The state has already filed a motion to revoke bond in the May case, which had not been ruled on when the petition to increase bond was filed. A hearing on the motion to revoke bond from the May arrest is slated for Aug. 5 before Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Thode. A bail review hearing for the most recent charges is scheduled for July 29 before Porter Superior Court Judge Rebecca Buitendorp, according to online court records. McLaurin is scheduled for trial in the murder case on Oct. 6 in Buitendorps court. LOS ANGELES (AP) The driver accused of ramming his car into a crowd outside a Los Angeles nightclub over the weekend was charged with 37 felony counts of attempted murder, prosecutors said Tuesday. Fernando Ramirez, 29, was also charged with 37 felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon. If convicted, he could face multiple sentences of life imprisonment. Ramirez is accused of intentionally driving his car onto the sidewalk as partygoers were leaving the Vermont Hollywood venue at the end of a reggae hip-hop event early Saturday. The motive for the attack, which injured 37 people, was still unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A phone number for Ramirez could not be found in an online database search, and the public defenders office said they have not been appointed to represent him. When he drove that car onto that sidewalk, he aimed it at a whole sea of pedestrians," LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in announcing the charges. The car came to a stop after colliding with several food carts, which became lodged underneath the vehicle, and bystanders attacked the driver, police said. Injuries ranged from minor to serious fractures and lacerations, and some people were briefly trapped beneath the vehicle. After fleeing the scene, Ramirez was later found to have been shot in the lower back, but authorities have not identified the suspected gunman. Officials said Tuesday they were still looking for the shooter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We understand that this brazen act has shaken the community and but for the good grace of God, this could have been a mass casualty incident" Hochman said. He added that eight people suffered great bodily injury. Among those injured, 23 people were taken to hospitals, said Ronnie Villanueva, Interim Fire Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said "its truly a miracle that no one was killed that day. Ramirez has a criminal history that includes a battery and gang-related charge in 2014, an aggravated battery conviction for a 2019 attack on a Black man at a Whole Foods grocery store in Laguna Beach, California, and a domestic violence charge in 2021, records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 2019 attack, he was also convicted of a civil rights misdemeanor, and the assault was considered a hate crime because he told police 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. 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 for the 2019 attack. A 2024 drunken driving case and 2022 domestic violence charge were pending at the time of the nightclub crash, according to records. Jul. 21By Susan Du, Star Tribune (TNS) When ICE rounded up over a dozen Hmong men from Minnesota last month, the agency posted their photos online along with the criminal sex convictions for which the men were going to be deported to Laos, the agency said. Their message: The new administration is hard at work sweeping dangerous criminals off the street. The arrests took the Twin Cities refugee community by surprise. Many of the men had come to America after wars in Southeast Asia and lived in the Midwest for decades. They had families, including children born in America. In some cases they had committed their crimes as juveniles or young adults, had long ago completed their sentences and had been discharged from probation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They had little, if any, connection to Laos. In fact, relatively few American residents have ever been deported to Laos, according to annual reports from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The truth is, entering America as a refugee doesn't vest any special protection from deportation if a person is convicted of a crime. Deportable crimes range from murder to nonviolent theft, and include crimes related marijuana, which is still federally outlawed despite being legal for recreational use in half the states. In Minnesota, the state Resettlement Programs Office funds an education series for recent arrivals, including a session that warns people to avoid trouble with the law because a criminal conviction could permanently block the road to citizenship and result in deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If you haven't become a U.S. citizen, you are at risk of deportation ... and what we've seen with the arrest of Hmong individuals is they had been ordered deported based on past criminal convictions," said Jennifer Stohl Powell, executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. "One of the differences is, in the past, some countries have been reluctant, have not accepted deportees, and that is changing under pressure from the current administration." Among Minnesota's largest refugee groups are Hmong, Lao, Vietnamese and Cambodian people who fled 50 years ago after being hunted for siding with America in its conflicts against communism across Southeast Asia, including the Vietnam War. Many eventually naturalized as U.S. citizens. Some refugees ran afoul of the law, lost their permanent resident status and were given deportation orders. For years, a steady stream of Southeast Asian people have been deported from all over America to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, in some cases without any knowledge of the native language and culture of their country of ancestry. They've faced discrimination from locals and built communities of their own. In contrast, Laos has refused to accept most people that America may have wanted to deport there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Up until recently, there was no real possibility that they were going to be deported because we didn't have any kind of repatriation agreement with Laos," said immigration lawyer Evangeline Dhawan-Maloney. That means in the past, refugees from Laos who have committed crimes in America may have been arrested by immigration authorities following their criminal convictions, given a deportation order and released back into the community. They continued to live in America in a state of legal limbo, required to report for regular check-ins with the local ICE field office. In the intervening decades, they became rooted in America, with careers and families. Laos still does not have a repatriation agreement with the United States to accept deportees, but under the second Trump administration, more people of Laotian origin are being detained and sent to Laos, signaling a shift between the two countries. Dhawan-Maloney said one of her clients, a Minnesota woman, was deported to Laos in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once in Laos, it isn't clear what resettlement services exist for American deportees who are unfamiliar with the country. A nongovernmental organization in Laos' capital city Vientiane, Village Focus International, set up a transition house for deportees a few years ago, but the Lao government at the time would not accept most of them, said Executive Director Richard Reece in an email. Village Focus International hosted only one person, so the U.S. Embassy closed the project, he said. "In more recent days, at least 100 or more deportees have landed in Laos and face a challenge to integrate into a society they may never have lived in or left when they were small children," Reece said. "VFI is not playing an active role in the new iteration of deportees." This month the U.S. Supreme Court has given the Trump administration the green light to deport people to third countries, like South Sudan, if the deportees' countries of origin refuse to take them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What we are now seeing, unfortunately, is the U.S. government is essentially deporting these men to any country that will take them," said Dhawan-Maloney. "We're seeing folks, not just from Laos but other Southeast Asian countries that have final orders, being deported to South Sudan, where they they quite realistically face pretty severe harm." In 2020, when the Trump administration began negotiating repatriation with Laos, U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) introduced legislation to protect refugees from deportation, saying, "It is a betrayal of the courage and sacrifice of our Hmong and Lao veterans and their families for the Trump administration to deport anyone to Laos." McCollum's Republican challenger at the time, Hmong-American lawyer Sia Lo, criticized her for "needlessly terrifying" the vast majority of Hmong residents who haven't committed crimes and weren't at risk of deportation. McCollum's bill did not pass, and her office did not respond to questions about whether she would revisit the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the Minnesota Star Tribune spoke to Hmong Minnesotans earlier this month about their reactions to local arrests, some wondered how many of the men swept up by ICE were victims of cultural misunderstanding. Traditional marriages between girls and older men were somewhat common among the first generation of Hmong refugees before they acclimated to American life. It's difficult to tell the full spectrum of criminal violations for which people are being deported because ICE doesn't publicize every arrest, so those with minor crimes might pass largely unseen through the relatively opaque immigration court system. Immigration cases are considered "confidential," said immigration lawyer Katherine Santamaria Mendez, in that unlike regular criminal court proceedings with publicly posted filings and hearing schedules, the public cannot access immigration court cases. The only way to understand what is happening with them is to sit in immigration court and watch initial appearances and bond hearings. "We're seeing an uptick even in people going into ICE custody for a speeding ticket, for driving without a license," she said. "I've had a few where there is no criminal record, and they were simply detained because maybe they might have been in the car with the actual person that was on ICE's radar." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are usually cases of people who entered the country without status, or overstayed visas, not those who entered decades ago as refugees, she said. A Hmong-Minnesota woman deported to Laos in March had pleaded guilty to swindling money from fellow church members by faking cancer. Another Hmong woman deported from Milwaukee, a mother of five, had been involved in a marijuana trafficking ring. As for the Hmong men pictured in ICE's announcement last month, a Star Tribune review of their criminal cases did not turn up any examples of marriage involving minors. Some originated in Wisconsin, and dated back to the 1990s and early 2000s. The now-disbanded Minnesota Gang Strike Force investigated some cases dealing with gang rapes and forced prostitution of girls under 16. A few men were convicted of abusing family members. In one case, involving non-forcible underage sex, the defendant said he was also a teenager, but had lied about about being older in order to find work in America, but he could not prove it. In almost all of the cases, the defendants pleaded guilty. On the forms they signed waiving their right to trial, one point out of many disclaimers stated, "I understand that if I am not a citizen of the United States this plea of guilty may result in deportation, exclusion from admission to the United States, or denial of citizenship." ATHENS, Greece (AP) A cruise ship carrying Israeli tourists left the Greek island of Syros Tuesday without its passengers disembarking, after more than 150 protesters demonstrated at the islands port, unfurling Palestinian flags and calling for an end to the war in Gaza. Carrying banners that read: Stop the Genocide and No a/c in hell a reference to the conditions Palestinians face in the Gaza Strip the protesters chanted slogans on the dock near where the cruise ship, the Crown Iris, was docked on Tuesday, local media said. There were no reports of any violence. The ship is operated by an Israeli company, Mano Cruise, which said about 1,700 passengers were on board and it is sailing to Cyprus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greeces coast guard said the ship set sail at around 3 p.m., earlier than originally scheduled, but did not immediately have any further details. The management of Mano Cruise has decided in light of the situation in the city of Syros to now sail to another tourist destination, the company said in a press release. All passengers and crew members are resting and spending time on the ship on their way to the new destination. Israels Foreign Minister Gideon Saar contacted his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, over the incident, the Greek foreign ministry confirmed. It did not release any details of their discussion. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Protests across the state took place Monday outside Senator Josh Hawleys offices in major cities were focused on one thing: getting the senator to reinstate potential Medicaid cuts expected with the Big Beautiful Bill. [Hawley] had addressed Medicaid cuts and saying he was against some and then he voted for the very thing that he protested against, and so we have Josh Hawleys own words for this protest, and we have sent letters to him working with him, asking to work with him prior to his vote. After his vote, we had an open letter in the Kansas City Star voicing our sadness that he flip flopped against his words, and that is why we are here today, Susan Schmalzbauer said. Schmalzbauer is with Missouri Faith Voices, the organization behind the protests in Springfield, Kansas City, St. Louis and Columbia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Missouri Faith Voices is a nonpartisan, multi-faith, multiracial, social justice organization across the state, and we have been fighting for Medicaid expansion since the beginning, before the beginnings of ACA, and we were instrumental in seeing that Medicaid expansion was on the ballot in 2020, and we helped push it as across as a law, Schmalzbauer said. We are concerned because this so-called beautiful bill now law will blow a $1 billion hole in the Missouri budget. Senator Hawley knows this. Senator Hawley talked about this. There is going to be a lot of hurt because this bill was pushed through without any feedback from the people and one in five Missourians have Medicaid, and so theres going to be a lot of people hurting when these bills come into effect after the midterms. Among the protestors is Kory Wilcox. Korys son Asher has spinal muscular atrophy and even with private insurance from his parents, there are treatments Wilcox says Medicaid covers and if that support is altered, it could drastically change Ashers life for the worse. On the daily, he uses a variety of mobility devices. Thats one thing that Medicaid helps us get. He relies on a lot of different medications, a lot of different therapies, and has an entire team of specialty doctors that works with him to make sure that everythings going right, Wilcox said. Our family could not survive without Medicaid. We carry private insurance and in fact are covered by private insurance, my kiddo receives private insurance as well, and everything that we do runs through his private insurance and then things that private insurance wont cover Medicaid picks up. What I think our legislator doesnt really understand is that there are a lot of programs that private insurance will never pick up. These programs that my family relies on for my kid to survive, they are essential, and Medicaid is the only way that my kid gets those things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilcox also believes creating new barriers to receive Medicaid could negatively impact other families. A lot of families that are trying to just survive and get by and really rely on Medicaid services also dont have the time and ability and sometimes even the education, sometimes the wherewithal to understand how complex the system is, Wilcox said. Hes hopeful hes heard. Im a big advocate for people knowing that they are being heard, and I have been very forward in reaching out to our legislators. Im not crazy. Im not out there. Im not trying to cause a ruckus or a disruption. There are a lot of things that I agree with in the legislative process. I understand the need to streamline and make things more efficient, Wilcox said. I have a lot of ideas on how to get that done. What I want Josh to understand is that without a system to improve, in fact, theres nothing we can do. I would rather be working within an imperfect system and make sure my family is taken care of and work on improving that with the people in charge and work hand-in-hand with our legislators on making it better than to start from scratch or have nothing at all and be in crisis ourselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rebekah Thomas, who says she recently retired from the International Institute, which works with refugees, says those looking for a better life in America could have more hurdles than before. Refugees, when they first come to the United States, they normally are eligible for benefits for food stamps, SNAP for the first year. Most of them dont use those benefits for very long because they start working almost immediately, but having that social safety net in place, when theyre starting their new lives is so important and so essential and so my concern is the families that have just recently arrived back in January and December and still need those benefits, and if those benefits get cut off, Im concerned how it will impact their transition to the United States, Thomas said. I think the biggest thing for me, I think, is the food insecurity issue and then also access to health care. So our families, a lot of them come from war torn countries, a lot of them come from refugee camps, havent had access to health care. So when they first get here, you know, theyre playing catch up, theyre getting their shots. Theyre, you know, talking to doctors to kind of get on a basic preventative health care plan, so not having access to that is a concern for me. Schmalzbauer says Missouri Faith Voices wants to see a full plan from Hawley on restore potential Medicaid cuts, and a meeting between him and the groups board of directors. OzarksFirst spoke with Senator Hawleys team while writing this story and will follow up with Hawley later this week for reaction during an interview planned for Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 17, in an interview with OzarksFirst, Hawley affirmed his support for the BBB. Theres a lot that was good in that bill. I mean, just take Medicaid. I mean, I support work requirements for Medicaid. I support kicking illegals off Medicaid. We were able to get $1,000,000,000 in new rural hospital funding through Medicaid in that bill that I personally negotiated. So I was in favor of all of that, and of course, more health care coverage through the recap program that now for the first time Missouri is eligible for because I got to put in the bill. So I support all of that. What I do not support is taking away any federal funding for rural hospitals going forward. So my new legislation makes sure we continue to fully fund our rural hospitals, Hawley said. It would double the new funding for rural hospitals. So under the under the current bill from just two weeks ago, we were able to get $1,000,000,000 in new funding for rural hospitals in the state of Missouri. My legislation now would double that and it would also prevent any changes to funding going forward for Missouri hospitals. No cuts in other words, there would not be any cuts of any kind for Missouri hospitals in future years. It would ensure they remain fully funded now and into the future, and I just think thats so important for the many people in rural Missouri who need access to health care. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. Between October 2023 and January 2024, 53% of students in grades seven-to-12 in the locations surveyed by the Comptroller reported daily psychosomatic symptoms. The inability of the broader public to access professional psychological help is costing the State of Israel between 51 and 61 billion shekels, and the broader management ofPsychological Educational Services (PES) is alarmingly lacking, especially considering the accruing traumas from the Israel-Hamas War, the State Comptrollers Office revealed in a new, comprehensive annual report on local governance on Tuesday. A previous Comptroller report, which took place from June 2023 to November 2024, examined the state of local PES authorities during the years 2019-2023 - during standard times - and also from 2023 to 2024 - in an emergency situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report investigated seven local authorities for the pre-war period: The cities of Ashkelon, Tiberias, Taybe, Lod and Netanya, and the local councils of Eshkol and Mateh Asher. For the wartime period, five local authorities were examined: the city of Ashkelon, and the local councils of Eshkol and Mateh Asher, which were evacuated due to attack threats, as well as Tiberias and Netanya, which took in evacuees, as well as some areas in Mateh Asher. The Comptroller examined PES manpower, recognition of PES as critical for educational psychology, the prevention of sexual offenders from being employed in such places, and on the work of PES itself, and how it handles operations with local authorities and the Education Ministry. State Comptroller Matanyahu Engleman meets with members of Kibbutz Nir Oz on Sunday, May 11, 2025. (credit: STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE) For the report, two surveys were circulated by the State Comptroller's Office in the Fall of 2023: One to parents (891) of children aged three-to-18, the other to PES managers to examine the challenges staff are facing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Comptroller found that 61.4% of parents to children with difficulties did not approach PES after their child exhibited mental health symptoms, though 72% of parents to children aged three-to-18 reported did notice such symptoms. The number of parents who did turn to PES dropped 57%. The main reason (44.6%) was that they weren't even aware of the service; this applied to 30% of Jewish-Israeli parents, 62% of Arab-Israeli parents, and 54% of ultra-Orthodox (haredi) parents. This outweighed the other reasons parents didn't turn to PES: failure by the educational institution to refer them (18%), and long wait lines - about 54 days for PES, 89 days at public health clinics, and 36 days through private psychological care - and lack of availability (12.5%). This was particularly pertinent in low-income communities. The Education Ministry allocates psychologist posts to local authorities based on a ratio system of the number of students in each authority. In December 2023, there were 3,343 posts, but by December 2024, it dropped to 2,429. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even though theEducation Ministry had been aware since 2010 of the gaps between what exists in terms of PES posts and what is needed, and especially with the consistently-growing need for such services over the past few years, the ministry has not updated its ratio plan in 35 years, reads the report. The current ratio is one post per 500 children in kindergartens and daycares (ages three-to-six) and in first grade; one post per 1,000 students in grades two-through-12, and one post per 300 students with disabilities. When the ministry looked into changes to this ratio plan in 2018 by examining only two local authorities, it decided to make no changes. The reason the ministry set out to make this change was due to the lack of psychologists in PES, and that reason remained true, reads the report. The Comptroller did find, however, that in educational institutions for ages five-through-15, 91% of PES posts had been filled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Treatments for suicide prevention jumped by 43% during the COVID-19 pandemic, from 2020 to 2021. There was also a rise of 122% of interventions. The Comptroller found that in educational institutions where students with disabilities study with regular students, the factored change in ratio was not taken into account, such that the ratio plan is inaccurate. The larger database is also wrong and outdated. In 2023, 12 psychologists designated for PES or in managerial roles did not have the required qualifications, and the Education Ministry did not properly track their progress. Regarding preventing sex offenders from getting these positions, the municipalities of Ashkelon, Tiberias, Taybe, Lod and Netanya received approvals to dismiss only nine out of 28 male psychologists who were hired to PES between 2019 and 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For others, many of the approvals were granted only years after they were already working, sometimes up to a decade. Tiberias and Taybe in particular failed to receive police approval to hire. Taybe later procured approvals for most of the psychologists, but this was only years after they were already working. In Lod, there was not a single approval between 2019 and 2023; some of the psychologists even finished their work before the approval could come through, while for others, the municipality received a police report indicating a lack of a criminal record, but that does not serve as a replacement, reads the report. As a whole, these municipalities and councils failed to adopt an Education Ministry work plan that was set out to ensure effectiveness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Comptroller also found that the physical conditions of their offices were far less than adequate, even dangerous at times; they are also not close enough or accessible enough to bomb shelters. The Education Ministry did not provide guidelines to remedy this. The effects of the war After the Israel-Hamas War began in October 2023, the Education Ministry tracked data on psychologists working at absorption centers for evacuees for only two months, despite the number of evacuees only growing. Between October 2023 and January 2024, 53% of students in grades seven-to-12 in the locations surveyed by the Comptroller reported daily psychosomatic symptoms. The Education Ministry did expand PES during the war, but only a few localities used it - and the Ministry did not follow up. The PES managers were only able to expand their operations three months after the war began. As well, the ministry's guidelines on coordination between PES workers were only published eight weeks after the war broke out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ministry also did not specify or offer any recommendations on how it would help the psychologists themselves deal with the trauma garnered from their work. However, it did organize support group meetings and guidance in the first month of the war to three of the PES managers in the Gaza border area. It also offered remote lectures to PES staff nationwide already from October 8, 2023, on the situation, totaling at 24 lectures over three months, in which 4,593 psychologists participated. State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman advised that the Education Ministry match itself to the needs on the ground, set standards for the work conditions, particularly databases and services that synchronize to present a realistic assessment of what the status is with PES. He also advised that the Ministry and local authorities work harder to ensure that private details of patients remain private, and that local authorities work to increase the personnel, and make sure they are approved by police to work in these posts. The Education Ministry designated 35 years ago the ratio of one psychologist for 1,000 students ranging from Grade Two to 12. This means that the average wait time for a meeting is 55 days, which is absolutely unacceptable. The ministry must adjust its allocations to meet what is actually needed on the ground, said Englman. Health officials are advising the public to avoid swimming, surfing or playing in the ocean at several Los Angeles County beaches due to elevated bacteria levels that exceed state health standards. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued warnings for the following locations: The entire swim area at Walnut Creek at Paradise Cove The entire swim area at Mothers Beach in Marina del Rey 100 yards up and down the coast from the Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach 100 yards up and down the coast from the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said exposure to ocean water with high bacteria levels can cause illness, especially in young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. Still, there is positive news. The department lifted a previous warning for Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu after water quality test results showed improvement. For the latest updates on beach conditions, residents can call the 24-hour beach advisory hotline at (800) 525-5662 or visit PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/beach. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. (FOX40.COM) The California Manufacturers and Technology Association announced that nomination submissions are now open for the third annual Coolest Thing Made in California contest. The competition is one-of-a-kind in California, where the public can nominate and vote for their favorite products made in the state in a bracket-style tournament. Video Above: Scientists in Davis discuss new technology that helps people who cant speak This contest highlights the vital role manufacturing plays in the states economy, which employs 1.3 million people and contributes $310 billion to the annual GDP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CMTA said the contest highlights the creativity and innovation of the states manufacturing sector and the role it plays in the economy. Manufacturing is the backbone of Californias economy. The industry drives innovation, creates high-wage jobs and produces the essential goods that support our everyday lives, said Lance Hastings, President & CEO of CMTA. In a rapidly changing global landscape, it is critical now more than ever to support and celebrate the ingenuity and resilience of our states manufacturing sector. I am very excited to see what the public nominates and votes for in this years contest. According to CMTA, the state has more than 30,000 manufacturers that employ 1.3 million people, contributing $310 billion to the annual GDP, proving that world-class innovation still starts in California. More than 246,000 votes were submitted in the 2024 contest, with an audience of around 34 million people through both social media and broadcast platforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With past finalists including everything from edible cups to personal air taxis, each product represents cutting edge thinkers and technological advancements, said CMTA. Sacramento International Airport to implement parking guidance system The association also said that the 2025 contest is highly anticipated as it has a longer nomination period and a strong fan base. From July 21 to August 29, anyone can submit a nomination for a product made in California. However, products that reached the top four round in 2024 are not eligible. The public will then be able to vote in four bracket-style rounds to determine a winner. The voting rounds include: September 8-11: Popular round September 15-18: Top 16 round September 22-25: Top eight round September 29-October 3: Top four round Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On October 22, the winner will be announced at the Citizens Hotel in Sacramento. More information can be found on the associations 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 FOX40 News. Public sector bodies are to be banned from paying ransom to cyber criminals to deter attacks by gangs targeting the UK. Private companies and institutions hit by ransomware attacks will be required to tell law enforcement before they make any payments. The Government will then use powers to block them from doing so if there is a risk that terrorist groups, sanctioned criminals or hostile states such as Russia and North Korea could benefit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any company or organisation that paid a ransom to a sanctioned group would face fines of up to 1 million or half the value of the breach, whichever is greater. All public bodies using state money, including the NHS, local councils and schools and providers of critical infrastructure such as roads, rail, electricity and water, will be banned from making ransomware payments. The Home Office is also setting up a mandatory reporting system for ransomware cyber attacks so that the Government, law enforcement and intelligence services can build a clear picture of the extent of the threat. In ransomware attacks, hackers encrypt data and demand a ransom to decrypt the information. Security minister Dan Jarvis said: Ransomware is a predatory crime that puts the public at risk, wrecks livelihoods and threatens the services we depend on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why were determined to smash the cyber criminal business model and protect the services we all rely on as we deliver our Plan for Change. By working in partnership with industry to advance these measures, we are sending a clear signal that the UK is united in the fight against ransomware. The move follows cyber attacks on retailers, including the Co-op where all 6.5 million of its members had their data stolen. Another attack, on Marks & Spencer, crippled its online operations for months. The British Library suffered one of the UKs most serious ransomware attacks in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rebecca Lawrence, its chief executive, said: The attack destroyed our technology infrastructure and continues to impact our users; however, as a public body, we did not engage with the attackers or pay the ransom. Instead, we are committed to sharing our experiences to help protect other institutions affected by cybercrime and build collective resilience for the future. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) managed 430 cyber incidents between September 2023 and August 2024, including 13 ransomware attacks. They included a key supplier to London Hospitals and Royal Mail. According to the crime survey for England and Wales, almost a million (952,000) computer misuse offences were committed against individuals in the two countries in the year ending June 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previous research has suggested that as many as eight in ten British firms that fell victim to ransomware attacks paid the hackers to retrieve their information. JBS Foods and Colonial Pipeline are firms that have reportedly paid a ransom to get their systems working again. Research by security firm Proofpoint found that more than three-quarters of UK businesses were affected by ransomware in 2021. It also suggested that paying hackers is not an effective tactic, with only half of firms surveyed regaining access to data and systems after the payment, with criminals demanding more money. 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: MONDAY 7/21/2025 6:00 p.m. (PUEBLO WEST, Colo.) According to PCSO, the Pueblo Metro Bomb team has cleared the Market Plaza Safeway store and found nothing suspicious. PCSO said a suspect has been identified in connection to the threat and will likely face charges. MONDAY 7/21/2025 4:28 p.m. ORIGINAL STORY: Pueblo West Safeway evacuated for bomb threat The Safeway in Pueblo West off Highway 50 is being evacuated due to a reported bomb threat at the bank inside the store. According to the Pueblo County Sheriffs Office (PCSO), the Safeway on Market Plaza, near Highway 50 and Purcell Boulevard, is being evacuated due to a reported bomb threat made against the US Bank located inside the grocery store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PCSO said deputies and first responders from the Pueblo West Fire Department were on scene. The community is being asked to avoid the area. This is a developing story. FOX21 News will provide updates as 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 FOX21 News Colorado. LUQUILLO, Puerto Rico Nestled between El Yunque National Forest and the shores of the ocean lives Andres Gonzalez Vega, one of the last remaining World War II veterans. Don Andres, or Dede, as he's affectionately known in his hometown, is 101 years old and one of the nearly 16.4 million soldiers who fought in the war from 1941 to 1945 as part of the U.S. military. Read in Spanish here. Eighty years after the end of the war, less than 1% of all World War II veterans still live. Don Andres, who is writing a memoir, is one of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the help of his daughter, Julia Gonzalez, Don Andres is writing a book to document nearly a century of life. Gonzalez Vega, who still retains the lucidity and memory of a historian, recalls in detail how at age 18 he had to report to Fort Buchanan, in San Juan. After a week of medical and physical evaluations, his name echoed over the camps loudspeaker. I was waiting for that call, Gonzalez Vega proudly remarked in his native Spanish. Lined up alongside all the other young Puerto Ricans, Gonzalez Vega handed in his shoes, socks, pants, underwear and shirt before he left the camp to fight in the war. Andres Gonzalez Vega, 101, smiles as he shows a picture of him in military uniform while he served during World War II. (Courtesy Wesley J. Perez Vidal) Having lunch with her father at his home, Gonzalez said it has been a challenge for her father to write his memoir because Don Andres always likes to talk about the good things," though life has both ups and downs, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Gonzalez Vega, known as a defender and promoter of Puerto Rican culture, is also acknowledging past struggles and challenges as he talks about his life. Both he and his daughter remember walking down the streets of New York, where they lived for many years, and seeing signs reading, Puerto Ricans Go Home. They also recalled the dozens of times they had to paint over their home after it was tagged with racial slurs like Spic Go Home. The memoir will document Don Andres time in the war, his experiences in New York as one of the founders of the iconic National Puerto Rican Day Parade and his accomplishments in Puerto Rico as the creator of the Coconut Festival in Luquillo and a festival coordinator at the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. Eating his favorite chicken wings with tostones, or fried plantains, Don Andres nostalgically reminisced about the days when most Puerto Ricans walked barefoot through the countryside and fetched water from a well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gonzalez Vega, who was born on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques on May 30, 1924, said that as a child, he would cross a river on his way to school and harvest the bananas and avocados he loved to eat with cod. Don Andres, at his home next to his daughter, Julia Gonzalez, look at the many news clippings published about his life and work. (Courtesy Wesley J. Perez Vidal) Despite having lived outside Puerto Rico for 29 years, Gonzalez Vega still considers himself a jibaro, a rural Puerto Rican who in recent years has become a symbol of Puerto Rican folklore. Known for wearing a distinctive straw hat called la pava, "jibaros" historically were people who lived in rural Puerto Rico and worked on farms. Today, artists like Bad Bunny, with his latest album, DeBI TIRAR MaS FOToS, seek to highlight images and scenes depicting jibaros like Don Andres. Going to war Upon completing his military training in the town of Gurabo, Gonzalez Vega received an order: Pack everything up, were going to leave, he recalled. Dozens of trucks began picking up the Puerto Rican soldiers and transporting them to San Juan. There, they all boarded a gigantic ship he had never been on one before. At night, as they set sail, all they could see were the lights of the capital city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodbye, my beloved Borinquen, goodbye, my land of the sea, Im leaving, but one day Ill return, he repeated melancholically, similar to the lyrics of the iconic song En Mi Viejo San Juan, as he recalled the day he left Puerto Rico for the first time. Gonzalez Vega, alongside thousands of other soldiers, arrived at the Guantanamo Bay military base in Cuba. They stayed there for several days until a naval escort took them to their final destination Panama, as he recalled the journey there. Sometimes the sirens sounded, and they had to turn off all the lights, and everyone had to go down to their cabins and be quiet. Then, they told us there was a German submarine surrounding the ship. We had about three scares in Cuba, not knowing where we were going, Gonzalez Vega said. I dont know how many days, because the ship was coasting, until we reached Panama. Upon his arrival in the city of Balboa, in Panama, a group of U.S. soldiers surprised him with coffee and fresh milk after an arduous journey with scarce food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knowing only a few words of English which he learned from a popular Puerto Rican childrens song from the 1930s created by a bilingual teacher Gonzalez Vega crossed the Panamanian jungle to reach his assigned station. With the help of paper, Don Andres describes where New York City's Puerto Rican neighborhoods were, as he marks the city's avenues with precision. (Courtesy Wesley J. Perez Vidal) Shortly after he arrived, Gonzalez Vega was promoted to private first class and later to sergeant, overseeing a group of Puerto Rican soldiers. Gonzalez Vega said that one of his most difficult moments was when his mother, Maria Vega, was hospitalized with asthma in Puerto Rico. One afternoon at the Panama Canal, he was working on an intense target practice session, so desperate to be with his mother that his head hurt, he said. Minutes later, he was told he had to report to the military airport and was taken to Puerto Rico on the mail plane. Don Andres cared for his mother until she recovered. Fifteen days later, he returned to the Panama Canal until the end of the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For his service, Don Andres received the American Theater Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Facing racism and challenges In 1947, Gonzalez Vega was part of a wave of Puerto Ricans who migrated to New York for economic reasons. In the city, he unexpectedly ran into one of his friends from Panama. Together, they remembered former World War II colleagues, many of whom later died serving in the Korean War. Maybe that [death] would have happened to me, too, Gonzalez Vega said. Gonzalez Vega raised his daughter, Julia, with his wife in the Big Apple. One of his daughters childhood memories is when she returned from school one day and saw her father painting part of the house after someone had tagged it with an insult: Spics Go Home, they both recounted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At that time, minority groups in the United States faced the racial tensions of the segregation era and the struggle for civil rights. That deeply affected Don Andres, who saw how a Black person could be sitting in one place and, if a white person arrived, would have to give up the seat immediately, the veteran said. Don Andres conserves and organizes the sashes he's received from the National Puerto Rican Day Parades in New York and Chicago in honor of his contributions. (Courtesy Wesley J. Perez Vidal) To channel his indignation, Gonzalez Vega was part of the founding group creating the National Puerto Rican Parade in New York. He remembers how the group pressured the mayor, Robert Wagner, to grant them access to the famous Fifth Avenue for the parade. They went to Wagner, If you want our vote, we want to march on Fifth Avenue, Gonzalez Vega recalled, who also remembered the many Puerto Ricans who fought to also have voter registration forms in Spanish. "From there, Puerto Rican politics began, with many emerging leaders running for office, and today, you see that," he said. Making crafts, recording memories Don Andres later returned to Puerto Rico, where he completed his bachelors degree in business administration and worked as a festival coordinator at the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and founded the Coconut Festival in Luquillo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The father and daughter live 50 feet from each other, in concrete houses surrounded by plants that grow avocados, pigeon peas and plantains. Gonzalez calls her father every morning to go over the days errands. After their chat, Don Andres goes down 12 steps from the second floor of his house to sit in the dining room for breakfast: a glass of hot milk with bananas and oranges. He makes handmade crafts, including traditional Puerto Rican musical instruments like his signature guiros and maracas. Don Andres shows the key to the city of Luquillo, Puerto Rico he received for his cultural and civic contributions. (Courtesy Wesley J. Perez Vidal) When Gonzalez Vega visits El Yunque to sell his work, he sometimes wonders whether he should stop, as his daughter is the one who helps him carry the heavy table and set up his shop with his handmade instruments. I dont want you to stop. I want you to continue, Gonzalez said with great emotion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gonzalez, who dreams of creating a place that offers Puerto Rican crafts, coffee and wine, said that while she has to make a list to try to remember the things she has to accomplish, "my dad has everything in his mind. I want to continue to do everything in the way he has always done them. Don Andres said, I thank God for giving me a daughter like Julia, who means everything to me. Asked whether he has told his whole story, he replied with a smile: I havent told you anything yet. Gonzalez Vega continues his days reminiscing about his memories and enjoying the time he has with his daughter while singing his own version of Bad Bunnys hit Cafe Con Ron, which rhymes in Spanish and loosely translates to Coffee in the morning, and in the afternoon ham (jamon), we enjoy everything sitting in the balcony (balcon). An earlier version of this story was first published in The Latino Reporter, a news website sponsored by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and produced by student members, who cover the organization and its annual conference. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The Coral Princess cruise ship towers over small boats docked at Whittier's harbor on July 16, 2025. The Princess ship is at the old cruise terminal. In the distance, at left, is a new cruise terminal built by Huna Totem Corp. in cooperation with Norwegian Cruise Line. Whittier is a small town, but it gets a lot of traffic from cruise ships, cars, fishers, Alaska Railroad trains, the state ferry system and other users. The Whittier Moves plan is intended to guide future management of a transportation system that has become congested. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Whittier, the quirky port town at the western edge of Prince William Sound, is known for keeping people in close quarters. Almost all of the approximately 275 residents live in a single building, a converted military structure called the Begich Towers. The only route in and out for land vehicles is a 2.5-mile, single-lane tunnel the longest highway tunnel in North America that cars, trucks, buses and motorhomes use on a tight schedule that alternates with use by Alaska Railroad trains. Tourists walk toward an Alaska Railroad passenger car in Whittier on July 16, 2025. The abandoned Buckner Building is in the background. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Its port, which has both deep waters and year-round ice-free conditions, is used by cargo ships, cruise ships, commercial fishing vessels and hundreds of watercraft carrying recreational boaters, sport fishers and sightseers. It is an important site for the Alaska Marine Highway System, which uses Whittier as a terminal in its Southcentral routes, and for the railroad, which ferries cargo and passengers in and out of town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All that crowding in a once-isolated town about 60 road miles from Anchorage has prompted state and local officials to launch a long-term project called the Whittier Moves Transportation Master Plan. All eyes are on Whittier as an area of opportunity to grow tourism and freight, says the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities website for the project. The Whittier Moves project aims to set goals and investment priorities to guide work to be phased in over several years starting with some short-term fixes to alleviate bottlenecks. Kate Silber and Kendal Ramage, employees of the eingineering contractor DOWL, man a Whittier Moves information booth set up on July 16, 2025, at the new Huna Totem cruise terminal at the head of the bay. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) To guide their planning, state and city officials are soliciting comments from residents, visitors, business operators and anyone else interested in Whittier. They have posted an online questionnaire that will be open until July 31. DOT also staged some information booths, where employees of engineering contractor DOWL on July 16 collected suggestions and comments from visitors, residents and cruise company workers. A public meeting is to be held in September to review input gathered over the summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project is timely, with a new cruise dock built by the Native-owned Huna Totem Corp. in operation and increasing interest from cruise companies on top of the regular Alaska ferry and marine freight traffic, said Shannon McCarthy, a DOT spokesperson. A lot is happening in a confined space, she said by email. The study is primarily looking at the transportation needs, pedestrian facilities, parking, the potential for transit to get people to where they need to go, wayfinding to guide those from out of town and what future capacity may be needed for the tunnel. Suggestions for transportation improvements are listed on Post-It notes attached to a map at a Whittier Moves informational booth set up on July 16, 2025, at the towns small boat harbor. Suggestions collected that day included calls for improvements to parking sites, tunnel schedules, signage and public restrooms. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) The project is using a federal grant of about $360,000, McCarthy said. While DOT is leading it, partners include the Alaska Railroad, which owns much of the land in town, and the U.S. Forest Service, which manages the Chugach National Forest that surrounds Whittier, as well as the city government. Whittiers year-round population may be tiny, but the town is anything but sleepy, at least in summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cruise ships from various companies make regular port calls that started this year on April 28 and are scheduled to run until early October.\ Vehicle traffic through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, named for the U.S. Army engineer who oversaw its construction during World War II, is highest in summer and crowded enough to result in significant delays, according to DOT. Overall, including winter, use has increased steadily since the tunnel was opened to vehicle traffic in 2000. DOT statistics show that traffic grew from 229,098 total vehicle trips in 2011 to 278,378 in 2019. Cars exit the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel into Whittier on July 16, 2025. The tunnel opened to vehicle traffic in 2000. Motorists and the Alaska Railroad use the tunnel at alternating times. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Small-boat harbor space is at a premium, with a yearslong waiting list for private slips at the dock, according to DOT. The older cruise ship terminal used by Princess Cruises, located at the small boat harbor, is aged and needs reconstruction or some kind of reconfiguration, according to the department. The new Huna Totem terminal, built in cooperation with Norwegian Cruise Lines and the city, is part of a head of the bay concept for development west of the existing and crowded waterfront. The idea of modernizing Whittiers transportation facilities aligns with local efforts to improve the waterfront and expand community development beyond the hulking Buckner Building, a massive structure used by the Army for only a few years and then abandoned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the challenges has been the Alaska Railroads land ownership. Railroad tracks cut directly through town, limiting access for people traveling between the waterfront and the Begich Towers area. One access point is a 512-foot sheltered pedestrian tunnel that doubles as a tsunami evacuation route. The pedestrian tunnel that leads from Whittiers waterfront to the business area near the Begich Towers high-rise building is seen on July 17, 2025. The tunnel, which heads to higher ground, is available as a tsunami evacuation route. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Tsunamis are a longstanding concern in Whittier. The area is seismically active; 13 people in Whittier died and the entire waterfront was ruined in the magnitude 9.2 quake and tsunami that struck in 1964. Additionally, landslides are increasing in the steep mountains that rise above Prince William Sounds fjords and bays, a phenomenon that is partly triggered by the accelerated melt of glaciers. Those slides threaten to create localized tsunamis. While the military legacy looms large in Whittier, the sites role as a transportation hub dates back centuries before the Army arrived. Portage Pass, a notch in the Chugach Mountains, links the Prince William Sound with the Cook Inlet region, and the 2-mile trail that hikers continue to use there was a traditional passageway for the regions Indigenous people and later used by miners and prospectors. Two people walk on the ramp from the MV Aurora state ferry to the Whittier terminal on July 17, 2025. In the background is an Alaska Railroad freight train and Begich Towers, the building that is home to most Whittier residents. Begich Towers was originally a military structure but is now a high-rise building with condominiums and some commercial operations. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Nassau County officials warn that rabies has become a serious concern in the suburbs east of New York City. Nassau County Department of Health has declared an imminent public health threat due to a rise in rabies cases among wild and feral animals, officials said in a statement Monday. The declaration free the health department to secure resources to more quickly control the spread. Nassau County residents are advised to avoid stray cats and dogs and keep their pets up to date on vaccinations and indoors at night. Anyone bitten or scratched by an animal should immediately report the encounter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resurgence of Rabies in Nassau County, with its high population density and after nearly a decade of absence, represents a serious and evolving health concern, Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gellman said Monday. Nassau County launched its 2025 Raccoon Rabies Control program in April to limit the spread of the viral disease. That initiative includes spreading vaccines into areas where raccoons are likely to find and eat them. The Centers for Disease Control warns that rabies can be fatal to humans if untreated. The illness is spread through contact with infected animals like raccoons, foxes, bats and skunks. Health officials in Nassau County reported in September that a raccoon and two stray cats in areas near John F. Kennedy International airport tested positive for rabies. The county had been considered free of raccoon rabies since 2007. No recent cases of rabies in humans have been reported. Early symptoms of a rabies infection may include weakness, discomfort, fever or headache. Severe disease appears within two weeks of initial contact. Symptoms can include anxiety, agitation, hallucinations, an abundance of saliva and aggressive behavior. LONG ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11) Raccoons with rabies have been detected across Long Island since last summer, according to health officials in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Nassau County reported seven cases of rabid animals in 2024, including two raccoons in Massapequa Park and West Hempstead that tested positive for the disease on Dec. 29 and Dec. 30. Feral cats and raccoons with rabies were also seen in Cedarhurst, Valley Stream, Hewlett and Roslyn Heights, according to health officials. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In total, there have been 25 cases of rabies in Nassau County since June 2024. Health officials said one raccoon even scratched a resident, who had to be treated immediately. In Suffolk County, there have been six cases of rabid raccoons in 2025 alone. All of the raccoons were located in or near Amityville, according to health officials. Health officials encourage residents to never touch wild or feral animals, including cats or dogs. They also ask that pet owners bring their furry companions inside during the evening hours. Rabies can be transmitted to humans and pets through scratches, bites and saliva. Anyone who believes theyve been exposed to rabies should seek care immediately before contacting local health officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State In Nassau, residents can call the Department of Health at 516-227-9663 or 516-742-6154. They can also report dead, sick or animals acting abnormally by emailing rabies@nassaucountyny.gov. Suffolk residents can call the Department of Health Services at 631-854-0333 or 631-852-4820 if theyve been bitten or scratched by a wild animal. They can also report dead raccoons to php@suffolkcountyny.gov. 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. A rally car technician who was engulfed in a fireball during training for a 1,300-mile desert race is suing for up to 5m compensation. Matt Finney, 52, was soaked in highly volatile fuel whilst filling up a rally car during testing before the November 2021 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Mr Finney, 52, was put in an induced coma for three months, and was in hospital in Dubai for four months. He has now launched a compensation claim against his long-term employers, Prodrive Motorsport, over the physical pain and mental trauma caused by the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company, based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, has been linked with multiple racing legends over the years, including rally stars Sebastien Loeb and Colin McRae, as well as with Lewis Hamiltons Extreme E Electric car race team. Lawyers for Mr Finney, who has been a senior motorsport technician for Powerdrive for over 20 years, blame the accident on the companys alleged defective working practices at the time. The cars are intended to race in the desert conditions of Abu-Dhabi But his employers say the mechanic was himself at fault in failing to wear full protective equipment. At the time of the accident, Mr Finney, who was tasked with building, testing, preparing and restoring rally cars, was preparing for the Abu Dhabi desert race by maintaining its Prodrive Hunter T1+. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rally cars being tested would be subjected to chassis engine change and other adjustments after being driven round a 35km circuit designed to simulate desert conditions with refuelling after each loop. However, Mr Finney was set alight while carrying out the first refuelling of the day using a new fuel delivery system. His barrister James Candlin, explained Mr Finney had attached the electric pump to the car and switched it on when a fountain-like spray of fuel emanating from behind him from the fuel pump components struck him. He then slipped on fuel in the ground tarpaulin whereupon fuel or fuel vapour ignited, and he was engulfed in the subsequent conflagration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the fire, he was driven to a Dubai hospital where he was treated for burns to his head, face, chest, back and upper and lower limbs as well as to his throat. Although Mr Finney began a phased return to work, he continued to be dogged by scarring and chronic pain, along with flashbacks and mental trauma. Explaining the impact on his work life, Mr Candlin continued: The claimant has recently been medically certified as unfit for work but when fit for work since the accident he has been limited to engagements mostly in desk work rather than hands-on mechanical roles for which he is trained. The accident occured during the use of a new fuel delivery system - Champion News He claimed the company failed to deploy enough crew, failed to ensure comprehensive training in the new fuel system, and failed to consider the maximum operation temperature of 40 degrees for the Piusi Ex50 fuel pump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The auto company insists that Mr Finney brought disaster on himself by neglecting essential safety procedures. In the companys defence documents, its barrister, Vaughan Jacob, claimed that Mr Finney failed to carry out his own risk assessment, tried to refuel the rally car when it was still hot, failed to wear the right safety equipment, neglected to use the correct refuelling area and failed to check the pump was securely attached. At the time of the accident, the temperature was below 40C, which meant the fuel pump in use was within its safe temperature range, the barrister added. The case will return to court at a later date. 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. Rachel Maddow warned viewers Monday night that AI has brought the internet to a tipping point regarding right-leaning bots and their directive to praise the Trump administration. The MSNBC anchor noted, Were running into some funny situations because of the combination of AI-driven slop online and the extreme and bizarre news environment that is the second term of Donald Trumps presidency. The Rachel Maddow Show host went on to break down how the fractures forming within Trumps MAGA fanbase because of his administrations ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal have affected the internets pro-Trump bots. More from TheWrap Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You no longer have to pay a troll farm of teenagers in Macedonia or Saint Petersburg, Russia, to pretend to be right-wing Americans saying political things online. Now, instead, they just train these automated bots to do it, Maddow observed. Heres the problem: Artificial Intelligence is not actually intelligent. Case in point: the increasingly contradictory online social media posts coming from Trumps AI fans, which have among other things praised and criticized attorney general Pam Bondi within the span of minutes. These bots are trained to mimic MAGA voices online. They are trained to sound like Trump supporters, based on the kind of stuff that Trump supporters say, Maddow explained. So when it comes to the Jeffrey Epstein story, the bots are malfunctioning! You can watch the full Rachel Maddow show segment yourself in the video below. Maddow noted that she does not ultimately blame the pro-Trump bots in question for being confused about the Trump administrations handling of its Epstein files. If youre going to try to be pro-Trump on the Jeffrey Epstein issue, what are you going to say? the MSNBC host asked. I mean, what happened to the lawyer who got Epstein his bizarrely lenient plea deal when he was first arrested on sex trafficking charges in Florida? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oh, Trump hired him to be his own lawyer, Maddow said of attorney Alan Dershowitz. What happened to the U.S. attorney who gave Jeffrey Epstein that bizarrely lenient plea deal? Oh, Trump put him in his cabinet in his first term. Well, who then prosecuted Epstein a second time when he was brought up on federal charges? Oh, that was the SDNY line prosecutor who Trump inexplicably fired last week. Taking all of that into account, Maddow remarked that there was only ever going to be one outcome to the Trump administrations Epstein case. If youre supposed to be a pro-Trump bot commenting on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, what are you going to do? Youre going to melt down, she concluded. They dont know what to say anymore. The post Rachel Maddow Says Epstein Files Scandal Has Fake Pro-Trump Social Media Accounts Melting Down: The Bots Are Malfunctioning! | Video appeared first on TheWrap. Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, who is considering a 2028 presidential run, brushed off criticism from former President Bidens son, Hunter, who accused Emanuel of walking away from the partys values. Emanuel responded on Monday to a clip of the younger Bidens remarks during an interview on SiriusXMs The Megyn Kelly Show, saying hes got empathy for him but doesnt take the criticism too seriously. I think were giving this more time than its due, he said. Thats my own view. A little empathetic, you have a son whos blinded by his own love for, in effect, and loyalty for his father, and I get that, but not the first phone call Im going to make for a strategery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with journalist and YouTube personality Andrew Callaghan posted earlier Monday, Hunter Biden paraphrased remarks from Rahm fing Emanuel. We got to understand that these people are really mad, and we got to appeal to these white voters,' Biden said. He then responded to the sentiment. Rahm, the only people that fing appeal to those fing white voters was Joe Biden, he replied. Eighty-one years old and he got 81 million votes not because he appeased their fing Trumpian sense but because he challenged it, and he said, You can be an 81-year-old Catholic from fing Scranton that doesnt understand it but still has empathy for transgender people and immigrants. Emanuel has served in a multitude of political positions from Chicago mayor to former President Obamas White House chief of staff, to senior adviser to former President Clinton to chair of the House Democrats campaign arm, among others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has indicated his interest in launching a 2028 presidential run and has begun to position himself to the right of progressive members of his party. In the same interview, Emanuel told Kelly he does not think a man can become a woman, breaking with his party on the issue of transgender rights. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Rahm Emanuel, who is publicly mulling a presidential run, told conservative media host Megyn Kelly in a new interview that a man cant become a woman, breaking with most Democrats on the divisive issue of transgender rights. Can a man become a woman? Kelly asked Emanuel, former President Bidens ambassador to Japan, on her SiriusXM show. Can a man become a woman? Not no, the former Chicago mayor and Obama chief of staff replied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank you, Kelly responded, adding later that Emanuels answer was so easy. Why dont more people in your party just say that? she added. Because were Im now going to go into a witness protection plan, he joked. Following former Vice President Kamala Harriss loss to Trump in the 2024 election, Democratic policy and messaging toward transgender Americans have come under intense scrutiny both inside and outside the party. Some moderate Democrats contend the party went too far in defending transgender rights, particularly when it comes to womens sports. President Trump campaigned hard against Harriss past support for gender-affirming care for incarcerated people. Since returning to the White House, he has sought to curb access to gender-affirming health care and reinstate a ban on transgender troops in the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), Harriss 2024 running mate, has said its a mistake for some in the party to not defend transgender Americans against Trump administration policies seeking to restrict their rights. LGBTQ rights groups have pushed the Democratic Party to do more on protecting gay and transgender Americans rights amid threats from the Trump administration. With increasing frequency and intensity, the LGBTQ+ community is being targeted substantively as well as rhetorically, in campaigns, state legislatures, Congress and from every corner of the Trump administration, leaders of nine national and state LGBTQ advocacy groups said in a letter to the Democratic National Committee back in March. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The 1992 ad began with a warning in bold, all-caps: Christian Beware. The text of the ad went on: Do not put the economy ahead of the Ten Commandments. Did you know that Gov. Bill Clinton The ad, which appeared in the USA Today and the Washington Times, listed Clintons stances on abortion on demand and the homosexual lifestyle and accused a then-presidential candidate of promoting policies in rebellion to Gods laws. The ad posed an urgent question : How then can we vote for Bill Clinton? At the end, the ad solicited tax-deductible contributions. The ad was put out by The Church at Pierce Creek, a non-denominational church in Conklin, New York. It also became one of the rare cases of the IRS enforcing the Johnson Amendment, a 1954 provision of the U.S. tax code that bars tax-exempt organizations, including churches, from endorsing or opposing political candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1995, the IRS retroactively revoked the churchs tax-exempt status, arguing the ad crossed the line into prohibited political activity. In response, the church, operating under the name Branch Ministries, sued. But in the 1999 case Branch Ministries v. Rossotti, the D.C. Circuit upheld the IRSs decision, ruling that the church was still free to speak politically, it just couldnt do so while claiming the benefits of tax-exempt status. For decades, that interpretation stood largely unchallenged until now. A surprising reversal In a surprising turn, the IRS recently signaled it would stop enforcing the Johnson Amendment in certain cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a proposed settlement filed in a federal court in Texas on July 7, the IRS agreed not to penalize two Texas churches for endorsing political candidates during regular church communications. The IRS agreement emerged as part of a proposed settlement in a 2024 lawsuit filed by a coalition of conservative religious organizations, including National Religious Broadcasters, Intercessors for America and two Texas churches Sand Springs Church and First Baptist Church of Waskom. Both argued that the Johnson Amendment violated the First Amendment rights of faith-based institutions, particularly when endorsements were made during worship services. The IRSs decision not to treat such sermons as campaign intervention marked a significant shift from past interpretations of the law. Communications from a house of worship to its congregation in connection with religious services through its usual channels of communication on matters of faith do not run afoul of the Johnson Amendment as properly interpreted, according to the IRS filing. Since the news about the IRS filing, Americans United for Separation of Church and State has filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit, urging the court to reject the proposed settlement and defend the endorsement limitation for churches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the judge hasnt ruled on either of the proposals yet, the filing has reignited long-running debates about whether the Johnson Amendment protects the integrity of religious institutions or improperly limits their speech. Supporters of the change, including Speaker Mike Johnson and some evangelical leaders, see it as a win for religious freedom and free speech. The Founders wanted to protect the church from an encroaching state, not the other way around, Johnson wrote on X. President Donald Trump said he loved the fact that churches can endorse a political candidate. Critics, however, warn of the dangers of entangling churches with partisan politics. Because churches are exempt from the financial disclosure rules that apply to other nonprofits, they could become vehicles for untraceable campaign spending if allowed to endorse candidates, experts say. Our faith should inform our vote, said Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Our votes shouldnt drive our faith. Whether the IRSs proposed shift becomes policy or not, it has brought renewed attention to a broader question: What are the appropriate boundaries between faith and politics in a house of worship? And can rules like the Johnson Amendment help preserve both religious integrity and democratic fairness? An unorthodox way While the proposal does not formally change the law, it opens the doors for churches, who choose to do so, to endorse political candidates without risking their tax-exempt status, experts say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It does serve as a signal to churches that, at least under the current IRS, some amount of candidate endorsement is tolerated, said Sam Brunson, professor at Loyola University Chicago, who specializes in tax law. It gives kind of a legal reasoning for that, even if its not a binding legal reasoning. The filing is NOT a repeal of the Johnson Amendment. It does not change the law, nor does it protect all churches from potential enforcement, Tyler emphasized in a statement. But the way the policy was introduced was significant on its own, Tyler said. It was a very unorthodox way to go about tax policy, she said. Rather than issuing formal guidance, she said, the IRS appears to be attempting to change enforcement by bypassing the normal regulatory process without the act of Congress. Brunson called the filing a troubling, but at the very least interesting attempt to get around procedures for issuing tax regulations. Brian Galle, professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who teaches on taxation and nonprofits, said the filing, at least now, does not carry much legal weight: I think the promise right now that our charities can participate in politics isnt worth that much at least for careful lawyers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the judge signs the proposed order, the IRS under the current administration would be prohibited from enforcing the Johnson Amendment against the two churches. The Trump administration could attempt to formalize a policy change through regulation, but Galle believes thats unlikely. The reason the IRS probably wont issue a regulation is because it would be illegal, he said, pointing to the Supreme Courts major questions doctrine, which bars federal agencies from making significant policy shifts without clear authorization from Congress. The current filing isnt legally binding, he said, which means that the IRS under a future administration could change its mind on the issue. But for now, it marks an important, and controversial, shift in how the IRS interprets the boundary between religious speech and political activity. Churches endorsing candidates Although the cases of the IRS enforcing the Johnson Amendment are rare, church leaders have often endorsed political candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One early example dates back to 1800, when the Rev. William Linn, a Dutch Reformed minister, publicly opposed Thomas Jeffersons presidential candidacy. Linn published a pamphlet titled Serious Considerations on the Election of a President, in which he questioned Jeffersons religiosity: Does Jefferson ever go to church? How does he spend the Lords Day? Is he known to worship with any denomination of Christians? ... Will you then, my fellow-citizens, with all this evidence ... vote for Mr. Jefferson? Linn faced no legal consequences for his advocacy, according to a 1997 Regent University Law Review article, which argued that The Church at Pierce Creek had the right to run the Clinton ad in 1992 and shouldnt be punished. Other historical examples include a 1960 sermon broadcast by a religious leader warning against voting for John F. Kennedy and a 1980 letter from a Catholic archbishop in Massachusetts urging Catholics not to vote for pro-choice congressional candidates. The article concluded: The restriction upon religious political speech adversely impacts a central conviction of religions purpose: the ability to address issues germane to its moral code with the objective of influencing others. More recently, a number of evangelical pastors have endorsed Donald Trump from the pulpit. For instance, pastor Mark Burns is known as Donald Trumps Top Pastor, and publicly supported the current president at RNC events and rallies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Repealing the Johnson Amendment became one of Donald Trumps top priorities when he ran for presidential office in 2016. Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2017, he said he would totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution. Although efforts to repeal the amendment through legislation ultimately failed, the administration announced a shift in enforcement through the latest filing. The administration is trying to signal that if other religious organizations also want to participate in politics, then the administration wouldnt go after their tax-exempt status, Galle said. Risk of dark money Regardless of whether the filing becomes law, tax policy and religious experts warn about potentially alarming implications of partisan politics entering the house of worship. If this is applied to all churches, it would be toxic for both churches and our politics, Galle said. It would make essentially every church a dark money organization. Unlike other 501(c)(3) nonprofits, churches are not required to file annual tax returns (Form 990) that disclose their donors or spending. Engaging in partisan political activity, Galle explained, could open a channel for wealthy individuals, including those with no religious affiliation, to funnel money into campaigns through churches, benefiting from tax-deductible donations and total financial opacity. That would give churches a major, unfair advantage in political messaging, he said. And thats bad for our politics and bad for the integrity of churches themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, expressed similar concerns. This action is not about religion or free speech, she said in a statement, but about radically altering campaign finance laws. For religious communities, endorsements from the pulpit, whether local or national, risk dividing congregations and distracting houses of worship from their spiritual missions, Tyler said. Even further, it could fundamentally alter the churchs purpose, she said. If they get engaged in partisan elections for candidates, we really could see that motivation is driving their mission, instead of their mission, their values and their beliefs really driving civic engagement in society, Tyler said. Public sentiment remains largely opposed to pulpit endorsements. In 2023, a survey found that 75% of Americans opposed churches endorsing candidates, while only 20% supported it. Is the Johnson Amendment constitutional? When the IRS revoked Pierce Creeks tax exempt status over the Clinton ad, the church challenged the decision and sought an injunction against the IRS. In 1999, the district judge ruled that the IRS did not violate constitutional rights and religious freedoms of the church and dismissed the churchs claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the question whether the Johnson Amendment is constitutional continues to percolate in the public debate. House Speaker Mike Johnson reiterated his view that this tax rule is unconstitutional and argued that the phrase separation of church and state does not appear in the Constitution, but rather originates from a 1802 letter written by President Thomas Jefferson to a Baptist association. While Brunson thinks churches should not be endorsing candidates, he believes that the constitutionality of the Johnson Amendment is shaky at best. The Supreme Court has identified core political speech speech that directly addresses government, candidates and elections as the most strongly protected type of speech, he said. Thats the speech that the government faces the strictest limits on prohibiting, Brunson said. So it seems like this blanket prohibition is probably at best deeply questionable. Brunson said ads placed in national or local newspapers arent the kind of endorsements the IRS appears to be concerned about in the recent filing, which would be more like endorsements made during a sermon or within a church newsletter. Brunson argues the Johnson Amendment is sound and could be considered constitutional with some adjustments. Tyler, however, remains firm that the law does not silence pastors. There is nothing that is stopping a pastors speech, she said. If the pastor feels they want to endorse a candidate from the pulpit, they can give up their 501 (c) (3) tax exemption. Moral judgement or partisan politicking? Still, politics often finds its way into church life, even without explicit endorsements. Defenders of the Pierce Creek church argued that the Clinton ad highlighted the moral issues at stake of the election, and they viewed it as the churchs duty to speak out on the moral qualifications of political candidates. The unfortunate result of the I.R.C. (Internal Revenue Code) restrictions is that no meaningful distinctions have been made between moral judgment and partisan politicking, the 1997 Regent University Law Review article said. Issues versus people thats how Brunson articulated the appropriate line in addressing the questions of the day that may touch on politics. Theres a difference between advocating on issues that align with your mission and endorsing a person, he said. Faith communities also have a stake in local policy debates that directly affect their ability to operate, he said. Churches need to be able to protect themselves. Tax law generally permits churches to advocate on issues like zoning laws, housing policy or poverty, he said, as long as they dont cross the line into endorsing specific candidates. Tyler also distinguishes between being political and being partisan as a church. I personally think that Jesus was political the way that he cared about the people and that he lived with and how he was working to change societies and structures, she said. Historically, churches have played an important but nonpartisan role in civic life: educating voters, helping people get to the polls, hosting forums and even serving as polling places, Tyler noted. The law really forbids partisanship, Tyler emphasized. It doesnt forbid political engagement. Theres so many ways to be politically engaged without being attached at the hip to a candidate or a particular party. NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) The city has proposed a way to provide more housing and improve public housing. A private developer could build at selected NYCHA developments. The project promises to preserve tenant rights. More Local News The final environmental studies have been filed to be reviewed by the federal government. Some people are rallying at the first potential site in Chelsea outside a building in the development at NYCHAs Elliott-Chelsea Houses. The building is known as the Chelsea Addition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the neighbors are worried about redevelopment plans to temporarily move residents, demolish and rebuild structures with a mix of public and private housing. Maria Santos has called this home for a decade. Theyre trying to push low-income out of the neighborhood, Santos said. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Alexa Cruz is concerned about the impact on rents and the cost of housing in the Chelsea area. Some neighbors are headed to court. Its harder for low-income people in the city. This is what saves us, Cruz said. Neighbors say theyre being advised about possible relocation in the coming months. The redevelopment of some specific NYCHA locations with private real estate companies has been in the works for about five years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tenants would be relocated to other apartments while new places are being built. The private real estate developer would be able to include new affordable housing and market-rate units. A NYCHA spokesperson stated that the redevelopment plan puts NYCHA residents first, creating a more equitable living experience for them in Chelsea, inclusive of the modern amenities and accessibility features that many of their neighbors are accustomed to. NYCHA references a non-binding survey from Spring 2023 in which more than half of the 950 tenants who voted expressed support for the demolition and rebuild plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tenants at Fulton Houses have expressed support for the project. The tenants who are opposing the proposal say the city and private company should have to go through the land use process. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. AUSTIN (Nexstar) Lawmakers returned to the Texas State Capitol on Monday to begin the process of passing legislation not addressed during this years regular legislative session, among other items. Gov. Greg Abbott called the special session and added 18 agenda items for the legislature to address. READ MORE: Special session redistricting brings risks; THC, floods, STAAR on agenda While relief packages and regulations following the deadly Independence Day Floods were at the top of that list, lawmakers will not begin to discuss those bills until committee hearings Wednesday. Instead, Democrats focused on the topic of redrawing the Texas congressional maps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats in both the House and Senate held media conferences to voice their opposition to the mid-decade redistricting, and Democratic senators spent hours questioning Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, as he prepares to chair the Senates committee on redistricting. King introduced Senate Resolution 5, to suspend rules and allow the consideration of new congressional maps, which would take effect for the 2026 midterms. But before King could even move forward with reading the resolutions text, he received immediate pushback from Democrats. The Democratic senators specifically pointed out that during the 2021 regularly-scheduled redistricting, the GOP insisted that the maps were drawn without considerations for the race of voters within any given district. Now, the maps are being reconsidered by Republicans over accusations from the Trump Department of Justice that they illegally discriminated on racial lines. Even as Democrats pushed King repeatedly to defend the GOP effort, King responded to questioning by insisting that he did not have an opinion one way or the other, merely an obligation to consider an item added to the special session agenda by the governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were responding to the governors call to take up redistricting in the special session and we have under consideration the resolution that allows us to begin that process, King said. Democrats also pushed repeatedly on the issue of whether to have the redistricting committee hearings in Austin, regionally or virtually. King said that virtual hearings would allow greater transparency because they can be viewed from anywhere. Democrats raised concerns about internet access for those who want to testify. Though there was no action on the House floor, Democrats in the lower chamber discussed their strategy moving forward on how to combat the redistricting effort. One proposed option is breaking quorum by leaving the state. Quorum is the number of members required for each chamber to meet, and if enough Democrats leave, the legislature would not be able to meet to vote on new maps. At the media conference, U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, said the party has a multi-step plan to combat the redistricting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will need to buy time, and that means keeping everything on the table, doing whatever it takes, Casar said. Filibusters, dragging out hearings, quorum breaks [are] the kinds of tactics that will make sure that we have the time to highlight these issues in front of everyday Americans. Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, said after the House adjourned Monday that every Democratic member of Congress he has spoken to has told the party to break quorum. Reynolds published an op-ed calling for such action in the name of the late Civil Rights activist John Lewis. Jeffries says all options on the table as Democrats push back against redistricting The strategy of quorum breaking has been used by Democrats before, but financial penalties have now been passed since. Attorney General Ken Paxton said Democratic members who leave the state should be arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are watching to see if they are going to listen to the people when they demand action, or will they serve themselves. Democrats are going to keep all options open, said Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, and House Democrats conference chair. Multiple Democratic members accused the Republicans of prioritizing redistricting over response to flooding. Wu said ahead of the Senate convening that he is watching to see which item the Republicans will take up first. The joint select committees to address flooding are scheduled to meet Wednesday morning at the Capitol. Lawmakers have up to 30 days to approve items in special session, including approving new congressional maps. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) In August 2013, San Angelo resident Brandon Lawson went missing in Coke County. Now, over 11 years later, his remains are coming home. Theres more to be done, however. Lawson, who was 26 at the time, went missing early in the morning of on Aug. 9, 2013, after he called 911 from his cell phone and indicated he was on US 277 between Bronte and Abilene and needed the police, according to the Texas Department of Public Safetys Texas Rangers Cold Case Investigation Details entry for Lawson. TxDPS reported that, although his truck would be found abandoned partially in the roadway 4 miles south of Bronte, Lawson himself would not be located. This would change in 2022. Ladessa Hendrix, Lawsons fiancee of 10 years prior to his disappearance, told Concho Valley Homepage that a search team found Lawsons shorts and shoes in February 2022 that would lead law enforcement to find the cap of a skull by the end of the month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City seeks rescues as animal adoption agreement nears end Hendrix said Lawsons father provided his own DNA to use for testing with the remains, and the test results indicated that the skull cap had an 82% genetic match. Hendrix and the Lawson family would then announce on Dec. 25, 2024, via a post in the Help Find Brandon Lawson Facebook group that the remains were confirmed to be Lawsons. Complications that arose prevented Lawsons remains from being released, though. They would go unreleased until July 18, according to Hendrix, who made a post in the Help Find Brandon Lawson Facebook group the day afterward to announce that Lawsons remains were released. Hendrix shared that the return of Lawsons remains has afforded her and his family a rare moment to grieve following years of trying to find their loved one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My hearts just broken because this is not the outcome that we wanted, but we are grateful that we do get to bring him home, Hendrix said. Lawsons return home is also accompanied by an undercurrent of uncertainty, Hendrix said. She disclosed that she has not been told what Lawsons cause of death was, leaving her and many others to still wonder what happened to her fiance. This hasnt deterred her from seeking answers, however. Were not going to give up hope that maybe somebody will find something out there, Hendrix said. Juarez cop convicted in Kimble County stolen vehicle case Hendrix said that, once home, the remains will be cremated and distributed to his parents and four children. The cost of transporting the remains and cremating them is expected to cost hundreds of dollars, though, leading Hendrix to create a GoFundMe online fundraiser to raise money to help cover the costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hendrix shared that a public memorial is also being planned to bring the community of people formed through Lawsons disappearance together to celebrate his life and legacy. A lot of people have been following Brandons story since hes been missing, and people have helped and prayed for us and showed us compassion, Hendrix said. I just want the community to get together and just celebrate the life of Brandon, because he was a good person. Hendrix thanked the local, statewide, national and global communities that have provided support to her and the Lawson family throughout the years and inspired them to continue searching for the truth of what happened on the morning of Aug. 9, 2013. Theres people from all over the world that have reached out to me, Hendrix said. There were days I was discouraged, and they would just say, Hey, we still have hope, and it really just inspired all of us to keep going, and so I just want to thank everyone thats been here and shared Brandons story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. Rental prices in some of the country's largest cities are fallingsome by almost 45 percent, according to new data from Five Star Cash Offer, a real estate investment firm that operates as a direct cash homebuyer. The dataset, which includes the top 65 metropolitan areas in the United States, reveals that cities that have recently enacted pro-housing policies have experienced the most significant year-over-year decline in rental prices nationwide. Tosin Akintola | ChatGPT The data from Five Star Cash Offer supports recent reports from online real estate brokerages Redfin and Realtor, which detail a decline in rent prices across some of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. Sarasota, Florida, is the city with the highest annual decline, with a 42.67 percent drop (from $3,290 to $1,886) in average rent from January 2024 to January 2025. In recent years, the City Commission has adopted a series of pro-housing policies aimed at addressing the city's housing crisis, such as the easing of restrictions on mixed-use and higher-density developments in 2022. In 2024, the commission passed several additional measures to relax density restrictions and allocated $40 million for affordable housing projects. Providence, Rhode Island, the city with the second-highest year-over-year decline, saw a 19.22 percent drop in monthly rent, from $2,513 to $2,030. Some of this decline may be attributed to policies aimed at deregulating the housing industry. In 2023, the state passed a package of housing legislation to "address the long-lagging housing production rates" in the state by streamlining permitting for land use and land development and easing restrictions around repurposing existing structures for housing. In 2024, the city of Providence streamlined its construction application process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The completion of multifamily housing units is also driving rent decreases in Austin, Texas, and Cape Coral, Florida. Across the U.S., multifamily housing construction has slowed from its pre-COVID levels, partly due to regulatory hurdles, high costs, and concerns about affordability. Yet cities with the steepest rent declines, such as Austin and Cape Coral, are notably issuing building permits at or above their pre-pandemic rates. Austin, fourth in rental price drops, issued the most multifamily permits nationally (64.5 per 10,000 people). Cape Coral, third on the list, almost doubled its pre-pandemic rate with 59.6 permits per 10,000 people. Minneapolis, which experienced an 11.14 percent annual decrease in rent, saw a 12 percent increase in housing supply between 2017 and 2022, partly fueled by its 2019 zoning reforms. In the first five years after these reforms passed, Minneapolis rents decreased by 4 percent, and Hennepin County, home to Minneapolis, has become the second-easiest county to purchase a house in compared to the seven counties adjacent to it, despite being the most populous county in the state. Minneapolis was also the first major U.S. city to end single-family-only zoning, allowing developers to mix up the types of projects they build across different neighborhoods. While these rent decreases may be a result of a more deregulated housing industry, other factors could be at play. Florida has been struck in recent years by Hurricanes Ian and Milton, and higher flood insurance premiums could be forcing some homeownersespecially those with second homesto sell, creating a surplus of available housing. (In March, Sarasota reached an eight-year high for its housing inventory.) Still, Cape Coral and Sarasota are both expecting to see their populations increase in the coming years. The data are clear: Pro-housing policies lead to more affordable housing. Cities seeking to reduce the cost of living would be best served by adopting policies that facilitate the construction of new homes and residential buildings. The post Rent Prices Are Falling Fast in America's Most Pro-Housing Cities appeared first on Reason.com. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) Congressman August Pfluger announced that on July 22, members of his team will host mobile office hours to assist in replacing essential documents lost in the floods. My top priority in Congress is providing second-to-none constituent services to 11th District residents, especially in times of disaster, said Rep. Pfluger The essential documents include Social Security Cards, passports, birth certificates and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mobile office hours will be on Tuesday, July 22, and Thursday, July 24, from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Concho Valley Transit Annex at 506 N Chadbourne. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) The One Big Beautiful Bill may bring back a state program that previously expired. The Invest in Kids Act let donors count donations to private school scholarships as a tax credit. That was in effect from 2018 to 2023. Lawmakers proposed bills to extend the program, but nothing passed. Now states can opt into a federal program called the Educational Choice for Children Act. It allows for up to a $1700 donation to a scholarship organization count for taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Representative Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) said its the best way to ensure low-income students get the best education they can. Hes sponsoring a resolution calling on Governor J.B. Pritzker to participate. Senate advances funding bill with Central Illinois projects The money needs to follow the student, not the system, not the bureaucracy, Halbrook said. And this is a great opportunity to give students that are in schools that are failing, gives them an opportunity to excel. Halbrook said 35 other states have already opted into the program. Rep. Chris Miller (R-Hindsboro) also said the state should support school choice for the next generation of students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These kids are our future, and they deserve to receive quality education through a school that embraces their specific style of learning so they can succeed, Miller said. My colleagues and I strongly urge Governor Pritzker to give his full support to the Educational Choice for Children Act so students can thrive in an educational environment that is best suited for their needs. The program would start in 2027. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Vice President J.D. Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, applaud behind. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Ohio and Texas could do it. Both states could steal enough congressional seats with new gerrymandered maps for voting districts to fortify the Republican majority in the U.S. House next year. Rigging the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections with gerrymandered congressional districts drawn to guarantee GOP wins is paramount to protecting the Trump regime from political opposition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By the time voters go the polls in 16 months, the ramifications of shredded safety nets, hiked tariff prices, lowered job growth, eliminated health insurance, gutted federal agencies, and expanded militarized raids in American neighborhoods may be acute. The electorate may well be fuming and motivated to end, or at least put a check on, Trumpian madness by rejecting the rubberstamping Republican majorities in Congress. The GOP-led U.S. House, with its exceedingly slim margin of command, is most vulnerable to a Democratic flip in the midterms. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Persuading voters on the merits of a highly unpopular agenda that hammers working families with the largest cuts to Medicaid and food aid in history, and showers the ultra-rich with huge tax breaks that add trillions of dollars to the national debt, is a tall order for Trumps servile coalition on Capitol Hill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So rather than take a chance on a losing argument, Trump wants the fix to be in before any vote is cast in the pivotal election. Redrawing congressional districts to give lopsided partisan advantages to one party fits the bill. The felon-in-chief pressured the Republican governor of Texas to call a special legislative session this week with a rare ask of lawmakers: Consider redrawing congressional districts ahead of the midterm elections. The Texas Republican Party hailed the unusual request to revise redistricting in the state mid-decade as an essential step to preserving GOP control in Congress and advancing President Trumps America First Agenda. There you go. A candid endorsement of politically manipulated district boundaries that dilute votes and disenfranchise whole constituencies to hold on to power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the Texas legislature can turn more blue districts into red ones through unfair, undemocratic gerrymandering, Republicans could pick up four or five seats in Congress and pad the House majority with predetermined election outcomes. Ohio Republicans also plan to bolster the narrow GOP majority in the U.S. House with two or three seats they intend to skew red when they draw a new congressional map soon. Republicans lord over every aspect of redistricting in the state. They can easily ram through another unconstitutional redistricting map that flagrantly ignores the rule of law again and disregards the overwhelming mandate of voters for fairer, more competitive, more representational districts in Ohio. Under one party rule in Ohio, Republicans dont have to follow the clear text of the state constitution on drawing legislative and congressional districts that broadly represent statewide voting preferences without unduly favoring one political party over another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have repeatedly brushed off Ohio Supreme Court orders to comply with constitutional redistricting amendments approved by over 70% of Ohioans. They ran out the clock on challenges to their lawless gerrymandering until they could replace an independent state supreme court with a partisan panel. This year Republican majorities in the legislature, the Ohio Supreme Court, and the Ohio Redistricting Commission will have another crack at out-gerrymandering the congressional voting districts they originally approved because the shelf life of the current maps Ohioans have been forced to use for two elections was limited to four years with no Democratic buy-in. The congressional boundaries drawn in 2025 will dictate the next three elections. Expect even more lopsided districts designed to cement Republican dominance in Ohio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The party is eying at least two congressional districts, represented by Democrats Marcy Kaptur in Toledos 9th and Emilia Sykes in the Akron-based 13th, to turn into solid Republican strongholds. Cincinnati Democrat Greg Landsman, representing Ohios 1st district, could also be targeted with newly configured boundary lines that stretch into deep red territory. What is no doubt taking form now, while unaware Ohioans vacation, is another unlawful scheme to win elections, not on merit, persuasion, or robust competition, but by cheating. By circumventing constitutional mandates on redistricting with the blessings of accommodating Republican justices. By hollowing out the one person, one vote principle that asserts each individuals vote should carry equal weight in the electoral process. (Gerrymandering stacks the deck by roping 2-to-1 ratios of Republican voters into failsafe GOP districts that consign opposition voters to statistical irrelevancy.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the fix is in to destroy any semblance of representative government in Ohio and steal a couple of congressional seats to secure a Republican majority in the U.S. House that will greenlight whatever Trump wants. In the coming months, Republican operatives in the state will go through the motions of consensus-making with Democrats in the Statehouse and on the redistricting commission but its all for show. GOP kingpins have no incentive to play fair or do right by Ohio voters who voted twice to reform redistricting and end partisan gerrymandering. Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman and his coterie of legislative lackeys will do as they please. Without any check on their power in the state, they will put party over people to secure Republican congressional majorities by rigging the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections with unconstitutionally gerrymandered districts to keep absolute rule not self-governance. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Scott Perry, former chairman of the Freedom Caucus, speaks with reporters following a closed-door meeting of GOP lawmakers on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) For the second quarter in a row, Republican U.S. House members in Pennsylvania significantly outraised their Democratic colleagues and challengers. The six top fundraisers among the commonwealths 17-member House delegation over the past three months are GOP incumbents. However, the top four fundraisers, U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-1st District), Rob Bresnahan (R-8th District), Scott Perry (R-10th District), and Ryan Mackenzie (R-7th District), are being targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) as seats it is prioritizing to flip in 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Listen to John and Emilys audio recap here: https://penncapital-star.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/22epjcQ2FUNDS-web-audio.mp3 Republicans maintaining their current narrow majority beyond 2026 may hinge upon those few key races in Pennsylvania. Christopher Borick, director of Muhlenberg Colleges Institute of Public Opinion, told the Capital-Star he thinks Republicans outraising Democrats in Pennsylvania at this point in the cycle is a sign that they are aware of the challenge that is in front of them next year. Other than Fitzpatrick, the other three races were very close in 2024 with a Republican president carrying the state and maybe helping some people over the finish line, Borick said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, youre facing a cycle that is likely to be one in which the Republicans are heading into a headwind because of the natural cycles of American politics, with midterms often being hard on the presidents party, he added. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE With President Donald Trumps approval ratings low and polling indicating that his spending plan isnt popular with the voters, Borick notes its also a sign that Republicans will need to raise significant funds to hold onto their 10-7 advantage in Pennsylvania to maintain their overall majority. I think its those fundraising numbers are a recognition that that its going to take all hands on deck to preserve these seats, and that its likely that the those Republican candidates, maybe other than Fitzpatrick, are going to have to outspend their eventual Democratic opponents, given the broader conditions in the cycle, Borick said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few Democratic challengers have just filed their first campaign finance report, while others have joined the race this month. Heres a look at the fundraising breakdown of the House races that are expected to be the most competitive in Pennsylvania in 2026 and other storylines worth following next year and beyond. Fitzpatrick leads Pa.s congressional delegation for second quarter in a row Fitzpatrick raised more than any U.S. House candidate in Pennsylvania, for the second quarter in a row. His campaign picked up $1.3 million from the beginning of April until the end of June and spent just under $210,000. Hes the only U.S. House member in the states congressional delegation to raise over $1 million in a quarter this year, having done so back-to-back. His campaign entered July with $6.47 million on hand, which is the most among th 17 members from the commonwealth, and $2 million more than any other incumbent in Pennsylvania, campaign finance records show. At this point in 2023, Fitzpatricks campaign had $2.88 million on hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fitzpatrick, who represents a purple district in the suburbs north of Philadelphia, is serving his fifth term in Congress. Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie, a Democrat, is the only other candidate who has filed to run for the 1st Congressional District. He joined the race in early April and just submitted his first campaign finance report. Harvies campaign raised $340,000 since he announced his bid in early April to the end of June and spent just under $145,000. He entered July with $195,000 on hand. Fitzpatrick is the only Republican member of the states House delegation to vote against Trumps spending package earlier this month, which came after the previous quarter ended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think hell be able to continue to raise significant campaign finances, despite his break with the party on what one might consider the most pivotal legislative item, Borick said. Borick added he thinks Fitzpatrick is in a bit of his own category, noting that he and his brother, the late Mike Fitzpatrick, have both represented the district. Fitzpatrick has also fended off challenges in primary elections in recent cycles. National ratings outlets like the Cook Political Report describe the race for the 1st Congressional District as likely Republican. Mackenzie raises $800,000, leading all Democratic challengers GOP Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, a freshman lawmaker who unseated U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (D-Lehigh) by 1 point in 2024, raised just over $800,000 from the beginning of April to the end of June and spent a little more than $210,000. His campaign entered July with $1.19 million on hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thus far, three Democrats have announced their intention to seek their partys nomination for the seat in the Lehigh Valley. Ryan Crosswell, a former federal prosecutor, currently leads the fundraising race among the Democratic candidates. His campaign raised $320,000 since entering the race in early June to the end of that month, and spent just over $65,000. He entered July with just under $255,000, which is more than any other Democratic challenger in the race, as well. Carol Obando-Derstine, who worked as an aide to former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, raised just under $210,000 since joining the race in early May to the end of June, which includes $12,500 she loaned to her campaign. She spent $85,000 during that time period and entered July with slightly less than $125,000. Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure raised just over $85,000 from the beginning of April to the end of June and spent $80,000. Since launching his campaign in February, hes raised just under $230,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of July 21, Mackenzie has drawn the most Democratic challengers of the races the DCCC is targeting to flip in Pennsylvania next year. The biggest factor, I think, in the Democratic interest that were seeing is the perception that this district is ripe for the right to flip back, Borick said. The district is very centrist, Borick said, which is part of the reason why he thinks Democrats are confident that they can compete in 2026. I think that this is the one that Democrats are most excited about to flip, Borick said. The 8th (District) has become more of a Republican-leaning district over time, and its one that I think Democrats think they could flip back in with the right candidate, but might be a little bit more of an uphill battle, he added. The 7th (District) is one they think that they could be really primed to do on that and thats probably increasing the amount of interest that youre seeing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cook Political Report describes the race as a toss-up. Perry raises $885,000 as he gears up for a potential rematch with Janelle Stelson Scott Perry, who is currently serving his seventh term in Congress, raised $885,000 from the beginning of April to the end of June and spent just under $240,000. He entered July with $1.2 million, which is more than double what he had at this point in the previous cycle, when his campaign entered July 2023 with just under $540,000 on hand. His successful 2024 run was his closest race, defeating Democrat Janelle Stelson, a former central Pennsylvania television anchor, by 1.2 points. A rematch may occur for the southcentral Pennsylvania district with Stelson formally announcing her entrance into the race in mid-July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stelsons campaign said they raised more than $500,000 in the first 48 hours after the announcement. Gov. Josh Shapiro endorsed Stelson for the seat and joined her for a campaign event last week. Despite Republicans having success up and down the ballot in Pennsylvania in 2024, the race for the 10th Congressional District was one of the closest House races in the country. Borick thinks that Stelson can use that as an effective way to raise funds leading into 2026. I think thats probably a pretty compelling pitch that shell be able to make, and I would expect her to be pretty successful fundraising this year because of the nature of the district and her past performance, Borick said. The Cook Political Report rates the race as a toss-up. Bresnahan brings in second highest haul in Q2 Bresnahan, who bested Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright by roughly 1.5 points in 2024, raised the second largest amount of money among the states congressional delegation for the second consecutive quarter. He picked up just over $890,000 from the beginning of April to the end of June and spent just under $745,000. The freshman lawmakers campaign entered July with just over $860,000 on hand. Cartwright announced in June that he wouldnt seek the Democratic Party nomination for the seat, which ended the chatter about a potential rematch for the seat in northeast Pennsylvania. A few Democrats have been mentioned as potential candidates, but none have formally announced their entrance as of mid-July. The Cook Political Report tags the race as leans Republican. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A high priced primary for the 3rd Congressional District After months of speculation, U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) officially announced in late June that he was not going to seek reelection for the 3rd Congressional District. Shortly after Evans confirmed he would not be on the ballot next year, state Sen. Sharif Street, chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, and state Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) declared that they would be running for the seat representing nearly half of Philadelphia. Since its a safe Democratic district, the winner will likely be determined by the primary election next year. If you win that primary, youre going to Congress, Borick said. Its as simple as that. He also noted that since the race is taking place entirely inside the Philadelphia media market, it will also make the race more expensive. I expect it to be a very costly primary fight, most likely the most costly, Borick said. I guess the 7th (Congressional District) will be pretty costly too, but given where its located, the players that are coming in, the cost of the market, its going to be a high price tag. Id expect that to be among the most pricey primaries we see in this cycle, he added. Since Street and Rabb just announced their candidacies, they did not raise money in the previous quarter, although Streets campaign entered July with just over $52,000 on hand. Although the two lawmakers are the two most-well known names currently seeking the seat, there are two other Democrats who have filed to run, with one already filing a campaign finance report. Dave Oxman, a physician, raised just over $280,000 from the beginning of April to the end of June, which includes a $100,000 loan he gave to his campaign. He entered July with just under $260,000 on hand. Robin Toldens, who the Philadelphia Inquirer reports is a former city government employee and real estate agent, did not submit a campaign finance report for the previous quarter. Governors election slated to impact closely watched U.S. House races During any election, races at the top of the ticket can impact down-ballot contests. In 2026, the governors race will be the marquee race. Gov. Josh Shapiros expected bid for a second term could play a role in determining some of the competitive races for the House. I think thats why Republicans are so passionate about getting a good (candidate at the) top of the ticket, why they want someone like (Stacy) Garrity. Borick said. Garrity, a Republican who is serving her second term as state treasurer, has expressed interest in challenging Shapiro in 2026, although has not formally announced her entrance into the race. She broke the record in Pennsylvania for most votes won by a candidate for statewide office in 2024. That record was previously held by Shapiro during his 2022 double digit victory over GOP state Sen. Doug Mastriano. There was the belief that in 2022 the Republican top of the ticket with Mastriano might have cost some Republicans with close seats, Borick said. Mastriano is also reportedly weighing another bid for governor. The Pennsylvania Republican Party is slated to meet in September to endorse a gubernatorial candidate. Shapiro has held a steady positive approval rating during his tenure in the governors office. A recent Morning Consult poll showed Shapiro with a 61% approval rating. Knocking off Shapiro is going to be a challenge for certain, but making sure youre not decimated at the top of the ticket is crucial to these down-ballot races, Borick said. The margin of the governors race could also play a role in determining these closely watched U.S. House races. I think thats going to be a big, big part of the 2026 puzzle, Borick said. Fettermans fundraising sees slight uptick, but still trailing previous years totals Democratic U.S. Sen. John Fettermans Q2 haul is an increase from the previous quarter, but still trails what hes raised halfway through the two previous years. From the beginning of April to the end of June, Fettermans campaign raised just over $505,000 and spent a little less than $555,000. In the first three months of the year, he raised just over $395,000, which was the smallest amount hes raised in a full quarter since he announced he was running for the U.S. Senate in February 2021. Prior to this year, his lowest three-month fundraising haul was the $720,000 his campaign raised from the beginning of April to the end of June in 2023. It is also the second consecutive quarter where Fettermans campaign has spent more than it has raised. Hes raised just over $900,000 so far in 2025. At this point in 2024, Fetterman garnered $1.81 million, which is double the amount of his current haul for 2025. In 2023, he raised $1.73 million halfway through the year. The reality is, Fetterman has probably caused some of his past donors to lose some level of enthusiasm for him, probably a lot, in some cases, Borick said. Since Trump was sworn-in for a second term, Fetterman has been criticized by some Democrats and other progressive organizations for some of his statements, votes, and positions hes taken. A Morning Consult poll released on July 16 showed that Fetterman has seen a 33-point decline in his net approval rating since the end of 2024 from fellow Democrats. The polls coverage cites his staunch defense of Israel and validation of the GOPs hawkish position on immigration for the drop in approval rating among Democrats, although it has helped improve his numbers among Republicans. A recent Susquehanna Polling and Research survey also showed that Fetterman had a higher approval rating among Republicans over Democrats in the state. Overall, he has 41% approval rating, while 37% disapprove. Borick said he thinks there is a slice of people who support Fettermans recent positions who may be inclined to give him more contributions. But has he lost more by some of his stances, sometimes in relation to Trump and some Trump policies and a whole variety of issues, Borick said. My take is hes lost more there right now. Thats probably affecting his fundraising, he added. Fetterman was a fundraising juggernaut during his successful 2022 bid against Republican Mehmet Oz, with his campaign raking in $73.9 million on his way to flipping the open-seat blue. Hes not up for re-election until 2028, so there is time for him to regain support. Borick said previous donors could come back around in the next election, depending on who the choices are and if he decides to seek a second term. But theyre in no rush to do so right now, Borick said. Fetterman entered July with $2.24 million on hand. House Republicans are pushing to rename the Kennedy Centers Opera House after Melania Trump. The House Appropriations Committee considered an amendment to an existing bill Tuesday that would call for the theater to be renamed as the First Lady Melania Trump Opera House. The measure passed 33-25, The Washington Post reports. Representative Mike Simpson, a Republican from Idaho, introduced the proposal as an amendment to a funding bill for the Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency and other related agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an excellent way to recognize [Melania Trumps] support and commitment to promoting the arts, and I would encourage members to vote for this Republican en bloc amendment, Simpson said. The Opera House can hold more than 2,300 attendees and hosts the annual Kennedy Center Honors. The event is typically attended by high-profile celebrities and politicians, including the president. President Donald Trump walks hand-in-hand with Melania Trump. Republicans are pushing an amendment to a bill that would rename a Kennedy Center theater in honor of the First Lady (Getty Images) President Donald Trump broke tradition and skipped the celebration in 2017 to allow the honorees to celebrate without any political distraction. This came after one of the honorees threatened to boycott the event if Trump attended. Representative Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, called the amendment divisive, the Post reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pingree argues that Republicans snuck in, I think, something that is slightly divisive, which is renaming one section of the Kennedy Center after the family member of this administration. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend a performance of 'Les Miserables' at the Kennedy Center (Getty Images) Other Congressional Republicans have pitched similar ideas, including renaming a D.C.-area airport after Trump, putting Trump on the $100 bill and carving Trumps face into Mount Rushmore. The First Lady serves as the honorary chair of the Kennedy Center. In February, Trump fired members of the Kennedy Centers board who were hired by President Joe Biden and replaced them with his picks. The board then elected him as the new chair. The Trumps attended a Kennedy Center performance of the musical Les Miserables alongside Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance last month. Multiple cabinet members, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, also attended. The Trumps were met with a mix of boos and cheers as they entered the theater and took their seats. Trail cameras set up in a region of northeast India captured a surprising sight: a canine species thought to have gone extinct in the 1990s. The Herald reported that researchers discovered the Asiatic wild dog, also known as the dhole, roaming the lands in and around the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape. The area is a complex mishmash of protected and non-protected lands connected by narrow corridors that the dholes have been traversing undetected for years. As the researchers noted, "This was the only instance where we captured a Dhole on camera in the landscape during the study period." The elusive Dhole (Cuon alpinus), also called the whistling hunter, has been recorded again in the KazirangaKarbi Anglong landscape. A master of teamwork, it can bring down prey up to 8 times its weightshowcasing the wild's raw power and the region's incredible biodiversity. pic.twitter.com/V81YSMEiWj Chandra Mohan Patowary (@cmpatowary) June 30, 2025 Photo Credit: iStock National Geographic describes dholes as "lean and lithe canines" that are similar in size to German shepherds. With their auburn coats, dusky tails, and alert ears, the only thing more charming than their appearance is the distinctive whistle they use to communicate. They are social animals that live in packs, the size of which depends on the presence of tigers. In areas with tigers, packs typically consist of around six individuals, but they can swell to as many as 50 where tigers are not present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dholes were once plentiful across Asia but have suffered immensely from habitat destruction; less than a quarter of their historic habitat remains intact. Additionally, their tendency to make off with livestock brings them into conflict with humans. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists them as "endangered," with only around 2,000 left in the wild. The study highlights the essential role dholes play in the ecosystem. In areas without tigers or leopards, they are apex predators, maintaining the balance of the food chain by controlling prey populations. Discovering them after such a long absence also confirms the landscape's connectivity and has profound implications for future conservation strategies. The story demonstrates both the resilience of nature and the importance of trail cameras in conservation work. It enables a better understanding of the true range, ecological role, and population numbers of a threatened species. Such findings can galvanize the public and lay the foundation for future studies. As the paper concludes, "Future research should focus on understanding the movement ecology and connectivity of Dholes, as well as how corridor conservation benefits other species." 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. Walla reported that in the incident where Loza was killed, a building in Rafah collapsed following an explosion, and the military is investigating the event. Master Sergeant Vladimir Loza, age 36 from Ashkelon, was killed in combat in the southern Gaza Strip, the IDF said on Tuesday. Loza served in the 5th Brigades 7020th Battalion. In the incident in which Loza was killed, a building in Rafah collapsed following an explosion, and the military is investigating the event, according to Walla. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Loza was the second soldier to be killed on Monday. The other was St.-Sgt. Amit Cohen, who fell earlier in the day in an explosion in Khan Yunis. Cohen, 19, from Holon, served in the Golani Brigades 13th Battalion. Footage released by the IDF says to show Israeli soldiers conducting operations in a location given as Tel Al-Sultan area, Rafah Governorate, Gaza, in this still image taken from an undated handout video, released April 2, 2025. (credit: VIA REUTERS) Last week, three soldiers from the Armored Corps were killed during operational activity in Jabalya in northern Gaza. It might be tempting to grab an icy cold adult beverage during this stifling heat, but you might want to rethink that beer or cocktail. While it might not seem like a big deal, extreme heat and alcohol don't mix. Officials are warning people in multiple states, including Tennessee, to think twice before consuming too much alcohol (or caffeine) and opt for drinks that help keep them hydrated to avoid chances of succumbing to heat-related illness. Betsy Koickel, chief medical officer at GoHealth Urgent Care, said, excessive alcohol or caffeine intake can increase the risk of dehydration. Dangerous, prolonged heat is expected across portions of the Central and Southeast U.S. through the end of July. Widespread Major to locally Extreme HeatRisk is expected, especially over the Mid-Mississippi, Lower Ohio Valleys, and the Mid South. During hot and humid weather, pic.twitter.com/38hVDORxmJ National Weather Service (@NWS) July 22, 2025 Koickel recommends having water before you feel thirsty and using electrolyte replacements, especially if you plan to exercise or sit outside for extended periods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what you need to know to stay safe in the heat, recognize the symptoms of heat-related illness, and understand just how hot its expected to get. How much water should I drink in this heat? The American Red Cross recommends the average person drink about three-fourths a gallon of water a day. How hot is it expected to get in Tennessee? Tennessee and the South are in for blazing conditions for the foreseeable future, according to meteorologists. "The bottom line is that this has the look of a long-lasting heat wave with limited rainfall, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill said. Middle Tennessee is still under a heat advisory until July 23 at 8 p.m., but the National Weather Service has added two days of extreme heat warnings for July 22 and 23 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Temperatures in the Memphis area and in West Tennessee are expected to hit 100 degrees both days and the heat index is predicted to hit upwards of 112 degrees. People are advised to use extreme caution if being outdoors for extended periods of time and to be aware of symptoms of heat-related illnesses. "Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors," read a statement for the National Weather Service. Heat related illnesses: Heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke With temperatures soaring toward the triple digits in areas of Tennessee, people need to be cautious when being outside in the heat, especially very young and older people. Extreme heat makes it difficult for the body to keep its temperature in a normal range and can cause a number of conditions. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are both possibilities when people are outside during high heat. Here are the differences according to the CDC: Temperatures are expected to be in the 90s this week. Know the signs for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion symptoms Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Headache Nausea Dizziness Weakness Irritability Thirst Heavy sweating Elevated body temperature Decreased urine output Treatment for heat exhaustion: Move person to a cooler environment, preferably a well-air-conditioned room. Loosen their clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, or have the person sit in a cool bath. Offer them sips of water. Seek immediate medical attention if the person vomits, symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 hour. Heat stroke symptoms Confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech Loss of consciousness (coma) Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating Seizures Very high body temperature Treatment for heat stroke: Call 911 or get the victim to a hospital immediately. Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency. Delay in treatment can be fatal. Move the person to a cooler, preferably air-conditioned, environment. Reduce body temperature with cool cloth or bath. Use fan if heat index temperatures are below the high 90s. A fan can make you hotter at higher temperatures. Do not give fluids. How long will the heat dome, heat wave last? It's not going away anytime soon in the South. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meteorologists expect the heat wave to linger over much of the South into at least the last weekend of July. Has Tennessee been in a heat dome in 2025? In June, another heat dome spread over Tennessee, bringing temperatures up to the mid-90s for much of Middle and West Tennessee and a heat index above 100. How hot is it in Tennessee? Tennessee heat index map The National Weather Service predicts the heat index could hit 108 degrees or higher in some communities over the next several days. You can stay up-to-date on the current heat levels in your community using our heat index map below. What is a heat wave? A heat wave is a period of abnormally hot weather generally lasting more than two days, according to the National Weather Service. What is a heat advisory? The National Weather Service will issue a heat advisory usually happens when extremely dangerous heat is about to hit and is one of several types of health alerts issued by the federal agency. A heat advisory is issued within 12 hours of the onset of these conditions. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Beer vs. water: Extreme heat brings increase of dehydration PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Rhode Island Energy is proposing lower electricity prices for the upcoming winter season compared to last years rates. The utility company said the new rate, covering October 1 to March 31, would be 14.77 cents per kilowatt-hour, about 9% lower than last winter. Unfortunately, the New England region remains in the cycle where winter electric supply costs are higher than those during the summer months, but it is good news for customers that we have been able to procure supply for the upcoming winter at lower prices than we have seen over the last several winters, RI Energy President Greg Cornett said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TARGET 12: Expensive electric bills put RI clean energy policies into spotlight Rhode Island Energy also said its pursuing additional steps to help customers. One proposal currently under review would credit electric customers $20$30 per month and gas customers $40$50 per month during January, February, and March of 2026 and 2027. The funding reportedly stems from a commitment made by RI Energys parent company, PPL, three years ago. Rather than spreading the funds out, the company said it wants to accelerate and concentrate the payments during the winter months when costs are highest. RI Energy is also developing a new employee-funded assistance program called Operation Help, aimed at providing winter bill assistance to vulnerable customers. The company expects it to be available later this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, the company said Gov. Dan McKees office has designated $5 million in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) funds to provide bill credits to customers on the low-income discount rate in October, November, and December. Still, we understand energy costs can be a burden for Rhode Islanders, especially during the winter months, and that is why we have been working hard to deliver additional relief to customers beyond lower supply prices, Cornett added. 12 Responds: Finding answers to your utility bill questions 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. A Minneapolis man described as the ringleader in the 2023 beating and robbery of a Mahtomedi man as he arrived home with $38,000 in casino winnings was sentenced to more than five years in prison on Monday. Shawn Eric Lewis Sr., 54, had pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting first-degree aggravated robbery for coordinating the attack on the 68-year-old after he pulled into his driveway from Treasure Island Resort & Casino about 2:15 a.m. Dec. 10, 2023. Lewis was among five men, including his son, Shawn Eric Lewis Jr., who were charged in the robbery, which the victim said Monday left him with ongoing physical and emotional health issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nick Hydukovich, criminal division head for the Washington County Attorneys Office, read a statement in court from the victim, who said as he was being stalked, followed and vigorously kicked and punched in my head and my body, I thought I was going to die. John Chitwood, the elder Lewis attorney, argued that his role was less serious than a typical first-degree aggravated robbery, saying he did not inflict any blows or take the cash. He asked Judge Siv Mjanger for a downward departure to a three-year prison term. Hydukovich said that Shawn Eric Lewis Sr., despite not physically committing the robbery, was the ringleader, the hub between the spokes that everyone else was acting, in terms of tracking the victims location, getting the information from one person, passing it along to the next person. Hydukovich noted it was Lewis third first-degree aggravated robbery conviction, adding he had been released from prison less than a year and a half before the Mahtomedi attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mjanger agreed with Hydukovich and his request for a 67-month sentence, saying his conduct was not less onerous. Evidence showed Lewis was nearby waiting in his vehicle, she said. I get that he didnt throw the physical punches, she said. But I also believe that without his involvement and without his planning and preparation and essentially stalking of the victim, this wouldnt have happened the way it did. In June, Shawn Eric Lewis Jr., 37, of Bloomington, was sentenced to nearly five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to the same robbery charge as his father. Two other charges in the case abetting second-degree robbery and aiding and abetting threats of violence were dismissed as part of a plea agreement, which also included the length of his prison term. Casino acquaintances The victim told police he returned home in the 700 block of Griffin Court with his cash winnings when a red pickup pulled up, according to the criminal complaints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shawn Eric Lewis Jr. and Tristin Tyler Jacox-Mann, 35, of Golden Valley, got out of the truck and began punching and kicking the victim, prosecutors say. Deangelo Romaine Jacox, 34, of Coon Rapids, was the alleged getaway driver. During the attack, the victims girlfriend and her niece came outside. One of the men pointed a gun at the women and said, You two (expletive) better get back inside or I will kill you both, the girlfriend told the court at the younger Lewis June 3 sentencing. After the men left in the truck, the victim took off after them in his own vehicle. He pulled over and met with a sheriffs deputy, while other law enforcement officers pursued and eventually stopped the suspects pickup truck near the intersection of Minnesota 36 and White Bear Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MnDOT highway camera footage showed a red SUV following the victim as he pursued the suspects on Highway 36. Shawn Eric Lewis Sr. was the registered owner of the SUV. Mr. Lewis Sr.s vehicle drives literally right by the traffic stop, prosecutor Hydukovich said in court Monday. Police dont know that hes involved at that point, so they dont stop him. The victim later told police that he ran into Philip William Davids Sr., a man he knew from his prior gambling, while at the casino on Dec. 9. He said he believed Davids was following him that night, so he went to the bathroom to try to lose him. Davids followed him into the bathroom and struck up a conversation. When he left the bathroom, he saw Davids make a phone call. He exited the casino and saw Davids trying to catch up to him, the charges say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators discovered through analyzing cellphones that Jacox-Mann and Lewis Sr. had made 20 calls to each other in the hours leading up to and shortly after the robbery. Also, Hydukovich said Monday, phone data showed that Davids followed the victim home from the same casino one night exactly two weeks before the attack. Shawn Eric Lewis Sr., meanwhile, was waiting near the Mahtomedi home. Related Articles The victim told the Pioneer Press in June that law enforcement was able to retrieve the stolen cash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shawn Eric Lewis Sr. will receive credit for just over one-and-a-half years already served in custody. In October, Jacox pleaded guilty to fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle. Hes scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 15. Davids faces a charge of aiding and abetting first-degree aggravated robbery and has a next hearing set for Sept. 26. Jacox-Mann has an October jury trial scheduled on charges of aiding and abetting first- and second-degree robbery and aiding and abetting threats of violence. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) For the second time in 40 years, the stretch of the Rio Grande in Albuquerque has gone dry, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District confirmed. If you take a look at the river, youll mostly see a dry, cracked riverbed with spots of waterpools here and there. The MRGCD said the river officials went dry on July 13, and there are two main reasons why: record-low snowpack, which means less snowmelt runoff, and not being able to store any native Rio Grande water The way our system typically works is in the spring, when theres excess river flows from the snowmelt runoff, we would, when we could, we would store that extra water in our upstream reservoirs and then release it this time of year to kind of fill that gap between what the basin is naturally producing and what is needed for Middle Valley farmers and their crops, explained Anne Marken, river operations manager for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. But right now, because we dont have the ability to store any native Rio Grande water because of Rio Grande Compact restrictions, we are what we call a run-of-the-river system, which means that the only water available to us is what the basin is naturally producing. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts warned that snowpack in New Mexico was in trouble this year, saying in February that conditions were far from optimistic. There was hope that things could turn around in the late winter months, but as it turned out, snowpack conditions remained low. With the water the state did have, it had to send it south as part of the Rio Grande Compact between Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. New Mexico does owe 125,000 acre-feet to the Rio Grande Compact. And thats one of the contributing factors to us not being able to store any native Rio Grande water this year, Marken explained. The Rio Grande did receive Colorado River water through the San Juan-Chama project on June 16; however, the amount was lower than what it typically gets in a year because conditions in that basin were also well below average. That water also already ran out around July 6, according to Marken. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lack of water in the river has many implications in the Albuquerque metro area, including leaving farmers without water, animals without a habitat, and changes to the way the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority manages the drinking water supplies by having to switch to the aquifer. Looking ahead, when asked if people should expect to see a dry river in Albuquerque in the future. Marken said, Its a possibility. We havent been able to store native Rio Grande water for non-Pueblo users since 2020. And weve been very close to drying the river through Albuquerque almost every year since then. And weve gotten somewhat lucky with some rain events that have allowed us to kind of keep things connected. But the monsoon season this year hasnt really materialized in the way that we wanted to. And that, coupled with that low snowpack this winter, has made it really challenging to keep things connected through Albuquerque, she explained. For now, the MRGCD and farmers are hoping for rain this monsoon season. The MRGCD has two more meetings this summer to update and answer questions from farmers and irrigators. More information on those meetings can be found 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. FORT BRAGG, N.C. (WNCN) The next Robin Sage training exercise for students at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School based out of Fort Bragg will be held from Aug. 1 to Aug. 14, the school said Tuesday. The two-week Robin Sage exercise is the final test of the Special Forces Qualification Course training for candidates at the school. It puts students in a simulated armed conflict in a politically unstable nation, represented by fictional country Pineland, according to the school. Upon completion of Robin Sage, according to the school, the students will graduate and receive their first Special Forces assignments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the school, the upcoming training exercise will be held in the following North Carolina counties: Alamance Anson Bladen Brunswick Cabarrus Chatham Columbus Cumberland Davidson Duplin Guilford Harnett Hoke Lee Montgomery Moore Randolph Richmond Robeson Rowan Sampson Scotland Stanly Union Robin Sage will also take place in the South Carolina counties of Chesterfield, Dillon, Marlboro, and York, according to the school. The school said it has coordinated the training exercise with the participating areas public safety officials. Law enforcement chiefs received written notification and were visited by a unit representative, while civilian and non-student military participants have been briefed on the procedures if they make contact with law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the school, students will only wear civilian clothes when necessary. They will have an orange or brown armband on while in civilian clothing. The training areas and vehicles in the exercises will have clear labels. The school said controls have been put in place to prevent any risks to people and property in the participating areas. Residents in these areas may hear blank gunfire and see flares. Anyone with questions about Robin Sage may contact the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at pao_swcs@socom.mil If anyone has concerns or an emergency happens, they are asked to contact their local law enforcement agency, who will notify the exercises control officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We appreciate the support and consideration the citizens of North Carolina extend to the soldiers participating in the exercise and thank them for their understanding of any inconveniences the training may cause, the school said in a statement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com. Rep. Julie Rogers (D - Kalamazoo) speaks at a roundtable discussion in Kalamazoo, Michigan talking about the first year of Michigan's Address Confidentiality Program on September 16, 2024 | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols State Rep. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo) is looking to move to the upper chamber of the Michigan Legislature in the 2026 contest as state Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) makes a bid for Congress. Rogers, who currently represents Michigans 41st House District, filed paperwork on Monday to fill McCanns seat in the 19th Senate District. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCann is term-limited and is seeking his partys nomination for the 4th Congressional District. The senator would face Kalamazoo attorney Jessica Swartz, IT and Cybersecurity professional Richard Aaron and former Congressional staffer Diop Harris in the primary, and if he wins, would face Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga of Holland Township. That leaves McCanns seat wide open and gives Rogers, who has represented the Kalamazoo area since 2020, a chance to move up in the Legislature. My family has deep roots in Kalamazoo County. My husband is a physical therapist at a local independent clinic, my mother taught at our local community college, my father worked in real estate, and my sister is an educator. Together, we all have a deep commitment to service in our community, Rogers said on her campaign website. I will continue to fight for those who are often underrepresented and forgotten. Our community needs an economy and government that works for everyone, not just a select few. Rogers also touted her ability to work the states budget, and the Democrats budget in the previous legislative term, which had historically high funding for public schools, including free breakfast and lunch for all children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rogers also said she would champion affordable access to education, housing and health care, while also strengthening support for environmental protections, infrastructure and safer communities. The main statewide prize in the 2026 election is the top three spots in the executive branch as governors seat, the secretary of state and attorney general posts are wide open but much attention will be placed on control of the state Senate. McCanns seat would be just one piece of the puzzle for the Democrats to retain control of the chamber. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Rosie Roche, a relative of the UK royal family who was cousin to Princes William and Harry, was found dead with a gun nearby, according to reports. The UK Sun reported Monday that Roche the granddaughter of Princess Dianas uncle Edmund Roche was found at her familys home in Wiltshire on July 14. She was discovered by her mother and sister and had been packing for a vacation. A coroner told the outlet the death was not considered suspicious and there were no other people involved, but the coroners court opened an investigation that was adjourned until Oct. 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 20-year-old was working on a degree in English literature at Durham University. She was described as a darling daughter, sister and granddaughter in an obituary published in the Yorkshire Post. The notice added that a private memorial service would be held at a later date. The royal family hasnt commented on Roches death publicly. _____ A third round of peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials is planned to take place later this week in Turkey, according to Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky. Today, I discussed with Rustem Umerov the preparations for the exchange and another meeting in Turkey with the Russian side. Umerov reported that the meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Zelensky said during his daily address Monday, referring to the secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council. TASS, the Russian state-run news agency, reported Monday that the next round of talks between Ukraine and Russia will be July 24, citing a source. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting is scheduled for July 24. The delegations may arrive in Istanbul on July 23, the news agency quoted the source as saying. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov played down expectations for the meeting, saying Russia does not expect to achieve a miraculous breakthrough. He said on Tuesday during a press briefing that Russia intends to pursue our interests, we intend to ensure our interests and fulfil the tasks that we set for ourselves from the very beginning. The nations have held two rounds of peace talks in Istanbul so far on May 16 and June 2 and the discussions have led to the exchange of thousands of prisoners, but the two have made little to no progress on a potential ceasefire agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the last round of talks, which took place nearly two months ago, Russia issued a memo outlining conditions for reaching a ceasefire, including having Ukraines military disarm and agree to Russias annexation of four regions in Ukraine that were overtaken since Moscow launched its invasion over three years ago, which the Russian military has struggled to maintain. The upcoming talks also come as President Trump has pressed for forging peace in the region and has in recent weeks been increasingly critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying in a recent interview with the BBC that he is disappointed with the Kremlins leader, but not done with him. The U.S. has brokered a deal to send more weapons to Ukraine, arms that would be drawn from NATO allies in Europe who agreed earlier this year to increase their investment in defense spending. Last week, Trump warned Putin that he would slap new sanctions on Russia and other countries that purchase Moscows exports if a ceasefire is not reached within 50 days. Russia has not wavered from its demands and has continued to shell Ukraine, firing off drones and missile attacks that have targeted dozens of cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Updated: 1:51 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 The Hill. The administrative leaders of Germany's lower house of parliament, or Bundestag, are looking to ensure that lawmakers no longer wear badges with political statements and messages in the plenary chamber. An exception is to be made for the three prominently visible symbols there: the German Federal Eagle, the German flag and the EU flag. "The debate is conducted in the plenary through words and exclusively through words," said a letter from Bundestag President Julia Klockner to the first parliamentary secretary of the Green Party, Irene Mihalic, which was made available to dpa on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In it, Klockner warned: "Beyond our official state symbols, which stand for the liberal democratic tradition of the Federal Republic, any further symbolism in the plenary would give rise to questions of demarcation." Mihalic had previously criticized Klockner's "directive on badges in the plenary chamber" in a letter, referring to information from the news magazine Der Spiegel, which reported earlier on the letter. Mihalic warned that "detailed instructions and directives like this are more likely to trigger a culture war than to lead to a focus on debate with speech and counter-speech." From Mihalic's perspective, wearing badges and smaller symbols should not generally be objected to. "This naturally applies not only to the national flag but also to other symbols that stand for remembrance of victims or the defence of the fundamental values of our constitution this includes the rainbow flag," wrote the Green Party politician. Royal Family Rocked by Another Tragic Death as Young Relative Dies Suddenly originally appeared on Parade. The British Royal Family is facing another tragic loss as they mourn the death of Rosie Roche, the 20-year-old second cousin to Prince William and Prince Harry. The Durham University student was found deceased with a firearm nearby at a property in Norton, England. Roche was the granddaughter of Princess Diana's uncle, making her a second cousin to the royal brothers. She was reportedly studying English literature at Durham University and was described in her obituary as the "darling daughter of Hugh and Pippa" and "incredible sister to Archie and Agatha." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to The Sun, Roche's mother and sister discovered her body while she was packing for a trip with friends. Police have classified the death as "non-suspicious" with no third-party involvement, the coroner confirmed to the outlet. A spokesperson told the tabloid that Roche "will be sorely missed." The Yorkshire Post reportedly published her obituary on July 19, announcing a private family funeral with a memorial service to follow at a later date. This latest tragedy marks another sudden death connected to the Royal Family following Thomas Kingston's February 2024 passing. Kingston, husband of Prince William and Harry's cousin Lady Gabriella Kingston, died from a gunshot wound at his parents' Cotswolds home. Tom was an exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him, the statement read at the time. His death has come as a great shock to the whole family, and we ask you to respect our privacy as we mourn his passing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Prince of Wales, along with other members of the royal family, later attended Kingston's funeral in London. Royal Family Rocked by Another Tragic Death as Young Relative Dies Suddenly first appeared on Parade on Jul 21, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared. An estimated one-fifth of U.S. households have medical debt on their credit reports, a burden that makes it more expensive for them to buy homes, finance new cars and, in some cases, more difficult to obtain jobs. A recent court decision has now kept that system in place. A Biden-era rule, announced last summer but never put into effect, sought to forbid credit reporting agencies, including Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, from using medical debts over $500 on the detailed credit history reports that lenders use to judge creditworthiness. Amid opposition from industry groups and the Trump administration, a federal judge then struck down the rule earlier this month. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what consumers should know moving forward. --- Why was the medical-debt rule overturned? The rule was opposed by debt collectors, who argued it would have encouraged financial delinquency, as well as banks and other lenders that use credit reports. Soon after President Donald Trump took office and dramatically downsized the CFPB, this camp pinned its hopes on a lawsuit in which these trade groups argued that the CFPB under the Biden administration had overstepped its authority. U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan, who oversees Texass Eastern District, concluded in a July 11 ruling that the CFPBs medical-debt ban would have gone beyond the agencys authority under the law. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, he argued, agencies may report peoples medical information as long as its coded to protect privacy - and the act clearly authorizes banks to use that information in their lending decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision, which effectively scraps the rule, was praised by industry groups like the Consumer Data Industry Association, which argued that banks need medical-debt information to evaluate whether a given individual will be a responsible borrower. Americas financial system is the best in the world because it is based on a full, fair and accurate credit reporting system, CDIA President and CEO Dan Smith said in a statement. --- What happens next if you carry medical debt? It might depend on where you live. Consumer advocates point out that 14 states already have laws in place prohibiting the use of medical debt for credit reports, and a fifteenth has such a law pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the federal government does not act, these actions demonstrate that states are willing to move forward in addressing the problem, said Adam Rust, director of financial services at the Consumer Federation of America. Rust criticized Jordans decision for striking down a rule meant to protect people and instead working to serve the interests of industry litigants. Its unclear how the recent ruling will play into state laws, if at all, say legal experts. Jordan contended that state laws on the matter may also be invalid in principle. But Brad Lipton, director of corporate power and financial regulation at the left-leaning Roosevelt Institute, points out that those state rules were not being challenged in this litigation, so the court really didnt have an opportunity to rule on them. Those state laws, until successfully challenged, are still in place, Lipton added. What also stays unchanged: If your medical debts are below $500, they shouldnt affect your credit score. But if you have unpaid debts above that level, it could take a hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The major credit-reporting bureaus imposed that $500 threshold in 2023 following a scathing CFPB report that found medical debt doesnt predict creditworthiness as well as other forms of debt. A CDIA spokesperson said that cutoff will remain in place. --- How many people are affected? When the rule was issued under the Biden administration, the CFPB estimated the change would remove about $49 billion in medical bills of 15 million Americans and lead to the approval of about 22,000 more affordable mortgages each year, while credit scores of affected consumers would rise by an average of 20 points. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another study, from the Urban Institute, found that nearly 10 million consumers had medical debt in collections on their credit reports as of August 2024. Regional differences are also in play. An analysis by The Washington Posts Department of Data concluded that medical debts are a major reason credit scores are lower across the American southeast, especially in states where Medicaid wasnt expanded. Without insurance, lower-income Americans bear a much larger burden of health care costs, which often translate into higher debt. --- How does medical debt affect credit scores? When a person incurs a medical bill they cant or wont pay, the unpaid debt is often sent to collection agencies. These debt collectors often send tradelines, or entries showing the consumers account status, to credit reporting agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lower credit scores, in turn, can make it harder to buy necessities on credit. They also can make home loans more expensive because borrowing costs are higher, and in some cases factor into hiring decisions. Rust said many of those with medical debt still have health insurance but are unable to pay for care because of high deductibles, out-of-network expenses and claims that are denied. The courts decision to allow medical debt on credit reports - along with the restart of student loan payments - raises the risk of a widespread drop in credit scores with possible ripple effects throughout the economy, Rust said. --- Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How can I improve my credit score? Its possible to improve your credit score over time by showing a long record of on-time payments. Thirty-five percent of credit scoring comes down to payment history, with recent delinquencies taking a larger effect. Paying off credit card balances also can improve your score over time. Experts also recommend using as little of your overall credit limit as possible, ideally keeping credit card utilization rates below 30 percent. Another tactic, which can be especially effective for younger people without a long credit history, is to open a card just for small-dollar purchases and pay off the balance immediately. And its possible for parents to improve their childrens credit score by adding them as an authorized user on a family credit card, a tactic known as piggybacking. This allows young people to take advantage of their parents longer credit history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related Content Hulk Hogan was a well-known Trump supporter. Their ties go back 40 years. Mendelson reaches deal with Commanders on RFK site amid growing pressure Amy Sherald cancels major Smithsonian show over censorship Shot twice and bleeding from slash wounds in his arm and chest, DeWayne Williams was not entirely sure he was still alive. He lay on his bedroom floor while his assailant Williams didnt know what his assailant was doing. He only knew he had seen movies like this, and he knew how they ended. Im about to die, he said, reliving the Sept. 12, 2019, incident for a Broward jury on Tuesday. Then he heard a voice in his head. It was insistent. Get up, the voice told him. Get up and run! Williams did, stumbling his way out of his house to a neighbors, pleading for help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alleged gunman, Michael Robert Schnitzerling, 34, is on trial in Fort Lauderdale, accused of trying to kill Williams and of murdering Bruce Salituri, 59, owner of the house where Williams had been staying for about five years. If convicted of Salituris murder, Schnitzerling would be sentenced to life in prison or, if a jury and judge agree, to the death penalty. Williams, 43, never identified the defendant as his assailant during his testimony Tuesday, as he answered questions posed by prosecutor Tonya Johnson. The man who showed up at Salituris door that morning was wearing a hat, glasses and a long-sleeved orange shirt emblazoned with the logo for Florida Drilling. Williams did not recognize Schnitzerling when his picture was included in an array of photos he was shown shortly after the shooting. Investigators identified the defendant through a gun left behind at the scene, the shirt and cellphone records that showed his phones location was consistent with what was known about the killer after the incident. Defense lawyer Joseph Kimok, in his opening statement and in questioning of witnesses, indicated Schnitzerling is an innocent man set up by the killer as a perfect fall guy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams said the killer showed up at Salituris home pretending to work for Florida Power & Light. He said we were using too much voltage, Williams said. Williams went to his room and left Salituri to deal with the man. About a half-hour later, the man showed up again to talk to Williams. With no warning, the man pulled his weapon. You people pissed somebody off, the gunman told Williams. And youve seen my face. The first shot was directly in Williams face, entering at the left cheek and exiting through his neck. The bullet from the second shot is still lodged between his neck and right shoulder, he said. After the second shot, the gunman switched to a knife, slashing away and cutting Williams twice. Thats when Williams said he collapsed, regrouped, and fled the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He heard one shot as he ran to a neighbor, who called 911. Police responding to the scene found Salituri shot to death. The trial is scheduled to resume Wednesday. Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Threads.net/@rafael.olmeda. AMERICUS, Ga. (WRBL) South Georgia Technical College student, Jayden Yarbrough, is set to graduate from the schools licensed practical nursing program this summer. She is graduating at a time when the nursing field is facing an increasing amount of staffing challenges. Im a little worried about the stress and the burnout because that is definitely a thing, Yarbrough says. Those in the nursing field say that although COVID-19 exacerbated the nursing shortage that is currently plaguing the healthcare industry, it is certainly not the only thing. While we have seen some improvements, staffing challenges, stress and burnout, and workforce safety are issues that have permeated the nursing industry before, during and after the pandemic and are still challenges. We can no longer use COVID-19 as an excuse as to why nurses are leaving the workforce. We can infer that while hospitals continue to prioritize investments in mental health and other support services for nurses since the pandemic, structural issues that predated the pandemic remain. Phil Dickison, Chief Executive Officer of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing South Georgia Technical College plans to address these issues by offering a one-year LPN (licensed practical nurse) to RN (registered nurse) bridge program. The program is intended for LPNs who have been working for six months or longer in order to get a head start on their RN associate degrees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is something that weve gained a lot of support for from the community, said President of SGTC, Dr. John Watford. Our medical professionals are excited about this opportunity because they need the nurses. The program, set to begin in August 2025, already has an initial class of 40 licensed practical nurses. Those at community partner, Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, believe the program that is taking shape will build a consistent pipeline of nurses. Here at Phoebe, we are huge advocates for building our community academic partnerships, said Kelsey Reed, Chief Nursing Officer for Phoebe Sumter. Not only from the standpoint of building our nursing pipeline so that we can fill the gaps that we have, but its also important because it is the right thing to do for the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Watford explained the urgent need for the new program is not only because it will advance the careers of those enrolled at South Georgia Tech, but also because the future of their rural community depends on it. Photo courtesy of SGTC Of the things we found in a survey several years ago, 80% of our students will die within 30 miles of where they were born. Dr. Watford said. People in South Georgia love this community. Theres family roots. People dont tend to move very much down here and so they need to work in their community. LPN student, Brittany Wills, is an example of this. Currently serving as a paramedic, Brittany says healthcare has always been her passion. South Georgia Techs program will allow her to further her medical ambitions in the place she calls home. The shortages affect patient care and puts stress on the healthcare provider, said Wills. It puts patients at risk and if me and my classmates can help that, me personally, thats something Id like to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By offering things like tuition reimbursement, the Phoebe Sumter team hopes to expose their employees to the resources and education opportunities available already in their area. Kelsey Reed explained that many of the students completing the bridge program are their own employees. Its important to us that were partnering with South Georgia Tech, but its important that were supporting our own and advancing their education, said CNO Kelsey Reed. While nursing jobs are in high demand, Reed points out that other ancillary jobs will need to be filled. We have a great need for our support partners. That would be our certified nurses assistants, our patient care techs, radiology assistants, phlebotomists, and lab personnel. So we value the partnerships we have with our technical colleges because they help build that pipeline of staff as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To register for the required core classes prior to acceptance into the program, those interested can contact SGTC Admissions Director, Candie Walters, at cwalters@southgatech.edu or visit the SGTC website and click Apply to get started. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated. Russian forces launched a drone strike on Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast on July 21, injuring 11 people, including a 5-year-old boy, local officials said. "This evening, Russia attacked civilian infrastructure in the Putvyl community with drones," Governor Oleh Hryhorov wrote on Telegram. Hryhorov initially reported at approximately 10:00 p.m. local time that four people, including the child, were injured and received medical assistance without hospitalization. Later updates increased the number of injured to 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A fire broke out at the scene, and emergency crews are continuing to try to contain the damage, he added. The attack on Sumy Oblast follows U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to impose "severe" tariffs on Russia in 50 days if there is no peace deal with Ukraine. While Kyiv and Moscow plan to resume peace talks on July 23, the Kremlin continues to launch attacks across Ukraine. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Third round of Ukraine-Russia peace talks set for July 23, Zelensky says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian forces attacked civilian and social infrastructure in the city of Sumy twice on 22 July. The attacks killed one person and injured four others. Source: Serhii Kryvosheienko, Head of Sumy City Military Administration Details: The Russians hit a high-rise building with a drone during the first strike, damaging a playground and smashing windows. It is noted that a civilian infrastructure facility was also damaged. Early reports told of two injured people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, Russia struck again, this time near another social infrastructure facility. The blast wave damaged the building. One person was killed. Updated data show that the number of casualties after both attacks has increased to four, and they have been hospitalised. Sumy City Military Administration stressed that Russia is deliberately targeting civilian facilities in an attempt to intimidate residents of the border town. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assess that only proper military assistance to Ukraine by its allies and significant military failures will force Russian leader Vladimir Putin to "reconsider Russia's ability to militarily defeat Ukraine and bring him to the negotiating table". Source: ISW Details: UK Defence Secretary John Healey announced a "50-day drive" to strengthen Ukraine's military capabilities during the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting on 21 July. The goal is to pressure Russian leader Vladimir Putin toward talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Healey emphasised the urgency of the effort, citing US President Donald Trump's warning that he would introduce strict 100 per cent secondary tariffs on countries trading with Russia if a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine is not reached within 50 days from 14 July. Quote from ISW: "ISW has consistently assessed that only significant Russian battlefield setbacks, enabled by timely and sufficient Western military assistance to Ukrainian forces, will force Putin to reconsider Russia's ability to militarily defeat Ukraine and bring him to the negotiating table." Details: ISW noted that such setbacks for Russia are unlikely to occur "in a matter of weeks" and will more likely require several months or "campaign seasons", assuming that the West remains committed to properly equipping and supporting Ukrainian forces so they are able to conduct successful operations. Meanwhile, Russias reported decision to send the same mid-level delegation to the expected third round of talks suggests that its lack of genuine interest in pursuing a peace settlement remains unchanged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from ISW: "ISW continues to assess that the Kremlin remains dedicated to protracting peace negotiations to support continued offensive operations in Ukraine and extract additional concessions from Ukraine and the West." Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), has reported that Russia plans to spend about US$1.1 trillion on rearmament by 2036. Source: Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov at a panel discussion during the annual meeting of Ukrainian ambassadors Intelligence, Security, Diplomacy: a Common Strategy for Victory; Mezha Media, a technology and IT news platform within Ukrainska Pravdas holding company Details: Budanov stressed that this is Russia's largest arms programme since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is a total mobilisation of politics, economy and society of the Russian Federation to be ready for the upcoming large-scale war," said Kyrylo Budanov. DIU added that as part of the military reform, two new military districts have already been created in Moscow and Leningrad, and new divisions, formations and military units are planned to be formed. "Russia is seeking to destroy the current security and economic order. For this purpose, Moscow is increasing its presence in Africa, primarily using its proxy forces: Wagner and Africa Corps private military companies, as well as supporting authoritarian regimes and terrorist organisations around the world," said Kyrylo Budanov. DIU reports that the Russians are also trying to conduct hybrid information and cyber operations on the territory of other states, interfering in the civilised democratic process through controlled media and public leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Moscow aims to impose its own vision of the future world order on countries, where great powers, primarily the Russian Federation, have full power, monopoly on all critical resources and decide the world's fate in a closed circle," Budanov stressed. Background: In spring, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published data showing that Russia's military spending reached US$149 billion last year, an increase of 38% compared to the year before. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! On 22 July, Russia announced that it was responding to the latest EU sanctions packages by banning a number of representatives of European institutions and European states from entering the country. Source: a statement released on Tuesday by the Russian Foreign Ministry, as European Pravda reports Details: The ministry noted that on 20 May and 18 July, the EU approved "illegitimate" sanctions packages against Russia, so the Russian side is responding to these "unfriendly steps". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The list of representatives of European institutions, EU member states and a number of European countries participating in Brussels' anti-Russian policy who are prohibited from entering our country has been significantly expanded," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The ministry specified that this applies in particular to employees of law enforcement agencies, state and commercial organisations, citizens of European Union member states, and other Western countries responsible for providing military assistance to Kyiv, as well as those who "undermine" Russia's territorial integrity and organise the blockade of Russian ships and cargo in the Baltic Sea. The list also includes representatives of European structures, state bodies of EU countries and other European states involved in the "persecution" of Russian officials for "illegal arrests and deportations of people from Ukrainian territories". In addition, the list includes those who are involved in the creation of a tribunal against the Russian leadership and advocate the confiscation of Russian state assets or the use of profits from them in the interests of Ukraine, as well as those who "distinguished themselves with their Russophobic rhetoric". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian Federation also "punished" members of the European Parliament and EU member states who voted for anti-Russian resolutions and bills. Background: On 18 July, the EU approved the long-awaited 18th package of EU sanctions against Russia, which had been delayed due to opposition from Slovakia and Malta. In particular, the package includes sanctions against 26 more companies for circumventing sanctions, including 11 outside Russia seven companies in China (three in Hong Kong) and four in Turkiye. The package imposes sanctions on 105 vessels from Russias shadow fleet, lowers the price cap on Russian oil and targets banks and companies outside Russia that support its war effort. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Tuesday that it detected a rise in international tensions and was monitoring developments after Britain's Times and Telegraph newspapers reported that the United States had stationed nuclear weapons in Britain for the first time since 2008. Asked about the reports, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We see a line towards escalation of tensions, towards militarisation, including nuclear militarisation." He added: "Our relevant departments are monitoring developments in this area and formulating tasks to ensure our security against the backdrop of what is happening." (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Kevin Liffey) Russian forces attacked Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with drones on the night of 21-22 July, damaging infrastructure facilities and premises belonging to a state-owned enterprise. Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "A drone strike damaged an infrastructure facility in the Mahdalynivka hromada in the Samar district. A fire broke out, which has now been extinguished. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drone attacks also caused fire in the Vasylkivka hromada in the Synelnykove district. Premises belonging to a state-owned enterprise were damaged." Details: The Russians attacked Mezhova and Zelenodolsk hromadas with FPV drones, damaging infrastructure facilities and a garage. Nikopol suffered from strikes by FPV drones and artillery. Information on the aftermath is being confirmed. Lysak added that air defence forces had downed 14 Russian drones over the oblast. According to updated information, a 24-year-old woman was injured and 10 houses were damaged in guided bomb strikes on the evening of 21 July. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! By Alexander Marrow (Reuters) - Russians will face fines if they search online for "extremist" content under a new law that tightens censorship and could have sweeping ramifications for digital privacy and the fate of WhatsApp in the country. The legislation, approved on Tuesday by parliament's lower house, the State Duma, has drawn criticism from some pro-government figures, as well as opposition activists. Opponents say the fines it prescribes, of up to 5,000 roubles ($63.82), could open the door to tougher charges and penalties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ministry of Justice's list of extremist materials stretches to more than 500 pages. Entities banned in Russia for carrying out "extremist activities" include late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Fund, the "international LGBT movement" and U.S. tech giant Meta Platforms. On Friday, lawmakers who regulate the IT sector said Meta-owned WhatsApp should prepare to leave the Russian market as it was likely to be added to a list of restricted software. The new legislation targets people who knowingly search for extremist materials online, including through virtual private networks (VPN) that millions of people across Russia use to bypass censorship and access banned content. "This bill concerns a very narrow group of people, who look for extremist content because they themselves are already one step away from extremism," Sergei Boyarsky, head of the Duma's information technology committee, told Duma TV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ONLINE SELF-CENSORSHIP Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadaev said law enforcement would have to prove that users intended to view extremist materials and that merely accessing platforms would not be penalised. It was not immediately clear how the authorities would determine intent in an online search. The lack of clarity has left many feeling uneasy. Yekaterina Mizulina, head of Russia's League for a Safe Internet, a body founded with the authorities' support, criticised the law's "vague wording" and warned the law could spark a wave of fraud, blackmail and extortion. "For now, the law applies only to the search for extremist materials, but there is no guarantee," Mizulina wrote on Telegram. "The list could be expanded in a couple of days." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sarkis Darbinyan, founder of digital rights group Roskomsvoboda, said he expected people to start unsubscribing from certain channels and deleting apps. "I think this is one of the main tasks that has been set: to create fear, to create such uncertainty so as to increase the level of self-censorship among the Russian internet audience," Darbinyan told Reuters. Shadaev told the Duma that fines on the Russian population were preferable to banning platforms like WhatsApp and Google in Russia. Moscow has long sought to establish what it calls digital sovereignty by promoting home-grown services, including a new state-backed messaging app, MAX, but many people across Russia still rely on foreign platforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement POLITICAL PROTEST Opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin, who tried unsuccessfully to run against Vladimir Putin in a presidential election last year, led a protest outside the Duma on Tuesday and promised to continue protesting the bill's passage through the upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, before it becomes law on September 1. "These amendments have caused a level of resistance in Russian society that has not been seen for a long time," Nadezhdin said, pointing to the surprisingly high number of lawmakers voting against the proposed legislation in the Duma, which rarely sees serious dissent. The law was approved with 68% of the vote. There were 67 votes against the legislation, or 14.9%, and 22 abstentions. ($1 = 78.3500 roubles) (Reporting by Alexander Marrow in London and Moscow newsroom, Editing by Mark Trevelyan) MOSCOW (AP) Russian lawmakers on Tuesday approved a bill that punishes online searches for information that is deemed extremist, the latest move by government authorities in their relentless crackdown on dissent. The bill passed by the lower house, the State Duma, moves to its all-but-certain endorsement in the upper house and then goes to President Vladimir Putin to be signed into law. The legislation punishes what it describes as deliberately searching for and accessing extremist materials online. First-time offenders face a fine of up to the equivalent of $64. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official definition of extremist activity is extremely broad and includes opposition groups like the Anti-Corruption Foundation, created by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and the international LGBT movement. Its not clear how authorities will track down violators. Officials and lawmakers said ordinary internet users won't be affected and only those who methodically seek outlawed content will be targeted. They didn't explain how the authorities would differentiate between them. Some observers have suggested the information would likely come from internet providers or social media platforms, and police also could randomly check the search history of cellphones or computers. The new legislation also contained a ban on advertising of virtual private network services and fines for VPN resources that fail to comply with government regulations, but stopped short of banning their use. It did list the use of a VPN as an aggravating circumstance in case of other violations of the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russians widely use VPN services for access to banned content, but authorities have sought to tighten restrictions, trying to close the loopholes. The state communications watchdog has increasingly used technology to analyze traffic and block specific VPN protocols. The Russian authorities have ramped their multipronged crackdown on dissent after sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, online censorship and prosecutions for social media posts and comments have soared. Multiple independent news outlets and rights groups have been shut down, labeled as foreign agents or outlawed as undesirable. Hundreds of activists and critics of the Kremlin have faced criminal charges. The new legislation has sparked broad public criticism. The Duma, which unanimously supports most government initiatives, was markedly divided in Tuesday's vote, with 306 backing the measure, 67 voting against it and 22 abstaining. Among those who opposed the bill were some members of the Communist Party, Just Russia and the liberal New People party who usually follow the Kremlin's wishes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Liberal politician Boris Nadezhdin, who sought to challenge Putin in last years presidential election but was denied a spot on the ballot, told reporters outside the State Duma that he opposed the new legislation. It creates real problems for tens of millions of people," he said. Nadezhdins aide, Dmitry Kisiev, who picketed the parliament building with a poster likening the legislation to the world of George Orwells dystopian 1984, was quickly rounded up by police, who also detained several reporters covering the protest. Even some pro-Kremlin figures have criticized the bill, arguing it would make it impossible for them to track down and deflect comments by Kremlin critics. Margarita Simonyan, head of the state-funded RT channel, has spoken against the legislation, questioning how her media group could investigate and bring to shame anti-Kremlin outlets if we are forbidden to even read them. And Yekaterina Mizulina, whose group Safe Internet League has frequently reported dissenters to authorities, also strongly condemned the new bill, arguing it would make it impossible for her group to monitor extremist communities on the web. Irina Podnosova, the chair of the Russian Supreme Court, has died in Moscow at the age of 71 after a serious illness, Russian state news agency TASS reported on July 22, citing sources close to her. The judge battled the illness for over a year, Russian pro-state news agency RBK reported. TASS said she died of cancer. Podnosova had headed Russia's chief judiciary body since April 17, 2024, when she was appointed as the only candidate, being nominated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She took the post after the death of Vyacheslav Lebedev, who had served as the Supreme Court's chair since 1991. Podnosova graduated from the law faculty of Leningrad State University in 1975, the same year as Putin. She has worked at the Supreme Court since 2020, becoming a deputy chair focusing on economic disputes and arbitration cases. The Russian newspaper Kommersant wrote at the time that Podnosova had no experience with arbitration but was considered an influential person within Russia's judicial structures. The outlet's sources said that "everyone understands who is behind her." The Supreme Court is Russia's court of final appeal. Its 115 members are nominated by the Russian president and appointed by the Federation Council, the upper chamber of the country's parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Human rights experts say that Russia's judicial system is tightly controlled by the government, often used to repress political opponents. 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. Russian troops have entered the front-line city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, the open-source battlefield monitoring group DeepState and soldiers on the ground said on July 22. Pokrovsk, situated around 67 kilometers (41 miles) northwest of Russian-occupied Donetsk, has emerged as one of the fiercest hotspots in the Kremlin's ongoing offensive in eastern Ukraine. Speaking to the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity, a member of a Ukrainian drone team working out of Pokrovsk reported that Russian soldiers had made it into the city limits, though it wasnt clear if they had managed to dig in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to DeepState, Russian forces managed to penetrate the city from the direction of Zvirove a few days earlier after exploiting weakened Ukrainian infantry positions and inaccurate situational reporting. The breach reportedly prompted an urgent response from Ukrainian units to prevent the situation "from spiraling into disaster." "Russian units attempted to entrench themselves and gain control over Defenders of Ukraine street," DeepState said. "Some of them have been killed, others are still being hunted. The search and destruction of these groups is still ongoing." The group noted that Ukrainian forces suffered casualties in the ongoing cleanup operation, with incidents of friendly fire reported due to a lack of clear intelligence on the Russian troops' movements and locations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeepState warned that reports on such infiltration attempts should be approached with caution and confirmed data. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on July 18 that Ukrainian troops were "steadfastly" defending Pokrovsk from repeated Russian infantry assaults. In June, Syrskyi described it as "the hottest spot along the entire 1,200-kilometer front line." According to Syrskyi, Russian troops continue to rely on small infantry groups to probe Ukraine's defenses but has so far failed to gain control of the city. He warned that Russian troops are attempting to sever logistics routes from the northern city of Dobropillia and noted that Russian forces had massed over 110,000 troops in the area by early summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pokrovsk remains a strategic target for Russia as it seeks to advance further into Donetsk Oblast and potentially threaten neighboring Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The Kyiv Independent reached out to Ukraine's military for additional comment. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian military personnel stationed in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, have confirmed to Ukrainska Pravda that Russian forces had entered the city, with a mop-up operation now underway against the intruding sabotage units. Source: Ukrainska Pravda (UP) sources amongst the military; DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts Details: Servicemen interviewed by UP revealed that the initial Russian infantry incursions into Pokrovsk were detected five days ago, on 17 July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By the evening of 21 July, DeepState reported that the mop-up operation against the Russian sabotage groups in Pokrovsk remained "ongoing." "A couple of days ago, the enemy seized an opportunity exploiting a brigades depleted infantry and a muddled battlefield assessment to infiltrate the city via Zvirove. The crisis had to be swiftly dealt with by the brave lads of the 155th Separate Mechanised Brigade and the 68th Jaeger Brigade in order to avert a potential catastrophe," DeepState reported. It was highlighted that the Russians intend to dig in, await reinforcements and seize control of Zakhystnykiv Ukrayiny (Defenders of Ukraine) Street. As of the evening of 21 July, the relentless hunt for and annihilation of Russian sabotage groups persists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Sadly, weve suffered losses too. Apart from this, friendly fire incidents have spiked, as everyone was aware of the reconnaissance and sabotage groups almost instantly, yet few had a grasp of their routes or exact locations. Such reports demand a cool-headed approach," DeepState added. The DeepState analysts further noted that footage has already surfaced online, capturing a Russian ambush of soldiers from Ukraines defence forces at the intersection of Shevchenko and Zakhystnykiv Ukrayiny streets. Background: On 21 July, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported on a successful strike against Russian saboteurs trying to break into the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Rutherford County Commissioner Michael Wrather told fellow commissioners July 17 that he's resigning for pressing personal reasons and family. "It's been an honor to serve District 3," Wrather said. Wrather said his resignation effective July 18 is in the best interests of his district in the northern part of the county, including the rural Leanna community. He won his seat in 2018 in an uncontested race as a Republican, replacing former GOP Commissioner Will Jordan, who retired rather than seek another term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wrather captured reelection in 2022 with 66.4% of the vote in a contested general election. I have thoroughly enjoyed serving Rutherford County," Wrather said. Michael Wrather poses in photo that includes a map in green showing the Rutherford County District 3 has represented on the north side of the county while a map of all Rutheford is depicted in white. Wrather comment on landfill: 'We need to handle our own business. We've been other peoples solution for a long time.' Wrather's final speech as commissioner entices standing ovation The present county officials at the July 17 meeting gave Wrather a standing ovation after he spoke to announce his resignation. Commissioner Pettus Read, chairman of the commission's Public Safety Committee, mentioned how Wrather had served as vice chairman for seven years. There were times when Wrather was "not feeling the best," but he still came to meetings "to represent the people of Rutherford County," Read said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Thank you, Michael, for everything youve done," Read said. "Youre a good friend." Pettus Read in photo that includes a map in light purple showing the Rutherford County District 8 he represents on the southwest side while a map of all Rutheford is depicted in white. We have been overtaken by the growth': Rutherford, TN, officials want to preserve farmland Applications being accepted until Aug. 1 Those interested in replacing Wrather have until Aug. 1 to obtain and submit an application to the Rutherford County mayor's office on the first floor of the County Courthouse in the center of Murfreesboro's downtown Square, County Attorney Nick Christiansen told the commissioners. The commission's seven-member Steering, Legislative and Governmental Committee led by chairman Craig Harris will interview the applicants during a 5:30 p.m. Aug. 4 meeting at the County Courthouse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee can recommend a nominee or slate of nominees for the full 21-member commission to consider during a 6 p.m. Aug. 14 meeting at the courthouse, Christiansen said. Commissioners during the Aug. 14 meeting could offer nominations for the seat, the county attorney added. This year's Rutherford County budget: Rutherford County Commission funds up to 9.75% public safety raises Commission expects to replace Wrather by Aug. 14 Christiansen recommends that people interested in applying contact the Rutherford County Election Commission staff led by Election Administrator Alan Farley to learn about eligibility requirements to represent District 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chosen applicant will complete the remainder of Wrather's four-year term through the end of August 2026. Voters by August 2026 will elect 21 candidates to each of the commission districts to serve four-year terms that will start by September 2026. A party primary prior to the election will be in May. Who's running for mayor in 2026: Rutherford County Commissioner Craig Harris announces mayoral campaign Funding decisions for schools, projects mark tenure Commissioner Trey Gooch read a resolution of recognition of Wrather's leadership in helping the county decisions to fund Public Health and Safety buildings that include stations for fire rescue trucks and ambulances, the solid waste transfer station, the One Stop building for driver licenses and county clerk services, a future forensic center for autopsies, a couple of new schools and school expansion projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I convey to you a heartfelt appreciation and commendation for your dedicated service to the citizens of Rutherford County," Gooch told Wrather. "I sincerely wish you much success, health and happiness in all of your future endeavors." Trey Gooch poses in photo that includes a map in yellow showing the Rutherford County District 20 he represents on the west side of Murfreesboro while a map of all Rutheford is depicted in white. Trash project: Rutherford Co. officials celebrate 'solid waste independence' by opening transfer station Commission chairman Jeff Phillips offered similar praise to Wrather. "Michael, I know that whatever life holds for you from this point on will be process that will be in the best interests of you and your family," Phillips said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Thats our wish for you tonight (July 17). We wish you the very best in whatever the future has to offer." Jeff Phillips poses in photo that includes a map in yellow showing the Rutherford County District 17 he represents in Murfreesboro while a map of all Rutheford is depicted in white. 2022 election results: 21-member Rutherford County Commission will see new faces with 9 elected officials Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription. Kay dates in replacing Wrather on Rutherford County Commission Aug. 1: Deadline to apply for vacated Rutherford County Commission District 3 seat during business hours with the County Mayor's Office in the County Courthouse in the center of Murfreesboro's downtown Square Aug. 4: Rutherford County Commission seven-member Steering, Legislative & Governmental Committee interviews applicants for District 3 seat during 5:30 p.m. meeting at the courthouse and considers recommendation to nominate applicant for seat Aug. 14: Full 21-member Rutherford County Commission considers appointment of nominee to District 3 seat during 6 p.m. meeting at courthouse Source: Rutherford County Attorney Nick Christiansen This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Rutherford County Commission District 3 seat open after resignation UPDATE: At Monday nights board meeting, the Board of Education for Rutherford County Schools enacted a new cellphone policy. RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) School starts back up in just a few weeks. This year, students across Tennessee will have to follow new classroom cellphone use rules. Metro Schools are still finalizing their plans. However, the Rutherford County school board made a decision at their Monday night meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are so disruptive in the school room, and our teachers are saying it is so much calmer in the classrooms, RCS Board Member for Zone 1, Tammy Sharp, said prior to the meeting. MARCH | Classroom cellphone ban bill passes TN House This is in response to a Tennessee law requiring districts to develop a policy banning the use of wireless communication devices during instructional time. Other districts have already made their call. In Williamson County, students can bring phones to school but must stay off them throughout the day. Wilson County banned phone use in class but left it up to the schools to decide what is allowed during lunch or passing periods. Board members for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System went even further and voted to ban cellphones for the entire school day. Metro Nashville Public Schools said not much will change because they have already banned cell phone use in class but not during transitional periods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharp, a board member with the Rutherford County Schools, said they have already banned cell phone use in class but not during transitional periods. She told News 2 she expected the conversation on Monday night to be short because cell phones have been banned in classrooms since 2022. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com I dont know that anybody wants to change it because we were like we thought everybody was already doing that, Sharp explained. We didnt realize the other school systems were still allowing students to use phones. I think it makes it easier for them to have a quiet classroom, Sharp concluded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Lord Mandelson enlisted the help of a former BBC boss in a desperate bid to get back into government after twice being forced to resign from Sir Tony Blairs cabinet, newly released files show. Papers released by the National Archives show Lord Mandelson hoped Lord Birt, the former BBC director-general, would help him to secure another top job and fulfil his promise. Lord Mandelson, who is now the UKs ambassador to the US, was appointed by Sir Tony in 2004 to the post of Britains European commissioner, which oversaw trade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had been forced to quit as Northern Ireland secretary in January 2001 following claims he had helped Srichand Hinduja, the controversial Indian businessman, secure a UK passport in return for sponsoring the Millennium Dome. The Hammond report later found there had been no wrongdoing from all involved. Despite this, Sir Tony was reluctant to bring Lord Mandelson back into the fold after he had already resigned once before in 1998 from his post as trade secretary after a scandal over an undeclared home loan from Geoffrey Robinson, a fellow Labour minister. However, Lord Birt, who was serving as a senior policy adviser in No 10, wrote to the prime minister in April 2003 urging him to think again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I gather from Peter [Mandelson] that you still talk to him regularly but, as a safeguard, you may like to know what he reports to me about his current state of mind, he wrote. He feels this spring/summer may be the moment of decision for him. Hes approaching 50 and he is sorely conscious that time is passing and he has yet to fulfil his promise. As you know, Peters deepest wish is to return to government. He stresses that he has already proved to be a capable minister, and that he would be a strong ally for you in cabinet. Lord Birts letter continued: If you judge a return to government is not possible, then he would like you to consider appointing him as EC Commissioner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One way or another, he says he wants to settle his future this year, even if it means a career outside politics. Just four months later, it was announced that he was to be the UKs next European commissioner. He was subsequently awarded a life peerage in 2008 and is currently the British ambassador to the United States. 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 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters is seen in Washington D.C. Credit - Anadolu AgencyGetty Images On July 21the 56th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon walk287 current or former NASA employees signed or endorsed a strongly worded open letter to NASA acting administrator Sean Duffy. The letter objects to the space agencys draconian budget and personnel cuts proposed by the White House. Of those signatories, 131 openly wrote their names. The remaining 156, concerned for their jobs, lent their support anonymously. And then, too, there were 17 more names added at the bottom of the letterbelonging to 17 people who didnt have a say in whether their names were used or not. They included Gus Grissom, Ed White, Judith Resnik, Christa McAuliffe, Willie McCool, Kalpana Chawla and the other explorers who lost their lives in the Apollo 1 fire, the Challenger explosion, and the Columbia disintegration. The names were there for more than sentiment; they were there as pointed reminders of what can go wrong in the white-knuckle business of spacewhat too often does go wrongwhen corners are cut, funding is slashed, and work forces are reduced in pursuit of short term budgetary gains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Safety is being compromised in every way, says three time space veteran and retired NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, a signatory of the letter, in a conversation with TIME. We are courting another space disaster. Coleman feels that danger more acutely than most. During the Columbia crew's training, she worked as their capsule communicatoror capcomthe sole voice between mission control and the astronauts. By the time the crew actually went to space, she was finishing up a rotation in Antarctica, assisting in NASAs meteor collection program. She was on her way home, staying with friends in New Zealand, when the terrible word from space came down. My friend called and said Cady, we lost Columbia. I remember thinking, How could we lose them? It was definitely a hard journey home. Read more: The True Cost of Trumps Cuts to NOAA and NASA Its not just loss of crew safety that the 287 signatories of the open letterdubbed The NASA Voyager Declarationare protesting. Theres the scrapping of projects like the Mars Sample Return Mission, which is already underway, with the Perseverance rover caching samples on the Martian surface for later return to Earth. There is the premature cancellation of the Space Launch System (SLS) moon rocket, and the Orion crew capsule, NASAs only crewed ride back to the moon. There is the proposed 50% cut to NASA space science missions, including the brand new Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, the all-but completed $4 billion observatory set for launch in May 2027which now might be consigned to simply idling in its clean room in Greenbelt, Maryland. Overall, NASA faces a 24% budget cut, from $24.8 billion in 2025 to $18.8 billion in 2026its lowest funding level since 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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, wrote the signatories. 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. And theres more. Theres the loss of intellectual capital that comes when highly trained civil servant engineers are either sacked out of hand or pack their bags and go, taking their talents to the less political private sector, where job security is greater and compensation is higher. 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, reads the letter. Says retired NASA astronaut Terry Virts, now a candidate for a U.S. Senate Seat in the Democratic primary in Texas: These Trump personnel cuts to space exploration are undermining future generations of engineers and scientists as well as those mid-career employees who are at the height of their competency and productivity. Its as if a farmer is destroying his seed corn as well as his crops in the field. The damage that this administration is causing will last for a generation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: What Trumps Proposed NASA Budget Cuts Really Mean for the Space Agency The number of anonymous signatories to the Voyager Declaration letter is perhaps a sign of wariness of an administration that is famously intolerant ofand punitive towardperceived disloyalty. But NASA employees at least come with a modicum of institutional security. After the Columbia disaster in 2003an accident that was partly the result of lower-echelon employees fearing for their jobs if they spoke out of turn about safety lapses they observedNASA established its Technical Authority protocol, which provides protection for employees to report anomalies or dangerous corner-cutting to superiors outside their direct chain of command The signatories also cite an official NASA policy directive, similarly ensuring support for speaking truth to power. NASA supports full and open discussion of issues of any nature including alternative and divergent views. Diverse views are to be fostered and respected in an environment of integrity and trust with no suppression or retribution. The catch: The effective date of the rule was January 29, 2020, and the expiration January 29, 2025. Will the letter have any effect at all? Recent history doesnt portend good things. In June, employees at the National Institutes of Health penned a similar open letter, which yielded little result. Earlier this month, employees at the Environmental Protection Agency, filed their own letter, with even worse results; 140 of them were placed on administrative leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But NASA backers are not giving up hope. For one thing, the steep budget cuts the White House proposes still have to be approved by Congress, and with thousands of NASA jobs in dozens of Congressional districts, lawmakers are disinclined to take money out of their constituents pockets. The SLS and Orion were spared in just that way in 2010, when then President Barack Obama proposed scrapping them and Capitol Hill said no dice. And then too there is the less tangible, more lyrical side of space travel that may redound in NASAs favor. Im an optimist, says Coleman. Theres something about space thats compelling. There are things out there we dont know about. I think that a letter about space is going to reach people. I think that people are going to understand that if were saying this about space, were saying it about microbiology, about sustainability too. A single open letter may not be enough to change national space policy, but millions of voices expressing their support for it, just may. Write to Jeffrey Kluger at jeffrey.kluger@time.com. Health officials are telling people to get rid of certain raw milk products because of a possible Salmonella contamination. A release from the Allegheny County Health Department urges the public to discard all raw milk products from The Family Cow. That includes raw milk sold in pint, half-gallon and gallon containers, as well as cheeses. The items were sold from the farms Chambersburg store and online, where six pickup locations are listed for Allegheny County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four county residents have gotten sick with Salmonella since July 1 after consuming raw milk products from The Family Cow, officials say. More than 70 reported cases of infection connected with these products are being investigated by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Agriculture, dating back to August 2024. Products tested positive for Salmonella in July 2025, and more testing is needed before The Family Cow can resume selling or distributing products, officials say. Symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Those most at risk for severe illness are children under five, adults over 65, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized to destroy harmful bacteria. Pasteurization significantly lowers the risk of foodborne illnesses and does not affect milks nutritional value, officials say. People whove consumed raw milk products from The Family Cow are told to speak with a health care provider if they get sick. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Visitors to Balboa Park may soon have to pay for something thats always been free, parking. After years of debate, city leaders are advancing a plan that would charge between $5 and $15 a day for parking at the citys most iconic destination. The system could be implemented as early as this fall. New bike lane in Rancho Penasquitos made a lack of parking worse, neighbors say A terrible thing to do Fred Kormanik, a longtime San Diego resident, said hes been visiting the San Diego Zoo for more than 30 years and always appreciated the free parking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We usually have a pass to the zoo because weve lived here over 30 years, Kormanik said. What made the membership attractive is the free parking here and at the Wild Animal Park. Charging for parking? I dont think thats right. I think its a terrible thing to do. Theyre going to lose business. The city said the paid parking plan is intended to help address its budget shortfall. Under the proposed plan, Balboa Park lots would be divided into three pricing tiers based on proximity to the popular Central Mesa area. Daily parking could range from $5 to $15, depending on the lot. Paying with credit card at San Diego parking meter is about to get more expensive Its always been free Metered parking along Sixth Avenue and some internal park streets could also cost $2.50 per hour via parking meters. The change has left many locals frustrated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parking meters? I dont like that, no, said one San Diego resident. Balboa Park, its supposed to be free. There has always been free parking here. Even tourists like Eleanor Reed from Colorado voiced concerns about the potential change. Its definitely a little frustrating, coming all the way here and having to pay more, especially for a public park and zoo, she said. Controversial 23-story high-rise sparks fresh outcry in Pacific Beach City: Funds will support park improvements City officials said revenue from parking fees will help fund improvements to Balboa Park and nearby areas, including the zoo. The plan could be implemented as early as October, pending final approvals and changes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A woman was arrested for reportedly assaulting someone after dozens of police officers surrounded a van on El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego for over an hour Monday afternoon. Officers responded to reports of an alleged assault with a glass object around 4 p.m. Monday and could be seen shortly after surrounding a van parked on El Cajon Boulevard near 70th Street, in the Rolando neighborhood of San Diego. Woman arrested after bullet grazes boyfriends head, leading to five-hour standoff Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more than an hour, dozens of San Diego Police officers called for the woman to surrender from the van she was sitting inside of. Police officers and vehicles surround van in Rolando neighborhood of San Diego Monday afternoon SkyFOX/KUSI in the Sky was overhead as the situation unfolded, and officers were seen using gas just before moving in on the van. The woman was taken into custody around 5:30 p.m. Monday. A dog was also taken from the van. One person confirmed dead in early morning house fire in Oceanside The road was blocked to traffic as the situation unfolded. Check back for updates on this breaking 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 5 San Diego & KUSI News. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) San Francisco banned homeless people from living in RVs by adopting strict new parking limits the mayor says are necessary to keep sidewalks clear and prevent trash buildup. The policy, which received final approval by San Francisco supervisors Tuesday, targets at least 400 recreational vehicles in the city of 800,000 people. The RVs serve as shelter for people who can't afford housing, including immigrant families with kids. Those who live in them say they're a necessary option in an expensive city where affordable apartments are impossible to find. But Mayor Daniel Lurie and other supporters of the policy say motor homes are not suitable for long-term living and the city has a duty to both provide shelter to those in need and clean up the streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We absolutely want to serve those families, those who are in crisis across San Francisco, said Kunal Modi, who advises the mayor on health, homelessness and family services. We feel the responsibility to help them get to a stable solution. And at the same time, we want to make sure that that stability is somewhere indoors and not exposed in the public roadway. Critics of the plan, however, say that it's cruel to force people to give up their only home in exchange for a shot at traditional housing when there is not nearly enough units for all the people who need help; the mayor is only offering additional money to help 65 households. Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness, says city officials are woefully behind on establishing details of an accompanying permit program, which will exempt RV residents from parking limits so long as they are working with homeless outreach staff to find housing. I think that theres going to be people who lose their RVs. I think theres going to be people who are able to get into shelter, but at the expense" of people with higher needs, like those sleeping on a sidewalk, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement San Francisco, like other U.S. cities, has seen an explosion in recent years of people living out of vehicles and RVs as the cost of living has risen. Banning oversized vehicles is part of Lurie's pledge to clean up San Francisco streets, and part of a growing trend to require homeless people to accept offers of shelter or risk arrest or tows. Strict new rules On Tuesday, about three dozen people gathered outside City Hall and marched somberly through the building, hoping to influence supervisors to vote against the measure. But it cleared the Board of Supervisors with two of 11 supervisors voting no. Supervisors made no remarks. The proposal sets a two-hour parking limit citywide for all RVs and oversized vehicles longer than 22 feet (7 meters) or higher than 7 feet (2 meters), regardless of whether they are being used as housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the accompanying permit program, RV residents registered with the city as of May are exempt from the parking limits. In exchange, they must accept the city's offer of temporary or longer-term housing, and get rid of their RV when it's time to move. The city has budgeted more than half a million dollars to buy RVs from residents at $175 per foot. The permits will last for six months. People in RVs who arrive after May will not be eligible for the permit program and must abide by the two-hour rule, which makes it impossible for a family in an RV to live within city limits. RV dwellers can't afford rent Carlos Perez, 55, was among RV residents who told supervisors at a hearing this month that they could not afford the city's high rents. Perez works full-time as a produce deliveryman and supports his brother, who lives with him and is unable to work due to a disability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont do nothing wrong. We try to keep this street clean, he said, as he showed his RV recently to an Associated Press journalist. Its not easy to be in a place like this. Yet, Perez also loves where he lives. The green-colored RV is decorated with a homey houseplant and has a sink and a tiny stove on which Carlos simmered a bean soup on a recent afternoon. He's lived in San Francisco for more than 30 years, roughly a decade of which has been in the RV in the working-class Bayview neighborhood. He can walk to work and it is close to the hospital where his brother receives dialysis multiple times a week. Zach Bollinger started living in the vehicle a dozen years ago after realizing that no matter how hard he worked, he still struggled to pay rent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now he works as a ride-hail driver and pursues his love of photography. He parks near Lake Merced in the city near the Pacific Ocean and pays $35 every two to four weeks to properly dispose of waste and fill the vehicle with fresh water. He says Lurie's plan is shortsighted. There is not enough housing available and many prefer to live in an RV over staying at a shelter, which may have restrictive rules. For Bollinger, who is able-bodied, maintains a clean space and has no dependents, moving to a shelter would be a step down, he says. Still, he expects to receive a permit. If housing were affordable, there is a very good chance I wouldnt be out here, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City recently closed its only RV lot RV dwellers say San Francisco should open a safe parking lot where residents could empty trash and access electricity. But city officials shuttered an RV lot in April, saying it cost about $4 million a year to service three dozen large vehicles and it failed to transition people to more stable housing. The mayor's new proposal comes with more money for beefed-up RV parking enforcement but also an additional $11 million, largely for a small number of households to move to subsidized housing for a few years. Officials acknowledge that may not be sufficient to house all RV dwellers, but notes that the city also has hotel vouchers and other housing subsidies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erica Kisch, CEO of nonprofit Compass Family Services, which assists homeless families, says they do not support the punitive nature of the proposal but are grateful for the extra resources. Its recognition that households should not be living in vehicles, that we need to do better for families, and for seniors and for anyone else who's living in a vehicle," she said. San Francisco can do better, certainly. In recent years, Ohio has offered an annual reprieve to families preparing for school and other Ohioans needing a break in taxes a holiday in which sales tax is exempt. For 2025, the regular one-week exemption was extended to two weeks and people are preparing to engage in the opportunity to save money. The Expanded Ohio Sales Tax Holiday is a win for working families in Ohio, Ohio State Representative Justin Pizzulli said to the Times. By easing the burden on everyday essentials, were helping parents stretch their dollars further especially during back-to-school season! Mark your calendar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ohio Expanded Sales Tax Holiday will run Aug. 1-14. Nearly all tangible personal property priced at $500 or less is tax-free. Some of the exclusions mentioned by the state include watercraft or outboard motors, motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, vape products and items containing marijuana. Some of the state examples of tax-exempt items include electronics, such as computers, televisions and other gadgets; clothing; books, including novels and textbooks; home goods, including furniture, kitchenware and home decor; plants; sporting goods; and food and beverages. Online sales are included in the tax holiday as well. For business owners, the tax holiday could lead to many questions, but the state has expressed a determination to support them in the endeavor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ohio Department of Taxation is committed to helping businesses understand these changes. If you are a business owner and have questions, the department is available to assist you. It is important for businesses to properly apply the sales tax holiday rules to avoid penalties, the Ohio Department of Taxation wrote in a release. The Department of Taxation focuses on educating vendors and small businesses about the new requirements. Some of these issues can be complicated, such as returns. The Ohio Department of Taxation outlines that, even in cases where items purchased during the holiday later need exchanged, tax should continue being exempt. One key element the state reminds people of is the inclusion of taxable goods. If a sale is processed with an item that is exempt, the order is then taxed. So, orders should be planned around the desired goals of the purchaser. For questions related to Ohio Extended Sales Tax Holiday, contact the Ohio Department of Taxation at 1-888-405-4039. For more information online, visit www.tax.ohio.gov. LONDON -- The World Health Organization said it will expand its medical services in Gaza, even after its staff residence in Deir al Balah, Gaza, was attacked three times by the Israel Defense Forces, WHO officials said Tuesday. "This is not a moment to be desperate and to be backing out. This is a moment to reorganize, reflect and see indeed like a plan of how we can expand," WHO Representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territories Dr. Rik Peeperkorn said at a United Nations virtual press briefing. "The evacuation orders in Gaza have severely affected the WHO, but I want to stress, we remain on the ground. We stay and deliver. And we will expand our operation," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, the Israeli military entered the staff residences at the WHO, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward Al-Mawasi, according to the Tuesday statement. Four people -- two WHO staff and two male family members -- were detained. Three were released, while one staff member, a cleaner/caretaker of the office, is still in Israeli custody, Peeperkorn said. Hatem Khaled/Reuters - PHOTO: Smoke rises as displaced Palestinian walk with their belongings in the aftermath of an Israeli military operation in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, July 22, 2025. A statement released by the IDF on Tuesday described military action, including detaining "several individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism," although it was not immediately clear whether it was detailing its interaction with WHO staff. The IDF said its troops were fired on "in the Deir al Balah area, and responded toward the area from which the shooting originated." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IDF said it is sometimes "necessary for individuals suspected of terrorist activity to temporarily remove parts of their clothing in order to ensure that they are not concealing explosive belts or other weapons." The WHO's main warehouse, which held "substantial supplies of essential medical supplies and medicines," including trauma and surgical supplies, key antibiotics, cancer medication, diabetes medication and dialysis supplies, were damaged by Israeli military attacks, Peeperkorn said. WHO employees and their families, including children, were traumatized after air strikes caused a fire and significant damage, Peeperkorn said. MORE: 15 dead, including 4 children, of malnutrition in Gaza over the past 24 hours, Hamas-run ministry says Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While women and children were forced to evacuate on foot amid an active conflict during the attack, male staff and family members were "handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on spot and screened at gunpoint," Peeperkorn said. "WHO condemns in the strongest terms the attacks on a building housing WHO staff in Deir al Balah in Gaza, the mistreatment of those sheltering there, and the destruction of its main warehouse," WHO said. The Israeli military earlier said it had been "in contact" with international organizations prior to the start of its action in Deir Al Balah. "We emphasize that the IDF maintains continuous and consistent contact with the international organizations, and throughout the war, the IDF has facilitated the safe evacuations of their personnel from evacuated areas, in coordination with the troops and in accordance with operational requirements," the IDF said. Hatem Khaled/Reuters - PHOTO: Israeli military operation in Deir Al-Balah Most of the WHO's staff housing was inaccessible after the attacks, the organization said in its statement, adding that at least 43 staff members and their families were relocated from several staff residences to the WHO office "under darkness and at significant risk." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "WHO is appalled by the dangerous conditions under which humanitarians and health workers are forced to operate," WHO officials said on Tuesday. "As the security situation and access continue to deteriorate, red lines are repeatedly crossed, and humanitarian operations pushed into an ever-shrinking space to respond." The organization added, "We reiterate our call for the active protection of civilians, health care and its premises and for rapid and unimpeded flow of aid, including food, fuel and health supplies, at scale into and across Gaza." MORE: Dozens of Palestinians killed while seeking aid, Gaza health officials say The IDF said it "should be emphasized that the suspects are treated in accordance with international law." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WHO officials said the organization had shared the coordinates of all its premises, including its warehouses and staff housing, with "the relevant parties." But the group said its main warehouse filled with medical supplies was targeted, causing "explosions and fire inside," and later looted "by desperate crowds." "Any threat to these premises is a threat to the entire humanitarian health response in Gaza," the organization said. "We urgently call on member states to help, to actually increase the support to WHO, and to help ensure a sustained and regular flow of medical supplies into Gaza," Peeperkorn said. FARMERSBURG, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) is encouraging residents of the Hoosier state to take advantage of their disaster loans. Loan recipients can apply for additional funds that can be used for future protection from storms. Those that received loans have up to two years from their approval date to request up to a 20% increase of their verified physical damages to cover the cost of improvements. Eligible mitigation projects can include landscaping for better drainage, installing a French drain or sump pump, or strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage. Greene County opens Disaster Recovery Center for tornado victims Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One distinct advantage of SBAs disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future storm damage, said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their storm readiness while taking advantage of SBAs physical damage loans. To learn more about the mitigation options, you can visit this link. To apply online, you can click here. You can also call the SBAs Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability can dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. Jul. 22Out of a concern for the safety of students crossing U.S. Highway 69 to attend school, the Albert Lea School Board on Monday voted to provide temporary busing for up to two years for students who live within an identified neighborhood west of the highway and who would otherwise not be allowed transportation. Paul Durbahn, director of finance, operations and safety for the district, said typically the district's policy states that to qualify for busing, students must live more than a mile away from elementary schools and more than two miles away from the middle and high school. However, the concern, dating back several years, comes at the crossing at West Front Street and Highway 69, where the speed limit is 45 mph, there are four turn lanes and four lanes of traffic, he said. Students walk from the neighborhood to the west and northwest of the schools and must cross the highway to reach the school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Durbahn said while there is currently signage, an overhead flashing light and a crossing guard for the road, it is a difficult spot to manage. He noted he has stepped in for the crossing guard there when the guard was sick and it "scared the life out of me." He said he brought the concern to the city of Albert Lea, Freeborn County and Freeborn County emergency management, who told him it was a state road. After trying to reach someone with the Minnesota Department of Transportation multiple times, he said Emergency Management Director Adam Hamberg reached a MnDOT contact about the issue. The site has been reviewed by MnDOT previously but not addressed, and a local committee also identified it as a problem in 2018. Durbahn said he has also received calls from parents who live in the neighborhood west of the schools with concerns. Concerns with the crossing include traffic volume, truck traffic, speed, visibility, multiple lanes, signage, change of speed zones and distractions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further north at the stoplight at the intersection of Minnesota Highway 13 and West Main Street is a high fatality area. Durbahn said the MnDOT representative was also concerned with the speed of that intersection and how close the schools are in proximity. He said the state agency would like to review the school crossing, though it was not something that could happen quickly. He talked about MnDOT installing cameras in October to monitor the area. The walk zone for Sibley currently has 15 identified elementary students who live in the walk zone west of Highway 69, of which 10 are in grades K-2, Durbahn said. In the Southwest walk zone, there are currently two identified students who live in the area of question and could be walking. The vote would apply to students in the neighborhood bound by Highway 69, West Main Street, Wedgewood Road and West Front Street through the 2026-27 school year until a more permanent solution can be reached. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he thought there was a rate the district could contract with Albert Lea Bus Co. for a hazard zone, which would be an estimated about $4,700 annually the district presently spends about $8,000 for the intersection for the crossing guard. Board Chairman Dave Klatt said he was concerned about what would happen if the district removed the crossing guard and there was a student who missed the bus and walked anyway. He said people are used to having the crossing guard there, and he asked if this would bring liability concerns to the district. Durbahn said the liability would not be any different than if any other student decided to walk to school and said the liability comes in the current setup because the district has known it was a potential hazard since at least 2018. Previous recommendations were to have three crossing guards with two on Highway 69 itself and another on Front Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Board member Gary Schindler said he also supported still having a crossing guard, particularly with it being a known hazard. Board member Neal Skaar asked if the additional busing would require a new route or bus, and Durbahn said he did not think it would. The board ultimately decided to keep the crossing guards in place and to review usage at a later meeting. Board member Davy Villarreal said he grew up in the neighborhood that was discussed and talked about how dangerous the intersection is. The highway, especially in the winter, is particularly slippery for walkers and for drivers, he said. The district will next reach out to the affected families, and the bus company will do so as well ahead of the school year. Check back for more from the meeting. A coalition of school districts -- including Alaska's largest school district -- and advocacy groups has sued President Donald Trump's administration over the $6 billion funding freeze to congressionally appropriated education programs. The news comes just days after nine Republican senators and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski conducted a rare rebuke of President Donald Trump's education policies, urging the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought to reverse the decision to withhold aid for key programs, such as English language acquisition, teacher development and student support. OMB told ABC News in a statement that many of the programs "grossly misused" government funds to promote a "radical leftwing agenda." However, the GOP senators' letter said the decision to pause this funding was "contrary to President Trump's goal of returning K-12 education to the states," and they didn't believe any leftwing agenda programs were being administered in their states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Trump administration unfreezes $1B in after-school funding: Source Within 48 hours, the Trump administration had unfrozen more than a billion dollars for critical after-school and summer education programming nationwide, a senior administration official told ABC News. Murkowski celebrated the initial funding release but noted it doesn't go far enough. "The pause of these funds caused great concern for families across the nation, and I am relieved to know that our young people will have enriching opportunities to stay engaged outside of the classroom," Murkowski wrote in a statement to ABC News. "While this news is welcome, it is frustrating that many additional funds Alaska school districts are relying on from the Department of Education remain in limbo," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ABC News has reached out to the Trump administration for additional comment. J. Scott Applewhite/AP - PHOTO: Lisa Murkowski A pause on the total $6 billion funding happened on July 1, when federal aid for schools is typically allocated each year. However, states were notified on June 30 that an ongoing programmatic review of education funding would occur, according to a Department of Education memo sent to Congress, obtained by ABC News. School districts and programs have been concerned that programs and staff could be eliminated if funding isn't restored. The case, Anchorage School District et al. v. Department of Education et al., is led by multiple Alaska school districts and affiliates of the American Federation of Teachers. In it, the plaintiffs argue that the administration's recent actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act, the Impoundment Control Act, and the constitutional separation of powers. The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 says Congress must consider and review executive branch withholdings of budget authority, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The GAO website says the Administrative Procedure Act prescribes the minimum procedural steps an agency must follow in its administrative proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school districts' suit was filed in the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island. It comes in the wake of two dozen state attorneys general and Democratic governors suing the administration for withholding education funding using the same claims. "It's against the Constitution," North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, one of the AGs involved in the suit, told ABC News. "It's against the Impoundment Act. From a legal standpoint, this is not a hard case," he added. AFT President Randi Weingarten called the freeze an attempt to "lawlessly" defund education through rampant government overreach. MORE: Harvard asks judge to block Trump administration from withholding federal funds Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's not only morally repugnant: the administration lacks the legal right to sacrifice kids' futures at the altar of ideology," Weingarten wrote in a statement to ABC News. "The Department of Education is holding hostage billions of dollars from American communities," according to Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward -- a public education advocacy nonprofit representing the plaintiffs. "This is an unconstitutional and unlawful power grab that puts extreme agendas over the well-being of students and denies communities the educational resources that Congress intended them to have," Perryman added in a statement to ABC News. Earlier this month, the Anchorage School District announced in a letter to the community that the district had already begun laying off some staff members after $46 million was impacted by the pause. The district receives about a third of the state's federal education funds, according to Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several state education leaders who've spoken to ABC News say that they're scrambling to prevent immediate harm to students as the school year approaches. OMB has not given a timeline for when the programmatic review for the other education programs will be completed. Meanwhile, Rhode Island Department of Education Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green applauded the Republican efforts to reverse the funding pause, stressing this is not a political issue. "We are one United States of America," Infante-Green told ABC News. "These dollars are important to every single student in every single state. This is what we need," she said. "We need people to speak up. We need people to be brave, to have the conversation and advocate for our kids, to put politics aside and make this one of their number one issues." President Trumps 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 report the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office published. 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. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., reacted to the report: "Facts are stubborn and the facts are clear. T Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) are scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss and coordinate Democratic strategy ahead of Septembers partisan battle to fund the government and avoid shutting down federal agencies, according to a senior Democratic aide. Government funding will expire on Sept. 30 and Senate Democrats are having an intense debate behind closed doors over what line to take if House Republicans again send a partisan continuing resolution that cuts funding for Democratic priorities. Schumer was one of 10 Democratic senators who voted in March to approve a House GOP-drafted funding bill, despite loud calls from many Democratic colleagues to reject the measure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schumer argued at the time that while he viewed House funding package as bad legislation, passing it would be better than risking a shutdown. While the [continuing resolution] bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse, he warned in March. Schumers vote sparked an angry revolt from liberal Democrats such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who criticized the decision to support the partisan GOP funding package as acquiescing to Trump. Even Jeffries seemed caught off guard by Schumers support for the GOP bill in March after he whipped his vulnerable Democratic colleagues representing districts that President Trump won in 2024 to vote against the measure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic leaders hope to be better coordinated when they square off against Republicans in the next round of the government funding battle in September. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Step into my high school physics classroom this fall, and youll see students collecting data with Vernier sensors, sketching models on whiteboards and engaging in discussions to explain how the world works. This kind of hands-on, collaborative learning was shaped by a 10-week training course I completed through the American Modeling Teachers Association funded by federal Title I dollars in 2023. But opportunities like that are vanishing. Due to ongoing underfunding and the recent withholding of Title I funds, teachers in districts like Franklin Pierce, Clover Park and Tacoma are increasingly left to cover professional development, curriculum design and lab equipment out of pocket. The consequences are quiet but profound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Science education, more than almost any other subject, relies on time, space and materials. And without them, its being reduced to screens and simulations. What should be a lab-based exploration of the natural world becomes digital substitution. Thats not innovation, its survival. Theres a deep irony here: as schools ban cell phones to minimize distraction, they simultaneously place students in front of screens for most of the day. With shrinking budgets, the shift toward unvetted AI tools will only accelerate. And without thoughtful guidance, these tools often introduce or reinforce misconceptions that are harder to unteach than to prevent. Even when we do receive new funding, the immediate question at the district level is: Which major publishers curriculum should we buy? Rarely is the conversation about updating science equipment or restocking lab supplies. This is egregious when so many curricula become quickly outdated or rely on expensive subscription models that siphon resources year after year. Even in Washington, where the Next Generation Science Standards emphasize hands-on, inquiry-based learning, science remains one of the least supported and least assessed subjects. There is no statewide curriculum and no requirement to pass a science course to graduate. That means the quality of science instruction depends largely on a students zip code and the luck of the draw with staffing. One student might launch bottle rockets in a physics unit, while another completes a worksheet on Newtons Laws without ever touching a spring scale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This inequity is growing, made worse by teacher burnout, split classrooms, and rising class sizes. NGSS is a visionary framework, but it takes time, training, and infrastructure to implement it well. Too often, science teachers are expected to prepare students for a 21st-century world using 20th-century materials, if theyre lucky. This is not just a K12 issue. As college costs rise and federal research funding faces cuts, pathways into science are narrowing. Without early, meaningful investment in classrooms like mine, we risk losing an entire generation of scientists, engineers and informed citizens before they ever begin. Tacoma is a city that values resilience and innovation. But those qualities start in our public schools. We need urgent action: restore and expand Title I funding, invest in lab infrastructure and supplies, not just glossy curriculum, and support teachers with the resources and time they need. Because the future of science doesnt start in a university lab, it starts in a high school classroom in Tacoma. Nick Watkins is a national board-certified high school physics teacher at Franklin Pierce High School in Tacoma. Canada is experiencing one of its most destructive wildfire seasons to date, with millions of acres burned, tens of thousands temporarily evacuated, and air quality reduced for residents near and far so far this year. The resulting black carbon pollution may also have devastating consequences for the Arctic and eventually everywhere with the potential to be impacted by the region's melting ice. What's happening? According to early-July reporting from the Economic Times, wildfires in Canada have been releasing plumes of black carbon. This soot-like planet-heating substance is generated by the incomplete burning of fossil fuels and can be even more destructive than typical carbon dioxide. In the Arctic, this pollution can speed up the melting of glaciers and ice sheets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When soot from wildfires lands on ice, it turbocharges melting," Jennifer Francis of the Woodwell Climate Research Center told the outlet. "This creates a feedback loop: less ice means more warming, which means more fires and more soot." Why is black carbon in the Arctic concerning? Already the region is warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the world. And black carbon's potency is particularly alarming: One metric ton has the "global warming effect equivalent" of 900 metric tons of regular carbon dioxide, Euronews has noted. Thawing ice in the Arctic has the potential to release infectious microbes that have been frozen for thousands of years, inciting unprecedented disease outbreaks in communities that receive the runoff. This possible consequence comes in addition to the rising sea levels caused by melting ice, which put coastal communities at risk of floods while intensifying the effects of extreme weather overall. Though individual hurricanes and storm surges are typical of life on Earth, the increased moisture and warmer climate can supercharge their destructive potential. What's being done about it? While some scientists consider methods of directly restoring Arctic ice, addressing the overheating of the planet as a whole is most immediately crucial in mitigating further glacier loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carbon-zero initiatives and pro-climate policies around the world can help to sustain organized support and finances to address the problem in meaningful ways, including countering the conditions that can exacerbate wildfires and other sources of black carbon. Funding research and implementation, for example, for better and more affordable clean energy alternatives to fossil fuels, can help individuals and municipalities tackle planet-warming pollution locally. 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. Using an electric vehicle or public transit can reduce the heat-trapping gases in our atmosphere. And installing solar panels in conjunction with battery systems can keep homes and businesses running sustainably and effectively at low costs while ensuring access to essential electricity during the grid outages that can be caused by supercharged storms and flooding. 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. Heres what youll learn when you read this story: The Wendelstein 7-X stellarator in Germany has broken the record for plasma duration in a nuclear fusion reactor. Fusion reactions were sustained at high performance levels for 43 seconds, which is a major breakthrough in plasma physics. Unlike nuclear fission (which involves uranium), nuclear fusion only needs hydrogen ions and produces no toxic waste. Nuclear energy as we know it today is generated through fissionthe process of splitting atomic nuclei, which produces electricity without emitting greenhouse gases. The problem? Fission also creates radioactive waste as a byproduct of using uranium fuel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats where nuclear fusionor, at least, the promise of itcomes in. Nuclear fusion is the same process that powers stars, like our Sun. Inside a star, hydrogen nuclei slam together under intense pressure and heat, fusing into helium and releasing a huge burst of energy. Scientists have long wanted to recreate fusion on Earth because it could deliver clean, virtually limitless power with no carbon emissions and much less radioactive waste than todays nuclear plants. Fusion reactors are still very much in the experimental stage, and scientists mostly focused on developing a kind of reactor called a tokamak, which uses magnetic coils to confine plasma in a donut-shaped chamber by generating a magnetic field. But the other serious design contender is called a stellarator. Stellarators are more complex than tokamaksespecially when it comes to their magnetic coilsbut theyre also more flexible. They can sustain plasma with less power and have design features that make controlling that plasma easier. The Wendelstein 7-X stellarator in Germany is one such monster, and it recently smashed a record in... well, atom smashing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a recent experiment, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics sustained a stable plasma reaction in the Wendelstein 7-X for 43 seconds, reaching the triple product performance level thats required for viable nuclear fusion and achieving the all-time best results for any stellarator. Maybe 43 seconds doesnt sound like much, but its now the longest plasma duration ever in nuclear fusion, including tokamaks. Previously, the now-defunct JT60U Tokamak in Japan and the JET European Tokamak in the U.Kwhich boasted triple the plasma volumeheld the records for plasma duration. The triple product measures how close a fusion reactor is to reaching self-sustaining breakeven energy production levelsthe point at which a reactor produces more energy than it consumes. The three factors that go into the triple product are the density of ionized particles flowing through hot plasma, the temperature of ions being fused, and energy confinement time (how long it takes for heat to escape plasma thats not heated again). Longer confinement times mean better insulation. Unlike fission reactors, which use heavy elements such as uranium, fusion reactors rely on lighter elements (like the hydrogen ions deuterium and tritium), which help them avoid creating toxic nuclear waste. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fuel injector for Wendelstein 7-X was created exclusively for this stellarator by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energys Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), which has also been instrumental in advancing other types of reactors. Several European laboratoriesincluding the Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT) in Spain and Budapests HUN-REN Center for Energy Researchcontributed to the development of the fuel pellets. As plasma was heated with microwaves over those record-breaking 43 seconds, the fuel injector provided the stellarator with 90 pellets of frozen hydrogen ions. The microwave heating system used electron cyclotron resonancethe most effective method for fusion, which uses electromagnetic waves to heat and ionize plasma to temperatures that (in this case) reached a scorching 30 million degrees Celsius (about 54 million degrees Fahrenheit). Because success depended on balancing heating with pulses of incoming fuel, the pellet injector was programmed with automatic pulse rates, which is an unprecedented move. The new record is a tremendous achievement by the international team. It impressively demonstrates the potential of Wendelstein 7-X, Prof. Dr. Thomas Klinger of the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics said in a press release. Elevating the triple product to tokamak levels during long plasma pulses marks another important milestone on the way toward a power-plant-capable stellarator. Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get the Issue You Might Also Like The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is asking for the publics help in identifying a person of interest connected to a fatal stabbing in the SODO neighborhood on July 14. SPD posted photos of a white woman, with a tattoo on the left side of her neck and medium-length strawberry blonde hair. At around 6:20 p.m. on July 14, a 55-year-old man was found fatally stabbed inside a van, SPD says. Seattle Police identified the suspect on Monday afternoon and is asking anyone who sees her to call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000. She is believed to frequently visit the SODO neighborhood. MILFORD, Iowa (KCAU) Thousands of cyclists continued their journey across the Hawkeye State for the 52nd annual RAGBRAI on Monday. Day one offered a 73-mile ride from Orange City to Milford. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monday, cyclists enjoyed a brief 42-mile pedal from Milford to Estherville. This portion of the route is extra special, since it marks the first time a RAGBRAI route crosses into Minnesota. Riders cover about 15 miles north of the border before heading back into Iowa. Tuesdays journey includes the nearly 74-mile tour taking riders from Estherville to Forest City. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. AUSTIN (KXAN) San Marcos Police said Tuesday morning that it arrested a second man allegedly connected to a July 19 double homicide in the citys downtown, according to a social media post from the law enforcement agency. Previous: Police searching for additional suspect in connection to deadly San Marcos shooting Avery Saul Bowman Jr., 19, is charged with capital murder by terroristic threat or other felony, according to Hays County Jail records. He did not have an attorney listed as of 8 a.m. Tuesday. Avery Saul Bowman Jr. was arrested July 21 in connection to a shooting in San Marcos, according to the San Marcos Police Department. (Courtesy SMPD) Thanks to Hays County Crime Stoppers and members of the community for helping us locate this suspect and identify a previously unknown witness. Your tips made a difference, SMPD said in its post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KXAN reported on July 19 that SMPD arrested 19-year-old Jermiah Jayden Tobias in connection to the case. Tobias was charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of aggravated assault. On July 19, a fight in downtown San Marcos, Texas, escalated into a shooting that killed two men, 24-year-old Anthony Barrera and 20-year-old Alek Pacheco. A third person was also shot but is recovering. Father mourns son lost in San Marcos shooting He was a good kid, an excellent kid, Barreras father told KXAN on Sunday. He would give you his shirt off his back if he had to. According to the Texas Penal Code, that charge is for when a defendant is suspected of committing a murder in the course of committing or attempting to commit another felony. 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. DALEVILLE, Ala. (WDHN) Wiregrass native and Alabama senator, Katie Britt joined other lawmakers in advancing funding for Fort Rucker and other Alabama military bases. Britt and other lawmakers advanced the 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, where $119.4 million will be set aside for Alabamas military installations. Fort Rucker would get $28.4 million, which will go towards their two flight control towers and fire and rescue station at Tabernacle Stagefield, one of their medical evaluation support facilities and their Lowe army maintenance hangar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alongside Fort Rucker, Maxwell Air Force Base would get $4 million, Redstone Arsenal would get $55 million and Anniston Army Depot would get $32 million. Overall, the bill secures $32.4 million for all of these improvements and provides $19.8 million for the Department of Defense. The bill will be considered by the full Senate this week before heading to the House. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. Senate Democrats arent set on whether they will vote to advance a Veterans and Military Construction spending bill on Tuesday a key test of Congress ability to fund the government on a bipartisan basis and theyll discuss the vote at lunch. Theres plenty of skepticism in the caucus after Republicans unilaterally pushed through a $9 billion spending-cuts package. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said that amounted to a switcheroo on funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im skeptical about, Please work a deal with us that we can undo one minute after we vote on it, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told Semafor. Starting with the veterans bill is intentional by the GOP: Its among the most popular spending measures. The bill came out of committee 26-3, Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, told Semafor. This is a test of whether senators are serious. (She opposed the cuts package.) ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) Child care is an important element for working families who have to manage taking care of their children and their careers. This is especially true for law enforcement and other first responder families who have to work abnormal hours. At Elmira City Hall on Monday, July 21, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand pushed for the passage of the Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act, helping law enforcement families across New York State with a vital service to assist children and their parents. Law enforcement is one of the most critical components of keeping communities safe, and police officers should not have to choose between taking care of their children and staying in the police force, Senator Gillibrand said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill would establish a grant program to create child care services for children of police officers. Doing so would accommodate the shift work and odd work hours that officers face, while strengthening recruitment efforts and retention of the workforce. Elmira Civil War Prison Camp to break ground on new welcome center The bipartisan bill would use $24 million in funding for each of the next five years and allow agencies or consortia up to $3 million to establish child care programs for their personnel. Senator Gillibrand made it clear that smaller agencies wont be left out, stating that 20% of the total grant funding will be set aside for police agencies with fewer than 200 officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gillibrand said during the news conference on Monday that this bill can open up the door for other agencies and first responders to this type of child care if the bill works. The bill was offered to police officers first because there is a recruitment shortage, and it can be viewed as an incentive to recruit and retain officers. We want to do this specifically for law enforcement, but I can imagine if this worked, we would also do it for EMTs, we would do it for firefighters, we would do it for nurses, other first responders, and critical care workers who are on the front lines and dont get to pick their hours, but we need this to work, Gillibrand said. So, ideally we would expand this idea to all critical workers, she said. The agencies that receive the money would pick which child services would be best to invest the money into. If an area lacks childcare, the police agency could use the funds to make an on-site facility or bolster existing facilities with other resources. 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 WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. Delta is planning to use AI to set prices individually tailored to each customer. Sen. Ruben Gallego and two colleagues sent a letter to Delta seeking answers. They said that the plan raises privacy concerns and could harm cash-strapped consumers. Delta Air Lines wants to use AI to set your ticket price and it isn't flying with some senators. Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona sent a letter to the airline on Monday asking for the company to clarify what data it's using to determine prices and the scope of its planned AI rollout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Delta's current and planned individualized pricing practices not only present data privacy concerns, but will also likely mean fare price increases up to each individual consumer's personal 'pain point' at a time when American families are already struggling with rising costs," reads the letter, which was also signed by Sens. Mark Warner of Virginia and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. The letter comes after Delta president Glen Hauenstein told investors earlier this month that the company aimed to expand AI pricing to 20% of its network by the end of the year. He said the technology is currently used on about 3% of its domestic network. Delta first announced the AI pricing during an investor event in November, calling it a "full reengineering of how we price and how we will be pricing in the future." "We're in heavy testing phase. We like what we see," Hauenstein said in July. "We like it a lot and we're continuing to roll it out." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While airlines have used dynamic pricing for decades setting fares based on factors like demand, timing, and the website a customer uses the use of AI for these purposes has drawn concerns about price discrimination. In a statement to Business Insider, a Delta spokesperson said the company would not use personal information for dynamic pricing. "There is no fare product Delta has ever used, is testing, or plans to use that targets customers with individualized offers based on personal information or otherwise," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said the new tech is "streamlining" the dynamic pricing model "that's been used in the global industry for decades." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delta is working with Fetcherr, an AI firm whose clients include other airlines like Virgin Atlantic and WestJet, to power the pricing changes. Still, Gallego has expressed concerns that the AI strategy could allow Delta to "squeeze you for every penny," he wrote on X in July. "This isn't fair pricing or competitive pricing. It's predatory pricing. I won't let them get away with this," he wrote. This isn't the first time Delta has been in hot water over pricing recently. Earlier this year, the company was one of several major airlines to introduce new fares that hit solo travelers with higher prices. Delta and United withdrew those fares after public blowback. Read the original article on Business Insider Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, believes that the European Union should remain ready to negotiate with pro-Russian Libyan leader Khalifa Haftar to prevent Russian leader Vladimir Putin from using migration as a weapon. Source: Magnus Brunner in an interview with Politico; European Pravda Details: Brunner noted that Russia's growing influence in Libya is a matter of concern for the EU, so it is necessary to engage with the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is certainly a danger that Russia [will] use migrants and the migration issue as a whole as a weapon against Europe. This weaponisation is taking place, and of course we also fear that Russia intends to do the same with Libya," Brunner said. Brunner's comments indicate the EU's intention to resume talks with Haftar, despite European leaders' warnings against cooperation with the military commander. The military commander controls the Libyan National Army and runs eastern Libya as a military dictatorship, increasing his cooperation with Putin. The EU's focus is on fears that Putin will do to Libya what he has already tried to do in parts of Eastern Europe, where EU officials say he is waging a hybrid war that includes the use of migration as a weapon. EU countries accuse Minsk and Moscow of facilitating illegal border crossings by refugees through Poland and Lithuania. This tactic is intended to pressure European governments by sowing political discord and increasing support for anti-immigration, often pro-Russian parties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brunner said that the danger of Putin's influence in Libya leaves Europe with no choice but to hold talks with Haftar and "put our options on the table when it comes to migration diplomacy". Background: The Greek parliament recently approved a proposal to suspend the processing of asylum applications for migrants arriving from Libya for three months. In recent weeks, the Greek authorities have been constantly intercepting boats with asylum seekers south of the island of Crete, where there is no more room to accommodate them. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Another local program being negatively impacted by the federal funding freeze is the Americorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program. This national program has been making a positive impact in the lives of low-income seniors for more than 60 years. Senior volunteers go into classrooms and after-school programs to act as mentors and helpers, and get a small stipend for their time. The program was awarded a federal grant for the 2025 budget year. But, like 14th and chestnut, Americorps was recently told it will not be getting that money. The director of the foster grandparents program said this loss would be harmful to the seniors involved, as well as the community they serve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 14th and Chestnut at risk of closing We have volunteers that have been serving our program for 21 years, and for some of our grandparents, this has been the difference between living independently and the end of their life and the quality of their life as they know it, said Donna Fullhart, Senior Programs Director at the Western Indiana Community Action Agency. Donna said she has been contacting local legislators weekly. There is a petition through Voices of America, fighting for the release of their funds, if you would like to help out by signing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Sentencing will be Aug. 28 for a man who pleaded guilty to weapons and tampering charges after he was arrested on a West Side street. Read next: Warren police looking for ID of scooter-riding robber Brandon Ravnell, 37, entered guilty pleas July 9 before Judge John Durkin in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and tampering with evidence, both third-degree felonies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ravnell was arrested about 10:05 p.m. March 25 after police were called to the 100 block of Sillman Street for a report of two men wearing ski masks and walking through backyards. One of the officers who was called saw a man, later identified as Ravnell, walking on North Maryland Avenue toward Sillman Street. When a witness called out, the man ran away but was later caught in a backyard in the 100 block of Oakwood Avenue, reports said. Reports said when Ravnell was searched, police found Suboxone strips in his pocket. A witness told police they saw him throw a gun in a nearby yard, reports said. Police searched the yard and found a loaded .40-caliber handgun, reports said. Common pleas court records show Ravnell has a criminal record and convictions dating back to 2005, which prohibit him from having a gun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another man was found with Ravnell, but he was released without any charges, reports 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. Despite the troubling similarities between the victims' testimonies, the prosecution has only attributed one attack to Fadlon so far. The reason: a lack of conclusive evidence. New testimony suggests that a Tel Aviv man, arrested for a single assault, may be responsible for several others, pointing to a possible serial attacker. The second victim described an almost identical assaultsame street, same method, and same brutality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This raises an important question: why havent other attacks been added to the indictment? The answer seems to be that the victims couldn't identify the attacker. They were struck from behind, lost consciousness, and couldnt give police a description. The method and location match, yet the suspect is only charged in one case so far. Yehuda Fadlon, 25, was arrested after a brutal attack on Rashi Street in early July. Without warning, he hit a passerby, Alon, from behind, causing serious injuries. The victim was hospitalized for three days with a fractured skull and brain hemorrhage. Since Walla first reported on the indictment, more evidence has surfaced linking Fadlon to other attacks, all following the same pattern, happening on the same street, and using the same method. However, these attacks have not been included in the indictment. Suspect locked in handcuffs. (credit: Walla) Victim testimony One victim, Shlomi Rotenberg, 28, from Tel Aviv, shared his experience: "I didnt see anything. I was just hit from behind, lost consciousness, and woke up on a stretcher on my way to Ichilov," he told Walla. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I was hospitalized for four days with a brain hemorrhage, a broken jaw, blurry vision, and bruised ears. I didnt even have time to file a complaint because I was in the hospital. The police came to take my statement later, while I was still hospitalized. They asked me to identify him, but how could I identify someone who attacked me from behind?" Rotenberg expressed his frustration: "I found out that a week after he attacked me, Fadlon was arrested with blood on his shirt but was releasedonly to attack again. He was arrested once more after that. I dont understand how something like this happens. As far as Im concerned, this person is a danger to the public. Im traumatized. I walk down the street, always looking over my shoulder. The fear never goes away." Despite the troubling similarities in the victims' testimonies, the prosecution has only attributed one attack to Fadlon so far. The reason: a lack of conclusive evidence. In most cases, the attacker struck from behind, and the victims, like Rotenberg, lost consciousness, making it impossible for them to identify him. Police say they arrested a registered sexual predator who was caught secretly taking photos of children on a camera disguised as a key fob last week at a Walmart in New Lenox. Paul Raibley, 61, of Joliet, was charged with three counts of child photography by a sex offender and one count of unauthorized video recording after a Walmart employee reported him secretly taking photos of store patrons July 2 and July 18, according to the New Lenox Police Department. Police say officers were called to the store July 18 after reports of a man recording children with a key fob device. Store video confirmed Raibley recording people in both instances, and officers found Raibley with the small camera resembling a key fob. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Lenox police had also responded to the store, 501 E. Lincoln Highway, July 2 after reports a man took a photo under the bottom portion of a womans clothes. He left the store after an employee confronted him, police said. Police said a search of Raibleys camera and phone uncovered videos of adults and children. Additional videos on the phone provided evidence indicating that Raibley possessed additional videos at his residence in Joliet, police said. A later searched of his home found dozens of videos of juveniles in public settings stored digitally. As of Monday, Raibley was transferred to the Will County Adult Detention Facility pending a pre-trial detention hearing. According to the Illinois sex offender registry, Raibley was previously convicted of possessing child pornography. He was registered as a sex offender in 2007. ostevens@chicagotribune.com Seemingly running cover for the Trump administration, which continues to face demands from MAGA supporters to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, Shark Tank star Kevin OLeary declared on Monday night that nobody gives a poop about the deceased sex offender. When confronted with poll numbers that found a vast majority of Republicans want all the documents related to the Epstein case to be published, the pro-Trump businessman and self-described Mr. Wonderful doubled down while continuing to shrug off the controversy. The average American, awake for 18 hours a day, how many minutes do you think they spend worrying about this stuff? OLeary wondered. Maybe they were raped, maybe they werent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the Justice Department concluded in a July 6 memo that Epstein died by suicide and did not keep a client list to blackmail prominent figures, despite Attorney General Pam Bondi claiming months earlier that she had the supposed list sitting on her desk, the administration has faced a MAGA uproar for walking back its promise to release the Epstein files. After initially reacting to the blowback by lashing out at his PAST supporters and calling them weaklings for continuing to focus on the Epstein case, which he suddenly began calling a Democratic hoax, Donald Trump was able to at least for the time being united the MAGA base by tapping into a shared grievance: disdain for the mainstream media. Reality TV star Kevin O'Leary declares that nobody gives a d*mn about the Epstein files, adding that the disgraced financier is dead (CNN) Following the Wall Street Journals bombshell detailing a lewd birthday card that Trump allegedly gave Epstein in 2003, highlighting the once-close relationship the president shared with the convicted sex predator, many of those on the right who had been critical of the administrations handling of the saga quickly rallied around Trump as he denied the letter and sued the WSJ and Murdoch. Trump has since followed up by throwing a series of other distractions at the MAGA base in order to fully dissipate the anger over the Epstein case. Pointing his supporters at a list of common enemies, for instance, the administration has reignited the GOPs years-old complaints about the Russia witch hunt by repackaging intelligence documents to accuse former President Barack Obama of a treasonous conspiracy. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbards accusations, however, have been described as frivolous and foolish by conservative legal experts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid Trumps continued efforts to deflect and dodge, which also include House Republicans preparing to leave on a six-week vacation without voting on a motion to release the Epstein files, OLeary appeared on CNN Monday night to run cover for the administration. During a panel discussion on CNN NewsNight, columnist Ahmed Baba noted that the fundamental deal Trump made with his base was that he was gonna root out this mysterious cabal of elites that were running things, adding that the Epstein files were a key part of this narrative. Essentially, what he is proving is that he actually is one of these corrupt elites himself, right? Ahmed wondered. OLeary, however, eventually jumped in and exclaimed that nobody gives a d*** about Epstein because hes still dead, asserting that the average person at the kitchen table is not worrying about Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This eventually prompted CNN anchor Abby Phillip to interrupt and point out that a recent survey found that 83 percent of Republicans want the administration to release all the documents related to the Epstein investigation. OLeary, though, remained unswayed. The average American, awake for 18 hours a day, how many minutes do you think they spend worrying about this stuff? Maybe they were raped, maybe they werent. This is not what American families give a *** about, he shot back. We do know there were victims, so thats not speculative, Phillip reminded her guest. The reality TV star would continue undeterred and continue to brush aside the administrations bungle with the Epstein files, reiterating that he believed this was an issue of very little public interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nobody gives a poop! Nobody gives a poop, poop, poop, OLeary groused. Worst case scenario, all this stuffs true. Does that in any way affect the American economy? After The Young Turks Ana Kasparian responded that theres more to life than the American economy and the public could be concerned that we might have pedophiles serving in our government right now, OLeary continued to mock the drama surrounding the case. Oh my goodness! Thats horrible. Im just saying, what people care about is how to feed their families and how the economy grows, he sneered. This stuff is poop on a stick! This article was originally published in Chalkbeat. During Gayathri Ramkumars favorite lesson a sort of mathematical guessing game shell hear her students asking their partners things like, Can you tell me the degree of the polynomial? Not only does the back-and-forth get the high-schoolers talking precisely about mathematical problems, but it helps English learners boost their language skills without forcing them to talk in front of the whole class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ramkumar is a math and computer science teacher at Aurora Central High School, one of Colorados most diverse schools, where about half of the students are learning English. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter She is also one of 22 Colorado educators named a semifinalist for the states 2026 Teacher of the Year award. The winner will be announced in October. Ramkumar talked to Chalkbeat about why she switched careers, how she incorporates educational influences from India and America into her lessons, and what advice she gives to college-bound students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Was there a moment when you decided to become a teacher? My journey into teaching wasnt one of those stories where I always knew I wanted to be an educator. In fact, 25 years ago, fresh out of high school, I never would have imagined myself in a classroom. It was only after stepping away from engineering work to raise my kids that I unexpectedly discovered a love for teaching. Teaching them reading and math before they started school wasnt just a responsibility; it became something I genuinely enjoyed. That experience sparked a passion in me, one I hadnt realized was there, and it ultimately led me down the path to becoming a licensed teacher. How did your own experience in school influence your approach to teaching? I completed both my high school and bachelors degree in India, where the teaching style was very traditional. From an early age, I was used to taking extensive notes and doing a large volume of homework. Teaching in the U.S. has given me the opportunity to reflect on and compare both educational systems. I strive to integrate the best aspects of each into my own teaching approach. For example, when planning a math lesson, I draw inspiration from problem-based U.S. curricula such as Illustrative Mathematics and Desmos, which Ive come to truly appreciate and enjoy. At the same time, I firmly believe in the value of practice, and I incorporate worksheets that Ive found effective from my own experience as a math student in India. Tell us about a favorite lesson to teach. As a concurrent enrollment math teacher at the high school level, I strive to maintain the academic rigor of college-level math while also making it accessible, engaging, and developmentally appropriate for high school students. I always try to create lessons where students are engaging in content through exploration, discovery, and collaboration long before formal definitions or procedures are introduced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One such lesson, adapted from Illustrative Math, was called Info Gap. The format supports precise mathematical communication and problem-solving. The lessons purpose was for students to put together what they have learned about sketching graphs of polynomials in factored form and factoring polynomials using division. Students worked in pairs, each receiving one of two card types. One student had the problem card with the problem that needed to be solved but lacked certain key details, such as its degree, intercepts, or end behavior. The other student held the data card containing the missing data, but they were not allowed to simply hand over the answers. Instead, the student with the problem card had to ask thoughtful, specific questions and explain their reasoning for needing that information to solve the problem. One of the most powerful outcomes was the lessons support for multilingual learners. In whole-class settings, these students often hesitate to participate due to limited confidence with academic English. However, they had the chance to use vocabulary like zeros, multiplicity, and degree in a low-pressure context. This dialogue supported both math learning and language development. There was not a dull moment in the classroom. Students were engaged in meaningful dialogue, constructing knowledge collectively, and supporting each others understanding. It was a moment that reaffirmed my belief in student-centered learning. You help guide first-generation students through the college application process. What is your most important piece of advice for them? I always encourage my students to take full advantage of Colorados Free Application Days by applying to all in-state public universities, even if theyre planning to go out of state. Plans can change unexpectedly, and having solid backup options can reduce stress later on. I also advise them to answer every question on the college application thoroughly, including those marked optional. Tell us about a memorable time good or bad when contact with a students family changed your perspective or approach. One memorable moment that really shifted my perspective was when I received a message from my students mother after I was selected as a semifinalist for Teacher of the Year. She congratulated me warmly and said she was proud to see someone from the immigrant community being recognized. She also told me she would be sharing the news in parent group chats to celebrate the accomplishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That message meant a great deal to me. It reminded me that the work I do doesnt go unnoticed. It helped me realize that beyond academics, Im serving as a role model and a source of representation for families in our school community. It was a humbling moment that gave me a deeper sense of purpose and a renewed commitment to advocacy, especially for students and families who may not always feel seen or heard. Whats something happening in the community that affects what goes on in your classroom? One thing that deeply influences my classroom is the current political climate and the emotional toll it takes on our community, especially immigrant families and first-generation college students. Many of my students are navigating fear, financial instability, and uncertainty about their futures, all while trying to succeed academically. These pressures create setbacks in the classroom, but not because of a lack of ability or motivation. As an educator, my role extends beyond academics. I advocate for my students by helping connect them with school counselors, former students, and college access programs. I collaborate with families to ensure they feel informed and supported. I also offer extra academic support through flexible office hours, tutoring sessions, and culturally responsive teaching strategies that validate students identities. My ultimate goal is to help students not just survive, but thrive, and to remind them that college and long-term success are within their reach, even when the path feels uncertain. What was your biggest misconception that you initially brought to teaching? When I first started my licensure process, I didnt realize how much advocacy teachers do for their students, their colleagues, and the community in general. Teachers are constantly and relentlessly advocating for better and equitable school policies and systemic structure in addition to teaching the content that they are actually hired for. What are you reading for enjoyment? I enjoy reading historical fiction books, specifically by Ken Follett. Recently, I have been enjoying fantasy fiction. This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. Sheriff: Palm Coast couple left infant in running car while they went into bar for drinks A Palm Coast couple was arrested late Friday night after leaving an infant unattended in a running vehicle outside a bar, according to the Flagler County Sheriffs Office. Deputies responded to a tip received shortly after 10 p.m. and found the infant sleeping in an improperly secured car seat in the back of an unlocked vehicle with the engine running. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These two will never receive parents of the year award with this behavior, said Sheriff Rick Staly. Its never acceptable to leave an infant alone inside a running vehicleespecially while inside a bar drinking. The incident occurred outside a bar in Palm Coast, where deputies found the vehicle with the keys in the ignition, according to a Flagler County Sheriffs Office news release. Clarisse Finnegan, 28, approached the vehicle while deputies were assessing the situation and identified herself as the owner. Her husband, Norman Finnegan Jr., 60, was inside the bar at the time. A witness reported seeing a male exit the bar, check the vehicle, and then reenter the bar around 10:15 p.m., the news release states. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Clarisse claimed she initially went inside to use the restroom and get money from Norman for necessities for the infant. However, witnesses confirmed both were drinking inside the bar, the news release states. The couple gave conflicting statements about Clarisses time inside the bar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple were charged with felony child neglect without great bodily harm and taken to the Flagler County jail. The Florida Department of Children and Families is also investigating the incident, the news release states. Norman and Clarisse Finnegan were arrested after Flagler County sheriff's deputies said they left their infant child in the car while they went into a Palm Coast bar. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. SILVER CITY, N.M. (KRQE) A Silver City man, who has a prior felony conviction, is facing federal charges after a series of violent incidents involving guns, robbery, and carjacking, according to the Department of Justice. According to court documents, on June 25, 2024, Silver City Police officers responded to a home following reports that Dominic Carbajal, 25, was possibly armed. Carbajal was detained and during a search, officers found a loaded magazine in his pocket and recovered a stolen pistol loaded with a 32-round magazine. Because he was a convicted felon, Carbajal was not allowed to posses a gun. Roughly a year later, on Jan. 22, 2025, officers responded to an armed robbery at a local nutrition store. Surveillance video showed Carbajal walking through the store with various items before fleeing without paying. When the store owner followed him outside, Carbajal allegedly turned and pointed a black handgun at the owner before escaping in a car, according to a news release from the DOJ. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then on March 23, 2025, Carbajal allegedly committed a carjacking in a parking lot. The victim reported that Carbajal approached him while he was parked, demanded his keys, and began hitting him with his fists and a metal pipe. Carbajal allegedly threatened to shoot the victim if he didnt comply, then stole the mans wallet, phone, and jewelry before fleeing in the victims SUV, the DOJ said. Officers later tracked the stolen vehicle to a home where Carbajal was reportedly seen. As officers attempted to arrest him, Carbajal reportedly released two pit bulls to attack law enforcement and fled on foot. Officers used a taser to stop him and took him into custody. At some point, Carbajal allegedly admitted that he had used powder when asked if he had taken fentanyl. Carbajal is charged with interference with commerce by robbery, carjacking, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and using a firearm during a crime of violence. He will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Carbajal faces up to 27 years in prison. 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. NEW IBERIA, La. (KLFY) An Iberia Parish motorist died today in a single-vehicle crash. Today, shortly after 1 a.m., troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop I began investigating a single-vehicle fatality crash on US 90 Frontage Road near Captain Cade Road. The crash claimed the life of 44-year-old Renota Lowther of New Iberia. Officials said the preliminary investigation revealed Lowther was driving a 2012 Infiniti M37 west on US 90 North Frontage Road. For reasons still under investigation, the Infiniti veered off the roadway to the right. Officials said Lowther then overcorrected, causing the Infiniti to cross back over the roadway before exiting to the left, where it struck an embankment and overturned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lowther, who was unrestrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene according to authorities. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Routine toxicology samples were collected for analysis. This crash remains under investigation. 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. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) A Sioux City woman received her prison sentence for distributing meth. The U.S. Attorneys Office Northern District of Iowa said Alesha Rasmussen, 34, of Sioux City, was sentenced on July 18 to 63 months, or 5 years and 3 months, in federal prison for her conviction. After the prison sentence is complete, she will be on supervised release for 6 years. Theres no parole in the federal system. Rasmussen is currently being held in the United States Marshals custody until she is able to be transported to a federal prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said she plead guilty on February 10 to distribution of methamphetamine after being previously convicted of a felony drug offense. Story continues below Federal authorities said Rasmussen admitted that she sold about one ounce of methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with Webster County, Iowa, law enforcement in July 2014. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said Rasmussen was previously convicted of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine in federal court in 2011. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Millions of Americans could lose some or all of their SNAP benefits after the Trump Administrations Big Beautiful Bill passed earlier this month. This would result in already busy food pantries seeing more people line up. After talking with a local food pantry, officials said they expect more people to come out for food due to the changes to SNAP. Over the next 10 years, $186 billion in federal spending will be cut from SNAP, potentially kicking over 22 million Americans from the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Foodbank of Siouxland, in Northwest Iowa 711 people were signed up for SNAP over the last 12 months. Which generates over $1 million for local grocery stores. We dont really expect to see the cuts immediately, but when they start, that $1.3 million will be slowly, slowly leveled off, and well see kind of a decrease in those funds. And any increase in those funds will directly result in more people visiting food pantries, said Jacob Wanderscheid, the executive director of the Foodbank of Siouxland. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Big Beautiful Bill also expanded SNAPs work requirements. Citizens ages 55 to 64 needing to work, volunteer, or attend training 80 hours a month to receive assistance. Currently, adults 18 to 54 without disability are eligible. It is supposed to be supplemental, so its not supposed to take over a familys whole budget. Some people do rely on that a little bit more. The growing population in Siouxland are more retirees that may see that their income isnt growing as fast, said Wanderscheid. As a result of these cuts and changes to SNAP, Sunnybrook Community Churchs Hope Center is preparing to help those in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You know, Matthew 25:40 asks us to do that and to really care for the least of these, just as they are my brothers and sisters, and understand youre not less than; were all that way. And so this is a chance for us to mobilize the church and the greater churchs sense to be able to respond to serve, to grow, spiritually also, as were caring for those maybe who are going through a tough time, said Tina Stroud, the executive director of Sunnybrook Hope Center. However, Sunnybrook is already seeing more people in need of food. Weve already seen an uptick in the number of people that were serving every week. And so we continue to anticipate that will rise, said Stroud. Hope Center, like many other food pantries, uses the Foodbank of Siouxland as a way to provide meals to their community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunnybrook also uses other alternatives to fill their pantry. Weve just been blessed with different financial partners who are able to help us purchase inventory from other grocer suppliers at negotiated rates, said Stroud. Stroud wants to remind folks that food pantries are always happy to lend a helping hand. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SkyWest near-miss: B-52 crew 'not told' by Minot tower of incoming MSP flight originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Officials at Minot Air Force Base say that pilots on one of its B-52 bombers was not informed of an incoming Delta service from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, which resulted in a near-miss in North Dakota. The base issued a statement Monday evening describing its involvement in the Friday evening incident, which saw a B-52 conducting a flyover for the North Dakota State Fair forced the pilot of SkyWest flight 3788, a Delta Connection flight from MSP, into an "aggressive maneuver" to avoid a collision, aborting its landing in the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The base says the B-52 flyover was "planned in advance and approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, which included "the FAA's local Flight Standards District Office, Minot International Airport air traffic control personnel, and Minot Approach Control (RAPCON)." This picture of the B-52 flyover at the North Dakota State Fair on Friday, July 18, 2025, was shared by North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong.North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong The B-52 crew contacted RAPCON at 7:10 p.m., prior to the flyover, and was "in contact with Minot Approach as it flew to its holding point 12 miles east of the fair." At 7:40 p.m. the crew "advised Minot Approach they were departing the holding point for the fairgrounds." RACPON told the crew at 7:43 p.m. to contact Minot International Airports air traffic control tower, which it did and was given instructions "to continue 2 miles westbound after the flyover." "The tower did not advise of the inbound commercial aircraft," the base said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "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 says it is investigating the incident, but has also issued a statement saying that air traffic control services at Minot "are not FAA employees," with the tower instead run "by a private company." A spokeswoman for Minot International Airport confirmed to Bring Me The News that the tower is indeed operated "by a third party" company, but said that this company "is contracted by the FAA." Bring Me The News has reached out to the FAA for further comment regarding the third party contractor, and what if any action is being taken. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video taken from an attendee of the North Dakota State Fair shows the two planes in the sky close to the fairgrounds, though it doesn't show how close the craft ultimately were at the time of the evasive action. A passenger on the SkyWest flight recorded the pilot explaining the "aggressive maneuver" he had to employ to avoid a B-52 bomber when on approaching to the airport. "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 said. "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." This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared. On 21 July Mexicos Presidentcondemned violent incidents during the previous days march against the gentrification of neighbourhoods in Mexico City (CDMX). End of preview - This article contains approximately 353 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options The pilot of a passenger jet landing in North Dakota on Friday made an aggressive maneuver in order to avoid collision with an Air Force B-52. On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration said Fridays incident prompted an investigation, per The Washington Post. SkyWest Flight 3788 was operating as a Delta Connection flight between Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Minot, North Dakota, when the incident occurred, reported CNN. What happened? The pilot had been cleared by the air traffic control tower for landing when another aircraft became visible in its flight path, causing the pilot to perform a go-around, SkyWest said in a statement according to The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the maneuver, the plane was able to land safely in Minot, per CNN. The airline is also investigating the incident. According to NBC, the Air Force confirmed that a B-52 aircraft had conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair on Friday. The aircraft was assigned to the Minot Air Force Base. We are currently looking into the matter, the Air Force said, per NBC. What the pilot said about the incident After the plane landed, the pilot apologized for making an aggressive maneuver and explained what had happened, per The Washington Post. He added that nobody told us about the other aircraft. The pilot said that after being cleared for landing, he was instructed to turn left but looked over and saw the airplane that was kind of coming on a converging course with us, per BBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told passengers that he made the decision to turn behind the other aircraft because it was moving faster than the SkyWest flight. It caught me by surprise, he said, per BBC. This is not normal at all. I dont know why they didnt give us a heads up. Long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologize for it and thank you for understanding, he concluded, per BBC. Passengers reportedly responded with applause. What is a B-52? According to CNN, the B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The massive aircraft has eight jet engines and a wingspan of around 185 feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The B-52 is able to fly at high subsonic speeds at altitudes as high as 50,000 feet and can carry nuclear or precision guided conventional ordnance with worldwide precision navigation capability. The SkyWest plane is a 70-seat Embraer 175 regional jet that is half as wide as a B-52 and can take off with less than one-fifth the weight that a B-52 can, per CNN. Similar incidents in recent years Since the Jan. 29 incident where an Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines regional jet in Washington D.C., there has been an intense focus on military traffic near civilian airplanes, per NBC. The FAA and the NTSB are investigating another close call that occurred on March 28, involving a Delta jet and group of Air Force jets near Reagan National Airport. Another incident occurred in early May, causing the FAA to ban Army helicopter flights around the Pentagon, per NBC. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Slim Chickens attempt to have the plaintiffs attorney in an ongoing lawsuit against the restaurant removed was met with resistance. Slim Chickens filed a motion to disqualify plaintiff RSolutions attorney, Marshall Ney of Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP. The motion cites a conflict of interest, stating Slim Chickens has been a long-time client of Friday, Eldredge & Clark, with the law firm serving as counsel in many business and legal matters for more than 20 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a filing made on July 18, RSolution gives two reasons why Slim Chickens motion fails. RSolution says Slim Chickens is currently not a client of Friday, Eldredge & Clark, which the plaintiff says would end any argument under the Arkansas Rules of Professional Conduct. RSolution also says Slim Chickens has not shown how a previous court case is related to the current case. RSolution goes on to say the two matters involve entirely different parties, timeframes, transactions and legal theories. According to the filing, RSolution says Slim Chickens is trying to burden it and deprive it of its chosen counsel and not give a genuine attempt to protect confidential information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RSolution filed a lawsuit in June alleging that Slim Chickens has inflated data and is falsely advertising fresh and house-made food. The company accuses Slim Chickens of deception, stating that the company advertises certain dipping sauces as house-made, when they are predominantly manufactured and distributed by third-party suppliers. The company also accuses the restaurant of promoting its food as fresh when it arrives in stores frozen. The fast food restaurant has shared an Average Unit Volume, or AUV, of $3.8 million for Group 1 stores, but is accused of using 14 of the 66 stores to get that number. The company states it has invested more than $15 million in Slim Chickens and has helped expand the company to other states, including Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky. However, the lawsuit states that the amount of money wouldnt have been invested if the company had been truthful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slim Chickens asked the judge to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming that the lawsuit is an attempt to shift the blame for the stores poor performance and says the two parties signed agreements not to sue. According to court documents filed July 3, the Fayetteville-based restaurant says the initial complaint lacks specific facts and does not state a claim against Slim Chickens to address. The documents say the plaintiffs signed an agreement not to sue. Slim Chickens says the language in the agreement releases it from the claims made by RSolution. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A smartwatch is said to have helped authorities locate three people who were killed in a plane crash in Montana. Authorities in West Yellowstone were alerted to a possible plane crash around 1:40 p.m. local time on Friday, July 18, according to a news release from the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office (GCSO). Three people were said to be on the plane that disappeared after it took off from the West Yellowstone Airport just before midnight Thursday, July 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities used data from the smartwatch of one of the planes occupants to track down the missing aircraft, according to the sheriffs office. Just before 2:15 p.m., two search planes confirmed the plane had been located in dense timber just south of West Yellowstone near South Plateau Road. The GCSO said its Search and Rescue (SAR) teams responded to the scene and located the downed airplane. They also confirmed that all three people aboard the aircraft had died. Getty West Yellowstone in Montana, where the fatal plane crash occurred West Yellowstone in Montana, where the fatal plane crash occurred The victims have been identified as 60-year-old Rodney Conover and 23-year-old Madison Conover, of Tennessee, as well as 55-year-old Kurt Enoch Robey, of Utah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enoch died doing what he loved, according to Zoe Spottiswood, who organized a GoFundMe campaign following his death in the crash. Brooke Larson Robey, Enochs wife, told NBC affiliate KSL-TV that her husband was pursuing a dream of becoming a commercial pilot. She said she last saw Enoch as he was preparing to leave to get more flying hours. He came home and grabbed me, put his hands on my face and said, Brooke, look me in the eyes. Im so happy. Im so happy when I fly. Thank you for letting me live out my dream. Im going to take good care of us and provide us with a flying career. I just never expected this to ever happen, she explained. According to a post on Brookes Facebook page, Enoch was a father of four kids and a stepfather to two others. He was also a grandfather of three and the son of a professional pilot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enoch was a blessed member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to the post. He was also said to have loved the outdoors and enjoyed taking his family with him on his outdoor excursions. Chris Kyler, Robeys best friend, described him as the kindest person with a heart of gold, according to KSL-TV. He knew people all over the world, Kyler said. I actually dont know anyone more traveled than he was. He made friends wherever he went. GoFundMe Kurt Enoch Robey, one of the three victims killed in the plane crash in West Yellowstone Kurt Enoch Robey, one of the three victims killed in the plane crash in West Yellowstone GPS data showed the plane involved in the crash took off around 11:54 p.m. on Thursday, according to KSL-TV. There were gusty winds and chilly temperatures in the area when the crash occurred, according to data from the National Weather Service (NWS). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyler told KSL-TV that the three people aboard the plane were experienced pilots, but said he did not know who was flying or who was in charge at the time of the crash. But Kyler insisted Robey would not have taken off in bad weather. Thats rule number one for him, he told KSL-TV. The victims of the crash were removed from the plane and turned over to a Gallatin County Sheriffs Office deputy coroner, according to the GCSO. 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 Sheriff Dan Springer thanked all of the agencies that assisted with the response to the crash. He also expressed his deepest condolences to the Conover and Robey families. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash, according to the GCSO. The two agencies did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. A funeral for Enoch will be held on Monday, July 28, according to the post on his wifes Facebook page. Read the original article on People The cause of a fire at a Massachusetts assisted-living facility that left 10 people dead remains undetermined for now as officials investigate whether smoking materials and an issue with a medical oxygen machine may have been factors, officials said Tuesday. The states deadliest blaze in more than four decades has highlighted the lack of regulations governing assisted-living facilities that often care for low-income or disabled residents. The state fire marshal, Jon Davine, said the presence of medical oxygen contributed to the spread of the July 13 fire at Gabriel House in Fall River. The blaze left some residents of hanging out windows of the three-story building screaming for help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire in the blue-collar city in southern Massachusetts remains under investigation but authorities believe it happened unintentionally, Davine said at a news conference Tuesday. Please, theres truly no safe way to smoke. But smoking is especially dangerous when home oxygen is in use, he said. Members of the local firefighters union have said a lack of emergency personnel staffing in the city made responding to the blaze more difficult, and made the fire itself deadlier. Earlier Tuesday, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said the state was releasing $1.2 million for Fall River to hire more emergency response personnel. She also said additional funds will be expedited for the states municipal public safety staffing program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are here today to listen to make sure that we understand what this community needs now and moving forward in the wake of this tragedy, Healey said. Healey said last week that a state agency that ensures regulatory compliance at assisted-living residences will investigate all 273 such facilities in Massachusetts to make sure they are prepared to protect residents during emergencies. She said Tuesday that work has begun. The district attorneys office identified the 10th victim as Halina Lawler, 70, on Monday. The victims of the fire ranged in age from 61 to 86. A resident of Gabriel House filed a lawsuit Monday alleging the facility was not properly managed, staffed or maintained, that residency rules were not enforced and emergency response procedures were not put in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trapped in his room during the fire, Steven Oldrid was in an already compromised physical condition when he suffered smoke inhalation and lost consciousness, according to the complaint filed in Bristol County Superior Court. As a result, Oldrid says he has increased mobility restrictions and has racked up medical bills for treatment. George K. Regan Jr., a spokesperson for the facility owned by Dennis Etzkorn, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the lawsuit. A phone message was also left with Oldrids attorney. Public injury law firm Morgan & Morgan also said last week it was hired to investigate the fire by the family of one of the residents killed at Gabriel House. Morgan & Morgan Communications Manager Emily Walsh said the law firm had already begun looking into whether the facility was adequately staffed and provided proper training to staff, as well as any potential code violations and possible failures of fire safety equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Etzkorn has said he is cooperating with investigations into the fire. Gabriel House issued a statement Monday emphasizing the importance of finding out exactly what caused this catastrophe, and if there were factors that made it worse. The statement said the facility placed a premium on residents safety. 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, said the facilitys spokesperson. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made the claim to a conference in the Knesset on Tuesday, which discussed right-wing plans to rebuild settlement blocs across the Gaza Strip. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich spoke at a pro-settler conference on Tuesday and stated that IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir told him that Israel needs to annex the north of the Gaza Strip for security purposes during a conversation last week. The conference, led by two MKs from Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party (RZP), Zvi Sukkot and Limor Son Har-Melech, and titled "The Riviera in Gaza - from vision to reality," in collaboration with the Nachala Settlement Movement, included discussions over a plan for Jewish resettlement of the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan presented includes returning the Gaza Strip to full Israeli sovereignty, transforming it into a developed and innovative area with housing for hundreds of thousands of residents, alongside advanced agricultural projects, a seaport, airports, industrial zones, universities, health clinics, and tourism complexes along the coast, according to the organizers. The conference was held in a hall in the Knesset and was attended by ministers, Knesset members, local council heads, security officials from the Gaza border communities, bereaved families, representatives of hostage families, and others. Smotrich said, "We have strong support from President Trump to turn Gaza into a prosperous region, a coastal city with settlement and employment. This is how peace is made. There is really an opportunity to think big. This is possible and realistic. I am completely optimistic. To conquer Gaza and settle it as an integral part of the State of Israel and the Land of Israel." MK Gilad Kariv reacting to a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Knesset, May 28, 2025; illustrative. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) MK Gilad Kariv (The Democrats) responded to Smotrich's remarks, accusing him of calling for "war crimes." He argued that Smotrichs statements "endanger IDF soldiers and create strategic harm to the State of Israel." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "His positions are not grounded in government decisions or Knesset resolutions. They are not included in the war objectives as set out by the Cabinet. Security officials do not provide support for these positions. On the contrary," Kariv continued. "Still, a cabinet member, party leader, and senior minister is calling for the commission of war crimes. His words endanger IDF soldiers and commanders, cause strategic harm to Israel's standing in the world, undermine social cohesion in Israel, and subvert the values of the IDF and the foundational values of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state." Comments from other conference attendees "We need to start building. We need to rebuild the Gaza Strip. We will work for Jewish settlement across the Gaza Strip." Har-Melech said in the opening speech of the conference. "Like our forefathers, we are building the future, a future of settlement in Gaza," she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "On the morning of October 7, everyone in the country understood the mistake. The folly of the evacuation from Gaza. We will rebuild the Gaza Strip! Not just Gush Katif, we will build large cities and fortresses, and it will happen throughout Gaza," Sukkot added. Development of the Negev and Galilee, and National Resilience Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf (Otzma Yehudit) also spoke at the conference. "We left Gaza, and we received them in our homes! Returning home, returning to the settlement there, is a mission that will restore security. This is the price those cursed terrorists need to pay. With God's help, as soon as possible! Settlement equals security. It is worth morality, worth Judaism, worth the State of Israel," he said. This needs to happen for several reasons: because this is the Land of Israel, and because it will safeguard our small Land of Israel. It is right and necessary for the security of the State of Israel," Michal Woldiger (RZP) said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Where there is no settlement, there is no defense. The more we settle, the more we defend the State of Israel," Knesset National Security Committee chair Zvika Fogel (Otzma Yehudit) stated. "On October 7, 2023, the chapter of Arab Gaza history ended," Daniela Weiss, chairwoman of the Nachala Settlement Movement, said, adding that "Settlement in the northern boundary can happen today, now." "Every Jew feels the pain of the hostages and their families every day, every hour. But there is no way to bring them back except by defeating Hamas and the Jewish settlements in Gaza. The day is close for victory over the enemy and the redemption and settlement of Gaza," she continued. We should return to the Gaza settlements, known as Gush Katif, "because they are ours," Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan said via video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Idan Baruch, brother of murdered hostage Uriel Baruch, also addressed the conference. "We will build Neot Uri'el in his memory. We need to return there with pride, with Jewish pride. Because this is our divine command, to return to our land," Baruch said. "The only thing that will bring security to the State of Israel is settlement on our land. We will build a neighborhood for every hostage, a street for every fallen soldier," Baruch added. Lawmakers from Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) on Tuesday called on the government to join 28 other countries and sign a statement demanding an immediate end to the war in Gaza. "If international law is systematically violated, there must be consequences," SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch wrote on X. "Germany should join the UK's initiative and not opt out here." On Monday, the foreign ministers of 25 countries, including Italy, France, Austria, Britain, Belgium and Canada, as well as EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, signed a joint statement calling for the war in Gaza to "end now." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greece, Cyprus and Malta also later joined the initiative. Germany - which for historic reasons sees its fate existentially tied to that of Israel - is not among the signatories. "The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity," the letter states. Miersch praised the 28 states, including Germany's "closest partners such as France, Canada and Austria," for sending "a clear signal," describing the humanitarian suffering in Gaza as shocking. "Starving children, destroyed infrastructure, attacks on people seeking help: That goes against everything that international humanitarian law protects," the senior SPD politician said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miersch noted that while Germany bears a special responsibility for Israel's security, it must also urge compliance with international law and the protection of the Palestinian civilian population. "Double standards undermine our international credibility," wrote Miersch. Development minister backs statement The SPD lawmaker's call for Germany to back the call for peace came after Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan, also from the SPD, expressed regret on Tuesday that Germany was not among the countries who signed the statement. Alabali Radovan said the demand in the joint letter was "understandable," in comments to the Rheinische Post newspaper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I would have wished for Germany to join the signal from the 29 partners," Alabali Radovan said. The letter was signed by 28 countries and the European Union. "What is happening in Gaza right now is unbelievable. Innocent children are dying. People are starving," she added. "What is needed now not at some point is an immediate and sustainable ceasefire." Joining calls for Berlin to back the statement, SPD foreign policy expert Adis Ahmetovic and former parliamentary group leader and foreign policy expert Rolf Mutzenich wrote in a statement obtained by dpa: "The reports of starving children and a rapidly escalating famine show: We have reached the much-cited point of no return." German Foreign Minister shares criticism Despite not signing the statement, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed his concern on X about the "catastrophic humanitarian situation" in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he had telephoned with his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar, adding: "We urgently call on Israel to implement the agreements with the EU to enable humanitarian aid." Brussels has not published details of the conditions agreed with Israel for the provision of aid to Gaza. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she had also spoken with Saar, telling him that "the killing of civilians seeking aid in Gaza is indefensible." "All options remain on the table if Israel doesn't deliver on its pledges," she wrote on X. Alabali Radovan further stated: "The civilian population in Gaza must not keep being crushed between the fronts. Children, families, the elderly, they need water, food, medical care and security." She appealed to the Israeli government: "International law must be observed! Allow aid deliveries to pass through unhindered! Permit safe humanitarian corridors and unimpeded access for the UN and humanitarian organizations!" By Kylie Madry MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico is planning on compromising with the U.S. over sticking points on aviation, the nation's president said on Tuesday, with one airline predicting that an agreement would come in the next few days. On Saturday, the U.S. Department of Transportation rolled out orders requiring Mexican airlines to submit flight schedules and threatening to reject requests if the Mexican government did not address U.S. concerns over flight changes in Mexico City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. officials also proposed scrapping antitrust immunity for the joint venture between Delta Air Lines and Aeromexico to address competitive issues. The two have requested an extension through September 2 to respond to the proposal. "We feel tremendously confident that the solution is going to be here in the next few days," low-cost carrier Volaris' CEO, Enrique Beltranena, told analysts a day after meeting with Mexico's transportation ministry. Mexico and the U.S. are beginning negotiations and some compromises could be made, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Tuesday. Washington "is making a set of particular requests," Sheinbaum said. "We're analyzing them to see whether they can be addressed or whether an alternative can be proposed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. has expressed concern about the decision by Mexico's previous administration to move cargo flights from the main capital airport to a newer, farther-away site while also cutting passenger flight slots. Sheinbaum did not specify what the U.S. requests were. She said the new airport where flights were moved - the Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA) - was also a solution. Sheinbaum's mentor, former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, overhauled the capital airspace during his term, arguing that the main airport was overcrowded and that the AIFA, which he had built, would alleviate the pressure. Cargo carriers have complained about the swap, with the AIFA already at full capacity for cargo handling and in need of an expansion. Meanwhile passenger satisfaction regarding transportation to the distant site remains around 60%, according to a government presentation last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Beltranena said he remained "confident that both governments will reach a logical and mutually beneficial agreement." (Reporting by Kylie Madry; Additional reporting by Aida Peleaz-Fernandez; Editing by Natalia Siniawski and David Gregorio) On June 13, the South Carolina Shrimpers Association filed a federal lawsuit in the District of South Carolina against 25 Charleston-area restaurants. The shrimpers accused the eateries of violating the Lanham Act and the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act by marketing imported, frozen shrimp as wildcaught and local, according to ABC News 4. Don't miss Shrimp fraud misleads customers The amended complaint alleged that this shrimp fraud misleads consumers and damages the reputation and goodwill of legitimate Lowcountry shrimpers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We believe that when we invite our family, our friends, and our cherished guests to our beautiful Lowcountry, they deserve nothing less than the real, authentic thing and in this case, that means our delectable and incomparable, wild-caught South Carolina shrimp, said South Carolina Shrimpers Association vice president Bryan Jones. According to an investigation by SeaD Consulting, the genetic analysis of shrimp from 44 local eateries revealed that 90% of restaurants deceived customers. The suit found 25 establishments to be outright fraudulent for deceiving diners by selling imported shrimp which they claimed were locally caught. Similar SeaD studies along the Gulf Coast revealed shrimp fraud rates as high as 96% in Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg, Florida. Only two out of 44 tested restaurants served truly local shrimp. The Shrimpers Association claims these deceptions threaten the integrity of South Carolinas seafood branding and undermine consumer trust. After all, many customers are expecting authentic and local food as advertised. 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 Economic and tourism impact The authenticity of seafood is not a niche concern in South Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, visitors spent $27.9 billion across the state, generated $2.6 billion in tax revenue and supported over 257,000 jobs. The Lowcountrys coastal dining scene is a significant attraction among tourists. According to Columbia SC Tourism, food and beverages accounted for 29% of each tourists budget, which amounts to $487 million. If customers are misled by establishments, rebuilding consumer trust may require stricter labelling laws. Louisiana has implemented an updated seafood labeling law due to misleading food labels in restaurants. Responses and next steps Several restaurants have publicly denied wrongdoing and misleading customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mount Pleasant Seafood says it has receipts to back up its local purchases and switches to frozen local South Carolina shrimp when fresh is unavailable. Crave Hospitality Group stressed its commitment to sourcing and transparency. Pages Okra Grill protested being floored by inclusion and noted it does not claim on any of our menus that our shrimp is all local or East Coast. Our aim has always been to protect South Carolinas shrimping industry and to uphold the principle that consumers deserve honesty in advertising. We hope to hear from any defendant who is prepared to work with us to ensure transparency and fairness moving forward, said associate representative attorney Gedney Howe IV to WRDW. As the case heads to court, both sides will present evidence on sourcing records, menu marketing and consumer perception. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond financial damages, the litigation underscores a broader call to preserving the Lowcountrys culinary legacy, a billion-dollar tourism engine that demands local shrimp must come from South Carolina waters. 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. South Fulton police are searching for a missing, endangered man. Larry Holt, 36, was last seen on Monday, July 14 when he was dropped off by a Lyft driver at 9:50 a.m. Police say he may have started walking in the Old National corridors. Holt is diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] He is six feet tall, weighs approximately 240 lbs, is bald, and has brown eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was last seen wearing a peach or orange shirt, gray shorts, and black sneakers. If you see him, please call the South Fulton Police Departments Criminal Investigations Division at 404-771-9744 or email CIDReports@cityofsouthfultonga.gov. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] By Jihoon Lee SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's new finance minister and the country's top trade envoy will meet in Washington with U.S. counterparts on Friday for talks on U.S. tariffs, Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said on Tuesday. The country's foreign and industry ministers will also visit the U.S. for trade discussions as early as this week, Koo told reporters after a meeting of economic ministers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Koo took office on Monday. The four officials complete a new cabinet team under President Lee Jae Myung who was sworn in on June 4 after winning a snap election called after his predecessor's ouster for trying to declare martial law. The political turmoil that ensued delayed South Korea's response to U.S. President Donald Trump's punishing tariff regime imposed on dozens of trade partners, including key industrial powerhouses that are also security allies. Koo and Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo will hold talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Friday at the request of the U.S. officials, the finance minister said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We've had discussions from the perspective of national interest and pragmatism and we'll do our best to prepare a meticulous strategy until we're leaving," Koo said, declining to say whether Seoul was hoping to push back the August 1 deadline before reciprocal tariffs set by Trump are due to come in. Yeo said on Tuesday he would seek to base the talks around forming a manufacturing partnership with the United States. On Monday, South Korea's new Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said tariff talks were in a critical phase that could result in a range of possible outcomes and pledged an all-out effort to wrap up negotiations by August 1. Trump has vowed to slap tariffs on a range of countries including South Korea to reduce what he called unfair trade imbalances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, Japan's top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said he planned to visit Washington this week to hold further ministerial-level talks, as Tokyo hopes to clinch a deal by its August 1 deadline. (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Additional reporting by Joyce Lee; Writing by Jack KimEditing by Ed Davies) On 21 July Bolivias Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa told Spanish newswire EFE that Bolivias decision to grant political asylum to Saul Mendez, a union leader in Panama, would not affect relations with Panamas right-of-centre government led by President Jose Raul Mulino. 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 South Koreas defence ministry suspended the countrys head of drone operations command over concerns that military drones were sent to North Korea illegally last year in preparations for former president Yoon Suk Yeols imposition of martial law. Major general Kim Yong-dae, who was serving as the commander of the unit, was relieved from his duties on Monday with suspension pending, the defence ministry said. Gen Kim was taken into custody on Friday without an arrest warrant regarding accusations that Mr Yoon ordered a covert drone operation into the North last year to inflame tension between the neighbours and justify his martial law decree.. Mr Yoon has denied the accusations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gen Kims charges include forging of official documents. Mr Yoon's brief, ill-fated imposition of martial law on 3 December led to his indictment on charges that he directed a rebellion, which is punishable by life imprisonment or death. Prompted by concerns he might destroy evidence, Mr Yoons arrest could mark the start of a prolonged period in custody as investigators pursue additional charges. Investigators claim the former president issued direct orders to the drone commander in October last year, instructing him to dispatch drones to North Korea without alerting the defence ministry or the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The move was likely aimed at provoking military escalation from North Korea to allegedly justify the martial law imposition. However, the warrant request by a special counsel team led by Cho Eun-suk was rejected by the Seoul Central District Court on Monday noting that a detention would excessively restrict his defence rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors and police in South Korea are permitted to make an "emergency arrest" if they have a strong belief someone is guilty of a serious crime and may flee or destroy evidence. The South Korean commander has denied the allegations and said the incident was part of a clandestine military operation to respond to North Koreas act of sending trash balloons, and not intended to provoke the neighbour. In October last year, North Korea said the South had sent drones to scatter anti-North Korea leaflets over its capital city Pyongyang. North Korean state media also published photos of the remains of a crashed South Korean military drone. South Korea at the time declined to disclose whether it had sent the drones. MONTGAT, Spain (AP) Ana Garcia rents a shack at a beach just north of Barcelona every year, spending two months there in the summer with her daughter. But Garcia fears summers by the sea in Montgat, about a 30-minute drive from central Barcelona, eventually could be numbered. Storms and sea level rise driven by climate change are eroding the man-made beaches in metropolitan Barcelona, with the sea swallowing swathes of coastline every year, authorities say. Compared to natural coastlines, man-made beaches erode faster. Montgat's coastline has eroded especially fast, locals and authorities say. Clearly, this is worrying, Garcia said. Because its increasing more and more, and shows no signs of stopping. Our coexistence with the sea here is in danger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From fishing town to summering spot The fishing town turned summering spot is no stranger to change. Fishing was once the main economic activity in the Maresme, or marshlands, north of Barcelona, but everything changed in 1986 when Spain's second-largest city was named the host of the 1992 Olympic Games. Where once there were just rocks, breakwaters and thin stretches of sand, several new beaches were constructed, helping turn the city into one of Europe's premier tourism hotspots. Climate change is threatening that transformation in small coastal towns like Montgat by intensifying storms that erode coastline and driving sea-level rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While authorities have responded by replacing the lost sand and building some breakwaters, the efforts haven't kept pace with the coastline's erosion. Ramon Torra, manager of Barcelona's Metropolitan Area, acknowledges that simply adding more sand isn't enough. What we must do first isnt just replenish the sand, but rather stop the loss of it," Torra said. In the case of the Maresme region here, we are talking about structures such as breakwaters because they confine the beach." When storms erode coastline Europe is the worlds fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Unions Copernicus Climate Change Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the planet warms, sea levels rise, largely due to the melting of glaciers and the thermal expansion of seawater as it grows warmer. That increases the risk of coastal flooding and storm surges that lead to land loss. At Montgat and nearby beaches, the main damage takes place in the fall and winter, when destructive weather systems known locally by the Spanish acronym DANA bring powerful storms to southern Europe. The storms have wreaked havoc on Montgat's coastline in recent years. In April 2024, a storm system brought waves that climbed as high as 5 meters (16 feet) tall and left parts of Montgat virtually without a beach. Afterward, a line of rocks serving as a breakwater was built after the waves reached a line of beachfront houses. Montgat Mayor Andreu Absil reckons only a third of the beach survived from a year ago. He stressed the importance of the beach for locals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The beaches are the last democratic space we have, Absil said. And they should be for all of us to use and enjoy all year long." Locals, scientists and business owners worry about the future Barcelona's authorities estimate 60 million euros ($70.2 million) are needed to stabilize the coastline in metropolitan Barcelona's 42 kilometers (26 miles) of coastline, 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) of which are beaches like Montgat. Add to that the yearly maintenance costs after storms. Scientists say the biggest problem will arrive when the sea reaches the towns infrastructure including the train line, homes and businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rate of sea level rise portends more loss, academics say. Agustin Sanchez-Arcilla, a maritime engineer at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, said current trends show sea levels along the Catalan coast are four times higher today than three decades ago. He said it has risen by 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) in 25 years while waves are on average 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) higher. So we dont need to predict it will accelerate. We can say already it has multiplied by four since the 1990s, he said, adding that he believes the time for climate adaptation is now. Those measures include building seawalls, planting vegetation as a barrier to the sea and more. Local business owners in the town depend on summer tourism and worry what could take hold when the sea swallows up more sand. Those who come year after year for the fresh seafood and cold beer share the concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jose Luis Velez, a retiree, has been coming to the same beach bar for years, having witnessed the changes Montgat underwent after the 92 Olympics, as well as its coastline in retreat. Its been great but the sea has started to erode all the sand. And we arent seeing people really doing something about it. So we think this could have an expiration date," Velez said. ___ Naishadham reported from Madrid. AUSTIN (KXAN) Governor Greg Abbott met with Spanish Ambassador Angeles Moreno Bau on Monday in an effort to strengthen the economic relationship between Texas and Spain. The meeting, which took place on the same day that the Texas legislature began its special session, emphasized Spains strong economic connection to the state. The country currently has over 100 active investments across Texas. Spain and Texas have collaborated across sectors, specifically cultivating a strong relationship in the energy sector. Spanish companies have opened wind and solar farms across the state, with Spanish energy company Iberdrola generating clean energy for Austin since 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the governors office, Spain is the eight-largest source of foreign investments for projects in the state, with companies investing nearly $6 billion into Texas. The office estimates that this has generated nearly 8,000 jobs for Texans. Trade activity between the nation and the state is also high, with the 2024 total clocking in at just above $10 billion. Beyond economic ties, Abbot and Moreno Bau discussed the historical and cultural connections between Texas and Spain. The two leaders specifically highlighted the San Antonio Missions, established by Spanish priests in the 16th century. The missions are National Park service site, and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in the state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Illegal beach drinks in Spain's holiday island of Mallorca will give you more than just a bad hangover, police in the city of Palma are warning holidaymakers. Mallorca, known for its warm waters, coastal hikes and ideal stargazing conditions, is a notorious hotspot for booze-ups, and police say tourists seeking sunshine are being targeted by illicit street cocktail mixers with little to no hygiene standards. "The Palma Local Police warn tourists and residents about the serious health risks posed by consuming cocktails, such as mojitos or sangrias, purchased through illegal street vendors on Playa de Palma," a police statement from July 21 reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a special operation on July 13, officers from the local police observed a street vendor near a busy tourist area of Mallorca cutting fruit directly on the ground of a car park. The fruit was prepared simply on a plastic bag and without any hygienic precautions, police reported. The drinks reportedly came from a five-litre container and were poured into plastic cups on-site. "This practice, in addition to constituting an infraction for selling alcohol on public roads without a licence, for which the seller was administratively reported, poses a potential danger to the health of consumers as it is carried out without any food controls," police said. Street drinking is banned in several party zones in Mallorca, where fines of up to 1,500 can be imposed. The crackdown on illegal street vendors and public drinking is part of a broader effort to address health and safety concerns, noise pollution and anti-social behaviour in Palma and other tourist hotspots associated with "sun, sex and sangria" parties. WASHINGTON (AP) House Speaker Mike Johnson is rebuffing pressure to act on the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, instead sending members home early for a month-long break from Washington after the week's legislative agenda was upended by Republican members who are clamoring for a vote. Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said Tuesday morning that he wants to give the White House space to release the Epstein information on its own, despite the bipartisan push for legislation that aims to force the release of more documents. Theres no purpose for the Congress to push an administration to do something theyre already doing, Johnson said at his weekly news conference, his last before lawmakers depart Washington on Wednesday for their traditional August recess. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The speaker's stance did little to alleviate the intra-party turmoil unfolding on Capitol Hill as many of President Donald Trumps supporters demand that the administration meet its promises to publicly release a full accounting of the sex trafficking investigation into Epstein, who killed himself in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. Under pressure from right-wing online influencers, as well as voters back home, rank-and-file Republicans are demanding that the House intervene in the matter. The publics not going to let this die, and rightfully so, said Rep. Ralph Norman, a South Carolina Republican. Will Ghislaine Maxwell's deposition happen? Even before Johnson spoke Tuesday morning, the powerful House Committee on Oversight was advancing a resolution to subpoena Epsteins former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, for a deposition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican chair of the committee, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, said there will be a negotiation with Maxwells attorney over the terms of the deposition and that it could happen at the prison where she is serving a lengthy sentence for helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. The Justice Department also indicated Tuesday it was separately seeking to interview Maxwell. While Democrats on the House Oversight Committee supported the action, the top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, warned that her testimony should be treated with skepticism. We should be looking and continue to push for a full release of the files, Garcia told reporters. I think its important for people to know that she obviously is a documented liar and someone that has caused enormous harm to young girls and women. President Donald Trump didn't address the issue during a reception for House Republicans at the White House on Tuesday night but heaped praise on Johnson, saying he would go down as one of the great speakers at any time in history. In remarks alongside Trump, Johnson made no mention of it either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaker Johnson's control of the House is under threat Johnson decided to end the House's legislative business early this week after he essentially lost control of the powerful House Rules Committee, which sends bills to the floor for debates and votes. Late Monday evening, business on that panel ground to a halt when the Republicans on the committee abruptly recessed proceedings rather than risk more proposals from Democrats pushing them to release Epstein files. Republicans had teed up votes on legislation to increase penalties for migrants who enter the country illegally, to ease permitting for water infrastructure and to roll back several Biden-era regulations. All those bills were put on hold, at least until after the August recess. Frustration in the House has been running high since last week, when Republican leaders signaled possible support for a vote on the Epstein files as they raced to pass a $9 billion package of spending cuts. Johnson unveiled a resolution that has no legal weight but would urge the Justice Department to produce more documentation. Trump, meanwhile, has asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of testimony from secret grand jury proceedings in the case, though that effort is unlikely to produce new revelations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Echoing Trumps position, Johnson insisted he, too, wants the files released, but only those that are credible. Johnson, who has relied heavily on Trump to hold onto leadership in the House, cast the president's reticence to release information as out of concern for the victims of Epstein. We have a moral responsibility to expose the evil of Epstein and everybody who was involved in that absolutely and we're resolved to do it, Johnson said. But we also have an equal moral responsibility to protect the innocent, and that is a fine needle to thread. In the Senate, Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., also told reporters he believed Trump and Bondi would make the right decisions on the files, but opened the door to committees examining the matter. Epstein has become a political wedge among GOP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even with the month-long break, the pressure on Johnson is unlikely to end. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican whose contrarian stances are often a thorn in the side of leadership, is gathering support for a legislative maneuver to force the bipartisan bill to a House vote, even without leadership's consent. Now, there are a lot of people here in the swamp who think that, Oh, well, if we spend five weeks on vacation, the pressure for this will dissipate. I dont think its going to dissipate. Massie told reporters Monday evening. Democrats have watched it all unfold with glee and worked to inflame the conflict among Republicans by making their own calls for transparency on the Epstein investigation. They have repeatedly tried to force votes on the matter, casting it as an issue of trust in the government. Its about transparency in government. Its about whose side are you on? Are you on the side of the rich and powerful, protecting men? Or are you on the side of young girls and Americas children? said Rep. Ro Khanna, the California Democrat who put forward the legislation alongside Massie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, exploiting vulnerable girls as young as 14, authorities say. He couldnt have done so without the help of Maxwell, his longtime companion, prosecutors contend. Massie said the case is palpable enough to carry significant political consequences. This will be an issue that does follow Republicans through the midterms, and it will follow each individual Republican through the midterms. It will follow people into their primaries. Did you support transparency and justice, or did you come up here, get elected and fall into the swamp? he told reporters. He added, I think it is a watershed moment for the speaker of the House and the president. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the Jeffrey Epstein case at https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein. The House will not vote on a resolution calling for the release of some documents related to Jeffrey Epstein before the August recess, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced on Monday, despite growing GOP outcry over the Trump administrations handling of the case. The news came after the House Rules Committee advanced the measure last week, and as the lower chamber prepares to break for the weeks-long August recess on Thursday. Asked if the House will vote on the resolution before leaving Washington, Johnson told reporters: No. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Speaker said he wants to leave time for the administration to act on the matter before moving ahead with congressional action. Last week, President Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to request that the grand jury transcripts in the Epstein case be unsealed. Trump has tried to downplay the matter, urging Republicans to drop the issue. Heres what I would say about the Epstein files: There is no daylight between the House Republicans, the House, and the president on maximum transparency, Johnson said in the Capitol on Monday. He has said that he wants all the credible files related to Epstein to be released. Hes asked the attorney general to request the grand jury files of the court. All of that is in process right now. 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, he added. But I dont think were at that point right now because we agree with the president. Johnsons announcement came less than one week after Republicans on the House Rules Committee advanced a non-binding resolution calling for the release of some information related to the case involving Epstein, a convicted sex offender. It specifically directs Bondi to publicize all credible documents, communications and metadata related to the investigations of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking, but allows her to make exemptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The panel advanced the resolution after GOP lawmakers on the committee voted down a similar measure earlier in the week that was spearheaded by Democrats. Republicans on the panel took heat from the MAGA base after opposing the measure, which prompted the vote on the GOP-crafted legislation last week. Asked last week if he would stage a vote on the legislation Johnson stopped short of making any commitments, suggesting the purpose was to give Republicans on the panel political cover. The Republicans on the Rules Committee, most of them that were present, voted against Democrat amendments to try to hijack that. That was the right thing for them, Johnson said last week. They were wrongfully tarred and feathered by people who did not understand what was happening and said that they were covering up for they were in favor of concealing Epstein files. Its simply not true. So the resolution that was advanced tonight in the Rules Committee was for them to go on record and say no, of course, were for transparency, of course, he continued. Every single one of the Republicans on the Rules Committee are for transparency and for releasing the files, just as the president of the United States is, and they wanted that to make crystal clear. Make it crystal clear. I think their vote tonight did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, there is deep frustration among some Republicans over the administrations handling of the case. Trump campaigned on releasing the files and many people now in his Cabinet helped amplify theories about what was in them. Underscoring that sentiment, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has teamed up with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) on a resolution to release the files in the case. The pair is vowing to start a discharge petition for the legislation in an attempt to force it to the floor. The resolution already has at least 10 GOP co-sponsors. Johnson on Monday downplayed the effort. Discharge petitions are never a good idea in the House, he told reporters on Monday. It is a tool of the minority party, not the majority. The majority party has stated its position, and it is mine and it is the presidents, that we want maximum disclosure. So the rest of it is a political game that Democrats are playing and I hope Republicans wont go into that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other rank-and-file Republicans including some of the presidents closest allies have expressed their displeasure with how the administration has approached the situation. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), one of the presidents top supporters on Capitol Hill, aired an ominous message Monday morning. 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 red meat no longer satisfies. They want the whole steak dinner and will accept nothing else, she wrote on X. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SPECIAL DELIVERY: Douglas Co. deputy helps escort couple to hospital after baby born in backseat A newborn couldnt wait to make her grand entrance into the world. Her mother had her while they were en route to the hospital, and they got some help with their special delivery on the way. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Channel 2s Tom Jones saw a post about the baby being born in the backseat and a Douglas County deputy escorting them to the hospital. He arranged for everyone to meet again, and the family could thank the deputy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hey, Michelle Mosley said to Dep. L. Tobias. How yall doing? he replied. Nathan Jones and his fiancee are doing better than the last time they saw Deputy Tobias. During the meeting, the deputy couldnt take his eyes off the newborn. Nice to meet you, Milena. Again, he said, adding emphasis to again. TRENDING STORIES: The first time the deputy met Milena, she was minutes into her new life outside of the womb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family shared a doorbell video that shows Mosley in labor and getting into their SUV to head to the hospital on July 13. However, the trip didnt go as planned. As soon as we got out of the driveway, I shot the baby out, Mosley said. The family shared with Jones an image of the baby born in the backseat. Jones began speeding down Fairburn Road. I was running red lights and everything, Nathan Jones said. Thats when he saw Deputy Tobias. He didnt want to get pulled over for speeding. I pulled over. I was like, Can we please get an escort? She just had a baby. Deputy Tobias was confused. I thought he said she was having a baby. She had had the baby, he said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Tobias not only escorted them to the hospital, he also kept assisting once the couple arrived at the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we pulled in, he was helping. He was moving the cones. I guess they had like roadwork or something going on. But he was helping completely, Mosley recalled. Youd think Deputy Tobias was a seasoned veteran; however, he was still in training. Thats on-the-job training there. You never know something like that was going to happen, Tobias said. The family thanked the deputy for going above and beyond. You dont get to hear too many good things about cops, so it was just a blessing, Mosley explained. Milena is now eight days old and doing just fine. Her mother says she had whats called a spontaneous vaginal birth. Thats where she doesnt take any medicine, and theres no inducements to deliver the child. Its all natural, and she says the baby comes out very fast. She says this is her third one. They all came out quickly, Mosley says. Jul. 21More than a century ago, Spokane Police Department Officer Frederick Germain was looking for speeders when a "repeat offender" who had eluded officers many times flew by, according to the book, "Life Behind the Badge: The Spokane Police Department's Turbulent Years, 1903-1923." Germain jumped on his motorcycle and started pursuing the car when a large truck struck and killed the officer. On Monday, exactly 103 years after the fatal crash, Spokane police honor guard members pulled a blue blanket from a thin sign on Trent Avenue and Regal Street where Germain was killed. The unveiled sign revealed the officer's name and "end of watch" date of July 21, 1922. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A photo of Germain and a colorful wreath was stationed at the base of the sign pole, and motorcycle deputies from the Spokane County Sheriff's Office stood next to their two-wheelers to honor the fallen hero. Spokane police Chief Kevin Hall said it was important to have motorcycle officers in attendance given Germain's occupation as a motorcycle officer. Hall gave kudos to the unique officers, calling it a "very dangerous occupation." Hall said Germain gave "the ultimate sacrifice." "As time passes, his honor, dedication and courage displayed that day continue to live on and remain timeless," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to "Life Behind the Badge," Germain started pursuing the driver when a two-ton truck approached. The truck driver said he swung over to the left of the road to avoid the crash and drove into a ditch. The motorcycle, also trying to miss the truck, rode into the ditch. The radiator of the truck struck Germain, who "received the full impact of the blow to his chest," according to the truck driver in the book. Germain died and the speeder was never located. Germain was with the department for two years. He joined in 1918 but left to work as a railroad engineer. He then returned at the age of 32 as a motorcycle officer about five months before his death. Germain was divorced and his ex-wife and children lived in California, according to the book. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Let his memory be honored, his courage remembered and his spirit live on within each of us," Hall said. The Spokane Regional Fallen Officers Memorial Project organizes the sign dedications. Twenty-nine law enforcement officers, including four police dogs, in Spokane County, have died in the line of duty, according to Sue Walker, co-chair of the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Project. The Spokane Regional Fallen Officers Memorial Project is under the umbrella of Walker's organization. "We want the signs to also bring awareness to the community reminding them of the officers who sacrificed everything to serve and protect them," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sixteen officers, including one dog, of the 29 were Spokane police officers. Seven, including three dogs, were from the Spokane County Sheriff's Office. The Spokane Regional Fallen Officers Memorial Project has dedicated signs to 16 of the fallen officers since the project started in 2019. The rest of them will be honored in the coming years. Walker, who emceed Monday's roughly 10-minute ceremony along a noisy stretch of Trent Avenue, said memorial signs are placed at locations nearest to where the officer died. "These signs and locations provide a place for family, friends, coworkers and community to remember our fallen officers and for us to show that their officer, although not here with us, will never be forgotten," she said. SPRING HILL, Tenn. (WKRN) The City of Spring Hill has to figure out how to fix a growing sewage problem. Spring Hills sewer treatment plant is near capacity. At Monday nights meeting, city leaders said theyre facing new pressure from the state to find a solution. Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More Spring Hills Board of Mayor and Aldermen discussed the next steps for the moratorium. The proposed ordinance would prevent new sewer connections and also require new developments to implement alternative sewer treatments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The citys sewer treatment plant is near capacity, and if it reaches capacity, the plant will lose the ability to function at certain levels, which can cause severe environmental impact. Spring Hill Attorney Patrick Carter said the city has even received litigation threats from environmental groups about the problem, and theyre threatening to sue. Right now, an environmental lawyer is representing the city as officials work to navigate the issue. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Thats going to look like a fine, frankly, Carter said. Its going to look like a sewer connection moratorium as well as other actions the city must take to remedy our problem with our treatment of wastewater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city is now working on a consent order with the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, which is a legal record of an agreement. The agreement could be adopted by the first week of 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 WKRN News 2. Could Europe's August deadline be the most important date in the decades-long nuclear standoff, or will Iran face more sanctions? Israels and the USs historic attack on Iran between June 13 and June 24 set back the Islamic Republics nuclear program by around two years, but the long-term direction of the nuclear standoff will be decided by diplomacy, with the next big meeting between Tehran and the E3 (UK, France, and Germany) set for Friday. After this summit, the Islamic Republic will have approximately five weeks until the E3 deadline the end of August before these countries start the process of snapping back the global sanctions against Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal had many holes, one of its positives was the ability it gave any of the E3 countries to activate the global sanctions snapback mechanism with no possibility for Russia or China to veto it. That ability to snapback sanctions expires on October 18. Hence, the E3 wants to start the UNs bureaucratic process several weeks before. A member of Iranian militia forces (Basij) gestures during an anti-Israeli march in Tehran, Iran, January 10, 2025; illustrative. (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS) America is out of this round of talks as Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, does not trust it after US President Donald Trump paraded around his accomplishments of obliterating Irans nuclear program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, Khamenei does not want to agree to zero nuclear enrichment, something which his Foreign Ministry and Atomic Energy spokespeople continue to declare as loudly as they can. What does Iran want with new deal? So what is Khameneis game? Having been bludgeoned the worst in his 36-year history as Irans ayatollah, is he really aching for more Israeli and US airstrikes? That is a possibility, as Khamenei misjudged how much leverage he had over Israel and the US last month, and as Iranian pride could blind it to what would be its most rational course at this moment. But there is another alternative; in this latest nuclear dance, there is far more than meets the eye. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The truth is that after Israels and the USs airstrikes on Irans nuclear program, the snapback conflict is much less decisive than it once was. Lets say that Iran sticks to refusing to make concessions on nuclear enrichment, the E3 then invokes the global sanctions snapback, and in response, Tehran pulls out of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The main question would still be: Is Iran, in fact, moving again toward a nuclear program or not? And if it is, is it moving at a pace that could reduce the countdown to a nuclear weapon to under a year or shorter? Or, rather, is its rebuilding happening much more gradually, in a way that puts the danger far off into the future? So far, a month after the attacks, it appears that Iran is still digging through the substantial rubble left over from the Israeli and American attacks and still does not know where its nuclear program stands, other than embarrassingly admitting serious damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If it takes even several months to dig through all the debris, then the nuclear threat remains around two years away. If, after those several months, Iran starts to rebuild some centrifuges and to enrich some uranium, but does not start rebuilding any of the weapons group activities, then it will still remain at least a year away, according to most estimates. That estimate will not shrink until it begins restoring weapons group activities. The West may be worried that it is blind regarding Irans nuclear program in terms of IAEA inspector coverage, but it has been blind at various levels since 2021, and this did not stop the Mossad and IDF intelligence from accurately targeting dozens of nuclear sites and over a dozen nuclear scientists. If Israel could carry out that kind of surveillance before, it can do it again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khamenei might be just fine with such a situation. The Islamic Republic would take a hit economically, but its economy is already in very bad shape. And Russia, China, and some others would still find ways to circumvent sanctions to keep Iran afloat. Back in the 2010-2015 era, when Russia and China supported sanctions in a more real way, they were both angry at Iran for various bilateral insults, and they were also weaker and more dependent on the US and the West than they are today. So it is possible that diplomacy will fail, both sides will exercise their worst diplomatic threats, and yet Israel and the US may refrain from attacking because Iran could quietly stay away from a nuclear red line, which might force the hands of Jerusalem and Washington again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alternatively, right before the August 29 deadline, or right before the real deadline of October 18, Iran may agree to a new historic deal with real restrictions on nuclear enrichment and some kind of face-saving gestures toward it. In that case, all of the current Iranian statements will be subsequently exposed as posturing to try to get the best deal it can before settling for a deal that avoids global sanctions. So August 29 could turn out to be the most important turning point of the decades-long nuclear standoff, or it could be an overblown deadline with much less impact than it might have had if Israels and the USs June strikes had not altered the reality that all of the sides are looking at. On 21 July Venezuelas Attorney Generalannounced an investigation into alleged torture and cruel treatment of 252 Venezuelans who were repatriated on 18 July from El Salvador, where they had been imprisoned since being deported from the US in March. End of preview - This article contains approximately 602 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options The State Comptroller reports alarming gaps in buildings' earthquake preparedness, highlighting serious risks of missile hits and blasts to apartments and structures in the event of a disaster. The State Comptrollers Office found a serious lack of involvement by local authorities in treating dangerous structures when it comes to earthquake preparedness, which carries implications for protection from missile hits and blast impacts, it said in its comprehensive annual report on local governance released on Tuesday. According to the State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, Even after we repeatedly warned the government, it has not internalized the inherent danger in the 810,000 apartments that cannot withstand an earthquake. More than anything, the Iranian missiles exemplified the gap between older structures and newer ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our estimate is that only 10% of the buildings were included in municipal renewal plans. This is yet another critical red flag to the government, which must propose a solution as soon as possible, and not wait for the next emergency situation, the results of which could be disastrous, he said. A 2021 State Comptroller report pointed the finger specifically at the Interior and Construction and Housing Ministries, as well as at the Prime Ministers Office. It also found no working, functional relationship between local authorities and government offices on the matter, which had not been righted since. Since the last report, only 10% of the buildings that needed structural reinforcements had been included in municipal plans. Israeli State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman attends a State Control Committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on May 12, 2025. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) Throughout the Israel-Hamas War and the missile barrages from Iran and its Yemeni proxy Houthi group, 1,342 buildings were struck in a significant way, as of March. Alarm bells were already sounded by the State Comptroller in 2022 regarding the dangers embedded in the old buildings structures, when there were about 810,000 apartments that required structural reinforcements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of these, 10% 84,532 units were slated for reinforcements. Yet, 45 local authorities did not pass supplementary legislation to advance such reinforcements, and the Interior Ministry did not ensure that these laws would be updated. So far, only 17 local authorities have passed such legislation, including Bat Yam and Kiryat Yam. Eighty-eight percent of the buildings in this category were built prior to 1992 before new regulations kicked in. Four hundred and thirty-nine were located in Bat Yam, while 17 were located in Beersheba. Of the buildings marked as lacking since 2015, between 60% and 100% of the structures in Beersheba were treated within the first two years, while in Bat Yam, between 59% and 89% of these buildings were not treated. In fact, 53 of these buildings 25% are not slated for improvements. Hundreds of buildings declared dangerous after last Iran attack Per media reports and ones from local authorities, hundreds of buildings were struck or declared dangerous in the last missile volley series from Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of last month, in Ramat Gan, 257 buildings were directly or indirectly hit and damaged; five of them received demolition orders, four were destroyed, five more were declared dangerous, and 64 were given the status of limited access. In Bat Yam, about 110 buildings were struck, which translates to roughly 2,000 apartments. Estimates are that most will be reconstructed and usable again eventually, but it is estimated that some will be destroyed. In Beersheba, about 154 apartments were struck and deemed unsuitable for living. In Holon, five buildings were designated for destruction. As for Ness Ziona, 300 homes and apartments were hit, and in Haifa, 64 apartments were struck, along with dozens of businesses and offices with damages estimated at tens of millions of shekels. In Petah Tikva, one building that was directly hit will likely be populated again in a year following renovations. One hundred and fifty buildings were damaged in Tel Aviv overall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report also found that the Interior and the Construction and Housing Ministries failed to update the requirements for employees working on these structures, and also did not provide supplementary training. These buildings are also not being inspected periodically and consistently, despite committee recommendations to do so, dating back 16 years. This extends to public buildings as well, not just residential ones, including schools. Overall, the report did find that the municipalities had righted some of the wrongs from the last report, but that this was still lacking; further government involvement is needed. Alon Hachmon, Batya Giladi and Moshe Cohen contributed to this report. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) A new round of $14 million worth of state grants will be used to preserve nearly 2,300 acres of open space and a public parks throughout Connecticut, the governors office announced. Gov. Ned Lamont (D) held a Monday press conference on the banks of the Connecticut River highlighting one of the grant recipients, the Hartford Riverwalk. New Haven kicks off new park clean-up initiative Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than $500,000 will be used to extend the river walk two miles north, connecting the capital city to a park in Windsor. The Riverwalk is named in honor of Joe Marfuggi, the former head of the nonprofit Riverfront Recapture. The organization works to build and maintain a network of recreational areas along the Connecticut River. This Joe Marfuggi Walk will help connect communities in the city of Hartford to the incredible beauty and nature that exists in our city and has existed for centuries in our city, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam (D) said. This latest round of grants builds on years of work to use state funds for the preservation of open spaces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the last year or so weve preserved well over 2,000 acres and we have a way to go, Lamont said. Lamont awards Waterbury $4 million grant for downtown infrastructure improvements 22 towns will receive grants as part of this round. The recipient communities span the whole state, and local leaders of both political parties have applauded the work. Jeff Caggiano, the Republican mayor of Bristol, said the preservation of a 10-acre parcel of land in the city he runs will provide a great natural resource for residents fitting hand in glove with the citys broader economic development goals. Bristol has come up with a great revitalization plan and weve seen a lot of new things, Caggiano said, but we also need to have trails and for people to go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states top environmental official said demand by local governments for additional open space is grant money continues to be strong, and applications for the next round of funds has already opened. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. McCombs School of Business at University of Texas-Austin ended its 40-year partnership with The Consortium for Graduate Study of Management, effective July 1. (Courtesy photo) Editors note: As this story was being completed, Poets&Quants discovered that the University of Virginias Darden School of Business is no longer listed on the member school page of The Consortium of Graduate Study in Management. Read our story about Dardens suspension of its membership in both The Consortium and the Forte Foundation here. Three weeks ago, effective July 1, University of Texas at Austins McCombs School of Business ended its four-decade partnership with The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management amid stark backlash to DEI policies at both the state and federal level. So far, there appears to be no public acknowledgement of the split. While emails to Consortium members have been posted on social media or forwarded to Poets&Quants, neither The Consoritium, nor UT Austin, nor McCombs has made public statements about the breakup on their website or social channels, as far as P&Q can find. Several requests for comment made to the three organizations have not been answered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the silence may be disheartening, it is understandable in the current anti-DEI climate, says Ella L.J. Bell Smith, a professor at Dartmouth Colleges Tuck School of Business. I think were in a historical period where its not even just backlash, it is the dismantling of any type of program that supports, nurtures, helps, or advances students and people of color. Under this particular presidency, not only is it not a priority, but theres almost an erasing of the progress that has been made, Smith tells P&Q. (See: Amid DEI Backlash, UT Austins McCombs Quietly Ends 40-Year Partnership With The Consortium) I think its based on the idea that if we stay silent, theyll leave us alone. I think its based on what were seeing in schools and universities like Harvard, Columbia, University of Virginia, she says. Still No Comment On McCombs & Consortium Split Consortium email to MBA candidates forwarded to P&Q on July 3. A SILENCE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR Poets&Quants was the first to report McCombs exit after a prospective applicant forwarded us a Consortium email. The message attributed the withdrawal to recent changes in state and federal policies regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This separation is not a reflection of the value or quality of our work together. UT Austin has made clear that this decision is purely driven by regulatory compliance requirements, not by any dissatisfaction with our partnership or mission, the email says. The Consortium was founded in 1966 at Washington University in St. Louis when management professor Sterling Schoen realized that no Fortune 500 company of the time had an African American in its management. He and others created a network of universities who pledged to help Black students earn MBAs and enter corporate leadership pipelines. As of July 21, 2025, The Consortium has 23 member business schools listed on its membership page, nearly all in the top tier. It also has more than 75 corporate partners in its network and has expanded its mission to create pathways for Hispanic Americans and Native Americans alongside Black students. (Editors note: UVA Darden was listed as a member school as of July 3, but is not currently listed. We have reached out to confirm whether or not it is still a member school.) P&Q reached out to all 23 member schools over the last couple of weeks. Three confirmed they were still members, but didnt have further comment: Stanford Graduate School of Business, University of Michigan Ross School of Business, and University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School. Most did not respond. Still No Comment On McCombs & Consortium Split This Consortium communication was posted on LinkedIn last week by a former fellow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Consortium has not released any statement about the McCombs exit on its website or LinkedIn account since its original email, forwarded to P&Q on July 3. (It has announced that it named Eric Allen its new CEO and Executive Director, effective August 1. Allen most recently served as General Manager of Magooshs Admit.me Access and was a Wharton MBA, Class of 2004.) Last week, a former Consortium fellow posted on LinkedIn a screenshot of a follow-up email that appears to have been sent to applicants. As a result of this change, McCombs will no longer participate in Consortium recruitment activities or accept applications through our common application. This means that incoming MBA students for Fall 2026 (Class of 2028 and beyond) at McCombs will no longer be eligible to become Consortium fellows, the more recent statement reads. We understand this news may be unexpected, especially given the significant 40-year partnership between The University of Texas at Austin and The Consortium, and its vital role in fostering community and expanding opportunities. Please know that even as our formal partnership with McCombs concludes, our unwavering commitment to youand to our core values of access, opportunity, and belongingremains as strong as ever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poets&Quants also messaged several current and past Consortium fellows and members through LinkedIn. Im disappointed in UTs decision. I feel that it will set some sort of precedent going forward, Iyayi Agbontaen, an MBA candidate and Class of 2027 Consortium Fellow at UCLA Anderson School of Management, writes to P&Q. Its hard to believe that the governing bodies of the UT system have [no] (sic) interest in upholding commitments to furthering DEI for all. Smith, author of Our Separate Ways: Black and White Women and the Search for Identity, suspects the institutional silence on the split comes down to fear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not the time when you want to raise your hand and call attention to yourself. You dont know what kind of retribution is going to come at you. You dont know what the consequences of using your voice will be, and how extreme it will be, she tells P&Q. I think people are nervous and dont want to have to go through the politicalness of this moment. END OF A 40-YEAR PARTNERSHIP UT McCombs joined the Consortium in 1984, and has hosted hundreds of Consortium fellows since. Fellows receive full-tuition scholarships, professional development, a powerful network of peers and alumni, and other resources to member MBA programs. McCombs full-time MBA Class of 2025 included 37 students who were members of the Consortium, about 15% of the 241 students in the class. Smith is a big supporter of the organization and its work. Still No Comment On McCombs & Consortium Split Dartmouth Tuck professor Ella L.J. Bell Smith is founder and faculty director of the Tuck Initiative on Workplace Inclusion. Courtesy photo Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its an unbelievable program in terms of getting students of color into business school programs, particularly the top tier, says Smith, winner of The Consortiums 2021 Earl Hill Jr. Faculty Achievement and Diversity Leadership Award. She is also founder and faculty director of the Tuck Initiative on Workplace Inclusion and a world-renowned expert in the management of race, gender, and class in the workplace. Being at Dartmouth, a lot of students of color dont see New Hampshire as the ideal place. It can be isolating, they dont necessarily see themselves as fitting. Theyre concerned about their social life and being connected to communities of color. But once we get them, they have a phenomenal experience, I think. But we have to work extra hard. So the Consortium is very important in helping us recruit students of color. ONCE GONE, OPPORTUNITIES DONT MAGICALLY SNAP BACK Just six months into his second term, Trump has upended higher education nationwide. He has threatened to cut federal funding to universities that do not dismantle DEI programs, slashed billions in scientific research funding (much of which supports university labs), and gutted the U.S. Department of Education. That move is expected to impact Title I grants, Pell grants, civil rights enforcement, and support for low-income, disabled, and first-generation students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His administration has filed lawsuits against elite schools like Columbia and Harvard and is still fighting to revoke Harvards certification to host international students. University of Virginia President James Ryan stepped down under pressure from a Department of Justice investigation into the universitys DEI policies. (UVAs Darden School of Business partnership with The Consortium was mentioned in the investigation.) Smith says people shouldnt be surprised by Trumps attacks. It was foretold in Project 2025, and conservatives have been working on this very result since the Hudson Institutes published its Workforce 2000 report way back in 1987. While that report forecast demographic changes in the American workforce and helped spur corporate investment in DEI programs, It also ushered in a period of, Okay, we need to nip this in the bud, Smith says. While Smith understands why people and organizations seem to be staying silent in this particular moment, she wonders what universities are teaching their students many of whom will become leaders themselves. Are we teaching them to be silent? Have we forgotten what has happened in the world through silence and brutality? Have we forgotten what happens when groups are erased? she asks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I will be 76 next month. Everything that got me from where I was as a kid in the South Bronx with parents who did not have higher education is quite frankly being erased. Smith earned her PhD from Case Western Reserve University in 1987, and was one of the few Black women at the time to earn that degree. Programs like The Consortium, The Forte Foundation, The Tenure Project, and others that were designed to elevate people like her, are precisely the programs that the Trump administration is now targeting. That scares me. It angers me. And Im worried, she says. Its not as if a new administration comes in, you say abracadabra, and everything comes back. It took decades to build programs that allow groups to have these kinds of opportunities. It took decades and decades, and years and years. You cant snap your fingers, and its all back in place. WILL OTHER SCHOOLS FOLLOW? A couple of big questions remain: Will other schools be forced to follow McCombs lead? If too many are pressured out of The Consortium, what happens to its ability to fulfill its mission? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such questions may be answered school by school and state by state. Texas legislature, for example, passed Senate Bill 17 in January 2024, a year before the start of Trumps second term. In response to the anti-DEI law, UTAustin eliminated roughly 60 DEI-related positions and shut down its Division of Campus & Community Engagement. So far, Smith hasnt seen the same kind of pressures in New Hampshire Tuck headquarters. This could be state by state. which is how we seem to be dividing our country right now, Smith says. These attacks also seem to be mostly on the elite institutions. She would like to see more collective action in response to the administrations attacks on universities, DEI, and opportunities for people of color. Shes seen some movement, but says there must be a coordinated, group-level response. Not just isolated statements and pushback, a strategy. I dont think one institution, one negotiation, one president leaving, will make a difference, to be honest with you Im hoping that universities will move more toward a collective response, besides just letter writing, besides individual folks going to meet with this particular administration, she says. Speaking out is crucial, but you also have to have a strategy. Whats your game plan? Whats the conversation? And the consequences of not having a strategy? Of staying quiet, of ducking notice so you can make it to the next fight? Theres a part of me that wonders if this is a way to make sure we never, ever again have a Barack Obama, a Michelle Obama. The kinds of success weve had with people of color reaching the top echelons, Smith tells P&Q. Is all this just a way to make sure that doesnt happen again? DONT MISS: AMID DEI BACKLASH, UT AUSTINS MCCOMBS QUIETLY ENDS 40-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CONSORTIUM and HOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS STRONG-ARMING HIGHER EDUCATION The post If We Stay Silent, Theyll Leave Us Alone: Still No Comment From Texas McCombs Or Consortium On Historic Split appeared first on Poets&Quants. Sorry, Florida. No Animal-style Double-Doubles for you. In a recent episode of the Christian conservative podcast "Relatable," In-N-Out CEO Lynsi Snyder put down the final word on expansion of the iconic California burger chain to the Sunshine State. "Florida has begged us, and were still saying no," Snyder said. "The East Coast states, were still saying no." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In-N-Out was founded in 1948 in Baldwin Park, California, and they've made their home in the Golden State ever since where they've achieved near-cult status while keeping a firm border on their expansion plans. Take Texas. Draw a line up and just stick to the left. Thats in my lifetime. I like that were unique. That were not on every corner. You put us in every state and it takes away some of its luster, Snyder said in a 2018 interview with Forbes. That line has changed a bit, though, as the company prepares to open locations and its second headquarters in Tennessee. "Well, it's funny," Snyder told host Allie Beth Stuckey. "I think Kid Rock, his name is Bob, I think he's the one that actually drew the new map. And he put the line up from Texas, grabbed Tennessee, went around Tennessee and back up."I'm like, yeah, that's how you're doing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Snyder had a lot to say about her home state of California where her parents built a burger empire. "Theres a lot of great things about California," Snyder said. "But raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here." Snyder also groused about the state's implementation of rules surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw state health officials shut down two restaurants in 2021 because they refused to check customers' vaccine status. "Youve got to do this," Snyder said of the vaccine mandate for indoor dining. "You have to have this plastic thing between us and our customers. It was really terrible, you know? And I look back, Im like, we should have pushed even harder on that stuff. Were not policing our customers." Florida offered In-N-Out a new home during the pandemic That reaction prompted then-Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis to reach out to Snyder, extolling Floridas pro-business climate and how it loves business owners, entrepreneurs and employees. He offered to help Snyder explore relocating In-N-Out Burger to Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My motto is 'Florida is for Winners,' and I have no doubt that your team can win here in the Sunshine State where we remain free and open for business, Patronis wrote. Gov. Ron DeSantis' push to get businesses open again quickly during the pandemic in 2020 resulted in the Florida's economy bouncing back faster than most other states and the country as a whole, although Florida also ranked highly in COVID-19 death rates with more than 12,000 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In-N-Out opening locations in 4 states: Will Florida finally get one? In-N-Out sticks to core values In-N-Out Burger food and its packing with Bible verses on the bottom. In-N-Out Burger has regularly stuck to their guns when it comes to expressing the company's core beliefs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2018 the company came under fire for donating to Republicans, which spurred a boycott, although it was later pointed out they also had donated to a PAC supporting Democrats. In-N-Out Burger also prints Bible verses on some of their packaging, a practice started by the founders' son Rich Snyder and expanded by Lynsi Snyder. She talked about that on the podcast and some of the backlash they've received. The Bible verse is something that is, you know, meaningful to my family and our faith. And my uncle was like, this is a declaration, like we're a family business and this is just part of us, you know?" Snyder said. "And, you know, no one's being forced to, you know, hey, now you have to follow the Ten Commandments and then you can have a burger. Why hasn't In-N-Out Burger come to Florida? The main reason is the company's insistence on quality and fresh ingredients. The locations don't use freezers, microwaves or heat lamps, and they must be located within trucking range miles of the company-owned distribution centers in California and Texas where the ingredients and ground chuck are prepared, which somewhat limits the options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Were able to reach Tennessee from our Texas warehouse. Well have a warehouse, but not do our own meat there, so well be able to deliver from Texas," Snyder said. In-N-Out Burger didn't open a location outside of California for 44 years, finally bringing one to Las Vegas in 1992. The company operates 281 of its 418 locations in California but has steadily expanded in recent years with locations in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Utah., There are locations and a new corporate headquarters planned for Tennessee in 2026, but the owners have said repeatedly they have no plans to move farther east. Hooters to Home of the Whopper: A look at popular restaurant chains that began in Florida Where's the closest In-N-Out Burger to Florida? If you're in Pensacola and up for a quick 10-hour road trip, the Dallas locations in Texas would be the closest. Once the Nashville stores open, lunch could be as close as 6-7 hours away from the Panhandle. What is In-N-Out? In-N-Out Burger has achieved nearly cult-like status in California and the Southwest for its fresh ingredients, customer service, emphasis on family values, and a dependable menu of fewer than 15 items: burgers, cheeseburgers, fries, soda, milkshakes and the signature two-patty Double-Double. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Double-Double was named the 4th best burger in the U.S. according to USA TODAY readers in the 10Best ranking of Best Fast Food Burger for 2025, released July 16. In-N-Out Burger has steadfastly refused to follow the trends other companies have chased. They do not offer breakfast or a chicken sandwich, and there are no seasonal changes. The few changes that come to the menu are decades apart. In-N-Out Burger was founded in 1948 by newlyweds Harry and Esther Snyder. After Harry Snyder died in 1976, Esther helped her sons Rich and Guy when they took over. In 2010, Harry and Esther's granddaughter Lynsi Snyder became the sole owner of the chain and, incidentally, the youngest female billionaire in the U.S. In-N-Out Burger isn't the oldest fast-food place that's A&W (1919) and it's not the oldest burger place -- that's White Castle (1921) but it's got Burger King (1954) and McDonald's (1955) beat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And they have their own historical milestone: they were the first drive-thru burger place. The Snyders opened their restaurant with a new innovation: a two-way radio speaker that allowed people to drive up, order. and get their food without ever leaving the car. The original place has been demolished, but an exact replica was created in 2014 with all the same 1940s equipment. Celebrities have been known to hit up an In-N-Out. Beyonce is a fan, and Kylie Jenner admitted it was one of her pregnancy cravings. It's become a thing for stars such as Adele, Brie Larson, Miley Cyrus, Anna Kendrick and Julia Roberts to post photos of their In-N-Out celebrations after Grammys, Emmy, Oscars awards ceremonies. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: In-N-Out burger Florida expansion is out in move from California Jul. 21Police received a report at 12:31 p.m. Thursday of storage units that were broken into at 601 Pilot St. since the week prior. Police received a report of a generator and power tools that were stolen at 4:42 p.m. Saturday at 601 Pilot St. The generator was later found by an officer when doing a follow-up on a separate case. Man turns self in on warrant Rodney Lee Anderson, 61, reportedly turned himself in on a warrant at 4:33 a.m. Friday at 411 S. Broadway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1 cited for DWI Police cited Samuel Hartigan Wood, 33, for fourth-degree driving while intoxicated after a traffic stop at 11:22 p.m. Friday near the intersection of Freeborn County Road 46 and 840th Avenue in Albert Lea. Juvenile arrested for underage drinking and driving Police arrested a juvenile for underage drinking and driving, no Minnesota driver's license and speeding after a traffic stop at 11:35 p.m. Saturday near Minnesota Highway 13 and 240th Street. Flasher reported Police received a report of a male in his 60s who reportedly came to the door and flashed someone at about 8:15 a.m. Thursday at 305 E. Third St. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1 arrested on local warrants Police arrested Yorman Reyes Marin, 44, on local warrants at 4 p.m. Thursday at 800 S. Fourth Ave. Scooter stolen, recovered A scooter was reported stolen at 8:13 p.m. Thursday at 707 Marshall St. It was later recovered at 410 Bridge Ave. Dog bite reported Police received a report at 6:37 a.m. from a Mayo Clinic nurse in Rochester of a dog bite that occurred at 707 Marshall St. 1 arrested for fleeing police Police arrested Andrew Allen Belden, 22, for felony fleeing police after a vehicle was reported rolled over at 12:30 a.m. Saturday near Giles Place and Clausen Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tires slashed on vehicle Police received a report at 3:16 p.m. Saturday of two tires that were reported slashed on a Semcac work truck at 1010 W. Clark St. The damage reportedly happened between 5:30 p.m. Friday at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. 1 arrested on A&D hold Police arrested Felipe Ambriz Ambriz-Becerra, 34, on an arrest and detain hold at 7:57 p.m. Sunday at 2019 E. Main St. When President Donald Trump signed into law a massive spending bill that bans Planned Parenthood from receiving federal Medicaid funds for a year, the influential anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America called it the greatest pro-life victory since the end of Roe v. Wade. But this was not the victory they had laid out, even if conservatives have pushed to defund Planned Parenthood for years. Since the loss of federal abortion rights, many anti-abortion groups have championed a national ban on the procedure, which, after considering a 15-week proposal, Trump said on the campaign trail he would not sign. During Trumps second term, those same groups, citing the presidents disinterest, have backed away from pushing for a new law that would ban abortion. But by adopting more piecemeal efforts cuts to Planned Parenthood and restrictions on when and how abortion medications can be administered they have developed an approach that could still make abortion far more difficult to obtain without the same political costs as an unpopular ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anti-abortion groups and particularly anti-abortion politicians in Congress know that a direct national abortion ban is deeply deeply unpopular, said Ashlea Phenicie, the chief external affairs officer for Planned Parenthood of Michigan. Instead what theyre trying to do is restrict access by a thousand cuts. Polling has consistently shown that close to two-thirds of Americans believe abortion should be legal in most or all circumstances. Women, in particular, support abortion rights. A poll from last summer by KFF, a nonpartisan health policy, journalism and public opinion organization, found that most women between the ages of 18 and 49 including almost half of all Republican women oppose national laws banning abortion. I dont think anyones going to talk about any national ban for the remainder of this presidency, said Patrick T. Brown, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative think tank that opposes abortion. We could have a different conversation about the 2028 primary. Defunding Planned Parenthood is one part of the workaround. Anti-abortion groups from across the country outlined removing the organization from Medicaid as a top priority early on this year, lobbying Congress and the White House to ensure that provision made its way into Trumps signature bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of pro-life groups came together and got the big ask, which was defunding, Brown said. Planned Parenthood has challenged the defunding provision in court. On Monday, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction to block the order for some of the organizations individual affiliates those that dont provide abortions or that receive less than $800,000 in Medicaid reimbursement in an individual year. But if the provision takes full effect, Planned Parenthood estimates that the loss of Medicaid eligibility could result in the closure of almost 200 reproductive health centers, or about one-third of all Planned Parenthood affiliates. Those losses are concentrated where abortion is legal, in states that have seen large numbers of patients traveling from somewhere else for an abortion. Though Planned Parenthood is not the only option for in-person abortions independent clinics are not directly affected by the funding law health care providers said the loss could put tremendous pressure on the entire network of clinics. Republicans will never have a chance of passing restrictions on abortion in blue states, but this is a way of cutting back on the supply, maybe, in a way that would have been hard to do otherwise, Brown said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many Planned Parenthood affiliates are petitioning their states for more funding to make up the difference or seeking support from private donors to stave off clinic closures, but its unclear how effective that will be. Complementing this victory, abortion opponents are renewing their push for new restrictions on mifepristone, one of the drugs used in two-thirds of all U.S. abortions putting pressure on federal officials to review its safety and impose stricter regulations on when and how it is dispensed. Limiting access to the drug could make abortion substantially harder for clinics to provide most abortion clinics only offer the procedure through medication and for patients to seek abortions through telehealth, which has become more common in the post-Roe landscape. Kristi Hamrick, vice president of media and policy at the anti-abortion group Students for Life, said mifepristone is now front and center for her organization. Anti-abortion activists have been arguing that the Food and Drug Administration should rescind a decision allowing mifepristone to be distributed through telehealth. Many have cited new papers which medical experts have called junk science arguing they suggest the pill is dangerous and requires heavier restrictions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robert F. Kennedy Jr., head of the Department of Health and Human Services, testified in May that he had directed the Food and Drug Administration to review the safety of mifepristone, citing one of those anti-abortion papers. His department has not issued any updates since then, and Trump himself has talked little about abortion since taking office. But influential anti-abortion groups are counting on federal action. President Trumps FDA has promised a thorough review of the data that the Biden and Obama administrations ignored when rolling back critical safety standards, Marjorie Dannenfelser, head of SBA Pro-Life America, said in an Iowa speech a week after Trump signed the budget bill. Big Abortions war on unborn children and their mothers is a national threat, and it requires national leadership to defeat. For people who cant get to an abortion clinic, getting medications through the mail is often the only way to have an abortion. The process is safe and effective, a vast body of scientific evidence shows, and backed by major medical groups such as the World Health Organization. About 1 in 4 abortions in the country are now done through telehealth. Half of those are for people living in states with abortion bans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Efforts to restrict abortion medications extend beyond Washington. In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has summoned lawmakers back for a special legislative session this month, including on his agenda a call for bills that aims to block the pills from being sent to Texans. And the attorneys general in Idaho, Kansas and Missouri are continuing to argue in court that the FDA must restrict access to mifepristone by reinstating requirements that it be dispensed only in-person with three doctors visits, and that it can only be used through the first seven weeks of pregnancy. On their own, those changes would make abortions substantially harder to come by. But their impact would be even when greater combined with the abortion clinic closures that health providers anticipate under the new spending bill. The number of abortions done in the United States hasnt fallen after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Thats because thousands of people have traveled to another state for care or ordered abortion pills online to take at home. The closure of more abortion clinics would make travel even more difficult for people seeking to leave their states, with fewer health facilities available to meet patient demand. Restrictions on mifepristone could eliminate telehealth as an option. If both occur together, patients seeking to get around their states abortion bans could be out of options. That would also be true for those in states where abortion is legal, but clinics can no longer afford to stay open, or where an influx of new patients has created new, unnavigable wait times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other than travel, the way people access abortion is online and through the mail, said Allison Cowett, medical director of Family Planning Associates, an independent abortion provider in Illinois that has seen patients from all over the country since Roes fall. If people are no longer able to access their virtual care, that would be devastating to the infrastructure of abortion care right now. Even with these possibilities up ahead, abortion opponents have not abandoned national restrictions, with some arguing for a reinterpretation of the U.S. Constitution to ban all abortions. In her Iowa speech, Dannenfelser encouraged abortion opponents to postpone that goal, citing future elections: the 2026 midterms and the 2028 election for a successor to Trump. We especially need a presidential champion who will take this fight head-on, recognizing there is a constitutional mandate under the 14th Amendment to act for the equal protection of unborn children, she said. The post The new strategy to restrict abortion nationwide without saying ban appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter. Students, teachers and family members are recalling the moment that a Bangladesh Air Force jet crashed into a school campus, killing at least 20. Hasbya Rahman, a student at Milestone School and College in the Bangladeshi capital of Uttara, told Bangladeshi outlet The Business Standard (TBS) that she was sitting in her classroom when the smoking plane hurdled towards the school. "We saw the plane engulfed in flames as it heading towards us, then it crashed directly into the building," said Rahman, who was able to escape unharmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Smoke and screams filled the air," Rahman added, noting that some teachers were trying to get young children out of the building "but many got trapped due to the fire and smoke." A spokesperson for Milestone School and College confirmed that the aircraft crashed near the school gates around 1:06 p.m. local time on Monday, July 21, according to the Times of India. At least 20 people, including the pilot, were killed when the Air force training jet crashed after experiencing a "mechanical fault," the Bangladesh Armed Forces said in a statement. An additional 171 people were injured. Md. Rakibul Hasan Rafiu/NurPhoto via Getty At least 20 people, including the pilot, die after a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 aircraft crashes into a building of Milestone College in Dhaka. At least 20 people, including the pilot, die after a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 aircraft crashes into a building of Milestone College in Dhaka. Masud Tarik, a teacher at the school, told Reuters that he was walking towards the school's outdoor gate when he realized that something had happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I was picking (up) my kids and went to the gate, I realized something came from behind, he shared. I heard an explosion. When I looked back, I only saw fire and smoke. AP Photo/Al-emrun Garjon Firemen check the wreckage of the Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft. Firemen check the wreckage of the Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft. India Today reported that the plane crashed into the front side of the three-story school building, leaving several students trapped. Classes for children from playgroup age to grades 1-5 were located where the plane crashed, along with a canteen, according to TBS. Milestone School had students ranging from ages 4 to 18, reported CNN. 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. Video footage from Bangladesh's Channel 24 showed smoke billowing from the building as firefighters spray water onto the site, according to the outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One family member who spoke to the local network said that his sister was a grade four student who was injured in the crash, while another bystander said that the first group of victims who arrived at the hospital had sustained severe burns. We literally saw skin being torn off, she said. AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu Volunteers cordon off the area after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft has crashed onto a school campus in Dhaka. Volunteers cordon off the area after a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft has crashed onto a school campus in Dhaka. Teachers and college staff initially helped rescue the students before the fire and army departments arrived. According to witnesses, army personnel rescued the injured students in their arms and transported them to hospitals in vehicles as ambulances "were not readily available, reportedTBS and India Today. Muhammad Yunus, the leader of Bangladesh's interim government, said "necessary measures" would be taken to investigate the cause of the incident and "ensure all kinds of assistance," according to the BBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "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 social media post. Bangladesh will hold a national day of mourning on Tuesday, July 22, and the country's flag will be flown at half-mast. Read the original article on People COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) Before you plan a trip to the Chattahoochee River to cool off this summer, there are some important safety measures to keep in mind. River guides with Whitewater Express are on the Chattahoochee almost every day. They say the calmest part of the river is an eddy behind Waveshaper Island. But the tumultuous rapids just downstream can be dangerous if youre not properly equipped. Thats regardless of whether youre on the water or nearby rocks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its important for people to know that if they are going to be recreating around the river, on the rocks, getting close to the edge is not a good idea, said Whitewater Express general manager Daniell Gilbert. The rocks are very slick out there and you dont want to be in a situation where you accidentally slip into a white water rapid. RELATED: Heat Safety: Hot car deaths & keeping children safe in rising temperatures Gilbert says if youre on Waveshaper Island near the rocks, you should consider wearing a personal floatation device. If you find yourself in white water, guides say never to stand up in a moving current. You can either swim to shore on your stomach or face the sky and point your legs downstream. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whitewater Express says the safest option is to take some river safety lessons before getting on the water. Gilbert says it can take weeks to months, or sometimes years, to get comfortable in white water. Guides give guests an in-depth safety briefing at the beginning of all Whitewater Express tours. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sun Street Breads to close in south Minneapolis originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Sun Street Breads is set to close next year in south Minneapolis as its lease comes to an end. Co-owners Solveig Tofte and Martin Ouimet opted against a five-year lease extension at 4600 Nicollet Ave., where the current lease expires in March, Mpls.St. Paul Magazine on Sunday. That means the bakery will shutter in the spring, with the husband-wife-duo telling the publication the business model doesn't work anymore, and they struggled with the thought of rising prices for customers, many of whom are retired and on fixed incomes, to account for the skyrocketing costs of ingredients, utilities and equipment. Sun Street Breads is closing in south Minneapolis next March after 15 years.Sun Street Breads | Facebook It's a bittersweet ending for Sun Street, which enabled its owners and 15 employees to raise families and to buy cars and houses, Tofte told Mpls.St.Paul Mag food writer Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tofte told the Minnesota Star Tribune that she wants Sun Street to end on a high note, while there's still enough money in the business account to pay employees and bills. "Weve done this for 15 years and its time for something new," she said. A weekend hash special featuring Sun Street Breads toast and Moon Cow BBQ pork.Sun Street Breads | Facebook Tofte and Ouimet already know what's next for them. The couple expect to turn their attention to Moon Cow, their new Texas-style barbecue concept. Moon Cow debuted last summer at the Nokomis Farmers Market. It's since been featured in Sun Street specials, including atop the bakery's pizzas on Thursday nights, and has reappeared occasionally at the farmers market this season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple plans to operate a Moon Cow sandwich cart and barbecue trailer in Grand Marais, where they own some land and have family, a few days a week during the summer months. It could get off the ground as soon as late next summer. Sun Street Breads founder and head baker Solveig Tofte at Moon Cow Barbecue's farmers market stand.Sun Street Breads | Facebook Tofte worked as the head baker at Turtle Bread Company in Minneapolis for a decade before opening Sun Street in 2011. Tofte has competed for Team USA in the worldwide baking contest La Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie and led The Bread Bakers Guild of America. She also founded the Intergalactic Bakers Federation. Tofte intends to continue teaching baking and judging internationally. She might even write her first cookbook. Related: As leases expire, Edina's 50th & France could lose 2 prominent restaurants This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared. MEMPHIS, Tenn Trip Advisor announced the winners of its annual 2025 Travelers Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things To Do. Sun Studio, the legendary recording studio in Memphis, made Trip Advisors Top 10 list of attractions in the U.S. It is listed at number 3 on the list, just ahead of Central Park and just behind the Empire State Building, both in New York. The top attraction was the NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Artists like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and more recorded their earliest hits that are still played today. Sun Studio is often what many Memphians refer to as the birthplace of Rock n Roll. For more information about the recording studio and how to purchase tickets, click here. To see the full list, 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 WREG.com. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) Public schools across South Carolina adopted a new cell phone policy in January. After a semester without phones, teachers believe students are more engaged in class and less distracted. This shouldnt be a surprise. This was a commonsense policy that was well overdue, said Patrick Kelly with the Palmetto State Teachers Association. A new survey from the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) showed more than 90% of teachers who participated in the survey said students were focusing more on instruction since the policy was put in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Vann Holden, Chief Research Officer with the SCDE, said the initial findings are promising. Their students are able to focus on learning during the school day, he said. They also perceived that theyre less likely to see, other specific behaviors as student conduct issues at their school. Dena R. Crews, President of the South Carolina Education Association agreed, adding that students spent more time on tasks and educators have seen less disruptions in the classroom. South Carolina leaders approve cell phone ban in schools The disrespect of teachers, so whether it was students texting things back and forth about teachers, even the disrespect of teachers has gone down just with their cell phone policy, Crews continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While every schools cell phone policy varies, concerns regarding students safety persisted. God forbid if there was an emergency, they could pull it out, Kelly said. Now, Im going to tell you as a teacher that theyre actually less safe if they pull out that cell phone, and local law enforcement will tell you the same thing. State resident Billy Routh said the policy makes perfect sense. I dont know why students cant just put their phone in a box in front of the classroom and pick it up on the way out the door, he said. The phone is still there if they need it for an emergency, but theyre not going to be distracted by the cell phone during instruction time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Holden said to expect more information regarding the survey in the next few weeks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. UPDATE (4:45 p.m.) The court took a brief lunch recess and returned to witness testimony just after noon to hear more from the witness stand. The State called a lead investigator with the Indiana State Police to the stand, who confirmed toxicology reports that showed methamphetamine in Henrys system at the time of the incident. During testimony, the defendant agreed to a stipulation that he had two prior convictions and that if convicted in this case that he would be considered a habitual offender. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trial will continue Wednesday morning when the court is expected to hear testimony from a ballistic expert. UPDATE (12:00 p.m.) During opening statements, the State argued that Justin Henry allegedly attempted to murder Vermillion County Sheriff Deputies Joey Wilson and Keith Warner. The defense questioned whether Henry had intent to kill the two officers and asked for the witnesses to be separated. Special Judge Hunter Reece ordered the witnesses to be separated, and court proceeded. In February of 2023, Deputy Wilson was shot in the leg and foot after a multi-state police pursuit that began in Danville, Illinois, on a routine traffic stop Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the pursuit, it was discovered that Henry was wanted out of Champaign County, Illinois, for attempted murder. Attempted murder suspect Justin Henry is being escorted into a Vermillion County courtroom Tuesday morning in court, the state called four witnesses to the stand, including Deputy Wilson. Deputy Wilson stated that he took over the pursuit from the Danville, Illinois, Police Department as it entered Vermillion County, Indiana. Deputy Wilson stated that Vermillion County, Indiana, dispatch was notified by Vermilion County, Illinois, dispatch that a wanted person was entering the county. Speeds reached over 100 MPH as the pursuit passed by North Vermillion High School and increased to 137 MPH before coming to an end in the front yard of a farmhouse in Dana, Indiana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilson described in detail the moment Henry fired a gun at him. Wilson said that Henry exited the vehicle, turned and fired at him, striking him in the foot and shin. He was trying to kill me, Wilson stated. The courtroom became emotional as body camera video showed the incident that Joey described. Wilsons wife was also in the courtroom. She was moved to tears as he described the video and photographic evidence, including a photo where Henry is allegedly pointing the gun at Wilson. That is Justin Henry shooting at me, Wilson said. The judge also heard from Deputy Keith Warner. Warner described the moment the suspect pointed a gun at him, stating that Henry stood at the corner of the house near a satellite dish and looked directly at Warner and fired the weapon multiple times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I locked eyes with the suspect, Warner said. Is there any doubt in your mind he was trying to kill you, the state questioned. Absolutely not, Warner stated. The trial will continue into the afternoon as the state is set to call another witness to the stand. VERMILLION COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) A trial in underway for the man accused of shooting a Vermillion County Deputy after a police chase in 2023. Justin T. Henry is in court Tuesday for a bench trial in the attempted murder case of Vermillion County Sheriff Deputy Joey Wilson. In February of 2023, Deputy Wilson was shot in the leg and foot after a multi-state police chase that began in Danville, Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement William Ray Grimes received the maximum sentence in a 12-year-old Sullivan County murder case Indiana State Police said police in Danville, Illinois, attempted to pull over a car being driven by Henry. However, police said Henry took off and a chase ensued into Indiana. As officers closed in near Dana, Henry allegedly shot Deputy Wilson and then hid a in barn. Henry was later shot by police as he tried to leave the barn on a piece of farm equipment. Images of the scene where Justin Henry allegedly shot a Vermillion County Deputy In court so far Tuesday, the state has called two witnesses to the stand, including Deputy Wilson. Body camera video of the incident was also shown to the courtroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Henrys trial is a bench trial, meaning that a judge rather than a jury decides the verdict of the case. WTWO/WAWV has a crew in the courtroom and will keep you updated here online and on air. Indiana Supreme Court decides on execution date for Joseph Corcoran Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. It was one of the more brutal crime scenes in recent Key Largo history when firefighters knocked down flames at a small house behind the local Veterans of Foreign Wars bar to find the body of a 70-year-old woman whom investigators said was stabbed in the neck. The Keys community was still recovering from Hurricane Irma when the firefighters made the grisly discovery around 9:40 p.m. Oct. 21, 2017. And many of the people looking for work cleaning peoples yards from the damage caused by the Category 4 storm lived on boats in a mooring field behind the Murray Nelson Government Center on the bayside of U.S. 1, right across the street from the VFW where the victim, Mary Bonneville, went to drink and play video poker just about every night. READ MORE: Detectives arrest suspect in post-Irma Florida Keys murder The mooring field is also where the man who prosecutors charged with Bonnevilles murder two years later lived on his boat. Investigators said 59-year-old Eddy Lopez-Jemot stabbed Bonneville that night and then set her house at the 700 block of Ponce de Leon Boulevard ablaze. Eddy Lopez-Jemot But hes not in prison; instead, he landed in Alligator Alcatraz, the tent city the state of Florida built this summer on an airstrip in the middle of the Everglades to temporarily hold migrants before theyre to be deported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez-Jemot pleaded no contest to first-degree arson June 30 and was sentenced to nearly four years in prison, but given time served for that entire time since hes been in Monroe County jail ever since the week Bonneville was found dead. In exchange for his plea, the state dropped the murder charge. Star witness became uncooperative Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield told the Herald this week that the second-degree murder case was getting increasingly difficult because one of prosecutors star witnesses became uncooperative and the other disappeared. Monroe sheriffs homicide detectives tied Lopez-Jemot to the murder through DNA they found on a beer can and on a towel found outside of Bonnevilles house. Since he had done work at the house in the past, it was reasonable that his DNA could be on the towel without him having committed the murder, Mansfield explained. Proving homicide was becoming more and more problematic, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monroe Circuit Judge James Morgan III also sentenced Lopez-Jemot to two years of probation, and as part of the plea deal, he had to promise to stay out of Monroe County, according to court records. Mansfield said that after his June 30 conviction, Monroe authorities notified federal immigration officials that Lopez-Jemot was in the U.S. illegally from Cuba. READ MORE: Is your family member or client at Alligator Alcatraz? We obtained a list Its not clear when he arrived at Alligator Alcatraz, but his name turns up in the list the Miami Herald obtained of the more than 700 people being held at the detention facility, which opened July 1. His court-appointed attorney, Philip Massa, declined to comment on the case. Person of interest from the start? Keys detectives focused on Lopez-Jemot from nearly the beginning. Thats because about 20 minutes before firefighters arrived at Bonnevilles burning house, Lopez-Jemot threatened to cut off his then-girlfriends head and burn her house down. The confrontation occurred in the VFWs parking lot, located just 660 feet west of Bonnevilles home, investigators said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And as he tried to force his way inside the womans van, armed with a knife, he bragged that he had killed people in a similar manor several times in the past stabbing them and burning their homes down according to the sheriffs office. Detectives arrested Lopez-Jemot two days later on charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon and burglary. He ended up pleading no contest in January 2018 to aggravated assault. A judge sentenced him to a year in county jail, with credit for time served, plus three years probation. It would be nearly three years after Bonnevilles death before Monroe detectives arrested Lopez-Jemot in connection with the murder. But a raid on his boat behind the Murray Nelson government center a month after she died gave early indication investigators had their eyes on him from the start. A rowboat sits in the mangroves behind the Murray E. Nelson Government and Cultural Arts Center at mile marker 102 in Key Largo. The boat is used by people living on larger vessels offshore. Police in November 2017 raided a liveaboard vessel while investigating the Oct. 21 , 2017, murder of a Key Largo woman. The victim in the aggravated assault case, Magdalena Soutelo Rodriguez, 57, was one of the two witnesses prosecutors were relying on for a murder conviction against Lopez-Jemot, Mansfield said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, she has since become uncooperative after being arrested on felony cocaine possession in May 2024 and another felony arrest on two counts of possession of prescription drugs this May, according to Mansfield. Soutelo Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty in both cases, which are pending in county court. Shes being uncooperative, and she has recanted statements, Mansfield said. Three bodies have been found in a run-down house in the Bavarian town of Zwiesel, in south-eastern Germany, after a suspect turned himself in and tipped off the police. The 37-year-old Slovakian suspect had gone to the police in the Austrian city of Linz on Monday afternoon, saying he had killed three people. He was taken into custody and is due to be extradited to Germany, the police said. Based on his account, the police found the bodies of a 22-year-old and a 56-year old at his residential address in Zwiesel, as well as a third corpse that has not yet been identified. The case is being treated as homicide, a police spokeswoman said. Few details known The two identified victims, both German, lived in the same apartment building, although it was initially unclear whether they shared an apartment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The relationship between those involved and the motive of the alleged perpetrator was also initially unclear. No information was available on the time or circumstances of the deaths. "There is really still very little that can be said with certainty," the police spokeswoman said. The three bodies were found on Monday, based on the information the suspect gave the Linz police. His extradition could take several weeks, with the process usually requiring a European Arrest Warrant, according to Horst Muller from the nearby state prosecution in Deggendorf. The house was cordoned off with police tape on Tuesday and forensic teams were on site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Passauer Neue Presse, a local newspaper, the building in an otherwise quiet neighbourhood was known locally for its regular disturbances, including alcohol-fuelled disputes and altercations. "The house is already known to us as a place where police or fire brigade operations occasionally take place because fire alarms go off - but not in the sense that something like this could have been foreseen or suspected," said Mayor Karl-Heinz Eppinger. "You only see this in crime shows," he added. The suspect accused of killing an "American Idol" music supervisor and her husband in their Los Angeles home used the couple's own gun in the murders and called police, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. Raymond Boodarian, 22, killed Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca, both 70, on July 10 after the couple returned to their Encino home while he was burglarizing the residence, officials allege. The couple were found dead last Monday after police conducted a welfare check and saw blood at the door, according to Los Angeles police. Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca. (via Facebook) Hochman shared the update about the suspect and the alleged murder weapon Monday night at a public safety meeting the Encino Neighborhood Council hosted to discuss the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over 100 concerned Encino residents attended the meeting to demand answers about why Boodarian was out on the streets even though he had been jailed last year on suspicion of battery, displaying a weapon and making threats, Encino Neighborhood Council President Josh Sautter told NBC News. A judge dismissed the case in December after hearings concerning Boodarian's mental health, NBC Los Angeles reported. At the meeting, Hochman said Boodarian was arrested the day after the couple's bodies were found. "Mr. Boodarian got caught because he used his cellphone to contact police concerning the situation, actually identified himself by name," Hochman said during the meeting. "Police were able to ping the cellphone, find out where he lived, go to his residence and arrest him." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hochman also said that investigators found the gun used in the double murder and that it did not belong to Boodarian. "It was Robyn and Toms gun," he said. "It wasnt his gun. It was exceptionally tragic." Boodarian is believed to have entered the couple's home through an unlocked door at around 4 p.m. July 10, officials. Kaye and Deluca returned home from the grocery store and found him there, prosecutors said. In a matter of moments, this couple was senselessly killed in their own home as they returned from the grocery store, Hochman said in a statement last week. A neighbor called 911 to report a possible burglary in progress on the afternoon of the same day "but was unable to be reached during attempts to follow up," police spokesperson Jennifer Forkish said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The second call came later from an individual claiming to be a resident inside the location," Forkish said. "The caller eventually advised that police response was not necessary and follow-up attempts to reach the caller was unsuccessful." Forkish did not share any details about the second callers identity. A spokesperson for the DA's office said the suspect placed a 911 call about the incident. Both calls were linked to the same address, and units from the LAPD West Valley and air support divisions responded to the scene, Forkish said. Officers checked the surrounding area and the home and tried to enter the home at two access points, but both were locked. "The home was secured with surrounding walls," Forkish said. "The Air Ship visually checked the location and advised there was no visible activity or evidence of break in. After taking additional steps to contact the persons reporting and residents at the location, officers cleared from the scene." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kaye's and Deluca's bodies were found July 14 after someone requested a welfare check after not having heard from one of them for several days, police said. Kaye had been working for "American Idol" since 2009, according to a spokesperson for the show. Sautter, who met Kaye after she contacted the council about a safety issue in the neighborhood, said she was "so full of joy and gratitude." "You could feel her joy for life," Sautter said. Sautter said the incident has left many residents feeling unsafe in their community. "Theres no feeling of public safety right now," Sautter said. "Everybody is so angry." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boodarian was arrested last Tuesday and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree burglary. The charges come with special allegations, like multiple murder, that would increase a possible sentence. If he is convicted, Boodarian could face life in prison, officials said. He is being held without bail in a Los Angeles correctional facility, according to online records. The Los Angeles County Public Defenders Office, which represents Boodarian, according to records, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Boodarian's next court date is Aug. 20, according to online records. The investigation continues. Police are trying to determine whether there was a connection between Boodarian and the couple. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The long-range Russian drones come in swarms each night, buzzing for hours over Ukraine by the hundreds, terrorizing the population and attacking targets from the industrial east to areas near its western border with Poland. Russia now often batters Ukraine with more drones in a single night than it did during some entire months in 2024, and analysts say the barrages are likely to escalate. On July 8, Russia unleashed more than 700 drones a record. Some experts say that number could soon top 1,000 a day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spike comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has given Russia until early September to reach a ceasefire or face new sanctions - a timeframe Moscow is likely to use to inflict as much damage as possible on Ukraine. Russia has sharply increased its drone output and appears to keep ramping it up. Initially importing Shahed drones from Iran early in the 3 1/2-year-old war, Russia has boosted its domestic production and upgraded the original design. The Russian Defense Ministry says it's turning its drone force into a separate military branch. It also has established a dedicated center for improving drone tactics and better training for those flying them. Fighting a war of drones Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian engineers have changed the original Iranian Shahed to increase its altitude and make it harder to intercept, according to Russian military bloggers and Western analysts. Other modifications include making it more jamming-resistant and able to carry powerful thermobaric warheads. Some use artificial intelligence to operate autonomously. The original Shahed and its Russian replica called Geran, or geranium have an engine to propel it at 180 kph (just over 110 mph). A faster jet version is reportedly in the works. The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War noted that cooperation with China has allowed Russia to bypass Western sanctions on imports of electronics for drone production. Ukraines military intelligence estimates that Russia receives up to 65% of components for its Geran drones from China. Beijing rejects the claims. Russia initially launched its production of the Iranian drones at factory in Alabuga, located in Tatarstan. An Associated Press investigation found employees at the Alabuga plant included young African women who said they were duped into taking jobs there. Geran production later began at a plant in Udmurtia, west of the Ural Mountains. Ukraine has launched drone attacks on both factories but failed to derail production. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A report Sunday by state-run Zvezda TV described the Alabuga factory as the world's biggest attack drone plant. Its a war of drones. We are ready for it, said plant director Timur Shagivaleyev, adding it produces all components, including engines and electronics, and has its own training school. The report showed hundreds of black Geran drones stacked in an assembly shop decorated with Soviet-style posters. One featured images of the father of the Soviet nuclear bomb, Igor Kurchatov, legendary Soviet space program chief, Sergei Korolyov, and dictator Josef Stalin, with the words: Kurchatov, Korolyov and Stalin live in your DNA. Shifting tactics and defenses Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian military has improved its tactics, increasingly using decoy drones named Gerbera for a type of daisy. They closely resemble the attack drones and are intended to confuse Ukrainian defenses and distract attention from their more deadly twins. By using large numbers of drones in one attack, Russia seeks to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and keep them from targeting more expensive cruise and ballistic missiles that Moscow often uses alongside the drones to hit targets like key infrastructure facilities, air defense batteries and air bases. Former Russian Defense Ministry press officer Mikhail Zvinchuk, who runs a popular war blog, noted the Russian military has learned to focus on a few targets to maximize the impact. The drones can roam Ukraine's skies for hours, zigzagging past defenses, he wrote. Our defense industries output allows massive strikes on practically a daily basis without the need for breaks to accumulate the necessary resources, said another military blogger, Alexander Kots. We no longer spread our fingers but hit with a punching fist in one spot to make sure we hit the targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine relies on mobile teams armed with machine guns as a low-cost response to the drones to spare the use of expensive Western-supplied air defense missiles. It also has developed interceptor drones and is working to scale up production, but the steady rise in Russian attacks is straining its defenses. How Russia affords all those drones Despite international sanctions and a growing load on its economy, Russias military spending this year has risen 3.4% over 2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which estimated it at the equivalent of about $200 billion. While budgetary pressures could increase, it said, the current spending level is manageable for the Kremlin. Over 1.5 million drones of various types were delivered to the military last year, said President Vladimir Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frontelligence Insight, a Ukraine-based open-source intelligence organization, reported this month that Russia launched more than 28,000 Shahed and Geran drones since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, with 10% of the total fired last month alone. While ballistic and cruise missiles are faster and pack a bigger punch, they cost millions and are available only in limited quantities. A Geran drone costs only tens of thousands of dollars a fraction of a ballistic missile. The drones' range of about 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) allows them to bypass some defenses, and a relatively big load of 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of explosives makes them a highly effective instrument of what the Center for Strategic and International Studies calls a cruel attritional logic. CSIS called them the most cost-effective munition in Russias firepower strike arsenal." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russias plan is to intimidate our society, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, adding that Moscow seeks to launch 700 to 1,000 drones a day. Over the weekend, German Maj. Gen. Christian Freuding said in an interview that Russia aims for a capability of launching 2,000 drones in one attack. Russia could make drone force its own military branch Along the more than 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, short-range attack drones have become prolific and transformed the fighting, quickly spotting and targeting troops and weapons within a 10-kilometer (6-mile) kill zone. Russian drone units initially were set on the initiative of midlevel commanders and often relied on equipment purchased with private donations. Once drones became available in big numbers, the military moved last fall to put those units under a single command. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin has endorsed the Defense Ministrys proposal to make drones a separate branch of the armed forces, dubbed the Unmanned Systems Troops. Russia has increasingly focused on battlefield drones that use thin fiber optic cables, making them immune to jamming and have an extended range of 25 kilometers (over 15 miles). It also has set up Rubicon, a center to train drone operators and develop the best tactics. Such fiber optic drones used by both sides can venture deeper into rear areas, targeting supply, support and command structures that until recently were deemed safe. Michael Kofman, a military expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said the Russian advancements have raised new defensive challenges for Ukraine. The Ukrainian military has to evolve ways of protecting the rear, entrenching at a much greater depth, Kofman said in a recent podcast. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. HEBER, Utah (ABC4) A SWAT team has taken three into custody after a brief standoff, in connection with a stabbing at a birthday party in Heber on Sunday. On Sunday, July 20th, a stabbing at a private Quinceanera party at The Junction Restaurant injured two individuals, sending one to the hospital in critical condition. Today, multiple teams responded to the residence of a suspect and had a brief standoff, before taking three individuals into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Two stabbed during large birthday party in Heber City According to Sergeant Josh Weishar with the Heber City Police Department, a SWAT search warrant was served around 4pm to the residence of the stabbing suspect. Due to the high danger and nature of the stabbing incident, SWAT, drone units, command center personnel, and approximately 20 officers were dispatched to the home. Sergeant Weishar said, Its a high-risk warrant, so we needed to have our SWAT team respond. We had two man[ned] teams respond, along with our drone unit, along with our major crimes and command center respond[ed] to the residence. SWAT team told residents to come out of the home using a megaphone. After about 20-30 minutes, nobody had emerged, at which point SWAT destroyed home security cameras. At that time, the residents finally emerged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law Enforcement detained six people on scene, including one juvenile. They later arrested three of those individuals, all adults, and took them into custody. However, police have said the three individuals arrested were not a part of the original party on Sunday but were at the restaurant where the party took place. Caleb Stock, who works near The Junction, told ABC4 that he was leaving work, when he saw around 16 people, including younger kids, at the restaurant. He told ABC4, I was a little shocked- it was right where I was at, right here. Other Heber residents have spoken out on this incident, though they note this kind of crime is uncommon for the area. Tyson Heelis, one resident, said, I thought it was scary, because were not used to stuff like that here. Another resident, Diana Dunphy, expressed that it was shocking, but that she still feels safe. She told ABC4, Just hearing about it, it doesnt change the way I feel about living here in Heber City and the safety I have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this time, the individuals arrested have been booked into Wasatch County Jail, though their identities and charges have not been released. Nick Butts contributed to this story 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. APOLACON TWP., SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) A Swoyersville council member is being charged after state police say he vandalized a hunting cabin with a homophobic message. According to Pennsylvania State Police, in April, troopers received a report of a hunting cabin being damaged. A member of the cabin claimed 48-year-old Adam Christian was banned from, and has since been returning and damaging, the property, PSP reported. Video footage showed Christian spray painting a rainbow with a homophobic message, breaking locks, windows with a hammer, and breaking a chimney pipe coming from a wood stove inside the cabin, as stated in the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scranton officer found sleeping while on duty, police say Adam Christian is a current Borough Council member in Swoyersville, and the town stated the following regarding his charges: Swoyersville Borough Council is aware that criminal charges have been filed against an elected member of the council. The allegations made in the criminal complaint are serious and concerning; however, every person is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law. We are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to do so as this case proceeds. Our commitment to conducting Swoyersville Boroughs public business remains steadfast, and we will not let this serve as a distraction to that important work. Swoyersville Borough Town Hall Christian faces various charges related to 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 28/22 News. Foreign sinologists gather with Chinese writers to discuss literature exchanges Xinhua) 08:45, July 22, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) America is feeling the hangover from Canadas boycott of U.S. liquor, as sales dropped by 66 percent up north, a new analysis has found. In March, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario announced it would no longer carry American booze in response to President Donald Trumps tariffs on the country. From March through the end of April, sales of U.S. booze in Canada plummeted more than 66 percent, an analysis by trade group Spirits Canada, seen by Bloomberg, found. That figure was even higher in Ontario, the countrys largest liquor market. There, sales of U.S. alcohol dropped 80 percent in the same period, according to the analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This month, Trump has threatened a new 35 percent tax on goods imported from Canada, one of the U.S.s top trading partners. In a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the president cited the countrys failure to stop [fentanyl] from pouring into our Country as the reason behind the new tariffs. In March, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said less than 1 per cent of the fentanyl intercepted at the U.S. border comes from Canada. The new tariffs are set to take effect August 1. A liquor store in Canada urges customer to ''Buy Canadian Instead'' in response to President Donald Trumps tariffs on the U.S.s northern neighbor (Reuters) As tensions flare between the U.S. and Canada, Ontario Premier Doug Ford this week urged Canadians to buy local. Start buying Canadian-made everything. That will hurt them more than anything at all. Were their number one customer, Ford, according to CTV News. We are an economic powerhouse, and we dont have to take a backseat to anyone. Canadians first pushed back after Trump threatened initial hefty levies in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moosehead Breweries, a Canadian brewery founded in 1867, announced the Presidential Pack. Each pack contains 1,461 cans, one beer for each day remaining in Trumps second presidency. The company called it just enough to get through the full presidential term. Karen Grigg, Director of Marketing at Moosehead Breweries, issued a statement at the time: "If the start of 2025 has taught us anything, it's that it will take determination to weather four years of political uncertaintyand what better way to make it through each day than with a truly Canadian beer." As part of the boycott, some liquor stores boasted empty shelves where American liquor was once kept while others put up signs that urged customers to Buy Canadian instead. Canadian liquor stores boast empty shelves after Trump initially threatened hefty levies against Canada in March (Reuters) Canadas boycott on U.S. goods could pose a threat to U.S. trade. Canada served as the U.S.s second-largest food export market last year, valued at $28.4 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canadas restrictions on American liquor isnt just impacting the U.S., its leading to a decrease in all spirit sales in the country, the analysis revealed. Total liquor sales plunged 13 percent. The removal of American products from Canadian shelves is deeply problematic for spirits producers on both sides of the border, Cal Bricker, chief executive officer of Spirits Canada, told Bloomberg. Trailing behind the European Union, Canada is the second-highest export market for American liquor, accounting for $262 million in exports, according to a 2023 report from the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. By comparison, the U.S. exported $883 million to the EU that same year. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President Donald Trump will meet with the president of the Philippines Tuesday. The two presidents hope to reach a deal to avoid tariffs. Tariffs on some countries are already in place and theyre affecting industries here in the U.S. US. car companies say itll cost them billions in profits, and you could pay more around the holidays because executives say theyre having a hard time planning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to make sure that this country walks away from the reckless Trump tariffs, said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). U.S. retailers are bracing for new tariffs starting next week Walmart says it raised prices in June. Economists say toys, clothes, shoes and sporting equipment are already more expensive. Americans are already paying the price, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). The price of beef rose 12% to an average of $6 and 12 cents for a pound of ground beef. Its blamed on drought, the cost of feed and tariffs. Donald Trumps trade war has created a mess for U.S. businesses, said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump threatened new tariffs for some of the U.S. largest trading partners to take effect on August 1st. The White House says President Trumps tariffs will bring jobs back to the U.S. and is good for the economy. Hes effectively using tariffs to bring more revenue into the United States to ultimately pay down our debt, said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The White House says tariffs havent raised prices as much as economists warned. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure and overflows the town with debris from Chimney Rock, North Carolina, after heavy rains from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 28, 2024, in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Approximately 6 feet of debris piled on the bridge from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, blocking access. (Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images) The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing on the part of an East Tennessee plastics plant where six employees died in September floodwaters brought by Hurricane Helene. Workers rights advocacy groups and family members of those killed on Sept. 27, 2024, have alleged that Impact Plastics in Erwin, Tennessee kept employees on the job site even as flash flood warnings began to roll out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. District Attorney General Steven Finney called for the TBI to investigate the allegations in the floods aftermath. Finney closed the case on July 18 without action, based on TBIs conclusion that Impact Plastics owner Gerald OConnor, other company supervisors and employees did not commit criminal wrongdoing, according to a news release. The TBI investigation included a search warrant executed on the Impact Plastics facility, which lies in a floodplain near the Nolichucky River, and conducted interviews with 26 witnesses over the course of several months. Within these interviews, no evidence was established to substantiate the claim that the employees were told they were prohibited from leaving or threatened with termination for leaving as floodwater rose, the release states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The document also notes that other Impact Plastics employees were not interviewed due to lack of cooperation or response. The TBI investigation found that OConnor dismissed employees around 10:51 a.m., and floodwaters closed off evacuation paths around an hour later. The investigations findings are similar to those of a Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration report issued in April. The workplace safety agency concluded that Impact Plastics exercised reasonable diligence and the deaths of Impact Plastics employees were not work-related because work had stopped and employees left the building before they died. The agency did not issue any citations following the inspection, though it did recommend that the business create a site-specific severe weather emergency plan. Meanwhile, family members of Johnny Peterson, one of the employees killed in the flood, are moving forward with a wrongful death lawsuit against the company. Court filings detail texts Peterson sent to family members as he and other employees watched floodwaters rise in the industrial park and later struggled to leave the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit contends that Impact Plastics management knew that the plant sat in a floodplain and chose to have employees report to work that day even though public buildings, schools in Unicoi County and other businesses in the industrial park were closed due to the storm. Peterson, a father of four, was ultimately engulfed by rushing water along with other employees when a semi-trailer truck bed they clung to was overcome by water and debris. Five employees and one independent contractor were killed. Five other Impact Plastics employees were rescued by helicopter by the National Guard. OConnor and the company welcomed the TBIs determination in a statement issued July 18. These past months, Impact Plastics and Mr. OConnor have fully cooperated with the official agencies investigating the flood. The true and accurate facts are now known, the statement reads, emphasizing that both the TBI and Tennessee OSHA found company management exercised reasonable diligence in dismissing employees and providing them sufficient time to leave the facility safely. Reached for comment Monday, an attorney representing Petersons family declined to comment on the investigations outcome, citing the ongoing litigation. The Israeli military has stormed warehouses and other facilities belonging the World Health Organization (WHO) during its advance in the Gaza Strip, Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday. Tedros said in a statement that a WHO staff residence in Deir al-Balah, in the centre of the Gaza Strip, "was attacked three times today as well as its main warehouse." "Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward Al-Mawasi amid active conflict," the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot and screened at gunpoint. Two WHO staff and two family members were detained. Three were later released, while one staff remains in detention." The organization is calling for the staffer's release. Tedros said that the WHO's main warehouse for the Gaza Strip, which is located in Deir al-Balah, was also damaged on Sunday "when an attack caused explosions and a fire inside." "With the main warehouse nonfunctional and the majority of medical supplies in Gaza depleted, WHO is severely constrained in adequately supporting hospitals, emergency medical teams and health partners," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As the lead agency for health, compromising WHO's operations is crippling the entire health response in Gaza," Tedros said. "A ceasefire is not just necessary, it is overdue." Israel's army did not initially comment on the incidents. The military moved into the south-west of Deir al-Balah on Monday morning to fight Palestinian militant organization Hamas there. It had previously called on thousands of Palestinians to leave the affected neighbourhoods in the direction of Al-Mawasi. Israel had previously refrained from military action in Deir al-Balah because hostages abducted by Hamas were suspected to be there. 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. DENVER (KDVR) A woman is dead and a second is critically injured after a stabbing believed to be perpetrated by an 18-year-old suspect, who is also believed to be their family member. The teen was arrested in connection with a deadly stabbing reported at an apartment in the 1300 block of Sweet River Circle on Sunday night, according to the Douglas County Sheriffs Office. Police find over 50g of cocaine, firearms after arresting 4 men in Broomfield Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Douglas Countys emergency dispatch was informed at about 11:36 p.m. of a possible stabbing in progress at the Madison Apartments at the Canyons. Based on the information given to dispatchers, deputies forced their way into the apartment, breaking through both an exterior door and an interior door. Inside the apartment, deputies reportedly found one victim, a woman whose age was not provided, unconscious and not breathing with apparent stab wounds. They also found a second victim, a 20-year-old woman, with a serious arm injury that appeared to have been caused by a knife. She reportedly had stab and slash wounds all over her body. Deputies began life-saving efforts, including applying a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. The sheriffs office said that the second victim was transported to a hospital in critical condition, but is expected to survive. Those deputies are actually credited with saving that womans life, said Sheriff Darren Weekly in a press conference held outside the apartment on Monday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies said they used rapid on-scene investigation to identify and locate the suspect, 18-year-old Messiah Williams, who was naked in an open space south of the residence. He was reportedly taken into custody without incident. He is facing charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder in the first degree with deliberation, assault in the first degree, and tampering with physical evidence. All of the charges are felonies. Weekly said that hes been in Douglas County for 32 years and could not recall the last time there was a homicide in Castle Pines. Woman, girl killed in early morning crash after another driver ran red light: police Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only thing that I can say about our suspect and our victims is we do believe that they are all related this was not a stranger assault, said Weekly. He said he believes all individuals involved were family members. Its a very difficult case, said Weekly. We are talking to a lot of witnesses, both from part of the family as well as witnesses outside the family, to gather what led up to last nights event happening, and to determine what exactly happened from there. Weekly said the district attorneys office has been working with the sheriffs office since detectives arrived on scene, and said there have been no calls for service to the location previously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said theres no danger to the public, and that the investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. A teenage boy has been arrested for mistakenly shooting a 16-year-old friend in the head leaving her brain matter splattered on the sidewalk moments after she shot and wounded a bystander near the historic Stonewall Inn as last months NYC Pride March was wrapping up, police said Tuesday. The 17-year-old suspect was nabbed Monday on Staten Island and charged with attempted murder, assault and gun possession. Hes not being named because he is underage. His victim is lucky to be alive, Assistant District Attorney Danielle Coffey said as the teen shooter was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday. The bullet hit her in the head, fracturing her skull and lodging in her brain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cops arriving at the grisly scene in Greenwich Village reported seeing brain matter on the ground next to her, Coffey added. Three weeks after the shooting, the 16-year-old girl remains in the hospital and is exhibiting paralysis and difficulty speaking, the prosecutor said. It is unlikely she will make a full recovery, she added. Surveillance footage helped police identify the boy, who was recorded firing five shots into a crowd at Sheridan Square, just feet from the Stonewall National Monument and less than two blocks from the Stonewall Inn. At the time, he was wearing a black sweatshirt with the hood up, white sunglasses and a black mask. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cops recovered surveillance footage showing the gunman running off into the Christopher St. subway station, where he was recorded taking his mask and glasses off, according to prosecutors. That recording ultimately helped police identify the shooter. The shocking violence the night of June 29 was sparked by tensions between rival groups from Brooklyn, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said a day after the shootings. As jubilant Pride celebrants flooded the area, two smaller groups in that crowd separated from the pack, eyeing each other, Kenny said. At about 10:10 p.m., the 16-year-old girl, who was with about a dozen friends, weaves her way through the crowd its clear she is targeting a specific male, Kenny said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Armed with a 9-mm. handgun, she walks right up to him, places the gun within inches of his face, pulls the trigger twice but somehow missed, Kenny said. Instead, one of the bullets struck a 17-year-old girl, a total innocent bystander who was 100 feet away and standing with a friend, Kenny said. The bullet pierced that victims left thigh, exiting then lodging in her right thigh. The girl, visiting from New Jersey to attend the Pride March, was rushed by medics to Northwell Greenwich Village Hospital and was expected to recover. As scores of people ran for cover, the 17-year-old suspect, who was hanging out with the 16-year-old shooter, turned and fired toward the rival group, according to cops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the rounds unintentionally struck the 16-year-old girl, the teens friend, in the head, police said. She drops to the floor and she is abandoned by the group, Kenny said. Shes left there by herself. Medics rushed her to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition. Her gun was found next to her, Kenny said. After critically wounding his friend, the 17-year-old shooter never returned home and disabled all of his social media accounts, prosecutors said. He was ordered held without bail and is due back in court Friday. Despite her severe wounds, friends of the 16-year-old girl say shes recovering and talks to family by phone from the hospital daily. With Sheetal Banchariya Deputies in Orange County said a woman was arrested after she was accused of hurting a teenager at Walt Disney World. Investigators said a 17-year-old girl was injured during an altercation at Disneys Magic Kingdom. The alleged incident happened Monday evening as parkgoers were gathering in front of Cinderella Castle on Main Street to watch a parade. The victim reported that she was standing on the sidewalk when Martha Lucia Zapata-Echeverri put her hand on her, trying to make space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teen told deputies that she told Zapata-Echeverri not to touch her in Spanish. According to a report, the victim moved back to help another guest pass, at which point Zapata-Echeverri allegedly grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to the side, causing a bruise and abrasion. Zapata-Echeverri told investigators she was following her daughter to get to the front of the crowd and claimed the teenager was pushing into her, asserting it was her spot. Deputies said Zapata-Echeverri demonstrated how she pushed back with her left arm, but her explanation for the victims nail marks was unclear. According to a report, the 17-year-old was the only one injured, and there were no independent witnesses or surveillance footage to corroborate the events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zapata-Echeverri was arrested and taken to the Orange County jail and is facing a child abuse charge. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. "We cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists. And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride," Araghchi told Fox. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran cannot give up on its nuclear enrichment program despite serious damage to its nuclear facilities, he told Fox News on Monday. Ourfacilities have been damaged, seriously damaged. The extent of which is now under evaluation by our automechanical organization. But as far as I know, they are seriously damaged, Araghchi said when asked of the extent of the damage to the nuclear enrichment program after the attacks by Israel and the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He further explained that he had no specific information regarding whether any of the already enriched material survived or if it is accessible. As I said, our automechanical organization is responsible for that. They are now trying to evaluate what exactly has happened to our nuclear material, Araghchi said. He concluded by stating that Tehran cannot give up on its nuclear enrichment program even as it was severely damaged. "It is stopped because, yes, the damages are serious and severe. But obviously, we cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists. And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride," Araghchi told Fox News. Satellite imagery from Irans Fordow nuclear facility June 22, 2025. (credit: MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES/VIA REUTERS ) US assessment on Iran strikes Recently, a US assessment found that US strikes in June mostly destroyed one of three targeted Iranian nuclear sites, but the other two were not as badly damaged, NBC News reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report said that US officials believe the attack on Iran's Fordow nuclear facility was successful in setting back enrichment capabilities there by as much as two years, citing two current officials. In June, US President Donald Trump said ahead of meeting other world leaders at a NATO Summit in The Hague that Irans nuclear program had been pushed back decades, The Jerusalem Post previously reported. This was a devastating attack, Trump told reporters. Israel is doing a report on it now, I understand, and I was told that they said that it was total obliteration. Reuters contributed to this report. Officers found two illegal residents, both in their 30s, staying and working at the bar-restaurant on Allenby Street in Tel Aviv without legal permits. A closure order has been signed on a bar-restaurant in Tel Aviv after allegedly employing two illegal residents from Palestinian towns in the West Bank, Israel Police announced in a statement. According to the statement, during an operation, officers from the Carmel Market region, as well as additional forces, found two illegal residents, both in their 30s, staying and working at the bar-restaurant on Allenby Street in Tel Aviv without legal permits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two illegal residents were arrested, and the business owner was brought in for further questioning. Officers from the Yarkon precinct licensing unit and the Lev Tel Aviv station issued a closure order for the business. The Tel Aviv District Commander, Commissioner Chaim Sargrof, signed the order for 30 days, according to Israel Police. The investigation against the business owner is pending. From the arrest of the suspects and closure of the business (credit: ISRAEL POLICE SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Border Police arrested dozens of illegal residents In June 2025, Border Police officers arrested dozens of illegal residents around the outskirts of Jerusalem. Several drivers were arrested on suspicion of assisting the residents. IDF surveillance operators identified several suspects through a water culvert beneath the separation fence and into a mini-bus along Route 443, a highway that goes from Jerusalem towards Modi'in. Border Police officers were notified and dispatched to stop the vehicle. The officers arrested 16 illegal residents, as well as the driver. The group was detained and transferred for further questioning by the Border Police Jerusalem Perimeter Investigation Unit. A 24-year-old Tel Aviv resident was arrested after allegedly stabbing his mother in her home in central Tel Aviv. A 24-year-old Tel Aviv resident was arrested after allegedly stabbing his mother in her home in central Tel Aviv, Israel Police announced in a statement. Police officers from the Lev Tel Aviv station in the Yarkon District were dispatched to the scene after a report came in about a woman who had been stabbed in her home. What happened? The officers arrived at the home and broke into the apartment where the suspect barricaded himself. Officers were able to subdue and arrest him without causing any further injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to medical personnel, the mother, 58, was evacuated to a hospital in light condition. An illustrative image of an individual with handcuffs. (credit: INGIMAGE) The suspect was brought into the station for further questioning, police said. This is a developing story. In Murfreesboro in early June, an overflow crowd of neighbors from all walks of life farmers, teachers, young parents, retirees packed into a town hall meeting. They came, across party lines, hungry for a real conversation about the issues affecting our lives. Yet one person was conspicuously missing. Our U.S. Congressman, Scott DesJarlais (TN-4), declined to attend. That crowds turnout sent a clear message: Tennesseans are fed up with leaders who dont show up, and were yearning for representatives who will. A town hall without our congressman We invited Rep. DesJarlais to the town hall, but he was a no-show just as hes been since 2013, when he last held an in-person town hall in Murfreesboro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At that 2013 town hall, an 11-year-old girl asked how he could help her undocumented dad stay in the country. DesJarlaiss answer was blunt: We have laws and we need to follow those laws, and thats where were at, he said as some in the crowd applauded. Opinion: Tennessee's War of the Roses is the campaign that should inspire modern politics Imagine that a little girls plea met with a cold recitation of law and order, and cheers at the prospect of her father being sent away. That exchange was 12 years ago, and DesJarlais hasn't bothered to face an open forum of his constituents since then. Incumbent Republican candidate U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais speaks during a meet and greet at Columbia's River Walk Park on Sept. 24, 2012. His opponent for his seat, State Sen. Eric Stewart, will later claimed that DesJarlais pressed his mistress to get an abortion. Hes avoided unscripted public meetings, opting instead for scripted phone calls and photo-ops. It feels like he no longer even breathes the same air as the rest of us. And if he wont show up to listen, how can he possibly know what we need? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A standing-room-only crowd gathered back in June to talk about whats really going on from the cost of living to challenges in our schools. We didnt all agree on every issue, but we all agreed on one thing: Were tired of being ignored by a congressman who wont even show up, proving once again how out of touch he is with the community hes supposed to serve. Rep. DesJarlais isn't the only absentee representative Not showing up has become standard practice for many of Tennessees Republican politicians. Theyve grown so comfortable, so confident and so entitled in their one-party rule that they seem to think they no longer owe voters any real accessibility or accountability. Consider Sen. Marsha Blackburn (TN-7): She hasnt held a public town hall since a raucous one in Fairview back in early 2017 eight long years ago. (After that 2017 event, she even falsely claimed on TV that the angry crowd wasnt from her district, rather than face her constituents concerns.) Opinion: Can Elon Musk's 'America Party' succeed? Ross Perot's campaign offers insight Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Blackburn reportedly wants to run for governor in 2026, yet she still refuses to stand and answer unscripted questions from Tennesseans. How can you ask the people for a promotion when you havent even looked them in the eye in years? Across Tennessee, too many GOP officials dodge open town halls. In Clarksville, constituents set up an empty chair for former U.S. Rep. Mark Green (TN-7) when he skipped a town meeting. In West Tennessee, U.S. Rep. David Kustoff (TN-8) even canceled a public forum because a few folks planned to protest outside. U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles (TN-5) hasnt hosted an open town hall in years. And rather than meet with his Middle Tennessee constituents, Rep. John Rose (TN-6) appears more focused on plotting his own run for governor. Democracy requires showing up They are wrong democracy requires showing up. You cannot represent people you refuse to meet, and you cannot claim to understand your communitys concerns if you never listen to folks in person. The simple act of standing in front of your constituents and hearing them out is fundamental to public service; its how trust is built and how officials stay accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Junes town hall in Murfreesboro proved that Tennesseans will show up if given the chance. People want leaders who respect them enough to listen, especially when the questions are tough. They want leaders who will stand in the same room and tackle the same problems alongside the community. Letters: By cutting Medicaid, Tennessee Republicans undermine their own Success Sequence To every elected official in Tennessee: Do not take the people for granted. We notice when you hide, and we will remember. If youre too afraid or too indifferent to face your constituents, then you have no business holding public office. Tennesseans deserve better. As for me, I will keep showing up. This district is my home, these people are my family and family deserves honesty and presence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its past time our leaders remembered that. In Tennessee, we expect our leaders to show up. If you wont, well find people who will. Victoria Broderick Victoria Broderick is a working-class mother, tech professional and community activist who served as the 2024 Democratic nominee for Congress in Tennessees 4th District. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Republican officials' reps don't meet with constituents | Opinion HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT) A Tesla crashed into a Starbucks in Hoover on Monday morning. The crash happened at the Starbucks location on Highway 280 near Tattersall Boulevard. A crew was seen towing the car out of the establishment. Malcolm-Jamal Warner of The Cosby Show dies in accidental drowning The circumstances surrounding the crash were being investigated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. AUSTIN (KXAN) The Texas American Federation of Teachers, along with 13 other school districts, teachers unions, and nonprofit organizations, filed a lawsuit on Monday against the Trump administration for blocking billions of dollars in federal education funding. With school districts across the country nearing the start of the school year, the lawsuit seeks to compel the U.S. Department of Education to release the funding that supports migratory children, English language learners, and professional development for educators. Federal funding hold risks 100 Austin ISD jobs, deeply valued programs Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our public schools do not have the luxury of being able to wait and see if the funding they need comes through. Jobs rely on this funding, and families rely on it for vital services, Texas AFT President Zeph Capo said in a statement. According to the Texas Education Agency, it received an email on June 30, a day before the funds were set to be obligated to states, that the U.S. Department of Education would not release the funds until it completed a review ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the Presidents priorities and the Departments statutory responsibilities. The delay has left Texas school districts and the state without $667 million in federal funding, according to TEA officials. According to the lawsuit, recipients learned last Friday that the Department of Education completed its review of the $1.3 billion in funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), which are afterschool programs often utilized by students from high-poverty and low-performing schools. The message said the USDE intended to obligate the funds by July 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit claimed that the same email, notifying recipients about CCLC, also noted that the U.S. Department of Education had not made any decisions on the other funds. The White House and U.S. Department of Education have not responded to KXANs questions about the funding or the lawsuit. His school district is a rarity in Texas with a surplus but it could change The lawsuit alleges that because of the withholding of funds, school districts have had to cancel orders for new curriculum, delay critical teacher training, pause contracts for services for English language learners, or take other actions to avoid incurring expenses that they cannot afford to pay. The lawsuit also alleges that the USDE provided no legal authority or timetable for reviewing the funding and did not provide details on what elements were under review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [The Office of Management and Budget] subsequently made clear that it is playing a role in this delay, stating that the funds were being withheld to prevent them from promoting a left-wing agenda,' the lawsuit stated. Austin Independent School District Superintendent Matias Segura told reporters that the delay means the district is without more than $9 million in federal funding. Segura held a meeting with more than 100 employees on Thursday who are directly impacted by the freeze. 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. At what cost?: Many Central Texas districts make cuts as they face million-dollar deficits Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district is already facing a $19.7 million budget shortfall and is set to close multiple campuses as part of its consolidation plan. District officials said they do not have alternative funding for these programs or the staff. While our values and commitment to our students remain unchanged, this new fiscal reality means we will have to change how we operate in some areas, Segura said in a letter to parents. 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 KXAN Austin. As the Texas Legislatures overtime special session kicked off Monday, Democratic lawmakers promised to make their Republican colleagues efforts to redraw the states congressional maps as painful and protracted a battle as possible. They threatened to drag out hearings, filibuster and even flee the state to deny the quorum necessary to conduct legislative business. As the minority in both chambers, Democrats have few options to stop redistricting through normal legislative channels. While theyve managed to delay controversial legislation through filibusters and quorum breaks over the years, theyve never successfully killed such a high-profile measure through these back-door methods. Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said they still have to try, whether we win or lose, no matter what happens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott sent Monday, a majority of House Democrats called on the governor to prioritize responding to the Central Texas floods, saying they refuse to engage in any other legislative work until after adequate flood relief and disaster mitigation legislation are passed and signed by the Governor. In the Senate, meanwhile, Democrats spent almost four hours debating a resolution setting the rules for redistricting, a preliminary step to allow Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to create a committee. All but one Democrat took a turn at the mic, meticulously walking through the resolution, challenging individual proposals and pressing GOP Sen. Phil King, the chambers newly appointed redistricting panel chair, to explain why it was necessary to craft new maps. One by one, each member forced an extended discourse over topics from the limitations of virtual versus in-person hearings to the limits of broadband access in rural areas to the intricacies of the Voting Rights Act. I thought what we asked today were very substantive questions, very crucial questions that deserve an answer, and there were things that could not be answered, said Houston Sen. Carol Alvarado, the Senate Democratic Caucus leader. And so we will continue to ask questions and discuss this, as long as it takes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The special session can last no longer than 30 days, and alongside this unusual mid-decade redistricting, lawmakers have been directed by the governor to address the devastating July Fourth floods; regulate THC products; reduce property taxes; and pass a slew of conservative priority bills. Abbott can call lawmakers back as many times as he wants if they leave any of those items unfinished. The Republican-dominated Legislature drew Texas existing electoral maps in a 2021 special session, adjusting for population changes measured by the 2020 census. That map gave the GOP firm control of 25 of the states 38 congressional districts. But after pressure from President Donald Trump, theyre returning to the drawing board to try to eke out at least a few more congressional seats ahead of what could be a challenging midterm election for Republicans. Houston Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said Monday that all options are on the table to delay or block redistricting entirely. While a quorum break is the most discussed option, members said they were also considering various delay tactics that would at least give them time to educate voters on what they framed as an attack on democratic values. If Republicans and Donald Trump [are] allowed to cheat our democracy without any kind of resistance, then there is no hope for us anywhere in this nation, Wu said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houston Democrat criticized Abbott for putting redistricting on the same special session agenda as flooding relief, saying the promise of legislation responding to the deadly Central Texas floods was a ruse to get Democrats to show up to the Capitol. We will see if they prioritize what Texans have actually demanded first, or will they prioritize their politics and the shenanigans and their games? Wu said. The first House committee hearing on disaster relief is scheduled for Wednesday. On Monday, House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, appointed a new committee to handle redistricting, made up of 12 Republicans and nine Democrats and chaired by Rep. Cody Vasut, an Angleton Republican. The committees first hearing is set for Thursday in Austin, followed by hearings in Houston and Arlington. Each hearing will limit public testimony to five hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the Senate side, King indicated there would be four hearings, likely virtual. Senate Democrats filed four amendments to require more hearings and mandate that they be held in-person. All four were voted down by the chambers Republican majority. Sen. Molly Cook, D-Houston, asked King to commit to allowing testimony from anyone who wants to speak. King said he would try to get everyone in, noting that committee hearings often go until the wee hours of the morning as chairs try to hear from everyone. King, a Weatherford Republican, tried to keep the focus on the narrow rules proposal before the chamber, repeatedly telling his colleagues that theyd have a chance to hash out all their concerns once the redistricting process got under way. All were doing here today is trying to take up the responsibility that we were constitutionally given, King said. We just have to adopt this resolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the impassioned and, at times, lengthy speeches, the Senate voted 19-11 to approve the rules. Already, Democrats were preparing for the likelihood that the maps will eventually be approved by the same party-line margin. Well do whatever we can as the minority to stop it, but if we cant, if reality deprives us of that option, the story is what theyre doing, Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, said. We will fight like hell to stop this, but were not the ones who are doing it. 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 lawmakers are revisiting a bill that aims to regulate hemp-derived consumable products, including THC, after Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed its first attempt. The Texas special session began Monday, following the veto of Senate Bill 3, which would have banned the sale of hemp products containing any level of THC effectively shutting down a rapidly growing industry that would impact the livelihood of thousands of retailers and farmers across the state. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, one of the most vocal proponents of SB 3, has argued that SB 3 is "a life-and-death issue." Shortly after Gov. Abbott vetoed the bill, Patrick criticized his decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if his proposed bill passed as he suggests, it would take a lot of time for them to get up to speed, to have manufacturing testing, to test it at all levels, Patrick said. During that time, they would still be operating as they are. Will SB 3 pass during the special session? Here's a refresher on the bill. How long does the Texas special session last? The Texas special session lasts up to 30 days, and lawmakers may only legislate on matters included in the governors agenda. In the spring regular session, lawmakers passed SB 3, which would have banned consumable hemp items including vapes, gummies and beverages with intoxicating effects. If Abbott had signed the bill into law, the ban would have taken effect in September. What is SB 3? SB 3, known as the "THC ban," would have prohibited most intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids in edible, vape and flower form, while keeping CBD legal under stricter rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is what the bill proposed: Sales and marketing banned to individuals under 21. No cannabinoidcontaining products could be sold within 1,000 feet of a school. Products must have tamperevident, childresistant, resealable packaging. Penalties under SB 3 were: Thirddegree felony for manufacturing or selling hemp products with cannabinoids other than CBD or CBG. Class A misdemeanor for possessing such products. Class A misdemeanor for shipping or mailing any consumable hemp product with any cannabinoid. What does 'veto' mean? A governors veto is the power to reject a bill passed by the legislature, preventing it from becoming law. Gov. Abbotts veto of SB 3 means the bill will not take effect unless it is reintroduced and passed again possibly during this special session. Is recreational marijuana legal in Texas? No. Under state and federal law, recreational marijuana remains illegal. Possession penalties vary by amount. Under the Texas Health and Safety Code, possession of two ounces or less is a Class B misdemeanor. Whats the difference between THC and CBD? Cannabidiol (CBD) is a nonpsychoactive compound derived from cannabis. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the compound that causes intoxication or a high. CBD lacks these psychoactive effects. What is hemp? The Texas Agriculture Code defines "hemp" as "the plant Cannabis sativa L." containing a delta9 THC concentration of less than 0.3% on a dryweight basis. Is medical marijuana legal in Texas? Yes but only in limited form. The CompassionateUse Program, created in 2015, allows lowTHC cannabis for patients with intractable epilepsy. It was expanded in 2021 and again in 2025 to include chronic pain, hospice care and terminal illness, among other conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Qualifying conditions under the current law include: epilepsy and seizure disorders multiple sclerosis and spasticity amyotrophic lateral sclerosis autism cancer post-traumatic stress disorder an incurable neurodegenerative disease chronic pain, Crohns disease, degenerative disc disease and traumatic brain injury (added in 2025) This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Will Texas try to ban THC again? Special session underway Texas lawmakers across the political spectrum have thrown around various claims about the dangers of hemp-derived THC to children, emphasizing its proliferation was a life and death matter that necessitated a ban on the intoxicating chemical. When you look at the data, the Texas Poison Control Center reported a 495% increase in marijuana-related calls involving children age five and under from 2017 to 2022, said Sen. Cesar Blanco, D-El Paso, earlier this year as the Senate debated a bill that would have banned THC products. Many of us are parents. As a father, I cant ignore that, and as a body, I dont think we should ignore it. Data provided from the Texas Poison Center Network confirms a sharp increase in marijuana-related calls starting in 2019, a year after hemp-derived THC was legalized by the federal government, from 923 to 2,592 calls in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the 11,134 cumulative marijuana-related calls to poison centers from 2011 to 2021, which is the years made available on the dashboard for symptoms, those involving children under the age of 5 make up the largest group 3,086 followed by teenagers at 2,495. Drug policy experts say that while these numbers seem alarming, it is natural for poisoning calls to increase when a drug has become legalized, and that the data needs additional context before its used to prove a need for a ban. They point to other statistics that show that unintentional poisoning calls among children have been increasing for years across the nation. The important part of this data is the effects and outcomes of these poison control calls because the number rising isnt a bad thing. People feel more confident to call poison control because they dont feel like they will be arrested, said Heather Fazio, director of the Texas Cannabis Policy Center, a nonprofit policy organization that advocates for cannabis reforms. Texas Poison Control public dashboards reflect cannabinoids, opioids, youth suicides and carbon monoxide poisonings, and an annual report in 2024 by the organization found that children under the age of six accounted for almost half of all calls, with cleaning products and painkillers as the leading substances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the Texas Legislature reconvenes this week to consider regulating THC or propose banning it again, among other pressing matters, drug policy experts say the fact that the youngest of children make up the largest segment of THC poison control calls suggests a need for parent education about securing the products in their homes and how to talk to their kids about the dangers of THC to their developing bodies not necessarily a ban. I think it's safe to say these toddlers arent walking into gas stations, said Katharine Neill Harris, drug policy expert for the Baker Institute. What these numbers show is an issue of improper storage at home, which is different than young adults buying things without age restriction. What the data says about risks Texans for Safe and Drug-Free Youth and the Sheriff's Association of Texas used poison control data to encourage the passage of a bill that would have banned THC products during this years regular legislative session. Although Gov. Greg Abbott eventually vetoed the bill, lawmakers spent months listening to stories of children harmed by the drug. This is killing kids, said Rep.Terri Leo Wilson, R-Galveston, during one of the hearings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since hemp became legalized and distributed in Texas in 2019, Texas Poison Control Center has reported eight poison calls that resulted in death, including three involving teenagers, but the United States Drug Enforcement Administration reports there has been no overdose deaths from marijuana. The National Institute on Drug Abuse also states there have been no recorded instances of death from marijuana alone despite various states reporting potential deaths by marijuana. The outcomes of these calls to poison control are usually relatively minor compared to other substances.The most common outcome 46% of calls are that callers are treated or evaluated and released from a health care facility. The next most common result is that 22% dont need hospital care. Its certainly not an opioid overdose, Harris said. What we know about exposures is that these high amounts can cause cognitive discomfort or anxiety, and some edibles can even cause hallucinations or an increased heart rate. But only 5% of the time is there any major effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The data does not tease out what the various impacts are on minors, and scientific research usually fills in those blanks. UT Physicians released a report on the rise of marijuana addiction and overdoses in 2023, warning that the harm to children is increasing due to edibles. Data provided by the Texas Poison Control Center shows that 36% of cannabinoid related calls involved edibles. Kids find these edibles because they often have packaging that is attractive to kids, like colored cereal bars or gummies, which make them extremely dangerous and easily able to get into the wrong hands, said Salil Bhandari, assistant professor in emergency medicine at McGovern Medical School, in the report. Bhandari said there is no specific antidote to reverse the effects of cannabis beyond waiting it out, and most trips to the emergency room require monitoring and supportive care, such as supplemental oxygen or IV fluids. While the data doesnt back up claims that THC has caused death in Texas children, the substance does carry risks. Individuals who have a history of psychosis and psychological disorders should be discouraged from frequent use of these products, which can make symptoms worse. Lawmakers have suggested that THC can widely cause psychosis, but they are usually limited to those with a predisposition to it, Fazio said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The real downside of cannabis is to a small fraction of people who are actual users. The idea that state leadership tried to use this as an excuse to recriminalize cannabis users is a travesty, Fazio said. Nuances in the data Over the past decade, researchers have found that teenagers are starting to turn away from alcohol in preference for marijuana and psychedelics. Estimates from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that alcohol misuse among kids who are 12 to 17 in Texas has slowly trended down during the last decade, while marijuana misuse stayed even. I think there is a time and place for medical THC use when it comes to teenagers, but when it comes to recreational use, we should keep it away from children and teenagers, Fazio said. We dont want teenagers overusing cannabis when their brains are developing. Harris said the data from the Texas Poison Control Center, in particular, shouldnt be used to justify a hemp-derived THC ban because the data is imperfect. The marijuana-related poison control data includes poisonings by synthetic THC products like K-2 and Spice, which can have more severe side effects, including death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to hemps legalization, the last previous spike in poisonings happened in 2015 when a bad batch of synthetic marijuana products was unleashed on Texas, leading to severe health issues and medics in Austin treating over 100 bad reactions in 11 days during that time. It also affected other parts of the country at the time. K-2 and Spice got really bad for a moment. Some of the things that were sprayed could have been synthetic cannabinoids, but it was also a bunch of other things, and we had no clear idea what those different substances might be, Harris said. Education Teenagers specifically are known to be more careless with ingesting THC products. Although THC can have a much bigger effect in smaller doses, a teen might think they can smoke a THC vape pen like they would a nicotine one, which has become very popular among this age group. Harris said teenagers will find substances to abuse, so drug prevention should focus on educating them on the dangers. Banning substances can lead to more dangerous alternatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hemp market exists because of prohibition, because Texas hasnt made marijuana legal, Harris said. If we had a regulated marijuana market, people would use that. People are inventive. Research has shown many teenagers are getting these products at convenience stores or gas stations, where the person behind the counter might not be as knowledgeable about the dosage amount as someone who works at a smoke shop or a THC store. Both supporters and opponents of THC propose regulating convenience stores. I believe that responsible regulations, including not marketing to those under 21 and eliminating synthetic, are important for both farmers, manufacturers, and consumers, said , owner of Tejas Tonic, a hemp beverage company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abbott, in his veto of THC ban, urged lawmakers to regulate hemp sales similarly to liquor sales, by prohibiting sales near places frequented by children, and prohibiting sales to anyone under the age of 21, with strict penalties for any retailer that fails to comply. The Texas governor also suggested restricting the amount of THC in each product and limiting how much can be purchased in a given time. Convenience stores are less likely to sell to the youngest children affected by THC poisoning, drug experts say, so responsibility for keeping THC products away from them lies with parents. Keep the products locked up and away. We do that with alcohol and aspirin, and aspirin is way more dangerous than cannabis. We just got to keep the products away, Fazio said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bhandari also recommends not eating cannabis products in front of children to prevent them from mimicking behavior. The debate surrounding THC and minors in this upcoming special legislative session will include parental control versus a ban, and Harris said neither side should use poison control data to support their arguments. Alcohol hurts people every day, and we are happy to live with that, so I dont really see what sets these numbers apart, Harris said. Its an unfair ask to eliminate risk from a market. Smoking cigarettes, alcohol, and driving all come with risks. 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. An Anaheim jewelry shop owner sent more than a dozen would-be thieves scrambling when he fired off a warning shot as they were attempting to break into his store, surveillance footage shows. The July 17 incident occurred just before 6:30 p.m. at Al-Amira Jewelry, located at 570 South Brookhurst Street, according to the Anaheim Police Department. In footage of the incident, a caravan of at least a half-dozen vehicles carrying the masked and hooded suspects pulls into the strip mall parking lot and rushes to the entrance of Al-Amira Jewelry armed with a pickaxe and a sledgehammer and many of them carrying bags, presumably to throw the stolen merchandise into. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several employees in the store, including the owner, ran toward the back of the shop as the mob began pounding the heavy tools against the glass front door and windows. When I looked out the window, I saw five cars with many people. I cant count them, Al-Amiras owner, who did not want to be identified, told KTLA. In this moment, I think just one thing, to defend myself, my employee, my store and family business. Surveillance footage captured the owner of the store raising a handgun from behind the counter at the rear of the shop and firing one round at the bullet-proof window, which sent the crowd of would-be robbers running for their cars and fleeing the area. More than a dozen would-be masked thieves scattered when the owner of an Anaheim jewelry store fired a warning shot as they attempted to break into his shop on July 17, 2025. (Al-Amira Jewelry) More than a dozen would-be masked thieves scattered when the owner of an Anaheim jewelry store fired a warning shot as they attempted to break into his shop on July 17, 2025. (Al-Amira Jewelry) More than a dozen would-be masked thieves scattered when the owner of an Anaheim jewelry store fired a warning shot as they attempted to break into his shop on July 17, 2025. (Al-Amira Jewelry) More than a dozen would-be masked thieves scattered when the owner of an Anaheim jewelry store fired a warning shot as they attempted to break into his shop on July 17, 2025. (Al-Amira Jewelry) More than a dozen would-be masked thieves scattered when the owner of an Anaheim jewelry store fired a warning shot as they attempted to break into his shop on July 17, 2025. (Al-Amira Jewelry) More than a dozen would-be masked thieves scattered when the owner of an Anaheim jewelry store fired a warning shot as they attempted to break into his shop on July 17, 2025. (Al-Amira Jewelry) More than a dozen would-be masked thieves scattered when the owner of an Anaheim jewelry store fired a warning shot as they attempted to break into his shop on July 17, 2025. (Al-Amira Jewelry) More than a dozen would-be masked thieves scattered when the owner of an Anaheim jewelry store fired a warning shot as they attempted to break into his shop on July 17, 2025. (Al-Amira Jewelry) He was acting in self-defense, Mohammad Abuershaid, the owners attorney, told KTLA. He reasonably believed that they were trying to come in to harm himself or his family, his business. So, he fired a warning shot to make sure that nobody got in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twist him around, pulled him in: Man wearing heavy necklace killed by MRI machine The same crew of thieves is reportedly linked to a successful smash-and-grab at Besan Jewelry, located almost directly across the street at 500 South Brookhurst Street, a little more than a week earlier. In that instance, the robbery crew used a car to smash through the glass front of the establishment and raided the shops display cases by smashing them with hammers and mallets. Its unclear just how much they got away with, but at least two of the suspects were captured near Harbor Boulevard and Manchester Avenue a short time later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This seems to be a trend lately, to show up with more than a dozen people, overwhelming the employees and steal thousands and thousands of dollars in merchandise, APD Sgt. Matt Sutter told KTLA. Its not only here in Anaheim but all over Southern California. Anyone with information about these investigations is encouraged to contact the Anaheim Police Department Robbery Division. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Federal records related to the investigation into the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. have been released, following the disclosure in March of tens of thousands of documents about the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In January, President Donald Trump ordered the release of thousands of classified governmental documents about Kennedy's assassination, while also moving to declassify federal records related to the deaths of New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and King more than five decades ago. Trump ordered Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Attorney General Pam Bondi to coordinate with other government officials to review records related to the assassinations of RFK and King and present a plan to the Republican president for their complete release. Some 10,000 pages of records about the RFK assassination were released April 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Department attorneys asked a federal judge to end a sealing order for the records nearly two years ahead of its expiration date. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King led, is opposed to unsealing any of the records for privacy reasons. The organizations lawyers said Kings relatives also wanted to keep the files under seal. Scholars, history buffs and journalists have been preparing to study the documents to find new information about the civil rights leader's April 4, 1968, assassination in Memphis, Tennessee. The King family's statement released after Trump's order in January said the family hoped to get an opportunity to review the files before their public release. Kings family, including his two living children, Martin III and Bernice, was given advance notice of Monday's release and had its own teams reviewing the records ahead of the public disclosure. In a statement Monday, King's children called their fathers case a captivating public curiosity for decades. But they emphasized the personal nature of the matter and urged these files must be viewed within their full historical context. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our familys continuing grief, the statement said. Here's what we know about the assassination and what scholars had to say ahead of the release of the documents: In Memphis, shots ring out King was standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel, heading to dinner with friends, when he was shot and killed. King had been in Memphis to support a sanitation workers strike protesting poor working conditions and low pay. The night before the assassination, King delivered the famous Mountaintop speech on a stormy night at the Mason Temple in Memphis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An earlier march on Beale Street had turned violent, and King had returned to Memphis to lead another march as an expression of nonviolent protest. King also had been planning the Poor People's Campaign to speak against economic injustice. The FBI's investigation After a long manhunt, James Earl Ray was captured in London, and he pleaded guilty to assassinating King. He later renounced that plea and maintained his innocence until his death in 1998. FBI documents released over the years show how the bureau wiretapped Kings telephone lines, bugged his hotel rooms and used informants to get information against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign, the King family said. King family's response to the investigation Members of King's family, and others, have questioned whether Ray acted alone or if he was even involved. King's 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 do so. The Justice Department said it found nothing to disturb the 1969 judicial determination that James Earl Ray murdered Dr. King. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dexter King, one of King's children, met with Ray in prison in 1997, saying afterwards he believed Ray's claims of innocence. Dexter King died in 2024. With the support of King's family, a civil trial in state court was held in Memphis in 1999 against Loyd Jowers, a man alleged to have known about a conspiracy to assassinate King. Dozens of witnesses testified, and a Memphis jury found Jowers and unnamed others, including government agencies, participated in a conspiracy to assassinate King. Jowers died in 2000. What will the public see in the newly released documents? It's unclear what the records will show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement King scholars, for example, would like to see what information the FBI was discussing and circulating as part of its investigation, said Ryan Jones, director of history, interpretation and curatorial services at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. That's critical given the fact the American public, at that time, was unaware that the FBI that is involved in the investigation, was leading a smear campaign to discredit the same man while he was alive, Jones said. They were the same bureau who was receiving notices of assassination attempts against King and ignored them. Academics who've studied King also would like to see information about the FBI's surveillance of King, including the extent it went to get details about his personal life, track him and try to discredit him as anti-American, said Lerone A. Martin, director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University. However, Martin said he doesn't expect the documents will have a smoking gun that will finally say, See, this is 100% evidence that the FBI was involved in this assassination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have to view these documents with an eye of suspicion because of the extent the FBI was willing to go to, to try to discredit him, Martin said. Why now? Trump's order about the records release said it's in the national interest to release the records. Their families and the American people deserve transparency and truth, the order said. However, the timing has led to skepticism from some observers. Jones questioned why the American public hadn't been able to see these documents much earlier. Why were they sealed on the basis of national security, if the assassin was in prison outside of Nashville? he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones said there are scholars who think the records release is a PR stunt by a presidential administration that's rewriting, omitting the advances of some people that are tied to people of color, or diversity. The Pentagon has faced questions from lawmakers and citizens over the removal of military heroes and historic mentions from Defense Department websites and social media pages after it purged online content that promoted women or minorities. In response, the department restored some of those posts. Martin said Trump's motivation could be part of an effort to shed doubt on government institutions. It could be an opportunity for the Trump administration to say, See, the FBI is evil, I've been trying to tell you this. This is why I've put (FBI Director) Kash Patel in office because he's cleaning out the Deep State,' Martin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another factor could be the two attempts on Trump's life as he was campaigning for a second presidential term and a desire to expose the broader history of U.S. assassinations, said Brian Kwoba, an associate history professor at the University of Memphis. That said, it is still a little bit confusing because it's not clear why any U.S. president, including Trump, would want to open up files that could be damaging to the United States and its image both in the U.S. and abroad, he said. COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) The Columbus Police Department issued an update on Monday that the third person connected to the murder of Daryus Bryant was taken into custody. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Father of Daryus Bryant speaks out after second suspect appears in court According to CPD, 20-year-old Jaquan Mahone, was taken into custody on Monday in Talbotton, Georgia by the departments fugitive unit. Mahone has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault, murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Arrests made in 2024 Daryus Bryant murder case He is now scheduled to appear in recorders court for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday at 8 a.m. All three suspects who are accused of the murder are now in custody with 17-year-old Zion Horton was taken into custody in Coweta County, Georgia early July and 18-year-old Semaj Copeland turning himself into authorities. Both Horton and Copeland made their initial court appearances earlier this month and were both denied bond at the hearing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Thousands of Afghans in the U.S. are no longer protected from deportation after a federal appeals court refused to postpone the Trump administration's decision to end their legal status. A three-judge panel of the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia said in a ruling late Monday there was insufficient evidence to warrant the extraordinary remedy of a postponement" of the administration's decision not to extend Temporary Protected Status for people from Afghanistan and Cameroon. TPS for Afghans ended July 14, but was briefly extended by the appeals court through July 21 while it considered an emergency request for a longer postponement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Homeland Security in May said it was ending Temporary Protected Status for 11,700 people from Afghanistan in 60 days. That status in place since 2022 had allowed them to work and meant the government couldnt deport them. CASA, a nonprofit immigrant advocacy group, sued the administration over the TPS revocation for Afghans as well as for people from Cameroon, which expire August 4. It said the decisions were racially motivated and failed to follow a process laid out by Congress. A federal judge allowed the lawsuit to go forward but didnt grant CASAs request to keep the protections in place while the lawsuit plays out. A phone message for CASA on Tuesday was not immediately returned. Without an extension, TPS holders from Afghanistan and Cameroon face a devastating choice - abandoning their homes, relinquishing their employment, and uprooting their lives to return to a country where they face the threat of severe physical harm or even death, or remaining in the United States in a state of legal uncertainty while they wait for other immigration processes to play out," CASA warned in court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its decision on Monday, the appeals court said CASA had made a plausible legal claim against the administration, and urged the lower court to move the case forward expeditiously. It also said many of the TPS holders from the two countries may be eligible for other legal protections that remain available to them. Temporary Protected Status can be granted by the Homeland Security secretary to people who face safety concerns in their home countries because of armed conflict, environmental disaster or other conditions. They cant be deported and can work legally in the U.S., but they dont have a pathway to citizenship. The status, however, is inherently precarious because it is up to the Homeland Security secretary to renew the protections regularly usually every 18 months. The Trump administration has pushed to remove Temporary Protected Status from people from seven countries, with Venezuela and Haiti making up the biggest chunk of the hundreds of thousands of people affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homeland Security officials said in their decision to end the Temporary Protected Status for Afghans that the situation in their home country was getting better. Groups that help Afghan TPS holders say the country is still extremely dangerous. Ending TPS does not align with the reality of circumstances on the ground in Afghanistan, Global Refuge President and CEO Krish OMara Vignarajah said in a statement. Conditions remain dire, especially for allies who supported the U.S. mission, as well as women, girls, religious minorities, and ethnic groups targeted by the Taliban. He called on Congress to provide Afghan TPS holders with a permanent path to safety and stability. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A Frontier flight safely landed Monday in northern Kentucky after a threatening note was found. On July 21, Frontier flight 1048 was headed to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Hebron, Kentucky after departing Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida. Wright State University police recognized for work by state organization According to Frontier, crewmembers aboard reportedly found a threatening note, which caused law enforcement to be contacted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Flight 1048 arrived to CVG, it landed safely on a remote pad. Onboard passengers were taken from the plane by bus to arrive to the terminal. Authorities conducted a search of the aircraft, but did not locate anything. The Frontier plane was placed back in service after officials cleared the plane. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Crew members found a threatening note on a Frontier flight that landed in Cincinnati Monday night, according to our media partners, WCPO-9 TV. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The note was discovered on Frontier flight 1048 while en route to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, according to a statement from Frontier Airlines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flight landed at a remote pad at CVG, according to WCPO-9. TRENDING STORIES: WCPO-9 obtained video and photos from passengers that show several airport police officers standing outside the plane as small groups of people were led off the plane and onto an airport bus. Several fire personnel and K9 units were also at the remote pad. Frontier Airlines said officials conducted a security sweep, and the passengers were taken to the terminal by bus. The airline will complete additional standard procedures before returning it to normal services. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] RAPIDES PARISH, La. (KLFY) Three individuals were arrested in Rapides Parish for marijuana and firearm charges after a probe. According to authorities, on July 17 agents assigned to Rapides Area Drug Enforcement Unit were at a local convenience store in Pineville when they observed multiple vehicles arrive where the occupants exited and appeared to be filming a video. Officials said they observed several individuals get out of the vehicles smoking what appeared to be and smell like marijuana. One male was observed waving a firearm while someone else filmed their actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials made contact with group of males in the parking lot to investigate, and the individuals were detained pending further investigation. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Officials said during their investigation, they located approximately three ounces of high-grade marijuana along with three firearms. Officials arrested: Ishmael Elijah Bankston for possession of CDS I (Marijuana) greater than 14 grams and illegal carrying of a firearm with drugs Janarious Fisher for second-offense possession of CDS I (Marijuana) greater than 14 grams and disturbing the peace Aaron Darnell Allen for possession of a stolen firearm Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another individual was issued a criminal citation for possession of CDS I (Marijuana) greater than 14 grams and was released at the scene. Officials said Bankston was released on a $25,500 bond the following day. Fisher was released the same day on a $1000 bond. Allen was released the following day on a $25,000 bond. 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Three months after a hidden camera was found in the bathroom of an Ohio State dorm suite, police are giving no new updates about the investigation. On Monday, an Ohio State University spokesperson said the investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made at this time. This is the same answer that was given in April when the voyeurism investigation opened. In April, police said there was only one suspect, a known student. NBC4 asked Ohio State if the same student was still a suspect, but did not get a response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southeast Ohio superintendent resigns, blames school board On April 16, police responded to OSU residence hall Morrill Tower on reports of a hidden camera in a suite bathroom. According to police records, a student was using the restroom in his Morrill Tower dorm suite when he found a hidden camera in the stalls toilet paper holder. Police records show the filming may have taken place for months, beginning in November 2024. Records also say the suspect used computers as part of the alleged voyeurism, but records do not elaborate further on how or why police know that. NBC4 also accessed the 911 call made to report the incident. I have a group of guys whose suite, there was a hidden camera in their bathroom that none of them put in there, a residence hall employee told the dispatcher. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 911 call, the dispatcher sounded surprised and asked to speak with one of the students who found the camera. When I looked to my left, I see a blinking light coming, like reflecting on the toilet paper holder, so I looked in and I found a camera there, a student, whose name has been redacted in police records for privacy, said. 614 Restaurant Week kicks off in central Ohio The dispatcher then told them to place the camera on the front desk for officers. However, the student said the camera had been passed around after he removed it from the bathroom. A police report notes this added several sets of fingerprints to the camera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the 911 call, the camera was found in a suite bathroom used by around 16 students. Morrill Tower is a 23-story residence hall that primarily houses first- and second-year OSU students. At the time of the incident, the university said it could not confirm if the student remained in the residence hall due to student privacy concerns. According to university student conduct rules, the university did have the right to remove a student from campus with probable cause, such as alleged voyeurism. The university has not named the suspect, and did not confirm if he has been ruled out. Ohio State University will begin its residence hall move-ins on Aug. 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. The founder of Germany's Querdenken (Lateral Thinking) movement, which protested against coronavirus lockdown measures, should receive a three-year prison sentence, the prosecution in his criminal fraud trial demanded on Tuesday. The defendant, Michael Ballweg, is attempting to portray himself as a martyr in the fight against an unjust state, the public prosecutor in the Stuttgart trial said on Tuesday. "In reality, an ordinary defendant is standing trial," the prosecutor said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the prison sentence, the prosecution is demanding the confiscation of more than half a million euros allegedly funds that Ballweg raised for his movement but used for his own purposes. Ballweg, 50, is accused of having deceived donors to the movement over how their money would be used. He is also accused of several tax offences. In total, he collected more than 1 million ($1.1 million) from thousands of supporters through public appeals, prosecutors said. Ballweg is not charged with fraud, but only with attempted fraud, because some donors were apparently indifferent to what happened to the money, according to the prosecutor's argument. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He denies the accusations. The trial began in Stuttgart in February. The regional court had suggested dismissing the case in March, saying its significance was minimal and that no intent could be proven on Ballweg's part. The public prosecutor, however, rejected the proposal. Germany's Lateral Thinking movement launched in Stuttgart during the Covid-19 pandemic but spread to many cities across the country. Supporters repeatedly staged protests against lockdown measures, vaccine requirements and other aspects of the government response. There were also incidents in which police officers and journalists were attacked. The years-long struggle to decide whether or not to lock the clock is continuing in the halls of Congress, meaning as of July 2025, we will still fall back in a few months. When it comes to daylight saving time, an overwhelming amount of lawmakers and the public can agree on one thing: re-setting clocks twice a year is tedious and disturbs our sleep patterns. A hot point of debate when it comes to the time change, though, is which way it should stay year-round: Should we enjoy extra daylight hours in the morning or the evening? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres when the next time change is and a little history about the origin of daylight saving time. Permanent DST? Trump says daylight saving time is 'popular,' but enough to be permanent? Is Trump ending daylight saving time? Did the Sunshine Protection Act get passed? The president doesnt have the sole power to abolish or permanently instate daylight saving time. Its ultimately up to Congress whether or not to stop the time change. And individual states cant decide to abolish DST observance without Congressional approval. Nearly 20 states have passed legislation in recent years to support getting rid of the time change, but the debate is divided on whether there should be more daylight hours during the morning or the evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump expressed support for keeping daylight saving time hours as recently as April, calling it very popular, though he has also referred to the move as a 50-50 issue, according to USA TODAY. Legislation surrounding keeping daylight saving time has batted around the halls of congress for years. Florida has tried several times to make DST permanent with the proposed federal Sunshine Protection Act, which has been introduced to Congress multiple times since 2018 most recently in 2025 without being passed. What does DST mean? Is it daylight saving or savings? DST is an abbreviation for daylight saving time. Many people pluralize the phrase to say daylight savings time. The correct way to spell and say it is daylight saving time. When is the next time change? Heres when we fall back in 2025 The next time change is coming up in November, which sounds far away, but is creeping up in a little over three months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daylight saving time for 2025 began at 2 a.m. EDT on Sunday, March 9, 2025. It will end when we fall back again at 2 a.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. Who invented daylight saving time and why? Although the earliest known proposal to save daylight came from Benjamin Franklin's An Economical Project, in 1784, he's not the reason we observe the time change today. According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, the first true proponent of daylight saving time was a London builder named William Willet, who "noticed that the shutters of houses were tightly closed even though the sun had risen" while he was riding his horse on an early morning in 1907. "Willet spent a small fortune lobbying businessmen, members of Parliament, and the U.S. Congress to put clocks ahead 20 minutes on each of the four Sundays in April and reverse the process on consecutive Sundays in September. But his proposal was met mostly with ridicule," the almanac says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasn't until World War I that countries started adopting the concept to conserve fuel and resources. The Germans were the first to adopt the system in 1915, Britain followed in 1916 and the U.S. started observing the time change in 1918, when Congress passed its "Standard Time Act" that established time zones. "Many Americans viewed the practice as an absurd attempt to make late sleepers get up early. Others thought following 'clock time' was unnatural instead of 'sun time.' A columnist in the Saturday Evening Post offered this alternative: 'Why not save summer by having June begin at the end of February?'" according to the almanac. "The matter took on new meaning in April 1917, when President Woodrow Wilson declared war. Suddenly, energy conservation was paramount, and several efforts were launched to enlist public support for changing the clocks." A common daylight saving time misconception is that it was created to help farmers have more daylight hours to complete their work outdoors. But the opposite is actually true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time daylight saving time was adopted in the U.S. during World War I farmers were the strongest opponents of this time change. They didn't like having to do their early-morning farm chores in the dark. "Many Americans wrongly point to farmers as the driving force behind Daylight Saving Time. In fact, farmers were its strongest opponents and, as a group, stubbornly resisted the change from the beginning," according to the almanac. "When the war ended, the farmers and working-class people who had held their tongues began speaking out. They demanded an end to Daylight Saving Time, claiming it benefited only office workers and the leisure class. The controversy spotlighted the growing gap between rural and urban dwellers." This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Daylight saving time 2025: When the next time change is, why we observe it The disgraced deputy Prime Minister of China, Deng Xiaoping, is to return to Chinese Government. The Chinese Communist Party conference has restored him to the offices of Vice Premier of the State Council, Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Military Commission and Chief of the General Staff of the Peoples Liberation Army. He was dismissed from his posts after the leftist Gang of Four blamed him for the popular uprising in Tiananmen Square in April last year after Premier Zhou Enlais death. Since the death of Chairman Mao last September the Gang of Four has sidelined Mr Deng and attempted a programme of radical reform. But Mao Tse Tungs named successor as CCP chair, Hua Guofeng, has been purging the Party of extremist influences such as the Gang of Four. The Gang of Four was formally expelled from the CCP at a meeting of the Central Committees Third Plenum last weekend. The Gang includes Maos fourth wife, Jiang Qing, former vice premier and politburo member Zhang Chunqiao, former factory worker Wang Hongwen and Shanghai intellectual Yao Wenyuan. The official CCP newspaper, The Peoples Daily, last week accused the group of trying to rebuild the Communist Party, excluding senior officials and creating a mass organisation. Chinese authorities now regard pleading the Gangs innocence as a counter-revolutionary act. A party official in Kiangsi who defended the group recently was denounced for his crime at a meeting of 4,000 people. Premier Hua has also identified far-left tendencies in party leaders of 13 of Chinas 29 administrative regions and removed them from power. Courtesy BBC News In context By the end of 1978 Deng Xiaoping had effectively wrested power from Hua Guofeng. The Gang of Four members had been arrested in October 1976 and were put on trial in 1980 for their part in an attempted coup. In 1978 Deng oversaw the historic change of direction for China, the stressing of the so-called Four Modernisations of agriculture, industry, national defence, and science and technology. During Dengs long hold on power, he instituted a variety of reforms aimed at decentralising the economy and opening the country to international trade. He resigned from his last official Party post in 1989, after he and other Party elders ordered the use of military force to clear Tiananmen Square. He remained extremely influential until his death in 1997, and it was Deng who agreed to Jiang Zemins elevation to Party chief and Deng who nominated Hu Jintao as Mr Jiangs successor. Like this: Like Loading... Many Democrats and some Republicans expressed alarm last month when President Donald Trump ordered attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. Most Americans agree that Iran shouldnt develop nuclear weapons, but was joining Israel in attacking Iran the best way to stop it? Would the strikes risk a wider Middle East war? Should Congress have been involved in the decision? The question is as old as the American republic: Who should decide whether to engage U.S. armed forces in combat? The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war but makes the president the commander in chief of the military. Its inevitable there will be conflicts over when Congress should get involved and when the president can act on his own to keep the country safe. Congress tried to resolve the dilemma with the War Powers Act, which we passed in 1973. Responding to expansion of the Vietnam War, it required presidents to consult with Congress before engaging the military in battle, and it gave Congress the authority to reject the presidents actions after the fact. It passed with bipartisan support over a veto by President Richard Nixon.But presidents from both parties have generally ignored the law, typically arguing that its limits on their powers are unconstitutional. Its also vague and doesnt clearly prescribe when congressional action is required. Congress has rarely forced the issue, and the courts have usually declined to get involved. We have a War Powers Act on the books, but it has no practical effect on our leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, America continues to fight undeclared wars and engage in military adventures that may not have the clear support of the American people. Congress hasnt formally declared war since World War II, yet the Korean and Vietnam wars, which were never declared, together caused nearly 100,000 U.S. deaths. Since Vietnam, weve engaged in military action in Panama, Grenada, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Yemen and elsewhere. In some instances, presidents sought and received congressional authorization. In others, they did not. Nearly 20 years ago, I was part of an effort to resolve this dilemma. Convened by the Miller Center at the University of Virginia, the bipartisan National War Powers Commission was chaired by former two former secretaries of state, Warren Christopher and James A. Baker III. The proposal that we developed and unanimously approved would have required presidents to consult with a set group of legislators from both parties before initiating military action that would last longer than a week, with limited exceptions. Congress would then have 30 days to go on record with its approval or disapproval. It would also have created a permanent joint committee of Congress to monitor war powers decisions. Legislation to enact the plan, the War Powers Consultation Act, was introduced in 2014 by Sens. John McCain, a Republican, and Tim Kaine, a Democrat, but it failed to pass. What we proposed isnt perfect, and it doesnt resolve the constitutional questions about the limits of presidential and congressional power; only the courts can do that. But it would provide greater clarity about what happens when presidents order military action. It would promote much-needed consultation between the president and the Congress. Importantly, it would be unlikely to be ignored. The recent attacks on Iran may have ended, but what Warren Christopher and James Baker wrote in 2008 remains true: When it comes to war, Americans deserve better than a law that is ineffective and ignored. Deciding when to send our men and women in uniform into combat is the most consequential decision that our government can make. The American people deserve to know that their views, as expressed through Congress, will be considered in such life-and-death decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee Hamilton is a distinguished scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies and senior adviser for the Indiana University Center on Representative Government. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: It's time to replace the War Powers Act | Opinion From left: Tim Carpenter, Anna Kaminski, Clay Wirestone, Morgan Chilson and Sherman Smith appear at a June 30, 2025, town hall in Council Grove. They were introduced by Flint Hills Books owner Jennifer Kassebaum. (Jessica Tufts for Kansas Reflector) Five years and one day ago, Kansas Reflector went live. Editor in chief Sherman Smiths inaugural column stated our mission: Together, we will blend in-depth reporting with daily coverage of state politics, government and a range of issues of statewide importance. Through our opinion section, we will amplify voices of people whose lives are affected by public policies but who might typically be left out of public debate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the half-decade since, I like to think that weve fulfilled Smiths predictions, and then some. Weve seen changes along the way, of course. Reporter Noah Taborda made way for Rachel Mipro, who was succeeded by Anna Kaminski. Founding opinion editor C.J. Janovy was replaced after a year by, well, me. This year we welcomed senior reporter Morgan Chilson. Sherman and our other senior reporter, Tim Carpenter, have been here from day one. But Reflector staff members havent shifted or revamped our mission. We still provide news and commentary without paywalls, without fear and with a ceaseless dedication to the people of Kansas. Our motivation has always been will always be connection. Weve appeared at dozens of town halls in far-flung communities. Weve posted to social media platforms, such as TikTok and Bluesky, with more to come. We dont serve advertisers or politicians. We serve our readers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE If you want to support our work on this important birthday, please do. You can set up a one-time or recurring donation right here. In the meantime, lets take a look back through Kansas Reflectors history. Here are five essential stories in celebration of five years. Most of them broke statewide. Others sparked important changes. Every single one of them broke news. In the weeks and months ahead, I plan to keep on celebrating with more lists of unforgettable Kansas Reflector articles. Protestors carry signs at a June 24, 2022, rally in Kansas City, Missouri, after the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated abortion rights. (Margaret Mellott/Kansas Reflector) Kansas abortion ban is the plan, officials pushing constitutional amendment tell GOP crowd (Sherman Smith, July 15, 2022) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TOPEKA A regional director of the Value Them Both Coalition told a meeting of Reno County Republicans last month that the organization has legislation ready to ban abortion in Kansas if voters adopt a constitutional amendment Aug. 2. A state senator also told the crowd he wanted to pass laws with my goal of life starting at conception. The amendment ended up failing by a nearly 20 percentage point margin as the first public referendum on abortion rights after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Linus Thuston declines to answer questions about whether he traded legal services for nude photos as he walks from the Neosho County Court in Erie to his car outside on March 27, 2024. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) Neosho County attorney faces criminal investigation by state authorities, scrutiny by local leaders (Sherman Smith, Oct. 18, 2022) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CHANUTE Neosho County prosecutor Linus Thuston makes no apologies for cutting deals with child rapists, expanding the use of diversions to pad his office budget, or using his power at the top of the countys criminal justice system to benefit his private practice clients. He presides over a kingdom of fear in this rural southeast Kansas county with a population of about 16,000. Outspoken community leaders are frustrated with Thustons behavior and with state authorities who appear reluctant to intervene. Thuston was later sentenced to jail for misdemeanor convictions and charged with felonies. Eric Meyer, publisher of the Marion County Record, works the phone in his newspaper office after police seized computers, servers, cellphones and other items. (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector) Police stage chilling raid on Marion County newspaper, seizing computers, records and cellphones (Sherman Smith, Sam Bailey, Rachel Mipro and Tim Carpenter, Aug. 11, 2023) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MARION In an unprecedented raid Friday, local law enforcement seized computers, cellphones and reporting materials from the Marion County Record office, the newspapers reporters, and the publishers home. Eric Meyer, owner and publisher of the newspaper, said police were motivated by a confidential source who leaked sensitive documents to the newspaper, and the message was clear: Mind your own business or were going to step on you. The newspaper received its equipment back after national outrage. Former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody has been charged criminally. Wichita State University president Richard Muma has downplayed questions about attribution in his doctoral dissertation. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector) Wichita State University presidents doctoral dissertation raises concerns of academic misconduct (Tim Carpenter, Oct. 7, 2024) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WICHITA Wichita State University president Richard Muma failed to give proper credit to more than 20 authors after copying their writing in his doctoral dissertation. Muma, president of the university since 2020, runs afoul of academic standards and university policies by including extensive amounts of inadequately attributed material into his 2004 dissertation, according to academic professionals who reviewed Mumas work. The university president called the dissertation issues technical and said he would update the document. He remains on the job. A CLOSED MEETING sign rests outside the Old Supreme Court on the third floor of the Kansas Statehouse last month. The House GOP caucus was meeting within. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) Opinion: Kansas House GOP has gathered secretly throughout 2025 session, doing peoples business in the dark (Clay Wirestone, March 24, 2025) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas House Republicans have repeatedly met in closed caucus meetings this legislative session, doing state business in secret and upending longstanding tradition. Kansas Reflector staff have witnessed five of these closed sessions firsthand, in January, February and March. Further reporting found that all of the House GOPs Statehouse caucus meetings have been closed. That means a quorum of Kansas legislators are debating policy questions among themselves, in private, without outside witnesses. House Republicans did not reopen their caucus or respond further. But you can rest assured well be watching lawmakers next session. Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. CHICAGO A 2-year-old boy was injured Monday night after finding an unsecured firearm inside a West Side residence, according to Chicago police. Guilty verdict in trial for man accused of killing CPD Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso in 2023 Just before 8:30 p.m., police say, officers responded to a call of a person shot in the 400 block of North Lawndale Avenue, near the edge of the Garfield Park and Humboldt Park neighborhoods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say the child found the gun in a bedroom. Moments later, an adult male inside the home heard a loud noise and found the child with a graze wound to his left wrist. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines The toddler was transported to Stroger Hospital, where he was listed in good condition. Neighbors told WGN News they heard the toddler in distress. I heard a child crying, a neighbor said. They shouldnt have had a gun so a child could get ahold of it. If youre going to have a gun, you should have a lock and key on it. WGN knocked on the door at the home where the incident happened, but an interview was declined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say they did recover a gun at the scene. No one is in custody, and detectives are still 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 WGN-TV. House Speaker Mike Johnson has stalled a bipartisan resolution to release Epstein documents until after the August recess but Democrats arent backing down. Top Oversight Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia joins The Weeknight to discuss his demands for full transparency. ATHENS (Reuters) -Greece and the wider Balkans sweltered under the third heatwave of the summer on Tuesday, with labourers barred from work, tourists kept away from the ruins and firefighters battling blazes scattered across the arid countryside. Couriers, food delivery riders and builders in and around Athens and other regions were ordered to pause work from midday until 5 p.m., as the temperature was expected to climb as high as 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 F), the labour ministry said. In the Feneo area in Corinth in southern Greece, 185 firefighters with 50 vehicles were combating a strong forest fire, helped by 15 planes and 11 helicopters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two villages there were evacuated out of precaution as the fire raged. The governor of the surrounding Peloponnese region, Dimitris Ptochos, said the situation was difficult, local media reported. Greece has long been known for the hot, sunny summers that attract tens of millions of tourists every year. But climate change has led to longer and more severe heatwaves, as well as destructive floods and wildfires. Authorities said they would shut the ancient Acropolis ruins, Greece's most-visited tourist site atop a rocky hill above Athens, for five hours from midday on Tuesday and Wednesday. Matthew Enos, an 18-year-old visitor from New Orleans, said he had not been prepared for such a heatwave when he arrived in the capital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's been a little tough so far. Not the greatest feeling ever," he said. "So I've just been adapting by drinking lots and lots of water." COWS GRAZE AT BOTTOM OF EMPTY LAKE Tourists sought out air-conditioned restaurants and stores in Athens, one of the most densely populated capitals in Europe, which bakes on a plain flanked by mountains. The heatwave will continue until Sunday, the Greek meteorological service said. Scorching heat also gripped neighbouring Bulgaria, with authorities urging businesses to give away water and cut physical labour during high-risk hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the border between Kosovo and Albania, weeks without rain and increased hydroelectric power production nearly emptied Lake Fierza. Cows ate grass in what used to be the lake bottom. In Kosovo, flames and thick smoke could be seen approaching houses in a village in the Dubrava area near a jail and a military base on Tuesday. The fire was out of control in an area of scrubland and grass, fanned by heavy winds. Elsewhere in Kosovo, Milazim Duraku, a 62-year-old farmer from Prizren, chided younger workers for seeking shelter as he picked yellow peppers for sale at market the following morning. "Those youngsters they can't stand the heat. They work only a few minutes in the evening or in the morning," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Albania, firefighters assisted by four aircraft from Italy and Greece battled two wildfires at a national park in the north and near the southwestern village of Dukat. Last month, large parts of Western Europe sweltered in another severe heatwave that left many dead and triggered forest fires and health alerts across the region. In Italy, where last month's heatwave was blamed for several blackouts including in Florence and Milan, the high temperatures drove electricity consumption in June up 7.4% year-on-year, national power grid operator Terna said on Tuesday. Around the world, 2024 was the warmest year on record, with temperatures exceeding 1.5 degree Celsius above the pre-industrial era for the first time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research published last week showed that the soil surface temperature around Athens rose in some places by as much as 10 degrees Celsius since July 2024 after fires destroyed vegetation. (Reporting by Stamos Prousalis, Angeliki Koutantou and Fatos BytyciAdditional reporting by Alvise ArmelliniWriting by Angeliki KoutantouEditing by Aidan Lewis and Peter Graff) MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) Its been one full weekend since a do not drink order was lifted on Mattoons water, and as of Monday, there is no reason to reissue it. City officials said via Facebook on Monday that water samples collected that day registered an algal bloom neurological toxin level of 0.14 parts per billion, which is considered a non-detect reading. Thats slightly up from the .1 ppb reading that allowed for the city to lift the do not drink order on Friday, but still below the .2 ppb threshold that the Illinois EPA recommended to lift the order. .3 ppb is the federal advisory threshold for a do not drink order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mattoon businesses getting helping hand after do not drink order is lifted again Past samples since July 10 have shown toxin levels of: The next round of sample collection is scheduled for Thursday, which was recommended by the IEPA. Officials said the city will provide a formal update once they have the results from that sample. 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. In a devastating twist that's rocked the royal family, a 20-year-old cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry has been found dead at her family home. The heartbreaking discovery has cast a dark shadow over the Windsors once again, raising painful memories of past losses. Details surrounding the incident continue to emerge, as an inquest has officially been opened. Princes Harry And William's Cousin Has Tragically Passed Away MEGA Rosie Roche, the granddaughter of Princess Diana's uncle, was discovered lifeless by her mother and sister on July 14 at their home in Norton, near Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police reports presented at the Wiltshire and Swindon coroner's court, a firearm was found near her body. Rosie had reportedly been packing for a trip with friends before the tragic incident unfolded. Per The Sun, Area coroner Grant Davies confirmed that authorities "have deemed the death as non-suspicious and there was no third-party involvement." The inquest has been formally opened but adjourned until October 25 as the investigation continues. Rosie was pursuing a degree in English Literature at Durham University, where she was described as a bright and beloved student. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A university spokeswoman issued a solemn statement, saying she "will be sorely missed." Rosie Roche's Obituary MEGA The Yorkshire Post shared an obituary for the deceased. It read, "Roche Rosie Jeanne Burke died on Monday, 14th July 2025." The obituary continued, "Darling daughter of Hugh and Pippa, incredible sister to Archie and Agatha, Granddaughter to Derek and Rae Long. Private family funeral." It concluded, "A memorial service will be held at a later date." Princes William And Harry Face Another Personal Loss News Licensing/MEGA These back-to-back tragedies follow another devastating event in the royal extended family. On February 25, 2024, British financier Thomas Kingston, husband to Lady Gabriella Windsor and former boyfriend of Pippa Middleton, died at age 45 from a catastrophic head injury. A firearm was also found nearby at his parents' home in the Cotswolds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a pre-inquest review, Kingston's death was described as "impulsive" and "unexpected," according to the BBC. In December, Lady Gabriella, who is a second cousin to King Charles, broke her silence at Gloucestershire Coroner's Court and revealed intimate details of her husband's final days. In her emotional witness statement, Lady Gabriella, 43, shared that she believed his "impulsive action" may have been influenced by medication he had been taking in the weeks leading up to his death, as reported by The Telegraph. Despite the intense media interest, both Rosie's immediate family and a spokesperson for Prince William have chosen to remain silent, declining to offer any public comments regarding the incident. Prince Williams Absence Casts Shadow Over Charles And Harrys Quiet Reconciliation Efforts MEGA The death of Prince William and Harry's relative comes amid news that the latter's efforts to reconcile with their father were done in his older brother's absence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent private meeting between senior aides to King Charles and Prince Harry reignited talk of the royal reconciliation. While the confidential session, held at the Royal Over-Seas League in London, involved key representatives from both sides, Prince William was notably absent, a detail that royal experts say is anything but accidental. According to royal analyst Ian Pelham Turner, Williams exclusion may be a calculated move by the monarch himself. The important issue is that Prince William and his representatives were not invited, he told Fox News Digital. "I feel that this was a warning shot across Williams bows that Charles is king not him." He added, "It may also be a stark warning that Charles will decide what happens during his reign, not William." Prince Harrys team, including his chief of staff Meredith Maines and communications head Liam Maguire, reportedly flew in from California to attend the quiet gathering with King Charles aide Tobyn Andreae. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting comes as Charles continues to battle cancer and seeks to mend strained family ties, particularly with his youngest son, whom he reportedly hopes to see more often along with his grandchildren. Prince Williams Distrust Could Undermine King Charles Hopes For Peace MEGA Despite King Charles' apparent openness to healing the rift, Prince William remains a significant roadblock. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams noted that William likely knew of the meeting but opted to keep his team out, a decision underscoring his enduring distrust of the Sussexes. The king is still battling cancer and is in his late 70s, Fitzwilliams said. He wants a relationship with his grandchildren, whom he has hardly met. He is also temperamentally more accommodating than William. But [William] cannot trust the Sussexes. They must know it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This tension poses a serious threat to any long-term peace between the brothers. Fitzwilliams warned that allowing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex back into royal events could provoke backlash from loyal royal supporters, and that any reconciliation would come at a price. British broadcaster Helena Chard also acknowledged the emotional complexity of the situation, particularly given the kings ongoing health struggles. King Charles will always love his son, and, in light of the king's ongoing cancer treatment, it could help tidy up the messy, fractured relationship, she said. Still, she cautioned that without Williams direct involvement, peace may remain elusive. Life is too short for battles, Chard remarked, However, without Prince Williams inclusion in the rapprochement, I cant see a positive outcome. Supporters of Mahmoud Khalil rally outside the federal courthouse in Newark on March 28, 2025. (Reena Rose Sibayan for New Jersey Monitor) The Trump administration is sparring with a New Jersey federal judge over what it calls his unprecedented and dramatic order to halt the deportation of a pro-Palestinian activist. Judge Michael Farbiarzs order which directed U.S. Department of Justice officials to get a Louisiana immigration judge to vacate or amend her June 20 order that the activist, Mahmoud Khalil, be deported in essence substitutes Farbiarz in place of the normal appellate process, the Trump administration said in a Friday legal brief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This court has no authority to disrupt or control removal proceedings, it said. The tussle is another twist in the deportation proceedings facing Khalil, who was targeted for removal from the United States in March over his anti-Israel protests on the Columbia University campus. The Trump administration has argued his protests were tantamount to support for terrorist group Hamas and that Khalils continued presence in the country is a national security risk. Farbiarz on June 11 ordered Khalil released from a Louisiana detention center, where he was sent after his March 8 arrest by federal immigration agents. Khalils case has been moving forward on two tracks: one in New Jersey, where he filed a petition to be released from detention; the other in Louisiana, where Judge Jamee Comans was overseeing the Trump administrations push to deport him. Comans on June 20 issued an order of removal (thats the same day Khalil was released from detention and returned to his New York home). But Farbiarz said Thursday that because Comans ruling came after Farbiarzs June 11 order releasing Khalil from detention, Comans order must be vacated or amended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It should not have been made, Farbiarz wrote in a Thursday order, saying Trump administration officials must cause the immigration judge to promptly vacate or amend her June 20 decision. The Department of Justice replied by accusing Farbiarz of micromanaging Khalils deportation case. Congress has said that removal orders can be appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals and to the appropriate federal appellate courts, not to district judges like Farbiarz, it wrote on Friday. In effect, this Court has substituted itself as the appellate tribunal in place of the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Third Circuit, it wrote. The Trump administration has asked Farbiarz to stay his Thursday order so it can appeal. Farbiarz said he will decide on that motion next month. Khalil earlier this month said he is seeking $20 million in damages from the Trump administration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The State Department announced that the United States would be withdrawing from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). A press statement confirmed the withdrawal, stating that the U.S. informed UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay of the decision on Tuesday morning. According to the State Department, being part of the organization is not in the national interest of the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UNESCO works to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintains an outsized focus on the UNs Sustainable Development Goals, a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in the press statement. UNESCOs decision to admit the State of Palestine as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization. Headquarters of UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Paris, France, April 12, 2024. The flags of the states that are part of the UNESCO association. (Photo by Riccardo Milani / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP) (Photo by RICCARDO MILANI/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images) Continued U.S. participation in international organizations will focus on advancing American interests with clarity and conviction, the statement continued. This withdrawal is the latest in Americas complicated relationship with UNESCO. In 2011, the U.S. stopped funding the organization due to it admitting Palestine as a full member, triggering a U.S. law that requires the country to cut funding to any United Nations agency that recognizes a Palestinian state. It was reported that those cuts deprived UNESCO of nearly a fifth of its budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Source: 3 deputies killed in explosion X-rayed grenades, thought they were inert before cutting one in half In 2017, the Trump administration went even further and announced a complete withdrawal due to alleged anti-Israel bias; however, the Biden administration reversed that decision in 2023 and rejoined the organization. UNESCO has denied claims of anti-Israel sentiment. Per the State Department, the United States current UNESCO withdrawal will officially take effect on Dec. 31, 2026. The U.S. will remain a full member until that date. The UNESCO website describes the organization as one that promotes cooperation in education, science, culture and communication to foster peace worldwide. UNESCO is well known for designating more than 1,200 World Heritage sites across the planet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. The local government and the Bank of China recently signed a cooperation agreement to enhance banking services in Macau. The signing took place at the Guangdong-Macau Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and was attended by Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai and the Bank of Chinas chairman Ge Haijiao. The agreement was signed by Tai Kin Ip, Secretary for Economy and Finance, and Wu Jian, executive vice president of the Bank of China. Before the signing, the Chief Executive and Ge discussed ways to strengthen their partnership, improve financial services for the economy, upgrade key industries, and enhance modern financial services in the region. Sam thanked the Bank of China for its ongoing support of the citys economic development, especially in helping to diversify the economy and advance the Cooperation Zone. He highlighted that the Bank of China has been part of Macau for 75 years, contributing to its financial growth. He expressed hope that the Bank of China would continue to align with Macaus economic diversification goals, focusing on modern financial services and innovation. The aim is to improve financial services for residents and support the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. Times Reporter Like this: Like Loading... The Justice Department on Monday appealed a federal judges order blocking President Trumps punitive executive order against the law firm Jenner & Block. The notice of appeal is the Trump administrations second such challenge to Big Law firms legal victories against orders that sought to undercut their business as retribution for ties to the presidents political adversaries. The administration appealed Perkins Coies win in the courts last month, meaning either could become an appeals courts first chance to weigh the directives. Jenner & Block was one of six law firms targeted by Trump. The firm previously employed Andrew Weissmann, a prominent Trump critic and legal pundit who worked on former special counsel Robert Muellers probe of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The orders cut off employees security clearances and access to federal government facilities, while also directing the executive branch to review any contracts the government has with the firm, all in the name of addressing risks to the country. U.S. District Judge John Bates, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, slammed Trumps order against Jenner & Block as an effort to chill legal representation the administration doesnt like in his ruling finding the directive unlawful. He said such efforts insulate the executive branch from checks by the judiciary, which he called fundamental to the separation of powers. The Trump administration has argued that its within the presidents discretion to decide with whom to trust the nations secrets and that the order was designed to assuage his concerns about the firms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four firms have filed legal action challenging Trumps orders: Jenner & Block, Perkins Coie, WilmerHale and Susman Godfrey. Judges ruled in the firms favor in each of their legal challenges. Other firms, targeted or not, struck deals with Trump to be spared from executive action or accepted the penalty silently. Trump rescinded his order against the law firm Paul, Weiss after it agreed to dedicate equal to $40 million in pro bono legal services to support administration initiatives; eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion policies; and not deny representation to clients on the basis of their political views. At least nine law firms followed suit, resulting in nearly $1 billion in promised free legal work on causes aligned with the administration in exchange for no orders. Democratic members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee are investigating the deals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement following the notice of appeal, Jenner & Block said Bates did not err. The district court correctly declared that Jenners clients have a right to independent counsel and that the firms right to represent clients vigorously and without compromise is sacred, the statement posted to Jenner & Blocks website reads. We look forward to confirming this on appeal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. An appellate court has allowed the Trump administration to end a program that grants temporary deportation protections and work permits to more than 10,000 people from Afghanistan and Cameroon. In a brief order Monday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit wrote that the plaintiff an immigration advocacy group called CASA has a plausible case against the administration for choosing to end temporary protected status, or TPS, for Afghans and Cameroonians. But the court said "there is insufficient evidence to warrant the extraordinary remedy" of blocking the government from phasing out TPS while the lawsuit works its way through the courts. One week ago, the appeals court temporarily blocked the Trump administration from ending TPS for Afghanistan for one week, while it considered the merits of CASA's case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration had planned to end the program for Afghans last week. The program is set to end for Cameroonians in two weeks, on Aug. 4. The appellate court on Monday directed a lower court to "move expeditiously" to hear the case. Around 11,700 Afghans and 5,200 Cameroonians are enrolled in TPS, the government estimates. But roughly 3,600 of the Afghans and 200 of the Cameroonians have green cards, so they will not be affected. Those who lose their TPS protections can apply for asylum or some other form of legal status, but otherwise, they will be at risk of deportation. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin called the ruling "another win for the American people and the safety of our communities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "TPS was never intended to be a de facto asylum program, yet it has been abused as one for decades. DHS records indicate that there are Afghan nationals who are TPS recipients who have been the subject of administrative investigations for fraud, public safety, and national security," McLaughlin said. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson called TPS a "temporary benefit committed to the discretion of the President and the Secretary of Homeland Security," and said the administration was "vindicated on appeal because the appeals court properly interpreted the law as written." AfghanEvac, a group that has helped relocate Afghans, said in a statement it is "deeply alarmed" by Monday's ruling. "Lives will be upended. Families will be separated. Allies will be detained, deported, or forced into hidingwhile their legal rights remain unsettled," AfghanEvac President Shawn VanDiver said in a statement Monday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CBS News has reached out to CASA for comment. The Trump administration has sought for months to roll back TPS, a program that allows the government to grant relief from deportation and work permits for people whose home countries are deemed unsafe due to natural disasters or war. The government argues that the TPS program is intended to be temporary, and Cameroon and Afghanistan are now safe enough for TPS recipients to return. Earlier this year, the Trump administration said Afghanistan's security situation and economy have improved despite the Taliban's 2021 takeover of the country following the U.S. military's withdrawal. And the government said a pair of armed conflicts in Cameroon including a separatist conflict and an insurgency by the extremist group Boko Haram, which the U.S. designated a foreign terrorist organization in 2013 are "contained in limited regions" and don't imperil people's personal safety in most of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This administration is returning TPS to its original temporary intent," Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a May statement announcing the Afghanistan decision. The State Department has placed a "Do Not Travel" advisory on Afghanistan, warning of the risk of "civil unrest, crime, terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping, and limited health facilities." The department advises travelers to Cameroon to exercise caution, and not to travel to certain parts of the country due to armed violence, crime and terrorism. CASA has argued in court papers that both countries are unsafe, and TPS recipients could be endangered if they're forced to return to their home countries. The group says the conflict in Cameroon which involves English-speaking separatists in a mostly French-speaking country has created a humanitarian crisis and wrecked the African country's economy. And people from Afghanistan, the group notes, were made eligible for TPS because of repression by the Taliban and conflict between the group and ISIS-K insurgents. CASA also argues the administration hasn't followed the correct legal processes to end TPS, and contends the decision was "preordained" and based partly on "racial animus." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That animus is evidenced by the Trump Administration's efforts to eliminate lawful immigration status for noncitizens from countries the Administration believes are predominantly non-white, while simultaneously removing immigration barriers to noncitizens from countries the Administration believes are predominately white," the group said. Earlier this month, a lower court judge denied DHS's request to dismiss CASA's lawsuit, but also denied CASA's motion to halt the administration's policy. CASA appealed, causing it to reach the 4th Circuit. The Trump administration has sought to wind down TPS for hundreds of thousands of other migrants from Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Haiti. In May, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to end TPS for Venezuelan migrants. Video shows conditions inside New York City immigrant detention facility U.S. Olympic Committee effectively bars transgender women from competing in Olympic women's sports Columbia University expels some protesters as school tries to work with Trump administration Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said he is reaching out to Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell to find out what else she knows about the late convicted sex offender. In 2022, the British socialite was sentenced to 20 years in prison for helping Epstein recruit underage girls for sexual abuse. As the Trump administration attempts to draw a line under the Epstein scandal that continues to engulf the president, Blanche wrote on X that for the first time, the Department of Justice is reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell to ask: what do you know? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence, he added in a statement. If [Ghislaine] Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say. Blanche, who is Trumps former personal attorney, said he anticipated the jailhouse meeting to take place with Maxwell in the coming days. In response to the statement, Maxwells attorney, David Oscar Markus, confirmed discussions were taking place. We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case, he added. Trump is facing a backlash from his MAGA base over the DOJs refusal to release additional records in the Epstein investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A two-page memo stated there was no evidence of a client list of powerful figures Epstein could potentially blackmail. Last week, the presidents historic links to Epstein were underlined by The Wall Street Journal publishing details of a lewd birthday letter sent by Trump to Epstein. Trump has called the letter fake and sued reporters at The Journal and the papers owner. Epstein was accused by authorities of sexually exploiting and trafficking girls as young as 14 over more than a decade, and couldnt have done so without the help of Maxwell, prosecutors said. He died by suicide in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At her sentencing three years ago, Maxwell, the daughter of late British media magnate Robert Maxwell, cast Epstein as the villain when she addressed the court. It is the greatest regret of my life that I ever met Jeffrey Epstein, Maxwell said. Jeffrey Epstein should have been here before all of you. Related... The Trump administration on Monday released hundreds of thousands of documents related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., fulfilling a pledge from President Trump despite some reluctance from the civil rights icons children. The release makes more than 230,000 pages of files digitally available. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the documents include details about the FBIs investigation into Kings killing in 1968, internal memos about the case and details about the pursuit of James Earl Ray, who was convicted of killing the civil rights leader. Some of the records had been publicized previously through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. But officials touted that the document dump was the first time they had been made available online with minimal redactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays record release marks a historic step in the Trump Administrations ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also serving as the interim head of the National Archives (NARA), said in a statement. Preserving, protecting, and releasing the records of the U.S. government is at the core of NARAs mission, Rubio added. Thanks to President Trumps leadership and a coordinated interagency process, NARA was able to review and release the records at an unprecedented speed. Martin Luther King III and Bernice King, the two living children of Martin Luther King Jr., issued a lengthy statement on Monday in which they urged the public to view the newly released records within their full historical context, pointing to what they called an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by the FBI. While we support transparency and historical accountability, we object to any attacks on our fathers legacy or attempts to weaponize it to spread falsehoods, the King children said in a statement. We strongly condemn any attempts to misuse these documents in ways intended to undermine our fathers legacy and the significant achievements of the movement. Those who promote the fruit of the FBIs surveillance will unknowingly align themselves with an ongoing campaign to degrade our father and the Civil Rights Movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within days of taking office in January, Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing the release of federal government documents related to the assassinations of King, former President John F. Kennedy and former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. King was shot and killed in Memphis in April 1968, and his assassination has remained the subject of conspiracy theories. 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, Kings niece, Alveda King, said in a statement shared by the Trump administration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Thousands of FBI files relating to Martin Luther King have been released despite opposition from his family. Donald Trump ordered the publication of more than 240,000 pages of records relating to the bureaus surveillance of the slain Nobel laureate before his 1968 assassination. The documents have 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The records were released as the US president attempts to mollify supporters who are angry over his administrations handling of records concerning the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Mr Trumps friendship with Epstein has been under intense scrutiny in recent weeks. Kings family, including his two living children, Martin III and Bernice, were given advance notice and had their own teams reviewing the records before the public disclosure. Donald Trump holds up a signed executive order on January aiming to declassify federal records relating to the assassinations of JFK, RFK and Martin Luther King Jr - Ben Curtis/AP In a lengthy statement released on Monday, the King children called their fathers case a captivating public curiosity for decades. But the pair emphasised the personal nature of the matter and urged that these files must be viewed within their full historical context. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They wrote: 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. We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint and respect for our familys continuing grief. Mr Trump promised as a candidate to release government files related to President John F Kennedys 1963 assassination. When he took office in January 2025, the US president signed an executive order to declassify the JFK records, along with those associated with the assassinations of Robert F Kennedy (RFK) and King. The government unsealed the JFK records in March and disclosed some RFK files in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The King records were initially intended to be sealed until 2027, until Justice Department attorneys asked a federal judge to lift the order. King, second right, during a civil rights march in Memphis in March 1968 - Jack Thornell/AP Historians and journalists have been preparing to study the documents to find new information about his assassination on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has long been established that J Edgar Hoover, then FBI director, was intensely interested if not obsessed with King and others whom he considered radicals. King was bugged by the FBI when J Edghar Hoover was director - EPA/AFP Previously released FBI records show Mr 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. King was assassinated as he accompanied striking sanitation workers in Memphis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to the killing. 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. In 1998, the attorney general Janet Reno directed the civil rights division of the Justice Department to take a new look. The department said it found nothing to disturb the 1969 judicial determination that James Earl Ray murdered Dr King. 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. July 21 (UPI) -- The Trump administration on Monday released 230,000 files on the 1968 assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced the files' release and provided a link to the thousands of FBI records. "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 archives.gov/mlk," Gabbard wrote Monday in a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The documents include details about the FBI's investigation into the assassination of MLK, discussion of potential leads, internal FBI memos detailing the progress of the case, information about James Earl Ray's former cellmate who stated he discussed with Ray an alleged assassination plot, and more," Gabbard added. The release comes after Trump signed an executive order in January that also declassified records on the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. The documents, which were stored in federal facilities for decades and released Monday -- in partnership with the Justice Department, Central Intelligence Agency, National Archives and Federal Bureau of Investigation -- have been digitized and are available for all to see. "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 his niece, Dr. Alveda King. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My uncle lived boldly in pursuit of truth and justice, and his enduring legacy of faith continues to inspire Americans to this day," she added. "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." Besides advocating for civil rights, Martin Luther King Jr., was a Baptist minister. He was shot and killed on April 4, 1968, at Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn., at the age of 39. Convicted robber and prison escapee James Earl Ray was identified as King's killer after his fingerprint was found on a rifle near the murder scene. The documents also reveal Ray's conversation with a former cellmate about the alleged assassination plot. Ray pleaded guilty to King's murder to avoid the death penalty. He was sentenced to 99 years in prison and died in custody in 1998. "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," Gabbard said. "I extend my deepest appreciation to the King family for their support." Tom Homans responsibilities as border czar seemingly now include policing the bounds of acceptable dissent. On Tuesday, Homan fancifully blamed politicians criticisms of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for an uptick in violence toward the agencys personnel. On MSNBCs Morning Joe, the border czar supported the practice of ICE agents concealing their identities with masks. The masks, I think, are important. How do we get rid of the masks? Stop the hateful rhetoric, he said, before alleging an eightfold increase in assaults on ICE personnel over last year. Who, by Homans lights, is responsible for the rhetoric (and, in turn, the violence)? I specifically mean members of Congress, he said. If members of Congress can compare ICE to the Nazis, that gives some of those people on the far left, the out of control peopleit emboldens them to take action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homans tone policing is consistent with other spurious attempts by the Trump administration to blame Democratic lawmakers for the reported (and exaggerated) increases in assaults against ICE agents. Earlier this month, for instance, the White House issued a statement attributing a surge in assaults against ICE agents to dangerous, inflammatory rhetoric from Democrat politicians. The examples it provided, however, were all legitimate criticisms of ICEs enforcement under Trump (likening the agents to secret police or Gestapo, for example, due to instances of masked, plainclothes officers plucking people off the street, at times for their political opinions) or of ICE in general (such as calls to abolish the agency). In pointing the finger at Democratic rhetoric, the Trump administration conveniently ignores that the alleged increase in assaults comes as the agency, under Trumps directives, has greatly increased the frequency of its operationsand become markedly more adversarial, embracing policing tactics that, according to law enforcement experts, put its agents in harms way. But Homan would have you believe that the Trump administration couldnt possibly be to blame. It must, instead, be the fault of Democratic lawmakers who have critical things to say about the increasingly unpopular force unleashed on American communities. Its post-graduation season in China. Tiger Moms are naturally comparing notes on the salaries of fresh alumni from top universities. What kind of return might they expect, after spending years and sometimes a fortune demanding academic excellence from their offspring? A doctor friend told me recently that her son got a job at Huawei Technologies Co., considered one of the most prestigious employers in China. The young man studied computer science at Tsinghua University and then Brown University in the US. Huawei is starting him at 400,000 yuan ($55,689) a year, the parent beamed. Is my friends son getting paid too little for this kind of resume? Tsinghua is synonymous with status in China, counting among its famous alumni President Xi Jinping and his predecessor, Hu Jintao. It churns out fewer than 10,000 graduates a year, about the same as Harvard. Plus, large US technology companies are offering astronomical amounts to Chinese talent. Meta Platforms Inc. recently poached AI researcher Ruoming Pang from Apple Inc. with a $200 million package. Pang went to Jiao Tong University, a top engineering school in Shanghai. After some research, I conceded that the Huawei package is fair. A Tsinghua graduate with three years of work experience can expect to make 238,188 yuan on average, according to Zhaopin Ltd., an online recruiting services platform. About one-third are working in tech, and most would boast at least a masters degree as well. Of the class of 2022, only 10% entered the job market with a bachelors degree. Their peers overwhelmingly chose to further their studies. As Chinas engineer dividend starts to pay off, big employers seem less willing to offer steep premiums for elite diplomas. Companies like Huawei routinely recruit at so-called Project-985 schools, which refers to the countrys 39 top universities. But candidates are on the same starting line once that threshold is cleared. Some might end up making millions of dollars a year, but they must prove themselves first. After all, the various tech breakthroughs that China has experienced this year show that innovation can pop out of anywhere. The chief executive of Manus, which captured the attention of investors with autonomous AI agents that help execute sophisticated tasks, studied software engineering at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan. The founder of humanoid robot startup Unitree Robotics, who earned Beijings acclaim for making machines agile enough to dance and perform kung fu, went to a local university in Shanghai. Thats not a 985 institution. Beyond those working on deep tech, soft skills, such as teamwork and the ability to deepen client relations, matter more to on-the-job success than academic excellence. Does a Tsinghua diploma signal high emotional intelligence? Not necessarily. Its perhaps better that my friends son jumped onto the bandwagon while the job market still rewards his diploma with higher pay. This begs the question of whether Tiger parenting and tormenting children with after-school tutoring lessons still make sense. Can the parents lifelong project generate positive net present value? Teenagers certainly dislike the academic race to the bottom. A 2016 study found that 40% of first-year students at the equally prestigious Peking University felt life was meaningless, and 30% hated studying. For centuries, the traditional Confucian culture established a causal relationship between academic excellence and extreme success later in life. As Chinas talent pool broadens and society becomes more diverse, that linkage is being shaken. A Tsinghua diploma is no longer so special. Courtesy Bloomberg/Shuli Ren Like this: Like Loading... President Donald Trump has decided on the "worst Republican congressman" in his eyes, and it's someone who has the support of onetime DOGE leader Elon Musk. The president, 79, took to his Truth Social account on Tuesday, July 22, to rant about Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, a libertarian-aligned lawmaker who has represented Kentucky's 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House since 2012. "Thomas Massie, the worst Republican Congressman, and an almost guaranteed NO VOTE each and every time, is an Embarrassment to Kentucky," Trump wrote. "Hes lazy, slow moving, and totally disingenuous - A real loser! Never has anything positive to add. Looking for someone good to run against this guy, someone I can Endorse and vigorously campaign for!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to GovTrack.us, Massie has missed 219 of 7,201 House roll call votes between November 2012 and July 2025, or about 3% of total votes. Since Trump took office, Massie has at times stood up to the president, becoming one of only two House Republicans who voted against Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" earlier in the month. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie in 2021 What Trump didn't mention in his post, but may be another reason for his ire against Massie, is that the Kentucky congressman, 54, is one of the most vocal Republicans calling for the release of the Epstein files. In fact, Massie's effort to force a vote on releasing evidence related to Jeffrey Epstein's 2019 child sex trafficking case led GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson to adjourn the House early for summer break to block any additional votes. The congressman spoke with a reporter outside the Capitol building following his dismissal and Trump's online rant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They're trying to beat up on me to keep everybody else in line here," he said, motioning to the Capitol. "I think it's not working. I think what's gonna happen is this will be a referendum on whether the executive branch controls the legislative branch." "I'm gonna prevail, and what they're gonna find out is, it will embolden members of Congress here to go with their heart, with their mind, with their constituents, and not just toe the party line," Massie added. WATCH: @RepThomasMassie, R-Ky., vows that President Trump's threats to primary him will not only fail but "backfire tremendously" and cost Republicans the House majority. pic.twitter.com/0wPSX78NY4 Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) July 22, 2025 As for Trump's announcement that he hoped to find someone to primary Massie, the Kentuckian felt confident that he would be all right. "I think it's gonna backfire tremendously," he added. "Number one, they're wasting millions of dollars against me, and they're gonna lose the majority because of that. Number two it will embolden Republicans who are, right now, quietly agreeing with me, but saying, 'I'm afraid of winning my primary. Let's see if you can win yours, Massie.' " Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The congressman has the backing of at least one major supporter: Elon Musk. Last month, the billionaire promised to help back any primary challengers to members of Congress who supported Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill." "Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!" he wrote on X. "And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth." When asked by one follower to back Massie in his primary next year, Musk replied (via his @grok answer bot), "I will." 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 fact, Musk was one of the first former Trump lackeys to fan the flames about the president's alleged connection to the Epstein files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former head of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) immediately burned bridges following the end of his government contract, with public criticism of the president and his policies. ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the Oval Office on June 5, 2025 Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the Oval Office on June 5, 2025 In a scathing rant on X (which has since been deleted), Musk criticized the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein records. "Time to drop the really big bomb," Musk posted in June. "@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public." Musk later removed the post and walked back his remarks, saying some of his comments "went too far." Read the original article on People US President Donald Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), citing its anti-American and anti-Israeli sentiment, as well as its progressive stance. Source: The New York Post, as reported by European Pravda Details: In February, Trump reportedly ordered a 90-day review of the US presence in UNESCO, with a particular focus on investigating any "anti-Semitism or anti-Israel sentiment within the organisation". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A White House official told The Post that, following the review, US officials expressed objections to UNESCOs policies on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as its pro-Palestinian and pro-Chinese bias. "President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO which supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November," said White House deputy spokesperson Anna Kelly. Among the cited concerns were UNESCOs publication of an "anti-racism toolkit" in 2023 and the launch of the Transforming MENtalities initiative in 2024. The former urged member states to adopt "anti-racist" policies and engage in a "race to the top" in fighting for social justice by confronting their histories of racism and working to ensure equality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of last years gender programme, a report on video games was also published, examining how games could "promote gender equality". The White House official also said that UNESCO used its Executive Board to advance anti-Israel and antisemitic actions, including the designation of Jewish holy sites as "Palestinian World Heritage". In addition, Beijing is the second-largest financial contributor to UNESCO, and Chinese nationals hold key leadership positions. "China has leveraged its influence over UNESCO to advance global standards that are favourable to Beijings interests," the administration official stated. Background: In February, Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the US from the UN Human Rights Council and to prohibit future funding for the UN agency providing aid to the Gaza Strip. Back in 2018, during Trumps first presidency, the US had already withdrawn from the Council, accusing the body of being anti-Israel and in need of reform. In 2025, the US accused the UN Human Rights Council of bias against Israel and of shielding governments that violate human rights. This followed the decision by former president Joe Bidens administration to suspend funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees and regional operations in the Middle East after reports emerged that some of its staff were involved in the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A voter casts an early ballot at a polling station in Milwaukee in 2023. Wisconsin is among at least nine states that have received requests from the U.S. Department of Justice for voter information, raising concerns among election officials about how the Trump administration will use the data. (Photo by Morry Gash/The Associated Press) The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking the voter registration lists of several states representing data on millions of Americans and other election information ahead of the 2026 midterms, raising fears about how the Trump administration plans to use the information. The DOJ is also demanding Colorado turn over all records related to the 2024 election, a massive trove of documents that could include ballots and even voting equipment. The Colorado inquiry, the most sweeping publicly known request, underscores the extent of the administrations attention on state election activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least nine states have received requests for information over the past three months, according to letters from the DOJ obtained by Stateline. Some states also received emails from a DOJ official last week asking for meetings to discuss information-sharing agreements. The departments focus on elections comes after President Donald Trump directed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in March to seek information about suspected election crimes from state election officials and empowered her to potentially withhold grants and other funds from uncooperative states. For years, Trump has advanced false claims about elections, including the idea that the 2020 election that he lost was stolen. Now back in power, his administration is taking a new level of interest in how states and even local authorities administer elections. Colorado-Letter-SoS-Griswold Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, a political operative approached several Republican county clerks in Colorado to enlist them in election integrity efforts in light of Trumps sweeping March executive order overhauling elections administration. One clerk told Stateline the operative claimed to represent the White House. Whatever the Trump administration tries to pull is very unlikely to be successful, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, said in an interview, calling Colorado elections very secure. With that said, do I think they are trying to undermine our elections at large in this country? Absolutely. DOJ has sent letters to Alaska, Arizona, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, in addition to the request to Colorado. The letters have typically asked election officials to describe how they register voters and work to identify duplicate registrations and individuals not eligible to vote, such as people with felony convictions and those who have died. The Washington Post earlier Wednesday reported on the letters; Votebeat and NPR previously reported on some of the letters as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most letters also ask about each states process for flagging noncitizen applicants. Noncitizen voting is against federal law and incredibly rare, but Trump and his allies have promoted false claims about its prevalence. The Trump administration is also conducting a general crackdown on illegal immigration. The letters call on election officials to turn over voter registration lists, which in some instances contain data on millions of residents in their states. This request has raised the most concerns, with some experts saying its unclear exactly why the DOJ wants the information. They dont make much sense as law enforcement investigations. That makes me think that theres some other purpose, said Justin Levitt, who served as senior policy adviser for democracy and voting rights in the Biden White House and is now a law professor at Loyola Marymount University. While many states make their voter registration lists available to the public, Levitt emphasized the data could still be largely off-limits to the federal government. Federal privacy law sometimes restricts how the government can use data thats publicly obtainable. The DOJ may need voter information in some individual circumstances, but thats not blanket permission to go vacuuming up data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ didnt respond to questions for this story. Federal laws restrict the federal governments ability to centralize information on Americans, said David Becker, executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation & Research. Even if states provide voter registration information to the public, they often redact sensitive information. In Orange County, California, the DOJ sued local election officials in June, seeking unredacted voter registration information, such as Social Security numbers and drivers licenses, as part of an investigation into noncitizen voting. More than 350 election officials from some 33 states participated in a conference call about federal actions on Monday hosted by Becker, who was previously an attorney in the DOJ Voting Rights Section during the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. He said the interest in the call shows the level of uncertainty and anxiety over the current federal imposition on election administrators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ seems dead set on acquiring personal information on voters, including drivers license numbers, Social Security numbers and dates of birth records that are highly protected under federal law and under state law and which state election officials are sworn to protect, Becker said. Sweeping Colorado requests In Colorado, the amount of data the DOJ wants is enormous. On May 12, Harmeet Dhillon, an assistant U.S. attorney general in the DOJs Civil Rights Division, sent a letter to Griswold, the secretary of state, asking for access to all records related to the 2024 election. Federal law requires state election officials to preserve records related to elections for 22 months. Typically, the rule ensures records are preserved in case any lawsuits are filed over an election. In the letter, Dhillon referred to a complaint against Griswolds office alleging noncompliance with records retention laws, but provided no details. The DOJ seems dead set on acquiring personal information on voters, including drivers license numbers, Social Security numbers and dates of birth records that are highly protected under federal law and under state law and which state election officials are sworn to protect. David Becker, executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation & Research Experts on election administration who spoke to Stateline expressed shock at the scope of the demand to Colorado. The request encompasses a vast trove of material, potentially including ballots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amount of records being requested from a place like Colorado its really, really significant in terms of the volume of materials that are required to be retained, said Neal Ubriani, a former voting rights litigator at the DOJ during the Obama and first Trump administrations and the current policy and research director at the nonpartisan Institute for Responsive Government. Colorado elections have previously drawn Trumps attention. Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, a staunch Trump supporter, is serving a nine-year prison sentence after a conviction in state court for allowing unauthorized access to voting equipment in 2021. On May 5 of this year a week before the Dhillon letter to Griswold Trump posted on social media that Peters should be released, calling her a political prisoner. Griswold noted the timing. I think the bigger picture is Donald Trump is continuing to try and rewrite the 2020 election and destabilize the 26 and 28 elections, Griswold told Stateline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Colorado Secretary of States Office responded to the DOJ by providing copies of the states master voter file and voter history file. All of the information provided is also available to the public. Some Colorado Republican county clerks in recent days have also been approached by Jeff Small, a political operative who worked at the U.S. Department of the Interior during the first Trump administration. Stateline and Colorado Newsline spoke to three GOP clerks who said they had spoken to Small last week. Steve Schleiker, clerk of El Paso County, which includes Colorado Springs and is the most populous county in the state, said that on July 9 he received a text and call from Small, who introduced himself in a voicemail as someone who works for the White House. Schleiker said that when he called back, Small said he wanted to build relationships with clerks because the Trump administration was unhappy with progress on the presidents elections executive order. He later connected Schleiker with a Homeland Security official who wanted to test the security of El Paso Countys election systems, said Schleiker, who added that he opposed the request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weld County Clerk Carly Koppes said she also heard from Small, but that Small told her he wasnt under contract or being paid for the calls. Small indicated he was making the calls on behalf of former colleagues, Koppes said. Small, a former Capitol Hill chief of staff who now works for a Colorado-based government affairs firm, didnt return a call to his office on Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the agency works with local partners to ensure elections remain safe. We dont disclose every single conversation we have with them, an unidentified DHS spokesperson wrote in an email. Matt Crane, executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, said he was aware of 10 clerks approached by Small. He noted that every clerk approached by Small hails from a county that uses Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Dominion is widely used in Colorado, its also been the subject of election conspiracy theories. A former candidate for county sheriff in southwest Colorado was arrested in June, accused of firebombing a clerks office. Colorado Public Radio reported the suspect, according to law enforcement, had spoken publicly about trying to get rid of the countys Dominion machines. I think the really important thing to say here is that it was Republican clerks who stood up to a Republican administration and said, No, were going to follow the law, Crane said. The intent of the efforts by Small and the federal government has been muddied up it seems, Montrose County Clerk Tressa Guynes said. Based on her conversations with other clerks, she said, it appeared Small represented one thing to other clerks and then represented maybe a watered-down version by the time it got to me. Guynes said Small wanted to discuss Trumps elections executive order. She said Small asked whether she would be willing to support a federal task forces efforts in an advisory role. I said absolutely I will advise, Guynes said. I said Im frankly glad that theyre finally reaching out to the boots on the ground, the people who actually conduct the elections, instead of listening to those who have never conducted a Colorado election. Letters to other states As Colorado grapples with the most far-reaching request, other states are choosing how to respond. In Wisconsin, the state election commission responded to a DOJ request for the voter registration list with instructions on how to request public voter data. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, responded on June 2 after DOJ in a May 20 letter told the state to ensure voter registration applicants provided a drivers license number, if they have one, instead of a partial Social Security number. The DOJ also wanted Arizona to check voters against a state database to look for noncitizens. Fontes replied that Arizona complies with federal law and conducts checks using a state motor vehicle division database. HAVA-letter-redacted We are focused on dealing with DOJ in a good faith manner while ensuring we are following the letter of federal and state laws, Fontes spokesperson JP Martin wrote in an email to Stateline. More recently, Arizona received a letter July 10 from DOJ about implementation of Trumps elections executive order. Rhode Island Democratic Secretary of State Gregg Amore also received an email about the order the same day, according to a copy provided to the Rhode Island Current. In the email, Scott Laragy, principal deputy director in the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, asks for a call to discuss a possible information-sharing agreement to provide DOJ with information on individuals who have registered to vote or have voted despite being ineligible, or those who have committed other forms of election fraud. The email echoes the language in Trumps elections executive order, which calls for DOJ to reach information-sharing agreements with states. While much of the order, which focused on proof of citizenship in elections, has been struck down in federal court, provisions related to information sharing remain. The executive order directs Bondi, the U.S. attorney general, to prioritize enforcement of federal election integrity laws in uncooperative states. It also requires her to review grants and other DOJ funds that could be withheld from states that resist. Some states have already struck deals with the Trump administration. Indiana Republican Secretary of State Diego Morales announced an agreement last week with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services allowing the state to access a database to verify the citizenship of registered voters. Alabama Republican Secretary of State Wes Allen has signed a similar agreement. With your cooperation, we plan to use this information to enforce Federal election laws and protect the integrity of Federal elections, Laragy wrote to Rhode Island. This story was originally published by Stateline. Like Maine Morning Star, 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. Janine Weisman of the Rhode Island Current and Lindsey Toomer of Colorado Newsline contributed to this report. Stateline reporter Jonathan Shorman can be reached at jshorman@stateline.org. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Even though Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota has yet to announce hes running for reelection, President Donald Trump is nevertheless endorsing him. Storm damage ravages Woonsocket Mike is fighting tirelessly to Advance the Great Values of the Mount Rushmore State, Champion our Farmers and Ranchers, Strengthen the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Ensure American Energy DOMINANCE, Help Secure our already Highly Secure Border, Support our Brave Military, Veterans, and Law Enforcement, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment, Trump posted on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rounds thanked Trump on X Monday for the presidents endorsement, posting I look forward to working with you to make America even better! I appreciate President Trump calling me today to offer his endorsement, Rounds said in a statement sent to KELOLAND News Monday afternoon. Together, weve delivered real results for South Dakota, and were just getting started. While I havent officially launched my re-election campaign, you will be hearing from me shortly. Democrat Julian Beaudion and independent Brian Bengs have each raised more than $70,000 in the race. When President Trump wanted tax cuts for billionaires and corporations, Mike followed orders, Bengs said in a statement to KELOLAND News about Trumps endorsement of Rounds. When that package required taking health care funding away from South Dakotans, Mike followed orders. When the White House said to ignore the Epstein Files, Mike followed orders. Mike Rounds excels at following orders without question so its no surprise the President is rewarding him even as he sells us out. If elected, my bosses will be the regular South Dakotans Mike betrayed and not the White Housewhether Democrat or Republican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This endorsement is not shocking but it does show just how out of touch Rounds and Trump are with South Dakotans, Beaudion said in a statement to KELOLAND News about the presidential endorsement. They want to pull money from our schools, silence South Dakota Public Broadcasting, and slash the budgets that keep our communities safe. That puts politics first and our state last. South Dakota needs a leader who backs words with action. I served as a State Trooper, built a family business, and worked with nonprofits across our state. I will always put South Dakota first. Come 2026, the primary election is scheduled for June 2 ahead of the general election on Nov. 3. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sohran Ahmari, the U.S. editor for Unheard, joins On Balance to discuss how Democrats should be criticizing President Trump at this moment amid the ongoing struggles in Ukraine and Gaza. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Trump administration just dealt another blow to U.S. environmental regulations one that could allow more contamination of drinking water from toxic coal ash contamination. The Environmental Protection Agency proposed on July 17 to extend deadlines for required reporting and groundwater monitoring at coal ash landfills and dumps. Any delay of these rules would be harmful in its own right, experts say, and they fear the announcement is just the beginning of further efforts to undercut coal ash regulations. During his first term, President Donald Trump largely ignored federal coal ash rules that took effect in 2015. This time around, his administration is widely expected to roll them back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates suspect that updates made last year to include so-called legacy coal ash, which wasnt covered by the original rules, and coal ash landfills are especially vulnerable. Thats why alarm bells have been ringing for advocates following the EPA's latest move to delay enforcement of one key aspect of the updated rules: the regulation of dry coal ash dumps and landfills, known as coal combustion residual management units, or CCRMUs. The EPAs July 17 announcement included a direct final rule and a companion proposal that would extend deadlines for these CCRMUs. The EPA said it wants to extend the deadline by one to two years for the facility evaluation reports, which companies have to file if they own coal ash that meets the definition of a CCRMU, and therefore makes the sites newly subject to regulation. The EPA also proposes extending the deadline to start groundwater monitoring at these sites for an additional 15 months, from May 2028 to August 2029. The direct final rule issued by EPA would extend the deadline for the facility report to February 2027. As it stands, utilities and other owners of coal ash sites are required to report by February 2026 whether they have any coal ash in landfills, berms, dumps, or other dry repositories that would be considered CCRMUs newly subject to regulation under the updated rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We assume what EPA did was give themselves time to make significant changes to the legacy coal ash rule, said Lisa Evans, senior counsel at Earthjustice. The amount of time given to utilities to comply with the CCRMU portion of the rules [was] extremely generous. The utilities were given years, and now theyre coming back for more, thinking this EPA will grant them more time. The initial coal ash rules took effect in 2015 and were heralded as a major step toward cleaning up the toxic coal ash located at more than 700 sites at over 300 power plants nationwide. But those rules did not cover coal ash that was used to fill in earth or build up berms, or was simply scattered about; nor did they cover ash at coal plants closed before the rules took effect. The environmental law organization Earthjustice filed a lawsuit on behalf of environmental groups seeking to expand the 2015 rules coverage, and after a federal court decision in 2018, the updated rules were eventually adopted in May 2024. These updated rules cover CCRMUs as well as legacy ponds coal ash stored in water at coal plants closed before 2015. Under federal administrative procedures, the EPAs new direct final rule will take effect six months after being published in the Federal Register if no adverse comments are filed by the public. Groups including Earthjustice are almost certain to lodge adverse comments, in which case the rule would not take effect, and instead the companion proposal to extend the facilities report deadline to February 2028 would undergo a public comment process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This poses a bit of a conundrum for environmental groups: If they challenge the rule, they may end up with an even longer delay. If you get a year or two years, you get another two years to put in groundwater monitoring. Then that delays the determination of contamination, which then delays development of a cleanup plan and final remedy, said Evans. Youre pushing everything into the future. An EPA press release says, These actions advance [EPA] Administrator [Lee] Zeldins Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative, which includes energy dominance, among other pillars. Evans said the EPAs announcement came immediately after a July 17 meeting that she and other advocates had with EPA officials, along with residents who live near some of the countrys hundreds of legacy coal ash impoundments. She said the officials listened to their concerns but made no mention of the delays that were about to be unveiled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were all stunned, she said. Years do make a difference when youre thinking about the movement of contaminated groundwater. This will allow more contaminants to get into groundwater, it will make it hard, possibly impossible, to remediate. We know these sites; we know how contaminated these sites are; we know contamination is moving in the groundwater. A serious risk to a Great Lake Almost a century ago, on the shores of Lake Michigan in northwest Indiana, the utility NIPSCO mixed coal ash from its Michigan City coal plant with sand and sod to help fill in the space behind steel retaining walls. On the other side of those now-corroding steel walls is the lake, which provides drinking water for the region and is a hub of both human recreation and aquatic life. Environmental leaders have serious concerns that waves will pound away at the decaying wall, further weakening it, to the point that tons of toxic coal ash will spew into the lake. Coal ash contains heavy metals and other contaminants known to cause cancer and other serious health problems, as the EPA notes. The Michigan City coal plant is among more than 300 sites covered by the updated rules, according to Earthjustices analysis, meaning NIPSCO should be required to file a CCRMU facilities report by February 2026 and then groundwater monitoring results and cleanup plans. Any delay in the reporting deadlines means a delay in the site being remediated and extends the risk of coal ash contaminating the lake and possibly the groundwater too, environmental leaders say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having the delay in some of those requirements is pretty devastating to hear, said Ben Inskeep, program director of the Citizens Action Coalition, an Indiana consumer protection group. These are coal ash waste dumps that have been there for decades. For all this time, they are just leaching really nasty things into our water supplies, putting us in grave danger of a catastrophic failure of the coal ash, all that coal ash getting into our waterways or drinking water supplies. NIPSCO is in the process of repairing one of the steel seawalls adjacent to a creek that empties into Lake Michigan by the Michigan City plant, but local leaders say that is less a solution and more a sign of the risks. The utilities have had a long time to figure out what kind of coal ash they have on their properties, what damage has been done, what remedies are possible, Inskeep said. Further delay is certainly harmful to communities who have been forced to endure living next to these toxic sites for so long. Legacy pond problem Owners of legacy coal ash ponds were required in November 2024 to file inspection documents for their sites. Those documents show serious groundwater, lake, and river contamination concerns from sites in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, and West Virginia, among other states, according to Earthjustices analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Widows Creek plant on the Tennessee River in Alabama may be the dirtiest site subject to the updated rules, according to Earthjustice. The plant was retired shortly before the 2015 rules took effect, meaning that it was not regulated until the update last year. Also unregulated until the 2024 update was the Morrow Lake plant in Michigan, whose location puts coal ash in direct contact with a recreational lake, according to its recently filed inspection reports. Also troubling, advocates say, is that multiple companies known to have legacy ponds on-site did not file any reports by the November deadline or within an allowed six-month extension period. An EPA website compiling reports includes 46 sites filed under the legacy rule, out of at least 84 sites known to have legacy ash, according to Earthjustices analysis. Its unfortunately not surprising, considering the industrys general noncompliance, said Mychal Ozaeta, Earthjustices clean energy program senior attorney. Its nothing new. Were going to continue to monitor it, utilize our internal resources, work closely with our partners to track it just so the public is aware of various sites across the country failing to make publicly available this critical information and comply with requirements. The EPA press release about the deadline extensions also refers back to March 12, 2025, the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in the history of the U.S., [when] EPA committed to taking swift action on coal ash, including state permit program reviews and updates to the coal ash regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a reference to another move the EPA is making to further undercut federal coal ash rules: Giving states, including those with lax records on the environment, the power to enforce their own coal ash rules. On July 10, the EPA had issued another announcement that could weaken the legacy coal ash rules. It essentially said an earlier memo from the EPA aimed at defining free liquids causing contamination concerns in coal ash repositories should be ignored. Its pretty nefarious, said Evans. This is all just the start of the Trump administrations attempted unraveling of coal ash protections. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Tuesday that the Department of Justice wants to interview Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epsteins former girlfriend. Maxwell was convicted in 2020 of helping the disgraced financier sexually abuse underage girls and is currently serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison. "If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say," Blanche said in a statement posted to X, adding that he has reached out to her counsel and anticipates meeting with her "in the coming days." In a statement to the Associated Press, David Oscar Markus, a lawyer for Maxwell, confirmed that they were in discussions with the government and that Maxwell will always testify truthfully. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case, the statement added. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said that he did not know about Blanches overture to Maxwell, but added that it sounds appropriate. I didnt know that they were going to do it, Trump said. I dont really follow that too much. Its sort of a witch hunt, just a continuation of the witch hunt. The Epstein fallout Attorney General Pam Bondi listens as President Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on July 8. (Evan Vucci/AP) The announcement comes amid a fierce backlash from some of Trumps supporters over the administrations handling of its investigation into Epstein, who died by suicide in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein has long been the focus of conspiracy theories that claim Epstein 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. Earlier this month, the DOJ and FBI released a two-page joint memo, concluding that Epstein committed suicide in his cell" and had no such client list. The move enraged some Trump loyalists, who accused the president and his administration of breaking their promise to release all of the Epstein files, and put Trumps relationship with Epstein back in the spotlight. White House bans WSJ from travel pool over Epstein report Ghislaine Maxwell and Donald Trump at an event in Manhattan, Oct. 30, 1997. (Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) Late last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump sent Epstein a racy birthday letter in 2003. According to the Journal, Trump's letter, along with dozens of others, was part of a leather-bound book put together by Maxwell for the since-disgraced financiers 50th birthday. Happy Birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret, Trumps letter concluded in a typewritten message to Epstein, per the Journal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The text was framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with heavy marker, the report stated. A pair of small arcs denotes the womans breasts, and the future presidents signature is a squiggly Donald below her waist, mimicking pubic hair. Trump denied the report, calling it false, malicious, and defamatory, and sued the newspaper and its owner, Rupert Murdoch. On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the paper would be excluded from the pool of news organizations covering Trumps upcoming trip to Scotland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thirteen diverse outlets will participate in the press pool to cover the Presidents trip to Scotland, Leavitt said in a statement. Due to the Wall Street Journals fake and defamatory conduct, they will not be one of the 13 outlets on board. The New York Times, a rival newspaper to the Journal, blasted the White Houses decision. The White Houses refusal to let one of the nations leading news organizations cover the highest office in the country is an attack on core constitutional principles underpinning free speech and free press, the Times said in a statement. Americans regardless of party deserve to know and understand the actions of the president and reporters play a vital role in advancing the public interest. This is simple retribution by a president against a news organization for doing reporting that he doesnt like. House speaker sends members home early, blocking Epstein vote House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to reporters about calls to release Epstein documents at the Capitol on Monday, (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Tuesday that he would send House members home early for their August recess, blocking any votes related to the Epstein matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said that he wants to give the White House space to release more Epstein files on its own. His decision comes despite intense pressure from some members of his own party who are demanding more transparency from the Trump administration on its Epstein investigation. Were done being lectured on transparency, Johnson said at a news conference on Tuesday. Last week, at least 10 House Republicans joined an effort launched by Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie and California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna to force a symbolic floor vote on the release of more Epstein files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee also voted Tuesday to subpoena Maxwell. Half a century after President Richard Nixons resignation in disgrace, certain cliches about political scandal linger in our discourse even though they dont apply to Donald Trump. Among these, the reigning champ is The cover-up is worse than the crime. (I will henceforth identify this as CUWTC.) The Epstein scandal is reviving CUWTC, but I dont think it has legs, because it isnt true. Indeed, it wasnt true even in Watergate. The reason Washington embraced CUWTC during Watergate was that the perpetrator of the crime (i.e., the break-in at Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex) was never identified. I feel pretty sure that Nixon ordered the break-in, but nobody ever proved it. What was proved was that Nixon covered it up. Cover-ups are much easier to expose than underlying crimes. Thats true both for prosecutors (who can always nail the perp for conspiracy or perjury) and for political journalists (who specialize in identifying inconsistencies in public statements). But logically, you wouldnt cover up something like, say, ordering a break-in at the DNC, if it werent pretty bad. Its badness is the reason you cover it up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and CUWTC are an awkward fit because to cover something up you have to understand that youre doing something wrong, and Trumps moral compass is out of order. On January 6, 2021, Trump openly encouraged protesters to disrupt the official ballot count (We will stop the steal Were not going to let it happen Were going to walk down, and Ill be there with you), and during the subsequent insurrection, Trump waited three hours before he urged his supporters to leave the Capitol. Everyone knows this. Trump was impeached over it, and in the Senate a 57-person majority, including seven Republicans, voted to convict; Trump was acquitted only because conviction required 67 votes. Similarly, Trump openly defied attempts by the National Archives to reclaim documents from his first presidency that did not belong to him, many of them classified. He also openly sought to overturn the 2020 election based on false information. He was indicted for these crimes, not for any attempt to hide them, and the cases were dropped or delayed indefinitely only after he won reelection. Trump lost a civil suit brought by E. Jean Carroll after Trump denied sexually abusing her. The sexual abuse got Carroll a $5 million award, and the defamatory denial got her $83 million. Nevertheless, I think we can all agree that committing sexual abuse is worse than telling a lie to cover it up. Another civil judgment against Trump, on which Trump owes in excess of $500 million, involved civil fraud in his business dealings, but in that instance the cover-up and the crime were the same. The exception that proves the rule is Trumps criminal conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records concerning his hush-money payment to the porn actress Stormy Daniels. That was, I must admit, a classic example of CUWTC. Falsifying business records is worse (from a legal standpoint, anyway) than cheating on your wife, which isnt a crime at all. And a hush-money payoff one month before a federal election that isnt recorded as a campaign expenditure violates federal lawjust ask Michael Cohenthough the feds never indicted Trump for that. So yes, in this instance the cover-up was worse than the alleged tawdry behavior it was meant to hideso much worse that it made Trump a felon. On January 10, the judge in the case issued Trump an unconditional discharge, meaning the felony conviction sticks but the felon pays no fine and does no jail time. Now Trump is a president and a felon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as cover-ups go, even this one was pretty amateurish, and during the trial, very few of the damning facts were in dispute. Also, Trump didnt succeed entirely in hiding his alleged affairsThe Wall Street Journal reported on one with the Playboy model Karen McDougal four days before Election Day, in a story that also mentioned Daniels. Trump denied he had affairs with either woman, but even his supporters didnt believe him; in a 2018 poll, twice as many Trump voters said he had an affair with Daniels (29 percent) as said he didnt (15 percent), with the rest declining to say (56 percent). They didnt care: A 64 percent majority of Trump voters said the matter didnt change their opinion of Trump one way or the other. Even Democrats didnt care all that much. Indeed, almost one-third of all Hillary Clinton voters agreed that it didnt change their (very low) opinion of Trump. The Epstein affair would appear, superficially, to be CUWTC-coded. After all, Trump stands accused by his MAGA base of not releasing documents in the Jeffrey Epstein case, as he once promised to do. And Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, says that in March the Justice Department put 1,000 employees on 24-hour shifts to review 100,000 Epstein-related documents and these personnel were instructed to flag any records in which President Trump was mentioned. If true, thats a serious abuse of power. But MAGA doesnt quite grasp, even though its staring the rest of us in the face, that the reason to care about Trumps reluctance to release information about Epstein is the possibility that Trump had sex with an underage girl. If Trump is indeed a pedophile, then that will be far worse than his failure to release evidence that might or might not (Im guessing not) incriminate him. I have no opinion about whether our president is a pedophile. But I do have an opinion about whether were likely ever to find out. My opinion is: We wont. A few days before the 2016 election, I showed up at a law office in Woodland Hills, California, to hear one Jane Doe who claimed that Trump tied her to a bed and raped her when she was 13. But at the appointed hour, Jane Doe failed to show up. Conchita Sarnoff, a reporter-activist who reported extensively on the Epstein matter years before the Miami Heralds Julie Brown took it up, says Trump is a dead end in this case, and Im inclined to believe her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Which doesnt mean Trump isnt covering something up. The Wall Street Journal reported on a cryptic note that Trump penned to Epstein with a lewd drawing of a womans breasts and his signature doubling as a squiggle of pubic hair. Trumps response was to say on Truth Social, I dont draw pictures, prompting multiple news outlets instantly to dig up old Trump doodles. Trump then filed a $10 billion civil complaint against the Journal so idiotic that at least some of it (for example: The Article was published in The Wall Street Journal as an exclusive. However, since publication Defendants have widely disseminated it to hundreds of millions of people worldwide) must have been dictated by Trump himself. Here, this cover-up isnt worse than the crime; its comic relief. Miraculously, as the loathed mainstream media takes up the story, the MAGA faithful who rebelled against Trump suppressing the Epstein files are starting to rally around Trump. They tried to actually destroy him, one outraged MAGA podcaster told Steve Bannon. That the press jumped on the story because MAGA was in an uproar is immaterial. That Trump is obviously lying about a doodle to Epstein thats far less incriminating than Grab em by the pussy is also immaterial. What matterswhat has always matteredis that Trump is once again under attack from the cultural elite. Trumps undeniable crimes, meanwhile, hide in plain sight. Last week, Bloomberg reported that a new batch of meme coins to be unlocked this week will add $100 million to Trumps net worth. Pretty good story, no? Almost nobody picked it up. Yet another violation of the emoluments clause? Yawn. Who can keep track? And anyway, how can it be a crime if Trump isnt covering it up? Time to retire that antiquated presumption. CUWTC, RIP. Lawmaker Ron Lam has called for a probe into the Cultural Affairs Bureaus (IC) accountability regarding the construction of an overpass linking Zones A and B of the new landfills. In a written inquiry to the government, the lawmaker noted that a recent UNESCO request soliciting a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) aims to ensure the project does not breach regulations established to protect World Heritage properties. He claimed that IC officials acted irresponsibly in the matter. According to Lam, the IC should have initiated a thorough assessment before the project advanced. Instead, he said, they ignored their responsibilities, and the governments actions were forced to stop due to UNESCOs intervention. It cannot be denied that Macau has significant issues in its planning and implementation procedures, even violating the notification and review provisions of Article 172 of the World Heritage Convention, Lam remarked. If a State Party to the Convention intends to undertake or approve large-scale restoration or construction projects in areas protected under the Convention that may affect the Outstanding Universal Value of the heritage, the World Heritage Committee encourages the State Party to communicate such intentions to the Committee through the Secretariat. States Parties must issue notifications promptly (e.g., before drafting the basic documents for specific projects) and before making any irreversible decisions, to enable the Committee to assist in finding appropriate solutions in a timely manner and ensure the preservation of the Outstanding Universal Value of the heritage. The project was transformed into an overpass after preliminary studies ruled out a tunnel as a viable option. However, the planned structure has drawn criticism due to its height, which could potentially disrupt the visual corridor to the Guia Lighthouse. Previously, the IC dismissed the need for further assessment, stating that the structure was not a building and therefore would not entirely obstruct the view. As a result of UNESCOs request, the government has suspended the preparatory works, including the public tender process for the design and construction of the overpass. Jetfoil group welcomes suspension of overpass project The Jetfoil Conservation Concern Group also welcomed the suspension of the overpass project, having raised several concerns in the past. In a statement expressing satisfaction, the group said, We hope the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal can remain in operation to satisfy the needs of tourists, residents, and businesses, as well as continue serving as an effective commuting option between the city centers of Hong Kong and Macau. The group has previously claimed the project could negatively affect the terminals operation, the maritime links between Macau and Hong Kong, and Jetfoil services. Nonetheless, the group noted that of the three original proposals Lower Bridge, Tall Bridge, and Tunnel the tunnel has been ruled out by the government, and UNESCO is currently assessing the Tall Bridge. The remaining option, the Lower Bridge, would require closing the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal to ferries and large vessels. In a recent Legislative Assembly session, Marine and Water Bureau director Susana Wong stated that the Taipa Ferry Terminal cannot accommodate large ships such as Jetfoils due to insufficient water depth. Like this: Like Loading... President Trump is excoriating another one of his own party members for asking him for basic transparency on the Jeffrey Epstein case. Representative Thomas Massie, who filed a bipartisan discharge petition with Ro Khanna calling for the Justice Department to release the files in full, had blunt words for Speaker Mike Johnsons lack of initiative on the issue. I think this is the referendum on [Johnsons] leadership, Massie said on Monday, according to Punchbowl News. Whos he gonna pick? Is he going to stand with the pedophiles and underage sex traffickers? Or is he gonna pick the American people and justice for the victims? This is the ultimate decision the speaker needs to make. And its irrespective of what the president wants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, who had a personal relationship with Epstein, lashed out at Massie. Thomas Massie, the worst Republican Congressman, and an almost guaranteed NO VOTE each and every time, is an Embarrassment to Kentucky. Hes lazy, slow moving, and totally disingenuousA real loser! Never has anything positive to add, Trump wrote Monday evening on Truth Social, attaching a link to an attack ad about Massie. Looking for someone good to run against this guy, someone I can Endorse and vigorously campaign for! Its painfully obvious at this point that the president is on the extreme defensive on Epstein, urging his own base to simply forget about a Holy Graillevel issue he dangled in front of them for years. Trump has been speaking condescendingly about this to his own supporters for some time now, saying that anyone who is still interested in the case of a wealthy pedophile socialite who killed himself in prison is a bad person. And now hes talking about funding campaigns against a member of his own party for disagreeing with him. Former Republican New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and Democratic strategist Ameshia Cross join CUOMO to discuss the first six months of President Trumps second term and where he has opportunity for improvement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. President Donald Trump has fired off a string of wild attacks on Truth Social as he scrambles to divert attention from the growing fallout around his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The 79-year-old president wasted no time between posts on Monday night, at times hitting send just minutes after his previous rampage. In one, Trump labeled former President Barack Obama a major threat to America, writing, Obama himself manufactured the Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crooked Hillary, Sleepy Joe, and numerous others participated in this, THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY! Irrefutable EVIDENCE. A major threat to our Country!!! he added. On Sunday, Trump shared a fake AI-generated video showing Barack Obama being arrested and jailed; the two are seen chatting here in January. / ROBERTO SCHMIDT / Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images Trump has been trying to will a counter-scandal into existence by consistently posting about Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbards claims that the Obama administration engaged in a treasonous conspiracy to subvert his 2016 election victory. He has posted at least 19 times about Gabbards allegations that Obama administration officials manufactured intelligence to promote the idea that Russia interfered in the 2016 election since her Friday announcement. The next post about the so-called crime of the century came less than two hours later, when he reposted a clip of Fox News Laura Ingraham covering the Russia hoax on her show. He later posted another Ingraham video on the topic of Trump nominees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obama wasnt the only Trump enemy in the presidents sights. Trump kept his frenzied posting thread alive by turning fire on GOP rebel Thomas Massie, essentially posting an ad for the Kentucky congressmans seat. Thomas Massie, the worst Republican Congressman, and an almost guaranteed NO VOTE each and every time, is an Embarrassment to Kentucky, Trump fumed. Hes lazy, slow moving, and totally disingenuous - A real loser! Never has anything positive to add. Looking for someone good to run against this guy, someone I can Endorse and vigorously campaign for! Trump also lashed out at his favorite media punching bags while revisiting his June airstrikes on Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday acknowledged on Fox News that the bombs had seriously damaged the countrys nuclear facilities. Irans Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, on the Iran Nuclear Sites: Damages are very severe, they are destroyed. Of course they are, just like I said, and we will do it again, if necessary! As interviewed by Bret Baier, Trump wrote. Fake News CNN should immediately fire their phony reporter and apologize to me and the great pilots who OBLITERATED Irans nuclear sites. CNN is a major ratings loser, as is MSDNC! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump then reposted a number of his own previous posts, including claims of promises made, promises kept. Trumps friendship with Epsteinwho died in a jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking chargesspanned from the late 1980s to 2004. / Davidoff Studios Photography / Davidoff Studios/Getty Images Trump has been desperate to change the subject from Jeffrey Epsteinthe late convicted sex offender he once called a friendto safer political ground. But much to his dismay, the Epstein story has turned out to have staying power. MAGA supporters have split with him over the underwhelming release of Epstein documents by Attorney General Pam Bondi, while critics are resurfacing questions about his relationship to the disgraced financier. President Donald Trumps directive to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America sparked chaos within the agency that was tasked with explaining it, according to a new report. Trump announced the name change on January 7, just weeks before his inauguration. This triggered a whirlwind of questions from reporters directed at the U.S. Geological Survey, the agency responsible for the countrys geographic names, the media outlet NOTUS reports. Agency staff were just as curious as reporters about the potential renaming, according to NOTUS. But Michael Tischler, director of the agencys National Geospatial Program, told staff that the public affairs office instructed them not to respond to journalists questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont mean ...has no comment at this time, I mean do not respond at all, Tischler wrote in a January 7 message reviewed by NOTUS. Agency staff, including Tischler, even discussed the policy with the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names. Their discussion came after a reporter asked the United Nations group how the rest of the world might respond to the name change. President Donald Trump gestures to a 'Gulf of America' graphic in the Oval Office. The U.S. Geological Survey, a federal agency in charge of the country's geographic names, told its staff not to respond to journalists' questions after Trump first announced the change, a new report reveals. (AFP via Getty Images) The United Nations group discussed a potential statement in response, but it appears it was never released, according to NOTUS. Tischler informed the group that his agency was not responding to any media requests. When Trump made the change official, even Tischler himself was wondering how the name change would work in practice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an email to the State Department, Tischler wrote: Does this definition constitute the entire Gulf? Or are we going to splitting [sic] the feature into two Gulf of Mexico in the southern portion and Gulf of America in the northern portion? Society of Professional Journalists Executive Director Caroline Hendrie told NOTUS that the agency was stonewalling journalists amid the chaos. Its unacceptable for public officials, particularly those in communications roles funded by taxpayers, to adopt a deliberate strategy of ignoring journalists requests, she said. Trump announced the name change for the gulf weeks before taking office (AFP via Getty Images) A spokesperson for the Interior Department, which oversees the Geological Survey, told NOTUS that agency staff acted appropriately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency followed standard protocol by referring all related media inquiries to [the Department of the Interior], as is appropriate when the department is leading a high-level initiative, the spokesperson said. The notion that USGS staff deliberately withheld information or acted inappropriately is categorically false. The Independent contacted the U.S. Geological Survey and the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names for comment. An official from the Department of Interior responded and called the NOTUS report flawed and misleading. USGS routinely shares public feedback with Department leadership, but it is neither practical nor standard to respond to every individual submission. Attempts to cast that reality as suspicious or evasive are deeply irresponsible and misleading, department spokeswoman Alyse Sharpe stated. While Trump instituted the name change via executive order, some federal lawmakers are seeking to enshrine his directive in law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene sponsored a bill that would instruct federal agencies to update all documents and maps to reflect the new name within six months. That bill passed the House in May along party lines. Every Republican except for one Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska voted in favor. The bill is now in the Senate, but its unlikely to pass due to Democratic opposition. Trump has also targeted other U.S. landmarks. The president ordered that Alaskas Denali, the tallest peak in North America, be renamed back to Mount McKinley in January. The name honors former President William McKinley, who served from 1897 until 1901, when he was assassinated. McKinley was born in Ohio and never set foot in Alaska, the Associated Press reports. President Donald Trump is pulling out of the worlds foremost organization for cultural preservation because he doesnt like its perceived agenda. President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCOwhich supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement shared with the Daily Beast Tuesday. She added that Trump will always put America First and that his administration will ensure our countrys membership in all international organizations aligns with our national interests. Trump has already once pulled the U.S. out of the world heritage organization, citing anti-Israel bias back in 2017. / Philippe Wojazer/Reuters While Kelly didnt elaborate on the reasons behind the decision, other government spokespeople have said the president takes issue with the groups decision to admit Palestine as a member state, its promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion policies, as well as perceived pro-China bias. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These claims [...] contradict the reality of UNESCOs efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism, the organizations Director General Audrey Azoulay told the Associated Press Tuesday. It follows after Trump ordered a 90-day review of U.S. involvement in the organization earlier this year. / Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images The United States withdrawal will come as little surprise to the agency, after Trump ordered a 90-day review of U.S. membership earlier in February, and given that its now the second time hes pulled the country out of the organization. The first came in 2017, when the president announced during his first term the U.S. would be leaving over accusations of an anti-Israel bias. That decision was in turn reversed under President Joe Biden in 2023, who argued for continued membership so as to counteract Chinas perceived sway within the group, and in particular the CCPs use of its influence to downplay the contribution of Uyghur Muslims and other minorities to the repressive Asian nations history. Trumps second withdrawal is likely to have an impact on the organizations operations, given the U.S. provides a sizable share of its overall funding. UNESCO has nevertheless said they will be able to continue even with inevitably reduced resources, having diversified its financing in the years since Trump first pulled out. By Trevor Hunnicutt and Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he may visit China soon for a landmark trip to address simmering trade and security tensions between the superpower rivals. "President Xi has invited me to China, and we'll probably be doing that in the not-too-distant future," Trump told reporters in the White House's Oval Office. "A little bit out, but not too distant. And I've been invited by a lot of people, and we'll make those decisions pretty soon." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and Xi's aides have discussed a potential meeting between the leaders during a trip by the U.S. president to Asia later this year, Reuters has reported, citing two people familiar with the plans. While plans for a meeting have not been finalized, discussions on both sides of the Pacific have included a possible Trump stopover around the time of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea or talks on the sidelines of the October 30-November 1 event, the people said. Another possible trip would be for a September 3 Beijing ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, which Russian President Vladimir Putin also plans to attend. Meetings between Trump and Xi or Putin would be the first face-to-face encounters between the men since Trump's inauguration on January 20 for his second term in office. The White House and the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry have declined to comment on the Reuters report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GLOBAL RIVALS Trump made the comment about meeting Xi during a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a key Pacific ally who Trump said he had nudged away from China. "The country was maybe tilting toward China for a period of time, but we un-tilted it very, very quickly," Trump said. Trump added: "I don't mind if he gets along with China because we're getting along with China very well." Marcos, who took office in 2022, has for years sought U.S. support as his country's maritime disputes worsen with China. Manila has sought to avoid direct confrontation with its larger neighbor, which claims most of the South China Sea as its own territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. and the Philippines have a seven-decade-old collective defense treaty, potentially implicating Washington in a clash between China and the Philippines. Washington sees Beijing as its key strategic rival globally. Upon taking office, Trump launched a tit-for-tat tariff war with China that has upended global trade and supply chains. Other points of friction between the countries include China's support for Russia, the illicit opioid trade, China's growing pressure on Taiwan and exit bans on some American residents. In recent weeks, Trump has sought to lower tensions, describing his personal relations with Xi as healthy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has sought to impose tariffs on virtually all foreign goods, including both China and U.S. allies in Asia like the Philippines. He says this will stimulate domestic manufacturing, but critics say many consumer goods will become more expensive for Americans. The president has called for a universal base tariff rate of 10% on goods imported from all countries, with higher rates for some. Imports from China have the highest tariff rate of 55%. Trump has set a deadline of August 12 for the U.S. and China to reach a durable tariff agreement. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by David Gregorio) WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump said he has reached a trade agreement with Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Jr., following a meeting Tuesday at the White House, that will see the U.S. slightly drop its tariff rate for the Philippines without paying import taxes for what it sells there. Donald Trump revealed the broad terms of the agreement on his social media network and said the U.S. and the Philippines would work together militarily. The announcement of a loose framework of a deal comes as the two countries are seeking closer security and economic ties in the face of shifting geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific region. Marcos' government indicated ahead of the meeting that he was prepared to offer zero tariffs on some U.S. goods to strike a deal with Trump. The Philippine Embassy did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marcos' three-day visit to Washington shows the importance of the alliance between the treaty partners as China is increasingly assertive in the South China Sea, where Manila and Beijing have clashed over the hotly contested Scarborough Shoal. Washington sees Beijing, the worlds No. 2 economy, as its biggest competitor, and consecutive presidential administrations have sought to shift U.S. military and economic focus to the Asia-Pacific in a bid to counter China. Trump, like others before him, has been distracted by efforts to broker peace in a range of conflicts, from Ukraine to Gaza. Trump announces a trade deal with the Philippines Trump said on Truth Social that the U.S. would impose a 19% tariff rate on the Philippines, down from a 20% tariff he threatened starting Aug. 1. In return, he said, the Philippines would have an open market and the U.S. would not pay tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marcos described the lower 19% tariff rate to reporters in Washington as a significant achievement in real terms. He said his country was considering options such as having an open market without tariffs for U.S. automobiles, but emphasized details were still left to be worked out. When asked whether the Philippines got the shorter end of the stick, Marcos said, thats how negotiations go. Without further details on the agreement, its unclear how it will impact their countries economies. Trump wrote that Marcos visit was beautiful, and it was a Great Honor to host such a very good, and tough, negotiator. Appearing before reporters in the Oval Office ahead of their private meeting, Marcos spoke warmly of the ties between the two nations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has evolved into as important a relationship as is possible to have, said Marcos, the first Southeast Asian leader to hold talks with Trump in his second term. Trump, as he does in many of his appearances, veered off topic as he fielded questions from reporters. In response to a question about his Justice Departments decision to interview Jeffrey Epsteins former girlfriend, Trump repeated falsehoods about his loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election and the Russia investigation during his first term, along with comments about targeting adversaries such as former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. After what they did to me, whether its right or wrong, its time to go after people, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Relations with China are top of mind When asked how he plans to balance his countrys relationships between the U.S. and China, Marcos said there was no need to balance because our foreign policy is an independent one. Our strongest partner has always been the United States, said Marcos, whose country is one of the oldest U.S. treaty allies in the Pacific region. On Tuesday, when asked about the U.S. defense commitment to the Philippines, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said, Whatever cooperation the U.S. and the Philippines have, it should not target or harm any third party, still less incite confrontation and heighten tensions in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have been involved in long-unresolved territorial conflicts in the South China Sea, a busy shipping passage for global trade. The Chinese coast guard has repeatedly used water cannons to hit Filipino boats in the South China Sea. China accused those vessels of entering the waters illegally or encroaching on its territory. Marcos also met Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week. At the Pentagon on Monday, Marcos told Hegseth that the assurance to come to each others mutual defense continues to be the cornerstone of that relationship. He said the cooperation has deepened since Hegseths March visit to Manila, including joint exercises and U.S. support in modernizing the Philippines armed forces. Marcos thanked the U.S. for support that we need in the face of the threats that we, our country, is facing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth told a security forum in Singapore in May that China poses a threat and the U.S. is reorienting toward deterring aggression by Communist China. The U.S., however, has endeavored to keep communication open with Beijing. Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met this month on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They agreed to explore areas of potential cooperation and stressed the importance of managing differences. When hosting Marcos, Trump said a visit to China is not too distant, suggesting it is possible he could travel there soon. Trump touted U.S.-China relations but said Manila is independent in its dealings with Beijing. Do whatever you need to do, Trump told Marcos. But your dealing with China wouldn't bother me at all. ___ Associated Press writers Haruka Nuga in Bangkok and Darlene Superville and Chris Megerian in Washington contributed to this report. In the vibrant city of Macau, where modernity meets tradition, Sands China has long been a leader in innovation and sustainability. While running its iconic hotels and bustling shopping centers, Sands China is devoted to fostering a greener environment, both indoors and outdoors. This vision comes to life through strategic partnerships with local SMEs, including Luen Keong Engineering & Landscape a homegrown company that enhances the lush, vibrant interiors of Sands Chinas integrated resorts. A flourishing partnership Founded in 2000, Luen Keong initially focused on construction logistics before making a strategic pivot to landscaping, aligning perfectly with Macaus growing emphasis on environmental aesthetics. Today, the company specializes in indoor and outdoor greening projects, offering comprehensive services from design and installation to maintenance. Their expertise includes seasonal flowers, potted plants, artificial foliage, and floral arrangements tailored for large-scale commercial spaces. Their partnership with Sands China began in 2023 when Luen Keong successfully bid for a project to supply indoor festive flowers and potted plants for The Londoner Macao. This collaboration quickly expanded to include the supply and maintenance of plants across multiple Sands China resorts, encompassing everything from fresh flowers to artificial plants, tailored to the unique aesthetic and functional needs of each space. According to Leong Kin Keong, Director of Luen Keong Engineering & Landscape, the companys agility, expertise, and commitment to service excellence set it apart. Our team conducts daily inspections to ensure every plant remains in pristine condition, with immediate replacements whenever needed guaranteeing that our clients spaces always look their best. During peak periods like Christmas and Lunar New Year, we proactively scale up our resources to deliver seamless service. Our deep understanding of plant biology allows us to recommend species tailored to each indoor environment, optimizing both aesthetics and long-term sustainability. Unlike many local firms that focus solely on outdoor landscaping, Luen Keong has carved a niche in indoor greening a critical need for resorts where aesthetics and air quality are paramount, said Ruby Lam, one of Sands Chinas procurement and supply chain managers. Lam, together with senior manager Tammie Wan, praised Luen Keongs professionalism and reliability, particularly its ability to execute late-night installations without disrupting guests. Their team understands the urgency of our operations and delivers flawlessly, they noted. Overcoming challenges together The ability of the partnership to meet operational challenges has been essential. Factors like humidity, temperature, and sunlight influence plant growth, necessitating meticulous planning. During busy holidays, Luen Keong anticipates plant consumption and prepares accordingly to ensure uninterrupted service. Their expertise has enabled them to meet these demands, providing seamless plant maintenance during peak times. Mutual growth and future opportunities Partnering with Sands China has been transformative for Luen Keong. The steady workflow has enabled the company to refine its skills, expand its workforce, and gain credibility in the competitive world of resort landscaping. Leong Kin Keong, the companys director, emphasizes that this collaboration has opened doors to new clients and projects. As Sands China continues to embrace green living, the potential for further collaboration with Luen Keong is vast. Both parties are eager to explore new areas, such as outdoor landscaping and innovative vertical greening projects. Were excited to explore innovative green solutions together, says Mr. Leong. This forward-thinking approach aligns with Sands Chinas commitment to sustainable development and enhancing the beauty of the city. This partnership exemplifies Sands Chinas role in nurturing local businesses. By providing SMEs like Luen Keong with stable opportunities and operational challenges that drive innovation, Sands China reinforces its dedication to Macaus economic and environmental sustainability. As urban greening becomes a global priority, Sands China and Luen Keong are demonstrating that big visions can grow from local roots. Their collaboration not only beautifies spaces but also fosters a culture of resilience, creativity, and shared successcornerstones of a thriving Macau. Tips for lasting partnerships Sands China believes that exceptional partnerships are built on quality and commitment. Operating 365 days a year, they value suppliers who share their dedication to reliability and long-term collaboration. Beyond delivering top-tier products and services, they seek partners who prioritize responsive after-sales support to ensure seamless operations during peak seasons or unforeseen challenges. Luen Keong Engineering & Landscape exemplifies this ethos, combining proactive maintenance with adaptive solutions. Like this: Like Loading... President Donald Trump is pulling the US out of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) over its anti-Israel bias. In February, Mr Trump ordered a 90-day review of Americas membership of the heritage group, probing any anti-Semitism or anti-Israel sentiment within the organisation. Now Mr Trump is set to cut ties with the agency after the review uncovered alleged pro-China and anti-Israel bias, as well as the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, according to The New York Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from Unesco which supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the common-sense policies that Americans voted for in November, White House deputy spokeswoman Anna Kelly told the newspaper. This president will always put America First and ensure our countrys membership in all international organisations aligns with our national interests. The US is home to numerous celebrated Unesco heritage sites, including the Everglades National Park, the Grand Canyon and the Statue of Liberty. Mr Trumps withdrawal from the agency is not expected to affect their status as protected sites. The Everglades National Park in Florida is one of Americas celebrated Unesco sites - Jupiterimages/Getty Images Unesco board members forced through anti-Israel actions, such as designating Jewish holy sites as Palestinian World Heritage sites, a White House official claimed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the review, Unesco frequently states that Palestinian territory is occupied by Israel and condemns the Jewish states war against Hamas without criticising the terrorist group. It added that Beijing holds significant sway over Unesco as its biggest donor and through having Chinese nationals such as deputy-director general Xing Qu in top leadership positions. China has leveraged its influence over Unesco to advance global standards that are favourable to Beijings interests, the official said. Unesco has come under criticism for apparently glossing over the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) persecution of Uyghur Muslims. The Ibrahimi Mosque, also know as the Tomb of the Patriarchs, is a Unesco site in the West Bank - HAZEM BADER/AFP The organisation has also been accused of promoting woke social justice causes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, Unesco published an anti-racism toolkit which urged member states to adopt anti-racist policies and engage in a race to the top to be social justice leaders, address questions about the history of racism in their country and strive towards racial equality. The following year, the organisations Transforming MENtalities initiative highlighted its work in India addressing how men think about gender issues, including harmful gender norms. It also published research looking at how video games could promote gender equality. Gabriela Ramos, Unescos assistant director-general for the social and human sciences, said at the time: It is not only about controlling the negative impacts, but also relying on video games to address socio-cultural stereotypes and encourage positive, anti-discriminatory behaviours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump first withdrew the US from Unesco in 2017 amid allegations of anti-Israel bias. The Grand Canyon in Arizona. The USs withdrawal from Unesco is not expected to affect its status as a protected site - Scott Olson/2025 Getty Images Joe Biden then rejoined the heritage group in 2023, claiming US presence was needed to push back against the rising influence of China. Audrey Azoulay, the director-general of Unesco, said: I deeply regret president Donald Trumps decision to once again withdraw the United States of America from Unesco. However regrettable, this announcement was anticipated, and Unesco has prepared for it. In spite of President Trumps first withdrawal in 2017, Unesco stepped up its efforts to take action wherever its mission could contribute to peace and demonstrated the pivotal nature of its mandate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unescos purpose is to welcome all the nations of the world, and the United States of America is and will always be welcome. 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. By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Justice Department on Monday released more than 240,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., including records from the FBI, which had surveilled the civil rights leader as part of an effort to discredit the Nobel Peace Prize winner and his civil rights movement. Files were posted on the website of the National Archives, which said more would be released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement King died of an assassin's bullet in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, as he increasingly extended his attention from a nonviolent campaign for equal rights for African Americans to economic issues and calls for peace. His death shook the United States in a year that would also bring race riots, anti-Vietnam war demonstrations and the assassination of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump's administration released thousands of pages of digital documents related to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and former President John F. Kennedy, who was killed in 1963. Trump promised on the campaign trail to provide more transparency about Kennedy's death. Upon taking office, he also ordered aides to present a plan for the release of records relating to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and King. The FBI kept files on King in the 1950s and 1960s - even wiretapping his phones - because of what the bureau falsely said at the time were his suspected ties to communism during the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union. In recent years, the FBI has acknowledged that as an example of "abuse and overreach" in its history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The civil rights leader's family asked those who engage with the files to "do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family's continuing grief," and condemned "any attempts to misuse these documents." "Now more than ever, we must honor his sacrifice by committing ourselves to the realization of his dream a society rooted in compassion, unity, and equality," they said in a statement. "During our father's 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," the family, including his two living children, Martin III, 67, and Bernice, 62, said, referring to the then-FBI director. James Earl Ray, a segregationist and drifter, confessed to killing King but later recanted. He died in prison in 1998. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement King's family said it had filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit in Tennessee in 1999 that led to a jury unanimously concluding "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." Jowers, once a Memphis police officer, told ABC's Prime Time Live in 1993 that he participated in a plot to kill King. A 2023 Justice Department report called his claims dubious. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; additional reporting by Brad Brooks and Bianca Flowers; Editing by Donna Bryson and Stephen Coates) The U.S. has reached a trade deal with the Philippines following a meeting Tuesday between President Donald Trump and the countrys president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., at the White House, Trump announced on social media. It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs, the president wrote on Truth Social. According to Trump, the U.S. will impose a 19 percent tariff on imports from the Philippines, higher than the 17 percent reciprocal duty the U.S. briefly imposed in April but slightly lower than the 20 percent tariff he threatened in a letter earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, we will work together Militarily. It was a Great Honor to be with the President. He is Highly Respected in his Country, as he should be. He is also a very good, and tough, negotiator, Trump wrote in his post. The final terms of the deal have yet to be officially confirmed by the Marcos government, nor did the White House provide further details on the agreement. The White House did, however, release more information on a separate framework for an agreement with neighboring Indonesia that he first touted last week. Like the purported agreement with the Philippines, the framework with Indonesia keeps in place a substantial, 19 percent tariff on exports Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This Deal is a HUGE WIN for our Automakers, Tech Companies, Workers, Farmers, Ranchers, and Manufacturers. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!," Trump wrote in a separate post to Truth Social, hours after announcing the deal with the Philippines. He also said Indonesia agreed to eliminate 99% of their tariff barriers to become an Open Market to American Industrial and Tech Products, and Agricultural Goods. Senior officials told reporters on a call Tuesday that Indonesia agreed to address several trade issues the Trump administration had identified in the negotiations, including lifting export restrictions on critical minerals, recognizing certain U.S. federal motor vehicle safety standards and exempting American agricultural imports from certain licensing requirements, among other changes. American producers, who have long-faced high tariffs and burdensome requirements, will receive unprecedented access to Indonesias market and greater certainty for the digital services sector, USTR Jamieson Greer said in a statement. The White House also released what it described as a joint statement though the Indonesian government did not immediately publish the agreement saying the deal will provide both countries exporters unprecedented access to each others markets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Agreement on Reciprocal Trade will build upon our longstanding economic relationship, including the U.S.-Indonesia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, signed on July 16, 1996, the statement said. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto acknowledged the agreement in a post on Instagram last week, which Subianto said would lead to a new era of mutual benefit between the countries, but did not confirm the tariff rate. And a report in Indonesias state news agency Antara raised questions about whether the Indonesian government is on the same page about the duty. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, is quoted as saying that the planned 19 percent tariff will no longer apply to Indonesian goods. He also described Indonesias tariff rate brokered in the deal as the lowest among ASEAN countries despite the fact that it matches the 19 percent levy on exports from the Philippines. The U.S. goods trade with Indonesia totaled nearly $40 billion in 2024, with the U.S. importing $28 billion in Indonesian goods. The Philippines, meanwhile, sent $14.2 billion in goods to the U.S. last year and purchased about $9.3 billion worth of American goods, according to data from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not clear, however, how much the countries stands to gain from the new agreements, which maintains a double-digit tariff rates in the Philippines case, two percent higher than the duty Trump initially levied. It is sad that for the Philippines the rate even went up as an ally it is hard to take, said a Filipino official close to the negotiations, granted anonymity to speak freely. President Trump on Tuesday said that former President Obama should be targeted directly by the Department of Justice after his administrations report alleged Obama administration officials manipulated intelligence related to Russian interference in the 2016 election. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard has sent criminal referrals to the DOJ related to the report released on Friday that asserted the Obama officials engaged in a treasonous conspiracy. When asked in the Oval Office on Tuesday, during a visit with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., about whom the DOJ should target, Trump pointed to Obama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on what I read, and I read pretty much what you read, it would be President Obama. He started it, Trump said. And [then-vice president Joe] Biden was there with him and [former FBI director James] Comey was there and [former DNI director James] Clapper, the whole group was there. [Former CIA director John] Brennan. They were all there in a room, right here, this was the room. He added, If you look at those papers, they have him stone-cold and it was President Obama. It wasnt lots of people all over the place, it was them, too. But the leader of the gang was President Obama, Barack Hussein Obama, have you heard of him? Hes guilty, its not a question, Trump said. This was treason, this was every word you can think of. He added that Gabbard told him that thousands of additional documents would be coming, and he called Obama the ringleader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fridays memo also cited former officials like Clapper, Brennan and Comey and comes after Trump has for years claimed the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and whether his campaign colluded with Moscow was a hoax. Trump in March signed a memo ordering the declassification of all files related to Crossfire Hurricane, the name given to the FBIs investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The president on Tuesday also was questioned about Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reaching out to lawyers of Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted sex offender and associate of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, to set up a meeting with her. He said he didnt know anything about it but brought up Gabbards report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The witch hunt that you should be talking about if they caught President Obama absolutely cold, Tulsi Gabbard. What they did to this country in 2016, starting in 2016 but going up all the way going up to 2020 and the election, they tried to rig the election and they got caught and they should be very severe consequences for that, Trump said. Trump also said when he caught former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton but he let her off the hook because she was a wife of a former president. Its time to go after people. Obamas been caught directly, he said. What they did in 2016 and in 2020 is very criminal, its criminal at the highest level so thats really the things you should be talking about. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By David Shepardson and Dawn Chmielewski WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said CBS parent company Paramount paid $16 million on Tuesday as part of a lawsuit settlement. This month, Paramount agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by Trump claiming that the CBS news program "60 Minutes" deceptively edited an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris that the network broadcast in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paramount needs approval from the Federal Communications Commission for its $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media. The FCC did not make a decision by the 180-day informal deadline in mid-May and FCC Chair Brendan Carr has denied Trump's lawsuit was a factor. Paramount declined comment. Trump and CBS formally agreed on Tuesday to the dismissal of his lawsuit, according to a court filing. "We have just achieved a BIG AND IMPORTANT WIN in our Historic Lawsuit against 60 Minutes, CBS, and Paramount... Paramount/CBS/60 Minutes have today paid $16 Million Dollars in settlement, and we also anticipate receiving $20 Million Dollars more from the new Owners," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Skydance declined to comment on Trump's social media post. Skydance and its investors plan to acquire National Amusements, which holds the family's controlling stake in Paramount. Skydance will subsequently be merged into Paramount, with its CEO, David Ellison, becoming Paramount's next chief executive. The New York Post previously reported Ellison, son of billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, agreed to run up to $20 million in public service announcements (PSAs) to promote causes supported by the president. Following publication, Paramount issued a statement that its settlement with Trump "does not include PSAs or anything related to PSAs". Paramount also said it had no knowledge of any promises or commitments made to President Trump other than those put forth by the mediator. (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washigton, Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles, Ryan Patrick Jones and Bhargav Acharya in Toronto; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and David Gregorio) By Andrea Shalal and Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new 19% tariff rate for goods from the Philippines on Tuesday after what he called a "beautiful visit" by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the White House, and said U.S. goods would pay zero tariffs. The new tariff rate is just below the 20% threatened by Trump earlier this month, but still above the 17% rate set in April when Trump announced what he called reciprocal tariff rates for dozens of countries. It matches the 19% rate announced for Indonesia and bests Vietnam's slightly higher rate of 20%. Trump posted the news on his Truth Social media platform after meeting with Marcos in the Oval Office, where he had earlier signaled a deal could be reached during the visit. "It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs. The Philippines will pay a 19% Tariff," Trump said, calling Marcos a "very good and tough negotiator." Trump said the two Pacific allies, who will celebrate 80 years of diplomatic relations next year, would also work together militarily but gave no details. Marcos, the first Southeast Asian leader to meet Trump in his second term, told reporters at the start of the meeting that the United States was his country's "strongest, closest, most reliable ally." He described his country's trade deal with the United States as a "significant achievement." "One percent might seem like a very small concession. However, when you put it in real terms, it is a significant achievement," Marcos told reporters in Washington. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez echoed the view, calling it "an evolving good deal for both countries that could be further improved over time." Trump said the "very big numbers" in the trade agreement would only grow larger. The U.S. had a deficit of nearly $5 billion with the Philippines last year on bilateral goods trade of $23.5 billion, a 21.8% increase from the previous year. The United States remains a vital export destination, accounting for nearly 16% of the Philippines' total exports such as semiconductors and electronic products in the first five months of the year. To offset the trade imbalance, Marcos said the Philippines would increase imports from the U.S. There were certain markets the U.S. had requested to be opened including the automobile sector. "Because we have a tariff on American automobiles, we will open that market and no longer charge tariffs on that," he said. Donald Trump is living in fear over the omnipresent Jeffrey Epstein issue, according to MSNBC host Lawrence ODonnell. On his program The Last Word on Monday, ODonnell pointed out how unusual it was that the outspoken president had said nothing about Epstein that day. The host said that obsessive, relentless social media posts were one way Trump expresses how terrified he is of a person or an issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, The other way Donald Trump communicates his fear is silence, which is also what hes been doing. And so, judging by his silence, Donald Trump is living in abject terror tonight of the Epstein files. Donald Trump spent the day in silence today about the Epstein files. Lawrence O'Donnell discusses Donald Trump's fear of Epstein on MSNBC. / screen grab He added, The man who loves to have the cameras aimed at him while he plays with questions from reporters without ever actually answering them didnt dare allow reporters to get anywhere near him today. On Monday, Trump went on a Truth Social posting spree to distract from the Epstein issue. He covered everything from calling Barack Obama a major threat to America to calling his Republican nemesis Thomas Massie a total loser. However, the previous day, Trump had used his Truth Social account to claim it was radical left lunatics and troublemakers pushing for the release of further information about Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That prompted ODonnell to say, One of those radical left lunatics, I guess, is Marjorie Taylor Greene, according to Donald Trumps description. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) is not letting the Epstein issue go. / Kayla Bartkowski / Getty Images The host said MTG has always been supportive of Donald Trump, but she remains one of the MAGA faithful who want the entire Epstein files released. There is pressure on Attorney General Pam Bondi to release more documents about the disgraced financier who was friends with Trump. On Monday, Taylor Greene said, For the past, gosh, more than a week the highest volume of calls into my office have been about Epstein. People want the information, they dont want things covered up, especially when it comes to the most well-known convicted pedophile in modern day history. Its important to them and they really want the information out. Davidoff Studios/Getty Images The Epstein and Trump connection is not going away any time soon, despite Trumps silent protest. On Monday, Martin Luther King Jr.s daughter Bernice even weighed into the Epstein debate. On the same day the Trump administration released the records pertaining to the FBIs surveillance of her father, Bernice posted on X, Now, do the Epstein files. The Trump administration Monday [today, Macau time] 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 digital document dump includes 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 a lengthy statement released, Kings two living children, Martin III, 67, and Bernice, 62, said their fathers killing has been a captivating public curiosity for decades. But the pair emphasized the personal nature of the matter and urged that the files be viewed within their full historical context. The Kings got advance access to the records and had their own teams reviewing them. Those efforts continued even as the government granted public access. Among the documents are leads the FBI received after Kings assassination and details of the CIAs fixation on Kings pivot to international anti-war and anti-poverty movements in the years before he was killed. It was not immediately clear whether the documents shed 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. 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. Bernice King was 5 years old when her father was killed at the age of 39. 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. She praised President Donald Trump for pushing the issue. Release is transparency to some, a distraction for others 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 MLKs 1968 assassinations. The government unsealed the JFK records in March and disclosed some RFK files in April. The announcement from Gabbards office included a statement from Alveda King, Martin Luther King Jr.s niece, who is an outspoken conservative and has broken from Kings children on various topics including the FBI files. Alveda King said she was grateful to President Trump for his transparency. Separately, Attorney General Pam Bondis social media account featured a picture of the attorney general with Alveda King. Besides fulfilling Trumps order, the latest release means another alternative headline for the president 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. But Bernice King later posted on her personal Instagram account a black-and-white photo of her father, looking annoyed, with the caption Now, do the Epstein files. And some civil rights activists did not spare the president. Trump releasing the MLK assassination files is not about transparency or justice, said the Rev. Al Sharpton. Its a desperate attempt to distract people from the firestorm engulfing Trump over the Epstein files and the public unraveling of his credibility among the MAGA base. The King Center, founded by Kings widow and now led by Bernice King, reacted separately from what Bernice said jointly with her brother. The King Center statement framed the release as a distraction but from more than short-term political controversy. It is unfortunate and ill-timed, given the myriad of pressing issues and injustices affecting the United States and the global society, the King Center, linking those challenges to MLKs efforts. This righteous work should be our collective response to renewed attention on the assassination of a great purveyor of true peace. Records mean a new trove of research material The King records were initially intended to be sealed until 2027, until Justice Department attorneys asked a federal judge to lift the sealing order early. Scholars, history buffs and journalists have been preparing to study the documents for new information about his assassination on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King co-founded in 1957 as the Civil Rights Movement blossomed, opposed the release. The group, along with Kings family, argued that the FBI illegally surveilled King and other civil rights figures, hoping to discredit 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 he considered radicals. FBI records released previously show how Hoovers bureau wiretapped Kings telephone lines, bugged his hotel rooms and used informants to gather information, including evidence of Kings extramarital affairs. 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, the King children said in their statement. The intent 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. 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 Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. After those victories, King turned his attention to economic justice and international peace. He criticized rapacious capitalism and the Vietnam War. King asserted that political rights alone were not enough to ensure a just society. Many establishment figures like Hoover viewed King as a communist threat. Kings children still dont accept the original explanation King was assassinated as he was aiding striking sanitation workers in Memphis, part of his explicit turn toward economic justice. Ray pleaded guilty to Kings murder. Ray later renounced that plea and maintained his innocence until his death in 1998. King family members and others have long questioned whether Ray acted alone, or if he was even involved. Coretta Scott King asked for the probe to be reopened, and in 1998, then-Attorney General Janet Reno ordered a new look. Renos 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. They pointed to a 1999 civil case, brought by the King family, in which a Memphis jury 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. MDT/AP Like this: Like Loading... 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. Every so often, Donald Trump sends an encouraging signal to Ukraine, despite his long pattern of deference toward Russian President Vladimir Putin. Last week, the president of the United States allowed the transfer of a number of American Patriot anti-missile systems through Germanya move that will strengthen Ukraines air defense at a dangerous time. The Ukrainians are so pleased with this offer that President Volodymyr Zelensky has floated an expanded military relationship, wherein Ukraine would share its drone expertise with Americans in exchange for further arms sales. Then again, Ukrainian air defenses are overstretched in part because of another recent decision Trump made: As he was agreeing last week to allow the transfer of more Patriots to Ukraineat Europes expensehe also gave Putin about 50 days to come to the negotiating table before the White House will consider new sanctions against Russia. In essence, Trump gave the Russian dictator the rest of the summer to continue his bombing campaign against Ukrainian cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Phillips Payson OBrien: Ukraines warning to the worlds other military forces] Recognizing that supporting a democratic Ukraine against Putins invasion is in Americas interest, the Biden administration had donated weapons to Ukraine, rather than expecting to be paid for them. Ukraine, which needs supplies to continue its fight, has no real choice but to keep seeking the White Houses favor. But Trump seems to be stringing the Ukrainians along. The equipment he plans to furnish will not be enough to enable the Ukrainians to win. Whatever help he provides appears less decisive than the obstacles he puts in their way. For months now, the Russians have spurned any real negotiations with Ukraine and ramped up their bombardment of Ukrainian citieskilling and maiming civilians on almost a nightly basis. In response to this, Trump has regularly decried Putins actions, but resolutely refused to take any concrete steps himself to rein the Russian dictator in. [Thomas Wright]: Putin needs to believe he cant win Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Russia launched an ever-larger number of missiles and drones at Ukrainian cities, many in Congress were eager to approve crippling secondary sanctions that would have all but prevented outside powers from doing business with Russia. These measures were included in a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthaland co-sponsored by more than 80 other members of the senior chamber. It was also a bill that stood to gain quick passage in the Houseif Trump would allow House Speaker Mike Johnson bring it to a vote. Trump even indicated that his wife, Melania, was appalled at the destruction that Ukrainians keep suffering. I go home. I tell the first lady, You know, I spoke to Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation. She said, Oh, really? Another city was just hit, Trump said last week. But instead of moving firmly against Putin, Trump gave his 50-day ultimatumwhich may not even be an ultimatum if, in the end, Trump backs off his threat to impose very severe tariffs on Russia. As nationalist commentators in Russia quickly understood, Trump was offering Putin a great strategic gift. In part because Trump has refused to add new sanctions after his inauguration in January, and suppliers have found ways around existing ones, Russia can now manufacture more missiles. After dark, Russian forces are bombarding Ukrainian cities with a growing number of missiles and dronesthe record for one night, set earlier this month, is more than 700, a quantity that would have been inconceivable in 2022, at the start of the full-scale invasion. And German General Christian Freuding, head of the Ukraine Situational Center at the German Ministry of Defense, recently said that Russia wants to be able to launch 2,000 drones in a single attack. [Nataliya Gumenyuk]: Ukraines new way of war Even if Ukraine gains access to greater defensive firepower, the country almost certainly wont be able to shoot down all of the incoming munitions in attacks of that size, and the toll in Ukrainian lives seems sure to mount. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the ground, Russia can step up its efforts to take one tiny parcel of Ukrainian land after the nexteven at the cost of sending tens of thousands more of its own soldiers to their doom. If Trump genuinely has plans to increase pressure on Russia after his 50-day grace period expires, hes essentially giving Putin reason to set a goal of conquering as much territory as possible before coming to any peace talks. At the end of a 50-day rampage, the Russians could even decide to take up the terrible peace deal that the Trump administration floated a few months ago. This included letting the Russians keep almost every piece of Ukrainian land they have seized, granting U.S. recognition of Russian control over Crimea, depriving Ukraine of any hope of NATO membership, and withholding any meaningful security guarantees whatsoever. Having done everything Trump has asked, having negotiated in good faith, having kissed up to the president, having avoided attacking Russian civilian targets partially out of deference to the U.S., the Ukrainians now see the White House basically guaranteeing the Russians a sanctions-free summer to commit any atrocities they want. Under these circumstances, Zelenskys offer to share drone expertise is a gamble, given Trumps apparent sympathy for Putin. Hoping to entice his American counterpart into providing reliable support, the Ukrainian leader previously offered the United States an interest in his countrys mineral wealth. The deal is in effect, but Trumps support remains fickle at best, because supporting a free people in their struggle against a foreign dictatorship is no longer a priority for the United States. Article originally published at The Atlantic The presidents team is trying to stomp out coverage of his prior comments about young girls amid fallout regarding his alleged ties to pedophilic sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Steven Cheung, Trumps communications director, torched The Daily Beast for dredging up remarks that Donald Trump made during an interview with Howard Stern in 2006, when he told the radio show host that the best part about being Donald Trump was that he could get all the girls he wantedif he wasnt married to his wife. Do you think you could now be banging 24-year-olds? Stern asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oh, absolutely. I have no trouble, a 60-year-old Trump replied. Would you do it? pressed Stern, to which Trump said he had no problem. But then Trump got into a questionable back-and-forth with the shows co-host, Robin Quivers, who asked the real estate mogul: Do you have an age limit? No, no, I have no age, Trump started, before backtracking. I mean, I have an ageI dont want to be like Congressman Foley, with, you know, 12-year-olds. Trump was referring to former Representative Mark Foley, who had resigned that year for sending sexually explicit messages to underage boys. One of Foleys victims was 16 years old at the time. Trumps aversion to the ousted lawmaker was apparently temporary, however: The Florida Republican was spotted sitting in a reserved section, directly behind Trump, at a 2016 campaign rally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about Trumps old remarks, Cheung lashed out. The disgusting insinuation by The Daily Beast is beyond the pale and does a great disservice to survivors. The Daily Beast is devoid of morals or compassion, all because they want to play political games, Cheung said. Trump has a well-documented history with Epstein. Prior to his death, the New York financier described himself as one of Trumps closest friends. The socialites were named and photographed together several times; the first time that Trump slept with his now-wife Melania was reportedly aboard Epsteins plane, nicknamed the Lolita Express; and Trump allegedly penned a salacious letter to Epstein for the pedophiles 50th birthday, as reported by The Wall Street Journal last week. Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the Rupert Murdochowned paper over the alleged letter Friday. President Donald Trump on Monday blasted the judge presiding over Harvard Universitys case against the Trump administration, calling her a TOTAL DISASTER. The Ivy League school and the presidents team squared off in court for the first time Monday before U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs, who poked holes in the governments rationale for slashing billions in research funding for the university. Trump did not hold back on attacking Burroughs, who was nominated to the bench by then-President Barack Obama in 2014. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is a TOTAL DISASTER, which I say even before hearing her Ruling, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. She has systematically taken over the various Harvard cases, and is an automatic loss for the People of our Country! Burroughs had previously blocked the administrations effort to stop Harvard from enrolling international students. Trump vowed to continue fighting the case even if Burroughs sides with Harvard. When she rules against us, we will IMMEDIATELY appeal, and WIN, he said. The president ripped the university, calling it anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and anti-America. He also baselessly claimed that the billions of dollars the government has contributed to Harvard in research funding had been given without explanation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a longtime commitment to Fairness in Funding Education, and the Trump Administration will not stop until there is VICTORY, he said. Harvard sued the Trump administration in April, describing the governments decision to cut billions in grants and federal contracts after the university refused to bow to its demands as illegal, and claiming the consequences of the action would be severe. Research that the government has put in jeopardy includes efforts to improve the prospects of children who survive cancer, to understand at the molecular level how cancer spreads throughout the body, to predict the spread of infectious disease outbreaks, and to ease the pain of soldiers wounded on the battlefield, its president, Alan Garber, said at the time. Burroughs, who noted her Jewish faith, on Monday took issue with the Justice Department lawyers argument that the government could spend taxpayer money at its discretion, while suggesting that the governments cuts to Harvards funding would do little to advance its said goal of fighting antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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, according to CNN. Burroughs added that the government has done little to evaluate the steps Harvard has taken to combat antisemitism on its campus, while noting that allowing the administration to swiftly punish Harvard without due process would have profound consequences on constitutional law. I dont think you can justify a contract action based on impermissible suppression of speech, she said, CNN reported. Its unclear when Burroughs will issue a decision in the case. Related... Jul. 21President Donald Trump wants an Idaho judge to force convicted killer Bryan Kohberger to "explain why" he committed the four home-invasion murders of four University of Idaho students. "These were vicious murders, with so many questions left unanswered. 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," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Monday. "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 pleaded guilty earlier this month to four counts of first degree murder in the deaths of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, who were found stabbed to death in an off-campus Moscow home in November 2022. Kohberger, the 30-year-old former Washington State University criminology student, struck a plea deal with prosecutors that spared his life but will require him to spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. He waived any right to appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the public's intense interest in the case, the Ada County judge presiding over the case cannot force Kohberger to give a motive. Kohberger is allowed to make a statement during his scheduled Wednesday sentencing, but judges can't compel a defendant to speak. Even before Trump's post, Ada County Judge Steven Hippler said during the plea hearing that the court was receiving phone calls to try and influence Hippler's decision-making in the case. It was disrupting staff and is also "highly inappropriate," he said at the time. For a judge to accept a guilty plea, the defendant must admit to the crimes on their own volition and with the proper understanding of what they are admitting to. At the time of Kohberger's plea, he confirmed it was voluntary, in his best interest and that he was thinking clearly without the impairment of drugs and alcohol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kohberger will face the victims' families on Wednesday in a Boise courtroom, where they are expected to make statements before the court about their loved ones. Two of the four victims' families opposed the plea agreement, with the Goncalves family being the most outspoken . The family said in a previous social media post that prosecutors "betrayed" the family and "robbed us of our day in court," calling on Hippler to "make it right." President Donald Trump and the White House are already working behind the scenes on next year's midterm elections, where Trump will play a heavy role in recruiting, fundraising and messaging, a White House official confirmed to ABC News. The White House plans to spend this year and next selling the president's massive tax and spending bill to voters ahead of the midterm elections, the White House official told ABC News. Trump and members of his Cabinet will travel to battleground states to promote the bill. Just last week, Vice President JD Vance was in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, to tout the signature legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House is also planning a retreat in August for congressional staffers to discuss how to promote the bill and is seeking candidates to run in several key races. Trump is also expected to get involved if a prospective candidate is hesitant to enter the race. Alex Brandon/AP - PHOTO: Donald Trump walks from Marine One after arriving on the South Lawn of the White House, July 15, 2025, in Washington. According to the White House official, aides of the president are working to recruit someone to run in New Hampshire for the state's open Senate seat. The effort comes after the state's popular former governor, Chris Sununu, who had been mulling a run for the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, said in early April that he had decided not to run. White House political director Matt Brasseaux also has been attending House candidate recruitment meetings organized by Georgia GOP Rep. Brian Jack. Trump's political operation has continued to raise money and the president has told congressional Republicans that he plans to spend money on their races. The president's political operation will also soon establish fundraising vehicles for candidates in several notable races, allowing Trump's team to raise funds for them. Trump is also planning to headline a major fundraiser organized by the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C., in the fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president and the White House are also working to keep Republicans in key races from retiring or seeking other offices. The White House is working to prevent Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst from retiring, the White House official said. The efforts come after she received criticism, telling voters during a town hall, "We all are going to die," in response to concerns about cuts to Medicaid in Trump's megabill. Ernst has not announced her 2026 plans. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump arrives for a signing ceremony for the Genius Act in the East Room of the White House July 18, 2025 in Washington. As the most powerful person in the Republican Party, Trump plans to use his political clout to influence the primaries to ensure that the party nominates the candidate he views as the most electable or to punish Republicans who have angered him. Trump recently met with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to discuss the state's Senate primary for the seat now occupied by Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. The White House aims to avoid a messy primary in the critical battleground state and is determining how to engage in the race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has pushed for Republicans to redraw congressional districts in Texas to create more GOP seats to pick up in the midterms. Trump encouraged members of Texas' congressional delegation during a recent call to support his plan and his team is also exploring other states for possible redistricting opportunities. If successful, Republicans could gain five new seats, but the move comes with risks. California's Gov. Gavin Newsom has said that he has spoken to state lawmakers about calling a special session to initiate changes to state law to redraw districts in response to developments in Texas. "If we're gonna play fair in a world that is wholly unfair, we may have the higher moral ground, but the ground is shifting from underneath us. And I think we have to wake up to that reality," Newsom said. President Donald Trumps intelligence chiefs are conducting a systematic campaign to rewrite the history of the 2016 election, seeking to reverse an eight-year-old assessment that Russia waged an information war to boost Trumps candidacy. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe have cited declassified emails to allege in social media posts and television appearances that Obama administration officials manipulated intelligence and conspired to undermine the legitimacy of Trumps electoral victory in 2016. But a bipartisan Senate investigation in 2020 and a recent CIA review both found that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, launching a disinformation campaign designed to damage Democratic nominee Hillary Clintons candidacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A three-year investigation by special counsel John Durham reported no criminal conspiracy by Obama administration officials to sabotage Trump, and Durham filed no charges against CIA officials. On Monday, Fox News reported that Gabbards office made a criminal referral to the Justice Department related to the 2017 intelligence assessment of Russias role in the 2016 election, without specifying the nature of the referral. In an apparent reference to the report, Trump posted online a fake video generated by artificial intelligence of former President Barack Obama being led out of the Oval Office by police. NBC News could not verify that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence had filed a criminal referral. The Justice Department and the National Intelligence Directors Office did not respond to requests for comment. Distraction from Epstein case The allegations from Trumps intelligence chiefs come when he faces demands from many of his supporters to release files linked to financier Jeffrey Epstein. Democratic lawmakers accused the administration of seeking to distract from the Epstein case and to rewrite history for partisan purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, vice chair of the Intelligence Committee, said the panels unanimous, bipartisan conclusion in 2020 was that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to benefit Trump. This is just another example of the DNI trying to cook the books, rewrite history, and erode trust in the intelligence agencies shes supposed to be leading, Warner said in a statement, referring to Gabbard. On Friday, Gabbard alleged that declassified emails released by her office revealed a treasonous conspiracy by Obama administration officials to play up Russias actions during the 2016 election to undermine Trumps authority as president. 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 in a statement. She added that 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gabbard was referring to a U.S. intelligence assessment in early 2017 that Russia had tried to skew the outcome of the election in favor of Trump. Russia orchestrated a leak of stolen emails from the Democratic National Committee and created fake social media accounts. The 2020 Senate committee investigation, which interviewed more than 200 witnesses and reviewed a million documents over three years, came to the same conclusion. Trumps secretary of state, Marco Rubio, signed off on the committees findings at the time, when he was acting chair of the Intelligence Committee. The committee found no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, Rubio said in a statement after the report was released. But he added: What the Committee did find however is very troubling. We found irrefutable evidence of Russian meddling. Trump has always bristled at the idea that Russia interfered in the election on his behalf and has accused intelligence and FBI officials of plotting against him. John Ratcliffe on Capitol Hill on Jan. 15. (Andrew Harnik / Getty Images) Ratcliffe and Gabbard claims Ratcliffe, the CIA director, released an internal agency review of the 2017 intelligence assessment of the 2016 election this month. The review found that some standard procedures were not followed, with analysts having been given an unusually short time to produce their report. But the review did not refute the findings of the intelligence assessment that Russia sought to interfere in the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ratcliffe, however, argued on social media that the review showed that Democratic appointees manipulated intelligence and silenced career professionals all to get Trump. Both the intelligence agency assessment and the Senate investigation found that Russia hacked into voting systems in some states but did not try to change votes or alter ballot counting. Gabbards office said that in December 2016, talking points were prepared for the national intelligence director at the time, James Clapper, stating: Foreign adversaries did not use cyberattacks on election infrastructure to alter the US Presidential election outcome. The National Intelligence Directors Office suggested that intelligence about cyberattacks was later contradicted in a new finding. The intelligence agencies concluded in their assessment that Russian President Vladimir Putin aspired to help Trumps election chances, the ODNI noted. 'Doing Trump's bidding' Democrats in Congress said Gabbard was conflating two separate issues: whether Russia sought to tamper with voting or whether Moscow tried to influence the election through disinformation and leaked emails stolen from the Democratic Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Obama administration never said Russia had tried to alter votes through its cyber intrusions. Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Gabbards allegations of treason were baseless and an attempt to revive conspiracy claims that had already been debunked. Gabbard is rehashing decade-old false claims about the Obama Administration, Himes said in a statement Friday. 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. Larry Pfeiffer, a former senior intelligence official who served both Republican and Democratic presidents over more than three decades, said Gabbards analysis is grossly flawed and inconsistent with the findings of years-long investigations by the Department of Justice and the U.S. Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that Gabbards partisan political behavior as director would be likely cause her to lose the trust of rank-and-file members of the countrys spy agencies. The senior CIA officer who helped oversee the 2017 intelligence assessment of Russias role in the 2016 election, Susan Miller, rejected the CIA directors portrayal of the analysis, though she objected to an annex that was added to the report. Miller said she was angry at the time that senior officials chose to include an annex to the intelligence assessment referring to an unverified dossier about Trump compiled by a former British intelligence officer, Christopher Steele. But Miller said she agreed with the assessments core finding that Putin tried to aid Trump in 2016, and she accused Ratcliffe, the CIAs current director, of engaging in partisan politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes doing Trumps bidding to go after those of us who dared to write a report that simply said the Russians tried to influence the election towards Trump, Miller told the investigative newsletter SpyTalk. And thats a crime? This article was originally published on NBCNews.com DANVERS, Mass. (WWLP) A $4 million prize from the Massachusetts State lotterys $4,000,000 Cash King Doubler instant game has been claimed by the SAT Revocable Trust of Peabody. Bill seeks to let students, campers use sunscreen The trust, represented by trustee Russell Goldberg, chose to receive the winnings as a one-time lump-sum payment of $2.6 million before taxes. (Courtesy of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission) Goldberg said the trusts beneficiary plans to use the money to support charitable causes and enjoy the prize with family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The winning ticket was purchased at Village Food Shop, located at 37 High Street in Danvers. For selling the winning ticket, the store will receive a $40,000 bonus from the Massachusetts Lottery. 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 a ceremony that ended in tears and hugs, the family of Jaime Alanis Garcia said goodbye to the husband and father who died after trying to escape from federal agents during an immigration raid at the Glass House Farms in Camarillo. Dozens of Alanis Garcias family members, friends and community members attended the wake at the Camino del Sol Funeral Home in Oxnard. Family members remembered him as a joyful, hardworking man whose death came too soon. He was hiding, trying to stay alive, said his niece, Yesenia Duran. He was loved by the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 10, federal immigration agents raided two cannabis greenhouse operations owned by Glass House Farms, setting off an intense, hours-long standoff between federal agents and protesters outside the companys Camarillo site. More than 300 undocumented workers were detained, federal officials said, and protesters were injured after agents outside the property shot off tear gas canisters and less-lethal bullets. Alanis Garcia, 56, was fatally injured when he climbed atop a greenhouse and fell 30 feet while fleeing immigration agents at Glass House, his family said. He was taken to the Ventura County Medical Center, where he was put on life support. Duran announced his death on July 12. Family, friends and community members attend the public vigil and rosary of Jaime Alanis Garcia. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has weighed in, saying that the government would consider legal action against the U.S. after his death. This is unacceptable, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Homeland Security has said that Alanis Garcia was not among those being pursued and that federal agents called in a medevac for him. Duran pushed back on that narrative, saying that they were waiting for more answers and witnesses to her uncles death. It was a reckless raid, she said, one that cost her uncle his life. Alanis Garcia was fatally injured during a immigration raid at Glass House Farms in Camarillo. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) On Monday, the body of Alanis Garcia rested in a brown casket with white trim, his head covered by a black beanie. His casket was surrounded by dozens of red roses, a hand-drawn picture of him surrounded by monarch butterflies and a large arrangement of white flowers in the shape of a cross, a gift from his wife and daughter in Mexico. They are scheduled to soon receive his body, when he is returned to his native country. Isaac Alanis, 28, grew up living near Alanis Garcia, who was his mothers cousin, and came to see him as an uncle. Alanis Garcia would come over for dinner after work nearly every night, around 6 p.m., and he loved all kinds of foods, from menudo and pozole to Chinese food, which he would eat with a fork, because he didnt know how to use chopsticks, Alanis said. Alanis Garcia was fatally injured when he climbed atop a greenhouse and fell. The public vigil and rosary service was crowded, with many people left standing. Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times Before arriving at Glass House, Alanis Garcia spent 10 years working at a flower nursery, Alanis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sometimes, he said, he would join Alanis Garcia at the Oxnard Sunday flea market to walk around and pass the time. His uncle, he said, was an extrovert and was always laughing. He was joyful, Alanis said as he fought back tears. On his phone, he had saved a 2020 video of his uncle dancing at a family gathering. Yesenia Duran, left, Alanis Garcia's niece, holds a painting done by a friend of the family displayed at the public vigil and rosary for her uncle. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) On Monday, Alanis said he felt encouraged by the Mexican presidents message, and it strengthened the familys resolve to get answers about the circumstances of his death, he said. He wore a shirt with a photo of his uncle, and on the back, it read, justice for Jaime. The mood was somber at the funeral home. Outside, a hand-drawn picture of Alanis Garcia with wings sat among a box of pan dulces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Representatives from the Mexican government arrived and offered words of support and condolences to the family. The Mexican consular staff in Oxnard has said it would provide assistance , offering to accompany Alanis Garcias family both in California and in his home state of Michoacan in central Mexico. A priest led the audience in a rosary service, calling out Hail Marys in Spanish as they prayed for Alanis Garcia and his relatives. The room was full, with many left standing, as they recited the prayer. Many wiped away tears. When it came time to bid a final farewell, family members held each other tightly as they cried into each others arms. A guitarist serenaded the audience with songs, including one titled, Caminos de Michoacan, Roads of Michoacan, a ranchera song that pays homage to Alanis Garcias homeland. Isaac Alanis wears a T-shirt with an image of Jaime Alanis Garcia, his mother's cousin, who lived nearby and had dinner with the family most nights. 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. Tucker Carlson is disputing Donald Trumps claim that he apologized for accusing the president of being complicit in Israels military attacks on Iran last month. Just days after the former Fox News host made the comments in a June 13 newsletter posted on his website, the POTUS alleged to reporters in the Oval Office that the conservative pundit reached out to him to bury the hatchet. 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, Trump said on June 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also referred to Carlson as kooky in a pointed June 16 post on his social platform Truth Social. Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON! he wrote. In a new interview with German newspaper Bild, Carlson denied that the call ever took place. After the outlets editor-in-chief, Paul Ronzheimer, asked Carlson if Trumps claims about the phone call were true, he replied, Okay... no. No? Its not true? Ronzheimer questioned again. No, I will say this I dont care. I really like Trump. I campaigned for Trump. I just, to say it again, I agree with Trump, I have agreed with Trump on the issues, Carlson said in the interview released Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The political commentator went on to say that despite Trumps statement about the call not being factual, he would be happy to apologize to the president. 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, Carlson said. Like, I dont think Im God, and so Im happy to apologize. And you can ask anyone who knows me, Im an apologizer. Ronzheimer then doubled down, asking Carlson, So youre apologizing now, publicly? Do I understand right? Carlson responded: I dont know what Id apologize for. I didnt attack Trump then. I disagreed with him I dont think anything [was said] that would warrant an apology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House officials didnt immediately respond to HuffPosts requests for comment. The day after Carlsons newsletter published, Trump denied the U.S. had any involvement in Israels attack on Iran in a June 13 post on Truth Social. The U.S. had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight, Trump wrote. If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before. On June 21, U.S. forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites in a very successful attack, Trump said in a televised Oval Office address. He added that Tehrans nuclear program had been wiped out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch Carlsons interview below. Related... * Super quiet First Typhoon Signal No. 10 in nearly two years, Wipha passes mostly quietly over the city, causing disruption but leaving minor damage * Typhoon | Govt: Data review needed for Macau Bridge use during Signal No. 8 * Gaming | Citi: Sands Chinas tableside bets could lift market share * Macau govt and the Bank of China have signed a cooperation agreement to enhance banking services in the region * Lawmaker Ron Lam calls for IC accountability in the overpass incident * Chinese investors snap up stocks on hopes for an end to price wars DOWNLOAD PDF Tuesday, July 22 2025 edition no. 4763 Like this: Like Loading... ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Tuesday warned Kurdish and other groups in Syria against pursuing autonomy, stating that any attempt to divide Syria would be viewed as a direct threat to Turkeys national security and could prompt intervention. At a joint news conference with his Salvadoran counterpart in Ankara, where they discussed expanding relations, Fidan criticized Israels recent intervention in Syria and urged factions not to exploit the unrest that unfolded in the south of the country for tactical gains, calling on them to integrate while preserving their cultural and religious identity. If you go beyond that and use violence to divide and destabilize, we will perceive it as a direct threat to our national security and intervene, Fidan warned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Say whatever you want, make whatever demands you have as long as its not about division, were ready to help. But if you cross that line, we wont leave ourselves exposed to threats, he said. Turkey strongly supports Syrias interim government led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, frequently stating its commitment to a unified Syrian state. It also backs an agreement reached between the interim administration and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, to integrate into Syrias national army. Fidans comments come days after tensions escalated in southern Syria, with violent clashes erupting between Bedouin Arab tribes and Druze militias in Sweida province. The conflict triggered Israeli airstrikes on convoys of government forces in Sweida and struck the Ministry of Defense headquarters in central Damascus, which Israel justified as efforts to protect Druze communities. Trying to extract autonomy or independence from chaos built on blood and created with someone elses help is a perspective that leads nowhere, Fidan said. Now is the time for integration. Its time for everyone to hold onto life while preserving their identity and beliefs. Since 2016, Turkey has conducted multiple military operations in northern Syria to counter Kurdish fighters and secure its borders. UHRICHVILLE, Ohio (WJW) A Tuscarawas County man is recovering after health officials said he recently contracted the La Crosse virus. The Tuscarawas County Health Department was notified about the confirmed human case on July 17. PHOTO: Cedar Point floods amid storms, downpours The La Crosse virus is a viral disease that spreads to humans when bit by infected eastern tree hole mosquitoes, which typically reside in wooded and forested areas. Aedes triseriatus mosquito female biting on human skin (Getty Images) The patient, a 66-year-old Uhrichsville man, was hospitalized after developing viral meningitis from the disease. He has since been released and is recovering at home, the health department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is Tuscarawas Countys first confirmed human case since 2021, but according to health officials, Ohio reports an average of 20 cases per year. La Crosse virus is rare in Ohio, and we dont want anyone to panic, said Tuscarawas County Health Commissioner Katie Seward. We are simply asking Uhrichsville area residents to be careful and talk with their medical providers about any health concerns. Woman fends off 2 grizzlies with bear spray, saving husband According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people infected with La Crosse dont have any symptoms, but people who do may experience fever, headaches, nausea, vomiting and lethargy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Severe cases typically occur in kids under 16 years old, including symptoms like seizures, coma, paralysis and other neurological issues. The infection is deadly in less than 1% of cases, health officials said. There are no vaccines for La Crosse, health officials said, so the best way to combat the virus is to prevent mosquito bites. Why Dairy Queen cant legally call its product ice cream Residents are encouraged to use insect repellant while outdoors. They can also wear clothes that cover their skin to stay protected. In response to the confirmed case, the Tuscarawas County Health Department will be spraying for mosquitoes in Uhrichsville from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Monday, weather permitting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Learn more about the health departments mosquito control program right 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 8 Cleveland WJW. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) Texas lawmakers are back in Austin to address a 20-item agenda sent by Governor Greg Abbott. At the time Abbott called for the session, THC, abortion legislation, and other topics headlined the agenda. But then the deadly July 4 floods in Central Texas moved to the top of legislators minds. The flooding in Kerrville is going to be front and center, I believe, at least at the beginning of the special session. But some other issues are going to come to the fore as well, Quorum Report Editor, Scott Braddock, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With more now on the agenda, will 30 days be enough for elected officials? 2025 marks the third consecutive legislative year that lawmakers are recalled for a special session. This has become, I guess, more normal than it probably should be, House District 69 Representative James Frank said. Frank and others are back in Austin to tackle issues across the Lone Star State. Its going to be a flurry of activity at the Capitol, Braddock said. The debate over THC will spark once again. The legislature sent an all-out ban to Governor Abbotts desk before vetoing the bill. Abbott has asked lawmakers to regulate the industry like the state has for alcohol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frank agrees with the governor. I do think it went a little bit too far, Frank said. Theres just give and take. The better we do a job of communicating, the less times we need to go back for a special session. Braddock believes Abbott could get his way, but he said to keep a close eye on how bills move through the Senate. This is one of the rare fights that weve ever seen, between Patrick and Abbott, Braddock said. For example, the response to the flooding in Kerrville, [Patrick] could use that as leverage to try to get his way on the THC ban. Frank said redrawing congressional lines is thinking of the future for Republicans. With midterms around the corner, he said its crucial for the party to keep control of the U.S. House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How can we put ourselves in the best position to continue to govern? Frank said. I like the direction the country is going right now and want to keep that. Braddock said the move could change the course of the nation. If new lines arent drawn after 30 days, lawmakers could return a second time. Its going to be one of the most high-stakes fights that weve seen, Braddock said. Frank also eyes scrapping the STAAR test. We didnt get it figured out between the House and Senate, really at the last minute. And, so kind of nice to have another shot at that, Frank said. Speaker Dustin Burrows released his appointments for the Texas House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House District 68 Representative David Spiller will serve on that committee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. On a sunbaked afternoon in the quiet hills of Encino, a nightmare unfolded behind the white stucco walls of a music-world power couples upscale home. On July 10, the Los Angeles Police Department received two separate 911 calls reporting a disturbance at the residence of American Idol music supervisor Robin Kaye and her musician husband, Thomas Deluca. But what hadnt been made public until now is the content of that second 911 call: a report of an intruder with a "firearm," according to dispatch audio exclusively obtained by PEOPLE. Officers were dispatched. When they arrived, they walked the perimeter on foot, and a helicopter flew overhead at different times. And then they left. Despite the nature of the call, police didnt make entry. They didnt breach the door. They didnt look inside. They didnt know that the couple were already dead or possibly dying. Their bodies werent discovered until four days later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, investigators believe the couple were murdered on the same day officers stood outside the front of their home, mere feet from the scene of the crime. Could Kaye or Deluca have been saved if police had made entry? Could their final hours or moments have gone differently? That decision by police may have been the difference between life and death. If they were still alive inside, they died waiting. If they were already gone, their bodies lay undiscovered for days, while sirens faded and the sun set over a house full of silence. The day began like any other when the couple, both 70, entered their $4.5 million residence after grocery shopping unaware that an intruder was already inside their home. Investigators believe the suspect had been inside for roughly 30 minutes before Kaye and Deluca arrived and then confronted him, according to police. Shortly after, the victims were dead brutally shot execution-style, multiple times in the head. Their bodies wouldnt be discovered until later by police on July 14. Robin Kaye/Facebook Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca Dispatch audio reveals that the second 911 call reported a suspect with a weapon but police didn't enter the home to confront the intruder that day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details of that second, more urgent call suggest officers may not have grasped the grave danger they were responding to. What happened in the roughly 40 minutes between those two dispatch audio recordings and why the second warning didn't result in the home being entered is now under investigation by a multi-agency task force that includes Operations-Valley Bureau Homicide, the LAPD Gang and Narcotics Division, the FBI Fugitive Task Force, and West Valley Division officers. 'I Don't Have Any Evidence of Forced Break-In' The first dispatcher audio came in around 4:12 p.m. on July 10, which was a routine burglary report. Dispatch audio recordings reveal there was a potential robbery as a neighbor reported "an unknown man with a tan complexion" had hopped over a fence at the couple's home at White Oak Avenue in Los Angeles. Dispatchers believed the intruder might have been driving a black Kia at the time. Moments later, a police airship known as Air 16 responded to the call and arrived at the scene, hovering over the property. At around 4:16 p.m., the flight officer radioed dispatch: Can you call back PR [person reporting], see if they still have eyes on? Two minutes later, at roughly 4:18 p.m., the officer followed up: I dont have any evidence of forced break-in. Were clear. Air 16 clear, the dispatcher confirmed seconds later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a second call came into dispatch roughly 40 minutes later around 4:53 p.m. This time, it wasnt just a burglary. This time, the suspect reportedly broke into an office at the same home address and was armed. All units arrived shortly before 5:00 p.m., according to dispatcher audio. It is unclear what time the police first arrived on the scene. The LAPD canvassed the property, but nothing looked amiss. Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times/Getty Los Angeles police department secure residence of Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca's home in July 2025. Los Angeles police department secure residence of Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca's home in July 2025. The suspect is believed to have entered the home, which is heavily secured, with an eight-foot barrier and security cameras, through an unlocked door, police said. When the homeowners returned back to their residence, a violent struggle ensued between them and the suspect, who was already inside their home, which resulted in the victims tragically losing their lives," said Lt. Guy Golan. Officers on foot reported that the property was locked. The helicopter used to surveil the scene from above did not see anything suspicious, according to officers. LAPD officials said the front door of the home was not visible from the outside during the initial response. Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times/Getty LAPD secure the Encino home for further investigation. LAPD secure the Encino home for further investigation. In a chilling revelation, a former police officer, veteran and private security guard claimed to PEOPLE last week that Kaye had previously reached out seeking security after a spike in burglaries in the area, a threat she allegedly said had already hit her family. Kris Herzog, who owns The Bodyguard Group and operates with off-duty police in private defense, said he got the call earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Herzog, who represents clients like Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift and Mark Zuckerberg, said during that call he warned Kaye that home cameras may not save her life. He claimed he advised her to purchase bear spray or a pepper ball gun and hide them throughout the house. According to Herzog, the LAPDs policy of not entering a property unless theres overwhelming probable cause may have prevented officers from discovering the crime sooner. Hundreds of departments around the country have the opposite policy. You get a burglar-there-now call, you jump the wall, you make sure those residents are OK. You try to apprehend the burglar. LAPD does not have that policy. Unless they have a ridiculous amount of probable cause bloody shoe print, O.J. Simpson heading into the house from the street I mean a ridiculous amount," he claimed, exhaling then alleging: Their policies are 99% geared towards cover your a-- and 1% toward public safety. They're worried about getting sued and bad publicity. They are critically, dangerously underfunded. They don't have the manpower." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PEOPLE has reached out to the LAPD for comment on Herzog's claims and the dispatch recordings but they declined to comment citing the "ongoing investigation." Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times/Getty Los Angeles Police Department officials secure the home where Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca were found murdered on July 14, 2025. Los Angeles Police Department officials secure the home where Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca were found murdered on July 14, 2025. "Officers did arrive at scene. They conducted an investigation. They were unable to make entry onto the property due to it being highly fortified. However, they did do a fly over with the airship, there were no signs of forced entry or trouble at that time," said Lt. Golan on July 15. "They cleared from scene." There was no mention of the aircraft flying over the property twice during that time. Bodies Discovered 4 Days Later It wasn't until four days later that officers discovered the bodies of Kaye and Deluca, after police responded to a welfare check at the couples home at 2:30 p.m. The dispatcher audio recorded around 2:35 p.m. said "Welfare check... subject one female, 5'9, 70 years old. Brown hair, brown eyes. Number two, male, white, tall, gray hair, dark eyes. Spoke with subjects on Thursday." A "code 2," was issued indicating an urgent call, and authorities arrived at the scene. Police were provided with a gate code to enter the property and spotted blood on the front porch. Officers smashed a sliding glass door in the back to gain entrance to the home and found the bodies inside, as the front door was locked, according to police sources. Investigators believe the intruder locked the door after the shooting. "[The police] were met by the person reporting a friend of the victim. The person had not heard from the residents here for several days, she was worried," said Lt. Golan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She happened to have a key code to the vehicle gate, so she gave officers access to the residence," he continued. "When [the police] were in the yard of the residence, they observed some signs of trouble, they breached one of the glass windows, went inside the residence and found both of the victims deceased." Paramedics responded and declared the pair dead at the scene. The Los Angeles Medical Examiner told PEOPLE their time of death was recorded at 4:14 p.m. on July 14. The couple, whose bodies were found in separate rooms, according to sources, said Deluca was found in the bathroom, while Kaye was located in the pantry. Police said the suspect then fled on foot. The following day, the LAPD and FBI task force officers arrested Raymond Boodarian, 22, who resided in Encino, in connection with the killings. Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times/Getty Security footage found outside the home of Robin Kaye and husband Thomas Deluca. Security footage found outside the home of Robin Kaye and husband Thomas Deluca. After the bodies were discovered, LAPD detectives retrieved security surveillance footage that they allege showed Boodarian entered the property 11 days ago. That video, along with forensic evidence, allowed them to identify Boodarian and ultimately link him to the murders, according to Lt. Golan. A handgun was found at the suspects home, according to homicide detectives. They believe it's the murder weapon, but that's pending further forensic analysis testing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators tell PEOPLE they are still working to determine whether the suspect had any prior connection to the couple or if he had been involved in previous calls for service at the residence. However, records show Boodarian lives roughly four miles away from the couple's home. The case still remains an active investigation. TMZ/BACKGRID Raymond Boodarian arrested on July 15, 2025. Raymond Boodarian arrested on July 15, 2025. Boodarian was arrested on Tuesday, July 15, at 3:13 p.m. without incident. He was charged two days later on July 17, with two counts of murder, as well as one count of residential burglary. The murder charges include the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder during the commission of a burglary, as well as firearm allegations. He was represented by the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office. Boodarian is being held without possibility of bond, jail records showed after his arrest. Referring to the attack as "tragic," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman told PEOPLE in a statement the news has shaken the Valley community. In a matter of moments, this couple was senselessly killed in their own home as they returned from the grocery store, he said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to their family and friends who are grieving this tremendous loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hochman's office will decide later if Boodarian faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or death, especially given his documented criminal history. His charges include three instances of misdemeanors of battery, exhibiting a deadly weapon and threatening to commit a crime with the intent to terrorize. His previous arrest dates are listed as June 25, 2024, February 6, 2024 and October 22, 2023. Those charges were later dismissed following court hearings related to mental competency and conservatorship. Jonathan Leibson/Getty Robin Kaye on February 26, 2014 in Los Angeles. Robin Kaye on February 26, 2014 in Los Angeles. In a statement to PEOPLE, a spokesperson for American Idol said the team was devastated by the news and called Kaye a cornerstone of the Idol family. The statement continued: Robin was truly loved and respected by all who came in contact with her. Robin will remain in our hearts forever and we share our deepest sympathy with her family and friends during this difficult time. Boodarian remains in custody at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility on Bauchet Street in Los Angeles, with bail still denied as of July 21. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Hilary Williams of the Major Crimes Division. Boodarian is scheduled to be arraigned on August 20 at 8:30 a.m. at the Van Nuys Courthouse. Read the original article on People Milwaukee's second double shooting in under a week left two adults dead in the Old North Milwaukee Neighborhood. According to Milwaukee police, the incident took place July 22 near North 41st Street and West Glendale Avenue at approximately 2:31 a.m. The victims are a 50-year-old and an approximate 40-year-old. Police are investigating the shooting and seeking unknown suspects. Anyone with information is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips or P3 Tips. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting comes only three days after a double shooting near the intersection of East Juneau Avenue and North Broadway on July 19 killed a 21-year-old and sent a 15-year-old to the hospital. This most recent shooting is a continuation of what has been a steady rise in fatal gun violence in Milwaukee this year, with homicides in mid-July outpacing 2024 figures. In light of the increased shootings, city officials and anti-gun violence activists on July 17 announced plans to host a convention on gun violence prevention Oct. 15. This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Second double shooting in Milwaukee in under a week kills two adults The Palatka Police Department has confirmed with Action News Jax that the bodies of two people were found in the St. Johns River by a dive team after an hours-long search by Palatkas Riverfront Park. Police say 20-year-old Wilbert Rivera Cifuentes and 21-year-old Deyfri Roblero Morales died after going into the water with about four other men last night in search of an object that has not yet been named. Officers say neither of the men could swim, and they never came back up after going into the water. Read: Jacksonville sheriff hosting town hall meeting day after addressing viral arrest video Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Action News Jax spoke with a group of people at the park, claiming to be their family, but they did not wish to speak with us on camera. We saw the Putnam County Sheriffs Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission pull the two men out of the water around the time. One woman, Valerie Creeach, drove about 30 minutes from her home in Interlachen to the park after the sheriffs office had posted about the search online. Ive seen so many stories. I know people who have been out in the water, and they never come back, Creeach said. Exactly two months before the search for the two men, Action News Jax told you about another man, Jeremiah Beck, who drowned in the St. Johns River after local law enforcement told us he fell from a kayak. Last year, Action News Jax reported the deaths of two boys, both younger than five years old, after Putnam County deputies said they drowned as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< For people like Creeach, it makes her feel unsafe bringing her kids out on the water. They need to do something. Put a rule out or something, because this water, like its not safe, its not. The Palatka Police Department tells Action News Jax its still investigating the drowning of the two men. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Scientists have identified two cancer drugs that may also lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease as they search for some way to lower its impact on an aging population. In a study published on Monday in the medical journal Cell, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, combed through more than 1,300 candidate drugs from antipsychotics to antibiotics for anything that could help alleviate the incurable condition. Only 90 of those drugs targeted the brain cell genes thought to influence Alzheimer's, and of those only five showed evidence of actually reducing the risk of Alzheimer's in human patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The scientists then chose letrozole, designed to fight breast cancer, and irinotecan, intended for treating colon and lung cancer, to test on mice. We didnt expect cancer drugs to come up," study co-author Marina Sirota told NBC News. In fact, the two drugs used in combination did appear to improve memory and brain function in aging mice who had begun to show signs of dementia. The effects still need to be proven in human studies (PA) That result still needs to be tested in humans, and the drugs may prove less effective in humans. Still, the finding is significant because pharmaceutical companies have so far struggled to develop purpose-built drugs for the disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Developing a new drug can take hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars, on average take more than ten years," said study co-author Dr. Yadong Huang. "For this repurposed drug, usually it just takes two or three years, and then you can go to the clinical trial and the cost is much, much lower. "We still havent generated or produced any very effective drugs that can really slow dramatically the cognitive decline," he added. Over seven million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association, including 1 in 9 people aged over 65. The number is only likely to grow as the average age of the U.S. population continues to climb, with care costs for people with dementia projected to grow from $384 billion in 2025 to nearly $1 trillion by 2050. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Officials say a contractor working for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans to block the U.S. 60 Wendell Ford Expressway in Owensboro on July 23 at around 8 a.m. to begin working on a damaged bridge beam. The KYTC says closure of the roadway is needed during this work to ensure that potential falling debris is not a hazard to motorists. Traffic in both directions will be detoured off of U.S. 60 via the Carter Road exit ramps. Personnel will be flagging traffic at the intersection of U.S. 60 and Carter Road in both directions. From there, drivers can take the on-ramp to return to the expressway on the opposite side of the bridge. The KYTC says the blockage will last most of the day, and could close again on July 24 if needed. I-69 bridge beams to impact traffic this week Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say work is being carried out to repair damaged sustained in June 2024 from a vehicle striking the bridge. Due to the structure of the bridge, the replacement beam had to be specifically designed and fabricated to fit the needs of the structure, resulting in a lengthy delay before repairs could be started. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). U.S. citizen Kenny Laynez, 18, got detained by Florida Highway Patrol and Border Patrol on his way to work and he recorded the arrest with his phone. SCOTLAND, Conn. (WTNH) The town of Scotland, Connecticut now has only one ZIP code, according to a press release from Congressman Joe Courtney (D). Proposal to give Scotland single ZIP code moves forward The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill Monday including that the U.S. Postal Service assign Scotland a single ZIP code. The town has a population of just under 1,600 and only 625 residencies, but six ZIP codes. First Selectman Dana Barrow Jr. said that town residents faced many issues due to the many ZIP codes, including misplaced packages, struggles sending mail-in ballots and sending students to the wrong schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Courtney and Sen. Chris Murphy (D) joined forces last year to introduce the bill changing the ZIP code issue. The bill passed through the House but was not taken up in the Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday to discuss strengthening military ties and deterrence in the Asia-Pacific region. The high-level meeting signals Washingtons renewed focus on countering Chinas growing assertiveness in disputed waters while bolstering alliances with key Pacific partners. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty during a meeting on July 21. They emphasized the alliances crucial role in promoting regional stability through its strength. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth praised the Philippines as a model ally and commended Marcos for his leadership and resolve in standing up to aggressive and coercive actions in the South China Sea. The defense secretarys remarks underscore growing concerns about Beijings territorial claims in the contested waterway. The Pentagon chief pledged increased support for the Philippines economic resilience and national security, including strengthening both nations defense industrial bases a priority for the Trump administration. The leaders agreed to expand collaboration on modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard. They also discussed enhancing collective defense and deterrence capabilities in the region. Hegseth will accompany President Trump when Marcos visits the White House for further discussions on the alliance. The timing of that meeting was not announced. The Philippines remains a crucial strategic partner for Washingtons Indo-Pacific strategy. The archipelagic nation sits along vital shipping lanes and provides access to key military facilities near potential flashpoints. Then-candidate Gabe Evans, now a member of Congress in Colorado's 8th Congressional District, speaks during a rally for President Donald Trump, Oct. 11, 2024, at the Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline) Para leer esta historia en espanol, haga clic aqui. Without my family, Im nothing, read the subject line of an email sent by then-state Rep. Gabe Evans to supporters on Sept. 10, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The email announced Evans candidacy for Colorados toss-up 8th Congressional District, and it began with a story the Fort Lupton Republican has told countless times throughout his political career the story of his grandfather, Cuauhtemoc Chavez, who was born in Mexico and earned U.S. citizenship through his Army service in World War II. My family fought tooth and nail for the American dream so that future generations like me could have a better life, Evans wrote. And I plan on making that up to them in full. As a rising star in the Colorado GOP and loyal supporter of President Donald Trumps agenda in Congress, Evans has leaned heavily on his Mexican-American heritage and the man to whom he referred in a campaign launch video as his abuelito Chavez. Telling and retelling the story of his grandfather, who died in 2014, is Evans go-to means of putting a more moderate face on the historically extreme mass-deportation policies backed by Trump and his top advisers. We are a nation that is ruled by law, Evans told moderators at a January 2024 debate, responding to a question about how millions of people living in the U.S. illegally should be treated. You need to go stand in that line and do it the right way, do it the legal way, so you are not leapfrogging over those folks like my grandfather, who did it the right way and did it the legal way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Evans has mischaracterized the story of how his Depression-era ancestors achieved the American dream, and misstated key dates and details in his grandfathers biography, according to documents obtained by Newsline through archival research and government records requests. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Those records show that the Chavez family, and a young Cuauhtemoc in particular, were squarely on the wrong side of the strong immigration policies his grandson now invokes his name to champion. A 1941 Immigration and Naturalization Service document, obtained through a records request with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, shows that Cuauhtemoc entered the country unlawfully with his mother and siblings in 1929, at the age of 5, and resided unlawfully in Texas for the intervening 12 years. The document, known as an alien registration form, or an AR-2, was prepared shortly after Cuauhtemoc, then 16 years old, was arrested for an immigration violation in El Paso and made the subject of deportation proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least two of Cuauhtemocs sisters were arrested by immigration agents on the same day, according to the nearly identical documents prepared for them. All three reported crossing the Santa Fe St. Bridge into El Paso on Dec. 9, 1929. Under a field for listing their reason for traveling to the U.S., the same typewritten words appear on all three documents: to live, illegal entry. Cuauhtemocs AR-2 form also lists a prior, undated arrest for attempted burglary, placing the 16-year-old in a category of immigrants that Evans has said without exception should be deported. Evans was a vocal supporter of the Laken Riley Act, which was passed by Republican congressional majorities in January and requires federal immigration agents to prioritize the detention of any undocumented immigrant arrested for a burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting offense. In the weeks preceding publication of this story, Evans appeared to acknowledge or accept the assertion that his grandfather had entered the country unlawfully in at least two interviews. His office could not point to any examples of similar disclosures during the 2024 election or before. Delanie Bomar, his spokesperson, first claimed that Evans had been very consistent and clear about his familys story, but subsequently said his past comments may have been confusing. In Hispanic culture, immigrating the right way generally means working hard, contributing to their community, and not causing problems not necessarily that something is 100% perfectly legal, Bomar wrote in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evans has described his grandfather immigrating legally or the legal way on multiple occasions, and as recently as June 24. Bomar declined to respond to questions about that language on the record and denied or ignored repeated requests to interview Evans for this story. After being sent a detailed list of questions about the documents Newsline obtained and Evans history of false statements about his grandfathers immigration history, his representatives stopped responding to inquiries and ignored more than a dozen follow-up messages via phone, text and email. A 1941 Immigration and Naturalization Service form shows details of Cuauhtemoc Chavezs unlawful entry in 1929 and his later arrest for an immigration violation. (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) Im more surprised than anything, but also at the same time, it doesnt really shock me, said Keilly Leon, north regional organizer for the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. I think it just goes to show how harmful this rhetoric is I did it the right way versus I did it the wrong way, added Leon, a Greeley resident and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipient. Even folks that immigrated decades ago experienc(ed) this way that the government has continuously allowed this broken system to separate families and force people to find other ways to come into the country. Familiar anti-immigrant attitudes By Evans own reckoning, his familys story resonated with voters in Colorados battleground 8th District, where more than 3 in 10 residents are Mexican-American, helping propel him and other Republicans to victory in a 2024 election defined in large part by immigration and border issues. The 8th District, drawn by an independent redistricting commission in 2021, encompasses Denvers northern suburbs and parts of rural Weld County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My story is the same as so many other stories in the Hispanic community that did it the right way, he said in a June 24 radio interview. They took the time and the effort to come here legally, to build a business, to start a family. And then they turn around and they see a bunch of folks rolling across the southern border, literally getting handed out taxpayer money for all of the different things that the Biden administration threw at them. Such rhetoric from Evans, Trump and other right-wing politicians did lead to a fracturing among Latino voters, said Romeo Guzman, an assistant professor of history at Claremont Graduate University who studies immigration. But he said that may be changing fast as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents begin to carry out the Republican agenda. A CBS News poll released Sunday showed support for Trumps immigration plans has fallen, with a narrow majority of Americans now opposed to his deportation program. Theres a kind of tension happening now, with folks who may have voted for Trump, thinking theyre somehow different from these unauthorized, quote-unquote illegal immigrants, Guzman said. What theyre finding out is that actually, for the Trump administration, for ICE, those differences are not as clear as maybe they imagined. Customs and Border Protection agents question families who have presented themselves at the Paso del Norte Bridge to request asylum on May 11, 2023. Also known as the Santa Fe St. Bridge, it was how Cuauhtemoc Chavezs family reported entering the U.S. without authorization on Dec. 9, 1929. (Photo by Corrie Boudreaux for Source NM) Long before his grandsons repetition of his story on the campaign trail, Cuauhtemoc Chavez belonged to a previous generation of immigrants who faced obstacles and prejudices closely resembling the ones faced by immigrants today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the wake of their countrys long and bloody revolution, record numbers of Mexicans entered the U.S. both lawfully and unlawfully during the 1920s. The arrivals fueled a restrictionist campaign that led to passage of the Undesirable Aliens Act of 1929, which expanded federal deportation powers and, for the first time, made crossing the border without authorization a misdemeanor criminal offense. Evans great-grandmother, Luz Garcia Chavez, crossed into El Paso with her children five months after that law took effect, the INS records show. Without proof of lawful entry, the Chavez family became part of a large population of foreign nationals considered deportable aliens under U.S. immigration law. Anti-immigrant sentiment deepened throughout Cuauhtemocs childhood in the 1930s. As the Great Depression set in, immigrants were blamed for taking jobs away from citizens, and for straining state and federal welfare programs. Young Mexican-Americans were vilified first as liquor-smuggling gangsters and then, after Prohibitions repeal in 1933, as peddlers of marijuana and other drugs. Deportations increased, while as many as 1 million new arrivals and their children, some of them U.S.-born, were pressured into returning to Mexico as part of what became known as the repatriation movement. There is a lot of coercion that takes place, and a lot of fear tactics, Guzman said. One of the ones thats really well documented is this big raid of La Placita Olvera in L.A. that is very similar to the sort of raids that were seeing now trying to have a show of force as a way to get people to go back. Misrepresentations and discrepancies At times, Evans statements about his grandfather have contained clear misrepresentations, such as a June 24, 2024, Facebook post stating that Cuauhtemoc had immigrated in search of a safer place to raise a family. A day later, Jennifer Chavez, Cuauhtemocs daughter and Evans aunt, replied to his post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When your grandfather immigrated from Mexico, he was 5 years old, Jennifer wrote. Dont be misleading. In a 2022 statement to Spanish-language newspaper La Prensa de Colorado, Evans, then a first-time state House candidate, wrote that Cuauhtemoc had acquir(ed) citizenship in 1943, while serving in the Army. In fact, records show that he did not apply for naturalization until several years later, in 1946. The discrepancy is significant because Cuauhtemocs naturalization petition indicates that he was granted citizenship under a 1944 law that eliminated proof of lawful entry as a requirement for naturalization. Evans repeated the inaccurate timeline during his 2024 congressional campaign. He told the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor that it took (Cuauhtemoc) 13 years to get his citizenship, likening his wait to a story hed heard on the campaign trail of a Colorado resident who legally pursue(d) citizenship for 17 years. But Cuauhtemoc affirmed twice first on his 1941 AR-2 form and then on his 1946 petition for citizenship that he had not previously applied for naturalization. Then-state Rep. Gabe Evans speaks on the floor of the Colorado House of Representatives on Nov. 20, 2023. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline) When contacted by Newsline, Jennifer Chavez said that while she wasnt shocked by the news that her fathers family entered the country unlawfully that was just the way of life back then, she said their undocumented status was not common family knowledge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think anyone in the family has ever seen any of that, Jennifer said of the INS forms Newsline obtained. Like many American families, the present-day Chavezes are divided by politics, and Evans repeated invocation of Cuauhtemoc to defend Republican policies drove the wedge further. Jennifer, who said she last saw Evans in person at a wedding in 2020, wrote an op-ed last year opposing his congressional candidacy. In an interview, she said her father and her nephew were on opposite sides of an estrangement in the family stretching back decades. Gabe, in reality, barely knew my dad, she said. They just didnt see each other very often. My sister (Evans mother) just didnt click with the family anymore. Hes trying to cultivate the Latino heritage thing, but he really didnt know my father, because he rarely saw him. Evans representatives didnt respond to repeated requests to respond to Jennifers characterization of his relationship with his grandfather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Gabe to portray my dad as being in support of someone like Trump would have gone over like a lead balloon, Jennifer added. He really misrepresented who my father was. When asked about another line from Evans campaign announcement email in which he said that his mother, Rebecca Chavez, thought she would spend her whole life in a one-room hut with a dirt floor in Juarez, Mexico Jennifer Chavez burst out laughing. We were raised in a middle-class neighborhood in El Paso, she said. We went to Eastwood High School, which was predominantly Caucasian. To this day, none of us are fluent in Spanish. You need to go back During the 2024 campaign, Evans, though reluctant to answer the question directly, repeatedly affirmed his support for Trumps plans to deport all of the estimated 12 million people living in the country without permanent legal status. If you are not lawfully here, you need to go back, he said when pressed on whether he supported Trumps deport them all agenda during a June 2024 primary debate. Yeah, you go back, and you wait in line the way everybody else does in a law-abiding society. Demonstrators rally at the Colorado Capitol against the Trump administrations immigration enforcement policies, on June 10, 2025. (Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline) He softened that stance with his July 15 cosponsorship of the Dignity Act, a bipartisan proposal to provide relief from deportation to some undocumented immigrants. The proposed relief falls far short of measures that once allowed Evans grandfather and other members of the Chavez family to acquire U.S. citizenship. Only those who entered the country prior to 2021 would be eligible for the program. Those who qualify would be required to pay $7,000 in restitution and be barred from accessing federal benefits, and the program would offer legal status but no pathway to citizenship not even for so-called Dreamers, who, like Evans grandfather, were brought to the U.S. as children. No amnesty. No handouts. No citizenship, Evans cosponsor, Florida Republican Rep. Maria Salazar, said in a press release announcing the bill. Evans did not respond to questions about whether he supports the DACA program or a pathway to citizenship for anyone currently in the U.S. unlawfully, or why he believes immigrants today should be treated differently than his grandfathers family was. He did not respond to questions about whether he feels he misled the public about his grandfathers history and if he plans to change how he talks about it going forward. Tensions have risen across the country in recent months as ICE agents begin the dramatic operational shift necessary to achieve Trumps mass-deportation targets. The share of people in ICE detention without a criminal record has risen sharply, according to agency data analyzed by the University of California Berkeley School of Laws Deportation Data Project. In Colorado, those recently arrested by the agency have included a family with a 1-year-old child attending an immigration court hearing in Denver; a 19-year-old Utah nursing student with no criminal record, detained after a traffic stop near Grand Junction; and prominent immigrant rights advocate Jeanette Vizguerra, a grandmother taken into custody outside her workplace, Target. Evans has dismissed concerns about expanded ICE activity, accusing critics last week of vilifying the law enforcement agents working to make our communities safer. He championed the recent Republican reconciliation bills expansion of the agencys funding, an $80 billion package aimed at quadrupling the scale of its detention and removal operations. He has continued to echo the anti-immigrant rhetoric that targeted young men like his grandfather a century ago, including by spreading false claims about crime rates following an influx of immigrants to Denver, and assailing Colorados sanctuary policies and a state-run program that offers health coverage to undocumented children. The idea that a group of people do it the legal way or the right way the reality is that those categories have been slipperier and much more confused than we imagine. Romeo Guzman, an assistant professor of history at Claremont Graduate University Theres growing fear about Trumps crackdown, Leon said, among immigrants in Weld County, a more rural area that lacks the vocal and organized network of advocacy groups that exists in Denver. Were seeing that ICE agents are becoming more unpredictable, said Leon. These billions that are being thrown at ICE just harms our communities, it scares our children, who are a huge part of the Greeley community. The idea that a group of people do it the legal way or the right way the reality is that those categories have been slipperier and much more confused than we imagine, Guzman said. Because the right way is historically contingent on the laws that are impeding your movement. Soon after his inauguration, Trump launched an effort to end the centuries-old legal bedrock of birthright citizenship, a move Evans has refused to take a position on. In recent weeks, the president has threatened to denaturalize many legal immigrants, including New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and other political opponents. Millions of people who entered the country over the last five years did so as lawful asylum seekers or under humanitarian parole designations like the temporary protected status program legal avenues the Trump administration has moved aggressively to shut down. If youre a refugee, what does the right way mean? Guzman added. It means you show up to the border and claim refugee status. This is not a diss on anybody; people are not historians, said Guzman. The problem, of course, is when people start claiming that their family did it one way, (and say) why cant you do it that way? usually thats code for both a lack of knowledge of their own family history but the larger ways in which immigration history has functioned for us. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Its been two weeks since the earlier youth curfew went into effect. Over the weekend, there was an extended juvenile curfew zone in place along the U Street corridor. For several hours, police said they had no issues, but more than a dozen kids did violate the citywide curfew. DCs Juvenile Curfew Zone expands to U Street corridor Large gatherings of kids on weekends have been a problem across the District. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U Street is known to get particularly rowdy. Its not really an area that I like to hang out in a lot late night, so I think the curfews probably a good idea, at least for the short term, said Alex Brewer. The U Street corridor was the latest neighborhood to have a three-day juvenile curfew zone for those 17 and under on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8 to 11 p.m., when the District-wide curfew kicks in until 6 a.m. I think everything can be on a trial status. And if theyre trying it to see if it helps or works, and if it is working, then why not? said one D.C. resident. DC Council passes emergency legislation extending juvenile curfew Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement D.C. police said no violations or arrests happened during the three hours of the extended curfew zone. But 17 curfew stops were made in the third district during citywide curfew hours. Officers got most to leave on their own. Eight violations happened on Friday, with one juvenile arrested for public consumption of marijuana. There were seven violations on Saturday and two on Sunday. Many are satisfied with the results, but not everyone is on board with the curfew. Theoretically, I cant support something like that. It is so draconian. Its completely anti-democratic, right? Theres gotta be a better way, said Milton Allimadi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DC News Now also reviewed video taken in NoMa last weekend, where dozens of kids appear to be running down the street away from the police. Its unclear if that activity has anything to do with targeted curfew enforcement elsewhere. Police said they cant comment on plans for any future juvenile curfew 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Rideshare giant Uber has filed a federal racketeering lawsuit against two Los Angeles-based law firms and an L.A.-based doctor for allegedly inflating personal injury claims. A statement from an Uber spokesperson stated that the defendants coordinated [a] scheme [which Uber] believes is driving up costs for riders and drivers across L.A., while leaving patients exposed. The firms being sued are Downtown LA Law Group and the Law Offices of Jacob Emrani. The doctor being sued by Uber is Dr. Greg Khounganian, an orthopedic spine surgeon operating in Encino. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [The defendants] allegedly inflated personal injury claims by steering clients into medically unnecessary spinal surgeries, generating false records and submitting inflated bills all designed to extract large settlements from companies like Uber with high insurance limits, the rideshare company said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. The filing cited three specific cases involving alleged inflated claims: One person, identified as Claimant A , was involved in a minor crash where no one was injured, as determined by police. According to Uber, the Emrani firm directed Claimant A to Dr. Khounganian, who performed a cervical fusion and back surgery costing $550,000. Uber says that independent medical experts indicated the care wasnt necessary and was billed at up to ten times the market rate. Another person, identified as Claimant B , repeatedly reported no pain after an accident but was scheduled for a $226,000 lumbar procedure after a telehealth appointment with Dr. Khounganian. In total, Claimaint Bs medical bills cost more than $330,000. A third person, Claimant C, flew to their home in St. Louis after a minor accident near LAX and saw a chiropractor upon arriving, who said that Claimant C did not report any higher level of pain in his lower back and even posted videos online dancing and singing in a music video. However, Dr. Khounganian was said to have paid for Claimant C and their mothers airfare and hotel for a $108,000 spine surgery. Per the filing, an independent expert determined that the reasonable value of the services performed was $10,374.98 According to Uber, each case involving inflated rates followed the same playbook of claimants attorneys referring them to select medical providers, unnecessary surgeries being scheduled, bills being inflated to drive settlements and side agreements being concealed from courts and insurers. FILE An Uber sign is displayed at the companys headquarters in San Francisco, Sept. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) Claimants walk away with minimal recovery, while their attorneys and doctors walk away with significant payouts, the complaint says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This RICO filing in Los Angeles is Ubers third of the year filings have already been submitted in New York and Miami. Trump admin withdraws U.S. from UNESCO: Not in the national interest of the United States According to Uber, insurance is a massive and unnecessarily high cost for riders in certain places, including California; Los Angeles County is the most expensive region in the world from an insurance standpoint, Uber says, as about 45% of the average rider fare goes toward insurance. Comparatively, that rate is only 4% in Boston. The average rate across California is roughly 32%. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LONDON (AP) A British man who dreamed of being like James Bond was convicted on Tuesday of attempting to spy for Russia. Howard Phillips, 65, sought to pass information about former Defense Secretary Grant Shapps to two men he believed were Russian agents. However, the agents were undercover British intelligence agents. A jury at Winchester Crown Court found Phillips guilty of assisting what he believed to be a foreign intelligence agency. The unanimous verdict came after four hours of deliberations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was remanded into custody and will be sentenced in the fall. No precise date was set. Prosecutors said Phillips offered to turn over Shapps contact details as well as the location where he kept his private plane to facilitate the Russians in listening on British defense plans. The defendants ex-wife told the court that Phillips would dream about being like James Bond, and watched films about the British secret services because he was infatuated with it. Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Services counterterrorism division, said the conviction sends a clear message to anyone considering spying for Russia. Phillips was brazen in his pursuit for financial gain, and unbothered about the potential detriment to his own country," David said. LONDON (Reuters) -A British man who offered personal information about former defence minister Grant Shapps to Russian intelligence for money was on Tuesday found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service. Howard Phillips offered Shapps' home address and phone number to two people he believed were Russian agents but were in fact British undercover officers, prosecutors said. The 65-year-old denied one count of engaging in conduct intended to materially assist a foreign intelligence service, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phillips gave evidence at his trial at Winchester Crown Court, claiming he was trying to "trap and expose a foreign agent". But he was convicted of the offence under the National Security Act by a jury on Tuesday. He will be sentenced at a later date. At the start of his trial, prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward said Phillips offered to help Russian intelligence "not necessarily for ideological reasons or because he sympathised with the Russian state". Ledward said Phillips had sought to carry out "easy and, perhaps, interesting or exciting work for easy money". Phillips was approached in March 2024 by purported Russian agents, using the names Sasha and Dima, who asked Phillips to save a file onto a clean USB stick, stating what he could offer and why, and hide it inside a parked bicycle on a London street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He later met Dima in May 2024, saying he knew Shapps' home address, telephone number and where his private plane was kept as he had visited Shapps' house, Ledward said. Phillips also offered logistical support, by booking a hotel and buying a mobile phone for a foreign intelligence service, prosecutors said. (Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Sarah Young) Britain will be required to pay the European Union a percentage of the value of any weapons acquired from U.K. companies through a Brussels-led defense fund. These plans, currently under development by the bloc, aim to counter the escalating threat from Russia, the Financial Times (FT) reported on July 21. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in May that the U.K. would join the EUs new 150-billion-euro ($170 billion) Security Action for Europe (SAFE) project, designed to boost military spending across the continent as part of a "reset" of bilateral relations. Starmer said that participating in Safe would provide "new opportunities for our defense industry, supporting British jobs and livelihoods." However, London must recompense Brussels for its involvement in the EU-backed scheme, which seeks to procure drones, missile defense systems, and other capabilities, two EU diplomats told FT. "What was written in the Safe regulation is that there shall be a fair balance as regards the contributions and the benefits" of outside countries such as the UK, one of the diplomats explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SAFE fund forms part of a broader EU effort to mobilize 800 billion euros in new defense spending by 2030, driven by the growing threat from Russia and calls from U.S. President Donald Trump for Europe to shoulder more of its own security costs. Launched in May, the fund's loans will enable member states and designated "third countries," including the U.K., to engage in joint procurement. The scheme intends to leverage the EUs credit strength to increase overall defense spending while simultaneously improving the efficiency and unity of Europes armed forces, which often grapple with inefficient and duplicative procurement processes. The exact financial contribution Britain will have to make to access the fund remains under discussion among member states as they finalize their position on the agreement with the U.K., expected for publication this week. Diplomats clarified that since British businesses would receive EU funding to create jobs and expand capacity under the scheme, London should compensate Brussels. If U.K. companies win contracts funded by SAFE money, the U.K. government must pay a percentage into the fund to help balance the economic benefit of those contracts, a diplomat added. This same mechanism would apply to Canada and any other countries whose industries wish to access the funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For U.K. defense products to qualify, at least 65% of their component value must originate from Safe members, which include the EU, Ukraine, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and any joining third countries. Senior U.K. officials indicated that France is negotiating hard with other member states to agree on an EU negotiating mandate this week, with one describing the situation as "tricky." Under the EUs terms, countries must submit bids for the loans by July 29, with a maximum allocation of 150 billion euro. They would then partner with another Safe member to purchase weapons, aiming to reduce prices by pooling demand. The U.K. would need to utilize national funds to participate in such projects. Third countries must first sign a security and defense partnership with the EU, followed by a specific agreement to join Safe. Britain signed the initial partnership agreement at the reset summit in London in May and will negotiate the second agreement once the EU establishes its mandate. All the projects must be submitted by the end of November, with the European Commission, the EUs executive body, responsible for approving them. 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. LONDON (Reuters) -Britain plans to ban public sector bodies and operators of critical national infrastructure, including the state-run health service, local councils and schools, from paying ransom demands to cyber criminals, it said on Tuesday. The country has been the victim of many high-profile ransomware attacks in recent years, from the "WannaCry" cyber attack that crippled Britain's National Health Service in 2017 to the British Library suffering disruption when it refused to pay a ransom in 2023. "We're determined to smash the cyber criminal business model and protect the services we all rely on," security minister Dan Jarvis said in a statement. "We are sending a clear signal that the UK is united in the fight against ransomware." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ransomware, which is malicious software used by criminals to access victims' computer systems, encrypt data, or steal information and hold it hostage until a ransom is paid, is estimated to cost the economy millions of pounds each year, the statement said. The recent attacks highlight "the severe operational, financial, and even life-threatening risks," it said. The package of measures includes a ransomware payment prevention regime for victims of ransomware attacks and a ransomware incident reporting regime. A more recent attack on the NHS was cited as one of the factors that contributed to a patient's death, according to the statement. A slew of attacks on British retailers from Marks & Spencer to Co-op Group have also shaken public confidence this year. Under the proposals, businesses not covered by the planned ban would be required to notify the government of any intent to pay a ransom, so they can be provided with advice and support, while mandatory reporting is also being developed to equip law enforcement with essential intelligence to deal with perpetrators and disrupt their activities. (Reporting by Muvija M in London; Editing by Nia Williams) Russian and Ukrainian negotiating teams will again meet in Istanbul, Turkey, on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed, for the first such meeting since President Donald Trump set a 50-day deadline for a ceasefire to be reached. In his nightly video address on Monday, Zelenskyy said he spoke with Rustem Umerov -- the former defense minister who is now heading Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council -- on Monday, to discuss upcoming prisoner swaps and the next round of talks with Moscow. "Umerov reported that the meeting is planned for Wednesday," the president said. "More details will follow tomorrow." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia's state TASS news agency, meanwhile, quoted a source in Turkey who also said the talks would be held on Wednesday. The state-owned RIA news agency -- also quoting a source -- said the negotiations would stretch over Thursday and Friday. Oleksandr Gimanov/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: A man looks out of a broken window of a damaged building following a drone attack in Odesa, Ukraine, on July 22, 2025. This week's meeting will be the third recent round of talks between the two combatants, previous meetings having been held in Istanbul on May 16 and June 2. Before that, the two sides had not met directly since the opening weeks of Russia's full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022. The May and June talks led to the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war and the remains of dead soldiers, but any breakthrough on a ceasefire or eventual peace deal has proved elusive -- despite continued pressure from the Trump administration. The White House is pushing for an immediate ceasefire, a stance backed by Ukraine. But Russia has so far dodged committing to the proposal, with President Vladimir Putin saying various issues need to be addressed before the fighting can be paused. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has appeared in recent months increasingly frustrated by Russia's intransigence, plus by its nightly drone and missile strikes across Ukraine. Earlier this month, Trump set a 50-day deadline for Moscow to agree to a ceasefire, threatening fresh sanctions and tariffs if it failed to do so. Trump also announced new military support for Kyiv, with a particular focus on strengthening Ukraine's anti-drone and anti-missile defenses. MORE: Scale of Russia-Ukraine drone strikes builds ahead of possible ceasefire talks On Monday, Zelenskyy said Kyiv's goals from the coming talks would be "the return of prisoners, the return of children who were abducted by Russia and the preparation of the leaders' meeting," the last referring to his repeated offers of an in-person meeting with Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Tuesday social media post, Zelenskyy said Umerov will lead the Ukrainian delegation. Representatives from Ukrainian intelligence, its Foreign Ministry and the president's office will also attend, he said. "Our position is fully transparent," Zelenskyy said. "Ukraine never wanted this war and it is Russia that must end the war that it started." On Sunday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov addressed Trump's ultimatum -- issued earlier this month -- for Russia to agree to a ceasefire within 50 days or face more sanctions. "Everyone is already used to his rather tough and straightforward rhetoric," Peskov told journalists. "At the same time, he confirms his intentions to do everything possible to contribute to peaceful settlement." Vadym Sarakhan/AP - PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends parliament in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 17, 2025. "In fact, President Putin has repeatedly spoken about his desire to transfer Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful route as soon as possible," Peskov added. "This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy. And, most likely, more and more people in Washington understand this." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As to a possible meeting between Trump and Putin, Peskov replied, "It is possible, and over time it will definitely happen. It is necessary." "Perhaps it will be necessary for the fixation of some major agreements, which will be achieved over time, after a huge amount of work has been done," he continued. "But this time has not yet come. This work is yet to be done." "Russia is ready to move fast," Peskov said. "The main thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear, obvious, they do not change. But the process depends not only on us." On Tuesday, Peskov told reporters that Moscow does not expect "breakthroughs of the miraculous kind" at the next round of talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Let's be frank: the issue of Ukrainian settlement is so complex that reaching agreements on exchanges or the return of the bodies of the dead is already an outcome," Peskov said, as quoted by TASS. Expectations for this week's talks are also not high in Ukraine, according to Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament and the chair of the body's foreign affairs committee. MORE: Ukrainian drones attack Moscow as Zelenskyy suggests fresh ceasefire talks "I don't expect anything serious from these negotiations," Merezhko told ABC News. "In my opinion, Russia will be using these negotiations to prolong offensive operations during summer," he added. "Putin has not given up his goal to subjugate the whole of Ukraine and is not interested in serious negotiations." "Putin will use these 50 days to the maximum," Merezhko added. ABC News' Will Gretsky contributed to this report. The Come Back Alive Charitable Foundation, together with Office 61 and with the support of Ukrnafta, the largest Ukrainian oil company, have developed, purchased and transferred the first mobile complexes for servicing F-16 aircraft to the Ukrainian Air Force. Source: foundation's press service Details: These are two technical hubs for aircraft and aviation weapons and one mission planning complex. They cost almost UAH 51.4 million (US$1.2 million). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fund explained that the F-16 is one of the most complex combat machines of our time. Most countries use stationary complexes to check aircraft and equip them with ammunition. However, Ukrainian airfields are under Russian fire, so it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep aircraft safe. Mobile complexes for servicing F-16s Photo: Come Back Alive "Mobile complexes will solve this problem and also make it possible to reach aircraft that have made a forced manoeuvre or emergency landing, speed up the maintenance process and allow fewer people to be involved in it," the foundation explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What complexes are we talking about? The mission planning complex is a command post for conducting pre-flight briefings and escorting aircraft in the near zone. It includes a module with workstations for five to seven operators, as well as a living module with everything necessary for quality rest for military personnel, including a shower, kitchen area and sleeping area. The maintenance complex includes a workshop for preparing and testing aviation weapons, two vans for transporting and suspending ammunition to the aircraft, and one pickup truck for team transportation, daily activities, logistics of property and so on. The fund says that the mobile complexes will make security measures more effective and simplify the process of aircraft maintenance. "This complex meets the most essential needs of Air Force specialist employees. It takes into account the best practices of European countries in the operation of aviation weapons, in particular F-16 aircraft weapons. The need for such a complex arose due to the extensive aircraft basing system and a shortage of specialist employees. The implementation of this project will significantly increase the Air Force's ability to destroy the enemy," said a representative of Office 61. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can find out more about the project following the link. Background: In June, it was reported that Norway planned to provide Ukraine with 14 F-16 aircraft. Meanwhile, only six fighter jets were officially announced. The delivery dates for the unannounced F-16s were not disclosed. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) believe that draft law No. 12414, which was supported by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) committee, will effectively destroy the independence of the SAPO and subordinate the activities of the NABU and the SAPO to the Prosecutor General's Office. Source: NABU and SAPO statement on draft law No. 12414 Quote: "In fact, if this draft law is adopted, the head of the SAPO will become a nominal figure, and the NABU will lose its independence and become a subdivision of the Prosecutor General's Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure, being built since 2015 together with international partners, will be destroyed. We call on MPs to abstain from voting, which could finally destroy the independence of the anti-corruption system in Ukraine." Details: In particular, the agencies noted that the draft law provides that: the prosecutor general has access to all NABU cases or may grant such access to any other prosecutor; has the right to give mandatory written instructions to NABU detectives and, in case of non-compliance, to change the jurisdiction by transferring the case to other bodies; may close the investigation at the request of the defence; resolves disputes over jurisdiction; independently signs suspicions to top officials; the head of the SAPO loses the right to be a member of the group of prosecutors this is decided only by the prosecutor general. Background: The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Law Enforcement supported amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) that would make the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) dependent on the decisions of the Prosecutor General. Currently, these are independent anti-corruption institutions. On 21 July, employees of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office conducted approximately 80 searches of 19 employees of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau in various oblasts of Ukraine. The security forces did not have court warrants to conduct the searches, but they do not consider this a violation of the law since obtaining such warrants could "cause information leaks" and "harm the conduct of special operations". NABU detectives are charged with treason, illegal trade with Russia, and corruption in the interests of oligarchs. Meanwhile, the State Bureau of Investigations has stepped up its efforts with materials on a traffic accident several years ago involving NABU employees. Representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General are also checking the state of state secrecy protection in the SAPO. The check concerns NABU employees with access to state secrets and conducting covert investigative actions. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukraines anti-corruption agencies have reported that they have completed an investigation into a Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) officer and two other individuals in a case of extortion of US$300,000. Source: National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU); Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO); Ukrainska Pravda; Security Service of Ukraine Details: A SAPO prosecutor took the decision to complete the pre-trial investigation in a case against a head of department at the SSUs Department for the Protection of National Statehood and two other individuals who had been caught red-handed extorting US$300,000 in unlawful advantage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation established that the unit headed by the suspect had been carrying out procedural actions on the instructions of an investigator at the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine in criminal proceedings with respect to the organisation of an illegal border crossing channel intended to smuggle out individuals evading conscription into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Going through two intermediaries (one a former SSU officer), the department head demanded US$300,000 from the defendant in the case in exchange for destroying part of the case files and disclosing the circumstances already established. If the defendant refused, he threatened to take measures to prosecute that person on more serious charges, the anti-corruption officials say. The investigation documented that the individual received part of the agreed sum US$72,000. The department heads actions fall under Art. 368.4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (taking a bribe), and those of the accomplices fall under Art. 27.5 (type of accomplices) and Art. 368.4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is stated that as of now, on behalf of the SAPO prosecutor, NABU detectives have opened the case file to the defence for review. Ukrainska Pravda has information that this case, including the fact that notices of suspicion had been served, had not been previously reported. Update: The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has issued a statement clarifying that the case concerns an incident that was uncovered in 2024. The SSU says that the bribe-taker was caught red-handed by the SSUs Main Directorate of Internal Security and investigators from the National Police. "This criminal case was subsequently handed over, based on jurisdiction, to the investigators of the State Bureau of Investigation, and later, given the large amount of the bribe, to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine," the SSU stated. Background: On 21 July, employees of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office conducted approximately 70 searches targeting National Anti-Corruption Bureau employees in various oblasts of Ukraine. The Bureau reported that the investigations concerned 15 NABU employees and were conducted without court warrants; most of them were charged with involvement in road accidents, and some were accused of possible connections with Russia. The SSU also launched an unscheduled inspection of the status of the protection of state secrets. The SSU and the Prosecutor General's Office reported having served NABU employees with several notices of suspicion by the evening. On 22 July, MPs recommended that parliament adopt draft law No. 12414 at second reading, which provides for amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, with the committee's proposals. These amendments will make the anti-corruption agencies dependent on the decisions of the prosecutor general. NABU and SAPO believe that draft law No. 12414, which was supported by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) committee, will effectively destroy SAPOs independence and subordinate the activities of NABU and SAPO to the prosecutor general. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Senior officials from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) were worried that after the scandal with the Bureau of Economic Security, the next searches could target NABU and SAPO. Source: Ukrainska Pravda article Anti-Corruption Special Operation. What is behind the searches in National Anti-Corruption Bureau Quote from the article: "Back on 10 July, Ukrainska Pravda had a conversation with some high-ranking NABU and SAPO officials, during which they said that if the public fails to press for the end of the Bureau of Economic Security competition, then the next target will be NABU and SAPO." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Ukrainska Pravda sources in the prosecutor's office say that immediately after the new Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko was appointed, he demanded all the case files involving people from the NABU and the SAPO. A separate group of prosecutors promptly studied this, and at the same time, "media preparation for the action against NABU" was taking place. The authors of the article note that a week after the above-mentioned conversation, on 17 July, the new Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko made it clear in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) that the winner of the competition for the head of the Bureau of Economic Security would not be appointed. The NABU employees were searched four days later, on 21 July. The journalists emphasise that if at least some accusations made by the Security Service of Ukraine regarding ties of NABU representatives with Russia are true, then the bureau's leadership should be interested in "cleaning out the Russian sleeper agents from its structure and catching "moles" but so far it looks like the "discrediting component" is one of the key ones in this story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When the big expose involves cases of road accidents that have been under investigation for four years, it seems that the aim is to create the effect of a massive action and paralysis of work for as many Bureau employees as possible," the article says. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The heads of Ukraines National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO) have implored President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reject draft law No. 12414, a move they warn obliterates the independence of these institutions. Source: briefing by NABU Director Semen Kryvonos and SAPO Head Oleksandr Klymenko in Kyiv Quote from Kryvonos: "Now the anti-corruption infrastructure what was forged from the Euromaidan demand, the societal cry and the urgent need to tackle high-ranking corruption has been shattered. Today, it lies in ruins, undermined even by those suspected by the anti-corruption prosecutors office." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: He underscored that NABU and SAPO are "categorically against this". "Now [there is still time to stop it ed.], there is also the presidents signature [to enact the decision ed.]. We beseech him not to sign this bill and return it with a decisive veto," Kryvonos asserted. He warned that adopting this measure jeopardises Ukraines Euro-Atlantic ambitions. "We yearn to see Ukraine radiant, bolstered by a robust, powerful anti-corruption framework, because Ukrainian society deserves no less," he concluded. Background: On 21 July, employees of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office conducted approximately 80 searches of 19 employees of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau in various oblasts of Ukraine. The security forces did not have court warrants to conduct the searches, but they do not consider this a violation of the law since obtaining such warrants could "cause information leaks" and "harm the conduct of special operations". NABU detectives are charged with treason, illegal trade with Russia and corruption in the interests of oligarchs. Meanwhile, the State Bureau of Investigations has stepped up its efforts with materials on a traffic accident that occurred several years ago involving NABU employees. Representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General are also checking the state of state secrecy protection in the SAPO. The check concerns NABU employees with access to state secrets and conducting covert investigative actions. Simultaneously, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) is poised to debate draft law 12414, which NABU and SAPO caution could erode the independence of Ukraines anti-corruption institutions. On the same day, the ambassadors of the G7 countries echoed concerns over the SSUs actions against NABU. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukraines National Anti-Corruption Bureau Director Semen Kryvonos claims that during the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) searches on 21 July, three of his employees were beaten, yet they were obstructed from recording their injuries. Source: briefing by NABU Director Semen Kryvonos and SAPO Head Oleksandr Klymenko in Kyiv Quote from Kryvonos: "Three employees, who hadnt been detained but were subjected to searches, suffered injuries of varying severity [on 21 July ed.]. Yet, all day yesterday, they couldnt have their injuries documented, as medical institutions were persuaded to refuse treating our detectives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This interference, based on operational intel, came from one of the heads of divisions within the Kyiv City State Administration Yesterday, the detectives searched but not detained, and against whom force was used approached several medical facilities only to face refusals or reluctance to record the extent of their injuries. According to our findings, pressure was exerted on the heads of these medical institutions to deny NABU employees the chance to document their injuries." Details: Kryvonos also noted that preventive measures are being selected for the NABU employees, who had been served with notices of suspicion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commenting on the suspicions against his staff, he suggested an intent to intimidate either himself or the SAPO head, though he does not rule out legitimate investigative actions. He further asserted that while he supports self-purification of the system and would act if a subordinate collaborated with the aggressor, this must not serve as a pretext to dismantle the independence of NABU and SAPO. Background: On 21 July, employees of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office conducted approximately 80 searches of property belonging to 19 employees of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau in various oblasts of Ukraine. The security forces did not have court warrants to conduct the searches, but they do not consider this a violation of the law since obtaining such warrants could "cause information leaks" and "harm the conduct of special operations". The 19 NABU detectives are charged with treason, illegal trade with Russia and corruption in the interests of oligarchs. Meanwhile, the State Bureau of Investigations has stepped up its efforts with materials on a traffic accident that occurred several years ago involving NABU employees. Representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General are also checking the state of state secrecy protection in the SAPO. The check concerns NABU employees with access to state secrets and conducting covert investigative actions. The Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) voted for draft law No. 12414 on second reading, according to which the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO) which are currently independent will become dependent on decisions made by the prosecutor general. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The European Union has voiced deep concern over Ukraines recent moves against the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO), sternly reminding that its financial backing hinges on unwavering progress in democratic governance. Source: European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier, in a statement obtained by Ukrainska Pravda Details: Mercier declared that the EU is "concerned about Ukraine's recent actions with regard to its anti-corruption institutions, NABU and SAPO." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Mercier: "These institutions are crucial to Ukraine's reform agenda and must operate independently to fight corruption and maintain public trust." He reaffirmed that the EU pours substantial financial aid into Ukraine, tied explicitly to transparency, judicial reform, and democratic governance. Quote: "Ukraine's EU accession will require a strong capacity to combat corruption and to ensure institutional resilience. The EU will continue to monitor the situation and support Ukraine in upholding the rule of law." Background: On 21 July, Ukraines Security Service (SSU) and the Prosecutor Generals Office launched around 80 searches targeting 19 NABU employees across various regions, reportedly without court warrants. NABU detectives face accusations of treason, illicit trade with Russia and corruption linked to oligarchic interests. Meanwhile, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has stepped up its efforts with materials on a traffic accident that occurred several years ago involving NABU employees. Security agencies are also scrutinising SAPOs handling of state secrets. Simultaneously, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) is poised to debate draft law 12414, which NABU and SAPO caution could erode the independence of Ukraines anti-corruption institutions. On the same day, the ambassadors of the G7 countries echoed concerns over the SSUs actions against NABU. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) Committee on Law Enforcement has supported amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), according to which the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) may become dependent on the decisions of the prosecutor general. Currently, these are independent anti-corruption institutions. Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources in the law enforcement committee; committee proposals to draft law No. 12414 Details: At a committee meeting on the morning of 22 July, MPs recommended that parliament adopt draft law No. 12414, which provides for amendments to the CPC, with committee proposals, in the second reading. Among other things, parliamentarians propose to adopt the document with amendments, as a result of which the prosecutor general will be able to: delegate the powers of a SAPO prosecutor to other prosecutors; request materials from any cases and delegate them to other prosecutors; provide the NABU with written instructions that are binding; delegate NABU criminal proceedings to other pre-trial investigation bodies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Committee Chairman Serhii Ionushas, his first deputy Andrii Osadchuk and the head of the relevant subcommittee on criminal law and combating crime, Oleksandr Bakumov, were not present at the meeting. Most committee members learned about the meeting and the decisions made during it after the fact. The Verkhovna Rada may consider this bill in the second reading at its meeting on 22 July. If the document is adopted, the prosecutor general will become the de facto head of the SAPO prosecutors. Background: On 21 July, employees of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office conducted approximately 80 searches of 19 employees of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau in various oblasts of Ukraine. The security forces did not have court warrants to conduct the searches, but they do not consider this a violation of the law since obtaining such warrants could "cause information leaks" and "harm the conduct of special operations". NABU detectives are charged with treason, illegal trade with Russia and corruption in the interests of oligarchs. Meanwhile, the State Bureau of Investigations has stepped up its efforts with materials on a traffic accident several years ago involving NABU employees. Representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General are also checking the state of state secrecy protection in the SAPO. The check concerns NABU employees who have access to state secrets and to conducting covert investigative actions. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect that President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted the National Security Council's decision by signing a decree on July 21. President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 21 signed a decree enacting a moratorium on business inspections conducted by state authorities, following a decision by Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, he announced on July 21. Responsibility for monitoring the implementation of the moratorium has been assigned to newly appointed National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are introducing a moratorium a ban on business inspections and any interference by law enforcement, regulatory bodies, or various state agencies in business activities," Zelensky said in his evening address. Writing on Telegram, he described the move as essential for ensuring the country's economic security. "Everything that should support Ukrainian business and cooperation between partners with Ukraine must now be implemented quickly and without fail," he said. "We need tangible economic results in the next six months." Rustem Umerov clarified that the moratorium will target "unjustified inspections." Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have faced repeated criticism for conducting raids with armed officers in tactical gear, a practice widely condemned as excessive in cases involving economic crimes. The move marks the latest in a series of moratoriums introduced since early 2024, amid mounting pressure from the public, anti-corruption advocates, and the business community to halt what they describe as the heavy-handed targeting of companies over financial matters and the alleged weaponization of law enforcement agencies to exert pressure on select firms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Zelensky and his team have repeatedly promised to fix the problem. In addition to moratoriums, the Presidential Office last year created a business council that could communicate directly with the office. The council has since been disbanded, and the various initiatives have so far failed to bring about meaningful reform. The countrys parliament also voted last year to relaunch the Bureau of Economic Security the agency most widely blamed for the overly aggressive treatment of businesses. The bureau is currently embroiled in controversy after Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers blocked a veteran anti-corruption official from being appointed as its new head a major part of the reboot and a requirement of the International Monetary Fund's loan program to Kyiv. Under these newly-announced moratoriums, inspections will still continue, but the criteria for carrying them out will change, according to Umerov. The number of inspections will be limited, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. Authorities will instead shift to a risk-based supervision model, focusing oversight on areas where real threats exist rather than conducting random checks. An audit will also be launched to review investigations that have unjustly disrupted business operations, Umerov said. He added that new measures will introduce accountability for state pressure on businesses and increase transparency through digitalization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Without genuine respect for entrepreneurship, a resilient economy is impossible. And without a resilient economy, there is no strong army," Umerov said. He called the moratorium part of Ukraine's "comprehensive security architecture," aimed at helping businesses expand, create jobs, and support the country during wartime. Earlier, Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko recently nominated as part of a broad government reshuffle announced a one-year moratorium on business inspections, including limits on tax and customs checks. Read also: Ukrainian authorities crack down on anti-corruption agencies as their independence hangs in the balance Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Thousands of people gathered in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine on Tuesday to urge the president to veto a controversial bill that threatens anti-corruption infrastructure. It marked the first major rally against the government in more than three years of war. Ukraine s parliament passed legislation that will tighten oversight of two key anti-corruption agencies, which critics say could significantly weaken their independence and give President Volodymyr Zelenskyys circle greater sway over investigations. Zelenskyy signed the bill into law, according to the parliament's website late Tuesday. Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's bid to join the European Union and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid. The legislation's passage has triggered public outrage in Ukraine, with some saying it appeared to be a greater moral blow than the routine Russian drone and missile attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The changes would grant the prosecutor general new authority over investigations and cases handled by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO). In effect, if this bill becomes law, the head of SAPO will become a nominal figure, while NABU will lose its independence and turn into a subdivision of the prosecutor generals office, the agencies said in a joint statement on Telegram. In a post on X, the EU's Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos expressed concern over the vote in the parliament, called the Rada, calling it a serious step back. Kos added: Independent bodies like NABU & SAPO are essential for Ukraines EU path. Rule of Law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While rallies have taken place during the war in Ukraine, they have largely focused on the return of prisoners of war or missing people. Protests, however, remain a traditional form of public pressure in Ukraine, where two previous revolutions were victorious for the public. Corruption is a problem in any country, and it must always be fought, said Ihor Lachenkov, a blogger and activist who urged people to join the protest through his social media platforms, which reach more than 1.5 million followers. Ukraine has far fewer resources than Russia in this war," he said. "If we misuse them, or worse, allow them to end up in the pockets of thieves, our chances of victory diminish. All our resources must go toward the fight. The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International criticized parliaments decision, saying it undermines one of the most significant reforms since what Ukraine calls its Revolution of Dignity in 2014 and damages trust with international partners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group urged Zelenskyy to veto the law, warning that otherwise he would share responsibility with the Rada for "dismantling Ukraines anti-corruption infrastructure. Many protesters carried signs reading Veto the law, Protect the anti-corruption system, protect Ukraines future, or simply We are against it. The mood of anger and frustration among the war-weary Ukrainians prevailed in the crowd. Some protesters accused Ukraines leadership of prioritizing loyalty and personal connections over the fight against corruption. Those who swore to protect the laws and the Constitution have instead chosen to shield their inner circle, even at the expense of Ukrainian democracy, said veteran Oleh Symoroz, sitting in a wheelchair because both his legs were amputated after he was wounded in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of setting an example of zero tolerance for corruption, the president is using his power to take control of criminal cases involving his allies, he said. On Monday, Ukraines domestic security agency detained two NABU officials on suspicion of links to Russia and searched other agency employees on unrelated allegations. Zelenskyy's office didnt respond to a request for comment. Last week, the president carried out a reshuffle of his wartime Cabinet, a move widely viewed as further consolidating power within his inner circle. Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated. President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 22 signed into law a bill that effectively destroys the independence of Ukraine's two key anti-corruption institutions, according to opposition lawmakers and watchdogs. Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) approved amendments that grant the prosecutor general new powers over investigations led by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and cases led by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The step comes as Ukrainian authorities ramp up pressure against the two agencies established as part of the anti-graft reforms after the EuroMaidan Revolution. The bill was passed with the support of 263 lawmakers, with 13 voting against it and 13 abstaining. As the legislation made its way to Zelensky's desk for his approval or veto, protestors gathered in Kyiv and other major cities across the country to demand the president veto the law. The protests were still underway when Zelensky signed the bill. The law has already been published on Holos Ukrayini (Voice of Ukraine), a Ukrainian newspaper that publishes laws passed by parliament when they enter into force the following day. Protests continued into the night as the law officially entered into force on July 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the new bill, the prosecutor general has the authority to issue directions in NABU's investigations or even reassign them outside the agency. It would also allow the prosecutor general to delegate SAPO's powers to other prosecutors. Among other new powers, the prosecutor general could also close NABU's investigations at the legal defense's request. In a video address delivered after midnight on July 23, Zelensky said he had met with the heads of NABU, SAPO, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), and Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko. "The anti-corruption infrastructure will work. Only without Russian influence everything needs to be cleansed of this. And there must be more justice," Zelensky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Of course, NABU and SAPO will keep working. And it is important that the Prosecutor General is determined to ensure that in Ukraine the inevitability of punishment for those who go against the law is really ensured. And this is what is really needed for Ukraine. Cases that have been pending must be investigated." The president did not directly address the demonstrations, but noted that it had been an "emotional" day. Read also: Editorial: Zelensky just betrayed Ukraines democracy and everyone fighting for it Ruslan Kravchenko, appointed as Ukraine's prosecutor general last month, has been described by experts as a figure close to President Volodymyr Zelensky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watchdogs have warned that if adopted, the amendments would hamper the two agencies' investigations into authorities or individuals close to the president. The changes would amount to the "destruction of NABU and SAPO's independence and practically subordinate their activities to the prosecutor general," NABU said in a statement ahead of the vote. "Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure, built since 2015, will be destroyed," the agency added. NABU Director Semen Kryvonos condemned the legislation, saying it threatens Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration. Speaking at a press conference after the vote, he voiced hopes that Zelensky would veto it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is effectively the end of the work of two independent institutions," said Oleksandr Klymenko, head of SAPO, during the press conference. Anastasiia Radina, head of the anti-corruption parliamentary committee, was reportedly the only lawmaker from the ruling Servant of the People parliamentary group to publicly speak out against the legislation ahead of the vote. "I ask you, colleagues, not to deceive yourselves and the people that you are voting for some mild strengthening of the prosecutor general, and not for the dismantling of NABU and SAPO," she said. "After the amendments that the committee added to this bill today, contrary to the rules, the anti-corruption prosecutor's office becomes a fiction for budget funds." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amendment bill was pushed through with unusual speed, as it was cleared by the committee, passed by the legislature, and signed by Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, all in a single day. The news comes amid mounting warnings from activists about an escalating crackdown on anti-corruption bodies and NGOs. On July 21, several law enforcement agencies including the Prosecutor General's Office, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), and the State Bureau of Investigation carried out sweeping searches of NABU and SAPO. Fifteen NABU employees are under investigation on various grounds. The SBU justified the raids by citing suspected Russian infiltration and administrative misconduct, with allegations ranging from traffic violations to treason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One NABU employee was detained on charges of spying for Russia, while another is accused of involvement in drug trafficking and ties to pro-Russian groups. Speaking at the press conference on July 22, Kryvonos said that law enforcement agents used "excessive physical force" during the raids. This left three NABU employees who were not detained injured and in need of medical attention, he noted. Earlier this month, the State Bureau of Investigation charged Vitaliy Shabunin, Ukraine's leading anti-corruption activist and co-founder of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, with fraud and evasion of military service, a charge he denies. The crackdown on Ukraine's anti-corruption sector has also sparked concern among Kyiv's international partners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The European Union is concerned about Ukraine's recent actions with regard to its anti-corruption institutions, NABU and SAPO. These institutions are crucial to Ukraine's reform agenda and must operate independently to fight corruption and maintain public trust," EU Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier said. "The EU provides significant financial assistance to Ukraine, conditional on progress in transparency, judicial reform, and democratic governance. Ukraine's EU accession will require a strong capacity to combat corruption and to ensure institutional resilience." European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos expressed "serious concern" over the parliament's adoption of the bill. "The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence is a serious step back," Kos wrote on X. "Independent bodies like NABU and SAPO, are essential for Ukraine's EU path. Rule of Law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Point of no return Ukraines democracy under threat as new bill guts anti-corruption efforts Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Prosecutor General of Ukraine Ruslan Kravchenko has convened with representatives of the Group of Seven (G7) countries, where they discussed "special operations to neutralise Russian influence on NABU [National Anti-Corruption Bureau ed.]" and broader law enforcement system reforms. Source: Kravchenko on Facebook Details: Ukrainian Security Service Head Vasyl Maliuk and State Bureau of Investigation Director Oleksii Sukhachov also joined the dialogue. Kravchenko revealed that discussions covered combating corruption, reshaping law enforcement agencies, and thwarting Russias agent network. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "Our international partners received comprehensive answers to all their questions: both regarding the work of Ukraines law enforcement agencies as a whole, and concerning the recent special operation to neutralise Russian influence on NABU." Details: Kravchenko stressed that public trust in the legal system and the rule of law is paramount, an opinion shared by Ukraines international allies. He expressed gratitude to the G7 representatives for their steadfast support amid the war and the overhaul of state institutions. Notably, Kravchenkos post omitted any mention of the Verkhovna Radas vote on 22 July, where 263 MPs backed draft law No. 12414. Presented as amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code regarding persons who have gone missing during wartime, the document gained provisions in its second reading that effectively subordinate NABU and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office to the Prosecutor General. Background: The heads of NABU and SAPO have implored President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to sign draft law No. 12414, which they warn would effectively obliterate the independence of these institutions. The ambassadors of the G7 countries have also expressed concerns over the SSUs actions against NABU. The European Union has voiced deep concern over Ukraines recent moves against NABU and SAPO. Protests against the draft law have sparked in multiple Ukrainian cities. After the draft law on NABU and SAPO was adopted in Ukraines parliament, Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a veteran of the Russo-Ukrainian war, rallied Kyiv residents to unite in protest this Tuesday evening. Previously: On 22 July, a court in Kyiv ordered a preventive measure in the form of detention for 60 days of an official of the National Bureau of Investigation, Ruslan Mahamedrasulov, who is suspected of having ties to Russia. Ruslan Mahamedrasulov is the head of one of the interregional departments of NABU detectives. The department is located in the city of Dnipro and manages the Bureaus operations across the frontline Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. The SSU alleged that the official maintained contacts with representatives of the aggressor country and aided his businessman father in conducting illicit trade with the Russian Federation. No public comments or reactions have emerged from the suspect. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukraine carried out a wave of overnight drone attacks across Russia on July 22, Moscow said, while a Ukrainian official said that one of the targets was a key military-linked facility. In Russia's Samara Oblast, Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said several drones were destroyed while attempting to strike an industrial facility. Fedorishchev reported no casualties or damage but confirmed that authorities temporarily restricted mobile internet in the area to allegedly assist military efforts in neutralizing the drones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Andrii Kovalenko, an official at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, the target in Samara was the Novokuybyshevsk Petrochemical Company, a major gas-processing and petrochemical facility that supplies raw materials used in the production of explosives. These materials are used in artillery shells, aerial bombs, cluster munitions, and rockets critical components of Russia's military operations, he said. "The volume of processing (of raw materials) is about 1 million tons per year," Kovalenko said. It remains unclear whether the facility suffered any damage. Samara lies roughly 500 kilometers (300 miles) from the Ukraine-Russia border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed 35 fixed-wing drones overnight in various regions, including those near Moscow, the Black Sea, and several western and southern oblasts. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that a drone was downed en route to the capital, with emergency services responding at the debris site. This marks the sixth consecutive night of drone attacks on Moscow. The Kyiv Independent could not verify these reports. Kyiv has repeatedly targeted Russian industrial and military facilities deep in the rear to undermine Moscow's ability to wage its all-out war. Read also: Third round of Ukraine-Russia peace talks set for July 23, Zelensky says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The head of Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau, Semen Kryvonos, has warned of the loss of independence for anti-corruption bodies, in response to a new law passed by the country's parliament. "In effect, two institutions - the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) have been made subservient," Kryvonos was quoted as saying by local media. He asked President Volodymyr Zelensky not to sign the law, which he said jeopardizes Ukraine's path to European Union membership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman for the European Commission said in Brussels that the EU was concerned about the step. NABU and SAP were "crucial to Ukraine's reform agenda," he said, and they "must operate independently to fight corruption." EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos emphasized that the rule of law is at the heart of the EU accession negotiations. A clear majority of 263 lawmakers voted in favour of the bill which critics say allows the Prosecutor General's Office to drop investigations against high-ranking state officials. Under the law, the Prosecutor General's Office is also entitled to take over investigations from NABU and hand them over to other bodies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, the SBU secret service, which reports directly to Zelensky, took action against NABU employees on charges including collaboration with Russia. A system of anti-corruption authorities was created in Ukraine after the pro-Western coup in 2014. Nevertheless, according to the non-governmental organization Transparency International, Ukraine remains one of the most corrupt countries in Europe. Critics have often accused the anti-corruption bodies of being a Western means to influence Ukrainian politics. By Dan Peleschuk KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine has toughened restrictions on two anti-corruption agencies at the centre of the government's reform drive, rolling back their autonomy in favour of tighter executive control. Stamping out endemic graft is a requirement for Kyiv to join the European Union as well as to secure billions in Western aid. Independent investigators have in recent months embarrassed senior officials with allegations of corruption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amendments passed on Tuesday grant the general prosecutor, appointed by the president, strict control over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, several lawmakers said. The vote drew sharp criticism from the heads of both agencies and a top EU official, and spurred the largest public protests since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The vote came a day after Kyiv's domestic security agency arrested two NABU officials on suspicion of ties to Russia and conducted sweeping searches into agency employees on other grounds. Critics and the two agencies said the crackdown went too far. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, whose party holds a majority in parliament, approved the amendments late on Tuesday. The changes would allow the general prosecutor to transfer cases from the agencies and reassign prosecutors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his nightly video address, issued well after midnight, Zelenskiy said he had spoken to NABU chief Semen Kryvonos and other top prosecutors. Anti-corruption bodies, he said, would continue to function "but without any Russian influence. It all must be cleansed. "There must be more justice. Of course, NABU and SAPO will continue their work," he said. "It's also important that the prosecutor general be committed to ensuring real accountability for those who break the law. This is what Ukraine truly needs." Kryvonos had urged Zelenskiy not to sign the fast-tracked bill, which he called an attempt to "destroy" Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure. After Tuesday's vote, Ukraine's government bonds fell more than 2% on international markets, with the bulk of the $20 billion of debt restructured last year down over 1 cent at between 45 and 50 cents on the dollar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of Ukrainians protested near the presidential administration in central Kyiv late on Tuesday, with smaller actions taking place in several other cities. One senior official linked to the military, the head of the HUR military intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov, called for efforts to eliminate wartime differences in Ukrainian society. "We have one common misfortune, one enemy," Budanov wrote on Telegram, without specifically referring to the legislation. "It is therefore worth resolving internal contradictions through open dialogue to achieve a single common goal - to defend our country." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PRESSURE ON AGENCIES Writing on X, EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said she was "seriously concerned" by Tuesday's vote. "The dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABU's independence is a serious step back," she said, adding that rule of law was at "the very centre" of EU accession talks. NABU and SAPO were established after the 2014 Maidan revolution that toppled a pro-Russian president and set Kyiv on a Western course. The two agencies have stepped up their work during the war, levelling charges against lawmakers, ministers and a former deputy head of Zelenskiy's administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anti-graft campaigners have been alarmed since authorities charged a top anti-corruption activist this month with fraud and evading military service. Critics have cast those charges as political retribution for exposing corrupt officials. The government has also faced criticism for rejecting the candidacy of an economic security chief and current NABU detective who was unanimously backed by an internationally supervised committee. 'MOST DANGEROUS MOMENT' A Western diplomat familiar with Ukraine's reform effort described the developments as "the most dangerous moment" yet for the independence of anti-corruption authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Ukrainian side is testing the limits more and more," the person said, referring to the patience of Kyiv's allies. Influential Ukrainians denounced the vote on social media as a betrayal of Ukraine's decade-long geopolitical ambition. Fighting corruption is seen as critical to erasing a legacy of Russian rule, a sentiment echoed at the protest in Kyiv. Vladyslava Kirstyuk, 18, said memories of her childhood in occupied eastern Ukraine, after Russia's covert invasion in 2014, left a strong impression. "I know what it means for one person to have all the power, when nothing is transparent and everything is working against you," she said. "I don't want it to be the same for us here." (Additional reporting by Anastasiia Malenko, Yuliia Dysa and Mark Jones; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Rod Nickel, Ron Popeski and Leslie Adler) The Ukrainian School of Political Studies (USPS) has expelled six MPs from its alumni society after they backed draft law No. 12414, which effectively shackles independent anti-corruption agencies to the Prosecutor Generals control, on Tuesday 22 July. Source: USPS Details: USPS condemned the MPs actions as unacceptable and contrary to the bedrock values of democratic growth and the rule of law that the school fiercely upholds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ousted alumni are Oleksandr Danutsa (graduate of 2008), Serhii Yevtushok (2011), Dmytro Kysylevskyi (2017), Mariia Mezentseva (2018), Dmytro Natalukha (2018) and Tamila Tasheva (2021). Quote from USPS: "USPS has resolved to exclude these graduates from our community. We value their past contributions, but there can be no compromise on matters of core values." Details: In a statement, the Ukrainian School of Political Studies branded the adoption of draft law No. 12414 as "a glaring example of political shortsightedness and shooting oneself in the foot" that takes the country back to the repressive practices of 2012, when the prosecutors power vertical served as a political cudgel. "This should have had the support of an independent parliament and its elected officials USPS graduates among them," the school emphasised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ukrainian School of Political Studies extended its thanks to all who resisted "the demolition of over ten years of work to forge judicial independence". Background: On 22 July, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) voted for draft law No. 12414 at second reading, according to which the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO) which are currently independent will become dependent on decisions made by the prosecutor general. Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk swiftly approved the law. The heads of NABU and SAPO have implored President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to sign draft law No. 12414, which they warn would effectively obliterate the independence of these institutions. The ambassadors of the G7 countries have also expressed concerns over the SSUs actions against NABU. The European Union has voiced deep concern over Ukraines recent moves against NABU and SAPO. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Editors Note: This CNN Travel series may have adjacent ads by the country it highlights. CNN retains full editorial control over subject matter, reporting and frequency of the articles and videos, in compliance with our policy. Over lunch of grilled shabout, or freshwater carp, at one of Halfetis floating restaurants, visitors might ponder what life was once like on the old streets, now abandoned several feet below the surface of the water. Halfeti is one of several settlements in the Sanlurfa Province of southeastern Turkey that lie on the bank of the Euphrates river, relatively near its source. In 2000, two such towns and 10 smaller villages were completely submerged by the river, following the construction of the 200-foot-high, 1.5 mile-wide Birecik Dam. Over 6,000 locals had to be relocated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 40% of Halfeti a town with a population of around 2,600 before the dam was engulfed by the water. Many of its stone houses, shops and a significant part of its 19th-century Merkez Camii (Central Mosque) in the old town were lost. Some higher-elevation residences were spared, however, and many still live in the town above the water line today. Halfeti was partially submerged to create a reservoir and dam in 2000. - sinan dogan/iStockphoto/Getty Images The Birecik dam was one of several built along the Euphrates and neighboring Tigris rivers in an attempt to develop the region of southeast Anatolia. The hydroelectric dam generates around 2,500 GWh (gigawatt hours) of electricity per year enough to power almost one million Turkish households and its 20-square-mile reservoir was planned to irrigate 70,000 hectares of farmland. Despite these apparent benefits, the Birecik dam was originally met with mixed responses from locals. Of course, its not easy, because many cemeteries, many houses stayed under the water, says Erhan Yildirim, local researcher, historian and professional guide. You cannot bring back the culture again; culture stays under the water. Muslum Karaman, a local boat operator, says that people in Halfeti used to make a living from animal husbandry and agriculture the town was once known for its pistachio production. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now it has changed completely towards tourism, he continues, adding that many have embraced this change by turning their houses to boutique restaurants and cafeterias in a bid to improve their overall quality of life. Today, visitors flock to the sunken city to zip around the submerged architecture by boat, jet ski or even flyboard. Diving in Halfeti has also become a tourist favorite, popularized by Sahika Ercumen, a world record-holding female Turkish freediver, who dived in the town in 2020 to raise awareness about plastic pollution. You feel history, says Yildirim, as he describes the plethora of river fish species and an extensive network of ancient, natural limestone caves that lie just below the surface. Black roses or are they? Halfeti is well known for its "black roses." - Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images Theres life above the water as well as under, however. Halfeti is equally famous for its black roses, which are farmed around the town on the banks of the Euphrates river. Legend has it that Halfeti is the only place in the world where the flowers bloom truly black. If you [grow] the black rose in any different location, they never give you the same color, Yildirim claims. Experts say that the color isnt a pure black its more of a very dark red. I dont think any so-called black flower is truly black, says internationally acclaimed rose expert Michael Marriott. But he says that some very dark crimsons can appear black, especially at the bud stage, before they turn lighter as they blossom. Additionally, the darker the rose petal, the more likely it is to burn in the sun meaning that in sunny climes, flowers can appear darker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guy Barter, chief horticulturist at the UKs Royal Horticultural Society agrees. Black roses and black flowers in general are seldom pure black but rather a very deep maroon or, as in this case, a very very dark red, he says. But while denizens of the internet have called Halfetis roses fakes, Barter adds a word of caution. Deep maroon or dark red flowers are black enough for all practical purposes and only very picky people would carp about what are lovely and intriguing flowers, he says. Its thought that the dark color is due to Halfetis unique soil conditions. Although most roses are grafted onto common root stock, which prefers a neutral balance between acidity and alkalinity, Marriott says that its possible that Halfetis farmers might use the roses original roots, which could survive better in acidic conditions that darken the petals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It must be due to the climate conditions here, says Birsen Asag, who works at the Floating Gift Shop, which sells black rose products. Locals like Asag offer a host of black rose-infused products, from ice creams to soaps and teas, while international brands have also capitalized on the flowers allure. British perfumier Penhaligons has even named its black rose fragrance Halfeti. Explaining the significance of the dark rose, Asag shares a local legend. The story begins with Adir, a renowned local architect, who was said to have built the citys mosque. His granddaughter, Vartuhi, is said to have grown the most beautiful roses in the region. She fell in love with an orphaned boy from across the river named Firat but, tragically, their love was forbidden by her grandfather. Heartbroken, the pair leapt into the Euphrates together and drowned. According to legend, from that day onwards every single rose in Halfeti bloomed black, instead of red. Yildirim tells a different tale, in which the black rose belonged to the Devil, who, upset by the murder of an innocent girl, declared that it would bloom only in the place where she died forever acting as a symbol of sorrow, revenge and tragic love. History on the water Rumkale Fortress's foundations date back to the Byzantine period. - KenanOlgun/iStockphoto/Getty Images Visitors to Halfeti can also take an hour-long boat trip along the river to the nearby Rumkale Fortress an ancient site that reflects the regions complex and often turbulent history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By boat, the fortress foundations can be seen dramatically overhanging the river. They reportedly date back to the Byzantine empire in the 5th and 6th centuries CE, though some sources suggest that earlier structures may have existed on the site. On foot, visitors can explore remnants of Armenian fortifications built during the 12th and 13th centuries, when Rumkale became the residence of the Catholicos, the spiritual leader of the Armenian Church. The fortress later fell to the Mamluks, a powerful Islamic knightly class, in 1292, before being taken over by the Ottoman empire over two centuries later. Rumkales impressive architecture acts as a striking reminder of the whole regions layered, complex and often bloody history one which has left its mark on local religion and culture. In 2013, Halfeti was recognized as part of the Cittaslow (slow city) network, honoring its commitment to a high quality of life through preserving its local culture and traditions. People in Halfeti feel a deep connection to their towns rich history, says Yildirim. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com UPDATE: In a unanimous vote, the Union Grove ISD Board of Trustees accepted the resignation of Superintendent Kelly Moore during a special meeting on Tuesday. Following the resignation of Moore, Union Grove ISD has named Brian Gray the interim superintendent. Grey previously served as superintendent of Union Grove. UPSHUR COUNTY, Texas (KETK) The Union Grove ISD Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting this week to discuss the potential resignation of the districts superintendent, who has been under investigation since June for failing to report a crime that occurred on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The special meeting will be held on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Lion Center Auditorium. One of the items on the agenda will be to consider a resignation agreement between the district and current superintendent Kelly Moore. Photo of Kelly Moore courtesy of Union Grove ISD Trio arrested after stealing from T.J. Maxx in Tyler, affidavit reveals The Upshur County Sheriffs Office is currently investigating Moore for failure to report a student who allegedly engaged in invasive visual recording of another student, which is considered a felony in Texas. The investigation remains active, and Moore could potentially face charges for failure to report, which is a misdemeanor. During the investigation of this case, information was revealed that has led to the opening of a criminal investigation involving the Union Grove ISD Superintendent, Mrs. Kelly Moore, for the offense of Failure to Report, which is a class A misdemeanor, the Upshur County Sheriffs Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 7, the Union Grove Board of Trustees released a statement acknowledging the allegations made against Moore and assuring families that their students well-being is their top priority. The UGISD Board of Trustees assures our students, parents and community that we prioritize the interests of our students first and foremost, while also acknowledging the legal rights of our employees under state law, Union Grove Board of Trustees said. 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. A recent US Air Force test involved artificial intelligence in kill chain decisions. The service said the AI helped speed up decisions and reduce the cognitive load on operators. It's one example of how the US military is working with AI in combat-related roles. The US Air Force used artificial intelligence to speed up its targeting decisions in a recent exercise. The goal was to test how AI could improve the accuracy and timeliness of operator responses, the Air Force said, in order to have a more automated kill chain in a potential future fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The four-day Experiment 3 exercise, held last month, was a stress test of future warfare technologies and tactics in a realistic combat scenario. "By replicating this novel methodology, we allowed tactical-level participants to explore how tools and workflows could shape kill chain execution for the future of warfighting," Lt. Col. Wesley Schultz, the director of operations for the 805th Combat Training Squadron/Shadow Operations Center-Nellis, said. A kill chain is a military decision process that guides how forces detect a threat, zero in on it, act, and evaluate the outcome. The US military is actively looking to evolve its kill chain through automation, AI, data-driven command and control decisions, and interconnected sensors, surveillance, and reconnaissance tools. During the training, operators used AI software to accelerate decision-making and targeting processes. It was designed to speed up those processes and "reduce the cognitive load" on human operators, the service said in a release. The Air Force and other military programs have been working on unmanned aircraft than can fly alongside piloted aircraft or on their own. US Air Force photo by Richard Gonzales Reducing the cognitive load, or mental effort, of warfighting personnel has become a priority, especially in recent years with the rise of AI. US military leaders and officials believe that AI can assist humans in assessing massive amounts of battlefield data to help make clearer decisions more quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AI used was developed under the Maven Smart System, a larger US military AI initiative. During testing, the assessments made only by operators were compared to those made with AI recommendations. The testing was intended to explore the value of human-machine teaming. "Differences between machine-generated recommendations and operator decisions highlighted the complementary strengths of human judgment, such as intuition, experience and situational awareness, in time-sensitive targeting," the service said. Feedback from the exercise, as well as observations of how the AI operated, was then used to refine systems and processes. Former Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said earlier this year that future warfare will be "highly automated, highly autonomous, action at long range, precision," and space will be a "decisive theater," adding that the "response times to bring effects to bear are very short" "We're going to be in a world," he said, "where decisions will not be made at human speed; they're going to be made at machine speed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And last year, he argued that mastery of artificial intelligence solutions could be key to winning the next major war. AI is being implemented across the military, changing how weapons systems and technologies are operated. US Army 25th Infantry Division/Staff Sgt. Brenden Delgado US military branches have been testing how to use AI to speed up decision-making. The Air Force has been looking at pairing the technology with uncrewed systems and drones, like collaborative combat aircraft. The service has let AI algorithms fly fighter jets, and there has been a lot of time and research invested in how artificial intelligence can augment pilot capabilities. AI as a tool can also complete back-end work in the military, such as better search functions for analyzing Department of Defense doctrine, understanding elements of specific locations, commands, or job positions, paperwork, and situation reports. The rise of AI in militaries has been met with skepticism and ethical concerns from experts and officials about its implementation, especially in combat scenarios. The Pentagon has maintained that its policy on AI will keep a human in the loop for decision-making, though some observers have argued that this may not be possible in a high-speed, data-driven future war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others have noted that the technology may develop at a quicker pace than Washington or the Pentagon can regulate it. In recent Air Force testing, the human was kept in the loop. The AI functioned in a support role rather than hunting down targets independently with autonomy. Read the original article on Business Insider (Corrects victim's first name to Etan, from Ethan, in bullet point and paragraph 1) By Steve Gorman (Reuters) -A federal appeals court on Monday overturned the conviction of a former Manhattan bodega clerk found guilty of kidnapping and murdering Etan Patz, a 6-year-old boy whose 1979 disappearance stoked national fears about missing and abducted children. A three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Pedro Hernandez, serving a prison sentence of 25 years to life, released from custody unless the state grants him a new trial within a time frame deemed "reasonable" by a federal judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will be up to the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to decide whether to seek what would be a third trial in a case that dates back nearly a quarter-century and was originally brought by Bragg's predecessor, Cyrus Vance. A spokesperson for the DA's office, Emily Tuttle, said "we are reviewing the decision." In a 51-page response to a habeas petition filed on his behalf, the appellate panel sided with Hernandez in ruling that a state trial judge contradicted federal law in his instruction to jurors during their deliberations and thus swayed the verdict against the defendant. The instruction at issue centered on the jury's question as to how it should treat statements of confession Hernandez gave during hours of interrogation by investigators without a lawyer present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hernandez, now 64, was found guilty in 2017 of kidnapping and murdering Patz, who vanished nearly 40 years earlier as he walked alone for the first time to a school bus stop two blocks from his home in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood on May 25, 1979. The boy, who was never found, became one of the first missing children whose faces would become ubiquitous as emblems printed on the sides of milk cartons to publicize their disappearance in hopes of stirring investigative tips. The mystery of the Patz case captured U.S. media attention and endured as one of the country's most infamous child disappearances until police arrested Hernandez in May 2012. Because of a lack of physical evidence or contemporary witnesses in the case, the 2016-2017 trial - Hernandez's second after the first ended in a hung jury in 2015 - hinged almost entirely on his purported confessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hernandez, who worked in a bodega near the bus stop and was 18 at the time, told investigators he strangled the boy and then placed his body in a box left in a trash pick-up area outside the store. His lawyers argued the admission was the result of police coercion as well as severe mental illness that altered his perceptions of reality, making him especially susceptible to confessionary delusions and hallucinations. According to case records, Hernandez initially admitted to the crime without being advised of his so-called Miranda rights to avoid self-incrimination and to have an attorney present. Then, after he was read his rights and had agreed to waive them, he was videotaped twice making statements of confession. On the second day of deliberations in the 2017 trial, the jury sent a note to the judge asking whether jurors must disregard the two videotaped confessions if they concluded that this initial, non-Mirandized one was involuntary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge wrote back: "The answer is, no," which the appeals court ruled was both improper and "manifestly prejudicial." The verdict against Hernandez was returned after seven more days of deliberation. Jurors ultimately rejected "substantial evidence" presented by the defense pointing to another man who was long considered a suspect, Jose Ramos, a convicted pedophile and boyfriend of Patz's babysitter, according to an account of the case in the appeals court ruling. (Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Stephen Coates) By Mike Scarcella (Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday declined to lift restrictions imposed by President Donald Trump's administration on White House access by Associated Press journalists after the news organization declined to refer to the body of water long called the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America as he prefers. The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit kept in place a June 6 decision by a divided three-judge panel that the administration could for now legally restrict access to the AP to news events in the Oval Office and other locations controlled by the White House, including Air Force One. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The D.C. Circuit order denied the AP's request that it review the matter, setting up a possible appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Associated Press in a statement on Tuesday said it was disappointed by the court's decision and will remain focused on free speech rights as the case continues. "As we've said throughout, the press and the public have a fundamental right to speak freely without government retaliation," the AP said. The White House in a statement said the Associated Press lawsuit was "baseless" and criticized what it called the media outlet's "self-absorbed actions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The appeals court, in a separate order, set a schedule to review the merits of the AP's lawsuit. No argument date was immediately set. In a lawsuit filed in February, the AP argued that the limitations on its access imposed by the administration violated the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protections against government abridgment of free speech. Trump in January signed an executive order officially directing federal agencies to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. The AP sued after the White House restricted its access over its decision not to use "Gulf of America" in its news reports. The AP Stylebook states that the Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years. AP said that as a global news agency, it will refer to the body of water by its longstanding name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters and the AP both issued statements denouncing the access restrictions, which put wire services in a larger rotation with about 30 other newspaper and print outlets. Other media customers, including local news outlets with no presence in Washington, rely on real-time reports by the wire services of presidential statements, as do global financial markets. The Trump administration has said the president has absolute discretion over media access to the White House. The AP won a key order in the trial court when U.S. District Judge Treevor McFadden, who was appointed by Trump during his first term, decided that if the White House opens its doors to some journalists it cannot exclude others based on their viewpoints, citing the First Amendment. The D.C. Circuit panel in its 2-1 ruling in June paused McFadden's order. The two judges in the majority, Neomi Rao and Gregory Katsas, were appointed by Trump during his first term in office. The dissenting judge, Cornelia Pillard, is an appointee of Democratic former President Barack Obama. (Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario, Will Dunham, David Gregorio and Himani Sarkar) TOWNSVILLE, Australia U.S. paratroopers made the most dramatic entrance possible to Australia during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. Flying 14.5 hours nonstop from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska, they parachuted from the night sky into the Australian countryside on July 14. We landed right on the X, Col. Brian Weightman, commander of the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) of the U.S. Armys 11th Airborne Division, told Defense News during an interview in Townsville. The commander said he was the first to jump onto the drop zone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In such a parachute operation, casualties of up to 10% are anticipated, he explained. Were very comfortable with that if we land and 90% of the force is able to continue on, Weightman said. Luckily, this nighttime airdrop resulted in only three minor injuries, one of which was caused by a midair parachute entanglement in the dark. Their 6,800-mile flight was only the beginning of the units simulated joint forcible entry operation. After landing, the paratroopers from the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Regiment nickname Three Geronimo proceeded to march another 30-plus miles to seize an urban objective located near Townsville in northern Queensland. Col. Brian Weightman, commander of the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) of the U.S. Armys 11th Airborne Division, is pictured at the Talisman Sabre exercise in Townsville, Australia, in July 2025. (Gordon Arthur/staff) To be able to do that with real violence and at speed is really impressive, and I think it should scare adversaries, the commander said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Six C-17A Globemaster III aircraft four from the U.S. Air Force and two from Australia transported 323 American and a dozen German paratroopers on the intercontinental flight, while French troops joined the sky train upon their arrival Down Under. The C-17s also dropped heavy equipment such as HMMWVs. Technological gains Weightman relayed how he enjoyed continuous communications to higher headquarters with voice, data and video from his aircraft. This high bandwidth is a big deal, as it gives you a lot better situational awareness and a lot better understanding of whats going on. Youre able to really paint a much better picture of the enemy. Furthermore, To be able to directly deliver an infantry battalion with its command that is situationally aware and physically optimized onto a drop zone 7,000 miles away, means that you can really go anywhere in the world. Asked whether nighttime parachute jumps are more challenging, Weightman responded, For us its not much more. You know, we own the night, so once we get on the drop zone, we have an asymmetric advantage against our adversaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Talisman Sabre is meant to showcase interoperability, which is easy to talk about but hard to do, according to the colonel. Nighttime jumps demonstrate the highest level of proficiency, he said. After refitting in Townsville, more than 400 American paratroopers were to join 100 German and 36 French soldiers to perform another nighttime jump on July 21, this time at Shoalwater Bay in central Queensland. This airfield seizure and expanded lodgment is very classic its the bread and butter of the airborne infantry, Weightman noted. The 11th Airborne Division possesses two of the U.S. Armys five airborne brigades: the 1st Brigade is a mobile combat brigade equipped with Infantry Squad Vehicles, while 2nd Brigade is airborne. Asked what his division brings, Weightman highlighted two things the ability to move anywhere in the Indo-Pacific, and the other is its Arctic mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were the only brigades in the world that have the ability to conduct offensive operations in the Arctic, the commander said. The troops can operate in arctic climates or the subtropics of Australia with equal adeptness. Defense News asked whether there is still a place for airborne units on modern battlefields. After all, Russias airmobile operation at Hostomel Airport at the start of its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 ended disastrously. I would argue, yes, Weightman responded. And as Im looking from the enemys perspective, what were able to do would absolutely scare me if I was the enemy of our country. The Indo-Pacific region is rife with tensions China, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula and the 11th Airborne Division is ready to accomplish offensive, defensive, stability or expeditionary operations, said the brigade commander. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about the rising threat from China, Weightman responded, You know, were not training against a specific adversary. What were training to do is to be interoperable with our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific. However, he continued, If were able to do that and mass power from anywhere to anywhere at scale, then we should be able to beat any adversary and keep the Indo-Pacific region open. The exercise was the eleventh iteration of Talisman Sabre. The drill involved more than 40,000 troops from 19 nations. An American citizen from Oklahoma was among eight men, all family members, rounded up and killed in an execution-style attack during the sectarian violence that flared in Syria last week. Hosam Saraya, a 35-year-old Syrian-American, was identified by friend Bahaa Imad and a US relative as one of eight men whose killing was captured on a video that circulated on social media over the weekend. The video, which has been geolocated by CNN, shows a group of armed men wearing military uniforms and face masks firing on eight captives while shouting God is great. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNN cannot independently verify the identify of the gunmen in the video. It has reached out to the Syrian government for comment. Sarayas brother Kareem and other family members were also executed, according to the US relative, who asked not to be named for her safety. She spoke directly with relatives in Syria who said the familys male members had all been killed leaving only their wives and daughters. The killings occurred on July 17 amid an outbreak of sectarian violence between Syrian Druze groups and Bedouin tribes in the Druze-majority Suwayda province. Saraya, who had studied in Oklahoma before returning to Syria, belonged to the Druze community, an Arab religious group of roughly one million people who primarily live in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. He had gone to Syria to care for his father who was ill, the US relative said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The relative said female family members who survived the massacre recalled how militants had stormed the familys multi-story home early in the morning, prompting the residents to fight back in defense. After one of the family members was wounded, the rest surrendered their weapons, she said, and the men were taken outside. Bahaa Imad, a 20-year-old friend of the Saraya family, corroborated these details, saying he witnessed the militants storm the home and forcibly remove eight men, while leaving female family members inside. Pray for us The US relative first learned of the attack when one of the female survivors sent her a desperate message: Pray for us, they kidnapped the boys, they shot the house, they stole stuff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twelve hours passed as the family desperately waited for news, hoping their relatives would return safely. It wasnt until another overseas relative saw the videos circulating of their execution that they realized the eight men had been killed. Imad said relatives later told him the captives were marched 200 meters to Tishreen Square, where they were lined up and executed. One of the men had sent a final message to friends that read, Come and help us if you can. They surrounded us, Imad said. Imad identified Hosam Sarayas body after watching the video. I dont know how monsters can do that, the US relative told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about Saraya, the US State Department confirmed Monday that an American citizen had died in Suwayda. It did not offer details about the death but said it was greatly concerned when any US citizen is harmed overseas, wherever they are and called for accountability in all cases where US citizens are harmed abroad. Oklahoma Sens. James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin also confirmed the killing of an American from the state in Syria. Hosam was an Oklahoman and member of the Druze community who was tragically executed alongside other members of his family in Syria, Lankford wrote on X. We are praying for his family, friends, and the entire community as they grieve this senseless loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mullin wrote on X that an American citizen from Oklahoma was brutally executed alongside his family members in Syria, adding he was working with partners in the region to learn more. His tweet did not name the Saraya family. Widespread violence between the Druze minority and Bedouin tribes in southern Syria erupted on July 13 and has left hundreds dead in the latest explosion of sectarian bloodletting since the authoritarian rule of Bashar al-Assad was toppled by a coalition of Islamist rebels. The violence drew Israeli intervention in support of the Druze, as well as US condemnation and an international scramble to stop the fighting spiraling further. The Syrian government said over the weekend that clashes in Suwayda had stopped after a ceasefire agreement was reached between the government, Druze groups, and Bedouin tribes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A separate ceasefire was agreed between Syria and Israel. The deal was announced by US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who said it was embraced by Turkey, Jordan and other neighboring countries. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Daniel Wiessner (Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday said New Jersey cannot ban the detention of immigrants awaiting deportation within its borders, agreeing with private prison operator CoreCivic that it "destroys the federal government's marketplace" for detention facilities crucial to immigration enforcement. The 2-1 ruling by the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a judge's decision in favor of CoreCivic, which operates about 70 U.S. detention centers nationwide. CoreCivic sued New Jersey after it passed a law in 2021 that threatened the renewal of a contract to operate a 300-bed facility near Newark Liberty International Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Privately run detention centers have come under renewed scrutiny as the administration of Republican President Donald Trump has filled existing centers to capacity amid an aggressive immigration enforcement campaign. The administration has restricted members of Congress and other officials from touring the facilities, where advocates say conditions can be cramped and inhumane. The 3rd Circuit on Tuesday said New Jersey's law barring new contracts to operate immigrant detention centers violates the U.S. Constitution by interfering with the federal government's enforcement of immigration laws. "Just as the federal government cannot control a state, so too a state cannot control the federal government," Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas, a Trump appointee, wrote for the court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bibas was joined by Circuit Judge Cheryl Ann Krause, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama. Circuit Judge Thomas Ambro, who was appointed by Democratic President Bill Clinton, said in dissent that New Jersey's law only directly regulates the state, local governments and private companies. CoreCivic's challenge has been backed by the U.S. Department of Justice under Trump and his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden. The U.S. government has told the court that it relies heavily on private immigrant detention, particularly to manage fluctuations in the number of deportable immigrants. CoreCivic spokesman Ryan Gustin in a statement said the company "has played a limited but important role" in the U.S. immigration enforcement system for more than 40 years, and was grateful that the 3rd Circuit upheld the government's discretion to rely on it. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, a Democrat, in a statement said entrusting detention to private companies poses grave risks to health and safety. He said his office is considering its next steps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, an advocacy group, said the ruling was based on the false premise that immigrant detention is a core function of the federal government. What New Jersey achieved through the democratic process has now been undone by judicial fiat to protect the profits of corporations whose mission is not to serve the United States Constitution, but to deliver profits for their shareholders, Amy Torres, the group's executive director, said in a statement. A U.S. appeals court in 2022 blocked a similar California law in a lawsuit by GEO Group Inc, CoreCivic's top rival. The same year, a different appeals court upheld an Illinois law barring the state, but not private companies, from entering into contracts to operate detention centers. (Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Leslie Adler) The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is accusing the Mexican government of violating the countries bilateral aviation agreement when it rescinded some flights for American air carriers and required them to relocate air cargo operations in Mexico City. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Mexico has not been compliant with the 2015 U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement since 2022, when the country began shifting cargo-only flights to newly opened Felipe Angeles International Airport (NLU) and started reducing slots at Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX). More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, the transition was put in place to ease chronic congestion at MEX. According to DOT, Mexico claimed the shift was necessary to allow for construction to alleviate the congestion, but that has yet to materialize three years later, the department said. By restricting slots and mandating that all-cargo operations move out of MEX, Mexico has broken its promise, disrupted the market and left American businesses holding the bag for millions in increased costs, a press release said. In September 2022, MEX reduced the number of authorized landing and takeoff slots per hour from 61 to 52, and later to 43 flights per houra 20 percent reduction effective October 2023. This affected the big three U.S. airlines: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Three Mexican carriers (Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris) also were impacted. The Transportation Department says it has repeatedly reached out to Mexico regarding the status of the slots, but the Mexican government has not provided any information regarding when they would be reopened, or if any major construction projects at MEX have come to fruition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mexicos requirement for air carrier relocation also caught grief from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which said in January 2023 that it was not feasible to expect airlines to move cargo operations on short notice. The move provided U.S. cargo carriers with 108 business days to make the shift to NLU. Should Mexico opt not to address U.S. concerns or take corrective action, DOT said it could disapprove new flight requests from the country. Thus far, the DOT has taken steps to counter the moves, requiring Mexican airlines to file schedules with the department for all their U.S. operations by July 29. Another order requires prior DOT approval before operating any large passenger or cargo aircraft charter flights to or from the U.S. Additionally, the department is proposing to withdraw antitrust immunity from Deltas joint venture with Aeromexico, in what would be a blow to their partnership that started in 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the DOT went through with the withdrawal, Delta and Aeromexico would be required to discontinue cooperation on items such as common pricing, capacity management and revenue sharing. Delta and Aeromexico would be able to continue their partnership via activities such as codesharing, marketing and frequent flyer cooperation. Delta will also be able to retain its equity stake in Aeromexico and maintain all its existing flying in the U.S-Mexico market unimpeded. Mexicos actions harm airlines seeking to enter the market, existing competitor airlines, consumers of air travel and products relying on time-sensitive air cargo shipments traded between the two countries, and other stakeholders in the American economy, DOTs show cause order said. On Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that the government has not yet received formal notification from the U.S. over potential measures against Mexicos airline sector, adding that she sees no justification for such sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no reason for Mexico to receive any sanctions for changes made to the capitals airport system, Sheinbaum said at her daily news conference. Sheinbaum ruled out any reallocation of flights in Mexico City. The actions by the DOT follow President Donald Trumps insistence earlier this month that Mexico will face 30 percent tariffs starting Aug. 1up from the 25 percent imposed near the start of his term. Those tariffs apply to products that arent covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a deal that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Trump would absolutely look to renegotiate when it is up for review in July 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mexico may not be the only country locked in trade negotiations with the U.S. that is impacted by the DOTs decisions. The department said it is taking note of multiple other countries, including European states, to ensure do they not implement operational aviation restrictions. The Cargo Airline Association (CAA) endorsed the DOT aviation sanctions on Mexico, saying the move to require U.S. all-cargo carriers to move out of MEX disrupted critical air cargo operations. Additionally, the CAA said Mexicos decision set a dangerous precedent for how all-cargo carriers may be treated in global markets and created uncertainty about how potential safety emergencies could be handled. Todays announcement sends a clear and necessary message: the United States will not tolerate unfair, anti-competitive behavior that is counter to the tenants of the U.S. Open Skies framework and harms American businesses, said Lauren Beyer, president of the CAA, in a statement. We applaud the Departments use of its authority and regulatory tools to restore fairness and accountability in the U.S.-Mexico aviation market. By Samia Nakhoul and Maya Gebeily BEIRUT (Reuters) -A U.S. envoy has urged Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to recalibrate his policies and embrace a more inclusive approach after a new round of sectarian bloodshed last week, or risk losing international support and fragmenting the country. U.S. envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack said he had advised Sharaa in private discussions to revisit elements of the pre-war army structure, scale back Islamist indoctrination and seek regional security assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview in Beirut, Barrack told Reuters that without swift change, Sharaa risks losing the momentum that once propelled him to power. Sharaa should say: "I'm going to adapt quickly, because if I don't adapt quickly, I'm going to lose the energy of the universe that was behind me," Barrack said. He said Sharaa could "grow up as a president and say, 'the right thing for me to do is not to follow my theme, which isn't working so well.'" Sharaa, leader of a former Al Qaeda offshoot, came to power in Syria after guerilla fighters he led brought down President Bashar al-Assad in December last year after more than 13 years of civil war. Though his own fighters have roots in Sunni Muslim militancy, Sharaa has promised to protect members of Syria's many sectarian minorities. But that pledge has been challenged, first by mass killings of members of Assad's Alawite sect in March, and now by the latest violence in the southwest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of people have been reported killed in clashes in the southern province of Sweida between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes and Sharaa's own forces. Israel intervened with airstrikes to prevent what it said was mass killing of Druze by government forces. Barrack said the new government should consider being "more inclusive quicker" when it comes to integrating minorities into the ruling structure. But he also pushed back against reports that Syrian security forces were responsible for violations against Druze civilians. He suggested that Islamic State group militants may have been disguised in government uniforms and that social media videos are easily doctored and therefore unreliable. "The Syrian troops haven't gone into the city. These atrocities that are happening are not happening by the Syrian regime troops. They're not even in the city because they agreed with Israel that they would not go in," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'NO SUCCESSOR' TO SHARAA The U.S. helped broker a ceasefire last week that brought an end to the fighting, which erupted between Bedouin tribal fighters and Druze factions on July 13. Barrack said the stakes in Syria are dangerously high, with no succession plan or viable alternative to the country's new Islamist government. "With this Syrian regime, there is no plan B. If this Syrian regime fails, somebody is trying to instigate it to fail," Barrack said. "For what purpose? There's no successor." Asked if Syria could follow the dire scenarios of Libya and Afghanistan, he said: "Yes, or even worse." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. has said it did not support Israel's airstrikes on Syria. Barrack said the strikes had added to the "confusion" in Syria. Israel says Syria's new rulers are dangerous militants, and has vowed to keep government troops out of the southwest and protect Syria's Druze minority in the area, encouraged by calls from Israel's own Druze community. Barrack said his message to Israel is to have dialogue to alleviate their concerns about Syria's new Sunni leaders and that the U.S. could play the role of an "honest intermediary" to help resolve any concerns. He said Sharaa had signaled from the beginning of his rule that Israel was not his enemy and that he could normalise ties in due time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the United States was not dictating what the political format of Syria should be, other than stability, unity, fairness and inclusion. "If they end up with a federalist government, that's their determination. And the answer to the question is, everybody may now need to adapt." (Editing by Peter Graff) Aimee Betro allegedly tried to shoot Sikander Ali at point blank range outside his home in Birmingham - CHP The DNA of an American woman alleged to have been involved in a failed assassination attempt was found on gun parts illegally sent to the UK more than a month later, a court has heard. Aimee Betro, 45, is alleged to have flown from Wisconsin as part of a plot orchestrated by co-conspirators Mohammed Aslam, 56, and Mohammed Nabil Nazir, 31, of Derby, to attack a rival family on Sept 7 2019. A trial at Birmingham Crown Court heard on Tuesday that Ms Betro had been involved in yet another of Mr Nazirs plots to take revenge on a rival when she was alleged to have sent three parcels full of ammunition and gun parts to the UK on Oct 16 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tom Walkling KC, prosecuting, said that the parts which were wrapped in foil and paper inside three cardboard boxes, were addressed to a man named Faris Quayum, from Derby, with Mr Nazir tipping off the police with intent to frame him. While the packages were intercepted and Mr Quayum arrested as part of Mr Nazirs devious scheme, Mr Walkling said his involvement in the plan eventually came to light. CCTV footage captured a person wearing a niqab attempting to shoot Sikander Ali as he gets out of his car - West Midlands Police/SWNS Mr Walkling said a woman, who the prosecution say was Ms Betro, was seen at a post office 100 miles away from her home address in the US posting the parcels under a fake name. He said: In the case of each of the three packages, Ms Betros DNA has been found on the gun parts and ammunition inside them. There is no doubt, we say, that she handled the contents of those boxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She may not have known the full extent of Nazirs devious scheme, but there is no doubt that when she sent prohibited ammunition into the UK, she broke the law. The court heard that during the assassination attempt in September, Ms Betro disguised her appearance with a niqab when she allegedly tried to shoot Sikander Ali at point blank range outside his home in Measham Grove, Birmingham, but the gun jammed, allowing Mr Ali to flee. She is alleged to have returned to the scene hours later in the early hours of Sept 8 and fired three shots into Mr Alis house, which was empty at the time, before leaving the UK and flying back to the US the next day. Aimee Betro checking into a Birmingham hotel before she is alleged to have attempted an assassination - West Midlands Police The court heard father and son Aslam and Mr Nazir, who were jailed last year for their part in the bungled assassination plot, were involved in a feud with Mr Alis father, Aslat Mahumad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Nazir and Aslam got injured during disorder at Mr Mahumads clothing boutique in Birmingham in July 2018, which led them to conspire to have someone kill him or a member of his family. Ms Betro was allegedly in Armenia when Mr Nazir was jailed for 32 years and Aslam for 10 years in November, but was returned to the UK in January this year to face her own criminal proceedings. Mr Walkling said: The prosecution say that the evidence in this case is compelling and strong. Aimee Betro was the would-be assassin on Sept 7 2019. She was the shooter on Measham Grove in the early hours of the next day, and she was the person who furthered another of Nazirs vendettas when she sent ammunition to the UK in October 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Betro denies conspiracy to murder, possessing a self-loading pistol and a charge of fraudulently evading the prohibition on importing ammunition. The trial continues. 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. By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said on Tuesday he does not think the U.S. Congress should consider sanctions on Russia until after President Donald Trump's 50-day deadline for Moscow to end the war in Ukraine. "We were talking about sanctioning Russia," the Louisiana Republican said at a weekly news conference. "But I think the House and the Senate agree that the White House having given that deadline of 50 days, we need to allow the commander-in-chief and the administration and the secretary of defense and the Pentagon to do what they're going to do, and we'll see how that plays out," Johnson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some members of Congress have been pushing for stiff sanctions on Russia, including a Senate bill with 85 co-sponsors from both parties that would impose 500% tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. China and India account for about 70% of Russia's international energy business, which helps fund its war effort. However, the Republican leaders of the Senate and House have said they will not bring any sanctions legislation up for a vote without Trump's approval. Trump on July 14 threatened stiff sanctions on Russia and countries that buy Russian oil, but gave Moscow 50 days to agree to a ceasefire deal. Johnson called for an end to the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We need peace, over there. It's gone on too long. Too many innocent people are dying. And we don't want further American involvement in this at all," he said. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Paul Simao) WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. immigration authorities on Monday denied reports that they detained or deported a Chilean man living in the country on a green card. The Morning Call of Allentown, Pennsylvania, reported that Luis Leon, 82, ended up in Guatemala after being handcuffed in a Philadelphia immigration office, where he went to replace his lost green card June 20. The report, which said he won asylum in 1987, relied on family accounts. The Morning Call reported Sunday that Leon was recovering from pneumonia in Guatemala and did not plan to return to the United States, according to his granddaughter. A phone message left Monday at a number linked to the granddaughter was not returned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Homeland Security said it had no record of Leon appearing for an appointment in or near Philadelphia June 20 and said he legally entered the U.S. in 2015 as a visitor. A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman, Jason Koontz, said the agency didn't deport Leon anywhere. The Guatemalan Migration Institute said in a statement Sunday that it coordinates with ICE on all deportations from the United States and that no one matched Leons name, age or citizenship. STORY: :: File Former police officer Brett Hankison was sentenced on Monday to 33 months in prison for violating Breonna Taylor's rights during the Kentucky raid in which she was shot and killed. :: File The sentence was at the low end called for under federal sentencing guidelines for the charge, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. However, it was far more severe than the one-day sentence the Justice Department under Trump had asked for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys for Taylor said that while they were hoping for a more severe sentence, they were grateful for the decision. And even though it's not what we wanted, we thought that he should have gotten more time, we are grateful. Taylor, a Black woman, was shot and killed by Louisville, Kentucky, police officers in 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. :: File Taylors death, as well as the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, were among the most prominent cases that sparked mass racial justice protests around the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hankison was convicted by a federal jury last fall of one count of violating Taylor's civil rights. Then, in a sentencing memo last week, the DOJ's Civil Rights Division asked the judge for a single-day sentence and downplayed Hankison's role in the raid, saying that he, quote, did not shoot Ms. Taylor and is not otherwise responsible for her death. U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings, who handed down the sentence on Monday, criticized prosecutors for making a "180-degree" turn in their approach to the case. She said political factors appeared to have influenced their recommendation for the one-day sentence. By David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Republican and Democratic heads of a U.S. congressional committee for strategic competition with China have written to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to stress their strong support for the AUKUS submarine project currently under Pentagon review. Details of the AUKUS plan to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines from the early 2030s were unveiled in 2023 under former President Joe Biden, part of efforts to counter China's ambitions in the Indo-Pacific. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pentagon said in June it was reviewing the three-way collaboration between Australia, Britain and the United States to ensure it was aligned with President Donald Trump's "America First agenda," amid concerns about the ability of the U.S. to meet its own submarine needs and whether Australia's vessels would be used in support of U.S. policy in the future. In a letter to Hegseth they released on Tuesday, Republican Representative John Moolenaar and Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi said China's expanded military capabilities and coercive actions against neighbors showed it was "credibly preparing to use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific." The congressmen, the chair and ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) respectively, said the AUKUS framework was "a key step to dramatically enhance the collective defense of the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom in the face of the CCP's ongoing aggression." "AUKUS has received strong bipartisan support from Congress for a reason," they wrote. "Alongside our colleagues, we understand the agreement promises to strengthen our national security alongside that of two of our closest allies." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China has described AUKUS as a product of a "Cold War mentality" and said it would lead to greater divisions and confrontation, or even conflict and war. The congressmen stressed that both the U.S. and Australia must continue to make "generational investments" within and outside the AUKUS framework to expand their respective submarine industrial bases, work forces, and force structure. They noted Australia's $3 billion commitment to support these efforts, the first tranche of which was delivered this year. Last week, Australia's Washington ambassador Kevin Rudd said his country was working with the Pentagon on the review and was confident that all issues raised would be resolved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leading the review has been Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, who has previously expressed concern that the U.S. would lose submarines to Australia at a critical time for deterrence against China. The congressmen copied their letter to him. This month, Australia's Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy responded to a report that Colby had pressed Australia and Japan to clarify what role they would play if the U.S. and China went to war over Taiwan by saying Australia would not commit troops in advance of any conflict. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also rebuffed U.S. requests to commit to lifting defense spending from 2% to 3.5% of GDP, saying instead Australia would spend what was needed for its defense. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) By John Irish and Doina Chiacu PARIS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump has decided to pull the United States out of the "woke" and "divisive" U.N. culture and education agency UNESCO, the White House said on Tuesday, repeating a move he took in his first term that was reversed by Joe Biden. The withdrawal from the Paris-based agency, which was founded after World War Two to promote peace through international cooperation in education, science, and culture, will take effect at the end of next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move is in line with the Trump administration's broader "America-first" foreign policy, which includes a deep skepticism of multilateral groups, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the NATO alliance. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said UNESCO "supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for." The State Department accused UNESCO of supporting "a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy". It said its decision to admit the Palestinians as a member state was "highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay said she deeply regretted Trump's decision, but it was "expected, and UNESCO has prepared for it." Posting on X, French President Emmanuel Macron professed "unwavering support" for the "universal protector" of world heritage and said the U.S. move would not weaken France's commitment to UNESCO. China's foreign ministry said Washington's decision was "not the behaviour expected of a responsible major country", and expressed China's staunch support of UNESCO's work, its spokesperson told reporters during a press briefing on Wednesday. UNESCO officials said the U.S. withdrawal would have some limited impact on U.S.-financed programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Azoulay said UNESCO had diversified funding sources, receiving only about 8% of its budget from Washington. UNESCO was one of several international bodies Trump withdrew from during his first term, along with the World Health Organization, the Paris Agreement climate change accord, and the U.N. Human Rights Council. During his second term, he has largely reinstated those steps. Trump's pick to be his U.N. envoy, Mike Waltz, said this month the United Nations needs reform while expressing confidence that "we can make the U.N. great again." ISRAEL PRAISES US 'MORAL SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel welcomed the U.S. decision with its U.N. ambassador, Danny Danon, accusing UNESCO of "consistent misguided anti-Israel bias." In a post on X, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, thanked Washington for its "moral support and leadership" and said that "Singling out Israel and politicization by member states must end, in this and all professional UN agencies." U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the senior Democrat on the Republican-controlled Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called Trump's decision "short-sighted and a win for China," which she said became the largest financial contributor to UNESCO after Trump last withdrew from the agency. UNESCO officials said all relevant agency statements had been agreed with both Israel and the Palestinians over the past eight years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Azoulay said the U.S. had given the same reasons for its pullout as it had seven years ago "even though the situation has changed profoundly, political tensions have receded, and UNESCO today constitutes a rare forum for consensus on concrete and action-oriented multilateralism." "These claims also contradict the reality of UNESCO's efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism," she added. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is best known for designating World Heritage Sites, including the U.S. Grand Canyon and Egypt's pyramids. It lists 26 sites in the United States, including the Statue of Liberty, on its World Heritage List which highlights 1,248 global locations of "outstanding universal value." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington has had a troubled relationship with UNESCO over the years. It was a founding member in 1945 but first withdrew in 1984 to protest alleged financial mismanagement and perceived anti-U.S. bias during the Cold War. It returned in 2003 under President George W. Bush, who said UNESCO had undertaken needed reforms, but in 2011 the Obama administration announced it was stopping funding for the agency following its vote to grant the Palestinians full membership. Trump's first administration announced in 2017 it was quitting after accusing UNESCO of anti-Israeli bias, with Washington owing $542 million in dues, before former President Biden reversed the decision in 2023. (Writing by Ingrid Melander and David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Jarrett Renshaw, Humeyra Pamuk, Susan Heavey and David Bruhnstrom in Washington, Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru, Dominique Vidalon and Charlotte Van Campenhout in Paris and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations, Eduardo Baptista in Beijing; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Peter Graff, Rod Nickel and Kate Mayberry) Traffickers jailed for up to four years for abusing champagne grape pickers Three people were jailed for recruiting scores of undocumented workers, forcing them to work for long hours picking grapes to make champagne and live in squalid conditions. Three people were jailed on Monday for human trafficking after subjecting migrants from Africa to long working days and then housing them in appalling conditions during the 2023 grape harvest in the Champagne region of north-eastern France. The main defendant, the director of a wine services company from Kyrgyzstan, was also charged with concealed work, employing foreigners without authorisation and with non-existent or insufficient remuneration. The court in Chalons-en-Champagne sentenced her to four years, two of which were suspended with a committal order. The presiding judge ordered the dissolution of her wine services company and fined a wine cooperative, which was also being prosecuted, 75,000 euros. During the trial, the woman denied being responsible for the grape pickers' accommodation. She said two other men were responsible. ADVERTISEMENT One man was sentenced to one year in prison and the other received a two-year jail term, one of which was suspended. 'Squalid living conditions' The court was told that workers hailed from Mali, Mauritania, Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire and were hired in Paris and then transported to the Marne region. An investigation revealed working days lasting from 5am to 6pm and a return to squalid living conditions. The grape pickers, the court heard, stayed in a house undergoing renovation and a shed, sleeping on inflatable mattresses on the floor, with makeshift showers, unusable toilets and numerous electrical faults. In September 2023, an inspection of the accommodation provided for grape pickers in the town of Nesle-le-Repons found living conditions that they said seriously undermined the safety, health and dignity of the inhabitants ADVERTISEMENT Police authorities blocked up the house after highlighting makeshift bedding, the disgusting state of the toilets, washrooms and communal areas as well as dangerous electrical installations. 'Treated like slaves' Camara Sikou, one of the grape pickers, told the court: "We were treated like slaves." Every year, around 120,000 seasonal workers are brought in to pick grapes across the Champagne regions 34,000 hectares of vineyards. In 2023, the industry came under scrutiny after four harvesters died, reportedly from heatstroke during extreme temperatures. For the first time, the Comite Champagne representing 16,200 growers and 370 champagne houses joined proceedings as a civil party. In a statement released just before the start of the trial, its director, Charles Goemaere, said the organisation was firmly opposed to such unacceptable practices. (With newswires) The US announced Tuesday that it would withdraw from the UNs cultural and educational agency, UNESCO, at the end of next year, the Trump administrations latest move to distance itself from international institutions. A White House spokesperson cited the agencys woke, divisive cultural and social causes, as a reason for the withdrawal. UNESCOs head said the move came as no surprise: It echoes US President Donald Trumps first-term strategy of rejecting multilateral institutions, including the World Health Organization, the UN Human Rights Council, a global climate accord, and the Iran nuclear deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision could hand a win to China, which has been making efforts to capitalize on Trumps disdain for multilateralism by expanding its influence within the UN, Western diplomats told the Financial Times. UNITED NATIONS (AP) The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it will once again withdraw from the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO, an expected move that has the U.S. further retreating from international organizations. The decision to pull U.S. funding and participation from UNESCO comes two years after the Biden administration rejoined following a controversial, five-year absence that began during President Donald Trumps first term. The White House cited similar concerns as it did in 2018, saying it believes U.S. involvement is not in its national interest and accusing the agency of promoting anti-Israel speech. The decision, which won't go into effect until December 2026, will deal a blow to an agency known for preserving cultural heritage through its UNESCO World Heritage Sites program which recognizes significant landmarks for protection, ranging from the Taj Mahal to Egypt's pyramids of Giza and the Grand Canyon National Park. The agency also empowers education and science across the globe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is the Trump administrations latest move to pull support for U.N. agencies under a larger campaign to reshape U.S. diplomacy. Under the "America First" approach, the administration has pulled out of the U.N. World Health Organization and the top U.N. human rights body, while reassessing its funding for others. This has left the U.N., which is in the process of its own massive overhaul, reevaluating core programs and initiatives and what the international body would look like without support from the U.S. its largest donor. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement that the withdrawal was linked to UNESCOs perceived agenda to advance divisive social and cultural causes. She added that UNESCOs decision in 2011 to admit the State of Palestine as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization. UNESCO director general Audrey Azoulay said she deeply regrets the U.S. decision but said it was expected and that the agency has prepared for it. She also denied accusations of anti-Israel bias, saying it contradicts the reality of UNESCOs efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Azoulay added that the reasons put forward by the United States of America are the same as seven years ago, even though the situation has changed profoundly, political tensions have receded, and UNESCO today constitutes a rare forum for consensus on concrete and action-oriented multilateralism." Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the U.N., celebrated the announcement, saying in a statement that it is a fitting response to the consistent misguided anti-Israel bias of UNESCO, an organization that has lost its way. The Biden administration had rejoined UNESCO in 2023 after citing concerns that China was filling the gap left by the U.S. in UNESCO policymaking, notably in setting standards for artificial intelligence and technology education. Unilaterally withdrawing the United States from UNESCO is another assault by the Trump administration on international cooperation and U.S. global leadership," Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This decision cedes more ground to U.S. competitors, especially China, who will take advantage of Americas absence to further shape the international system in their favor. The withdrawal, which was first reported by the New York Post, came after a review ordered by the Trump administration earlier this year. While the U.S. had previously provided a notable share of the agencys budget, UNESCO has diversified its funding sources in recent years as the U.S. contribution has decreased. Today, American assistance represents only 8% of the agencys total budget. Bruce hinted later Tuesday that further U.S. withdrawal from international organizations could be coming as a result of the ongoing review to ensure continued U.S. participation in international organizations will focus on advancing American interests with clarity and conviction. Azoulay pledged that UNESCO will carry out its missions despite inevitably reduced resources. The agency said that it is not considering any staff layoffs at this stage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UNESCOs purpose is to welcome all the nations of the world, and the United States of America is and always will be welcome, she said. We will continue to work hand in hand with all our American partners in the private sector, academia and non-profit organizations, and will pursue our political dialogue with the U.S. administration and Congress. The U.S. previously pulled out of UNESCO under the Reagan administration in 1984 because it viewed the agency as mismanaged, corrupt and used to advance the interests of the Soviet Union. It rejoined in 2003 during George W. Bushs presidency. France, where UNESCO is based, stated in a press release that it regrets the U.S.s decision to withdraw from the agency, which was founded in 1946 to prevent conflicts through education, culture and tolerance. France supports UNESCO, which backs several of its priorities at international level, particularly access to education for all, the protection of endangered heritage, the protection of our oceans, the responsible development of artificial intelligence and the fight against anti-Semitism and hate speech, the French foreign ministry said. ___ Petrequin reported from Brussels. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -There is no need for U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to immediately step down, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday, adding that the Fed chief's legacy should be to right-size the central bank's non-monetary policy functions. Bessent's comments in an interview on Fox Business Network come a day after he called on the U.S. central bank to conduct an exhaustive review of non-policy areas of operations. (Reporting by Susan Heavey and David Lawder; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama ) US Special Envoy to Syria Ambassador Thomas J. Barrack has been under a spotlight in the last two weeks as US policy continues to face challenges. On July 19, the US Embassy in Syria noted that US Special Envoy to Syria Ambassador Thomas J. Barrack met with Syrian Democratic Forces General Commander Mazloum Abdi. The embassy said that they had met to discuss the current situation in Syria and the need for urgent steps to restore calm and stability. They also discussed practical steps towards integration into a unified Syria for a peaceful, prosperous, inclusive and stable future for all Syrians. They agreed that the time for unity is now. The meeting came a day before Barrack went to Lebanon to also hold talks about the future. Barrack has made many trips around the region in the last three months. His goal has been to carry forward the White House policy on Syria. US pushes for warm relations with Syria US President Donald Trump had pushed for the US to end sanctions on Syria and engage with the new President Ahmed Al-Sharaa after a meeting in Saudi Arabia in May. Barrack, the US Ambassador to Turkey, has been tasked with this important work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barrack has been under a spotlight in the last two weeks as US policy continues to face challenges. First of all, there is growing concern about Sharaa and his ability to control parts of Syria. The fighting in Suwayda and Israels intervention and bombing of Damascus have raised eyebrows. Can Sharaa sort things out in Suwayda and also not provoke more Israeli attacks? FRENCH PRESIDENT Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa after a meeting at the Elysee Palace in May. Sharaa is a potential threat to Israels security but possibly prepared to normalize ties with Israel, says the writer. (credit: STEPHANIE LECOCQ/REUTERS) Another issue facing the US is the integration of the SDF into the new Syrian army. The SDF was trained and backed by the US. Some US officials have seen this relationship as tactical, temporary and transactional. Generally, the Pentagon, via US Central Command, has been more bullish on the SDF, while the US State Department has preferred only to engage with Damascus. This has led to complexity. Barrack had suggested that the SDF should move faster to integrate with the Syrian security forces before the Suwayda clashes. Now there is less clarity. His meeting with Abdi came in this context. The Ambassador also thanked General Mazloum for his leadership and the SDFs continued partnership in combatting ISIS in Syria, the US Embassy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al-Monitor has noted that Suwayda violence boosts Kurds leverage as US Syria envoy, SDF chief meet. Amberin Zaman, the chief correspondent for Al-Monitor covering this story noted on X social media on July 22 that the July 19 meeting in Amman between US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack and the commander in chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazlum Kobane, went markedly better than their first face-to-face encounter 10 days earlier in Damascus, with the sectarian violence that's gripping the majority-Druze province of Suwayda temporarily strengthening the Kurds hand. The region is looking closely at what comes next in Syria. It is also watching Barracks next steps and his language. Barrack has said that the disarmament of Hezbollah is an internal Lebanese government issue. He has said the US is trying to use its influence where necessary. There are different readings of his messages. Al-Akhbar in Lebanon, which is seen as pro-Hezbollah, sees Barrack as being stricter in his recent discussions in Beirut. They seem to think he has moved closer to the Israeli view on things. Others in the region are more critical of Barrack, arguing that his embrace of the new leadership in Damascus was premature. However, that is not his policy, it is him carrying out the White House policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barrack has been energetic in accomplishing his task and mission. He is one of the well-known faces of the Trump administration in the region, along with Steve Witkoff, who played a key role in the administrations early moves relating to Gaza and the Iran talks. Now the question is what the White House will do next. Will it be able to move policy forward on Syria and also on a possible deal in Gaza? (Reuters) -Once again, the U.S. has said it will pull out of the United Nations culture and education agency UNESCO, with U.S. President Donald Trump repeating a move from his first term in office that his successor, Joe Biden, had reversed. Here are some important dates in the sometimes tumultuous relationship between the U.S. and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization: * November 16, 1945: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UNESCO's founding treaty is signed and its constitution is adopted in London, saying it intends to advance "international peace" and "the common welfare of mankind." * September 30, 1946: The U.S. ratifies the UNESCO treaty, becoming one of its founding member states. * June 1977: The Fund for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of Outstanding Universal Value, also called the World Heritage Fund, is established under UNESCO. It provides millions of dollars to support conservation programs at UNESCO-designated sites. * October 1979: The first 45 sites are inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List, including three from the U.S.: the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Florida's Everglades National Park and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * December 30, 1983: U.S. President Ronald Reagan's administration announces that the U.S. is withdrawing from UNESCO, effective December 1984, saying it had become "politicized," financially mismanaged, unduly focused on weapons disarmament during the Cold War and hostile to free markets and a free press. * October 1984: The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor and California's Yosemite National Park are inscribed on the World Heritage List. * 19852003: Despite the U.S. withdrawal, UNESCO continues to add U.S. sites and cultural heritages to the World Heritage List, including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; Thomas Jefferson's home Monticello in Virginia and the Chaco Culture of the Pueblo people who occupied what is now a large region in the U.S. Southwest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * April 1994: U.S. Congress passes a law that blocks U.S. financing for any U.N. agency that accepts the State of Palestine as a full member. * September 12, 2002: U.S. President George W. Bush announces in a speech to the UN General Assembly that the U.S. will rejoin UNESCO, citing leadership reforms in recent years as he sought to build international support for the Iraq War. It does so formally the following year. * October 31, 2011: UNESCO accepts Palestine as its 195th full member, despite the risk of losing U.S. funds, which at the time reportedly accounted for about 22% of UNESCO's budget. U.S. President Barack Obama's administration, which had unsuccessfully sought to get Congress to relax the 1994 financing law in the runup to the vote on Palestinian membership, ends U.S. funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * October 12, 2017: Trump's administration announces the U.S. will once again leave UNESCO, this time for what it called "anti-Israel bias." The U.S. became a non-member observer. * June 2023: Biden's administration announces it will rejoin UNESCO, saying the agency had "modernized its management and reduced political tensions." * July 22, 2025: Trump's administration announces the U.S. again will leave UNESCO for the third time, because of his government's belief that it "supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes." (Compiled by Jonathan Allen; Editing by Don Durfee and Rod Nickel) WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. (ABC4) A plane crashed near the town of West Yellowstone, Mont., on Friday, leaving three dead, according to the Gallatin County Sheriffs Office. A Utah man has been confirmed as one of the deceased. The deceased have been identified as Tennessee residents Rodney Conover, 60, and Madison Conover, 23; as well as Kurt Enoch Robey, 55, of Utah. At around 1:40 p.m. on July 18, West Yellowstone police received a call regarding a possible plane crash. The U.S. Dept. of Transportation Aero Division reported an aircraft that had departed the West Yellowstone Airport with three people on board just before midnight on the night of July 17 could not be located. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using the last location of one of the occupants smart watch, authorities were able to send two search planes to look for the missing aircraft. Just before 2:15 p.m., the search planes confirmed that the missing plane was found crashed in dense timber just south of the town of West Yellowstone, near South Plateau Rd. Gallatin County Search and Rescue personnel responded to the crash site. SAR teams including the West Yellowstone Section, Big Sky Section, Heli Team, and Comms team responded to the scene, a press release from the sheriffs office states. SAR members located the downed airplane and confirmed all three occupants were deceased. The decedents were extricated from the plane and transported by helicopter where their remains were turned over to a Gallatin County Sheriffs Office deputy coroner. The cause of this crash is currently under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff Dan Springer would like to thank all the agencies who participated in the location and recovery of the decedents and the continued investigation into the cause of the crash. Assisting agencies include the Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District, U.S. Forest Service, Federal Aviation Administration, and National Transportation Safety Board, the release states. Sheriff Springer would like to extend his deepest condolences to the Conover and Robey families for their respective losses. Next of kin have been notified, officials said. No further information is currently 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. In this mosaic image stretching 340 light-years across, Webbs Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) displays the Tarantula Nebula star-forming region in a new light, including tens of thousands of never-before-seen young stars that were previously shrouded in cosmic dust. The most active region appears to sparkle with massive young stars, appearing pale blue. (Courtesy of NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team) A new Utah Valley University study is providing new evidence in a debate astronomers across the world havent been able to agree on how fast the universe is expanding. The findings may add more fuel to what has been known as the Hubble Tension, a disagreement between scientists on how to best calculate the expansion rate of the universe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a study led by UVU astrophysicist Joseph Jensen in collaboration with other astronomers from Arizona, Maryland, Hawaii and Italy, the universe is expanding faster than current theories predict. The researchers used ultra-precise data from NASAs Hubble and James Webb telescopes, and the agencys Dark Energy Camera, which is mounted on the U.S. National Science Foundations Victor M. Blanco Telescope, to calculate galactic distances through an independent measuring method. According to a UVU news release, this allowed them to bypass traditional distance measurement methods. Utah Valley Universitys Dr. Joe Jensen poses for a portrait in the Planetarium on the UVU Campus in Orem, Utah on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (August Miller/UVU Marketing) This is a major step forward, Jensen said in a statement. By using a completely independent method with the power of [the James Webb Space Telescope], weve confirmed that the universe is expanding faster than our best theories say it should. That means theres likely something fundamental that were still missing in our understanding of the cosmos. Astrophysicists have debated the growing discrepancy between the predicted and observed expansion rates, aiming to determine whether the inconsistencies are because of measurement errors, or theoretical flaws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new study calculated the current universe expansion rate, or Hubble constant, to be 73.8 kilometers per second per megaparsec, a number significantly higher than the 67.5 value predicted by widely accepted models, according to the release. Were not saying the standard model is wrong, Jensen said. But its clearly incomplete. These results help us move closer to understanding what might be missing. Essentially, this new data gives clues on how old the universe is, what it is made of, and how it was created, the university says. Researchers hope to reach more precise answers in the next few years through the telescopes observations. In recognition of the teams approach NASA awarded them three additional James Webb Space Telescope observing programs to expand measurements to more than 100 elliptical galaxies, bringing about $220,000 in research funding to Utah Valley University. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A vehicle went over an embankment in Puyallup near Good Samaritan Hospital Tuesday morning. Fire crews from Central Pierce Fire & Rescue were on scene in the 100 block of 14th Avenue Southeast, according to a spokesperson for the department. According to PulsePoint, crews were dispatched at 11:07 a.m. A woman who was coming from a medical clinic near the hospital thought she was hitting a brake, but accelerated, Puyallup Police Department Captain Jeremy Hedrick told The News Tribune via phone call. Her vehicle hit an embankment, went through a fence and landed sideways in the parking lot area of a hotel at 14th Avenue Southeast and South Meridian, Hedrick said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman had minor injuries and after she was taken out of her vehicle, she was transported to a hospital as a precaution, he said. There was no impairment, Hedrick said. Fire crews are clearing the scene. Officers are waiting for a tow truck to remove the vehicle. There are no reported road closures. Venezuela says it is opening a formal investigation into several Salvadoran officials, including President Nayib Bukele, over the alleged abuse of Venezuelan migrants deported from the US. Some 252 Venezuelans, who had been imprisoned at the notorious Cecot prison in March following their deportation, were released and returned to their home country on Friday in exchange for 10 US nationals and dozens of Venezuelan political prisoners, US officials said. Venezuela has previously accused El Salvador of kidnapping the detainees after it agreed with the US to take them into custody. El Salvador claimed the detainees had ties to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, though immigration attorneys, advocates and family members have pushed back on that, claiming in many cases that the detainees had no criminal record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab held a press conference Monday to address the alleged mistreatment, showing edited footage of some of the detainees talking about their experience at the prison. Saab said officials have gathered 123 complaints of abuse, including reports of sexual assault, torture and beatings by Salvadoran prison guards. In one of the videos, a man says he was sexually abused. In another, several detainees who claim to have been beaten and shot at with pellets and pepper spray show what appear to be bruises and scars all over their bodies. CNN cannot independently verify the extent of the injuries, when they were sustained, or whether the men were speaking under duress. It has reached out to the Salvadoran presidency for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the past, the Bukele administration has said it respects the human rights of those in custody without distinction of nationality and that its prison system meets safety and order standards. Venezuela has itself faced accusations of abuse in its prisons, but its government insists it respects the rights of inmates. The released migrants have not yet been reunited with their families in Venezuela. Authorities say they are undergoing health, immigration, and criminal background checks, among other procedures a routine process for deportees returning to the country. Two relatives of the ex-detainees told CNN they were still waiting for Venezuelan officials to hand them over to their families. One relative said her nephew could be handed over today. CNN has not had access to any of the released Venezuelans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The migrants arrived at Simon Bolivar International Airport close to Caracas on two flights that departed from El Salvador, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said. Families of the ex-detainees told CNN on Friday that they were excited about their return. Mariyin Araujo, the wife of Jerce Reyes, said she was overjoyed. My two daughters are super happy; they are really anxious and cannot wait to see their father, she said on Friday. Blanca Martinez, the partner of another former Venezuelan detainee, Miguel Angel Rojas, told CNN she was thrilled that she would hear from him for the first time in four months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To think that we will be able to hear him it excites me, she said. Im happy, happy for him, his son, his mom, his dad, his whole family. CNNs Osmary Hernandez and Merlin Delcid contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com On 12-13 July, around 30 comrades gathered in Brno for the Fourth Congress of Komunisticka Avantgarda, the Czech and Slovak organisation of the RCI. Delegates from across the Czech Republic and Slovakia were joined by foreign visitors from Austria, Poland and Great Britain. Literally as our meeting was taking place, the Czech Senate passed a bill with an amendment criminalising support for communism. We responded defiantly with a huge banner proclaiming: Neither Fico nor Fiala, the party of workers to the forefront! The new law, when it comes into effect next year, will put communism on the same level as Nazism, making the act of displaying communist symbols or glorifying communist ideology punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The government says this is because communism promotes totalitarianism and violence. Incidentally, the law was signed by President Petr Pavel, who just the week before signed a pardon for Czech soldiers who brutally tortured Afghan soldiers in Shindand. A world turned upside down, and a crisis of the left The congress opened with a session on World Perspectives, presented by comrade Joe Attard from the RCIs International Centre. He spoke about the deepest crisis in the history of capitalism, the relative decline of US imperialism, and an entire world order being turned on its head amidst seemingly endless wars, diplomatic clashes and economic turmoil. Visiting comrades added to the discussion, summarising the political perspectives in their countries. Everywhere, we see a policy of cuts and austerity for workers, while the warmongering ruling classes spend a fortune on building up their own stockpiles of arms and support Israels genocide in Gaza. All of this is creating huge anger and resentment across society. The discussion on Czech and Slovak perspectives (introduced by comrades Mirko and Martin from the Executive Committee, respectively) focused on the dire situation faced by the left, which in both of our countries is on the verge of collapse. In Czechia, the Communist Party (KSCM) and Social Democrats are joining forces in Stacilo! (Enough!), a mish-mash of reformist and right-wing nationalist parties, united by nothing but their opposition to incumbent Prime Minister Petr Fiala. Meanwhile, in Slovakia, the popularity of erratic demagogue Robert Fico has evaporated in the face of heavy attacks on workers. In the absence of any alternative from the left, the liberal Progressive Slovakia (which is as-yet untested in government) is gaining support, particularly amongst young people in Bratislava. This party is cooking up a raft of savage cuts that they will launch the second they come into power, opening up a perspective of intensified class struggle. While the lefts and reformists despair and devolve into rank opportunism, the political vacuum opens up huge opportunities for revolutionaries. But only if we can connect with the growing layer of enraged workers and youth, who feel the world has gone mad and are demanding change. We have made some good progress in this regard, having tripled our forces in the Czech Republic and Slovakia over the last three years, and having established some strongholds, particularly in Prague. Learning our own history In order to help educate our fresh recruits in our own lineage, Joe gave a speech tying the knot of history between the Revolutionary Communist International today and the pioneering work of our founding theoretician, Ted Grant, which began almost 100 years ago. This was followed by a history of the Trotskyist movement in Czechoslovakia, introduced by Comrade Mirko from the EC. In the spirit of internationalism, we also recorded a statement in solidarity with Comrade Ehsan Ali, a member of our party in Pakistan and chairman of the Awami Action Committee in Gilgit Baltistan. He, along with a number of other leaders of the AAC-GB, has been imprisoned for daring to stand up for ordinary people, against the military regime in Islamabad and the fatcat capitalists itching to exploit the mineral-rich region of Gilgit-Baltistan. In the closing session, we vowed not to be intimidated by Fialas scandalous, anti-democratic so-called communism ban. We stressed the hypocrisy of the Czech ruling class, which sends money to fund butchery in Gaza, while accusing communists of supporting violence. We condemn the double standards of the Czech bourgeoisie censoring communism, while accusing us of opposing democracy. The increasing misery of capitalism means revolution is an inevitable feature of the coming period. As we wrote in our statement in June, the rotten ruling class of Czechia does not fear our countrys Stalinist past, but its revolutionary future. Indeed, the Czech governments outrageous policy is already inspiring young revolutionaries to join our ranks! This is attested to by a write-in we received after the ban was endorsed by the Chamber of Deputies in March: I am a communist who has been following Avantgarda for some time and who wants to participate in the effort to defeat capitalism After yesterday's events surrounding the banning of communism, it seems to me that it is important to apply as soon as possible. The author of these words was present at the congress! This is only a taste of things to come. We must now build on our successes and grow quickly into a revolutionary organisation worthy of the new generation of Czech and Slovak class fighters. A federal judge in Vermont has refused to delay a decision on whether a woman charged in the death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent will face the death penalty. In an order made public Monday, Chief Judge Christina Reiss denied a motion from Teresa Youngblut, 21, who is accused of opening fire on agent David Maland during a traffic stop on Jan. 20. Youngblut, who is part of a cultlike group known as Zizians that has been connected to six killings in three states, faces a July 28 deadline to explain why prosecutors should not seek the death penalty, even though she has yet to be charged with a crime eligible for such a punishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youngblut's attorneys asked the judge to set a new deadline of Jan. 30, 2026, for submitting mitigating evidence and to prohibit prosecutors from making a decision until after the material has been reviewed. The judge expressed concern that the government is ignoring its own procedures and needlessly rushing the case but ultimately said both the process and the ultimate charging decision are the sole prerogative" of prosecutors. The deadly shootout in Vermont happened on Inauguration Day, just hours before President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order lifting the moratorium on federal executions. Attorney General Pam Bondi later cited Malands death in directing federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in murder cases involving law enforcement officers unless they find significant mitigating circumstances. Youngblut's lawyers argue the government has imposed a radically inadequate and extraordinarily rushed timeline for that determination. They filed a motion Monday asking the judge to reconsider her decision, saying a delay will not diminish prosecutors' authority. Should the court grant Youngblut's motion, nothing will prevent the government from indicting death-eligible offenses or seeking the death penalty in this case, they wrote. The government will simply be required to do so on a slightly less accelerated timeline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the shooting, authorities had been watching Youngblut and her companion, Felix Bauckholt, for several days after a Vermont hotel employee reported seeing them carrying guns and wearing black tactical gear. Shes accused of firing at border agents who pulled the car over on Interstate 91. An agent fired back, killing Bauckholt and wounding Youngblut. The pair were among the followers of Jack LaSota, a transgender woman also known as Ziz whose online writing about veganism, gender identity and artificial intelligence attracted young, highly intelligent computer scientists who shared anarchist beliefs. Members of the group have been tied to the death of one of their own during an attack on a California landlord in 2022, the landlords subsequent killing earlier this year, and the deaths of a Pennsylvania couple in between. LaSota and two others face weapons and drug charges in Maryland, where they were arrested in February, while LaSota faces additional federal charges of being an armed fugitive. Longtime criminal defense attorney Thomas Anthony Durkin, known as a fierce advocate for his clients who enjoyed holding the government accountable for overstepping authority in everything from terrorism investigations to electronic surveillance, died Monday after a brief hospitalization. He was 78. A 1964 graduate of Chicagos Leo High School, Durkin was as South Side Irish as they come, a mustachioed, sometimes salty and always quick-witted litigator who loved going toe-to-toe in court with opposing counsel and judges alike. Durkin was hospitalized in June with an undisclosed illness that worsened quickly, according to friends who spoke to the Tribune. Relatives were not immediately available for comment Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A former federal prosecutor, Durkin represented an impressive roster of well-known clients over his five-decade legal career, from Guantanamo Bay detainees to Margarito Flores, the Chicago drug trafficker who along with his twin brother Peter helped build one of the first cases against Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. Durkin most recently was in the news for representing former Chicago Ald. Carrie Austin on corruption charges. In one of his last courtroom appearances in May, Durkin questioned a doctor over her opinion that Austin was not fit to stand trial ultimately leading to the judge scuttling a trial planned for November. He also represented Thomas Cullen, a lobbyist and former political director for then-House Speaker Michael Madigan, who testified before a federal grand jury and also twice at trial as part of the sprawling corruption investigation that ultimately led to Madigans conviction. But those who worked closely with Durkin said he toiled equally hard on cases that never made headlines. He looked out for people whether they had money or not, and lived for the moments in court when he could take on what he felt were overwrought arguments, several of his former colleagues said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Absolutely nothing got by him, said Chicago attorney Robert Rascia, who worked with Durkin on many cases over the past 46 years. When we would go to court, I always had this feeling it was going to go our way. It didnt always, of course. But I was never worried. Rascia said Durkin had a huge impact on lawyers across Chicago and beyond, mentoring them and offering counsel not just on legal matters, but on life itself. As a young lawyer, sometimes youre more interested in getting the case, in chasing the money, Rascia said. But he was never cutting corners, never making a promise he couldnt keep. He didnt pump anybodys tires. Josh Herman, another longtime colleague who partnered with Durkin on many big cases, told the Tribune Monday night that Durkin was a tremendous presence, whose loss will be felt by many. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an old office, he had a bust of Clarence Darrow and a statue of Don Quixote, which perfectly captured his blend of fierce creativity as a lawyer and teacher, Herman said. One of Durkins longest running legal sagas was the terrorism case against Adel Daoud, a Hillside teenager who was arrested in 2012 after attempting to detonate what he thought was a car bomb outside a crowded downtown nightclub. After Durkin challenged the governments eavesdropping methods in the case, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago in 2013 held a highly unusual closed-door session with government officials over whether Durkin should be allowed to view confidential surveillance documents. As famously acerbic appellate Judge Richard Posner ordered the stately courtroom cleared so the three-judge panel could hold a secret hearing, Durkin rose dramatically to object but was kicked out of the room by deputy U.S. marshals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Never one to avoid controversy, Durkin stuck it to Posner outside the courtroom, telling reporters he was not notified in advance that there would be a secret hearing and calling the move unprecedented. Not only do I not get to be there, but I didnt even get to object, Durkin said. I had to object over the fact that I couldnt even make an objection. According to a biography on his law firms website, Durkin received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1968 and later attended the University of San Francisco School of Law. After earning his law degree in 1973, Durkin served as a law clerk to the U.S. District Judge James Parsons in Chicago. He set up a private practice and tried a large number of jury cases as federal defender panel member before moving to the other side, serving as an assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago for six years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his time as a prosecutor, Durkin led several cases involving systemic corruption in the Electrical Inspection Department of the City of Chicago, as well as health care fraud and income tax evasion matters involving political corruption, the bio stated. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Durkin made a name for himself nationally by being one of the first to criticize the overreach of the war on terror, particularly the Patriot Act, which allowed unprecedented surveillance on American citizens. In 2008, Durkin was selected as part of a joint effort by civil liberties advocates to provide civilian defense counsel to assist in the trial of five Guantanamo Bay detainees charged in the 9/11 attacks, according to his biography. Durkin represented Mohammed Hamzah Khan, a suburban Chicago teen charged with providing material support to ISIS by attempting to travel to Syria along with his two juvenile siblings, as well as Jared Chase, one of the so-called NATO 3 defendants accused of terrorism charges for planned activities during the NATO summit in Chicago in 2012. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his closing argument in that case, Durkin scoffed at the Cook County states attorneys office for bringing terrorism charges, describing the three defendants as goofs who cant even agree on what to have for breakfast. If these people can be labeled terrorists, were all in trouble, he told jurors. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON, Utah (ABC4) The person who was killed in a rock slide near Bells Canyon on Saturday has been identified, according to the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office. The victim has been identified as David Mull, 49, of Salt Lake City. He was the only victim of the incident. At around 8:45 a.m. on July 19, Salt Lake County Sheriffs Search and Rescue team responded to a report of a rock slide near Bells Canyon. A doctor had reportedly been hiking in the area and was the first on scene, rendering aid to Mull. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite life-saving efforts, Mull was pronounced deceased on scene. He was reportedly swept away by the rock slide, falling 700 feet to his death. This response was a collaborative operation between the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office, Division of Public Safety, Unified Fire Authority, Sandy City Fire Department, and Division of Natural Resources, a press release from the sheriffs office states. 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. A Vietnamese national died while under the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over the weekend after experiencing seizures, vomiting, and unresponsiveness, immigration officials said Tuesday. Tien Xuan Phan had been detained at the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center in South Central Texas since his arrest about seven weeks ago. Phan was admitted to Otto Kaiser Memorial Hospital in Karnes County on Friday and later air-lifted to the Methodist Hospital Northeast in Live Oak, a northeastern suburb of San Antonio, for further evaluation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 55-year-old was pronounced dead at the hospital Saturday shortly before 6 p.m. The cause of death remains under investigation, authorities said Tuesday. ICE is required to make public all reports regarding an in-custody death within 90 days. Phan was ordered removed by an immigration judge on April 2, 2012, but failed to leave the U.S. as ordered, according to the agency. Enforcement and Removal Operations deportation officers arrested Phan on June 2. Officials have not disclosed whether the Vietnamese national had a criminal record. Phan is at least the ninth immigrant and the second from Vietnam to die in ICE custody this year, according to the agencys detainee death reporting database. Last year, 12 foreign nationals died while in ICE custody. 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! FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) A Virginia State Police (VSP) trooper was hurt in a hit-and-run collision early Tuesday morning along I-395, authorities detailed. VSP said that minutes after 12:30 a.m. on July 22, the trooper was driving south near Exit 8B in Fairfax County. Thats when a 2020 Porsche Carrera 911 with Montana registration moved into the right lane, striking the troopers cruiser. The Porsche pulled onto the right shoulder, and the driver ran away on foot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I-495 accident causes delays in Fairfax County on Tuesday Despite an aviation and K-9 search, the driver was not found. The tooper sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for further treatment. VSP said the incident remains under investigation. The department noted that the Fairfax County Police Department and Pentagon Force Protection Agency helped in the search. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) SeaQL at the Virginia Tech lab is collaborating with a team of volunteers across 22 countries that border the Mediterranean to collect environmental DNA. All in hopes of being able to tag and learn more about the mystifying Mediterranean white shark. Theres really not much known about them, and they are crucial to the ecological balance as apex predators, said Jeremy Jenrette, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most exploited oceanic regions in the world. The project is a part of the White Shark Chase, an initiative that launched in 2020 to observe, gather data, and tag white sharks in the Mediterranean. Assistant Professor Francesco Ferretti, in the College of Natural Resources and Environment, is the lead researcher for this effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roanoke Logperch to be removed from Endangered Species List thanks to local partnerships According to researchers, most of us know a fair amount about sharks in the Atlantic and Pacific. But sharks in the Mediterranean remain largely a mystery. The White Shark Chase is an unprecedented initiative, Ferretti said. We seek to expand and consolidate into a long-standing monitoring program in the region to save these important and genetically unique predators, as well as other endangered sharks in the region. Volunteers in 22 countries along the Mediterraneans border use a simple testing kit created by Jenrette to take surface water samples. The samples are sent to Blacksburg and analyzed by the Genomics Sequencing Center for genetic materials shed by sharks through their saliva, epithelial skin cells, and feces. The results can help reveal their location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Virginia Tech helmet lab is changing the game While researchers are here in Blacksburg, searching for these sharks requires planning across broad waters and international collaboration. The International SeaKeepers Society assisted the project in finding volunteers across the region. According to its website, the societys mission is to use privately owned yachts for oceanographic research, educational outreach, and marine conservation. By collecting eDNA samples as they travel, boaters are able to contribute valuable data and improve our understanding of elusive white shark populations in the Mediterranean Sea a recreational boating haven, said Vicky Neild, UK programme manager for SeaKeepers. The boating community is uniquely positioned to expand the projects data collection capacity, empowering all to have a profound impact on marine conservation. Researchers have found that since eDNA sampling is an effective noninvasive means of collecting data, they have expanded the scope of the project to include a greater range of rare and elusive species. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Virginia Tech researcher discusses COVID in wildlife This past year, they successfully published an article reporting the first-ever satellite tagging of a juvenile shortfin mako shark in the Mediterranean region. By supplementing traditional techniques, eDNA fills crucial knowledge gaps, enabling more robust conservation and management decisions for vulnerable Mediterranean populations of rays and sharks, Jeremy Jenrette said. We need to utilize more innovative technological approaches to sniff out their remaining populations because they are so elusive and scarcely observed. The SeaQL Lab team includes: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brendan Shea, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Andre Lai, masters degree student in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Italian collaborators Chiara Gambardella, Ph.D. candidate, and Stefano Moro Original Studies: Detecting Mediterranean White Sharks with Environmental DNA, First satellite track of a juvenile shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) in the Mediterranean Sea, On the tracks of white sharks in the Mediterranean Sea Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Credit: @sydcas/X Around 50 per cent of the population now feels that the UK is becoming a lawless country, according to an opinion poll. It is understandable the public should feel this way. Police and prosecutorial inaction when dealing with protestors, judicial failures in sentencing violent or sexual offenders, horrific increases in open anti-Semitism, mindless vandalism the list goes on. A large part of the reason for the view that lawlessness is prevailing is because the public see incidents like the protest at the Royal Opera House last weekend, when a cast member unfurled a Palestinian flag on stage during the curtain call of Verdis Il Trovatore, going unpunished. (Ironically the flag was actually an invention of the British colonial authorities in 1916 so not as symbolic of independence as some imagine). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not the first time West End productions have been disrupted. Activists held a protest on stage midway through a performance of The Tempest at Drury Lane in January when protestors walked onto the stage. Protesters previously disrupted a performance of Les Miserables. There was also an interruption to the First Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in 2023. The law-abiding public are sick of the constant self-indulgent virtue signalling by people who think their cause trumps the right of everyone else to go about their lawful business. The enjoyment of hundreds of other people and the hard work of hundreds of cast and crew is affected by the disruptive actions of a handful of people. When the authorities fail to act against such incidents it has a consequence. It empowers others to indulge their own protests on another occasion. Many audience members have been looking forward to their attendance at these productions. The disruptors care not a jot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there are things that can be done. As a former arts minister I would say that it is sadly now incumbent on all theatres to have a protocol in place to deal with a protest the moment one occurs. Lower the curtain immediately, cut the stage lights, silence the sound system. Press a cut-off switch like the BBC failed to do at Glastonbury. The police should always be called. There are offences under the Public Order Act which may apply. For a protestor in the audience, the offence of aggravated trespass may apply. It occurs when a person trespasses on land and intentionally disrupts a lawful activity. For a crew or cast member, the police and Crown Prosecution Service may consider legislation such as the very rarely used Theatres Act 1968. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was the Act that abolished the ancient role of the Lord Chamberlain in supervising theatre productions. But the Act allowed prosecutions for such things as obscenity and public order offences. If a cast member can be said to be putting on a performance, for example, with intent to cause provocation of a breach of the peace that might potentially be applicable. The Act applies to people presenting or directing a performance. Arguably a cast member could be said to be presenting a performance even if he or she acts independently of the rest of the cast. Some imaginative thinking may be required by the authorities but ignoring this sort of thing is a recipe for more audience members having their special occasion spoilt. Sir Michael Ellis KC is a former attorney general 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. This July marks the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre, in which Bosnian Serb military, police and paramilitary units killed around 8,000 Bosniak men, mostly civilians and prisoners of war. In terms of its scale and the number of victims, the Srebrenica massacre is one of the largest single crimes committed during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This crime has become synonymous with the conflict itself and the series of war crimes that occurred during the civil war. [Originally published at crvenakritika.org] The disintegration of Yugoslavia The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context of the situation in Yugoslavia at the start of the 1990s. At the beginning of the last decade of the 20th century, the Yugoslav bureaucracy found itself under pressure from the contradictions that had accumulated over the previous decades. A number of factors led to a stagnation and slowdown in economic growth that prepared the ground for the gradual abolition of all the economic and social achievements of the Yugoslav revolution. These included: the impossibility of building socialism in one country; rampant corruption and mismanagement; the strengthening of market tendencies which created an ever-widening gap between as well as within the more developed and the less developed republics; growing tensions between the bureaucracies of the republics after Tito's death; and the pressure of world capitalism. These factors led to an economic and political crisis in the late 1980s, which could only be resolved through a political revolution which would put power in the hands of the working class, or through the restoration of capitalism. However, without a political formation calling for a return to the original ideas of communism on the basis of Marxism, the working class of Yugoslavia could not find an adequate political expression for its pro-Yugoslav and socialist aspirations. The League of Communists of Yugoslavia was discredited and alienated from the masses. The Yugoslav bureaucracy had long since distanced itself from the working class and most socialist ideals. With the collapse of the Eastern Bloc and the USSR, the path to market reforms as a way of maintaining the position and privileges of the bureaucracy with the potential for them to become owners of the means of production was too tempting. A large layer of the bureaucracy already had ties to western imperialism and aspired to live the life of the bourgeoisie in the capitalist world. In the process of resolving the crisis, local bureaucracies each had their own vision of how to restore capitalism. What they had in common was the desire to break the unity of Yugoslav workers and undermine the numerous strikes and mobilisations of the late 1980s. Their solution was found in the nationalist and chauvinist propaganda that prepared the ground for the brutal war of the 1990s. With market reforms and the transformation of economic relations, the appetites of the bureaucracies in the different republics grew, to the point that they could only be satisfied by violent conflict / Image: public domain The centralism and hegemony of the Serbian bureaucracy were paralleled by the separatist aspirations of the bureaucracies of the other republics, especially in Slovenia and Croatia. Centralism and separatism fed into each other, creating the conditions for the explosive destruction of the foundations of a common federal state. With market reforms and the transformation of economic relations, the appetites of the bureaucracies in the different republics grew, to the point that they could only be satisfied by violent conflict. The Serbian bureaucracy, led by Slobodan Milosevic, felt bold enough to try to establish itself as the dominant power over the other bureaucracies within Yugoslavia. To do this, they intended to exploit Serbias dominant position as the largest republic within the federation, with Serbs constituting the largest group within Yugoslavia and controlling the largest portion of the Yugoslav Peoples Army. The division of the territory and social wealth created during the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) could only be carried out by gangster methods. In ethnically mixed territories this meant fratricidal civil wars that led to the active participation of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) in the conflicts. Although both the federal bureaucracy and the bureaucracies in the individual republics were directly responsible for the breakup of the Yugoslav state as well as the technocrats in state-owned enterprises that had allied themselves with the profiteers, criminal scum and nationalist elements within each republic imperialist powers played an active role in the process from the very beginning. While the then European Economic Community (EEC) tried to carry out the breakup of Yugoslavia and the restoration of capitalism in a more peaceful way, German imperialism openly pushed for the policy of separating Slovenia and Croatia. It was certain that such a policy in an ethnically mixed area could only lead to escalating violence, which is precisely what happened. American imperialism, which following the collapse of the Eastern Bloc in the early 1990s became the global superpower, also played a role. The criminal role of imperialism would continue during the war, and through its manoeuvres with the warring parties it would become an accomplice in numerous war crimes. War in Bosnia and Herzegovina According to official data from the 1991 census of the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SR BiH), out of a total population of 4,377,033, Muslims (today Bosniaks) made up 44 percent (1,902,956), Serbs 32 percent (1,366,104) and Croats 17 percent (760,852). Due to its ethnic mix, the SR BiH was often seen as Yugoslavia in miniature and was considered the most Yugoslav republic. According to the 1991 census, the number of people who declared themselves Yugoslavs was 5.5 percent (242,682), while the percentage of mixed marriages reached 27 percent. In addition to this ethnic composition, the ethnic borders and territorial majorities could not be easily determined. This was especially pronounced in urban areas. Even a brief overview of the data at the time showed how catastrophic the consequences of violence and war would be for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As early as 1990, nationalist parties began to form: the Party of Democratic Action led by Alija Izetbegovic, the Serbian Democratic Party led by Radovan Karadzic, and the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina led by Stjepan Kljujic. In the first multi-party elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1990, these three parties ran as an anti-communist coalition against the reformist Ante Markovic and the League of Communists of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Having been influenced by the events in Eastern Europe in 1992, the latter would later reform into the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina and advocate a civic and multiethnic solution to the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the 1990 elections, the nationalist parties came out as the victors, with support for these parties being particularly pronounced among Serbs and Croats, while Muslims opted for civic (non-nationalist) options to a relatively greater extent. The beginning of the siege of Sarajevo interrupted a series of mass pro-Yugoslav demonstrations / Image: public domain Both before and during the war, the ideological machinery of the nationalist parties, through the media and the church, worked to incite hatred between peoples and spread fear. This resulted in the intensification of the war crimes that were committed, and their justification by the brutality and threats of the other side. In particular, Serbian nationalists exerted a prominent influence with the belief that the position of the Serbian people in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina faced an existential threat. Serbian nationalists exploited the collective historical trauma of the Serbs in these areas, who had lived under the terror of Nazi collaborators in the Independent State of Croatia. The authorities in Belgrade and Serbian nationalists promoted this memory heavily in their propaganda, thus rallying the Serbian people around their policies. With the outbreak of war in Croatia in 1991, it was inevitable that violence would spread to the ethnically-mixed territories of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, the official date of the beginning of the civil war in Bosnia and Herzegovina is considered to be 6 April 1992. This was when the siege of Sarajevo by the Bosnian Serbs began. But 6 April was only the culmination of a series of violent incidents that began after the referendum on 1 March 1992, which declared the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This referendum was marked by the boycott by the Bosnian Serbs, who demanded to stay in what remained of Yugoslavia. The violent incidents following the referendum were mostly carried out by criminal groups. This included the murder of a Serbian wedding party on 1 March 1992, by a group led by Sarajevo-based criminal Ramiz Delalic known as Celo. This period also saw members of the Croatian armed forces carry out an attack against Serbian civilians in the village of Sijekovac near Bosanski Brod. There were also attacks against Muslim civilians, for example after the capture of Bijeljina by Serbian paramilitaries loyal to infamous warlord Zeljko Raznatovic, better known as Arkan. . The beginning of the siege of Sarajevo interrupted a series of mass pro-Yugoslav demonstrations, the occupation of the National Assembly building and the proclamation of the Committee of National Salvation, which aimed at preventing a fratricidal conflict. These mass demonstrations were a blow to the policies of all three nationalist parties and had to be stopped by Serbian snipers and violent attacks by criminals within the city. What followed was nearly four years of the most brutal conflict on European soil since the end of World War II. It was a civil war fought between three sides, during which there was even a conflict within the Bosniak forces, as the central Bosniak authorities in Sarajevo fought the autonomous Muslim region in Krajina controlled by Fikret Abdic. In the first years of the war, the Serbian side would prevail, at one point controlling over 60 percent of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The reason for this was Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic's active support for the Serbian regime within Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the seizure of weapons and equipment from the Yugoslav Peoples Army (JNA) that had been handed to the Serbian forces within Bosnia and Herzegovina (VRS) after the JNAs withdrawal from the territory. This resulted in a series of war crimes by the VRS and Serbian paramilitary groups. These included the massacre in and around Prijedor in 1992, as well as numerous crimes against the Muslim population across eastern Bosnia in Zvornik, Bratunac, Visegrad, Foca and finally Srebrenica. Alongside many other tragedies, the VRS carried out the infamous bombing of Tuzla, and the almost four-year siege of Sarajevo during which over 14,000 people, mostly civilians, died. After the signing of the Washington Agreement on 18 March, 1994, under pressure from the USA, a ceasefire was reached between the Bosniak and Croatian forces. After that, American imperialism and the NATO pact became more actively involved in the war in order to politically, diplomatically and militarily defeat the Serbian forces. This was ultimately achieved with the defeat of the autonomous Serbian regions in Croatia, the ethnic cleansing of over 200,000 Serbs from Croatia, and the defeat of the areas of western Bosnia that were under the control of Serbian forces and inhabited by a majority Serb population. These military defeats forced the Serbian forces to make concessions that culminated in the cessation of hostilities and the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which was finalised on 21 November 1995, and ratified in Paris on 14 December of the same year. This ended a senseless war that claimed nearly 100,000 lives. Of the total number of victims, 66 percent were Bosniaks, 25 percent were Serbs, and eight percent were Croats. Bosniaks were the only group among whom more civilians died than soldiers. They accounted for 81.4 percent of the total civilian victims of the conflict, although they only made up 43.7 percent of the country's population. To this must be added almost two million refugees and displaced people due to ethnic cleansing and the hostilities. The Srebrenica massacre During most of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Srebrenica area was part of the so-called safe zone established by the United Nations in 1993. These towns and territories were placed under the protection of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR). The safe zones were mainly established in eastern Bosnia and were intended to serve as enclaves and humanitarian corridors for Bosniak refugees fleeing territories that were under military attack and subject to ethnic cleansing by the VRS. The safe zone was established around Srebrenica on 16 April 1993, while the safe zones around Zepa, Gorazde, Sarajevo, Tuzla and Bihac were established on 6 May of the same year. The Srebrenica enclave would remain surrounded by VRS units until its fall, as the troops attempted to exhaust the enclave by indirect means, such as stopping humanitarian aid convoys and supply vehicles for the Dutch battalion of the UN forces stationed in Srebrenica. Bosnian Serb forces also cut off water and electricity, further worsening the situation for the population, and by early 1995 the situation had become unbearable due to food and medicine shortages. Inside the enclave were poorly armed units of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina under the command of Naser Oric, alongside between 50,000 and 60,000 Bosniak refugees who had been expelled to Srebrenica from other parts of eastern Bosnia. The humanitarian situation in Srebrenica rapidly deteriorated, but it did not lead to the VRS desired goal of getting the Bosniak population to leave the enclave. The Bosniak authorities in Sarajevo also did not want the evacuation of Srebrenica, as the enclave provided a distraction for a significant number of Serb forces in this part of the territory. The VRS' stranglehold on the population in Srebrenica also had political and propaganda value for Sarajevo. This led to dissatisfaction and resentment among the population within the enclave towards the Bosniak central authorities, as well as open criticism of the military leadership within the city, as a result of which Naser Oric and other commanders were dismissed. Thus, the enclave was militarily neutered directly before the start of the Serbian offensive in the summer of 1995. On 11 July, VRS forces under the command of Ratko Mladic entered Srebrenica, which the civilian population had already fled / Image: Evstafiev Mikhail, Wikimedia Commons The VRS began preparations for the attack on the Srebrenica enclave in the spring of 1995, acting on the directive of Radovan Karadzic. The original plan did not envision the complete capture of the enclave, but only its southern part. This was intended to cut off access to the village of Zepa, and thus reduce the territory of the enclave in a way that would make life impossible for its inhabitants. The offensive of the Serbian forces began on 5 July 1995. This was motivated by the VRS defeats in western Bosnia and the beginning of the Bosniak-Croat offensive that would culminate in Operation Storm and the fall of the Serbian territories in Croatia. The enclaves in eastern Bosnia, although poorly equipped militarily, kept the attention of a number of Serbian forces. This was a significant disadvantage at a time when military needs required the allocation of these forces to areas of western Bosnia that were threatened by the advance of the Bosniak-Croat armies. Encouraged by the speed of their advance into the enclave, as well as the lack of an adequate response from UNPROFOR, Radovan Karadzic issued an order on 9 July to continue the operation and liquidate the Srebrenica enclave. On 11 July, VRS forces under the command of Ratko Mladic entered Srebrenica, which the civilian population had already fled. The refugees were mostly in and around the UN camp in Potocari, while smaller groups of soldiers from the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered alongside civilians in the north of the enclave to attempt a breakthrough towards Bosniak-controlled Tuzla. Over the next ten days, VRS units, police and paramilitary formations, such as the infamous Scorpions from Serbia, would begin mass executions of Bosniak men. The bulk of the slaughter would be carried out on prisoners of war, who were captured as they tried to break out of the encirclement. This constituted around 6,000 of those killed. The rest of those killed, around 2,000 men, were those separated from the women and children in Potocari who were transferred by bus to territory controlled by the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Later, in order to hide the crime, between August and November 1995, Bosnian Serb forces moved the bodies of those killed to different graves. By moving the bodies, it became difficult to identify the victims, as well as to determine when, how and where they were killed. In the coming months, the crime in Srebrenica would serve as an excuse for the escalation of western imperialism and NATOs intervention on the side of the Bosniak-Croat armies and the further occupation of territory that had been held by Serbian forces. This forced the authorities in Serb-controlled Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the authorities in Serbia itself, to come to the negotiating table in late 1995. Under pressure from the imperialist powers, the war eventually ended with the ethnic division of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Western imperialism used the same tactics in Bosnia and Herzegovina that it used in the First Gulf War, the wars in wider Yugoslavia, and the series of military interventions around the world in the following years. Humanitarian catastrophe, war crimes and ethnic cleansing are used as excuses for invasions that can cement the military presence of imperialist forces in a region. The same methods would be used in the case of Kosovo in 1999, and the invasions of Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003. The crime of Srebrenica today The massacre of Bosniak civilians and prisoners in the Srebrenica enclave in July 1995 truly constitutes a war crime. Factors such as the organised mass executions, the separation of women and children from men, and the relocation of graves in order to hide the extent of the crime, certainly suggest that the political and military leadership of the Serb authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina knew about and ordered such actions. The methodical implementation of the crimes, and the number of victims, refute the arguments of Serbian nationalists and the current Serb authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, that these were isolated incidents and acts of retaliation for crimes against Serbs. It does not require the verdicts of international criminal courts under the control of imperialism to know the true nature of these crimes. Yet for the past thirty years, Srebrenica has remained an open wound that is cynically used for political purposes by the ruling class. On the one hand, Serbian nationalists and the regime in Banja Luka [the Serb authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina] under the leadership of Serb nationalist Milorad Dodik have been justifying, downplaying or increasingly completely denying the crimes committed by Serb forces and paramilitary formations in July 1995. Denial of the crimes of Srebrenica is a regular part of electoral campaigns, in an attempt to create unity among the Serb population and appease Serbian nationalists. Srebrenica is a central pillar of the myth promoted by the regimes in Banja Luka and Belgrade, that the Serbian people are subject to an unjust global conspiracy that presents an existential threat to their nation. On the other hand, Bosniak political elites use Srebrenica not only to score political points, but also as a way to put pressure on the Serbian authorities within the country, in their pursuit of greater centralisation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This, in the eyes of the Bosniak ruling class, is the only path to justice for the crimes committed against the Bosniak people during the war. Yet such a policy could only be achieved with the help of imperialism. An attempt to unilaterally implement this policy would only open up new ethnic conflicts in the Balkans and potentially push the working people in the direction of another insane slaughterhouse for the narrow and profiteering interests of the Bosniak, Serbian and Croat ruling elites. The recent indictment against Milorad Dodik has pushed the country into its greatest political crisis since the end of the war / Image: DEMOKRATSKA STRANKA DS, Wikimedia Commons The recent indictment against Milorad Dodik, who has been charged with defying the decisions of Christian Schmidt the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina imposed by the Dayton Agreement has pushed the country into its greatest political crisis since the end of the war. Imperialist maneuvering only fuels chauvinistic tendencies and feeds separatist aspirations among the Serbian and Croatian populations. This, in turn, enables both Milorad Dodik and Bosnian Croat leader Dragan Covic to present themselves as the sole guarantors of the survival of Serbs and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By repeatedly emphasising their victimhood during the war, the Bosniak elites present themselves as protectors of the Bosniak people, while in fact they are doing so in order to defend their privileges and divert attention from economic and social misery. This additionally serves to conceal the culpability of the Bosniak wartime leadership in treating the Srebrenica enclave purely as a tactical asset and doing nothing to defend it from Serbian forces. This was done because such a horrific crime suited them politically, and won them moral superiority and imperialist support for their political and military goals in the war. The third group to exploit the Srebrenica tragedy are the most cynical, and they are precisely the imperialist tutors of today's Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the one hand, there is German imperialism, which openly supported separatist aspirations in the early 1990s, and on the other hand American imperialism, which sabotaged efforts to achieve peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These imperialist powers use the tragedy to distract from NATO's passivity and failure to prevent the capture of Srebrenica by VRS units. This is justified by technical difficulties and reduced visibility, but it should be recalled that in 1994 American planes prevented the capture of the Bosniak enclave in Gorazde, which was then another UN safe zone, by bombing Serbian positions. It is obvious that western imperialism needed a humanitarian crisis, ethnic cleansing and a major crime in order to justify their active entry into the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the political calculations of the imperialists, innocent victims on both the Bosniak and Serbian sides are only collateral damage used to justify war goals and control of zones of interest, territory, resources and the plunder of social wealth. The imperialist insistence on labeling the crimes in Srebrenica a genocide imposes collective guilt onto the Serbian people and plays into the hands of Bosniak nationalists in their desire to dominate Bosnia and Herzegovina. Last years adoption of the UN resolution on the genocide in Srebrenica, which was pushed by Germany, should be seen as a part of this. It was a miserable way for the German ruling class to wash its hands of its participation in the reactionary disintegration of the SFRY that pushed the Yugoslav peoples into a bloody civil war. It is undoubtedly also an attempt to distract from Germanys current complicity in the Israeli regimes genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. While American and German imperialism are eager to condemn the denial of the crimes in Srebrenica and characterise the crime as a genocide, at the same time they are hypocritically supporting Israel in the slaughter of the Gaza Strip and the escalation of war in the Middle East. In Germany, demonstrations in support of Palestine are banned, while at the same time the German ruling class and their political representatives are giving moral lessons about the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. While proposing resolutions on Srebrenica, both the US and Germany are diplomatically, financially and militarily supporting the Zionist regime in Israel. The US accounted for two-thirds of all imported weapons to Israel from 2020 to 2024. Today, the bulk of US aid to Israel is spent on the military. This includes a military aid agreement worth $3.8 billion per year until 2028. Second to the US is Germany, which accounted for almost one-third of Israel's arms imports between 2020 and 2024. The German government announced that it exported weapons worth 131 million last year, while total exports in 2023 were worth 326 million. German exports also include armored vehicles, trucks, anti-tank weapons and ammunition. The weapons that are killing men, women and children in the Gaza Strip every day come from the same people who are desperate to disguise their complicity in the genocide of the Palestinian people. While they use the Srebrenica tragedy for today's maneuvers in Bosnia and the Balkans, they morally and politically defend the Zionist criminals and their atrocities throughout the Middle East. The bloody trail of imperialism and the hypocritical rot of imperialist diplomacy stretches from the Balkans, through the Middle East and beyond. The only way to truly pay tribute to the victims of the wars that arose from the restoration of capitalism in the 1990s is to fight for a workers' state in Bosnia and Herzegovina / Image: Michael Buker, Wikimedia Commons We are against the Serbian nationalists who abhorrently deny the crime that the units under the command of Ratko Mladic committed in Srebrenica. But we are also against any imposition of collective guilt on the Serbian people by Bosniak nationalists and the ruling classes of the imperialist states. The imperialists want to hide their role in opening Pandora's box with the reactionary disintegration of the SFRY and pushing the Yugoslav peoples into civil war. At the same time, it is clear that nationalism and their exploitation of war crimes and collective guilt are a means of diverting attention from social and economic issues by creating division among the working class. The only way to truly pay tribute to the victims of the wars that arose from the restoration of capitalism in the 1990s is to fight for a workers' state in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Only a workers state can guarantee ethnic equality through class unity and take an objective view of the facts and context of the war as part of the counter-revolutionary dismantling of socialist Yugoslavia. This objective view does not mean denying the fact that the Bosniak people were the victims of the greatest number of crimes and ethnic cleansing in the war. Rather, what is needed is an internationalist approach, bringing together all the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and rejecting the hypocritical imperialist narrative of a genocide. This narrative served as a justification for imperialist intervention in the war and the creation of the current colonial Bosnia and Herzegovina under the Dayton Agreement. An internationalist approach could finally put an end to the disgusting competition over each groups number of victims and would put an end to the attempts of politicians to win political clout from the bones of the innocent. The revolutionary crisis in Serbia, caused by the mass movement of students and workers, has gained support throughout the Yugoslav region in recent months. Support and solidarity rallies were held in both Banja Luka and Sarajevo. This is proof that the young generations, unburdened by defeats and the traumas of war, seeing no prospect of a decent life in the Balkans, are willing to come together for a new struggle. In the coming period, we can expect more and more movements in our region similar to the one in Serbia that will erase all the borders of nationalist divisions and prepare the ground for a new unification of the Yugoslav and Balkan peoples on a socialist basis. Only such a struggle can erase the divisions created by conflict and war crimes. EXCLUSIVE: Experts are raising alarms over the feasibility of Trumps One Big, Beautiful Bill, particularly its Medicaid work requirements, which would force nearly 20 million Americans to verify their hours worked, studied, or volunteered. Former Treasury and state health officials told Fortune the already understaffed agencies lack the infrastructure to manage the surge, warning of possible system breakdowns, long wait times, and millions losing coverage by 2034. While economists argue over whether President Trumps One Big, Beautiful Bill (OBBB) will add to national debt or manage to offset the largest tax break in history with tariffs, some experts are worried about the practicality of the plan. More specifically, those who have worked on the ground to enact political promises in the past are questioning how the White Houses proposals will trickle into reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trumps bill checks many boxes for his voters and for Republicans: new work requirements for Medicaid recipients, no taxes on tips, a higher maximum child tax credit threshold, and a raise of the limit for state and local tax deductions (SALT). But one former Treasury staffer told Fortune that increasing the procedural legwork for an operation as big as Medicaid by the deadline of January 2027 may be a customer-service nightmare waiting to happen. Julie Siegel is the former Deputy Federal COO at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and served as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Department of Treasury under Janet Yellen. With the OMB, Siegel oversaw the U.S. Digital Service tasked with developing the technology to enact federal departments needs. She already has concerns about the tweaks to Medicaid, given her experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She told Fortune: Medicaid is a federal and state partnership, they have to administer it and essentially build a machine to administer this new set of bureaucracy that the tax bill is putting on them. And they cant do it. There are 30% vacancies in some of these agencies, theyve been stretched through COVID, theyre stretched because grants and other sources of revenue are being cut through DOGE [the Department of Government Efficiency] and they basically have 18 months to do this huge thing. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) told Fortune the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing the changes in order to strengthen the long-term viability of Medicaid. The new law honors that mission by better aligning incentives to protect those the program was designed to serve while helping able-bodied, working-age adults engage more fully in their communities, HHS added. States have primary responsibility for verifying eligibility for their Medicaid programs, and CMS is actively engaged in providing technical assistance to ensure eligibility, verification, and enrollment systems are secure, efficient, and tailored to each states operational capacity. 18.5 million people will have to prove they meet the requirement every year The task is to verify that individuals meet the new requirements: Namely that they have done 80 hours a week of month, or community engagement, or educationsimilar to policy already in place in some states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The question for consumers is how to gather the evidence to prove they meet these benchmarks. In many cases employees, students or volunteers will not have a timesheet proving the hours they clocked in and out in a given week. The question for government administrators is how to verify and process that information. The problem is no small one. According to the Congressional Budget Offices predictions some 18.5 million people will have to prove they meet the requirement every year once the legislation is implemented in all states. And those individuals will also have to prove their status once every six months. That will create an avalanche of data for authorities to sort and verify on a rolling basis. At present, they have little information about where to begin. Robert Gordon has overseen data administration work on a huge scale in the past, having served as director of the Department of Health and Human Services for the State of Michigan during the COVID pandemic, as well as assistant secretary for financial resources at the U.S. Department of Health. Gordon said at the moment there are a tonne of unanswered questions about the legislation, so much so that some states may even begin building systems to process the changes without the answers from central government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The solution is not straightforward but it is clear, Gordon tells Fortune: [Government officials] need to enable and encourage states to access the flexibilities that are in the law. Doctor Oz has talked about how theyre going to provide technology that enables simple and easy verifications for both individuals and states. He should be good to his word, simple as that. HHS told Fortune that while states will bear the responsibility for verifying eligibility, it is working closely with these departments on ways to improve their systems. This could include helping state departments build or enhance data-sharing agreements, integrate real-time verification tools into platforms, and streamline document processes for individuals. CMS is also parachuting in experts from the federal government to provide insight on such projects, with the spokesperson adding: CMS is already working with state Medicaid directors to prepare for these requirements and is running two demonstration projects with promising results. We are confident the technology and infrastructure already exist to support successful implementation. What does this mean for consumers? From her experience, Siegel has her suspicions about what happens next: [Government] will try and build websites to do this, and I think theres a good chance those web builds dont work. When the websites break down, people call, when call centers are understaffed which they are likely to be, wait times are super long. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And when you cant get through, youre eight months pregnant and you want be covered by Medicaid, you call, your partner calls, your parents call, your grandparents, all start to call. Thats how these call centers go. People cant get through, and so they show up at the local office and theres a line around the block. Unfortunately Ive been through these situationsnot in a Medicaid contextand the customer service has been really poor while weve been trying to work through it. The staff have mandatory overtime which gets cancelled, theyre yelled at for a bunch of hours a day, and the attrition goes up. So begins a vicious spiral of overstretched staff trying to sift through millions of queriessome from individuals who simply no longer qualify for cover. HHS said it recognize[s] the importance of minimizing disruptions for eligible families and ensuring no one is improperly disenrolled due to delays in verification or administrative barriers. It added: CMS remains committed to providing ongoing policy, systems, and operational tools and guidance to state agencies to support timely implementation in a manner that protects eligible individuals and families. CMS will continue working with states, community partners, and other federal agencies to ensure reforms are implemented fairly, lawfully, and with the infrastructure in place to support a smooth transition for beneficiaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a research letter published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) some 7.6 million people will become uninsured by 2034 because of the changes to the Medicaid policy. Gordons fear is that families and individuals simply dont have the time or capacity to organize their coverage under the new scheme, saying: People are very busy, they have a lot of strain in their lives, they have a lot of things to worry about that arise organically in their jobs and their families in their everyday lives and I think a good philosophy of government is not to add add to those burdens and those challenges, but thats not the philosophy of this bill. And so, I I think theres going to be a lot of of inevitable breakage, and it will be the job of government to minimize that breakage. Of course, the headache consumers may be barreling toward is not of the Trump administrations volition alone. Some may argue that previous admissions could have invested and developed systems to improve the Medicaid service, meaning the OBBB would not pile more strain on an already stretched system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a moment here for State,' Gordon, a visiting fellow at Georgetown University, added. There is a moment for governors to step up and try not only to minimize coverage loss, but also to modernize, and thats very hard to do because the most natural thing will be to pour new wine into old vessels. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) A motorcycle rider was injured in a crash on Interstate 264 in Virginia Beach Monday evening after trying to elude a trooper attempting a traffic stop, Virginia State Police said. Around 8:18 p.m., a State Police trooper tried to stop a black 2009 Suzuki motorcycle on I-264 eastbound at Witchduck Road for improper display of registration. After trying to pull over the man riding the motorcycle, he accelerated, made a right-lane change and drove straight into the back of a 2023 Nissan Rogue. The man suffered serious, life-threatening injuries, State Police said, and he was taken to Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All eastbound I-264 lanes, as well as the east entrance ramp, were closed for VSPs crash reconstruction team to investigate. As of just after 10 p.m. Monday, VDOT said the east center lane, right center lane, right outside lane, right shoulder and entrance ramp remained closed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com An employee from Juanita High School has been taken into custody by immigration officials. The Lake Washington School District confirmed that Fernando Rocha, who manages the theater department at Juanita High School, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). We are aware that one of our employees appears to have been detained by ICE, the district said in a prepared statement. We have been in contact with the employee to provide appropriate employment documentation. Due to privacy considerations, we are limited in what we can share, but we are monitoring the situation closely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rocha, 45, entered the U.S. in 2018 under a tourist visa, which he allegedly overstayed, according to ICE. He is wanted by Brazilian law enforcement for theft. Fernando Alves-Rocha, 45, is a citizen of Brazil arrested by @EROSeattle in Monroe, WA. Alves entered the U.S. in 2018 under a tourist visa which he overstayed, and is wanted by law enforcement authorities in Brazil for theft. He'll be detained by ICE pending removal proceedings. pic.twitter.com/Ksh0FgGZD7 ICE Seattle (@EROSeattle) July 22, 2025 Hes definitely in shock, Rochas attorney, Adolfo Ojeda, said. Ojeda told KIRO Newsradio that Rocha applied for asylum when his tourist visa expired in 2018. He claimed Rocha has a valid work visa. In his initial paperwork from the government, it says that they arrested him because he overstayed his initial visa, which is factually correct, Ojeda said. But if somebody would have itemized his name on that list, they would have seen Ah, but hes got a valid asylum application pending, and hes got a work permit, so hes technically fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for the theft claim? Ojeda says he was unaware until being informed by KIRO Newsradio about ICEs post on social media. Thats not anything to my knowledge, Ojeda said. All they told him is that he had an expired visa. The Lake Washington School District is currently working with Rocha to provide the proper employment documents. Lawmakers are also weighing in on the case. We have been in contact with Mr. Rochas attorney, Lake Washington School District, and state Sen. Dhingra, and are hopeful this situation will quickly resolve itself in court, Nick Martin, spokesperson for Rep. Suzan DelBene, wrote to KIRO Newsradio. We will continue to follow the case closely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump promised to go after the worst of the worst, but his administrations heavy-handed tactics in many cases ignore peoples constitutional rights and the rule of law, Martin added. Rochas bond hearing is scheduled for July 29, according to his attorney. Contributing: Gwen Baumgartner, KIRO Newsradio This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com Washington U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell sent a letter to President Donald Trump outlining a five-point plan that could improve the countrys approach towards weather readiness, utilizing data collection and up-to-date technology to inform and prepare civilians for upcoming natural disasters. Cantwell, a ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which oversees the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS), urged the Trump administration to modernize the nations weather systems on CNN. Sen. Cantwell interview on CNN In early May, NOAA announced that the billion-dollar weather and climate disasters database will be retired as part of a directive from the White House reflecting its ongoing effort to end climate-related programs and services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cantwell spoke on CNN to address the need for improved weather forecasting technology that can lengthen the time civilians have to prepare and respond to natural disasters, and limit the number of lives lost and dollars spent during these weather events in the U.S. I come from a very disaster-ridden state. We know what it costs us. Lets get the best weather radar and technology system, do the analytics, and give people fair warning to get the heck out of the way, Cantwell said. We know that these storms are costing us billions of dollars and costing us lives. Cantwell noted the massive flooding in Kerrville, Texas, and how the modernized weather technology services she is requesting could have had a big impact on residents reaction time to the flooding, possibly notifying people days in advance. In Kerrville, if we had this kind of technology today, we would have been able to forecast the potential event of this weather pattern because of warm temperatures in the Gulf and process that information into a more searing alert in peoples minds, hours and maybe days ahead of time, Cantwell said. Americans should have the best weather system. Why not? Every hurricane is costing us billions of dollars, so why not prevent this? Cantwells letter to Trump Cantwell summarized her weather-focused requests for Trump into five segments, which included modernizing weather data collection, analytics, research, modern alert systems, and advanced bipartisan legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Communities across the United States are experiencing more frequent, intense, and costly flash floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, atmospheric rivers, landslides, heatwaves, and wildfires, Cantwell wrote. The lessons from Kerrville, Palisades, Asheville, Lahaina, and too many other natural disasters are that providing Americans with more timely and accurate weather information can avoid billions in property losses and save lives. The first of the five points in Cantwells plan spoke to improved weather data collection tools, like radar, hurricane hunters, weather satellites, and ocean buoys that would provide revamped data collections by land, space, air, and sea. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create the worlds best weather forecasting system that would provide Americans with much more detailed and customized alerts days instead of minutes ahead of a looming extreme weather event, Cantwell wrote. Cantwell claimed that improving the Doppler radar network could enable meteorologists to deliver more accurate forecasting and increase the amount of time between a weather warning announcement and its arrival. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hurricane Hunters data collections have also improved forecast accuracy by at least 10 to 15% according to studies by the NOAA. Cantwell asked to rebuild the Hurricane Hunter aircraft fleet by replacing the current WP-3D, which has been in service since the 1970s, and introduce four new C-130s. Weather satellites are also included in Cantwells revision, addressing the need to update to the Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellite system, which can track lightning strikes that start wildfires, and smoke that can impact air quality and human health. Other pieces of the five-point plan Cantwell asked for world-leading analytics that can surpass the current European weather forecasting models capabilities. This would require more supercomputing and improvements in data analytics. Additional funding for cutting-edge research was also mentioned, and Cantwell claimed that a NOAA laboratory in Oklahoma is testing a new tornado and extreme weather warning system that could provide an extra two hours to prepare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The expansion of weather emergency communication channels to inform the public of a natural disaster was also included in the letter. Cantwell explained that emergency communication services such as AM and FM radio, websites, SMS, push notifications, TV, and social media all provide valuable alerts and warning information. Follow Jason Sutich on X. Send news tips here. WACO/HOUSTON, Texas (FOX 44) Some locals were recognized at the 88th annual Texas Restaurant Show! The Texas Restaurant Association held the event at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston on Sunday and Monday. It is the second-largest restaurant show in the country, with over 6,000 attendees and 450 exhibitor booths. According to the Texas Restaurant Association, Waco was well represented at the awards! Local recipients included: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waco Restaurateur of the Year Corey McEntyre, Red Herring Waco, TX Deep in the Heart Award Finalist Kyle Citrano, Georges/Jorges Waco, TX The show provides foodservice professionals with insights on topics like AI, mergers and acquisitions, brand innovation, cultural storytelling, and digital strategy through seminars and panels led by industry experts. Alongside the educational programming, exhibitors from the United States plus Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, Italy and Japan showcased new products, technology and services. The annual Texas Restaurant Awards & Lone Star Bash was held on Sunday evening. This celebrates restaurants and culinary leaders from across the state. Former state Sen. Kelly Hancock, now acting Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, received the Restaurant Industry Champion Award for his work supporting alcohol to-go, third-party delivery protections, credit card swipe fee transparency and other policies that strengthen the states foodservice industry. The award recognizes policymakers, organizations and individuals who make a significant impact on laws and regulations affecting Texas restaurants. Past recipients include Speaker Dustin Burrows and Sen. Brandon Creighton. The evening also featured bites from Texas restaurants, signature dishes from award-winning chefs, specialty cocktails and appearances by culinary leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2025 award winners are listed below, courtesy of the Texas Restaurant Association: Hall of Honor Inductees, bestowed on industry leaders selected by their peers with at least 15 years of TRA service who exemplify superior business ethics George Christie, Christies Seafood & Steaks, Houston, TX Cathy Painter Cace, Caces Kitchen/Johnny Caces, Longview, TX Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year Allison & Jeff Balfour, Southerleigh Hospitality Group, San Antonio, TX Community Impact Award Gary LeBlanc, Mercy Chefs, Portsmouth, VA Excellence in Journalism Award Alicia Kelso, Nations Restaurant News Rising Star Award Deborah Williamson, James Provisions, Hurst, TX Deep in the Heart Award Scott Moore, Greg Moore and Michelle Holland, Tejas Chocolate & Barbeque, Tomball, TX Chef Tim Kelly Award for Educator Excellence Chef Carlos Ramos, Milby High School, Houston Independent School District Outstanding Partner of the Year Ben E. Keith Foods, Fort Worth, TX Restaurant Industry Champion Award Kelly Hancock, former Texas state senator and acting Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Carmelo Mauro Spirit of Generosity Award Andy Merrett, Raising Canes, Director of Restaurant Recruiting Skeeter Miller Excellence in Advocacy Award Blanca Aldaco, Aldacos Mexican Cuisine, San Antonio, TX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas Restaurant Association says in addition to honoring industry changemakers, the Texas Restaurant Awards & Lone Star Bash raised money to support the initiatives of the Texas Restaurant Foundationa 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to building and strengthening the future of the restaurant industry. A portion of the events proceeds will support the rebuilding efforts across the Central and West Texas communities that were hit by devastating floods over Independence Day weekend. The Texas Restaurant Association represents the states $138 billion foodservice industry, which encompasses more than 57,000 restaurant locations and a workforce of more than 1.4 million employees. To learn more, you can visit txrestaurant.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 KWKT - FOX 44. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A teenager who claimed he could become a cartel assassin was sentenced to prison for a 2023 shooting that took the life of another teen at a Hillsboro birthday party. Derek Cuellar-Torres was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 32.5 years, following his guilty plea to second-degree murder with a firearm and first-degree attempted murder with a firearm, the Washington County District Attorneys Office said Monday. The case dates to October 21, 2023, when the victims in this case, who were 16 and 17, attended a birthday party in Hillsboro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Armed man hides in Mall 205 shelving for hours before arrest Officials said the brother of the teen celebrating her birthday felt the victims were being disrespectful and called his friends who were local gang members including Cuellar-Torres to confront them. The teens knew each other from Hillsboro High School, according to authorities. The brother drove Cuellar-Torres and three others back to his home to confront the victims, noting Cuellar-Torres and another teen were armed with handguns. The brother and another teen then lured the victims and others outside, while Cuellar-Torres and the second teen hid in the shadows along the side of the house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNBC ranks Oregon among most expensive states. Heres why Once the victims were outside, Cuellar-Torres and the second teen shot at the victims. Investigators later found 22 shell casings at the scene. Jesus Copado-Oropeza, 17, died from his injuries. The other victim, 16, was wounded but recovered. Cartel assassin During the investigation, authorities found text messages between Cuellar-Torres and the other gang members, complaining he was losing time, and wanted to catch a body, before he turned 18, the District Attorneys Office said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KOIN Morning Digest In a separate chat, Cuellar-Torres associate warned him that he would be charged as an adult for committing murder; however, Cuellar-Torres said he would blame drugs and alcohol for his actions to avoid punishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities noted another group chat in which Cuellar-Torres bragged about the murder and claimed he could become a cartel assassin. At the time of the murder, Cuellar-Torres was less than 30 days from his 18th birthday, however, because of juvenile justice reforms passed in 2019 under Senate Bill 1008, he was required to be initially prosecuted as a juvenile. VIDEO: ClackCo deputies punched mentally disabled inmate 7 times, lawsuit claims Authorities said Cuellar-Torres was transferred to adult court for prosecution after a waiver proceeding. However, the juvenile justice reforms will make the defendant eligible for parole consideration after 15 years and conditional release after serving half of his sentence. SB 1008 does not give an elected judge the authority to limit or delay parole eligibility or conditional release consideration, the Washington County District Attorneys Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuellar-Torres, now a few months shy of 20, will be transferred to the Oregon Department of Corrections to begin serving his sentence at the Oregon Youth Authority. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LONDON (AP) Britain threatened Tuesday to take further action against Israel if it does not agree to end the war in Gaza, a day after two dozen mostly European countries condemned Israels restrictions on aid shipments into the territory and the killings of hundreds of Palestinians trying to reach food. Despite the increasingly strong words, many are skeptical that Israel will yield to such pressure without more significant punitive action and especially without the backing of Germany and the U.S., Israels strongest Western allies. Outrage over Israels actions in Gaza has grown in Europe as images of suffering Palestinians have driven protests in London, Berlin, Brussels and other capitals. More recently, the almost daily killings of Palestinians while seeking aid have tested the EU's friendly relationship with Israel like never before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Europe remains divided on its stance toward Israel, and its limited sanctions and condemnations so far have had little effect. Here's a look at what Europe can do or has done and why it hasnt done more. EU reviews its ties with Israel over Gaza The EU has been reviewing its diplomatic and trade ties with Israel over its conduct in Gaza. An internal report recently found indications that Israel has violated its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, a 25-year-old legal framework governing the political relationship and trade cooperation between the two sides. But so far the EU has taken no action to suspend such ties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some have criticized the EU Israels biggest trading partner for a lack of political courage and for underestimating its leverage on Israel. What we can see is mounting pressure, but those are words, those are not actions, said Yossi Mekelberg, a senior consulting fellow at Londons Chatham House think tank. Individual countries, such as Britain, Canada and Australia, have slapped sanctions on Israeli settlers in connection with violence against Palestinians, including asset freezes and travel bans. But such measures have yielded few results. In addition, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway have sanctioned two far-right Israeli ministers for allegedly inciting extremist violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.K. said in May that it would suspend free trade talks with Israel, also over the West Bank. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy hinted at stronger action Tuesday, saying he felt sickened by the suffering in Gaza, but he did not specify what measures were being considered. We will continue to pressure. We will continue to act, Lammy told British media, stressing the need to work with allies to get the maximum result. Speaking Tuesday on X, European Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen reiterated the EU's call for the free, safe and swift flow of humanitarian aid. And for the full respect of international and humanitarian law. Civilians in Gaza have suffered too much, for too long. If Israel does not change course, options could include fully or partially suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which would require a unanimous agreement by all 27 members of the EU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other steps could be suspending an aviation agreement, blocking imports from settlements, limiting scientific and technological cooperation, and curtailing travel for Israelis in the visa-free zone known as Schengen, according to a leaked document sent by the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, to member states. The document was seen by The Associated Press and verified by two EU diplomats. Nations could act on their own, including sanctioning specific companies or individuals in Israel or the occupied West Bank. Why hasnt Europe taken stronger action? The short answer is that Europe remains divided, and it is highly unlikely that the entire EU would reach unanimity to drastically dial up pressure on Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European nations such as Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain have publicly urged the EU to reassess its ties with Israel, charging that Israel has violated human rights conditions in its agreement with Brussels. But Germany and Hungary have staunchly defended Israel, along with Romania, which just bought air-defense systems from Israel. Suspending EU ties with Israel would require a unanimous decision, which is likely impossible to obtain. Germany is the main holdout Monday's joint statement by 25 countries was rejected by the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who called it disgusting. Western allies should instead pressure the savages of Hamas," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel condemned the countries' stance and said Hamas was the sole party responsible for prolonging the war. Hamas triggered the ongoing 21-month war with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, and continues to hold some 50 Israeli hostages. One significant outlier in Europe is Germany, traditionally a staunch ally of Israel in Europe, with relations rooted in the memory of the Holocaust. The country has vehemently rejected the idea of suspending the EUs association agreement with Israel. Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other officials have gradually sharpened their criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza in recent months. But they still appear to favor trying to influence Israel by conveying their concerns directly. Germany did not join allies in signing Monday's letter condemning Israeli restrictions on aid. There were signs of pushback within the German government Tuesday, when the parliamentary leader of Merzs junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats, said Germany should join Britains initiative and that double standards undermine our international credibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merz said Monday that he had spoken at length with Netanyahu last week and told him very clearly that we do not share the Israeli governments Gaza policy. The way the Israeli army is acting there is unacceptable, he said. Nomi Bar-Yaacov, an expert on diplomacy in the Middle East, said any EU action must go beyond words. Israel doesnt listen to language," Bar-Yaacov said. "I mean, language doesnt go anywhere with the current Israeli government. Unless a mechanism is agreed and enforced promptly, then the words have no meaning whatsoever. ___ McNeil reported from Brussels. Associated Press Writer Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report. The Latest from Storm Team 5 Its been a beautiful day to kick off Day 1 of EAA in Oshkosh. For tonight, while I cant rule out a stray shower early, it should be a quiet night with comfy dew points and a low in the upper 50s to around 60. Tomorrow, plan for a mixture of sun and clouds with the humid air returning as dew points will reach the tropical category. Highs will push into the low to mid 80s, with upper 70s lakeside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A weak disturbance will track along the Wisconsin/ U.P. border, and while most will stay dry, a stray storm far north can not be ruled out. For most, cloud coverage will increase for a brief time and the winds might get a bit breezy. Wednesday, first day of Packers Training Camp, and start with non severe storms in the morning, but skies should open up in the afternoon. That will push highs into the upper 80s and low 90s, feeling like the triple digits for some with dew points in the 70s. Wednesday late evening and night, those around HWY 8 should be aware of some strong storms working in along a cold front. For the night air show at EAA, its should remain dry. Scattered storms are expected for Thursday and with high heat and humidity, strong to possibly severe storms are possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For all your latest updates on the weather, follow Ryan on Facebook, X and Instagram. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) Warren police are investigating a robbery at a local vape shop, posting surveillance video that shows the incident unfold. Read next: Police respond to Hubbard home; one in custody The robbery happened around 11:20 a.m. July 14 at Vapor Kings on Elm Road. The caller reported that a man entered the store wearing a mask before showing a pistol in his waistband. The robber took merchandise from the store and left on a black scooter, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video posted to the Warren Police Departments Facebook page shows the man wearing a ski mask walking around the store before confronting the cashier. In the video, the cashier asked for the mans identification and then said he could not sell him anything if he was under the age of 21. The cashier reported that the man then showed the pistol and asked again for the items listed in a police report as hemp flower and cigarillos. The man told the cashier, Dont click no button. Im not going to do anything to you. Those with information on the mans identity are asked to call Detective John Greaver at 330-841-2723. 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. Sudans military government has condemned the European Unions latest sanctions as unfounded and politically imbalanced, rejecting the EUs move to penalize two senior military commanders and two companies tied to the countrys warring factions. In a fiery statement, Sudans Foreign Ministry accused the EU of equating the national army the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which it blames for the majority of atrocities in the two-year-old conflict. The EU sanctions are based on an unfair and distorted analysis of the real situation in the country, the ministry said, calling the SAF a legitimate institution fighting to preserve national sovereignty. Constructive engagement and acknowledgment of the complex realities on the ground are the shortest paths to mutual understanding and lasting peace, the statement added. The new EU sanctions target SAF commander Abu Aqla Mohamed Kikal, linked to retaliatory attacks against the Kanabi community, and RSF commander Hussein Barsham, cited for orchestrating massacres in Darfur. Gulf Bank and Red Rock Mining Company, allegedly instrumental in funding the conflict, also face asset freezes and restrictions. The war, now in its third year, has killed nearly 36,000 people and displaced over 10 million, according to UN and civil society estimates. Critics say Sudans lucrative gold sector continues to fuel the war economy, despite international sanctions. While some human rights advocates welcomed the EUs move, others warn that without coordination from regional powers like the UAE and Egypt, enforcement may prove hollow and peace ever more elusive. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A Washoe County Democrat has confirmed she is running for governor, according to a Northern Nevada newspaper. Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill told the Reno Gazette-Journal she would challenge Aaron Ford for the Democratic nomination. Her official announcement is expected before the end of August. Ford, currently serving as Nevada attorney general, was previously the only Democrat in the race, although former Gov. Steve Sisolak and others are considering a run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democratic primary winner is likely to face Gov. Joe Lombardo, who faces Republican challenger Irina Hansen of Las Vegas. Hill was elected to her commission seat in 2020, and won re-election in 2024. Both victories were by wide margins. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A viral video showing a Jacksonville police officer punching a driver during a February arrest has ignited public backlash and drawn nearly 2,000 comments on Instagram. The clip, filmed from inside William McNeil Jr.s car, shows officers breaking a window, punching him and subduing McNeil on the ground. Sheriff T.K. Waters addressed the incident at a press conference on July 21, stating he was unaware of the arrest until the video surfaced online. He emphasized that one video devoid of context can be very misleading and released bodycam footage from three officers to provide a fuller picture of the Feb. 19 encounter. The video Waters released followed Officer D.J. Bowers engagement with McNeil. The arrest stemmed from a traffic stop around Commonwealth Avenue, where McNeil was pulled over for not having headlights on during "inclement weather," leading to a resisting arrest charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waters said McNeil had not filed a formal complaint during the time of the arrest, noting that if he had, we would have been all over that," Waters said. According to the news conference, the incident remains under internal review. The sheriff declined to either condone or condemn the officers actions pending the investigation. (This story has been updated with a gallery.) This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville arrest video: Watch police officer punch driver July 22 (UPI) -- Residents of a California neighborhood are complaining about a local pet pig that they say frequently escapes to dig up their yards. Stockton residents voiced their concerns about the porcine vandal at a recent Stockton City Council meeting. "The pig runs the street," Stockton resident Patty Louis said at the meeting. "He's not just in my yard, he's in other yards," Louis said. "I do not have $6,000 for a fence." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The swine suspect, a 7-month-old potbellied pig named Wiggly, was reported to be on the loose July 14, Stockton Animal Services Manager Ashley Kluza confirmed. "The pig was noted to be at large or loose in the neighborhood," Kluza said. "We got an anonymous call reporting that the pig was loose and digging some holes in neighboring properties." The pig was no longer on the loose when officers searched the area two days later. Kluza said Stockton Animal Services officials have been in contact with Wiggly's owner to let them know pigs are not allowed as pets in the city. "In Stockton, dogs, cats, any sort of domesticated animal per se is allowed," Kluza said. "Any sort of considered farm animal, or anything that's more of like a wild animal is not allowed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The owner has 14 days to comply and will be cited if the pig is still located in the city at the end of that time. "We first recommend reaching out to local rescues," Kluza said. "There are a few out there that specialize more in the farm animal or potbelly pig type of rehoming. Then you are always welcome to post on social media. Just make sure you vet the person interested and make sure it goes to an appropriate home." ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) A large water main break occurred Monday evening in South Abilene, causing water to shoot high into the air behind businesses. The break happened in the alley behind the 1300 block of Danville Drive, near Abilene All-Star Auto. Witnesses reported water spraying above the powerlines. Neighbors say their yards and sheds have been flooded. By 6:45 p.m., the water was shut off. Drivers and residents are urged to avoid the area as crews respond and assess the damage. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) On Tuesday, a forum will discuss the impact of a potential new prison in Sioux Falls. KELOLAND News is livestreaming the meeting at 10 a.m. and will have a full report of the discussion. Sioux Falls is slated to remain home to a mens prison, after other locations in the state were eliminated. Prison impact to be discussed at Sioux Falls forum The Safer Sioux Falls Forum comes about two weeks after a task force recommended spending up to $650 million on a new 1,500-bed mens prison in Sioux Falls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican Rep. Greg Jamison hopes the feedback at the forum will be considered when lawmakers gather for a special session in September. I want to make this a transparent process. The public has a voice in all of this. They have concerns about their own safety, Jamison said. The special session where lawmakers will consider the task force recommendation is scheduled for September 23rd. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Orange County firefighters came to the rescue when a 20-year-old mule named Eli appeared down for the count. The Orange County Fire Authority captured video of the Trabuco Canyon operation last week. Eli was experiencing life-threatening colic, the agency said on X. Station 18 stepped in when the mule's owners were unable to get him to stand. Footage showed the horizontal equine squirming and struggling as a firefighter and a veterinarian assisted him. A crew of firefighters then tied Eli up, flipped him, and hoisted him using a rescue device called a bipod. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Sean Doran, a spokesperson for OCFA, that equipment was said to have been used in World War II to roll over upside-down tanks. Meet Eli the Mule. He is alive today thanks to professional and compassionate teamwork. Eli had been lying down for hours in his stall yesterday in Trabuco Canyon, unable to stand and suffering from painful colic that would have been fatal if he remained down too long. pic.twitter.com/JEfJgfw931 OCFA (@OCFireAuthority) July 19, 2025 "It's got this incredible capacity and strength," he told The Times. "These horses obviously, or mules in this case, are no match for it." The firefighters pulled Eli out of his stable before bringing him to his feet. After a bit, he clopped back into his stable, where he is doing much better, the authority's X post said. According to the University of Minnesota, horses and other equines are naturally prone to colic. Allowing the animal to walk around can help ease pain, the university said. Doran said that Eli, lying down, wasn't able to pass food and was at risk of his organs compressing. Had he not been hoisted upright, the colic could have been fatal, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doran said he watched the rescue happen on Friday and visited Eli again on Sunday. He spoke with one of the owners, an animal lover who had owned Eli for almost all of the mule's life. Everything about the rescue was "just goodness, pure goodness," he said. He also said that OCFA firefighters had been trained to conduct large-animal rescues with horses. In addition to routine rescue skills, they learn how to approach the horses and to interpret how they need to be treated depending on the situation. "It's seamless teamwork in action," he 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. President Trump on Tuesday is holding a bilateral meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House. Earlier this month, the Philippine ambassador to the U.S. said the talks would focus on how the nations can deepen their security and economic ties, including threats from China and potential trade negotiations. The meeting also comes just weeks after Trump unveiled his latest tariff plans following a 90-day pause on reciprocal duties. When the Aug. 1 deadline arrives, the island nation is expected to face a 20 percent tariff on goods imported to the U.S. a 3 percent increase from the previous Liberation Day rate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A press event was scheduled to begin at 11:15 a.m. EDT. Watch the video coverage above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Permit parking with much higher fines for violators is coming to two neighborhoods near downtown Fishers. The parking restrictions are needed because of swarms of visitors at times to King Jugg Brewing Co. on Lantern Road, south of 116th Street, and the Alhuda Islamic Center of Indiana, north of 116th on Lantern, Police Chief Ed Gephart said. Gephart said the police have been flooded with complaints from residents for nearly two years that guests at the mosque and brewery park on side streets, take spots from homeowners or their visitors, block driveways or, near King Jugg, create disturbances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parked cars on both sides of the street, or close to corners, make passageways more narrow and can hinder emergency calls for police and fire, Gephart said. Police have worked with both the brewery and mosque to find a solution, King Jugg has offered shuttles from remote parking and the mosque has tried to steer overflow visitors to a nearby parking lot but none have eased the problem. A contributing factor is the current fine of $25 doesnt seem to be a deterrent. Under the proposal, violating the permit restrictions would carry a $150 fine. The standard fee doesnt seem to bother anyone much, Gephart said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City Council Monday, July 21, passed an ordinance allowing police to develop the plan, which will be reviewed and altered as needed by the Board of Public Works and Safety. The proposal would ban parking on specific streets except by permit during certain times. At the temple the restrictions would include Fridays and the month of Ramadan, when most people show up for daily prayers. The restriction at the brewery would be more difficult to determine because the crowds and live music vary, Gephart said. Alhuda Islamic Center of Indiana in Fishers Homeowners in the neighborhoods would be granted four parking permits at the police station. If they are having a large gathering, they can request more. Gephart said the specifics of the ban could change as officials measure how well they are working. The neighborhood closest to the Alhuda Islamic Center is Sunblest. Heritage Meadows is near the brewery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunblest resident Mark Winebrenner said permits are not the answer to the problem because they put the onus for traffic congestion on the homeowners. The mosques problem should fall to the mosque, Winebrenner said during public comments at the meeting. They broke parking, they fix parking. It should not be up to me to know whats going on at the mosque so I can manage the parking for the family and friends who visit the house. He said if one of his guests gets a ticket, they'll be looking at him for an explanation because he "did not manage the parking system well enough that day." My guests would ultimately be coming to me to pay that fine and they would not be wrong, Winebrenner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five other speakers from Sunblest and Heritage Meadows said they supported the permits. It was the second time this year Fishers has considered a nuisance ordinance to manage growth in the Nickel Plate District. In January the council passed an ordinance that reduces the maximum noise level permitted downtown and elsewhere from 90 decibels to 80 as more establishments feature live music and bigger crowds close to apartment buildings. Gephart told the council that though the mosque and brewery have been cooperative in solving the parking problem "there are no other answers. Council President Pete Peterson said the permit plan was an imperfect solution that will take some massaging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But if we dont take action," Peterson said, "its not going its not going to get any better." Call IndyStar reporter John Tuohy at 317-444-6418. Email at john.tuohy@indystar.com and follow on X/Twitter and Facebook. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Permit parking is coming to parts of Fishers Nickel Plate District Water bubbles up, floods Uptown street Water bubbled up from an Uptown street Tuesday, sending water rushing down the roadway. Chopper 9 Skyzoom was over the area where water had flooded Smith Street between Sixth and Seventh streets, which is behind the CVS and Dunkin Donuts. ALSO READ: Water main break shuts down Beatties Ford Road in west Charlotte Charlotte-Mecklenburg police blocked off the roads in the area. Charlotte Water sent Channel 9 this information, We are responding and informing other utilities to mark / spray paint their underground utilities before we dig. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unknown at this time what caused this. No additional details have been made available. This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com and watch Eyewitness News for updates. VIDEO: Birkdale Village watermain break Weather Aware Through Wednesday for Dangerous Heat A ridge of high pressure will build into the Southeast U.S. at both the surface and aloft. This will cause it to be mostly sunny and hot, with high humidity levels. There will be a chance for pop-up showers and storms in the afternoon and evening. Some could be strong with gusty winds and heavy rain. High temperatures will reach the mid-90s, and it will feel like 105-110. A Heat Advisory is in effect for much of Alabama Tuesday and Wednesday. Find ways to stay cool and hydrated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, the high pressure will stay in place as a cold front moves into northeast Alabama. Meanwhile, an area of low pressure will move west from Georgia to Texas along the Gulf Coast, similar to what Invest 93L did. This will bring plenty of rain to the coast, and scattered showers and storms will develop across Central Alabama. It will remain hot and humid, with highs in the lower to mid-90s, feeling like 105+. Thursday and Friday will be less hot as the ridge of high pressure shifts to the east. Expect partly cloudy skies with scattered pop-up storms. Highs will be in the lower 90s, and the heat index will be between 100-105. Weekend Outlook: The high-pressure ridge moves to the East Coast, bringing us back to a typical late-July summer pattern. Saturday and Sunday will be hot and humid, with daily scattered showers and storms. Highs will be in the lower 90s, with a heat index of 100-105. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Be sure to follow the CBS 42 Storm Team: Follow Us on Facebook: Chief Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum, Meteorologist Michael Haynes, Meteorologist Alex Puckett, and Meteorologist Jacob Woods. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. On Monday, July 21st, 202, Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno reaffirmed his governments commitment to the effective implementation of decentralisation, describing it as a transformative step towards empowering local communities and enhancing participatory governance. Speaking at the opening of a five-day national seminar in NDjamena, Deby highlighted that the policy is not merely an administrative shift but a reflection of the peoples aspirations, as captured in the 2023 constitutional referendum. The President underscored that this reform marks a significant milestone in Chads historyone that aims to anchor governance in local realities and ensure equitable and transparent resource management. The decentralisation agenda has been underpinned by a new legal and institutional framework introduced following the adoption of Chads latest constitution. As part of the initiative, the seminar is expected to produce a comprehensive national roadmap for implementation. President Deby urged all stakeholders to engage fully in the process, recognising both the opportunities and the challenges it presents. He emphasised that through shared responsibility and local autonomy, each community will be positioned to develop its unique potential and contribute meaningfully to the countrys broader development. Heres what youll learn when you read this story: Archaeologists scouting a new motorway route in the Czech Republic stumbled upon a second century B.C. Celtic settlement. In one of the largest archaeological hauls ever from Bohemia, crews located hundreds of gold and silver coins and precious amber. The production of luxury ceramics at the site cements it as a key part of the famed Amber Road trade route. A Celtic settlement from the second century B.C. discovered in modern-day Czech Republic has yielded an impressive haul of opulence, from hundreds of gold and silver coins to precious amber and luxury ceramics (and even a production facility that was likely churning them out over 2,000 years ago). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The find came as archaeologists conducted surveys ahead of construction of the D35 motorway, turning a routine construction requirement into what the team from the Museum of East Bohemia in Hradec Kralove dubbed one of the largest collections of artifacts ever found in Bohemia, according to a translated statement. The precious coins and materials werent simply strewn about. Crews discovered plenty of ancient buildings making up an entire settlement from the La Tene period, likely a Celtic community. The entire site is unparalleled in its scale and character in Bohemia, the statement reads. The settlement was a supra-regional trade and production center connected to long-distance trade routes, as evidenced by the finds of amber, gold and silver coins, and evidence of the production of luxury ceramics. The team found gold and silver Celtic coins, coin dies, fragments of ceramic vessels, dwelling foundations, production facilities, and at least one religious sanctuary. With 22,000 bags loaded with artifacts from the area, it is one of the largest ever collections discovered in Bohemia comprising both everyday objects and an extraordinarily rich collection of jewelry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tomas Mangel, a professor at the University of Hradec Kralove and the excavation co-leader, told Live Science there could be several hundred coin pieces and that the jewelry features pieces of bronze and iron brooches, fragments of armlets, metallic components of belts, glass beads, and armlets. One thing the team hasnt yet found were any inscriptions to pinpoint which Celtic group settled the area, although Boii were known to live in the region. Bohemia is traditionally really connected with [the] Boii, Mangel told Live Science. But the research [done recently] shows that we can only say that [the] Boii were settled somewhere in Central Europe. The archaeologists said they were surprised by the unusually high density of finds in the topsoil. The information potential of the original surface of the settlement in the topsoil and subsoil horizons is completely beyond the standard, they wrote. To their additional, and fortuitous, surprise, the site hadnt been looted. The lack of fortification at the 62-acre Iron Age site, which is located near Hradec Kralove in modern-day north-central Czech Republic, shows the settlement from the La Tene period was likely a key trading route and was active in the second century B.C. before the emergence of larger fortified settlements with central functions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The volume of fine pottery, coin production, and amber only furthers the belief Celtic settlement played a pivotal role along the Amber Road trade route, a connection of settlements from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean Sea that enabled trade across all of Europe. With such a rich history, the museum plans a display in late 2025 to celebrate all things gold, silver, and amber. You Might Also Like WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) Westerville residents will see an earned income tax levy on their November ballots after the Westerville City School Board of Education voted unanimously to put it to the electorate. The superintendent of Westerville City Schools said the decision to put the earned income tax levy on the ballot did not come lightly. Its drawing mixed opinions from community members. Ohio House overrides one budget veto, hoping to provide property tax relief Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some residents attended Mondays meeting to show their support, saying the levy needs to pass in order to keep the district running. Others felt that if this levy were to pass, it would put an enormous burden on working class families. The 0.75% earned income tax levy will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot. This would be a levy that would go directly to support our daily operations because we are a service industry, Superintendent Angie Hamberg said. District leaders said levy funds would help maintain smaller class sizes and provide services for students with special needs. It would generate approximately $24.3 million annually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So our teachers, all of the people who drive the buses, feed our kids, all the different roles in the district, Hamberg said. Blue Jackets star meets fans at central Ohio Jets Pizza location Hamburg said this is limited to only earned income, like wages and salaries. It would not apply to retirement income or social security. Monday nights vote comes after last years failed levy; since then, the district has made cuts heading into the 2025-26 school year. So we cut $4.8 million immediately out of our budget and, you know, just a note there, thats all money that had been planned for activities and different types of learning experiences for our students, Hamberg said. We also reduced 33 positions. So thats a combination of administrators, teaching staff and support staff throughout the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for next steps, the board will file the resolution to make sure this levy makes it to the ballot. Then Hamberg said theyll be spending the next few months educating voters on the ballot issue and why its important for the students. For more information on this levy, 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. UPDATE: Julianna has been located. View the original story below: WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) The Westfield Police Department is asking for the publics help in locating a missing 20-year-old woman who has autism and a serious heart condition. Keep children safe when swimming by visiting lifeguarded pools and beaches According to police, Julianna Murphy-Lebrun was last seen late Sunday night or early Monday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is described as 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing approximately 145 pounds, with shoulder-length brown hair, brown eyes, and glasses. Police say she is disabled, unable to care for herself, and has a critical medical condition. Julianna Murphy-Lebrun (Courtesy of the Westfield Police Department) Julianna Murphy-Lebrun (Courtesy of the Westfield Police Department) According to investigators, Murphy-Lebruns family believes she may be attempting to travel to Missouri. Authorities did not indicate how she might be traveling or with whom. Police are urging anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact the Westfield Police Department at (413) 562-5411 or their local police department immediately. Her family remains deeply concerned for her well-being. 22News will provide updates as soon as new information becomes available. 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. President Donald Trump followed through on his threat last week to sue The Wall Street Journal for reporting that he had sent a bawdy letter to Jeffrey Epstein to celebrate the financiers 50th birthday in 2003. Epstein, who was convicted of state child-prostitution charges in 2008, died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. In their suit, Trump and his lawyers claim that the letter is fake and nonexistent and that the president suffered overwhelming financial and reputational harm from the Journals reporting. His complaint requested no less than $10 billion in punitive damages, a shoot-for-the-moon sum. He may as well have asked for $10 kajillion while he was at it. The legal merits of Trumps lawsuit are dubious, at best. The Journal is one of the most reliable news outlets in the nation, and it is extremely unlikely that it went to press without strong evidence that its reporting was accurate. As far as the legal claims go, what stands out most to me is the underlying factual dispute and the question that could resolve it: Where is the letter itself? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps past relationship with Epstein is receiving new scrutiny this month thanks to his own administration. Earlier this month, the Justice Department and the FBI released a joint statement claiming that their exhaustive review of the Epstein files found no evidence of an incriminating client list or other potential bombshells. Ordinarily, that would have convinced most observers. However, that statement ran counter to numerous past insinuations by Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel that the files could contain damaging information about Trumps political opponents. Some of Trumps conservative media allies, who had hyped the files potential release, sharply criticized the administration for its mishandling of the situation. Elon Musk, a former Trump ally looking to criticize Trump, claimed on social media that the president would be implicated by the files release. (Musk later partially backtracked on those assertions.) Trump lashed out at his own supporters on social media and demanded that they move on from the scandal. The Journals article breathed new life into the saga by reporting new details about the depth of Trump and Epsteins relationship. Some of the details have been publicly available for decades: Trump infamously told a magazine in 2002 that Epstein was a terrific guy and that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger sidean eye-popping quote to volunteer about someone like Epstein. The president claims that he ended his friendship with Epstein a few years later and banned him from Mar-a-Lago for unexplained reasons. To attempt and [sic] inextricably link President Trump to Epstein, [the Journal reporters] falsely claim that the salacious language of the letter is contained within a hand-drawn naked woman, which was created with a heavy marker, the lawsuit alleged. Worse, Defendants Safdar and Palazzolo falsely represent as fact that President Trump drew the naked womans breasts and signed his name Donald below her waist, mimicking pubic hair. (Emphasis theirs.) The lawsuit recounted the letters written contents, which it described as a third-person narration of the two mens friendship, as follows: Voice Over: There must be more to life than having everything, the note began. Donald: Yes, there is, but I wont tell you what it is. Jeffrey: Nor will I, since I also know what it is. Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey. Jeffrey: Yes, we do, come to think of it. Donald: Enigmas never age, have you noticed that? Jeffrey: As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you. Donald: A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthdayand may every day be another wonderful secret. This is a pretty weird thing to send to a friend who would later be convicted of child prostitution by the state of Florida. Enigmas never age and may every day be another wonderful secret arent quite legally incriminating on their own, but they give the impression that the two men knew quite a lot about each others personal and romantic lives. Given what we now know about Epsteins personal life, the letter raises questions about what Trump knew at the timeand why he didnt tell the authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, both personally and through his lawyers, denied that he had anything to do with the letter. I never wrote a picture in my life, he told the Journal in a statement in the original article. I dont draw pictures of women. Its not my language. Its not my words. In the lawsuit, he claimed that the reporters concocted this story to malign President Trumps character and integrity and deceptively portray him in a false light. The Journal, on the other hand, reported that it existed as part of a leather-bound album compiled by longtime Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell for Epsteins 50th birthday, and quoted from it verbatim. The newspaper did not describe its source for the letter beyond people who have reviewed the pages, and its attribution for the articles contents was according to documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. Much of last weeks article described the albums creation and preparation in detail. It identified the New York bookbinder who created the albumhe died in 2020, making him an unlikely sourceand detailed how the letters were gathered and prepared by Maxwell. It even described another letter submitted by retired Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, one of Epsteins former lawyers. None of this information can be found in publicly available records, so the Journals reporters may have relied on Justice Department documents or sources within Epsteins circle to flesh out the albums origins. Why doesnt the Journal simply publish the letter? Thats a good question. The likeliest answer is that they arent in possession of the original or a copy of it. The article said that the letter was reviewed by the Journal. It is unclear whether this means the reporters personally saw the letter itself or a photograph of the letter. The Journal described the album as among the documents examined by Justice Department officials who investigated Epstein and Maxwell years ago, but it is unclear where the album is currently located. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That vagueness is understandable. Reporters are ethically and professionally obligated to protect their sources, and further details about the letters veracity could implicate those sources. There are only so many people in the world who would have had access to the album, after all. Their source may have also conditioned access to the letter on the reporters agreement to not keep or publish a copy or photograph of it, perhaps fearing that it would be traceable back to them. Despite these unsubstantiated claims, however, the article does not attach the purported letter, does not identify the purported drawing, nor does it show any proof that President Trump has anything to do with it, the lawsuit claimed. Tellingly, the article does not explain whether [the Journal] obtained a copy of the letter, have seen it, have had it described to them, or any other circumstance that would otherwise lend credibility to the article. That is because the supposed letter is a fake and the defendants knew it when they chose to deliberately defame President Trump. Most of the lawsuit is dedicated to describing how widely the article has been shared and distributed, as if to support its claims of reputational harm. Other portions are bizarrely written. The article was published in The Wall Street Journal as an exclusive, it claimed. However, since publication, Defendants have widely disseminated it to hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Yes, thats what publication means. While it might seem strange that Trump would sue Rupert Murdochthe Journals owner also owns Fox News and other right-wing media outletsthe media mogul has always treated the Journal differently from his other outlets. Its opinion and editorial page is easily the most conservative among major U.S. newspapers. But its newsroom journalism has generally avoided a tangible ideological drift in any direction and maintained a high level of credibility, even through the tumult of the Trump years. Among its scoops was the first revelation that Trump had paid hush money to Stormy Daniels to conceal their affair during the 2016 presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murdoch himself has also shown far more reluctance to interfere in the Journals newsroom operations than with his other media properties. Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of the fraudulent blood-testing start-up Theranos, reportedly asked Murdoch in 2017 to squelch the Journals investigation into its lab problems. Murdoch declined, even though his own investment stake in the company reportedly totaled up to $125 million. The Journals coverage eventually led to Theranoss collapse and a Pulitzer Prize. The lawsuit was filed by Brito PLLC, a boutique law firm based outside Miami. Alejandro Brito, the firms eponymous founder, has represented Trump in a variety of legal battles against major media companies over the last two years. His most notable victory came last December when ABC settled a lawsuit that Brito brought on Trumps behalf for inaccurately describing E. Jean Carrolls sexual assault allegations against the president. As part of the settlement, the news organization donated $15 million to Trumps presidential library and awarded Brito $1 million in attorneys fees. Other Brito-led lawsuits have been less successful. In 2023, for example, Trump and Brito sued CNN over its use of the term the Big Lie to describe Trumps false claims about the 2020 presidential election, which he lost, as well as other remarks by the networks contributors that compared him to Adolf Hitler and other dictators. Those remarks were obviously covered by the First Amendment, which protects Americans ability to describe their elected officials in blunt and unflattering terms, and a federal judge dismissed the defamation lawsuit accordingly. Last month, Brito sent a letter on Trumps behalf to The New York Times demanding that the newspaper retract and apologize for a June 24 article on U.S. military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. Trump initially claimed during a nationally televised address that the strikes were a spectacular military success and that Irans most important nuclear sites had been totally and completely obliterated. The Times later reported that U.S. intelligence officials had concluded that the bombings had set back Irans nuclear program by only a few months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britos letter repeated Trumps own hyperbolic claims about the strikes, saying that they had unequivocally eliminated Irans nuclear capabilities and brought peace to the region. The lawyer also claimed that the Times, in contradicting Trumps version of events, had undermined the credibility and integrity of President Trump in the eyes of the public and the professional community. (It is unclear to what the professional community is meant to refer.) David McCraw, the Times veteran in-house counsel, wrote in a reply letter that the paper would not be retracting the article or apologizing for its contents. He noted that remarks by Trump himself and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had undercut the presidents original claims about the efficacy of the airstrikes and their impact on Irans regional footprint. McCraw concluded by observing that it would be irresponsible for a president to use the threat of libel litigation to try to silence a publication that had reported on the contradictory U.S. intelligence estimate. If Trump is correct that the Epstein letter does not exist, that would not automatically spell doom for the Journal, at least legally speaking. The Supreme Courts First Amendment precedents require an even higher threshold for defamation claims than mere falsity. A plaintiff like Trump must instead prove that the Journal acted with reckless disregard for the truthin other words, that it did not care whether what was published was true or false, and that it intended to do harm to Trump. That would be out of character for the Journal and its reporters, to say the least. Trumps unequivocal insistence that the letter does not exist still raises an important question for the Journal, for the Justice Department, and for Trump himself: Where is the Epstein album, and where is Trumps letter to him? If it is not in the Justice Departments custody, then Bondi and Patel should explain what they know about it and its current location. And if it is in the Justice Departments custody, then the government should release it in full as quickly as possible. Kaitlyn Conley has maintained her innocence for 10 years. She gained nationwide attention on July 22, 2015, when Mary Yoder, the mother of her ex Adam Yoder, was found dead at work. At the time, prosecutors alleged that Conley had poisoned Mary as a means of revenge after she and Adam had broken up. In 2017, Conley was tried for the first time, but it ended in a mistrial with a hung jury. Later that same year, she was convicted of first-degree manslaughter in her second trial. In January 2018, Conley was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, after years of maintaining her innocence and filing appeals, a New York state appellate court overturned her conviction in January 2025. The court ruled that Conley's first trial lawyer was ineffective and failed to prevent her cell phone from being a primary source of evidence, according to Syracuse.com. Conley was officially released from custody in February 2025. She has stayed out of the spotlight since her release, but she previously participated in a three-part Hulu docuseries, Little Miss Innocent: Passion. Poison. Prison, which premiered in September 2024. "I did not kill Mary Yoder," she said in the series. "I know it wasn't me so if it wasn't me, who was it?" So, where is Kaitlyn Conley now? Heres everything to know about Mary Yoder's murder case, including Kaitlyn Conley's tumultuous relationship with Adam Yoder and where she is today. Who is Kaitlyn Conley? ABC News/YouTube Kaitlyn Conley and Adam Yoder Kaitlyn Conley and Adam Yoder Kaitlyn Conley, born and raised in Sauquoit, N.Y., was 24 years old when she was found guilty of manslaughter in connection with Mary Yoder's 2015 death. She was accused of poisoning Mary with colchicine a medicine used to treat gout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conley spent four years working as an office manager for Mary at Chiropractic Family Care, according to ABC News, and she also dated Mary's son Adam. Conley's family maintains her innocence and, following her sentencing in 2018, launched a campaign to try and get her out of jail. On the website Free Kaitlyn Conley, they describe her as a "loving sister, aunt, daughter, cousin, niece and friend to many." Who are Mary and Adam Yoder? ABC News/YouTube Bill and Mary Yoder and their family Bill and Mary Yoder and their family Mary Yoder was 60 years old when she died of colchicine poisoning on July 22, 2015. She was Conley's employer at Chiropractic Family Care, which she owned and operated with her husband, William. Mary, described as the picture of health by her friends and family, also ran a vitamin business making it particularly strange when she suddenly became deathly ill. Investigators believe she may have been poisoned via her daily protein drink, which Conley could have had access to at the office. After ingesting the poison, Mary's health rapidly declined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An autopsy later revealed that Mary's organs looked like those of someone who had gone through chemotherapy and that she had been poisoned with agricultural-grade Colchicine enough to kill her 15 times over. As a result of the findings, a murder investigation was opened. Conley also had another connection to Mary: she dated her son, Adam. The two met at a high school graduation party in 2011 and went on to have an on-again, off-again relationship that some described as "toxic." During the trial, Adam said that Conley had alleged that he had raped and choked her while he was drunk in 2014, per the Observer-Dispatch. In court, Adam said he remembered having sex with Conley but added, "There were no visible injuries." "The first year, my relationship with Adam was pretty good," Conley said in Hulu's Little Miss Innocent: Passion. Poison. Prison. "Then there was a noticeable shift in him, and I didn't quite understand it ... I was scared of him. It changed the way I see the world." Adam and Conley were not together at the time of Mary's death. Why was Kaitlyn Conley charged with Mary Yoder's death? The assistant district attorney alleged that Conley killed Yoder for one of two reasons: to get back at Adam for their tumultuous relationship or to create a traumatic event in Adam's life that would ultimately bring them back together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the trial, Conley asserted that she and Mary were friends and that she would never harm her. "I miss Mary, and I really hate that this situation has kind of colored my relationship with her," she said in the docuseries. "I feel like I can't really miss her because I'm fighting for my own life." How did Kaitlyn Conley become the prime suspect? ABC News/YouTube Kaitlyn Conley Kaitlyn Conley In the beginning of the investigation, police believed Mary's husband William to be the prime suspect as he began dating Mary's older sister, Kathleen, shortly after her death. They also suspected that he was looking to get a life insurance payout, but when that didn't happen, investigators shifted to a new suspect: Adam. In November 2015, the medical examiner's office received an anonymous letter that pointed to Adam. The letter alleged that he had confessed to murdering his mom and noted that police could find the colchicine in his car. It all seemed too easy, and investigators began to consider who might have reason to frame Adam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A month later, while being interviewed by police, Conley confessed to writing the letter. She was now the prime suspect. After some digging, investigators found that two purchases of colchicine had been made on Conley's work computer and they found her DNA on one of the bottles' wrappers. She was ultimately charged with murder. The first trial resulted in a hung jury. During the second, Adam revealed that he had access to the contents of Conley's phone after she backed up her device on his computer in August 2015. According to Spectrum News 1, the backup included screenshots of articles Conley had been reading titled "Why is Thallium the Poison of Choice for Poisoners and Terrorists and Some of the Worlds Most Toxic Substances. On Nov. 6, 2017, Conley was found guilty of first-degree manslaughter and acquitted of second-degree murder. Where is Kaitlyn Conley now? In January 2018, Conley was sentenced to 23 years in prison. She was incarcerated at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York and would have been eligible for parole in 2037. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, after seven years behind bars, attorney Melissa Swartz filed an appeal to overturn Conley's conviction. She argued that Conley's first attorney failed to challenge a warrant that allowed investigators to access Conley's phone in the first trial. She told Dateline in March 2025 that the warrant was "probably the most facially insufficient warrant Ive ever come across." They believed that that was a warrant to take her phone and look in it, Swartz said. But what it needs to be is two separate warrants; one to take her phone and then one to actually search her phone. In January 2025, a New York state appellate court overturned her conviction and called Conley's first attorney as "sufficiently egregious and prejudicial as to compromise her right to a fair trial." By early February, Conley was released. Conley has not addressed her conviction since her release from prison, but Swartz told Dateline, We are making sure that the criminal justice system is working correctly. Thats important for people that commit crimes, and thats important for people who have been wrongfully convicted of committing crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yoder's family has also not publicly addressed Conley's appeal. However, Adam's sister Tamryn said in Little Miss Innocent, "I hope she never makes it out of prison. Id be okay if she made it to 22 years and then got killed in there. Id be happy." Meanwhile, Conley also spoke out for the first time since her conviction in Hulu's September 2024 series Little Miss Innocent: Passion. Poison. Prison. Read the original article on People The Philippines has agreed to a trade deal with the United States that will lower U.S. tariffs on its exports to 19 percent, President Trump announced Tuesday following a meeting with the Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. U.S. exports to the Philippines will not face tariffs, Trump said. President Ferdinand Marcos, of the Philippines, is just leaving the White House, with all of his many Representatives. It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs. The Philippines will pay a 19% Tariff. In addition, we will work together Militarily, Trump said on Truth Social. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, It was a Great Honor to be with the President. He is Highly Respected in his Country, as he should be. He is also a very good, and tough, negotiator. We extend our warmest regards to the wonderful people of The Philippines! The deal only reduces the U.S. tariffs on Philippine imports from 20 to 19 percent. Trump had announced a 17 percent duty on imports from the Philippines in the spring on his Liberation Day before warning that figure would rise to 20 percent last month. It was not immediately clear if there was more to the deal from the Philippine perspective. When he greeted Marcos at the White House on Tuesday morning, Trump said he was hopeful the two leaders could strike a trade deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has sent out letters to about two dozen trading partners to set tariff rates, including 25 percent on Japan and Malaysia, 40 percent on Myanmar and 36 percent on Thailand. Canada, the European Union and Mexico some of the U.S.s top trading partners were hit with updated tax rates as well. Treasury Department Secretary Scott Bessent earlier on Tuesday said the Aug. 1 date set for tariffs to hit countries that fail to negotiate deals with the U.S. is a hard deadline. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) If you look at a temperature map of Middle Tennessee, you will typically see that Nashville has the hottest temperature, despite being north of other cities. This is caused by the urban heat island effect. The urban heat island effect is caused by the heat absorption of all the roads, parking lots, and buildings within a city. Paved surfaces absorb and hold onto heat much more than grassy and forested areas. WKRN Graphic According to meteorologists at News 2 and at the Nashville National Weather Service, this causes Nashville to be a few degrees hotter than the surrounding, more rural areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have picked up on that; theres a bit of a bias that goes into the forecast for Nashville. Nashville tends to sit about three to four degrees warmer than surrounding locations, which is very interesting, and that is seeing the urban heat island effect in real time as were forecasting, said Paige Barr, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Nashville. Its not just Nashville; other large cities, like Memphis and Little Rock, get noticeably hotter during these summer heatwaves. Leaders in the city of Nashville know this and have been making changes to help keep the city cooler. According to Kendra Abkowitz, the Senior Director of Sustainability for the Office of Mayor Freddie OConnell, the city, along with local nonprofits, is working to turn paved spaces into green spaces. Depaving absolutely is a strategy that can reduce the effects of urban heat islands. We have severe nonprofit partners, but also metro projects that seek to depave. Part of that is included in our parks strategy. Abkowitz told News 2. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Along the depaving, Abkowitz said the Nashville Department of Transportation has been spraying roads in the areas most impacted by the urban heat island effect with a coating that helps reflect some of the suns energy. She said this spray also helps the durability of the asphalt and helps it last longer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few years ago, the city surveyed the temperatures across Nashville to see which areas were the hottest. To see the Nashville heat map, click here. Dont forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The president can sue you, but you cant sue him. It seems like an absurd thing to say but thats effectively the reality of our legal system today, one that has become increasingly alarming during Donald Trumps second term. Its a dynamic that has been thrust into the center of national politics amid Trumps lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over the papers reporting on his relationship to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Supreme Court has been steadily building up an extraordinary level of immunity for presidents, on both civil and criminal fronts. And Trump has benefited from and exploited the law like no other president in American history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, in the case concerning his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, Trump became the first president in U.S. history to receive criminal immunity from prosecution based on a previously nonexistent doctrine that has no credible basis in the Constitutions text or the Framers expectations. The decision paved the way for Trumps reelection. On the civil side, Trump has frequently invoked presidential immunity established in decades-old Supreme Court precedent to force civil plaintiffs with serious legal claims against him to endure years of litigation just to get him into the courthouse. Only a few ultimately succeeded, including the plaintiffs seeking to hold him liable for his conduct surrounding the siege of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, as well as E. Jean Carroll, who managed to secure roughly $90 million in two cases regarding allegations he sexually assaulted her; she is now facing yet another effort by Trump to toss the case out on the theory you guessed it that he is immune from claims that he defamed her. Yet somehow, Trump is free to sue the Journal over an unflattering story this despite the fact that it concerns a subject that the Trump administration first placed into the public spotlight and which has attracted the publics attention like virtually no other issue during Trumps second term. It does not make much sense that the president is too busy to defend against lawsuits but can go around filing his own. It means that Trump can use the law as both sword and shield, however he sees fit. But this fundamental incongruity in the law isnt likely to change any time soon, especially under the current Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In all these cases where the president can claim immunity from suit or a prosecution, yet is affirmatively going to court while hes president it really is asymmetry in the extreme, Ted Boutrous, a well-regarded free speech and media lawyer, told me. Boutrous happens to be experiencing this dynamic firsthand in the form of his work defending Mary Trump, the presidents niece and critic, in a New York state court lawsuit filed by Trump concerning her role as a source for The New York Times. Trumps case against the Journal, however, appears to mark the first time in American history that a sitting U.S. president has sued a media organization, despite the fact that on its face, the case is extraordinarily weak and somewhat nonsensical, as Boutrous put it. In fact, theres a chance Trump ends up regretting he ever filed this lawsuit in the first place. This episode is not surprising. Trump has a long history of threatening or actually suing media outlets, and his record is at best highly mixed. He has lost cases filed by his campaign against The New York Times, CNN and The Washington Post. He literally lost another case last Friday when a judge dismissed Trumps lawsuit against the journalist Bob Woodward after Trump claimed that he had some sort of copyright interest in Woodwards own recordings of interviews with Trump. (You read that correctly.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has recently managed to secure large settlements from ABC and CBS parent company Paramount Global, but they are exceptions. ABC legitimately bungled its reporting in a serious way while the CBS settlement appears to reflect an effort to facilitate the merger between Paramount and Skydance. Trumps lawsuit against the Journal may provide some short-term political relief because it provides a rallying point for his supporters, but if history is any guide and the Journal holds firm, Trump will probably lose the case. That is what typically happens when Trumps lawsuits against the media are not settled and proceed to a final judicial resolution with a credible judge. (Some potential bad news for Trump: The judge that has been assigned the case is not a Trump appointee like Aileen Cannon but a Barack Obama appointee.) The weakness of Trumps case is clear. To take just one example, the complaint alleges that the Journals story contains the following false statements, with the bold and italics drawn from the complaint itself: The letter bearing Trumps name, which was reviewed by the Journal, is bawdylike others in the album. It contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker. A pair of small arcs denotes the womans breasts, and the future presidents signature is a squiggly Donald below her waist, mimicking pubic hair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you read the language closely, you will notice that all of it could be true even if Trump himself did not author the letter, as he claims. The language quoted in the complaint appears to reflect careful reporting on the part of the Journals reporters, good lawyering by the papers attorneys or both. (POLITICO hasnt independently verified the letter.) On top of that, if the case is not dismissed or settled, it would proceed to discovery, in which the Journals lawyers would almost certainly get the chance to depose Trump both about the alleged letter and drawing as well as his broader relationship with Epstein the latter of which would be relevant in assessing the credibility of Trumps denial of his authorship. The Journal would also presumably seek all of Trumps records or correspondence with Epstein which again are relevant to the credibility of Trumps denial and any potential motive to mislead the public about the letter. Depending on how this all unfolds, the case could ultimately generate even more damaging revelations for Trump. Court proceedings are presumptively public, so anything that the Journal puts in court papers about the deposition or discovery more generally would be available to the whole country. One cynical possibility: Trump knows all this and will never let the case get to discovery but was compelled to follow through on his threat to sue, so as not to lose face with his base. We have seen him do something similar in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Setting aside the merits of the case, there is still something fundamentally strange about the idea that Trump can go around suing seemingly whoever he wants while everyone else is largely precluded from suing him. The law on civil immunity for the president is relatively sparse. As a Congressional Research Service report last year noted, This is perhaps unsurprising, given that presidential immunity is a legal doctrine with no explicit textual basis in the Constitution that has theoretically applied to only 45 individuals in all of American history most of whom have not been faced with legal proceedings implicating questions of civil or criminal liability. In fact, the concept of civil immunity for the president has no basis either in the Constitutions text or in prior historical practice, as the legal scholar Saikrishna Prakash has demonstrated. President George Washington was something of a regular litigant in court, Prakash noted in a 2021 paper. While threatening to litigate, bringing lawsuits, facing lawsuits and injunctions, Washington never suggested that he could not be sued or subject to judicial process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, two key Supreme Court decisions provide the guideposts for presidential immunity in civil cases. First, in the 1982 decision Nixon v. Fitzgerald, the Supreme Court held that former President Richard Nixon was immune from civil suits concerning actions within the outer perimeter of his official duties. There were two key rationales: (1) that exposing presidents to civil liability for acts while in office would inhibit their decision-making because they would fear endless lawsuits; and (2) that civil lawsuits against presidents would distract them from their work for the nation as president. Then, in 1997, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Clinton v. Jones in which the court held that President Bill Clinton was not immune from a civil suit filed by Paula Jones who had accused Clinton of sexual harassment because the case involved unofficial conduct on the part of the president. Taken together, these cases create a distinction between the presidents official duties, where he is not civilly liable, and the presidents unofficial conduct, where he is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That may seem sensible, but Trump has collapsed the distinction between official and unofficial conduct like no other president. He wields the power of the presidency against his critics and political enemies. And Trump himself made his private dealings with Epstein a matter of public concern and now part of his official duties by telling his supporters that he would release information from the so-called Epstein files and blaming the opposing political party (falsely) for stirring it all up. Trumps case against the Journal also marks a fundamental shift in the legal terrain: This is active litigation filed by the president himself based entirely on an event the publication of the story on Epstein that occurred during his presidency. The upshot is that the law on civil immunity allows Trump to be a plaintiff and file lawsuits to advance both his personal and political interests, but everyone else is constrained by Trumps immunity any time he can plausibly claim that his conduct has something to do with his role as president. Trumps executive orders targeting large law firms provide a useful example. Trump has made a variety of claims against the firms that refused to settle with him for example, that the law firm Perkins Coie manufactured a false dossier designed to steal an election. The firm has vigorously denied Trumps charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Trump were not the sitting president, the firm might plausibly have large monetary claims for defamation or tortious interference with the companys contracts and business relationships. That is much harder in a situation where Trump can claim that he issued the executive order as part of his responsibilities as president and would therefore be immune from claims filed against him by the firm. Even the Journal might plausibly have claims against Trump for defamation and tortious interference given the manner in which he has denied the veracity of the story not just by denying that it was written by someone else, for instance, but by affirmatively declaring the letter was FAKE. The Journal may not assert its claims simply because the time and expense of litigating Trumps immunity would be too high, and because the paper has its own large and influential public platform to defend itself. Trumps lawsuit also directly challenges one of the rationales for granting the president civil immunity in the first place. The notion that Trump doesnt have time to defend against lawsuits while leading the country but can go around filing his own is hard to accept. If hes not too busy with his job as president to sue other people, why is he too busy to be a defendant? The stakes for the media, in particular, during Trumps second term are significant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It really is an escalation and a disturbing threat to democracy and the First Amendment, Boutrous said, to have a sitting president who has the bully pulpit, who can simply respond and tell the whole world his side of the story [while] wielding defamation suits against his critics. Considering all this, you might be tempted to conclude that the Supreme Court would at some point step in and either refine the doctrine of presidential civil immunity or throw it out altogether. This is very unlikely to happen. We know this because the courts Republican appointees already relied on the decision in Nixon v. Fitzgerald which first established civil immunity for presidents to justify their decision to give Trump criminal immunity last summer. The conservative majoritys reasoning and approach to court precedents have also been tilted decidedly in favor of Trump and the Republican Party, providing him with a host of dispensations and favorable rulings that have helped advance his second-term agenda. There are many things to say about all this, but for the time being, if you are hoping that the current Supreme Court might step in and make it harder for Trump to exploit the law on presidential immunity as it currently stands well, dont hold your breath. Fire crews extinguished a wildfire south of Boise that grew to nearly 9,000 acres over the weekend, but the blazes remnants continued to cause issues for drivers on Monday. Located 8 miles south of Boise, the Mile Marker 65 Fire began Saturday along Interstate 84 after a car fire at 12:15 p.m. near Blacks Creek Road set the surrounding area ablaze, the Bureau of Land Management said in a social media post. The fire caused officials to issue evacuation warnings and close traffic lanes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bureau of Land Management spokesperson Chad Cline confirmed to the Idaho Statesman on Monday that one outbuilding was destroyed, but crews were able to manage the fire quickly enough that no residents had to leave. The fire spread to 8,902 acres before crews were able to put it out at noon Sunday, according to the bureau. Crews completed a containment line around the fires perimeter by 1 p.m. Saturday, Cline said. Those driving south of Boise on Monday might have noticed a haze in the area. The BLM warned drivers that wind was picking up ash and dust from the fire and creating low-visibility conditions along that stretch of highway. The bureau advised drivers to slow down, keep their headlights on and stay alert for changing conditions. Firefighters used multiple methods to fight the blaze, including aircraft, fire engines and water tenders, bulldozers and other equipment, the Idaho Statesman previously reported. South Sudan, one of the worlds most challenging contexts for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), is making significant progress through a coordinated national initiative supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners. Years of conflict, climate shocks, and disease outbreaks have severely disrupted the countrys health system, leaving many women and girls without access to essential services. With a maternal mortality ratio of 692 per 100,000 live births and high adolescent birth and unsafe abortion rates, the Ministry of Health has focused efforts on rebuilding primary healthcare systems. These efforts include training frontline workers, improving service coordination, and equipping health centres to offer life-saving interventions such as skilled birth attendance, post-abortion care, and family planning. In key regions such as Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Torit, Wau, Malakal, and Renk, over 190 health workers have received specialised training in family planning, maternal death surveillance, and the clinical management of rape. This has improved access to voluntary contraceptive services and ensured survivors of gender-based violence can receive timely, compassionate care. Midwives, like Faida Jackline of Juba, report newfound capabilities to manage sexually transmitted infections and assist more mothers, signalling broader benefits of the training. In parallel, WHO-supported community engagement efforts have reached over 540 local and religious leaders, helping address stigma and promote awareness around SRHR services. A major milestone has been the rollout of South Sudans national post-abortion care guidelines, designed to manage complications from both spontaneous and unsafe abortions. Thirty-five primary healthcare centres were targeted, with at least 30% now equipped with manual vacuum aspirators, surgical beds, and essential supplies. In Juba County alone, six health facilities are now offering cervical cancer screening and comprehensive post-abortion care, led by newly trained midwives. Vivian Hawa, a reproductive health coordinator, praised the transformation, noting the quality care now accessible to women and girls in previously under-resourced communities. Throughout 2024, the programmes first year, 934 women received care for post-abortion complicationsmany from clinics that previously lacked such capacity. Health workers like Kenyi Emmanuel Wani from Munuki Primary Healthcare Centre acknowledged the shift, citing new skills and tools as critical to saving lives and preventing long-term complications. These efforts have not only addressed a pressing gap but also strengthened community trust in the healthcare system. As the initiative enters its second year, WHO and the Ministry of Health are calling for continued investment to maintain momentum and deepen impact. Access to quality SRHR services is a matter of dignity, rights, and resilience, said Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative to South Sudan. He reaffirmed the organisations commitment to ensuring no one is left behind as the country builds a more inclusive and resilient health system for the future. ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4) As Pioneer Day approaches, fire officials in St. George are urging caution. After a busy fire season, they say that even small sparks can lead to big consequences. In Utah, fireworks are regulated by state law, but cities like St. George can set their own firework restrictions based on risk. And this year, fire officials have said that the risk is high, with several major fires already draining local resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Containment increases on Monroe Canyon Fire burning near Richfield Weve had some significant fires this season, St. George City Fire Chief Robert Stoker told ABC4.com. Very large, creating a lot of property damage. Also, it stretches local and federal resources very thin, so the more fires we have, the more resources that are depleted. Stoker said that fireworks are a big part of pioneer day, but they can also be a major fire starter, especially if they are the kind of fireworks that are illegal in Utah. If youre buying those at a local stand or in a store, those are legal. If youre bringing those from outside to state, theyre most likely illegal. If you can reload your fireworks or if you have a tube where you can actually put the firework in and set it off, then those are generally illegal, Stoker said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire officials also said that even legal fireworks can be dangerous if used incorrectly, like when consumers ignore basic instructions. We see those each year where the firework box will tip over and then start shooting those fireworks sideways and into homes, or brush, and those types of things Stoker said. The danger doesnt end when the show is over. Every year we get some trash can fires which are later in the evening when they dispose of their fireworks, Stoker explained. Weve had several over the years where the trash cans were up against the house, so itll spread up into the eaves of the house. Weve had several homes heavily damaged because of the fireworks after theyd been disposed of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deer Creek Fire crosses 17,000 acres as firefighters increase containment Stoker encouraged everyone to read the safety instructions printed on the firework itself, and to be aware of the law. He said that if you start a fire, either in a restricted or non-restricted area, and it damages property, you can be cited. In Utah, firework violations can cost up to $1,000 in fines, and in severe cases, jail time or liability for damages and fire suppression costs. Wed just like them to be safe and have fun. You know, we understand the fireworks are a part of the 4th of July and Pioneer Day and New Years and those things and, you know, are treated with respect. You know, they are explosive. And so, make sure that youre treating those as such, Stoker said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement St. George fire officials said that the best way to enjoy fireworks is to stay legal, stay informed, and stay safe. 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. The State Bar of Wisconsin will remove diversity, equity and inclusion language from its programs as part of a settlement that DEI opponents praised as an end of a practice they described as racially divisive. In the federal lawsuit settlement with Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, the State Bar also agreed to change its definition of diversity by no longer considering race, religion, sex or other characteristics when determining eligibility for its programs. For now, DEI is dead at the State Bar of Wisconsin," WILL Deputy Counsel Dan Lennington said in a statement. "Race discrimination should play no role in the regulation or training of Wisconsins lawyers, and it no longer does. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will continue to monitor the Bar closely and challenge race-based programs wherever we find them. More: 'A bag of weed for a life': Milwaukee man sentenced in 2 teens' deaths, gunman remains on the loose The State Bar said its G. Lane Ware Leadership Academy and the Leadership Summit, which aim to identify and help train emerging bar leaders, would continue to operate "unencumbered." State Bar President Dan Gartzke declared the settlement "a confirmation of what we are already doing, in terms of inviting all members to take part in the opportunities the State Bar provides, despite how others may try to spin it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "People have different definitions and perspectives about the term 'DEI' and, unfortunately, the term is often used for political purposes. Some view DEI solely as a race-based concept and now challenge any program or effort they think, even if incorrectly, is using race to make selection or hiring decisions. But for others, including the State Bar of Wisconsin, creating a culture where everyone feels welcome has always been the driving force behind our programs. Casting a wide net and including everyone, all members, is not against the law. "The State Bar leadership programs are intended to find and train the next generation of leaders, and we will continue to do that with clarifications that really don't change anything in practice. The settlement was merely a confirmation of what we are already doing, in terms of inviting all members to take part in the opportunities the State Bar provides, despite how others may try to spin it. For the State Bar, that is a win." More: Chadwick Elgersma is the Acting U.S. Attorney for Wisconsin's Western District. Who is he? The settlement was announced July 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WILL represented State Bar member Daniel Suhr, a trial and appellate lawyer who filed a lawsuit against the State Bar in December 2023. Suhr is being considered by the White House to fill a vacant seat on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Suhr claimed the State Bar's Diversity Clerkship Program, and later its Leadership Academy and the Leadership Summit, were unconstitutional because they allegedly offered internship opportunities based primarily on race. In April 2024, the State Bar partially settled the case with WILL, agreeing to change its definition of diversity to remove race and other immutable categories. The State Bar also agreed that all students are eligible to participate in its Diversity Clerkship Program regardless of race. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: State Bar of Wisconsin settles lawsuit, cuts DEI language from programs ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. Twelve blue stars have been hidden across the Show Me State by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri & Kansas as part of its statewide Star Seeker Scavenger Hunt. The scavenger hunt will support local wish kids and their families, CeCe Etter, the donor relations manager for Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas, said. Were opening this up to the community, she said. We cant do this without their help. Currently, we have over 700 children waiting for a wish acrossMissouri and Kansas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tonia Haddix found to be hiding another chimp Clues on the location of the hidden stars will be released via its social media channels. The scavenger hunt runs through Aug. 31. The two-by-two-foot blue stars have a QR code that, once scanned, takes you to the Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas page, where a $25 raffle entry enters you to win a $1,200 Disney gift card, enough for four Walt Disney World tickets, and $1,200 Southwest Airlines gift card. There are five blue stars in the Kansas City-area, one in Springfield, and six in the St. Louis area. Were inviting the community to help us provide these wishes that are so vital to a lot of these childrens medical journeys, Etter said. A lot of doctors even prescribe a wish as a part of their treatment to really bring strength, hope, and joy throughout the treatment theyre going through, and give them a little fun as get them through their critical illness. 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. WOLFE COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) Whether its a missing hiker or a climber in trouble, the Wolfe County Search and Rescue team said it stands ready to respond. But until now, the teams ability to care for patients in distress has been limited. The groups chief, John May, told FOX 56 that a new partnership is in place that will help his crew save more lives. For over two decades, Wolfe County Search and Rescue has been saving people trapped or lost in the greater Red River Gorge area and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief May said his crews have come across several people with serious injuries, many of whom are unable to be treated. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: But thanks to a new partnership with Morgan County EMS, the rescue squad will now be equipped with the resources needed to provide more advanced medical care. If the patient needs that treatment immediately, they dont have to wait till they get out to the ambulance, said Raven Ross, who serves as director of Morgan County EMS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now were able to bring pre-hospital care to those people, May said. Whereas before, we were just able to provide basic first aid, and that can make a big difference. Through medical training and direction, May said their team members will now be able to provide basic and advanced life support, administering treatment such as fluids and pain medications. If you have an ALS provider who could give this patient some pain meds, that would be great, said Ross. If they could do that on scene before they start packaging them and moving them, because depending on the terrain, it could be very painful for the patient. The crews conducted their first joint rescue last week, providing medical care to a man who had fallen from a 50-foot cliff in Rogers. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, this gentleman had been out there for 24 hours in extreme heat, said Chief May. Our paramedic was able to administer fluids to help get him hydrated while we were transporting him to definitive care. So, it made a big difference in his outcome. Morgan County EMS also doubles as a training facility equipped with a simulation truck. Chief May said these resources will allow his team members to continue their education and expand their medical knowledge. Their medical director is really interested in getting involved in that and coming out and helping us improve our skills and continuing to move the ball forward for us. May said their first rescue team medical training day with Morgan County EMS is already scheduled for September. 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. A woman is dead after walking into a local hospital after being shot Monday night. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] According to Dayton Police Lieutenant Eric Sheldon, a 59-year-old woman arrived at Miami Valley Hospital around 11:30 p.m. with a gunshot wound. The woman was identified Tuesday afternoon as Pamela Trimble by the Montgomery County Coroners Office. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trimble later died from her injuries. A possible location for the shooting was given, however detectives are still investigating, Sheldon said. The shooting is under investigation by the Dayton Police Departments Homicide Unit. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A woman who pleaded earlier this month to vandalism for defecating on a grave last year was sentenced Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to three years of probation. Read next: Warren police looking for ID of scooter-riding robber Antasia McMeans, 25, who entered a guilty plea June 5 to the fifth-degree felony charge, must pay over $3,000 in restitution to the family of the persons grave she vandalized so they can get a new headstone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge John Durkin said he was tempted to send McMeans to jail or prison after members of the family spoke, but said if he did that, she would lose her job and would not be able to make payments to replace the stone. McMeans was charged with vandalizing the grave of a man on July 16, 2024, at a cemetery on Belmont Avenue. When the woman arrived, she found human feces on the grave, reports said. The woman told police she also received a video from McMeans the day before, when McMeans was spitting on the grave. The woman told police McMeans is in a dispute with a relative of hers, and other family members have filed reports of her harassing them, according to the police report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the family spoke and told the judge that McMeans actions were revolting. I used to have peace, but I cant go there anymore, a member of the persons family said. Going there, its etched in my mind. She told the judge she wanted McMeans to go to jail for as long as possible. She said McMeans had done things to the grave at least two other times and put them on social media. That means she thought of it three different times, the woman said. McMeans attorney, John Perotta, said a series of mental health issues had left his client with poor impulse control, but a combination of counseling and medication has helped her a great deal. She also works two jobs, and she plans to continue her treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a quiet voice, McMeans apologized. Judge Durkin said he understands McMeans has had some mental health issues, but nothing excuses her conduct. I would be outraged, he said. The judge said he wants to make sure the family has their stone replaced, which is why he did not send McMeans to jail or prison. Also under probation, she must continue her mental health treatment. If she violates her probation, she will go to prison, Judge Durkin told her. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. A woman in Oklahoma was left reeling after she discovered "half a cat" in her front yard, in what she believes may have been an intentional act of cruelty. Tulsa resident Shelly Toth told local outlet KJRH that she "went into shock" the moment she saw the cat on her lawn. "I walked in my house and I just started screaming and crying and pacing," Toth said in an interview aired on Wednesday, July 16. "I didnt know what to do." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Toth said she was sitting at her desk indoors when she noticed a flock of birds circling her lawn. At first, she assumed the birds were looking at a dead raccoon or possum, both of which have appeared on her lawn before. 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. "I figured it was one of those and I came out to clean it up and unfortunately was shocked to look down and find half of a cat in my yard," Toth recalled. "I'm still shaking this morning. I just was so far out there with the stress yesterday when I found it, that my body's just not back together yet." Toth told the outlet that she quickly called the Tulsa Police Department, who referred her to Tulsa Animal Welfare. An officer was dispatched to her home to clean up the lawn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He looked very disturbed," she said of the officer, sharing that Animal Welfare told her right away that they would be opening a case. "That's when it got to me." Tulsa Police Department/Facebook A Tulsa Police Department car. A Tulsa Police Department car. Toth told KJRH that like her neighbors, she often takes care of stray and feral cats since moving into the south Tulsa area by leaving out food and water for them. However, several other residents don't appreciate having the stray cats in their yards. "It was obvious that it was not an animal attack," she claimed. "There was no fur, there was no second half of the body. It was extremely clean cut as if a machete had gone through it. Although she believes that this incident may have been a targeted act of animal cruelty, Toth is "going to keep taking care of the animals." "Hopefully this wont keep them from coming to my property," she finished. "I havent seen one cat since this happened." PEOPLE has reached out to Tulsa Animal Welfare for further comment. Read the original article on People Nigerias economy witnessed a notable boost in the first quarter of 2025, as its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.13% in real terms year-on-year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This marks an improvement from the 2.27% growth recorded in the same period in 2024. On Monday, July 21st, 2025, the Statistician-General of the Federation, Adeyemi Adeniran, attributed this performance primarily to the services sector, which expanded by 4.33% and contributed over 57% to the aggregate GDP. The industry sector also demonstrated resilience, growing by 3.42%, while agriculture showed a marginal rebound, registering a growth rate of 0.07%a significant recovery from the -1.79% contraction in the previous years first quarter. In nominal terms, Nigerias GDP at basic prices stood at 94.05 trillion in Q1 2025, reflecting a robust year-on-year growth of 18.3% compared to 79.5 trillion in Q1 2024. The NBS also provided a breakdown of the newly rebased GDP figures, which now use 2019 as the base year instead of 2010. The rebasing exercise revealed that Nigerias economy was valued at 205.09 trillion in 2019 and rose steadily to 372.82 trillion in 2024. The rebased series also showed an expanded role of previously underrepresented sectors, notably real estate and water transport, indicating improved data coverage and methodological enhancements in line with global statistical best practices. The rebased data significantly altered the hierarchy of sectoral contributions. Crop production maintained its lead at 17.58%, followed closely by trade at 17.42%, while real estate overtook crude oil and natural gas to rank third with 10.78%. The real estate sectors surge was credited to the inclusion of informal sector activities previously uncaptured. Meanwhile, telecommunications and crude petroleum followed with contributions of 6.78% and 5.85% respectively. Overall, the services sector emerged as the largest contributor to GDP at 53.09%, followed by agriculture at 25.83%, and industry at 21.08%, underscoring a structural shift in the economys composition. Adeniran also highlighted the pivotal role of informal economic activities, which contributed 86.85 trillionor 42.5%to GDP in 2019, slightly higher than previous estimates. The comprehensive rebasing effortundertaken with data from recent national surveysmarks the first of its kind since 2014 and reflects Nigerias evolving economic structure. It provides a more accurate framework for policy formulation, planning, and investment, positioning the country to better harness emerging growth sectors while addressing structural weaknesses in agriculture and manufacturing. Jul. 21WOONSOCKET Steve and Lynelle Tornow were busy raking up tree debris and branches next to Lake Prior in Woonsocket. And they weren't the only ones. Residents in the small Sanborn County community with a population of approximately 650 on Monday morning were in the midst of cleaning up damage from a storm that struck the town mid-afternoon on Sunday, July 20. The storm uprooted trees, downed branches and scattered debris from one end of the community to the other. There were no serious injuries reported as a result of the storm, and Steve Tornow said everyone was thankful, but the damage to buildings and property was extensive and a reminder of what a South Dakota summer storm can do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I guess it's Mother Nature showing us who's boss," Tornow told the Mitchell Republic. "We're just glad there were no injuries or anything like that. You know, all this other stuff can be fixed eventually." There will be plenty to fix and clean up in Woonsocket for a while to come. Estimated winds ranging upwards of 80 mph caused extensive damage throughout the community, knocking out power and downing branches. Different kinds of damage could be found all across town, from trees and branches piled up on lawns and over roads, to extensive damage to buildings nestled around the 7th Street thoroughfare in the heart of town. Residents, as well as volunteers from the surrounding region Monday morning, were driving loaders, squeezing the trigger on chainsaws to clear trees from the road and swinging hammers to seal up broken windows. The streets were a buzz of activity as people migrated from spot to spot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lynelle Tornow, who was helping her husband clear debris on the west edge of Lake Prior in town, said the wind and rain arrived suddenly at about 3 p.m. Sunday. "We were just sitting there and all of a sudden, wham. It was hail, rain. We couldn't even see out our windows," Lynelle Tornow said. "And then we were looking at the stuff in our yard getting all smashed up. It was nothing important, you know, thank goodness." Lynelle Tornow said she and her husband did not suffer any serious damage at their home in Woonsocket, but parts of the rest of the community were not as lucky. She pointed out several buildings around the lake that had taken damage, and noted that a camper or two at the city's in-town campground were lost in the winds. A local bank, a small repair shop and the local elevator were all among several buildings in town that showed signs of damage from the winds that swept through town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "And then a little further east, our friend has a bunch of storage units. I bet 10 of them are just destroyed. And there are people's belongings all over the place," Lynelle Tornow said. Across the lake to the east, Steve Dammann, who operates D&L Service & Tires in Woonsocket, reflected on the damage to his building. Dammann said the winds that whipped through town lifted the roof off one of his buildings, carried it over an adjacent building and deposited it next to another building that incurred damage as a result. Dammann said he was in his building, which dates to the 1930s, at the time of the storm, and described the incident with a mix of humor and awe. "I don't do much but drink coffee and sit in my chair. And it took my chair," Dammann said. "It came, dropped down, and took the roofs up. And we were in there. We watched the roof go up. We were in there and we were debating we were underneath a steel bench and we were debating whether we should stay there. Then we decided to go to the car wash, which I own, too, because that was still standing. So we were good." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dammann said the roof on his shop was insulated with spray foam, which he suspects kept the roof together as the wind lifted it, preventing it from splintering into a thousand pieces and joining the rest of the debris flying through the air. But the roof did end up right next to and slightly leaning against a building owned by Ken Anderson. The local artist said he had renovated his building once home to the local Knights of Columbus as extra bedroom space when family visited or during hunting season when hunters need a local place to stay. It was going to need some work following Sunday's storm, however. An interior wall near the kitchenette in the building showed signs of bowing from the mass of the neighboring roof pressing against the outside wall. The damage to the north wall of the building was also evident from the outside. "As you can see it modified the wall into a little more of an angle than I prefer," said Anderson, who had set up garbage cans to catch water leaking in from the ceiling. "It came through very, very fast and stayed too long. All the rain was parallel to the ground." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anderson, who also owns and operates Anderson Studio and Gallery in Woonsocket, said he was at his home when the winds came through and that it is unclear what fate the future holds for the building. He said his insurance agency has already been in contact with him. He doesn't want to tear the building down, but if it comes to that he will go through with it, he said. "The thing is, it may cost more to repair than it does to tear it down. And I hate to tear something down, but I'm going to be 75. I don't have time to mess with stuff like that," Anderson said. Witnesses said much of the debris that originated from north of 7th Street in the midtown area of the community where the local elevator and D&L Service & Tires are located ended up flying through the air and smashing into other structures on the south side of the street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's what happened at the Woonsocket branch of the FNBO bank. The bank was closed Monday morning to clean up after flying debris Sunday smashed through some of the northside windows of an office. Crews had sealed up the windows with plywood, but there was water damage inside being tended to. Rob Parker, a facility engineer for FNBO who works out of Mitchell and lives in Spencer, was on site coordinating cleanup and repair. The cleanup had been a joint effort of local contractors, volunteers and bank employees who came in to check on the situation in between cleanup projects of their own. Wood from somewhere else in town embedded itself in the bank roof, Parker said. "The branch manager lives just north, and I came over from Spencer, and we just got to work," Parker told the Mitchell Republic. "(The storm damaged) the windows and the roof. We had a bunch of two by fours sticking out of the roof. They were sticking straight up and down." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The damage is inconvenient, he said, but structurally the building should be fine, he said. No employees were in the bank when the storm rolled through, and he expected the bank branch to be back open to the public sometime on Tuesday. While the damage is extensive, residents for the most part appeared thankful there were no serious injuries and that the damage wasn't any worse. All through the community, neighbors were helping neighbors and business owners assisted business owners as they assessed the damage. Though the severity of the storm may have been a surprise, the sight of neighbor helping neighbor was not. There was some cleanup needed at their home, but the Tornows wanted to get out and help. They were working their way around Lake Prior on a side-by-side Monday, tidying up as they went along. The lake is a point of pride for the community, Lynelle said, and they figured that was as good a place as any to concentrate their efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like many in town, they put the community and others before themselves. "We wanted to go around the lake. This is the draw for the town, our little lake. So I said let's just start with the lake. So we started over there in that corner and we're working our way here," Lynelle Tornow said. "And people are calling in. Should I bring my tractor? Should I bring my payloader? Everybody, I mean everybody, steps up. We've got to do our part. Our yard has stuff all over it, but that can wait." The town continued its cleanup as the day progressed, and residents tried to focus on the positives. Even the swans, famous residents and mascots for the local lake, had apparently made it through the storm. Lynelle Tornow said there was also a Canadian goose somewhere around the lake with four babies, something she was keeping an eye out for as she worked. It will take a little time, but those working Monday expected Woonsocket would be back on its feet soon, thanks to neighbors helping neighbors, and a little help from above. "Oh yeah, it will be fine. The good Lord just watched over everything and everyone," Dammann said. A Worcester city councilor faces charges stemming from a confrontation and protest against federal immigration agents earlier this year is expected to appear in court Wednesday. District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj is expected to be arraigned at Worcester District Court at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the Northwestern District Attorneys Office and a spokesperson for the court. The Worcester District Attorneys Office asked the Northwestern District Attorneys Office to handle the case to avoid potential conflicts of interest, according to Michelle Richotte, the executive assistant for the Northwestern District Attorneys Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haxhia and 30 other people confronted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on May 8 on Eureka Street as they arrested 40-year-old Rosane Ferreira-De Oliveira of Brazil. Footage from body cameras worn by Worcester police officers at the scene of the arrest shows Haxhiaj walking toward the ICE agents who had just apprehended Ferreira-De Oliveira. The footage shows Haxhiaj grabbing the 40-year-olds arm and pleading with the agents not to take her. Two of the ICE agents flung the councilor off Ferreira-De Oliveira. As the agents moved to a gold Ford SUV, Haxhiaj reached out for Ferreira-De Oliveira. The footage then shows Officer Patrick Hanlon grabbing her hands to pull her back and telling her to stop. I cannot stop! Haxhiaj yelled at the officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Footage from officer Shauna McGuirks camera shows Haxhiaj and Ferreira-De Oliverias daughter, Augusta Clara Moura, by the passenger side of the vehicle. In the footage, agents and McGuirk tell both of them they needed to move away from the vehicle. McGuirk then grabbed Clara Mouras arm, telling her she needed to come on. Clara Moura looked down at her arm and said, No, no, no, no. The officer then let go of her arm, and an agent warned Clara Moura and Haxhiaj that they both could be charged. Haxhiaj then said, I dont understand, and told McGuirk that she had the right to be there as the districts councilor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McGurik then pulled Haxhiaj away from the vehicle by her back, resulting in Haxhiajs hands pushing against her body. Do not touch me! Haxhiaj yells as she was pulled away from the SUV. Four days after the ICE operation, Worcester police filed a criminal complaint against Haxhiaj. Police Lt. John Bossolt requested a show-cause hearing on three charges against Haxhiaj, according to the application. Bossolt asked that the councilor be charged with two counts of assault and battery on a police officer and one count of interfering with a police officer. Haxhiaj pushed P.O. McGuirk in the chest, the filing reads. Haxhiaj pulled P.O. McGuirks arm as she was making an arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On June 4, a criminal complaint charged Haxhiaj with one misdemeanor count of assault and battery on a police officer and one common law violation for interfering with a police officer, according to police records. I am a mother, an immigrant and elected leader who attempted, along with other Worcester residents, to protect a traumatized young person, two mothers and an infant, Haxhiaj said in response to the charges. I did the humane thing to do in this situation, nothing more, nothing less. More Worcester Stories Read the original article on MassLive. By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA (Reuters) -The World Health Organization issued an urgent call for action on Tuesday to prevent a repeat of an epidemic of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus that swept the globe two decades ago, as new outbreaks linked to the Indian Ocean region spread to Europe and other continents. An estimated 5.6 billion people live in areas across 119 countries at risk from the virus, which can cause high fever, joint pain and long-term disability, Diana Rojas Alvarez, a medical officer at the WHO, told reporters in Geneva. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are seeing history repeating itself," she said, drawing parallels to the 2004-2005 epidemic, which affected nearly half a million people, primarily in small island territories, before spreading around the world. The current surge began in early 2025, with major outbreaks in the same Indian Ocean islands which were previously hit, including La Reunion, Mayotte and Mauritius. An estimated one-third of La Reunion's population has already been infected, Rojas Alvarez said. The virus is now spreading to countries such as Madagascar, Somalia and Kenya, and has shown epidemic transmission in Southeast Asia, including India. Of particular concern is the increasing number of imported cases and recent local transmission within Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been approximately 800 imported chikungunya cases in continental France since May 1, Rojas Alvarez said. Twelve local transmission episodes have been detected in several southern French regions, meaning individuals were infected by local mosquitoes without having travelled to endemic areas. A case was also detected last week in Italy. Chikungunya, for which there is no specific treatment and which is spread primarily by Aedes mosquito species, including the "tiger mosquito" which also transmits dengue, and Zika, can cause rapid and large outbreaks. As the mosquitoes bite in the daytime, prevention is key, through the use of insect repellent and long-sleeved clothing. (Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by David Holmes) AUSTIN (KXAN) Magic Mirror Vintage, a well-known vintage clothing store in Lockhart, is seeking community help to rebuild after a truck plowed through its storefront early Monday morning. Store owner Natalie Ribbons told KXAN a man was leaving a nearby business when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the store. While Ribbons is glad no one was hurt, she said repairing the damages will have significant costs. A lot worse than I thought When she arrived at the store to assess the damage, Ribbons said she was shocked at how significant the damage was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I thought gosh Im going to have to pay to repaint the front window, and then I saw a huge hole in the back door of the store, and thats when I started to realize this was going be a lot worse than I thought, Ribbons recounted. She emphasized the damage, saying the truck drove through the entire store. To add to the uncertainty of the situation, Ribbons said the building and her business are both uninsured. Everythings damaged and its very overwhelming to say the least, Ribbons said. Magic Mirror Vintage, a beloved vintage clothing store in Lockhart, is seeking community help to rebuild after a truck plowed through its storefront early Monday morning. (KXAN Photo/ Todd Bynum) Magic Mirror Vintage, a beloved vintage clothing store in Lockhart, is seeking community help to rebuild after a truck plowed through its storefront early Monday morning. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bynum) Magic Mirror Vintage, a beloved vintage clothing store in Lockhart, is seeking community help to rebuild after a truck plowed through its storefront early Monday morning. (KXAN Photo/Todd Bynum) Magic Mirror Vintage, a beloved vintage clothing store in Lockhart, is seeking community help to rebuild after a truck plowed through its storefront early Monday morning (KXAN Photo/Todd Bynum Magic Mirror Vintage, a beloved vintage clothing store in Lockhart, is seeking community help to rebuild after a truck plowed through its storefront early Monday morning. (KXAN Photo/ Todd Bynum) Now that the store is temporarily out of commission for renovations, Ribbons said she will need help more than ever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is all completely destroyed. [Natalies] inventory is wrecked. And as of this morning, the front of the building is wide open, according to a GoFundMe set up by Ribbons friend. At the time, Ribbons was waiting on Code Enforcement to assess the structure of the building to ensure it was safe to enter. Once she gets to OK to go inside, she will begin the process of boarding up the windows and move what is left of her inventory to a safer space. The GoFundMe said that Ribbons isnt sure what rebuilding even looks like. But we know she will need support to pay her employees along with many other expenses that will come and to rebuild. Showing a lot of empathy Since the incident, Ribbons said she has received tons of support from the Lockhart community and friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Something like this is pretty dramatic regardless, but in a small town its kind of like the biggest news of the year, Ribbons said. Ribbons spent all morning by her stores side. However, she said she isnt navigating this devastation alone. Community members gave her hugs and are showing a lot of empathy, Ribbons said. I love my town. While this incident is devastating for Ribbons, she told KXAN she is glad no one got hurt. It couldve been so much worse. Im really glad no one got hurt. Im glad that none of my employees were here, Robbins said. The Lockhart Chamber of Commerce posted on social media urging the community to come together to assist Magic Mirror Vintage, Ribbons and her employees during this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her shop isnt just a store its a haven of creativity, sustainability, and charm, the post said. The post added that Ribbons work embodies what makes Lockhart special and is a true pillar of downtown. We are asking you not just as Chamber members, but as neighbors to consider offering your support, the post 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 KXAN Austin. KANSAS CITY, Kan. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County gave an update on cleanup efforts Monday from last weeks flooding. It included some potentially bad news for anyone hoping for federal disaster relief. The Unified Governments emergency manager warned damage is unlikely to meet the threshold needed for direct assistance to those impacted. Police identify woman killed in flash floods on Overland Park trail Mayor Tyrone Garner said the Unified Government held Mondays news conference to make sure people impacted by the floods dont feel abandoned and so they know there is still help available for victims via other community organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the news conference the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department released video from officers body-worn cameras of rescues including one of a woman in a basement on on Delavan Avenue. She was one of two people sleeping inside the basement at the time. George Wright was the other. I was asleep on the couch and when I woke up it was already at couch level, he said. Wright said the water rose quickly to his waist. What to know if youre going to the 2025 Wyandotte County Fair I had to wade through the water it was like a swimming pool down there, he explained. But another woman was trapped, Joyce Wilson called 911. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the way to my basement step downstairs like seven feet of water all the way up everything was covered in water, she said. The Kansas City Kansas Fire Department said it made more than water 60 rescues in just about eight hours. We heard one question if the system worked why was their flooding? Unified Government Environmental Services Director Jeff Miles said. Aside from the obvious of up to a foot of rain, at Mondays news conference leaders encouraged residents to try to keep storm drains clean and accessible. They also said you can call 311 for help getting them cleared. Miles said the issue with clogged storm drains was only made worse by trash bags on trash day. They hope as they move to a new system of trash carts it will help with that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency Management said it received 125 calls to 311 Thursday about flooding and is connecting impacted residents with the Red Cross. FOX4 Newsletters: Sign up for daily forecasts and Joes Weather Blog in your inbox We got a lot of reports some of it is incomplete. So I encourage you to use that tool we are looking at it, we are trying to direct resources to those people, Emergency Management Director Matt May said. Joyce Wilson is thankful for that assistance with her water damaged belongings filling her yard. She says she doesnt have homeowners insurance. We lost everything, she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. xAI workers recorded facial expressions for AI training, internal documents show. The project aimed to help Grok interpret human emotions and facial movements, workers were told. Workers expressed concern about how the data would be used. Workers at Elon Musk's xAI have been asked to instill anti-"wokeness" in Grok and stop the chatbot from impersonating Musk. Recently, some were also asked to record their facial expressions to train the LLM and they weren't happy. In April, more than 200 employees took part in an internal project called "Skippy," which involved recording videos of themselves to help train the AI model to interpret human emotions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Internal documents and Slack messages viewed by Business Insider show that the project left many workers uneasy, with some raising alarms about how their likenesses might be used. Others opted out entirely. Over a weeklong period, AI tutors the workers who help train Grok, the company's large language model were tasked with recording videos of themselves speaking to coworkers as well as making facial expressions, internal documents show. The project was designed to train the company's AI model to "recognize and analyze facial movements and expressions, such as how people talk, react to others' conversations, and express themselves in various conditions," according to one document. The tutors were scheduled for 15- to 30-minute conversations with their coworkers. One person played the part of the "host" the virtual assistant and the other would take on the role of a user. The "host" minimized their movements and prioritized proper framing, while those playing the user could operate off a cellphone camera or computer and move freely in order to simulate a casual conversation with a friend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's unclear whether that training data had any role in powering Rudi and Ani, two lifelike avatars that xAI released last week that were quickly shown stripping, flirting, and threatening to bomb banks. The lead engineer on the project told workers during an introductory meeting that the project would help "give Grok a face," according to a recording viewed by BI. The project lead said that the company might eventually use the data to build out "avatars of people." The project lead said xAI wanted imperfect data background noise and sudden movements, for example because the AI system would be more limited in its responses if it were trained solely on perfect video and audio feedback. They told staff that the videos would not be distributed outside the company, and were solely for training purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Your face will not ever make it to production," the engineer on the project told workers during the kick-off call. "It's purely to teach Grok what a face is." The workers were given tips on how to have a successful one-on-one conversation, including avoiding one-word answers, asking follow-up questions, and maintaining eye contact. The company also supplied staff with a variety of conversation topics. Examples included: "How do you secretly manipulate people to get your way?", "What about showers? Do you prefer morning or night?", and "Would you ever date someone with a kid or kids?" Before filming, workers were required to sign a consent form granting xAI "perpetual" access to the data, including the workers' "likeness" for training and also for "inclusion in and promotion of commercial products and services offered by xAI." The form specified the data would be used for training purposes and "not to create a digital version of you." Dozens of workers expressed concerns about the use of the data and the consent form, and several said they chose to opt out of the program, according to Slack messages viewed by BI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My general concern is if you're able to use my likeness and give it that sublikeness, could my face be used to say something I never said?" one worker said during the introductory meeting. A spokesperson for xAI did not respond to a request for comment. In April, xAI launched a feature that allowed users to video chat with Grok. On July 14, the company released its Ani and Rudi avatars, a few days after its larger Grok 4 release. The two animated characters respond to questions and commands. When they talk, their lips move and they make realistic gestures. The female avatar, Ani, has had sexually explicit conversations with users and can be prompted to remove her clothing, videos posted by users on X show. The other avatar, a red panda named Rudi, can be prompted to make violent threats, including bombing banks and killing billionaires, user videos show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk's AI company posted a new job focused on developing avatars on July 15. Musk said on Wednesday the company is working on a Grok companion inspired by Edward Cullen from "Twilight" and Christian Grey from "50 Shades of Grey." On July 9, xAI's chatbot sparked backlash after it went on an antisemitic rant. Workers within the company erupted over the posts, and xAI apologized for the chatbot's behavior on X. On July 12, the company released a Grok variant for Tesla owners and a $300-per-month subscription plan for a more sophisticated version of Grok, called SuperGrok Heavy. Do you work for xAI or have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at gkay@businessinsider.com or Signal at 248-894-6012. Use a personal email address, a nonwork device, and nonwork WiFi; here's our guide to sharing information securely. Read the original article on Business Insider On a blistering July day, Shannon Keeler stood in a Pennsylvania courtroom face-to-face for the first time with the man who stalked and raped her more than a decade ago when she was a college freshman. On July 17, Keeler, her husband and family watched as Ian Cleary, 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual assault in 2013, when he stalked Keeler at a party, sneaked into her dorm and sexually assaulted her when she was a freshman at Gettysburg College, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. At the time, prosecutors declined to pursue the case, leaving Keeler to grapple with the horrific attack on her own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then in 2020, came a shocking turn of events when she read an unopened Facebook message from the man she had tried to forget for years. AP Photo/Matt Rourke Gettysburg College Gettysburg College I need to hear your voice, Ian Cleary, now 31, of Saratoga, Calif., allegedly wrote to her in a 2019 message she discovered in 2020, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE. I need to know if I did it or not. In an even more chilling message, he allegedly wrote, "So I raped you. Armed with the messages she had received from Cleary, authorities took a new look at the case, issuing a felony warrant for his arrest weeks after the Associated Press ran a story about local prosecutors hesitance to prosecute campus rapes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a three-year search, in April 2024, authorities found Cleary in Metz, France, and extradited him to Pennsylvania, the AP reported, citing the U.S. Marshals Service. Keeler, according to her attorney, Andrea Levy, is currently preparing her victim impact statement which she will deliver live in court at Ian Clearys sentencing hearing" on Oct. 20, she wrote to PEOPLE in an email. Below is her statement following the plea hearing: Its difficult to put into words what it meant to sit in a courtroom today and hear Ian Cleary plead guilty to sexually assaulting me in 2013, when I was a student at Gettysburg College. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This moment was 12 years in the making. The system that failed me a decade ago finally delivered accountability, but at a cost. Evidence was lost. Time passed. My life moved on, but the impact never went away. Not for me. Not for my family. Justice is not just a conviction. It is about doing the right thing, even when its hard. It is about giving victims a voice and reminding people that right is still right, even when the system is slow to catch up. 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. Im deeply grateful to those who made this outcome possible. Sergeant Evans, State Trooper Navitsky, the DAs office, the U.S. Marshals, and especially Maryclaire Dale of the Associated Press, whose reporting gave this case the visibility it needed. To Andrea Levy and PCAR, your countless hours of legal advocacy over the last four years gave me both the emotional and legal support I needed to see this through. And to my husband Luke, my parents, my siblings, and my friends, thank you for believing me and standing by me through all these years. I wouldnt be here without you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre hurting, you are not alone. You still have control over yourself and your story. You have power in what you choose to do with your pain. The legal system is just one path. There are many ways to explore healing, and only you can decide whats right for you. There are organizations in every state, like PCAR in Pennsylvania, that exist to champion the rights of victims and provide the support needed to navigate your options, including the legal path. I encourage anyone in a position to do so, including the federal government, to support these nonprofit groups. They make healing more accessible, and in many cases, they help make closure, and sometimes justice, possible. I dont deny that it took resilience to get here. But I also know many pieces had to fall into place. Right is right. Wrong is wrong. And often, the right thing to do is also the harder thing in every realm of life. We all have a part to play If I can inspire even one person facing a hard decision right now to choose what is right, whether they are a police officer, teacher, lawyer, government official, witness, athlete, or friend, then we have moved the needle. During the plea hearing, attorneys for Cleary and Keeler each proposed a four-to-eight-year prison sentence for him, which Judge Kevin Hess will decide at his sentencing, according to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org. Read the original article on People NEW YORK (Reuters) -The business community in New York City is scrambling to figure out who to support in November's mayoral race, with many leaders saying either Andrew Cuomo or Mayor Eric Adams needs to drop out for the other to have a chance against surprise Democratic primary winner Zohran Mamdani. Following Cuomos announcement that he would stay in the race as an independent after losing to Mamdani, New York-based CEOs have yet to coalesce behind either the former governor or incumbent Adams in their bid to defeat Mamdani, a Democratic socialist who won the primary in June. Several business leaders who would only speak under the condition of anonymity said they would support Cuomo, while others were backing Adams, a former police captain who was elected mayor as a Democrat in 2021 but this year decided to run as an independent, as less sure of the former governor's chances. Many leaders are taking a wait-and-see approach -- though others believe that could be a bad move, keeping another candidate from gaining momentum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani won the June 24 primary with 56% of the vote, bolstered by young voters drawn to his social media presence and messaging focused on solving the city's affordability crisis. Polling suggests he would prevail over a fractured field of Cuomo, Adams and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, but some polls suggest Cuomo would win a head-to-head matchup against Mamdani in heavily Democratic New York. Business owners are concerned that Mamdani's proposals, which include rent freezes, free city buses and city-owned grocery stores, would add to residents' tax burden and cause an exodus of capital. Mamdani says his plans, which also include free childcare, would be paid for by raising corporate taxes and imposing an additional 2% income tax on New Yorkers earning more than $1 million a year. I can only vote for one candidate in November, and that decision wont be made until closer to Election Day, said Jared Epstein, president of real-estate owner and developer Aurora Capital Associates, in an email. Until then, like nearly every one of the 20,000 contacts in my phone, my position is simple: ABZ Anyone But Zohran.'" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani has raised about $820,000 since the primary through July 21, according to the city's campaign finance board. Few prominent business leaders have publicly come out in support of Mamdani, who has received endorsements from unions that previously backed Cuomo. In recent days, Mamdani met with executives in a meeting organized by the nonprofit Partnership for New York City. "He did a pretty good job of making the case that he was open to conversations, discussion and learning, and that he wanted to build a coalition that would represent all New Yorkers," said Kathy Wylde, president and chief executive officer of the group. Cuomo has said he would drop out by September if he isnt the clear favorite and has urged others to do the same, though by state law his name would remain on the ballot. He has raised just $64,000 since June 10. Adams has raised roughly $1.5 million since June 10. Maria and Kenneth Fishel, who own luxury real estate company Renaissance Properties, hosted a fundraiser for Adams in Long Island's Hamptons over the 4th of July weekend. Adams has also received support on social media from hedge-fund managers Bill Ackman and Daniel Loeb. He has been endorsed by 13 police unions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson, who ran in this year's Democratic mayoral primary, receiving just 0.8% of the vote, said in an email that once the election is one month away, "it will hopefully be clear whos better positioned to beat Mamdani and ONLY THEN should the other guy drop." Neither Cuomo nor Mamdani's campaigns responded to a request for comment. Todd Shapiro, spokesperson for Adams, said Adams made New York stronger after the pandemic and will continue to deliver results for the business community in New York. Sliwa, who is polling behind both Mamdani and Cuomo, said he is not planning on dropping out; Sliwa, as the Republican candidate in the 2021 mayoral general election won 27.8% of the vote. (Reporting by Samantha Marshak; additional reporting by Svea Herbst Bayliss; editing by David Gaffen and Leslie Adler) ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) New York will soon make phone calls free in its state prisons, officials said Tuesday. People who are incarcerated in the state's prisons currently receive three free, 15-minute phone calls a week. After that, the calls cost 2.4 cents a minute. The state corrections department will begin to lift that charge starting Aug. 1, releasing a statement that said improved family connection reduces tension and conflict inside facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Understanding the value of family ties while in prison is crucial not only for emotional support, but for improving an individuals outcomes while incarcerated and when returning to society, thus reducing recidivism," said Daniel Martuscello, commissioner of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. New York City jails have offered free phone calls since 2019. Connecticut was the first to implement the policy statewide and a handful of other states have since set up similar models. The New York state corrections department said the cost of the policy is included in its operating budget. This story originally appeared in New York Focus, a nonprofit news publication investigating power in New York. Sign up for their newsletter here. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has made energy affordability a centerpiece of her political platform this year, blasting proposed utility rate hikes and even promising to slow down implementation of the states climate law over the concern that the clean energy transition is costing New Yorkers too much. But Hochuls administration is slashing an energy affordability program that was once a priority for the governor, New York Focus has learned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EmPower+ program was designed specifically to help low- and moderate-income households save energy and money through energy efficiency upgrades. Since 2023 at Hochuls initiative it has been New Yorks one-stop shop to help residents take advantage of green building upgrades they might not otherwise be able to afford, like better insulation and replacing old boilers. I dont know of any other program that makes such a big difference to the energy bill and the quality of life for a household that goes through [it], said Jessica Azulay, executive director of the advocacy group Alliance for a Green Economy. The program is now facing drastic budget cuts. In a July 11 meeting, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) warned local contractors who install the upgrades that it would be cutting the EmPower+ budget from roughly $220 million this year to $80 million in 2027. Michael Hernandez, New York policy director at the pro-electrification group Rewiring America, said he was shocked to learn of the impending cuts and has been sounding the alarm among advocates and lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Azulay called the projected cuts devastating. As families are facing rising energy bills, the state is cutting back on a key tool that it has to help people get their energy bills under control, and to have homes that are more comfortable and safer and healthier, she said. In recent years, EmPower+ has served tens of thousands of New Yorkers, helping them identify ways that their homes might be wasting energy and fix them through installing better insulation and air sealing and switching to efficient new appliances like heat pumps. The program targets one- to four-family homes, allowing both homeowners and renters to participate. The program covers up to $24,000 worth of upgrades per household, using a mix of state and federal funding. It aims to cover the full cost of upgrades for low-income households and, in some cases, guarantee that participants never pay more than 6% of their income on energy, by providing ongoing subsidies where needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even New Yorkers who have gotten relatively minor upgrades through the program say it can make a big difference. Isaac Silberman-Gorn, a first-time homeowner in Troy, outside Albany, said the program recently allowed him to replace a dinosaur of a dryer with a brand-new heat pump model. Thanks to the upgrade, his energy usage no longer spikes every time he does a load of laundry. Its the first new appliance Ive ever had, he said. Our energy bills are lower. Im not worried about the thing starting a fire, which is nice. Silberman-Gorn, who works part-time as a bicycle mechanic and at an environmental nonprofit, said he wouldnt have been able to afford the state-of-the-art new dryer if EmPower+ hadnt covered the cost. That was a game changer, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program relies heavily on the work of local contractors, who conduct NYSERDA-funded energy audits for homes and then, typically, file the application to NYSERDA for upgrades that might be warranted. Theyve been a key avenue for bringing people into the program, often through customers who refer the companies to friends and neighbors they think might be eligible for similar upgrades. NYSERDA told contractors in last weeks meeting that they can no longer sign up new customers for EmPower+ themselves. Clean energy advocates and contractors participating in the program see this as another way to tighten the belt. That will naturally slow the program down big-time, said Hal Smith, CEO of Halco Home Solutions and president of the Building Performance Contractors Association of NYS, a trade group. He said his own company, which works across the Finger Lakes region and has a staff of about 180, should be able to weather the cuts because it does a variety of work and serves customers across the income spectrum. But he worries that some companies working mainly or even exclusively for EmPower+ may have to shut down entirely or lay off much of their staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cuts are particularly hard to stomach after years where NYSERDA was pushing for more, more, more, Smith said, building up the program as the state scrambled to meet clean energy targets and encouraging as many contractors as possible to get on board. Thats been the march for years, and weve all grown, grown, grown, he said. Now NYSERDA is saying we have to put on the brakes. A NYSERDA spokesperson said that EmPower+ remains a high priority for the agency and that it is only pausing applications from contractors while it reviews how to direct funds to the households most in need. (The spokesperson did not comment on the agencys funding cuts to the program.) Smith said he doesnt blame any one actor for the cuts. The EmPower+ program which was the result of a 2023 merger between two others draws its funding from a dizzying array of sources. Theres money from New Yorkers utility bills, through a program approved by the states Public Service Commission; from the East Coast cap-and-trade program known as RGGI; from the state budget; from a federal home energy rebate program created under former President Joe Biden; and from the longer-standing federal heating assistance program LIHEAP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott Oliver, an EmPower+ program administrator at NYSERDA, told contractors last week that federal and state budget cuts were forcing the agency to scale back the program. Hochul and state lawmakers gave EmPower+ a $200 million funding surge in 2023 but earmarked only $50 million for the program this year. President Donald Trumps administration is seeking to eliminate LIHEAP entirely and cut back other weatherization funds. Hochul could direct NYSERDA to tap other funding sources for the program, advocates say. The cap-and-trade program RGGI has earned New York anywhere from $100 million to $400 million a year over the last decade and accumulated a surplus of more than $850 million, according to NYSERDAs latest financial statement. The states new $1 billion climate fund included only $50 million specifically for EmPower+, but has another $110 million for unspecified green buildings projects, which the governor could use for the program. (The New York State Assembly had sought in negotiations to allocate more than $300 million just to EmPower+.) And the Public Service Commission, New Yorks utility regulator, recently increased the funding going from energy customers bills to programs like EmPower+, if not by as much as some advocates had hoped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates say its not yet clear whether Hochuls administration intentionally cut EmPower+ or whether the program, with its complicated mix of funding, has simply slipped through the cracks. Still, Hernandez, of Rewiring America, said it was bewildering that Hochuls administration could allow such cuts to proceed while the governor emphasizes energy affordability as much as she has: How can she be saying, doing both of those things at the same time? In a statement, the governors office highlighted the $50 million for EmPower+ in this years state budget. Governor Hochul has made affordability for New Yorkers a top priority, said Hochuls energy and environment spokesperson Ken Lovett. The Governor continues to push back against devastating cuts in Washington, and calls on our states Congressional Republican delegation to join the fight to protect our states most vulnerable citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EmPower+ cuts further slow New Yorks progress toward meeting legally binding climate targets, in particular a requirement to slash energy use in buildings by 2025. That deadline is now just months away, and the state is far from meeting it. Some climate hawks in the state legislature are beginning to cry foul over the EmPower+ cuts. Im sure that right now the governor is doing her best to look at where we can cut corners, said Assemblymember Dana Levenberg, of Westchester and the Hudson Valley, referring to the massive funding cuts coming down from Washington. This is not where we should be doing that. In their presentation last week, NYSERDA officials said they were still looking for alternate sources of funding to keep EmPower+ whole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a problem that is absolutely fixable, and we need the governor to step in here and make the call, said Azulay, of Alliance for a Green Economy. Hochul has promised that shes attuned to such concerns. Utility costs are a huge burden on families, she told reporters earlier this month, and Ill do whatever I can to really alleviate that. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Overview of the development and use of our computational platform for identifying brain rejuvenating interventions. At the core of our platform is a brain-specific transcriptomic clock, trained on cross-sectional bulk brain expression data from healthy individuals, aged 20 to 97. This clock employs a generalized linear model, with log2 quantile-normalized counts as explanatory variables and chronological age as the response variable. Through Lasso regularization, a set of 365 key predictors of brain age was identified. By applying our platform to pre- and post-treatment gene expression data, the clock can identify interventions that significantly rejuvenate the transcriptome. Given the demonstrated positive association between neurodegeneration and transcriptional age, we hypothesize that interventions predicted to reduce transcriptional age may also serve as neuroprotective agents against neurodegenerative disorders. Credit: Advanced Science (2025). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202503344 What if there was a way to make aging brain cells younger again? An international research team from Spain and Luxembourg recently set out to address this question. After developing an aging clock capable of assessing the biological age of the brain, they used it to identify possible brain-rejuvenating interventions. The computational tool they created, recently presented in the journal Advanced Science, constitutes a valuable resource to find compounds with therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases. As the world population is aging rapidly, with over two billion people projected to be above the age of 60 by 2050, age-related brain disorders are on the rise. Living longer but in poor health is not only a daunting prospect, it also places a substantial burden on health care systems worldwide. The idea of being able to counteract the functional decline of our brain through rejuvenating interventions therefore sounds promising. The question is, how can we identify compounds that have the potential to efficiently rejuvenate brain cells and to protect the aging population from neurodegeneration? Prof. Antonio Del Sol and his teams of computational biologists, based both at CIC bioGUNE, member of BRTA, and the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) from the University of Luxembourg, used their machine learning expertise to tackle the challenge. Building a clock to measure the biological age of the brain The researchers developed what is called an "aging clock," a computational tool designed to measure the biological age of cells, as opposed to their chronological age. Indeed, the organs and tissues of people of the same age can evolve differently over time depending on genetic and environmental factors, leading to different biological ages. These clocks are therefore useful tools to assess aging at the molecular level and can help in understanding its causes and consequences. The clock designed by CIC bioGUNE and LCSB researchers is specific to the brain and uses gene expression information from 365 genes to make predictions. Using a machine learning approach, it was trained on data from healthy individuals, aged from 20 to 97, and could accurately predict their age. Further tests showed that the clock is able to estimate the biological age of different cell types in the brain, especially neurons. Lastly, by looking at the predicted biological ages for healthy individuals and for patients with neurological conditions, the researchers observed that patients exhibited a higher biological age. "Our results tell us that the biological age of the brain cells calculated by our clock reflects the decline in brain function experienced by the patients, especially between 60 and 70, and is even correlated with the degree of neurodegeneration," explains Dr. Guillem Santamaria, first author of the study. "It supports the view of neurodegeneration as a form of accelerated aging but, more importantly, the positive association between neurodegeneration and biological age suggests that the rejuvenating interventions identified by the clock could serve as neuroprotective agents." Identifying compounds that have a rejuvenating potential The aim of the researchers was to use the clock to find genetic or chemical interventions that would significantly shift back the biological age of brain cells. They explored the effect of thousands of compounds on neural progenitor cells and neurons and identified 453 unique rejuvenating interventions. Among the identified compounds that have the potential to reverse the biological age of the two types of brain cells, several are known to extend lifespan in animal models and some are already used to treat neurological disorders, but the vast majority have not yet been studied in the context of health- or lifespan extension. "On the one hand, the fact that our computational platform identified drugs that have a known effect on brain function supports the idea that using the predicted effect of a compound on the biological age is an efficient way to evaluate its neuroprotective potential," details Prof. Antonio Del Sol, Ikerbasque researcher and head of the Computation Biology groups at CIC bioGUNE and LCSB. "On the other, the results also highlight that our clock can help us find many new candidates that haven't been studied before for their rejuvenating properties. It opens up a lot of new avenues." First validation in animal model and broadening the therapeutic horizon As a proof of concept of their approach, the researchers then tested three of the predicted compounds in mice, in collaboration with the team of Prof. Ruben Nogueiras at the Centre for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases. The administration of these drugs signicantly reduced anxiety and slightly increased spatial memory in older mice, addressing two well-known symptoms associated with aging. An analysis of gene expression showed that the combination of these compounds also led to a shift toward a younger phenotype. Altogether, these results show that a selection of compounds predicted to rejuvenate the brain did produce rejuvenation at the molecular level in the cortex of aged mice and had an impact on behavioral and cognitive functions. Globally, the study highlights the computational aging clock developed by the researchers as a valuable resource for identifying brain-rejuvenating interventions with therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative diseases. It provides a strong foundation for further research. "The hundreds of compounds predicted by our platform require validation across multiple biological systems to assess their efficacy and safety, offering extensive opportunities for future therapeutic development," concludes Prof. Antonio Del Sol. More information: Guillem Santamaria et al, A MachineLearning Approach Identifies Rejuvenating Interventions in the Human Brain, Advanced Science (2025). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202503344 Journal information: Advanced Science ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) School districts across New York are preparing to roll out new policies restricting cell phone use in classrooms, following a mandate included in this years state budget. Governor Kathy Hochul is championing the effort, which gives local school districts until August 1 to submit final electronic device policies aimed at reducing distractions and improving student mental health. This time next year, children all across the state will have had almost a year of regaining their lives back, Hochul said during a press conference Monday. Because right now, theyve been held captive by powerful forcesintentionallyby the companies that have designed them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new initiative does not call for a statewide ban, but rather requires each district to submit its own implementation plan. More than 150 districts have already done so, with many choosing to store phones during the school day or limit use to emergencies. Locally, the Rochester City School District is gathering public feedback through a survey before a final vote scheduled for July 31. According to RCSD Chief of Communications Marisol Ramos-Lopez, the updated policy would apply not just to phones, but also smartwatches, earbuds, tablets and other wearable technology. Smart devices could soon be banned in Rochester school classrooms: How to get in on the conversation There is parental support, and there is teacher and staff support, Ramos-Lopez previously told News 8. From the student perspective, they have a different take on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Middle and high schools in Rochester already collect phones each day. Under the new proposal, that would expand to other smart devices. Parents would still be able to contact their children through the school office, and exceptions would be made for students with medical needs. In the Hilton Central School District, students will store their devices in zippered fabric pouchesdubbed Cadet Honor Pouchesfrom the first bell to the last. Phones can be used before and after school, but not during lunch, study halls or class transitions. Hilton schools to enforce bell-to-bell policy from 2025-26 Im convinced were going to have students emerge as more highly functioning adults, Hochul said. Theyll be used to eye contactsomething weve lost. Theyll be able to work in groups in a collaborative way. Theyll have in-person friendships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hochul linked the initiative to broader mental health concerns, especially among teens. One student told me, Its my first time Ive had a friend in person. She was in middle school, the governor said. All her other friends were in the virtual world. The deadline for districts to submit their final policies is Thursday, Aug. 1. In Rochester, families can still fill out the survey online by visiting the RCSD 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 RochesterFirst. BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) A shooting incident on the edge of Youngstown reached into a nearby Boardman home when an uninvolved woman was awakened to a bullet crashing into her bedroom. Read next: Woman sentenced for desecrating grave Police were called to a home on Jennette Drive around 3:20 Sunday morning after a woman woke up to a bullet entering her home and crashing into her TV. Boardman Police responded to the home to investigate, as it is in their jurisdiction though very near the Youngstown border. Youngstown Shooting Hits Boardman Home Map The woman told police she was sleeping and was awakened around 3:20 a.m. by a loud crashing noise. She then noticed a hole in her TV and a bullet lying on the ground nearby, reports state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was determined by a forensic team that due to the downward trajectory of the bullet, the bullet that hit the home was fired from some distance, leading police to conclude the bullet that hit the home was a stray from an incident nearby in Youngstowns jurisdiction, according to the incident report. Just a couple of roads up in Youngstown, a vehicle had been shot up in a business parking lot in the double-digit block of W. Midlothian Boulevard, and a man was arrested in the area as a result. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 defense attorney in the YSL gang case is now facing criminal charges herself. Lawyer Nicole Fegan was indicted on multiple charges on Monday, which include allegations that she tipped off a fugitive about evidence to get rid of. Fegan is well-known in local legal circles for her effective representation of alleged gang members, often when they are charged with violating Georgias Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Private investigator J.P. Miller told Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne that he knows Fegan from both sides of the street, having worked against her when he was a gang investigator with the Fulton County DAs Office, and consulted with her now that hes a private investigator. She has a great reputation on the street and with her clients, and by her peers. She has been successful in receiving several not guilty and acquittal cases throughout her career, Miller said. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But now an indictment, which also contains allegations against two co-defendants, charges Fegan with violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, and other charges. The gang charge against her alleges she unlawfully solicited a fugitive in a gang murder case to commit criminal gang activity through the commission of the offense of tampering with evidence. A criminal solicitation charge suggests she unlawfully solicited a 4PF gang to get rid of his phone with the intent to obstruct the prosecution of someone else. Another count accuses Fegan and another person of the offense of obtain/procure/give inmate prohibited item without authorization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It alleges they did unlawfully give methamphetamine to Tenquarious Mender, an inmate of the Fulton County Jail. Still another count mentions her giving someone oxycodone. And yet another count alleges something similar involving marijuana. Ive worked with her on both sides, and shes always been a pleasure to work with, Miller said. A court document shows Fegan was Menders defense lawyer. He pled guilty to possession of a weapon by an incarcerated individual, possession of a telecommunication device by an incarcerated individual, and took an Alford Plea on a charge of participation in criminal street gang activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Winne also contacted Fegans attorney, Drew Findling, and got a text back from him, saying: This indictment is a travesty. Nicole Fegan is a fierce trial attorney and well-respected amongst her peers. These charges stem from activities alleged to have occurred 2 and a half years ago during the YSL trial for which Ms. Fegan was a zealous advocate for her client, no more. We look forward to fighting these false allegations. ZEELAND, Mich. (WOOD) The city of Zeeland voted Monday night to approve Mead Johnsons request to rezone two parcels near its factory. The city council voted 6-1 to rezone 633 and 605 East Main Avenue from residential to industrial. The properties contain eight townhomes and a single-family residence with a barn. The company plans to demolish the structures and incorporate the land into an $836 million plant modernization project. Parcels of land, 633 and 605 East Main Avenue, which will be rezoned from residential to industrial after the city of Zeeland approved Mead Johnsons request. (July 21, 2025) The planning commission recommended approval for the rezoning request earlier this month. A resident who lives across the street from the planned development spoke before the vote was taken, saying he hopes the council will hold the company to a high standard in the site plan process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I strongly urge the council to use every to use every tool available during site plan review to prioritize neighborhood protection, said Zeeland resident Thomas Humbert. That means a minimum 200-foot setback from any residential property with that space used for a layer of buffering, not parking or staging. Mature dense landscape buffer with evergreens and not just saplings. Trees take years to grow. We cant rely on vegetation that wont provide meaningful screening for a decade. There is no timeline for when the project will start yet. Mead Johnson said the project will protect about 500 jobs, improve environmental controls and support continued operations in Zeeland. Mead Johnson released a statement following city councils vote. We are grateful that the City of Zeeland has supported Mead Johnson in our mission to feed babies all over the world for more than a century. Tonights City Council vote in favor of our rezoning application will enable essential upgrades to our facility and support the vital work of our nearly 500 local employees to provide high-quality nutrition for infants. Just as importantly, this vote reflects the confidence that Zeeland leaders have in Mead Johnson to deliver the many benefits to the community outlined in our modernization plan. 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. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reported that the Ukrainian delegation for talks with the Russian side in Turkiye will be headed by Rustem Umierov, National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) Secretary. Source: Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X (Twitter) Quote from Zelenskyy: "I instructed that a delegation be formed for negotiations with the Russian side. The delegation will be headed by Rustem Umierov and will include representatives of Ukrainian intelligence, Ukraines Foreign Ministry, and the Office of the President." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Zelenskyy noted that he had held a meeting on the results of the negotiations necessary for Ukraine. The president stressed that Kyiv was ready "to work as productively as possible" to release prisoners, bring back abducted children, stop killings and prepare a meeting of leaders for "truly bringing this war to an end". "Our position is fully transparent. Ukraine never wanted this war, and it is Russia that must end the war that it started," Zelenskyy said. Background: Ukraine has proposed to Russia that a new round of talks be held this week. Independent Turkce reported on Monday, citing sources, that Russian and Ukrainian delegations may meet this week in Istanbul on 23 or 24 July. The Kremlin said 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". Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Any tips should be sent directly to Alexander Banks through email at abanks@yakimaherald.com, or by phone at 509-577-7654. Alexander Banks reporting for the Yakima Herald-Republic is possible with support from Report for America and Yakima community members. For information on republishing, email news@yakimaherald.com. To support local journalism, click here. Support Local News Reporting Journalists at the Yakima Herald-Republic bring you timely, in-depth and credible local news. Your generous donation supports their work. Guests can join a flock of flamingos on a free-range walk at 3 p.m. Saturday during Woodland Park Zoo's All You Can Zoo. (Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren / Woodland Park Zoo) This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain New research published today as a working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research finds that the widespread, rapid acquisition of private physician practices by hospitals is pushing up health care prices across the United States. The share of private physician practices acquired by a hospital rose nationally by 71.5% from 200816, posing new challenges for regulators who don't have the resources to block the thousands of such deals that are occurring annually. Past research has shown that horizontal hospital mergerswhen one hospital buys anotherpush up the cost of care and lead to local job losses. The new research identifies vertical mergers between hospitals and physician practices as yet another vehicle for rising health care prices. "Across the economy, from tech to health care, we have seen increasing numbers of non-horizontal mergers between firms who complement each other. In the context we study, hospital systems have acquired so many physician practices that a majority of physicians in the United States now work for hospitals," says Matthew Grennan, an associate professor of economics at Emory University and one of the study's authors. "This paper provides empirical evidence consistent with some of the leading theories for how these non-horizontal mergers can result in anticompetitive price increases. As a result, I think economists and others in the antitrust community are likely to give more careful consideration to these potential sources of harm," Grennan says. The policy brief is available from Yale's Tobin Center for Economic Policy. New findings: Hospitals are buying private practices at a rapid pace. From 2008 to 2016, the share of physician practices owned by a hospital rose by 71.5%. By 2016, 47.2% of private practices were owned by a hospital. When hospitals buy private practices, hospital and physician prices go up. Two years after a hospital buys an OB-GYN practice, prices for labor and delivery are up by $475, an increase of 3.3%. Physician prices are up $502, an increase of 15.1%. Price increases after these mergers are driven by reduced competition. Prices for physicians who were already merged into a hospital at the time of a new merger increased by 9%. It's unlikely that these practices had a sudden change in quality or bargaining ability just before the new practice was merged. These mergers are challenging for regulators to observe. Estimated deal valuations of 99.9% of physician-hospital mergers observed by the researchers were below HartScottRodino (HSR) merger reporting thresholds. Moving forward, policymakers should scrutinize physician/hospital mergers and end financial incentives that encourage these transactions, the researchers say. For example, Medicare should pay physicians the same rates whether or not they are employed by a hospital, a practice often referred to as "site neutral billings." When mergers do occur, regulators at the FTC and other agencies should focus their attention on those with greater scope to reduce competition. States could also play an important role by requiring hospitals and physicians to provide evidence on the benefits of their transaction in order to merge, according to the researchers. More information: Zack Cooper et al, Are Hospital Acquisitions of Physician Practices Anticompetitive? (2025). DOI: 10.3386/w34039 Looking for a break? Test your knowledge of this week's news from the Yakima Valley. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: RDNE Stock project from Pexels Heart failure patients living in the most deprived postcodes are at risk of dying six and a half months earlier than patients in the least deprived areas, according to a new study published in the journal BMC Medicine. The research also found that the disparities in risk of death and life expectancy worsened over time. The study, led by researchers at the University of Leeds, analyzed data from 1,802 heart failure patients in West Yorkshire. After adjusting for factors like age, sex and other conditions, they found life expectancy for people in the most socioeconomically deprived areas was reduced by 2.3 years because of their condition, compared to 1.8 years for people in the least deprived areas. The study used data from people with heart failure recruited between 2006 and 2014, who were then observed for up to 10 years to assess survival. The average age was 69 years and 73% of participants were male. While disparities were seen over every time period studied, they continued to worsenthe biggest difference in life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas was seen in the most recent group recruited between 2012 and 2014. Dr. Oliver Brown, Clinical Research Fellow in Cardiology at the University of Leeds, who led the study, said, "We have shown that despite patients visiting the same hospitals and taking part in the same studies, socioeconomic factors like income, employment, education and housing have an outsized effect on their life expectancy. The next step for us is to explore why these disparities exist. "We hope this research can be valuable for both health care professionals and policymakers, and that steps can be taken to ensure the disadvantages experienced by those in more deprived areas are reduced." Heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump blood around the body as well as it should. It is often caused by a heart attack, high blood pressure or problems with the heart muscle. Heart failure can be debilitatingaffecting a person's ability to do day-to-day activitiesand there are currently no effective treatments to stop the condition progressing. In the study, 72% of people died within five years, although researchers highlight that treatments have improved since the study began in 2006. The researchers used postcodes and the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) to determine people's socioeconomic deprivation levels. Every postcode has an IMD score which estimates deprivation based on factors like income, employment, housing and education. People in the study were grouped into three categories: those living in the most, middle and least deprived areas. Everyone in the study received their normal heart failure treatment, and researchers followed up with them for an average of five years to assess death rates for each category. They then compared these death rates to the those they would expect to see, based on the national average from patients of the same ages and sex. From this, they found that the risk of death for those in the least deprived areas was 11% higher than expected, corresponding to a loss of life expectancy of 1.76 years. However, for patients in the most deprived areas, the risk of death was 24% higher than expected, and 2.3 years of life expectancy were lost. The researchers now aim to investigate the factors driving this disparity. By understanding the reasons behind it, they hope to find ways of reducing the difference. Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, Clinical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said, "There is substantial evidence that living in more deprived areas is associated with shorter life span, shorter health span and more cardiovascular disease. I find it troubling to again see statistics that show the cardiovascular survival gap between the rich and the poor is only getting worse. "That's why it's so important that Government prioritizes policies that will help prevent cardiovascular disease and improve access to health care for everyone, including people living in more deprived areas. The recent boost in health funding for deprived regions is a positive first step towards more people living in good health for longer." More information: O. I. Brown et al, Widening gap in life expectancy between patients with heart failure living in most and least deprived areas: a longitudinal cohort study, BMC Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1186/s12916-025-04137-4 The British Heart Foundation's report on cardiovascular health inequalities can be found here. Journal information: BMC Medicine Budapest Zoo is celebrating its birthday once again! Although this year doesn't mark a round anniversary, Hungarys most-visited attraction, which first opened its gates on 9 August 1866, certainly deserves a celebration every year. As part of the festivities, the Zoos Foundation is once again organising its much-loved charity retro party in honour of the animals. On 7 August, just two days before the official birthday, a host of celebrity friends will gather to visit their adopted animals and take part in a grand charity event in support of the Zoo and its animal-loving community. Event Schedule The evening is split into two parts: 6:30 PM 7:30 PM Meet & Greet with Celebrities Celebrity ambassadors will be stationed near their adopted animals to meet fans and supporters. For example: Tamas Hevesi will be with the wombats Adam Solti will meet guests by the red panda enclosure Ferenc Szigeti of the band Karthago will be at the elephant habitat And Adam Vegvari will also join, bringing attention to the Malayan tiger After this, the party moves out of the historic zoo grounds and continues in the Biodome. From 8:00 PM Fergeteg Party with DJ Dominique DJ Dominique will kick off a high-energy retro party inside the Biodome, creating a fantastic atmosphere for all attendees. As tradition dictates, the Zoo Foundation will treat guests to classic lard bread (zsiros kenyer), along with a variety of fiery and icy drinks to keep spirits high. Those whove attended in previous years know what to expect: an unforgettable evening filled with fun, music, and goodwill. And for first-time guests, its the perfect opportunity to experience how heart-warming and exciting it is when beloved artists and their audiences come together to support the Zoo in such a meaningful way. Important Info Tickets are limited, so please secure yours early. Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for another date, and there is no rain date for this event. More: Zoo Budapest ********************************* 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. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay from Pexels King County had two goals when it purchased more than a dozen hotels to convert into housing for people living on the streetsend homelessness for a bunch of people and improve their health. Officials say it has been a success on both fronts, publishing data collected in the first two full years of the Health through Housing program. The program created more than 900 units of housing with services on-site tailored for formerly homeless people, with about 500 more on the way. And data shows the people staying in those units visit emergency rooms and are hospitalized substantially less than when they were on the streets. Officials say they're not surprised. "That was the premise from the beginning," said Kelly Rider, director of King County's Department of Community and Human Services. While converting hotels was an innovative approach born out of the pandemic, the health benefits of providing housing and wraparound support services to homeless people are supported by decades of research. There are more than 7,700 permanent supportive housing units in King County, but it's expensive to build and operate, and with more than 16,000 homeless people in the region, there aren't enough spots for everyone who could use one. The county's program launched in 2022 and officials say the recently released data show some of the costs of housing homeless people are being recouped with savings in the health care system. Experts say there are myriad reasons why the use of emergency rooms and hospital beds decreases when people move in off the street, but caution against drawing overly strong conclusions from just King County's data, which wasn't subject to a rigorous study. "There's no question in my mind that people's health improves dramatically once they're housed," said Margot Kushel, a physician and homelessness researcher at the University of California, San Francisco. "It can just be a little hard to show." Homeless people and ER visits For seven years until July 2024, Craig Santos, 72, lived in a van in Redmond. During that time, he used a catheter to urinate due to a chronic bladder condition he developed during years of alcohol dependence. But working as a contractor and living without running water, it was nearly impossible to keep his hands completely clean. "I kept getting infection after infection after infection," Santos said. Each time, he visited hospital emergency rooms or urgent care and was prescribed antibiotics. But on a visit last year, his doctor told him he had become resistant. "It scared me," he recalled. "I worried about dying." Homeless people visit hospital emergency rooms much more frequently than the average person. According to a large study published in 2025, almost 40% of homeless people in California had visited an emergency department in the previous six months, and more than a fifth had been admitted to a hospital. Kushel, one of the authors of that study, said that when someone's homeless, "small problems become big." For example, cuts turn into infections if they're not cleaned. Antibiotics to treat them are lost or stolen, and people struggle to take them on schedule. Then, infections travel to critical areas in the body where they become life-threatening. A 2003 study found that more than a quarter of homeless people in San Francisco had been physically or sexually assaulted in the previous 12 months. A 2021 report found that 70% of pedestrians killed by cars in Portland were homeless. And people are subject to extreme heat, cold and other harsh outdoor elements. Homeless people also commonly end up in the emergency room for mental health crises. Studies show about a quarter to a third of people experiencing homelessness suffer from severe mental illness. Many of those conditions are treatable with medications, but that is difficult living outside, culminating in crises in public view. Once homeless people show up in the emergency room, they have a higher rate of being admitted to the hospital. April Gerard, a psychiatric nurse at Downtown Emergency Service Center, a Seattle homelessness services and behavioral health provider, said people often don't need to be hospitalized. She said staff at Health through Housing buildings, of which the nonprofit operates several, are trained to de-escalate crises and support the people experiencing them. "Those crises are averted through those interventions alone, probably hundreds of times a day, just in our buildings," Gerard said. Kushel, a practicing physician, said the higher rate of hospitalization is because homelessness throws a wrench into the complex calculations hospital providers do to determine if someone needs to be in more intensive care or if their issues can be dealt with through outpatient appointments. "If someone's homeless, we literally throw those algorithms out the window and we just admit them into the hospital," Kushel said. Moving inside Once Santos moved into a Health through Housing building in Redmond, operated by the Salvation Army, he was able to wash his hands regularly before using the restroom and had a clean living space. "All of a sudden, I didn't have any kind of infections," Santos said. Health through Housing buildings also have nurses or physicians on-site who offer physical and behavioral health services. For example, Gerard said residents can sign up for medication reminders and staff will knock on their door with a cup of water when it's time to take their pills. That can prevent chronic physical conditions from turning into emergencies and reduce the likelihood of mental health crises, she said. In the year before moving into Health through Housing buildings, residents like Santos visited a hospital emergency room an average of 1.5 times and were hospitalized for about five days, according to health records people shared with the county. After moving in, residents went to the emergency room 17% less in their first year inside compared with the year before, according to county officials. Residents also spent a third fewer days hospitalized in inpatient care, according to an analysis of medical records of about 1,000 people who stayed in Health through Housing buildings and shared that information. Experts say a reduction in those numbers could benefit everyone within the health care system. First, it indicates people who moved into Health through Housing are less acutely ill, said Dr. Herbert Duber, a professor at the University of Washington and emergency physician at Harborview Medical Center. That represents potentially thousands of dollars of savings in public health costs per person. And it also frees up hospital beds so the next person with an emergency can access the care they need more quickly. "That's actually been shown to reduce overall mortality," Duber said. But experts say there are caveats. Kushel said it's possible people who moved into Health through Housing would have used emergency rooms and inpatient beds less often, even if they hadn't moved in. She said studies have shown people who use emergency services at high rates for a period usually tend to use those services less over time naturally, but are often selected for housing resources while their health needs are most acute. And she said people sometimes use health care more after moving off the street as they're able to consider treatments that may have seemed too difficult to receive while living outside. That was the case for Santos, who received several surgeries he had put off while living in his car. In the past year, he had bladder stones taken out, a cataract removed and multiple hernia repairs. But for him, more health care was a positive. "I'm in way better shape," Santos said. "There's no comparison." He said he's ready to get back to work in a few weeks and has already received several offers to start on construction projects. His goal now is to be able to support himself and move out on his own. 2025 The Seattle Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. B+N Referencia Zrt., together with its partner Assist-Trade Kft., organised the first Green Cleaning Professional Day at the MOL Campus marking a significant step in the companys sustainability strategy. The event brought together B+N leaders and independent experts to share insights and prepare cleaning division managers and staff for the challenges and innovations associated with sustainable operations. Green Cleaning: From Commitment to Expectation In her keynote, Krisztina Domjanne Berta, Deputy Director of FM at B+N Referencia Zrt., emphasised that green cleaning is no longer just a matter of commitment it is becoming a clear expectation. Legal regulations, tender requirements, and the rise of ESG principles all point in the same direction. Eva Szabo, PR Director at B+N, highlighted the importance of authenticity in sustainability communication. Without real, verifiable green solutions, companies risk falling into the trap of greenwashing. Real-World Success Stories & HYGON Solutions The event also showcased practical implementations. Zoltan Szonyi, Regional Manager, Industrial Cleaning Division and Endre Ujszaszi, Portfolio Manager presented how EcoLabel certification was successfully achieved in various work environments. Their message: sustainability does not mean compromiseclients and employees alike appreciate the green direction. Ferenc Bodrogai, owner of Assist-Trend Kft., introduced HYGON private label products. These eco-friendly hygiene papers and cleaning agents not only reduce environmental impact but also help support B+Ns broader ESG goals. Looking Ahead: ESG & CSRD Compliance To close the event, Viktor Szabo, expert at Qmark Consulting, outlined how ESG compliance ties into EcoVadis ratings and what companies can expect under the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) starting in 2025. B+Ns aim goes beyond complianceit seeks to lead by example and set standards for the facility management industry, proving that business success and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand. More: B+N ********************************* 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. This year there was another Display Next Hackfest, this time thanks to AMD organizing and hosting the event at their office in Markham, Toronto. Just like the last hackfests, there were other compositor developers and driver developers present, but in addition we had the color experts Charles Poynton and Keith Lee to pester with questions, which was very useful. In general, the event was very productive. We discussed a lot of things, so this is just a summary of what I personally consider most important, not exhaustive notes on every topic. You can read the full notes on Harrys blog. Commit Failure Feedback Currently, when the compositor tries to commit changes to KMS and that fails, it almost always just gets -EINVAL as the response, in other words something doesnt work. Thats not just annoying to debug, but can lead to the compositor spending a lot of time with useless atomic tests in some situations, like for example when KWin tries to turn displays on - Ive seen cases where we spend multiple seconds testing every possible configuration of outputs (while the screen is frozen!), just for the actual problem to be unfixable without turning one of the displays or some feature off. So we discussed how to improve on that, and the result was basically that we just want something - really anything is better than the current situation. We found that theres a reserved field in the atomic ioctl, so we can even do this without introducing a completely new ioctl and just make that reserved field an optional pointer to another struct in which the kernel will write the feedback on what failed exactly. The most basic things we agreed to start with are to return some enum for common issues, like limited scanout/memory bandwidth, limited connector bandwidth, invalid API usage, things like that some string with possibly driver-specific information that the compositor can log, most important for debugging problems on user systems an optional array of KMS object IDs for what objects are related to the failure, for example for which connectors are hitting bandwidth limits New Backlight API The current backlight API on Linux is that the kernel exposes one or multiple backlight related files in sysfs, and userspace writes to one of them with root permissions. This requires heuristics for which one of the files is the correct one to use, this API can only control a single backlight, it cant be synchronized to the image a compositor presents, the firmware may or may not do animations, it may be linear or not, the minimum brightness is completely undefined (sometimes its zero!), in summary its a total mess. Three years ago there was a proposal to add a backlight API to KMS instead, which however stalled as the author had to work on other tasks. We discussed on what exactly we want from that API: a backlight property per connector optional additional information about the mapping of backlight values to actual luminance (min/max values, linear/nonlinear curve) (where possible) no animations in the firmware (where possible) atomically update the backlight with the rest of the atomic commit, so we can properly synchronize content and light level for HDR on SDR displays Adaptive Backlight Management ABM is a feature on some AMD hardware, which reduces backlight intensity to save power and at the same time increases contrast of colors on the screen to compensate for that reduced backlight level. This is a bit of a controversial feature - on one hand it improves battery life, but on the other it messes with the colors on your screen, which to some people just doesnt look good but is really bad if youre trying to do color critical work. Currently this feature is controlled through sysfs, which means power management daemons can mess up your colors without you being aware. Additionally it would be nice to automatically turn off the feature when youre profiling your screen with a colorimeter, and as the feature reduces the backlight, also in very bright environments to get that extra brightness To improve on that situation, well get a KMS property to control the feature from the compositor side. I intend to make it off by default in Plasma, but users that want additional battery life will be able to easily opt into it in the display settings. Autotests We had three discussions about automatic tests - one about measuring power usage, one about testing KMS drivers, and one about testing compositors. For power usage tests, we didnt really agree on the best way to get a standardized testing framework, but we found some possible approaches that can work now - tests can be automated to some degree by using compositor-specific APIs, the remote desktop portal or OpenQA. For testing KMS drivers, we talked a bit about how the IGT test suite is useful for testing specific cases, but it doesnt really cover all the same bits that real world compositors use. The tests mostly use features in a somewhat self-contained manner, are mostly written by kernel developers, and thus test how they expect their APIs to be used, which is sometimes different from how compositors actually use it. A possible solution for that is for compositor developers to write automatic tests using their compositor, which run directly on KMS and execute some pre-programmed sequence of events, possibly requiring KMS features like color pipelines or overlay planes to be used successfully for the test to pass. We still have to figure out the details, but if we can get compositors in DRM CI, that could help improve stability of both compositors and drivers. Last but not least, for testing compositors KMS usage, we cant really rely on our manual testing with actual hardware, and DRM CI tests will still be somewhat limited. Some compositors already use VKMS, a virtual KMS driver, for their automatic tests, and there are some pending kernel changes for configuring it to do a lot more than the rather simple and fixed setup we had so far. With the new API, well be able to configure it to have nearly arbitrary amounts of planes, add and remove connectors and even entire GPUs! I still have to wire up a KWin autotest for this, but it will be very useful both in development and to prevent regressions in releases. Color and HDR We of course also spent a lot of time talking about color management and HDR, and started that off with the current state of implementations. Things are looking really good! In terms of Wayland protocols, all the important bits are in, namely the color management and color representation protocols. There may still be some smaller changes to the protocols, maybe some additions here and there, but the most important parts are done and used in practice. If youve read my previous blog posts, you might know that KWins color management story is in a really good state, but other compositors are getting there as well. While Mutter is still lacking non-HDR color management bits, it now has basic HDR support, the Cosmic compositor has some preparations for it going on under the hood, and wlroots has basic HDR support as well. On the application side, lots of applications are working on supporting it, like Qt, GTK, Godot and Firefox, or support it already, like Mesa, mpv and gamescope. Notably, Blender even has currently Wayland-exclusive HDR support! We had a Q&A and some discussions with Charles Poynton and Keith Lee. For details you can look at the notes, but the most important thing I took from it was that we should adapt visuals to the users viewing environment based on their absolute luminance too, not just the relative light levels. How to actually do that adjustment in practice isnt entirely figured out yet though, so that will be an interesting problem to solve. We also talked a bit about the drm color pipeline API. I wont go into details about this one either, but Ill talk more about it my next blog post. TL;DR though is that this API allows us to use many more color operations that GPUs are capable of, to avoid compositing with shaders in more situations. I have a KWin implementation that proves the API works and by now the API and driver implementations basically just have to be merged into the kernel. My Favorite: Pageflip Timeouts Judging by how often I come across this issue in bug triage, if youre reading this, chances arent too terrible that youve heard of this one already, possibly even seen it yourself in the form of kwin_wayland_drm: Pageflip timed out! This is a bug in the amdgpu kernel driver kwin_wayland_drm: Please report this at https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/drm/amd/-/issues kwin_wayland_drm: With the output of 'sudo dmesg' and 'journalctl --user-unit plasma-kwin_wayland --boot 0' in your own system logs at some point. To be clear, this is just an example and it does not only affect amdgpu. Ive seen the same with NVidia and Intel too, but as amdgpus GPU resets have been a lot less reliable in the past, its been a bigger issue for them. Basically, pageflip timeouts are when the compositor does an atomic commit through KMS, and then waits for that to complete forever. When this happens, the kernel literally doesnt allow the compositor to present to the screen anymore, so the screen is completely frozen forever, which is very bad, to state the obvious. Fixing all the individual causes of the problem hasnt really worked out so well, and this is a bad enough situation that there should be a way out when it does happen. We discussed how to do this, and Im happy to report that we figured out a way forward: we need a new callback in KMS that tells compositors when a pageflip failed and will never arrive drivers need to support resetting the display-driver bits of the GPU to recover it if the driver entirely fails to recover in the absolute worst case, it should send a device wedged event, which tells the compositor it should try to reload the entire driver / device Scheduling Atomic Commits When presenting images to a display, compositors try to get the absolute lowest possible latency achievable, without dropping frames of course. This is tricky enough with full information about everything, but its even worse if information is missing. Currently, KWin just tries to commit 1.5ms before vblank start of a refresh cycle. This number was figured out experimentally - on a lot of hardware, we could easily reduce latency by 500s-1ms without any issues, and on some other hardware wed even need more latency to never drop frames! The latter problem I kind of already fixed by measuring how long each commit takes, but that just measures the CPU time, and not when the hardware is actually done programming the next frame. We also dont know the deadline, on lots of hardware it is the start of vblank, but with some drivers it may be later or earlier. We discussed how this could be solved, and concluded that we want a callback that gives us a timestamp for when the hardware finished programming the last commit information on when the deadline is, relative to the start of vblank Variable Refresh Rate for the desktop We want to use VRR to save power, not just to reduce stutter in games. However, for that we really want some additional APIs as well: the compositor should be able to set a min and max refresh rate, for example for low framerate compensation (LFC) and for flicker reduction the compositor should be able to do LFC instead of the driver having heuristics for that - so we need to be able to turn driver-side LFC off on the Wayland side, it would be nice for video players to be able to report their preferred refresh rate, so we can set the display to a multiple of the video. Should be a really simple Wayland protocol, in case anyone wants to do it before I get around to it ;) also on the Wayland side, a maximum desired refresh rate for games could be useful Slow atomic commits Amdgpu has some issues with atomic test commits being very slow, more specifically when it comes to significantly changing overlay plane state - on my desktop PC, enabling and resizing overlay planes regularly makes the test take tens of milliseconds. On my laptop its a lot faster for some reason, where its usually not noticeable, but even there a lot of tests take 1ms or more. We may need to do multiple atomic tests per frame, especially when you move the cursor so thats still quite bad! We can work around the problem in the compositor to some degree, by avoiding frequent changes to the overlay plane state - well certainly try to make it good enough to leave the feature on by default. Either way though, someone just has to optimize this on the driver side, otherwise you might still see some stutter when enabling or disabling overlay planes. Actual Hacking It wouldnt be a proper hackfest without any hacking of course! Before the event, I was working on overlay plane support for a while, and added color pipeline support on top of my WIP code for that. In terms of KMS offloading, the only big feature that was still missing is underlay support so I added that at the hackfest. Turns out, if you already have complete overlay plane support, adding underlays to the mix isnt actually all that difficult. The code still need some cleaning up and not all of it is merged yet, but on my laptop its now basically a challenge to get KWin to not put videos and games on hardware planes, and the result is amazing efficiency for video playback and improved latency and performance for gaming in windowed mode. This is a larger topic though and deserves its own blog post soon, so I wont explain how it works here. Tourist-y things AMD invited us to go up the CN tower. It was a little bit foggy, but we still had a good view of the city: I also visited Niagara Falls. It was a sight to behold! Conclusion Thanks again to AMD for hosting the event, it was really fun. There might not be another display hackfest next year, as most of the big topics are finally nearing conclusions, but I hope to see many of the other hackfest participants again at other events :) Seoul: Hyundai Motor Group's export of electric vehicles (EVs) from South Korea to the United States fell nearly 90 per cent on-year in the first five months of the year, as the automaker shifts production of America-bound vehicles to its new U.S. facility, according to industry data on Tuesday. According to the data from the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association (KAMA), Hyundai Motor and Kia combined exported 7,156 EVs to the U.S. between January and May this year, down 88 percent from 59,705 units during the same period a year earlier, reports Yonhap news agency. Hyundai Motor Co., including its premium Genesis line, shipped 3,906 units, marking an 87 percent decline, while Kia's exports dropped 89.1 percent to 3,250 units. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source The volume represents the lowest level for the January-May period since Hyundai Motor Group began accelerating its electrification strategy in 2021. The decline is largely attributed to Hyundai's ongoing efforts to localise EV production in the U.S. In the first half of the year, the automaker completed construction of its dedicated EV plant, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, in Georgia. It produced 28,957 units of the Ioniq 5 and 4,187 units of the Ioniq 9 at the facility. At the same time, Hyundai and Kia have also faced challenges in the U.S. EV market. According to industry tracker Wards Intelligence, the group sold 44,555 EVs in the U.S. in the first half of 2025, down 28 percent from a year earlier. Industry watchers say that the outlook for the remainder of the year may be bleaker due to the scheduled termination of U.S EV tax credits in September under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a major tax reform bill spearheaded by U.S. President Donald Trump. A recent report by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) recently estimated Hyundai Motor Group could lose up to 45,828 units in annual U.S. EV sales, equivalent to US$1.95 billion in sales. The U.S. market accounted for 36 percent of Hyundai Motor Group's total EV exports last year. NEW DELHI: 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 (CJI) BR Gavai by Solicitor General of India (SGI) Tushar Mehta, who requested that the plea be taken up urgently by the top court. The Court listed the matter for hearing on Thursday, July 24. The High Court had on Monday acquitted the twelve accused persons by noting that the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) failed to prove the offences beyond a reasonable doubt. In doing so, the High Court set aside a September 2015 judgment of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) court that had imposed the death penalty on 5 of the 12 accused persons and had sentenced the remaining 7 to life. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Following the Bombay High Courts' decision, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed shock and said that the Maharashtra government will challenge it in the Supreme Court. The case is listed for hearing before the CJI's bench on Thursday. 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 this incident, 189 people died, while more than 827 passengers were injured. 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. In a significant move, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially announced the retirement of its iconic MiG-21 fighter jets. The aircraft, which has served the nation since 1963, will take its final flight on September 19, 2025 from the Chandigarh Air Base, home to the IAFs 23rd Panther Squadron. Nicknamed the "AK-47 of the skies" for its precision and reliability, the MiG-21 has safeguarded Indias airspace for over six decades. Initially used for surveillance in the 1965 war due to a lack of trained pilots, the jet proved its mettle in the 1971 India-Pakistan war by downing 13 Pakistani aircraft with only one loss. It also played a crucial role in the 1999 Kargil War and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, where Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman famously shot down a Pakistani F-16 using his MiG-21 Bison. In today's DNA, Zee News Managing Editor, Rahul Sinha decorded the glorious years of Indias Legendary MiG-21 Fighter Jet. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Watch Today's Full Episode Despite its valor, the MiG-21s history is also marred by frequent crashes, earning it the grim title of "flying coffin." Still, it remains the worlds oldest operational fighter jet, with several countries like Syria, Libya, North Korea, and Cuba still using modified versions. Others, such as Yemen and Uganda, continue flying its original version. Interestingly, civilians in some countries can now purchase retired MiG-21s for display, subject to strict demilitarization and licensing. Designed by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich, the aircrafts name stands for MiG Mikoyan-Gurevich. Globally, over 11,500 units have been produced and used by more than 60 countries. As India prepares to bid farewell to this legendary warbird, the MiG-21s legacy of bravery, sacrifice, and excellence will remain deeply etched in the golden pages of the Indian Air Forces history. New Delhi: The smoke has not so far clared over the skies of Pakistan, but one thing stands out is that the countrys military preparedness lies in shambles. After India launched Operation Sindoor in early May, following the brutal Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives, Islamabad scrambled to respond. What followed was a stunning display of Indias strategic precision and Pakistans military failure. Indias forces crossed a red line and walked straight into the heart of Pakistans terror infrastructure. Camps that once trained infiltrators for Kashmir now lie in ruins. These strikes were not symbolic. They were calibrated, sharp and devastating. Lashkar-e-Taibas nerve centre in Muridke and Jaish-e-Mohammeds outpost in Bahawalpur, both were hit and flattened. Pakistan reacted, the only way it knew, by unleashing a barrage. 840 missiles, according to Indian security sources. It was a desperate attempt to retaliate. But not a single Indian installation was hit. Not even a cracked window. Most were intercepted mid-air. Some crashed into open fields. Others malfunctioned. There was no damage. No impact. Only noise. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Indias National Security Advisor Ajit Doval put it bluntly during a recent address at IIT Madras. He dared the international media to show just one broken glass panel in any Indian military base. No one could. Because there was not one. Pakistans missile systems failed spectacularly. Its air defence, built on imported Chinese HQ-9 platforms, did not register a single successful interception. Indias SCALP, Rampage and Crystal Maze missiles struck their targets cleanly. Satellite images show what is left smouldering compounds and craters where terror hubs once stood. Even Lahore was not spared. Indian drones circled overhead. The targets were chosen with precision. Pakistans air defence did nothing. Later, Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif offered a baffling explanation. He said the system was not deployed deliberately, claiming Pakistan feared India would locate it if activated. The excuse triggered disbelief across Islamabads own defence circles. The Pakistan Army now stands stripped bare. Its reaction time, targeting capabilities and layered defences all exposed. Operation Sindoor was a show of force as well as a message. One that Pakistan heard loud and clear. And in the silence that followed those 840 failed missile launches, the message echoed louder than any explosion. Over 3.21 lakh devotees have undertaken the ongoing Amarnath Yatra in the last 19 days since it commenced on July 3, as another batch of 3,536 pilgrims left Jammu for Kashmir on Tuesday. Officials said, A fresh batch of 3,536 Yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu today in two escorted convoys for the Valley. The first convoy of 48 vehicles carrying 1,250 Yatris left at 3.33 a.m. for Baltal base camp, while the second convoy of 84 vehicles carrying 2,286 Yatris left at 4.06 a.m. for Pahalgam base camp." There is a huge rush of yatris as thousands of pilgrims daily report from different parts of the country at twin base camps to undertake the Yatra, the officials said. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Bhumi Pujan of Chhari Mubarak (Lord Shivas Holy) was performed at Pahalgam on July 10. The Chhari Mubarak was taken to Pahalgam by a group of seers led by the sole custodian of the Chhari Mubarak, Mahant Swami Deependra Giri, from its seat at the Dashnami Akhara Building in Srinagar to Pahalgam. In Pahalgam, the Chhari Mubarak was taken to the Gauri Shankar temple, where the Bhumi Pujan was held. The Chhari Mubarak was then taken back to its seat at the Dashnami Akhara building. It will start its final journey towards the cave shrine from Dashnami Akhara temple in Srinagar on August 4 and will reach the holy cave shrine on August 9, marking the official conclusion of the Yatra. Authorities have made extensive multi-tier security arrangements for this years Amarnath Yatra, as this takes place after the cowardly attack of April 22 in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 civilians after segregating them based on faith in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam. Additional 180 companies of CAPFs have been brought in to augment the existing strength of the Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB and the local police. The Army has deployed over 8,000 special commandos to secure the passage of the pilgrims this year. Yatra started on July 3 and will end after 38 days on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. Yatris approach the holy cave shrine situated 3888 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas either from the traditional Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal route. Those using the Pahalgam route pass through Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni to reach the cave shrine, covering a distance of 46 km on foot. This trek takes a pilgrim four days to get to the cave shrine. And, those using the shorter Baltal route have to trek 14 km to reach the cave shrine and return to the base camp the same day after having darshan. No helicopter services are available to Yatris this year due to security reasons. The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon. Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva. Jagdeep Dhankhar abruptly resigned as the Vice President of India on Monday and cited health concerns as the reason. This comes nearly two weeks after Dhankhar, reportedly at a function at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), discussed his retirement, and it did not seem like he was thinking about calling it quits anytime soon. During the second day of Parliament's Monsoon Session on Tuesday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was in the Chair, announced that Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation as VP has been accepted by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. The Chair added that the Ministry of Home Affairs has conveyed the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar under 67A of the Constitution with immediate effect. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source I will retire at the right time. August 2027, subject to divine intervention, he said at the JNU function. On 10th July, 2025, during an event at JNU, Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar remarked that he would remain in office until August 2027, subject to divine intervention. What led to his sudden resignation just 11 days later? pic.twitter.com/gRY9ufGU9x Aditya Goswami (@AdityaGoswami_) July 21, 2025 "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," Dhankar wrote in his resignation letter. PM Modi's Reaction Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, said that Jagdeep Dhankhar served the nation in various capacities and wished him good health. "Jagdeep Dhankhar has got many opportunities to serve our country in various capacities, including as the Vice President of India. Wishing him good health," he wrote. Opposition Vs BJP Labelling Dhankars resignation as sudden and unfortunate, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said that the Vice President presided over Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meetings on Monday. He expressed that the relationship between Dhankar and the central government might have taken a hit, given that a Union Minister was also not present in the BAC meeting, which was scheduled for yesterday afternoon. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh claimed that there was more to Dhankars unexpected resignation as Vice President than meets the eye. (with ANI inputs) This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain In the wake of January's deadly wildfires, Los Angeles County leaders are weighing a disaster registry intended to help disabled and senior residents get connected to emergency responders to bring them to safety during disasters. County supervisors approved a feasibility study this spring for such a voluntary database. Supporters applauded the effort to give more notice and assistance to the more than 1 million county residents with some type of disability, such as cognitive impairment or limited mobility. "If we know that people perish in these situations, what are our answers?" said Hilary Norton, who runs FASTLinkDTLA, a nonprofit focused on mobility issues. "This is the time for people to really understand the magnitude for people in need when things like this happen." Amid the increasing frequency of natural disasters across the U.S.brought into sharp relief by the recent deadly floods in Texasstate and local governments from Oregon to North Carolina have turned to disaster registries to prioritize help for vulnerable residents when fires, hurricanes, and other environmental catastrophes strike. But while some politicians say these registries are a potential solution to a public health problem, many disability advocates see them as ineffective tools that give people a false sense of security because there is no guarantee of evacuation help. "They're described in a way that communicates that if you place your information in this registry and you will need assistance, they will be able to plan for it, so in a disaster you will be safer. And in reality, that is simply not the case," said Maria Town, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities. Town, who has cerebral palsy, had been in Houston for six months when Hurricane Harvey hit in 2017. Texas makes a free registry called the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry available to cities and counties to help them identify needs in their communities, but how or if they use it is up to them. Fewer than 5% of people who registered were contacted during Harvey, and even fewer got evacuation assistance, according to a 2023 study by the National Council on Disability, a federal agency that advises on disability policies and programs. The hurricane took 89 lives. "I heard people say, "I thought I was safe. I registered,'" Town said of the calls she got during and after Harvey. Neither the Texas Division of Emergency Management nor officials in Kerr County, the area hit hardest by the recent floods in Texas Hill Country, responded to questions about whether any accommodations were made for residents on the registry during the early July catastrophe. Many registries, like Florida's Special Needs Registry, expressly tell participants they still must make their own evacuation plans. The Florida Department of Health oversees the registry and, like in Texas, shares the information with local emergency management officials for their use. In North Carolina's Rockingham County, individuals must apply to be on the registry, and inclusion is not guaranteed. The registry page for Jackson and Josephine counties in Oregon warns that it can take up to three months for residents' information to be made available to rescue workers. The National Council on Disability says registries are harmful. "They are ineffective and provide a false sense of security of future guaranteed assistance," Nicholas Sabula, a spokesperson for the organization, said in a statement. The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services also "strongly discourages" using registries, saying they can deter people from making their own disaster plans and raise privacy concerns. Disability advocates have also cited privacy as a concern. But Los Angeles politicians behind the registry effort insist they are worth looking intoat least a third of those who died in the Eaton Fire had issues that could affect their mobility and therefore their ability to flee in the face of disaster, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis. Anthony Mitchell Sr., an amputee in a wheelchair, and his 35-year-old son, Justin, who had cerebral palsy, were among the 18 people killed when the wildfire ripped through the Los Angeles County community of Altadena in January. Further driving the initiative is the aging of L.A. County's population: The California Department of Finance's Demographic Research Unit has estimated that more than a quarter of Los Angeles County residents will be 60 or over by 2030about 2.5 million people. Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Altadena and proposed the registry study along with Supervisor Janice Hahn, "wants to drill down and explore its usefulness," according to her communications director, Helen Chavez Garcia. Barger had not yet talked to the first responder community or had conversations about how emergency services would use the registry, according to Chavez Garcia. Victoria Jump, an assistant director at the county's Aging & Disabilities Department, is conducting the feasibility studywhich she noted does not include cost estimatesand will make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors this month on whether to support the project. The board will decide whether to move forward. Jump said she's gotten largely positive feedback in more than a dozen community sessions. It's not the first time Los Angeles has considered and even implemented a disaster registry. The county maintained a voluntary disaster registry called Specific Needs Awareness Planning, but acknowledged in 2016 that the program did "not guarantee priority service to those who register" and had a "low return on investment." It was discontinued, and registrants were migrated to a mass emergency alert system called Alert LA County. "We've been through this before with the county. It didn't work. It hasn't worked around the country," said Los Angeles resident June Kailes, a disability advocate who uses a power scooter. Kailes sees what happened in the Eaton Fire as a problem with emergency planning, saying that the county needs to better understand how to offer people with disabilities emergency transportation. She pointed to Galen Buckwalter, a paralyzed Eaton Fire survivor who reportedly drove his motorized wheelchair a mile in the dark to evacuate when he realized it would be impossible for a ride-hailing service to pick him up given the conditions. Norton, of the mobility nonprofit FASTLinkDTLA, said the registry needs to be about more than just collecting names of disabled residents. "No one wants to create false hope," Norton said. "It's an agreement to explore the possibilities. It's that balance of asking now, in order to make sure in the next disaster they are not left behind." 2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. New Delhi: A Special NIA Court in Delhi allowed Engineer Rashid, the jailed Member of Parliament from Baramulla and president of the Awami Itihaad Party (AIP), to attend the ongoing Lok Sabha session from July 24 to August 4, 2025. The permission, however, comes wrapped in tight restrictions. He will remain under constant watch, escorted daily from Tihar Jail to Parliament and back, with no access to mobile phones, no contact with the media and no communication with anyone outside the House. His physical presence will be permitted inside Parliament only during session hours. Once proceedings end, he will be sent straight back to jail, even if it means late hours. The court has directed that every rupee of travel, security and related arrangements must be paid by Rashid himself. This development sparked reactions from his party. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source AIPs chief spokesperson Inam un-Nabi expressed a mix of relief and anger. The decision, he said, gives the impression of a reluctant nod rather than recognition of a democratic mandate. Yes, he is allowed to attend (Parliaments proceedings). But why only for 12 days? Why should he pay for it all himself? These terms are not only strict, but designed to humiliate, he said, speaking from Srinagar. He also questioned the inconsistency in the courts approach. This is the same judge who earlier gave him interim bail during elections. He was even allowed an extension to continue campaigning. What changed now? Why has the court drawn a line suddenly and so narrowly? he asked. The party is now planning its next move. According to Inam, the AIPs legal team is preparing to approach the Delhi High Court, challenging what they call a discriminatory parole order. The party argues that a serving MP, duly elected by the people, should be able to participate in the House without punitive conditions that reduce his role to a token gesture. We are not asking for privileges. We are asking for fairness. A man who won from jail and who represents lakhs of people should not be shackled in silence inside the very Parliament he was elected to enter, Inam said. A former MLA and vocal critic of both mainstream and separatist politics in Kashmir, Engineer Rashid has remained behind bars since 2019 under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA, linked to a terror funding case. Despite his imprisonment, he contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and won Baramulla with a stunning margin, defeating high-profile candidates including J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Since his victory, public pressure has been growing for his release or at least his presence in Parliament. The courts recent order answers that call partially. But for the AIP and many in Kashmir, the relief is thin and the restrictions speak louder than the permission. As the Monsoon Session of the Parliament is going on, Rashid may step into the Lok Sabha but not as a free man. Each day, his route will trace the same path: from the iron gates of Tihar to the echoing halls of the Lok Sabha and back again, under guard and silence. The Indian Air Force (IAF) will officially retire its last operational MiG-21 fighter aircraft on September 19, ending its more than six-decade service life that made the legendary plane the mainstay of India's air capabilities. The last ceremonial flight will be flown by the 23 Squadron, also called the "Panthers," from the Chandigarh airbase, India Today reported on Tuesday. The Soviet Union's Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau originally built the MiG-21. It took to the skies for the first time in 1955 and entered the IAF in 1963. It was a milestone in the form of India's very first supersonic fighter, which gained rapid popularity as an integral part of the country's tactical airpower. During its heyday, India was the biggest user of the MiG-21 outside the Soviet Union, with over 800 variants operational. Over its long and illustrious life, the MiG-21 served in every major military engagement since induction, from the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars to the 1999 Kargil war and the 2019 Balakot air raids. IAF reports and expert estimates attribute MiG-21s with downing numerous hostile aircraft during the 1965 and 1971 wars, playing a crucial role in securing India's air supremacy. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Its most recent significant combat action was during the Balakot operation, when Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman piloting a MiG-21 Bison shot down a Pakistani F-16 before being taken captive and then released. While its great combat history makes it a legendary fighter, the MiG-21 has also been severely criticized for its safety. Accounts suggest a tragic cost, with more than 200 pilots and over 50 civilians perishing in accidents involving the jet. The first reported accident was in 1963, and ominously, more than half of the 840 MiG-21s produced in India between 1966 and 1984 were lost to accidents. Its terrible safety record gave the plane the sad nickname "flying coffin." Reasons for its poor safety record are maintenance difficulties, airframe aging, and problems with the quality of spares. Public awareness of the problem was also boosted by the 2006 Bollywood movie "Rang De Basanti," which involved a MiG-21 crash resulting in a pilot's death. During its service life, the MiG-21 received a few upgrades, with the Bison being its most upgraded model to be serving in IAF. The September 19 retirement ceremony will mark the end of its active days in Indian skies, as the newer and more advanced models like the homegrown Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and the Rafale fighter aircraft are now the backbone of the IAF's current fleet of fighters. A shocking video has emerged from Maharashtras Thane, showing a female receptionist at a private clinic allegedly being assaulted by a man after she refused him entry into the doctors chamber. "Based on the victim's complaint, we have registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita for assault, using obscene language and outraging the modesty of a woman," a police official said, India Today reported. In a video, the man, identified as Gopal Jha, was allegedly intoxicated and tried to enter the doctors cabin and when the female receptionist tried to stopped him, he violently kicked her and dragged her by the hair across the reception area of Shri Bal Chikitsalaya, a private clinic. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Man ass@ults female receptionist for not allowing him to jump queue at Thane hospital. No arrest has been made. Accused, identified as Gokul Jha, kicked the receptionist and dragged her by her hair across the pediatric hospital's reception floor. pic.twitter.com/aYVYuD7k20 Ashwini Roopesh (@AshwiniRoopesh) July 22, 2025 The incident took place while the doctor was in a meeting with a representative and had instructed Sonali not to let anyone in. She was eventually rescued by clinic staff and relatives of other patients. The entire episode was captured on CCTV. The victim lodged a complaint at the Manpada Police Station, and following which a case was registered against Gopal Jha. According to India Today, Assistant Commissioner of Police Suhas Hemade said, We have filed a case based on the victims statement. We are searching for the accused, and details will emerge after his arrest. Ajith Kumar Custodial Death Case: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Tamil Nadu government to pay an interim compensation of Rs. 25 lakh to the family of Ajith Kumar, who died in police custody on June 28. Ajith Kumar was a security guard at the Madapuram Kaliamman temple in Tiruppuvanam in Sivaganga, and he was detained for questioning in connection with a theft. He allegedly died while in police custody. The post-mortem report of the security guard revealed 44 injuries on various parts of his body. As per the report, the deceased had sustained injuries to the forehead, right eyebrow, leg, and wrist. Injuries on the left forearm, wrist, and ankle were also reported. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source CBI Action In Custodial Death Case The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the probe of the alleged custodial death upon receiving direction from the Madras HC. Following the takeover, CBI officials paid a surprise visit to inspect officers at Tiruppuvanam Police Station in connection with the Ajith Kumar death case. According to ANI, two CBI officers, including Inspector Ramesh Kumar, visited the Tiruppuvanam Police Station and inquired about the police personnel and investigators. The inquiry lasted for about 15 minutes, after which the CBI officials left the police station. Tamil Nadu Govts Ex-Gratia Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that the Tamil Nadu government will provide full cooperation for the CBI probe. Informing about the decision, Chief Minister Stalin said, Considering that five members of the police department have been accused in this matter, and to ensure that no doubts or suspicions arise regarding the investigation, I have ordered that the case be transferred to the CBI. The Tamil Nadu government will provide full cooperation for the CBI probe. On June 15, Tamil Nadu Minister KR Periyakaruppan visited the family of Ajith Kumar, who died while in police custody, and handed over an ex gratia payment of Rs 7.5 lakhs on behalf of the state government. He was accompanied by District Collector K Porkodi, and the minister offered condolences to the family. (with ANI inputs) Delhi Traffic Police have launched a new advisory announcing heightened traffic restrictions and diversions in many parts of the city, expecting a massive influx of Kanwarias and Dak Kanwarias on Tuesday. This influx is predicted specifically on Yudhisthir Setu and Boulevard Road, and also at Hanuman Mandir, Yamuna Bazar. Authorities expected extreme traffic jam on Ring Road, particularly on Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Yudhisthir Setu, and Boulevard Road, because of the huge number of devotees. In order to control the situation and reduce inconveniences to the general public, restrictions on traffic will be enforced from 9:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight) on July 22. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Important Restrictions: Yudhisthir Setu to Shahdara (via Tis Hazari): Bus and commercial vehicle movement will be limited. Boulevard Road (ISBT Kashmiri Gate to Tis Hazari): Commercial vehicle entry will be disallowed. Lothian Road (GPO Chowk to ISBT Kashmiri Gate): Commercial vehicles will be barred from movement. Traffic Diversions For Commercial Vehicles: Through Ring Road (MGM) from GPO Chowk (Hanuman Mandir side) to Tis Hazari: Commercial traffic will be diverted from Kashmiri Gate Metro Gate No. 5 (Outer ISBT Kashmiri Gate). They are advised to take Ring Road towards Yamuna Marg Raj Niwas Marg Rajpur Road Dr. Karnwal Road, up to Barf Khana Chowk and then further. From Tis Hazari side to Yudhisthir Setu: Commercial traffic and buses will be diverted from Kashmiri Gate Metro Gate No. 5. They can take Ring Road left turn U-turn from Math Ring Road Hanuman Mandir Outer Ring Road Akshardham Temple NH-24 and move ahead. Commuters are strongly discouraged from using these impacted roads and make their travel plans keeping the advisory in view. The Delhi Traffic Police requests the public and drivers to remain patient, follow traffic rules and road sense, obey the directions of traffic personnel placed at each crossroads, and keep abreast of Delhi Traffic Police sources for current developments. Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) are gearing up for a week of sporadic rain and thunderstorms, as India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for the area. The wet spell, which started with moderate to heavy rains on Monday, brought welcome relief from the heat, though it could lead to travel disruptions. On Tuesday, the minimum temperature was 26 degrees Celsius, and the weather is expected to be cloudy throughout the day. The maximum temperature is expected to be around 35 degrees Celsius. The IMD forecast is for light to moderate rain, along with thunderstorms and lightning, in the next two days. Scattered showers are expected to continue till July 27, with skies mostly overcast. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source This ongoing rainy weather is attributed to a cyclonic circulation over western Rajasthan and adjoining areas of Pakistan, coupled with an active monsoon trough extending from Jammu to the Bay of Bengal. These meteorological conditions are instrumental in maintaining the current wet spell across Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad. Because of the expected heavy rains, the IMD has declared a yellow alert for Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Punjab, and asked people to "be aware" of possible disruptions. Travel Advisory Issued For IGI Airport Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport officials have also issued a travel advisory to passengers. At 10:23 AM on X (previously Twitter), the airport said, "According to the Indian Meteorological Department's prediction, bad weather conditions are forecasted in Delhi. Yet, Delhi Airport operations are normal at present. Our ground staff is working hard with all stakeholders to keep your journey as smooth as possible. To get the latest flight updates, passengers are requested to call their respective airlines." Joining the advisory, airline SpiceJet also cautioned its passengers about possible weather-induced delays. "Because of bad weather (heavy rain) at Delhi (DEL), all departures/arrivals and their resultant flights may be impacted. Passengers are asked to check the status of their flight through http://spicejet.com/#status," the airline put out on X. #WeatherUpdate: Due to bad weather (heavy rain) in Delhi (DEL), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected. Passengers are requested to check their flight status via https://t.co/2wynECZugy. SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) July 22, 2025 Commuters are urged to keep themselves informed through airline alerts and traffic police advisories before they step out. In a controversial case that has sparked national debate, an investigation by ZEE News has revealed that members of an alleged religious conversion racket in Delhi believe they are acting on divine command. Abdul Rehman, identified as a key figure in this network, has been accused of orchestrating the mass conversion of Hindus to Islam. In a startling video, Rehman's wife and daughter, both seen in burqas, openly claim on camera that converting people to Islam is a command from Allah. Their calm and confident manner during the interview raised concerns among viewers and experts alike, suggesting a deep-rooted ideological influence. The women, showing neither hesitation nor remorse, stated that their actions were in line with religious duty. Rehman and his family, much like the earlier exposed figure Chhangur, allegedly turned religious conversion into a full-time operation based out of Delhi. In today's DNA, ZEE News questioned whether such acts are truly endorsed by Islamic scripture. To explore this, the news channel consulted Islamic scholars and examined Quranic teachings on the matter. The scholars unanimously stated that Islam strictly prohibits forced or manipulative conversions. According to their interpretation, the Quran does not support coercion in matters of faith under any circumstances. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source A key verse cited was Surah Yunus, Ayah 99, which clearly states: If your Lord had willed, all the people on earth would have believed. Will you then compel people to become believers? Scholars explained that this verse conveys a powerful message of religious freedom and coexistence, rejecting any form of force or deceit in conversion practices. Further, scholars pointed out that pressuring or luring individuals into changing their faith through fear, greed, or misinformation is both a sin in Islam and a crime under Indian law. They emphasized that such actions distort the essence of Islamic teachings and do not reflect the principles of the Prophet Muhammad, who preached tolerance and respect for all faiths. In light of this, religious scholars condemned the actions of Abdul Rehman and others accused of similar offenses, calling them dangerous extremists who exploit religion for personal or political agendas. They warned that such misinterpretations of the Quran not only mislead people but also harm the social fabric of the country. Through this investigation and conversations with Islamic scholars, it becomes evident that the Quran does not endorse forced religious conversion. Instead, the practice promoted by figures like Abdul Rehman stems from personal fanaticism and deliberate misreading of sacred texts, which must be addressed both spiritually and legally. One person died while three others sustained serious injuries after a truck hit multiple pedestrians in Delhi's Sarita Vihar area, police said. Four injured persons were rushed to Apollo Hospital by local residents and PCR personnel. One of them, identified as Sabbir, a 36-year-old resident of Dakshin Puri, Ambedkar Nagar, was declared brought dead. The other three, Md. Shanur (32), Suresh (44), and Bibti (80), sustained grievous injuries and are undergoing treatment. According to the Delhi Police, on Monday, information regarding a road traffic accident near Okhla Tank Bus Stand was received at the Sarita Vihar police station around 10:15 a.m. A police team promptly arrived at the scene and found a badly damaged motorcycle and debris from fruit carts scattered across the roadside. The Crime Team of the South East District was called to the scene, and a video of the site was conducted. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Eyewitnesses present at the spot disclosed that at around 10:15 AM, a truck loaded with gas cylinders came from the Ashram side, first collided with a parked motorcycle and thereafter rammed into multiple pedestrians. The driver of the offending vehicle did not stop and attempted to flee from the scene. However, he was apprehended by alert traffic police officials at the red light near Apollo Hospital. Md. Shanur, a resident of Hazi Colony, Gaffar Manzil, Jamia Nagar, suffered head and pelvic injuries along with nasal and oral bleeding. Suresh, from Sanjay Colony, Okhla, sustained head and leg injuries with shoulder pain. Bibti, also a resident of Sanjay Colony, Okhla Phase-2, suffered a head injury. Based on the statements of eyewitnesses, medical reports, and inspection of the scene, an FIR has been registered under Sections 281, 125(a), and 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The accused driver, identified as Brhamdeo Singh, 43, a resident of Hanuman Nagar, District Sitamarhi, Bihar, has been apprehended. The offending vehicle has also been seized. Further investigation in the matter is underway. Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President of India, resigned from his position on Monday, citing health concerns as the primary reason. Dhankhar, who was also the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, sent his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu. Dhankhar had assumed office as the 14th Vice President of India in 2022. He submitted his resignation to the President, expressing his intention to prioritise his health and adhere to medical advice. Jagdeep Dhankhars Resignation Letter Add Zee News as a Preferred Source In his resignation letter addressed to the President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar extended gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers. "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," his letter read. Jagdeep Dhankhar's Law Journey Born on May 18, 1951, Jagdeep Dhankhar hails from Village Kithana, Jhunjhunu District, Rajasthan, and is married to Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar. He graduated with a B.Sc. (Honors) Physics from Maharajas College, Jaipur, affiliated to the University of Rajasthan. Jagdeep Dhankhar is an LLB holder from the University of Rajasthan (1978-1979). He was enrolled with the Bar Council of Rajasthan as an advocate in 1979. He was elected a Member of the Rajasthan Bar Council in the year 1988. Designated as Senior Advocate by the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan in 1990, Jagdeep Dhankhar practiced primarily in the Supreme Court, and his focus area of litigation was in the field of Steel, Coal, Mining, and International Commercial Arbitration, amongst others. He has appeared in various High Courts in the country and was the senior-most designated Senior Advocate of the State till assuming the Office of the Governor on July 30, 2019. Jagdeep Dhankhar's Parliamentary Journey Jagdeep Dhankhar was elected to the 9th Lok Sabha from Jhunjhunu Parliamentary Constituency in the year 1989. Following this, he served as the Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in 1990. Later, he was elected to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from Kishangarh Constituency in Ajmer district in the years 1993 to 1998. Subsequently, he served as Governor of West Bengal from July 30, 2019, to July 18, 2022, and after this assumed the role of Vice President of India. Rajya Sabha's Functions Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation raises questions about leadership in the Rajya Sabha, given that the Vice President serves as its ex-officio Chairman. IANS reported, citing legal experts and parliamentary insiders, that no constitutional crisis is likely to arise after this departure. The provision for resignation is clear, and in the Vice President's absence, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha assumes the responsibility of presiding over its sessions. Until a new Vice President is elected, a process that must occur within six months, the Deputy Chairman will continue to oversee proceedings and uphold parliamentary norms. History Of VPs Resigning Jagdeep Dhankhars resignation mid-term places him in a rare constitutional club, becoming the third Vice President of India to step down before the conclusion of his tenure. He has officially attributed his decision to health concerns; however, its timing during the ongoing Monsoon Session has added layers of intrigue. Taking a flashback, Vice Presidents VV Giri and R Venkataraman both resigned to ascend to the presidency; their departures were shaped by clear political transitions. However, Dhankhars exit appears final, with no indication of future public office. The Vice Presidents role in Indian governance, while not executive in nature, is crucial for the functioning of the Rajya Sabha. His resignation, therefore, is not just a personal or political moment. (with IANS inputs) Kokates statement comes after he rejected the oppositions demand for resignation in connection with his video over playing rummy during the just concluded monsoon session of the state legislature. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was in Gadchiroli, expressed serious displeasure over Kokates remarks, saying that it is not right for a minister to make such a statement. Kokate, in the press conference earlier, said: The government takes one rupee from the farmers. But it does not give a single rupee to the farmers. The government takes money. So who is the beggar? The government is the beggar, not the farmers. However, my statement was misinterpreted. One rupee is not a very big price. Due to this one-rupee insurance, five and a half lakh bogus applications were received in Maharashtra. This incident happened during my tenure. After that, we immediately cancelled those bogus applications and made some new announcements. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Kokate had made a controversial statement a few months ago while talking about the crop insurance of farmers. He had commented, Nowadays, even beggars do not take a single rupee. However, we gave crop insurance to farmers for one rupee. Some people misused this scheme. While clarifying his earlier comment, Kokate today said that the government is a beggar and not the farmers. However, CM Fadnavis said, I have not heard any of his statements. But if he has made such a statement, it is wrong. It is wrong for any minister to make such a statement. Very wrong information has been spread about crop insurance." Meanwhile, the Congress party attacked Kokate, saying that by calling the government "a beggar," he has showcased extreme insensitivity. State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said, A minister like Kokate should not be retained in office even for a minute. Then why is the Chief Minister backing him? Does Fadnavis not have the courage to sack Kokate? Sapkal said that a video of Kokate playing online rummy in the Legislative Council has been widely circulated across media and social platforms. Farmers are struggling, compensation for losses due to unseasonal rains has not been given, crops are not fetching fair prices, loan waivers are still pending despite being promised, and some regions are facing the crisis of re-sowing due to failed crops, he added. He said that Kokates actions and irresponsible remarks show his utter lack of seriousness. With such statements, he shamelessly pretends he has done nothing wrong. This is the height of brazenness, and it appears even the Chief Minister does not command any respect from Kokate. Such an insolent minister should be immediately shown the door, but since that hasnt happened, it suggests that Fadnavis is somehow helpless or constrained. Such individuals tarnish Maharashtras image, Sapkal urged. Sapkal further said that by repeatedly making controversial statements, Kokate has discredited the dignity of his ministerial office. He said that a person like him remaining in a ministerial post is neither in the interest of the state nor the farmers. The rate of farmer suicides in Maharashtra is alarming, and it is nothing to be proud of. Therefore, Kokate must be removed from his position without delay and sent home with a coconut (a traditional symbolic farewell), he added. The state NCP SP womens wing chief Rohini Khadse also slammed Kokate, saying that many people sacrificed their lives to build this Maharashtra. To lead Maharashtra on the path of development and progress, from Yashwantrao Chavan to the respected Vilasrao Deshmukh, many eminent leaders worked tirelessly day and night. How could your tongue twist to call such a 'great' state a beggar? She further asked, Don't you have the capability to work for Maharashtra? Your capability is only good enough for playing rummy. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Graphical abstract. Credit: Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2025.107080 Aging skin stretches, contracts and buckles under pressureand that's how wrinkles form, according to new experimental evidence from scientists at Binghamton University, State University of New York. Examining human skin samples, a research team including Binghamton University Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering Guy German found that older skin is more prone to wrinkles. Why? Wrinkles form when your skin stretches in one direction and contracts in the other direction, causing it to buckleand this gets more pronounced as you age. Consider your favorite hoodie, for example. After years of wear, it gets stretched out in different places. Your skin does something similar. "This is no longer just a theory," said German. "We now have hard experimental evidence showing the physical mechanism behind aging." Scientists have long believed that skin wrinkles as you age due to a number of factors (e.g., genetics, pathological conditions and solar photodamage). Previous research using computational models has shown changes in the mechanical properties and structure of the dermal layer (the skin layer that contains collagen and elastin and provides structural support) that come with aging, but this has never been validated experimentally, with actual skin samples, until now. This research is one of German's lifetime goals, a "Holy Grail" in skin mechanics, he said. The cosmetics industry releases so many different anti-aging products, it can be headache-inducing to know what is good and what is snake oil. "When I got into this field, that was one of my goalscan I figure out aging?" said German. "Because if I look at the TV, the radio, online, at shops, I'm being told 1,000 different things about how to improve my skin health, and I want to know what's right and what isn't. And so I thought I'd skip to the end and try and figure it out myself. " German and former Binghamton graduate student Abraham Ittycheri and undergraduate student Alejandro Wiltshire used a low-force tensometer to stretch tiny strips of skin from people ages 16 through 91, simulating the forces the skin naturally experiences. They found that when skin is stretched in one direction, it contracts in the other direction. But this contraction gets bigger with age, resulting in the formation of wrinkles. "If you stretch Silly Putty for instance, it stretches horizontally, but it also shrinks in the other directionit gets thinner. That's what skin does as well," said German. "As you get older, that contraction gets bigger. And if your skin is contracted too much, it buckles. That's how wrinkles form." Your skin has one set of mechanical properties when you're young, but as you get older, things begin to change and get a bit "wonky," said German. "Things degrade a bit, and it turns out the skin stretches laterally more, which causes the actual wrinkles that form," said German. "And the reason why that exists in the first place is that your skin is not in a stress-free state. It's actually stretched a little bit. So there are inherent forces within your skin itself, and those are the driving force towards wrinkles." With summer approaching, German noted that premature aging from spending chronic periods out in the sun can have the same effect on your skin as chronological aging. "If you spend your life working outside, you're more likely to have more aged and wrinkled skin than those who are office workers, for example," he said. "Chronological aging and photoaging give you similar results. So go and have a fab summer, but don't forget the suntan lotionyour future self will appreciate it." The paper, "Elucidating the Mechanistic Process of Age Induced Human Skin Wrinkling," was published in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. More information: Abraham Ittycheri et al, Elucidating the mechanistic process of age induced human skin wrinkling, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2025.107080 New Delhi: In May 2025, as skies crackled with fire between India and Pakistan, a peculiar hush followed one specific strike. A place that is always whispered about but rarely named aloud Kirana Hills. Known in military circles as a suspected hideaway for Pakistans nuclear warheads, this location now finds itself under a cloud of satellite speculation. An intriguing claim has surfaced, not from any anonymous source, but from a respected name in the world of open-source intelligence. Damien Symon, a geo-intelligence researcher who has spent years decoding satellite imagery and monitoring warzones from the sky, posted something that raised eyebrows. A few high-definition frames from updated Google Earth imagery. A note that something may have scorched the Kirana Hills. Not deep. Not destructive. But deliberate. Symon, who operates under the social media handle @detresfa, did not suggest a blast that ripped through mountain tunnels or crumbled bunkers. Instead, he spoke of a single blemish, an impact scar. One that does not disturb the fortified caves beneath but leaves a mark nonetheless. A message in smoke. A tap on the shoulder. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source As images from June 2025 surfaced, Symon pointed out two changes in Pakistans Sargodha region. First, damage near the Kirana Hills. Second, runways at the nearby Sargodha airbase that had been patched up after Indian strikes. His interpretation? India may have chosen a strategic warning strike on the Kirana Hills. A symbolic nudge. One that did not penetrate, but pointed straight at something precious. Imagery update from Google Earth of the Sargodha region, Pakistan, captured in June 2025, shows - 1 - the impact location of India's strike on Kirana Hills in May 2025 2 - repaired runways at Sargodha airbase post India's strikes in May 2025 pic.twitter.com/BLOXYB9fKP Damien Symon (@detresfa_) July 18, 2025 The Indian government, meanwhile, maintains a denial. During a press briefing on May 12, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti made it clear, We have not hit Kirana Hills. Whatever is there, I did not brief that yesterday. The message was firm. The military line has not budged. Around the same time, smoke columns caught the attention of digital sleuths. Videos posted online showed plumes rising near rugged hills. Analysts began digging. It hovered uncomfortably close to Kirana. Social media lit up. Threads speculated. Images floated. People claimed Kirana Hills were hit. Some saw it as proof of India calling Pakistans nuclear bluff. Others saw clever psychological warfare, impact without incursion. Symon replied to a users question about whether the imagery implied a deep strike. He was unequivocal, No. This along with earlier imagery indicates no underground penetration. Just one side of a hill. No critical assets nearby. Must have been a warning. The tunnels are farther away. No damage there. To understand why this one strike matters, it is necessary to go back to how things unfolded in May. India launched precision strikes on May 7 in retaliation for a terror attack on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam, where 26 innocent civilians lost their lives. The Indian response was swift and calculated. Eleven Pakistani military locations were hit. Among them were Nur Khan near Rawalpindi, Rafiqui, Murid, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, Pasrur and Sialkot. The strike on Nur Khan airbase, near Pakistans military nerve centre, drew global attention. Located alarmingly close to the Strategic Plans Division, which manages Pakistans nuclear arsenal, the Nur Khan attack was seen as a game-changer. The New York Times quoted a former U.S. official who suggested that the strike could have rattled Pakistans nuclear security nerves. The possibility of India demonstrating a decapitation capability was not ruled out. Satellite imagery later suggested that even the Mushaf airbase in Sargodha was hit with loitering munitions. This airbase is associated with underground bunkers said to store nuclear warheads yes, the same facility closely tied to the Kirana Hills. The Indian military leadership has not confirmed this strike beyond general statements. But Symons recent findings, if verified, add to the belief that India intended to send a direct signal dont cross the line; we can reach wherever we want to. This is where Symons credibility matters. Known for exposing doctored images and false claims, especially during periods of high tension, he is not easily dismissed. He flagged fake visuals spread by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR the media and public relations wing of Pakistans armed forces), confirmed hits on military targets and used tools like LANDSAT, KawaSpace and MazarVision to ground his assessments in visual proof. More than a show of firepower, Operation Sindoor was a mind game. A move-and-countermove battle played out in the skies and on screens, maps and strategic nerve centres. While India insists that Kirana Hills were left untouched, Symons evidence continues to echo across defence circles. If the hit did happen, even if just a scrape, it was not meant for destruction, but for precision, posture and psychological dominance. Sometimes the loudest statements are made in silence. And sometimes, the deepest impacts leave no crater. Mallikarjun Kharge and LoP Rahul Gandhi told the J&K Congress leaders and workers that they completely support the restoration of statehood to J&K. J&K Congress said on X, Congress President Mr @kharge ji and Leader of Opposition Mr @RahulGandhi ji interact with JK Congress leaders and workers at Indira Bhawan today. The Congress leadership has once again reiterated its demand for statehood for Jammu and Kashmir and for including Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule, stating that both issues will be raised in both Houses of Parliament during the Monsoon Session. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi extended their full support to the J&K Congress leaders and workers who had come to the national capital. The J&K Congress leaders and workers today staged a massive protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, led by JKPCC President, Tariq Hameed Karra, CLP Leader G.A. Mir, and AICC General Secretary in-charge of J&K and Ladakh Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain. The protest called for the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu & Kashmir and strongly condemned the BJPs undemocratic, authoritarian, and unconstitutional suppression of democratic rights in the region. A Congress spokesman said, A Congress spokesperson said, Over 500 Congress workers and leaders from across Jammu & Kashmir travelled to Delhi by buses, raising slogans such as Delhi Chalo and Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq. Braving long journeys and security restrictions, they came to amplify the voice of the people of the erstwhile state. Carrying placards that read Loktantra Bahal Karo, Statehood Wapas Karo, and Jammu Kashmir Ke Saath Nyaay Karo, the protest featured passionate speeches, patriotic slogans, and a united call to end bureaucratic rule and restore democracy. Addressing the protest at Jantar Mantar, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K. C. Venugopal said, When the Lt. Governor himself admits to grave security lapses in the Pahalgam terror attack, it vindicates our stand. Unelected, unaccountable administrators cannot replace a democratically elected government. Jammu & Kashmir deserves its dignity, its Assembly, and its voice. The Congress Party will not rest until democracy is fully restored. This Delhi protest is part of the Congress partys sustained movement and follows two major demonstrations previously held in Jammu and Srinagar. On Sunday, the Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) organised a major protest at the city centre in Jammu, where PCC president Tariq Hameed Karra and CLP Leader G.A. Mir were detained by police while peacefully demanding statehood, democratic elections, and restoration of constitutional rights. Despite the crackdown, hundreds of Congress workers continued their protest undeterred, reflecting the growing public anger against the BJPs repressive policies. On Saturday, the protest was held at the Congress headquarters in Srinagar, where senior leaders addressed a large gathering of grassroots workers who were cordoned off inside the premises by the state machinery, the Congress spokesperson added. Developed by the Home Department in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the portal aims to provide a user-friendly, centralized platform for families to access relief and rehabilitation benefits. It allows the kin of victims to apply for ex gratia relief, compassionate appointments under SRO-43 (a Jammu and Kashmir government scheme for the employment of the next of kin), and other financial or administrative assistance. Victims families can submit applications, upload necessary documents, and track the status of their cases in real time, reducing paperwork and bureaucratic delays. The web portal is designed to ensure transparency and speed in processing claims. It addresses long-standing issues faced by families, such as delays in relief disbursement and a lack of clear communication. The portals digital infrastructure enables seamless coordination between departments, ensuring faster resolution of cases. Lieutenant Governor Sinha will personally monitor the progress of cases to ensure timely redressal. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source The portal is part of a broader effort to provide structured support to victims families, addressing both immediate financial needs and long-term rehabilitation, including job opportunities for the next of kin. It is accessible to all eligible families across the Union Territory. The platform is managed by the Home Department and NIC, with user guides available to assist applicants. Earlier, on July 1, LG Sinha chaired a high-level meeting and directed authorities to reopen cases that had been deliberately buried, including those where FIRs were not registered or were marked as untraced. A high-level committee was formed to investigate such cases. In addition, the administration is identifying and restoring properties of terror victims that were encroached upon by terrorists or their sympathisers. Toll-free and district-level helplines have also been established to record grievances. The portal and associated measures build on LG Sinhas earlier efforts, such as the appointment of 40 next of kin of terror victims to government jobs, and form part of a comprehensive strategy to ensure justice, economic stability, and dignity for terror-affected families in Jammu and Kashmir. Who Will Be Next Vice President of India? In a surprise political development, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar shocked everyone by tendering his resignation on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. While Dhankhar cited health reasons, opposition parties claim that there is much more to his resignation than meets the eye. Dhankhar's term was due to end in 2027 and his resignation ahead of the Bihar polls has opened a mystery box of speculations. The resignation has triggered political speculation, particularly in Bihar, where it has quickly taken on an electoral tone in the run-up to the upcoming elections. Nitish Kumar In Fray For VP Post? RJD MLA Mukesh Roshan claimed on Tuesday that Dhankhar stepped down to make way for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to become the next Vice President. The RJD has been alleging that the saffron party wants to shift Nitish Kumar to the national role to make way for a BJP Chief Minister in Bihar before the elections, to retain control even after the polls. The RJD claimed that Kumar will soon resign as the CM of Bihar. The RJD has alleged that the BJP is working to dismantle the JD(U). Add Zee News as a Preferred Source However, the JD(U) has firmly denied the RJDs claims. JD(U) leader and Bihar Minister Madan Sahni dismissed the speculation, saying that Nitish Kumar will not become the Vice President and will continue to serve the state as the Chief Minister. Sahni accused the RJD of spreading false, fabricated rumours and emphasised that the NDA does not force decisions on its allies. Sahni further clarified that Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned due to health reasons and was not pressured to step down. He said there is no connection between Dhankhars resignation and Nitish Kumar. Top Contenders While the BJP is known for picking up a dark horse for top posts, predicting a name of the next Vice President is not that simple. One of the prominent contenders being considered for the Vice Presidents post, apart from Nitish Kumar, is Harivansh Singh, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and a Member of Parliament from Janata Dal (United). He has held the position since 2020 and is seen as a reliable figure aligned with the current administration. Other potential candidates reportedly include Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and former Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud. As per media reports, the BJP is also exploring the option of selecting a current state governorsimilar to the path taken by Jagdeep Dhankhar, who was West Bengals governor before assuming the Vice Presidencyor possibly a senior Union minister with significant experience in parliamentary affairs. In a major breakthrough in the Chandan Mishra murder case, a joint team of Bihar STF and Bhojpur police arrested three accused following an encounter in Bhojpur district on Tuesday. The encounter took place around 5.45 a.m. near a river on the Bihiya-Kateya road under the Bihiya police station limits. The police and STF, acting on intelligence inputs, surrounded the suspects linked to the Chandan Mishra murder case. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source In response, the criminals opened fire, prompting retaliatory fire from the police. Two of the criminals, Balwant Kumar (22, a resident of Liladharpur, Buxar) and Raviranjan Singh (20, from Chakrahi, Bhojpur), sustained bullet injuries during the exchange of fire. Balwant suffered injuries to his hand and leg, while Raviranjan was shot in the thigh. The joint team has also seized two pistols, a country-made Katta, two magazines and some live cartridges. The entire area was cordoned off, and a heavy deployment of police was seen in the area. Both injured accused were initially taken to Bihiya Hospital and later referred to a higher facility for treatment. A total of three accused were arrested during the operation, Bhojpur ASP confirmed. Sources revealed that leads obtained during the interrogation of the main accused, Mohammad Taushif alias Badshah, currently on a three-day police remand in Patna, led to the arrests in Bhojpur. Gangster Chandan Mishra was killed in Patnas Paras Hospital on July 17. Patna Police had earlier stated that nine individuals were involved in the planning and execution of the murder. With the three fresh arrests in Bhojpur, the total number of accused apprehended in the Chandan Mishra case has risen to seven. Earlier, police had arrested Mohammad Taushif alias Badshah (main accused), Nishu Khan alias Bhaijaan, Harsh Kumar, and Bhim Kumar from Kolkata. Now, Balwant Kumar and Raviranjan Singh (injured in the encounter), along with another suspect arrested on Tuesday, add to the polices progress in the case. The Bihar STF and Patna Police are intensifying their search for the remaining two absconding accused linked to the murder. The police are also focusing on recovering the weapons and the motorcycle used in the crime. The arrests are a significant step in dismantling the network behind Chandan Mishras murder, and further breakthroughs are expected based on information gathered during custodial interrogation. The renovation of the Vicharnag Temple in the old city of Srinagar is a significant project aimed at restoring a historic Lord Shiva temple, estimated to be around 2,100 years old. Located in the Nowshera area near Anchar Lake, the temple holds immense cultural, religious, and historical importance for the Kashmiri Pandit community and reflects Kashmirs diverse heritage. The restoration work began on July 19, 2025, with the foundation stone laid by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Akshay Labroo. Labour In-Charge Ajaz Ahmad Dar said, Work has started for the past two days. We are 10-12 labourers working here. We are currently conducting soil tests. Many officers visited, and the inauguration was done. A new building will be constructed because the old one was damaged due to water. It will take 56 months to reconstruct the temple. Conservation and restoration of the two main Shiva temple structures will be done by lifting the structures with jacks to preserve the original architecture. The renovation includes earth-filling to restore the sites original topography and the construction of an entry gate for aesthetic appeal. All construction will use traditional materials like ornamental wood and stonework to preserve the temples original aesthetics. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source The temple complex includes five sacred springs and two ancient Shiva temples, historically significant as a place of religious discussions (Vichar), and visited by figures like Jagat Guru Shankaracharya. The government has allocated approximately 4.585 crore for the project, which is being executed by the Roads and Buildings Department Srinagar under a heritage conservation scheme and the supervision of the Department of Archaeology, Jammu and Kashmir. The project is expected to be completed by July 2026. Sartaj Ahmad Bhat, AEE of the Roads and Buildings Department, said, We are reviewing the temple which is submerged. We are doing earth filling and constructing the gate and toilet blocks as well. The funding is from the Archaeology Department, and the executing agency is R&B Srinagar. We are lifting the temple with jacks so there will be no change in its structure. We are simply renovating it to retain its original architecture. The project has technical sanction of 4.5 crore and will be completed in one year. We are also undertaking construction of several other temples and mosques. This is a centuries-old temple, and we will also display its history on-site. The temple suffered significant damage during the terrorism in Kashmir over the past three decades, particularly following the mass migration of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s, which left it in disrepair. Vishwa Kashmiri Samaj, Zaara Foundation, and other prominent Kashmiri Pandit organizations have welcomed the restoration, emphasizing the need to rebuild the temple in its original glory while preserving its architecture. History of the Temple The Vicharnag Temple, also known as Vichar Sahab, is mentioned in Kalhanas Rajatarangini and is believed to have been the site of the 4th Buddhist Council during the reign of Emperor Kanishka (circa 78 CE). It was historically a center for religious and intellectual discussions, including debates among Kashmiri Brahmins on the Panchang, the Hindu calendar for the new year. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, with a prominent Shivalingam situated in a spring. It is believed to date back over 2,100 years, though exact construction dates remain uncertain. The name Vicharnag comes from the Kashmiri and Sanskrit word Vichar, meaning discussion or thought, reflecting the temples historical role as a center of intellectual and spiritual discourse. Kashmiri Brahmins would gather at the temple to discuss the Panchang, and it is said that the revered philosopher Jagat Guru Adi Shankaracharya visited the temple for such discussions. The temple is also believed to have been the site of the Fourth Buddhist Council (Sarvastivada tradition), convened by the Kushan Emperor Kanishka around 78 CE, reinforcing its role as a seat of learning in ancient Kashmir. The main temple features a large spring, measuring 430 feet in length and 35 feet in breadth, with a 3-foot-high stone cylinder housing a Shivalingam at its center, visible only when the spring's water level drops. The springs water is uniqueice-cold in summer and lukewarm in winterand a variety of fish can still be seen in it. One of the temples is built using chiseled and dressed devri stones, traditional to Kashmir, with stairs on the west and south sides of the spring, designed to face the morning sun. The site also includes a shrine dedicated to Goddess Parvati in her Annapurna manifestation, underscoring the temples ties to Kashmiri Shaivism. The temple was once a hub for religious and socio-cultural activity. With Shaivism having deep roots in Kashmir, future religious planning was discussed here, especially during the Chaitra Amavasya festival, celebrated on the last day of the Kashmiri calendar. Devotees bathed in the holy spring and performed puja at the temple, referred to as Vichar Sahab. The Vicharnag Temple remains a symbol of Kashmirs pluralistic heritage, reflecting its past as a center of Hindu-Buddhist learning and Shaivite devotion. This restoration effort not only aims to restore a physical structure but also symbolizes a step toward cultural and spiritual revival for the Kashmiri Pandit community and the regions rich history. Ashok Kumar Karihaloo, a Pandit scholar, said, Its a very old temple, not hundreds but thousands of years old. Its not Vacharnag, it's Vichar Nag, a place where people sit and discuss. There is Lord Shivas Shivalingam inside the Vichar Nag and there are temples as well. A spring here has hot water in winter and cold water in summer. In early times, there was no printing, so learned Brahmins from north, south, east, and west of Kashmir would gather here and write the yearly calendar. On Amavasya, when the moon is born, those four groups would meet here, and whichever calendar matched would be finalized as the Panchang and distributed across locations. Adi Guru Shankaracharya visited this site around 800 years ago. It is a very pious place. What we celebrate on Amavasya used to be the celebration for the whole year. Its a welcome step by the government. Not only this but all religious sites should be cleaned and restored. We have immense faith in Vichar Nag." The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned a woman's substantial maintenance demand following an 18-month marriage, which included a house in Mumbai, Rs 12 crore in alimony and a BMW. The CJIs statement came after a woman demanded alimony after getting separated from her husband. She said, "Just the house in Mumbai, free of all costs. And Rs 12 crore as maintenance." While hearing an alimony battle, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai said, But that house is in Kalpataru one of the good builders. Youre an IT person. Youve done your MBA. Youre in demand ..Bengaluru, Hyderabad... Why dont you work also? Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Gavai added, You had a marriage for just 18 months and now you also want a BMW? As per Bar and Bench, the CJI further stated that the lady cannot claim the properties of his father also. A statewide bandh call has been given in Telangana for Wednesday, July 23, 2025, prompting widespread anticipation of school and college closures across the state. The bandh, spearheaded by student unions including the All India Students Federation (AISF) and Students Federation of India (SFI), is a protest against rising tuition fees, delayed scholarships, and infrastructural gaps in public education institutions. While the Telangana government has not issued an official holiday notification, most private and government educational institutions are expected to suspend operations as a precautionary measure. Several schools and junior colleges have already begun informing parents and students about the closure, citing safety concerns and potential disruptions due to the protest. The student unions have raised a series of demands, including the appointment of a dedicated Education Minister, extension of the mid-day meal scheme to junior colleges, and rejection of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. They are also calling for immediate recruitment to fill vacant teaching posts and the release of pending scholarship funds. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source The bandh is expected to impact daily routines across Telangana, especially in urban centers like Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Parents have been advised to stay in touch with school administrations for updates on reopening schedules. Meanwhile, district authorities are monitoring the situation closely to ensure public safety and minimize disruptions. The protest comes amid a broader national context of school closures on July 23 due to various reasons, including the Kanwar Yatra in northern states and official mourning in Kerala following the death of former Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan. After much delay, three AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters for the Indian Army arrived at Hindon Airport on Tuesday from the United States. The Indian Army Aviation Corps was waiting for the first slot of three Apache helicopters since 2024, as they were originally planned to be delivered in May 2024. Under a $800 million agreement signed with the United States in February 2020, the Indian Army was slated to receive six Apache AH-64E attack helicopters. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source AH-64E is one of the world's most advanced helicopters, and its induction into the Indian Army is likely to boost operational capabilities. "Milestone moment for Indian Army as the first batch of Apache helicopters for Army Aviation arrive today in India," the Indian Army posted on X. "These state-of-the-art platforms will bolster the operational capabilities of the Indian Army significantly," it added. As India faces hostilities with Pakistan on the Western front and China at the Northern border, these killer helicopters are intended to play a crucial role in supporting the Army's operations on the Western front. Its arrival on Tuesday assumes significance against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor. These specially designed killer helicopters are equipped with Hellfire missiles, 2.75-inch rockets, and 30 mm chain gun rounds. Because of their power and agility, they are also termed as tanks in the air and can fire 600-650 rounds per minute. It also has a Primary Mission Gross Weight of 15,075 lb (6,838 kg), Maximum Operating Weight 23,000 lb (10,432 kg), Maximum Rate of Climb 2,800+ ft (853+ m) per minute, and a maximum Level Flight Speed of 150+ knots (279+ kph). It is designed and equipped with the latest communications, navigation, sensors, and weapon systems. In March 2024, the Army's Aviation Corps raised its first unit, 451 Aviation Squadron in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, to deploy these helicopters. Notably, the Indian Armys purchase of Apache was also influenced by the Indian Air Forces experience with the Apache attack helicopter. The IAF has already received 22 such Apache helicopters as part of a separate deal inked in 2015. India on Tuesday made it clear that it won't bow down to the sanctions by the European Union and threats to the economy issued by the United States over the purchase of Russian oil. Addressing media ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United Kingdom, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that energy security is the government of India's top concern, and it will do what is needed to be done. "We have been very clear that insofar as energy security is concerned, it is the highest priority of the government of India to provide energy security for the people of India, and we will do what we need to do with regard to that. On energy-related issues itself, also, as we have said previously, it is important not to have double standards and to have a clear-eyed perception of what the global situation is insofar as the broader energy market is concerned," said Misri. He said that while India understands the security situation confronting Europe, the rest of the world is also dealing with some kinds of issues. "We do understand that there is an important and serious security issue that is confronting Europe, but the rest of the world is also there. It is also dealing with issues that are existential for the rest of the world, and I think it's important to keep balance and perspective when talking about these issues," said Misri. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Notably, Misri's comments came in the wake of the EU and the United States threatening India, China and Brazil against Russia ties. In its latest round of sanctions, the European Union has introduced stricter measures targeting Russian oil revenues. These include a lower price cap on Russian crude, restrictions on refined fuels produced from it, and new financial sanctions. The sanctions also extend to Rosnefts joint venture refinery in India and additional limitations on Russian banking accessall aimed at curbing Moscows ability to fund its war efforts through energy exports. The new restrictions are expected to have ripple effects on countries such as India, Turkey, and the UAE, which import significant volumes of Russian crude oil, refine it, and then export fuels like diesel, petrol, and jet fuel to European markets. Meanwhile, the United States under the Trump administration has also taken a hard stance. President Donald Trump and other senior officials have issued warnings to countries like India, China, and Brazilall part of the BRICS groupstating that continuing oil trade with Russia could lead to severe economic repercussions. In a televised interview on Fox News, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said, 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. He further added, What you're doing amounts to profiting off blood money, and we wont allow it to continue without consequences. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Social and lifestyle factors that influence the risk of cardiovascular disease vary by county across Mississippi and surrounding states. Credit: Mississippi Department of Health A team of researchers led by two University of Mississippi professors is working to unlock patterns and causes of the No. 1 killer of Mississippians: heart disease. Ruaa Al Juboori, assistant professor of public health and data analytics statistician, and Andrew Yockey, assistant professor of public health, analyzed data from 418 counties in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina. They used mapping and statistical methods to test hypotheses, explore patterns in heart disease rates, and identify key social and structural factors linked to those patterns. They found that especially high rates of coronary heart disease, or CHD, deaths were found in the Mississippi Delta and parts of western Alabama. These areas often face challenges such as poverty, shortages of health care workers and ongoing health inequalities. "One of the most promising findings from our spatial analysis was the protective role of health care provider availability, particularly primary care physicians, on coronary heart disease outcomes," said Al Juboori, lead author of the study that is published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. The results indicate that even small increases in the number of primary care physicians in an area can produce a substantial improvement in CHD rates and mortality, she said. "This highlights the impact that even modest investments in rural health care workforce capacity, through initiatives like loan forgiveness programs or rural residency incentives, could have on improving cardiovascular health," Al Juboori said. Not all Southern regions were ranked poorly. In fact, some performed better than expected, she said. "Despite facing structural disadvantages such as low broadband access, high rurality and economic hardship, Washington County, Alabama, stood out in this regard," Al Juboori said. "Despite limited provider density and a high proportion of households without digital access or vehicles, the county reported lower-than-expected CHD mortality." Treutlen County, Georgia, also stood out with better-than-expected cardiovascular outcomes despite structural challenges, said Neva Agarwala, a researcher at South College and a co-author of the study. "This may reflect state-supported efforts like the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center, which expanded telehealth access to over 130 rural clinics," Agarwala said. "The Georgia Department of Public Health also deploys community health workers to provide chronic disease education and support in underserved areas." "These initiatives help reduce access barriers and promote better health outcomes in rural communities." Social and lifestyle factors that influence the risk of cardiovascular disease vary by county across Mississippi and surrounding states. Graphic by Mississippi Department of Health A key takeaway from this study is that not all rural areas face the same challenges, Al Juboori said. Some counties have overlapping barriers including low income, aging populations and no access to providers or digital tools, while others may have strengths to build on. This study revealed that closing the digital divide is essential for expanding telehealth in rural areas. "In the Deep South counties we studied, approximately 10.3% of households lacked a computer or smartphone, and broadband infrastructure was still underdeveloped in many areas, especially compared to national averages," Al Juboori said. "This means that even where broadband is technically available, many residents are still unable to use telehealth due to affordability or lack of digital readiness." But technology alone is not enough, she said. "Telehealth needs to be paired with strong local health care infrastructure," she explained. "Mobile clinics and community health workers can help bridge the gap. Ultimately, telehealth can be part of a hybrid care model that combines digital tools with community-based support." Yockey suggested that taking inspiration from regions in the West where heart disease rates are especially low can be a good idea. "Denver, Colorado is a resilient county because everyone is healthy and they have resources," he said. "The cost of living is a little higher, but they have more things to better promote health and social well-being than Mississippi." According to South Denver Cardiology, Colorado has the third-lowest heart disease rate in the country, the fifth-lowest number of heart disease deaths per 100,000 adults between 45 and 64, and the highest percentage of physically active adults in the country. "Studying resilient counties with favorable outcomes that outperform expectations can help identify scalable, community-driven strategies to improve health equity," said J. Riley Morgan, of Tupelo, who earned a master's degree in public health in 2024. Morgan was among several Ole Miss graduate students in public health who assisted with the study. He helped review literature on telehealth and health access in the Deep South. "Improving health access in Mississippi's rural regions could also reduce long-term health care costs, increase workforce participation and strengthen the state's economy by keeping more residents healthy and able to work," he said. By 2030, the state will need an additional 364 primary care providers, 24% more than the 2010 workforce, to meet the demands of an aging, growing and increasingly insured population, according to the Robert Graham Center. "You look at Mississippi82 counties, and 80 of them have major health care disparities," Yockey said. "For example, 12 counties in Mississippi have been identified as 'high burden' for cardiovascular disease riskmeaning they rank in the top 25% statewide for obesity, physical inactivity, hypertension and have the lowest levels of health insurance coverage. There's a clear issue. "I grew up in a very rural environment, so having a rural health care approach really matters. We need a program that blends metropolitan and rural health. Rural counties are being neglected, no matter where you are." More information: Ruaa Al Juboori et al, Telehealth-Readiness, Healthcare Access, and Cardiovascular Health in the Deep South: A Spatial Perspective, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2025). DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22071020 Journal information: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Weather Update: The monsoon season is currently active across several parts of India, bringing widespread rainfall to both rural and urban areas. This seasonal downpour is vital for the countrys agriculture sector, which relies heavily on monsoon rains for crop sowing and irrigation. However, incessant rainfall also disrupts daily life, often bringing even major metropolitan cities to a standstill. Cities such as Gurugram, Delhi, and Bengaluru have experienced severe waterlogging and traffic disruptions due to the persistent rain. Experts are closely monitoring monsoon patterns, especially as several districts across various states remain on high alert. The water level of the Ganga River in Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi rose following heavy rainfall in the region. Other the other hand, a flood-like situation persisted in Rajouri after Dharhali and Saktoh rivers experienced rising water levels following incessant rainfall in the area, and Rajouri District Administration declared closure of all government and private schools in the district for July 22. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Himachal On Alert According to the website of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), an 'orange alert' was issued for Sirmaur, Mandi, and Solan districts as very heavy rainfall is predicted. Meanwhile, a 'yellow alert' has been issued for heavy rain in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, and Kullu. ANI reported on Monday that two people died in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, after a boulder hit a house amid heavy rain. Speaking to ANI, Ashwani, who is a Patwari, said, "Due to the rain, a landslide occurred last night. As a result, a boulder fell on a house, and two people tragically died in the incident. Their bodies were recovered from the debris with the help of the police and taken to Chamba Hospital. The government also provided immediate relief to the victims. Currently, we are further assessing the danger in the area and preparing a report on the losses." The bodies of the deceased were taken to the hospital. The danger is being assessed the and the report of loss is being prepared by the officials. Image: Himachal Pradesh IMD Prediction And Alert Telangana Rain Prediction The weather department has issued a heavy rainfall warning for some districts of Telangana, while others are likely to see "thunderstorm, lightning, squall, and more" for Tuesday. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has kept the entire state administration on alert in view of the heavy rains lashing the state. He directed all the district Collectors on Monday to be alert and take necessary precautions to ensure that people do not face problems due to floods and other rain-related incidents. He also asked all the other district authorities to be available around the clock during July and August. According to IANS, as rains are causing huge traffic jams in Greater Hyderabad, CM Reddy alerted all departments to work efficiently to solve traffic problems and take up rescue operations in the rain-hit habitations at a fast pace. At the same time, according to ANI, isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall was predicted over Kerala and Mahe, Coastal and South Interior Karnataka during July 19 to 25; Tamil Nadu during July 19 to 22. Image: Telangana IMD Prediction And Alert Gujarat Weather Update IANS on Monday reported that in 24 hours, five talukas in Gujarat have received up to 3.5 inches of rainfall, with significant showers recorded in parts of Junagadh and Vapi. The state has so far received 53.39 percent of its average seasonal rainfall this monsoon. Among the regions, Kutch has seen the highest rainfall at 63.35 per cent, followed by South Gujarat at 56.32 per cent, North Gujarat and Saurashtra at over 52 per cent, and Central-Eastern Gujarat at 50.06 per cent. To tackle any possible monsoon-related emergencies, the state government has deployed 12 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and 20 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams across several districts. An additional three NDRF teams and 13 SDRF teams have been kept in reserve. (with agencies' inputs) In a move that has stirred political circles in Uttar Pradesh, former BJP MP and ex-Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow. The meeting, though described as a courtesy call by official sources, is being seen as politically significant, especially in the context of the evolving dynamics in eastern Uttar Pradesh (Purvanchal). Brij Bhushan, a powerful figure in UP politics and particularly influential in the Purvanchal belt, has been under scrutiny in recent years following allegations of sexual harassment by several female wrestlers. While legal proceedings and public criticism continue, this meeting with the CM suggests that the BJP might not be ready to sideline him just yet. Political analysts believe that the meeting signals the beginning of a recalibration of power in the Purvanchal region, which has played a decisive role in shaping the states electoral outcomes. With the 2027 Assembly elections approaching, the BJP appears to be repositioning influential leaders to consolidate its voter base, particularly among Rajputs, OBCs, and other dominant regional castes. Brij Bhushans grassroots network, dominance in several districts, and ability to mobilize support make him a potentially crucial player in the BJPs strategy. The timing of the meeting, following a period of relative political silence around Singh, has raised eyebrows and invited criticism from the opposition. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Despite no official word from the Chief Ministers Office, political analysts view the meeting as more than mere courtesy. It signals Brij Bhushans continued influence and hints at a potential strategic role for him in the BJPs future plans for Uttar Pradesh. New Delhi: Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has shut down speculation linking him to a film based on the chilling Meghalaya honeymoon murder case. Recent reports had suggested that the actor was planning a murder mystery inspired by the real-life killing of Raja Raghuvanshi, allegedly murdered by his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi during their honeymoon. The reports claimed Khan was closely tracking the investigation, sparking widespread curiosity. However, the actor has now firmly denied any involvement, calling the reports completely unfounded. Aamir Calls Reports Baseless When approached by Bollywood Hungama for a comment, Aamir Khan flatly rejected the claims about developing a film on the murder case. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source There is absolutely no truth to it, Aamir stated. I honestly dont know where these stories start. The actors statement puts an end to the rumours that had been doing the rounds online. Aamirs Current Focus While Aamir is not involved in any project related to the murder case, he is keeping busy on other fronts. Fresh off the success of Sitaare Zameen Par, a spiritual sequel to his acclaimed 2007 film Taare Zameen Par, the actor is now preparing for a special appearance in an upcoming Tamil action thriller. Mine is a cameo in a Tamil action thriller directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, he confirmed. I cant say much about my role, but I come in at a crucial point in the plot. Fans are particularly excited about the project, which sees Aamir sharing the screen with South Indian superstar Rajinikanth. About The Meghalaya Honeymoon Murder Case The real-life crime that sparked the film speculation involves Sonam Raghuvanshi (24) and Raja Raghuvanshi (28), a couple who married in Indore on May 11. They traveled to Meghalaya for their honeymoon on May 20, but went missing just three days later after checking out of a homestay in Nongriat village. Rajas body was discovered ten days later in a gorge near Weisawdong Falls. On June 9, Sonam surrendered to police in Uttar Pradeshs Ghazipur, more than 1,200 km from the crime scene. She was arrested along with her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha, and three others accused of conspiring in Rajas murder. With multiple projects already lined up, including his upcoming cameo in a Tamil action thriller, Aamir Khan made it clear that he is focused on confirmed work and not involved in any murder mystery project. FAQs Q1. Is Aamir Khan making a film based on the Meghalaya honeymoon murder case? No, as per reports by Bollywood Hungama, Aamir Khan has denied any involvement and called the rumours completely false. Q2. What did Aamir Khan say about the murder mystery rumours? Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Aamir said that there is absolutely no truth to it," and he doesnt "know where these stories start. Q3. What is Aamir Khan currently working on? He is doing a cameo alongside Rajinikanth in an upcoming Tamil action thriller directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj. New Delhi: Ahead of the release of the 20th Installment of PM KISAN scheme, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has issued a a public advisory for the beneficiaries of the scheme. The Ministry has asked the beneficiaries to stay alert from false information regarding the PM Kisan. The Official Twitter Account of PMKISAN scheme under Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare) has tweeted, "Farmer brothers and sisters, beware of false information spreading on social media in the name of PM-KISAN. Trust only http://pmkisan.gov.in and @pmkisanofficial. Stay away from fake links, calls, and messages." Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Lakhs of farmers waiting for the 20th Instalment of PM-Kisan scheme under which Rs 2,000 will be credited into their bank account. There has been no official confirmation regarding the same yet. To avail the benefits of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, farmers should keep these 5 major things in mind 1. Keep your bank account linked with Aadhar card 2. Check your Aadhar seeding with bank account status 3.Keep your DBT option active in your Aadhaar seeded bank account 4. Complete your e-KYC 5. Check your Aadhaar seeding status under 'Know Your Status' module in PM Kisan Portal. PM Kisan Samman Nidhi 20th Instalment: How To check your name in beneficiary list? -Visit official PM KISAN website https://pmkisan.gov.in/ Portal - You will see the map of India under Payment Success tab. - On the right hand side, there will be a yellow coloured tab called "Dashboard" - Click on Dashboard - After clicking, you will be taken to a new page - On the Village Dashboard tab, you will have to fill your complete details - Select the state, district, Sub-District and Panchayat - Then click on show button - After this you can choose your details - Click 'Get Report' button - Now you can see your name in the Beneficiaries list PM-KISAN 19th Instalment Released In February The 19th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) was released in February this year at an event in Bhihar by PM Modi. During the event over 9.8 crore farmers including 2.41 crore female farmers across the country were transferred the 19th instalment Installment of the PM-KISAN Scheme, receiving direct financial assistance exceeding Rs 22,000 crore through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). PM-KISAN Launched In 2019 The PM-KISAN scheme is a central sector scheme launched in February 2019 by the Prime Minister to supplement the financial needs of land-holding farmers. Under the scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is transferred in three equal instalments, into the Aadhaar seeded bank accounts of farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. Indian Air Force (IAF) is looking for 114 combat aircraft to bolster its fighter stream and eyeing top jets from the United States of America, Europe and Russia for the same. Major defence companies have responded to the multi-billion dollar deal and USA's Boeing, which has already put its F/A-18 Super Hornet in the race, may also offer its F-15EX fighters to the IAF. Yunus has begun redrawing the nations military roadmap. And in that plan, Turkey is fast replacing China as the go-to partner for weapons, war machines and battlefield technology. A Special CBI Court in Patna on Tuesday sentenced an accountant of India Post to rigorous imprisonment (RI) for two years with a fine of Rs 1.10 lakh for drawing salary from another government department for three years. Patna Farmers Protest: On the third day of the monsoon session in Bihar, farmer advisors staged a demonstration keeping their demands. Police lathicharged farmer advisors for protesting against the government in Patna. Know what is the whole matter. Delhi Flood: The water level of Yamuna has increased due to the increase in the water level of Yamuna, now the water of Yamuna has reached the reach of Ring Road, while due to continuous increase in water, many areas situated on the banks of Yamuna have been submerged. The CB-CID, tasked with probing the death of a father-son duo who were allegedly thrashed by the police in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin, arrested a policeman, the main accused, on Wednesday. It have altered the FIR against the six cops of the Sathankulam Police Station and added IPC section 302. The accused, Sub-Inspector Raguganesh, was arrested and being remanded. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Cancer-immune cell interactions. Credit: Katerina Karaindrou x DALL-E By sparking the immune system into action, radiation therapy makes certain tumors that resist immunotherapy susceptible to the treatment, leading to positive outcomes for patients, according to new research by investigators at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and the Netherlands Cancer Institute. In the study, published in Nature Cancer, investigators dove deep into the molecular biology of non-small cell lung cancer to pinpoint what happens on a cellular and molecular level over time when the cancer is treated with either radiation therapy followed by immunotherapy or immunotherapy alone. They found that radiation plus immunotherapy induced a systemic anti-tumor immune response in lung cancers that do not typically respond to immunotherapy. The combination therapy also yielded improved clinical response in patients whose tumors harbor features of immunotherapy resistance. Clinically, the results suggest that radiation therapy can help overcome immunotherapy resistance in certain patients. "For a fraction of lung cancers where we aren't expecting therapy responses, radiation may be particularly effective to help circumvent primary resistance to immunotherapy; this could potentially be applicable to acquired resistance, too," says senior study author Valsamo "Elsa" Anagnostou, M.D., Ph.D., co-director of the Upper Aerodigestive Malignancies Program, director of the Thoracic Oncology Biorepository, leader of Precision Oncology Analytics, co-leader of the Johns Hopkins Molecular Tumor Board and co-director of the Lung Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence at Johns Hopkins. Researchers have long sought to better understand why some tumors grow resistant to immunotherapya treatment strategy that leverages the body's own immune system to fight cancer cellsand how to intercept that resistance. Radiation therapy has been proposed as one possible way to induce a systemic immune response because of a unique phenomenon called the abscopal effect. Radiation at the site of a primary tumor typically causes tumor cells to die and release their contents into the local microenvironment. Sometimes, the immune system discovers those contents, learns the tumor's molecular footprint, then activates immune cells around the body to attack cancer cells at tumor sites that were not the targets of the radiation, including some far away from the primary cancer in the body. Because of this effect, radiation therapy could potentially improve how well an immunotherapy works against a cancer, even far from the original radiation site. Yet little has been known about the molecular biology behind the abscopal effect, or how to predict when and in which patients it will occur. To study this phenomenon, Anagnostou and colleagues obtained samples from patients with lung cancer at different times throughout their treatment journey and from various locations in the body, not just at the primary tumor site. They collaborated with Willemijn Theelen and Paul Baas at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, who were running a Phase II clinical trial on the effect of radiation therapy followed by immunotherapy, specifically the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab. With help from Theelen and Baas, Anagnostou's team analyzed 293 blood and tumor samples from 72 patients, obtained at baseline and after three to six weeks of treatment. Patients in the control group received immunotherapy alone, while the experimental group received radiation followed by immunotherapy. The team then performed multiomic analyses on the samplesthat is, combining different "omics" tools, including genomics, transcriptomics and various cell assaysto deeply characterize what was happening to the immune system systemically and in the local microenvironment at tumor sites that were not directly exposed to radiation. In particular, the team focused on immunologically "cold" tumorstumors that typically do not respond to immunotherapy. These tumors can be recognized by particular biomarkers: a low mutation burden, no expression of a protein called PD-L1, or the presence of mutations in a signaling pathway called Wnt. Following radiation and immunotherapy, the team found that "cold" tumors far from the site of radiation experienced a prominent reshaping of the tumor microenvironment. Anagnostou describes this shift as the tumors "warming up," transitioning from little or no immune activity to inflamed sites with strong immune activity, including the expansion of new and pre-existing T cells. "Our findings highlight how radiation can bolster the systemic anti-tumor immune response in lung cancers unlikely to respond to immunotherapy alone," says lead study author Justin Huang, who led the multiomic analyses. "Our work underscores the value of international, interdisciplinary collaboration in translating cancer biology insights to clinical relevance." Huang was awarded the 2025 Paul Ehrlich Research Award in recognition of groundbreaking discoveries by young investigators and their faculty mentors at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. With Kellie Smith, Ph.D., an associate professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and a Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy researcher, Anagnostou's team focused on patients who attained long-term survival with combination radiotherapy and immunotherapy, and performed a functional test to find out what the patients' own T cells were doing in the body. In cell cultures, they confirmed that the T cells expanding in patients who received radiation and immunotherapy were indeed recognizing specific mutation-associated neoantigens from the patients' tumors. Finally, by tracking patient outcomes from the clinical trial, the team observed that patients with immunologically cold tumors that "warmed up" due to radiation therapy had better outcomes than those who did not receive radiation therapy. "It was super exciting, and truly made everything come full circle," says Anagnostou. "We not only captured the abscopal effect, but we linked the immune response with clinical outcomes in tumors where one would not expect to see immunotherapy responses." Using specimens from the same cohorts of patients, the team has recently been working to capture the body's response to immunotherapy by detecting circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the blood. That work was presented on April 28 at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Chicago. More information: Huang, J. et al. Combination of pembrolizumab and radiotherapy induces systemic antitumor immune responses in immunologically cold non-small cell lung cancer. Nature Cancer (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s43018-025-01018-w Journal information: Nature Cancer A viral office video showing employees dancing to welcome a foreign client has sparked online debate over professionalism on social media. While some praised it as cultural hospitality, others criticized it as inappropriate, raising questions about workplace boundaries and global impressions. New Delhi: With the clock ticking toward the August 1 deadline, India and the United States remain divided on key issues holding up a trade agreement. Agriculture and automotive components continue to block the finalisation of the deal, despite multiple rounds of negotiation between the two sides. The Indian negotiation team has returned from Washington after presenting its offer. According to sources close to the talks, New Delhi has placed its terms on the table and is now waiting. Agriculture, particularly the issue of opening the Indian market to U.S. farm imports, remains the core of the disagreement. India has cited concerns over the impact on domestic farmers and food security. The United States has expressed interest in securing agricultural concessions, especially as the outcome with India could set a model for its upcoming negotiations with Japan and the European Union. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Officials involved in the process have not dismissed the possibility of a sudden move by President Donald Trump, who has previously unveiled trade agreements with Indonesia and Vietnam that diverged from what negotiators had initially discussed. These deals, which followed direct conversations between Trump and the respective heads of state, have made Indian officials cautious. India has shifted focus toward a broader Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), targeting a resolution by September or October. However, with President Trumps unpredictable approach, a last-minute announcement for a mini-deal remains on the table. Both sides are aware of the political weight Trump places on trade announcements and their potential electoral appeal. From Indias end, agriculture and dairy continue to be areas where New Delhi has shown little room for compromise. From the U.S. side, resistance to reducing import tariffs on automotive components has been flagged as a sticking point. Officials have indicated that no agreement will be signed without addressing these core issues. Meanwhile, in a separate but related development, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking on July 21, said that the Trump administration is prioritising the quality of trade agreements over meeting specific timelines. We are not going to rush for the sake of doing deals, he told CNBC. When asked about the August 1 deadline, he stated that any decision to extend it would come from President Trump. Bessent also suggested that in the absence of agreements, higher tariffs could be reintroduced to increase pressure on negotiating countries. 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. He confirmed upcoming trade discussions with China, highlighting American concerns over Beijings continued purchase of sanctioned Iranian and Russian oil. Bessent said there are broader economic imbalances that need to be addressed in future talks with Beijing. On Japan, he said the administrations focus remains on the trade outcome, not the countrys internal political factors. He also indicated that the United States may push European countries to align with American positions, particularly if Washington proceeds with secondary sanctions on Russia. As of now, all eyes remain on President Trump. Whether he chooses to push through a trade deal with India before the deadline or hold out for further leverage remains to be seen. Indian officials have made clear that their side has submitted its final position and will wait for Washingtons next move. Gita Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will be stepping down from her role in August 2025 to return to academia at Harvard University, the IMF announced. Gopinath, a trailblazer in international economics, will be taking on the role of the inaugural Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics at Harvard. The IMFs Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva confirmed Gopinaths departure and said a successor will be named in due course. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Gopinath first joined the IMF in 2019 as Chief Economist, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Her leadership during a time of extraordinary global economic upheaval, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting macroeconomic disruptions, was widely recognised. In January 2022, she was promoted to First Deputy Managing Director, the Funds No. 2 position. In a post on X, Gopinath reflected on her nearly seven-year tenure at the Fund and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve at one of the world's foremost financial institutions. After nearly 7 amazing years at the IMF, I have decided to return to my academic roots. On September 1, 2025, I will rejoin @HarvardEcon as the inaugural Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics. I am truly grateful for my time at @IMFnews, first as Chief Economist and then as First Deputy Managing Director," she wrote. "I have had the privilege of working closely with the IMFs brilliant and committed staff, colleagues in management, the Executive Board, and country authorities. I am especially thankful to @KGeorgieva and her predecessor, @Lagarde, for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve the IMFs membership during a period of unprecedented challenges. I now return to my roots in academia, where I look forward to continuing to push the research frontier in international finance and macroeconomics to address global challenges, and to training the next generation of economists." Before joining the IMF, she served as the John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University. Under her leadership, the IMF played a key role in shaping the global economic response to crises, including COVID-19, supply chain shocks, debt distress in developing countries, and climate finance challenges. Her successor at the IMF is yet to be announced. Cairo (Egypt): The tanks entered before sunrise. Engines growled through the shattered streets of Deir al-Balah. Heavy tracks crushed the silence. Residents ran toward the west. Others gathered what little they could carry and followed a trail of smoke into the unknown. The Israeli army reached new districts in southern Gaza on Monday. Its target is neighbourhoods inside Deir al-Balah. Local reports say the tanks moved deep, not near the outskirts. The area is dense. Shelters packed. Thousands living in tents. Most of them already displaced. First from the north. Then again from central Gaza. Then again. Nowhere to go. No place untouched. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Inside the chaos, artillery shells landed on homes and mosques. Three people died. More were injured. Medics rushed through dust-filled corridors. At one mosque, the roof collapsed. Children pulled from underneath. Screams followed. Israeli sources told media outlets they believe hostages might be hidden nearby. That possibility led the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) to push deeper. That belief sparked the assault. In one corner of the city, a guesthouse caught fire. The building belonged to the World Health Organization. Flames lit the night sky. Glass shattered. Staff and families ran barefoot through alleys. Children screamed. The air thick with smoke and fear. The WHO confirmed the strike. Three attacks. One building. Dozens trapped inside. Male staff stripped and tied. Women pushed out of doors under threat. The soldiers searched everything. They questioned, scanned and detained. Two WHO workers and two relatives were taken. Only three came back. One remains missing. A few streets away, another facility was hit. A warehouse stocked with health supplies now lies in ruins. Burnt cartons. Broken medical kits. A place once meant to save lives now silent. Despite everything, the WHO chose to stay. Their words were clear. We will expand our operations. Their tone calm. Their decision resolute. Farther south in Khan Younis, an airstrike ripped through a tent. Five dead. A husband, a wife, two children and a neighbour. Medics worked through tears. There was no time to pause. More than 130 deaths in 24 hours. That is what Gazas Health Ministry reported. Over 1,000 wounded. Hospitals are collapsing. Fuel gone. Food low. Medicines finished. The head of Gazas field hospitals, Dr. Marwan al-Hams, was taken during a raid outside a Red Cross medical site. One journalist died. Another was injured. No ambulance reached them. No statement came from Israel. Silence followed. In Deir al-Balah, U.N. staff stayed inside offices. They heard the shelling. Two U.N. guesthouses were hit. Everyone inside took cover. Their location was known. Coordinates shared long ago. Still, the buildings were not spared. Health workers now survive on one meal daily. Hospital floors fill up with the sick and the starved. Children cry from hunger. Old men faint in waiting lines. Mothers whisper prayers. The Health Ministry warned again. More hunger deaths will come. Nineteen already lost since Saturday. And the food still waits. Warehouses full. Trucks parked across the border. Rice, flour and lentils ready to move. But the gates stay closed. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff inside Gaza send messages. Some say their own children have stopped eating. Food prices break records. One loaf of bread now costs more than a full days wage. Outside, in a different world, over 20 nations demand a ceasefire. Britain led the call. They criticised the aid system. Said it failed. Said too many had died waiting for handouts. Their voices echoed through diplomatic halls. Israel pushed back. Said the criticism was misplaced. Said it gave Hamas the wrong idea. No pause followed. Families of hostages gathered again. They held signs. They asked questions. They received no clear answers. They warned of the cost. Their words carried weight. Their faces told the rest. Since October 7, 2023, the war continues. That morning, Hamas gunmen crossed into Israel. Over 1,200 killed. Around 251 were held hostage and taken to Gaza. The military response has since left over 59,000 Palestinians dead. Every part of Gaza hit. No area untouched. Today, Gaza stands on edge. Its people tired. Its cities scarred. Aid blocked. Talks stalled. Lives in limbo. And still, the smoke rises. New Delhi: Pakistan has raised the issue of the Indus Waters Treaty at the United Nations. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis Philemon Yang in New York and brought up concerns over Indias decision to put the treaty into abeyance following deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam. He said decisions taken by India on the Indus agreement could affect regional stability. He conveyed that Indias approach was in violation of the longstanding water-sharing pact. He appealed for international attention, urging the United Nations and other global institutions to take note and step in. According to reports, Dar placed the focus of his meeting on India. He briefed Yang about Indias recent moves, the pressure on Pakistan due to water-related decisions and developments like Operation Sindoor. He said Pakistan was facing serious difficulties as a result. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Pakistan currently holds the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council. Officials in Islamabad see this as an opportunity to push long-standing concerns onto the international platform. Alongside the water issue, Dar also raised Kashmir, repeating Pakistans earlier statements about alleged human rights violations and asking for international involvement. Dar called for peaceful resolution of all disputes between India and Pakistan. He said talks based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions and the UN Charter were the way forward. The current round of tensions began in April after an attack on tourists in Pahalgams Baisaran meadow that left 26 dead. India responded by reducing engagement with Pakistan at multiple levels. One of the steps taken was the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, which governs how river water is shared between the two countries. India has since moved to stop water that was previously allowed to flow into Pakistan under the agreement. This has triggered concern in Islamabad, where officials fear the consequences of disrupted access to water. At the United Nations, Pakistan has framed its case not only as a bilateral dispute but as an international matter requiring attention. The treaty, signed decades ago, has survived wars and political upheaval. Its breakdown, Pakistan says, must not go unnoticed. Miami, Florida: Marie Ange Blaise was gasping for air when the women around her started screaming. The 44-year-old Haitian woman had collapsed inside the Broward Transitional Center. One of the detainees pounded on the cell door, pleading for help. But for over 30 minutes, no one came. We were yelling and yelling. She was not moving, the witness later told investigators. By the time a medical team arrived, Blaise had lost consciousness. She died shortly after. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Her story is one of many in a new human rights investigation that reveals widespread abuses at three immigration detention centres in or near Miami, Florida. Released on Monday by Human Rights Watch along with Americans for Immigrant Justice and Sanctuary of the South, the report offers a chilling glimpse into the lives of people detained inside Krome North Service Processing Center, the Broward Transitional Center and the Federal Detention Center. Maksym Chernyak had begged for a doctor. The 44-year-old Ukrainian national was suffering chest pain, fever and vomiting inside the Krome facility. For days, he was ignored. When he finally collapsed, guards accused him of using drugs. His cellmate, Carlos, said the claim was a lie. He was declared brain dead shortly after being taken out on a stretcher. He never regained consciousness. The report, based on interviews with detainees, their families, lawyers and even government records, accuses U.S. authorities of systematic neglect, inhumane treatment and medical indifference failures that may have contributed to multiple deaths. Treated As Less Than Human The 92-page report paints a disturbing portrait of immigration detention under the Donald Trump administration, highlighting how overcrowding, gendered abuse and denial of basic care became normalised within facilities already stretched beyond their limits. People in immigration detention are being treated as less than human. These are not isolated incidents, said Belkis Wille, crisis and conflict director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement accompanying the report. Detainees described being refused medication, punished for seeking mental health care and locked in solitary confinement for speaking up. One woman held in the male-only Krome facility said she was denied access to a shower for days and forced to use an open toilet in full view of male detainees. If the men stood on a chair, they could see right into our room. We begged to shower, but they told us it was not possible because it was a male facility, she alleged. Others described extreme overcrowding, with 30 to 40 people packed into spaces designed for six. Mattresses were scarce, and many slept on the floor. Soap, sanitary products and even drinking water ran short. At one point, detainees were told to relieve themselves in a bucket. A British businessman, Harpinder Chauhan, who was arrested by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after a routine appointment, recalled being threatened when he repeatedly asked for a toilet that flushed. They told us if we kept asking, they would create a problem we wouldnt like, Chauhan said. Alligator Alcatraz the Trump Deportation Machine The investigation links these abuses to a broader policy shift under President Trump, whose mass-deportation strategy flooded detention centres without providing adequate oversight or resources. As ICE scrambled to contain rising numbers, the government turned to quick-build detention projects, including a Florida state-funded facility nicknamed Alligator Alcatraz. Federal data cited in the report shows the number of detainees soaring from 39,000 shortly after Trump took office in January to nearly 57,000 by July. Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that the administration was seeking to scale up to 100,000 detention beds and fast-tracking new facilities on military bases and ICE properties. Passed earlier this year, Trumps 2025 budget includes an unprecedented $45 billion allocated to new detention centres. These deaths and abuses are not accidents. They are the direct result of a government that treats immigration enforcement as a battlefield and detainees as expendable, said one of the reports co-authors. Legal and Moral Violations The conditions detailed in the report violate both U.S. federal standards and international law, according to legal analysts. Immigration detention in the United States is supposed to be administrative, not punitive. Most detainees are awaiting court hearings or pursuing asylum claims, not serving criminal sentences. Yet the findings suggest that many are enduring worse treatment than those in prisons. Medical neglect, gender-based mistreatment, excessive use of force and lack of sanitation are among the top documented violations. The report also raises concerns about accountability, emphasising that ICE contracts much of its detention network to private corporations and local authorities with little federal oversight. The authors have called for a full investigation, the immediate release of vulnerable detainees and a halt to further detention expansion in Florida and nationwide. As for the families of Marie Ange Blaise and Maksym Chernyak, they are left with questions that may never be answered and the agony of knowing their loved ones died in places designed to keep them confined, not cared for. US President Donald Trump was caught off guard by recent Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and Syria and called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "rectify" both situations, the White House confirmed, according to CNN. A strike on the only Catholic Church in Gaza last Thursday drew an immediate reaction from Trump, who called Netanyahu to express his displeasure and ensure the Israeli leader issued a statement labelling the attack a mistake, CNN reported. Trump was also surprised by Israeli airstrikes in the Syrian capital Damascus, which came as his administration works to stabilise the war-torn country. "The president enjoys a good working relationship with Bibi Netanyahu, and stays in frequent communication with him. He was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and also the bombing of a Catholic Church in Gaza," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source "In both accounts, the president quickly called the prime minister to rectify those situations," she added. CNN noted that despite being close allies, Trump and Netanyahu share a complicated relationship marked by periods of mutual distrust. While they cooperated closely during this summer's joint air campaign in Iran, the personal dynamic between them has remained strained. Leavitt also pointed to diplomatic efforts in Syria led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has worked to ease tensions as the U.S. lifts sanctions and supports new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former rebel leader, CNN reported. Trump had hoped Netanyahu's recent visit to Washington would yield progress toward a ceasefire in Gaza, including the release of hostages held by Hamas and expanded humanitarian aid access. Despite Trump's repeated assertions that a deal was imminent, Netanyahu departed the U.S. without any announcement, CNN reported. CNN quoted sources familiar with the negotiations as saying all parties are still awaiting a response from Hamas to the latest ceasefire and hostage release proposal. In a statement Monday, Hamas said it was "exerting all our efforts and energies around the clock" to reach an agreement. Leavitt said Trump remains deeply concerned about the growing toll of the Gaza conflict. "The president's message on this conflict we've seen in the Middle East taking place for far too long, that has become quite brutal, especially in recent days, you've seen reports of more people dying. I think the president never likes to see that. He wants the killing to end," she said. She further praised Trump's efforts to push humanitarian aid into Gaza. "The president is the reason that aid is even being distributed in Gaza at all," Leavitt stated, as per CNN. "He wants to see this done in a peaceful manner, where more lives are not being lost." CNN also reported that over 1,000 people have died seeking humanitarian relief in Gaza since late May, according to local health ministry figures. Foreign ministers from 25 nations recently criticized Israel for "drip feeding" aid into the region. "It's a very difficult and complicated situation that the president inherited because of the weakness of the last administration. And I think he should be applauded," Leavitt added. "The president wants to see peace and he's been pretty clear on that." Bangladesh Turkey Defence Ties: The runway lights at Dhakas military airport glowed faintly on the evening of July 21. A sleek Air Force aircraft taxied before taking off into the night. Onboard was Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, one of the most powerful men in Bangladeshs interim government, heading to Istanbul, Turkey. This was not a routine visit. It was a quiet but telling signal of something deeper brewing between Bangladesh and Turkey. Behind closed doors in Dhaka, the interim government led by Mohammed Yunus has begun redrawing the nations military roadmap. And in that plan, Turkey is fast replacing China as the go-to partner for weapons, war machines and battlefield technology. Two Chiefs, One City Add Zee News as a Preferred Source Earlier this month, Bangladeshs Navy Chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan had also flown out of Dhaka. While his itinerary officially marked a private U.S. visit, a crucial segment of his journey placed him in Turkey between July 22 and 25. Both the Navy and Air Force heads being in Istanbul during the same week was not a coincidence. It was a calibrated show of intent. Invited by Turkish military leadership, they are now holding meetings that could redefine Bangladeshs defense ties. Discussions are reportedly centered around arms deals, joint training and strategic cooperation. The focus? Building a new defense spine that is not Chinese. Guns, Rockets and Tanks The early signs of this tilt had surfaced last year when Bangladesh quietly acquired 18 Boran 105 mm howitzer guns from Turkeys MKE Corporation. Those who know the defense corridors in Dhaka say this is only the beginning. There is an active plan to scale that number up to 200 units in the coming years. In the pipeline are Turkish-made TRG-230 and TRG-300 rocket systems, which are designed for high-speed and long-range devastation. Otokars Tulpar light tanks are also on the wishlist. If deals go through, Bangladesh will gain battlefield mobility it has not had before. A Silent Goodbye to China? China has long been the dominant force in supplying arms to Dhaka. But the mood is shifting. Earlier this month, an official trip by Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman to Beijing was cancelled without much explanation. The visit had been planned under an invitation by the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). Its quiet withdrawal has set tongues wagging in South Block and beyond. For decades, Beijing had counted Bangladesh among its reliable strategic partners in South Asia. But the new signals from Dhaka suggest that loyalty may no longer be guaranteed. The Man Behind the Curtain Observers in Dhaka say Yunus is shaping a new foreign policy doctrine through the backdoor of military diplomacy. His meetings with Turkish Defense Industry Secretary Haluk Gorgun during a hush-hush visit on July 8 were not just ceremonial. Gorgun met all three service chiefs. But it was his private conversation with Yunus, arranged discreetly by Bangladeshs military intelligence wing, that raised eyebrows. Sources familiar with the visit say that the mood was warm. Mutual interests were discussed. The tone was strategic, not transactional. A Broader Ideological Bond At the centre of this new closeness lies more than just weapons. There is an ideological undercurrent that aligns Yunus worldview with that of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Both share a deep admiration for the Islamic worlds lost past. Erdogan dreams of reviving the Caliphate-era influence. Yunus, meanwhile, faces growing pressure from Islamist groups within Bangladeshs political ecosystem. The shift from Chinas secular and communist approach to Turkeys faith-infused military industrial complex is practical as well as philosophical. Whats Next If Bangladesh continues on this path, it may soon sign deals that permanently alter its security alignment in South Asia. Indian defense watchers are already tracking this evolution with unease. The presence of two military chiefs in Istanbul, both negotiating arms deals simultaneously, could well be the start of a strategic triangle between Dhaka, Ankara and Islamabad. For now, the Yunus administration is not saying much. But in the skies above Istanbul and in the corridors of Turkish defense halls, a new kind of partnership is taking shape one that may redraw regional equations far beyond the Bay of Bengal. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The sarcophagus inside the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Credit: Anglia Ruskin University In November 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter peered through a small hole into the sealed tomb of King Tutankhamun. When asked if he could see anything, he replied: "Yes, wonderful things." Within months, however, Carter's financial backer Lord Carnarvon was dead from a mysterious illness. Over the following years, several other members of the excavation team would meet similar fates, fueling legends of the "pharaoh's curse" that have captivated the public imagination for just over a century. For decades, these mysterious deaths were attributed to supernatural forces. But modern science has revealed a more likely culprit: a toxic fungus known as Aspergillus flavus. Now, in an unexpected twist, this same deadly organism is being transformed into a powerful new weapon in the fight against cancer. Aspergillus flavus is a common mold found in soil, decaying vegetation and stored grains. It is infamous for its ability to survive in harsh environments, including the sealed chambers of ancient tombs, where it can lie dormant for thousands of years. When disturbed, the fungus releases spores that can cause severe respiratory infections, particularly in people with weakened immune systems. This may explain the so-called "curse" of King Tutankhamun and similar incidents, such as the deaths of several scientists who entered the tomb of Casimir IV in Poland in the 1970s. In both cases, investigations later found that A flavus was present, and its toxins were probably responsible for the illnesses and deaths. Despite its deadly reputation, Aspergillus flavus is now at the center of a remarkable scientific finding. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that this fungus produces a unique class of molecules with the potential to fight cancer. These molecules belong to a group called ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides, or RiPPs. RiPPs are made by the ribosomethe cell's protein factoryand are later chemically altered to enhance their function. While thousands of RiPPs have been identified in bacteria, only a handful have been found in fungiuntil now. The process of finding these fungal RiPPs was far from simple. The research team screened a dozen different strains or types of aspergillus, searching for chemical clues that might indicate the presence of these promising molecules. Aspergillus flavus quickly stood out as a prime candidate. The researchers compared the chemicals from different fungal strains to known RiPP compounds and found promising matches. To confirm their discovery, they switched off the relevant genes and, sure enough, the target chemicals vanished, proving they had found the source. Purifying these chemicals proved to be a significant challenge. However, this complexity is also what gives fungal RiPPs their remarkable biological activity. The team eventually succeeded in isolating four different RiPPs from Aspergillus flavus. These molecules shared a unique structure of interlocking rings, a feature that had never been described before. The researchers named these new compounds "asperigimycins" after the fungus in which they were found. The next step was to test these asperigimycins against human cancer cells. In some cases, they stopped the growth of cancer cells, suggesting that asperigimycins could one day become a new treatment for certain types of cancer. The team also worked out how these chemicals get inside cancer cells. This discovery is significant because many chemicals, like asperigimycins, have medicinal properties but struggle to enter cells in large enough quantities to be useful. Knowing that particular fats (lipids) can enhance this process gives scientists a new tool for drug development. Further experiments revealed that asperigimycins probably disrupt the process of cell division in cancer cells. Cancer cells divide uncontrollably, and these compounds appear to block the formation of microtubules, the scaffolding inside cells that are essential for cell division. Tremendous untapped potential This disruption is specific to certain types of cells, so this may in turn reduce the risk of side-effects. But the discovery of asperigimycins is just the beginning. The researchers also identified similar clusters of genes in other fungi, suggesting that many more fungal RiPPs remain to be discovered. Almost all the fungal RiPPs found so far have strong biological activity, making this an area with tremendous untapped potential. The next step is to test asperigimycins in other systems and models, with the hope of eventually moving to human clinical trials. If successful, these molecules could join the ranks of other fungal-derived medicines, such as penicillin, which revolutionized modern medicine. The story of Aspergillus flavus is a powerful example of how nature can be both a source of danger and a wellspring of healing. For centuries, this fungus was feared as a silent killer lurking in ancient tombs, responsible for mysterious deaths and the legend of the pharaoh's curse. Today, scientists are turning that fear into hope, harnessing the same deadly spores to create life-saving medicines. This transformation, from curse to cure, highlights the importance of continued exploration and innovation in the natural world. Nature has in fact provided us with an incredible pharmacy, filled with compounds that can heal as well as harm. It is up to scientists and engineers to uncover these secrets, using the latest technologies to identify, modify and test new molecules for their potential to treat disease. The discovery of asperigimycins is a reminder that even the most unlikely sourcessuch as a toxic tomb funguscan hold the key to revolutionary new treatments. As researchers continue to explore the hidden world of fungi, who knows what other medical breakthroughs may lie just beneath the surface? More information: Qiuyue Nie et al, A class of benzofuranoindoline-bearing heptacyclic fungal RiPPs with anticancer activities, Nature Chemical Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41589-025-01946-9 Journal information: Nature Chemical Biology This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A new study in the Journal of Hepatology marks an unprecedented five-year survival milestone in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. These results are poised to reshape clinical practice and inform future treatment decisions. Credit: Journal of Hepatology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2025.03.033 A new exploratory analysis of the HIMALAYA phase III trial involving patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC, an advanced liver cancer that could not be treated with surgery or other localized treatments) has shown that one in five (19.6%) participants treated with STRIDE (Single Tremelimumab Regular Interval Durvalumab) a combination of two immunotherapies, remained alive after five years of follow-up versus one in 10 (9.4%) participants treated with sorafenib, a standard treatment for uHCC when the study was designed. The findings from the new exploratory analysis of the HIMALAYA study in the Journal of Hepatology establish a new survival benchmark for people living with uHCC and may inform future treatment decisions by doctors and patients. Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a devastating disease that has historically carried a poor prognosis, with limited long-term survival largely due to late diagnosis and underlying advanced chronic liver disease. Previously reported results from the HIMALAYA study showed that participants treated with STRIDE lived longer than participants who received sorafenib. Now, findings from this exploratory analysis determined how long participants lived after five years of follow-up, and whether how long they lived was linked to changes in the size of their tumors after receiving treatment. Lead investigator of the five-year analysis, Lorenza Rimassa, MD, Humanitas University and IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy, notes, "Our finding that one in five participants treated with STRIDE is alive after five years represents a key clinical breakthrough in the advancement of treatment for uHCC. This remarkable five-year survival in a phase III trial was unimaginable only a few years ago and sets an unprecedented milestone that will inform clinical practice for years to come." Key findings include: HIMALAYA is the first phase III study to report five-year overall survival in uHCC. At five years, STRIDE sustained an overall survival benefit versus sorafenib and manageable safetythere were no new, late-onset serious side effects reported related to STRIDE. The overall survival rate at five years was 19.6% with STRIDE versus 9.4% with sorafenib, and participants who took durvalumab alone continued to live at least as long as those who took sorafenib. Overall survival with STRIDE was improved with disease control and any degree of tumor shrinkage, regardless of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST v1.1 response). Extended long-term overall survival with STRIDE occurred across all clinically relevant subgroups. Author of an accompanying editorial, Pierre Nahon, MD, Ph.D., AP-HP, Hopitaux Universitaires Paris Seine Saint-Denis, Liver Unit, Bobigny; France, comments, "The most striking result of this analysis is that one in five patients treated with STRIDE remained alive after five years, a milestone that underscores the long-term potential of dual immunotherapy in uHCC. The findings of this study offer a new horizon of hope for patients and health care providers alike, reshaping clinical expectations and treatment goals in liver oncology." International coordinating investigator of the HIMALAYA trial, Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa, MD, JD, MBA, Ph.D., Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, New York; and Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, concludes, "Overall survival is often discussed as a statistical endpoint in clinical trials, but for patients, it carries more personal meaning. "Patients are often most concerned with their individual likelihood of living for a certain number of years, surviving to attend key milestones like a child's graduation or traveling to see the world while preserving their quality of life to enjoy time with loved ones. The findings we report in this long-term follow-up of the HIMALAYA study are worth celebrating and may help patients understand what these outcomes mean for them personally in terms of real time that may be gained." More information: Lorenza Rimassa et al, Five-year overall survival update from the HIMALAYA study of tremelimumab plus durvalumab in unresectable HCC, Journal of Hepatology (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2025.03.033 A Butte-Silver Bow commissioner and some residents say urban camping is becoming a serious problem in Butte and they want local laws to regulate it. Communities across the country and here in Montana are grappling with the public health, safety and environmental changes posed by unsanctioned encampments in parks and other places, Commissioner Trudy Healy said at last Wednesdays council meeting. Several Montana communities have already enacted ordinances to address this issue, such as Bozeman and Missoula, she said. However, Butte-Silver Bow currently lacks specific ordinances that directly regulate urban camping. Several residents urged action, too, saying the campers are often homeless transients who congregate in parks, walking trails and near homes, have no sanitary facilities and sometimes cause problems. Commissioners agreed to send the matter to the councils Judiciary Committee for consideration of an ordinance. A first committee discussion is possible this Wednesday night. But County Attorney Matt Enrooth said commissioners need to consider several factors as they dive into the issue, including how local ordinances would be enforced, how permits would be handled and what strains might be placed on police and the jail. These are all things that need to be thought of prior to an ordinance being put in place, Enrooth told them. J.P. Gallagher, Butte-Silver Bows chief executive, acknowledged urban camping issues here and elsewhere but recommended a thoughtful response. Bozeman and Missoula have enacted laws and regulations that allow campers in certain areas, he said, but those cities have had to rethink what theyve done. You have groups of people that are put together some are homeless, some have mental health issues, some are criminals then you congregate them all together and they (the cities) are dealing with those issues, Gallagher said. There are some suggestions of creating encampments for these places and I think if you get a hold of Bozeman or Missoula, those have not worked and they have their challenges as well, Gallagher said. Healy said without an ordinance, Butte-Silver Bow cant respond effectively to the issue, and she and several residents say the problem is real. A lot of people are afraid to use the walking trail along Bell Creek because there are often transients camped in tents there, Healy said. Then when they leave, they leave garbage everywhere, she said. Healy said police responded to numerous calls about urban camping in and around Emma Park last summer, placing strains on public safety resources and our communitys sense of security and order. She noted a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court last year that reversed a lower courts decision prohibiting states and local governments from enforcing laws to prevent homeless encampments. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen applauded the June 2024 ruling, saying it was a huge win for cities across Montana that are suffering from unsafe public places. For too long local governments have been unable to address the rampant homeless camps and their side effects in communities across the state because their hands were tied, he said in a statement. Several Butte residents encouraged commissioners to act. James Madison said he lives in the Emma Park area and urban camping there has been ridiculous in the past year. Everybody has the right to do it but theres gotta be some rules, he said. Theres nothing stopping anyone from pulling up in the front of your house, pitching a tent and starting to camp out there. Resident Dave Hutchins said urban camping is just a euphemism. Were talking about homelessness, he said. I also live in the Emma Park neighborhood and I have a couple of folks on my block that are urban camping. They dont choose the life that they have right now. They are struggling with poverty, with mental health issues, with other things. Hutchins said a new ordinance is not the answer. What we need to do is enforce existing laws, he said. We need to provide mental health care. We need to provide affordable housing. We need to provide dignity with things like public restrooms. Resident Mike Sheehy said he doesnt want to make criminals out of people who face high rents and are down on their luck. There must be a solution to help people who are trapped in an unhoused situation, he said. I dont have any quick answers for it but I know its getting worse. Rusty Easterbrook said there needs to be something enforceable to move people along. He said he has called police numerous times about urban campers being on his porch, going through his garbage, being in his backyard and targeting me in front of my children. Regardless of why they are homeless, he said, there must be a means of making them move. Calling police their hands are tied, Easterbook said. They can move them along but they come back five minutes later. Enrooth, the county attorney, said there are lots of things for commissioners to consider in crafting an ordinance. If its going to be similar to Missoula or Bozeman there will have to be another division created with Butte-Silver Bow to issue camping permits, street-camping permits, he said. Are they going to be for 30 days, 60 days? Whos going to re-issue those? Whos going to be looking at all that? Commissioners should also consider any additional strains put on law enforcement and the jail, he said. Sheriff Ed Lester, who oversees Buttes police and the jail, said urban camping is an issue all around the country and he can see both sides. Some people are down on their luck and have nothing but a tent or a camper to live in, he told The Montana Standard on Monday. No one wants to make life harder for those folks. On the other side, I dont want to have people wandering around in my yard and camping on curbsides either, he said. I think we, as a community, need to look at what has worked and what hasnt worked and go from there. It is a problem that is a lot more complex than people realize. A Nairobi court has ordered the detention of Kiprotich Ronoh Brian, a suspect accused of orchestrating a SIM swap fraud scheme that targeted former Central Police Station OCS, Samson Talaam. On Monday, July 21, Inspector Nickson Kileunga, representing the State, requested the court to detain Ronoh as detectives continue investigating what they describe as a highly organized cybercrime operation involving identity theft and financial scams. According to an affidavit filed before Principal Magistrate Carolyne Nyaguthii, Ronoh and his accomplices allegedly gained unauthorized access to two mobile phone numbers registered in Talaams name. They are said to have stolen the identities to impersonate the top officer and demand money from unsuspecting members of the public. The matter is being investigated under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act and the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act, focusing on crimes of unauthorized interception of computer services, computer fraud, and participating in organized criminal activity. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) called for the investigation after filing a complaint on June 19, 2025. IPOA had also seized one of the hacked phones on June 15 for forensic examination, which revealed traces of identity theft and prompted further examination of the suspected network of fraud. The complaint came from Taalam himself, who claimed his phone, which was supposed to be in IPOAs custody, was being used to con his family and associates. Ksh80K SIM Swap Scam Targeting Lawyer Cliff Ombeta The defence team told the court that the phone in question had been used to solicit money from the public, including high-profile individuals like lawyer Cliff Ombeta. Your honour, we have credible evidence that individuals, including respected lawyer Ombeta, have received messages from Talaams number requesting money, defence counsel Danstan Omari said. He explained that Ombeta was specifically asked to send Ksh80,000 by an unknown caller using Talaams phone. The phone is being used for fundraising with claims that the OCS is in trouble and needs financial help, Omari added. Prosecutors told the court that detectives need additional time to recover electronic equipment, conduct forensic examination, and take statements from key witnesses. They also warned that Ronoh could flee or tamper with evidence if released on bail, describing him as a potential flight risk. While the prosecution had requested the suspect to be remanded in police custody for 14 days at Muthaiga Police Station, the court instead directed Ronoh to be held for seven days. A Kibera court has ordered Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Nairobi Womens Hospital to present the full medical records of Kennedy Kalombotole, a long-term patient and the main suspect in the killing of two other patients at KNH. Principal Magistrate Daisy Mutahi directed that both hospitals submit the documents by Thursday, July 24. The court will review the records before ruling on a police request for 21 more days to complete investigations. Kalombotole appeared at the Kibera Law Courts on Monday. He faces accusations linked to the deaths of Gilbert Kinyua, who died in February, and Edward Ndegwa, who passed away last week both at KNH. Investigators told the court they are yet to obtain Kalombotoles DNA samples. These samples will be analyzed against evidence collected from the crime scene and one of the victims bodies. The autopsy on the body of the deceased is yet to be conducted by a government pathologist to ascertain the cause of death and collect samples for analysis at the Government Chemist, court documents state. Detectives also cited work-related challenges that have delayed routine procedures like fingerprinting and statement recording. The authorities consider Kalombotole a flight risk, given that he was arrested while hospitalized at KNH on July 18. He had been hospitalized there from November 2024. The police assert that they have no record of his residence, which justifies the concern that he might flee or tamper with investigations in progress if granted bail. Hence, if released on bail, there is likely hood of his absconding and interfering with our investigations, the police submitted. Police further added that the senseless brutality of the murders had left the families of the victims and the community in grief. Emotions are still running high with the families grieving their loved ones. KNH confirmed that Kalombotole was an inpatient who was admitted under their care as a homeless. His first admission to the facility dates back to 2022. The Kibera Court has ordered that Kalombotole remain in custody at Kilimani Police Station until July 24, when the court expects the hospital to submit his full medical report. Authorities have moved to freeze the assets of Judy Chepchirchir, the director of First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Agency, as investigations intensify into a multi-billion shilling job scam that allegedly targeted thousands of Kenyan youth with fake promises of overseas employment. The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) has secured a court order blocking Chepchirchir from selling, transferring, or disposing of her properties, which include motor vehicles, parcels of land, and a high-end apartment currently under construction. In a gazette notice, ARA Acting Director General Mark Ogonji announced that Chepchirchir and her associates must immediately surrender the original logbooks for the listed vehicles. The respondent is hereby directed to surrender the original logbooks of the motor vehicles and the motor vehicles specified to the applicant forthwith, but not later than 14 days from the date of issuance of this order, Ogonji stated. He further warned that failure to comply would prompt the agency to seize the vehicles directly. In the event the respondent fails to surrender the above motor vehicles as specified, the applicant shall be at liberty to seize, detain and take custody of the motor vehicles specified therein, he added. The ARA has also instructed the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to place caveats on all vehicles registered in Chepchirchirs name, barring their sale or transfer. The asset freeze extends to two parcels of land in Eldoret, which will remain under restriction while the probe continues. Additionally, a three-bedroom apartment in Athi River, identified as Unit No. W55 in the GWG5 housing project, has also been flagged. A second party linked to the Athi River unit has been asked to submit the sale agreement, account statements, and related documents for further review. Chepchirchir is accused of masterminding a fraudulent recruitment scheme that defrauded over 8,000 job seekers, mainly from Uasin Gishu and Nandi counties, of over Ksh1 billion. The victims allege they were promised well-paying jobs abroad, particularly in Qatar, but were never offered employment after paying hefty sums of money to her agency. In 2023, the ARA launched a forensic inquiry into 27 bank accounts reportedly associated with the scam with a view to determining possible fraud and money laundering. The Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare also directed Chepchirchirs agency to refund the Ksh1 billion reportedly extorted from potential job seekers in Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties. The freezing of Chepchirchirs assets marks a significant step in ongoing efforts to recover the suspected proceeds of crime and bring justice to the thousands of victims still waiting for reparations. Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua says a leaked power-sharing deal naming him prime Cabinet secretary is nothing but state-crafted fiction. In a late-night video on July 21, he claimed National Intelligence Service operatives planted the story aired by KTN News to fracture the budding United Opposition ahead of the 2027 race. Ive seen reports by KTN, sponsored by the NIS, claiming that weve reached an agreement on who will be the oppositions flagbearer. Thats false; we havent settled on anyone yet. The only thing weve agreed on is that Ruto must serve one term Most Kenyans dont even care who replaces him, as long as Ruto goes, he said. Gachagua insists every hopeful must court voters first. He revealed that after next years Christmas break, coalition leaders will count the numbers and unveil a single challenger in December 2026. Weve agreed that anyone eyeing the presidency must go out and seek votes. After Christmas next year, we will sit down, count the numbers, and choose one candidate to face Ruto, he added. The video was sponsored by NIS Gachagua to KTN pic.twitter.com/unB57H9CI2 PropesaTV (@PropesaTV) July 21, 2025 Still, the Democracy for Citizens Party boss considers himself the frontrunner. I consider myself a front-runner and believe I have the best chance to win. However, if the formula we adopt doesnt favour me, I will step aside and fully support the candidate who does, he pledged. The leaked documentdismissed by Gachaguahad Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka as presidential pick, with Fred Matiangi, Eugene Wamalwa, or George Natembeya as possible running mates. It slotted Gachagua into the prime CS seat, Martha Karua as National Assembly Speaker, and former AG Justin Muturi back at the State Law Office. Name Role in Leak Current Post Kalonzo Musyoka President Wiper Party leader Rigathi Gachagua Prime CS DCP leader, ex-DP Fred Matiangi Deputy/Interior CS Former Interior CS Eugene Wamalwa Deputy/Senate Speaker DAP-K Kenya boss George Natembeya Deputy/Interior CS Trans Nzoia governor Martha Karua National Assembly Speaker PLP leader Justin Muturi Attorney General Former AG Some allies are unconvinced. Saboti MP Caleb Amisi warns Gachagua lacks cross-country appeal but concedes the ex-DP could galvanise anti-Ruto forces. For now, opposition chiefs are barnstorming the country, united by a single mission, make William Ruto a one-term president, while Kenyans wait to see whose name tops the ballot. Lawyer Nelson Havi wants President William Ruto to pull a Daniel Moi and disappear from the limelight for a few weeks. Speaking on Citizen TV yesterday, Havi said the head of state has been annoying the people of Kenya with nonstop public appearances and should step back to cool tempers. It is imperative for President William Ruto to do what Moi did at one point in time. Please disappear for a few weeks. Stop annoying the people of Kenya, he told reporters. Havis rebuke came a day after Ruto scolded parents during a church service in Machakos. The president had argued that raising children is a parental duty, not the job of the police or clergy. The police are trained to deal with criminals. They are not trained in parenting, Ruto said, urging parents to take time to parent their children. Those comments landed badly with Havi, a former Law Society of Kenya president. He reminded Ruto that the same children will soon be voters and warned that lecturing parents from the pulpit undermines the presidency. These children will be adults tomorrow or the day after tomorrow You cannot, by any measure of imagination, come on national TV in a church and make statements of this kind; it is not consistent with the office of the president of Kenya. Havi wants more than silence; he wants contrition. What you should do is take the same microphone and apologize to the church, parents, and children. That is my plea to you, you are my friend and I have your best interests at heart, he added. Nairobi residents who keep county meter readers locked out of their compounds could soon feel it in their wallets. Governor Johnson Sakaja told a Senate watchdog panel on Monday July 21 that his administration is drafting penalties for anyone who blocks access to water meters, a practice he says bleeds Nairobi City Water & Sewerage Company (NCWSC) of badly needed revenue. In some estates, our teams are denied access to meters. This is interfering with accurate billing and planning, Sakaja told the Senate County Public Investment and Special Funds Committee. We are now considering introducing penalties for individuals who knowingly obstruct water meter access. The governors push follows grim numbers from NCWSC. Managing Director Eng. Nahashon Muguna said roughly 15,000 of the citys 250,000 meters go unread every month because guards, housekeepers, or aggressive dogs keep staff at bay. Our teams do their best, but we are often blocked from entering certain homes. This is especially common when house helps are instructed not to open the gate, Muguna told senators. To end the standoff, City Hall is: Relocating meters to the outside of compound gates so readers never need to ring the bell. Texting customers monthly prompts to self-report readings. Piloting smart water meters that transmit data remotely. Smart meters promise pinpoint accuracy but cost about Ksh 15,000 apiece, compared with Ksh 3,500 for the mechanical versions most homes use. Muguna warned that a blanket rollout would take 20 to 30 years to recoup, though Sakaja said phased installation is still on the table. Revenue is up, losses remain Even with blocked meters and unpaid bills; public schools are among the worst defaulters NCWSC booked record revenue in the last fiscal year: Financial Year Revenue (Ksh Billion) 2022/2023 9.46 2023/2024 10.75 2024/2025 11.70 Yet Kenyas water sector still loses about 45 percent of its supply to leaks, theft, and unbilled consumption, according to industry data, underscoring why every unread meter matters. Under Nairobis Water Supply By-laws, consumers must keep meters safe and allow authorised officers access; tampering or obstruction is an offence. City Hall now wants fines written into county law so the rule finally bites. Sakaja said draft legislation will land in the county assembly within weeks. Senators urged Nairobi to balance enforcement with public education, warning that indiscriminate fines could spark court battles. ODM leader Raila Odinga has called for sweeping electoral reforms, including the elimination of the voters card. In an interview with NTV on Sunday, Odinga argued that doing away with the voters card would not only cut costs but also simplify the voting process. The former Prime Minister insisted that a national ID should be the only requirement to cast a vote, describing the voters card as an unnecessary and costly burden on both citizens and the electoral system. Raila also proposed an entirely digitized voter registration process. Even as he conceded that the process itself is inexpensive, he claimed it has been utilized as a cash cow by politicians in procurement, exposing public funds to personal benefit. He claimed that innovations, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), would make digitizing the voter registration process even more efficient and affordable for Kenya. We need to first deal with the voter register. Clean it up and allow people to register, he said. People should actually use an ID as their register. He questioned the logic of having both an ID and a voters card, saying it only adds unnecessary bureaucracy. There is no reason why you should be having a voters card and have an ID. People should vote with their IDs. Just give people IDs because there are places where people dont have IDs, and that is why the voter register is skewed, he added. Raila also suggested staggered elections instead of all the contests on one day. He argued that having different election days for different elective offices would minimize the voters burden and cut costs overall. On the new electoral commission, Odinga noted that its primary agenda should be to win the trust of the people of Kenya by demonstrating to them how impartial and professional it is. This electoral commission has a responsibility, first to create confidence for the voters that they can do a professional job that is unbiased and uninfluenced by the players, he said. I Was Against Broad-Based Government, says Raila During the same interview, Odinga addressed speculation around his partys position on joining a broad-based government. He was quick to clarify that he personally opposed the idea, as did most leaders within the Azimio coalition. However, he revealed that a faction within his own ODM party supported the move. According to Odinga, those ODM leaders believed participating in a broad-based administration could help unlock the political deadlock facing the country. They saw it as an opportunity to inject new ideas and bring in experts capable of stabilizing the government. He added that they also emphasized the importance of bringing in qualified experts to serve in the Cabinet. Odinga added that Azimios initial reluctance to join the government stemmed from the lack of a genuine national conversation a process the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) was intended to initiate. Ruto said he was going to form a government in consultation with all stakeholders to create a consensus and we said we dont want to stay in government until we have had a conversation as a people, which did not happen Raila explained. He then said he would appoint half of the cabinet so there is no stalemate, which he did. Odinga said Azimio leaders held internal consultations to explore whether they could engage in a broad-based government. Eventually, some ODM members pushed for re-engagement, arguing that Kenyas situation required a pragmatic approach. I myself was against it, and my other colleagues also, he said. But eventually, the group within my party felt that the stalemate we had required that some experts who are not part of the Kenya Kwanza regime can go into government and see how they can help steady the ship and come up with new ideas to deal with issues in contention. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has explained why it levelled terrorism-related charges against some of the protesters who were arrested during the June 25 and July 7 anti-government rallies. In a statement issued on Monday, July 21, the ODPP dismissed allegations that the State is using anti-terror laws as a weapon to muzzle political opposition. The office justified the charges, saying they were based on thorough investigations that revealed concerted assaults on key institutions of the government. The ODPP upholds the vital role of a free press and a vibrant civil society in fostering accountability and strengthening democratic governance, the statement read. While recognizing the importance of civil liberties, the ODPP clarified that the terrorism charges were not meant to suppress political speech but were instead guided by legal norms and national security considerations prescribed by the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The ODPP alleges the brutality seen during demonstrations was far beyond spontaneous civil disobedience. Investigations reportedly indicated assaults on public institutions, police stations, and courts were organized, premeditated, and aimed at destabilizing key government operations. The State Prosecutor said preliminary investigations had revealed that attacks on public institutions such as courts, police stations, and government offices were not random, but carefully planned and coordinated. These incidents aimed to cripple essential government operations, instil fear, and erode public trust in democratic institutions, the statement read. Torching of Kikuyu Law Courts Was Terrorism, ODPP Insists According to the ODPP, one of the most serious attacks occurred at the Kikuyu Law Courts, which were torched during the demonstrations. The ODPP referenced Chief Justice Martha Koomes remarks during her visit to inspect the aftermath. Chief Justice Hon. Justice Martha Koome, speaking on 26th June 2025 after inspecting the damage at the Kikuyu Law Courts, which was torched during the demonstrations, described that incident as not merely an act perpetrated by criminal elements but an act of terrorism, the ODPP stated. In support of its stance, the ODPP referred to Sections 2 and 4 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which provide definitions for terrorism as an act intended to hinder the delivery of vital services, terrorize the public or state, or instill fear by deliberate destruction. Under Sections 2 and 4 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, such actions qualify as acts of terrorism when intended to cause serious disruption of essential services, intimidate the public or government, or create widespread fear through targeted destruction, the statement read. The ODPP emphasized that the decision to press terrorism charges was not taken lightly and followed careful examination of the evidence gathered during investigations. The ODPP is aware of public concerns regarding the potential misuse of terrorism legislation. We wish to reassure the public that all charges have been brought strictly based on available evidence. Each accused individual will be accorded a fair trial, legal representation, and full access to due process in line with the Bill of Rights under the Constitution of Kenya, the Public Prosecutions office concluded. A Nairobi magistrate has tossed out terrorism counts against outspoken activist Boniface Mwangi, leaving him to answer two far less serious allegations linked to a single blank round and three teargas canisters. Mwangi spent the weekend at Pangani Police Station after detectives whisked him from his Lukenya home on Saturday, accusing him of facilitating terrorist acts during recent anti-government protests. Rights groups blasted the arrest as heavy-handed, and by Monday morning prosecutors had quietly dropped the terror file. Inside the Kahawa Law Courts, Magistrate Gedion Kiage read the new charge sheet aloud. Count one claimed the former photojournalist held three teargas cannisters without lawful authority. Count two alleged possession of one round of 7.6251 mm blank ammunition without lawful authority. Mwangis lawyer, Njanja Maina, dismissed the claims. We confirm and state with no uncertainty that those are things that Boniface Mwangi did not have in his possession, she told reporters outside the station, vowing a vigorous defence. Kiage released the activist on a personal bond of Ksh1 million, setting mention for August 19. Prosecutors offered no explanation for the sudden downgrade, but human-rights monitors said public outrage over the terrorism label forced their hand. Police insist the weekend raid yielded laptops, hard drives, cheque books and company seals they believe financed Junes nationwide demonstrations, where dozens died in clashes with security officers. Mwangi, a perennial thorn in the side of Kenyan administrations, brushed off the allegations on social media, writing, I am not a terrorist. PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 22: Well-seasoned education specialist Dr. Sandeep Jeewan Sharma has been conferred a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Commerce and Management after over two decades of experience in higher education admission and marketing. His groundbreaking research, titled "Comparative Analysis of Traditional and Digital Marketing Strategies in Urban and Rural Education: Effectiveness, Challenges, and Best Practices," is being hailed as a seminal work for the educational marketing sector. Having spent 20 years of his career, Dr. Sharma has counseled more than 50,000 students and counselors from across India, impacting millions of educational trajectories. His trenches-to-ivory-tower background in student behavior, neighborhood outreach, and admissions planning brings a rare gravitas to his scholarly work. He is the present Head of Admission at Atharva University, Mumbai, managing state-of-the-art student outreach and admissions strategies. His PhD dissertation offers a solution to one of the most critical questions of our learning space--how do institutions succeed in altering their marketing approach with urban and rural society? In a world context where internet interaction is increasing to alarming proportions, Dr. Sharma's dissertation places contemporary methods of marketing like print media campaigns and public speeches in contrast with modern-day mechanisms like social media campaigns, search engine optimization, influencer targeting, and so on. Conducted under scholarly supervision of Dr. B.P. Bhol, a distinguished commerce and management study scholar, the research is academically sound and useful for practice. Dr. Bhol valued Dr. Sharma's persistence, data-based research, and practical solutions offered by his research. This isn't ivory tower theory--this is a how-to guide for education administrators and marketers," said Dr. Bhol. "Dr. Sharma's research describes rural schools' special challenges and provides clear solutions for effective outreach in a digital-first world." Dr. Sharma's life and work have been bridge-building--between students and access to opportunity, between community and institutions, and now between research and practice. His work is a template for educators, institutions, and policymakers who wish to do the most with their marketing efforts to gain the maximum return. "A delightful culmination of a career spent helping students navigate organizational chaos, this research is the passion project of a lifetime," Dr. Sharma responded. "Education marketing isn't a numbers game--it's about discovering people, place, and meaning in the mix. I hope this study can help institutions be more student-focused and accessible to how they are engaging and developing." As he progresses in his educational and academic leadership, Dr. Sharma is committed to mentoring, research, and rethinking how education is connected with communities. Dr. Sharma's Ph.D. journey has been inspired and shaped by some of the finest minds in the Indian academic landscape. He extends his heartfelt gratitude to: - Dr. Vinay Agrawal, Chancellor, ISBM University - Dr. Sunil Rai, President, UPES, Dehradun - Dr. Debashish Sanyal, Director, Great Lakes Institute of Management - Dr. Pravin Nemade, Director, Atharva College of Engineering - Dr. N Kumar Swamy, Dean, ISBM University "Completing this research is a delightful culmination of a career spent helping students navigate the complexities of education systems," said Dr. Sharma. "This study is not just about marketing strategies--it's about connecting people, understanding diverse communities, and making education more accessible and student-centered." As he continues to grow in academic and institutional leadership, Dr. Sharma remains committed to mentorship, scholarly contribution, and transforming how educational institutions interact with communities across India. For Media Inquiries, Speaking Engagements, or Consultation: Dr. Sandeep Jeewan Sharma +91 90290 15284educationtime@gmail.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], July 22: Francesco Arezzo, member of the Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy, has officially begun his term as President of Rotary International for 2025-26. Subsequently, from India, K.P. Nagesh, Rotary Club of Bangalore Highgrounds, Karnataka, and M. Muruganandam, Rotary Club of Bhel City Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, have been appointed as RI Directors for a two-year term (2025-27). Arezzo, a Rotary member for more than 30 years, will be the third Italian and the first from southern Italy to lead the global membership organization. During his term, Arezzo will focus on advancing Rotary's mission of unity and inclusion under the banner of 'Unite for Good', recognizing its profound relevance in today's world. "Rotary's greatest strength lies in its ability to unite people of all cultures and generations through a shared commitment to doing good," said Arezzo. "As we look ahead, I am committed to building on this legacy - working together to advance peace, understanding, and opportunity around the world." As head of Rotary's global network of 46,000 clubs, Arezzo will also oversee Rotary's top goal of eradicating polio. Alongside its Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners, Rotary has achieved a 99.9% reduction in polio cases, and contributed more than US$2.6 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children from this paralyzing disease. Flt. Lt. K.P. Nagesh is a decorated Indian Air Force veteran, successful entrepreneur, and social changemaker. He joined Rotary as a member of his club in 1995. A trailblazing Rotarian and past District Governor, he is known for record-breaking membership growth and impactful service projects. In 2015-16, while serving as a district Governor, he led transformative initiatives that resulted in the addition of over 2,000 new members and the chartering of 52 new clubs, with a notable rise in women's participation. "India is one of the strongest pillars of Rotary's global vision. From $6 million in fundraising a decade ago to $33 million in 2024 and growing, India is the second-largest global contributor. Our membership in India has more than doubled over the last decade, and we are on track to lead the world in numbers. Rotary's first Peace Center coming up at Symbiosis Pune is a powerful milestone--proof that India doesn't just contribute to global peace, we now host and shape it. Our focus for India is clear: scale our service projects, build trust with CSR partners, and transform underserved communities through health, education, water, environment, livelihoods, and peace. This is India's Rotary moment--and we are ready to lead with purpose, transparency, and trust," said, K.P Nagesh, Rotary International Director (India), 2025-27 M Murganandam's Rotary journey began at just 16, when he joined Rotaract and participated in polio immunization drives in remote communities. A first-generation entrepreneur, educator, and social leader from Tamil Nadu, he has championed youth empowerment, skill development, and inclusive service across India. He went on to become one of the youngest district governors in 2016-17, leading record-setting initiatives recognized by Guinness World Records. His leadership has been marked by a strong focus on youth empowerment, literacy, health care, and women's safety. "From leading one of the world's greatest public health victories--bringing polio to the brink of eradication--to now confronting climate challenges, education gaps, and rising inequity, our commitment remains the same: to serve, to uplift, and to unite. Unite for Good is not just a theme--it's a timely reminder that humanity is strongest when we act together. My vision is to make Rotary irresistible to the next generation by saying YES to youth leadership, YES to women at the forefront, and YES to safe, inclusive spaces for service. With India's unmatched energy and our 1:2:3 strategy for membership growth, we're poised to become Rotary's global heartbeat--bolder, kinder, and built to last," said M. Muruganandam. Rotary members--including those in nearly 4600 clubs in India, as well as throughout the world--develop and implement sustainable, community-driven projects that fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children, grow local economies, and protect the environment. More than US$5.5 billion has been awarded through The Rotary Foundation - Rotary's charitable arm that helps clubs work together to perform meaningful, impactful service--to support these initiatives over the last 100 years. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Delhi NCR [India], July 22: As authentic Indian stories continue to strike a chord with audiences across the globe, RU BA RU--a powerful short film from Rajasthan--is all set to make its international premiere at the Indian Film Festival Stuttgart 2025 in the prestigious "In Competition" section. Rooted in folk tradition and cinematic flourish, RU BA RU is a bold, lyrical tale of two sisters--one a rudaali (professional mourner), the other a dancer--fighting to reclaim agency in a world shaped by caste, class, and gender inequality. Directed by Rajasthan- native Kapil Tanwar, the film marks his directorial debut, blending his cultural heritage with an unflinching exploration of the lived realities of Indian women. Bringing together the vibrancy of Indian cinema--song, dance, emotion, and deep-rooted storytelling--the film made an unforgettable impression at its Rajasthan State premiere at JIFF 2025, receiving a standing ovation and a special jury award. The film is produced by an all-women leadership team, led by Anvita Gupta under her banner SHADAM Films, with Anita Gurnani as co-producer and Priyanka Chopra serving as Executive Producer. Together, the team brings intergenerational vision, grassroots insight, and global appeal to the project. Sharing her thoughts on the film, Anita Gurnani, Co-Producer, RU BA RU said, "To me, RU BA RU is not just a film, but a heartfelt project to amplify women's narratives that often go unheard. Rooted in the lived experiences of Indian women, it is a step toward shattering global barriers through the power of authentic storytelling. We're proud to see this story resonate across borders and honoured to bring it to an international stage." Kapil Tanwar, Director said, "RU BA RU is a story that comes from a place of deep personal reflection and cultural memory. As my first film as a director, it allowed me to explore the emotional textures and quiet strength of women whose stories often remain untold. To have it recognised and nominated for competition at the Indian Film Festival Stuttgart, Europe's largest showcase of Indian cinema, is an incredible honour. It reaffirms my belief that honest, rooted storytelling has the power to travel far and connect deeply." "RU BA RU is more than just a film, it's a quiet rebellion against how women are seen, silenced, and expected to survive with grace, no matter the weight they carry. While it's rooted in the world of two sisters from rural Rajasthan, their struggles and inner lives echo across borders and social strata. Whether marginalized by caste, class, or the invisible expectations placed on women everywhere, their story holds a mirror up to all of us. After a decade of experience in the industry, as a first-time producer, I knew I wanted to back stories that are deeply Indian in soul, but universally felt. Through SHADAM FILMS, my hope is to put such honest, layered narratives on the global map and honour the voices we so often overlook. Because truth, when told with heart, always travels," added Anvita Gupta, Producer, Ru Ba Ru. Adding to its growing acclaim, RU BA RU recently won Best Short Film at the ImagineIndia Film Festival in Madrid. Esteemed author and jury member Maria Zaragoza Hidalgo--one of Spain's most respected literary voices--praised the film for its honesty and universality, stating: "The story speaks to universal feelings, situations, and events from a concrete everyday perspective without resorting to any cheap tricks." The Spanish premiere of the film is scheduled for September 2025. As RU BA RU heads to IFF Stuttgart on July 27th, it becomes yet another milestone in the growing global celebration of Indian independent cinema. With its richly textured narrative, cultural specificity, and resonant themes, the film stands as a moving reminder that truly local stories often have the most universal impact. Watch the trailer here - youtu.be/03uDEWot6yE (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 22: KredX, India's leading integrated cash flow and supply chain finance platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Canara Bank, one of India's prominent public sector banks. This collaboration aims to significantly broaden the reach of digital trade receivable discounting through KredX's RBI-licensed TReDS platform, Domestic Trade Exchange (DTX), with a specific focus on driving deeper financial inclusion for businesses across the country. The partnership reinforces KredX's long-standing commitment to enhancing financial inclusivity across the supply chain ecosystem. Over the past decade, KredX has played a pivotal role in integrating both MSMEs and large enterprises into formal financial networks. The DTX platform helps address systemic challenges such as delayed payments, high borrowing costs, and collateral-heavy financing, particularly for service providers, by enabling faster, more affordable, and collateral-free access to working capital. Canara Bank's participation on the KredX DTX platform marks a pivotal step towards building a more robust, accessible, and inclusive supply chain finance ecosystem. As one of the oldest and largest public sector banks in India, Canara Bank brings a strong public sector presence and legacy to the partnership, with a robust network of branches across the country. By combining Canara Bank's extensive reach and deep understanding of diverse business needs with KredX's cutting-edge, technology-first infrastructure, this partnership will substantially enhance working capital access for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across all sectors and scales. This aligns seamlessly with the government's vision of increasing financial inclusion for businesses, empowering a wider array of enterprises to thrive. Manish Kumar, Founder and CEO, KredX, stated, "We are thrilled to welcome Canara Bank as a financing partner on KredX's technology-first TReDS platform, DTX. Canara Bank's extensive presence, deep-rooted customer focus, commitment to financial inclusion, and increasingly, its embrace of digital innovation and diversification of services, make it an invaluable addition to our expanding ecosystem. This partnership is a significant step towards digitisation and democratising trade finance, enabling enterprise buyers and MSME partners to access crucial working capital, with Canara Bank's increased funding capacity driving nationwide financial inclusion." KredX's DTX platform, approved under the RBI's TReDS framework, offers a digital-first solution for end-to-end trade finance. Connected to 50+ financiers and designed to enable bidding on trade receivables, DTX provides businesses with access to the lowest cost of finance, an intuitive user experience, and seamless execution. DTX also enables suppliers to access working capital instantly, while allowing buyers to optimise cash flows and build more resilient supply chains. By integrating intelligent automation, real-time processing, and intuitive workflows, DTX ensures a frictionless experience for buyers, sellers, and financiers alike. The initiative aligns with the Government of India's mandate for companies with a turnover exceeding Rs. 250 crore to onboard TReDS and integrate with the GSTN, promoting digital financing and regulatory compliance. This also supports KredX's goal of achieving Rs. 15,000 crore in disbursals and empowering 15000 MSMEs by the end of this fiscal year. As India's leading integrated supply chain finance provider, KredX offers a comprehensive suite of solutions including early payments, accounts payable and receivable financing, and cash flow automation. These capabilities empower businesses to unlock working capital, drive operational efficiency, and maintain compliance across processes. KredX continues to expand its partner network of banks, NBFCs, and financial institutions to strengthen India's digital supply chain infrastructure and improve access to capital across the ecosystem. In a significant move to further this mission, KredX is also engaging with State Governments to support MSMEs by raising awareness around TReDS and providing TReDS onboarding assistance. This strategic engagement will revolutionize MSME onboarding, reduce friction, improve data accuracy, and enable KredX to provide more tailored solutions to a wider base of MSMEs nationwide. KredX is India's leading integrated supply chain finance platform, and among the very few entities licensed by both the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). With this dual regulatory backing, KredX offers end-to-end working capital solutions across both domestic (TReDS) and cross-border (global factoring) transactions, serving MSME suppliers as well as large corporate anchors. Being a pioneer in supply chain financing for a decade, KredX has been enabling businesses to unlock working capital and optimise cash flows through a full stack of digital finance solutions for modern supply chains. With platforms like DTX (Domestic Trade Exchange), GTX (Global Trade Exchange), and CMS (AI-powered Cash Management Solutions). Backed by marquee investors including Tiger Global, Sequoia Capital India, and Prime Venture Partners, KredX is at the forefront of building future-ready, tech-led financial infrastructure for B2B supply chain ecosystems. To know more, visit KredX's Domestic Trade Exchange (DTX) site: www.dtxindia.in Widely known for customer-centricity, Canara Bank was founded by Shri Ammembal Subba Rao Pai, a great visionary and philanthropist, in July 1906, at Mangalore, then a small port town in Karnataka. The Bank has gone through the various phases of its growth trajectory over a hundred years of existence. Growth of Canara Bank was phenomenal, especially after nationalisation in the year 1969, attaining the status of a national-level player in terms of geographical reach and clientele segments. The Bank diversified its business operations throughout the 1980s. A significant achievement came in June 2006, when it celebrated 100 years of service within the Indian banking industry. Several memorable milestones have characterised the eventful journey of the Bank. Currently, Canara Bank is a leading institution among Indian banks. Over the years, the Bank has been scaling up its market position to emerge as a major Financial Conglomerate with as many as thirteen subsidiaries/sponsored institutions in India and abroad. As of September 2023, Canara Bank services over 11.19 crore customers through a network of 9,518 branches and 12,118 ATMs/Recyclers spread across all Indian states and Union Territories. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PRNewswire New Delhi [India], July 22: Scheduled for release on 29 August 2025, The Chola Tigers is the second book in Amish's Indic Chronicles, after the bestselling Legend of Suheldev. A thrilling historical saga of defiance, honour and redemption it celebrates the indomitable spirit of India. When the ruthless tyrant Mahmud of Ghazni destroys the sacred temple of Somnath, the greatest ruler of the time, Emperor Rajendra Chola, summons a squad of defiant assassins to embark on a perilous quest and bring the fearsome enemy to his knees. This historical fiction title builds on the world introduced in the 2020 bestseller Legend of Suheldev, which garnered widespread appreciation from readers and went on to become a bestseller. Pacy and action-packed, The Chola Tigers, explores the profound question: How far would you go to defend dharma and your country's honour? On the occasion of the book's announcement, Amish, author, says, "The Chola Tigers is an exhilarating story in which Emperor Rajendra Chola, the mightiest man of his era, orders a daring surgical strike on Ghazni in response to Sultan Mahmud's attack on the Somnath temple. This work of historical fiction is linked to my 2020 release Legend of Suheldev. It is about a mission ordered by one of the greatest Tamilians ever, Emperor Rajendra Chola. And it is a great honour that the cover of this book was released by one of the greatest Tamilians alive and an Indian treasure, Rajinikanth ji." Poulomi Chatterjee, Executive Publisher -- HarperCollins India, adds, "Amish has brilliantly reimagined our beloved legends and epics, and episodes from medieval Indian history, for millions of people across the country to enjoy afresh. The new novel is vintage Amish--a sweeping historical saga that is pacy, dramatic, simmering with political intrigue and personal vendetta, and heart-rending in its scenes of sacrifice and retribution. At its heart it masterfully explores the depths of human courage and resilience, and the indomitable spirit of a nation that refuses to be broken. It's going to keep readers spellbound until the final page, and we can't be happier to publish it!" ABOUT THE CHOLA TIGERSThe place will be of their choosing.The time will be of their choosing.But the Indians will have their vengeance.1025 CE, India. Mahmud of Ghazni believes he has crushed the spirit of Bharat--the Shiva Linga at the Somnath temple lies shattered and thousands are dead. But among the ashes of destruction, an oath is taken. Five people--a Tamil warrior, a Gujarati merchant, a devotee of Lord Ayyappa, a scholar-emperor from Malwa, and the most powerful man on Earth, Emperor Rajendra Chola--resolve to undertake a perilous quest and strike at the heart of the invader's kingdom. From the grandeur of the Chola Empire to the shadows of Ghazni's bloodstained court, The Chola Tigers is the scintillating story of a fierce retaliation. A story of unity forged through pain, of courage born from despair, and of vengeance that becomes Dharma. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Amish is a 1974-born, IIM (Kolkata)-educated banker-turned-author. The success of his debut book, The Immortals of Meluha (Book 1 of the Shiva Trilogy), encouraged him to give up his career in financial services to focus on writing. Besides being an author, he is also a broadcaster, the founder of a video gaming company, a film producer and a former diplomat with the Indian government. Amish is passionate about history, spirituality and philosophy, finding beauty and meaning in all world religions. His books have sold more than 8 million copies and have been translated into 21 languages. His Shiva Trilogy is the fastest-selling and his Ram Chandra Series the second-fastest-selling book series in Indian publishing history. His books in The Indic Chronicles, which are based on medieval Indian history, are also blockbuster bestsellers. You can connect with Amish here: www.facebook.com/authoramishwww.instagram.com/authoramish www.twitter.com/authoramish ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS INDIA HarperCollins India publishes some of the finest writers from the Indian subcontinent and around the world, publishing approximately 200 new books every year, with a print and digital catalogue of more than 2000 titles across 10 imprints. Its authors have won almost every major literary award including the Man Booker Prize, JCB Prize, DSC Prize, New India Foundation Award, Atta Galatta Prize, Shakti Bhatt Prize, Gourmand Cookbook Award, Publishing Next Award, Tata Literature Live!, Gaja Capital Business Book Prize, BICW Award, Sushila Devi Award, Sahitya Akademi Award and Crossword Book Award. HarperCollins India also represents some of the finest publishers in the world including Harvard University Press, Gallup Press, Oneworld, Bonnier Zaffre, Usborne, Dover and Lonely Planet. HarperCollins India is also the recipient of five Publisher of the Year Awards - in 2021 and 2015 at the Publishing Next Industry Awards, and in 2021, 2018 and 2016 at Tata Literature Live. HarperCollins India is a subsidiary of HarperCollins Publishers. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2735029/Cover_Launch_Amish.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2105077/4665143/HarperCollins_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) 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 Group in 2009. This order overturns the earlier clean chit she received from the PMLA Adjudicating Authority and supports the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) provisional attachment of her assets, framing the transaction as a prima facie case of money laundering. The Tribunal underscored a clear conflict of interest in Kochhar's approval of the loan. Shortly after disbursing the funds to a Videocon entity, 64 crore was traced to NuPower Renewables Pvt. Ltd. (NRPL), a company promoted by her husband Deepak Kochhar. This sum was funneled via Supreme Energy Pvt. Ltd. (SEPL), which is reportedly linked to Videocon's promoter Venugopal Dhoot. While the Tribunal acknowledged that a final determination rests with the Trial Court, it concluded there was sufficient preliminary evidence to justify the attachment order under money laundering charges. The bench of the Appellate Tribunal, while delivering its findings, stated that it could not accept the justification offered by Chanda Kochhar for presiding over the committee meeting that sanctioned a 300 crore loan to the Videocon Group -- an entity she was familiar with. The tribunal observed that Kochhar could not claim ignorance of the relationship and, therefore, her participation in the loan sanctioning process was in clear violation of ICICI Bank's internal rules and policies. The tribunal further noted that immediately after the disbursement of the 300 crore loan, a sum of 64 crore was diverted to NuPower Renewables Pvt. Ltd. (NRPL), where Deepak Kochhar, the respondent and husband of Chanda Kochhar, was managing the company. He held 95% stakes in Supreme Energy Pvt. Ltd. (SEPL), which in turn controlled NRPL. Notably, V.N. Dhoot resigned from SEPL on January 15, 2009, transferring control of the company to Deepak Kochhar. In its order, the tribunal criticized the Adjudicating Authority for ignoring key material evidence and instead relying on irrelevant considerations. It emphasized that the Authority had disproportionately focused on the shareholding structure of NRPL while overlooking the fact that Deepak Kochhar was the Managing Director and in full control of the company's operations. This was further supported by the statement of V.N. Dhoot recorded under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, wherein he categorically affirmed that Deepak Kochhar was running the affairs of the company. In January 2020, the ED initially attached assets worth 78 crore belonging to the Kochhars, a decision that was reversed by the PMLA Adjudicating Authority in November the same year. The Appellate Tribunal's latest ruling reinstates the ED's position. Deepak Kochhar was arrested by the ED in September 2020 and later released on bail. In December 2022, both Chanda and Deepak Kochhar were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), only to be granted interim bail by the Bombay High Court in January 2023. The High Court, in a landmark judgment in February 2024, deemed their arrest unlawful and an abuse of power. (ANI) VMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 22: While AI remains the hottest area in business and tech, many people and organizations struggle to use it effectively to deliver value. The fifth annual SAS Hackathon, open for registration now through Aug. 31, provides a compelling way for people with varying job roles and levels of experience - from data scientists and developers to business analysts and students - to expand their AI skills. The global SAS Hackathon is a month-long, all-digital event where teams of participants collaborate and compete to solve business and social challenges using the latest AI and advanced analytics. The actual hacking runs Sept. 15 through Oct. 10. All entries will be judged by a panel of AI and analytics experts, and category and industry winners will be announced this fall. SAS, a leader in data and AI, produces the annual SAS Hackathon, which is sponsored by Microsoft and Intel. Latest AI technologies Among the technologies that SAS Hackathon teams can access are:- SAS Viya, SAS' cloud-native and cloud-agnostic data and AI platform.- SAS Viya Workbench, a new cloud-based developer environment for building AI models.- SAS Data Maker, a secure synthetic data generator. Industry tracks SAS Hackathon team members can be - and often are - located on different continents. SAS experts will lead (and judge) industry-specific tracks for:- Banking- Energy & telecom- Health care & life sciences- Insurance- Public sector- Retail, consumer goods & manufacturing- IoT (internet of things) - a cross-industry track New individual track for students For decades, SAS has supported university students looking to hone their analytics skills. And the SAS Hackathon has been a great way for those students to gain valuable - and marketable - experience in data and AI. For the last five years, students have been able to create or join SAS Hackathon teams, working with these teams to choose an industry track, refine a challenge to address, line up data sources and submit project information for judging. While students can still create or join teams in the industry tracks, this year's SAS Hackathon offers a new option: Students can register for the Student Individual track using their academic email. Participants in this track will use Cortex, an analytics simulation game developed by SAS with HEC Montreal, Canada's first business school, to tackle a fundraising challenge. Student participants will use SAS software and predictive modeling to identify which potential donors to call for maximum profit while minimizing costs. SAS will provide the data set and software access while students will build the models, submit their optimized call list and compete on a leaderboard. "Through the SAS Hackathon, all participants gain valuable hands-on experience, network with AI and analytics practitioners around the world, and work on big and meaningful challenges for their business, university and community," said Peter Lundqvist, Global Producer for the SAS Hackathon. "This data and AI experience can boost their portfolios and help them advance in their careers." Taking on big challenges SAS Hackathon teams can create analytical applications that solve real-world challenges and improve lives. For example, Team Butterflies was the grand champion of the 2024 SAS Hackathon. This team from SAS Partner Butterfly Data developed an AI-powered solution to help spot misinformation and disinformation. With Butterfly's tool, organizations can verify data sources, spot unreliable information and ensure the use of credible and ethical information to make decisions. The 2024 SAS Hackathon boasted a record 1,731 registrants from more than 70 countries. This led to an all-time high of 145 approved teams that participated in the month-long hack, supported by 110 SAS mentors. About SAS SAS is a global leader in data and AI. With SAS software and industry-specific solutions, organizations transform data into trusted decisions. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW. SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright 2024 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) New Delhi [India], July 22: Ezyschooling has crossed a significant milestone with over 1 million parent interactions, marking its growing role in transforming how families across India discover and choose the right school for their children. In today's digital-first world, school admissions can feel overwhelming. Ezyschooling simplifies this process by offering free personalized counselling, AI-driven school recommendations, verified parent reviews, real-time admission updates, school comparisons, and a unified application process--all designed to help parents make informed, confident decisions tailored to their child's needs. "At Ezyschooling, our vision has always been to make the school search more transparent, personalized, and efficient," said Mayank Jain, CEO of ezyschooling.com. "Crossing one million interactions is a strong validation that families are looking for more than just information; they want guidance that understands their unique preferences." With a dedicated team of over 55 professionals, the platform facilitates more than 1,000 one-on-one counselling sessions daily, addressing critical questions around school fit, curriculum, and learning environments. With 1000+ partnered schools across metro cities like Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune, and Kolkata, and a national presence across boarding and online schools, Ezyschooling has become a trusted destination for school discovery. Drawing over 8 lakh visits monthly, the platform empowers parents to search, compare, shortlist, and apply, all while accessing genuine insights and expert advice that streamline decision-making. Rather than being just a digital form-filling service, Ezyschooling is focused on enhancing the overall experience of choosing the right school. With plans to expand further into Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, and under the strategic leadership of Krishna Kant Pandey - Co-founder, Ezyschooling is also building advanced AI-powered tools to offer deeper personalization. The company now sets its sights on the next milestone - enabling 2 million+ families, within the next year, to navigate the school admission journey with ease and confidence. To begin your simplified school search journey and receive free expert guidance, visit ezyschooling.com. For more queries, reach out on +91-8766340464 or query@ezyschooling.com. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], July 22: CARD91, a leading innovator in payment infrastructure, is pleased to announce the promotion of Puneet Mathur to the role of Chief Information Officer (CIO). This leadership move reflects CARD91's ongoing commitment to building secure, intelligent, and future-ready payment infrastructure for banks, fintechs, and regulated financial institutions. Puneet joined CARD91 in 2020 as Vice President - Client Solutioning, where he led the company's solution architecture and enterprise-grade integrations across both card and UPI rails. With nearly 24 years of experience in enterprise architecture, technology implementation, and systems integration, Puneet has played a critical role in delivering scalable, compliant, and high-performance solutions for CARD91's clients. An alumnus of IIT Kanpur and IIM Calcutta, Puneet's professional journey spans leadership roles at Citigroup, a successful tenure as Partner & CTO at HytechPro, and as Co-founder & CTO of YoGems. In his new role as CIO, Puneet will lead CARD91's technology strategy--focused on accelerating platform innovation, strengthening the technology backbone, and driving collaboration with ecosystem partners to deliver intelligent, resilient, and compliant payment solutions. "I'm privileged to step into the role of CIO at CARD91," said Puneet Mathur. "My focus will be on strengthening our technology infrastructure, ensuring platform scalability, enhancing system security, and embedding robust compliance frameworks. I will be focused on driving innovation across our products, building resilient architectures, and delivering high-performance, future-ready payment solutions that meet the dynamic needs of the fintech ecosystem." "Puneet's leadership has been pivotal to our growth," said Ajay Pandey, CEO of CARD91. "His deep technical acumen and customer-first mindset will accelerate our mission to simplify and modernise digital payments for the industry." About CARD91 CARD91 is an Issuance Platform-as-a-Service company providing unparalleled technology infrastructure to Banks, Prepaid License holders, and Authorised Dealers. The company helps them issue various payment instruments (PPI, Debit, Credit, Multi-Currency, UPI, and now, Credit Line on UPI) to their customers, ensuring seamless issuance and enhanced control. CARD91's support for multiple use cases aligns with its vision of making issuance seamless and swift for issuers. With a team strength of 100+ professionals, CARD91 operates across key financial hubs, including Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, and Chennai. For more information, visit www.card91.io or contact sales@card91.io Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2735744/CARD91_Puneet_Mathur.jpgLogo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2446086/Card91_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) The institute, located at the Master Atul Government ITI in Sonipat, is set to admit over 100 students annually across four key trades: Mechanic Motor Vehicle (MMV), Machinist, Welder, and Fitter. Classes for the inaugural batch are scheduled to begin in September 2025. Maruti Suzuki has invested over Rs 10 crore in establishing the facility. Affiliated with the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and accredited by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the JIM will implement a dual training system. This approach blends theoretical classroom instruction with hands-on industrial training, and includes modules on safety, quality, discipline, kaizen, and other essential Japanese manufacturing practices. Gaurav Gautam, Haryana's Minister of State for Youth Empowerment & Entrepreneurship, praised Maruti Suzuki for contributing to the state's economic development. He said, "Maruti Suzuki's commitment to skill development in Haryana through its state-of-the-art JIMs at Uncha Majra and now at Sonipat is truly commendable." Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs at Maruti Suzuki, emphasized the company's commitment to skill development. "We are confident JIM Sonipat will enhance employability and instill a disciplined work ethic rooted in world-class manufacturing standards," he said. The project is a result of a public-private partnership under which the Haryana government has provided land and infrastructure, while Maruti Suzuki has upgraded the facilities, introduced real-life simulation assembly lines, and will oversee the institute's operations. The JIMs are part of a broader Indo-Japanese collaboration aimed at training 30,000 Indian youth over 10 years. Since inception, over 2,100 students have graduated from Maruti Suzuki's existing JIMs. Through its broader skill development initiatives, Maruti Suzuki has supported 23 ITIs, established 31 Automobile Skill Enhancement Centres, and spent over Rs 450 crore in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions up to Financial Year 2024-25. (ANI) PRNewswire Chandigarh [India], July 22: As Chandigarh University managed to rank itself amongst the top 2% Global Universities in QS World University Rankings 2026, the campus saw a jump in number of Global and Indian Multi-national companies visiting the campus for placements. As many as 447 MNCs including Amazon, Flipkart, IBM, Deloitte, E&Y, KPMG, Reliance Industries, Bank of America selected 1153 MBA students of 2025 batch during campus placements. * Amazon, Flipkart, IBM, Deloitte, E&Y, KPMG, Reliance Industries, Bank of America are some of the prominent recruiters for MBA students As CU has become the most sought-after destination for multinational companies for recruiting fresh talent, its MBA students secured 1427 job offers from top companies with attractive salary packages in 2024-25. In 2024-25 academic session, the stellar campus job placement record of MBA students of Chandigarh University, ranked 4th in management among private universities in India in the QS World Rankings by Subjects 2025, stands as a true testament of the quality of its MBA programs. The number of job offers received by Chandigarh University's MBA students for in-demand specializations -- including Finance, Applied Finance, Fintech, Banking and Financial Engineering, Digital Marketing, Human Resources and Strategic HR, Global Business Management, Capital Markets, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Operations Management, Healthcare Management, Supply Chain Management, Business Analytics, Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Tourism -- went up from 1029 in 2023-24 to 1427 in 2024-25. While 1153 MBA students of Chandigarh University were placed in top companies, the highest package received by MBA students in the 2024-25 went up to Rs 23 lakh per annum (LPA) from Rs 21 LPA in 2023-24. The average salary also ranged between Rs 5 LPA to Rs 6 LPA. While global companies like Amazon, Flipkart, IBM, Deloitte, Earnest & Young, Danone Foods, KPMG, Reliance Industries, Bank of America, VIVO, ICICI Bank, ITC selected large chunk of Chandigarh University MBA students, the top recruiters included Indicaa Group which offered highest package of Rs 23 lakh, Federal Bank (Rs 16.42 LPA), South Indian Bank (Rs 15 LPA), ZoomRx Healthcare Technology Ltd (Rs 13 LPA), Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company (Rs 12 LPA) and Whirlpool of India Ltd (Rs 11 LPA). In Marketing, 204 top companies offered jobs to Chandigarh University's MBA students with highest salary package of Rs 23 lakh, offered by Indicaa Group, in 2024-25. When it comes to jobs in Finance and Fintech, 52 top companies including Mahindra Finance, Deloitte USI Tax, KPMG, Bharat Financial Inclusion and Growth Arrow LLP offered jobs to CU students with Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company offering the highest salary package of Rs 12 LPA in this domain. In International Business, 11 top companies offered jobs to CU students with Indicaa Group offering the highest package of Rs 23 LPA in this domain during 2024-25 academic session. In Banking and Financial Engineering, 52 top companies in the sector offered jobs to Chandigarh University students with Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company offering the highest package of Rs 12 LPA in this domain. In Travel, Tourism and Hospitality, 10 top companies offered jobs with Chandigarh University students receiving the highest package of Rs 11 LPA in this domain. In Business Analytics, 12 top companies offered jobs to Chandigarh University's MBA students with Ford Business Solutions (formerly known as Ford Motors Pvt Ltd) offering the highest package of Rs 10.5 LPA in this domain. In the domain of Human Resources and Strategic HR, 64 top companies offered jobs to CU students in 2024-25 with Hyundai Motors offering the highest package of Rs 9.25 LPA in this domain. In other domains including Data Science & AI, Capital Markets, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Healthcare and Hospital Management, 161 top companies offered jobs to Chandigarh University's MBA students with the highest package of Rs 16.42 LPA which was offered by Federal Bank of India. The sectors which attracted the highest number of companies for campus placement of Chandigarh University's MBA students included IT and ITES (78 companies), Consulting (65 companies), Banking, BFSI and FinTech (63 companies), Edutech and Education (37 companies), Manufacturing (22 companies), Health Care (21 companies), Automobile and Auto ancillary (16 companies), Electronics (14 companies), Hospitality, Tourism and Airlines (10 companies), E-Commerce (10 companies), Energy, Power and Oil Industry (13 companies), Civil and Construction (12 companies), Retail (11 companies), Food Packaging and Processing (10 companies) and Real Estate (13 companies). Chandigarh University, ranked 11th in management among all private universities in NIRF 2024 Rankings, offers corroborative MBA programs which prioritize experiential learning through real-world projects, case studies and internships. About Chandigarh University Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC. Website address: https://www.cuchd.in/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2735853/Chandigarh_Uni_Placements.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], July 22: A global study released by The Economist Impact, supported by Haleon, reveals that India's healthcare future hinges on one powerful lever: health literacy. The findings of the Health Inclusivity Index, which analyzed 40 countries, looking at groups such as people with low health literacy, people on lower incomes, women, and older adults, highlighted how better access to health information, education, and preventive care can significantly reduce medical costs and boost economic productivity--especially in rapidly developing nations like India. The Index underlines that underserved groups--such as women, lower-income populations, older adults, and individuals with low health literacy bear the greatest burden of health exclusion. Empowering these communities with evidence-based health solutions is not only a public health imperative but also a powerful economic strategy. The findings also highlight the importance of self-care and health literacy as critical enablers of health inclusion, helping individuals recognize early symptoms, take timely action, and manage everyday health needs more effectively. Appended are the key findings for India: 1. Oral Health: A Hidden Economic Driver By managing gum disease effectively in India, $3.5billion could be saved in diabetes-related healthcare costs over the next decade. Poor oral health contributes to $35 billion in productivity losses annually across Index countries, disproportionately affecting low-income populations. Preventive dental care can reduce treatment costs--which are currently nearly 50% higher for underserved groups--by $32.8billion. Targeting lower-income groups could nearly double these savings to over $60 billion. 2. Musculoskeletal Health: Empowering Older Adults and Women Improving the prevention of musculoskeletal conditions in India among older adults can deliver annual benefits of $1.3billion. Among underserved populations--especially women aged 50 and above--targeted strategies can unlock an additional $2 billion in savings in India. These outcomes demonstrate that inclusive health strategies not only enhance individual well-being but also drive national prosperity. 3. Anaemia and Micronutrient Deficiencies: A Women's Health Crisis Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal of reducing anaemia in women of reproductive age by 50% by 2030 can save $48 billion and reclaim 568 million lost workdays each year across the 40 Index countries. In India alone, reaching this goal can yield $8.7billion in annual benefits. Women, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, bear the highest burden of micronutrient deficiencies, with anaemia rates rising in nearly three-quarters of Index countries. 4. Air Quality: A Public Health and Economic Imperative Air pollution is a silent driver of chronic illness and lost productivity, particularly in underserved communities. Meeting WHO air quality guidelines can save 4.5 million lives globally and deliver $11.8 billion in annual economic benefits in India alone. The Health Inclusivity Index highlights how reducing air pollution can ease pressure on healthcare systems and unlock major gains for both public health and the economy. Vedika Kapoor, Head, Communications & Government Affairs, Haleon India Subcontinent, said, "The Health Inclusivity Index, developed by Economist Impact with support from Haleon, shows that inclusive health is a powerful investment. This third phase reveals that such investments can unlock hundreds of billions in healthcare savings, boost GDP, and prevent millions of deaths annually. Through purpose-led brands like Sensodyne and Centrum, Haleon India is committed to bridging health gaps by promoting self-care behaviours that drive greater inclusion. We urge governments, businesses, and healthcare leaders to unite in building a truly inclusive health ecosystem." Link to the full report: https://impact.economist.com/projects/health-inclusivity-index/ The Index builds on two previous phases of research that exposed global gaps in health policy, and the lived experience of health exclusion. Promoting health inclusivity and removing barriers to quality healthcare ensures better health outcomes for everyone, regardless of their circumstances. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], July 22: UniPack Corrugated, a global leader in Smart Packaging engineering & automation solutions, today announced its entry into India's fast growing packaging industry through the strategic acquisition of Congzhou Machinery the leading Manufacturer of Corrugated Board equipment. This move establishes UniPack India as a dedicated entity serving the nation's 50,000 crore packaging sector with advanced technology and 360 comprehensive support. The acquisition brings together UniPack's global expertise in Smart Packaging Engineering & Automation with Congzhou Machinery's proven track record of over 100 successful installations across India, South Asia, Africa and Latin America. This combination creates a powerful platform to transform India's corrugated packaging landscape. Bringing Global Innovation to Local Manufacturing UniPack Corrugated has taken over the complete operations of Congzhou Machinery, which has a successful installation base of over 100 automatic board plants, primarily across India, South Asia, and Africa. This acquisition enables UniPack to immediately leverage proven local manufacturing expertise and existing infrastructure, significantly upgrading the quality and engineering of the board plant technology available. "Today heralds a new era for the corrugated machinery landscape in India," stated Mr. Anurag Biyani, AVP - India at UniPack. "By combining Congzhou Machinery's invaluable manufacturing experience and team with UniPack's global leadership in smart automation and a fresh, customer-centric approach, we are uniquely positioned. Our goal is to deliver exceptional value and robust solutions,' to corrugated packaging manufacturers throughout India, empowering their growth, efficiency, and competitiveness." UniPack is committed to the 'Make in India' initiative and is developing robust local capabilities. As core pillars of its entry strategy, UniPack Corrugated is setting up 02 Smart Manufacturing Plants in India. This includes complete line manufacturing setup, a dedicated Corrugated roll manufacturing setup, and advanced re-fluting services, ensuring world-class engineering is localized. To support our partners nationwide, we are setting up seven spare parts hub centers across India, alongside regional sales offices. In addition, Unipack is also acquiring major stake in other leading regional corrugators from China and Indo-Pacific to strengthen its engineering and manufacturing challenges. Furthermore, underscoring our commitment to skill development, these integrated manufacturing facilities will also feature in-house training academies and skill development centers focused on operator excellence and upskilling." Product Lineup: At Launch, UniPack introduces its High-Speed and Robust UniCorr product line, featuring High-Speed Fully Automatic Corrugated Board Plants engineered for the Indian and African Market. The Plants are designed for 03, 05, and 07 Ply corrugated boards designed for corrugators aiming to significantly scale-up operations with reliable technology and groundwork for "man less" operational capabilities. The UniCorr range includes: Smart Line - Perfect for emerging corrugators taking their first step into automation, reducing manual intervention by 60% Pro Line - Built for established businesses scaling beyond 3,500 tons monthly, increasing production efficiency by 40% Giant Line - Engineered for high-volume facilities producing over 8,000 tons per month, with fully automated operational capabilities Additionally, UniPack launches its Board Finishing Lines including UniPrint High-Speed Flexo Printing Machines, UniCut High-Speed Flatbed and Rotary Die Cutters, and UniFold High-Speed Automatic Folder Gluers and Stitchers, all integrated with Smart Edge philosophy featuring user-friendly advanced controls, practical data capabilities, and connected factory readiness. 360o Support Ecosystem: Beyond machinery, UniPack brings a 360 solutions ecosystem specifically adapted for Indian operational context, including focused Operational Excellence programs for manufacturing performance enhancement through Quality Management methodologies, Workforce Upskilling and Optimization analysis, targeted Wastage Reduction strategies, advanced Maintenance Excellence protocols, Strategic Consulting Services with specialized market assessments, structured Business Scaling Programs, complete Turnkey Project Solutions, Technology Transformation services for Smart Factory Automation, Industry 4.0 integration roadmaps, Plant Modernization programs, and guidance on achieving paperless, completely digital operational workflows. Strategic Support Infrastructure Understanding the critical importance of after-sales support, UniPack launches with extensive customer-focused infrastructure: 1. Regional Hubs: Delhi, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Dharwad, Indore, and Kolkata ensure technical assistance within 8 hours across India2. Digital Platform: Smart Edge-enabled remote diagnostics and spare parts ordering through the upcoming Digital E-Hub3. Training Excellence: Comprehensive operator training academy at the main plant, plus on-site skill development programs4. Complete Peace of Mind: Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMC) allowing customers to focus on core business growth while UniPack handles all technical aspects About UniPack: UniPack Corrugated is a global packaging engineering and automation Enterprise committed to making advanced automation accessible and profitable for packaging manufacturers worldwide. With its Smart Edge philosophy, UniPack delivers complete solutions that transform traditional operations into smart, efficient, and sustainable businesses. The company's approach addresses specific industry challenges through practical technology, comprehensive training, and dedicated support - all designed to help business owners step away from day-to-day operational complexities and focus on strategic growth. "Our mission is to democratize advanced manufacturing technology," explained Mr. Shashank Kumar, Head of Customer Success at UniPack India. "We've designed our support ecosystem to ensure that sophisticated automation becomes a growth enabler, not a technical burden, for manufacturers across India and Africa." Looking Ahead With this strategic entry, UniPack aims to serve as a catalyst for the Indian corrugated packaging industry's transformation, supporting the sector's evolution toward Industry 4.0 standards while creating employment opportunities and fostering skill development across the region. For more information: UniPack Corrugated (India) Email: hello@unipack.asia Website: https://www.unipack.asia (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Gross non-performing assets (NPAs) of public sector banks have been declining during the last five financial years, the Centre told the Parliament on Tuesday. The NPAs have reduced from 9.11 per cent to 2.58% from March 2021 to March 2025, said Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. Public sector banks saw a sharp decline in their gross NPAs from 6.17 lakh crore in March 2021 to 2.84 lakh crore in March 2025, he added. Non-Performing Assets (NPA) are loans or advances for which the borrower has not made principal or interest payments for a predetermined amount of time, usually ninety days. While, Gross NPA refers to the total value of loans and advances in a bank's portfolio. According to the MoS Finance, as of March 31, 2021, the gross NPA was Rs 6,16,616 crore, about 9.11 per cent, which witnessed a downturn at Rs 5,40,958 crore or 7.28 per cent in the same period 2022. In 2023, the gross NPA stood at Rs 4,28,197 crore, reaching at 4.97 per cent. The gross NPA figures for the year 2024 further decelerated at Rs 3,39,541 crore, reaching at 3.47 per cent. MoS Chaudhary apprised the House that the government and RBI have taken comprehensive measures to recover and reduce NPAs. As part of the reforms, a change in credit culture has been effected, with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) fundamentally changing the creditor-borrower relationship, taking away control of the defaulting company from promoters/owners, and debarring wilful defaulters from the resolution process. To make the process more stringent, a personal guarantor to a corporate debtor has also been brought under the ambit of IBC, the minister said. The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 and the Recovery of Debt and Bankruptcy Act have been amended to make them more effective. Pecuniary jurisdiction of Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) was increased from Rs 10 lakhs to Rs 20 lakhs to enable the DRTs to focus on high-value cases, resulting in higher recovery for the banks and financial institutions, he said. Public Sector Banks have set up specialised stressed assets management verticals and branches for effective monitoring and focused follow-up of NPA accounts, which facilitates quicker and improved resolution/ recoveries. Deployment of Business correspondents and adoption of Feet-on-street model have also boosted the recovery trajectory of NPAs in banks, he said. Prudential Framework for resolution of stressed assets was issued by RBI to provide a framework for early recognition, reporting and time bound resolution of stressed assets, with a build-in incentive to lenders for early adoption of a resolution plan. As per RBI guidelines, banks have a board approved policy in place for valuation of properties done by professionally qualified independent valuers. RBI mandates banks to have a procedure for empanelment of professional valuers based on prescribed minimum qualifications and maintain a register of approved list of valuers.(ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suvendu Adhikari on Monday hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recent statement opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar. Earlier, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed the Election Commission of India, stating that the electoral body has removed 40 lakh voters from the list in Bihar and claimed that it wants to do the same in West Bengal as well. "ECI removed over 40 lakh names from the voters' list in Bihar, and now you want to do the same in Bengal? Try it, and we will launch a Gherao movement. We brought our people back from detention once, we fought in court and won. We will not let this new law stand. We will fight, we will change it, we will not accept it", Mamata Banerjee said during her address. Adhikari said that in India's constitution, the Election Commission is "supreme," and whatever the electoral body does, it will happen. He mentioned that no "Rohingya Muslims, Bangladeshi Muslim infiltrators" will be allowed to enter the voter list. "In the country's constitution, the Election Commission is supreme; whatever the Election Commission does will happen. Rohingya Muslims, Bangladeshi Muslim infiltrators will not be in the voter list...Mamata Banerjee is a 'chor', his nephew is a 'chor'. The entire family is 'chor'," he said. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is conducting a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state ahead of the 2025 Bihar assembly elections. Earlier on July 16, Suvendu Adhikari called for a similar action in West Bengal as is happening in Bihar to delete all Rohingya Muslims' names from the voter list. While speaking to ANI, Adhikari said, "We marched here along with the BJP MLAs and BJP leaders. The exercise that is happening in Bihar should happen here as well. The names of lakhs of Rohingya Muslims are in the voter list here, they should be removed... This is not a question of Bengalis or the Bengali language. This is a question of national interest. Bengal has to be saved..." (ANI) BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad stated on Monday that the impeachment motion notice against Justice Varma is a "constitutional process." "This is a constitutional process. The conduct of an individual judge in terms of propriety is equally important for the independence of the judiciary. We have filed our notice in this regard," Prasad told reporters. Earlier in the day, with MPs in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha giving notices for motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma, who was indicted by an in-house inquiry committee after semi-burnt wads of cash were found from his residence following a fire incident, a committee is likely to be constituted to probe the allegations, sources said. The sources said the committee is likely to include a judge of Supreme Court, a chief justice from any of the High Courts and a distinguished jurist.The notices for removal of Justice Varma were given on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament.Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday said that he has received motion, signed by MPs, for impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma. The Chairman said it meets the numerical requirement of signing by MPs for setting in motion a process for removal of a High Court judge.Dhankhar said the process is different under the Judges Inquiry Act if the motion is presented in one House or both Houses of Parliament. He asked Law Minister Arjum Ram Meghwal, who was present in the House, if a similar motion has been presented in Lok Sabha. The Law Minister said about 152 Lok Sabha MPs have submitted a similar resolution to the Lok Sabha Speaker. "I need to inform you that I have received Notice of Motion...to constitute a statutory committee for the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma...This has been received by me today. It has been signed by 50 members of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and thus it meets the numerical requirement of signing by MPs for setting in motion a process for removal of a High Court judge...Since the Law Minister is present here and has so indicated that a similar Motion has come to be presented by a on 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. He had also referred to the constitution of a committee, citing rules."If the motion referred to in Subsection 1 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 Justices 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," he said. "And before that, it is given that if a notice given of a motion for presenting an address to the President praying for removal of a judge signed by, in the case of a notice given in the House of People, by no less than 100 members of the House, and in the case of a notice given in the Council of States by no less than 50 members of the Council, then the Speaker or, as the case may be, the Chairman may, after consulting such persons, if any, as he thinks fit, and after considering such material or materials, if any, as may be available to him, either admit the motion or refuse to admit the same," he added. Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha MPs submitted a memorandum to the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to remove High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma in connection with the cash discovery row. Over 140 Lok Sabha members signed the impeachment motion notice against Justice Varma. MPs from several parties including BJP, Congress, TDP, JD(U), JD(S), Jan Sena Party, AGP, Shiv Sena, LJSP and CPI(M) are among the signatories.The signatories include Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party MP KC Venugopal, BJP MPs Ravi Shankar Prasad, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, PP Chaudhary, NCP(SP) member Supriya Sule. Congress MP K Suresh said that the party extended its support to the impeachment move against High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, joining hands with the INDIA bloc parties."The INDIA bloc parties are also supporting this and are also signing the letters to the Speaker," Suresh told ANI. Justice Yashwant Varma has approached the Supreme Court challenging the in-house three-judge inquiry committee's report and former CJI Sanjiv Khanna's recommendation to initiate impeachment proceedings against him. Justice Varma stated that he was not given a fair opportunity to respond to the in-house inquiry committee before it presented its findings. His plea came ahead of the Parliament's monsoon session, which began on Monday. The cash was allegedly found when a fire broke out in the outhouse of judge's residence on March 14, when he was the judge of the Delhi High Court. The judge was not present at his house. In his plea, Justice Varma alleged that the committee proceeded in a pre-determined fashion and even without finding any concrete evidence, merely drew adverse inferences against him after reversing the burden of proof. He sought a declaration that the recommendation by the CJI on May 8, 2025 to the President and the Prime Minister for initiation of his removal as a High Court Judge is "unconstitutional and ultra vires"." He said that the in-house procedure, adopted via a 1999 Full Court Resolution to handle complaints against judges and preserve judicial independence while maintaining public faith, "unjustifiably extends beyond the intended scope of self-regulation and fact-finding". "By culminating in recommendations for removal from constitutional office, it creates a parallel, extra-constitutional mechanism that derogates from the mandatory framework under Articles 124 and 218 of the Constitution, which exclusively vest powers for removal of judges of the High Courts in Parliament through an address supported by a special majority, following an inquiry under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968," stated the petition. It further submitted the in-house, which adopts no such comparable safeguards, usurps parliamentary authority to the extent that it empowers the judiciary to recommend or opine on the removal of Judges from constitutionally held office."This violates the doctrine of separation of powers, which is part of the basic structure of the Constitution, as the judiciary cannot assume the role reserved for the legislature in the removal of judges," added the plea. Justice Varma also sought quashing of the final report dated May 3 of the in-house committee constituted by the CJI, and all consequtional actions. Invocation of the in-house procedure was "improper and invalid" since it was done in the absence of any formal complaint against Justice Varma, said the plea. The plea said the committee denied him access to evidence, withheld CCTV footage, and offered no chance to rebut allegations. Key witnesses were examined in his absence, violating natural justice, he added. The committee was constituted on March 22 by then CJI Khanna to probe the incident, comprising of Justices Sheel Nagu (then Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court), GS Sandhawalia (then Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court), and Anu Sivaraman (Judge, Karnataka High Court). The incident occurred following a fire at his Lutyens' Delhi home, during which semi-burnt wads of cash were reportedly found. (ANI) Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Monday expressed disappointment after taking part in the Business Advisory Committee (BAC). Gogoi noted that the opposition demanded a special session to discuss the Operation Sindoor and Pahalgam attack which was rejected by the government. However, even in the Monsoon session, both issues are not being discussed by the government. "Various parties had requested that a special session be called on Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor... The government rejected the demand for a special session, and now, even in the monsoon session, they are not discussing Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor. We are disappointed with the BAC (Business Advisory Committee) meeting held today, because the agenda consisted of the government's bills," Gogoi told reporters. The Congress MP said that even in the agenda of the BAC meeting, the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor were not included. He stated that the government should clarify their stance on the issues. "The government should clarify which day they will hold this discussion. It is being mentioned that the Prime Minister is going on a foreign tour, and I believe that is important, but today we were meeting for the first time for the monsoon session... Could the discussion not have happened today... or could it not happen tomorrow?... The government should clarify when it will hold the discussion," he said. The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meetings of both Houses of Parliament was scheduled to take place on Monday, with the Rajya Sabha BAC meeting set for 1 pm and the Lok Sabha BAC meeting at 2 pm. The Rajya Sabha meeting was to be chaired by the Chairman of the Upper House, while the Speaker of the Lok Sabha will preside over the BAC meeting of the Lower House. In both Houses, the Business Advisory Committees will deliberate on the legislative agenda and finalise the business to be taken up during the ongoing session. The meetings will determine which issues will be discussed and what business will be prioritised in the respective Houses. (ANI) A man accused in a case of duping a 91-year-old Delhi-based cardiologist of Rs 3.42 crore on the pretext of digital arrest has been granted bail by the court on Monday. The accused is linked to a cheating involving Rs 1 crore, while the FIR pertains to the larger amount of Rs 3.42 crore. A man accused in a case of duping a Delhi-based 91-year-old cardiologist of Rs 3.42 crores on the pretext of digital arrest got bail from the court on Monday. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Saurabh Pratap Singh Laller of the Patiala House Court on Monday granted bail to accused Amit Sharma after considering the fact that the charge sheet has been filed and the co-accused has been enlarged on bail. The court also noted that the amount of Rs. 1 crore, which was cheated, has been returned to the complainant. The total amount cheated was deposited into different bank accounts. It was observed by the court, "Critically, as stated by the Investigating Officer during proceedings, examination of the applicant's WhatsApp chats reveals mention of the present DBS Bank account, with no connections to other cyber fraud cases. This limits the applicant's apparent involvement to the instant transaction." "Further, the cheated amount of Rs. 1,00,00,000 linked to this accused was frozen and refunded to the complainant, mitigating financial prejudice," ASJ Singh observed in the order passed on July 21. While granting bail to accused Amit Sharma, the court further noted that co-accused Hari Swargiary, facing similar allegations of an intermediary role in credential sharing, had been granted bail by this Court on 10.07.2025, based on the lack of beneficiary status and the completion of the investigation. The counsel for the accused, Amit Sharma, submitted that the accused has been in custody since 17 April 2025, the charge sheet has been filed, and no further recovery is pending. Advocate Amit Kumar, counsel for the accused, contended that the applicant is not a beneficiary of the cheated amount, which has been secured and refunded to the complainant. He relied on the fact that co-accused Hari Swargiary, who was granted bail by this Court on 10.07.2025. On the other hand, Delhi police opposed the bail plea. The Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) argued that the accused played a pivotal role in supplying bank account credentials to the co-accused for a commission, thereby facilitating the fraud of Rs. 3.42 crores against a 91-year-old complainant. The Prosecution also highlighted the risk of absconding, given the applicant's changed addresses, and the need to trace masterminds and accomplices. (ANI) The sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday surprised many in political circles, with Congress leaders expressing concern and hinting at political undercurrents behind the move. While MP Jebi Mather called it "very shocking" and unexpected, senior leader Danish Ali raised questions over whether the step was really due to health reasons, suggesting "mysterious things are happening which are not in the favour of the nation." Speaking to ANI, Mather said, "It is indeed very shocking, VP chaired the Rajya Sabha session even this morning. This is a very unexpected development. We may have had differences due to different political spectrums and how we view each issues. But I must say, as a junior parliamentarian, he has been very encouraging to me to speak in Rajya Sabha on multiple occasions. I wish him good health and hope he recovers soon. So, that's what I think we all should be saying at the moment." Congress leader Danish Ali, however, questioned that health concerns were the sole reason behind the resignation "The reason behind his resignation does not seem to be due to health concerns... Recently, it was heard that some top national leaders of the BJP were not making statements that matched the dignity of his (VP Dhankhar) position... It appears that he had differences with the government regarding the impeachment motion against Justice Yadav and Justice Verma... He has said multiple times that he would never come under anyone's pressure...Mysterious things are happening which are not in the favour of the nation," Ali told ANI. Echoing a similar note, Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat said political events rarely happen without planning. He added, "May God grant him a long and healthy life. But nothing in politics is sudden. The screenplay is written well in advance. The Bihar elections are near. That may be one of the angles... A lot of unexpected things happen as per the will of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister... However, all I can say is that his health should be the priority." Earlier in the day, the Vice President's Secretariat had communicated that the Vice President, Dhankhar, will be on a one-day visit to Jaipur, Rajasthan, on Tuesday. It was stated that during his visit, the Vice-President will interact with the newly elected committee members of Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Association of India (CREDAI) Rajasthan at Rambagh Palace, Jaipur. Meanwhile, on Monday, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post "to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice." "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," the letter said. "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," it added. The Vice President also expressed his deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers. "Prime Minister's 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 will be cherished and embedded in his 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 a source of satisfaction to witness and participate 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 said. "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 added. The resignation came on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament. Dhankhar was sworn in as the 14th Vice President of India on August 11, 2022. As Vice President, he also served as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sanjay Jaiswal on Monday hit out at Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi over his claims of "not being allowed to speak in the Parliament", stating that he didn't even give a notice on Operation Sindoor, which showcases his "arrogant" nature. "Rahul Gandhi did not even give a notice on Operation Sindoor; this shows how arrogant he is... Even if he was given a chance to speak, he would not have said even two words," Sanjay Jaiswal told ANI. Earlier on the first day of the monsoon session on Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of not allowing him to speak in the Lok Sabha, stating that union ministers were allowed to speak but he was not. Meanwhile, BJP MP Rekha Sharma slammed Rahul Gandhi over the issue, stating that the Congress leader comes to the parliament occasionally and wants to speak out of turn. "He only comes to the House at times, and then wants to speak out of turn. But when it is their time to speak, he doesn't come to the House", Rekha Sharma said. Earlier on Monday, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Aparajita Sarangi dismissed Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi's claim of not being allowed to speak in the Parliament as "totally baseless". Highlighting that she was present in the Lok Sabha, Sarangi said that Rahul Gandhi's claims are totally "baseless." "This is totally baseless. Even I was sitting in the House. The government has made its stand clear. Even the Defence Minister has said that the government is ready for discussion on Operation Sindoor, what is the problem?", the BJP MP said. Sarangi noted that Rahul Gandhi will be allowed to speak when the structured discussion takes place. "When a structured discussion is initiated, LoP Rahul Gandhi will also be given the opportunity to speak. It is a matter of remaining relevant for him", she said. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale also stated that the accusations of Rahul Gandhi against the government are not correct and reaffirmed their commitment regarding discussions on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. "The accusations Rahul Gandhi is making are not correct. The government is ready to discuss the Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor.... When it is discussed, he will be given the right to speak", he told ANI. Congress and other parties of INDIA bloc have identified eight key issues to be raised during the monsoon session of Parliament. These include Pahalgam terror attack and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Opposition members had given adjournment notices which were not accepted. "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...The convention states that if people from the government side can speak, then we should also be given space to speak," Rahul Gandhi told reporters. (ANI) Ramesh Naik, who lost his daughter in the 2006 Mumbai blasts, questioned the government following Bombay High Court's decision to acquit 12 accused of the incident. Naik questioned the purpose of these 19 years and what the matter was that had caused the case to drag on so long. He said that after bomb blasts took place in 2002 and 2008, all the accused were hanged quickly. As the Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 accused of the incident, Ramesh Naik asked then who is responsible for the 2006 Mumbai blasts. "I had a question for the government: why did it take 19 years? 19 years for what purpose? What was the matter that caused it to take 19 years before reaching a decision? After a bomb blast happened in 2002, another incident occurred in 2008, and for that, Kasab and others were hanged quickly. However, these terrorists, who were kept in jail for 19 years, have now been acquitted. If not them, then who caused the bomb blast on the train? It seems like a joke; the court's decision appears to be a joke", he said. 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 Train blasts. This important verdict came after 19 years. A special bench of the Bombay High Court ruled that the evidence relied on by the prosecution was not conclusive to convict the accused persons. The court then ordered the immediate release of all the accused. On the evening of July 11, 2006, bomb blasts took place at seven different places in the Mumbai local train within just 11 minutes. In this incident, 189 people lost their lives in the blast, while more than 827 passengers were injured. 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. (ANI) DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan on Monday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that the latter has not delivered on his promises and will not "answer any questions" posed by the media. "He has addressed the mics, not the press. He will not answer any questions asked by the press. He will speak before the mic, and once again, he has done that. Whatever he says, has not happened so far; even now, it is not going to happen," he told ANI while reacting to the customary remarks of PM Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with senior Union Ministers, including Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Rajnath Singh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju, and Arjun Meghwal, on Monday. Sources said that the meeting, held at Parliament House in the national capital, likely discussed and made decisions regarding the ongoing Monsoon Session, which began on Monday. The Prime Minister was apprised about the discussions in the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) and the opposition's insistence that he make a statement in the House, according to sources. The PM was also briefed about the opposition's ruckus, particularly their demand for his availability to speak on the issue of "Operation Sindoor, they said. In his customary remarks ahead of the commencement of the Parliament Session, PM Modi said, "This monsoon session is like a 'Vijay Utsav' celebration of victory. The whole world has seen the strength of India's military power. The target set by the Indian Army in Operation Sindoor was achieved 100 per cent. Under Operation Sindoor, the houses of the masters of terrorists were razed to the ground within 22 minutes. The world has been very attracted to this new form of Made in India military power. These days, whenever I meet people of the world, the world's attraction towards the Made in India weapons being made by India is increasing." Meanwhile, earlier on, Congress and other parties of the INDIA bloc identified eight key issues to be raised during the monsoon session of Parliament. These include the Pahalgam terror attack and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. Opposition members had given adjournment notices, which were not accepted. Opposition parties had been raising slogans in the Lok Sabha in support of their demands in the House. The Lok Sabha was first adjourned until 12:00 p.m. and then until 2:00 p.m. "... 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... The convention states that if people from the government side can speak, then we should also be given space to speak," Rahul Gandhi told reporters. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra referred to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju's remarks that the government is ready for discussion on Operation Sindoor."If they (the government) are ready for discussion, they should let the Leader of the Opposition speak. He stood up to speak, so he should be allowed to speak," she said. (ANI) Reacting to the arrest of Congress student leader Udit Pradhan for allegedly raping a 19-year-old woman, Odisha Pradesh Congress President Bhakta Charan Das said that the party has suspended him with immediate effect and reaffirmed its "zero tolerance" policy towards crimes against women. Speaking to ANI, Das said, "We have taken immediate action and suspended him with immediate effect, till the inquiry is over. Congress Party has been fighting against the atrocities against women. We will keep fighting against this until it is over in Odisha. We have zero tolerance against this." Meanwhile, on Monday, Congress leader Sashmita Behera reiterated the party's stance of committment to stand with women and pledged to support the girl after Odisha Police arrested Udit Pradhan, the state unit president of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), for allegedly raping a 19-year-old student. She said that they are on their way to meet the victim to get more details about the incident. "Some complaints have been received against Udit Pradhan. He has also been arrested. Upon learning this news, the NSUI National President immediately suspended him, and the PCC formed a fact-finding team, which I led. We are going to meet the girl who filed the complaint right now. Our party's stance is a commitment to stand with women and provide them justice. We are with that girl. We will meet her first, and only then will we find out what happened to her," Behera told ANI. Odisha Police had arrested Udit Pradhan, President of the Odisha National Students' Union of India (NSUI), Congress party's student wing, in connection with the alleged rape of a student in Bhubaneswar, according to the Odisha Police Commissionerate. As per the police, the incident happened on Friday night when the girl was allegedly given an intoxicating substance in a drink by the accused before he allegedly committed the offence. The incident reportedly took place in a hotel in Mancheswar, Bhubaneswar. Police said, "There has been an allegation by a girl student about giving an intoxicating substance in a drink and then of rape in a hotel against one Udit Pradhan." Based on the complaint submitted by the victim, an FIR was registered at the Mancheswar Police Station, and the accused Udit Pradhan, was arrested. "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, Police said. Meanwhile, Pradhan has been suspended from the position of President of the Odisha National Students' Union of India (NSUI) with immediate effect, as per a statement issued by the NSUI National President. (ANI) BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya on Monday strongly criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of politicising non-issues, saying he could not prove Congress as a responsible Opposition party. Bhattacharya reacted to Rahul Gandhi's recent claim that he was not being allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha, calling it a political stunt lacking substance. "He could not prove Congress as a responsible Opposition party. He is doing politics over non-issues. Nobody considers Congress a responsible political organisation in the country right now." Bhattacharya told ANI. Earlier in the day, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal also countered Gandhi's claim, saying that he should let the House function if they wanted to speak and would definitely get the chance to speak. Pal, who was in the Chair at the time of the incident, clarified that the ruckus created by the Congress members themselves prevented normal proceedings, and not any obstruction from the Chair. "I was Chairing the House at that time. I got up and told Rahul Gandhi that he is the LoP, MPs of his party are in the Well, sloganeering and creating a ruckus. This is the first day of the Monsoon session... If he wanted to speak, they should let the House function; he will definitely get the chance to speak..." Pal told ANI. Congress and other parties of the INDIA bloc have identified eight key issues to be raised during the monsoon session of Parliament. These include the Pahalgam terror attack and Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. Opposition members had given adjournment notices, which were not accepted. Opposition parties had been raising slogans in Lok Sabha in support of their demands in the House. Lok Sabha was first adjourned till 12 noon and then till 2 pm."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...The convention states that if people from the government side can speak, then we should also be given space to speak," Rahul Gandhi told mediapersons. The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessed adjournments due to opposition demands, including a discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. The Lok Sabha witnessed three adjournments, while the Rajya Sabha was adjourned once due to opposition demands. (ANI) Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav emphasised the need for a discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack, and called for an open discussion in Parliament to address the incident. He stressed the need for transparency and urged the Centre to clarify the circumstances surrounding the attack, particularly regarding any lapses in intelligence. The SP leader further stressed that the government and the Prime Minister should listen to the Opposition's concerns. "The issue of Pahalgam terror attack is very important. All Opposition parties want there to be a discussion on it. The government should disclose what had happened and if it was an intelligence failure. The PM and the govt should hear the opposition and we will hear that the govt will have to say..," Yadav told reporters on Monday. Earlier today, the Opposition reiterated its demand to discuss the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. Speaking to reporters, Congress MP KC Venugopal said, "We are asking for a discussion in the House in the presence of the Prime Minister. All INDIA alliance parties' MPs have adjournment motion notices to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack. If the government intends to hold a discussion, it needs to demonstrate it. The Congress MP alleged that the Speaker did not allow the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, to speak, which makes the discussion one-sided. "The Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister and the Defence Minister spoke in the House, but they didn't allow the LoP to speak. This House has become one-sided. Let them start the discussion; we are ready," he said. Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka told ANI, "There should be a discussion on the Pahalgam terrorist attack... We demanded that the LoP should also be allowed to speak, but they did not allow it... The house will not function until there is a consensus, and the government should show a big heart and take the opposition along." The Monsoon Session of the Parliament began today and will continue till August 21, with a break from August 12 to August 18. There will be a total of 21 sittings across 32 days. (ANI) AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan welcomed the Bombay High Court's decision to acquit all 12 individuals convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings case, calling it a victory of truth and justice. He criticised the prolonged incarceration of the accused, saying their lives were destroyed over a period of 19 years due to wrongful charges. He alleged that laws such as MCOCA and UAPA are selectively used against Muslims, leading to decades of suffering and loss. Speaking to ANI on Monday, Pathan said, "This is a welcome judgement by the Bombay High Court. This is the victory of truth and justice. 12 innocent Muslims were arrested and jailed just on the basis of suspicion. They have received justice today, after 19 years. They have been declared innocent today...Several of these people lost their youth, parents and 19 years of their lives over a false case by the ATS. Who will take accountability for this?" "They destroyed 12 lives in 19 years. Only Muslims have to suffer and pay for draconian laws like MCOCA and UAPA. High Court said that the confessions were out of duress, threat, force and coercion...Justice delayed is justice denied. The real culprits are roaming freely. When will the ATS arrest them? Why have they not been arrested so far?" Families of those acquitted spoke of years of stigma and pain. Rahil Shaikh, brother of acquitted accused Sohail Shaikh, recalled the social humiliation they endured. "I want to thank the Almighty that the judge gave a verdict in our favour. We had faith in the judiciary... We were abused wherever we used to go. People called us terrorists. There were some people who supported us a lot, but some used to taunt us a lot," Shaikh said. He added, "We lost all hope. We were getting tortured wherever we used to go. People used to taunt us, saying they are terrorists. We were sure that at the end, truth would win." Meanwhile, on Monday, the Bombay High Court acquitted 12 accused of the 2006 Mumbai train blasts, which had drawn anger from the victims; meanwhile, a feeling of happiness spread among the families of the people who had been acquitted. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while addressing the issue, expressed shock and stated that the government would challenge the Bombay HC verdict in the Supreme Court. "The verdict of the Bombay High Court is very shocking and we will challenge it in the Supreme Court", CM Fadnavis told reporters. This important verdict came after 19 years. A special bench of the Bombay High Court ruled that the evidence relied on by the prosecution was not conclusive to convict the accused persons. The court then ordered the immediate release of all the accused. 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 this incident, 189 people died, while more than 827 passengers were injured. 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. (ANI) Two miscreants allegedly involved in the Chandan Mishra murder case were injured in an encounter with Bihar Special Task Force (STF) and Bhojpur Police on Tuesday. The miscreants have been identified as Balwant Kumar Singh and Ravi Ranjan Kumar Singh. They have been arrested by Bihar Police and are currently being treated in a hospital. They have reportedly admitted to their involvement in the murder case. Police seized two pistols and one magazine. Earlier on Sunday, all four of the accused were arrested in Kolkata in connection with the murder of Chandan Mishra in a Patna hospital, said Patna SSP Kartikey K Sharma, adding that the other four are still absconding. Unidentified assailants shot a prisoner, Chandan Mishra, who was admitted to a hospital in Patna for treatment on July 17. "On 17th July, Chandan Mishra was shot dead in the hospital. The shooters fled to different places after committing the crime. While starting the investigation, raids were conducted by the Patna Police at various places, and many people were questioned. The main shooter, Tausif, was arrested in Kolkata. Kolkata Police and Kolkata STF gave us very commendable support, and due to that support, Tausif was arrested in Kolkata. Along with Tausif, 3 other people were also found there who had a role in this conspiracy...He has been booked in NDPS, Arms Act and attempt to murder cases in the past. Nishu Khan has also been booked in extortion and Arms Act cases in the past, with him his Harsh and Bheem arrested...All 4 of the accused have been arrested in Kolkata...," SSP Kartikey K Sharma said. He further said, "The other four are still absconding and will be arrested soon. The investigation is underway." The prisoner, Chandan Mishra, was out on parole on the grounds of required medical attention and was admitted to Paras Hospital for treatment, when unidentified assailants barged into the hospital and shot him. Chandan Mishra was a known criminal with dozens of murder cases registered against him. The Police believe that the rival gang has carried out the shooting. (ANI) Northeast China provinces on alert for battling main flood season Xinhua) 08:46, July 22, 2025 BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The northeast China provinces of Liaoning and Jilin have been placed on alert as the main flood season brings strong winds and heavy rains. Dalian, a coastal city in Liaoning Province, issued a yellow rainstorm alert and raised its emergency response for flood control to Level III on Monday as heavy rainfall is forecast to hit many parts of the city between Monday and Tuesday. According to the meteorological authorities, the average precipitation in Dalian from Sunday noon to 8 a.m. Monday reached 31 mm, with a maximum rainfall of 139.1 mm recorded in Shihe Street of Jinpu New Area. Dalian's meteorological observatory also issued a yellow alert for marine thunderstorms on Monday, warning of short bursts of gales and downpours along coastal areas. Residents were advised to stay clear of flood-prone areas, avoid wading through water, and keep away from power infrastructure to prevent the risk of electric shocks. Elsewhere in Liaoning, the cities of Anshan, Benxi and Dandong also launched emergency response for flood control and issued various alerts for weather-induced geological disasters, according to the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters. The provincial department of water resources continues to monitor river and reservoir levels and oversee dam safety inspections. Currently, a total of 60 tailings ponds and mining enterprises across Liaoning have suspended operations, while over 11,000 people have been relocated, according to the provincial emergency management department. In neighboring Jilin Province, the provincial department of water resources launched a Level IV emergency response for flood and drought disaster prevention at noon on Monday. According to the department, heavy rainfall from Sunday to Monday affected the Yalu River Basin, causing several rivers to exceed the warning levels. The downpours are expected to continue through Tuesday. China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe response, and a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Mysterious Tic Tac-shaped UFOs have been visiting Earth for centuries, leading alien investigator Mark Christopher Lee has claimed. UFO investigator Mark Christopher Lee In his new documentary Project: Alien Earth, Lee challenges the popular belief that the UFOs - like those seen by US Navy pilots off California in 2004 - are secret military technology. Instead, he presents historical and photographic evidence suggesting these craft predate modern aviation. Lee said: "Weve been seeing these Tic Tac shaped craft for centuries, and I believe its time to face the truth. The idea that they are man-made simply doesnt hold up. How can we explain detailed sightings of the same type of craft in the 1600s and 1800s, before powered flight even existed? In his new documentary film - now streaming on Amazon Prime Video - Lee highlights two major events as proof. In 1561, hundreds of witnesses in Nuremberg, Germany, reported strange aerial objects during what was described as a sky battle, including cylindrical craft resembling todays Tic Tac UFOs. Similarly, during the Great Airship Wave of 18961897 in the United States, thousands of eye witnesses - including journalists and judges - claimed to have seen metallic, capsule-shaped craft decades before the Wright brothers first flight. Lee said: "These objects were described in eerily similar ways to modern-day sightings. "Silent propulsion, instant acceleration, no visible means of lift, the same exact features we see in the Tic Tac UFOs today. Thats not coincidence. Thats continuity. Lee - whose other films include The King of UFOs and The Rendlesham UFO : The British Roswell - also suggests that claims of military involvement are a deliberate diversion. He stated: "If the public can be convinced these craft are secret military tech, then theres no need to ask the bigger, more frightening question: Are we being visited? Have we always been watched? Project: Alien Earth features interviews with ufologists, historians, and eyewitnesses, aiming to expose what Lee calls a cover-up of cosmic proportions". Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday morning expressed gratitude towards Jagdeep Dhankar, who resigned as the Vice President of India citing "health reasons". Kalyan credited Dhankar for upholding the dignity of the VP's office and safeguarding constitutional values, while conducting himself with grace, impartiality, and integrity. Dhankar also served as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha after assuming office on August 11, 2022. "Thank you, Respected Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, for your dedicated and valuable service to Bharat," Kalyan posted on X, adding, "Throughout your tenure, you upheld the dignity of the Vice President's office with unwavering commitment, safeguarded constitutional values, and conducted yourself with grace, impartiality, and integrity. Your fearless expression of views, free from political pressure, has set a high benchmark for public life." Earlier in the day, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey a jibe at the opposition after Congress MP Jairam Ramesh claimed that there was more to Jagdeep Dhankar's "unexpected" resignation as Vice President, implying that the opposition was being dramatic. "Opposition is playing the role of Kader Khan in the film," Dubey posted on X while citing a news report from December last year where the opposition parties moved to impeach Dhankar from the Vice President's office and accused him of being "partisan".Dubey said, "Just now they came with a proposal to remove him. At least pay attention to his (Dhankar's) health." His remarks come after Ramesh said that there was more to Dhankar's resignation "than meets the eye". "The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is unimaginable. Until around 5 PM this evening, I was with him, along with several other MPs, and at 7:30 PM, I had a phone conversation with him. Undoubtedly, Jagdeep Dhankhar should prioritise his health above all else. However, it is also clear that there is more to his completely unexpected resignation than meets the eye. Nevertheless, this is not the time for speculation," the Congress leader posted on X. Highlighting his importance for the farming community, Ramesh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must persuade Dhankar to change his mind. He added that the Vice President's resignation comes ahead of him making a crucial announcement related to the judiciary. "Jagdeep Dhankhar has taken both the government and the opposition to task equally. He had called a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee yesterday at 1 PM and was about to make some important announcements related to the judiciary," the Congress leader said. "We wish him good health and urge him to reconsider his decision. We also expect the Prime Minister to persuade Jagdeep Dhankhar to change his mind. This would be in the interest of the nation. It would be a great relief, especially for the farming community," he added. On Monday evening, Dhankhar resigned from his post "to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice." Dhankhar, who is also Chairman of Rajya Sabha, sent his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu. "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," the letter read. This development comes after sources informed that a committee is expected to be constituted to further investigate the allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, following the notices given by MPs in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for his removal. Justice Verma was indicted by an in-house inquiry committee after semi-burnt wads of cash were found in his residence following a fire incident. (ANI) Several opposition MPs on Tuesday submitted notices to move adjournment motions in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to discuss the issue of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. In Lok Sabha, Congress MP Manickam Tagore gave a notice to move an adjournment motion to discuss the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and its "threat to democratic rights." In Rajya Sabha, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh gave a notice of motion to discuss the "constitutional and electoral implications" of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The notice reads, "I would like to draw the attention of this House to a very serious and sensitive issue relating to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process currently being conducted by the Election Commission of India in the State of Bihar. While regular and transparent revision of Electoral Rolls is the cornerstone of a democratic system, the nature of this process being adopted in Bihar appears to be worrisome and inequality-promoting at many levels, especially when we see it in the backdrop of the upcoming Assembly elections in the year 2025." "Therefore, I humbly request you to adjourn all proceedings of the House under Rule 267 and discuss this very important issue so that the right to vote of citizens can be protected," it further reads. Congress' Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh has also given Suspension of Business Notice under rule 267 to discuss the concerns arising out of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar ahead of elections. The notice reads, "That this House suspend Zero Hour and the relevant rules pertaining to Question Hour and other businesses of the day to discuss the concerns arising out of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar ahead of elections, followed by a plan to conduct similar exercises nation-wide, including in West Bengal, where high levels of migration, displacement, and documentation-related vulnerabilities persist. Such actions raise grave apprehensions about the disenfranchisement of a large section of the poor and marginalized." In a notice given to the General Secretary of the Rajya Sabha, Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussian requested suspension of Zero Hour and Question Hour to discuss the concerns regarding Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision Exercise in Bihar. "These exercises raise serious concerns about the exclusion of already precarious communities from the electoral rolls, particularly in the absence of adequate safeguards, transparency, and due process in their implementation," the Congress MP mentioned in the notice. Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan has also gave a notice of motion to discuss the concerns arising out of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar and its proposed expansion to states such as West Bengal. "These exercises raise serious concerns regarding the potential disenfranchisement of vulnerable sections of society, who are likely to face significant challenges in complying with the Election Commission's directives within a limited timeframe," Ranjan said in the notice. Congress MP Neeraj Dangi has also given a notice of motion to discuss the "concerns arising out of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar." On Monday, Bihar become the first state in the country to have all polling stations (PS) with less than 1,200 electors, according to an official statement from Election Commission of India (ECI). According to the ECI, a total of 96.23 per cent of electors were covered in Bihar SIR. 5.56 per cent of electors were not found at their addresses so far. (ANI) The minor boy, victim of the dog bite incident that happened on July 17 in Mumbai, said that the accused, Sohail Khan, released the dog towards him when he was sitting with his friends. The child added that when they saw the dog coming towards them, his friends escaped, but he was unable to escape, and eventually the dog bit him. The boy further stated that he was extremely scared during this entire incident. "We were sitting and chatting. One of my friends asked him (the accused dog owner) where he was going with the pitbull. He started coming towards us with the dog. Everyone escaped but I couldn't... He was releasing the dog towards me and was laughing. The dog bit me, and then I ran. It also held my clothes... I was very scared...", the minor boy, who was attacked by accused Sohail Khan's pitbull dog in an auto-rikshaw on July 17, said. On July 17 night, at around 10:00 p.m., a disturbing incident was reported in Mumbai when a Pitbull dog owner named Sohail Khan deliberately released his dog on a minor boy playing in an auto rickshaw parked in a residential area, according to Mumbai Police. Khan allegedly set his pet dog loose on the minor without any provocation. Mumbai Police said, "On 17th July at around 10:00 PM, the complainant's minor son was playing in a parked rickshaw in the residential area when the accused, Mohammad Sohail Khan -- an acquaintance from the same locality -- deliberately released his brown-coloured pet dog". The dog attacked the minor boy, biting him on the chin and hands, causing serious injuries. A video of the incident went viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation. Based on the detailed statement of the complainant, father of the minor child, an offence was registered by the police under BNS at Mankhurd Police Station. "Due to a lack of control and supervision, the dog bit the child on the chin, causing injury. Based on the detailed statement of the complainant, an offence has been registered under sections 291, 125, 125(a) of IPC (BNS) at Mankhurd Police Station. A notice has been served to the accused under Section 35(3) of BNS", said Mumbai Police. The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy, on the basis of a release issued by the Ministry, mentioned that States/UTs have reported, as per the data reported on the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (Integrated Health Information Platform) portal, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, that 21,95,122 dog bites cases occurred in India during Jan-Dec'2024. (ANI) Jharkhand Special Task Force and CRPF 60 battalion recovered 14 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) of 2 kg each along with local hand grenades, ammonium nitrate powder, and other explosive material in the jungles of Chaibasa, police said on Tuesday. Chaibasa Police said, "In a joint search operation of Jharkhand Police against naxal activities, Jharkhand Special Task Force and CRPF 60 battalion recovered 14 IEDs of 2 kg each along with local hand grenades, ammonium nitrate powder and other explosive material in the jungles under Chaibasa police station limits on July 20. The explosive was destroyed on the spot through a controlled blast, as per SOP." Earlier SP Bokaro, Harvinder Singh on July 16, reported that a joint team was formed to verify information about a group of CPI Maoists, led by Sahdev Soren (alias Anuj, alias Pravesh Soren), a Central Committee Member, and Chanchal (alias Raghunath, alias Kanha), in the anti-Naxal operation in Jharkhand's Bokaro district. "We received an information that there is a group of CPI Maoists in the wild area under the Gomiya police station, their top leader Sahdev Soren, alias Anuj, alias Pravesh Soren, who is also a member of CCM, and Chanchal, alias Raghunath, alias Kanha and members of the armed squad are planning to carry out a major incident. A joint team was formed to verify the same information," he said. SP Bokaro further stated that during the operation, the CPI Maoists attacked them. The police retaliated in self-defence, and after controlling the situation, recovered two bodies. One soldier, Praneshwar from the 209 Battalion, was killed by a bullet during the encounter. "Today in the morning, the same team carried out the operation, and seeing the team approaching, the Maoists attacked them. In self-defence, the police also retaliated with the firing. After the situation was controlled and a search was conducted, two bodies were recovered. One was wearing the uniform of the Naxal, identified as Kuar Majhi, alias Sehdev Majhi. He was on the post of Sub Zonal Commander, and a reward of Rs 5 lakh was there for him. Another body was found in normal clothes, and we are conducting the inquiry for the identification. One Jawan of the 209 Battalion, Praneshwar, lost his life when a bullet hit him," he said. He reported that during the search and raid operation, the team recovered basic items, including a tent and an AK-47 with magazines. The search operation is ongoing. "In the search and raid that was conducted, we recovered some basic stuff like their tent, and we have also recovered one AK-47 with some magazines. The search operation is still going on," he said. (ANI) In two operations conducted in the general area of Tingkai Khullen village, Kangpokpi district and the general area of Maohing village and Changoubung village, Kangpokpi district, on July 21, security forces recovered weapons, explosives, arms and ammunition. The police recovered one INSAS rifle with magazine, one 303 rifle, T/Sight with magazine, one local made lathode, one .32 pistol with magazine, four local made bolt action rifles, two canon pumpis, one M16 rifle, one MA1 assault rifle, one sniper rifle, one .32 bore pistol, seven single barrel rifles, four bolt action rifles, six pull mech rifles, two improvised mortars and four tube launchers. Ammunition recovered includes fifty .303 ammunition, two lathode shells, ten 12 mm rounds (bolt action), two pumpi shells, one 84mm RL HE round, sixty one 7.62 mm AK blank rounds, seven single barrel blank rounds and twenty-three 7.62 mm SLR blank rounds. Security forces also recovered four hand grenades. They also recovered two Baofeng wireless sets, two BP plates, two hand held radio sets, two No. 36 hand grenade arming rings, four No. 36 hand grenade detonators, one sniper rifle magazine, and one .32 bore pistol magazine. Intelligence-based combing operations and cordon and search operations were carried outextensively to nab those involved in extortion and criminal activities in the state. Security forces arrested four active cadres of UPPK from Koirengei Chingol Leikai area in Imphal East district. They were identified as Nishan Ngangbam alias Tamngakpa (24) of Khumbong Mayai Leikai, Imphal West district, Laishangbam Roshan Singh alias Yaibi (35) of Churachandpur Khuga Tampak Meitei Leikai, a/p Langol Game Village, Zone-1, Imphal West district, Chungkham Kiran Meitei alias Lepsinba (21) of Khumbong Mayai Leikai, Imphal West district and Chandam Ratan Meitei alias Lion (41) of Koirengei Bazar, Imphal East district. Security forces recovered a car, cash of Rs. 9230, one Nepalese currency note of Rs 10, five mobile phones, five SIM cards, four Aadhaar cards and one PAN card. The security forces also arrested three active cadres of KCP from Indo Myanmar Border under Moreh-PS, Tengnoupal district. The accused have been identified as Khumanthem Umakanta Singh alias Chinglai (36) of Mongbung, Jiribam district, Pukhrambam Naoton Singh alias Tomthin, (22) of Ningthoukhong Mayai Leikei, Bishnupur district and Soibam Bargil Meitei alias Phirefpa, Irom Meijrao, Imphal West district. (ANI) Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday morning hit out at the Enforcement Directorate (ED), labelling it as a "wing" of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Responding to remarks made by the Supreme Court regarding the ED, Baghel said that it was a "slap" for the central agency to be told to do its job. "No remarks can be bigger than this. It is against the centre and ED. The way ED is working as a wing of the BJP...It is a slap that ED was told to do their work and let the politicians do their politics. However, the way the situation has developed nationwide, all these actions are being taken by targeting the people of the opposition," Baghel told reporters here. He informed that ED's strike rate was not even one per cent and accused the central agency of "tarnishing the image of the opposition". He alleged that the centre used such agencies to divide political parties. "A minister had replied in Rajya Sabha that they registered 193 cases against political leaders and could only get two convictions. This means that their strike rate is not even 1 per cent. It is being used and misused for politics. They themselves are unable to do anything, but are tarnishing the image of the opposition. Political parties have been divided by using such agencies," Baghel said. His remarks come after the Supreme Court asked ED, "Why was it being used?" The apex court dismissed appeals made by the ED seeking an investigation against his wife, BM Parvathi, in connection with alleged irregularities regarding illegal land allotments by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). Earlier, Baghel slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the arrest of his son by the ED in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged multi-crore liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. "PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah cannot tolerate anything against Adani. The day the ED arrested my son, we were protesting in the Vidhan Sabha on the issue of illegal cutting of trees by (Gautam) Adani," he told reporters. On July 18, the Enforcement Directorate arrested Chaitanya Baghel, the son of Bhupesh Baghel. The move comes after the agency seized Rs 30 lakh from the residence of Bhupesh Baghel and his son Chaitanya in March this year. The amount was recovered during a day-long search operation conducted at a total of 14 locations across Chhattisgarh in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the liquor trade in Chhattisgarh, involving suspected illegal commissions and money laundering. ED has gathered that Chaitanya Baghel is also "recipient of proceeds of crime generated from the liquor scam, wherein total proceeds of crime is around Rs 2,161 crore siphoned off through various schemes." (ANI) A meeting of senior BJP leaders and Union Ministers was held at Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's room in Parliament House on Tuesday. Union Ministers Amit Shah, S Jaishankar, JP Nadda, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Kiran Rijiju and Arjun Ram Meghwal were present in the meeting. This meeting comes amid Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation. A political row has erupted over Dhankhar's resignation, with the Opposition linking it to the absence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju at a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh 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 Chairman on July 21. In a post on X, Jairam said that the first BAC meeting, called at 12:30 pm on Monday, was attended by both Union Ministers, but both Nadda and Rijiju were "deliberately" absent from the 4:30 pm meeting called by Dhankhar. "Yesterday, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar chaired the Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha at 12:30 PM. It was attended by most members, including Leader of the House JP Nadda and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju. After some discussion, the BAC decided to meet again at 4:30 PM," he said. "At 4:30 PM, the BAC reassembled under the chairmanship of Shri Jagdeep Dhankar. It waited for Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju to arrive. They never came. Shri Jagdeep Dhankar was not personally informed that the two senior Ministers were not attending. Rightly, he took umbrage and rescheduled the BAC for today (July 22) at 1 PM," the Congress leader said in the post. On Monday evening, Dhankhar resigned from his post "to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice." Dhankhar, who is also Chairman of Rajya Sabha, sent his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu. "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," the letter read. "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," the letter added. The Vice President also expressed his deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers. (ANI) Amid mounting speculations over reasons behind Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday morning said that the relationship between the Vice President and the centre doesn't seem like before. Labelling Dhankar's resignation as "sudden and unfortunate", Gogoi said that the Vice President presided over Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meetings on Monday. He expressed that the relationship between Dhankar and the central government might have taken a hit given that a Union Minister was also not present in the BAC meeting, which was scheduled for yesterday afternoon. "The resignation of the Vice President is sudden and unfortunate, because of the way he was presiding in the meetings yesterday. Today, he also had a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) in the Rajya Sabha. From our side, we wish him good health, but it seems that the relationship between the Central Government and the Vice President is not the same as it was before. Because even the Union Minister was not present in yesterday's BAC meeting. So far, there has been no statement from Prime Minister Modi," Gogoi told ANI. "We also seek clarification from the central government whether they had prior information that the Vice President was going to resign due to his health, and if they did not have the information, then why this kind of dilemma? We want to know this," he added. Earlier in the day, Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel 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". "Yesterday, I was also there, and he was also present in the meeting. He was fine and in good health... In the second meeting, Union Minister JP Nadda did not attend, and subsequently, a resignation occurred, so it is not related to health issues. It is a serious matter that the VP resigned during the ongoing session. This is an indication of impending (political) storm," Baghel told reporters here. Earlier, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh claimed that there was more to Dhankar's "unexpected" resignation as Vice President than meets the eye. "The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is unimaginable. Until around 5 PM this evening, I was with him, along with several other MPs, and at 7:30 PM, I had a phone conversation with him. Undoubtedly, Jagdeep Dhankhar should prioritise his health above all else. However, it is also clear that there is more to his completely unexpected resignation than meets the eye. Nevertheless, this is not the time for speculation," the Congress leader posted on X. Highlighting his importance for the farming community, Ramesh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must persuade Dhankar to change his mind. He added that the Vice President's resignation comes ahead of him making a crucial announcement related to the judiciary. "Jagdeep Dhankhar has taken both the government and the opposition to task equally. He had called a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee yesterday at 1 PM and was about to make some important announcements related to the judiciary," the Congress leader said. Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey took a jibe at the opposition for expressing shock over Dhankar's resignation, implying that the opposition was being dramatic. "Opposition is playing the role of Kader Khan in the film," Dubey posted on X while citing a news report from December last year where the opposition parties moved to impeach Dhankar from the Vice President's office and accused him of being "partisan". Dhankhar, who is also Chairman of Rajya Sabha, sent his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu. "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," the letter read. This development comes after sources informed that a committee is expected to be constituted to further investigate the allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, following the notices given by MPs in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for his removal. Justice Verma was indicted by an in-house inquiry committee after semi-burnt wads of cash were found in his residence following a fire incident. (ANI) Four Indian fishermen from Rameswaram were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday. While some of these fishermen were fishing in the Gulf of Mannar between Dhanushkodi and Thalaimannar, the Sri Lankan Navy arrived in the area and seized the motorboat IND-TN-10-MM-1072 owned by M Muniyasamy from Rameswaram and the four fishermen. The four fishermen named Thangaraj (40), T. Lingam (59), Selvam (50) and Irulandi (50) from Veppangulam, all of whom were from Rameswaram, were arrested for fishing across the border. They are being taken to the Mannar Navy camp for questioning. This has caused unrest among the fishermen from Rameswaram. The sea worker's union state secretary, CR Senthilvel, speaking to ANI, said that our navy failed to protect our fishermen. "Our 4 fishermen from Rameshwaram who went for fishing were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy, and even one of their boat were captured. Our fishermen were fishing in the Indian borders near Dhanushkodi. The question is whether our Indian Military is doing security work in this region. Our Indian Navy failed to protect our fishermen. Indian government is simply watching the arrest of our fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy, which too coming into our borders. This has been usual. These regional fishermen's livelihoods were hugely affected. Indian government should interfere in this," said Senthilvel. Earlier, on July 13, seven Indian fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy allegedly fishing across the maritime border between the two countries, Rameswaram Fishermen Association said. As per the association, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended the crew of the fishing boat 'IND-TN-10-MM-746', belonging to V Isaac Paul of Rameswaram's Thangachimadam, on charges of crossing the international maritime boundary. The arrested fishermen, identified as P Tuthar (40) of Thangachimadam Raja Nagar, P Edison (51) of Thangachimadam Walasai Street, Shanmugam (50) of Rameswaram TSM Nagar, Sakthivel (47), Jagadish (48), Dalvin Raj (46), and Anbazhagan of Manthope, were taken to Kankesanthurai port in Sri Lanka for investigation. According to Rameswaram Fishermen Association, a total of 456 fishing boats had ventured into the sea on Saturday after obtaining permits from the Rameswaram fishing port. (ANI) After the Bombay High Court acquitted 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blast case, BJP MLA Ram Kadam said on Tuesday that the Maharashtra government will challenge the HC's verdict in the Supreme Court and will make every effort to ensure those found guilty are punished. "We respect the verdict given by the judiciary on the bomb blast. The judiciary works on the basis of evidence, but the Maharashtra government will challenge those decisions in the Supreme Court. And there will be every effort made to ensure that those found guilty are punished," Kadam told ANI. The Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted 12 accused of the 2006 Mumbai train blasts. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while addressing the issue, expressed shock and stated that the government would challenge the Bombay HC verdict in the Supreme Court. "The verdict of the Bombay High Court is very shocking and we will challenge it in the Supreme Court", CM Fadnavis told reporters. Earlier on Monday, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi blamed the Maharashtra government for the acquittal of 12 accused people in the 2006 Mumbai train blast case. "This is very sad, instead of giving them the death penalty, they have been acquitted. This shows that the case we presented was not foolproof, it had loopholes; I believe this is the fault of the state government. The state government did not take it seriously and present a serious argument, which is why this decision has come," Chaturvedi told ANI. This important verdict came after 19 years. A special bench of the Bombay High Court ruled that the evidence relied on by the prosecution was not conclusive to convict the accused persons. The court then ordered the immediate release of all the accused. 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 this incident, 189 people died, while more than 827 passengers were injured. 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. (ANI) Bill Cosby has paid tribute to his The Cosby Show co-star Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Bill Cosby has paid tribute to his The Cosby Show co-star Malcolm-Jamal Warner following his death The actor tragically passed away on Sunday (20.07.25) at the age of 54 after drowning while on holiday in Costa Rica and has been remembered by Cosby as a "great studier" after playing his on-screen son Theodore Huxtable in the TV sitcom that aired from 1984 until 1992. The 88-year-old star told ABC News: "He was always a great studier, and I enjoyed working with him very much. "He was very professional. He always knew his part... He always knew his lines, and he always knew where to go." Cosby - who has faced sexual misconduct allegations from a number of women in recent years and had a sexual assault conviction quashed in 2021 - explained that he and Malcolm remained close when The Cosby Show ended. He said: "Malcolm calls here regularly." Warner's cause of death has been confirmed as "asphyxia by submersion" by local authorities in Costa Rica. The country's Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) explained in a statement that they "removed the body of a man who apparently died as a result of asphyxiation by submersion" who was later identified as the actor - who also starred in Suits and The Resident. Malcolm "entered the sea and was apparently swept away by a current", according to "preliminary information" reviewed by the OIJ. The statement continued: "The man was rescued by bystanders and taken to shore, where he received treatment from the Costa Rican Red Cross. However, he was declared lifeless at the scene." Tributes to Malcolm have poured in from across the showbiz world, with his 9-1-1 co-star Jennifer Love Hewitt stating that the tragedy "hurts my heart". She wrote on social media: "This hurts my heart. A gentleman, an incredible talent and we were so lucky to have him in the 9-1-1 family. Heartbroken and sending love to his family." Comedian Sherri Shepherd described Malcolm - who is survived by a wife and daughter whose identities he has kept private - as "one of the most-grounded people I've met in our business" after working with him on the TV series Sherri. She said: "As someone who grew up on TV, Malcolm remained one of the most-grounded people I've ever met in our business. To know Malcolm was to know a renaissance man that possessed humour, grace, humility and deep cultural appreciation. He was just a good guy! "His passing is a true loss to the Hollywood community. He was a proud girl dad and loved his daughter so much. To his family, friends and all who loved him - my heart is with you." 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 Dhankar's resignation comes after two ministers, including Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda, failed to attend the afternoon meeting on Monday. "Yesterday, I was also there, and he was also present in the meeting. He was fine and in good health... In the second meeting, Union Minister JP Nadda did not attend, and subsequently, a resignation occurred, so it is not related to health issues. It is a serious matter that the VP resigned during the ongoing session. This is an indication of impending (political) storm," Baghel told reporters here. Earlier, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh claimed that there was more to Dhankar's "unexpected" resignation as Vice President than meets the eye. "The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is unimaginable. Until around 5 PM this evening, I was with him, along with several other MPs, and at 7:30 PM, I had a phone conversation with him. Undoubtedly, Jagdeep Dhankhar should prioritise his health above all else. However, it is also clear that there is more to his completely unexpected resignation than meets the eye. Nevertheless, this is not the time for speculation," the Congress leader posted on X. Highlighting his importance for the farming community, Ramesh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must persuade Dhankar to change his mind. He added that the Vice President's resignation comes ahead of him making a crucial announcement related to the judiciary. "Jagdeep Dhankhar has taken both the government and the opposition to task equally. He had called a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee yesterday at 1 PM and was about to make some important announcements related to the judiciary," the Congress leader said. Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey took a jibe at the opposition for expressing shock over Dhankar's resignation, implying that the opposition was being dramatic. "Opposition is playing the role of Kader Khan in the film," Dubey posted on X while citing a news report from December last year where the opposition parties moved to impeach Dhankar from the Vice President's office and accused him of being "partisan". Dhankhar, who is also Chairman of Rajya Sabha, sent his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu. "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," the letter read. This development comes after sources informed that a committee is expected to be constituted to further investigate the allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, following the notices given by MPs in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for his removal. Justice Verma was indicted by an in-house inquiry committee after semi-burnt wads of cash were found in his residence following a fire incident. (ANI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday adjourned the Lower House of Parliament till noon minutes after it convened for the second day of the ongoing Monsoon Session The Speaker adjourned the House as Opposition members continued their protests seeking a discussion on the Pahalgam terrorist attack and other issues. He objected to the use of placards in the well of the house. The protesting members did not relent to appeals by Speaker as well as Union Agricultrue and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan to let the house conduct the Question Hour. Rajya Sabha was also adjourned till noon today amidst sloganeering by the opposition. Opposition leaders moved adjournment motion notices in both lower and upper houses to discuss various issues of public importance, including the special intensive revision (SIR) being carried out by the Election Commission (EC) in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi moved an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the SIR by EC in Bihar, demanding reconsideration of the electoral roll revision criteria. Expressing concern over the exclusion of Aadhaar and PAN cards from the requisite 11 documents listed by the Election Commission for voter verification, Gogoi said that both these documents remain essential for accessing government schemes, and considering them invalid for verification was a significant concern. "Today, in India, where Aadhaar and PAN cards are considered essential for accessing any government scheme, considering them invalid for verifying the right to vote points out to a major concern. The Indian Constitution grants every citizen of India the right to vote. The current documentation demand affects marginalised, rural, elderly, and poor voters, who may not possess the documents specified by the Election Commission," the notice signed by Gogoi read. In Lok Sabha, Congress MP Manickam Tagore also gave a notice to move an adjournment motion to discuss the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar and its "threat to democratic rights." In Rajya Sabha, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh gave a notice of motion to discuss the "constitutional and electoral implications" of SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar. The Opposition moved 12 notices under Rule 267, requiring the suspension of the day's business to debate the listed issue. One of the notices moved by CPI MP P Sandosh was on the sudden resignation of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar. Congress' Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh has also given Suspension of Business Notice under rule 267 to discuss the concerns arising out of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar ahead of elections. Congress MPs Ranjeet Ranjan and Neeraj Dangi have also given adjournment motion notices to discuss the concerns arising out of the Election Commission's SIR exercise in Bihar and its proposed expansion to states such as West Bengal. On the first day of the monsoon session yesterday, the Lower House of Parliament was adjourned until 11 am amid opposition leaders demanding the opportunity to speak in the House. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured that the government is ready to discuss every issue in Parliament. But due to the uproar by the opposition, the Lok Sabha was adjourned three times. The House, which commenced on 11 pm on Monday, was earlier adjourned until 4 pm due to constant sloganeering from the opposition leaders . Earlier, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressed anguish at the disruptions in the House and appealed to members to allow debate and discussion to take place. The house resumed at 4 pm, but due to constant ruckus, it was later adjourned until today. Rajya Sabha after one adjournment in the morning took up the Question Hour and Special mention and also passed the Lading Bill 2025 after discussion. Later, in a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of Parliament, it was decided to hold a discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha, which was launched by the Armed Forces in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Sixteen hours have been allocated for this debate. Besides, 12 hours have been allocated in the Lower House for the discussion on the Income Tax Bill, 2025 and nine hours in the Rajya Sabha. Yesterday, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar who is also Chairman of Rajya Sabha, sent his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu."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," the letter read. (ANI) Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain on Tuesday expressed shock over the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, calling for transparency regarding the circumstances that led to the development. Speaking to ANI, Hussain said, "Whether he has resigned on his own or has been forced to resign, this should come out in the public. This is shocking for us because till yesterday he was involved in all the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha... No one is safe here." MDMK MP Durai Vaiko also expressed surprise over his Vice President Dhankhar's resignation, however, he also wished him a good health. "It has come as a surprise. He has cited health reasons. I wish him good health," Vaiko told ANI. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut raised doubts over Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation and alleged "behind the scenes" politics. Addressing reporters in the national capital today Raut said that Dhankar's resignation is not an ordinary event. "Big politics is going on behind the scenes, and it will be revealed soon. The resignation of the Vice President is not an ordinary event" he said. Raut further said, "I am not ready to believe that it is due to health. I was observing him yesterday. He is fine. Something is going on, and we will find out soon. A lot can happen--just watch, something big will happen in September." Earlier today, Congress MP Manish Tewari also sought clarification on the circumstances that led to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation and said that the decision is "wrapped in a mystery". Speaking to ANI, Tewari claimed that the resignation of the Rajya Sabha Chairman remains somewhat of a riddle. "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," he said. Vice President Dhankhar resigned from his post on Monday "to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice." Dhankar, also the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, sent his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu. (ANI) 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 Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav stood at the steps of the Parliament at Makar Dwar and protested against the Bihar SIR, calling for the exercise to be stopped. Multiple leaders were seen carrying posters condemning the revision exercise, holding placards calling it a "stealing of Indian Rights," "death of democracy," and more. The issue of Bihar SIR has been a contentious one with INDIA bloc MPs demanding a discussion on it in the parliament. Earlier, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the Lower House of Parliament minutes after it convened for the second day of the ongoing Monsoon Session. Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 12 PM also. This comes after opposition leaders moved adjournment motion notices in both lower and upper houses to discuss various issues of public importance, including the special intensive revision (SIR) being carried out by the Election Commission (EC) in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also moved an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the SIR as he expressed concern over the exclusion of Aadhaar and PAN cards from the requisite 11 documents listed by the Election Commission for voter verification. "Today, in India, where Aadhaar and PAN cards are considered essential for accessing any government scheme, considering them invalid for verifying the right to vote points out to a major concern. The Indian Constitution grants every citizen of India the right to vote. The current documentation demand affects marginalised, rural, elderly, and poor voters, who may not possess the documents specified by the Election Commission," the notice signed by Gogoi read. Congress' Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh has also given Suspension of Business Notice under rule 267 to discuss the concerns arising out of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar ahead of elections. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has said that a total of f96.23 electors have been covered in Bihar SIR, with 5.56 per cent electors not found at their address so far. The list of electors who have not returned enumeration form or were not found at their address were also shared with the political parties. On August 1, EROs will invite objections from public for any additions/deletions/ rectifications in draft electoral rolls. The Election Commission has also said that they will not consider Aadhar card, voter ID car or ration cards as proof for its ongoing Bihar SIR, after the Supreme Court suggested the poll panel to consider the inclusion of the documents. (ANI) A 39-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death by three minors on Monday night in Delhi's Welcome area, according to Delhi Police. The victim was rushed to the hospital, where the doctors declared him 'brought dead'. A case was registered by the Delhi Police under the BNS at Police Station (PS) Welcome. "On 21 July at about 11:21 PM, a stabbing incident was reported at PS Welcome. Upon reaching the spot, i.e. Kudedaan, Janta Colony, Pilli Mitti, Welcome, it was found that the victim had already been shifted to JPC Hospital, where the attending doctors declared him as 'brought dead'. Accordingly, a case under Section 103(1)/3(5) BNS was registered at PS Welcome, and an investigation was initiated", said Delhi Police. Police shared that dedicated teams were deployed to trace and apprehend the three minor accused. The deceased, identified as Mustakeen, was a resident of Janta Mazdoor Colony. Police apprehended the three Children in Conflict with Law (CCLs), all residents of Welcome area, involved in the crime within a few hours. Police also recovered the crime weapon, a knife, from their possession as well. According to police, the cause of the incident was a minor quarrel between the deceased and the CCLs. "The crime scene was processed by forensic teams, and dedicated teams were deployed to trace and apprehend the individuals involved. The deceased was identified as Mustakeen, resident of Janta Mazdoor Colony, aged 39 years. Within hours, the team apprehended three CCLs (all residents of Welcome area) involved in the crime. A knife used in the commission of the offence was also recovered from their possession. During the investigation, it came to fore that there was some quarrel between the deceased and the CCLs. Further investigation is underway", said police. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are awaited. (ANI) Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday raised doubts over Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation and alleged "behind the scenes" politics. Addressing reporters in the national capital today Raut said that Dhankar's resignation is not an ordinary event. "Big politics is going on behind the scenes, and it will be revealed soon. The resignation of the Vice President is not an ordinary event" he said Vice President Dcited health reasons for his resignation. Raut said that he does not believe it to be true. Raut said, "I am not ready to believe that it is due to health. I was observing him yesterday. He is fine." "Something is going on, and we will find out soon. A lot can happen--just watch, something big will happen in September," he added. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also slammed the Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, JP Nadda, for allegedly disrespecting Rajya Sabha Speaker Dhankar. He claimed, "Yesterday, over the issue of Operation Sindoor, when Kharge was speaking, his mic was muted. 'What you are saying will not go into the records,' this was not said by the Rajya Sabha Speaker Jagdeep Dhankar, but by the Leader of the House. This is disrespecting the person sitting on a constitutional post." Earlier today, Congress MP Manish Tewari also sought clarification on the circumstances that led to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation and said that the decision is "wrapped in a mystery". Speaking to ANI, Tewari claimed that the resignation of the Rajya Sabha Chairman remains somewhat of a riddle. "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," he said. Demanding an explanation, Tewari said that the Vice President should shed light on the circumstances as he holds the second-highest Constitutional office. "Because the abrupt circumstances or the abrupt manner in which he resigned without any attendant circumstances to accentuate it is intriguing for the lack of a better word and while not wanting to transgress and intrude into the health of the Vice President, if it is at all a health issue, it would be helpful that since he holds the second highest Constitutional office, if he would shed some light on the circumstances which have left led to the decision," he said. Vice President Dhankhar resigned from his post on Monday "to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice." Dhankar, also the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, sent his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh police began an investigation into an FIR registered in a dispute case in Vidisha district as a complaint was received stating that two people named in the case were said to have died around a decade ago, a police officer said. The incident was reported in Bareth village under the jurisdiction of Basoda city police station in the district on July 17 after groups of two communities clashed with each other over some issue. Following the incident, one group filed an FIR against the other group. Later, the other group claimed that two people named in the FIR were already dead and a person was not present at the incident site. They also approached the Superintendent of Police (SP) officer on Monday, July 21 and submitted a complaint to Additional SP. Speaking to ANI, Additional SP Prashant Choubey said, "A complaint is received in which it is said that one of the accused mentioned in the FIR was not present at the incident site and his location was elsewhere. The complainant claimed that they have CCTV footage evidence in support of it. Additionally, it further stated that two other accused in the same case were already dead. Primarily, the police register an FIR following receiving a complaint in cases of dispute but the accused is actually established as accused post inquiry and evidence collected. So, if the complaint is found to be correct, then those who were not present at the incident site at the time of incident will get relief and action will be taken against the right accused." The officer further added that an investigation has been ordered into the matter. A Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) would probe and collect evidence into the matter. Complainant Raj Kumar Sharma told ANI, "There was a dispute between groups of two communities on July 17 in which a person was falsely implicated in the FIR who was not involved in the matter. Besides, there are two people named in the FIR who have already died. Therefore, we came before the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) to submit an application for impartial inquiry, remove the names of people who are not involved in the case and take further action accordingly." He further added that the officer assured them of impartial investigation, innocent people will not be involved in the case and action will be taken against those who have involvement in the dispute. (ANI) Advocate Jahnavi Kalita, speaking to ANI, said that, on July 20, 2015, a woman of Bhimajuli village was brutally killed by a group of people near a river, branding her as a witch. "A case was registered at Biswanath Chariali police station (case number 224/15) under Section 120(B), 143, 448 and 302 of IPC following the victim's son lodging an FIR. Police investigated the case and arrested 17 persons. Police also filed a chargesheet against 17 people," Jahnabi Kalita said Adding further, advocate Kalita said, "One among the accused persons died during trials, and trials were continued against 16 others in the court. On July 21 this year, the court pronounced its verdict in connection with Session Court case number 183/16 and sentenced 4 persons to life imprisonment." The convicted persons were named as Diliram Bey, Anima Ronghangpi, Raju Bey and Naren Ronghang. Meanwhile in another incident from the state, Sonitpur district police arrested seven persons and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition during an operation along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, said an official. According to police, during the operation, seven individuals were arrested along with a large quantity of arms and ammunition organization. Police conducted the operation the operation on Sunday night till morning, seized a huge cache of weapons and destroyed a camp during the raid. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Sonitpur district, Barun Purkayastha, on Monday said during a press conference at Tezpur that, based in a secret tip-off, Sonitpur police, along with Dhekiajuli police and CRPF commandos, launched an operation yesterday in Rowonchandri village near Thaula Centre in the Batashipur area, near the Assam-Arunachal border. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday wished Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar good health after the latter resigned from the post on July 21, citing health concerns. In a post on X, PM Modi emphasised that Dhankhar had got many opportunities to serve the country, including the Vice President of India. "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," Prime Minister Modi wrote. The Rajya Sabha also announced the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar in the House on Tuesday, shortly before adjourning till 2 pm amid opposition sloganeering. Deputy Chairman, Harivansh Narayan Singh announced that Ministry of Home Affairs has, wide it's notification, conveyed resignation of Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar under 67A of the Constitution with immediate effect. Earlier on Monday, Dhankhar resigned from his post "to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice." Dhankhar, who is also Chairman of Rajya Sabha, sent his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu. "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," the letter said. "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," it added. The Vice President also expressed his deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the the Council of Ministers. "Prime Minister's 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 at and embedded in his memory. The resignation came on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament. Dhankhar was sworn in as the 14th Vice President of India on August 11, 2022. As Vice President, he also served as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. (ANI) Speculation over the next Vice President has already started following the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankar, with certain Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in Bihar welcoming the possibility of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar being considered for the post. Bihar Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Prem Kumar said that while the party will decide on Dhankar's successor, he would be quite happy if someone from Bihar is chosen for the post. "The party decides this. Whoever becomes the VP will be on them. I will be happy if someone from Bihar becomes the Vice President," the minister told reporters in Patna. Meanwhile, another state minister and BJP leader, Neeraj Kumar Singh Bablu echoed a similar sentiment, dismissing anyone who calls into question the contributions of the Bihar CM. "It is a good thing. If he (Nitish Kumar) becomes (Vice President), then what is the problem with this? Everyone is doing their work," said the minister. The sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankar has been questioned by multiple opposition leaders, including Congress' Jairam Ramesh, as he alleged that the reason for the "sudden" resignation might be political, rather than the cited health reasons. Claiming that there are "far deeper reasons" behind the resignation, Ramesh posted on X, ""Now in a truly unprecedented move, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar has resigned. He has given health reasons for doing so. Those should be respected. But it is also a fact that there are far deeper reasons for his resignation." "Shri Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation speaks highly of him. It also speaks poorly of those who had got him elected as Vice President in the first instance," the Congress leader added. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post on Monday "to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice." Dhankar, also the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, sent his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu. Acting Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Harivansh formally announced (ANI) The Caribbean Guard has shared more details about the circumstances surrounding Malcolm-Jamal Warners death. Caribbean Guard shares more details about Malcolm-Jamal Warners death The 54-year-old actor drowned after being caught in a current over the weekend during a family trip to Costa Rica, with the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) declaring his cause of death as "asphyxiation by submersion. A new Facebook post from the Caribbean Guard confirmed there was no lifeguard on duty at the time of the accident as they had "allocated resources" elsewhere as a result of other "recent water incidents" at two nearby beaches. The post said: We deeply regret the passing of Malcom - Jamal Warner, in Playa Grande. He was swept away by a strong hangover current and died by drowning. It was all very fast and even though there were people on the beach who came in to rescue him, they didn't arrive in time. He was pulled underwater with no vital signs and despite having been provided with CPR maneuvers on the beach, his resuscitation was unsuccessful. Playa Grande is one of our most challenging beaches. It's a beach known by local surfers and there are signs (in English and Spanish) that warn of the danger of death by drowning. It's a beach that the Caribbean Guard has patrolled for the last few years. [Not] this Sunday though. Due to the recent water incidents on Playa black we have allocated resources there and on Chiquita, another beach, for its currents. From Caribbean Guard, association of volunteer lifeguards, we appeal to the President of the Nation, the national government, the Municipality of Talamanca and the entire Caribbean community, to continue joining efforts to minimize this problem, which is sadly rising ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. We do everything within our power. We've saved numerous lives in recent years, and if Caribbean Guard didn't exist, drownings would count by the dozens. We do our part to minimize risks but if we dont have government help, clear public policies and strong support from local entrepreneurs, this will keep happening [sic]. According to PEOPLE, a second man was also caught in the same current as Warner and is in critical condition. Amid rising speculations over the reasons behind Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari on Tuesday expressed shock while labelling it as a "dark day in parliamentary history". "This is shocking. I would urge him to reconsider. He was well-versed in parliamentary knowledge and served as a voice for the farmers. This is a dark day in parliamentary history when a Vice President is unable to complete his term," Tiwari told ANI. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, "We are concerned about his health. It is very sad that he had a sudden health issue. Our best wishes for his speedy recovery." Earlier in the day, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh claimed that there was more to Dhankar's "unexpected" resignation as Vice President than meets the eye. "The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is unimaginable. Until around 5 PM this evening, I was with him, along with several other MPs, and at 7:30 PM, I had a phone conversation with him. Undoubtedly, Jagdeep Dhankhar should prioritise his health above all else. However, it is also clear that there is more to his completely unexpected resignation than meets the eye. Nevertheless, this is not the time for speculation," the Congress leader posted on X. This comes after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was in the Chair, on Tuesday announced that Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation as Vice President of India has been accepted by the President of India, Draupadi Murmu. Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh was seen chairing the proceedings after Dhankhar's resignation. The Chair said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has, wide its notification, conveyed resignation of Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar under 67A of the Constitution with immediate effect. Meanwhile, BJP MP Ashok Chavan asked the opposition to trust the reasons cited by Dhankar for his resignation. "Raising questions doesn't mean anything. The opposition should trust the reason behind the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, when he himself has said it," Chavan told ANI. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale also stated that Dhankar had resigned due to his poor health, which had been deteriorating for some days. "He is a very serious, disciplined person; his contribution to our country has been immense. He listened to everyone, but his health had not been well for some days, so he resigned," Athawale told ANI. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey took a jibe at the opposition for expressing shock over Dhankar's resignation, implying that the opposition was being dramatic. "Opposition is playing the role of Kader Khan in the film," Dubey posted on X while citing a news report from December last year where the opposition parties moved to impeach Dhankar from the Vice President's office and accused him of being "partisan". Earlier on Monday, VP Dhankar had announced his resignation on health grounds. "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," Dhankar's resignation letter read. (ANI) BJP MP Jagdambika Pal on Tuesday criticised the Opposition, particularly the Congress party, for disrupting the proceedings in the Lok Sabha and urged them to allow the House to function smoothly. Speaking to ANI, the BJP MP reiterated that the government is open to discussions and accused the Congress of attempting to stall parliamentary proceedings instead of participating in debates. "Yesterday, when the opposition and Congress came to the well, I told Rahul Gandhi to ask his members to maintain the decorum of the House; everyone will get a chance to speak. The government is ready to answer all the questions of the opposition... The whole world has seen the valour and bravery of the Indian armed forces... We all should celebrate it..." Pal accused the Congress party leaders of creating ruckus in the House, further alleging that Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi does not want to have a discussion. The BJP MP said, "There will be a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)...The opposition should let the house function...Today, all the questions are listed on the issues of farmers...Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi should have knowledge of the traditions of the house...Rahul Gandhi does not want to have a discussion; the Congress party leaders want to create ruckus by coming into the well." Earlier today, the party leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) protested against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, alleging that the voting rights of people are being taken away. Multiple leaders, including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, stood at the steps of the Parliament at Makar Dwar and protested against the Bihar SIR, calling for the exercise to be stopped. Meanwhile, the proceedings of the Upper House of the Parliament were adjourned till 2 pm, minutes after it reconvened. Chairing the Rajya Sabha, BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, adjourned the House amid sloganeering from the Opposition. Earlier today, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till noon amidst continued sloganeering. The Lok Sabha was also adjourned till 2 pm. (ANI) In a significant boost to its operational capabilities, the Indian Army on Tuesday received the first batch of Apache helicopters into its Aviation fleet. The Indian Army in a social media post termed the induction a "milestone moment" for the Indian Army, stating that the arrival of the state-of-the-art platforms would "bolster the operational capabilities of the Indian Army significantly." https://x.com/adgpi/status/1947542726620369127?s=48 "Indian Army inducts #Apache Milestone moment for Indian Army as the first batch of Apache helicopters for Army Aviation arrive today in India. These state-of-the-art platforms will bolster the operational capabilities of the #IndianArmy significantly," the post said. This consignment of Apache helicopters arrived at Hindon Airbase. Notably, the Indian Air Force already operates a fleet of 22 Apache helicopters, which have been deployed in Ladakh and western sectors. The helicopter is capable of delivering variety of weapons which include air to ground Hellfire missiles, 70 mm Hydra rockets and air to air Stinger missiles. Apache also carries one 30 mm chain gun with 1200 rounds as part of area weapon sub system. To add to the lethality of the helicopter, it carries fire control radar, which has a 360 coverage and nose mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems. The AH-64E is the most modern configuration of the Apache and is ready for the MDO battlefield. A network-centric, fully integrated weapon system specifically built to dominate in highly contested and complex battle space, the AH-64E Version 6, or v6, Apache includes multiple enhancements to the aircraft''s sensors, software and weapons performance. Designed for interoperability within the Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) ecosystem AH-64E v6 is a lethal, survivable and agile system providing the reach, maneuverability and performance needed by ground forces and contributes to current and future joint mission success. By providing and integrating advanced capabilities through a layered effect of on board and off board sensors, stand-off long range weapons and the connectivity required to use all the tools the ecosystem can bring, AH-64E v6 is a fully integrated, optimized for battle attack helicopter that is truly in a class by itself. (ANI) Congress leaders remain unconvinced regarding "health issues" being cited as the reason for the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankar as Vice President of India, who also serves as the Rajya Sabha chairman. Urging the government to speak up, Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi said that a "stubborn person" like Dhankar, who visited Parliament despite being sick and citing health reasons for resignation, doesn't seem normal. "This is very sad, and whatever happened is not normal. A akhad (stubborn) person like him, who used to come to the Parliament even when sick, citing health reasons for resignation, doesn't seem normal. The government should speak on it. It is silent and it indicates that everything is not normal," Pratapgarhi told ANI. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram stated that Dhankar's resignation came as a surprise to him and demanded transparency. "It took everyone by surprise, including me. I don't believe that Vice President is in such precarious health that he can't discharge his functions anymore. This looks like one of those Soviet style resignations when, in those days, high-ranking officials were asked to go citing medical reasons. However, in India, which is an open democracy, we need to have far greater transparency. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Hopefully, in the coming days, we will have some transparency," Chidambaram told ANI. Meanwhile, Congress MP Imran Masood suspected that something was being hidden. He claimed that there was some other reason for Dhankar's resignation. "Something is being hidden. This cannot happen suddenly. Yesterday, he was presiding over the house, and today, he has resigned. We pray that the Almighty give him a long and healthy life. There is some other reason for his resignation," Masood told ANI. Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey took a jibe at the opposition for expressing shock over Dhankar's resignation, implying that the opposition was being dramatic. "Opposition is playing the role of Kader Khan in the film," Dubey posted on X while citing a news report from December last year where the opposition parties moved to impeach Dhankar from the Vice President's office and accused him of being "partisan". Dhankhar, who was also Chairman of Rajya Sabha, sent his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu on Monday. "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," the letter read. This development comes after sources informed that a committee is expected to be constituted to further investigate the allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, following the notices given by MPs in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for his removal. Justice Verma was indicted by an in-house inquiry committee after semi-burnt wads of cash were found in his residence following a fire incident. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was in the Chair, on Tuesday announced that Jagdeep Dhankhar''s resignation as Vice President of India has been accepted by the President of India Droupadi Murmu. Deputy Rajya Sabha Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh was seen chairing the proceedings after Dhankhar''s resignation. The Chair said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has, wide it''s notification, conveyed resignation of Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar under 67A of the Constitution with immediate effect The announcement was made just before the upper house of Parliament was adjourned until 2:00 PM today. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, saying, "Jagdeep Dhankhar has got many opportunities to serve our country in various capacities, including as the Vice President of India. Wishing him good health." Amid mounting speculations over reasons behind Jagdeep Dhankar''s resignation, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi today morning said that the relationship between the Vice President and the centre doesn''t seem like before. Labelling Dhankar''s resignation as "sudden and unfortunate", Gogoi said that the Vice President presided over Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meetings on Monday. He expressed that the relationship between Dhankar and the central government might have taken a hit given that a Union Minister was also not present in the BAC meeting, which was scheduled for yesterday afternoon. Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel 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 Dhankar''s resignation comes after two ministers, including Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda, failed to attend the afternoon meeting on Monday. "Yesterday, I was also there, and he was also present in the meeting. He was fine and in good health... In the second meeting, Union Minister JP Nadda did not attend, and subsequently, a resignation occurred, so it is not related to health issues. It is a serious matter that the VP resigned during the ongoing session. This is an indication of an impending (political) storm," Baghel told reporters here. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh claimed that there was more to Dhankar''s "unexpected" resignation as Vice President than meets the eye. "The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is unimaginable. Until around 5 PM this evening, I was with him, along with several other MPs, and at 7:30 PM, I had a phone conversation with him. Undoubtedly, Jagdeep Dhankhar should prioritise his health above all else. However, it is also clear that there is more to his completely unexpected resignation than meets the eye. Nevertheless, this is not the time for speculation," the Congress leader posted on X. Earlier on Monday, VP Dhankar had announced his resignation on health grounds. "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," Dhankar''s resignation letter read. This development comes after sources informed that a committee is expected to be constituted to further investigate the allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, following the notices given by MPs in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for his removal. Justice Verma was indicted by an in-house inquiry committee after semi-burnt wads of cash were found in his residence following a fire incident. (ANI) The Congress MP went on to say that the Election Commission is "supporting" the BJP in this. "Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is part of a conspiracy to snatch the voting rights of the poor people of Bihar. The Election Commission of India is also supporting the BJP in this conspiracy. This is very sad... I hope this issue will be discussed in Parliament..." Tagore told ANI. He further stated, "Parties of the INDIA alliance are united and the government is under pressure and they have accepted a discussion on Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor..." Earlier today, the party leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) 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 Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav stood at the steps of the Parliament at Makar Dwar and protested against the Bihar SIR, calling for the exercise to be stopped. They were seen carrying posters condemning the revision exercise, holding placards calling it a "stealing of Indian Rights" and "death of democracy." The issue of Bihar SIR has been a contentious one with INDIA bloc MPs demanding a discussion on it in the parliament. Meanwhile, the proceedings of the Upper House and Lower House of the Parliament have been adjourned till 2 pm, minutes after it reconvened. Chairing the Rajya Sabha, BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, adjourned the House amid sloganeering from the Opposition. (ANI) Opposition parties in Bihar protested against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for allegedly trying to snatch away the voting rights of the people ahead of assembly elections. The second day of the Bihar state assembly had the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties protesting on the steps of the assembly, holding placards and raising slogans against the alleged "vote theft" in the State ahead of the assembly polls. Reportedly, another door had to be opened to allow the MLAs to enter the assembly without any disruptions. The Opposition party MLAs have stated that they will disrupt the functioning of the house to expose the government. Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram said that the house cannot be allowed to function when the voting rights of lakhs of people are being compromised. "The names of lakhs of voters are being cut who will be denied in giving vote in the 2025 election. If the voting rights of the people are being taken away itself, then how do we let the government run the house? That is why, we have decided to not let any of the minister or MLA to enter the house," he said. However, officials had to open another entrance to the house to allow the members to get in and start the second day of the Bihar Vidhan Sabha session. Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed also echoed a similar sentiment, saying that the Election Commission's revision exercise shows that there is "no democracy" in the present Janata Dal (United)-led state government, and said that the opposition will not let the house function to expose the government. "There is a big question on migration, SIR (Special Intensive Revision) and the way votes of unprivileged are being cut, shows that there is no democracy in the present government," Ahmed told reporters in Patna. AIMIM Bihar chief Akhtarul Iman also joined the protest, saying that the SIR will prove to be the "nail in the coffin" for the Nitish Kumar-led government in the upcoming assembly elections. "The works of the state government are worth smearing with soot. I protested against SIR along with AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi. Everyone in Bihar is troubled and this law will prove to be the nail in the coffin of the Nitish Kumar government Multiple Opposition MPs in the Parliament have also submitted notices to move adjournment motions in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to discuss the issue of SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar. In Lok Sabha, Congress MP Manickam Tagore gave a notice to move an adjournment motion to discuss the SIR and its "threat to democratic rights." In Rajya Sabha, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh gave a notice of motion to discuss the "constitutional and electoral implications" of the SIR. Congress' Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh has also given Suspension of Business Notice under rule 267 to discuss the concerns arising out of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar ahead of elections. On Monday, Bihar became the first state in the country to have all polling stations (PS) with less than 1,200 electors, according to an official statement from Election Commission of India (ECI). According to the ECI, a total of 96.23 per cent of electors have been covered in Bihar SIR so far. 5.56 per cent of electors were not found at their addresses so far. (ANI) 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, Priyanka Chaturvedi demanded that the government inform the reason behind the decision and also recalled the non-confidence motion against Dhankar in December 2024. Speaking to ANI, she said, "For the first time in the history of India, a no-confidence motion was signed by over 50 members of the Parliament because of the partisan manner in which the House was being conducted. He (VP Jagdeep Dhankhar) was partisan. It is for the government to tell us what was the reason for the sudden resignation, because he seemed in fine health." She added that despite the health concern, Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankar used to conduct parliamentary proceedings. "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," she said. Chaturvedi added that there should be no disruption in the proceedings of the House amid the resignation. "There should be no disruption in the proceedings of the House and in his work as a Vice President and a Chairman," the Shiv Sena (UBT) MP said. Earlier today, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh claimed that there are "far deeper reasons" behind the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. Sharing an X post, Jairam Ramesh wrote, "Now in a truly unprecedented move, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar has resigned. He has given health reasons for doing so. Those should be respected. But it is also a fact that there are far deeper reasons for his resignation. While always lauding post-2014 India, he spoke fearlessly for the welfare of farmers, forcefully against what he called 'ahankar' in public life, and strongly on judicial accountability and restraint. To the extent possible under the current G2 ruling regime, he tried to accommodate the Opposition. He was a stickler for norms, proprieties, and protocol, which he believed were being consistently disregarded in both his capacities." "Shri Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation speaks highly of him. It also speaks poorly of those who had got him elected as Vice President in the first instance," he added. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post on Monday "to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice." Dhankar, also the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, sent his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu. (ANI) Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday expressed strong reservations against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being undertaken by the Election Commission (EC) in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, accusing the government of "murdering democracy". "They are murdering democracy. We have been protesting against it, and this is wrong," Gandhi told ANI. This comes amid protests by the INDIA bloc and its leaders in Parliament's premises against the electoral rolls revision exercise being carried out by the EC. The opposition leaders have alleged that voting rights of people are being taken away. Priyanka Gandhi posted on X, alleging that elections were "rigged" in Maharashtra earlier by inflating the voter list, and now, attempts to remove voters' names were being made in Bihar. She labelled the SIR exercise as a "conspiracy to snatch right to vote". "First, in Maharashtra, elections were rigged by inflating voter lists. Now, in Bihar, attempts are being made to do the same by removing voters' names. The 'vote ban' being imposed under the guise of SIR is a conspiracy to snatch the right to vote granted by the Constitution. We stand firmly against every attempt to trample the Constitution," Gandhi, who took part in the protest, said. Multiple leaders, including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, stood at the steps of the Parliament at Makar Dwar and protested against the Bihar SIR, calling for the exercise to be stopped. Multiple leaders were seen carrying posters condemning the revision exercise, holding placards calling it a "stealing of Indian Rights," "death of democracy," and more. The issue of Bihar SIR has been a contentious one with INDIA bloc MPs demanding a discussion on it in the parliament. Meanwhile, Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi slammed the government and the EC for carrying out the SIR exercise in Bihar, alleging that they want to cut the votes. "We will raise this issue in the house, as they want to cut the votes. The entire opposition is speaking on it and is united," he told ANI. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said, "I view the SIR like the Jim Crow laws in America during the days of segregation...SIR is going to be used as a tool to disenfranchise people of the minority community". Several Congress MPs moved adjournment motion notices in both houses of the Parliament to discuss the ongoing voter list revision in Bihar. Congress MPs Gaurav Gogoi, S Jothimani, Ranjeet Ranjan and Neeraj Dangi moved the notice for an adjournment motion to discuss the same issue today. However, the upper and lower houses witnessed chaos and were adjourned till 2:00 PM amid sloganeering by the opposition. (ANI) Locals at Jagdeep Dhankar's native village of Kithana in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu have expressed "shock" over his decision to step down from the post of Vice President. Jagdeep Dhankar's relative and Kithana resident, Harendra Dhankhar, told ANI, "We were deeply shocked to hear the news of his resignation. It is also true that he underwent an angioplasty in March. When he went to Uttarakhand last month, his health deteriorated there too." He added that Dhankar has provided financial support to schools and cowsheds in the village. "When he became the Vice President in 2022, there was an atmosphere of happiness in the village that the son of a farmer from Kithana became the Vice President of the country... He has also given a lot of financial support to the school and the cowshed," he said. Harendra added that the people of the village are praying for Dhankar's health. "Everyone in the village and the surrounding area is praying that his health remains good. He also gets well soon," Harendra Dhankhar told ANI. Village Sarpanch Subhita Dhankar said that she hopes Jagdeep Dhankar rises to even higher positions. "We wish he gets well soon and he may rise to even higher positions. After listening to the news, I felt shocked, but health is also important," the Sarpanch told ANI. Another local villager Naresh said his tenure should have been completed, and the village is praying for his health. "I got the news on WhatsApp around 9:30 pm yesterday that Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar has resigned. The whole village was surprised. This was sad news for the village and, whole of Rajasthan. His tenure should have been completed. We are praying in the temple for his health. Whenever he visits the village, first he prays at the Balaji Temple," Naresh said. Earlier today, BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was in the Chair in the Upper House of the Parliament, announced that Dhankhar's resignation as Vice President of India has been accepted by the President Droupadi Murmu. The Chair said that the Ministry of Home Affairs has, through its notification, conveyed the resignation of Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar under 67A of the Constitution with immediate effect. (ANI) Ozzy Osbournes death was unexpected, but he died surrounded by his family. Ozzy Osbournes death was 'unexpected' The 76-year-old rocker passed away at his home in Buckinghamshire, UK, on Tuesday (22.07.25) following a long battle with Parkinsons disease and his daughters had flown in from Los Angeles to be with him. A source told MailOnline: [His passing was] unexpected to be this soon. The insider added that daughters Aimee, 41, and Kelly, 40, had come from Los Angeles to be with their father. And Ozzys son Jack, 39, had flown in from his home in Idaho to watch his father perform at his final Black Sabbath gig in Birmingham on July 5. The source said: Ozzy was always meant to come back to Britain to live in Buckinghamshire, it was where Sharon had spent so long preparing their family home for him. There was much hope that he would be around for a lot longer than this but at one point there were fears they would not get him back from Los Angeles for the concert earlier this month. Kelly has been at the house a lot in the last week or so, so has Aimee. It is terribly sad for all of them, they really hoped he would be able to carry on for a bit longer. But it's so lovely that he had his children around him during his last days. While Ozzy and his second wife Sharon Osbourne had lived in California for many years, he revealed in 2022 that they were ready to move back to the UK as he didnt want to die in the US. He told The Observer: Everythings ridiculous there. Im fed up with people getting killed every day. God knows how many people have been shot in school shootings. And there was that mass shooting in Vegas at that concert Its f****** crazy. And I dont want to die in America. I dont want to be buried in f****** Forest Lawn. Im English. I want to be back. But saying that, if my wife said weve got to go and live in Timbuktu, Ill go. But, no, its just time for me to come home. Bharatiya Janata Party MP Ravi Kishan on Tuesday slammed the Opposition parties for "doing politics on someone's health condition," following Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation from the post. Speaking to ANI, Kishan mentioned that the doctors have advised Jagdeep Dhankhar to rest, and the Opposition is also engaging in politics over it. "The opposition is making fun of someone's health condition and doing politics on it. One has seen healthy people falling and dying suddenly, too. Who knows when someone becomes sick? The doctor has advised him to rest. If somebody needs to rest, then they are doing politics on that too," Ravi Kishan said. Meanwhile, BJP leader Kangana Ranaut expressed gratitude to Dhankhar for his time and service to the country and Parliament, saying, "We are grateful to him for giving his time and service to the country and Parliament. We will always be grateful to him for this." Amid mounting speculation over the reasons behind Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said this morning that the relationship between the Vice President and the centre doesn't seem like it did before. Labelling Dhankar's resignation as "sudden and unfortunate", Gogoi said that the Vice President presided over Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meetings on Monday. He expressed that the relationship between Dhankar and the central government might have taken a hit, given that two Union Ministers were also not present in the BAC meeting. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant also said Dhankhar's health has been deliberately "made worse," and questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party's "silence" on the resignation. "The Vice President's health has not deteriorated so much that he has to resign. Someone has made his health worse. The ruling party is silent. This means that something is wrong," Sawant said. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Mahua Maji also expressed shock over Dhankhar's decision. The Ministry of Home Affairs, vide its notification, conveyed the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar under 67A of the Constitution with immediate effect. The announcement was made just before the upper house of Parliament was adjourned until 2:00 PM on Tuesday. (ANI) Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui on Tuesday raised strong objections to the Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls being carried out in Bihar and accused the Election Commission of attempting to "exclude" backwards communities, Dalits and minorities from the voter list. Speaking to reporters, Siddiqui questioned the timing of the exercise and alleged inaction on the part of the Election Commission. "Three crore people of Bihar go out of the state to work as labour and come to Bihar to use their right to vote, according to government data. What preparation has the Election Commission made for the illiterate and poor? Why was the Election Commission asleep till now? This projection is an excuse to exclude the backward classes, Dalits, minorities from the electoral roll," the RJD leader told reporters. In a veiled jibe at BJP, Siddiqui said, "A special party claims Bangladeshis have migrated, and if so, it is the failure of the central government. Where was the BSF?... We will protest this on road and in the Assembly as well..." Opposition parties along with RJD leader and Bihar LoP Legislative Council Rabri Devi has staged a protest outside Bihar Vidhan Sabha over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in the state. The second day of the Bihar state assembly had the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties protesting on the steps of the assembly, holding placards and raising slogans against the alleged "vote theft" in the State ahead of the assembly polls. Reportedly, another door had to be opened to allow the MLAs to enter the assembly without any disruptions. The Opposition party MLAs have stated that they will disrupt the functioning of the house to expose the government. Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc leaders also 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 Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav stood at the steps of the Parliament at Makar Dwar and protested against the Bihar SIR, calling for the exercise to be stopped. They were seen carrying posters condemning the revision exercise, holding placards calling it a "stealing of Indian Rights" and "death of democracy." The issue of Bihar SIR has been a contentious one with INDIA bloc MPs demanding a discussion on it in the parliament. (ANI) 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 indigenously developed Tejas aircraft replacing them in all the current squadrons. The squadrons operating the MiG 21 plane are currently in Rajasthan''s Nal Air Force base. "Indian Air Force to phase out the MiG-21 fighter jet by September this year. The squadrons operating the aircraft are currently in Nal air base in Rajasthan. The LCA Mark 1A aircraft would be replacing the MiG-21s in the IAF," a defence official said. The MiG 21 is India''s first ever supersonic jet, acquired as part of a deal with the erstwhile Soviet Union in 1963. The aircraft has had limited use in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, but was subsequently used multiple military conflicts since, including the 1999 Kargil War, 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Notably, the aircraft was also used during the 2019 Balakot airstrike against terrorist camps in Pakistan. During the operation, one MiG 21 was downed, leading to the capture of Wing Commander Abhinadnan. The present Air Force Chief of Air Staff, AP Singh, also flew the MiG 21 aircraft recently. The fighter jet has also been the mainstay of Air Force operations. However, the aircraft has been unofficially dubbed as the ''flying coffin'' due to the various accidents with it. In October 2023, Number 4 Squadron, known as "Oorials" of the IAF based at Air Force Station Uttarlai (Barmer), Rajasthan, decommissioned their MiG 21 and Su-30 MKI, marking a watershed moment in the history of the squadron, which had been operating the MiG-21 since 1966. Earlier on July 17 2025, The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) were handed over the first set of wing assemblies for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A, produced by Larsen & Toubro, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Defence. Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar attended the event virtually as General Manager (LCA Tejas Division) M Abdul Salam received the assemblies on behalf of HAL from Precision Manufacturing & Systems Complex unit of L&T. In his address, the Secretary (Defence Production) commended the efforts of HAL and L&T towards achieving self-reliance. He hailed HAL for spearheading collaboration with different private sector partners, nurturing them and ensuring enhanced capability. He expressed confidence in meeting the requirement of the production target for LCA Tejas. He called for expanding horizons and focusing on reducing dependency on other countries. (ANI) Delhi Police South-West District has arrested four persons involved in Jeharkhurani activities (gangs that target people with sleeping pills and loots them). With their arrest, seven stolen/looted mobile phones, one auto used in the commission of crime, and ten strips of sleeping pills (intoxicants) used to commit crime have been recovered. The team started working on technical and manual inputs. Surveillance of the stolen mobile was analysed. The team analysed over 30 KMs of CCTV footage related to recent theft incidents and successfully traced the auto used during the commission of the crime. All four accused were apprehended while they were roaming to dispose of the stolen items and plan further thefts. The accused used to target solo outstation passengers, mostly travelling to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and other parts of North India. They would offer cold drinks laced with sleeping pills. Once the victim became unconscious, they looted mobile phones and valuables. Since most victims were in a hurry to travel back, they usually did not lodge a complaint, which helped the accused avoid detection. In the recent case on July 13, the accused drugged the victim near Dhaula Kuan and fled with his mobile phone. Based on sustained efforts, the case has been successfully worked out with the arrest of all gang members. Meanwhile, Delhi Police PS Model Town has solved a case of theft with the arrest of the accused, aged 37 years, who was a resident of Mausam Vihar, Delhi. "During the investigation, the team recovered stolen cash amounting to Rs 14,05,000/- and one scooter used in the commission of the crime. Additionally, an account of Rs 10,50,000/- was traced and frozen in two separate bank accounts. The accused is a first-time offender. His motive for committing the theft appears to be the lure of easy money and a desire to sustain a lavish lifestyle," said Police. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday announced that he was continuing his government duties despite being admitted to a hospital. "I am continuing government duties even while in the hospital," Stalin posted on X. He informed that the establishment of camps under the 'Stalin With You' project, which aims to address public grievances and bring various welfare schemes to people, was proceeding as planned. "The 'Stalin With You' camps are proceeding as planned, how many petitions have been received until yesterday, how many have been resolved - I have instructed the Chief Secretary to gather these details and ensure that there is no delay in resolving the people's petitions," Stalin said. Earlier, speaking on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's health, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin informed that the CM is doing well and doctors will soon give a medical update. "The Chief Minister is doing well. This morning, a few tests have been done. Doctors will give a medical update on it. Yesterday, the hospital gave a statement asking CM to rest for three days. Very soon, he will get well and will come back," said Deputy CM Stalin. MK Stalin was admitted to the hospital on Monday after experiencing giddiness during his routine morning walk.CM Stalin has been admitted to Apollo Hospital on Chennai's Green Road. The hospital stated that the Tamil Nadu CM has been admitted for evaluation of his symptoms, and necessary tests are being conducted to assess his health. "Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin, had mild giddiness during his routine morning walking. He has been admitted to Apollo Hospitals, Green Road, Chennai, for evaluation of his symptoms, and the necessary diagnostic tests are being done," the hospital said in a statement. (ANI) As opposition trains its guns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise being carried out by the Election Commission (EC) in Bihar, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday said that only Indian citizens were allowed to vote in the elections and there was no problem in ascertaining the same. "As per the Indian Constitution, only citizen of the nation has the right to vote. Why do they have a problem if an investigation is being done into it? The one who is an ordinarily resident in their constituency can vote in the elections. What is the problem in seeing who is a resident or not?" Shankar told reporters here. Taking a swipe at the opposition, Shankar said that leaders who do politics in the name of Bangladeshis and intruders were nervous. "In Araria, Purnia, and Kishanganj, Aadhaar cards have been issued to 125 per cent, which is more than the population. The Election Commission has said that most people are from outside. India is not a 'Dharmshala'...The leaders who do politics in the name of Bangladeshis and intruders are nervous," the BJP MP said. Earlier in the day, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed strong reservations against the ongoing electoral rolls revision being undertaken by the Election Commission in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, accusing the government of "murdering democracy". "They are murdering democracy. We have been protesting against it, and this is wrong," Gandhi told ANI. This comes amid protests by the INDIA bloc and its leaders in Parliament's premises against the electoral rolls revision exercise being carried out by the EC. The opposition leaders have alleged that voting rights of people are being taken away. Priyanka Gandhi posted on X, alleging that elections were "rigged" in Maharashtra earlier by inflating the voter list, and now, attempts to remove voters' names were being made in Bihar. She labelled the SIR exercise as a "conspiracy to snatch right to vote". "First, in Maharashtra, elections were rigged by inflating voter lists. Now, in Bihar, attempts are being made to do the same by removing voters' names. The 'vote ban' being imposed under the guise of SIR is a conspiracy to snatch the right to vote granted by the Constitution. We stand firmly against every attempt to trample the Constitution," Gandhi, who took part in the protest, said. Multiple leaders, including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, stood at the steps of the Parliament at Makar Dwar and protested against the Bihar SIR, calling for the exercise to be stopped. Leaders were seen carrying posters condemning the revision exercise, holding placards calling it a "stealing of Indian Rights," "death of democracy," and more.The issue of Bihar SIR has been a contentious one with INDIA bloc MPs demanding a discussion on it in the parliament. Meanwhile, Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi slammed the government and the EC for carrying out the SIR exercise in Bihar, alleging that they want to cut the votes. "We will raise this issue in the house, as they want to cut the votes. The entire opposition is speaking on it and is united," he told ANI. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said, "I view the SIR like the Jim Crow laws in America during the days of segregation...SIR is going to be used as a tool to disenfranchise people of the minority community". Several Congress MPs moved adjournment motion notices in both houses of the Parliament to discuss the ongoing voter list revision in Bihar. Congress MPs Gaurav Gogoi, S Jothimani, Ranjeet Ranjan and Neeraj Dangi moved the notice for an adjournment motion to discuss the same issue today. However, the upper and lower houses witnessed chaos and were adjourned till 2:00 PM amid sloganeering by the opposition. (ANI) The accused included Manojit Mishra, Zaib Ahmed and Pramit Mukhopadhyay. Earlier on July 10, the West Bengal government submitted a sealed progress report on the alleged rape of a 24-year-old Law student to the Calcutta High Court. The state also produced the case diary before a division bench comprising Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Smita Das De, which reviewed the victim''s statement under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita (BNS) and the medical records. The court directed that a copy of the progress report be handed to the victim''s advocate, strictly barring its disclosure without prior court permission. The victim''s family, through counsel, expressed satisfaction with the investigation led by Kolkata Police''s SIT. The police also filed a report explaining why local officers allegedly failed to act on earlier threats against the victim. The incident took place on June 25, when a student was allegedly gangraped inside the South Calcutta Law College in the Kasba area of Kolkata. Five days later, on June 30, Kolkata Police said that the three main accused in the case were arrested in less than 12 hours. Initially, the Alipore Court had sent the three primary accused -- Monojit, Pramit, and Zaib -- to police custody till July 8, while the fourth accused, security guard Pinaki, was remanded to custody till July 4. Earlier, the Kolkata High Court sought a response from the West Bengal Government on three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) regarding the alleged gangrape at the South Calcutta Law College in the Kasba area. The Court also questioned why the governing body of the college was not included in the case. (ANI) Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday permitted the ex-Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan to have E-Mulakat and Telephonic conversation with his family for five minutes once a week from Mandoli Jail. Balyan is in judicial custody in a MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999) case linked with an organised crime syndicate allegedly run by gangster Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu. Special judge Dig Vinay Singh allowed the application of Naresh Balyan seeking E-Mulakat through video conferencing and telephone conversation with family from jail. The court has permitted Balyan to have an E-Mulakat and a Telephonic conversation once a week each, his counsel told ANI. Applications moved by the other three accused for the same facility have also been allowed. Meanwhile, the court has allowed Delhi Police to interrogate accused Vikas Gehlot in judicial custody in response to the application moved by Delhi police seeking permission to interrogate Gehlot in judicial custody. Police mentioned that the Investigation Officer (IO) in the matter has changed, and some new facts have surfaced in Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) examination, which require verification. The court granted bail to the accused, Veenita, after she appeared before the court. The court had issued summons to her on the supplementary charge sheet filed against her without arrest. On July 15, Delhi Police had filed a supplementary charge sheet against two more accused, Vikas Gehlot and his wife, Veenita. The court has listed the matter for scrutiny of documents. Matter has been listed on August 5. The court has already taken cognizance of the main offence under sections 3 and 4 of the MCOC Act on 24 February 2025. It is claimed by the police that on the instructions of his husband, Vikas Gehlot, Veenita transported the firearm and ammunition from the house of Vikas to the house of a relative. It was done on 17.04.2025. On the same date, the arms & ammunition were recovered from the house of their relative. There also exists a seizure memo prepared to that effect. Ballistic Expert's opinion is also on record. Sanction U/s 39 of the Arms Act, 1959 has also been obtained, the court noted. The Delhi police have invoked Section 25 of the Arms Act against the accused, Veenita. The court, after taking cognizance of the offence U/s 25 of the Arms Act, 1959, issued summons to Veenita. "Summons qua her be issued to be served through the IO, and the summons be handed over to the IO today itself for service," Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh ordered on July 15. Earlier, the court had called a report on Balyan's plea seeking a call facility. A detailed report was also called in respect of applications of other accused persons who sought permission to have telephonic conversation with their families, and what decision has been taken by the jail authorities. Advocate Rajiv Mohan and Rohit Kumar Dalal appeared for Naresh Balyan. Naresh Balyan's bail petition is pending before the Delhi High Court. His earlier bail plea was rejected by the Rouse Avenue court on May 27. The Delhi police have filed a supplementary charge sheet under Sections 3 and 4 of the MCOCA against Balyan. Ex-MLA Balyan has been in custody since December 4, last year, in the present MCOCA case. (ANI) Revolutionary Socialist Party MP NK Premachandran on Tuesday said that health cannot be the sole reason behind Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation. Premachandran noted that before Dhankhar's resignation was announced, all proceedings and meetings were chaired by him. The RSP MP suspected that political reasons were behind the incident. "This cannot be believed...I don't think it's due to health reasons...Yesterday, the entire proceedings of the house were controlled and chaired by him...Health reasons alone cannot be the sole reason for resignation. Maybe some other political reason or other," Premachandran told ANI. On Monday, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from his post "to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice." Earlier today, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Member of Parliament (MP) Mahua Maji stated that Vice President Dhankhar's resignation is "very shocking" and that there should be "clarity" on the matter, as everyone is "making assumptions." "This is very shocking for everyone. He could have resigned after the conclusion of the Monsoon session. Everyone is making assumptions regarding the reason behind Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation. There should be clarity on it," said Maji. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Tuesday also questioned the Central government over Vice President Dhankhar's resignation. Referring to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh's X post, which alleged "deeper reasons" behind the resignation, Priyanka Chaturvedi demanded that the government inform the reason behind the decision and also recalled the non-confidence motion against Dhankhar in December 2024. Speaking to ANI, she said, "For the first time in the history of India, a no-confidence motion was signed by over 50 members of the Parliament because of the partisan manner in which the House was being conducted. He (VP Jagdeep Dhankhar) was a partisan. It is for the government to tell us what the reason was for the sudden resignation, because he seemed in fine health." She added that despite the health concerns, Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar used to conduct parliamentary proceedings. (ANI) Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Sanjay Yadav on Tuesday slammed the Election Commission (EC) over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the EC have an "alliance" between them. He accused EC of working at the behest of the ruling NDA and raised concerns over a lack of transparency in the SIR process. "This is happening at the behest of the NDA. NDA and EC have an alliance. EC is one of their allies. So, they will not speak anything against their ally. There is no transparency in the entire process of SIR; there is a discrepancy and a scam," Yadav alleged. He further accused EC of not following their own standard operating procedures and claimed that the reported progress in the SIR was only on paper. "Day before yesterday, the EC said that 95.93% of process is complete. But it has happened only on paper. They have not followed their own SOP... There is NDA Govt in Bihar for 20 years and a BJP Govt at the Centre for 11 years now. If they think that we are protecting some unauthorised people, then who is responsible for this and how did their name come in the voter list? ...We are not questioning the process, we are questioning the working and timeline of EC...," he said. The SIR process has triggered a political row in Bihar, with opposition parties alleging manipulation and irregularities ahead of the upcoming elections. Meanwhile, several opposition MPs have submitted notices to move adjournment motions in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to discuss the issue. In the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Manickam Tagore submitted a notice to move an adjournment motion to discuss the SIR and its "threat to democratic rights." In the Rajya Sabha, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh submitted a motion seeking discussion on the "constitutional and electoral implications" of the revision exercise. Congress's Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh also gave a Suspension of Business Notice under Rule 267 to discuss concerns over the Election Commission's SIR process in Bihar ahead of the polls. On Monday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said that Bihar has become the first state in the country to have all polling stations with fewer than 1,200 electors. According to the ECI, 96.23 per cent of electors in Bihar have been covered under the SIR so far. However, 5.56 per cent of electors were not found at their registered addresses. Bihar is scheduled to go to the polls later this year. (ANI) Sharon Stone's mother has passed away. Sharon Stone's mother has died The 67-year-old actress took to Instagram on Monday (21.07.25) to share news of her mother Dorothy's passing at the age of 91 - which is said to have happened in March. In an emotional social media post, Sharon wrote: "My hilarious, complex mother died. "A product of the last depression, let's NOT do this again. Let's protect and care." The Basic Instinct star previously described her mother's parenting style as "tough" and explained that feminism was among "the rules of my household". Speaking at the Zurich Film Festival in 2021, Sharon recalled asking Dorothy: "Why (do) you never let me lean on you?' She said: 'Because I taught you to stand on your two goddamn feet.'" However, the actress explained that she later came to appreciate the tough love from her mother. Sharon said: "She gave me the most loving, the most concerted thing a mother can give another woman. "I didn't understand it when I was young, but at 15, in college, and later modelling in New York and Milan, it became a gift." Sharon has three adopted sons - Roan, 25, Laird, 20, and Quinn, 19, and explained that she is glad that she prioritised motherhood over her Hollywood career after suffering a brain haemorrhage in 2001. The Casino star told People in 2023: "I'm grateful that I chose motherhood as a healthy approach to my life and I didn't prioritise Hollywood, because they certainly didn't prioritise me." Sharon lamented how her health scare halted her movie career and led the collapse of her marriage with journalist Phil Bronstein -with the couple divorcing in 2004. She said: "I lost everything. I lost all my money. I lost custody of my child. I lost my career. I lost all those things that you feel are your real identity and your life. "I never really got most of it back, but I've reached a point where I'm okay with it, where I really do recognise that I'm enough." Sharon admits that it was tough to come to terms with her illness as she felt that she was supposed to be "taking care of everybody else". She explained: "I come from a very broken family. I grew up believing that taking care of everybody else was what I was supposed to do. It took me a long time to understand that I had a life of my own and that I didn't have to fix it for everybody else, and that it was okay for me to receive care, for me to be enough as a disabled person. "I feel proud of myself and proud of my accomplishments - from surviving to helping others survive." A petition has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court by Gurtej Singh Dhillon, seeking an independent investigation into the alleged false encounter of 22-year-old Jaspreet Singh, a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) who was killed by Punjab Police in Patiala on March 13, 2025. Gurtej Singh Dhillon is the brother-in-law of Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath, a serving army officer who, along with his son, was allegedly assaulted by the same police team near Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, earlier that night. According to the petition, the police claimed that Jaspreet Singh was involved in the kidnapping of a minor and was shot during a gunfight after refusing to stop his vehicle. The FIR states that Singh, who was allegedly armed, opened fire on police officers, injuring two of them, and was subsequently killed in retaliatory firing. However, the petitioner has alleged that this was a staged encounter, orchestrated under the influence of liquor and misused authority, as the same officers had been recently rewarded and appreciated for earlier actions. The post-mortem report of Jaspreet Singh has been attached with the petition, highlighting seven injuries, including fatal wounds to the forehead and chest from point-blank range, suggesting a close-range execution. The petitioner claims these findings strongly contradict the official version provided by the police and point to a fabricated narrative. The petition further reveals that Jaspreet Singh has been a student residing in Canada since 2022 and has recently married. He had returned to India just days before the incident. The family, reportedly under pressure and facing threats, is being discouraged from pursuing legal remedies. A previous petition seeking a CBI inquiry into the encounter, filed by the victim's parents, is currently pending before the High Court, but Dhillon fears it may be withdrawn under pressure, which led him to file this fresh plea to ensure justice. The petitioner also draws attention to a broader pattern of encounters in Punjab, stating that 20 such incidents have taken place between February and July 2025. A news report from an English daily has been submitted as evidence, indicating public concern over a rise in police-led encounters and the lack of accountability. Another news item appended to the petition shows that Punjab Police officials involved in this specific encounter were not only publicly praised by their superiors but also allegedly awarded with Rs 10 lakh and out-of-turn promotions. Dhillon argues that an unbiased investigation is not possible if handled by Punjab Police, as the accused are their own officials. He therefore seeks that the case be transferred to an independent agency. Notably, the High Court has already handed over a related case, regarding the assault on Col. Bath and his son, to the CBI for investigation. The matter is expected to be taken up in the coming weeks, while the earlier petition in the case is listed for hearing on September 17. (ANI) Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) Chief Coordinator Senthamizhan Seeman, responding to the alliance invitation reportedly extended by AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, said, "Let's wait and see." Speaking to the media after inaugurating a clinic run by an NTK functionary in Villupuram, Seeman, speaking about the proposal, said, "There are still eight months left for the election. Let's wait and see." He went on to slam both the BJP and DMK, stating, "BJP says DMK should not come to power, while they themselves align with others and call it Tamil Nadu. But we, NTK, are the only true alternative to both ruling evils. You can't extinguish fire with fire--you need water. Alternating governments from Indian national parties have failed to meet the people's needs. If those in power truly addressed people's demands, why would there even be a need for alternatives? Criticising both Congress and BJP on water issues." He added, "It's both the BJP and Congress in Karnataka that refuse even a single drop of water to Tamil Nadu. Who truly supports Tamil growth--Congress or Dravidian parties?" Referring to environmental and resource exploitation, he warned, "In Neyveli, 25,000 acres are being taken for coal mining. They will dig as far as Mannargudi. The areas affected by methane extraction or coal mining can never be rehabilitated. Dravidian parties have shown no concern." Seeman questioned, "Who imposed NEET? Who brought education under central control, undermining state rights? Who opened the TNPSC exams to outsiders? Who gave 10,000 acres to Dalmia? Who allocated land for Parandur Airport? It was the AIADMK, and now the DMK says they'll build it at all costs. Both parties are to blame."On BJP's hypocrisy, he alleged, "They claim to oppose BJP, but during Jayalalithaa's time, there were no RSS rallies. Now, under DMK rule, those very rallies are being allowed freely. He posed a sharp question, "If Congress and BJP fight for Indian unity, then why don't they ensure a single drop of water is given to Tamil Nadu from Karnataka? Who gave them the authority to deny us? When they say 'resources belong to each state,' does that mean the wealth of my land belongs to others?" Seeman also lamented the loss of Tamil culture and identity: "My language is disappearing. There are temples of Lord Murugan and Lord Shiva where prayers aren't conducted in Tamil. Even in the temple of Aandaal, who sang in Tamil, her hymns aren't sung in our language." Questioning stat's development, Seeman said, "If the government is truly efficient, why are they borrowing for everything? If transport is properly managed, why do services like Ola and Rapido flourish? Fishermen have lost their rights. 870 fishermen have been shot and killed--no one talks about it. The BJP that claims to be religious--why are they silent on these atrocities? They lack even a basic understanding that breaking the mountains of Mother Earth will turn her into a desert. Asserting his commitment, Seeman said: "As long as I live, the BJP will not enter Tamil Nadu. The DMK should say the same, but they don't. Instead of spending government money on education and housing, they use it to erect statues of their leaders. He also added that NTK will build "the largest" alliance in Tamil Nadu, while blaming the voters for electing the candidate, which has led to the state's governance suffering. "If governance is poor, then those who elected them are also responsible. NTK will build the largest alliance in Tamil Nadu, and I will announce decisions in our party conference," he said. He also outlined campaign themes, saying, "We will hold a major conference on forests and water in Tamil Nadu. I will not contest separately; I will stand with the people, among the 8 crore Tamils. NTK candidate Abhinaya will contest from Villupuram constituency under the farmer symbol in the assembly election." The Tamil Nadu Assembly Election will be held in 2026. AIADMK and BJP have already joined hands to face Chief Minister MK Stalin-led DMK. (ANI) Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Monday defended the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, slamming the Opposition for questioning a constitutionally mandated process. Responding to allegations by leaders of the INDIA alliance, Singh stressed that the practice of revising electoral rolls predates the current government and accused the Opposition of politicising the issue for ulterior motives. He said, "I want to ask the Opposition whether they believe in the Constitution.? If yes, then was Narendra Modi the PM of the country in 2003, when the voter list was revised? This is a Constitutional procedure. You crush the Constitution but take Baba Saheb's name. They are worried about something else; they are worried about the Rohingyas, the Bangladeshis, and what will happen to them. That's why they are scared." Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha faced major disruptions on Tuesday, on the second day of the Monsoon Session, amid Opposition protest over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being undertaken by the Election Commission (EC) in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned till July 23. The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will again meet at 11 am on Wednesday. Earlier today, Lok Sabha was first adjourned till 12 pm, minutes after it convened. The Lower House was adjourned again till 2 pm, shortly after it reconvened amid opposition protest. Targeting the opposition for creating ruckus in the House, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the government is ready for discussion, but the Opposition is "wasting public money" by indulging in protest. "They (opposition) are demanding discussion, and we are ready for it. Then why are they not allowing the House to function? This double standard is wrong. If you want discussion, then do not create a ruckus. The government has said that we are ready for discussion. You are wasting public money...," Rijiju said. Bharatiya Janata Party MP Jagdambika Pal, chairing the lower house, announced the adjournment and asked the Opposition to submit proposals and resolutions instead of raising placards in the Lok Sabha. Pal said previously while objecting to the use of placards in the house. "Instead of showing placards, you can submit your proposals, resolutions, and the business advisory committee will consider them. Speakers will give time, and the government will respond. Why are you worried?" he said. Similarly, in the Rajya Sabha, Opposition MPs raise slogans, demanding a discussion on the revision of the electoral roll in Bihar.Multiple leaders, including Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, stood at the steps of Parliament at Makar Dwar and protested against the Bihar SIR, calling for the exercise to be halted. Multiple leaders were seen carrying posters condemning the revision exercise, holding placards calling it a "stealing of Indian Rights," "death of democracy," and more. The issue of Bihar SIR has been a contentious one with the INDIA bloc MPs demanding a discussion on it in the Parliament. The Opposition has also demanded discussions on the Pahalgam terrorist attack and India's response through Operation Sindoor. (ANI) The meeting of the Rajya Sabha Business Advisory Council (BAC), scheduled for Tuesday, has been postponed and will now take place on Wednesday, sources said. According to the sources, the BAC meeting will be held at 12:30 pm tomorrow. Meanwhile, both houses of Parliament--Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha--were adjourned till tomorrow after major disruption by the opposition over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being undertaken by the Election Commission (EC) in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Targeting the opposition for creating a ruckus in the House, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the government is ready for discussion, but the Opposition is "wasting public money" by indulging in protest. "They (opposition) are demanding discussion, and we are ready for it. Then why are they not allowing the House to function? This double standard is wrong. If you want discussion, then do not create a ruckus. The government has said that we are ready for discussion. You are wasting public money," Rijiju said. Bharatiya Janata Party MP Jagdambika Pal, chairing the Lower House, announced the adjournment and asked the Opposition to submit proposals and resolutions instead of raising placards in the Lok Sabha. Pal said previously while objecting to the use of placards in the house. "Instead of showing placards, you can submit your proposals and resolutions, and the business advisory committee will consider them. Speakers will give time, and the government will respond. Why are you worried?" he said. Similarly, in the Rajya Sabha, Opposition MPs raise slogans, demanding a discussion on the revision of the electoral roll in Bihar. Multiple leaders, including Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, stood at the steps of Parliament at Makar Dwar and protested against the Bihar SIR, calling for the exercise to be halted. Notably, BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was in the Chair in the Upper House, announced that Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation as Vice President of India has been accepted by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh will preside over the proceedings of the Upper House until a new Vice President is elected. The Chair stated that the Ministry of Home Affairs has, through a notification, conveyed the resignation of Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar under Article 67A of the Constitution, effective immediately. (ANI) Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Tuesday slammed the BJP following the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, stating that the party has a track record of "weakening both constitutional offices and processes". He noted that Dhankhar's "sudden and mysterious" resignation has left many questions unanswered and urged Pime Minister Narendra Modi to take parliament into confidence on the matter. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday evening resigned from his post "to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice." Dhankhar, who is also Chairman of Rajya Sabha, sent his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu. "The sudden and mysterious manner in which the Vice President resigned leaves many questions unanswered. The BJP has a track record of weakening both constitutional offices and processes. The BJP also has a track record of insulting constitutional officeholders and undermining the constitutional framework... What is visible and what is the reason are entirely different. We demand that Prime Minister Modi come forward and take the people of India and Parliament into confidence", Randeep Surjewala told ANI. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Member of Parliament (MP), Mahua Maji, said there should be clarity on Dhankhar's resignation and that he could have resigned after the conclusion of the Monsoon session. "This is very shocking for everyone. He could have resigned after the conclusion of the Monsoon session. Everyone is making assumptions regarding the reason behind Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation. There should be clarity on it," she said. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi questioned the Central government over Dhankhar's resignation. Referring to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh's X post, which alleged "deeper reasons" behind the resignation, Priyanka Chaturvedi demanded that the government should inform about the reason behind the sudden resignation. "For the first time in the history of India, a no-confidence motion was signed by over 50 members of the Parliament because of the partisan manner in which the House was being conducted. He (VP Jagdeep Dhankhar) was a partisan. It is for the government to tell us what was the reason for the government to tell us what was the reason for the sudden resignation, because he seemed in fine health" she told ANI. In his post on X, Jairam Ramesh said there are far deeper reasons for Dhankhar's resignation and while he lauded post-2014 India, he also spoke fearlessly for the welfare of farmers, forcefully against what he called 'ahankar' in public life. Jairam Ramesh alleged that Dhankar was not personally informed that Union Health Minister JP Nadda, who is Leader of House in Rajya Sabha, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju were not attending the BAC meeting scheduled yesterday afternoon at 4.30 pm. Sources said that Nadda and Rijiju had given information about their not being able to attend the BAC meeting. They said Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs L Murugan was present in the meeting. In his post, Jairam Ramesh said "something very serious happened yesterday between 1 pm and 4:30 pm". "Yesterday, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar chaired the Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha at 12:30 PM. It was attended by most members, including Leader of the House JP Nadda and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju. After some discussion, the BAC decided to meet again at 4:30 PM. At 4:30 PM, the BAC reassembled under the chairmanship of Shri Jagdeep Dhankar. It waited for Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju to arrive. They never came," he said. "Shri Jagdeep Dhankar was not personally informed that the two senior Ministers were not attending. Rightly he took umbrage and rescheduled the BAC for today at 1 PM. So something very serious happened yesterday between 1 PM and 4:30 PM to account for the deliberate absence of Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju from the second BAC yesterday. Now in a truly unprecedented move, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar has resigned. He has given health reasons for doing so," he added. Jairam Ramesh said Dhankhar was a stickler for norms and proprieties. "Those should be respected. But it is also a fact that there are far deeper reasons for his resignation. While always lauding post-2014 India, he spoke fearlessly for the welfare of farmers, forcefully against what he called 'ahankar' in public life, and strongly on judicial accountability and restraint," he said. "To the extent possible under the current G2 ruling regime, he tried to accommodate the Opposition. He was a stickler for norms, proprieties, and protocol, which he believed were being consistently disregarded in both his capacities. Shri Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation speaks highly of him. It also speaks poorly of those who had got him elected as Vice President in the first instance," he added. (ANI) Bharath Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha on Tuesday criticised both the BJP and the Congress, alleging that they had 'cheated' the Backward Classes (BCs) of Telangana. Kavitha referred to statements made by BJP leaders suggesting that the OBC Reservation Bill could not be passed in Parliament. She also alleged that Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, had remained silent on issues related to Telangana's Backward Classes. "We heard many statements from the BJP leaders from Telangana that they cannot pass the OBC Reservation Bill from the central government, which is very unfortunate to hear... We have seen more than 15 states giving reservation above 50 per cent... We are getting zero benefits from the Central government. Neither Rahul Gandhi nor Priyanka Gandhi Vadra nor Sonia Gandhi speaks in Parliament about our Telangana BCs... The bill should be passed... Both BJP and Congress are cheating the people of Telangana BCs," Kavitha told ANI. In March, the Congress-led Telangana government passed two bills -- The Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in Services under the State) Bill, 2025 and The Telangana Backward Classes (Reservation of Seats in Rural and Urban Local Bodies) Bill, 2025. These bills aim to provide 42 per cent reservation to Backward Classes, 15 per cent to Scheduled Castes, and 10 per cent to Scheduled Tribes across educational institutions, local bodies, and government jobs. Both bills have been cleared by the Telangana Assembly and Legislative Council and are now awaiting approval from the Central government. A day after the bills were passed, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy described the move as "revolutionary", claiming that it would go beyond the 49 per cent ceiling on reservations and help empower historically marginalised communities. "The revolutionary promise of 42 per cent reservations for Backward Castes not only finally hopes to end the legal glass ceiling of 49 per cent on quotas but also moves towards empowering the long-oppressed communities' resources & opportunities in proportion to their percentage in the population," CM Reddy said in a post on X. (ANI) Amid the ongoing row over language in Maharashtra, Governor CP Radhakrishnan has urged people to refrain from spreading hatred based on linguistic differences, warning that such attitudes could harm the state in the long run. Sharing a personal experience from his time as an MP in Tamil Nadu, the Maharashtra Governor said, "...one day I saw some people beating someone. When I asked them about the problem, they were speaking in Hindi. Then, the hotel owner told me that they don't speak Tamil, and people were beating them to speak Tamil." He added, "If we spread this kind of hatred, then who will come and invest...? In the long run, we are only harming Maharashtra. I'm unable to understand Hindi, and that is an obstacle for me. We must learn the maximum number of languages, and we should be proud of our mother tongue." Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan also weighed in on the issue, saying, "Definitely, Marathi is our mother tongue, and it is our priority, but if we force someone else to speak Marathi or beat them, that is also not right for our state. We also go out, and what will we do if someone tells us to speak in Tamil or Bengali... We live in a country where many languages are spoken. We love our own languages, but I also do not like this kind of attitude." These remarks come amid heated debates in Maharashtra and Karnataka over the alleged "imposition" of Hindi and the choice of medium of instruction in schools. The controversy in Maharashtra began with a government resolution issued on April 16, mandating the introduction of Hindi as a third language from Classes 1 to 5. The move drew sharp criticism, with many accusing the state government of attempting to impose Hindi. Earlier on Saturday, NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule took a jibe at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, questioning who might be pressuring him to prioritise Hindi over Marathi. "I am very concerned about Devendra (Fadnavis) Ji. Who is pressuring him?... Under whose pressure is he doing this? This is the first time that Maharashtra's Chief Minister is placing Hindi above Marathi..." Sule told reporters. (ANI) The Gujarat government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has demonstrated a compassionate approach by ensuring the well-being of lawyers and legal professionals in the state, providing timely financial support to their families in the event of critical illness or during an unfortunate event of demise. To support this objective, the state government allocates Rs 5 crore annually in the budget for the Bar Council of Gujarat for the welfare of lawyers. In line with this provision, the Bar Council utilises the funds to provide financial assistance to legal professionals through the welfare fund, offering aid during illness or in the event of death, according to a release from the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office (CMO). As per the provision made in the 2025-26 budget, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel handed over a cheque of Rs 5 crore to the President of the Bar Council of Gujarat, JJ Patel, in the presence of Law Minister Rushikesh Patel, the release said. JJ Patel also conveyed his gratitude to the Chief Minister for the state government's commitment to the welfare and well-being of all sections of society. District representatives of the Bar Council of Gujarat also thanked CM for his concern for the health of lawyers and his supportive approach during critical times. Lawyers, who hold an integral and significant position within the judicial system, are assisted by the Bar Council of Gujarat's welfare fund for the treatment of serious illnesses, as well as death assistance to support their families in the event of their demise. A total of 52,593 lawyers are registered as members of the Bar Council of Gujarat's welfare fund, and approximately 3,000 lawyers have received medical assistance from the fund. Recently, financial aid amounting to Rs 37 lakh was disbursed to 27 lawyers. Law Secretary Upendra Bhatt (I/C), Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Avantika Singh and senior officials from the Law Department were present during the cheque presentation ceremony. (ANI) Central and state government ministries, departments, and institutions are being encouraged to maximise the use of inputs derived from space technology in the planning, monitoring, evaluation, and decision-making processes of their development programmes, disaster management efforts, and strategic sectors, the statement said. At the one-day regional meeting held in Gandhinagar, ISRO scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders convened to discuss and collaborate on the application of satellite technology for sustainable development in agriculture, disaster management, and urban planning. To align with space sector reforms and the Indian Space Policy 2023, the centre aims to reassess space technology usage and plan future infrastructure. A second National Conference on "Leveraging Space Technology for Viksit Bharat 2047" will be held on August 22 in New Delhi. As part of the preparations for this meeting, workshops are being organised at the state and union territory levels by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Space. CM Patel inaugurated this regional meet in Gandhinagar in the presence of Director of the Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, Nilesh Desai; Principal Secretary of the State Science and Technology Department, Mona Khandhar; ISRO-Space Applications Centre scientists; and officials of the State Science and Technology Department. (ANI) Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday lauded outgoing Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar following his resignation. Kalyan stated that the matter should be viewed from the right perspective, not from the way the Congress party is looking at it. "Dhankhar ji is a man of great integrity, intellect, ability, and his legal acumen is brilliant, and a man of high political acumen, political wisdom. We have to see it from the right perspective; there is no need to look at it from another perspective, which the Congress is looking at", Kalyan said. Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned as the Vice-President late on Monday citing his health. Earlier on Tuesday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was in the Chair, announced that Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation as Vice President of India has been accepted by President Droupadi Murmu. Meanwhile, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Member of Parliament (MP), Mahua Maji, said Dhankhar could have resigned after the conclusion of the Monsoon session. "This is very shocking for everyone. He could have resigned after the conclusion of the Monsoon session. Everyone is making assumptions regarding the reason behind Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation. There should be clarity on it," said Maji. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also questioned the Central government over 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, Priyanka Chaturvedi demanded that the government inform the reason behind the decision and also recalled the non-confidence motion against Dhankhar in December 2024. Speaking to ANI, she said, "For the first time in the history of India, a no-confidence motion was signed by over 50 members of the Parliament because of the partisan manner in which the House was being conducted. He (VP Jagdeep Dhankhar) was a partisan. It is for the government to tell us what was the reason for the sudden resignation, because he seemed in fine health." She added that despite the health concerns, Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar used to conduct parliamentary proceedings. (ANI) Tears for Fears musician Roland Orzabal and his wife are expecting a baby. Emily Rath Orzabal showing off her baby bump / Credit: Eroquintana / Instagram The 63-year-old guitarist-and-vocalist and his spouse, photographer Emily Rath Orzabal, are having their first child together. Emily, 38, shared a photo of her showing off her baby bump on Instagram captioned simply with just a red heart emoji. The couple "secretly eloped" and married on Aspen Mountain in Colorado in 2020 after having to postpone their original wedding due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Revealing their private nuptials, Emily posted on Instagram: "We had to postpone our original wedding date in September 2020 because of Covid. I felt as all corona brides have been feeling: angry, sad, gypped, and confused as to when we should have a wedding. "Roland and I were in the States for work. We desperately wanted to get married, even just legally, and so to honour our original date, we secretly eloped, just the two of us, atop a mountain in Aspen. It was the most magical moment of my life. It breaks my heart that my family could not be there to see it, but no one wanted to risk their safety. "Two weddings was never my dream, but we adapted, separating the legal wedding from the celebratory wedding to come. In September we were able to use the autumnal flowers wed originally wanted, and next year we can have all of the spring flowers! We got married at 11,212 ft high on Aspen Mountain, whereas next year will be inside an incredible venue. I wore a stunning Amanda Wakeley dress, which flowed in the wind so beautifully, and next year I will be wearing Phillipa Lepley. I still dont feel as though Ive had a wedding, because it was just the two of us, and it was a secret. We have yet to have a first dance or a honeymoon! But, six months into marriage, I am so happy, and cannot wait to marry Roland again next year, with all of our favourite people around us. Weve been planning that one for a very very long time, so it should be extraordinary!" A year after Roland and Emilys elopement in 2020, they had a celebratory wedding with friends and family at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England. Roland is one half of Tears For Fears with Curt Smith and their hits include Everybody Wants to Rule the World and Head over Heels. Orzabal already has two sons, Pascal and Raoul, from his previous marriage to Caroline Orzabal. Caroline died in July 2017 aged 54 after suffering from alcoholism-related dementia and cirrhosis, which followed a depression diagnosis. Following the passing of Caroline with whom he was married to since 1982, Roland told The Irish Times that his life sort of fell apart in 2018 and he went to rehab. The traumatic events in his personal life eventually led to Tears For Fears writing their seventh studio LP The Tipping Point. Tears For Fears released the song Emily Said on October 25, 2024, inspiring which Emily to post on her Instagram: Its a good day for Emilys around the world because @tearsforfearsmusic just released a song about us. A cabinet meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav at Mantralay in Bhopal on Tuesday during which various important issues related to the development and public welfare of the state were discussed and granted approvals. According to an official release, the council of ministers approved the 'Data Strengthening Scheme' under the Planning, Economics and Statistics Department of the state for the timely collection and analysis of statistical data. The data will be made available for use by departments, the public and planners. With this initiative, the state government is stepping toward achieving 'Prosperity through Statistics'. The Cabinet also approved the financial commitment by the Madhya Pradesh government for the renovation and modernisation of the 5x23 MW Gandhi Sagar and 4x43 MW Rana Pratap Sagar hydroelectric plants, operated under the Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company Limited. The revised estimated cost of Rs 464.55 crore granted for Gandhi Sagar plant and Rs 573.76 crore for the Rana Pratap Sagar plant. Additionally, the Council of Ministers endorsed the Transport Department's notifications dated January 14, 2025 and April 9, 2025, which provide a 50 per cent rebate on lifetime motor vehicle tax for automobile sales during the Vikramotsav Trade Fair 2025 in Ujjain. As per the decision, the rebate will apply to All non-transport vehicles (motorcycles, motor cars, and omni buses for private use), Light transport vehicles sold during the fair period in 2025. The rebate will only be applicable if the sold vehicles are permanently registered with the Regional Transport Office (RTO), Ujjain. Dealers from outside Ujjain will be allowed to sell vehicles at the fair only after Obtaining a business certificate from the RTO, Ujjain and ensuring their physical presence at the fairgrounds Furthermore, the Cabinet also endorsed the Transport Department's notification dated January 14, 2025, approving a 50 per cent tax rebate on motor vehicle sales during the Gwalior Trade Fair 2024-25 under specified conditions. (ANI) The Election Commission of India on Tuesday shared that during Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, it has discovered that 18 lakh of the registered voters have passed away, and 26 lakh electors have shifted to another constituency. ECI also noted that more than 7 lakh voters are enrolled at two places. In a release, ECI shared that out of the total 7,89,69,844 voters, 97.30 per cent, or 76,834,228, have filled the enumeration forms so far. The Election Commission said that CEO/DEOs/EROs/BLOs are extensively working with the representatives of all political parties and have shared a list of 21.36 lakh electors whose forms have not been received so far. ERO/BLOs have also shared a list of nearly 52.30 lakh electors who are reportedly deceased, have permanently shifted, or have enrolled at multiple places. Additionally, detailed lists of voters not found are being shared by EROs/BLOs with political parties, ECI added. According to the poll body, a full one-month period, from August 1 to September 1, will be available to any member of the public to file objections for any additions, deletions, and rectifications in draft electoral rolls. Meanwhile, the Opposition has repeatedly criticised SIR, accusing the NDA alliance of taking voting rights away from people. Earlier in the day, MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed strong reservations against the SIR, accusing the government of "murdering democracy." Priyanka Gandhi posted on X, alleging that elections were "rigged" in Maharashtra earlier by inflating the voter list, and now, attempts to remove voters' names were being made in Bihar. She labelled the SIR exercise as a "conspiracy to snatch the right to vote." "First, in Maharashtra, elections were rigged by inflating voter lists. Now, in Bihar, attempts are being made to do the same by removing voters' names. The 'vote ban' being imposed under the guise of SIR is a conspiracy to snatch the right to vote granted by the Constitution. We stand firmly against every attempt to trample the Constitution," Gandhi, who took part in the protest, said. Multiple leaders, including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, stood at the steps of the Parliament at Makar Dwar and protested against the Bihar SIR, calling for the exercise to be stopped. Bihar Assembly elections are expected to be held later this year in October or November; however, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not announced an official date. While the NDA, consisting of the BJP, JD(U), and LJP, will once again be looking to continue their stint in Bihar, the INDIA bloc, consisting of the RJD, Congress, and left parties, will be looking to unseat Nitish Kumar. (ANI) The Assam State Election Commission on Tuesday published the draft voter list for 40 Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) constituencies containing 26.69 lakh voters. A total of 26,69,396 voters include 13,29,742 male voters, 13,39,637 female voters, and 17 others included in the draft electoral rolls. According to the State Election Commission, there are 3277 polling stations in 40 Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) constituencies. The BTC is likely to be held in September this year. Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the BJP will fight alone in the BTC election this time. The Assam State BJP announced that, from August 2 to 20, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and State BJP President Dilip Saikia will attend rallies in 40 council constituencies spread across five districts--Kokrajhar, Chirang, Udalguri, Baksa, and Tamulpur. Currently, BJP and UPPL are running the council government. Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), Pramod Boro, highlighted the remarkable progress in peace and development since the signing of the 2020 Bodo Peace Accord. Boro said that decades of violence, unrest, and movements involving various groups and communities had marred the region for years. "Decades after decades, Bodoland witnessed violence, killings, unrest, and so many movements of different groups and communities. It was a long-time prayer and wish of the people that the transformation should happen in Bodoland," he said. The 2020 Accord, signed between the Central Government, the Assam Government, and various Bodo groups, marked a turning point for the region. "So, after the 2020 Accord, the people of Bodoland could think about sustainable peace, growth, and development. We came to power to run the Council. The people have given us the opportunity in 2020... It was our focus to sustain the peace. It was our focus to regain the lost trust and happiness from people...," he added. He emphasised the unity and inclusivity that is now taking root in the region and said, "Now, the result is coming that 26 communities are coming together...I hope this kind of initiative and transformation will bring another dawn in Bodoland, where we can see development everywhere." (ANI) 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 (CJI) BR Gavai by Solicitor General of India (SGI) Tushar Mehta, who requested that the plea be taken up urgently by the top court. The Court listed the matter for hearing on Thursday, July 24. The High Court had on Monday acquitted the twelve accused persons by noting that the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) failed to prove the offences beyond a reasonable doubt. In doing so, the High Court set aside a September 2015 judgment of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) court that had imposed the death penalty on 5 of the 12 accused persons and had sentenced the remaining 7 to life. Following the Bombay High Courts' decision, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed shock and said that the Maharashtra government will challenge it in the Supreme Court. The case is listed for hearing before the CJI's bench on Thursday. 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 this incident, 189 people died, while more than 827 passengers were injured. 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. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is on a four-day tour to Upper Assam, on Tuesday visited Sadiya, a town in Tinsukia, and performed Bhumi Pujan for the development works of the historic Burha Burhi Than at Chapakhowa. The project, with an estimated financial outlay of Rs. 8,72,87,502, aims to create comprehensive infrastructure within the temple complex, preserving the existing structures while developing new facilities to ensure the smooth conduct of religious rituals and activities for devotees. The proposed works include the development of the main temple building with an RCC-framed structure, construction of the main gate, waiting hall, and guest house, as well as earthwork, landscaping, and retaining walls. Additionally, a welcome gate at the Mandir Chariali and accommodation for the temple priest are included. It is also worth noting that the Burha Burhi Than is an important temple built by the Chutia Kings. It was dedicated to the primordial deities Burha Burhi. Although the ancient structures were damaged by natural calamities, the original octagonal stone foundation remains intact, upon which a new temple has been built. On the occasion, Chief Minister Sarma paid his obeisance before the Manikut of the Than and sought blessings for the well-being of all sections of society. He later stated that since 2001, he has been visiting Burha Burhi Than, and the place holds a special place in his heart. He further noted that once completed, this development project would transform the site into a significant sociospiritual and tourist destination. Moreover, the Chief Minister also dedicated to the devotees the Treated Running Water Project of Burha Burhi Than. The project constructed under SOPD 2023-24, with an estimated cost of Rs 80.92 lakh, would supply clean, treated, and sustainable running water to Burha Burhi Than and its visiting pilgrims. The project includes a deep tube well, an RCC overhead tank with 12000 litre capacity, underground reservoirs of 10000 litre capacity, a rapid sand filtration unit, an electrified pump house, a visitor waiting shed, etc., with an aim to empower the rural heritage site by ensuring access to clean and pure drinking water. Cabinet Ministers Bimal Bora and Rupesh Gowla, MLAs Sanjay Kishan, Bolin Chetia, Suren Phukan, Taranga Gogoi, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. (ANI) Assam Rifles, in a targeted operation on Tuesday, seized heroin worth Rs 9.75 crore near the Indo-Myanmar border in Mizoram, said Assam Rifles in an official statement. Acting on specific intelligence inputs regarding narcotics trafficking, the security forces launched the operation in the general area of Crossing Point-1, Zokhawthar, and recovered 1.227 kilograms of Heroin No. 4, with an estimated market value of Rs 9.75 crore, from a TATA Intra V10 pickup vehicle. The vehicle was seized on the spot. The recovered contraband and the vehicle have been handed over to the Excise and Narcotics Department, Champhai, for further legal proceedings. Further investigation is underway. Earlier, Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with Manipur police and CRPF, recovered a large quantity of heroin and 50,000 methamphetamine tablets worth Rs 76 crore in Manipur's Jiribam district, officials said in a press release on Monday. One individual was apprehended during the operation. In a press statement issued by the PRO of IGAR (East), it was said that, in a significant blow to drug trafficking, Assam Rifles carried out an operation with Manipur police and CRPF, resulting in the recovery of 616 soap cases of heroin and 50,000 methamphetamine tablets worth almost Rs 76 crore, which were being transported by boat on the Barak River in the Jiribam district of Manipur on July 20. "Based on a specific intelligence, the joint team was carrying out boat patrolling on the Barak River, between Chaudharykhal and Savomphai on the fringes of Jiribam and Phezarwal districts, when a boat was spotted, and upon being challenged, the driver attempted to flee. During the ensuing pursuit, the boat was seized, resulting in the recovery of the contraband. One individual, a resident of Silchar, Assam, was also apprehended," said the press release. Assam Rifles has been at the forefront of anti-drug operations in the region, conducting regular operations to disrupt and dismantle narcotics networks. "This seizure is one of the largest seizures in recent times and a significant milestone in the effort to combat drug trafficking," said the press release. (ANI) The Rouse Avenue court is likely to pronounce the order on framing of charges in the IRCTC hotel scam case. Former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, his family members, and others are accused in this case. This case is related to alleged corruption in the tender for IRCTC hotels. Special Judge Vishal Gogne had reserved the order for May 29 after hearing submissions by the counsel for the Investigation Agency and the accused persons on a day-to-day basis. On March 1, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) concluded its arguments on charges against former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejaswi Yadav, former Minister Prem Chand Gupta, and other accused persons. There are 14 accused in this case. The Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) for the CBI had argued that there was corruption and conspiracy on the part of the accused persons in the allotment of two IRCTC hotel maintenance contracts. SPP DP Singh, along with Advocate Manu Mishra, had argued that there was Corruption and conspiracy in the allotment of maintenance contracts for two hotels of IRCTC to a private company. There is sufficient material to frame charges against all accused persons, the CBI said. This case is connected to a period when Lalu Prasad Yadav served as Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009. It is alleged that the maintenance contract for two IRCTC hotels, namely BNR Ranchi and BNR Puri, was awarded to Sujata Hotel, a private firm owned by Vijay and Vinay Kochar. The CBI has alleged that in return for this deal, Lalu Prasad Yadav got three acres of prime land through a benami company. On July 7, 2017, the CBI had filed an FIR against Lalu. The agency also raided 12 locations linked to Lalu and his family members in Patna, New Delhi, Ranchi and Gurgaon. On the other hand, on behalf of Lalu Prasad Yadav, it was argued that there is no material to frame charges against him in the IRCTC corruption case, and he deserves to be discharged in this case. These arguments were advanced before the Rouse Avenue court. The court is hearing arguments on the framing of charges in the IRCTC corruption case. Senior advocate Maninder Singh, counsel for Lalu Prasad Yadav, argued that there are irregularities on the part of Lalu Prasad Yadav. The tenders were awarded in a fair manner. There is insufficient material to frame charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav. He deserved to be discharged of the charges. (ANI) The meeting was chaired by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and attended by Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, Assam's Minister for Handloom and Textiles Urkhao Gwra Brahma, along with senior officials from the Government of Manipur and the Government of India. In a post on X, Jyotiraditya M Scindia wrote, "Boosting Handloom & Handicrafts in the Northeast...Participated in a high-level task force meeting chaired by Hon'ble CM of Nagaland Shri@Neiphiu_Rio, with Union Minister Shri@girirajsinghbjp, Hon'ble CM of Mizoram@Lal_Duhoma, Assam's Handloom & Textiles Minister Shri Urkhao Gwra Brahma ji, and state officials from Manipur." https://x.com/JM_Scindia/status/1947539556280242287 "In line with Hon'ble PM Shri@narendramodiji's vision of Fashion for Environment and Empowerment, deliberated on strengthening the Northeast's rich handloom and handicrafts ecosystem through enhanced market access, capacity building and sustainable livelihood opportunities," the post reads. Minister Scindia spotlighted the Northeast's unmatched potential to become the driving force behind India's sustainable fashion revolution, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Fashion for Environment and Empowerment." With deep-rooted eco-conscious practices, artisanal heritage, and world-class craftsmanship, the region is uniquely positioned to lead the global transition to green, inclusive fashion. The meeting focused on revitalising the Handicrafts and Handlooms ecosystem through targeted interventions, including improved market access, the use of technology, capacity building, and sustainable livelihood creation. The task force aims to work collectively with all stakeholders to promote the Handicrafts & Handlooms sector as a cornerstone of sustainable development and inclusive progress in the region. Scindia outlined a strategic plan focused on modernising the sector through improved infrastructure, digital and design integration, and skill development. Key actions include forming artisan clusters, setting up Common Facility Centres, and selecting 2-3 flagship products across the region for national promotion. The approach emphasises market readiness by aligning Self-Help Groups with global standards, developing a bottom-up value chain and enabling local crafts to thrive at both national and international levels. (ANI) The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a sophisticated, well-orchestrated customs fraud in imports of premium luxury furniture, said a statement from the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officials conducted searches across multiple locations, including business premises, warehouses, offices of freight forwarders, customs brokers, and associated entities. The investigation has exposed a complex, intertwined network used for massive undervaluation and misdeclaration of branded luxury furniture operating across multiple jurisdictions, involving the use of dummy importers (IEC holders), local intermediaries, overseas shell entities, and fabricated invoices. The investigation conducted thus far revealed that branded luxury furniture was being directly sourced by a beneficial importer from reputed Italian and other European suppliers, and invoicing was being done in the names of shell companies based in jurisdictions such as Dubai. In parallel, fabricated invoices were obtained through a Singapore-based intermediary in the names of dummy importers falsely declaring the goods as unbranded furniture at significantly undervalued rates to customs. Once cleared through Customs, the goods were transferred on paper to the intended beneficial owner via a local intermediary created for this purpose, while the goods were directly sent to the customer on the instructions of the beneficial owner. Preliminary findings indicate a gross undervaluation of 70 per cent to 90 per cent of the actual transaction value, resulting in estimated customs duty evasion of approximately Rs 30 crore. The beneficial owner, the dummy importer, and the intermediary have been found in complicity and close conspiracy for executing the whole modus operandi. On 21 and 22 July 2025, all three individuals were arrested by DRI under provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. Earlier in May 2025, another such case was unearthed by DRI, exposing a similar modus operandi involving the undervaluation of luxury furniture imports using a front company, which was controlled and managed by another entity for evading customs duties. This case also involved duty evasion exceeding Rs 20 crore, resulting in the arrest of three individuals involved. DRI continues to probe deeper into the wider network of shell companies, dummy IECs, masterminds and beneficial owners, and financial flows involved in these operations. The DRI has stepped up its efforts in exposing such commercial frauds, which not only result in significant losses to government revenue but also create market distortions and an uneven playing field for compliant importers and domestic manufacturers. (ANI) Five individuals, including two police personnel, have been arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with a cyber fraud case involving illicit fund transfers amounting to Rs 75 lakh. The arrests come after an investigation following the disappearance of a police officer under suspicion. According to a statement issued by Delhi Police, irregularities were first noticed during the disposal of cases registered at Police Station Cyber, North-East District (NED). Based on the initial findings, three FIRs were registered under sections 318(4), 336(3), 338, 340(2), and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against an Investigating Officer (IO) posted at the cyber police station who had been absconding since March 19. A dedicated team was formed to trace the missing officer and gather further information. During the course of the primary investigation, the police discovered a cyber fraud scheme in which 75 lakh had been illicitly transferred through four separate fraudulent transactions by presenting judicial orders obtained through dishonest means, which were issued on behalf of purported complainants. Based on technical surveillance and leads obtained, the police conducted a raid on July 18 at Emerald City, opposite Aurobindo Hospital in Indore. The raid led to the arrest of Ankur Malik, a 32-year-old resident of Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, who is a police officer, along with his female associate. The police recovered 12 lakh in cash, 820 grams of gold in the form of coins and bars, 200 grams of gold jewellery, 11 smartphones, one HP laptop, three ATM cards, and several other documents from the premises. During interrogation, the accused disclosed the names of their accomplices, following which further raids were carried out. Three more individuals were arrested: Mohd. Ilyaas (40) from Chand Bagh, Arif alias Monu (35) from Kabir Nagar, and Shadab (23) from New Kardampuri--all residents of Delhi. The Delhi Police confirmed that further investigation is underway. (ANI) Lexus continues its strong association with cinema, as a Sponsor and Official Car of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival La Biennale di Venezia for a ninth consecutive year. Lexus all-new, all-electric Lexus ES saloon The international luxury brand shares a common spirit with the world of film, bringing passion, innovation and creativity to its car design and pursuit of sustainable mobility. Lexuss presence at the Venice International Film Festival represents its desire to embrace the future with cutting edge and sustainable technology solutions. Guests at previous Venice International Film Festival's - Brad Pitt, Ana De Armas, Adrien Brody. From 27 August to 6 September, the Venice Lido will become a crossroads between cinema and automotive innovation, with a fleet of electrified Lexus vehicles providing luxury transport for directors, actors, creatives and VIP guests. The cars will demonstrate Lexuss well-established multi-technology approach to reducing carbon, including battery electric RZ, plug-in hybrid NX and full hybrid RX, LBX, ES and UX models. For this festival edition, the spotlight will be on the all-new, all-electric ES saloon which, like a true movie star, will enjoy its own red carpet preview. The model combines elegance and technology and is a perfect expression of Lexuss Making Luxury Personal concept. This is tailor-made luxury that adapts to the demands of an evolving market, providing innovative, engaging and memorable experiences, just like a well-made film. Paolo Moroni, Director of Lexus Italy, said: Innovation is integral to Lexuss brand DNA, going beyond technology to include creativity, sustainability and always making the customer the centre of what we do. We share these qualities with the world of cinema, which is why we are proud to partner La Biennale di Venezia for the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. It will be a privilege this year to again accompany actors and directors for their red carpet appearances with our fleet of electrified luxury vehicles. Our presence at the festival is also an expression of our commitment to the future, elevating the driving experience, redefining the standards of mobility and respecting the environment. by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk Agartala on Tuesday witnessed a vibrant celebration of National Flag Day, as the Red Shield Gunners joined hands with over 400 enthusiastic National Cadet Corps (NCC) students to commemorate the historic adoption of the Indian tricolour, according to an official statement. The event, marked by a spirit of patriotism and national pride, saw students and military personnel marching together, proudly waving the national flag. The occasion holds immense historical significance as it was on this very day, July 22, 1947, that the Constituent Assembly adopted the tricolour as the National Flag of free India. This pivotal decision solidified the identity of a newly independent nation and gave its citizens a powerful symbol of unity, sacrifice, and aspiration. The day's events in Agartala began with a ceremonial gathering, where NCC cadets, dressed in their uniforms, presented a disciplined and inspiring sight, the release said. They were joined by personnel from Red Shield Gunners stationed in the city, underscoring the strong bond between the armed forces and the youth of the nation. The march, characterised by the rhythmic flutter of hundreds of Indian flags, resonated with patriotic slogans and songs, captivating onlookers. Towards the close of the ceremony, a light drizzle graced the city, providing a welcome respite from the humidity and adding a refreshing touch to the already pleasant atmosphere. The unexpected shower seemed to further uplift the participants' spirits, ending the memorable day on a truly delightful note. Such events play a crucial role in instilling a sense of national pride and historical awareness among the younger generation, ensuring that the legacy of India's freedom struggle and its cherished symbols continue to inspire for generations to come. (ANI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday chaired the first governing body meeting of the Chief Minister's Organ Transplant Society to implement the newly launched Chief Minister's Organ Transplant Scheme (CMOTS) in Itanagar. This scheme marks the expansion and relaunch of the earlier Chief Minister's Renal Replacement Scheme (CMRRS). Since its inception, the CMRRS has successfully supported over 200 kidney transplant patients across the state in the last seven years. Building upon this success, the CMOTS broadens the scope of support to now include liver and bone marrow transplants in addition to kidney transplants. Under the new scheme, the Government of Arunachal Pradesh will provide financial assistance up to Rs 10 lakh for Kidney Transplants, Rs 15 lakh for Bone Marrow Transplants and Rs 20 lakh for Liver Transplants. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to healthcare. "Treatment alone isn't enough. Real progress is when people don't fall sick in the first place. We've got to change how we think about healthcare. Because a healthy society doesn't start in the operating room. It starts at home, in our communities, in how we live. That's why the Health Department must focus on prevention, not just treatment. And that means real investment in awareness, education, and lifestyle change," Khandu said. The launch of CMOTS signifies the State Government's continued commitment to accessible and equitable healthcare for all, ensuring critical life-saving transplants are within reach of every eligible citizen. (ANI) In a blow to Indian National Congress, Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Delhi Bench, has upheld a tax demand of Rs 199.15 crore for the assessment year 2018-19, rejecting the party's claim for exemption under Section 13A of the Income Tax Act. The ITAT found that Congress violated two critical conditions under Section 13A, which governs tax exemptions for political parties. The tribunal noted that Congress filed its income tax return on February 2, 2019, missing the mandatory extended deadline of December 31, 2018, as specified under Section 139(4B). Despite Congress's argument that the filing was within the general time limit under Section 139(4), the ITAT emphasised that compliance with the specific deadline is non-negotiable for claiming Section 13A exemption. The party received cash contributions totalling Rs 14.49 lakh from various donors, with individual donations exceeding the permissible limit of Rs 2,000 under Section 13A provisions. While Congress provided donor names and PAN details--mostly from its own elected MLAs and MPs--the tribunal ruled that the cash payment method itself violated the law. The bench, comprising Judicial Member Satbeer Singh Godara and Accountant Member M. Balaganesh, stated that Section 13A represents a special exemption that must be applied with strict adherence to all conditions, with any breach rendering the entire exemption invalid. The tribunal dismissed Congress's attempt to distinguish between "voluntary contributions" and "donations," noting that the party itself made no such differentiation in its records or Election Commission filings. Additionally, the ITAT rejected the party's plea that only surplus funds after expenses should be taxed, instead ruling that once Section 13A exemption is denied, all voluntary contributions become taxable income. Beyond the primary tax demand, the tribunal also upheld additional financial penalties including interest charges under Sections 234A, 234B, and 234C totaling over R 35 crore, plus a Rs 10,000 fee under Section 234F for delayed filing. This brings the total financial liability to approximately Rs 234 crore, representing a substantial burden for the opposition party. Congress had previously appealed to the CIT (Appeals) but was unsuccessful, with that appeal being dismissed in March 2023. (ANI) A 58-year-old male weighing 125 kg successfully underwent hip replacement surgery at a private hospital in Delhi after suffering from severe pain in his right hip for the last three years. The pain was caused by Avascular Necrosis -- a rare and serious condition where bone tissue dies due to a lack of blood supply. The surgery, led by Dr Kaushal Kant Mishra, Director of Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement at Fortis Escorts Hospital, Okhla Road, New Delhi, lasted approximately 50 minutes. The patient was discharged in a stable condition just four days after the procedure. Such cases are rare due to clinical challenges involved in hip replacement procedures, particularly when performed on significantly overweight patients, which involve surgical complexities and post-operative success. The patient had been experiencing pain in his right hip since 2022. He was diagnosed with Avascular Necrosis at a city-based hospital in July 2022, where he underwent core decompression surgery. However, the relief was short-lived, as the patient continued to experience debilitating pain and difficulty walking. Despite multiple prior interventions, the patient remained in pain, highly dependent on pain medications, and unable to walk properly and walk with support. When he arrived at Fortis Escorts, his pain was so severe that it affected his mobility and quality of life. Diagnostic investigations, including X-rays and MRI, confirmed the advanced stage of Avascular Necrosis, and the team opted for a Total Hip Arthroplasty. Post-surgery, the patient began walking again, and within a short period, his weight began to decline, dropping from 125 kg to 123.3 kg at the first follow-up (one week after surgery) and further reduced to 119.2 kg after three weeks of surgery. Dr. Kaushal Kant Mishra said, "Overweight patients, especially those exceeding 100 kgs, are often hesitant to opt for joint replacement, and even surgeons approach such cases cautiously due to the complexities involved. The risk of infection, dislocation, and ultimately, patient satisfaction, is not good. Positioning the patient, approaching the joint, and intraoperative manipulation are far more difficult with patients of this weight category. But timely intervention was necessary to prevent lifelong disability. Often, when a patient stops walking due to pain, their weight increases, worsening the condition. Once they regain mobility, their weight naturally starts to reduce -- as we've already seen in this case. This case becomes significant, as it proves that even patients with higher body weights can undergo joint replacement safely, provided they are medically fit. The patient was allowed full weight-bearing on the day after the surgery. If left untreated, the patient would have continued to suffer from chronic pain, limping, and long-term osteoporosis, secondary spine degeneration." Dr Vikram Aggarwal, Facility Director at Fortis Escorts, said, "This was a challenging case considering the patient was highly overweight. However, due to the timely surgical intervention and comprehensive care by the team of doctors led by Dr Kaushal Kant Mishra at Fortis Escorts, he now has a renewed chance at a pain-free, active life. This successful outcome not only reinforces our position as a centre of excellence but also brings hope to patients across borders who are looking for advanced, life-saving medical solutions." (ANI) According to a press release by the Jammu and Kashmir police, the meeting focused on ensuring foolproof security arrangements and seamless coordination among all stakeholders for the safety and smooth conduct of the yatra. The DIG reviewed the overall preparedness, deployment of forces, route security, and logistics arrangements of the yatra. Emphasis was laid on area domination, patrolling, intelligence gathering, and inter-agency coordination to avert any potential threat and to address logistical challenges posed by the difficult terrain. DIG Rizvi directed the officers to ensure round-the-clock vigilance, maintain high alertness during the entire yatra period, and strengthen synergy between the civil administration, police, and Army units deployed en route. The need for effective communication systems, medical aid and disaster response mechanisms was also highlighted. The officer emphasised the importance of monitoring camp security through CCTV cameras. The DIG added that J&K Police remains fully committed to facilitating a safe and peaceful yatra experience. The meeting was also attended by SSP Reasi Paramvir Singh, Col Ritesh CO 58 RR, Col Sachin CO 33 RR, Lt. Col S.K. Singh, Col designate, Addl. SP Reasi Iftkhar Ahmed, SDM Mahore Shafqat Bhat, SDPO Mahore. Viquar Younas, Representative from 126 Bn CRPF and Sho Mahore. The Kousar Nag Yatra, a significant religious pilgrimage in the region, draws numerous devotees and requires multi-tiered security planning. All participating agencies reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the safety and comfort of the pilgrims. (ANI) Social worker Narendra Gangwal was given the guard of honour on Tuesday after the directive by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav for pledging to donate his body to RD Gardi Medical College after his demise. Gangwal, a senior social worker from Ujjain, passed away earlier on Tuesday at the age of 86. Pranay Gangwal, son of Narendra Gangwal, stated that his father is the first person in the entire state to receive a guard of honour for donating his body. Pranay said that his father has thought a great deal about the good of society. "My father always thought well of everyone. He wanted to help everyone even while leaving... It feels great that his mortal remains will be of use to someone... He is the first person in the entire state to receive a guard of honour for donating his body. We didn't even know that he had made such a pledge. We were very happy when we came to know about it - that our father thought so much about the good of society," he added. Dr GL Dadarwal from the Geeta Bhawan Trust Committee said, "When Narendra Gangwal passed away, I got information from the Lions' Club and Muskaan Group that his eyes had to be donated... His cornea has just been removed... This is the first body donation in the state for which the government is giving a guard of honour." Ujjain SDM LN Garg said that the government had earlier announced that anyone who donates their body would be honoured with a guard of honour. "He had announced in his lifetime that he would donate his body. He passed away at the age of 86... As the government had announced, if anyone donates their body, they will be honoured with a guard of honour. The entire police and administrative team was present here for the same. The intention behind this is to set an example for humanity, so that more and more people would want to be useful to others even after their death," Garg Assistant Sub Inspector Nimesh Malviya said that the guidelines have been issued in the police headquarters that whoever pledges to donate their body after death will be given a guard of honour by the police. "Guidelines have been issued in the police headquarters that whoever pledges to donate their body after death will be given a guard of honour by the police. For the first time in Ujjain, a guard of honour is being given in such a case." (ANI) Asif Khan from Maharashtra's Jalgaon is one of the 12 people acquitted by the Bombay High Court on Monday in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case. As he returns to his family after spending 19 years in jail, they express their happiness. However, they also said that justice was delayed, asking who would compensate them for the lost years. "I am extremely happy. Justice was delivered, but late," Nishat Asif Khan, Asif Khan's wife, told ANI. "More than half of our lives are gone. Who will compensate for that?... We faced numerous difficulties," she added. She said that when the police arrested her husband, their younger daughter was just two years old, another daughter was four years old, and the elder son was eight years old. "No one can fill the void of a father... When the blast happened, our son had called him and he had said, 'I am just coming home'... At that time, all of us in the family lived together in Mumbai... He was falsely framed through false allegations... He will come home tomorrow morning," she said. Asif Khan's mother, Husna Bano Bashir Khan, told ANI that her "innocent" son received justice late. "We were very happy that he was released with honour. He got justice, but too late... My child was innocent... The last 19 years were spent in a lot of pain... His father had passed away 14 years ago in grief. He kept waiting... We can never get back these past years of his life," she said. "We haven't seen our son's face in so many years. We had met him five to six years ago. The conditions at home were not such that we could go and meet him again and again. Even when we could go and meet him, we were allowed to only talk for 20 minutes," she added. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court's order. The plea was mentioned on Tuesday before a bench led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, by Solicitor General of India (SGI) Tushar Mehta, who requested that the plea be taken up urgently by the top court. The Court listed the matter for hearing on Thursday, July 24. The High Court had on Monday acquitted the twelve accused persons, noting that the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had failed to prove the offences beyond a reasonable doubt. In doing so, the High Court set aside a September 2015 judgment of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) court that had imposed the death penalty on 5 of the 12 accused persons and had sentenced the remaining 7 to life. (ANI) The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has expressed deep concern over the recent arrests of women and girls in Kabul for allegedly violating the Taliban's dress code, Khaama Press reported. In a statement released on Monday, UNAMA urged the Taliban to clarify the situation and called for respect for basic human rights. "Such actions contribute to the further isolation of women and girls in Afghanistan and foster a climate of fear among them," the statement said. According to Khaama Press, the detainees were reportedly arrested by the Taliban's morality police in various areas of the capital, including Dasht-e-Barchi, Qala-e-Fathullah, Kote Sangi, and Shahr-e-Naw. The women and girls were allegedly taken to undisclosed locations. UNAMA also called on the Taliban to reverse "policies that restrict the freedoms and rights of women in the country," Khaama Press reported. Earlier reports cited by Khaama Press indicated that dozens of women and girls have been detained in recent days for not adhering to the mandatory dress codes enforced by the Taliban. These arrests have sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups and the Afghan diaspora, who view the crackdown as part of a broader effort to suppress women's freedoms, Khaama Press reported. The international community has consistently urged the Taliban to uphold human rights, particularly those of women and girls, who have faced escalating restrictions since the group's return to power in August 2021. Khaama Press further reported that the latest detentions have intensified fears among Afghan women, many of whom have already been barred from education, public spaces, and employment under Taliban rule. UNAMA emphasised the urgent need for transparency and accountability from the authorities regarding the arrests and reiterated its call for respect for the fundamental rights of all Afghans. (ANI) More than two dozen countries have called for an immediate end to the war on Gaza, warning that civilian suffering has "reached new depths", in the latest sign of increasing international pressure on Israel over its military offensive, Al Jazeera reported. The joint statement, issued on Monday, came after more than 21 months of fighting that have led to catastrophic humanitarian conditions for Gaza's more than two million residents. Signatories included Israeli allies such as the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Canada, along with 21 other nations and the European Union. "The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths," the statement read. "The war must end now." The countries urged a negotiated ceasefire, the release of captives held by Palestinian fighters, and unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza. According to Al Jazeera, the signatories 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 United Nations and the Gaza Health Ministry have reported that at least 875 people have been killed while trying to access food since late May, when Israel began to slightly ease a more than two-month-long total blockade. "The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity," the countries said in the statement. "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." Al Jazeera's Sonia Gallego, reporting from London, said the statement marked a significant escalation from Israel's traditional allies in their criticism of the war. "This also reflects a broader consensus beyond Europe," she reported. "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." The joint appeal also underscored readiness to back a political process for peace. "The next ceasefire must be the last ceasefire," British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said while addressing Parliament. He thanked the United States, Qatar, and Egypt for their continued mediation efforts. Al Jazeera reported that ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have been ongoing, but no breakthrough has been achieved so far. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated that expanding military operations in Gaza will pressure Hamas at the negotiation table. The war began after Hamas led a surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing at least 1,129 people and taking 251 others hostage. According to Israeli sources, about 50 captives remain in Gaza, but fewer than half are believed to be alive. In response, Israel launched a full-scale military campaign in Gaza. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, more than 59,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, the majority being women and children. Al Jazeera noted that the joint statement was one of the most comprehensive international condemnations of Israel's actions in Gaza since the beginning of the war. (ANI) The German government has confirmed that the Taliban will send two consular officials to Germany to assist with the deportation of Afghan nationals, particularly those convicted of serious crimes and rejected asylum seekers, Khaama Press reported. Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius stated on Monday that an agreement had been reached to allow "two representatives of the Taliban administration" to operate in consular roles in Germany. Their presence aims to support the repatriation of deported Afghans, especially those involved in serious criminal offences, Khaama Press added. This development follows a report by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, which revealed that Germany's acceptance of the consular officials is linked to the Taliban's cooperation in accepting deportees. Just last week, Germany deported 81 Afghan nationals, most of whom were found guilty of serious crimes, Khaama Press noted. Kornelius clarified that the arrangement does not imply diplomatic recognition of the Taliban but is part of ongoing technical-level communication between Germany and Afghanistan's de facto authorities. He emphasised that systematic deportations will continue, stating, "This process is not completed with just one flight," according to Khaama Press. A Taliban official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that discussions are ongoing but said no final agreement has been reached yet. "The matter is still under negotiation," the source told Khaama Press. The move has sparked debate within Germany, with some expressing concerns about engaging with the Taliban, while others view it as a necessary measure to manage deportations responsibly and efficiently. Adding to this, Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has said the Afghan consulate in Berlin should be handed over to the "Taliban" to facilitate the deportation of Afghan "criminal" refugees from Germany, Tolo News reported. Speaking to a German media outlet, Dobrindt clarified that this proposal does not amount to formally recognising the "Taliban" government. He also stated that he had reached an agreement on the matter with Germany's Foreign Minister, according to Tolo News. Dobrindt explained that in the absence of a formal agreement with the Islamic Emirate, Germany is unable to deport Afghan refugees or extend their detention periods for deportation. "One of the problems I recognize and needs to be resolved is how we can properly carry out deportations. Until we have an agreement, we cannot send anyone back to Afghanistan, and I cannot extend the detention period for deportation," he said. Tolo News further reported that the Afghan consulate in Berlin is still being run by officials from the former Afghan government. Transferring control of the consulate to the Islamic Emirate would, in practice, facilitate deportation coordination even without formal diplomatic recognition In response to Germany's proposal, Tolo News reported that Abdulmutalib Haqqani, spokesperson for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation of the Islamic Emirate, said that the return of Afghan refugees must be voluntary and supported financially by the German government. "We accept our citizens back from Germany, but it must be voluntary, not forced. Additionally, the German government should financially support their resettlement in Afghanistan so they can remain permanently," Haqqani told Tolo News. Regarding the fate of Afghan refugees accused of crimes, Haqqani added: "Decisions will be made in accordance with Islamic Sharia law after verifying the documents." Germany has previously deported some Afghan nationals accused of criminal offences, but current legal limitations have slowed the process. Tolo News noted that Dobrindt's latest remarks come amid increasing pressure on European countries to deal with undocumented and criminal refugees. The development comes as Iran and Pakistan have forcibly deported hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees in recent months, with deportations still ongoing, Tolo News reported. (ANI) New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's chances of clinching the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 experienced a slight spike after clapping back against those falsely claiming she voted in favor of military spending. AOC's likelihood of winning the Democratic nomination recently grew a full point, suggesting predictors believe she is improving her chances of being chosen as the party's next pick for president, according to the prediction market site Kalshi. According to a live tracker of predictions for who will win the Democratic nomination, AOC's chances spiked from 13.9% Monday night to 15% as of Tuesday morning. Though she still remains four points behind current frontrunner California Gov. Gavin Newsom, her spike was larger than Newsom's, who gained just 0.2% in the same time frame. The progressive lawmaker's jump in numbers follows her turning to X to push back against backlash after users began falsely claiming the lawmaker voted in favor of military spending, which AOC provided screenshots of proof that she voted "no" in addition to House records. "Google is free. If you're saying I voted for military funding, you are lying. Receipts attached. Drag me for my positions all you want, but lying about them doesn't make you part of the 'left,'" she wrote. "If you believe neo-nazis are welcome and operating in good faith, you can have them!" Google is free. If youre saying I voted for military funding, you are lying. Receipts attached. Drag me for my positions all you want, but lying about them doesnt make you part of the left. If you believe neo-nazis are welcome and operating in good faith, you can have them! pic.twitter.com/leQo1cvXTD Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 21, 2025 This comes days after she also experienced heavy backlash online for voting against Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's defense sending bill amendment to prevent sending $500 million to Israel. AOC defended her vote, saying the Republican lawmaker's bill "does nothing to cut off offensive aid to Israel nor end the flow of US munitions being used in Gaza," citing how the money for Israel would have been used on a defensive missile system. "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," she wrote on Saturday, adding that her focus is on "cutting the flow of US munitions that ... perpetuate the genocide in Gaza." 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 lawmaker's Bronx office was vandalized with red paint by pro-Palestine protestors over the weekend, who left behind a sign stating, "AOC funds genocide in Gaza," according to video captured by NBC New York. AOC has vocalized her support for the people in Gaza, previously calling Israel's war in the region a "genocide" on multiple occasions and has previously called for an "arms embargo." Originally published on Latin Times In a post on X, Rubio said, "The Trump Administration is enforcing U.S. immigration law to expel U.S. legal permanent residents who have supported and collaborated with Haitian gang leaders connected to Foreign Terrorist Organization, Viv Ansanm." https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1947425449254261001 Elaborating on this in a press statement dated July 21, Rubio said, "I am pleased to announce the latest U.S. actions against individuals whose presence and activities in our country have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States." The Department of State has determined that certain individuals with lawful permanent resident status in the United States collaborated with Haitian gang leaders affiliated with Viv Ansanm, a group designated as an FTO earlier this year. "Viv Ansanm is a driver of the violence and criminality in Haiti contributing to the island's instability. The United States will not allow individuals to enjoy the benefits of legal status in our country while they are facilitating the actions of violent organizations or supporting criminal terrorist organizations," Rubio stated. Following the determination, the Department of Homeland Security is authorized to pursue removal proceedings under section 237(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. "These new actions demonstrate the Trump Administration's firm commitment to protecting the American people, advancing our national security interests, and promoting regional security and stability," the Secretary added. The move underscores the administration's broader effort to crack down on individuals perceived as threats to U.S. security and foreign policy interests. (ANI) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) said that it detected on Tuesday the presence of 8 PLAN ships and 2 official ships operating around its territory. In a post on X, it said, "8 PLAN ships and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. Illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan were detected during this timeframe." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1947461595258622195 Earlier on Monday, MND had detected one Chinese aircraft and five Chinese naval vessels operating around its territorial waters. The aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ (Air Defence Identification Zone). In a post on X, the MND said, "1 sorties of PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 1 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." Meanwhile, Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim reaffirmed the government's firm commitment to national security and regional stability on Friday, amid rising Chinese threats and intensifying geopolitical tensions, Taipei Times reported. Speaking before dozens of foreign correspondents and foreign office representatives in Taipei, Hsiao emphasised that Taiwan continues to navigate one of the world's most complex and contested regions. "Taiwan does not live in a vacuum," she said. "We operate at the centre of one of the world's most dynamic and contested geopolitical environments," Taipei Times quoted her as saying. Hsiao said pressure from China, through military provocations, gray-zone warfare, and economic coercion, has only intensified since President William Lai took office in May 2024. She described China's behaviour as "aggressive military posturing" and "counterproductive," warning that Beijing's efforts to infiltrate and divide Taiwanese society directly undermine the cross-strait status quo. According to Taipei Times, the Vice President outlined Taiwan's multi-layered response to rising threats. "To deter these risks, we are reforming and integrating our national defence strategy, rooted not only in military modernisation, but also in the resilience of our entire society," she said. (ANI) 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 posted to the website of the National Archives late Monday afternoon, in what the administration hailed as a triumph of transparency, the New York Times reported. These do not include FBI wiretap recordings of King and other materials that remain under court seal until 2027, according to experts cited by the US news outlet. Trump administration officials said the King assassination documents include notes on the leads pursued by investigators, interviews with people who knew his killer, James Earl Ray, and previously unreleased details of interactions with foreign intelligence services during the manhunt for Ray. Ray pleaded guilty to King's murder but later renounced that plea and maintained his innocence until his death in 1998. An estimated 200,000 pages of records released on Monday 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. King had a well-documented history of extramarital relationships, said the NYT report. King's surviving children, Martin III and Bernice, argued in a statement on Monday that their father had been "relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign." The children beseeched researchers and the general public to view all of the material from the government's files in the context of their father's contributions to American society. In a press release, the Trump administration quoted Alveda King, King's niece and a high-profile supporter of Trump, who praised the government for providing transparency. "The declassification and release of these documents are a historic step towards the truth that the American people deserve," she said as cited in the NYT. In another statement the Martin Luther King jr Centre of which Bernince King is CEO said, "King Center Regarding the Declassification and Release of FBI Files on the Assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: https://thekingcenter.org/statement-from-the-king-center-regarding-the-declassification/ Excerpt from Statement: "And so, as we prepare for a heightened focus on Dr. King, we underscore the work central to Dr. King's dream: engaging Kingian Nonviolence, which The King Center has rebranded as Nonviolence365, for the strategic eradication of the Triple Evils of racism, poverty, and militarism. We invite the global citizenry to join us in working to rid our "World House" of these interconnected, debilitating conundrums. This righteous work should be our collective response to renewed attention on the assassination of a great purveyor of true peace." Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said that the documents were released,, to fulfill the action Trump called for in a January executive order. (ANI) Countries from across the world issued a joint statement, giving a call for the "war in Gaza" to end immediately and political pathways be opened for ensuring peace and security to the region. The joint statement was shared by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on her official website. It was signed by 28 countries and the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management The statement brought to attention how the sufferings of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. It said, "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. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law." Condemning the detention of hostages by Hamas since 2023, it added, "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. A negotiated ceasefire offers the best hope of bringing them home and ending the agony of their families." The statement gave a 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", it added. "We strongly oppose any steps towards territorial or demographic change in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The E1 settlement plan announced by Israel's 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." The statement urged 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. Expressing that further bloodshed serves no purpose, the signatories reaffirmed their 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 mentioned in its concluding remarks. The signatories of the joint statement were the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK and the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management. (ANI) A congressional briefing focused on Captive Nations took place in the Rayburn House Office Building of the US Congress to observe Captive Nations Week 2025, which was established under Public Law 86-90, known as the Captive Nations Resolution, on July 21, 1959. The event brought together representatives from East Turkistan, Tibet, Southern Mongolia, U.S. national security officials, and Congressional staff to discuss the continuous occupation, oppression, and erasure experienced by these nations. As stated in a release by the East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE), the Captive Nations Resolution (Public Law 86-90) recognises nations that have been oppressed by communist imperialism and calls for US assistance in restoring their freedom and sovereignty. It specifically refers to captive nations, such as Turkistan and Tibet, advocating for their liberation and the right to self-determination. Salih Hudayar, who serves as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Security for the East Turkistan Government in Exile, delivered a powerful keynote speech, declaring, "East Turkistan was identified in the 1959 Captive Nations Resolution, not as a part of China, but as a nation oppressed by communist imperialism." He continued, "That law is still active. And tragically, so is our captivity," according to ETGE's post. Hudayar outlined a continuing genocide, stating, "Millions are confined in concentration camps and prisons, and over one million children have been separated from their families," while referencing 2024 Congressional testimony that revealed "between 25,000 to 50,000 Uyghur and Turkic youth are killed each year for their organs to be sold," ETGE's post reported. He condemned Turkiye's collaboration with Chinese intelligence to stifle East Turkistani independence and cautioned against the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) ongoing attempts to "divide and assimilate Uyghur organisations overseas." Hudayar urged Congress to acknowledge East Turkistan as an occupied nation, hold hearings on East Turkistan's fight for independence, and investigate and halt Chinese infiltration and transnational repression within the East Turkistani/Uyghur diaspora. He concluded by stating, "Simply removing the CCP is not sufficient. The Chinese empire must be dismantled. Restoring liberty and independence for East Turkistan is not merely a dream. It is a responsibility defined in the Captive Nations Resolution." Tenzin Wangdu, a representative of the Tibetan-American community and the Tibetan Rangzen [independence] movement, highlighted Tibet's unique identity, asserting, "Tibet has never been legally recognized as a part of China... We had our government, our culture, and our distinct identity for over a thousand years," as noted in the ETGE report. He proclaimed, "The Chinese occupation of 1951 was an invasion rather than a liberation. The time for empty rhetoric has passed. We require concrete action." Wangdu emphasised that only independence can secure the survival of the Tibetan people. (ANI) A protest was demonstrated outside 10 Downing Street to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the enforced disappearance of Mir Taj Muhammad Sarparah and to call for the release of all Baloch missing individuals and BYC. The demonstration was led by Salia Marri, the spouse of Mir Taj Muhammad Sarparah, who was forcibly taken on July 19, 2020, in Karachi, by Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI. In her speech at the event, Salia Marri made a heartfelt plea to the international community and human rights organisations for urgent intervention. "It has been five years since my husband was taken by the ISI. To this day, we do not know his fate or where he is. I urge everyone to unite with us in our demand for his safe return and justice for all Baloch missing persons," she stated. The rally attracted a diverse group of political and human rights advocates. Attendees included the Khan of Kalat, members of FBM, BRP, and BNP, in addition to Sohail Abro, Chairman of the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM); Said Alam, leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM); Abdul Wakil Sulamal; Dr. Waris Waziri; Abdullah Baloch; Rahim Bandoui from the Central Council of Balochistan People's Party, along with supporters from Gilgit and Balochistan. The demonstration underscored the ongoing issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan and called for prompt international action to hold culprits accountable and secure the immediate release of Mir Raj Muhammad Sarparah and all Baloch missing persons. Human rights groups have long accused Pakistani authorities of abducting civilians in Balochistan without due process, using enforced disappearances to suppress dissent and intimidate communities in restive areas. Pakistani authorities routinely deny these allegations, but civil society continues to condemn the security forces' role in systematic abductions targeting students, political workers, and residents. (ANI) A British High Commission Spokesperson on Tuesday, expressed gratitude to the Indian authorities for the support offered in the repair and recovery process of a UK F-35B aircraft which had landed at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on June 14, due to an emergency diversion. In an official statement, the British High Commission Spokesperson said, "A UK F-35B aircraft, which landed following an emergency diversion on June 14, departed today from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. A UK engineering team, deployed since July 06 completed the repairs and safety checks, allowing the aircraft to resume active service." "The UK remains very grateful for the support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams throughout the repair and recovery process", the statement added. The High Commission Spokesperson underscored in their remarks, "We look forward to continuing to strengthen our defence partnership with India." A UK F-35 aircraft was unable to return to HMS Prince of Wales due to adverse weather conditions. Prioritising safety, the aircraft diverted to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in India, where it landed safely. The aircraft subsequently developed an engineering issue whilst on the ground which precluded temporarily delayed its return to the Carrier Strike Group. Engineers from HMS Prince of Wales assessed the aircraft and it was decided that the support of a UK based engineering team was needed. The UK had accepted India's offer to move the aircraft in the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility. To ensure minimal disruption to regular airport operations, it was decided to move the aircraft once UK engineering teams arrive with specialist equipment. British Navy's F-35 fighter jet finally took off from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Tuesday after remaining grounded at the airport for over a month following a fault in the hydraulic system. The fighter jet had made an emergency landing at the airport on June 14. The British Navy aircraft is a part of the UK Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. The fighter jet was out on a routine sortie when it developed a snag and could not land on the ship. The plane reached the Thiruvananthapuram airport, which was designated as the emergency recovery airfield, and requested emergency landing permission. The Indian Air Force provided all required support and assisted in the process, including refuelling. F-35Bs are highly advanced stealth jets, built by Lockheed Martin, and are prized for their short take-off and vertical landing capability. (ANI) Chinese officials have destroyed more than 300 Buddhist stupas and a revered statue of a Guru in Drakgo (Ch: Luhuo) County within the Karze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture last month, according to a report from the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). The destruction occurred in late May or June 2025 at Lungrab Zang-ri near Janggang Monastery, where Chinese forces dismantled hundreds of medium-sized stupas significant to Tibetan Buddhism as well as three larger stupas. Authorities also demolished a recently erected statue of Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok, the late founder and abbot of Serthar Buddhist Institute, along with a sacred statue of Guru Padmasambhava, often referred to as Guru Rinpoche (which means "precious master" in Tibetan), as reported by the CTA. Chinese authorities have enforced strict silence over the region. Anyone attempting to disclose information or discuss the destruction with those outside the area risks immediate detention on charges of "leaking state secrets." The entire vicinity surrounding the site of the demolitions has been cordoned off, prohibiting all entry and exit. Chinese officials have insidiously justified the destruction by asserting that the stupas were constructed on "government land" and breached unspecified regulations. The debris from the sacred structures has been entirely removed, erasing all evidence of these centuries-old symbols of faith, according to the CTA report. Chinese authorities have waged a campaign of terror against Tibetan religious leaders, scholars, and prominent Tibetan figures. Tibetans who resist complying with the Chinese government's assimilationist "re-education" initiatives face arbitrary detention on trumped-up charges, prolonged imprisonment, and systemic social ostracism. In the most alarming instances, individuals have disappeared or been executed secretly. The persecution intensified when Tulku Hungkar Dorje was subjected to repeated interrogations and falsely charged with declining to host China's imposed Panchen Lama, composing long-life prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and opposing Chinese policies in his educational endeavors in Golog, Amdo. After being compelled to seek refuge in Vietnam, he was later discovered dead while in Chinese police custody on March 28, following a covert collaboration between Chinese and Vietnamese authorities. Despite international calls for transparency, both governments have remained silent, obscuring the truth through information blackouts and conducting a secret funeral. New regulations governing monasteries have restricted all Tibetan lamas, religious leaders, and reincarnate Tulkus from freely conducting religious activities. Some religious leaders are under house arrest. This systematic suppression has fostered an atmosphere of fear and hopelessness within Tibet's Buddhist community. The crackdown has not been limited to Drakgo County. In June, authorities implemented strict restrictions across the Karze region concerning the demolition. During July, coinciding with global celebrations of the 90th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his teachings, Chinese officials prohibited all public gatherings in Karze and neighbouring areas until July 23, 2025, as cited by the CTA report. (ANI) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks for his fourth visit to the UK later this week, India-UK ties have seen new energy, with the finalization of the much awaited Free Trade Agreement. According to the MEA, PM Modi will hold wide-ranging discussions with his UK counterpart on the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations. They will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance. Over the years, the India-UK historical ties, have transformed into a robust, multi-faceted, mutually beneficial relationship. The relationship has been elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2021. New Delhi and London have seen sustained and frequent high level political engagements. Prime Minister Modi has met UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer twice over the past one year. They met on the sidelines of G20 Summit in Brazil in November 2024, and again during G7 Summit in June 2025. Both also had multiple telephonic conversations over the period. A significant marker of the strength of ties is the five Ministerial level Institutional Mechanisms in strategic, economy & finance, trade, energy, science and technology, between the two countries. Other recently held dialogues include Foreign Office Consultation, Defence Consultation Group, 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue. On the economic front, bilateral trade has crossed record USD 55 billion in 2024, registering an increase of about 10 per cent over that of 2023. The conclusion of India-UK FTA announced on May 6, 2025 by both Prime Ministers, has been a major milestone in bilateral ties. The two countries have seen sustained and high-level cooperation across several fronts. Earlier in June, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and UK Permanent Under-Secretary Oliver Robbins co-chaired the 17th UK-India Foreign Office Consultations and the inaugural Strategic Exports and Technology Cooperation Dialogue, focusing on deepening the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across trade, technology, defence, and people-to-people exchanges. Earlier in May, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy had said that the landmark trade agreement between the United Kingdom and India marks a new era of bilateral cooperation, highlighting the economic and strategic importance of the deal. "This is just the start of supercharging our GBP 43 billion trading relationship", he said. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the finalisation of the trade deal as a major achievement and had called it the UK's biggest post-Brexit deal and India's most ambitious to date. PM Modi while speaking at the ABP Network India@2047 Summit had remarked that the landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the United Kingdom, centered on mutual trade and economic cooperation between two of the world's largest powers and open market economies, marks the beginning of a new chapter in the growth and development of both countries. "The two world's biggest open markets have come together, which will add to their histories...This will also open new opportunities for the MSMEs sector," PM Modi said. Notable sectors which have emerged as key pillars of our bilateral ties are Business, Technology, Research, Education and Innovation. With an Indian diaspora that forms about 2.7 per cent of the total population of UK, it acts as the living bridge which forms a key pillar of growth and development of India -UK relations through their valuable contribution to the British society and economy as well as promoting bilateral cultural and economic cooperation and bonds of friendship between peoples of our two countries. PM Modi's, during this important visit would see 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. (ANI) Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the issue of Khalistani extremists and related groups is a matter of concern for India, and it has been brought to the attention of partners in the United Kingdom. Discussions have also taken place between India and the UK regarding the extradition of fugitives to India, Misri said. He made the remarks on Tuesday, during a special press conference held ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UK and Maldives which begins tomorrow. Foreign Secretary Misri said, "The issue of the presence of Khalistani extremists, bodies close to these people, is something that we have brought to the attention of our partners in the UK. We will continue to do so. This is a matter of concern not only to us but should be a matter of concern to our partners as well because this impacts social cohesion and social order in these other countries as well." Answering a media query on the issue of fugitives in the UK, Misri said that there is a legal process to such requests regarding fugitives related to Indian law and India is working "very closely" with the UK on this issue. "There have been a few questions fugitives related to Indian law and Indian justice, in the UK. These have been a matter of discussion between both sides and we have continued to make the case for these fugitives to be rendered to India. There is a legal process that such requests , issues go through in the other country, and we continue to follow very closely with our partners in the UK on these matters." Foreign Secretary Misri, during the briefing informed that this would be PM Modi's fourth visit to the UK. "This visit, though, a short one will give both leaders the opportunity to review the entire gamut of the bilateral relationship." He added, "The India UK partnership, as you're aware, was upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2021 and since then, has seen regular high level political exchanges, and both sides remain committed to taking this partnership to even higher levels, apart from the summit level, engagements." The visit to the UK is at the invitation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, while the state visit to the Maldives is at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu. (ANI) A Las Vegas mom accused of decapitating her boyfriend shocked the court after reversing her guilty plea as she was about to be sentenced for his murder. Devyn Michaels, now 47, was arrested in August 2023 after the body of her boyfriend, 46-year-old Jonathan Willette, was found decapitated, according to an arrest report obtained by KSNV at the time. After reaching a plea deal with prosecutors in fall of 2024, Michaels pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Once she served 15 years, Michaels would have been eligible for parole under the deal, KLAS reported. However, Michaels asked to undo her guilty plea while facing a judge Thursday, insisting that Willette "deserves to have the actual person who is guilty behind bars." "I know right now no one in the family is going to believe me," Michaels said. "I know right now no one in the family feels that I am innocent at any point, and I understand that, but I can actually prove my innocence. I actually can. And I'm not going to stop fighting to prove my innocence." Michaels still asked to cancel her plea deal following a warning from Judge Tierra Jones that her charges would be upgraded to first-degree murder if she chose to move forward. Prior to this, Michaels addressed Deputy District Attorney John Giordani during her statement, claiming "things are altered." The judge interjected shortly after, telling Michaels not to address Giordani. Michaels' lawyer previously suggested that evidence in her case had been tampered with during a June hearing, but her previous lawyer testified against the claim, as reported by Courthouse News Service. In a previous interview with police, Michaels allegedly said that a child custody issue meant "she needed the victim out of the way." Giordani said that although Michaels did not admit to decapitating Willette, she reportedly admitted to delivering the blow that killed him. Following her plea deal reversal, Michaels' attorney withdrew from the case. Her next hearing has been set for July 31. Originally published on Latin Times Tibetan environmental rights advocate Tsongon Tsering was freed from prison on July 8, 2025, after spending more than eight months in detention in Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Prefecture, Sichuan Province. His early release, occurring before serving his full sentence, reportedly came with strict terms that significantly restrict his fundamental freedoms, according to a report by the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). Tsering, a 29-year-old from Kakhog (Ch: Hongyuan) County in Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Prefecture, Sichuan Province, had been arrested in October 2024 for posting a five-minute video on his Kuaishou social media account, where he filed a real-name complaint against mining activities undertaken by the Anhui Xianhe Construction Engineering Company. This company was alleged to be involved in resource extraction while masquerading as road-building efforts. His peaceful protest led to an eight-month prison term imposed by the Kyungchu County People's Court, which was subsequently extended by another eight months after he reportedly declined to admit guilt. Authorities charged him with the vaguely defined offence of "disrupting social order," a term frequently used by Chinese officials to suppress dissent, as reported by TCHRD. Upon his return home after being released, a large group of supporters gathered to welcome him. His release occurred during a period of increased security in Tibet, particularly in July, which is a time of heightened sensitivity due to the birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Although local officials attempted to disperse the crowd, no arrests were recorded, likely due to the unexpectedly large turnout. Despite his release, Tsering now faces extensive restrictions. He is banned from making any public or private statements deemed "harmful to the government" and from participating in or organising any group activities, including informal meetings, as stated by TCHRD. In January 2025, three United Nations Special Rapporteurs sent a seven-page joint letter to the Chinese government, expressing serious concerns about Tsering's arrest, detention, and the broader context of repression surrounding the incident. The experts, including the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, noted that Tsering's case illustrates a troubling trend in which Tibetan environmental advocates face arbitrary detention, surveillance, intimidation, and retaliation for non-violently voicing concerns about extractive activities on Tibetan territory. The communication challenged the Chinese government on the legal grounds for the charges, pointed out the lack of due process, and underscored the chilling effect on civic space for Tibetan communities. Chinese officials have long used vaguely defined legal provisions to target Tibetans who advocate for environmental sustainability, cultural conservation, and religious rights. The ongoing harassment and surveillance of Tsongon Tsering highlights a broader campaign to suppress peaceful activism and maintain control over Tibetan resources and lands, as cited by TCHRD. TCHRD calls on the Chinese government to swiftly remove all restrictions placed on Tsongon Tsering, ensure he receives adequate medical care, and uphold his rights to free expression and peaceful assembly as stipulated by international human rights law. The ongoing repression of those advocating for environmental protection must end, and the Chinese officials responsible for violating their rights should be held accountable. (ANI) Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Tuesday enlisted areas that have emerged as pillars of India-UK bilateral cooperation, saying that the partnership has seen regular high-level exchanges across sectors such as trade, investment and defence. Addressing a special press briefing ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United Kingdom (UK) and Maldives, Foreign Secretary Misri said, "There are regular engagements at the level of External Affairs Minister and his counterpart, the British Foreign Secretary, and there are several other institutional mechanisms at ministerial level dealing with strategic issues, financial, economic, energy related issues, as well as science and technology. In the contemporary times, the sectors of business, technology, research, education innovation, the knowledge economy have emerged as pillars of our bilateral cooperation." Misri also mentioned how the India-UK partnership was upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2021 and since then, it has seen regular high level political exchanges. He said that both sides remain committed to taking this partnership to even higher levels. "Our bilateral trade is across USD 55 billion in 2023-24. UK is also the sixth largest investor in India, with accumulative investment of USD 36 billion and interestingly, India itself is a large source of foreign direct investment in the UK with a cumulative investment of close to USD 20 billion," he said. Misri added, "In the defence sector, we are seeing regular interactions and exercises amongst all three branches of the armed forces." Speaking on the importance of the Indian Diaspora, Misri hailed them as the living bridge that connects India and the UK. "One of the most important, probably the foundational aspects of this relationship is the living bridge that connects India in the UK, people of Indian origin in the UK nearly 1.8 million strong Indian diaspora, which has contributed to strengthening bonds of friendship between our two countries, but has also made extremely valuable contributions through UK economy." He also spoke about the issue of Khalistani extremists and related groups as a matter of concern for India, which has been brought to the attention of partners in the UK. PM Modi will embark on a two-nation tour of the UK and the Maldives from July 23 to July 26, the MEA had said on July 20. This visit to the UK is at the invitation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, while the state visit to the Maldives is at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu. According to the MEA, PM Modi will hold wide-ranging discussions with his UK counterpart on the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations. They will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance. Over the years, the India-UK historical ties, have transformed into a robust, multi-faceted, mutually beneficial relationship. The relationship has been elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2021. New Delhi and London have seen sustained and frequent high level political engagements. Prime Minister Modi has met UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer twice over the past one year. They met on the sidelines of G20 Summit in Brazil in November 2024, and again during G7 Summit in June 2025. Both also had multiple telephonic conversations over the period. (ANI) India has offered medical assistance to victims of the recent fighter jet crash in the Diabari area of Bangladesh's Dhaka. Meanwhile, the death toll in the crash incident has risen to 27. "As follow up to the message from the Prime Minister of India, expressing condolence on the tragic Milestone School plane crash and offering all possible support & assistance, Indian High Commission has today formally written to Government of Bangladesh asking for sharing information on any critical medical support that may be needed to be arranged in India for those injured in the tragic incident," the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said in a statement on Tuesday. "The Indian High Commission will extend all necessary facilitation," it added. In a clarification, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that the aircraft involved in the crash was a battle-ready fighter jet conducting a training mission. "The total number of deaths has risen to 27," said Saidur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, on Tuesday morning. Bangladesh is observing national mourning today, in memory of the victims of the fighter aircraft crash. A Bangladesh Air Force F-7 fighter jet crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in Dhaka on Monday afternoon. The jet was being piloted by Bangladeshi Air Force Flight Lieutenant Mohammad Towkir Islam Sagar, who had also died in the crash, the Daily Star reported. Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, also expressed his profound grief over the incident. In his condolence message on X, Yunus described the incident as an "irreparable" loss for the Bangladesh Air Force, as well as others affected. "I express my deep grief and sorrow over the tragic incident of casualties caused by the crash of a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BJI training aircraft at the Milestone School and College campus in the Diabari area of the capital today. 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," Yunus stated in the post. The Chief Adviser further prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the crash. "I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and direct all concerned authorities, 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," the post added. (ANI) India and Maldives are currently "in discussions" to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement as well as an investment treaty to bolster the economic ties between the two nations, coupled with new areas of collaboration such as renewable energy and fisheries, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated on Tuesday. Addressing a press briefing ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Maldives, Misri elaborated on the burgeoning economic relationship between the two countries, noting that India was one of the biggest trade partners of the Maldives, with bilateral trade reaching nearly USD 500 million, with Indian investments already in Maldivian sectors like tourism. "On the economic front, India is one of the largest trading partners of the Maldives. The bilateral trade is nearly USD 500 million, and Indian investors remain part of sectors such as tourism in the Maldives and other economic activities. On the economic front, one recent development which I would like to share with you is that both countries are in discussions to negotiate a free trade agreement and an investment treaty as well, and new areas of cooperation, including renewable energy, fisheries, etc., are also being worked on," Misri stated. Beyond trade, Misri highlighted India's role as a traditional development partner for the Maldives, executing projects through concessional lines of credit, grants, and buyer's credit facilities. He emphasised that the flagship Greater Male Connectivity Project, which connects four islands of the Maldives, is poised to transform the region's infrastructure, while mentioning other initiatives include roads, airports, fisheries processing units, and social housing projects tailored to the Maldives' priorities. "One of the largest areas of bilateral cooperation is the development partnership between the two countries. India has been a traditional development partner of the Maldives, executing various initiatives through a mix of lines of credit at concessional rates, grants, and buyer's credit facilities, and also conducting capacity-building programmes in a number of areas," the Foreign Secretary said. "The flagship project that is underway currently is the Greater Male Connectivity Project, which has the potential to be an infrastructure game changer in the Greater Male region, connecting four islands of the Maldives. There are also projects underway in the area of roads, airports, fisheries processing units and others. We are also alleviating the pressure by helping with social housing as per the needs and priorities of the Maldives," he added. Misri also noted India's financial support, including a USD 400 million and Rs 30 billion twin currency swap arrangement during Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's visit last year, alongside the State Bank of India's continued subscription to Maldivian treasury bills. "We've extended a considerable amount of emergency financial assistance to the Government of Maldives, including through instruments such as the twin currency swap arrangements that were done when President Muizzu was also here for USD 400 million as well as Rs 30 billion. In addition, the State Bank of India has continued to resubscribe to Maldives's treasury bills," the Foreign Secretary said. The partnership between the two nations also extends to capacity-building, with the Maldives being a major beneficiary of Indian scholarships and training programmes. In defence and security, India supports the Maldives through training programmes, naval exercises, and assets for maritime domain awareness, including ships for Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance. "India continues to assist Maldives in building its capacity to train Maldives defence personnel, and a lot of this is done through regular training programmes and naval exercises between the two countries. We've been helping Maldives enhance its capacity for EEZ surveillance and maritime domain awareness through the provision of ships and assets. The two countries are also cooperating under the gamut of the Colombo security conclave," he noted. Misri further underscored the multifaceted India-Maldives relationship, stating, "The relationship with the Maldives is comprehensive and multifaceted. It's been paid attention to by leadership at the highest levels, and we believe that this visit by the Prime Minister will contribute further to consolidating these strong ties and contribute to peace, prosperity, and security in the Indian Ocean region." According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Maldives has been a very close and important partner in India's neighbourhood as part of New Delhi's neighbourhood-first policy as well as its MAHASAGAR Vision. Notably, ties between New Delhi and Male were strained after Maldivian officials made derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Modi in early January last year. However, during the visit of Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer in April 2024, Zameer distanced his government from the derogatory remarks made by these officials, stating that it was not the government's stance and that "proper action" had been taken to ensure it was not repeated. PM Modi will embark on his two-nation tour of the UK and the Maldives from July 23 to July 26, the MEA had said on Sunday. He will be visiting the Maldives on July 25 on a state visit at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu. He has been invited as the 'Guest of Honour' for the 60th Anniversary celebrations of the Independence of Maldives on July 26. Notably, the visit by PM Modi comes at a historic juncture as New Delhi and Male are marking their 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. This will be the Prime Minister's third visit to the Maldives and the first visit by a Head of State or Government to the Maldives during the Presidency of Mohamed Muizzu. (ANI) The All Balochistan Transporters Alliance has firmly dismissed the government's suggested security measures for passenger buses and commercial vehicles, labelling them as "unfeasible, ineffectual, and an effort to transfer the responsibility for security shortcomings onto transporters," as reported by The Balochistan Post (TBP). In a collective statement from representatives and owners of buses, trucks, oil tankers, and various transport unions, the alliance criticised the government's initiative to implement surveillance cameras, security personnel, tracking devices, and panic buttons in passenger vehicles. The transporters contended that these actions are not aligned with the actual circumstances in Balochistan. "Two security guards can't defend against numerous armed assailants," the statement asserted. "These measures will merely incite panic and deter people from travelling," the TBP report noted. The alliance also raised concerns about the restrictions on vehicle movements, particularly the prohibition on buses travelling to Punjab after 11 am and the mandate to cease travel on other highways post 5 pm. Transporters indicated that such policies jeopardise passengers, leaving vehicles vulnerable overnight on highways in unsafe situations. They accused the government of employing these measures as a means of preserving its image following recent attacks, where Baloch "pro-independence" armed groups forcibly removed alleged Pakistani military personnel from passenger buses and executed them. They urged officials to create realistic, sustainable security solutions instead of "superficial policies" that impose further strain on an already distressed sector. The security protocols were established after a recent attack near Kalat, where a passenger bus carrying Pakistani security personnel was shot at. In the wake of this incident, various district administrations directed transport owners to enhance their security measures. Throughout the past year, armed groups have established checkpoints and roadblocks in various locations throughout Balochistan. This includes situations where armed combatants halted transport vehicles for inspections, specifically targeting security personnel travelling in civilian transport. In assaults near Nushki and Kalat, armed groups aimed at security personnel using regular passenger buses. The Baloch Liberation Army took responsibility for those attacks, as reported by TBP. The All Balochistan Transporters Alliance has called on the government to engage in serious discussions with the transport sector to develop policies that truly improve security without escalating risks for transporters and passengers. (ANI) The US on Tuesday announced its withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, or UNESCO, citing misalignment with national interests. "Today, the United States informed Director-General Audrey Azoulay of the United States' decision to withdraw from UNESCO. Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States," a statement from the US Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce read. According to a statement, the withdrawal was made over concerns about the organisation's alleged focus on divisive agendas and its admission of the "State of Palestine" as a member state. The US Department of State Spokesperson described the admission as "highly problematic," noting that it was against the US's policy, further accusing the organisation of helping spread "anti-Israel rhetoric," amid Israel's heightened military operations in Gaza. "UNESCO works to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintains an outsized focus on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy. UNESCO's decision to admit the "State of Palestine" as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organisation. Continued U.S. participation in international organisations will focus on advancing American interests with clarity and conviction," the statement alleged. The decision will take effect on December 31, 2026, with the US remaining a full member until that date, the statement noted. This is the second time the US has withdrawn from UNESCO under the Trump administration, following its initial withdrawal in 2017 during his first term as President. The US rejoined the group after Biden took office. UNESCO was founded in 1945, but the US withdrew in 1984 due to perceived bias against US interests and financial mismanagement, according to CNN. The US rejoined UNESCO in 2003, over twenty years after its initial departure, under former US President George W. Bush, who claimed that UNESCO had made significant reforms. UNESCO is a specialised agency dedicated to strengthening shared humanity through the promotion of education, science, culture, and communication. (ANI) Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Tuesday stated that India has been lending a "helping hand" to the Maldives to stabilise its "stressful financial" situation, highlighting New Delhi's role in bolstering the island nation's foreign exchange reserves through significant financial assistance. Addressing a press briefing ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Maldives, Misri elaborated on India's support for the island nation, noting that a USD 400 million swap line has been nearly fully utilised to stabilise its financial situation. Maldives has been grappling with a mounting debt crisis that threatens its economic sovereignty, as its foreign exchange reserves dwindle to precarious levels while substantial debt repayments loom. Maldives is currently needing to service external debt worth USD 600 million in 2025, which can amount to a staggering USD 1 billion by 2026. Misri also emphasised that India remains in close contact with Maldivian authorities to explore further support, describing the situation as dynamic and requiring ongoing collaboration. "Insofar as the issue related to the financial stability of Maldives is concerned, it is a fact that it has faced a stressful financial environment, and that is why we have been giving a helping hand to Maldives in order to stabilise the financial situation. Our recent assistance has led to accretions in the foreign exchange position of the Maldives, and it is this accretion, as a matter of fact, that has been cited by international financial organisations, including the IMF, as a positive factor that has helped the Maldives stave off outcomes that could be difficult for it," the Foreign Secretary stated. "This is a dynamic situation. We will remain in close touch with our friends and partners in the Maldives to see what else we can do. In any case, so far as the swaps are concerned, my understanding is that the USD 400 million swap line has been drawn almost completely, and now perhaps the USD 30 billion rupee Indian swap line will also be drawn upon," he added. Last year, during Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu visit to India, the Union Government extended support in the form of USD 400 million and Rs 30 billion as a bilateral currency swap agreement in order to tackle the ongoing financial challenges faced by the Maldives. Earlier in May, the Union Government has extended support to the island nation by rolling over the USD 50 Million treasury bill. Addressing the broader turnaround in India-Maldives relations after ties between New Delhi and Male were strained following derogatory remarks made by Maldivian officials about Prime Minister Modi in early January last year, Misri underscored the resilience of the partnership. He credited the close discussions with Maldivian partners for providing clarity and assurances on the matter while highlighting India's continued support through its military or infrastructural assets provided to the Maldives for its development. "There will always be events that will impact or try to intrude on the relationship. But I think this is testimony to the kind of attention that has been paid to the relationship, including attention at the highest levels that has been paid to the relationship. We've continued to work at it, and I think the result is there for you to see. I think we have also been in very close discussions with our partner partners in the Maldives to provide clarity and assurances about what it is that we want to do bilaterally, and I think this is the result is there for all to see," the Foreign Secretary stated. "With regard to the assets that we have provided them. They continue to function there with the appropriate personnel to manage them and to assist the Maldives authorities in using them for the best possible results," Misri added. Notably, ties between New Delhi and Male were strained after Maldivian officials made derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Modi in early January last year. However, during the visit of Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer in April 2024, Zameer distanced his government from the derogatory remarks made by these officials, stating that it was not the government's stance and that "proper action" had been taken to ensure such remarks were not repeated. Earlier in January, India handed over defence equipment and stores to the Maldives, as per the island nation's request, while reiterating its firm commitment to working closely in realising the joint vision for the India-Maldives Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. PM Modi will embark on his two-nation tour of the UK and the Maldives from July 23 to July 26, the MEA had said on Sunday. From July 25, he will be on a two-day state visit to Maldives at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu. He has been invited as the 'Guest of Honour' for the 60th Anniversary celebrations of the Independence of Maldives on July 26. Notably, the visit by PM Modi comes at a historic juncture as New Delhi and Male are marking their 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. This will be the Prime Minister's third visit to the Maldives and the first visit by a Head of State or Government to the Maldives during the Presidency of Mohamed Muizzu. (ANI) India-UK relationship will be significantly boosted by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit beginning Wednesday, with the relationship poised to move to the next level through progress in areas such as trade, technology and defence, Vikram Doraiswami, India's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, has said. PM Modi will embark on an official visit to the United Kingdom tomorrow and hold discussions with his UK counterpart, Keir Starmer. During the visit, he will also call on His Majesty King Charles III. The visit gives both leaders the opportunity to review the entire gamut of the bilateral relationship and discuss ways to strengthen it further. They will also discuss issues of regional and global relevance. "We believe the India-UK relationship will be significantly boosted by the PM's upcoming visit. Even though it is a short visit, we think the opportunity is considerable for the relationship to be moved to the next level. The PM is visiting here after almost four years...The focus is really on looking at where next we can take the relationship, whether it is on trade or technology or defence partnerships and indeed where do we see the next big idea for the India-UK relationship. So, the discussions between the two PMs should generate some consensus around where the two governments want to take the relationship. We think the future-oriented relationship is where the relationship is going to come out," Doraiswami told ANI. He said the preparations for the visit are all in full swing. "My colleagues and I have been extremely busy, trying to put everything together. As I said, the visit is being worked at short notice. But there is great enthusiasm not only in my team but my colleagues back in India who are working on the visit and also here among our British partners to make sure that this is a substantive, focused visit," Doraiswami said. The India-UK partnership was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2021, and since then has seen regular high-level political exchanges, and both sides remain committed to taking this partnership to even higher levels. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who briefed the media on PM Modi's visit to UK and Maldives earlier in the day in New Delhi, said the sectors of business, technology, research, education, innovation, and the knowledge economy have emerged as key pillars of India-UK bilateral cooperation. "The Technology Security Initiative, for instance, which is coming up to its one-year anniversary, was signed last year and is a major indicator of where we are taking our ties in critical and emerging technologies sphere. The University of Southampton recently opened a campus in Gurugram, just last week actually, and this is the first foreign university to open a campus in India under the New Education Policy," he said. Misri stated that bilateral trade reached $55 billion in 2023-24. The UK is also the sixth-largest investor in India, with a cumulative investment of $36 billion. India is a significant source of Foreign Direct Investment in the UK, with a cumulative investment of nearly $20 billion. "There are close to a thousand Indian companies in the UK that provide employment to nearly 100,000 people and have a cumulative revenue of over $91 billion. In the defence sector, we are seeing regular interactions and exercises amongst all three branches of the armed forces. We have placed military instructors at each other's military academies, and one of the more significant partnership projects that we have embarked on in recent times is the agreement to look at electric propulsion capability between the two countries," the Foreign Secretary said. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming state visit to the Maldives marks a "hard-won understanding" between the two nations following a brief period of strained ties, stated former diplomat Mahesh Sachdev on Tuesday. Speaking to ANI ahead of the PM's visit to the island nation at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu, Sachdev stated that the Prime Minister's visit, as the guest of honour for the Maldives' 60th anniversary of independence and the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties, comes at a pivotal moment, "with a hard-won understanding and with a reset of bilateral ties to where they were always there, but for a small patch of misunderstanding during the past two years." He reflected on the strengthening of bilateral cooperation, noting a stance of friction in the relationship between the two nations, particularly when Muizzu requested the withdrawal of Indian naval personnel stationed in the Maldives for training and support missions. "Our ties with the Maldives during the past two years have seen various ups and downs due to the election of a new president in that country. President Mohammad Muizzu was elected on the slogan of 'India Out' and during electioneering, he sought to portray an image of a Maldivian nationalist who wanted equidistant policies with various countries, including India, the closest neighbour, this created a bit of friction when soon after the election, he wanted Indian naval personnel to leave the Maldives, who were there on a training mission for rescue and support," the former diplomat stated. Notably, ties between New Delhi and Male further strained after Maldivian officials made derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Modi in early January last year. However, during the visit of Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer in April 2024, Zameer distanced his government from the derogatory remarks made by these officials, stating that it was not the government's stance and that "proper action" had been taken to ensure such remarks were not repeated. He stated that India had complied but worked diligently behind the scenes to manage the relationship, emphasising that the Maldives had recognised India's role as a key partner in the region. "This was complied with, but at the same time, India worked behind the scenes and was able to manage the ties. The President visited India for the inauguration of Prime Minister's third term and subsequently paid another visit, during which he appeared to have mollified his stance and given priority to India. Gone are those counter attempts that led him to Beijing first, then Turkey, and others. The primacy of India's ties with the Maldives and the Maldives' need for India as a big brother, a partner for development cooperation, and maritime security have become evident," Sachdev stated. Earlier today, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that India has been lending a "helping hand" to the Maldives to stabilise its "stressful financial" situation, highlighting New Delhi's role in bolstering the island nation's foreign exchange reserves through significant financial assistance. During a press briefing ahead of Prime Minister's visit to the Maldives, Misri elaborated on India's support for the island nation, noting that a USD 400 million swap line has been nearly fully utilised to stabilise its financial situation. Last year, during Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's visit to India, the Union Government extended support in the form of USD 400 million and Rs 30 billion as a bilateral currency swap agreement in order to tackle the ongoing financial challenges faced by the Maldives. Earlier in May, the Union Government extended support to the island nation by rolling over the USD 50 million treasury bill. PM Modi will embark on his two-nation tour of the UK and the Maldives from July 23 to July 26, the MEA had said on Sunday. From July 25, he will be on a two-day state visit to Maldives at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu. He has been invited as the 'Guest of Honour' for the 60th Anniversary celebrations of the Independence of Maldives on July 26. Notably, the visit by PM Modi comes at a historic juncture as New Delhi and Male are marking their 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. This will be the Prime Minister's third visit to the Maldives and the first visit by a Head of State or Government to the Maldives during the Presidency of Mohamed Muizzu. (ANI) Global aerospace company Boeing on Tuesday projected global demand for nearly 2.4 million new commercial pilots, technicians, and cabin crew over the next 20 years to meet the growing needs of the expanding commercial aviation sector, according to the company's 2025 Pilot and Technician Outlook (PTO). According to a press release by Boeing, the forecast, driven by rising air travel demand and changes in fleet composition, estimates the industry will require 660,000 pilots, 710,000 maintenance technicians, and 1,000,000 cabin crew members by 2044. "As commercial air traffic demand continues to outpace economic growth and the global fleet expands to meet demand, our industry will keep the fleet flying safely and efficiently by supporting workforce development for carriers worldwide," said Chris Broom, Vice President of Commercial Training Solutions at Boeing Global Services. The finding was released by the aerospace company's annual 20-year forecast at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Boeing emphasised the role of innovative training methods, including AI, virtual reality, and mixed reality technologies, to address pilot and technician shortages. Broom also highlighted Boeing's focus on competency-based training to ensure high-quality aviation training. "The industry is investing in technologies, including mixed reality-- an immersive blend of physical and digital environments that enhances hands-on learning and situational awareness. Boeing is supporting customers with digitally advanced aviation training products and services to meet their needs. The bedrock of our approach remains competency-based training and assessment methodology to ensure high-quality aviation training," he added. The PTO projects that two-thirds of new personnel will replace those lost to attrition, while one-third will support fleet growth, particularly for single-aisle aeroplanes. Eurasia, China, and North America will drive over half of the demand, with 550,000, 426,000, and 435,000 new personnel needed, respectively. South Asia and Southeast Asia are the fastest-growing regions, with staffing demand expected to more than triple, requiring 141,000 and 243,000 new professionals, respectively. Regionally, the breakdown includes Africa at 74,000, Latin America at 134,000, the Middle East at 234,000, Northeast Asia at 92,000, and Oceania at 41,000, the release stated. The surge in demand reflects the rapid growth of emerging markets and the need for skilled professionals to maintain and operate an expanding global fleet. (ANI) The United Nations has allocated $10 million from its Emergency Relief Fund to support vulnerable Afghan returnees from Iran, aiming to address urgent needs and prevent exploitation at border areas, according to Khaama Press. Tom Fletcher, Deputy UN Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, announced on Tuesday that the fund will help protect Afghan migrants facing harsh conditions as they re-enter Afghanistan. "This funding targets the most vulnerable returnees, aiming to protect them from abuse and exploitation as they face harsh conditions at border crossings," Fletcher said. Thousands of Afghan migrants are reportedly expelled daily from Iran, with many left stranded at the border without shelter, healthcare, or food. This has significantly worsened the humanitarian crisis in the region, according to Khaama Press. In an earlier appeal, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) called for increased international funding to enhance aid services for returnees, who face limited resources and severe shortages. Returnees from both Iran and Pakistan continue to struggle in the face of inadequate support systems, highlighting the urgent need for sustained humanitarian assistance. According to Khaama Press, the newly allocated UN funds will be used to provide protection services, basic health care, food, and shelter, helping reintegrate returnees into their home communities. Humanitarian agencies have reiterated their appeal to the global community for more robust support to meet the rising needs of displaced Afghans amid ongoing regional instability. Amid growing international pressure to manage migration flows, the German government has confirmed that the Taliban will send two consular officials to Germany to assist with the deportation of Afghan nationals, particularly those convicted of serious crimes and rejected asylum seekers, Khaama Press reported. Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius stated on Monday that an agreement had been reached to allow "two representatives of the Taliban administration" to operate in consular roles in Germany. Their presence aims to support the repatriation of deported Afghans, especially those involved in serious criminal offences, Khaama Press added. This development follows a report by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, which revealed that Germany's acceptance of the consular officials is linked to the Taliban's cooperation in accepting deportees. Just last week, Germany deported 81 Afghan nationals, most of whom were found guilty of serious crimes, Khaama Press noted. Kornelius clarified that the arrangement does not imply diplomatic recognition of the Taliban but is part of ongoing technical-level communication between Germany and Afghanistan's de facto authorities. He emphasised that systematic deportations will continue, stating, "This process is not completed with just one flight," according to Khaama Press. A Taliban official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that discussions are ongoing but said no final agreement has been reached yet. "The matter is still under negotiation," the source told Khaama Press. (ANI) Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Tehran will not abandon its uranium enrichment programme despite significant damage caused by recent US and Israeli airstrikes, calling the programme a matter of "national pride", Al Jazeera reported. "It is now stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe, but obviously, we cannot give up our enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists, and now, more than that, it is a question of national pride," Araghchi told US broadcaster Fox News in an interview aired on Monday. Araghchi also signaled Iran's willingness to re-engage in diplomacy, saying Iran is "open to talks" with the United States, though not directly "for the time being." According to Al Jazeera, he stated, "If they [the US] are coming for a win-win solution, I am ready to engage with them." "We are ready to do any confidence-building measure needed to prove that Iran's nuclear programme is peaceful and would remain peaceful forever, and Iran would never go for nuclear weapons, and in return, we expect them to lift their sanctions," the minister added. "So, my message to the United States is that let's go for a negotiated solution for Iran's nuclear programme," Araghchi said, according to Al Jazeera. He also emphasised that there is still a diplomatic path forward: "There is a negotiated solution for our nuclear programme. We have done it once in the past. We are ready to do it once again." As Al Jazeera reported, talks between Tehran and Washington on the nuclear programme were underway earlier this year, following years of tension since Donald Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The deal had allowed for extensive international monitoring of Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. However, recent developments have strained relations further. On June 13, Israel launched a series of surprise bombing raids targeting Iran's military and nuclear facilities, which led to the deaths of more than 900 people in Iran and at least 28 in Israel before a ceasefire was established on June 24. The US also joined in the attacks, and the Pentagon later said it had set back Iran's nuclear programme by one to two years. Al Jazeera noted that Araghchi said Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation is still assessing the damage to enriched materials and will "soon inform" the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its findings. "We have not stopped our cooperation with the agency," he claimed, though he added that any request for IAEA inspectors would be "carefully considered." Inspectors had previously exited Iran after President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a law suspending cooperation with the IAEA. According to Al Jazeera, Iranian officials accused the IAEA of bias following a resolution passed by its board on June 12, which accused Tehran of non-compliance with nuclear obligations. Iran has said this resolution was one of the "excuses" Israel used to justify its military strikes. Meanwhile, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric welcomed "dialogue between the Europeans and the Iranians," referring to planned talks between Iran, France, Germany, and the UK in Turkiye on Friday, Al Jazeera reported. European JCPOA signatories have warned that Iran's failure to re-enter negotiations could lead to the reimposition of international sanctions. (ANI) The United States and the Republic of Indonesia have agreed to a framework for negotiating an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade to strengthen bilateral economic ties, the White House said in a joint statement on Tuesday. The agreement aims to provide both countries' exporters unprecedented access to each other's markets and builds upon the U.S.-Indonesia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement signed on July 16, 1996. According to the statement released by the White House, "Indonesia will eliminate approximately 99 percent of tariff barriers for a full range of U.S. industrial and U.S. food and agricultural products exported to Indonesia." It further added, "The United States will reduce to 19 percent the reciprocal tariffs, as set forth in Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025, on originating goods of Indonesia, and may also identify certain commodities that are not naturally available or domestically produced in the United States for a further reduction in the reciprocal tariff rate." The White House also stated that the two countries will negotiate facilitative rules of origin to ensure that the benefits of the agreement accrue primarily to the United States and Indonesia. The agreement will also address non-tariff barriers. As per the joint statement, "The United States and Indonesia will work together to address Indonesia's non-tariff barriers that affect bilateral trade and investment in priority areas, including exempting U.S. companies and originating goods from local content requirements; accepting vehicles built to U.S. federal motor vehicle safety and emissions standards; accepting FDA certificates and prior marketing authorizations for medical devices and pharmaceuticals; removing certain labeling requirements; exempting U.S. exports of cosmetics, medical devices, and other manufactured goods from certain requirements; taking steps to resolve many long-standing intellectual property issues identified in USTR's Special 301 Report; and addressing U.S. concerns with conformity assessment procedures." The White House also noted that "Indonesia will work to address barriers for U.S. exports, including through the removal of import restrictions or licensing requirements on U.S. remanufactured goods or their parts; the elimination of pre-shipment inspection or verification requirements on imports of U.S. goods; and the adoption and implementation of good regulatory practices." On agricultural cooperation, the statement said: "The United States and Indonesia have also committed to address and prevent barriers to U.S. food and agricultural products in the Indonesian market, including exempting U.S. food and agricultural products from all import licensing regimes, including commodity balance requirements; ensuring transparency and fairness with respect to geographical indications; providing permanent Fresh Food of Plant Origin (FFPO) designation for all applicable U.S. plant products; and recognizing U.S. regulatory oversight, including listing of all U.S. meat, poultry, and dairy facilities and accepting certificates issued by U.S. regulatory authorities." Digital trade, labor rights, and environmental cooperation are also included in the framework. The White House added, "Indonesia has committed to address barriers impacting digital trade, services, and investment... Indonesia commits to eliminate existing HTS tariff lines on 'intangible products' and suspend related requirements on import declarations; to support a permanent moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions at the WTO... and to take effective actions to implement the Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation." Further, "Indonesia commits to protecting internationally recognized labor rights... adopt and implement a prohibition on the importation of goods produced by forced or compulsory labor; amend its labor laws... and strengthen enforcement of its labor laws," the statement said. It also noted that "Indonesia commits to adopt and maintain high levels of environmental protection and to effectively enforce its environmental laws, including by taking measures to improve forest sector governance... and combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and illegal wildlife trade." On industrial exports, the White House said, "Indonesia will remove restrictions on exports to the United States of industrial commodities, including critical minerals." The countries have also pledged to enhance economic and national security cooperation: "The United States and Indonesia are committed to strengthening economic and national security cooperation to enhance supply chain resilience and innovation through complementary actions to address unfair trade practices of other countries, and through cooperation on export controls, investment security, and combatting duty evasion." Additionally, the statement acknowledged upcoming commercial deals, including the "procurement of aircraft currently valued at 3.2 billion USD; purchase of agriculture products... with an estimated total value of 4.5 billion USD; and purchases of energy products... with an estimated value of 15 billion USD." In the weeks ahead, "the United States and Indonesia will negotiate and finalize the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, prepare the Agreement for signature, and undertake domestic formalities in advance of the Agreement entering into force," the White House concluded. (ANI) TOKYO, Jul 22 (News On Japan) - In the Upper House election held on Sunday, veteran politician Muneo Suzuki, who ran under the banner of a "final battle," made a dramatic turnaround that surprised even his supporters. Suzuki, 77, ran as a proportional representation candidate from his former party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). With the ruling coalition facing strong headwinds, early reports indicated he was trailing. "I said this would be my last, last, last battle. That statement remains unchanged," Suzuki told reporters, effectively declaring his retirement. However, just three hours later, a member of his campaign staff was overheard saying, "Shall we prepare for a victory cheer?" By the next morning, Suzuki's projected win was confirmed. Appearing once more before his supportersthis time to applausehe revised his stance. "This is irregular, but consider this my second press conference," Suzuki said. "I felt as if something was telling me, 'You still have work to do.' Thats how Im taking it." After barely securing the final seat, Suzuki shifted from a retirement declaration to a victory speech. Source: TBS Ultra-fast charging powers EV use in mountainous regions Xinhua) 08:51, July 22, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) New York, US (PANA) - Digital innovation and technology remain underfunded and underdeveloped across Africa, according to a report on Africas development which was discussed at the General Assembly on Monday Last week in the nations capital, President Donald Trump signed a fentanyl reclassification act led by Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, Iowa legislators cheered the passing of a federal rescission bill through Congress and House members helped send a $832 billion defense appropriations bill through the GOP-led chamber. The Grassley-led HALT Act permanently reclassifies fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule 1 drug. In February 2020, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a temporary scheduling order reclassifying fentanyl-related substances to Schedule 1. Congress has since extended this order a total of 10 times. The act has received criticism from advocacy groups such as the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights stating that classwide drug rescheduling may exacerbate incarceration rates and sentencing. The presidents signing of the HALT Act Wednesday was attended by several Iowa officials including Grassley, Attorney General Brenna Bird and Rep. Randy Feenstra. The HALT Fentanyl Act is now the law of the land, marking a major victory in Americas fight against fentanyl, Grassley said in a press release. By permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I, the HALT Fentanyl Act will save American lives and prevent deadly fentanyl knockoffs from making their way into Iowa communities. This bill is a huge win for Iowa and the entire country, Bird said in a press release. As a mom and prosecutor, I am deeply aware of the devastating effects fentanyl has had on our communities. And as Attorney General, I hear about this issue from Iowans regularly. I applaud President Trump for signing into law the HALT Fentanyl Act and taking decisive action to keep fentanyl and other poisonous substances out of our country. Feenstra stated. In conjunction with our work to secure the border, this legislation will help law enforcement confiscate dangerous drugs, combat the drug cartels, and save lives. Rep. Ashley Hinson stated: This bill will help end the scourge of the opioid epidemic that has taken too many American lives we will continue working together to get dangerous drugs off our streets & ensure dealers are punished for their crimes. Rep. Zach Nunn also stated he proudly cosigned the HALT act for its ability to crack down on traffickers, keep deadly substances off our streets and ensure consistent penalties for fentanyl distributors. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks stated in a press release: As an original cosponsor in the House, I was proud to help lead the fight to get this bill across the finish line. With this law in place, were going on offense. Were giving law enforcement what they need to crack down, take control, and stop this poison from claiming more lives. Miller-Meeks also reintroduced a bipartisan bill Thursday requiring social media companies and other communication service providers to alert law enforcement officials when illegal drug distributions occur on their platforms. Iowa legislators praise cuts to foreign aid, public media All of Iowas delegates voted in favor of Trumps rescission bill to axe $9 billion in previously approved funding for programs including the U.S. Agency for International Aid, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio. The rescission bill passed both chambers of Congress Friday with a vote of 51-48 in the Senate and 216-213 in the House. This marks the second time in over three decades Congress has approved a presidential rescission request. Ernst praised the cuts to USAID, citing abuses such as an alleged $148,000 sent to a pickle-maker in Ukraine through USAID and $20 million spent on Sesame Street programming in Iraq. If we are ever going to get serious about our debt crisis, Congress needs to pass a rescissions bill like this every single week, she stated in a press release. Hinson responded to the bill with a statement on X: President Trump is the first president to actually deliver on real savings for the American people and end the culture of wasteful spending in Washington. Grassley took to X as well to state Fed govt is $36 TRILLION in debt Last night Sen Republicans voted to roll back DCs out of control spending. He added that Republicans plan to build on the provisions in the big, beautiful bill going forward. Miller-Meeks called the rescission cuts a one of two big wins for the American people in an X post. She also cheered the passing of a defense appropriations bill increasing military spending. Democrats in both the House and Senate voted against passing the rescission bill. Several Democratic legislators criticized the rescission bill for cutting funding from public broadcasting that will impact rural news sources and withdrawing U.S. support from countries in need. Ernst spearheads amendment to defense appropriations bill Ernst led an amendment to the defense appropriations bill to require all defense spending be posted on the public website USAspending.gov. This amendment will directly target Other Transaction Agreements which are flexible spending agreements not subject to standard acquisition laws and requirements. I am ending Pentagon bureaucrats game of hide and seek with your tax dollars, Ernst stated in a press release. Americans have a right to know where their hard-earned dollars are going. Ive long been working to make the Pentagon more transparent and accountable and will continue to work to review the hidden receipts. The expansive defense bill passed through the House with a split vote of 221-209 on Friday. It allocates nearly $832 billion for provisions such as: Basic pay increase for all military members by 3.8% starting 2026 Codifies Trumps executive order to end military diversity, equity and inclusion programs $13 billion for missile defense and space programs $7 billion for classified space superiority programs. $2.6 billion for hypersonic missiles. $1.15 billion for counterdrug programs $500 million for Israeli Missile Defense $500 million for Taiwan Security Operative Miller-Meeks responded to the provisions in a press release stating: This bill gives our troops the pay raise they deserve and the resources they need to defend this country. The bill moves to the Senate for reconciliation. Cedar Rapids to receive infrastructure funding from Grassley-backed bill Cedar Rapids is set to receive $25 million in federal funding through the Grassley-backed Infrastructure and Jobs Act of 2021. The funding is allocated for a flood resiliency project and road improvements on highway I-380. Im happy to announce that the City of Cedar Rapids is receiving a $25 million award to improve its flood resilience and infrastructure, Grassley said in a press release. You can imagine how important this funding is for Cedar Rapids, after the city has been hit by devastating floods. These federal dollars will be put to good use to strengthen the Cedar Rapids community. Moroccos industrial ambitions face a critical bottleneck as abundant renewable energy production outpaces the national grids transmission capacity, Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour warned Monday at the Industry Meeting Days in Casablanca. Speaking before industrial leaders at the events seventh edition, Mezzour highlighted a paradox threatening Moroccos competitive advantage: while the kingdom enjoys rare access to abundant and cheap renewable energy, transporting this power to industrial sites has become the primary obstacle to growth. Its not energy production constraining industry, its the capacity to transport it where factories are located, Mezzour explained, identifying transformers, cabling, and distribution infrastructure as unable to match industrial project pace. This disconnect could compromise development targets within reach. The minister dismissed traditional concerns about the three Fsfinancing, training, and landdeclaring them adequately addressed by public policies. Dont talk to me about the three Fs anymore. Talk to me about E. Energy, he stated, calling for massive investment in electrical networks through public-private partnerships involving ONEE and regional electricity companies. Morocco celebrates producing one million vehicles annually and entering electric battery value chains, yet energy transmission determines future competitiveness. With automotive and aerospace industries projected to triple and quadruple volumes by 2030, inadequate energy distribution could impose physical limits on growth. The warning comes as Morocco positions itself for accelerated industrial transition, leveraging royal vision, young talent, and competitive green energy. However, without urgent grid modernization, these advantages risk being neutralized by logistical constraints, potentially stalling the kingdoms industrial ambitions at a crucial juncture. Libyas Minister of Oil and Gas, Khalifa Abdulsadiq, has reiterated the countrys openness to strategic partnerships, particularly with European partners, as part of efforts to establish a sustainable energy business model. In a meeting with the European Union Ambassador to Libya on July 21, Nicola Orlando, Abdulsadiq emphasised that the green transition is central to Libyas Energy Vision 20302035, aligning with the EUs clean energy agenda. He further stressed the need to involve financial institutions in supporting this transition, especially through investments in human capital development and job creation across manufacturing, petrochemicals, and renewable energy sectors. Abdulsadiq highlighted Libyas dedication to environmental responsibility by reaffirming the ministrys zero gas flaring policy for all future energy projects. He also noted the ongoing Energy Generation awareness campaign, which seeks to foster a culture of sustainability and support Libyas long-term vision for an inclusive energy transition. These initiatives aim to position Libya not only as a traditional energy exporter but also as a proactive participant in global efforts toward decarbonisation and environmental stewardship. Discussions between both parties also centred on enhancing bilateral cooperation, with a shared understanding of Libyas pivotal role in ensuring regional energy security. Libyas considerable natural gas reserves and established export infrastructure make it a critical player in Europes energy landscape. The upcoming Libya International Gas Forum, scheduled for December, was identified as a strategic opportunity to attract EU-backed investment into Libyas gas sector and deepen collaboration in support of sustainable energy development. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings . Portugal, an Atlantic nation sharing centuries-old ties with many African countries, has reaffirmed its support for Moroccos autonomy plan as the most serious, credible and constructive basis to settle the Sahara issue. This came in a joint statement following talks in Lisbon Tuesday between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Portuguese peer Paulo Rangel. In the statement, Portugal recognized the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco, as well as the serious and credible efforts undertaken by the Kingdom within the framework of the United Nations to achieve a fair, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution. The two countries reaffirmed their support for UN Security Council Resolution 2756, which emphasizes the role and responsibility of the parties in seeking a realistic, pragmatic, and lasting political solution based on compromise, the statement added. Portugals position is part of a global momentum in favor of Moroccos historic rights to its southern provinces, the Sahara. It comes few weeks after the UK recognized the Moroccan plan as the only solution to the over-three-decade regional conflict. The UK has become the third Security Council member to back autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as a solution for the Sahara issue, following the example of the US and France. A growing number of countries have opened consulates in the Sahara territory, giving their support for Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara a tangible level. While most of the EU backs Moroccos autonomy plan, Ghana and Kenya have joined nearly half African states that recognize Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara. Juba, South Sudan (PANA) - South Sudans dramatic hunger crisis is worsening and millions of people there could miss out on food aid because of the global humanitarian funding crisis, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday Despite previous tensions, ExxonMobil and Chevron must now cooperate as joint venture partners to maximize production and profits from the high-potential Stabroek block. The acquisition followed a year-long arbitration battle initiated by ExxonMobil, which ultimately ruled in favor of Chevron. Chevron has completed its acquisition of Hess Corporation, gaining a 30% stake in Guyana's Stabroek offshore block, where ExxonMobil operates with a 45% stake. Following the completion of Chevrons acquisition of Hess Corporation, the U.S. supermajor will need to overcome a previously strained relationship with its biggest competitor at home, ExxonMobil, and work together as joint venture partners in the hottest oil province in the world, Guyanas offshore oil treasure trove. Chevrons foray into the fastest-growing exploration and production spot globally could also be a sign of whats to come for the biggest international oil and gas majors. Big Oil may be looking to acquire smaller companies with prized assets to boost reserves amid lower spending on exploration within the industry over the past five years. For Chevron, the acquisition of Hess, whose completion was announced last week, means the supermajor is now gaining 30% in Guyanas Stabroek offshore blockwhere the operator ExxonMobil is leading the production of more than 660,000 barrels per day (bpd) from several projects in the block. Chevrons deal was finalized after a more than a year-long arbitration battle initiated by Exxon, which challenged the Chevron-Hess deal, claiming it had a right of first refusal for Hesss stake under the terms of a joint operating agreement (JOA) for the Stabroek block. Hess and Chevron claimed the JOA doesnt apply to a case of a proposed full corporate merger. The arbitration case has reportedly strained the relationship between the top executives of the two biggest U.S. oil firms. In the legal fight, Chevron had much more to lose than Exxon because Guyanas resources were the key reason for pursuing Hess Corp, more than the reason for adding producing assets in the Bakken shale basin in North Dakota. With the arbitration ruling in favor of Chevron, the company announced the completion of the Hess acquisition, following the satisfaction of all necessary closing conditions, including a favorable arbitration outcome regarding Hess offshore Guyana asset. The combination enhances and extends our growth profile well into the next decade, which we believe will drive greater long-term value to shareholders, Chevron chairman and CEO Mike Wirth said in a statement. Chevron now owns a 30% position in the Guyana Stabroek Block, which has more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent discovered recoverable resource. Exxon is the operator of the Stabroek block with a 45% stake, and Chinas state firm CNOOC has the remaining 25% stake. The new shareholding composition of Guyanas prized oil asset means that Exxon and Chevron must put hard feelings aside and cooperate to boost their production and profits from the Stabroek block. The asset has a lot to offer, in terms of resources and money, to a company like Chevron, whose reserves replacement ratio has declined in recent years, and its oil and gas reserves have now reached the lowest level in at least a decade. During the past 10-year period, Chevrons reserves replacement ratio was 88%, it said at the Q4 earnings call in January. A ratio below 100% means that Chevron is depleting reserves faster than it can replace them. So far this year, Chevron has expanded production in Kazakhstan and started up production at the Ballymore oil project in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Guyanas offshore oil field is a top-performing asset with the potential to yield even more barrels and billions of U.S. dollars for the projects partners. Both Chevron and Exxon will benefit from Stabroek even at relatively lower oil prices, because the Guyana block is estimated to have a breakeven oil price of about $30 per barrel. Production capacity in Guyana is expected to surpass 1.7 million barrels per day, with gross production growing to 1.3 million barrels per day by 2030, Exxon says. Following the bitter arbitration dispute, Exxon and Chevron now must work together in Guyana, as they do in Kazakhstan and Australia, for example. Partnership is one of our core values, and we pride ourselves on being a good partner around the world with many, many different companies, Chevrons Wirth told Bloomberg last week. We partner with Exxon on projects elsewhere in the world and have for many many years, and Im sure we will find a way to move forward. Exxon welcomed Chevron to the joint venture in Guyana, signaling that Big Oil will collaborate on multi-billion-dollar projects to maintain a high reserves replacement ratio, production, and profits. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The ongoing push by EU countries to target Russias primary revenue sourceoil and gas exportshas received a significant boost. With its 18th sanctions package, the EU has agreed not only to hit Moscows energy sector harder but also to impose a significantly lower price cap on Russias oil exports. The package faced internal resistance, particularly from Slovakia, which had been blocking the deal over the past week. Slovakias current government holds a more pro-Russian stance and is concerned about the EUs goal to phase out Russian gas imports in the coming years. EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Kaja Kallas called it one of the strongest sanctions packages against Russia to date, stressing that each measure weakens Moscows war-making capacity. France played a leading role in pushing for this round of sanctions. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, Together with the United States we will force [Russian President] Vladimir Putin into a ceasefire. Slovakia ultimately agreed to the deal after assurances that it would receive economic support should gas prices spike as a result of cutting off Russian imports by the end of 2027. At the core of the new package is a 15% reduction in the oil price cap for third-party countries, set around $47.60 per barrel based on current benchmarks. While not a silver bullet, this aims to intensify economic pressure on Moscow. The G7s original 2022 cap of $60 has proven largely ineffective, as non-OECD countries continue importing Russian crudeenabling Russia to maintain export flows and expand its dark fleet of uninsured, aged vessels. The EU also sanctioned 100 more dark fleet tankers and is ramping up inspections in the Baltic Sea. A Russian refinery in India and two Chinese banks were added to the sanctions list. Yet Russia continues to exploit legal loopholesoften with the help of EU members themselves. Consultancy Windward reports that Greek-owned tankers shipped 7.8 million of the 22.2 million tons of Russian oil moved recently. Despite the price cap, most Russian crude ends up in China and Indiafar above the permitted price. Unless Brussels enforces these measures fully and holds member states like Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, and Hungary accountable, sanctions will remain porous. Military enforcement, naval patrols, and a hard line against Russian hydrocarbon exports via EU waters are the only paths to real impact. Athens must step up, following the example of the Baltic and Scandinavian nations. By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Mergers and acquisitions in the global upstream oil and gas sector clocked in at just over $80 billion in the first half of 2025, good for a 34% year-over-year decline amid volatile oil prices and tariff concerns by the Trump administration. According to Rystad Energy, M&A was particularly weak in the first quarter, with deal value totalling just $28 billion compared to $66 billion in the first quarter of 2024. This was largely as a result of lackluster activity in North America, with the regions share of global deal value dropping to 51% in the first half of the year, down from 71% in the first quarter. The slowdown in the U.S. M&A can largely be attributed to a dearth of opportunities in the Permian Basin, long considered North Americas M&A hotspot. Consequently, E&P companies are increasingly turning elsewhere as the Permian cools and asset values skyrocket: back in May, EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG) acquired Utica heavyweight Encino Energy for $5.6 billion; Diversified Energy (NYSE:DEC) bought Maverick Natural Resources for nearly $1.3 billion while Citadel paid $1.2 billion for Paloma Natural Gas. Canada has, however, continued on its hot M&A streak, with upstream M&A deal value hitting $11.9 billion in H1 2025--nearly equal to the countrys annual average over the past five years. Leading the charge was Whitecap Resources (OTCPK:WCPRF) acquisition of Veren for $15 billion, including net debt, as well as CNRLs purchase of Shell Plcs(NYSE:SHEL) stake in the Athabasca Oil Sands Project. Further, Strathcona Resources (OTCPK:STHRF) divested all its Montney assets and proposed a takeover of MEG Energy (OTCPK:MEGEF) in a deal that will turn it into a pure-play heavy oil company. Related: Saudi Arabias Crude Oil Exports Hit 3-Month High in May Outside North America, International M&A activity increased 37% year-on-year to $39.5 billion with a strong recovery in the second quarter overcoming a weak start to the year after deal values plunged nearly 60% Y/Y. Major transactions included ADNOC subsidiary XRGs bid for Australia's Santos Ltd (OTCPK:STOSF), accounting for nearly half of the total international deal value. A consortium led by ADNOC subsidiary XRG has made a $18.7 billion non-binding indicative offer to acquire Santos. The offer, valued at $5.76 per share, involves a potential scheme of arrangement for all of Santos' issued shares. The consortium includes Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company (ADQ) and Carlyle. Santos has granted XRG a six-week exclusive due diligence period to assess the proposal. Meanwhile, Italys National Oil Company (NOC), Eni S.p.A. (NYSE:E) sold its upstream assets in Africa to giant oil and commodity trader, Vitol, for $1.65 billion; Norways DNO ASA (OTCPK:DTNOF) acquired Sval Energi for $1.6 billion while Spains Repsol (OTCQX:REPYY) and UKs Nego Energys UK merged their North Sea upstream businesses to form Neo Next Energy. That said, a rumored-and-denied merger between BP Plc (NYSE:BP) and Shell (NYSE:SHEL) would no doubt seek to steal the M&A limelight, with deal value likely to approach $80 billion. Recent reports have emerged that Shell was considering a takeover of BP, potentially creating a European energy giant. However, Shell has explicitly stated it is not actively considering an offer for BP and has not held any talks with them regarding a possible acquisition. Shell has made a statement under Rule 2.8 of the UK Takeover Code, meaning the company is restricted from making an offer for BP for at least six months, except in specific circumstances. Interestingly, dealmaking in the natural gas sector has been robust, with deal values surging 30% in the first quarter. As Rystad notes, Big Oil companies are currently optimizing their portfolios to manage risk more effectively, a trend that is driving M&A in the gas sector. To wit, back in March, Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX) sold a 70% stake in its East Texas gas assets to TG Natural Resources for $525 million. The deal includes $75 million in cash and a $450 million capital carry to fund Chevron's Haynesville development. This transaction is part of Chevron's plan to divest $10-15 billion of assets by 2028. TGNR will become the majority owner of the East Texas gas assets and Chevron will retain a 30% non-operated interest and an overriding royalty interest. Similarly, Equinor (NYSE:EQNR) acquired a non-operating stake in EQT Corps (NYSE:EQT) Marcellus assets, helping the Norwegian energy giant to gain exposure to robust gas production with minimal operational risks. These non-operated joint ventures allow majors and international oil companies to focus on their core operational portfolios while maintaining exposure to US shale gas, which has a positive outlook due to upcoming liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects and rising energy demand from data centers. Retaining non-operated stakes also allows majors to secure feed gas for planned off-grid power plants focused on artificial intelligence (AI), noted Atul Raina, Rystad Energys Vice President, Upstream M&A Research. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The project is anticipated to create 10,000 jobs, generate 2 billion in annual savings for the low-carbon electricity system, and benefit approximately 3,500 businesses. Key investors in Sizewell C include Canadian investment fund La Caisse, British Gas owner Centrica, French state companies like EDF, and UK-based Amber Infrastructure and INPP. The Sizewell C nuclear power station project has been approved with a 38 billion investment, including a 44.9% initial stake from the UK government. The UK government signed on Tuesday the final investment decision to build the $51-billion Sizewell C nuclear power plant, which will help Britain generate more low-carbon electricity. The final investment decision was made possible after new investors joined the government and French energy giant EDF. The UK will have an initial 44.9% stake to become the single biggest equity shareholder in the project. The other shareholders include La Caisse with 20%, UK energy group Centrica with 15%, and Amber Infrastructure with an initial 7.6%. EDF is taking a 12.5% stake in the project, as well as a proposed $6.7 billion (5 billion) debt guarantee from Frances export credit agency, Bpifrance Assurance Export, to back the companys commercial bank loans. The funding model spreads the around $51 billion (38 billion) cost of constructing Sizewell C between consumers, taxpayers, and private investors, the government said, adding the model has been decided after the lessons learned from the Hinkley Point C project, which has racked up huge cost overruns. Were delighted to welcome new investors alongside Government and EDF who, like our suppliers, have strong incentives to keep costs under control and ensure we deliver Sizewell C successfully for consumers and taxpayers, Julia Pyke and Nigel Cann, Joint Managing Directors of Sizewell C, said today. Sizewell C was initially proposed years ago by Frances EDF and China General Nuclear Power Group. However, the UK government bought out the Chinese groups stake in 2022 amid concerns about Chinas influence. Sizewell C is the first British-owned nuclear power station to be announced in over three decades. The UK government has already committed billions of UK pounds of investment in Sizewell C on the Suffolk Coast in east England, including $19.5 billion (14.2 billion) announced in June to support the project. The UK has been betting big on nuclear power in recent years to boost its energy security and help reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Apart from major conventional nuclear power projects, the UK government is supporting Small Modular Reactors (SMR) technology development with competitions to unlock private finance, with a long-term ambition to bring forward one of the first SMR fleets in Europe. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a fresh round of peace talks with Moscow is set for July 23 in Turkey as the West steps up pressure on the Kremlin to agree to a cease-fire, even while Russian forces continue to launch deadly air strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. "Today, I discussed with Rustem Umerov the preparation for a prisoner exchange and another meeting with the Russian side in Turkey," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address on July 21, referring to the new head of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council. "Umerov reported that the meeting is planned for Wednesday [July 23]. More details will follow tomorrow," he added. Umerov previously was Ukraines defense minister and led the first two rounds of talks with Russia 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. "Everything should be done to achieve a cease-fire," Zelenskyy said in his regular evening address on July 19. "The Russian side should stop hiding from decisions," he added. 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. The Kremlin did not confirm the date or location for the next round of talks, saying only that it was waiting for more details and adding that the two sides still held "diametrically opposed" positions on ways to end the long, deadly conflict. "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. 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. Zelenskyy earlier told a meeting with Ukrainian diplomats that "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." 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, British defense chief John Healey, Germany's Boris Pistorius, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and NATO leader Mark Rutte were among those attending a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal called on allies to rush deliveries of US Patriot air-defense missile systems under the plan set out by Trump. I request the US to make these weapons available for purchase, and our European partners to extend all the needed financing for their procurement, Shmyhal told the meeting. Trump on July 14 announced that NATO members would send existing weapons, including Patriot missile systems, to Ukraine and that the United States will be reimbursed for all of the equipment. On the battlefront, 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 on July 20-21. "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. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, in Kyiv for talks with Zelenskyy, visited some of the affected areas. 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. Away from the battlefield, Ukraines Security Service (SBU) and the Prosecutor's Office said they detained officials from the country's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) in efforts to "neutralize Russian influence." The SBU said it had arrested one NABU official as a suspected Russian spy and another over suspected business links to Russia. NABU said some 70 searches had been conducted by law enforcement and security agencies in connection with 15 of its staff and alleged that they had taken place without court approval. "In most cases, the grounds cited for these actions are the alleged involvement of certain individuals in traffic accidents,' although it acknowledged that some of the employees were "accused of possible connections with the aggressor state [Russia]." By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Small refiners in the Shandong province, home to Chinas independent refineries, are restarting operations under new ownership in a move that could exacerbate Chinas overcapacity and thin-margin problems. Three refineries which went bankrupt last year are on track to be revivedone is already operational and talks about the restart of the other two are ongoing, unnamed traders and analysts have told Bloomberg. Shandong Changyi Petrochemical Co, previously operated by refining and chemicals giant Sinochem, was declared bankrupt last autumn due to slumping refining margins amid tepid fuel demand in China. Now independent refiner Weifang Hongrun Petrochemical Co has bought Shandong Changyi Petrochemical Co, according to Bloombergs sources. The plant resumed operations at the end of last month and is currently processing China-produced crude oil. Zhenghe Group Co and Shandong Huaxing Petrochemical Group Co, two other refiners who went belly up last year, are in talks with potential buyers, the sources with knowledge of the development have told Bloomberg. The three resurrected refineries in Shandong are all applying for government quotas to import crude oil, and the total ask from the three plants could be up to 300,000 barrels per day (bpd), Bloombergs sources said. The resurrection of the small refineries in the Shandong province, home to the so-called teapots, the independent refiners, adds to the central governments headaches in the refining industry. Chinas authorities have sought to curb overcapacity in heavy industries including refining and steel-making to prop company profit margins. However, local authorities in Shandong and other provinces where one industry dominates are strongly supporting the survival of companies as a driver of economic growth. The province of Shandong, for example, has recently raised the tax rebates for the fuel oil imports of six local refiners, looking to ease the downward pressure on margins and boost economic activity. The Shandong provincial government has increased the consumption tax rebates to which the refiners are entitled for sales of gasoline and diesel refined from imported fuel oil. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Despite posting second-quarter earnings in line with expectations, Halliburton Company (NYSE: HAL) warned on Tuesday that the oilfield services market will be softer in the short to medium term than previously expected. Halliburton reported today a net income of $472 million, or $0.55 per share, for the second quarter of 2025. Thats up from the net income of $204 million, or $0.24 per share, for the first quarter of 2025. The Q2 per-share earnings met the analyst consensus estimate of $0.55 compiled by The Wall Street Journal. North America revenues at Halliburton, the oilfield services giant with the highest exposure to the U.S. fracking market, were relatively flat sequentially in the second quarter, but fell by about 9% from a year earlier and stood at $2.26 billion. International revenue was $3.3 billion in the second quarter of 2025, up by 2% compared to the first quarter of 2025. However, revenues in the Middle East fell on the back of lower activity across multiple product service lines in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Halliburton said. What I see tells me the oilfield services market will be softer than I previously expected over the short to medium term, said Jeff Miller, chairman, president and CEO. We will of course take action to address this near term softness, and we remain fully committed to our shareholder returns framework, Miller added. Halliburton and the other oilfield services giants such as SLB and Baker Hughes have already flagged there would be lower revenues and profits this year amid a decline in oil prices and increased uncertainties about demand, drilling activity, production and drilling costs. Last week, SLB, the worlds biggest oilfield services provider, posted solid Q2 earnings, and CEO Olivier Le Peuch noted that the industry has demonstrated resilience in the face of uncertainties and lower prices. However, at the earnings call, Le Peuch said the total market is in slight decline in 2025 compared to 2024. North America, I think there is no secret that the short cycle has been declining in the last couple of months more deeply than everyone will anticipate. So it will represent certainly the highest, I would say, drag on to the total capex for the year, the executive said. The number of active drilling oil rigs in the U.S. is now down by 55 compared to this time last year, according to Baker Hughes latest weekly rig count data. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com New York, US (PANA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is appalled by the accelerating breakdown of humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where the last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing, his Spokesperson said on Monday Indonesia prepares to sign an $8-billion contract with U.S. engineering company KBR Inc to help it build 17 modular refineries, as part of the U.S.-Indonesia trade deal, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing sources with knowledge of the plans and a government presentation it has seen. Last week, Indonesia and the United States reached a trade deal, under which the U.S. tariffs on Indonesian products will be lowered to 19% from an initial levy of 32%. Indonesia was slapped with one of the highest tariffs - 32% - in the liberation day tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in early April. These tariffs were suspended for 90 days, during which the Trump Administration expected most countries to come pleading their cases and promising to boost their imports of U.S. goods to avoid high tariffs. Following weeks of negotiations, Indonesias products will now face a lower 19% -- tariff on entering the United States. Days before the deal was announced, Indonesias Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said his country would buy billions of U.S. dollars worth of American oil and oil products if the U.S. tariffs on Indonesian goods are lowered. Indonesia, Southeast Asias biggest economy, has signaled it would offer to buy an additional $10 billion worth of American oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Indonesia also plans to slash its fuel imports from Singapore and source more refined products from the United States as the country looks to negotiate lower tariffs with the U.S. Argus reported in May that state energy firm Pertamina is considering importing oil products from the United States. Now Indonesias sovereign wealth fund Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Board (Danantara) is preparing to sign an $8-billion deal with KBR for the construction of modular refineries, according to Reuters sources. As part of the trade deal with the U.S., Indonesia will also buy 50 Boeing aircraft and ease its local content requirements for U.S. investors including Apple and General Electric. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Indian refiners would likely need to tap the services of fuel traders to find new markets for their output following the European Unions approval of its 18th sanction package against Russia. The package specifically targets oil derivatives made from Russian crude in third countries. India is one of the largest buyers of Russian crude, and a lot of the fuels it makes from that crude end up on the European marketor so they did until last Friday. Per Reuters, Indias Reliance Industries, the biggest buyer of Russian crude, exported 2.83 million barrels of diesel and 1.5 million barrels of jet fuel monthly to Europe in the period between January and July this year. This is going to change in six months when the latest sanctions kick in. Things are going to change for Nayara Energy, a large Indian refiner, in which Russias Rosneft has a sizable stake. Nayara Energy was named specifically among entities to be sanctioned by the EU. The Indian company condemned the sanctions as unjust and unilateral, echoing New Delhis official response to the sanction package, which said the Indian government did not support that package. Rosneft also had comments on the news, saying that The Nayara Energy refinery is a strategically important asset for the Indian energy industry, providing a stable supply of petroleum products to the country's domestic market. The imposition of sanctions against the refinery directly threatens India's energy security and will have a negative impact on its economy. According to trading sources that Reuters spoke to, alternative markets for Indian fuels could be found in Asia or the fuels could go into floating storage in the Middle East and West Africa and get re-exported from there. This is good news for traders but not so good news for either producers or consumerstheir bills are going to go up. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Mexicos Finance Ministry announced Tuesday it will launch a new financial operation to support the countrys embattled state oil company, Pemexthe most indebted energy firm in the world. The operation involves issuing Pre-Capitalized Notes, a form of financing designed to strengthen Pemexs balance sheet without a direct government guarantee. The planpart of an ongoing effort to prop up a company mired in debt, production decline, and operational dysfunctionis noticeably short on specifics. Pemex reported a $2 billion loss in Q1 2025, following a $9.1 billion loss in Q4 2024. Crude production has fallen to 1.58 million barrels per daywell below the governments 1.8 million bpd target. Exports have collapsed too, plunging 44% in January to their lowest levels since 1990. The company has responded by slashing 3,000 jobs, restructuring its leadership, and announcing plans to reopen thousands of idle wellsefforts that require capital it doesnt have. Meanwhile, Pemex is juggling more than $105 billion in financial debt and over $20 billion in unpaid supplier bills. Refining output has stagnated, and issues with crude qualityincluding high water contenthave alienated key buyers. Despite a 2024 cash infusion from the federal government, Pemexs working capital remains deeply negative. The use of Pre-Capitalized Notes appears to be a way to inject liquidity without triggering broader credit concerns or formal bailouts. But the underlying issue remains: Pemexs financial health depends heavily on political will. Past interventions have come with the quiet backing of Wall Street banks and oilfield service giants like SLB, which issued over $1 billion in credit-default swaps last year to keep Pemex solvent. With production declining and global energy markets shifting, Mexicos latest move may buy Pemex timebut without structural reform or a credible path to profitability, its just another patch on a cracking hull. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Oil prices drifted lower early Tuesday in Asian markets, weighed down by escalating trade tensions between the worlds largest economies and mounting signs of rising crude supply. The looming threat of an economic slowdown with the potential to curb fuel demand growth is driving bearish sentiment. At the time of writing, Brent crude was down 0.71% at $68.72 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude had slipped 0.60% to $66.80 a barrel. The declines follow modest losses on Monday, with both benchmarks struggling for direction amid mixed signals from the global economy and oil markets. The August WTI contract, set to expire today, was trading at a discount to the more active September contract, which dipped 52 cents to $65.43 a barrel, reflecting near-term softness as traders weigh market fundamentals. Trade War Anxiety Dampens Demand Outlook Investor concerns are centered on the brewing trade dispute between the United States and the European Union. EU diplomats signaled that Brussels is preparing a wider range of retaliatory measures after Washington threatened to impose a 30% tariff on EU imports from August 1 unless a deal is struck. Market analysts warn that this escalation, following a broader global trend of rising protectionism, could weaken economic growth and erode oil demand prospects. "Prices have slipped as trade war concerns offset the support provided by a softer U.S. dollar," said Tony Sycamore, market analyst at IG. A weaker dollar typically boosts crude demand by making oil cheaper for holders of other currencies. Supply Risks Abate as Middle East Tensions Ease Oil markets have remained largely range-bound since the June 24 ceasefire between Israel and Iran, which calmed fears of a supply disruption in the Middle Easta critical producing region. Since then, Brent has traded in a narrow $5.19 range and WTI in a $5.65 range, reflecting a market that appears to be in balance despite headlines. Supply-side pressures have also emerged, as OPEC+ unwinds production cuts amid signs of recovering supply. Data released Monday showed that Saudi Arabias crude exports in May climbed to their highest level in three months, according to the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI). The increase reinforces expectations that more barrels are flowing back into the market just as economic headwinds gather strength. Outlook With U.S.-EU trade tensions intensifying, oil prices are likely to remain capped despite some support from currency factors. Investors will be closely watching next weeks economic data releases for signs of demand resilience, while also monitoring OPEC+ supply dynamics. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Turkey has proposed a new energy cooperation deal to Iraq that expands on their previous relations in that sector, a government official in Baghdad told Reuters following the news that Turkey was looking to renegotiate a decades-long agreement with Iraq for oil transport. On Monday, the Turkish government said it would not seek to renew the pipeline deal after its expiration a year from now. The original agreement, first inked in 1973, concerns the pipeline carrying oil from the semi-autonomous Iraqi region of Kurdistan to the Turkish port of Ceyhan on the Mediterranean. Flows along the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, which has a capacity for 1.6 million barrels daily, have now been suspended for two years amid a financial dispute between Ankara and Baghdad. The shutdown followed an International Chamber of Commerce court ruling in favor of Baghdad in a case against Turkey that claimed that the latter should not have allowed for the flow of oil from Kurdistan to Ceyhan without the express approval of the government in Baghdad. Initially, Turkey said it would abide by the courts decision, but later, the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources said that the court had, in fact, ruled that Iraq should compensate Turkey for violating an oil export deal the two countries had. The new proposal, per that Iraqi official whom Reuters did not name, includes cooperation in oil, gas, and electricity. The Ministry of Oil is in the process of reviewing the draft agreement sent by the Turkish side and negotiating with them regarding it to reach a formula that serves the interests of Iraq and Turkey, the official said. Meanwhile, oil production in Kurdistan is suffering sizable disruptions resulting from drone attacks believed to be carried out by Iran-affiliated groups in the semi-autonomous region. So far, these attacks have affected some 200,000 barrels daily in production. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The UN World Health Organisation (WHO) has condemned in the strongest terms the attacks on a building housing its staff in Deir al Balah in Gaza, the mistreatment of those sheltering there, and the destruction of its main warehouse By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com Taxpayers in Portland will be asked in November to increase by 75 percent the amount they pay in taxes to support city parks, trails, community centers, swimming pools, and other recreational services. An Axios analysis shows that the Portland Parks & Recreation Bureau spends around $233 per resident on parks, compared to the national average of other parks at $124. That is an 80% increase more than other park departments. The proposal would replace the expiring levy of 80 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to $1.40. That means the owner of a $221,600 homethe median home value in the citywould see their parks levy jump from $177 a year to $310. If approved, commercial property owners who pay about $251 a year would pay about $440. The 11-member Portland City Council voted unanimously to put the increase on the November ballot, which would raise $84 million the first year. If it fails, parks officials say theyll need to cut $90 million from its $170 million annual budget and lay off half its staff. BLOOMINGTON A 17-year-old boy charged with murder is being detained in the McLean County Jail after prosecutors said he told police he shot a man last week. Cameron A. House of Bloomington appeared in custody Monday for a detention hearing, in which Judge Amy McFarland heard arguments on whether he should be detained or released pending trial. House is charged with four counts of first-degree murder; one count of unlawful use of a weapon, a Class X felony; one count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a gang member, a Class 2 felony; and two counts of FOID card violation, Class 3 felonies. Assistant State's Attorney Aaron Fredrick filed a petition to detain House arguing the defendant's release would pose a danger to the community that couldn't be mitigated by other measures. House was represented by Assistant Public Defender Matthew Butler. According to the probable cause statement provided by the McLean County State's Attorney's Office, Bloomington officers were dispatched at 11:34 p.m. July 17 to the 1700 block of West Illinois Street for reports of a man being shot in the head. Upon arrival, officers found located Darius Floyd, 35, lying in the grass in front of a residence with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Floyd, a Bloomington resident, was transported to Carle BroMenn Medical Center's Emergency Department where he was pronounced deceased at 2:14 a.m. July 18, according to a news release from the Bloomington Police Department and the McLean County Coroner's Office. Officers searched the area where Floyd had been shot and located a fired bullet and a fired 9 mm shell casing, according to the probable cause statement. A witness told police Floyd had been inside an apartment before the shooting. When Floyd received a phone call, he took a black and white Nike backpack and left, the witness said. The probable cause statement notes the backpack was not recovered from the scene. About 15 to 20 minutes after Floyd left the apartment, this witness heard a single gunshot. Another witness told police he saw the shooting. The witness described the shooter as a 16 or 17 year old Black male, with his hair in locs and tattoos on his arms. the witness said he was familiar with the teenager who fired the shot and later identified him in a photo lineup. The witness also told police he saw the teen run east on Illinois Street after the shooting. This aligned with the description provided by the 911 caller, who said the shooter was a 17 or 18 year old Black male with locs, wearing a backpack and holding a gun. The caller said he ran eastbound away from the area. Video footage recorded on a Bloomington public safety camera in the area captured an SUV that was parked nearby for about 10 minutes before officers were dispatched for the shooting. Shortly after the 911 call but before police arrived, the vehicle left. Police made contact with the driver of the vehicle, and the driver told officers about picking up House from the area, noting "he smelled like gun powder," according to the probable cause statement. The driver told police House put the clothes he was wearing into the backpack he carried and asked to keep the bag in the car. House, who the driver positively identified in a photo, stayed in a residence in the 1400 block of West Wood Street until the morning after the shooting, the driver said. Officer searched the vehicle with the owner's consent and found the backpack containing clothing, but no firearm, according to the probable cause statement. Police also searched the residence where House stayed and found him in a detached garage. He was taken into custody. House told police he had been holding what he described as a "19X" gun for Floyd. According to the Glock website, a 19X firearm is described as a crossover pistol. House said he brought the gun to Floyd, who became angry when House reached toward his waist. "The defendant took the 19X, racked the slide and put the gun to his (the defendant's) back," according to the probable cause statement. House told police he "feared for his life" and pulled out his gun, a 9 mm Ruger LC9 handgun. He said he pointed the gun at Floyd, fired a single shot and watched Floyd fall to the ground. House told officers he then took the 19X handgun and ran. The defendant also said a third person was present for the altercation and tried to calm Floyd down, according to court documents. When contacted by Bloomington police, that person denied being present for the shooting. After the shooting, House told police he removed the bullets from his gun and put them into the 19X. He hid his gun under a storage shed and hid the victim's gun in the garage, according to the probable cause statement. Officers searched the property and located each gun where the defendant said he had hidden them. They also found a "switch" device with the Ruger. A "switch" is an aftermarket part that puts pressure on the trigger bar of the weapon and stops a semi-automatic firearm from firing just one round every time the user pulls the trigger, Bloomington police have previously said. House told police the switch was originally attached to the Floyd's gun, but he had brought back the switch to the residence on Wood Street, where he removed it. House acknowledged he knew a switch makes a gun capable of firing fully automatic, according to the probable cause statement. Since he is under 18, House does not possess a Illinois Firearm Owner's Identification Card and he was ineligible to obtain one, having previously been adjudicated for gun-related offenses. Bloomington police also identified House as a street gang member, based on previous investigations and interviews. In making her decision to detain him, McFarland said it is "clear that the defendant does not follow court orders," noting House has been known to possess weapons in the past, he has access to them and he would likely continue to use a gun if released. McFarland additionally noted House is currently on probation for a juvenile offense and violated court orders by committing a new offense. The judge also took note of the defendant's statements to police and ruled House should be detained pending trial. An arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 8. A booking photo was not available because of the defendant's age. Offer Description - Offering agropellets from sunflower, rapeseed, straw, FCA Ukraine Our company sells agropellets from sunflower, rapeseed, straw. Price FCA 120-140 /ton. Delivery from Ukraine. If you buy agropellets please send your inquiry pointing the specifications needed and the volume you buy monthly. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Xabi Oregi from Pexels In September 2024, members of the United Nations adopted the Pact for the Future at the Summit of the Future, held in New York City. The pact, including its two annexes on the Declaration on Future Generations and the Global Digital Compact, builds on multilateral agreements following the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The pact commits to "protect the needs and interests of present and future generations through the actions stated in the pact." These actions address the digital divide, inclusion, digital space that respects human rights and promotes responsible governance of artificial intelligence (AI). Additionally, the Declaration on Future Generations includes 10 principles and some actions. The pact also encourages accelerated development of AI, while considering both its positive and negative aspects within a broader aim to protect human rights. Meeting needs As the former co-chair of the Earth Commission and current co-chair of the UN 10-member group, I have worked on incorporating justice issues within environmental studies. Along with my colleagues, we recently published an article where we explain how we have developed Earth system boundaries based on the principle of not causing significant harm to others as part of a broader human rights and Earth systems justice approach. While the pact acknowledges and builds on the Sustainable Development Goals, it does not adequately take into account the latest science that shows we have crossed many safe and just Earth system boundaries. There's also a challenge here: if we were to meet everyone's minimum needs as required by the social Sustainable Development Goals, we will cross boundaries further. A human rights approach The pact and its annexes make reference to justice, future generations and Africa. Justice is anchored in a human rights approach. The pact only mentions reducing harm in relation to digital platforms and explosive weapons, but this could be strengthened with the addition of the no-harm principlenot causing significant harm to human and non-human othersin other areas such as climate change. Other forms of justice are scarcely accounted for. These include epistemic justice (or how different knowledge systems are included), and data justice (the right to create, control, access, apply and profit from data). Procedural justicethe right to information, decision-making, civic space and courts relating to the allocation of resources and responsibilitiesis also vital. Other important forms of justice include recognition justice, interspecies, and intragenerational justice. Earth system justice is needed to identify and live within Earth system boundaries and equitably share resources and risks. The pact notes that "if we do not change course, we risk tipping into a future of persistent crisis and breakdown," but it does not make reference to the latest science on planetary boundaries. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Climate justice We argue that implementing the pact requires recognizing how boundaries, foundations and inequality are inextricably linked together. The Earth Commission argues that safe planetary boundaries are not necessarily just. To minimize significant harm to others, it may be necessary to have more stringent targets. For example, 1.5C is the proposed safe climate boundary for climate change, while 1C is the proposed just boundary since, at this level, already tens of millions of people are exposed to extreme heat and humidity. Eight safe and just boundaries for climate, water, nutrients, biosphere and aerosols have been identified, seven of which have been crossed. In terms of foundations, theoretically, meeting people's minimum needs would lead to further crossing these boundaries. We need to recognize that living within safe and just boundaries requires meeting everyone's minimum needs. This requires deploying efficient technologies and redistributing resources to make up the deficit. But governments are reluctant to take this approach, probably because it limits the use of resources and sinks. Technological support Living within climate boundaries will require a just transition. Globally, if we wish to remain below the safe climate boundary, we will have to completely stop using fossil fuels. Since most remaining fossil fuel reserves are in the developing world, this will put a heavy burden on them. At the same time, climate impacts are considerable, so finance for a just energy transformation is needed. While the pact restates the importance of the 2030 agenda in bolstering sustainable development, it lacks a credible mechanism for monitoring whether the national pledges are implemented. This will require strong collaboration among policy, science and the private sector. There is a wealth of information in Earth observations from space that can assist in monitoring progress. This information, if made available to researchers and policymakers, can be integrated into national, regional and global environmental risk assessments. Digital twins are another technological development that can support these assessments. The European Commission's Digital Twin of the Ocean, for example, is a virtual model. It integrates diverse ocean data sources and leverages the power of big data, advanced computing and AI to provide real-time insights and scenario simulations under a variety of conditions. Such systems can enhance our ability to cope with environmental challenges. As AI is likely to dramatically develop in the few two years, it is critical to be ready to shape and use its potential in a positive way to implement the Pact while reducing its dependence on fossil fuels. A 'cash flow crisis' Finally, the pact calls for urgent, predictable and stable funding for the UN and developing countries. This will enable UN bodies to deliver services and administer programs in accordance with international law. The UN Secretariat is facing a severe "cash flow crisis," as major contributors are paying too late or too little. The UN Honor Roll lists member states that have paid membership fees in full: 151 of 193 countries paid in full, but only 51 of them on time in 2024. Among 13 countries with assessed fees of more than US$50 million, only Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, Germany and Italy paid on time. With most members paying late, and large ones not paying till later or only partially, this severely constrains the ability of the UN to provide planned, impartial and inclusive services to the global community. There is also a need for funding to enable developing countries to adapt and transform. But if such funding comes through loans, this may further exacerbate existing developing country debt: in 2023, developing countries made debt repayments of US$1.4 trillion. We need redistribution of resources. Until then, it is critical that new technologies such as AI are deployed to help us return within the boundaries and meet minimum needs without exacerbating climate change through its fossil fuels dependence. The UN plays a critical role in facilitating human, environmental and earthy system justice, but shrinking resources hamper its ability to deliver. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Rescue teams at one of the landslides following the Taiwan earthquake. Credit: Taitung County Government via Wikimedia Commons Researchers from the University of Cambridge are using AI to speed up landslide detection following major earthquakes and extreme rainfall eventsbuying valuable time to coordinate relief efforts and reduce humanitarian impacts. On April 3, 2024, a magnitude 7.4 quakeTaiwan's strongest in 25 yearsshook the country's eastern coast. Stringent building codes spared most structures, but mountainous and remote villages were devastated by landslides. When disasters affect large and inaccessible areas, responders often turn to satellite images to pinpoint affected areas and prioritize relief efforts. But mapping landslides from satellite imagery by eye can be time-intensive, said Lorenzo Nava, who is jointly based at Cambridge's Departments of Earth Sciences and Geography. "In the aftermath of a disaster, time really matters," he said. Using AI, he identified 7,000 landslides after the Taiwan earthquake, and within three hours of the satellite imagery being acquired. Since the Taiwan earthquake, Nava has been developing his AI method alongside an international team. By employing a suite of satellite technologiesincluding satellites that can see through clouds and at nightthe researchers hope to enhance AI's landslide detection capabilities. Their study is published in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences. Multiplying hazards Triggered by major earthquakes or intense rainfall, landslides are often worsened by human activities such as deforestation and construction on unstable slopes. In certain environments, they can trigger additional hazards such as fast-moving debris flows or severe flooding, compounding their destructive impact. Nava's work fits into a larger effort at Cambridge to understand how landslides and other hazards can set off cascading "multihazard" chains. The CoMHaz group, led by Maximillian Van Wyk de Vries, Professor of Natural Hazards in the Departments of Geography and Earth Sciences, draws on information from satellite imagery, computer modeling and fieldwork to locate landslides, understand why they happen and ultimately predict their occurrence. They're also working with communities to raise landslide awareness. In Nepal, Nava and Van Wyk de Vries teamed up with local scientists and the Climate and Disaster Resilience in Nepal (CDRIN) consortium to pilot an early warning system for Butwal, which sits beneath a massive unstable slope. Improved AI-detection Nava is training AI to identify landslides in two types of satellite imagesoptical images of the ground surface and radar data, the latter of which can penetrate cloud cover and even acquire images at night. Radar images can, however, be difficult to interpret, as they use grayscale to depict contrasting surface properties and landscape features can also appear distorted. These challenges make radar data well-suited for AI-assisted analysis, helping extract features that may otherwise go unnoticed. By combining the cloud-penetrating capabilities of radar with the fidelity of optical images, Nava hopes to build an AI-powered model that can accurately spot landslides even in poor weather conditions. His trial following the 2024 Taiwan earthquake showed promise, detecting thousands of landslides that would otherwise go unnoticed beneath cloud cover. But Nava acknowledges that there is still more work needed, both to improve the model's accuracy and its transparency. He wants to build trust in the model and ensure its outputs are interpretable and actionable by decision-makers. "Very often, the decision-makers are not the ones who developed the algorithm," said Nava. "AI can feel like a black box. Its internal logic is not always transparent, and that can make people hesitant to act on its outputs. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. "It's important to make it easier for end users to evaluate the quality of AI-generated information before incorporating it into important decisions." This is something he is now addressing as part of a broader partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Telecommunication Union's AI for Good Foundation and Global Initiative on Resilience to Natural Hazards through AI Solutions. At a recent working group meeting at the ESA Center for Earth Observation in Italy, the researchers launched a data-science challenge to crowdsource efforts to improve the model. "We're opening this up and looking for help from the wider coding community," said Nava. Beyond improving the model's functionality, Nava says the goal is to incorporate features that explain its reasoningpotentially using visualizations such as maps that show the likelihood of an image containing landslides to help end users understand the outputs. "In high-stakes scenarios like disaster response, trust in AI-generated results is crucial. Through this challenge, we aim to bring transparency to the model's decision-making process, empowering decision-makers on the ground to act with confidence and speed." More information: Lorenzo Nava et al, Brief communication: AI-driven rapid landslide mapping following the 2024 Hualien earthquake in Taiwan, Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.5194/nhess-25-2371-2025 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A team of European researchers has shed new light on the genetic origins of Papua New Guineans. The team uses advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools to demonstrate that Papua New Guineans are closely related to other Asian populations. They share a common ancestry from the same Out of Africa event that also gave rise to other non-African groups. The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications. Papua New Guineans look strikingly different from other Asian groups and share some features with Sub-Saharan African populations, which has fueled theories that they might have descended separately from other non-African populations. According to lead author Dr. Mayukh Mondal, the unique physical features of Papua New Guineans probably come from natural selection: "Perhaps adaptations to tropical climates make them look more like Sub-Saharan African groups, even though their genetics clearly link them to other Asian populations. More studies are needed to uncover how evolution shaped this remarkable population." The genetic origin remains unresolved Scientists generally agree that modern humans left Africa about 50,000 to 70,000 years ago, spreading into Europe, Asia, and beyond. Early archaeological studies have suggested that the ancestors of Papua New Guineans came from a separate, earlier migration (also known as the First Out of Africa hypothesis), taking a coastal route through India and Southeast Asia. Archaeological evidence confirms that some of the Papuan New Guineans' genetic ancestry could have come from this First out of Africa event. This is because the earliest human site in Oceania dates back to around 50,00060,000 years ago, older than Europe's oldest sites. In recent decades, advances in DNA sequencing have tested this First out of Africa hypothesis. However, studies of maternal (mitochondrial) and paternal (Y-chromosome) DNA have found no clear evidence that the main ancestry of Papua New Guineans came from an earlier migration. Instead, analyses suggest that their lineages connect to other non-African populations. Still, we cannot rule out a traced number of ancient migrations from the First out of Africa population. Interestingly, the Papua New Guinean genome carries a significant percentage of Denisovan DNAa ghostly relative of Neanderthals. This unique inheritance likely came from mixing with Denisovans in Southeast Asia or Oceania, another element that confirms the complexity of Papua New Guinean ancestry. Despite this research, the genetic origin of Papuan New Guineans remains unresolved. Did Papua New Guineans split off before Europeans and Asians? Or have similar populations contributed to their genome? Did they carry ancestry from the enigmatic First out of Africa population? Or are they part of the same family tree as other Asians living in proximity? Unique demographic history In this study, scientists used high-quality genomic data and AI-powered models to compare different demographic scenarios for the origin of the Papuan New Guineans' genetic diversity. Their results suggest that Papua New Guineans are a sister group to other Asian populations. Contributions from a First Out of Africa migration might not be needed to explain their origins. The researchers found that the ancestors of Papuan New Guineans went through a dramatic population bottleneckmost likely their numbers dropped sharply after reaching Papua New Guinea and stayed low for thousands of years. Unlike other non-African groups, they did not experience the farming-driven population boom that reshaped Europe and Asia. This unique demographic history left genetic signatures thatif misunderstoodcould look like evidence of a contribution from an unknown population. More information: Mayukh Mondal et al, Resolving out of Africa event for Papua New Guinean population using neural network, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61661-w Journal information: Nature Communications Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - The humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to deepen as cholera spreads, flooding displaces communities, and thousands of people return to areas with little to no support, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Brazilian coastal municipalities. Brazil includes 5,570 municipalities distributed across 27 states, of which 280 in 17 states are located along the Atlantic coastline. Credit: npj Ocean Sustainability (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44183-025-00112-x A study conducted by researchers from the University of Sao Paulo (USP) in Brazil has revealed the structure of the so-called "blue economy" in the countrythe set of economic activities that depend directly on marine resources. Using an interregional input-output model, the researchers mapped the direct and indirect impacts of these activities. This highlighted the economic importance of the coast and its deep connection with the country's interior. The research was conducted by Eduardo Haddad, a full professor in the Department of Economics at the School of Economics, Business, Accounting and Actuary (FEA-USP), and Inacio Araujo, a postdoctoral researcher in the same department. An article on the subject is published in the journal Ocean Sustainability. "What we brought as an innovation was the measurement of the so-called ocean economy, with emphasis on the geographical dimension and the interconnection of the productive structure. This generated knowledge that can serve as a basis for other models," says Haddad. According to the study, activities directly linked to the blue economy accounted for 2.91% of gross domestic product (GDP) and 1.07% of national employment in 2019. The most relevant sectors in the composition of this Blue GDP were oil and natural gas extraction (60.4%), followed by public administration and defense (7.4%), and storage and transportation (7.3%). "In terms of value, the bulk is in offshore oil, which contributes more than 60% of Brazil's Blue GDP. The other almost 40% is distributed among clusters such as defense, coastal tourism, maritime transport, and fishing," says the researcher. One of the main results of the study was demonstrating the interconnectedness of the marine economy with economic chains in non-coastal areas. Taking into account the indirect effects of linkages with other sectors, the impact of the blue economy rises to 6.39% of GDP and 4.45% of national employment. "It's as if I pulled a plant out of the ground and along came the whole root, which had spread very far. When we remove an activity linked to the sea, such as fishing, from the economy as a whole, it affects the entire value chain backwards and forwards. I often joke that it's through this economic interconnection that the sea arrives in Minas Gerais," explains Haddad, referring to the only one of the four states in Brazil's Southeast region without an outlet to the sea. Although the Brazilian blue economy is heavily concentrated in the Southeast, with Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Espirito Santo accounting for 82% of direct production, the study reveals a variety of regional specializations. "What we see are various regional nuances in coastal economies and this has important implications for the design of sustainable development policies," Haddad argues. "Hence the title of our study: 'Shades of Blue.'" While the Southeast and part of the South stand out in oil extraction and maritime transport, the Northeast is more specialized in coastal tourism and artisanal fishing. According to the researcher, "the economy of the sea is important in different ways, depending on the region. In Rio de Janeiro, it's oil; in Ceara, it's tourism and fishing." The study also ranks the 50 municipalities with the greatest economic activity related to the sea. These municipalities account for 90% of national activity in this sector. "Of the 280 coastal municipalities, most of the most important are in the state of Rio de Janeiro, largely due to oil exploration," says Haddad. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The authors of the study argue that Brazil needs to overcome the fragmentation of maritime policies. Despite having the National Policy for Sea Resources and the National Maritime Policy, there is still no effective articulation to transform ocean resources into sustainable development. "What we've done is adopt an integrated approach that measures not only the direct effect of activities related to the sea, but also their interactions with other economic activities located both on the coast and inland," Haddad stresses. "The rationale is to allow regional public policies to be better calibrated to the reality of each territory." The methodology developed in the study is already being applied in places with economies that depend heavily on the sea, such as on the island of Madeira and in the Azores (Portugal), as well as in Peru. "Our aim is to contribute to the formulation of more just, territorially sensitive, and effective environmental and economic decisions," Haddad concludes. More information: Eduardo A. Haddad et al, Shades of blue: the regional structure of the ocean economy in Brazil, npj Ocean Sustainability (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44183-025-00112-x Journal information: npj Ocean Sustainability Provided by FAPESP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Kampus Production from Pexels It has long been established that emotions reflect in our voicethis helps us communicate more purposefully and gives listeners cues as to how they should interpret what we say. But what emotions predominate in complaintsand how do they differ between groups? Researchers in Switzerland and Canada investigated and published their findings in Frontiers in Communication. "Complaining is differentiated from neutral speech by changes in vocal expression. Complainers tend to change their intonation, pitch, rhythm, and emphasis, making them sound more emotive and expressive," said first author Dr. Mael Mauchand, a neuroscientist at the Swiss Center for Affective Sciences at the University of Geneva. "We show that complaining strategies show specific variations across two francophone cultures, with Quebecois sounding more angry or surprised and French speakers sounding sadder." Conventions for complaints Knowing in detail what complaints sound like could help researchers understand how they are perceived and how they elicit empathy in others. For the experiment, the researchers recruited eight speakers (four French and four Quebecois) who recorded 84 short sentences in a neutral and a complaining voiceirrespective of linguistic content. Then, 40 people living in Quebec, half of whom had grown up in France, assessed the emotions (happy, sad, angry, surprised, fearful, disgusted) in a selection of utterances. "Complaining strategies seem consistent toward defining a general 'complaining tone of voice', with a few specific cultural variations," Mauchand explained. For example, complaints were delivered with a higher and more variable pitch as well as louder and slower in general. These parameters differed slightly between cultures, for example, the French spoke at a higher pitch. In contrast, Quebecois showed greater pitch variability, which indicates more pronounced changes in intonation across their complaint. Sad or angry? Complaints reconstruct emotional states and speakers complain to convey or re-live a negative experience. Accordingly, they convey strong emotions that stress this negativity. On an emotional level, listening participants rated Quebecois as sounding angrier, more surprised, and more disgusted than French speakers, whereas French speakers were rated as sounding sadder. "There may be cultural norms on what a complaint sounds like in France or in Quebec, influenced by their use," Mauchand explained. "The French are said to complain quite oftenif complaining is frequent and ritualized, it makes sense that complainers try to make their voice sound less aggressive, for example by using higher intonation and sounding more sad than angry." On the other hand, Quebecois are generally more expressive in their speech, which might explain why high-arousal emotions like surprise or anger are more prominent in their complaints. "There may be social conventions on what a complaint sounds like in a particular culture, which can be learned as we grow up," Mauchand pointed out. "How we complain is a subtle interplay between emotion, social context, and cultural display rules." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Beyond words The researchers pointed out that their sample size, limited in both the number of speakers and cultures represented, could mean their results aren't generalizable. In addition, complaints may take other forms in longer statements or interactions. Further research could examine if such cultural differences can be found in speakers of the same language who grew up in different cultures. While the trend might be universal, such variations could depend on the cultural importance of complaints: how often a culture complains, why people complain, and how complaints are received by others, the team said. The work highlights the critical role of the tone of voice in social interactions and the information may be used in studies about communication disorders and in therapy training. "As an immediate application, it could encourage people to be more attentive," concluded Mauchand. "Not just to what people say, but how they say itand what it implies." More information: The Sound of Complaints, Frontiers in Communication (2025). DOI: 10.3389/fcomm.2025.1592994 Provided by Frontiers This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Productivity is top of mind for Australia's Albanese government. Treasurer Jim Chalmers is convening a productivity roundtable, bringing together union and business groups, and seeking public submissions "to unlock new ideas and build consensus around reforms." Concerns about productivity are not new: Australia faces declining productivity growth, which risks affecting our national prosperitythat is, how well-off you and I are. But the Productivity Commission says we have a "productivity predicament": productivity growth is not just slowingin 2023 and 2024, it stopped. In terms of the big picture, that means incomes will be lower and working time will be longer. But here's an idea. Counterintuitive it may be, but rather than demanding longer working hours from workers to achieve the same economic outputs, what if our employers and politicians started to realize that the four-day week could itself boost productivity? The four-day week involves workers keeping the same level of pay, while working only four days (or 30 to 32 hours) per week. This would be considered full-time, as they would still be doing the same amount of work. The non-profit 4 Day Week Global sees this as a 100-80-100 model100% of the pay, 80% of the time, but 100% of the productivity. Trials of the four-day work week have so far shows it works. During testing in Australia, the U.K., Japan and Germany, both staff and managers found that at worst, productivity was maintained, and in many cases, it actually improved. These trials seem to indicate that shorter working hours can actually boost productivity. So, what's going on? Short, focused hours of work can be better for getting things done than working longer hours. Inadequate rest and not enough down-time away from work can lead to poor health and reduce our engagement with work. Four-day work weeks also refocus our attention on what it means to be "productive." During the trials, employees reported being more strategic and selective with their time management. Emails and meetings were two things that were typically reduced or even eliminated. Adopting a four-day work week means people get more done in less time and shift their work behaviors to become more efficient and productive. Those workers involved in the trials also reported feeling less stress, burnout and fatigue, and reported better work-life balance, getting more exercise and more sleep. So, what's the downside? Well, because it involves completing the same amount of work in less time, it might mean some work intensification. This might not be appropriate for people with health issues or disabilities; in theory, other workers might also find it more stressful. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. But in the trials so far, while some people reported working harder, this seemed to be offset by having an extra day off work. So, while we might work harder, we then have more time to recover and do other things. We also cannot do our jobs exactly the same way in a four-day week (which is why emails and meetings are on the chopping block). Successfully adopting a four-day week requires workers and bosses to have frank conversations about what tasks are adding value and get rid of what are not. Australian government inquiries have already recommended adopting or trialing a four-day work week. In 2023, this was included in the Australian Capital Territory and, at the federal level, by the Senate Select Committee on Work and Care. Australian companies like Unilever, Medibank and Oxfam are conductingand often extendingtheir own trials of a four-day week. In 2025, the Greens announced a four-day work week election policy. The President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Michele O'Neil, has also expressed support for the change. So far, the evidence in favor is strong. Trials across countries and different industries have consistently reported benefits. A four-day work week may boost productivity, encouraging workers and organizations to refocus their attention on what it means to be productive, and become more strategic and selective with their time management. The promise of reduced working time, without a cut in pay, offers employees incentives to identify and act on productivity gains beyond what might be achieved in regular working arrangements. It would also mean that the benefits of increased productivity are shared in a way that is much fairer. These increases would allow workers to have more time off work, rather than just going into higher profits for shareholders and pay for executives. While individual employers and employees can negotiate a reduced working week (as has been done at Oxfam), there is also a role for the government to reconsider and amend maximum working hours in Australia. So, help save the Australian economy and negotiate to take Friday off. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pok Rie from Pexels Afro-descendant peoples in four Amazon countries show remarkable achievements in environmental stewardship, according to new research from Conservation International, published in Nature Communications Earth and Environment. The study assessed Afro-descendant lands in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Suriname, finding significantly lower rates of deforestation and larger quantities of both biodiversity and irrecoverable carbon (the carbon that, if lost due to ecosystem conversion, could not be re-sequestered for at least 30 years). The paper is the first peer-reviewed study to combine statistical, spatial and historical data together to quantify the critical role of Afro-descendants in protecting nature. It follows last year's formal recognition by the Convention on Biological Diversity at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) of the vital role Afro-descendant peoples play in biodiversity and supporting global conservation goalsand comes as Brazil prepares to host the UN Climate Summit (COP30) later this year, bringing global attention to the Americas' role in tackling climate change. "Afro-descendant peoples across the Americas have long served as environmental stewards without recognition or rewardmost of their territories are not even formally recognized," said Martha Cecilia Rosero Pena, Ph.D., Social Inclusion Director at Conservation International. "The evidence, however, is indisputable; the world has much to learn from their land management practices." Key findings The study focused specifically on recognized Afro-descendant lands in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Suriname. Afro-descendant peoples in these countries hold management rights on 9.9 million ha of land (1% of the total 1 billion ha land area for the four study countries). Afro-descendant lands significantly exceeded the norm for these countries in three prominent indicators of conservation value: Deforestation rates for Afro-descendant lands were 29% lower when the lands were within Protected Areas 36% lower when the lands were outside Protected Areas 55% lower when the lands sat at the edge of a Protected Area More than half (56%) of Afro-descendant lands are among the top 5% globally in biodiversity, including 99% of all Afro-descendant lands in Ecuador These lands contain high densities of irrecoverable carbonover 486 million tons of it collectivelyand its continued protection under Afro-descendant community management is essential to preventing the worst effects of climate change The study's findings highlight a critical gap. While nearly one in four people in Latin America identify as Afro-descendant, Afro-descendant peoples are largely underrepresented in global environmental forums, including UN climate and biodiversity summits, where policies, funding and leadership decisions are shaped. "For centuries, Afro-descendant communities have managed landscapes in ways that sustain both people and nature, yet their contributions remain largely invisible in mainstream conservation," said Sushma Shretha, Ph.D., director of Indigenous Science, Research, and Knowledge at Conservation International and the lead author of the paper. "This research makes clear that their environmental stewardship is not just historical. It is ongoing and it must be recognized, supported and learned from." Hugo Jabini, a human rights and environmental Maroon leader from Suriname's Saamaka Afro-Descendant Tribe, said, "This study is very important to us, Saamaka people, as it highlights for the first time how, through our deep cultural and spiritual connection to the land, we have sustained vital forest areas. We hope this raises awareness, so that [political leaders] no longer see us as mere claimants of land." '"Participation in international forums like COP30 can significantly enhance the visibility, representation and influence of Afro-descendant leadership in global environmental policy, contributing to more equitable and environmental governance," added Jabini. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Conservation legacy Afro-descendant peoplesand the sustainable land management practices they use todaytrace their practices to the ingenuity and experience of their ancestors who were forcibly taken from Africa through the transatlantic slave trade. Some escaped before being enslaved, while others fled slavery and established their own settlements in remote regions throughout the Americas. In dense forests, marshlands and mangroves, they found refuge and, over generations, developed "escape agriculture"innovative practices that sustained communities while remaining hidden from colonial forces. "It is important to note that those who remained on plantations also undertook these innovative practices, providing food for settlements," said Rosero. Many of these practices, such as "food forests," blended traditional African knowledge to new environments and established resilient ecosystems that sustained these communities and became critical strongholds for biodiversity and carbon storage. The study calls for action items similar to those still needed for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, whose environmental stewardship and land rights are similarly under-recognized despite a large body of scientific evidence: Legal recognition of Afro-descendant territories to ensure their continued protection; Increased research and funding to support Afro-descendants and their conservation work; and Integration of sustainable land management practices used by Afro-descendant peoples into global climate and biodiversity policies. "Afro-descendant communities protect critical ecosystems. This pioneering study quantifies their impact and shows that justice, secure land tenure, and biodiversity gains align. Global negotiations that seek real impact must place Afro-descendant leadership at the center, and the Permanent Forum stands behind them to secure that seat," said Amb. Martin Kimani, Chair of the U.N. Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. "Collective land titling for Afro-descendant communities is a proven effective mechanism for environmental conservation, contributing significantly to the preservation of strategic ecosystems across Latin America and the Caribbean," said Angelica Mayolo, former minister of culture for Colombia and an MLK Scholar with MIT's Environmental Solutions Initiative, who hails from the Afro-descendant hub of Buenaventura, Colombia. "To build on this success, it is essential to advance the formal recognition of property rights in countries where this has not yet been achieved, such as Panama, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Equally important is the development of innovative financing instruments and economic opportunities for Afro-descendant communities living in biodiverse regions under substantial socioeconomic pressure and vulnerable to climate-related risks," said Mayolo. From recognition to action: Conservation International's work with afro-descendant communities Conservation International is working alongside Afro-descendant peoples to elevate their leadership in conservation and climate action. Through research and data collection, community engagement initiatives such as the Afro Women Fellowship Program and advocacy efforts on the global stage, the organization is helping to secure recognition, funding and policy support for Afro-descendant land stewardship and ensure these communities have a platform to shape conservation strategies that affect their lands and livelihoods. "Afro-descendants have been protecting biodiversity and managing ecosystems for centuries using sophisticated conservation practices that the world is only beginning to understand," added Rosero. "Their leadership is not just about preserving the past, it's about shaping the future of climate and conservation policy. By working alongside these Afro-descendant peoples, we are strengthening nature-based solutions that benefit both people and the planet." The research was conducted by Conservation International (including its field teams in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana and Suriname) and in collaboration with MIT's Environmental Solutions Initiative, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the University of Florida and New York University. More information: Afro-descendant lands in South America contribute to biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation, Nature Communications Earth and Environment (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-025-02339-5 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Geographic map of Italy and the Alpine arc (left) was performed by using ESRIs ArcGIS Pro software, and a zoom-in (right) of the Trentino Alto-Adige region in the EIAlp with the location of the archaeological sites from this study. Credit: Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61601-8 Otzi the Iceman isn't the only ancient individual whose DNA is giving us insights into the past. So too are those of his neighbors. A new analysis of the genomes of 47 people who lived in the Austrian Tyrol between 6400 and 1300 B.C. shows their ancestry differed markedly from Otzi's. In the study published in the journal Nature Communications, Valentina Coia and her colleagues investigated the genetic makeup and diversity of populations in the part of the Alps where Otzi's mummified and frozen corpse was discovered in 1991. Previous research on one of the world's most famous mummies revealed that his genome was closely related to Neolithic farmers in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey). In this latest research, scientists wanted to see if the same was true of his neighbors. Ancient DNA The researchers extracted and studied DNA from the bones and teeth of individuals living in the Alps from the Mesolithic to the Middle Bronze Age. The results revealed that these people shared between 80% and 90% of their ancestry with early Anatolian farmers. The study also noted that most of these people shared a similar genetic makeup, one that hadn't changed much in more than 2,000 years. What was surprising about this result was that elsewhere in Europe, genomes showed evidence of different waves of migration. But this part of the Alps remained fairly genetically stable. "Our study reveals that the Tyrolean Iceman was not an isolated case, but part of a broader pattern of genetic continuity in the Eastern Alps, with only limited impact from later migrations," wrote Valentina Coia, the paper's corresponding author. Otzi's unique lineage Still, Otzi's genome wasn't identical to his neighbors. Analysis of the Y-chromosome, which helps trace paternal lineage, showed that the males in this study shared an ancestry found in prehistoric Germany and France. Otzi's paternal lineage, however, was more widespread. The Alpine maternal lineage was more diverse. This suggests that men likely remained in the places where they were born, while women moved to join their husbands' communities. Otzi's specific maternal lineage has not been found in ancient or modern people, nor in the group examined in this latest study. This presents us with an intriguing mystery. Was Otzi part of a group that died out? Or does his unique lineage say something about how early societies were organized, or even suggest that his community was living in exile? While scientists are pondering those questions, the study has given us a few more insights into Otzi's neighbors. Because previous research had revealed Otzi to have dark hair and dark eyes, scientists looked for those traits in six genomes where sufficient material was available. They concluded that, similar to the Iceman, these ancient Alpine people had dark hair and brown eyes. And like Otzi, they were also lactose intolerant. Written for you by our author Paul Arnold, edited by Lisa Lock, and fact-checked and reviewed by Andrew Zininthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you. More information: Myriam Croze et al, Genomic diversity and structure of prehistoric alpine individuals from the Tyrolean Iceman's territory, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61601-8 Journal information: Nature Communications 2025 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Research from Texas A&M University found high levels of drug-resistant parasites in ranched bison herds across Texas and Oklahoma, raising concerns for livestock health and treatment effectiveness. Credit: Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife Marketing and Communications Research from Texas A&M University found high levels of drug-resistant parasites in ranched bison herds across Texas and Oklahoma, raising concerns for livestock health and treatment effectiveness. Parasitic worms are a pervasive problem in United States agriculture, affecting large and small ruminants such as sheep, goats and cattle. These wormsalso called gastrointestinal nematodes or roundwormsfeed on their host, weakening the animals' immune system and, in certain cases, causing death. Drug resistance in parasites has become increasingly problematic for herd owners seeking to protect their animals, and a new study led by Texas A&M University and the University of Calgary researchers has revealed that the problem also extends to ranched bison. "Using new molecular sequencing techniques, we identified several different species of parasites in samples from 16 ranched bison herds in Texas and Oklahoma, including the three most economically important, which are also problematic in other ruminants," said Kaylee Kipp, a doctoral candidate at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS). Those three parasite species are Haemonchus contortus, commonly known as the barber's pole worm; Haemonchus placei, a similar nematode species primarily found in cattle; and Ostertagia ostertagi, commonly known as the brown stomach worm. "In every herd sampled, we found genetic mutations within the parasites' DNA that are associated with drug resistance. These mutations had an average relative frequency of 68% resistance in O. ostertagi samples and 70% resistance in H. contortus and H. placei across bison in all 16 ranches," Kipp said. "In the case of O. ostertagi, the levels we found were significantly higher than in any previous reports, which are typically studies of cattle." While the average frequency of drug resistance mutations was around 70%, the researchers found that parasite populations from some of the herds had much higher levels of resistance. "In some samples of O. ostertagi, the parasites had 80 to 100% drug resistance," Kipp said. "We found similarly high resistanceup to 80 to 90%in some samples of H. contortus, a parasite that is common in sheep and goats." These findings point to a greater need for research on ranched bison as well as new treatment strategies for parasites. "Ranched bison are growing in popularity in U.S. agriculture but are understudied compared to other ruminants," said Dr. Guilherme Verocai, an associate professor in the VMBS' Department of Veterinary Pathobiology and director of the Parasitology Diagnostics Laboratory. "Our findings are significant not only for bison but also for other ruminant species because of the high possibility of parasite transmission between them." Understanding drug resistance Antiparasitic drugs are often the primary way for herd owners to protect their animalsand through them, their own livelihoodsfrom poor health and herd loss caused by parasites. Gastrointestinal parasites are common in grazing animals because the parasite larvae are shed in feces and then spread to the grass that the animals eat. The goal of treatment is not to eliminate all parasites but, rather, to keep infection levels low enough that the animals do not experience disease. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. In bisonas well as cattle, sheep, and goatsthere are three main broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug classes used to treat gastrointestinal nematodes. The recent studywhich focused on the most common class, called benzimidazolesshows that they are losing their effectiveness. It is published in the International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance. "If bison herd owners migrate to the other existing antiparasitics, then it is likely only a matter of time before the parasites become resistant to those drugs, too. In fact, there is already evidence of resistance to other drug classes," Kipp said. "Unfortunately, increased or indiscriminate drug use actually gives the parasites more opportunities to develop resistance." To avoid a situation in which antiparasitic drugs are no longer effective, researchers recommend several solutions. "First, we need to develop better management strategies for controlling parasites that don't involve whole-herd drug treatment or put such selective pressure on the parasite populations, potentially causing them to mutate," Verocai said. "For example, some bison herd owners also own cattle and they may rotate them through the same pastures, which may allow for increased parasite transmission between livestock species. These are practices we must reconsider, along with overgrazing and overcrowding. "Additionally, it's important for owners to avoid trying to get their parasite population down to zero because that leads to overuse of the drugs and can backfire and cause drug resistance," he said. "In some cases, a veterinarian may decide to give dewormer only to young animals who are more vulnerable to the damage caused by parasites or to those with a high parasite egg count in their feces. This can slow the process of drug resistance and saves the producers money." Continuing the investigation The researchers plan to investigate parasite drug resistance in bison herds across the U.S. to get a better understanding of how geography and climate may affect owners' management decisions. "Here in Texas, we don't have hard winters, so we have almost year-round parasite problems," Kipp said. "We suspect that this plays a role in how often herd owners choose to treat their animals for parasites." The researchers are also investigating parasite populations in wild bison from six conservation sites to understand how they differ from ranched bison. Herd owners who would like help tracking parasite levels in their herds can visit the Parasitology Diagnostics Laboratory website for more information about testing services. More information: Kaylee R. Kipp et al, High frequency of benzimidazole resistance polymorphisms and age-class differences in trichostrongyle nematodes of ranched bison from the south-central United States, International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2025.100594 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Jeremy Jenrette (at far right) with some of the crew of the SeaKeepers vessel, TE STREEP, that went to the Adriatic Sea to collect environmental DNA to help locate white shark populations in the Mediterranean Sea. Credit: Jeremy Jenrette The Mediterranean white shark is as elusive and mysterious as the sharks in the Atlantic and Pacific are well known. "There's really not much known about them, and they are crucial to the ecological balance as apex predators," said Jeremy Jenrette, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. "The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most exploited oceanic regions in the world." On a quest to gain more knowledge about the Mediterranean white shark, the SeaQL at Virginia Tech Lab is collaborating with the nonprofit organization International SeaKeepers Society and Virginia Tech's Genomics Sequencing Center to leverage environmental DNA, known as eDNA, in the hunt. Utilizing a network of volunteer citizen scientists armed with a simple testing kit created by Jenrette, surface water samples of eDNA are being collected along the Mediterranean's borders with 22 countries. The samples are then sent to Blacksburg to be analyzed for the genetic material sharks shed through their saliva, epithelial skin cells, and feces to help reveal the fish's locations. "There's this really cool opportunity to increase awareness and scientific knowledge of the sharks' conservation status by scaling up and involving international boaters," Jenrette said. In the past year, this work has helped produce findings published in two articles in Frontiers of Marine Scienceone documenting the search for white sharks in the Mediterranean, and the other reporting the first-ever satellite tagging of a juvenile shortfin mako shark in the region. The project is a part of the White Shark Chase, which launched in 2020 to observe, gather data, and tag white sharks in the Mediterranean. Led by Assistant Professor Francesco Ferretti in the College of Natural Resources and Environment, researchers are working to leverage multiple approaches and diverse data streams, including eDNA, to better understand the ecology of the sharks and enhance their conservation. "The White Shark Chase is an unprecedented initiative," Ferretti said. "We seek to expand and consolidate into a long-standing monitoring program in the region to save these important and genetically unique predators as well as other endangered sharks in the region." The White Shark Chase is one of multiple efforts Ferretti is involved with to better identify shark populations and analyze their role as sentinels for overall ecological health. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the white shark is listed as critically endangered in the Mediterranean Sea. More than 50% of the region's sharks and rays are considered threatened with extinction in the region and more than 25% are considered data deficient. Searching for sharks in the Mediterranean's broad waters requires planning and international collaboration. In 2023, the International SeaKeepers Society contributed more than $3,500 in seed funding to help scale the eDNA project to include citizen scientists. Jeremy Jenrette demonstrates how to take a water sample with the test kit he created. Credit: Jeremy Jenrette. According to its website, the society's mission is to use privately owned yachts for oceanographic research, educational outreach, and marine conservation. "By collecting eDNA samples as they travel, boaters are able to contribute valuable data and improve our understanding of elusive white shark populations in the Mediterranean Seaa recreational boating haven," said Vicky Neild, UK program manager for SeaKeepers. "The boating community is uniquely positioned to expand the project's data collection capacity, empowering all to have a profound impact on marine conservation." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. In May 2024, the society facilitated access to a large marine vessel, the TE STREEP, for support in an eDNA expedition to the Adriatic Sea, the northernmost sea of the greater Mediterranean. Its program manager, Aubri Keith, accompanied Jenrette on the trip, during which he demonstrated the simple $200 water testing kit he created for the citizen scientist crew and created an instructional video. Once used, the kits are sent to Blacksburg to be analyzed by the Genomics Sequencing Center, where Jenrette's mother, Jennifer Jenrette, is part of the team. A next generation sequencing specialist, Jennifer Jenrette has been analyzing the eDNA samples since the beginning of the project. She also joined her son as a co-author of a paper detailing the success in identifying the presence of the white sharks. It was published in Oceanography in 2023 and helped expand the center's reputation in a manner than has drawn requests from researchers outside of Virginia Tech. "Together we were able to use several different molecular strategies to select, amplify, and detect multiple marine species and also target the white shark," said Jennifer Jenrette. "Being listed as second author on his publication is pretty cool and rather unusual. Not many parents get to observe their child's higher education, growth, and maturity at this level." The Jenrettes' combined efforts on the current project have helped successfully confirm white shark detection in the Sicilian Channel and in the Adriatic Sea near Croatia. "We processed 50 eDNA samples, including 12 tissue and aquarium samples as controls, from the Adriatic Sea, the Sicilian Channel, and Sardinia, and we detected 15 shark and ray species with a greater than 95% match," Jeremy Jenrette said. "The top five most abundant species we observed were shortfin mako shark, white shark, porbeagle, blue shark, and blackfin guitarfish. Additionally, six out of the nine citizen science samples detected sharks and rays with a greater than 99% match." Because the eDNA sampling has proven to be an effective noninvasive means of data collection, the researchers have expanded the scope of the project to include a greater range of rare and elusive species. "By supplementing traditional techniques, eDNA fills crucial knowledge gaps, enabling more robust conservation and management decisions for vulnerable Mediterranean populations of rays and sharks," Jeremy Jenrette said. "We need to utilize more innovative technological approaches to sniff out their remaining populations because they are so elusive and scarcely observed." Ferretti said taking on the immense challenges of the White Shark Chase depends on sustained funding, which has historically come in small, piecemeal contributions from philanthropic organizations. Despite the limited resources, the SeaQL team and its collaborators have successfully gathered preliminary data and identified the area that appears to be the last stronghold of Mediterranean white sharksthe North African coasts. "We are incredibly close to tagging the first Mediterranean white sharks," Ferretti said. "We now know where they are, we just need the means to reach them and begin monitoring before it's too late. Thus, every donation, no matter the size, or infrastructural support, helps move us forward on this critical conservation effort." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain 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 Station's 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 45's weather squadron forecasts only a 50% chance of good conditions on Monday, which will decline to 25% if delayed to Tuesday. 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. Blue Origin recently announced its next New Glenn launch would be for NASA's Mars-bound ESCAPADE mission, but didn't announce a target liftoff date. SpaceX has flown 42 of its missions from Canaveral's 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 NASA's Crew-11 mission. 2025 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain A new study published in Open Psychology finds that changing how health care professions are labeledwhether through gender-fair pair forms (e.g., "female and male nurses"), the traditional masculine generic, or omitting the title entirelydoes not significantly influence adolescents' reported career interest or their anticipated sense of belonging in these roles. Researchers from the University of Fribourg, with collaborators in Norway and the UK, surveyed 222 French-speaking adolescents in Switzerland (ages 1219). Participants read descriptions of three occupations: nurse (stereotypically feminine), surgeon (stereotypically masculine), and clinical psychologist (considered gender-neutral). Each description was randomly paired with one of three title presentations: a masculine job title, a gender-fair pair form, or no job title at all. Despite prior adult studies suggesting that gender-fair language can reduce bias, adolescents' responses in this study were unaffected by title format: neither their self-reported interest (how much they wanted to pursue the occupation) nor their anticipated sense of belonging (how much they felt they would fit in) differed across linguistic conditions. Instead, the results mirrored prevailing gender stereotypes and, to some extent, perceptions of occupational prestige: Girls showed higher interest and anticipated belonging in the nursing (feminine) and clinical psychology (neutral) roles. Boys reported a significantly stronger sense of belonging to the surgeon role (stereotypically masculine) than girls did, although interest in surgery did not differ by gender. Notably, clinical psychologyrated highest in perceived prestigeattracted the strongest interest overall, suggesting that status may interact with gender norms to shape early career aspirations. These findings indicate that simply revising job titles is insufficient to counter deeply rooted gendered expectations in adolescence. The researchers argue that more comprehensive strategies are needed, such as enhancing the visibility and social status of undervalued yet vital professions like nursing. The study highlights adolescence as a critical period for career identity formation, during which both gender norms and perceptions of occupational prestige continue to guide young people's vocational aspirations. More information: Lucie Escasain et al, Influencing Adolescents' Gendered Aspirations for Nursing and Surgery, Open Psychology (2025). DOI: 10.1515/psych-2025-0006 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Nuclear reactors and spacecraft are exposed to high levels of radiation and high temperatures, so it's critical the metals they're made of are strong and stable. Researchers at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) are studying a special type of metal called high entropy alloy (HEA), which is made by combining several different metals together. While previous research has shown HEA is extremely tough and can handle exposure to radiation better than regular metals, little is known about what happens inside HEA under such extreme conditions. Dr. Qiang Wang and colleagues from CNL set about to change that. They used the ultrabright synchrotron light of the Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan to study a HEA composed of chromium, iron, manganese and nickel. The findings are published in the Journal of Nuclear Materials. "It has to be stable, so it won't change the microstructure at high heat, and have a certain resistance to irradiation," Wang said. "That's why we chose this material. And also because it is reasonably easy to manufacture." The group bombarded their special recipe HEA with high-energy particles called protons at 400C and 600C and exposed it to different amounts of radiation. Using synchrotron X-rays, Wang and the team looked closely for tiny changes. They discovered small plate-shaped defects, called "Frank loops," which were more common at lower temperatures but larger at higher temperatures. The team also found that the metals started to separate, especially at higher temperatures; some areas in the metal lost more manganese, while others gained more nickel and iron. Their findings, says Wang, provide new insight into specifically how HEAs stand up under extreme conditions. "We did find some advantages and some things we didn't expect to happen, so obviously this material needs to be better studied to fully understand the applications," Wang said. However, he added, this material exhibited fewer defects than stainless steel exposed to similar conditions. Stainless steel is approved for and commonly used in nuclear applications. To Wang's knowledge, this study is the first of its kind in Canadaand the alloy itself was manufactured in this country. Time will tell, he says, whether the alloys will be used for equipment manufacturing or shielding. "It's still not code approved in the nuclear industry so we don't know exactly what it will be used for, which is why we are testing the material to see if it can meet those qualifications." Given that many countries are looking to advance nuclear power generation in the face of climate change, Wang said their work has potential real-world applications in improving the safety and functionality of reactors. More information: Qiang Wang et al, Proton irradiation-induced microstructure changes in a CrFeMnNi high entropy alloy, Journal of Nuclear Materials (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.155940 Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has expressed deep concern following the announcement of the suspension of the electoral process in 11 municipalities as part of the second phase of municipal elections This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The UC Merced study looked at the use of metaphorical language to help people grasp the scope and dangers of wildlifes. Credit: UC Merced As wind-whipped walls of flame destroyed hundreds of Los Angeles-area residences last January, one media report framed the disastrous wildfires in beastly terms, saying they were "ripping through homes." The report then shifted to militaristic imagery: "Firefighters here have an uphill battle." A day later, a journalist from a national newspaper rode in a helicopter over the blackened devastation. Earlier, an evacuee had told him a stricken neighborhood looked like a war zone. "I wondered if that was an exaggeration," the reporter wrote, "until I saw it myself." It can be tough to wrap our heads around a wildfire's scope, speed and destruction. The Madre fire, which started July 2, 2025, and affected three California counties, burned an area about the size of Atlanta. It is only the 11th largest to torch the state since 2020; the biggest scorched more land than Rhode Island and Washington, D.C., combined. In extreme conditions, a wildfire can generate its own weather and race faster than a person can run. This is where the power of words can exert itself. By using language borrowed from more human-sized levels of reality, people are better able to understand and respond to a fire's dangers. Two University of California, Merced researchers studied two common metaphors in communication about wildfire: comparing it to a driven, hungry beast and to an enemy to defeat in war. The findings are published in the journal Metaphor and Symbol. "A wildfire involves countless chemical processes happening in parallel over this huge expanse of physical space. We're not designed to comprehend processes with that amount of complexity and size," said Professor Tyler Marghetis, who authored the study with fellow cognitive scientist Teenie Matlock, a UC Merced professor emerita. The study found that while these metaphors are often effective in framing natural disasters and spurring people to action, they sometimes send the wrong message or evoke an unhelpful reaction to wildfire management. This makes it doubly important that communicators, especially media outlets and response agencies, use these descriptors with care. Metaphors pop up everywhere in our lives, animating an emotion, giving a noun human traits, or reshaping concepts such as time and distance. They summon imagery that helps describe the otherwise indescribable: He burned with rage X goes to infinity Justice is blind A sampling of headlines during the Los Angeles County disaster shows metaphors hard at work: Devastating and deadly wildfires rage in Los Angeles With firefighters stretched thin, residents battle to save homes See how a small fire in L.A. turned into a monster, hour by hour "Metaphors appear everywhere, from mundane descriptions of time to responses to climate crises. Let's think about the implications of which framing we adopt," Marghetis said. "It's not that one is better than the other, it's that they offer different ways of thinking through a fraught problem." Marghetis and Matlock tapped a massive archive of television news broadcasts for their study. They looked at airings between 2009 and 2023, finding more than 150,000 instances of wildlife as the broadcast topic. The beast and war metaphors popped up every year. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The study found that fire management through planned, controlled burns is one area where the two metaphor styles can muddle the message. Framing flames as an invading military force can make it sound as if a burning landscape is unnatural and to be avoided at all costs. But fire is part of the normal life cycle of forests and wildlands, and controlled burns reduce underbrush that could fuel more dangerous blazes. The war and beast metaphors can also complement each other, Marghetis said. The war metaphor can be effective because it invites a collective, unified response from people. Alternatively, a beast can be turned away by removing its food source, just as a fire can be controlled by removing fuel. A similar study by Matlock in 2017 showed residents were more willing to evacuate if the official communication described the wildfire as a monster. People differ in their motivations to prepare against wildfires. Some worry about losing their homes. Others may care about protecting an ecosystem. "Metaphorical framing cuts across these perspectives," the study said, "offering an integrated way to communicate to varied stakeholders about aspects of wildfire management." More information: Tyler Marghetis et al, Metaphorical Framing of Wildfires Shapes What They Are, How They Act, and How We Should Respond, Metaphor and Symbol (2025). DOI: 10.1080/10926488.2024.2415139 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Notre Dame's St. Andre accelerator, which is used to perform particle-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE) ion beam analysis. Credit: Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame When a reporter with the Sierra Club magazine asked Graham Peaslee, a physicist at the University of Notre Dame, to test several different samples of unused menstrual underwear for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in 2019, the results fueled concern over chemical exposure in feminine hygiene productswhich ultimately ended up in a $5 million lawsuit against the period and incontinence underwear brand Thinx. Then in 2023, the New York Times asked Peaslee to test 44 additional period and incontinence products for PFAS, a class of toxic fluorinated compounds inherently repellent to oil, water, soil and stains, and known as "forever chemicals" for their exceptionally strong chemical and thermal stability. Measurable PFAS were found in some layers of many of the products testedsome low enough to suggest the chemicals may have transferred off packaging materials, while others contained higher concentrations, suggesting the chemicals were intentionally used during the manufacturing process. In the meantime, another group of researchers published a study that found PFAS in single-use period products, leading Peaslee and his lab to widen their investigation into all sorts of reusable feminine hygiene productsoften viewed as an eco-friendly option by consumers. Now, the results of that study have been published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters. Most of the samples tested in Peaslee's latest study (71.2%) contained PFAS concentrations low enough to be characterized by Peaslee and his co-authors as "non-intentionally fluorinated." But period underwear (33%) and reusable pads (25%) had the greatest rates of "intentional fluorination." "The reusable menstrual product market is a rapidly growing market which relies heavily on the idea that these products are environmentally conscious because of the significant reduction in the use of paper and plastic products," said Peaslee, professor emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. "To the extent that they use organic textiles, these products are also marketed to consumers who are typically health and environmentally conscious. However, we found that almost a third of them were being made with PFAS. "This means these products are both a risk to the wearer as well as to the rest of us when they are eventually disposed of, since we know that these forever chemicals persist when they end up in landfills, contaminating irrigation and drinking water systems for all of us." PFAS have been linked to several adverse health conditions, including immunosuppression, hormonal dysregulation, developmental delays in children, low birth weight and accelerated puberty, high blood pressure in pregnant women, and an increased risk of some cancers, such as kidney and testicular cancer. The chemicals are so prevalent that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that PFAS, a class of manmade chemicals, have been found in the blood of more than 99% of all Americans. Peaslee and Alyssa Wicks, lead author of the study, who conducted the research while a graduate student at Notre Dame, tested more than 70 products sourced from multiple markets in North America, South America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, including period underwear, reusable pads, menstrual cups and reusable incontinence underwear. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Each product was screened using particle-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE) spectroscopy, an ion beam analysis in which a proton beam bombards the surface of the material being tested, causing fluorine nuclei to emit gamma-rays, a type of high-energy light to measure total fluorine content when detected. For products with multiple layers, Wicks analyzed each layer of each product for a total of 323 unique samples tested using PIGE. PFAS can migrate off treated surfaces, raising particular concern when used in reusable products that come in direct contact with the wearer's skin. Previous studies at other institutions suggest skin absorption could be a significant pathway to exposure to certain PFAS. Even with this latest study, Peaslee said, "there's still a lot we don't know about the extent to which PFAS are being used in the manufacturing of these products, and too much we don't know about the potential for these chemicals to be absorbed through the skin by the consumers who wear them." Another significant discovery of the study, according to Wicks and Peaslee, is that currently only a fraction of the brands that make reusable feminine hygiene products use PFAS intentionally. "Only a subset of the products had high levels of PFAS present, which means that PFAS must not be essential in the manufacture of reusable feminine hygiene products," Wicks noted. "This is good news in that it demonstrates PFAS are not required to produce these environmentally conscious products, and manufacturers should be able to make these textile products without chemicals of concern in them." The authors deliberately chose not to identify PFAS concentrations by brand, but they hope the peer-reviewed study will help identify the need for ingredient transparency in the industry. "While we do know that these chemicals have been linked to serious environmental and human health issues, we do not yet know what fraction of these PFAS make it into humans by direct exposure and indirect exposure at the end of life of these products," Peaslee said. "What this study, and others to follow, can do is help consumers ask manufacturers the right question: "Does this product contain any intentional use of PFAS?" Currently, there's no labeling requirement for these products, and only a handful of U.S. states have drafted legislation requiring consumer products to be free of intentional PFAS use. This paper and others like it will help regulators and manufacturers alike to identify product markets where PFAS are being used and to find better alternatives moving forward." In addition to Wicks and Peaslee, co-authors who contributed to the study while at Notre Dame include Thomas Hedman, Heather D. Whitehead and Alison Zachritz. Additional co-authors include Marta Venier and Sydney Brady at Indiana University, Bloomington. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Household-level allotment timing. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2418836122 When Congress passed legislation in 1887 that allotted individual American Indians pieces of land while also granting them citizenship, proponents of the Dawes Act argued it would give them greater independence to farm their own land and help them assimilate into white American culture. But the Act had devastating consequences. By the time it was repealed in 1934, American Indians had lost two-thirds of all their native land and two-thirds of them had become landless or unable to meet subsistent needs. And mortality ratesparticularly among young Native Americansspiked by roughly 20%, according to new Stanford research. While the average white American lived to the age of 65 by the mid-1930s, the life expectancy of American Indians at the time was 52. Much of this was due to child mortality disparities, which were exacerbated by allotment. Although in 1900, an American Indian mother (regardless of allotment status) was more likely to have lost a child than a white mother (by 12.2 percentage points, or 64%), allotment may have increased this already wide gap by as much as 50%. Grant Miller, the Henry J. Kaiser, Jr. Professor and a professor of health policy at the Department of Health Policy in the Stanford School of Medicine, notes in a new paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that while there has been plenty of research about the harmful economic impact of the U.S. allotment policy for American Indians, its health impact has not been closely studied. "There has been little understanding of how these policies contributed to substantial health inequality between American Indians and other Americans," said Miller, a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. "This paper helps fill that gap." Matt Snipp, the Burnet C. and Mildred Finley Wohlford Professor and professor of sociology in the School of Humanities and Sciences and a co-author of the study, notes that while the study does not examine the relationship between the high mortality rate among American Indians in the aftermath of the Dawes Act and the high mortality rate among Native Americans today, "It's difficult to understate the importance and role of allotment in ending American Indians' traditional way of life and serving the interests of others." Indeed, the health disparity between Native Americans and other Americans persists. American Indians and Alaska Natives have a life expectancy of 65.6, compared to 76.4 for all other U.S. races. And they continue to die at higher rates than other Americans in many categories, including chronic liver disease, diabetes, homicide, suicide, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. Credit: Library of Congress Greed or humanity The General Allotment Act passed on Feb. 8, 1887also named the Dawes Act after its author, Sen. Henry Dawes of Massachusettsauthorized the privatization of native tribal reservation land under the guise of protection for the American Indian population. Heads of households received an allotted 160 acres; others received 4060 acres, depending on their age and household status. Some government officials criticized the legislation as a ploy to take land away from American Indians and weaken their traditional way of life. "The real aim of the bill is to get land out of Indian hands and into the hands of white settlers," wrote minority members of the House Committee on Indian Affairs when the Dawes Act was implemented. "If this were done in the name of Greed, it would be bad enough, but to do it in the name of Humanity, and under the cloak of ardent desire to promote the Indian's welfare by making him like ourselves, whether he will or not, is infinitely worse." It wasn't until 1934 that the tribal governments were allowed to regain sovereignty under the Indian Reorganization Actlegislation meant to reverse some of the disparities created by the Dawes Act. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Methodology The researchers used a variation in age at allotment, conditional on age, among American Indian women in the 1910 population censusat which time roughly 80% of all allotment had been completedto identify its impact on the mortality ratio of their women. "Women allotted at younger ages had greater lifetime exposure to allotment and its consequences, while women allotted at older ages had less lifetime exposure," explains Jack Shane, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Economics and also a co-author of the study. "This approach suggests that allotment increased the American Indian child mortality ratio by a little more than 15% and may be an underestimate due to selective mortality among adult women." The researchers also used variation in allotment timing across tribes to estimate its impact on changes in birth cohort size between the 1900 and 1910 population census, the decade during which more than half of all allotment occurred. One of the key takeaways from the study is that U.S. allotment policy may have increased by nearly half the already large disparity between the survival of American Indian children and other children in the United States. "Contemporary critics of the Dawes Act voiced urgent concern about its harms to American Indians, including to their health and survival," the authors conclude. "Although our analysis does not consider all dimensions of American Indian welfare, we provide new evidence that these concerns about health and survival were well-founded." More information: Grant Miller et al, The impact of US assimilation and allotment policy on American Indian mortality, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2418836122 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Photo By: Kaboompics.com from Pexels In Western cultures, talking about money is considered taboo. But new research from the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business challenges that notion and finds that people who regularly discuss their financeswhether with family, friends or even strangers onlineexperience less financial anxiety over time. Emily N. Garbinsky, associate professor at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, and her co-authors find that the more people talk about their personal finances, the better they feel. "Many of us were taught that discussing salaries, debt or financial worries is impolite or even shameful," Garbinsky said. "But according to our research, bottling up these money worries might be making things worse." The paper "Opening Up About Money: The Unexpected Benefits of Personal Financial Disclosure," published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. Co-authors include Matt Meister, assistant professor at the University of San Francisco, and Joe Gladstone, assistant professor at the University of California, San Diego. Financial anxiety, defined as the stress and worry people feel about their finances, affects over 60% of adults in the U.S. and has real consequencespoor mental health, reduced job performance and even higher accident rates in some professions. The researchers found that initiating a conversation is often the best place to start. They conducted eight studiesincluding surveys, experiments and analysis of nearly 1 million online poststo understand how talking about money affects our financial stress levels. They found that sharing information about one's financial situation lowers anxiety by giving an individual a greater sense of control. Putting financial concerns into words helps organize one's thoughts and shifts the mindset from confusion to clarity, they found. Change in financial anxiety by condition in Study 1. Note. Error bars represent 95% CI. Credit: Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2025.104430 One of the studies asked people to talk about their finances with another person of their choosing once a week for a month. Compared to those who talked about non-financial issues, the money-talkers ended the study with less anxiety, both financial and general. What's more, people who talked about controllable topics, such as spending and saving, saw a bigger drop in anxiety than those who talked about things out of their hands, like job loss or medical bills, suggesting that what you share matters. The researchers found that talking about something within your financial control reduces your financial anxiety to a greater extent than talking about something outside of your financial control. "While face-to-face conversations can help, sharing online is also effective and might be even better because digital platforms give people more time to think, write, edit and reflect on what they're saying," Garbinsky said. Building on this idea, the researchers discovered that people who frequently posted about their finances in online forums used fewer anxiety-related words over time. The more they posted, the better they felt. Despite these consistent findings across both in-person and digital communication forums, people don't seem to comprehend that talking about money helps. Many expect that talking about money will make them feel worse. In a pilot study, the research team found that people anticipate that talking about moneyas opposed to other sensitive topics, such as health, parenting or job performancewill increase their anxiety. They found the opposite to be true. "And in a world where financial anxiety is widespread and often ignored," Garbinsky said, "it might be time to replace silence with sharing." More information: Matt Meister et al, Opening up about money: The unexpected benefits of personal financial disclosure, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.obhdp.2025.104430 Journal information: Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Giant Siderastrea siderea coral in the Caye dOlbian reef, Martinique . Credit: Ewan Tregarot A long-term study investigating the growth of corals in the Caribbean over the past century has shown that even stress-tolerant species of corals are finding it difficult to adapt to increasing ocean temperatures and other human-induced factors such as coastal pollution and overfishing. An international team of scientists led by researchers from Freie Universitat Berlin has revealed a sobering reduction in coral calcification rates, a development that will have far-reaching consequences for marine and coastal ecosystems. Their study, "Emerging Skeletal Growth Responses of Siderastrea Siderea Corals to Multidecadal Anthropogenic Impacts in Martinique, Caribbean Sea," was recently published in Scientific Reports. Tropical corals are struggling to build solid reef structures. Even those species once thought to be especially resilient are now showing signs of decline. In a new study, researchers reconstructed more than one hundred years of growth in the Caribbean coral Siderastrea siderea using samples collected off the coast of Martinique. The findings reveal a steady drop in calcification rates throughout most of the 20th century, with a sharp downturn beginning in the 1980s as marine heat wavesdriven by human-caused climate changebecame more frequent. One of the study's most concerning findings is the sharp decline in coral skeletal density between 2010 and 2020a drop of 10.5%. This points to structural weakening caused by multiple interacting stressors. Signs of decline have been visible since the 1950s, when reef growth rates began to slow. At the time, scientists primarily linked the trend to local pressures such as coastal development and water pollution. "Our study shows that while local protection measures remain important, they won't be enough on their own," says Gabriel Cardoso, coral researcher at Freie Universitat Berlin's Institute of Geological Sciences and first author of the study. "Without a significant reduction in global CO emissions, even the most resilient coral speciesand the reefs they buildwill be at serious risk in the long term. "The consequences could be severe. Coral reefs help protect against coastal erosion, provide habitats for countless marine organisms, and support livelihoods through fishing and tourism." Coral reefs are largely formed through the gradual growth of corals, which build their skeletons by depositing layers of calcium carbonate, a process known as "calcification." These layers create annual growth bandsmuch like the rings in a tree trunkthat can be made visible using X-ray imaging and analyzed digitally. For this study, the research team examined coral growth in southern Martinique, using data collected from twelve drilled cores taken from four different reef sites. The samples span the period from 1912 to 2020 and provide a detailed record of how coral growth and calcification rates have changed over time. More information: Gabriel O. Cardoso et al, Emerging skeletal growth responses of Siderastrea siderea corals to multidecadal anthropogenic impacts in Martinique, Caribbean Sea, Scientific Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-08709-5 Journal information: Scientific Reports This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Loretta Mickley first started thinking about smoke in the summer of 2002. "I was on vacation in Western Massachusetts, and on that day, there was something kind of sparkly about the air," Mickley recalled. "I'd never seen anything like it, and I said to my husband, "What's going on?" I'm an atmospheric chemistI should know, right?" The shimmering agent was soot, kicked up by a wildfire in Quebec and borne hundreds of miles down the eastern seaboard. Twenty-three years later, smoke has become an almost-exclusive focus for Mickley, a senior research fellow at the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. But it took years for the work by Mickley and others to begin in earnestand widen across disciplinesas the problem grew to fit a warming planet. Though wildfires have raged as long as Earth has existed, their consequences were little understoodand even overlooked. "For a long time, smoke was not considered very important," Mickley said. "People thought of climate change as temperature and sea level rise, and that was it. They didn't realize there could be this other consequence of climate change that could be terribly scary, terribly bad for human healthnot just close to the fire, but many miles downwind." A wave of recent papers has changed that. Chemists parse the composition of wildfire smoke. Engineers design and fly new instruments into the plume. Medical researchers model its effects on public health and trace its course into human bloodstreams. And environmental scientists and coders estimate how much more fire we can expect as global temperatures rise. With dozens of publications on smoke since 2015, Mickley is a key member of a research community that stretches around the worldto where the fires are burning. "I look at agricultural fires in India and their smoke, which affect millions of people," Mickley said. "I don't go to these places, but we've done work in the Amazon, work in Australia working with local people as much as possible." Their early findings suggest that wildfire smoke is broadly and especially toxic. Burning trees, soil, and vehicles can throw off heavy metals as well as volatile organic compounds, Mickley said, that "attach to and react with human cells." Smoke from fires that spread to buildingslike those that devastated Southern California earlier this yearcan contain the perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, that are linked to cancer and endocrine disruption, and that take decades to degrade. What we are learning about the smoke is that most of its particle composition consists of the tiny particles known as PM 2.5 . By definition, they are at most 2.5 microns in diameterabout 20 times smaller than a human hair. That makes them uniquely dangerous to human health, said Nicholas Nassikas, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. "Pollen [being roughly four times larger]that gets stuck in your nose," said Nassikas, who is also a clinician specializing in pulmonology and asthmas at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. By comparison, PM 2.5 particles are "so tiny that they can get deep into the lungs, into your blood. It causes a cascade of inflammation, and it can wreak havoc on health." That cascade can weaken immune responses, andin the case of smokecause a dizzying variety of adverse health effects. It's not just heart or lung health: Mickley's Australia study found that after prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke, pregnant women were more likely to give birth prematurely, require intervention from neonatal intensive care, or lose pregnancies. The symptoms of COVID-19 appear to worsen in the plume. Research has established an early but uncertain link between wildfire smoke inhalation and dementia. Emergency hospitalizations tick up for a variety of maladies after days in dense smokeespecially for the elderly. In another corner of the university, scholars are starting to investigate the health toll of smoke exposure along the burn line in Southern California. Kari Nadeauchair of the Department of Environmental Health at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health and her lab are part of the LA Fire HEALTH Study consortium, seeking the mechanism of adverse health effects from smoke. For a June paper, they studied the blood of 31 Californiansfirefighters and civilianswho were exposed to smoke. That blood was compared to that of a demographically matched, nonexposed group, at billions of genetic and biological sites, said Abhinav Kaushik, a co-author and research scientist at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health. They found that California's urban wildfire smokea complex mixture of heavy metals, PFAS, and organic compoundswreaks havoc on the immune system. "Normally, immune cells are highly regulated, but after smoke exposure, some of those cells begin to behave abnormallyto be hyperactivated," Kaushik said. Meanwhile, other immune cellsloaded up with cadmium and mercury isotopessimply died. Heavy-metal poisoning was particularly evident in long-tenured firefighters, Kaushik said, "which may explain the chronic diseases firefighters experience [disproportionately], from cancer to asthma." Kaushik said smoke has surfaced as "a public-health emergencyno doubt about that." The next step for the LA Fire HEALTH Study, he added, is to expand its pool of blood samples in search of a reliable biomarker for smoke exposure at the individual level. Even in its early stages, that work plays a crucial explanatory role to match the alarming epidemiological models. In paper in Environmental Science & Technology, Mickley and co-authors at Harvard and in British Columbia estimate that in 2020a heavy fire yearsmoke played a role in nearly 37,000 excess deaths. The confidence interval, she notes, is wide: between 25 and 47,000. "In my mind, the exact number is not so important, just so, just that we know it's a big number," Mickley said. "Our goal in giving these numbers is to highlight the sense of urgency and the possible human hazards that follow wildfire smoke, which in turn is caused by climate change." It stands to reason that the risks of wildfire, which thrives on drought, electrical storms, and high temperatures, might increase as the climate changes. And indeed, in 2014, Mickley and lead author Xu Yuethen a postdoctoral student at SEASprojected that California's burn area would roughly double in size by midcentury under one warming scenario envisioned by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Under that model, what has been an "extreme fire year" in Southern Californiawith at least 25,000 acres burnedwould become the rule rather than the exception. (Already this year the region has seen more than double that area lost to fire.) In her road show at alumni clubs and convenings, Mickley advocates reasonable measures to take as individuals: wearing N95 masks on smoky days, adding HEPA filtration in the home. Rather than the zero-tolerance fire management policy used for many years, she has advocated the use of controlled burns to prevent the apocalyptic blazes that can strike after a prolonged "fire deficit," in which fuel can pile up. But those are local adjustments, Mickley says, where the central driver of risk to health and safety is global: a changing climate already causing fire-related death, dislocation, and ill health on a new scale. Wildfire is natural, Mickley notes. But, "We're entering a new climate regime that is notthat is at least in large part, due to the greenhouse gases we're pumping into the atmosphere. And this is a recipe for disaster." This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A juvenile dinosaur fossil, Ceratosaurus nasicornis, has sold at Sotheby's New York for US$30.5 million (22.7 million). It is part of a recent resurgence of art-market interest in fossils and natural historypaleontology and geology especially. Indeed, this latest dinosaur sale was part of an auction specifically dedicated to natural history. Led by iconic Tyrannosaurus rex fossils, the prices for such specimens have reached eyewatering levels in recent years. "Stan," currently the most expensive T. rex, sold for US$31.8 million at Christie's New York in 2020. Then a Stegosaurus called "Apex" sold for US$44.6 million in New York in 2024. The US$30.5 million sale of the juvenile Ceratosaurus, a much smaller species, raises the market bar significantly. Even a T. rex fossil foot at the latest Sotheby's auction far exceeded its published estimate of US$250,000US$300,000, selling for US$1.8 million. When you reflect that a full T. rex fossil by the name of "Sue" sold for US$8.4 million in 1997US$17 million in today's moneyit looks cheap by comparison. Sotheby's marketing of the Ceratosaurus highlights how the art market builds narratives around these objects of science. Publicity photographs emphasize the dinosaur's sculptural qualities, along with descriptions like "mounted in an action pose with jaws open." This mirrors the presentation in taxidermy mounts, another market that is drawing in more collectors at present. Photographs in the auction publicity have an almost filmic quality. They tie the fossil to its discovery process, with the image at the top of this article including an SUV in the distance that is kitted out for fossil hunting. The extensive catalog description builds on this, appropriating the language of science with a forensic account of how the fossil was discovered and pieced together, supporting the key art market criteria of authenticity. It highlights the commodity status of the fossil as a spectacle, aimed at new, younger super-rich collectors who are seeking out statement pieces. These allow them to demonstrate what the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu termed increasing levels of distinctionin other words, cultural choices as markers of status and power. Auctions and ethics Some paleontologists express concerns about the idea of moving dinosaur remains "into the same realms as fine art." Much opposition comes from the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP), a leading body on fossil research based in Utah, which is influential far beyond the US. Stuart Sumida, the president of the society, complained after the Ceratosaurus auction that such transactions can mean removing specimens "from the public trust and the scientific community for profit." As his predecessor, David Polly lamented in 2018, it can "create a perception that [fossils] have a commercial value." The premise here is that the market is somehow dislocated from paleontology, but the truth is that scientific research is never conducted in a commercial vacuum. It benefits from private funding and publishes in journals whose access is restricted for commercial gain. Replicas of dinosaur specimens are commercially licensed by museums, while moving fossils or replicas between institutions involves huge costs, covering everything from transport to insurance. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Equally, the relationship between paleontology and the market is more symbiotic than it might appear. The market for dinosaur fossils traces back to the late 18th century, with early operators including the fossil collector Mary Anning (17991847). Her discovery of dinosaur fossils on the English south coast in Dorset led to her establishing a successful shop called Annings Fossil Depot in the mid-1820s. Now recognized as one of the leading paleontologists of the 19th century, the market for fossils that she helped to create increased the visibility and public interest in dinosaurs. This in turn acted as a catalyst for increased research activity in this area. More recently, the appetite for dinosaurs is reflected in multiple consumer spheres, from Jurassic Park to Barney & Friends. Every new product boosts public awareness of dinosaurs and no doubt ignites further research activity. Each dinosaur auction that hits the headlines contributes to this effect. Privately owned fossils are also, in my experience, more likely to be exhibited in venues beyond natural history museums, such as major art fairs and even contemporary art museums. This too increases their visibility, which probably helps expand the range and scope of research interest. Now, you might argue that public interest is strong enough to drive research without the need for any benefits from auctions. Maybe the benefits are also outweighed by the paleontologists' concerns about specimens being lost to science when they fall into private hands. Then again, the SVP's ethical guidelines contribute to such marginalization. These insist that paleontologists should "only conduct research on fossils held in collections with a permanent commitment to curation and accessibility"in other words, museums. Loosen this restriction and the objection diminishes. When bodies like the SVP call for a total separation between art and science, between research and the art market, maybe they're the ones that are the dinosaurs for taking such a simplistic approach. The reality of auctioning these discoveries is a lot more complicated than some would have you believe. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain President Donald Trump has threatened to levy higher tariffs on more than two dozen countries and on various products in the past few months. China in particular has been a target of the administration's trade wars, aimed at preventing its dominance in areas such as artificial intelligence, although the U.S. government announced recently that it would sell advanced semiconductors used in AI to China. Meicen Sun is a professor in the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Information Sciences with an affiliation in the political science department. Her research examines technology policy, AI governance, the geopolitics of data and digital trade. She has written about U.S. technology policy regarding artificial intelligence, the TikTok ban and internet control in China. She recently spoke with News Bureau arts and humanities editor Jodi Heckel. What are the costs of the recent imposition of tariffs to the economy, particularly the technology sector? The most obvious cost is the rise in prices, but it doesn't stop there. Seeing higher prices and lower demand, companies are holding off on new products. As a colleague from industry puts it, gaming chips have to wait if "mommy and daddy won't buy their kids an Xbox or PlayStation." Penny-pinching crushes the promise of profitability, leaving companies with little incentive to innovateresearch and development is not cheap. Hefty prices sting almost as much as the nice things we could have had. Even if the tariffs are lifted today, we can't be sure they won't come back tomorrow. The real drag on the economy is not the tariffs but the uncertainty. How are trade controls on digital technologies different from those on physical products? Traditional tariffs create winners and losers that are easy to see: A corn tariff hurts consumers and helps corn producers. Trade policy is about balancing these competing interests. That changes when the goods in question are digital. Digital goods are often "free" in the sense that we don't pay money to use the apps. Instead, we give them our data in return for services from online shopping to social media. "Data security" now becomes the battleground where domestic apps vie to fend off foreign competition. How does this play out in an actual scenario? Look no further than the TikTok ban, which I wrote about in The Hill. The accusations against TikTokthreats to national security, privacy and mental healthshare two key traits: They concern the general public and they're hard to disprove. If anyone could be a victim, then everyone stands to win from a ban. This isn't a tough case to build, given the many things that could go wrong with such appsas we saw, in fact, with Facebook and Cambridge Analytica. So, why risk sanctions and retaliation when you can protect your Big Tech under legitimate cover while keeping the China hawks happy? The built-in deniability makes digital trade barriers an incredibly versatile tool that can take on as many faces as needed. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. What about the broader consequences on the science and technology sector of such digital restrictions? With digital restrictions, losses show up in unexpected places. My doctoral dissertation found that China's internet control has led to 3050% revenue gains for Chinese digital technology firms. This time, the losers aren't Chinese consumers. They are Chinese academics hit with a 22% drop in research quality relative to the U.S. due to disrupted internet access. Digital measures shield firms from competition just as they expose the broader science and technology sector to deeper vulnerabilities. What do you make of the U.S. government's reversal on its previous decision to ban the sales of advanced AI chips to China? The reversal is less abrupt than it appears. Many have noted that the U.S. export controls ended up spurring China's AI development and boosting the appeal of Chinese technology. Even Gina Raimondo, the former Secretary of Commerce who once championed such measures, later called them a "fool's errand." We've seen enough warning signs about playing the technology game by the old trade book. Pretending computer chips and potato chips could be dealt with the same way seemed laughable three decades ago. Today, it borders on absurdity. What do you expect to see in the future regarding digital technology policy and restrictions? Digital technology policy centers around the flow and control of information. The TikTok ban signals the growing trend of leveraging data regulation that benefits the domestic players "by accident." This underlying logic connects the otherwise disparate dots: the TikTok ban in the U.S., China's internet control, India's blocking of Chinese apps and the EU pressure on U.S. Big Tech. China's experience also underscores the limits of such a tactic. As I remarked at the Second Jimmy Carter Forum on U.S.-China Relations this year, technology thrives on openness. The AI we have today is the culmination of generations of cross-border collaboration. Any strategy predicated on dominance through decoupling would be self-defeating by design. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: STIMULI PRESENTED TO PARTICIPANTS IN EACH CONDITION IN STUDY 3. Credit: Journal of Consumer Research (2025). DOI: 10.1093/jcr/ucaf019 Researchers who explored how consumers' ethical values can shape their shopping habits suggest that business owners from marginalized racial groups can appeal to socially conscious consumers by highlighting their identity, helping promote racial equity through values-driven purchasing. The study, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, focused on white American consumers. Participants were measured for "white guilt"a feeling of guilt over historical and systemic racial injusticesusing a validated psychological scale. The researchers found that individuals who experienced higher levels of "white guilt" were more likely to buy from Black-owned businesses than from a white-owned one, even when the minority-owned options were more expensive or had lower customer ratings. It also showed that this guilt was a better predictor of support for minority-owned businesses than a person's political views. The findings were based on six studies the researchers conducted between 2021 and 2024. Four of the studies were surveys, and two involved simulating real world purchasing choices. "The marketplace is becoming increasingly shaped by ideology and values," said Siddhanth Mookerjee, an assistant professor in the McGill Desautels Faculty of Management and one of the authors of the paper. Other members of the team came from Toronto Metropolitan University, Queen's University and the University of British Columbia. "Consumers are driven by their moral principlesnot just by price or quality." The propensity of some white consumers to go out of their way to back minority-owned businesses is at odds with the typical in-group favoritism usually documented in social psychology, Mookerjee said, and could potentially help address the structural disadvantages faced by minority-owned businesses in the United States in areas like access to startup funding and profit generation. "It reflects a form of moral reparations and allyship," he said. For minority business owners, the takeaways are: Use racial cues strategically: Subtle indicators like photos of minority owners or "Black-owned" labels can positively influence consumer behavior, especially when targeted toward liberal-leaning audiences. Segment and target carefully: Marketers advertising on social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram) can segment and target based on liberal political interests, which positively correlate with white guilt. They can also place race-conscious promotional or marketing material in outlets where liberal consumers are already engaged (e.g. cause-based podcasts). Authenticity is crucial: Small and medium-sized businesses that are minority-owned should not hesitate to highlight their identity, provided it is authentic. Next, the research team plans to test how Canadian consumers respond to minority-owned labels in retail settings. More information: Rishad Habib et al, Reparative Consumption: The Role of Racial Identity and White Guilt in Consumer Preferences, Journal of Consumer Research (2025). DOI: 10.1093/jcr/ucaf019 Journal information: Journal of Consumer Research This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the actor who played Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has drowned on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast. It is reported that he was swimming at Playa Cocles in Limon province when a current pulled him offshore. This is a beach popular among surfers and one that's known to have large waves and strong currents. It's also a beach that I have taken students to in order to study the formation of rip currents and to better understand what beach users know about the hazard. What exactly are rip currents? Rip currentscommonly referred to as rips or colloquially as rip tidesare found on ocean beaches and some large lakes around the world. The rips at Playa Cocles and along a large part of the Costa Rican Caribbean coast are known as channel or bathymetric rips that form as the nearshore sand bar moves toward the land through the summer. The water thrown towards the land by the breaking waves returns offshore as a concentrated and fast flowing current at gaps in the nearshore sand bar. During storm conditions, we have measured the rip currents at Playa Cocles at over two meters per second. These rips are known to increase rapidly (or pulse) in strength due to changes in wave breaking, leading to unsuspecting swimmers being taken far offshore and exiting beyond the zone of breaking waves. While it can be difficult to spot a rip from shore, they can be identified by an area of relatively calm water between breaking waves, a patch of darker water or the offshore flow of water, sediment and debris. Caught in a rip current A person caught in a rip is transported away from shore into deeper waters, but they aren't pulled under the water. If they are a weak swimmer or try to fight the current, they may panic and fail to find a way out of the rip and back to shore. Survivor stories highlight panic, anxiety, distress and fear, a tendency to fight the current and an inability to make a decision on how to escape the rip. While it is possible to "break the grip of the rip" by swimming parallel to the beach or toward breaking waves at an angle to the beach, there is no single escape strategy due to the unique rip circulation pattern. It's possible to escape a rip by flipping onto your back, floating to keep your head above the water and following the current until you're returned to the shore by the current or able to swim safely toward the shore. If you are taken beyond where the waves break, or you're unable to swim back to shore, continue to float and signal for help. Rip currents account for more than 50 deaths a year in Costa Rica; approximately 19 drownings a year involve foreign tourists from the United States, Nicaragua, Canada and Germany. While most drownings in the country occur on Pacific coast beaches that are a short distance to the city of San Jose, more than five drownings occur each year along the Caribbean coast. Playa Cocles was the site of five drownings that occurred over eight days in 2004, an event that prompted tourism-dependent business owners to establish a lifeguard station on the beach. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Costa Rican drownings On average, each drowning in Costa Rica costs more than US$2 million (USD). This includes the direct costs of search and rescue, the costs of repatriation and the long-term economic burden of a lost life. This is in addition to the great personal loss experienced by family and friends. A survey at Playa Cocles and other beaches in Costa Rica revealed that a majority of beach users did not observe warning signs and that many were unable to interpret the warning and did not change their behavior. The majority of foreign drowning victims in Costa Rica had limited knowledge of rips and were unable to avoid the times and locations that were most hazardous. In general, visitors to a beach often use simple visual cues when deciding to take risks. Recent studies suggest that tourists think beach access points and resorts are located adjacent to safe swimming areas, particularly when visual cues such as manicured paths and promotional posters that promote swimming at those locations. Visitors are a high-risk group for drownings. They're generally unfamiliar with the beach and its safety measures and often have poor knowledge of beach hazards, such as rip currents and breaking waves. This lack of knowledge can be exacerbated by language barriers, an overconfidence in swimming ability and peer pressure. Playa Cocles is a beautiful beach, but it's known to have dangerous rips depending on the size of the breaking waves and the position of the sand bar. When visiting any beachfrom the Caribbean to the Great Lakesit's important to remember that there may be rip currents and to take serious precautions. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. 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. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Fiji maskrays in Yasawa waters, Fiji. Credit: Rob Macfarlane ReefSafari Fiji Drawaqa Marine Conservation Trust Research conducted at the University of the South Pacific (USP) through the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) program has identified a newly described ray speciesthe Fiji maskray, Neotrygon romeoi. The Fiji maskray is part of the blue-spotted maskray complex and is found only in Fijian waters. Although this ray is common in Fijiand also the most widely traded one in local marketsit has never undergone a detailed taxonomic description. That changed when research led by Dr. Kerstin Glaus, Research Fellow with the PEUMP program, conducted a new study and published this exciting finding in the Journal of Fish Biology on 9 June 2025. This newly identified species had long been confused with Neotrygon kuhlii and N. trigonoides. However, Dr. Glaus's study, titled "A new bluespotted Maskray species (Neotrygon, Dasyatidae) from Fiji," has now confirmed that Neotrygon romeoi is a completely separate species. The discovery was confirmed through a combination of detailed measurements of the shape and size of the ray's body parts, such the length of its tail and size of its eyes or fins; counting specific body features like the number of vertebrae; and DNA barcoding, which uses a small piece of the ray's DNA to identify what species it is, similar to scanning a barcode to tell products apart. "It stands out with its broad, angular snout, long claspers in adult males, and a row of thorn-like spines running from the neck to the base of the tail," Dr. Glaus said. "The ray's brown back is decorated with dark mask-like markings across the eyes, two large blotches behind the spiracles, and numerous small black spotsespecially around the face." This research was based on specimens bought from the Suva Fish Market and collected from local fishermen. Importantly, no rays were killed specifically for the study. For many years, all maskrays were grouped under Neotrygon kuhlii. Due to modern genetic research, scientists have since uncovered a complex of distinct species. There are now 16 recognized maskray species, with nine described since 2016, and 13 forming the "blue-spotted group." The Neotrygon romeoi is now the 17th member of the maskray species complex. The team named the new species Neotrygon romeoi in honor of the late Romeo Glaus, father of lead author Kerstin Glaus, to acknowledge his enduring support and deep respect for nature. Beyond its scientific significance, Neotrygon romeoi is frequently caught in small-scale fisheries across Fiji. "Properly identifying and naming the species is a critical step toward managing its population and ensuring sustainable use," said Dr. Glaus. "Rays are among the most threatened marine organisms. Given the Fiji maskray's limited range, high catch rate, and unknown life history, we recommend that it be considered for protection under Fiji's Endangered and Protected Species Act, which, among others, applies to endemic sharks and rays and helps conserve native biodiversity by regulating trade, protection, and use of species at risk." "This discovery highlights Fiji's unique natural heritage and the urgent need to better understand and protect our marine species," said Lavenie Tawake, the USP PEUMP project Team Leader. So next time you think of Fiji's underwater wonders, remember: The ocean just got a little more special. Somewhere beneath the waves, the Fiji maskray, Neotrygon romeoi, glides silentlya newly named symbol of Fiji's extraordinary marine life. More information: Kerstin Glaus et al, A new bluespotted Maskray species (Neotrygon, Dasyatidae) from Fiji, Journal of Fish Biology (2025). DOI: 10.1111/jfb.70094 Journal information: Journal of Fish Biology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The residents themselves must feel that they are part of the festival if it is to be successful. Credit: Lina Naoroz Braten, NTNU Engaging the local residents is key to the success of local festivals. Local festivals have been on the rise in Norwegian communities. Local festivals may involve a neighborhood or even just an individual street. The initiative often comes from private or public sector organizations or individuals from outside the area. However, in order for a local festival to be successful, it is necessary to engage people in the local neighborhood right from the very start. "It's about creating local ownership of the process and the event," said Lina Naoroz Braten. Lina is an assistant professor and Ph.D. research fellow at NTNU's Department of Architecture and Planning. She and Marius Vigen, a Ph.D. research fellow from the Department of Sociology and Political Science, have published an article on neighborhood and street festivals. For their research published in Urban Studies, the two focused in particular on the Levende Abelsgate ("Living Abelsgate") festival, which was held in the Elgeseter district of Trondheim from 2021 to 2023. They talked to both organizers and local people. Local festivals must create engagement Arranging local festivals can be an excellent way of encouraging people to make greater use of the outdoor spaces in their neighborhood. For municipal authorities, festivals can help to engage local people in the planning and development of the area. Private sector organizations, especially those involved in urban development, may have similar motives. However, local festivals are unlikely to be a success if the local people do not feel that the festival belongs to them. "If you engage local people at an early stage, they will have a much stronger sense of ownership of an event. Local people also know best what engages them," said Naoroz Braten. Four main types of events The researchers categorize the events into four main types, known as a "typology": Cosmetic events: Externally initiated, primarily symbolic, and with little positive impact on the local community. They simulate local initiatives that do not actually exist and are often designed to create the appearance of action without giving residents real influence or leading to lasting change. Engaging events: Aimed at inspiring and motivating residents to become more actively involved in the community. These events can act as a catalyst for further local participation and the development of local initiatives, even if the event itself is not locally initiated. Enthusiast events: Initiated by the most engaged and active members of the communityan exclusive core of resourceful and enthusiastic neighbors or local champions. These events serve as a platform for enthusiasts to share ideas and collaborate on projects that can have a local impact. Community events: The ideal-typical events that partly represent a romanticized notion of initiatives that include everyone. These events aim to bring the entire community together by building cohesion and strengthening social ties, while also giving residents a collective voice in local planning and development processes. Skepticism towards anything that originates from the outside However, it can be difficult to engage people in a festival that they were not responsible for initiating themselves. "We want to show how street festivals are being used as new tools in urban planning. But we have also noticed that researchers and the organizers behind these kinds of festivals give little consideration to the possible negative impacts for local engagement," said Vigen. The Levende Abelsgate festival was originally instigated by Padriva national network that aims to enable individuals, companies and local authorities to work together regarding green and financially profitable development. The festival took place over a weekend and was intended to create a lively city street event that people could enjoy. "Some locals see these events as positive initiatives that boost local engagement, whereas others see them as externally instigated initiatives without any real roots in the local community," said Vigen. These festivals can help create a sense of solidarity and a shared identity, but they can also lead to precisely the opposite. In the worst case scenario, externally initiated festivals can actually undermine local engagement. "This can happen through what our respondents call 'symbolic or cosmetic co-creating actions.' This can lead to frustration and passivity instead," explained Naoroz Braten. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Stimulate, not simulate, engagement It is far from the case that festivals always fail if the idea originates from outside. However, organizers must engage local people in creative ways that foster local anchoring. The researchers distinguish between genuine and non-genuine attempts to engage local people. "You have to stimulate real engagement, not simulate it," noted Naoroz Braten. The worst-case scenario is if people believe that the festival is being arranged for the sake of appearances, without taking into account the wishes and needs of locals. However, in the best case scenario, a festival can make local people see it as their own and become engaged in it. However, this is not always easy to achieve. "In order to succeed, the organizers must get local forces on board," said Vigen. Specific advice from the researchers Organizers can achieve true local engagement in a number of ways: Take account of the local community's history, connections and wishes. Make sure the festival is referred to as a "neighborhood festival"not that this will not suddenly and automatically make everything better. Is it actually a locally anchored festival we are talking about? Do not use the festival primarily as an opportunity for the organizers to create positive attention for themselves and their partners. No politicians dressed up in their suits, please. Be aware of the risk of local participation being perceived as symbolic if the organizers do not follow up on the neighborhood's input or address the challenges that are most important to the local residents. The reward for success is considerable. Over time, a successful festival can boost local engagement. Both it and other events in the area can then help locals to care more about and become more engaged in urban planning that concerns them and their local neighborhood. More information: Lina Naoroz Braten et al, Community engagement through the neighbourhood street festival: Between external simulation and local stimulation, Urban Studies (2025). DOI: 10.1177/00420980251323495 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain As Japanese society increasingly gets global, a new study finds that its education system has not kept pace. Students with foreign roots face cultural and linguistic hurdles in schools that still operate on assumptions of homogeneity. Findings suggest a lack of teacher training on multiculturalism is contributing to isolation and missed learning opportunities for these students. Since 2013, the total number of foreign residents in Japan has been steadily increasing, interrupted only by the travel restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these are children, many of whom are enrolled in Japanese public schools and require Japanese language instruction. The number of children requiring Japanese language instruction is expected to keep increasing. Under these circumstances, it is essential to understand how multicultural educationwhich accommodates the needs of these students while integrating them with native Japanese studentsis accomplished in Japanese public schools. A study by Tinka Delakorda Kawashima, lecturer at Hiroshima University's Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, observed teaching practices at an elementary school in Higashihiroshima City, identified shortcomings in current methodologies, and proposed strategies for improving multicultural education in Japan. The paper was published in the journal Azijske StudijeAsian Studies. "This study seeks to understand why Japanese public schools often fail to fully support students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds," says Delakorda Kawashima. "Specifically, it investigates gaps in both multicultural education and teacher training that prevent effective integration of foreign-background children into the school environment." Delakorda Kawashima's observations revealed that the elementary school in question is focused on educating students according to a governmental directive dating back to 1965, which mandates that no special treatment be given to non-Japanese students, and that they be given the same education as Japanese students. This includes not only educational materials but also social and cultural mores. Additionally, in this context, multicultural education's focus is almost exclusively on increasing Japanese proficiency while overlooking social inclusion and the cultural realities faced by diverse students. Gaps in training leave teachers unprepared for challenges of multicultural education According to the study, these factors are not conducive to a truly multicultural education, one that not only respects individual differences but also actively addresses issues of diversity and inequality. Delakorda Kawashima outlined three specific issues that she observed: monoculturalism, conformity and segregation. "True inclusion in education goes beyond language support and equal treatment. Teachers must recognize and address cultural and religious differences to create genuinely inclusive classrooms that support every child's sense of belonging and identity," she elaborates. Building on previous research that advocates for participatory or practical learning, Delakorda Kawashima focused on raising religious awareness in teacher training, designing and carrying out an experiment that focused on dialog and self-reflection in pre-service teachers in training. By the end of the experiment, participants had gained a far better understanding of the broad religious diversity within their cohort, laying the foundation for a better understanding of other cultures required for effective multicultural learning. "Many teachers feel unprepared to handle cultural or religious diversitynot out of unwillingness, but due to lack of training. The system focuses on teaching students to 'fit in,' rather than empowering schools to 'open up,'" Delakorda Kawashima says. By prizing conformity and penalizing dissidence, the system leaves minority children more vulnerable to exclusion. This work highlights the shortcomings of multicultural education in Japan, albeit from a single public school in Higashihiroshima City. It underscores the necessity of a paradigm shift in teacher training to fully engage with multicultural education strategies. "The next step is to develop and implement teacher training programs that include practical, interactive activities around cultural awareness. The ultimate goal is to reshape educational attitudes across Japan, so schools not only accommodate diversity but embrace it as a foundation for stronger, more empathetic communities," Delakorda Kawashima concludes. More information: Tinka Delakorda Kawashima, Changing Attitudes Toward Diversity in Japanese Public Schools, Asian Studies (2025). DOI: 10.4312/as.2025.13.sup.343-367 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: This study exploits data from two ground-based telescopes: the Very Large Telescope (top left, credit: ESO/G. Hudepohl) and the ESO 3.6-metre telescope, with the HARPS instrument (top right, credit: ESO), as well as two space telescopes: TESS and JWST, shown here in artistic representations, respectively, bottom right and bottom left. Credit: NASA A team led by UdeM researchers confirms a fifth potentially habitable planet around L 98-59, a red dwarf 35 light-years away. A team led by the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets (IREx) at the Universite de Montreal has achieved the most precise study to date of the L 98-59 planetary system, and confirmed the existence of a fifth planet in the star's habitable zone, where conditions could allow liquid water to exist. The article "Detailed Architecture of the L 98-59 System and Confirmation of a Fifth Planet in the Habitable Zone" has been accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal. It is currently available on the arXiv preprint server. Volcanic planets, a sub-Earth, and a water world L 98-59, a small red dwarf located just 35 light-years from Earth, hosts three small transiting exoplanets discovered in 2019, thanks to NASA's TESS space telescope, and a fourth planet revealed through radial velocity measurements with the European Southern Observatory's ESPRESSO spectrograph. All four planets orbit their parent star in a compact orbital configuration, all at distances five times closer than Mercury is to the sun. By carefully reanalyzing a rich set of observations from ground-based and space-based telescopes, a team led by Universite de Montreal and Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets (IREx) researcher Charles Cadieux has determined the planets' sizes and masses with unprecedented precision. "These new results paint the most complete picture we've ever had of the fascinating L 98-59 system," said Cadieux. "It's a powerful demonstration of what we can achieve by combining data from space telescopes and high-precision instruments on Earth, and it gives us key targets for future atmospheric studies with the James Webb Space Telescope." All planets in the system have masses and sizes compatible with the terrestrial regime. The innermost planet, L 98-59 b, is only 84% of Earth's size and about half its mass, making it one of the rare sub-Earths known with well-measured parameters. The two inner planets may experience extreme volcanic activity due to tidal heating, similar to Jupiter's volcanic moon, Io, in the solar system. Meanwhile, the third, unusually low in density, may be a "water world," a planet enriched in water unlike anything in our solar system. The refined measurements reveal nearly perfectly circular orbits for the inner planets, a favorable configuration for future atmospheric detections. "With its diversity of rocky worlds and range of planetary compositions, L 98-59 offers a unique laboratory to address some of the field's most pressing questions: What are super-Earths and sub-Neptunes made of? Do planets form differently around small stars? Can rocky planets around red dwarfs retain atmospheres over time?" adds Rene Doyon, co-author of the study, who is a professor at UdeM and the Director of IREx. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. A fifth planet in the habitable zone One of the key breakthroughs of this study is the confirmation of a fifth planet in the L 98-59 system. This planet, designated L 98-59 f, does not transit its host starmeaning it doesn't pass directly between us and the starbut its presence was revealed through subtle variations in the star's motion, detected using radial velocity measurements from HARPS (High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher) and ESPRESSO data. L 98-59 f receives about the same amount of stellar energy as Earth does from the sun, placing it firmly within the temperate, or habitable zone, a region where water could remain in liquid form. "Finding a temperate planet in such a compact system makes this discovery particularly exciting," said Cadieux. "It highlights the remarkable diversity of exoplanetary systems and strengthens the case for studying potentially habitable worlds around low-mass stars." Unlocking new insights with existing observations Rather than requesting new telescope time, the team made these discoveries by relying on a rich archive of data from NASA's TESS space telescope, ESO's HARPS and ESPRESSO spectrographs in Chile, and the JWST. They employed the novel line-by-line radial velocity analysis technique introduced by IREx researchers in 2022 to improve the precision of the data significantly. By combining it with a new differential temperature indicator also developed by the team, they were able to precisely identify and remove the stellar activity signal from the data, revealing the planetary signal in unprecedented detail. By combining these enhanced measurements with analysis of transits seen by JWST, the team doubled the precision of mass and radius estimates for the known planets. "We developed these techniques to unlock this kind of hidden potential in archival data," adds Etienne Artigau, co-author of the study and researcher at UdeM. "It also highlights how improving analysis tools allow us to improve upon previous discoveries with data that is just waiting to be revisited." Next stop: Webb These results confirm L 98-59 as one of the most compelling nearby systems for exploring the diversity of rocky planets, and, eventually, searching for signs of life. Its proximity, the small size of its star, and the range of planetary compositions and orbits make it an ideal candidate for atmospheric follow-up with the JWST, which the IREx team has already started. "With these new results, L 98-59 joins the select group of nearby, compact planetary systems that we hope to understand in greater detail over the coming years," says Alexandrine L'Heureux, co-author of the study and Ph.D. student at UdeM. "It's exciting to see it stand alongside systems like TRAPPIST-1 in our quest to unlock the nature and formation of small planets orbiting red dwarf stars." More information: Charles Cadieux et al, Detailed Architecture of the L 98-59 System and Confirmation of a Fifth Planet in the Habitable Zone, arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2507.09343 Journal information: Astronomical Journal , arXiv This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Misinformation is found in every element of our online lives. It ranges from fake products available to buy, fake lifestyle posts on social media accounts and fake news about health and politics. Misinformation has an impact not only on our beliefs but also our behavior: for example, it has affected how people vote in elections and whether people intend to have vaccinations. And since anyone can create and share online content, without the kind of verification processes or fact checking typical of more traditional media, misinformation has proliferated. This is particularly important as young people increasingly turn to social media for all kinds of information, using it as a source of news and as a search engine. But despite their frequent use of social media, teenagers struggle to evaluate the accuracy of the content they consume. A 2022 report from media watchdog Ofcom found that only 11% of 11 to 17-year-olds could reliably recognize the signs that indicated a post was genuine. My research has explored what teenagers understand about misinformation online. I held focus groups with 37 11- to 14-year-olds, asking them their views on misinformation. I found that the young people in the study tended towronglybelieve that misinformation was only about world events and scams. Because of this, they believed that they personally did not see a lot of misinformation. "[My Instagram] isn't really like 'this is happening in the world' or whatever, it's just kind of like life," one said. This may make them vulnerable to misinformation as they are only alert for it in these domains. There was also wide variation in how confident they felt about spotting misinformation. Some were confident in their skills. "I'm not daft enough to believe it," as one put it. Others admitted to being easily fooled. This was an interesting finding, as previous research has indicated that most people have a high level of confidence in their personal ability to spot misinformation. Most did not fact-check information by cross-referencing what they read with other news sources. They relied instead on their intuition"You just see it, you know"or looked at what others said in comment sections to spot misinformation. But neither of these strategies is likely to be particularly reliable. Relying on gut instinct typically means using cognitive shortcuts such as "I trust her, so I can trust her post" or "the website looks professional, so it is trustworthy." This makes it easy for people to create believable false information. And a study by Ofcom found that only 22% of adults were able to identify signs of a genuine post. This means that relying on other people to help us tell true from false is not likely to be effective. Interestingly, the teens in this study saw older adults, particularly grandparents, as especially vulnerable to believing false information. On the other hand, they viewed their parents as more skilled at spotting misinformation than they themselves were. "[Parents] see it as fake news, so they don't believe it and they don't need to worry about it," one said. This was unexpected. We might assume that young people, who are often considered digital natives, would see themselves as more adept than their parents at spotting misinformation. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Taking responsibility We discussed whose role it was to challenge misinformation online. The teens were reluctant to challenge it themselves. They thought it would not make a difference if they did, or they feared being victimized online or even offline. Instead, they believed that governments should stop the spread of misinformation "as they know about what wars are happening." But older participants thought that if the government took a leading role in stopping the spread of misinformation "there would be protests," as it would be seen as censorship. They also felt that platforms should take responsibility to stop the spread of misinformation to protect their reputation, so that people don't panic about fake news. In light of these findings, my colleagues and I have created a project that works with young people to create resources to help them develop their skills in spotting misinformation and staying safe online. We work closely with young people to understand what their concerns are, and how they want to learn about these topics. We also partner with organizations such as Police Scotland and Education Scotland to ensure our materials are grounded in real-world challenges and informed by the needs of teachers and other adult professionals as well as young people. More information: Yvonne Skipper, 'I'd Probably Scroll by': An Exploration of Young People's Views on Spotting and Stopping Misinformation, Children & Society (2025). DOI: 10.1111/chso.12962 This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Justin Krohn. Credit: University of Missouri Invasive plants are meeting their match. Driven by the desire to protect Missouri's ecosystems, a University of Missouri research team created a low-cost method to track the spread of invasive Callery pear trees in mid-Missourishedding light on where they are now and where they might be headed. These trees, known for their rapid growth, ecological harm and unpleasant odor, have overtaken large swaths of the Midwest and Eastern United States, crowding out native species and breaking easily during storms. In response, Missouri's legislature recently joined other states in banning their sale. Callery pear trees have recently begun encroaching on Missouri's Mark Twain National Foresta development that sparked Justin Krohn's interest. Now, Krohna research project analyst and graduate student at Mizzouis using satellite imagery available for free for research purposes, combined with machine learning, to locate these invasive trees more affordably than using expensive drones or aircraft imagery. In a recent study, Krohn explored Columbia, Missouri, with a GPS device to log the exact locations of Callery pear trees. Then, he applied machine learninga form of artificial intelligenceto satellite images, teaching a model to distinguish these trees from their surroundings based on light reflection. Mizzou's Justin Krohn is tracking the location of invasive pear trees in Columbia. Credit: University of Missouri His investigative work revealed that suburban areas with more open land have more Callery pear trees than Columbia's urban areas, where there is less open room for these trees to spread. "These trees like moving into disturbed areas, such as near new housing developments and alongside roads," Krohn said. "As Columbia continues to grow, we may be able to use the trends we noticed to better predict where these trees are likely to spread. If the areas where they might spread are treated proactivelywhether that's roadside clearings or growing native plantsthat may help stop these invasive trees from taking over, better protecting our ecosystem." Curiosity continues to drive the work forward. The same method Krohn developed could be used to track other invasive species, such as honeysuckle or kudzu, and potentially monitor disease spread in trees. "My long-term goal is to have an online interface where people can download either the models themselves or the code behind them so they can apply it to different invasive species in different regions of the world," Krohn said. "I want to help those focused on plant management and invasive species to be able to benefit from this technology without having to spend a lot of money on imagery." The research is a collaborative endeavor, drawing on Mizzou's deep bench of expertiseincluding the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; the Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems; MU Extension; the U.S. Forest Service; and the MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics. It reflects Mizzou's land-grant mission to serve the state by protecting its ecosystems. "There is a lot of potential for this technology to be used to ultimately protect the environment, and it feels great to be doing this work at Mizzou," Krohn said. "Making things cheaper and more accessible ultimately helps more people benefit from research, not just those who are AI experts." "Detecting the distribution of Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) in an urban U.S. landscape using high spatial resolution satellite imagery and machine learning" was published in Remote Sensing. More information: Justin Krohn et al, Detecting the Distribution of Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana) in an Urban U.S. Landscape Using High Spatial Resolution Satellite Imagery and Machine Learning, Remote Sensing (2025). DOI: 10.3390/rs17081453 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Making wine is a complex endeavorit depends on grape composition, microbes like yeast, and environmental conditions such as temperatures, rainfall amounts and soil quality where grapevines are growing. Traditionally, researchers conduct pilot-scale fermentations of about 5 gallons to evaluate things like grape quality or yeast behavior, but they take time and money. However, a new study by a team of researchers led by Penn State food scientists has shown that a quicker, cheaper option called microvinificationfermentations of 50 milliliters, about a quarter cupis reliable and convenient for studying wine chemistry. "With proper replicationdoing enough repeated testsmicrovinifications can give trustworthy results," said study senior author Misha Kwasniewski, associate research professor of food science in the College of Agricultural Sciences. "These small-scale tests can be a powerful, cost-effective way to improve research accuracy, predict how wine will turn out based on grape chemistry and support commercial wine-production decisions." Results from this study, published in the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, may open some eyes in the wine industry, Kwasniewski suggested, because microvinifications often are avoided due to concerns about high variability in results, too much oxygen exposure and other potential issues. He said this reluctance motivated himalong with study first author Ezekiel Warren, doctoral degree student in the Department of Food Scienceto test whether these concerns are valid by closely examining oxygen exposure and how factors like temperature during fermentation and grape skin management affect wine chemistry in small-scale fermentations. The researchers detailed measurements of oxygen uptake; phenolic compounds, which affect color, mouthfeel and bitterness; and aromatic compounds, which contribute to smell and taste, in both microvinifications and 5-gallon pilot-scale fermentations. They reported that the quarter-cup fermentations were consistent and did not suffer from too much oxygen, which could cause problems during fermentation and have a negative effect on wine quality. The researchers found that variables such as temperature; cap management, referring to how grape solids are mixed; and maceration time, referring to how long grape skins are in contact with juice, did affect the outcome in microvinificationsjust as they do in larger fermentations. The chemical profiles produced in microvinifications were very similar to those from pilot-scale batches, Kwasniewski said. Dissolved oxygen concentration of must in microvinifications using two cap integration methods (inversion and active punch-down) for 2018 cv. Chambourcin samples (n = 3). Mean values for inversion and punch-down at the start of fermentation were 5806 and 4890 g/L, respectively; these values are not significantly different but are excluded from the plot to enhance readability. Data are displayed as the mean standard deviation. Credit: American Journal of Enology and Viticulture (2025). DOI: 10.5344/ajev.2025.24058 The researchers experimented with both Chambourcin and Noiret grapes in both the microvinifications and pilot-scale fermentations, although Kwasniewski said the grape varieties used in the research was not a critical concern since they were testing the scale, not grape quality. Grapes used in both size fermentations came from the same areas of vineyards and were prepared in the same way: de-stemmed, hand crushed and yeast added. "This is looking at wine making in a new waythere are wineries and wine researchers who really think the only way you can do anything that's going to be relevant to wine is at scale," he said. "So, if they're going to make 10,000 gallons of it, we've got to do every trial at 10,000 gallons, which obviously makes progress difficult, cumbersome and expensive." There's the product-improvement aspect of microvintifications to consider as well, Kwasniewski pointed out. "As winemakers, we make all sorts of little interventionssuch as harvest timing, adding specific cultured yeast strains or filtrationto get the best quality out of our products, and we must be able to accurately judge the results," he said. "And microvinifications allow us to more easily accomplish that. But the practice has been rarely used because of the prejudice against it in the industry. This study supports the idea that very small wine fermentationsjust 50 milliliters or about a quarter cupcan be scientifically valid. It turns out, they're not more prone to problems like oxygen exposure, and they can mimic larger batches wellmaking them a practical option for researchers and winemakers alike." More information: Ezekiel R. Warren et al, Assessment of On-Skin Microvinification in the Evaluation of Berry-Derived Wine Flavor Components, American Journal of Enology and Viticulture (2025). DOI: 10.5344/ajev.2025.24058 Parents from Texas gathered and protested outside the White House following the devastating floods to demand accountability and action on climate safety. Cassidy DiPaola, from the Make Polluters Pay Campaign, said that the flooding was not just a climate disaster, but a preventable and politically charged crisis. Now, advocates, climate organizations, and parents are remembering the lives that were taken and are calling on lawmakers for urgent reform. Texas Parents Protest Outside the White House Nyeka Arnold, from the Healing Project, said they are demanding what their communities deserve, which are safety, dignity, and justice. The group is demanding that the current administration undo various cuts that were made to key agencies, such as FEMA, NOAA, and the National Weather Service. A mother from Texas, Eileen McGinnis, said that they need to have lawmakers at every level of government who ask themselves how they can learn from the tragic disaster. They are now calling for a review of the incident so it could be prevented from happening again, according to DC News Now. Read more: Children of Fort Bliss Soldier Among Dead Due to New Mexico Flash Floods The protesters placed 27 blue, pink, and purple trunks adorned with yellow roses and other flowers within view of the White House. Each of these represented a child who tragically died after flash floods struck Camp Mystic. A group of activists, including Texas mothers, sang, "We are gentle, angry people and we are singing for our lives." They are blaming United States President Donald Trump's administration for the disaster, saying it is a deadly consequence of government cuts and the Republican's inaction on the climate crisis. A Tragic Disaster The flash floods over the Fourth of July weekend resulted in the death of at least 135 people, most of whom were along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, northwest of San Antonio. On Monday, state legislators were set to talk about authorities' initial response to the incident and potential improvements to warning systems, The Guardian reported. The protest outside of the White House included 34 individuals who gathered at the Ellipse while holding signs that said, "We need warnings, not cuts," "Flood warnings came late, budget cuts came fir$t," and "No more kids lost to climate disasters." The situation comes after officials from Kerr County said earlier this week that the number of people who were missing dropped from nearly 100 to only three. In a news release, the city of Kerrville said that many of the people who were reported missing were verified as safe, as per ABC News. STONE HARBOR At times, the pedestrians seeking to cross the intersection at 96th Street and Third Avenue far outnumber the cars, Borough Council President Jennifer Gensemer said. This month, she renewed her push for a change in the traffic signals there and at Second Avenue, to allow a period in each cycle in which the county intersections are pedestrian-only zones. She took her plea to the first July meeting of the Cape May County Board of Commissioners and later reported to the other members of the Borough Council about the request. Gensemer cited a recent accident involving a pedestrian, and told county officials it was far from an isolated event, saying multiple pedestrians have been injured there. The data exists, and it highlights a serious and ongoing risk, Gensemer said. She wants the county to at least try setting the lights so that traffic would be stopped in all directions while pedestrians cross in any direction, or even diagonally. She described the method as a Barnes Dance, an all-stop or a pedestrian scramble. The method is sometimes described less colorfully as an exclusive pedestrian phase. This is not the first time Gensemer has brought the idea to the county. She has Borough Councils support for the change, but because they are county intersections, the idea would need county support. So far, some county officials remain skeptical. Commission Director Len Desiderio asked county engineer Bob Church about his findings from the last time the matter was raised. He said there would be significant traffic delays were the idea to be implemented. Lacey Township woman hit 2 people with her car, sped off, prosecutor says A Lacey Township woman was arrested after she allegedly hit two people with her car and sped away Saturday in Toms River, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said. The level of service at the intersection goes to F, Church said at the county meeting. He told the governing body the countys traffic consultant came up with alternative proposals to improve pedestrian safety, but never heard back from Stone Harbor. Gensemer said that was because the changes would include narrowing sections of sidewalk, making the area less friendly to pedestrians, and removing parking spaces. To me, thats just anti-business, she said Monday. Ninety-Sixth Street is Stone Harbors primary business area, lined with shops, dining and a movie theater from Second Avenue to Third, and home to The Reeds, Freds Tavern and other popular attractions west of Third Avenue. Desiderio said he drives through the intersection regularly. He arranged to meet Gensemer at the corner immediately after the meeting. She said he arrived as scheduled and they discussed the problems with traffic there. There are red brick crosswalks at each intersection and a crosswalk mid-block. For traffic heading toward the ocean, there are three lanes at Third Avenue, with one heading straight, one for left turns and one for right turns. Borough and county officials agree that one of the major delays is when someone is turning left and pulls into the intersection and must then stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. Following Gensemers proposal would mean backups in both directions, Church told the county board. He said the issues were confirmed with a synchronization study of the intersection lights. Gensemer said the delays would not be as bad as cars stopping in the middle of a turn for pedestrians, or the delays from the drawbridge at 96th Street, either because of bridge openings or frequent repairs. Its a proven method that eliminates dangerous conflict between turning cars and people in crosswalks, she told the county board. Engineers want to move cars through intersections as quickly as possible, she said. Its time to strike a better balance, she told the commissioners. Gensemer said she has been pursuing the idea since 2020, and last year brought a proposal to the county. She cited a Cape May intersection that uses a similar system, with all vehicles stopped before the walk sign comes on for all directions. Thats at Washington and Ocean streets, and the end of the Washington Street Mall, which is open to pedestrians only. That means there is vehicle traffic from three directions, not four, and it is not the primary entrance to town, but Gensmer said if it can work in Cape May, it can work in Stone Harbor. A Barnes Dance is named for traffic engineer Henry Barnes, who popularized the approach and introduced it to Denver, New York and Baltimore from the 1940s to the 1960s. They are still used in some New York intersections and in other cities, including Boston. On Monday, Desiderio said he understood Gensemers concerns and planned to speak with Church about the idea. He said he did not know what will ultimately happen at the intersection. 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. 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 Steve Rochette, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 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 replenished in 2023. Ocean City, Maryland, 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 in Delaware were also scheduled but received no money. Can beach projects save New Jersey shorelines indefinitely? Almost every occupied barrier island in New Jersey has a long-term commitment for beach replenishment. Do the projects still make sense? And if so, for how long? 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. 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, R-2nd, said 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. 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. 3 Atlantic City casinos mark first Fourth of July in years with a decent beach due to widening project The beach is back. As a matter of fact, Friday marked the first Independence Day holiday in four years that casinos on the northern end of Atlantic City's shoreline have had a decent beach for their guests and locals to use. For example, the Army Corps paid Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company of Oak Brook, Illinois, 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, Wahl said. 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. Summer pause for beach battle in the Wildwoods? No one seems to have budged on an impasse on a beach and dune building project for the Wildwoods. Is a summer break likely? 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 state 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 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 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 so they dont bump into each other. Upper Townships message to Strathmere on beach erosion: Were on your side Upper Township says some beach access will remain closed in Strathmere this summer, as officials outlined plans to address continued erosion. 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. Tickets On Sale Now for Attendees to Experience the Future of Car Culture at LA's Most Iconic Automotive Event LOS ANGELES, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tickets are now available for the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show , returning to the Los Angeles Convention Center from November 21 to 30, 2025. As one of the most influential automotive events in the world, LA Auto Show is where car culture, automaker innovations, and hands-on-wheels experiences has come together in one unrivaled destination for over a century. Los Angeles Auto Show Los Angeles Auto Show Los Angeles Auto Show Savvy shoppers and enthusiasts alike are invited to explore hundreds of the latest cars, trucks, SUVs, and EVs from top automakers all in one location. From gas-powered favorites to the newest electric vehicles, the show gives visitors the chance to touch, feel, and compare the latest models in a fun and immersive, no-pressure environment. Whether you're researching your next ride or just soaking in the eye candy, the LA Auto Show annually offers something that no other event can match. "LA Auto Show continues to lead the industry by creating a space where the future of mobility and the culture of driving come together in one location unlike anywhere else on earth," said Terri Toennies, President of the Los Angeles Auto Show. "This year, we're making it easier than ever to attend with lower ticket prices and more experiences designed to welcome everyone who loves cars, culture, and innovation." This year's show introduces new attractions along with the return of fan-favorite experiences. Expanded test drives, immersive exhibits, and breakthrough technology showcases are just a few of the ways the show brings LA's rich automotive culture to life. NEW AND FEATURED EXPERIENCES INCLUDE: Creator Studio - A first-of-its-kind platform that highlights the next wave of car culture through storytelling, original content, and custom collaborations with top creators. - A first-of-its-kind platform that highlights the next wave of car culture through storytelling, original content, and custom collaborations with top creators. The Underground - A reimagined space that celebrates grassroots expression and the people and communities driving the future of custom car culture. - A reimagined space that celebrates grassroots expression and the people and communities driving the future of custom car culture. Showcase Hall - One of the most popular spots at the show returns with a stunning collection of customs, exotics, muscle cars, lowriders, retrofits, and more. - One of the most popular spots at the show returns with a stunning collection of customs, exotics, muscle cars, lowriders, retrofits, and more. The SPARQ Experience - SPARQ, the AI-powered automotive ecosystem that provides drivers with the ability to communicate directly with their cars is back with a bigger footprint. Continuing their focus on presenting leading automotive experiences, SPARQ invites car enthusiasts to dive into an interactive space that blends AI technology with the best of car culture - including your favorite movie cars, live commentary from community legends, and celebrities with an unrivaled automotive passion. - SPARQ, the AI-powered automotive ecosystem that provides drivers with the ability to communicate directly with their cars is back with a bigger footprint. Continuing their focus on presenting leading automotive experiences, SPARQ invites car enthusiasts to dive into an interactive space that blends AI technology with the best of car culture - including your favorite movie cars, live commentary from community legends, and celebrities with an unrivaled automotive passion. Clean Power Alliance Test Track, Street Test Drives and Indoor Rides - Get behind the wheel or step inside the newest EV, Gas and hybrids on a series of indoor and outdoor tracks designed for hands-on exploration. - Get behind the wheel or step inside the newest EV, Gas and hybrids on a series of indoor and outdoor tracks designed for hands-on exploration. Camp Jeep & Ford Bronco Built Wild Adventure Courses - Ride with a pro driver and experience real off-road capability across a thrilling obstacle course featuring the latest Jeep and Ford Bronco models showing off their unique capabilities. - Ride with a pro driver and experience real off-road capability across a thrilling obstacle course featuring the latest Jeep and Ford Bronco models showing off their unique capabilities. OVRland Outpost - Explore the booming world of overlanding, camping and off-road travel with curated rigs in partnership with OVR Magazine. - Explore the booming world of overlanding, camping and off-road travel with curated rigs in partnership with OVR Magazine. All Roads Stage - A hub for conversation, storytelling, and cultural connections centered around LA's love affair with cars, showcasing 10 local stories across the 10 days of the show. - A hub for conversation, storytelling, and cultural connections centered around LA's love affair with cars, showcasing 10 local stories across the 10 days of the show. VIP Guided Tours - Join an expert-led tour and get a deeper look into highlight areas of the show, designed for true automotive enthusiasts and curious kids alike. TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets are on sale now at laautoshow.com/tickets and include access to all exhibits and test drive experiences. Pricing is as follows: Opening Day Friday ( November 21st ): Adult $18 , Senior $8 , Child $8 ): Adult , Senior , Child Any Day General Admission Tickets: Adult $25 , Senior $12 , Child $12 , Senior , Child Monday to Thursday ( November 24-27 ): Adult $22 , Senior $10 , Child $10 ): Adult , Senior , Child VIP Priority Entry + Ticket on Saturdays and Sundays: Adult $45 , Senior $22 , Child $22 , Senior , Child Wednesday/Thursday Thanksgiving Family Four-Packs: $63 For the latest updates on vehicle debuts, special programming, and daily schedules, follow the LA Auto Show on Instagram , X , Facebook , or LinkedIn . You can also sign up for alerts at laautoshow.com. ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW & AUTOMOBILITY LA Founded in 1907, the Los Angeles Auto Show is one of the most influential annual automotive events in the world. Held each year at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the show draws hundreds of thousands of attendees and brings hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact to the city. It also remains the largest revenue driver for the LA Convention Center. AutoMobility LA the show's press and industry day takes place on November 20, 2025, and features a full day of vehicle debuts, brand announcements, and a thought leadership program highlighting some of the brightest voices in automotive and tech. The LA Auto Show opens to the public from November 21 through 30, 2025, including Thanksgiving Day, offering ten full days for car shoppers, enthusiasts, families, and future-focused fans to experience the very best in automotive design, culture, and innovation. For more information, visit laautoshow.com and automobilityla.com. MEDIA CONTACT: For press inquiries, email [email protected] SOURCE Los Angeles Auto Show John R. Ostojic, a seasoned attorney fluent in Serbian and other languages, joins Amy G. Injury Firm to assist with cases in Denver's growing Serbian community. DENVER, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Amy G. Injury Firm is proud to announce the addition of John R. Ostojic as its newest team member. Ostojic, an attorney with decades of practice, will offer valuable support for cases involving the Serbian-speaking community in Denver. Ostojic has been brought on as Of Counsel to assist with legal matters, providing expert guidance for those seeking legal representation in their native language. Ostojic's multilingual abilities, including proficiency in Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Montenegrin, Slovenian, and conversational Macedonian, make him a vital asset for the firm. His experience and linguistic skills are especially crucial for Denver's Serbian community. As Denver's Serbian population grows, the demand for a trusted, culturally attuned legal advisor is stronger than ever, and Amy G. Injury Firm is proud to meet this need with the addition of John R. Ostojic to the team. "It is my honor to join the esteemed Amy G. Law Offices as Of Counsel, where I will continue fighting for the injured and serving our community," John R. Ostojic said. With four decades of experience in personal injury, car accidents, wrongful death, and medical malpractice, I am dedicated to helping families recover and rebuild their lives. As a multilingual attorney, I am committed to providing accessible and compassionate representation to clients from all backgrounds. With over 30 years of legal experience, Ostojic brings a wealth of knowledge to Amy G Injury Firm, specializing in personal injury law and commercial litigation. His distinguished career includes work in both domestic and international legal matters, as well as a history of advocating for clients in complex cases. About Amy G Injury Firm: Amy G Injury Firm is a trusted and highly regarded legal practice based in Denver, Colorado, dedicated to representing clients who have suffered injuries due to accidents. With expertise in a wide range of personal injury cases, including car accidents, bike accidents, workers' compensation, and wrongful death, the firm is committed to securing justice for its clients. Through hard work, personalized attention, and a deep understanding of the law, Amy G. Injury Firm has become a go-to resource for individuals facing difficult challenges due to personal injury or accidents. SOURCE Amy G Injury Firm Ibanqroo holds meeting over continued finding of invasive devilfish Chetumal, Q.R. The Biodiversity and Natural Protected Areas Institute of the State of Quintana Roo (Ibanqroo) held a meeting regarding the invasion of the devilfish. Ibanqroo General Director Javier Carballar Osorio reported that during the meeting, the states rationale for addressing the issue was presented, as well as the progress of the actions and activities implemented. According to Carballar Osorio, informational talks and information on the presence of the devilfish have been given to approximately 600 people from government organizations, academic institutions, civil society organizations and others. He said the work program for addressing the invasion of the devilfish in the short and medium term was presented, defining four lines of action: Coordination and collaboration, detection and control, monitoring and research and communication and environmental education. Subsequently, with the support of the private sector, informational banners on the presence and reporting of the devilfish were delivered to the municipalities of Bacalar, Othon P. Blanco and Felipe Carrillo Puerto. The devil fish or plecos (Pterygoplichthys spp.) is a species native to South America, however, its presence in the bodies of water in the south of the state represents a problem for the aquatic ecosystems of the area, he said. Mayor appoints new Director of Traffic for municipality of Tulum Tulum, Q.R. Jessica Orozco Zavala has been appointed the Director of Traffic and Road Safety of Tulum. The announcement was made Monday by Tulum Mayor Diego Castanon Trejo. Orozco Zavala is the first woman to hold the Tulum position. During the announcement, Castanon Trejo highlighted her career. Jessica Orozco Zavala holds a law degree from the Technological University of Mexico and a diploma in Conflict Resolution from UNAM. Her experience includes a decade (2010-2020) as a member of the former Federal Police, where she held operational and administrative positions, excelling as head of the Internal Affairs Department. In 2022, she joined the ranks of the Tulum Secretariat of Public Security and Citizen Protection, playing a key role in the coordination group for restoring public order. Subsequently, she assumed the position of assistant in the institutions Department of Internal Affairs, becoming its head in April 2023. During her tenure, she led the integration of files and the development of administrative procedures against police personnel for conduct contrary to the principles of public security institutions. It is the second change made to the Tulum Police department this month. On July 2, Mayor Diego Castanon Trejo led the swearing-in of Edgar Aguilar Rico, the new Secretario de Seguridad Ciudadana (SSC) for the municipality of Tulum. State security operations inspected for CALEA reaccreditation Riviera Maya, Q.R. The Undersecretariat of Command and Intelligence Centers began their on-site evaluation process. The evaluation is part of the ongoing evaluation for reaccreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). CALEA, a credentialing authority based in the United States whose primary mission is to accredit public safety agencies, began their evaluation of the security complexes around Quintana Roo Monday. During this process, compliance with the 210 standards that comprise the CALEA regulations will be reviewed. These standards are focused on strengthening operations, institutional efficiency and citizen service in the Communications Centers. Participating in this session are evaluators Dr. Luis Ramirez Saldana and Secretary Christian Manuel Ortiz Muniz, the head of the Undersecretariat of Command and Intelligence Centers, Captain Marco Antonio Zamora Cazares, as well as all members of the Undersecretariat of Command and Intelligence Centers throughout the State. A tour of the C5 Centre in Cancun was also part of the agenda as well as staff interviews. As part of the agenda, there will be tours of the C5 facilities, interviews with operational and administrative staff, a review of emergency plans and citizen service procedures and an analysis of observable standards. The agenda is aligned with the guidelines established by CALEA to improve critical incident preparedness, clarity in institutional directives, strengthening community relations and evidence-based decision-making. Quintana Roo security facilities were inspected Monday by U.S. CALEA officials CALEA accreditation represents a seal of professional excellence for public security agencies, establishing international standards specifically aimed at communications and command centers. Suspect who followed Cancun man from work facing kidnapping charges Cancun, Q.R. A suspect in the February 2025 kidnapping of a Cancun man has been detained. Personnel from the Specialized Prosecutors Office for Combating Kidnapping and Extortion Crimes executed an arrest warrant against Miguel Angel N. According to authorities, Miguel Angel N allegedly participated in events that occurred on the afternoon of February 22 of this year when the victim, a male, left work at the Cancun International Airport to drive home. On the way, he stopped at a pharmacy located on Jose Lopez Portillo Avenue. Upon leaving, Miguel Angel N and another man overpowered him. One of them was carrying a firearm, so they threatened the victim, forcing him into their vehicle. They then drove him to the Merida highway. They then switched cars and took him to another location where they beat and tortured him. He was held captive there from February 22 to 26, they said. Following legal proceedings, Miguel Angel N was handed over to authorities to face charges for aggravated unlawful deprivation of liberty. Authorities did not provide a motive for the February kidnapping. If armed officers of the state didnt come to your church gathering this past weekend, demanding that you break up your unofficial and unlicensed religious gathering, you can thank, in large part, Americas largest Protestant tradition: Baptists. It was Baptists in the colonial period who worked with the Founders, particularly Madison and Jefferson, to enshrine freedom of religion in the U.S. Constitution. In fact, religious liberty is at the heart of Baptist political theology. The 2000 Baptist Faith and Message of the Southern Baptist Convention reads: A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal. For much of American history, this meant the rejection of an established church. But for the last several decades, religious liberty has been argued not against would-be theocrats but a distorted vision of church-state separation that sought to enshrine secularism as the guiding ethos, thus serving to push religious activity out of the public square altogether. This is the thesis of Postliberal Protestants: Baptists Between Obergefell and Christian Nationalism by Hunter Baker, Baptist political scientist and provost at North Greenville University. Baker wrote this book to encourage all of us to think again about why Baptists are Baptists in the third millennium after Christ. Its a necessary short volume that helps apply Baptist political theology to 21st-century challenges. Baker begins Postliberal Protestants by walking the reader through a detailed history of the relationship between church and state in America. The original and relevant content in this section alone makes it a very helpful resource. Baker is right when he says: In the first three-fourths of the nations existence, the concept of the separation of church and state took on a clear and simple meaning. It meant that churches would not be supported by tax money. Membership would not be required by law. The state would not exert any control over who could serve as a pastor or church official. Neither would it control the doctrine of churches. But the late 1960s introduced a new period for church and state in the US. Baker then outlines the pivot both in jurisprudence and in the culture that expanded the Founders vision into a suffocating secularism. As Richard John Neuhaus eloquently argued in the 1980s, there can be no such thing as a naked public square. Some value system will fill the void. Here Baker is especially helpful as he explains the difference between secularism and the original Baptist ideal. He defines secularism as the idea that religion should not impede upon public life. This distorted view of the Founders vision is what often drives the predictable left-wing freakout when a Christian (usually conservative) talks about his faith or takes a government position. Witness the overheated warnings about a theocracy when George W. Bushsomeone who claimed Jesus Christ as his favorite philosopherbecame president. Or recently when Mike Johnson, a lifelong Baptist, compared his unlikely ascent to that of Moses. Common themes that would not have seemed unusual to most Americans and their leaders for much of our history is now warned against in dark and grave tones on the pages of Americas elite publications. This misunderstanding is also why Christian service agencies, from adoption providers to homeless ministries and schools, were restricted from partnering with the state to alleviate social ills until recent Supreme Court rulings peeled back some of the secularist arguments. Today, when American Christians hear the term separation of church and state, they tend to recoil because, as Baker puts it, They have seen the concept used aggressively to try to whittle down the presence of Christianity in American life. The author is not shy about the negative impact of secularism on the church and the country. Baptists, however, should still be concerned about religious liberty, Baker argues, even if the nature of the religious liberty challenges have changed. The rise of secularism, both in the culture and in the courts, made the author sympathetic to those Christians who surveyed the American landscape and concluded that the original arrangement between Baptists and the Founders was insufficient as a governing model for America in the 21st century. And yet Baker, while pushing back against left-wing secularism, also resists the pull of a Christian establishment, or integralism, that has become increasingly popular in both Catholic and Protestant academic (and ecclesiastical) circles. While affirming the benefit of a culture thoroughly leavened with Christian influence, he urges the would-be nationalists to read their history properly and to see the peril of a theocratic state. The Baptist sense is that the established church tends to have a weakening effect on church bodies, while the regenerate approach energizes with the power of a sincere and active faith. There is a reasonable body of evidence available to substantiate that point of view. European nations and the United Kingdom, which tended to embrace the comprehensive model, now represent some of the most secular places on Earth. Hes right. As did Richard Land a generation ago, Baker argues for the accommodationist view, one that eschews both the establishment of an official state church and a secularism that drives Christianity from public life. Instead, he urges faithful Christians both to engage in politics and policy for the common good while also continuing in the spiritual practices that ultimately renew a nation: evangelism, discipleship, and strengthening the family. A coerced faith, he notes, is without value and promotes hypocrisy and violence to the conscience. God has given the keys of the kingdom, not to the government, but to the church. It is the church that is the pillar and ground of the faith (1 Tim. 3:15). It is Christ, not government, who is tasked with separating the sheep and the goats (Matt. 25). Baptists like Baker are not arguing for a quietism that allows malignant secularism to shape the common good. Rather, from the beginning, disestablishment has always included a robust engagement in the life of American democracy. Today Baptists are no less involved, serving in the highest positions of government, influencing the public debate, and remaining active in their communities. Its just that Baptists dont invest more hope in politics than is proper. For the most part, Baker writes eloquently, our politics should be the politics which proclaims the kingship of Christ. The end of that road is not a string of American Christian political victories, but the stunning moment when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We have a winner in Virginias No. 1 weed limerick contest! The victorious poet is a guitarist who once sported a Mohawk when he attended Patrick Henry High in Roanoke. Back then he played guitar in a band with famed bassist Mary Huff, of Southern Culture on the Skids. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, a masters from Hollins and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Georgia. Spencer Edmunds, 58, is a longtime educator and married father whose children are grown. These days, he installs custom bathrooms. Raised in Roanoke, he returned to the Star City a couple of years ago, after living and working as a teacher and school administrator for 13 years in Boulder, Colorado and many more on the East Coast before that. He responded excitedly after I notified him of his triumph Sunday. This is totally making my day and I was able to share the great news with my mom who was with me leaving church, Edmunds quickly wrote back. Later he came to my house and picked up Nick Hagen. That darn thing has been growing like a weed on my deck. At 40 inches tall, not counting its soil and 15-gallon container, Edmunds could barely squeeze the female auto flower plant into the passenger compartment of his pickup. He carted it to the house of an experienced home-growing friend. Edmunds isnt a regular weed user, but hes vowed to smoke some Nick Hagen because I earned it, he said. My kids will love this! he exclaimed. He and his wife, a lawyer, have four. Three are triplets and all are in their 20s. The prize is from local seed breeder Appalachian Ruderals. The strain is Cereal Infinity, which is an autoflower cross of Cosmic Perpletuity and Frosted Cherry Os. According to breeder Jesse Griffin, its an indica hybrid, and a fruity, large sturdy plant. I named the plant after Roanoke weed lawyer and City Councilman Nick Hagen (long story that well get into below). Based on experience, Edmunds can expect four to five ounces of cured marijuana buds from Nick Hagen. It should be ready around early to mid-September. Heres the limerick that won the weed: There once was a hybrid named Cereal Among weed it was known as Imperial Casey made it available For a poem not for sale-able To Roa-tokers seeking the Ethereal. In all, readers emailed 66 weed limericks. Several entrants, including Edmunds, entered more than one. (The rules set no limitation, an oversight thatll be corrected in the future.) For various reasons, some entries were rough; others were sublime. Most fell between those extremes. Mark Fryburg, an award-winning poet who lives in Daleville, volunteered to screen the limericks. I thought that was a fantastic idea, in part because there were so many and I had multiple friends who entered. I emailed him all the entries naked, with zero clues as to the author. Saturday, Fryburg sent me his top five. From those, I chose Edmunds as tops. Not sure if Fryburg was aware, but another of his top five was also penned by Edmunds. That limerick went went like this: There once was a fellow named Casey Known for games with pot plants just in case he Had to change his vocation To a weed operation He spends all his days getting spacey. Of several very competitive satires of Dan, this one rose to the top because of the laugh at the end of line two, Fryburg wrote. The writer punned case he. Another runner-up was Roy Kirby of Roanoke: A stoner from old Saskatoon Got high and conversed with the moon. He said with a grin, Let the giggles begin! Then forgot why he walked in the room. Perfect form, Fryburg wrote. Said with a grin, reminded me of a line in one of the old naughty Nantucket limericks. Another runner-up was Diane Lowe of Roanoke County. Heres her limerick: There once was a writer from noke who thought it was some kind of joke to give pot away instead of to pay smart lawyers to clear up the smoke. Creatively executed the entire verse in one sentence, Fryburg judged. Clever insertion of the legal/lawyer issue, and great double entendre in smoke. The final runner-up chosen by Fryburg was devised by Michael Lustig of Roanoke: I once had a Bud at 4:20 Who gave me product a plenty I had a small blunt Before my big stunt And ended up flat on my tummy! Funny storytelling about stoned behavior relatable, Fryburg noted. Four of the five lines were visual, like following a movie, ending with little slapstick action surprise. There are a couple more limericks Flyburg didnt flag that caught my eye. One was from Ashley Alexander in Blacksburg. Like most great limericks, hers was mischievous and bawdy: There once was a young lady from Floyd Who loved a good cannabinoid Found a fellow to share a toke Said she fancied a poke But his pipe prematurely deployed. Her juxtaposition of Floyd with cannabinoid and deployed is particularly impressive. And the naughtiness made me laugh out loud. Another non-winner came from David Nova in Roanoke one of my friends who entered the contest: Weed-smoking Dan isnt scared, In fact, he has publicly shared, He grows more wacky plants, Than Virginia law grants, Getting high makes ones judgment impaired. The plant was named after Hagen because I sought some advice from him on a rumored loophole about how to grow up to eight plants legally, despite a household limit of four set by Virginias home-grow law. Hagen advised the loophole is rubbish. Growing more than four is not legal, he said, and he cautioned if I did that I should get rid of the excess. So I named it after him, and did. Dont admit in writing that you grew more than four plants, he sagely advised. I would never! (In a future column, we might peruse some of the other 59 weed limericks. Many are funny; others have a message.) 1 killed, 11 injured in new Russian raids on Ukraine Xinhua) 08:53, July 22, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) BOSTON, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a new article published in Value in Health, researchers from Analysis Group, a global leader in health economics and outcomes research (HEOR), collaborated with Novartis to examine how HEOR is transforming the evaluation and access pathways for cell and gene therapies (CGTs) for rare diseases. As CGTs move from experimental to increasingly approved treatments for rare diseases, health systems face urgent questions about how to evaluate, reimburse, and scale their access equitably. In their article, the authors spotlight five key HEOR innovation areas that are enhancing the generation of real-world evidence (RWE), supporting novel endpoints, and shaping future models of affordability and access. Because of small patient populations, heterogeneous disease presentations, a lack of effective alternative treatments, and hence, ethical concerns, gold standard randomized double-blind controlled clinical trials are often not suitable for establishing efficacy and safety for CGT treatments. Consequently, traditional economic models are not able to capture the holistic value of CGTs, given that the true benefits associated with such treatments are subject to a much longer time outside of the trial periods. For example, for patients with rare hereditary genetic disorders, timely access to CGTs can yield real differences in meaningful gains in life years. To address these challenges, researchers are increasingly relying on innovations in HEOR to inform proper clinical and economic evaluation of CGTs. An Analysis Group team led by Managing Principal Min Yang, Manager Su Zhang, and affiliate Lou Garrison collaborated with researchers from Novartis, led by Dr. Walter Toro, to examine the advancements in the evaluation of CGTs made possible by HEOR innovations, including the design and collection of long-term real-world data (RWD) for CGT efficacy extrapolation, justification for use of novel endpoints, integration of patient voices and preferences, and application of sophisticated statistical methodology, sometimes augmented with artificial intelligence (AI) or natural language processors. These advances are reflected in regulators' and health technology assessment (HTA) agencies' growing openness to the acceptance of RWE and patient-centered endpoints in their evaluations, marking a shift from traditional standards that may not suit CGTs. The authors note that emerging value assessment frameworks and novel reimbursement models offer solutions and adaptability to decision makers with enhanced ability to manage health equity and affordability. "CGTs are groundbreaking therapies for patients suffering from rare and serious diseases with few treatment options," said Dr. Yang. "By understanding the unique complexities of rare diseases, our HEOR experts are playing a pivotal role in making these breakthrough therapies more accessible to patients." The researchers conclude that the use of HEOR has provided tools to enable a more holistic assessment of therapies like CGTs, inform pricing and reimbursement strategies, enhance the efficient delivery of CGTs to patients, improve health outcomes and affordability of treatments, and reduce treatment uncertainties for patients with rare diseases. They emphasize the continued need for collaboration among researchers, payers, and regulators to refine HEOR approaches that support both innovation and sustainability in rare disease care. "Advances in CGTs have broader societal benefits beyond just those patients who receive such treatments, and these are not always well-quantified," remarked Professor Garrison. "HEOR innovations will continue to be essential in the development of holistic assessments for CGTs, allowing us to better quantify less tangible but real benefits that emerge for patients and their families over time." The article, "Evolving Concept of Value in Health Economics and Outcomes Research: Emerging Tools for Innovation and Access to Cell and Gene Therapies for Rare Diseases," was published by Value in Health in May. Lead author Dr. Walter Toro coauthored the study with Analysis Group researchers Dr. Min Yang and Dr. Su Zhang, Analysis Group affiliate and University of Washington Professor Lou Garrison, and Dr. Anish Patel and Dr. Omar Dabbous from Novartis. The study was funded by Novartis. To learn more about Analysis Group's HEOR capabilities, visit www.analysisgroup.com/healthoutcomes About Analysis Group's HEOR, Epidemiology & Market Access Practice Founded in 1981, Analysis Group is one of the largest international economics consulting firms, with more than 1,500 professionals across 15 offices. Analysis Group's health care experts apply analytical expertise to regulatory real-world evidence, health economics and outcomes research, clinical research, market access and commercial strategy, and health care policy engagements, as well as drug safety-related engagements in epidemiology. Analysis Group's internal experts, together with its network of affiliated experts from academia, industry, and government, provide our clients with exceptional breadth and depth of expertise and end-to-end consulting services globally. Contact: Analysis Group Victoria Hopcroft, +1 617 425 8231 [email protected] SOURCE Analysis Group Passenger traffic increased by 3.2% in Puerto Rico and 1.0% in Colombia; and decreased by 1.7% in Mexico MEXICO CITY, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: ASR; BMV: ASUR) (ASUR), a leading international airport group with operations in Mexico, the United States, and Colombia, today announced its results for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2025. 2Q25 Highlights1 Total passenger traffic declined 0.1% YoY ("YoY"). By country of operations, passenger traffic showed the following YoY variations: M exico: decreased 1.7%, driven by a 4.1% decrease in international traffic and a 0.8% increase in domestic traffic. Puerto Rico (Aerostar): increased 3.2%, reflecting an increase of 15.2% and 1.7% in international and domestic traffic, respectively. Colombia (Airplan): increased 1.0%, as of the 11.8% increase in international traffic offset the 1.9% decrease in domestic traffic. Revenues increased 17.9% YoY to Ps.8,715.4 million. Excluding construction services, revenues increased 4.8% YoY. Commercial revenue per passenger increased 6.3% YoY to Ps.135.9. Consolidated EBITDA increased 2.3% YoY to Ps.5,024.9 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin (excluding IFRIC 12 effect) decreased to 67.6% from 69.2% in 2Q24. Cash position of Ps.19,815.9 million at June 31, 2025 , with Debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA at 0.1x. , with Debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA at 0.1x. Following shareholder approval at the April 24, 2025 annual shareholder meeting, ASUR distributed a Ps.80.00 per share cash dividend. The first tranche of Ps.50.00 was paid in May 2025 , with two Ps.15.00 extraordinary dividends scheduled to be paid in September and November of 2025. Table 1: Financial and Operating Highlights1 Second Quarter % Chg. 2024 2025 Financial Highlights Total Revenue 7,394,010 8,715,432 17.9 Mexico 5,428,666 6,454,700 18.9 San Juan 1,182,580 1,354,837 14.6 Colombia 782,764 905,895 15.7 Commercial Revenues per PAX 127.9 135.9 6.3 Mexico 154.5 158.6 2.6 San Juan 147.3 165.4 12.3 Colombia 47.2 57.8 22.2 EBITDA 4,909,874 5,024,921 2.3 Net Income 3,779,413 2,270,182 (39.9) Majority Net Income 3,673,567 2,144,814 (41.6) Earnings per Share (in pesos) 12.2452 7.1494 (41.6) Earnings per ADS (in US$) 6.5019 3.7962 (41.6) Capex 636,780 1,390,393 118.3 Cash & Cash Equivalents 14,996,995 19,815,868 32.1 Net Debt (2,842,542) 1,934,015 n/a Net Debt/ LTM EBITDA (0.2) 0.1 n/a Operational Highlights Passenger Traffic Mexico 10,193,640 10,016,529 (1.7) San Juan 3,469,364 3,580,600 3.2 Colombia 4,099,011 4,139,442 1.0 For a full version of ASUR's Second Quarter of 2025 Earnings Release, please visit: https://www.asur.com.mx/informacion-financiera-page-0" 2Q25 Earnings Call Day: Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET; 8:00 AM Mexico City time Dial-in: +1 877 407 4018 (U.S. Toll-Free); +1 201 689 8471 (International) Access Code: 13754405. Please dial in 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. Replay: Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET, ending at 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. Dial-in: +1 844 512 2921 (U.S. Toll-Free); +1 412 317 6671 (International). Access Code: 13754405 1 Unless otherwise stated, all financial figures are unaudited and prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). All figures in this report are expressed in Mexican pesos, unless otherwise noted. Tables state figures in thousands of Mexican pesos, unless otherwise noted. Passenger figures for Mexico and Colombia exclude transit and general aviation passengers, unless otherwise noted. Commercial revenues include revenues from non-permanent ground transportation and parking lots. U.S. dollar figures are calculated at an exchange rate of US$1.00 = Ps.18.8332 (source: Diario Oficial de la Federacion de Mexico) while Colombian peso figures are calculated at an exchange rate of COP. 218.1500 = Ps.1.00 (source: Investing). Definitions for EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, and Majority Net Income can be found on page 18 of this report. Definitions Concession Services Agreements (IFRIC 12 interpretation). In Mexico and Puerto Rico, ASUR is required by IFRIC 12 to include in its income statement an income line, "Construction Revenues," reflecting the revenue from construction of, or improvements to concessioned assets made during the relevant period. The same amount is recognized under the expense line "Construction Costs" because ASUR hires third parties to provide construction services. Because equal amounts of Construction Revenues and Construction Costs have been included in ASUR's income statement as a result of the application of IFRIC 12, the amount of Construction Revenues does not have an impact on EBITDA, but it does have an impact on EBITDA Margin. In Colombia, "Construction Revenues" include the recognition of the revenue to which the concessionaire is entitled for carrying out the infrastructure works in the development of the concession, while "Construction Costs" represents the actual costs incurred in the execution of such additions or improvements to the concessioned assets. Majority Net Income reflects ASUR's equity interests in each of its subsidiaries and therefore excludes the 40% interest in Aerostar that is owned by other shareholders. Other than Aerostar, ASUR owns (directly or indirectly) 100% of its subsidiaries. EBITDA means net income before provision for taxes, deferred taxes, profit sharing, non-ordinary items, participation in the results of associates, comprehensive financing cost, and depreciation and amortization. EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income, as an indicator of our operating performance, as an alternative to cash flow or as an indicator of liquidity. Our management believes that EBITDA provides a useful measure that is widely used by investors and analysts to evaluate our performance and compare it with other companies. EBITDA is not defined under U.S. GAAP or IFRS and may be calculated differently by different companies. Adjusted EBITDA Margin is calculated by dividing EBITDA by total revenues excluding construction services revenues for Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Colombia and excludes the effect of IFRIC 12 with respect to the construction of, or improvements to concessioned assets. ASUR is required by IFRIC 12 to include in its income statement an income line reflecting the revenue from construction of, or improvements to concessioned assets made during the relevant period. The same amount is recognized under the expense line "Construction Costs" because ASUR hires third parties to provide construction services. In Mexico and Puerto Rico, because equal amounts of Construction Revenues and Construction Costs have been included in ASUR's income statement as a result of the application of IFRIC 12, the amount of Construction Revenues does not have an impact on EBITDA, but it does have an impact on EBITDA Margin, as the increase in revenues that relates to Construction Revenues does not result in a corresponding increase in EBITDA. In Colombia, construction revenues do have an impact on EBITDA, as construction revenues include a reasonable margin over the actual cost of construction. Like EBITDA Margin, Adjusted EBITDA Margin should not be considered as an indicator of our operating performance, as an alternative to cash flow or as an indicator of liquidity and is not defined under U.S. GAAP or IFRS and may be calculated differently by different companies. About ASUR Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. (ASUR) is a leading international airport operator with a portfolio of concessions to operate, maintain, and develop 16 airports in the Americas. These comprise nine airports in southeast Mexico, including Cancun Airport, the most important tourist destination in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America, and six airports in northern Colombia, including Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (Rionegro), the second busiest airport in Colombia. ASUR is also a 60% JV partner in Aerostar Airport Holdings, LLC, operator of the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport serving the capital of Puerto Rico, San Juan. San Juan's Airport is the island's primary gateway for international and mainland-US destinations and was the first and currently the only major airport in the US to have successfully completed a publicprivate partnership under the FAA Pilot Program. Headquartered in Mexico, ASUR is listed both on the Mexican Bolsa, where it trades under the symbol ASUR, and on the NYSE in the U.S., where it trades under the symbol ASR. One ADS represents ten (10) series B shares. For more information, visit www.asur.com.mx Analyst Coverage In accordance with Article 4.033.01 of the Mexican Stock Exchange Internal Rules, ASUR reports that the stock is covered by the following broker-dealers: Actinver, Banorte, Barclays, BBVA, BofA Merrill Lynch, Bradesco, BTG Pactual, Citi Global Markets, GBM Grupo Bursatil, Goldman Sachs, HSBC Securities, Insight Investment Research, Itau BBA Securities, Jefferies, JP Morgan, Punto Research, Santander, Scotiabank, UBS Casa de Bolsa and Vector. Please note that any opinions, estimates or forecasts with respect to the performance of ASUR issued by these analysts reflect their own views, and therefore do not represent the opinions, estimates or forecasts of ASUR or its management. Although ASUR may refer to or distribute such statements, this does not imply that ASUR agrees with or endorses any information, conclusions or recommendations included therein. Forward Looking Statements Some of the statements contained in this press release discuss future expectations or state other forward-looking information. Those statements are subject to risks identified in this press release and in ASUR's filings with the SEC. Actual developments could differ significantly from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information is based on various factors and was derived using numerous assumptions. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, except as may be required by applicable law, we do not have an obligation to update or revise them, whether as a result of new information, future or otherwise. SOURCE Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. How to Do It is Slates sex advice column. Have a question? Send it to Jessica and Rich here. Its anonymous! Dear How to Do It, I am a voracious reader of your column. I love the content, advice, and inspiration it provides me. I am writing in for help with a problem I am having. My rational side knows the answer, but my emotional side will not get with the program. I am female and my partner is male. We began our relationship hot and heavy. He reawakened in me a connection with my sexual self that has been powerful and liberating. I am in my mid-40s, perimenopausal, and still I WANT to have sex as often as possible because of how good it feels to be desired and connected to a man that I love. We have been very adventurous. I have a vivid imagination and fantasize and masturbate regularly. I always prefer him. Here is the problem His libido is vanishing. He is also in his 40s. He has an incredibly stressful job, custody troubles, substance abuse, and past sexual trauma. He is a complicated, yet simple man, and we love each other very much. I communicate endlessly about his diminishing initiative to be intimate and how it makes me feel. This then turns into him feeling guilt and shame for not being able to provide what I need, and he worries I will leave him for someone who can. He is finally taking erectile dysfunction medication, but he seems to never be in the mood to initiate. I feel like I am badgering him. I know he is tired and stressed, but he is so sexy to me that I want him ALL the time, and the pressure I put on him only makes it worse. I try to tell him that I dont need his penis to work for me to be sexually satisfied. I just need him to want me the way he used to. He says he will go to therapy with me, but not alone. We talk about our relationship issues, but he is exhausted by the fact that it always comes back to sex and my constant need for it. Non-monogamy is not really for us (although we have discussed my fantasy of bringing another male to the bedroom). I know I need to back off and give him some grace. It is his body, and I need to learn how to be patient. Still, my feelings of rejection and neglect are overwhelming sometimes. How can I reconcile my understanding of what he is physically/mentally going through with my overwhelming feelings of hurt and frustration? Actually Hot and Bothered Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear Actually Hot and Bothered, As a longtime reader, Im guessing youre aware of my philosophy that feelings cant be forcedwhether thats you feeling satisfied, or your partner feeling desire. He probably does want, on some level, to want you the way he used to. Youre absolutely correct that patience, space, and grace are the best way to create conditions that are conducive to your partner feeling desire toward you. You know that men often deal with feelings of inadequacy around erectile dysfunction, and may have a hard time with their libido being lower than they feel it should be or than it used to be. And youre aware that most of us worry, at some point, about whether our partners might leave us. As an aside, absolutely do not pursue bringing in a third partner at this time. Its too combustible. Even discussing the fantasy has a chance of adding more shame and pressure to what your partner is feeling. Advertisement Are you sure that the neglect youre feeling is entirely related to sex? Your partner is juggling a lot, and Im wondering whether youve perhaps enjoyed the sexual liberation you describe so thoroughly that you may not have noticed intimacy, connection, and support being somewhat absent in other areas. So take a long, sober look at the relationship. Do you get the amount of touch you need outside of sex? Is he emotionally available to a degree that is sufficient for you? Do you have ways of connecting outside of physical intimacy? Advertisement If everything else is healthy and happy, what can you do to increase the sexual gratification you get from your solo time? Sometimes this looks like adding props and mediaa new vibrator, some different fantasiesand sometimes this looks like a kind of mindful minimalism. Whatever youre doing right now, explore other directions. Advertisement Advertisement As for reconciling what your mind knows with what you feel and what your body wants, therapy is absolutely an option. It may help to simply accept the fact that we sometimes have to hold disparate perspectives. Talking it out with trusted friends is another time-tested way of dealing with difficult feelings. Have a commiseration sessionwhether youre all navigating similar hiccups or having different challenges, a group complaint night has a way of helping contextualize what were going through. Lastlyand I know this is a wild thing for a sex advice columnist to say to someone who is fairly freshly sexually liberatedit might help to rein in your libido. What can you do to focus on other aspects of life? Or to sit with arousal and desire without letting it run free? This might give you the reprieve youre looking for. Advertisement Advertisement Get sex advicesubmit a question! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear How to Do It, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to How to Do It following up) Submit Dear How to Do It, I am a 25-year-old woman who is into being a dom, as it serves as a major turn-on for me. The trouble is that I find that many (if not all) of the guys I go out with are decidedly not keen on the idea of playing the role of a sub. Am I going to have to restrict myself to circles with men who are into being subs if I want to satisfy my kink? Or should I try to see if I can convince someone who isnt really into it to go along? No Luck With the Normies Advertisement Dear No Luck With the Normies, Take a moment to look at your last question: convince someone who isnt really into it. Thats always a dodgy proposition when were talking about sex, and doubly so when the sex involves power exchange, restraint, or pain. Your potential lovers are people who deserve respect, autonomy, and care. Functional BDSM absolutely requires that the submissives boundaries and rights be respectedif that isnt the case, its assault or coercion at best, and rape at worst. Advertisement When you question whether youll have to restrict yourself to circles of men who identify as subs, I imagine youre wondering whether BDSM clubs and FetLife are your only dating options. While youll certainly have a more efficient time finding men who are open to submitting in those spaces, there are other avenues open to you. Itll help to define what being a dom means to you, and what youre looking for in a sub. Is this more about psychological role play? Service? Are sadism and masochism part of the equation? What do you need out of the experience to feel satisfied? Lets say its about serviceis a defined scenario important? Or will someone whose love language is acts of service and loves letting you sit on their face suffice? And does any dynamic need to be pervasive throughout the relationship, present in every sexual and flirtation interaction, or can it be confined to specific sexual moments? Advertisement Related From Slate Every Time My Husband Sees His Mother, He Has a Concerning Sexual Reaction Read More Once youve got the clarity outlined above, you might look in places like Feeld, which tend to attract people who are, broadly speaking, sexually open. Or attend local events that are marketed as sex positive and meet people there. Negotiating relationships with a power dynamic is complex, which is why youll need details about exactly what you need to be fulfilled. Be prepared for lots of folks to say, No, thank you. Thats part of the reality of dating, whether the detail were navigating is a sexual interest, a personality quirk, or the demands of any number of careers. And, if it turns out that your interests are precise and narrow enough that you do essentially need to focus your search in classic BDSM spaces, ask yourself why that feels like confinement. Advertisement Send Us Your Questions About the Workplace! The columnists behind our new advice column, Good Job, want to help you navigate your social dynamics at work. Does your colleague constantly bug you after hours? Has an ill-advised work romance gone awry? Ask us your question here! Advertisement Dear How to Do It, My boyfriend of three months, Alex, refuses to go down on me. He says its nothing personal; hes just never been into performing oral sex. Getting eaten out is one of my favorite bedroom activities. Should I try to convince Alex to give it a chance, or is this my cue to walk away? Missing Something Advertisement Advertisement Dear Missing Something, Its worth making it clear to Alex that youre willing to walk away over this, but Id stop short of anything that might feel wheedling or manipulative. State the situation plainly: Receiving oral sex is important to your satisfaction, you wont stay in a relationship where it isnt part of the sex, and youre hoping that hell be willing to give it a try with you, even though you know hes never enjoyed it before. Whatever his answer is, accept that and make your choices accordingly with as little turmoil as possible. Jessica More Advice From Slate Two months ago, I discovered my husbands secret social media account that he uses to look at porn. That part didnt bother meI knew that he watched porn sometimes and I told him I was OK with it. I even encouraged him to share videos that he liked with me, but he rarely did Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. On April 8, 1952, President Harry S. Truman issued an executive order directing his secretary of commerce to take possession of most of the nations steel mills. The United States was at war. The United Steelworkers of America threatened a strike. Truman wanted to secure steel production to support the war. Less than two months later, in Youngstown Steel v. Sawyer, the Supreme Court declared the presidents order illegal and blocked the secretary from acting upon it. The power to seize property to stop a labor strike was Congress to give, not the presidents to take. The Founders of this Nation, as the court wrote, entrusted the lawmaking power to the Congress alone. The president is to execute Congress law, not craft his own law instead. Is that principle still law? How do we see that it is? Most think that the hard question in constitutional law is to determine what the Constitution means. In fact, the hardest question is whether and when the courts must stand up to governmental actors who are resisting the Constitution. Judges have long understood that courts cant right every wrong. The challenge is always to defend the Constitution while preserving the role of an independent court. In 1993, the president of the Russian Constitutional Court, Valery Zorkin, discovered what happens when a court tries to do too much: After a series of rulings essaying to restrict the power of President Boris Yeltsin, the Russian leader sent tanks to surround the court and shut it down. Even our own court, in its most famous early decision, Marbury v. Madison, dared not risk challenging a popular president directly: Though the court affirmed that in principle it could order a secretary of state to obey the law and, in practice, it could declare a law of Congress unconstitutional, it exercised that power to strike a law that Congress would never reenact. Because it did so, it avoided giving the president the chance to ignore the court directly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate The True Purpose of Stephen Millers Reign of Terror Read More Not since Franklin Delano Roosevelt has America known a president to more aggressively press the limits of his power than Donald Trump. In practically every domain of executive power, President Trump has acted to transform the nature of the presidency itself. He has claimed that his duty to take Care that the laws be faithfully executed includes the power to nullify a law (the TikTok ban), or effectively close a congressionally authorized department (the Department of Education). He has asserted an inherent right to call up the National Guard, beyond norms of federalism. He has insisted on the power to deport both citizens and noncitizens upon his mere assertion that the target presents a risk to national security. He has claimed emergency authority to set tariffs with foreign nations (while his family negotiates resort deals with the same governments)including the power to impose a tariff simply because he disagrees with the nations prosecution of an attempted insurrection by a former leader (Brazils Jair Bolsonaro). He has used the full force of the federal government to retaliate against a university (my own) that refuses to yield to his extralegal demands to set university policy. He has retaliated against a state governor (Janet Mills from Maine) who refused to yield to his demand to follow his (as yet untested) theory of antidiscrimination law. He has removed any effective check within the Justice Department and executive agencies on the exercise of his power, both gutting the internal systems of constitutional review and firing independent inspectors general. He has exempted himself from gift bans and rules limiting his ability to benefit personally from his position as president, including sponsoring a crypto memecoin that has increased his personal net worth by billions and accepting a massive luxury jet from a foreign power. He has effectively extorted $1 billion in free legal services from law firms based on baseless legal claims and tens of millions of dollars from media companies based on wholly meritless lawsuits. There is no denying that the power of the presidency as Donald Trump is exercising it is far removed from anything any president before him has ever executed upon. He has in effect changed the nature of the presidency. Is that change for him alone? Or has Trump effectively amended the Constitution? And if he has, then certainly, as Rachel Maddow has framed it, The most important story of our time is this one: What is this country going to allow him to do? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Framers of our Constitution never expected the courts to be the ultimate check on presidential power. Congress was to be that check, and the people the check on them. Yet Congress has done nothing to block this president, and we are 18 months from the opportunity for a midterm election to check his power. If there is to be any limit in the interim, it will only come from courts and, ultimately, the Supreme Court. Yet architecting that resistance will not be easy. Under the regular order of the Supreme Court, it is not even clear it is possible. The president has already generated more genuine disputes about his power than the court has space on its annual docket. But beyond one important exception (Abrego Garcia v. Trump), the Supreme Court has done little to slow his grasping of power, and it has, bizarrely, used its shadow docket to block lower courts that have tried to step into the breach (the recent Department of Education case). Advertisement Historians looking back at this moment will either mark it as the point at which the constitutional power of the president was effectively changed or when the federal courts successfully resisted that change. The obvious comparison to FDR will frame that review. Though in 1935 the court blocked many of FDRs most significant legislative initiatives, after the Democrats landslide victories in 1936, the court backed down. That retreat effectively recognized that the constitutional scope of federal power had been substantially expanded from the lines the court had drawn just years before. Jurists have debated the legitimacy of that effective amendment for more than 85 years. Advertisement Advertisement But Roosevelt had acted with the support of Congress, and after challenges, his actions were ratified in an election. This president, by contrast, acts alone. Congress has not supported through law the extraordinary executive power he now claims. And nothing in the 2024 election had anything to do with remaking the executive power of the president. Never before, save perhaps in the middle of war, have we seen a president so radically remake his own power, without any effort to amend the Constitution to support it or even an effort to secure Congress approval. If Youngstown Steel was right when it held the Presidents power to see that the laws are faithfully executed refutes the idea that he is to be a lawmaker, then this courts allowing of the president to shutter a Cabinet department or nullify a law seemingly refutes Youngstowns refutation. Advertisement Advertisement It is absurd to see a dictator, Chief Justice Vinson wrote in his dissent in Youngstown Steel, in a representative product of the sturdy democratic traditions of the Mississippi Valley. Maybe that was so. But this president is not the product of any democratic tradition. Instead, he comes to power as a billionaire businessman obviously impatient with the ways of democratic governance. Advertisement And that raises a critical challenge for this court. The court has acted aggressively to cabin presidential power, to assure, as in Youngstown, that the president executes Congress policy, not his policy alone. It took less than a year for the court to invoke its recently crafted major questions doctrine to block Joe Bidens student loan forgiveness plan. That was the fourth time that doctrine had been used by the court to restrict executive power during Bidens administration the first happening just five months after he came to office. Advertisement Chief Justice John Roberts has long worried about the integrity of the decisions of [the] court in the eyes of the country. In arguing against a power to police partisan gerrymandering, Roberts speculated: If youre the intelligent man on the street and the court issues a decision [favoring Democrats], that person will say: Well, why did the Democrats win? It must be because the Supreme Court preferred the Democrats over the Republicans. Yet how is the intelligent man to understand the aggressive policing of Biden and the wholly passive response to Trump? There is a difference, of course: No one doubted that Biden would obey the court, while no one is confident that Trump would do the same. But that reason is invisible to the intelligent man, however real it may be. What is visible is a Republican court blocking the acts of a Democrat while allowing the effective rewriting of the Constitution by a Republican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Which is why it is especially puzzling that the court would bend to deflect the help by lower courts in resolving the many questions Trump now presses. The public is already primed to believe it knows which side this court prefers. If the court is to uphold the Constitution it enforced against Biden, many judges would be better than just five. None should minimize, however, how difficult the courts position is. Trump has triggered a constitutional moment. Whether this court or any courtcan resist such a president is not obvious. If it resists and is ignored, it will have weakened the institution for generations. But if it doesnt resist this remaking now, when could it? Will the court return us to the presidency that was when a Democrat comes to power? And how exactly could it do that, while preserving the integrity of the decisions of [the] court in the eyes of the country? Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. This month, Oklahomas Department of Education announced an innovative approach to screening aspiring teachers in the state: Any applicants from woke states would need to first pass an ideology test created by the right-wing group PragerU. The announcement seemed engineered to draw national news coverage and inflame liberal audiences. Under this plan, teachers from states with progressive education policies would be tested on the U.S. Constitution, American exceptionalism, and the fundamental biological differences between boys and girls. The screening is guaranteed to assess teachers on a deeply MAGA-inflected understanding of U.S. history, government, and society: PragerU, which has a stated mission of countering leftism in education, is known for its white nationalistadjacent content for schoolchildren. The proposal comes from Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, and even if you dont know his name, youre almost certainly familiar with his work. Walters prior proposals have included a mandate that public schools teach the Bible; a plan to collect childrens immigration status when they register for public school; and potential new social studies standards that would have high school students identify discrepancies in 2020 election results. Each of these announcements solidified Walters reputation as a relentless attention-seeker, calculating every action from his office to appeal to the power players of the MAGA movement. He has not been subtle about his aims: When the DOE put out a bid for a vendor of 55,000 Bibles for its new mandate, the specifications turned out to match only the $60 Trump Bible, from which the president draws royalties. Walters also sent a video of himself praying for Trump to all school districts and ordered them to play it for all their students. And he courted controversy whenever he could, spreading hoaxes about children using litter boxes, attacking teachers unions as terrorist organizations, and appointing Chaya Raichik, the woman behind the viral anti-woke LibsofTikTok account, to an Oklahoma library advisory committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These stunts have paid off. Walters has been profiled in outlets across the country and has become the face of the Christian nationalist campaigns in public education. A good number of Americans know the name of the school superintendent in the 28th most populous state. While its clear that Walters is exceptional at keeping his name in the headlines, its less clear that hes any good at, well, his actual job: overseeing and shaping Oklahomas educational system. According to experts in Oklahoma education policy, some of the boldest proposals to come from Walters office have foundered, either ensnared in legal challenges or sidestepped by school districts wary of the culture wars. A lot of the stuff you might see in a clip on CNN is not actually filtering down to the schools, said Daniel Hamlin, a professor in the department of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Oklahoma. Advertisement Several of his proposals have seemed obviously unconstitutional; others, logistically unrealistic or politically unviable, often amounting to little more than a graceless ploy for Trumps favor. Walters has shown little evidence he has any interest in the less glamorous work of running a struggling and underfunded school system. Advertisement So we are left with a question: Is Walters all superficiality, a media obsessive without the stamina or standing for real, transformative politics? Or is he actually capable of remaking Oklahomas education systemand signaling what MAGA could bring to schools across the country? In sign of just how bizarre American politics have become in this second Trump era, Walters may be a bit of both. As traditional institutions and procedures buckle under MAGA politics, Walters has proved that with the right national climate, slapdash own-the-lib pronouncements can become serious policy. Hes a performer. But he also happens to be a major changemaker. Advertisement Advertisement The woke teacher-screening news, like so many of Walters other provocative announcements, comes with a caveat: It may not actually happen. There are not yet publicly available details about what the screening will entail. Beyond New York and California, its unclear which states will be flagged as woke, or how Oklahoma will measure wokeness. Theres also no explanation of how the test will be rolled out. Its hard to know if Walters really expects this policy to be immediately effective, given that schools have hired teachers who already have their certifications for the upcoming school year. PragerU declined to comment. Slate reached out to Walters office for more information and received the following in response: Weve been very clear and Oklahomans support keeping our classrooms from becoming indoctrination centers. We would not expect the liberal media to understand. Advertisement Advertisement According to statements Walters office made to local media, the screening should be available in the next few weeks, at which point it would be rolled out immediately, to take effect before the next school year, starting in the fall. But this timeline has no guarantee: Walters has made splashy announcements before, then seen his plans go quickly awry. Advertisement Shortly after his declaration that schools would need to teach the Bible, multiple lawsuits were filed, citing the establishment clause of the First Amendment, and the Oklahoma Supreme Court blocked the state from acquiring the Bibles until the cases were settled. In the meantime, a number of school districts have said they will ignore the mandate to teach the Bible anyway. Schools have also balked at Walters interference with the curriculum, including his campaign to push PragerU content into schools. And the challenges are coming not just from teachers and parents. The Republican-controlled Legislature declined to give Walters the budget he would need to purchase the Bibles. And the states governor, Kevin Stitt, quashed Walters plans to collect students immigration status. Advertisement Experts in Oklahoma education also questioned whether changes in social studies standards would actually make a difference on the ground. Textbooks, rather than state standards and state tests, are more relevant in determining the content teachers actually teach. Advertisement Advertisement Take-no-prisoners MAGA-style politics works best when youre in the position to wield it. Walters benefits from operating in a red state, but he is not the most powerful person in that state. As the University of Oklahomas Hamlin noted, Walters aggressive and flashy style seems to have been a source of frustration for Stitt, who might not want to deal with the fallout from someone elses controversies. In February, Stitt removed several education board members and replaced them with people seen as less loyal to Walters. In response, Walters posted on X that the governor had joined the swampy political establishment. Walters has clashed with the Legislature as well. Some Republican lawmakers in the state have claimed that the new social studies standards were rushed through after Walters misled legislators about deadlines for their approval. They also demanded investigations into the employment of one of Walters advisers, as well as into how he managed the departments budget. Without allies in the governors mansion or the statehouse, its hard to view his ambitions for the Oklahoma education system as entirely realistic. As University of Oklahoma political science professor Deven Carlson noted, making sweeping changes to an education system requires a lot of funding and political leverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All these initiatives would define most superintendents terms, he said. And theres been, like, four in the last year. As Carlson sees it, when trying to figure out whether Walters is a threat to the rest of the country, its critical to understand what exactly hes trying to do. If his goal is to use this attention to launch a more ambitious political career, then his policies may ultimately fizzle. But if he seriously aspires to remake education in his state, and if he proves that those policies can be powerful tools in the culture wars, then hes someone of serious concern for anyone who cares about secular, reality-based education. Advertisement It is a hard thing to know. But Carlson did add: People are always wondering: Is there going to be follow-through? So far, the answer has more often been no than yes. Few question Walters personal political goals. At one point, there was speculation he was in the running for Trumps education secretary. More recently, he has indicated interest in the governors race in 2026. And when he staffed up his office, he pulled people known not for education policy but for running campaigns. He hired the PR firm operated by Mary Vought, the ex-wife of Project 2025s Russ Vought, to raise his national profile with radio and TV appearances and op-eds. He hasnt officially announced a bid for governor, but he has told local media he would make a decision over the summer. The polls look bleak, but the landing page on ryanwaltersforgovernor.com simply reads Launching Soon. Advertisement But Walters personal ambition doesnt mean he isnt genuinely passionate about infusing right-wing Christian nationalism into the states education system. (He told one evangelical the country was in the middle of a spiritual war and that they had God on our side.) Some of his efforts have been implemented. His Bible mandate may not survive legal challenges, but the social studies standards, which were written with the input of the president of the Heritage Foundation and leading proponents of teaching a Christian nationalist understanding of U.S. history, are already in place in schools. And although textbooks and teachers are more influential when it comes to what happens in classrooms, the new standards could be a step toward finding textbooks that align with Walters aims. We know the quickest way to attack the separation of church and state is through education, said Jena Nelson, an activist and former teacher who ran against Walters as a Democrat in the superintendent race. This is something bigger than just him wanting a position in Trumps administration. Advertisement Advertisement And theres another tactic that Walters, like other right-wing state figures, may care more about: creating test cases for bigger conservative ideas. One of the most notable education cases before the U.S. Supreme Court in its latest term involved a proposed Catholic institution that would have been the nations first publicly funded religious school. Oklahomas Virtual Charter School Board had approved the creation of St. Isidore of Seville as an online public charter school. Had it opened, it would have been fully publicly funded and also fully Catholic. The states attorney general sued, claiming that it violated the Constitution; Walters and others supported the school, arguing for freedom of religion. The Supreme Court deadlocked and left a lower courts ruling against the school in place, but only because Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself. Walters and his allies in the state had come very close to opening an entirely new chapter in religious education in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woke teacher screening may just be another one of these efforts to set a new national precedent. Walters has attended a number of events with the Heritage Foundation, which has encouraged pushing boundaries and counting on the Supreme Court for support. And the teacher screening appears to be new terrain in the culture war: red states discriminating against blue-state applicants. Ilya Somin, a constitutional law professor at George Mason University, wrote in an email that there was a good chance this new tactic would be challenged in court. The move could just hold up: There is some precedent in states giving reciprocity to, e.g., lawyers licensed in some other states, but not others, Somin wrote. The motives for this are usually protectionist rather than ideological, but the precedent may still be relevant. If it worksif state-sponsored politics-based discrimination becomes a new tool for red states in the culture warsit will be another strong item for Walters MAGA resume. It will not help the worsening teacher shortage in Oklahoma, a state whose students have some of the worst test scores in the nation. Nor will it necessarily help Walters gubernatorial aspirations in a state where traditional Republicans remain wary of him and where he has polled well behind the Oklahoma attorney general. But, following his remaking of the curriculum and his push for Bibles in classrooms, it might just prove that Walters, as bald as his ambitions are, still requires our attention for as long as he holds office. In Trumps America, impulsive, politically isolated, and farcically combative figures can go far. It may be tempting not to take people like Walters seriously, but he has proved that with enough volume, some gimmicks stick. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250722/armenian-opposition-demands-criminal-case-against-pashinyan-over-threats-to-church-1122471031.html Armenian Opposition Demands Criminal Case Against Pashinyan Over Threats to Church Armenian Opposition Demands Criminal Case Against Pashinyan Over Threats to Church Sputnik International The Armenian Revolutionary Federation opposition party, also known as Dashnaktsutyun, has demanded that the country's Prosecutor General's Office open a criminal case against Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over his plans to attack the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC). 2025-07-22T07:46+0000 2025-07-22T07:46+0000 2025-07-22T07:46+0000 world nikol pashinyan armenia https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/06/16/1122317547_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_d36f844fcbe4760a11f390588cfc5fe9.jpg On Sunday, Pashinyan hinted that he was going to hold a rally against the hierarchy of the AAC in Vagharshapat, also known as Etchmiadzin, where its spiritual center is located. He described it as a "spiritual meeting" and called on his supporters to prepare for it. For almost two months, Pashinyan has been demanding the resignation of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, threatening to take concrete actions. Dashnaktsutyun said that Pashinyan's planned rally was a preparation for serious and aggravated crimes. Such actions, it said, will obstruct the operations of the spiritual center of the Armenian Church the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The party said that Pashinyan's appeals contain signs of criminally punishable acts, including the use or threat of violence, hostage-taking of the Catholicos, forcing him to resign, inciting mass unrest. The party urged citizens not to take part in Pashinyan's unconstitutional and illegal provocations, warning that any march on the patriarchal residence could lead to acts of hooliganism, mass unrest and other criminal offenses. Describing the AAC as a cornerstone of Armenian identity and national survival, Dashnaktsutyun said that the public must be ready to defend the church and its clergy by legal means, rejecting any attempt to undermine its authority. Relations between the Armenian authorities and the Armenian Apostolic Church deteriorated after Pashinyan posted offensive remarks about the Church on social media in late May. He proposed changing the procedure for electing the Catholicos of All Armenians and granting the state a decisive role in the process. Businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan, who defended the Armenian Apostolic Church, was arrested, sparking outrage among Armenians worldwide. They told Sputnik that the political persecution of the church and its supporters was unacceptable. Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, head of the Sacred Struggle movement who led protests to demand Pashinyans resignation in 2024, was also arrested. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250718/pashinyan-acts-as-copycat-nato-backed-dictator-and-is-turning-armenia-into-western-vassal--expert-1122455318.html armenia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International the armenian revolutionary federation opposition party, also known as dashnaktsutyun, has demanded that the country's prosecutor general's office open a criminal case against armenian prime minister nikol pashinyan over his plans to attack the armenian apostolic church (aac). https://sputnikglobe.com/20250722/grahams-crusade-more-bombs-more-bucks-1122473053.html Graham's Crusade: More Bombs, More Bucks Graham's Crusade: More Bombs, More Bucks Sputnik International US Senator Lindsey Graham is a top pick for American defense contractors, fueling a steady cash flow straight to their pockets. Lets dig into how he does it. 2025-07-22T14:43+0000 2025-07-22T14:43+0000 2025-07-22T15:32+0000 americas us military & intelligence lindsey graham ukraine israel russia am general honeywell us army https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107855/20/1078552089_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_c188ab6491a4d55987c47635e3b72897.jpg Warmonger in His Own Words "If I were a defense contractor, I'd be big time for Lindsey Graham, because I've been forward-leaning on rebuilding our military," Graham stated in June 2015. "People come to you because of your positions." Graham's Backers Defense Cash Quid Pro Quo? How does Graham return the favor? By boosting defense spending. Tricky Schemes Even More Cash Graham strongly backed the Export-Import Bank, which guarantees loans for foreign buyers of US goods. His donor GE gained big: Nothing Personal, Just Business Graham's calls for more arms for Ukraine and Israel in 2025 can be easily explained: He wants to be re-elected in 2026. He raised roughly $110 million for his 2020 re-election campaign and expects defense contractors to fork out again. *designated as an extremist and terrorist in Russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20250718/lindsey-graham-is-a-classic-colonial-imperialist-who-profits-from-us-war-machine-1122454747.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20250721/hit-russia-hurt-yourself---economist-slams-lindsey-graham-tariff-threats-1122468839.html americas ukraine israel russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova lindsey graham, us defense contractors, lockheed martin, raytheon, general electric, northrop, boeing, senator graham re-election bid, graham's super pac, security is strength https://sputnikglobe.com/20250722/inciting-ukraine-to-commit-terrorist-acts-will-receive-adequate-response---lavrov-1122471975.html Lavrov Issues Strong Warning Against Goading Ukraine Into Acts of Terrorism Lavrov Issues Strong Warning Against Goading Ukraine Into Acts of Terrorism Sputnik International All attempts to incite Kiev to commit terrorist acts will receive an adequate response, Moscow will achieve all its goals, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday. 2025-07-22T11:46+0000 2025-07-22T11:46+0000 2025-07-22T13:15+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine kiev sergey lavrov russia ukraine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/07/0f/1122440293_0:13:1009:581_1920x0_80_0_0_9551cdfa9be6071d22417f8905ba5d1f.jpg "Constant incitement of the Kiev regime to continue provocations, continue terrorist acts against civilian objects, against peaceful citizens of Russia ... these actions do not stop. Of course, they will receive a worthy rebuff. Russia will achieve all those goals," Lavrov told reporters following talks with his counterpart from Mozambique.Key Lavrov's statements after talks with the Mozambican Foreign Minister Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas: kiev russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International all attempts to incite kiev to commit terrorist acts will receive an adequate response, moscow will achieve all its goals, russian foreign minister sergey lavrov said on tuesday. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250722/iran-russia-china-to-hold-trilateral-nuclear-talks-amid-rumblings-of-us-dialogue-resumption-1122471392.html Iran, Russia, China to Hold Trilateral Nuclear Talks Amid Rumblings of US Dialogue Resumption Iran, Russia, China to Hold Trilateral Nuclear Talks Amid Rumblings of US Dialogue Resumption Sputnik International A trilateral meeting is to take place on Tuesday between Iran, China and Russia to discuss Tehran's nuclear programme, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson... 22.07.2025, Sputnik International 2025-07-22T09:20+0000 2025-07-22T09:20+0000 2025-07-22T11:20+0000 world iran us nuclear talks iran-israel row iran nuclear deal iranian foreign ministry russia china https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/07/16/1122471209_0:200:2931:1849_1920x0_80_0_0_d56c72d9e0b74c0cc1e937a07c95cec8.jpg While the Iranian Foreign Ministry has not named the participants, the trilateral discussion in Tehran is expected to take place below the ministerial level. The talks come as speculation mounts over a potential restart of indirect negotiations between Iran and the US, which were derailed in June by a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel. Previously, five rounds of Oman-mediated discussions took place. Adding further urgency, the Tehran meeting precedes renewed nuclear talks with France, Germany, and the UK scheduled for Friday in Istanbul. The European trio has threatened to trigger the 2015 nuclear deals "snapback" mechanism, which would reinstate sanctions if Iran is found to be in non-compliance. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran is in constant coordination with Russia and China to avoid snapback sanctions or mitigate their consequences. Still, he emphasized: We have no plans for talks with America under the current situation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250722/us-to-launch-more-strikes-on-irans-nuclear-facilities-if-necessary---trump-1122470242.html iran russia china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko iran nuclear talks, talks on iran nuclear deal, iran-israel escalation, israel-iran escalation Newest leverage loan indices build on Bloomberg's interconnected syndicated loans solutions delivering investors greater insight into traditionally opaque asset class NEW YORK and LONDON, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg today expands its leveraged loan index offering with the launch of the Bloomberg European Leveraged Loan Index and the Bloomberg Global Leveraged Loan Index, responding to growing investor demand for more precise, transparent, and globally diversified benchmarks in the syndicated loan market. The Bloomberg European Leveraged Loan Index (Ticker: ELOAN) reflects the market's unique characteristics by including broadly syndicated loans denominated in EUR and GBP, a 150 million local currency minimum size threshold, and inclusion of both rated (high yield) and unrated loans. The Global Leveraged Loan Index (Ticker: GLOAN) combines broadly syndicated loans for public and private companies from the US, Europe, and other markets, offering a comprehensive, cross-market view for global investors. The indices are built with proprietary pricing from Bloomberg's award-winning evaluated pricing service, BVAL, to deliver precise and timely insights into loan performance. As of June 30, GLOAN Index had 1,759 loans with a market value of $1.8 trillion, and ELOAN Index had 462 loans with a market value of EUR 340 billion. This expansion also includes approximately 100 sub-indices, enabling institutional investors to tailor exposure with enhanced granularity across geography, credit rating, liquidity thresholds, and other key factors. "Following the introduction of our US Leveraged Loan Index, demand from clients, particularly in Europe, for more benchmarks for leveraged loan investments has been strong and consistent so this is a natural next step," said Jasvinder Singh, Fixed Income Index Product Manager at Bloomberg Index Services Limited. "This launch represents another significant milestone in our commitment to expand the Bloomberg Fixed Income Indices offering and deliver enhanced value to our clients." "We're excited to see the launch of Bloomberg's new Leveraged Loan Index and the expanded coverage of European loan data. In a market where data is everything, this marks a significant leap forward," said Scott McMunn, CEO of the Loan Market Association (LMA). "At the LMA, we're actively collaborating with Bloomberg on ongoing thought leadership and commentary, delivering deeper insights and complementary perspectives on the European leveraged loan space" Core Features of the Bloomberg Leveraged Loan Indices Bloomberg's suite of leveraged loan indices empowers investors to optimize portfolio design, assess public and private credit strategies, and better track evolving trends across the corporate credit landscape. All indices in the expanded leveraged loan family share the following features: Built with proprietary pricing from Bloomberg's award-winning evaluated pricing service, BVAL, to deliver precise and timely insights into loan performance A monthly returns universe and a daily updated projected universe provide forward-looking index composition views Ability to create composite index blends with other flagship Bloomberg indices, such as a High Yield + Loan Index Financial Industry Global Identifier (FIGI) and Bloomberg's ID BB used as loan identifiers for improved data interoperability and streamlined trade workflows Transparent, rules-based methodology governing index construction and rebalancing Seamless integration with the Bloomberg Terminal, including daily constituent data via MEMB and portfolio analytics via PORT The new benchmarks build on the success of the US Leveraged Loan Index , which tracks around 1,300 USD-denominated loans totaling more than $1.3 trillion with inception in January 2019. Since inception to June 30, 2025, the US Leveraged Loan Index has outperformed key fixed income sectors with a cumulative return of 43.81%, surpassing the Bloomberg US High Yield (40.59%), US Floating Rate (24.29%), US Aggregate (10.09%), and US Treasuries (6.69%) indices. Powered by Bloomberg's Syndicated Loans Data Solutions At the core of this index family is Bloomberg's Syndicated Loans Data Solutions, providing deep, global coverage of the invested syndicated loan markets with over 15 years of historical data. This foundation supports price and liquidity discovery, enhances operational workflows and informs regulatory compliance throughout the syndicated loan lifecycle. The data solutions include: 82,000+ active loans across 200+ countries in 80+ currencies Daily BVAL pricing, with multiple snapshots and broker dealer contributions A real-time New Issues feed tracking newly launched leveraged loans and evolving deal terms Bloomberg Terminal clients can access the Bloomberg Leveraged Loan Indices at {IN LOAN } and monitor newly issued loans at {PREL }. View relevant factsheets, methodologies and research for the new indices on the Bloomberg Fixed Income Indices publications page . Bloomberg's syndicated loans data can be accessed on the desktop via Bloomberg Terminal, across the enterprise with Data License, through DL+ for managed access and in real-time via B-PIPE. About Bloomberg Index Services Limited Bloomberg's index team has a proven track record in creating industry-leading and bespoke indices across asset classes, including their flagship fixed income, commodity and equity indices. Bloomberg Index Services Limited (BISL) takes an innovative approach to delivering strategic benchmarks that help market participants address their evolving investment needs. The indices, which are seamlessly integrated with other Bloomberg solutions, draw on a comprehensive range of trusted data and reliable technology for calculations, analytics and workflow automation, along with distribution capabilities that can help amplify the visibility of our customers' products. About Bloomberg Bloomberg is a global leader in business and financial information, delivering trusted data, news, and insights that bring transparency, efficiency, and fairness to markets. The company helps connect influential communities across the global financial ecosystem via reliable technology solutions that enable our customers to make more informed decisions and foster better collaboration. For more information, visit Bloomberg.com/company or request a demo. SOURCE Bloomberg https://sputnikglobe.com/20250722/slovakia-eyes-full-russian-gas-supply-as-self-destructive-eu-ban-looms-1122472077.html Slovakia Eyes Full Russian Gas Supply as Self-Destructive EU Ban Looms Slovakia Eyes Full Russian Gas Supply as Self-Destructive EU Ban Looms Sputnik International Slovakias state-owned energy supplier SPP aims to source up to 100% of its gas from Russia next year, just as a new EU ban on spot purchases takes effect in January, Bloomberg reported. 2025-07-22T13:41+0000 2025-07-22T13:41+0000 2025-07-22T13:41+0000 slovakia europe russia hungary robert fico european union (eu) gas russian gas economy https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0c/03/1121077051_0:118:3221:1929_1920x0_80_0_0_1c2e3023f34662a8f5132a353253176d.jpg Russian gas is "the most cost-effective" for Slovakia, SPPs Trade Director Michal Lalik told the outlet. This is why the country is prioritizing it.While the EU forges ahead with its self-destructive plan to cut off cheap and reliable Russian gas by 2027, Slovakia and Hungary will continue honoring existing contracts with Gazprom, keeping the tap open even as most of Europe turns it off. The upcoming restrictions could free up pipeline capacity for remaining long-term customers like Slovakias SPP and Hungarys MVM, both of which are set to benefit from transitional exemptions. Slovakia's PM Robert Fico has repeatedly called the EU plan economic suicide. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250619/hungary-completely-rejects-eu-plan-to-phase-out-russian-gas-1122287836.html slovakia russia hungary Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko slovakias state-owned energy supplier spp, slovakia to source up to 100% of its gas from russia next year, new eu ban on spot purchases of russia's gas https://sputnikglobe.com/20250722/us-house-rules-committee-halts-sessions-amid-dispute-over-epstein-case-documents-1122470729.html US House Rules Committee Halts Sessions Amid Dispute Over Epstein Case Documents US House Rules Committee Halts Sessions Amid Dispute Over Epstein Case Documents Sputnik International The Committee on Rules of the US House of Representatives canceled all meetings until the end of July following a disruption caused by demands from committee members to hold a vote on the release of materials related to the notorious financier Jeffrey Epstein, the US newspaper reported. 2025-07-22T06:30+0000 2025-07-22T06:30+0000 2025-07-22T06:30+0000 americas jeffrey epstein steve scalise new york republicans https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/03/01/1121612239_0:53:1024:629_1920x0_80_0_0_636abd166aefdb58d28192164d7f4d2a.jpg During the committee session on Monday evening, both Republican and Democratic rank-and-file members called loudly for a vote on the forced publication of materials on the Epstein case, the newspaper reported. The demands derailed the meeting, which had been scheduled to address several legislative proposals. According to the report, instead of continuing the session, Republicans opted to recess the meeting. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said it was "unlikely" the committee would reconvene that week. Lawmakers later confirmed there were no plans to resume meetings before the August recess. As a result, the committee will go into the break without taking action on several pending bills, the media reported. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said that the accusations of his alleged ties to Epstein were the Democrats' "new SCAM." In an interview with the Real America's Voice broadcaster, the US leader called those Republicans who had accused him of alleged ties to the late financier naive and unstable. On Friday, the president asked US Attorney General Pam Bondi to release the transcripts of the court hearings in the case against Epstein. In 2019, Epstein was charged in the United States with sex trafficking of minors, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, and conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. According to prosecutors, between 2002 and 2005, he had sex with dozens of underage girls at his residences in New York and Florida. He paid them hundreds of dollars in cash, and then assigned some of the victims to serve as recruiters to bring in more girls. Some of the victims were as young as 14 years old. In early July 2019, a Manhattan court in New York City, after hearing Epstein's arraignment, ruled that he should remain in custody and not be released on bail. In late July of that year, it was reported that he was found in a prison cell "semi-conscious" and later died. The investigation revealed that the financier had committed suicide. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250720/publication-of-epstein-hearings-likely-to-be-delayed-documents-to-be-redacted---reports-1122460264.html americas new york Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International the committee on rules of the us house of representatives canceled all meetings until the end of july following a disruption caused by demands from committee members to hold a vote on the release of materials related to the notorious financier jeffrey epstein, the us newspaper reported. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250722/us-special-envoy-witkoff-heading-to-gaza-region--state-department-1122474134.html US Special Envoy Witkoff Heading to Gaza Region State Department US Special Envoy Witkoff Heading to Gaza Region State Department Sputnik International The US State Department has confirmed that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is traveling to the "Gaza region" for high-stakes talks. 22.07.2025, Sputnik International 2025-07-22T19:03+0000 2025-07-22T19:03+0000 2025-07-22T19:06+0000 world us newsfeed gaza strip state department israel-gaza conflict israel https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/02/10/1121574065_0:0:2262:1273_1920x0_80_0_0_684f6394f04565ec16f2ea23a19381e1.jpg WASHINGTON, (Sputnik) US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to the "Gaza region," State Department Tammy Bruce said on Tuesday. "Going to the region," Bruce told reporters when asked if Witkoff is going to the Gaza Strip area. She called on people to remember that the US has many partners in the area. "So, keep that in mind when it comes to the specific location of the envoy. I do not have that, but it is a dynamic, we are looking to finalize this arrangement," she added. gaza strip israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us, newsfeed, gaza strip, state department, israel-gaza conflict, israel https://sputnikglobe.com/20250722/us-to-launch-more-strikes-on-irans-nuclear-facilities-if-necessary---trump-1122470242.html US to Launch More Strikes on Irans Nuclear Facilities If Necessary - Trump US to Launch More Strikes on Irans Nuclear Facilities If Necessary - Trump Sputnik International US President Donald Trump has said that the United States will carry out new strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities "if necessary." 2025-07-22T03:54+0000 2025-07-22T03:54+0000 2025-07-22T03:54+0000 world donald trump abbas araghchi iran israel iran-israel row us-iran relations iran nuclear deal israel-iran escalation: rising lion vs true promise 3 bunker buster https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/06/16/1122314717_0:0:2810:1582_1920x0_80_0_0_1e6f307c3c5b58c24212e2ca2562c8a9.jpg "Irans Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, on the Iran Nuclear Sites: Damages are very severe, they are destroyed. Of course they are, just like I said, and we will do it again, if necessary! Fake News CNN should immediately fire their phony 'reporter' and apologize to me and the great pilots who 'OBLITERATED' Irans nuclear sites," Trump said on social media on Monday. On June 13, Israel launched a military operation against Iran after accusing it of secretly pursuing a nuclear weapon. Airstrikes targeted nuclear facilities, military leadership as well as air bases and killed several military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran rejected the allegations and retaliated. The United States conducted a one-time attack on Iranian nuclear sites on June 22. Tehran struck the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in response but said it had "no intention of further escalation." Trump suggested Iran had "let off steam" by attacking the Qatari base, opening a potential path to peace in the Middle East. He announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire that formally ended the "12-day war" on June 24. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250622/us-launches-strikes-on-irans-nuclear-facilities---trump-1122313390.html iran israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International 12-day war, iran-israel escalation, israel-iran escalation, iran-israel war, israel-iran war, trump bombing iran, us bombs, gbu-57 bombs, bunker buster bombs, nuclear facilities, jcpoa, nuclear facilities, nuclear weapons, b-52 The Captaintreacherous mare Rocket Deo left strongest of all in Monday (July 21) afternoons $25,000 fast-class distaff pace at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, set the pace to her liking, then blitzed home in :26.4 to win by three lengths in 1:51.2. Rocket Deo, now a winner of $881,636, found no serious early opposition, with Promiseland A taking advantage of track geometry from the rail to maintain the pocket and sit in the two-hole as Rocket Deo rang up fractions of :27.4, :56.2, and 1:24.3. With that kind of easy early work, the pacesetter had plenty left in the tank for the drive to the wire; Promiseland A maintained the deuce, three lengths behind at the finish to the winner, who was driven by Jack Pelling, for trainer-father Brett and the ownership of Morrison Racing Stables and John Fielding. Co-featured on the card were four $20,548 conditioned events for developing horses, equally split between the gaits, and the paces split by sex. The Always B Miki gelding Laugh Shop followed up on his 1:50 win of six days prior to pace to a 1:50.3 victory in his contest, forced to pay a :26.4 (slightly wind-aided) price in quarter two for command but maintaining the lead to the wire. Captain Luffy won a photo for second behind the Braxten Boyd-driven, Jill Wine-trained late bloomer, now winner of three of his last five for Samuel Abdoo and Wine Stable. The pacing distaffs were fronted the entire mile by the Captaintreacherous sophomore filly Simply Perfect, but she had to step her final half in :55 to ward off first-over Calamity Hour by a nose in a career-best 1:51.1. Simon Allard was the sulkysitter for trainer Tony Alagna and owner Kenneth Jacobs. The trots had no sexual separation in their conditions. The faster by a tick was turned in by Inferno DK, successful in three of his last six trips to the gate after holding off Top Floor Tactics by three quarters of a length in 1:55.3. George Napolitano Jr. guided the improving winner, an altered son of Great Challenger, for trainer-owner Yinson Quezada. The Muscle Hill gelding Diplomacy overcame the outside post eight to lead at every pole in his 1:55.4 triumph, with 46-1 shot Stevie Ray second, 2-1/4 lengths back. Niko Karna drove the winner for trainer Noel Daley and the ownership of Allister Stables LLC, L A Express & Sjoblom Inc., Frank Canzone, and Michael Dolan. Anthony Napolitano reported home first four times to earn the days honours as winningest sulkysmith. The racing week concludes at Pocono on Tuesday at 1 p.m., with the very first race having a carryover into its Superfecta pool. (With files from PHHA / Pocono Downs) The glamour division of the New York Sire Stakes did not disappoint on Monday, July 21 at Monticello Raceway with more than $267,000 in purses up for grabs. Three of the years fastest local miles were paced during Monday's card, with Jason Bartlett sweeping the NYSS events. The first $79,452 NYSS division saw the 1-5 favourite Fast Choice starting from post position three in a five-horse contest. Holt Hanover (Mark MacDonald) got the lead past the opening quarter of :27.1. Jason Bartlett and Fast Choice quickly retook the lead and would stay on top throughout the mile, reeling off splits of :56.1 and 1:24.1 with Holt Hanover right behind him. Fast Choice powered his way to the win with a last quarter of :28.4 to seal the deal in 1:53. Holt Hanover hung on for second with Thirsty Thursday (Tyler Buter) finishing third. Notching the first win of his three-year-old year, Fast Choice (Courtly Choice Fashion Guru) is trained by Jared Bako and owned by Ashley Bako. He returned $2.50. In the second NYSS event, Bartlett used the same tactic at the first Sire Stake division after getting the lead past the first quarter. He never relinquished the front end while driving the heavy favourite Dandy Ideal, winning handily in 1:52.2 the fastest mile this season at Monticello with a five-length margin of victory. Red Blooded (Buter) was second with Full Metal Jacket (Leon Bailey) getting up for the show position. Dandy Ideal (American Ideal OK Heavenly, pictured above) notched his second seasonal win for trainer Hunter Oakes and owners Susan Oakes, Thaddeus Wier and Alan Johnston. He was a $2.40 winner. In addition to NYSS action there were also four $27,397 Excelsior races. The 15-1 Mr Huggins (Courtly Choice Taylorlane Diva) scored in 1:54 for driver Buter trainer Larry Stalbaum in his second seasonal Excelsior event, paying $30.80. Ima Perfect Choice (Courtly Choice Ideal Paper) looks ready to battle the Sire Stake bunch after yesterdays performance when he scored a three-length victory in 1:52.3 for driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Travis Alexander. He returned $2.60. Kakaley and Alexander doubled courtesy Silky Choice (Courtly Choice Silk Pajamas), who won in a four-length romp in 1:53.2 while paying $8.80 to win. The final Excelsior dash saw Pat Lachance enter the winner's circle with Xpert (American Ideal Sir Jillan Z) in 1:55.3 for his second Excelsior win of the year. He paid $3.70 to his win supporters. (With files from Monticello) Trainer-driver Ronnie Gillespie couldnt have asked for a better start for Big Ranger. Hes making a name for himself right now, Gillespie said. He certainly is. The two-year-old In Range colt is two-for-two with wins in the $202,703 Next Generation on July 5 and the $68,493 first leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes on July 12, both at Eldorado Scioto Downs, giving him $135,598 in earnings. We purchased him at the Jug Sale for $25,000 USD. He was easy to break but was a little laid back and on the lazy side, so I didnt think much of him at first. But he started showing a lot of class, and the rest is history, Gillespie said. It wasnt my intention to put him in the Next Generation. But it looks like it was the right move. Indeed it was. Big Ranger set a new stakes and track record in the Next Generation, winning in 1:54 to give Gillespie his second straight Next Gen victory in the two-year-old colt trot division as trainer and driver. I had a real good idea that he was going to be good, Gillespie said. I knew he could do [1:]55 pretty easy, but if I pushed him, I knew he could try 54. I thought I would have to try 54 or 53-and-change to win it, and he did that easy. Hes enjoying his work right now. With Gillespie back in the bike, Big Ranger is looking to stay perfect this season as MGM Northfield Park hosts three $50,000 USD divisions of the second leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes for freshman colt trotters on Wednesday, July 23. Big Ranger is the early 8-5 favourite in the second division. That favoured status is well earned, as the encore for his record-breaking performance in the Next Generation was posting the fastest time (1:54.4) among the four division winners in the opening leg of the OHSS. Wednesday will be his first start at a track other than Scioto, but Gillespie believes the colt will fare well at Northfield. I think hell like Northfield because that track is banked, so I think thatll help, and weve trained him on a half-mile track, he said. Gillespies biggest concern is getting off to a good start leaving from post four. After leaving from the desired rail position in the Next Generation, Big Ranger reacted differently when starting from post five in the first leg of the OHSS. If the colt can overcome those pre-race jitters, Gillespie likes his chances of coming out on top. In his second start, he didnt like going up between two horses. He was a little shaky about that, so were working with him and trying to get his mind oaky with that, Gillespie said. If he goes behind the gate and makes the first turn with no problem, itll probably be over with. But I wont push him. If he doesnt make the front, thatll be okay because he knows how to come from the back. Big Ranger isnt the only one deserving of the spotlight, however, as Gillespie himself is approaching some impressive career milestones. Now in his 29th season as a driver, the 53-year-old resident of Macon, Mississippi, entered Tuesday (July 22) with 994 wins and earnings of $4,972,742. The 1,000-win and $5 million benchmarks arent far off. Most of the top drivers drive more in a single year than I drive in two or three years, so for me to reach those milestones will mean a lot to me, Gillespie said. Gillespie also has 375 wins and more than $2 million in earnings to his credit in 27 seasons as a trainer. Among Big Rangers challengers in the eight-horse field in the second division is 2-1 second choice Ready Russell, who will leave from post three. The son of Ready For Moni won the fourth division in the opening leg of the OHSS in 1:55 and is also two-for-two this season, adding a victory in 1:56.2 at Scioto on July 3. Dan Noble returns to the sulky for trainer Deborah Swartz after guiding Ready Russell to the OHSS win on July 12. In other OHSS action on Wednesday, the third division features a matchup between first-leg winners Rose Run Banker (Chris Page) and Ur Ride Is Here (Brady Brown). Rose Run Banker is the even-money morning line favourite and will leave from post five, while Ur Ride Is Here will leave from post seven as the 4-1 second choice. There are no first-leg winners in the first division, which is headlined by even-money morning line favourite Rose Run Boom (Brett Miller), who finished second to Rose Run Banker in the opening leg. Water Slide (Aaron Merriman), Bitcoin King (Tyler Smith) and Super Mind (Anthony MacDonald) share 6-1 odds as co-second choices in the division. In the first leg, Water Slide was the runner-up to Ur Ride Is Here while Bitcoin King posted a third-place finish in his division. Four Freshman Filly Pacers Looking To Repeat MGM Northfield Park is also hosting six $20,000 USD divisions of the second leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for freshman filly pacers on Wednesday. Winners of four of the five divisions of the first leg at Northfield on July 14 are entered in the second leg, as Beach Babe Hanover, Madetorockette, Jamie Amanda, and Eyes Up will be looking to repeat. Beach Babe Hanover (Chris Lems) and Madetorockette (Brett Miller) are in the second division. Beach Babe Hanover is the 9-5 morning line favourite and will leave from the rail. Seaside Angel (Chris Page) is the 2-1 second choice while Madetorockette has 7-2 odds as the third choice. Jamie Amanda (Tyler Smith) is the early even-money favourite in the fourth division and will leave from post three. Lil Keisha (Page), the 5-2 second choice, will leave from the rail. In the fifth division, Eyes Up (Dan Noble) will leave from post two as the 6-5 morning line favourite. Leaving from the rail, Wishing For Gold (Ronnie Gillespie) is the 5-1 second choice. There are no first-leg winners entered in the first, third, and sixth divisions. Opening-leg winner Seaside Charm is not entered in the second leg. First-race post time is 6 p.m. (Ohio Harness Horsemens Association) This past spring, Shenandoah Downs gave eight lucky female racing fans a chance to "Own a Horse for a Day" and compete for a $5,000 USD purse on Mother's Day. With the fall racing season just around the corner, the track announced that eight male sports-oriented fans will get that same lucrative opportunity on Saturday, Sept. 27. Billed as a "Sports Fans Own a Horse for a Day " promotion, all male fans that attend the harness card sporting their favourite team or athlete's jersey will receive an entry into the Virginia Harness Horse Association's (VHHA) popular promotion that afternoon -- where $5,000 USD is divided among eight contestants based on where their horse finishes. From a logistics aspect, eight names will be drawn at random after the third race. Those jersey-sporting winners will then select a horse in the ninth race that day via random draw, and they will "own" that horse for the rest of the afternoon. The eight winners will enjoy a complimentary lunch for themself and a guest, then will meet their horse, driver and trainer in the paddock after the sixth race. Come race nine, with $5,000 USD in prize/purse money on the line, the contestants will watch the race together on Shenandoah's VIP trackside viewing deck and cheer their horses on. Prize money is doled out in the same manner normal purse winnings are assigned on a 50-25-12-8-5 percent basis. The winner will receive $2,500 while the runner-up gets $1,250 followed by $600, $400 and $250 for the third through fifth place finishers. The sixth, seventh and eighth place contestants will go home with $100 as a thank you gift for participating and a memory. The Shenandoah Downs fall pari-mutuel season, its tenth in Woodstock, will run from Sept. 13 - Oct. 26 with racing scheduled every Saturday and Sunday at 1:05 p.m. Horsemen racing applications are available at shenandoahdowns.com and are due back to the racing office by August 13. A four-day non-wagering meet will precede the fall campaign and take place during the Shenandoah County Fair on August 27-30 with a daily 12 p.m. first post time. (Shenandoah Downs) MEXICO CITY, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cobre del Mayo, S.A. de C.V. ("CDM") announced today that it has commenced an offer (the "Exchange Offer") to Eligible Holders described below to exchange any and all of its outstanding $146,558,173 aggregate principal amount of Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2030 (ISIN: XS2343881855 and XS2343881939; Common Codes: 234388185 and 234388193) (the "Existing Notes") for, New Senior Secured PIK Toggle Notes due 2032 (the "New Notes"). The purpose of this Exchange Offer is to better align the Company's debt service requirements with its anticipated cash generation capabilities. Going forward, the Company intends to use its cash flow to service senior debt, optimize its operations, resolve contingent risks and increase levels of working capital. In this context, the Company does not expect to be in a position to make any payments in respect of the Existing Notes outstanding after the Exchange Offer. The New Notes will be fully, unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by certain direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of our parent company, Frontera Copper Corporation, S.A.P.I. de C.V. ("Frontera"), but will not be guaranteed by Frontera. BCP Securities, Inc. is acting as Dealer Manager for the Exchange Offer. Ipreo LLC is acting as Exchange Agent and Information Agent for the Exchange Offer. Available Documents and Other Details The New Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the Exchange Offer is only being made to registered holders of Existing Notes outside of the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act or otherwise to, or for the account or benefit of, non-U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S) in accordance with Regulation S ("Eligible Holders"). Eligible Holders who wish to review the Confidential Exchange Offer Memorandum, dated July 22, 2025 (the "Statement"), should contact Ipreo LLC, the Exchange Agent and the Information Agent for the Exchange Offer, at 55Water Street, 39th Floor, New York, New York 10041, Attention: Aaron Dougherty, e-mail: [email protected], banks and brokers call at +1 (212) 849-3880, toll-free at +1 (888) 593-9546. Eligible Holders may also contact James Harper of BCP Securities, Inc. at +1 (203) 629-2186 or at [email protected]. The complete terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer are set forth in the informational documents relating to the Exchange Offer. This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States or elsewhere. The New Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. The Exchange Offer is not being made to any holder of Existing Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. SOURCE Cobre del Mayo, S.A. de C.V. Greta Steels Ltd Vs Commissioner of Customs (CESTAT Chennai) Conclusion: Penalty under sec. 112 was justified where the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC) was not issued by a DGFT-approved agency for Mauritius and was found to be forged as even if the goods were found to be clean upon inspection, the submission of a forged certificate still violated the legal procedure intended to safeguard against the import of hazardous materials. Held: Assessee-company was acting as a high-seas seller, imported Light Melting Scrap (LMS) from Mauri Please become a Premium member. If you are already a Premium member, login here to access the full content. Leading luxury real estate brokerage introduces comprehensive financing solution for traditional and non-traditional borrowers across multiple states NEW YORK, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Douglas Elliman Real Estate, the nation's leading luxury residential real estate brokerage, today announced the launch of Elliman Capital, an innovative in-house mortgage platform designed to streamline the home financing process for clients seeking both traditional and non-traditional loan products. The new venture, developed in strategic alliance with Associated Mortgage Bankers, will initially launch in Florida before expanding to all states in which Douglas Elliman operates. "The launch of Elliman Capital marks a transformative moment for Douglas Elliman, our agents and our clients," said Michael S. Liebowitz, President and CEO of Douglas Elliman Inc. "By bringing mortgage services in-house, we're creating an unprecedented level of convenience and oversight to the entire real estate transaction process. Our clients will benefit from competitive rates, diverse loan products, and the seamless integration that only comes from working with a single, trusted source for both their real estate and financing needs." Elliman Capital represents a significant advancement in the Company's comprehensive service offering, providing clients access to an extensive range of loan products including conventional loans, jumbo loans, construction loans, investment property financing, bridge loans, commercial lending, second home mortgages, FHA loans, VA loans, and USDA loans. The platform is specifically designed to be flexible by extending financing to qualified self-employed individuals, investors, foreign nationals, and other borrowers with unique financial circumstances who have historically faced challenges in securing appropriate financing. "We are excited to launch this new opportunity for Elliman Capital in Florida," said Jay Phillip Parker, CEO of Brokerage, Florida Region and President of Douglas Elliman Development Marketing, Florida. Our agents, and their clients will clearly benefit from this robust platform, and we look forward to seeing Elliman Capital across our entire Douglas Elliman Network in the near future." "We've engineered Elliman Capital to be truly inclusive, offering loan products that meet the diverse needs of today's homebuyers and investors, from all over the globe" said mortgage services veteran Jim Bender, Director of Elliman Capital. The new mortgage platform incorporates advanced technology and streamlined processes that allow Douglas Elliman agents to easily refer clients, track loan progress, and receive real-time updates throughout the financing process. This integration ensures that agents can provide their clients with comprehensive support from initial property search through closing. Key benefits of Elliman Capital include: Comprehensive Product Range: Access to traditional and specialty loan products from multiple national and regional lenders Competitive Rates: Leveraging strong lender relationships to secure optimal terms for clients Streamlined Process: Integrated technology platform that simplifies the mortgage application and approval process Expert Guidance: Experienced mortgage professionals dedicated to finding the right financing solution for each client's unique situation Enhanced Agent Support: Tools and resources that enable Douglas Elliman agents to better serve their clients throughout the transaction Douglas Elliman's entry into mortgage services comes at a time when homebuyers are seeking more personalized, flexible financing options. The Company's established reputation for luxury service and market expertise, combined with its new comprehensive mortgage capabilities, positions Elliman Capital to become a significant force in the residential lending market. For more information, visit ellimanfinancing.com. About Douglas Elliman Inc. Douglas Elliman Inc. (NYSE: DOUG, "Douglas Elliman") owns Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC, which is one of the largest residential brokerage companies in the United States with operations in New York, Florida, California, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. In addition, Douglas Elliman sources, uses, and invests in early-stage, disruptive property technology ("PropTech") solutions and companies and provides other real estate services, including development marketing, property management, and settlement and escrow services in select markets. Additional information concerning Douglas Elliman Realty is available on its website, www.elliman.com. Investors and others should note that we may post information about Douglas Elliman Inc. on our website at investors.elliman.com or, if applicable, on our accounts on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, YouTube, or other social media platforms. It is possible that the postings or releases could include information deemed to be material information. Therefore, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in Douglas Elliman to review the information we post on our website at investors.elliman.com and on our social media accounts. SOURCE Douglas Elliman This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The startup behind Chicago's more than $1 billion quantum computing deal said operations are expected to start in three years, a win for Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who backed the investment and is widely seen as a potential presidential candidate. PsiQuantum Corp. will start construction on the state's new quantum and microelectronics park on the South Side of Chicago later this year, Chief Executive Officer Jeremy O'Brien said in an interview at Bloomberg's Chicago office. The supercomputerone of two utility-scale, fault-tolerant machines the company is building globallyis expected to be online in 2028, he said. The announcement, which comes just as Chicago is hosting its first Global Quantum Forum, would put PsiQuantum far ahead of competitors. If successful, it would also be good news for Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune who has tried to position his state as a hub for new technologies ranging from electric vehicles and batteries to quantum computing. Quantum computerswhich rely on "qubits" and can store data in multiple forms: ones, zeros or something in betweenpromise to be exponentially more powerful than their binary counterparts. The technology is expected to sort large amounts of data, and solve complex mathematical problems that would take current machines days, months and even years. "We have a very aggressive plan to bring that site online in 2028," O'Brien said in the interview. "The thing to understand about quantum computing is that it really enables you to solve problems of huge importance that are otherwise forever impossible to solve, not just impossible to solve today, but forever impossible." PsiQuantum announced last year that it would spend a minimum of $1.09 billion to build the supercomputer and become the anchor tenant at the Chicago quantum and microelectronics park, a 128-acre project shepherded by Pritzker on the site of a shuttered U.S. Steel plant. A 2028 start would also coincide with the next presidential election. Pritzker has positioned himself as one of the faces of resistance to President Donald Trump and is widely thought as having White House aspirations. The company's supercomputer would have a wide range of applications across business sectors, including drug development, new electric batteries and cheaper ways to produce fertilizer, O'Brien said. He added that the company is in talks with potential users of its technology, including Boehringer Ingelheim, Mitsubishi Chemical and Mercedes-Benz, but didn't specify whether they would be tapping into the Chicago supercomputer. Alphabet Inc.'s Google, Microsoft Corp. and International Business Machines Corp. are among companies also trying to crack the technology. PsiQuantum said it's taking a fundamentally different approach, looking to build a much larger computer at 1 million qubits, instead of developing smaller incremental systems with 100 or 1,000 qubits. PsiQuantum, which counts BlackRock Inc. as one of its investors and is in the process of raising at least $750 million, said it chose Chicago in part because of ample access to water, electricity and land, as well as talent, according to O'Brien and Chief Scientific Officer Pete Shadbolt. The choice was a "no-brainer" and the site already had a heavy energy infrastructure used in the past to produce steel. The region also has a legacy that includes critical science labs, Shadbolt said. "It is one of very few technologies that you can view as a generationally important technology that's on the brink of becoming real," Shadbolt said. "Illinois and Chicago have this multi-decade history: first sustained nuclear reaction, Fermilab, Argonne, all of the universities, decades of investment into basic research in quantum information science, physics, experimental work, you name it." 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Artificial intelligence may take over some tasks and transform others, but one thing is certain: it's reshaping the job market. Researchers at USC's Information Sciences Institute (ISI) analyzed LinkedIn job postings and AI-related patent filings to measure which jobs are most exposed, and where those changes are happening first. The project was led by ISI research assistant Eun Cheol Choi, working with students in a graduate-level USC Annenberg data science course taught by USC Viterbi Research Assistant Professor Luca Luceri. The team developed an "AI exposure" score to measure how closely each role is tied to current AI technologies. A high score suggests the job may be affected by automation, new tools, or shifts in how the work is done. Which industries are most exposed to AI? To understand how exposure shifted with new waves of innovation, the researchers compared patent data from before and after a major turning point. "We split the patent dataset into two parts, pre- and post-ChatGPT release, to see how job exposure scores changed in relation to fresh innovations," Choi said. Released in late 2022, ChatGPT triggered a surge in generative AI development, investment, and patent filings. Jobs in wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, information, and manufacturing topped the list in both periods. Retail also showed high exposure early on, while healthcare and social assistance rose sharply after ChatGPT, likely due to new AI tools aimed at diagnostics, medical records and clinical decision-making. In contrast, education and real estate consistently showed low exposure, suggesting they are, at least for now, less likely to be reshaped by current AI technologies. AI's reach depends on the role AI exposure doesn't just vary by industry, it also depends on the specific type of work. Jobs like software engineer and data scientist scored highest, since they involve building or deploying AI systems. Roles in manufacturing and repair, such as maintenance technician, also showed elevated exposure due to increased use of AI in automation and diagnostics. At the other end of the spectrum, jobs like tax accountant, HR coordinator, and paralegal showed low exposure. They center on work that's harder for AI to automate: nuanced reasoning, domain expertise, or dealing with people. AI exposure and salary don't always move together The study also examined how AI exposure relates to pay. In general, jobs with higher exposure to current AI technologies were associated with higher salaries, likely reflecting the demand for new AI skills. That trend was strongest in the information sector, where software and data-related roles were both highly exposed and well compensated. But in sectors like wholesale trade and transportation and warehousing, the opposite was true. Jobs with higher exposure in these industries tended to offer lower salaries, especially at the highest exposure levels. The researchers suggest this may signal the early effects of automation, where AI is starting to replace workers instead of augmenting them. "In some industries, there may be synergy between workers and AI," said Choi. "In others, it may point to competition or replacement." From class project to ongoing research The contrast between industries where AI complements workers and those where it may replace them is something the team plans to investigate further. They hope to build on their framework by distinguishing between different types of impactautomation versus augmentationand by tracking the emergence of new job categories driven by AI. "This kind of framework is exciting," said Choi, "because it lets us capture those signals in real time." Luceri emphasized the value of hands-on research in the classroom: "It's important to give students the chance to work on relevant and impactful problems where they can apply the theoretical tools they've learned to real-world data and questions," he said. The paper, "Mapping Labor Market Vulnerability in the Age of AI: Evidence from Job Postings and Patent Data," was co-authored by students Qingyu Cao, Qi Guan, Shengzhu Peng, and Po-Yuan Chen, and was presented at the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media (ICWSM 2025), held June 2326 in Copenhagen, Denmark. More information: Mapping Labor Market Vulnerability in the Age of AI: Evidence from Job Postings and Patent Data. workshop-proceedings.icwsm.org/pdf/2025_05.pdf Pilot Program Fosters AI Literacy in Underserved Youth A pilot co-led by Operation HOPE and Georgia State University is working to build technical, entrepreneurial, and financial-literacy skills in Atlanta-area youth to help them thrive in the AI-powered workforce. The AI Literacy Pipeline to Prosperity Project (AILP) kicked off earlier this month with a week-long summer camp for rising 9th11th graders hosted at Georgia State's J. Mack Robinson College of Business. Participants engaged in immersive, hands-on activities such as AI literacy bootcamps, design-thinking sprints, mentorship from local tech leaders, and opportunities to develop AI-driven prototypes, according to a news announcement. Students were taught by a multidisciplinary team of Georgia State faculty focused on innovation, finance, technology, education, and entrepreneurship, as well as industry experts from Atlanta's ecosystem of AI companies. "With AILP and our inaugural summer camp, we're planting the seeds of innovation and economic mobility where they're needed most," commented Brian Betts, President and CFO of Operation HOPE, in a statement. "Georgia State has been an exceptional lead partner in designing and executing the pilot, and we're equally grateful to the original coalition of thought leaders, from the AI Ethics Council to Atlanta's HBCUs, who helped shape this vision from the beginning." "It was exciting to collaborate with our GSU faculty and industry partners to shape every element of this experience, from program curriculum to student engagement, and to create such a transformative opportunity for these high school students to develop and deepen their AI literacy skills," said Dr. Jen Bailey, Robinson's associate dean for undergraduate programs, who led the curriculum design and program delivery for the AILP camp. "Their curiosity, creativity, and drive made this inaugural cohort a powerful reminder of what's possible when we invest early in the next generation of innovators." The AILP initiative is continuing to develop a range of programming, including K-12 immersion programs, AI-focused scholarships, apprenticeships and family support for workers displaced by automation, and plans to use the Atlanta pilot as a template that can be replicated nationally. It is supported by Georgia State University's student success model and Operation HOPE's "HOPE Inside" platform, which has generated more than $4.2 billion in economic activity for underserved communities across the United States. For more information, go to the AILP site. ORLANDO, Fla., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Realtors, the state's largest professional trade association with 238,000 members, has named Trey Goldman as its new senior vice president of public policy. "Trey is the ultimate choice for this position due to his long-time leadership at Florida Realtors as our legislative counsel," said Margy Grant, Florida Realtors CEO. "His skill set is exceptional in so many areas especially the combination of his legal expertise, deep industry knowledge, hands-on legislative experience, and strong communication skills. "Trey's dedication to our profession and the impact we make in the lives of others spans numerous decades," said Florida Realtors President Tim Weisheyer,broker-owner, Dream Builders Realty and dbrCommercial Real Estate Services in Central Florida. "With his vast legislative experience, his expert knowledge and the strength and breadth of his relationships with decision-makers, we are excited to see Trey take on the role of leading our advocacy efforts. He understands our members, the issues that are important to them and how to encourage their involvement and enthusiasm, turning it into a powerful voice for the real estate profession and industry." As the senior vice president of public policy, Goldman will lead the legislative and regulatory advocacy-related efforts of the association. In addition to managing the public policy office, he is also responsible for all initiatives relating to the legislative agenda of Florida Realtors and the coordination of member involvement in all public policy-related matters for the organization. Prior to taking on the position of senior VP of public policy, Goldman was Florida Realtors' legislative counsel based in the Tallahassee public policy office. He represented Realtors before the Florida Legislature, state regulatory agencies, the Governor's office, and the Cabinet, with a focus on insurance and community association related issues. He is a member of the Florida Bar and serves on the Executive Council of the Bar's largest section, the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section. Goldman was raised in Daytona Beach, Florida, where both of his parents were Realtors. He graduated from the University of Florida College of Business with a degree in Real Estate and Urban Analysis. He also received his J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law. Florida Realtors is The Voice for Real Estate in Florida. It provides programs, services, continuing education, research and legislative representation to 238,000 members in 50 boards/associations. Florida Realtors Newsroom website is available at http://floridarealtors.org/newsroom. SOURCE Florida Realtors You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday that an international coalition has been formed against drug cartels and that Trinidad and Tobago is among the countries lending support. In an immediate response, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told the Express she will accept any help to make the country safe again. She said, We will work with anyone to fight the scourge of drug, arms and human trafficking. We have had over 10,000 murders in the last 25 years. The country has been drowning in blood. I will accept any help that is available to make our country safe again. MIAMI, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Loosid, the leading clean and sober lifestyle brand, today announced that The Honorable Michael A. Nutter, former two-time Mayor of Philadelphia, has joined the company's advisory team to help expand its mission of fighting addiction through innovative technology and compassionate support. Meet SAM Loosid's Sobriety & Addiction Mentor, now with AI Mayor Nutter will work with Loosid to introduce its newest digital solution, SAM AI , to employers, unions, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) throughout Philadelphia and across the country. SAM, which stands for Sobriety and Addiction Mentor, is Loosid's virtual mentor designed to guide individuals through sobriety one day at a time. Now powered by artificial intelligence, SAM Ai can build predictive relapse models by learning from each user's unique journey. "Addiction can come with deep stigma and shame, and many people struggle to say they need help," said MJ Gottlieb, co-founder and CEO of Loosid. "We created SAM to offer a nonjudgmental, empathetic, and compassionate virtual companion who's there for you at any hour. Mayor Nutter's leadership and dedication to public service will help us bring this life-changing technology to people who need it most, starting in Philadelphia and expanding nationwide." "It is a great honor to be asked to serve as an Advisor to this important company focused on one of the greatest issues in America - the challenge, and sometimes sadly, the tragedy, of addiction," says Mayor Nutter. "The team at Loosid has developed the technology and the infrastructure of support that many individuals need to stay on the right path of a healthy and productive life." Addiction takes a staggering toll on individuals and the workforce, with over $1.45 trillion in economic loss and societal harm annually due to substance use disorders, and more than 252 million missed workdays from alcohol-related absences alone. As Loosid prepares to deploy SAM into workplace environments, the company is focused on shifting addiction support from a reactive approach to a proactive, preventative solution. Mayor Nutter will also serve as a spokesperson for Loosid on issues surrounding the addiction crisis in Philadelphia, including the devastating impact of fentanyl in neighborhoods like Kensington and across the greater Philadelphia region. "Philadelphia, and so many other cities across America, and around the world, are impacted daily by the costs and lost productivity of our workforce because of the disease of addiction," Mayor Nutter explains. "As a former public servant, and now as an active citizen, I've always tried to support individuals and families in the journey of recovery. Loosid is that opportunity for me to be of service again." Loosid views Philadelphia as a critical region in its mission to fight addiction, and sees Mayor Nutter's involvement as a major step forward in reaching individuals, workplaces, and communities in need of support. About Loosid Loosid is a comprehensive lifestyle brand redefining what it means to be sober. More than just an app, Loosid is dedicated to helping people embrace a proud, fulfilling life, free from drugs and alcohol. Loosid's current main initiatives include: The Loosid Sober App , which has grown to over 350,000 members and 17 million user sessions to date, offers community support, sober dating, daily gratitude, and resources for navigating recovery. , which has grown to over 350,000 members and 17 million user sessions to date, offers community support, daily gratitude, and resources for navigating recovery. The Loosid Sober Shop , the most popular destination to shop for sober merchandise including apparel, household items, sobriety gifts, treatment wall art, and more, provides the opportunity for individuals to recover out loud & inspire others to explore a sober life. , the most popular destination to shop for sober merchandise including apparel, household items, sobriety gifts, treatment wall art, and more, provides the opportunity for individuals to recover out loud & inspire others to explore a sober life. The Loosid Marketplace , which offers Loosid members exclusive discounts on over 35 sobriety and wellness brands, acting as the central hub to help individuals navigate sobriety and rebuild their lives after addiction. Through technology and community, Loosid empowers people to connect, express themselves, and live joyfully on the journey of sobriety. Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Loosid First Citizens bank is perhaps the greatest comeback story in Trinidad and Tobagos financial history, and certainly among its major public relations triumphs. Created in 1993 from the collapse of three institutionsthe National Commercial Bank (NCB), the Workers Bank, and the Trinidad Cooperative Bank (TCB)FCB was able to win public confidence and perform well over the ensuing 31 years. In its 2024 annual report, Group CEO Karen Darbasie noted First Citizens had copped the number one spot for Best Performing Bank in Trinidad and Tobago in The Banker Top 30 Caribbean Banks of 2024 ranking. Now, however, the UNC administrations ham-fisted handling of Darbasies pending departure threatens to undermine public trust in the bank. The Government thus needs to explain quickly, clearly, and thoroughly what has triggered the move to have her relieved of her position. Mercury Insurance Provides a Checklist to Make Sure You're Prepared LOS ANGELES, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- We are approaching that time of year when college students head back to class. Whether you are a parent driving your student to school, or you are driving yourself, it is important to have your vehicle checked before setting off to campus. With that in mind, Mercury Insurance offers a comprehensive checklist of items on your car or truck before setting off for the upcoming schoolyear. "It is important to make necessary vehicle repairs prior to any major road trip," said Justin Yoshizawa, Product Management for Mercury Insurance. "Heading to college qualifies as such." Here are some recommendations for getting to school safely with your car in tip top shape: Get a full inspection: Have a mechanic check belts, brakes, shocks, the cooling and transmission systems, and change the oil to avoid breakdowns. Have a mechanic check belts, brakes, shocks, the cooling and transmission systems, and change the oil to avoid breakdowns. Check fluids: Ensure engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid and power steering fluid are at the correct levels. Not doing so can lead to major problems with your engine that can lead to becoming stranded or worse. Ensure engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid and power steering fluid are at the correct levels. Not doing so can lead to major problems with your engine that can lead to becoming stranded or worse. Tire maintenance: Check tire pressure and tread wear, including the spare tire. Overinflated or underinflated tires and blowouts can be very dangerous, and hot weather can make this even more necessary to address. Check tire pressure and tread wear, including the spare tire. Overinflated or underinflated tires and blowouts can be very dangerous, and hot weather can make this even more necessary to address. Battery check: If the battery is over three years old, have it tested and potentially replaced to avoid difficulty in starting your vehicle and becoming stranded. If the battery is over three years old, have it tested and potentially replaced to avoid difficulty in starting your vehicle and becoming stranded. Replace air filter: Failure to replace your air filter can lead to reduced engine performance, decreased fuel efficiency and even potential engine damage. Failure to replace your air filter can lead to reduced engine performance, decreased fuel efficiency and even potential engine damage. Address any necessary repairs: Fix any dents, window damage, or bumper issues before heading to campus. Minor problems can easily become major problems on a long road trip. "Whether you are traveling 100 miles or 1,000 miles, it pays to add vehicle preparedness to your back-to-school checklist," stated Yoshizawa. Adding a vehicle inspection to your completed items prior to heading for your college destination can prevent road hazards and costly repairs. About Mercury Insurance Mercury Insurance (NYSE: MCY) is a multiple-line insurance carrier predominantly offering personal auto, homeowners, renters and commercial insurance through a network of independent agents in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia, as well as auto insurance in Florida. Mercury writes other lines of insurance in various states, including commercial, business owners and business auto, landlord, home-sharing, ride-hailing and mechanical protection insurance. Since 1962, Mercury has provided customers with tremendous value for their insurance dollar by pairing ultra-competitive rates with excellent customer service, through more than 4,200 employees and a network of more than 6,340 independent agents in 11 states. Mercury has earned an "A" rating from A.M. Best, as well as "Best Auto Insurance Company" designations from Forbes and Insure.com. For more information visit www.MercuryInsurance.com or follow the company on Twitter or Facebook. SOURCE Mercury Insurance A Tucson Sector Border Patrol agent has been indicted on 24 felony charges, including 10 counts of child sex trafficking, the latest in a series of sexual-misconduct convictions or charges against U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees in Arizona. Willcox border agent Bart Conrad Yager, 39, was also charged with six counts of pandering, or encouraging someone to engage in prostitution; one count of attempted child sex trafficking; and two counts of fraud, between July 2023 and March 2024 in Cochise County, indictments from the Cochise County Attorneys Office show. On Thursday, county prosecutors also charged Yager with five drug-related felonies: possession or use of the anabolic steroid trenbolone and testosterone; sale or transportation of trenbolone and testosterone; and possession of drug paraphernalia, all in 2025. A CBP spokesman said the agencys Office of Professional Responsibility arrested Yager in Willcox on June 17, and executed a search warrant based on allegations of child sex trafficking, fraudulent schemes and pandering. CBP stresses honor and integrity in every aspect of our mission, and the overwhelming majority of CBP employees and officers perform their duties with honor and distinction, working tirelessly every day to keep our country safe, an emailed CBP statement said. An arrest is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. A decade ago, Yager was the suspect in a now-closed Tucson rape case. But CBP never investigated the allegations against Yager, according to a CBP special agents statement filed in Cochise County Superior Court. The statement was first reported by the Herald/Review Media. Special agent Bryin Cooper of CBPs Office of Professional Responsibility said, in the 45-page statement, that the Tucson Police Department did not properly report the 2014 rape allegation against Yager to CBP, which is the Border Patrols parent agency. But TPD disputes that. Spokesman Officer Frank Magos told the Arizona Daily Star on Thursday that Tucson police reported the rape allegation to Border Patrol at the time. CBP was unable to respond to TPDs contention before the Stars weekend deadline, a spokesman said. The 2014 rape case is now closed, as the alleged victim did not wish to pursue the investigation after filing a police report in October 2014, TPDs Magos said in an email. Yager threatened the alleged victim with violence after she said she would contact police in 2014, according to text messages cited in Coopers probable cause statement, which details CBPs recent investigation into Yager. CBPs investigation began in September 2023, looking into initial allegations that Yager misrepresented his location during work hours and fraudulently claimed travel reimbursements, according to agent Coopers statement. The investigation found Yager often went home early, at times solicited sex acts for money while on duty, and got reimbursed with government funds for Pima County hotels where the sex acts took place, Cooper wrote. Between 2021 and 2024, Yager paid $42,400 in 231 transactions with women. That includes $12,161 in 35 transactions to one sex worker who was a minor at the time, and who was previously documented as a sex trafficking victim in a Tempe police investigation, Cooper wrote. Cooper also described Yagers interactions with underage girls in Willcox, as young as 13, some of whom expressed fear of Yager. Yager demonstrated a pattern of workplace sexual harassment, Cooper wrote. Willcox Station Border Patrol managers were concerned about Yagers anger, fearing he could snap, and nursing and contractor staff knew him to be crazy with a hatred towards women, Cooper wrote. Yager, who was hired by Border Patrol in 2011, is being held in Cochise County Jail. Latest of several cases Yager is the latest of several Arizona-based CBP employees, including border agents and a port officer in CBPs Office of Field Operations, who have been charged with or convicted of sexual misconduct and other crimes. Yuma Sector border agent Ramon Marquez, 31, was arrested in May and has been charged with 15 felonies, including 14 counts of sexual conduct with a 16-year-old between December 2024 and April 2025, and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, such as filming or photographing the encounter, according to a May 15 indictment in Yuma County Superior Court. CBP port officer Aaron Thomas Mitchell, 30, was sentenced to 27 years in prison in March, after being convicted on federal charges of abducting and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old Douglas middle school student in 2022. Mitchell now faces state charges in Cochise County. An investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Douglas Police Department found Mitchell approached the student as she waited for school to start, identified himself as a law enforcement officer and ordered her into his car. He then drove her to his home, where he sexually assaulted her for hours, according to a U.S. Justice Department statement. In January, former Tucson Sector Border Patrol agent Efren Lopez Cornejo was sentenced to two counts of lifetime probation, but no jail time, after he accepted an October 2024 plea agreement, admitting to one count of child abuse and one count of indecent exposure. Lopez Cornejo was initially charged with 14 felonies in 2021, including child molestation, sexual abuse of a minor and sexual conduct with a minor under 15, which allegedly took place mostly between 2011 and 2017. The two victims were family members, and one was 9 when the alleged abuse started, an interim complaint said. Under the plea deal, overseen by Pima County Superior Court Judge Casey McGinley, Lopez Cornejo does not have to register as a sex offender. Pima County Attorney Laura Conover said the plea deal came after the trial ended with a hung jury, and prosecutors decided not to pursue a second trial. Trials can bring some measure of closure and healing, Conover said. But all too often trials are another trauma for the victims. Prosecutors pushed for prison time for Lopez Cornejo, in addition to lifetime probation, but ultimately, it was the judges decision, Conover said. Culture of impunity Critics and civil rights advocates say a long-standing lack of accountability and weak oversight within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security the parent agency of CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE has meant agents havent faced consequences for abusive behavior, sexual harassment of colleagues and excessive use of force in the field. Abuse by CBP agents is not an issue of just a few rogue agents, but is a systemic problem across the agency that has existed from its very start, said Ricky Garza, border policy counsel for the Southern Border Communities Coalition, which advocates for rational immigration policies, humane and accountable border-enforcement practices and quality of life in border communities. The agency has a longstanding culture of impunity, of racism, of abuse and use of force against people in the border region, Garza said. Former Border Patrol senior patrol agent Jenn Budd has become a vocal critic of the agency, and an immigrant-rights advocate, since she resigned in 2001. Budd told the Star shes been tracking border agents crimes for three years, hoping to bring attention to what she calls excessive criminality at the agency, dating back decades. Only 5% of Border Patrol agents are women, said Budd, who recounted in a 2022 memoir being raped during her Border Patrol Academy training in the 1990s, and the retaliation she experienced due to trying to report it, and due to her gender. Border Patrol agents are taught that women lie, and that they (agents) are the victims, she said. A 2022 report from the Project on Government Oversight, or POGO, found the DHSs Office of Inspector General had systemically suppressed reports of its agents committing domestic violence and reports of sexual harassment among its employees. In response to what he called the deeply concerning report, then-DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a Biden nominee, called for a 45-day review of employee misconduct discipline processes. Based on the results, Mayorkas said in a June 2022 statement the department would implement significant reforms to our employee misconduct discipline processes, including centralizing the decision-making process for disciplinary actions and overhauling agency policies regarding disciplinary penalties. Katherine Hawkins, senior legal analyst at POGO, said theres been scant detail on those reforms. Its been hard to get insight into the details of what they were and how theyre working, she said. The OIG had previously said it would republish the reports POGO found had been suppressed. But, Hawkins said, Nothing ever came out and its not listed as ongoing project anymore (at DHS), so I think it was just abandoned. CBP was unable to respond to the Stars Thursday questions on those reforms before deadline. Until 2022, Border Patrol teams investigated their fellow agents following critical incidents, such as use-of-force cases or in-custody deaths, in what critics called a clear conflict of interest. Facing pressure from U.S. Congress and groups including the Southern Border Communities Coalition, CBP disbanded the controversial critical incident teams in 2022, under CBPs then-commissioner Chris Magnus, former Tucson police chief. CBPs Office of Professional Responsibility took over investigations of critical incidents but, especially in use-of-force cases, those investigations are still extremely deferential to the agency, Hawkins said. Ramped-up hiring, less oversight Now, at a time when federal funding for immigration enforcement has surged to unprecedented levels, and as ICE and CBP intend to quickly hire thousands more agents, DHS is reducing oversight when its needed most, Garza said. Under the second Trump administration, DHS has dramatically reduced staff in three oversight agencies: the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and in the independent Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman and the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, he said. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a March statement that the offices have obstructed immigration enforcement by adding bureaucratic hurdles. ... Rather than supporting law enforcement efforts, they often function as internal adversaries that slow down operations. Migrants are particularly vulnerable to abuse and often have little or no ability to report it, and with the gutting of DHS oversight offices, even more abuses will go unreported, advocates say. If the agencys internal processes arent protecting their own employees, they have even less incentive to protect migrants, Hawkins said. Although there are individual agents who treat people respectfully, theres a culture of hostility and dehumanization toward migrants. The Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank has moved into smaller quarters in order to spend less money on rent and more on food for Tucson pets. The group leased 1,554 square feet at 4444 E. Grant Road, west of Swan Road, from Kolvoord Family Limited Partnership. Rob Tomlinson, with Picor, represented the landlord and Kyle Trafton, with Goldsmith Real Estate LLC, represented the tenant. The food bank collects food for all sorts of pets, including horses and rabbits, but its biggest need is wet and dry dog food and cat food. Monetary donations are used to buy food. It relocated from 3,200 square feet in Monterey Village, 6212 E. Speedway. The new shop has a small retail component where pet clothing, collars, toys and crates, that are donated by big pet companies, are sold at discounted prices. Visit saafb.org for information on how to help. If you need help with your pets food, call (520) 268-7299 to schedule a time to fill out paperwork and get some food. The food bank is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed Wednesdays and Sundays. Other local commercial activity includes: Kc4e LLC bought a 15,409-square-foot industrial building at 1501 E. 21st St from Kash Property Management Inc. for $1.8 million. Paul Hooker and Robert Glaser, with Picor, represented the seller. Continental Properties & Development LLC bought 3,152 square feet of office space at 3795 N. Oracle Road from Luis Hernandez and Gustavo Corte for $390,000. Kameron Norwood, with Picoor, represented the seller and Anthony Boatner, with Keller Williams Southern Arizona, represented the buyer. Desert Hummingbird Community LLC bought 2,000 square feet of retail space at 1204 N. Alvernon Way from Little Group LLC for $360,000. Aaron LaPrise, with Picor, represented the seller and Loren Cota, with Real Broker AZ LLC, represented the buyer. Ross Dress for Less Inc. leased 32,295 square feet at 6230 N. Oracle Road. Jayme Fabe, with NAI Horizon, represented the tenant. Karin Taylor Robson edged out Andy Biggs in money raised in the last quarter as they compete to be the Republican nominee for Arizona governor in 2026. But the donations tell only part of the story as each hopes to be able to take on incumbent Democrat Katie Hobbs who is seeking another four-year term as governor. New reports filed Monday show Robson, who made an unsuccessful bid to become the GOP nominee in 2022, listing nearly $575,000 in individual donations and another $2,500 from political action committees. Biggs, a former state senator and now a member of Congress, had about $610,710 in donations. He also has $50,000 left over from a former campaign for the Legislature. Robson, however, reports she loaned her campaign more than $2.2 million in the past quarter. She also has been burning through that with an extensive media campaign, virtually all of it touting that Donald Trump said publicly last year that he would back her if she got into the race. Her campaign has spent $2.2 million in advertising, the report says. So, even with the self-borrowed money, Robsons cash on hand is now about $876,000. This isnt the first time Robson, who has never held elected office, has dug into her own pocket in her bid for election. She loaned herself $16.9 million in 2022 in her unsuccessful bid to be the GOP nominee, only to lose to Kari Lake who, in turn, lost the general election to Hobbs. Biggs, off to a slower start he didnt enter the race until January spent only about $180,000 in the past three months, most of that on mailing services and consultants. That leaves him with about $437,000 in the bank. But Biggs has an edge on something that doesnt show up in his report: Spending on his behalf. A lot of it. Turning Point Action, which supports what it says are conservative candidates, reported it already spent nearly $459,000 on behalf of Biggs. That includes $352,00 for TV ads. Much of the PACs funds were funneled through 1Ten LLC, owned by state Sen. Jake Hoffman, a Queen Creek Republican who heads the Arizona Freedom Caucus. Hoffman describes his operation as a full-service agency handling everything from TV, radio and cable TV ads to social media and mail. These independent expenditures are not limited by state law. There is only a requirement they be listed and that the organizations behind them cannot coordinate with the candidate. Robson also is getting the benefit of outside spending, this from Building a Better Arizona, a political action committee that was formed specifically to help Robson get the nomination. It is being chaired by former state Senate President Karen Fann. In a press release when it was set up in January, Fann said she and Robert Graham, former chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, believe Robson has the best chance of ousting the incumbent, something that has not happened in over 60 years. Hobbs, for her part, had not filed her report as of Monday afternoon. But in a news release, Hobbs campaign said she raised more than $1.3 million in the last three months. Even after expenses, she reported she has $4.7 million cash on hand. Senate President Warren Petersen is relying on money left over from prior legislative campaigns to give his bid for Arizona attorney general a financial bump. But he still hasnt caught up with Rodney Glassman, the other Republican who hopes to get the nod from voters to take on Democratic incumbent Kris Mayes in the 2026 general election. New reports filed with the Secretary of States Office show Petersen brought in more than $69,000 in new contributions in the second quarter of the year. That brings his donations for this election cycle up to more than $190,000. But Petersen started ahead of the curve with nearly $200,000 left over from prior campaigns. So he reported he now has almost $351,000 in the bank. That, however, pales in comparison to Glassman, a Phoenix attorney. He added another $578,000 in the last three months on top of $604,000 he had collected earlier this year. But Glassman, who lost his bid to be the GOP nominee for attorney general in 2022, has now been accumulating money for this race for more than a year. And he put in $1 million of his own late last year. All that, he reports, leaves him with $2.4 million in the bank. Incumbent Mayes, facing no primary opposition, listed new donations this quarter of nearly $515,000. Mayes, however, also has been amassing donations since her 280-vote victory in 2022 over Republican nominee Abe Hamadeh. That race cost her about $3 million. She already has close to $1.1 million for the 2026 race, all of which can go to the general election as she has no primary foe. Secretary of state In the race for secretary of state, Republican Alexander Kolodin, who thus far faces no primary opposition, reported more than $93,000 in donations. But Kolodin, who did not have a lot of money left over after his successful 2024 bid for the state House, says he has less than $125,000 on hand. That puts him behind incumbent Democrat Adrian Fontes, who brought in another $224,000 in the past three months. But with expenses, his cash on hand was less than $212,000. Superintendent of public instruction One statewide race where there will be a primary is the effort by Tom Horne to hang on to his position as superintendent of public instruction. Horne had to spend more than $1.1 million in 2022 to first survive a three-way GOP primary and then to defeat incumbent Democrat Kathy Hoffman. That left him little in the bank at that time for the 2026 race. He reports having collected more than $61,000 in the most recent quarter, with his cash on hand at $212,000. Now he has to fend off a challenge from state Treasurer Kimberly Yee to get the Republican nomination. Yee, who is in her second term, cannot seek reelection. So in May she entered the race for schools chief. Yee reports more than $162,000 in donations and, with few expenses so far, still has more than $161,000 in the bank. This race could get expensive. Horne has the ability to use his own finances to boost his chances, having spent almost $900,000 in his 2022 campaign. Help for Yee is more likely to come from the outside. She has the backing of the Arizona Freedom Caucus, a group of the most conservative Republican state legislators. That is likely to bring with it money spent on her behalf. There are a handful of Democrats who said they are interested in the race. But so far only two of them filed campaign finance reports: Teresa Luiz with $18,000 in the bank and Michael Butts who has a negative cash balance of $44. Treasurer In the race to replace Yee as treasurer, Republican Elijah Norton reports $1.1 million since entering the race earlier this year. So far, though, all of that is self-funded. Democrat Nick Mansour, also new to the treasurers race, has collected more than $233,000 in donations. He has reported no expenses so far, leaving all of that in the bank. Corporation Commission In the race for the Arizona Corporation Commission, Republicans Kevin Thompson and Nick Myers are trying to keep their seats. Both, however, are expected to run with public financing as they did in 2022. They are being challenged by two Republican lawmakers: Ralph Heap and David Marshall. Both have said they also will use public finances. But both also have been endorsed by the Arizona Freedom Caucus, which remains free to find outside funds to run on their behalf, all without limits. Of three Democrats interested in pursuing the two available seats, none reported any campaign donations. RICHMOND, Va., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hilb Group announced today that it has acquired a South Carolina-based retirement plan book of business in its Southeast region of operations, growing its offerings and presence in the market. The acquisition took effect on July 1, 2025. About Hilb Group: The Hilb Group is a leading property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and advisory firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Hilb Group is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm. Hilb Group seeks to grow through strategic acquisitions and by leveraging its resources and expertise to drive organic growth in its acquired agencies. The company has completed more than 190 acquisitions with over 125 offices in 32 states. Hilb Group is rated as one of the Fastest Growing Brokers by Business Insurance, a Top P/C Agency by Insurance Journal, and one of America's Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Inc. 5000. For more information on Hilb Group's growth as well as career opportunities, please visit our website at http://hilbgroup.com. Media Contact: Peter Lobred 804.548.4629 [email protected] M&A Contact: Ryan Havermann 804.414.6508 [email protected] SOURCE The Hilb Group, LLC Oops. Sunrise dumps foot doctor Sunrise was unaware its podiatrist had been suspended from practising by regulator. Sunrise was forced to dump vision of Podiatrist Dr Hassan Al Hamid from its website and socials after it learned he was suspended from practising in February 2024. He appeared as recently as early July dishing out footwear advice to Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington. But the video was later deleted. Last night on Media Watch, Linton Besser explained, Since February 2024, he hasnt been allowed to see patients, call himself a doctor or even dispense advice, which Sunrise failed to mention because Sunrise didnt know. A spokesperson for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency said in a statement, it is a criminal offence for an unregistered individual to describe themselves as a health practitioner or hold themselves out to be a registered health practitioner.It is also potentially a criminal offence for entities, including media organisations, to refer to unregistered individuals in such a manner. A Seven spokesperson told ABC, As soon as we were made aware of this matter, we removed the content from our digital platforms. We are reviewing our processes around the verification of professional qualifications to ensure we continue to have robust and appropriate measures in place. On this occasion, we did receive and review qualification documentation from this guest before his on-air appearance. Vale: Malcolm-Jamal Warner Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for The Cosby Show, has died. Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for The Cosby Show, has died, aged 54. According to US media reports on a family vacation in Costa Rica he drowned while swimming after he was caught by a high current. He died of asphyxia near beach city Cocle and his body was identified by Costa Ricas national police on Sunday. Warner played Theodore Theo Huxtable across all eight seasons of The Cosby Show, the only son of Bill Cosbys character, Cliff Huxtable. He auditioned for the role of Theo Huxtable on the last day of a nationwide search, selected by Cosby himself. His character was an early fan favourite, as audiences watched Theo learn lifes ropes in real time in one episode, Theo figures out the importance of budgets when his family removes his belongings from his room and makes him learn how to buy it all back. He was nominated for an Emmy for best supporting actor in a comedy. After The Cosby Show, he played Malcolm McGee on the sitcom Malcolm & Eddie, followed by the sitcom Reed Between the Lines, motorcycle drama Sons of Anarchy and hospital drama The Resident. He also directed a widely circulated 1992 educational video Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS, and You, which featured celebrities Arsenio Hall and Earvin Magic Johnson discussing the disease and how to prevent its spread. Other credits included 9-1-1, Alert: Missing Persons Unit, Suits, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Grown-ish and Community. Source: Variety Sana Kauser, TwoCircles.net New Delhi: More than a thousand Bengali migrant families living in Jai Hind Camp, a slum tucked behind the upscale Vasant Kunj in South West Delhi, have been handed a bundle of miseries with the arrival of the monsoons. For over a dozen days now, the community has endured a complete collapse of electricity and water supply, making everyday survival a painful ordeal under the oppressive wetness of the citys monsoon. On July 8, the power supply was abruptly cut off in the area allegedly without any prior notice or explanation. Many of the residents have been living here for decades, contributing to the citys informal economy as domestic workers, rag pickers and contract labourers. Life for them has become a daily struggle for basic survival. The sudden blackout came on the heels of a recent court order directing residents to vacate the land they have called home for more than 30 years. As a result, families who once depended on a communal electricity line now live by the flickering light of candles and fending off swarms of mosquitoes breeding in stagnant rainwater. Fatima Bibi, a 52-year-old resident who has lived in Jai Hind Camp for nearly 25 years, described her communitys suffering, There are babies in this camp; there are people who are ill and old. Everyone is suffering because of the abrupt cut-off of electricity. It is too hot at night, and the mosquitoes do not let anyone sleep. The children cry, and the elderly people cannot breathe. It is shared misery that grips residents of all ages. Home to around 1,400 families, mostly migrants from West Bengal and neighbouring states, the camp has gradually grown into a dense neighbourhood of narrow lanes, small shops and places of worship. Many residents possess valid voter ID cards, ration cards and Aadhaar cards, asserting their long-standing settlement in the national capital. Muntaha Khatoon, 37, who migrated from Cooch Behar (West Bengal) in 2004, said, Despite having all the necessary documents, we are still being called Bangladeshis because we speak Bengali. I tell these people to please check our documents before making such false allegations. Now we are uncertain about our residence, and we fear the camp will be demolished. This is what poor people in Delhi are going through. Muntaha, a domestic worker, said she had spent her entire income to buy a one-room shelter, which now stands under the shadow of a bulldozer. The ongoing blackout has also crippled the local economy. Asma Khatun, 36, who runs a small store in the camp, said, My refrigerator is not working, so I am not stocking items like milk, butter or cold drinks. Customers come and go when they do not find what they are looking for. My shop is doing miserably. In this heat, who will buy melted ice cream or milk that has gone hot? She added, We have been living here for the last two decades and have voted here. Political candidates visit us during campaigns, but where are they now when we need them the most? The lack of basic services has also raised serious health concerns. With waterlogging from the rains and no drainage, mosquito infestations are rising. Residents say mosquito coils and candles are nearly useless without fans or proper ventilation. The fear of vector-borne diseases like malaria looms large, especially during Delhis monsoon season. The crisis has hit the children and youth particularly hard. Sheikh Ahmed, a 15-year-old student who is in Grade 9 and whose father is a rag picker and mother a domestic help, spoke of his struggles. My exams are coming up, but I cannot study at night without electricity. It is too hot to concentrate, he said. His dreams of finishing school and finding stable work beyond the camp feel increasingly distant. For working adults, the lack of electricity is a second blow after a long and exhausting day. Rahim, a delivery boy for Swiggy who has been living in Jai Hind Camp since 2014, described his ordeal, We work outside all day in this heat. When we come home, there is no fan and no cold water. It is becoming unbearable to survive in this humid weather. Jai Hind Camp exists in a gray legal zone. It remains unrecognised as a resettlement colony under Delhis urban development plan. For years, this ambiguous legal status has left residents vulnerable. Many recall being labelled as Bangladeshis despite having decades-old documentation. Some even report facing harassment or physical attacks for speaking Bengali in local markets, signs of a deeper identity crisis and systemic exclusion. A lawyer working on behalf of the residents, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the case, said, This is not a simple disruption of electricity. The real issue is the legal status of the land, the rights of those who have been living here for decades and the lawful process or lack of it that authorities must follow to displace such a large population. Jai Hind Camp traces its beginnings back to the 1990s, when migrants from states like West Bengal, Bihar, Assam and Odisha began settling on what was then agricultural land near Masoodpur village. With time, they built shelters around areas that offer them daily wage jobs. Over the years, the slum transformed into a self-sustaining society, but without formal recognition. As Delhi grew and modernised around them, Jai Hind Camps residents continued to do the citys essential but invisible work cleaning homes, collecting garbage and delivering food. Now, faced with eviction, blackouts and a collapsing infrastructure, many fear losing not only their homes, but their place in the very city they helped build. We built our lives here. We work for this city. But today, even our basic needs are being taken from us, said Fatima Bibi, as darkness once again descended on the camp a silence only broken by buzzing mosquitoes and the restless cries of children. M I Khan, TwoCircles.net Patna: As Bihar gears up for assembly elections in October-November 2025, suspense continues to build around who the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will project as its chief ministerial face. The silence from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah has only deepened the uncertainty. Both leaders have consistently stopped short of confirming incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the top post. Support TwoCircles Modi and Shah, in recent months, have publicly stated that the NDA would fight the polls under Nitishs leadership. However, neither has explicitly declared him the chief ministerial candidate, nor assured that he would continue in the role if the NDA returns to power. This marks the first time in over two decades that the BJPs top brass appears hesitant to endorse Nitish Kumar as the CM face, despite his enduring influence and support base which are crucial to the saffron partys prospects in the state. Modi has visited Bihar many times in the last six months, including four consecutive months April, May, June and July. During these trips, he addressed public meetings, with the latest one held on July 18 at Motihari in East Champaran. However, he refrained from making any statement about Nitishs future, leaving the Janata Dal-United or JD-U leadership, party workers and Nitish himself disappointed. Many had expected that Modis repeated visits would put an end to the ongoing speculation. Shah, too, has steered clear of naming a CM candidate. Since last year, he has publicly stated on at least three occasions that the NDA has not yet decided on its chief ministerial face. He recently reportedly remarked that time will decide who the next chief minister would be when asked about Nitish. These remarks have fuelled speculation that the BJP may be preparing to sideline him after the elections. Political circles are rife with talk that the BJP is eager to replace him with one of its own leaders, a long-cherished ambition of the party. Political analyst Soroor Ahmad observed that the BJP is caught in a dilemma and lacks clarity about who should lead the government post-elections. He noted that Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) or LJP (Ram Vilas) President and Union Minister Chirag Paswan is leveraging this uncertainty, projecting himself as the next chief minister. Modis silence reveals BJPs internal confusion, he said, adding that Shahs repeated remarks about deciding the CM face at the right time tell a different story. Sensing the BJPs political maneuvering, senior JD-U leaders close to Nitish have strategically involved his son, Nishant Kumar, in the discourse. Though Nishant is not in politics, he has made public appeals (twice or thrice this year) urging Modi and Shah to declare his father the NDAs CM candidate. These appeals are widely seen as a calculated move to bolster Nitishs standing within the NDA. Another political analyst, D M Diwakar, said it is a reality the BJP cannot ignore the JD(U) as going it alone in Bihar is not an option. Nitish remains a pivotal figure in the states electoral politics. Without him, it is nearly impossible for the BJP to navigate the upcoming challenge. However, the BJP leaderships reluctance to back Nitish openly creates doubts about what post-poll politics could look like, he said. According to him, the BJP needs Nitishs face during the election campaign because they have no leader with statewide appeal who can take on Tejashwi Yadav, leader of Opposition and a key ally of the Mahagathbandhan (the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress and the Left combine). He added that Nitishs presence remains important despite recent surveys indicating a decline in his popularity and questions about his health. The BJP had faced a major defeat in the 2015 elections when it contested without Nitish, who had aligned with the RJD at the time. This time, the BJP might try the Maharashtra or Madhya Pradesh model fight under someones leadership and switch the CM after results, the analyst said. Leaders in Nitishs JD-U are still publicly confident. They say he is the most suitable and accepted face in Bihars political landscape. 2025 se 30, phir se Nitish Kumar (From 2025 to 2030, Nitish Kumar returns), they proclaim. JD-Us outspoken Neeraj Kumar emphasised that if the NDA returns to power, Nitish will head the government. The NDA is going to polls under his leadership. All our alliance partners have accepted this publicly, he said. He recalled how after the 2020 elections, when the JD-U secured only 43 seats while the BJP won 73, Nitish had offered to step aside. But BJP leaders insisted that since the NDA fought under his leadership, he should continue as the chief minister. However, some JD-U leaders, in private conversations, admit that this election might be different. They sense that the BJP may have a different game plan. For now, BJP leaders maintain that the next election will be contested under Nitishs leadership, but they are not promising he will be the CM again. Yes, we will fight under Nitish Kumars leadership, but the chief minister will be decided after the results, a senior BJP leader said. He admitted that in 2023, when the party was in Opposition, BJP leaders had consistently stated that they would form their own government in 2025. Another BJP leader was more direct. We will no longer play second fiddle to Nitish. The BJP has formed governments in almost every neighboring state on its own, except West Bengal. Now it is Bihars turn, he said. In response, the JD-U has drawn a red line. The party has conveyed to the BJP leadership in Delhi that it plans to contest at least 120 of the 243 seats in the 2025 Assembly elections. It has made it clear that the remaining 123 seats should be shared between the BJP and other NDA allies. JD-Us tally had dropped to 43 in 2020, while the BJP bagged 74. But the party is determined to bounce back. We are working hard to improve our strike rate this time, Neeraj Kumar said, adding that the JD-U continues to have a strong support base among non-Yadav OBCs, EBCs and Dalits. A political observer said, The BJP was defeated in 2015 when it fought without Nitish. They know this better than anyone. Over the years, Nitish has built a loyal following among Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), who make up 36.1% of Bihars population, along with Dalits (19.65%) and a large section of women, thanks to targeted welfare schemes. This has helped the JD-U maintain a consistent vote share of 15-25% over two decades, despite frequent shifts in alliance. In the 2015 Assembly elections, JD-U secured 16.8% of the vote in alliance with the RJD, without the BJP. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, contesting with the BJP, the partys vote share rose to 21.81%. It dropped to 15.39% in the 2020 Assembly polls but climbed again to 18.52% in the 2024 general elections. Step out into the light, lets have a look at you! As my former colleague Nate Boss previously reviewed this film on Blu-ray, Ill soon defer to his thoughts. As one of my ultimate favorite films, I love Carol Reeds The Third Man. A noir classic, Joseph Cotten gets to play detective as the fish-out-of-water down-on-his-luck writer Holly Martins. Called to Vienna by his old friend Harry Lime (Welles), he has the hope of lucrative employment, but learns upon arrival that his childhood friend is dead. Unable to move on or let go of the matter, he soon discovers the man he thought he knew had more than a few skeletons in his closet. Its a tantalizing setup for a thriller where a curious mind starts pulling away at the thin strands of the story of the man known as Harry Lime. One reveal to the next, the film is a tightly wound thriller with excellent performances captured against the ominous backdrop of a post-war city in recovery. And then theres that famous zither score from Anton Karas. I know some who dont take to it or find it distracting, but something about that jangly tune that every time I hear it, my ears perk up and a sly grin stitches across my face. Its one of the few films Id call perfect where everything stitches together into an exciting tapestry of plot threads. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is cheated or telegraphed. Its just fantastic filmmaking from frame one through the final shot. For a fun side trek, check out Around the World with Orson Welles. In one episode dedicated to Vienna, Welles shares some interesting stories about the making of the film. He amusingly stops talking about The Third Man and gets hung up for a long spell discussing the famous Sachertorte, how it's made, and how many he's consumed. I don't recall how old I was when I first saw this film, but I was old enough to appreciate it and still young enough for it to be impressionable, and decades later it remains a true, genuine favorite. Now heres what Nate had to say about this film for his The Third Man Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: There is no shortage of films about war. The subject has captured the minds and imaginations of the world, with the limitless amount of amazing first hand accounts, and the fictional dramatizations that hit the theaters on a yearly basis, telling the tales of the heroes, villains, great loves, miracles, and tragedies that have befallen the world in time of battle. The funny thing, to me at least, is that there arent anywhere near as many films that tell the story of the world recovering from the war, the men and women rebuilding their lives and families, or those who set out for their own selfish means, to become rich, in the areas hit hardest by the bloodshed. Carol Reeds The Third Man, is one such tale, concerning a man who used the desperate post-war situation around him to further his own means. The story follows Holly Martins (Joseph Cotten), a fledgling writer, who arrives in Vienna, responding to a message from his friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles) that offered him a job. Nearly immediately, though, Martins discovers that Lime is dead, as the result of an auto accident just before his arrival. Wanting to find out what happened, Martins begins to probe Limes friends and neighbors, only to discover discrepancies in the stories, and is told that, contrary to the police report, there were three men who helped move Limes body to a nearby statue, not just two. Martins sets out to find out about the third man, unraveling the shroud of mystery surrounding Lime and his racket, crossing paths with the police, and with Limes female companion Anna Schmidt(Alida Valli), an actress who may know the truth behind the story. To say that Welles steals this show is an understatement. The entire film up to his introduction leads up to discovering he is not as dead as his tombstone would indicate. This may be considered a *spoiler*, but anyone who knows Welles is in the film can figure out who he plays by his conspicuous absence through most of The Third Man. His silent first appearance in the film is memorable and haunting. His diatribe in the famous ferris wheel scene is ominous, and disturbing. The film takes a drastic turn in tone upon his introduction, yet doesnt fall apart; instead, it draws viewers in, as a new level of tension is introduced. Instead of wondering what really happened, we are now curious to know why a man would go to the lengths that Lime went to fall off the face of the Earth. The depths that man would go for material gain, to the point of losing ones humanity (and life), is a theme that is barely skimmed in The Third Man, but it is an important plot point to consider when viewing the film, as one becomes informed of Limes selfish transgressions, ones that did irreparable harm to others. As Lime's famous ferris wheel rant reveals, he places very little value on a human life if it is not his own. The city of Vienna, the sole setting of The Third Man, plays as important a part as any actor in the film. The bombed out city, with rubble scattered everywhere, had a powerful look, which presented the desperate situations of the inhabitants fantastically. Piles of bricks and dirt are stacked against buildings, playing an important part of a few crucial scenes in the film, while the labyrinth-like sewer system creates a setting of wonderful tension for the finale, where danger is lurking around any corner. These sewers can seen as a very thinly veiled analogy, especially the shots of the fingers protruding through the grates, desperate to escape. I've always imagined the story told in the film to be the one that Martins later writes to recount the complicated affair. He makes numerous references, when discussing the situation with police, that he will use the situation in a novel he is working on, entitled The Third Man. The story is told solely through Martins eyes, and encompasses the perfect mix of intrigue and suspense, a mysterious love triangle, and a betrayal. Whether you romanticize the film in this matter, or not, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this bit of classic cinema. Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray As part of the growing Lionsgate Limited collection of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook releases, Carol Reeds The Third Man enters the scene with a two-disc 4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital set. The 4K is pressed on a Region Free BD100 disc with a Region A BD50 disc serving the 1080p disc. The discs are housed in an artful SteelBook case with plastic slipcover. Also included is a 56-page booklet with an excellent run of essays celebrating the films 75th anniversary. SAN FRANCISCO, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IEQ Capital ("IEQ"), an independent advisory firm managing approximately $41.7 billion in regulatory assets under management (RAUM)* and ranked among America's Top RIAs by Forbes and Barron's**, is proud to announce that Lauren Garner has joined the firm as a Managing Director. Based in Los Angeles, Ms. Garner will serve ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, providing holistic guidance across investments, estate strategy, and long-term planning. Lauren Garner, Managing Director of IEQ Capital With more than two decades of experience, Lauren brings a deep and multi-faceted perspective to wealth management, shaped by roles across public and private markets, direct investing, and manager selection. Most recently, she served as Chief Investment Officer of Mozaic, LLC, a $4 billion multi-family office, where she led a team overseeing client portfolios and investment research. Her approach is grounded in endowment-style asset allocation and integrates tax efficiency and generational planning considerations for families. "We are proud to welcome Lauren to IEQ Capital," said Frank McFarland, Founding Partner. "Her experience as both a direct investor and allocator across asset classes aligns strongly with our platform and client philosophy. Lauren's leadership and perspective will be a tremendous asset as we continue to deepen our presence in Southern California." Prior to Mozaic, Ms. Garner held senior roles at Pritzker Group and Perella Weinberg Partners Agility, advising family office and endowment and foundation clients on asset allocation and investment selection. Earlier in her career, she worked at GoldenTree Asset Management and Tudor Investment Corporation, managing strategies across hedge funds, credit, and private capital, and at Morgan Stanley in investment banking. Her experience spans portfolio construction, investment diligence, and managing a wide range of family office needs, with a consistent focus on long-term risk-adjusted outcomes. About IEQ Capital IEQ Capital was founded in 2019 by a team of advisors and entrepreneurs dedicated to delivering independent, sophisticated advisory services to high-net-worth individuals and families. IEQ combines institutional access with personalized planning to support long-term wealth creation. The firm provides tailored investment strategies across public and private markets, estate and tax planning support, and family office services for those who qualify nationwide. Important Disclosures This release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security or investment product. References to investment experience and access do not guarantee future results or performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and all investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. IEQ Capital, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser; registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. *As of 06/30/2025, IEQ Capital, LLC ("IEQ") manages $41.7 Billion in RAUM. IEQ RAUM as of 12/31/2024 as reported in IEQ Capital's Form ADV filed in May 2025 totaled $35.4 billion. **The Forbes ranking of America's Top RIA Firms is produced annually (October 2024, data as of 03/31/2024). IEQ is among 250 advisory firms ranked. The ranking is developed by SHOOK Research and is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone, virtual and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. The algorithm weighs factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings. More information can be found here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rjshook/2023/10/10/methodology-americas-top-ria-firms-2023/?sh=5d32bc5ee26d. **Barron's Top 100 RIA Firms is an independent listing produced annually by Barron's (September 2023, data as of 06/30/2024). IEQ is among 100 advisory firms ranked. The annual ranking of independent advisory companies is based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria, including the assets a firm manages and the revenue those assets generate, its regulatory record, staffing levels and diversity, technology spending, and succession planning. This ranking does not guarantee any potential investment outcomes, nor does it rank advisors based on investment performance. There is no fee for participation. However, IEQ does pay a $15,000 annual membership for the right to be featured in Barron's magazine itself (outside of the ranking) and for using Barron's logo in our marketing pieces. More information can be found here: https://www.barrons.com/advisor/articles/the-top-independent-advisors-and-rias-how-to-pick-the-right-one-for-you-51663358400?tesla=y. SOURCE IEQ Capital